diff --git a/frontend/src/components/AccessDenied.vue b/frontend/src/components/AccessDenied.vue
index f632e23..eb5ca48 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/AccessDenied.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/AccessDenied.vue
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
     <div class="message-content">
       <h2>🔒 Access Denied</h2>
       <div class="button-row">
+        <button class="btn-secondary" @click="goBack">Back</button>
         <button class="btn-primary" @click="$emit('reload')">Reload Page</button>
       </div>
     </div>
@@ -10,6 +11,8 @@
 </template>
 
 <script setup>
+import { goBack } from '@/utils/helpers'
+
 defineEmits(['reload'])
 </script>
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ProfileView.vue b/frontend/src/components/ProfileView.vue
index 76e25bf..5f69788 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ProfileView.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ProfileView.vue
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@
         <button
           type="button"
           class="btn-secondary"
-          @click="history.back()"
+          @click="goBack"
         >
           Back
         </button>
@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ import RegistrationLinkModal from '@/components/RegistrationLinkModal.vue'
 import { useAuthStore } from '@/stores/auth'
 import { adminUiPath, makeUiHref } from '@/utils/settings'
 import passkey from '@/utils/passkey'
+import { goBack } from '@/utils/helpers'
 
 const authStore = useAuthStore()
 const updateInterval = ref(null)
diff --git a/frontend/src/host/HostApp.vue b/frontend/src/host/HostApp.vue
index 795984c..ce43d59 100644
--- a/frontend/src/host/HostApp.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/host/HostApp.vue
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
             <button
               type="button"
               class="btn-secondary"
-              @click="history.back()"
+              @click="goBack"
             >
               Back
             </button>
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ import { computed, onMounted, ref } from 'vue'
 import StatusMessage from '@/components/StatusMessage.vue'
 import UserBasicInfo from '@/components/UserBasicInfo.vue'
 import { useAuthStore } from '@/stores/auth'
+import { goBack } from '@/utils/helpers'
 
 const authStore = useAuthStore()
 const initializing = ref(true)
diff --git a/frontend/src/restricted/RestrictedApp.vue b/frontend/src/restricted/RestrictedApp.vue
index 8de3faa..4206aab 100644
--- a/frontend/src/restricted/RestrictedApp.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/restricted/RestrictedApp.vue
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
     :mode="authMode"
     @authenticated="handleAuthenticated"
     @logout="handleLogout"
-    @back="backNav"
+    @back="goBack"
     @home="returnHome"
   />
 </template>
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 import { computed, onMounted } from 'vue'
 import RestrictedAuth from '@/components/RestrictedAuth.vue'
 import { uiBasePath } from '@/utils/settings'
+import { goBack } from '@/utils/helpers'
 
 const basePath = computed(() => uiBasePath())
 
@@ -35,22 +36,10 @@ function returnHome() {
   window.location.href = target
 }
 
-function backNav() {
-  try {
-    if (history.length > 1) {
-      history.back()
-      return
-    }
-  } catch (_) { /* ignore */ }
-  returnHome()
-}
-
 onMounted(() => {
   // Handle Escape key to trigger back navigation
   window.addEventListener('keydown', (event) => {
-    if (event.key === 'Escape') {
-      backNav()
-    }
+    if (event.key === 'Escape') goBack()
   })
 })
 </script>
diff --git a/frontend/src/utils/helpers.js b/frontend/src/utils/helpers.js
index 200a299..559fa77 100644
--- a/frontend/src/utils/helpers.js
+++ b/frontend/src/utils/helpers.js
@@ -24,3 +24,5 @@ export function getCookie(name) {
   const parts = value.split(`; ${name}=`)
   if (parts.length === 2) return parts.pop().split(';').shift()
 }
+
+export const goBack = () => history.back() || window.close()