diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 0f42915..3931812 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,6 +6,24 @@ recorded by the `MandoCode` submodule.
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Added
+- **First-run guided setup.** A fresh install now walks through everything in the chat itself:
+  reach Ollama (with a one-click winget install when it's missing), start the daemon, and pick a
+  starter model from a curated list — cloud recommended, or local tiers with size and hardware
+  hints. Setup stays discoverable afterward via `/setup` and a **Run guided setup** button in
+  Settings → Connection. Previously a fresh install landed on the raw Settings page.
+- **Open-in-Explorer buttons in the file explorer.** Every row gains an open icon next to the `@`
+  tag: folders open in Windows File Explorer, files in their default app. (Double-click on
+  folders couldn't do this — it fights the expand/collapse toggle.)
+
+### Fixed
+- **The app no longer freezes while the notes assistant streams a reply.** Fast models (small or
+  thinking models especially) could emit tokens quicker than the reply strip repainted, starving
+  the UI thread for the whole response. Streaming now runs off the UI thread and repaints are
+  batched on a 100 ms clock, so generation speed no longer affects app responsiveness. Closing
+  or switching notes also cancels the in-flight request instead of leaving it generating
+  invisibly.
+
 Multiple agents, one window. Each tab is an independent agent with its own conversation,
 project folder, model, and settings — and the config file stops being "the current settings"
 and becomes "the defaults a new agent starts on."
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index aa6a301..7c75e0d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -7,6 +7,22 @@ repo is pinned here as a **git submodule** (`/MandoCode`) and this app project-r
 task planner, plugins, MCP, skills, config, approvals, token tracking). Only the
 user interface is different: WinUI 3 instead of RazorConsole.
 
+## Install (no build needed)
+
+Download the latest `MandoCode.Desktop-*-win-x64.zip` from
+[Releases](https://github.com/DevMando/MandoCode.Desktop/releases), extract it anywhere, and run
+`MandoCode.Desktop.exe`. The zip is fully self-contained — **no .NET install required**.
+
+On first launch the app runs a **guided setup right in the chat**: it finds Ollama (offering to
+install it via winget if it's missing), starts the daemon, and helps you pick a first model — a
+cloud model (best quality, no GPU needed, free ollama.com sign-in) or a local one from a short
+list with size and hardware hints. Re-run the wizard any time by typing `/setup` or with the
+**Run guided setup** button in Settings.
+
+Requirements: Windows 10 (1809+) or Windows 11, with the WebView2 runtime — preinstalled on
+Windows 11 and kept current by Edge on Windows 10. Models are served by
+[Ollama](https://ollama.com); you don't need it installed beforehand, the wizard handles it.
+
 ## Clone & build
 
 ```
@@ -62,7 +78,7 @@ for that changing.
 | Approvals | `DiffApprovalHandler` (Spectre panels) | `Services/WinUiApprovalService.cs` + each agent's own XAML overlay (same labels, bypass state, `DiffApprovalResult` contract) |
 | Transcript | ANSI scrollback + Spectre renderables | WebView2 + `TranscriptHtmlBuilder` (Markdig HTML, themed) |
 | Busy/spinner | `SpinnerService` (ANSI) | `BusyStateService` → ProgressRing |
-| Onboarding | `OnboardingFlow` terminal prompts | `/setup` wizard + Settings page |
+| Onboarding | `OnboardingFlow` terminal prompts | In-chat guided wizard (auto on first launch, `/setup` after) + Settings page |
 | Everything else | `Services/`, `Plugins/`, `Models/` | **reused verbatim via project reference** |
 
 Key seams the harness already provided (unchanged): `AIService.ChatStreamAsync`,
@@ -330,8 +346,11 @@ within 24 hours.
     from a folder or zip, and an editor that can generate or refine a skill body with a
     model you pick (`SkillAuthor`); `SkillCoordinator` fans changes to every open agent
 - Guided wizards, built on the approval-overlay select + text primitives:
-  - `/setup` — probe/start Ollama, change endpoint, pull a starter model with live
-    progress, model picker, cloud-auth check + sign-in walkthrough
+  - First-run setup — fires automatically in the chat on a fresh install: probe/start
+    Ollama (offering a winget install when the CLI is missing), change endpoint, pick a
+    starter model from a curated list (cloud recommended, or local tiers with size and
+    hardware hints), pull it with live progress, cloud-auth check + sign-in walkthrough.
