diff --git a/apps/electron-backend-e2e/src/stalker-playback-headers.e2e.ts b/apps/electron-backend-e2e/src/stalker-playback-headers.e2e.ts
index 9884dc501..c8e7e8f1d 100644
--- a/apps/electron-backend-e2e/src/stalker-playback-headers.e2e.ts
+++ b/apps/electron-backend-e2e/src/stalker-playback-headers.e2e.ts
@@ -91,3 +91,58 @@ test('@electron @stalker built-in player plays an auth-gated portal stream', asy
         await closeElectronApp(app);
     }
 });
+
+test('@electron @stalker built-in audio player plays an auth-gated radio stream', async ({
+    dataDir,
+    request,
+}) => {
+    await resetMockServers(request, ['stalker']);
+
+    // The radio branch renders the dedicated audio player instead of
+    // WebPlayerViewComponent, so it exercises the Stalker live layout's own
+    // header wiring — a gap the ITV test above cannot catch.
+    const bareResponse = await request.get(
+        `${stalkerMockServer}/stream/gated/audio.mp4`
+    );
+    expect(bareResponse.status()).toBe(403);
+
+    const app = await launchElectronApp(dataDir);
+
+    try {
+        await addStalkerPortal(app.mainWindow, {
+            macAddress: GATED_MAC,
+            portalUrl: FULL_PORTAL_URL,
+        });
+        await waitForStalkerCatalog(app.mainWindow);
+
+        await app.mainWindow.getByRole('link', { name: /radio/i }).click();
+        await app.mainWindow.waitForURL(/stalker.*radio/);
+
+        const categories = app.mainWindow.locator('.category-item');
+        await expect(categories.first()).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10_000 });
+        await categories.first().click();
+
+        const channels = app.mainWindow.locator(
+            '[data-test-id="channel-item"]'
+        );
+        await expect(channels.first()).toBeVisible({ timeout: 20_000 });
+        await channels.first().click();
+
+        // The bare <audio> element renders zero-size (its UI is custom), so
+        // assert attachment rather than visibility.
+        const audio = app.mainWindow.locator('app-audio-player audio').first();
+        await expect(audio).toBeAttached({ timeout: 15_000 });
+
+        await expect
+            .poll(
+                () =>
+                    audio.evaluate(
+                        (element: HTMLAudioElement) => element.currentTime
+                    ),
+                { timeout: 20_000 }
+            )
+            .toBeGreaterThan(0.5);
+    } finally {
+        await closeElectronApp(app);
+    }
+});
diff --git a/apps/stalker-mock-server/src/app/handlers/create-link.handler.ts b/apps/stalker-mock-server/src/app/handlers/create-link.handler.ts
index 46c64da5b..be7bcf737 100644
--- a/apps/stalker-mock-server/src/app/handlers/create-link.handler.ts
+++ b/apps/stalker-mock-server/src/app/handlers/create-link.handler.ts
@@ -28,8 +28,12 @@ export function handleCreateLink(req: Request, res: Response): void {
         typeof req.get === 'function'
             ? buildRequestOrigin(req)
             : `http://${req.headers['host'] ?? 'localhost:3210'}`;
+    // Radio plays in an <audio> element, which needs a fixture with an audio
+    // track; ITV/VOD get the video fixture.
+    const gatedFile =
+        req.query['type'] === 'radio' ? 'audio.mp4' : 'video.mp4';
     const streamUrl = getScenario(mac).gatedStream
-        ? `${requestOrigin}/stream/gated/video.mp4`
+        ? `${requestOrigin}/stream/gated/${gatedFile}`
         : resolveStreamUrl(cmd, itemIndex);
 
     console.log(`[create_link] MAC=${mac} cmd=${cmd} → ${streamUrl}`);
diff --git a/apps/stalker-mock-server/src/main.ts b/apps/stalker-mock-server/src/main.ts
index ded3971d0..2a26453e0 100644
--- a/apps/stalker-mock-server/src/main.ts
+++ b/apps/stalker-mock-server/src/main.ts
@@ -177,28 +177,43 @@ app.get('/stalker', (req: Request, res: Response) => {
 });
 
