diff --git a/docs/agent-handoff.md b/docs/agent-handoff.md
index 174cbdc..1f3064b 100644
--- a/docs/agent-handoff.md
+++ b/docs/agent-handoff.md
@@ -19,4 +19,6 @@ Initial implementation created from `codex-agent-repository-kit` guidance.
 - Docker publish was fixed by updating `REGISTRY_TOKEN`; Gitea issue #1 is closed.
 - Room-scoped persisted invite codes were added to the room Invite rail. Room owners, admins, and room managers can create expiring invite codes and revoke active room invites.
 - Room chat moderation was added through Socket.IO. Room owners, admins, and room managers can delete room chat messages; deletions are audited and rebroadcast to the room.
-- Remaining UI redesign follow-ups that need real backend work: user ban/remove-friend admin actions and socket acknowledgements for sync health instead of client-local connection assumptions.
+- Admin user ban and remove-friendship actions were added. Admins can disable an account while clearing its friendships and explicit room memberships, or remove all friendships for a user without disabling the account.
+- Socket acknowledgements were added for room join and realtime room actions. The room header now shows pending, confirmed, or failed sync acknowledgement state from the server.
+- Remaining UI redesign follow-ups that need real backend work: none currently documented in this handoff.
diff --git a/server.js b/server.js
index 907d41f..5039175 100644
--- a/server.js
+++ b/server.js
@@ -25,12 +25,12 @@ app.prepare().then(() => {
   });
 
   io.on("connection", (socket) => {
-    socket.on("room:join", async ({ roomSlug } = {}) => {
-      await safeSocket(socket, async () => {
+    socket.on("room:join", async ({ roomSlug } = {}, acknowledge) => {
+      await safeSocket(socket, acknowledge, async () => {
         const session = await getSocketSession(socket);
-        if (!session || !roomSlug) return reject(socket, "Sign in to join this room.");
+        if (!session || !roomSlug) return reject(socket, "Sign in to join this room.", acknowledge);
         const context = await getRoomContext(roomSlug, session.user.id);
-        if (!context.allowed) return reject(socket, "You do not have access to this room.");
+        if (!context.allowed) return reject(socket, "You do not have access to this room.", acknowledge);
 
         socket.data.user = session.user;
         socket.data.roomSlug = context.room.slug;
@@ -40,15 +40,16 @@ app.prepare().then(() => {
 
         socket.emit("room:state", await buildRoomSnapshot(context.room.id));
         io.to(context.room.slug).emit("presence:list", getPresence(context.room.slug));
+        ok(acknowledge);
       });
     });
 
-    socket.on("queue:add", (payload) => safeRoomAction(socket, async ({ room, user }) => {
+    socket.on("queue:add", (payload, acknowledge) => safeRoomAction(socket, acknowledge, async ({ room, user }) => {
       const sourceUrl = String(payload?.sourceUrl || "").trim();
       if (!sourceUrl) return;
       const settings = await getAppSettings();
       const media = normalizeMediaUrl(sourceUrl);
-      if (!settings.allowedProviders.includes(media.provider)) return reject(socket, "This media provider is disabled.");
+      if (!settings.allowedProviders.includes(media.provider)) return reject(socket, "This media provider is disabled.", acknowledge);
 
       const nextPosition = await prisma.mediaSource.count({ where: { roomId: room.id } });
       const created = await prisma.mediaSource.create({
@@ -77,7 +78,7 @@ app.prepare().then(() => {
       await broadcastRoom(io, room.slug, room.id);
     }));
 
-    socket.on("queue:play", (payload) => safeRoomAction(socket, async ({ room, user }) => {
+    socket.on("queue:play", (payload, acknowledge) => safeRoomAction(socket, acknowledge, async ({ room, user }) => {
       const mediaSourceId = String(payload?.mediaSourceId || "");
       const media = await prisma.mediaSource.findFirst({ where: { id: mediaSourceId, roomId: room.id } });
       if (!media) return;
@@ -86,7 +87,7 @@ app.prepare().then(() => {
       await broadcastRoom(io, room.slug, room.id);
     }));
 
