diff --git a/apps/macos/Sources/WizApp/AppDelegate.swift b/apps/macos/Sources/WizApp/AppDelegate.swift
index 0be1e9f..ccd89a6 100644
--- a/apps/macos/Sources/WizApp/AppDelegate.swift
+++ b/apps/macos/Sources/WizApp/AppDelegate.swift
@@ -225,10 +225,11 @@ final class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate, NSMenuDelegate {
   }
 
   /// Refresh the dropdown just before it opens: re-read a connected light's values
-  /// (without reconnecting a disconnected one), and resize the hosted view to its
-  /// current content (connected vs. disconnected differ in height).
+  /// (or, mid auto-reconnect, bring the next attempt forward — but never resurrect
+  /// a manual disconnect), and resize the hosted view to its current content
+  /// (connected vs. disconnected differ in height).
   func menuWillOpen(_ menu: NSMenu) {
-    appState.refreshIfConnected()
+    appState.refreshOnOpen()
     dropdownContentView?.updateFrameToFit()
   }
 
diff --git a/apps/macos/Sources/WizApp/AppState.swift b/apps/macos/Sources/WizApp/AppState.swift
index 57159ad..a04da39 100644
--- a/apps/macos/Sources/WizApp/AppState.swift
+++ b/apps/macos/Sources/WizApp/AppState.swift
@@ -493,14 +493,30 @@ final class AppState: ObservableObject {
     syncAttempt(host: selectedIp, attempt: 0)
   }
 
-  /// Re-read a *connected* light's values (e.g. when the dropdown opens) without
-  /// reconnecting a disconnected one — so opening the menu never overrides a
-  /// manual disconnect. No-op while disconnected. Passes `monitorHealth: false` so
-  /// an off-cadence open only *reads* fresh values (and clears stale strikes on a
-  /// reply) — it can never itself disconnect you; only the 15 s poll drops the link.
-  func refreshIfConnected() {
-    guard connected else { return }
-    refreshSignal(monitorHealth: false)
+  /// Called when a UI surface opens (the menu-bar dropdown, or the controls
+  /// window under auto-sync). Two cases:
+  ///
+  /// - **Connected:** re-read the bulb's values via `monitorHealth: false`, so an
+  ///   off-cadence open only *reads* fresh values (and clears stale strikes on a
+  ///   reply) — it can never itself disconnect you; only the 15 s poll drops the
+  ///   link.
+  /// - **Mid auto-reconnect** (dropped but not *manually* disconnected): treat the
+  ///   open as a fresh chance to reach the bulb — reset the backoff and pull the
+  ///   next attempt forward (~0.5 s), so the user doesn't sit watching a backoff
+  ///   that may have grown to minutes. Same bring-forward as `handlePathChange`;
+  ///   `pollTick` owns the connect guards and won't stack onto an in-flight
+  ///   attempt, so we just reschedule.
+  ///
+  /// A deliberate disconnect (and a no-light state) is left alone, so opening the
+  /// menu never overrides it — the same invariant the poll and network-change
+  /// paths honour.
+  func refreshOnOpen() {
+    if connected {
+      refreshSignal(monitorHealth: false)
+    } else if hasLight, !manuallyDisconnected {
+      resetReconnectBackoff()
+      scheduleNextPoll(after: 0.5)
+    }
   }
 
   /// Warm Glow is a local overlay on white mode (the temperature follows the
diff --git a/apps/macos/Sources/WizApp/Views/ControllerView.swift b/apps/macos/Sources/WizApp/Views/ControllerView.swift
index bfc69c0..36953b7 100644
--- a/apps/macos/Sources/WizApp/Views/ControllerView.swift
+++ b/apps/macos/Sources/WizApp/Views/ControllerView.swift
@@ -54,9 +54,10 @@ struct ControllerView: View {
     }
     .frame(minWidth: 600, minHeight: 500)
     .onAppear {
-      // Refresh a connected light's values, but never reconnect a manually
-      // disconnected one (matches the menu-bar popover's refreshIfConnected).
-      if app.settings.autoSync, app.hasLight { app.refreshIfConnected() }
+      // Refresh a connected light's values (or, mid auto-reconnect, bring the next
+      // attempt forward), but never reconnect a manually disconnected one — matches
+      // the menu-bar popover's refreshOnOpen.
+      if app.settings.autoSync { app.refreshOnOpen() }
     }
   }