diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 840f375f..fff39b33 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -14,6 +14,15 @@ User-facing changes only. The release workflow publishes the matching
   Hidden or Hands only choice, instead of menus behind Customize weapons.
 - HUD options with long lists of choices, including HUD crosshair glyphs, show every choice on the
   page instead of a drop-down menu.
+- Crosshair, Viewmodels and Mods' Casual setup show the same bar while changes aren't in TF2 yet,
+  with Discard changes and Apply changes. Viewmodels applies straight from that bar, without a
+  separate review window.
+- Comfig shows an update button only when a newer mastercomfig is out, and keeps the comfig.app
+  customizer next to the comfig-custom folder it makes. Removing the crosshair pack is a button at
+  the bottom of the Crosshair page instead of a hidden menu, and buttons that repeated a switch or
+  the sidebar (Open Comfig addons, Open Viewmodels) are gone.
+- Launch shows this profile's and Steam's options side by side when they differ, with Use this
+  profile's options and Use Steam's options.
 
 ## [0.2.2] - 2026-10-01
 
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/ComfigPane.test.ts b/apps/desktop/src/ComfigPane.test.ts
index c0c93a54..c1f15ab8 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/ComfigPane.test.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/ComfigPane.test.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@ vi.mock("./hooks/useAppStatus", () => ({ useAppStatus: () => status }));
 let dom: JSDOM;
 let root: Root;
 
+/** A mastercomfig profile with its base package installed. */
+const BASE_FILES = [
+  { path: "tf/custom/mastercomfig-base.vpk", sha256: "base", storage: "exclusive" as const },
+];
+
 beforeEach(() => {
   status.running = false;
   status.busy = false;
@@ -37,7 +42,13 @@ function render(
 ) {
   root.render(
     createElement(ComfigPane, {
-      detail: { id: "profile", name: "Main", layer: "comfig", launchOptions: "", files: [] },
+      detail: {
+        id: "profile",
+        name: "Main",
+        layer: "comfig",
+        launchOptions: "",
+        files: BASE_FILES,
+      },
       state,
       onApplyPreset,
       onApplyModules: async () => false,
@@ -94,6 +105,40 @@ describe("ComfigPane workspaces", () => {
     );
     expect(document.body.textContent).toContain("mastercomfig 9.100.0");
     expect(document.body.textContent).toContain("Update available: 9.100.1");
+    const update = document.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>('[data-testid="comfig-update"]');
+    expect(update?.textContent).toBe("Update to 9.100.1");
+    expect(update?.className).toContain("btn-primary");
+  });
+
+  it("shows no update button when the packages are current, and one place to add comfig-custom", async () => {
+    await act(async () =>
+      render(
+        undefined,
+        { ...PREVIEW_COMFIG_STATE, release: { version: "9.100.1", packages: {} } },
+        { onCheckRelease: async () => "9.100.1" },
+      ),
+    );
+    expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="comfig-release-status"]')?.textContent).toBe(
+      "Up to date.",
+    );
+    expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="comfig-update"]')).toBeNull();
+    expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="comfig-import"]')?.textContent).toBe(
+      "Add folder…",
+    );
+    expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="comfig-extras"]')?.className).toContain(
+      "text-link",
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("offers installing missing packages first", async () => {
+    await act(async () =>
+      render(undefined, PREVIEW_COMFIG_STATE, {
+        detail: { id: "bare", name: "Bare", layer: "comfig", launchOptions: "", files: [] },
+      }),
+    );
+    const update = document.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>('[data-testid="comfig-update"]');
+    expect(update?.textContent).toBe("Install packages");
+    expect(update?.className).toContain("btn-primary");
   });
 
   it("keeps an unknown version explicit and reports a failed check", async () => {
@@ -120,7 +165,13 @@ describe("ComfigPane workspaces", () => {
     );
     await act(async () =>
       render(undefined, PREVIEW_COMFIG_STATE, {
-        detail: { id: "second", name: "Second", layer: "comfig", launchOptions: "", files: [] },
+        detail: {
+          id: "second",
+          name: "Second",
+          layer: "comfig",
+          launchOptions: "",
+          files: BASE_FILES,
+        },
         onCheckRelease: async () => "9.100.1",
       }),
     );
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/ComfigPane.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/ComfigPane.tsx
index ceb5ebe6..935c2721 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/ComfigPane.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/ComfigPane.tsx
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import {
 import {
   type ComfigUiState,
   canUseTransparentViewmodels,
-  comfigUpdateAvailable,
+  comfigReleaseView,
   hasBaseVpk,
   hasComfigCustom,
   OFFICIAL_ADDON_DETAILS,
@@ -170,6 +170,18 @@ export function ComfigPane({
     };
   }, [supported, detail?.id, releaseKey]);
   const checkedRelease = releaseCheck?.key === releaseKey ? releaseCheck : null;
+  const release = comfigReleaseView({
+    installed: state.release?.version ?? null,
+    packagesInstalled: hasBaseVpk(detail?.files.map((file) => file.path) ?? []),
+    latest: checkedRelease?.latest ?? null,
+    error: checkedRelease?.error ?? null,
+    checking:
+      Boolean(onCheckRelease) &&
+      checkedRelease !== null &&
+      !checkedRelease.latest &&
+      !checkedRelease.error,
+    checkable: Boolean(onCheckRelease),
+  });
   const installedVersion = state.release?.version;
   const paths = detail?.files.map((file) => file.path) ?? [];
   const packagesInstalled = hasBaseVpk(paths);
@@ -347,76 +359,79 @@ export function ComfigPane({
             </div>
           </PaneSection>
 
-          <section className="section" aria-label="Comfig packages">
-            <div className="flex flex-col gap-4 lg:flex-row lg:items-center lg:justify-between">
-              <div className="min-w-0">
-                <h2 className="t-section">Packages and extras</h2>
-                <p className="t-meta mt-1">
-                  {installedVersion
-                    ? `mastercomfig ${installedVersion}`
-                    : packagesInstalled
-                      ? "mastercomfig version unknown"
-                      : "No mastercomfig packages installed."}
-                </p>
-                {supported ? (
-                  <p data-testid="comfig-release-status" className="t-meta mt-1" aria-live="polite">
-                    {checkedRelease?.error
-                      ? checkedRelease.error
-                      : checkedRelease?.latest
-                        ? installedVersion === checkedRelease.latest
-                          ? "Packages are up to date."
-                          : installedVersion
-                            ? comfigUpdateAvailable(installedVersion, checkedRelease.latest)
-                              ? `Update available: ${checkedRelease.latest}.`
-                              : `Latest release: ${checkedRelease.latest}.`
-                            : `Latest release: ${checkedRelease.latest}. Update packages before adding addons.`
-                        : onCheckRelease
-                          ? "Checking for updates…"
-                          : "Updates have not been checked."}
+          <section className="section" aria-labelledby="comfig-packages-heading">
+            <h2 id="comfig-packages-heading" className="t-section">
+              Packages
+            </h2>
+            <div className="mt-2">
+              <div className="row flex-wrap" data-testid="comfig-release">
+                <div className="min-w-0">
+                  <p className="t-row">
+                    {installedVersion
+                      ? `mastercomfig ${installedVersion}`
+                      : packagesInstalled
+                        ? "mastercomfig"
+                        : "mastercomfig isn't installed"}
                   </p>
+                  {supported ? (
+                    <p className="t-meta mt-0.5 flex flex-wrap items-baseline gap-x-2">
+                      <span data-testid="comfig-release-status" aria-live="polite">
+                        {release.status}
+                      </span>
+                      {onCheckRelease && !release.checking ? (
+                        <button
+                          type="button"
+                          data-testid="comfig-check-release"
+                          className="text-link"
+                          onClick={() => setCheckAttempt((value) => value + 1)}
+                        >
+                          Check again
+                        </button>
+                      ) : null}
+                    </p>
+                  ) : null}
+                </div>
+                {release.action ? (
+                  <button
+                    type="button"
+                    data-testid="comfig-update"
+                    disabled={locked}
+                    onClick={onUpdatePackages}
+                    className={`btn ${release.action.primary ? "btn-primary" : "btn-ghost"}`}
+                  >
+                    {busy ? "Working…" : release.action.label}
+                  </button>
                 ) : null}
               </div>
-
-              <div className="pane-actions">
-                <button
-                  type="button"
-                  data-testid="comfig-update"
-                  disabled={locked}
-                  onClick={onUpdatePackages}
-                  className="btn btn-primary"
-                >
-                  {busy ? "Working…" : "Update packages"}
-                </button>
-                {supported && onCheckRelease ? (
+              <div className="row flex-wrap" data-testid="comfig-custom">
+                <div className="min-w-0">
+                  <p className="t-row">comfig-custom folder</p>
+                  <p className="t-meta mt-0.5">
+                    {customImported
+                      ? "Added to this profile."
+                      : "Extra settings made on comfig.app come as this folder."}
+                  </p>
+                </div>
+                <div className="pane-actions">
                   <button
                     type="button"
+                    data-testid="comfig-extras"
+                    onClick={() => void openEmbeddedPage("comfig-extras")}
+                    className="text-link"
+                  >
+                    Open comfig.app
+                    <ArrowSquareOut size={13} aria-hidden="true" />
+                  </button>
+                  <button
+                    type="button"
+                    data-testid="comfig-import"
+                    disabled={locked}
+                    onClick={onImportCustom}
                     className="btn btn-ghost"
-                    disabled={
-                      checkedRelease !== null && !checkedRelease.latest && !checkedRelease.error
-                    }
-                    onClick={() => setCheckAttempt((value) => value + 1)}
                   >
-                    Check for updates
+                    {customImported ? "Replace folder…" : "Add folder…"}
                   </button>
-                ) : null}
-                <button
-                  type="button"
-                  data-testid="comfig-import"
-                  disabled={locked}
-                  onClick={onImportCustom}
-                  className="btn btn-ghost"
-                >
-                  {customImported ? "Replace comfig-custom…" : "Import comfig-custom…"}
-                </button>
-                <button
-                  type="button"
-                  data-testid="comfig-extras"
-                  onClick={() => void openEmbeddedPage("comfig-extras")}
-                  className="btn btn-ghost"
-                >
-                  Open extras
-                  <ArrowSquareOut size={13} />
-                </button>
+                </div>
               </div>
             </div>
           </section>
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/CrosshairPane.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/CrosshairPane.tsx
index 892256af..1d255c44 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/CrosshairPane.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/CrosshairPane.tsx
@@ -1,12 +1,7 @@
-import { DotsThree } from "@phosphor-icons/react";
+import { Trash } from "@phosphor-icons/react";
 import { useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from "react";
 import { Alert } from "./components/ui/Alert";
 import { ApplyBar } from "./components/ui/ApplyBar";
-import {
-  ContextMenu,
-  ContextMenuItem,
-  type ContextMenuPosition,
-} from "./components/ui/ContextMenu";
 import { Modal } from "./components/ui/Modal";
 import { PaneHeader } from "./components/ui/PaneHeader";
 import { CrosshairDesigner, type CrosshairDesignerDraft } from "./crosshair/CrosshairDesigner";
@@ -273,7 +268,6 @@ export function CrosshairPane({
     saved: gameResolution,
     monitor: monitorSize(),
   });
-  const [menu, setMenu] = useState<ContextMenuPosition | null>(null);
   const [confirmRemove, setConfirmRemove] = useState(false);
   const [notice, setNotice] = useState<string | null>(null);
 
@@ -495,54 +489,22 @@ export function CrosshairPane({
     crosshairLibraryDirty(plainDraft, plainSeed);
   const barStatus =
     plan.kind === "deactivate"
-      ? "TF2 will draw its own crosshair again. Your custom crosshairs stay saved in this profile."
+      ? "Your crosshair changes aren't in TF2 yet. Your designs stay saved."
       : libraryOnly
-        ? "Build the pack to keep your new crosshairs in this profile."
-        : packLive
-          ? "These changes are not in TF2 yet."
-          : "Custom crosshairs need a small pack. Nothing changes in TF2 until you build it.";
+        ? "Your new crosshairs aren't saved yet."
+        : "Your crosshair changes aren't in TF2 yet.";
 
   return (
     <section data-testid="settings-crosshair" className="min-w-0 text-left">
-      <PaneHeader
-        title="Crosshair"
-        actions={
-          <>
-            <span
-              className="badge"
-              data-live={packLive}
-              data-testid="crosshair-live-state"
-              title={
-                packLive
-                  ? "A custom crosshair pack is installed for this profile."
-                  : "TF2 draws its own crosshair; no custom pack is installed."
-              }
-            >
-              {packLive ? "Custom pack on" : "TF2 draws its own crosshair"}
-            </span>
-            {record ? (
-              <button
-                type="button"
-                className="btn btn-ghost px-2.5"
-                aria-label="More crosshair actions"
-                data-testid="crosshair-more"
-                aria-haspopup="menu"
-                onClick={(event) => {
-                  const bounds = event.currentTarget.getBoundingClientRect();
-                  setMenu({ x: bounds.right - 256, y: bounds.bottom + 6 });
-                }}
-              >
-                <DotsThree size={18} weight="bold" />
-              </button>
-            ) : null}
-          </>
-        }
-      />
+      <PaneHeader title="Crosshair" />
 
       <div className="grid gap-3 empty:hidden" data-testid="crosshair-notices">
         {record?.sourceChanged ? (
           <div className="pane-note" data-testid="crosshair-source-changed">
-            <p>This pack was changed outside execs. Rebuild it, or remove it from the ⋯ menu.</p>
+            <p>
+              Your crosshair pack was changed outside execs. Repair it, or remove it at the bottom
+              of this page.
+            </p>
             {!designer ? (
               <button
                 type="button"
@@ -550,7 +512,7 @@ export function CrosshairPane({
                 disabled={running || busy || working}
                 onClick={() => void build()}
               >
-                Rebuild crosshair pack
+                Repair pack
               </button>
             ) : null}
           </div>
@@ -559,9 +521,9 @@ export function CrosshairPane({
           <div className="pane-note" data-testid="crosshair-script-source-status">
             <p>
               {sourceStatus.state === "changed"
-                ? "TF2's weapon scripts changed. Rebuild to pick up the update."
+                ? "TF2 updated its weapon files. Update your crosshair pack to match."
                 : sourceStatus.state === "unverified"
-                  ? "Rebuild to check this pack against the current game."
+                  ? "Your crosshair pack may not match this version of TF2."
                   : `Could not check TF2's weapon scripts: ${sourceStatus.reason ?? "the source is unavailable"}.`}
             </p>
             {sourceStatus.state !== "unavailable" && !record?.sourceChanged ? (
@@ -571,7 +533,7 @@ export function CrosshairPane({
                 disabled={running || busy || working}
                 onClick={() => void build()}
               >
-                Rebuild crosshair pack
+                Update pack
               </button>
             ) : null}
           </div>
@@ -713,6 +675,36 @@ export function CrosshairPane({
                 labelFor={labelFor}
                 onChange={(next: CrosshairDraft) => setDraft(next)}
               />
+
+              {record ? (
+                <section
+                  className="section"
+                  aria-labelledby="crosshair-pack-heading"
+                  data-testid="crosshair-pack"
+                >
+                  <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center justify-between gap-3">
+                    <div className="min-w-0">
+                      <h2 id="crosshair-pack-heading" className="t-section">
+                        Crosshair pack
+                      </h2>
+                      <p className="t-meta mt-1" data-testid="crosshair-live-state">
+                        {packLive ? "On in TF2." : "Off. TF2 draws its own crosshair."}
+                        {yours.length ? ` Keeps ${yours.length} of your crosshairs.` : ""}
+                      </p>
+                    </div>
+                    <button
+                      type="button"
+                      className="btn btn-ghost"
+                      data-testid="crosshair-remove-pack"
+                      disabled={running || busy || working}
+                      onClick={() => setConfirmRemove(true)}
+                    >
+                      <Trash size={14} aria-hidden="true" />
+                      Remove pack…
+                    </button>
+                  </div>
+                </section>
+              ) : null}
             </>
           )}
         </div>
@@ -771,16 +763,8 @@ export function CrosshairPane({
         <ApplyBar
           testId={plan.kind === "build" ? "crosshair-build" : "crosshair-use-tf2"}
           status={<span data-testid="crosshair-pending">{barStatus}</span>}
-          actionLabel={
-            working
-              ? plan.kind === "build"
-                ? "Building…"
-                : "Switching…"
-              : plan.kind === "build"
-                ? "Build crosshair pack"
-                : "Switch to TF2's crosshair"
-          }
-          lockedLabel="Waiting for TF2 to close"
+          actionLabel={working ? "Applying…" : "Apply changes"}
+          lockedLabel="Close TF2 to apply"
           running={running}
           locked={running || busy || working}
           dirty
@@ -802,20 +786,6 @@ export function CrosshairPane({
         />
       ) : null}
 