-    socket.on("queue:remove", (payload) => safeRoomAction(socket, async ({ room, user }) => {
+    socket.on("queue:remove", (payload, acknowledge) => safeRoomAction(socket, acknowledge, async ({ room, user }) => {
       const mediaSourceId = String(payload?.mediaSourceId || "");
       const media = await prisma.mediaSource.findFirst({ where: { id: mediaSourceId, roomId: room.id } });
       if (!media) return;
@@ -113,7 +114,7 @@ app.prepare().then(() => {
       await broadcastRoom(io, room.slug, room.id);
     }));
 
-    socket.on("queue:move", (payload) => safeRoomAction(socket, async ({ room, user }) => {
+    socket.on("queue:move", (payload, acknowledge) => safeRoomAction(socket, acknowledge, async ({ room, user }) => {
       const mediaSourceId = String(payload?.mediaSourceId || "");
       const direction = payload?.direction === "down" ? 1 : -1;
       await moveMedia(room.id, mediaSourceId, direction);
@@ -121,7 +122,7 @@ app.prepare().then(() => {
       await broadcastRoom(io, room.slug, room.id);
     }));
 
-    socket.on("playback:play", (payload) => safeRoomAction(socket, async ({ room, user }) => {
+    socket.on("playback:play", (payload, acknowledge) => safeRoomAction(socket, acknowledge, async ({ room, user }) => {
       await persistPlaybackState(room.id, user, {
         mediaSourceId: String(payload?.mediaSourceId || parseState(room.currentState)?.mediaSourceId || ""),
         status: "PLAYING",
@@ -131,7 +132,7 @@ app.prepare().then(() => {
       await broadcastRoom(io, room.slug, room.id);
     }));
 
-    socket.on("playback:pause", (payload) => safeRoomAction(socket, async ({ room, user }) => {
+    socket.on("playback:pause", (payload, acknowledge) => safeRoomAction(socket, acknowledge, async ({ room, user }) => {
       await persistPlaybackState(room.id, user, {
         mediaSourceId: String(payload?.mediaSourceId || parseState(room.currentState)?.mediaSourceId || ""),
         status: "PAUSED",
@@ -141,7 +142,7 @@ app.prepare().then(() => {
       await broadcastRoom(io, room.slug, room.id);
     }));
 
-    socket.on("playback:seek", (payload) => safeRoomAction(socket, async ({ room, user }) => {
+    socket.on("playback:seek", (payload, acknowledge) => safeRoomAction(socket, acknowledge, async ({ room, user }) => {
       const previous = parseState(room.currentState);
       await persistPlaybackState(room.id, user, {
         mediaSourceId: String(payload?.mediaSourceId || previous?.mediaSourceId || ""),
@@ -152,7 +153,7 @@ app.prepare().then(() => {
       await broadcastRoom(io, room.slug, room.id);
     }));
 
-    socket.on("chat:message", (payload) => safeRoomAction(socket, async ({ room, user }) => {
+    socket.on("chat:message", (payload, acknowledge) => safeRoomAction(socket, acknowledge, async ({ room, user }) => {
       const body = String(payload?.body || "").trim().slice(0, 1000);
       if (!body) return;
       await prisma.roomMessage.create({ data: { roomId: room.id, userId: user.id, body } });
@@ -160,8 +161,8 @@ app.prepare().then(() => {
       await broadcastRoom(io, room.slug, room.id);
     }));
 
