diff --git a/src/chat/chat_channel.c b/src/chat/chat_channel.c
index f911e08c..b6a0b487 100644
--- a/src/chat/chat_channel.c
+++ b/src/chat/chat_channel.c
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 
 #include "chat_core_priv.h"
 #include "chat_event.h"
+#include "chat_setting.h"
 
 #include "../utun_instance.h"
 #include "../ntp_time.h"
@@ -224,6 +225,12 @@ void chat_core_connect_channel(const char* ch_id) {
         return;
     }
 
+    if (!chat_setting_get_int("group_autoconnect", 1)) {
+        DEBUG_INFO(DEBUG_CATEGORY_CHAT_SYNC, "%s: connect_channel ch=%s — group_autoconnect disabled, skip auto-connect loop",
+                   CC_ID, ch_id);
+        return;
+    }
+
     DEBUG_INFO(DEBUG_CATEGORY_CHAT_SYNC, "%s: connect_channel ch=%s gid=%016llx group_type=%d — starting connect_init", CC_ID, ch_id, (unsigned long long)gid, group->group_type);
     topo_group_connect_init(group);
 }
@@ -235,3 +242,56 @@ void chat_core_connect_channel_trampoline(void* arg) {
     chat_core_connect_channel(ch_id);
     u_free(ch_id);
 }
+
+/* ─── однократное подключение к конкретному узлу канала (GUI → uasync) ─── */
+
+void chat_core_connect_node(const char* ch_id, uint64_t node_id) {
+    if (!g_cc.initialized || !g_cc.inst || !ch_id || !ch_id[0] || !node_id) {
+        DEBUG_WARN(DEBUG_CATEGORY_CHAT_SYNC, "%s: connect_node — skip (not ready or invalid args)", CC_ID);
+        return;
+    }
+    if (node_id == g_cc.inst->node_id) {
+        DEBUG_WARN(DEBUG_CATEGORY_CHAT_SYNC, "%s: connect_node — skip self node=0x%016llx", CC_ID, (unsigned long long)node_id);
+        return;
+    }
+
+    chat_core_ensure_channel_ready(ch_id);
+
+    uint64_t gid = strtoull(ch_id, NULL, 10);
+    struct TOPO_GROUP* group = topo_groups_find(g_cc.inst->topo_groups, gid);
+    if (!group) {
+        DEBUG_ERROR(DEBUG_CATEGORY_CHAT_SYNC, "%s: connect_node — group not found ch=%s", CC_ID, ch_id);
+        return;
+    }
+
+    topo_group_connect_node_once(group, node_id);
+}
+
+void chat_core_connect_node_trampoline(void* arg) {
+    struct chat_connect_node_req* r = (struct chat_connect_node_req*)arg;
+    if (!r) return;
+    chat_core_connect_node(r->ch_id, r->node_id);
+    u_free(r);
+}
+
+/* ─── применение настройки group_autoconnect ко всем CHAT-группам ─── */
+
+void chat_core_apply_group_autoconnect(void) {
+    int enabled = chat_setting_get_int("group_autoconnect", 1);
+    struct UTUN_INSTANCE* inst = g_cc.inst;
+    if (!inst || !inst->topo_groups || !inst->topo_groups->group_list) return;
+
+    struct ll_entry* e = inst->topo_groups->group_list->head;
+    while (e) {
+        struct TOPO_GROUP* g = (struct TOPO_GROUP*)e;
+        if (g->group_type == TOPO_GROUP_TYPE_CHAT) {
+            if (enabled && !g->connect) {
+                topo_group_connect_init(g);
+            } else if (!enabled && g->connect) {
+                DEBUG_INFO(DEBUG_CATEGORY_CHAT_SYNC, "%s: group_autoconnect OFF — stop auto-connect ch=%s", CC_ID, g->channel_id);
+                topo_group_connect_destroy(g);
+            }
+        }
+        e = e->next;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/chat/chat_core.c b/src/chat/chat_core.c
index 77aba1b9..e3d5157c 100644
--- a/src/chat/chat_core.c
+++ b/src/chat/chat_core.c
@@ -260,6 +260,7 @@ int chat_core_is_initialized(void) { return g_cc.initialized; }
 
 void chat_core_set_setting(const char* name, const char* value) {
     chat_setting_set(name, value);
+    if (name && strcmp(name, "group_autoconnect") == 0) chat_core_apply_group_autoconnect();
 }
 
 struct chat_setting_arg { char data[256]; };
diff --git a/src/chat/chat_core.h b/src/chat/chat_core.h
index ccc10675..ca8a5496 100644
--- a/src/chat/chat_core.h
+++ b/src/chat/chat_core.h
@@ -96,6 +96,15 @@ void chat_core_set_setting_trampoline(void* arg);
 void chat_core_connect_channel(const char* ch_id);
 void chat_core_connect_channel_trampoline(void* arg);
 