-      {menu ? (
-        <ContextMenu label="Crosshair actions" position={menu} onClose={() => setMenu(null)}>
-          <ContextMenuItem
-            data-testid="crosshair-remove-pack"
-            disabled={running || busy}
-            onSelect={() => {
-              setMenu(null);
-              setConfirmRemove(true);
-            }}
-          >
-            Remove crosshair pack…
-          </ContextMenuItem>
-        </ContextMenu>
-      ) : null}
       <Modal
         open={confirmRemove}
         title="Remove the crosshair pack?"
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/CrosshairPlacement.test.ts b/apps/desktop/src/CrosshairPlacement.test.ts
index f3c3914a..c91d353e 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/CrosshairPlacement.test.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/CrosshairPlacement.test.ts
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ describe("crosshair settings placement", () => {
       expect(markup).not.toContain("Install pack");
       expect(markup).not.toContain("Save crosshair");
     }
-    expect(renderCrosshair(false, 'cl_crosshair_file ""\n', true)).toContain("Custom pack on");
+    expect(renderCrosshair(false, 'cl_crosshair_file ""\n', true)).toContain("On in TF2.");
   });
 
   it("keeps the controls live while TF2 is running so a draft can be made", () => {
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/GameplayPane.test.ts b/apps/desktop/src/GameplayPane.test.ts
index 90f5a7a1..bdc6a6f4 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/GameplayPane.test.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/GameplayPane.test.ts
@@ -88,8 +88,7 @@ describe("GameplayPane weapon controls", () => {
 
   it("keeps advanced tracers available while TF2 runs and routes viewmodel controls to Viewmodels", async () => {
     status.running = true;
-    const onOpenViewmodels = vi.fn();
-    await act(async () => render({ onOpenViewmodels }));
+    await act(async () => render());
     expect(control("gameplay-tracers-fp")?.disabled).toBe(false);
     expect(control("gameplay-tracers")).toBeNull();
     expect(control("gameplay-flip")).toBeNull();
@@ -97,8 +96,8 @@ describe("GameplayPane weapon controls", () => {
     expect(control("gameplay-draw-viewmodel")).toBeNull();
     // Tracers sit with the weapon switches; there is no Advanced fold for one switch.
     expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="gameplay-advanced"]')).toBeNull();
-    await act(async () => control("gameplay-open-viewmodels")?.click());
-    expect(onOpenViewmodels).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    // Viewmodels has its own pane in the sidebar; Gameplay does not repeat a link to it.
+    expect(control("gameplay-open-viewmodels")).toBeNull();
     expect(
       document.querySelector('[aria-label="Field of view values"]')?.textContent,
     ).not.toContain("These values describe the cfg settings");
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/GameplayPane.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/GameplayPane.tsx
index 1475f22d..a3f77e40 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/GameplayPane.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/GameplayPane.tsx
@@ -29,8 +29,6 @@ export type GameplayPaneProps = {
   layer: GameplayLayer;
   effective: Record<string, string>;
   managedText: string;
-  /** Viewmodel FOV, visibility and transparency live in the Viewmodels pane. */
-  onOpenViewmodels?: () => void;
   /** Resolves when the write settles; the toast reports it. */
   onSave: (gameplayText: string) => Promise<unknown>;
   /** Copy the saved Gameplay settings to other profiles; offered only when provided. */
@@ -42,7 +40,6 @@ export function GameplayPane({
   layer,
   effective,
   managedText,
-  onOpenViewmodels,
   onSave,
   copySettings,
 }: GameplayPaneProps) {
@@ -201,21 +198,6 @@ export function GameplayPane({
           />
         </PaneSection>
       </div>
-
-      <div className="section pane-split">
-        <PaneSection id="gameplay-viewmodels" title="Viewmodels" first>
-          {onOpenViewmodels ? (
-            <button
-              type="button"
-              data-testid="gameplay-open-viewmodels"
-              className="btn btn-ghost mt-3"
-              onClick={onOpenViewmodels}
-            >
-              Open Viewmodels
-            </button>
-          ) : null}
-        </PaneSection>
-      </div>
     </section>
   );
 }
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/ImportOutcomes.test.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/ImportOutcomes.test.tsx
index 2da249a2..3ceda788 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/ImportOutcomes.test.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/ImportOutcomes.test.tsx
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ const cases = [
   ["mods", "onImportArchive", "prepareImportModArchive", "Mod imported"],
   ["mods", "onImportFolder", "prepareImportModFolder", "Mod imported"],
   ["viewmodels", "onImport", "importViewmodels", "Pack imported"],
-  ["comfig", "onImportCustom", "importComfigCustom", "comfig-custom imported"],
+  ["comfig", "onImportCustom", "importComfigCustom", "comfig-custom folder added"],
 ] as const;
 
 beforeEach(() => {
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/LaunchPane.test.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/LaunchPane.test.tsx
index 24174337..cda95d30 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/LaunchPane.test.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/LaunchPane.test.tsx
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ describe("Launch workspace", () => {
     await click('[data-testid="launch-steam-retry"]');
     expect(save).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
     expect(element('[data-testid="launch-steam-status"]').textContent).toContain(
-      "Steam is open with different options",
+      "Steam has different options and is open",
     );
     sync = { ...sync, inSync: true, steamRunning: false };
     status = "written";
@@ -368,12 +368,15 @@ it("offers only a fresh check while Steam is open, because execs never writes th
     reviewToken: "review-a",
   };
   await render();
-  expect(element('[data-testid="launch-steam-retry"]').textContent).toBe("Check Steam again");
+  expect(element('[data-testid="launch-steam-retry"]').textContent).toBe("Check again");
   await click('[data-testid="launch-steam-retry"]');
   expect(document.body.textContent).not.toContain("Replace Steam launch options?");
   expect(save).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
   expect(writeSteam).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   sync = { ...sync, steamRunning: false };
   await render();
-  expect(element('[data-testid="launch-steam-retry"]').textContent).toBe("Write to Steam");
+  expect(element('[data-testid="launch-steam-retry"]').textContent).toBe(
+    "Use this profile's options",
+  );
+  expect(element('[data-testid="launch-steam-compare"]').textContent).toContain("-console");
 });
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/LaunchPane.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/LaunchPane.tsx
index 863f0ba6..ab5b8455 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/LaunchPane.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/LaunchPane.tsx
@@ -127,6 +127,13 @@ export function LaunchPane({
   const steamState = launchSteamState(value, saved, steamSync, steamWrite ?? null);
   const steamSettled = steamState === "in-steam" || steamState === "no-account";
   const steamOpen = steamState === "steam-open";
+  // Both strings are known and saved, so the player can compare before choosing.
+  const steamDiffers =
+    value === saved &&
+    steamSync !== null &&
+    steamSync.profileOptions === saved &&
+    !steamSync.inSync &&
+    steamSync.steamOptions !== null;
   const { feedback, copy } = useCopyFeedback();
   // Typing is a draft: the lock defers the write, it does not lock the field.
   const { flush } = useAutosave({
@@ -525,78 +532,99 @@ export function LaunchPane({
               {strippedLaunchNotice(stripped)}
             </Alert>
           ) : null}
+        </section>
 
-          <div className="surface mt-4 flex flex-wrap items-center justify-between gap-3 p-4">
-            <p
-              data-testid="launch-steam-status"
-              aria-live="polite"
-              className="t-meta flex min-w-60 flex-1 items-center gap-2"
-            >
-              {retrying ? (
-                <Spinner size={16} />
-              ) : retryFailed || steamState === "write-failed" ? (
-                <WarningCircle size={16} className="shrink-0 text-warn" aria-hidden="true" />
-              ) : steamState === "in-steam" ? (
-                <CheckCircle size={16} className="shrink-0 text-ok" weight="fill" />
-              ) : (
-                <Info size={16} aria-hidden="true" className="shrink-0" />
-              )}
-              {retrying
-                ? "Checking whether Steam can be updated…"
-                : retryFailed
-                  ? "Could not confirm the Steam update. Copy the launch options or retry."
-                  : launchSteamCopy(steamState, running)}
-            </p>
-            {onAdoptSteam &&
-            steamSync?.reviewToken &&
-            !steamSync.inSync &&
-            steamSync.steamOptions !== null ? (
-              <button
-                type="button"
-                className="btn btn-ghost"
-                data-testid="launch-steam-adopt"
-                disabled={running || busy || retrying || value !== saved || composerPending}
-                onClick={() => {
-                  const token = steamSync.reviewToken;
-                  if (token) void onAdoptSteam(token);
-                }}
-              >
-                Use Steam options for this profile
-              </button>
-            ) : null}
-            {steamSettled && !retryFailed ? null : (
-              <button
-                type="button"
-                data-testid="launch-steam-retry"
-                disabled={running || busy || retrying || value !== saved || composerPending}
-                title={
-                  running
-                    ? "Available after TF2 closes."
-                    : composerPending
-                      ? "Add or cancel the option first."
-                      : value !== saved
-                        ? "Wait for the profile save to finish."
-                        : steamOpen
-                          ? "execs writes Steam's options only while Steam is closed. Close Steam, then check again."
-                          : "Review the current Steam options before replacing them."
-                }
-                onClick={() => {
-                  // With Steam open nothing can be written: only re-read its state.
-                  if (onWriteSteam && steamSync && !steamOpen) setSteamReview(steamSync);
-                  else void retrySteamWrite();
-                }}
-                className="btn btn-ghost shrink-0"
-              >
-                {retrying ? (
-                  <Loading>Checking Steam…</Loading>
-                ) : steamOpen ? (
-                  "Check Steam again"
-                ) : (
-                  "Write to Steam"
-                )}
-              </button>
+        <section className="section" aria-labelledby="launch-steam-heading">
+          <h2 id="launch-steam-heading" className="t-section">
+            Steam
+          </h2>
+          <p
+            data-testid="launch-steam-status"
+            aria-live="polite"
+            className="t-meta mt-1 flex items-center gap-2"
+          >
+            {retrying ? (
+              <Spinner size={16} />
+            ) : retryFailed || steamState === "write-failed" ? (
+              <WarningCircle size={16} className="shrink-0 text-warn" aria-hidden="true" />
+            ) : steamState === "in-steam" ? (
+              <CheckCircle size={16} className="shrink-0 text-ok" weight="fill" />
+            ) : (
+              <Info size={16} aria-hidden="true" className="shrink-0" />
             )}
-          </div>
+            {retrying
+              ? "Checking whether Steam can be updated…"
+              : retryFailed
+                ? "Could not confirm the Steam update. Try again, or paste the options into Steam yourself."
+                : launchSteamCopy(steamState, running)}
+          </p>
+          {steamDiffers ? (
+            <dl data-testid="launch-steam-compare" className="launch-compare surface mt-3">
+              <div>
+                <dt>This profile</dt>
+                <dd>{saved || "No launch options"}</dd>
+              </div>
+              <div>
+                <dt>Steam now</dt>
+                <dd>{steamSync?.steamOptions || "No launch options"}</dd>
+              </div>
+            </dl>
+          ) : null}
+          {steamSettled && !retryFailed && !steamDiffers ? null : (
+            <div className="mt-3 flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2">
+              {steamSettled && !retryFailed ? null : (
+                <button
+                  type="button"
+                  data-testid="launch-steam-retry"
+                  disabled={running || busy || retrying || value !== saved || composerPending}
+                  title={
+                    running
+                      ? "Available after TF2 closes."
+                      : composerPending
+                        ? "Add or cancel the option first."
+                        : value !== saved
+                          ? "Wait for the profile save to finish."
+                          : steamOpen
+                            ? "execs writes Steam's options only while Steam is closed. Close Steam, then check again."
+                            : "Review the current Steam options before replacing them."
+                  }
+                  onClick={() => {
+                    // With Steam open nothing can be written: only re-read its state.
+                    if (onWriteSteam && steamSync && !steamOpen) setSteamReview(steamSync);
+                    else void retrySteamWrite();
+                  }}
+                  className={`btn shrink-0 ${steamOpen || retryFailed ? "btn-ghost" : "btn-primary"}`}
+                >
+                  {retrying ? (
+                    <Loading>Checking Steam…</Loading>
+                  ) : steamOpen ? (
+                    "Check again"
+                  ) : retryFailed || steamState === "write-failed" ? (
+                    "Try again"
+                  ) : (
+                    "Use this profile's options"
+                  )}
+                </button>
+              )}
+              {onAdoptSteam &&
+              steamSync?.reviewToken &&
+              !steamSync.inSync &&
+              steamSync.steamOptions !== null ? (
+                <button
+                  type="button"
+                  className="btn btn-ghost"
+                  data-testid="launch-steam-adopt"
+                  disabled={running || busy || retrying || value !== saved || composerPending}
+                  onClick={() => {
+                    const token = steamSync.reviewToken;
+                    if (token) void onAdoptSteam(token);
+                  }}
+                >
+                  Use Steam's options
+                </button>
+              ) : null}
+            </div>
+          )}
         </section>
         {steamState === "steam-open" ||
         steamState === "write-failed" ||
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/ModsPane.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/ModsPane.tsx
index 236e7b21..4ea1735a 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/ModsPane.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/ModsPane.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { ModContentAudit } from "./components/ModContentAudit";
 import { ModImport } from "./components/ModImport";
 import { ModList } from "./components/ModList";
 import { Alert } from "./components/ui/Alert";
+import { ApplyBar } from "./components/ui/ApplyBar";
 import { ClassTabs } from "./components/ui/ClassTabs";
 import { Modal } from "./components/ui/Modal";
 import { PaneHeader } from "./components/ui/PaneHeader";
@@ -827,8 +828,8 @@ export function ModsPane({
                   {!payload
                     ? "Selection unavailable"
                     : selectionDirty(payload, selection)
-                      ? "Ready to apply"
-                      : "Applied selection"}
+                      ? "After you apply"
+                      : "In TF2 now"}
                 </h3>
                 {addons.length + particleMods.length + profileParticleMods.length > 0 ? (
                   <ul className="t-meta mt-3 list-none space-y-3 p-0">
@@ -862,33 +863,7 @@ export function ModsPane({
                       : "Waiting for this profile’s installed selection."}
                   </p>
                 )}
-                {selectionDirty(payload, selection) ? (
-                  <button
-                    type="button"
-                    className="btn btn-quiet mt-4"
-                    disabled={busy}
-                    onClick={() => setSelection(installed)}
-                  >
-                    Reset selection
-                  </button>
-                ) : null}
-                <div className="mt-4 grid gap-2 border-t border-edge pt-3">
-                  {showApply ? (
-                    <>
-                      <button
-                        type="button"
-                        data-testid="mods-apply"
-                        className="btn btn-primary w-full"
-                        disabled={locked || !canApply}
-                        onClick={() => onApply(addons, particleMods, profileParticleMods)}
-                      >
-                        {running ? "Close TF2 to apply" : "Apply mods"}
-                      </button>
-                      <p className="t-meta" aria-live="polite">
-                        {modsStatusLine(payload, selection, running)}
-                      </p>
-                    </>
-                  ) : null}
+                <div className="mt-4 border-t border-edge pt-3">
                   <button
                     type="button"
                     data-testid="mods-revert"
@@ -896,9 +871,8 @@ export function ModsPane({
                     disabled={locked || !anythingInstalled}
                     onClick={() => setConfirmRestore(true)}
                   >
-                    Restore stock files
+                    Restore stock files…
                   </button>
-                  <p className="t-meta">Apply turns Preload on.</p>
                 </div>
               </aside>
             </div>
@@ -949,6 +923,35 @@ export function ModsPane({
               casual-pre-loader on GitHub
             </button>
           </p>
+          {showApply ? (
+            <ApplyBar
+              testId="mods-apply"
+              status={
+                <span data-testid="mods-apply-status">
+                  {modsStatusLine(payload, selection, payload?.profilePreload === false)}
+                </span>
+              }
+              actionLabel="Apply changes"
+              lockedLabel="Close TF2 to apply"
+              running={running}
+              locked={locked || !canApply}
+              dirty
+              extra={
+                dirty ? (
+                  <button
+                    type="button"
+                    data-testid="mods-discard"
+                    className="btn btn-ghost"
+                    disabled={busy}
+                    onClick={() => setSelection(installed)}
+                  >
+                    Discard changes
+                  </button>
+                ) : null
+              }
+              onApply={() => onApply(addons, particleMods, profileParticleMods)}
+            />
+          ) : null}
         </div>
       </div>
       <Modal
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/SettingsHost.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/SettingsHost.tsx
index de5768ab..55e9e043 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/SettingsHost.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/SettingsHost.tsx
@@ -967,7 +967,7 @@ export function SettingsHost({
               async () => {
                 await api.updateComfigVpks();
               },
-              { success: "Packages up to date", failure: "Could not update" },
+              { success: "mastercomfig updated", failure: "Could not update" },
             );
           }}
           onImportCustom={() => {
@@ -975,7 +975,7 @@ export function SettingsHost({
               async () => {
                 if ((await api.importComfigCustom()) === null) return null;
               },
-              { success: "comfig-custom imported", failure: "Could not import" },
+              { success: "comfig-custom folder added", failure: "Could not add the folder" },
               { picker: true },
             );
           }}
@@ -1019,7 +1019,6 @@ export function SettingsHost({
           layer={layer}
           effective={maps.effective}
           managedText={files.find((file) => file.path === path)?.text ?? ""}
-          onOpenViewmodels={() => onNavigate?.("viewmodels")}
           onSave={(gameplayText) =>
             write(
               async () => {
@@ -1207,7 +1206,6 @@ export function SettingsHost({
             cfgReady: maps.complete && !filesLimited,
             transparentViewmodels: comfig.addons.includes("transparent-viewmodels"),
             canUseComfigAddons: canUseTransparentViewmodels(detail?.layer ?? null),
-            onOpenComfig: () => onNavigate?.("comfig"),
             onToggleTransparentViewmodels: () => {
               const addons = toggleComfigAddon(comfig.addons, "transparent-viewmodels");
               void write(async () => {
@@ -1239,7 +1237,7 @@ export function SettingsHost({
               async () => {
                 await api.buildSelectedViewmodelPack(request);
               },
-              { success: "Pack built", failure: "Could not build" },
+              { success: "Viewmodels applied", failure: "Could not apply viewmodels" },
             )
           }
           onRemove={() => {
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/SoundsPane.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/SoundsPane.tsx
index 6154e662..618531c1 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/SoundsPane.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/SoundsPane.tsx
@@ -479,6 +479,24 @@ export function SoundsPane({
         ))}
       </div>
 
