diff --git a/apps/ios/Shared/Model/AppAPITypes.swift b/apps/ios/Shared/Model/AppAPITypes.swift
index 9e27c6fa16..1a66156a49 100644
--- a/apps/ios/Shared/Model/AppAPITypes.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/Shared/Model/AppAPITypes.swift
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ enum ChatCommand: ChatCmdProtocol {
     case apiAddContact(userId: Int64, incognito: Bool)
     case apiSetConnectionIncognito(connId: Int64, incognito: Bool)
     case apiChangeConnectionUser(connId: Int64, userId: Int64)
-    case apiConnectPlan(userId: Int64, connLink: String, linkOwnerSig: LinkOwnerSig?)
+    case apiConnectPlan(userId: Int64, connLink: String, resolveMode: PlanResolveMode, linkOwnerSig: LinkOwnerSig?)
     case apiPrepareContact(userId: Int64, connLink: CreatedConnLink, contactShortLinkData: ContactShortLinkData, verifiedDomain: SimplexDomain?)
     case apiPrepareGroup(userId: Int64, connLink: CreatedConnLink, directLink: Bool, groupShortLinkData: GroupShortLinkData, verifiedDomain: SimplexDomain?)
     case apiChangePreparedContactUser(contactId: Int64, newUserId: Int64)
@@ -347,9 +347,10 @@ enum ChatCommand: ChatCmdProtocol {
             case let .apiAddContact(userId, incognito): return "/_connect \(userId) incognito=\(onOff(incognito))"
             case let .apiSetConnectionIncognito(connId, incognito): return "/_set incognito :\(connId) \(onOff(incognito))"
             case let .apiChangeConnectionUser(connId, userId): return "/_set conn user :\(connId) \(userId)"
-            case let .apiConnectPlan(userId, connLink, linkOwnerSig):
+            case let .apiConnectPlan(userId, connLink, resolveMode, linkOwnerSig):
+                let resolveStr = resolveMode == .unknown ? "" : " resolve=\(resolveMode.rawValue)"
                 let sigStr = if let linkOwnerSig { " sig=\(encodeJSON(linkOwnerSig))" } else { "" }
-                return "/_connect plan \(userId) \(connLink)\(sigStr)"
+                return "/_connect plan \(userId) \(connLink)\(resolveStr)\(sigStr)"
             case let .apiPrepareContact(userId, connLink, contactShortLinkData, verifiedDomain): return "/_prepare contact \(userId) \(connLink.cmdString)\(verifiedDomain.map{ " \($0.cmdString)" } ?? "") \(encodeJSON(contactShortLinkData))"
             case let .apiPrepareGroup(userId, connLink, directLink, groupShortLinkData, verifiedDomain): return "/_prepare group \(userId) \(connLink.cmdString) direct=\(onOff(directLink))\(verifiedDomain.map{ " \($0.cmdString)" } ?? "") \(encodeJSON(groupShortLinkData))"
             case let .apiChangePreparedContactUser(contactId, newUserId): return "/_set contact user @\(contactId) \(newUserId)"
@@ -814,7 +815,7 @@ enum ChatResponse1: Decodable, ChatAPIResult {
     case invitation(user: UserRef, connLinkInvitation: CreatedConnLink, connection: PendingContactConnection)
     case connectionIncognitoUpdated(user: UserRef, toConnection: PendingContactConnection)
     case connectionUserChanged(user: UserRef, fromConnection: PendingContactConnection, toConnection: PendingContactConnection, newUser: UserRef)
-    case connectionPlan(user: UserRef, connLink: CreatedConnLink, connectionPlan: ConnectionPlan)
+    case connectionPlan(user: UserRef, connLink: CreatedConnLink, planSimplexName: SimplexNameInfo?, otherSimplexName: SimplexNameInfo?, connectionPlan: ConnectionPlan)
     case newPreparedChat(user: UserRef, chat: ChatData)
     case contactUserChanged(user: UserRef, fromContact: Contact, newUser: UserRef, toContact: Contact)
     case groupUserChanged(user: UserRef, fromGroup: GroupInfo, newUser: UserRef, toGroup: GroupInfo)
@@ -938,7 +939,7 @@ enum ChatResponse1: Decodable, ChatAPIResult {
         case let .invitation(u, connLinkInvitation, connection): return withUser(u, "connLinkInvitation: \(connLinkInvitation)\nconnection: \(connection)")
         case let .connectionIncognitoUpdated(u, toConnection): return withUser(u, String(describing: toConnection))
         case let .connectionUserChanged(u, fromConnection, toConnection, newUser): return withUser(u, "fromConnection: \(String(describing: fromConnection))\ntoConnection: \(String(describing: toConnection))\nnewUserId: \(String(describing: newUser.userId))")
-        case let .connectionPlan(u, connLink, connectionPlan): return withUser(u, "connLink: \(String(describing: connLink))\nconnectionPlan: \(String(describing: connectionPlan))")
+        case let .connectionPlan(u, connLink, _, _, connectionPlan): return withUser(u, "connLink: \(String(describing: connLink))\nconnectionPlan: \(String(describing: connectionPlan))")
         case let .newPreparedChat(u, chat): return withUser(u, String(describing: chat))
         case let .contactUserChanged(u, fromContact, newUser, toContact): return withUser(u, "fromContact: \(String(describing: fromContact))\nnewUserId: \(String(describing: newUser.userId))\ntoContact: \(String(describing: toContact))")
         case let .groupUserChanged(u, fromGroup, newUser, toGroup): return withUser(u, "fromGroup: \(String(describing: fromGroup))\nnewUserId: \(String(describing: newUser.userId))\ntoGroup: \(String(describing: toGroup))")
@@ -1386,6 +1387,20 @@ enum OwnerVerification: Decodable, Hashable {
     case failed(reason: String)
 }
 
+struct ConnectionPlanResult {
+    var connLink: CreatedConnLink
+    var planSimplexName: SimplexNameInfo?
+    var otherSimplexName: SimplexNameInfo?
+    var connectionPlan: ConnectionPlan
+}
+
+// APIConnectPlan resolution scope; .never is local-store-only (no network), used for per-keystroke name search
+enum PlanResolveMode: String {
+    case allGroups
+    case unknown
+    case never
+}
+
 enum ConnectionPlan: Decodable, Hashable {
     case invitationLink(invitationLinkPlan: InvitationLinkPlan)
     case contactAddress(contactAddressPlan: ContactAddressPlan)
@@ -1401,7 +1416,7 @@ enum InvitationLinkPlan: Decodable, Hashable {
 }
 
 enum ContactAddressPlan: Decodable, Hashable {
-    case ok(contactSLinkData_: ContactShortLinkData?, ownerVerification: OwnerVerification?, verifiedDomain: SimplexDomain?)
+    case ok(contactSLinkData_: ContactShortLinkData?, ownerVerification: OwnerVerification?)
     case ownLink
     case connectingConfirmReconnect
     case connectingProhibit(contact: Contact)
@@ -1416,7 +1431,7 @@ public struct GroupShortLinkInfo: Decodable, Hashable {
 }
 
 enum GroupLinkPlan: Decodable, Hashable {
-    case ok(groupSLinkInfo_: GroupShortLinkInfo?, groupSLinkData_: GroupShortLinkData?, ownerVerification: OwnerVerification?, verifiedDomain: SimplexDomain?)
+    case ok(groupSLinkInfo_: GroupShortLinkInfo?, groupSLinkData_: GroupShortLinkData?, ownerVerification: OwnerVerification?)
     case ownLink(groupInfo: GroupInfo)
     case connectingConfirmReconnect
     case connectingProhibit(groupInfo_: GroupInfo?)
diff --git a/apps/ios/Shared/Model/SimpleXAPI.swift b/apps/ios/Shared/Model/SimpleXAPI.swift
index d7ee777d5b..5e957d68dc 100644
--- a/apps/ios/Shared/Model/SimpleXAPI.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/Shared/Model/SimpleXAPI.swift
@@ -1026,13 +1026,17 @@ func apiChangeConnectionUser(connId: Int64, userId: Int64) async throws -> Pendi
     if let r { throw r.unexpected } else { return nil }
 }
 
-func apiConnectPlan(connLink: String, linkOwnerSig: LinkOwnerSig? = nil, inProgress: BoxedValue<Bool>) async -> (CreatedConnLink, ConnectionPlan)? {
+func apiConnectPlan(connLink: String, resolveMode: PlanResolveMode = .unknown, linkOwnerSig: LinkOwnerSig? = nil, inProgress: BoxedValue<Bool>) async -> ConnectionPlanResult? {
     guard let userId = ChatModel.shared.currentUser?.userId else {
         logger.error("apiConnectPlan: no current user")
         return nil
     }
-    let r: APIResult<ChatResponse1>? = await chatApiSendCmdWithRetry(.apiConnectPlan(userId: userId, connLink: connLink, linkOwnerSig: linkOwnerSig), inProgress: inProgress)
-    if case let .result(.connectionPlan(_, connLink, connPlan)) = r { return (connLink, connPlan) }
+    let r: APIResult<ChatResponse1>? = await chatApiSendCmdWithRetry(.apiConnectPlan(userId: userId, connLink: connLink, resolveMode: resolveMode, linkOwnerSig: linkOwnerSig), inProgress: inProgress)
+    if case let .result(.connectionPlan(_, connLink, planSimplexName, otherSimplexName, connPlan)) = r {
+        return ConnectionPlanResult(connLink: connLink, planSimplexName: planSimplexName, otherSimplexName: otherSimplexName, connectionPlan: connPlan)
+    }
+    // a .never (typing) search that matches nothing locally is not an error to surface
+    if case .error(.error(.notResolvedLocally)) = r { return nil }
     if let r { await apiConnectResponseAlert(r) }
     return nil
 }
diff --git a/apps/ios/Shared/Views/ChatList/ChatListView.swift b/apps/ios/Shared/Views/ChatList/ChatListView.swift
index 01887c12be..bcef5cecf3 100644
--- a/apps/ios/Shared/Views/ChatList/ChatListView.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/Shared/Views/ChatList/ChatListView.swift
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ struct ChatListView: View {
     @FocusState private var searchFocussed
     @State private var searchText = ""
     @State private var searchShowingSimplexLink = false
-    @State private var searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink: String? = nil
+    @State private var searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink: Set<String> = []
     @State private var scrollToSearchBar = false
     @State private var userPickerShown: Bool = false
     @State private var sheet: SomeSheet<AnyView>? = nil
@@ -511,8 +511,8 @@ struct ChatListView: View {
     
     // Spec: spec/client/chat-list.md#filteredChats
     private func filteredChats() -> [Chat] {
-        if let linkChatId = searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink {
-            return chatModel.chats.filter { $0.id == linkChatId }
+        if !searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink.isEmpty {
+            return chatModel.chats.filter { searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink.contains($0.id) }
         } else {
             let s = searchString()
             return s == ""
@@ -626,13 +626,21 @@ struct ChatListSearchBar: View {
     @FocusState.Binding var searchFocussed: Bool
     @Binding var searchText: String
     @Binding var searchShowingSimplexLink: Bool
-    @Binding var searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink: String?
+    @Binding var searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink: Set<String>
     @Binding var parentSheet: SomeSheet<AnyView>?
     @State private var ignoreSearchTextChange = false
+    // when the search text is a SimpleX name, the string to connect to (with @/# preserved); nil otherwise
+    @State private var connectNameCandidate: String? = nil
+    @State private var nameSearchTask: Task<Void, Never>? = nil
 
     var body: some View {
         VStack(spacing: 12) {
-            ScrollView([.horizontal], showsIndicators: false) { TagsView(parentSheet: $parentSheet, searchText: $searchText) }
+            // a typed name replaces the list tags with a row to connect to it (as on Android mobile)
+            if let candidate = connectNameCandidate {
+                connectByNameRow(candidate)
+            } else {
+                ScrollView([.horizontal], showsIndicators: false) { TagsView(parentSheet: $parentSheet, searchText: $searchText) }
+            }
             HStack(spacing: 12) {
                 HStack(spacing: 4) {
                     Image(systemName: "magnifyingglass")
@@ -675,33 +683,50 @@ struct ChatListSearchBar: View {
             if ignoreSearchTextChange {
                 ignoreSearchTextChange = false
             } else {
-                switch strConnectTarget(t.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespaces)) {
+                let s = t.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespaces)
+                switch strConnectTarget(s) {
                 case let .link(text, _, linkText):
+                    nameSearchTask?.cancel()
+                    nameSearchTask = nil
                     searchFocussed = false
                     ignoreSearchTextChange = true
                     searchText = linkText
                     searchShowingSimplexLink = true
-                    searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink = nil
+                    searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink = []
+                    connectNameCandidate = nil
                     connect(text)
-                case let .name(text, _):
-                    searchFocussed = false
-                    planAndConnect(
-                        text,
-                        theme: theme,
-                        dismiss: false,
-                        cleanup: {
-                            searchText = ""
-                            searchFocussed = false
+                default:
+                    // not a link: a recognized SimpleX name shows the connect-by-name row (in place of the
+                    // list tags) and, debounced, resolves locally per keystroke to narrow the list to the
+                    // matching known chat(s); tapping the row connects online. Clear the filter immediately so
+                    // the list falls back to text search until the search returns.
+                    let candidate = nameSearchCandidate(s)
+                    connectNameCandidate = candidate
+                    searchShowingSimplexLink = false
+                    searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink = []
+                    nameSearchTask?.cancel()
+                    nameSearchTask = nil
+                    if let candidate = candidate {
+                        nameSearchTask = Task { @MainActor in
+                            try? await Task.sleep(nanoseconds: 300_000_000)
+                            if Task.isCancelled { return }
+                            // a bare name can be a contact or a channel: search both and keep every match
+                            let targets = candidate.hasPrefix("@") || candidate.hasPrefix("#") ? [candidate] : ["@\(candidate)", "#\(candidate)"]
+                            var ids: [String] = []
+                            for name in targets {
+                                let plan = await apiConnectPlan(connLink: name, resolveMode: .never, inProgress: BoxedValue(false))
+                                if Task.isCancelled { return }
+                                if let id = knownChatId(plan) { ids.append(id) }
+                            }
+                            searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink = Set(ids)
+                            // drop the row only when every searched type is already known locally
+                            if ids.count == targets.count { connectNameCandidate = nil }
                         }
-                    )
-                case .none:
-                    if t != "" {
+                    } else if t != "" {
                         searchFocussed = true
                     } else {
                         ConnectProgressManager.shared.cancelConnectProgress()
                     }
-                    searchShowingSimplexLink = false
-                    searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink = nil
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -730,6 +755,33 @@ struct ChatListSearchBar: View {
         }
     }
 
+    // Row shown in place of the list tags when the search text is a SimpleX name. The @ icon marks a
+    // contact name, the tag icon a channel/other name; tapping hides the keyboard, connects online, and
+    // clears the field.
+    private func connectByNameRow(_ name: String) -> some View {
+        HStack(spacing: 4) {
+            Image(systemName: name.hasPrefix("@") ? "at" : "number")
+                .foregroundColor(theme.colors.primary)
+            Text(String.localizedStringWithFormat(NSLocalizedString("Connect to %@", comment: "new chat action"), name))
+                .foregroundColor(theme.colors.primary)
+            Spacer()
+        }
+        .frame(maxWidth: .infinity, alignment: .leading)
+        .contentShape(Rectangle())
+        .onTapGesture {
+            searchFocussed = false
+            planAndConnect(
+                name,
+                theme: theme,
+                dismiss: false,
+                cleanup: {
+                    searchText = ""
+                    connectNameCandidate = nil
+                }
+            )
+        }
+    }
+
     private func connect(_ link: String) {
         planAndConnect(
             link,
@@ -739,12 +791,72 @@ struct ChatListSearchBar: View {
                 searchText = ""
                 searchFocussed = false
             },
-            filterKnownContact: { searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink = $0.id },
-            filterKnownGroup: { searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink = $0.id }
+            filterKnownContact: { searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink = [$0.id] },
+            filterKnownGroup: { searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink = [$0.id] }
         )
     }
 }
 
+// Default top-level part used to complete a bare name typed in the search field (search field only;
+// the message parser and the wire format are unchanged).
+private let DEFAULT_NAME_TLD = "testing"
+// Shortest name that offers the button, so it is discoverable but does not flash on a single letter.
+private let MIN_NAME_LENGTH = 2
+
+private func isNameLabel(_ s: String) -> Bool {
+    s.count >= 1 && s.count <= 63 && s.range(of: "^[a-zA-Z0-9]+(-[a-zA-Z0-9]+)*$", options: .regularExpression) != nil
+}
+
+// On-device candidate for connecting by SimpleX name: the string sent to the core to resolve it.
+// The chat id a local (.never) search resolved to — a contact, business, or channel — or nil on a miss.
+// A name-resolved chat may be prepared in the store but not yet listed, so add it so the filter can surface it.
+@MainActor
+func knownChatId(_ result: ConnectionPlanResult?) -> String? {
+    guard let plan = result?.connectionPlan else { return nil }
+    let m = ChatModel.shared
+    switch plan {
+    case let .contactAddress(contactAddressPlan):
+        if case let .known(contact) = contactAddressPlan {
+            if m.getContactChat(contact.contactId) == nil {
+                m.addChat(Chat(chatInfo: .direct(contact: contact), chatItems: []))
+            }
+            return contact.id
+        }
+        return nil
+    case let .groupLink(groupLinkPlan):
+        switch groupLinkPlan {
+        case .known(let groupInfo), .ownLink(let groupInfo):
+            if m.getGroupChat(groupInfo.groupId) == nil {
+                m.addChat(Chat(chatInfo: .group(groupInfo: groupInfo, groupChatScope: nil), chatItems: []))
+            }
+            return groupInfo.id
+        default:
+            return nil
+        }
+    default:
+        return nil
+    }
+}
+
+// Mirrors the domain grammar (nameLabelP/mkDomain in SimplexName.hs): an optional @/# prefix, then
+// dot-separated ASCII labels; a dotless word is completed with the default top-level part. Returns
+// the string to send (keeping @/# so the type is preserved), or nil when the text is not a name.
+func nameSearchCandidate(_ str: String) -> String? {
+    let text = str.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespaces)
+    let prefix: Character? = text.first.flatMap { $0 == "@" || $0 == "#" ? $0 : nil }
+    let core = prefix != nil ? String(text.dropFirst()) : text
+    if core.isEmpty { return nil }
+    let labels = core.split(separator: ".", omittingEmptySubsequences: false)
+    if labels.contains(where: { !isNameLabel(String($0)) }) { return nil }
+    if labels.count > 1 {
+        return text                                            // already has a top-level part
+    } else if core.count >= MIN_NAME_LENGTH {
+        return "\(prefix.map(String.init) ?? "")\(core).\(DEFAULT_NAME_TLD)"
+    } else {
+        return nil
+    }
+}
+
 struct TagsView: View {
     @EnvironmentObject var chatTagsModel: ChatTagsModel
     @EnvironmentObject var chatModel: ChatModel
diff --git a/apps/ios/Shared/Views/Helpers/ShareSheet.swift b/apps/ios/Shared/Views/Helpers/ShareSheet.swift
index 039c072c80..670cc7cae0 100644
--- a/apps/ios/Shared/Views/Helpers/ShareSheet.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/Shared/Views/Helpers/ShareSheet.swift
@@ -144,8 +144,10 @@ class OpenChatAlertViewController: UIViewController {
     private let information: String?
     private let cancelTitle: String
     private let confirmTitle: String?
+    private let secondTitle: String?
     private let onCancel: () -> Void
     private let onConfirm: (() -> Void)?
+    private let onSecond: (() -> Void)?
 
     init(
         profileName: String,
@@ -156,8 +158,10 @@ class OpenChatAlertViewController: UIViewController {
         information: String? = nil,
         cancelTitle: String = "Cancel",
         confirmTitle: String? = "Open",
+        secondTitle: String? = nil,
         onCancel: @escaping () -> Void = {},
-        onConfirm: (() -> Void)? = nil
+        onConfirm: (() -> Void)? = nil,
+        onSecond: (() -> Void)? = nil
     ) {
         self.profileName = profileName
         self.profileFullName = profileFullName
@@ -167,8 +171,10 @@ class OpenChatAlertViewController: UIViewController {
         self.information = information
         self.cancelTitle = cancelTitle
         self.confirmTitle = confirmTitle
+        self.secondTitle = secondTitle
         self.onCancel = onCancel
         self.onConfirm = onConfirm
+        self.onSecond = onSecond
         super.init(nibName: nil, bundle: nil)
 
         modalPresentationStyle = .overFullScreen
@@ -277,7 +283,38 @@ class OpenChatAlertViewController: UIViewController {
         let buttonStack: UIStackView
         var buttonDividerConstraints: [NSLayoutConstraint] = []
 
