diff --git a/electron/crash.html b/electron/crash.html
index 159c9cb..277427d 100644
--- a/electron/crash.html
+++ b/electron/crash.html
@@ -11,32 +11,23 @@
         <script src="./assets/js/tailwindcss/tailwind-v3.4.3-forms-v0.5.7.js"></script>
     </head>
     <body
-        class="min-h-screen bg-slate-100 text-gray-900 antialiased dark:bg-zinc-950 dark:text-zinc-50 transition-colors"
+        class="min-h-screen antialiased bg-gradient-to-b from-slate-100 to-slate-200 text-slate-800 dark:from-zinc-950 dark:to-zinc-900 dark:text-zinc-100 transition-colors"
     >
-        <div class="absolute inset-0 -z-10 overflow-hidden">
-            <div
-                class="absolute -left-32 -top-40 h-80 w-80 rounded-full bg-gradient-to-br from-red-500/30 via-orange-500/20 to-rose-500/30 blur-3xl dark:from-red-600/25 dark:via-orange-600/25 dark:to-rose-600/25"
-            ></div>
-            <div
-                class="absolute -right-24 top-20 h-64 w-64 rounded-full bg-gradient-to-br from-orange-400/30 via-red-500/20 to-rose-500/30 blur-3xl dark:from-orange-500/25 dark:via-red-500/25 dark:to-rose-500/25"
-            ></div>
-        </div>
-
-        <main class="relative flex min-h-screen items-center justify-center px-4 py-6 sm:px-6">
-            <div class="w-full max-w-5xl">
+        <main class="flex min-h-screen items-center justify-center px-4 py-8 sm:px-6">
+            <div class="w-full max-w-4xl">
                 <div
-                    class="rounded-2xl border border-slate-200/80 bg-white/80 shadow-2xl backdrop-blur-xl ring-1 ring-white/60 dark:border-zinc-800/70 dark:bg-zinc-900/70 dark:ring-zinc-800/70 transition-colors overflow-hidden"
+                    class="overflow-hidden rounded-2xl border border-slate-200/80 bg-white/90 shadow-lg shadow-slate-200/50 backdrop-blur-sm dark:border-zinc-700/80 dark:bg-zinc-900/90 dark:shadow-black/40"
                 >
-                    <div class="p-4 sm:p-6 space-y-4">
+                    <div class="p-5 sm:p-6 space-y-5">
                         <div
                             class="flex flex-col sm:flex-row items-center sm:items-start gap-3 text-center sm:text-left"
                         >
                             <div
-                                class="flex h-12 w-12 shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-xl bg-gradient-to-br from-red-500 via-orange-500 to-rose-500 shadow-lg ring-4 ring-white/60 dark:ring-zinc-800/70"
+                                class="flex h-12 w-12 shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-xl bg-red-100 ring-1 ring-red-200 dark:bg-red-950/40 dark:ring-red-900/60"
                             >
                                 <svg
                                     xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
-                                    class="h-8 w-8 text-white"
+                                    class="h-7 w-7 text-red-600 dark:text-red-400"
                                     fill="none"
                                     viewBox="0 0 24 24"
                                     stroke="currentColor"
@@ -50,18 +41,18 @@
                                 </svg>
                             </div>
                             <div class="space-y-0.5">
-                                <div class="text-xl font-semibold tracking-tight text-gray-900 dark:text-white">
+                                <div class="text-xl font-semibold tracking-tight text-slate-900 dark:text-white">
                                     MeshChatX Crashed
                                 </div>
-                                <div class="text-xs text-gray-600 dark:text-gray-300">
-                                    Critical error detected in backend service.
+                                <div class="text-xs text-slate-600 dark:text-zinc-400">
+                                    The backend process exited unexpectedly.
                                 </div>
                             </div>
                         </div>
 
                         <div class="grid grid-cols-1 sm:grid-cols-2 gap-3 text-sm">
                             <div
-                                class="rounded-xl border border-red-200/90 bg-red-50/70 p-3 dark:border-red-900/40 dark:bg-red-900/20 transition-colors"
+                                class="rounded-xl border border-red-200/80 bg-red-50/70 p-3 dark:border-red-900/50 dark:bg-red-950/30 transition-colors"
                             >
                                 <div
                                     class="text-[10px] uppercase tracking-wide text-red-600 dark:text-red-400 font-semibold"
@@ -76,50 +67,52 @@
                                 </div>
                             </div>
                             <div
-                                class="rounded-xl border border-slate-200/90 bg-white/70 p-3 text-center sm:text-right dark:border-zinc-800/80 dark:bg-zinc-900/70 transition-colors"
+                                class="rounded-xl border border-slate-200/80 bg-slate-50/70 p-3 text-center sm:text-right dark:border-zinc-700/70 dark:bg-zinc-950/40 transition-colors"
                             >
-                                <div class="text-[10px] uppercase tracking-wide text-gray-500 dark:text-gray-400">
+                                <div class="text-[10px] uppercase tracking-wide text-slate-500 dark:text-zinc-400">
                                     Status
                                 </div>
-                                <div class="mt-0.5 text-base font-semibold text-red-600 dark:text-red-400">Offline</div>
+                                <div class="mt-0.5 text-base font-semibold text-red-600 dark:text-red-400">
+                                    Backend unavailable
+                                </div>
                             </div>
                         </div>
 