+      {record ? (
+        <div
+          data-testid="sounds-files"
+          className="mt-5 flex flex-wrap items-center justify-between gap-3 border-t border-edge pt-4"
+        >
+          <p className="t-meta min-w-0">Your own sound files are saved in this profile.</p>
+          <button
+            type="button"
+            data-testid="sounds-remove"
+            disabled={removeLocked}
+            onClick={onRemove}
+            className="btn btn-ghost"
+          >
+            <Trash size={14} aria-hidden="true" /> Remove sound files
+          </button>
+        </div>
+      ) : null}
+
       {dormantSounds.length ? (
         <section data-testid="sounds-saved-inactive" className="pane-note mt-4">
           <p>
@@ -607,17 +625,6 @@ export function SoundsPane({
               {picking ? <Spinner size={14} /> : <UploadSimple size={14} />}
               {picking ? "Reading…" : "Add a sound file…"}
             </button>
-            {record ? (
-              <button
-                type="button"
-                data-testid="sounds-remove"
-                disabled={removeLocked}
-                onClick={onRemove}
-                className="btn btn-ghost"
-              >
-                <Trash size={14} /> Remove sound files
-              </button>
-            ) : null}
           </div>
         </div>
         {pickError ? (
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/ViewmodelBuilder.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/ViewmodelBuilder.tsx
index d6ad47f3..65549660 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/ViewmodelBuilder.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/ViewmodelBuilder.tsx
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
-import { ArrowClockwise } from "@phosphor-icons/react";
 import { Fragment, useCallback, useEffect, useRef, useState } from "react";
+import { createPortal } from "react-dom";
+import { ApplyBar } from "./components/ui/ApplyBar";
 import { ChoiceMatrixHead, ChoiceMatrixRow } from "./components/ui/ChoiceMatrix";
 import { ClassIcon } from "./components/ui/ClassIcon";
 import { ClassTabs } from "./components/ui/ClassTabs";
 import { Modal } from "./components/ui/Modal";
 import { Segmented } from "./components/ui/Segmented";
-import { Loading, Spinner } from "./components/ui/Spinner";
+import { Loading } from "./components/ui/Spinner";
 import { useExplicitDraft } from "./hooks/useExplicitDraft";
 import { draftRecordKey, useSeededDraft } from "./hooks/useSeededDraft";
 import type {
@@ -102,12 +103,24 @@ export function ViewmodelBuilder({
   profilePreload,
   savedRecipe,
   locked = false,
+  running = false,
+  barSlot = null,
   loadCatalog,
   onBuild,
+  onRemovePack,
 }: {
   active: boolean;
   /** Keys the unbuilt draft to the profile. */
   profileId?: string | null;
+  /** TF2 is running, so applying waits for it to close. */
+  running?: boolean;
+  /**
+   * Where the pane keeps its apply bar: the end of the whole pane, so the bar
+   * stays in view from the first section to the last.
+   */
+  barSlot?: HTMLElement | null;
+  /** Applying "everything shown" over a built pack removes it. */
+  onRemovePack?: () => void;
   loadCatalog: () => Promise<ViewmodelSourceCatalog>;
   profilePreload: boolean | null;
   /** The saved locally built recipe, used to show its choices when the sources still match. */
@@ -289,12 +302,13 @@ export function ViewmodelBuilder({
           profileId={profileId}
           editable={editable}
           active={active}
-          busy={busy}
           profilePreload={profilePreload}
           savedRecipe={savedRecipe}
           locked={locked}
+          running={running}
+          barSlot={barSlot}
           onBuild={onBuild}
-          onRefresh={() => refreshCatalog()}
+          onRemovePack={onRemovePack}
           onPendingChange={reportDraft}
         />
       ) : null}
@@ -332,24 +346,26 @@ function ViewmodelCatalogChoices({
   profileId,
   editable,
   active,
-  busy,
   profilePreload,
   savedRecipe,
   locked,
+  running,
+  barSlot,
   onBuild,
-  onRefresh,
+  onRemovePack,
   onPendingChange,
 }: {
   catalog: ViewmodelSourceCatalog;
   profileId: string | null;
   editable: boolean;
   active: boolean;
-  busy: boolean;
   profilePreload: boolean | null;
   savedRecipe?: ViewmodelBuildRecipe;
   locked: boolean;
+  running: boolean;
+  barSlot: HTMLElement | null;
   onBuild: (request: ViewmodelBuildRequest) => Promise<boolean>;
-  onRefresh: () => void;
+  onRemovePack?: () => void;
   onPendingChange: (pending: boolean) => void;
 }) {
   const classes = viewmodelClasses(catalog);
@@ -367,7 +383,6 @@ function ViewmodelCatalogChoices({
     serializeChoices,
     draftRecordKey(profileId, "viewmodel-builder"),
   );
-  const [reviewOpen, setReviewOpen] = useState(false);
   const [presetOpen, setPresetOpen] = useState(false);
   const [preset, setPreset] = useState<ViewmodelPreset>("keep-melee");
   const [presetMode, setPresetMode] = useState<ViewmodelHideMode>("full");
@@ -393,12 +408,12 @@ function ViewmodelCatalogChoices({
     reviewRequest !== null &&
     selected.length > 0 &&
     conflicts.size === 0;
+  // Showing everything again over a built pack means the pack goes.
+  const removesPack =
+    changed && selected.length === 0 && Object.keys(saved).length > 0 && Boolean(onRemovePack);
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (!active || !editable) {
-      setReviewOpen(false);
-      setPresetOpen(false);
-    }
+    if (!active || !editable) setPresetOpen(false);
   }, [active, editable]);
 
   const proposed = presetOpen ? viewmodelPresetChoices(catalog, preset, presetMode) : null;
@@ -424,7 +439,6 @@ function ViewmodelCatalogChoices({
     try {
       if (await onBuild(reviewRequest)) {
         setBaseline((current) => ({ ...current, choices: sent }));
-        setReviewOpen(false);
       }
     } catch {
       // The host reports failures. Keep the exact draft available for retry.
@@ -437,7 +451,7 @@ function ViewmodelCatalogChoices({
   const hiddenRows = classes.flatMap((name) =>
     (rowsByClass.get(name) ?? []).filter((row) => viewmodelRowChoice(choices, row) !== "shown"),
   );
-  // Review and the class tabs read per class, the way the choices are made.
+  // The summary and the class tabs read per class, the way the choices are made.
   const summaries = classes.flatMap((name) => {
     const classLayout = layouts.get(name);
     const summary = classLayout ? viewmodelClassSummary(choices, classLayout) : null;
@@ -484,18 +498,6 @@ function ViewmodelCatalogChoices({
           aria-labelledby={`viewmodel-class-${selectedClass}`}
         >
           <div className="mt-4 flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2">
-            <button
-              type="button"
-              data-testid="viewmodel-catalog-refresh"
-              className="btn btn-ghost"
-              title="Reread your TF2 files"
-              aria-label="Reread your TF2 files"
-              disabled={!active || busy}
-              aria-busy={busy || undefined}
-              onClick={onRefresh}
-            >
-              {busy ? <Spinner size={15} /> : <ArrowClockwise size={15} />}
-            </button>
             <button
               type="button"
               data-testid="viewmodel-presets"
@@ -503,15 +505,15 @@ function ViewmodelCatalogChoices({
               disabled={!editable}
               onClick={() => setPresetOpen(true)}
             >
-              Every class…
+              Set every class…
             </button>
             <p
               className="t-meta ml-2 min-w-0 flex-1 whitespace-nowrap"
               data-testid="viewmodel-choice-summary"
             >
               {hiddenRows.length
-                ? `${summaries.length} ${summaries.length === 1 ? "class" : "classes"} changed${changed ? " · not built yet" : ""}`
-                : `Everything shown${changed ? " · not built yet" : ""}`}
+                ? `${summaries.length} ${summaries.length === 1 ? "class" : "classes"} changed`
+                : "Everything shown"}
             </p>
             {undo ? (
               <button
@@ -527,37 +529,8 @@ function ViewmodelCatalogChoices({
                 Undo
               </button>
             ) : null}
-            {changed ? (
-              <button
-                type="button"
-                data-testid="viewmodel-discard-draft"
-                className="btn btn-quiet whitespace-nowrap"
-                disabled={building || locked}
-                onClick={() => {
-                  setChoices(saved);
-                  setUndo(null);
-                }}
-              >
-                Discard choices
-              </button>
-            ) : null}
-            <button
-              type="button"
-              data-testid="viewmodel-review-build"
-              className="btn btn-primary whitespace-nowrap"
-              disabled={!editable || reviewRequest === null || selected.length === 0}
-              onClick={() => setReviewOpen(true)}
-            >
-              Review and build
-            </button>
           </div>
 
-          {changed && selected.length === 0 && Object.keys(saved).length > 0 ? (
-            <p className="t-meta mt-3" data-testid="viewmodel-draft-notice">
-              To show every weapon, remove the saved pack below.
-            </p>
-          ) : null}
-
           {layout ? (
             <ViewmodelClassChoices
               key={selectedClass}
@@ -574,7 +547,7 @@ function ViewmodelCatalogChoices({
 
       <Modal
         open={presetOpen && active && editable}
-        title="Change every class"
+        title="Set every class"
         testId="viewmodel-preset-review"
         className="fixed top-1/2 left-1/2 z-50 max-h-[calc(100dvh-2rem)] w-[min(560px,calc(100vw-2rem))] -translate-x-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 overflow-y-auto sm:p-6"
         onClose={() => setPresetOpen(false)}
@@ -622,7 +595,7 @@ function ViewmodelCatalogChoices({
         ) : null}
         {proposedConflicts ? (
           <p role="alert" className="t-meta mt-3 text-warn">
-            Some weapons share animations with a melee weapon. Make them match before building.
+            Some weapons share animations with a melee weapon. Make them match before applying.
           </p>
         ) : null}
         <div className="mt-5 flex flex-wrap justify-end gap-2">
@@ -636,60 +609,55 @@ function ViewmodelCatalogChoices({
             className="btn btn-primary"
             onClick={applyPreset}
           >
-            Apply to draft
+            Set every class
           </button>
         </div>
       </Modal>
 
-      <Modal
-        open={reviewOpen && active && editable}
-        title="Build viewmodels"
-        testId="viewmodel-build-review"
-        className="fixed top-1/2 left-1/2 z-50 max-h-[calc(100dvh-2rem)] w-[min(520px,calc(100vw-2rem))] -translate-x-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 overflow-y-auto sm:p-6"
-        onClose={() => {
-          if (!building) setReviewOpen(false);
-        }}
-      >
-        <ul className="mt-4 grid max-h-64 gap-1.5 overflow-y-auto">
-          {summaries.map(({ name, summary }) => (
-            <li key={name} className="flex justify-between gap-3 t-meta">
-              <span className="text-ink">{viewmodelClassLabel(name)}</span>
-              <span className="text-right">{summary}</span>
-            </li>
-          ))}
-        </ul>
-        {conflicts.size ? (
-          <p role="alert" className="t-meta mt-3 text-warn">
-            Some choices share animations but are set differently. Make them match to build.
-          </p>
-        ) : null}
-        <p role="status" data-testid="viewmodel-build-progress" className="t-meta mt-3">
-          {building ? (
-            <Loading>Building from your TF2 files…</Loading>
-          ) : locked ? (
-            "Close TF2 before building."
-          ) : null}
-        </p>
-        <div className="mt-5 flex flex-wrap justify-end gap-2">
-          <button
-            type="button"
-            className="btn btn-ghost"
-            disabled={building}
-            onClick={() => setReviewOpen(false)}
-          >
-            Cancel
-          </button>
-          <button
-            type="button"
-            data-testid="viewmodel-build"
-            disabled={!canBuild}
-            className="btn btn-primary"
-            onClick={() => void build()}
-          >
-            {building ? <Loading>Building…</Loading> : "Build pack"}
-          </button>
-        </div>
-      </Modal>
+      {barSlot && (changed || building)
+        ? createPortal(
+            <ApplyBar
+              testId="viewmodel-build"
+              status={
+                <span data-testid="viewmodel-build-progress">
+                  {building ? (
+                    <Loading>Applying… building from your TF2 files.</Loading>
+                  ) : conflicts.size ? (
+                    "Weapons that share animations must match before you apply."
+                  ) : removesPack ? (
+                    "Everything is shown again. Applying removes your viewmodel pack."
+                  ) : (
+                    "Your viewmodel changes aren't in TF2 yet."
+                  )}
+                </span>
+              }
+              actionLabel={building ? "Applying…" : "Apply changes"}
+              lockedLabel="Close TF2 to apply"
+              running={running}
+              locked={removesPack ? locked || building || !editable : !canBuild}
+              dirty
+              extra={
+                <button
+                  type="button"
+                  data-testid="viewmodel-discard-draft"
+                  className="btn btn-ghost"
+                  disabled={building || locked}
+                  onClick={() => {
+                    setChoices(saved);
+                    setUndo(null);
+                  }}
+                >
+                  Discard changes
+                </button>
+              }
+              onApply={() => {
+                if (removesPack) onRemovePack?.();
+                else void build();
+              }}
+            />,
+            barSlot,
+          )
+        : null}
     </div>
   );
 }
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/ViewmodelPane.test.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/ViewmodelPane.test.tsx
index 80e21b2e..eecf0d55 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/ViewmodelPane.test.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/ViewmodelPane.test.tsx
@@ -156,10 +156,20 @@ async function chooseWeapon(groupId: string, label: string) {
   await click(`[data-testid="viewmodel-weapon-choice-${groupId}-${WEAPON_MODES[label]}"]`);
 }
 
