diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/CreateLinkModal.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/CreateLinkModal.tsx
index e5389060..7937645d 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/CreateLinkModal.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/CreateLinkModal.tsx
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { useState, useCallback, useEffect } from 'react';
 import { X, Copy, Check, Loader2, Link2, Monitor, Users, Zap } from 'lucide-react';
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
 import { Card, CardContent, CardDescription, CardHeader, CardTitle } from '@/components/ui/card';
+import { ErrorBanner } from '@/components/ui/error-banner';
 import { getElectronAPI } from '@/lib/ipc';
 import type { Session, SessionMode } from '@pairux/shared-types';
 import { APP_URL } from '../../shared/config';
@@ -105,16 +106,13 @@ export function CreateLinkModal({ isOpen, onClose, onStartSharing }: CreateLinkM
         </CardHeader>
         <CardContent className="space-y-4">
           {error && (
-            <div className="rounded-lg bg-destructive/10 px-4 py-3 text-sm text-destructive">
-              {error}
-              <Button
-                variant="link"
-                className="ml-2 h-auto p-0 text-destructive"
-                onClick={() => void createSession()}
-              >
-                Try again
-              </Button>
-            </div>
+            <ErrorBanner
+              message={error}
+              onRetry={() => void createSession()}
+              onDismiss={() => {
+                setError(null);
+              }}
+            />
           )}
 
           {isCreating && (
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/StartMeetingModal.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/StartMeetingModal.tsx
index 2f43caa3..630a48d5 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/StartMeetingModal.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/StartMeetingModal.tsx
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { useCallback, useEffect, useState } from 'react';
 import { X, Calendar, Loader2, Play, Users, Repeat, Radio } from 'lucide-react';
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
 import { Card, CardContent, CardDescription, CardHeader, CardTitle } from '@/components/ui/card';
+import { ErrorBanner } from '@/components/ui/error-banner';
 import { getElectronAPI } from '@/lib/ipc';
 import {
   acceptedCount,
@@ -118,16 +119,13 @@ export function StartMeetingModal({ isOpen, onClose, onStarted }: Props) {
 
         <CardContent className="flex-1 space-y-3 overflow-y-auto">
           {error && (
-            <div className="rounded-lg bg-destructive/10 px-4 py-3 text-sm text-destructive">
-              {error}
-              <Button
-                variant="link"
-                className="ml-2 h-auto p-0 text-destructive"
-                onClick={() => void load()}
-              >
-                Try again
-              </Button>
-            </div>
+            <ErrorBanner
+              message={error}
+              onRetry={() => void load()}
+              onDismiss={() => {
+                setError(null);
+              }}
+            />
           )}
 
           {isLoading && (
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/auth/LoginForm.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/auth/LoginForm.tsx
index eb0235be..0caee246 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/auth/LoginForm.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/auth/LoginForm.tsx
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 import { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
 import { useNavigate, useLocation } from 'react-router-dom';
-import { Mail, Lock, Eye, EyeOff, Loader2, AlertCircle, ExternalLink } from 'lucide-react';
+import { Mail, Lock, Eye, EyeOff, Loader2, ExternalLink } from 'lucide-react';
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
 import { Input } from '@/components/ui/input';
 import { Label } from '@/components/ui/label';
 import { Card, CardContent, CardDescription, CardHeader, CardTitle } from '@/components/ui/card';
-import { Alert, AlertDescription } from '@/components/ui/alert';
+import { ErrorBanner } from '@/components/ui/error-banner';
 import { useAuthStore } from '@/stores/auth';
 import { loginSchema } from '@/lib/validations';
 import { getElectronAPI } from '@/lib/ipc';
@@ -109,10 +109,12 @@ export function LoginForm() {
       <CardContent>
         <form onSubmit={(e) => void handleSubmit(e)} className="space-y-4">
           {error && (
-            <Alert variant="destructive">
-              <AlertCircle className="h-4 w-4" />
-              <AlertDescription>{error}</AlertDescription>
-            </Alert>
+            <ErrorBanner
+              message={error}
+              onDismiss={() => {
+                setError('');
+              }}
+            />
           )}
 
