diff --git a/backend/models.py b/backend/models.py
index 7e110bd..10baa38 100644
--- a/backend/models.py
+++ b/backend/models.py
@@ -47,17 +47,10 @@ class AdminUserUpdate(BaseModel):
     password: Optional[str] = None
 
 
-# ---------- Profiles ("Who's Watching") ----------
+# ---------- Profile (1:1 with account) ----------
 RATING_ORDER = ["G", "PG", "PG-13", "R", "NR"]
 
 
-class ProfileCreate(BaseModel):
-    name: str
-    avatar_color: str = "#D9381E"
-    is_kids: bool = False
-    max_rating: str = "NR"  # one of RATING_ORDER
-
-
 class ProfileUpdate(BaseModel):
     name: Optional[str] = None
     avatar_color: Optional[str] = None
diff --git a/backend/server.py b/backend/server.py
index e57b5c0..06bab66 100644
--- a/backend/server.py
+++ b/backend/server.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ from motor.motor_asyncio import AsyncIOMotorClient
 from models import (
     UserCreate, UserLogin, UserPublic, TokenResponse, PasswordChange,
     AdminUserCreate, AdminUserUpdate,
-    Profile, ProfileCreate, ProfileUpdate, RATING_ORDER,
+    Profile, ProfileUpdate, RATING_ORDER,
     Movie, MovieCreate, MovieUpdate,
     Subtitle,
     WatchlistItem, ProgressUpsert,
@@ -308,25 +308,17 @@ async def admin_delete_user(user_id: str, user: dict = Depends(require_admin)):
     return {"ok": True}
 
 
-# ============ PROFILES ============
+# ============ PROFILE (1:1 with account — no separate sub-profile management) ============
 @api.get("/profiles", response_model=List[Profile])
 async def list_profiles(user: dict = Depends(get_current_user)):
-    docs = await db.profiles.find({"user_id": user["id"]}, {"_id": 0}).sort("created_at", 1).to_list(20)
+    """Always exactly one profile per account; get_active_profile auto-creates it if missing."""
+    docs = await db.profiles.find({"user_id": user["id"]}, {"_id": 0}).sort("created_at", 1).to_list(1)
     return docs
 
 
-@api.post("/profiles", response_model=Profile)
-async def create_profile(payload: ProfileCreate, user: dict = Depends(get_current_user)):
-    count = await db.profiles.count_documents({"user_id": user["id"]})
-    if count >= 5:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail="Max 5 profiles per account")
-    prof = Profile(user_id=user["id"], **payload.model_dump()).model_dump()
-    await db.profiles.insert_one(prof)
-    return _strip(prof)
-
-
 @api.patch("/profiles/{pid}", response_model=Profile)
 async def update_profile(pid: str, payload: ProfileUpdate, user: dict = Depends(get_current_user)):
+    """Edit your own single profile (avatar color, kids mode, rating cap) — not a multi-profile switcher."""
     updates = {k: v for k, v in payload.model_dump().items() if v is not None}
     if not updates:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail="No fields to update")
@@ -340,18 +332,6 @@ async def update_profile(pid: str, payload: ProfileUpdate, user: dict = Depends(
     return res
 
 
-@api.delete("/profiles/{pid}")
-async def delete_profile(pid: str, user: dict = Depends(get_current_user)):
-    if await db.profiles.count_documents({"user_id": user["id"]}) <= 1:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail="Cannot delete the only profile")
-    res = await db.profiles.delete_one({"id": pid, "user_id": user["id"]})
-    if res.deleted_count == 0:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Profile not found")
-    await db.watchlist.delete_many({"profile_id": pid})
-    await db.progress.delete_many({"profile_id": pid})
-    return {"ok": True}
-
-
 # ============ MOVIES ============
 def _movie_filter_for_profile(profile: dict) -> dict:
     cap = profile.get("max_rating", "NR")
diff --git a/frontend/src/App.js b/frontend/src/App.js
index 1fdd8af..5b1c7c7 100644
--- a/frontend/src/App.js
+++ b/frontend/src/App.js
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ import { BrowserRouter, Routes, Route, Navigate, useLocation } from "react-route
 import { Toaster } from "sonner";
 import { AuthProvider, useAuth } from "./lib/auth";
 import { ProfileProvider, useProfile } from "./lib/profile";
-import ProtectedRoute from "./components/ProtectedRoute";
 import Navbar from "./components/Navbar";
 import GrainOverlay from "./components/GrainOverlay";
 import ServiceStatus from "./components/ServiceStatus";
@@ -17,7 +16,6 @@ import Admin from "./pages/Admin";
 import AdminUpload from "./pages/AdminUpload";
 import Settings from "./pages/Settings";
 import RadarrImport from "./pages/RadarrImport";
-import ProfileSelect from "./pages/ProfileSelect";
 import TranscodeQueue from "./pages/TranscodeQueue";
 import Shows from "./pages/Shows";
 import ShowDetail from "./pages/ShowDetail";
@@ -30,11 +28,10 @@ const ProfileGate = ({ children }) => {
   const { user, loading: authLoading } = useAuth();
   const { active, loading: profLoading } = useProfile();
   const loc = useLocation();
-  if (authLoading || profLoading) {
+  if (authLoading || profLoading || (user && !active)) {
     return <div className="min-h-screen flex items-center justify-center bg-[#050505] text-[#8A8A8A]">Loading…</div>;
   }
   if (!user) return <Navigate to="/login" state={{ from: loc.pathname }} replace />;
-  if (!active) return <Navigate to="/profile" replace />;
   return children;
 };
 
