diff --git a/composeApp/src/androidMain/kotlin/org/spotube/spotube/media/PlaybackService.kt b/composeApp/src/androidMain/kotlin/org/spotube/spotube/media/PlaybackService.kt
index 49b55ac4..bc3fdaf1 100644
--- a/composeApp/src/androidMain/kotlin/org/spotube/spotube/media/PlaybackService.kt
+++ b/composeApp/src/androidMain/kotlin/org/spotube/spotube/media/PlaybackService.kt
@@ -51,7 +51,6 @@ import kotlinx.coroutines.CoroutineScope
 import kotlinx.coroutines.Dispatchers
 import kotlinx.coroutines.SupervisorJob
 import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
-import kotlinx.coroutines.runBlocking
 import kotlinx.coroutines.withContext
 import org.koin.core.component.KoinComponent
 import org.koin.core.component.inject
@@ -59,7 +58,6 @@ import org.jetbrains.compose.resources.getString
 import spotube.composeapp.generated.resources.Res
 import spotube.composeapp.generated.resources.notification_playback_channel_description
 import spotube.composeapp.generated.resources.notification_playback_channel_name
-import spotube.composeapp.generated.resources.notification_playback_service_text
 
 @OptIn(UnstableApi::class)
 class PlaybackService : MediaLibraryService(), KoinComponent {
@@ -96,9 +94,10 @@ class PlaybackService : MediaLibraryService(), KoinComponent {
             PendingIntent.FLAG_UPDATE_CURRENT or PendingIntent.FLAG_IMMUTABLE
         )
 
+        // Short-lived placeholder until Media3 posts the playback notification. No localized text:
+        // loading it here would block the main thread (see createNotificationChannel).
         val notification = NotificationCompat.Builder(this, CHANNEL_ID)
             .setContentTitle("Spotube")
-            .setContentText(runBlocking { getString(Res.string.notification_playback_service_text) })
             .setSmallIcon(R.drawable.ic_stat_spotube)
             .setContentIntent(sessionActivity)
             .setOngoing(true)
@@ -125,21 +124,32 @@ class PlaybackService : MediaLibraryService(), KoinComponent {
         Log.i(TAG, "Library session created")
     }
 
+    /**
+     * The channel must exist before startForeground, so it's created right away under the app name
+     * and renamed once the localized strings load.
+     *
+     * Never `runBlocking { getString(...) }` here: onCreate runs on the main thread, and Compose
+     * resources share one in-flight load per strings file. If App()'s stringResource started that
+     * load on the main dispatcher first, blocking main to await it deadlocks the app on its
+     * splash screen.
+     */
     @SuppressLint("ObsoleteSdkInt")
     private fun createNotificationChannel() {
-        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
-            val channel = NotificationChannel(
-                CHANNEL_ID,
-                runBlocking { getString(Res.string.notification_playback_channel_name) },
-                NotificationManager.IMPORTANCE_LOW
-            ).apply {
-                description = runBlocking {
-                    getString(Res.string.notification_playback_channel_description)
-                }
+        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT < Build.VERSION_CODES.O) return
+        val manager = getSystemService(NotificationManager::class.java)
+        fun channel(name: String, description: String? = null) =
+            NotificationChannel(CHANNEL_ID, name, NotificationManager.IMPORTANCE_LOW).apply {
+                this.description = description
                 setShowBadge(false)
             }
-            val manager = getSystemService(NotificationManager::class.java)
-            manager.createNotificationChannel(channel)
+
+        manager.createNotificationChannel(channel("Spotube"))
+        serviceScope.launch {
+            // Re-creating a channel with the same ID updates its name and description.
+            manager.createNotificationChannel(
+                channel(
+                    name = getString(Res.string.notification_playback_channel_name),
+                    description = getString(Res.string.notification_playback_channel_description)))
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-ar/strings.xml b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-ar/strings.xml
index febc7e6a..6671d6d9 100644
--- a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-ar/strings.xml
+++ b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-ar/strings.xml
@@ -938,7 +938,6 @@
     <string name="app_window_close">إغلاق</string>
 
     <!-- Android playback notification -->
-    <string name="notification_playback_service_text">خدمة التشغيل</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_name">التشغيل</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_description">عناصر التحكم في تشغيل الوسائط</string>
 
diff --git a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-bn/strings.xml b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-bn/strings.xml
index ca7c78cf..a3c26ed2 100644
--- a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-bn/strings.xml
+++ b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-bn/strings.xml
@@ -914,7 +914,6 @@
     <string name="app_window_close">বন্ধ করুন</string>
 