+/* Однократная попытка подключения к конкретному узлу канала (GUI → uasync) */
+void chat_core_connect_node(const char* ch_id, uint64_t node_id);
+void chat_core_connect_node_trampoline(void* arg);
+
+struct chat_connect_node_req {
+    char     ch_id[64];
+    uint64_t node_id;
+};
+
 /* Трамплин для gui_bridge_post_uasync (GUI → uasync) */
 void chat_core_submit_trampoline(void* arg);
 
diff --git a/src/chat/chat_core_priv.h b/src/chat/chat_core_priv.h
index 1c03a193..8c5e6587 100644
--- a/src/chat/chat_core_priv.h
+++ b/src/chat/chat_core_priv.h
@@ -105,4 +105,8 @@ void si_register(struct DB_SYNC_INSTANCE* si, const char* ch_id);
 
 void on_msg_inserted(struct DB_SYNC_INSTANCE* si, uint64_t record_ts, const char* data, size_t len, uint64_t author, void* arg);
 
+/* ── применить настройку group_autoconnect ко всем CHAT-группам (chat_channel.c) ── */
+
+void chat_core_apply_group_autoconnect(void);
+
 #endif /* CHAT_CORE_PRIV_H */
diff --git a/src/chat/chat_setting.c b/src/chat/chat_setting.c
index d542364d..f8b0e391 100644
--- a/src/chat/chat_setting.c
+++ b/src/chat/chat_setting.c
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ static const struct chat_setting_def g_setting_defs[] = {
     {"join_policy",                CHAT_SETTING_INT,  1,   0, 2},  /* 0=autojoin, 1=ask, 2=deny */
     {"whisper_enabled",            CHAT_SETTING_BOOL, 0,   0, 1},
     {"whisper_model_path",         CHAT_SETTING_STRING, 0, 0, 0},
+    {"group_autoconnect",          CHAT_SETTING_BOOL, 1,   0, 1},
 };
 
 #define CHAT_SETTING_COUNT (sizeof(g_setting_defs) / sizeof(g_setting_defs[0]))
diff --git a/src/routing_layer/topo_group.c b/src/routing_layer/topo_group.c
index c28e4b9b..487238fa 100644
--- a/src/routing_layer/topo_group.c
+++ b/src/routing_layer/topo_group.c
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #include "topo_group_connect.h"
 #include "topo_recovery.h"
 #include "broadcast.h"
+#include "../chat/chat_setting.h"
 
 #define TOPO_GROUP_UTUN  0x8000000000000000ULL
 
@@ -522,7 +523,7 @@ struct TOPO_GROUP* topo_groups_create_group(struct TOPO_GROUPS* g, uint64_t grou
     }
 
