diff --git a/flutter_client/lib/shared/routing.dart b/flutter_client/lib/shared/routing.dart
index d66985bb..9d8b55fe 100644
--- a/flutter_client/lib/shared/routing.dart
+++ b/flutter_client/lib/shared/routing.dart
@@ -55,6 +55,34 @@ GoRouter buildRouter(Ref ref) {
       GoRoute(path: '/', redirect: (_, __) => '/home'),
       GoRoute(path: '/server-url', builder: (_, __) => const ServerUrlScreen()),
       GoRoute(path: '/login',      builder: (_, __) => const LoginScreen()),
+      // /now-playing lives outside the ShellRoute on purpose. The full
+      // player IS the player UI when active, and we don't want the mini
+      // bar from the shell underneath fighting for the bottom strip.
+      // Pushing this route unmounts the shell entirely; the slide-up
+      // transition still feels right because the shell stays painted
+      // for the duration of the animation.
+      GoRoute(
+        path: '/now-playing',
+        pageBuilder: (_, __) => CustomTransitionPage(
+          child: const NowPlayingScreen(),
+          transitionDuration: const Duration(milliseconds: 280),
+          reverseTransitionDuration: const Duration(milliseconds: 240),
+          transitionsBuilder: (_, anim, __, child) {
+            final eased = CurvedAnimation(
+              parent: anim,
+              curve: Curves.easeOutCubic,
+              reverseCurve: Curves.easeInCubic,
+            );
+            return SlideTransition(
+              position: Tween(
+                begin: const Offset(0, 1),
+                end: Offset.zero,
+              ).animate(eased),
+              child: child,
+            );
+          },
+        ),
+      ),
       ShellRoute(
         builder: (ctx, state, child) => VersionGate(child: _ShellWithPlayerBar(child: child)),
         routes: [
@@ -67,32 +95,6 @@ GoRouter buildRouter(Ref ref) {
             path: '/albums/:id',
             builder: (_, s) => AlbumDetailScreen(id: s.pathParameters['id']!),
           ),
-          GoRoute(
-            path: '/now-playing',
-            // Slide-up transition: full player ascends from the bottom
-            // edge (matching where the mini player sits) into a full
-            // screen view. Drag-down dismissal in NowPlayingScreen
-            // mirrors this with a slide back down via Navigator.pop.
-            pageBuilder: (_, __) => CustomTransitionPage(
-              child: const NowPlayingScreen(),
-              transitionDuration: const Duration(milliseconds: 280),
-              reverseTransitionDuration: const Duration(milliseconds: 240),
-              transitionsBuilder: (_, anim, __, child) {
-                final eased = CurvedAnimation(
-                  parent: anim,
-                  curve: Curves.easeOutCubic,
-                  reverseCurve: Curves.easeInCubic,
-                );
-                return SlideTransition(
-                  position: Tween(
-                    begin: const Offset(0, 1),
-                    end: Offset.zero,
-                  ).animate(eased),
-                  child: child,
-                );
-              },
-            ),
-          ),
           GoRoute(path: '/queue', builder: (_, __) => const QueueScreen()),
           GoRoute(path: '/search', builder: (_, __) => const SearchScreen()),
           GoRoute(path: '/library', builder: (_, __) => const LibraryScreen()),
@@ -126,11 +128,6 @@ class _ShellWithPlayerBar extends ConsumerWidget {
     // When the banner is showing, strip that inset from the child so
     // its AppBar lands directly under the banner.
     final hasBanner = ref.watch(shouldShowUpdateBannerProvider) != null;
-    // Hide the mini player when the full player is on top — the full
-    // player IS the player UI in that state, and overlapping them
-    // would just fight for visual space.
-    final loc = GoRouterState.of(context).matchedLocation;
-    final hideMini = loc == '/now-playing';
     return Column(
       children: [
         const UpdateBanner(),
@@ -143,7 +140,7 @@ class _ShellWithPlayerBar extends ConsumerWidget {
                 )
               : child,
         ),
-        if (!hideMini) const PlayerBar(),
+        const PlayerBar(),
       ],
     );
   }