diff --git a/src/state/models/ui/shell.ts b/src/state/models/ui/shell.ts
index c6e7289d..a0e0cd7b 100644
--- a/src/state/models/ui/shell.ts
+++ b/src/state/models/ui/shell.ts
@@ -279,6 +279,24 @@ export class ShellUiModel {
     return false
   }
 
+  /**
+   * used to clear out any modals, eg for a navigation
+   */
+  closeAllActiveElements() {
+    if (this.isLightboxActive) {
+      this.closeLightbox()
+    }
+    while (this.isModalActive) {
+      this.closeModal()
+    }
+    if (this.isComposerActive) {
+      this.closeComposer()
+    }
+    if (this.isDrawerOpen) {
+      this.closeDrawer()
+    }
+  }
+
   openDrawer() {
     this.isDrawerOpen = true
   }
diff --git a/src/view/com/notifications/FeedItem.tsx b/src/view/com/notifications/FeedItem.tsx
index 6c03d7f9..d5acf230 100644
--- a/src/view/com/notifications/FeedItem.tsx
+++ b/src/view/com/notifications/FeedItem.tsx
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ import {sanitizeDisplayName} from 'lib/strings/display-names'
 import {pluralize} from 'lib/strings/helpers'
 import {HeartIconSolid} from 'lib/icons'
 import {Text} from '../util/text/Text'
-import {UserAvatar} from '../util/UserAvatar'
+import {UserAvatar, PreviewableUserAvatar} from '../util/UserAvatar'
+import {UserPreviewLink} from '../util/UserPreviewLink'
 import {ImageHorzList} from '../util/images/ImageHorzList'
 import {Post} from '../post/Post'
 import {Link, TextLink} from '../util/Link'
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@ const EXPANDED_AUTHOR_EL_HEIGHT = 35
 
 interface Author {
   href: string
+  did: string
   handle: string
   displayName?: string
   avatar?: string
@@ -91,6 +93,7 @@ export const FeedItem = observer(function ({
     return [
       {
         href: `/profile/${item.author.handle}`,
+        did: item.author.did,
         handle: item.author.handle,
         displayName: item.author.displayName,
         avatar: item.author.avatar,
@@ -102,6 +105,7 @@ export const FeedItem = observer(function ({
       ...(item.additional?.map(({author}) => {
         return {
           href: `/profile/${author.handle}`,
+          did: author.did,
           handle: author.handle,
           displayName: author.displayName,
           avatar: author.avatar,
@@ -282,17 +286,13 @@ function CondensedAuthorsList({
   if (authors.length === 1) {
     return (
       <View style={styles.avis}>
-        <Link
-          style={s.mr5}
-          href={authors[0].href}
-          title={`@${authors[0].handle}`}
-          asAnchor>
-          <UserAvatar
-            size={35}
-            avatar={authors[0].avatar}
-            moderation={authors[0].moderation.avatar}
-          />
-        </Link>
+        <PreviewableUserAvatar
+          size={35}
+          did={authors[0].did}
+          handle={authors[0].handle}
+          avatar={authors[0].avatar}
+          moderation={authors[0].moderation.avatar}
+        />
       </View>
     )
   }
@@ -356,12 +356,11 @@ function ExpandedAuthorsList({
         visible ? s.mb10 : undefined,
       ]}>
       {authors.map(author => (
-        <Link
-          key={author.href}
-          href={author.href}
-          title={sanitizeDisplayName(author.displayName || author.handle)}
-          style={styles.expandedAuthor}
-          asAnchor>
+        <UserPreviewLink
+          key={author.did}
+          did={author.did}
+          handle={author.handle}
+          style={styles.expandedAuthor}>
           <View style={styles.expandedAuthorAvi}>
             <UserAvatar
               size={35}
@@ -382,7 +381,7 @@ function ExpandedAuthorsList({
               </Text>
             </Text>
           </View>
-        </Link>
+        </UserPreviewLink>
       ))}
     </Animated.View>
   )
diff --git a/src/view/com/post/Post.tsx b/src/view/com/post/Post.tsx
index 34154e7e..bdc84b62 100644
--- a/src/view/com/post/Post.tsx
+++ b/src/view/com/post/Post.tsx
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ import {ImageHider} from '../util/moderation/ImageHider'
 import {Text} from '../util/text/Text'
 import {RichText} from '../util/text/RichText'
 import * as Toast from '../util/Toast'
-import {UserAvatar} from '../util/UserAvatar'
+import {PreviewableUserAvatar} from '../util/UserAvatar'
 import {useStores} from 'state/index'
 import {s, colors} from 'lib/styles'
 import {usePalette} from 'lib/hooks/usePalette'
@@ -127,8 +127,6 @@ const PostLoaded = observer(
     const itemUrip = new AtUri(item.post.uri)
     const itemHref = `/profile/${item.post.author.handle}/post/${itemUrip.rkey}`
     const itemTitle = `Post by ${item.post.author.handle}`
-    const authorHref = `/profile/${item.post.author.handle}`
-    const authorTitle = item.post.author.handle
     let replyAuthorDid = ''
     if (record.reply) {
       const urip = new AtUri(record.reply.parent?.uri || record.reply.root.uri)
@@ -214,13 +212,13 @@ const PostLoaded = observer(
         {showReplyLine && <View style={styles.replyLine} />}
         <View style={styles.layout}>
           <View style={styles.layoutAvi}>
-            <Link href={authorHref} title={authorTitle} asAnchor>
-              <UserAvatar
-                size={52}
-                avatar={item.post.author.avatar}
-                moderation={item.moderation.avatar}
-              />
-            </Link>
+            <PreviewableUserAvatar
+              size={52}
+              did={item.post.author.did}
+              handle={item.post.author.handle}
+              avatar={item.post.author.avatar}
+              moderation={item.moderation.avatar}
+            />
           </View>
           <View style={styles.layoutContent}>
             <PostMeta
diff --git a/src/view/com/profile/ProfileHeader.tsx b/src/view/com/profile/ProfileHeader.tsx
index 46ff3d97..56814fe9 100644
--- a/src/view/com/profile/ProfileHeader.tsx
+++ b/src/view/com/profile/ProfileHeader.tsx
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import {isDesktopWeb, isNative} from 'platform/detection'
 import {FollowState} from 'state/models/cache/my-follows'
 import {shareUrl} from 'lib/sharing'
 import {formatCount} from '../util/numeric/format'
+import {navigate} from '../../../Navigation'
 
