diff --git a/neode-ui/src/App.vue b/neode-ui/src/App.vue
index b70d65af..4ce503d0 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/App.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/App.vue
@@ -44,6 +44,11 @@
     <!-- Nudge to back up the Lightning seed once a wallet exists (any page) -->
     <LndSeedBackupPrompt />
 
+    <!-- "You need a Lightning node" install prompt. Global because it is
+         raised from inside other modals (wallet Receive, the Web5 sheet, the
+         app launcher's paywall) — one instance, shared state. -->
+    <LightningRequiredModal />
+
     <!-- Global persistent audio player (bottom bar) -->
     <GlobalAudioPlayer />
 
@@ -98,6 +103,7 @@ import GlobalAudioPlayer from './components/GlobalAudioPlayer.vue'
 import MeshDeviceSetupModal from './components/mesh/MeshDeviceSetupModal.vue'
 import ExternalExplorerModal from './components/ExternalExplorerModal.vue'
 import LndSeedBackupPrompt from './components/LndSeedBackupPrompt.vue'
+import LightningRequiredModal from './components/LightningRequiredModal.vue'
 import { useMeshStore } from './stores/mesh'
 
 import { useControllerNav } from '@/composables/useControllerNav'
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/components/AppLauncherOverlay.vue b/neode-ui/src/components/AppLauncherOverlay.vue
index 50f51ae0..4bae8a02 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/components/AppLauncherOverlay.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/components/AppLauncherOverlay.vue
@@ -196,6 +196,9 @@ import NostrIdentityPicker from '@/components/NostrIdentityPicker.vue'
 import AppLoadingScreen from '@/components/AppLoadingScreen.vue'
 import { DEFAULT_APP_ICON } from '@/views/apps/appsConfig'
 import { rpcClient } from '@/api/rpc-client'
+import { useLightningRequired } from '@/composables/useLightningRequired'
+
+const lightning = useLightningRequired()
 
