diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 0c00c4c9..e9410b6f 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -38,3 +38,8 @@ CLAUDE.md
 # Local flatpak-builder output (build-flatpak.sh) — ostree repo + build dir at the repo root.
 .flatpak-repo/
 .flatpak-build/
+
+# Nix build outputs (flake.nix) — `nix build` result symlinks + direnv cache. flake.lock IS tracked.
+/result
+/result-*
+.direnv/
diff --git a/clients/android/native/src/decode.rs b/clients/android/native/src/decode.rs
index e0715721..30a0b3d7 100644
--- a/clients/android/native/src/decode.rs
+++ b/clients/android/native/src/decode.rs
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ fn run_sync(
         return;
     }
     log::info!(
-        "decode: HEVC decoder started at {}x{}",
+        "decode: {mime} decoder started at {}x{}",
         mode.width,
         mode.height
     );
@@ -815,7 +815,11 @@ fn run_async(
             })),
             on_error: Some(Box::new(move |e, code, _detail| {
                 let fatal = !code.is_recoverable() && !code.is_transient();
-                log::warn!("decode: codec error {e:?} (fatal={fatal})");
+                if fatal {
+                    log::error!("decode: fatal codec error — stream will stop: {e:?}");
+                } else {
+                    log::warn!("decode: codec error {e:?} (recoverable)");
+                }
                 let _ = err_tx.send(DecodeEvent::Error { fatal });
             })),
         };
diff --git a/crates/pf-client-core/src/audio_wasapi.rs b/crates/pf-client-core/src/audio_wasapi.rs
index 32f7ff50..5fb1de9f 100644
--- a/crates/pf-client-core/src/audio_wasapi.rs
+++ b/crates/pf-client-core/src/audio_wasapi.rs
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ impl AudioPlayer {
             .spawn(move || {
                 if let Err(e) = render_thread(pcm_rx, recycle_tx, stop_t, ready_tx, channels as u8)
                 {
-                    tracing::warn!(error = format!("{e:#}"), "audio playback thread ended");
+                    tracing::warn!(error = %format!("{e:#}"), "audio playback thread ended");
                 }
             })
             .context("spawn audio thread")?;
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ impl MicStreamer {
             .name("punktfunk-mic".into())
             .spawn(move || {
                 if let Err(e) = mic_thread(&connector, stop_t) {
-                    tracing::warn!(error = format!("{e:#}"), "mic uplink thread ended");
+                    tracing::warn!(error = %format!("{e:#}"), "mic uplink thread ended");
                 }
             })
             .context("spawn mic thread")?;
diff --git a/crates/pf-client-core/src/gamepad.rs b/crates/pf-client-core/src/gamepad.rs
index ab869982..a08526f3 100644
--- a/crates/pf-client-core/src/gamepad.rs
+++ b/crates/pf-client-core/src/gamepad.rs
@@ -1493,7 +1493,7 @@ impl Worker {
             Err(e) => {
                 tracing::warn!(pad = slot.index, low, high, error = %e, "rumble: SDL set_rumble failed")
             }
-            Ok(()) => tracing::debug!(pad = slot.index, low, high, "rumble: rendered"),
+            Ok(()) => tracing::trace!(pad = slot.index, low, high, "rumble: rendered"),
         }
         slot.rumble.last = (low, high);
         slot.rumble.last_at = Some(Instant::now());
diff --git a/crates/pf-client-core/src/session.rs b/crates/pf-client-core/src/session.rs
index 816412fc..b6fa23e9 100644
--- a/crates/pf-client-core/src/session.rs
+++ b/crates/pf-client-core/src/session.rs
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ fn pump(
             preferred = punktfunk_core::quic::CODEC_PYROWAVE;
         } else {
             tracing::warn!(
-                "PUNKTFUNK_PREFER_PYROWAVE=1 but the presenter device failed the pyrowave                  probe — keeping the normal codec preference"
+                "PUNKTFUNK_PREFER_PYROWAVE=1 but the presenter device failed the pyrowave probe — keeping the normal codec preference"
             );
         }
     }
@@ -791,7 +791,7 @@ fn spawn_audio(
                                 buf.extend_from_slice(&pcm[..n]);
                                 player.push(buf);
                             }
-                            Err(e) => tracing::debug!(error = %e, "opus decode"),
+                            Err(e) => tracing::debug!(error = %e, "opus decode failed"),
                         }
                     }
                     Err(PunktfunkError::NoFrame) => {}
diff --git a/crates/pf-client-core/src/video.rs b/crates/pf-client-core/src/video.rs
index 07e2cb76..260d3014 100644
--- a/crates/pf-client-core/src/video.rs
+++ b/crates/pf-client-core/src/video.rs
@@ -510,7 +510,7 @@ impl Decoder {
                     if choice == "vaapi" {
                         return Err(e.context("PUNKTFUNK_DECODER=vaapi but VAAPI failed"));
                     }
-                    tracing::info!(reason = %e, "VAAPI unavailable — software decode");
+                    tracing::warn!(error = %e, "VAAPI unavailable — falling back to software decode");
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -695,8 +695,8 @@ impl Decoder {
                     self.backend = Backend::Software(SoftwareDecoder::new(self.codec_id)?);
                     self.vaapi_fails = 0;
                 } else {
-                    tracing::warn!(error = %e,
-                        "{which} decode error — requesting keyframe, keeping hardware decode");
+                    tracing::debug!(backend = which, error = %e,
+                        "decode error — requesting keyframe, keeping hardware decode");
                 }
                 Ok(None)
             }
@@ -1653,7 +1653,7 @@ unsafe extern "C" fn pick_vulkan(
             &mut fr,
         );
         if r < 0 || fr.is_null() {
-            tracing::warn!("avcodec_get_hw_frames_parameters(VULKAN) failed ({r})");
+            tracing::warn!(code = r, "avcodec_get_hw_frames_parameters(VULKAN) failed");
             return ffi::AVPixelFormat::AV_PIX_FMT_NONE;
         }
         let fc = (*fr).data as *mut ffi::AVHWFramesContext;
@@ -1665,7 +1665,7 @@ unsafe extern "C" fn pick_vulkan(
             as _;
         let r = ffi::av_hwframe_ctx_init(fr);
         if r < 0 {
-            tracing::warn!("av_hwframe_ctx_init(VULKAN) failed ({r})");
+            tracing::warn!(code = r, "av_hwframe_ctx_init(VULKAN) failed");
             let mut fr = fr;
             ffi::av_buffer_unref(&mut fr);
             return ffi::AVPixelFormat::AV_PIX_FMT_NONE;
diff --git a/crates/pf-client-core/src/video_pyrowave.rs b/crates/pf-client-core/src/video_pyrowave.rs
index f8397981..5e926472 100644
--- a/crates/pf-client-core/src/video_pyrowave.rs
+++ b/crates/pf-client-core/src/video_pyrowave.rs
@@ -537,7 +537,8 @@ impl PyroWaveDecoder {
         let fence = device.create_fence(&vk::FenceCreateInfo::default(), None)?;
 
         tracing::info!(
-            mode = %format!("{width}x{height}"),
+            width,
+            height,
             "PyroWave decoder open on the presenter's device (compute iDWT, BT.709 limited)"
         );
         Ok(PyroWaveDecoder {
@@ -602,8 +603,8 @@ impl PyroWaveDecoder {
         });
         self.next = 0;
         tracing::info!(
-            from = %format!("{}x{}", self.width, self.height),
-            to = %format!("{width}x{height}"),
+            from = %format_args!("{}x{}", self.width, self.height),
+            to = %format_args!("{width}x{height}"),
             "PyroWave decoder rebuilt for mid-stream resize"
         );
         self.width = width;
diff --git a/crates/pf-presenter/src/dmabuf.rs b/crates/pf-presenter/src/dmabuf.rs
index b718794f..7e616459 100644
--- a/crates/pf-presenter/src/dmabuf.rs
+++ b/crates/pf-presenter/src/dmabuf.rs
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ pub fn import(
     // EGL could leave an INVALID modifier to the driver's implied choice; explicit-
     // modifier images can't — LINEAR is the only honest guess (debug-visible if wrong).
     let modifier = if frame.modifier == DRM_FORMAT_MOD_INVALID {
-        tracing::debug!("dmabuf carried no explicit modifier — importing as LINEAR");
+        tracing::trace!("dmabuf carried no explicit modifier — importing as LINEAR");
         DRM_FORMAT_MOD_LINEAR
     } else {
         frame.modifier
diff --git a/crates/pf-presenter/src/run.rs b/crates/pf-presenter/src/run.rs
index cce198f4..0568374f 100644
--- a/crates/pf-presenter/src/run.rs
+++ b/crates/pf-presenter/src/run.rs
@@ -184,6 +184,11 @@ struct StreamState {
     // Hardware-path health: a failure streak (or a device with no import support at
     // all) demotes the decoder to software via the shared flag — once per session.
     dmabuf_demoted: bool,
+    /// PyroWave present has no demote rung (nothing else decodes the codec), so a
+    /// persistent non-device-lost present failure would warn on every frame. Latch it:
+    /// warn on the first failure of a streak, then stay quiet until a present succeeds.
+    #[cfg(all(target_os = "linux", feature = "pyrowave"))]
+    pyro_present_warned: bool,
     hw_fails: u32,
     /// The OSD's text (multi-line; rebuilt each Stats window and on a live tier cycle).
     osd_text: String,
@@ -255,6 +260,8 @@ impl StreamState {
             win_start: Instant::now(),
             presented: PresentedWindow::default(),
             dmabuf_demoted: false,
+            #[cfg(all(target_os = "linux", feature = "pyrowave"))]
+            pyro_present_warned: false,
             hw_fails: 0,
             osd_text: String::new(),
             last_stats: None,
@@ -542,7 +549,7 @@ fn run_inner(mut opts: SessionOpts, mut mode: ModeCtl) -> Result<Option<Outcome>
                         fullscreen = !fullscreen;
                         tracing::debug!(fullscreen, "fullscreen toggle");
                         if let Err(e) = window.set_fullscreen(fullscreen) {
-                            tracing::warn!(error = %e, "fullscreen toggle");
+                            tracing::warn!(error = %e, fullscreen, "failed to toggle fullscreen");
                         }
                         continue;
                     }
@@ -985,13 +992,22 @@ fn run_inner(mut opts: SessionOpts, mut mode: ModeCtl) -> Result<Option<Outcome>
                             FrameInput::PyroWave(f),
                             overlay_frame.as_ref(),
                         ) {
-                            Ok(p) => p,
+                            Ok(p) => {
+                                st.pyro_present_warned = false;
+                                p
+                            }
                             Err(e) => {
                                 if device_lost(&e) {
                                     return Err(e)
                                         .context("GPU device lost — the session cannot continue");
                                 }
-                                tracing::warn!(error = %format!("{e:#}"), "pyrowave present failed");
+                                if !st.pyro_present_warned {
+                                    st.pyro_present_warned = true;
+                                    tracing::warn!(
+                                        error = %format!("{e:#}"),
+                                        "pyrowave present failed — suppressing repeats until it recovers"
+                                    );
+                                }
                                 false
                             }
                         }
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-core/src/client.rs b/crates/punktfunk-core/src/client.rs
index b731fb43..670d4870 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-core/src/client.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-core/src/client.rs
@@ -1941,7 +1941,11 @@ async fn worker_main(args: WorkerArgs) {
                                 ResyncStep::Idle => {}
                             }
                         } else {
-                            tracing::warn!("unknown control message — ignoring");
+                            tracing::warn!(
+                                tag = ?msg.first(),
+                                len = msg.len(),
+                                "unknown control message — ignoring"
+                            );
                         }
                     }
                 }
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-core/src/transport/udp.rs b/crates/punktfunk-core/src/transport/udp.rs
index 298f8011..4ba460c4 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-core/src/transport/udp.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-core/src/transport/udp.rs
@@ -230,8 +230,7 @@ mod uso {
                 STATE.store(if off { 2 } else { 1 }, Ordering::Relaxed);
                 tracing::info!(
                     enabled = !off,
-                    "Windows UDP Send Offload (USO): {} (the 1 Gbps+ send lever; PUNKTFUNK_GSO=0 disables)",
-                    if off { "off" } else { "on" }
+                    "Windows UDP Send Offload (USO) resolved (the 1 Gbps+ send lever; PUNKTFUNK_GSO=0 disables)"
                 );
                 !off
             }
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/Cargo.toml b/crates/punktfunk-host/Cargo.toml
index d19998bb..8a562d3c 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/Cargo.toml
@@ -217,6 +217,9 @@ windows = { version = "0.62", features = [
     # (src/windows/crash.rs); Kernel gates the CONTEXT type EXCEPTION_POINTERS embeds.
     "Win32_System_Diagnostics_Debug",
     "Win32_System_Kernel",
+    # CreateToolhelp32Snapshot/Process32*W — the conflicting-streaming-host process scan
+    # (src/detect/windows.rs): is Sunshine/Apollo/... running alongside us?
+    "Win32_System_Diagnostics_ToolHelp",
 ] }
 # The SCM plumbing for the `service` subcommand (define_windows_service! / dispatcher / control
 # handler / ServiceManager install). Wraps the Win32 service API; the supervision loop itself uses
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/audio/linux/mod.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/audio/linux/mod.rs
index 23a476f0..92529e71 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/audio/linux/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/audio/linux/mod.rs
@@ -156,7 +156,10 @@ impl PwMicSource {
             .name("punktfunk-pw-mic".into())
             .spawn(move || {
                 if let Err(e) = mic_pw_thread(pcm_rx, quit_rx, channels, flush_t, ready_tx) {
-                    tracing::error!(error = %format!("{e:#}"), "pipewire virtual-mic thread failed");
+                    // Reaching here is always a setup/open failure (once the mainloop runs it exits
+                    // Ok) — and it was already reported to the pump via the ready handshake, which
+                    // owns the throttled operator-facing warn. Keep only a debug breadcrumb.
+                    tracing::debug!(error = %format!("{e:#}"), "pipewire virtual-mic setup failed — pump will back off and retry");
                 }
                 // Whether a clean quit or a daemon death: this instance is done — the pump reopens.
                 alive_t.store(false, Ordering::Release);
@@ -322,7 +325,7 @@ fn mic_pw_thread(
             .state_changed({
                 let mainloop = mainloop.clone();
                 move |_s, _ud, old, new| {
-                    tracing::info!(?old, ?new, "pipewire virtual-mic stream state");
+                    tracing::debug!(?old, ?new, "pipewire virtual-mic stream state");
                     // A stream error is unrecoverable for this instance — exit so the pump reopens.
                     if matches!(new, pw::stream::StreamState::Error(_)) {
                         mainloop.quit();
@@ -522,7 +525,7 @@ fn pw_thread(
     let _listener = stream
         .add_local_listener_with_user_data(tx)
         .state_changed(|_s, _ud, old, new| {
-            tracing::info!(?old, ?new, "pipewire audio stream state");
+            tracing::debug!(?old, ?new, "pipewire audio stream state");
         })
         .param_changed(|_stream, _tx, id, param| {
             let Some(param) = param else { return };
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/audio/windows/wasapi_cap.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/audio/windows/wasapi_cap.rs
index 108c8be5..09f394e9 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/audio/windows/wasapi_cap.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/audio/windows/wasapi_cap.rs
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ impl WasapiLoopbackCapturer {
             .name("punktfunk-wasapi-audio".into())
             .spawn(move || {
                 if let Err(e) = capture_thread(tx, stop_t, ready_tx, channels) {
-                    tracing::error!(error = format!("{e:#}"), "wasapi loopback thread failed");
+                    tracing::error!(error = %format!("{e:#}"), "wasapi loopback thread failed");
                 }
             })
             .context("spawn wasapi audio thread")?;
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/capture/linux/mod.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/capture/linux/mod.rs
index d094ee74..89cf5428 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/capture/linux/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/capture/linux/mod.rs
@@ -650,8 +650,6 @@ mod pipewire {
         /// Bumps whenever the bitmap (`rgba`/`bw`/`bh`) changes — stable across position-only moves,
         /// so the GPU encoder re-uploads its cursor texture only on change.
         serial: u64,
-        /// One-shot guard for the "cursor present but this frame is zero-copy" notice.
-        warned_zerocopy: bool,
     }
 
     impl CursorState {
@@ -1174,22 +1172,6 @@ mod pipewire {
         if ud.broken.load(Ordering::Relaxed) {
             return;
         }
-        // Cursor-as-metadata only reaches the frame on the CPU de-pad path below (a small
-        // straight-alpha blit). The zero-copy paths hand a GPU-resident buffer straight to the
-        // encoder, so the cached cursor can't be composited here — that needs a GPU blit in the
-        // encoder (follow-up). Note it once, so a gamescope host (zero-copy by default) shows in
-        // the logs that the metadata IS arriving even while the overlay isn't drawn yet.
-        if ud.cursor.visible
-            && !ud.cursor.warned_zerocopy
-            && (ud.importer.is_some() || ud.vaapi_passthrough)
-        {
-            ud.cursor.warned_zerocopy = true;
-            tracing::warn!(
-                "cursor metadata received, but frames are delivered zero-copy (GPU-resident) — \
-                 the cursor overlay is composited only on the CPU capture path today; GPU-path \
-                 compositing (Vulkan/CUDA/VAAPI encode) is a follow-up"
-            );
-        }
         // SAFETY: `spa_buf` is the `*mut spa_buffer` of the PipeWire buffer we dequeued and still hold for
         // this `.process` callback (not requeued until after `consume_frame` returns), so it is live. The
         // block null-checks `spa_buf`, requires `n_datas != 0`, and null-checks the `datas` array pointer
@@ -1241,7 +1223,7 @@ mod pipewire {
                         std::sync::atomic::AtomicBool::new(true);
                     if F2.swap(false, Ordering::Relaxed) {
                         tracing::warn!(
-                            error = %format!("{e}"),
+                            error = %e,
                             "dmabuf EXPORT_SYNC_FILE failed — no implicit-fence sync; NVIDIA \
                              zero-copy may show stale frames (no producer explicit sync)"
                         );
@@ -1915,7 +1897,15 @@ mod pipewire {
                     unsafe { stream.queue_raw_buffer(newest) };
                 }));
                 if outcome.is_err() {
-                    tracing::error!("panic in pipewire process callback — frame dropped");
+                    // In the per-frame `.process` callback: a deterministic panic (e.g. a bad
+                    // format) would fire this every frame, so power-of-two throttle it — enough to
+                    // surface the fault without evicting the whole log ring.
+                    static PANICS: std::sync::atomic::AtomicU64 =
+                        std::sync::atomic::AtomicU64::new(0);
+                    let n = PANICS.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed) + 1;
+                    if n.is_power_of_two() {
+                        tracing::error!(count = n, "panic in pipewire process callback — frame dropped");
+                    }
                 }
             })
             .register()
@@ -1930,7 +1920,11 @@ mod pipewire {
 