+    Re-run any time via `/setup` or Settings → Run guided setup
   - `/model`, `/force-skill`, `/music-playlist` — pickers
   - 401 auto-recovery — a cloud 401 offers the `ollama signin` walkthrough inline
 - Branded application icon across the exe, taskbar, and window title bar
diff --git a/src/MandoCode.Desktop/Controls/ChatTabView.Explorer.cs b/src/MandoCode.Desktop/Controls/ChatTabView.Explorer.cs
index fa21b85..77cf18d 100644
--- a/src/MandoCode.Desktop/Controls/ChatTabView.Explorer.cs
+++ b/src/MandoCode.Desktop/Controls/ChatTabView.Explorer.cs
@@ -763,7 +763,9 @@ private void ExplorerTree_ItemInvoked(TreeView sender, TreeViewItemInvokedEventA
 
     private void ExplorerTree_DoubleTapped(object sender, DoubleTappedRoutedEventArgs e)
     {
-        // The template's elements inherit the row's TreeViewNode as DataContext.
+        // The template's elements inherit the row's TreeViewNode as DataContext. Files only:
+        // for folders double-click fights the expand/collapse toggle — they open externally
+        // via the row's open button (ExplorerOpen_Click) instead.
         if ((e.OriginalSource as FrameworkElement)?.DataContext is not TreeViewNode node ||
             node.Content is not ExplorerItem { IsDirectory: false } item)
             return;
@@ -771,6 +773,17 @@ private void ExplorerTree_DoubleTapped(object sender, DoubleTappedRoutedEventArg
             _transcript.Append(_html.Warn($"Couldn't open file: {ex.Message}"));
     }
 
+    /// <summary>The row's open button: folders in Windows File Explorer, files in their
+    /// default app — ShellExecute either way.</summary>
+    private void ExplorerOpen_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
+    {
+        if ((sender as FrameworkElement)?.DataContext is not TreeViewNode
+            { Content: ExplorerItem item }) return;
+        if (ShellOpen.Try(item.FullPath) is { } ex)
+            _transcript.Append(_html.Warn(
+                $"Couldn't open {(item.IsDirectory ? "folder" : "file")}: {ex.Message}"));
+    }
+
     // ============================================================
     // Drag & drop @-references
     // ============================================================
diff --git a/src/MandoCode.Desktop/Controls/ChatTabView.ViewModels.cs b/src/MandoCode.Desktop/Controls/ChatTabView.ViewModels.cs
index 10363d1..603da26 100644
--- a/src/MandoCode.Desktop/Controls/ChatTabView.ViewModels.cs
+++ b/src/MandoCode.Desktop/Controls/ChatTabView.ViewModels.cs
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ public sealed class ExplorerItem : System.ComponentModel.INotifyPropertyChanged
 
     public string TagTooltip => $"Tag in prompt \u2014 inserts {Token}";
 
+    public string OpenTooltip => IsDirectory ? "Open in File Explorer" : "Open in its default app";
+
     /// <summary>Files: this file has uncommitted changes. Folders: something inside does.