+/** Come back to execs after the last read went stale: the pane reads TF2's files again. */
+async function rereadAfterAWhile() {
+  focused = false;
+  await act(async () => window.dispatchEvent(new Event("blur")));
+  now += 3 * 60_000;
+  focused = true;
+  await act(async () => window.dispatchEvent(new Event("focus")));
+}
+
 describe("Viewmodels source-derived draft", () => {
-  it("shows class sections and short labels while release Build stays unavailable", async () => {
+  it("shows class sections and short labels, and an apply bar only once something changed", async () => {
     await render(false, false);
-    expect(box.textContent).toContain("Import VPK");
+    expect(box.textContent).toContain("Use your own VPK");
+    expect(box.textContent).not.toContain("Open Comfig addons");
     expect(box.textContent).not.toContain("being prepared for 0.2.0");
     expect(box.textContent).not.toContain("Casual preload");
     expect(box.textContent).toContain("Every viewmodel is hidden in game");
@@ -168,15 +178,14 @@ describe("Viewmodels source-derived draft", () => {
       "Primary",
     );
     expect(box.textContent).toContain("Everything shown");
-    expect(element<HTMLButtonElement>('[data-testid="viewmodel-review-build"]').disabled).toBe(
-      true,
-    );
+    expect(box.querySelector('[data-testid="viewmodel-build"]')).toBeNull();
+    expect(element('[data-testid="viewmodel-presets"]').textContent).toBe("Set every class…");
     await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-slot-choice-primary-full"]');
-    expect(element<HTMLButtonElement>('[data-testid="viewmodel-review-build"]').disabled).toBe(
-      false,
+    expect(element('[data-testid="viewmodel-build-progress"]').textContent).toBe(
+      "Your viewmodel changes aren't in TF2 yet.",
     );
-    await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-review-build"]');
-    expect(box.textContent).toContain("Build pack");
+    expect(element('[data-testid="viewmodel-build"]').textContent).toBe("Apply changes");
+    expect(element('[data-testid="viewmodel-discard-draft"]').textContent).toBe("Discard changes");
     expect(element<HTMLButtonElement>('[data-testid="viewmodel-build"]').disabled).toBe(false);
     expect(box.querySelector("img")).toBeNull();
     await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-import"]');
@@ -191,9 +200,6 @@ describe("Viewmodels source-derived draft", () => {
       options: { hidden: "scout/scatterguns,scout/melee", mode: "full", schema: "yttrium-1" },
     };
     await render();
-    expect(element('[data-testid="viewmodel-pack-status"]').textContent).toContain(
-      "Previous build",
-    );
     expect(element('[data-testid="viewmodel-saved-pack"]').textContent).toContain(
       "Built with the previous builder · 2 choices",
     );
@@ -215,8 +221,8 @@ describe("Viewmodels source-derived draft", () => {
     expect(element('[data-testid="viewmodel-source-changed"]').textContent).toContain(
       "This pack was changed outside execs",
     );
-    expect(box.textContent).toContain("Replace with VPK");
-    expect(element('[data-testid="viewmodel-pack-status"]').textContent).toContain("Imported");
+    expect(box.textContent).toContain("Replace with your own VPK");
+    expect(element('[data-testid="viewmodel-pack-status"]').textContent).toBe("Your own VPK.");
   });
 
   it("shows a locally built recipe's choices when the installed sources still match", async () => {
@@ -244,10 +250,10 @@ describe("Viewmodels source-derived draft", () => {
       element('[data-testid="viewmodel-weapon"][data-group-id="scout/b"]').dataset.choice,
     ).toBe("shown");
     expect(box.querySelector("details")).toBeNull();
+    expect(box.querySelector('[data-testid="viewmodel-build"]')).toBeNull();
     await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-slot-choice-primary-full"]');
-    expect(element('[data-testid="viewmodel-choice-summary"]').textContent).toBe(
-      "1 class changed · not built yet",
-    );
+    expect(element('[data-testid="viewmodel-choice-summary"]').textContent).toBe("1 class changed");
+    expect(box.querySelector('[data-testid="viewmodel-build"]')).not.toBeNull();
     expect(
       element('[data-testid="viewmodel-weapon"][data-group-id="scout/b"]').dataset.choice,
     ).toBe("shown");
@@ -272,12 +278,10 @@ describe("Viewmodels source-derived draft", () => {
   it("keeps a failed refresh stale and protects choices until an updated catalog is explicitly accepted", async () => {
     await render();
     await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-slot-choice-primary-full"]');
-    expect(element<HTMLButtonElement>('[data-testid="viewmodel-review-build"]').disabled).toBe(
-      false,
-    );
+    expect(element<HTMLButtonElement>('[data-testid="viewmodel-build"]').disabled).toBe(false);
 
     getCatalog.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error("TF2 source read failed"));
-    await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-catalog-refresh"]');
+    await rereadAfterAWhile();
     expect(box.textContent).toContain("TF2 source read failed");
     expect(box.textContent).toContain("Scattergun");
     expect(
@@ -288,15 +292,13 @@ describe("Viewmodels source-derived draft", () => {
       ...catalog,
       sourceFingerprints: [{ id: "models/weapons/c_models/c_scout_animations.mdl", sha256: "new" }],
     });
-    await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-catalog-refresh"]');
+    await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-catalog-error"] button');
     expect(box.textContent).toContain("these choices can't be built");
     expect(
       element<HTMLInputElement>('[data-testid="viewmodel-slot-choice-primary-full"]').checked,
     ).toBe(true);
     expect(drafts.getSnapshot()).toHaveLength(1);
-    expect(element<HTMLButtonElement>('[data-testid="viewmodel-review-build"]').disabled).toBe(
-      true,
-    );
+    expect(element<HTMLButtonElement>('[data-testid="viewmodel-build"]').disabled).toBe(true);
     expect(buildPack).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-discard-reload"]');
     expect(
@@ -305,7 +307,7 @@ describe("Viewmodels source-derived draft", () => {
     expect(drafts.getSnapshot()).toHaveLength(0);
   });
 
-  it("reads only on focused active use, keeps drafts while hidden, and closes review", async () => {
+  it("reads only on focused active use and keeps drafts while hidden", async () => {
     paneActive = false;
     await render();
     expect(getCatalog).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
@@ -322,11 +324,8 @@ describe("Viewmodels source-derived draft", () => {
     expect(getCatalog).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
 
     await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-slot-choice-primary-full"]');
-    await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-review-build"]');
-    expect(box.querySelector('[data-testid="viewmodel-build-review"]')).not.toBeNull();
     paneActive = false;
     await render();
-    expect(box.querySelector('[data-testid="viewmodel-build-review"]')).toBeNull();
     expect(drafts.getSnapshot()).toHaveLength(1);
     focused = false;
     await act(async () => window.dispatchEvent(new Event("blur")));
@@ -359,14 +358,10 @@ describe("Viewmodels source-derived draft", () => {
   it("starts a fresh planning draft after switching profiles", async () => {
     await render();
     await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-slot-choice-primary-weapon"]');
-    expect(element<HTMLButtonElement>('[data-testid="viewmodel-review-build"]').disabled).toBe(
-      false,
-    );
+    expect(element<HTMLButtonElement>('[data-testid="viewmodel-build"]').disabled).toBe(false);
     profileId = "profile-two";
     await render();
-    expect(element<HTMLButtonElement>('[data-testid="viewmodel-review-build"]').disabled).toBe(
-      true,
-    );
+    expect(box.querySelector('[data-testid="viewmodel-build"]')).toBeNull();
     // The new profile reuses the recent catalog read instead of waiting on TF2's files.
     expect(getCatalog).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
   });
@@ -387,21 +382,18 @@ describe("Viewmodels source-derived draft", () => {
       (button) => button.textContent === "Cancel",
     );
     await act(async () => cancel?.click());
-    expect(element('[data-testid="viewmodel-choice-summary"]').textContent).toBe(
-      "1 class changed · not built yet",
-    );
+    expect(element('[data-testid="viewmodel-choice-summary"]').textContent).toBe("1 class changed");
 
     await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-presets"]');
     await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-preset-hide-all"]');
+    expect(element('[data-testid="viewmodel-preset-apply"]').textContent).toBe("Set every class");
     await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-preset-apply"]');
     expect(element('[data-testid="viewmodel-choice-summary"]').textContent).toBe(
-      "2 classes changed · not built yet",
+      "2 classes changed",
     );
     expect(buildPack).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-preset-undo"]');
-    expect(element('[data-testid="viewmodel-choice-summary"]').textContent).toBe(
-      "1 class changed · not built yet",
-    );
+    expect(element('[data-testid="viewmodel-choice-summary"]').textContent).toBe("1 class changed");
     expect(box.querySelector('[data-testid="viewmodel-preset-undo"]')).toBeNull();
 
     // Show all is a no-op review when nothing is hidden, and a row edit ends undo.
@@ -421,19 +413,20 @@ describe("Viewmodels source-derived draft", () => {
     );
   });
 
-  it("identifies overlapping modes during review", async () => {
+  it("identifies overlapping modes before applying", async () => {
     await render();
     await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-slot-choice-primary-full"]');
     await chooseWeapon("scout/b", "Hands only");
     expect(element('[data-testid="viewmodel-conflict"]').textContent).toContain(
       "Scattergun and Shortstop share animations",
     );
-    await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-review-build"]');
-    expect(box.textContent).toContain("set differently");
+    expect(element('[data-testid="viewmodel-build-progress"]').textContent).toBe(
+      "Weapons that share animations must match before you apply.",
+    );
     expect(element<HTMLButtonElement>('[data-testid="viewmodel-build"]').disabled).toBe(true);
   });
 
-  it("builds the reviewed request", async () => {
+  it("applies the exact request from the bar", async () => {
     let finish: (ok: boolean) => void = () => {};
     const handler = vi.fn(
       (_request: ViewmodelBuildRequest) =>
@@ -444,8 +437,6 @@ describe("Viewmodels source-derived draft", () => {
     buildPack = handler;
     await render(true);
     await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-slot-choice-primary-full"]');
-    await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-review-build"]');
-    expect(box.textContent).toContain("Build pack");
     const build = element<HTMLButtonElement>('[data-testid="viewmodel-build"]');
     expect(build.disabled).toBe(false);
     await act(async () => build.click());
@@ -459,33 +450,28 @@ describe("Viewmodels source-derived draft", () => {
       ],
       preload: true,
     });
-    expect(box.textContent).toContain("Building from your TF2 files");
+    expect(box.textContent).toContain("building from your TF2 files");
     expect(element<HTMLButtonElement>('[data-testid="viewmodel-build"]').disabled).toBe(true);
     await act(async () => finish(false));
-    expect(box.querySelector('[data-testid="viewmodel-build-review"]')).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(box.querySelector('[data-testid="viewmodel-build"]')).not.toBeNull();
     expect(drafts.getSnapshot()).toHaveLength(1);
     await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-build"]');
     await act(async () => finish(true));
-    expect(box.querySelector('[data-testid="viewmodel-build-review"]')).toBeNull();
+    expect(box.querySelector('[data-testid="viewmodel-build"]')).toBeNull();
     expect(drafts.getSnapshot()).toHaveLength(0);
-    expect(box.textContent).not.toContain("not built yet");
   });
 
-  it("keeps Build disabled while TF2 runs or choices conflict", async () => {
+  it("keeps Apply disabled while TF2 runs or choices conflict", async () => {
     buildPack = vi.fn(async () => true);
     running = true;
     await render();
     await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-slot-choice-primary-full"]');
-    await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-review-build"]');
-    expect(box.textContent).toContain("Close TF2 before building");
+    expect(element('[data-testid="viewmodel-build"]').textContent).toBe("Close TF2 to apply");
     expect(element<HTMLButtonElement>('[data-testid="viewmodel-build"]').disabled).toBe(true);
     running = false;
     await render();
     expect(element<HTMLButtonElement>('[data-testid="viewmodel-build"]').disabled).toBe(false);
-    await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-build-review"] .btn-ghost');
-    expect(box.querySelector('[data-testid="viewmodel-build-review"]')).toBeNull();
     await chooseWeapon("scout/b", "Hands only");
-    await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-review-build"]');
     expect(element<HTMLButtonElement>('[data-testid="viewmodel-build"]').disabled).toBe(true);
     expect(buildPack).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
@@ -516,7 +502,6 @@ describe("Viewmodels source-derived draft", () => {
     );
     await render();
     await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-slot-choice-primary-full"]');
-    await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-review-build"]');
     await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-build"]');
     // Simulate the user's newer selection while the asynchronous write is pending.
     await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-slot-choice-primary-weapon"]');
@@ -549,8 +534,14 @@ describe("Viewmodels source-derived draft", () => {
     await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-presets"]');
     await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-preset-show-all"]');
     await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-preset-apply"]');
-    expect(box.textContent).toContain("remove the saved pack below");
+    // Showing everything again over a built pack: applying removes the pack.
+    expect(element('[data-testid="viewmodel-build-progress"]').textContent).toBe(
+      "Everything is shown again. Applying removes your viewmodel pack.",
+    );
     expect(drafts.getSnapshot()).toHaveLength(1);
+    await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-build"]');
+    expect(removePack).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    expect(buildPack).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
     await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-preset-undo"]');
     expect(drafts.getSnapshot()).toHaveLength(0);
   });
@@ -559,7 +550,6 @@ describe("Viewmodels source-derived draft", () => {
     buildPack = vi.fn().mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error("disk refused")).mockResolvedValue(true);
     await render();
     await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-slot-choice-primary-full"]');
-    await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-review-build"]');
     await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-build"]');
     expect(drafts.getSnapshot()).toHaveLength(1);
     await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-build"]');
@@ -591,7 +581,6 @@ describe("Viewmodels source-derived draft", () => {
   it("keeps a newer edit when the saved recipe arrives after build completion", async () => {
     await render();
     await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-slot-choice-primary-full"]');
-    await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-review-build"]');
     await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-build"]');
     expect(drafts.getSnapshot()).toHaveLength(0);
     await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-slot-choice-primary-weapon"]');
@@ -622,7 +611,7 @@ describe("Viewmodels source-derived draft", () => {
     expect(drafts.getSnapshot()).toHaveLength(0);
   });
 
-  it("opens ready from the app's background read, then rechecks only on refresh", async () => {
+  it("opens ready from the app's background read, then rechecks only once it is stale", async () => {
     const { prefetchViewmodelCatalog } = await import("./lib/viewmodel-catalog-cache");
     prefetchViewmodelCatalog(getCatalog);
     await act(async () => {});
@@ -631,7 +620,8 @@ describe("Viewmodels source-derived draft", () => {
     expect(box.querySelector('[data-testid="viewmodel-catalog-status"]')).toBeNull();
     expect(box.textContent).toContain("Scattergun");
     expect(getCatalog).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
-    await click('[data-testid="viewmodel-catalog-refresh"]');
+    expect(box.querySelector('[data-testid="viewmodel-catalog-refresh"]')).toBeNull();
+    await rereadAfterAWhile();
     expect(getCatalog).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
   });
 });
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/ViewmodelPane.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/ViewmodelPane.tsx
index 48a1009b..cb67f78c 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/ViewmodelPane.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/ViewmodelPane.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { DownloadSimple, Trash } from "@phosphor-icons/react";
+import { useState } from "react";
 import { PaneHeader } from "./components/ui/PaneHeader";
-import { useCanWrite } from "./hooks/useAppStatus";
+import { useAppStatus, useCanWrite } from "./hooks/useAppStatus";
 import type { ViewmodelBuildRequest, ViewmodelRecord, ViewmodelSourceCatalog } from "./lib/bridge";
 import { legacyViewmodelSelectionCount } from "./lib/viewmodel-ui";
 import { ViewmodelBuilder } from "./ViewmodelBuilder";
@@ -30,6 +31,8 @@ export function ViewmodelPane({
   onRemove: () => void;
 }) {
   const locked = !useCanWrite();
+  const { running } = useAppStatus();
+  const [barSlot, setBarSlot] = useState<HTMLDivElement | null>(null);
   const previouslyBuilt = record?.source === "compiled";
   const locallyBuilt = record?.source === "stockBuilt";
   const legacyChoices = legacyViewmodelSelectionCount(record);
@@ -38,23 +41,14 @@ export function ViewmodelPane({
       ? `Built with the previous builder · ${legacyChoices} ${legacyChoices === 1 ? "choice" : "choices"}`
       : "Built with the previous builder"
     : locallyBuilt
-      ? "Built in execs"
+      ? "Built in execs from your TF2 files."
       : record
-        ? "Imported VPK"
-        : "No pack";
+        ? "Your own VPK."
+        : "None. TF2 shows its normal viewmodels.";
 
   return (
     <section data-testid="settings-viewmodels" className="min-w-0 text-left">
-      <PaneHeader
-        title="Viewmodels"
-        actions={
-          record ? (
-            <span data-testid="viewmodel-pack-status" className="badge" title={packLabel}>
-              {previouslyBuilt ? "Previous build" : locallyBuilt ? "Built pack" : "Imported pack"}
-            </span>
-          ) : null
-        }
-      />
+      <PaneHeader title="Viewmodels" />
       {record?.sourceChanged ? (
         <p data-testid="viewmodel-source-changed" role="alert" className="t-meta mb-4 text-warn">
           This pack was changed outside execs. Replace or remove it.
@@ -78,17 +72,25 @@ export function ViewmodelPane({
         profilePreload={profilePreload}
         savedRecipe={locallyBuilt ? record?.buildRecipe : undefined}
         locked={locked}
+        running={running}
+        barSlot={barSlot}
         loadCatalog={loadCatalog}
         onBuild={onBuild}
+        onRemovePack={onRemove}
       />
 