                         <div class="space-y-3">
                             <div class="flex flex-col sm:flex-row items-center justify-between gap-2 px-1">
                                 <h3
-                                    class="text-[10px] font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-gray-500 dark:text-gray-400"
+                                    class="text-[10px] font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-slate-500 dark:text-zinc-400"
                                 >
                                     Diagnostic Logs
                                 </h3>
                                 <button
-                                    onclick="copyLogs()"
-                                    class="w-full sm:w-auto text-[10px] font-medium text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-500 dark:text-blue-400 dark:hover:text-blue-300 bg-blue-50 dark:bg-blue-900/30 px-3 py-1 rounded-lg transition-colors"
+                                    onclick="copyLogs(event)"
+                                    class="w-full sm:w-auto text-[10px] font-medium text-blue-600 hover:text-blue-500 dark:text-blue-400 dark:hover:text-blue-300 bg-blue-50 dark:bg-blue-950/40 px-3 py-1 rounded-lg transition-colors"
                                 >
                                     Copy all logs
                                 </button>
                             </div>
 
                             <div class="space-y-1">
-                                <div class="text-[10px] font-medium text-gray-500 dark:text-gray-400 px-1">
+                                <div class="text-[10px] font-medium text-slate-500 dark:text-zinc-400 px-1">
                                     Standard Output (stdout)
                                 </div>
                                 <div class="relative group">
                                     <pre
                                         id="stdout"
-                                        class="h-52 overflow-auto rounded-xl border border-slate-200 bg-slate-50 p-3 font-mono text-[10px] text-slate-700 dark:border-zinc-800 dark:bg-zinc-950 dark:text-zinc-300 select-text scrollbar-thin scrollbar-thumb-slate-300 dark:scrollbar-thumb-zinc-800"
+                                        class="h-52 overflow-auto rounded-xl border border-slate-200 bg-slate-50 p-3 font-mono text-[10px] text-slate-700 dark:border-zinc-700 dark:bg-zinc-950 dark:text-zinc-300 select-text"
                                     ></pre>
                                 </div>
                             </div>
 
                             <div class="space-y-1">
-                                <div class="text-[10px] font-medium text-gray-500 dark:text-gray-400 px-1">
+                                <div class="text-[10px] font-medium text-slate-500 dark:text-zinc-400 px-1">
                                     Standard Error (stderr)
                                 </div>
                                 <div class="relative group">
                                     <pre
                                         id="stderr"
-                                        class="h-64 overflow-auto rounded-xl border border-red-100 bg-red-50/50 p-3 font-mono text-[10px] text-red-700 dark:border-red-900/20 dark:bg-zinc-950 dark:text-red-400 select-text scrollbar-thin scrollbar-thumb-red-200 dark:scrollbar-thumb-zinc-800"
+                                        class="h-64 overflow-auto rounded-xl border border-red-200/70 bg-red-50/60 p-3 font-mono text-[10px] text-red-700 dark:border-red-900/40 dark:bg-zinc-950 dark:text-red-400 select-text"
                                     ></pre>
                                 </div>
                             </div>
@@ -128,19 +121,13 @@
                         <div class="flex flex-wrap items-center justify-center sm:justify-start gap-2 pt-2">
                             <button
                                 onclick="window.electron.relaunch()"
-                                class="w-full sm:w-40 rounded-xl bg-blue-600 px-4 py-2.5 text-xs font-semibold text-white shadow-lg shadow-blue-500/25 hover:bg-blue-500 focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-blue-500 focus:ring-offset-2 dark:focus:ring-offset-zinc-900 transition-all active:scale-[0.98]"
+                                class="w-full sm:w-40 rounded-xl bg-blue-600 px-4 py-2.5 text-xs font-semibold text-white shadow-sm hover:bg-blue-500 focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-blue-500 focus:ring-offset-2 dark:focus:ring-offset-zinc-900 transition-colors"
                             >
                                 Relaunch
                             </button>
-                            <button
-                                onclick="window.electron.relaunchEmergency()"
-                                class="w-full sm:w-48 rounded-xl bg-orange-600 px-4 py-2.5 text-xs font-semibold text-white shadow-lg shadow-orange-500/25 hover:bg-orange-500 focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-orange-500 focus:ring-offset-2 dark:focus:ring-offset-zinc-900 transition-all active:scale-[0.98]"
-                            >
-                                Engage Emergency Mode
-                            </button>
                             <button
                                 onclick="window.electron.shutdown()"
-                                class="w-full sm:w-24 rounded-xl border border-slate-200 bg-white px-4 py-2.5 text-xs font-semibold text-gray-700 shadow-sm hover:bg-slate-50 dark:border-zinc-800 dark:bg-zinc-900 dark:text-zinc-300 dark:hover:bg-zinc-800 transition-all active:scale-[0.98]"
+                                class="w-full sm:w-24 rounded-xl border border-slate-200 bg-white px-4 py-2.5 text-xs font-semibold text-slate-700 shadow-sm hover:bg-slate-50 dark:border-zinc-700 dark:bg-zinc-900 dark:text-zinc-300 dark:hover:bg-zinc-800 transition-colors"
                             >
                                 Exit
                             </button>
@@ -169,7 +156,7 @@
                 document.getElementById("stderr").innerText = "Error decoding logs.";
             }
 
