diff --git a/src/App.js b/src/App.js
index 9e78de7..a460536 100644
--- a/src/App.js
+++ b/src/App.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import React, { useState, useEffect, useRef, useMemo } from 'react';
 import { initializeApp } from './storage';
 import { getAuth, signInAnonymously, onAuthStateChanged, signInWithCustomToken } from './storage';
-import { getFirestore, doc, setDoc, addDoc, collection, onSnapshot, updateDoc, deleteDoc, query, orderBy, limit, writeBatch, getStorage } from './storage';
+import { getFirestore, doc, setDoc, addDoc, collection, onSnapshot, updateDoc, deleteDoc, query, orderBy, limit, writeBatch, getStorage, getStorageMode } from './storage';
 import {
   PlusCircle, Users, Swords, Trash2, Eye, Edit3, Save, XCircle, ChevronsUpDown,
   UserCheck, UserX, HeartCrack, HeartPulse, Zap, EyeOff, ExternalLink, AlertTriangle,
@@ -97,29 +97,40 @@ let db;
 let auth;
 let storage;
 
-// Initialize Firebase
-const initializeFirebase = () => {
-  const requiredKeys = ['apiKey', 'authDomain', 'projectId', 'appId'];
-  const missingKeys = requiredKeys.filter(key => !firebaseConfig[key]);
+const STORAGE_MODE = getStorageMode();
 
-  if (missingKeys.length > 0) {
-    console.error(`CRITICAL: Missing Firebase config values: ${missingKeys.join(', ')}`);
-    return false;
+// Initialize storage backend. firebase mode = real SDK init.
+// ws/memory mode = mock auth, no firebase.
+const initializeStorage = () => {
+  if (STORAGE_MODE === 'firebase') {
+    const requiredKeys = ['apiKey', 'authDomain', 'projectId', 'appId'];
+    const missingKeys = requiredKeys.filter(key => !firebaseConfig[key]);
+    if (missingKeys.length > 0) {
+      console.error(`CRITICAL: Missing Firebase config values: ${missingKeys.join(', ')}`);
+      return false;
+    }
+    try {
+      app = initializeApp(firebaseConfig);
+      db = getFirestore(app);
+      auth = getAuth(app);
+      storage = getStorage();
+      return true;
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.error("Error initializing Firebase:", error);
+      return false;
+    }
   }
 
-  try {
-    app = initializeApp(firebaseConfig);
-    db = getFirestore(app);
-    auth = getAuth(app);
-    storage = getStorage();
-    return true;
-  } catch (error) {
-    console.error("Error initializing Firebase:", error);
-    return false;
-  }
+  // ws / memory mode: stub auth so App's anon-sign-in path works.
+  const FAKE_USER = { uid: 'local-user', isAnonymous: true };
+  auth = {
+    currentUser: FAKE_USER,
+  };
+  storage = getStorage();
+  return true;
 };
 
-const isFirebaseInitialized = initializeFirebase();
+const isInitialized = initializeStorage();
 
 // ============================================================================
 // FIRESTORE PATH HELPERS
@@ -2804,12 +2815,20 @@ function App() {
     }
 
     if (!auth) {
-      setError("Firebase Auth not initialized. Check your Firebase configuration.");
+      setError("Auth not initialized.");
       setIsLoading(false);
       setIsAuthReady(false);
       return;
     }
 
+    // ws/memory mode: stub auth, no SDK sign-in. Unblock UI immediately.
+    if (STORAGE_MODE !== 'firebase') {
+      setUserId(auth.currentUser?.uid || 'local-user');
+      setIsAuthReady(true);
+      setIsLoading(false);
+      return;
+    }
+
     const initAuth = async () => {
       try {
         const token = window.__initial_auth_token;
@@ -2843,11 +2862,11 @@ function App() {
     return () => unsubscribe();
   }, []);
 
-  if (!isFirebaseInitialized || !db || !auth) {
+  if (!isInitialized || !auth) {
     return (
       <ErrorDisplay
         critical
-        message="Firebase is not properly configured or initialized. Please check your .env.local file and ensure all REACT_APP_FIREBASE_... variables are correctly set."
+        message={`${STORAGE_MODE === 'firebase' ? 'Firebase' : 'Storage'} is not properly configured. Check your .env.local file and ensure all REACT_APP_* variables are correctly set.`}
       />
     );
   }