     DEBUG_INFO(DEBUG_CATEGORY_BGP, "Group created: group_id=%016llx type=%u ch_id=%s", (unsigned long long)group_id, group_type, group->channel_id);
-    if (group_type == TOPO_GROUP_TYPE_CHAT) topo_group_connect_init(group);
+    if (group_type == TOPO_GROUP_TYPE_CHAT && chat_setting_get_int("group_autoconnect", 1)) topo_group_connect_init(group);
     return group;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/routing_layer/topo_group_connect.c b/src/routing_layer/topo_group_connect.c
index 75292c41..aee6ec84 100644
--- a/src/routing_layer/topo_group_connect.c
+++ b/src/routing_layer/topo_group_connect.c
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #include "topo_group.h"
 #include "topo_node.h"
 #include "topo_node_sqlite.h"
+#include "../utun_instance.h"
 #include "../transport_layer/node_conn_direct.h"
 #include "../lib/debug_config.h"
 #include "../lib/mem.h"
@@ -523,3 +524,59 @@ static void tgc_cycle_restart(struct TOPO_GROUP_CONNECT* gc) {
     gc->phase_timer = uasync_set_timeout(gc->group->instance->ua,
         TGC_DIRECT_TIMEOUT_MS * 10, gc, tgc_phase1_timeout, "tgc_phase1");
 }
+
+/* ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+ * Однократное подключение к конкретному узлу (ручной "Connect" из GUI)
+ * ══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ */
+
+struct tgc_once_ctx {
+    struct TOPO_GROUP* group;
+    uint64_t node_id;
+    struct NODE_CONN_DIRECT* h;
+};
+
+static void tgc_once_cb(struct NODE_CONN_DIRECT* h, enum ncd_event ev, void* arg) {
+    struct tgc_once_ctx* c = (struct tgc_once_ctx*)arg;
+    struct ETCP_CONN* conn = node_conn_direct_get_conn(h);
+
+    if (ev == NCD_EVENT_UP && conn) {
+        struct TOPO_GROUP_NODE* nq = topo_node_find_by_id(c->group, c->node_id);
+        if (nq) nq->handle = h;
+        node_conn_direct_set_callback(h, NULL, NULL);
+        topo_group_new_conn(c->group, conn);
+        DEBUG_INFO(DEBUG_CATEGORY_BGP, "%s: once-connect UP node=0x%016llx ch=%s",
+                   TGC_ID, (unsigned long long)c->node_id, c->group->channel_id);
+    } else if (ev == NCD_EVENT_TIMEOUT) {
+        DEBUG_WARN(DEBUG_CATEGORY_BGP, "%s: once-connect TIMEOUT node=0x%016llx ch=%s",
+                   TGC_ID, (unsigned long long)c->node_id, c->group->channel_id);
+        node_conn_direct_close(h);
+    } else if (ev == NCD_EVENT_DOWN) {
+        DEBUG_WARN(DEBUG_CATEGORY_BGP, "%s: once-connect DOWN node=0x%016llx ch=%s",
+                   TGC_ID, (unsigned long long)c->node_id, c->group->channel_id);
+        node_conn_direct_close(h);
+    }
+    u_free(c);
+}
+
+int topo_group_connect_node_once(struct TOPO_GROUP* group, uint64_t node_id) {
+    if (!group || group->group_type != TOPO_GROUP_TYPE_CHAT || !node_id) return -1;
+    if (node_id == group->instance->node_id) return -1;
+
+    struct ETCP_CONN* ex = instance_find_conn(group->instance, node_id);
+    if (ex && ex->links_up && ex->initialized) {
+        DEBUG_INFO(DEBUG_CATEGORY_BGP, "%s: once-connect node=0x%016llx already connected — add to group ch=%s",
+                   TGC_ID, (unsigned long long)node_id, group->channel_id);
+        topo_group_new_conn(group, ex);
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    struct tgc_once_ctx* c = u_calloc(1, sizeof(*c));
+    if (!c) return -1;
+    c->group = group; c->node_id = node_id;
+
+    int r = node_conn_direct_open(group->instance, node_id, tgc_once_cb, c, &c->h, NULL);
+    if (r == NCD_ERR || !c->h) { u_free(c); return -1; }
+    DEBUG_INFO(DEBUG_CATEGORY_BGP, "%s: once-connect node=0x%016llx ch=%s started (rc=%d)",
+               TGC_ID, (unsigned long long)node_id, group->channel_id, r);
+    return 0;
+}
diff --git a/src/routing_layer/topo_group_connect.h b/src/routing_layer/topo_group_connect.h
index 55d40a5c..f72db192 100644
--- a/src/routing_layer/topo_group_connect.h
+++ b/src/routing_layer/topo_group_connect.h
@@ -33,4 +33,9 @@ void topo_group_connect_on_down(struct TOPO_GROUP* group, struct ETCP_CONN* conn
 int  topo_group_connect_active_count(struct TOPO_GROUP* group);
 void topo_group_connect_restart(struct TOPO_GROUP* group);
 