-        if let confirmTitle {
+        if let confirmTitle, let secondTitle {
+            // Three buttons (a sibling action is present) — always vertical
+            let confirmButton = UIButton(type: .system)
+            confirmButton.setTitle(confirmTitle, for: .normal)
+            confirmButton.titleLabel?.font = UIFont.preferredFont(forTextStyle: .body)
+            confirmButton.addTarget(self, action: #selector(confirmTapped), for: .touchUpInside)
+
+            let secondButton = UIButton(type: .system)
+            secondButton.setTitle(secondTitle, for: .normal)
+            secondButton.titleLabel?.font = UIFont.preferredFont(forTextStyle: .body)
+            secondButton.addTarget(self, action: #selector(secondTapped), for: .touchUpInside)
+
+            buttonStack = UIStackView(arrangedSubviews: [confirmButton, secondButton, cancelButton])
+            buttonStack.axis = .vertical
+            buttonStack.distribution = .fillEqually
+            buttonStack.spacing = 0
+            buttonStack.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
+            buttonStack.heightAnchor.constraint(greaterThanOrEqualToConstant: alertButtonHeight * 3).isActive = true
+
+            for button in [secondButton, cancelButton] {
+                let divider = UIView()
+                divider.backgroundColor = UIColor.separator
+                divider.translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints = false
+                buttonStack.addSubview(divider)
+                buttonDividerConstraints += [
+                    divider.leadingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: containerView.leadingAnchor),
+                    divider.trailingAnchor.constraint(equalTo: containerView.trailingAnchor),
+                    divider.bottomAnchor.constraint(equalTo: button.topAnchor),
+                    divider.heightAnchor.constraint(equalToConstant: 1 / UIScreen.main.scale)
+                ]
+            }
+        } else if let confirmTitle {
             let confirmButton = UIButton(type: .system)
             confirmButton.setTitle(confirmTitle, for: .normal)
             confirmButton.titleLabel?.font = UIFont.preferredFont(forTextStyle: .body)
@@ -372,6 +409,12 @@ class OpenChatAlertViewController: UIViewController {
             self.onConfirm?()
         }
     }
+
+    @objc private func secondTapped() {
+        dismiss(animated: true) {
+            self.onSecond?()
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 
@@ -385,8 +428,10 @@ func showOpenChatAlert<Content: View>(
     information: String? = nil,
     cancelTitle: String = "Cancel",
     confirmTitle: String? = "Open",
+    secondTitle: String? = nil,
     onCancel: @escaping () -> Void = {},
-    onConfirm: (() -> Void)? = nil
+    onConfirm: (() -> Void)? = nil,
+    onSecond: (() -> Void)? = nil
 ) {
     let themedView = profileImage.environmentObject(theme)
     let hostingController = UIHostingController(rootView: themedView)
@@ -403,8 +448,10 @@ func showOpenChatAlert<Content: View>(
             information: information,
             cancelTitle: cancelTitle,
             confirmTitle: confirmTitle,
+            secondTitle: secondTitle,
             onCancel: onCancel,
-            onConfirm: onConfirm
+            onConfirm: onConfirm,
+            onSecond: onSecond
         )
         topVC.present(alertVC, animated: true)
     }
diff --git a/apps/ios/Shared/Views/NewChat/NewChatView.swift b/apps/ios/Shared/Views/NewChat/NewChatView.swift
index 271c3845c3..a87b9b46f4 100644
--- a/apps/ios/Shared/Views/NewChat/NewChatView.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/Shared/Views/NewChat/NewChatView.swift
@@ -1116,6 +1116,8 @@ private func showPrepareContactAlert(
     contactShortLinkData: ContactShortLinkData,
     ownerVerification: OwnerVerification? = nil,
     verifiedDomain: SimplexDomain? = nil,
+    connectOtherButton: String? = nil,
+    connectOtherLink: String? = nil,
     theme: AppTheme,
     dismiss: Bool,
     cleanup: (() -> Void)?
@@ -1138,6 +1140,7 @@ private func showPrepareContactAlert(
         information: ownerVerificationMessage(ownerVerification),
         cancelTitle: NSLocalizedString("Cancel", comment: "new chat action"),
         confirmTitle: NSLocalizedString("Open new chat", comment: "new chat action"),
+        secondTitle: connectOtherButton,
         onCancel: { cleanup?() },
         onConfirm: {
             Task {
@@ -1155,6 +1158,9 @@ private func showPrepareContactAlert(
                     }
                 }
             }
+        },
+        onSecond: connectOtherLink.map { link in
+            { planAndConnect(link, theme: theme, dismiss: dismiss, cleanup: cleanup) }
         }
     )
 }
@@ -1165,6 +1171,8 @@ private func showPrepareGroupAlert(
     groupShortLinkData: GroupShortLinkData,
     ownerVerification: OwnerVerification? = nil,
     verifiedDomain: SimplexDomain? = nil,
+    connectOtherButton: String? = nil,
+    connectOtherLink: String? = nil,
     theme: AppTheme,
     dismiss: Bool,
     cleanup: (() -> Void)?
@@ -1189,6 +1197,7 @@ private func showPrepareGroupAlert(
         confirmTitle: isChannel
             ? NSLocalizedString("Open new channel", comment: "new chat action")
             : NSLocalizedString("Open new group", comment: "new chat action"),
+        secondTitle: connectOtherButton,
         onCancel: { cleanup?() },
         onConfirm: {
             Task {
@@ -1210,6 +1219,9 @@ private func showPrepareGroupAlert(
                     }
                 }
             }
+        },
+        onSecond: connectOtherLink.map { link in
+            { planAndConnect(link, theme: theme, dismiss: dismiss, cleanup: cleanup) }
         }
     )
 }
@@ -1217,7 +1229,9 @@ private func showPrepareGroupAlert(
 private func showOpenKnownContactAlert(
     _ contact: Contact,
     theme: AppTheme,
-    dismiss: Bool
+    dismiss: Bool,
+    connectOtherButton: String? = nil,
+    connectOtherLink: String? = nil
 ) {
     showOpenChatAlert(
         profileName: contact.profile.displayName,
@@ -1235,8 +1249,12 @@ private func showOpenKnownContactAlert(
             contact.nextConnectPrepared
             ? NSLocalizedString("Open new chat", comment: "new chat action")
             : NSLocalizedString("Open chat", comment: "new chat action"),
+        secondTitle: connectOtherButton,
         onConfirm: {
             openKnownContact(contact, dismiss: dismiss, cleanup: nil)
+        },
+        onSecond: connectOtherLink.map { link in
+            { planAndConnect(link, theme: theme, dismiss: dismiss) }
         }
     )
 }
@@ -1244,7 +1262,9 @@ private func showOpenKnownContactAlert(
 private func showOpenKnownGroupAlert(
     _ groupInfo: GroupInfo,
     theme: AppTheme,
-    dismiss: Bool
+    dismiss: Bool,
+    connectOtherButton: String? = nil,
+    connectOtherLink: String? = nil
 ) {
     let subscriberCount = groupInfo.groupSummary.publicMemberCount.map { "\($0) subscribers" }
     showOpenChatAlert(
@@ -1274,8 +1294,12 @@ private func showOpenKnownGroupAlert(
                 ? NSLocalizedString("Open new chat", comment: "new chat action")
                 : NSLocalizedString("Open chat", comment: "new chat action")
               ),
+        secondTitle: connectOtherButton,
         onConfirm: {
             openKnownGroup(groupInfo, dismiss: dismiss, cleanup: nil)
+        },
+        onSecond: connectOtherLink.map { link in
+            { planAndConnect(link, theme: theme, dismiss: dismiss) }
         }
     )
 }
@@ -1319,7 +1343,20 @@ func planAndConnect(
                 ConnectProgressManager.shared.stopConnectProgress()
             }
             if !inProgress.boxedValue { return }
-            if let (connectionLink, connectionPlan) = result {
+            if let result {
+                let connectionLink = result.connLink
+                let connectionPlan = result.connectionPlan
+                let planSimplexName = result.planSimplexName
+                // the name can also resolve to the other kind; its type picks the verb, its short form the label and target
+                let connectOtherLink = result.otherSimplexName?.shortStr
+                let connectOtherButton: String? = result.otherSimplexName.map { info in
+                    String.localizedStringWithFormat(
+                        info.nameType == .publicGroup
+                            ? NSLocalizedString("Join channel %@", comment: "new chat action")
+                            : NSLocalizedString("Connect to %@", comment: "new chat action"),
+                        info.shortStr
+                    )
+                }
                 switch connectionPlan {
                 case let .invitationLink(ilp):
                     switch ilp {
@@ -1386,7 +1423,7 @@ func planAndConnect(
                     }
                 case let .contactAddress(cap):
                     switch cap {
-                    case let .ok(contactSLinkData_, ownerVerification, verifiedDomain):
+                    case let .ok(contactSLinkData_, ownerVerification):
                         if let contactSLinkData = contactSLinkData_ {
                             logger.debug("planAndConnect, .contactAddress, .ok, short link data present")
                             await MainActor.run {
@@ -1394,7 +1431,9 @@ func planAndConnect(
                                     connectionLink: connectionLink,
                                     contactShortLinkData: contactSLinkData,
                                     ownerVerification: ownerVerification,
-                                    verifiedDomain: verifiedDomain,
+                                    verifiedDomain: planSimplexName?.nameDomain,
+                                    connectOtherButton: connectOtherButton,
+                                    connectOtherLink: connectOtherLink,
                                     theme: theme,
                                     dismiss: dismiss,
                                     cleanup: cleanup
@@ -1443,7 +1482,7 @@ func planAndConnect(
                             if let f = filterKnownContact {
                                 f(contact)
                             } else {
-                                showOpenKnownContactAlert(contact, theme: theme, dismiss: dismiss)
+                                showOpenKnownContactAlert(contact, theme: theme, dismiss: dismiss, connectOtherButton: connectOtherButton, connectOtherLink: connectOtherLink)
                             }
                         }
                     case let .known(contact):
@@ -1455,7 +1494,7 @@ func planAndConnect(
                             if let f = filterKnownContact {
                                 f(contact)
                             } else {
-                                showOpenKnownContactAlert(contact, theme: theme, dismiss: dismiss)
+                                showOpenKnownContactAlert(contact, theme: theme, dismiss: dismiss, connectOtherButton: connectOtherButton, connectOtherLink: connectOtherLink)
                             }
                         }
                     case let .contactViaAddress(contact):
@@ -1470,7 +1509,7 @@ func planAndConnect(
                     }
                 case let .groupLink(glp):
                     switch glp {
-                    case let .ok(groupShortLinkInfo_, groupSLinkData_, ownerVerification, verifiedDomain):
+                    case let .ok(groupShortLinkInfo_, groupSLinkData_, ownerVerification):
                         if let groupSLinkData = groupSLinkData_ {
                             logger.debug("planAndConnect, .groupLink, .ok, short link data present")
                             await MainActor.run {
@@ -1479,7 +1518,9 @@ func planAndConnect(
                                     groupShortLinkInfo: groupShortLinkInfo_,
                                     groupShortLinkData: groupSLinkData,
                                     ownerVerification: ownerVerification,
-                                    verifiedDomain: verifiedDomain,
+                                    verifiedDomain: planSimplexName?.nameDomain,
+                                    connectOtherButton: connectOtherButton,
+                                    connectOtherLink: connectOtherLink,
                                     theme: theme,
                                     dismiss: dismiss,
                                     cleanup: cleanup
@@ -1538,7 +1579,7 @@ func planAndConnect(
                             if let f = filterKnownGroup {
                                 f(groupInfo)
                             } else {
-                                showOpenKnownGroupAlert(groupInfo, theme: theme, dismiss: dismiss)
+                                showOpenKnownGroupAlert(groupInfo, theme: theme, dismiss: dismiss, connectOtherButton: connectOtherButton, connectOtherLink: connectOtherLink)
                             }
                         }
                     case let .noRelays(groupSLinkData_):
diff --git a/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/APITypes.swift b/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/APITypes.swift
index 47522a5deb..636ba99927 100644
--- a/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/APITypes.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/APITypes.swift
@@ -763,6 +763,7 @@ public enum ChatErrorType: Decodable, Hashable {
     case chatStoreChanged
     case invalidConnReq
     case simplexDomainNotReady(simplexDomain: SimplexDomain, simplexDomainError: SimplexDomainError)
+    case notResolvedLocally
     case unsupportedConnReq
     case invalidChatMessage(connection: Connection, message: String)
     case connReqMessageProhibited
diff --git a/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/ChatTypes.swift b/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/ChatTypes.swift
index 3acc2c7eec..d85999a7e7 100644
--- a/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/ChatTypes.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/SimpleXChat/ChatTypes.swift
@@ -5290,6 +5290,15 @@ public struct SimplexNameInfo: Codable, Equatable, Hashable {
     public var nameType: SimplexNameType
     public var nameDomain: SimplexDomain
 
+    // mirrors backend shortNameInfoStr: "#name" for a simplex public group, else prefix + full domain
+    public var shortStr: String {
+        if nameType == .publicGroup && nameDomain.nameTLD == .simplex && nameDomain.subDomain.isEmpty {
+            return "#" + nameDomain.domain
+        } else {
+            return (nameType == .publicGroup ? "#" : "@") + nameDomain.fullDomainName
+        }
+    }
+
     public init(nameType: SimplexNameType, nameDomain: SimplexDomain) {
         self.nameType = nameType
         self.nameDomain = nameDomain
diff --git a/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/model/ChatModel.kt b/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/model/ChatModel.kt
index ef5fe334b8..fd093f5761 100644
--- a/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/model/ChatModel.kt
+++ b/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/model/ChatModel.kt
@@ -4887,7 +4887,13 @@ enum class SimplexLinkType(val linkType: String) {
 data class SimplexNameInfo(
   val nameType: SimplexNameType,
   val nameDomain: SimplexDomain
-)
+) {
+  // mirrors backend shortNameInfoStr: "#name" for a simplex public group, else prefix + full domain
+  val shortStr: String get() = when {
+    nameType == SimplexNameType.publicGroup && nameDomain.nameTLD == SimplexTLD.simplex && nameDomain.subDomain.isEmpty() -> "#" + nameDomain.domain
+    else -> (if (nameType == SimplexNameType.publicGroup) "#" else "@") + nameDomain.fullDomainName
+  }
+}
 
 @Serializable
 data class SimplexDomain(
diff --git a/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/model/SimpleXAPI.kt b/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/model/SimpleXAPI.kt
index bf0afe4546..80b7d828ba 100644
--- a/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/model/SimpleXAPI.kt
+++ b/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/model/SimpleXAPI.kt
@@ -1517,10 +1517,12 @@ object ChatController {
     return null
   }
 
-  suspend fun apiConnectPlan(rh: Long?, connLink: String, linkOwnerSig: LinkOwnerSig? = null, inProgress: MutableState<Boolean>): Pair<CreatedConnLink, ConnectionPlan>? {
+  suspend fun apiConnectPlan(rh: Long?, connLink: String, resolveMode: PlanResolveMode = PlanResolveMode.PRMUnknown, linkOwnerSig: LinkOwnerSig? = null, inProgress: MutableState<Boolean>): ConnectionPlanResult? {
     val userId = kotlin.runCatching { currentUserId("apiConnectPlan") }.getOrElse { return null }
-    val r = sendCmdWithRetry(rh, CC.APIConnectPlan(userId, connLink, linkOwnerSig), inProgress = inProgress)
-    if (r is API.Result && r.res is CR.CRConnectionPlan) return r.res.connLink to r.res.connectionPlan
+    val r = sendCmdWithRetry(rh, CC.APIConnectPlan(userId, connLink, resolveMode, linkOwnerSig), inProgress = inProgress)
+    if (r is API.Result && r.res is CR.CRConnectionPlan) return ConnectionPlanResult(r.res.connLink, r.res.planSimplexName, r.res.otherSimplexName, r.res.connectionPlan)
+    // a PRMNever (typing) search that matches nothing locally is not an error to surface
+    if (r is API.Error && r.err is ChatError.ChatErrorChat && r.err.errorType is ChatErrorType.NotResolvedLocally) return null
     if (inProgress.value && r != null) apiConnectResponseAlert(r)
     return null
   }
@@ -3861,7 +3863,7 @@ sealed class CC {
   class APIAddContact(val userId: Long, val incognito: Boolean): CC()
   class ApiSetConnectionIncognito(val connId: Long, val incognito: Boolean): CC()
   class ApiChangeConnectionUser(val connId: Long, val userId: Long): CC()
-  class APIConnectPlan(val userId: Long, val connLink: String, val linkOwnerSig: LinkOwnerSig? = null): CC()
+  class APIConnectPlan(val userId: Long, val connLink: String, val resolveMode: PlanResolveMode = PlanResolveMode.PRMUnknown, val linkOwnerSig: LinkOwnerSig? = null): CC()
   class APIPrepareContact(val userId: Long, val connLink: CreatedConnLink, val contactShortLinkData: ContactShortLinkData, val verifiedDomain: SimplexDomain? = null): CC()
   class APIPrepareGroup(val userId: Long, val connLink: CreatedConnLink, val directLink: Boolean, val groupShortLinkData: GroupShortLinkData, val verifiedDomain: SimplexDomain? = null): CC()
   class APIChangePreparedContactUser(val contactId: Long, val newUserId: Long): CC()
@@ -4070,8 +4072,9 @@ sealed class CC {
     is ApiSetConnectionIncognito -> "/_set incognito :$connId ${onOff(incognito)}"
     is ApiChangeConnectionUser -> "/_set conn user :$connId $userId"
     is APIConnectPlan -> {
+      val resolveStr = if (resolveMode != PlanResolveMode.PRMUnknown) " resolve=${resolveMode.cmdString}" else ""
       val sigStr = if (linkOwnerSig != null) " sig=${json.encodeToString(linkOwnerSig)}" else ""
-      "/_connect plan $userId $connLink$sigStr"
+      "/_connect plan $userId $connLink$resolveStr$sigStr"
     }
     is APIPrepareContact -> "/_prepare contact $userId ${connLink.cmdString}${verifiedDomain?.let { " ${it.cmdString}" } ?: ""} ${json.encodeToString(contactShortLinkData)}"
     is APIPrepareGroup -> "/_prepare group $userId ${connLink.cmdString} direct=${onOff(directLink)}${verifiedDomain?.let { " ${it.cmdString}" } ?: ""} ${json.encodeToString(groupShortLinkData)}"
@@ -6513,7 +6516,7 @@ sealed class CR {
   @Serializable @SerialName("invitation") class Invitation(val user: UserRef, val connLinkInvitation: CreatedConnLink, val connection: PendingContactConnection): CR()
   @Serializable @SerialName("connectionIncognitoUpdated") class ConnectionIncognitoUpdated(val user: UserRef, val toConnection: PendingContactConnection): CR()
   @Serializable @SerialName("connectionUserChanged") class ConnectionUserChanged(val user: UserRef, val fromConnection: PendingContactConnection, val toConnection: PendingContactConnection, val newUser: UserRef): CR()
-  @Serializable @SerialName("connectionPlan") class CRConnectionPlan(val user: UserRef, val connLink: CreatedConnLink, val connectionPlan: ConnectionPlan): CR()
+  @Serializable @SerialName("connectionPlan") class CRConnectionPlan(val user: UserRef, val connLink: CreatedConnLink, val planSimplexName: SimplexNameInfo? = null, val otherSimplexName: SimplexNameInfo? = null, val connectionPlan: ConnectionPlan): CR()
   @Serializable @SerialName("newPreparedChat") class NewPreparedChat(val user: UserRef, val chat: Chat): CR()
   @Serializable @SerialName("contactUserChanged") class ContactUserChanged(val user: UserRef, val fromContact: Contact, val newUser: UserRef, val toContact: Contact): CR()
   @Serializable @SerialName("groupUserChanged") class GroupUserChanged(val user: UserRef, val fromGroup: GroupInfo, val newUser: UserRef, val toGroup: GroupInfo): CR()
@@ -7103,6 +7106,23 @@ sealed class SimplexDomainError {
   @Serializable @SerialName("unknownDomain") object UnknownDomain : SimplexDomainError()
 }
 