         // Request raw video in any encoder-mappable layout, any size/framerate.
         let obj = if let Some((fw, fh)) = fixed_pod {
-            tracing::info!(fw, fh, "PW DEBUG: offering fixed BGRx pod");
+            tracing::info!(
+                fw,
+                fh,
+                "pipewire: offering a fixed BGRx format pod (PUNKTFUNK_PW_FIXED_POD)"
+            );
             pw::spa::pod::object!(
                 pw::spa::utils::SpaTypes::ObjectParamFormat,
                 pw::spa::param::ParamType::EnumFormat,
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/capture/windows/dxgi.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/capture/windows/dxgi.rs
index a1180581..3b2c2057 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/capture/windows/dxgi.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/capture/windows/dxgi.rs
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ pub(crate) fn install_gpu_pref_hook() {
         // 100% DuplicateOutput1 E_ACCESSDENIED is diagnosable instead of silent.
         match SetProcessDpiAwarenessContext(DPI_AWARENESS_CONTEXT_PER_MONITOR_AWARE_V2) {
             Ok(()) => tracing::info!("DPI awareness set: PER_MONITOR_AWARE_V2"),
-            Err(e) => tracing::warn!(error = %format!("{e:?}"),
+            Err(e) => tracing::warn!(error = ?e,
                 "SetProcessDpiAwarenessContext failed (already set?) — DuplicateOutput1 may E_ACCESSDENIED"),
         }
         // 0=UNAWARE 1=SYSTEM 2=PER_MONITOR(_V2). DuplicateOutput1 needs 2.
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/capture/windows/idd_push.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/capture/windows/idd_push.rs
index 22b0570c..18f48074 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/capture/windows/idd_push.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/capture/windows/idd_push.rs
@@ -595,7 +595,7 @@ impl DescriptorPoller {
             .map_err(|e| {
                 // Degraded, not fatal: the session streams, it just never follows a mid-session
                 // HDR flip / mode-set (seq stays 0 → the consumer sees no changes).
-                tracing::error!(error = %e, "IDD push: descriptor-poller thread failed to spawn");
+                tracing::warn!(error = %e, "IDD push: descriptor-poller thread failed to spawn — mid-session HDR/mode changes won't be followed");
             })
             .ok();
         Self { snap, stop, thread }
@@ -753,6 +753,13 @@ pub struct IddPushCapturer {
     /// during active flow and warns when they turn metronomic — the sole-virtual-display
     /// periodic-stutter diagnostic.
     stall_watch: StallWatch,
+    /// Stall↔OS-event correlation counters for the metronomic warn: how many stalls this session,
+    /// and how many had a coinciding [`crate::display_events`] event in their gap window — the
+    /// discriminator between "Windows re-enumerates a monitor each cycle" (devnode churn the
+    /// `pnp_disable_monitors` axis suppresses) and "the disturbance is below the OS" (GPU driver
+    /// servicing a standby sink / display-poller software).
+    stalls_seen: u32,
+    stalls_with_os_events: u32,
     /// Host-owned ROTATING output ring NVENC encodes (one YUV texture per slot). Rotating it per frame
     /// is the precondition for pipelining the encode loop: while NVENC encodes frame N's texture on the
     /// ASIC, frame N+1's convert writes a DIFFERENT texture — the two overlap. Format = `out_format()`:
@@ -886,6 +893,9 @@ impl IddPushCapturer {
         want_444: bool,
         keepalive: Box<dyn Send>,
     ) -> std::result::Result<Self, (anyhow::Error, Box<dyn Send>)> {
+        // The stall-attribution listener (idempotent): started with the first IDD-push capturer so
+        // the stall log can correlate DWM holes with OS display events for the session's lifetime.
+        crate::display_events::spawn_once();
         match Self::open_inner(target, preferred, client_10bit, want_444) {
             Ok(mut me) => {
                 me._keepalive = keepalive;
@@ -1146,6 +1156,8 @@ impl IddPushCapturer {
                 last_liveness: Instant::now(),
                 last_kick: Instant::now(),
                 stall_watch: StallWatch::new(),
+                stalls_seen: 0,
+                stalls_with_os_events: 0,
                 out_ring: Vec::new(),
                 out_idx: 0,
                 video_conv: None,
@@ -1646,24 +1658,70 @@ impl IddPushCapturer {
             // doesn't read as a DWM stall.
             self.stall_watch.reset();
         } else if let Some(stall) = self.stall_watch.note_fresh(now) {
+            // OS display events inside the gap (plus a lead-in margin: the event that CAUSED the
+            // hole lands just before DWM stops delivering) — the attribution that turns "DWM
+            // stopped composing" into "…because Windows re-enumerated SAMSUNG on HDMI".
+            let window = stall.gap + Duration::from_millis(300);
+            let events = now
+                .checked_sub(window)
+                .map(|from| crate::display_events::events_between(from, now))
+                .unwrap_or_default();
+            self.stalls_seen = self.stalls_seen.saturating_add(1);
+            if !events.is_empty() {
+                self.stalls_with_os_events = self.stalls_with_os_events.saturating_add(1);
+            }
             // debug (not warn): a single hole also happens when content legitimately pauses;
             // the reportable signal is the metronomic cycle below. Mounjay-class triage runs
             // at debug level, and the web-console debug ring captures these.
             tracing::debug!(
                 gap_ms = stall.gap.as_millis() as u64,
+                os_display_events = %crate::display_events::summarize(&events),
                 "IDD-push capture stall — the desktop was composing at speed, then DWM \
                  delivered no frame for the gap; the present path stalled below capture"
             );
             if let Some(period) = stall.metronomic {
-                tracing::warn!(
-                    period_s = format!("{:.2}", period.as_secs_f64()),
-                    "capture stalls are METRONOMIC — DWM stops composing the virtual display \
-                     on a stable period, i.e. a periodic display-path disturbance BELOW \
-                     capture (DWM present clock / GPU driver / display-poller software). \
-                     Correlate with 'slow display-descriptor poll'; if that never fires, the \
-                     disturbance is outside punktfunk — try display topology=primary or \
-                     extend (keep a physical output active), or a different refresh rate"
-                );
+                let suspects = crate::display_events::connected_inactive_externals();
+                let suspects = if suspects.is_empty() {
+                    "none".to_string()
+                } else {
+                    suspects.join(", ")
+                };
+                let correlated = format!("{}/{}", self.stalls_with_os_events, self.stalls_seen);
+                // Half-or-more of the stalls carrying a coinciding OS event = the reaction
+                // cascade is OS-visible; otherwise the disturbance never surfaces above the
+                // driver. Different classes, different cures — say which one this box has.
+                if self.stalls_with_os_events * 2 >= self.stalls_seen {
+                    tracing::warn!(
+                        period_s = format!("{:.2}", period.as_secs_f64()),
+                        os_correlated = correlated,
+                        connected_inactive = %suspects,
+                        "capture stalls are METRONOMIC and coincide with Windows monitor \
+                         hot-plug/re-enumeration events — a connected display (or its \
+                         cable/switch/AVR) re-probes the link on a timer and Windows re-reacts \
+                         each time. Cures, best-first: that display's OSD 'auto input \
+                         scan/detect' OFF (and on TVs: instant-on/quick-start + CEC off), \
+                         unplug its cable at the GPU, an HPD-holding adapter/dummy plug, or \
+                         keep it active while streaming; the pnp_disable_monitors policy axis \
+                         suppresses the Windows-side reaction (see connected_inactive for the \
+                         suspects)"
+                    );
+                } else {
+                    tracing::warn!(
+                        period_s = format!("{:.2}", period.as_secs_f64()),
+                        os_correlated = correlated,
+                        connected_inactive = %suspects,
+                        "capture stalls are METRONOMIC with NO coinciding OS display event — \
+                         the disturbance is BELOW Windows: the GPU driver servicing a \
+                         connected-but-asleep sink (standby HPD/DDC/link probing), \
+                         display-poller software (the SteelSeries-GG/SignalRGB class — \
+                         correlate 'slow display-descriptor poll' lines), or the DWM present \
+                         clock (try a different refresh rate). If connected_inactive lists a \
+                         display, its standby probing is the prime suspect: unplug it at the \
+                         GPU, disable its OSD auto input scan (TVs: instant-on/quick-start + \
+                         CEC off), use an HPD-holding adapter/dummy, or keep it active while \
+                         streaming"
+                    );
+                }
             }
         }
         self.last_fresh = now; // feeds the driver-death watch
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/detect.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/detect.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5d412ebb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/detect.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,342 @@
+//! Conflicting game-streaming host detection.
+//!
+//! Punktfunk is one of a family of Moonlight-compatible desktop-streaming hosts. The others —
+//! Sunshine and its many forks (Apollo, Vibeshine, Vibepollo, LuminalShine, …) — all impersonate
+//! NVIDIA GameStream: they bind the **same** ports (47984/47989 nvhttp, 47998-48010 stream,
+//! 47990 web UI — which is also our management API), advertise the **same** `_nvstream._tcp`
+//! mDNS service, and frequently install a **conflicting virtual-display driver**. Running one of
+//! them alongside Punktfunk is unsupported — the symptoms are `address already in use` bind
+//! failures, pairing that silently fails, and capture/virtual-display glitches.
+//!
+//! This module proactively detects such a host (installed and/or running) so we can surface it as
+//! early as possible: at host startup (a `warn!` into the log ring + tray/console summary) and via
+//! the `detect-conflicts` subcommand the installers/support run.
+//!
+//! Detection is **fingerprint-first by name**: a small table of the known products (extend
+//! [`KNOWN`] as new forks appear) matched against running processes, registered OS services/units,
+//! and on-disk install markers. The platform back-ends (`detect/windows.rs`, `detect/linux.rs`)
+//! provide the raw facts; the matching + rendering here is portable and unit-tested.
+
+use std::sync::OnceLock;
+
+#[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
+#[path = "detect/windows.rs"]
+mod platform;
+#[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+#[path = "detect/linux.rs"]
+mod platform;
+#[cfg(not(any(target_os = "windows", target_os = "linux")))]
+mod platform {
+    //! The host only runs on Windows/Linux; the crate still compiles on macOS (dev) — nothing to
+    //! scan there.
+    pub fn running_processes() -> Vec<String> {
+        Vec::new()
+    }
+    pub fn static_evidence(_known: &super::Known) -> Vec<super::Evidence> {
+        Vec::new()
+    }
+}
+
+/// A known competing GameStream/Moonlight host.
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum Product {
+    Sunshine,
+    Apollo,
+    Vibeshine,
+    Vibepollo,
+    Luminalshine,
+}
+
+impl Product {
+    /// The name shown to the user.
+    pub fn label(self) -> &'static str {
+        match self {
+            Product::Sunshine => "Sunshine",
+            Product::Apollo => "Apollo",
+            Product::Vibeshine => "Vibeshine",
+            Product::Vibepollo => "Vibepollo",
+            Product::Luminalshine => "LuminalShine",
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// How a conflicting host was observed on this machine.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum Evidence {
+    /// A matching process is running **right now** (process/executable basename).
+    Running { process: String },
+    /// An OS service / systemd unit for the product is registered (installed; may be stopped).
+    Service { name: String },
+    /// Installed on disk — a Program Files directory, a flatpak app id, or a binary on `PATH`.
+    Installed { at: String },
+}
+
+impl Evidence {
+    fn render(&self) -> String {
+        match self {
+            Evidence::Running { process } => format!("running now ({process})"),
+            Evidence::Service { name } => format!("service {name}"),
+            Evidence::Installed { at } => format!("installed at {at}"),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// A detected conflicting host, with every piece of corroborating evidence found.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct Detection {
+    pub product: Product,
+    pub evidence: Vec<Evidence>,
+}
+
+impl Detection {
+    /// True when a matching process is live — the acute case (a guaranteed resource clash the
+    /// moment Punktfunk tries to bind its ports).
+    pub fn is_running(&self) -> bool {
+        self.evidence
+            .iter()
+            .any(|e| matches!(e, Evidence::Running { .. }))
+    }
+
+    /// A compact one-line label for the tray/console summary, e.g. `Sunshine (running)`.
+    pub fn label(&self) -> String {
+        if self.is_running() {
+            format!("{} (running)", self.product.label())
+        } else {
+            self.product.label().to_string()
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// One row of the known-conflicting-host table. Names are matched case-insensitively; process /
+/// binary basenames are given **without** an extension (the platform code lowercases + strips
+/// `.exe`). Extend this as new Sunshine forks appear — the runtime, the subcommand, and the
+/// tray/console summary all key off this one list.
+pub struct Known {
+    pub product: Product,
+    /// Process / executable basenames (lowercase, no extension) that identify this host.
+    pub processes: &'static [&'static str],
+    /// Windows service names (SCM keys under `HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services`).
+    pub win_services: &'static [&'static str],
+    /// Windows install-dir basenames under `%ProgramFiles%` / `%ProgramFiles(x86)%`.
+    pub win_dirs: &'static [&'static str],
+    /// Linux systemd unit basenames (without `.service`), checked in the standard unit dirs.
+    pub linux_units: &'static [&'static str],
+    /// Linux flatpak application ids.
+    pub flatpaks: &'static [&'static str],
+}
+
+/// The known Moonlight-compatible hosts that clash with Punktfunk. All are Sunshine or Sunshine
+/// forks; add new forks here (one row) and every surface picks them up.
+pub const KNOWN: &[Known] = &[
+    Known {
+        product: Product::Sunshine,
+        processes: &["sunshine"],
+        win_services: &["SunshineService"],
+        win_dirs: &["Sunshine"],
+        linux_units: &["sunshine"],
+        flatpaks: &["dev.lizardbyte.app.Sunshine"],
+    },
+    Known {
+        product: Product::Apollo,
+        processes: &["apollo"],
+        win_services: &["ApolloService"],
+        win_dirs: &["Apollo"],
+        linux_units: &["apollo"],
+        flatpaks: &["dev.lizardbyte.app.Apollo"],
+    },
+    Known {
+        product: Product::Vibeshine,
+        processes: &["vibeshine"],
+        win_services: &["VibeshineService"],
+        win_dirs: &["Vibeshine"],
+        linux_units: &["vibeshine"],
+        flatpaks: &[],
+    },
+    Known {
+        product: Product::Vibepollo,
+        processes: &["vibepollo"],
+        win_services: &["VibepolloService"],
+        win_dirs: &["Vibepollo"],
+        linux_units: &["vibepollo"],
+        flatpaks: &[],
+    },
+    Known {
+        product: Product::Luminalshine,
+        processes: &["luminalshine"],
+        win_services: &["LuminalShineService"],
+        win_dirs: &["LuminalShine"],
+        linux_units: &["luminalshine"],
+        flatpaks: &[],
+    },
+];
+
+/// Why running side-by-side breaks — shared by every surface (log, subcommand, installers).
+pub const UNSUPPORTED_BLURB: &str =
+    "Running Punktfunk alongside another Moonlight-compatible host \
+(Sunshine and its forks) is UNSUPPORTED: they bind the same GameStream ports (47984/47989, \
+47998-48010), advertise the same _nvstream mDNS name, and often install a conflicting \
+virtual-display driver. Expect \"address already in use\" errors, failed pairing, and capture \
+glitches. Stop and uninstall the other host, or don't run them at the same time.";
+
+/// Scan the machine for conflicting hosts. Portable; dispatches into the platform back-end. Does
+/// real OS work (process enumeration, service/registry queries, filesystem stats) — cheap, but not
+/// free, so prefer the cached [`init`]/[`snapshot`] for hot paths.
+pub fn scan() -> Vec<Detection> {
+    let procs = platform::running_processes();
+    let mut out = Vec::new();
+    for known in KNOWN {
+        let mut evidence: Vec<Evidence> = Vec::new();
+        for p in &procs {
+            if known.processes.iter().any(|n| p == n) {
+                evidence.push(Evidence::Running { process: p.clone() });
+            }
+        }
+        evidence.extend(platform::static_evidence(known));
+        if !evidence.is_empty() {
+            out.push(Detection {
+                product: known.product,
+                evidence,
+            });
+        }
+    }
+    out
+}
+
+static SNAPSHOT: OnceLock<Vec<Detection>> = OnceLock::new();
+
+/// Scan once and cache the result for the life of the process (the conflict set doesn't change at
+/// streaming granularity — a snapshot taken at host bring-up is the right resolution and keeps the
+/// per-poll `/local/summary` free). Returns the cached detections.
+pub fn init() -> &'static [Detection] {
+    SNAPSHOT.get_or_init(scan)
+}
+
+/// The cached snapshot, or empty if [`init`] hasn't run. Non-scanning: safe to call from hot paths
+/// and from tests without touching the OS.
+pub fn snapshot() -> &'static [Detection] {
+    SNAPSHOT.get().map(Vec::as_slice).unwrap_or(&[])
+}
+
+/// Compact labels for the tray / web-console summary (e.g. `["Sunshine (running)", "Apollo"]`).
+pub fn summary_labels(detections: &[Detection]) -> Vec<String> {
+    detections.iter().map(Detection::label).collect()
+}
+
+/// A full human-readable report: the blurb + one bullet per detected host with its evidence.
+/// Empty string when nothing was detected (callers gate on `is_empty()`).
+pub fn render_report(detections: &[Detection]) -> String {
+    if detections.is_empty() {
+        return String::new();
+    }
+    let mut s = String::from("Detected another game-streaming host on this machine.\n");
+    s.push_str(UNSUPPORTED_BLURB);
+    s.push_str("\n\nDetected:\n");
+    for d in detections {
+        let ev = d
+            .evidence
+            .iter()
+            .map(Evidence::render)
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+            .join("; ");
+        s.push_str(&format!("  \u{2022} {} \u{2014} {ev}\n", d.product.label()));
+    }
+    s
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    fn det(product: Product, evidence: Vec<Evidence>) -> Detection {
+        Detection { product, evidence }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn empty_report_and_labels() {
+        assert!(render_report(&[]).is_empty());
+        assert!(summary_labels(&[]).is_empty());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn running_detection_is_flagged_and_labelled() {
+        let d = det(
+            Product::Sunshine,
+            vec![
+                Evidence::Running {
+                    process: "sunshine".into(),
+                },
+                Evidence::Service {
+                    name: "SunshineService".into(),
+                },
+            ],
+        );
+        assert!(d.is_running());
+        assert_eq!(d.label(), "Sunshine (running)");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn installed_only_is_not_running() {
+        let d = det(
+            Product::Apollo,
+            vec![Evidence::Installed {
+                at: "C:\\Program Files\\Apollo".into(),
+            }],
+        );
+        assert!(!d.is_running());
+        assert_eq!(d.label(), "Apollo");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn report_lists_every_product_and_the_blurb() {
+        let report = render_report(&[
+            det(
+                Product::Sunshine,
+                vec![Evidence::Running {
+                    process: "sunshine".into(),
+                }],
+            ),
+            det(
+                Product::Apollo,
+                vec![Evidence::Installed {
+                    at: "/usr/bin/apollo".into(),
+                }],
+            ),
+        ]);
+        assert!(report.contains("UNSUPPORTED"));
+        assert!(report.contains("Sunshine \u{2014} running now (sunshine)"));
+        assert!(report.contains("Apollo \u{2014} installed at /usr/bin/apollo"));
+        assert_eq!(
+            summary_labels(&[
+                det(
+                    Product::Sunshine,
+                    vec![Evidence::Running {
+                        process: "sunshine".into()
+                    }]
+                ),
+                det(
+                    Product::Apollo,
+                    vec![Evidence::Installed { at: "x".into() }]
+                ),
+            ]),
+            vec!["Sunshine (running)".to_string(), "Apollo".to_string()]
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn known_table_rows_are_well_formed() {
+        // Every known product carries at least a process name and a Windows service so the runtime
+        // scan and the installer's registry check stay in agreement.
+        for k in KNOWN {
+            assert!(
+                !k.processes.is_empty(),
+                "{:?} has no process name",
+                k.product
+            );
+            assert!(
+                !k.win_services.is_empty(),
+                "{:?} has no Windows service name",
+                k.product
+            );
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/detect/linux.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/detect/linux.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7b13e6b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/detect/linux.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+//! Linux conflicting-host facts: `/proc` for running processes, the standard systemd unit dirs +
+//! flatpak app dirs + `PATH` for install markers. All best-effort and dependency-free (no
+//! subprocess spawns) — a missing `/proc` or an unreadable dir simply yields no evidence.
+
+use super::{Evidence, Known};
+use std::path::Path;
+
+/// Lowercased basenames of every process whose `/proc/<pid>/comm` we can read. `comm` is the
+/// kernel's 15-char command name — every host we match on (sunshine, apollo, vibeshine, vibepollo,
+/// luminalshine) fits within that, so no `/proc/<pid>/exe` readlink is needed.
+pub fn running_processes() -> Vec<String> {
+    let mut out = Vec::new();
+    let Ok(entries) = std::fs::read_dir("/proc") else {
+        return out;
+    };
+    for entry in entries.flatten() {
+        // Only numeric (pid) directories.
+        if !entry
+            .file_name()
+            .to_str()
+            .map(|n| n.bytes().all(|b| b.is_ascii_digit()))
+            .unwrap_or(false)
+        {
+            continue;
+        }
+        if let Ok(comm) = std::fs::read_to_string(entry.path().join("comm")) {
+            out.push(comm.trim().to_ascii_lowercase());
+        }
+    }
+    out
+}
+
+/// systemd unit registration + flatpak + `PATH` binary presence — the "installed" evidence.
+pub fn static_evidence(known: &Known) -> Vec<Evidence> {
+    let mut ev = Vec::new();
+
+    // systemd units, system + per-user, in the dirs systemd actually reads.
+    let home = std::env::var_os("HOME");
+    let mut unit_dirs: Vec<String> = vec![
+        "/etc/systemd/system".into(),
+        "/run/systemd/system".into(),
+        "/usr/lib/systemd/system".into(),
+        "/lib/systemd/system".into(),
+        "/etc/systemd/user".into(),
+        "/usr/lib/systemd/user".into(),
+    ];
+    if let Some(h) = &home {
+        unit_dirs.push(format!("{}/.config/systemd/user", h.to_string_lossy()));
+    }
+    for unit in known.linux_units {
+        let file = format!("{unit}.service");
+        if unit_dirs.iter().any(|d| Path::new(d).join(&file).exists()) {
+            ev.push(Evidence::Service { name: file });
+        }
+    }
+
+    // flatpak app installs (system + per-user).
+    let mut flatpak_roots: Vec<String> = vec!["/var/lib/flatpak/app".into()];
+    if let Some(h) = &home {
+        flatpak_roots.push(format!("{}/.local/share/flatpak/app", h.to_string_lossy()));
+    }
+    for id in known.flatpaks {
+        if flatpak_roots.iter().any(|r| Path::new(r).join(id).exists()) {
+            ev.push(Evidence::Installed {
+                at: format!("flatpak {id}"),
+            });
+        }
+    }
+
+    // A matching binary on PATH (covers manual / package installs the unit/flatpak checks miss).
+    let path = std::env::var_os("PATH");
+    for bin in known.processes {
+        if let Some(found) = find_on_path(bin, path.as_deref()) {
+            ev.push(Evidence::Installed { at: found });
+        }
+    }
+
+    ev
+}
+
+fn find_on_path(bin: &str, path: Option<&std::ffi::OsStr>) -> Option<String> {
+    let dirs = path.map(std::env::split_paths).into_iter().flatten();
+    // Always also probe the common bindirs, even if PATH is unset/narrow (e.g. a service context).
+    let extra = ["/usr/bin", "/usr/local/bin", "/bin", "/usr/games"]
+        .into_iter()
+        .map(std::path::PathBuf::from);
+    for dir in dirs.chain(extra) {
+        let cand = dir.join(bin);
+        if cand.is_file() {
+            return Some(cand.to_string_lossy().into_owned());
+        }
+    }
+    None
+}
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/detect/windows.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/detect/windows.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..558474d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/detect/windows.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+//! Windows conflicting-host facts: a Toolhelp process snapshot for what's running, the SCM for
+//! registered services, and `%ProgramFiles%` for on-disk installs. All best-effort — any failing
+//! query (no privilege, API error) yields no evidence rather than aborting startup.
+
+use super::{Evidence, Known};
+use windows::Win32::Foundation::CloseHandle;
+use windows::Win32::System::Diagnostics::ToolHelp::{
+    CreateToolhelp32Snapshot, Process32FirstW, Process32NextW, PROCESSENTRY32W, TH32CS_SNAPPROCESS,
+};
+use windows_service::service::ServiceAccess;
+use windows_service::service_manager::{ServiceManager, ServiceManagerAccess};
+
+/// Lowercased executable basenames (without `.exe`) of every running process, via a Toolhelp
+/// snapshot. `szExeFile` is the module base name (e.g. `sunshine.exe`), not a full path.
+pub fn running_processes() -> Vec<String> {
+    let mut out = Vec::new();
+    // SAFETY: standard Toolhelp snapshot walk. The snapshot handle is closed on every exit path;
+    // `entry` is fully initialized (dwSize set) before Process32FirstW reads it.
+    unsafe {
+        let Ok(snap) = CreateToolhelp32Snapshot(TH32CS_SNAPPROCESS, 0) else {
+            return out;
+        };
+        // Zeroed then dwSize set — the canonical Toolhelp init (no reliance on a Default impl for
+        // the 260-wide szExeFile array).
+        let mut entry = PROCESSENTRY32W {
+            dwSize: std::mem::size_of::<PROCESSENTRY32W>() as u32,
+            ..std::mem::zeroed()
+        };
+        if Process32FirstW(snap, &mut entry).is_ok() {
+            loop {
+                let end = entry
+                    .szExeFile
+                    .iter()
+                    .position(|&c| c == 0)
+                    .unwrap_or(entry.szExeFile.len());
+                let name = String::from_utf16_lossy(&entry.szExeFile[..end]).to_ascii_lowercase();
+                out.push(name.strip_suffix(".exe").unwrap_or(&name).to_string());
+                if Process32NextW(snap, &mut entry).is_err() {
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        let _ = CloseHandle(snap);
+    }
+    out
+}
+
+/// SCM service registration + `%ProgramFiles%` install dirs — the "installed" evidence.
+pub fn static_evidence(known: &Known) -> Vec<Evidence> {
+    let mut ev = Vec::new();
+    for svc in known.win_services {
+        if service_exists(svc) {
+            ev.push(Evidence::Service {
+                name: (*svc).to_string(),
+            });
+        }
+    }
+    for dir in known.win_dirs {
+        if let Some(at) = program_files_dir(dir) {
+            ev.push(Evidence::Installed { at });
+        }
+    }
+    ev
+}
+
+/// True if a service by this name is registered with the SCM (running or stopped). Opening it with
+/// `QUERY_STATUS` fails cleanly when it doesn't exist.
+fn service_exists(name: &str) -> bool {
+    let Ok(mgr) = ServiceManager::local_computer(None::<&str>, ServiceManagerAccess::CONNECT)
+    else {
+        return false;
+    };
+    mgr.open_service(name, ServiceAccess::QUERY_STATUS).is_ok()
+}
+
+/// The install directory under any of the Program Files roots, if it exists.
+fn program_files_dir(dir: &str) -> Option<String> {
+    for var in ["ProgramFiles", "ProgramW6432", "ProgramFiles(x86)"] {
+        if let Some(base) = std::env::var_os(var) {
+            let p = std::path::Path::new(&base).join(dir);
+            if p.is_dir() {
+                return Some(p.to_string_lossy().into_owned());
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    None
+}
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/nvenc_cuda.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/nvenc_cuda.rs
index 978e8e9b..e6ff467a 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/nvenc_cuda.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/nvenc_cuda.rs
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ fn try_api() -> std::result::Result<&'static EncodeApi, &'static str> {
         .get_or_init(|| {
             let table = load_api();
             if let Err(e) = &table {
-                tracing::warn!("NVENC (Linux direct) API unavailable: {e}");
+                tracing::warn!(error = %e, "NVENC (Linux direct) API unavailable");
             }
             table
         })
@@ -318,6 +318,11 @@ pub struct NvencCudaEncoder {
     cursor: Option<cuda::CursorBlend>,
     cursor_tried: bool,
     cursor_serial: u64,
+    /// Suppress-until-success latches for the per-frame cursor upload/blend warns: a persistent
+    /// failure sits in the submit() hot path, so warn once per failure streak (reset on success)
+    /// rather than on every cursor-bearing frame, which would evict the log ring.
+    cursor_upload_warned: bool,
+    cursor_blend_warned: bool,
     /// One-shot latch for [`diagnose_failed_open`](Self::diagnose_failed_open) so a rebuild-retry
     /// burst (the session loop's bounded encoder resets) logs the diagnosis once, not per attempt.
     diagnosed: bool,
@@ -386,6 +391,8 @@ impl NvencCudaEncoder {
             cursor: None,
             cursor_tried: false,
             cursor_serial: u64::MAX,
+            cursor_upload_warned: false,
+            cursor_blend_warned: false,
             diagnosed: false,
             inited: false,
             rfi_supported: false,
@@ -946,14 +953,12 @@ impl NvencCudaEncoder {
 
