diff --git a/muxplex/frontend/app.js b/muxplex/frontend/app.js
index 44fa0ed..771bdbf 100644
--- a/muxplex/frontend/app.js
+++ b/muxplex/frontend/app.js
@@ -195,8 +195,8 @@ function trackInteraction() {
 // ─── State restoration ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 /**
  * Restore application state from the server on page load.
- * Calls GET /api/state and, if an active session exists, re-opens it
- * without POSTing to /connect (ttyd is already running).
+ * Calls GET /api/state and, if an active session exists, re-opens it,
+ * skipping only the zoom animation (ttyd is re-spawned to handle service restarts).
  * Always resolves — errors are logged as warnings so the app can start normally.
  * @returns {Promise<void>}
  */
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ async function restoreState() {
     const res = await api('GET', '/api/state');
     const state = await res.json();
     if (state.active_session) {
-      await openSession(state.active_session, { skipConnect: true });
+      await openSession(state.active_session, { skipAnimation: true });
     }
   } catch (err) {
     console.warn('[restoreState] could not restore previous session:', err);
@@ -821,7 +821,7 @@ function updatePillBell() {
  * Open a session in fullscreen view with a zoom transition.
  * @param {string} name - session name
  * @param {object} [opts]
- * @param {boolean} [opts.skipConnect] - if true, skip the /connect POST (ttyd already running)
+ * @param {boolean} [opts.skipAnimation] - if true, skip the zoom animation (e.g. on page restore)
  * @returns {Promise<void>}
  */
 async function openSession(name, opts = {}) {
@@ -838,7 +838,8 @@ async function openSession(name, opts = {}) {
   if (nameEl) nameEl.textContent = name;
 
   // Zoom animation: pin tile at current position, then animate to full viewport
-  const tile = document.querySelector(`[data-session="${name}"]`);
+  // Skipped on restore (skipAnimation:true) — no tile DOM element to zoom from
+  const tile = opts.skipAnimation ? null : document.querySelector(`[data-session="${name}"]`);
   if (tile) {
     const rect = tile.getBoundingClientRect();
     tile.style.position = 'fixed';
@@ -870,7 +871,7 @@ async function openSession(name, opts = {}) {
       initSidebar();
       renderSidebar(_currentSessions, name);
       resolve();
-    }, 260);
+    }, opts.skipAnimation ? 0 : 260);
     // If setTimeout is stubbed (e.g. in test env), resolve immediately so we don't hang
     if (timerId == null) resolve();
   });
@@ -891,11 +892,9 @@ async function openSession(name, opts = {}) {
   const fab = $('new-session-fab');
   if (fab) fab.classList.add('hidden');
 
-  // Connect to session (kill old ttyd, spawn new one for this session)
+  // Always spawn ttyd for this session — ensures correct session after service restart or page restore
   try {
-    if (!opts.skipConnect) {
-      await api('POST', `/api/sessions/${name}/connect`);
-    }
+    await api('POST', `/api/sessions/${name}/connect`);
   } catch (err) {
     showToast(err.message || 'Connection failed');
     return closeSession();
@@ -1015,9 +1014,14 @@ function saveDisplaySettings(settings) {
  * @param {object} ds - display settings object
  */
 function applyDisplaySettings(ds) {
-  // Apply font size as CSS custom property
+  // Apply font size as CSS custom property (tile previews)
   document.documentElement.style.setProperty('--preview-font-size', ds.fontSize + 'px');
 
+  // Apply font size to the live xterm.js terminal without reconnecting
+  if (window._setTerminalFontSize) {
+    window._setTerminalFontSize(ds.fontSize);
+  }
+
   // Apply grid columns
   var grid = document.getElementById('session-grid');
   if (grid) {
@@ -1418,10 +1422,30 @@ async function createNewSession(name) {
     const sessionName = data.name || name;
     showToast('Creating session \'' + sessionName + '\'…');
 