           <div className="space-y-2">
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/chat/ChatPanel.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/chat/ChatPanel.tsx
index ba539684..e2a50602 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/chat/ChatPanel.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/chat/ChatPanel.tsx
@@ -5,12 +5,11 @@ import {
   ChevronLeft,
   Wifi,
   WifiOff,
-  AlertCircle,
-  RefreshCw,
   Send,
   Loader2,
   ChevronUp,
 } from 'lucide-react';
+import { ErrorBanner } from '@/components/ui/error-banner';
 import { ChatMessage } from './ChatMessage';
 import { ParticipantList } from './ParticipantList';
 import { useChat } from './useChat';
@@ -52,11 +51,20 @@ export function ChatPanel({
   const [internalCollapsed, setInternalCollapsed] = useState(false);
   const isCollapsed = controlledCollapsed ?? internalCollapsed;
 
-  const { messages, isConnected, isLoading, error, hasMore, sendMessage, loadMore, reconnect } =
-    useChat({
-      sessionId,
-      participantId,
-    });
+  const {
+    messages,
+    isConnected,
+    isLoading,
+    error,
+    hasMore,
+    sendMessage,
+    loadMore,
+    reconnect,
+    clearError,
+  } = useChat({
+    sessionId,
+    participantId,
+  });
 
   const { participants: liveParticipants, isLoading: participantsLoading } = useParticipants({
     sessionId,
@@ -172,17 +180,13 @@ export function ChatPanel({
 
       {/* Error banner */}
       {error && (
-        <div className="flex items-center gap-2 border-b border-destructive/20 bg-destructive/10 px-4 py-2 text-sm text-destructive">
-          <AlertCircle className="h-4 w-4 flex-shrink-0" />
-          <span className="flex-1">{error}</span>
-          <button
-            onClick={reconnect}
-            className="flex items-center gap-1 rounded px-2 py-1 text-xs font-medium hover:bg-destructive/20"
-          >
-            <RefreshCw className="h-3 w-3" />
-            Retry
-          </button>
-        </div>
+        <ErrorBanner
+          message={error}
+          onRetry={reconnect}
+          retryLabel="Retry"
+          onDismiss={clearError}
+          className="rounded-none border-b border-destructive/20 px-4 py-2"
+        />
       )}
 
       {/* Participant list */}
@@ -244,9 +248,13 @@ export function ChatPanel({
       {/* Message input */}
       <div className="border-t border-border p-3">
         {sendError && (
-          <div className="mb-2 rounded bg-destructive/10 px-3 py-2 text-sm text-destructive">
-            {sendError}
-          </div>
+          <ErrorBanner
+            message={sendError}
+            onDismiss={() => {
+              setSendError(null);
+            }}
+            className="mb-2 px-3 py-2"
+          />
         )}
 
         <div className="flex items-end gap-2">
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/chat/useChat.ts b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/chat/useChat.ts
index b7c3af94..cfd192ad 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/chat/useChat.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/chat/useChat.ts
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ interface UseChatReturn extends ChatState {
   sendMessage: (content: string) => Promise<void>;
   loadMore: () => Promise<void>;
   reconnect: () => void;
+  clearError: () => void;
 }
 
 // Poll interval for new messages (in ms)
@@ -198,6 +199,10 @@ export function useChat({ sessionId, autoConnect = true }: UseChatOptions): UseC
     };
   }, [loadHistory, startPolling, autoConnect]);
 