+data class ConnectionPlanResult(
+  val connLink: CreatedConnLink,
+  val planSimplexName: SimplexNameInfo?,
+  val otherSimplexName: SimplexNameInfo?,
+  val connectionPlan: ConnectionPlan,
+)
+
+// APIConnectPlan resolution scope; PRMNever is local-store-only (no network), used for per-keystroke name search
+enum class PlanResolveMode {
+  PRMAllGroups, PRMUnknown, PRMNever;
+  val cmdString: String get() = when (this) {
+    PRMAllGroups -> "allGroups"
+    PRMUnknown -> "unknown"
+    PRMNever -> "never"
+  }
+}
+
 @Serializable
 sealed class ConnectionPlan {
   @Serializable @SerialName("invitationLink") class InvitationLink(val invitationLinkPlan: InvitationLinkPlan): ConnectionPlan()
@@ -7121,7 +7141,7 @@ sealed class InvitationLinkPlan {
 
 @Serializable
 sealed class ContactAddressPlan {
-  @Serializable @SerialName("ok") class Ok(val contactSLinkData_: ContactShortLinkData? = null, val ownerVerification: OwnerVerification? = null, val verifiedDomain: SimplexDomain? = null): ContactAddressPlan()
+  @Serializable @SerialName("ok") class Ok(val contactSLinkData_: ContactShortLinkData? = null, val ownerVerification: OwnerVerification? = null): ContactAddressPlan()
   @Serializable @SerialName("ownLink") object OwnLink: ContactAddressPlan()
   @Serializable @SerialName("connectingConfirmReconnect") object ConnectingConfirmReconnect: ContactAddressPlan()
   @Serializable @SerialName("connectingProhibit") class ConnectingProhibit(val contact: Contact): ContactAddressPlan()
@@ -7131,7 +7151,7 @@ sealed class ContactAddressPlan {
 
 @Serializable
 sealed class GroupLinkPlan {
-  @Serializable @SerialName("ok") class Ok(val groupSLinkInfo_: GroupShortLinkInfo? = null, val groupSLinkData_: GroupShortLinkData? = null, val ownerVerification: OwnerVerification? = null, val verifiedDomain: SimplexDomain? = null): GroupLinkPlan()
+  @Serializable @SerialName("ok") class Ok(val groupSLinkInfo_: GroupShortLinkInfo? = null, val groupSLinkData_: GroupShortLinkData? = null, val ownerVerification: OwnerVerification? = null): GroupLinkPlan()
   @Serializable @SerialName("ownLink") class OwnLink(val groupInfo: GroupInfo): GroupLinkPlan()
   @Serializable @SerialName("connectingConfirmReconnect") object ConnectingConfirmReconnect: GroupLinkPlan()
   @Serializable @SerialName("connectingProhibit") class ConnectingProhibit(val groupInfo_: GroupInfo? = null): GroupLinkPlan()
@@ -7441,6 +7461,7 @@ sealed class ChatErrorType {
       is ConnectionPlanChatError -> "connectionPlan"
       is InvalidConnReq -> "invalidConnReq"
       is SimplexDomainNotReady -> "simplexDomainNotReady"
+      is NotResolvedLocally -> "notResolvedLocally"
       is UnsupportedConnReq -> "unsupportedConnReq"
       is InvalidChatMessage -> "invalidChatMessage"
       is ConnReqMessageProhibited -> "connReqMessageProhibited"
@@ -7524,6 +7545,7 @@ sealed class ChatErrorType {
   @Serializable @SerialName("connectionPlan") class ConnectionPlanChatError(val connectionPlan: ConnectionPlan): ChatErrorType()
   @Serializable @SerialName("invalidConnReq") object InvalidConnReq: ChatErrorType()
   @Serializable @SerialName("simplexDomainNotReady") class SimplexDomainNotReady(val simplexDomain: SimplexDomain, val simplexDomainError: SimplexDomainError): ChatErrorType()
+  @Serializable @SerialName("notResolvedLocally") object NotResolvedLocally: ChatErrorType()
   @Serializable @SerialName("unsupportedConnReq") object UnsupportedConnReq: ChatErrorType()
   @Serializable @SerialName("invalidChatMessage") class InvalidChatMessage(val connection: Connection, val message: String): ChatErrorType()
   @Serializable @SerialName("connReqMessageProhibited") object ConnReqMessageProhibited: ChatErrorType()
diff --git a/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/views/chatlist/ChatListView.kt b/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/views/chatlist/ChatListView.kt
index 99dec506e7..439d1af189 100644
--- a/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/views/chatlist/ChatListView.kt
+++ b/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/views/chatlist/ChatListView.kt
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ import dev.icerock.moko.resources.ImageResource
 import dev.icerock.moko.resources.StringResource
 import kotlinx.coroutines.*
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.MutableStateFlow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.collectLatest
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.distinctUntilChanged
 import kotlinx.serialization.json.Json
 import kotlin.time.Duration.Companion.seconds
@@ -745,7 +746,7 @@ fun connectIfOpenedViaUri(rhId: Long?, uri: String, chatModel: ChatModel) {
 }
 
 @Composable
-private fun ChatListSearchBar(listState: LazyListState, searchText: MutableState<TextFieldValue>, searchShowingSimplexLink: MutableState<Boolean>, searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink: MutableState<String?>) {
+private fun ChatListSearchBar(listState: LazyListState, searchText: MutableState<TextFieldValue>, searchShowingSimplexLink: MutableState<Boolean>, searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink: MutableState<Set<String>>, connectNameCandidate: MutableState<String?>) {
   Box {
     Row(verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically, modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth()) {
       val focusRequester = remember { FocusRequester() }
@@ -763,6 +764,8 @@ private fun ChatListSearchBar(listState: LazyListState, searchText: MutableState
         searchText = searchText,
         enabled = !remember { searchShowingSimplexLink }.value,
         trailingContent = null,
+        // the clear button must line up with the filter icon it replaces, so no reduction here
+        reducedCloseButtonPadding = 0.dp,
       ) {
         searchText.value = searchText.value.copy(it)
       }
@@ -791,30 +794,35 @@ private fun ChatListSearchBar(listState: LazyListState, searchText: MutableState
       LaunchedEffect(Unit) {
         snapshotFlow { searchText.value.text }
           .distinctUntilChanged()
-          .collect {
-            when (val target = strConnectTarget(it.trim())) {
-              is ConnectTarget.Link -> {
-                hideKeyboard(view)
-                searchText.value = searchText.value.copy(target.linkText, selection = TextRange.Zero)
-                searchShowingSimplexLink.value = true
-                searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink.value = null
-                connect(target.text, searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink) { searchText.value = TextFieldValue() }
-              }
-              is ConnectTarget.Name -> {
-                // A name lookup means "take me to this contact": open the chat if
-                // it's already known (visible prompt), unlike a pasted link which
-                // filters the list. So no filterKnownContact here.
-                hideKeyboard(view)
-                withBGApi {
-                  planAndConnect(
-                    chatModel.remoteHostId(),
-                    target.text,
-                    close = null,
-                    cleanup = { searchText.value = TextFieldValue() },
-                  )
+          .collectLatest {
+            val target = strConnectTarget(it.trim())
+            if (target is ConnectTarget.Link) {
+              hideKeyboard(view)
+              searchText.value = searchText.value.copy(target.linkText, selection = TextRange.Zero)
+              searchShowingSimplexLink.value = true
+              searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink.value = emptySet()
+              connectNameCandidate.value = null
+              connect(target.text, searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink) { searchText.value = TextFieldValue() }
+            } else {
+              val candidate = nameSearchCandidate(it.trim())
+              connectNameCandidate.value = candidate
+              // clear the previous match immediately so the list falls back to text search during the debounce,
+              // instead of showing a stale filtered chat while the new search runs
+              searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink.value = emptySet()
+              if (candidate != null) {
+                // resolve the name locally on each keystroke, debounced; collectLatest cancels the in-flight
+                // search when the next keystroke arrives. A bare name can be a contact or a channel, so search
+                // both and filter every known chat found; drop the row only when both types are already known.
+                delay(NAME_SEARCH_DEBOUNCE_MS)
+                val rhId = chatModel.remoteHostId()
+                val inProgress = mutableStateOf(false) // background search: no spinner, no error alerts
+                val targets = if (candidate.startsWith("@") || candidate.startsWith("#")) listOf(candidate) else listOf("@$candidate", "#$candidate")
+                val ids = targets.mapNotNull { name ->
+                  knownChatId(rhId, chatModel.controller.apiConnectPlan(rhId, name, PlanResolveMode.PRMNever, inProgress = inProgress))
                 }
-              }
-              null -> if (!searchShowingSimplexLink.value || it.isEmpty()) {
+                searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink.value = ids.toSet()
+                if (ids.size == targets.size) connectNameCandidate.value = null
+              } else if (!searchShowingSimplexLink.value || it.isEmpty()) {
                 if (it.isNotEmpty()) {
                   focusRequester.requestFocus()
                 } else {
@@ -826,7 +834,7 @@ private fun ChatListSearchBar(listState: LazyListState, searchText: MutableState
                   }
                 }
                 searchShowingSimplexLink.value = false
-                searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink.value = null
+                searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink.value = emptySet()
               }
             }
           }
@@ -837,13 +845,13 @@ private fun ChatListSearchBar(listState: LazyListState, searchText: MutableState
   }
 }
 
-private fun connect(link: String, searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink: MutableState<String?>, cleanup: (() -> Unit)?) {
+private fun connect(link: String, searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink: MutableState<Set<String>>, cleanup: (() -> Unit)?) {
   withBGApi {
     planAndConnect(
       chatModel.remoteHostId(),
       link,
-      filterKnownContact = { searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink.value = it.id },
-      filterKnownGroup = { searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink.value = it.id },
+      filterKnownContact = { searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink.value = setOf(it.id) },
+      filterKnownGroup = { searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink.value = setOf(it.id) },
       close = null,
       cleanup = cleanup,
     )
@@ -930,7 +938,8 @@ private fun BoxScope.ChatList(searchText: MutableState<TextFieldValue>, listStat
   // which is related to [derivedStateOf]. Using safe alternative instead
   // val chats by remember(search, showUnreadAndFavorites) { derivedStateOf { filteredChats(showUnreadAndFavorites, search, allChats.toList()) } }
   val searchShowingSimplexLink = remember { mutableStateOf(false) }
-  val searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink = remember { mutableStateOf<String?>(null) }
+  val searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink = remember { mutableStateOf<Set<String>>(emptySet()) }
+  val connectNameCandidate = remember { mutableStateOf<String?>(null) }
   val chats = filteredChats(searchShowingSimplexLink, searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink, searchText.value.text, allChats.value.toList(), activeFilter.value)
   val topPaddingToContent = topPaddingToContent(false)
   val blankSpaceSize = if (oneHandUI.value) WindowInsets.navigationBars.asPaddingValues().calculateBottomPadding() + AppBarHeight * fontSizeSqrtMultiplier else topPaddingToContent
@@ -963,13 +972,23 @@ private fun BoxScope.ChatList(searchText: MutableState<TextFieldValue>, listStat
         if (oneHandUI.value) {
           Column(Modifier.consumeWindowInsets(WindowInsets.navigationBars).consumeWindowInsets(PaddingValues(bottom = AppBarHeight))) {
             Divider()
-            TagsView(searchText)
-            ChatListSearchBar(listState, searchText, searchShowingSimplexLink, searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink)
+            // bottom toolbar: search bar below, so on desktop the connect row goes below the tags
+            TagsOrConnectByName(searchText, connectNameCandidate) { candidate ->
+              TagsView(searchText)
+              Divider()
+              ConnectByNameRow(candidate, searchText, connectNameCandidate, close = null)
+            }
+            ChatListSearchBar(listState, searchText, searchShowingSimplexLink, searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink, connectNameCandidate)
             Spacer(Modifier.windowInsetsBottomHeight(WindowInsets.ime))
           }
         } else {
-          ChatListSearchBar(listState, searchText, searchShowingSimplexLink, searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink)
-          TagsView(searchText)
+          ChatListSearchBar(listState, searchText, searchShowingSimplexLink, searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink, connectNameCandidate)
+          // top toolbar: search bar above, so on desktop the connect row goes above the tags
+          TagsOrConnectByName(searchText, connectNameCandidate) { candidate ->
+            ConnectByNameRow(candidate, searchText, connectNameCandidate, close = null)
+            Divider()
+            TagsView(searchText)
+          }
           Divider()
         }
       }
@@ -1017,6 +1036,105 @@ private fun BoxScope.ChatList(searchText: MutableState<TextFieldValue>, listStat
   }
 }
 
+// Default top-level part used to complete a bare name typed in the search field (search field only;
+// the message parser and the wire format are unchanged).
+private const val DEFAULT_NAME_TLD = "testing"
+// Shortest name that offers the button, so it is discoverable but does not flash on a single letter.
+private const val MIN_NAME_LENGTH = 2
+// Wait this long after the last keystroke before the local name search runs.
+internal const val NAME_SEARCH_DEBOUNCE_MS = 300L
+
+private val nameLabelRegex = Regex("[a-zA-Z0-9]+(-[a-zA-Z0-9]+)*")
+private fun isNameLabel(s: String): Boolean = s.length in 1..63 && nameLabelRegex.matches(s)
+
+// On-device candidate for connecting by SimpleX name: the string sent to the core to resolve it.
+// Mirrors the domain grammar (nameLabelP/mkDomain in SimplexName.hs): an optional @/# prefix, then
+// dot-separated ASCII labels; a dotless word is completed with the default top-level part. Returns
+// the string to send (keeping @/# so the type is preserved), or null when the text is not a name.
+internal fun nameSearchCandidate(str: String): String? {
+  val text = str.trim()
+  val prefix = text.firstOrNull()?.takeIf { it == '@' || it == '#' }
+  val core = if (prefix != null) text.substring(1) else text
+  val labels = core.split(".")
+  if (core.isEmpty() || labels.any { !isNameLabel(it) }) return null
+  return when {
+    labels.size > 1 -> text                                            // already has a top-level part
+    core.length >= MIN_NAME_LENGTH -> "${prefix ?: ""}$core.$DEFAULT_NAME_TLD"
+    else -> null
+  }
+}
+
+// The chat id a local (PRMNever) search resolved to — a contact, a business, or a channel — or null on a miss.
+// The core returns the correct type for @ vs # (getContactToConnect / type-filtered getGroupToConnect), so no
+// client-side type check is needed.
+internal suspend fun knownChatId(rhId: Long?, result: ConnectionPlanResult?): String? = when (val plan = result?.connectionPlan) {
+  is ConnectionPlan.ContactAddress -> (plan.contactAddressPlan as? ContactAddressPlan.Known)?.contact?.let { contact ->
+    // a name-resolved chat may be prepared in the store but not yet listed, so add it (as the tap path does)
+    if (chatModel.getContactChat(contact.contactId) == null) {
+      chatModel.chatsContext.addChat(Chat(remoteHostId = rhId, chatInfo = ChatInfo.Direct(contact), chatItems = emptyList()))
+    }
+    contact.id
+  }
+  is ConnectionPlan.GroupLink -> (when (val g = plan.groupLinkPlan) {
+    is GroupLinkPlan.Known -> g.groupInfo
+    is GroupLinkPlan.OwnLink -> g.groupInfo
+    else -> null
+  })?.let { gInfo ->
+    if (chatModel.getGroupChat(gInfo.groupId) == null) {
+      chatModel.chatsContext.addChat(Chat(remoteHostId = rhId, chatInfo = ChatInfo.Group(gInfo, groupChatScope = null), chatItems = emptyList()))
+    }
+    gInfo.id
+  }
+  else -> null
+}
+
+// The list tags and the connect-by-name row share one slot. When there is no name, the tags show; on
+// mobile the row replaces the tags while shown. On desktop both show, arranged by the caller (which
+// knows whether the search bar is above or below), passed as desktopView.
+@Composable
+private fun TagsOrConnectByName(
+  searchText: MutableState<TextFieldValue>,
+  connectNameCandidate: MutableState<String?>,
+  desktopView: @Composable (candidate: String) -> Unit,
+) {
+  val candidate = connectNameCandidate.value
+  when {
+    candidate == null -> TagsView(searchText)
+    !appPlatform.isDesktop -> ConnectByNameRow(candidate, searchText, connectNameCandidate, close = null)
+    else -> desktopView(candidate)
+  }
+}
+
+@Composable
+internal fun ConnectByNameRow(name: String, searchText: MutableState<TextFieldValue>, connectNameCandidate: MutableState<String?>, close: (() -> Unit)?) {
+  val view = LocalMultiplatformView()
+  Row(
+    Modifier
+      .fillMaxWidth()
+      .clickable {
+        hideKeyboard(view)
+        withBGApi {
+          planAndConnect(
+            chatModel.remoteHostId(),
+            name,
+            close = close,
+            cleanup = {
+              searchText.value = TextFieldValue()
+              connectNameCandidate.value = null
+            },
+          )
+        }
+      }
+      .padding(vertical = DEFAULT_PADDING_HALF),
+    verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically
+  ) {
+    // icon and text aligned with the search bar's icon and text (same paddings and icon size)
+    val icon = if (name.startsWith("@")) MR.images.ic_at else MR.images.ic_tag
+    Icon(painterResource(icon), null, Modifier.padding(start = DEFAULT_PADDING, end = DEFAULT_PADDING_HALF).size(22.dp * fontSizeSqrtMultiplier), tint = MaterialTheme.colors.primary)
+    Text(String.format(generalGetString(MR.strings.connect_plan_connect_to_name), name), color = MaterialTheme.colors.primary)
+  }
+}
+
 @Composable
 private fun NoChatsView(searchText: MutableState<TextFieldValue>) {
   val activeFilter = remember { chatModel.activeChatTagFilter }.value
@@ -1324,14 +1442,14 @@ fun ItemPresetFilterAction(
 
 fun filteredChats(
   searchShowingSimplexLink: State<Boolean>,
-  searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink: State<String?>,
+  searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink: State<Set<String>>,
   searchText: String,
   chats: List<Chat>,
   activeFilter: ActiveFilter? = null,
 ): List<Chat> {
-  val linkChatId = searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink.value
-  return if (linkChatId != null) {
-    chats.filter { it.id == linkChatId }
+  val linkChatIds = searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink.value
+  return if (linkChatIds.isNotEmpty()) {
+    chats.filter { it.id in linkChatIds }
   } else {
     val s = if (searchShowingSimplexLink.value) "" else searchText.trim().lowercase()
     if (s.isEmpty())
diff --git a/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/views/chatlist/ShareListView.kt b/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/views/chatlist/ShareListView.kt
index 96af5337d0..4e58501b19 100644
--- a/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/views/chatlist/ShareListView.kt
+++ b/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/views/chatlist/ShareListView.kt
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ private fun ShareList(
   val chats by remember(search) {
     derivedStateOf {
       val sorted = chatModel.chats.value.toList().filter { it.chatInfo.ready && it.chatInfo.sendMsgEnabled && !(chatModel.sharedContent.value is SharedContent.ChatLink && it.chatInfo is ChatInfo.Local) }.sortedByDescending { it.chatInfo is ChatInfo.Local }
-      filteredChats(mutableStateOf(false), mutableStateOf(null), search, sorted)
+      filteredChats(mutableStateOf(false), mutableStateOf<Set<String>>(emptySet()), search, sorted)
     }
   }
   val topPaddingToContent = topPaddingToContent(false)
diff --git a/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/views/helpers/AlertManager.kt b/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/views/helpers/AlertManager.kt
index b4680a4259..f70e4d0048 100644
--- a/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/views/helpers/AlertManager.kt
+++ b/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/views/helpers/AlertManager.kt
@@ -291,10 +291,13 @@ class AlertManager {
     profileFullName: String,
     profileImage: @Composable () -> Unit,
     profileBadge: LocalBadge? = null,
+    nameCaption: String? = null,
     subtitle: String? = null,
     information: String? = null,
     confirmText: String? = generalGetString(MR.strings.connect_plan_open_chat),
     onConfirm: (() -> Unit)? = null,
+    connectOtherButton: String? = null,
+    onConnectOther: (() -> Unit)? = null,
     dismissText: String = generalGetString(MR.strings.cancel_verb),
     onDismiss: (() -> Unit)? = null,
   ) {
@@ -337,6 +340,17 @@ class AlertManager {
                   modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth()
                 )
 
