diff --git a/src/account_manager.rs b/src/account_manager.rs
index c8bbc9f..c0d8284 100644
--- a/src/account_manager.rs
+++ b/src/account_manager.rs
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ impl<'a> SimpleProfilePreviewController<'a> {
 
     pub fn set_profile_previews(
         &mut self,
-        account_manager: &AccountManager<'a>,
+        account_manager: &AccountManager,
         ui: &mut egui::Ui,
         edit_mode: bool,
         add_preview_ui: fn(
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ impl<'a> SimpleProfilePreviewController<'a> {
 
     pub fn view_profile_previews(
         &mut self,
-        account_manager: &'a AccountManager<'a>,
+        account_manager: &'a AccountManager,
         ui: &mut egui::Ui,
         add_preview_ui: fn(ui: &mut egui::Ui, preview: SimpleProfilePreview, index: usize) -> bool,
     ) -> Option<usize> {
@@ -86,18 +86,31 @@ impl<'a> SimpleProfilePreviewController<'a> {
 
 /// The interface for managing the user's accounts.
 /// Represents all user-facing operations related to account management.
-pub struct AccountManager<'a> {
-    accounts: &'a mut Vec<UserAccount>,
+pub struct AccountManager {
+    accounts: Vec<UserAccount>,
     key_store: KeyStorage,
     relay_generator: RelayGenerator,
 }
 
-impl<'a> AccountManager<'a> {
+impl AccountManager {
     pub fn new(
-        accounts: &'a mut Vec<UserAccount>,
         key_store: KeyStorage,
+        // TODO: right now, there is only one way of generating relays for all accounts. In the future
+        // each account should have the option of generating relays differently
         relay_generator: RelayGenerator,
+        wakeup: impl Fn() + Send + Sync + Clone + 'static,
     ) -> Self {
+        let accounts = if let Ok(keys) = key_store.get_keys() {
+            keys.into_iter()
+                .map(|key| {
+                    let relays = relay_generator.generate_relays_for(&key.pubkey, wakeup.clone());
+                    UserAccount { key, relays }
+                })
+                .collect()
+        } else {
+            Vec::new()
+        };
+
         AccountManager {
             accounts,
             key_store,
@@ -105,11 +118,11 @@ impl<'a> AccountManager<'a> {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn get_accounts(&'a self) -> &'a Vec<UserAccount> {
-        self.accounts
+    pub fn get_accounts(&self) -> &Vec<UserAccount> {
+        &self.accounts
     }
 
-    pub fn get_account(&'a self, index: usize) -> Option<&'a UserAccount> {
+    pub fn get_account(&self, index: usize) -> Option<&UserAccount> {
         self.accounts.get(index)
     }
 
@@ -122,9 +135,15 @@ impl<'a> AccountManager<'a> {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn add_account(&'a mut self, key: FullKeypair, ctx: &egui::Context) {
+    pub fn add_account(
+        &mut self,
+        key: FullKeypair,
+        wakeup: impl Fn() + Send + Sync + Clone + 'static,
+    ) {
         let _ = self.key_store.add_key(&key);
-        let relays = self.relay_generator.generate_relays_for(&key.pubkey, ctx);
+        let relays = self
+            .relay_generator
+            .generate_relays_for(&key.pubkey, wakeup);
         let account = UserAccount { key, relays };
 
         self.accounts.push(account)
diff --git a/src/app.rs b/src/app.rs
index 30770e5..db73eb9 100644
--- a/src/app.rs
+++ b/src/app.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
-use crate::account_manager::UserAccount;
+use crate::account_manager::AccountManager;
 use crate::app_creation::setup_cc;
 use crate::app_style::user_requested_visuals_change;
 use crate::error::Error;
 use crate::frame_history::FrameHistory;
 use crate::imgcache::ImageCache;
 use crate::notecache::{CachedNote, NoteCache};
+use crate::relay_pool_manager::create_wakeup;
 use crate::timeline;
 use crate::timeline::{NoteRef, Timeline, ViewFilter};
 use crate::ui::{is_mobile, DesktopGlobalPopup, DesktopSidePanel, View};
@@ -44,7 +45,7 @@ pub struct Damus {
 
     pub img_cache: ImageCache,
     pub ndb: Ndb,
-    pub accounts: Vec<UserAccount>,
+    pub account_manager: AccountManager,
 
