[client] Debug: create GUI windows on demand and destroy them on close

Experiment on top of the memory profiler: the main and Settings windows are no
longer created at startup or kept alive hidden, so an idle tray holds no webview
process. The WindowManager owns creation, rebuilds the main window on the next
show, and defers every show until the frontend reports it has rendered, which
keeps an empty webview off screen.

Measured on macOS: idle footprint drops from ~160 MB to ~74 MB, at the cost of
~150-250 ms per window open.

client/android/client.go

@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/profilemanager"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/routemanager"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/stdnet"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/mdm"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/net"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/system"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/formatter"
@@ -83,14 +82,6 @@ type Client struct {
 	connectClient *internal.ConnectClient
 	config        *profilemanager.Config
 	cacheDir      string
-
-	// mdmLoader holds the per-Client MDM policy source. Set by
-	// SetMDMPolicyFetcher (called from the Kotlin side). Each Run
-	// passes this loader to the resolved Config so applyMDMPolicy
-	// picks up the active overlay. Nil means "MDM enforcement off
-	// for this Client".
-	mdmLoader *mdm.Loader
-
 	// Identifies the running profile for the SSO login hint; see profile_state.go.
 	cfgPath string
 
@@ -176,7 +167,6 @@ func (c *Client) Run(platformFiles PlatformFiles, urlOpener URLOpener, isAndroid
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	c.applyMDMOverlay(cfg)
 	c.recorder.UpdateManagementAddress(cfg.ManagementURL.String())
 	c.recorder.UpdateRosenpass(cfg.RosenpassEnabled, cfg.RosenpassPermissive)
 
@@ -226,7 +216,6 @@ func (c *Client) RunWithoutLogin(platformFiles PlatformFiles, dns *DNSList, dnsR
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	c.applyMDMOverlay(cfg)
 	c.recorder.UpdateManagementAddress(cfg.ManagementURL.String())
 	c.recorder.UpdateRosenpass(cfg.RosenpassEnabled, cfg.RosenpassPermissive)
 
@@ -302,7 +291,6 @@ func (c *Client) DebugBundle(platformFiles PlatformFiles, anonymize bool) (strin
 		if err != nil {
 			return "", fmt.Errorf("load config: %w", err)
 		}
-		c.applyMDMOverlay(cfg)
 		cacheDir = platformFiles.CacheDir()
 	}
 

client/android/mdm.go

@@ -1,80 +0,0 @@
-//go:build android
-
-package android
-
-import (
-	"encoding/json"
-
-	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
-
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/profilemanager"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/mdm"
-)
-
-// PolicyFetcher is the mobile-side bridge for the MDM managed-config
-// snapshot. The native layer (Kotlin) implements this and registers
-// the instance per Client via Client.SetMDMPolicyFetcher. Every
-// invocation of fetchJSON must read the current RestrictionsManager
-// state and return the result as a JSON-encoded map[string]any string.
-//
-// JSON is used because gomobile does not support map[string]any
-// crossing the JNI boundary — the adapter on the Go side parses the
-// string back into the map[string]any expected by mdm.Loader.
-//
-// Return value contract:
-//   - "" (empty)         : interpreted as "no MDM source / no managed keys"
-//   - "{}"               : managed config explicitly empty
-//   - "{...}"            : JSON object with key/value pairs
-//   - malformed JSON     : logged and treated as empty
-type PolicyFetcher interface {
-	FetchJSON() string
-}
-
-// jsonFetcherAdapter wraps a gomobile-exposed PolicyFetcher into the
-// internal mdm.PolicyFetcher interface, taking care of JSON decoding
-// on every Fetch.
-type jsonFetcherAdapter struct {
-	inner PolicyFetcher
-}
-
-func (a *jsonFetcherAdapter) Fetch() map[string]any {
-	raw := a.inner.FetchJSON()
-	if raw == "" {
-		return nil
-	}
-	var out map[string]any
-	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(raw), &out); err != nil {
-		log.Warnf("MDM mobile fetcher: invalid JSON payload from native: %v", err)
-		return nil
-	}
-	return out
-}
-
-// SetMDMPolicyFetcher registers the native-provided MDM policy fetcher
-// on this Client. Call once from the gomobile-init code (Kotlin
-// Application.onCreate or Service onCreate) before invoking Run /
-// RunWithoutLogin. Passing nil disables MDM enforcement on this
-// Client.
-//
-// The fetcher is held as a *mdm.Loader instance on the Client (no
-// package-level state) — multiple Clients in the same process get
-// independent Loaders, and tests can inject fakes per Client.
-func (c *Client) SetMDMPolicyFetcher(p PolicyFetcher) {
-	if p == nil {
-		c.mdmLoader = mdm.NewLoader(nil)
-		return
-	}
-	c.mdmLoader = mdm.NewLoader(&jsonFetcherAdapter{inner: p})
-}
-
-// applyMDMOverlay applies the Client-held MDM Loader's current policy
-// on top of the just-read Config. Called immediately after every
-// UpdateOrCreateConfig — profilemanager's apply() initialises the
-// policy to empty and leaves overlay responsibility to the lifecycle
-// owner. No-op when no fetcher was registered.
-func (c *Client) applyMDMOverlay(cfg *profilemanager.Config) {
-	if cfg == nil || c.mdmLoader == nil {
-		return
-	}
-	cfg.ApplyMDMPolicy(c.mdmLoader.Load())
-}

client/cmd/login.go

@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/auth"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/profilemanager"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/mdm"
 	nbnet "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/net"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/proto"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/server"
@@ -333,11 +332,6 @@ func doForegroundLogin(ctx context.Context, cmd *cobra.Command, setupKey string,
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("read config file %s: %v", configFilePath, err)
 	}
-	// CLI standalone login: profilemanager no longer auto-applies MDM,
-	// so layer in the OS-native policy here. Desktop builds construct
-	// a Loader with no fetcher — the build-tagged loadPlatform reads
-	// the registry/plist directly.
-	config.ApplyMDMPolicy(mdm.NewLoader(nil).Load())
 
 	// Mirror runInForegroundMode: recover residual state (DNS, firewall,
 	// ssh config, legacy routing) from a previous unclean shutdown and

client/cmd/up.go

@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/peer"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/profilemanager"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/mdm"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/proto"
 	nbnet "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/net"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/server"
@@ -229,10 +228,6 @@ func runInForegroundMode(ctx context.Context, cmd *cobra.Command, activeProf *pr
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("get config file: %v", err)
 	}
-	// CLI foreground path runs without the daemon Server: layer in the
-	// active MDM policy explicitly so a forced ManagementURL / PSK /
-	// other managed key actually takes effect on this run.
-	config.ApplyMDMPolicy(mdm.NewLoader(nil).Load())
 
 	_, _ = profilemanager.UpdateOldManagementURL(ctx, config, configFilePath)
 

client/embed/embed.go

@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/auth"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/peer"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/profilemanager"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/mdm"
 	sshcommon "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/ssh"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/system"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/shared/management/domain"
@@ -216,10 +215,6 @@ func New(opts Options) (*Client, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("create config: %w", err)
 	}
-	// Embedded path runs without the daemon Server: apply the active
-	// MDM policy explicitly so a forced ManagementURL / PSK / other
-	// managed key takes effect on this embedded engine instance.
-	config.ApplyMDMPolicy(mdm.NewLoader(nil).Load())
 
 	if opts.PrivateKey != "" {
 		config.PrivateKey = opts.PrivateKey

client/internal/profilemanager/config.go

@@ -58,6 +58,10 @@ var DefaultInterfaceBlacklist = []string{
 	"Tailscale", "tailscale", "docker", "veth", "br-", "lo",
 }
 
+// loadMDMPolicy is the package-level indirection used by apply() to read the
+// active MDM policy. Tests override this to inject a fake policy.
+var loadMDMPolicy = mdm.LoadPolicy
+
 // ConfigInput carries configuration changes to the client
 type ConfigInput struct {
 	ManagementURL                 string
@@ -182,27 +186,14 @@ type Config struct {
 
 	MTU uint16
 
-	// policy is the MDM policy that produced the currently-set values
-	// for any MDM-enforced fields. Set by ApplyMDMPolicy on every
-	// invocation. Never persisted to disk. Callers query enforcement
-	// state via Policy() and the mdm.Policy API (HasKey, ManagedKeys,
-	// IsEmpty).
+	// policy is the MDM policy that produced the currently-set values for
+	// any MDM-enforced fields. Set by applyMDMPolicy at the tail of apply()
+	// and reset on every apply() invocation. Never persisted to disk.
+	// Callers query enforcement state via Policy() and the mdm.Policy API
+	// (HasKey, ManagedKeys, IsEmpty).
 	policy *mdm.Policy `json:"-"`
 }
 
-// ApplyMDMPolicy overlays the supplied MDM Policy on top of the
-// currently resolved Config values. Idempotent — pass an empty Policy
-// to clear any prior overlay. The lifecycle owner (Server.getConfig
-// on desktop, the Client.Run path on mobile) calls this with
-// loader.Load() once the per-process Loader is known; the Config
-// itself holds no reference to the Loader.
-func (config *Config) ApplyMDMPolicy(policy *mdm.Policy) {
-	if config == nil {
-		return
-	}
-	config.applyMDMPolicy(policy)
-}
-
 // Policy returns the MDM policy applied to this Config. Returns a non-nil
 // empty Policy when MDM enforcement is inactive; callers can always invoke
 // HasKey / ManagedKeys / IsEmpty without a nil check.
@@ -659,11 +650,9 @@ func (config *Config) apply(input ConfigInput) (updated bool, err error) {
 		updated = true
 	}
 
-	// Initialise the MDM overlay to "no enforcement" so Config.Policy()
-	// never returns a stale or nil policy on a freshly applied Config.
-	// Lifecycle owners that want to enforce a real MDM policy invoke
-	// Config.ApplyMDMPolicy(loader.Load()) after this returns.
-	config.applyMDMPolicy(mdm.NewPolicy(nil))
+	// MDM is the last override layer: any key present in the policy
+	// supersedes defaults, on-disk config, env vars and CLI input.
+	config.applyMDMPolicy(loadMDMPolicy())
 
 	return updated, nil
 }

client/internal/profilemanager/config_mdm_test.go

@@ -10,58 +10,24 @@ import (
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/mdm"
 )
 