 /**
- * Auth-gated media endpoint for the `gated-stream` scenario. A real portal's
- * streamer sits behind the same session gate as the API, so this route
- * requires the mac cookie AND the MAC's Bearer token and answers 403
- * otherwise. It is the only automated proof that a player's actual media
+ * Auth-gated media endpoints for the `gated-stream` scenario. A real portal's
+ * streamer sits behind the same session gate as the API, so these routes
+ * require the mac cookie AND the MAC's Bearer token and answer 403
+ * otherwise. They are the only automated proof that a player's actual media
  * requests carry the portal credentials — a unit test cannot show that a
- * header reached the video element.
+ * header reached the video (or audio) element.
  *
- * The body is the shared clear (non-DRM) fragmented-MP4 fixture from the
- * DASH e2e suite; `sendFile` supplies Range support for progressive playback.
+ * The bodies are the shared clear (non-DRM) fragmented-MP4 fixtures from the
+ * DASH e2e suite (video for ITV, audio-only for radio); `sendFile` supplies
+ * Range support for progressive playback.
  */
-const GATED_STREAM_FIXTURE = join(
-    process.cwd(),
-    'apps/web-e2e/src/fixtures/dash/clear-video.mp4'
-);
+const GATED_STREAM_FIXTURES: Record<string, string> = {
+    'audio.mp4': join(
+        process.cwd(),
+        'apps/web-e2e/src/fixtures/dash/clear-audio.mp4'
+    ),
+    'video.mp4': join(
+        process.cwd(),
+        'apps/web-e2e/src/fixtures/dash/clear-video.mp4'
+    ),
+};
+
+app.get('/stream/gated/:file', (req: Request, res: Response) => {
+    const fixture = GATED_STREAM_FIXTURES[req.params['file'] ?? ''];
+    if (!fixture) {
+        res.status(404).type('text/plain').send('Not found');
+        return;
+    }
 
-app.get('/stream/gated/video.mp4', (req: Request, res: Response) => {
     const failure = checkRequestAuthorization(req, true);
     if (failure) {
+        // Log only header PRESENCE: the cookie carries the mac session
+        // credential and must never reach terminal/CI logs verbatim.
         console.log(
-            `[gated-stream] 403 (${failure}) cookie=${String(
-                req.headers['cookie'] ?? '<none>'
-            )} auth=${req.headers['authorization'] ? 'present' : '<none>'}`
+            `[gated-stream] 403 (${failure}) cookie=${
+                req.headers['cookie'] ? 'present' : '<none>'
+            } auth=${req.headers['authorization'] ? 'present' : '<none>'}`
         );
         res.status(403).type('text/plain').send(failure);
         return;
@@ -207,7 +222,7 @@ app.get('/stream/gated/video.mp4', (req: Request, res: Response) => {
     // `dotfiles: 'allow'`: express refuses any path with a dot-segment by
     // default, and git worktrees live under `.claude/worktrees/…` — without
     // this the fixture 404s in every worktree checkout.
-    res.sendFile(GATED_STREAM_FIXTURE, {
+    res.sendFile(fixture, {
         dotfiles: 'allow',
         headers: { 'Content-Type': 'video/mp4' },
     });
diff --git a/docs/architecture/electron-security.md b/docs/architecture/electron-security.md
index 0e3e98bed..69753f335 100644
--- a/docs/architecture/electron-security.md
+++ b/docs/architecture/electron-security.md
@@ -132,11 +132,16 @@ The service registers one `session.defaultSession.webRequest.onBeforeSendHeaders
 listener and updates layered in-memory overrides instead of stacking a new
 listener for every channel change.
 
-`WebPlayerViewComponent` is the single renderer owner of the scoped override:
-it extracts the full header set from the resolved playback (including the
-Stalker mac cookie and Bearer token), configures the override **before**
-handing the source to any built-in player, and clears the scoped layer on
-destroy. Individual player components must not call the bridge themselves — a
+`ElectronStreamHeadersService` (`libs/ui/playback`) is the single renderer
+owner of the scoped override slot: it extracts the full header set from the
+resolved playback (including the Stalker mac cookie and Bearer token), and
+its `clear()` releases the slot only while the caller's stream still owns it,
+so a consumer being destroyed cannot wipe an override a newer consumer just
+configured. Two surfaces apply it: `WebPlayerViewComponent` for every
+built-in video player (configuring the override **before** handing the
+source over, clearing on destroy), and the Stalker live layout for the
+dedicated radio audio player, which never mounts a `WebPlayerViewComponent`.
+Individual player components must not call the bridge themselves — a
 narrower call would overwrite the credentialed override.
 