+  const clearError = useCallback(() => {
+    setError(null);
+  }, []);
+
   return {
     messages,
     isConnected,
@@ -207,5 +212,6 @@ export function useChat({ sessionId, autoConnect = true }: UseChatOptions): UseC
     sendMessage,
     loadMore,
     reconnect,
+    clearError,
   };
 }
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/ui/error-banner.test.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/ui/error-banner.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7b407f12
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/ui/error-banner.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, vi } from 'vitest';
+import { render, screen, fireEvent } from '@testing-library/react';
+import { ErrorBanner } from './error-banner';
+
+describe('ErrorBanner', () => {
+  it('shows the message verbatim, including a raw fetch error', () => {
+    const raw = 'fetch failed (Connection timed out | UND_ERR_CONNECT_TIMEOUT | pairux.com:443)';
+    render(<ErrorBanner message={raw} />);
+
+    expect(screen.getByRole('alert')).toHaveTextContent(raw);
+  });
+
+  it('renders no affordances when neither handler is given', () => {
+    render(<ErrorBanner message="Something went wrong" />);
+
+    expect(screen.queryByRole('button')).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('calls onDismiss when the dismiss button is clicked', () => {
+    const onDismiss = vi.fn();
+    render(<ErrorBanner message="Could not reach pairux.com" onDismiss={onDismiss} />);
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Dismiss error' }));
+
+    expect(onDismiss).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  });
+
+  it('offers retry and dismiss independently', () => {
+    const onRetry = vi.fn();
+    const onDismiss = vi.fn();
+    render(
+      <ErrorBanner message="Could not reach pairux.com" onRetry={onRetry} onDismiss={onDismiss} />
+    );
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Try again' }));
+    expect(onRetry).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(onDismiss).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Dismiss error' }));
+    expect(onDismiss).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(onRetry).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  });
+
+  it('uses a custom retry label when given', () => {
+    render(<ErrorBanner message="Disconnected" onRetry={vi.fn()} retryLabel="Retry" />);
+
+    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Retry' })).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/ui/error-banner.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/ui/error-banner.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b3d92459
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/ui/error-banner.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+import { AlertCircle, RefreshCw, X } from 'lucide-react';
+
+import { cn } from '@/lib/utils';
+
+interface ErrorBannerProps {
+  /** The error text to show. Rendered verbatim, so it may be a raw fetch error. */
+  message: string;
+  /** Retry affordance. Omit when there is nothing sensible to re-run. */
+  onRetry?: () => void;
+  retryLabel?: string;
+  /** Dismiss affordance. Omit only when the banner must stay until resolved. */
+  onDismiss?: () => void;
+  className?: string;
+}
+
+/**
+ * A destructive banner for an error the user can act on. Network failures are often
+ * transient — a dropped connection, a connect timeout — so the banner always leaves a
+ * way out: retry the call, or dismiss the message and carry on.
+ */
+export function ErrorBanner({
+  message,
+  onRetry,
+  retryLabel = 'Try again',
+  onDismiss,
+  className,
+}: ErrorBannerProps) {
+  return (
+    <div
+      role="alert"
+      className={cn(
+        'flex items-start gap-2 rounded-lg bg-destructive/10 px-4 py-3 text-sm text-destructive',
+        className
+      )}
+    >
+      <AlertCircle className="mt-0.5 h-4 w-4 flex-shrink-0" />
+      <span className="min-w-0 flex-1 break-words">{message}</span>
+
+      {onRetry && (
+        <button
+          type="button"
+          onClick={onRetry}
+          className="flex flex-shrink-0 items-center gap-1 rounded px-2 py-1 text-xs font-medium hover:bg-destructive/20"
+        >
+          <RefreshCw className="h-3 w-3" />
+          {retryLabel}
+        </button>
+      )}
+
+      {onDismiss && (
+        <button
+          type="button"
+          onClick={onDismiss}
+          aria-label="Dismiss error"
+          title="Dismiss"
+          className="flex-shrink-0 rounded p-1 hover:bg-destructive/20"
+        >
+          <X className="h-4 w-4" />
+        </button>
+      )}
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/routes/home.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/routes/home.tsx
index 3b3f3a7c..98d71f99 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/routes/home.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/routes/home.tsx
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import {
   shouldShowInAppSourcePicker,
 } from '@/lib/capturePicker';
 import { CapturePreview } from '@/components/capture/CapturePreview';
+import { ErrorBanner } from '@/components/ui/error-banner';
 import { CreateLinkModal } from '@/components/CreateLinkModal';
 import { StartMeetingModal } from '@/components/StartMeetingModal';
 import { getElectronAPI, isElectron } from '@/lib/ipc';
@@ -423,17 +424,13 @@ export function HomePage() {
   return (
     <div className="flex flex-1 flex-col p-6">
       {error && (
-        <div className="mb-4 rounded-lg bg-destructive/10 p-4 text-destructive">
-          {error}
-          <button
-            onClick={() => {
-              setError(null);
-            }}
-            className="ml-4 text-sm underline"
-          >
-            Dismiss
-          </button>
-        </div>
+        <ErrorBanner
+          message={error}
+          onDismiss={() => {
+            setError(null);
+          }}
+          className="mb-4"
+        />
       )}
 
