diff --git a/meshchatx/src/frontend/components/interfaces/AddInterfacePage.vue b/meshchatx/src/frontend/components/interfaces/AddInterfacePage.vue
index 8a96a45..72c62e7 100644
--- a/meshchatx/src/frontend/components/interfaces/AddInterfacePage.vue
+++ b/meshchatx/src/frontend/components/interfaces/AddInterfacePage.vue
@@ -1479,6 +1479,9 @@ export default {
                 // go to interfaces page
                 this.$router.push({
                     name: "interfaces",
+                    query: {
+                        restart_required: this.newInterfaceName,
+                    },
                 });
             } catch (e) {
                 const message = e.response?.data?.message ?? "failed to add interface";
diff --git a/meshchatx/src/frontend/components/interfaces/Interface.vue b/meshchatx/src/frontend/components/interfaces/Interface.vue
index b76c8a2..edce296 100644
--- a/meshchatx/src/frontend/components/interfaces/Interface.vue
+++ b/meshchatx/src/frontend/components/interfaces/Interface.vue
@@ -1,6 +1,37 @@
 <template>
-    <div class="interface-card">
-        <div class="flex gap-4 items-start">
+    <div
+        class="interface-card transition-all duration-300"
+        :class="{
+            'opacity-60 grayscale-[0.5]': !isInterfaceEnabled(iface) || iface._restart_required || !isReticulumRunning,
+        }"
+    >
+        <div class="flex gap-4 items-start relative">
+            <!-- Offline Overlay -->
+            <div
+                v-if="!isReticulumRunning"
+                class="absolute inset-0 z-10 flex items-center justify-center bg-white/40 dark:bg-zinc-900/40 backdrop-blur-[1px] rounded-3xl"
+            >
+                <div
+                    class="bg-red-500 text-white px-4 py-2 rounded-full shadow-lg flex items-center gap-2 text-sm font-bold"
+                >
+                    <MaterialDesignIcon icon-name="lan-disconnect" class="w-4 h-4" />
+                    <span>Reticulum Offline</span>
+                </div>
+            </div>
+
+            <!-- Restart Required Overlay -->
+            <div
+                v-if="isReticulumRunning && iface._restart_required"
+                class="absolute inset-0 z-10 flex items-center justify-center bg-white/40 dark:bg-zinc-900/40 backdrop-blur-[1px] rounded-3xl"
+            >
+                <div
+                    class="bg-amber-500 text-white px-4 py-2 rounded-full shadow-lg flex items-center gap-2 text-sm font-bold animate-pulse"
+                >
+                    <MaterialDesignIcon icon-name="restart" class="w-4 h-4" />
+                    <span>{{ $t("interfaces.restart_required") }}</span>
+                </div>
+            </div>
+
             <div class="interface-card__icon">
                 <MaterialDesignIcon :icon-name="iconName" class="w-6 h-6" />
             </div>
@@ -148,6 +179,10 @@ export default {
             type: Object,
             required: true,
         },
+        isReticulumRunning: {
+            type: Boolean,
+            default: true,
+        },
     },
     emits: ["enable", "disable", "edit", "export", "delete"],
     data() {
diff --git a/meshchatx/src/frontend/components/interfaces/InterfacesPage.vue b/meshchatx/src/frontend/components/interfaces/InterfacesPage.vue
index 8ae56da..2020c4f 100644
--- a/meshchatx/src/frontend/components/interfaces/InterfacesPage.vue
+++ b/meshchatx/src/frontend/components/interfaces/InterfacesPage.vue
@@ -49,6 +49,19 @@
                             <MaterialDesignIcon icon-name="export" class="w-4 h-4" />
                             {{ $t("interfaces.export_all") }}
                         </button>
+                        <button
+                            type="button"
+                            class="secondary-chip text-sm bg-amber-500/10 hover:bg-amber-500/20 text-amber-600 dark:text-amber-400 border-amber-500/30"
+                            :disabled="reloadingRns"
+                            @click="reloadRns"
+                        >
+                            <MaterialDesignIcon
+                                :icon-name="reloadingRns ? 'refresh' : 'restart'"
+                                class="w-4 h-4"
+                                :class="{ 'animate-spin': reloadingRns }"
+                            />
+                            {{ reloadingRns ? $t("app.reloading_rns") : $t("app.reload_rns") }}
+                        </button>
                     </div>
                 </div>
                 <div class="flex flex-wrap gap-3 items-center">
@@ -106,6 +119,7 @@
                     v-for="iface of filteredInterfaces"
                     :key="iface._name"
                     :iface="iface"
+                    :is-reticulum-running="isReticulumRunning"
                     @enable="enableInterface(iface._name)"
                     @disable="disableInterface(iface._name)"
                     @edit="editInterface(iface._name)"
@@ -127,6 +141,7 @@ import Utils from "../../js/Utils";
 import ImportInterfacesModal from "./ImportInterfacesModal.vue";
 import DownloadUtils from "../../js/DownloadUtils";
 import MaterialDesignIcon from "../MaterialDesignIcon.vue";
+import ToastUtils from "../../js/ToastUtils";
 
