diff --git a/res/themes/ui.toml b/res/themes/ui.toml
index e765bd7..c4db15c 100644
--- a/res/themes/ui.toml
+++ b/res/themes/ui.toml
@@ -931,7 +931,7 @@ scanline-speed = { size = 40.0 }
 scanline-height = { size = 36.0 }
 scanline-alpha = { size = 8.0 }
 scanline-gap = { size = 2.0 }
-scanline-line-alpha = { size = 4.0 }
+scanline-line-alpha = { size = 2.0 }
 scanline-glow-spread = { size = 4.0 }
 scanline-glow-intensity = { size = 0.6 }
 scanline-glow-color = { size = 255.0 }
diff --git a/src/ui/windows/console_command_executor.cpp b/src/ui/windows/console_command_executor.cpp
index aefb863..11249d5 100644
--- a/src/ui/windows/console_command_executor.cpp
+++ b/src/ui/windows/console_command_executor.cpp
@@ -190,7 +190,12 @@ ConsoleStatusLine FullNodeConsoleExecutor::toolbarStatus() const
 {
     ConsoleStatusLine s;
     daemon::EmbeddedDaemon* d = app_->consoleDaemon();
-    if (!d) return s;  // empty text -> toolbar shows the generic "no daemon" label
+    if (!d) {
+        // No wallet-managed daemon, but a daemon started externally (before the wallet) is still
+        // reachable over RPC and accepts commands — report it as running rather than "no daemon".
+        if (app_->isConnected()) { s.text = TR("console_status_running"); s.color = Success(); }
+        return s;  // otherwise empty text -> toolbar shows the generic "no daemon" label
+    }
     using DState = daemon::EmbeddedDaemon::State;
     switch (d->getState()) {
         case DState::Stopped:  s.text = TR("console_status_stopped");  s.color = IM_COL32(150,150,150,255); break;
diff --git a/src/ui/windows/console_tab.cpp b/src/ui/windows/console_tab.cpp
index 216166b..24e0689 100644
--- a/src/ui/windows/console_tab.cpp
+++ b/src/ui/windows/console_tab.cpp
@@ -1156,7 +1156,13 @@ void ConsoleTab::renderInput(ConsoleCommandExecutor& exec)
     // the darkened output panel above.
     {
         int darkA = static_cast<int>(schema::UI().drawElement("tabs.console", "bg-darken-alpha").sizeOr(110.0f));
-        dlIn->AddRectFilled(inMin, inMax, IM_COL32(0, 0, 0, darkA), Layout::glassRounding());
+        const bool barLight = IsLightTheme();
+        // Match the output panel: near-white terminal surface on light skins, dark on dark, with a
+        // 1px glass-rim outline along the bar's own edges (so the outline hugs the input, not inset).
+        dlIn->AddRectFilled(inMin, inMax, barLight ? IM_COL32(255, 255, 255, 205) : IM_COL32(0, 0, 0, darkA),
+                            Layout::glassRounding());
+        dlIn->AddRect(inMin, inMax, barLight ? IM_COL32(0, 0, 0, 45) : IM_COL32(255, 255, 255, 35),
+                      Layout::glassRounding(), 0, 1.0f);
     }
     
     // Center content vertically within glass panel
@@ -1223,10 +1229,12 @@ void ConsoleTab::renderInput(ConsoleCommandExecutor& exec)
         return 0;
     };
     
-    // Blend the field into the dark terminal bar: transparent frame, subtle hover/active.
+    // Transparent frame with a subtle hover/active tint (the outline lives on the terminal bar above,
+    // hugging the input's edges). Colors are theme-aware so they read on the light-skin console too.
+    const bool inputLight = material::IsLightTheme();
     ImGui::PushStyleColor(ImGuiCol_FrameBg,        IM_COL32(0, 0, 0, 0));
-    ImGui::PushStyleColor(ImGuiCol_FrameBgHovered, IM_COL32(255, 255, 255, 12));
-    ImGui::PushStyleColor(ImGuiCol_FrameBgActive,  IM_COL32(255, 255, 255, 18));
+    ImGui::PushStyleColor(ImGuiCol_FrameBgHovered, inputLight ? IM_COL32(0, 0, 0, 10) : IM_COL32(255, 255, 255, 12));
+    ImGui::PushStyleColor(ImGuiCol_FrameBgActive,  inputLight ? IM_COL32(0, 0, 0, 16) : IM_COL32(255, 255, 255, 18));
 
     const bool busy = exec.busy();
     if (busy) ImGui::BeginDisabled();
@@ -1243,6 +1251,25 @@ void ConsoleTab::renderInput(ConsoleCommandExecutor& exec)
         }
     }
     if (busy) ImGui::EndDisabled();
+
+    // Blinking terminal caret at the end of the current input. Shown when the field isn't actively
+    // being edited (ImGui draws its own caret while focused), so the console always reads as a live
+    // prompt. Monospace font => caret X = frame-padding + charWidth * length.
+    if (!busy && !ImGui::IsItemActive()) {
+        if (std::fmod(ImGui::GetTime(), 1.06) < 0.53) {
+            ImFont* mf = Type().mono();
+            float charW = mf->CalcTextSizeA(mf->LegacySize, FLT_MAX, 0, "M").x;
+            ImVec2 itMin = ImGui::GetItemRectMin();
+            ImVec2 itMax = ImGui::GetItemRectMax();
+            float caretW = std::max(2.0f, 2.0f * Layout::dpiScale());
+            float caretX = itMin.x + ImGui::GetStyle().FramePadding.x + charW * (float)strlen(input_buffer_);
+            caretX = std::min(caretX, itMax.x - ImGui::GetStyle().FramePadding.x - caretW);
+            float pad = (itMax.y - itMin.y) * 0.18f;
+            ImU32 caretCol = inputLight ? IM_COL32(0, 0, 0, 210) : IM_COL32(255, 255, 255, 210);
+            dlIn->AddRectFilled(ImVec2(caretX, itMin.y + pad), ImVec2(caretX + caretW, itMax.y - pad), caretCol);
+        }
+    }
+
     ImGui::PopStyleColor(3);
 
     ImGui::PopItemWidth();