 interface PaymentRequest {
   request_id: string
@@ -524,6 +527,9 @@ async function approvePayment() {
       })
       receipt = { method: 'ecash', token: res.token, amount_sats: res.amount_sats }
     } else if (method === 'lightning') {
+      // Both arms below need a Lightning node — paying an invoice and minting
+      // one. With none installed, raise the install modal instead of failing.
+      if (!lightning.requireLightningNode()) return
       if (pay.invoice) {
         // Tracked to a real terminal state — slow routing is not a failure.
         const res = await rpcClient.payLightningInvoice({ payment_request: pay.invoice })
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/components/LightningRequiredModal.vue b/neode-ui/src/components/LightningRequiredModal.vue
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..805c1df7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/neode-ui/src/components/LightningRequiredModal.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+<template>
+  <!-- z-3600: this is raised from INSIDE another modal (Receive, the Web5
+       send/receive sheet, the app launcher's paywall), so it must sit above
+       the standard modal layer (3000) but below the app overlay (4000) —
+       same reasoning as ExternalExplorerModal. -->
+  <BaseModal
+    :show="lightning.show.value"
+    title="Lightning node required"
+    max-width="max-w-md"
+    z-index="z-[3600]"
+    @close="onClose"
+  >
+    <p class="text-sm text-white/70 leading-relaxed">
+      Creating a Lightning invoice needs a Lightning node running on this
+      Archipelago node. You don't have one installed yet — pick an
+      implementation below and it'll be installed for you.
+    </p>
+
+    <div class="mt-4 space-y-2">
+      <div
+        v-for="node in nodes"
+        :key="node.id"
+        class="rounded-xl border border-white/10 bg-white/[0.04] p-3"
+      >
+        <div class="flex items-start gap-3">
+          <div class="flex-1 min-w-0">
+            <div class="flex items-center gap-2">
+              <span class="text-sm font-medium text-white">{{ node.name }}</span>
+              <span
+                v-if="!node.available"
+                class="text-[10px] uppercase tracking-wide px-2 py-0.5 rounded-full bg-white/10 text-white/50"
+              >Coming soon</span>
+            </div>
+            <p class="text-xs text-white/50 mt-0.5 leading-relaxed">{{ node.blurb }}</p>
+          </div>
+          <button
+            v-if="node.available"
+            :disabled="installing !== null"
+            class="shrink-0 glass-button glass-button-warning px-3.5 py-1.5 rounded-lg text-xs font-medium disabled:opacity-50"
+            @click="install(node.id)"
+          >
+            {{ installing === node.id ? 'Installing…' : 'Install' }}
+          </button>
+          <button
+            v-else
+            disabled
+            class="shrink-0 glass-button px-3.5 py-1.5 rounded-lg text-xs opacity-40 cursor-not-allowed"
+          >Install</button>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+
+    <p v-if="error" class="mt-3 alert-error text-sm">{{ error }}</p>
+
+    <p v-if="installing" class="mt-3 text-xs text-white/50 leading-relaxed">
+      This takes a few minutes — the image has to be pulled and the node
+      started. You can close this and carry on; the install keeps running.
+    </p>
+
+    <div class="flex gap-2 mt-6">
+      <button class="flex-1 glass-button px-4 py-2 rounded-lg text-sm" @click="onClose">
+        {{ installing ? 'Close' : 'Not now' }}
+      </button>
+    </div>
+  </BaseModal>
+</template>
+
+<script setup lang="ts">
+import { ref } from 'vue'
+import BaseModal from '@/components/BaseModal.vue'
+import { useAppStore } from '@/stores/app'
+import { useLightningRequired } from '@/composables/useLightningRequired'
+
+interface NodeChoice {
+  id: string
+  name: string
+  blurb: string
+  /** False renders the row as "Coming soon" with a dead Install button. */
+  available: boolean
+}
+
+// Core Lightning is listed deliberately while unavailable: the choice is the
+// point of this modal, and showing it greyed tells the user the platform is
+// not LND-only. When its app id lands in the catalog, flip `available` here
+// and add the id to LIGHTNING_NODE_APP_IDS — nothing else changes.
+const nodes: NodeChoice[] = [
+  {
+    id: 'lnd',
+    name: 'LND',
+    blurb: 'Lightning Network Daemon. The implementation Archipelago ships today — wallet, channels and payments are wired to it.',
+    available: true,
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'core-lightning',
+    name: 'Core Lightning',
+    blurb: 'Blockstream\'s implementation. Not packaged yet — it will appear here as a choice once it ships.',
+    available: false,
+  },
+]
+
+const appStore = useAppStore()
+const lightning = useLightningRequired()
+
+/** App id currently installing, or null. */
+const installing = ref<string | null>(null)
+const error = ref('')
+
+async function install(id: string) {
+  installing.value = id
+  error.value = ''
+  try {
+    await appStore.installPackage(id, '', 'latest')
+    // The gate reads install state from the package list, so once the install
+    // lands the modal simply stops being raised. Close on success rather than
+    // holding the user here watching a spinner.
+    lightning.close()
+  } catch (err) {
+    error.value = `Install failed: ${err instanceof Error ? err.message : 'Unknown error'}`
+  } finally {
+    installing.value = null
+  }
+}
+
+function onClose() {
+  error.value = ''
+  lightning.close()
+}
+</script>
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/components/ReceiveBitcoinModal.vue b/neode-ui/src/components/ReceiveBitcoinModal.vue
index 56abd8e0..7138f554 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/components/ReceiveBitcoinModal.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/components/ReceiveBitcoinModal.vue
@@ -91,8 +91,10 @@ import { useI18n } from 'vue-i18n'
 import { rpcClient } from '@/api/rpc-client'
 import BaseModal from '@/components/BaseModal.vue'
 import { explainReceiveAddressFailure } from '@/utils/bitcoinReceive'
+import { useLightningRequired } from '@/composables/useLightningRequired'
 
 const { t } = useI18n()
+const lightning = useLightningRequired()
 