-// fakeFetcher implements mdm.PolicyFetcher returning a pre-set policy
-// map. Test helper used to construct a Loader without touching the OS
-// or any package-level state.
-type fakeFetcher struct{ values map[string]any }
-
-func (f *fakeFetcher) Fetch() map[string]any { return f.values }
-
-// loaderFor builds an mdm.Loader whose loadPlatform returns the
-// supplied Policy's underlying values.
-func loaderFor(policy *mdm.Policy) *mdm.Loader {
-	if policy == nil || policy.IsEmpty() {
-		return mdm.NewLoader(&fakeFetcher{values: nil})
-	}
-	values := make(map[string]any)
-	for _, k := range policy.ManagedKeys() {
-		if v, ok := policy.GetString(k); ok {
-			values[k] = v
-			continue
-		}
-		if v, ok := policy.GetBool(k); ok {
-			values[k] = v
-			continue
-		}
-		if v, ok := policy.GetInt(k); ok {
-			values[k] = v
-			continue
-		}
-		if v, ok := policy.GetStringSlice(k); ok {
-			values[k] = v
-		}
-	}
-	return mdm.NewLoader(&fakeFetcher{values: values})
-}
-
-// configWithMDM is the test convenience that builds a Config via
-// UpdateOrCreateConfig and overlays the supplied MDM policy on top —
-// mirrors the production pattern (Server.getConfig / Client.applyMDMOverlay)
-// where the Loader lives outside Config and the apply step is driven
-// by the lifecycle owner.
-func configWithMDM(t *testing.T, input ConfigInput, policy *mdm.Policy) *Config {
+// withMDMPolicy temporarily overrides the package-level loadMDMPolicy hook so
+// apply() observes the supplied Policy. The original loader is restored at
+// test cleanup.
+func withMDMPolicy(t *testing.T, policy *mdm.Policy) {
 	t.Helper()
-	cfg, err := UpdateOrCreateConfig(input)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.NotNil(t, cfg)
-	cfg.ApplyMDMPolicy(loaderFor(policy).Load())
-	return cfg
+	prev := loadMDMPolicy
+	loadMDMPolicy = func() *mdm.Policy { return policy }
+	t.Cleanup(func() { loadMDMPolicy = prev })
 }
 
 func TestApply_MDMEmpty_NoEnforcement(t *testing.T) {
-	cfg := configWithMDM(t, ConfigInput{
+	withMDMPolicy(t, mdm.NewPolicy(nil))
+
+	cfg, err := UpdateOrCreateConfig(ConfigInput{
 		ConfigPath: filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "config.json"),
-	}, mdm.NewPolicy(nil))
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NotNil(t, cfg)
 
 	assert.True(t, cfg.Policy().IsEmpty(), "no MDM source ⇒ empty Policy")
 	assert.False(t, cfg.Policy().HasKey(mdm.KeyManagementURL))
@@ -73,15 +39,18 @@ func TestApply_MDMEmpty_NoEnforcement(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestApply_MDMOnly_OverridesDefaults(t *testing.T) {
 	const mdmURL = "https://corp.mdm.example.com:443"
-
-	cfg := configWithMDM(t, ConfigInput{
-		ConfigPath: filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "config.json"),
-	}, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
+	withMDMPolicy(t, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
 		mdm.KeyManagementURL:       mdmURL,
 		mdm.KeyDisableClientRoutes: true,
 		mdm.KeyBlockInbound:        true,
 	}))
 
+	cfg, err := UpdateOrCreateConfig(ConfigInput{
+		ConfigPath: filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "config.json"),
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NotNil(t, cfg)
+
 	assert.Equal(t, mdmURL, cfg.ManagementURL.String())
 	assert.True(t, cfg.DisableClientRoutes)
 	assert.True(t, cfg.BlockInbound)
@@ -96,25 +65,33 @@ func TestApply_MDMBeatsCLIInput(t *testing.T) {
 	const mdmURL = "https://mdm.example.com:443"
 	const cliURL = "https://cli.example.com:443"
 
-	cfg := configWithMDM(t, ConfigInput{
-		ConfigPath:    filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "config.json"),
-		ManagementURL: cliURL,
-	}, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
+	withMDMPolicy(t, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
 		mdm.KeyManagementURL: mdmURL,
 	}))
 
+	cfg, err := UpdateOrCreateConfig(ConfigInput{
+		ConfigPath:    filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "config.json"),
+		ManagementURL: cliURL,
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NotNil(t, cfg)
+
 	// MDM wins over CLI-supplied management URL.
 	assert.Equal(t, mdmURL, cfg.ManagementURL.String())
 	assert.True(t, cfg.Policy().HasKey(mdm.KeyManagementURL))
 }
 
 func TestApply_MDMInvalidURL_KeepsPreviousValue(t *testing.T) {
-	cfg := configWithMDM(t, ConfigInput{
-		ConfigPath: filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "config.json"),
-	}, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
+	withMDMPolicy(t, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
 		mdm.KeyManagementURL: "not-a-url",
 	}))
 
+	cfg, err := UpdateOrCreateConfig(ConfigInput{
+		ConfigPath: filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "config.json"),
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NotNil(t, cfg)
+
 	// Invalid MDM URL is logged and skipped: default URL stays in place
 	// to keep the client functional.
 	assert.Equal(t, DefaultManagementURL, cfg.ManagementURL.String())
@@ -129,20 +106,24 @@ func TestApply_MDMBoolKeysOverrideOnDiskValue(t *testing.T) {
 	tmp := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "config.json")
 
 	// Seed without MDM.
-	configWithMDM(t, ConfigInput{
+	withMDMPolicy(t, mdm.NewPolicy(nil))
+	_, err := UpdateOrCreateConfig(ConfigInput{
 		ConfigPath:          tmp,
 		DisableClientRoutes: boolPtr(false),
 		RosenpassEnabled:    boolPtr(false),
-	}, mdm.NewPolicy(nil))
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Now enable MDM enforcement for these keys.
-	cfg := configWithMDM(t, ConfigInput{
-		ConfigPath: tmp,
-	}, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
+	withMDMPolicy(t, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
 		mdm.KeyDisableClientRoutes: true,
 		mdm.KeyRosenpassEnabled:    true,
 	}))
 
+	cfg, err := UpdateOrCreateConfig(ConfigInput{ConfigPath: tmp})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NotNil(t, cfg)
+
 	assert.True(t, cfg.DisableClientRoutes, "MDM override should flip on-disk false to true")
 	assert.True(t, cfg.RosenpassEnabled)
 	assert.True(t, cfg.Policy().HasKey(mdm.KeyDisableClientRoutes))
@@ -164,12 +145,16 @@ func TestApply_MDMLazyConnection(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	for _, c := range cases {
 		t.Run(c.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			cfg := configWithMDM(t, ConfigInput{
-				ConfigPath: filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "config.json"),
-			}, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
+			withMDMPolicy(t, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
 				mdm.KeyLazyConnection: c.raw,
 			}))
 
+			cfg, err := UpdateOrCreateConfig(ConfigInput{
+				ConfigPath: filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "config.json"),
+			})
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			require.NotNil(t, cfg)
+
 			assert.Equal(t, c.want, cfg.LazyConnection)
 			assert.True(t, cfg.Policy().HasKey(mdm.KeyLazyConnection))
 		})
@@ -179,12 +164,16 @@ func TestApply_MDMLazyConnection(t *testing.T) {
 func TestApply_MDMPreSharedKeyRedactionSentinelRejected(t *testing.T) {
 	const maskSentinel = "**********"
 
-	cfg := configWithMDM(t, ConfigInput{
-		ConfigPath: filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "config.json"),
-	}, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
+	withMDMPolicy(t, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
 		mdm.KeyPreSharedKey: maskSentinel,
 	}))
 
+	cfg, err := UpdateOrCreateConfig(ConfigInput{
+		ConfigPath: filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "config.json"),
+	})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NotNil(t, cfg)
+
 	// Mask sentinel must not be persisted as the actual PSK.
 	assert.NotEqual(t, maskSentinel, cfg.PreSharedKey)
 	// Key still marked managed so user writes are still rejected.

client/ios/NetBirdSDK/client.go

@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/listener"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/peer"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/profilemanager"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/mdm"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/system"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/formatter"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/route"
@@ -83,13 +82,6 @@ type Client struct {
 	// preloadedConfig holds config loaded from JSON (used on tvOS where file writes are blocked)
 	preloadedConfig *profilemanager.Config
 
-	// mdmLoader holds the per-Client MDM policy source. Set by
-	// SetMDMPolicyFetcher (called from the Swift side at extension
-	// init). Each Run passes this loader to the resolved Config so
-	// applyMDMPolicy picks up the active overlay. Nil means "MDM
-	// enforcement off for this Client".
-	mdmLoader *mdm.Loader
-
 	stateMu       sync.RWMutex
 	connectClient *internal.ConnectClient
 	config        *profilemanager.Config
@@ -150,7 +142,6 @@ func (c *Client) Run(fd int32, interfaceName string, envList *EnvList) error {
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		c.applyMDMOverlay(cfg)
 	}
 	c.recorder.UpdateManagementAddress(cfg.ManagementURL.String())
 	c.recorder.UpdateRosenpass(cfg.RosenpassEnabled, cfg.RosenpassPermissive)
@@ -229,7 +220,6 @@ func (c *Client) DebugBundle(anonymize bool) (string, error) {
 				return "", fmt.Errorf("load config: %w", err)
 			}
 		}
-		c.applyMDMOverlay(cfg)
 	}
 
 	deps := debug.GeneratorDependencies{
@@ -379,7 +369,6 @@ func (c *Client) IsLoginRequired() bool {
 			// If we can't load config, assume login is required
 			return true
 		}
-		c.applyMDMOverlay(cfg)
 	}
 
 	if cfg == nil {
@@ -428,7 +417,6 @@ func (c *Client) LoginForMobile() string {
 		log.Errorf("LoginForMobile: failed to load config: %v", err)
 		return fmt.Sprintf("failed to load config: %v", err)
 	}
-	c.applyMDMOverlay(cfg)
 
 	oAuthFlow, err := auth.NewOAuthFlow(ctx, cfg, false, false, "")
 	if err != nil {

