diff --git a/packages/api/middleware/auth.ts b/packages/api/middleware/auth.ts
index ef83a94..f0bccc4 100644
--- a/packages/api/middleware/auth.ts
+++ b/packages/api/middleware/auth.ts
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ export const authCheck = async (
 
     next();
   } catch (error) {
-    console.log(error);
     res.status(401).send("unauthorized");
   }
 };
diff --git a/packages/api/routes/user.ts b/packages/api/routes/user.ts
index b766dfd..f83ad39 100644
--- a/packages/api/routes/user.ts
+++ b/packages/api/routes/user.ts
@@ -43,8 +43,6 @@ async function handleAuthCheck(req: Request, res: Response) {
 
 async function getUserDetails(req: Request, res: Response) {
   try {
-    console.log(res.locals.userInfo as JwtClaims);
-
     const userInfo = res.locals.userInfo as JwtClaims;
 
     const user = await UserService.getUserById(userInfo.userId);
diff --git a/packages/api/services/user.service.ts b/packages/api/services/user.service.ts
index 7ae564f..412b63e 100644
--- a/packages/api/services/user.service.ts
+++ b/packages/api/services/user.service.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import { collections } from "./database.service";
 
 export class UserService {
   static async getUserById(userId: string) {
-    const query = { _id: userId };
+    const query = { _id: new ObjectId(userId) };
 
     const res = await collections.users?.findOne(query);
 
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/components/ProtectedRoute/index.tsx b/packages/desktop/src/components/ProtectedRoute/index.tsx
index 7c06820..78f093c 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/components/ProtectedRoute/index.tsx
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/components/ProtectedRoute/index.tsx
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 import { useAuthCheck, useLogin } from "../../controller/index";
 
-import { $authTokens } from "../../controller/recoil";
+import { $jwtToken } from "../../controller/recoil";
 import Login from "../../pages/Login";
 import NirvanaApi from "../../controller/nirvanaApi";
 import { STORE_ITEMS } from "../../electron/constants";
 import SkeletonLoader from "../loading/skeleton";
 import { useEffect } from "react";
+import { useRecoilState } from "recoil";
 
 export default function ProtectedRoute({
   children,
@@ -14,6 +15,8 @@ export default function ProtectedRoute({
 }) {
   const { isLoading, isError, isSuccess, refetch } = useAuthCheck();
 
+  const [jwtToken, setJwtToken] = useRecoilState($jwtToken);
+
   useEffect(() => {
     // on load of this, if we already have jwt tokens in store,
     // then try using them with auth check
@@ -27,6 +30,17 @@ export default function ProtectedRoute({
       });
   }, []);
 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (jwtToken) {
+      window.electronAPI.store.set(STORE_ITEMS.AUTH_SESSION_JWT, jwtToken);
+    } else {
+      window.electronAPI.store.set(STORE_ITEMS.AUTH_SESSION_JWT, null);
+    }
+
+    NirvanaApi._jwtToken = jwtToken;
+    refetch();
+  }, [jwtToken]);
+
   if (isLoading) {
     return (
       <div className="container h-screen w-screen flex flex-col justify-center mx-10">
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/components/User/userAvatarWithStatus.tsx b/packages/desktop/src/components/User/userAvatarWithStatus.tsx
index b0a092e..6449711 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/components/User/userAvatarWithStatus.tsx
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/components/User/userAvatarWithStatus.tsx
@@ -18,19 +18,19 @@ export function UserStatusBubble(props: { status: UserStatus }) {
   switch (props.status) {
     case UserStatus.ONLINE:
       return (
-        <span className="absolute -bottom-1 -right-1 rounded-full bg-emerald-600 h-3 w-3 border border-zinc-300"></span>
+        <span className="absolute -bottom-1 -right-1 rounded-full bg-emerald-600 h-3 w-3 border"></span>
       );
     case UserStatus.OFFLINE:
       return (
-        <span className="absolute -bottom-1 -right-1 rounded-full bg-zinc-400 h-3 w-3 border border-zinc-300"></span>
+        <span className="absolute -bottom-1 -right-1 rounded-full bg-zinc-400 h-3 w-3 border"></span>
       );
     case UserStatus.FLOW_STATE:
       return (
-        <span className="absolute -bottom-1 -right-1 rounded-full bg-pink-400 h-3 w-3 border border-zinc-300"></span>
+        <span className="absolute -bottom-1 -right-1 rounded-full bg-pink-400 h-3 w-3 border"></span>
       );
     default:
       return (
-        <span className="absolute -bottom-1 -right-1 rounded-full bg-pink-400 h-3 w-3 border border-zinc-300"></span>
+        <span className="absolute -bottom-1 -right-1 rounded-full bg-pink-400 h-3 w-3 border"></span>
       );
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/controller/index.tsx b/packages/desktop/src/controller/index.tsx
index 6bdabb3..5bc7e2a 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/controller/index.tsx
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/controller/index.tsx
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ export function useAuthCheck() {
   return useQuery("AUTH_CHECK", ApiCalls.authCheck, {
     retry: false,
     refetchOnWindowFocus: false,
-    enabled: NirvanaApi._jwtToken ? true : false,
   });
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/controller/nirvanaApi.ts b/packages/desktop/src/controller/nirvanaApi.ts
index 012c488..5d51efd 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/controller/nirvanaApi.ts
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/controller/nirvanaApi.ts
@@ -19,31 +19,25 @@ export default class NirvanaApi {
 