 export default {
     name: "InterfacesPage",
@@ -144,6 +159,9 @@ export default {
             statusFilter: "all",
             typeFilter: "all",
             hasPendingInterfaceChanges: false,
+            reloadingRns: false,
+            modifiedInterfaceNames: new Set(),
+            isReticulumRunning: true,
         };
     },
     computed: {
@@ -158,6 +176,7 @@ export default {
             for (const [interfaceName, iface] of Object.entries(this.interfaces)) {
                 iface._name = interfaceName;
                 iface._stats = this.interfaceStats[interfaceName];
+                iface._restart_required = this.modifiedInterfaceNames.has(interfaceName);
                 results.push(iface);
             }
             return results;
@@ -216,6 +235,11 @@ export default {
         this.loadInterfaces();
         this.updateInterfaceStats();
 
+        // check if we have a restart required from adding an interface
+        if (this.$route.query.restart_required) {
+            this.trackInterfaceChange(this.$route.query.restart_required);
+        }
+
         // update info every few seconds
         this.reloadInterval = setInterval(() => {
             this.updateInterfaceStats();
@@ -225,8 +249,11 @@ export default {
         relaunch() {
             ElectronUtils.relaunch();
         },
-        trackInterfaceChange() {
+        trackInterfaceChange(interfaceName = null) {
             this.hasPendingInterfaceChanges = true;
+            if (interfaceName) {
+                this.modifiedInterfaceNames.add(interfaceName);
+            }
         },
         isInterfaceEnabled: function (iface) {
             return Utils.isInterfaceEnabled(iface);
@@ -235,6 +262,10 @@ export default {
             try {
                 const response = await window.axios.get(`/api/v1/reticulum/interfaces`);
                 this.interfaces = response.data.interfaces;
+
+                // also check app info for running state
+                const appInfoResponse = await window.axios.get(`/api/v1/app/info`);
+                this.isReticulumRunning = appInfoResponse.data.app_info.is_reticulum_running;
             } catch {
                 // do nothing if failed to load interfaces
             }
@@ -259,7 +290,7 @@ export default {
                 await window.axios.post(`/api/v1/reticulum/interfaces/enable`, {
                     name: interfaceName,
                 });
-                this.trackInterfaceChange();
+                this.trackInterfaceChange(interfaceName);
             } catch (e) {
                 DialogUtils.alert("failed to enable interface");
                 console.log(e);
@@ -274,7 +305,7 @@ export default {
                 await window.axios.post(`/api/v1/reticulum/interfaces/disable`, {
                     name: interfaceName,
                 });
-                this.trackInterfaceChange();
+                this.trackInterfaceChange(interfaceName);
             } catch (e) {
                 DialogUtils.alert("failed to disable interface");
                 console.log(e);
@@ -304,7 +335,7 @@ export default {
                 await window.axios.post(`/api/v1/reticulum/interfaces/delete`, {
                     name: interfaceName,
                 });
-                this.trackInterfaceChange();
+                this.trackInterfaceChange(interfaceName);
             } catch (e) {
                 DialogUtils.alert("failed to delete interface");
                 console.log(e);
@@ -357,6 +388,23 @@ export default {
         filterChipClass(isActive) {
             return isActive ? "primary-chip text-xs" : "secondary-chip text-xs";
         },
+        async reloadRns() {
+            if (this.reloadingRns) return;
+
+            try {
+                this.reloadingRns = true;
+                const response = await window.axios.post("/api/v1/reticulum/reload");
+                ToastUtils.success(response.data.message);
+                this.hasPendingInterfaceChanges = false;
+                this.modifiedInterfaceNames.clear();
+                await this.loadInterfaces();
+            } catch (e) {
+                ToastUtils.error(e.response?.data?.error || "Failed to reload Reticulum!");
+                console.error(e);
+            } finally {
+                this.reloadingRns = false;
+            }
+        },
     },
 };
 </script>
diff --git a/meshchatx/src/frontend/components/settings/SettingsPage.vue b/meshchatx/src/frontend/components/settings/SettingsPage.vue
index efa6822..cc2ac3b 100644
--- a/meshchatx/src/frontend/components/settings/SettingsPage.vue
+++ b/meshchatx/src/frontend/components/settings/SettingsPage.vue
@@ -105,9 +105,9 @@
                 </div>
 
                 <!-- settings grid -->
-                <div class="grid gap-4 lg:grid-cols-2">
+                <div class="columns-1 lg:columns-2 gap-4 space-y-4">
                     <!-- Page Archiver -->
-                    <section class="glass-card">
+                    <section class="glass-card break-inside-avoid">
                         <header class="glass-card__header">
                             <div>
                                 <div class="glass-card__eyebrow">Browsing</div>
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@
                     </section>
 
