Merge remote-tracking branch 'origin/main'

# Conflicts:
#	clients/windows/src/app/mod.rs

clients/android/app/build.gradle.kts

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ plugins {
 
 android {
     namespace = "io.unom.punktfunk"
-    compileSdk = 37 // Android 17 — required by androidx.core 1.19.0; targetSdk stays 36 for now.
+    compileSdk = 37 // Android 17 — required by androidx.core 1.19.0.
 
     defaultConfig {
         // Load from .env if it exists (local dev), otherwise from System.getenv (CI)
@@ -26,7 +26,11 @@ android {
         // the handful of API 31+ APIs we use are runtime-gated (Material You → brand palette, rumble
         // → legacy Vibrator, NEARBY_WIFI/lights/ADPF already gated), so nothing is lost above 28.
         minSdk = 28
-        targetSdk = 36
+        // Android 17: targeting 37 makes Local Network Protection MANDATORY — all LAN traffic (the
+        // QUIC dial, mDNS, WoL, the library fetch) is blocked until the user grants the
+        // ACCESS_LOCAL_NETWORK runtime permission. ConnectScreen owns that request/rationale flow;
+        // don't bump past 37 without re-checking the next release's behavior changes.
+        targetSdk = 37
         val vCode = (props.getProperty("VERSION_CODE") ?: System.getenv("VERSION_CODE"))
         versionCode = vCode?.toInt() ?: 1
         // versionName is the single project version, threaded from CI (a vX.Y.Z release or a

clients/android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml

@@ -19,8 +19,9 @@
          Its absence went unnoticed for weeks because the acquire was wrapped in a silent
          runCatching (now logged). -->
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WAKE_LOCK" />
-    <!-- Enforced from Android 17 (SDK 37) for ALL local-network traffic incl. the QUIC socket.
-         Harmless to declare on earlier releases. -->
+    <!-- Enforced from Android 17 (SDK 37, our targetSdk) for ALL local-network traffic incl. the
+         QUIC socket — a RUNTIME permission (NEARBY_DEVICES group): ConnectScreen requests it on
+         entry and gates every dial/wake on the grant. Harmless to declare on earlier releases. -->
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_LOCAL_NETWORK" />
     <!-- Mic uplink to the host's virtual microphone (requested at runtime). -->
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO" />

clients/android/app/src/main/kotlin/io/unom/punktfunk/ConnectDialogs.kt

@@ -155,6 +155,35 @@ internal fun TrustNewHostDialog(
     )
 }
 
+/**
+ * Android 17+ Local Network Protection rationale: ACCESS_LOCAL_NETWORK was denied, so discovery and
+ * every connect are dead — offer the system prompt again and a settings deep link (a permanently-
+ * denied request returns instantly without ever showing the prompt, so "Allow" alone isn't enough).
+ */
+@Composable
+internal fun LocalNetworkDialog(onAllow: () -> Unit, onSettings: () -> Unit, onDismiss: () -> Unit) {
+    AlertDialog(
+        onDismissRequest = onDismiss,
+        title = { Text("Allow local network access") },
+        text = {
+            Text(
+                "Android blocks punktfunk from talking to devices on your network, so it can't " +
+                    "find or reach any host until you allow it. If no prompt appears when you tap " +
+                    "Allow, enable “Nearby devices” for punktfunk in system settings.",
+            )
+        },
+        confirmButton = {
+            TextButton(onClick = onAllow) { Text("Allow") }
+        },
+        dismissButton = {
+            Row {
+                TextButton(onClick = onSettings) { Text("Open settings") }
+                TextButton(onClick = onDismiss) { Text("Not now") }
+            }
+        },
+    )
+}
+
 /** The pinned fingerprint no longer matches — force re-pairing (never a silent re-trust). */
 @Composable
 internal fun FingerprintChangedDialog(

clients/android/app/src/main/kotlin/io/unom/punktfunk/ConnectScreen.kt

@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@ package io.unom.punktfunk
 
 import android.Manifest
 import android.content.Context
+import android.content.Intent
 import android.content.pm.PackageManager
+import android.net.Uri
 import android.os.Build
 import androidx.activity.compose.rememberLauncherForActivityResult
 import androidx.activity.result.contract.ActivityResultContracts
@@ -30,6 +32,7 @@ import androidx.compose.material3.Icon
 import androidx.compose.material3.MaterialTheme
 import androidx.compose.material3.Surface
 import androidx.compose.material3.Text
+import androidx.compose.material3.TextButton
 import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
 import androidx.compose.runtime.DisposableEffect
 import androidx.compose.runtime.LaunchedEffect
@@ -37,6 +40,7 @@ import androidx.compose.runtime.getValue
 import androidx.compose.runtime.mutableStateOf
 import androidx.compose.runtime.remember
 import androidx.compose.runtime.rememberCoroutineScope
+import androidx.compose.runtime.rememberUpdatedState
 import androidx.compose.runtime.setValue
 import androidx.compose.ui.Alignment
 import androidx.compose.ui.Modifier
@@ -44,6 +48,9 @@ import androidx.compose.ui.platform.LocalContext
 import androidx.compose.ui.text.style.TextAlign
 import androidx.compose.ui.unit.dp
 import androidx.core.content.ContextCompat
+import androidx.lifecycle.Lifecycle
+import androidx.lifecycle.LifecycleEventObserver
+import androidx.lifecycle.LifecycleOwner
 import io.unom.punktfunk.components.EmptyHostsState
 import io.unom.punktfunk.components.HostCard
 import io.unom.punktfunk.components.SectionLabel
@@ -60,6 +67,7 @@ import io.unom.punktfunk.models.HostStatus
 import io.unom.punktfunk.models.PendingTrust
 import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicBoolean
 import kotlinx.coroutines.Dispatchers
+import kotlinx.coroutines.delay
 import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
 import kotlinx.coroutines.withContext
 
@@ -111,14 +119,57 @@ fun ConnectScreen(
     // denial used to leave discovery dead forever.
     val discovery = remember { HostDiscovery(context) }
     var discovered by remember { mutableStateOf<List<DiscoveredHost>>(emptyList()) }
+    // Android 17 Local Network Protection: with targetSdk 37, EVERYTHING this screen does — the mDNS
+    // browse, the QUIC dial (UDP 9777), Wake-on-LAN, the library fetch — is blocked until the user
+    // grants ACCESS_LOCAL_NETWORK (a runtime permission in the NEARBY_DEVICES group). Blocked UDP
+    // fails with EPERM, which quinn experiences as a silent handshake timeout — so without this gate
+    // a denial looks exactly like a dead host. Unlike NEARBY_WIFI_DEVICES below, this one is
+    // load-bearing: request it on entry, and surface a denial as an actionable dialog/banner (with a
+    // system-settings deep link) instead of dead-ending on timeouts.
+    var lnpGranted by remember { mutableStateOf(hasLocalNetworkPermission(context)) }
+    var lnpPrompt by remember { mutableStateOf(false) }
+    val localNetLauncher = rememberLauncherForActivityResult(
+        ActivityResultContracts.RequestPermission(),
+    ) { granted ->
+        lnpGranted = granted
+        if (granted) {
+            lnpPrompt = false
+            // The browse started while blocked (its sockets failed or received nothing) — restart it
+            // now that the grant makes them work.
+            discovery.stop()
+            discovery.start()
+        } else {
+            lnpPrompt = true // rationale + "Open settings" (a permanently-denied request returns instantly)
+        }
+    }
     val nearbyLauncher = rememberLauncherForActivityResult(
         ActivityResultContracts.RequestPermission(),
     ) { _ -> /* best-effort hint; discovery runs regardless of the result */ }
     LaunchedEffect(Unit) {
-        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.TIRAMISU && !hasNearbyPermission(context)) {
+        if (!lnpGranted) {
+            localNetLauncher.launch(Manifest.permission.ACCESS_LOCAL_NETWORK)
+        } else if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.TIRAMISU && !hasNearbyPermission(context)) {
+            // The old opportunistic multicast hedge (some OEMs filter multicast without it). On API
+            // 37+ it shares the NEARBY_DEVICES group with ACCESS_LOCAL_NETWORK, so once that is
+            // granted this auto-grants without a second prompt.
             nearbyLauncher.launch(Manifest.permission.NEARBY_WIFI_DEVICES)
         }
     }
+    // Re-check on resume: our dialog deep-links to system settings, and granting there doesn't kill
+    // or otherwise notify the app — this observer is what turns the grant into a live discovery.
+    DisposableEffect(Unit) {
+        val lifecycle = (context as? LifecycleOwner)?.lifecycle
+        val obs = LifecycleEventObserver { _, event ->
+            if (event == Lifecycle.Event.ON_RESUME && !lnpGranted && hasLocalNetworkPermission(context)) {
+                lnpGranted = true
+                lnpPrompt = false
+                discovery.stop()
+                discovery.start()
+            }
+        }
+        lifecycle?.addObserver(obs)
+        onDispose { lifecycle?.removeObserver(obs) }
+    }
     DisposableEffect(Unit) {
         discovery.onChange = { discovered = it }
         discovery.start()
@@ -154,6 +205,29 @@ fun ConnectScreen(
         }
         if (learned) savedHosts = knownHostStore.all()
     }
+    // Saved hosts proven reachable by a QUIC probe this cycle, keyed "address:port" — the
+    // routed-network (Tailscale/VPN) counterpart to mDNS presence, since such hosts never
+    // advertise. OR'd into `isOnline` below so their pips light up. Probe only saved hosts NOT
+    // already seen on mDNS, off the main thread, every ~12 s; gated on LNP (blocked UDP would
+    // just time out). `rememberUpdatedState` keeps the 1 Hz mDNS updates from restarting the loop.
+    var reachable by remember { mutableStateOf<Set<String>>(emptySet()) }
+    val discoveredNow by rememberUpdatedState(discovered)
+    LaunchedEffect(savedHosts, lnpGranted) {
+        if (!lnpGranted) {
+            reachable = emptySet()
+            return@LaunchedEffect
+        }
+        while (true) {
+            val targets = savedHosts.filter { kh -> discoveredNow.none { kh.matches(it) } }
+            reachable = withContext(Dispatchers.IO) {
+                targets
+                    .filter { NativeBridge.nativeProbe(it.address, it.port, 3_000) }
+                    .map { "${it.address}:${it.port}" }
+                    .toSet()
+            }
+            delay(12_000)
+        }
+    }
     // Mint-once on genuine first run; an Unrecoverable store (decrypt failure) surfaces here and
     // refuses to connect — never silently shadow-minting a new identity (which would force re-pair).
     var identity by remember { mutableStateOf<ClientIdentity?>(null) }
@@ -325,6 +399,12 @@ fun ConnectScreen(
         dh: DiscoveredHost? = null,
         manualName: String? = null,
     ) {
+        // Every dial/pair path funnels through here — with local network access denied the connect
+        // can only EPERM its way to a 10 s timeout, so ask instead of pretending to try.
+        if (!lnpGranted) {
+            lnpPrompt = true
+            return
+        }
         val known = knownHostStore.get(targetHost, targetPort)
         val adv = dh?.fingerprint?.lowercase()
         // Label precedence: a saved host keeps its (possibly user-renamed) name; else the discovered
@@ -361,7 +441,7 @@ fun ConnectScreen(
                         title = kh.name,
                         subtitle = "${kh.address}:${kh.port}",
                         filled = true,
-                        online = discovered.any { it.host == kh.address && it.port == kh.port },
+                        online = kh.isOnline(discovered, reachable),
                         paired = kh.paired,
                         knownHost = kh,
                         activate = { connect(kh.address, kh.port) },
@@ -398,7 +478,8 @@ fun ConnectScreen(
             // handle — the touch grid guards the same way with enabled=!connecting), or while the whole
             // console home is cross-fading out.
             navActive = navGate && !connecting && !showManualSheet && pendingTrust == null &&
-                awaiting == null && editTarget == null && optionsTarget == null && waker.waking == null,
+                awaiting == null && editTarget == null && optionsTarget == null &&
+                waker.waking == null && !lnpPrompt,
             onActivate = { it.activate() },
             onOpenLibrary = { it.knownHost?.let(onOpenLibrary) },
             onOpenSettings = onOpenSettings,
@@ -465,6 +546,38 @@ fun ConnectScreen(
                 }
             }
 
+            if (!lnpGranted) {
+                // Local network access denied: discovery can't ever find anything and every connect
+                // would time out — say so at the top, with the fix one tap away, instead of letting
+                // the screen look idle/broken.
+                item(span = { GridItemSpan(maxLineSpan) }) {
+                    Surface(
+                        color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.errorContainer,
+                        shape = MaterialTheme.shapes.medium,
+                        modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth(),
+                    ) {
+                        Column(
+                            Modifier.padding(horizontal = 16.dp, vertical = 12.dp),
+                            horizontalAlignment = Alignment.CenterHorizontally,
+                        ) {
+                            Text(
+                                "Local network access is off",
+                                style = MaterialTheme.typography.titleSmall,
+                                color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onErrorContainer,
+                            )
+                            Text(
+                                "Android blocks punktfunk from finding or reaching hosts until you allow it.",
+                                style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodyMedium,
+                                color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onErrorContainer,
+                                textAlign = TextAlign.Center,
+                            )
+                            TextButton(onClick = { lnpPrompt = true }) { Text("Allow…") }
+                        }
+                    }
+                    Spacer(Modifier.height(12.dp))
+                }
+            }
+
             if (savedHosts.isEmpty() && discoveredUnsaved.isEmpty()) {
                 item(span = { GridItemSpan(maxLineSpan) }) {
                     EmptyHostsState()
@@ -480,6 +593,7 @@ fun ConnectScreen(
                         name = kh.name,
                         address = "${kh.address}:${kh.port}",
                         status = if (kh.paired) HostStatus.PAIRED else HostStatus.TOFU,
+                        online = kh.isOnline(discovered, reachable),
                         enabled = !connecting,
                         onConnect = { connect(kh.address, kh.port) },
                         onForget = {
@@ -491,16 +605,21 @@ fun ConnectScreen(
                         // through the WakeController so it shows the "Waking…" overlay and waits for
                         // the host to come online (matched by fingerprint, so a new DHCP address on a
                         // cold boot still counts as "up") rather than firing a single silent packet.
-                        onWake = if (kh.mac.isNotEmpty() && discovered.none { kh.matches(it) }) {
+                        onWake = if (kh.mac.isNotEmpty() && !kh.isOnline(discovered, reachable)) {
                             {
-                                waker.start(
-                                    hostName = kh.name,
-                                    connectsAfter = false,
-                                    macs = kh.mac,
-                                    lastIp = kh.address,
-                                    isOnline = { discovered.any { kh.matches(it) } },
-                                    onOnline = {},
-                                )
+                                // The magic packet is UDP broadcast — LNP-blocked like everything else.
+                                if (!lnpGranted) {
+                                    lnpPrompt = true
+                                } else {
+                                    waker.start(
+                                        hostName = kh.name,
+                                        connectsAfter = false,
+                                        macs = kh.mac,
+                                        lastIp = kh.address,
+                                        isOnline = { discovered.any { kh.matches(it) } },
+                                        onOnline = {},
+                                    )
+                                }
                             }
                         } else {
                             null
@@ -519,6 +638,7 @@ fun ConnectScreen(
                         name = dh.name,
                         address = "${dh.host}:${dh.port}",
                         status = if (dh.pairingRequired) HostStatus.PAIRING else HostStatus.TOFU,
+                        online = true, // in the discovered list ⇒ live on mDNS right now
                         enabled = !connecting,
                         onConnect = { connect(dh.host, dh.port, dh) },
                         onForget = null,
@@ -528,8 +648,10 @@ fun ConnectScreen(
 
             // Active-discovery hint: discovery runs whenever this screen is up, so while it's
             // scanning but nothing's turned up yet (and we're not mid-connect), show it's working
-            // rather than looking idle/empty.
-            if (!connecting && discovered.isEmpty()) {
+            // rather than looking idle/empty. Suppressed while local network access is denied —
+            // a spinner would be a lie there (the browse can't receive anything); the banner above
+            // owns that state.
+            if (lnpGranted && !connecting && discovered.isEmpty()) {
                 item(span = { GridItemSpan(maxLineSpan) }) {
                     Row(
                         modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth().padding(vertical = 12.dp),
@@ -629,17 +751,22 @@ fun ConnectScreen(
 
     // Console host options (Up on a saved carousel tile): Wake / Edit / Forget.
     optionsTarget?.let { kh ->
-        val offline = discovered.none { kh.matches(it) }
+        val offline = !kh.isOnline(discovered, reachable)
         GamepadHostOptionsDialog(
             hostName = kh.name,
             canWake = kh.mac.isNotEmpty() && offline,
             onWake = {
                 optionsTarget = null
-                waker.start(
-                    hostName = kh.name, connectsAfter = false, macs = kh.mac, lastIp = kh.address,
-                    isOnline = { discovered.any { kh.matches(it) } },
-                    onOnline = {},
-                )
+                // The magic packet is UDP broadcast — LNP-blocked like everything else.
+                if (!lnpGranted) {
+                    lnpPrompt = true
+                } else {
+                    waker.start(
+                        hostName = kh.name, connectsAfter = false, macs = kh.mac, lastIp = kh.address,
+                        isOnline = { discovered.any { kh.matches(it) } },
+                        onOnline = {},
+                    )
+                }
             },
             // A saved host always has a library (it's a knownHost) → offer it when the setting's on,
             // so a TV remote reaches the library here instead of via the Y face button.
@@ -687,6 +814,29 @@ fun ConnectScreen(
         }
     }
 
+    if (lnpPrompt) {
+        // Android 17+ local-network-permission rationale: re-request (a permanently-denied request
+        // returns instantly without a system prompt — hence the settings deep link alongside).
+        val onAllow = {
+            lnpPrompt = false
+            localNetLauncher.launch(Manifest.permission.ACCESS_LOCAL_NETWORK)
+        }
+        val onSettings = {
+            lnpPrompt = false
+            context.startActivity(
+                Intent(
+                    android.provider.Settings.ACTION_APPLICATION_DETAILS_SETTINGS,
+                    Uri.fromParts("package", context.packageName, null),
+                ),
+            )
+        }
+        if (gamepadUi) {
+            GamepadLocalNetworkDialog(onAllow = onAllow, onSettings = onSettings, onDismiss = { lnpPrompt = false })
+        } else {
+            LocalNetworkDialog(onAllow = onAllow, onSettings = onSettings, onDismiss = { lnpPrompt = false })
+        }
+    }
+
     // Topmost: the "Waking…" overlay rides over both the touch grid and the console home.
     WakeOverlay(waker, gamepadUi)
 }
@@ -701,6 +851,18 @@ fun hasNearbyPermission(context: Context): Boolean =
         ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(context, Manifest.permission.NEARBY_WIFI_DEVICES) ==
         PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED
 
+/**
+ * Whether ACCESS_LOCAL_NETWORK is held (API 37+; below, the permission doesn't exist and local
+ * network access is implicit). Android 17's Local Network Protection blocks ALL local-network
+ * traffic for apps targeting SDK 37 without this runtime grant: UDP sends fail with EPERM, so the
+ * QUIC dial surfaces as a silent handshake timeout and the mDNS browse receives nothing. Unlike
+ * [hasNearbyPermission] this is load-bearing — nothing on the connect screen works without it.
+ */
+fun hasLocalNetworkPermission(context: Context): Boolean =
+    Build.VERSION.SDK_INT < Build.VERSION_CODES.CINNAMON_BUN ||
+        ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(context, Manifest.permission.ACCESS_LOCAL_NETWORK) ==
+        PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED
+
 /**
  * True when a saved host and a discovered advert are the same machine — matched by certificate
  * fingerprint when both carry it (so it survives a DHCP address change), else by address:port.
@@ -711,3 +873,11 @@ private fun KnownHost.matches(dh: DiscoveredHost): Boolean {
     if (!advFp.isNullOrEmpty() && fpHex.isNotEmpty() && fpHex.lowercase() == advFp) return true
     return address == dh.host && port == dh.port
 }
+
+/**
+ * True when a saved host is reachable RIGHT NOW: advertising on mDNS OR answering the QUIC probe
+ * (a host reached over a routed network — Tailscale/VPN — never advertises but is reachable). The
+ * display-side companion to dial-first: presence no longer means "on this LAN".
+ */
+private fun KnownHost.isOnline(discovered: List<DiscoveredHost>, reachable: Set<String>): Boolean =
+    discovered.any { matches(it) } || reachable.contains("$address:$port")

clients/android/app/src/main/kotlin/io/unom/punktfunk/GamepadDialogs.kt

@@ -229,6 +229,29 @@ fun GamepadHostOptionsDialog(
     }
 }
 
+/** Console counterpart of [LocalNetworkDialog] — the Android 17+ ACCESS_LOCAL_NETWORK rationale. */
+@Composable
+fun GamepadLocalNetworkDialog(onAllow: () -> Unit, onSettings: () -> Unit, onDismiss: () -> Unit) {
+    GamepadDialog(
+        title = "Allow local network access",
+        onDismiss = onDismiss,
+        actions = listOf(
+            DialogAction("Allow", primary = true, onClick = onAllow),
+            DialogAction("Open settings", onClick = onSettings),
+            DialogAction("Not now", onClick = onDismiss),
+        ),
+    ) {
+        DialogText(
+            "Android blocks punktfunk from talking to devices on your network, so it can't find " +
+                "or reach any host until you allow it.",
+        )
+        DialogText(
+            "If no prompt appears after Allow, enable “Nearby devices” for punktfunk in " +
+                "system settings.",
+        )
+    }
+}
+
 @Composable
 fun GamepadTrustNewDialog(pt: PendingTrust, onTrust: () -> Unit, onPairInstead: () -> Unit, onDismiss: () -> Unit) {
     GamepadDialog(

clients/android/app/src/main/kotlin/io/unom/punktfunk/components/HostComponents.kt