+    // Inject a loading placeholder tile so the user sees feedback immediately
+    var loadingTile = null;
+    var grid = document.getElementById('session-grid');
+    if (grid) {
+      loadingTile = document.createElement('div');
+      loadingTile.className = 'session-tile tile--loading';
+      loadingTile.id = 'loading-tile-' + sessionName;
+      loadingTile.innerHTML =
+        '<div class="tile-header"><span class="tile-name">' + escapeHtml(sessionName) + '</span>' +
+        '<span class="tile-meta">Creating...</span></div>' +
+        '<div class="tile-body"><pre class="loading-pulse"></pre></div>';
+      grid.appendChild(loadingTile);
+    }
+
+    function removeLoadingTile() {
+      var tile = document.getElementById('loading-tile-' + sessionName);
+      if (tile) tile.remove();
+    }
+
     const ss = _serverSettings || {};
     if (ss.auto_open_created === false) {
       // Auto-open disabled — just do one refresh
       await pollSessions();
+      removeLoadingTile();
       return;
     }
 
@@ -1436,10 +1460,12 @@ async function createNewSession(name) {
       });
       if (found) {
         clearInterval(pollForSession);
+        removeLoadingTile();
         showToast('Session \'' + sessionName + '\' ready');
         openSession(sessionName);
       } else if (attempts >= maxAttempts) {
         clearInterval(pollForSession);
+        removeLoadingTile();
         showToast('Session \'' + sessionName + '\' is taking longer than expected');
       }
     }, 2000);
@@ -1647,7 +1673,6 @@ document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', () => {
       startPolling();
       loadServerSettings();
       startHeartbeat();
-      requestNotificationPermission();
       bindStaticEventListeners();
     })
     .catch((err) => {
diff --git a/muxplex/frontend/style.css b/muxplex/frontend/style.css
index c240f09..69666ef 100644
--- a/muxplex/frontend/style.css
+++ b/muxplex/frontend/style.css
@@ -239,6 +239,30 @@ body {
   margin: 0;
 }
 
+/* Loading placeholder tile — shown while a new session is being created */
+.tile--loading {
+  opacity: 0.6;
+  pointer-events: none;
+}
+
+.tile--loading .tile-body pre {
+  background: repeating-linear-gradient(
+    90deg,
+    var(--border) 0px,
+    var(--bg-surface) 30px,
+    var(--border) 60px
+  );
+  background-size: 200% 100%;
+  animation: shimmer 1.5s ease-in-out infinite;
+  min-height: 60px;
+  border-radius: 2px;
+}
+
+@keyframes shimmer {
+  0% { background-position: 200% 0; }
+  100% { background-position: -200% 0; }
+}
+
 .tile-pre {
   position: absolute;
   inset: 0;
diff --git a/muxplex/frontend/terminal.js b/muxplex/frontend/terminal.js
index 78d2159..c328fbb 100644
--- a/muxplex/frontend/terminal.js
+++ b/muxplex/frontend/terminal.js
@@ -258,6 +258,26 @@ function closeTerminal() {
 window._openTerminal = openTerminal;
 window._closeTerminal = closeTerminal;
 
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// setTerminalFontSize — live font-size update without reconnecting
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+/**
+ * Update the terminal font size at runtime without reconnecting.
+ * Modifies _term.options.fontSize and refits the terminal to recalculate dimensions.
+ * No-op when no terminal is open.
+ * @param {number} size - font size in pixels
+ */
+function setTerminalFontSize(size) {
+  if (!_term) return;
+  _term.options.fontSize = size;
+  if (_fitAddon) {
+    try { _fitAddon.fit(); } catch (_) {}
+  }
+}
+
+window._setTerminalFontSize = setTerminalFontSize;
+
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Android touch scroll — rAF-batched WheelEvent dispatch
 // Android batches touchmove events irregularly; dispatching one WheelEvent
diff --git a/muxplex/frontend/tests/test_app.mjs b/muxplex/frontend/tests/test_app.mjs
index de0d8a2..f0dc75f 100644
--- a/muxplex/frontend/tests/test_app.mjs
+++ b/muxplex/frontend/tests/test_app.mjs
@@ -897,20 +897,24 @@ test('openSession returns a Promise', () => {
   globalThis.setTimeout = origSetTimeout;
 });
 
