diff --git a/desktop/src/features/community-members/ui/CommunityInviteDialog.tsx b/desktop/src/features/community-members/ui/CommunityInviteDialog.tsx
index c5cabc26a6..95500dd8a6 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/community-members/ui/CommunityInviteDialog.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/community-members/ui/CommunityInviteDialog.tsx
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import {
   DEFAULT_INVITE_TTL_SECS,
   InviteLinkSection,
 } from "./InviteLinkSection";
+import { Separator } from "@/shared/ui/separator";
 
 export function CommunityInviteDialog({
   isOwner,
@@ -25,7 +26,9 @@ export function CommunityInviteDialog({
   const [ttlSecs, setTtlSecs] = React.useState(DEFAULT_INVITE_TTL_SECS);
 
   React.useEffect(() => {
-    if (open) setTtlSecs(DEFAULT_INVITE_TTL_SECS);
+    // Reset after the link section has unmounted so reopening never mints an
+    // invite with the previous dialog session's expiry.
+    if (!open) setTtlSecs(DEFAULT_INVITE_TTL_SECS);
   }, [open]);
 
   return (
@@ -49,10 +52,17 @@ export function CommunityInviteDialog({
           />
         </section>
 
+        <div
+          className="relative flex items-center py-2"
+          data-testid="invite-options-divider"
+        >
+          <Separator className="bg-input/40" />
+          <span className="absolute left-1/2 -translate-x-1/2 bg-background px-3 text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+            Or, copy a link
+          </span>
+        </div>
+
         <section className="space-y-3">
-          <p className="text-2xs font-medium text-secondary-foreground/75">
-            Link settings
-          </p>
           <InviteLinkSection onTtlSecsChange={setTtlSecs} ttlSecs={ttlSecs} />
         </section>
       </DialogContent>
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/community-members/ui/InviteLinkSection.tsx b/desktop/src/features/community-members/ui/InviteLinkSection.tsx
index 05b4687289..84232f26da 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/community-members/ui/InviteLinkSection.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/community-members/ui/InviteLinkSection.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-import { Check, ChevronDown, Link2 } from "lucide-react";
+import { Check, ChevronDown } from "lucide-react";
+import { motion, useReducedMotion } from "motion/react";
 import * as React from "react";
 import { toast } from "sonner";
 
@@ -12,7 +13,7 @@ import {
   DropdownMenuRadioItem,
   DropdownMenuTrigger,
 } from "@/shared/ui/dropdown-menu";
-import { Separator } from "@/shared/ui/separator";
+import { Input } from "@/shared/ui/input";
 import { Spinner } from "@/shared/ui/spinner";
 
 const TTL_OPTIONS: { label: string; value: number }[] = [
@@ -34,13 +35,14 @@ const MAX_USE_OPTIONS: { label: string; value: number | null }[] = [
 export const DEFAULT_INVITE_TTL_SECS = TTL_OPTIONS[1].value;
 
 type CopyStatus = "idle" | "copying" | "copied";
+type GenerationStatus = "idle" | "generating" | "failed";
 
 /**
  * Share-with-link footer for the community invite dialog.
  *
- * Each copy action mints a fresh database-backed invite code and places its
- * shareable landing-page URL on the clipboard. Invites may be unlimited or
- * capped to a caller-selected number of successful joins.
+ * A database-backed invite link is minted when this section opens and whenever
+ * its settings change. Invites may be unlimited or capped to a caller-selected
+ * number of successful joins.
  */
 export function InviteLinkSection({
   onTtlSecsChange,
@@ -50,18 +52,40 @@ export function InviteLinkSection({
   ttlSecs: number;
 }) {
   const [copyStatus, setCopyStatus] = React.useState<CopyStatus>("idle");
+  const [generationStatus, setGenerationStatus] =
+    React.useState<GenerationStatus>("generating");
+  const [inviteUrl, setInviteUrl] = React.useState("");
   const [maxUses, setMaxUses] = React.useState<number | null>(null);
+  const generationRequestId = React.useRef(0);
+  // React StrictMode replays effects in development. Keep one in-flight mint
+  // per setting set so the replay observes the original request instead of
+  // creating a second durable invite.
+  const inviteRequests = React.useRef(
+    new Map<string, ReturnType<typeof mintInvite>>(),
+  );
+  const shouldReduceMotion = useReducedMotion();
   const ttlLabel =
     TTL_OPTIONS.find((option) => option.value === ttlSecs)?.label ?? "3 days";
   const maxUsesLabel =
     MAX_USE_OPTIONS.find((option) => option.value === maxUses)?.label ??
     "No limit";
-  const copyLabel =
-    copyStatus === "copying"
-      ? "Copying…"
-      : copyStatus === "copied"
-        ? "Copied"
-        : "Copy link";
+  const isGenerating = generationStatus === "generating";
+  const hasGenerationFailed = generationStatus === "failed";
+  const inviteSettingsKey = `${ttlSecs}:${maxUses ?? "no-limit"}`;
+  const isWorking = isGenerating || copyStatus === "copying";
+  const copyLabel = hasGenerationFailed
+    ? "Retry"
+    : copyStatus === "copied"
+      ? "Copied"
+      : "Copy link";
+  const copyButtonWidth = isWorking
+    ? "6.25rem"
+    : copyStatus === "copied"
+      ? "5.25rem"
+      : "4.5rem";
+  const copyButtonTransition = shouldReduceMotion
+    ? { duration: 0 }
+    : { duration: 0.12, ease: [0.77, 0, 0.175, 1] as const };
 