     frame_history: crate::frame_history::FrameHistory,
 }
@@ -646,7 +647,13 @@ impl Damus {
             timelines,
             textmode: false,
             ndb: Ndb::new(data_path.as_ref().to_str().expect("db path ok"), &config).expect("ndb"),
-            accounts: Vec::new(),
+            account_manager: AccountManager::new(
+                // TODO: use correct KeyStorage mechanism for current OS arch
+                crate::key_storage::KeyStorage::None,
+                // TODO: setting for relay generator
+                crate::relay_generation::RelayGenerator::Constant,
+                create_wakeup(&cc.egui_ctx),
+            ),
             //compose: "".to_string(),
             frame_history: FrameHistory::default(),
         }
@@ -672,7 +679,11 @@ impl Damus {
             timelines,
             textmode: false,
             ndb: Ndb::new(data_path.as_ref().to_str().expect("db path ok"), &config).expect("ndb"),
-            accounts: Vec::new(),
+            account_manager: AccountManager::new(
+                crate::key_storage::KeyStorage::None,
+                crate::relay_generation::RelayGenerator::Constant,
+                || {},
+            ),
             frame_history: FrameHistory::default(),
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/relay_generation.rs b/src/relay_generation.rs
index 20df1be..8bd33a6 100644
--- a/src/relay_generation.rs
+++ b/src/relay_generation.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-use crate::relay_pool_manager::create_wakeup;
 use enostr::{Pubkey, RelayPool};
 use tracing::error;
 
@@ -9,30 +8,39 @@ pub enum RelayGenerator {
 }
 
 impl RelayGenerator {
-    pub fn generate_relays_for(&self, key: &Pubkey, ctx: &egui::Context) -> RelayPool {
+    pub fn generate_relays_for(
+        &self,
+        key: &Pubkey,
+        wakeup: impl Fn() + Send + Sync + Clone + 'static,
+    ) -> RelayPool {
         match self {
-            Self::GossipModel => generate_relays_gossip(key, ctx),
-            Self::Nip65 => generate_relays_nip65(key, ctx),
-            Self::Constant => generate_constant_relays(ctx),
+            Self::GossipModel => generate_relays_gossip(key, wakeup),
+            Self::Nip65 => generate_relays_nip65(key, wakeup),
+            Self::Constant => generate_constant_relays(wakeup),
         }
     }
 }
 
-fn generate_relays_gossip(key: &Pubkey, ctx: &egui::Context) -> RelayPool {
-    let _ = ctx;
+fn generate_relays_gossip(
+    key: &Pubkey,
+    wakeup: impl Fn() + Send + Sync + Clone + 'static,
+) -> RelayPool {
+    let _ = wakeup;
     let _ = key;
     todo!()
 }
 
-fn generate_relays_nip65(key: &Pubkey, ctx: &egui::Context) -> RelayPool {
-    let _ = ctx;
+fn generate_relays_nip65(
+    key: &Pubkey,
+    wakeup: impl Fn() + Send + Sync + Clone + 'static,
+) -> RelayPool {
+    let _ = wakeup;
     let _ = key;
     todo!()
 }
 
-fn generate_constant_relays(ctx: &egui::Context) -> RelayPool {
+fn generate_constant_relays(wakeup: impl Fn() + Send + Sync + Clone + 'static) -> RelayPool {
     let mut pool = RelayPool::new();
-    let wakeup = create_wakeup(ctx);
 
     if let Err(e) = pool.add_url("ws://localhost:8080".to_string(), wakeup.clone()) {
         error!("{:?}", e)
diff --git a/src/ui/account_management.rs b/src/ui/account_management.rs
index 98dba2e..4b2e001 100644
--- a/src/ui/account_management.rs
+++ b/src/ui/account_management.rs
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ use super::profile::preview::SimpleProfilePreview;
 use super::state_in_memory::STATE_ACCOUNT_MANAGEMENT;
 
 pub struct AccountManagementView<'a> {
-    account_manager: AccountManager<'a>,
+    account_manager: &'a mut AccountManager,
     simple_preview_controller: SimpleProfilePreviewController<'a>,
 }
 
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ impl<'a> View for AccountManagementView<'a> {
 
 impl<'a> AccountManagementView<'a> {
     pub fn new(
-        account_manager: AccountManager<'a>,
+        account_manager: &'a mut AccountManager,
         simple_preview_controller: SimpleProfilePreviewController<'a>,
     ) -> Self {
         AccountManagementView {
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ impl<'a> AccountManagementView<'a> {
     fn show_accounts(&mut self, ui: &mut egui::Ui) {
         ui.horizontal_wrapped(|ui| {
             let maybe_remove = self.simple_preview_controller.set_profile_previews(
-                &self.account_manager,
+                self.account_manager,
                 ui,
                 STATE_ACCOUNT_MANAGEMENT.get_state(ui.ctx()),
                 desktop_account_card_ui(),
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ impl<'a> AccountManagementView<'a> {
             |ui| {
                 // create all account 'cards' and get the indicies the user requested to remove
                 let maybe_remove = self.simple_preview_controller.set_profile_previews(
-                    &self.account_manager,
+                    self.account_manager,
                     ui,
                     STATE_ACCOUNT_MANAGEMENT.get_state(ui.ctx()),
                     mobile_account_card_ui(), // closure for creating an account 'card'
@@ -180,13 +180,8 @@ fn desktop_account_card_ui(
 
 impl<'a> FromApp<'a> for AccountManagementView<'a> {
     fn from_app(app: &'a mut crate::Damus) -> Self {
-        // TODO: don't hard-code key store & relay generator
         AccountManagementView::new(
-            AccountManager::new(
-                &mut app.accounts,
-                crate::key_storage::KeyStorage::None,
-                crate::relay_generation::RelayGenerator::Constant,
-            ),
+            &mut app.account_manager,
             SimpleProfilePreviewController::new(&app.ndb, &mut app.img_cache),
         )
     }
@@ -239,7 +234,7 @@ fn delete_button(_dark_mode: bool) -> egui::Button<'static> {
 }
 
 pub struct AccountSelectionWidget<'a> {
-    account_manager: AccountManager<'a>,
+    account_manager: &'a mut AccountManager,
     simple_preview_controller: SimpleProfilePreviewController<'a>,
 }
 