@@ -50,7 +47,7 @@ const Shell = ({ children }) => {
   const { user } = useAuth();
   const { active } = useProfile();
   const loc = useLocation();
-  const hideChrome = loc.pathname.startsWith("/watch") || loc.pathname === "/login" || loc.pathname === "/register" || loc.pathname === "/profile";
+  const hideChrome = loc.pathname.startsWith("/watch") || loc.pathname === "/login" || loc.pathname === "/register";
   return (
     <>
       {!hideChrome && user && active && <Navbar />}
@@ -63,10 +60,9 @@ const Shell = ({ children }) => {
 
 const RootRedirect = () => {
   const { user, loading } = useAuth();
-  const { active, loading: pl } = useProfile();
+  const { loading: pl } = useProfile();
   if (loading || pl) return <div className="min-h-screen flex items-center justify-center bg-[#050505] text-[#8A8A8A]">Loading…</div>;
   if (!user) return <Navigate to="/login" replace />;
-  if (!active) return <Navigate to="/profile" replace />;
   return <Navigate to="/browse" replace />;
 };
 
@@ -81,7 +77,6 @@ function App() {
                 <Route path="/" element={<RootRedirect />} />
                 <Route path="/login" element={<Login />} />
                 <Route path="/register" element={<Register />} />
-                <Route path="/profile" element={<ProtectedRoute><ProfileSelect /></ProtectedRoute>} />
                 <Route path="/browse" element={<ProfileGate><Browse /></ProfileGate>} />
                 <Route path="/shows" element={<ProfileGate><Shows /></ProfileGate>} />
                 <Route path="/show/:id" element={<ProfileGate><ShowDetail /></ProfileGate>} />
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Navbar.jsx b/frontend/src/components/Navbar.jsx
index dc996a1..4bf5a94 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Navbar.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Navbar.jsx
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 import { Link, NavLink, useNavigate } from "react-router-dom";
 import { useAuth } from "../lib/auth";
 import { useProfile } from "../lib/profile";
-import { Search, LogOut, Upload, Users, Settings as SettingsIcon } from "lucide-react";
+import { Search, LogOut, Upload, Settings as SettingsIcon } from "lucide-react";
 import { useState, useEffect } from "react";
 
 export const Navbar = () => {
   const { user, logout } = useAuth();
-  const { active, clearActive } = useProfile();
+  const { active } = useProfile();
   const nav = useNavigate();
   const [scrolled, setScrolled] = useState(false);
 
@@ -19,11 +19,6 @@ export const Navbar = () => {
   const linkClass = ({ isActive }) =>
     `text-sm tracking-wide transition-colors duration-300 ${isActive ? "text-white" : "text-[#8A8A8A] hover:text-white"}`;
 