             self.inited = true;
             tracing::info!(
-                "NVENC CUDA session: {}x{}@{} {}-bit {} Mbps {:?} fmt={:?}",
-                self.width,
-                self.height,
-                self.fps,
-                self.bit_depth,
-                self.bitrate_bps / 1_000_000,
-                self.codec_guid,
-                self.buffer_fmt,
+                mode = %format_args!("{}x{}@{}", self.width, self.height, self.fps),
+                bit_depth = self.bit_depth,
+                mbps = self.bitrate_bps / 1_000_000,
+                codec = ?self.codec_guid,
+                fmt = ?self.buffer_fmt,
+                "NVENC CUDA session ready"
             );
             Ok(())
         }
@@ -1058,9 +1063,19 @@ impl Encoder for NvencCudaEncoder {
             if let Some(cb) = &self.cursor {
                 if self.cursor_serial != ov.serial {
                     match cb.upload(ov.rgba.as_slice(), ov.w, ov.h) {
-                        Ok(()) => self.cursor_serial = ov.serial,
+                        Ok(()) => {
+                            self.cursor_serial = ov.serial;
+                            self.cursor_upload_warned = false;
+                        }
                         Err(e) => {
-                            tracing::warn!(error = %format!("{e:#}"), "cursor upload failed")
+                            if !self.cursor_upload_warned {
+                                self.cursor_upload_warned = true;
+                                tracing::warn!(
+                                    error = %format!("{e:#}"),
+                                    serial = ov.serial,
+                                    "NVENC (Linux): cursor upload failed — cursor not composited"
+                                );
+                            }
                         }
                     }
                 }
@@ -1079,7 +1094,15 @@ impl Encoder for NvencCudaEncoder {
                     _ => cb.blend_argb(s.ptr, s.pitch, w, h, ov.w, ov.h, ov.x, ov.y),
                 };
                 if let Err(e) = r {
-                    tracing::warn!(error = %format!("{e:#}"), "cursor blend launch failed");
+                    if !self.cursor_blend_warned {
+                        self.cursor_blend_warned = true;
+                        tracing::warn!(
+                            error = %format!("{e:#}"),
+                            "NVENC (Linux): cursor blend launch failed — cursor not composited"
+                        );
+                    }
+                } else {
+                    self.cursor_blend_warned = false;
                 }
             }
         }
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/pyrowave.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/pyrowave.rs
index a30c19dd..2af97f1d 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/pyrowave.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/pyrowave.rs
@@ -1211,9 +1211,9 @@ impl Encoder for PyroWaveEncoder {
                 chroma: pw::pyrowave_chroma_subsampling_PYROWAVE_CHROMA_SUBSAMPLING_420,
             };
             let mut enc: pw::pyrowave_encoder = std::ptr::null_mut();
-            if pw::pyrowave_encoder_create(&einfo, &mut enc) != pw::pyrowave_result_PYROWAVE_SUCCESS
-            {
-                tracing::error!("pyrowave: encoder rebuild failed");
+            let r = pw::pyrowave_encoder_create(&einfo, &mut enc);
+            if r != pw::pyrowave_result_PYROWAVE_SUCCESS {
+                tracing::error!(result = ?r, "pyrowave: encoder rebuild failed");
                 return false;
             }
             self.pw_enc = enc;
@@ -1228,7 +1228,7 @@ impl Encoder for PyroWaveEncoder {
         // (plan §4.6 — wavelet quality collapses well above the AIMD floor); until then this
         // faithfully applies whatever the caller asks.
         self.frame_budget = budget_for(bps, self.fps);
-        tracing::info!(
+        tracing::debug!(
             mbps = bps / 1_000_000,
             budget_kib = self.frame_budget / 1024,
             "pyrowave: per-frame rate budget retargeted in place"
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/vulkan_video.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/vulkan_video.rs
index ada0b924..19afc4a9 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/vulkan_video.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/linux/vulkan_video.rs
@@ -1304,7 +1304,7 @@ impl VulkanVideoEncoder {
             // The retarget control command is recorded (execution follows submission order): the
             // session's RC state IS the new rate from this frame on — later begins declare it.
             self.bitrate = nb;
-            tracing::info!(
+            tracing::debug!(
                 mbps = nb / 1_000_000,
                 "vulkan-encode: rate control retargeted in place (no IDR)"
             );
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/windows/amf.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/windows/amf.rs
index 8cf64787..db5e8619 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/windows/amf.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/windows/amf.rs
@@ -596,7 +596,7 @@ fn try_factory() -> std::result::Result<&'static AmfLib, &'static str> {
         let lib = load_factory();
         if let Err(e) = &lib {
             // Once per process; only reachable when the backend resolved to AMF on this box.
-            tracing::warn!("native AMF runtime unavailable: {e}");
+            tracing::warn!(error = %e, "native AMF runtime unavailable");
         }
         lib
     })
@@ -1101,7 +1101,8 @@ unsafe fn set_prop(
     } else {
         tracing::debug!(
             property = %name,
-            result = %format!("{} ({r})", result_name(r)),
+            result = result_name(r),
+            amf_code = r,
             "optional AMF encoder property rejected (VCN generation/driver) — continuing"
         );
         Ok(false)
@@ -1666,15 +1667,18 @@ impl AmfEncoder {
             tracing::info!(
                 codec = ?self.codec,
                 context = context_no,
-                device = format!("{:#x}", device.as_raw() as usize),
-                "native AMF encode active (context #{context_no}, {}x{}@{}, zero-copy D3D11 {} ring, runtime {}.{}.{})",
-                self.width,
-                self.height,
-                self.fps,
-                if self.ten_bit { "P010" } else { "NV12" },
-                (lib.version >> 48) & 0xffff,
-                (lib.version >> 32) & 0xffff,
-                (lib.version >> 16) & 0xffff,
+                device = %format_args!("{:#x}", device.as_raw() as usize),
+                width = self.width,
+                height = self.height,
+                fps = self.fps,
+                ring = if self.ten_bit { "P010" } else { "NV12" },
+                runtime = %format_args!(
+                    "{}.{}.{}",
+                    (lib.version >> 48) & 0xffff,
+                    (lib.version >> 32) & 0xffff,
+                    (lib.version >> 16) & 0xffff
+                ),
+                "native AMF encode active (zero-copy D3D11)"
             );
             self.inner = Some(Inner {
                 comp,
@@ -2147,7 +2151,8 @@ impl Encoder for AmfEncoder {
                 );
                 if r != sys::AMF_OK {
                     tracing::warn!(
-                        result = %format!("{} ({r})", result_name(r)),
+                        result = result_name(r),
+                        amf_code = r,
                         "AMF forced-keyframe picture type rejected"
                     );
                 }
@@ -2192,7 +2197,8 @@ impl Encoder for AmfEncoder {
                     if r != sys::AMF_OK {
                         tracing::warn!(
                             slot,
-                            result = %format!("{} ({r})", result_name(r)),
+                            result = result_name(r),
+                            amf_code = r,
                             "AMF LTR mark rejected"
                         );
                     }
@@ -2212,7 +2218,8 @@ impl Encoder for AmfEncoder {
                     } else {
                         tracing::warn!(
                             slot,
-                            result = %format!("{} ({r})", result_name(r)),
+                            result = result_name(r),
+                amf_code = r,
                             "AMF LTR force-reference rejected — client stays frozen until its IDR fallback"
                         );
                     }
@@ -2558,7 +2565,11 @@ impl Encoder for AmfEncoder {
         // end-of-stream (remaining AUs then surface through `poll` until AMF_EOF).
         let r = unsafe { ((*(*inner.comp.0).vtbl).drain)(inner.comp.0) };
         if r != sys::AMF_OK {
-            tracing::debug!(result = %format!("{} ({r})", result_name(r)), "AMF Drain");
+            tracing::debug!(
+                result = result_name(r),
+                amf_code = r,
+                "AMF Drain returned non-OK at flush"
+            );
         }
         Ok(())
     }
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/windows/ffmpeg_win.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/windows/ffmpeg_win.rs
index 5acef7b1..ebbefd4a 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/windows/ffmpeg_win.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/windows/ffmpeg_win.rs
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ unsafe fn open_win_encoder(
 /// `false` keeps the negotiation honest: an AMF/QSV host resolves every session to 4:2:0 before the
 /// Welcome. (Follow-up: implement + validate on an RDNA3+/Arc Windows box.)
 pub fn probe_can_encode_444(_vendor: WinVendor, _codec: Codec) -> bool {
-    tracing::info!("AMF/QSV HEVC 4:4:4 encode is not implemented yet — declining (encoding 4:2:0)");
+    tracing::debug!("AMF/QSV HEVC 4:4:4 encode not implemented — declining (4:2:0)");
     false
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/windows/nvenc.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/windows/nvenc.rs
index f4d2bcbb..6c46cb80 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/windows/nvenc.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/windows/nvenc.rs
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ fn try_api() -> std::result::Result<&'static EncodeApi, &'static str> {
             if let Err(e) = &table {
                 // Once per process. Only reachable when something resolved to NVENC on this box
                 // (backend misdetect or a forced PUNKTFUNK_ENCODER=nvenc) — say why it will fail.
-                tracing::warn!("NVENC API unavailable: {e}");
+                tracing::warn!(error = %e, "NVENC API unavailable");
             }
             table
         })
@@ -1049,11 +1049,11 @@ impl NvencD3d11Encoder {
                 }
                 _ => nv::NV_ENC_SPLIT_ENCODE_MODE::NV_ENC_SPLIT_AUTO_MODE as u32,
             };
-            tracing::info!(
+            tracing::debug!(
                 split_mode,
                 bit_depth = self.bit_depth,
                 pixel_rate,
-                "NVENC split-encode mode (0=auto 1=auto-forced 2=two 3=three 15=disable)"
+                "NVENC split-encode mode selected"
             );
             // Find the highest bitrate the GPU's codec LEVEL accepts and CLAMP to it. NVENC rejects
             // `initialize_encoder` (InvalidParam) when the bitrate exceeds the level ceiling (e.g. a
@@ -1148,13 +1148,8 @@ impl NvencD3d11Encoder {
             // mode (a split session occupies one hardware session per engine).
             self.session_units = split_mode_units(split_mode);
             LIVE_SESSION_UNITS.fetch_add(self.session_units, std::sync::atomic::Ordering::Relaxed);
-            if self.bitrate_bps < requested_bps {
-                tracing::info!(
-                    requested_mbps = requested_bps / 1_000_000,
-                    applied_mbps = self.bitrate_bps / 1_000_000,
-                    "NVENC bitrate capped to this GPU's max for the codec"
-                );
-            }
+            // (The clamp path above already logs the requested→clamped bitrate at warn; no second
+            // info line for the same event here.)
 
