diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/CallModal.tsx b/apps/web/src/components/CallModal.tsx
index 9a986ac..032a8bd 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/CallModal.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/CallModal.tsx
@@ -249,42 +249,41 @@ export default function CallModal({ isOpen, onClose, targetUser, callType: initi
         }
       };
 
-      // Always merge tracks into a single remote stream
+      // Ensure we have a stream object (even if browser didn't provide one)
       if (!remoteStreamRef.current) {
         remoteStreamRef.current = streams[0] || new MediaStream([track]);
-      } else if (streams[0]) {
-        streams[0].getTracks().forEach(t => {
-          if (!remoteStreamRef.current?.getTracks().includes(t)) {
-            remoteStreamRef.current?.addTrack(t);
-          }
-        });
       } else if (!remoteStreamRef.current.getTracks().includes(track)) {
         remoteStreamRef.current.addTrack(track);
       }
 
       const stream = remoteStreamRef.current;
 
-      // Bind to DOM elements
-      if (track.kind === 'video' && remoteVideoRef.current) {
-        remoteVideoRef.current.srcObject = stream;
-        remoteVideoRef.current.play().catch(err => console.warn('[WebRTC] video play failed:', err));
-        checkVideo();
-      } else if (track.kind === 'audio') {
-        if (remoteAudioRef?.current) {
-          remoteAudioRef.current.srcObject = stream;
-          remoteAudioRef.current.play().catch(err => console.warn('[WebRTC] audio play failed:', err));
-        } else if (remoteVideoRef.current) {
-          remoteVideoRef.current.srcObject = stream;
+      // Link to DOM elements immediately
+      if (remoteVideoRef.current) {
+        // IMPORTANT: If srcObject is the same, some browsers won't refresh the view. 
+        // We set it to the stream and call play() explicitly.
+        if (remoteVideoRef.current.srcObject !== stream) {
+            remoteVideoRef.current.srcObject = stream;
         }
+        remoteVideoRef.current.play().catch(err => {
+            console.warn('[WebRTC] Video play failed (retrying):', err);
+            // Retry play on next tick if failed
+            setTimeout(() => remoteVideoRef.current?.play().catch(() => {}), 500);
+        });
+      }
+
+      if (track.kind === 'audio' && remoteAudioRef?.current) {
+        remoteAudioRef.current.srcObject = stream;
+        remoteAudioRef.current.play().catch(() => {});
       }
 
       track.onunmute = checkVideo;
       track.onmute = checkVideo;
       track.onended = checkVideo;
 
-      // Extra checks for slow browsers
+      checkVideo();
       setTimeout(checkVideo, 500);
-      setTimeout(checkVideo, 1500);
+      setTimeout(checkVideo, 2000);
     };
 
     pc.onconnectionstatechange = () => {
@@ -1549,7 +1548,6 @@ export default function CallModal({ isOpen, onClose, targetUser, callType: initi
                   ref={remoteVideoRef}
                   autoPlay
                   playsInline
-                  muted
                   className={`absolute inset-0 w-full h-full object-contain bg-black transition-opacity duration-300 ${hasRemoteVideo ? 'opacity-100' : 'opacity-0'}`}
                   onContextMenu={(e) => { e.preventDefault(); setShowVolumeSlider(true); }}
                 />
@@ -1669,7 +1667,7 @@ export default function CallModal({ isOpen, onClose, targetUser, callType: initi
               )}
 
               {/* Hidden remote video element */}
-              <video ref={remoteVideoRef} autoPlay playsInline muted className="hidden" />
+              <video ref={remoteVideoRef} autoPlay playsInline className="hidden" />
             </div>
           )}