client/ios/NetBirdSDK/mdm.go

@@ -1,82 +0,0 @@
-//go:build ios
-
-package NetBirdSDK
-
-import (
-	"encoding/json"
-
-	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
-
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/profilemanager"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/mdm"
-)
-
-// PolicyFetcher is the mobile-side bridge for the MDM managed-config
-// snapshot. The native layer (Swift) implements this and registers
-// the instance per Client via Client.SetMDMPolicyFetcher. Every
-// invocation of fetchJSON must read the current
-// UserDefaults.standard.dictionary(forKey: "com.apple.configuration.managed")
-// and return the result as a JSON-encoded map[string]any string.
-//
-// JSON is used because gomobile does not support map[string]any
-// crossing the Objective-C boundary — the adapter on the Go side
-// parses the string back into the map[string]any expected by
-// mdm.Loader.
-//
-// Return value contract:
-//   - "" (empty)         : interpreted as "no MDM source / no managed keys"
-//   - "{}"               : managed config explicitly empty
-//   - "{...}"            : JSON object with key/value pairs
-//   - malformed JSON     : logged and treated as empty
-type PolicyFetcher interface {
-	FetchJSON() string
-}
-
-// jsonFetcherAdapter wraps a gomobile-exposed PolicyFetcher into the
-// internal mdm.PolicyFetcher interface, taking care of JSON decoding
-// on every Fetch.
-type jsonFetcherAdapter struct {
-	inner PolicyFetcher
-}
-
-func (a *jsonFetcherAdapter) Fetch() map[string]any {
-	raw := a.inner.FetchJSON()
-	if raw == "" {
-		return nil
-	}
-	var out map[string]any
-	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(raw), &out); err != nil {
-		log.Warnf("MDM mobile fetcher: invalid JSON payload from native: %v", err)
-		return nil
-	}
-	return out
-}
-
-// SetMDMPolicyFetcher registers the native-provided MDM policy fetcher
-// on this Client. Call once from the gomobile-init code (Swift
-// AppDelegate / PacketTunnelProvider.startTunnel) before invoking Run.
-// Passing nil disables MDM enforcement on this Client.
-//
-// The fetcher is held as a *mdm.Loader instance on the Client (no
-// package-level state) — multiple Clients in the same process get
-// independent Loaders, and tests can inject fakes per Client.
-func (c *Client) SetMDMPolicyFetcher(p PolicyFetcher) {
-	if p == nil {
-		c.mdmLoader = mdm.NewLoader(nil)
-		return
-	}
-	c.mdmLoader = mdm.NewLoader(&jsonFetcherAdapter{inner: p})
-}
-
-// applyMDMOverlay applies the Client-held MDM Loader's current policy
-// on top of the just-read Config. Called immediately after every
-// UpdateOrCreateConfig / DirectUpdateOrCreateConfig — profilemanager's
-// apply() initialises the policy to empty and leaves overlay
-// responsibility to the lifecycle owner. No-op when no fetcher was
-// registered.
-func (c *Client) applyMDMOverlay(cfg *profilemanager.Config) {
-	if cfg == nil || c.mdmLoader == nil {
-		return
-	}
-	cfg.ApplyMDMPolicy(c.mdmLoader.Load())
-}

client/mdm/policy.go

@@ -104,48 +104,16 @@ func NewPolicy(values map[string]any) *Policy {
 	return &Policy{values: values}
 }
 
-// PolicyFetcher is implemented by mobile platforms (Android / iOS) that
-// push the OS-managed configuration into the Go runtime instead of
-// having Go read an on-disk source directly. Desktop platforms ignore
-// this interface — Loader.loadPlatform on windows/darwin reads the
-// registry / plist on its own. A Loader constructed with a non-nil
-// fetcher delegates to it on mobile; passing nil disables MDM
-// enforcement (loadPlatform returns nil values).
-type PolicyFetcher interface {
-	Fetch() map[string]any
-}
-
-// Loader is the DI-friendly entry point for reading the active MDM
-// policy. Construct one at the daemon's lifecycle owner (Server on
-// desktop, gomobile-exposed bridge on mobile) and pass it to anything
-// that needs to read MDM state (the reload ticker, profilemanager's
-// Config). Each callsite has the Loader handed in instead of looking
-// up package-level state.
-type Loader struct {
-	fetcher PolicyFetcher
-}
-
-// NewLoader constructs a Loader. The fetcher is consulted only on
-// mobile builds (ios || android); on desktop it is unused but accepted
-// to keep a single constructor signature across platforms — pass nil
-// on desktop.
-func NewLoader(f PolicyFetcher) *Loader {
-	return &Loader{fetcher: f}
-}
-
-// Load reads the platform-native MDM configuration and returns a
-// Policy. Returns an empty (but non-nil) Policy when no source is
-// present, the source is empty, or the platform is unsupported.
+// LoadPolicy reads the platform-native MDM configuration. Returns an
+// empty (but non-nil) Policy when no source is present, the source is
+// empty, or the platform is unsupported.
 //
 // Diagnostic logging differentiates the three states:
 //   - source absent / unsupported platform: trace log only
 //   - source present, zero keys:             info "MDM enrolled (no managed keys)"
 //   - source present, N keys:                info "MDM enrolled with N managed keys: [...]"
-func (l *Loader) Load() *Policy {
-	if l == nil {
-		return &Policy{values: map[string]any{}}
-	}
-	values, err := l.loadPlatform()
+func LoadPolicy() *Policy {
+	values, err := loadPlatformPolicy()
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Tracef("MDM policy load: %v", err)
 		return &Policy{values: map[string]any{}}

client/mdm/policy_darwin.go

@@ -25,10 +25,8 @@ import (
 // writable plist, as a defense against tampered installs.
 const policyPlistPath = "/Library/Managed Preferences/io.netbird.client.plist"
 
-// loadPlatform reads the MDM-managed configuration from the macOS
-// managed-preferences plist at policyPlistPath. The Loader's fetcher
-// field is unused on this platform — the plist is the authoritative
-// source. Returns:
+// loadPlatformPolicy reads the MDM-managed configuration from the macOS
+// managed-preferences plist at policyPlistPath. Returns:
 //   - (nil, nil)  when the plist is absent (device not MDM-enrolled for
 //     NetBird, or admin has not yet pushed a payload)
 //   - (map, nil)  with N entries when N managed values are present
@@ -41,13 +39,7 @@ const policyPlistPath = "/Library/Managed Preferences/io.netbird.client.plist"
 // skipped so a stray entry in the payload does not block startup.
 // Native plist value types map naturally onto the Policy accessor
 // expectations (GetString / GetBool / GetInt / GetStringSlice).
-func (l *Loader) loadPlatform() (map[string]any, error) {
-	// Honour the injected fetcher when present so tests (and any
-	// future non-macOS MDM channel) can short-circuit the plist read
-	// with a scripted policy.
-	if l != nil && l.fetcher != nil {
-		return l.fetcher.Fetch(), nil
-	}
+func loadPlatformPolicy() (map[string]any, error) {
 	f, err := os.Open(policyPlistPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		if errors.Is(err, fs.ErrNotExist) {

client/mdm/policy_mobile.go

@@ -2,14 +2,13 @@
 
 package mdm
 
-// loadPlatform reads the OS-managed configuration via the native
-// PolicyFetcher injected at Loader construction. Returns
-// (nil, nil) — the platform-absent sentinel that Loader.Load treats as
-// "no MDM source present" — when no fetcher was provided.
-func (l *Loader) loadPlatform() (map[string]any, error) {
-	if l == nil || l.fetcher == nil {
-		//nolint:nilnil // (nil, nil) is the documented platform-absent sentinel; see Loader.Load.
-		return nil, nil
-	}
-	return l.fetcher.Fetch(), nil
+// loadPlatformPolicy is unused on mobile: the native layer (Swift on iOS,
+// Kotlin/Java on Android) reads the OS managed-config store and pushes the
+// resulting dictionary in-process via a gomobile entry point that lands in
+// Phase 5 / Phase 6. The stub keeps the package compilable for mobile
+// builds and returns (nil, nil) — the platform-absent sentinel that
+// LoadPolicy in policy.go treats as "no MDM source present".
+func loadPlatformPolicy() (map[string]any, error) {
+	//nolint:nilnil // (nil, nil) is the documented platform-absent sentinel; see LoadPolicy.
+	return nil, nil
 }

client/mdm/policy_other.go

@@ -2,17 +2,13 @@
 
 package mdm
 
-// loadPlatform reads the MDM policy on platforms without a native MDM
-// channel (Linux, FreeBSD). When no fetcher was injected the policy is
-// (nil, nil) — the platform-absent sentinel that Loader.Load treats as
-// "MDM enforcement disabled". A non-nil fetcher takes precedence: it
-// is the test-seam used by unit tests to inject a scripted policy
-// without touching the OS, and the same hook supports any future
-// non-mobile OS that grows an out-of-band MDM channel.
-func (l *Loader) loadPlatform() (map[string]any, error) {
-	if l != nil && l.fetcher != nil {
-		return l.fetcher.Fetch(), nil
-	}
-	//nolint:nilnil // (nil, nil) is the documented platform-absent sentinel; see Loader.Load.
+// loadPlatformPolicy returns no policy on platforms without an MDM channel
+// (Linux, FreeBSD). MDM enforcement is off and the client behaves as if
+// the feature did not exist. Returns (nil, nil) — the platform-absent
+// sentinel the caller (LoadPolicy in policy.go) treats as "no MDM
+// source present"; an error here would just translate to the same
+// outcome with an extra log line.
+func loadPlatformPolicy() (map[string]any, error) {
+	//nolint:nilnil // (nil, nil) is the documented platform-absent sentinel; see LoadPolicy.
 	return nil, nil
 }

client/mdm/policy_test.go

@@ -155,12 +155,10 @@ func TestPolicy_GetStringSlice(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 }
 
-func TestLoader_NilFetcherReturnsEmpty(t *testing.T) {
-	// Loader.Load with no fetcher (desktop construction) must degrade
-	// gracefully and never return nil; on linux loadPlatform is a stub
-	// returning (nil, nil), and Load is expected to translate that
-	// into a non-nil empty Policy.
-	p := NewLoader(nil).Load()
+func TestLoadPolicy_PlatformStubReturnsEmpty(t *testing.T) {
+	// loadPlatformPolicy is a stub on every OS for Phase 1. LoadPolicy must
+	// degrade gracefully and never return nil.
+	p := LoadPolicy()
 	require.NotNil(t, p)
 	assert.True(t, p.IsEmpty())
 	assert.Empty(t, p.ManagedKeys())

client/mdm/policy_windows.go

@@ -61,10 +61,8 @@ func readRegistryValue(k registry.Key, name, canonical string, out map[string]an
 	}
 }
 
