diff --git a/app/globals.css b/app/globals.css
index 31e9dab..fe9d3f4 100644
--- a/app/globals.css
+++ b/app/globals.css
@@ -103,3 +103,16 @@ body::before {
 .drawer-fade {
   animation: drawer-fade-in 0.15s ease-out;
 }
+
+/* Visually hidden, still read by screen readers. */
+.sr-only {
+  position: absolute;
+  width: 1px;
+  height: 1px;
+  padding: 0;
+  margin: -1px;
+  overflow: hidden;
+  clip: rect(0, 0, 0, 0);
+  white-space: nowrap;
+  border-width: 0;
+}
diff --git a/components/channel-chat.tsx b/components/channel-chat.tsx
index 80949c2..0dda875 100644
--- a/components/channel-chat.tsx
+++ b/components/channel-chat.tsx
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { ToolCall } from "@/components/tool-call";
 import { Send, Square, Slash, Sparkles, Pin as PinIcon } from "lucide-react";
 import { localMember } from "@/lib/team";
 import { useIdentityVersion } from "@/lib/use-identity-version";
+import { chatLogProps, composerProps, statusRegionProps } from "@/lib/a11y";
 
 const LOCAL = localMember();
 
@@ -308,7 +309,7 @@ export function ChannelChat({
             description={description}
           />
         ) : (
-          <div className="flex flex-col gap-1">
+          <div className="flex flex-col gap-1" {...chatLogProps}>
             {items.map((it, i) => (
               <ChatMessage
                 key={it.id}
@@ -521,7 +522,10 @@ function ChatMessage({
           <Dots />
         )}
         {item.kind === "assistant" && item.streaming && item.text && (
-          <span className="inline-block w-1.5 h-4 ml-0.5 bg-amber-400/70 animate-pulse align-middle rounded-sm" />
+          <span
+            className="inline-block w-1.5 h-4 ml-0.5 bg-amber-400/70 animate-pulse align-middle rounded-sm"
+            {...statusRegionProps}
+          />
         )}
       </div>
       <button
@@ -629,7 +633,11 @@ function Composer({
           placeholder={`Message #${channelName}`}
           rows={1}
           className="flex-1 bg-transparent text-sm resize-none focus:outline-none placeholder:text-neutral-600 py-1.5 max-h-40"
+          {...composerProps(channelName)}
         />
+        <span id="chat-composer-hint" className="sr-only">
+          Enter to send, Shift+Enter for a new line
+        </span>
         {streaming ? (
           <button
             onClick={onStop}
diff --git a/components/channel-dialog.tsx b/components/channel-dialog.tsx
index 2f9f24a..e2b82b2 100644
--- a/components/channel-dialog.tsx
+++ b/components/channel-dialog.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import { useEffect, useRef, useState } from "react";
 import { Hash, Lock, FolderOpen, X, Folder } from "lucide-react";
 import { FolderPicker } from "@/components/folder-picker";
+import { modalProps } from "@/lib/a11y";
 
 export type ChannelDraft = {
   name: string;
@@ -70,6 +71,7 @@ export function ChannelDialog({ mode, initial, groupLabel, serverName, onSave, o
       <div
         ref={ref}
         onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}
+        {...modalProps(mode === "create" ? "Create channel" : "Edit channel")}
         className="relative bg-[#0d0d0f] border-l border-neutral-800 w-full max-w-md h-full shadow-2xl flex flex-col drawer-slide"
       >
         <div className="flex items-center justify-between px-6 py-4 border-b border-neutral-800">
diff --git a/components/channel-list.tsx b/components/channel-list.tsx
index c5945c9..48bfa6c 100644
--- a/components/channel-list.tsx
+++ b/components/channel-list.tsx
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ import { ChannelDialog, type ChannelDraft } from "./channel-dialog";
 import { DashboardWidgets } from "./dashboard-widgets";
 import type { ChannelGroup, Channel } from "@/lib/channels";
 import { useServers } from "@/lib/server-context";
+import { ariaExpanded } from "@/lib/a11y";
 
 const KIND_ICONS = {
   home: Home,
@@ -288,6 +289,7 @@ export function ChannelList() {
             value={query}
             onChange={(e) => setQuery(e.target.value)}
             placeholder="Search channels"
+            aria-label="Search channels"
             className="w-full bg-neutral-900 border border-neutral-800 rounded-md text-xs pl-7 pr-2 py-1.5 focus:outline-none focus:border-neutral-700 placeholder:text-neutral-600"
           />
         </div>
@@ -306,6 +308,7 @@ export function ChannelList() {
                   <div className="flex items-center gap-1 px-3 group">
                     <button
                       onClick={() => setCollapsed({ ...collapsed, [g.label]: !isCol })}
+                      {...ariaExpanded(!isCol, g.label)}
                       className="flex items-center gap-1 py-1 text-xs uppercase tracking-wider font-semibold text-neutral-500 hover:text-neutral-300 flex-1"
                     >
                       {isCol ? (
diff --git a/components/invite-modal.tsx b/components/invite-modal.tsx
index f588af5..87639a9 100644
--- a/components/invite-modal.tsx
+++ b/components/invite-modal.tsx
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import {
   Sparkles,
   ExternalLink,
 } from "lucide-react";
+import { modalProps } from "@/lib/a11y";
 
