diff --git a/GoLiveWindow.xaml b/GoLiveWindow.xaml
index a662e23..91b826d 100644
--- a/GoLiveWindow.xaml
+++ b/GoLiveWindow.xaml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <Window x:Class="ytLive.GoLiveWindow"
         xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
         xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
-        Title="Start Stream" Height="430" Width="520"
+        Title="Start Stream" Height="480" Width="520"
         Icon="/Assets/llama-logo-icon.png"
         WindowStartupLocation="CenterOwner" ResizeMode="NoResize"
         ShowInTaskbar="False" Background="#1a1a2e">
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 
     <Grid Margin="24">
         <Grid.RowDefinitions>
+            <RowDefinition Height="Auto"/>
             <RowDefinition Height="Auto"/>
             <RowDefinition Height="Auto"/>
             <RowDefinition Height="*"/>
@@ -23,8 +24,68 @@
         <TextBlock Grid.Row="0" Text="Start Stream" FontSize="18" FontWeight="Bold"
                    Foreground="#e0e0e0" Margin="0,0,0,16"/>
 
+        <!-- ACCOUNT -->
+        <StackPanel Grid.Row="1" Margin="0,0,0,16">
+            <TextBlock Text="ACCOUNT" FontSize="12" FontWeight="SemiBold"
+                       Foreground="#a0a0b0" Margin="0,0,0,8"/>
+
+            <!-- signed in -->
+            <StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal">
+                <StackPanel.Style>
+                    <Style TargetType="StackPanel">
+                        <Setter Property="Visibility" Value="Collapsed"/>
+                        <Style.Triggers>
+                            <DataTrigger Binding="{Binding IsSignedIn}" Value="True">
+                                <Setter Property="Visibility" Value="Visible"/>
+                            </DataTrigger>
+                        </Style.Triggers>
+                    </Style>
+                </StackPanel.Style>
+                <Border Width="34" Height="34" CornerRadius="17" Background="#16213e" ClipToBounds="True"
+                        VerticalAlignment="Center" Margin="0,0,10,0">
+                    <Image Source="{Binding AccountAvatarUrl}" Stretch="UniformToFill"/>
+                </Border>
+                <TextBlock Text="{Binding AccountDisplayName}" Foreground="#e0e0e0" FontSize="14"
+                           VerticalAlignment="Center" Margin="0,0,12,0"/>
+                <Button Content="Change Account" Command="{Binding SignInCommand}"
+                        Style="{StaticResource YtButtonSecondary}" VerticalAlignment="Center"/>
+            </StackPanel>
+
+            <!-- signed out -->
+            <StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal">
+                <StackPanel.Style>
+                    <Style TargetType="StackPanel">
+                        <Setter Property="Visibility" Value="Visible"/>
+                        <Style.Triggers>
+                            <DataTrigger Binding="{Binding IsSignedIn}" Value="True">
+                                <Setter Property="Visibility" Value="Collapsed"/>
+                            </DataTrigger>
+                        </Style.Triggers>
+                    </Style>
+                </StackPanel.Style>
+                <Button Content="Sign in to YouTube" Command="{Binding SignInCommand}"
+                        Style="{StaticResource YtButtonSecondary}" Margin="0,0,10,0"/>
+                <TextBlock Text="Going live requires a YouTube account." Foreground="#a0a0b0" FontSize="12"
+                           VerticalAlignment="Center"/>
+            </StackPanel>
+
+            <TextBlock Text="Signing in… open the browser to authorize, then come back here."
+                       Foreground="#e94560" FontSize="12" Margin="0,8,0,0">
+                <TextBlock.Style>
+                    <Style TargetType="TextBlock">
+                        <Setter Property="Visibility" Value="Collapsed"/>
+                        <Style.Triggers>
+                            <DataTrigger Binding="{Binding IsBusy}" Value="True">
+                                <Setter Property="Visibility" Value="Visible"/>
+                            </DataTrigger>
+                        </Style.Triggers>
+                    </Style>
+                </TextBlock.Style>
+            </TextBlock>
+        </StackPanel>
+
         <!-- STREAM METADATA -->
-        <StackPanel Grid.Row="1">
+        <StackPanel Grid.Row="2">
             <TextBlock Text="STREAM DETAILS" FontSize="12" FontWeight="SemiBold"
                        Foreground="#a0a0b0" Margin="0,0,0,8"/>
 
