diff --git a/src/player.js b/src/player.js
index 4121130..73f7d1b 100644
--- a/src/player.js
+++ b/src/player.js
@@ -5,10 +5,41 @@ import { api, streamUrl, coverUrl, downloadUrl } from './api.js';
 import { loadRecommendations } from './views.js';
 import { updateLyricsHighlight, onNpSongChange } from './nowplaying.js';
 
+// ─── PRELOAD (keeps network alive through Doze mode gap between tracks) ───
+let _preAudio = null;
+let _preUrl   = '';
+let _preId    = '';
+
+function _nextIdx() {
+  if(S.repeat === 'one') return S.qIdx;
+  if(S.shuffle) return -1;
+  if(S.qIdx + 1 < S.queue.length) return S.qIdx + 1;
+  if(S.repeat === 'all') return 0;
+  return -1;
+}
+
+function _preloadNext() {
+  const ni = _nextIdx();
+  if(ni < 0) return;
+  const next = S.queue[ni];
+  if(!next || _preId === next.id) return;
+  _preId  = next.id;
+  _preUrl = streamUrl(next.id);   // generate URL once — reused by main element
+  if(!_preAudio) { _preAudio = new Audio(); _preAudio.preload = 'auto'; }
+  _preAudio.volume = 0;
+  _preAudio.src = _preUrl;        // Chrome starts buffering immediately
+}
+
+function _clearPreload() {
+  _preId = ''; _preUrl = '';
+  if(_preAudio) { _preAudio.src = ''; }
+}
+
 // ─── PLAYBACK ───
 export function playQueue(songs, startIdx) {
   S.queue = songs.map(s => ({...s}));
   S.qIdx = startIdx;
+  _clearPreload();
   playCurrent();
   renderQueue();
   if(S.radioMode) fillRadioQueue();
@@ -21,8 +52,11 @@ export function playCurrent() {
   updatePlayerUI(s);        // update metadata/notification BEFORE src change
   onNpSongChange(s.id);
   renderQueue();
-  S.audio.src = streamUrl(s.id);
-  S.audio.play().catch(() => {});
+  // Reuse preloaded URL so Chrome can serve from its in-memory buffer
+  const src = (_preId === s.id && _preUrl) ? _preUrl : streamUrl(s.id);
+  _clearPreload();
+  S.audio.src = src;
+  S.audio.play().catch(() => { S._trackChanging = false; });
 }
 
 export function updatePlayerUI(s) {
@@ -128,11 +162,13 @@ export function setPlayIcon(playing) {
 }
 
 export function prevSong() {
+  _clearPreload();
   if(S.audio.currentTime > 3) { S.audio.currentTime = 0; return; }
   if(S.qIdx > 0) { S.qIdx--; playCurrent(); }
 }
 
 export function nextSong() {
+  _clearPreload();
   if(S.shuffle) S.qIdx = Math.floor(Math.random() * S.queue.length);
   else if(S.qIdx < S.queue.length - 1) S.qIdx++;
   else if(S.repeat) S.qIdx = 0;
@@ -200,6 +236,9 @@ let _androidPosTick = 0;
 export function updateProgress() {
   if(!S.audio.duration || S._scrubbing) return;
   syncMediaSessionPosition();
+  // Preload next track at 30s remaining so network stays alive through Doze gap
+  const rem = S.audio.duration - S.audio.currentTime;
+  if(rem > 0 && rem < 30 && !S._trackChanging) _preloadNext();
   // Update Android native position every ~5 seconds to keep lock screen scrubber in sync
   const now = Date.now();
   if(now - _androidPosTick > 5000) {