diff --git a/frontend/app.vue b/frontend/app.vue
index 9aea6a3..73c1f43 100644
--- a/frontend/app.vue
+++ b/frontend/app.vue
@@ -492,6 +492,12 @@ const loginBusy = ref(false);
 let pilotBackgroundPoll: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null;
 const lifecycleNowMs = ref(Date.now());
 let lifecycleClock: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null;
+const crmRealtimeState = ref<"idle" | "connecting" | "open" | "error">("idle");
+let crmRealtimeSocket: WebSocket | null = null;
+let crmRealtimeReconnectTimer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null;
+let crmRealtimeRefreshTimer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null;
+let crmRealtimeRefreshInFlight = false;
+let crmRealtimeReconnectAttempt = 0;
 
 watch(
   () => pilotLiveLogs.value.length,
@@ -846,6 +852,7 @@ async function bootstrapSession() {
   try {
     await loadMe();
     if (!authMe.value) {
+      stopCrmRealtime();
       pilotMessages.value = [];
       chatConversations.value = [];
       telegramConnectStatus.value = "not_connected";
@@ -854,7 +861,11 @@ async function bootstrapSession() {
       return;
     }
     await Promise.all([loadPilotMessages(), loadChatConversations(), refreshCrmData(), loadTelegramConnectStatus()]);
+    if (process.client) {
+      startCrmRealtime();
+    }
   } catch {
+    stopCrmRealtime();
     authMe.value = null;
     pilotMessages.value = [];
     chatConversations.value = [];
@@ -911,6 +922,7 @@ async function login() {
     });
     await loadMe();
     startPilotBackgroundPolling();
+    startCrmRealtime();
     await Promise.all([loadPilotMessages(), loadChatConversations(), refreshCrmData(), loadTelegramConnectStatus()]);
   } catch (e: any) {
     loginError.value = e?.data?.message || e?.message || "Login failed";
@@ -921,6 +933,7 @@ async function login() {
 
 async function logout() {
   await gqlFetch<{ logout: { ok: boolean } }>(logoutMutation);
+  stopCrmRealtime();
   stopPilotBackgroundPolling();
   authMe.value = null;
   pilotMessages.value = [];
@@ -966,6 +979,121 @@ async function refreshCrmData() {
   }));
 }
 
+function clearCrmRealtimeReconnectTimer() {
+  if (!crmRealtimeReconnectTimer) return;
+  clearTimeout(crmRealtimeReconnectTimer);
+  crmRealtimeReconnectTimer = null;
+}
+
+function clearCrmRealtimeRefreshTimer() {
+  if (!crmRealtimeRefreshTimer) return;
+  clearTimeout(crmRealtimeRefreshTimer);
+  crmRealtimeRefreshTimer = null;
+}
+
+async function runCrmRealtimeRefresh() {
+  if (!authMe.value || crmRealtimeRefreshInFlight) return;
+  crmRealtimeRefreshInFlight = true;
+  try {
+    await Promise.all([refreshCrmData(), loadTelegramConnectStatus()]);
+  } catch {
+    // ignore transient realtime refresh errors
+  } finally {
+    crmRealtimeRefreshInFlight = false;
+  }
+}
+
+function scheduleCrmRealtimeRefresh(delayMs = 250) {
+  clearCrmRealtimeRefreshTimer();
+  crmRealtimeRefreshTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+    crmRealtimeRefreshTimer = null;
+    void runCrmRealtimeRefresh();
+  }, delayMs);
+}
+
+function scheduleCrmRealtimeReconnect() {
+  clearCrmRealtimeReconnectTimer();
+  const attempt = Math.min(crmRealtimeReconnectAttempt + 1, 8);
+  crmRealtimeReconnectAttempt = attempt;
+  const delayMs = Math.min(1000 * 2 ** (attempt - 1), 15000);
+  crmRealtimeReconnectTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+    crmRealtimeReconnectTimer = null;
+    startCrmRealtime();
+  }, delayMs);
+}
+
+function stopCrmRealtime() {
+  clearCrmRealtimeReconnectTimer();
+  clearCrmRealtimeRefreshTimer();
+
+  if (crmRealtimeSocket) {
+    const socket = crmRealtimeSocket;
+    crmRealtimeSocket = null;
+    socket.onopen = null;
+    socket.onmessage = null;
+    socket.onerror = null;
+    socket.onclose = null;
+    try {
+      socket.close(1000, "client stop");
+    } catch {
+      // ignore socket close errors
+    }
+  }
+
+  crmRealtimeState.value = "idle";
+}
+
+function startCrmRealtime() {
+  if (process.server || !authMe.value) return;
+  if (crmRealtimeSocket) {
+    const state = crmRealtimeSocket.readyState;
+    if (state === WebSocket.OPEN || state === WebSocket.CONNECTING) return;
+  }
+
+  clearCrmRealtimeReconnectTimer();
+  const protocol = window.location.protocol === "https:" ? "wss:" : "ws:";
+  const url = `${protocol}//${window.location.host}/ws/crm-updates`;
+
+  const socket = new WebSocket(url);
+  crmRealtimeSocket = socket;
+  crmRealtimeState.value = "connecting";
+
+  socket.onopen = () => {
+    crmRealtimeState.value = "open";
+    crmRealtimeReconnectAttempt = 0;
+  };
+
+  socket.onmessage = (event) => {
+    const raw = typeof event.data === "string" ? event.data : "";
+    if (!raw) return;
+    try {
+      const payload = JSON.parse(raw) as { type?: string };
+      if (payload.type === "dashboard.changed") {
+        scheduleCrmRealtimeRefresh();
+      }
+    } catch {
+      // ignore malformed realtime payloads
+    }
+  };
+
+  socket.onerror = () => {
+    crmRealtimeState.value = "error";
+  };
+
+  socket.onclose = () => {
+    const wasActive = crmRealtimeSocket === socket;
+    if (wasActive) {
+      crmRealtimeSocket = null;
+    }
+    if (!authMe.value) {
+      crmRealtimeState.value = "idle";
+      return;
+    }
+    crmRealtimeState.value = "error";
+    scheduleCrmRealtimeReconnect();
+  };
+}
+
 async function sendPilotText(rawText: string) {
   const text = rawText.trim();
   if (!text || pilotSending.value) return;
@@ -2059,15 +2187,22 @@ onMounted(() => {
 