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package io.unom.punktfunk.components
 
 import androidx.compose.foundation.background
 import androidx.compose.foundation.border
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Arrangement
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Box
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Column
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Row
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@ fun HostCard(
     name: String,
     address: String,
     status: HostStatus,
+    online: Boolean = false,
     enabled: Boolean,
     onConnect: () -> Unit,
     onForget: (() -> Unit)?,
@@ -105,7 +107,13 @@ fun HostCard(
                     textAlign = TextAlign.Center,
                 )
                 Spacer(Modifier.height(12.dp))
-                StatusPill(status)
+                Row(
+                    verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically,
+                    horizontalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(12.dp),
+                ) {
+                    PresencePill(online)
+                    StatusPill(status)
+                }
             }
 
             if (onForget != null || onEdit != null || onWake != null) {
@@ -173,6 +181,27 @@ fun HostAvatar(name: String) {
     }
 }
 
+/**
+ * A small dot + label for live presence: green Online when the host advertises on mDNS OR answers
+ * the reachability probe (so a routed/VPN host that never advertises still reads Online), dimmed
+ * Offline otherwise.
+ */
+@Composable
+fun PresencePill(online: Boolean) {
+    val color =
+        if (online) MaterialTheme.colorScheme.primary
+        else MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onSurfaceVariant
+    Row(verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically) {
+        Box(Modifier.size(8.dp).clip(CircleShape).background(color))
+        Spacer(Modifier.width(6.dp))
+        Text(
+            if (online) "Online" else "Offline",
+            style = MaterialTheme.typography.labelMedium,
+            color = color,
+        )
+    }
+}
+
 /** A small colored dot + label for the host's trust state. */
 @Composable
 fun StatusPill(status: HostStatus) {

clients/android/build.gradle.kts

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 // here (version + apply false) so modules can apply it version-less; its version pins the build's
 // Kotlin (compose-compiler and Kotlin release in lockstep), keeping them matched.
 // Toolchain: AGP 9.2.0 · Gradle 9.4.1 · Kotlin/Compose-compiler 2.3.21 · JDK 21 · Compose BOM
-// 2026.05.01 · compileSdk 37 · targetSdk 36 · minSdk 31.
+// 2026.05.01 · compileSdk 37 · targetSdk 37 · minSdk 28.
 plugins {
     id("com.android.application") version "9.2.1" apply false
     id("com.android.library") version "9.2.1" apply false

clients/android/kit/src/main/kotlin/io/unom/punktfunk/kit/NativeBridge.kt

@@ -126,6 +126,15 @@ object NativeBridge {
      */
     external fun nativeWakeOnLan(macsCsv: String, lastIp: String): Boolean
 
+    /**
+     * Bounded, trust-agnostic QUIC reachability probe to [host]:[port] (mDNS-independent): true if
+     * the host completed the handshake within [timeoutMs]. No pin/identity presented. Lets a saved
+     * host reached over a routed network (Tailscale/VPN/another subnet) — which never advertises on
+     * mDNS — still show as online. Blocking (builds its own runtime) — run on a background
+     * dispatcher, never the main thread.
+     */
+    external fun nativeProbe(host: String, port: Int, timeoutMs: Int): Boolean
+
     /**
      * Apply the user's "Low-latency mode (experimental)" toggle to the process-wide transport
      * defaults — today just DSCP/QoS marking on the media sockets. Must be called BEFORE

clients/android/native/src/lib.rs

@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@ mod stats;
 // Ungated like `discovery`: pure `jni` + `punktfunk_core::wol` (no Android framework), so it links
 // into the host workspace build too. Kotlin only ever calls it on device.
 mod wol;
+// Ungated like `wol`: pure `jni` + `punktfunk_core::client` (the reachability probe). Kotlin calls
+// it off the main thread to light saved-host "online" pips independently of mDNS.
+mod probe;
 
 /// Initialize `android_logger` once when the JVM loads the library. Logs land in logcat under the
 /// `punktfunk` tag. Core `tracing` events (transport warnings: socket-buffer clamp, QoS failures)

clients/android/native/src/probe.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+//! JNI seam for the reachability probe: a bounded, trust-agnostic QUIC handshake to a saved host
+//! (`punktfunk_core::client::NativeClient::probe`). Like [`crate::wol`] it takes no session handle
+//! and links into the host workspace build (pure `jni` + `punktfunk_core`). Kotlin calls it
+//! periodically, on a background dispatcher, to light the "online" pip for saved hosts that never
+//! advertise on mDNS (reached over Tailscale / VPN / another subnet) — the display-side companion
+//! to the dial-first connect fix.
+
+use jni::objects::{JObject, JString};
+use jni::sys::{jboolean, jint};
+use jni::JNIEnv;
+use punktfunk_core::client::NativeClient;
+use std::time::Duration;
+
+/// `NativeBridge.nativeProbe(host, port, timeoutMs): Boolean` — true if `host:port` completed a
+/// QUIC handshake within `timeoutMs`. No pin/identity presented (trust-agnostic), mDNS-independent.
+/// Blocking (builds its own runtime) — Kotlin runs it on `Dispatchers.IO`, never the main thread.
+#[no_mangle]
+pub extern "system" fn Java_io_unom_punktfunk_kit_NativeBridge_nativeProbe<'local>(
+    mut env: JNIEnv<'local>,
+    _this: JObject<'local>,
+    host: JString<'local>,
+    port: jint,
+    timeout_ms: jint,
+) -> jboolean {
+    let host: String = match env.get_string(&host) {
+        Ok(s) => s.into(),
+        Err(_) => return 0,
+    };
+    let port = port.clamp(0, u16::MAX as jint) as u16;
+    let timeout = Duration::from_millis(timeout_ms.max(0) as u64);
+    if NativeClient::probe(&host, port, timeout) {
+        1
+    } else {
+        0
+    }
+}

clients/apple/Punktfunk.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj

@@ -366,7 +366,8 @@
 				INFOPLIST_FILE = Config/Info.plist;
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_CFBundleDisplayName = Punktfunk;
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_GCSupportsControllerUserInteraction = YES;
-				INFOPLIST_KEY_LSApplicationCategoryType = "public.app-category.utilities";
+				INFOPLIST_KEY_GCSupportsGameMode = YES;
+				INFOPLIST_KEY_LSApplicationCategoryType = "public.app-category.games";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSHumanReadableCopyright = "";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSLocalNetworkUsageDescription = "Punktfunk connects directly to your punktfunk host on the local network to stream video, audio, and input.";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSMicrophoneUsageDescription = "Your microphone is streamed to the connected punktfunk host, where it appears as a virtual microphone.";
@@ -401,7 +402,8 @@
 				INFOPLIST_FILE = Config/Info.plist;
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_CFBundleDisplayName = Punktfunk;
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_GCSupportsControllerUserInteraction = YES;
-				INFOPLIST_KEY_LSApplicationCategoryType = "public.app-category.utilities";
+				INFOPLIST_KEY_GCSupportsGameMode = YES;
+				INFOPLIST_KEY_LSApplicationCategoryType = "public.app-category.games";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSHumanReadableCopyright = "";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSLocalNetworkUsageDescription = "Punktfunk connects directly to your punktfunk host on the local network to stream video, audio, and input.";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSMicrophoneUsageDescription = "Your microphone is streamed to the connected punktfunk host, where it appears as a virtual microphone.";
@@ -433,7 +435,8 @@
 				INFOPLIST_FILE = Config/Info.plist;
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_CFBundleDisplayName = Punktfunk;
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_GCSupportsControllerUserInteraction = YES;
-				INFOPLIST_KEY_LSApplicationCategoryType = "public.app-category.utilities";
+				INFOPLIST_KEY_GCSupportsGameMode = YES;
+				INFOPLIST_KEY_LSApplicationCategoryType = "public.app-category.games";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSLocalNetworkUsageDescription = "Punktfunk connects directly to your punktfunk host on the local network to stream video, audio, and input.";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSMicrophoneUsageDescription = "Your microphone is streamed to the connected punktfunk host, where it appears as a virtual microphone.";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_UIApplicationSceneManifest_Generation = YES;
@@ -473,7 +476,8 @@
 				INFOPLIST_FILE = Config/Info.plist;
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_CFBundleDisplayName = Punktfunk;
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_GCSupportsControllerUserInteraction = YES;
-				INFOPLIST_KEY_LSApplicationCategoryType = "public.app-category.utilities";
+				INFOPLIST_KEY_GCSupportsGameMode = YES;
+				INFOPLIST_KEY_LSApplicationCategoryType = "public.app-category.games";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSLocalNetworkUsageDescription = "Punktfunk connects directly to your punktfunk host on the local network to stream video, audio, and input.";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSMicrophoneUsageDescription = "Your microphone is streamed to the connected punktfunk host, where it appears as a virtual microphone.";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_UIApplicationSceneManifest_Generation = YES;
@@ -511,7 +515,7 @@
 				GENERATE_INFOPLIST_FILE = YES;
 				INFOPLIST_FILE = Config/Info.plist;
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_CFBundleDisplayName = Punktfunk;
-				INFOPLIST_KEY_LSApplicationCategoryType = "public.app-category.utilities";
+				INFOPLIST_KEY_LSApplicationCategoryType = "public.app-category.games";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSLocalNetworkUsageDescription = "Punktfunk connects directly to your punktfunk host on the local network to stream video, audio, and input.";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_UIApplicationSceneManifest_Generation = YES;
 				LD_RUNPATH_SEARCH_PATHS = (
@@ -541,7 +545,7 @@
 				GENERATE_INFOPLIST_FILE = YES;
 				INFOPLIST_FILE = Config/Info.plist;
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_CFBundleDisplayName = Punktfunk;
-				INFOPLIST_KEY_LSApplicationCategoryType = "public.app-category.utilities";
+				INFOPLIST_KEY_LSApplicationCategoryType = "public.app-category.games";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSLocalNetworkUsageDescription = "Punktfunk connects directly to your punktfunk host on the local network to stream video, audio, and input.";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_UIApplicationSceneManifest_Generation = YES;
 				LD_RUNPATH_SEARCH_PATHS = (

clients/apple/README.md

@@ -22,8 +22,9 @@ Opus audio, cert pinning — lives in the shared Rust **`punktfunk-core`** (stat
 - **Full controller support** — one selected controller forwarded as pad 0, including **DualSense**
   feedback (rumble → CoreHaptics, lightbar, player LEDs, adaptive triggers) and touchpad/motion. The
   virtual pad type auto-resolves from your physical controller.
-- **Mouse & keyboard** — `GCMouse`/`GCKeyboard` capture with click-to-capture and a ⌘⎋ release, plus
-  iPad pointer lock and touch input.
+- **Mouse & keyboard** — `GCMouse`/`GCKeyboard` capture with click-to-capture and a ⌃⌥⇧Q release
+  (the cross-client Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Q; ⌘⎋ still works as the macOS/iPad toggle), plus iPad pointer
+  lock and touch input.
 - **Find hosts automatically** — mDNS discovery (`NWBrowser` over `_punktfunk._udp`); first connect
   does a one-time **SPAKE2 PIN pairing** (or TOFU on trusted LANs), then reconnects on a pinned,
   Keychain-stored identity.
@@ -83,7 +84,9 @@ PUNKTFUNK_AUTOCONNECT=<box-ip> PUNKTFUNK_MODE=1280x720x60 swift run PunktfunkCli
 - **`PunktfunkClient`** (the app) — hosts grid with an *On this network* section, add-host sheet,
   the two trust flows (TOFU prompt + SPAKE2 `PairSheet`), the stream view with the HUD, a
   tabbed Settings pane (General / Display / Audio / Controllers / Advanced), and the network speed
-  test. A Scene-level **Stream** menu carries Disconnect (⌘D) and the HUD toggle (⌘⇧S).
+  test. A Scene-level **Stream** menu carries the cross-client shortcut set: Release Mouse (⌃⌥⇧Q),
+  Disconnect (⌃⌥⇧D) and the HUD toggle (⌃⌥⇧S) — the same Ctrl+Alt+Shift combos the Windows and
+  Linux clients reserve, also shown on a 6-second banner at stream start.
   On iOS/iPadOS **and macOS** a connected controller swaps the whole home for the **gamepad UI**
   (`Home/Gamepad*`, `Settings/GamepadSettingsView`): a console-style host carousel (A connect · Y
   library · X settings), a controller-navigable settings screen, an add-host flow with an

clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkClient/ContentView.swift

@@ -55,6 +55,18 @@ struct ContentView: View {
     /// Wakes a sleeping host and waits for it to come back online before connecting (drives the
     /// "Waking…" overlay). macOS-only in practice — WoL is gated off on iOS/tvOS.
     @StateObject private var waker = HostWaker()
+    #if os(macOS)
+    /// Whether the hosting window is native-fullscreen right now (reported by
+    /// FullscreenController). Drives the session view's safe-area choice: fullscreen goes
+    /// edge-to-edge (behind the notch); windowed respects the top inset so the title bar
+    /// never covers the video.
+    @State private var isFullscreen = false
+    /// Shows the start-of-stream shortcut banner (the Windows client's discoverability
+    /// pattern): raised on every transition to `.streaming`, dropped by the banner's own
+    /// 6-second task. Independent of the stats HUD so the keys are discoverable even with
+    /// statistics off.
+    @State private var showShortcutHint = false
+    #endif
     #if !os(macOS)
     @State private var showSettings = false
     #endif
@@ -89,6 +101,9 @@ struct ContentView: View {
         .onChange(of: model.phase) { _, phase in
             switch phase {
             case .streaming:
+                #if os(macOS)
+                showShortcutHint = true // the 6 s shortcut banner, per session start
+                #endif
                 // A session actually started — remember it on the card ("Connected … ago"
                 // plus the accent ring on the most recent host).
                 guard let host = model.activeHost else { break }
@@ -115,7 +130,7 @@ struct ContentView: View {
             }
         }
         .onDisappear { model.disconnect() } // window closed mid-session (Cmd+N spawns more)
-        // Expose the session to the Scene-level Stream menu (Disconnect ⌘D works even when
+        // Expose the session to the Scene-level Stream menu (Disconnect ⌃⌥⇧D works even when
         // the HUD is hidden). tvOS has no such menu.
         #if !os(tvOS)
         .focusedSceneValue(\.sessionFocus, SessionFocus(
@@ -125,7 +140,12 @@ struct ContentView: View {
         #if os(macOS)
         // Fullscreen only while a session is up (incl. the trust prompt over the blurred stream),
         // windowed on the host list — so the picker isn't forced fullscreen. Opt-out in Settings.
-        .background(FullscreenController(active: fullscreenWhileStreaming && model.connection != nil))
+        // The controller also reports the window's ACTUAL fullscreen state back into
+        // `isFullscreen` (the user can toggle it manually), which drives the session view's
+        // safe-area handling below.
+        .background(FullscreenController(
+            active: fullscreenWhileStreaming && model.connection != nil,
+            isFullscreen: $isFullscreen))
         #endif
         // On the outer Group so the sheet survives the trust-prompt → home transition
         // (the "Pair with PIN instead" path disconnects first — the host's accept loop
@@ -300,13 +320,17 @@ struct ContentView: View {
         #if os(macOS)
         .frame(minWidth: 640, minHeight: 360)
         .background(Color.black)
-        // Fill the whole display in fullscreen, INCLUDING behind the camera housing (notch).
+        // FULLSCREEN fills the whole display, INCLUDING behind the camera housing (notch).
         // Without this the stream is laid out in the safe area below the notch, so an
         // aspect-fit video at the display's native mode scales down and leaves black borders.
         // A fullscreen video behind the notch (a thin top-center strip occluded) is the
-        // expected behavior — same edge-to-edge intent as the iOS/tvOS branches below. Inert
-        // in windowed mode (no notch safe-area inset on a titled window).
-        .ignoresSafeArea()
+        // expected behavior — same edge-to-edge intent as the iOS/tvOS branches below.
+        // WINDOWED keeps the TOP inset: macOS 26 windows extend content under the (glass)
+        // title bar and report its height as top safe area — ignoring it there put the top of
+        // the video (and the HUD) underneath the title bar. The black `.background` above is a
+        // ShapeStyle background, which always extends under every inset, so the strip behind
+        // the title bar stays black rather than showing the video.
+        .ignoresSafeArea(edges: isFullscreen ? .all : [.horizontal, .bottom])
         #elseif os(iOS)
         // Streaming is immersive: edge-to-edge under the status bar and home
         // indicator, both hidden for the session (they return with the hosts grid).
@@ -335,6 +359,9 @@ struct ContentView: View {
                     onCaptureChange: { [weak model] captured in
                         model?.mouseCaptured = captured
                     },
+                    onDisconnectRequest: { [weak model] in
+                        model?.disconnect() // the captured-state ⌃⌥⇧D combo
+                    },
                     onFrame: { [meter = model.meter, latency = model.latency,
                                 split = model.latencySplit, offset = conn.clockOffsetNs] au in
                         meter.note(byteCount: au.data.count)
@@ -356,6 +383,30 @@ struct ContentView: View {
                         StreamHUDView(model: model, connection: conn, placement: placement)
                     }
                 }
+                #if os(macOS)
+                // The start-of-stream shortcut banner (Windows-client parity): the full
+                // reserved key set on a glass pill, bottom-centre, for the first 6 seconds of
+                // every session — independent of the stats HUD, so the keys are discoverable
+                // even with statistics off. The banner's own task drops it (cancelled cleanly
+                // if the session view goes away first).
+                .overlay(alignment: .bottom) {
+                    if captureEnabled && showShortcutHint {
+                        Text("Click the stream to capture · ⌃⌥⇧Q releases the mouse · "
+                            + "⌃⌥⇧D disconnects · ⌃⌥⇧S stats")
+                            .font(.geist(12, relativeTo: .caption))
+                            .foregroundStyle(.secondary)
+                            .padding(.horizontal, 14)
+                            .padding(.vertical, 8)
+                            .glassBackground(Capsule())
+                            .padding(.bottom, 24)
+                            .transition(.opacity)
+                            .task {
+                                try? await Task.sleep(for: .seconds(6))
+                                withAnimation(.easeOut(duration: 0.6)) { showShortcutHint = false }
+                            }
+                    }
+                }
+                #endif
                 #if os(iOS)
                 // Touch users have no menu / ⌘D, so when the HUD (and its Disconnect button)
                 // is hidden, keep a minimal always-reachable exit in a corner. It rides a
@@ -654,23 +705,62 @@ struct ContentView: View {
 }
 
 #if os(macOS)
-/// Drives the hosting window in/out of native fullscreen from SwiftUI state. Mounted invisibly in
-/// the view tree; on each `active` change it captures the window and toggles fullscreen only when
-/// the current state differs (so it never fights a toggle already in flight, and never touches a
-/// window the user fullscreened manually unless `active` says otherwise).
+/// Drives the hosting window in/out of native fullscreen from SwiftUI state, and mirrors the
+/// window's ACTUAL fullscreen state back into `isFullscreen` (the user can also toggle it with the
+/// green button / ⌃⌘F — ContentView keys the session view's safe-area handling off the real state,
+/// not the setting). Mounted invisibly in the view tree; on each `active` change it captures the
+/// window and toggles fullscreen only when the current state differs (so it never fights a toggle
+/// already in flight, and never touches a window the user fullscreened manually unless `active`
+/// says otherwise).
 private struct FullscreenController: NSViewRepresentable {
     let active: Bool
+    @Binding var isFullscreen: Bool
+
+    /// Holds the window's fullscreen-transition observers so they're rebound on a window change
+    /// and removed on dismantle.
+    final class Coordinator {
+        var observers: [NSObjectProtocol] = []
+        weak var observedWindow: NSWindow?
+        deinit { observers.forEach(NotificationCenter.default.removeObserver(_:)) }
+    }
+
+    func makeCoordinator() -> Coordinator { Coordinator() }
 
     func makeNSView(context: Context) -> NSView { NSView() }
 
     func updateNSView(_ view: NSView, context: Context) {
         let want = active
+        let isFullscreen = $isFullscreen
+        let coordinator = context.coordinator
         DispatchQueue.main.async {
             guard let window = view.window else { return }
+            observeTransitions(of: window, coordinator: coordinator)
             let isFull = window.styleMask.contains(.fullScreen)
+            if isFullscreen.wrappedValue != isFull { isFullscreen.wrappedValue = isFull }
             if want != isFull { window.toggleFullScreen(nil) }
         }
     }
+
+    /// `willEnter` (not did) so the video goes edge-to-edge while the title bar is already
+    /// animating away; `didExit` so the top inset returns only once the title bar is back —
+    /// no black gap in either direction.
+    private func observeTransitions(of window: NSWindow, coordinator: Coordinator) {
+        guard coordinator.observedWindow !== window else { return }
+        coordinator.observers.forEach(NotificationCenter.default.removeObserver(_:))
+        coordinator.observers.removeAll()
+        coordinator.observedWindow = window
+        let isFullscreen = $isFullscreen
+        for (name, value) in [
+            (NSWindow.willEnterFullScreenNotification, true),
+            (NSWindow.didExitFullScreenNotification, false),
+        ] {
+            coordinator.observers.append(NotificationCenter.default.addObserver(
+                forName: name, object: window, queue: .main
+            ) { _ in
+                isFullscreen.wrappedValue = value
+            })
+        }
+    }
 }
 #endif
 

clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkClient/Home/GamepadHomeView.swift

