diff --git a/public/app.js b/public/app.js
index 5d52b6e..42d1d0e 100644
--- a/public/app.js
+++ b/public/app.js
@@ -34,7 +34,8 @@ window.__dbg = S; // POC debug handle
 const $ = (sel) => document.querySelector(sel);
 const els = {
   stage: $('#stage'), screens: $('#screens'),
-  spatial: $('#spatial'), status: $('#voice-status'), nick: $('#nick'),
+  spatial: $('#spatial'), status: $('#voice-status'), statusDot: $('#status-dot'),
+  statusRow: $('#status-row'), nick: $('#nick'),
   meAvatar: $('#me-avatar'), mic: $('#btn-mic'), deafen: $('#btn-deafen'),
 };
 
@@ -75,7 +76,7 @@ async function joinVoice(room) {
   if (S.room === room || S.connecting) return;
   if (S.room) leaveVoice('switching channel');
   S.connecting = true;
-  setStatus(`connecting to ${room}…`);
+  setStatus(`connecting to ${room}…`, 'connecting');
 
   try {
     S.iceServers = await fetchIce();
@@ -135,7 +136,22 @@ function leaveVoice(reason) {
   setStatus(reason || 'not connected');
 }
 
-function setStatus(text) { els.status.textContent = text; }
+function setStatus(text, state = '') {
+  if (els.status) {
+    // Concise display text
+    let shortText = text;
+    if (text.startsWith('voice connected')) {
+      shortText = S.room ? `#${S.room}` : 'Connected';
+    } else if (text.startsWith('connecting to')) {
+      shortText = 'Connecting…';
+    }
+    els.status.textContent = shortText;
+  }
+  if (els.statusRow) els.statusRow.title = text;
+  if (els.statusDot) {
+    els.statusDot.className = 'status-indicator' + (state ? ` ${state}` : '');
+  }
+}
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // signaling
@@ -146,7 +162,7 @@ function openSignaling(room) {
     const url = `${proto}://${location.host}/ws?room=${encodeURIComponent(room)}&name=${encodeURIComponent(S.name)}`;
     const ws = new WebSocket(url);
     S.ws = ws;
-    ws.onerror = () => { S.connecting = false; setStatus('connection failed'); reject(new Error('websocket failed')); };
+    ws.onerror = () => { S.connecting = false; setStatus('connection failed', 'error'); reject(new Error('websocket failed')); };
     ws.onmessage = (ev) => {
       let msg;
       try { msg = JSON.parse(ev.data); } catch { return; }
@@ -185,7 +201,7 @@ function handleSignal(msg) {
       }
       sendMyPos(true);
       renderAll();
-      setStatus(`voice connected — ${msg.peers.length + 1} in ${msg.room}`);
+      setStatus(`voice connected — ${msg.peers.length + 1} in ${msg.room}`, 'online');
       toast(`Joined ${msg.room}`, 'ok');
       break;
     }
diff --git a/public/index.html b/public/index.html
index 622acdb..fcee514 100644
--- a/public/index.html
+++ b/public/index.html
@@ -39,8 +39,11 @@
       <div class="me">
         <div class="avatar" id="me-avatar">?</div>
         <div class="me-meta">
-          <input id="nick" maxlength="24" spellcheck="false" title="Nickname" />
-          <span id="voice-status">not connected</span>
+          <input id="nick" maxlength="24" spellcheck="false" title="Click to edit nickname" />
+          <div class="status-row" id="status-row" title="Not connected">
+            <span class="status-indicator" id="status-dot"></span>
+            <span id="voice-status">Disconnected</span>
+          </div>
         </div>
       </div>
       <div class="user-buttons">
@@ -96,6 +99,6 @@
 
 <div id="toasts"></div>
 
-<script src="app.js?v=9"></script>
+<script src="app.js?v=10"></script>
 </body>
 </html>
diff --git a/public/style.css b/public/style.css
index 1f3ff94..140e19a 100644
--- a/public/style.css
+++ b/public/style.css
@@ -66,25 +66,40 @@ body {
 
 #user-panel {
   margin-top: auto; background: var(--bg-0); padding: 8px;
-  display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 8px;
+  display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: space-between; gap: 6px;
+  min-height: 52px;
 }
-.me { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 8px; flex: 1; min-width: 0; }
-.me-meta { display: flex; flex-direction: column; min-width: 0; }
+.me { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 8px; min-width: 0; flex: 1; }
+.me-meta { display: flex; flex-direction: column; min-width: 0; flex: 1; overflow: hidden; }
 #nick {
   background: transparent; border: none; color: var(--text-0); font: inherit;
-  font-weight: 600; width: 100%; padding: 0; outline: none; border-bottom: 1px dashed transparent;
+  font-weight: 600; font-size: 13px; width: 100%; padding: 0; outline: none; border-bottom: 1px dashed transparent;
+  white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis;
 }
 #nick:hover, #nick:focus { border-bottom-color: var(--text-2); }
-#voice-status { font-size: 11px; color: var(--text-2); }
-.user-buttons { display: flex; gap: 2px; }
+.status-row {
+  display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 4px; font-size: 11px; color: var(--text-2);
+  white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; line-height: 1.2;
+}
+.status-indicator {
+  width: 7px; height: 7px; border-radius: 50%; background: var(--text-2); flex-shrink: 0;
+}
+.status-indicator.online { background: var(--green); }
+.status-indicator.connecting { background: var(--yellow); }
+.status-indicator.error { background: var(--red); }
+#voice-status {
+  white-space: nowrap; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis;
+}
+.user-buttons { display: flex; gap: 2px; flex-shrink: 0; }
 .ctl {
-  background: transparent; border: none; color: var(--text-1); font-size: 16px;
-  width: 32px; height: 32px; border-radius: 6px; cursor: pointer; position: relative;
+  background: transparent; border: none; color: var(--text-1); font-size: 15px;
+  width: 28px; height: 28px; border-radius: 6px; cursor: pointer; position: relative;
+  display: grid; place-items: center; padding: 0;
 }
 .ctl:hover { background: var(--bg-3); color: var(--text-0); }
 .ctl.off { color: var(--red); }
 .ctl.off::after {
-  content: ""; position: absolute; left: 7px; top: 15px; width: 18px; height: 2px;
+  content: ""; position: absolute; left: 5px; top: 13px; width: 18px; height: 2px;
   background: var(--red); transform: rotate(-40deg); border-radius: 1px;
 }
 .ctl:disabled { opacity: .35; cursor: not-allowed; }