diff --git a/backend/api/routes.py b/backend/api/routes.py
index d086ecb..db0b9e0 100644
--- a/backend/api/routes.py
+++ b/backend/api/routes.py
@@ -1,19 +1,36 @@
-from fastapi import APIRouter, HTTPException
-from fastapi.responses import StreamingResponse
+from fastapi import APIRouter, HTTPException, BackgroundTasks, Response
+from fastapi.responses import StreamingResponse, JSONResponse
 from pydantic import BaseModel
 import json
 from pathlib import Path
 import yt_dlp
 import requests
-from backend.cache_manager import CacheManager
+from backend.services.spotify import SpotifyService
+from backend.services.cache import CacheManager
 from backend.playlist_manager import PlaylistManager
+from backend.scheduler import update_ytdlp # Import update function
 
 import re
 
 router = APIRouter()
-cache = CacheManager()
+# Services (Assumed to be initialized elsewhere if not here, adhering to existing patterns)
+# spotify = SpotifyService() # Commented out as duplicates if already imported
+if 'CacheManager' in globals():
+    cache = CacheManager()
+else:
+    from backend.cache_manager import CacheManager
+    cache = CacheManager()
+    
 playlist_manager = PlaylistManager()
 
+@router.post("/system/update-ytdlp")
+async def manual_ytdlp_update(background_tasks: BackgroundTasks):
+    """
+    Trigger a manual update of yt-dlp in the background.
+    """
+    background_tasks.add_task(update_ytdlp)
+    return {"status": "success", "message": "yt-dlp update started in background"}
+
 def get_high_res_thumbnail(thumbnails: list) -> str:
     """
     Selects the best thumbnail and attempts to upgrade resolution 
@@ -609,7 +626,7 @@ async def stream_audio(id: str):
     try:
         # Check Cache for stream URL
         # Check Cache for stream URL
-        cache_key = f"v7:stream:{id}" # v7 cache key - force purge for HLS fix
+        cache_key = f"v8:stream:{id}" # v8 cache key - deep debug mode
         cached_data = cache.get(cache_key)
         
         stream_url = None
@@ -627,9 +644,8 @@ async def stream_audio(id: str):
             print(f"DEBUG: Fetching new stream URL for '{id}'")
             url = f"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v={id}" 
             ydl_opts = {
-                # CRITICAL: protocol=https forces progressive HTTP streams, NOT HLS manifests
-                # HLS (.m3u8) streams cannot be played by browser <audio> elements
-                'format': 'bestaudio[ext=m4a][protocol=https]/bestaudio[protocol=https]/bestaudio[ext=m4a]/bestaudio/best',
+                # Try standard bestaudio but prefer m4a. Removed protocol constraint to see what we actually get.
+                'format': 'bestaudio[ext=m4a]/bestaudio/best',
                 'quiet': True,
                 'noplaylist': True,
                 'nocheckcertificate': True,
@@ -637,8 +653,7 @@ async def stream_audio(id: str):
                 'socket_timeout': 30,
                 'retries': 3,
                 'force_ipv4': True,
-                # Use web_creator client which provides progressive streams
-                'extractor_args': {'youtube': {'player_client': ['web_creator', 'mweb', 'web']}},
+                'extractor_args': {'youtube': {'player_client': ['ios', 'android', 'web']}},
             }
             
             try:
diff --git a/backend/main.py b/backend/main.py
index 6ac866a..3d76f12 100644
--- a/backend/main.py
+++ b/backend/main.py
@@ -1,9 +1,20 @@
+```python
 from fastapi import FastAPI
 from fastapi.middleware.cors import CORSMiddleware
-from backend.api.routes import router as api_router
+from contextlib import asynccontextmanager
+from backend.api import routes
+from backend.scheduler import start_scheduler
 import os
 
-app = FastAPI(title="Spotify Clone Backend")
+@asynccontextmanager
+async def lifespan(app: FastAPI):
+    # Startup: Start scheduler
+    scheduler = start_scheduler()
+    yield
+    # Shutdown: Scheduler shuts down automatically with process, or we can explicit shutdown if needed
+    scheduler.shutdown()
+
+app = FastAPI(title="Spotify Clone Backend", lifespan=lifespan)
 
 # CORS setup
 origins = [
diff --git a/backend/requirements.txt b/backend/requirements.txt
index 3579677..705a9b9 100644
--- a/backend/requirements.txt
+++ b/backend/requirements.txt
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ uvicorn==0.34.0
 spotdl
 pydantic==2.10.4
 python-multipart==0.0.20
+APScheduler==0.0.20
 requests==2.32.3
 yt-dlp==2024.12.23
 ytmusicapi==1.9.1
diff --git a/backend/scheduler.py b/backend/scheduler.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..877c50f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/scheduler.py
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+import subprocess
+import logging
+from apscheduler.schedulers.background import BackgroundScheduler
+from apscheduler.triggers.interval import IntervalTrigger
+
+# Configure logging
+logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO)
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+def update_ytdlp():
+    """
+    Check for and install the latest version of yt-dlp.
+    """
+    logger.info("Scheduler: Checking for yt-dlp updates...")
+    try:
+        # Run pip install --upgrade yt-dlp
+        result = subprocess.run(
+            ["pip", "install", "--upgrade", "yt-dlp"],
+            capture_output=True,
+            text=True,
+            check=True
+        )
+        logger.info(f"Scheduler: yt-dlp update completed.\n{result.stdout}")
+    except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
+        logger.error(f"Scheduler: Failed to update yt-dlp.\nError: {e.stderr}")
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.error(f"Scheduler: Unexpected error during update: {str(e)}")
+
+def start_scheduler():
+    """
+    Initialize and start the background scheduler.
+    """
+    scheduler = BackgroundScheduler()
+    
+    # Schedule yt-dlp update every 24 hours
+    trigger = IntervalTrigger(days=1)
+    scheduler.add_job(
+        update_ytdlp,
+        trigger=trigger,
+        id="update_ytdlp_job",
+        name="Update yt-dlp daily",
+        replace_existing=True
+    )
+    
+    scheduler.start()
+    logger.info("Scheduler: Started background scheduler. yt-dlp will update every 24 hours.")
+    
+    # Run once on startup to ensure we are up to date immediately
+    # update_ytdlp() # Optional: Uncomment if we want strict enforcement on boot
+
+    return scheduler