-// loadPlatform reads the MDM-managed configuration from the Windows
-// registry under HKLM\Software\Policies\NetBird. The Loader's fetcher
-// field is unused on this platform — the registry is the
-// authoritative source. Returns:
+// loadPlatformPolicy reads the MDM-managed configuration from the
+// Windows registry under HKLM\Software\Policies\NetBird. Returns:
 //   - (nil, nil)  when the key is absent (device not MDM-enrolled for NetBird)
 //   - (map, nil)  with N entries when N managed values are set (N may be 0)
 //   - (nil, err)  on open / enumerate registry errors
@@ -72,13 +70,7 @@ func readRegistryValue(k registry.Key, name, canonical string, out map[string]an
 // Per-value type coercion + skip-on-error is delegated to
 // readRegistryValue. Unknown value names are logged and skipped so a
 // malformed deployment does not block startup.
-func (l *Loader) loadPlatform() (map[string]any, error) {
-	// Honour the injected fetcher when present so tests (and any
-	// future non-Windows MDM channel) can short-circuit the registry
-	// read with a scripted policy.
-	if l != nil && l.fetcher != nil {
-		return l.fetcher.Fetch(), nil
-	}
+func loadPlatformPolicy() (map[string]any, error) {
 	k, err := registry.OpenKey(registry.LOCAL_MACHINE, policyRegistryPath, registry.QUERY_VALUE)
 	if err != nil {
 		if errors.Is(err, registry.ErrNotExist) {

client/mdm/ticker.go

@@ -15,33 +15,33 @@ import (
 // instead, hence anticipating the ticker mechanism entirely.
 const DefaultReloadInterval = 1 * time.Minute
 
-// Ticker periodically re-reads the OS-native MDM policy via the
-// injected Loader and invokes the onChange callback (supplied to Run)
-// whenever the observed Policy diverges from the last observation
-// (added / removed / changed keys). Launch with Run from a goroutine;
-// cancel the supplied context to stop.
+// policyLoader is the indirection through which the ticker reads the
+// OS-native policy, both for the initial observation and on every tick.
+// Production points it at LoadPolicy; tests in this package override it to
+// feed a scripted sequence of policies without touching the real OS store.
+var policyLoader = LoadPolicy
+
+// Ticker periodically re-reads the OS-native MDM policy via LoadPolicy and
+// invokes the onChange callback (supplied to Run) whenever the observed
+// Policy diverges from the last observation (added / removed / changed
+// keys). Launch with Run from a goroutine; cancel the supplied context
+// to stop.
 type Ticker struct {
 	interval time.Duration
-	loader   *Loader
 	prev     *Policy
 }
 
 // NewTicker constructs a Ticker that will re-read the OS-native policy
-// every reloadInterval once Run is called. The Loader is injected so
-// the ticker doesn't depend on any package-level state — production
-// passes the daemon-owned Loader, tests pass a fake Loader (built with
-// a fake PolicyFetcher).
-//
-// The initial snapshot is populated by calling loader.Load() at
+// every reloadInterval once Run is called.
+// The initial snapshot is populated by calling policyLoader at
 // construction time so the first tick only fires
 // onChange when the policy actually changed since boot — without
 // this baseline the first tick would report every currently-managed
 // key as "added" and trigger a spurious engine restart.
-func NewTicker(reloadInterval time.Duration, loader *Loader) *Ticker {
+func NewTicker(reloadInterval time.Duration) *Ticker {
 	return &Ticker{
 		interval: reloadInterval,
-		loader:   loader,
-		prev:     loader.Load(),
+		prev:     policyLoader(),
 	}
 }
 
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ func (t *Ticker) Run(ctx context.Context, onChange func(prev, curr *Policy) erro
 			log.Info("MDM policy reload ticker stopped")
 			return
 		case <-tk.C:
-			curr := t.loader.Load()
+			curr := policyLoader()
 			if policiesEqual(t.prev, curr) {
 				continue
 			}

client/mdm/ticker_test.go

@@ -13,40 +13,28 @@ import (
 // testReloadInterval for speeding up the ticker cadence under `go test`
 const testReloadInterval = 1 * time.Second
 
-// fakePolicyFetcher implements PolicyFetcher returning a scripted
-// policy map. Goroutine-safe so the test can mutate the script while
-// the ticker is observing it.
-type fakePolicyFetcher struct {
-	mu     sync.Mutex
-	values map[string]any
-}
-
-func (f *fakePolicyFetcher) Fetch() map[string]any {
-	f.mu.Lock()
-	defer f.mu.Unlock()
-	if f.values == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	out := make(map[string]any, len(f.values))
-	for k, v := range f.values {
-		out[k] = v
-	}
-	return out
-}
-
-func (f *fakePolicyFetcher) set(values map[string]any) {
-	f.mu.Lock()
-	defer f.mu.Unlock()
-	f.values = values
+// withPolicyLoader overrides the package-level policyLoader for the duration
+// of the test so the ticker observes a scripted policy instead of the real
+// OS-native store. The original loader is restored on cleanup.
+func withPolicyLoader(t *testing.T, fn func() *Policy) {
+	t.Helper()
+	prev := policyLoader
+	policyLoader = fn
+	t.Cleanup(func() { policyLoader = prev })
 }
 
 func TestTicker_FiresOnChangeWithDelta(t *testing.T) {
-	fetcher := &fakePolicyFetcher{} // initial observation: empty (no enforcement)
-	loader := NewLoader(fetcher)
+	var mu sync.Mutex
+	current := NewPolicy(nil) // initial observation: empty (no enforcement)
+	withPolicyLoader(t, func() *Policy {
+		mu.Lock()
+		defer mu.Unlock()
+		return current
+	})
 
 	type change struct{ prev, curr *Policy }
 	changes := make(chan change, 1)
-	tk := NewTicker(testReloadInterval, loader)
+	tk := NewTicker(testReloadInterval)
 	require.Equal(t, testReloadInterval, tk.interval)
 
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
@@ -61,13 +49,15 @@ func TestTicker_FiresOnChangeWithDelta(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 		close(done)
 	}()
-	// Stop Run and wait for it to exit before returning, so the test
-	// goroutine doesn't race the still-running ticker.
+	// Stop Run and wait for it to exit before returning, so the policyLoader
+	// restore in t.Cleanup can't race the ticker goroutine still reading it.
 	defer func() { cancel(); <-done }()
 
-	// Flip the OS-observed policy from empty to one managed key. The
-	// next tick must detect the diff and invoke onChange.
-	fetcher.set(map[string]any{KeyManagementURL: "https://mdm.example.com:443"})
+	// Flip the OS-observed policy from empty to one managed key. The next
+	// tick must detect the diff and invoke onChange.
+	mu.Lock()
+	current = NewPolicy(map[string]any{KeyManagementURL: "https://mdm.example.com:443"})
+	mu.Unlock()
 
 	select {
 	case c := <-changes:
@@ -79,11 +69,12 @@ func TestTicker_FiresOnChangeWithDelta(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestTicker_NoCallbackWhenPolicyUnchanged(t *testing.T) {
-	fetcher := &fakePolicyFetcher{values: map[string]any{KeyBlockInbound: true}}
-	loader := NewLoader(fetcher)
+	withPolicyLoader(t, func() *Policy {
+		return NewPolicy(map[string]any{KeyBlockInbound: true})
+	})
 
 	fired := make(chan struct{}, 1)
-	tk := NewTicker(testReloadInterval, loader)
+	tk := NewTicker(testReloadInterval)
 
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 	done := make(chan struct{})
@@ -99,8 +90,8 @@ func TestTicker_NoCallbackWhenPolicyUnchanged(t *testing.T) {
 	}()
 	defer func() { cancel(); <-done }()
 
-	// Over ~2 ticks at the 1s test cadence the policy never changes,
-	// so the diff guard must suppress the callback entirely.
+	// Over ~2 ticks at the 1s test cadence the policy never changes, so the
+	// diff guard must suppress the callback entirely.
 	select {
 	case <-fired:
 		t.Fatal("onChange fired despite an unchanged policy")

client/server/mdm.go

@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@ import (
 // a no-op echo, never as a conflict with the policy.
 const preSharedKeyRedactedSentinel = "**********"
 
+// loadMDMPolicy is the indirection used by server handlers to read the
+// active MDM policy. Tests override this to inject a fake policy.
+var loadMDMPolicy = mdm.LoadPolicy
+
 // conflictCheck is a value-aware comparison between a single field in
 // the incoming request and the corresponding MDM-enforced value. It
 // runs only when the field was actually set in the request (presence

client/server/server.go

@@ -132,15 +132,6 @@ type Server struct {
 	// stopped by the rootCtx cancellation.
 	mdmTicker *mdm.Ticker
 
-	// mdmLoader is the daemon-owned source of the active MDM policy.
-	// Constructed once during Server.Start (with a nil PolicyFetcher on
-	// desktop — the build-tagged Loader.loadPlatform reads the OS
-	// registry / plist directly) and injected into every consumer:
-	// mdmTicker for its periodic reload, the SetConfig / Login MDM
-	// gates for conflict detection, and every Config produced via
-	// getConfig() so its apply() picks up the same overlay.
-	mdmLoader *mdm.Loader
-
 	updateManager *updater.Manager
 
 	jwtCache *jwtCache
@@ -222,14 +213,8 @@ func (s *Server) Start() error {
 	// Runs re-resolves Config (re-running profilemanager.Config.apply which
 	// applies the freshly-read MDM policy as the last layer) and brings
 	// the engine back with the new values.
-	if s.mdmLoader == nil {
-		// Desktop builds pass a nil PolicyFetcher: the Loader's
-		// build-tagged loadPlatform reads the OS source directly
-		// (registry on Windows, plist on macOS, no-op elsewhere).
-		s.mdmLoader = mdm.NewLoader(nil)
-	}
 	if s.mdmTicker == nil {
-		s.mdmTicker = mdm.NewTicker(mdm.DefaultReloadInterval, s.mdmLoader)
+		s.mdmTicker = mdm.NewTicker(mdm.DefaultReloadInterval)
 		go s.mdmTicker.Run(s.rootCtx, s.onMDMPolicyChange)
 	}
 