+/* Однократная попытка подключения к конкретному узлу группы (без бесконечного
+ * цикла). При успехе соединение добавляется в BGP-группу (topo_group_new_conn),
+ * handle сохраняется в nq->handle. Используется для ручного "Connect" из GUI. */
+int  topo_group_connect_node_once(struct TOPO_GROUP* group, uint64_t node_id);
+
 #endif
diff --git a/src/transport_layer/etcp.c b/src/transport_layer/etcp.c
index e0dd855d..f91cb253 100644
--- a/src/transport_layer/etcp.c
+++ b/src/transport_layer/etcp.c
@@ -640,10 +640,11 @@ void etcp_conn_reinit_id(struct ETCP_CONN* etcp, const char* reason, uint64_t re
 // Применение чужого reset_id (эпохи ресета пира). Симметрично:
 // если uid пира изменился — сбрасываем своё состояние (свой uid сохраняем).
 void etcp_conn_apply_peer_reset_id(struct ETCP_CONN* conn, uint64_t peer_reset_id) {
-    if (!conn) return;
+    if (!conn || peer_reset_id == 0) return;  /* 0 = неизвестно (STCP-сервер ещё не создал conn) */
     if (peer_reset_id == conn->peer_reset_id) return;  // uid пира не изменился
+    uint64_t old = conn->peer_reset_id;
     conn->peer_reset_id = peer_reset_id;
-    if (conn->got_initial_pkt) {
+    if (old != 0 && conn->got_initial_pkt) {
         DEBUG_INFO(DEBUG_CATEGORY_ETCP, "[%s] peer reset id changed to %016llx — resetting self",
                    conn->log_name, (unsigned long long)peer_reset_id);
         etcp_conn_reinit(conn, "peer reset epoch");
diff --git a/tools/chatgui-android/app/src/main/java/com/utun/chat/data/ChatRepository.kt b/tools/chatgui-android/app/src/main/java/com/utun/chat/data/ChatRepository.kt
index 83363868..fa045539 100644
--- a/tools/chatgui-android/app/src/main/java/com/utun/chat/data/ChatRepository.kt
+++ b/tools/chatgui-android/app/src/main/java/com/utun/chat/data/ChatRepository.kt
@@ -385,6 +385,7 @@ class ChatRepository {
     fun joinChannel(channelId: Long, nodeId: Long, pubkey: ByteArray, addrs: ByteArray, addrCount: Int) =
         NativeLib.joinChannel(channelId, nodeId, pubkey, addrs, addrCount)
     fun connectChannel(channelId: String) = NativeLib.connectChannel(channelId)
+    fun connectMemberNode(channelId: String, nodeId: Long) = NativeLib.connectMemberNode(channelId, nodeId)
     fun isReady() = NativeLib.isReady()
 
