diff --git a/VoiceInk.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj b/VoiceInk.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
index d9a306e..9d0882b 100644
--- a/VoiceInk.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
+++ b/VoiceInk.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@
 	objects = {
 
 /* Begin PBXBuildFile section */
-		E1362A1D2DF893B600E86C6E /* whisper.xcframework in Frameworks */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = E136D0102DA3EE57000E1E8A /* whisper.xcframework */; };
-		E1362A1E2DF893B600E86C6E /* whisper.xcframework in Embed Frameworks */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = E136D0102DA3EE57000E1E8A /* whisper.xcframework */; settings = {ATTRIBUTES = (CodeSignOnCopy, RemoveHeadersOnCopy, ); }; };
+		E131EA9E2DFEF894009E79D8 /* whisper.xcframework in Frameworks */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = E11CB51D2DB1F8AF00F9F3ED /* whisper.xcframework */; };
+		E131EA9F2DFEF894009E79D8 /* whisper.xcframework in Embed Frameworks */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = E11CB51D2DB1F8AF00F9F3ED /* whisper.xcframework */; settings = {ATTRIBUTES = (CodeSignOnCopy, RemoveHeadersOnCopy, ); }; };
 		E1A261122CC143AC00B233D1 /* KeyboardShortcuts in Frameworks */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; productRef = E1A261112CC143AC00B233D1 /* KeyboardShortcuts */; };
 		E1ADD45A2CC5352A00303ECB /* LaunchAtLogin in Frameworks */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; productRef = E1ADD4592CC5352A00303ECB /* LaunchAtLogin */; };
 		E1ADD45F2CC544F100303ECB /* Sparkle in Frameworks */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; productRef = E1ADD45E2CC544F100303ECB /* Sparkle */; };
@@ -33,13 +33,13 @@
 /* End PBXContainerItemProxy section */
 
 /* Begin PBXCopyFilesBuildPhase section */
-		E1362A1F2DF893B600E86C6E /* Embed Frameworks */ = {
+		E131EAA02DFEF894009E79D8 /* Embed Frameworks */ = {
 			isa = PBXCopyFilesBuildPhase;
 			buildActionMask = 2147483647;
 			dstPath = "";
 			dstSubfolderSpec = 10;
 			files = (
-				E1362A1E2DF893B600E86C6E /* whisper.xcframework in Embed Frameworks */,
+				E131EA9F2DFEF894009E79D8 /* whisper.xcframework in Embed Frameworks */,
 			);
 			name = "Embed Frameworks";
 			runOnlyForDeploymentPostprocessing = 0;
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@
 				E1ADD45A2CC5352A00303ECB /* LaunchAtLogin in Frameworks */,
 				E1ADD45F2CC544F100303ECB /* Sparkle in Frameworks */,
 				E1A261122CC143AC00B233D1 /* KeyboardShortcuts in Frameworks */,
-				E1362A1D2DF893B600E86C6E /* whisper.xcframework in Frameworks */,
+				E131EA9E2DFEF894009E79D8 /* whisper.xcframework in Frameworks */,
 				E1F5FA7A2DA6CBF900B1FD8A /* Zip in Frameworks */,
 			);
 			runOnlyForDeploymentPostprocessing = 0;
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@
 				E11473AC2CBE0F0A00318EE4 /* Sources */,
 				E11473AD2CBE0F0A00318EE4 /* Frameworks */,
 				E11473AE2CBE0F0A00318EE4 /* Resources */,
-				E1362A1F2DF893B600E86C6E /* Embed Frameworks */,
+				E131EAA02DFEF894009E79D8 /* Embed Frameworks */,
 			);
 			buildRules = (
 			);
diff --git a/VoiceInk/Services/AudioDeviceManager.swift b/VoiceInk/Services/AudioDeviceManager.swift
index 6127f2b..e9715c3 100644
--- a/VoiceInk/Services/AudioDeviceManager.swift
+++ b/VoiceInk/Services/AudioDeviceManager.swift
@@ -86,8 +86,13 @@ class AudioDeviceManager: ObservableObject {
     }
     
     private func fallbackToDefaultDevice() {
-        selectInputMode(.systemDefault)
-        logger.info("Switched to system default audio input mode due to fallback.")
+        logger.info("Temporarily falling back to system default input device – user preference remains intact.")
+
+        if let currentID = selectedDeviceID, !isDeviceAvailable(currentID) {
+            selectedDeviceID = nil
+        }
+
+        notifyDeviceChange()
     }
     
     func loadAvailableDevices(completion: (() -> Void)? = nil) {
@@ -244,7 +249,11 @@ class AudioDeviceManager: ObservableObject {
         case .systemDefault:
             return fallbackDeviceID ?? 0
         case .custom:
-            return selectedDeviceID ?? fallbackDeviceID ?? 0
+            if let id = selectedDeviceID, isDeviceAvailable(id) {
+                return id
+            } else {
+                return fallbackDeviceID ?? 0
+            }
         case .prioritized:
             let sortedDevices = prioritizedDevices.sorted { $0.priority < $1.priority }
             for device in sortedDevices {