 type OnboardingShape = {
   settings?: Record<string, string | null>;
@@ -72,6 +73,7 @@ export function InviteModal({ onClose }: { onClose: () => void }) {
     >
       <div
         onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}
+        {...modalProps("Invite teammates")}
         className="bg-[#0d0d0f] border border-neutral-800 rounded-2xl shadow-2xl w-full max-w-2xl max-h-[90vh] overflow-hidden flex flex-col"
       >
         <div className="flex items-center justify-between px-6 py-4 border-b border-neutral-800">
diff --git a/components/onboarding-wizard.tsx b/components/onboarding-wizard.tsx
index 463970d..cdb33f6 100644
--- a/components/onboarding-wizard.tsx
+++ b/components/onboarding-wizard.tsx
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import {
   KeyRound,
 } from "lucide-react";
 import { FolderPicker } from "@/components/folder-picker";
+import { modalProps } from "@/lib/a11y";
 
 type Identity = "primary" | "teammate";
 
@@ -143,10 +144,13 @@ export function OnboardingWizard() {
 
   return (
     <div className="fixed inset-0 z-[100] bg-black/70 backdrop-blur-sm flex items-center justify-center p-6">
-      <div className="bg-[#0d0d0f] border border-neutral-800 rounded-2xl shadow-2xl w-full max-w-2xl flex flex-col max-h-[90vh] overflow-hidden">
+      <div
+        {...modalProps("War Room setup")}
+        className="bg-[#0d0d0f] border border-neutral-800 rounded-2xl shadow-2xl w-full max-w-2xl flex flex-col max-h-[90vh] overflow-hidden"
+      >
         <div className="flex items-center justify-between px-6 py-4 border-b border-neutral-800">
           <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
-            <Sparkles className="w-5 h-5 text-amber-400" />
+            <Sparkles className="w-5 h-5 text-amber-400" aria-hidden="true" />
             <h2 className="text-lg font-semibold">War Room setup</h2>
           </div>
           <button onClick={skip} title="Skip, finish later" className="text-neutral-500 hover:text-neutral-300 p-1">
diff --git a/components/rail.tsx b/components/rail.tsx
index fd7e211..db3df77 100644
--- a/components/rail.tsx
+++ b/components/rail.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
 import { useRouter } from "next/navigation";
 import { useServers, serverLandingPath, type ServerRow } from "@/lib/server-context";
 import { UploadButton } from "@/components/upload-button";
+import { ariaCurrent } from "@/lib/a11y";
 
 const COLOR_MAP: Record<string, string> = {
   amber: "from-amber-500/30 to-amber-700/20 border-amber-500/40 text-amber-300",
@@ -56,7 +57,10 @@ export function Rail() {
   };
 
   return (
-    <div className="w-[72px] shrink-0 bg-neutral-950 border-r border-neutral-900 flex flex-col items-center py-3 gap-2 overflow-y-auto">
+    <nav
+      aria-label="Servers"
+      className="w-[72px] shrink-0 bg-neutral-950 border-r border-neutral-900 flex flex-col items-center py-3 gap-2 overflow-y-auto"
+    >
       {servers.map((s) => (
         <ServerIcon
           key={s.id}
@@ -145,7 +149,7 @@ export function Rail() {
           }}
         />
       )}
-    </div>
+    </nav>
   );
 }
 
@@ -175,6 +179,7 @@ function ServerIcon({
       }}
       title={`${server.name} · right-click to edit`}
       aria-label={`Open ${server.name} server`}
+      {...ariaCurrent(active)}
       className="relative group"
     >
       {active && (
diff --git a/components/settings-modal.tsx b/components/settings-modal.tsx
index 200f331..226a201 100644
--- a/components/settings-modal.tsx
+++ b/components/settings-modal.tsx
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import {
 import { UploadButton } from "@/components/upload-button";
 import { HostingPanel } from "@/components/settings-hosting-panel";
 import { JoinForm } from "@/components/settings-hosting-join-form";
+import { modalProps } from "@/lib/a11y";
 
 export type SettingsTab = "general" | "agent" | "sidebar" | "boardroom" | "sync" | "about";
 