 const props = defineProps<{
   show: boolean
@@ -154,6 +156,10 @@ async function receive() {
   error.value = ''
   try {
     if (receiveMethod.value === 'lightning') {
+      // No Lightning implementation installed is not an error — it is a
+      // missing prerequisite. Raise the install modal instead of letting
+      // lnd.createinvoice fail with connection-refused (FED-08 follow-up).
+      if (!lightning.requireLightningNode()) return
       if (!invoiceAmount.value) { error.value = t('receiveBitcoin.enterAnAmount'); return }
       const res = await rpcClient.call<{ payment_request: string }>({
         method: 'lnd.createinvoice',
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/composables/__tests__/useLightningRequired.test.ts b/neode-ui/src/composables/__tests__/useLightningRequired.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9d933c78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/neode-ui/src/composables/__tests__/useLightningRequired.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, beforeEach, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { createPinia, setActivePinia } from 'pinia'
+import { useLightningRequired } from '../useLightningRequired'
+
+// The gate reads install state off the app store's package list. Stub the
+// store rather than the RPC layer so the test pins the decision, not the
+// transport.
+const packages = vi.hoisted(() => ({ value: {} as Record<string, unknown> }))
+vi.mock('@/stores/app', () => ({
+  useAppStore: () => ({
+    get packages() {
+      return packages.value
+    },
+  }),
+}))
+
+describe('useLightningRequired', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    setActivePinia(createPinia())
+    packages.value = {}
+    // Module-scope `show` is shared by design (one global modal), so reset it
+    // between cases or the first opener leaks into the next test.
+    useLightningRequired().close()
+  })
+
+  it('lets the action through when a Lightning node is installed', () => {
+    packages.value = { lnd: {}, 'bitcoin-knots': {} }
+    const lightning = useLightningRequired()
+
+    expect(lightning.hasLightningNode()).toBe(true)
+    expect(lightning.requireLightningNode()).toBe(true)
+    expect(lightning.show.value).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('blocks and raises the install modal when no Lightning node is installed', () => {
+    packages.value = { 'bitcoin-knots': {}, immich: {} }
+    const lightning = useLightningRequired()
+
+    expect(lightning.hasLightningNode()).toBe(false)
+    // Returns false so the caller bails WITHOUT surfacing an error string —
+    // that was the whole defect: a missing prerequisite rendered as a failure.
+    expect(lightning.requireLightningNode()).toBe(false)
+    expect(lightning.show.value).toBe(true)
+  })
+
+  it('shares one modal state across call sites', () => {
+    packages.value = {}
+    const a = useLightningRequired()
+    const b = useLightningRequired()
+
+    a.requireLightningNode()
+    expect(b.show.value).toBe(true)
+    b.close()
+    expect(a.show.value).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('treats an empty package list as no Lightning node', () => {
+    packages.value = {}
+    expect(useLightningRequired().hasLightningNode()).toBe(false)
+  })
+})
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/composables/useLightningRequired.ts b/neode-ui/src/composables/useLightningRequired.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d266475b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/neode-ui/src/composables/useLightningRequired.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+// Shared "this action needs a Lightning node" gate (2026-08-02).
+//
+// Creating a Lightning invoice with no Lightning node installed used to fail
+// at the RPC layer — `lnd.createinvoice` returns a connection-refused error
+// and the Receive screen showed it as a red failure string. That reads as the
+// wallet being broken, when in fact the node simply has no Lightning
+// implementation installed yet.
+//
+// Callers ask `requireLightningNode()` BEFORE attempting the call. When no
+// node is installed it opens the global LightningRequiredModal (which offers
+// to install one) and returns false, so the caller bails without surfacing an
+// error at all.
+//
+// Detection is install-state, not reachability, on purpose: an installed node
+// that is merely stopped or still starting is a different situation (wait or
+// start it) and must NOT be answered with "install a Lightning node".
+import { ref } from 'vue'
+import { useAppStore } from '@/stores/app'
+
+/** Package ids that provide a Lightning node.
+ *
+ * `lnd` ships today. Core Lightning is the next implementation the modal
+ * offers — when its app id lands in the catalog, add it here and flip its
+ * `available` flag in LightningRequiredModal so the same gate recognises it
+ * with no other change. */
+export const LIGHTNING_NODE_APP_IDS = ['lnd'] as const
+
+// Module-scope: one source of truth shared by every caller and the single
+// global modal mounted in App.vue.
+const show = ref(false)
+
+export function useLightningRequired() {
+  const appStore = useAppStore()
+
+  /** True when some Lightning implementation is installed on this node. */
+  function hasLightningNode(): boolean {
+    const installed = Object.keys(appStore.packages ?? {})
+    return installed.some((pkgId) =>
+      (LIGHTNING_NODE_APP_IDS as readonly string[]).includes(pkgId),
+    )
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Gate a Lightning-only action. Returns true to proceed; returns false and
+   * opens the install modal when this node has no Lightning implementation.
+   */
+  function requireLightningNode(): boolean {
+    if (hasLightningNode()) return true
+    show.value = true
+    return false
+  }
+
+  function close() {
+    show.value = false
+  }
+
+  return { show, hasLightningNode, requireLightningNode, close }
+}
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/Apps.vue b/neode-ui/src/views/Apps.vue
index dd4a2838..6b4b7ca2 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/Apps.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/Apps.vue
@@ -262,42 +262,36 @@
       @confirm="onConfirmUninstall"
     />
 