@@ -44,7 +105,7 @@
         </StackPanel>
 
         <!-- ACTIONS -->
-        <StackPanel Grid.Row="3" Orientation="Horizontal" HorizontalAlignment="Right">
+        <StackPanel Grid.Row="4" Orientation="Horizontal" HorizontalAlignment="Right">
             <Button Content="Cancel" Command="{Binding CancelCommand}"
                     Style="{StaticResource YtButtonSecondary}" Margin="0,0,8,0"/>
             <Button Content="Start Stream" Command="{Binding StartCommand}"
diff --git a/Helpers/TokenStore.cs b/Helpers/TokenStore.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6b76544
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Helpers/TokenStore.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+using System.IO;
+using System.Security.Cryptography;
+using System.Text.Json;
+using ytLive.Models;
+
+namespace ytLive.Helpers;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Persists the OAuth session (channel + tokens) to a DPAPI-protected file in
+/// %APPDATA%\ytLlive\ytLlive.auth so sign-in survives restarts. The whole
+/// payload is protected with DataProtectionScope.CurrentUser — only the
+/// signed-in Windows user can decrypt it.
+/// </summary>
+public static class TokenStore
+{
+    public static string DefaultPath => Path.Combine(
+        Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ApplicationData),
+        "ytLlive",
+        "ytLlive.auth");
+
+    public static void Save(YouTubeChannel channel, string? path = null)
+    {
+        var json = JsonSerializer.Serialize(channel);
+        var plain = System.Text.Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(json);
+        var protectedBytes = ProtectedData.Protect(plain, null, DataProtectionScope.CurrentUser);
+
+        var file = path ?? DefaultPath;
+        Directory.CreateDirectory(Path.GetDirectoryName(file)!);
+        File.WriteAllBytes(file, protectedBytes);
+    }
+
+    public static YouTubeChannel? Load(string? path = null)
+    {
+        var file = path ?? DefaultPath;
+        if (!File.Exists(file)) return null;
+
+        try
+        {
+            var protectedBytes = File.ReadAllBytes(file);
+            var plain = ProtectedData.Unprotect(protectedBytes, null, DataProtectionScope.CurrentUser);
+            var json = System.Text.Encoding.UTF8.GetString(plain);
+            return JsonSerializer.Deserialize<YouTubeChannel>(json);
+        }
+        catch
+        {
+            return null;
+        }
+    }
+
+    public static void Clear(string? path = null)
+    {
+        var file = path ?? DefaultPath;
+        if (File.Exists(file)) File.Delete(file);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Helpers/index.md b/Helpers/index.md
index bcd1dbe..ed8fabe 100644
--- a/Helpers/index.md
+++ b/Helpers/index.md
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ Cross-cutting utilities. See [`schema.md`](../schema.md) for the memory-map conv
 | `AppLog.cs` | File logger to `%APPDATA%\ytLlive\startup.log`; startup checkpoints + unhandled-exception capture (the crash this map is named for) |
 | `FocusPreservingListBox.cs` | `ListBox` subclass that keeps selection/focus coherent when the selected item is deleted; `IsSelectable` predicate skips hidden scenes; drag-reorder guard |
 | `OAuthCredentials.cs` | Baked-in Google OAuth client ID/secret (desktop app; loopback callback) |
+| `TokenStore.cs` | DPAPI-protected OAuth session persistence (`%APPDATA%\ytLlive\ytLlive.auth`, CurrentUser scope); `Save`/`Load`/`Clear` — sign-in survives restarts |
 | `ImageCache.cs` | Image byte caching (assets live in the DB) |
 | `InverseBoolToVisibilityConverter.cs` / `NotNullToVisibilityConverter.cs` | XAML value converters for visibility bindings |
 
diff --git a/MainWindow.xaml b/MainWindow.xaml
index d908a57..52ffcfa 100644
--- a/MainWindow.xaml
+++ b/MainWindow.xaml
@@ -31,29 +31,6 @@
         <Helpers:NotNullToVisibilityConverter x:Key="NotNullToVis"
                                               xmlns:Helpers="clr-namespace:ytLive.Helpers"/>
 
-        <!-- YouTube logo shown on the Connect button -->
-        <DrawingImage x:Key="YoutubeLogo">
-            <DrawingImage.Drawing>
-                <DrawingGroup>
-                    <GeometryDrawing Brush="#FF0000">
-                        <GeometryDrawing.Geometry>
-                            <RectangleGeometry Rect="0,0,66,47" RadiusX="10" RadiusY="10"/>
-                        </GeometryDrawing.Geometry>
-                    </GeometryDrawing>
-                    <GeometryDrawing Brush="White">
-                        <GeometryDrawing.Geometry>
-                            <PathGeometry>
-                                <PathFigure IsClosed="True" StartPoint="25,14">
-                                    <LineSegment Point="25,33"/>
-                                    <LineSegment Point="45,23.5"/>
-                                </PathFigure>
-                            </PathGeometry>
-                        </GeometryDrawing.Geometry>
-                    </GeometryDrawing>
-                </DrawingGroup>
-            </DrawingImage.Drawing>
-        </DrawingImage>
-
         <!-- Red dot shown in the taskbar icon while live -->
         <DrawingImage x:Key="LiveOverlay">
             <DrawingImage.Drawing>
@@ -123,14 +100,6 @@
 