@@ -96,6 +96,14 @@ struct GamepadHomeView: View {
         .background { GamepadScreenBackground() }
         .onAppear { discovery.start() }
         .onDisappear { discovery.stop() }
+        // Reachability sweep (mDNS-independent) so routed/VPN hosts that never advertise still show
+        // Online — the console mirror of HomeView's `.task`; cancelled on disappear.
+        .task {
+            while !Task.isCancelled {
+                await store.refreshReachability(discovery: discovery)
+                try? await Task.sleep(for: .seconds(10))
+            }
+        }
         // The settings / add-host screens take over the controller (the carousel's `isActive`
         // gate above). iOS presents them full screen — the immersive console feel; macOS has no
         // fullScreenCover, so they become generously sized sheets over the dimmed launcher.
@@ -218,13 +226,16 @@ struct GamepadHomeView: View {
                 id: .saved(host.id),
                 title: host.displayName,
                 subtitle: "\(host.address):\(String(host.port))",
-                isOnline: discovery.advertises(host),
+                // Online = advertising on mDNS OR proven reachable by the probe (a routed/VPN host
+                // never advertises); the wake item is offered only when neither holds.
+                isOnline: discovery.advertises(host) || store.probedOnline.contains(host.id),
                 isPaired: host.pinnedSHA256 != nil,
                 isConnecting: model.phase == .connecting && model.activeHost?.id == host.id,
                 filled: true,
                 hasLibrary: true,
                 canWake: PunktfunkConnection.wakeOnLANAvailable
-                    && !discovery.advertises(host) && !host.wakeMacs.isEmpty,
+                    && !discovery.advertises(host) && !store.probedOnline.contains(host.id)
+                    && !host.wakeMacs.isEmpty,
                 activate: { connect(host) })
         }
         let discovered = discovery.unsaved(among: store.hosts).map { d in

clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkClient/Home/HomeView.swift

@@ -76,6 +76,17 @@ struct HomeView: View {
             // session. The home appears/disappears as the stream swaps in and out.
             .onAppear { discovery.start() }
             .onDisappear { discovery.stop() }
+            // Reachability sweep while the grid is up: a saved host reached only over a routed
+            // network (Tailscale/VPN) never advertises on mDNS, so `advertises` can't see it. Probe
+            // every non-advertising saved host ~every 10 s and publish the reachable set for the
+            // pips (`isOnline` above OR's it in). The `.task` is cancelled on disappear, matching
+            // `discovery.stop()`.
+            .task {
+                while !Task.isCancelled {
+                    await store.refreshReachability(discovery: discovery)
+                    try? await Task.sleep(for: .seconds(10))
+                }
+            }
             #if os(tvOS)
             // Pushed routes — the Settings-app navigation feel (push animation, Menu
             // pops) instead of modal overlays.
@@ -157,7 +168,7 @@ struct HomeView: View {
         let onBrowseLibrary: (() -> Void)? = libraryEnabled ? { libraryTarget = host } : nil
         return HostCardView(
             host: host,
-            isOnline: discovery.advertises(host),
+            isOnline: discovery.advertises(host) || store.probedOnline.contains(host.id),
             isConnecting: model.phase == .connecting && model.activeHost?.id == host.id,
             isMostRecent: host.id == mostRecentHostID,
             isBusy: model.isBusy,

clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkClient/PunktfunkClientApp.swift

@@ -43,8 +43,9 @@ struct PunktfunkClientApp: App {
             // form row labels; views that pick an explicit size/weight use `.geist(…)` directly.
             .font(.geist(17, relativeTo: .body))
         }
-        // The Stream menu (Disconnect ⌘D, Show/Hide Statistics ⌘⇧S) — a real menu bar on
-        // macOS, hardware-keyboard shortcuts on iPad. tvOS has neither.
+        // The Stream menu (Release Mouse ⌃⌥⇧Q, Disconnect ⌃⌥⇧D, Show/Hide Statistics ⌃⌥⇧S —
+        // the cross-client Ctrl+Alt+Shift set) — a real menu bar on macOS, hardware-keyboard
+        // shortcuts on iPad. tvOS has neither.
         #if !os(tvOS)
         .commands { StreamCommands() }
         #endif

clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkClient/Session/StreamCommands.swift

@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 // The app's "Stream" menu (macOS menu bar + iPad hardware-keyboard shortcuts). These live at
-// the Scene level so they keep working when the HUD overlay is hidden — in particular ⌘D
-// disconnect, which used to be reachable only via the HUD's button. The toggle just flips the
+// the Scene level so they keep working when the HUD overlay is hidden. The shortcuts are the
+// CROSS-CLIENT set every punktfunk client reserves — Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Q (release the captured
+// mouse) / +D (disconnect) / +S (stats) — and the menu is their discoverable surface on macOS
+// (the Linux client has its GTK Shortcuts window, Windows its start-of-stream banner). While
+// input is CAPTURED these key equivalents never reach the menu (the stream view swallows
+// keys); InputCapture's monitor detects the same combos there and performs the same actions —
+// the menu covers the released state and discoverability. The stats toggle just flips the
 // shared `hudEnabled` setting; ContentView reads the same @AppStorage and reacts.
 //
 // tvOS has no menu bar / hardware-keyboard command surface (disconnect there is the Siri
@@ -38,10 +43,19 @@ struct StreamCommands: Commands {
             Button(hudEnabled ? "Hide Statistics" : "Show Statistics") {
                 hudEnabled.toggle()
             }
-            .keyboardShortcut("s", modifiers: [.command, .shift])
+            .keyboardShortcut("s", modifiers: [.control, .option, .shift])
+            // Reaches the key window's stream view via NotificationCenter — capture is view
+            // state the Scene can't touch directly. (Captured, the combo is handled by
+            // InputCapture's monitor before menus see it; this item is the released-state
+            // path and the shortcut's menu-bar documentation.)
+            Button("Release Mouse") {
+                NotificationCenter.default.post(name: .punktfunkReleaseCapture, object: nil)
+            }
+            .keyboardShortcut("q", modifiers: [.control, .option, .shift])
+            .disabled(session?.isStreaming != true)
             Divider()
             Button("Disconnect") { session?.disconnect() }
-                .keyboardShortcut("d", modifiers: .command)
+                .keyboardShortcut("d", modifiers: [.control, .option, .shift])
                 .disabled(session?.isStreaming != true)
         }
     }

clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkClient/Session/StreamHUDView.swift

@@ -64,10 +64,11 @@ struct StreamHUDView: View {
                     .foregroundStyle(.secondary)
             }
             // While captured the cursor is hidden+frozen, so the button is keyboard-only
-            // (⌘⎋ or Cmd+Tab release the cursor; released, it's clickable again).
+            // (⌃⌥⇧Q — the cross-client Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Q — or ⌘⎋/Cmd+Tab release the cursor;
+            // released, it's clickable again).
             #if os(macOS)
             Text(model.mouseCaptured
-                ? "⌘⎋ releases the mouse"
+                ? "⌃⌥⇧Q releases the mouse"
                 : "Click the stream to capture input")
                 .font(.geist(11, relativeTo: .caption2))
                 .foregroundStyle(.secondary)
@@ -87,10 +88,16 @@ struct StreamHUDView: View {
                 .font(.geist(12, relativeTo: .caption))
                 .foregroundStyle(.secondary)
             #else
-            // ⌘D lives on the app's Stream menu (so it still works when the HUD is hidden);
-            // this button is the in-overlay, click-to-disconnect affordance.
-            Button("Disconnect (⌘D)") { model.disconnect() }
+            // ⌃⌥⇧D lives on the app's Stream menu (so it still works when the HUD is hidden)
+            // and in InputCapture's monitor while captured; this button is the in-overlay,
+            // click-to-disconnect affordance.
+            #if os(macOS)
+            Button("Disconnect (⌃⌥⇧D)") { model.disconnect() }
                 .font(.geist(12, relativeTo: .caption))
+            #else
+            Button("Disconnect") { model.disconnect() }
+                .font(.geist(12, relativeTo: .caption))
+            #endif
             #endif
         }
         .padding(10)

clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkClient/Settings/SettingsView+Sections.swift

@@ -306,6 +306,25 @@ extension SettingsView {
         #endif
     }
 
+    // macOS-only: iOS/tvOS layers always present on the display's vsync, so the choice only
+    // exists on the Mac (where the layer's own sync must stay off — see MetalVideoPresenter).
+    @ViewBuilder var vsyncSection: some View {
+        #if os(macOS)
+        Section {
+            Toggle("V-Sync", isOn: $vsync)
+        } header: {
+            Text("Presentation")
+        } footer: {
+            Text("Off (default): each frame is shown as soon as it's ready — lowest latency, "
+                + "but frame timing can look uneven and fullscreen may tear. On: frames flip "
+                + "in step with the display's refresh — evenly paced, up to one refresh of "
+                + "added latency. Applies from the next session.")
+                .font(.geist(12, relativeTo: .caption))
+                .foregroundStyle(.secondary)
+        }
+        #endif
+    }
+
     // Stage-2 (Metal/VTDecompressionSession) is the default and only user-visible presenter — it
     // recovers from a wedged decoder, where stage-1's AVSampleBufferDisplayLayer freezes hard on a
     // lost HEVC reference. Stage-1 is kept reachable as a DEBUG-only override for diagnostics, like

clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkClient/Settings/SettingsView.swift

@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ struct SettingsView: View {
     @AppStorage(DefaultsKey.gamepadType) var gamepadType = 0
     @AppStorage(DefaultsKey.bitrateKbps) var bitrateKbps = 0
     @AppStorage(DefaultsKey.presenter) var presenter = "stage2"
+    #if os(macOS)
+    @AppStorage(DefaultsKey.vsync) var vsync = false
+    #endif
     @AppStorage(DefaultsKey.hdrEnabled) var hdrEnabled = true
     @AppStorage(DefaultsKey.enable444) var enable444 = true
     @AppStorage(DefaultsKey.libraryEnabled) var libraryEnabled = false
@@ -106,6 +109,7 @@ struct SettingsView: View {
             Form {
                 presenterSection
                 hdrSection
+                vsyncSection
                 windowSection
                 statisticsSection
             }

clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkClient/Stores/HostStore.swift

@@ -81,6 +81,11 @@ final class HostStore: ObservableObject {
         didSet { persist() }
     }
 
+    /// Saved hosts proven reachable by the periodic QUIC probe (by id) — the mDNS-independent
+    /// counterpart to discovery presence, OR'd into the "online" pip so a routed/VPN host that
+    /// never advertises still reads Online. Not persisted (it's live reachability, not config).
+    @Published var probedOnline: Set<StoredHost.ID> = []
+
     init() {
         if let data = UserDefaults.standard.data(forKey: Self.key),
            let decoded = try? JSONDecoder().decode([StoredHost].self, from: data) {
@@ -110,6 +115,23 @@ final class HostStore: ObservableObject {
         hosts[i].lastConnected = Date()
     }
 
+    /// One reachability sweep, driving `probedOnline`: probe every saved host NOT currently
+    /// advertising on `discovery` (mDNS already answers for those) off the main actor via a bounded,
+    /// trust-agnostic QUIC handshake, then publish the reachable set. This is the mDNS-independent
+    /// half of presence — a host reached over a routed network (Tailscale/VPN) never advertises but
+    /// answers here. Call in a loop from a home view's `.task` (cancelled on disappear).
+    func refreshReachability(discovery: HostDiscovery) async {
+        let targets = hosts.filter { !discovery.advertises($0) }
+        var online: Set<StoredHost.ID> = []
+        for host in targets {
+            let reachable = await Task.detached(priority: .utility) {
+                PunktfunkConnection.probe(host: host.address, port: host.port)
+            }.value
+            if reachable { online.insert(host.id) }
+        }
+        probedOnline = online
+    }
+
     func pin(_ hostID: UUID, fingerprint: Data) {
         guard let i = hosts.firstIndex(where: { $0.id == hostID }) else { return }
         hosts[i].pinnedSHA256 = fingerprint

clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Connection/PunktfunkConnection.swift

@@ -112,6 +112,16 @@ public extension PunktfunkConnection {
         }
         return rc == statusOK
     }
+
+    /// Bounded, trust-agnostic QUIC-handshake reachability probe to `host:port` — mDNS-INDEPENDENT,
+    /// so a host reached over a routed network (Tailscale/VPN/another subnet), which never
+    /// advertises, still reports reachable. No pin/identity presented. The display-side companion
+    /// to the dial-first connect fix: lets saved-host "online" pips reflect real reachability.
+    /// Blocking (builds its own runtime) — call OFF the main thread.
+    static func probe(host: String, port: UInt16, timeoutMs: UInt32 = 1500) -> Bool {
+        let rc: Int32 = host.withCString { punktfunk_probe($0, port, timeoutMs) }
+        return rc == statusOK
+    }
 }
 
 public final class PunktfunkConnection {

clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Input/InputCapture.swift

@@ -24,8 +24,9 @@
 //
 // Forwarding is gated by `forwarding` (driven by StreamLayerView's capture state): the
 // handlers stay attached for the whole session, but while the user has released capture
-// (⌘⎋, focus loss) nothing reaches the host and key events travel the responder chain
-// normally. Everything held is flushed host-side on each transition to released.
+// (⌃⌥⇧Q — the cross-client Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Q — or ⌘⎋, focus loss) nothing reaches the host
+// and key events travel the responder chain normally. Everything held is flushed host-side
+// on each transition to released.
 //
 // GCMouse.current/GCKeyboard.coalesced are process-global singletons with one handler
 // slot each: only one InputCapture can be live per process. `activeCapture` tracks
@@ -108,6 +109,16 @@ public final class InputCapture {
     /// the absolute-vs-relative forwarding lives entirely in StreamLayerView. Main queue.
     public var onToggleCursor: (() -> Void)?
 
+    /// The cross-client combos (Windows/Linux parity: Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Q/D/S), fired from the macOS
+    /// keyDown monitor only WHILE FORWARDING — that's the state in which the app's menu (which
+    /// carries the same key equivalents for discoverability) can't see them, so the monitor is the
+    /// captured-state delivery path; released, the events pass through and the menu handles them.
+    /// ⌃⌥⇧Q releases the captured mouse/keyboard; ⌃⌥⇧D disconnects; ⌃⌥⇧S toggles the stats
+    /// overlay. Main queue.
+    public var onReleaseCapture: (() -> Void)?
+    public var onDisconnect: (() -> Void)?
+    public var onToggleStats: (() -> Void)?
+
     /// Fired when a newer InputCapture takes the process-global GC handler slots (the
     /// singletons hold ONE handler each): the preempted owner must drop its capture
     /// state — its handlers are gone, so it would otherwise sit "captured" with dead
@@ -215,6 +226,32 @@ public final class InputCapture {
                 self.onToggleCursor?()
                 return nil
             }
+            // The cross-client combos (Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Q/D/S — the same set every other
+            // punktfunk client reserves), intercepted only while forwarding so the host never
+            // sees the letter (the ⌃⌥⇧ modifiers were already forwarded as they went down;
+            // they're flushed by the release path / released by the user as usual). The letter
+            // is latched (suppressedVK) so its keyUp doesn't leak to the host either. While
+            // NOT forwarding the events pass through and the menu's identical key equivalents
+            // handle them (with the standard menu-flash feedback). keyCodes are kVK_ANSI_* —
+            // physical positions, layout-independent.
+            if self.forwarding, flags == [.control, .option, .shift] {
+                switch event.keyCode {
+                case 12 /* Q */:
+                    self.suppressedVK = 0x51
+                    self.onReleaseCapture?()
+                    return nil
+                case 2 /* D */:
+                    self.suppressedVK = 0x44
+                    self.onDisconnect?()
+                    return nil
+                case 1 /* S */:
+                    self.suppressedVK = 0x53
+                    self.onToggleStats?()
+                    return nil
+                default:
+                    break
+                }
+            }
             return event
         }
         #endif

clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Support/DefaultsKeys.swift

@@ -31,6 +31,11 @@ public enum DefaultsKey {
     /// is higher up), so we fold to mono ourselves. Only meaningful for multi-channel devices.
     public static let micChannel = "punktfunk.micChannel"
     public static let presenter = "punktfunk.presenter"
+    /// macOS: V-Sync the stream's presents — each decoded frame flips on the next display vsync
+    /// (evenly paced, no tearing under direct scanout) instead of as soon as the GPU finishes
+    /// (lowest latency — the default, OFF). Resolved once per session;
+    /// PUNKTFUNK_PRESENT_MODE=immediate|vsync overrides it for A/B. See Stage2Pipeline's header.
+    public static let vsync = "punktfunk.vsync"
     /// Request a 10-bit BT.2020 PQ (HDR10) stream. On by default; only takes effect when the host
     /// has HDR content AND this display supports HDR — otherwise the stream stays 8-bit SDR.
     public static let hdrEnabled = "punktfunk.hdrEnabled"
@@ -57,7 +62,7 @@ public enum DefaultsKey {
     /// macOS: take the window fullscreen while streaming and restore it on the host list. On by default.
     public static let fullscreenWhileStreaming = "punktfunk.fullscreenWhileStreaming"
     /// Show the streaming statistics overlay (mode/fps/throughput/latency). On by default; toggle
-    /// while streaming with ⌘⇧S (macOS / hardware keyboard).
+    /// while streaming with ⌃⌥⇧S (the cross-client Ctrl+Alt+Shift+S; macOS / hardware keyboard).
     public static let hudEnabled = "punktfunk.hudEnabled"
     /// Which corner the statistics overlay sits in — a `HUDPlacement` raw value
     /// ("topLeading"/"topTrailing"/"bottomLeading"/"bottomTrailing"). Default top-trailing.
@@ -67,3 +72,12 @@ public enum DefaultsKey {
     /// whenever a gamepad is connected. On by default; see `GamepadUIEnvironment.isActive`.
     public static let gamepadUIEnabled = "punktfunk.gamepadUIEnabled"
 }
+
+extension Notification.Name {
+    /// Posted by the app's Stream menu ("Release Mouse", ⌃⌥⇧Q): the key window's stream view
+    /// releases input capture if it holds it. Only reachable while NOT captured (a captured
+    /// session swallows the combo in InputCapture's monitor and the frozen cursor can't click
+    /// menus) — it exists so the menu item is honest whenever it CAN fire, and as the shortcut's
+    /// discoverable menu-bar surface.
+    public static let punktfunkReleaseCapture = Notification.Name("io.unom.punktfunk.release-capture")
+}

clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Video/MetalVideoPresenter.swift

@@ -1,12 +1,15 @@
 // Stage-2 presenter, present half: draw a decoded NV12 / P010 / 4:4:4 CVPixelBuffer into a CAMetalLayer
-// drawable with a Y′CbCr→RGB shader. The hosting view's CADisplayLink drives `render` once per vsync
-// (via Stage2Pipeline.renderTick) with the target present time, so a present can be stamped and the
-// present tail hand-paced. See docs apple-stage2-presenter.md.
+// drawable with a Y′CbCr→RGB shader. The hosting view's CADisplayLink still paces the pipeline once per
+// vsync, but the actual `render` runs on Stage2Pipeline's dedicated RENDER THREAD (the link tick just
+// signals it), so `nextDrawable()`'s blocking never lands on the main thread. See docs
+// apple-stage2-presenter.md.
 //
-// Main-thread only: created during view setup, `render`/`configure` called from the view's CADisplayLink
-// (which fires on the main runloop). The Metal objects + texture cache are touched only here. The one
-// exception is `setHdrMeta`, called from the pump thread — it hops the layer write to main so every
-// CALayer mutation stays on one thread.
+// Threading: created during view setup (main); `render`/`configure` run on the render thread — the
+// layer's drawable/format/colour mutations all happen there (CAMetalLayer is designed for dedicated
+// render threads; only the layer's GEOMETRY — frame/contentsScale — is touched from main, in
+// SessionPresenter.layout, which also pushes the resulting pixel size here via `setDrawableTarget`
+// so the render thread never reads layer geometry cross-thread). `setHdrMeta` (pump thread) and
+// `setDrawableTarget` (main) only write lock-guarded staging state the render thread drains.
 
 #if canImport(Metal) && canImport(QuartzCore)
 import CoreGraphics
@@ -144,14 +147,23 @@ public final class MetalVideoPresenter {
     private var textureCache: CVMetalTextureCache?
 
     /// Current layer configuration — switched in `configure(hdr:)` when a frame's HDR-ness differs.
-    /// Main-thread only (read + written from `render`/`configure`, all on the display-link runloop).
+    /// Render-thread confined once the pipeline runs (Stage2Pipeline.start's one pre-thread
+    /// `configure` call is ordered before the thread starts, so it doesn't race).
     private var hdrActive = false
     /// Last HDR mastering grade received via `setHdrMeta` (the host's 0xCE). Cached so a mid-session
     /// SDR→HDR flip's `configureColor` re-applies the real grade instead of clobbering it back to the
     /// bare reference-white anchor (an out-of-order race otherwise: `setHdrMeta` and the flip both write
-    /// `edrMetadata`). Main-thread only.
+    /// `edrMetadata`). Render-thread confined (drained from `pendingHdrMeta` at the top of `render`).
     private var lastHdrMeta: PunktfunkConnection.HdrMeta?
 
