diff --git a/QueueCube/Backend/API.swift b/QueueCube/Backend/API.swift
index 5e42b21..a4bdaf4 100644
--- a/QueueCube/Backend/API.swift
+++ b/QueueCube/Backend/API.swift
@@ -233,18 +233,12 @@ actor API
     
     private static func notifyError(_ error: any Swift.Error, continuation: AsyncStream<StreamEvent>.Continuation) {
         print("Websocket Error: \(error)")
-        
-        var shouldNotifyObservers = true
+
         let nsError = error as NSError
-        if nsError.code == 53 {
-            // This is a "connection abort", caused by backgrounding.
-            // Don't notify UI, just silently reconnect.
-            shouldNotifyObservers = false
-        }
-        
-        if shouldNotifyObservers {
-            continuation.yield(.error(.websocketError(error)))
-        }
+
+        // Always notify observers of WebSocket errors so reconnection can happen
+        // The UI layer can decide whether to show the error to the user
+        continuation.yield(.error(.websocketError(error)))
     }
     
     private func request() -> RequestBuilder {
diff --git a/QueueCube/Views/ContentView.swift b/QueueCube/Views/ContentView.swift
index 218cace..49c510c 100644
--- a/QueueCube/Views/ContentView.swift
+++ b/QueueCube/Views/ContentView.swift
@@ -11,12 +11,16 @@ struct ContentView: View
 {
     @State var model = MainViewModel()
     @State private var websocketRestartTrigger = 0
-    
+    @Environment(\.scenePhase) private var scenePhase
+
     var body: some View {
         MainView(model: $model)
             .task(id: websocketRestartTrigger) { await watchWebsocket() }
             .task { await refresh([.nowPlaying, .playlist, .favorites]) }
             .task { await watchForSettingsChanges() }
+            .onChange(of: scenePhase) { oldPhase, newPhase in
+                handleScenePhaseChange(from: oldPhase, to: newPhase)
+            }
             .sheet(isPresented: $model.isNowPlayingSheetPresented) {
                 NowPlayingView(model: model.nowPlayingViewModel)
                     .presentationBackground(.regularMaterial)
@@ -50,6 +54,22 @@ struct ContentView: View
 
 extension ContentView
 {
+    private func handleScenePhaseChange(from oldPhase: ScenePhase, to newPhase: ScenePhase) {
+        // When app returns to active state from background, force reconnect and refresh
+        if oldPhase == .background && newPhase == .active {
+            Task {
+                // Force WebSocket reconnection
+                websocketRestartTrigger += 1
+
+                // Give the WebSocket a moment to reconnect
+                try? await Task.sleep(for: .milliseconds(100))
+
+                // Full UI refresh
+                await refresh([.nowPlaying, .playlist, .favorites])
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     private func refresh(_ what: RefreshType) async {
         await model.withModificationsViaAPI { api in
             if what.contains(.nowPlaying) {
@@ -93,7 +113,7 @@ extension ContentView
     
     private func watchWebsocket() async {
         guard let api = model.selectedServer?.api else { return }
-        
+
         do {
             for await streamEvent in try await api.events() {
                 switch streamEvent {
@@ -101,13 +121,21 @@ extension ContentView
                         await clearConnectionErrorIfNecessary()
                         await handle(event: event)
                     case .error(let error):
-                        model.connectionError = error
-                        
+                        // Check if this is a backgrounding error (connection abort)
+                        let nsError = error as NSError
+                        let isBackgroundingError = nsError.code == 53
+
+                        // Only show connection error to user if it's not a backgrounding error
+                        if !isBackgroundingError {
+                            model.connectionError = error
+                        }
+
+                        // Always attempt reconnection after a delay
                         Task { @MainActor in
                             try await Task.sleep(for: .seconds(1.0))
                             websocketRestartTrigger += 1
                         }
-                    
+
                         break
                 }
             }