diff --git a/GEMINI.md b/GEMINI.md
index 83fe543..67d713e 100644
--- a/GEMINI.md
+++ b/GEMINI.md
@@ -85,6 +85,9 @@ busctl --user call org.mpris.MediaPlayer2.winamp /org/mpris/MediaPlayer2 org.mpr
 - **`winamp_mpris_old.py`**: A previous iteration of the bridge.
 - **`sample_Winamp Web Interface.html`**: A sample of the HTML returned by the Winamp Web Interface, used for reference in parsing logic.
 
+> [!NOTE]
+> The source code in `Wawi Source/` and `gen_httpSrv_systray/` is provided for reference only. The bridge currently interacts with the compiled binaries.
+
 ## Development Conventions
 
 - **D-Bus Interface:** Defined via XML introspection string within the `WinampMPRIS` class.
diff --git a/bridge.pid b/bridge.pid
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e896ce7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bridge.pid
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+3051439
diff --git a/winamp_mpris.py b/winamp_mpris.py
index 5f798b5..f862893 100755
--- a/winamp_mpris.py
+++ b/winamp_mpris.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ from bs4 import BeautifulSoup
 # --- CONFIGURATION & XDG PATHS ---
 BASE_URL = "http://localhost:5666"
 AUTH = ('winamp', 'llama')
+POSSIBLE_CREDS = [('winamp', 'llama'), ('winamp', ''), None]
 APP_ID = "org.mpris.MediaPlayer2.winamp"
 DEFAULT_ART = "https://webamp.org/favicon.ico"
 
@@ -39,6 +40,29 @@ logging.basicConfig(
 )
 logger = logging.getLogger("winamp-mpris")
 
+def authenticated_get(url, timeout=2):
+    """Helper to perform GET with authentication fallback."""
+    global AUTH
+    try:
+        r = requests.get(url, auth=AUTH, timeout=timeout)
+        if r.status_code != 401:
+            return r
+    except requests.RequestException as e:
+        raise e
+
+    for cred in POSSIBLE_CREDS:
+        if cred == AUTH:
+            continue
+        try:
+            r = requests.get(url, auth=cred, timeout=timeout)
+            if r.status_code != 401:
+                logger.info(f"Authentication fallback successful: switched to {cred}")
+                AUTH = cred
+                return r
+        except requests.RequestException:
+            continue
+    return r
+
 def write_pid_file():
     try:
         with open(PID_FILE, "w") as f:
@@ -127,9 +151,9 @@ class WinampMPRIS:
     def _request(self, endpoint):
         logger.info(f"COMMAND RECEIVED: {endpoint}")
         try:
-            r = requests.get(f"{BASE_URL}/{endpoint}", auth=AUTH, timeout=2)
+            r = authenticated_get(f"{BASE_URL}/{endpoint}", timeout=2)
             if r.status_code == 401:
-                msg = "401 Unauthorized: Check gen_httpsrv.dll plugin config. Ensure user 'winamp' has correct password and 'Play' permissions in Users tab."
+                msg = "401 Unauthorized: All authentication attempts failed (winamp:llama, winamp:, anon). Check plugin config."
                 logger.warning(f"ERROR: {msg}")
                 subprocess.run(["notify-send", "-u", "critical", "-t", "10000", "Winamp Bridge Auth Error", msg])
             elif r.status_code != 200:
@@ -334,7 +358,7 @@ def update_loop(player):
 
             # 2. Poll Web UI (Status and Time source)
             try:
-                r = requests.get(f"{BASE_URL}/main", auth=AUTH, timeout=1)
+                r = authenticated_get(f"{BASE_URL}/main", timeout=1)
                 if r.status_code == 200:
                     offline_logged = False
                     auth_error_logged = False
@@ -396,12 +420,12 @@ def update_loop(player):
                             player._album = ""
                 elif r.status_code == 401:
                     if not auth_error_logged:
-                        msg = "401 Unauthorized: Check gen_httpsrv.dll plugin config. Ensure user 'winamp' has correct password and 'Play' permissions in Users tab."
+                        msg = "401 Unauthorized: All authentication attempts failed (winamp:llama, winamp:, anon). Check plugin config."
                         logger.warning(f"ERROR: {msg}")
                         subprocess.run(["notify-send", "-u", "critical", "-t", "10000", "Winamp Bridge Auth Error", msg])
                         auth_error_logged = True
                     player._status = "Stopped"
-            except requests.exceptions.RequestException:
+            except requests.RequestException:
                 if not window_title:
                     if not offline_logged:
                         logger.info("Winamp Web Interface offline and no window found.")