diff --git a/client/src/api/contactsApi.tsx b/client/src/api/contactsApi.tsx
index 8787c4b..451fa42 100644
--- a/client/src/api/contactsApi.tsx
+++ b/client/src/api/contactsApi.tsx
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ export async function getContactsList(): Promise<ContactsProps[]> {
   }
 }
 
-export async function setContactStatus(conversation_id: number, read: boolean) {
+export async function setContactStatus(conversation_id: string, read: boolean) {
   try {
     const response = await axiosClient.put(
       `/api/chat/contacts/${conversation_id}`,
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ export async function sendContact(contact: string) {
 }
 
 export async function getMessages(
-  contact: number | null,
+  contact: string | null,
   cursor: number | null = 0,
   limit: number = 50,
 ): Promise<{ messages: ChatMessages[] }> {
diff --git a/client/src/components/chat/ContactsList.tsx b/client/src/components/chat/ContactsList.tsx
index 4bfc488..8063a21 100644
--- a/client/src/components/chat/ContactsList.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/chat/ContactsList.tsx
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@ function ContactsList({
       'added to group',
       (msg: {
         username: string;
-        user_id: number;
-        group_id: number;
+        user_id: string;
+        group_id: string;
         isadmin: false;
       }) => {
         console.log('added to group, fetching contacts');
@@ -57,10 +57,6 @@ function ContactsList({
         fetchContacts();
       },
     );
-
-    return () => {
-      socket?.off('added to group');
-    };
   }, []);
 
   const fetchContacts = async () => {
@@ -70,7 +66,7 @@ function ContactsList({
     setContactsList(contacts);
   };
 
-  async function removeContact(contactId: number, conversation_id: number) {
+  async function removeContact(contactId: number, conversation_id: string) {
     try {
       console.log('delete contact, conversation_id: ', conversation_id);
 
diff --git a/client/src/components/chat/MessagesArea.tsx b/client/src/components/chat/MessagesArea.tsx
index 22c018a..61324ea 100644
--- a/client/src/components/chat/MessagesArea.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/chat/MessagesArea.tsx
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ type MessagesAreaProps = {
   updateContactStatus: (contact: ContactsProps, read: boolean) => void;
   messageHandler: (msg: ChatMessages) => void;
   setContactsList: React.Dispatch<React.SetStateAction<ContactsProps[]>>;
-  fetchPreviousMessages: (contact: number | null) => Promise<void>;
+  fetchPreviousMessages: (contact: string | null) => Promise<void>;
   errorMessage: string | null;
   contactsList: ContactsProps[];
 };
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ function MessagesArea({
 
     socket.on(
       'delete message',
-      (msg: { conversation_id: number; message_id: number }) => {
+      (msg: { conversation_id: string; message_id: number }) => {
         console.log('deleted message from state');
         setMessages((prevMessages) =>
           prevMessages.filter(
diff --git a/client/src/components/chat/ParticipantsBar.tsx b/client/src/components/chat/ParticipantsBar.tsx
index abe3530..ccd9f9a 100644
--- a/client/src/components/chat/ParticipantsBar.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/chat/ParticipantsBar.tsx
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import { useOutletContext } from 'react-router-dom';
 import LoadingWheel from '@/components/chat/LoadingWheel.tsx';
 
 type ParticipantsProps = {
-  user_id: number;
+  user_id: string;
   username: string;
   isadmin: boolean;
 };
@@ -75,8 +75,8 @@ function ParticipantsBar({
       'added to group',
       (msg: {
         username: string;
-        user_id: number;
-        group_id: number;
+        user_id: string;
+        group_id: string;
         isadmin: false;
       }) => {
         const { group_id } = msg;
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ function ParticipantsBar({
       },
     );
 
-    socket.on('left group', (msg: { user_id: number; group_id: number }) => {
+    socket.on('left group', (msg: { user_id: string; group_id: string }) => {
       console.log(`(socket on "left group")`, msg);
       // Initialize contact again to clear messages and participants list
       if (
@@ -128,10 +128,11 @@ function ParticipantsBar({
 
     return () => {
       socket?.off('left group');
+      socket?.off('added to group');
     };
   }, [contact, participants]);
 