+                if (nameCaption != null) {
+                  Spacer(Modifier.height(DEFAULT_PADDING_HALF))
+                  Text(
+                    nameCaption,
+                    textAlign = TextAlign.Center,
+                    style = MaterialTheme.typography.body2,
+                    color = MaterialTheme.colors.secondary,
+                    maxLines = 1,
+                    modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth()
+                  )
+                }
                 if (profileFullName.isNotEmpty() && profileFullName != profileName) {
                   Spacer(Modifier.height(DEFAULT_PADDING_HALF))
                   Text(
@@ -388,6 +402,14 @@ class AlertManager {
                     Text(confirmText)
                   }
                 }
+                if (connectOtherButton != null && onConnectOther != null) {
+                  TextButton(onClick = {
+                    onConnectOther.invoke()
+                    hideAlert()
+                  }) {
+                    Text(connectOtherButton)
+                  }
+                }
                 TextButton(onClick = {
                   onDismiss?.invoke()
                   hideAlert()
diff --git a/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/views/helpers/SearchTextField.kt b/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/views/helpers/SearchTextField.kt
index a122ddd885..cc6b1c40a4 100644
--- a/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/views/helpers/SearchTextField.kt
+++ b/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/views/helpers/SearchTextField.kt
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ fun SearchTextField(
   placeholder: String = stringResource(MR.strings.search_verb),
   enabled: Boolean = true,
   trailingContent: @Composable (() -> Unit)? = null,
-  reducedCloseButtonPadding: Dp = 0.dp,
+  reducedCloseButtonPadding: Dp = 8.dp,
   onValueChange: (String) -> Unit
 ) {
   val focusRequester = remember { FocusRequester() }
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ fun SearchTextField(
         trailingIcon = if (searchText.value.text.isNotEmpty() || trailingContent != null) {{
           Row(
             verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically,
-            modifier = Modifier.offset(x = 8.dp)
+            modifier = Modifier.offset(x = reducedCloseButtonPadding)
           ) {
             if (searchText.value.text.isNotEmpty()) {
               IconButton({
diff --git a/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/views/newchat/ConnectPlan.kt b/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/views/newchat/ConnectPlan.kt
index 3776a8d44d..161681c91d 100644
--- a/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/views/newchat/ConnectPlan.kt
+++ b/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/views/newchat/ConnectPlan.kt
@@ -74,13 +74,19 @@ private suspend fun planAndConnectTask(
     cleanup?.invoke()
     completable.complete(!completable.isActive)
   }
-  val result = chatModel.controller.apiConnectPlan(rhId, shortOrFullLink, linkOwnerSig, inProgress = inProgress)
+  val result = chatModel.controller.apiConnectPlan(rhId, shortOrFullLink, linkOwnerSig = linkOwnerSig, inProgress = inProgress)
   connectProgressManager.stopConnectProgress()
   if (!inProgress.value) { return completable }
   if (result != null) {
-    val (connectionLink, connectionPlan) = result
+    val (connectionLink, planSimplexName, otherSimplexName, connectionPlan) = result
     val target = strConnectTarget(shortOrFullLink.trim())
     val linkText = if (target is ConnectTarget.Link) "<br><br><u>${target.linkText}</u>" else ""
+    // the name can also resolve to the other kind; its type picks the verb, its short form the label and target
+    val connectOtherLink = otherSimplexName?.shortStr
+    val connectOtherButton = otherSimplexName?.let {
+      val label = if (it.nameType == SimplexNameType.publicGroup) MR.strings.connect_plan_join_name else MR.strings.connect_plan_connect_to_name
+      generalGetString(label).format(it.shortStr)
+    }
     when (connectionPlan) {
       is ConnectionPlan.InvitationLink -> when (connectionPlan.invitationLinkPlan) {
         is InvitationLinkPlan.Ok ->
@@ -154,7 +160,9 @@ private suspend fun planAndConnectTask(
               connectionLink,
               connectionPlan.contactAddressPlan.contactSLinkData_,
               ownerVerification = connectionPlan.contactAddressPlan.ownerVerification,
-              verifiedDomain = connectionPlan.contactAddressPlan.verifiedDomain,
+              planSimplexName = planSimplexName,
+              connectOtherButton = connectOtherButton,
+              connectOtherLink = connectOtherLink,
               close,
               cleanup
             )
@@ -167,6 +175,8 @@ private suspend fun planAndConnectTask(
               connectDestructive = false,
               cleanup,
               ownerVerification = connectionPlan.contactAddressPlan.ownerVerification,
+              connectOtherButton = connectOtherButton,
+              connectOtherLink = connectOtherLink,
             )
           }
         ContactAddressPlan.OwnLink -> {
@@ -177,6 +187,8 @@ private suspend fun planAndConnectTask(
             text = generalGetString(MR.strings.connect_plan_this_is_your_own_simplex_address) + linkText,
             connectDestructive = true,
             cleanup = cleanup,
+            connectOtherButton = connectOtherButton,
+            connectOtherLink = connectOtherLink,
           )
         }
         ContactAddressPlan.ConnectingConfirmReconnect -> {
@@ -187,6 +199,8 @@ private suspend fun planAndConnectTask(
             text = generalGetString(MR.strings.connect_plan_you_have_already_requested_connection_via_this_address) + linkText,
             connectDestructive = true,
             cleanup = cleanup,
+            connectOtherButton = connectOtherButton,
+            connectOtherLink = connectOtherLink,
           )
         }
         is ContactAddressPlan.ConnectingProhibit -> {
@@ -195,7 +209,7 @@ private suspend fun planAndConnectTask(
           if (filterKnownContact != null) {
             filterKnownContact(contact)
           } else {
-            showOpenKnownContactAlert(chatModel, rhId, close, contact)
+            showOpenKnownContactAlert(chatModel, rhId, close, contact, planSimplexName = planSimplexName, connectOtherButton = connectOtherButton, connectOtherLink = connectOtherLink)
             cleanup()
           }
         }
@@ -211,15 +225,24 @@ private suspend fun planAndConnectTask(
           if (filterKnownContact != null) {
             filterKnownContact(contact)
           } else {
-            showOpenKnownContactAlert(chatModel, rhId, close, contact)
+            showOpenKnownContactAlert(chatModel, rhId, close, contact, planSimplexName = planSimplexName, connectOtherButton = connectOtherButton, connectOtherLink = connectOtherLink)
             cleanup()
           }
         }
         is ContactAddressPlan.ContactViaAddress -> {
           Log.d(TAG, "planAndConnect, .ContactAddress, .ContactViaAddress")
           val contact = connectionPlan.contactAddressPlan.contact
-          askCurrentOrIncognitoProfileConnectContactViaAddress(chatModel, rhId, contact, close, openChat = false)
-          cleanup()
+          // the contact is already prepared in the store, so open the existing chat instead of sending a new
+          // connection request; surface it in the chat list first if it is not there yet (as for Known above)
+          if (chatModel.getContactChat(contact.contactId) == null) {
+            chatModel.chatsContext.addChat(Chat(remoteHostId = rhId, chatInfo = ChatInfo.Direct(contact), chatItems = emptyList()))
+          }
+          if (filterKnownContact != null) {
+            filterKnownContact(contact)
+          } else {
+            showOpenKnownContactAlert(chatModel, rhId, close, contact, planSimplexName = planSimplexName, connectOtherButton = connectOtherButton, connectOtherLink = connectOtherLink)
+            cleanup()
+          }
         }
       }
       is ConnectionPlan.GroupLink -> when (connectionPlan.groupLinkPlan) {
@@ -232,7 +255,9 @@ private suspend fun planAndConnectTask(
               connectionPlan.groupLinkPlan.groupSLinkInfo_,
               connectionPlan.groupLinkPlan.groupSLinkData_,
               ownerVerification = connectionPlan.groupLinkPlan.ownerVerification,
-              verifiedDomain = connectionPlan.groupLinkPlan.verifiedDomain,
+              planSimplexName = planSimplexName,
+              connectOtherButton = connectOtherButton,
+              connectOtherLink = connectOtherLink,
               close,
               cleanup
             )
@@ -245,6 +270,8 @@ private suspend fun planAndConnectTask(
               connectDestructive = false,
               cleanup = cleanup,
               ownerVerification = connectionPlan.groupLinkPlan.ownerVerification,
+              connectOtherButton = connectOtherButton,
+              connectOtherLink = connectOtherLink,
             )
           }
         is GroupLinkPlan.OwnLink -> {
@@ -253,7 +280,7 @@ private suspend fun planAndConnectTask(
           if (filterKnownGroup != null) {
             filterKnownGroup(groupInfo)
           } else {
-            ownGroupLinkConfirmConnect(chatModel, rhId, connectionLink, linkText, connectionPlan, groupInfo, close, cleanup)
+            ownGroupLinkConfirmConnect(chatModel, rhId, connectionLink, linkText, connectionPlan, groupInfo, close, cleanup, planSimplexName = planSimplexName, connectOtherButton = connectOtherButton, connectOtherLink = connectOtherLink)
           }
         }
         GroupLinkPlan.ConnectingConfirmReconnect -> {
@@ -264,6 +291,8 @@ private suspend fun planAndConnectTask(
             text = generalGetString(MR.strings.connect_plan_you_are_already_joining_the_group_via_this_link) + linkText,
             connectDestructive = true,
             cleanup = cleanup,
+            connectOtherButton = connectOtherButton,
+            connectOtherLink = connectOtherLink,
           )
         }
         is GroupLinkPlan.ConnectingProhibit -> {
@@ -301,7 +330,7 @@ private suspend fun planAndConnectTask(
           if (filterKnownGroup != null) {
             filterKnownGroup(groupInfo)
           } else {
-            showOpenKnownGroupAlert(chatModel, rhId, close, groupInfo)
+            showOpenKnownGroupAlert(chatModel, rhId, close, groupInfo, planSimplexName = planSimplexName, connectOtherButton = connectOtherButton, connectOtherLink = connectOtherLink)
             cleanup()
           }
         }
@@ -427,6 +456,8 @@ fun askCurrentOrIncognitoProfileAlert(
   connectDestructive: Boolean,
   cleanup: (() -> Unit)?,
   ownerVerification: OwnerVerification? = null,
+  connectOtherButton: String? = null,
+  connectOtherLink: String? = null,
 ) {
   val fullText = listOfNotNull(text, ownerVerificationMessage(ownerVerification)).joinToString("\n\n").ifEmpty { null }
   AlertManager.privacySensitive.showAlertDialogButtonsColumn(
@@ -451,6 +482,14 @@ fun askCurrentOrIncognitoProfileAlert(
         }) {
           Text(generalGetString(MR.strings.connect_use_new_incognito_profile), Modifier.fillMaxWidth(), textAlign = TextAlign.Center, color = connectColor)
         }
+        if (connectOtherButton != null && connectOtherLink != null) {
+          SectionItemView({
+            AlertManager.privacySensitive.hideAlert()
+            withBGApi { planAndConnect(rhId, connectOtherLink, close = close, cleanup = cleanup) }
+          }) {
+            Text(connectOtherButton, Modifier.fillMaxWidth(), textAlign = TextAlign.Center, color = MaterialTheme.colors.primary)
+          }
+        }
         SectionItemView({
           AlertManager.privacySensitive.hideAlert()
           cleanup?.invoke()
@@ -473,7 +512,11 @@ fun openChat_(chatModel: ChatModel, rhId: Long?, close: (() -> Unit)?, chat: Cha
 
 val alertProfileImageSize = 138.dp
 
-private fun showOpenKnownContactAlert(chatModel: ChatModel, rhId: Long?, close: (() -> Unit)?, contact: Contact) {
+// For alerts that show the name inline (not as a profile with an avatar): "Alice" -> "Alice (@alice.testing)".
+private fun nameWithDomain(name: String, planSimplexName: SimplexNameInfo?): String =
+  name + (planSimplexName?.let { " (${it.shortStr})" } ?: "")
+
+private fun showOpenKnownContactAlert(chatModel: ChatModel, rhId: Long?, close: (() -> Unit)?, contact: Contact, planSimplexName: SimplexNameInfo? = null, connectOtherButton: String? = null, connectOtherLink: String? = null) {
   AlertManager.privacySensitive.showOpenChatAlert(
     profileName = contact.profile.displayName,
     profileFullName = contact.profile.fullName,
@@ -486,10 +529,13 @@ private fun showOpenKnownContactAlert(chatModel: ChatModel, rhId: Long?, close:
     },
     // the alert shows the badge inline, so it skips the long-expired (ExpiredOld) badge here too
     profileBadge = if (contact.active && contact.profile.localBadge?.status != BadgeStatus.ExpiredOld) contact.profile.localBadge else null,
+    nameCaption = planSimplexName?.shortStr,
     confirmText = generalGetString(if (contact.nextConnectPrepared) MR.strings.connect_plan_open_new_chat else MR.strings.connect_plan_open_chat),
     onConfirm = {
       openKnownContact(chatModel, rhId, close, contact)
     },
+    connectOtherButton = connectOtherButton,
+    onConnectOther = connectOtherLink?.let { link -> { withBGApi { planAndConnect(rhId, link, close = close) } } },
     onDismiss = null
   )
 }
@@ -513,11 +559,14 @@ fun ownGroupLinkConfirmConnect(
   groupInfo: GroupInfo,
   close: (() -> Unit)?,
   cleanup: (() -> Unit)?,
+  planSimplexName: SimplexNameInfo? = null,
+  connectOtherButton: String? = null,
+  connectOtherLink: String? = null,
 ) {
   if (groupInfo.useRelays) {
     AlertManager.privacySensitive.showAlertDialogButtonsColumn(
       title = generalGetString(MR.strings.connect_plan_this_is_your_link_for_channel),
-      text = String.format(generalGetString(MR.strings.connect_plan_this_is_your_link_for_channel_vName), groupInfo.displayName),
+      text = String.format(generalGetString(MR.strings.connect_plan_this_is_your_link_for_channel_vName), nameWithDomain(groupInfo.displayName, planSimplexName)),
       buttons = {
         Column {
           SectionItemView({
@@ -527,6 +576,14 @@ fun ownGroupLinkConfirmConnect(
           }) {
             Text(generalGetString(MR.strings.connect_plan_open_channel), Modifier.fillMaxWidth(), textAlign = TextAlign.Center, color = MaterialTheme.colors.primary)
           }
+          if (connectOtherButton != null && connectOtherLink != null) {
+            SectionItemView({
+              AlertManager.privacySensitive.hideAlert()
+              withBGApi { planAndConnect(rhId, connectOtherLink, close = close, cleanup = cleanup) }
+            }) {
+              Text(connectOtherButton, Modifier.fillMaxWidth(), textAlign = TextAlign.Center, color = MaterialTheme.colors.primary)
+            }
+          }
           SectionItemView({
             AlertManager.privacySensitive.hideAlert()
             cleanup?.invoke()
@@ -585,7 +642,7 @@ fun ownGroupLinkConfirmConnect(
   }
 }
 
-private fun showOpenKnownGroupAlert(chatModel: ChatModel, rhId: Long?, close: (() -> Unit)?, groupInfo: GroupInfo) {
+private fun showOpenKnownGroupAlert(chatModel: ChatModel, rhId: Long?, close: (() -> Unit)?, groupInfo: GroupInfo, planSimplexName: SimplexNameInfo? = null, connectOtherButton: String? = null, connectOtherLink: String? = null) {
   val subscriberCount = if (groupInfo.useRelays) groupInfo.groupSummary.publicMemberCount?.let { subscriberCountStr(it) } else null
   AlertManager.privacySensitive.showOpenChatAlert(
     profileName = groupInfo.groupProfile.displayName,
@@ -597,6 +654,7 @@ private fun showOpenKnownGroupAlert(chatModel: ChatModel, rhId: Long?, close: ((
         icon = groupInfo.chatIconName
       )
     },
+    nameCaption = planSimplexName?.shortStr,
     subtitle = subscriberCount,
     confirmText = generalGetString(
       if (groupInfo.useRelays) {
@@ -610,6 +668,8 @@ private fun showOpenKnownGroupAlert(chatModel: ChatModel, rhId: Long?, close: ((
     onConfirm = {
       openKnownGroup(chatModel, rhId, close, groupInfo)
     },
+    connectOtherButton = connectOtherButton,
+    onConnectOther = connectOtherLink?.let { link -> { withBGApi { planAndConnect(rhId, link, close = close) } } },
     onDismiss = null
   )
 }
@@ -629,7 +689,9 @@ fun showPrepareContactAlert(
   connectionLink: CreatedConnLink,
   contactShortLinkData: ContactShortLinkData,
   ownerVerification: OwnerVerification? = null,
-  verifiedDomain: SimplexDomain? = null,
+  planSimplexName: SimplexNameInfo? = null,
+  connectOtherButton: String? = null,
+  connectOtherLink: String? = null,
   close: (() -> Unit)?,
   cleanup: (() -> Unit)?
 ) {
@@ -647,13 +709,14 @@ fun showPrepareContactAlert(
       )
     },
     profileBadge = if (contactShortLinkData.localBadge?.status == BadgeStatus.ExpiredOld) null else contactShortLinkData.localBadge,
+    nameCaption = planSimplexName?.shortStr,
     information = ownerVerificationMessage(ownerVerification),
     confirmText = generalGetString(MR.strings.connect_plan_open_new_chat),
     onConfirm = {
       AlertManager.privacySensitive.hideAlert()
       ModalManager.closeAllModalsEverywhere()
       withBGApi {
-        val chat = chatModel.controller.apiPrepareContact(rhId, connectionLink, contactShortLinkData, verifiedDomain)
+        val chat = chatModel.controller.apiPrepareContact(rhId, connectionLink, contactShortLinkData, planSimplexName?.nameDomain)
         if (chat != null) {
           withContext(Dispatchers.Main) {
             ChatController.chatModel.chatsContext.addChat(chat)
@@ -663,6 +726,8 @@ fun showPrepareContactAlert(
         cleanup?.invoke()
       }
     },
+    connectOtherButton = connectOtherButton,
+    onConnectOther = connectOtherLink?.let { link -> { withBGApi { planAndConnect(rhId, link, close = close, cleanup = cleanup) } } },
     onDismiss = {
       cleanup?.invoke()
     }
@@ -675,7 +740,9 @@ fun showPrepareGroupAlert(
   groupShortLinkInfo: GroupShortLinkInfo?,
   groupShortLinkData: GroupShortLinkData,
   ownerVerification: OwnerVerification? = null,
-  verifiedDomain: SimplexDomain? = null,
+  planSimplexName: SimplexNameInfo? = null,
+  connectOtherButton: String? = null,
+  connectOtherLink: String? = null,
   close: (() -> Unit)?,
   cleanup: (() -> Unit)?
 ) {
@@ -691,6 +758,7 @@ fun showPrepareGroupAlert(
         icon = if (isChannel) MR.images.ic_bigtop_updates_circle_filled else MR.images.ic_supervised_user_circle_filled
       )
     },
+    nameCaption = planSimplexName?.shortStr,
     subtitle = subscriberCount,
     information = ownerVerificationMessage(ownerVerification),
     confirmText = generalGetString(if (isChannel) MR.strings.connect_plan_open_new_channel else MR.strings.connect_plan_open_new_group),
@@ -698,7 +766,7 @@ fun showPrepareGroupAlert(
       AlertManager.privacySensitive.hideAlert()
       withBGApi {
         val directLink = groupShortLinkInfo?.direct ?: true
-        val chat = chatModel.controller.apiPrepareGroup(rhId, connectionLink, directLink = directLink, groupShortLinkData, verifiedDomain)
+        val chat = chatModel.controller.apiPrepareGroup(rhId, connectionLink, directLink = directLink, groupShortLinkData, planSimplexName?.nameDomain)
         if (chat != null) {
           withContext(Dispatchers.Main) {
             val relays = groupShortLinkInfo?.groupRelays
@@ -715,6 +783,8 @@ fun showPrepareGroupAlert(
         cleanup?.invoke()
       }
     },
+    connectOtherButton = connectOtherButton,
+    onConnectOther = connectOtherLink?.let { link -> { withBGApi { planAndConnect(rhId, link, close = close, cleanup = cleanup) } } },
     onDismiss = {
       cleanup?.invoke()
     }
diff --git a/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/views/newchat/NewChatSheet.kt b/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/views/newchat/NewChatSheet.kt
index 41df280a8b..2419b11c6c 100644
--- a/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/views/newchat/NewChatSheet.kt
+++ b/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/kotlin/chat/simplex/common/views/newchat/NewChatSheet.kt
@@ -136,7 +136,8 @@ private fun ModalData.NewChatSheetLayout(
   }
   val searchText = rememberSaveable(stateSaver = TextFieldValue.Saver) { mutableStateOf(TextFieldValue("")) }
   val searchShowingSimplexLink = remember { mutableStateOf(false) }
-  val searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink = remember { mutableStateOf<String?>(null) }
+  val searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink = remember { mutableStateOf<Set<String>>(emptySet()) }
+  val connectNameCandidate = remember { mutableStateOf<String?>(null) }
   val showUnreadAndFavorites = remember { ChatController.appPrefs.showUnreadAndFavorites.state }.value
   val baseContactTypes = remember { listOf(ContactType.CARD, ContactType.CONTACT_WITH_REQUEST, ContactType.REQUEST, ContactType.RECENT) }
   val contactTypes by remember(searchText.value.text.isEmpty()) {
@@ -313,8 +314,13 @@ private fun ModalData.NewChatSheetLayout(
               searchText = searchText,
               searchShowingSimplexLink = searchShowingSimplexLink,
               searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink = searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink,
+              connectNameCandidate = connectNameCandidate,
               close = close,
             )
+            connectNameCandidate.value?.let { candidate ->
+              Divider()
+              ConnectByNameRow(candidate, searchText, connectNameCandidate, close = close)
+            }
             Spacer(Modifier.windowInsetsBottomHeight(WindowInsets.ime))
           }
         }
@@ -399,8 +405,13 @@ private fun ModalData.NewChatSheetLayout(
             searchText = searchText,
             searchShowingSimplexLink = searchShowingSimplexLink,
             searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink = searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink,
+            connectNameCandidate = connectNameCandidate,
             close = close,
           )
+          connectNameCandidate.value?.let { candidate ->
+            Divider()
+            ConnectByNameRow(candidate, searchText, connectNameCandidate, close = close)
+          }
           Divider()
         }
       }
@@ -466,7 +477,8 @@ private fun ContactsSearchBar(
   listState: LazyListState,
   searchText: MutableState<TextFieldValue>,
   searchShowingSimplexLink: MutableState<Boolean>,
-  searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink: MutableState<String?>,
+  searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink: MutableState<Set<String>>,
+  connectNameCandidate: MutableState<String?>,
   close: () -> Unit,
 ) {
   var focused by remember { mutableStateOf(false) }
@@ -485,6 +497,8 @@ private fun ContactsSearchBar(
       alwaysVisible = true,
       searchText = searchText,
       trailingContent = null,
+      // the clear button must line up with the filter icon it replaces, so no reduction here
+      reducedCloseButtonPadding = 0.dp,
     ) {
       searchText.value = searchText.value.copy(it)
     }
@@ -523,34 +537,26 @@ private fun ContactsSearchBar(
       snapshotFlow { searchText.value.text }
         .distinctUntilChanged()
         .collect {
-          when (val target = strConnectTarget(it.trim())) {
-            is ConnectTarget.Link -> {
-              hideKeyboard(view)
-              searchText.value = searchText.value.copy(target.linkText, selection = TextRange.Zero)
-              searchShowingSimplexLink.value = true
-              searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink.value = null
-              connect(
-                link = target.text,
-                searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink = searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink,
-                close = close,
-                cleanup = { searchText.value = TextFieldValue() }
-              )
-            }
-            is ConnectTarget.Name -> {
-              // A name lookup means "take me to this contact": open the chat if
-              // it's already known (visible prompt), unlike a pasted link which
-              // filters the list. So no filterKnownContact here.
-              hideKeyboard(view)
-              withBGApi {
-                planAndConnect(
-                  chatModel.remoteHostId(),
-                  target.text,
-                  close = close,
-                  cleanup = { searchText.value = TextFieldValue() },
-                )
-              }
-            }
-            null -> if (!searchShowingSimplexLink.value || it.isEmpty()) {
+          val target = strConnectTarget(it.trim())
+          if (target is ConnectTarget.Link) {
+            hideKeyboard(view)
+            searchText.value = searchText.value.copy(target.linkText, selection = TextRange.Zero)
+            searchShowingSimplexLink.value = true
+            searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink.value = emptySet()
+            connectNameCandidate.value = null
+            connect(
+              link = target.text,
+              searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink = searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink,
+              close = close,
+              cleanup = { searchText.value = TextFieldValue() }
+            )
+          } else {
+            // A name is resolved only when its "Connect to …" row is tapped, not on every keystroke. The
+            // simplex-name filter is chat-list only: this contacts/deleted view is a scoped subset, so a
+            // resolved chat id (channel, business, unlisted or active-only contact) may not be present in it.
+            val candidate = nameSearchCandidate(it.trim())
+            connectNameCandidate.value = candidate
+            if (candidate == null && (!searchShowingSimplexLink.value || it.isEmpty())) {
               if (it.isNotEmpty()) {
                 focusRequester.requestFocus()
               } else {
@@ -560,7 +566,7 @@ private fun ContactsSearchBar(
                 }
               }
               searchShowingSimplexLink.value = false
-              searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink.value = null
+              searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink.value = emptySet()
             }
           }
         }
@@ -587,12 +593,12 @@ private fun ToggleFilterButton() {
   }
 }
 