             // 5. one output bitstream per in-flight slot. There is NO encoder-owned input pool: the
             // capturer's textures are registered on demand in `submit` and encoded in place.
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gamestream/audio.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gamestream/audio.rs
index d73436f8..75fe796d 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gamestream/audio.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gamestream/audio.rs
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ fn run(
     punktfunk_core::transport::grow_socket_buffers(&sock);
     // The client pings the audio port (~every 500ms) so we learn where to send.
     sock.set_read_timeout(Some(Duration::from_secs(10)))?;
-    tracing::info!(port = AUDIO_PORT, "audio: awaiting client ping");
+    tracing::debug!(port = AUDIO_PORT, "audio: awaiting client ping");
     let mut probe = [0u8; 256];
     let (_, client) = sock
         .recv_from(&mut probe)
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ fn run(
         &sock,
         punktfunk_core::transport::MediaClass::Audio,
     );
-    tracing::info!(%client, "audio: client endpoint learned");
+    tracing::debug!(%client, "audio: client endpoint learned");
 
     // Reuse the persistent capturer when its channel count still matches (drain stale
     // buffered audio); otherwise drop it (clean PipeWire teardown) and open at the new count.
@@ -468,7 +468,7 @@ fn audio_body(
             timestamp = timestamp.wrapping_add(frame_ms as u32);
             sent += 1;
             if sent % 400 == 0 {
-                tracing::info!(sent, "audio: streaming");
+                tracing::debug!(sent, "audio: streaming");
             }
 
             // Hold each frame to its packet-duration slot (skip if we've fallen behind a burst).
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gamestream/control.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gamestream/control.rs
index a420888e..cebf64ea 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gamestream/control.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gamestream/control.rs
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ pub fn spawn(state: Arc<AppState>) -> Result<()> {
                         },
                         Ok(None) => break,
                         Err(e) => {
-                            tracing::warn!(error = %format!("{e:?}"), "control: service error");
+                            tracing::warn!(error = ?e, "control: service error");
                             break;
                         }
                     }
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ pub fn spawn(state: Arc<AppState>) -> Result<()> {
                         for wire in out {
                             if let Err(e) = host.peer_mut(pid).send(0, &Packet::reliable(&wire[..]))
                             {
-                                tracing::warn!(error = %format!("{e:?}"), "rumble send failed");
+                                tracing::warn!(error = ?e, "rumble send failed");
                             }
                         }
                     }
@@ -214,12 +214,12 @@ fn on_receive(
         if inner == 0x0301 {
             if let Some((first, last)) = decode_rfi_range(&pt) {
                 *state.rfi_range.lock().unwrap() = Some((first, last));
-                tracing::info!(first, last, "control: RFI request → invalidate ref frames");
+                tracing::debug!(first, last, "control: RFI request → invalidate ref frames");
             } else {
                 state
                     .force_idr
                     .store(true, std::sync::atomic::Ordering::SeqCst);
-                tracing::info!("control: RFI request (no range) → keyframe");
+                tracing::debug!("control: RFI request (no range) → keyframe");
             }
             return;
         }
@@ -227,8 +227,8 @@ fn on_receive(
             state
                 .force_idr
                 .store(true, std::sync::atomic::Ordering::SeqCst);
-            tracing::info!(
-                ty = format!("{inner:#06x}"),
+            tracing::debug!(
+                ty = %format_args!("{inner:#06x}"),
                 "control: IDR request → keyframe"
             );
             return;
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gamestream/mod.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gamestream/mod.rs
index 02823d62..5154fea0 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gamestream/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gamestream/mod.rs
@@ -218,6 +218,17 @@ pub fn serve(
         gamestream,
         "punktfunk host"
     );
+    // Surface a conflicting Moonlight-compatible host (Sunshine/Apollo/…) as early as possible:
+    // scan once (cached for `/local/summary` → tray + web console) and warn loudly if found.
+    let conflicts = crate::detect::init();
+    if !conflicts.is_empty() {
+        tracing::warn!(
+            target: "punktfunk::detect",
+            count = conflicts.len(),
+            "{}",
+            crate::detect::render_report(conflicts)
+        );
+    }
     if gamestream {
         tracing::warn!(
             "GameStream/Moonlight compat ENABLED (--gamestream): its pairing runs over plain HTTP and \
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gamestream/pairing.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gamestream/pairing.rs
index 841b14e5..e28ebaa2 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gamestream/pairing.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gamestream/pairing.rs
@@ -265,14 +265,14 @@ impl Pairing {
                 store.push(s.client_cert_der.clone());
                 super::save_paired(&store);
             }
-            tracing::info!(uniqueid, "pairing phase 4 — SUCCESS, client cert pinned");
+            tracing::info!(uniqueid, "pairing phase 4 complete — client cert pinned");
             Ok(paired_xml("", true))
         } else {
             tracing::warn!(
                 uniqueid,
                 hash_ok,
                 sig_ok,
-                "pairing phase 4 — FAILED (PIN/cert)"
+                "pairing phase 4 rejected — PIN or cert mismatch"
             );
             map.remove(uniqueid);
             Ok(paired_xml("", false))
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gamestream/rtsp.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gamestream/rtsp.rs
index d0ec589d..340f85f8 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gamestream/rtsp.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gamestream/rtsp.rs
@@ -97,10 +97,12 @@ fn handle_conn(mut stream: TcpStream, state: Arc<AppState>) -> Result<()> {
     // response until EOF, so we answer one message and close the connection (which signals
     // the end of the response). Session state lives in `AppState`, not the connection.
     if let Some(req) = read_message(&mut stream, &mut buf)? {
-        tracing::info!(
-            method = %req.method, cseq = %req.cseq,
-            "RTSP {} | {}", req.head.replace("\r\n", " | "),
-            if req.body.is_empty() { String::new() } else { format!("body: {}", req.body.replace("\r\n", " | ")) }
+        tracing::debug!(
+            method = %req.method,
+            cseq = %req.cseq,
+            headers = %req.head.replace("\r\n", " | "),
+            body = %req.body.replace("\r\n", " | "),
+            "RTSP request"
         );
         let resp = handle_request(&req, &state, peer);
         stream.write_all(resp.as_bytes()).context("RTSP write")?;
@@ -404,7 +406,7 @@ fn stream_config(map: &HashMap<String, String>) -> Option<StreamConfig> {
         };
         let matches_ours = (hdr && csc >> 1 == 2 || !hdr && csc >> 1 == 1) && csc & 1 == 0;
         if matches_ours {
-            tracing::info!(
+            tracing::debug!(
                 csc,
                 space,
                 range,
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gamestream/stream.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gamestream/stream.rs
index 60b9c059..1c3331e7 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gamestream/stream.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gamestream/stream.rs
@@ -879,7 +879,7 @@ fn stream_body(
                     "video: streaming (perf)"
                 );
             } else {
-                tracing::info!(
+                tracing::debug!(
                     fps = fps_count,
                     sent_batches,
                     dropped_batches,
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gamestream/tls.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gamestream/tls.rs
index dc83524e..8057003d 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gamestream/tls.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gamestream/tls.rs
@@ -49,7 +49,10 @@ pub(crate) async fn serve_https(
         let (tcp, peer) = match listener.accept().await {
             Ok(v) => v,
             Err(e) => {
-                tracing::warn!(error = %e, "HTTPS accept failed");
+                // A persistent accept() error (fd exhaustion / EMFILE) would otherwise hot-spin
+                // this loop and storm the log; back off so a stuck accept can't burn a core.
+                tracing::warn!(error = %e, "HTTPS accept failed — backing off 100ms");
+                tokio::time::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(100)).await;
                 continue;
             }
         };
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gpu.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gpu.rs
index f5f2ae3e..7e50ea29 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gpu.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/gpu.rs
@@ -389,7 +389,7 @@ impl GpuPrefStore {
             Ok(bytes) => match serde_json::from_slice::<GpuPreference>(&bytes) {
                 Ok(p) => p,
                 Err(e) => {
-                    tracing::warn!(path = %path.display(), "gpu-settings.json unreadable — using Auto: {e}");
+                    tracing::warn!(path = %path.display(), error = %e, "gpu-settings.json unreadable — using default (Auto)");
                     GpuPreference::default()
                 }
             },
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/inject.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/inject.rs
index f3048396..6a5054de 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/inject.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/inject.rs
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ fn injector_service_thread(rx: std::sync::mpsc::Receiver<InputEvent>) {
                         last_failed = None;
                     }
                     Err(e) => {
-                        tracing::error!(error = %format!("{e:#}"), "pointer/keyboard injection unavailable — will retry");
+                        tracing::warn!(error = %format!("{e:#}"), "pointer/keyboard injection unavailable — will retry");
                         last_failed = Some(std::time::Instant::now());
                     }
                 }
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/inject/linux/libei.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/inject/linux/libei.rs
index dc037437..33f24832 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/inject/linux/libei.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/inject/linux/libei.rs
@@ -569,7 +569,7 @@ impl EiState {
                     ?cap,
                     devices = self.devices.len(),
                     resumed = self.devices.iter().filter(|d| d.resumed).count(),
-                    "libei: DROP — no resumed device exposes this capability"
+                    "libei: dropped event — no resumed device exposes this capability"
                 );
             }
             // No resumed device with this capability yet. For touch this is usually permanent on
@@ -727,10 +727,14 @@ impl EiState {
             dev.frame(self.last_serial, self.now_us());
         }
         if let Err(e) = ctx.flush() {
-            tracing::warn!(error = %e, "libei: ctx.flush failed");
+            // In the per-input-event hot path: a dead EIS socket fails flush on every event
+            // (mouse-move = 100s/s), so gate the warn behind the same `loud` sampler as its siblings.
+            if loud {
+                tracing::warn!(error = %e, "libei: ctx.flush failed");
+            }
         }
         if loud {
-            tracing::info!(n, kind = ?ev.kind, idx, emitted, "libei: emitted");
+            tracing::debug!(n, kind = ?ev.kind, idx, emitted, "libei: emitted");
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/inject/linux/steam_controller2.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/inject/linux/steam_controller2.rs
index 81b492ef..3b40c358 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/inject/linux/steam_controller2.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/inject/linux/steam_controller2.rs
@@ -178,8 +178,8 @@ impl TritonPad {
                     let reply = triton_feature_reply(&self.last_set, &self.serial, self.unit_id);
                     if reply[1] != self.last_get_logged {
                         self.last_get_logged = reply[1];
-                        tracing::info!(
-                            cmd = format!("{:#04x}", reply[1]),
+                        tracing::debug!(
+                            cmd = %format_args!("{:#04x}", reply[1]),
                             "virtual SC2: answering feature GET"
                         );
                     }
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/inject/linux/triton_usbip.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/inject/linux/triton_usbip.rs
index 238754a6..bbfc6dab 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/inject/linux/triton_usbip.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/inject/linux/triton_usbip.rs
@@ -259,8 +259,8 @@ impl UsbInterfaceHandler for TritonHandler {
                     };
                     if reply[1] != self.last_get_logged {
                         self.last_get_logged = reply[1];
-                        tracing::info!(
-                            cmd = format!("{:#04x}", reply[1]),
+                        tracing::debug!(
+                            cmd = %format_args!("{:#04x}", reply[1]),
                             "virtual SC2 usbip: answering feature GET"
                         );
                     }
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/main.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/main.rs
index af94cccd..cecacde9 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/main.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/main.rs
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 mod audio;
 mod capture;
 mod config;
+mod detect;
 mod discovery;
 mod wol;
 // Goal-1 stage 6: top-level platform-only modules live under `src/linux/` and `src/windows/`; `#[path]`
@@ -31,6 +32,9 @@ mod crash;
 #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
 #[path = "windows/ddc.rs"]
 mod ddc;
+#[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
+#[path = "windows/display_events.rs"]
+mod display_events;
 #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
 #[path = "linux/dmabuf_fence.rs"]
 mod dmabuf_fence;
@@ -211,6 +215,19 @@ fn real_main() -> Result<()> {
             monitor_devnode::startup_recover();
             gamestream::serve(mgmt_opts, native, gamestream)
         }
+        // Report other Moonlight-compatible hosts (Sunshine/Apollo/…) installed or running on this
+        // machine — side-by-side use is unsupported. Exit 1 if any are found (so the installers and
+        // support scripts can gate on it), 0 if clean. The host also runs this at `serve` startup.
+        Some("detect-conflicts") => {
+            let found = detect::scan();
+            if found.is_empty() {
+                println!("No conflicting game-streaming host detected.");
+                Ok(())
+            } else {
+                print!("{}", detect::render_report(&found));
+                std::process::exit(1);
+            }
+        }
         // Print the management API's OpenAPI document (for client codegen).
         Some("openapi") => {
             print!("{}", mgmt::openapi_json());
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/mgmt.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/mgmt.rs
index a4cec12f..50f08e36 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/mgmt.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/mgmt.rs
@@ -419,6 +419,11 @@ struct LocalSummary {
     /// (`keep_alive: forever`). Non-zero means a display (and, exclusive, your physical monitors) is
     /// held; the tray surfaces it + a one-click release. Active (in-use) displays are not counted.
     kept_displays: u32,
+    /// Other Moonlight-compatible hosts (Sunshine/Apollo/…) detected on this machine at startup —
+    /// running one alongside Punktfunk is unsupported. Compact labels (e.g. `Sunshine (running)`);
+    /// the tray/console surface them so the clash is visible before pairing silently fails.
+    #[serde(default, skip_serializing_if = "Vec::is_empty")]
+    conflicts: Vec<String>,
 }
 