-  const handleRemoveUser = async (userId: number) => {
+  const handleRemoveUser = async (userId: string) => {
     try {
       setIsLoading(true);
       socket?.emit(
diff --git a/client/src/components/chat/UserProfile.tsx b/client/src/components/chat/UserProfile.tsx
index cbe5339..4818aac 100644
--- a/client/src/components/chat/UserProfile.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/chat/UserProfile.tsx
@@ -24,9 +24,7 @@ function UserProfile() {
         </div>
 
         <div className="text-gray-200">
-          <p>
-            {user?.user_id} {user.username}
-          </p>
+          <p>{user.username}</p>
         </div>
       </div>
 
diff --git a/client/src/pages/Chat.tsx b/client/src/pages/Chat.tsx
index 2e55983..5be5059 100644
--- a/client/src/pages/Chat.tsx
+++ b/client/src/pages/Chat.tsx
@@ -14,22 +14,22 @@ import ParticipantsBar from '@/components/chat/ParticipantsBar.tsx';
 export type ChatMessages = {
   sender: string;
   message: string;
-  recipient: number; // conversation_id
+  recipient: string; // conversation_id
   message_id: number;
   pending: boolean;
   attachment_urls: string[] | null;
-  sender_id: number;
-  conversation_id: number;
+  sender_id: string;
+  conversation_id: string;
   sent_at: Date;
 };
 
 export type ContactsProps = {
   read: boolean;
   username: string;
-  user_id: number;
+  user_id: string;
   id: number;
   type: 'direct' | 'group';
-  conversation_id: number;
+  conversation_id: string;
   last_active: string;
 };
 
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ function Chat() {
     }
   }
 
-  const fetchMessages = async (conversation_id: number) => {
+  const fetchMessages = async (conversation_id: string) => {
     console.log('Fetching messages for: ', conversation_id);
     try {
       const messages = await getMessages(conversation_id);
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ function Chat() {
     }
   };
 
-  const fetchPreviousMessages = async (contact: number | null) => {
+  const fetchPreviousMessages = async (contact: string | null) => {
     if (!hasMoreMessages) {
       return;
     }
diff --git a/client/src/socket/socket.tsx b/client/src/socket/socket.tsx
index 3b5e7a4..7912856 100644
--- a/client/src/socket/socket.tsx
+++ b/client/src/socket/socket.tsx
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ function initializeSocket(token: string): Socket | null {
 }
 
 async function joinRoom(
-  conversation_id: number,
+  conversation_id: string,
 ): Promise<{ success: boolean; message: string }> {
   console.log('Attempting to join room:', conversation_id);
 
diff --git a/client/src/utils/ProtectedRoutes.tsx b/client/src/utils/ProtectedRoutes.tsx
index bc3dcc3..d33892c 100644
--- a/client/src/utils/ProtectedRoutes.tsx
+++ b/client/src/utils/ProtectedRoutes.tsx
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import { axiosClient } from '../App.tsx';
 
 export type UsernameType = {
   username: string | null;
-  user_id: number | null;
+  user_id: string | null;
 };
 
 function ProtectedRoutes() {
diff --git a/server/db/db.js b/server/db/db.js
index 5ba0a16..9a2be3c 100644
--- a/server/db/db.js
+++ b/server/db/db.js
@@ -33,10 +33,16 @@ client
 // Creating database tables
 async function createTables() {
   try {
-    // Create Accounts Table
+    // Enable UUID extension
+    await client.query(`
+      CREATE EXTENSION IF NOT EXISTS "uuid-ossp";
+    `);
+    console.log("Successfully enabled UUID extension");
+
+    // Create Accounts Table with UUID
     await client.query(`
       CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS Accounts (
-        user_id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
+        user_id UUID PRIMARY KEY DEFAULT uuid_generate_v4(),
         username VARCHAR(255) UNIQUE NOT NULL,
         password_hash VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL,
         created_at TIMESTAMPTZ DEFAULT NOW()
@@ -44,16 +50,11 @@ async function createTables() {
       CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_username ON Accounts (username);
     `);
     console.log("Successfully created Accounts table");
-  } catch (e) {
-    console.error("Failed to create Accounts table: ", e);
-    throw e;
-  }
 