     /// Mutable + observable so rows already realized in the tree light up in place when a
     /// git refresh lands (rebuilding the tree would lose expansion state).</summary>
diff --git a/src/MandoCode.Desktop/Controls/ChatTabView.xaml b/src/MandoCode.Desktop/Controls/ChatTabView.xaml
index 95970ec..d49bd4e 100644
--- a/src/MandoCode.Desktop/Controls/ChatTabView.xaml
+++ b/src/MandoCode.Desktop/Controls/ChatTabView.xaml
@@ -212,6 +212,7 @@
                                     <ColumnDefinition Width="*"/>
                                     <ColumnDefinition Width="Auto"/>
                                     <ColumnDefinition Width="Auto"/>
+                                    <ColumnDefinition Width="Auto"/>
                                 </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
                                 <FontIcon Glyph="{x:Bind ((local:ExplorerItem)Content).Glyph}"
                                           FontSize="13" VerticalAlignment="Center"
@@ -226,10 +227,21 @@
                                          Fill="{StaticResource MandoGoldBrush}"
                                          Visibility="{x:Bind ((local:ExplorerItem)Content).DirtyVisibility, Mode=OneWay}"
                                          ToolTipService.ToolTip="Uncommitted changes"/>
+                                <!-- Open button: folders open in Windows File Explorer, files in
+                                     their default app. Double-click can't do this for folders — it
+                                     fights the expand/collapse toggle. -->
+                                <Button Grid.Column="3" Click="ExplorerOpen_Click"
+                                        PointerEntered="ExplorerTag_PointerEntered"
+                                        PointerExited="ExplorerTag_PointerExited"
+                                        Padding="6,1" Background="Transparent" BorderThickness="0"
+                                        Opacity="0.45" VerticalAlignment="Center"
+                                        ToolTipService.ToolTip="{x:Bind ((local:ExplorerItem)Content).OpenTooltip}">
+                                    <FontIcon Glyph="&#xE8A7;" FontSize="12"/>
+                                </Button>
                                 <!-- Tag button: inserts this row's @token into the prompt, same as
                                      dragging it there. Dim at rest, brightens on hover (code-behind —
                                      WinUI styles have no triggers). -->
-                                <Button Grid.Column="3" Click="ExplorerTag_Click"
+                                <Button Grid.Column="4" Click="ExplorerTag_Click"
                                         PointerEntered="ExplorerTag_PointerEntered"
                                         PointerExited="ExplorerTag_PointerExited"
                                         Padding="6,1" Background="Transparent" BorderThickness="0"
diff --git a/src/MandoCode.Desktop/MainWindow.Notes.cs b/src/MandoCode.Desktop/MainWindow.Notes.cs
index 84666a7..ea94e11 100644
--- a/src/MandoCode.Desktop/MainWindow.Notes.cs
+++ b/src/MandoCode.Desktop/MainWindow.Notes.cs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+using System.Text;
 using MandoCode.Desktop.Services;
 using MandoCode.Services;   // OllamaSetupHelper — lists models without needing an agent
 using Microsoft.UI.Xaml;
@@ -322,6 +323,7 @@ private void OpenNote(NoteEntry note)
         // previous note would be answering about text that's no longer on screen.
         if (!string.Equals(_noteThreadFor, note.Path, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
         {
+            _noteAskCts?.Cancel();
             _noteThread.Clear();
             _noteThreadFor = note.Path;
             NoteAsk.ClearReply();
@@ -336,6 +338,7 @@ private void OpenNote(NoteEntry note)
 
     private void ShowNoteBrowse()
     {
+        _noteAskCts?.Cancel();    // the reply strip is about to be cleared; stop streaming into it
         NoteEditor.Close();       // saves and stops watching
         _lastNotePath = null;
         _noteThread.Clear();
@@ -446,7 +449,53 @@ private async Task AskNotesAsync(string question)
         _noteAskCts = new CancellationTokenSource();
         var ct = _noteAskCts.Token;
 
-        void OnDelta(string delta) => OnUi(() => NoteAsk.AppendDelta(delta));
+        // Deltas arrive on a background thread, possibly hundreds per second from a small model, and
+        // every repaint re-lays-out the entire reply. Posting per token starves the UI thread, and
+        // even coalesced back-to-back flushes stutter once the reply grows — so batch on a clock:
+        // deltas pile up off-thread, and a timer paints at most ten times a second. 100ms batching is
+        // invisible when reading streaming text; unbounded repainting is a frozen app.
