diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 8c69330..b50ce55 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -2585,6 +2585,23 @@ dependencies = [
  "tracing-subscriber",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "punktfunk-client-windows"
+version = "0.0.1"
+dependencies = [
+ "anyhow",
+ "async-channel",
+ "ffmpeg-next",
+ "mdns-sd",
+ "opus",
+ "punktfunk-core",
+ "serde",
+ "serde_json",
+ "tracing",
+ "tracing-subscriber",
+ "wasapi",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "punktfunk-core"
 version = "0.0.1"
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 112a196..a13c62d 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ members = [
     "crates/punktfunk-host",
     "crates/punktfunk-client-rs",
     "crates/punktfunk-client-linux",
+    "crates/punktfunk-client-windows",
     "crates/punktfunk-android",
     "tools/latency-probe",
     "tools/loss-harness",
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-client-windows/Cargo.toml b/crates/punktfunk-client-windows/Cargo.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..870b5e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-client-windows/Cargo.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+[package]
+name = "punktfunk-client-windows"
+description = "Native Windows punktfunk/1 client — winit/D3D11 shell, FFmpeg decode, WASAPI audio, SDL3 gamepads"
+version.workspace = true
+edition.workspace = true
+rust-version.workspace = true
+license.workspace = true
+authors.workspace = true
+repository.workspace = true
+
+[[bin]]
+name = "punktfunk-client"
+path = "src/main.rs"
+
+# Everything is Windows-gated so `cargo build --workspace` stays green on Linux/macOS (the
+# other native clients live in crates/punktfunk-client-linux and clients/apple); on other
+# platforms this builds as a stub binary. Mirrors the Linux client's cfg(target_os="linux")
+# gating exactly.
+[target.'cfg(windows)'.dependencies]
+# The protocol core, linked directly (no C ABI) — same as the GTK Linux client. NativeClient
+# is Sync (mutexed plane receivers), so it drops into a UI app cleanly.
+punktfunk-core = { path = "../punktfunk-core", features = ["quic"] }
+
+# Video decode (same FFmpeg pin as the host/Linux client) — software HEVC on the GPU-less dev
+# box; D3D11VA hardware decode is a follow-up for the real-GPU box.
+ffmpeg-next = "8"
+opus = "0.3"
+
+# Audio render + mic capture (the WASAPI analogue of the Linux client's PipeWire backend).
+wasapi = "0.23"
+
+mdns-sd = "0.20"
+async-channel = "2"
+serde = { version = "1", features = ["derive"] }
+serde_json = "1"
+anyhow = "1"
+tracing = "0.1"
+tracing-subscriber = { version = "0.3", features = ["env-filter"] }
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-client-windows/src/audio.rs b/crates/punktfunk-client-windows/src/audio.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..850faa1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-client-windows/src/audio.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,285 @@
+//! Audio: playback (decoded PCM → a WASAPI shared-mode render stream) and the microphone
+//! uplink (WASAPI capture → Opus → 0xCB datagrams, the inverse of the host's virtual mic).
+//!
+//! The WASAPI analogue of the Linux client's PipeWire backend. Playback mirrors the host's
+//! virtual-mic producer's adaptive jitter buffer: the session pump pushes 5 ms Opus-decoded
+//! chunks on the network clock; the WASAPI render thread pulls whole event-driven quanta on
+//! the device clock. Prime to ~3 quanta before producing, cap the ring so latency stays
+//! bounded, re-prime after a real drain.
+//!
+//! WASAPI objects are COM-apartment-bound and not `Send`, so they live on a dedicated thread
+//! (the same discipline as the host's `wasapi_cap`); only the channel + stop flag + join
+//! handle cross the boundary.
+
+use anyhow::{anyhow, Context, Result};
+use punktfunk_core::client::NativeClient;
+use std::collections::VecDeque;
+use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, Ordering};
+use std::sync::mpsc::{Receiver, SyncSender, TrySendError};
+use std::sync::Arc;
+use std::time::Duration;
+use wasapi::{Direction, SampleType, StreamMode, WaveFormat};
+
+const SAMPLE_RATE: usize = 48_000;
+const CHANNELS: usize = 2;
+/// 48 kHz stereo f32: 2 channels * 4 bytes = 8 bytes per frame.
+const BLOCK_ALIGN: usize = CHANNELS * 4;
+/// Mic frames are 20 ms (960 samples/channel) — any size ≤ 120 ms is fine host-side.
+const MIC_FRAME: usize = 960;
+
+pub struct AudioPlayer {
+    pcm_tx: SyncSender<Vec<f32>>,
+    stop: Arc<AtomicBool>,
+    thread: Option<std::thread::JoinHandle<()>>,
+}
+
+impl AudioPlayer {
+    /// Spawn the WASAPI render thread. Failure (no render endpoint on this box) is
+    /// survivable — the caller streams video-only.
+    pub fn spawn() -> Result<AudioPlayer> {
+        // 64 × 5 ms = 320 ms of slack between the pump and the WASAPI loop.
+        let (pcm_tx, pcm_rx) = std::sync::mpsc::sync_channel::<Vec<f32>>(64);
+        let stop = Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(false));
+        let (ready_tx, ready_rx) = std::sync::mpsc::sync_channel::<Result<()>>(1);
+        let stop_t = stop.clone();
+        let thread = std::thread::Builder::new()
+            .name("punktfunk-audio".into())
+            .spawn(move || {
+                if let Err(e) = render_thread(pcm_rx, stop_t, ready_tx) {
+                    tracing::warn!(error = format!("{e:#}"), "audio playback thread ended");
+                }
+            })
+            .context("spawn audio thread")?;
+        match ready_rx.recv_timeout(Duration::from_secs(3)) {
+            Ok(Ok(())) => {
+                tracing::info!("WASAPI render: 48 kHz stereo f32 (default endpoint)");
+                Ok(AudioPlayer {
+                    pcm_tx,
+                    stop,
+                    thread: Some(thread),
+                })
+            }
+            Ok(Err(e)) => Err(e),
+            Err(_) => Err(anyhow!(
+                "wasapi render init timed out (no render endpoint?)"