-test('openSession with skipConnect calls window._openTerminal inside setTimeout callback', async () => {
+test('openSession with skipAnimation calls window._openTerminal after connect POST', async () => {
+  // After the fix: skipAnimation only skips the zoom animation, connect always fires.
   let openTerminalCalledWith = null;
+  const origFetch = globalThis.fetch;
   const origGetById = globalThis.document.getElementById;
   const origQS = globalThis.document.querySelector;
   const origSetTimeout = globalThis.setTimeout;
+  globalThis.fetch = async (url, opts) => ({ ok: true });
   globalThis.document.getElementById = () => ({ textContent: '', style: {}, classList: { remove: () => {}, add: () => {} } });
   globalThis.document.querySelector = () => null;
-  // Use a synchronous mock so setTimeout callbacks run immediately — _openTerminal is now called inside setTimeout
+  // Use a synchronous mock so setTimeout callbacks run immediately
   globalThis.setTimeout = (fn) => { fn(); };
   globalThis.window._openTerminal = (name) => { openTerminalCalledWith = name; };
 
-  await app.openSession('my-session', { skipConnect: true });
+  await app.openSession('my-session', { skipAnimation: true });
 
   assert.strictEqual(openTerminalCalledWith, 'my-session', '_openTerminal should be called with session name');
+  globalThis.fetch = origFetch;
   globalThis.document.getElementById = origGetById;
   globalThis.document.querySelector = origQS;
   globalThis.setTimeout = origSetTimeout;
@@ -1952,4 +1956,87 @@ test('createNewSession polls for session before auto-opening (not immediate setT
   );
 });
 