+        var pendingDelta = new StringBuilder();
+        var pumping = false;   // guarded by deltaGate — the producers' view of "timer is running"
+        var deltaGate = new object();
+
+        var flushTimer = _dispatcher.CreateTimer();
+        flushTimer.Interval = TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(100);
+        flushTimer.Tick += (_, _) =>
+        {
+            string chunk;
+            lock (deltaGate)
+            {
+                chunk = pendingDelta.ToString();
+                pendingDelta.Clear();
+                if (chunk.Length == 0) pumping = false;
+            }
+            if (chunk.Length == 0) { flushTimer.Stop(); return; }   // idle — a new delta restarts it
+            NoteAsk.AppendDelta(chunk);
+        };
+
+        void OnDelta(string delta)
+        {
+            lock (deltaGate)
+            {
+                pendingDelta.Append(delta);
+                if (pumping) return;
+                pumping = true;
+            }
+            OnUi(flushTimer.Start);
+        }
+
+        void FlushDelta()   // final drain on the UI thread, once the stream is over
+        {
+            string chunk;
+            lock (deltaGate)
+            {
+                chunk = pendingDelta.ToString();
+                pendingDelta.Clear();
+                pumping = false;
+            }
+            flushTimer.Stop();
+            if (chunk.Length > 0) NoteAsk.AppendDelta(chunk);
+        }
 
         try
         {
@@ -463,6 +512,7 @@ await NoteAssistant.AskAboutPadAsync(
                     thread, question, OnDelta, ct);
             }
 
+            FlushDelta();   // drain the tail before reading NoteAsk.Reply below
             NoteAsk.EndReply();
 
             thread.Add(new NoteAssistant.Turn(true, question));
@@ -471,10 +521,12 @@ await NoteAssistant.AskAboutPadAsync(
         }
         catch (OperationCanceledException)
         {
+            FlushDelta();   // show what had streamed before the stop
             NoteAsk.EndReply(label: "stopped");
         }
         catch (Exception ex)
         {
+            FlushDelta();   // stop the timer — a late tick would paint reply text over the error
             // Ollama down, model pulled away, endpoint wrong: say which, in the strip.
             NoteAsk.EndReply(error: $"{ex.Message}\n\nEndpoint: {endpoint} · model: {model}");
         }
diff --git a/src/MandoCode.Desktop/MainWindow.Settings.cs b/src/MandoCode.Desktop/MainWindow.Settings.cs
index b23913d..9b62515 100644
--- a/src/MandoCode.Desktop/MainWindow.Settings.cs
+++ b/src/MandoCode.Desktop/MainWindow.Settings.cs
@@ -69,6 +69,15 @@ private void LoadSettings()
         }
     }
 
+    /// <summary>Runs the guided /setup wizard in the active agent's chat — the same flow that
+    /// fires on first launch. Routed through SubmitAsync so it gets the standard command echo
+    /// and the is-processing guard.</summary>
+    private void RunSetupWizard_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
+    {
+        SwitchPage("chat");
+        _ = Task.Run(() => _controller.SubmitAsync("/setup"));
+    }
+
     private void SettingsTabs_SelectionChanged(SelectorBar sender, SelectorBarSelectionChangedEventArgs args)
     {
         var s = sender.SelectedItem;
diff --git a/src/MandoCode.Desktop/MainWindow.xaml b/src/MandoCode.Desktop/MainWindow.xaml
index 971b0ac..1e3058d 100644
--- a/src/MandoCode.Desktop/MainWindow.xaml
+++ b/src/MandoCode.Desktop/MainWindow.xaml
@@ -863,6 +863,17 @@
                                         HorizontalAlignment="Left" Padding="0,4,0,8">
                                 <TextBlock Text="Connection" FontSize="13" FontWeight="SemiBold"
                                            Foreground="{StaticResource MandoAccentBrush}"/>
+                                <StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal" Spacing="8">
+                                    <Button Click="RunSetupWizard_Click"
+                                            ToolTipService.ToolTip="Guided setup: reach Ollama, install or start it if needed, and pick a model — the same wizard that runs on first launch.">
+                                        <StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal" Spacing="6">
+                                            <FontIcon Glyph="&#xE945;" FontSize="13"/>
+                                            <TextBlock Text="Run guided setup"/>
+                                        </StackPanel>
+                                    </Button>
+                                    <TextBlock Text="walks through connection + model, like first launch"
+                                               VerticalAlignment="Center" FontSize="12" Opacity="0.6"/>
+                                </StackPanel>
                                 <TextBlock Text="Ollama endpoint" FontSize="13" Opacity="0.8"/>
                                 <TextBox x:Name="EndpointBox" PlaceholderText="http://localhost:11434" MinWidth="560"
                                          HorizontalAlignment="Left"
diff --git a/src/MandoCode.Desktop/Services/NoteAssistant.cs b/src/MandoCode.Desktop/Services/NoteAssistant.cs
index f44f3cf..6e375c9 100644
--- a/src/MandoCode.Desktop/Services/NoteAssistant.cs
+++ b/src/MandoCode.Desktop/Services/NoteAssistant.cs
@@ -196,7 +196,10 @@ private static async Task StreamAsync(
         // Low temperature: this rewrites the user's own words, so faithful beats inventive.
         var settings = new OllamaPromptExecutionSettings { Temperature = 0.3f };
 
-        await foreach (var chunk in chat.GetStreamingChatMessageContentsAsync(history, settings, kernel, ct))
+        // ConfigureAwait(false): per-chunk continuations must not hop through the caller's UI
+        // dispatcher — a small model can stream hundreds of chunks a second.