+    /// Cross-thread staging, all under `stagingLock`: the pump thread parks a fresh 0xCE grade in
+    /// `pendingHdrMeta` and the main thread parks the layout-derived drawable pixel size in
+    /// `drawableTarget`; the render thread drains both at the top of `render`, so every layer
+    /// format/colour mutation stays on the one thread that also calls `nextDrawable()`.
+    private let stagingLock = NSLock()
+    private var pendingHdrMeta: PunktfunkConnection.HdrMeta?
+    private var drawableTarget: CGSize = .zero
+
     #if DEBUG
     /// Last logged "decoded→drawable" signature, so the diagnostic logs only on a size/HDR change.
     private var lastSizeSig = ""
@@ -191,12 +203,18 @@ public final class MetalVideoPresenter {
         layer.framebufferOnly = true
         layer.isOpaque = true
         #if os(macOS)
-        // The display link already paces exactly one present per vsync. Leaving the layer's own vsync
-        // wait on means `commandBuffer.present` ALSO blocks for the hardware vsync, so `nextDrawable()`
-        // stalls the MAIN thread until a drawable frees — windowed, the WindowServer's looser
-        // compositing hides it; FULLSCREEN's tighter path serializes the main thread to the display and
-        // the stall surfaces as bad judder. Disabling the layer-level sync lets present return promptly
-        // (the display link is the pacing source) — the fix for the fullscreen stutter. macOS-only.
+        // displaySyncEnabled MUST stay false on macOS. It has flip-flopped, so the full history:
+        // sync ON was tried twice and starves the drawable pool both times — on macOS 26 a synced
+        // present only reaches glass when the WindowServer composites the window, and its FramePacing
+        // path does not treat our out-of-band image-queue presents as damage, so with a static scene
+        // the ONLY recurring damage is the 1 Hz stats HUD update: presents queue, all drawables stay
+        // held, `nextDrawable()` sleeps (sampled: ~70% of the render thread inside
+        // CAMetalLayerPrivateNextDrawableLocked → usleep), and the stream turns into a ~1 fps
+        // slideshow with normal-LOOKING stats (each rare frame is fresh, newest-wins ring). The
+        // 94fb7d1b fullscreen judder was the same starvation biting the then-main-thread render.
+        // With sync OFF the flip is immediate; the vsync alignment that sync was supposed to give
+        // (the HUD-off direct-scanout pacing fix) comes from scheduling the present at the display
+        // link's target time instead (`present(at:)` — see `render`).
         layer.displaySyncEnabled = false
         #endif
         // The drawable is rendered at the LAYER's pixel size (set per-frame in `render`), so the
@@ -226,11 +244,12 @@ public final class MetalVideoPresenter {
         self.layer = layer
     }
 
-    /// Configure the layer + active pipeline for an SDR or HDR session. MAIN THREAD ONLY. Called once at
-    /// session start and again per-frame from `render` (idempotent — the guard makes a same-state call a
-    /// no-op), so a mid-session HDR toggle (the host re-inits its encoder; the decoded `frame.isHDR`
-    /// flips) reconfigures here automatically. HDR uses an rgba16Float drawable + BT.2020 PQ colour space
-    /// + EDR with a 203-nit reference-white anchor; SDR uses the plain 8-bit sRGB path.
+    /// Configure the layer + active pipeline for an SDR or HDR session. Called once at session start
+    /// (main, before the render thread exists) and again per-frame from `render` on the RENDER THREAD
+    /// (idempotent — the guard makes a same-state call a no-op), so a mid-session HDR toggle (the host
+    /// re-inits its encoder; the decoded `frame.isHDR` flips) reconfigures here automatically. HDR uses
+    /// an rgba16Float drawable + BT.2020 PQ colour space + EDR with a 203-nit reference-white anchor;
+    /// SDR uses the plain 8-bit sRGB path.
     public func configure(hdr: Bool) {
         guard hdr != hdrActive else { return }
         hdrActive = hdr
@@ -273,36 +292,65 @@ public final class MetalVideoPresenter {
     #endif
 
     /// Update the HDR mastering metadata (drained from the host's 0xCE datagram) to refine the system
-    /// tone-map from the real grade. Called from the PUMP thread, so the layer write is hopped to MAIN
-    /// (every CALayer mutation stays on one thread). The grade is cached so a later SDR→HDR
-    /// `configureColor` re-applies it; the `edrMetadata` write is gated on `hdrActive` (setting it on an
-    /// SDR layer is harmless but pointless, and the flip will apply it anyway).
+    /// tone-map from the real grade. Called from the PUMP thread — the grade is only PARKED here (lock-
+    /// guarded); the render thread applies it at the top of the next `render`, keeping every layer
+    /// colour mutation on the one thread that also vends drawables.
     public func setHdrMeta(_ meta: PunktfunkConnection.HdrMeta) {
-        DispatchQueue.main.async { [weak self] in
-            guard let self else { return }
-            self.lastHdrMeta = meta
-            // tvOS has no edrMetadata — the cached grade is still kept above (harmless), it just can't
-            // be applied to the layer there. macOS/iOS refine the system tone-map from the real grade.
-            #if !os(tvOS)
-            if self.hdrActive { self.layer.edrMetadata = self.makeEDR(meta) }
-            #endif
-        }
+        stagingLock.lock()
+        pendingHdrMeta = meta
+        stagingLock.unlock()
     }
 
-    /// Draw one decoded frame to the next drawable and present it. MAIN THREAD (the display link).
-    /// `isHDR` selects the 10-bit BT.2020 PQ path vs the 8-bit BT.709 path and is reconciled with the
+    /// Park the drawable pixel size the shader should render at: the metal layer's laid-out frame ×
+    /// contentsScale, both owned by the MAIN thread (SessionPresenter.layout pushes it on every layout/
+    /// backing change). The render thread reads this instead of the layer's geometry so it never
+    /// touches main-owned CALayer state. Zero until the first layout → `render` falls back to the
+    /// decoded frame size.
+    public func setDrawableTarget(_ size: CGSize) {
+        stagingLock.lock()
+        drawableTarget = size
+        stagingLock.unlock()
+    }
+
+    /// Draw one decoded frame to the next drawable and present it. RENDER THREAD (Stage2Pipeline's;
+    /// `nextDrawable()` may block up to a frame — that wait belongs here, never on main). `isHDR`
+    /// selects the 10-bit BT.2020 PQ path vs the 8-bit BT.709 path and is reconciled with the
     /// layer config via `configure`. Returns true on success; false when there's no drawable yet, a
     /// texture couldn't be made, or Metal errored — the caller then doesn't stamp a present (and can
     /// requeue the frame). `onPresented` fires once the drawable actually reached glass, with the
     /// `CLOCK_REALTIME` instant from the drawable's `presentedTime` — or nil when the system reports
     /// none (a dropped drawable). It runs on a Metal callback thread; keep the handler thread-safe.
+    ///
+    /// `presentAtMediaTime` (a `CACurrentMediaTime`-basis host time — the display link's
+    /// `targetTimestamp`) schedules the flip ON the vsync instead of "as soon as the GPU finishes":
+    /// with the layer's own sync disabled (mandatory on macOS — see init) an immediate present hits
+    /// glass mid-refresh whenever the layer is direct-scanout promoted (fullscreen, no HUD), which
+    /// is the "frametimes are off with the stats HUD closed" report. nil presents immediately
+    /// (`PUNKTFUNK_PRESENT_MODE=immediate` — the pre-fix behavior, kept as a diagnostic A/B).
     @discardableResult
     public func render(
         _ pixelBuffer: CVPixelBuffer, isHDR: Bool = false,
+        presentAtMediaTime: CFTimeInterval? = nil,
         onPresented: ((Int64?) -> Void)? = nil
     ) -> Bool {
+        // Drain the cross-thread staging (see `stagingLock`): the layout-derived drawable size and
+        // any freshly-arrived HDR grade, both applied from this thread.
+        stagingLock.lock()
+        let targetFromLayout = drawableTarget
+        let newHdrMeta = pendingHdrMeta
+        pendingHdrMeta = nil
+        stagingLock.unlock()
+
         // Reconcile the layer with the decoded frame's HDR-ness (handles a mid-session SDR↔HDR flip).
         configure(hdr: isHDR)
+        if let newHdrMeta {
+            self.lastHdrMeta = newHdrMeta
+            // tvOS has no edrMetadata — the cached grade is still kept (a later HDR flip's
+            // configureColor is where it matters there). macOS/iOS refine the live tone-map now.
+            #if !os(tvOS)
+            if hdrActive { layer.edrMetadata = makeEDR(newHdrMeta) }
+            #endif
+        }
 
         // P010/x444 store 10-bit luma/chroma in 16-bit samples → R16/RG16; NV12/444v is 8-bit → R8/RG8.
         // Derived from the actual decoded buffer so a 4:4:4 (full chroma plane) frame just works.
@@ -319,22 +367,18 @@ public final class MetalVideoPresenter {
                 pixelBuffer, plane: 1, format: tenBit ? .rg16Unorm : .rg8Unorm, cache: textureCache)
         else { return false }
 
-        // Size the drawable to the LAYER's pixels (bounds × contentsScale, both set by the hosting
-        // view's layout) so the Catmull-Rom shader performs the decoded→on-screen scale in one pass:
+        // Size the drawable to the LAYER's pixels (its laid-out frame × contentsScale, pushed here by
+        // SessionPresenter.layout via `setDrawableTarget` — not read off the layer, whose geometry the
+        // main thread owns) so the Catmull-Rom shader performs the decoded→on-screen scale in one pass:
         // a native-mode session stays exactly 1:1 (the kernel reduces to the identity texel), and a
         // window bigger than the host's mode gets bicubic luma instead of the compositor's bilinear.
-        // Before the first layout (empty bounds) fall back to the decoded size. drawableSize does NOT
+        // Before the first layout (zero target) fall back to the decoded size. drawableSize does NOT
         // track bounds (defaults to 0), so set it BEFORE nextDrawable; re-set only on a change
         // (layout / Reconfigure / HDR flip — and every frame of a live resize, which is fine).
         let decodedSize = CGSize(
             width: CVPixelBufferGetWidth(pixelBuffer), height: CVPixelBufferGetHeight(pixelBuffer))
-        let scale = layer.contentsScale
-        let boundsSize = layer.bounds.size
-        let targetSize = (boundsSize.width > 0 && boundsSize.height > 0)
-            ? CGSize(
-                width: (boundsSize.width * scale).rounded(),
-                height: (boundsSize.height * scale).rounded())
-            : decodedSize
+        let targetSize = (targetFromLayout.width > 0 && targetFromLayout.height > 0)
+            ? targetFromLayout : decodedSize
         if layer.drawableSize != targetSize { layer.drawableSize = targetSize }
         #if DEBUG
         logSizeIfChanged(decoded: decodedSize, drawable: targetSize)
@@ -374,7 +418,13 @@ public final class MetalVideoPresenter {
             }
             #endif
         }
-        commandBuffer.present(drawable) // present at the next vsync — lowest latency
+        // Scheduled on the vsync when the pipeline gave us the link's target (see the doc comment);
+        // immediate otherwise. A target already in the past presents immediately — same thing.
+        if let presentAtMediaTime {
+            commandBuffer.present(drawable, atTime: presentAtMediaTime)
+        } else {
+            commandBuffer.present(drawable)
+        }
         // Hold the CVMetalTextures + source pixel buffer (its IOSurface) alive until the GPU finishes
         // sampling — releasing them at scope exit could free the backing mid-read.
         commandBuffer.addCompletedHandler { _ in _ = (luma, chroma, pixelBuffer) }

clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Video/SessionPresenter.swift

@@ -68,10 +68,13 @@ final class SessionPresenter {
             baseLayer.addSublayer(metal)
             metalLayer = metal
             stage2 = pipeline
+            // The link is the vsync CLOCK + putBack-retry nudge, not the presentation trigger
+            // (frame arrival is — see Stage2Pipeline's header). timestamp→targetTimestamp is the
+            // link's own report of the current refresh period (tracks VRR rate changes).
             let proxy = DisplayLinkProxy { [weak self] link in
                 self?.stage2?.renderTick(
-                    targetPresentNs: Stage2Pipeline.realtimeNs(
-                        forDisplayLinkTimestamp: link.targetTimestamp))
+                    targetMediaTime: link.targetTimestamp,
+                    period: link.targetTimestamp - link.timestamp)
             }
             let link = makeDisplayLink(proxy, #selector(DisplayLinkProxy.tick(_:)))
             link.add(to: .main, forMode: .common)
@@ -127,6 +130,11 @@ final class SessionPresenter {
         metalLayer.contentsScale = contentsScale
         metalLayer.frame = fit
         CATransaction.commit()
+        // Hand the resulting pixel size to the render thread (it must not read layer geometry
+        // cross-thread) — this is what the presenter sizes its drawable to.
+        stage2?.setDrawableTarget(CGSize(
+            width: (fit.width * contentsScale).rounded(),
+            height: (fit.height * contentsScale).rounded()))
     }
 
     /// Stop the active pump/pipeline (≤ one poll timeout; stage-2 joins its pump) and detach the

clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Video/Stage2Pipeline.swift

@@ -1,25 +1,60 @@
-// Stage-2 presenter orchestrator: a pump thread pulls AUs → VideoDecoder; the decoder's async output
-// drops the newest decoded frame into a 1-slot ring; the hosting view's display link calls `renderTick`
-// once per vsync to draw + present the newest ready frame and stamp the unified latency stages
-// (end-to-end capture→on-glass, plus the decode and display stage terms —
-// design/stats-unification.md). Mirrors StreamPump's lifecycle (one per start; cancel is permanent).
+// Stage-2 presenter orchestrator. GOAL ARCHITECTURE (the result of the 2026-07 pacing saga —
+// read this before touching presentation):
 //
-// Threading: the pump runs on its own thread; the decoder callback on a VT thread; `renderTick` +
-// `start`/`stop` on the MAIN thread (the view's CADisplayLink fires there). Only the ring (lock-guarded)
-// and the decoder/presenter (internally locked / main-hopped) cross threads.
+//   net pump ──► VideoDecoder (VT async) ──► newest-wins 1-slot ring ──► RENDER THREAD ──► CAMetalLayer
+//
+// • The render thread is woken by FRAME ARRIVAL (the decoder callback signals it), never gated on
+//   the display link: on macOS the WindowServer's damage tracking / FramePacing does not count our
+//   out-of-band presents, so anything display-link-gated stalls exactly when the rest of the screen
+//   goes quiet (adaptive-sync displays idle the link down). A decoded frame is always presented
+//   promptly. The display link remains only as (a) a vsync CLOCK (phase + period, for the opt-in
+//   V-Sync policy below), (b) a retry tick for a frame that couldn't get a drawable (`putBack`),
+//   and (c) the iOS ProMotion rate hint.
+// • The layer's own displaySyncEnabled stays FALSE on macOS — synced presents starve the drawable
+//   pool outright (see MetalVideoPresenter's init for the post-mortem).
+// • Present policy is a USER SETTING (DefaultsKey.vsync; PUNKTFUNK_PRESENT_MODE=immediate|vsync
+//   overrides it for A/B), resolved once per session in start():
+//     – V-Sync OFF (default): present immediately — lowest latency, the long-proven behavior.
+//     – V-Sync ON: present(at: next vsync) predicted from the link's last phase/period, at most one
+//       period ahead by construction, falling back to immediate when the link data is stale — a
+//       schedule can never sit far in the future holding drawables hostage.
+// • Rendering lives on its own thread so any `nextDrawable()` wait lands off-main (input, SwiftUI).
+//
+// The render thread also stamps the unified latency stages (end-to-end capture→on-glass + decode and
+// display stage terms — design/stats-unification.md). Mirrors StreamPump's lifecycle (one per start;
+// cancel is permanent). PUNKTFUNK_PRESENT_DEBUG=1 prints per-second pacing stats (see
+// PresentDebugStats).
+//
+// Threading: the pump runs on its own thread; the decoder callback on a VT thread; the render loop on
+// the render thread; `renderTick` + `start`/`stop` on the MAIN thread (the view's CADisplayLink fires
+// there). Only the ring (lock-guarded), the vsync clock (lock-guarded), and the decoder/presenter
+// (internally locked / staged) cross threads.
 
 #if canImport(Metal) && canImport(QuartzCore)
 import AVFoundation
 import Foundation
 import QuartzCore
 
+/// PUNKTFUNK_PRESENT_DEBUG=1: the render thread prints a once-per-second line with the decode
+/// (ring-submit) rate, present rate, failed/empty wakes and the slowest render call — for
+/// diagnosing pacing regressions without instruments. Plain print: the unbundled CLI client's
+/// stdout is the cheapest reliable capture channel.
+let presentDebug = ProcessInfo.processInfo.environment["PUNKTFUNK_PRESENT_DEBUG"] == "1"
+
 /// Newest-ready 1-slot ring: the decoder overwrites (drops the older undisplayed frame — lowest
 /// latency, no smoothing buffer), the display link takes-and-clears. Sendable; lock-guarded.
 private final class ReadyRing: @unchecked Sendable {
     private let lock = NSLock()
     private var frame: ReadyFrame?
+    /// Ring submissions since the last `drainSubmitted` — the decode rate for the
+    /// PUNKTFUNK_PRESENT_DEBUG stat line.
+    private var submitted = 0
     func submit(_ f: ReadyFrame) {
-        lock.lock(); frame = f; lock.unlock()
+        lock.lock(); frame = f; submitted += 1; lock.unlock()
+    }
+    func drainSubmitted() -> Int {
+        lock.lock(); defer { lock.unlock() }
+        let n = submitted; submitted = 0; return n
     }
     func take() -> ReadyFrame? {
         lock.lock(); defer { lock.unlock() }
@@ -37,6 +72,86 @@ private final class ReadyRing: @unchecked Sendable {
     }
 }
 
+/// The display's vsync grid as last reported by the display link (target timestamp + period,
+/// `CACurrentMediaTime` basis), written on main by `renderTick`, read by the render thread to
+/// schedule V-Sync-mode presents. A shared box (like `ReadyRing`) so neither thread captures the
+/// pipeline itself. Sendable; lock-guarded.
+private final class VsyncClock: @unchecked Sendable {
+    private let lock = NSLock()
+    private var target: CFTimeInterval = 0
+    private var period: CFTimeInterval = 0
+
+    func set(target t: CFTimeInterval, period p: CFTimeInterval) {
+        lock.lock(); target = t; period = p; lock.unlock()
+    }
+
+    /// The next vsync at or after `now`, extrapolated from the last reported phase/period — by
+    /// construction less than one period ahead, so a scheduled present can never sit far in the
+    /// future holding its drawable. nil (⇒ present immediately) when the link has reported nothing
+    /// yet, its period is nonsense, or its data is STALE (an idle/suspended link on an
+    /// adaptive-sync display — exactly the case where scheduling onto its grid stalls the stream).
+    func nextVsync(after now: CFTimeInterval) -> CFTimeInterval? {
+        lock.lock(); defer { lock.unlock() }
+        guard period > 0.0005, target > 0, now - target < 0.25 else { return nil }
+        if target >= now { return target }
+        return target + ceil((now - target) / period) * period
+    }
+}
+
+/// PUNKTFUNK_PRESENT_DEBUG=1 aggregation: one printed line per second from the render thread with
+/// the decode rate, render outcomes, the slowest render call (≈ nextDrawable wait) and the deltas
+/// between system-reported on-glass times (vsync-aligned presents show clean refresh-period
+/// multiples; immediate flips scatter). Lock-guarded — `presented` lands on a Metal callback thread.
+private final class PresentDebugStats: @unchecked Sendable {
+    private let lock = NSLock()
+    private var last = CACurrentMediaTime()
+    private var ok = 0, failed = 0, empty = 0, dropped = 0
+    private var maxRenderMs = 0.0
+    private var lastGlassNs: Int64 = 0
+    private var glassDeltasMs: [Double] = []
+
+    func emptyWake() { lock.lock(); empty += 1; lock.unlock() }
+
+    func renderReturned(ok rendered: Bool, tookMs: Double) {
+        lock.lock()
+        if rendered { ok += 1 } else { failed += 1 }
+        maxRenderMs = max(maxRenderMs, tookMs)
+        lock.unlock()
+    }
+
+    func presented(atNs: Int64?) {
+        lock.lock()
+        if let atNs {
+            if lastGlassNs > 0 { glassDeltasMs.append(Double(atNs - lastGlassNs) / 1e6) }
+            lastGlassNs = atNs
+        } else {
+            dropped += 1
+        }
+        lock.unlock()
+    }
+
+    func flushIfDue(ring: ReadyRing) {
+        lock.lock()
+        let now = CACurrentMediaTime()
+        guard now - last >= 1 else { lock.unlock(); return }
+        last = now
+        let decoded = ring.drainSubmitted()
+        let deltas = glassDeltasMs.sorted()
+        let p50 = deltas.isEmpty ? 0 : deltas[deltas.count / 2]
+        let dMax = deltas.last ?? 0
+        let line = String(
+            format: "pf-present decoded=%d ok=%d fail=%d empty=%d dropped=%d "
+                + "maxRenderMs=%.1f glassDeltaMs p50=%.2f max=%.2f n=%d",
+            decoded, ok, failed, empty, dropped, maxRenderMs, p50, dMax, deltas.count)
+        ok = 0; failed = 0; empty = 0; dropped = 0
+        maxRenderMs = 0
+        glassDeltasMs.removeAll(keepingCapacity: true)
+        lock.unlock()
+        print(line)
+        fflush(stdout) // stdout is a pipe when captured — flush per line or nothing shows
+    }
+}
+
 public final class Stage2Pipeline {
     private let ring = ReadyRing()
     private let presenter: MetalVideoPresenter
@@ -54,6 +169,19 @@ public final class Stage2Pipeline {
     private let pumpStopped = DispatchSemaphore(value: 0)
     private var pumpJoinable = false
 