     <!-- Android playback notification -->
-    <string name="notification_playback_service_text">প্লেব্যাক সার্ভিস</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_name">প্লেব্যাক</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_description">মিডিয়া প্লেব্যাক কন্ট্রোল</string>
 
diff --git a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-de/strings.xml b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-de/strings.xml
index ec3d8da3..4a4115dd 100644
--- a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-de/strings.xml
+++ b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-de/strings.xml
@@ -914,7 +914,6 @@
     <string name="app_window_close">Schließen</string>
 
     <!-- Android playback notification -->
-    <string name="notification_playback_service_text">Wiedergabedienst</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_name">Wiedergabe</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_description">Steuerung der Medienwiedergabe</string>
 
diff --git a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-es/strings.xml b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-es/strings.xml
index 4fec22e5..48c78bf3 100644
--- a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-es/strings.xml
+++ b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-es/strings.xml
@@ -920,7 +920,6 @@
     <string name="app_window_close">Cerrar</string>
 
     <!-- Android playback notification -->
-    <string name="notification_playback_service_text">Servicio de reproducción</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_name">Reproducción</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_description">Controles de reproducción multimedia</string>
 
diff --git a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-fa/strings.xml b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-fa/strings.xml
index 679313d5..8a5659ed 100644
--- a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-fa/strings.xml
+++ b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-fa/strings.xml
@@ -914,7 +914,6 @@
     <string name="app_window_close">بستن</string>
 
     <!-- Android playback notification -->
-    <string name="notification_playback_service_text">سرویس پخش</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_name">پخش</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_description">کنترل‌های پخش رسانه</string>
 
diff --git a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-fr/strings.xml b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-fr/strings.xml
index 644cb9f9..2737c4bc 100644
--- a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-fr/strings.xml
+++ b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-fr/strings.xml
@@ -920,7 +920,6 @@
     <string name="app_window_close">Fermer</string>
 
     <!-- Android playback notification -->
-    <string name="notification_playback_service_text">Service de lecture</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_name">Lecture</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_description">Commandes de lecture multimédia</string>
 
diff --git a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-hi/strings.xml b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-hi/strings.xml
index 4deeb649..2ed9b459 100644
--- a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-hi/strings.xml
+++ b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-hi/strings.xml
@@ -913,7 +913,6 @@
     <string name="app_window_close">बंद करें</string>
 
     <!-- Android playback notification -->
-    <string name="notification_playback_service_text">प्लेबैक सेवा</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_name">प्लेबैक</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_description">मीडिया प्लेबैक कंट्रोल</string>
 
diff --git a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-id/strings.xml b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-id/strings.xml
index 27c80b88..f3e1ca6a 100644
--- a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-id/strings.xml
+++ b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-id/strings.xml
@@ -908,7 +908,6 @@
     <string name="app_window_close">Tutup</string>
 
     <!-- Android playback notification -->
-    <string name="notification_playback_service_text">Layanan pemutaran</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_name">Pemutaran</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_description">Kontrol pemutaran media</string>
 
diff --git a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-it/strings.xml b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-it/strings.xml
index 36196910..b6925383 100644
--- a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-it/strings.xml
+++ b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-it/strings.xml
@@ -920,7 +920,6 @@
     <string name="app_window_close">Chiudi</string>
 
     <!-- Android playback notification -->
-    <string name="notification_playback_service_text">Servizio di riproduzione</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_name">Riproduzione</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_description">Controlli di riproduzione multimediale</string>
 
diff --git a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-ja/strings.xml b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-ja/strings.xml
index c6b4195d..a915d409 100644
--- a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-ja/strings.xml
+++ b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-ja/strings.xml
@@ -908,7 +908,6 @@
     <string name="app_window_close">閉じる</string>
 
     <!-- Android playback notification -->
-    <string name="notification_playback_service_text">再生サービス</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_name">再生</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_description">メディア再生コントロール</string>
 
diff --git a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-ko/strings.xml b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-ko/strings.xml
index cad8b072..5464dc07 100644
--- a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-ko/strings.xml
+++ b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-ko/strings.xml
@@ -908,7 +908,6 @@
     <string name="app_window_close">닫기</string>
 
     <!-- Android playback notification -->
-    <string name="notification_playback_service_text">재생 서비스</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_name">재생</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_description">미디어 재생 컨트롤</string>
 
diff --git a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-nl/strings.xml b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-nl/strings.xml
index 3206d0d6..337ad03c 100644
--- a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-nl/strings.xml
+++ b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-nl/strings.xml
@@ -914,7 +914,6 @@
     <string name="app_window_close">Sluiten</string>
 