-            function copyLogs() {
+            function copyLogs(event) {
                 const stdout = document.getElementById("stdout").innerText;
                 const stderr = document.getElementById("stderr").innerText;
                 const exitCode = document.getElementById("exit-code").innerText;
@@ -177,7 +164,10 @@
                 const fullReport = `MeshChatX Crash Report\nExit Code: ${exitCode}\n\n--- STDOUT ---\n${stdout}\n\n--- STDERR ---\n${stderr}`;
 
                 navigator.clipboard.writeText(fullReport).then(() => {
-                    const btn = event.target;
+                    const btn = event && event.currentTarget ? event.currentTarget : null;
+                    if (!btn) {
+                        return;
+                    }
                     const originalText = btn.innerText;
                     btn.innerText = "Copied!";
                     btn.classList.replace("text-blue-600", "text-emerald-600");
diff --git a/electron/loading.html b/electron/loading.html
index 5568abd..09850ae 100644
--- a/electron/loading.html
+++ b/electron/loading.html
@@ -55,6 +55,10 @@
                             id="attempt-hint"
                             class="mt-3 min-h-[1.25rem] text-center text-xs text-slate-500 dark:text-zinc-500"
                         ></p>
+                        <p
+                            id="connection-notice"
+                            class="mt-2 min-h-[2rem] text-center text-xs leading-relaxed text-amber-700 dark:text-amber-300"
+                        ></p>
                         <p class="mt-4 text-center text-[11px] text-slate-400 dark:text-zinc-600" id="app-version">
                             v0.0.0
                         </p>
@@ -63,13 +67,20 @@
             </div>
         </main>
 
+        <script src="./loadingStatusNotice.js"></script>
         <script>
             const statusLine = document.getElementById("status-line");
             const attemptHint = document.getElementById("attempt-hint");
+            const connectionNotice = document.getElementById("connection-notice");
 
             const API_HOST = "127.0.0.1";
             const API_PORT = "9337";
             const base = (protocol) => `${protocol}://${API_HOST}:${API_PORT}`;
+            const startupParams = new URLSearchParams(window.location.search);
+            const NOTICE_AFTER_ATTEMPTS = 10;
+            const NETWORK_WARNING_AFTER_ATTEMPTS = 24;
+            const RUNTIME_RECHECK_INTERVAL = 4;
+            const MAX_FAILURE_HISTORY = 8;
 
             let protocolOrder = ["https", "http"];
 
@@ -78,6 +89,7 @@
             listenForSystemThemeChanges();
 
             (async function bootstrap() {
+                applyStartupErrorHint();
                 try {
                     if (window.electron && typeof window.electron.backendHttpOnly === "function") {
                         const httpOnly = await window.electron.backendHttpOnly();
@@ -89,6 +101,16 @@
                 check();
             })();
 
+            function applyStartupErrorHint() {
+                const startupError = startupParams.get("startup_error");
+                if (startupError !== "backend_unreachable") {
+                    return;
+                }
+                statusLine.textContent = "Lost connection to local backend.";
+                connectionNotice.textContent =
+                    "Still retrying. If this continues, firewall or localhost filtering may be blocking access.";
+            }
+
             async function showAppVersion() {
                 try {
                     const appVersion = await window.electron.appVersion();
@@ -127,6 +149,9 @@
 
             let detectedProtocol = "http";
             let attemptCount = 0;
+            let runtimeProbeAttempt = 0;
+            let cachedRuntimeState = null;
+            const recentFailures = [];
 
             function parseStatusJson(text) {
                 try {
@@ -136,44 +161,120 @@
                 }
             }
 
+            function rememberFailure(failure) {
+                if (!failure || typeof failure !== "object") {
+                    return;
+                }
+                recentFailures.push(failure);
+                if (recentFailures.length > MAX_FAILURE_HISTORY) {
+                    recentFailures.shift();
+                }
+            }
+
+            async function refreshBackendRuntimeStateIfNeeded() {
+                if (!window.electron || typeof window.electron.backendRuntimeState !== "function") {
+                    return;
+                }
+                if (attemptCount - runtimeProbeAttempt < RUNTIME_RECHECK_INTERVAL && cachedRuntimeState) {
+                    return;
+                }
+                runtimeProbeAttempt = attemptCount;
+                try {
+                    cachedRuntimeState = await window.electron.backendRuntimeState();
+                } catch (e) {}
+            }
+
+            function resolveFetchFailureKind(error) {
+                const helper = window.MeshchatLoadingStatusNotice;
+                if (helper && typeof helper.classifyFetchError === "function") {
+                    return helper.classifyFetchError(error);
+                }
+                return "network-error";
+            }
+
             async function tryOnce(protocol) {
                 const url = `${base(protocol)}/api/v1/status`;
-                const result = await fetch(url, { cache: "no-store" });
-                const text = await result.text();
-                if (result.status !== 200) {
-                    return null;
+                try {
+                    const result = await fetch(url, { cache: "no-store" });
+                    const text = await result.text();
+                    if (result.status !== 200) {
+                        return {
+                            ok: false,
+                            failure: { kind: "http-error", status: result.status, protocol: protocol },
+                        };
+                    }
+                    const data = parseStatusJson(text);
+                    if (data && data.status === "ok") {
+                        return { ok: true, protocol: protocol };
+                    }
+                    return {
+                        ok: false,
+                        failure: { kind: "invalid-payload", protocol: protocol },
+                    };
+                } catch (error) {
+                    return {
+                        ok: false,
+                        failure: {
+                            kind: resolveFetchFailureKind(error),
+                            protocol: protocol,
+                            message: String((error && error.message) || ""),
+                        },
+                    };
                 }
-                const data = parseStatusJson(text);
-                if (data && data.status === "ok") {
-                    return protocol;
+            }
+
+            function classifyConnectionIssue() {
+                const helper = window.MeshchatLoadingStatusNotice;
+                if (helper && typeof helper.classifyConnectionIssue === "function") {
+                    return helper.classifyConnectionIssue(recentFailures, cachedRuntimeState, {
+                        attemptCount: attemptCount,
+                        networkWarnAfterAttempts: NETWORK_WARNING_AFTER_ATTEMPTS,
+                    });
                 }
-                return null;
+                return {
+                    reason: "starting",
+                    headline: "Waiting for backend startup.",
+                    detail: "MeshChatX is still initializing services.",
+                };
+            }
+
+            async function updateStartupNotice() {
+                if (attemptCount < NOTICE_AFTER_ATTEMPTS) {
+                    connectionNotice.textContent = "";
+                    return;
+                }
+                await refreshBackendRuntimeStateIfNeeded();
+                const issue = classifyConnectionIssue();
+                statusLine.textContent = issue.headline;
+                connectionNotice.textContent = issue.detail;
             }
 