@@ -474,7 +459,7 @@ func (s *Server) SetConfig(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.SetConfigReques
 	// by the active MDM policy. The error carries an MDMManagedFields-
 	// Violation detail listing the offending key names. Non-conflicting
 	// fields in the same request are not applied either.
-	policy := s.mdmLoader.Load()
+	policy := loadMDMPolicy()
 	if err := rejectMDMManagedFieldConflicts(mdmManagedFieldConflicts(msg, policy)); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -607,7 +592,7 @@ func (s *Server) Login(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.LoginRequest) (*pro
 		if s.checkUpdateSettingsDisabled() {
 			return nil, gstatus.Errorf(codes.Unavailable, errUpdateSettingsDisabled)
 		}
-		policy := s.mdmLoader.Load()
+		policy := loadMDMPolicy()
 		if err := rejectMDMManagedFieldConflicts(loginRequestMDMConflicts(msg, policy)); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
@@ -1400,12 +1385,6 @@ func (s *Server) getConfig(activeProf *profilemanager.ActiveProfileState) (*prof
 		return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("failed to get config: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	// Apply the daemon-owned MDM policy on top of the just-resolved
-	// Config. profilemanager's apply() initialises the policy to
-	// empty — the Loader lives outside Config, so this overlay step
-	// is driven externally here.
-	config.ApplyMDMPolicy(s.mdmLoader.Load())
-
 	return config, configExisted, nil
 }
 
@@ -1455,9 +1434,6 @@ func (s *Server) logoutFromProfile(ctx context.Context, profile *profilemanager.
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("profile '%s' not found", profile.ID)
 	}
-	// Honour any MDM-enforced ManagementURL when issuing the logout
-	// RPC: the user-stored value may have been overridden by policy.
-	config.ApplyMDMPolicy(s.mdmLoader.Load())
 
 	return s.sendLogoutRequestWithConfig(ctx, config)
 }
@@ -2068,11 +2044,6 @@ func (s *Server) GetConfig(ctx context.Context, req *proto.GetConfigRequest) (*p
 		log.Errorf("failed to get active profile config: %v", err)
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to get active profile config: %w", err)
 	}
-	// Overlay the active MDM policy so the response's MDMManagedFields
-	// list reflects what the GUI / CLI must render as read-only.
-	// profilemanager.GetConfig itself returns a Config without the
-	// overlay (Loader lives outside profilemanager).
-	cfg.ApplyMDMPolicy(s.mdmLoader.Load())
 	managementURL := cfg.ManagementURL
 	adminURL := cfg.AdminURL
 

client/server/setconfig_mdm_test.go

@@ -16,40 +16,14 @@ import (
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/proto"
 )
 
-// fakeMDMFetcher implements mdm.PolicyFetcher returning a pre-set
-// policy map. Tests build one per Server instance to inject a
-// scripted MDM overlay via a Loader rather than via package-level state.
-type fakeMDMFetcher struct{ values map[string]any }
-
-func (f *fakeMDMFetcher) Fetch() map[string]any { return f.values }
-
-// withMDMPolicy installs an mdm.Loader on the given Server whose
-// loadPlatform returns the supplied Policy's underlying values. Use
-// after setupServerWithProfile to inject the scripted policy the
-// SetConfig / Login MDM gates will observe.
-func withMDMPolicy(t *testing.T, s *Server, policy *mdm.Policy) {
+// withMDMPolicy temporarily overrides the server-package loadMDMPolicy hook
+// so SetConfig observes the supplied Policy. Restores the original loader
+// at test cleanup.
+func withMDMPolicy(t *testing.T, policy *mdm.Policy) {
 	t.Helper()
-	values := map[string]any{}
-	if policy != nil {
-		for _, k := range policy.ManagedKeys() {
-			if v, ok := policy.GetString(k); ok {
-				values[k] = v
-				continue
-			}
-			if v, ok := policy.GetBool(k); ok {
-				values[k] = v
-				continue
-			}
-			if v, ok := policy.GetInt(k); ok {
-				values[k] = v
-				continue
-			}
-			if v, ok := policy.GetStringSlice(k); ok {
-				values[k] = v
-			}
-		}
-	}
-	s.mdmLoader = mdm.NewLoader(&fakeMDMFetcher{values: values})
+	prev := loadMDMPolicy
+	loadMDMPolicy = func() *mdm.Policy { return policy }
+	t.Cleanup(func() { loadMDMPolicy = prev })
 }
 
 // setupServerWithProfile mirrors the boilerplate of TestSetConfig_AllFieldsSaved:
@@ -119,11 +93,12 @@ func extractViolation(t *testing.T, err error) *proto.MDMManagedFieldsViolation
 }
 
 func TestSetConfig_MDMReject_SingleField(t *testing.T) {
-	s, ctx, profName, username, _ := setupServerWithProfile(t)
-	withMDMPolicy(t, s, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
+	withMDMPolicy(t, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
 		mdm.KeyManagementURL: "https://mdm.example.com:443",
 	}))
 
+	s, ctx, profName, username, _ := setupServerWithProfile(t)
+
 	_, err := s.SetConfig(ctx, &proto.SetConfigRequest{
 		ProfileName:   profName,
 		Username:      username,
@@ -135,13 +110,14 @@ func TestSetConfig_MDMReject_SingleField(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestSetConfig_MDMReject_MultipleFields(t *testing.T) {
-	s, ctx, profName, username, _ := setupServerWithProfile(t)
-	withMDMPolicy(t, s, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
+	withMDMPolicy(t, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
 		mdm.KeyManagementURL:    "https://mdm.example.com:443",
 		mdm.KeyBlockInbound:     true,
 		mdm.KeyRosenpassEnabled: true,
 	}))
 
+	s, ctx, profName, username, _ := setupServerWithProfile(t)
+
 	blockInbound := false
 	rosenpassEnabled := false
 	_, err := s.SetConfig(ctx, &proto.SetConfigRequest{
@@ -165,11 +141,12 @@ func TestSetConfig_MDMReject_AllOrNothing(t *testing.T) {
 	// enforced field AND a non-enforced field (RosenpassEnabled).
 	// The whole request must be rejected — non-conflicting fields are not
 	// applied either.
-	s, ctx, profName, username, cfgPath := setupServerWithProfile(t)
-	withMDMPolicy(t, s, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
+	withMDMPolicy(t, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
 		mdm.KeyManagementURL: "https://mdm.example.com:443",
 	}))
 
+	s, ctx, profName, username, cfgPath := setupServerWithProfile(t)
+
 	rosenpassEnabled := true
 	_, err := s.SetConfig(ctx, &proto.SetConfigRequest{
 		ProfileName:      profName,
@@ -191,11 +168,12 @@ func TestSetConfig_MDMReject_AllOrNothing(t *testing.T) {
 func TestSetConfig_MDMAllow_NonManagedFields(t *testing.T) {
 	// MDM enforces ManagementURL but the user only writes RosenpassEnabled.
 	// Request must succeed.
-	s, ctx, profName, username, _ := setupServerWithProfile(t)
-	withMDMPolicy(t, s, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
+	withMDMPolicy(t, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
 		mdm.KeyManagementURL: "https://mdm.example.com:443",
 	}))
 
+	s, ctx, profName, username, _ := setupServerWithProfile(t)
+
 	rosenpassEnabled := true
 	resp, err := s.SetConfig(ctx, &proto.SetConfigRequest{
 		ProfileName:      profName,
@@ -224,11 +202,12 @@ func TestSetConfig_MDMAllow_ManagementURLPortNormalized(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, tc := range tests {
 		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			s, ctx, profName, username, _ := setupServerWithProfile(t)
-			withMDMPolicy(t, s, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
+			withMDMPolicy(t, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
 				mdm.KeyManagementURL: tc.mdmURL,
 			}))
 
+			s, ctx, profName, username, _ := setupServerWithProfile(t)
+
 			rosenpassEnabled := true
 			resp, err := s.SetConfig(ctx, &proto.SetConfigRequest{
 				ProfileName:      profName,
@@ -245,8 +224,9 @@ func TestSetConfig_MDMAllow_ManagementURLPortNormalized(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestSetConfig_MDMEmpty_NoEnforcement(t *testing.T) {
 	// No MDM policy active: any field can be written.
+	withMDMPolicy(t, mdm.NewPolicy(nil))
+
 	s, ctx, profName, username, _ := setupServerWithProfile(t)
-	withMDMPolicy(t, s, mdm.NewPolicy(nil))
 
 	resp, err := s.SetConfig(ctx, &proto.SetConfigRequest{
 		ProfileName:   profName,

client/ui/autostart_default.go

@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ func netbirdFootprintExists() bool {
 // retrying autostart entry writes on every launch. A user's later disable in
 // Settings is never overridden: the marker guarantees at-most-once, ever.
 func applyAutostartDefault(ctx context.Context, autostart *services.Autostart, prefs *preferences.Store, prefsFileExisted bool) {
-	mdmDisabled := autostartDisabledByMDM(mdm.NewLoader(nil).Load())
+	mdmDisabled := autostartDisabledByMDM(mdm.LoadPolicy())
 
 	if mdmDisabled {
 		if enabled, err := autostart.IsEnabled(ctx); err != nil {

client/ui/frontend/src/components/ReadySignal.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+import { useEffect, useRef } from "react";
+import { Events } from "@wailsio/runtime";
+import { useStatus } from "@/contexts/StatusContext.tsx";
+
+const EVENT_WINDOW_PAINTED = "netbird:window-painted";
+
+export const ReadySignal = () => {
+    const { isReady } = useStatus();
+    const sent = useRef(false);
+
+    useEffect(() => {
+        if (!isReady || sent.current) return;
+        sent.current = true;
+        void Events.Emit(EVENT_WINDOW_PAINTED);
+    }, [isReady]);
+
+    return null;
+};

client/ui/frontend/src/layouts/AppLayout.tsx

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { DebugBundleProvider } from "@/contexts/DebugBundleContext.tsx";
 import { ProfileProvider } from "@/contexts/ProfileContext.tsx";
 import { DialogProvider } from "@/contexts/DialogContext.tsx";
 import { RestrictionsProvider } from "@/contexts/RestrictionsContext.tsx";
+import { ReadySignal } from "@/components/ReadySignal.tsx";
 
 export const AppLayout = () => {
     return (
@@ -16,6 +17,7 @@ export const AppLayout = () => {
                             <DebugBundleProvider>
                                 <ClientVersionProvider>
                                     <Outlet />
+                                    <ReadySignal />
                                 </ClientVersionProvider>
                             </DebugBundleProvider>
                         </RestrictionsProvider>

client/ui/main.go

@@ -95,6 +95,10 @@ func main() {
 		}
 	})
 