+    /// Render-thread plumbing. `renderSignal` wakes the render thread — signalled by the DECODER
+    /// callback on every frame (the primary trigger: presentation must never be gated on the
+    /// display link, see the header) and by each display-link tick (the `putBack` retry + the
+    /// vsync-clock refresh). Signals coalesce harmlessly (an extra wake finds an empty ring and
+    /// goes back to sleep). `vsyncClock` is the link's last phase/period for V-Sync-mode
+    /// scheduling. Lock-guarded boxes — the render thread, like the pump thread, must not capture
+    /// `self`, or a missed stop() would leak a spinning pipeline. `renderStopped`/`renderJoinable`
+    /// mirror the pump's bounded join.
+    private let renderSignal = DispatchSemaphore(value: 0)
+    private let vsyncClock = VsyncClock()
+    private let renderStopped = DispatchSemaphore(value: 0)
+    private var renderJoinable = false
+
     /// The Metal layer the hosting view installs + sizes.
     public var layer: CAMetalLayer { presenter.layer }
 
@@ -74,6 +202,7 @@ public final class Stage2Pipeline {
         self.displayMeter = displayMeter
         let ring = ring
         let recovery = recovery
+        let renderSignal = renderSignal
         self.decoder = VideoDecoder(
             onDecoded: { frame in
                 // Decode stage = received→decoded, both client CLOCK_REALTIME (offset 0 — no
@@ -82,6 +211,8 @@ public final class Stage2Pipeline {
                 decodeMeter?.record(
                     ptsNs: UInt64(frame.receivedNs), atNs: frame.decodedNs, offsetNs: 0)
                 ring.submit(frame)
+                // FRAME ARRIVAL is the render trigger (never the display link — see the header).
+                renderSignal.signal()
             },
             // Async decode failure (a bad P-frame referencing a lost/corrupt IDR): the pump resets to
             // re-gate on the next IDR, and we ask the host to send one now (infinite GOP — it wouldn't
@@ -176,34 +307,89 @@ public final class Stage2Pipeline {
         thread.qualityOfService = .userInteractive
         pumpJoinable = true
         thread.start()
-    }
 
-    /// MAIN thread, once per vsync. Present the newest ready frame (if any). The latency stamps
-    /// use the drawable's ACTUAL on-glass instant (`addPresentedHandler`/`presentedTime` — the
-    /// handler fires on a Metal callback thread; the meters are thread-safe), falling back to
-    /// `targetPresentNs` — the display link's target present instant, already converted to
-    /// `CLOCK_REALTIME` (see `realtimeNs(forDisplayLinkTimestamp:)`) — when the system reports
-    /// no presented time (a dropped drawable). A frame that could not be rendered (no drawable
-    /// yet) goes back into the ring so the next tick retries it.
-    public func renderTick(targetPresentNs: Int64) {
-        guard let frame = ring.take() else { return }
-        let offsetNs = offsetNs
+        // The render thread: one present per display-link signal. It owns every layer format/colour/
+        // drawable interaction (see MetalVideoPresenter's threading notes); with displaySyncEnabled on,
+        // nextDrawable's up-to-a-frame wait lands here instead of on main. The 100 ms timed wait is
+        // only the stop-flag poll for a session whose link stopped ticking.
+        let ring = ring
         let endToEndMeter = endToEndMeter
         let displayMeter = displayMeter
-        let rendered = presenter.render(frame.pixelBuffer, isHDR: frame.isHDR) { presentedNs in
-            let atNs = presentedNs ?? targetPresentNs
-            // End-to-end = capture→on-glass, measured directly (skew-corrected via the
-            // connect-time clock offset) — the HUD headline.
-            endToEndMeter?.record(ptsNs: frame.ptsNs, atNs: atNs, offsetNs: offsetNs)
-            // Display stage = decoded → on-glass. Both instants are client CLOCK_REALTIME,
-            // so no skew offset applies.
-            displayMeter?.record(ptsNs: UInt64(frame.decodedNs), atNs: atNs, offsetNs: 0)
+        let offsetNs = offsetNs
+        let renderSignal = renderSignal
+        let renderStopped = renderStopped
+        // Present policy — the user's V-Sync setting (default OFF = immediate, the long-proven
+        // lowest-latency behavior); PUNKTFUNK_PRESENT_MODE=immediate|vsync overrides it for A/B.
+        // Resolved once per session.
+        let presentMode = ProcessInfo.processInfo.environment["PUNKTFUNK_PRESENT_MODE"]
+        let vsyncEnabled = presentMode == "vsync"
+            || (presentMode != "immediate"
+                && UserDefaults.standard.bool(forKey: DefaultsKey.vsync))
+        let debugStats = presentDebug ? PresentDebugStats() : nil
+        let vsyncClock = vsyncClock
+        let renderThread = Thread {
+            defer { renderStopped.signal() }
+            while !token.isStopped {
+                if renderSignal.wait(timeout: .now() + .milliseconds(100)) == .timedOut {
+                    debugStats?.flushIfDue(ring: ring)
+                    continue
+                }
+                guard !token.isStopped, let frame = ring.take() else {
+                    debugStats?.emptyWake()
+                    debugStats?.flushIfDue(ring: ring)
+                    continue
+                }
+                // V-Sync ON: flip on the next predicted vsync (< one period out, stale link ⇒
+                // immediate — see VsyncClock). OFF: flip as soon as the GPU finishes.
+                let presentAt = vsyncEnabled
+                    ? vsyncClock.nextVsync(after: CACurrentMediaTime()) : nil
+                let renderStarted = CACurrentMediaTime()
+                let rendered = presenter.render(
+                    frame.pixelBuffer, isHDR: frame.isHDR, presentAtMediaTime: presentAt
+                ) { presentedNs in
+                    // Fallback stamp for a dropped drawable (no system presentedTime): "now" on
+                    // the Metal callback, converted to the CLOCK_REALTIME the meters live in.
+                    let atNs = presentedNs
+                        ?? Stage2Pipeline.realtimeNs(forDisplayLinkTimestamp: CACurrentMediaTime())
+                    // End-to-end = capture→on-glass, measured directly (skew-corrected via the
+                    // connect-time clock offset) — the HUD headline.
+                    endToEndMeter?.record(ptsNs: frame.ptsNs, atNs: atNs, offsetNs: offsetNs)
+                    // Display stage = decoded → on-glass. Both instants are client CLOCK_REALTIME,
+                    // so no skew offset applies.
+                    displayMeter?.record(ptsNs: UInt64(frame.decodedNs), atNs: atNs, offsetNs: 0)
+                    debugStats?.presented(atNs: presentedNs)
+                }
+                debugStats?.renderReturned(
+                    ok: rendered, tookMs: (CACurrentMediaTime() - renderStarted) * 1000)
+                if !rendered { ring.putBack(frame) }
+                debugStats?.flushIfDue(ring: ring)
+            }
         }
-        if !rendered { ring.putBack(frame) }
+        renderThread.name = "punktfunk-stage2-render"
+        renderThread.qualityOfService = .userInteractive
+        renderJoinable = true
+        renderThread.start()
     }
 
-    /// Stop the pump (≤ one poll timeout) and drop the decode session. MAIN THREAD; idempotent. Does not
-    /// close the connection. A restart needs a fresh Stage2Pipeline (the stop is permanent).
+    /// MAIN thread, once per display-link tick: refresh the vsync clock (V-Sync-mode scheduling)
+    /// and nudge the render thread. The nudge is NOT the presentation trigger — frame arrival is
+    /// (see the header) — it only retries a frame a transient `nextDrawable` failure put back into
+    /// the ring, which matters under the host's infinite GOP where a static scene sends no
+    /// replacement frame.
+    public func renderTick(targetMediaTime: CFTimeInterval, period: CFTimeInterval) {
+        vsyncClock.set(target: targetMediaTime, period: period)
+        renderSignal.signal()
+    }
+
+    /// Forward the layout-derived drawable pixel size to the presenter (MAIN thread — see
+    /// `MetalVideoPresenter.setDrawableTarget`).
+    public func setDrawableTarget(_ size: CGSize) {
+        presenter.setDrawableTarget(size)
+    }
+
+    /// Stop the pump + render thread (≤ one poll timeout each) and drop the decode session. MAIN
+    /// THREAD; idempotent. Does not close the connection. A restart needs a fresh Stage2Pipeline
+    /// (the stop is permanent).
     public func stop() {
         token.stop()
         // Join the pump (bounded: ≤ one nextAU poll + an in-flight decode) before resetting the decoder,
@@ -213,11 +399,22 @@ public final class Stage2Pipeline {
             pumpJoinable = false
             _ = pumpStopped.wait(timeout: .now() + 0.5)
         }
+        // Wake + join the render thread (bounded: it may sit in `nextDrawable` for up to ~a frame; a
+        // timed-out join is fine — the loop exits at its next stop-flag check, and a final present on
+        // the detached layer is harmless).
+        if renderJoinable {
+            renderJoinable = false
+            renderSignal.signal()
+            _ = renderStopped.wait(timeout: .now() + 0.5)
+        }
         decoder.reset()
         recovery.bind(nil) // stop requesting keyframes once the session is torn down
     }
 
-    deinit { token.stop() }
+    deinit {
+        token.stop()
+        renderSignal.signal() // wake the render thread so it can observe the stop and exit
+    }
 
     /// Convert a `CADisplayLink.targetTimestamp` (CACurrentMediaTime basis) to a `CLOCK_REALTIME`
     /// nanosecond instant — the present clock the AU pts + skew offset live in. Projects to the target

clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Views/StreamView.swift

@@ -7,10 +7,11 @@
 //
 // The view also owns the input-capture state machine (Moonlight-style): capture is a
 // deliberate, reversible state — engaged when the stream starts and when the user clicks
-// into the video, released by ⌘⎋ or focus loss, and NEVER engaged by mere app
-// activation (the click that activates the window may be a title-bar drag or a resize —
-// warping the cursor there is exactly the intrusiveness this design removes). While
-// released, nothing is forwarded to the host and the local cursor is free.
+// into the video, released by ⌃⌥⇧Q (the cross-client Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Q), ⌘⎋, or focus
+// loss, and NEVER engaged by mere app activation (the click that activates the window may
+// be a title-bar drag or a resize — warping the cursor there is exactly the intrusiveness
+// this design removes). While released, nothing is forwarded to the host and the local
+// cursor is free.
 //
 // macOS-first (NSViewRepresentable); the iOS variant is the same layer under
 // UIViewRepresentable.
@@ -83,6 +84,7 @@ public struct StreamView: NSViewRepresentable {
     private let connection: PunktfunkConnection
     private let captureEnabled: Bool
     private let onCaptureChange: ((Bool) -> Void)?
+    private let onDisconnectRequest: (() -> Void)?
     private let onFrame: (@Sendable (AccessUnit) -> Void)?
     private let onSessionEnd: (@Sendable () -> Void)?
     private let endToEndMeter: LatencyMeter?
@@ -93,14 +95,17 @@ public struct StreamView: NSViewRepresentable {
     /// `captureEnabled: false` disables input capture entirely while UI (e.g. a trust
     /// prompt) is layered over the stream; flipping it to true auto-engages capture
     /// once. `onCaptureChange` (main thread) reports engage/release — drive the HUD's
-    /// "click to capture" / "⌘⎋ releases" hint with it. The meters record the unified latency
-    /// stages when the stage-2 presenter is active (design/stats-unification.md):
-    /// `endToEndMeter` capture→on-glass, `decodeMeter` received→decoded, `displayMeter`
-    /// decoded→on-glass.
+    /// "click to capture" / "⌃⌥⇧Q releases" hint with it. `onDisconnectRequest` (main
+    /// thread) fires on the reserved ⌃⌥⇧D combo while captured — the owner ends the
+    /// session (released, the same combo reaches the Stream menu instead). The meters
+    /// record the unified latency stages when the stage-2 presenter is active
+    /// (design/stats-unification.md): `endToEndMeter` capture→on-glass, `decodeMeter`
+    /// received→decoded, `displayMeter` decoded→on-glass.
     public init(
         connection: PunktfunkConnection,
         captureEnabled: Bool = true,
         onCaptureChange: ((Bool) -> Void)? = nil,
+        onDisconnectRequest: (() -> Void)? = nil,
         onFrame: (@Sendable (AccessUnit) -> Void)? = nil,
         onSessionEnd: (@Sendable () -> Void)? = nil,
         endToEndMeter: LatencyMeter? = nil,
@@ -110,6 +115,7 @@ public struct StreamView: NSViewRepresentable {
         self.connection = connection
         self.captureEnabled = captureEnabled
         self.onCaptureChange = onCaptureChange
+        self.onDisconnectRequest = onDisconnectRequest
         self.onFrame = onFrame
         self.onSessionEnd = onSessionEnd
         self.endToEndMeter = endToEndMeter
@@ -120,6 +126,7 @@ public struct StreamView: NSViewRepresentable {
     public func makeNSView(context: Context) -> StreamLayerView {
         let view = StreamLayerView()
         view.onCaptureChange = onCaptureChange
+        view.onDisconnectRequest = onDisconnectRequest
         view.captureEnabled = captureEnabled
         view.endToEndMeter = endToEndMeter
         view.decodeMeter = decodeMeter
@@ -130,6 +137,7 @@ public struct StreamView: NSViewRepresentable {
 
     public func updateNSView(_ view: StreamLayerView, context: Context) {
         view.onCaptureChange = onCaptureChange
+        view.onDisconnectRequest = onDisconnectRequest
         view.captureEnabled = captureEnabled
         view.endToEndMeter = endToEndMeter
         view.decodeMeter = decodeMeter
@@ -189,6 +197,10 @@ public final class StreamLayerView: NSView {
     /// Reports engage/release on the main thread.
     public var onCaptureChange: ((Bool) -> Void)?
 
+    /// Fired (main thread) when the captured-state ⌃⌥⇧D combo asks to end the session — the
+    /// view can't do that itself (the connection's owner disconnects).
+    public var onDisconnectRequest: (() -> Void)?
+
     /// Main-thread only. False = input capture disabled outright (UI layered over the
     /// stream); flipping to true auto-engages once.
     public var captureEnabled = true {
@@ -215,6 +227,16 @@ public final class StreamLayerView: NSView {
         ) { [weak self] _ in
             self?.releaseCapture()
         })
+        // The Stream menu's "Release Mouse" item (⌃⌥⇧Q's discoverable menu-bar surface). Only
+        // the key window's stream may act — same ownership rule as the ⌘⎋ toggle. (While
+        // captured the combo never reaches the menu — InputCapture's monitor handles it — so
+        // in practice this fires only as a not-captured no-op; wired for honesty.)
+        appObservers.append(NotificationCenter.default.addObserver(
+            forName: .punktfunkReleaseCapture, object: nil, queue: .main
+        ) { [weak self] _ in
+            guard let self, self.window?.isKeyWindow == true else { return }
+            self.releaseCapture()
+        })
     }
 
     public required init?(coder: NSCoder) { fatalError("not used") }
@@ -562,6 +584,24 @@ public final class StreamLayerView: NSView {
         // (see the cursorVisible resolution below): toggling it on under gamescope's relative-only
         // input traps the pointer. Restore this body when absolute/synthetic-cursor support lands.
         capture.onToggleCursor = {}
+        // The cross-client combos (⌃⌥⇧Q/D/S — Ctrl+Alt+Shift on the other clients), delivered by
+        // the monitor only while captured; the same key-window ownership rule as ⌘⎋ throughout.
+        capture.onReleaseCapture = { [weak self] in
+            guard let self, self.window?.isKeyWindow == true else { return }
+            self.releaseCapture()
+        }
+        capture.onDisconnect = { [weak self] in
+            guard let self, self.window?.isKeyWindow == true else { return }
+            self.onDisconnectRequest?()
+        }
+        capture.onToggleStats = { [weak self] in
+            guard self?.window?.isKeyWindow == true else { return }
+            // Flip the shared setting directly — every @AppStorage reader (the HUD's visibility,
+            // the menu item's title) observes UserDefaults, so this is the same as the menu path.
+            let defaults = UserDefaults.standard
+            let current = defaults.object(forKey: DefaultsKey.hudEnabled) as? Bool ?? true
+            defaults.set(!current, forKey: DefaultsKey.hudEnabled)
+        }
         capture.start()
         inputCapture = capture
 

clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Views/StreamViewIOS.swift

@@ -54,10 +54,15 @@ public struct StreamView: UIViewControllerRepresentable {
     private let decodeMeter: LatencyMeter?
     private let displayMeter: LatencyMeter?
 
+    /// `onDisconnectRequest` exists for call-site parity with the macOS StreamView (the
+    /// captured-state ⌃⌥⇧D combo is detected by the macOS NSEvent monitor only); on iOS a
+    /// hardware keyboard reaches Disconnect through the Stream menu's key equivalent instead,
+    /// so the parameter is accepted and unused here.
     public init(
         connection: PunktfunkConnection,
         captureEnabled: Bool = true,
         onCaptureChange: ((Bool) -> Void)? = nil,
+        onDisconnectRequest: (() -> Void)? = nil,
         onFrame: (@Sendable (AccessUnit) -> Void)? = nil,
         onSessionEnd: (@Sendable () -> Void)? = nil,
         endToEndMeter: LatencyMeter? = nil,

clients/decky/main.py

@@ -300,6 +300,98 @@ async def _flatpak_capture(args: list[str], timeout: float = 20.0) -> tuple[int,
         return -1, ""
 
 
+async def _run_client(client_args: list[str], timeout: float = 20.0) -> tuple[int, str, str]:
+    """Run the flatpak CLIENT headlessly (``flatpak run … io.unom.Punktfunk <client_args>``) with
+    the user-session env, returning ``(returncode, stdout, stderr)`` with SEPARATE pipes so a JSON
+    payload on stdout stays clean of the client's log lines on stderr. ``(-1, "", "")`` when
+    flatpak is missing or the call errors/times out. This is the single entry point for the
+    headless host-store modes (``--list-hosts`` / ``--add-host`` / ``--set-host`` /
+    ``--forget-host`` / ``--reset`` / ``--reachable``), which mutate the SAME
+    ``client-known-hosts.json`` the desktop client reads — so state is shared, not duplicated."""
+    flatpak = _flatpak()
+    if not flatpak:
+        return -1, "", ""
+    argv = [flatpak, "run", "--arch=x86_64", APP_ID, *client_args]
+    proc = None
+    try:
+        proc = await asyncio.create_subprocess_exec(
+            *argv,
+            stdout=asyncio.subprocess.PIPE, stderr=asyncio.subprocess.PIPE,
+            env=_flatpak_env(),
+        )
+        out, err = await asyncio.wait_for(proc.communicate(), timeout=timeout)
+        rc = proc.returncode if proc.returncode is not None else -1
+        return (
+            rc,
+            (out or b"").decode("utf-8", "replace"),
+            (err or b"").decode("utf-8", "replace"),
+        )
+    except asyncio.TimeoutError:
+        decky.logger.warning("client %s timed out", " ".join(client_args))
+        if proc:
+            try:
+                proc.kill()
+            except ProcessLookupError:
+                pass
+        return -1, "", ""
+    except Exception:  # noqa: BLE001
+        decky.logger.exception("client %s failed", " ".join(client_args))
+        return -1, "", ""
+
+
+# The QAM panel and the full page each mount their own hosts view, and Gaming Mode remounts the
+# QAM often — every mount calls list_hosts, which spawns a flatpak cold-start plus a reachability
+# probe. Cache the last result briefly so back-to-back opens reuse it instead of re-probing; any
+# mutation (add/edit/forget/reset/pair) invalidates it so a change shows up immediately.
+_HOSTS_TTL_S = 12.0
+_hosts_cache: dict = {"at": 0.0, "probed": None, "data": None}
+
+
+def _invalidate_hosts_cache() -> None:
+    _hosts_cache["data"] = None
+
+
+def _read_known_hosts() -> list[dict]:
+    """The saved-hosts store read straight off disk — the fallback for a client too old to have
+    ``--list-hosts``. Same file the desktop client owns; `online` is left ``None`` (unknown)
+    because a direct read has no reachability signal."""
+    try:
+        data = json.loads((_client_config_dir() / "client-known-hosts.json").read_text())
+    except (OSError, json.JSONDecodeError):
+        return []
+    hosts = data.get("hosts", []) if isinstance(data, dict) else []
+    out: list[dict] = []
+    for h in hosts:
+        if not isinstance(h, dict) or not h.get("addr"):
+            continue
+        out.append({
+            "name": str(h.get("name") or h.get("addr", "")),
+            "addr": str(h.get("addr", "")),
+            "port": int(h.get("port", 9777) or 9777),
+            "fp_hex": str(h.get("fp_hex", "")),
+            "paired": bool(h.get("paired", False)),
+            "mac": h.get("mac") if isinstance(h.get("mac"), list) else [],
+            "last_used": h.get("last_used"),
+            "online": None,
+        })
+    return out
+
+
+def _mutation_result(rc: int, err: str, op: str) -> dict:
+    """Map a headless host-store mutation's exit status to a UI-stable result. ``rc == -1`` means
+    the flatpak call never ran (missing/timed out); a nonzero rc from a client that PREDATES the
+    mode falls through to GTK init and fails headless — classified ``client-outdated`` so the UI
+    can prompt an update instead of showing a cryptic error."""
+    if rc == 0:
+        return {"ok": True}
+    if rc == -1:
+        return {"ok": False, "error": "client-unavailable"}
+    code = _classify_library_error(err)
+    detail = (err.strip().splitlines() or [f"{op} failed"])[-1]
+    decky.logger.warning("%s failed (rc=%s): %s", op, rc, detail)
+    return {"ok": False, "error": code, "detail": detail}
+
+
 def _field_from(text: str, name: str) -> str:
     """Pull ``<name>: value`` out of ``flatpak info`` / ``remote-info`` output (e.g. ``Commit``,
     ``Origin``)."""
@@ -483,6 +575,7 @@ class Plugin:
                 if tok.startswith("fp="):
                     fp = tok[3:]
             decky.logger.info("paired %s:%s", host, port)
+            _invalidate_hosts_cache()  # the store gained a paired entry — reflect it next list
             return {"ok": True, "fp": fp}
         decky.logger.warning("pairing failed (rc=%s): %s", proc.returncode, err.strip() or out.strip())
         # Surface the client's own one-line reason (wrong PIN / not armed) to the UI.
@@ -684,6 +777,125 @@ class Plugin:
             decky.logger.exception("could not write settings")
             return {"ok": False, "error": str(exc)}
 