 const BACK_HITSLOP = {left: 30, top: 30, right: 30, bottom: 30}
 
@@ -143,13 +144,15 @@ const ProfileHeaderLoaded = observer(
 
     const onPressFollowers = React.useCallback(() => {
       track('ProfileHeader:FollowersButtonClicked')
-      navigation.push('ProfileFollowers', {name: view.handle})
-    }, [track, navigation, view])
+      navigate('ProfileFollowers', {name: view.handle})
+      store.shell.closeAllActiveElements() // for when used in the profile preview modal
+    }, [track, view, store.shell])
 
     const onPressFollows = React.useCallback(() => {
       track('ProfileHeader:FollowsButtonClicked')
-      navigation.push('ProfileFollows', {name: view.handle})
-    }, [track, navigation, view])
+      navigate('ProfileFollows', {name: view.handle})
+      store.shell.closeAllActiveElements() // for when used in the profile preview modal
+    }, [track, view, store.shell])
 
     const onPressShare = React.useCallback(() => {
       track('ProfileHeader:ShareButtonClicked')
diff --git a/src/view/com/util/PostMeta.tsx b/src/view/com/util/PostMeta.tsx
index 396b0278..7f8abebd 100644
--- a/src/view/com/util/PostMeta.tsx
+++ b/src/view/com/util/PostMeta.tsx
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import {usePalette} from 'lib/hooks/usePalette'
 import {UserAvatar} from './UserAvatar'
 import {observer} from 'mobx-react-lite'
 import {sanitizeDisplayName} from 'lib/strings/display-names'
-import {isAndroid, isIOS} from 'platform/detection'
+import {isAndroid} from 'platform/detection'
 