-private fun connect(link: String, searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink: MutableState<String?>, close: () -> Unit, cleanup: (() -> Unit)?) {
+private fun connect(link: String, searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink: MutableState<Set<String>>, close: () -> Unit, cleanup: (() -> Unit)?) {
   withBGApi {
     planAndConnect(
       chatModel.remoteHostId(),
       link,
-      filterKnownContact = { searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink.value = it.id },
+      filterKnownContact = { searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink.value = setOf(it.id) },
       close = close,
       cleanup = cleanup,
     )
@@ -602,15 +608,15 @@ private fun connect(link: String, searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink: MutableState<
 private fun filteredContactChats(
   showUnreadAndFavorites: Boolean,
   searchShowingSimplexLink: State<Boolean>,
-  searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink: State<String?>,
+  searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink: State<Set<String>>,
   searchText: String,
   contactChats: List<Chat>
 ): List<Chat> {
-  val linkChatId = searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink.value
+  val linkChatIds = searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink.value
   val s = if (searchShowingSimplexLink.value) "" else searchText.trim().lowercase()
 
-  return if (linkChatId != null) {
-    contactChats.filter { it.id == linkChatId }
+  return if (linkChatIds.isNotEmpty()) {
+    contactChats.filter { it.id in linkChatIds }
   } else {
     contactChats.filter { chat ->
       filterChat(
@@ -666,7 +672,9 @@ private fun ModalData.DeletedContactsView(rh: RemoteHostInfo?, closeDeletedChats
     val listState = remember { appBarHandler.listState }
     val searchText = rememberSaveable(stateSaver = TextFieldValue.Saver) { mutableStateOf(TextFieldValue("")) }
     val searchShowingSimplexLink = remember { mutableStateOf(false) }
-    val searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink = remember { mutableStateOf<String?>(null) }
+    val searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink = remember { mutableStateOf<Set<String>>(emptySet()) }
+    // deleted contacts are not connected to by name, so this candidate only stops per-keystroke resolution
+    val connectNameCandidate = remember { mutableStateOf<String?>(null) }
     val showUnreadAndFavorites = remember { appPrefs.showUnreadAndFavorites.state }.value
     val allChats by remember(chatModel.chats.value) {
       derivedStateOf { filterContactTypes(chatModel.chats.value, listOf(ContactType.CHAT_DELETED)) }
@@ -709,6 +717,7 @@ private fun ModalData.DeletedContactsView(rh: RemoteHostInfo?, closeDeletedChats
               searchText = searchText,
               searchShowingSimplexLink = searchShowingSimplexLink,
               searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink = searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink,
+              connectNameCandidate = connectNameCandidate,
               close = close,
             )
           } else {
@@ -718,6 +727,7 @@ private fun ModalData.DeletedContactsView(rh: RemoteHostInfo?, closeDeletedChats
                 searchText = searchText,
                 searchShowingSimplexLink = searchShowingSimplexLink,
                 searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink = searchChatFilteredBySimplexLink,
+                connectNameCandidate = connectNameCandidate,
                 close = close,
               )
               Spacer(Modifier.windowInsetsBottomHeight(WindowInsets.ime))
diff --git a/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/resources/MR/base/strings.xml b/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/resources/MR/base/strings.xml
index 96c7226c36..6befeecb3b 100644
--- a/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/resources/MR/base/strings.xml
+++ b/apps/multiplatform/common/src/commonMain/resources/MR/base/strings.xml
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
   <string name="connect_via_link_verb">Connect</string>
   <string name="connect_via_link_incognito">Connect incognito</string>
   <string name="connect_plan_open_chat">Open chat</string>
+  <string name="connect_plan_join_name">Join channel %s</string>
+  <string name="connect_plan_connect_to_name">Connect to %s</string>
   <string name="connect_plan_open_new_chat">Open new chat</string>
   <string name="connect_plan_open_group">Open group</string>
   <string name="connect_plan_open_new_group">Open new group</string>
diff --git a/apps/simplex-directory-service/src/Directory/Service.hs b/apps/simplex-directory-service/src/Directory/Service.hs
index d1467d48fd..318fc210ee 100644
--- a/apps/simplex-directory-service/src/Directory/Service.hs
+++ b/apps/simplex-directory-service/src/Directory/Service.hs
@@ -560,8 +560,8 @@ directoryServiceEvent st opts@DirectoryOpts {adminUsers, superUsers, serviceName
                     <> ".\nIt is hidden from the directory until approved."
                 notifyAdminUsers $ "The " <> gt <> " " <> groupRef <> " is updated" <> byMember <> "."
                 sendToApprove g' gr' n'
-          sendChatCmd cc (APIConnectPlan userId (Just (aConnectTarget link)) True Nothing) >>= \case
-            Right (CRConnectionPlan _ _ (CPGroupLink (GLPKnown {groupInfo = g'}))) ->
+          sendChatCmd cc (APIConnectPlan userId (Just (aConnectTarget link)) PRMAllGroups Nothing) >>= \case
+            Right (CRConnectionPlan _ _ _ _ (CPGroupLink (GLPKnown {groupInfo = g'}))) ->
               case dbOwnerMemberId gr of
                 Just ownerGMId ->
                   withDB "getGroupMember" cc (\db -> withExceptT show $ getGroupMember db (storeCxt cc) user groupId ownerGMId) >>= \case
@@ -818,11 +818,11 @@ directoryServiceEvent st opts@DirectoryOpts {adminUsers, superUsers, serviceName
         forM_ pg_ $ \pg@PublicGroupProfile {groupLink} ->
           when (groupRegStatus == GRSActive || pendingApproval groupRegStatus) $ do
             let link = ACL SCMContact $ CLShort groupLink
-            sendChatCmd cc (APIConnectPlan userId (Just (aConnectTarget link)) True Nothing) >>= \case
-              Right (CRConnectionPlan _ _ (CPGroupLink (GLPKnown {groupInfo = g', groupUpdated = BoolDef updated, linkOwners = ListDef owners}))) ->
+            sendChatCmd cc (APIConnectPlan userId (Just (aConnectTarget link)) PRMAllGroups Nothing) >>= \case
+              Right (CRConnectionPlan _ _ _ _ (CPGroupLink (GLPKnown {groupInfo = g', groupUpdated, linkOwners = ListDef owners}))) ->
                 checkValidOwner dbOwnerMemberId owners $ do
-                  when updated $ reapprove pg gr groupRegStatus g'
-                  when (updated || summary /= groupSummary g') $ listingsUpdated env
+                  when groupUpdated $ reapprove pg gr groupRegStatus g'
+                  when (groupUpdated || summary /= groupSummary g') $ listingsUpdated env
               Left (ChatErrorAgent {agentError = SMP _ err}) | linkDeleted err ->
                 setGroupStatus logError st env cc groupId GRSRemoved $ \gr' ->
                   notifyOwner gr' "The channel link is no longer valid.\nThe channel is removed from the directory."
@@ -954,8 +954,8 @@ directoryServiceEvent st opts@DirectoryOpts {adminUsers, superUsers, serviceName
           let link = ACL SCMContact $ CLShort connLink
               mId = MemberId oIdBytes
               gt' = groupTypeStr gt
-          sendChatCmd cc (APIConnectPlan userId (Just (aConnectTarget link)) True (Just ownerSig)) >>= \case
-            Right (CRConnectionPlan _ (ACCL SCMContact ccLink) plan) ->
+          sendChatCmd cc (APIConnectPlan userId (Just (aConnectTarget link)) PRMAllGroups (Just ownerSig)) >>= \case
+            Right (CRConnectionPlan _ (ACCL SCMContact ccLink) _ _ plan) ->
               handleGroupLinkPlan ct ccLink mId ownerSig gt' plan
             _ -> sendMessage cc ct "Error: could not connect. Please report it to directory admins."
     deChatLinkReceived ct (MCLGroup {groupProfile = GroupProfile {publicGroup = Just pg}}) _ =
@@ -984,8 +984,8 @@ directoryServiceEvent st opts@DirectoryOpts {adminUsers, superUsers, serviceName
           (_, Just (OVFailed reason)) -> sendMessage cc ct $ "Link signature verification failed: " <> reason <> ".\nYou must be the " <> gt <> " owner to register it."
           (Nothing, _) -> sendMessage cc ct $ "Error: no " <> gt <> " information available via the link."
           _ -> sendMessage cc ct $ "Error: could not verify " <> gt <> " ownership. Please report it to directory admins."
-        GLPKnown {groupInfo = g, groupUpdated = BoolDef updated, ownerVerification} -> case ownerVerification of
-          Just OVVerified -> deReregistration ct g updated ownerSig
+        GLPKnown {groupInfo = g, groupUpdated, ownerVerification} -> case ownerVerification of
+          Just OVVerified -> deReregistration ct g groupUpdated ownerSig
           Just (OVFailed reason) -> sendMessage cc ct $ "Link signature verification failed: " <> reason <> ".\nYou must be the " <> gt <> " owner to register it."
           Nothing -> sendMessage cc ct $ "Error: could not verify " <> gt <> " ownership."
         GLPConnectingProhibit _ -> sendMessage cc ct $ "Already connecting to this " <> gt <> "."
diff --git a/bots/api/COMMANDS.md b/bots/api/COMMANDS.md
index 8dc57dbfc7..28ece08908 100644
--- a/bots/api/COMMANDS.md
+++ b/bots/api/COMMANDS.md
@@ -1370,7 +1370,7 @@ Determine SimpleX link type and if the bot is already connected via this link or
 **Parameters**:
 - userId: int64
 - connectTarget: string?
-- resolveKnown: bool
+- resolveMode: [PlanResolveMode](./TYPES.md#planresolvemode)
 - linkOwnerSig: [LinkOwnerSig](./TYPES.md#linkownersig)?
 
 **Syntax**:
@@ -1393,6 +1393,8 @@ ConnectionPlan: Connection link information.
 - type: "connectionPlan"
 - user: [User](./TYPES.md#user)
 - connLink: [CreatedConnLink](./TYPES.md#createdconnlink)
+- planSimplexName: [SimplexNameInfo](./TYPES.md#simplexnameinfo)?
+- otherSimplexName: [SimplexNameInfo](./TYPES.md#simplexnameinfo)?
 - connectionPlan: [ConnectionPlan](./TYPES.md#connectionplan)
 
 ChatCmdError: Command error (only used in WebSockets API).
diff --git a/bots/api/TYPES.md b/bots/api/TYPES.md
index d9dfa45961..ce5c834001 100644
--- a/bots/api/TYPES.md
+++ b/bots/api/TYPES.md
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@ This file is generated automatically.
 - [OwnerVerification](#ownerverification)
 - [PaginationByTime](#paginationbytime)
 - [PendingContactConnection](#pendingcontactconnection)
+- [PlanResolveMode](#planresolvemode)
 - [PrefEnabled](#prefenabled)
 - [Preferences](#preferences)
 - [PreparedContact](#preparedcontact)
@@ -1116,6 +1117,9 @@ SimplexDomainNotReady:
 - simplexDomain: [SimplexDomain](#simplexdomain)
 - simplexDomainError: [SimplexDomainError](#simplexdomainerror)
 
+NotResolvedLocally:
+- type: "notResolvedLocally"
+
 UnsupportedConnReq:
 - type: "unsupportedConnReq"
 
@@ -1796,7 +1800,6 @@ Ok:
 - type: "ok"
 - contactSLinkData_: [ContactShortLinkData](#contactshortlinkdata)?
 - ownerVerification: [OwnerVerification](#ownerverification)?
-- verifiedDomain: [SimplexDomain](#simplexdomain)?
 
 OwnLink:
 - type: "ownLink"
@@ -2393,7 +2396,6 @@ Ok:
 - groupSLinkInfo_: [GroupShortLinkInfo](#groupshortlinkinfo)?
 - groupSLinkData_: [GroupShortLinkData](#groupshortlinkdata)?
 - ownerVerification: [OwnerVerification](#ownerverification)?
-- verifiedDomain: [SimplexDomain](#simplexdomain)?
 
 OwnLink:
 - type: "ownLink"
@@ -3076,6 +3078,16 @@ count=<count>
 - updatedAt: UTCTime
 
 
+---
+
+## PlanResolveMode
+
+**Enum type**:
+- "allGroups"
+- "unknown"
+- "never"
+
+
 ---
 
 ## PrefEnabled
diff --git a/bots/src/API/Docs/Types.hs b/bots/src/API/Docs/Types.hs
index b28c71d8fd..35ea9fe261 100644
--- a/bots/src/API/Docs/Types.hs
+++ b/bots/src/API/Docs/Types.hs
@@ -328,6 +328,7 @@ chatTypesDocsData =
     (sti @NoteFolder, STRecord, "", [], "", ""),
     (sti @OwnerVerification, STUnion, "OV", [], "", ""),
     (sti @PendingContactConnection, STRecord, "", [], "", ""),
+    (sti @PlanResolveMode, STEnum, "PRM", [], "", ""),
     (sti @PrefEnabled, STRecord, "", [], "", ""),
     (sti @Preferences, STRecord, "", [], "", ""),
     (sti @PreparedContact, STRecord, "", [], "", ""),
@@ -559,6 +560,7 @@ deriving instance Generic NewUser
 deriving instance Generic NoteFolder
 deriving instance Generic OwnerVerification
 deriving instance Generic PendingContactConnection
+deriving instance Generic PlanResolveMode
 deriving instance Generic PrefEnabled
 deriving instance Generic Preferences
 deriving instance Generic PreparedContact
diff --git a/packages/simplex-chat-client/types/typescript/src/commands.ts b/packages/simplex-chat-client/types/typescript/src/commands.ts
index 606b09845d..31d6597b3f 100644
--- a/packages/simplex-chat-client/types/typescript/src/commands.ts
+++ b/packages/simplex-chat-client/types/typescript/src/commands.ts
@@ -500,7 +500,7 @@ export namespace APIAddContact {
 export interface APIConnectPlan {
   userId: number // int64
   connectTarget?: string
-  resolveKnown: boolean
+  resolveMode: T.PlanResolveMode
   linkOwnerSig?: T.LinkOwnerSig
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/simplex-chat-client/types/typescript/src/responses.ts b/packages/simplex-chat-client/types/typescript/src/responses.ts
index 0fcf0e6eca..f54acfbeb1 100644
--- a/packages/simplex-chat-client/types/typescript/src/responses.ts
+++ b/packages/simplex-chat-client/types/typescript/src/responses.ts
@@ -186,6 +186,8 @@ export namespace CR {
     type: "connectionPlan"
     user: T.User
     connLink: T.CreatedConnLink
+    planSimplexName?: T.SimplexNameInfo
+    otherSimplexName?: T.SimplexNameInfo
     connectionPlan: T.ConnectionPlan
   }
 
diff --git a/packages/simplex-chat-client/types/typescript/src/types.ts b/packages/simplex-chat-client/types/typescript/src/types.ts
index 8bd9e7797e..dcd9a5581f 100644
--- a/packages/simplex-chat-client/types/typescript/src/types.ts
+++ b/packages/simplex-chat-client/types/typescript/src/types.ts
@@ -1043,6 +1043,7 @@ export type ChatErrorType =
   | ChatErrorType.ChatStoreChanged
   | ChatErrorType.InvalidConnReq
   | ChatErrorType.SimplexDomainNotReady
+  | ChatErrorType.NotResolvedLocally
   | ChatErrorType.UnsupportedConnReq
   | ChatErrorType.ConnReqMessageProhibited
   | ChatErrorType.ContactNotReady
@@ -1121,6 +1122,7 @@ export namespace ChatErrorType {
     | "chatStoreChanged"
     | "invalidConnReq"
     | "simplexDomainNotReady"
+    | "notResolvedLocally"
     | "unsupportedConnReq"
     | "connReqMessageProhibited"
     | "contactNotReady"
@@ -1281,6 +1283,10 @@ export namespace ChatErrorType {
     simplexDomainError: SimplexDomainError
   }
 