 /// A paired (certificate-pinned) Moonlight client.
@@ -1557,6 +1562,9 @@ async fn get_local_summary(State(st): State<Arc<MgmtState>>) -> Json<LocalSummar
             .iter()
             .filter(|d| d.state == "lingering" || d.state == "pinned")
             .count() as u32,
+        // Cached at `serve` startup (empty when nothing was detected / never scanned) — no per-poll
+        // process enumeration.
+        conflicts: crate::detect::summary_labels(crate::detect::snapshot()),
     })
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/punktfunk1.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/punktfunk1.rs
index c5117fbd..b6d7e51b 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/punktfunk1.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/punktfunk1.rs
@@ -319,8 +319,12 @@ pub(crate) async fn serve(
         tracing::info!(
             paired = st.paired_clients,
             require = opts.require_pairing,
-            "PAIRING ARMED — enter this PIN on the client to pair: {pin}"
+            "pairing armed — enter the PIN shown on the console to pair a client"
         );
+        // The PIN is a shared secret: print it straight to the operator's terminal, NOT through
+        // tracing. A tracing event also lands in the DEBUG log ring that field bug reports ship
+        // (GET /api/v1/logs), which must never carry the pairing secret.
+        eprintln!("[punktfunk] pairing PIN: {pin}  (enter this on the client to pair)");
     }
     let last_pairing = Arc::new(std::sync::Mutex::new(None::<std::time::Instant>));
     let opts = Arc::new(opts);
@@ -613,7 +617,7 @@ async fn pair_ceremony(
         }
         tracing::info!(name = %req.name, "pairing complete — client trusted");
     } else {
-        tracing::warn!(name = %req.name, "pairing FAILED (wrong PIN) — fingerprint not stored");
+        tracing::warn!(name = %req.name, "pairing rejected (wrong PIN) — fingerprint not stored");
     }
     io::write_msg(&mut send, &PairResult { ok }.encode()).await?;
     let _ = send.finish();
@@ -1308,7 +1312,7 @@ async fn serve_session(
                             let target = adapt_fec(rep.loss_ppm).max(prev.saturating_sub(1));
                             fec_target_ctl.store(target, Ordering::Relaxed);
                             if prev != target {
-                                tracing::info!(
+                                tracing::debug!(
                                     loss_ppm = rep.loss_ppm,
                                     fec_pct = target,
                                     prev_fec_pct = prev,
@@ -1336,7 +1340,7 @@ async fn serve_session(
                         } else {
                             resolve_bitrate_kbps(req.bitrate_kbps)
                         };
-                        tracing::info!(
+                        tracing::debug!(
                             requested_kbps = req.bitrate_kbps,
                             resolved_kbps = resolved,
                             "mid-stream bitrate change requested"
@@ -1521,7 +1525,7 @@ async fn serve_session(
         std::thread::Builder::new()
             .name("punktfunk1-audio".into())
             .spawn(move || audio_thread(conn, stop, cap, channels))
-            .map_err(|e| tracing::error!(error = %e, "audio thread spawn failed — session continues without audio"))
+            .map_err(|e| tracing::warn!(error = %e, "audio thread spawn failed — session continues without audio"))
             .ok()
     } else {
         None
@@ -2589,7 +2593,7 @@ fn input_thread(
                     // Log the silent→active transition (once per buzz) so a live test can tell
                     // "host never gets rumble from the game" apart from "client doesn't render it".
                     if prev == (0, 0) && (low != 0 || high != 0) {
-                        tracing::info!(pad, low, high, "rumble: forwarding to client (0xCA)");
+                        tracing::debug!(pad, low, high, "rumble: forwarding to client (0xCA)");
                     }
                     rumble_state[idx] = (low, high);
                     rumble_seen[idx] = true;
@@ -2785,7 +2789,7 @@ fn audio_thread(
     let mut enc = match NativeAudioEnc::new(want) {
         Ok(e) => e,
         Err(e) => {
-            tracing::error!(error = %e, "opus encoder");
+            tracing::warn!(error = %e, "opus encoder init failed — session continues without audio");
             *audio_cap.lock().unwrap() = Some(capturer);
             return;
         }
@@ -2804,6 +2808,9 @@ fn audio_thread(
     // restart). The first open already happened above; failing THAT still ends the session quietly.
     let mut capturer = Some(capturer);
     let mut last_failed: Option<std::time::Instant> = None;
+    // A stuck Opus encoder would fail on every 5 ms frame (~200/s); power-of-two throttle the
+    // warn so it can't flood stderr + the log ring while still surfacing that it's failing.
+    let mut opus_encode_errs: u64 = 0;
     tracing::info!(
         channels = want,
         "punktfunk/1 audio streaming (Opus 48 kHz, 5 ms datagrams)"
@@ -2851,7 +2858,16 @@ fn audio_thread(
                     }
                     seq = seq.wrapping_add(1);
                 }
-                Err(e) => tracing::warn!(error = %e, "opus encode"),
+                Err(e) => {
+                    opus_encode_errs += 1;
+                    if opus_encode_errs.is_power_of_two() {
+                        tracing::warn!(
+                            error = %e,
+                            count = opus_encode_errs,
+                            "opus encode failed — dropping audio frame"
+                        );
+                    }
+                }
             }
         }
     }
@@ -3524,7 +3540,7 @@ pub(crate) fn boost_thread_priority(critical: bool) {
         match SetThreadPriority(GetCurrentThread(), prio) {
             Ok(()) => tracing::debug!(critical, "thread priority raised"),
             Err(e) => {
-                tracing::debug!(critical, error = %format!("{e:?}"), "SetThreadPriority failed")
+                tracing::debug!(critical, error = ?e, "SetThreadPriority failed")
             }
         }
     }
@@ -4424,7 +4440,7 @@ fn virtual_stream(ctx: SessionContext) -> Result<()> {
                         } else {
                             "transient"
                         };
-                        tracing::error!(error = %chain, kind,
+                        tracing::warn!(error = %chain, kind,
                             "session-switch rebuild failed — staying on the current backend");
                     }
                 }
@@ -4500,7 +4516,7 @@ fn virtual_stream(ctx: SessionContext) -> Result<()> {
                     last_forced_idr = Some(std::time::Instant::now()); // fresh encoder opens on an IDR — anchor the cooldown
                 }
                 Err(e) => {
-                    tracing::error!(error = %format!("{e:#}"), ?new_mode,
+                    tracing::warn!(error = %format!("{e:#}"), ?new_mode,
                         "mode-switch rebuild failed — staying on the current mode");
                     // H2 rollback: the control task acked the switch BEFORE this rebuild, so the
                     // client's mode slot already flipped to `new_mode`. A second accepted ack
@@ -4577,7 +4593,7 @@ fn virtual_stream(ctx: SessionContext) -> Result<()> {
                         last_forced_idr = Some(std::time::Instant::now());
                     }
                     Err(e) => {
-                        tracing::error!(error = %format!("{e:#}"), to_kbps = new_kbps,
+                        tracing::warn!(error = %format!("{e:#}"), to_kbps = new_kbps,
                             "bitrate-change encoder rebuild failed — keeping the current rate");
                     }
                 }
@@ -4931,7 +4947,7 @@ fn virtual_stream(ctx: SessionContext) -> Result<()> {
                      session (see the error above for the cause)");
                 return Err(e).context("encoder submit");
             }
-            tracing::error!(error = %format!("{e:#}"), reset = encoder_resets,
+            tracing::warn!(error = %format!("{e:#}"), reset = encoder_resets,
                 max = MAX_ENCODER_RESETS,
                 "encoder submit failed — encoder rebuilt in place, forcing an IDR");
             last_au_at = std::time::Instant::now();
@@ -5090,7 +5106,7 @@ fn virtual_stream(ctx: SessionContext) -> Result<()> {
                 return Err(poll_err.unwrap_or_else(|| anyhow!("{why}")))
                     .context("encoder stalled — in-place rebuild unavailable or exhausted");
             }
-            tracing::error!(reset = encoder_resets, max = MAX_ENCODER_RESETS, %why,
+            tracing::warn!(reset = encoder_resets, max = MAX_ENCODER_RESETS, %why,
                 "encode stall detected — encoder rebuilt in place, forcing an IDR");
             last_au_at = std::time::Instant::now();
         }
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay.rs
index 92934801..da45dc2a 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay.rs
@@ -983,7 +983,7 @@ pub fn wants_dedicated_game_session(has_launch: bool) -> bool {
         if gamescope::is_available() {
             true
         } else {
-            tracing::info!(
+            tracing::warn!(
                 "game_session=dedicated but gamescope is unavailable — falling back to auto routing"
             );
             false
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/gamescope.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/gamescope.rs
index 90e7afc0..1decebba 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/gamescope.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/gamescope.rs
@@ -1278,7 +1278,7 @@ fn launch_session(client: &str, unit_name: &str, mode: Mode) -> Result<u32> {
         // and the transient unit has no Restart= — without supervision the rest of this poll would
         // wait on a corpse. Re-run the unit so every readiness attempt inside the deadline is used.
         if !unit_starting_or_active(unit_name) {
-            tracing::info!(
+            tracing::warn!(
                 unit = unit_name,
                 "gamescope session: transient unit died (missed the wrapper's 5 s gamescope \
                  readiness window?) — relaunching"
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/kwin.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/kwin.rs
index c2e08928..5118c5ed 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/kwin.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/kwin.rs
@@ -685,7 +685,7 @@ fn run(
             .dispatch_pending(&mut state)
             .context("dispatch_pending")?;
         if state.closed {
-            tracing::warn!("KWin closed the virtual-output stream");
+            tracing::warn!(output = %name, node_id, "KWin closed the virtual-output stream");
             break;
         }
         conn.flush().context("wayland flush")?;
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/mutter.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/mutter.rs
index 2edbe3b3..82de2d36 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/mutter.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/mutter.rs
@@ -255,12 +255,12 @@ fn session_thread(
             Ok(dc) => match get_state(&dc).await {
                 Ok(state) => Some((dc, state)),
                 Err(e) => {
-                    tracing::warn!("mutter: GetCurrentState (pre) failed ({e:#}); topology + scale persistence off");
+                    tracing::warn!(error = %format!("{e:#}"), "mutter: GetCurrentState (pre) failed; topology + scale persistence off");
                     None
                 }
             },
             Err(e) => {
-                tracing::warn!("mutter: DisplayConfig unavailable ({e:#}); topology + scale persistence off");
+                tracing::warn!(error = %format!("{e:#}"), "mutter: DisplayConfig unavailable; topology + scale persistence off");
                 None
             }
         };
@@ -301,14 +301,16 @@ fn session_thread(
                                 if exclusive { "disabled" } else { "kept" }
                             ),
                             Err(e) => tracing::warn!(
-                                "mutter: could not set the virtual output primary ({e:#}); streaming continues — the desktop may render on the physical monitor"
+                                error = %format!("{e:#}"),
+                                "mutter: could not set the virtual output primary; streaming continues — the desktop may render on the physical monitor"
                             ),
                         }
                     }
                     tracked = Some((dc, pre, vconn));
                 }
                 Err(e) => tracing::warn!(
-                    "mutter: virtual connector not identified ({e:#}); topology + scale persistence off"
+                    error = %format!("{e:#}"),
+                    "mutter: virtual connector not identified; topology + scale persistence off"
                 ),
             }
         }
@@ -737,7 +739,8 @@ async fn make_virtual_primary(
                 tracing::warn!(
                     scale,
                     derived,
-                    "mutter: ApplyMonitorsConfig at the remembered scale failed ({e:#}); retrying at the derived scale"
+                    error = %format!("{e:#}"),
+                    "mutter: ApplyMonitorsConfig at the remembered scale failed — retrying at the derived scale"
                 );
                 scale = derived;
             }
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/policy.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/policy.rs
index 80500050..115e304d 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/policy.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/policy.rs
@@ -234,9 +234,12 @@ pub struct DisplayPolicy {
     /// untouched.
     #[serde(default)]
     pub ddc_power_off: bool,
-    /// EXPERIMENTAL (Windows): after an `Exclusive` isolate deactivates the physical monitors,
-    /// additionally DISABLE their PnP device nodes (persistently, so a standby monitor/TV whose
-    /// hot-plug events re-arrive stays disabled) and re-enable them at restore. Targets the same
+    /// EXPERIMENTAL (Windows): DISABLE physical monitors' PnP device nodes for the stream's
+    /// duration (persistently, so a standby monitor/TV whose hot-plug events re-arrive stays
+    /// disabled) and re-enable them at teardown. Two selectors: the monitors an `Exclusive`
+    /// isolate deactivated, plus — in ANY topology — external monitors that are connected but not
+    /// part of the desktop (the standby TV that was never active, whose input auto-scan /
+    /// instant-on HPD cycling re-probes the link every few seconds). Targets the same
     /// "connected-but-dark head" periodic-stutter class as [`Self::ddc_power_off`], but at the
     /// Windows-reaction level: a disabled devnode's wake events trigger no PnP arrival, no CCD
     /// re-evaluation, no DWM invalidation. A crash-recovery journal re-enables leftovers on host
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/windows/manager.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/windows/manager.rs
index 09fd7512..f2a786e7 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/windows/manager.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/windows/manager.rs
@@ -906,8 +906,9 @@ impl VirtualDisplayManager {
             Some(n) => {
                 tracing::info!(
                     backend = self.driver.name(),
-                    "target {} -> {n}",
-                    added.target_id
+                    target_id = added.target_id,
+                    gdi = %n,
+                    "IDD target activated into a display path"
                 );
                 // ADD only advertises the mode; force it active so DXGI captures the requested size.
                 set_active_mode(n, mode);
@@ -1015,6 +1016,26 @@ impl VirtualDisplayManager {
                     }
                 }
                 thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(1500)); // let the topology settle before capture opens
+
+                // EXPERIMENTAL `pnp_disable_monitors`, second selector (ANY topology): monitors
+                // that are connected but NOT part of the desktop — the standby TV/monitor the
+                // deactivated-set selector above structurally misses (it never had an active path
+                // to deactivate), yet whose periodic standby wake events drive the same Windows
+                // reaction cascade (rationale in `windows/monitor_devnode.rs`). Runs AFTER the
+                // settle sleep so the active flags it reads are the committed ones (a display
+                // still mid-activation from the primary topology's force-EXTEND must not read as
+                // inactive and get disabled); in Extend the active physical panels are untouched
+                // by construction. First member only — the sweep is group-scoped like the
+                // isolate; later members join an already-swept desktop.
+                if first_member && crate::vdisplay::policy::prefs().pnp_disable_monitors() {
+                    let mut keep = inner.target_ids();
+                    keep.push(added.target_id);
+                    for id in crate::monitor_devnode::disable_connected_inactive(&keep) {
+                        if !inner.group.pnp_disabled.contains(&id) {
+                            inner.group.pnp_disabled.push(id);
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
             }
             None => tracing::warn!(
                 "virtual-display target {} not yet an active display path (auto-activate, EXTEND \
@@ -1067,8 +1088,11 @@ impl VirtualDisplayManager {
     ) -> Result<Monitor> {
         tracing::info!(
             slot,
-            old = %format!("{}x{}@{}", old.mode.width, old.mode.height, old.mode.refresh_hz),
-            new = %format!("{}x{}@{}", mode.width, mode.height, mode.refresh_hz),
+            old = format!(
+                "{}x{}@{}",
+                old.mode.width, old.mode.height, old.mode.refresh_hz
+            ),
+            new = format!("{}x{}@{}", mode.width, mode.height, mode.refresh_hz),
             old_target = old.target_id,
             "virtual-display: re-arriving monitor for a mid-stream resize (exact mode)"
         );
@@ -1207,17 +1231,19 @@ impl VirtualDisplayManager {
             // (stopped FIRST, as the per-monitor pinger was), and the group's topology restore runs
             // — first-in captured it, last-out restores it (design §6.1).
             self.stop_pinger();
+            // EXPERIMENTAL `pnp_disable_monitors` restore: re-enable the devnodes FIRST and let
+            // them re-arrive, so a CCD restore below re-activates paths whose monitors exist
+            // again (a disabled devnode would leave the restored path modeless/EDID-less).
+            // OUTSIDE the ccd_saved gate: the connected-inactive sweep disables devnodes in
+            // Extend/Primary sessions too, where no isolate snapshot exists to restore.
+            let pnp_disabled = std::mem::take(&mut inner.group.pnp_disabled);
+            if !pnp_disabled.is_empty() {
+                crate::monitor_devnode::enable_instances(&pnp_disabled);
+                thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(300));
+            }
             // Re-attach detached display(s) BEFORE the REMOVE so the box is never left with zero
             // displays.
             if let Some(saved) = inner.group.ccd_saved.take() {
-                // EXPERIMENTAL `pnp_disable_monitors` restore: re-enable the devnodes FIRST and let
-                // them re-arrive, so the CCD restore below re-activates paths whose monitors exist
-                // again (a disabled devnode would leave the restored path modeless/EDID-less).
-                let pnp_disabled = std::mem::take(&mut inner.group.pnp_disabled);
-                if !pnp_disabled.is_empty() {
-                    crate::monitor_devnode::enable_instances(&pnp_disabled);
-                    thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(300));
-                }
                 restore_displays_ccd(&saved);
                 // EXPERIMENTAL `ddc_power_off` wake: the restore re-activated the physical paths, and
                 // returning signal alone wakes DPMS-off panels on most firmware — the explicit ON is
@@ -1255,7 +1281,10 @@ impl VirtualDisplayManager {
             if is_device_gone(&e) {
                 self.invalidate_device(&e);
             }
-            tracing::warn!("virtual-display REMOVE failed: {e:#}");
+            tracing::warn!(
+                target_id = mon.target_id,
+                "virtual-display REMOVE failed: {e:#}"
+            );
         } else {
             tracing::info!(
                 backend = self.driver.name(),
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/windows/pf_vdisplay.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/windows/pf_vdisplay.rs
index 5a1f61fd..601ae1cd 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/windows/pf_vdisplay.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/windows/pf_vdisplay.rs
@@ -164,10 +164,14 @@ fn restart_vdisplay_device() -> bool {
     {
         Ok(o) => {
             let status = String::from_utf8_lossy(&o.stdout).trim().to_string();
-            tracing::warn!(
-                %status,
-                "pf-vdisplay: cycled the adapter device (hostless-zombie recovery)"
-            );
+            if status == "ABSENT" {
+                tracing::warn!("pf-vdisplay: no adapter devnode to cycle — driver not installed");
+            } else {
+                tracing::warn!(
+                    %status,
+                    "pf-vdisplay: cycled the adapter device (hostless-zombie recovery)"
+                );
+            }
             status != "ABSENT"
         }
         Err(e) => {
@@ -531,13 +535,13 @@ impl VdisplayDriver for PfVdisplayDriver {
             HighPart: reply.adapter_luid_high,
         };
         tracing::info!(
-            "pf-vdisplay created {}x{}@{} (target_id={}, adapter_luid={:#x}, wudf_pid={})",
+            target_id = reply.target_id,
+            adapter_luid = %format_args!("{:#x}", luid.LowPart),
+            wudf_pid = reply.wudf_pid,
+            "pf-vdisplay monitor created {}x{}@{}",
             mode.width,
             mode.height,
-            mode.refresh_hz,
-            reply.target_id,
-            luid.LowPart,
-            reply.wudf_pid
+            mode.refresh_hz
         );
         // Per-client identity diagnostic: did the driver honor the host's preferred (stable) monitor id?
         // A pre-Phase-2 driver leaves resolved_monitor_id=0 (it ignored the field); a current driver echoes
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/windows/ddc.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/windows/ddc.rs
index 6c6ca459..0a695164 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/windows/ddc.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/windows/ddc.rs
@@ -181,9 +181,9 @@ pub fn panel_off_except(exclude_gdi: &str) -> u32 {
         acked += set_power(m.hmon, &m.device, POWER_OFF);
     }
     if acked == 0 {
-        tracing::info!(
-            "DDC/CI: no panel accepted the off command — the experiment is a no-op on this box \
-             (monitors without DDC/CI, or none besides the virtual display)"
+        tracing::debug!(
+            "DDC/CI: no physical panel accepted the DPMS-off command \
+             (no DDC/CI-capable panel besides the virtual display)"
         );
     }
     acked
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/windows/display_events.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/windows/display_events.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..126f41d3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/windows/display_events.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,337 @@
+//! OS display-event listener — the attribution sensor for the periodic-stutter disturbance class.
+//!
+//! The capture-stall watch ([`crate::capture::windows::idd_push`]) can SAY "DWM stopped composing
+//! on a stable period", but not WHY. Field evidence (Apollo's Stuttering Clinic, Apollo #384,
+//! Tom's HW "stutter from disabled-but-connected monitors") points at a connected-but-idle sink
+//! (standby TV/monitor, active HDMI cable, KVM/AVR) re-probing the link every few seconds; the GPU
+//! driver services each probe below the topology layer, and on some boxes Windows additionally
+//! tears down + re-arrives the monitor's devnode each time. This module timestamps everything
+//! Windows lets user mode see of that reaction so the stall log can name the disturbance instead
+//! of guessing:
+//!
+//! - `WM_DEVICECHANGE` + `RegisterDeviceNotificationW(GUID_DEVINTERFACE_MONITOR)`: monitor device
+//!   interface arrival/removal — fires on devnode churn even when the final topology is unchanged
+//!   (the "reaction cascade" class `pnp_disable_monitors` suppresses), with the interface path
+//!   naming WHICH monitor pulsed.
+//! - `DBT_DEVNODES_CHANGED`: the broadcast catch-all for PnP tree churn (no payload).
+//! - `WM_DISPLAYCHANGE`: an actual mode/topology commit reached the desktop (this one does NOT
+//!   fire for a pure probe with no mode delta — its absence is itself a signal).
+//!
+//! A pure driver-internal probe (EDID/DDC read, DP link retrain) emits NONE of these — that
+//! absence, paired with metronomic stalls, is what discriminates "driver services a standby sink
+//! below the OS" from "Windows re-enumerates the monitor". Kernel-precise attribution (DxgKrnl ETW
+//! event 272 `DxgkCbIndicateChildStatus`) is a possible follow-up; this listener is the cheap
+//! always-on first stage.
+//!
+//! The listener thread also keeps a cached CCD target inventory (refreshed on each event + a slow
+//! timer), so the capture thread can name connected-but-inactive external displays — the prime
+//! suspects — without ever touching the CCD lock itself (the display-config lock is exactly what
+//! stalls during churn; the capture thread must never block on it).
+
+// Every `unsafe` block in this file carries a `// SAFETY:` proof; enforce it (unsafe-proof program).
+#![deny(clippy::undocumented_unsafe_blocks)]
+
+use std::collections::VecDeque;
+use std::sync::{Mutex, Once, OnceLock};
+use std::time::Instant;
+
+use windows::core::PCWSTR;
+use windows::Win32::Devices::Display::GUID_DEVINTERFACE_MONITOR;
+use windows::Win32::Foundation::{HANDLE, HWND, LPARAM, LRESULT, WPARAM};
+use windows::Win32::System::LibraryLoader::GetModuleHandleW;
+use windows::Win32::UI::WindowsAndMessaging::{
+    CreateWindowExW, DefWindowProcW, DispatchMessageW, GetMessageW, RegisterClassW,
+    RegisterDeviceNotificationW, SetTimer, DBT_DEVICEARRIVAL, DBT_DEVICEREMOVECOMPLETE,
+    DBT_DEVNODES_CHANGED, DBT_DEVTYP_DEVICEINTERFACE, DEVICE_NOTIFY_WINDOW_HANDLE,
+    DEV_BROADCAST_DEVICEINTERFACE_W, DEV_BROADCAST_HDR, MSG, WINDOW_EX_STYLE, WM_DEVICECHANGE,
+    WM_DISPLAYCHANGE, WM_TIMER, WNDCLASSW, WS_OVERLAPPED,
+};
+
+/// One OS-visible display event, timestamped at receipt.
+#[derive(Clone)]
+pub(crate) struct DisplayEvent {
+    pub at: Instant,
+    pub kind: DisplayEventKind,
+    /// Monitor device instance id for arrival/removal (e.g. `DISPLAY\GSM83CD\...`), else `None`.
+    pub detail: Option<String>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub(crate) enum DisplayEventKind {
+    /// A monitor device interface ARRIVED — a sink (re)connected as Windows sees it.
+    MonitorArrival,
+    /// A monitor device interface was REMOVED — a sink dropped as Windows sees it.
+    MonitorRemoval,
+    /// PnP device-tree churn (broadcast, no payload) — re-enumeration passed through.
+    DevNodesChanged,
+    /// A mode/topology commit reached the desktop (resolution/layout actually changed).
+    DisplayChange,
+}
+
+impl DisplayEventKind {
+    fn label(self) -> &'static str {
+        match self {
+            Self::MonitorArrival => "monitor-arrival",
+            Self::MonitorRemoval => "monitor-removal",
+            Self::DevNodesChanged => "devnodes-changed",
+            Self::DisplayChange => "display-change",
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+struct State {
+    /// Recent events, oldest-first, capped at [`RING_CAP`].
+    events: VecDeque<DisplayEvent>,
+    /// Cached CCD target inventory (see module docs for why the cache exists).
+    inventory: Vec<crate::win_display::TargetInventory>,
+}
+
+/// Ring depth: at the observed worst case (a probe cycle every ~2 s, ≤4 events per cycle) this
+/// holds well over a minute of history — the stall correlator only ever asks about the last gap.
+const RING_CAP: usize = 128;
+
+fn state() -> &'static Mutex<State> {
+    static STATE: OnceLock<Mutex<State>> = OnceLock::new();
+    STATE.get_or_init(|| {
+        Mutex::new(State {
+            events: VecDeque::with_capacity(RING_CAP),
+            inventory: Vec::new(),
+        })
+    })
+}
+
+/// Start the listener thread (idempotent). Degraded-not-fatal: if window/registration creation
+/// fails the ring just stays empty — the stall log then reports "listener unavailable" naturally
+/// via empty summaries, and streaming is unaffected.
+pub(crate) fn spawn_once() {
+    static ONCE: Once = Once::new();
+    ONCE.call_once(|| {
+        let spawned = std::thread::Builder::new()
+            .name("pf-display-events".into())
+            .spawn(pump);
+        if let Err(e) = spawned {
+            tracing::warn!(
+                error = %e,
+                "display-event listener thread failed to spawn — stall logs won't carry OS event attribution"
+            );
+        }
+    });
+}
+
+/// Events with `from <= at <= to`, oldest-first.
+pub(crate) fn events_between(from: Instant, to: Instant) -> Vec<DisplayEvent> {
+    let st = state().lock().unwrap();
+    st.events
+        .iter()
+        .filter(|e| e.at >= from && e.at <= to)
+        .cloned()
+        .collect()
+}
+
+/// Compact one-line summary for log fields: `"monitor-removal x2 (DISPLAY\GSM83CD\...),
+/// devnodes-changed x1"`; `"none"` when empty.
+pub(crate) fn summarize(events: &[DisplayEvent]) -> String {
+    if events.is_empty() {
+        return "none".into();
+    }
+    let mut out: Vec<String> = Vec::new();
+    for kind in [
+        DisplayEventKind::MonitorArrival,
+        DisplayEventKind::MonitorRemoval,
+        DisplayEventKind::DevNodesChanged,
+        DisplayEventKind::DisplayChange,
+    ] {
+        let hits: Vec<&DisplayEvent> = events.iter().filter(|e| e.kind == kind).collect();
+        if hits.is_empty() {
+            continue;
+        }
+        let detail = hits
+            .iter()
+            .rev()
+            .find_map(|e| e.detail.as_deref())
+            .map(|d| format!(" ({d})"))
+            .unwrap_or_default();
+        out.push(format!("{} x{}{}", kind.label(), hits.len(), detail));
+    }
+    out.join(", ")
+}
+
+/// The prime suspects for link-probe disturbances, from the cached inventory: external physical
+/// displays that are CONNECTED but not part of the desktop (standby TV / input-switched monitor).
+/// Rendered as `"<friendly> (<connector>)"`. Never blocks on the CCD lock.
+pub(crate) fn connected_inactive_externals() -> Vec<String> {
+    let st = state().lock().unwrap();
+    st.inventory
+        .iter()
+        .filter(|t| t.external_physical && !t.active)
+        .map(|t| format!("{} ({})", t.friendly, t.tech))
+        .collect()
+}
+
+fn push_event(kind: DisplayEventKind, detail: Option<String>) {
+    let mut st = state().lock().unwrap();
+    if st.events.len() >= RING_CAP {
+        st.events.pop_front();
+    }
+    st.events.push_back(DisplayEvent {
+        at: Instant::now(),
+        kind,
+        detail,
+    });
+}
+
+fn refresh_inventory() {
+    // SAFETY: `target_inventory` only runs read-only CCD queries over locals (see its SAFETY doc);
+    // called from the listener thread, never the capture thread.
+    let inv = unsafe { crate::win_display::target_inventory() };
+    if !inv.is_empty() {
+        state().lock().unwrap().inventory = inv;
+    }
+}
+
+/// Inventory refresh timer: 15 s keeps the "connected-but-inactive" suspect list fresh enough for
+/// a warn that rate-limits to 30 s, without measurable CCD traffic.
+const INVENTORY_TIMER_MS: u32 = 15_000;
+
+/// `DBT_DEVNODES_CHANGED` arrives as `wParam` on `WM_DEVICECHANGE` without a registration; the
+/// interface arrivals/removals need the `RegisterDeviceNotificationW` below.
+unsafe extern "system" fn wnd_proc(
+    hwnd: HWND,
+    msg: u32,
+    wparam: WPARAM,
+    lparam: LPARAM,
+) -> LRESULT {
+    match msg {
+        WM_DISPLAYCHANGE => {
+            // lParam packs the new primary resolution — worth carrying: it distinguishes a real
+            // mode change from a same-mode re-commit when reading a field log.
+            let (w, h) = (
+                (lparam.0 & 0xffff) as u32,
+                ((lparam.0 >> 16) & 0xffff) as u32,
+            );
+            push_event(DisplayEventKind::DisplayChange, Some(format!("{w}x{h}")));
+            refresh_inventory();
+            LRESULT(0)
+        }
+        WM_DEVICECHANGE => {
+            let event = wparam.0 as u32;
+            if event == DBT_DEVNODES_CHANGED {
+                push_event(DisplayEventKind::DevNodesChanged, None);
+                refresh_inventory();
+            } else if event == DBT_DEVICEARRIVAL || event == DBT_DEVICEREMOVECOMPLETE {
+                let kind = if event == DBT_DEVICEARRIVAL {
+                    DisplayEventKind::MonitorArrival
+                } else {
+                    DisplayEventKind::MonitorRemoval
+                };
+                // SAFETY: for these two events lParam is documented to point at a
+                // DEV_BROADCAST_HDR (or be 0 — checked). We only read the header fields, and only
+                // reinterpret as DEV_BROADCAST_DEVICEINTERFACE_W after checking dbch_devicetype,
+                // reading at most dbch_size bytes — the size the sender declared.
+                let detail = unsafe {
+                    let hdr = lparam.0 as *const DEV_BROADCAST_HDR;
+                    if hdr.is_null() || (*hdr).dbch_devicetype != DBT_DEVTYP_DEVICEINTERFACE {
+                        None
+                    } else {
+                        let di = hdr as *const DEV_BROADCAST_DEVICEINTERFACE_W;
+                        let head = std::mem::offset_of!(DEV_BROADCAST_DEVICEINTERFACE_W, dbcc_name);
+                        let bytes = ((*hdr).dbch_size as usize).saturating_sub(head);
+                        let name = std::slice::from_raw_parts(
+                            std::ptr::addr_of!((*di).dbcc_name).cast::<u16>(),
+                            (bytes / 2).min(512),
+                        );
+                        let end = name.iter().position(|&c| c == 0).unwrap_or(name.len());
+                        crate::monitor_devnode::instance_id_from_interface_path(
+                            &String::from_utf16_lossy(&name[..end]),
+                        )
+                    }
+                };
+                push_event(kind, detail);
+                refresh_inventory();
+            }
+            LRESULT(0)
+        }
+        WM_TIMER => {
+            refresh_inventory();
+            LRESULT(0)
+        }
+        // SAFETY: default handling for everything else — the standard wndproc tail call.
+        _ => unsafe { DefWindowProcW(hwnd, msg, wparam, lparam) },
+    }
+}
+
+/// The listener thread: a hidden TOP-LEVEL window (message-ONLY windows receive neither
+/// `WM_DISPLAYCHANGE` nor broadcast `WM_DEVICECHANGE` — the classic pitfall) + a device-interface
+/// registration for monitors + a blocking message pump. Runs for the process lifetime.
+fn pump() {
+    refresh_inventory(); // baseline before any event arrives
+
+    let class: Vec<u16> = "pf-display-events\0".encode_utf16().collect();
+    // SAFETY: straight-line Win32 window bring-up on this thread. `class` outlives every use of
+    // its pointer (it lives to the end of the fn, the pump loops forever). All handles passed on
+    // are the ones the preceding calls returned; failure of any step returns out of the thread
+    // (degraded mode, see `spawn_once`). The DEV_BROADCAST_DEVICEINTERFACE_W filter is a fully
+    // initialised local read synchronously by RegisterDeviceNotificationW.
+    unsafe {
+        let Ok(hinstance) = GetModuleHandleW(None) else {
+            tracing::warn!(
+                "display-event listener: GetModuleHandleW failed — no OS event attribution"
+            );
+            return;
+        };
+        let wc = WNDCLASSW {
+            lpfnWndProc: Some(wnd_proc),
+            hInstance: hinstance.into(),
+            lpszClassName: PCWSTR(class.as_ptr()),
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+        if RegisterClassW(&wc) == 0 {
+            tracing::warn!(
+                "display-event listener: RegisterClassW failed — no OS event attribution"
+            );
+            return;
+        }
+        let hwnd = match CreateWindowExW(
+            WINDOW_EX_STYLE(0),
+            PCWSTR(class.as_ptr()),
+            PCWSTR(class.as_ptr()),
+            WS_OVERLAPPED, // hidden: never shown, never gets focus — exists only to receive broadcasts
+            0,
+            0,
+            0,
+            0,
+            None,
+            None,
+            Some(wc.hInstance),
+            None,
+        ) {
+            Ok(w) => w,
+            Err(e) => {
+                tracing::warn!(error = %e, "display-event listener: CreateWindowExW failed — no OS event attribution");
+                return;
+            }
+        };
+        let filter = DEV_BROADCAST_DEVICEINTERFACE_W {
+            dbcc_size: std::mem::size_of::<DEV_BROADCAST_DEVICEINTERFACE_W>() as u32,
+            dbcc_devicetype: DBT_DEVTYP_DEVICEINTERFACE.0,
+            dbcc_classguid: GUID_DEVINTERFACE_MONITOR,
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+        if let Err(e) = RegisterDeviceNotificationW(
+            HANDLE(hwnd.0),
+            std::ptr::from_ref(&filter).cast(),
+            DEVICE_NOTIFY_WINDOW_HANDLE,
+        ) {
+            // DBT_DEVNODES_CHANGED and WM_DISPLAYCHANGE still arrive — partial attribution.
+            tracing::warn!(error = %e, "display-event listener: monitor-interface registration failed — arrival/removal detail unavailable");
+        }
+        SetTimer(Some(hwnd), 1, INVENTORY_TIMER_MS, None);
+        tracing::debug!(
+            "display-event listener running (monitor hot-plug + display-change attribution)"
+        );
+        let mut msg = MSG::default();
+        while GetMessageW(&mut msg, None, 0, 0).as_bool() {
+            DispatchMessageW(&msg);
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/windows/monitor_devnode.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/windows/monitor_devnode.rs
index 24d91134..7a3e6971 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/windows/monitor_devnode.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/windows/monitor_devnode.rs
@@ -7,13 +7,16 @@
 //! (Apollo #368's Device-Manager refresh at every hitch; our own reporter's TV where unplugging the
 //! cable removes a metronomic ~4 s double-jolt) says this reaction cascade is the expensive part.
 //!
-//! This module disables the deactivated monitors' devnodes for the stream's duration
+//! This module disables physical monitors' devnodes for the stream's duration
 //! (`CM_Disable_DevNode` with `CM_DISABLE_PERSIST`, so a devnode that hot-plug re-arrives STAYS
 //! disabled — that persistence is the whole point) and re-enables them at teardown before the CCD
-//! restore. Selection is precise: only the monitors on targets the isolate actually deactivated,
-//! mapped CCD target → monitor device interface path (`DISPLAYCONFIG_TARGET_DEVICE_NAME`) → PnP
-//! instance id — never "every monitor but ours", so co-installed third-party virtual displays are
-//! untouched.
+//! restore. Two precise selectors, never "every monitor but ours" (co-installed third-party
+//! virtual displays are untouched): [`disable_for_deactivated`] — monitors on targets the
+//! `Exclusive` isolate actually deactivated, mapped CCD target → monitor device interface path
+//! (`DISPLAYCONFIG_TARGET_DEVICE_NAME`) → PnP instance id; and [`disable_connected_inactive`] —
+//! external physical monitors that are connected but not part of the desktop in ANY topology (the
+//! standby-TV case: never active, so the first selector can't see it, yet it probes the link all
+//! the same — the exact class in the field reports above).
 //!
 //! Crash safety: instance ids are journaled to `<config>/pnp-disabled-monitors.json` BEFORE the
 //! disable and cleared after a successful re-enable; [`startup_recover`] re-enables leftovers when
@@ -62,7 +65,8 @@ fn write_journal(ids: &[String]) {
 /// `\\?\DISPLAY#GSM83CD#5&367fb4cb&0&UID4352#{guid}` → `DISPLAY\GSM83CD\5&367fb4cb&0&UID4352`.
 /// The standard device-interface-path → instance-id transform: strip the `\\?\` prefix and the
 /// trailing `#{interface-class-guid}`, then `#` separators become `\`.
-fn instance_id_from_interface_path(path: &str) -> Option<String> {
+// pub(crate): `display_events` applies the same transform to DBT_DEVICEARRIVAL interface paths.
+pub(crate) fn instance_id_from_interface_path(path: &str) -> Option<String> {
     let rest = path.strip_prefix(r"\\?\")?;
     let cut = rest.rfind("#{")?;
     Some(rest[..cut].replace('#', "\\"))
@@ -156,8 +160,44 @@ pub fn disable_for_deactivated(
             ),
         }
     }
+    journal_and_disable(targets)
+}
+
+/// Disable the devnodes of every EXTERNAL PHYSICAL monitor that is connected but NOT part of the
+/// desktop — regardless of who deactivated it. This is the standby-TV case the deactivated-set
+/// selection above structurally misses: a TV that was never active has no pre-isolate active path,
+/// yet its standby wake events (auto input scan, Instant-On HPD cycling) drive the same Windows
+/// reaction cascade. Selection stays allowlist-precise via
+/// [`crate::win_display::TargetInventory::external_physical`] — internal panels and
+/// indirect/virtual targets (ours or third-party) can never be picked, and `keep_target_ids`
+/// (the managed virtual set) is excluded belt-and-braces. Runs AFTER the topology action so the
+/// active flags it reads are the settled ones. Journals like [`disable_for_deactivated`]; the
+/// caller merges the returned ids into the same teardown list.
+pub fn disable_connected_inactive(keep_target_ids: &[u32]) -> Vec<String> {
+    // SAFETY: `target_inventory` only runs read-only CCD queries over local buffers (see its
+    // docs); no borrowed memory crosses the call.
+    let inventory = unsafe { crate::win_display::target_inventory() };
+    let mut targets: Vec<(String, String)> = Vec::new();
+    for t in &inventory {
+        if t.active || !t.external_physical || keep_target_ids.contains(&t.target_id) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        let Some(id) = instance_id_from_interface_path(&t.monitor_device_path) else {
+            continue;
+        };
+        let hit = (id, format!("{} ({})", t.friendly, t.tech));
+        if !targets.contains(&hit) {
+            targets.push(hit);
+        }
+    }
+    journal_and_disable(targets)
+}
+
+/// Shared tail of the two selectors: crash-journal FIRST, then disable, returning what actually
+/// got disabled (the teardown re-enable list).
+fn journal_and_disable(targets: Vec<(String, String)>) -> Vec<String> {
     if targets.is_empty() {
-        tracing::info!("PnP-disable: no physical monitor devnodes to disable");
+        tracing::debug!("PnP-disable: no physical monitor devnodes to disable");
         return Vec::new();
     }
     // Journal FIRST (union with any outstanding ids), so a crash between here and the disable
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/windows/service.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/windows/service.rs
index d9d02695..74fab89d 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/windows/service.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/windows/service.rs
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ fn supervise(stop: HANDLE, session_ev: HANDLE) -> Result<()> {
         let session = unsafe { WTSGetActiveConsoleSessionId() };
         if session == 0xFFFF_FFFF {
             // No interactive session yet (boot / fully logged out). Wait, but wake on stop/session.
-            tracing::info!("no active console session — waiting");
+            tracing::debug!("no active console session — waiting");
             if wait_any(&[stop, session_ev], 3000) == Some(0) {
                 break;
             }
@@ -388,7 +388,10 @@ fn supervise(stop: HANDLE, session_ev: HANDLE) -> Result<()> {
         let child = match unsafe { spawn_host(session, &cmdline, &workdir, job_h) } {
             Ok(child) => child,
             Err(e) => {
-                tracing::error!("failed to launch host into session {session}: {e:#}");
+                tracing::error!(
+                    session,
+                    "failed to launch host into the active console session: {e:#}"
+                );
                 if wait_one(stop, 3000) {
                     break;
                 }
@@ -452,7 +455,10 @@ fn supervise(stop: HANDLE, session_ev: HANDLE) -> Result<()> {
             _ => {
                 // Child exited on its own — relaunch (with a small crash-loop backoff). The `child`
                 // drop closes its (already-exited) handles.
-                tracing::warn!("host process exited — relaunching");
+                tracing::warn!(
+                    pid = child.pid,
+                    "host process exited on its own — relaunching"
+                );
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/windows/win_display.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/windows/win_display.rs
index 985c1e42..51aa019f 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/windows/win_display.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/windows/win_display.rs
@@ -17,10 +17,20 @@ use windows::core::PCWSTR;
 use windows::Win32::Devices::Display::{
     DisplayConfigGetDeviceInfo, DisplayConfigSetDeviceInfo, GetDisplayConfigBufferSizes,
     QueryDisplayConfig, SetDisplayConfig, DISPLAYCONFIG_DEVICE_INFO_GET_ADVANCED_COLOR_INFO,
-    DISPLAYCONFIG_DEVICE_INFO_GET_SOURCE_NAME, DISPLAYCONFIG_DEVICE_INFO_SET_ADVANCED_COLOR_STATE,
-    DISPLAYCONFIG_GET_ADVANCED_COLOR_INFO, DISPLAYCONFIG_MODE_INFO,
-    DISPLAYCONFIG_MODE_INFO_TYPE_SOURCE, DISPLAYCONFIG_PATH_INFO,
-    DISPLAYCONFIG_SET_ADVANCED_COLOR_STATE, DISPLAYCONFIG_SOURCE_DEVICE_NAME, QDC_ALL_PATHS,
+    DISPLAYCONFIG_DEVICE_INFO_GET_SOURCE_NAME, DISPLAYCONFIG_DEVICE_INFO_GET_TARGET_NAME,
+    DISPLAYCONFIG_DEVICE_INFO_SET_ADVANCED_COLOR_STATE, DISPLAYCONFIG_GET_ADVANCED_COLOR_INFO,
+    DISPLAYCONFIG_MODE_INFO, DISPLAYCONFIG_MODE_INFO_TYPE_SOURCE,
+    DISPLAYCONFIG_OUTPUT_TECHNOLOGY_COMPONENT_VIDEO,
+    DISPLAYCONFIG_OUTPUT_TECHNOLOGY_COMPOSITE_VIDEO,
+    DISPLAYCONFIG_OUTPUT_TECHNOLOGY_DISPLAYPORT_EMBEDDED,
+    DISPLAYCONFIG_OUTPUT_TECHNOLOGY_DISPLAYPORT_EXTERNAL, DISPLAYCONFIG_OUTPUT_TECHNOLOGY_DVI,
+    DISPLAYCONFIG_OUTPUT_TECHNOLOGY_HD15, DISPLAYCONFIG_OUTPUT_TECHNOLOGY_HDMI,
+    DISPLAYCONFIG_OUTPUT_TECHNOLOGY_INTERNAL, DISPLAYCONFIG_OUTPUT_TECHNOLOGY_LVDS,
+    DISPLAYCONFIG_OUTPUT_TECHNOLOGY_SDI, DISPLAYCONFIG_OUTPUT_TECHNOLOGY_SDTVDONGLE,
+    DISPLAYCONFIG_OUTPUT_TECHNOLOGY_SVIDEO, DISPLAYCONFIG_OUTPUT_TECHNOLOGY_UDI_EMBEDDED,
+    DISPLAYCONFIG_OUTPUT_TECHNOLOGY_UDI_EXTERNAL, DISPLAYCONFIG_PATH_INFO,
+    DISPLAYCONFIG_SET_ADVANCED_COLOR_STATE, DISPLAYCONFIG_SOURCE_DEVICE_NAME,
+    DISPLAYCONFIG_TARGET_DEVICE_NAME, DISPLAYCONFIG_VIDEO_OUTPUT_TECHNOLOGY, QDC_ALL_PATHS,
     QDC_ONLY_ACTIVE_PATHS, SDC_ALLOW_CHANGES, SDC_APPLY, SDC_FORCE_MODE_ENUMERATION,
     SDC_SAVE_TO_DATABASE, SDC_TOPOLOGY_EXTEND, SDC_USE_SUPPLIED_DISPLAY_CONFIG,
 };
@@ -249,7 +259,7 @@ pub(crate) unsafe fn set_advanced_color(target_id: u32, enable: bool) -> bool {
             s.header.id = p.targetInfo.id;
             s.Anonymous.value = enable as u32; // bit 0 = enableAdvancedColor
             let rc = DisplayConfigSetDeviceInfo(&s.header);
-            tracing::info!(
+            tracing::debug!(
                 target_id,
                 enable,
                 rc,
@@ -260,7 +270,7 @@ pub(crate) unsafe fn set_advanced_color(target_id: u32, enable: bool) -> bool {
     }
     tracing::warn!(
         target_id,
-        "set_advanced_color: target not found in active paths"
+        "virtual-display advanced-color: target not in active paths"
     );
     false
 }
@@ -508,6 +518,124 @@ pub(crate) unsafe fn count_other_active(keep_target_ids: &[u32]) -> Option<u32>
     )
 }
 