             async function check() {
                 attemptCount += 1;
                 if (attemptCount === 1) {
                     attemptHint.textContent = "";
+                    connectionNotice.textContent = "";
                 } else {
                     attemptHint.textContent = "Still starting…";
                 }
 
                 // Prefer HTTPS unless the backend was started with --no-https (then HTTP first).
                 for (const protocol of protocolOrder) {
-                    try {
-                        const ok = await tryOnce(protocol);
-                        if (ok) {
-                            detectedProtocol = ok;
-                            statusLine.textContent = "Opening the app…";
-                            attemptHint.textContent = "";
-                            syncThemeFromConfig();
-                            setTimeout(onReady, 200);
-                            return;
-                        }
-                    } catch (e) {
-                        continue;
+                    const result = await tryOnce(protocol);
+                    if (result.ok) {
+                        detectedProtocol = result.protocol;
+                        statusLine.textContent = "Opening the app…";
+                        attemptHint.textContent = "";
+                        connectionNotice.textContent = "";
+                        syncThemeFromConfig();
+                        setTimeout(onReady, 200);
+                        return;
+                    }
+                    if (result.failure) {
+                        rememberFailure(result.failure);
                     }
                 }
+                await updateStartupNotice();
                 setTimeout(check, 350);
             }
 
diff --git a/electron/loadingStatusNotice.js b/electron/loadingStatusNotice.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2463b7d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/electron/loadingStatusNotice.js
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+(function (root, factory) {
+    const exported = factory();
+    if (typeof module !== "undefined" && module.exports) {
+        module.exports = exported;
+    }
+    root.MeshchatLoadingStatusNotice = exported;
+})(typeof globalThis !== "undefined" ? globalThis : window, function () {
+    function toLowerText(value) {
+        if (value == null) {
+            return "";
+        }
+        return String(value).toLowerCase();
+    }
+
+    function classifyConnectionIssue(failures, runtimeState, options) {
+        const entries = Array.isArray(failures) ? failures : [];
+        const state = runtimeState && typeof runtimeState === "object" ? runtimeState : null;
+        const opts = options && typeof options === "object" ? options : {};
+        const attemptCount = Number(opts.attemptCount) || 0;
+        const networkWarnAfterAttempts = Number(opts.networkWarnAfterAttempts) || 24;
+
+        if (state && state.running === false && state.lastExitCode != null) {
+            return {
+                reason: "backend-exited",
+                headline: "The backend process stopped unexpectedly.",
+                detail: "Please restart MeshChatX. If this keeps happening, review crash logs.",
+            };
+        }
+
+        const hasAddressUnreachable = entries.some((entry) => entry && entry.kind === "address-unreachable");
+        if (hasAddressUnreachable) {
+            return {
+                reason: "loopback-blocked",
+                headline: "Cannot reach local backend on 127.0.0.1:9337.",
+                detail: "A firewall, VPN, sandbox, or loopback policy may be blocking local connections.",
+            };
+        }
+
+        const hasNetworkError = entries.some((entry) => entry && entry.kind === "network-error");
+        if (hasNetworkError) {
+            if (attemptCount < networkWarnAfterAttempts) {
+                return {
+                    reason: "starting",
+                    headline: "Waiting for backend startup.",
+                    detail: "MeshChatX is still initializing services.",
+                };
+            }
+            return {
+                reason: "network-blocked",
+                headline: "Still waiting for local backend connection.",
+                detail: "If startup stays stuck, firewall or network filtering software may be blocking localhost traffic.",
+            };
+        }
+
+        const hasServerError = entries.some(
+            (entry) => entry && entry.kind === "http-error" && Number(entry.status) >= 500
+        );
+        if (hasServerError) {
+            return {
+                reason: "backend-http-error",
+                headline: "Backend is running but reported an internal error.",
+                detail: "MeshChatX will keep retrying while the backend finishes startup.",
+            };
+        }
+
+        const hasInvalidPayload = entries.some((entry) => entry && entry.kind === "invalid-payload");
+        if (hasInvalidPayload) {
+            return {
+                reason: "backend-invalid-response",
+                headline: "Backend responded with invalid startup data.",
+                detail: "MeshChatX will continue retrying while the backend stabilizes.",
+            };
+        }
+
+        return {
+            reason: "starting",
+            headline: "Waiting for backend startup.",
+            detail: "MeshChatX is still initializing services.",
+        };
+    }
+
+    function classifyFetchError(error) {
+        const message = `${toLowerText(error && error.name)} ${toLowerText(error && error.message)}`.trim();
+        if (
+            message.includes("err_address_unreachable") ||
+            message.includes("address_unreachable") ||
+            message.includes("ehostunreach")
+        ) {
+            return "address-unreachable";
+        }
+        return "network-error";
+    }
+
+    return {
+        classifyConnectionIssue: classifyConnectionIssue,
+        classifyFetchError: classifyFetchError,
+    };
+});
diff --git a/electron/main.js b/electron/main.js
index 156da78..50d31a0 100644
--- a/electron/main.js
+++ b/electron/main.js
@@ -44,6 +44,14 @@ var isQuiting = false;
 
