diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/receiver/ReceiverCastService.java b/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/receiver/ReceiverCastService.java
index 8e9f63b..0588a46 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/receiver/ReceiverCastService.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/receiver/ReceiverCastService.java
@@ -143,7 +143,6 @@ public class ReceiverCastService extends Service {
 
     private void restartListening(String pin) {
         stopSessionOnly();
-        closePlaybackUi();
         resetStreamState();
         phase = Phase.LISTENING;
         acquireWakeLock();
@@ -233,15 +232,16 @@ public class ReceiverCastService extends Service {
         });
         session.start();
         updateStatus(getString(R.string.receiver_ready, pin, settings.getTransport().toUpperCase()));
+        openPlaybackAwaiting(R.string.playback_listening);
         Log.i(TAG, "Listening PIN=" + pin + " audio=" + allowIncomingAudio);
     }
 
     private void onSenderConnected(String senderName) {
         phase = Phase.CONNECTED;
         audioAccepted = null;
-        playbackLaunched = false;
         updateStatus(getString(R.string.casting_from, senderName));
         broadcastAuthenticated(senderName);
+        openPlaybackAwaiting(R.string.playback_awaiting_stream);
         Log.i(TAG, "Sender connected: " + senderName);
     }
 
@@ -250,15 +250,16 @@ public class ReceiverCastService extends Service {
         audioAccepted = null;
         hasPendingConfig = false;
         awaitingKeyframe = true;
+        resetDecoderState();
         detachSurfaceOnly();
         broadcastDisconnected();
+        openPlaybackAwaiting(R.string.playback_stream_lost);
         updateStatus(getString(R.string.waiting_sender));
         Log.i(TAG, "Sender disconnected");
     }
 
     private void resetStreamState() {
         hasPendingConfig = false;
-        playbackLaunched = false;
         awaitingKeyframe = true;
         pendingWidth = 0;
         pendingHeight = 0;
@@ -328,26 +329,28 @@ public class ReceiverCastService extends Service {
         hasPendingConfig = true;
         decoderActive = false;
         mainHandler.postDelayed(() -> awaitingKeyframe = false, 2000);
-        if (!playbackLaunched) {
-            playbackLaunched = true;
-            launchPlaybackActivity(pendingWidth, pendingHeight);
-        } else {
-            notifyPlaybackDimensions(pendingWidth, pendingHeight);
-        }
+        notifyPlaybackDimensions(pendingWidth, pendingHeight);
         tryConfigureDecoder();
         reconfiguring = false;
         Log.i(TAG, "Stream config " + pendingWidth + "x" + pendingHeight);
     }
 
-    private void launchPlaybackActivity(int width, int height) {
+    /** Opens or refreshes fullscreen UI with robot overlay (listening / waiting for stream). */
+    private void openPlaybackAwaiting(int messageResId) {
+        playbackLaunched = true;
+        Intent intent = new Intent(this, ReceiverPlaybackActivity.class);
+        intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK | Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_SINGLE_TOP);
+        intent.putExtra(ReceiverPlaybackActivity.EXTRA_SHOW_AWAITING, true);
+        intent.putExtra(ReceiverPlaybackActivity.EXTRA_AWAITING_MESSAGE, messageResId);
+        startActivity(intent);
+    }
+
+    private void notifyPlaybackDimensions(int width, int height) {
         Intent intent = new Intent(this, ReceiverPlaybackActivity.class);
         intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK | Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_SINGLE_TOP);
         intent.putExtra(ReceiverPlaybackActivity.EXTRA_WIDTH, width);
         intent.putExtra(ReceiverPlaybackActivity.EXTRA_HEIGHT, height);
         startActivity(intent);
-    }
-
-    private void notifyPlaybackDimensions(int width, int height) {
         broadcastStreamStarted(width, height);
     }
 
@@ -510,6 +513,7 @@ public class ReceiverCastService extends Service {
     private void releaseAll() {
         phase = Phase.IDLE;
         resetStreamState();
+        playbackLaunched = false;
         audioAccepted = null;
         stopSessionOnly();
         closePlaybackUi();
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/receiver/ReceiverPlaybackActivity.java b/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/receiver/ReceiverPlaybackActivity.java
index 8a1fba2..d78b5a9 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/receiver/ReceiverPlaybackActivity.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/foxx/androidcast/receiver/ReceiverPlaybackActivity.java
@@ -23,11 +23,16 @@ import com.foxx.androidcast.ICastStatusCallback;
 import com.foxx.androidcast.R;
 import com.foxx.androidcast.ui.AspectRatioFrameLayout;
 