   if (!authResolved.value) {
     void bootstrapSession().finally(() => {
-      if (authMe.value) startPilotBackgroundPolling();
+      if (authMe.value) {
+        startPilotBackgroundPolling();
+        startCrmRealtime();
+      }
     });
     return;
   }
 
-  if (authMe.value) startPilotBackgroundPolling();
+  if (authMe.value) {
+    startPilotBackgroundPolling();
+    startCrmRealtime();
+  }
 });
 
 onBeforeUnmount(() => {
+  stopCrmRealtime();
   if (pilotRecording.value) {
     stopPilotRecording("fill");
   }
@@ -2866,6 +3001,7 @@ function openDocumentsTab(push = false) {
 const peopleListMode = ref<"contacts" | "deals">("contacts");
 const peopleSearch = ref("");
 const peopleSortMode = ref<PeopleSortMode>("lastContact");
+const brokenAvatarByContactId = ref<Record<string, boolean>>({});
 const peopleSortOptions: Array<{ value: PeopleSortMode; label: string }> = [
   { value: "lastContact", label: "Last contact" },
   { value: "name", label: "Name" },
@@ -2875,6 +3011,31 @@ const peopleSortOptions: Array<{ value: PeopleSortMode; label: string }> = [
 const selectedDealId = ref(deals.value[0]?.id ?? "");
 const selectedDealStepsExpanded = ref(false);
 
+function contactInitials(name: string) {
+  const words = String(name ?? "")
+    .trim()
+    .split(/\s+/)
+    .filter(Boolean);
+  if (!words.length) return "?";
+  return words
+    .slice(0, 2)
+    .map((part) => part[0]?.toUpperCase() ?? "")
+    .join("");
+}
+
+function avatarSrcForThread(thread: { id: string; avatar: string }) {
+  if (brokenAvatarByContactId.value[thread.id]) return "";
+  return String(thread.avatar ?? "").trim();
+}
+
+function markAvatarBroken(contactId: string) {
+  if (!contactId) return;
+  brokenAvatarByContactId.value = {
+    ...brokenAvatarByContactId.value,
+    [contactId]: true,
+  };
+}
+
 const commThreads = computed(() => {
   const sorted = [...commItems.value].sort((a, b) => a.at.localeCompare(b.at));
   const map = new Map<string, CommItem[]>();
@@ -4978,7 +5139,15 @@ async function decideFeedCard(card: FeedCard, decision: "accepted" | "rejected")
                     <div class="flex items-start gap-2">
                       <div class="avatar shrink-0">
                         <div class="h-8 w-8 rounded-full ring-1 ring-base-300/70">
-                          <img :src="thread.avatar" :alt="thread.contact">
+                          <img
+                            v-if="avatarSrcForThread(thread)"
+                            :src="avatarSrcForThread(thread)"
+                            :alt="thread.contact"
+                            @error="markAvatarBroken(thread.id)"
+                          >
+                          <span v-else class="flex h-full w-full items-center justify-center text-[10px] font-semibold text-base-content/65">
+                            {{ contactInitials(thread.contact) }}
+                          </span>
                         </div>
                       </div>
 