 // remember child process for exe so we can kill it when app exits
 var exeChildProcess = null;
+var backendRuntimeState = {
+    started: false,
+    running: false,
+    pid: null,
+    lastExitCode: null,
+    lastError: "",
+    lastEventAt: null,
+};
 
 // store integrity status
 var integrityStatus = {
@@ -218,6 +226,18 @@ ipcMain.handle("backend-http-only", () => {
     return getUserProvidedArguments().includes("--no-https");
 });
 
+ipcMain.handle("backend-runtime-state", () => {
+    const isRunning =
+        !!exeChildProcess &&
+        exeChildProcess.exitCode === null &&
+        exeChildProcess.signalCode === null &&
+        backendRuntimeState.started;
+    return {
+        ...backendRuntimeState,
+        running: isRunning,
+    };
+});
+
 // add support for showing an alert window via ipc
 ipcMain.handle("alert", async (event, message) => {
     return await dialog.showMessageBox(mainWindow, {
@@ -259,13 +279,25 @@ ipcMain.handle("prompt", async (event, message) => {
 
 // allow relaunching app via ipc
 ipcMain.handle("relaunch", () => {
-    app.relaunch();
-    app.exit();
+    const relaunchOptions = {};
+    if (!process.defaultApp && process.platform === "linux" && process.env.APPIMAGE) {
+        relaunchOptions.execPath = process.env.APPIMAGE;
+    }
+    app.relaunch(relaunchOptions);
+    isQuiting = true;
+    quit();
 });
 
 ipcMain.handle("relaunch-emergency", () => {
-    app.relaunch({ args: process.argv.slice(1).concat(["--emergency"]) });
-    app.exit();
+    const relaunchOptions = {
+        args: process.argv.slice(1).concat(["--emergency"]),
+    };
+    if (!process.defaultApp && process.platform === "linux" && process.env.APPIMAGE) {
+        relaunchOptions.execPath = process.env.APPIMAGE;
+    }
+    app.relaunch(relaunchOptions);
+    isQuiting = true;
+    quit();
 });
 
 ipcMain.handle("shutdown", () => {
@@ -451,6 +483,18 @@ function getAppIconPath() {
     return fs.existsSync(iconPath) ? iconPath : fallbackIconPath;
 }
 
+function isLocalBackendUrl(url) {
+    if (!url || typeof url !== "string") {
+        return false;
+    }
+    return (
+        url.startsWith("http://127.0.0.1:9337") ||
+        url.startsWith("https://127.0.0.1:9337") ||
+        url.startsWith("http://localhost:9337") ||
+        url.startsWith("https://localhost:9337")
+    );
+}
+
 function createTray() {
     tray = new Tray(getAppIconPath());
     const contextMenu = Menu.buildFromTemplate([
@@ -554,6 +598,29 @@ app.whenReady().then(async () => {
         mainWindow.webContents.on("unresponsive", () => {
             log("Renderer process became unresponsive.");
         });
+        mainWindow.webContents.on(
+            "did-fail-load",
+            async (_event, errorCode, errorDescription, validatedURL, isMainFrame) => {
+                if (!isMainFrame || !isLocalBackendUrl(validatedURL)) {
+                    return;
+                }
+                log(`Failed to load backend URL (${errorCode}): ${errorDescription} - ${validatedURL}`);
+                if (!mainWindow || mainWindow.isDestroyed()) {
+                    return;
+                }
+                const currentUrl = mainWindow.webContents.getURL();
+                if (currentUrl.includes("loading.html")) {
+                    return;
+                }
+                try {
+                    await mainWindow.loadFile(path.join(__dirname, "loading.html"), {
+                        query: { startup_error: "backend_unreachable" },
+                    });
+                } catch (error) {
+                    log(`Failed to restore loading screen after backend load failure: ${error.message}`);
+                }
+            }
+        );
 
         // minimize to tray behavior
         mainWindow.on("close", (event) => {
@@ -704,6 +771,14 @@ app.whenReady().then(async () => {
         if (!exeChildProcess || !exeChildProcess.pid) {
             throw new Error("Failed to start backend process (no PID).");
         }
+        backendRuntimeState = {
+            started: true,
+            running: true,
+            pid: exeChildProcess.pid,
+            lastExitCode: null,
+            lastError: "",
+            lastEventAt: Date.now(),
+        };
 