     const fullUrl = localHost + url;
 
-    try {
-      let res;
-      if (privateRoute && !this._jwtToken)
-        throw Error("No jwt token available!");
+    let res;
+    if (privateRoute && !this._jwtToken) throw Error("No jwt token available!");
 
-      if (privateRoute && this._jwtToken) {
-        res = await fetch(fullUrl, {
-          method: method,
-          headers: { Authorization: this._jwtToken },
-        });
-      } else {
-        res = await fetch(fullUrl);
-      }
-
-      if (!res.ok) {
-        if (res.status === 401) throw new Error("You are not authorized here");
-
-        throw new Error("Something went wrong");
-      }
-
-      return await res.json();
-    } catch (error) {
-      console.log(error);
-      throw error;
+    if (privateRoute && this._jwtToken) {
+      res = await fetch(fullUrl, {
+        method: method,
+        headers: { Authorization: this._jwtToken },
+      });
+    } else {
+      res = await fetch(fullUrl);
     }
+
+    if (!res.ok) {
+      if (res.status === 401) throw new Error("You are not authorized here");
+
+      throw new Error("Something went wrong");
+    }
+
+    return await res.json();
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/controller/recoil.tsx b/packages/desktop/src/controller/recoil.tsx
index 762e5c7..80f9888 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/controller/recoil.tsx
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/controller/recoil.tsx
@@ -1,19 +1,15 @@
 import { atom } from "recoil";
 
-export const $authTokens = atom<{
-  accessToken: string;
-  refreshToken: string;
-  idToken: string;
-} | null>({
-  key: "AUTH_TOKENS", // unique ID (with respect to other atoms/selectors)
-  default: null, // default value (aka initial value)
-});
-
 export const $searchQuery = atom<string>({
   key: "SEARCH_QUERY",
   default: "",
 });
 
+export const $jwtToken = atom<string>({
+  key: "JWT_TOKEN",
+  default: null,
+});
+
 // conversation id
 export const $selectedConversation = atom<string>({
   key: "SELECTED_CONVERSATION",
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/electron/constants.ts b/packages/desktop/src/electron/constants.ts
index ebaafa7..a4d5798 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/electron/constants.ts
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/electron/constants.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ enum Channels {
 }
 
 export enum STORE_ITEMS {
-  GOOGLE_AUTH_TOKENS = "GOOGLE_AUTH_TOKENS",
   AUTH_SESSION_JWT = "AUTH_SESSION_JWT",
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/electron/handleLogin.ts b/packages/desktop/src/electron/handleLogin.ts
index 40e4106..55bb6b3 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/electron/handleLogin.ts
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/electron/handleLogin.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,5 @@ const myApiOauth = new ElectronGoogleOAuth2(
 export async function handleGoogleLogin() {
   const tokens = await myApiOauth.openAuthWindowAndGetTokens();
 