+            )),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Queue one interleaved-stereo f32 chunk. Drops the chunk if the WASAPI side is wedged
+    /// (the renderer conceals the gap; never block the session pump).
+    pub fn push(&self, pcm: Vec<f32>) {
+        if let Err(TrySendError::Disconnected(_)) = self.pcm_tx.try_send(pcm) {
+            // Thread already dead — Drop will reap it; nothing to do per-chunk.
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Drop for AudioPlayer {
+    fn drop(&mut self) {
+        self.stop.store(true, Ordering::SeqCst);
+        if let Some(t) = self.thread.take() {
+            let _ = t.join();
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+fn render_thread(
+    pcm_rx: Receiver<Vec<f32>>,
+    stop: Arc<AtomicBool>,
+    ready: SyncSender<Result<()>>,
+) -> Result<()> {
+    if let Err(e) = wasapi::initialize_mta()
+        .ok()
+        .context("CoInitializeEx (MTA)")
+    {
+        let _ = ready.send(Err(e));
+        return Ok(());
+    }
+    let res = (|| -> Result<()> {
+        let device =
+            wasapi::get_default_device(&Direction::Render).context("default render endpoint")?;
+        let mut audio_client = device.get_iaudioclient().context("IAudioClient")?;
+        let desired = WaveFormat::new(32, 32, &SampleType::Float, SAMPLE_RATE, CHANNELS, None);
+        let (default_period, _min_period) =
+            audio_client.get_device_period().context("device period")?;
+        let mode = StreamMode::EventsShared {
+            autoconvert: true,
+            buffer_duration_hns: default_period,
+        };
+        audio_client
+            .initialize_client(&desired, &Direction::Render, &mode)
+            .context("initialize render client")?;
+        let h_event = audio_client.set_get_eventhandle().context("event handle")?;
+        let render_client = audio_client
+            .get_audiorenderclient()
+            .context("IAudioRenderClient")?;
+        audio_client.start_stream().context("start render stream")?;
+        let _ = ready.send(Ok(()));
+
+        // Adaptive jitter buffer, in f32-byte units (same shape as the host's virtual mic).
+        let mut ring: VecDeque<u8> = VecDeque::new();
+        let mut primed = false;
+
+        while !stop.load(Ordering::Relaxed) {
+            if h_event.wait_for_event(100).is_err() {
+                continue;
+            }
+            // Drain everything the pump has queued into the ring.
+            while let Ok(chunk) = pcm_rx.try_recv() {
+                for s in chunk {
+                    ring.extend(s.to_le_bytes());
+                }
+            }
+            let avail_frames = audio_client
+                .get_available_space_in_frames()
+                .context("available space")? as usize;
+            if avail_frames == 0 {
+                continue;
+            }
+            let want_bytes = avail_frames * BLOCK_ALIGN;
+
+            // Prime to ~3 quanta; cap at ~1 quantum of slack beyond that; re-prime on drain.
+            let target = (3 * want_bytes).clamp(720 * BLOCK_ALIGN, 9600 * BLOCK_ALIGN);
+            while ring.len() > target.max(want_bytes) + want_bytes {
+                ring.pop_front();
+            }
+            if !primed && ring.len() >= target {
+                primed = true;
+            }
+
+            let mut out = vec![0u8; want_bytes];
+            if primed {
+                let n = ring.len().min(want_bytes);
+                for (dst, b) in out.iter_mut().zip(ring.drain(..n)) {
+                    *dst = b;
+                }
+            }
+            if ring.is_empty() {
+                primed = false;
+            }
+            render_client
+                .write_to_device(avail_frames, BLOCK_ALIGN, &out, None)
+                .context("write_to_device")?;
+        }
+        audio_client.stop_stream().ok();
+        Ok(())
+    })();
+    if let Err(ref e) = res {
+        let _ = ready.send(Err(anyhow!("{e:#}")));
+    }
+    res
+}
+
+/// The microphone uplink: capture the default input device, Opus-encode 20 ms chunks, ship
+/// them as 0xCB datagrams into the host's virtual mic source.
