diff --git a/jsonrpc.go b/jsonrpc.go
index cfc777ad..61d7e196 100644
--- a/jsonrpc.go
+++ b/jsonrpc.go
@@ -908,38 +908,7 @@ func updateUsbRelatedConfig() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// validateAudioConfiguration checks if audio functionality can be enabled
-func validateAudioConfiguration(enabled bool) error {
-	if !enabled {
-		return nil // Disabling audio is always allowed
-	}
-
-	// Check if audio supervisor is available
-	if audioSupervisor == nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("audio supervisor not initialized - audio functionality not available")
-	}
-
-	// Check if ALSA devices are available by attempting to list them
-	// This is a basic check to ensure the system has audio capabilities
-	if _, err := os.Stat("/proc/asound/cards"); os.IsNotExist(err) {
-		return fmt.Errorf("no ALSA sound cards detected - audio hardware not available")
-	}
-
-	// Check if USB gadget audio function is supported
-	if _, err := os.Stat("/sys/kernel/config/usb_gadget"); os.IsNotExist(err) {
-		return fmt.Errorf("USB gadget configfs not available - cannot enable USB audio")
-	}
-
-	return nil
-}
-
 func rpcSetUsbDevices(usbDevices usbgadget.Devices) error {
-	// Validate audio configuration before proceeding
-	if err := validateAudioConfiguration(usbDevices.Audio); err != nil {
-		logger.Warn().Err(err).Msg("audio configuration validation failed")
-		return fmt.Errorf("audio validation failed: %w", err)
-	}
-
 	// Check if audio state is changing
 	previousAudioEnabled := config.UsbDevices != nil && config.UsbDevices.Audio
 	newAudioEnabled := usbDevices.Audio
@@ -1034,11 +1003,6 @@ func rpcSetUsbDeviceState(device string, enabled bool) error {
 	case "massStorage":
 		config.UsbDevices.MassStorage = enabled
 	case "audio":
-		// Validate audio configuration before proceeding
-		if err := validateAudioConfiguration(enabled); err != nil {
-			logger.Warn().Err(err).Msg("audio device state validation failed")
-			return fmt.Errorf("audio validation failed: %w", err)
-		}
 		// Handle audio process management
 		if !enabled {
 			// Stop audio processes when audio is disabled
diff --git a/ui/src/components/ActionBar.tsx b/ui/src/components/ActionBar.tsx
index f7126188..4fc9c8d0 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/ActionBar.tsx
+++ b/ui/src/components/ActionBar.tsx
@@ -86,8 +86,9 @@ export default function Actionbar({
   const isMuted = audioMuted ?? false; // Default to false if WebSocket data not available yet
   
   // Get USB device configuration to check if audio is enabled
-  const { usbDeviceConfig } = useUsbDeviceConfig();
-  const isAudioEnabledInUsb = usbDeviceConfig?.audio ?? true; // Default to true while loading
+  const { usbDeviceConfig, loading: usbConfigLoading } = useUsbDeviceConfig();
+  // Default to false while loading to prevent premature access when audio hasn't been enabled yet
+  const isAudioEnabledInUsb = usbDeviceConfig?.audio ?? false;
 
   return (
     <Container className="border-b border-b-slate-800/20 bg-white dark:border-b-slate-300/20 dark:bg-slate-900">
@@ -320,27 +321,39 @@ export default function Actionbar({
             />
           </div>
           <Popover>
-            <PopoverButton as={Fragment} disabled={!isAudioEnabledInUsb}>
-              <div title={!isAudioEnabledInUsb ? "Audio needs to be enabled in USB device settings" : undefined}>
+            <PopoverButton as={Fragment} disabled={!isAudioEnabledInUsb || usbConfigLoading}>
+              <div title={
+                usbConfigLoading 
+                  ? "Loading audio configuration..." 
+                  : !isAudioEnabledInUsb 
+                    ? "Audio needs to be enabled in USB device settings" 
+                    : undefined
+              }>
                 <Button
                   size="XS"
                   theme="light"
                   text="Audio"
-                  disabled={!isAudioEnabledInUsb}
+                  disabled={!isAudioEnabledInUsb || usbConfigLoading}
                   LeadingIcon={({ className }) => (
                     <div className="flex items-center">
-                      {!isAudioEnabledInUsb ? (
+                      {usbConfigLoading ? (
+                        <div className={cx(className, "animate-spin rounded-full border border-gray-400 border-t-gray-600")} />
+                      ) : !isAudioEnabledInUsb ? (
                         <MdVolumeOff className={cx(className, "text-gray-400")} />
                       ) : isMuted ? (
                         <MdVolumeOff className={cx(className, "text-red-500")} />
                       ) : (
                         <MdVolumeUp className={cx(className, "text-green-500")} />
                       )}
-                      <MdGraphicEq className={cx(className, "ml-1", !isAudioEnabledInUsb ? "text-gray-400" : "text-blue-500")} />
+                      <MdGraphicEq className={cx(className, "ml-1", 
+                        usbConfigLoading ? "text-gray-400" : 
+                        !isAudioEnabledInUsb ? "text-gray-400" : 
+                        "text-blue-500"
+                      )} />
                     </div>
                   )}
                   onClick={() => {
-                    if (isAudioEnabledInUsb) {
+                    if (isAudioEnabledInUsb && !usbConfigLoading) {
                       setDisableVideoFocusTrap(true);
                     }
                   }}
diff --git a/ui/src/components/popovers/AudioControlPopover.tsx b/ui/src/components/popovers/AudioControlPopover.tsx
index 594a8838..87ad097f 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/popovers/AudioControlPopover.tsx
+++ b/ui/src/components/popovers/AudioControlPopover.tsx
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ interface MicrophoneHookReturn {
   isStarting: boolean;
   isStopping: boolean;
   isToggling: boolean;
+  // HTTP/HTTPS detection
+  isHttpsRequired: boolean;
 }
 