+        await foreach (var chunk in chat.GetStreamingChatMessageContentsAsync(history, settings, kernel, ct)
+                           .ConfigureAwait(false))
         {
             if (ct.IsCancellationRequested) return;
             if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(chunk.Content)) onDelta(chunk.Content);
diff --git a/src/MandoCode.Desktop/ViewModels/ChatController.Wizards.cs b/src/MandoCode.Desktop/ViewModels/ChatController.Wizards.cs
index b3786d8..a6a6a64 100644
--- a/src/MandoCode.Desktop/ViewModels/ChatController.Wizards.cs
+++ b/src/MandoCode.Desktop/ViewModels/ChatController.Wizards.cs
@@ -174,7 +174,12 @@ private async Task RunSetupWizardAsync()
             var options = new List<ApprovalOption>();
             if (cliInstalled) options.Add(new("Start Ollama now", ApprovalOptionKind.Proceed));
             options.Add(new("Change endpoint URL", ApprovalOptionKind.Proceed));
-            if (!cliInstalled) options.Add(new("Open the Ollama download page", ApprovalOptionKind.Proceed));
+            if (!cliInstalled)
+            {
+                if (OllamaSetupHelper.GetOsInstallCommand() != null)
+                    options.Add(new("Install Ollama for me", ApprovalOptionKind.Proceed));
+                options.Add(new("Open the Ollama download page", ApprovalOptionKind.Proceed));
+            }
             options.Add(new("Retry", ApprovalOptionKind.Proceed));
             options.Add(new("Cancel setup", ApprovalOptionKind.Redirect));
 
@@ -202,6 +207,32 @@ private async Task RunSetupWizardAsync()
                 continue;
             }
 
+            if (choice == "Install Ollama for me")
+            {
+                // InstallOllamaAsync runs `winget install Ollama.Ollama` as a child process with
+                // its own console window — the user sees winget's progress and any UAC prompt.
+                _transcript.Append(_html.Info($"Running: {OllamaSetupHelper.GetOsInstallCommand()} — a console window will show the installer's progress."));
+                _busy.Start("Installing Ollama...");
+                int exit;
+                try { exit = await OllamaSetupHelper.InstallOllamaAsync(); }
+                catch (Exception ex) { exit = -1; _transcript.Append(_html.Warn(ex.Message)); }
+                finally { _busy.Reset(); }
+
+                if (exit == 0)
+                {
+                    _transcript.Append(_html.Success("✓ Installer finished."));
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    _transcript.Append(_html.Warn(exit == -1
+                        ? "Couldn't launch the installer — winget may not be available on this machine."
+                        : $"Installer exited with code {exit} — the install may not have completed."));
+                    _transcript.Append(_html.Dim("Opening the download page as a fallback — finish the install there, then pick Retry."));
+                    OllamaSetupHelper.OpenInBrowser("https://ollama.com/download");
+                }
+                continue;
+            }
+
             if (choice == "Open the Ollama download page")
             {
                 OllamaSetupHelper.OpenInBrowser("https://ollama.com/download");
@@ -227,15 +258,51 @@ private async Task RunSetupWizardAsync()
         var models = fetched.Ok ? fetched.Models : new List<string>();
         if (models.Count == 0)
         {
-            _transcript.Append(_html.Warn("No models pulled yet."));
-            if (await WizardConfirmAsync("Pull a model now?", defaultYes: true))
+            // Curated starter picker (mirrors the CLI's PickWhenEmptyAsync): a newcomer with an
+            // empty daemon shouldn't need to know model tags. Sizes and hardware hints let them
+            // self-select; free-text entry remains for people who know what they want.
