diff --git a/app.json b/app.json
index 4bf329f..32d1b63 100644
--- a/app.json
+++ b/app.json
@@ -55,7 +55,14 @@
       "favicon": "./assets/images/favicon.png"
     },
     "plugins": [
-      "@livekit/react-native-expo-plugin",
+      [
+        "@livekit/react-native-expo-plugin",
+        {
+          "android": {
+            "audioType": "media"
+          }
+        }
+      ],
       "@config-plugins/react-native-webrtc",
       "expo-router",
       [
diff --git a/app/(tabs)/_layout.tsx b/app/(tabs)/_layout.tsx
index 176ef82..f4b6bf0 100644
--- a/app/(tabs)/_layout.tsx
+++ b/app/(tabs)/_layout.tsx
@@ -85,6 +85,13 @@ export default function TabLayout() {
           href: null,
         }}
       />
+      {/* Audio Debug - hidden */}
+      <Tabs.Screen
+        name="audio-debug"
+        options={{
+          href: null,
+        }}
+      />
       {/* Beneficiaries - hidden from tab bar but keeps tab bar visible */}
       <Tabs.Screen
         name="beneficiaries"
diff --git a/app/(tabs)/chat.tsx b/app/(tabs)/chat.tsx
index eba3d52..d596af2 100644
--- a/app/(tabs)/chat.tsx
+++ b/app/(tabs)/chat.tsx
@@ -45,7 +45,6 @@ import {
 import { ConnectionState, Track } from 'livekit-client';
 import { getToken, type BeneficiaryData } from '@/services/livekitService';
 import { useAuth } from '@/contexts/AuthContext';
-import { getAvailableAudioOutputs, selectAudioOutput, setAudioOutput } from '@/utils/audioSession';
 
 // Register LiveKit globals (must be called before using LiveKit)
 registerGlobals();
@@ -613,40 +612,6 @@ export default function ChatScreen() {
     endVoiceCallContext();
   }, [endVoiceCallContext, callState.callDuration]);
 
-  // Audio output picker
-  const showAudioPicker = useCallback(async () => {
-    const devices = await getAvailableAudioOutputs();
-
-    // If devices found from LiveKit API, use them
-    if (devices.length > 0) {
-      const buttons: any[] = devices.map(device => ({
-        text: device.name,
-        onPress: () => selectAudioOutput(device.id),
-      }));
-      buttons.push({ text: 'Cancel', style: 'cancel' });
-      Alert.alert('Audio Output', 'Select audio device:', buttons);
-      return;
-    }
-
-    // Fallback for Android (and iOS if no devices found)
-    // Show simple Speaker/Earpiece toggle using setAudioOutput()
-    Alert.alert(
-      'Audio Output',
-      'Select audio output:',
-      [
-        {
-          text: '🔊 Speaker',
-          onPress: () => setAudioOutput(true),
-        },
-        {
-          text: '📱 Earpiece',
-          onPress: () => setAudioOutput(false),
-        },
-        { text: 'Cancel', style: 'cancel' },
-      ]
-    );
-  }, []);
-
   // Handle voice transcript entries - add to chat in real-time
   const handleVoiceTranscript = useCallback((role: 'user' | 'assistant', text: string) => {
     if (!text.trim()) return;
@@ -820,12 +785,7 @@ export default function ChatScreen() {
             <Text style={styles.avatarText}>J</Text>
           </View>
         )}
-        <View style={[styles.messageBubble, isUser ? styles.userBubble : styles.assistantBubble, isVoice && styles.voiceBubble]}>
-          {isVoice && (
-            <View style={styles.voiceIndicator}>
-              <Text style={styles.voiceIndicatorEmoji}>🎤</Text>
-            </View>
-          )}
+        <View style={[styles.messageBubble, isUser ? styles.userBubble : styles.assistantBubble]}>
           <Text style={[styles.messageText, isUser ? styles.userMessageText : styles.assistantMessageText]}>
             {item.content}
           </Text>
@@ -1060,16 +1020,6 @@ export default function ChatScreen() {
               </Text>
             </View>
           )}
-          {/* Audio output button - only during active call */}
-          {isCallActive && (
-            <TouchableOpacity
-              style={styles.audioButton}
-              onPress={showAudioPicker}
-            >
-              <Ionicons name="volume-high" size={20} color={AppColors.primary} />
-            </TouchableOpacity>
-          )}
-
           <TextInput
             style={styles.input}
             placeholder="Type a message..."
@@ -1282,17 +1232,6 @@ const styles = StyleSheet.create({
     backgroundColor: AppColors.error,
     borderColor: AppColors.error,
   },
-  audioButton: {
-    width: 44,
-    height: 44,
-    borderRadius: 22,
-    backgroundColor: AppColors.surface,
-    justifyContent: 'center',
-    alignItems: 'center',
-    marginRight: Spacing.sm,
-    borderWidth: 1,
-    borderColor: AppColors.primary,
-  },
   callActiveIndicator: {
     width: '100%',
     height: '100%',
diff --git a/utils/audioSession.ts b/utils/audioSession.ts
index 45cb70f..d3e4e8c 100644
--- a/utils/audioSession.ts
+++ b/utils/audioSession.ts
@@ -101,43 +101,29 @@ export async function configureAudioForVoiceCall(): Promise<void> {
         console.warn('[AudioSession] Could not set speaker output:', outputErr);
       }
     } else if (Platform.OS === 'android') {
-      // Android-specific configuration - FORCE SPEAKER OUTPUT
-      // CRITICAL: Use 'inCommunication' mode + 'music' stream for speaker
-      // Many Android devices default to earpiece for voice calls
-      console.log('[AudioSession] Configuring Android audio for SPEAKER...');
+      // ============================================================
+      // HYPOTHESIS 2: audioStreamType = 'music' (instead of 'voiceCall')
+      // Theory: STREAM_VOICE_CALL routes to earpiece, STREAM_MUSIC to speaker
+      // ============================================================
+      console.log('[AudioSession] === HYPOTHESIS 2: audioStreamType = music ===');
 