                 <!-- Single three-state action button -->
                 <StackPanel Grid.Column="2" Orientation="Horizontal" VerticalAlignment="Center">
-                    <Button Style="{StaticResource YtButtonSecondary}" Command="{Binding ConnectCommand}"
-                            Visibility="{Binding IsNotConnected, Converter={StaticResource BoolToVis}}">
-                        <StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal">
-                            <Image Source="{StaticResource YoutubeLogo}" Width="22" Height="16"
-                                   VerticalAlignment="Center"/>
-                            <TextBlock Text="Connect" Margin="8,0,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Center"/>
-                        </StackPanel>
-                    </Button>
                     <Button Content="Start Stream" Style="{StaticResource YtButton}"
                             Command="{Binding StartStreamCommand}"
                             Visibility="{Binding ShowStartStream, Converter={StaticResource BoolToVis}}"/>
diff --git a/Services/YouTubeAuthService.cs b/Services/YouTubeAuthService.cs
index 79776e9..821cc11 100644
--- a/Services/YouTubeAuthService.cs
+++ b/Services/YouTubeAuthService.cs
@@ -19,14 +19,24 @@ public class YouTubeAuthService
 
     private readonly string _clientId;
     private readonly string _clientSecret;
-    private readonly HttpClient _http = new();
+    private readonly HttpClient _http;
+    private readonly Action<YouTubeChannel>? _sessionChanged;
 
     public YouTubeChannel? CurrentChannel { get; private set; }
 
-    public YouTubeAuthService(string clientId, string clientSecret)
+    public YouTubeAuthService(string clientId, string clientSecret, HttpClient? http = null,
+        Action<YouTubeChannel>? sessionChanged = null)
     {
         _clientId = clientId;
         _clientSecret = clientSecret;
+        _http = http ?? new HttpClient();
+        _sessionChanged = sessionChanged;
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>Replaces the current session (used when a saved token loads at startup).</summary>
+    public void SetSession(YouTubeChannel channel)
+    {
+        CurrentChannel = channel;
     }
 
     public string GetAuthorizationUrl(string redirectUri)
@@ -136,6 +146,7 @@ public class YouTubeAuthService
 
         CurrentChannel.AccessToken = tokenData.GetProperty("access_token").GetString()!;
         CurrentChannel.TokenExpiry = DateTime.UtcNow.AddSeconds(tokenData.GetProperty("expires_in").GetInt32());
+        _sessionChanged?.Invoke(CurrentChannel);
         return true;
     }
 
@@ -162,6 +173,7 @@ public class YouTubeAuthService
             TokenExpiry = DateTime.UtcNow.AddSeconds(expiresIn)
         };
 
+        _sessionChanged?.Invoke(CurrentChannel);
         return CurrentChannel;
     }
 }
diff --git a/Services/index.md b/Services/index.md
index 636bc27..da0c367 100644
--- a/Services/index.md
+++ b/Services/index.md
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ External-facing logic: YouTube API, persistence. See
 
 | File | Purpose |
 |------|---------|
-| `YouTubeAuthService.cs` | OAuth2 via Google: loopback callback (`http://localhost:8765/oauth2/callback`), token exchange, refresh, channel fetch. **Complete — but no token persistence yet** (DPAPI planned) |
+| `YouTubeAuthService.cs` | OAuth2 via Google: loopback callback (`http://localhost:8765/oauth2/callback`), token exchange, refresh, channel fetch. Constructor takes optional `HttpClient` + `sessionChanged` callback (test seam + save hook); session persists via `Helpers/TokenStore` (DPAPI) |
 | `YouTubeStreamService.cs` | Broadcast/stream management via the v3 API (`enableAutoStart/Stop`). **Not yet switched to the `variable` reusable stream** |
 | `YouTubeChatService.cs` | Polls `liveChat/messages`, raises `MessageReceived`; `IDisposable` |
 | `LayoutStore.cs` | SQLite persistence (`Microsoft.Data.Sqlite`) at `%APPDATA%\ytLlive\ytLlive.db`; assets stored as BLOBs keyed by SHA-256 content hash; save/open layout files |
diff --git a/TASKS.md b/TASKS.md
index 00dbff9..7bd4fb3 100644
--- a/TASKS.md
+++ b/TASKS.md
@@ -72,11 +72,12 @@ Lifecycle: `created → ready → [testing] → live → complete` (transitional
 - Verify token refresh triggers when near expiry
 - Verify credential load/save roundtrip
 