 Rules:
diff --git a/docs/architecture/stalker-portal.md b/docs/architecture/stalker-portal.md
index 218aafcb7..b21f655a0 100644
--- a/docs/architecture/stalker-portal.md
+++ b/docs/architecture/stalker-portal.md
@@ -190,10 +190,12 @@ stream and attaches the same portal header set through
 `buildStalkerExternalPlaybackHeaders()`
 (`libs/portal/stalker/data-access/src/lib/stalker-live-playback.utils.ts`).
 The resolved `ResolvedPortalPlayback.headers` feed both the external players
-(MPV/VLC/Embedded MPV via the launch IPC) and the built-in web players (via
-the scoped Electron request-header override owned by `WebPlayerViewComponent`
-— see `docs/architecture/electron-security.md`, "Scoped Request Header
-Overrides").
+(MPV/VLC/Embedded MPV via the launch IPC) and the built-in players via the
+scoped Electron request-header override (`ElectronStreamHeadersService`,
+applied by `WebPlayerViewComponent` for the video players and by the Stalker
+live layout for the radio audio player, which renders outside
+`WebPlayerViewComponent` — see `docs/architecture/electron-security.md`,
+"Scoped Request Header Overrides").
 
 Two stream profiles exist, selected by one shared predicate:
 
diff --git a/libs/portal/stalker/feature/src/lib/stalker-live-stream-layout/stalker-live-stream-layout.component.spec.ts b/libs/portal/stalker/feature/src/lib/stalker-live-stream-layout/stalker-live-stream-layout.component.spec.ts
index 4515593ca..a40f3da13 100644
--- a/libs/portal/stalker/feature/src/lib/stalker-live-stream-layout/stalker-live-stream-layout.component.spec.ts
+++ b/libs/portal/stalker/feature/src/lib/stalker-live-stream-layout/stalker-live-stream-layout.component.spec.ts
@@ -279,6 +279,7 @@ describe('StalkerLiveStreamLayoutComponent', () => {
         settingsStore.resolvedEpgViewMode.set('timeline');
         window.electron = {
             platform: 'darwin',
+            setUserAgent: jest.fn().mockResolvedValue(true),
             updateRemoteControlStatus: jest.fn(),
             onChannelChange: jest.fn(() => jest.fn()),
             onRemoteControlCommand: jest.fn(() => jest.fn()),
@@ -1127,6 +1128,46 @@ describe('StalkerLiveStreamLayoutComponent', () => {
         expect(audioPlayer.channelName()).toBe('Jazz FM');
         expect(audioPlayer.dispatchAdjacentChannelAction()).toBe(false);
     });
+
+    it('configures the scoped Electron header override before radio playback starts', async () => {
+        // The radio branch renders the dedicated audio player, not
+        // WebPlayerViewComponent — without this wiring an auth-gated portal
+        // radio stream 403s because its credentials never reach the request.
+        stalkerStore.selectedContentType.set('radio');
+        selectedCategoryId.set('radio-all');
+        selectedItem.set(null);
+        selectedItvId.set(undefined);
+        fixture.detectChanges();
+        resolveRadioPlayback.mockResolvedValue({
+            streamUrl: 'http://portal.example/radio_2.mpg',
+            title: 'Portal FM',
+            headers: {
+                'User-Agent': 'MAG250',
+                Referer: 'http://portal.example',
+                Cookie: 'mac=00:1A:79:00:00:01',
+                Authorization: 'Bearer TOKEN99',
+            },
+        });
+
+        await component.playChannel(radioChannels()[0]);
+        await fixture.whenStable();
+        fixture.detectChanges();
+
+        expect(window.electron?.setUserAgent).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+            'MAG250',
+            'http://portal.example',
+            'http://portal.example/radio_2.mpg',
+            {
+                authorization: 'Bearer TOKEN99',
+                cookie: 'mac=00:1A:79:00:00:01',
+            }
+        );
+
+        const audioPlayer = fixture.debugElement.query(
+            By.directive(StubAudioPlayerComponent)
+        ).componentInstance as StubAudioPlayerComponent;
+        expect(audioPlayer.url()).toBe('http://portal.example/radio_2.mpg');
+    });
 });
 