-  try {
-    // Create Conversations Table
+    // Create Conversations Table with UUID
     await client.query(`
       CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS Conversations (
-        conversation_id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
+        conversation_id UUID PRIMARY KEY DEFAULT uuid_generate_v4(),
         conversation_type VARCHAR(10) NOT NULL CHECK (conversation_type IN ('direct', 'group')),
         name VARCHAR(255),
         created_at TIMESTAMPTZ DEFAULT NOW(),
@@ -62,18 +63,13 @@ async function createTables() {
       CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_conversation_type ON Conversations (conversation_type);
     `);
     console.log("Successfully created Conversations table");
-  } catch (e) {
-    console.error("Failed to create Conversations table: ", e);
-    throw e;
-  }
 
-  try {
-    // Create Messages Table
+    // Create Messages Table with SERIAL but referencing UUID
     await client.query(`
       CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS Messages (
         message_id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
-        conversation_id INT REFERENCES Conversations(conversation_id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
-        user_id INT REFERENCES Accounts(user_id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
+        conversation_id UUID REFERENCES Conversations(conversation_id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
+        user_id UUID REFERENCES Accounts(user_id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
         content TEXT NOT NULL,
         attachment_urls TEXT[],
         sent_at TIMESTAMPTZ DEFAULT NOW()
@@ -83,17 +79,12 @@ async function createTables() {
       CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_messages_conversation_sent_at ON Messages (conversation_id, sent_at);
     `);
     console.log("Successfully created Messages table");
-  } catch (e) {
-    console.error("Failed to create Messages table: ", e);
-    throw e;
-  }
 
-  try {
-    // Create Memberships Table
+    // Create Memberships Table referencing UUID
     await client.query(`
       CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS Memberships (
-        conversation_id INT NOT NULL REFERENCES Conversations(conversation_id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
-        user_id INT REFERENCES Accounts(user_id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
+        conversation_id UUID NOT NULL REFERENCES Conversations(conversation_id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
+        user_id UUID REFERENCES Accounts(user_id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
         joined_at TIMESTAMPTZ DEFAULT NOW(),
         PRIMARY KEY (conversation_id, user_id)
       );
@@ -102,18 +93,13 @@ async function createTables() {
       CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_memberships_conversation_joined_at ON Memberships (conversation_id, joined_at);
     `);
     console.log("Successfully created Memberships table");
-  } catch (e) {
-    console.error("Failed to create Memberships table: ", e);
-    throw e;
-  }
 
-  try {
-    // Create Contacts Table
+    // Create Contacts Table with SERIAL but referencing UUID
     await client.query(`
       CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS Contacts (
         contact_id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
-        user_id INT REFERENCES Accounts(user_id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
-        conversation_id INT NOT NULL REFERENCES Conversations(conversation_id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
+        user_id UUID REFERENCES Accounts(user_id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
+        conversation_id UUID NOT NULL REFERENCES Conversations(conversation_id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
         read BOOLEAN NOT NULL DEFAULT FALSE,
         last_active TIMESTAMPTZ DEFAULT NOW(),
         CONSTRAINT unique_contact UNIQUE (user_id, conversation_id)
@@ -123,19 +109,14 @@ async function createTables() {
       CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_contacts_contact_id ON Contacts (contact_id);
     `);
     console.log("Successfully created Contacts table");
-  } catch (e) {
-    console.error("Failed to create Contacts table: ", e);
-    throw e;
-  }
 
-  try {
-    // Create GroupAdmins Table with Trigger
+    // Create GroupAdmins Table with Trigger, referencing UUID
     await client.query(`
       -- Create the base table
       CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS GroupAdmins (
-        conversation_id INT NOT NULL REFERENCES Conversations(conversation_id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
-        user_id INT NOT NULL REFERENCES Accounts(user_id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
-        granted_by INT NOT NULL REFERENCES Accounts(user_id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
+        conversation_id UUID NOT NULL REFERENCES Conversations(conversation_id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
+        user_id UUID NOT NULL REFERENCES Accounts(user_id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
+        granted_by UUID NOT NULL REFERENCES Accounts(user_id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
         granted_at TIMESTAMPTZ DEFAULT NOW(),
         PRIMARY KEY (conversation_id, user_id)
       );
@@ -181,7 +162,7 @@ async function createTables() {
     `);
     console.log("Successfully created GroupAdmins table with trigger");
   } catch (e) {
-    console.error("Failed to create GroupAdmins table: ", e);
+    console.error("Failed to create tables: ", e);
     throw e;
   }
 