     fun getMembers(channelId: String): List<ChatMember> {
diff --git a/tools/chatgui-android/app/src/main/java/com/utun/chat/data/ConfigProvider.kt b/tools/chatgui-android/app/src/main/java/com/utun/chat/data/ConfigProvider.kt
index 164d6c33..465a37d9 100644
--- a/tools/chatgui-android/app/src/main/java/com/utun/chat/data/ConfigProvider.kt
+++ b/tools/chatgui-android/app/src/main/java/com/utun/chat/data/ConfigProvider.kt
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ class ConfigProvider(private val context: Context) {
     private val chatStandbyActiveSec = intPreferencesKey("chat_standby_active_sec")
     private val chatStandbySleepSec = intPreferencesKey("chat_standby_sleep_sec")
     private val chatStandbyMinSleepSec = intPreferencesKey("chat_standby_min_sleep_sec")
+    private val chatGroupAutoconnect = intPreferencesKey("chat_group_autoconnect")
     private val firstLaunchDone = booleanPreferencesKey("first_launch_done")
     private val connectionModeKey = stringPreferencesKey("connection_mode")
     private val serviceEnabledKey = booleanPreferencesKey("service_enabled")
@@ -127,6 +128,7 @@ class ConfigProvider(private val context: Context) {
             key == "chat.standby_active_sec" -> context.dataStore.data.first()[chatStandbyActiveSec] ?: 2
             key == "chat.standby_sleep_sec" -> context.dataStore.data.first()[chatStandbySleepSec] ?: 60
             key == "chat.standby_min_sleep_sec" -> context.dataStore.data.first()[chatStandbyMinSleepSec] ?: 15
+            key == "chat.group_autoconnect" -> context.dataStore.data.first()[chatGroupAutoconnect] ?: 1
             else -> 0
         }
     }
@@ -157,6 +159,7 @@ class ConfigProvider(private val context: Context) {
                 "chat.standby_active_sec" -> prefs[chatStandbyActiveSec] = value.toIntOrNull() ?: 2
                 "chat.standby_sleep_sec" -> prefs[chatStandbySleepSec] = value.toIntOrNull() ?: 60
                 "chat.standby_min_sleep_sec" -> prefs[chatStandbyMinSleepSec] = value.toIntOrNull() ?: 15
+                "chat.group_autoconnect" -> prefs[chatGroupAutoconnect] = value.toIntOrNull() ?: 1
             }
         }
     }
@@ -387,6 +390,7 @@ class ConfigProvider(private val context: Context) {
             appendLine("standby_active_sec=${getInt("chat.standby_active_sec")}")
             appendLine("standby_sleep_sec=${getInt("chat.standby_sleep_sec")}")
             appendLine("standby_min_sleep_sec=${getInt("chat.standby_min_sleep_sec")}")
+            appendLine("group_autoconnect=${getInt("chat.group_autoconnect")}")
             appendLine()
             appendLine("[debug]")
             appendLine("console_level=info")
diff --git a/tools/chatgui-android/app/src/main/java/com/utun/chat/data/NativeLib.kt b/tools/chatgui-android/app/src/main/java/com/utun/chat/data/NativeLib.kt
index 3f3ed32b..f6c83050 100644
--- a/tools/chatgui-android/app/src/main/java/com/utun/chat/data/NativeLib.kt
+++ b/tools/chatgui-android/app/src/main/java/com/utun/chat/data/NativeLib.kt
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ object NativeLib {
     }
     fun deriveNodeId(pubkey: ByteArray): Long = nativeDeriveNodeId(pubkey)
     fun connectChannel(channelId: String) { nativeConnectChannel(channelId) }
+    fun connectMemberNode(channelId: String, nodeId: Long) { nativeConnectMemberNode(channelId, nodeId) }
     fun getChannels(): String = nativeGetChannels() ?: "[]"
     fun getMessages(channelId: String, limit: Int = 50): String = nativeGetMessages(channelId, limit) ?: "[]"
     fun clearDatabase(): Boolean = nativeClearDatabase()
@@ -148,6 +149,7 @@ object NativeLib {
     private external fun nativeJoinChannel(channelId: Long, nodeId: Long, pubkey: ByteArray, addrs: ByteArray, addrCount: Int)
     private external fun nativeDeriveNodeId(pubkey: ByteArray): Long
     private external fun nativeConnectChannel(channelId: String)
+    private external fun nativeConnectMemberNode(channelId: String, nodeId: Long)
     private external fun nativeGetChannels(): String?
     private external fun nativeGetMessages(channelId: String, limit: Int): String?
     private external fun nativeSetDebugLevel(category: String, level: String)
diff --git a/tools/chatgui-android/app/src/main/java/com/utun/chat/ui/screens/MemberListScreen.kt b/tools/chatgui-android/app/src/main/java/com/utun/chat/ui/screens/MemberListScreen.kt
index 0de409d9..066ab154 100644
--- a/tools/chatgui-android/app/src/main/java/com/utun/chat/ui/screens/MemberListScreen.kt
+++ b/tools/chatgui-android/app/src/main/java/com/utun/chat/ui/screens/MemberListScreen.kt
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ fun MemberListScreen(
                     member = m,
                     isSelected = selectedMember?.nodeId == m.nodeId,
                     onClick = { viewModel.showMemberDetail(channel.id, m.nodeId) },
+                    onConnect = { viewModel.connectMemberNode(channel.id, m.nodeId) },
                     onEdit = {
                         editMember = m
                         showEditDialog = true
@@ -133,6 +134,7 @@ private fun MemberListItem(
     member: ChatMember,
     isSelected: Boolean = false,
     onClick: () -> Unit,
+    onConnect: () -> Unit,
     onEdit: () -> Unit
 ) {
     val onlineColor = when {
@@ -223,6 +225,9 @@ private fun MemberListItem(
                 }
             }
 