 interface AudioConfig {
diff --git a/ui/src/hooks/useAudioDevices.ts b/ui/src/hooks/useAudioDevices.ts
index 38862ca9..98d08f40 100644
--- a/ui/src/hooks/useAudioDevices.ts
+++ b/ui/src/hooks/useAudioDevices.ts
@@ -33,6 +33,11 @@ export function useAudioDevices(): UseAudioDevicesReturn {
     setError(null);
     
     try {
+      // Check if getUserMedia is available (requires HTTPS in most browsers)
+      if (!navigator.mediaDevices || !navigator.mediaDevices.getUserMedia) {
+        throw new Error('Microphone access requires HTTPS connection. Please use HTTPS to access audio features.');
+      }
+      
       // Request permissions first to get device labels
       await navigator.mediaDevices.getUserMedia({ audio: true });
       
@@ -69,7 +74,23 @@ export function useAudioDevices(): UseAudioDevicesReturn {
       
     } catch (err) {
       devError('Failed to enumerate audio devices:', err);
-      setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : 'Failed to access audio devices');
+      let errorMessage = 'Failed to access audio devices';
+      
+      if (err instanceof Error) {
+        if (err.message.includes('HTTPS')) {
+          errorMessage = err.message;
+        } else if (err.name === 'NotAllowedError' || err.name === 'PermissionDeniedError') {
+          errorMessage = 'Microphone permission denied. Please allow microphone access.';
+        } else if (err.name === 'NotFoundError' || err.name === 'DevicesNotFoundError') {
+          errorMessage = 'No microphone devices found.';
+        } else if (err.name === 'NotSupportedError') {
+          errorMessage = 'Audio devices are not supported on this connection. Please use HTTPS.';
+        } else {
+          errorMessage = err.message || errorMessage;
+        }
+      }
+      
+      setError(errorMessage);
     } finally {
       setIsLoading(false);
     }
@@ -82,13 +103,19 @@ export function useAudioDevices(): UseAudioDevicesReturn {
       refreshDevices();
     };
 
-    navigator.mediaDevices.addEventListener('devicechange', handleDeviceChange);
+    // Check if navigator.mediaDevices exists and supports addEventListener
+    if (navigator.mediaDevices && typeof navigator.mediaDevices.addEventListener === 'function') {
+      navigator.mediaDevices.addEventListener('devicechange', handleDeviceChange);
+    }
     
     // Initial load
     refreshDevices();
 
     return () => {
-      navigator.mediaDevices.removeEventListener('devicechange', handleDeviceChange);
+      // Check if navigator.mediaDevices exists and supports removeEventListener
+      if (navigator.mediaDevices && typeof navigator.mediaDevices.removeEventListener === 'function') {
+        navigator.mediaDevices.removeEventListener('devicechange', handleDeviceChange);
+      }
     };
   }, [refreshDevices]);
 
diff --git a/ui/src/hooks/useMicrophone.ts b/ui/src/hooks/useMicrophone.ts
index 2f277b81..1fa5103c 100644
--- a/ui/src/hooks/useMicrophone.ts
+++ b/ui/src/hooks/useMicrophone.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,11 @@ export interface MicrophoneError {
   message: string;
 }
 
+// Helper function to check if HTTPS is required for microphone access
+export function isHttpsRequired(): boolean {
+  return !navigator.mediaDevices || !navigator.mediaDevices.getUserMedia;
+}
+
 export function useMicrophone() {
   const {
     peerConnection,
@@ -187,6 +192,20 @@ export function useMicrophone() {
     try {
       // Set flag to prevent sync during startup
       isStartingRef.current = true;
+      
+      // Check if getUserMedia is available (requires HTTPS in most browsers)
+      if (!navigator.mediaDevices || !navigator.mediaDevices.getUserMedia) {
+        setIsStarting(false);
+        isStartingRef.current = false;
+        return {
+          success: false,
+          error: {
+            type: 'permission',
+            message: 'Microphone access requires HTTPS connection. Please use HTTPS to use audio input.'
+          }
+        };
+      }
+      
       // Request microphone permission and get stream
       const audioConstraints: MediaTrackConstraints = {
         echoCancellation: true,
@@ -666,5 +685,8 @@ export function useMicrophone() {
     isStarting,
     isStopping,
     isToggling,
+    
+    // HTTP/HTTPS detection
+    isHttpsRequired: isHttpsRequired(),
   };
 }
\ No newline at end of file