-### Status: 🔶 UI flow done — auth wiring pending
+### Status: ✅ Complete
 - ✅ Two-state Start/End Stream button, go-live dialog (account + title/description/visibility), red top bar, pulsing LIVE badge + elapsed timer, preview glow, taskbar red dot
 - ✅ Real OAuth2 wiring — baked-in Google credentials (desktop client; loopback callback) + `YouTubeAuthService` complete: browser launch, `HttpListener` callback, token exchange, refresh, channel fetch
-- ⬜ Token persistence via Windows DPAPI, reload on startup
-- ⬜ Account sign-in/change surfaced in the GoLive dialog (GoLiveViewModel still simulates it)
+- ✅ Token persistence via Windows DPAPI (`Helpers/TokenStore.cs` → `%APPDATA%\ytLlive\ytLlive.auth`), best-effort reload + proactive refresh at startup, saved after every exchange/refresh
+- ✅ Account sign-in/change surfaced in the GoLive dialog (saved account shown with "Change Account"; "Sign in to YouTube" when none; Start disabled until signed in)
+- ✅ Tests in `ytLive.Tests` (xUnit, net8.0-windows): TokenStore DPAPI roundtrip/corrupt/missing/clear + mocked exchange channel-parse + refresh expiry bump — 6 passing
 
 ---
 
diff --git a/ViewModels/GoLiveViewModel.cs b/ViewModels/GoLiveViewModel.cs
index 91b993f..1b7157e 100644
--- a/ViewModels/GoLiveViewModel.cs
+++ b/ViewModels/GoLiveViewModel.cs
@@ -1,13 +1,31 @@
 using System.Windows.Input;
 using ytLive.Helpers;
+using ytLive.Models;
 
 namespace ytLive.ViewModels;
 
 public class GoLiveViewModel : ViewModelBase
 {
+    private readonly Func<Task<YouTubeChannel?>> _signInProvider;
     private string _streamTitle = string.Empty;
     private string _streamDescription = string.Empty;
     private string _visibility = "Public";
+    private bool _isSignedIn;
+    private string _accountDisplayName = string.Empty;
+    private string _accountAvatarUrl = string.Empty;
+    private bool _isBusy;
+
+    public GoLiveViewModel(Func<Task<YouTubeChannel?>> signInProvider, YouTubeChannel? account)
+    {
+        _signInProvider = signInProvider;
+
+        SignInCommand = new RelayCommand(_ => _ = SignInAsync());
+        StartCommand = new RelayCommand(_ => StartRequested?.Invoke(), _ => IsSignedIn && !IsBusy);
+        CancelCommand = new RelayCommand(_ => CancelRequested?.Invoke(), _ => !IsBusy);
+
+        if (account != null)
+            ApplyAccount(account);
+    }
 
     public string StreamTitle
     {
@@ -29,15 +47,65 @@ public class GoLiveViewModel : ViewModelBase
 
     public string[] Visibilities { get; } = { "Public", "Unlisted", "Private" };
 
+    public bool IsSignedIn
+    {
+        get => _isSignedIn;
+        private set
+        {
+            if (SetProperty(ref _isSignedIn, value))
+                CommandManager.InvalidateRequerySuggested();
+        }
+    }
+
+    public string AccountDisplayName
+    {
+        get => _accountDisplayName;
+        private set => SetProperty(ref _accountDisplayName, value);
+    }
+
+    public string AccountAvatarUrl
+    {
+        get => _accountAvatarUrl;
+        private set => SetProperty(ref _accountAvatarUrl, value);
+    }
+
+    public bool IsBusy
+    {
+        get => _isBusy;
+        private set
+        {
+            if (SetProperty(ref _isBusy, value))
+                CommandManager.InvalidateRequerySuggested();
+        }
+    }
+
+    public ICommand SignInCommand { get; }
     public ICommand StartCommand { get; }
     public ICommand CancelCommand { get; }
 
-    public GoLiveViewModel()
-    {
-        StartCommand = new RelayCommand(_ => StartRequested?.Invoke());
-        CancelCommand = new RelayCommand(_ => CancelRequested?.Invoke());
-    }
-
     public event Action? StartRequested;
     public event Action? CancelRequested;
+
+    private async Task SignInAsync()
+    {
+        if (IsBusy) return;
+        IsBusy = true;
+        try
+        {
+            var channel = await _signInProvider();
+            if (channel != null)
+                ApplyAccount(channel);
+        }
+        finally
+        {
+            IsBusy = false;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void ApplyAccount(YouTubeChannel channel)
+    {
+        AccountDisplayName = channel.DisplayName;
+        AccountAvatarUrl = channel.ProfileImageUrl;
+        IsSignedIn = true;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs b/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
index 87d7774..ebdb944 100644
--- a/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
+++ b/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
@@ -126,18 +126,14 @@ public class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
         set
         {
             if (SetProperty(ref _isConnected, value))
-            {
-                OnPropertyChanged(nameof(IsNotConnected));
                 OnPropertyChanged(nameof(ShowStartStream));
-            }
         }
     }
 