+pub struct MicStreamer {
+    stop: Arc<AtomicBool>,
+    thread: Option<std::thread::JoinHandle<()>>,
+}
+
+impl MicStreamer {
+    pub fn spawn(connector: Arc<NativeClient>) -> Result<MicStreamer> {
+        let stop = Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(false));
+        let stop_t = stop.clone();
+        let thread = std::thread::Builder::new()
+            .name("punktfunk-mic".into())
+            .spawn(move || {
+                if let Err(e) = mic_thread(&connector, stop_t) {
+                    tracing::warn!(error = format!("{e:#}"), "mic uplink thread ended");
+                }
+            })
+            .context("spawn mic thread")?;
+        Ok(MicStreamer {
+            stop,
+            thread: Some(thread),
+        })
+    }
+}
+
+impl Drop for MicStreamer {
+    fn drop(&mut self) {
+        self.stop.store(true, Ordering::SeqCst);
+        if let Some(t) = self.thread.take() {
+            let _ = t.join();
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+fn mic_thread(connector: &Arc<NativeClient>, stop: Arc<AtomicBool>) -> Result<()> {
+    wasapi::initialize_mta()
+        .ok()
+        .context("CoInitializeEx (MTA)")?;
+
+    let mut encoder = opus::Encoder::new(
+        SAMPLE_RATE as u32,
+        opus::Channels::Stereo,
+        opus::Application::Voip,
+    )
+    .map_err(|e| anyhow!("opus encoder: {e}"))?;
+    let _ = encoder.set_bitrate(opus::Bitrate::Bits(64_000));
+
+    let device = wasapi::get_default_device(&Direction::Capture)
+        .context("default capture endpoint (no microphone?)")?;
+    let mut audio_client = device.get_iaudioclient().context("IAudioClient")?;
+    let desired = WaveFormat::new(32, 32, &SampleType::Float, SAMPLE_RATE, CHANNELS, None);
+    let (default_period, _min_period) =
+        audio_client.get_device_period().context("device period")?;
+    let mode = StreamMode::EventsShared {
+        autoconvert: true,
+        buffer_duration_hns: default_period,
+    };
+    audio_client
+        .initialize_client(&desired, &Direction::Capture, &mode)
+        .context("initialize capture client")?;
+    let h_event = audio_client.set_get_eventhandle().context("event handle")?;
+    let capture_client = audio_client
+        .get_audiocaptureclient()
+        .context("IAudioCaptureClient")?;
+    audio_client
+        .start_stream()
+        .context("start capture stream")?;
+
+    let mut bytes: VecDeque<u8> = VecDeque::new();
+    let mut ring: VecDeque<f32> = VecDeque::new();
+    let mut out = vec![0u8; 4000];
+    let mut seq = 0u32;
+
+    while !stop.load(Ordering::Relaxed) {
+        if h_event.wait_for_event(100).is_err() {
+            continue;
+        }
+        loop {
+            match capture_client.get_next_packet_size() {
+                Ok(Some(0)) | Ok(None) => break,
+                Ok(Some(_n)) => {
+                    capture_client
+                        .read_from_device_to_deque(&mut bytes)
+                        .context("read capture")?;
+                }
+                Err(e) => return Err(anyhow!("get_next_packet_size: {e}")),
+            }
+        }
+        let whole = (bytes.len() / 4) * 4;
+        for c in bytes.drain(..whole).collect::<Vec<u8>>().chunks_exact(4) {
+            ring.push_back(f32::from_le_bytes([c[0], c[1], c[2], c[3]]));
+        }
+        // Ship every complete 20 ms stereo frame.
+        while ring.len() >= MIC_FRAME * CHANNELS {
+            let pcm: Vec<f32> = ring.drain(..MIC_FRAME * CHANNELS).collect();
+            match encoder.encode_float(&pcm, &mut out) {
+                Ok(len) => {
+                    let pts = std::time::SystemTime::now()
+                        .duration_since(std::time::UNIX_EPOCH)
+                        .map(|d| d.as_nanos() as u64)
+                        .unwrap_or(0);
+                    let _ = connector.send_mic(seq, pts, out[..len].to_vec());
+                    seq = seq.wrapping_add(1);
+                }
+                Err(e) => tracing::debug!(error = %e, "opus mic encode"),
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    audio_client.stop_stream().ok();
+    Ok(())
+}
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-client-windows/src/discovery.rs b/crates/punktfunk-client-windows/src/discovery.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e825f80
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-client-windows/src/discovery.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+//! LAN host discovery: browse the host's mDNS advert (`_punktfunk._udp`, TXT keys
+//! `fp`/`pair`/`id` — see the host crate's `discovery.rs`) on a worker thread and stream
+//! results to the UI. Ported verbatim from the GTK client (`mdns-sd` is cross-platform).
+
+use mdns_sd::{ServiceDaemon, ServiceEvent};
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct DiscoveredHost {
+    /// Stable row key: the advertised host id, falling back to the mDNS fullname.
+    pub key: String,
+    pub name: String,
+    pub addr: String,
+    pub port: u16,
+    /// Host certificate fingerprint to pin (lowercase hex), empty if not advertised.
+    pub fp_hex: String,
+    /// Pairing requirement: `"required"` or `"optional"`.
+    pub pair: String,
+}
+
+/// Browse continuously for the app's lifetime. The thread exits when the receiver is
+/// dropped (the send fails) or the daemon dies.
+pub fn browse() -> async_channel::Receiver<DiscoveredHost> {
+    let (tx, rx) = async_channel::unbounded();
+    std::thread::Builder::new()
+        .name("punktfunk-mdns".into())
+        .spawn(move || {
+            let daemon = match ServiceDaemon::new() {
+                Ok(d) => d,
+                Err(e) => {
+                    tracing::warn!(error = %e, "mDNS daemon failed — discovery disabled");
+                    return;
+                }
+            };
+            let receiver = match daemon.browse("_punktfunk._udp.local.") {
+                Ok(r) => r,
+                Err(e) => {
+                    tracing::warn!(error = %e, "mDNS browse failed — discovery disabled");
+                    return;
+                }
+            };
+            while let Ok(event) = receiver.recv() {
+                if let ServiceEvent::ServiceResolved(info) = event {
+                    let props = info.get_properties();
+                    let val = |k: &str| props.get_property_val_str(k).unwrap_or("").to_string();
+                    let Some(addr) = info.get_addresses().iter().next().map(|a| a.to_string())
+                    else {
+                        continue;
+                    };
+                    let id = val("id");
+                    let host = DiscoveredHost {
+                        key: if id.is_empty() {
+                            info.get_fullname().to_string()
+                        } else {
+                            id
+                        },
+                        name: info
+                            .get_fullname()
+                            .split('.')
+                            .next()
+                            .unwrap_or("?")
+                            .to_string(),
+                        addr,
+                        port: info.get_port(),
+                        fp_hex: val("fp"),
+                        pair: val("pair"),
+                    };
+                    if tx.send_blocking(host).is_err() {
+                        break; // UI gone — stop browsing
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            let _ = daemon.shutdown();
+        })
+        .expect("spawn mdns thread");
+    rx
+}
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-client-windows/src/main.rs b/crates/punktfunk-client-windows/src/main.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ec610ed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-client-windows/src/main.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,150 @@
+//! `punktfunk-client` — the native Windows punktfunk/1 client.