-    socket.on("chat:delete", (payload) => safeRoomAction(socket, async ({ room, user }) => {
-      if (!canManageRoom(room, user.id, user)) return reject(socket, "Only room managers can moderate chat.");
+    socket.on("chat:delete", (payload, acknowledge) => safeRoomAction(socket, acknowledge, async ({ room, user }) => {
+      if (!canManageRoom(room, user.id, user)) return reject(socket, "Only room managers can moderate chat.", acknowledge);
       const messageId = String(payload?.messageId || "");
       if (!messageId) return;
       const result = await prisma.roomMessage.deleteMany({ where: { id: messageId, roomId: room.id } });
@@ -185,28 +186,35 @@ app.prepare().then(() => {
   });
 });
 
-async function safeSocket(socket, action) {
+async function safeSocket(socket, acknowledge, action) {
   try {
     await action();
   } catch (error) {
     console.error(error);
-    reject(socket, "Realtime action failed.");
+    reject(socket, "Realtime action failed.", acknowledge);
   }
 }
 
-async function safeRoomAction(socket, action) {
-  await safeSocket(socket, async () => {
+async function safeRoomAction(socket, acknowledge, action) {
+  await safeSocket(socket, acknowledge, async () => {
     const user = socket.data.user || (await getSocketSession(socket))?.user;
     const roomSlug = socket.data.roomSlug;
-    if (!user || !roomSlug) return reject(socket, "Join a room before sending actions.");
+    if (!user || !roomSlug) return reject(socket, "Join a room before sending actions.", acknowledge);
     const context = await getRoomContext(roomSlug, user.id);
-    if (!context.allowed) return reject(socket, "You do not have access to this room.");
-    await action({ room: context.room, user });
+    if (!context.allowed) return reject(socket, "You do not have access to this room.", acknowledge);
+    const result = await action({ room: context.room, user });
+    if (result !== false) ok(acknowledge);
   });
 }
 
-function reject(socket, message) {
+function ok(callback) {
+  if (typeof callback === "function") callback({ ok: true, at: Date.now() });
+}
+
+function reject(socket, message, callback) {
   socket.emit("room:error", { message });
+  if (typeof callback === "function") callback({ ok: false, message, at: Date.now() });
+  return false;
 }
 
 async function broadcastRoom(io, roomSlug, roomId) {
diff --git a/src/app/admin/page.tsx b/src/app/admin/page.tsx
index 1aa0954..1aefcd9 100644
--- a/src/app/admin/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/admin/page.tsx
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import { requireInitialSetup } from "@/lib/setup";
 import { DataTable, EmptyState, MetricTile, PageHeader, Panel, StatusDot, Tabs } from "@/components/ui";
 import { getAppSettings, type AppSettings } from "@/lib/settings";
 import { updateInstanceSettings, updateSecuritySettings } from "@/lib/settings-actions";
-import { createInstanceInvite, disableUser, enableUser, grantAdminRole, revokeAdminRole, revokeInvite } from "@/lib/admin-actions";
+import { banUser, createInstanceInvite, disableUser, enableUser, grantAdminRole, removeUserFriendships, revokeAdminRole, revokeInvite } from "@/lib/admin-actions";
 import { deleteRoom } from "@/lib/room-actions";
 
 export const dynamic = "force-dynamic";
@@ -34,7 +34,10 @@ export default async function AdminPage({ searchParams }: { searchParams: Promis
 