+    # ---- Shared known-hosts store (the SAME file the desktop client reads/writes) ----
+
+    async def list_hosts(self, probe: bool = True) -> dict:
+        """The saved-hosts store as a list — the SAME ``client-known-hosts.json`` the desktop
+        client owns, so a host added/renamed/paired in either surface shows in both. With
+        ``probe`` each host carries a live ``online`` bool from a mDNS-INDEPENDENT reachability
+        probe (a Tailscale/VPN host is no longer shown offline just because it doesn't advertise);
+        ``online`` is ``None`` when reachability is unknown. Prefers the client's ``--list-hosts``
+        mode; falls back to reading the JSON directly when the installed client predates it."""
+        now = time.monotonic()
+        cache = _hosts_cache
+        if (
+            cache["data"] is not None
+            and cache["probed"] == bool(probe)
+            and (now - cache["at"]) < _HOSTS_TTL_S
+        ):
+            return cache["data"]
+
+        args = ["--list-hosts"] + (["--probe"] if probe else [])
+        rc, out, err = await _run_client(args, timeout=30.0)
+        result: dict | None = None
+        if rc == 0:
+            try:
+                data = json.loads(out)
+                hosts = data.get("hosts", []) if isinstance(data, dict) else []
+                result = {"ok": True, "hosts": hosts, "probed": bool(probe)}
+            except json.JSONDecodeError:
+                decky.logger.warning("list-hosts: unparseable output: %s", out[:200])
+        elif rc != -1:
+            decky.logger.info(
+                "list-hosts unavailable (%s); reading store directly",
+                _classify_library_error(err),
+            )
+        if result is None:
+            # Fallback: read the store off disk (old client / no --list-hosts) — no reachability.
+            result = {"ok": True, "hosts": _read_known_hosts(), "probed": False, "fallback": True}
+        cache.update(at=now, probed=bool(probe), data=result)
+        return result
+
+    async def add_host(self, target: str, name: str = "", fp: str = "") -> dict:
+        """Save a host by address so it can be paired/streamed even when mDNS never sees it (a
+        Tailscale/VPN box). Without ``fp`` it's an unpaired placeholder the user pairs next; a
+        later pair replaces it with the fingerprinted entry. Returns ``{ok, error?, detail?}``."""
+        args = ["--add-host", target.strip()]
+        if name.strip():
+            args += ["--host-label", name.strip()]
+        if fp.strip():
+            args += ["--fp", fp.strip()]
+        rc, _out, err = await _run_client(args, timeout=20.0)
+        _invalidate_hosts_cache()
+        return _mutation_result(rc, err, "add-host")
+
+    async def edit_host(
+        self, selector: str, name: str = "", addr: str = "", port: int = 0
+    ) -> dict:
+        """Edit a saved host — rename and/or re-point its address. ``selector`` is the host's
+        cert fingerprint (survives IP changes) or its current ``addr[:port]``. Empty fields are
+        left untouched. Returns ``{ok, error?, detail?}``."""
+        args = ["--set-host", selector]
+        if name.strip():
+            args += ["--host-label", name.strip()]
+        if addr.strip():
+            args += ["--addr", addr.strip()]
+        if port:
+            args += ["--port", str(int(port))]
+        rc, _out, err = await _run_client(args, timeout=20.0)
+        _invalidate_hosts_cache()
+        return _mutation_result(rc, err, "set-host")
+
+    async def forget_host(self, selector: str) -> dict:
+        """Remove a saved host (by fingerprint or ``addr[:port]``) — drops the pinned
+        fingerprint, so a later connect must re-pair/trust. Idempotent."""
+        rc, _out, err = await _run_client(["--forget-host", selector], timeout=20.0)
+        _invalidate_hosts_cache()
+        return _mutation_result(rc, err, "forget-host")
+
+    async def reset_config(self) -> dict:
+        """Reset this device's Punktfunk state: saved hosts, stream settings, and the plugin's
+        pinned games. The client's persistent IDENTITY (client-cert/key.pem) is KEPT so the box
+        isn't seen as brand-new everywhere (re-pairing re-adds hosts). Prefers the client's
+        ``--reset``; if that's unavailable (old client / no flatpak) it clears the shared JSON
+        stores directly. The plugin-owned pins file is always cleared here (``--reset`` never
+        touches it)."""
+        rc, _out, _err = await _run_client(["--reset"], timeout=20.0)
+        _invalidate_hosts_cache()
+        errors: list[str] = []
+        if rc != 0:
+            decky.logger.info("reset: --reset unavailable (rc=%s); clearing stores directly", rc)
+            for name in ("client-known-hosts.json", "client-gtk-settings.json"):
+                try:
+                    (_client_config_dir() / name).unlink()
+                except FileNotFoundError:
+                    pass
+                except OSError as exc:
+                    errors.append(f"{name}: {exc}")
+        try:
+            _pins_path().unlink()  # plugin-owned; the client's --reset leaves it alone
+        except FileNotFoundError:
+            pass
+        except OSError as exc:
+            errors.append(f"pins: {exc}")
+        if errors:
+            return {"ok": False, "error": "; ".join(errors)}
+        return {"ok": True}
+
+    async def probe_host(self, target: str) -> dict:
+        """Reachability of one ``host[:port]`` via the client's mDNS-independent QUIC probe —
+        for a "test this address" check. ``{ok: True, online: bool}`` when determined, else
+        ``{ok: False, error}`` (flatpak missing / client too old)."""
+        rc, _out, err = await _run_client(["--reachable", target.strip()], timeout=8.0)
+        if rc == 0:
+            return {"ok": True, "online": True}
+        if rc == 1:
+            return {"ok": True, "online": False}
+        return {
+            "ok": False,
+            "error": _classify_library_error(err) if err.strip() else "client-unavailable",
+        }
+
     async def kill_stream(self) -> dict:
         """Force-stop a wedged stream client (``flatpak kill``)."""
         flatpak = _flatpak()

clients/decky/src/backend.ts

@@ -54,6 +54,38 @@ export interface PairResult {
   error?: string;
 }
 
+// A host in the SHARED saved-hosts store (client-known-hosts.json) — the same file the desktop
+// client reads/writes, so add/rename/pair in either surface shows up in both. `online` comes
+// from a mDNS-INDEPENDENT reachability probe (a Tailscale/VPN host isn't shown offline just
+// because it doesn't advertise); `null` means reachability is unknown (probe skipped or a client
+// too old for `--list-hosts`, which then also can't probe).
+export interface SavedHost {
+  name: string;
+  addr: string;
+  port: number;
+  fp_hex: string; // host cert fingerprint (lowercase hex); "" for a not-yet-paired manual entry
+  paired: boolean;
+  mac: string[];
+  last_used: number | null;
+  online: boolean | null;
+}
+
+export interface HostsResult {
+  ok: boolean;
+  hosts: SavedHost[];
+  probed: boolean;
+  fallback?: boolean; // true when read straight off disk (client too old for --list-hosts)
+}
+
+// The result of a host-store mutation (add/edit/forget). `error` is a stable code:
+// "client-unavailable" (flatpak missing) | "client-outdated" (client predates the mode) |
+// "unreachable"/"http"/… (from the client) | "client-error" (generic; see `detail`).
+export interface MutationResult {
+  ok: boolean;
+  error?: string;
+  detail?: string;
+}
+
 export interface RunnerInfo {
   runner: string; // absolute path to bin/punktfunkrun.sh
   app_id: string; // flatpak app id
@@ -129,6 +161,32 @@ export const killStream = callable<[], { ok: boolean }>("kill_stream");
 export const wake = callable<[host: string, port: number], { ok: boolean; error?: string }>(
   "wake",
 );
+// ---- Shared saved-hosts store (the SAME client-known-hosts.json the desktop client owns) ----
+// The saved hosts, each annotated with a live (mDNS-independent) `online` probe when `probe` is
+// true. Falls back to a direct JSON read (no reachability) on a client too old for --list-hosts.
+export const listHosts = callable<[probe: boolean], HostsResult>("list_hosts");
+// Save a host by address (survives mDNS-blind networks). `fp` empty = unpaired placeholder to
+// pair next; a later pair replaces it with the fingerprinted entry.
+export const addHost = callable<[target: string, name: string, fp: string], MutationResult>(
+  "add_host",
+);
+// Rename and/or re-point a saved host. `selector` = its fingerprint (survives IP change) or
+// current addr[:port]; empty fields are left untouched.
+export const editHost = callable<
+  [selector: string, name: string, addr: string, port: number],
+  MutationResult
+>("edit_host");
+// Remove a saved host by fingerprint or addr[:port] (idempotent).
+export const forgetHost = callable<[selector: string], MutationResult>("forget_host");
+// Reset this device's Punktfunk state (saved hosts + stream settings + pins); KEEPS the client
+// identity so the box isn't seen as new everywhere (re-pairing re-adds hosts).
+export const resetConfig = callable<[], { ok: boolean; error?: string }>("reset_config");
+// Reachability of one host[:port] via the client's mDNS-independent QUIC probe (a "test address"
+// check). `{ ok: true, online }` when determined, else `{ ok: false, error }`.
+export const probeHost = callable<
+  [target: string],
+  { ok: boolean; online?: boolean; error?: string }
+>("probe_host");
 export const checkUpdate = callable<[force: boolean], UpdateInfo>("check_update");
 // Update the flatpak client in the user installation (`flatpak update --user -y io.unom.Punktfunk`).
 export const updateClient = callable<

clients/decky/src/hooks.ts

@@ -8,7 +8,10 @@ import {
   GameEntry,
   getPins,
   Host,
+  listHosts,
   PinnedGame,
+  resetConfig,
+  SavedHost,
   setPins as setPinsBackend,
   updateClient,
   UpdateInfo,
@@ -59,6 +62,152 @@ export function useHosts() {
   return { hosts, scanning, refresh };
 }
 
+// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Saved hosts — the SHARED known-hosts store (client-known-hosts.json), the same file the
+// desktop client reads/writes. Fetched WITH a reachability probe so a host reached over a
+// routed network (Tailscale/VPN) reports online without ever appearing on mDNS.
+// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+export function useSavedHosts() {
+  const [saved, setSaved] = useState<SavedHost[]>([]);
+  const [loading, setLoading] = useState(false);
+
+  const refresh = useCallback(async () => {
+    setLoading(true);
+    try {
+      const r = await listHosts(true);
+      setSaved(r.hosts ?? []);
+    } catch {
+      /* backend unavailable — keep the current view */
+    } finally {
+      setLoading(false);
+    }
+  }, []);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    void refresh();
+  }, [refresh]);
+
+  return { saved, loading, refresh };
+}
+
+/**
+ * One host as the UI shows it — the union of the saved store and the live mDNS scan. A saved
+ * host is ONLINE when it either advertises on mDNS OR answers the reachability probe (so
+ * mDNS-blind-but-reachable hosts stop reading as offline). Discovered hosts not in the store
+ * are appended as unsaved rows.
+ */
+export interface HostView {
+  name: string;
+  addr: string;
+  port: number;
+  fp: string; // "" for a saved-but-unpaired placeholder
+  paired: boolean; // PIN-paired specifically (a TOFU host has fp but paired=false)
+  online: boolean;
+  saved: boolean; // present in the known-hosts store
+  pairPolicy: string; // the advert's policy ("required"|"optional"), "" when not advertising
+  mgmt: number; // advertised mgmt-API port (0 = not advertised → default)
+  id: string; // advertised stable host id ("" when not advertising)
+}
+
+function advertMatchesSaved(a: Host, s: SavedHost): boolean {
+  return (
+    (!!s.fp_hex && !!a.fp && s.fp_hex.toLowerCase() === a.fp.toLowerCase()) ||
+    (s.addr === a.host && s.port === a.port)
+  );
+}
+
+export function mergeHosts(saved: SavedHost[], discovered: Host[]): HostView[] {
+  const views: HostView[] = saved.map((s) => {
+    // Prefer a live advert's address (a host may have moved DHCP leases since it was saved).
+    const advert = discovered.find((a) => advertMatchesSaved(a, s));
+    return {
+      name: s.name || s.addr,
+      addr: advert?.host ?? s.addr,
+      port: advert?.port ?? s.port,
+      fp: s.fp_hex || advert?.fp || "",
+      paired: s.paired,
+      online: !!advert || s.online === true,
+      saved: true,
+      pairPolicy: advert?.pair ?? "",
+      mgmt: advert?.mgmt ?? 0,
+      id: advert?.id ?? "",
+    };
+  });
+  for (const a of discovered) {
+    if (saved.some((s) => advertMatchesSaved(a, s))) {
+      continue; // already rendered as its saved card (with a live pip)
+    }
+    views.push({
+      name: a.name,
+      addr: a.host,
+      port: a.port,
+      fp: a.fp,
+      paired: a.paired,
+      online: true,
+      saved: false,
+      pairPolicy: a.pair,
+      mgmt: a.mgmt,
+      id: a.id,
+    });
+  }
+  return views;
+}
+
+/**
+ * True when this host must be paired before it can stream. A saved host is streamable once it
+ * has a pinned fingerprint (PIN-paired OR TOFU-trusted); a saved placeholder (no fp yet) must be
+ * paired. For an unsaved discovered host we keep the advertised-policy rule the UI always used.
+ */
+export function needsPair(v: HostView): boolean {
+  return v.saved ? v.fp === "" : v.pairPolicy === "required" && !v.paired;
+}
+
+/** Adapt a merged view back into the `Host` shape the pair/library/stream helpers consume. */
+export function toHost(v: HostView): Host {
+  return {
+    name: v.name,
+    host: v.addr,
+    port: v.port,
+    pair: v.pairPolicy || (needsPair(v) ? "required" : "optional"),
+    fp: v.fp,
+    proto: "",
+    paired: v.paired,
+    id: v.id,
+    mgmt: v.mgmt,
+  };
+}
+
+/** Is a pinned game's host currently online, considering BOTH the live scan and saved probe? */
+export function pinIsOnline(pin: PinnedGame, views: HostView[]): boolean {
+  const fp = pin.host_fp.toLowerCase();
+  return views.some(
+    (v) =>
+      v.online &&
+      ((!!fp && v.fp.toLowerCase() === fp) ||
+        (!!pin.host_id && v.id === pin.host_id) ||
+        (v.addr === pin.host && v.port === pin.port)),
+  );
+}
+
+/**
+ * Reset all Punktfunk state (saved hosts + stream settings + pins), keeping the client identity.
+ * Refreshes whatever views are passed so the UI clears immediately. Ends in a toast.
+ */
+export async function resetAll(refreshers: Array<() => void | Promise<void>>): Promise<void> {
+  try {
+    const r = await resetConfig();
+    for (const fn of refreshers) void fn();
+    toaster.toast({
+      title: "Punktfunk",
+      body: r.ok
+        ? "Reset — saved hosts, settings, and pins cleared."
+        : `Reset failed${r.error ? ` (${r.error})` : ""}.`,
+    });
+  } catch {
+    toaster.toast({ title: "Punktfunk", body: "Reset failed." });
+  }
+}
+
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Self-update — checks our registry on mount (the backend caches for 30 min + is non-fatal
 // offline); `check(true)` bypasses the cache for the explicit "Check for updates" button.

clients/decky/src/hostmgmt.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,164 @@
+// Add / edit host dialogs for the fullscreen page. These mutate the SHARED known-hosts store
+// (client-known-hosts.json) through the flatpak client's headless modes, so a host saved or
+// renamed here shows up in the desktop client too. Text entry uses @decky/ui's TextField, which
+// brings up Steam's on-screen keyboard on focus (the digit-grid trick in pair.tsx is only needed
+// for the numeric PIN).
+import { DialogButton, Focusable, ModalRoot, Spinner, TextField } from "@decky/ui";
+import { toaster } from "@decky/api";
+import { ChangeEvent, FC, useState } from "react";
+import { addHost, editHost, MutationResult } from "./backend";
+import { HostView } from "./hooks";
+import { actionButton } from "./ui";
+
+/** Stable copy for a failed host-store mutation. */
+export function mutationError(r: MutationResult): string {
+  switch (r.error) {
+    case "client-unavailable":
+      return "The Punktfunk client isn't installed (flatpak io.unom.Punktfunk).";
+    case "client-outdated":
+      return "The installed client is too old for host management — update it from the About tab.";
+    default:
+      return r.detail || "Couldn't save the host.";
+  }
+}
+
+// Split a typed address: a pasted `host:port` wins over the separate port field. IPv6 literals
+// aren't supported by the host advert/known-hosts format, so a bare colon is treated as host:port.
+function targetFrom(addr: string, port: string): string {
+  const a = addr.trim();
+  if (a.includes(":")) {
+    return a;
+  }
+  const p = port.trim() || "9777";
+  return `${a}:${p}`;
+}
+
+const field: React.CSSProperties = { marginBottom: "0.8em" };
+
+const HostForm: FC<{
+  title: string;
+  submitLabel: string;
+  initial: { addr: string; port: string; name: string };
+  addrDisabled?: boolean;
+  onSubmit: (addr: string, port: string, name: string) => Promise<MutationResult>;
+  onDone: () => void;
+  closeModal?: () => void;
+}> = ({ title, submitLabel, initial, addrDisabled, onSubmit, onDone, closeModal }) => {
+  const [addr, setAddr] = useState(initial.addr);
+  const [port, setPort] = useState(initial.port);
+  const [name, setName] = useState(initial.name);
+  const [busy, setBusy] = useState(false);
+  const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null);
+
+  const submit = async () => {
+    if (!addr.trim()) {
+      setError("Enter an address.");
+      return;
+    }
+    setBusy(true);
+    setError(null);
+    try {
+      const r = await onSubmit(addr.trim(), port.trim(), name.trim());
+      if (r.ok) {
+        onDone();
+        closeModal?.();
+      } else {
+        setError(mutationError(r));
+      }
+    } catch (e) {
+      setError(String(e));
+    } finally {
+      setBusy(false);
+    }
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <ModalRoot closeModal={closeModal}>
+      <div style={{ fontWeight: "bold", fontSize: "1.3em", marginBottom: "0.6em" }}>{title}</div>
+      <div style={field}>
+        <TextField
+          label="Address"
+          description="IP or hostname (a Tailscale/VPN name works too). Add :port to override."
+          value={addr}
+          disabled={addrDisabled || busy}
+          onChange={(e: ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>) => setAddr(e.target.value)}
+        />
+      </div>
+      <div style={field}>
+        <TextField
+          label="Port"
+          value={port}
+          mustBeNumeric
+          disabled={busy}
+          onChange={(e: ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>) => setPort(e.target.value)}
+        />
+      </div>
+      <div style={field}>
+        <TextField
+          label="Name (optional)"
+          value={name}
+          disabled={busy}
+          onChange={(e: ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>) => setName(e.target.value)}
+        />
+      </div>
+      {error && (
+        <div style={{ color: "#ff6b6b", marginBottom: "0.6em" }}>{error}</div>
+      )}
+      <Focusable style={{ display: "flex", gap: "0.5em", justifyContent: "flex-end" }}>
+        <DialogButton style={actionButton} disabled={busy} onClick={() => closeModal?.()}>
+          Cancel
+        </DialogButton>
+        <DialogButton style={actionButton} disabled={busy} onClick={submit}>
+          {busy ? <Spinner style={{ height: "1em" }} /> : submitLabel}
+        </DialogButton>
+      </Focusable>
+    </ModalRoot>
+  );
+};
+
+/** "+" — save a new host by address (unpaired placeholder; the user pairs it next). */
+export const AddHostModal: FC<{ onDone: () => void; closeModal?: () => void }> = ({
+  onDone,
+  closeModal,
+}) => (
+  <HostForm
+    title="Add host"
+    submitLabel="Add"
+    initial={{ addr: "", port: "9777", name: "" }}
+    onSubmit={async (addr, port, name) => {
+      const r = await addHost(targetFrom(addr, port), name, "");
+      if (r.ok) {
+        toaster.toast({ title: "Punktfunk", body: `Added ${name || addr}` });
+      }
+      return r;
+    }}
+    onDone={onDone}
+    closeModal={closeModal}
+  />
+);
+
+/** Rename / re-point a saved host. Identified by fingerprint when it has one (survives IP
+ *  changes), else by its current address. */
+export const EditHostModal: FC<{
+  host: HostView;
+  onDone: () => void;
+  closeModal?: () => void;
+}> = ({ host, onDone, closeModal }) => {
+  const selector = host.fp || `${host.addr}:${host.port}`;
+  return (
+    <HostForm
+      title={`Edit ${host.name}`}
+      submitLabel="Save"
+      initial={{ addr: host.addr, port: String(host.port), name: host.name }}
+      onSubmit={async (addr, port, name) => {
+        const r = await editHost(selector, name, addr, parseInt(port, 10) || 0);
+        if (r.ok) {
+          toaster.toast({ title: "Punktfunk", body: `Updated ${name || addr}` });
+        }
+        return r;
+      }}
+      onDone={onDone}
+      closeModal={closeModal}
+    />
+  );
+};

clients/decky/src/index.tsx

@@ -18,10 +18,14 @@ import {
   applyUpdate,
   checkForUpdatesNow,
   hasUpdate,
-  resolvePinHost,
+  mergeHosts,
+  needsPair,
+  pinIsOnline,
   startStream,
+  toHost,
   useHosts,
   usePins,
+  useSavedHosts,
   useUpdate,
 } from "./hooks";
 import { streamPin } from "./library";
@@ -33,10 +37,18 @@ import { PairModal } from "./pair";
 // and pinned games.
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 const QamPanel: FC = () => {
-  const { hosts, scanning, refresh } = useHosts();
+  const { hosts: discovered, scanning, refresh: refreshDiscovered } = useHosts();
+  const { saved, loading: loadingSaved, refresh: refreshSaved } = useSavedHosts();
   const { info: update, checking, check } = useUpdate();
   const pins = usePins();
 
