diff --git a/src/app.h b/src/app.h
index a64d35e..308e3d7 100644
--- a/src/app.h
+++ b/src/app.h
@@ -174,6 +174,10 @@ public:
     // message (to a conversation whose peer key we know) / a new-conversation contact request.
     void sendChatMessage(const std::string& conversationId, const std::string& text);
     void startChatConversation(const std::string& peerZaddr, const std::string& text);
+    // Debug/sweep convenience: give the Chat tab a demo identity + a few sample conversations
+    // (in-memory only, not persisted) so the screenshot sweep captures the populated UI. No-op when
+    // the chat feature is off.
+    void seedChatDemoData();
     // Reason the lite wallet failed to auto-open this session (empty if none / opened OK).
     const std::string& liteOpenError() const { return lite_open_error_; }
     // Show the lite send-time unlock modal (called when a spend is attempted on a locked wallet).
diff --git a/src/app_network.cpp b/src/app_network.cpp
index bf6cf61..2f910e5 100644
--- a/src/app_network.cpp
+++ b/src/app_network.cpp
@@ -2660,6 +2660,46 @@ void App::ingestLiteChatMemos(const wallet::LiteWalletAppRefreshModel& model)
     if (!metadata.empty()) chat_service_.ingest(metadata, txTimestamps, std::time(nullptr));
 }
 
+void App::seedChatDemoData()
+{
+    if (!chat::hushChatFeatureEnabledAtBuild()) return;
+
+    // Demo identity so the tab renders the populated UI (hasIdentity()==true). Injected messages go
+    // straight into the in-memory store (no DB attached here → not persisted, gone on restart).
+    chat::ChatKeyPair keys;
+    if (chat::deriveChatIdentityFromSecret("obsidian-dragon-demo-chat", keys).status
+        == chat::ChatIdentityStatus::Ready) {
+        chat_service_.setIdentity(keys);
+    }
+    chat::wipeChatKeyPair(keys);
+
+    auto& store = chat_service_.store();
+    const std::string zAlice = "zs1demoalice6xh2n8fchrz23thcgqqd2353v8ev2pr7p7lq4p3elsyrfkuenq";
+    const std::string zBob   = "zs1demobob9k4p3elsyrfkuenq4kl79j2pg7l3h2juz4t6q9wqxkha2n8fchrz2";
+    auto add = [&](const std::string& cid, const std::string& z, const std::string& pk,
+                   chat::ChatDirection dir, chat::ChatMessageKind kind, const std::string& body,
+                   std::int64_t ts, const std::string& id) {
+        chat::ChatMessage m;
+        m.direction = dir; m.kind = kind; m.conversation_id = cid; m.peer_zaddr = z;
+        m.peer_public_key_hex = pk; m.body = body; m.timestamp = ts; m.txid = id;
+        m.payload_position = 0;
+        store.append(m);
+    };
+    // A full thread (peer key known → composer enabled).
+    add("demo-1", zAlice, std::string(64, 'a'), chat::ChatDirection::Incoming, chat::ChatMessageKind::Message,
+        "hey! got the DragonX wallet running, chat works great", 1751284800, "demo:a1");
+    add("demo-1", zAlice, std::string(64, 'a'), chat::ChatDirection::Outgoing, chat::ChatMessageKind::Message,
+        "nice - this is end-to-end encrypted over shielded memos", 1751285400, "demo:a2");
+    add("demo-1", zAlice, std::string(64, 'a'), chat::ChatDirection::Incoming, chat::ChatMessageKind::Message,
+        "and it survives the daemon's output shuffle now", 1751286000, "demo:a3");
+    // An incoming contact request (peer key known → can reply).
+    add("demo-2", zBob, std::string(64, 'b'), chat::ChatDirection::Incoming, chat::ChatMessageKind::ContactRequest,
+        "hi, add me? - bob", 1751200000, "demo:b1");
+    // An outgoing contact request awaiting a reply (no peer key → "waiting" composer state).
+    add("demo-3", "zs1demopeerawaitingtheirfirstreplybeforewecanmessagethemyet00", "",
+        chat::ChatDirection::Outgoing, chat::ChatMessageKind::ContactRequest, "hey, let's chat", 1751100000, "demo:c1");
+}
+
 void App::exportAllKeys(std::function<void(const std::string&, int, int)> callback)
 {
     if (!state_.connected || !rpc_) {
diff --git a/src/ui/pages/settings_page.cpp b/src/ui/pages/settings_page.cpp
index 637692f..fa66313 100644
--- a/src/ui/pages/settings_page.cpp
+++ b/src/ui/pages/settings_page.cpp
@@ -2496,6 +2496,12 @@ void RenderSettingsPage(App* app) {
             ImGui::SameLine();
             if (TactileButton(TR("screenshot_open_dir"), ImVec2(0, 0), S.resolveFont("button")))
                 util::Platform::openFolder(app->screenshotDir());
+            if (chat::hushChatFeatureEnabledAtBuild()) {
+                // Populate the Chat tab with demo conversations so the sweep captures its real UI.
+                ImGui::SameLine();
+                if (TactileButton("Seed demo chat", ImVec2(0, 0), S.resolveFont("button")))
+                    app->seedChatDemoData();
+            }
             ImGui::Dummy(ImVec2(0, Layout::spacingSm()));
             ImGui::Separator();
             ImGui::Dummy(ImVec2(0, Layout::spacingSm()));