diff --git a/client/index.html b/client/index.html
index 5f94043..cb42c83 100644
--- a/client/index.html
+++ b/client/index.html
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
           <input id="authPassword" type="password" maxlength="64" autocomplete="current-password" />
         </div>
         <p id="authPolicyHintLogin" class="auth-hint"></p>
-        <button id="showRegisterButton" type="button">Create account</button>
+        <button id="showRegisterButton" type="button">Need an account? Register</button>
       </section>
       <section id="registerView" class="auth-panel hidden">
         <h2>Register</h2>
@@ -37,11 +37,11 @@
           <input id="registerEmail" type="email" maxlength="320" autocomplete="email" />
         </div>
         <p id="authPolicyHintRegister" class="auth-hint"></p>
-        <button id="showLoginButton" type="button">Back to login</button>
+        <button id="showLoginButton" type="button">Have an account? Log in</button>
       </section>
       <div class="controls" id="button-container">
         <button id="connectButton">Connect</button>
-        <button id="logoutButton">Log out</button>
+        <button id="logoutButton" class="hidden">Log out</button>
         <button id="settingsButton">Settings</button>
         <button id="disconnectButton" class="hidden">Disconnect</button>
         <button id="focusGridButton" class="hidden" aria-controls="gameCanvas">Chat Grid</button>
diff --git a/client/public/version.js b/client/public/version.js
index 5c37a6e..65f6e74 100644
--- a/client/public/version.js
+++ b/client/public/version.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 // Maintainer-controlled web client version.
 // Format: YYYY.MM.DD Rn (example: 2026.02.20 R2)
-window.CHGRID_WEB_VERSION = "2026.02.25 R245";
+window.CHGRID_WEB_VERSION = "2026.02.25 R246";
 // Optional display timezone for timestamps. Falls back to America/Detroit if unset/invalid.
 window.CHGRID_TIME_ZONE = "America/Detroit";
diff --git a/client/src/main.ts b/client/src/main.ts
index a45587d..dab65e0 100644
--- a/client/src/main.ts
+++ b/client/src/main.ts
@@ -578,7 +578,10 @@ function loadPersistedAuthPolicy(): void {
 
 /** Enables/disables the connect button based on state and nickname validity. */
 function updateConnectAvailability(): void {
-  dom.logoutButton.disabled = !authSessionToken.trim() && !state.running;
+  const hasSessionToken = authSessionToken.trim().length > 0;
+  const showLogout = state.running || hasSessionToken;
+  dom.logoutButton.classList.toggle('hidden', !showLogout);
+  dom.logoutButton.disabled = !showLogout;
   if (state.running) {
     dom.connectButton.textContent = 'Connect';
     dom.connectButton.disabled = true;
@@ -588,7 +591,6 @@ function updateConnectAvailability(): void {
   }
   dom.loginView.classList.toggle('hidden', authMode !== 'login');
   dom.registerView.classList.toggle('hidden', authMode !== 'register');
-  const hasSessionToken = authSessionToken.trim().length > 0;
   const usernameMin = authPolicy?.usernameMinLength ?? 1;
   const passwordMin = authPolicy?.passwordMinLength ?? 1;
   const hasLoginCredentials =