+  const hosts = mergeHosts(saved, discovered);
+  const busy = scanning || loadingSaved;
+  const refresh = () => {
+    void refreshDiscovered();
+    void refreshSaved();
+  };
+
   return (
     <>
       {hasUpdate(update) && (
@@ -82,12 +94,12 @@ const QamPanel: FC = () => {
       {pins.pins.length > 0 && (
         <PanelSection title="Pinned Games">
           {pins.pins.map((pin) => {
-            const { online } = resolvePinHost(pin, hosts);
+            const online = pinIsOnline(pin, hosts);
             return (
               <PanelSectionRow key={`${pin.host_fp}:${pin.game_id}`}>
                 <ButtonItem
                   layout="below"
-                  onClick={() => streamPin(pin, hosts, pins)}
+                  onClick={() => streamPin(pin, hosts.map(toHost), pins)}
                   label={pin.title}
                   description={`${pin.host_name}${online ? "" : " · offline?"}${
                     pin.paired ? "" : " · pairing required"
@@ -104,49 +116,52 @@ const QamPanel: FC = () => {
 
       <PanelSection title="Hosts">
         <PanelSectionRow>
-          <ButtonItem layout="below" onClick={refresh} disabled={scanning}>
-            {scanning ? (
+          <ButtonItem layout="below" onClick={refresh} disabled={busy}>
+            {busy ? (
               <Spinner style={{ height: "1em", marginRight: "0.5em" }} />
             ) : (
               <FaSyncAlt style={{ marginRight: "0.5em" }} />
             )}
-            {scanning ? "Scanning…" : "Refresh"}
+            {busy ? "Scanning…" : "Refresh"}
           </ButtonItem>
         </PanelSectionRow>
-        {hosts.length === 0 && scanning && (
+        {hosts.length === 0 && busy && (
           <PanelSectionRow>
             <Field focusable={false} description="Scanning your network…" />
           </PanelSectionRow>
         )}
-        {hosts.length === 0 && !scanning && (
+        {hosts.length === 0 && !busy && (
           <PanelSectionRow>
             <Field
               focusable={false}
               label="No hosts found"
-              description="Start a Punktfunk host on this network, then refresh."
+              description="Open Punktfunk to add a host by address, or start a host on this network and refresh."
             />
           </PanelSectionRow>
         )}
-        {hosts.map((h) => {
-          const needsPair = h.pair === "required" && !h.paired;
+        {hosts.map((v) => {
+          const pair = needsPair(v);
+          const h = toHost(v);
           return (
-            <PanelSectionRow key={h.fp || `${h.host}:${h.port}`}>
+            <PanelSectionRow key={v.fp || `${v.addr}:${v.port}`}>
               <ButtonItem
                 layout="below"
                 onClick={() =>
-                  needsPair
+                  pair
                     ? showModal(<PairModal host={h} onPaired={() => startStream(h)} />)
                     : startStream(h)
                 }
                 label={
                   <span style={{ display: "inline-flex", alignItems: "center", gap: "0.4em" }}>
-                    {needsPair ? <FaLock /> : <FaLockOpen />}
-                    {h.name}
+                    {pair ? <FaLock /> : <FaLockOpen />}
+                    {v.name}
                   </span>
                 }
-                description={`${h.host}:${h.port}${h.paired ? " · paired" : ""}`}
+                description={`${v.addr}:${v.port} · ${v.online ? "online" : "offline"}${
+                  pair ? " · pairing required" : v.paired ? " · paired" : ""
+                }`}
               >
-                {needsPair ? "Pair & Stream" : "Stream"}
+                {pair ? "Pair & Stream" : "Stream"}
               </ButtonItem>
             </PanelSectionRow>
           );

clients/decky/src/page.tsx

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 // The fullscreen page (registered as the /punktfunk route) — Hosts / Settings / About tabs.
 import {
+  ConfirmModal,
   DialogButton,
   Field,
   Focusable,
@@ -20,24 +21,34 @@ import {
   FaInfoCircle,
   FaLock,
   FaLockOpen,
+  FaPen,
   FaPlay,
+  FaPlus,
   FaSyncAlt,
   FaThLarge,
+  FaTrashAlt,
 } from "react-icons/fa";
-import { Host, UpdateInfo, killStream } from "./backend";
+import { UpdateInfo, forgetHost, killStream } from "./backend";
 import { PluginErrorBoundary } from "./boundary";
 import {
   DOCS_URL,
+  HostView,
   PinsApi,
   applyUpdate,
   checkForUpdatesNow,
   hasUpdate,
-  resolvePinHost,
+  mergeHosts,
+  needsPair,
+  pinIsOnline,
+  resetAll,
   startStream,
+  toHost,
   useHosts,
   usePins,
+  useSavedHosts,
   useUpdate,
 } from "./hooks";
+import { AddHostModal, EditHostModal, mutationError } from "./hostmgmt";
 import { GamePickerModal, storeLabel, streamPin } from "./library";
 import { PairModal } from "./pair";
 import { SettingsSection } from "./settings";
@@ -59,31 +70,62 @@ const tabScroll: CSSProperties = {
   boxSizing: "border-box",
 };
 
+// The one-line status under a host name: address, live presence, and trust state.
+function hostSubtitle(v: HostView): string {
+  const parts = [`${v.addr}:${v.port}`, v.online ? "online" : "offline"];
+  if (needsPair(v)) {
+    parts.push("pairing required");
+  } else if (v.paired) {
+    parts.push("paired");
+  } else if (v.saved) {
+    parts.push("trusted");
+  }
+  return parts.join(" · ");
+}
+
+/** Confirm + forget a saved host, then refresh the list. */
+function confirmForget(v: HostView, refresh: () => void): void {
+  const selector = v.fp || `${v.addr}:${v.port}`;
+  showModal(
+    <ConfirmModal
+      strTitle={`Forget ${v.name}?`}
+      strDescription="You'll need to pair or trust it again to reconnect."
+      strOKButtonText="Forget"
+      bDestructiveWarning
+      onOK={async () => {
+        const r = await forgetHost(selector);
+        toaster.toast({
+          title: "Punktfunk",
+          body: r.ok ? `Forgot ${v.name}` : mutationError(r),
+        });
+        refresh();
+      }}
+    />,
+  );
+}
+
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// Host details — everything the mDNS advert told us, incl. the fingerprint to cross-check
-// against the host's own log / web console before trusting it.
+// Host details — everything we know, plus (for a saved host) rename / edit / forget.
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-const HostDetailsModal: FC<{ host: Host; closeModal?: () => void }> = ({
-  host,
-  closeModal,
-}) => {
-  const fp = host.fp ? (host.fp.match(/.{1,4}/g) ?? [host.fp]).join(" ") : "not advertised";
+const HostDetailsModal: FC<{
+  host: HostView;
+  onChanged: () => void;
+  closeModal?: () => void;
+}> = ({ host, onChanged, closeModal }) => {
+  const fp = host.fp ? (host.fp.match(/.{1,4}/g) ?? [host.fp]).join(" ") : "not known yet";
   return (
     <ModalRoot closeModal={closeModal}>
       <div style={{ fontWeight: "bold", fontSize: "1.3em", marginBottom: "0.4em" }}>
         {host.name}
       </div>
       <Field focusable={false} label="Address">
-        {host.host}:{host.port}
+        {host.addr}:{host.port}
       </Field>
-      <Field focusable={false} label="Protocol">
-        {host.proto || "unknown"}
-      </Field>
-      <Field focusable={false} label="Pairing policy">
-        {host.pair === "required" ? "PIN pairing required" : "Open (trust on first connect)"}
+      <Field focusable={false} label="Presence">
+        {host.online ? "Online" : "Offline"}
       </Field>
       <Field focusable={false} label="This Deck">
-        {host.paired ? "Paired" : "Not paired yet"}
+        {host.paired ? "Paired" : host.fp ? "Trusted" : "Not paired yet"}
       </Field>
       <Field
         focusable={false}
@@ -96,6 +138,32 @@ const HostDetailsModal: FC<{ host: Host; closeModal?: () => void }> = ({
           </span>
         }
       />
+      {host.saved && (
+        <Field label="Manage" childrenContainerWidth="max">
+          <RowActions>
+            <DialogButton
+              style={actionButton}
+              onClick={() => {
+                closeModal?.();
+                showModal(<EditHostModal host={host} onDone={onChanged} />);
+              }}
+            >
+              <FaPen style={{ marginRight: "0.4em" }} />
+              Edit
+            </DialogButton>
+            <DialogButton
+              style={actionButton}
+              onClick={() => {
+                closeModal?.();
+                confirmForget(host, onChanged);
+              }}
+            >
+              <FaTrashAlt style={{ marginRight: "0.4em" }} />
+              Forget
+            </DialogButton>
+          </RowActions>
+        </Field>
+      )}
     </ModalRoot>
   );
 };
@@ -103,31 +171,28 @@ const HostDetailsModal: FC<{ host: Host; closeModal?: () => void }> = ({
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // One host row: status icon + address, details / pair / stream actions.
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-const HostRow: FC<{ host: Host; onPaired: () => void; onGames: () => void }> = ({
-  host,
-  onPaired,
-  onGames,
-}) => {
-  // The host's policy is `pair=required`, but if THIS device is already paired we don't need to
-  // pair again — show it as trusted and go straight to Stream.
-  const needsPair = host.pair === "required" && !host.paired;
+const HostRow: FC<{
+  host: HostView;
+  onChanged: () => void;
+  onGames: () => void;
+}> = ({ host, onChanged, onGames }) => {
+  const pair = needsPair(host);
+  const h = toHost(host);
   return (
     <Field
       label={
         <span style={{ display: "inline-flex", alignItems: "center", gap: "0.4em" }}>
-          {needsPair ? <FaLock /> : <FaLockOpen />}
+          {pair ? <FaLock /> : <FaLockOpen />}
           {host.name}
         </span>
       }
-      description={`${host.host}:${host.port}${
-        needsPair ? " · pairing required" : host.paired ? " · paired" : ""
-      }`}
+      description={hostSubtitle(host)}
       childrenContainerWidth="max"
     >
       <RowActions>
         <DialogButton
           style={iconButton}
-          onClick={() => showModal(<HostDetailsModal host={host} />)}
+          onClick={() => showModal(<HostDetailsModal host={host} onChanged={onChanged} />)}
         >
           <FaInfoCircle />
         </DialogButton>
@@ -137,10 +202,10 @@ const HostRow: FC<{ host: Host; onPaired: () => void; onGames: () => void }> = (
           <FaThLarge style={{ marginRight: "0.4em" }} />
           Games
         </DialogButton>
-        {needsPair && (
+        {pair && (
           <DialogButton
             style={actionButton}
-            onClick={() => showModal(<PairModal host={host} onPaired={onPaired} />)}
+            onClick={() => showModal(<PairModal host={h} onPaired={onChanged} />)}
           >
             Pair
           </DialogButton>
@@ -148,11 +213,9 @@ const HostRow: FC<{ host: Host; onPaired: () => void; onGames: () => void }> = (
         <DialogButton
           style={actionButton}
           onClick={() =>
-            needsPair
-              ? showModal(
-                  <PairModal host={host} onPaired={() => startStream(host)} />,
-                )
-              : startStream(host)
+            pair
+              ? showModal(<PairModal host={h} onPaired={() => startStream(h)} />)
+              : startStream(h)
           }
         >
           <FaPlay style={{ marginRight: "0.4em" }} />
@@ -164,7 +227,7 @@ const HostRow: FC<{ host: Host; onPaired: () => void; onGames: () => void }> = (
 };
 
 const HostsTab: FC<{
-  hosts: Host[];
+  hosts: HostView[];
   scanning: boolean;
   refresh: () => void;
   pins: PinsApi;
@@ -172,16 +235,23 @@ const HostsTab: FC<{
 }> = ({ hosts, scanning, refresh, pins, clientUpdatePending }) => (
   <div style={tabScroll}>
     <Field
-      label="Discover"
+      label="Hosts"
       description={
         scanning
           ? "Scanning the LAN…"
-          : `${hosts.length} host${hosts.length === 1 ? "" : "s"} on your network`
+          : `${hosts.length} host${hosts.length === 1 ? "" : "s"} — saved and on your network`
       }
       childrenContainerWidth="max"
       bottomSeparator={hosts.length ? "standard" : "none"}
     >
       <RowActions>
+        <DialogButton
+          style={actionButton}
+          onClick={() => showModal(<AddHostModal onDone={refresh} />)}
+        >
+          <FaPlus style={{ marginRight: "0.5em" }} />
+          Add
+        </DialogButton>
         <DialogButton style={actionButton} disabled={scanning} onClick={refresh}>
           {scanning ? (
             <Spinner style={{ height: "1em", marginRight: "0.5em" }} />
@@ -196,18 +266,22 @@ const HostsTab: FC<{
     {hosts.length === 0 && !scanning && (
       <Field
         focusable={false}
-        label="No hosts found"
-        description="Start a Punktfunk host on the same network, then refresh. The setup guide (About tab) covers installing a host."
+        label="No hosts yet"
+        description="Add one by address with +, or start a Punktfunk host on this network and refresh. The setup guide (About tab) covers installing a host."
       />
     )}
     {hosts.map((h) => (
       <HostRow
-        key={h.fp || `${h.host}:${h.port}`}
+        key={h.fp || `${h.addr}:${h.port}`}
         host={h}
-        onPaired={refresh}
+        onChanged={refresh}
         onGames={() =>
           showModal(
-            <GamePickerModal host={h} pins={pins} clientUpdatePending={clientUpdatePending} />,
+            <GamePickerModal
+              host={toHost(h)}
+              pins={pins}
+              clientUpdatePending={clientUpdatePending}
+            />,
           )
         }
       />
@@ -223,7 +297,7 @@ const HostsTab: FC<{
           bottomSeparator="standard"
         />
         {pins.pins.map((pin) => {
-          const { online } = resolvePinHost(pin, hosts);
+          const online = pinIsOnline(pin, hosts);
           return (
             <Field
               key={`${pin.host_fp}:${pin.game_id}`}
@@ -234,7 +308,10 @@ const HostsTab: FC<{
               childrenContainerWidth="max"
             >
               <RowActions>
-                <DialogButton style={actionButton} onClick={() => streamPin(pin, hosts, pins)}>
+                <DialogButton
+                  style={actionButton}
+                  onClick={() => streamPin(pin, hosts.map(toHost), pins)}
+                >
                   <FaPlay style={{ marginRight: "0.4em" }} />
                   Play
                 </DialogButton>
@@ -260,7 +337,8 @@ const SettingsTab: FC = () => (
 );
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// About — plugin version + explicit update check, docs link, stream-exit help, force-stop.
+// About — plugin version + explicit update check, docs link, stream-exit help, force-stop,
+// and the destructive "reset everything" action.
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 async function forceStopStream(): Promise<void> {
   stopStream(); // ask Steam to end the "game" first (clean path)
@@ -271,11 +349,24 @@ async function forceStopStream(): Promise<void> {
   });
 }
 
+function confirmReset(refreshers: Array<() => void | Promise<void>>): void {
+  showModal(
+    <ConfirmModal
+      strTitle="Reset Punktfunk?"
+      strDescription="Clears every saved host, your stream settings, and all pinned games on this Deck. Your client identity is kept, so you'll re-pair hosts to reconnect. This can't be undone."
+      strOKButtonText="Reset"
+      bDestructiveWarning
+      onOK={() => void resetAll(refreshers)}
+    />,
+  );
+}
+
 const AboutTab: FC<{
   update: UpdateInfo | null;
   checking: boolean;
   check: (force: boolean) => Promise<UpdateInfo | null>;
-}> = ({ update, checking, check }) => (
+  onReset: () => void;
+}> = ({ update, checking, check, onReset }) => (
   <div style={tabScroll}>
     <Field
       label="Version"
@@ -349,15 +440,35 @@ const AboutTab: FC<{
         </DialogButton>
       </RowActions>
     </Field>
+    <Field
+      label="Reset Punktfunk"
+      description="Clear saved hosts, stream settings, and pinned games on this Deck (keeps your client identity)"
+      childrenContainerWidth="max"
+    >
+      <RowActions>
+        <DialogButton style={actionButton} onClick={onReset}>
+          <FaTrashAlt style={{ marginRight: "0.4em" }} />
+          Reset
+        </DialogButton>
+      </RowActions>
+    </Field>
   </div>
 );
 
 const PunktfunkPage: FC = () => {
-  const { hosts, scanning, refresh } = useHosts();
+  const { hosts: discovered, scanning, refresh: refreshDiscovered } = useHosts();
+  const { saved, loading: loadingSaved, refresh: refreshSaved } = useSavedHosts();
   const { info: update, checking, check } = useUpdate();
   const pins = usePins();
   const [tab, setTab] = useState("hosts");
 
+  const hosts = mergeHosts(saved, discovered);
+  // A host action (pair/add/edit/forget) can change either store, so refresh both.
+  const refreshHosts = () => {
+    void refreshDiscovered();
+    void refreshSaved();
+  };
+
   return (
     <div
       style={{
@@ -408,8 +519,8 @@ const PunktfunkPage: FC = () => {
               content: (
                 <HostsTab
                   hosts={hosts}
-                  scanning={scanning}
-                  refresh={refresh}
+                  scanning={scanning || loadingSaved}
+                  refresh={refreshHosts}
                   pins={pins}
                   clientUpdatePending={!!update?.client_update_available}
                 />
@@ -423,7 +534,14 @@ const PunktfunkPage: FC = () => {
             {
               id: "about",
               title: "About",
-              content: <AboutTab update={update} checking={checking} check={check} />,
+              content: (
+                <AboutTab
+                  update={update}
+                  checking={checking}
+                  check={check}
+                  onReset={() => confirmReset([refreshHosts, pins.refresh])}
+                />
+              ),
             },
           ]}
         />

clients/linux/src/app.rs

@@ -583,6 +583,11 @@ pub fn run() -> glib::ExitCode {
     if crate::cli::arg_value("--wake").is_some() {
         return crate::cli::cli_wake();
     }
+    // Headless known-hosts management (list/add/edit/forget/reset) + reachability probes —
+    // the shared store the Decky plugin drives; returns None when argv names none of them.
+    if let Some(code) = crate::cli::headless_host_command() {
+        return code;
+    }
     // Streams and the console library live in the session binary now — exec it,
     // forwarding the relevant argv (the Decky wrapper keeps working through the shell
     // until it's repointed).

clients/linux/src/cli.rs

@@ -3,12 +3,15 @@
 //! scenes.
 
 use crate::app::AppModel;
+use crate::trust::{KnownHost, KnownHosts};
 use crate::ui_hosts::{ConnectRequest, HostsMsg};
 use gtk::glib;
 use gtk::prelude::*;
+use punktfunk_core::client::NativeClient;
 use relm4::prelude::*;
 use std::cell::RefCell;
 use std::rc::Rc;
+use std::time::Duration;
 
 /// The handles `run_shot` needs — cloned out of `AppModel` before it moves into the
 /// component parts, so the scene can be dispatched from the window's `map` callback.
@@ -116,6 +119,11 @@ pub fn headless_pair(pin: &str) -> glib::ExitCode {
                 &fp_hex,
                 true,
             );
+            // A host manually added via `--add-host` (no fingerprint yet) is stored as an
+            // addr-keyed placeholder; now that the ceremony yielded the real fingerprint,
+            // `persist_host` created the fp-keyed entry — drop the placeholder so the list
+            // shows this host once, not twice.
+            forget_placeholder(&addr, port);
             println!("paired {addr}:{port} fp={fp_hex}");
             glib::ExitCode::SUCCESS
         }
@@ -194,6 +202,274 @@ pub fn headless_library(target: &str) -> glib::ExitCode {
     }
 }
 