   React.useEffect(() => {
     if (copyStatus !== "copied") return;
@@ -69,12 +93,55 @@ export function InviteLinkSection({
     return () => window.clearTimeout(resetTimer);
   }, [copyStatus]);
 
+  const generateInviteLink = React.useCallback(async () => {
+    const requestId = generationRequestId.current + 1;
+    generationRequestId.current = requestId;
+    setGenerationStatus("generating");
+    setInviteUrl("");
+    setCopyStatus("idle");
+    const existingRequest = inviteRequests.current.get(inviteSettingsKey);
+    const inviteRequest = existingRequest ?? mintInvite({ ttlSecs, maxUses });
+    if (!existingRequest) {
+      inviteRequests.current.set(inviteSettingsKey, inviteRequest);
+    }
+
+    try {
+      const invite = await inviteRequest;
+      if (inviteRequests.current.get(inviteSettingsKey) === inviteRequest) {
+        inviteRequests.current.delete(inviteSettingsKey);
+      }
+      if (generationRequestId.current === requestId) {
+        setInviteUrl(invite.url);
+        setGenerationStatus("idle");
+      }
+    } catch {
+      if (inviteRequests.current.get(inviteSettingsKey) === inviteRequest) {
+        inviteRequests.current.delete(inviteSettingsKey);
+      }
+      if (generationRequestId.current === requestId) {
+        setGenerationStatus("failed");
+        toast.error("Couldn’t create an invite link.");
+      }
+    }
+  }, [inviteSettingsKey, maxUses, ttlSecs]);
+
+  React.useEffect(() => {
+    void generateInviteLink();
+    return () => {
+      generationRequestId.current += 1;
+    };
+  }, [generateInviteLink]);
+
+  function retryInviteGeneration() {
+    if (!hasGenerationFailed) return;
+    void generateInviteLink();
+  }
+
   async function handleCopy() {
-    if (copyStatus === "copying") return;
+    if (!inviteUrl || isGenerating || copyStatus === "copying") return;
     setCopyStatus("copying");
     try {
-      const invite = await mintInvite({ ttlSecs, maxUses });
-      await writeTextToClipboard(invite.url);
+      await writeTextToClipboard(inviteUrl);
       setCopyStatus("copied");
       toast.success("Invite link copied");
     } catch {
@@ -85,7 +152,60 @@ export function InviteLinkSection({
 