+  export interface NotResolvedLocally extends Interface {
+    type: "notResolvedLocally"
+  }
+
   export interface UnsupportedConnReq extends Interface {
     type: "unsupportedConnReq"
   }
@@ -2049,7 +2055,6 @@ export namespace ContactAddressPlan {
     type: "ok"
     contactSLinkData_?: ContactShortLinkData
     ownerVerification?: OwnerVerification
-    verifiedDomain?: SimplexDomain
   }
 
   export interface OwnLink extends Interface {
@@ -2681,7 +2686,6 @@ export namespace GroupLinkPlan {
     groupSLinkInfo_?: GroupShortLinkInfo
     groupSLinkData_?: GroupShortLinkData
     ownerVerification?: OwnerVerification
-    verifiedDomain?: SimplexDomain
   }
 
   export interface OwnLink extends Interface {
@@ -3344,6 +3348,12 @@ export interface PendingContactConnection {
   updatedAt: string // ISO-8601 timestamp
 }
 
+export enum PlanResolveMode {
+  AllGroups = "allGroups",
+  Unknown = "unknown",
+  Never = "never",
+}
+
 export interface PrefEnabled {
   forUser: boolean
   forContact: boolean
diff --git a/packages/simplex-chat-python/src/simplex_chat/types/_commands.py b/packages/simplex-chat-python/src/simplex_chat/types/_commands.py
index 90f9801b42..9fb1a6c916 100644
--- a/packages/simplex-chat-python/src/simplex_chat/types/_commands.py
+++ b/packages/simplex-chat-python/src/simplex_chat/types/_commands.py
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ APIAddContact_Response = CR.Invitation | CR.ChatCmdError
 class APIConnectPlan(TypedDict):
     userId: int  # int64
     connectTarget: NotRequired[str]
-    resolveKnown: bool
+    resolveMode: "T.PlanResolveMode"
     linkOwnerSig: NotRequired["T.LinkOwnerSig"]
 
 
diff --git a/packages/simplex-chat-python/src/simplex_chat/types/_responses.py b/packages/simplex-chat-python/src/simplex_chat/types/_responses.py
index e85de02c78..bd61e6dae1 100644
--- a/packages/simplex-chat-python/src/simplex_chat/types/_responses.py
+++ b/packages/simplex-chat-python/src/simplex_chat/types/_responses.py
@@ -57,6 +57,8 @@ class ConnectionPlan(TypedDict):
     type: Literal["connectionPlan"]
     user: "T.User"
     connLink: "T.CreatedConnLink"
+    planSimplexName: NotRequired["T.SimplexNameInfo"]
+    otherSimplexName: NotRequired["T.SimplexNameInfo"]
     connectionPlan: "T.ConnectionPlan"
 
 class ContactAlreadyExists(TypedDict):
diff --git a/packages/simplex-chat-python/src/simplex_chat/types/_types.py b/packages/simplex-chat-python/src/simplex_chat/types/_types.py
index 4003260ad6..0856aaf772 100644
--- a/packages/simplex-chat-python/src/simplex_chat/types/_types.py
+++ b/packages/simplex-chat-python/src/simplex_chat/types/_types.py
@@ -793,6 +793,9 @@ class ChatErrorType_simplexDomainNotReady(TypedDict):
     simplexDomain: "SimplexDomain"
     simplexDomainError: "SimplexDomainError"
 
+class ChatErrorType_notResolvedLocally(TypedDict):
+    type: Literal["notResolvedLocally"]
+
 class ChatErrorType_unsupportedConnReq(TypedDict):
     type: Literal["unsupportedConnReq"]
 
@@ -1024,6 +1027,7 @@ ChatErrorType = (
     | ChatErrorType_chatStoreChanged
     | ChatErrorType_invalidConnReq
     | ChatErrorType_simplexDomainNotReady
+    | ChatErrorType_notResolvedLocally
     | ChatErrorType_unsupportedConnReq
     | ChatErrorType_connReqMessageProhibited
     | ChatErrorType_contactNotReady
@@ -1080,7 +1084,7 @@ ChatErrorType = (
     | ChatErrorType_exception
 )
 
-ChatErrorType_Tag = Literal["noActiveUser", "noConnectionUser", "noSndFileUser", "noRcvFileUser", "userUnknown", "userExists", "chatRelayExists", "differentActiveUser", "cantDeleteActiveUser", "cantDeleteLastUser", "cantHideLastUser", "hiddenUserAlwaysMuted", "emptyUserPassword", "userAlreadyHidden", "userNotHidden", "invalidDisplayName", "chatNotStarted", "chatNotStopped", "chatStoreChanged", "invalidConnReq", "simplexDomainNotReady", "unsupportedConnReq", "connReqMessageProhibited", "contactNotReady", "contactNotActive", "contactDisabled", "connectionDisabled", "groupUserRole", "groupMemberInitialRole", "contactIncognitoCantInvite", "groupIncognitoCantInvite", "groupContactRole", "groupDuplicateMember", "groupDuplicateMemberId", "groupNotJoined", "groupMemberNotActive", "cantBlockMemberForSelf", "groupMemberUserRemoved", "groupMemberNotFound", "groupCantResendInvitation", "groupInternal", "fileNotFound", "fileSize", "fileAlreadyReceiving", "fileCancelled", "fileCancel", "fileAlreadyExists", "fileWrite", "fileSend", "fileRcvChunk", "fileInternal", "fileImageType", "fileImageSize", "fileNotReceived", "fileNotApproved", "fallbackToSMPProhibited", "inlineFileProhibited", "invalidForward", "invalidChatItemUpdate", "invalidChatItemDelete", "hasCurrentCall", "noCurrentCall", "callContact", "directMessagesProhibited", "agentVersion", "agentNoSubResult", "commandError", "agentCommandError", "invalidFileDescription", "connectionIncognitoChangeProhibited", "connectionUserChangeProhibited", "peerChatVRangeIncompatible", "relayTestError", "internalError", "exception"]
+ChatErrorType_Tag = Literal["noActiveUser", "noConnectionUser", "noSndFileUser", "noRcvFileUser", "userUnknown", "userExists", "chatRelayExists", "differentActiveUser", "cantDeleteActiveUser", "cantDeleteLastUser", "cantHideLastUser", "hiddenUserAlwaysMuted", "emptyUserPassword", "userAlreadyHidden", "userNotHidden", "invalidDisplayName", "chatNotStarted", "chatNotStopped", "chatStoreChanged", "invalidConnReq", "simplexDomainNotReady", "notResolvedLocally", "unsupportedConnReq", "connReqMessageProhibited", "contactNotReady", "contactNotActive", "contactDisabled", "connectionDisabled", "groupUserRole", "groupMemberInitialRole", "contactIncognitoCantInvite", "groupIncognitoCantInvite", "groupContactRole", "groupDuplicateMember", "groupDuplicateMemberId", "groupNotJoined", "groupMemberNotActive", "cantBlockMemberForSelf", "groupMemberUserRemoved", "groupMemberNotFound", "groupCantResendInvitation", "groupInternal", "fileNotFound", "fileSize", "fileAlreadyReceiving", "fileCancelled", "fileCancel", "fileAlreadyExists", "fileWrite", "fileSend", "fileRcvChunk", "fileInternal", "fileImageType", "fileImageSize", "fileNotReceived", "fileNotApproved", "fallbackToSMPProhibited", "inlineFileProhibited", "invalidForward", "invalidChatItemUpdate", "invalidChatItemDelete", "hasCurrentCall", "noCurrentCall", "callContact", "directMessagesProhibited", "agentVersion", "agentNoSubResult", "commandError", "agentCommandError", "invalidFileDescription", "connectionIncognitoChangeProhibited", "connectionUserChangeProhibited", "peerChatVRangeIncompatible", "relayTestError", "internalError", "exception"]
 
 ChatFeature = Literal["timedMessages", "fullDelete", "reactions", "voice", "files", "calls", "sessions"]
 
@@ -1428,7 +1432,6 @@ class ContactAddressPlan_ok(TypedDict):
     type: Literal["ok"]
     contactSLinkData_: NotRequired["ContactShortLinkData"]
     ownerVerification: NotRequired["OwnerVerification"]
-    verifiedDomain: NotRequired["SimplexDomain"]
 
 class ContactAddressPlan_ownLink(TypedDict):
     type: Literal["ownLink"]
@@ -1868,7 +1871,6 @@ class GroupLinkPlan_ok(TypedDict):
     groupSLinkInfo_: NotRequired["GroupShortLinkInfo"]
     groupSLinkData_: NotRequired["GroupShortLinkData"]
     ownerVerification: NotRequired["OwnerVerification"]
-    verifiedDomain: NotRequired["SimplexDomain"]
 
 class GroupLinkPlan_ownLink(TypedDict):
     type: Literal["ownLink"]
@@ -2338,6 +2340,8 @@ class PendingContactConnection(TypedDict):
     createdAt: str  # ISO-8601 timestamp
     updatedAt: str  # ISO-8601 timestamp
 
+PlanResolveMode = Literal["allGroups", "unknown", "never"]
+
 class PrefEnabled(TypedDict):
     forUser: bool
     forContact: bool
diff --git a/src/Simplex/Chat/Controller.hs b/src/Simplex/Chat/Controller.hs
index 50b862758b..48f4ec9eec 100644
--- a/src/Simplex/Chat/Controller.hs
+++ b/src/Simplex/Chat/Controller.hs
@@ -529,7 +529,7 @@ data ChatCommand
   | AddContact IncognitoEnabled
   | APISetConnectionIncognito Int64 IncognitoEnabled
   | APIChangeConnectionUser Int64 UserId -- new user id to switch connection to
-  | APIConnectPlan {userId :: UserId, connectTarget :: Maybe AConnectTarget, resolveKnown :: Bool, linkOwnerSig :: Maybe LinkOwnerSig} -- Maybe AConnectTarget is used to report parsing failure as special error
+  | APIConnectPlan {userId :: UserId, connectTarget :: Maybe AConnectTarget, resolveMode :: PlanResolveMode, linkOwnerSig :: Maybe LinkOwnerSig} -- Maybe AConnectTarget is used to report parsing failure as special error
   | APIPrepareContact UserId ACreatedConnLink (Maybe SimplexDomain) ContactShortLinkData
   | APIPrepareGroup UserId CreatedLinkContact DirectLink (Maybe SimplexDomain) GroupShortLinkData
   | APIChangePreparedContactUser ContactId UserId
@@ -670,6 +670,22 @@ data ChatCommand
     CustomChatCommand ByteString
   deriving (Show)
 
+data PlanResolveMode
+  = PRMAllGroups -- resolve all known groups and all unknown chats
+  | PRMUnknown -- only resolve if chat is unknown (default)
+  | PRMNever -- do not resolve links and names, only do local search
+  deriving (Eq, Show)
+
+planResolveModeP :: A.Parser PlanResolveMode
+planResolveModeP =
+  A.takeTill (== ' ') >>= \case
+    "allGroups" -> pure PRMAllGroups
+    "on" -> pure PRMAllGroups
+    "unknown" -> pure PRMUnknown
+    "off" -> pure PRMUnknown
+    "never" -> pure PRMNever
+    _ -> fail "bad PlanResolveMode"
+
 allowRemoteCommand :: ChatCommand -> Bool -- XXX: consider using Relay/Block/ForceLocal
 allowRemoteCommand = \case
   StartChat {} -> False
@@ -820,7 +836,7 @@ data ChatResponse
   | CRInvitation {user :: User, connLinkInvitation :: CreatedLinkInvitation, connection :: PendingContactConnection}
   | CRConnectionIncognitoUpdated {user :: User, toConnection :: PendingContactConnection, customUserProfile :: Maybe Profile}
   | CRConnectionUserChanged {user :: User, fromConnection :: PendingContactConnection, toConnection :: PendingContactConnection, newUser :: User}
-  | CRConnectionPlan {user :: User, connLink :: ACreatedConnLink, connectionPlan :: ConnectionPlan}
+  | CRConnectionPlan {user :: User, connLink :: ACreatedConnLink, planSimplexName :: Maybe SimplexNameInfo, otherSimplexName :: Maybe SimplexNameInfo, connectionPlan :: ConnectionPlan}
   | CRNewPreparedChat {user :: User, chat :: AChat}
   | CRContactUserChanged {user :: User, fromContact :: Contact, newUser :: User, toContact :: Contact}
   | CRGroupUserChanged {user :: User, fromGroup :: GroupInfo, newUser :: User, toGroup :: GroupInfo}
@@ -1096,7 +1112,7 @@ data InvitationLinkPlan
   deriving (Show)
 
 data ContactAddressPlan
-  = CAPOk {contactSLinkData_ :: Maybe ContactShortLinkData, ownerVerification :: Maybe OwnerVerification, verifiedDomain :: Maybe SimplexDomain}
+  = CAPOk {contactSLinkData_ :: Maybe ContactShortLinkData, ownerVerification :: Maybe OwnerVerification}
   | CAPOwnLink
   | CAPConnectingConfirmReconnect
   | CAPConnectingProhibit {contact :: Contact}
@@ -1105,11 +1121,11 @@ data ContactAddressPlan
   deriving (Show)
 