 function buildProgram(channelId: string, title: string): EpgProgram {
diff --git a/libs/portal/stalker/feature/src/lib/stalker-live-stream-layout/stalker-live-stream-layout.component.ts b/libs/portal/stalker/feature/src/lib/stalker-live-stream-layout/stalker-live-stream-layout.component.ts
index 3ccbe97a2..47a2c1641 100644
--- a/libs/portal/stalker/feature/src/lib/stalker-live-stream-layout/stalker-live-stream-layout.component.ts
+++ b/libs/portal/stalker/feature/src/lib/stalker-live-stream-layout/stalker-live-stream-layout.component.ts
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ import {
 } from '@iptvnator/ui/epg';
 import {
     AudioPlayerComponent,
+    ElectronStreamHeadersService,
     type PlaybackFallbackRequest,
     WebPlayerViewComponent,
 } from '@iptvnator/ui/playback';
@@ -116,6 +117,7 @@ export class StalkerLiveStreamLayoutComponent implements OnDestroy {
     private readonly runtime = inject(RuntimeCapabilitiesService);
     private readonly settingsStore = inject(SettingsStore);
     private readonly portalPlayer = inject(PORTAL_PLAYER);
+    private readonly streamHeaders = inject(ElectronStreamHeadersService);
     private readonly snackBar = inject(MatSnackBar);
     private readonly translate = inject(TranslateService);
     private readonly liveSidebarStateService = inject(
@@ -360,6 +362,8 @@ export class StalkerLiveStreamLayoutComponent implements OnDestroy {
     private unsubscribeRemoteCommand?: () => void;
     private epgLoadRequestId = 0;
     private playbackRequestId = 0;
+    /** Stream URL of the radio playback whose header override this layout configured. */
+    private radioHeaderScopeUrl: string | null = null;
     private playbackResolution: {
         channelId: string;
         promise: Promise<ResolvedPortalPlayback>;
@@ -556,6 +560,9 @@ export class StalkerLiveStreamLayoutComponent implements OnDestroy {
         this.unsubscribeRemoteChannelChange?.();
         this.unsubscribeRemoteCommand?.();
         this.removeScrollListener();
+        // Radio credentials must not outlive this layout; the service no-ops
+        // when a newer playback already owns the override slot.
+        this.streamHeaders.clear(this.radioHeaderScopeUrl);
     }
 
     isSelectedChannel(item: StalkerItvChannel): boolean {
@@ -587,6 +594,18 @@ export class StalkerLiveStreamLayoutComponent implements OnDestroy {
             }
 