         // log stdout
         var stdoutLines = [];
@@ -736,10 +811,15 @@ app.whenReady().then(async () => {
         // log errors
         exeChildProcess.on("error", function (error) {
             log(error);
+            backendRuntimeState.lastError = error && error.message ? error.message : String(error);
+            backendRuntimeState.lastEventAt = Date.now();
         });
 
         // quit electron app if exe dies
         exeChildProcess.on("exit", async function (code) {
+            backendRuntimeState.running = false;
+            backendRuntimeState.lastExitCode = code;
+            backendRuntimeState.lastEventAt = Date.now();
             // if no exit code provided, we wanted exit to happen, so do nothing
             if (code == null) {
                 return;
@@ -790,6 +870,7 @@ function quit() {
         return;
     }
     if (exeChildProcess.exitCode !== null || exeChildProcess.signalCode !== null) {
+        app.quit();
         return;
     }
     try {
diff --git a/electron/preload.js b/electron/preload.js
index 19dc2e2..cb4315c 100644
--- a/electron/preload.js
+++ b/electron/preload.js
@@ -96,4 +96,7 @@ contextBridge.exposeInMainWorld("electron", {
     backendHttpOnly: async function () {
         return await ipcRenderer.invoke("backend-http-only");
     },
+    backendRuntimeState: async function () {
+        return await ipcRenderer.invoke("backend-runtime-state");
+    },
 });
diff --git a/meshchatx/src/backend/data/THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.txt b/meshchatx/src/backend/data/THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.txt
index d08a099..49b50ac 100644
--- a/meshchatx/src/backend/data/THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.txt
+++ b/meshchatx/src/backend/data/THIRD_PARTY_NOTICES.txt
@@ -1,27 +1,90 @@
 Reticulum MeshChatX - Third-party notices
-Generated at: 2026-04-16T23:23:28.244334Z
+Generated at: 2026-04-17T03:19:30.687503Z
 Frontend source: node_modules
 
 Python dependencies
 -------------------
+aiohappyeyeballs 2.6.1
+  License: PSF-2.0
+  Author: J. Nick Koston
+aiohttp 3.13.5
+  License: Apache-2.0 AND MIT
+  Author: —
+aiohttp-session 2.12.1
+  License: Apache 2
+  Author: Andrew Svetlov
+aiosignal 1.4.0
+  License: Apache 2.0
+  Author: aiohttp team <team@aiohttp.org>
+attrs 26.1.0
+  License: MIT
+  Author: Hynek Schlawack <hs@ox.cx>
+audioop-lts 0.2.2
+  License: PSF-2.0
+  Author: —
+bcrypt 5.0.0
+  License: Apache-2.0
+  Author: The Python Cryptographic Authority developers <cryptography-dev@python.org>
 cffi 2.0.0
   License: MIT
   Author: Armin Rigo, Maciej Fijalkowski
 cryptography 46.0.7
   License: Apache-2.0 OR BSD-3-Clause
   Author: The Python Cryptographic Authority and individual contributors <cryptography-dev@python.org>
-jaraco.context 6.1.3.dev0+g098f39c91.d20260403
+frozenlist 1.8.0
+  License: Apache-2.0
+  Author: aiohttp team <team@aiohttp.org>
+idna 3.11
+  License: BSD-3-Clause
+  Author: Kim Davies <kim+pypi@gumleaf.org>
+jaraco.context 6.1.2
   License: MIT
   Author: "Jason R. Coombs" <jaraco@jaraco.com>
+lxmf 0.9.4
+  License: Reticulum License
+  Author: Mark Qvist
+lxmfy 1.6.2
+  License: BSD-0-Clause
+  Author: Quad4
+lxst 0.4.6
+  License: Other/Proprietary License
+  Author: Mark Qvist
+multidict 6.7.1
+  License: Apache License 2.0
+  Author: Andrew Svetlov
+numpy 2.4.4
+  License: BSD-3-Clause AND 0BSD AND MIT AND Zlib AND CC0-1.0
+  Author: Travis E. Oliphant et al.
+ply 3.11
+  License: BSD
+  Author: David Beazley
+propcache 0.4.1
+  License: Apache-2.0
+  Author: Andrew Svetlov
 psutil 7.2.2
   License: BSD-3-Clause
   Author: Giampaolo Rodola
+pycodec2 4.1.1
+  License: OSI Approved :: BSD License
+  Author: Grzegorz Milka
 pycparser 3.0
   License: BSD-3-Clause
   Author: Eli Bendersky <eliben@gmail.com>
+pyserial 3.5
+  License: BSD
+  Author: Chris Liechti
 reticulum-meshchatx 4.5.0
   License: MIT
   Author: Sudo-Ivan
+rns 1.1.5
+  License: Reticulum License
+  Author: Mark Qvist
+websockets 16.0
+  License: BSD-3-Clause
+  Author: Aymeric Augustin <aymeric.augustin@m4x.org>
+yarl 1.23.0
+  License: Apache-2.0
+  Author: Andrew Svetlov
 
