diff --git a/.dockerignore b/.dockerignore
index 412633d..261955e 100644
--- a/.dockerignore
+++ b/.dockerignore
@@ -44,6 +44,9 @@ flask_session/
 .DS_Store
 Thumbs.db
 
+# Runtime data volumes (mounted at runtime, NOT part of the image)
+data/
+
 # Documentation
 BLUEPRINT_GUIDE.md
 ICON_INTEGRATION.md
diff --git a/app/blueprints/api.py b/app/blueprints/api.py
index a60a10e..1152740 100644
--- a/app/blueprints/api.py
+++ b/app/blueprints/api.py
@@ -413,7 +413,12 @@ def get_cached_playlist(player_id: int) -> List[Dict]:
             'position': content._playlist_position or idx,
             'url': item_url,  # Web page URL for weblinks, file download URL otherwise
             'description': content.description,
-            'edit_on_player': getattr(content, '_playlist_edit_on_player_enabled', False)
+            'edit_on_player': getattr(content, '_playlist_edit_on_player_enabled', False),
+            'muted': getattr(content, '_playlist_muted', True),
+            # Player expects 'audio' = "on"/"off" to set playback sound.
+            # The playlist_content.muted column stores True when audio is muted,
+            # so audio is "on" exactly when muted is False.
+            'audio': 'off' if getattr(content, '_playlist_muted', True) else 'on'
         })
     
     return playlist_data
@@ -502,6 +507,18 @@ def receive_player_feedback():
         player.last_seen = datetime.utcnow()
         player.status = status
         
+        # A player that is sending feedback is running, so its deployment
+        # finished successfully. Auto-mark it as deployed so the players list
+        # doesn't stay stuck on "pending"/"deploying" after deployment is done.
+        if player.deployment_status in ('pending', 'deploying'):
+            player.deployment_status = 'deployed'
+            player.last_deployment_status = 'success'
+            player.last_deployment_message = (
+                'Player is running and sending feedback'
+            )
+            if not player.last_deployment_at:
+                player.last_deployment_at = datetime.utcnow()
+        
         db.session.commit()
         
         log_action('info', f'Feedback received from {player.name} ({player.hostname}): {status} - {message}')
diff --git a/app/blueprints/players.py b/app/blueprints/players.py
index 6500cb0..fce3d54 100644
--- a/app/blueprints/players.py
+++ b/app/blueprints/players.py
@@ -578,6 +578,7 @@ def get_player_playlist(player_id: int) -> List[dict]:
             'duration': getattr(content, '_playlist_duration', content.duration or 10),
             'position': getattr(content, '_playlist_position', 0),
             'muted': getattr(content, '_playlist_muted', True),
+            'audio': 'off' if getattr(content, '_playlist_muted', True) else 'on',
             'filename': content.filename
         })
     
diff --git a/app/templates/players/players_list.html b/app/templates/players/players_list.html
index 25bb897..adab8a5 100644
--- a/app/templates/players/players_list.html
+++ b/app/templates/players/players_list.html
@@ -279,9 +279,13 @@
     var POLL_INTERVAL = 5000; // 5 seconds
     var polling = false;
 
-    // Initial check: are there any "Deploying..." badges?
-    var deployingBadges = document.querySelectorAll('.deploy-badge.deploying');
-    if (deployingBadges.length > 0) {
+    // Initial check: any badge that isn't yet "Deployed" yet (deploying,
+    // pending, or failed). We keep polling so that players which send
+    // feedback auto-transition from "pending" to "deployed".
+    var activeBadges = document.querySelectorAll(
+        '.deploy-badge.deploying, .deploy-badge.pending, .deploy-badge.failed'
+    );
+    if (activeBadges.length > 0) {
         polling = true;
         schedulePoll();
     }
@@ -296,7 +300,7 @@
         fetch('{{ url_for("players.deployment_status") }}')
             .then(function(r) { return r.json(); })
             .then(function(data) {
-                var anyDeploying = false;
+                var anyActive = false;
 
                 for (var playerId in data) {
                     if (!data.hasOwnProperty(playerId)) continue;
@@ -314,19 +318,25 @@
                     if (ds === 'deployed') {
                         cell.innerHTML = '<span class="deploy-badge deployed" title="' + escapeHtml(msg) + '">\u2705 Deployed<span class="deploy-timestamp">' + ts + '</span></span>';
                     } else if (ds === 'failed') {
+                        // Terminal state - no need to keep polling for this one
                         cell.innerHTML = '<span class="deploy-badge failed deploy-tooltip" title="' + escapeHtml(msg) + '">\u274c Failed<span class="deploy-timestamp">' + ts + '</span></span>';
                     } else if (ds === 'deploying') {
-                        anyDeploying = true;
+                        anyActive = true;
                         if (!cell.querySelector('.deploying')) {
                             cell.innerHTML = '<span class="deploy-badge deploying"><span class="spinner"></span>Deploying...</span>';
                         }
                     } else {
-                        // No deployment or not started (pending, null, etc.)
-                        // Don't set anyDeploying = false here — we only care about active deployments
+                        // pending / null - deployment not confirmed yet.
+                        // Keep polling: the player may start sending feedback,
+                        // which flips the status to "deployed" on the server.
+                        anyActive = true;
+                        if (!cell.querySelector('.pending')) {
+                            cell.innerHTML = '<span class="deploy-badge pending" title="Awaiting deployment">\u23f3 Pending</span>';
+                        }
                     }
                 }
 
-                if (anyDeploying) {
+                if (anyActive) {
                     schedulePoll();
                 } else {
                     polling = false;