+	// Debug patch, not for release: dumps heap/goroutine profiles and the
+	// process tree to /tmp/nbgui for the memory consumption investigation.
+	startMemProfiler(app)
+
 	profiles := services.NewProfiles(conn)
 	// updater.Holder owns the typed update State; DaemonFeed feeds it and the
 	// Update service is a thin Wails-bound facade over it plus the install RPCs.
@@ -139,13 +143,11 @@ func main() {
 		prefStore:       prefStore,
 	})
 
-	window := newMainWindow(app, prefStore)
-
-	// Settings is created eagerly (hidden) so the first gear click paints
-	// instantly and React keeps per-tab state across reopens. The other
-	// auxiliary windows stay lazy + destroy-on-close so Wails's macOS
-	// dock-reopen handler can't resurrect them.
-	windowManager := services.NewWindowManager(app, window, bundle, prefStore, iconWindow)
+	windowManager := services.NewWindowManager(app, nil, bundle, prefStore, iconWindow)
+	windowManager.SetMainFactory(func() *application.WebviewWindow {
+		return newMainWindow(app, prefStore, windowManager)
+	})
+	registerDockReopenHook(app, windowManager)
 	// Minimal WMs (XEmbed-tray path) neither center small windows nor restore
 	// position across hide -> show, dropping them top-left. Gate Go-side
 	// re-centering on that environment; nil leaves placement to the WM on full
@@ -168,7 +170,7 @@ func main() {
 	// RegisterStatusNotifierItem hits a watcher we control.
 	startStatusNotifierWatcher()
 
-	tray = NewTray(app, window, TrayServices{
+	tray = NewTray(app, nil, TrayServices{
 		Connection:      connection,
 		Settings:        settings,
 		Profiles:        profiles,
@@ -338,9 +340,7 @@ func registerServices(app *application.App, conn *Conn, s registeredServices) {
 	app.RegisterService(application.NewService(s.compat))
 }
 
-// newMainWindow creates the hidden main window, sized to the user's last view
-// mode, and installs the hide-on-close and macOS dock-reopen hooks.
-func newMainWindow(app *application.App, prefStore *preferences.Store) *application.WebviewWindow {
+func newMainWindow(app *application.App, prefStore *preferences.Store, wm *services.WindowManager) *application.WebviewWindow {
 	// Width matches the last view mode so Advanced-mode users don't see the
 	// window pop from 380px to 900px on launch. Height is mode-agnostic.
 	initialWidth := 380
@@ -368,29 +368,25 @@ func newMainWindow(app *application.App, prefStore *preferences.Store) *applicat
 		},
 	})
 
-	// Hide instead of quit on close; "really quit" is reached via tray -> Quit.
-	window.RegisterHook(events.Common.WindowClosing, func(e *application.WindowEvent) {
+	window.RegisterHook(events.Common.WindowClosing, func(_ *application.WindowEvent) {
 		if services.ShuttingDown() {
 			return
 		}
-		e.Cancel()
-		window.Hide()
+		wm.ForgetMain()
 	})
 
-	// On macOS, Wails' default applicationShouldHandleReopen handler Show()s
-	// every hidden window on dock-icon click, resurrecting hide-on-close
-	// surfaces like Settings. Cancel it in a hook (hooks run before listeners)
-	// and show only the main window. No-op elsewhere — the event never fires.
-	if runtime.GOOS == "darwin" {
-		app.Event.RegisterApplicationEventHook(events.Mac.ApplicationShouldHandleReopen, func(e *application.ApplicationEvent) {
-			e.Cancel()
-			if e.Context().HasVisibleWindows() {
-				return
-			}
-			window.Show()
-			window.Focus()
-		})
-	}
-
 	return window
 }
+
+func registerDockReopenHook(app *application.App, wm *services.WindowManager) {
+	if runtime.GOOS != "darwin" {
+		return
+	}
+	app.Event.RegisterApplicationEventHook(events.Mac.ApplicationShouldHandleReopen, func(e *application.ApplicationEvent) {
+		e.Cancel()
+		if e.Context().HasVisibleWindows() {
+			return
+		}
+		wm.ShowMain()
+	})
+}

client/ui/memprof.go

@@ -0,0 +1,319 @@
+//go:build !android && !ios && !freebsd && !js
+
+package main
+
+import (
+	"bufio"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"runtime"
+	"runtime/pprof"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/shirou/gopsutil/v4/process"
+	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+	"github.com/wailsapp/wails/v3/pkg/application"
+	"github.com/wailsapp/wails/v3/pkg/events"
+)
+
+// memProfOffsets are the snapshot times measured from application startup.
+var memProfOffsets = []time.Duration{0, 2 * time.Minute, 5 * time.Minute}
+
+// memProfMaxDepth bounds the child walk so a cycle in the reported parent links
+// cannot spin forever.
+const memProfMaxDepth = 4
+
+type memProfileSpec struct {
+	profile string
+	file    string
+	debug   int
+}
+
+var memProfileSpecs = []memProfileSpec{
+	{profile: "heap", file: "heap.pprof", debug: 0},
+	{profile: "heap", file: "heap.txt", debug: 1},
+	{profile: "goroutine", file: "goroutine.txt", debug: 1},
+	{profile: "threadcreate", file: "threadcreate.txt", debug: 1},
+}
+
+var memProfStart = time.Now()
+
+// startMemProfiler dumps a profile snapshot at every memProfOffsets mark, each
+// into its own timestamped directory under memProfBaseDir. The first runs once
+// the application is up so the window inventory sees the eagerly created
+// windows. Every failure is logged and never stops the GUI.
+func startMemProfiler(app *application.App) {
+	log.Infof("memory profiler enabled, writing to %s (snapshots at %v after startup)", memProfBaseDir(), memProfOffsets)
+
+	app.Event.OnApplicationEvent(events.Common.ApplicationStarted, func(*application.ApplicationEvent) {
+		go func() {
+			started := time.Now()
+			for _, offset := range memProfOffsets {
+				if wait := time.Until(started.Add(offset)); wait > 0 {
+					time.Sleep(wait)
+				}
+				writeMemProfile(app)
+			}
+		}()
+	})
+}
+
+// memProfBaseDir returns the directory holding the snapshot directories.
+func memProfBaseDir() string {
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		return filepath.Join(os.TempDir(), "nbgui")
+	}
+	return "/tmp/nbgui"
+}
+
+// writeMemProfile creates a <timestamp>-<pid> directory and fills it with the
+// runtime profiles, the memory statistics summary and the process tree.
+func writeMemProfile(app *application.App) {
+	name := fmt.Sprintf("%s-%d", time.Now().Format("20060102-150405"), os.Getpid())
+	dir := filepath.Join(memProfBaseDir(), name)
+	if err := os.MkdirAll(dir, 0o755); err != nil {
+		log.Warnf("create memory profile dir %s: %v", dir, err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	// The heap profile reports live objects as of the last collection, so force
+	// one to keep inuse_space from counting garbage that is already unreachable.
+	runtime.GC()
+
+	if err := writeMemStats(filepath.Join(dir, "memstats.txt"), app); err != nil {
+		log.Warnf("write memory statistics: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	if err := writeProcTree(filepath.Join(dir, "proctree.txt")); err != nil {
+		log.Warnf("write process tree: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	for _, spec := range memProfileSpecs {
+		if err := writeMemProfileFile(spec, filepath.Join(dir, spec.file)); err != nil {
+			log.Warnf("write %s profile: %v", spec.profile, err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	log.Infof("memory profile written to %s", dir)
+}
+
+// writeMemProfileFile writes a single runtime profile to path.
+func writeMemProfileFile(spec memProfileSpec, path string) error {
+	p := pprof.Lookup(spec.profile)
+	if p == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("unknown profile %q", spec.profile)
+	}
+
+	f, err := os.Create(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("create %s: %w", path, err)
+	}
+	defer func() {
+		if err := f.Close(); err != nil {
+			log.Debugf("close %s: %v", path, err)
+		}
+	}()
+
+	if err := p.WriteTo(f, spec.debug); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("write %s: %w", path, err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// writeMemStats dumps the runtime memory statistics next to the process
+// resident set size. A resident set much larger than Sys means the memory sits
+// outside the Go heap (webview, GTK, other cgo allocations), where the pprof
+// profiles cannot see it.
+func writeMemStats(path string, app *application.App) error {
+	var m runtime.MemStats
+	runtime.ReadMemStats(&m)
+
+	var b strings.Builder
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "time:           %s\n", time.Now().Format(time.RFC3339))
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "uptime:         %s\n", time.Since(memProfStart).Round(time.Second))
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "pid:            %d\n", os.Getpid())
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "\n")
+
+	rss, vms := processMemory()
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "process_rss:    %s\n", rss)
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "process_vms:    %s\n", vms)
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "\n")
+
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "sys:            %s\n", formatMemBytes(m.Sys))
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "heap_alloc:     %s\n", formatMemBytes(m.HeapAlloc))
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "heap_sys:       %s\n", formatMemBytes(m.HeapSys))
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "heap_inuse:     %s\n", formatMemBytes(m.HeapInuse))
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "heap_idle:      %s\n", formatMemBytes(m.HeapIdle))
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "heap_released:  %s\n", formatMemBytes(m.HeapReleased))
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "heap_objects:   %d\n", m.HeapObjects)
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "stack_inuse:    %s\n", formatMemBytes(m.StackInuse))
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "stack_sys:      %s\n", formatMemBytes(m.StackSys))
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "mspan_sys:      %s\n", formatMemBytes(m.MSpanSys))
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "mcache_sys:     %s\n", formatMemBytes(m.MCacheSys))
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "gc_sys:         %s\n", formatMemBytes(m.GCSys))
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "other_sys:      %s\n", formatMemBytes(m.OtherSys))
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "next_gc:        %s\n", formatMemBytes(m.NextGC))
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "num_gc:         %d\n", m.NumGC)
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "\n")
+
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "goroutines:     %d\n", runtime.NumGoroutine())
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "cgo_calls:      %d\n", runtime.NumCgoCall())
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "gomaxprocs:     %d\n", runtime.GOMAXPROCS(0))
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "\n")
+
+	writeWindowInventory(&b, app)
+
+	if err := os.WriteFile(path, []byte(b.String()), 0o644); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("write %s: %w", path, err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// writeWindowInventory lists the live Wails windows. A window that exists holds
+// a webview process even while hidden, so this tells apart a leaked window (the
+// count grows) from windows whose content grew (the count stays put).
+func writeWindowInventory(b *strings.Builder, app *application.App) {
+	windows := app.Window.GetAll()
+	fmt.Fprintf(b, "windows:        %d\n", len(windows))
+	for _, w := range windows {
+		visible := "unknown"
+		if ww, ok := w.(*application.WebviewWindow); ok {
+			visible = strconv.FormatBool(ww.IsVisible())
+		}
+		fmt.Fprintf(b, "  id=%-3d name=%-20q visible=%-7s minimised=%-5t focused=%t\n",
+			w.ID(), w.Name(), visible, w.IsMinimised(), w.IsFocused())
+	}
+}
+
+// writeProcTree dumps this process and its descendants with their memory
+// footprint. The webview runs in child processes whose memory the Go runtime
+// profiles cannot see, so this is what attributes a footprint to a component.
+func writeProcTree(path string) error {
+	self, err := process.NewProcess(int32(os.Getpid()))
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("open own process: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	var b strings.Builder
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "time: %s\n", time.Now().Format(time.RFC3339))
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "uptime: %s\n\n", time.Since(memProfStart).Round(time.Second))
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "%-8s %-8s %-28s %12s %12s %12s %12s\n", "PID", "PPID", "NAME", "RSS", "VMS", "PSS", "PRIV_DIRTY")
+
+	var totalRSS, totalPSS, totalPrivate uint64
+	walkProcTree(&b, self, 0, &totalRSS, &totalPSS, &totalPrivate)
+
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "\n%-8s %-8s %-28s %12s %12s %12s %12s\n", "", "", "TOTAL",
+		formatKB(totalRSS), "", formatKB(totalPSS), formatKB(totalPrivate))
+	fmt.Fprintf(&b, "\nPSS and PRIV_DIRTY come from /proc/<pid>/smaps_rollup and are Linux only.\n")
+
+	if err := os.WriteFile(path, []byte(b.String()), 0o644); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("write %s: %w", path, err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// walkProcTree appends one line per process, depth-first, accumulating totals.
+func walkProcTree(b *strings.Builder, p *process.Process, depth int, totalRSS, totalPSS, totalPrivate *uint64) {
+	name, err := p.Name()
+	if err != nil {
+		name = "unknown"
+	}
+
+	var rss, vms uint64
+	if info, err := p.MemoryInfo(); err == nil {
+		rss, vms = info.RSS, info.VMS
+	}
+
+	pss, private := smapsRollup(p.Pid)
+	*totalRSS += rss
+	*totalPSS += pss
+	*totalPrivate += private
+
+	ppid, err := p.Ppid()
+	if err != nil {
+		ppid = -1
+	}
+
+	fmt.Fprintf(b, "%-8d %-8d %-28s %12s %12s %12s %12s\n", p.Pid, ppid,
+		strings.Repeat("  ", depth)+name, formatKB(rss), formatKB(vms), formatKB(pss), formatKB(private))
+
+	if depth >= memProfMaxDepth {
+		return
+	}
+
+	children, err := p.Children()
+	if err != nil {
+		return
+	}
+	for _, child := range children {
+		walkProcTree(b, child, depth+1, totalRSS, totalPSS, totalPrivate)
+	}
+}
+
+// smapsRollup returns the proportional set size and private dirty bytes of pid,
+// both zero on platforms without /proc.
+func smapsRollup(pid int32) (uint64, uint64) {
+	f, err := os.Open(fmt.Sprintf("/proc/%d/smaps_rollup", pid))
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, 0
+	}
+	defer func() {
+		if err := f.Close(); err != nil {
+			log.Debugf("close smaps_rollup for %d: %v", pid, err)
+		}
+	}()
+
+	var pss, private uint64
+	scanner := bufio.NewScanner(f)
+	for scanner.Scan() {
+		fields := strings.Fields(scanner.Text())
+		if len(fields) < 2 {
+			continue
+		}
+		kb, err := strconv.ParseUint(fields[1], 10, 64)
+		if err != nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		switch fields[0] {
+		case "Pss:":
+			pss = kb * 1024
+		case "Private_Dirty:":
+			private = kb * 1024
+		}
+	}
+	return pss, private
+}
+
+// processMemory returns the formatted resident and virtual size of this process.
+func processMemory() (string, string) {
+	p, err := process.NewProcess(int32(os.Getpid()))
+	if err != nil {
+		unavailable := fmt.Sprintf("unavailable (%v)", err)
+		return unavailable, unavailable
+	}
+
+	info, err := p.MemoryInfo()
+	if err != nil {
+		unavailable := fmt.Sprintf("unavailable (%v)", err)
+		return unavailable, unavailable
+	}
+
+	return formatMemBytes(info.RSS), formatMemBytes(info.VMS)
+}
+
+// formatMemBytes renders a byte count as megabytes with the raw value kept.
+func formatMemBytes(n uint64) string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%8.1f MB (%d bytes)", float64(n)/(1024*1024), n)
+}
+
+// formatKB renders a byte count as megabytes for the process tree columns, and
+// a dash when the platform did not report the value.
+func formatKB(n uint64) string {
+	if n == 0 {
+		return "-"
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%.1f MB", float64(n)/(1024*1024))
+}