@@ -52,6 +53,7 @@ export function SettingsModal({
     <div className="fixed inset-0 z-[90] bg-black/70 backdrop-blur-sm flex items-center justify-center p-6" onClick={onClose}>
       <div
         onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}
+        {...modalProps("Settings")}
         className="bg-[#0d0d0f] border border-neutral-800 rounded-2xl shadow-2xl w-full max-w-5xl flex flex-col max-h-[90vh] overflow-hidden"
       >
         <div className="flex items-center justify-between px-6 py-4 border-b border-neutral-800">
diff --git a/electron/after-pack.js b/electron/after-pack.js
index 45eda26..48bc9ea 100644
--- a/electron/after-pack.js
+++ b/electron/after-pack.js
@@ -9,7 +9,19 @@ const path = require("path");
 exports.default = async function afterPack(context) {
   const projectRoot = context.packager.info.projectDir;
   const appOutDir = context.appOutDir;
-  const dest = path.join(appOutDir, "resources", "app", ".next", "standalone");
+  const productName = context.packager.appInfo.productName;
+
+  // On macOS, electron-builder places the .app bundle at
+  // appOutDir/<ProductName>.app/Contents/Resources/, NOT at
+  // appOutDir/resources/. The old path left the standalone server outside the
+  // .app bundle, so process.resourcesPath could not find it and the embedded
+  // Next.js server never started.
+  const resourcesDir =
+    process.platform === "darwin"
+      ? path.join(appOutDir, `${productName}.app`, "Contents", "Resources")
+      : path.join(appOutDir, "resources");
+
+  const dest = path.join(resourcesDir, "app", ".next", "standalone");
 
   // Wipe whatever electron-builder copied first (it may have partial contents).
   if (fs.existsSync(dest)) {
diff --git a/electron/main.js b/electron/main.js
index 74748ec..bf9e4bd 100644
--- a/electron/main.js
+++ b/electron/main.js
@@ -371,6 +371,11 @@ if (!hasSingleInstanceLock) {
   });
 
   app.whenReady().then(async () => {
+    // Must run after ready. Without it, Chromium only builds the accessibility
+    // tree when a screen reader is already running at launch, so a reader
+    // started after the app (e.g. VoiceOver) would see an empty tree.
+    app.setAccessibilitySupportEnabled(true);
+
     await createMainWindow();
     await createMiniWindow();
 
diff --git a/lib/a11y/index.ts b/lib/a11y/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c434df0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/a11y/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+/**
+ * Accessibility helpers for War Room.
+ *
+ * Small prop factories so screen-reader semantics (dialog roles, live regions,
+ * expand/collapse state) stay consistent across components instead of being
+ * hand-rolled at each call site.
+ */
+
+/**
+ * Props for an accessible modal dialog.
+ * Usage: <div {...modalProps("Create server")} ref={containerRef}>
+ */
+export function modalProps(title: string): {
+  role: "dialog";
+  "aria-modal": true;
+  "aria-label": string;
+} {
+  return { role: "dialog", "aria-modal": true, "aria-label": title };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Props for a collapsible section toggle button.
+ * Usage: <button {...ariaExpanded(isOpen, "Channels")}>
+ */
+export function ariaExpanded(
+  expanded: boolean,
+  label: string,
+): { "aria-expanded": boolean; "aria-label": string } {
+  return {
+    "aria-expanded": expanded,
+    "aria-label": `${label}, ${expanded ? "collapse" : "expand"}`,
+  };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Props marking the active item in a navigation list.
+ * Usage: <button {...ariaCurrent(isActive)}>
+ */
+export function ariaCurrent(active: boolean): {
+  "aria-current": "page" | undefined;
+} {
+  return { "aria-current": active ? "page" : undefined };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Props for the chat message container. "polite" announces new messages once
+ * the user stops interacting, without interrupting.
+ */
+export const chatLogProps = {
+  role: "log" as const,
+  "aria-live": "polite" as const,
+  "aria-label": "Channel messages",
+  "aria-relevant": "additions" as const,
+};
+
+/**
+ * Props for a transient status region (e.g. the streaming-in-progress cursor).
+ * Content is announced automatically when it changes.
+ */
+export const statusRegionProps = {
+  role: "status" as const,
+  "aria-live": "polite" as const,
+  "aria-atomic": true,
+};
+
+/**
+ * Props for the message composer textarea.
+ * Pair with an element whose id is "chat-composer-hint".
+ */
+export function composerProps(channelName: string): {
+  id: string;
+  "aria-label": string;
+  "aria-describedby": string;
+} {
+  return {
+    id: "chat-composer",
+    "aria-label": `Message #${channelName}`,
+    "aria-describedby": "chat-composer-hint",
+  };
+}
diff --git a/next.config.ts b/next.config.ts
index 99811fc..0aab2b9 100644
--- a/next.config.ts
+++ b/next.config.ts
@@ -39,6 +39,11 @@ if (process.env.WAR_ROOM_ENV_FILE) loadEnvFile(process.env.WAR_ROOM_ENV_FILE);
 loadEnvFile(path.join(os.homedir(), ".war-room", ".env"));
 
 const nextConfig: NextConfig = {
+  // Pin the file-tracing root to this directory. Without it, Next.js detects a
+  // lockfile in the home directory and treats ~/ as the monorepo root, so the
+  // standalone server.js lands at standalone/<nested>/server.js instead of
+  // standalone/server.js and the Electron main.js path lookup breaks.
+  outputFileTracingRoot: __dirname,
   // Standalone output bundles a self-contained server.js + a minimal node_modules
   // tree. This is what the packaged Electron app launches as the API server.
   output: "standalone",