     public bool IsOffline => StreamStatus == StreamStatus.Offline;
     public bool IsLive => StreamStatus == StreamStatus.Streaming;
     public bool LiveIndicatorVisible => IsLive;
-    public bool IsNotConnected => !IsConnected;
-    public bool ShowStartStream => IsConnected && IsOffline;
+    public bool ShowStartStream => IsOffline;
     public bool ShowChatInactiveMessage => !IsLive;
     public bool ShowEmptySceneHint => ActiveScene != null && ActiveScene.Sources.Count == 0;
     public bool ShowPreviewPlaceholder => !ShowEmptySceneHint && ActiveBackgroundImage == null;
@@ -406,7 +402,6 @@ public class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
     public ICommand AddSourceCommand { get; }
     public ICommand AddImageCommand { get; }
     public ICommand RemoveSourceCommand { get; }
-    public ICommand ConnectCommand { get; }
     public ICommand StartStreamCommand { get; }
     public ICommand EndStreamCommand { get; }
     public ICommand OpenSettingsCommand { get; }
@@ -424,7 +419,8 @@ public class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
     public MainViewModel()
     {
         AppLog.Write("MainViewModel ctor begin");
-        _youtubeAuth = new YouTubeAuthService(OAuthCredentials.ClientId, OAuthCredentials.ClientSecret);
+        _youtubeAuth = new YouTubeAuthService(OAuthCredentials.ClientId, OAuthCredentials.ClientSecret,
+            sessionChanged: ch => TokenStore.Save(ch));
         _youtubeStream = new YouTubeStreamService(_youtubeAuth);
         _youtubeChat = new YouTubeChatService(_youtubeAuth);
         AppLog.Write("MainViewModel ctor: services created");
@@ -462,7 +458,6 @@ public class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
         SubmitBugCommand = new RelayCommand(_ => SubmitBug());
         SubmitFeatureCommand = new RelayCommand(_ => SubmitFeature());
         OpenChannelCommand = new RelayCommand(_ => OpenUrl(ChannelUrl));
-        ConnectCommand = new RelayCommand(_ => _ = ConnectAsync());
         StartStreamCommand = new RelayCommand(_ => BeginGoLive());
         EndStreamCommand = new RelayCommand(_ => StopStream(), _ => IsLive);
         SaveLayoutCommand = new RelayCommand(_ => SaveLayoutNow());
@@ -472,9 +467,40 @@ public class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
         _layoutStore = new LayoutStore(DefaultLayoutPath);
         _activeLayoutPath = _layoutStore.ActivePath;
         LoadLayout();
+        _ = LoadSavedSessionAsync();
         AppLog.Write("MainViewModel ctor end");
     }
 
+    // Restores the DPAPI-saved OAuth session so sign-in survives restarts.
+    // Best-effort: refresh a near-expiry access token; a session that can no
+    // longer refresh is discarded and the user signs in again.
+    private async Task LoadSavedSessionAsync()
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            var saved = TokenStore.Load();
+            if (saved == null) return;
+
+            _youtubeAuth.SetSession(saved);
+            if (saved.TokenExpiry <= DateTime.UtcNow.AddMinutes(5))
+            {
+                var refreshed = await Task.Run(() => _youtubeAuth.RefreshToken());
+                if (!refreshed)
+                {
+                    TokenStore.Clear();
+                    AppLog.Write("Saved session could not be refreshed; signed out");
+                    return;
+                }
+            }
+
+            IsConnected = true;
+        }
+        catch (Exception ex)
+        {
+            AppLog.Write($"LoadSavedSessionAsync failed: {ex}");
+        }
+    }
+
     private static string DefaultLayoutPath => Path.Combine(
         Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ApplicationData),
         "ytLlive",
@@ -870,7 +896,10 @@ public class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
         Process.Start(new ProcessStartInfo(url) { UseShellExecute = true });
     }
 
-    private async Task ConnectAsync()
+    // Runs the OAuth flow (browser + loopback callback) on a background thread.
+    // The resulting channel is returned to the caller and persisted via the
+    // auth service's sessionChanged hook.
+    private async Task<YouTubeChannel?> SignInAsync()
     {
         try
         {
@@ -879,15 +908,17 @@ public class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
             {
                 MessageBox.Show("Sign-in was unsuccessful. Please try again.", "ytLlive",
                     MessageBoxButton.OK, MessageBoxImage.Warning);
-                return;
+                return null;
             }
 
             IsConnected = true;
+            return channel;
         }
         catch (Exception ex)
         {
             MessageBox.Show($"Sign-in failed: {ex.Message}", "ytLlive",
                 MessageBoxButton.OK, MessageBoxImage.Error);
+            return null;
         }
     }
 
