diff --git a/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/player/ui/MiniPlayer.kt b/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/player/ui/MiniPlayer.kt
index eba3ddce..3c2cce15 100644
--- a/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/player/ui/MiniPlayer.kt
+++ b/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/player/ui/MiniPlayer.kt
@@ -109,8 +109,11 @@ private fun MiniCover(coverUrl: String, contentDescription: String) {
  * NowPlayingScreen via [onExpandClick].
  *
  * Layout (Column):
- *   - Slim seek slider at the top (4dp track)
- *   - Row: cover | title/artist column | like | prev | play/pause | next
+ *   - Slim seek slider pinned at the top (4dp track)
+ *   - Row: cover | title/artist column | like | prev | play/pause | next.
+ *     Weighted so it fills the rest of the fixed-height bar and centres its
+ *     own content; otherwise the row keeps its intrinsic 48dp and the
+ *     leftover height collects at the bottom as dead surface.
  *
  * No kebab on the mini bar (operator 2026-06-01): the full kebab
  * surface lives on NowPlayingScreen, and dropping it from the mini
@@ -164,6 +167,12 @@ fun MiniPlayer(
                 durationMs = state.durationMs,
             )
             MiniRow(
+                // Take whatever the progress fill leaves. Without this the
+                // Column stacks 4dp + the row's intrinsic 48dp from the top
+                // and the remaining 28dp of an 80dp bar sits empty
+                // underneath — the content looked top-aligned rather than
+                // centred, with a dead strip above the gesture bar.
+                modifier = Modifier.weight(1f),
                 track = track,
                 isPlaying = state.isPlaying,
                 isUpnpLoading = state.isUpnpLoading,
@@ -205,6 +214,7 @@ private fun MiniProgressFill(positionMs: Long, durationMs: Long) {
 @Composable
 @Suppress("LongParameterList")
 private fun MiniRow(
+    modifier: Modifier,
     track: TrackRef,
     isPlaying: Boolean,
     isUpnpLoading: Boolean,
@@ -216,7 +226,7 @@ private fun MiniRow(
     onToggleLike: () -> Unit,
 ) {
     Row(
-        modifier = Modifier
+        modifier = modifier
             .fillMaxWidth()
             .padding(horizontal = 12.dp),
         verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically,