diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/gui/application/gui_application.cpp b/apps/desktop/src/gui/application/gui_application.cpp
index e80d965f..3ef4df56 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/gui/application/gui_application.cpp
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/gui/application/gui_application.cpp
@@ -1867,13 +1867,7 @@ void GuiApplication::Tick() {
 
   if (need_to_rejoin_ && now - last_rejoin_check_time_ >= 1s) {
     last_rejoin_check_time_ = now;
-    need_to_rejoin_ = false;
-    for (const auto& [_, props] : remote_sessions_) {
-      if (props && props->rejoin_) {
-        ConnectTo(props->remote_id_, props->remote_password_,
-                  props->remember_password_);
-      }
-    }
+    HandlePendingRejoins();
   }
 
   const bool was_reloading_recent_connections = reload_recent_connections_;
@@ -3703,6 +3697,7 @@ void GuiApplication::CloseRemoteClosedTabs() {
 }
 
 void GuiApplication::CloseStreamTab(const std::string& remote_id) {
+  CancelPendingConnection(remote_id);
   std::shared_ptr<RemoteSession> props;
   {
     std::shared_lock lock(remote_sessions_mutex_);
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/gui/runtime/connection_runtime.cpp b/apps/desktop/src/gui/runtime/connection_runtime.cpp
index 40296ae3..e747e312 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/gui/runtime/connection_runtime.cpp
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/gui/runtime/connection_runtime.cpp
@@ -51,7 +51,8 @@ void GuiRuntime::HandleConnectionStatusChange() {
   }
   last_presence_request_attempt_at_ = now;
   const auto message =
-      BuildDevicePresenceRequest(client_id_, recent_connection_ids_, true).dump();
+      BuildDevicePresenceRequest(client_id_, recent_connection_ids_, true, {},
+                                 gallery_presence_ids_).dump();
   if (SendSignalMessage(peer_, message.data(), message.size()) == 0) {
     next_presence_refresh_at_ = now + kPresenceRefreshInterval;
   } else {
@@ -59,6 +60,39 @@ void GuiRuntime::HandleConnectionStatusChange() {
   }
 }
 
+void GuiRuntime::HandlePendingRejoins() {
+  need_to_rejoin_ = false;
+  std::vector<std::shared_ptr<RemoteSession>> pending;
+  {
+    std::shared_lock lock(remote_sessions_mutex_);
+    for (const auto& [_, props] : remote_sessions_) {
+      if (props && props->rejoin_ && !props->closing_)
+        pending.push_back(props);
+    }
+  }
+  for (const auto& props : pending) {
+    // Password submission already entered the validating state. Let Join
+    // report its result even when this device is absent from the presence
+    // cache (for example, a newly added DeskHub device). A failed presence
+    // probe has no auth callback and would leave the prompt validating forever.
+    ConnectTo(props->remote_id_, props->remote_password_,
+              props->remember_password_, true, props->wall_managed_.load());
+  }
+}
+
+void GuiRuntime::CancelPendingConnection(const std::string& remote_id) {
+  pending_reconnects_.erase(remote_id);
+  if (auto props = FindRemoteSession(remote_id)) props->rejoin_ = false;
+  std::lock_guard lock(pending_presence_probe_mutex_);
+  if (pending_presence_remote_id_ != remote_id) return;
+  pending_presence_probe_ = false;
+  pending_presence_result_ready_ = false;
+  pending_presence_online_ = false;
+  pending_presence_remote_id_.clear();
+  pending_presence_password_.clear();
+  pending_presence_remember_password_ = false;
+}
+
 void GuiRuntime::HandlePendingPresenceProbe() {
   bool has_action = false;
   bool should_connect = false;
@@ -211,7 +245,8 @@ int GuiRuntime::RequestSingleDevicePresence(const std::string& remote_id,
   }
 
   const auto s = BuildDevicePresenceRequest(
-                     client_id_, recent_connection_ids_, false, remote_id)
+                     client_id_, recent_connection_ids_, false, remote_id,
+                     gallery_presence_ids_)
                      .dump();
 
   int ret = SendSignalMessage(peer_, s.data(), s.size());
@@ -418,7 +453,8 @@ void GuiRuntime::HandleSessionCleanup() {
     recent_connection_image_save_time_ = 0;
   }
   for (const auto& [id, request] : reconnects) {
-    ConnectTo(id, request.password.c_str(), request.remember_password);
+    ConnectTo(id, request.password.c_str(), request.remember_password, false,
+              request.background);
   }
 }
 
@@ -487,23 +523,28 @@ std::shared_ptr<GuiRuntime::RemoteSession> GuiRuntime::FindRemoteSession(
 }
 
 int GuiRuntime::ConnectTo(const std::string& remote_id, const char* password,
-                          bool remember_password, bool bypass_presence_check) {
+                          bool remember_password, bool bypass_presence_check,
+                          bool background) {
   // Do not recreate a failed peer or send another probe during a server cooldown.
   if (const auto current = FindRemoteSession(remote_id);
       current && current->connection_auth_.Get().retry_after > 0) {
-    focused_remote_id_ = remote_id;
-    show_connection_status_window_ = true;
+    if (!background) focused_remote_id_ = remote_id;
+    if (!background) show_connection_status_window_ = true;
     current->rejoin_ = false;
     return 0;
   }
   if (session_cleanup_tasks_.count(remote_id)) {
-    pending_reconnects_[remote_id] = {password ? password : "", remember_password};
+    pending_reconnects_[remote_id] = {password ? password : "",
+                                      remember_password, background};
     LOG_INFO("[{}] Reconnect queued until previous peer is destroyed", remote_id);
     return 0;
   }
-  if (!bypass_presence_check && !device_presence_cache_.IsOnline(remote_id)) {
-    int ret =
-        RequestSingleDevicePresence(remote_id, password, remember_password);
+  // Wall requests, including deferred reconnects, must not replace the single
+  // interactive presence probe. Join reports availability for each session.
+  if (!background && !bypass_presence_check &&
+      !device_presence_cache_.IsOnline(remote_id)) {
+    int ret = RequestSingleDevicePresence(remote_id, password,
+                                          remember_password);
     if (ret != 0) {
       offline_warning_text_ =
           localization::device_offline[localization_language_index_];
@@ -516,7 +557,7 @@ int GuiRuntime::ConnectTo(const std::string& remote_id, const char* password,
   }
 
   LOG_INFO("Connect to [{}]", remote_id);
-  focused_remote_id_ = remote_id;
+  if (!background) focused_remote_id_ = remote_id;
 
   auto stale = FindRemoteSession(remote_id);
   bool exists = stale != nullptr;
@@ -546,7 +587,7 @@ int GuiRuntime::ConnectTo(const std::string& remote_id, const char* password,
         pending_reconnects_[remote_id] = {
             keep_stored_password ? std::string(stale->remote_password_)
                                  : std::string(password),
-            remember_password};
+            remember_password, background};
         CloseRemoteSession(stale);
         LOG_INFO("[{}] Reconnecting after terminal peer status {}", remote_id,
                  static_cast<int>(status));
@@ -566,6 +607,11 @@ int GuiRuntime::ConnectTo(const std::string& remote_id, const char* password,
         auto props = remote_sessions_[remote_id];
         props->local_id_ = "C-" + std::string(client_id_);
         props->remote_id_ = remote_id;
+        props->wall_managed_ = background;
+        props->tab_opened_ = !background;
+        props->control_mouse_ = !background;
+        props->enable_mouse_control_ = !background;
+        props->audio_capture_button_pressed_ = !background;
         memcpy(&props->params_, &params_, sizeof(Params));
         props->params_.user_id = props->local_id_.c_str();
         props->peer_events_ = std::make_shared<PeerEventHandler>(*this);
@@ -573,7 +619,7 @@ int GuiRuntime::ConnectTo(const std::string& remote_id, const char* password,
         props->peer_ = CreatePeer(&props->params_);
 
         props->connection_status_.store(ConnectionStatus::Connecting);
-        show_connection_status_window_ = true;
+        if (!background) show_connection_status_window_ = true;
 
         if (!props->peer_) {
           LOG_INFO("Create peer [{}] instance failed", props->local_id_);
@@ -612,7 +658,7 @@ int GuiRuntime::ConnectTo(const std::string& remote_id, const char* password,
   auto props = FindRemoteSession(remote_id);
   if (!props || props->closing_) return -1;
   if (!props->connection_established_) {
-    show_connection_status_window_ = true;
+    if (!background) show_connection_status_window_ = true;
 
     props->remember_password_ = remember_password;
     if (password && *password &&
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/gui/runtime/device_presence_cache.h b/apps/desktop/src/gui/runtime/device_presence_cache.h
index ad4103f6..4c26dd9a 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/gui/runtime/device_presence_cache.h
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/gui/runtime/device_presence_cache.h
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 
 #include <chrono>
 #include <mutex>
+#include <optional>
 #include <string>
 #include <unordered_map>
 
@@ -33,12 +34,19 @@ public:
     }
   }
 
-  bool IsOnline(const std::string &device_id,
-                Clock::time_point now = Clock::now()) const {
+  std::optional<bool> GetOnline(const std::string &device_id,
+                               Clock::time_point now = Clock::now()) const {
     std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(mutex_);
     const auto it = cache_.find(device_id);
-    return signal_connected_ && it != cache_.end() && it->second.online &&
-           now - it->second.updated_at < kMaxAge;
+    if (!signal_connected_ || it == cache_.end() ||
+        now - it->second.updated_at >= kMaxAge)
+      return std::nullopt;
+    return it->second.online;
+  }
+
+  bool IsOnline(const std::string &device_id,
+                Clock::time_point now = Clock::now()) const {
+    return GetOnline(device_id, now).value_or(false);
   }
 
   void Clear() {
@@ -58,4 +66,4 @@ private:
 
 } // namespace crossdesk
 
-#endif
\ No newline at end of file
+#endif
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/gui/runtime/device_presence_request.h b/apps/desktop/src/gui/runtime/device_presence_request.h
index 2f0e2092..9bb5cf21 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/gui/runtime/device_presence_request.h
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/gui/runtime/device_presence_request.h
@@ -16,22 +16,25 @@ namespace crossdesk {
 
 inline nlohmann::json BuildDevicePresenceRequest(
     const std::string& client_id, const std::vector<std::string>& recent_ids,
-    bool subscribe, const std::string& probe_id = {}) {
+    bool subscribe, const std::string& probe_id = {},
+    const std::vector<std::string>& additional_ids = {}) {
   std::vector<std::string> devices;
-  for (const auto& id : recent_ids) {
+  const auto append = [&](const std::string& id) {
     // Recent connection keys contain Y/N plus display settings after the ID.
     const std::string pure_id = id.substr(0, id.find_first_of("YN"));
     if (!pure_id.empty() &&
         std::find(devices.begin(), devices.end(), pure_id) == devices.end()) {
       devices.push_back(pure_id);
     }
-  }
+  };
+  for (const auto& id : recent_ids) append(id);
+  for (const auto& id : additional_ids) append(id);
   if (!probe_id.empty() &&
       std::find(devices.begin(), devices.end(), probe_id) == devices.end()) {
     devices.push_back(probe_id);
   }
-  // Include recent devices even in a one-shot probe: older servers ignore
-  // subscribe=false and replace their subscriptions with this device list.
+  // Keep recent and wall devices even in a one-shot probe: older servers
+  // ignore subscribe=false and replace subscriptions with this device list.
   return {{"type", "recent_connections_presence"},
           {"user_id", client_id},
           {"devices", devices},
@@ -40,4 +43,4 @@ inline nlohmann::json BuildDevicePresenceRequest(
 
 }  // namespace crossdesk
 
-#endif
\ No newline at end of file
+#endif
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/gui/runtime/gui_runtime.h b/apps/desktop/src/gui/runtime/gui_runtime.h
index 9452b488..7f753632 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/gui/runtime/gui_runtime.h
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/gui/runtime/gui_runtime.h
@@ -51,13 +51,16 @@ class GuiRuntime : protected gui_detail::GuiState {
 
   int CreateConnectionPeer();
   int ConnectTo(const std::string& remote_id, const char* password,
-                bool remember_password, bool bypass_presence_check = false);
+                bool remember_password, bool bypass_presence_check = false,
+                bool background = false);
   int RequestSingleDevicePresence(const std::string& remote_id,
                                   const char* password, bool remember_password);
   int ForceSignalReconnect();
 
   void HandleRecentConnections();
   void HandleConnectionStatusChange();
+  void HandlePendingRejoins();
+  void CancelPendingConnection(const std::string& remote_id);
   void HandlePendingPresenceProbe();
   void HandlePresenceProbeTimeout();
   bool HasActiveSession();
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/gui/runtime/peer_event_handler.cpp b/apps/desktop/src/gui/runtime/peer_event_handler.cpp
index d3b95c14..158bea86 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/gui/runtime/peer_event_handler.cpp
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/gui/runtime/peer_event_handler.cpp
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ void PeerEventHandler::OnConnectionStatus(ConnectionStatus status,
 
   if (props) {
     runtime->is_client_mode_ = true;
-    runtime->show_connection_status_window_ = true;
+    if (!props->wall_managed_) runtime->show_connection_status_window_ = true;
     props->connection_status_.store(status);
     if (status != ConnectionStatus::Connecting && status != ConnectionStatus::Gathering)
       props->connection_auth_.Complete();
@@ -304,13 +304,13 @@ void PeerEventHandler::OnConnectionStatus(ConnectionStatus status,
           FreeRemoteAction(remote_action);
         }
 
-        if (!runtime->need_to_create_stream_window_) {
+        if (!props->wall_managed_ && !runtime->need_to_create_stream_window_) {
           runtime->need_to_create_stream_window_ = true;
         }
         props->connection_established_ = true;
         props->was_connected_ = true;
         props->recent_connection_dirty_ = true;
-        runtime->start_keyboard_capturer_ = true;
+        if (!props->wall_managed_) runtime->start_keyboard_capturer_ = true;
         break;
       }
       case ConnectionStatus::Disconnected:
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/gui/runtime/remote_session.h b/apps/desktop/src/gui/runtime/remote_session.h
index 78d907b2..467e04a0 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/gui/runtime/remote_session.h
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/gui/runtime/remote_session.h
@@ -71,6 +71,8 @@ struct FileTransferState {
 // Runtime state for one connected or connecting remote endpoint. It groups the
 // connection, media, input, window and transfer data that share one lifetime.
 struct RemoteSession {
+  // Wall membership, stream-window visibility and input ownership are separate.
+  std::atomic<bool> wall_managed_{false};
   std::atomic<bool> preview_subscription_supported_{false};
   std::atomic<uint32_t> preview_ack_{0};
   std::atomic<bool> preview_accepted_{false};
@@ -136,7 +138,7 @@ struct RemoteSession {
   std::shared_ptr<VideoLatencyStats> video_latency_ =
       std::make_shared<VideoLatencyStats>();
   bool tab_selected_ = false;
-  bool tab_opened_ = true;
+  std::atomic<bool> tab_opened_{true};
   std::string remote_host_name_;
   // Host metadata and dismissal state belong to this connection and are
   // protected by remote_version_mutex_.
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/gui/runtime/runtime_state.h b/apps/desktop/src/gui/runtime/runtime_state.h
index 3f0dee20..a596c520 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/gui/runtime/runtime_state.h
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/gui/runtime/runtime_state.h
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ struct RecentConnectionsState {
   std::vector<std::pair<std::string, Thumbnail::RecentConnection>>
       recent_connections_;
   std::vector<std::string> recent_connection_ids_;
+  std::vector<std::string> gallery_presence_ids_;
   int recent_connection_image_width_ = 160;
   int recent_connection_image_height_ = 90;
   uint32_t recent_connection_image_save_time_ = 0;
@@ -192,6 +193,7 @@ struct ConnectionState {
   struct PendingReconnect {
     std::string password;
     bool remember_password = false;
+    bool background = false;
   };
   std::unordered_map<std::string, PendingReconnect> pending_reconnects_;