diff --git a/frontend/nuxt.config.ts b/frontend/nuxt.config.ts
index b7f3188..fe56aa7 100644
--- a/frontend/nuxt.config.ts
+++ b/frontend/nuxt.config.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,11 @@ export default defineNuxtConfig({
   compatibilityDate: "2025-07-15",
   devtools: { enabled: true },
   css: ["~/assets/css/main.css"],
+  nitro: {
+    experimental: {
+      websocket: true,
+    },
+  },
 
   vite: {
     plugins: [tailwindcss() as any],
diff --git a/frontend/server/api/omni/telegram/avatar/[userId].get.ts b/frontend/server/api/omni/telegram/avatar/[userId].get.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ef55606
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/server/api/omni/telegram/avatar/[userId].get.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+import { getRouterParam, setHeader } from "h3";
+import { getAuthContext } from "../../../../utils/auth";
+import { requireTelegramBotToken, telegramApiBase, telegramBotApi } from "../../../../utils/telegram";
+
+type TelegramProfilePhotoSize = {
+  file_id?: string;
+};
+
+type TelegramUserProfilePhotosResult = {
+  photos?: TelegramProfilePhotoSize[][];
+};
+
+type TelegramGetFileResult = {
+  file_path?: string;
+};
+
+function parseUserId(input: string) {
+  if (!/^\d+$/.test(input)) return null;
+  const value = Number(input);
+  if (!Number.isSafeInteger(value) || value <= 0) return null;
+  return value;
+}
+
+export default defineEventHandler(async (event) => {
+  await getAuthContext(event);
+
+  const rawUserId = String(getRouterParam(event, "userId") ?? "").trim();
+  const userId = parseUserId(rawUserId);
+  if (!userId) {
+    throw createError({ statusCode: 400, statusMessage: "invalid telegram user id" });
+  }
+
+  const profile = await telegramBotApi<TelegramUserProfilePhotosResult>("getUserProfilePhotos", {
+    user_id: userId,
+    limit: 1,
+  });
+
+  const sizes = profile.photos?.[0] ?? [];
+  const best = sizes[sizes.length - 1];
+  const fileId = String(best?.file_id ?? "").trim();
+  if (!fileId) {
+    throw createError({ statusCode: 404, statusMessage: "avatar not found" });
+  }
+
+  const fileMeta = await telegramBotApi<TelegramGetFileResult>("getFile", { file_id: fileId });
+  const filePath = String(fileMeta.file_path ?? "").trim();
+  if (!filePath) {
+    throw createError({ statusCode: 404, statusMessage: "avatar path not found" });
+  }
+
+  const token = requireTelegramBotToken();
+  const upstream = await fetch(`${telegramApiBase()}/file/bot${token}/${filePath}`);
+  if (!upstream.ok) {
+    throw createError({ statusCode: 502, statusMessage: "failed to load telegram avatar" });
+  }
+
+  const contentType = upstream.headers.get("content-type") || "image/jpeg";
+  const buffer = Buffer.from(await upstream.arrayBuffer());
+
+  setHeader(event, "content-type", contentType);
+  setHeader(event, "cache-control", "private, max-age=300");
+  return buffer;
+});
diff --git a/frontend/server/routes/ws/crm-updates.ts b/frontend/server/routes/ws/crm-updates.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f1d6df1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/server/routes/ws/crm-updates.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,165 @@
+import { prisma } from "../../utils/prisma";
+
+const COOKIE_USER = "cf_user";
+const COOKIE_TEAM = "cf_team";
+const COOKIE_CONV = "cf_conv";
+
+const TEAM_POLL_INTERVAL_MS = 2000;
+
+const peersByTeam = new Map<string, Set<any>>();
+const peerTeamById = new Map<string, string>();
+const lastSignatureByTeam = new Map<string, string>();
+
+let pollTimer: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null;
+
+function parseCookies(raw: string | null) {
+  const out = new Map<string, string>();
+  for (const part of String(raw ?? "").split(";")) {
+    const [key, ...rest] = part.trim().split("=");
+    if (!key) continue;
+    const value = rest.join("=");
+    try {
+      out.set(key, decodeURIComponent(value));
+    } catch {
+      out.set(key, value);
+    }
+  }
+  return out;
+}
+
+function attachPeerToTeam(peer: any, teamId: string) {
+  if (!peersByTeam.has(teamId)) peersByTeam.set(teamId, new Set());
+  peersByTeam.get(teamId)?.add(peer);
+  peerTeamById.set(String(peer.id), teamId);
+}
+
+function detachPeer(peer: any) {
+  const key = String(peer.id);
+  const teamId = peerTeamById.get(key);