client/ui/services/windowmanager.go

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
+	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 	"github.com/wailsapp/wails/v3/pkg/application"
 	"github.com/wailsapp/wails/v3/pkg/events"
 
@@ -29,6 +30,10 @@ const EventBrowserLoginCancel = "browser-login:cancel"
 // EventSettingsOpen tells the mounted settings window which tab to show.
 const EventSettingsOpen = "netbird:settings:open"
 
+const EventWindowPainted = "netbird:window-painted"
+
+const paintedFallback = 2 * time.Second
+
 var WindowBackgroundColour = application.NewRGB(24, 26, 29) // bg-nb-gray-950
 
 // WindowHeight is shared by the main and Settings windows.
@@ -94,9 +99,6 @@ func DialogWindowOptions(name, title, url string, linuxIcon []byte) application.
 	}
 }
 
-// WindowManager owns the auxiliary windows (main is created in main.go). Settings is created
-// eagerly and hidden on close to keep React state; the rest are created on open, destroyed on
-// close, so the macOS dock-reopen handler finds no hidden window to resurrect.
 type WindowManager struct {
 	app               *application.App
 	mainWindow        *application.WebviewWindow
@@ -112,15 +114,31 @@ type WindowManager struct {
 	// hiddenForLogin holds windows hidden while the BrowserLogin popup is open, restored on close.
 	hiddenForLogin []application.Window
 	mu             sync.Mutex
+	newMain        func() *application.WebviewWindow
+	ready          map[uint]bool
+	showPending    map[uint]bool
+	showAsked      map[uint]time.Time
+	pendingTab     map[uint]string
+	fallbackTimers map[uint]*time.Timer
 	// recenterOnShow is set only on the minimal-WM/XEmbed path, where the WM neither centers nor
 	// restores position; nil on full desktops so re-centering can't fight a user-moved window.
 	recenterOnShow func() bool
 }
 
-// NewWindowManager wires the manager to the main app; translator/prefs may be nil (tests). The
-// Settings window is created here (hidden) so the first OpenSettings is instant.
 func NewWindowManager(app *application.App, mainWindow *application.WebviewWindow, translator ErrorTranslator, prefs LanguagePreference, linuxIcon []byte) *WindowManager {
-	s := &WindowManager{app: app, mainWindow: mainWindow, translator: translator, prefs: prefs, linuxIcon: linuxIcon}
+	s := &WindowManager{
+		app:            app,
+		mainWindow:     mainWindow,
+		translator:     translator,
+		prefs:          prefs,
+		linuxIcon:      linuxIcon,
+		ready:          map[uint]bool{},
+		showPending:    map[uint]bool{},
+		showAsked:      map[uint]time.Time{},
+		pendingTab:     map[uint]string{},
+		fallbackTimers: map[uint]*time.Timer{},
+	}
+	s.watchPainted()
 	// Re-title live windows on language flip. Wired internally so the binding generator
 	// doesn't try to expose the interface param.
 	if sub, ok := prefs.(LanguageSubscriber); ok && sub != nil {
@@ -136,7 +154,11 @@ func NewWindowManager(app *application.App, mainWindow *application.WebviewWindo
 			}
 		}()
 	}
-	s.settings = app.Window.NewWithOptions(application.WebviewWindowOptions{
+	return s
+}
+
+func (s *WindowManager) newSettingsWindow() *application.WebviewWindow {
+	w := s.app.Window.NewWithOptions(application.WebviewWindowOptions{
 		Name:                "settings",
 		Title:               s.title("window.title.settings"),
 		Width:               900,
@@ -150,18 +172,15 @@ func NewWindowManager(app *application.App, mainWindow *application.WebviewWindo
 		URL:                 "/#/settings",
 		Mac:                 AppleMacOSAppearanceOptions(),
 		Windows:             MicrosoftWindowsAppearanceOptions(),
-		Linux:               LinuxAppearanceOptions(linuxIcon),
+		Linux:               LinuxAppearanceOptions(s.linuxIcon),
 	})
-	// Hide (not destroy) on close to keep React state; reset to General for a flash-free reopen.
-	s.settings.RegisterHook(events.Common.WindowClosing, func(e *application.WindowEvent) {
-		if ShuttingDown() {
-			return
-		}
-		e.Cancel()
-		s.app.Event.Emit(EventSettingsOpen, "general")
-		s.settings.Hide()
+	w.RegisterHook(events.Common.WindowClosing, func(_ *application.WindowEvent) {
+		s.mu.Lock()
+		s.settings = nil
+		s.forgetWindowLocked(w)
+		s.mu.Unlock()
 	})
-	return s
+	return w
 }
 