-  const switchProfile = () => {
-    clearActive();
-    nav("/profile");
-  };
-
   return (
     <header className={`fixed top-0 left-0 right-0 z-50 transition-all duration-300 ${scrolled ? "glass border-b" : ""}`} data-testid="main-navbar">
       <div className="px-6 md:px-12 py-4 flex items-center justify-between">
@@ -58,20 +53,14 @@ export const Navbar = () => {
               <SettingsIcon size={14} strokeWidth={1.5} /> Settings
             </button>
             <div className="flex items-center gap-3 pl-4 border-l border-[#222]">
-              <button onClick={switchProfile} className="flex items-center gap-2 group" data-testid="nav-switch-profile" title="Switch profile">
-                {active && (
-                  <>
-                    <div className="hidden sm:flex flex-col items-end leading-tight">
-                      <span className="text-xs text-white">{active.name}</span>
-                      <span className="text-[10px] uppercase tracking-[0.2em] text-[#8A8A8A] group-hover:text-white transition-colors">switch</span>
-                    </div>
-                    <div className="w-8 h-8 flex items-center justify-center text-white text-xs font-medium" style={{ backgroundColor: active.avatar_color || "#D9381E" }}>
-                      {active.name?.[0]?.toUpperCase() || "U"}
-                    </div>
-                  </>
-                )}
-                {!active && <Users size={18} strokeWidth={1.5} className="text-[#8A8A8A]" />}
-              </button>
+              {active && (
+                <div className="flex items-center gap-2" data-testid="account-avatar">
+                  <span className="hidden sm:inline text-xs text-white">{active.name}</span>
+                  <div className="w-8 h-8 flex items-center justify-center text-white text-xs font-medium" style={{ backgroundColor: active.avatar_color || "#D9381E" }}>
+                    {active.name?.[0]?.toUpperCase() || "U"}
+                  </div>
+                </div>
+              )}
               <button onClick={() => { logout(); nav("/login"); }} className="text-[#8A8A8A] hover:text-white transition-colors duration-300" data-testid="nav-logout-button" aria-label="Logout">
                 <LogOut size={16} strokeWidth={1.5} />
               </button>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ProtectedRoute.jsx b/frontend/src/components/ProtectedRoute.jsx
deleted file mode 100644
index 1b05cef..0000000
--- a/frontend/src/components/ProtectedRoute.jsx
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,18 +0,0 @@
-import { Navigate } from "react-router-dom";
-import { useAuth } from "../lib/auth";
-
-export const ProtectedRoute = ({ children, adminOnly = false }) => {
-  const { user, loading } = useAuth();
-  if (loading) {
-    return (
-      <div className="min-h-screen flex items-center justify-center text-[#8A8A8A]" data-testid="auth-loading">
-        Loading…
-      </div>
-    );
-  }
-  if (!user) return <Navigate to="/login" replace />;
-  if (adminOnly && !user.is_admin) return <Navigate to="/browse" replace />;
-  return children;
-};
-
-export default ProtectedRoute;
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/api.js b/frontend/src/lib/api.js
index 27523a9..6c2d436 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/api.js
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/api.js
@@ -8,12 +8,6 @@ const instance = axios.create({ baseURL: API });
 instance.interceptors.request.use((config) => {
   const token = localStorage.getItem("kino_token");
   if (token) config.headers.Authorization = `Bearer ${token}`;
-  // Active profile id (set by ProfileProvider via localStorage)
-  const userId = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem("kino_user_id") || "null");
-  if (userId) {
-    const pid = localStorage.getItem(`kino_profile_${userId}`);
-    if (pid) config.headers["X-Profile-Id"] = pid;
-  }
   return config;
 });
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/profile.jsx b/frontend/src/lib/profile.jsx
index 211b995..9546bb0 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/profile.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/profile.jsx
@@ -6,19 +6,15 @@ const ProfileCtx = createContext(null);
 
 export const ProfileProvider = ({ children }) => {
   const { user } = useAuth();
-  const [profiles, setProfiles] = useState([]);
   const [active, setActive] = useState(null);
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(false);
 
   const refresh = useCallback(async () => {
-    if (!user) { setProfiles([]); setActive(null); return; }
+    if (!user) { setActive(null); return; }
     setLoading(true);
     try {
       const { data } = await api.get("/profiles");
-      setProfiles(data);
-      const stored = localStorage.getItem(`kino_profile_${user.id}`);
-      const found = data.find((p) => p.id === stored);
-      setActive(found || null);
+      setActive(data[0] || null);
     } finally {
       setLoading(false);
     }
@@ -26,20 +22,8 @@ export const ProfileProvider = ({ children }) => {
 
   useEffect(() => { refresh(); }, [refresh]);
 
