diff --git a/src/lib/ae_events/ae_launcher__default_launch_profiles.ts b/src/lib/ae_events/ae_launcher__default_launch_profiles.ts
index d488225d..0b8a2f8c 100644
--- a/src/lib/ae_events/ae_launcher__default_launch_profiles.ts
+++ b/src/lib/ae_events/ae_launcher__default_launch_profiles.ts
@@ -63,14 +63,15 @@ function make_vlc_mirror_mac_profile(): LaunchProfile {
         // Direct binary path ensures VLC receives media file + flags reliably.
         // `--no-play-and-exit` prevents closing on end, `--play-and-pause` holds final frame.
         open_cmd: '/Applications/VLC.app/Contents/MacOS/VLC --no-play-and-exit --play-and-pause "{{path}}"',
-        post_delay_ms: 1000,
-        // Poll until VLC is frontmost before sending Cmd+F. A fixed delay is unreliable because
-        // VLC cold-start on a loaded conference Mac can take 3-5 seconds.
-        // Polling (15 × 0.5 s = up to 7.5 s after the initial wait) fires as soon as VLC is ready.
-        post_script: `tell application "VLC"
-    activate
-end tell
-repeat 15 times
+        post_delay_ms: 2000,
+        // Poll until VLC is frontmost before sending Cmd+F. Re-activate on every iteration —
+        // a single activate at the top is blocked by macOS focus-stealing prevention when VLC
+        // is spawned as a child of Electron (which stays frontmost). Retrying activate each loop
+        // keeps nudging macOS until it yields focus. Max wait: 20 × 0.5s = 10s after initial delay.
+        post_script: `repeat 20 times
+    tell application "VLC"
+        activate
+    end tell
     delay 0.5
     tell application "System Events"
         if frontmost of process "VLC" is true then exit repeat
@@ -104,10 +105,10 @@ const POWERPOINT_MAC_EXTEND_PROFILE: LaunchProfile = {
     display_mode: 'extend',
     open_cmd: 'open -a "Microsoft PowerPoint" "{{path}}"',
     post_delay_ms: 1000,
-    post_script: `tell application "Microsoft PowerPoint"
-    activate
-end tell
-repeat 15 times
+    post_script: `repeat 20 times
+    tell application "Microsoft PowerPoint"
+        activate
+    end tell
     delay 0.5
     tell application "System Events"
         if frontmost of process "Microsoft PowerPoint" is true then exit repeat
@@ -148,10 +149,10 @@ const LIBREOFFICE_MAC_EXTEND_PROFILE: LaunchProfile = {
     display_mode: 'extend',
     open_cmd: 'open -a "LibreOffice" "{{path}}"',
     post_delay_ms: 1000,
-    post_script: `tell application "LibreOffice"
-    activate
-end tell
-repeat 15 times
+    post_script: `repeat 20 times
+    tell application "LibreOffice"
+        activate
+    end tell
     delay 0.5
     tell application "System Events"
         if frontmost of process "soffice" is true then exit repeat
@@ -170,10 +171,10 @@ const ACROBAT_MAC_MIRROR_PROFILE: LaunchProfile = {
     display_mode: 'mirror',
     open_cmd: 'open -a "Adobe Acrobat Reader DC" "{{path}}"',
     post_delay_ms: 1000,
-    post_script: `tell application "Adobe Acrobat Reader DC"
-    activate
-end tell
-repeat 15 times
+    post_script: `repeat 20 times
+    tell application "Adobe Acrobat Reader DC"
+        activate
+    end tell
     delay 0.5
     tell application "System Events"
         if frontmost of process "AdobeReader" is true then exit repeat
@@ -215,10 +216,10 @@ const LIBREOFFICE_WIN_EXTEND_PROFILE: LaunchProfile = {
     display_mode: 'extend',
     open_cmd: 'open -a "LibreOffice" "{{path}}"',
     post_delay_ms: 1500,
-    post_script: `tell application "LibreOffice"
-    activate
-end tell
-repeat 15 times
+    post_script: `repeat 20 times
+    tell application "LibreOffice"
+        activate
+    end tell
     delay 0.5
     tell application "System Events"
         if frontmost of process "soffice" is true then exit repeat
@@ -237,10 +238,10 @@ const ACROBAT_WIN_MIRROR_PROFILE: LaunchProfile = {
     display_mode: 'mirror',
     open_cmd: 'open -a "Acrobat Reader Windows" "{{path}}"',
     post_delay_ms: 1500,
-    post_script: `tell application "Acrobat Reader Windows"
-    activate
-end tell
-repeat 15 times
+    post_script: `repeat 20 times
+    tell application "Acrobat Reader Windows"
+        activate
+    end tell
     delay 0.5
     tell application "System Events"
         if frontmost of process "Acrobat Reader Windows" is true then exit repeat