+/// One CONNECTED display target from a full (`QDC_ALL_PATHS`) CCD sweep — the disturbance-
+/// attribution inventory. `external_physical` is the load-bearing bit: a standby TV/monitor on a
+/// real connector is the prime suspect for the periodic link-probe stutter class, while internal
+/// panels and indirect/virtual targets (our own IDD included) are not.
+pub(crate) struct TargetInventory {
+    pub target_id: u32,
+    /// Whether any active path drives this target (part of the desktop right now).
+    pub active: bool,
+    /// External physical connector (HDMI/DP/DVI/…): candidate for standby link-probe churn.
+    pub external_physical: bool,
+    /// Short connector label for logs (`"HDMI"`, `"DisplayPort"`, `"internal-panel"`, …).
+    pub tech: &'static str,
+    /// The monitor's friendly name (`"LG TV SSCR2"`); empty when the EDID carries none.
+    pub friendly: String,
+    /// Monitor device interface path — maps to the PnP instance id (`monitor_devnode`).
+    pub monitor_device_path: String,
+}
+
+/// Classify a CCD output technology: `(external physical?, log label)`. Allowlist, not blocklist:
+/// new/unknown/indirect technologies read as non-external, so a co-installed third-party virtual
+/// display can never be mistaken for a physical suspect (same precision rule as `monitor_devnode`).
+fn output_tech_class(tech: DISPLAYCONFIG_VIDEO_OUTPUT_TECHNOLOGY) -> (bool, &'static str) {
+    match tech {
+        DISPLAYCONFIG_OUTPUT_TECHNOLOGY_HDMI => (true, "HDMI"),
+        DISPLAYCONFIG_OUTPUT_TECHNOLOGY_DISPLAYPORT_EXTERNAL => (true, "DisplayPort"),
+        DISPLAYCONFIG_OUTPUT_TECHNOLOGY_DVI => (true, "DVI"),
+        DISPLAYCONFIG_OUTPUT_TECHNOLOGY_HD15 => (true, "VGA"),
+        DISPLAYCONFIG_OUTPUT_TECHNOLOGY_UDI_EXTERNAL => (true, "UDI"),
+        DISPLAYCONFIG_OUTPUT_TECHNOLOGY_SDI => (true, "SDI"),
+        DISPLAYCONFIG_OUTPUT_TECHNOLOGY_COMPONENT_VIDEO => (true, "component"),
+        DISPLAYCONFIG_OUTPUT_TECHNOLOGY_COMPOSITE_VIDEO => (true, "composite"),
+        DISPLAYCONFIG_OUTPUT_TECHNOLOGY_SVIDEO => (true, "S-Video"),
+        DISPLAYCONFIG_OUTPUT_TECHNOLOGY_SDTVDONGLE => (true, "TV-dongle"),
+        DISPLAYCONFIG_OUTPUT_TECHNOLOGY_INTERNAL
+        | DISPLAYCONFIG_OUTPUT_TECHNOLOGY_LVDS
+        | DISPLAYCONFIG_OUTPUT_TECHNOLOGY_DISPLAYPORT_EMBEDDED
+        | DISPLAYCONFIG_OUTPUT_TECHNOLOGY_UDI_EMBEDDED => (false, "internal-panel"),
+        _ => (false, "virtual/other"),
+    }
+}
+
+fn utf16z_str(buf: &[u16]) -> String {
+    let len = buf.iter().position(|&c| c == 0).unwrap_or(buf.len());
+    String::from_utf16_lossy(&buf[..len])
+}
+
+/// Sweep EVERY connected display target (`QDC_ALL_PATHS`, deduped from the source×target path
+/// matrix to unique targets) with its name, connector class and active state. Read-only CCD; can
+/// briefly serialize on the display-config lock during topology churn — callers must keep it OFF
+/// the capture thread (`display_events` runs it on its own listener thread and caches).
+pub(crate) unsafe fn target_inventory() -> Vec<TargetInventory> {
+    let mut np = 0u32;
+    let mut nm = 0u32;
+    if GetDisplayConfigBufferSizes(QDC_ALL_PATHS, &mut np, &mut nm).is_err() {
+        return Vec::new();
+    }
+    let mut paths = vec![DISPLAYCONFIG_PATH_INFO::default(); np as usize];
+    let mut modes = vec![DISPLAYCONFIG_MODE_INFO::default(); nm as usize];
+    if QueryDisplayConfig(
+        QDC_ALL_PATHS,
+        &mut np,
+        paths.as_mut_ptr(),
+        &mut nm,
+        modes.as_mut_ptr(),
+        None,
+    )
+    .is_err()
+    {
+        return Vec::new();
+    }
+    paths.truncate(np as usize);
+    // Targets driven by an ACTIVE path. `(LUID parts, target id)` keys: target ids are only
+    // unique per adapter.
+    let active: Vec<(u32, i32, u32)> = paths
+        .iter()
+        .filter(|p| p.flags & DISPLAYCONFIG_PATH_ACTIVE != 0)
+        .map(|p| {
+            (
+                p.targetInfo.adapterId.LowPart,
+                p.targetInfo.adapterId.HighPart,
+                p.targetInfo.id,
+            )
+        })
+        .collect();
+    let mut seen: Vec<(u32, i32, u32)> = Vec::new();
+    let mut out = Vec::new();
+    for p in &paths {
+        let t = &p.targetInfo;
+        let key = (t.adapterId.LowPart, t.adapterId.HighPart, t.id);
+        // `targetAvailable` == a monitor is connected; an ACTIVE target is included regardless
+        // (the flag reads FALSE transiently right after a removal).
+        if (!t.targetAvailable.as_bool() && !active.contains(&key)) || seen.contains(&key) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        seen.push(key);
+        let mut req = DISPLAYCONFIG_TARGET_DEVICE_NAME::default();
+        req.header.r#type = DISPLAYCONFIG_DEVICE_INFO_GET_TARGET_NAME;
+        req.header.size = size_of::<DISPLAYCONFIG_TARGET_DEVICE_NAME>() as u32;
+        req.header.adapterId = t.adapterId;
+        req.header.id = t.id;
+        // `req` is a properly-sized DISPLAYCONFIG_TARGET_DEVICE_NAME local whose header
+        // (type/size/adapterId/id) is fully initialised; the API writes only within the struct.
+        if DisplayConfigGetDeviceInfo(&mut req.header) != 0 {
+            continue; // target with no queryable monitor — nothing to attribute to
+        }
+        let (external_physical, tech) = output_tech_class(req.outputTechnology);
+        out.push(TargetInventory {
+            target_id: t.id,
+            active: active.contains(&key),
+            external_physical,
+            tech,
+            friendly: utf16z_str(&req.monitorFriendlyDeviceName),
+            monitor_device_path: utf16z_str(&req.monitorDevicePath),
+        });
+    }
+    out
+}
+
 /// Robust display isolation via the CCD API. The naive GDI approach (EnumDisplayDevices +
 /// ChangeDisplaySettings) MISSES displays on a hybrid box — an iGPU-attached physical monitor isn't
 /// flagged `ATTACHED_TO_DESKTOP` in the GDI enum, so it's never detached and the secure desktop /
@@ -565,7 +693,7 @@ pub(crate) unsafe fn isolate_displays_ccd(keep_target_ids: &[u32]) -> Option<Sav
         tracing::warn!("display isolate (CCD): {survivors} display(s) STILL active after attempt {attempt}/4 (deactivated {others}, rc={rc:#x}) — re-querying + retrying");
         std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(250));
     }
-    tracing::error!("display isolate (CCD): FAILED to isolate target set {keep_target_ids:?} after 4 attempts — a non-virtual display stayed active (the field-reported exclusive-mode bug)");
+    tracing::error!("display isolate (CCD): failed to isolate target set {keep_target_ids:?} after 4 attempts — a non-virtual display stayed active (field-reported exclusive-mode bug)");
     Some(saved)
 }
 