 interface PostMetaOpts {
   authorAvatar?: string
@@ -88,6 +88,6 @@ const styles = StyleSheet.create({
   },
   maxWidth: {
     flex: isAndroid ? 1 : undefined,
-    maxWidth: isIOS ? '80%' : undefined,
+    maxWidth: !isAndroid ? '80%' : undefined,
   },
 })
diff --git a/src/view/com/util/UserAvatar.tsx b/src/view/com/util/UserAvatar.tsx
index 135615a3..eb6405f1 100644
--- a/src/view/com/util/UserAvatar.tsx
+++ b/src/view/com/util/UserAvatar.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import React, {useMemo} from 'react'
-import {Pressable, StyleSheet, View} from 'react-native'
+import {StyleSheet, View} from 'react-native'
 import Svg, {Circle, Rect, Path} from 'react-native-svg'
 import {FontAwesomeIcon} from '@fortawesome/react-native-fontawesome'
 import {IconProp} from '@fortawesome/fontawesome-svg-core'
@@ -12,12 +12,11 @@ import {
 import {useStores} from 'state/index'
 import {colors} from 'lib/styles'
 import {DropdownButton} from './forms/DropdownButton'
-import {Link} from './Link'
 import {usePalette} from 'lib/hooks/usePalette'
 import {isWeb, isAndroid} from 'platform/detection'
 import {Image as RNImage} from 'react-native-image-crop-picker'
 import {AvatarModeration} from 'lib/labeling/types'
-import {isDesktopWeb} from 'platform/detection'
+import {UserPreviewLink} from './UserPreviewLink'
 
 type Type = 'user' | 'algo' | 'list'
 
@@ -257,28 +256,10 @@ export function UserAvatar({
 }
 
 export function PreviewableUserAvatar(props: PreviewableUserAvatarProps) {
-  const store = useStores()
-
-  if (isDesktopWeb) {
-    return (
-      <Link href={`/profile/${props.handle}`} title={props.handle} asAnchor>
-        <UserAvatar {...props} />
-      </Link>
-    )
-  }
   return (
-    <Pressable
-      onPress={() =>
-        store.shell.openModal({
-          name: 'profile-preview',
-          did: props.did,
-        })
-      }
-      accessibilityRole="button"
-      accessibilityLabel={props.handle}
-      accessibilityHint="">
+    <UserPreviewLink did={props.did} handle={props.handle}>
       <UserAvatar {...props} />
-    </Pressable>
+    </UserPreviewLink>
   )
 }
 
diff --git a/src/view/com/util/UserPreviewLink.tsx b/src/view/com/util/UserPreviewLink.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ae49301f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/view/com/util/UserPreviewLink.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+import React from 'react'
+import {Pressable, StyleProp, ViewStyle} from 'react-native'
+import {useStores} from 'state/index'
+import {Link} from './Link'
+import {isDesktopWeb} from 'platform/detection'
+
+interface UserPreviewLinkProps {
+  did: string
+  handle: string
+  style?: StyleProp<ViewStyle>
+}
+export function UserPreviewLink(
+  props: React.PropsWithChildren<UserPreviewLinkProps>,
+) {
+  const store = useStores()
+
+  if (isDesktopWeb) {
+    return (
+      <Link
+        href={`/profile/${props.handle}`}
+        title={props.handle}
+        asAnchor
+        style={props.style}>
+        {props.children}
+      </Link>
+    )
+  }
+  return (
+    <Pressable
+      onPress={() =>
+        store.shell.openModal({
+          name: 'profile-preview',
+          did: props.did,
+        })
+      }
+      accessibilityRole="button"
+      accessibilityLabel={props.handle}
+      accessibilityHint=""
+      style={props.style}>
+      {props.children}
+    </Pressable>
+  )
+}
diff --git a/src/view/shell/index.tsx b/src/view/shell/index.tsx
index 08a93868..7ab371d5 100644
--- a/src/view/shell/index.tsx
+++ b/src/view/shell/index.tsx
@@ -61,7 +61,6 @@ const ShellInner = observer(() => {
           </Drawer>
         </ErrorBoundary>
       </View>
-      <Lightbox />
       <Composer
         active={store.shell.isComposerActive}
         onClose={() => store.shell.closeComposer()}
@@ -71,6 +70,7 @@ const ShellInner = observer(() => {
         quote={store.shell.composerOpts?.quote}
       />
       <ModalsContainer />
+      <Lightbox />
     </>
   )
 })