-      <div
+      <section
         data-testid="viewmodel-saved-pack"
-        className="flex flex-wrap items-center justify-between gap-3 border-t border-edge pt-4"
+        aria-labelledby="viewmodel-pack-heading"
+        className="flex flex-wrap items-center justify-between gap-3 border-t border-edge pt-5"
       >
         <div className="min-w-0">
-          <h2 className="eyebrow">Saved pack</h2>
-          <p className="t-meta mt-1">{packLabel}</p>
+          <h2 id="viewmodel-pack-heading" className="t-section">
+            Viewmodel pack
+          </h2>
+          <p className="t-meta mt-1" data-testid="viewmodel-pack-status">
+            {packLabel}
+          </p>
         </div>
         <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2">
           <button
@@ -97,10 +99,10 @@ export function ViewmodelPane({
             disabled={locked || profilePreload === null}
             onClick={() => onImport(profilePreload ?? false)}
             className="btn btn-ghost"
-            title="Use a model-only VPK. Packs with cfg, HUD or sound files belong in Mods."
+            title="A model-only VPK. Packs with cfg, HUD or sound files belong in Mods."
           >
-            <DownloadSimple size={15} />
-            {record ? "Replace with VPK…" : "Import VPK…"}
+            <DownloadSimple size={15} aria-hidden="true" />
+            {record ? "Replace with your own VPK…" : "Use your own VPK…"}
           </button>
           {record ? (
             <button
@@ -108,13 +110,15 @@ export function ViewmodelPane({
               data-testid="viewmodel-remove"
               disabled={locked}
               onClick={onRemove}
-              className="btn btn-quiet"
+              className="btn btn-ghost"
             >
-              <Trash size={14} /> Remove pack
+              <Trash size={14} aria-hidden="true" /> Remove pack
             </button>
           ) : null}
         </div>
-      </div>
+      </section>
+      {/* The apply bar sits at the end of the pane so it stays in view throughout. */}
+      <div ref={setBarSlot} className="contents" />
     </section>
   );
 }
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/ViewmodelSettings.test.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/ViewmodelSettings.test.tsx
index a1bf6fab..2338221b 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/ViewmodelSettings.test.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/ViewmodelSettings.test.tsx
@@ -94,23 +94,18 @@ describe("Viewmodels in-game settings", () => {
     expect(save).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
-  it("reuses the Comfig addon with its real prerequisites and a route to Comfig", async () => {
+  it("reuses the Comfig addon with its real prerequisites, switched right here", async () => {
     const toggle = vi.fn();
-    const onOpenComfig = vi.fn();
     await render({
       transparentViewmodels: true,
       onToggleTransparentViewmodels: toggle,
-      onOpenComfig,
     });
     expect(control("viewmodel-transparent").getAttribute("aria-checked")).toBe("true");
     expect(box.textContent).toContain(OFFICIAL_ADDON_DETAILS["transparent-viewmodels"]);
     await act(async () => control("viewmodel-transparent").click());
     expect(toggle).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
-    const open = [...box.querySelectorAll<HTMLButtonElement>("button")].find(
-      (button) => button.textContent === "Open Comfig addons",
-    );
-    await act(async () => open?.click());
-    expect(onOpenComfig).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    // The switch is the control; no second button sends the player to Comfig for it.
+    expect(box.querySelectorAll("button.btn")).toHaveLength(0);
   });
 
   it("offers the addon only to Comfig profiles and waits for a complete cfg read", async () => {
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/ViewmodelSettings.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/ViewmodelSettings.tsx
index b3292271..6e1546bd 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/ViewmodelSettings.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/ViewmodelSettings.tsx
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ export type ViewmodelSettingsProps = {
   /** Official addon belongs to a Comfig profile. */
   canUseComfigAddons: boolean;
   onToggleTransparentViewmodels: () => void;
-  onOpenComfig?: () => void;
   /** Resolves when the write settles. */
   onSave: (gameplayText: string) => Promise<unknown>;
 };
@@ -42,7 +41,6 @@ export function ViewmodelSettings({
   transparentViewmodels,
   canUseComfigAddons,
   onToggleTransparentViewmodels,
-  onOpenComfig,
   onSave,
 }: ViewmodelSettingsProps) {
   const { running, busy } = useAppStatus();
@@ -130,11 +128,6 @@ export function ViewmodelSettings({
             note={canUseComfigAddons ? undefined : "Available with a Comfig profile."}
             onChange={() => onToggleTransparentViewmodels()}
           />
-          {onOpenComfig ? (
-            <button type="button" className="btn btn-ghost mt-2" onClick={onOpenComfig}>
-              Open Comfig addons
-            </button>
-          ) : null}
         </div>
       </div>
     </PaneSection>
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/components/CopySettings.test.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/components/CopySettings.test.tsx
index 10a1f10b..30e90cf8 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/components/CopySettings.test.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/components/CopySettings.test.tsx
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ it("reviews profiles, preselects the ones that change and copies to the chosen o
   await act(async () =>
     root.render(<CopySettings scope="binds" source={{ review, copy }} blockedReason={null} />),
   );
-  await act(async () => button("Copy to profiles…")?.click());
+  await act(async () => button("Copy to other profiles…")?.click());
   expect(review).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
   expect(document.body.textContent).toContain("Already has these settings.");
   const switches = [...document.body.querySelectorAll<HTMLButtonElement>('[role="switch"]')];
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ it("explains why copying waits", async () => {
       />,
     ),
   );
-  const trigger = button("Copy to profiles…");
+  const trigger = button("Copy to other profiles…");
   expect(trigger?.disabled).toBe(true);
   expect(trigger?.title).toContain("Close TF2");
 });
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/components/CopySettings.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/components/CopySettings.tsx
index e16682d3..b0635723 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/components/CopySettings.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/components/CopySettings.tsx
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ const COPY: Record<SettingsCopyScope, { title: string; description: string }> =
 };
 
 /**
- * "Copy to profiles…" for a settings pane. It copies the active profile's
+ * "Copy to other profiles…" for a settings pane. It copies the active profile's
  * saved settings, so it waits for unsaved changes, TF2 and other writes.
  */
 export function CopySettings({
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ export function CopySettings({
         onClick={start}
       >
         <Copy size={15} aria-hidden="true" />
-        Copy to profiles…
+        Copy to other profiles…
       </button>
       <Modal
         open={open}
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/components/ui/ApplyBar.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/components/ui/ApplyBar.tsx
index c59cf414..243f9a6d 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/components/ui/ApplyBar.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/components/ui/ApplyBar.tsx
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 import type { ReactNode } from "react";
 
 /**
- * The sticky "status text + primary action" footer every editing pane ends
- * with. Disabled while the profile is locked or nothing changed. A sticky bar
- * keeps its place in normal flow, so no second copy of its height is needed.
+ * The sticky bar a pane shows while it holds changes that are not in TF2 yet
+ * (the panes that write packs rather than autosave): the orange change dot,
+ * one line saying what is waiting, and the action that applies it. Discard
+ * and other secondary actions sit before it. A sticky bar keeps its place in
+ * normal flow, so no second copy of its height is needed.
  */
 export function ApplyBar({
   status,
@@ -33,8 +35,9 @@ export function ApplyBar({
 }) {
   return (
     <div className="apply-bar">
-      <p className="t-meta min-w-0" aria-live="polite">
-        {status}
+      <p className="apply-bar-status min-w-0" aria-live="polite">
+        {dirty ? <span aria-hidden="true" className="apply-bar-dot" /> : null}
+        <span className="min-w-0">{status}</span>
       </p>
       <div className="pane-actions">
         {extra}
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/crosshair/CrosshairWorkflow.test.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/crosshair/CrosshairWorkflow.test.tsx
index 7264e20c..a33c8b00 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/crosshair/CrosshairWorkflow.test.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/crosshair/CrosshairWorkflow.test.tsx
@@ -173,7 +173,9 @@ describe("crosshair choice and what applying it takes", () => {
     expect(maybe('[data-testid="crosshair-import"]')).not.toBeNull();
     expect(box.querySelector("select")).toBeNull();
     expect(maybe('[data-testid="crosshair-build"]')).toBeNull();
-    expect(text('[data-testid="crosshair-live-state"]')).toBe("Custom pack on");
+    expect(text('[data-testid="crosshair-live-state"]')).toBe(
+      "On in TF2. Keeps 1 of your crosshairs.",
+    );
   });
 
   it("lets TF2 draw its own sprite with no pack: the choice autosaves like size and colour", async () => {
@@ -195,7 +197,11 @@ describe("crosshair choice and what applying it takes", () => {
     await render();
     await click('[data-testid="crosshair-shape-shape-dot"]');
     expect(pending).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith(expect.any(String), true);
-    expect(text('[data-testid="crosshair-pending"]')).toContain("Nothing changes in TF2");
+    expect(text('[data-testid="crosshair-pending"]')).toBe(
+      "Your crosshair changes aren't in TF2 yet.",
+    );
+    expect(text('[data-testid="crosshair-build"]')).toBe("Apply changes");
+    expect(text('[data-testid="crosshair-discard"]')).toBe("Discard changes");
     await input("#stock-crosshair-scale", "40");
     await elapsed();
     expect(save).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
@@ -220,7 +226,8 @@ describe("crosshair choice and what applying it takes", () => {
   it("switches back to TF2's crosshair in one action that carries the sprite and size", async () => {
     await render();
     await click('[data-testid="crosshair-shape-tf-crosshair5"]');
-    expect(text('[data-testid="crosshair-pending"]')).toContain("TF2 will draw its own crosshair");
+    expect(text('[data-testid="crosshair-pending"]')).toContain("Your designs stay saved");
+    expect(text('[data-testid="crosshair-use-tf2"]')).toBe("Apply changes");
     await elapsed();
     expect(save).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     await click('[data-testid="crosshair-use-tf2"]');
@@ -258,7 +265,7 @@ describe("crosshair choice and what applying it takes", () => {
     await click('[data-testid="crosshair-shape-shape-circle"]');
     await click('[data-testid="crosshair-build"]');
     expect(checked("shape-circle")).toBe(true);
-    expect(text('[data-testid="crosshair-pending"]')).toContain("not in TF2 yet");
+    expect(text('[data-testid="crosshair-pending"]')).toContain("aren't in TF2 yet");
   });
 
   it("defers size edits while the game runs and keeps the pack builder locked", async () => {
@@ -564,7 +571,9 @@ describe("older packs and notices", () => {
     managed = "cl_crosshair_file crosshair3\ncl_crosshair_scale 32\n";
     await render();
     expect(checked("tf-crosshair3")).toBe(true);
-    expect(text('[data-testid="crosshair-live-state"]')).toBe("TF2 draws its own crosshair");
+    expect(text('[data-testid="crosshair-live-state"]')).toContain(
+      "Off. TF2 draws its own crosshair.",
+    );
     expect(maybe('[data-testid="crosshair-build"]')).toBeNull();
     await act(async () =>
       [...box.querySelectorAll("button")].find((b) => b.textContent === "Restore them")?.click(),
@@ -631,18 +640,21 @@ describe("older packs and notices", () => {
   it("warns when TF2 updates the scripts used to build a live pack", async () => {
     sourceStatus = { state: "changed" };
     await render();
-    expect(box.textContent).toContain("TF2's weapon scripts changed. Rebuild");
+    expect(box.textContent).toContain("TF2 updated its weapon files. Update your crosshair pack");
+    expect(text('[data-testid="crosshair-script-source-status"] button')).toBe("Update pack");
     sourceStatus = { state: "unverified" };
     await render();
-    expect(box.textContent).toContain("Rebuild to check this pack against the current game");
+    expect(box.textContent).toContain("may not match this version of TF2");
     record = { ...saved(), inactive: true };
     await render();
     expect(maybe('[data-testid="crosshair-script-source-status"]')).toBeNull();
   });
 
-  it("removes the pack only after confirming", async () => {
+  it("removes the pack from its own section, only after confirming", async () => {
     await render();
-    await click('[data-testid="crosshair-more"]');
+    // No hidden menu: the pack and its Remove button sit at the end of the pane.
+    expect(maybe('[data-testid="crosshair-more"]')).toBeNull();
+    expect(text('[data-testid="crosshair-pack"] h2')).toBe("Crosshair pack");
     await click('[data-testid="crosshair-remove-pack"]');
     expect(remove).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     await click('[data-testid="crosshair-remove-confirm"]');
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/index.css b/apps/desktop/src/index.css
index 607c263b..14990fe4 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/index.css
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/index.css
@@ -563,6 +563,25 @@ a:focus-visible,
     padding-block: 12px;
   }
 
+  .apply-bar-status {
+    display: flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    gap: 10px;
+    font-size: 13.5px;
+    line-height: 1.45;
+    color: var(--color-ink);
+  }
+
+  /* The execs change dot: what this bar applies has not reached TF2 yet. */
+  .apply-bar-dot {
+    width: 7px;
+    height: 7px;
+    flex: none;
+    border-radius: var(--radius-pill);
+    background: var(--color-brand);
+    animation: dot-arrive var(--motion-move) var(--ease-out) backwards;
+  }
+
   /* Flat content section separated by a hairline — the default page rhythm. */
   .section {
     border-top: 1px solid var(--color-edge);
@@ -835,6 +854,28 @@ a:focus-visible,
     background: var(--color-panel-raised);
   }
 
+  /* An inline action or outside link: underlined text, never a box. Opening
+     another page or site is a link, not a button. */
+  .text-link {
+    display: inline-flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    gap: 4px;
+    color: var(--color-ink-muted);
+    text-decoration: underline;
+    text-decoration-color: var(--color-edge-strong);
+    text-underline-offset: 2px;
+    transition: color var(--motion) ease;
+  }
+
+  .text-link:not(:disabled):hover {
+    color: var(--color-ink);
+  }
+
+  .text-link:disabled {
+    cursor: not-allowed;
+    opacity: 0.4;
+  }
+
   /* A quiet text-only action for inline links inside body copy. */
   .btn-quiet {
     color: var(--color-ink-muted);
@@ -2257,6 +2298,36 @@ a:focus-visible,
     }
   }
 
+  /* Two launch strings side by side in rows, so a difference is easy to read
+     before choosing which one to keep. */
+  .launch-compare {
+    display: grid;
+    margin: 0;
+  }
+
+  .launch-compare > div {
+    display: grid;
+    grid-template-columns: 7rem minmax(0, 1fr);
+    gap: 12px;
+    padding: 10px 14px;
+  }
+
+  .launch-compare > div + div {
+    border-top: 1px solid var(--color-edge);
+  }
+
+  .launch-compare dt {
+    color: var(--color-ink-muted);
+    font-size: 12.5px;
+  }
+
+  .launch-compare dd {
+    margin: 0;
+    color: var(--color-ink);
+    font-size: 13px;
+    overflow-wrap: anywhere;
+  }
+
   /* A named group inside a section: small heading, optional count, and a
      firmer rule above its rows. */
   .sub-heading {
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/lib/comfig-ui.ts b/apps/desktop/src/lib/comfig-ui.ts
index 53d96b50..dc08d58f 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/lib/comfig-ui.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/lib/comfig-ui.ts
@@ -57,6 +57,68 @@ export function comfigUpdateAvailable(installed: string, latest: string): boolea
   return false;
 }
 