+//!
+//! Pure Rust: `NativeClient` linked as a crate (no C ABI, like the GTK Linux client) ·
+//! FFmpeg decode · WASAPI audio · SDL3 gamepads · a winit + Direct3D11 present surface. The
+//! trust surface mirrors the other native clients: persistent identity, TOFU prompt with the
+//! host fingerprint, SPAKE2 PIN pairing.
+//!
+//! Until the UI shell lands, the binary runs **headless** (`--connect host[:port]`): connect,
+//! decode, play audio, and print per-second stats — the Windows analogue of
+//! `punktfunk-client-rs`, for validating the protocol/decode path against a live host.
+
+#[cfg(windows)]
+mod audio;
+#[cfg(windows)]
+mod discovery;
+#[cfg(windows)]
+mod session;
+#[cfg(windows)]
+mod trust;
+#[cfg(windows)]
+mod video;
+
+#[cfg(windows)]
+fn main() {
+    use punktfunk_core::config::{CompositorPref, GamepadPref, Mode};
+    use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
+
+    tracing_subscriber::fmt()
+        .with_env_filter(
+            tracing_subscriber::EnvFilter::try_from_default_env().unwrap_or_else(|_| "info".into()),
+        )
+        .init();
+
+    let args: Vec<String> = std::env::args().collect();
+    let arg = |name: &str| -> Option<String> {
+        args.iter()
+            .position(|a| a == name)
+            .and_then(|i| args.get(i + 1))
+            .cloned()
+    };
+
+    let Some(target) = arg("--connect") else {
+        eprintln!(
+            "punktfunk-client (headless): --connect host[:port] [--pin HEX] [--mode WxHxHz] \
+             [--bitrate MBPS] [--mic]\n\
+             The windowed UI is not wired yet; this runs the protocol/decode path headless."
+        );
+        std::process::exit(2);
+    };
+    let (host, port) = match target.rsplit_once(':') {
+        Some((a, p)) => (a.to_string(), p.parse().unwrap_or(9777)),
+        None => (target.clone(), 9777u16),
+    };
+    let mode = arg("--mode")
+        .and_then(|m| {
+            let mut it = m.split(['x', 'X']);
+            Some(Mode {
+                width: it.next()?.parse().ok()?,
+                height: it.next()?.parse().ok()?,
+                refresh_hz: it.next()?.parse().ok()?,
+            })
+        })
+        .unwrap_or(Mode {
+            width: 1280,
+            height: 720,
+            refresh_hz: 60,
+        });
+    let pin = arg("--pin").and_then(|h| trust::parse_hex32(&h));
+    let bitrate_kbps = arg("--bitrate")
+        .and_then(|b| b.parse::<u32>().ok())
+        .map(|m| m * 1000)
+        .unwrap_or(0);
+    let mic_enabled = args.iter().any(|a| a == "--mic");
+
+    let identity = match trust::load_or_create_identity() {
+        Ok(i) => i,
+        Err(e) => {
+            eprintln!("client identity: {e:#}");
+            std::process::exit(1);
+        }
+    };
+
+    tracing::info!(%host, port, ?mode, tofu = pin.is_none(), "connecting (headless)");
+    let handle = session::start(session::SessionParams {
+        host,
+        port,
+        mode,
+        compositor: CompositorPref::Auto,
+        gamepad: GamepadPref::Auto,
+        bitrate_kbps,
+        mic_enabled,
+        pin,
+        identity,
+    });
+
+    // Headless consumer: drain events + frames, print stats, run until the host ends or
+    // ~60 s elapse (the harness bound). Frames are counted and dropped (no present yet).
+    let deadline = Instant::now() + Duration::from_secs(60);
+    let mut frames_seen = 0u64;
+    loop {
+        while let Ok(ev) = handle.events.try_recv() {
+            match ev {
+                session::SessionEvent::Connected {
+                    mode, fingerprint, ..
+                } => tracing::info!(
+                    ?mode,
+                    fp = %trust::hex(&fingerprint),
+                    "connected"
+                ),
+                session::SessionEvent::Stats(s) => tracing::info!(
+                    fps = format!("{:.0}", s.fps),
+                    mbps = format!("{:.1}", s.mbps),
+                    decode_ms = format!("{:.2}", s.decode_ms),
+                    lat_ms = format!("{:.2}", s.latency_ms),
+                    frames_seen,
+                    "stats"
+                ),
+                session::SessionEvent::Failed { msg, .. } => {
+                    tracing::error!(%msg, "connect failed");
+                    return;
+                }
+                session::SessionEvent::Ended(err) => {
+                    tracing::info!(reason = err.as_deref().unwrap_or("done"), "session ended");
+                    return;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        while handle.frames.try_recv().is_ok() {
+            frames_seen += 1;
+        }
+        if Instant::now() > deadline {
+            tracing::info!(frames_seen, "harness deadline — stopping");
+            handle.stop.store(true, std::sync::atomic::Ordering::SeqCst);
+            return;
+        }
+        std::thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(2));
+    }
+}
+
+/// Win32/Direct3D11/WASAPI/SDL3 are Windows turf; this stub keeps `cargo build --workspace`
+/// green on Linux/macOS (the other native clients live in crates/punktfunk-client-linux and
+/// clients/apple).