@@ -903,7 +934,7 @@ public class MainViewModel : ViewModelBase
 
     private void BeginGoLive()
     {
-        var dialog = new GoLiveViewModel
+        var dialog = new GoLiveViewModel(() => SignInAsync(), _youtubeAuth.CurrentChannel)
         {
             StreamTitle = DefaultStreamTitle,
             StreamDescription = DefaultStreamDescription,
diff --git a/ViewModels/index.md b/ViewModels/index.md
index bd614f0..4b26e7d 100644
--- a/ViewModels/index.md
+++ b/ViewModels/index.md
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@ MVVM layer. See [`schema.md`](../schema.md) for the memory-map conventions.
 
 | File | Purpose |
 |------|---------|
-| `MainViewModel.cs` | The app brain: scenes/sources collections + commands, stream state (`IsLive`/`IsOffline`/`IsConnected`), chat feed, overlays, layout save/open, **resolution dropdown** (`QualityOptions`, `SelectedQuality`, `ResolutionHelp`, `ApplyStreamQuality`) that computes the output rect over the 1920×1080 master (`OutputRectX/Y/W/H`, `DimRects`, `IsOutputCropped`, `ResolutionBadgeText`) |
-| `GoLiveViewModel.cs` | Start Stream dialog: title/description/visibility, start/cancel requests |
+| `MainViewModel.cs` | The app brain: scenes/sources collections + commands, stream state (`IsLive`/`IsOffline`/`IsConnected`), chat feed, overlays, layout save/open, **resolution dropdown** (`QualityOptions`, `SelectedQuality`, `ResolutionHelp`, `ApplyStreamQuality`) that computes the output rect over the 1920×1080 master (`OutputRectX/Y/W/H`, `DimRects`, `IsOutputCropped`, `ResolutionBadgeText`). Auth: loads the saved DPAPI session at startup (`LoadSavedSessionAsync`), `SignInAsync` feeds the GoLive dialog |
+| `GoLiveViewModel.cs` | Start Stream dialog: **account row** (saved channel shown with Change Account, or Sign in to YouTube; Start gated on `IsSignedIn`/`IsBusy`) + title/description/visibility, start/cancel requests |
 | `ReuseImageViewModel.cs` | Add Image dialog: candidate list (`ReuseImageCandidate`), reuse/new/cancel |
 
 Related: [`Models/index.md`](../Models/index.md) for the data; [`Services/index.md`](../Services/index.md)
diff --git a/ai.md b/ai.md
index 0745a89..6ad3ce0 100644
--- a/ai.md
+++ b/ai.md
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ C# / WPF (.NET 8) following MVVM:
 | `Models/` | Plain data types — Scene, Source, QualityOption, StreamConfig, StreamHealth, YouTubeChannel, ChatMessage |
 | `ViewModels/` | MainViewModel — exposes collections + commands for the UI; GoLiveViewModel, ReuseImageViewModel |
 | `Services/` | YouTube OAuth2, stream/broadcast management, live chat polling, LayoutStore (SQLite) |
-| `Helpers/` | ViewModelBase (INotifyPropertyChanged), RelayCommand, ImageCache, AppLog (file logger), FocusPreservingListBox, OAuthCredentials, visibility converters |
+| `Helpers/` | ViewModelBase (INotifyPropertyChanged), RelayCommand, ImageCache, AppLog (file logger), FocusPreservingListBox, OAuthCredentials, **TokenStore (DPAPI session persistence)**, visibility converters |
 | `Themes/` | `Controls.xaml` — the single dark-theme source, merged once in `App.xaml` (see `Themes/index.md`) |
 | `MainWindow.xaml` | Dark theme; layout: top bar (controls), center (preview), left (scenes/sources), right (chat), bottom (health) |
 
@@ -64,9 +64,8 @@ C# / WPF (.NET 8) following MVVM:
 