+export type ComfigReleaseView = {
+  /** One short line on where this profile's packages stand. */
+  status: string;
+  checking: boolean;
+  /** The one action that helps right now; orange only when there is something to get. */
+  action: { label: string; primary: boolean } | null;
+};
+
+/**
+ * The packages row: the profile's mastercomfig release against the latest one,
+ * with an update button only when it would change something.
+ */
+export function comfigReleaseView({
+  installed,
+  packagesInstalled,
+  latest,
+  error,
+  checking,
+  checkable,
+}: {
+  installed: string | null;
+  packagesInstalled: boolean;
+  latest: string | null;
+  error: string | null;
+  checking: boolean;
+  checkable: boolean;
+}): ComfigReleaseView {
+  if (!packagesInstalled) {
+    return {
+      status: error ?? (checking ? "Checking for the latest release…" : "Packages are missing."),
+      checking,
+      action: { label: "Install packages", primary: true },
+    };
+  }
+  if (error)
+    return { status: error, checking: false, action: { label: "Update packages", primary: false } };
+  if (checking) return { status: "Checking for updates…", checking: true, action: null };
+  if (!latest) {
+    return {
+      status: checkable ? "Updates not checked yet." : "Updates have not been checked.",
+      checking: false,
+      action: { label: "Update packages", primary: false },
+    };
+  }
+  if (!installed) {
+    return {
+      status: `Latest is ${latest}. Update before adding addons.`,
+      checking: false,
+      action: { label: `Update to ${latest}`, primary: true },
+    };
+  }
+  if (installed === latest) return { status: "Up to date.", checking: false, action: null };
+  if (comfigUpdateAvailable(installed, latest)) {
+    return {
+      status: `Update available: ${latest}.`,
+      checking: false,
+      action: { label: `Update to ${latest}`, primary: true },
+    };
+  }
+  return { status: `Latest release: ${latest}.`, checking: false, action: null };
+}
+
 export function setModuleLevel(
   modules: Record<string, string>,
   id: string,
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/lib/launch-ui.ts b/apps/desktop/src/lib/launch-ui.ts
index 4f7231f3..cddfb38b 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/lib/launch-ui.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/lib/launch-ui.ts
@@ -501,14 +501,14 @@ export function launchSteamCopy(state: LaunchSteamState, running: boolean): stri
     case "in-steam":
       return "Saved to this profile and in Steam.";
     case "steam-open":
-      return "Saved to this profile. Steam is open with different options. Copy them in, or Launch TF2 can restart Steam to write them.";
+      return "Steam has different options and is open. Close Steam to use this profile's options, or Launch TF2 restarts Steam and writes them.";
     case "steam-closed":
-      return "Saved to this profile. Steam has different options. Review them before writing, or choose which options to use when launching.";
+      return "Steam has different options. Choose which ones to keep.";
     case "write-failed":
-      return "Saved to this profile. Steam could not be updated. Retry, or copy them into Steam.";
+      return "Steam could not be updated. Try again, or paste the options into Steam yourself.";
     case "no-account":
-      return "Saved to this profile. No Steam account found, so copy them into Steam yourself.";
+      return "Saved to this profile. No Steam account found, so paste them into Steam yourself.";
     case "unknown":
-      return "Saved to this profile. Review Steam’s options before updating them.";
+      return "Saved to this profile. Steam's options have not been checked yet.";
   }
 }
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/lib/mods-ui.test.ts b/apps/desktop/src/lib/mods-ui.test.ts
index 5e8e64f6..2810571e 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/lib/mods-ui.test.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/lib/mods-ui.test.ts
@@ -213,13 +213,15 @@ describe("mods apply gating", () => {
     // The stale notice tells the user to re-apply; the button has to agree.
     expect(selectionDirty(stale, INSTALLED)).toBe(false);
     expect(modsApplyEnabled(stale, INSTALLED)).toBe(true);
-    expect(modsStatusLine(stale, INSTALLED, false)).toContain("TF2 updated");
+    expect(modsStatusLine(stale, INSTALLED)).toContain("TF2 updated");
   });
 
   it("routes an interrupted transaction through the dedicated recovery action", () => {
     const recovering = { ...status, recoveryRequired: true };
     expect(modsApplyEnabled(recovering, { ...INSTALLED, addons: [] })).toBe(false);
-    expect(modsStatusLine(recovering, INSTALLED, false)).toBe("Finish interrupted recovery first");
+    expect(modsStatusLine(recovering, INSTALLED)).toBe(
+      "Finish the interrupted recovery before applying.",
+    );
   });
 
   it("requires the cached library only when selecting its content", () => {
@@ -227,7 +229,9 @@ describe("mods apply gating", () => {
     expect(modsApplyEnabled(uncached, selection())).toBe(true);
     const directFlat = selection({ addons: [DIRECT_FLAT_TEXTURES_ID] });
     expect(modsApplyEnabled(uncached, directFlat)).toBe(true);
-    expect(modsStatusLine(uncached, directFlat, false)).toBe("Unsaved changes");
+    expect(modsStatusLine(uncached, directFlat)).toBe(
+      "Your Casual setup changes aren't in TF2 yet.",
+    );
     const directDeveloper = selection({ addons: [DIRECT_DEVELOPER_TEXTURES_ID] });
     expect(modsApplyEnabled(uncached, directDeveloper)).toBe(true);
     expect(modsApplyEnabled(uncached, selection({ addons: [DIRECT_BURNING_OVERLAY_ID] }))).toBe(
@@ -257,15 +261,24 @@ describe("mods apply gating", () => {
     ).toBe(false);
     expect(modsApplyEnabled(uncached, INSTALLED)).toBe(false);
     expect(modsApplyEnabled(null, selection())).toBe(false);
-    expect(modsStatusLine(uncached, INSTALLED, false)).toContain("restore the verified cache");
-    expect(modsStatusLine(uncached, selection(), false)).toBe("Unsaved changes");
+    expect(modsStatusLine(uncached, INSTALLED)).toContain("needs its original download");
+    expect(modsStatusLine(uncached, selection())).toBe(
+      "Your Casual setup changes aren't in TF2 yet.",
+    );
   });
 
-  it("says the draft is kept before anything else", () => {
-    // The same three lines every pane with a button now uses.
-    expect(modsStatusLine(stale, INSTALLED, true)).toBe("Draft kept until TF2 closes");
-    expect(modsStatusLine(status, INSTALLED, false)).toBe("Up to date");
-    expect(modsStatusLine(status, selection(), false)).toBe("Unsaved changes");
+  it("says what is waiting for TF2, and that applying turns Preload on when it is off", () => {
+    // The apply bar's line, worded like the Crosshair and Viewmodels bars.
+    expect(modsStatusLine(status, INSTALLED)).toBe("Up to date");
+    expect(modsStatusLine(status, selection())).toBe(
+      "Your Casual setup changes aren't in TF2 yet.",
+    );
+    expect(modsStatusLine(status, selection(), true)).toBe(
+      "Your Casual setup changes aren't in TF2 yet. Applying turns Preload on.",
+    );
+    expect(modsStatusLine(stale, INSTALLED)).toBe(
+      "TF2 updated, so your Casual setup needs applying again.",
+    );
   });
 });
 
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/lib/mods-ui.ts b/apps/desktop/src/lib/mods-ui.ts
index f84d559a..724bdc90 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/lib/mods-ui.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/lib/mods-ui.ts
@@ -290,25 +290,26 @@ export function modsApplyEnabled(
 }
 
 /** The one-line reason under the Apply button. */
+/**
+ * The Casual setup apply bar's one line: what is waiting to reach TF2, or
+ * what has to happen before it can.
+ */
 export function modsStatusLine(
   status: PreloaderStatusPayload | null,
   selection: ModSelection,
-  running: boolean,
+  preloadOff = false,
 ): string {
-  if (running) {
-    return "Draft kept until TF2 closes";
-  }
   if (status?.recoveryRequired) {
-    return "Finish interrupted recovery first";
+    return "Finish the interrupted recovery before applying.";
   }
   if (status && !status.modsCached && needsCuekiLibrary(selection)) {
-    return "Saved library source unavailable on this device — remove those choices or restore the verified cache";
+    return "A saved cueki choice needs its original download. Remove it, or restore that download.";
   }
   if (selectionDirty(status, selection)) {
-    return "Unsaved changes";
+    return `Your Casual setup changes aren't in TF2 yet.${preloadOff ? " Applying turns Preload on." : ""}`;
   }
   if (status?.status.stale) {
-    return "TF2 updated — re-apply to put these mods back";
+    return "TF2 updated, so your Casual setup needs applying again.";
   }
   return "Up to date";
 }
diff --git a/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md b/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md
index c5ff6344..ba62939b 100644
--- a/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md
+++ b/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ Commands: `pnpm install`, `pnpm desktop:dev` (Tauri), `pnpm dev` (browser only,
 - Restore points (`execs-core` `restore_points.rs`) are verified native profile exports in `<data dir>/restore-points/<token>.zip` with `<token>.json` metadata (profile id and name, optional label, strictly increasing millisecond time, size) written after the ZIP; a ZIP without metadata is unlisted and cleaned by the next save. Saving is a library read under the library-read gate and allowed while TF2 runs; unabsorbed live edits are not included. Retention (`retention.json`, 1–20, default 5, UI offers 3/5/10) removes the oldest per profile only when saving or changing the bound; points of deleted profiles stay listed until removed. Compare reads the ZIP manifest and managed cfgs without extraction; Restore imports through the native import path under a new name as an inactive profile, scanning cfg bytes with the same trusted mode export used (a shared ZIP from someone else keeps the stricter scan) (write lock, recovery refusal, stock-built rebuild checks). Recovery journals are separate and never pruned here. There are no automatic restore points yet.
 - Rename changes only a profile's display name, inline from its action menu, through the ordinary journaled profile transaction (manifest and index together). The UUID, files, shared blobs, records and active tracking are unchanged and nothing in TF2 is written. Names follow creation rules (trimmed, 1–80 characters, duplicates allowed) plus the import rule against control characters; the library write lock applies.
 - Duplicate copies a saved profile into a new inactive profile with a fresh UUID, asking only for a name (default "<name> copy"). It reads library bytes only: exclusive files are copied, shared blobs are referenced, each copy must match the source manifest hash, and live drift is never included. HUD/crosshair/viewmodel/sound/mod records, launch options, ignored packs and preload selections come along; Steam launch-option projection starts pending. Creation stages everything and publishes the index last, so a failure leaves no partial profile. Profiles that need folder repair cannot be duplicated.
-- Copy to profiles… in Binds, Gameplay and Sounds (`execs-core` `settings_copy.rs`) copies the active profile's saved settings into chosen inactive profiles, each in its own library transaction; TF2's folder is untouched. Binds replace the target's `execs_binds.cfg`; Gameplay and Sounds replace only their own scope lines in `execs_gameplay.cfg` (never the cheat-only `r_drawtracers`), and Sounds also copy the hit/kill WAVs and record. Each target keeps its own cfg layer and gets the managed autoexec exec line. A review lists every other profile, preselects those that would change, and the action waits for unsaved changes, TF2 and other writes.
+- Copy to other profiles… in Binds, Gameplay and Sounds (`execs-core` `settings_copy.rs`) copies the active profile's saved settings into chosen inactive profiles, each in its own library transaction; TF2's folder is untouched. Binds replace the target's `execs_binds.cfg`; Gameplay and Sounds replace only their own scope lines in `execs_gameplay.cfg` (never the cheat-only `r_drawtracers`), and Sounds also copy the hit/kill WAVs and record. Each target keeps its own cfg layer and gets the managed autoexec exec line. A review lists every other profile, preselects those that would change, and the action waits for unsaved changes, TF2 and other writes.
 - Compare with current… (`execs-core` `profile_compare.rs`, `compare_profile_switch`) reads the active and target library manifests plus their managed Gameplay/Binds cfg bytes: HUD, hit/kill sound names, redacted launch options, top-level custom packs and `tf/cfg` files by combined hash, config.cfg (with its local Cloud copy noted separately from Steam's upload), managed values and Casual choices, and whether the target switch preflight would refuse. Credential commands are never returned. Switch from the dialog re-reads the comparison and shows it again if either manifest revision changed; the switch itself keeps every existing guard. One-click switching from the list is unchanged.
 - Profile deletion is an explicit library operation with Export first and Cancel available. Deleting the active profile requires either switching to another profile first or keeping the installed setup and clearing its tracking; deleting the last profile keeps the installed setup. The index is the deletion commit point, a bounded journal makes interrupted cleanup recoverable, and deletion never removes TF2 files. Draft and write-lock guards remain mandatory.
 
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ A remembered folder that no longer holds TF2 (a disconnected drive, a changed dr
 