+// --- Issue 1: Loading placeholder tile ---
+
+test('createNewSession injects tile--loading placeholder after POST succeeds', () => {
+  const source = fs.readFileSync(new URL('../app.js', import.meta.url), 'utf8');
+  const start = source.indexOf('async function createNewSession(');
+  assert.ok(start !== -1, 'createNewSession must exist');
+  const snippet = source.slice(start, start + 2500);
+  assert.ok(snippet.includes('tile--loading'), 'createNewSession must inject tile--loading placeholder class');
+  assert.ok(snippet.includes('loading-tile-'), 'createNewSession must use loading-tile- id prefix for the placeholder');
+});
+
+test('createNewSession removes loading placeholder when session is found', () => {
+  const source = fs.readFileSync(new URL('../app.js', import.meta.url), 'utf8');
+  const start = source.indexOf('async function createNewSession(');
+  const snippet = source.slice(start, start + 2500);
+  assert.ok(
+    snippet.includes('loadingTile') && snippet.includes('.remove()'),
+    'createNewSession must remove the loading tile (loadingTile.remove()) when session is found'
+  );
+});
+
+test('CSS style.css has tile--loading and shimmer animation', () => {
+  const source = fs.readFileSync(new URL('../style.css', import.meta.url), 'utf8');
+  assert.ok(source.includes('tile--loading'), 'style.css must have .tile--loading rule');
+  assert.ok(source.includes('shimmer'), 'style.css must have shimmer animation');
+});
+
+// --- Issue 2: Always call connect on restore ---
+
+test('openSession always POSTs to connect even when skipConnect option is passed', async () => {
+  // Before the fix, skipConnect:true skipped the connect POST entirely.
+  // After the fix, connect is always called; the option is renamed to skipAnimation.
+  const fetchCalls = [];
+  const origFetch = globalThis.fetch;
+  const origGetById = globalThis.document.getElementById;
+  const origQS = globalThis.document.querySelector;
+  const origSetTimeout = globalThis.setTimeout;
+  globalThis.fetch = async (url, opts) => { fetchCalls.push({ url, opts }); return { ok: true }; };
+  globalThis.document.getElementById = () => ({ textContent: '', style: {}, classList: { remove: () => {}, add: () => {} } });
+  globalThis.document.querySelector = () => null;
+  globalThis.setTimeout = () => {};
+  globalThis.window._openTerminal = () => {};
+
+  await app.openSession('work', { skipConnect: true });
+
+  const connectCall = fetchCalls.find((c) => c.url === '/api/sessions/work/connect');
+  assert.ok(connectCall, 'skipConnect:true must NOT prevent connect POST — connect always fires after fix');
+  assert.strictEqual(connectCall.opts.method, 'POST');
+  globalThis.fetch = origFetch;
+  globalThis.document.getElementById = origGetById;
+  globalThis.document.querySelector = origQS;
+  globalThis.setTimeout = origSetTimeout;
+});
+
+// --- Issue 3: Notification permission on user click only ---
+
+test('DOMContentLoaded handler does NOT call requestNotificationPermission at startup', () => {
+  // Browsers require notification permission to be requested in response to a user gesture.
+  // Auto-calling at startup is silently blocked, leaving the permission in a broken state.
+  const source = fs.readFileSync(new URL('../app.js', import.meta.url), 'utf8');
+  const domContentLoadedIdx = source.indexOf("document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded'");
+  assert.ok(domContentLoadedIdx !== -1, 'DOMContentLoaded handler must exist');
+  // Extract the DOMContentLoaded handler body (next ~600 chars covers the entire handler)
+  const handlerBody = source.substring(domContentLoadedIdx, domContentLoadedIdx + 600);
+  assert.ok(
+    !handlerBody.includes('requestNotificationPermission'),
+    'requestNotificationPermission must NOT be called automatically in DOMContentLoaded — only on user click'
+  );
+});
+
+// --- Issue 4: Apply font size to live terminal without reconnecting ---
+
+test('applyDisplaySettings calls window._setTerminalFontSize when available', () => {
+  const source = fs.readFileSync(new URL('../app.js', import.meta.url), 'utf8');
+  const fnStart = source.indexOf('function applyDisplaySettings(');
+  assert.ok(fnStart !== -1, 'applyDisplaySettings must exist');
+  const fnBody = source.substring(fnStart, fnStart + 600);
+  assert.ok(
+    fnBody.includes('_setTerminalFontSize'),
+    'applyDisplaySettings must call window._setTerminalFontSize to update live terminal font size'
+  );
+});
+
 
diff --git a/muxplex/frontend/tests/test_terminal.mjs b/muxplex/frontend/tests/test_terminal.mjs
index d467737..3bf05a3 100644
--- a/muxplex/frontend/tests/test_terminal.mjs
+++ b/muxplex/frontend/tests/test_terminal.mjs
@@ -733,4 +733,28 @@ test('terminal.js Android touch scroll is UA-gated', () => {
   assert.ok(!source.includes('scrollLines'), 'must NOT use scrollLines (scrolls local buffer not PTY)');
 });
 
+// --- Issue 4: setTerminalFontSize ---
+
+test('terminal.js exposes window._setTerminalFontSize function', () => {
+  const source = fs.readFileSync(new URL('../terminal.js', import.meta.url), 'utf8');
+  assert.ok(
+    source.includes('window._setTerminalFontSize'),
+    'terminal.js must expose window._setTerminalFontSize for live font size updates'
+  );
+});
+
+test('_setTerminalFontSize sets _term.options.fontSize and calls _fitAddon.fit()', () => {
+  const source = fs.readFileSync(new URL('../terminal.js', import.meta.url), 'utf8');
+  // The function body must update _term.options.fontSize
+  assert.ok(
+    source.includes('_term.options.fontSize = size'),
+    '_setTerminalFontSize must assign _term.options.fontSize = size'
+  );
+  // And call _fitAddon.fit()
+  assert.ok(
+    source.includes('_fitAddon.fit()'),
+    '_setTerminalFontSize must call _fitAddon.fit() to reflow the terminal'
+  );
+});
+