diff --git a/main/esp_now_slave.c b/main/esp_now_slave.c
index 5e352fd..8e5dd3c 100644
--- a/main/esp_now_slave.c
+++ b/main/esp_now_slave.c
@@ -718,6 +718,7 @@ static void handle_discover(const uint8_t *sender_mac,
            (unsigned)discover->network, mac_str,
            (unsigned long)preferred_id_for_master());
 
+  led_ring_connected_anim();
   queue_tx(SLAVE_TX_SLAVE_INFO);
   /* Battery after ASSIGN_ID so reports carry the definitive client_id. */
 }
diff --git a/main/led_ring.c b/main/led_ring.c
index 299a38a..7543f3b 100644
--- a/main/led_ring.c
+++ b/main/led_ring.c
@@ -27,6 +27,16 @@ static led_strip_handle_t led_ring;
 #define LED_RING_BATTERY_LOW_R 255
 #define LED_RING_BATTERY_LOW_G 0
 #define LED_RING_BATTERY_LOW_B 0
+/** Boot chase: all RING_LEDS within ~1 s. */
+#define LED_RING_BOOT_STEP_MS 10
+#define LED_RING_BOOT_R 255
+#define LED_RING_BOOT_G 255
+#define LED_RING_BOOT_B 255
+/** Connected: every other LED briefly blue. */
+#define LED_RING_CONNECTED_HOLD_MS 120
+#define LED_RING_CONNECTED_R 0
+#define LED_RING_CONNECTED_G 0
+#define LED_RING_CONNECTED_B 255
 
 static QueueHandle_t led_queue;
 static SemaphoreHandle_t s_battery_low_done;
@@ -166,6 +176,33 @@ void vTaskLedRing(void *pvParameters) {
           xSemaphoreGive(s_battery_low_done);
         }
         continue;
+      } else if (cmd.mode == LED_CMD_BOOT) {
+        uint8_t br = LED_RING_BOOT_R;
+        uint8_t bg = LED_RING_BOOT_G;
+        uint8_t bb = LED_RING_BOOT_B;
+        led_ring_scale_rgb(&br, &bg, &bb, LED_RING_DEFAULT_INTENSITY);
+        for (uint32_t i = 0; i < RING_LEDS; i++) {
+          led_strip_clear(led_ring);
+          led_strip_set_pixel(led_ring, i, br, bg, bb);
+          led_strip_refresh(led_ring);
+          vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(LED_RING_BOOT_STEP_MS));
+        }
+        led_strip_clear(led_ring);
+        led_strip_refresh(led_ring);
+        continue;
+      } else if (cmd.mode == LED_CMD_CONNECTED) {
+        uint8_t cr = LED_RING_CONNECTED_R;
+        uint8_t cg = LED_RING_CONNECTED_G;
+        uint8_t cb = LED_RING_CONNECTED_B;
+        led_ring_scale_rgb(&cr, &cg, &cb, LED_RING_DEFAULT_INTENSITY);
+        for (uint32_t i = 0; i < RING_LEDS; i += 2) {
+          led_strip_set_pixel(led_ring, i, cr, cg, cb);
+        }
+        led_strip_refresh(led_ring);
+        vTaskDelay(pdMS_TO_TICKS(LED_RING_CONNECTED_HOLD_MS));
+        led_strip_clear(led_ring);
+        led_strip_refresh(led_ring);
+        continue;
       }
       led_strip_refresh(led_ring);
     }
@@ -256,3 +293,13 @@ void led_ring_show_battery_low(void) {
   led_ring_send_command(&cmd);
   (void)xSemaphoreTake(s_battery_low_done, portMAX_DELAY);
 }
+
+void led_ring_boot_anim(void) {
+  led_command_t cmd = {.mode = LED_CMD_BOOT};
+  led_ring_send_command(&cmd);
+}
+
+void led_ring_connected_anim(void) {
+  led_command_t cmd = {.mode = LED_CMD_CONNECTED};
+  led_ring_send_command(&cmd);
+}
diff --git a/main/led_ring.h b/main/led_ring.h
index bdae9f5..a3dbf26 100644
--- a/main/led_ring.h
+++ b/main/led_ring.h
@@ -19,7 +19,9 @@ typedef enum {
   LED_CMD_PROGRESS,
   LED_CMD_BLINK,
   LED_CMD_FIND_ME,
-  LED_CMD_BATTERY_LOW
+  LED_CMD_BATTERY_LOW,
+  LED_CMD_BOOT,
+  LED_CMD_CONNECTED
 } led_mode_t;
 
 typedef struct {
@@ -53,4 +55,10 @@ void led_ring_find_me(void);
 /** First 4 LEDs red at ~10 % for 5 s, then off (blocking in LED task). */
 void led_ring_show_battery_low(void);
 
+/** Chase: each ring LED lights once in sequence (~1 s total). */
+void led_ring_boot_anim(void);
+
+/** Every second LED briefly blue (join / reconnect). */
+void led_ring_connected_anim(void);
+
 #endif
diff --git a/main/powerpod.c b/main/powerpod.c
index 82c11ef..d555f9a 100644
--- a/main/powerpod.c
+++ b/main/powerpod.c
@@ -207,6 +207,7 @@ void app_main(void) {
   }
 
   led_ring_init();
+  led_ring_boot_anim();
 
   if (app_config.master) {
     cmd_queue = xQueueCreate(64, sizeof(generic_msg_t));
@@ -240,7 +241,7 @@ void app_main(void) {
     cmd_set_log_level_register();
   }
 
-  ESP_LOGI(TAG, "LED ring: UART LED_RING commands only (no local demo loop)");
+  ESP_LOGI(TAG, "LED ring: boot anim + UART LED_RING commands");
 
   /* After OTA: PENDING_VERIFY until confirm; crash before this → rollback. */
   ota_confirm_schedule();