diff --git a/neode-ui/src/App.vue b/neode-ui/src/App.vue
index 0e14481e..8c15aa97 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/App.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/App.vue
@@ -37,9 +37,6 @@
     <!-- PWA Install Prompt (Install app, not just Add to Home Screen) -->
     <PWAInstallPrompt />
 
-    <!-- Companion app connected indicator -->
-    <CompanionIndicator />
-
     <!-- Toast notifications - top right, glass style, any page -->
     <Teleport to="body">
       <Transition name="toast">
@@ -78,7 +75,7 @@ import AppLauncherOverlay from './components/AppLauncherOverlay.vue'
 import ToastStack from './components/ToastStack.vue'
 import Screensaver from './components/Screensaver.vue'
 import HelpGuideModal from './components/HelpGuideModal.vue'
-import CompanionIndicator from './components/CompanionIndicator.vue'
+
 import { useControllerNav } from '@/composables/useControllerNav'
 import { playKeyboardTypingSound } from '@/composables/useLoginSounds'
 import { useSpotlightStore } from '@/stores/spotlight'
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/components/CompanionIndicator.vue b/neode-ui/src/components/CompanionIndicator.vue
index 69e14356..cf007753 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/components/CompanionIndicator.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/components/CompanionIndicator.vue
@@ -1,28 +1,36 @@
 <template>
-  <div
-    v-if="relayConnected"
-    class="companion-indicator"
-    :title="companionActive ? 'Companion app sending input' : 'Relay ready — waiting for companion'"
-  >
-    <!-- Wire going down off-screen -->
-    <div class="companion-wire" :class="{ active: companionActive }" />
-
-    <!-- Gamepad body -->
-    <div class="companion-pad" :class="{ connected: companionActive, 'input-flash': companionInputActive }">
-      <svg width="28" height="28" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" aria-hidden="true">
-        <!-- Controller body -->
-        <rect x="3" y="7" width="18" height="11" rx="3" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="1.5" />
-        <!-- D-pad vertical -->
+  <Transition name="companion-slide">
+    <div
+      v-if="relayConnected"
+      class="flex items-center gap-2 px-3 py-2 rounded-lg transition-all duration-300"
+      :class="companionActive
+        ? 'bg-orange-500/10 border border-orange-500/20'
+        : 'bg-white/5 border border-white/10'"
+      :title="companionActive ? 'Companion app connected' : 'Remote relay ready'"
+    >
+      <svg
+        class="w-5 h-5 flex-shrink-0 transition-colors duration-200"
+        :class="companionActive
+          ? (companionInputActive ? 'text-orange-400' : 'text-orange-400/70')
+          : 'text-white/20'"
+        fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true"
+      >
+        <rect x="3" y="7" width="18" height="11" rx="3" stroke-width="1.5" />
         <rect x="7.5" y="10" width="2" height="5" rx="0.5" fill="currentColor" />
-        <!-- D-pad horizontal -->
         <rect x="6" y="11.5" width="5" height="2" rx="0.5" fill="currentColor" />
-        <!-- A button -->
         <circle cx="16" cy="11" r="1.2" fill="currentColor" />
-        <!-- B button -->
         <circle cx="14" cy="13.5" r="1.2" fill="currentColor" />
       </svg>
+      <span
+        class="text-xs hidden sm:inline transition-colors duration-200"
+        :class="companionActive ? 'text-orange-400/80' : 'text-white/30'"
+      >{{ companionActive ? 'Companion' : 'Relay' }}</span>
+      <span
+        v-if="companionInputActive"
+        class="ml-auto w-1.5 h-1.5 rounded-full bg-orange-400 animate-pulse"
+      />
     </div>
-  </div>
+  </Transition>
 </template>
 
 <script setup lang="ts">
@@ -30,57 +38,8 @@ import { relayConnected, companionActive, companionInputActive } from '@/api/rem
 </script>
 
 <style scoped>
-.companion-indicator {
-  position: fixed;
-  bottom: 0;
-  right: 24px;
-  z-index: 9998;
-  display: flex;
-  flex-direction: column;
-  align-items: center;
-  pointer-events: none;
-  transition: opacity 0.4s ease;
-}
-
-/* Idle state — subtle, muted */
-.companion-pad {
-  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.15);
-  background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3);
-  border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.06);
-  border-bottom: none;
-  border-radius: 8px 8px 0 0;
-  padding: 6px 10px 4px;
-  backdrop-filter: blur(8px);
-  -webkit-backdrop-filter: blur(8px);
-  transition: color 0.3s, border-color 0.3s, box-shadow 0.3s, background 0.3s;
-  order: 0;
-}
-
-/* Companion actively sending */
-.companion-pad.connected {
-  color: rgba(247, 147, 26, 0.7);
-  background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.6);
-  border-color: rgba(247, 147, 26, 0.3);
-}
-
-/* Input flash — brightens on each event */
-.companion-pad.input-flash {
-  color: rgba(247, 147, 26, 1);
-  border-color: rgba(247, 147, 26, 0.6);
-  box-shadow: 0 0 12px rgba(247, 147, 26, 0.25);
-}
-
-/* Wire */
-.companion-wire {
-  width: 2px;
-  height: 20px;
-  background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.08), rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.03));
-  border-radius: 1px;
-  order: 1;
-  transition: background 0.3s;
-}
-
-.companion-wire.active {
-  background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(247, 147, 26, 0.5), rgba(247, 147, 26, 0.15));
-}
+.companion-slide-enter-active { transition: opacity 0.3s ease, max-height 0.3s ease; }
+.companion-slide-leave-active { transition: opacity 0.2s ease, max-height 0.2s ease; }
+.companion-slide-enter-from,
+.companion-slide-leave-to { opacity: 0; max-height: 0; }
 </style>
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/dashboard/DashboardSidebar.vue b/neode-ui/src/views/dashboard/DashboardSidebar.vue
index 23e2ba15..e20ebc4a 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/dashboard/DashboardSidebar.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/dashboard/DashboardSidebar.vue
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@
 
         <div class="sidebar-controller px-6 pb-2 shrink-0">
           <ControllerIndicator />
+          <CompanionIndicator />
         </div>
 
         <!-- Online status -->
@@ -106,6 +107,7 @@ import { useMeshStore } from '@/stores/mesh'
 import AnimatedLogo from '@/components/AnimatedLogo.vue'
 import OnlineStatusPill from '@/components/OnlineStatusPill.vue'
 import ControllerIndicator from '@/components/ControllerIndicator.vue'
+import CompanionIndicator from '@/components/CompanionIndicator.vue'
 import ModeSwitcher from '@/components/ModeSwitcher.vue'
 
 interface NavItem {