 // OpenSettings shows the settings window on tab (empty → General), switching tab via
@@ -171,11 +190,23 @@ func (s *WindowManager) OpenSettings(tab string) {
 	if target == "" {
 		target = "general"
 	}
-	s.app.Event.Emit(EventSettingsOpen, target)
-	s.settings.Show()
-	s.settings.Focus()
-	// Re-center (minimal-WM only; see centerWhenReady).
-	s.centerWhenReady(s.settings)
+
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	fresh := s.settings == nil
+	if fresh {
+		s.settings = s.newSettingsWindow()
+		s.armReady(s.settings)
+	}
+	w := s.settings
+	if fresh {
+		s.pendingTab[w.ID()] = target
+	}
+	s.mu.Unlock()
+
+	if !fresh {
+		s.app.Event.Emit(EventSettingsOpen, target)
+	}
+	s.showWhenReady(w)
 }
 
 // OpenBrowserLogin shows the SSO popup, creating it on first use.
@@ -440,13 +471,167 @@ func (s *WindowManager) OpenMain() {
 // ShowMain brings the main window forward (re-centering on minimal WMs). The single entry
 // point every surface (tray, SIGUSR1, welcome) should use so centering applies uniformly.
 func (s *WindowManager) ShowMain() {
-	if s.mainWindow == nil {
+	s.showWhenReady(s.MainWindow())
+}
+
+func (s *WindowManager) MainWindow() *application.WebviewWindow {
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	defer s.mu.Unlock()
+	if s.mainWindow == nil && s.newMain != nil {
+		s.mainWindow = s.newMain()
+		s.armReady(s.mainWindow)
+	}
+	return s.mainWindow
+}
+
+func (s *WindowManager) armReady(w *application.WebviewWindow) {
+	if w == nil {
 		return
 	}
-	s.mainWindow.Show()
-	s.mainWindow.Focus()
-	// Re-center (minimal-WM only; see centerWhenReady).
-	s.centerWhenReady(s.mainWindow)
+	created := time.Now()
+	w.RegisterHook(events.Common.WindowRuntimeReady, func(_ *application.WindowEvent) {
+		log.Infof("window %q runtime ready after %s", w.Name(), time.Since(created).Round(time.Millisecond))
+		timer := time.AfterFunc(paintedFallback, func() {
+			s.markReady(w, "fallback")
+		})
+		s.mu.Lock()
+		s.fallbackTimers[w.ID()] = timer
+		s.mu.Unlock()
+	})
+}
+
+func (s *WindowManager) watchPainted() {
+	s.app.Event.On(EventWindowPainted, func(e *application.CustomEvent) {
+		w := s.windowByName(e.Sender)
+		if w == nil {
+			log.Infof("painted event from unknown sender %q", e.Sender)
+			return
+		}
+		s.markReady(w, "painted")
+	})
+}
+
+func (s *WindowManager) forgetWindowLocked(w *application.WebviewWindow) {
+	if w == nil {
+		return
+	}
+
+	id := w.ID()
+	if timer := s.fallbackTimers[id]; timer != nil {
+		timer.Stop()
+	}
+	delete(s.fallbackTimers, id)
+	delete(s.ready, id)
+	delete(s.showPending, id)
+	delete(s.showAsked, id)
+	delete(s.pendingTab, id)
+
+	kept := s.hiddenForLogin[:0]
+	for _, hidden := range s.hiddenForLogin {
+		if hidden != application.Window(w) {
+			kept = append(kept, hidden)
+		}
+	}
+	s.hiddenForLogin = kept
+}
+
+func (s *WindowManager) windowByName(name string) *application.WebviewWindow {
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	defer s.mu.Unlock()
+	switch name {
+	case "main":
+		return s.mainWindow
+	case "settings":
+		return s.settings
+	default:
+		return nil
+	}
+}
+
+func (s *WindowManager) markReady(w *application.WebviewWindow, source string) {
+	id := w.ID()
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	already := s.ready[id]
+	s.ready[id] = true
+	wanted := s.showPending[id]
+	asked := s.showAsked[id]
+	tab, hasTab := s.pendingTab[id]
+	if timer := s.fallbackTimers[id]; timer != nil {
+		timer.Stop()
+		delete(s.fallbackTimers, id)
+	}
+	delete(s.showPending, id)
+	delete(s.showAsked, id)
+	delete(s.pendingTab, id)
+	s.mu.Unlock()
+
+	if already {
+		return
+	}
+
+	if hasTab {
+		s.app.Event.Emit(EventSettingsOpen, tab)
+	}
+
+	waited := "no show waiting"
+	if wanted && !asked.IsZero() {
+		waited = time.Since(asked).Round(time.Millisecond).String()
+	}
+	log.Infof("window %q ready via %s, show waited %s", w.Name(), source, waited)
+
+	if wanted {
+		s.showNow(w)
+	}
+}
+
+func (s *WindowManager) showWhenReady(w *application.WebviewWindow) {
+	if w == nil {
+		return
+	}
+
+	id := w.ID()
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	ready := s.ready[id]
+	if !ready {
+		s.showPending[id] = true
+		s.showAsked[id] = time.Now()
+	}
+	s.mu.Unlock()
+
+	if ready {
+		log.Infof("window %q already ready, showing now", w.Name())
+		s.showNow(w)
+		return
+	}
+	log.Infof("window %q not ready yet, deferring show", w.Name())
+}
+
+func (s *WindowManager) showNow(w *application.WebviewWindow) {
+	w.Show()
+	w.Focus()
+	s.centerWhenReady(w)
+}
+
+func (s *WindowManager) ShowMainAt(url string) {
+	w := s.MainWindow()
+	if w == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	w.SetURL(url)
+	s.showWhenReady(w)
+}
+
+func (s *WindowManager) SetMainFactory(f func() *application.WebviewWindow) {
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	defer s.mu.Unlock()
+	s.newMain = f
+}
+
+func (s *WindowManager) ForgetMain() {
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	defer s.mu.Unlock()
+	s.forgetWindowLocked(s.mainWindow)
+	s.mainWindow = nil
 }
 
 // SetRecenterOnShow installs the recenterOnShow predicate (see the field).

client/ui/tray.go

@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ func NewTray(app *application.App, window *application.WebviewWindow, svc TraySe
 		// in the right locale — no English flash then re-paint.
 		loc: svc.Localizer,
 	}
-	t.updater = newTrayUpdater(app, window, svc.Update, svc.Notifier, t.loc, func() { t.applyIcon() }, func() { t.relayoutMenu() })
+	t.updater = newTrayUpdater(app, t.showMainAt, svc.Update, svc.Notifier, t.loc, func() { t.applyIcon() }, func() { t.relayoutMenu() })
 	t.tray = app.SystemTray.New()
 	// Seed panel-theme detection before the first paint so the initial icon
 	// matches the panel's light/dark scheme (Linux only).
@@ -241,9 +241,6 @@ func (t *Tray) ShowWindow() {
 		w.Focus()
 		return
 	}
-	if t.window == nil {
-		return
-	}
 	// Route through WindowManager so the main window is centered on first
 	// show — minimal WMs (fluxbox, the XEmbed tray path) otherwise drop it in
 	// the top-left corner.
@@ -251,8 +248,40 @@ func (t *Tray) ShowWindow() {
 		t.svc.WindowManager.ShowMain()
 		return
 	}
-	t.window.Show()
-	t.window.Focus()
+	if w := t.mainWindow(); w != nil {
+		w.Show()
+		w.Focus()
+	}
+}
+
+func (t *Tray) mainWindow() *application.WebviewWindow {
+	if t.svc.WindowManager == nil {
+		return t.window
+	}
+	return t.svc.WindowManager.MainWindow()
+}
+
+func (t *Tray) showMain() {
+	if t.svc.WindowManager != nil {
+		t.svc.WindowManager.ShowMain()
+		return
+	}
+	if w := t.mainWindow(); w != nil {
+		w.Show()
+		w.Focus()
+	}
+}
+
+func (t *Tray) showMainAt(url string) {
+	if t.svc.WindowManager != nil {
+		t.svc.WindowManager.ShowMainAt(url)
+		return
+	}
+	if w := t.mainWindow(); w != nil {
+		w.SetURL(url)
+		w.Show()
+		w.Focus()
+	}
 }
 
 // applyLanguage re-renders every translated surface in the Localizer's current

client/ui/tray_session.go

@@ -30,10 +30,7 @@ const (
 // handleSessionExpired notifies and brings the window forward so the user can reconnect.
 func (t *Tray) handleSessionExpired() {
 	t.notify(t.loc.T("notify.sessionExpired.title"), t.loc.T("notify.sessionExpired.body"), notifyIDSessionExpired)
-	if t.window != nil {
-		t.window.Show()
-		t.window.Focus()
-	}
+	t.showMain()
 }
 
 // applySessionExpiry refreshes the cached SSO deadline and reports whether it changed.
@@ -307,6 +304,7 @@ func (t *Tray) openSessionExtendFlow() {
 	}
 	seconds := int(time.Until(deadline).Seconds())
 	if seconds <= 0 {
+		t.showMain()
 		t.app.Event.Emit(services.EventTriggerLogin)
 		return
 	}

client/ui/tray_update.go

@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import (
 // trayUpdater owns the tray UI that reacts to auto-update. Composed inside Tray.
 type trayUpdater struct {
 	app          *application.App
-	window       *application.WebviewWindow
+	showMainAt   func(url string)
 	update       *services.Update
 	notifier     *Notifier
 	loc          *Localizer
@@ -36,10 +36,10 @@ type trayUpdater struct {
 	progressWindowOpen bool
 }
 
-func newTrayUpdater(app *application.App, window *application.WebviewWindow, update *services.Update, notifier *Notifier, loc *Localizer, onIconChange func(), onMenuChange func()) *trayUpdater {
+func newTrayUpdater(app *application.App, showMainAt func(url string), update *services.Update, notifier *Notifier, loc *Localizer, onIconChange func(), onMenuChange func()) *trayUpdater {
 	u := &trayUpdater{
 		app:          app,
-		window:       window,
+		showMainAt:   showMainAt,
 		update:       update,
 		notifier:     notifier,
 		loc:          loc,
@@ -185,14 +185,12 @@ func (u *trayUpdater) sendUpdateNotification(st updater.State) {
 // openProgressWindow points the main window at the /update progress page and
 // brings it forward.
 func (u *trayUpdater) openProgressWindow(version string) {
-	if u.window == nil {
+	if u.showMainAt == nil {
 		return
 	}
 	url := "/#/update"
 	if version != "" {
 		url += "?version=" + version
 	}
-	u.window.SetURL(url)
-	u.window.Show()
-	u.window.Focus()
+	u.showMainAt(url)
 }