             if (isRadioMode) {
+                // The radio branch renders the dedicated audio player, not
+                // WebPlayerViewComponent, so the scoped Electron header
+                // override (portal cookie/token for auth-gated streams) must
+                // be configured here BEFORE the audio element gets the URL.
+                await this.streamHeaders.apply(playback);
+                if (
+                    requestId !== this.playbackRequestId ||
+                    this.selectedChannelId() !== channelId
+                ) {
+                    return;
+                }
+                this.radioHeaderScopeUrl = playback.streamUrl;
                 this.activePlayback.set(playback);
                 return;
             }
diff --git a/libs/ui/playback/src/index.ts b/libs/ui/playback/src/index.ts
index 3f8e6fcb3..f06705daa 100644
--- a/libs/ui/playback/src/index.ts
+++ b/libs/ui/playback/src/index.ts
@@ -14,4 +14,5 @@ export * from './lib/portal-inline-player/up-next-rail.util';
 export * from './lib/vjs-player/vjs-player.component';
 export * from './lib/video-player/sidebar/sidebar.component';
 export * from './lib/vod-details/vod-details.component';
+export * from './lib/web-player-view/electron-stream-headers.service';
 export * from './lib/web-player-view/web-player-view.component';
diff --git a/libs/ui/playback/src/lib/web-player-view/electron-stream-headers.service.spec.ts b/libs/ui/playback/src/lib/web-player-view/electron-stream-headers.service.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d265be8a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libs/ui/playback/src/lib/web-player-view/electron-stream-headers.service.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,141 @@
+import { TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
+import { ElectronStreamHeadersService } from './electron-stream-headers.service';
+
+const STREAM_URL = 'http://portal.example:8080/live/ch1.ts';
+const GATED_PLAYBACK = {
+    streamUrl: STREAM_URL,
+    title: 'Gated Channel',
+    headers: {
+        'User-Agent': 'MAG250',
+        Referer: 'http://portal.example',
+        Cookie: 'mac=00%3A1A%3A79%3A00%3A00%3A01; stb_lang=en_US',
+        Authorization: 'Bearer TOKEN123',
+    },
+};
+
+describe('ElectronStreamHeadersService', () => {
+    let service: ElectronStreamHeadersService;
+    let setUserAgent: jest.Mock;
+
+    beforeEach(() => {
+        setUserAgent = jest.fn().mockResolvedValue(true);
+        (window as unknown as { electron?: unknown }).electron = {
+            setUserAgent,
+        };
+        service = TestBed.inject(ElectronStreamHeadersService);
+    });
+
+    afterEach(() => {
+        delete (window as unknown as { electron?: unknown }).electron;
+    });
+
+    it('returns null without an Electron bridge (PWA)', () => {
+        delete (window as unknown as { electron?: unknown }).electron;
+
+        expect(service.apply(GATED_PLAYBACK)).toBeNull();
+        expect(setUserAgent).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
+    it('extracts the full header set and scopes it to the stream URL', async () => {
+        await expect(service.apply(GATED_PLAYBACK)).resolves.toBe(true);
+
+        expect(setUserAgent).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+            'MAG250',
+            'http://portal.example',
+            STREAM_URL,
+            {
+                authorization: 'Bearer TOKEN123',
+                cookie: 'mac=00%3A1A%3A79%3A00%3A00%3A01; stb_lang=en_US',
+            }
+        );
+    });
+
+    it('prefers explicit userAgent/referer fields over the headers map', async () => {
+        await service.apply({
+            ...GATED_PLAYBACK,
+            userAgent: 'ExplicitAgent/1.0',
+            referer: 'http://explicit.example',
+        });
+
+        expect(setUserAgent).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+            'ExplicitAgent/1.0',
+            'http://explicit.example',
+            STREAM_URL,
+            expect.anything()
+        );
+    });
+
+    it('omits the credentials object when the playback carries none', async () => {
+        await service.apply({
+            streamUrl: 'https://example.com/live/plain.m3u8',
+            title: 'Plain Channel',
+            userAgent: 'PlainAgent/1.0',
+        });
+
+        expect(setUserAgent).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+            'PlainAgent/1.0',
+            undefined,
+            'https://example.com/live/plain.m3u8',
+            undefined
+        );
+    });
+
+    it('reports a superseded apply as not current', async () => {
+        const resolvers: Array<() => void> = [];
+        setUserAgent.mockImplementation(
+            () =>
+                new Promise<boolean>((resolve) =>
+                    resolvers.push(() => resolve(true))
+                )
+        );
+
+        const first = service.apply(GATED_PLAYBACK);
+        const second = service.apply({
+            ...GATED_PLAYBACK,
+            streamUrl: 'http://portal.example:8080/live/ch2.ts',
+        });
+
+        resolvers[0]();
+        resolvers[1]();
+
+        await expect(first).resolves.toBe(false);
+        await expect(second).resolves.toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    it('clears the override only while the caller still owns the slot', async () => {
+        await service.apply(GATED_PLAYBACK);
+        setUserAgent.mockClear();
+
+        // A stale consumer (e.g. a destroyed component) must not wipe the
+        // override a newer playback configured.
+        service.clear('http://portal.example:8080/other-stream.ts');
+        expect(setUserAgent).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+        service.clear(STREAM_URL);
+        expect(setUserAgent).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+            undefined,
+            undefined,
+            STREAM_URL
+        );
+    });
+
+    it('does not clear twice for the same stream', async () => {
+        await service.apply(GATED_PLAYBACK);
+        service.clear(STREAM_URL);
+        setUserAgent.mockClear();
+
+        service.clear(STREAM_URL);
