diff --git a/HANDOFF.md b/HANDOFF.md
index 22da774..e943b0c 100644
--- a/HANDOFF.md
+++ b/HANDOFF.md
@@ -64,8 +64,8 @@ kick kills sync+video, no relay memory growth.
 
 - `packages/core/lib/src/`: constants.dart (tuning: seek 300 ms,
   drift 5 s, slow 1.5 s @0.95, min_buffer 4 s, heartbeat 1 s, ping 5 s,
-  avatar 128 KiB (base64 chars; any 128x128 PNG fits — raised 09-12
-  from 64 KiB, which rejected normal PNGs), name 32, chat 500; dropAfter lives as RoomEngine ctor
+  avatar 256 KiB (base64 chars; wide headroom over any 128x128 PNG
+  — raised 09-12 from 64 KiB, which rejected normal PNGs), name 32, chat 500; dropAfter lives as RoomEngine ctor
   default, now 30 s), errors.dart, logging.dart, config.dart,
   protocol.dart (v4 schemas), media_source.dart, sync_engine.dart
   (RoomEngine + quorum in evaluate's HELD branch; PLAYING branch
diff --git a/apps/desktop/lib/src/session/session_coordinator.dart b/apps/desktop/lib/src/session/session_coordinator.dart
index 0383ee8..da73cd0 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/lib/src/session/session_coordinator.dart
+++ b/apps/desktop/lib/src/session/session_coordinator.dart
@@ -390,7 +390,11 @@ class SessionCoordinator {
     // While the room is PLAYING the ready flag gates nothing, so an
     // idle viewer must never lose it mid-watch.
     if (room.peek()?.transport != 'playing') {
-      if (idleSecs >= 8 * 60 && !_warnedIdle) {
+      // No warning when there is nothing to lose: the 10-min unready
+      // only fires while self is ready, so the 8-min warning must not
+      // fire while unready either.
+      final selfReady = selfMember.peek()?.ready ?? false;
+      if (selfReady && idleSecs >= 8 * 60 && !_warnedIdle) {
         _warnedIdle = true;
         _toastId++;
         toasts.value = [
diff --git a/docs/ROADMAP.md b/docs/ROADMAP.md
index 2c972be..20c588b 100644
--- a/docs/ROADMAP.md
+++ b/docs/ROADMAP.md
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ silence-timeout + reconnect loop. Never run: shaper chaos suite
 
 ## Phase 6 — Identity & social (PARTIAL)
 
-Shipped: names (32 cap), avatars (128 KiB cap, 128 px PNG picker, transparency kept), kick nudge
+Shipped: names (32 cap), avatars (256 KiB cap, 128 px PNG picker, transparency kept), kick nudge
 + reason, feed attribution. Open: real chat pane/history (schema
 only), sounds swap-in (wiring + NoopSfxService ready; pick
 flutter_soloud or equivalent, Kenney/ObsydianX/akx sources in
diff --git a/packages/core/lib/src/constants.dart b/packages/core/lib/src/constants.dart
index c67ac62..104e970 100644
--- a/packages/core/lib/src/constants.dart
+++ b/packages/core/lib/src/constants.dart
@@ -15,13 +15,14 @@ abstract class RelayConstants {
   static const int stateHeartbeatSecs = 1;
   static const int pingIntervalSecs = 5;
 
-  // Base64-char count of the avatar string, enforced at hello. Sized so
-  // ANY 128x128 pipeline PNG always fits (raw bitmap <= 64 KiB, worst-case
-  // PNG ~70 KiB raw ~= 95 KiB base64). PNG keeps transparency; JPEG did not.
+  // Base64-char count of the avatar string, enforced at hello. 256 KiB
+  // leaves wide headroom over any 128x128 pipeline PNG (raw bitmap
+  // <= 64 KiB, worst-case base64 ~95 KiB chars) — deliberate over-size
+  // for private-server use. PNG keeps transparency; JPEG did not.
   // Trade: avatars ride in the 1 Hz room broadcast, so worst-case host
   // uplink scales with this cap. Follow-up (not now): send avatar bytes
   // once, reference by hash afterwards.
-  static const int maxAvatarBytes = 128 * 1024;
+  static const int maxAvatarBytes = 256 * 1024;
   static const int maxNameLength = 32;
   static const int maxChatLength = 500;
 }