+            _transcript.Append(_html.Warn("No models are pulled yet — let's get you one."));
+            _transcript.Append(_html.Dim("Cloud models run on ollama.com's servers: more capable, no GPU needed, free with a sign-in. "
+                                       + "Local models run privately on your own hardware — bigger is smarter but needs more memory."));
+
+            var starter = await WizardSelectAsync("Pick a starter model to install:", new List<ApprovalOption>
+            {
+                new($"Cloud — {MandoCodeConfig.DefaultCloudModel}   (best quality, no GPU needed)", ApprovalOptionKind.Proceed),
+                new("Local — qwen2.5:1.5b   (~1 GB · fast on any laptop)", ApprovalOptionKind.Proceed),
+                new("Local — qwen3:4b   (~2.6 GB · balanced day-to-day)", ApprovalOptionKind.Proceed),
+                new("Local — qwen2.5-coder:7b   (~4.7 GB · code-focused, 6 GB+ VRAM)", ApprovalOptionKind.Proceed),
+                new("Local — qwen3:8b   (~5.2 GB · best local quality, 8 GB+ VRAM)", ApprovalOptionKind.Proceed),
+                new("Type a different model tag", ApprovalOptionKind.Proceed),
+                new("Skip — I'll pull one myself", ApprovalOptionKind.Redirect),
+            });
+
+            string? tag = null;
+            if (starter.StartsWith("Cloud"))
+            {
+                tag = MandoCodeConfig.DefaultCloudModel;
+                var auth = await OllamaSetupHelper.CheckCloudSignInAsync(_config.OllamaEndpoint);
+                if (auth != OllamaSetupHelper.CloudAuthState.SignedIn)
+                {
+                    _transcript.Append(_html.Info("Cloud models need a free ollama.com account."));
+                    if (await WizardConfirmAsync("Sign in to Ollama cloud now?", defaultYes: true))
+                        await RunCloudSigninWalkthroughAsync();
+                }
+            }
+            else if (starter.StartsWith("Local — "))
+            {
+                tag = starter["Local — ".Length..].Split(' ')[0];
+            }
+            else if (starter == "Type a different model tag")
             {
-                var tag = await WizardTextAsync(
+                var typed = await WizardTextAsync(
                     "Model tag to pull:", "e.g. qwen2.5-coder:7b",
                     t => string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(t) ? "Enter a model tag" : null);
-                if (tag != null && await PullModelWithProgressAsync(tag.Trim()))
-                    models = new List<string> { tag.Trim() };
+                tag = typed?.Trim();
             }
+
+            if (tag != null && await PullModelWithProgressAsync(tag))
+                models = new List<string> { tag };
+
             if (models.Count == 0)
             {
                 _transcript.Append(_html.Dim("Setup incomplete — pull a model (ollama pull <tag>) and run /setup again."));
diff --git a/src/MandoCode.Desktop/ViewModels/ChatController.cs b/src/MandoCode.Desktop/ViewModels/ChatController.cs
index 4f149fd..1405fce 100644
--- a/src/MandoCode.Desktop/ViewModels/ChatController.cs
+++ b/src/MandoCode.Desktop/ViewModels/ChatController.cs
@@ -272,12 +272,25 @@ public async Task InitializeAsync()
         IsConnected = probe.Ok;
 
         var shouldSetup = MandoCodeConfig.IsFirstRun() || (!probe.Ok && !_config.HasCompletedOnboarding);
-        if (!probe.Ok)
+        if (shouldSetup)
+        {
+            // First launch (or setup never finished and no daemon): run the guided wizard right
+            // here in the chat, like the CLI's onboarding. A fresh user shouldn't have to
+            // discover /setup or hand-edit an endpoint on the Settings page for a first reply.
+            _transcript.Append(_html.Info("Welcome to MandoCode! Let's get you set up — takes about a minute."));
+            _isProcessing = true;   // input waits until the wizard is done, same as /setup mid-chat
+            StateChanged?.Invoke();
+            try { await RunSetupWizardAsync(); }
+            finally { _isProcessing = false; }
+
+            // Wizard cancelled or didn't get connected — land on Settings as the manual fallback.
+            if (!IsConnected) SetupNeeded?.Invoke();
+        }
+        else if (!probe.Ok)
         {
             _transcript.Append(_html.Warn($"Can't reach Ollama at {_config.OllamaEndpoint}."));
             _transcript.Append(_html.Dim("Open Settings (gear icon) to set the endpoint and model, make sure 'ollama serve' is running, then hit Reconnect — or type /retry."));
         }
-        if (shouldSetup) SetupNeeded?.Invoke();
 
         if (IsConnected)
         {