+            if (!member.isSelf) {
+                TextButton(onClick = onConnect) { Text("Connect") }
+            }
             TextButton(onClick = onEdit) { Text("Edit") }
         }
     }
diff --git a/tools/chatgui-android/app/src/main/java/com/utun/chat/ui/screens/SettingsScreen.kt b/tools/chatgui-android/app/src/main/java/com/utun/chat/ui/screens/SettingsScreen.kt
index 3196302d..1306eea4 100644
--- a/tools/chatgui-android/app/src/main/java/com/utun/chat/ui/screens/SettingsScreen.kt
+++ b/tools/chatgui-android/app/src/main/java/com/utun/chat/ui/screens/SettingsScreen.kt
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ private fun GeneralSettingsTab(vm: ChatViewModel, dirty: Boolean, onDirty: (Bool
     var servers by remember { mutableStateOf<List<ServerEntry>>(emptyList()) }
     var availableIfaces by remember { mutableStateOf<List<Pair<String, String>>>(emptyList()) }
     var connectionMode by remember { mutableStateOf("manual") }
+    var autoConnect by remember { mutableStateOf(true) }
 
     val localSocketStates by vm.localSockets.collectAsState()
     val serviceEnabled by provider.serviceEnabledFlow.collectAsState(initial = true)
@@ -143,6 +144,7 @@ private fun GeneralSettingsTab(vm: ChatViewModel, dirty: Boolean, onDirty: (Bool
         servers = provider.loadServersFromConfig()
         availableIfaces = provider.getAvailableInterfaces()
         connectionMode = provider.getConnectionMode()
+        autoConnect = provider.getInt("chat.group_autoconnect") != 0
     }
 
     val save = { s: List<ServerEntry> -> onDirty(true); servers = s; provider.saveServersToConfig(s) }
@@ -336,6 +338,20 @@ private fun GeneralSettingsTab(vm: ChatViewModel, dirty: Boolean, onDirty: (Bool
 
         HorizontalDivider(Modifier.padding(vertical = 8.dp))
 
+        /* ── Chat ── */
+        Text("Chat", style = MaterialTheme.typography.titleMedium)
+        Row(verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically) {
+            Text("Auto-connect to group nodes", modifier = Modifier.weight(1f))
+            Switch(checked = autoConnect, onCheckedChange = {
+                autoConnect = it
+                val s = if (it) "1" else "0"
+                scope.launch { provider.setValue("chat.group_autoconnect", s) }
+                NativeLib.setChatSetting("group_autoconnect", s)
+            })
+        }
+
+        HorizontalDivider(Modifier.padding(vertical = 8.dp))
+
         /* Debug */
         Text("Debug", style = MaterialTheme.typography.titleMedium)
         DebugLevelDropdown(label = "Global Level", current = debugLevel.uppercase(), onSelect = setDebug)
diff --git a/tools/chatgui-android/app/src/main/java/com/utun/chat/viewmodel/ChatViewModel.kt b/tools/chatgui-android/app/src/main/java/com/utun/chat/viewmodel/ChatViewModel.kt
index 072a138c..004052bb 100644
--- a/tools/chatgui-android/app/src/main/java/com/utun/chat/viewmodel/ChatViewModel.kt
+++ b/tools/chatgui-android/app/src/main/java/com/utun/chat/viewmodel/ChatViewModel.kt
@@ -519,6 +519,12 @@ class ChatViewModel : ViewModel() {
         r.transferAdmin(channelId, nodeId)
     }
 
+    fun connectMemberNode(channelId: String, nodeId: Long) {
+        val r = repo ?: return
+        r.connectMemberNode(channelId, nodeId)
+        refreshMembers(channelId)
+    }
+
     fun refreshMemberLinks(nodeId: Long) {
         if (nodeId == 0L) { _memberLinks.value = MemberLinks(); return }
         val r = repo ?: return
diff --git a/tools/chatgui-android/jni_bridge/android_jni_bridge.c b/tools/chatgui-android/jni_bridge/android_jni_bridge.c
index 684d6c83..a75e29a4 100644
--- a/tools/chatgui-android/jni_bridge/android_jni_bridge.c
+++ b/tools/chatgui-android/jni_bridge/android_jni_bridge.c
@@ -274,6 +274,22 @@ void utun_bridge_connect_channel(const char* channel_id) {
     uasync_post(ua, chat_core_connect_channel_trampoline, cid);
 }
 