+// -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Headless host-store management — the shared known-hosts store (`client-known-hosts.json`)
+// is the SINGLE source of truth for every client on this device (the GTK shell, the Vulkan
+// session, and the Decky plugin, which shells out to these modes). Exposing add/edit/forget/
+// list/reset here lets the Decky Gaming-Mode UI mutate exactly the store the desktop client
+// reads, so a change in one surface shows up in the other. Reachability (`--list-hosts
+// --probe`, `--reachable`) answers "is this host online?" WITHOUT mDNS, so a host reached
+// over a routed network (Tailscale/VPN/another subnet) no longer reads as offline.
+// -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+/// The per-probe budget: a cold host on a routed link answers in well under this, and every
+/// saved host is probed in parallel so the wall-clock cost is one timeout, not the sum.
+const PROBE_TIMEOUT: Duration = Duration::from_millis(2500);
+
+/// Selector for `--set-host`/`--forget-host`: a 64-hex fingerprint pins one entry across IP
+/// changes; anything else is treated as `addr[:port]` (manual entries have no fingerprint).
+enum Selector {
+    Fp(String),
+    Addr(String, u16),
+}
+
+fn parse_selector(s: &str) -> Selector {
+    if s.len() == 64 && s.bytes().all(|b| b.is_ascii_hexdigit()) {
+        Selector::Fp(s.to_lowercase())
+    } else {
+        let (addr, port) = parse_host_port(s);
+        Selector::Addr(addr, port.unwrap_or(9777))
+    }
+}
+
+impl Selector {
+    fn matches(&self, h: &KnownHost) -> bool {
+        match self {
+            Selector::Fp(fp) => h.fp_hex.eq_ignore_ascii_case(fp),
+            Selector::Addr(addr, port) => h.addr == *addr && h.port == *port,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Probe every saved host for reachability in parallel (shared with the hosts-page presence pips).
+fn probe_all(hosts: &[KnownHost]) -> Vec<bool> {
+    crate::trust::probe_reachable_many(
+        hosts.iter().map(|h| (h.addr.clone(), h.port)).collect(),
+        PROBE_TIMEOUT,
+    )
+}
+
+/// Drop an fp-less placeholder for `addr:port` (see `headless_pair`). No-op when none exists.
+fn forget_placeholder(addr: &str, port: u16) {
+    let mut known = KnownHosts::load();
+    let before = known.hosts.len();
+    known
+        .hosts
+        .retain(|h| !(h.fp_hex.is_empty() && h.addr == addr && h.port == port));
+    if known.hosts.len() != before {
+        let _ = known.save();
+    }
+}
+
+/// `--list-hosts [--probe]` — the saved known-hosts store as JSON (the store the Decky plugin
+/// renders). With `--probe`, each host carries an `online` bool from a live reachability probe
+/// (mDNS-independent); without it, `online` is `null` (unknown — the caller falls back to its
+/// own mDNS view). Shape: `{"hosts":[{name,addr,port,fp_hex,paired,mac,last_used,online}]}`.
+pub fn headless_list_hosts() -> glib::ExitCode {
+    let known = KnownHosts::load();
+    let online: Option<Vec<bool>> = arg_flag("--probe").then(|| probe_all(&known.hosts));
+    let hosts: Vec<serde_json::Value> = known
+        .hosts
+        .iter()
+        .enumerate()
+        .map(|(i, h)| {
+            serde_json::json!({
+                "name": h.name,
+                "addr": h.addr,
+                "port": h.port,
+                "fp_hex": h.fp_hex,
+                "paired": h.paired,
+                "mac": h.mac,
+                "last_used": h.last_used,
+                "online": online.as_ref().map(|v| serde_json::Value::Bool(v[i]))
+                    .unwrap_or(serde_json::Value::Null),
+            })
+        })
+        .collect();
+    match serde_json::to_string(&serde_json::json!({ "hosts": hosts })) {
+        Ok(s) => {
+            println!("{s}");
+            glib::ExitCode::SUCCESS
+        }
+        Err(e) => {
+            eprintln!("list-hosts: {e}");
+            glib::ExitCode::FAILURE
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// `--reachable host[:port]` — probe one target and exit 0 (reachable) / 1 (not). A cheap
+/// "is it online / test this address" check that never touches mDNS.
+pub fn headless_reachable(target: &str) -> glib::ExitCode {
+    let (addr, port) = parse_host_port(target);
+    let port = port.unwrap_or(9777);
+    if NativeClient::probe(&addr, port, PROBE_TIMEOUT) {
+        println!("reachable {addr}:{port}");
+        glib::ExitCode::SUCCESS
+    } else {
+        eprintln!("unreachable {addr}:{port}");
+        glib::ExitCode::FAILURE
+    }
+}
+
+/// `--add-host host[:port] [--host-label NAME] [--fp HEX]` — save a host by address so it can
+/// be paired/streamed even when mDNS never sees it (a Tailscale/VPN box). Without `--fp` the
+/// entry is an unpaired placeholder (keyed by address) the user pairs later — `headless_pair`
+/// then replaces it with the fingerprinted entry. With `--fp` (e.g. carried from an advert)
+/// it is pinned immediately as trusted-but-not-PIN-paired. Prints `added <addr>:<port>`.
+pub fn headless_add_host(target: &str) -> glib::ExitCode {
+    let (addr, port) = parse_host_port(target);
+    let port = port.unwrap_or(9777);
+    let name = arg_value("--host-label")
+        .map(|n| n.trim().to_string())
+        .filter(|n| !n.is_empty())
+        .unwrap_or_else(|| addr.clone());
+    if let Some(fp_hex) = arg_value("--fp").filter(|f| crate::trust::parse_hex32(f).is_some()) {
+        // Fingerprint known up front: upsert the pinned entry (paired stays false — no PIN
+        // ceremony happened; a later `--pair` upgrades it).
+        crate::trust::persist_host(&name, &addr, port, &fp_hex.to_lowercase(), false);
+        forget_placeholder(&addr, port);
+        println!("added {addr}:{port} fp={}", fp_hex.to_lowercase());
+        return glib::ExitCode::SUCCESS;
+    }
+    // No fingerprint yet — an address-keyed placeholder. Refresh the name if it already exists.
+    let mut known = KnownHosts::load();
+    if let Some(h) = known
+        .hosts
+        .iter_mut()
+        .find(|h| h.addr == addr && h.port == port)
+    {
+        h.name = name;
+    } else {
+        known.hosts.push(KnownHost {
+            name,
+            addr: addr.clone(),
+            port,
+            fp_hex: String::new(),
+            paired: false,
+            last_used: None,
+            mac: Vec::new(),
+        });
+    }
+    match known.save() {
+        Ok(()) => {
+            println!("added {addr}:{port}");
+            glib::ExitCode::SUCCESS
+        }
+        Err(e) => {
+            eprintln!("add-host: {e:#}");
+            glib::ExitCode::FAILURE
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// `--set-host <fp|host[:port]> [--host-label NAME] [--addr ADDR] [--port PORT]` — edit a saved
+/// host: rename and/or re-point its address. Identified by fingerprint (survives IP changes) or
+/// current address. Prints `updated <name>`; fails if nothing matched.
+pub fn headless_set_host(selector: &str) -> glib::ExitCode {
+    let sel = parse_selector(selector);
+    let mut known = KnownHosts::load();
+    let Some(h) = known.hosts.iter_mut().find(|h| sel.matches(h)) else {
+        eprintln!("set-host: no saved host matches {selector:?}");
+        return glib::ExitCode::FAILURE;
+    };
+    if let Some(name) = arg_value("--host-label").map(|n| n.trim().to_string()) {
+        if !name.is_empty() {
+            h.name = name;
+        }
+    }
+    if let Some(addr) = arg_value("--addr").map(|a| a.trim().to_string()) {
+        if !addr.is_empty() {
+            h.addr = addr;
+        }
+    }
+    if let Some(port) = arg_value("--port").and_then(|p| p.trim().parse::<u16>().ok()) {
+        h.port = port;
+    }
+    let label = h.name.clone();
+    match known.save() {
+        Ok(()) => {
+            println!("updated {label}");
+            glib::ExitCode::SUCCESS
+        }
+        Err(e) => {
+            eprintln!("set-host: {e:#}");
+            glib::ExitCode::FAILURE
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// `--forget-host <fp|host[:port]>` — remove a saved host (drops the pinned fingerprint; a later
+/// connect must re-pair/trust). Prints `forgot N`; succeeds even if nothing matched (idempotent).
+pub fn headless_forget_host(selector: &str) -> glib::ExitCode {
+    let sel = parse_selector(selector);
+    let mut known = KnownHosts::load();
+    let before = known.hosts.len();
+    known.hosts.retain(|h| !sel.matches(h));
+    let removed = before - known.hosts.len();
+    if removed > 0 {
+        if let Err(e) = known.save() {
+            eprintln!("forget-host: {e:#}");
+            return glib::ExitCode::FAILURE;
+        }
+    }
+    println!("forgot {removed}");
+    glib::ExitCode::SUCCESS
+}
+
+/// `--reset` — clear this device's client state: the saved known-hosts and the stream
+/// settings. The persistent IDENTITY (`client-cert.pem`/`client-key.pem`) is deliberately
+/// KEPT so the box isn't seen as a brand-new device everywhere (a re-pair still re-adds hosts);
+/// a caller wanting a true factory reset removes those separately. Missing files are fine.
+pub fn headless_reset() -> glib::ExitCode {
+    let Ok(dir) = crate::trust::config_dir() else {
+        eprintln!("reset: could not resolve config dir (HOME unset?)");
+        return glib::ExitCode::FAILURE;
+    };
+    let mut ok = true;
+    for name in ["client-known-hosts.json", "client-gtk-settings.json"] {
+        match std::fs::remove_file(dir.join(name)) {
+            Ok(()) => {}
+            Err(e) if e.kind() == std::io::ErrorKind::NotFound => {}
+            Err(e) => {
+                eprintln!("reset: {name}: {e}");
+                ok = false;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    if ok {
+        println!("reset");
+        glib::ExitCode::SUCCESS
+    } else {
+        glib::ExitCode::FAILURE
+    }
+}
+
+/// Dispatch the headless host-store modes (returns `None` when argv names none of them, so the
+/// caller proceeds to launch the GTK app). Kept in one place so `arg_flag` stays private and the
+/// dispatch in `app.rs` is a single line.
+pub fn headless_host_command() -> Option<glib::ExitCode> {
+    if arg_flag("--list-hosts") {
+        return Some(headless_list_hosts());
+    }
+    if let Some(t) = arg_value("--reachable") {
+        return Some(headless_reachable(&t));
+    }
+    if let Some(t) = arg_value("--add-host") {
+        return Some(headless_add_host(&t));
+    }
+    if let Some(s) = arg_value("--set-host") {
+        return Some(headless_set_host(&s));
+    }
+    if let Some(s) = arg_value("--forget-host") {
+        return Some(headless_forget_host(&s));
+    }
+    if arg_flag("--reset") {
+        return Some(headless_reset());
+    }
+    None
+}
+
 /// `PUNKTFUNK_SHOT_SCENE`, when set, selects a scripted host-free scene for CI screenshots.
 pub fn shot_scene() -> Option<String> {
     std::env::var("PUNKTFUNK_SHOT_SCENE")

clients/linux/src/ui_hosts.rs

@@ -333,8 +333,27 @@ impl relm4::factory::FactoryComponent for HostCard {
 
 // --- The page component ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+/// How long each saved-host reachability probe waits, and how often the sweep runs. The pip
+/// reads `advertising OR probed-reachable`, so a host reached only over a routed network
+/// (Tailscale/VPN) — which never appears on mDNS — still shows Online.
+const PROBE_TIMEOUT: std::time::Duration = std::time::Duration::from_millis(2500);
+const PROBE_INTERVAL: std::time::Duration = std::time::Duration::from_secs(12);
+
+/// The key a saved host is tracked under in the probe-results map: its fingerprint (stable
+/// across IP changes) when it has one, else `addr:port` (a not-yet-paired manual entry).
+fn saved_key(h: &KnownHost) -> String {
+    if h.fp_hex.is_empty() {
+        format!("{}:{}", h.addr, h.port)
+    } else {
+        h.fp_hex.clone()
+    }
+}
+
 pub struct HostsPage {
     adverts: HashMap<String, DiscoveredHost>,
+    /// Saved hosts proven reachable by the periodic QUIC probe (mDNS-independent), keyed by
+    /// [`saved_key`]. OR'd with live-advert presence to drive the Online pip.
+    probed: HashMap<String, bool>,
     connecting: Option<String>,
     settings: Rc<RefCell<Settings>>,
     saved: FactoryVecDeque<HostCard>,
@@ -359,6 +378,8 @@ pub enum HostsMsg {
     },
     /// Reload the disk store and re-render (fresh pairings, renames, the library gate).
     Refresh,
+    /// A completed reachability sweep: saved-host key → reachable. Merged into the online pips.
+    Probed(HashMap<String, bool>),
     /// Mark the card matching `ConnectRequest::card_key` as connecting; `None` restores.
     SetConnecting(Option<String>),
     ShowError(String),
@@ -544,8 +565,50 @@ impl SimpleComponent for HostsPage {
             });
         }
 
+        // Periodic reachability sweep: a saved host reached only over a routed network
+        // (Tailscale/VPN) never advertises on mDNS, so presence can't come from the advert map
+        // alone. Each cycle probes every saved host off the main thread (bounded, trust-agnostic
+        // QUIC handshake — the display-side companion to dial-first) and feeds results back as
+        // `Probed`; the first sweep runs immediately, then every `PROBE_INTERVAL`.
+        {
+            let sender = sender.clone();
+            glib::spawn_future_local(async move {
+                loop {
+                    let entries: Vec<(String, String, u16)> = KnownHosts::load()
+                        .hosts
+                        .iter()
+                        .filter(|h| !h.addr.is_empty())
+                        .map(|h| (saved_key(h), h.addr.clone(), h.port))
+                        .collect();
+                    if !entries.is_empty() {
+                        let (tx, rx) = async_channel::bounded(1);
+                        std::thread::Builder::new()
+                            .name("punktfunk-probe".into())
+                            .spawn(move || {
+                                let targets =
+                                    entries.iter().map(|(_, a, p)| (a.clone(), *p)).collect();
+                                let results =
+                                    crate::trust::probe_reachable_many(targets, PROBE_TIMEOUT);
+                                let map: HashMap<String, bool> = entries
+                                    .into_iter()
+                                    .map(|(k, _, _)| k)
+                                    .zip(results)
+                                    .collect();
+                                let _ = tx.send_blocking(map);
+                            })
+                            .expect("spawn probe thread");
+                        if let Ok(map) = rx.recv().await {
+                            sender.input(HostsMsg::Probed(map));
+                        }
+                    }
+                    glib::timeout_future(PROBE_INTERVAL).await;
+                }
+            });
+        }
+
         let mut model = HostsPage {
             adverts: HashMap::new(),
+            probed: HashMap::new(),
             connecting: None,
             settings,
             saved,
@@ -574,6 +637,10 @@ impl SimpleComponent for HostsPage {
                 self.rebuild();
             }
             HostsMsg::Refresh => self.rebuild(),
+            HostsMsg::Probed(map) => {
+                self.probed = map;
+                self.rebuild();
+            }
             HostsMsg::SetConnecting(key) => {
                 self.connecting = key;
                 self.rebuild();
@@ -632,7 +699,9 @@ impl HostsPage {
             let mut saved = self.saved.guard();
             saved.clear();
             for k in &known.hosts {
-                let online = self.adverts.values().any(|a| matches(k, a));
+                // Online = advertising on mDNS OR proven reachable by the last probe sweep.
+                let online = self.adverts.values().any(|a| matches(k, a))
+                    || self.probed.get(&saved_key(k)).copied().unwrap_or(false);
                 // Learn this host's wake MAC(s) from its live advert while it's online.
                 if let Some(a) = self
                     .adverts

clients/windows/src/app/hosts.rs

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ use super::style::*;
 use super::{Screen, Svc, Target};
 use crate::discovery::DiscoveredHost;
 use crate::trust::KnownHosts;
+use std::collections::HashMap;
 use windows_reactor::*;
 
 /// Overflow-menu item labels — `on_item_clicked` reports the clicked item by its text.
@@ -42,6 +43,10 @@ const TILE_GAP: f64 = 12.0;
 pub(crate) struct HostsProps {
     pub(crate) svc: Svc,
     pub(crate) hosts: Vec<DiscoveredHost>,
+    /// Saved hosts proven reachable by the periodic QUIC probe (keyed by `fp_hex`), OR'd with
+    /// live-advert presence to drive the Online pip — so a host reached only over a routed
+    /// network (Tailscale/VPN), which never advertises on mDNS, still reads Online.
+    pub(crate) probed: HashMap<String, bool>,
     pub(crate) status: String,
     /// Connected-controller count (root state, mirrored from the gamepad service) — a
     /// pad plus a paired host surfaces the "Open console UI" hint card.
@@ -68,6 +73,7 @@ impl PartialEq for HostsProps {
         // Setters are identity-stable; only the value fields drive re-render.
         self.svc == other.svc
             && self.hosts == other.hosts
+            && self.probed == other.probed
             && self.status == other.status
             && self.pads == other.pads
             && self.forget == other.forget
@@ -327,13 +333,21 @@ pub(crate) fn hosts_page(props: &HostsProps, cx: &mut RenderCx) -> Element {
         );
     }
 
-    // A controller is connected and a paired host exists: offer the couch experience —
-    // the console (gamepad) UI on the most recently used paired host.
+    // A controller is connected and a paired host is REACHABLE (advertising or probed —
+    // an offline host would just open the console onto an error scene): offer the couch
+    // experience — the console (gamepad) UI on the most recently used such host.
     if CONSOLE_UI_AVAILABLE && props.pads > 0 {
+        let reachable = |k: &&crate::trust::KnownHost| {
+            hosts
+                .iter()
+                .any(|h| h.fp_hex == k.fp_hex || (h.addr == k.addr && h.port == k.port))
+                || props.probed.get(&k.fp_hex).copied().unwrap_or(false)
+        };
         if let Some(k) = known
             .hosts
             .iter()
             .filter(|h| h.paired)
+            .filter(reachable)
             .max_by_key(|h| h.last_used.unwrap_or(0))
         {
             let target = Target {
@@ -404,9 +418,13 @@ pub(crate) fn hosts_page(props: &HostsProps, cx: &mut RenderCx) -> Element {
                 pair_optional: false,
                 mac: k.mac.clone(),
             };
+            // Online = advertising on mDNS OR proven reachable by the last probe sweep (the latter
+            // covers a routed/Tailscale host that never advertises — the display companion to
+            // dial-first).
             let online = hosts
                 .iter()
-                .any(|h| h.fp_hex == k.fp_hex || (h.addr == k.addr && h.port == k.port));
+                .any(|h| h.fp_hex == k.fp_hex || (h.addr == k.addr && h.port == k.port))
+                || props.probed.get(&k.fp_hex).copied().unwrap_or(false);
             // Learn this host's wake MAC(s) from its live advert while it's online, so we can wake
             // it once it sleeps (no-op / no disk write when unchanged).
             if let Some(a) = hosts.iter().find(|h| {

clients/windows/src/app/mod.rs

@@ -36,12 +36,14 @@ mod style;
 use crate::discovery::{self, DiscoveredHost};
 use crate::gamepad::GamepadService;
 use crate::session::Stats;
-use crate::trust::Settings;
+use crate::trust::{KnownHosts, Settings};
 use hosts::HostsProps;
 use punktfunk_core::client::NativeClient;
 use speed::{SpeedProps, SpeedState};
+use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::sync::atomic::AtomicBool;
 use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
+use std::time::Duration;
 use stream::StreamProps;
 use windows_reactor::*;
 
@@ -265,6 +267,9 @@ fn root(cx: &mut RenderCx, ctx: &Arc<AppCtx>) -> Element {
                 .ok();
         }
     });
+    // Saved-host reachability, keyed by `fp_hex`, refreshed by the probe sweep below. Root state
+    // (thread-driven → must be root to re-render — see the module docs), passed to the hosts page.
+    let (probed, set_probed) = cx.use_async_state(HashMap::<String, bool>::new());
 
     // Continuous LAN discovery (spawned once).
     cx.use_effect((), {
@@ -309,6 +314,52 @@ fn root(cx: &mut RenderCx, ctx: &Arc<AppCtx>) -> Element {
         }
     });
 
+    // Periodic reachability sweep (spawned once): a saved host reached only over a routed network
+    // (Tailscale/VPN) never advertises on mDNS, so presence can't come from the discovery stream
+    // alone. This probes every saved host (bounded, trust-agnostic QUIC handshake — one thread each
+    // so a slow/unreachable host doesn't delay the rest) and mirrors the results into root state so
+    // the tiles get them as a prop; the pip then reads `advertising OR probed-reachable` — the
+    // display-side companion to the dial-first connect fix. The compare in `call` makes idle free.
+    cx.use_effect((), {
+        let set_probed = set_probed.clone();
+        let shared = ctx.shared.clone();
+        move || {
+            std::thread::Builder::new()
+                .name("pf-probe".into())
+                .spawn(move || loop {
+                    // A spawned session/browse child is running: the shell is hidden
+                    // (nobody sees the pips) and one of these hosts is mid-stream —
+                    // probing it is pure noise. Sleep through and sweep after it ends.
+                    if shared.session.lock().unwrap().is_running() {
+                        std::thread::sleep(Duration::from_secs(12));
+                        continue;
+                    }
+                    let handles: Vec<_> = KnownHosts::load()
+                        .hosts
+                        .into_iter()
+                        .filter(|h| !h.addr.is_empty())
+                        .map(|h| {
+                            std::thread::spawn(move || {
+                                (
+                                    h.fp_hex,
+                                    NativeClient::probe(
+                                        &h.addr,
+                                        h.port,
+                                        Duration::from_millis(2500),
+                                    ),
+                                )
+                            })
+                        })
+                        .collect();
+                    let map: HashMap<String, bool> =
+                        handles.into_iter().filter_map(|h| h.join().ok()).collect();
+                    set_probed.call(map);
+                    std::thread::sleep(Duration::from_secs(12));
+                })
+                .ok();
+        }
+    });
+
     // Screen-entrance animation: each navigation slides the new screen up a few px while fading it
     // in (the Windows-Settings drill-in). It's a manual tween, not a composition animation, because
     // reactor's DSL exposes no static transform/translation setter and its one-shot animations run
@@ -424,6 +475,7 @@ fn root(cx: &mut RenderCx, ctx: &Arc<AppCtx>) -> Element {
             HostsProps {
                 svc,
                 hosts,
+                probed,
                 status,
                 pads,
                 forget,

clients/windows/src/spawn.rs

@@ -42,6 +42,13 @@ impl SessionChild {
             let _ = child.kill();
         }
     }
+
+    /// Whether a spawned child is currently live (spawned and not yet reaped by its
+    /// reader). The probe sweep pauses while one runs — the shell is hidden, and probing
+    /// the host we're streaming from is just noise.
+    pub(crate) fn is_running(&self) -> bool {
+        self.0.lock().unwrap().is_some()
+    }
 }
 
 /// One parsed stdout line of the session contract; `None` for anything unrecognized.