@@ -249,7 +244,7 @@ impl<'a> AccountSelectionWidget<'a> {
         scroll_area().show(ui, |ui| {
             ui.horizontal_wrapped(|ui| {
                 let clicked_at = self.simple_preview_controller.view_profile_previews(
-                    &self.account_manager,
+                    self.account_manager,
                     ui,
                     |ui, preview, index| {
                         let resp = ui.add_sized(preview.dimensions(), |ui: &mut egui::Ui| {
@@ -278,7 +273,7 @@ impl<'a> AccountSelectionWidget<'a> {
 
 impl<'a> AccountSelectionWidget<'a> {
     pub fn new(
-        account_manager: AccountManager<'a>,
+        account_manager: &'a mut AccountManager,
         simple_preview_controller: SimpleProfilePreviewController<'a>,
     ) -> Self {
         AccountSelectionWidget {
@@ -301,7 +296,7 @@ mod preview {
     use std::path::Path;
 
     pub struct AccountManagementPreview {
-        accounts: Vec<UserAccount>,
+        account_manager: AccountManager,
         ndb: Ndb,
         img_cache: ImageCache,
     }
@@ -320,11 +315,16 @@ mod preview {
 
     impl AccountManagementPreview {
         fn new() -> Self {
+            let mut account_manager =
+                AccountManager::new(KeyStorage::None, RelayGenerator::Constant, || {});
             let accounts = test_data::get_test_accounts();
+            accounts
+                .into_iter()
+                .for_each(|acc| account_manager.add_account(acc.key, || {}));
             let (ndb, img_cache) = get_ndb_and_img_cache();
 
             AccountManagementPreview {
-                accounts,
+                account_manager,
                 ndb,
                 img_cache,
             }
@@ -333,15 +333,9 @@ mod preview {
 
     impl View for AccountManagementPreview {
         fn ui(&mut self, ui: &mut egui::Ui) {
-            let account_manager = AccountManager::new(
-                &mut self.accounts,
-                KeyStorage::None,
-                RelayGenerator::Constant,
-            );
-
             ui.add_space(24.0);
             AccountManagementView::new(
-                account_manager,
+                &mut self.account_manager,
                 SimpleProfilePreviewController::new(&self.ndb, &mut self.img_cache),
             )
             .ui(ui);
@@ -357,17 +351,22 @@ mod preview {
     }
 
     pub struct AccountSelectionPreview {
-        accounts: Vec<UserAccount>,
+        account_manager: AccountManager,
         ndb: Ndb,
         img_cache: ImageCache,
     }
 
     impl AccountSelectionPreview {
         fn new() -> Self {
+            let mut account_manager =
+                AccountManager::new(KeyStorage::None, RelayGenerator::Constant, || {});
             let accounts = test_data::get_test_accounts();
+            accounts
+                .into_iter()
+                .for_each(|acc| account_manager.add_account(acc.key, || {}));
             let (ndb, img_cache) = get_ndb_and_img_cache();
             AccountSelectionPreview {
-                accounts,
+                account_manager,
                 ndb,
                 img_cache,
             }
@@ -376,14 +375,8 @@ mod preview {
 
     impl View for AccountSelectionPreview {
         fn ui(&mut self, ui: &mut egui::Ui) {
-            let account_manager = AccountManager::new(
-                &mut self.accounts,
-                KeyStorage::None,
-                RelayGenerator::Constant,
-            );
-
             let mut widget = AccountSelectionWidget::new(
-                account_manager,
+                &mut self.account_manager,
                 SimpleProfilePreviewController::new(&self.ndb, &mut self.img_cache),
             );
 
diff --git a/src/ui/global_popup.rs b/src/ui/global_popup.rs
index 2901796..b0355d8 100644
--- a/src/ui/global_popup.rs
+++ b/src/ui/global_popup.rs
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ impl<'a> DesktopGlobalPopup<'a> {
 
 mod preview {
     use crate::{
-        test_data::get_test_accounts,
+        test_data,
         ui::{DesktopSidePanel, Preview, View},
         Damus,
     };
@@ -113,7 +113,10 @@ mod preview {
     impl GlobalPopupPreview {
         fn new() -> Self {
             let mut app = Damus::mock(".");
-            app.accounts = get_test_accounts();
+            let accounts = test_data::get_test_accounts();
+            accounts
+                .into_iter()
+                .for_each(|acc| app.account_manager.add_account(acc.key, || {}));
             GlobalPopupPreview { app }
         }
     }