-    <Teleport to="body">
-    <Transition name="fade">
-      <div
-        v-if="credentialModal.show"
-        class="credential-modal-overlay fixed inset-0 z-[2700] flex items-center justify-center bg-black/80 backdrop-blur-md p-4"
-        @click.self="closeCredentialModal"
-      >
-        <div class="credential-modal-panel">
-          <div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-5">
-            <div>
-              <h2 class="text-lg font-semibold text-white">{{ credentialModal.title }}</h2>
-              <p class="text-sm text-white/55 mt-1">{{ credentialModal.description }}</p>
-            </div>
-            <button type="button" class="sideload-close-btn" aria-label="Close" @click="closeCredentialModal">
-              <svg class="w-5 h-5" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
-                <path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M6 18L18 6M6 6l12 12" />
-              </svg>
-            </button>
-          </div>
-          <div class="credential-modal-body space-y-3">
-            <div v-for="cred in credentialModal.credentials" :key="cred.label" class="rounded-lg border border-white/10 bg-white/[0.04] p-3">
-              <div class="flex items-center justify-between gap-3 mb-1">
-                <span class="text-white/60 text-xs uppercase tracking-wide">{{ cred.label }}</span>
-                <button type="button" class="text-xs text-orange-300 hover:text-orange-200" @click="copyModalCredential(cred.label, cred.value)">{{ credentialModal.copied === cred.label ? 'Copied' : 'Copy' }}</button>
-              </div>
-              <p class="font-mono text-sm text-white break-all">{{ cred.value }}</p>
-            </div>
-          </div>
-          <div class="credential-modal-actions mt-5 flex flex-col sm:flex-row gap-3">
-            <button type="button" class="w-full sm:flex-1 glass-button px-4 py-3 rounded-lg" @click="closeCredentialModal">Cancel</button>
-            <button type="button" class="w-full sm:flex-1 glass-button px-4 py-3 rounded-lg font-semibold" @click="continueCredentialLaunch">Continue to app</button>
+    <!-- House modal (BaseModal glass-card), not a hand-rolled panel: the old
+         one painted its own rgba(8,10,18,.98) navy card, which read as blue
+         against every other modal in the app. BaseModal also brings the
+         standard scroll contract, Esc/focus handling and body scroll lock. -->
+    <BaseModal
+      :show="credentialModal.show"
+      :title="credentialModal.title"
+      max-width="max-w-lg"
+      z-index="z-[2700]"
+      @close="closeCredentialModal"
+    >
+      <p v-if="credentialModal.description" class="text-sm text-white/55 -mt-1 mb-4">
+        {{ credentialModal.description }}
+      </p>
+      <div class="space-y-3">
+        <div v-for="cred in credentialModal.credentials" :key="cred.label" class="rounded-lg border border-white/10 bg-white/[0.04] p-3">
+          <div class="flex items-center justify-between gap-3 mb-1">
+            <span class="text-white/60 text-xs uppercase tracking-wide">{{ cred.label }}</span>
+            <button type="button" class="text-xs text-orange-300 hover:text-orange-200" @click="copyModalCredential(cred.label, cred.value)">{{ credentialModal.copied === cred.label ? 'Copied' : 'Copy' }}</button>
           </div>
+          <p class="font-mono text-sm text-white break-all">{{ cred.value }}</p>
         </div>
       </div>
-    </Transition>
-    </Teleport>
+      <template #footer>
+        <div class="flex flex-col sm:flex-row gap-3">
+          <button type="button" class="w-full sm:flex-1 glass-button px-4 py-3 rounded-lg" @click="closeCredentialModal">Cancel</button>
+          <button type="button" class="w-full sm:flex-1 glass-button px-4 py-3 rounded-lg font-semibold" @click="continueCredentialLaunch">Continue to app</button>
+        </div>
+      </template>
+    </BaseModal>
 