 ### Current limitations / TODOs
 
-- `Helpers/OAuthCredentials.cs` now contains the real ClientId/ClientSecret — auth service is implemented, but **tokens still don't persist** (Windows DPAPI planned; account UI in the GoLive dialog is simulated)
-- `GoLiveViewModel.SignIn`/`ChangeAccount` removed — Connect (OAuth) is the only entry to streaming
-- Scene/source/asset layout *does* persist (SQLite); token persistence does not (yet)
+- `Helpers/OAuthCredentials.cs` contains the real ClientId/ClientSecret. Auth is complete and the session **persists via Windows DPAPI** (`Helpers/TokenStore.cs` → `%APPDATA%\ytLlive\ytLlive.auth`, CurrentUser scope), reloaded best-effort at startup with a proactive refresh of a near-expiry access token. Sign-in/Change Account lives **inside the Start Stream dialog** (two-state flow — no separate Connect button). `YouTubeAuthService` takes an optional `HttpClient` + `sessionChanged` callback (test seam + save hook; services are still constructed in `MainViewModel`)
+- Scene/source/asset layout persists (SQLite); the OAuth session persists (DPAPI); the paid-unlock state does not (yet — itch.io key verification pending)
 - `YouTubeStreamService` uses hardcoded `1080p`/`60fps` and per-broadcast streams — must switch to the v3 `variable` reusable stream
 - No capture/encoding/RTMP yet
 - `StreamConfig` defaults (`TargetBitrate=6000`, `Resolution="1920x1080"`) are stale — the live dropdown drives `StreamHealth.CurrentBitrate`/`FPS` instead
@@ -106,16 +105,19 @@ resolution & streaming-constraints conversation, not monetization.
 
 The app is fully usable without authentication: users can build scenes, add sources, compose
 previews, and audition the software with zero commitment. But **going live requires authentication** —
-it's the one capability gated behind YouTube sign-in. The sign-in button should never pressure the
-user ("sign in (optional)", not a modal wall), but "Go Live" only appears once connected.
+it's the one capability gated behind YouTube sign-in. The sign-in should never pressure the user
+("sign in (optional)", not a modal wall): the two-state top bar shows **Start Stream** (offline) /
+**End Stream** (live), and the Start Stream dialog hosts the account — a saved session appears as
+the default with "Change Account"; with none saved, a "Sign in to YouTube" button starts OAuth and
+the Start button stays disabled until signed in.
 
 ## Account assumption (do not build an account setup flow)
 
 Connecting uses Google OAuth ("Sign in with Google") to link an **existing** YouTube creator
 account. ytLlive **never creates or sets up accounts** — that is YouTube's job. If the creator has no
 YouTube channel, they go to YouTube first. This assumption is explicit and must never be silently
-replaced by an in-app account-creation step. Zero state = a Connect button that starts OAuth; going
-live is unreachable until the account is connected.
+replaced by an in-app account-creation step. Zero state = the Start Stream dialog's "Sign in to
+YouTube" button; going live is unreachable until an account is connected.
 