@@ -754,5 +882,9 @@ pub(crate) unsafe fn restore_displays_ccd(saved: &SavedConfig) {
         Some(modes.as_slice()),
         SDC_APPLY | SDC_USE_SUPPLIED_DISPLAY_CONFIG | SDC_ALLOW_CHANGES,
     );
-    tracing::info!("display isolate (CCD): restored original topology rc={rc:#x}");
+    if rc == 0 {
+        tracing::info!("display isolate (CCD): restored original topology");
+    } else {
+        tracing::warn!("display isolate (CCD): topology restore failed rc={rc:#x} — physical displays may be left deactivated");
+    }
 }
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-tray/src/linux.rs b/crates/punktfunk-tray/src/linux.rs
index 7a0c5205..04cfaaf6 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-tray/src/linux.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-tray/src/linux.rs
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ impl ksni::Tray for HostTray {
     fn status(&self) -> ksni::Status {
         match &self.status {
             TrayStatus::Error(_) => ksni::Status::NeedsAttention,
-            s if s.pairing_attention() => ksni::Status::NeedsAttention,
+            s if s.pairing_attention() || s.has_conflicts() => ksni::Status::NeedsAttention,
             _ => ksni::Status::Active,
         }
     }
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-tray/src/status.rs b/crates/punktfunk-tray/src/status.rs
index 1750cd22..f69b9914 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-tray/src/status.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-tray/src/status.rs
@@ -37,6 +37,11 @@ pub struct Summary {
     /// host that doesn't send it deserializes as 0.
     #[serde(default)]
     pub kept_displays: u32,
+    /// Other Moonlight-compatible hosts (Sunshine/Apollo/…) the host detected on this machine at
+    /// startup — side-by-side use is unsupported. `#[serde(default)]` so an older host omitting it
+    /// deserializes as empty.
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub conflicts: Vec<String>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, serde::Deserialize)]
@@ -69,25 +74,41 @@ impl TrayStatus {
             TrayStatus::Starting => "punktfunk host — starting…".into(),
             TrayStatus::Degraded => "punktfunk host — running (status unavailable)".into(),
             TrayStatus::Error(e) => format!("punktfunk host — failed ({e})"),
-            TrayStatus::Running(s) => match (&s.session, s.video_streaming) {
-                (Some(sess), true) => format!(
-                    "punktfunk host {} — streaming {}×{}@{}",
-                    s.version, sess.width, sess.height, sess.fps
-                ),
-                (_, true) => format!("punktfunk host {} — streaming", s.version),
-                // Idle, but surface a kept (lingering/pinned) display: it — and, under an exclusive
-                // topology, your physical monitors — is being held. Release it from the console.
-                _ if s.kept_displays > 0 => format!(
-                    "punktfunk host {} — idle · {} display{} kept",
-                    s.version,
-                    s.kept_displays,
-                    if s.kept_displays == 1 { "" } else { "s" }
-                ),
-                _ => format!("punktfunk host {} — idle", s.version),
-            },
+            TrayStatus::Running(s) => {
+                let base = match (&s.session, s.video_streaming) {
+                    (Some(sess), true) => format!(
+                        "punktfunk host {} — streaming {}×{}@{}",
+                        s.version, sess.width, sess.height, sess.fps
+                    ),
+                    (_, true) => format!("punktfunk host {} — streaming", s.version),
+                    // Idle, but surface a kept (lingering/pinned) display: it — and, under an
+                    // exclusive topology, your physical monitors — is being held. Release it from
+                    // the console.
+                    _ if s.kept_displays > 0 => format!(
+                        "punktfunk host {} — idle · {} display{} kept",
+                        s.version,
+                        s.kept_displays,
+                        if s.kept_displays == 1 { "" } else { "s" }
+                    ),
+                    _ => format!("punktfunk host {} — idle", s.version),
+                };
+                // A conflicting Moonlight host (Sunshine/Apollo/…) is the loudest thing to say —
+                // side-by-side use is unsupported, so lead the tooltip with it.
+                if s.conflicts.is_empty() {
+                    base
+                } else {
+                    format!("⚠ conflicting host: {} — {base}", s.conflicts.join(", "))
+                }
+            }
         }
     }
 