     <Teleport to="body">
     <Transition name="fade">
@@ -388,6 +382,7 @@ import { useServerStore } from '@/stores/server'
 import { useAppLauncherStore } from '@/stores/appLauncher'
 import { rpcClient } from '@/api/rpc-client'
 import { type AppCredential, type AppCredentialsResponse, type PackageDataEntry, type PackageState } from '@/types/api'
+import BaseModal from '@/components/BaseModal.vue'
 import AppCard from './apps/AppCard.vue'
 import AppIconGrid from './apps/AppIconGrid.vue'
 import AppsUninstallModal from './apps/AppsUninstallModal.vue'
@@ -910,34 +905,4 @@ async function submitSideload() {
 }
 .sideload-input::placeholder { color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.38); }
 .sideload-input:focus { border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.38); }
-.credential-modal-panel {
-  display: flex;
-  flex-direction: column;
-  width: 100%;
-  max-width: 34rem;
-  /* Centered card that never exceeds the visible viewport (minus safe areas),
-     matching the wallet receive modal / AppIconGrid credential modal. The body
-     scrolls if content overflows rather than the panel stretching edge-to-edge. */
-  max-height: calc(
-    100dvh - var(--safe-area-top, env(safe-area-inset-top, 0px)) -
-      var(--safe-area-bottom, env(safe-area-inset-bottom, 0px)) - 2rem
-  );
-  min-height: 0;
-  overflow: hidden;
-  border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.14);
-  border-radius: 1.5rem;
-  background: rgba(8, 10, 18, 0.98);
-  padding: 1.25rem;
-  padding-bottom: calc(1.25rem + var(--safe-area-bottom, env(safe-area-inset-bottom, 0px)));
-  box-shadow: 0 24px 70px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.55);
-}
-.credential-modal-body {
-  flex: 1 1 auto;
-  min-height: 0;
-  overflow-y: auto;
-  -webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch;
-}
-.credential-modal-actions {
-  flex-shrink: 0;
-}
 </style>
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/apps/AppIconGrid.vue b/neode-ui/src/views/apps/AppIconGrid.vue
index 96d4353c..d7baafaf 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/apps/AppIconGrid.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/apps/AppIconGrid.vue
@@ -91,43 +91,41 @@
       ></button>
     </div>
 
-    <Teleport to="body">
-    <Transition name="fade">
-      <div v-if="credentialModal.show" class="credential-modal-overlay fixed inset-0 z-[2700] flex items-center justify-center bg-black/80 backdrop-blur-md p-4" @click.self="closeCredentialModal">
-        <div class="credential-modal-panel">
-          <div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 mb-5">
-            <div>
-              <h2 class="text-lg font-semibold text-white">{{ credentialModal.title }}</h2>
-              <p class="text-sm text-white/55 mt-1">{{ credentialModal.description }}</p>
-            </div>
-            <button type="button" class="sideload-close-btn" aria-label="Close" @click="closeCredentialModal">
-              <svg class="w-5 h-5" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
-                <path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M6 18L18 6M6 6l12 12" />
-              </svg>
-            </button>
-          </div>
-          <div class="credential-modal-body space-y-3">
-            <div v-for="cred in credentialModal.credentials" :key="cred.label" class="rounded-lg border border-white/10 bg-white/[0.04] p-3">
-              <div class="flex items-center justify-between gap-3 mb-1">
-                <span class="text-white/60 text-xs uppercase tracking-wide">{{ cred.label }}</span>
-                <button type="button" class="text-xs text-orange-300 hover:text-orange-200" @click="copyModalCredential(cred.label, cred.value)">{{ credentialModal.copied === cred.label ? 'Copied' : 'Copy' }}</button>
-              </div>
-              <p class="font-mono text-sm text-white break-all">{{ cred.value }}</p>
-            </div>
-          </div>
-          <div class="credential-modal-actions mt-5 flex flex-col sm:flex-row gap-3">
-            <button type="button" class="w-full sm:flex-1 glass-button px-4 py-3 rounded-lg" @click="closeCredentialModal">Cancel</button>
-            <button type="button" class="w-full sm:flex-1 glass-button px-4 py-3 rounded-lg font-semibold" @click="continueCredentialLaunch">Continue to app</button>
+    <!-- House modal (BaseModal glass-card), not a hand-rolled panel: the old
+         one painted its own rgba(8,10,18,.98) navy card, which read as blue
+         against every other modal in the app. -->
+    <BaseModal
+      :show="credentialModal.show"
+      :title="credentialModal.title"
+      max-width="max-w-lg"
+      z-index="z-[2700]"
+      @close="closeCredentialModal"
+    >
+      <p v-if="credentialModal.description" class="text-sm text-white/55 -mt-1 mb-4">
+        {{ credentialModal.description }}
+      </p>
+      <div class="space-y-3">
+        <div v-for="cred in credentialModal.credentials" :key="cred.label" class="rounded-lg border border-white/10 bg-white/[0.04] p-3">
+          <div class="flex items-center justify-between gap-3 mb-1">
+            <span class="text-white/60 text-xs uppercase tracking-wide">{{ cred.label }}</span>
+            <button type="button" class="text-xs text-orange-300 hover:text-orange-200" @click="copyModalCredential(cred.label, cred.value)">{{ credentialModal.copied === cred.label ? 'Copied' : 'Copy' }}</button>
           </div>
+          <p class="font-mono text-sm text-white break-all">{{ cred.value }}</p>
         </div>
       </div>
-    </Transition>
-    </Teleport>
+      <template #footer>
+        <div class="flex flex-col sm:flex-row gap-3">
+          <button type="button" class="w-full sm:flex-1 glass-button px-4 py-3 rounded-lg" @click="closeCredentialModal">Cancel</button>
+          <button type="button" class="w-full sm:flex-1 glass-button px-4 py-3 rounded-lg font-semibold" @click="continueCredentialLaunch">Continue to app</button>
+        </div>
+      </template>
+    </BaseModal>
   </div>
 </template>
 