 Node dependencies
 -----------------
@@ -868,10 +931,10 @@ ci-info 4.4.0
 clean-stack 2.2.0
   License: MIT
   Author: Sindre Sorhus <sindresorhus@gmail.com>
-cli-cursor 4.0.0
+cli-cursor 3.1.0
   License: MIT
   Author: Sindre Sorhus <sindresorhus@gmail.com>
-cli-cursor 3.1.0
+cli-cursor 4.0.0
   License: MIT
   Author: Sindre Sorhus <sindresorhus@gmail.com>
 cli-spinners 2.9.2
@@ -2200,10 +2263,10 @@ resolve-protobuf-schema 2.1.0
 responselike 2.0.1
   License: MIT
   Author: lukechilds
-restore-cursor 3.1.0
+restore-cursor 4.0.0
   License: MIT
   Author: Sindre Sorhus <sindresorhus@gmail.com>
-restore-cursor 4.0.0
+restore-cursor 3.1.0
   License: MIT
   Author: Sindre Sorhus <sindresorhus@gmail.com>
 retry 0.12.0
@@ -2485,10 +2548,10 @@ type-check 0.4.0
 type-fest 0.21.3
   License: (MIT OR CC0-1.0)
   Author: Sindre Sorhus <sindresorhus@gmail.com>
-type-fest 0.13.1
+type-fest 1.4.0
   License: (MIT OR CC0-1.0)
   Author: Sindre Sorhus <sindresorhus@gmail.com>
-type-fest 1.4.0
+type-fest 0.13.1
   License: (MIT OR CC0-1.0)
   Author: Sindre Sorhus <sindresorhus@gmail.com>
 typescript 5.4.5
diff --git a/meshchatx/src/backend/data/licenses_frontend.json b/meshchatx/src/backend/data/licenses_frontend.json
index 22d30b8..13d2c01 100644
--- a/meshchatx/src/backend/data/licenses_frontend.json
+++ b/meshchatx/src/backend/data/licenses_frontend.json
@@ -1687,13 +1687,13 @@
     },
     {
         "name": "cli-cursor",
-        "version": "4.0.0",
+        "version": "3.1.0",
         "author": "Sindre Sorhus <sindresorhus@gmail.com>",
         "license": "MIT"
     },
     {
         "name": "cli-cursor",
-        "version": "3.1.0",
+        "version": "4.0.0",
         "author": "Sindre Sorhus <sindresorhus@gmail.com>",
         "license": "MIT"
     },
@@ -4351,13 +4351,13 @@
     },
     {
         "name": "restore-cursor",
-        "version": "3.1.0",
+        "version": "4.0.0",
         "author": "Sindre Sorhus <sindresorhus@gmail.com>",
         "license": "MIT"
     },
     {
         "name": "restore-cursor",
-        "version": "4.0.0",
+        "version": "3.1.0",
         "author": "Sindre Sorhus <sindresorhus@gmail.com>",
         "license": "MIT"
     },
@@ -4921,13 +4921,13 @@
     },
     {
         "name": "type-fest",
-        "version": "0.13.1",
+        "version": "1.4.0",
         "author": "Sindre Sorhus <sindresorhus@gmail.com>",
         "license": "(MIT OR CC0-1.0)"
     },
     {
         "name": "type-fest",
-        "version": "1.4.0",
+        "version": "0.13.1",
         "author": "Sindre Sorhus <sindresorhus@gmail.com>",
         "license": "(MIT OR CC0-1.0)"
     },
diff --git a/meshchatx/src/frontend/js/GlobalState.js b/meshchatx/src/frontend/js/GlobalState.js
index 3d1d183..c1f66a8 100644
--- a/meshchatx/src/frontend/js/GlobalState.js
+++ b/meshchatx/src/frontend/js/GlobalState.js
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ const globalState = reactive({
         ui_transparency: 0,
         ui_glass_enabled: true,
         message_list_virtualization: true,
+        warn_on_stranger_links: true,
+        messages_sidebar_position: "left",
     },
 });
 
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 782defa..bbaa6f8 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
         "test:e2e": "playwright test",
         "test:e2e:ui": "playwright test --ui",
         "test:e2e:install": "playwright install chromium",
-        "electron-postinstall": "electron-builder install-app-deps",
+        "electron-postinstall": "electron-builder install-app-deps && node scripts/ensure-micron-parser-package.js",
         "electron": "pnpm run electron-postinstall && pnpm run build && electron .",
         "dist": "pnpm run electron-postinstall && pnpm run build && electron-builder --publish=never",
         "dist:linux": "pnpm run electron-postinstall && cross-env PLATFORM=linux pnpm run build && electron-builder --linux AppImage deb --publish=never",
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@
         "jsdom": "^29.0.2",
         "postcss": "^8.5.10",
         "prettier": "^3.8.3",
+        "micron-parser": "github:RFnexus/micron-parser-js",
         "tailwindcss": "^3.4.19",
         "terser": "^5.46.1",
         "vitest": "^4.1.4"
@@ -278,7 +279,6 @@
         "emoji-picker-element": "^1.29.1",
         "emoji-picker-element-data": "^1.8.0",
         "marked": "^18.0.0",
-        "micron-parser": "github:RFnexus/micron-parser-js",
         "mitt": "^3.0.1",
         "ol": "^10.9.0",
         "protobufjs": "^7.5.5",
diff --git a/pnpm-lock.yaml b/pnpm-lock.yaml
index 29266e2..f674eb5 100644
--- a/pnpm-lock.yaml
+++ b/pnpm-lock.yaml
@@ -61,9 +61,6 @@ importers:
       marked:
         specifier: ^18.0.0
         version: 18.0.0
-      micron-parser:
-        specifier: github:RFnexus/micron-parser-js
-        version: git+https://github.com/RFnexus/micron-parser-js.git#aa8fe3ce9c53fe78c79b39a0abfb3264948b47a9
       mitt:
         specifier: ^3.0.1
         version: 3.0.1
@@ -194,6 +191,9 @@ importers:
       jsdom:
         specifier: ^29.0.2
         version: 29.0.2
+      micron-parser:
+        specifier: github:RFnexus/micron-parser-js
+        version: https://codeload.github.com/RFnexus/micron-parser-js/tar.gz/aa8fe3ce9c53fe78c79b39a0abfb3264948b47a9
       postcss:
         specifier: ^8.5.10
         version: 8.5.10
@@ -407,8 +407,8 @@ packages:
     resolution: {integrity: sha512-F+nKc0xW+kVbBRhFzaMgPy3KwmuNTYX1fx6+FxxoSnNgwYX6LD7AKBTWkU0MQ6IBoe7dz069CNkR673sPAgkCQ==}
     engines: {node: '>=14'}
 
