diff --git a/src/lib/api/adapters/user.adapter.ts b/src/lib/api/adapters/user.adapter.ts
index 00d86afe..b396b49d 100644
--- a/src/lib/api/adapters/user.adapter.ts
+++ b/src/lib/api/adapters/user.adapter.ts
@@ -149,9 +149,10 @@ export class UserAdapter extends BaseAdapter {
    * Update user profile
    */
   async updateProfile(updates: Partial<UserInfo>): Promise<UserInfo> {
+    // Wrap updates in 'user' key as required by Rails backend
     const result = await this.request<UserInfo>('/users/me', {
       method: 'PUT',
-      body: JSON.stringify(updates)
+      body: JSON.stringify({ user: updates })
     })
 
     // Clear cache for current user after update
diff --git a/src/lib/api/resources/users.ts b/src/lib/api/resources/users.ts
index 38e8768f..38269b24 100644
--- a/src/lib/api/resources/users.ts
+++ b/src/lib/api/resources/users.ts
@@ -26,25 +26,21 @@ export const users = {
 	 * Update user settings
 	 */
 	update: async (userId: string, params: UserUpdateParams): Promise<UserResponse> => {
-		// Transform flat params to nested UserInfo structure
+		// Pass flat params directly - backend expects flat picture/element fields
 		const updates: {
+			picture?: string | undefined
+			element?: string | undefined
 			gender?: number | undefined
 			language?: string | undefined
 			theme?: string | undefined
-			avatar?: { picture: string; element: string } | undefined
 		} = {}
 
+		if (params.picture !== undefined) updates.picture = params.picture
+		if (params.element !== undefined) updates.element = params.element
 		if (params.gender !== undefined) updates.gender = params.gender
 		if (params.language !== undefined) updates.language = params.language
 		if (params.theme !== undefined) updates.theme = params.theme
 
-		if (params.picture !== undefined || params.element !== undefined) {
-			updates.avatar = {
-				picture: params.picture ?? '',
-				element: params.element ?? ''
-			}
-		}
-
 		const result = await userAdapter.updateProfile(updates)
 		return {
 			id: result.id,