diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/MainActivity.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/MainActivity.kt
index 3e6b482e..2345549e 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/MainActivity.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/MainActivity.kt
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ class MainActivity : OrientationAwareActivity() {
     private lateinit var meshService: BluetoothMeshService
     private lateinit var unifiedMeshService: MeshService
     private val mainViewModel: MainViewModel by viewModels()
+    private var pendingMeshForegroundServiceStart = false
     private val chatViewModel: ChatViewModel by viewModels { 
         object : ViewModelProvider.Factory {
             override fun <T : androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel> create(modelClass: Class<T>): T {
@@ -114,8 +115,8 @@ class MainActivity : OrientationAwareActivity() {
 
         // Initialize permission management
         permissionManager = PermissionManager(this)
-        // Ensure foreground service is running and get mesh instance from holder
-        try { com.bitchat.android.service.MeshForegroundService.start(applicationContext) } catch (_: Exception) { }
+        // Start the foreground service when allowed, then get mesh instances from the holder.
+        startMeshForegroundServiceBestEffort()
         meshService = com.bitchat.android.service.MeshServiceHolder.getOrCreate(applicationContext)
         unifiedMeshService = com.bitchat.android.service.MeshServiceHolder.getUnifiedOrCreate(applicationContext)
         // Expose BLE mesh to Wi‑Fi Aware controller for cross-transport relays - DEPRECATED
@@ -614,6 +615,22 @@ class MainActivity : OrientationAwareActivity() {
         mainViewModel.updateErrorMessage(message)
         mainViewModel.updateOnboardingState(OnboardingState.ERROR)
     }
+
+    private fun startMeshForegroundServiceBestEffort() {
+        if (!lifecycle.currentState.isAtLeast(Lifecycle.State.STARTED)) {
+            pendingMeshForegroundServiceStart = true
+            Log.i("MainActivity", "Deferring foreground mesh service start until activity is started")
+            return
+        }
+
+        try {
+            com.bitchat.android.service.MeshForegroundService.start(applicationContext)
+            pendingMeshForegroundServiceStart = false
+        } catch (e: Exception) {
+            pendingMeshForegroundServiceStart = true
+            Log.w("MainActivity", "Unable to start foreground mesh service; will retry when activity is started", e)
+        }
+    }
     
     /**
      * Check Battery Optimization status and proceed with onboarding flow
@@ -715,6 +732,7 @@ class MainActivity : OrientationAwareActivity() {
                 // Set up unified mesh delegate and start enabled transports
                 unifiedMeshService.delegate = chatViewModel
                 unifiedMeshService.startServices()
+                startMeshForegroundServiceBestEffort()
                 
                 Log.d("MainActivity", "Mesh service started successfully")
                 
@@ -752,6 +770,13 @@ class MainActivity : OrientationAwareActivity() {
             handleVerificationIntent(intent)
         }
     }
+
+    override fun onStart() {
+        super.onStart()
+        if (pendingMeshForegroundServiceStart) {
+            startMeshForegroundServiceBestEffort()
+        }
+    }
     
     override fun onResume() {
         super.onResume()
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/service/MeshForegroundService.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/service/MeshForegroundService.kt
index 218631ea..d9ad2d7f 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/service/MeshForegroundService.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/service/MeshForegroundService.kt
@@ -38,24 +38,20 @@ class MeshForegroundService : Service() {
         fun start(context: Context) {
             val intent = Intent(context, MeshForegroundService::class.java).apply { action = ACTION_START }
 
-            // On API >= 26, avoid background-service start restrictions by using startForegroundService
-            // only when we can actually post a notification (Android 13+ requires runtime notif permission)
-            val bgEnabled = MeshServicePreferences.isBackgroundEnabled(true)
-            val hasNotifPerm = hasNotificationPermissionStatic(context)
+            // Only launch as an FGS when onStartCommand can promote immediately.
+            val shouldStartForeground = shouldStartAsForeground(context)
 
             if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
-                if (bgEnabled && hasNotifPerm) {
+                if (shouldStartForeground) {
                     context.startForegroundService(intent)
                 } else {
-                    // Do not attempt to start a background service from headless context without notif permission
-                    // or when background is disabled, to avoid BackgroundServiceStartNotAllowedException.
                     android.util.Log.i(
                         "MeshForegroundService",
-                        "Not starting service on API>=26 (bgEnabled=$bgEnabled, hasNotifPerm=$hasNotifPerm)"
+                        "Not starting service on API>=26 (shouldStartForeground=$shouldStartForeground)"
                     )
                 }
             } else {
-                if (bgEnabled) {
+                if (MeshServicePreferences.isBackgroundEnabled(true)) {
                     context.startService(intent)
                 } else {
                     android.util.Log.i("MeshForegroundService", "Background disabled; not starting service (pre-O)")
@@ -69,12 +65,10 @@ class MeshForegroundService : Service() {
          */
         fun onNotificationPermissionGranted(context: Context) {
             // If background is enabled and permission now granted, start/promo service
-            val hasNotifPerm = hasNotificationPermissionStatic(context)
-            if (!MeshServicePreferences.isBackgroundEnabled(true) || !hasNotifPerm) return
+            if (!shouldStartAsForeground(context)) return
 
             val intent = Intent(context, MeshForegroundService::class.java).apply { action = ACTION_UPDATE_NOTIFICATION }
             if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
-                // Safe now that we can show a notification
                 context.startForegroundService(intent)
             } else {
                 context.startService(intent)