                     <!-- Smart Crawler -->
-                    <section class="glass-card">
+                    <section class="glass-card break-inside-avoid">
                         <header class="glass-card__header">
                             <div>
                                 <div class="glass-card__eyebrow">Discovery</div>
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@
                     </section>
 
                     <!-- Appearance -->
-                    <section class="glass-card">
+                    <section class="glass-card break-inside-avoid">
                         <header class="glass-card__header">
                             <div>
                                 <div class="glass-card__eyebrow">Personalise</div>
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@
                     </section>
 
                     <!-- Language -->
-                    <section class="glass-card">
+                    <section class="glass-card break-inside-avoid">
                         <header class="glass-card__header">
                             <div>
                                 <div class="glass-card__eyebrow">i18n</div>
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@
                     </section>
 
                     <!-- Transport -->
-                    <section class="glass-card">
+                    <section class="glass-card break-inside-avoid">
                         <header class="glass-card__header">
                             <div>
                                 <div class="glass-card__eyebrow">Reticulum</div>
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@
                     </section>
 
                     <!-- Interfaces -->
-                    <section class="glass-card">
+                    <section class="glass-card break-inside-avoid">
                         <header class="glass-card__header">
                             <div>
                                 <div class="glass-card__eyebrow">Adapters</div>
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@
                     </section>
 
                     <!-- Blocked -->
-                    <section class="glass-card">
+                    <section class="glass-card break-inside-avoid">
                         <header class="glass-card__header">
                             <div>
                                 <div class="glass-card__eyebrow">Privacy</div>
@@ -366,7 +366,7 @@
                     </section>
 
                     <!-- Authentication -->
-                    <section class="glass-card">
+                    <section class="glass-card break-inside-avoid">
                         <header class="glass-card__header">
                             <div>
                                 <div class="glass-card__eyebrow">Security</div>
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@
                     </section>
 
                     <!-- Messages -->
-                    <section class="glass-card">
+                    <section class="glass-card break-inside-avoid">
                         <header class="glass-card__header">
                             <div>
                                 <div class="glass-card__eyebrow">{{ $t("app.reliability") }}</div>
@@ -467,7 +467,7 @@
                     </section>
 
                     <!-- Propagation nodes -->
-                    <section class="glass-card lg:col-span-2">
+                    <section class="glass-card break-inside-avoid">
                         <header class="glass-card__header">
                             <div>
                                 <div class="glass-card__eyebrow">LXMF</div>
@@ -566,8 +566,40 @@
                         </div>
                     </section>
 
-                    <!-- Keyboard Shortcuts -->
-                    <section class="glass-card lg:col-span-2">
+                    <!-- System / RNS Reload -->
+                    <section class="glass-card break-inside-avoid">
+                        <header class="glass-card__header">
+                            <div>
+                                <div class="glass-card__eyebrow">{{ $t("app.system") }}</div>
+                                <h2>{{ $t("app.reticulum_stack") }}</h2>
+                                <p>{{ $t("app.reticulum_stack_description") }}</p>
+                            </div>
+                        </header>
+                        <div class="glass-card__body space-y-4">
+                            <div class="flex flex-col gap-3">
+                                <button
+                                    class="btn btn--secondary w-full justify-center gap-2 py-3"
+                                    :disabled="reloadingRns"
+                                    @click="reloadRns"
+                                >
+                                    <MaterialDesignIcon
+                                        :icon-name="reloadingRns ? 'refresh' : 'restart'"
+                                        class="w-5 h-5"
+                                        :class="{ 'animate-spin': reloadingRns }"
+                                    />
+                                    <span>{{ reloadingRns ? $t("app.reloading_rns") : $t("app.reload_rns") }}</span>
+                                </button>
+                                <p class="text-xs text-gray-500 dark:text-gray-400">
+                                    {{ $t("app.reload_rns_description") }}
+                                </p>
+                            </div>
+                        </div>
+                    </section>
+                </div>
+
+                <!-- Keyboard Shortcuts (Full width at bottom) -->
+                <div class="mt-4">
+                    <section class="glass-card">
                         <div class="glass-card__header">
                             <div class="flex items-center gap-3">
                                 <div
@@ -642,6 +674,7 @@ export default {
             },
             saveTimeouts: {},
             shortcuts: [],
+            reloadingRns: false,
         };
     },
     beforeUnmount() {
@@ -941,6 +974,20 @@ export default {
                 }
             }
         },
+        async reloadRns() {
+            if (this.reloadingRns) return;
+
+            try {
+                this.reloadingRns = true;
+                const response = await window.axios.post("/api/v1/reticulum/reload");
+                ToastUtils.success(response.data.message);
+            } catch (e) {
+                ToastUtils.error(e.response?.data?.error || "Failed to reload Reticulum!");
+                console.error(e);
+            } finally {
+                this.reloadingRns = false;
+            }
+        },
         formatSecondsAgo: function (seconds) {
             return Utils.formatSecondsAgo(seconds);
         },