 - **Backdrop** — every page (the ready shell's workspace, and first-run and library screens without the sidebar, where it stays anchored while the page scrolls) sits over a quiet dot field (`components/DotBackdrop.tsx`, `lib/dot-field.ts`, `lib/backdrop-knockout.ts`): the TF2 emblem as a halftone of execs' orange dots, anchored in the bottom-right corner and partly cropped by it, strongest at the corner and dissolving toward the page's text, over a faint neutral grid. Every dot that would touch a visible line of text or a control is switched off, so nothing is read over dots; a page-coloured layer with one pixel per dot, scaled up without smoothing so it never shades the page, follows the text through scrolling, content changes and transitions. The pointer stirs the dots: those within reach slide aside and a little along its motion, then spring back once it rests or leaves. They brighten only slightly and keep their colour; there is no trail, glow or lens. The field is painted once per size and only the stirred patch is redrawn; frames run only while dots or text move (capped near 120 per second), and reduced motion keeps the still image. The installed app reopens the pane it last showed (Comfig the first time; browser previews use their fixture pane) and restores the main window's size, position and maximized state from `settings.json` (`window`, additive), unless the saved position is no longer on a connected monitor.
 - Panes never fold content away. A pane with more than one job splits into named views under its title (HUD: Browse and Installed; Mods: Browse, Custom packs and Casual setup; Comfig: Preset and addons, and Modules, whose tab counts the modules that differ from the preset), and each view shows everything it holds. Long lists are grouped under headings and narrowed with search or filters, never collapsed.
-- **Comfig** — offers mastercomfig's current Ultra, High, Medium, Low and Custom presets, modules and official addons through our UI. Removed Medium High and Medium Low and delisted Destitute remain readable on existing profiles but are not offered for new selection; no legacy choice changes automatically. VPKs come from mastercomfig's GitHub releases; writes `tf/cfg/overrides/{setup_hook,modules}.cfg`. Extras and the preset guide open in an in-app `WebviewWindow` with no IPC. Credit comfig.app; never brand as official.
+- **Comfig** — offers mastercomfig's current Ultra, High, Medium, Low and Custom presets, modules and official addons through our UI. Removed Medium High and Medium Low and delisted Destitute remain readable on existing profiles but are not offered for new selection; no legacy choice changes automatically. VPKs come from mastercomfig's GitHub releases; writes `tf/cfg/overrides/{setup_hook,modules}.cfg`. The comfig.app customizer and the mastercomfig guide open in an in-app `WebviewWindow` with no IPC; the customizer's `comfig-custom` folder is added from a folder picker. The packages row offers one update button only when a newer release exists (or packages are missing). Credit comfig.app; never brand as official.
 - A profile whose layer is vanilla shows one plain explanation and a Try mastercomfig in a new profile button (New profile with Start from: Current setup and the name Trying mastercomfig) instead of disabled controls; the player's profile is never converted in place. A mastercomfig profile with an unrecognised loader keeps the short leave-it-alone note.
 - **Binds** — click-to-record for the usual actions; writes `execs_binds.cfg`. Standalone, uncommented binds for known actions in that file belong to the pane; sync and recording retain every other line byte-for-byte. Actions are grouped by player task under an All view with category tabs and a search that matches action names, player words and bound keys. Each action shows its inspected startup keys as readable key caps; the CFG line that last assigned a key is in its tooltip and accessible name, and every key offers remove. Voice-command actions use `voicemenu <menu> <item>` from the pinned dump. Recording adds a key without silently removing other keys; a key already running a different command requires review before its new assignment. Remove leaves the key running nothing: it deletes the pane's own line when nothing earlier binds the key, otherwise it writes one standalone `unbind <key>` (also pane-owned) so an inherited `config.cfg` binding never comes back; a key a later startup cfg binds again is explained and left unchanged. Recording the key again replaces that unbind, and the after-game sync drops it only when TF2 bound the key again. Class, launch and in-game commands may change the runtime result. Autoexec exec lines are addressed from `tf/cfg` (`exec overrides/execs_binds`): the engine resolves `exec` per search path, so a bare stem inside `overrides/` silently fails (field bug). No alias studio, no generated `unbindall`. Binds are written with TF2's own key names (`semicolon`, `'`, `,`, `rshift`, `pause`, …).
 - **Gameplay** — world FOV, first-person tracers (never the cheat-only `r_drawtracers`), mouse sensitivity, weapon and combat-feedback comfort toggles; writes `execs_gameplay.cfg`, and links to Viewmodels for viewmodel settings. Transparent viewmodels is an addon VPK toggle, never a cvar.
@@ -105,10 +105,10 @@ A remembered folder that no longer holds TF2 (a disconnected drive, a changed dr
 - Return to stock HUD is HUD install without a new HUD, behind a themed confirmation that names the HUD and its option cfgs. It removes every HUD root the profile owns (including legacy multi-HUD roots), managed `execs_hud_*` cfgs and their managed autoexec exec lines in one recoverable transaction, and clears the HUD record and roots. On the active profile, mounted HUD folders move beneath the backup container with untracked files; no earlier HUD is reactivated. Other packs, cfg settings and preload selections stay. The write lock applies.
 - HUD installed state reads only the local manifest and catalog cache. Schema reads carry the exact profile and HUD identity; stale or failed reads remove controls while same-HUD drafts survive retry. Catalog and statistics results disclose incomplete sources while retaining valid cached entries and values; source-read failures do not turn a committed local import into a failed install.
 - HUD ownership uses additive selected-root, retained-root and pending-review metadata. Competing valid UI3 roots require an explicit, fingerprint-bound choice before activation; excluded originals remain outside Source's mounted surface. Legacy journal recovery reads the original manifest identity before normalization. A profile ZIP keeps approved cfg bytes unchanged; choosing another HUD with managed options leaves an inactive profile pending a separate disclosed reset review. That review preserves originals and refuses live cfg/autoexec drift both before staging and at commit. Generic Mods refuses detected HUD payloads with a route to HUD import. HUD VPKs require extracting and importing the actual HUD folder; no metadata or payload bytes are synthesized to imply support.
-- **Crosshair** — one gallery of TF2's own crosshairs (`tf-default`, `tf-crosshair1`–`7`, previews decoded from the user's own `tf2_textures_dir.vpk`), execs shapes and the player's library (designs, named PNG and VTF imports). execs shapes are designer presets (`shape-*`, `lib/crosshair-presets.ts`) rendered by the app and sent as 64×64 RGBA library entries by every build that uses them; earlier built-in shapes (`dot`, `cross`, `plus-gap`, `circle`, `t`, `execs-*`) stay buildable and appear only while a profile uses one. Per-weapon choices sit on the page: class tabs, the class's weapons, and the selected weapon's choices as pictures beside them (no drop-down menus). A TF2 choice with no per-weapon exception is just `cl_crosshair_file` and autosaves with size and colour; anything else needs the custom pack, written only by an explicit Build, and a changed TF2-only draft on a live pack offers one Switch to TF2's crosshair (`deactivate_crosshairs` with the chosen stock file and size in the same transaction). Inside a pack, `tf-crosshairN` patches weapon scripts to Valve's own `vgui/crosshairs/crosshairN` material at its real VTF dimensions (no Valve art copied) and `tf-default` omits that weapon's script. The custom builder writes `tf/custom/execs-crosshairs/` (VTFs + patched weapon scripts read from the user's `tf2_misc_dir.vpk`, ICE-decrypted in process). New choices come from first-party shapes, the parametric designer (rotation and smooth edges render at 4× and keep older designs pixel-identical) and imported PNG/VTF. The Venom remote picker and native fetch commands are retired while previously saved VTFs remain selectable and rebuild from profile-owned bytes; missing bytes fail the build without replacing the pack. Tint is cvar-based (`cl_crosshair_red/green/blue`), textures stay white; apply forces `cl_crosshair_file ""`. VTF header: bumpScale@48, format@52, mips@56.
+- **Crosshair** — one gallery of TF2's own crosshairs (`tf-default`, `tf-crosshair1`–`7`, previews decoded from the user's own `tf2_textures_dir.vpk`), execs shapes and the player's library (designs, named PNG and VTF imports). execs shapes are designer presets (`shape-*`, `lib/crosshair-presets.ts`) rendered by the app and sent as 64×64 RGBA library entries by every build that uses them; earlier built-in shapes (`dot`, `cross`, `plus-gap`, `circle`, `t`, `execs-*`) stay buildable and appear only while a profile uses one. Per-weapon choices sit on the page: class tabs, the class's weapons, and the selected weapon's choices as pictures beside them (no drop-down menus). A TF2 choice with no per-weapon exception is just `cl_crosshair_file` and autosaves with size and colour; anything else needs the custom pack, written only when the player applies the draft from the pane's apply bar, and applying a changed TF2-only draft on a live pack switches the pack off (`deactivate_crosshairs` with the chosen stock file and size in the same transaction). The pack's state and Remove pack sit in a Crosshair pack section at the end of the pane. Inside a pack, `tf-crosshairN` patches weapon scripts to Valve's own `vgui/crosshairs/crosshairN` material at its real VTF dimensions (no Valve art copied) and `tf-default` omits that weapon's script. The custom builder writes `tf/custom/execs-crosshairs/` (VTFs + patched weapon scripts read from the user's `tf2_misc_dir.vpk`, ICE-decrypted in process). New choices come from first-party shapes, the parametric designer (rotation and smooth edges render at 4× and keep older designs pixel-identical) and imported PNG/VTF. The Venom remote picker and native fetch commands are retired while previously saved VTFs remain selectable and rebuild from profile-owned bytes; missing bytes fail the build without replacing the pack. Tint is cvar-based (`cl_crosshair_red/green/blue`), textures stay white; apply forces `cl_crosshair_file ""`. VTF header: bumpScale@48, format@52, mips@56.
 - The crosshair preview is true to size. TF2 draws crosshairs in screen pixels with no resolution scaling (Source SDK 2013 `CHudCrosshair::Paint` / `CHudTFCrosshair::Paint`): a weapon-script sprite covers width × height × `cl_crosshair_scale` / 32, a `cl_crosshair_file` sprite 2 × round(scale). The preview resolves the game resolution from the player's choice (app-wide `localStorage`), then `-w`/`-h` launch options, then TF2's saved video setting (`get_game_resolution`: Windows registry `HKCU\Software\Valve\Source\tf\Settings`, Steam's `registry.vdf` elsewhere; read-only), then the screen. Actual size divides by `devicePixelRatio` (Windows scaling and app zoom) and stretches only fullscreen resolutions that fit inside the screen. The game-pixel bitmap is resampled the way TF2 does: point sampling for execs' VTFs, filtering for Valve's.
 - Crosshair settings preserve unknown external `cl_crosshair_file` values through unrelated edits. Build refuses unreadable or unpatched requested weapon scripts; Build, Mod import, and switch preflight refuse exact script-path collisions found by bounded custom-content inspection. A saved SHA-256 of installed Valve weapon scripts warns when the source later changes or cannot be verified. Stock-art and HUD overlay notices describe installed candidates, never a confirmed in-game winner.
-- **Viewmodels** — opens with In game controls: viewmodel FOV, Draw viewmodel, Min viewmodels, left-handed viewmodels and the Comfig transparent-viewmodels addon toggle (the same addon state as Comfig, disabled while TF2 runs or busy and outside Comfig profiles). The four cvars stay in `execs_gameplay.cfg` under a separate `viewmodels` managed-cfg scope that native `managed_cfg` and the frontend agree on, so Gameplay, Crosshair, Sounds and Viewmodels saves never rewrite each other's lines. They autosave like Gameplay and wait for a complete startup cfg read. Per weapon follows below. Every class… previews a whole-profile Show all, Hide all or Keep melee visible choice (Hidden or Hands only) as the exact list of rows that change, applies it only to the draft, and offers Undo until the next edit; melee inspect rows count as melee and shared-animation conflicts are disclosed before applying. It builds `tf/custom/execs-viewmodels.vpk` locally from the player's installed class animation MDLs: per class, one Shown / Hidden / Hands only choice per loadout slot (Primary, Secondary, Melee, PDA) and one Shown / Hidden choice covering every inspect animation; a slot reads as what most of its weapons use (a tie follows the stock weapon), and changing it moves only the weapons that follow it. Each class is one table under shared Shown / Hidden / Hands only columns: a slot with several weapon groups lists them beneath it, each with its own choice, and spellbooks and the grappling hook (no slot) sit under Other. Groups are derived from installed sources without CompVMInstaller data, and the build recipe still records exact per-group choices. Build is available in release builds, without rendered previews. Profile export carries the build recipe and output digest, never the generated model bytes; import rebuilds from the recipient's own install and refuses source differences. It also imports, replaces and removes a user-provided compatible VPK, and earlier Yttrium-style packs retain their saved bytes and options through profile switch and export/import; legacy build and preview commands fail before I/O. Do not copy CompVMInstaller's source archive or group table. Custom viewmodels on Valve Casual need the profile's `+exec` preload launch option (see Launch).
+- **Viewmodels** — opens with In game controls: viewmodel FOV, Draw viewmodel, Min viewmodels, left-handed viewmodels and the Comfig transparent-viewmodels addon toggle (the same addon state as Comfig, disabled while TF2 runs or busy and outside Comfig profiles). The four cvars stay in `execs_gameplay.cfg` under a separate `viewmodels` managed-cfg scope that native `managed_cfg` and the frontend agree on, so Gameplay, Crosshair, Sounds and Viewmodels saves never rewrite each other's lines. They autosave like Gameplay and wait for a complete startup cfg read. Per weapon follows below. Every class… previews a whole-profile Show all, Hide all or Keep melee visible choice (Hidden or Hands only) as the exact list of rows that change, applies it only to the draft, and offers Undo until the next edit; melee inspect rows count as melee and shared-animation conflicts are disclosed before applying. It builds `tf/custom/execs-viewmodels.vpk` locally from the player's installed class animation MDLs: per class, one Shown / Hidden / Hands only choice per loadout slot (Primary, Secondary, Melee, PDA) and one Shown / Hidden choice covering every inspect animation; a slot reads as what most of its weapons use (a tie follows the stock weapon), and changing it moves only the weapons that follow it. Each class is one table under shared Shown / Hidden / Hands only columns: a slot with several weapon groups lists them beneath it, each with its own choice, and spellbooks and the grappling hook (no slot) sit under Other. Groups are derived from installed sources without CompVMInstaller data, and the build recipe still records exact per-group choices. Applying from the pane's apply bar builds the pack (release builds included, without rendered previews); applying an all-shown draft over a built pack removes it. Profile export carries the build recipe and output digest, never the generated model bytes; import rebuilds from the recipient's own install and refuses source differences. It also imports, replaces and removes a user-provided compatible VPK, and earlier Yttrium-style packs retain their saved bytes and options through profile switch and export/import; legacy build and preview commands fail before I/O. Do not copy CompVMInstaller's source archive or group table. Custom viewmodels on Valve Casual need the profile's `+exec` preload launch option (see Launch).
 - **Sounds** — hit and kill sounds are exactly `tf/custom/execs-hitsounds/sound/ui/{hitsound,killsound}.wav` (the two names sv_pure exempts). Engine formats: 8/16-bit PCM or 4-bit MS-ADPCM at 11025/22050/44100 Hz; other WAVs are re-encoded, MP3-as-WAV refused. New choices are stock effects from the user's `tf2_sound_misc_dir.vpk`, the user's own WAV, MP3 or Ogg Vorbis clip (decoded by Symphonia in `audio_decode.rs`, at most 30 seconds, then prepared like a WAV; clips over a second carry a note), GameBanana hit and kill sound uploads handed over from Mods (listed as From GameBanana and saved like the player's own file), and comfig.app's hits library, the one retired catalog that came back. Its index is pinned to comfig-app commit `0dd0b076`, fetched from GitHub raw and cached by commit; sounds download on preview or use from `hits.comfig.app/<128-hex id>.wav` (an opaque id, not a byte digest), are validated as MS-ADPCM and cached as rebuildable downloads, and a boosted comfig sound re-encodes from its upload. The TF2Hitsounds catalog stays retired; its installed WAVs stay playable, switchable and exportable, but their baked boost cannot change. The searchable library always chooses for one slot: a Hit sound / Kill sound switch, set by each slot's Browse, drives one Preview, one favorite star and one Use action per row ("Use [sound] for hits"). Show filters All, Favorites, Built into TF2 and comfig.app (your own file stays listed); Sort offers Suggested (yours, TF2's effects, comfig uploads made for the slot being chosen, then the rest, each in its source's own order), A to Z and Z to A. comfig publishes only names and ids, so there are no date or popularity sorts. Favorites are app-wide `localStorage`, never profile data. A compact preview dock floats at the bottom of Sounds with a preview volume (default 50%, app-wide `localStorage`) applied on top of each slot's Volume, a mute toggle and Stop; it never changes cvars or files. A selected Use stays focusable, and a row names the other slot when it holds that sound. **Boost** (0/6/12 dB, tanh soft clip) re-encodes a user-provided or comfig.app file louder because the engine caps `tf_dingaling_volume` at 1. A saved custom WAV remains dormant when a nonzero built-in effect plays, and Sounds offers Use saved sound; selecting the default file effect or explicitly removing or replacing the file clears it. `sound.cache` is deleted on apply. Sound CVars, autoexec wiring, WAVs and the hitsound record commit in one recoverable profile transaction. Accepted external managed WAV drift marks sound provenance changed until every old installed slot is replaced or removed; Sounds shows a repair warning. Sounds scans other mounted `tf/custom` packs for the two canonical virtual paths and reports candidate competitors and incomplete scans; it does not claim which file TF2 plays in-game.
 - Sounds also owns TF2's Game volume (`volume`) and Music volume (`snd_musicvolume`): two 0–100% sliders at the top of the pane write them into the profile's `execs_gameplay.cfg` under the `sounds` managed-cfg scope (native `managed_cfg` and the frontend agree), so they run after `config.cfg` and a replaced or default `config.cfg` cannot reset them. Values keep TF2's exact decimals until a slider moves. The after-game sync updates these lines when TF2's options changed them in `config.cfg` (0–1 only) and never adds them; Copy sound settings carries them.
 - **Mods** opens on three task surfaces: **Browse**, **Custom packs**, and **Casual setup**. Browse uses GameBanana game id **297** through `Mod/Index`, or `Sound/Index` when its Mods / Sounds switch is on Sounds, for listings and name search; each section has its own categories. GameBanana numbers mods and sounds separately, so every id travels with its section, and a saved record names it in its page URL (`/mods/<id>` or `/sounds/<id>`), which update checks follow; `Generic_Name=contains,<term>`, a selected `Generic_Category`, and mature-off `Generic_ContentRatings=-` compose server-side. New is the default; Popular, Likes, Views, Updated and New preserve upstream order and map to `Generic_MostDownloaded`, `Generic_MostLiked`, `Generic_MostViewed`, `Generic_LatestUpdated` and `Generic_Newest`. Added and updated dates stay distinct, unavailable metrics remain unknown, and All-category totals are estimates because non-GUI excluded roots are filtered locally. GUI results in the HUDs subcategory route to HUD; every other GUI mod (menus, icons, fonts, scoreboards, loading screens) installs like any other mod, while the installer still refuses a payload that is a HUD. Direct installs read the mod's immediate category to tell the two apart. Maps install too (Decal Tool, Prefabs and Serverside Weapons stay hidden): a `.bsp` outside any content folder goes into the pack's `maps` folder with the files beside it named after it (`.nav`, `<map>_*.txt`), and `<map>_*.pop` MvM missions go into `scripts/population`. Several maps are separate choices, a map beside content folders joins that pack, and map cards say how to play one (console `map <name>`). A GameBanana download with one installable choice installs under the mod's title; greyed-out choices beside it do not count. Completion, not the visible row count, controls Next. Native and renderer caches are bounded with a ten-minute fresh lifetime; Refresh and Retry bypass both while preserving the request. Cards identify GameBanana explicitly, paging appears above and below results, and one Import mod flow accepts a VPK/archive or extracted folder. **Custom packs** holds `ModRecord`s over ordinary `tf/custom` packs, including accepted external packs; Single-volume RAR4/RAR5 archives are supported; multi-part VPKs and unsupported archive features are refused with a message. In the chooser, a split, leftover or unreadable VPK greys out only that choice with its reason; it never fails the rest of the archive. Content folders are `materials`, `models`, `sound`, `particles`, `scripts`, `resource`, `cfg`, `maps` and `media` (startup videos). **Casual setup** owns the itemtest preload cfg, gameinfo bypass, four direct-author addon choices, saved legacy cueki choices from an exact verified local `mods.zip` cache, and installed profile mods that carry `particles/*.pcf` as particle sources. Duplicate-carrier PCFs are rebuilt from the user's own vanilla files; `blood_trail` maps to `npc_fx`. A selected particle source cannot be removed directly or accepted as an external removal until its selection changes. A resized `tf2_misc` (TF2 update) judges every entry by its stock CRC; untracked modified entries are repaired through `steam://validate/440`.
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ A remembered folder that no longer holds TF2 (a disconnected drive, a changed dr
 - Material bypass intent is install-bound in journaled preloader state. A reset by TF2 produces a Mods notice and explicit recovery action; normal status reads never rewrite game files. Pre-upgrade intent that was already reset cannot be inferred.
 - HUD replacement skips a live backup only when the complete tree exactly matches verified profile-owned bytes, rechecked before commit. Untracked or changed trees remain recoverable. Storage lists historical live and library copies with fingerprints and available dates, restores exact bytes to a new user-chosen external folder, and deletes only after reviewed fingerprint and containment checks. Recovery never automatically activates another HUD.
 
-- Unbuilt Viewmodels and Crosshair custom choices register with the session draft guard, including an open crosshair design. Navigation retains them; close, profile changes and Launch require building or explicit discard. A successful Viewmodels build acknowledges only its submitted choices, preserving newer edits. A changed TF2 catalog leaves an unbuilt draft visible and requires explicit discard/reload before building against the new sources. Pack changes retain reviewed Build actions; cfg controls still autosave.
+- Unapplied Viewmodels and Crosshair custom choices register with the session draft guard, including an open crosshair design. Navigation retains them; close, profile changes and Launch require applying or explicit discard. A successful Viewmodels apply acknowledges only its submitted choices, preserving newer edits. A changed TF2 catalog leaves an unapplied draft visible and requires explicit discard/reload before applying against the new sources; the catalog is read again when the pane opens or execs regains focus after the last read is two minutes old. Pack changes wait for Apply changes; cfg controls still autosave.
 