+    /// The host detected another Moonlight-compatible host (Sunshine/Apollo/…) on this machine —
+    /// unsupported side-by-side. Drives the tray's attention state.
+    pub fn has_conflicts(&self) -> bool {
+        matches!(self, TrayStatus::Running(s) if !s.conflicts.is_empty())
+    }
+
     pub fn is_streaming(&self) -> bool {
         matches!(self, TrayStatus::Running(s) if s.video_streaming)
     }
@@ -445,6 +466,7 @@ mod tests {
             pin_pending: false,
             pending_approvals: 0,
             kept_displays: 0,
+            conflicts: Vec::new(),
         }
     }
 
@@ -487,6 +509,17 @@ mod tests {
         }
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn conflicts_drive_attention_and_lead_the_tooltip() {
+        let mut s = summary(false);
+        assert!(!TrayStatus::Running(s.clone()).has_conflicts());
+        s.conflicts = vec!["Sunshine (running)".into(), "Apollo".into()];
+        let st = TrayStatus::Running(s);
+        assert!(st.has_conflicts());
+        let head = st.headline();
+        assert!(head.starts_with("⚠ conflicting host: Sunshine (running), Apollo"));
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn headline_shows_session_and_reason() {
         assert_eq!(
diff --git a/docs-site/content/docs/host-cli.md b/docs-site/content/docs/host-cli.md
index 762bbf9c..d6863cc5 100644
--- a/docs-site/content/docs/host-cli.md
+++ b/docs-site/content/docs/host-cli.md
@@ -86,6 +86,15 @@ hosts from another machine with `punktfunk-probe --discover`. Where multicast do
 Docker/VLAN setups), pass `--no-mdns` (or set `PUNKTFUNK_MDNS=0`) and add the host in the client by
 address instead.
 
+## `detect-conflicts`
+
+`punktfunk-host detect-conflicts` reports other Moonlight-compatible hosts (Sunshine, Apollo, and
+forks) installed or running on this machine. Running one alongside Punktfunk is **unsupported** —
+they fight over the same ports and virtual-display driver. Prints what it found and exits **1** if
+any conflict exists, **0** if clean (so installers and scripts can gate on it). The host also runs
+this check at `serve` startup and surfaces it in the logs, tray, and — on Windows — the installer.
+See [Troubleshooting → another streaming host is installed](/docs/troubleshooting#another-streaming-host-sunshine-apollo--is-installed).
+
 ## Environment
 
 Most behaviour (compositor, video source, input backend, zero-copy) is set in
diff --git a/docs-site/content/docs/troubleshooting.md b/docs-site/content/docs/troubleshooting.md
index 6e277071..b5bf7a89 100644
--- a/docs-site/content/docs/troubleshooting.md
+++ b/docs-site/content/docs/troubleshooting.md
@@ -3,6 +3,30 @@ title: Troubleshooting
 description: Common problems setting up or using a punktfunk host, and how to fix them.
 ---
 
+## Another streaming host (Sunshine, Apollo, …) is installed
+
+Punktfunk is a Moonlight-compatible host. So are **Sunshine** and its forks (**Apollo**,
+**Vibeshine**, **Vibepollo**, **LuminalShine**, …). Running one of them **at the same time** as
+Punktfunk is **not supported**: they bind the *same* GameStream ports (47984/47989 and
+47998–48010, plus a web UI on 47990 that collides with Punktfunk's management API), advertise the
+*same* `_nvstream` mDNS name, and often install a *conflicting virtual-display driver*. The result
+is `address already in use` errors, pairing that silently fails, the wrong host answering a client,
+and capture/display glitches.
+
+- Punktfunk warns about this automatically: the host logs it at startup (visible in the web
+  console's **Logs** tab and the system tray tooltip), and the Windows installer warns before
+  installing. To check on demand, run:
+
+  ```
+  punktfunk-host detect-conflicts
+  ```
+
+  It lists any conflicting host found (installed or running) and exits non-zero if there is one.
+- **Fix:** stop and uninstall the other host, then start Punktfunk — e.g. stop the service
+  (`sudo systemctl disable --now sunshine` / on Windows `sc stop SunshineService`) and uninstall it.
+  If you only want to try Punktfunk without removing the other host, at least make sure the other
+  host is fully **stopped** first (they cannot both run at once).
+
 ## The host isn't found on the network
 
 - Make sure the host is actually running (`systemctl --user status punktfunk-host`, or you see it
diff --git a/packaging/README.md b/packaging/README.md
index efe78bf9..44ed8f3d 100644
--- a/packaging/README.md
+++ b/packaging/README.md
@@ -25,7 +25,9 @@ packaging/
 The other packaging targets have their own READMEs: [`debian/`](debian/README.md) (apt),
 [`arch/`](arch/README.md) (pacman binary repo + PKGBUILD + SteamOS sysext),
 [`flatpak/`](flatpak/README.md) (the client), [`windows/`](windows/README.md) (host installer +
-drivers), plus `kde/` and `linux/` helpers.
+drivers), plus `kde/` and `linux/` helpers. **NixOS / Nix** users get a flake (`flake.nix` at the
+repo root) with reproducible host + client packages and a `services.punktfunk` NixOS module —
+see [`../nix/README.md`](../nix/README.md).
 
 ## What's needed beyond base Fedora
 
diff --git a/packaging/arch/punktfunk-host.install b/packaging/arch/punktfunk-host.install
index ba7883df..18b7e7c0 100644
--- a/packaging/arch/punktfunk-host.install
+++ b/packaging/arch/punktfunk-host.install
@@ -38,6 +38,13 @@ MSG
        sudo firewall-cmd --reload
 MSG
   fi
+  # Conflicting Moonlight-compatible host (Sunshine/Apollo/...): reuse the host's own detector so
+  # the warning lives in one place. Exit 1 = found; never fail the install on it.
+  if command -v punktfunk-host >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    if ! conflict="$(punktfunk-host detect-conflicts 2>/dev/null)"; then
+      printf '\n%s\n' "$conflict"
+    fi
+  fi
 }
 
 post_upgrade() {
diff --git a/packaging/debian/build-deb.sh b/packaging/debian/build-deb.sh
index 9c434412..5392faaf 100755
--- a/packaging/debian/build-deb.sh
+++ b/packaging/debian/build-deb.sh
@@ -210,6 +210,14 @@ if [ "$1" = "configure" ]; then
         echo "    sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=punktfunk-native && sudo firewall-cmd --reload"
         echo "    (use punktfunk-gamestream for the Moonlight-compat host)"
     fi
+    # Conflicting Moonlight-compatible host (Sunshine/Apollo/...): reuse the host's own detector so
+    # the warning lives in one place. Exit 1 = found; never fail the install on it.
+    if command -v punktfunk-host >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+        if ! conflict="$(punktfunk-host detect-conflicts 2>/dev/null)"; then
+            echo ""
+            echo "$conflict"
+        fi
+    fi
 fi
 exit 0
 EOF
diff --git a/packaging/rpm/punktfunk.spec b/packaging/rpm/punktfunk.spec
index 5d6c1979..949a03d1 100644
--- a/packaging/rpm/punktfunk.spec
+++ b/packaging/rpm/punktfunk.spec
@@ -385,6 +385,14 @@ if command -v firewall-cmd >/dev/null 2>&1; then
     echo "    sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=punktfunk-gamestream && sudo firewall-cmd --reload"
     echo "    (use punktfunk-native for the native-only host)"
 fi
+# Conflicting Moonlight-compatible host (Sunshine/Apollo/...): reuse the host's own detector so the
+# warning stays in one place. Exit 1 = something found; never fail the install on it.
+if command -v punktfunk-host >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    if ! conflict="$(punktfunk-host detect-conflicts 2>/dev/null)"; then
+        echo ""
+        echo "$conflict"
+    fi
+fi
 
 %if %{with web}
 %post web
diff --git a/packaging/windows/punktfunk-host.iss b/packaging/windows/punktfunk-host.iss
index 72055788..c3e403c4 100644
--- a/packaging/windows/punktfunk-host.iss
+++ b/packaging/windows/punktfunk-host.iss
@@ -285,6 +285,42 @@ Filename: "powershell.exe"; \
 #endif
 
 [Code]
+{ True if another Moonlight-compatible streaming host is installed - by its SCM service key or its
+  Program Files directory. Sunshine and its forks all register a "<Name>Service" and install under
+  Program Files, so a registry + directory probe catches them without enumerating processes (which
+  pure Pascal can't do cleanly). }
+function StreamHostPresent(SvcKey, DirName: String): Boolean;
+begin
+  Result := RegKeyExists(HKLM, 'SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\' + SvcKey)
+    or DirExists(ExpandConstant('{commonpf}\' + DirName))
+    or DirExists(ExpandConstant('{commonpf32}\' + DirName));
+end;
+
+{ Runs before any wizard page - the earliest point we can warn. Detect a conflicting host and let
+  the user abort (default) or continue. Returning False cancels setup. }
+function InitializeSetup(): Boolean;
+var
+  Found: String;
+begin
+  Result := True;
+  Found := '';
+  if StreamHostPresent('SunshineService', 'Sunshine') then Found := Found + '    - Sunshine' + #13#10;
+  if StreamHostPresent('ApolloService', 'Apollo') then Found := Found + '    - Apollo' + #13#10;
+  if StreamHostPresent('VibeshineService', 'Vibeshine') then Found := Found + '    - Vibeshine' + #13#10;
+  if StreamHostPresent('VibepolloService', 'Vibepollo') then Found := Found + '    - Vibepollo' + #13#10;
+  if StreamHostPresent('LuminalShineService', 'LuminalShine') then Found := Found + '    - LuminalShine' + #13#10;
+  if Found <> '' then
+    Result := MsgBox(
+      'Another game-streaming host is already installed on this PC:' + #13#10#13#10 + Found + #13#10 +
+      'Running Punktfunk alongside Sunshine / Apollo / other Moonlight-compatible hosts is NOT ' +
+      'supported. They bind the same GameStream network ports (47984, 47989, 47998-48010) and ' +
+      'install a conflicting virtual-display driver, which causes pairing failures, "address ' +
+      'already in use" errors and capture glitches.' + #13#10#13#10 +
+      'Stop and uninstall the other host before using Punktfunk.' + #13#10#13#10 +
+      'Continue with the installation anyway?',
+      mbConfirmation, MB_YESNO or MB_DEFBUTTON2) = IDYES;
+end;
+
 { The GameStream task choice, forwarded to `service install` (which writes host.env's
   PUNKTFUNK_HOST_CMD - only if it is unset or still one of the two canonical values, so a
   hand-customized command line survives upgrades). }