     <!-- Android playback notification -->
-    <string name="notification_playback_service_text">Afspeelservice</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_name">Afspelen</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_description">Bediening voor media-afspelen</string>
 
diff --git a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-pl/strings.xml b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-pl/strings.xml
index fa6bcfb6..f5b66965 100644
--- a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-pl/strings.xml
+++ b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-pl/strings.xml
@@ -926,7 +926,6 @@
     <string name="app_window_close">Zamknij</string>
 
     <!-- Android playback notification -->
-    <string name="notification_playback_service_text">Usługa odtwarzania</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_name">Odtwarzanie</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_description">Sterowanie odtwarzaniem multimediów</string>
 
diff --git a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-pt/strings.xml b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-pt/strings.xml
index f7c11447..fed0a741 100644
--- a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-pt/strings.xml
+++ b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-pt/strings.xml
@@ -920,7 +920,6 @@
     <string name="app_window_close">Fechar</string>
 
     <!-- Android playback notification -->
-    <string name="notification_playback_service_text">Serviço de reprodução</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_name">Reprodução</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_description">Controles de reprodução de mídia</string>
 
diff --git a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-ru/strings.xml b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-ru/strings.xml
index 28b5450e..e499d01d 100644
--- a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-ru/strings.xml
+++ b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-ru/strings.xml
@@ -926,7 +926,6 @@
     <string name="app_window_close">Закрыть</string>
 
     <!-- Android playback notification -->
-    <string name="notification_playback_service_text">Служба воспроизведения</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_name">Воспроизведение</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_description">Управление воспроизведением</string>
 
diff --git a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-th/strings.xml b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-th/strings.xml
index 2b14b08d..5c5b861d 100644
--- a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-th/strings.xml
+++ b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-th/strings.xml
@@ -908,7 +908,6 @@
     <string name="app_window_close">ปิด</string>
 
     <!-- Android playback notification -->
-    <string name="notification_playback_service_text">บริการเล่นเพลง</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_name">การเล่น</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_description">ตัวควบคุมการเล่นสื่อ</string>
 
diff --git a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-tr/strings.xml b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-tr/strings.xml
index 123d18cd..4999b886 100644
--- a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-tr/strings.xml
+++ b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-tr/strings.xml
@@ -914,7 +914,6 @@
     <string name="app_window_close">Kapat</string>
 
     <!-- Android playback notification -->
-    <string name="notification_playback_service_text">Çalma hizmeti</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_name">Çalma</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_description">Medya çalma kontrolleri</string>
 
diff --git a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-uk/strings.xml b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-uk/strings.xml
index 0fbd6d0e..1f07bb5d 100644
--- a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-uk/strings.xml
+++ b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-uk/strings.xml
@@ -926,7 +926,6 @@
     <string name="app_window_close">Закрити</string>
 
     <!-- Android playback notification -->
-    <string name="notification_playback_service_text">Служба відтворення</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_name">Відтворення</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_description">Керування відтворенням</string>
 
diff --git a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-vi/strings.xml b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-vi/strings.xml
index 241c50f4..b6d4f5ea 100644
--- a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-vi/strings.xml
+++ b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-vi/strings.xml
@@ -908,7 +908,6 @@
     <string name="app_window_close">Đóng</string>
 
     <!-- Android playback notification -->
-    <string name="notification_playback_service_text">Dịch vụ phát nhạc</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_name">Phát nhạc</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_description">Điều khiển phát nội dung</string>
 
diff --git a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-zh-rTW/strings.xml b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-zh-rTW/strings.xml
index e10e720e..f5907323 100644
--- a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-zh-rTW/strings.xml
+++ b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-zh-rTW/strings.xml
@@ -908,7 +908,6 @@
     <string name="app_window_close">關閉</string>
 
     <!-- Android playback notification -->
-    <string name="notification_playback_service_text">播放服務</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_name">播放</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_description">媒體播放控制項</string>
 
diff --git a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-zh/strings.xml b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-zh/strings.xml
index b247fac7..d154c6a2 100644
--- a/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-zh/strings.xml
+++ b/composeApp/src/commonMain/composeResources/values-zh/strings.xml
@@ -908,7 +908,6 @@
     <string name="app_window_close">关闭</string>
 
     <!-- Android playback notification -->
-    <string name="notification_playback_service_text">播放服务</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_name">播放</string>
     <string name="notification_playback_channel_description">媒体播放控制</string>