+        expect(setUserAgent).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+
+    it('resolves instead of throwing when the bridge rejects', async () => {
+        const warn = jest.spyOn(console, 'warn').mockImplementation(() => {
+            /* silence */
+        });
+        setUserAgent.mockRejectedValue(new Error('ipc down'));
+
+        await expect(service.apply(GATED_PLAYBACK)).resolves.toBe(true);
+        expect(warn).toHaveBeenCalled();
+        warn.mockRestore();
+    });
+});
diff --git a/libs/ui/playback/src/lib/web-player-view/electron-stream-headers.service.ts b/libs/ui/playback/src/lib/web-player-view/electron-stream-headers.service.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5c2c34a7b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libs/ui/playback/src/lib/web-player-view/electron-stream-headers.service.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,104 @@
+import { Injectable } from '@angular/core';
+import type { ResolvedPortalPlayback } from '@iptvnator/shared/interfaces';
+
+function getHeaderValue(
+    headers: ResolvedPortalPlayback['headers'] | undefined,
+    name: string
+): string | undefined {
+    if (!headers) {
+        return undefined;
+    }
+
+    const matchingKey = Object.keys(headers).find(
+        (key) => key.toLowerCase() === name.toLowerCase()
+    );
+    return matchingKey ? headers[matchingKey] : undefined;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Single owner of the scoped Electron request-header override for built-in
+ * playback. There is exactly one scoped override slot in the main process, so
+ * every surface that plays a stream inline goes through this service:
+ * `WebPlayerViewComponent` for the web video players, and the Stalker live
+ * layout for the dedicated radio audio player, which never mounts a
+ * `WebPlayerViewComponent` at all.
+ *
+ * `apply()` extracts the full header set from the resolved playback —
+ * including the portal Cookie/Authorization that auth-gated streams require —
+ * and hands it to the main process scoped to the stream's URL. A playback
+ * without custom headers deliberately clears the previous scoped override so
+ * stale headers never leak onto the next stream. `clear()` releases the slot
+ * only while the caller's stream still owns it, so a consumer being destroyed
+ * cannot wipe the override a newer consumer just configured.
+ */
+@Injectable({ providedIn: 'root' })
+export class ElectronStreamHeadersService {
+    /** Guards against a superseded apply resolving its header IPC late. */
+    private syncSequence = 0;
+    /** Stream URL the currently configured override belongs to. */
+    private currentScopeUrl: string | null = null;
+
+    /**
+     * Configures the scoped override for this playback. Resolves `true` when
+     * this apply is still the newest one at the time the main process
+     * acknowledged it — callers must only hand the source to a player on
+     * `true`, so the first media request already carries the headers. Returns
+     * null when there is no Electron bridge (PWA), where sources apply
+     * synchronously and no override exists.
+     */
+    apply(playback: ResolvedPortalPlayback): Promise<boolean> | null {
+        // Feature-detect the bridge method rather than the bridge object:
+        // partial bridges (tests, older preloads) must behave like the PWA
+        // instead of throwing inside a playback flow.
+        if (typeof window.electron?.setUserAgent !== 'function') {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        const sequence = ++this.syncSequence;
+        const userAgent =
+            playback.userAgent ??
+            getHeaderValue(playback.headers, 'User-Agent');
+        const referer =
+            playback.referer ?? getHeaderValue(playback.headers, 'Referer');
+        const cookie = getHeaderValue(playback.headers, 'Cookie');
+        const authorization = getHeaderValue(playback.headers, 'Authorization');
+
+        this.currentScopeUrl = playback.streamUrl;
+        return window.electron
+            .setUserAgent(
+                userAgent,
+                referer,
+                playback.streamUrl,
+                cookie || authorization ? { authorization, cookie } : undefined
+            )
+            .catch((error: unknown) => {
+                console.warn(
+                    '[ElectronStreamHeaders] Failed to configure request headers:',
+                    error
+                );
+                return true;
+            })
+            .then(() => sequence === this.syncSequence);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Clears the scoped override — portal credentials must not outlive the
+     * playback session that needed them. No-ops when another stream has taken
+     * ownership of the slot since, and always in the PWA.
+     */
+    clear(streamUrl: string | null): void {
+        if (
+            typeof window.electron?.setUserAgent !== 'function' ||
+            streamUrl === null ||
+            this.currentScopeUrl !== streamUrl
+        ) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        this.syncSequence += 1;
+        this.currentScopeUrl = null;
+        void window.electron
+            .setUserAgent(undefined, undefined, streamUrl)
+            .catch(() => undefined);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/libs/ui/playback/src/lib/web-player-view/web-player-view.component.ts b/libs/ui/playback/src/lib/web-player-view/web-player-view.component.ts
index 9c27d9305..b4c94525b 100644
--- a/libs/ui/playback/src/lib/web-player-view/web-player-view.component.ts
+++ b/libs/ui/playback/src/lib/web-player-view/web-player-view.component.ts
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ import {
 } from '../playback-diagnostics/playback-diagnostics.util';
 import type { SeriesPlaybackNavigation } from '../portal-inline-player/series-playback-navigation';
 import { VjsPlayerComponent } from '../vjs-player/vjs-player.component';
+import { ElectronStreamHeadersService } from './electron-stream-headers.service';
 import {
     getDiagnosticCodecHint,
     getDiagnosticDescriptionKey,
@@ -224,8 +225,7 @@ export class WebPlayerViewComponent implements OnDestroy {
 