 <script setup lang="ts">
 import { computed, ref, watch } from 'vue'
+import BaseModal from '@/components/BaseModal.vue'
 import { useServerStore } from '@/stores/server'
 import { useAppLauncherStore } from '@/stores/appLauncher'
 import type { AppCredential, AppCredentialsResponse, PackageDataEntry } from '@/types/api'
@@ -367,33 +365,4 @@ function scrollToPage(index: number) {
   background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1);
   color: white;
 }
-.credential-modal-body {
-  flex: 1 1 auto;
-  min-height: 0;
-  overflow-y: auto;
-  -webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch;
-}
-.credential-modal-panel {
-  display: flex;
-  flex-direction: column;
-  width: 100%;
-  max-width: 34rem;
-  /* Centered card that never exceeds the visible viewport (minus safe areas),
-     matching the wallet receive modal. The body scrolls if content overflows
-     rather than the panel stretching edge-to-edge. */
-  max-height: calc(
-    100dvh - var(--safe-area-top, env(safe-area-inset-top, 0px)) -
-      var(--safe-area-bottom, env(safe-area-inset-bottom, 0px)) - 2rem
-  );
-  min-height: 0;
-  overflow: hidden;
-  border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.14);
-  border-radius: 1.5rem;
-  background: rgba(8, 10, 18, 0.98);
-  padding: 1.25rem;
-  box-shadow: 0 24px 70px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.55);
-}
-.credential-modal-actions {
-  flex-shrink: 0;
-}
 </style>
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/web5/Web5SendReceiveModals.vue b/neode-ui/src/views/web5/Web5SendReceiveModals.vue
index 52fc3cf5..a9ac9899 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/web5/Web5SendReceiveModals.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/web5/Web5SendReceiveModals.vue
@@ -180,11 +180,14 @@
 import { ref, computed, nextTick } from 'vue'
 import { useI18n } from 'vue-i18n'
 import { rpcClient } from '@/api/rpc-client'
+import { useLightningRequired } from '@/composables/useLightningRequired'
 import { useTransportStore } from '@/stores/transport'
 import { useMeshStore } from '@/stores/mesh'
 import { explainReceiveAddressFailure } from '@/utils/bitcoinReceive'
 import { safeClipboardWrite } from './utils'
 
+const lightning = useLightningRequired()
+
 const { t } = useI18n()
 const transportStore = useTransportStore()
 const meshStore = useMeshStore()
@@ -466,6 +469,9 @@ async function unifiedReceive() {
   unifiedReceiveError.value = ''
   try {
     if (receiveMethod.value === 'lightning') {
+      // Missing prerequisite, not an error — raise the install modal rather
+      // than letting lnd.createinvoice fail with connection-refused.
+      if (!lightning.requireLightningNode()) return
       if (!receiveInvoiceAmount.value || receiveInvoiceAmount.value < 1) {
         unifiedReceiveError.value = t('web5.enterAmount')
         return