diff --git a/static/js/app.js b/static/js/app.js
index 2af86d7..5d37711 100644
--- a/static/js/app.js
+++ b/static/js/app.js
@@ -1813,16 +1813,20 @@ function hexToBytes(hex) {
 
 async function getOrCreateEncKey() {
   if (_encKey) return _encKey;
-  const storageKey = `diora_enc_key_${window.USER_ID || 'anon'}`;
+  const storageKey = `diora_enc_key_${window.USER_ID || 0}`;
   const stored = localStorage.getItem(storageKey);
   if (stored) {
     try {
       const raw = base64ToBytes(stored);
       _encKey = await crypto.subtle.importKey('raw', raw, {name: 'AES-GCM'}, false, ['encrypt', 'decrypt']);
       return _encKey;
-    } catch (e) { /* fall through */ }
+    } catch (e) { /* fall through, generate new */ }
   }
-  throw new Error('Encryption key not found — please log out and log in again.');
+  // No key found — generate one and store it
+  _encKey = await crypto.subtle.generateKey({name: 'AES-GCM', length: 256}, true, ['encrypt', 'decrypt']);
+  const raw = await crypto.subtle.exportKey('raw', _encKey);
+  localStorage.setItem(storageKey, bytesToBase64(new Uint8Array(raw)));
+  return _encKey;
 }
 
 async function encryptBytes(key, plainBytes) {
@@ -2205,14 +2209,6 @@ function initBookDropZone() {
     if (!zone || !zone.contains(e.target)) e.preventDefault();
   });
 
-  const storageKey = `diora_enc_key_${window.USER_ID || 'anon'}`;
-  const hasKey = !!localStorage.getItem(storageKey);
-  const prompt = $('enc-key-prompt');
-  const uploadArea = $('book-upload-area');
-
-  if (prompt) prompt.style.display = hasKey ? 'none' : '';
-  if (uploadArea) uploadArea.style.display = hasKey ? '' : 'none';
-
   const zone = $('book-drop-zone');
   if (!zone) return;
 
@@ -2245,7 +2241,7 @@ async function deriveAndStoreKey() {
       mat, {name: 'AES-GCM', length: 256}, true, ['encrypt', 'decrypt']
     );
     const raw = await crypto.subtle.exportKey('raw', key);
-    const storageKey = `diora_enc_key_${window.USER_ID || 'anon'}`;
+    const storageKey = `diora_enc_key_${window.USER_ID || 0}`;
     localStorage.setItem(storageKey, bytesToBase64(new Uint8Array(raw)));
     _encKey = null; // reset cached key
     if (statusEl) statusEl.textContent = '✓ Unlocked';
diff --git a/templates/radio/player.html b/templates/radio/player.html
index 9ecc6cb..403d7ef 100644
--- a/templates/radio/player.html
+++ b/templates/radio/player.html
@@ -278,15 +278,7 @@
 <!-- ===== BOOKS TAB ===== -->
 <section class="tab-panel" id="tab-books" style="display:none;">
   {% if user.is_authenticated %}
-  <div id="enc-key-prompt" class="enc-key-prompt">
-    <p class="muted">Enter your password to unlock encrypted storage on this device.</p>
-    <div class="search-bar">
-      <input type="password" id="enc-key-password" class="search-input" placeholder="Your password…">
-      <button class="btn" onclick="deriveAndStoreKey()">Unlock</button>
-    </div>
-    <span id="enc-key-status" class="muted"></span>
-  </div>
-  <div id="book-upload-area" style="display:none;">
+  <div id="book-upload-area">
     <div class="book-drop-zone" id="book-drop-zone">
       <span>Drop .epub or .pdf here or <label for="book-file-input" style="cursor:pointer;text-decoration:underline;">browse</label></span>
       <input type="file" id="book-file-input" accept=".epub,.pdf" style="display:none;" onchange="bookFileSelected(this)">