     /** Stream URL the currently configured Electron header override belongs to. */
     private headerScopeStreamUrl: string | null = null;
-    /** Guards against a superseded playback resolving its header IPC late. */
-    private playbackSyncSequence = 0;
+    private readonly streamHeaders = inject(ElectronStreamHeadersService);
 
     constructor() {
         effect(() => {
@@ -235,20 +235,16 @@ export class WebPlayerViewComponent implements OnDestroy {
             const playback = this.resolvedPlayback();
             const isLive = this.resolvedIsLive();
             this.playbackDiagnostic.set(null);
-            void this.applyPlayback(playback, isLive);
+            this.applyPlayback(playback, isLive);
         });
     }
 
     ngOnDestroy(): void {
         // Portal credentials must not outlive the playback session that
         // needed them: dropping the scoped override here keeps only the
-        // playlist-level (unscoped) User-Agent/Referer defaults active.
-        this.playbackSyncSequence += 1;
-        if (window.electron && this.headerScopeStreamUrl !== null) {
-            void window.electron
-                .setUserAgent(undefined, undefined, this.headerScopeStreamUrl)
-                .catch(() => undefined);
-        }
+        // playlist-level (unscoped) User-Agent/Referer defaults active. The
+        // service no-ops if a newer consumer already owns the override slot.
+        this.streamHeaders.clear(this.headerScopeStreamUrl);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -263,8 +259,8 @@ export class WebPlayerViewComponent implements OnDestroy {
         playback: ResolvedPortalPlayback,
         isLive: boolean
     ): void {
-        const sequence = ++this.playbackSyncSequence;
-        const headerSync = this.syncElectronStreamHeaders(playback);
+        const headerSync = this.streamHeaders.apply(playback);
+        this.headerScopeStreamUrl = playback.streamUrl;
         const handOff = (): void => {
             this.setChannel(playback);
             this.setVjsOptions(playback.streamUrl, isLive);
@@ -275,58 +271,13 @@ export class WebPlayerViewComponent implements OnDestroy {
             return;
         }
 
-        void headerSync.then(() => {
-            if (sequence === this.playbackSyncSequence) {
+        void headerSync.then((stillCurrent) => {
+            if (stillCurrent) {
                 handOff();
             }
         });
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Single owner of the scoped header override for every built-in player.
-     * Extracts the full header set from the resolved playback — including the
-     * portal Cookie/Authorization that auth-gated Stalker streams require —
-     * and hands it to the main process, scoped to this stream's URL. A
-     * playback without custom headers deliberately clears the previous scoped
-     * override so stale headers never leak onto the next stream. Returns null
-     * when there is no Electron bridge (PWA).
-     */
-    private syncElectronStreamHeaders(
-        playback: ResolvedPortalPlayback
-    ): Promise<void> | null {
-        if (!window.electron) {
-            return null;
-        }
-
-        const userAgent =
-            playback.userAgent ??
-            this.getHeaderValue(playback.headers, 'User-Agent');
-        const referer =
-            playback.referer ??
-            this.getHeaderValue(playback.headers, 'Referer');
-        const cookie = this.getHeaderValue(playback.headers, 'Cookie');
-        const authorization = this.getHeaderValue(
-            playback.headers,
-            'Authorization'
-        );
-
-        this.headerScopeStreamUrl = playback.streamUrl;
-        return window.electron
-            .setUserAgent(
-                userAgent,
-                referer,
-                playback.streamUrl,
-                cookie || authorization ? { authorization, cookie } : undefined
-            )
-            .then(() => undefined)
-            .catch((error: unknown) => {
-                console.warn(
-                    '[WebPlayerView] Failed to configure Electron request headers:',
-                    error
-                );
-            });
-    }
-
     setVjsOptions(streamUrl: string, isLive = true) {
         const extension = getPlaybackMediaExtensionFromUrl(streamUrl);
         const mimeType =