-  store.set(STORE_ITEMS.GOOGLE_AUTH_TOKENS, tokens);
-
   browserWindow.webContents.send(Channels.GOOGLE_AUTH_TOKENS, tokens);
 }
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/pages/Home/header/index.tsx b/packages/desktop/src/pages/Home/header/index.tsx
index 1b17775..c59a223 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/pages/Home/header/index.tsx
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/pages/Home/header/index.tsx
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
-import { $authTokens, $searchQuery } from "../../../controller/recoil";
+import { $jwtToken, $searchQuery } from "../../../controller/recoil";
 import { Dropdown, Menu } from "antd";
 import Logo, { LogoType } from "../../../components/Logo";
 import { useRecoilState, useSetRecoilState } from "recoil";
 
 import { GlobalHotKeys } from "react-hotkeys";
+import NirvanaApi from "../../../controller/nirvanaApi";
 import { STORE_ITEMS } from "../../../electron/constants";
 import SocketChannels from "@nirvana/core/sockets/channels";
 import UserAvatarWithStatus from "../../../components/User/userAvatarWithStatus";
@@ -16,17 +17,16 @@ export default function Header() {
   const { data: userDetailsResponse, isLoading } = useGetUserDetails();
   const [searchQuery, setSearchQuery] = useRecoilState($searchQuery);
 
-  const inputRef = useRef(null);
+  const setJwtToken = useSetRecoilState($jwtToken);
 
-  const setAuthTokens = useSetRecoilState($authTokens);
+  const inputRef = useRef(null);
 
   if (isLoading) {
     return <span>getting data</span>;
   }
 
   const logOut = () => {
-    window.electronAPI.store.set(STORE_ITEMS.GOOGLE_AUTH_TOKENS, null);
-    setAuthTokens(null);
+    setJwtToken(undefined);
   };
 
   const updateStatus = (newStatus: UserStatus) => {
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/pages/Home/index.tsx b/packages/desktop/src/pages/Home/index.tsx
index 5bb5aae..e18460c 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/pages/Home/index.tsx
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/pages/Home/index.tsx
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ export default function Home() {
     <div className="h-screen bg-zinc-700 flex flex-row">
       <div className="flex-1">
         {/* header */}
-        {/* <Header /> */}
+        <Header />
 
         {/*  main content */}
 
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/pages/Login/index.tsx b/packages/desktop/src/pages/Login/index.tsx
index fedfa69..9ca68b5 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/pages/Login/index.tsx
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/pages/Login/index.tsx
@@ -2,23 +2,17 @@ import Channels, { STORE_ITEMS } from "../../electron/constants";
 import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
 import { useRecoilState, useSetRecoilState } from "recoil";
 
-import { $authTokens } from "../../controller/recoil";
+import { $jwtToken } from "../../controller/recoil";
 import { CircularProgress } from "@mui/material";
 import { FcGoogle } from "react-icons/fc";
 import Logo from "../../components/Logo";
-import NirvanaApi from "../../controller/nirvanaApi";
 import { useLogin } from "../../controller/index";
 
 export default function Login() {
   const { mutateAsync } = useLogin();
   const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = useState<boolean>(false);
 
-  const continueAuth = () => {
-    setIsLoading(true);
-
-    // send to main process
-    window.electronAPI.auth.initiateLogin();
-  };
+  const setJwtToken = useSetRecoilState($jwtToken);
 
   useEffect(() => {
     window.electronAPI.once(
@@ -39,12 +33,7 @@ export default function Login() {
         });
 
         const { jwtToken, userDetails } = loginResponse;
-
-        window.electronAPI.store.set(STORE_ITEMS.AUTH_SESSION_JWT, jwtToken);
-
-        console.log(loginResponse);
-
-        // window.location.reload();
+        setJwtToken(jwtToken);
       }
     );
 
@@ -54,6 +43,13 @@ export default function Login() {
     // };
   }, []);
 
+  const continueAuth = () => {
+    setIsLoading(true);
+
+    // send to main process
+    window.electronAPI.auth.initiateLogin();
+  };
+
   return (
     <div className="container flex flex-col space-y-5 justify-center items-center h-screen bg-zinc-700">
       <Logo className="scale-50" />