+void utun_bridge_connect_member_node(const char* channel_id, uint64_t node_id) {
+    if (!channel_id || !channel_id[0] || node_id == 0) {
+        bridge_log(BLEV_ERROR, "connect_member_node: invalid args ch=%s node=0x%016llx",
+                   channel_id ? channel_id : "(null)", (unsigned long long)node_id);
+        return;
+    }
+    struct UASYNC* ua = instance_lite_get_uasync();
+    if (!uasync_is_running(ua)) return;
+    struct chat_connect_node_req* req = u_calloc(1, sizeof(*req));
+    if (!req) { bridge_log(BLEV_ERROR, "connect_member_node: OOM"); return; }
+    strncpy(req->ch_id, channel_id, sizeof(req->ch_id) - 1);
+    req->node_id = node_id;
+    bridge_log(BLEV_INFO, "connect_member_node ch=%s node=0x%016llx", channel_id, (unsigned long long)node_id);
+    uasync_post(ua, chat_core_connect_node_trampoline, req);
+}
+
 static char* json_escape_alloc(const char* str) {
     if (!str) return u_strdup("");
     size_t len = strlen(str), cap = len * 2 + 8;
@@ -518,7 +534,7 @@ void utun_bridge_set_debug_level(const char* category, const char* level) {
 }
 
 void utun_bridge_chat_setting_set(const char* name, const char* value) {
-    chat_setting_set(name, value);
+    chat_core_set_setting(name, value);
 }
 
 int utun_bridge_chat_setting_get_int(const char* name, int def) {
@@ -1561,6 +1577,14 @@ JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_com_utun_chat_data_NativeLib_nativeConnectChannel(
     if (ch) (*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, channelId, ch);
 }
 
+JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_com_utun_chat_data_NativeLib_nativeConnectMemberNode(
+    JNIEnv* env, jobject thiz, jstring channelId, jlong nodeId) {
+    (void)thiz;
+    const char* ch = (*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, channelId, NULL);
+    utun_bridge_connect_member_node(ch, (uint64_t)nodeId);
+    if (ch) (*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, channelId, ch);
+}
+
 JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_com_utun_chat_data_NativeLib_nativeSetDebugLevel(
     JNIEnv* env, jobject thiz, jstring category, jstring level) {
     (void)thiz;
@@ -1576,7 +1600,7 @@ JNIEXPORT void JNICALL Java_com_utun_chat_data_NativeLib_nativeSetChatSetting(
     (void)thiz;
     const char* n = (*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, name, NULL);
     const char* v = (*env)->GetStringUTFChars(env, value, NULL);
-    chat_setting_set(n, v);
+    chat_core_set_setting(n, v);
     if (v) (*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, value, v);
     if (n) (*env)->ReleaseStringUTFChars(env, name, n);
 }
diff --git a/tools/chatgui-android/jni_bridge/android_jni_bridge.h b/tools/chatgui-android/jni_bridge/android_jni_bridge.h
index a7dde845..2369b0d2 100644
--- a/tools/chatgui-android/jni_bridge/android_jni_bridge.h
+++ b/tools/chatgui-android/jni_bridge/android_jni_bridge.h
@@ -60,6 +60,9 @@ void utun_bridge_join_channel(uint64_t channel_id, uint64_t node_id,
 /* Connect to all peers of a channel (auto-connect on select) */
 void utun_bridge_connect_channel(const char* channel_id);
 
+/* Однократная попытка подключения к конкретному узлу канала (ручной "Connect"). */
+void utun_bridge_connect_member_node(const char* channel_id, uint64_t node_id);
+
 /* ── Queries ── */
 
 char* utun_bridge_get_channels_json(void);
diff --git a/tools/chatgui/src/accountlist.cpp b/tools/chatgui/src/accountlist.cpp
index 28cd4313..805a570c 100644
--- a/tools/chatgui/src/accountlist.cpp
+++ b/tools/chatgui/src/accountlist.cpp
@@ -458,11 +458,23 @@ void AccountList::onMemberContextMenu(const QPoint& pos) {
     QString name = m_model->data(index, Qt::DisplayRole).toString();
 