+#[cfg(not(windows))]
+fn main() {
+    eprintln!(
+        "punktfunk-client-windows is Windows-only — the Linux client lives in \
+         crates/punktfunk-client-linux, the macOS client in clients/apple"
+    );
+    std::process::exit(2);
+}
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-client-windows/src/session.rs b/crates/punktfunk-client-windows/src/session.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c5c7b39
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-client-windows/src/session.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,250 @@
+//! Session controller: one worker thread runs connect → pump (video pull + decode, audio
+//! pull + Opus decode, stats), feeding the UI over channels. The UI keeps the
+//! `Arc<NativeClient>` from the `Connected` event for direct input sends (no extra hop on
+//! the input path) — `NativeClient` is `Sync`, planes stay one-consumer-per-thread:
+//! video+audio here, rumble+hidout on the gamepad thread.
+//!
+//! Ported from the GTK Linux client; the platform-specific pieces are the video decoder
+//! (software-only here) and the audio backend (WASAPI). The pump body is identical.
+
+use crate::audio;
+use crate::video::{DecodedFrame, Decoder};
+use punktfunk_core::client::NativeClient;
+use punktfunk_core::config::{CompositorPref, GamepadPref, Mode};
+use punktfunk_core::PunktfunkError;
+use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, Ordering};
+use std::sync::Arc;
+use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
+
+pub struct SessionParams {
+    pub host: String,
+    pub port: u16,
+    pub mode: Mode,
+    pub compositor: CompositorPref,
+    pub gamepad: GamepadPref,
+    pub bitrate_kbps: u32,
+    /// Stream the default microphone to the host's virtual mic source.
+    pub mic_enabled: bool,
+    /// Pinned host fingerprint; `None` = trust on first use (caller persists the observed one).
+    pub pin: Option<[u8; 32]>,
+    pub identity: (String, String),
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Default)]
+pub struct Stats {
+    pub fps: f32,
+    pub mbps: f32,
+    pub decode_ms: f32,
+    /// Median capture→decoded latency over the last window (host-clock corrected).
+    pub latency_ms: f32,
+}
+
+pub enum SessionEvent {
+    Connected {
+        connector: Arc<NativeClient>,
+        mode: Mode,
+        fingerprint: [u8; 32],
+    },
+    /// `trust_rejected` is set when the connect failed the TLS trust check (a `Crypto`
+    /// error): for a pinned connect this is the fingerprint-changed signal, so the UI can
+    /// offer a re-pair (PIN) path rather than a dead-end error.
+    Failed {
+        msg: String,
+        trust_rejected: bool,
+    },
+    Ended(Option<String>),
+    Stats(Stats),
+}
+
+pub struct SessionHandle {
+    pub events: async_channel::Receiver<SessionEvent>,
+    pub frames: async_channel::Receiver<DecodedFrame>,
+    pub stop: Arc<AtomicBool>,
+}
+
+pub fn start(params: SessionParams) -> SessionHandle {
+    let (ev_tx, ev_rx) = async_channel::unbounded();
+    // Tiny frame queue, newest wins: force_send displaces the oldest when the UI lags.
+    let (frame_tx, frame_rx) = async_channel::bounded(2);
+    let stop = Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(false));
+    let stop_w = stop.clone();
+    std::thread::Builder::new()
+        .name("punktfunk-session".into())
+        .spawn(move || pump(params, ev_tx, frame_tx, stop_w))
+        .expect("spawn session thread");
+    SessionHandle {
+        events: ev_rx,
+        frames: frame_rx,
+        stop,
+    }
+}
+
+fn now_ns() -> u64 {
+    std::time::SystemTime::now()
+        .duration_since(std::time::UNIX_EPOCH)
+        .map(|d| d.as_nanos() as u64)
+        .unwrap_or(0)
+}
+
+fn pump(
+    params: SessionParams,
+    ev_tx: async_channel::Sender<SessionEvent>,
+    frame_tx: async_channel::Sender<DecodedFrame>,
+    stop: Arc<AtomicBool>,
+) {
+    let connector = match NativeClient::connect(
+        &params.host,
+        params.port,
+        params.mode,
+        params.compositor,
+        params.gamepad,
+        params.bitrate_kbps,
+        None, // launch: the Windows client has no library picker yet
+        params.pin,
+        Some(params.identity),
+        Duration::from_secs(15),
+    ) {
+        Ok(c) => Arc::new(c),
+        Err(e) => {
+            let trust_rejected = matches!(e, PunktfunkError::Crypto);
+            let msg = match e {
+                PunktfunkError::Crypto => {
+                    "Host identity rejected — wrong fingerprint, or the host requires pairing"
+                        .to_string()
+                }
+                PunktfunkError::Timeout => "Connection timed out".to_string(),
+                other => format!("Connect failed: {other:?}"),
+            };
+            let _ = ev_tx.send_blocking(SessionEvent::Failed {
+                msg,
+                trust_rejected,
+            });
+            return;
+        }
+    };
+    let _ = ev_tx.send_blocking(SessionEvent::Connected {
+        connector: connector.clone(),
+        mode: connector.mode(),
+        fingerprint: connector.host_fingerprint,
+    });
+
+    let mut decoder = match Decoder::new() {
+        Ok(d) => d,
+        Err(e) => {
+            let _ = ev_tx.send_blocking(SessionEvent::Ended(Some(format!("video decoder: {e}"))));
+            return;
+        }
+    };
+    // Audio is best-effort: a session without it still streams. Gamepads are the
+    // app-lifetime service's job (the UI attaches it on Connected).