-/** Fullscreen video playback — robot overlay while waiting or after stream loss. */
+/**
+ * Fullscreen display: dancing-robot overlay while listening / waiting;
+ * video surface shown only after the first decoded frame.
+ */
 public class ReceiverPlaybackActivity extends AppCompatActivity implements SurfaceHolder.Callback {
     public static final String EXTRA_WIDTH = "video_width";
     public static final String EXTRA_HEIGHT = "video_height";
     public static final String EXTRA_FINISH = "finish_playback";
+    public static final String EXTRA_SHOW_AWAITING = "show_awaiting";
+    public static final String EXTRA_AWAITING_MESSAGE = "awaiting_message";
 
     private AspectRatioFrameLayout aspectContainer;
     private SurfaceView surfaceView;
@@ -46,13 +51,7 @@ public class ReceiverPlaybackActivity extends AppCompatActivity implements Surfa
 
     private final ICastStatusCallback.Stub statusCallback = new ICastStatusCallback.Stub() {
         @Override
-        public void onStatus(String status) {
-            runOnUiThread(() -> {
-                if (status != null && status.toLowerCase().contains("waiting")) {
-                    showAwaitingOverlay(R.string.playback_awaiting_stream);
-                }
-            });
-        }
+        public void onStatus(String status) {}
 
         @Override
         public void onAuthenticated(String senderName) {
@@ -85,10 +84,6 @@ public class ReceiverPlaybackActivity extends AppCompatActivity implements Surfa
             bound = true;
             try {
                 receiverService.registerCallback(statusCallback);
-                String status = receiverService.getStatus();
-                if (status != null && status.toLowerCase().contains("waiting")) {
-                    showAwaitingOverlay(R.string.playback_awaiting_stream);
-                }
             } catch (RemoteException ignored) {
             }
             attachSurfaceIfReady();
@@ -119,9 +114,14 @@ public class ReceiverPlaybackActivity extends AppCompatActivity implements Surfa
         awaitingMessage = findViewById(R.id.text_awaiting_message);
         surfaceHolder = surfaceView.getHolder();
         surfaceHolder.addCallback(this);
+        surfaceView.setZOrderMediaOverlay(false);
         robotDance = AnimationUtils.loadAnimation(this, R.anim.robot_dance);
         applyAspectRatio();
-        showAwaitingOverlay(R.string.playback_awaiting_stream);
+
+        if (getIntent().getBooleanExtra(EXTRA_SHOW_AWAITING, true)) {
+            int msg = getIntent().getIntExtra(EXTRA_AWAITING_MESSAGE, R.string.playback_listening);
+            showAwaitingOverlay(msg);
+        }
     }
 
     @Override
@@ -133,8 +133,9 @@ public class ReceiverPlaybackActivity extends AppCompatActivity implements Surfa
         }
         readSizeFromIntent(intent);
         updateVideoSize(videoWidth, videoHeight);
-        if (!streamRendering) {
-            showAwaitingOverlay(R.string.playback_awaiting_stream);
+        if (intent.getBooleanExtra(EXTRA_SHOW_AWAITING, false)) {
+            int msg = intent.getIntExtra(EXTRA_AWAITING_MESSAGE, R.string.playback_listening);
+            showAwaitingOverlay(msg);
         }
     }
 
@@ -198,7 +199,11 @@ public class ReceiverPlaybackActivity extends AppCompatActivity implements Surfa
         if (awaitingOverlay == null) {
             return;
         }
+        if (surfaceView != null) {
+            surfaceView.setVisibility(View.INVISIBLE);
+        }
         awaitingOverlay.setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
+        awaitingOverlay.bringToFront();
         if (awaitingMessage != null) {
             awaitingMessage.setText(messageResId);
         }
@@ -206,10 +211,12 @@ public class ReceiverPlaybackActivity extends AppCompatActivity implements Surfa
     }
 
     private void hideAwaitingOverlay() {
-        if (awaitingOverlay == null) {
-            return;
+        if (awaitingOverlay != null) {
+            awaitingOverlay.setVisibility(View.GONE);
+        }
+        if (surfaceView != null) {
+            surfaceView.setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
         }
-        awaitingOverlay.setVisibility(View.GONE);
         stopRobotAnimation();
     }
 
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/layout/overlay_stream_awaiting.xml b/app/src/main/res/layout/overlay_stream_awaiting.xml
index a441e81..ce7b1a7 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/layout/overlay_stream_awaiting.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/layout/overlay_stream_awaiting.xml
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
     android:layout_height="match_parent"
     android:background="#CC000000"
     android:clickable="true"
+    android:elevation="16dp"
     android:focusable="true">
 
     <LinearLayout
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml b/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
index 3f6174c..f460fb3 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
     <string name="label_receiver_audio">Play incoming cast audio on this device</string>
     <string name="start_receiver">Start listening (keeps running in background)</string>
     <string name="playback_buffering">Connected — waiting for video…</string>
+    <string name="playback_listening">Listening for cast — awaiting sender…</string>
     <string name="playback_awaiting_stream">Awaiting for stream to come…</string>
     <string name="playback_stream_lost">Stream lost — awaiting for stream to come…</string>
     <string name="receiver_starting">Starting receiver service…</string>