diff --git a/server/package-lock.json b/server/package-lock.json
index 4a4c565..9c2a512 100644
--- a/server/package-lock.json
+++ b/server/package-lock.json
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@
         "express": "^4.21.0",
         "jsonwebtoken": "^9.0.2",
         "multer": "^1.4.5-lts.1",
-        "nanoid": "^5.0.7",
         "pg": "^8.13.0",
         "socket.io": "^4.8.0",
         "uuid": "^10.0.0"
@@ -436,36 +435,27 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/cookie": {
-      "version": "0.4.2",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/cookie/-/cookie-0.4.2.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-aSWTXFzaKWkvHO1Ny/s+ePFpvKsPnjc551iI41v3ny/ow6tBG5Vd+FuqGNhh1LxOmVzOlGUriIlOaokOvhaStA==",
+      "version": "0.7.2",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/cookie/-/cookie-0.7.2.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-yki5XnKuf750l50uGTllt6kKILY4nQ1eNIQatoXEByZ5dWgnKqbnqmTrBE5B4N7lrMJKQ2ytWMiTO2o0v6Ew/w==",
       "license": "MIT",
       "engines": {
         "node": ">= 0.6"
       }
     },
     "node_modules/cookie-parser": {
-      "version": "1.4.6",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/cookie-parser/-/cookie-parser-1.4.6.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-z3IzaNjdwUC2olLIB5/ITd0/setiaFMLYiZJle7xg5Fe9KWAceil7xszYfHHBtDFYLSgJduS2Ty0P1uJdPDJeA==",
+      "version": "1.4.7",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/cookie-parser/-/cookie-parser-1.4.7.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-nGUvgXnotP3BsjiLX2ypbQnWoGUPIIfHQNZkkC668ntrzGWEZVW70HDEB1qnNGMicPje6EttlIgzo51YSwNQGw==",
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
-        "cookie": "0.4.1",
+        "cookie": "0.7.2",
         "cookie-signature": "1.0.6"
       },
       "engines": {
         "node": ">= 0.8.0"
       }
     },
-    "node_modules/cookie-parser/node_modules/cookie": {
-      "version": "0.4.1",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/cookie/-/cookie-0.4.1.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-ZwrFkGJxUR3EIoXtO+yVE69Eb7KlixbaeAWfBQB9vVsNn/o+Yw69gBWSSDK825hQNdN+wF8zELf3dFNl/kxkUA==",
-      "license": "MIT",
-      "engines": {
-        "node": ">= 0.6"
-      }
-    },
     "node_modules/cookie-signature": {
       "version": "1.0.6",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/cookie-signature/-/cookie-signature-1.0.6.tgz",
@@ -602,9 +592,9 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/engine.io": {
-      "version": "6.6.1",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/engine.io/-/engine.io-6.6.1.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-NEpDCw9hrvBW+hVEOK4T7v0jFJ++KgtPl4jKFwsZVfG1XhS0dCrSb3VMb9gPAd7VAdW52VT1EnaNiU2vM8C0og==",
+      "version": "6.6.2",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/engine.io/-/engine.io-6.6.2.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-gmNvsYi9C8iErnZdVcJnvCpSKbWTt1E8+JZo8b+daLninywUWi5NQ5STSHZ9rFjFO7imNcvb8Pc5pe/wMR5xEw==",
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "@types/cookie": "^0.4.1",
@@ -612,7 +602,7 @@
         "@types/node": ">=10.0.0",
         "accepts": "~1.3.4",
         "base64id": "2.0.0",
-        "cookie": "~0.4.1",
+        "cookie": "~0.7.2",
         "cors": "~2.8.5",
         "debug": "~4.3.1",
         "engine.io-parser": "~5.2.1",
@@ -668,9 +658,9 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/express": {
-      "version": "4.21.0",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/express/-/express-4.21.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-VqcNGcj/Id5ZT1LZ/cfihi3ttTn+NJmkli2eZADigjq29qTlWi/hAQ43t/VLPq8+UX06FCEx3ByOYet6ZFblng==",
+      "version": "4.21.2",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/express/-/express-4.21.2.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-28HqgMZAmih1Czt9ny7qr6ek2qddF4FclbMzwhCREB6OFfH+rXAnuNCwo1/wFvrtbgsQDb4kSbX9de9lFbrXnA==",