   return (
     <section data-testid="community-invite-link-section">
-      <div className="space-y-3">
+      <div className="relative">
+        <Input
+          aria-label="Community invite link"
+          className="h-11 pr-28 text-transparent caret-transparent selection:bg-transparent"
+          data-testid="invite-link-url"
+          disabled={isGenerating}
+          placeholder={
+            hasGenerationFailed
+              ? "Couldn’t create invite link"
+              : "Creating invite link…"
+          }
+          readOnly
+          value={inviteUrl}
+        />
+        {inviteUrl ? (
+          <span
+            aria-hidden="true"
+            className="pointer-events-none absolute inset-y-0 left-3 right-28 flex items-center truncate text-sm text-muted-foreground"
+            data-testid="invite-link-preview"
+          >
+            {inviteUrl}
+          </span>
+        ) : null}
+        <motion.div
+          className="absolute right-1 top-1"
+          animate={{ width: copyButtonWidth }}
+          initial={false}
+          transition={copyButtonTransition}
+        >
+          <Button
+            className="h-9 w-full px-3"
+            data-copy-status={copyStatus}
+            data-testid="copy-invite-link"
+            disabled={
+              !hasGenerationFailed &&
+              (isGenerating || !inviteUrl || copyStatus === "copying")
+            }
+            onClick={() =>
+              hasGenerationFailed ? retryInviteGeneration() : void handleCopy()
+            }
+            size="sm"
+            type="button"
+          >
+            {isWorking ? (
+              <Spinner aria-hidden="true" className="h-4 w-4 border-2" />
+            ) : copyStatus === "copied" ? (
+              <Check aria-hidden="true" className="h-4 w-4" />
+            ) : null}
+            {copyLabel}
+          </Button>
+        </motion.div>
+      </div>
+
+      <div className="mt-3 space-y-3">
         <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-4">
           <span className="text-sm font-medium">Expires after</span>
           <DropdownMenu>
@@ -94,7 +214,7 @@ export function InviteLinkSection({
                 aria-label="Choose invite expiry"
                 className="h-8 shrink-0 gap-1.5 px-2 text-sm text-muted-foreground"
                 data-testid="invite-link-ttl-trigger"
-                disabled={copyStatus === "copying"}
+                disabled={isGenerating || copyStatus === "copying"}
                 size="sm"
                 type="button"
                 variant="ghost"
@@ -129,7 +249,7 @@ export function InviteLinkSection({
                 aria-label="Choose maximum invite uses"
                 className="h-8 shrink-0 gap-1.5 px-2 text-sm text-muted-foreground"
                 data-testid="invite-link-max-uses-trigger"
-                disabled={copyStatus === "copying"}
+                disabled={isGenerating || copyStatus === "copying"}
                 size="sm"
                 type="button"
                 variant="ghost"
@@ -159,28 +279,6 @@ export function InviteLinkSection({
           </DropdownMenu>
         </div>
       </div>
-      <Separator className="my-4 bg-input/40" />
-      <div className="flex justify-end">
-        <Button
-          className="shrink-0 border-border shadow-none"
-          data-copy-status={copyStatus}
-          data-testid="copy-invite-link"
-          disabled={copyStatus === "copying"}
-          onClick={() => void handleCopy()}
-          size="sm"
-          type="button"
-          variant="outline"
-        >
-          {copyStatus === "copying" ? (
-            <Spinner aria-hidden="true" className="h-4 w-4 border-2" />
-          ) : copyStatus === "copied" ? (
-            <Check aria-hidden="true" className="h-4 w-4" />
-          ) : (
-            <Link2 aria-hidden="true" className="h-4 w-4" />
-          )}
-          {copyLabel}
-        </Button>
-      </div>
     </section>
   );
 }
diff --git a/desktop/tests/e2e/invite-link-copy.spec.ts b/desktop/tests/e2e/invite-link-copy.spec.ts
index 20df59a00c..353793ec4a 100644
--- a/desktop/tests/e2e/invite-link-copy.spec.ts
+++ b/desktop/tests/e2e/invite-link-copy.spec.ts
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ test.beforeEach(async ({ page }) => {
   });
 });
 
