diff --git a/frontend/e2e/README.md b/frontend/e2e/README.md
index 5c7c6bb3..ea763eed 100644
--- a/frontend/e2e/README.md
+++ b/frontend/e2e/README.md
@@ -17,6 +17,16 @@ siftlode e2e-seed       # (re)seed the test account only, no tests
 The localdev stack must be up (`siftlode dev`). `global.setup.ts` reseeds the account and logs in
 once, sharing the session via `e2e/.auth/state.json` (git-ignored).
 
+**Browsers** — every flow runs in three projects: `chromium` (Desktop Chrome), `webkit` (Desktop
+Safari) and `ipad` (iPad gen 7 landscape: 1080×810, touch, mobile). Install the engines once per
+machine with `npx playwright install chromium webkit`; run one project with
+`npx playwright test --project=ipad`. WebKit catches what every iOS browser inherits from the engine
+(JS, CSS/layout, event order). It does **not** reproduce iPad media refusals: Playwright's WebKit
+decodes through the host OS (Media Foundation on Windows, GStreamer on Linux), and measured on
+2026-09-14 it played an mp3-in-mp4 and an AV1 mp4 that a real iPad refuses. Check a media format
+on a real iPad against the dev stack over the LAN (`http://<desktop LAN IP>:8080`, e.g. a
+login-free `/watch/<token>` share link).
+
 **Target** — `PW_BASE_URL` (default `http://127.0.0.1:8080`):
 
 - **`:8080`** (baked SPA) is authoritative and same-origin. After a **frontend change you must
diff --git a/frontend/e2e/global.setup.ts b/frontend/e2e/global.setup.ts
index 5c40de1a..9dfa571b 100644
--- a/frontend/e2e/global.setup.ts
+++ b/frontend/e2e/global.setup.ts
@@ -67,13 +67,17 @@ setup("seed + authenticate", async ({ page }) => {
   const me = await (await page.request.get("/api/me")).json();
   expect(me.authenticated, "session not established after login").toBeTruthy();
 
-  // 4. Pin the UI locale and suppress the first-login onboarding wizard (a full-screen overlay
+  // 4. Pin the UI locale, suppress the first-login onboarding wizard (a full-screen overlay
   //    that would intercept every click — the test account has no YouTube connection, so it
-  //    auto-opens). The dismissed flag is per-account: `siftlode.onboarding.dismissed.<id>`.
+  //    auto-opens), and opt the account out of starting on Home. Since E24 a bare URL lands on
+  //    Home, and the feed, channel and player flows this net locks all open "/" expecting the
+  //    feed; the opt-out is the one Settings → Appearance → Startup writes. Both flags are
+  //    per-account: `siftlode.onboarding.dismissed.<id>`, `siftlode.startOnHome.<id>`.
   await page.goto("/");
   await page.evaluate((id: number) => {
     localStorage.setItem("siftlode.lang", "en");
     localStorage.setItem(`siftlode.onboarding.dismissed.${id}`, "1");
+    localStorage.setItem(`siftlode.startOnHome.${id}`, "0");
   }, me.id);
   mkdirSync(dirname(STORAGE), { recursive: true });
   await page.context().storageState({ path: STORAGE });
diff --git a/frontend/playwright.config.ts b/frontend/playwright.config.ts
index 5aa27308..45b26084 100644
--- a/frontend/playwright.config.ts
+++ b/frontend/playwright.config.ts
@@ -47,5 +47,19 @@ export default defineConfig({
       use: { ...devices["Desktop Chrome"], storageState: STORAGE_STATE },
       dependencies: ["setup"],
     },
+    // WebKit catches engine-level differences (JS, CSS/layout, event order) that every iOS browser
+    // inherits. It does NOT reproduce iPad MEDIA refusals: Playwright's WebKit decodes through the
+    // host OS (Media Foundation on Windows, GStreamer on Linux), and measured on 2026-09-14 it played
+    // an mp3-in-mp4 and an AV1 mp4 that iPad refuses. Media checks need a real iPad.
+    {
+      name: "webkit",
+      use: { ...devices["Desktop Safari"], storageState: STORAGE_STATE },
+      dependencies: ["setup"],
+    },
+    {
+      name: "ipad",
+      use: { ...devices["iPad (gen 7) landscape"], storageState: STORAGE_STATE },
+      dependencies: ["setup"],
+    },
   ],
 });