+    let player = audio::AudioPlayer::spawn()
+        .map_err(|e| tracing::warn!(error = %e, "audio disabled"))
+        .ok();
+    let mut opus_dec = opus::Decoder::new(48_000, opus::Channels::Stereo)
+        .map_err(|e| tracing::warn!(error = %e, "opus decoder failed — audio disabled"))
+        .ok();
+    let _mic = params
+        .mic_enabled
+        .then(|| {
+            audio::MicStreamer::spawn(connector.clone())
+                .map_err(|e| tracing::warn!(error = %e, "mic uplink disabled"))
+                .ok()
+        })
+        .flatten();
+
+    let clock_offset = connector.clock_offset_ns;
+    let mut total_frames = 0u64;
+    let mut window_start = Instant::now();
+    let mut frames_n = 0u32;
+    let mut bytes_n = 0u64;
+    let mut decode_us_sum = 0u64;
+    let mut lat_us: Vec<u64> = Vec::with_capacity(256);
+    let mut pcm = vec![0f32; 5760 * 2]; // decode scratch: max Opus frame (120 ms stereo)
+
+    let end: Option<String> = loop {
+        if stop.load(Ordering::SeqCst) {
+            break None;
+        }
+        match connector.next_frame(Duration::from_millis(4)) {
+            Ok(frame) => {
+                let t0 = Instant::now();
+                match decoder.decode(&frame.data) {
+                    Ok(Some(decoded)) => {
+                        total_frames += 1;
+                        if total_frames == 1 {
+                            let DecodedFrame::Cpu(c) = &decoded;
+                            tracing::info!(
+                                width = c.width,
+                                height = c.height,
+                                path = "software",
+                                "first frame decoded"
+                            );
+                        }
+                        // Latency: our wall clock expressed in the host's capture clock,
+                        // minus the host-stamped capture pts (same math as client-rs).
+                        let lat = (now_ns() as i128 + clock_offset as i128 - frame.pts_ns as i128)
+                            .max(0) as u64;
+                        if lat > 0 && lat < 10_000_000_000 {
+                            lat_us.push(lat / 1000);
+                        }
+                        decode_us_sum += t0.elapsed().as_micros() as u64;
+                        frames_n += 1;
+                        bytes_n += frame.data.len() as u64;
+                        let _ = frame_tx.force_send(decoded);
+                    }
+                    Ok(None) => {}
+                    // Survivable (loss until the next IDR/RFI recovery) — keep feeding.
+                    Err(e) => tracing::debug!(error = %e, "decode error (recovering)"),
+                }
+            }
+            Err(PunktfunkError::NoFrame) => {}
+            Err(PunktfunkError::Closed) => break Some("Host ended the session".to_string()),
+            Err(e) => break Some(format!("session: {e:?}")),
+        }
+
+        // Drain audio between frames (packets land every 5 ms; the queue holds 320 ms).
+        while let Ok(pkt) = connector.next_audio(Duration::ZERO) {
+            if let (Some(player), Some(dec)) = (&player, opus_dec.as_mut()) {
+                match dec.decode_float(&pkt.data, &mut pcm, false) {
+                    Ok(samples) => player.push(pcm[..samples * 2].to_vec()),
+                    Err(e) => tracing::debug!(error = %e, "opus decode"),
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        if window_start.elapsed() >= Duration::from_secs(1) {
+            let secs = window_start.elapsed().as_secs_f32();
+            lat_us.sort_unstable();
+            let p50 = lat_us.get(lat_us.len() / 2).copied().unwrap_or(0);
+            tracing::debug!(
+                fps = frames_n,
+                lat_p50_us = p50,
+                total_frames,
+                "stream window"
+            );
+            let _ = ev_tx.try_send(SessionEvent::Stats(Stats {
+                fps: frames_n as f32 / secs,
+                mbps: bytes_n as f32 * 8.0 / 1e6 / secs,
+                decode_ms: if frames_n > 0 {
+                    decode_us_sum as f32 / frames_n as f32 / 1000.0
+                } else {
+                    0.0
+                },
+                latency_ms: p50 as f32 / 1000.0,
+            }));
+            window_start = Instant::now();
+            frames_n = 0;
+            bytes_n = 0;
+            decode_us_sum = 0;
+            lat_us.clear();
+        }
+    };
+
+    tracing::info!(
+        total_frames,
+        reason = end.as_deref().unwrap_or("user"),
+        "session ended"
+    );
+    stop.store(true, Ordering::SeqCst);
+    let _ = ev_tx.send_blocking(SessionEvent::Ended(end));
+}
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-client-windows/src/trust.rs b/crates/punktfunk-client-windows/src/trust.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f863723
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-client-windows/src/trust.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,166 @@
+//! Client identity, the known-hosts (pinned fingerprint) store, and app settings.
+//!
+//! Ported near-verbatim from the GTK Linux client; the only platform change is the config
+//! directory — `%APPDATA%\punktfunk` (the Windows analogue of `~/.config/punktfunk`), shared
+//! with the Windows host's identity location. The identity files (`client-{cert,key}.pem`)
+//! keep the same names so the trust model is identical across the native clients.
+
+use anyhow::{anyhow, Context, Result};
+use punktfunk_core::quic::endpoint;
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use std::path::PathBuf;
+
+pub fn config_dir() -> Result<PathBuf> {
+    let appdata = std::env::var("APPDATA").context("APPDATA unset")?;
+    Ok(PathBuf::from(appdata).join("punktfunk"))
+}
+
+/// This client's persistent identity, generated on first use — presented on every connect
+/// so hosts can recognize it once paired.
+pub fn load_or_create_identity() -> Result<(String, String)> {
+    let dir = config_dir()?;
+    let (cp, kp) = (dir.join("client-cert.pem"), dir.join("client-key.pem"));
+    if let (Ok(c), Ok(k)) = (std::fs::read_to_string(&cp), std::fs::read_to_string(&kp)) {
+        return Ok((c, k));
+    }
+    let (c, k) = endpoint::generate_identity().map_err(|e| anyhow!("generate identity: {e}"))?;
+    std::fs::create_dir_all(&dir)?;
+    std::fs::write(&cp, &c)?;
+    std::fs::write(&kp, &k)?;
+    tracing::info!(cert = %cp.display(), "generated client identity");
+    Ok((c, k))
+}
+
+pub fn hex(fp: &[u8; 32]) -> String {
+    fp.iter().map(|b| format!("{b:02x}")).collect()
+}
+
+pub fn parse_hex32(s: &str) -> Option<[u8; 32]> {
+    if s.len() != 64 {
+        return None;
+    }
+    let mut out = [0u8; 32];
+    for (i, b) in out.iter_mut().enumerate() {
+        *b = u8::from_str_radix(&s[2 * i..2 * i + 2], 16).ok()?;
+    }
+    Some(out)
+}
+
+/// One trusted host: its pinned certificate fingerprint plus how we got there (TOFU or a
+/// PIN ceremony) and where we last reached it.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct KnownHost {
+    pub name: String,
+    pub addr: String,
+    pub port: u16,
+    /// SHA-256 of the host certificate, lowercase hex — the pin for every later connect.