 ## YouTube Live API — design constraints (do not violate)
 
diff --git a/ytLive.Tests/TokenStoreTests.cs b/ytLive.Tests/TokenStoreTests.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d51ec48
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ytLive.Tests/TokenStoreTests.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+using System.IO;
+using Xunit;
+using ytLive.Helpers;
+using ytLive.Models;
+
+namespace ytLive.Tests;
+
+public class TokenStoreTests
+{
+    private static string TempPath() =>
+        Path.Combine(Path.GetTempPath(), "ytLive_tests", $"{Guid.NewGuid():N}.auth");
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Save_Load_RoundtripsChannelAndTokens()
+    {
+        var path = TempPath();
+        var channel = new YouTubeChannel
+        {
+            ChannelId = "UC123",
+            DisplayName = "Test Channel",
+            ProfileImageUrl = "http://example/thumb.jpg",
+            AccessToken = "acc-token",
+            RefreshToken = "refresh-token",
+            TokenExpiry = DateTime.UtcNow.AddHours(1),
+        };
+
+        TokenStore.Save(channel, path);
+
+        var loaded = TokenStore.Load(path);
+        Assert.NotNull(loaded);
+        Assert.Equal("UC123", loaded!.ChannelId);
+        Assert.Equal("Test Channel", loaded.DisplayName);
+        Assert.Equal("http://example/thumb.jpg", loaded.ProfileImageUrl);
+        Assert.Equal("acc-token", loaded.AccessToken);
+        Assert.Equal("refresh-token", loaded.RefreshToken);
+        Assert.Equal(channel.TokenExpiry, loaded.TokenExpiry);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Load_MissingFile_ReturnsNull()
+    {
+        Assert.Null(TokenStore.Load(TempPath()));
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Load_CorruptFile_ReturnsNull()
+    {
+        var path = TempPath();
+        Directory.CreateDirectory(Path.GetDirectoryName(path)!);
+        File.WriteAllBytes(path, [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]);
+        Assert.Null(TokenStore.Load(path));
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void Clear_RemovesSavedToken()
+    {
+        var path = TempPath();
+        TokenStore.Save(new YouTubeChannel { DisplayName = "X" }, path);
+        TokenStore.Clear(path);
+        Assert.Null(TokenStore.Load(path));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/ytLive.Tests/YouTubeAuthServiceTests.cs b/ytLive.Tests/YouTubeAuthServiceTests.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b9a83e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ytLive.Tests/YouTubeAuthServiceTests.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+using System.Net;
+using System.Text;
+using Xunit;
+using ytLive.Models;
+using ytLive.Services;
+
+namespace ytLive.Tests;
+
+public class YouTubeAuthServiceTests
+{
+    private sealed class FakeHandler : HttpMessageHandler
+    {
+        private readonly string _tokenResponse;
+        private readonly string _channelResponse;
+
+        public FakeHandler(string tokenResponse, string channelResponse)
+        {
+            _tokenResponse = tokenResponse;
+            _channelResponse = channelResponse;
+        }
+
+        protected override async Task<HttpResponseMessage> SendAsync(
+            HttpRequestMessage request, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+        {
+            var isToken = request.RequestUri!.PathAndQuery.Contains("/token");
+            var body = isToken ? _tokenResponse : _channelResponse;
+            return new HttpResponseMessage(HttpStatusCode.OK)
+            {
+                Content = new StringContent(body, Encoding.UTF8, "application/json"),
+            };
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static YouTubeAuthService CreateService(string tokenResponse, string channelResponse) =>
+        new("test-id", "test-secret", new HttpClient(new FakeHandler(tokenResponse, channelResponse)));
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task ExchangeCodeForToken_MockServer_ParsesChannel()
+    {
+        var service = CreateService(
+            """{"access_token":"acc-123","refresh_token":"ref-123","expires_in":3600}""",
+            """{"items":[{"id":"UC123","snippet":{"title":"Test Channel","thumbnails":{"default":{"url":"http://example/thumb.jpg"}}}}]}""");
+
+        var channel = await service.ExchangeCodeForToken("auth-code", "http://localhost:8765/oauth2/callback");
+
+        Assert.NotNull(channel);
+        Assert.Equal("UC123", channel!.ChannelId);
+        Assert.Equal("Test Channel", channel.DisplayName);
+        Assert.Equal("http://example/thumb.jpg", channel.ProfileImageUrl);
+        Assert.Equal("acc-123", channel.AccessToken);
+        Assert.Equal("ref-123", channel.RefreshToken);
+        Assert.InRange(channel.TokenExpiry, DateTime.UtcNow.AddSeconds(3590), DateTime.UtcNow.AddSeconds(3610));
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task RefreshToken_MockServer_UpdatesAccessTokenAndExpiry()
+    {
+        var service = CreateService(
+            """{"access_token":"new-acc","expires_in":3600}""",
+            """{"items":[]}""");
+        service.SetSession(new YouTubeChannel
+        {
+            RefreshToken = "ref-123",
+            TokenExpiry = DateTime.UtcNow.AddMinutes(-5),
+        });
+
+        var ok = await service.RefreshToken();
+
+        Assert.True(ok);
+        Assert.Equal("new-acc", service.CurrentChannel!.AccessToken);
+        Assert.InRange(service.CurrentChannel.TokenExpiry,
+            DateTime.UtcNow.AddSeconds(3590), DateTime.UtcNow.AddSeconds(3610));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/ytLive.Tests/ytLive.Tests.csproj b/ytLive.Tests/ytLive.Tests.csproj
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cdab722
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ytLive.Tests/ytLive.Tests.csproj
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
+
+  <PropertyGroup>
+    <TargetFramework>net8.0-windows</TargetFramework>
+    <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
+    <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
+    <IsPackable>false</IsPackable>
+    <EnableWindowsTargeting>true</EnableWindowsTargeting>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.NET.Test.Sdk" Version="17.11.1"/>
+    <PackageReference Include="xunit" Version="2.9.2"/>
+    <PackageReference Include="xunit.runner.visualstudio" Version="2.8.2"/>
+  </ItemGroup>
+
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\ytLive.csproj"/>
+  </ItemGroup>
+
+</Project>
diff --git a/ytLive.csproj b/ytLive.csproj
index 5caf921..b238702 100644
--- a/ytLive.csproj
+++ b/ytLive.csproj
@@ -12,6 +12,13 @@
     <RootNamespace>ytLive</RootNamespace>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <Compile Remove="ytLive.Tests\**"/>
+    <EmbeddedResource Remove="ytLive.Tests\**"/>
+    <None Remove="ytLive.Tests\**"/>
+    <Page Remove="ytLive.Tests\**"/>
+  </ItemGroup>
+
   <ItemGroup>
     <Resource Include="Assets\llama-logo.png"/>
     <Resource Include="Assets\llama-logo-icon.png"/>
@@ -20,6 +27,7 @@
   <ItemGroup>
     <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Data.Sqlite" Version="8.0.10"/>
     <PackageReference Include="SQLitePCLRaw.bundle_e_sqlite3" Version="2.1.12"/>
+    <PackageReference Include="System.Security.Cryptography.ProtectedData" Version="8.0.0"/>
   </ItemGroup>
 
 </Project>