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "accepts": "~1.3.8",
@@ -678,7 +668,7 @@
         "body-parser": "1.20.3",
         "content-disposition": "0.5.4",
         "content-type": "~1.0.4",
-        "cookie": "0.6.0",
+        "cookie": "0.7.1",
         "cookie-signature": "1.0.6",
         "debug": "2.6.9",
         "depd": "2.0.0",
@@ -692,7 +682,7 @@
         "methods": "~1.1.2",
         "on-finished": "2.4.1",
         "parseurl": "~1.3.3",
-        "path-to-regexp": "0.1.10",
+        "path-to-regexp": "0.1.12",
         "proxy-addr": "~2.0.7",
         "qs": "6.13.0",
         "range-parser": "~1.2.1",
@@ -707,12 +697,16 @@
       },
       "engines": {
         "node": ">= 0.10.0"
+      },
+      "funding": {
+        "type": "opencollective",
+        "url": "https://opencollective.com/express"
       }
     },
     "node_modules/express/node_modules/cookie": {
-      "version": "0.6.0",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/cookie/-/cookie-0.6.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-U71cyTamuh1CRNCfpGY6to28lxvNwPG4Guz/EVjgf3Jmzv0vlDp1atT9eS5dDjMYHucpHbWns6Lwf3BKz6svdw==",
+      "version": "0.7.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/cookie/-/cookie-0.7.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-6DnInpx7SJ2AK3+CTUE/ZM0vWTUboZCegxhC2xiIydHR9jNuTAASBrfEpHhiGOZw/nX51bHt6YQl8jsGo4y/0w==",
       "license": "MIT",
       "engines": {
         "node": ">= 0.6"
@@ -1408,24 +1402,6 @@
         "mkdirp": "bin/cmd.js"
       }
     },
-    "node_modules/nanoid": {
-      "version": "5.0.7",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/nanoid/-/nanoid-5.0.7.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-oLxFY2gd2IqnjcYyOXD8XGCftpGtZP2AbHbOkthDkvRywH5ayNtPVy9YlOPcHckXzbLTCHpkb7FB+yuxKV13pQ==",
-      "funding": [
-        {
-          "type": "github",
-          "url": "https://github.com/sponsors/ai"
-        }
-      ],
-      "license": "MIT",
-      "bin": {
-        "nanoid": "bin/nanoid.js"
-      },
-      "engines": {
-        "node": "^18 || >=20"
-      }
-    },
     "node_modules/negotiator": {
       "version": "0.6.3",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/negotiator/-/negotiator-0.6.3.tgz",
@@ -1589,9 +1565,9 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/path-to-regexp": {
-      "version": "0.1.10",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/path-to-regexp/-/path-to-regexp-0.1.10.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-7lf7qcQidTku0Gu3YDPc8DJ1q7OOucfa/BSsIwjuh56VU7katFvuM8hULfkwB3Fns/rsVF7PwPKVw1sl5KQS9w==",
+      "version": "0.1.12",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/path-to-regexp/-/path-to-regexp-0.1.12.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-RA1GjUVMnvYFxuqovrEqZoxxW5NUZqbwKtYz/Tt7nXerk0LbLblQmrsgdeOxV5SFHf0UDggjS/bSeOZwt1pmEQ==",
       "license": "MIT"
     },
     "node_modules/pg": {
diff --git a/server/package.json b/server/package.json
index 90cbe5b..bcc3756 100644
--- a/server/package.json
+++ b/server/package.json
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@
     "express": "^4.21.0",
     "jsonwebtoken": "^9.0.2",
     "multer": "^1.4.5-lts.1",
-    "nanoid": "^5.0.7",
     "pg": "^8.13.0",
     "socket.io": "^4.8.0",
     "uuid": "^10.0.0"
diff --git a/server/server.js b/server/server.js
index 172e661..d627f4d 100644
--- a/server/server.js
+++ b/server/server.js
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ app.post("/api/chat/groups/create", authorizeUser, async (req, res) => {
     return res.status(500).json({ message: "Failed to create group" });
   }
   console.log("Successfully created group: ", groupname, "id: ", group_id);
-  console.log("io.to: ", contact_user_id, "added to group");
+  console.log(`io.to: ${contact_user_id} added to group`);
   io.to(contact_user_id).emit("added to group", { group_id });
   return res.status(200).json({
     message: `Successfully created group: ${groupname}`,