+    pub fp_hex: String,
+    /// True if trust came from the SPAKE2 PIN ceremony (vs. trust-on-first-use).
+    pub paired: bool,
+}
+
+#[derive(Default, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct KnownHosts {
+    pub hosts: Vec<KnownHost>,
+}
+
+impl KnownHosts {
+    fn path() -> Result<PathBuf> {
+        Ok(config_dir()?.join("client-known-hosts.json"))
+    }
+
+    pub fn load() -> KnownHosts {
+        Self::path()
+            .and_then(|p| Ok(std::fs::read_to_string(p)?))
+            .ok()
+            .and_then(|s| serde_json::from_str(&s).ok())
+            .unwrap_or_default()
+    }
+
+    pub fn save(&self) -> Result<()> {
+        let p = Self::path()?;
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(p.parent().unwrap())?;
+        std::fs::write(&p, serde_json::to_string_pretty(self)?)?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    pub fn find_by_fp(&self, fp_hex: &str) -> Option<&KnownHost> {
+        self.hosts.iter().find(|h| h.fp_hex == fp_hex)
+    }
+
+    pub fn find_by_addr(&self, addr: &str, port: u16) -> Option<&KnownHost> {
+        self.hosts.iter().find(|h| h.addr == addr && h.port == port)
+    }
+
+    /// Insert or refresh an entry, keyed by fingerprint. `paired` only ever upgrades
+    /// (a later TOFU connect must not demote a PIN-paired host).
+    pub fn upsert(&mut self, entry: KnownHost) {
+        if let Some(h) = self.hosts.iter_mut().find(|h| h.fp_hex == entry.fp_hex) {
+            h.name = entry.name;
+            h.addr = entry.addr;
+            h.port = entry.port;
+            h.paired |= entry.paired;
+        } else {
+            self.hosts.push(entry);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// App settings, persisted as JSON. Stringly-typed gamepad/compositor prefs so the file
+/// stays readable; parsed with `*Pref::from_name` at connect time.
+#[derive(Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(default)]
+pub struct Settings {
+    /// Stream mode; `0` = the native size/refresh of the monitor the window is on,
+    /// resolved at connect time.
+    pub width: u32,
+    pub height: u32,
+    pub refresh_hz: u32,
+    /// Requested encoder bitrate (kbps); 0 = host default.
+    pub bitrate_kbps: u32,
+    pub gamepad: String,
+    /// Which host compositor backend to request (advisory; the host falls back to
+    /// auto-detect when unavailable).
+    pub compositor: String,
+    /// Grab system shortcuts (Alt+Tab, Win…) while input is captured.
+    pub inhibit_shortcuts: bool,
+    /// Stream the default microphone to the host's virtual mic source.
+    pub mic_enabled: bool,
+}
+
+impl Default for Settings {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Settings {
+            width: 0,
+            height: 0,
+            refresh_hz: 0,
+            bitrate_kbps: 0,
+            gamepad: "auto".into(),
+            compositor: "auto".into(),
+            inhibit_shortcuts: true,
+            mic_enabled: false,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Settings {
+    fn path() -> Result<PathBuf> {
+        Ok(config_dir()?.join("client-windows-settings.json"))
+    }
+
+    pub fn load() -> Settings {
+        Self::path()
+            .and_then(|p| Ok(std::fs::read_to_string(p)?))
+            .ok()
+            .and_then(|s| serde_json::from_str(&s).ok())
+            .unwrap_or_default()
+    }
+
+    pub fn save(&self) {
+        let Ok(p) = Self::path() else { return };
+        let _ = std::fs::create_dir_all(p.parent().unwrap());
+        if let Ok(s) = serde_json::to_string_pretty(self) {
+            let _ = std::fs::write(&p, s);
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-client-windows/src/video.rs b/crates/punktfunk-client-windows/src/video.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..afcf266
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-client-windows/src/video.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+//! Video decode: reassembled HEVC access units → frames for the D3D11 presenter.
+//!
+//! The dev box has no working GPU, so this ships the **software** backend first: libavcodec
+//! on the CPU + swscale to RGBA, uploaded into a D3D11 texture by the presenter. It runs
+//! `AV_CODEC_FLAG_LOW_DELAY` with slice threading only — the host encodes zero-reorder
+//! streams (no B-frames, in-band parameter sets on every IDR), so decode is strictly
+//! one-in/one-out and frame threading would only add latency.
+//!
+//! `DecodedFrame` is an enum so the real-GPU **D3D11VA** path (decode → `NV12`/`P010`
+//! `ID3D11Texture2D`, zero-copy into the swapchain) can be added as a second variant without
+//! touching the session pump or the presenter's frame contract.
+
+use anyhow::{anyhow, Context as _, Result};
+use ffmpeg::format::Pixel;
+use ffmpeg::software::scaling;
+use ffmpeg::util::frame::Video as AvFrame;
+use ffmpeg_next as ffmpeg;
+
+pub enum DecodedFrame {
+    Cpu(CpuFrame),
+}
+
+/// RGBA pixels for a D3D11 `R8G8B8A8_UNORM` texture upload (which takes a row pitch).