       {!stream && !sessionActive ? (
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/routes/join.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/routes/join.tsx
index 1f199350..78062f99 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/routes/join.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/routes/join.tsx
@@ -1,15 +1,6 @@
 import { useEffect, useState, useRef } from 'react';
 import { useNavigate, useSearchParams } from 'react-router-dom';
-import {
-  Monitor,
-  User,
-  Loader2,
-  AlertCircle,
-  Users,
-  ArrowLeft,
-  Calendar,
-  Clock,
-} from 'lucide-react';
+import { Monitor, User, Loader2, Users, ArrowLeft, Calendar, Clock } from 'lucide-react';
 
 /**
  * Parse a join code from user input. Handles both raw codes and full URLs.
@@ -138,7 +129,7 @@ import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
 import { Input } from '@/components/ui/input';
 import { Label } from '@/components/ui/label';
 import { Card, CardContent, CardDescription, CardHeader, CardTitle } from '@/components/ui/card';
-import { Alert, AlertDescription } from '@/components/ui/alert';
+import { ErrorBanner } from '@/components/ui/error-banner';
 import { useAuthStore } from '@/stores/auth';
 import { getElectronAPI } from '@/lib/ipc';
 
@@ -474,10 +465,13 @@ export function JoinPage() {
           </CardHeader>
           <CardContent>
             {error && (
-              <Alert variant="destructive" className="mb-4">
-                <AlertCircle className="h-4 w-4" />
-                <AlertDescription>{error}</AlertDescription>
-              </Alert>
+              <ErrorBanner
+                message={error}
+                onDismiss={() => {
+                  setError('');
+                }}
+                className="mb-4"
+              />
             )}
 
             {!session ? (
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/routes/settings.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/routes/settings.tsx
index 74ce92f6..20ea0bf9 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/routes/settings.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/routes/settings.tsx
@@ -10,9 +10,9 @@ import {
   Cloud,
   Loader2,
   Check,
-  AlertCircle,
 } from 'lucide-react';
 import { Card, CardContent, CardDescription, CardHeader, CardTitle } from '@/components/ui/card';
+import { ErrorBanner } from '@/components/ui/error-banner';
 import { StreamDestinations } from '@/components/streaming';
 import { LIVE_STREAM_CHANGED_EVENT } from '@/lib/liveStream';
 import { SESSION_SOUNDS_CHANGED_EVENT } from '@/lib/sessionSounds';
@@ -249,18 +249,13 @@ export function SettingsPage() {
 
       {/* Error message */}
       {saveError && (
-        <div className="mb-6 flex max-w-3xl items-center gap-2 rounded-lg bg-destructive/10 p-3 text-sm text-destructive">
-          <AlertCircle className="h-4 w-4 flex-shrink-0" />
-          <span>{saveError}</span>
-          <button
-            onClick={() => {
-              setSaveError(null);
-            }}
-            className="ml-auto text-xs underline"
-          >
-            Dismiss
-          </button>
-        </div>
+        <ErrorBanner
+          message={saveError}
+          onDismiss={() => {
+            setSaveError(null);
+          }}
+          className="mb-6 max-w-3xl p-3"
+        />
       )}
 
       <div className="grid max-w-3xl gap-6">