     QMenu menu(m_listView);
+    QAction* connectAction = menu.addAction("Connect");
+    if (nodeId == m_db->myNodeId()) connectAction->setEnabled(false);
     QAction* renameAction = menu.addAction("Rename");
     if (nodeId == m_db->myNodeId()) renameAction->setEnabled(false);
     QAction* editAction = menu.addAction("Edit");
     QAction* chosen = menu.exec(m_listView->viewport()->mapToGlobal(pos));
 
+    if (chosen == connectAction) {
+        struct chat_connect_node_req* r = (struct chat_connect_node_req*)u_malloc(sizeof(*r));
+        if (!r) return;
+        memset(r, 0, sizeof(*r));
+        strncpy(r->ch_id, m_channelId.toUtf8().constData(), sizeof(r->ch_id) - 1);
+        r->node_id = nodeId;
+        gui_bridge_post_uasync_fn(chat_core_connect_node_trampoline, r);
+        return;
+    }
+
     if (chosen == renameAction) {
         RenameDialog dlg(m_db, m_channelId, nodeId, name, this);
         if (dlg.exec() == QDialog::Accepted) {
diff --git a/tools/chatgui/src/settingsdialog.cpp b/tools/chatgui/src/settingsdialog.cpp
index e1fb78e7..49dac9d4 100644
--- a/tools/chatgui/src/settingsdialog.cpp
+++ b/tools/chatgui/src/settingsdialog.cpp
@@ -96,6 +96,10 @@ SettingsDialog::SettingsDialog(const QString& configPath, DbManager* db, UtunNod
         "QComboBox { border: 1px solid palette(mid); border-radius: 4px;"
         " padding: 6px 10px; font-size: 13px; background: palette(base); }");
     profLayout->addRow(joinLabel, m_joinPolicyCombo);
+
+    m_autoConnectCheck = new QCheckBox("Auto-connect to group nodes", profilePage);
+    m_autoConnectCheck->setStyleSheet("font-size: 13px;");
+    profLayout->addRow(m_autoConnectCheck);
     m_pages->addWidget(profilePage);
 
     // Storage page
@@ -181,6 +185,7 @@ SettingsDialog::SettingsDialog(const QString& configPath, DbManager* db, UtunNod
         m_sortCombo->setCurrentIndex(sortMode == 1 ? 1 : 0);
         int joinPolicy = db->getUiStateInt("join_policy", 1);
         m_joinPolicyCombo->setCurrentIndex(joinPolicy >= 0 && joinPolicy <= 2 ? joinPolicy : 1);
+        m_autoConnectCheck->setChecked(db->getUiStateInt("group_autoconnect", 1) != 0);
     }
     m_networkPage->loadFromConfig(m_configPath);
     m_soundPage->loadFromDb();
@@ -295,6 +300,23 @@ void SettingsDialog::onSave() {
             postChatSetting(m_configPath, "join_policy", v);
         }
     }
+
+    /* save group_autoconnect */
+    {
+        const char* key = "group_autoconnect";
+        int v = m_autoConnectCheck->isChecked() ? 1 : 0;
+        QByteArray val = QByteArray::number(v);
+        size_t klen = strlen(key), vl = (size_t)val.size(), total = klen + 1 + vl + 1;
+        if (total <= 256) {
+            void* arg = u_malloc(total);
+            memcpy(arg, key, klen + 1);
+            memcpy((char*)arg + klen + 1, val.constData(), vl + 1);
+            gui_bridge_post_uasync_fn(chat_core_save_ui_state_trampoline, arg);
+        }
+        if (!m_configPath.isEmpty()) {
+            postChatSetting(m_configPath, "group_autoconnect", v);
+        }
+    }
     accept();
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/chatgui/src/settingsdialog.h b/tools/chatgui/src/settingsdialog.h
index 8204dfca..565ef870 100644
--- a/tools/chatgui/src/settingsdialog.h
+++ b/tools/chatgui/src/settingsdialog.h
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include <QPushButton>
 #include <QLineEdit>
 #include <QComboBox>
+#include <QCheckBox>
 #include <QString>
 
 class NetworkSettingsPage;
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@ private:
     QLineEdit*            m_nicknameEdit;
     QComboBox*            m_sortCombo;
     QComboBox*            m_joinPolicyCombo;
+    QCheckBox*            m_autoConnectCheck;
     QString               m_oldNickname;
     NetworkSettingsPage*  m_networkPage;
     DatabaseSettingsPage* m_databasePage;