 data GroupLinkPlan
-  = GLPOk {groupSLinkInfo_ :: Maybe GroupShortLinkInfo, groupSLinkData_ :: Maybe GroupShortLinkData, ownerVerification :: Maybe OwnerVerification, verifiedDomain :: Maybe SimplexDomain}
+  = GLPOk {groupSLinkInfo_ :: Maybe GroupShortLinkInfo, groupSLinkData_ :: Maybe GroupShortLinkData, ownerVerification :: Maybe OwnerVerification}
   | GLPOwnLink {groupInfo :: GroupInfo}
   | GLPConnectingConfirmReconnect
   | GLPConnectingProhibit {groupInfo_ :: Maybe GroupInfo}
-  | GLPKnown {groupInfo :: GroupInfo, groupUpdated :: BoolDef, ownerVerification :: Maybe OwnerVerification, linkOwners :: ListDef GroupLinkOwner}
+  | GLPKnown {groupInfo :: GroupInfo, groupUpdated :: Bool, ownerVerification :: Maybe OwnerVerification, linkOwners :: ListDef GroupLinkOwner}
   | GLPNoRelays {groupSLinkData_ :: Maybe GroupShortLinkData}
   | GLPUpdateRequired {groupSLinkData_ :: Maybe GroupShortLinkData}
   deriving (Show)
@@ -1433,6 +1449,7 @@ data ChatErrorType
   | CEChatStoreChanged
   | CEInvalidConnReq
   | CESimplexDomainNotReady {simplexDomain :: SimplexDomain, simplexDomainError :: SimplexDomainError}
+  | CENotResolvedLocally -- a name or link is not a known chat in the local store and online resolution is off (PRMNever)
   | CEUnsupportedConnReq
   | CEInvalidChatMessage {connection :: Connection, msgMeta :: Maybe MsgMetaJSON, messageData :: Text, message :: String}
   | CEConnReqMessageProhibited
diff --git a/src/Simplex/Chat/Library/Commands.hs b/src/Simplex/Chat/Library/Commands.hs
index 772e10dfb0..837317176f 100644
--- a/src/Simplex/Chat/Library/Commands.hs
+++ b/src/Simplex/Chat/Library/Commands.hs
@@ -2058,8 +2058,9 @@ processChatCommand cxt nm = \case
           createDirectConnection db newUser agConnId ccLink' Nothing ConnNew Nothing subMode initialChatVersion PQSupportOn
         deleteAgentConnectionAsync (aConnId' conn)
         pure conn'
-  APIConnectPlan userId (Just ct) resolveKnown linkOwnerSig_ -> withUserId userId $ \user ->
-    uncurry (CRConnectionPlan user) <$> connectPlan user ct resolveKnown linkOwnerSig_
+  APIConnectPlan userId (Just ct) resolveMode linkOwnerSig_ -> withUserId userId $ \user -> do
+    (ccLink, planSimplexName, otherSimplexName, plan) <- connectPlan user ct resolveMode linkOwnerSig_ Nothing
+    pure $ CRConnectionPlan user ccLink planSimplexName otherSimplexName plan
   APIConnectPlan _ Nothing _ _ -> throwChatError CEInvalidConnReq
   APIPrepareContact userId accLink verifiedDomain contactSLinkData -> withUserId userId $ \user -> do
     let ContactShortLinkData {profile, message, business} = contactSLinkData
@@ -2283,12 +2284,12 @@ processChatCommand cxt nm = \case
         CVRSentInvitation conn incognitoProfile -> pure $ CRSentInvitation user (mkPendingContactConnection conn Nothing) incognitoProfile
   APIConnect _ _ Nothing -> throwChatError CEInvalidConnReq
   Connect incognito (Just ct) -> withUser $ \user -> do
-    let con m cReq = pure (ACCL m (CCLink cReq Nothing), CPInvitationLink (ILPOk Nothing Nothing))
-    (ccLink, plan) <- connectPlan user ct False Nothing `catchAllErrors` \e -> case ct of
+    let con m cReq = pure (ACCL m (CCLink cReq Nothing), Nothing, Nothing, CPInvitationLink (ILPOk Nothing Nothing))
+    (ccLink, planSimplexName, otherSimplexName, plan) <- connectPlan user ct PRMUnknown Nothing Nothing `catchAllErrors` \e -> case ct of
       ACTarget m (CTFullContact cReq) -> con m cReq
       ACTarget m (CTInv (CLFull cReq)) -> con m cReq
       _ -> throwError e
-    connectWithPlan user incognito ccLink plan
+    connectWithPlan user incognito ccLink planSimplexName otherSimplexName plan
   Connect _ Nothing -> throwChatError CEInvalidConnReq
   APIVerifyContactDomain contactId -> withUser $ \user -> do
     ct@Contact {profile = LocalProfile {contactDomain}, preparedContact} <- withFastStore $ \db -> getContact db cxt user contactId
@@ -2319,8 +2320,8 @@ processChatCommand cxt nm = \case
       toView $ CEvtChatInfoUpdated user (AChatInfo SCTDirect $ DirectChat ct')
       throwError e
   ConnectSimplex incognito -> withUser $ \user -> do
-    plan <- contactRequestPlan user adminContactReq Nothing Nothing `catchAllErrors` const (pure $ CPContactAddress (CAPOk Nothing Nothing Nothing))
-    connectWithPlan user incognito (ACCL SCMContact (CCLink adminContactReq Nothing)) plan
+    plan <- contactRequestPlan user adminContactReq Nothing Nothing `catchAllErrors` const (pure $ CPContactAddress (CAPOk Nothing Nothing))
+    connectWithPlan user incognito (ACCL SCMContact (CCLink adminContactReq Nothing)) Nothing Nothing plan
   DeleteContact cName cdm -> withContactName cName $ \ctId -> APIDeleteChat (ChatRef CTDirect ctId Nothing) cdm
   ClearContact cName -> withContactName cName $ \chatId -> APIClearChat $ ChatRef CTDirect chatId Nothing
   APIListContacts userId -> withUserId userId $ \user ->
@@ -4178,13 +4179,13 @@ processChatCommand cxt nm = \case
             pure (gId, chatSettings)
         _ -> throwCmdError "not supported"
       processChatCommand cxt nm $ APISetChatSettings (ChatRef cType chatId Nothing) $ updateSettings chatSettings
-    connectPlan :: User -> AConnectTarget -> Bool -> Maybe LinkOwnerSig -> CM (ACreatedConnLink, ConnectionPlan)
-    connectPlan user (ACTarget SCMInvitation (CTInv cLink)) _ sig_ = case cLink of
+    connectPlan :: User -> AConnectTarget -> PlanResolveMode -> Maybe LinkOwnerSig -> Maybe (Either ChatError NameRecord) -> CM (ACreatedConnLink, Maybe SimplexNameInfo, Maybe SimplexNameInfo, ConnectionPlan)
+    connectPlan user (ACTarget SCMInvitation (CTInv cLink)) _ sig_ _ = case cLink of
       CLFull cReq -> invitationReqAndPlan cReq Nothing Nothing Nothing
       CLShort l -> do
         let l' = serverShortLink l
         knownLinkPlans l' >>= \case
-          Just r -> pure r
+          Just (l, p) -> pure (l, Nothing, Nothing, p)
           Nothing -> do
             (FixedLinkData {linkConnReq = cReq, rootKey}, cData) <- getShortLinkConnReq nm user l'
             contactSLinkData_ <- mapM linkDataBadge =<< liftIO (decodeLinkUserData cData)
@@ -4199,27 +4200,56 @@ processChatCommand cxt nm = \case
             Nothing -> bimap inv (CPInvitationLink . ILPKnown) <$$> getContactViaShortLinkToConnect db cxt user l'
         invitationReqAndPlan cReq sLnk_ cld ov = do
           plan <- invitationRequestPlan user cReq cld ov `catchAllErrors` (pure . CPError)
-          pure (ACCL SCMInvitation (CCLink cReq sLnk_), plan)
-    connectPlan user (ACTarget SCMContact ct) resolveKnown sig_ = case ct of
+          pure (ACCL SCMInvitation (CCLink cReq sLnk_), Nothing, Nothing,  plan)
+    connectPlan user (ACTarget SCMContact ct) resolveMode sig_ nameRec = case ct of
+      CTDomain d
+        -- local search only: look up #d then @d in the store, without online name resolution
+        | resolveMode == PRMNever -> connectPlanNoName $ ChatError CENotResolvedLocally
+        | otherwise ->
+            tryAllErrors (withAgent $ \a -> resolveSimplexName a nm (aUserId user) d) >>= \case
+              Right nr
+                | isJust (firstNameLink CCTChannel (nrSimplexChannel nr)) ->
+                    (addOther nr <$> connectPlanName NTPublicGroup (Right nr)) `catchAllErrors` \e ->
+                      (addOther nr <$> connectPlanName NTContact (Right nr) `catchAllErrors` \_ -> throwError e)
+                | isJust (firstNameLink CCTContact (nrSimplexContact nr)) ->
+                    addOther nr <$> connectPlanName NTContact (Right nr)
+                | otherwise -> connectPlanNoName $ ChatError $ CESimplexDomainNotReady d SDENoValidLink
+              Left e -> connectPlanNoName e
+        where
+          connectPlanName nameType nr_ = connectPlan user connTarget resolveMode sig_ (Just nr_)
+            where
+              connTarget = ACTarget SCMContact $ CTShortContact $ CTName $ SimplexNameInfo nameType d
+          connectPlanNoName e =
+            connectPlanName NTPublicGroup (Left e) `catchAllErrors` \e' ->
+              (connectPlanName NTContact (Left e) `catchAllErrors` \_ -> throwError e')
+          -- the same domain can resolve to both an @ name (contact or business) and a # channel;
+          -- keyed off the resolved name's type, so a contact name returning a business group still offers the channel
+          addOther nr (l, planName, _, p) = (l, planName, otherName, p)
+            where
+              otherName = case planName of
+                Just (SimplexNameInfo NTContact _) | isJust (firstNameLink CCTChannel (nrSimplexChannel nr)) -> Just $ SimplexNameInfo NTPublicGroup d
+                Just (SimplexNameInfo NTPublicGroup _) | isJust (firstNameLink CCTContact (nrSimplexContact nr)) -> Just $ SimplexNameInfo NTContact d
+                _ -> Nothing
       CTFullContact cReq -> do
         plan <- contactOrGroupRequestPlan user cReq `catchAllErrors` (pure . CPError)
-        pure (ACCL SCMContact $ CCLink cReq Nothing, plan)
+        pure (ACCL SCMContact $ CCLink cReq Nothing, Nothing, Nothing, plan)
       CTShortContact nl ->
-        case ctType of
+        (\(l, p) -> (l, simplexName_, Nothing, p)) <$> case ctType of
           CCTContact ->
             knownLinkPlans >>= \case
               Just r -> pure r
               Nothing -> do
+                when (resolveMode == PRMNever) $ throwChatError CENotResolvedLocally
                 l' <- resolveSLink
                 (FixedLinkData {linkConnReq = cReq, rootKey}, cData) <- getShortLinkConnReq nm user l'
                 contactSLinkData_ <- mapM linkDataBadge =<< liftIO (decodeLinkUserData cData)
                 let linkProfile_ = (\ContactShortLinkData {profile} -> profile) <$> contactSLinkData_
                     linkDomain_ = linkProfile_ >>= \Profile {contactDomain} -> claimDomain <$> contactDomain
-                    verifiedDomain = case nl of CTName ni -> Just (nameDomain ni); _ -> Nothing
-                    refreshContact ct' = case (verifiedDomain, linkProfile_) of
+                    planDomain = case nl of CTName ni -> Just (nameDomain ni); _ -> Nothing
+                    refreshContact ct' = case (planDomain, linkProfile_) of
                       (Just _, Just p) -> updateContactFromLinkData user ct' p
                       _ -> pure ct'
-                forM_ verifiedDomain $ \nameDomain ->
+                forM_ planDomain $ \nameDomain ->
                   unless (linkDomain_ == Just nameDomain) $ throwChatError $ CESimplexDomainNotReady nameDomain SDEUnknownDomain
                 withFastStore' (\db -> getContactWithoutConnViaShortAddress db cxt user l') >>= \case
                   Just ct' | not (contactDeleted ct') -> do
@@ -4230,15 +4260,15 @@ processChatCommand cxt nm = \case
                         ov = verifyLinkOwner rootKey owners l' sig_
                     plan <- contactRequestPlan user cReq contactSLinkData_ ov
                     case plan of
-                      CPContactAddress cap@(CAPOk {}) -> pure (con l' cReq, CPContactAddress cap {verifiedDomain})
                       CPContactAddress (CAPKnown ct') -> do
                         ct'' <- refreshContact ct'
-                        pure (con l' cReq, CPContactAddress (CAPKnown ct''))
+                        pure (con l' cReq, plan {contactAddressPlan = CAPKnown ct''})
                       CPContactAddress (CAPContactViaAddress ct') -> do
                         ct'' <- refreshContact ct'
-                        pure (con l' cReq, CPContactAddress (CAPContactViaAddress ct''))
+                        pure (con l' cReq, plan {contactAddressPlan = CAPContactViaAddress ct''})
                       _ -> pure (con l' cReq, plan)
             where
+              knownLinkPlans :: CM (Maybe (ACreatedConnLink, ConnectionPlan))
               knownLinkPlans = withFastStore $ \db ->
                 liftIO (getUserContactLinkViaTarget db user nl') >>= \case
                   Just UserContactLink {connLinkContact} -> pure $ Just (ACCL SCMContact connLinkContact, CPContactAddress CAPOwnLink)
@@ -4250,24 +4280,26 @@ processChatCommand cxt nm = \case
           CCTChannel -> groupShortLinkPlan
           CCTRelay -> throwCmdError "chat relay links are not supported in this version"
         where
-          nl' = case nl of
-            CTLink sl -> CTLink (serverShortLink sl)
-            CTName _ -> nl
+          (nl', simplexName_) = case nl of
+            CTLink sl -> (CTLink (serverShortLink sl), Nothing)
+            CTName ni -> (nl, Just ni)
           ctType = case nl of
             CTLink (CSLContact _ t _ _) -> t
             CTName SimplexNameInfo {nameType = NTContact} -> CCTContact
             CTName SimplexNameInfo {nameType = NTPublicGroup} -> CCTChannel
           resolveSLink = case nl' of
             CTLink l' -> pure l'
-            CTName n -> serverShortLink <$> resolveNameLink user n
+            CTName n -> serverShortLink <$> resolveNameLink n
           con l' cReq = ACCL SCMContact $ CCLink cReq (Just l')
-          gPlan (ccl, g) = if memberRemoved (membership g) then Nothing else Just (ACCL SCMContact ccl, CPGroupLink (GLPKnown g (BoolDef False) Nothing (ListDef [])))
+          gPlan (ccl, g) = if memberRemoved (membership g) then Nothing else Just (ACCL SCMContact ccl, CPGroupLink (GLPKnown g False Nothing (ListDef [])))
+          groupShortLinkPlan :: CM (ACreatedConnLink, ConnectionPlan)
           groupShortLinkPlan =
             knownLinkPlans >>= \case
               Just (_, CPGroupLink (GLPKnown g _ _ _))
-                | resolveKnown -> resolveKnownGroup g
+                | resolveMode == PRMAllGroups -> resolveKnownGroup g
               Just r -> pure r
               Nothing -> do
+                when (resolveMode == PRMNever) $ throwChatError CENotResolvedLocally
                 l' <- resolveSLink
                 (fd, cData@(ContactLinkData _ UserContactData {direct, owners, relays})) <- getShortLinkConnReq' nm user l'
                 groupSLinkData_ <- liftIO $ decodeLinkUserData cData
@@ -4284,23 +4316,29 @@ processChatCommand cxt nm = \case
                         (Nothing, Nothing) -> pure ()
                         _ -> throwChatError CEInvalidConnReq
                       let ov = verifyLinkOwner rootKey owners l' sig_
-                          verifiedDomain = case nl of CTName ni -> Just (nameDomain ni); _ -> Nothing
-                      plan <- groupJoinRequestPlan user cReq (Just linkInfo) groupSLinkData_ ov
-                      forM_ verifiedDomain $ \nameDomain ->
+                          planDomain = case nl of CTName ni -> Just (nameDomain ni); _ -> Nothing
+                      plan0 <- groupJoinRequestPlan user cReq (Just linkInfo) groupSLinkData_ ov
+                      -- a joined channel is found by link but not by name (its domain is not verified locally,
+                      -- e.g. an un-upgraded relay dropped the claim); refresh its profile from the fresh link
+                      -- data and mark it verified, so the check below passes and future by-name lookups match
+                      plan <- case (planDomain, plan0, groupSLinkData_) of
+                        (Just _, CPGroupLink (GLPKnown g u o os), Just sLinkData) ->
+                          (\(g', _) -> CPGroupLink (GLPKnown g' u o os)) <$> updateGroupFromLinkData user g sLinkData
+                        _ -> pure plan0
+                      forM_ planDomain $ \nameDomain ->
                         let domain_ = (\GroupProfile {publicGroup} -> claimDomain <$> (publicGroup >>= publicGroupAccess >>= groupDomainClaim)) =<< case plan of
-                              CPGroupLink (GLPOk _ (Just GroupShortLinkData {groupProfile}) _ _) -> Just groupProfile
+                              CPGroupLink (GLPOk _ (Just GroupShortLinkData {groupProfile}) _) -> Just groupProfile
                               CPGroupLink (GLPKnown GroupInfo {groupProfile} _ _ _) -> Just groupProfile
                               CPGroupLink (GLPOwnLink GroupInfo {groupProfile}) -> Just groupProfile
                               CPGroupLink (GLPConnectingProhibit (Just GroupInfo {groupProfile})) -> Just groupProfile
                               _ -> (\GroupShortLinkData {groupProfile} -> groupProfile) <$> groupSLinkData_
                          in unless (domain_ == Just nameDomain) $ throwChatError $ CESimplexDomainNotReady nameDomain SDEUnknownDomain
-                      pure $ case plan of
-                        CPGroupLink glp@(GLPOk {}) -> (con l' cReq, CPGroupLink glp {verifiedDomain})
-                        _ -> (con l' cReq, plan)
+                      pure (con l' cReq, plan)
             where
               unsupportedGroupType = \case
                 Just GroupShortLinkData {groupProfile = GroupProfile {publicGroup = Just PublicGroupProfile {groupType}}} -> groupType /= GTChannel
                 _ -> False
+              knownLinkPlans :: CM (Maybe (ACreatedConnLink, ConnectionPlan))
               knownLinkPlans = withFastStore $ \db ->
                 liftIO (getGroupInfoViaUserTarget db cxt user nl') >>= \case
                   Just (ccl, g) -> pure $ Just (ACCL SCMContact ccl, CPGroupLink (GLPOwnLink g))
@@ -4314,29 +4352,29 @@ processChatCommand cxt nm = \case
                 (g', updated) <- case groupSLinkData_ of
                   Just sLinkData -> updateGroupFromLinkData user g sLinkData
                   _ -> pure (g, False)
-                pure (con l' (linkConnReq fd), CPGroupLink (GLPKnown g' (BoolDef updated) ov (ListDef glOwners)))
-    -- resolve a name to its first contact/channel short link
-    resolveNameLink :: User -> SimplexNameInfo -> CM (ConnShortLink 'CMContact)
-    resolveNameLink user SimplexNameInfo {nameType, nameDomain} = do
-      NameRecord {nrSimplexContact, nrSimplexChannel} <-
-        withAgent $ \a -> resolveSimplexName a nm (aUserId user) nameDomain
-      let (candidates, ctType) = case nameType of
-            NTContact -> (nrSimplexContact, CCTContact)
-            NTPublicGroup -> (nrSimplexChannel, CCTChannel)
-      maybe (throwChatError $ CESimplexDomainNotReady nameDomain SDENoValidLink) pure $ firstNameLink ctType candidates
-    connectWithPlan :: User -> IncognitoEnabled -> ACreatedConnLink -> ConnectionPlan -> CM ChatResponse
-    connectWithPlan user@User {userId} incognito ccLink plan
+                pure (con l' (linkConnReq fd), CPGroupLink (GLPKnown g' updated ov (ListDef glOwners)))
+          -- resolve a name to its first contact/channel short link
+          resolveNameLink :: SimplexNameInfo -> CM (ConnShortLink 'CMContact)
+          resolveNameLink SimplexNameInfo {nameType, nameDomain} = do
+            NameRecord {nrSimplexContact, nrSimplexChannel} <- maybe (withAgent $ \a -> resolveSimplexName a nm (aUserId user) nameDomain) (ExceptT . pure) nameRec
+            let (candidates, ctType') = case nameType of
+                  NTContact -> (nrSimplexContact, CCTContact)
+                  NTPublicGroup -> (nrSimplexChannel, CCTChannel)
+            maybe (throwChatError $ CESimplexDomainNotReady nameDomain SDENoValidLink) pure $ firstNameLink ctType' candidates
+    connectWithPlan :: User -> IncognitoEnabled -> ACreatedConnLink -> Maybe SimplexNameInfo -> Maybe SimplexNameInfo -> ConnectionPlan -> CM ChatResponse
+    connectWithPlan user@User {userId} incognito ccLink planSimplexName otherSimplexName plan
       | connectionPlanProceed plan = do
           case plan of CPError e -> eToView e; _ -> pure ()
           case plan of
             CPContactAddress (CAPContactViaAddress Contact {contactId}) ->
               processChatCommand cxt nm $ APIConnectContactViaAddress userId incognito contactId
-            CPContactAddress (CAPOk (Just sld) _ vName@(Just _)) -> connectContactViaName sld vName
-            CPGroupLink (GLPOk (Just GroupShortLinkInfo {direct = False}) (Just gld) _ vName)
+            CPContactAddress (CAPOk (Just sld) _) | isJust vName -> connectContactViaName sld vName
+            CPGroupLink (GLPOk (Just GroupShortLinkInfo {direct = False}) (Just gld) _)
               | ACCL SCMContact ccl <- ccLink -> joinChannelViaRelays ccl gld vName
             _ -> processChatCommand cxt nm $ APIConnect userId incognito $ Just ccLink
-      | otherwise = pure $ CRConnectionPlan user ccLink plan
+      | otherwise = pure $ CRConnectionPlan user ccLink planSimplexName otherSimplexName plan
       where
+        vName = nameDomain <$> planSimplexName
         joinChannelViaRelays :: CreatedLinkContact -> GroupShortLinkData -> Maybe SimplexDomain -> CM ChatResponse
         joinChannelViaRelays ccl gld vName = do
           GroupInfo {groupId} <- prepareChannelGroup
@@ -4391,21 +4429,22 @@ processChatCommand cxt nm = \case
     contactRequestPlan user (CRContactUri crData) cld ov = do
       let cReqSchemas = contactCReqSchemas crData
           cReqHashes = bimap contactCReqHash contactCReqHash cReqSchemas
+          plan p = pure $ CPContactAddress p
       withFastStore' (\db -> getUserContactLinkByConnReq db user cReqSchemas) >>= \case
-        Just _ -> pure $ CPContactAddress CAPOwnLink
+        Just _ -> plan $ CAPOwnLink
         Nothing ->
           withFastStore' (\db -> getContactConnEntityByConnReqHash db cxt user cReqHashes) >>= \case
             Nothing ->
               withFastStore' (\db -> getContactWithoutConnViaAddress db cxt user cReqSchemas) >>= \case
-                Just ct | not (contactDeleted ct) -> pure $ CPContactAddress (CAPContactViaAddress ct)
-                _ -> pure $ CPContactAddress (CAPOk cld ov Nothing)
+                Just ct | not (contactDeleted ct) -> plan $ CAPContactViaAddress ct
+                _ -> plan $ CAPOk cld ov
             Just (RcvDirectMsgConnection Connection {connStatus} Nothing)
-              | connStatus == ConnPrepared -> pure $ CPContactAddress (CAPOk cld ov Nothing)
-              | otherwise -> pure $ CPContactAddress CAPConnectingConfirmReconnect
+              | connStatus == ConnPrepared -> plan $ CAPOk cld ov
+              | otherwise -> plan CAPConnectingConfirmReconnect
             Just (RcvDirectMsgConnection _ (Just ct))
-              | not (contactReady ct) && contactActive ct -> pure $ CPContactAddress (CAPConnectingProhibit ct)
-              | contactDeleted ct -> pure $ CPContactAddress (CAPOk cld ov Nothing)
-              | otherwise -> pure $ CPContactAddress (CAPKnown ct)
+              | not (contactReady ct) && contactActive ct -> plan $ CAPConnectingProhibit ct
+              | contactDeleted ct -> plan $ CAPOk cld ov
+              | otherwise -> plan $ CAPKnown ct
             -- TODO [short links] RcvGroupMsgConnection branch is deprecated? (old group link protocol?)
             Just (RcvGroupMsgConnection _ gInfo _) -> groupPlan gInfo Nothing Nothing Nothing
             Just _ -> throwCmdError "found connection entity is not RcvDirectMsgConnection or RcvGroupMsgConnection"
@@ -4413,27 +4452,30 @@ processChatCommand cxt nm = \case
     groupJoinRequestPlan user (CRContactUri crData) linkInfo gld ov = do
       let cReqSchemas = contactCReqSchemas crData
           cReqHashes = bimap contactCReqHash contactCReqHash cReqSchemas
+          plan p = pure $ CPGroupLink p
       withFastStore' (\db -> getGroupInfoByUserContactLinkConnReq db cxt user cReqSchemas) >>= \case
-        Just g -> pure $ CPGroupLink (GLPOwnLink g)
+        Just g -> plan $ GLPOwnLink g
         Nothing -> do
           connEnt_ <- withFastStore' $ \db -> getContactConnEntityByConnReqHash db cxt user cReqHashes
           gInfo_ <- withFastStore' $ \db -> getGroupInfoByGroupLinkHash db cxt user cReqHashes
           case (gInfo_, connEnt_) of
-            (Nothing, Nothing) -> pure $ CPGroupLink (GLPOk linkInfo gld ov Nothing)
+            (Nothing, Nothing) -> plan $ GLPOk linkInfo gld ov
             -- TODO [short links] RcvDirectMsgConnection branches are deprecated? (old group link protocol?)
-            (Nothing, Just (RcvDirectMsgConnection _conn Nothing)) -> pure $ CPGroupLink GLPConnectingConfirmReconnect
+            (Nothing, Just (RcvDirectMsgConnection _conn Nothing)) -> plan $ GLPConnectingConfirmReconnect
             (Nothing, Just (RcvDirectMsgConnection _ (Just ct)))
-              | not (contactReady ct) && contactActive ct -> pure $ CPGroupLink (GLPConnectingProhibit gInfo_)
-              | otherwise -> pure $ CPGroupLink (GLPOk linkInfo gld ov Nothing)
+              | not (contactReady ct) && contactActive ct -> plan $ GLPConnectingProhibit gInfo_
+              | otherwise -> plan $ GLPOk linkInfo gld ov
             (Nothing, Just _) -> throwCmdError "found connection entity is not RcvDirectMsgConnection"
             (Just gInfo, _) -> groupPlan gInfo linkInfo gld ov
     groupPlan :: GroupInfo -> Maybe GroupShortLinkInfo -> Maybe GroupShortLinkData -> Maybe OwnerVerification -> CM ConnectionPlan
     groupPlan gInfo@GroupInfo {membership} linkInfo gld ov
-      | memberStatus membership == GSMemRejected = pure $ CPGroupLink (GLPKnown gInfo (BoolDef False) ov (ListDef []))
+      | memberStatus membership == GSMemRejected = plan $ GLPKnown gInfo False ov (ListDef [])
       | not (memberActive membership) && not (memberRemoved membership) =
-          pure $ CPGroupLink (GLPConnectingProhibit $ Just gInfo)
-      | memberActive membership = pure $ CPGroupLink (GLPKnown gInfo (BoolDef False) ov (ListDef []))
-      | otherwise = pure $ CPGroupLink (GLPOk linkInfo gld ov Nothing)
+          plan $ GLPConnectingProhibit $ Just gInfo
+      | memberActive membership = plan $ GLPKnown gInfo False ov (ListDef [])
+      | otherwise = plan $ GLPOk linkInfo gld ov
+      where
+        plan p = pure $ CPGroupLink p
     contactCReqSchemas :: ConnReqUriData -> (ConnReqContact, ConnReqContact)
     contactCReqSchemas crData =
       ( CRContactUri crData {crScheme = SSSimplex},
@@ -5455,7 +5497,7 @@ chatCommandP =
       (">#" <|> "> #") *> (SendGroupMessageQuote <$> displayNameP <* A.space <* char_ '@' <*> (Just <$> displayNameP) <* A.space <*> quotedMsg <*> msgTextP),
       "/_contacts " *> (APIListContacts <$> A.decimal),
       "/contacts" $> ListContacts,
-      "/_connect plan " *> (APIConnectPlan <$> A.decimal <* A.space <*> ((Just <$> strP) <|> A.takeTill (== ' ') $> Nothing) <*> ((" resolve=" *> onOffP) <|> pure False) <*> optional (" sig=" *> jsonP)),
+      "/_connect plan " *> (APIConnectPlan <$> A.decimal <* A.space <*> ((Just <$> strP) <|> A.takeTill (== ' ') $> Nothing) <*> ((" resolve=" *> planResolveModeP) <|> pure PRMUnknown) <*> optional (" sig=" *> jsonP)),
       "/_prepare contact " *> (APIPrepareContact <$> A.decimal <* A.space <*> connLinkP <*> optional (" domain=" *> strP) <* A.space <*> jsonP),
       "/_prepare group " *> (APIPrepareGroup <$> A.decimal <* A.space <*> connLinkP' <*> (" direct=" *> onOffP <|> pure True) <*> optional (" domain=" *> strP) <* A.space <*> jsonP),
       "/_set contact user @" *> (APIChangePreparedContactUser <$> A.decimal <* A.space <*> A.decimal),
diff --git a/src/Simplex/Chat/Library/Internal.hs b/src/Simplex/Chat/Library/Internal.hs
index 20d0d10292..c6c7251fc4 100644
--- a/src/Simplex/Chat/Library/Internal.hs
+++ b/src/Simplex/Chat/Library/Internal.hs
@@ -1464,8 +1464,8 @@ updatePublicGroupData user gInfo
   | otherwise = pure gInfo
 
