diff --git a/zephcore/adapters/ble/ZephyrBLE.cpp b/zephcore/adapters/ble/ZephyrBLE.cpp
index 7ed103e..5367651 100644
--- a/zephcore/adapters/ble/ZephyrBLE.cpp
+++ b/zephcore/adapters/ble/ZephyrBLE.cpp
@@ -6,8 +6,12 @@
  * Pairing is triggered reactively by ATT_ERR_AUTHENTICATION on secured GATT
  * attributes (Apple §55 compliant — no proactive Security Request on connect).
  *
- * Advertising: ESP32 enables CONFIG_BT_PRIVACY in esp32_common.conf; nRF uses public identity.
- * Android Flutter may fail connect-from-app to RPA unless bonded; Arduino MeshCore uses public.
+ * Advertising: always uses the identity address (BT_LE_ADV_OPT_USE_IDENTITY in
+ * start_adv).  On ESP32, CONFIG_BT_PRIVACY=y is load-bearing (the Espressif
+ * controller's privacy-OFF Secure-Connections path MIC-fails against iOS — see
+ * findings.md Issue #34), but USE_IDENTITY keeps us off the RPA so the Android
+ * companion's "connect from app" still works.  nRF/MG24 keep privacy OFF and
+ * already advertise identity, so USE_IDENTITY is a no-op there.
  */
 
 #include <stdio.h>
@@ -1224,9 +1228,15 @@ static void start_adv(void)
 
 	uint16_t interval = fast_adv_active ? BT_ADV_FAST_INTERVAL : BT_ADV_INTERVAL;
 
+	/* USE_IDENTITY: advertise the stable identity address instead of an RPA,
+	 * even when CONFIG_BT_PRIVACY=y.  Keeps the controller in its (working)
+	 * privacy-enabled SC encryption path for iOS while exposing a fixed address
+	 * so the Android companion app's "connect from app" flow works.  See
+	 * findings.md Issue #34 iOS-privacy capture (controller MIC failure 0x3d on
+	 * the privacy-off SC path). */
 	struct bt_le_adv_param adv_param = {
 		.id = BT_ID_DEFAULT,
-		.options = BT_LE_ADV_OPT_CONN,
+		.options = BT_LE_ADV_OPT_CONN | BT_LE_ADV_OPT_USE_IDENTITY,
 		.interval_min = interval,
 		.interval_max = interval,
 	};
diff --git a/zephcore/boards/common/esp32_common.conf b/zephcore/boards/common/esp32_common.conf
index 0e3aa06..051bb78 100644
--- a/zephcore/boards/common/esp32_common.conf
+++ b/zephcore/boards/common/esp32_common.conf
@@ -8,16 +8,23 @@
 # DLE managed internally by Espressif blob — no CONFIG_BT_CTLR_DATA_LENGTH_MAX
 # TX power managed internally by Espressif blob — no CONFIG_BT_CTLR_TX_PWR_*
 
-# Host privacy: ESP32-only override.  Required for reliable iOS SMP on the
-# Espressif controller (Zephyr #84182-class).  nRF/MG24 keep privacy off
-# because it breaks Android companion "connect from app" (manual pairing
-# from system BT settings works, but the app flow silently fails).
+# Host privacy: ESP32-only override.  Load-bearing for iOS on the Espressif
+# controller (Zephyr #84182-class).  nRF/MG24 keep privacy OFF.
 #
-# Re-confirmed 2026-06-15 on shipping blob 19f979cfe6: privacy OFF still breaks
-# iOS.  iOS *system* pairing completes (PIN prompt, shows as paired) but the
-# companion app's GATT connection drops immediately — the #84182 initial-pairing
-# breakage the blob did NOT fix.  Privacy stays ON; the Android "connect from
-# app" tradeoff remains.
+# Root cause pinned 2026-06-15 by firmware BLE/SMP debug capture on shipping
+# blob 19f979cfe6 (xiao_esp32s3, real iOS): with privacy OFF the SC pairing
+# completes the full passkey + DHKey-check phase, the host hands the controller
+# a valid LTK (HCI LTK Request Reply, status 0x00), then the controller fails
+# to start link encryption — HCI Disconnect reason 0x3d (MIC failure), Encrypt
+# Change status 0x1f.  It is a bug in the Espressif controller's privacy-OFF
+# Secure-Connections path (closed blob); the host did everything right (nRF runs
+# the identical host SMP code and bonds with iOS privacy-OFF fine).  Privacy ON
+# keeps the controller on its working privacy-enabled SC path.
+#
+# Android "connect from app" is NOT sacrificed: ZephyrBLE advertises with
+# BT_LE_ADV_OPT_USE_IDENTITY, so even with privacy ON we expose the stable
+# identity address (no RPA) — the thing the Android companion needs.  HW-
+# confirmed: iOS pairs + syncs, normal disconnect 0x13.
 CONFIG_BT_PRIVACY=y
 
 # BLE thread stacks — ESP32 software BLE controller needs larger stacks.