+pub struct CpuFrame {
+    pub width: u32,
+    pub height: u32,
+    /// RGBA row stride in bytes (≥ width*4 — swscale pads rows for SIMD).
+    pub stride: usize,
+    pub rgba: Vec<u8>,
+}
+
+pub struct Decoder {
+    inner: SoftwareDecoder,
+}
+
+impl Decoder {
+    pub fn new() -> Result<Decoder> {
+        ffmpeg::init().context("ffmpeg init")?;
+        Ok(Decoder {
+            inner: SoftwareDecoder::new()?,
+        })
+    }
+
+    /// Feed one access unit; returns the decoded frame (the host's streams are
+    /// one-in/one-out). A decode error after packet loss is survivable — log upstream and
+    /// keep feeding; the host's IDR/RFI recovery resynchronizes on the next keyframe.
+    pub fn decode(&mut self, au: &[u8]) -> Result<Option<DecodedFrame>> {
+        Ok(self.inner.decode(au)?.map(DecodedFrame::Cpu))
+    }
+}
+
+struct SoftwareDecoder {
+    decoder: ffmpeg::decoder::Video,
+    /// Rebuilt whenever the decoded format/size changes (mid-stream `Reconfigure`).
+    sws: Option<(scaling::Context, Pixel, u32, u32)>,
+}
+
+impl SoftwareDecoder {
+    fn new() -> Result<SoftwareDecoder> {
+        let codec =
+            ffmpeg::decoder::find(ffmpeg::codec::Id::HEVC).ok_or(anyhow!("no HEVC decoder"))?;
+        let mut ctx = ffmpeg::codec::Context::new_with_codec(codec);
+        unsafe {
+            let raw = ctx.as_mut_ptr();
+            (*raw).flags |= ffmpeg::ffi::AV_CODEC_FLAG_LOW_DELAY as i32;
+            // Slice threading adds no frame delay (frame threading adds thread_count-1).
+            (*raw).thread_type = ffmpeg::ffi::FF_THREAD_SLICE;
+            (*raw).thread_count = 0; // auto
+        }
+        let decoder = ctx.decoder().video().context("open HEVC decoder")?;
+        Ok(SoftwareDecoder { decoder, sws: None })
+    }
+
+    fn decode(&mut self, au: &[u8]) -> Result<Option<CpuFrame>> {
+        let packet = ffmpeg::Packet::copy(au);
+        self.decoder
+            .send_packet(&packet)
+            .map_err(|e| anyhow!("send_packet: {e}"))?;
+        let mut frame = AvFrame::empty();
+        let mut out = None;
+        while self.decoder.receive_frame(&mut frame).is_ok() {
+            out = Some(self.convert_rgba(&frame)?);
+        }
+        Ok(out)
+    }
+
+    fn convert_rgba(&mut self, frame: &AvFrame) -> Result<CpuFrame> {
+        let (fmt, w, h) = (frame.format(), frame.width(), frame.height());
+        let rebuild =
+            !matches!(&self.sws, Some((_, f, sw, sh)) if *f == fmt && *sw == w && *sh == h);
+        if rebuild {
+            let ctx = scaling::Context::get(fmt, w, h, Pixel::RGBA, w, h, scaling::Flags::POINT)
+                .context("swscale context")?;
+            self.sws = Some((ctx, fmt, w, h));
+        }
+        let (sws, ..) = self.sws.as_mut().unwrap();
+        let mut rgba = AvFrame::empty();
+        sws.run(frame, &mut rgba).map_err(|e| anyhow!("sws: {e}"))?;
+        Ok(CpuFrame {
+            width: w,
+            height: h,
+            stride: rgba.stride(0),
+            rgba: rgba.data(0).to_vec(),
+        })
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/nvenc.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/nvenc.rs
index 66e987a..f7f01d4 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/nvenc.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/encode/nvenc.rs
@@ -158,11 +158,25 @@ impl NvencD3d11Encoder {
                 }
                 Some("3") => nv::NV_ENC_SPLIT_ENCODE_MODE::NV_ENC_SPLIT_THREE_FORCED_MODE as u32,
                 Some("2") => nv::NV_ENC_SPLIT_ENCODE_MODE::NV_ENC_SPLIT_TWO_FORCED_MODE as u32,
+                // Main10 (10-bit / HDR): 2-way split is measurably SLOWER on Ada — at 5120x1440@240
+                // Main10, forced-2 took 7.6 ms/frame (~131 fps) vs 2.8 ms (~357 fps) single-engine
+                // (the split/merge overhead dominates for 10-bit). A single Ada NVENC engine already
+                // handles 5K@240 Main10 well under the 4.17 ms budget, so DON'T split — splitting was
+                // the "broken animations in HDR" (the stream capped at ~131 fps). Env still overrides.
+                _ if self.bit_depth >= 10 => {
+                    nv::NV_ENC_SPLIT_ENCODE_MODE::NV_ENC_SPLIT_DISABLE_MODE as u32
+                }
                 _ if pixel_rate > 1_000_000_000 => {
                     nv::NV_ENC_SPLIT_ENCODE_MODE::NV_ENC_SPLIT_TWO_FORCED_MODE as u32
                 }
                 _ => nv::NV_ENC_SPLIT_ENCODE_MODE::NV_ENC_SPLIT_AUTO_MODE as u32,
             };
+            tracing::info!(
+                split_mode,
+                bit_depth = self.bit_depth,
+                pixel_rate,
+                "NVENC split-encode mode (0=disable 1=auto-forced 2=two 3=three 4=auto)"
+            );
             let enc = loop {
                 // 1. open the session bound to the D3D11 device.
                 let mut params = nv::NV_ENC_OPEN_ENCODE_SESSION_EX_PARAMS {