-  const switchTo = (p) => {
-    if (!user) return;
-    localStorage.setItem(`kino_profile_${user.id}`, p.id);
-    setActive(p);
-  };
-
-  const clearActive = () => {
-    if (!user) return;
-    localStorage.removeItem(`kino_profile_${user.id}`);
-    setActive(null);
-  };
-
   return (
-    <ProfileCtx.Provider value={{ profiles, active, loading, refresh, switchTo, clearActive }}>
+    <ProfileCtx.Provider value={{ active, loading, refresh }}>
       {children}
     </ProfileCtx.Provider>
   );
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/ProfileSelect.jsx b/frontend/src/pages/ProfileSelect.jsx
deleted file mode 100644
index d09dd5c..0000000
--- a/frontend/src/pages/ProfileSelect.jsx
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,157 +0,0 @@
-import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
-import { useNavigate } from "react-router-dom";
-import api from "../lib/api";
-import { useProfile } from "../lib/profile";
-import { useAuth } from "../lib/auth";
-import { Plus, Pencil, Check, X, Trash2 } from "lucide-react";
-import { toast } from "sonner";
-
-const COLORS = ["#D9381E", "#EAB308", "#22C55E", "#3B82F6", "#A855F7", "#EC4899"];
-
-export default function ProfileSelect() {
-  const { user, logout } = useAuth();
-  const { profiles, refresh, switchTo } = useProfile();
-  const nav = useNavigate();
-  const [editing, setEditing] = useState(false);
-  const [creating, setCreating] = useState(false);
-  const [draft, setDraft] = useState({ name: "", avatar_color: COLORS[0], is_kids: false, max_rating: "NR" });
-
-  useEffect(() => { refresh(); }, [refresh]);
-
-  const choose = (p) => {
-    switchTo(p);
-    nav("/browse", { replace: true });
-  };
-
-  const submitNew = async (e) => {
-    e.preventDefault();
-    if (!draft.name.trim()) return;
-    try {
-      await api.post("/profiles", draft);
-      toast.success("Profile created");
-      setCreating(false);
-      setDraft({ name: "", avatar_color: COLORS[0], is_kids: false, max_rating: "NR" });
-      refresh();
-    } catch (err) {
-      toast.error(err.response?.data?.detail || "Could not create");
-    }
-  };
-
-  const remove = async (id) => {
-    if (!window.confirm("Delete this profile? Watchlist & history will be removed.")) return;
-    try { await api.delete(`/profiles/${id}`); refresh(); } catch (err) {
-      toast.error(err.response?.data?.detail || "Could not delete");
-    }
-  };
-
-  return (
-    <div className="min-h-screen bg-[#050505] flex flex-col items-center justify-center px-6 py-16" data-testid="profile-select-page">
-      <span className="text-xs uppercase tracking-[0.3em] text-[#D9381E] mb-6">Welcome back, {user?.name}</span>
-      <h1 className="font-display text-5xl md:text-6xl font-black tracking-tighter text-white text-center">
-        Choose a viewer
-      </h1>
-
-      <div className="mt-16 flex flex-wrap justify-center gap-8 max-w-4xl">
-        {profiles.map((p) => (
-          <div key={p.id} className="flex flex-col items-center gap-3 group" data-testid={`profile-${p.id}`}>
-            <button
-              onClick={() => editing ? null : choose(p)}
-              className="w-28 h-28 md:w-36 md:h-36 flex items-center justify-center text-3xl font-bold text-white transition-all duration-300 hover:scale-105 focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-[#D9381E]"
-              style={{ backgroundColor: p.avatar_color }}
-              data-testid={`select-profile-${p.id}`}
-            >
-              {p.name?.[0]?.toUpperCase() || "?"}
-            </button>
-            <span className="font-display text-lg text-white">{p.name}</span>
-            <div className="flex gap-2 text-[10px] uppercase tracking-[0.2em] text-[#8A8A8A]">
-              {p.is_kids && <span>Kids</span>}
-              {p.max_rating !== "NR" && <span>· Up to {p.max_rating}</span>}
-            </div>
-            {editing && (
-              <button onClick={() => remove(p.id)} className="text-[#8A8A8A] hover:text-[#fca5a5] transition-colors mt-1" data-testid={`delete-profile-${p.id}`}>
-                <Trash2 size={14} strokeWidth={1.5} />
-              </button>
-            )}
-          </div>
-        ))}
-
-        {profiles.length < 5 && (
-          <button
-            onClick={() => setCreating(true)}