-test("copies a freshly minted invite link without showing a URL or QR code", async ({
+test("copies a freshly minted invite link from the link field", async ({
   page,
 }) => {
   await page.goto("/");
@@ -38,7 +38,9 @@ test("copies a freshly minted invite link without showing a URL or QR code", asy
   await expect(page.getByTestId("member-pubkey-input")).toBeVisible();
   await expect(page.getByTestId("member-role")).toHaveCount(0);
   await expect(page.getByTestId("confirm-add-member")).toHaveCount(0);
-  await expect(page.getByTestId("invite-link-url")).toHaveCount(0);
+  await expect(page.getByTestId("invite-link-url")).toHaveValue(
+    "buzz://join?relay=wss%3A%2F%2Frelay.example.com&code=qr-download-test",
+  );
   await expect(page.getByTestId("invite-link-qr-code")).toHaveCount(0);
   await expect(page.getByTestId("invite-link-max-uses-trigger")).toHaveText(
     "No limit",
@@ -80,9 +82,82 @@ test("sets a selected invite-use limit", async ({ page }) => {
   ).toBeVisible();
   await page.getByTestId("invite-link-max-uses-10").click();
   await expect(maxUsesTrigger).toHaveText("10 uses");
+  await expect
+    .poll(() => invitePayloads.at(-1))
+    .toEqual({
+      max_uses: 10,
+      ttl_secs: 3 * 24 * 60 * 60,
+    });
   await page.getByTestId("copy-invite-link").click();
   await expect(page.getByTestId("copy-invite-link")).toContainText("Copied");
-  expect(invitePayloads).toEqual([
-    { max_uses: 10, ttl_secs: 3 * 24 * 60 * 60 },
-  ]);
+});
+
+test("retries a failed invite-link generation", async ({ page }) => {
+  let attempts = 0;
+  await page.route("**/api/invites", async (route) => {
+    attempts += 1;
+    if (attempts === 1) {
+      await route.fulfill({ status: 500 });
+      return;
+    }
+
+    await route.fulfill({
+      contentType: "application/json",
+      json: {
+        code: "retry-test",
+        expires_at: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000) + 86_400,
+        url: "buzz://join?relay=wss%3A%2F%2Frelay.example.com&code=retry-test",
+      },
+      status: 200,
+    });
+  });
+
+  await page.goto("/");
+  await openSettings(page, "community-members");
+  await page.getByTestId("community-invite-dialog-trigger").click();
+
+  const linkField = page.getByTestId("invite-link-url");
+  const copyButton = page.getByTestId("copy-invite-link");
+  await expect(linkField).toHaveAttribute(
+    "placeholder",
+    "Couldn’t create invite link",
+  );
+  await expect(copyButton).toHaveText("Retry");
+  await expect(copyButton).toBeEnabled();
+
+  await copyButton.click();
+  await expect(linkField).toHaveValue(
+    "buzz://join?relay=wss%3A%2F%2Frelay.example.com&code=retry-test",
+  );
+  await expect(copyButton).toHaveText("Copy link");
+  expect(attempts).toBe(2);
+});
+
+test("reopens with the default expiry before generating a new link", async ({
+  page,
+}) => {
+  await page.goto("/");
+  await openSettings(page, "community-members");
+  await page.getByTestId("community-invite-dialog-trigger").click();
+
+  await expect
+    .poll(() => invitePayloads)
+    .toEqual([{ ttl_secs: 3 * 24 * 60 * 60 }]);
+  await page.getByTestId("invite-link-ttl-trigger").click();
+  await page.getByTestId("invite-link-ttl-604800").click();
+  await expect
+    .poll(() => invitePayloads)
+    .toEqual([{ ttl_secs: 3 * 24 * 60 * 60 }, { ttl_secs: 7 * 24 * 60 * 60 }]);
+
+  const dialog = page.getByTestId("community-invite-dialog");
+  await dialog.getByRole("button", { name: "Close" }).click();
+  await expect(dialog).toHaveCount(0);
+  await page.getByTestId("community-invite-dialog-trigger").click();
+  await expect
+    .poll(() => invitePayloads)
+    .toEqual([
+      { ttl_secs: 3 * 24 * 60 * 60 },
+      { ttl_secs: 7 * 24 * 60 * 60 },
+      { ttl_secs: 3 * 24 * 60 * 60 },
+    ]);
 });
diff --git a/desktop/tests/e2e/invites-settings-screenshots.spec.ts b/desktop/tests/e2e/invites-settings-screenshots.spec.ts
index e0856ac400..5421fa6428 100644
--- a/desktop/tests/e2e/invites-settings-screenshots.spec.ts
+++ b/desktop/tests/e2e/invites-settings-screenshots.spec.ts
@@ -104,15 +104,19 @@ test("capture: share-style community invite dialog", async ({ page }) => {
   await expect(
     dialog.getByRole("heading", { name: "Add someone", exact: true }),
   ).toHaveCount(0);
+  await expect(dialog.getByTestId("invite-options-divider")).toBeVisible();
   await expect(
-    dialog.getByText("Or share a link", { exact: true }),
-  ).toHaveCount(0);
-  await expect(
-    dialog.getByText("Link settings", { exact: true }),
+    dialog.getByText("Or, copy a link", { exact: true }),
   ).toBeVisible();
+  await expect(dialog.getByText("Link settings", { exact: true })).toHaveCount(
+    0,
+  );
   await expect(page.getByTestId("member-pubkey-input")).toBeVisible();
   await expect(page.getByTestId("member-role")).toHaveCount(0);
   await expect(page.getByTestId("confirm-add-member")).toHaveCount(0);
+  await expect(page.getByTestId("invite-link-url")).toHaveValue(
+    "https://alpha.example.com/invite/community-email-test",
+  );
   await expect(page.getByTestId("copy-invite-link")).toHaveText("Copy link");
   await expect(page.getByTestId("invite-link-ttl-trigger")).toHaveText(
     "3 days",