-  '@electron/node-gyp@git+https://github.com/electron/node-gyp.git#06b29aafb7708acef8b3669835c8a7857ebc92d2':
-    resolution: {commit: 06b29aafb7708acef8b3669835c8a7857ebc92d2, repo: https://github.com/electron/node-gyp.git, type: git}
+  '@electron/node-gyp@https://codeload.github.com/electron/node-gyp/tar.gz/06b29aafb7708acef8b3669835c8a7857ebc92d2':
+    resolution: {tarball: https://codeload.github.com/electron/node-gyp/tar.gz/06b29aafb7708acef8b3669835c8a7857ebc92d2}
     version: 10.2.0-electron.1
     engines: {node: '>=12.13.0'}
     hasBin: true
@@ -2622,8 +2622,8 @@ packages:
     resolution: {integrity: sha512-PXwfBhYu0hBCPw8Dn0E+WDYb7af3dSLVWKi3HGv84IdF4TyFoC0ysxFd0Goxw7nSv4T/PzEJQxsYsEiFCKo2BA==}
     engines: {node: '>=8.6'}
 
-  micron-parser@git+https://github.com/RFnexus/micron-parser-js.git#aa8fe3ce9c53fe78c79b39a0abfb3264948b47a9:
-    resolution: {commit: aa8fe3ce9c53fe78c79b39a0abfb3264948b47a9, repo: https://github.com/RFnexus/micron-parser-js.git, type: git}
+  micron-parser@https://codeload.github.com/RFnexus/micron-parser-js/tar.gz/aa8fe3ce9c53fe78c79b39a0abfb3264948b47a9:
+    resolution: {tarball: https://codeload.github.com/RFnexus/micron-parser-js/tar.gz/aa8fe3ce9c53fe78c79b39a0abfb3264948b47a9}
     version: 0.0.0
 
   mime-db@1.52.0:
@@ -4403,7 +4403,7 @@ snapshots:
     transitivePeerDependencies:
       - supports-color
 
-  '@electron/node-gyp@git+https://github.com/electron/node-gyp.git#06b29aafb7708acef8b3669835c8a7857ebc92d2':
+  '@electron/node-gyp@https://codeload.github.com/electron/node-gyp/tar.gz/06b29aafb7708acef8b3669835c8a7857ebc92d2':
     dependencies:
       env-paths: 2.2.1
       exponential-backoff: 3.1.3
@@ -4466,7 +4466,7 @@ snapshots:
 
   '@electron/rebuild@3.7.2':
     dependencies:
-      '@electron/node-gyp': git+https://github.com/electron/node-gyp.git#06b29aafb7708acef8b3669835c8a7857ebc92d2
+      '@electron/node-gyp': https://codeload.github.com/electron/node-gyp/tar.gz/06b29aafb7708acef8b3669835c8a7857ebc92d2
       '@malept/cross-spawn-promise': 2.0.0
       chalk: 4.1.2
       debug: 4.4.3
@@ -6959,7 +6959,7 @@ snapshots:
       braces: 3.0.3
       picomatch: 2.3.2
 
-  micron-parser@git+https://github.com/RFnexus/micron-parser-js.git#aa8fe3ce9c53fe78c79b39a0abfb3264948b47a9: {}
+  micron-parser@https://codeload.github.com/RFnexus/micron-parser-js/tar.gz/aa8fe3ce9c53fe78c79b39a0abfb3264948b47a9: {}
 
   mime-db@1.52.0: {}
 
diff --git a/scripts/ensure-micron-parser-package.js b/scripts/ensure-micron-parser-package.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..31994fb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/ensure-micron-parser-package.js
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+
+const fs = require("fs");
+const path = require("path");
+
+const packageDir = path.join(__dirname, "..", "node_modules", "micron-parser");
+const packageJsonPath = path.join(packageDir, "package.json");
+
+if (!fs.existsSync(packageDir)) {
+    console.log("micron-parser not installed, skipping package metadata normalization.");
+    process.exit(0);
+}
+
+if (fs.existsSync(packageJsonPath)) {
+    process.exit(0);
+}
+
+const packageJson = {
+    name: "micron-parser",
+    version: "0.0.0",
+    main: "js/micron-parser.js",
+    module: "js/micron-parser.js",
+};
+
+fs.writeFileSync(packageJsonPath, `${JSON.stringify(packageJson, null, 2)}\n`, "utf8");
+console.log("Created node_modules/micron-parser/package.json for electron-builder dependency scan.");