   const [users, rooms, roles, pendingRequests, appSettings, invites, auditEvents] = await Promise.all([
     prisma.user.findMany({
-      include: { roles: { include: { role: true } }, _count: { select: { ownedRooms: true, roomMembers: true } } },
+      include: {
+        roles: { include: { role: true } },
+        _count: { select: { ownedRooms: true, roomMembers: true, sentFriends: true, gotFriends: true } }
+      },
       orderBy: { createdAt: "asc" }
     }),
     prisma.room.findMany({
@@ -129,7 +132,7 @@ function UsersTable({
     disabledAt: Date | null;
     createdAt: Date;
     roles: Array<{ roleId: string; role: { name: string } }>;
-    _count: { ownedRooms: number; roomMembers: number };
+    _count: { ownedRooms: number; roomMembers: number; sentFriends: number; gotFriends: number };
   }>;
   currentUserId: string;
 }) {
@@ -141,6 +144,7 @@ function UsersTable({
             <th>User</th>
             <th>Roles</th>
             <th>Rooms</th>
+            <th>Friends</th>
             <th>Created</th>
             <th>Actions</th>
           </tr>
@@ -168,6 +172,7 @@ function UsersTable({
                 </div>
               </td>
               <td>{account._count.ownedRooms + account._count.roomMembers}</td>
+              <td>{account._count.sentFriends + account._count.gotFriends}</td>
               <td>{account.disabledAt ? <StatusBadge tone="danger">disabled</StatusBadge> : formatDate(account.createdAt)}</td>
               <td>
                 <div className="row-actions">
@@ -193,6 +198,18 @@ function UsersTable({
                       <button className="button compact-button danger" type="submit" disabled={account.id === currentUserId}>Disable</button>
                     </form>
                   )}
+                  <form action={removeUserFriendships}>
+                    <input type="hidden" name="userId" value={account.id} />
+                    <button className="button compact-button danger" type="submit" disabled={account.id === currentUserId || account._count.sentFriends + account._count.gotFriends === 0}>
+                      Remove friends
+                    </button>
+                  </form>
+                  <form action={banUser}>
+                    <input type="hidden" name="userId" value={account.id} />
+                    <button className="button compact-button danger" type="submit" disabled={account.id === currentUserId || Boolean(account.disabledAt)}>
+                      Ban
+                    </button>
+                  </form>
                 </div>
               </td>
             </tr>
diff --git a/src/components/room-console.tsx b/src/components/room-console.tsx
index 01645e8..1c46e0d 100644
--- a/src/components/room-console.tsx
+++ b/src/components/room-console.tsx
@@ -109,6 +109,12 @@ type RoomSnapshot = {
   messages: RoomMessage[];
 };
 
+type RoomAck = {
+  ok: boolean;
+  at?: number;
+  message?: string;
+};
+
 type Participant = {
   id: string;
   name: string;
@@ -165,6 +171,8 @@ export function RoomConsole({
   const [presence, setPresence] = useState<Participant[]>(participants);
   const [playback, setPlayback] = useState<PlaybackState | null>(queue[0] ? initialPlayback(queue[0]) : null);
   const [socketError, setSocketError] = useState("");
+  const [syncHealth, setSyncHealth] = useState<"idle" | "pending" | "confirmed" | "failed">("idle");
+  const [lastAckAt, setLastAckAt] = useState<number | null>(null);
   const [syncBlocked, setSyncBlocked] = useState(false);
   const [playerReady, setPlayerReady] = useState(false);
   const [providerIssue, setProviderIssue] = useState("");
@@ -182,7 +190,16 @@ export function RoomConsole({
 
   const emit = useCallback((event: string, payload: Record<string, unknown> = {}) => {
     setSocketError("");
-    socketRef.current?.emit(event, payload);
+    setSyncHealth("pending");
+    socketRef.current?.timeout(5000).emit(event, payload, (error: Error | null, response?: RoomAck) => {
+      if (error || !response?.ok) {
+        setSyncHealth("failed");
+        setSocketError(response?.message || "Realtime action was not acknowledged.");
+        return;
+      }
+      setLastAckAt(response.at || Date.now());
+      setSyncHealth("confirmed");
+    });
   }, []);
 
