diff --git a/static/index.html b/static/index.html
index 53a6399..0cc0add 100644
--- a/static/index.html
+++ b/static/index.html
@@ -2107,6 +2107,10 @@
             populateCustomerSelect();
             loadBadgeChecklist();
           });
+          // Start hardware and data loading for auto-login
+          initGPS();
+          startScanning();
+          loadAssets();
         } catch (e) {
           // Token expired or invalid — clear it
           localStorage.removeItem('canteen_session');
@@ -2162,6 +2166,10 @@
           populateCustomerSelect();
           loadBadgeChecklist();
         });
+        // Start hardware and data loading
+        initGPS();
+        startScanning();
+        loadAssets();
       } catch (e) {
         errEl.textContent = e.message || 'Login failed';
         errEl.classList.add('show');
@@ -2633,7 +2641,7 @@
           if (ocrEl) ocrEl.textContent = '❌ OCR failed: ' + ocrErr.message;
         }
 
-        // Extract GPS from EXIF — fall back to device GPS if stripped
+        // Extract GPS from EXIF
         const gpsEl = document.getElementById('scanGpsResult');
         try {
           const gps = await extractGpsFromPhoto(file);
@@ -2641,34 +2649,13 @@
             pickedPhotoGps = gps;
             if (gpsEl) {
               gpsEl.style.display = 'block';
-              gpsEl.innerHTML = `📍 GPS: ${gps.lat.toFixed(6)}, ${gps.lng.toFixed(6)} (from photo)`;
+              gpsEl.innerHTML = `📍 GPS: ${gps.lat.toFixed(6)}, ${gps.lng.toFixed(6)}`;
             }
           } else {
-            // EXIF GPS stripped by browser — try device GPS
             if (gpsEl) {
-              gpsEl.innerHTML = '📍 No GPS in photo — trying device location...';
               gpsEl.style.display = 'block';
+              gpsEl.innerHTML = '📍 No GPS data in photo';
             }
-            navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition(
-              pos => {
-                const lat = pos.coords.latitude;
-                const lng = pos.coords.longitude;
-                const acc = pos.coords.accuracy;
-                pickedPhotoGps = { lat, lng, accuracy: acc };
-                AppState.gpsLat = lat;
-                AppState.gpsLng = lng;
-                AppState.gpsAcc = acc;
-                if (gpsEl) {
-                  gpsEl.innerHTML = `📍 GPS: ${lat.toFixed(6)}, ${lng.toFixed(6)} (from device)`;
-                }
-              },
-              err => {
-                if (gpsEl) {
-                  gpsEl.innerHTML = `📍 No GPS — ${err.message}. Enter manually after creating.`;
-                }
-              },
-              { enableHighAccuracy: true, timeout: 10000 }
-            );
           }
         } catch (gpsErr) {
           if (gpsEl) {
@@ -2963,7 +2950,11 @@
         video.style.display = 'block';
         scanningActive = true;
 
-        setScanStatus('Point camera at a barcode', 'success');
+        // Show the 📸 capture button for text-only stickers (Connect ID, etc.)
+        const capOverlay = document.getElementById('scanCaptureOverlay');
+        if (capOverlay) capOverlay.style.display = 'flex';
+
+        setScanStatus('Point camera at a barcode, or tap 📸 for text stickers', 'success');
 
         // decodeFromVideoDevice handles camera + scanning in one call
         codeReader.decodeFromVideoDevice(deviceId, video, (result, err) => {
@@ -2995,6 +2986,9 @@
         ph.style.display = '';
         ph.innerHTML = '<span class="cam-icon">📷</span><div class="cam-hint" style="margin-top:4px;">Tap to start camera</div>';
       }
+      // Hide the 📸 capture overlay
+      const capOverlay = document.getElementById('scanCaptureOverlay');
+      if (capOverlay) capOverlay.style.display = 'none';
     }
 
     if (document.getElementById('cameraPlaceholder')) {
@@ -7573,13 +7567,10 @@
     })();
 
     // ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
-    // INIT
+    // INIT — only lightweight auth & offline. Camera/GPS/assets start after login.
     // ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
     initOfflineSupport();
     initAuth();
-    initGPS();
-    startScanning();
-    loadAssets();
   </script>
 </body>
 </html>