 updateGroupFromLinkData :: User -> GroupInfo -> GroupShortLinkData -> CM (GroupInfo, Bool)
-updateGroupFromLinkData user gInfo@GroupInfo {groupProfile = p, groupSummary = GroupSummary {publicMemberCount = localCount}} GroupShortLinkData {groupProfile, publicGroupData}
-  | profileChanged || countChanged = do
+updateGroupFromLinkData user gInfo@GroupInfo {groupProfile = p, groupDomainVerified, groupSummary = GroupSummary {publicMemberCount = localCount}} GroupShortLinkData {groupProfile, publicGroupData}
+  | profileChanged || countChanged || verifyChanged = do
       cxt <- chatStoreCxt
       withStore $ \db -> do
         g <- if profileChanged then updateGroupProfile db user gInfo groupProfile else pure gInfo
@@ -1473,13 +1473,19 @@ updateGroupFromLinkData user gInfo@GroupInfo {groupProfile = p, groupSummary = G
           Just PublicGroupData {publicMemberCount} | countChanged ->
             setPublicMemberCount db cxt user g publicMemberCount
           _ -> pure g
-        pure (g', profileChanged)
+        -- the group's own link is authoritative for its domain claim, so a claim in the link profile is
+        -- verified; updateGroupProfile above clears verification on a claim change, so set it afterwards
+        g'' <- if verifyChanged then liftIO $ setGroupDomainVerified db user g' True else pure g'
+        pure (g'', profileChanged)
   | otherwise = pure (gInfo, False)
   where
     profileChanged = p /= groupProfile
     countChanged = case publicGroupData of
       Just PublicGroupData {publicMemberCount} -> Just publicMemberCount /= localCount
       _ -> False
+    groupClaim GroupProfile {publicGroup} = claimDomain <$> (publicGroup >>= publicGroupAccess >>= groupDomainClaim)
+    newClaim = groupClaim groupProfile
+    verifyChanged = isJust newClaim && (groupDomainVerified /= Just True || groupClaim p /= newClaim)
 
 updateContactFromLinkData :: User -> Contact -> Profile -> CM Contact
 updateContactFromLinkData user ct@Contact {profile = profile@LocalProfile {contactDomain = prevClaim, contactDomainVerified}} linkProfile@Profile {contactDomain = newClaim}
diff --git a/src/Simplex/Chat/Store/Groups.hs b/src/Simplex/Chat/Store/Groups.hs
index 70e64f68d7..d6f51fadc3 100644
--- a/src/Simplex/Chat/Store/Groups.hs
+++ b/src/Simplex/Chat/Store/Groups.hs
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ import Simplex.Chat.Types.MemberRelations (IntroductionDirection (..), MemberRel
 import Simplex.Chat.Types.Preferences
 import Simplex.Chat.Types.Shared
 import Simplex.Chat.Types.UITheme
-import Simplex.Messaging.Agent.Protocol (ConfirmationId, ConnId, CreatedConnLink (..), InvitationId, OwnerAuth (..), SimplexNameInfo (..), UserId)
+import Simplex.Messaging.Agent.Protocol (ConfirmationId, ConnId, CreatedConnLink (..), InvitationId, OwnerAuth (..), SimplexNameInfo (..), SimplexNameType (..), UserId)
 import Simplex.Messaging.Agent.Store.AgentStore (firstRow, fromOnlyBI, maybeFirstRow)
 import qualified Simplex.FileTransfer.Description as FD
 import Simplex.Messaging.Encoding (smpDecode, smpEncode)
@@ -1083,9 +1083,14 @@ getGroupToConnect :: DB.Connection -> StoreCxt -> User -> ContactNameOrLink -> E
 getGroupToConnect db cxt user@User {userId} = \case
   CTLink sl -> first (`CCLink` Just sl) <$$> getGroupViaShortLinkToConnect db cxt user sl
   CTName ni ->
-    liftIO (maybeFirstRow id $ DB.query db byNameQuery (userId, nameDomain ni)) >>= \case
-      Just (gId :: Int64, Just cReq, Just (sLnk :: ShortLinkContact)) -> Just . (CCLink cReq (Just sLnk),) <$> getGroupInfo db cxt user gId
-      _ -> pure Nothing
+    -- @name is a business (presents as a contact); #name is a channel. The same domain can have both,
+    -- so the group type must match the requested name type.
+    let businessCond = case nameType ni of
+          NTContact -> " AND g.business_chat IS NOT NULL"
+          NTPublicGroup -> " AND g.business_chat IS NULL"
+     in liftIO (maybeFirstRow id $ DB.query db (byNameQuery <> businessCond) (userId, nameDomain ni)) >>= \case
+          Just (gId :: Int64, Just cReq, Just (sLnk :: ShortLinkContact)) -> Just . (CCLink cReq (Just sLnk),) <$> getGroupInfo db cxt user gId
+          _ -> pure Nothing
   where
     byNameQuery =
       [sql|
diff --git a/src/Simplex/Chat/Types.hs b/src/Simplex/Chat/Types.hs
index 25f8f378d2..edf4aab33a 100644
--- a/src/Simplex/Chat/Types.hs
+++ b/src/Simplex/Chat/Types.hs
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ import Simplex.Chat.Types.Shared
 import Simplex.Chat.Types.UITheme
 import Simplex.FileTransfer.Description (FileDigest)
 import Simplex.FileTransfer.Types (RcvFileId, SndFileId)
-import Simplex.Messaging.Agent.Protocol (ACorrId, ACreatedConnLink, AConnectionLink (..), AEventTag (..), AEvtTag (..), ConnId, ConnShortLink (..), ConnectionLink (..), ConnectionMode (..), ConnectionModeI, ConnectionRequestUri, ContactConnType (..), CreatedConnLink (..), InvitationId, SAEntity (..), SConnectionMode (..), SimplexNameInfo, UserId)
+import Simplex.Messaging.Agent.Protocol (ACorrId, ACreatedConnLink, AConnectionLink (..), AEventTag (..), AEvtTag (..), ConnId, ConnShortLink (..), ConnectionLink (..), ConnectionMode (..), ConnectionModeI, ConnectionRequestUri, ContactConnType (..), CreatedConnLink (..), InvitationId, SAEntity (..), SConnectionMode (..), SimplexDomain, SimplexNameInfo (..), UserId)
 import Simplex.Messaging.Agent.Store.DB (Binary (..), blobFieldDecoder, fromTextField_)
 import qualified Simplex.Messaging.Crypto as C
 import Simplex.Messaging.Crypto.File (CryptoFileArgs (..))
@@ -1789,6 +1789,7 @@ type ConnReqContact = ConnectionRequestUri 'CMContact
 data ConnectTarget (m :: ConnectionMode) where
   CTFullContact :: ConnectionRequestUri 'CMContact -> ConnectTarget 'CMContact
   CTShortContact :: ContactNameOrLink -> ConnectTarget 'CMContact
+  CTDomain :: SimplexDomain -> ConnectTarget 'CMContact
   CTInv :: ConnectionLink 'CMInvitation -> ConnectTarget 'CMInvitation
 
 data ContactNameOrLink = CTName SimplexNameInfo | CTLink (ConnShortLink 'CMContact)
@@ -1813,10 +1814,12 @@ instance StrEncoding AConnectTarget where
     CTFullContact cr -> strEncode cr
     CTShortContact (CTName n) -> strEncode n
     CTShortContact (CTLink sl) -> strEncode sl
+    CTDomain d -> strEncode d
     CTInv l -> strEncode l
   strP =
     (ACTarget SCMContact . CTShortContact . CTName <$> (lookAhead nameStart *> strP))
       <|> (aConnectTarget <$> strP)
+      <|> (ACTarget SCMContact . CTDomain <$> strP)
     where
       nameStart = "@" <|> "#" <|> "simplex:/name"
 
diff --git a/src/Simplex/Chat/View.hs b/src/Simplex/Chat/View.hs
index 763cd1a963..0edfff6d29 100644
--- a/src/Simplex/Chat/View.hs
+++ b/src/Simplex/Chat/View.hs
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ chatResponseToView hu cfg@ChatConfig {logLevel, showReactions, testView} liveIte
   CRInvitation u ccLink _ -> ttyUser u $ viewConnReqInvitation ccLink
   CRConnectionIncognitoUpdated u c customUserProfile -> ttyUser u $ viewConnectionIncognitoUpdated c customUserProfile testView
   CRConnectionUserChanged u c c' nu -> ttyUser u $ viewConnectionUserChanged u c nu c'
-  CRConnectionPlan u connLink connectionPlan -> ttyUser u $ viewConnectionPlan cfg connLink connectionPlan
+  CRConnectionPlan u connLink _ otherSimplexName connectionPlan -> ttyUser u $ viewConnectionPlan cfg connLink connectionPlan <> otherSimplexNameNote otherSimplexName
   CRNewPreparedChat u (AChat _ (Chat cInfo _ _)) -> ttyUser u $ case cInfo of
     DirectChat ct -> [ttyContact' ct <> ": contact is prepared"]
     GroupChat g _ -> [ttyGroup' g <> ": group is prepared"]
@@ -2144,6 +2144,12 @@ viewGroupUserChanged
   where
     userChangedStr = "group " <> ttyGroup' g <> " changed from user " <> plain un <> " to user " <> plain un'
 
+otherSimplexNameNote :: Maybe SimplexNameInfo -> [StyledString]
+otherSimplexNameNote = \case
+  Just ni@(SimplexNameInfo NTPublicGroup _) -> [plain $ "You can also join channel " <> shortNameInfoStr ni]
+  Just ni@(SimplexNameInfo NTContact _) -> [plain $ "You can also connect to " <> shortNameInfoStr ni <> " in direct chat"]
+  Nothing -> []
+
 viewConnectionPlan :: ChatConfig -> ACreatedConnLink -> ConnectionPlan -> [StyledString]
 viewConnectionPlan ChatConfig {logLevel, testView} _connLink = \case
   CPInvitationLink ilp -> case ilp of
@@ -2165,7 +2171,7 @@ viewConnectionPlan ChatConfig {logLevel, testView} _connLink = \case
           | business -> ("business address: " <>)
         _ -> ("invitation link: " <>)
   CPContactAddress cap -> case cap of
-    CAPOk contactSLinkData ov _ -> [addrOrBiz contactSLinkData "ok to connect"] <> viewSigVerification ov <> [viewJSON contactSLinkData | testView]
+    CAPOk contactSLinkData ov -> [addrOrBiz contactSLinkData "ok to connect"] <> viewSigVerification ov <> [viewJSON contactSLinkData | testView]
     CAPOwnLink -> [ctAddr "own address"]
     CAPConnectingConfirmReconnect -> [ctAddr "connecting, allowed to reconnect"]
     CAPConnectingProhibit ct -> [ctAddr ("connecting to contact " <> ttyContact' ct)]
@@ -2183,7 +2189,7 @@ viewConnectionPlan ChatConfig {logLevel, testView} _connLink = \case
           | business -> ("business address: " <>)
         _ -> ("contact address: " <>)
   CPGroupLink glp -> case glp of
-    GLPOk groupSLinkInfo_ groupSLinkData ov _ ->
+    GLPOk groupSLinkInfo_ groupSLinkData ov ->
       let direct = maybe True (\(GroupShortLinkInfo {direct = d}) -> d) groupSLinkInfo_
        in [grpLink $ if direct then "ok to connect directly" else "ok to connect via relays"]
             <> viewSigVerification ov
@@ -2687,6 +2693,7 @@ viewChatError isCmd logLevel testView = \case
             SDENoValidLink -> "has no valid connection link"
             SDEUnknownDomain -> "is not included in the connection link's profile"
        in [plain $ "SimpleX name " <> strEncode domain <> " " <> reason]
+    CENotResolvedLocally -> ["no matching chat found, name resolution is disabled"]
     CEUnsupportedConnReq -> [ "", "Connection link is not supported by the your app version, please ugrade it.", plain updateStr]
     CEInvalidChatMessage Connection {connId} msgMeta_ msg e ->
       [ plain $
diff --git a/tests/ChatTests/Names.hs b/tests/ChatTests/Names.hs
index 7c1ef40155..cc46a65543 100644
--- a/tests/ChatTests/Names.hs
+++ b/tests/ChatTests/Names.hs
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ chatNamesTests = do
   it "connect by unregistered name fails to resolve" testConnectByNameNotFound
   it "set name not resolving to own address is rejected" testSetNameNotOwnAddress
   it "connect by channel name" testConnectByChannelName
+  it "connect by name resolving to channel (primary) and direct contact" testConnectByNameChannelAndContact
+  it "connect by name resolving to direct contact (primary) and channel" testConnectByNameContactAndChannel
+  it "connect by name resolving to business (primary) and channel" testConnectByNameBusinessAndChannel
 
 testConnectByName :: HasCallStack => TestParams -> IO ()
 testConnectByName ps = withSmpServerAndNames $ \reg ->
@@ -141,3 +144,82 @@ testConnectByChannelName ps = withSmpServerAndNames $ \reg ->
         bob <## "use #team <message> to send messages"
   where
     teamName = SimplexNameInfo NTPublicGroup (SimplexDomain TLDSimplex "team" [])
+
+-- The bare name "team.simplex" resolves to both a channel and a direct contact. The channel is tried
+-- first and succeeds (bob has joined #team), so it is the primary (planSimplexName); otherSimplexName
+-- is the direct contact @team.simplex, shown as "You can also connect to @team.simplex in direct chat".
+testConnectByNameChannelAndContact :: HasCallStack => TestParams -> IO ()
+testConnectByNameChannelAndContact ps = withSmpServerAndNames $ \reg ->
+  withNewTestChat ps "alice" aliceProfile $ \alice ->
+    withNewTestChatOpts ps relayTestOpts "cath" cathProfile $ \cath ->
+      withNewTestChat ps "bob" bobProfile $ \bob -> do
+        (channelLink, _) <- prepareChannel1Relay "team" alice cath
+        alice ##> "/ad"
+        (contactLink, _) <- getContactLinks alice True
+        registerName reg teamName (contactAndChannelNameRecord "team" (T.pack contactLink) (T.pack channelLink))
+        alice ##> "/public group access #team domain=team.simplex"
+        alice <## "updated public group access: domain=team.simplex"
+        cath <## "alice updated group #team: (signed)"
+        cath <## "updated public group access: domain=team.simplex"
+        bob ##> "/c #team.simplex"
+        bob <## "#team: connection started"
+        concurrentlyN_
+          [ bob
+              <### [ "#team: joining the group (connecting to relay cath)...",
+                     "#team: you joined the group (connected to relay cath)"
+                   ]
+          , do
+              cath <## "bob (Bob): accepting request to join group #team..."
+              cath <## "#team: bob joined the group"
+          , alice <### [EndsWith "introduced bob (Bob) in the channel"]
+          ]
+        bob ##> "/_connect plan 1 team.simplex"
+        bob <## "group link: known group #team"
+        bob <## "SimpleX name: #team (verified)"
+        bob <## "use #team <message> to send messages"
+        bob <## "You can also connect to @team.simplex in direct chat"
+  where
+    teamName = SimplexNameInfo NTPublicGroup (SimplexDomain TLDSimplex "team" [])
+
+-- The bare name "acme.simplex" resolves to both a channel and a direct contact. The channel is tried
+-- first but its group profile does not claim the domain, so the channel side of the plan fails; the
+-- plan falls back to the direct contact as primary (planSimplexName) while otherSimplexName is the
+-- channel #acme, shown as "You can also join channel #acme". The channel link is a real, fetchable
+-- #acme channel, so the failure is the faithful "channel does not claim this domain" case, not a broken link.
+testConnectByNameContactAndChannel :: HasCallStack => TestParams -> IO ()
+testConnectByNameContactAndChannel ps = withSmpServerAndNames $ \reg ->
+  withNewTestChat ps "alice" aliceProfile $ \alice ->
+    withNewTestChatOpts ps relayTestOpts "cath" cathProfile $ \cath ->
+      withNewTestChat ps "bob" bobProfile $ \bob -> do
+        (channelLink, _) <- prepareChannel1Relay "acme" alice cath
+        alice ##> "/ad"
+        (contactLink, _) <- getContactLinks alice True
+        registerName reg acmeName (contactAndChannelNameRecord "acme" (T.pack contactLink) (T.pack channelLink))
+        alice ##> "/_set domain 1 acme.simplex"
+        alice <## "new contact address set"
+        bob ##> "/_connect plan 1 acme.simplex"
+        bob <## "contact address: ok to connect"
+        _ <- getTermLine bob -- contact short link data (JSON, printed in test view)
+        bob <## "You can also join channel #acme"
+  where
+    acmeName = SimplexNameInfo NTContact (SimplexDomain TLDSimplex "acme" [])
+
+testConnectByNameBusinessAndChannel :: HasCallStack => TestParams -> IO ()
+testConnectByNameBusinessAndChannel ps = withSmpServerAndNames $ \reg ->
+  withNewTestChat ps "alice" aliceProfile $ \alice ->
+    withNewTestChatOpts ps relayTestOpts "cath" cathProfile $ \cath ->
+      withNewTestChat ps "bob" bobProfile $ \bob -> do
+        (channelLink, _) <- prepareChannel1Relay "biz" alice cath
+        alice ##> "/ad"
+        (contactLink, _) <- getContactLinks alice True
+        registerName reg bizName (contactAndChannelNameRecord "biz" (T.pack contactLink) (T.pack channelLink))
+        alice ##> "/auto_accept on business"
+        alice <## "auto_accept on, business"
+        alice ##> "/_set domain 1 biz.simplex"
+        alice <## "new contact address set"
+        bob ##> "/_connect plan 1 biz.simplex"
+        bob <## "business address: ok to connect"
+        _ <- getTermLine bob -- contact short link data (JSON, printed in test view)
+        bob <## "You can also join channel #biz"
+  where
+    bizName = SimplexNameInfo NTContact (SimplexDomain TLDSimplex "biz" [])
diff --git a/tests/NameResolver.hs b/tests/NameResolver.hs
index b7c0aaf2fc..35f5cd2496 100644
--- a/tests/NameResolver.hs
+++ b/tests/NameResolver.hs
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ module NameResolver
     registerName,
     contactNameRecord,
     channelNameRecord,
+    contactAndChannelNameRecord,
     resolverNamesConfig,
   )
 where
@@ -55,6 +56,11 @@ contactNameRecord name link = (emptyRecord name) {nrSimplexContact = [link]}
 channelNameRecord :: Text -> Text -> NameRecord
 channelNameRecord name link = (emptyRecord name) {nrSimplexChannel = [link]}
 
+-- | A record whose domain resolves to both a direct contact link and a channel link.
+contactAndChannelNameRecord :: Text -> Text -> Text -> NameRecord
+contactAndChannelNameRecord name contactLink channelLink =
+  (emptyRecord name) {nrSimplexContact = [contactLink], nrSimplexChannel = [channelLink]}
+
 emptyRecord :: Text -> NameRecord
 emptyRecord name =
   NameRecord