-            className="w-28 h-28 md:w-36 md:h-36 flex flex-col items-center justify-center border border-dashed border-[#333] hover:border-[#D9381E] text-[#8A8A8A] hover:text-white transition-colors duration-300"
-            data-testid="add-profile-button"
-          >
-            <Plus size={32} strokeWidth={1.5} />
-            <span className="text-xs uppercase tracking-[0.2em] mt-2">Add</span>
-          </button>
-        )}
-      </div>
-
-      <div className="mt-16 flex gap-4">
-        <button onClick={() => setEditing(!editing)}
-          className="flex items-center gap-2 border border-[#222] hover:border-white text-[#8A8A8A] hover:text-white px-5 py-2 text-xs uppercase tracking-[0.2em] transition-colors duration-300"
-          data-testid="manage-profiles-button">
-          {editing ? <Check size={14} strokeWidth={1.5} /> : <Pencil size={14} strokeWidth={1.5} />}
-          {editing ? "Done" : "Manage Profiles"}
-        </button>
-        <button onClick={() => { logout(); nav("/login"); }}
-          className="text-[#8A8A8A] hover:text-white text-xs uppercase tracking-[0.2em] transition-colors duration-300"
-          data-testid="profile-logout-button">
-          Sign out
-        </button>
-      </div>
-
-      {creating && (
-        <div className="fixed inset-0 z-50 flex items-center justify-center" data-testid="new-profile-modal">
-          <div className="absolute inset-0 bg-black/85 backdrop-blur-md" onClick={() => setCreating(false)} />
-          <form onSubmit={submitNew} className="relative bg-[#0F0F0F] border border-[#222] p-8 w-full max-w-md mx-4 fade-up">
-            <button type="button" onClick={() => setCreating(false)} className="absolute top-4 right-4 text-[#8A8A8A] hover:text-white"><X size={18} /></button>
-            <h2 className="font-display text-3xl font-bold tracking-tight text-white">New profile</h2>
-
-            <label className="block mt-6">
-              <span className="text-[10px] uppercase tracking-[0.3em] text-[#8A8A8A]">Name</span>
-              <input value={draft.name} onChange={(e) => setDraft({ ...draft, name: e.target.value })}
-                required className="mt-2 w-full bg-[#0F0F0F] border border-[#222] focus:border-[#D9381E] focus:outline-none text-white px-4 py-3"
-                data-testid="new-profile-name" />
-            </label>
-
-            <div className="mt-5">
-              <span className="text-[10px] uppercase tracking-[0.3em] text-[#8A8A8A]">Color</span>
-              <div className="mt-2 flex gap-2">
-                {COLORS.map((c) => (
-                  <button type="button" key={c} onClick={() => setDraft({ ...draft, avatar_color: c })}
-                    className={`w-10 h-10 ${draft.avatar_color === c ? "ring-2 ring-white" : ""}`}
-                    style={{ backgroundColor: c }} aria-label={`Color ${c}`}
-                    data-testid={`color-${c.replace('#', '')}`} />
-                ))}
-              </div>
-            </div>
-
-            <label className="flex items-center gap-3 mt-5 cursor-pointer">
-              <input type="checkbox" checked={draft.is_kids}
-                onChange={(e) => setDraft({ ...draft, is_kids: e.target.checked, max_rating: e.target.checked ? "PG" : draft.max_rating })}
-                className="accent-[#D9381E]" data-testid="new-profile-kids" />
-              <span className="text-sm text-[#C8C8C8]">Kids profile (limits content to PG)</span>
-            </label>
-
-            <label className="block mt-5">
-              <span className="text-[10px] uppercase tracking-[0.3em] text-[#8A8A8A]">Max rating</span>
-              <select value={draft.max_rating} onChange={(e) => setDraft({ ...draft, max_rating: e.target.value })}
-                className="mt-2 w-full bg-[#0F0F0F] border border-[#222] text-white px-4 py-3 focus:border-[#D9381E] focus:outline-none"
-                data-testid="new-profile-rating">
-                <option value="G">G</option>
-                <option value="PG">PG</option>
-                <option value="PG-13">PG-13</option>
-                <option value="R">R</option>
-                <option value="NR">No restriction</option>
-              </select>
-            </label>
-
-            <button type="submit" className="mt-8 w-full bg-[#D9381E] hover:bg-[#ED4B32] text-white py-3 text-sm uppercase tracking-[0.2em]"
-              data-testid="new-profile-submit">Create profile</button>
-          </form>
-        </div>
-      )}
-    </div>
-  );
-}