   const currentPosition = useCallback(() => {
@@ -238,10 +255,25 @@ export function RoomConsole({
     socketRef.current = socket;
     socket.on("connect", () => {
       setConnected(true);
-      socket.emit("room:join", { roomSlug });
+      setSyncHealth("pending");
+      socket.timeout(5000).emit("room:join", { roomSlug }, (error: Error | null, response?: RoomAck) => {
+        if (error || !response?.ok) {
+          setSyncHealth("failed");
+          setSocketError(response?.message || "Realtime join was not acknowledged.");
+          return;
+        }
+        setLastAckAt(response.at || Date.now());
+        setSyncHealth("confirmed");
+      });
+    });
+    socket.on("disconnect", () => {
+      setConnected(false);
+      setSyncHealth("idle");
+    });
+    socket.on("room:error", ({ message }: { message: string }) => {
+      setSocketError(message);
+      setSyncHealth("failed");
     });
-    socket.on("disconnect", () => setConnected(false));
-    socket.on("room:error", ({ message }: { message: string }) => setSocketError(message));
     socket.on("presence:list", (rows: Participant[]) => setPresence(rows));
     socket.on("room:state", (snapshot: RoomSnapshot | null) => {
       if (!snapshot) return;
@@ -317,6 +349,7 @@ export function RoomConsole({
           actions={
             <div className="status-row">
               <StatusDot tone={connected ? "good" : "warn"} label={connected ? "connected" : "connecting"} />
+              <StatusDot tone={syncStatusTone(syncHealth)} label={syncStatusLabel(syncHealth, lastAckAt)} />
               <StatusBadge>{formatVisibility(roomVisibility)}</StatusBadge>
             </div>
           }
@@ -931,6 +964,22 @@ function formatVisibility(value: string) {
   return value.toLowerCase().replace("_", " ");
 }
 
+function syncStatusTone(value: "idle" | "pending" | "confirmed" | "failed") {
+  if (value === "confirmed") return "good";
+  if (value === "pending") return "info";
+  if (value === "failed") return "danger";
+  return "neutral";
+}
+
+function syncStatusLabel(value: "idle" | "pending" | "confirmed" | "failed", lastAckAt: number | null) {
+  if (value === "confirmed" && lastAckAt) {
+    return `sync ack ${new Intl.DateTimeFormat("en", { hour: "2-digit", minute: "2-digit", second: "2-digit" }).format(new Date(lastAckAt))}`;
+  }
+  if (value === "pending") return "sync pending";
+  if (value === "failed") return "sync unconfirmed";
+  return "sync idle";
+}
+
 function formatDateTime(value: string) {
   return new Intl.DateTimeFormat("en", { month: "short", day: "numeric", year: "numeric" }).format(new Date(value));
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/admin-actions.ts b/src/lib/admin-actions.ts
index 339df4c..95fd806 100644
--- a/src/lib/admin-actions.ts
+++ b/src/lib/admin-actions.ts
@@ -31,6 +31,44 @@ export async function enableUser(formData: FormData) {
   revalidateAdmin();
 }
 
+export async function banUser(formData: FormData) {
+  const admin = await requireAdmin();
+  const userId = String(formData.get("userId") || "");
+  if (!userId || userId === admin.id) return;
+
+  const [friendships, memberships] = await prisma.$transaction([
+    prisma.friendship.deleteMany({
+      where: {
+        OR: [{ requesterId: userId }, { receiverId: userId }]
+      }
+    }),
+    prisma.roomMember.deleteMany({ where: { userId } }),
+    prisma.user.update({ where: { id: userId }, data: { disabledAt: new Date() } })
+  ]);
+
+  await audit(admin.id, "admin.user.ban", {
+    userId,
+    removedFriendships: friendships.count,
+    removedRoomMemberships: memberships.count
+  });
+  revalidateAdmin();
+}
+
+export async function removeUserFriendships(formData: FormData) {
+  const admin = await requireAdmin();
+  const userId = String(formData.get("userId") || "");
+  if (!userId || userId === admin.id) return;
+
+  const result = await prisma.friendship.deleteMany({
+    where: {
+      OR: [{ requesterId: userId }, { receiverId: userId }]
+    }
+  });
+
+  await audit(admin.id, "admin.user.friendships.remove", { userId, removedFriendships: result.count });
+  revalidateAdmin();
+}
+
 export async function grantAdminRole(formData: FormData) {
   const admin = await requireAdmin();
   const userId = String(formData.get("userId") || "");