       await AudioSession.configureAudio({
         android: {
-          // Use inCommunication mode but with music stream for speaker
           audioTypeOptions: {
             manageAudioFocus: true,
-            // inCommunication gives us more control over audio routing
-            audioMode: 'inCommunication',
+            audioMode: 'inCommunication',  // DEFAULT
             audioFocusMode: 'gain',
-            // Use 'music' stream - goes to speaker by default!
-            audioStreamType: 'music',
-            audioAttributesUsageType: 'media',
-            audioAttributesContentType: 'music',
+            audioStreamType: 'music',  // <-- CHANGED from 'voiceCall'
+            audioAttributesUsageType: 'voiceCommunication',  // DEFAULT
+            audioAttributesContentType: 'speech',  // DEFAULT
           },
-          // Force speaker as output
           preferredOutputList: ['speaker'],
-          // Allow us to control audio routing
-          forceHandleAudioRouting: true,
         },
       });
 
       console.log('[AudioSession] Starting Android audio session...');
       await AudioSession.startAudioSession();
-
-      // After starting, explicitly set speaker output
-      console.log('[AudioSession] Forcing speaker output...');
-      try {
-        await AudioSession.showAudioRoutePicker?.();
-      } catch {
-        // showAudioRoutePicker may not be available, that's ok
-      }
-
-      console.log('[AudioSession] Android speaker mode configured!');
+      console.log('[AudioSession] Android audio session STARTED');
     }
 
     console.log('[AudioSession] Configuration complete!');
@@ -217,7 +203,7 @@ export async function reconfigureAudioForPlayback(): Promise<void> {
         android: {
           audioTypeOptions: {
             manageAudioFocus: true,
-            audioMode: 'inCommunication',
+            audioMode: 'normal',  // Use normal mode to keep speaker
             audioFocusMode: 'gain',
             audioStreamType: 'music',
             audioAttributesUsageType: 'media',
@@ -227,7 +213,16 @@ export async function reconfigureAudioForPlayback(): Promise<void> {
           forceHandleAudioRouting: true,
         },
       });
-      console.log('[AudioSession] Android reconfigured for speaker playback');
+
+      // CRITICAL: Force speaker via selectAudioOutput
+      try {
+        await AudioSession.selectAudioOutput('speaker');
+        console.log('[AudioSession] Android selectAudioOutput(speaker) SUCCESS!');
+      } catch (e) {
+        console.warn('[AudioSession] selectAudioOutput failed:', e);
+      }
+
+      console.log('[AudioSession] Android reconfigured for SPEAKER playback');
     }
 
     console.log('[AudioSession] Reconfigured successfully');
@@ -329,7 +324,15 @@ export async function setAudioOutput(useSpeaker: boolean): Promise<void> {
     }
 
     if (Platform.OS === 'ios') {
-      // iOS: Use videoChat mode + defaultToSpeaker for speaker, voiceChat for earpiece
+      // iOS: Use selectAudioOutput with force_speaker
+      try {
+        await AudioSession.selectAudioOutput(useSpeaker ? 'force_speaker' : 'default');
+        console.log(`[AudioSession] iOS selectAudioOutput: ${useSpeaker ? 'force_speaker' : 'default'}`);
+      } catch (e) {
+        console.warn('[AudioSession] selectAudioOutput failed, using fallback config');
+      }
+
+      // Also configure audio mode
       await AudioSession.setAppleAudioConfiguration({
         audioCategory: 'playAndRecord',
         audioCategoryOptions: useSpeaker
@@ -345,21 +348,26 @@ export async function setAudioOutput(useSpeaker: boolean): Promise<void> {
         },
       });
     } else if (Platform.OS === 'android') {
-      // Android: Switch stream type to control speaker/earpiece
-      // - 'music' stream goes to speaker by default
-      // - 'voiceCall' stream goes to earpiece by default
+      // Android: Use selectAudioOutput DIRECTLY - this calls setSpeakerphoneOn()
+      // This is the MOST RELIABLE way to force speaker on Android!
+      try {
+        await AudioSession.selectAudioOutput(useSpeaker ? 'speaker' : 'earpiece');
+        console.log(`[AudioSession] Android selectAudioOutput: ${useSpeaker ? 'speaker' : 'earpiece'}`);
+      } catch (e) {
+        console.warn('[AudioSession] selectAudioOutput failed:', e);
+      }
+
+      // Also reconfigure audio settings as backup
       await AudioSession.configureAudio({
         android: {
           audioTypeOptions: {
             manageAudioFocus: true,
             audioMode: useSpeaker ? 'normal' : 'inCommunication',
             audioFocusMode: 'gain',
-            // Key difference: music→speaker, voiceCall→earpiece
             audioStreamType: useSpeaker ? 'music' : 'voiceCall',
             audioAttributesUsageType: useSpeaker ? 'media' : 'voiceCommunication',
             audioAttributesContentType: useSpeaker ? 'music' : 'speech',
           },
-          // Also set preferred output list
           preferredOutputList: useSpeaker ? ['speaker'] : ['earpiece'],
           forceHandleAudioRouting: true,
         },