 - Files saves require the expected active profile, confirmed root, verified cfg layer and exact live/library source hashes under the write gate. Source checks repeat after transaction snapshots and before publication; reviewed saves project even unchanged library bytes to repair deliberately resolved live drift. New cfgs require absence in both live and library trees, portable collision checks and the existing detected user layer. Provided cfgs and non-UTF-8 files remain read-only; helpers receive no implicit startup exec line.
 - When TF2's folder has no `tf/cfg/config.cfg` (TF2 not run on this PC for a while), the picked Steam account's Cloud `config.cfg` is the live file: first run, Save current, absorb and Files reads/saves all use it (`files_workspace::live_bytes`), so settings panes read it instead of failing. Nothing is written to TF2's folder until a save or switch.
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ A remembered folder that no longer holds TF2 (a disconnected drive, a changed dr
 - Pending settings register their pane and awaited save with the session draft registry. Native close flushes unlocked autosaves; Files retain their explicit Save / Discard / Cancel decision. Failed, locked and unapplied drafts stay open with explicit discard/cancel and a route to their pane. Discard resets only affected panes from persisted props and suppresses their unmount flush; real writes must finish first. Settings editing waits for the native close listener.
 - Launch TF2 names pending or failed settings and offers Review changes. Writes, switch/preloader recovery, Steam verification and update work retain their own guards and reasons; dismissing feedback never releases them.
 
-Cvar and small-file panes autosave (`useAutosave`: 700 ms debounce, coalesced, deferred while TF2 runs, flushed when the lock lifts or the pane changes). Binds and Gameplay autosaves update controls quietly while writes run in the background; failures still report. Other writes report through one feedback source (`lib/toast-ui`): "Saving…" only past 400 ms and a named pane completion for a fresh 1600 ms, shown as one quiet line in the app header beside the launch controls, and a source-owned failure as a strip under the header with a Dismiss button. A failure fades after 8–20 seconds depending on its length (held while the pointer or keyboard focus is on it), or earlier when its own operation succeeds; its pane keeps the unsaved draft and sidebar dot, and the next attempt reports again. The GameBanana card that failed to install keeps the reason itself. Screens without the header (first run, isolated panes) show the same messages in a small notice over the content column. "Draft kept until TF2 closes" appears briefly once for each locked draft; pending draft tracking and transition guards continue after the notice fades. Background reads clear only their own failures; dismissal never changes draft, recovery or write-lock state. Controls stay live while TF2 runs. Heavy or destructive actions keep a button that says what happens: Build pack, Apply mods, HUD install/update/import, Files Save/Discard, Remove pack, Remove sound files. No "packages installed" style status text when everything is fine.
+Cvar and small-file panes autosave (`useAutosave`: 700 ms debounce, coalesced, deferred while TF2 runs, flushed when the lock lifts or the pane changes). Binds and Gameplay autosaves update controls quietly while writes run in the background; failures still report. Other writes report through one feedback source (`lib/toast-ui`): "Saving…" only past 400 ms and a named pane completion for a fresh 1600 ms, shown as one quiet line in the app header beside the launch controls, and a source-owned failure as a strip under the header with a Dismiss button. A failure fades after 8–20 seconds depending on its length (held while the pointer or keyboard focus is on it), or earlier when its own operation succeeds; its pane keeps the unsaved draft and sidebar dot, and the next attempt reports again. The GameBanana card that failed to install keeps the reason itself. Screens without the header (first run, isolated panes) show the same messages in a small notice over the content column. "Draft kept until TF2 closes" appears briefly once for each locked draft; pending draft tracking and transition guards continue after the notice fades. Background reads clear only their own failures; dismissal never changes draft, recovery or write-lock state. Controls stay live while TF2 runs. Panes that write packs rather than autosave (Crosshair, Viewmodels, Mods → Casual setup) hold their changes as a draft and show one sticky apply bar at the bottom of the pane: the orange change dot, one line saying what isn't in TF2 yet, Discard changes and Apply changes (Close TF2 to apply while it runs). Other heavy or destructive actions keep a button that says what happens: HUD install/update/import, Files Save/Discard, Remove pack, Remove sound files, Restore stock files. No "packages installed" style status text when everything is fine.
 
 ## Third-party sources
 
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ GitHub Issues and Discussions are the public inbox. Every user-facing change add
 
 ## Design system
 
-Theme tokens live only in `apps/desktop/src/index.css` `@theme`: bg `#100F0E` → panel `#1C1A18` → panel-raised `#292622`, warm off-white ink `#F2EFEB`, secondary ink `#CAC5BF`, faint ink `#ADA59E`, TF2 orange accent `#D98449`. Orange marks primary actions, selection, navigation and necessary highlights; orange/red warnings and green success colors carry actual state. No yellow warning treatment. Use Inter and Phosphor icons, six type steps (`.t-pane`, `.t-section`, `.t-row`, body, `.t-meta`, `.eyebrow`), restrained 4–6px corners, hairlines and compact controls. Flat sections organize settings; actual previews, workspaces, overlays and selectable options may have surfaces. Selected options use a ring, wash and dot, never a decorative checkmark. Choices stay on the page: `Segmented` for two to five options, `ChoiceChips` (the same pill, wrapping onto more lines; a glyph grid for single characters) for longer lists, a picture grid where pictures exist, and `ChoiceMatrix` when rows share the same choices. No `<select>`, and no folds or disclosure carets hiding settings. Menu buttons (the profile menu, Inventory's quality filter and sort) use `components/ui/Caret` (12 px bold, faint ink, flips while open), never the browser's `<details>` marker. More-actions buttons use one horizontal ⋯. Lists of things with actions (Files, Inventory items, profile rows) also open those actions on right-click through the shared `ContextMenu`. Use switches rather than native checkbox visuals. Files keeps its bounded, fixed-width source editor exception. Task-specific pane composition is required: settings may pair one decision with a 360px preview, while catalogs, sound slots and Files retain suitable workspaces.
+Theme tokens live only in `apps/desktop/src/index.css` `@theme`: bg `#100F0E` → panel `#1C1A18` → panel-raised `#292622`, warm off-white ink `#F2EFEB`, secondary ink `#CAC5BF`, faint ink `#ADA59E`, TF2 orange accent `#D98449`. Orange marks primary actions, selection, navigation and necessary highlights; orange/red warnings and green success colors carry actual state. No yellow warning treatment. Use Inter and Phosphor icons, six type steps (`.t-pane`, `.t-section`, `.t-row`, body, `.t-meta`, `.eyebrow`), restrained 4–6px corners, hairlines and compact controls. Flat sections organize settings; actual previews, workspaces, overlays and selectable options may have surfaces. Selected options use a ring, wash and dot, never a decorative checkmark. Choices stay on the page: `Segmented` for two to five options, `ChoiceChips` (the same pill, wrapping onto more lines; a glyph grid for single characters) for longer lists, a picture grid where pictures exist, and `ChoiceMatrix` when rows share the same choices. No `<select>`, and no folds or disclosure carets hiding settings. Menu buttons (the profile menu, Inventory's quality filter and sort) use `components/ui/Caret` (12 px bold, faint ink, flips while open), never the browser's `<details>` marker. Buttons: at most one orange button per view, shown only when it would do something now; every label says what happens (Apply changes, Update to 9.100.2, Remove pack…), with an ellipsis when a dialog or picker follows; opening another page or website is a text link (`.text-link`), not a button; remove and restore actions sit in a visible section beside what they affect, never only behind ⋯; and no button repeats a control already on the page or in the sidebar. More-actions buttons use one horizontal ⋯. Lists of things with actions (Files, Inventory items, profile rows) also open those actions on right-click through the shared `ContextMenu`. Use switches rather than native checkbox visuals. Files keeps its bounded, fixed-width source editor exception. Task-specific pane composition is required: settings may pair one decision with a 360px preview, while catalogs, sound slots and Files retain suitable workspaces.
 
 The shared shell uses a stable header, 180px sidebar, separate global App settings and per-pane scroll memory.
 
diff --git a/docs/guide/comfig.md b/docs/guide/comfig.md
index f1536ec6..c3c4e5c3 100644
--- a/docs/guide/comfig.md
+++ b/docs/guide/comfig.md
@@ -29,7 +29,11 @@ The **Modules** tab lists every mastercomfig module, grouped into Networking, Gr
 
 ## Updates
 
-**Update packages** downloads the current mastercomfig release for this profile only. Other profiles keep the version they have until you update them too.
+**Packages** shows this profile's mastercomfig release. When a newer one is out, **Update to** that version downloads it for this profile only; other profiles keep the version they have until you update them too. **Check again** looks for a new release.
+
+## comfig-custom folder
+
+The [comfig.app](https://comfig.app/app/) customizer saves extra settings as a `comfig-custom` folder. **Open comfig.app** opens it, and **Add folder…** copies that folder into this profile.
 
 ## Profiles without mastercomfig
 
diff --git a/docs/guide/crosshair.md b/docs/guide/crosshair.md
index 9c56bddd..0b23ce40 100644
--- a/docs/guide/crosshair.md
+++ b/docs/guide/crosshair.md
@@ -4,7 +4,9 @@
 
 **TF2's own crosshairs** apply as soon as you pick them; they are just the `cl_crosshair_file` setting. Size and colour save on their own.
 
-**Anything else** (execs shapes, your designs, imported PNGs and VTFs) or **a different crosshair for some weapons** needs the custom pack. **Build crosshair pack** writes a small pack to `tf/custom/execs-crosshairs` from your own copy of TF2's weapon scripts; no Valve art is copied. **Switch to TF2's crosshair** turns the pack off and keeps your custom crosshairs saved.
+**Anything else** (execs shapes, your designs, imported PNGs and VTFs) or **a different crosshair for some weapons** needs the custom crosshair pack, so it waits for you: a bar at the bottom of the page says your changes aren't in TF2 yet. **Apply changes** writes a small pack to `tf/custom/execs-crosshairs` from your own copy of TF2's weapon scripts; no Valve art is copied. **Discard changes** puts back what TF2 has. Picking one of TF2's crosshairs again and applying turns the pack off and keeps your custom crosshairs saved.
+
+**Crosshair pack**, at the bottom of the page, says whether the pack is on. **Remove pack…** deletes it with every design and image saved in it.
 
 Custom crosshairs usually work on Valve Casual servers.
 
@@ -22,8 +24,8 @@ Imported PNGs larger than 64 × 64 are fitted into 64 × 64, keeping their shape
 
 ## Messages you may see
 
-- **This pack was changed outside execs**: its pictures may not match what TF2 draws. Rebuild it, or remove it from the ⋯ menu.
-- **TF2's weapon scripts changed**: a TF2 update changed them. Rebuild to pick up the update. An older pack without a recorded script version asks you to rebuild once to check it.
+- **Your crosshair pack was changed outside execs**: its pictures may not match what TF2 draws. **Repair pack** writes it again, or remove it at the bottom of the page.
+- **TF2 updated its weapon files**: **Update pack** writes the pack again from the new files. An older pack without a recorded script version asks you to update it once to check it.
 - **Another pack also replaces a crosshair image**: TF2 may show that pack's art instead of the picture in execs.
 - **A HUD's crosshair overlay**: it draws on top of the crosshair here; turn it off in the HUD's options.
 
diff --git a/docs/guide/launch.md b/docs/guide/launch.md
index b4cedfc2..a46aa144 100644
--- a/docs/guide/launch.md
+++ b/docs/guide/launch.md
@@ -6,8 +6,10 @@ Launch options are saved with the profile. **Add option** offers a searchable li
 
 Steam keeps its own copy of TF2's launch options and only reads it while closed.
 
-- With Steam closed, **Write to Steam** saves them directly.
-- With Steam open, **Launch TF2** offers **Restart Steam and launch**: execs closes Steam, writes the options, then starts Steam and TF2.
+When they differ, the **Steam** section shows both and lets you choose:
+
+- **Use this profile's options** writes this profile's options to Steam. Steam has to be closed; with Steam open, close it and press **Check again**, or use **Launch TF2**, which offers **Restart Steam and launch**: execs closes Steam, writes the options, then starts Steam and TF2.
+- **Use Steam's options** keeps Steam's options and saves them to this profile instead.
 - Copying the options to the clipboard never marks Steam as updated.
 
 The header warns when the active profile's options differ from Steam's copy.
diff --git a/docs/guide/mods.md b/docs/guide/mods.md
index 5070ddb6..31a6f6af 100644
--- a/docs/guide/mods.md
+++ b/docs/guide/mods.md
@@ -35,13 +35,13 @@ Valve's Casual servers use sv_pure, which normally blocks custom materials and p
 
 - **Preload on launch**: TF2 opens the offline itemtest map once at startup to load your content, then returns to the menu.
 - **Material bypass**: edits one line in `gameinfo.txt` so preloaded materials stay active. The original is backed up first.
-- **Casual selection**: the addons (Flat Textures, Developer Textures, No Burning Overlay, No Sentry Shield Overlay) and particle sources from your installed mods. **Apply mods** downloads the addons' verified author files, packs them into your preload addon and patches the particle files. Applying turns Preload on.
+- **Casual selection**: the addons (Flat Textures, Developer Textures, No Burning Overlay, No Sentry Shield Overlay) and particle sources from your installed mods. Changes wait in a bar at the bottom of the page: **Apply changes** downloads the addons' verified author files, packs them into your preload addon and patches the particle files, and **Discard changes** goes back. Applying turns Preload on.
 
 **Your packs on Casual** says what each custom pack in the profile can do on Casual servers.
 
 Each particle file comes whole from one mod; overlapping files aren't merged. When two sources supply the same file, execs shows which one wins and lets you choose. Particles from your own mods always win over library particles.
 
-**Restore stock files** puts back the original particle files and `gameinfo.txt` and removes the Casual addon pack. Your mods stay in the profile.
+**Restore stock files…** puts back the original particle files and `gameinfo.txt` and removes the Casual addon pack. Your mods stay in the profile.
 
 Choices saved from the old cueki library still show and can be removed. They reapply only while their original download is still on this PC; the library itself is retired.
 
diff --git a/docs/guide/viewmodels.md b/docs/guide/viewmodels.md
index 060be140..0b0ab188 100644
--- a/docs/guide/viewmodels.md
+++ b/docs/guide/viewmodels.md
@@ -10,16 +10,16 @@ These save on their own, like Gameplay.
 
 ## Per weapon
 
-Each class is one table: a row per weapon slot with its weapons listed beneath it, then inspect animations. Choose **Shown**, **Hidden** or **Hands only** for a whole slot or for one weapon, then **Review and build**. Changing a slot moves the weapons that follow it; a weapon you set on its own keeps its choice. execs builds `tf/custom/execs-viewmodels.vpk` from your own TF2 files; only your first-person view changes, and nothing is written until you build.
+Each class is one table: a row per weapon slot with its weapons listed beneath it, then inspect animations. Choose **Shown**, **Hidden** or **Hands only** for a whole slot or for one weapon. Changing a slot moves the weapons that follow it; a weapon you set on its own keeps its choice. Your choices wait in a bar at the bottom of the page until you press **Apply changes**, or **Discard changes** to go back. Applying builds `tf/custom/execs-viewmodels.vpk` from your own TF2 files; only your first-person view changes, and nothing is written until you apply.
 
-**Every class…** applies one choice to the whole profile (show all, hide all, or keep melee visible) and shows exactly what changes before it applies.
+**Set every class…** applies one choice to the whole profile (show all, hide all, or keep melee visible) and shows exactly what changes first.
 
-Some weapons share animations; those must be set the same before the pack can build.
+Some weapons share animations; those must be set the same before you can apply.
 
-If TF2 updates its files while you have unbuilt choices, execs keeps them but can't build them against the new files. Discard them to load the new weapons.
+If TF2 updates its files while you have choices waiting, execs keeps them but can't apply them to the new files. Discard them to load the new weapons.
 
 ## Packs you already have
 
-You can import a viewmodel VPK instead of building one. Profile exports carry the build recipe, not the built model files, so whoever imports the profile builds it from their own TF2.
+**Use your own VPK…** installs a viewmodel VPK instead of the one execs builds. Showing every weapon again and applying removes the pack; **Remove pack** does that directly. Profile exports carry the build recipe, not the built model files, so whoever imports the profile builds it from their own TF2.
 
 Custom viewmodels on Valve Casual need the profile's preload launch option; see [Mods → Casual setup](mods.md#casual-setup).