+  if (!teamId) return;
+  peerTeamById.delete(key);
+
+  const peers = peersByTeam.get(teamId);
+  if (!peers) return;
+  peers.delete(peer);
+  if (peers.size === 0) {
+    peersByTeam.delete(teamId);
+    lastSignatureByTeam.delete(teamId);
+  }
+}
+
+function stopPollIfIdle() {
+  if (peersByTeam.size > 0 || !pollTimer) return;
+  clearInterval(pollTimer);
+  pollTimer = null;
+}
+
+async function validateSessionFromPeer(peer: any) {
+  const cookieHeader = peer?.request?.headers?.get?.("cookie") ?? null;
+  const cookies = parseCookies(cookieHeader);
+
+  const userId = String(cookies.get(COOKIE_USER) ?? "").trim();
+  const teamId = String(cookies.get(COOKIE_TEAM) ?? "").trim();
+  const conversationId = String(cookies.get(COOKIE_CONV) ?? "").trim();
+  if (!userId || !teamId || !conversationId) return null;
+
+  const [user, team, conv] = await Promise.all([
+    prisma.user.findUnique({ where: { id: userId }, select: { id: true } }),
+    prisma.team.findUnique({ where: { id: teamId }, select: { id: true } }),
+    prisma.chatConversation.findFirst({
+      where: { id: conversationId, teamId, createdByUserId: userId },
+      select: { id: true },
+    }),
+  ]);
+
+  if (!user || !team || !conv) return null;
+  return { teamId };
+}
+
+async function computeTeamSignature(teamId: string) {
+  const [omniMessageMax, contactMax, contactMessageMax, telegramConnectionMax] = await Promise.all([
+    prisma.omniMessage.aggregate({
+      where: { teamId },
+      _max: { updatedAt: true },
+    }),
+    prisma.contact.aggregate({
+      where: { teamId },
+      _max: { updatedAt: true },
+    }),
+    prisma.contactMessage.aggregate({
+      where: { contact: { teamId } },
+      _max: { createdAt: true },
+    }),
+    prisma.telegramBusinessConnection.aggregate({
+      where: { teamId },
+      _max: { updatedAt: true },
+    }),
+  ]);
+
+  return [
+    omniMessageMax._max.updatedAt?.toISOString() ?? "",
+    contactMax._max.updatedAt?.toISOString() ?? "",
+    contactMessageMax._max.createdAt?.toISOString() ?? "",
+    telegramConnectionMax._max.updatedAt?.toISOString() ?? "",
+  ].join("|");
+}
+
+function sendJson(peer: any, payload: Record<string, unknown>) {
+  try {
+    peer.send(JSON.stringify(payload));
+  } catch {
+    // ignore socket write errors
+  }
+}
+
+async function pollAndBroadcast() {
+  for (const [teamId, peers] of peersByTeam.entries()) {
+    if (!peers.size) continue;
+    const signature = await computeTeamSignature(teamId);
+    const previous = lastSignatureByTeam.get(teamId);
+    if (signature === previous) continue;
+
+    lastSignatureByTeam.set(teamId, signature);
+    const payload = {
+      type: "dashboard.changed",
+      teamId,
+      at: new Date().toISOString(),
+    };
+
+    for (const peer of peers) {
+      sendJson(peer, payload);
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+function ensurePoll() {
+  if (pollTimer) return;
+  pollTimer = setInterval(() => {
+    void pollAndBroadcast();
+  }, TEAM_POLL_INTERVAL_MS);
+}
+
+export default defineWebSocketHandler({
+  async open(peer) {
+    const session = await validateSessionFromPeer(peer);
+    if (!session) {
+      peer.close(4401, "Unauthorized");
+      return;
+    }
+
+    attachPeerToTeam(peer, session.teamId);
+    ensurePoll();
+    sendJson(peer, { type: "realtime.connected", at: new Date().toISOString() });
+    void pollAndBroadcast();
+  },
+
+  close(peer) {
+    detachPeer(peer);
+    stopPollIfIdle();
+  },
+
+  error(peer) {
+    detachPeer(peer);
+    stopPollIfIdle();
+  },
+});
diff --git a/omni_chat/src/worker.ts b/omni_chat/src/worker.ts
index a12eb39..67e96dc 100644
--- a/omni_chat/src/worker.ts
+++ b/omni_chat/src/worker.ts
@@ -72,6 +72,12 @@ type ContactProfile = {
   avatarUrl: string | null;
 };
 
+function toTelegramAvatarProxyUrl(externalContactId: string) {
+  const id = String(externalContactId ?? "").trim();
+  if (!/^\d+$/.test(id)) return null;
+  return `/api/omni/telegram/avatar/${id}`;
+}
+
 function buildContactProfile(
   normalized: OmniInboundEnvelopeV1["payloadNormalized"],
   externalContactId: string,
@@ -99,7 +105,7 @@ function buildContactProfile(
 
   return {
     displayName,
-    avatarUrl: asString(normalized.contactAvatarUrl),
+    avatarUrl: asString(normalized.contactAvatarUrl) ?? toTelegramAvatarProxyUrl(externalContactId),
   };
 }