diff --git a/neode-ui/src/App.vue b/neode-ui/src/App.vue
index acee52b1..01002a24 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/App.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/App.vue
@@ -398,8 +398,13 @@ onMounted(async () => {
   // One-shot "Replay intro" request from the login screen — must survive the
   // auto-re-mark below (which otherwise instantly suppresses the replay on any
   // onboarded node).
-  const replayRequested = sessionStorage.getItem('archipelago_replay_intro') === '1'
+  let replayRequested = sessionStorage.getItem('archipelago_replay_intro') === '1'
   if (replayRequested) sessionStorage.removeItem('archipelago_replay_intro')
+  // Public demo: every fresh boot at the root (first visit or a browser
+  // refresh) starts with the typing splash for the full effect. In-session SPA
+  // navigation never remounts App, and deep-route refreshes keep their place.
+  const { IS_DEMO } = await import('@/composables/useDemoIntro')
+  if (IS_DEMO && route.path === '/') replayRequested = true
   let onboardingComplete: boolean | null = localStorage.getItem('neode_onboarding_complete') === '1' ? true : null
   const splashCandidate = !seenIntro
     && (fromBoot || (route.path === '/' && import.meta.env.VITE_DEV_MODE !== 'boot'))
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/composables/useDemoIntro.ts b/neode-ui/src/composables/useDemoIntro.ts
index 8b683868..70f5314f 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/composables/useDemoIntro.ts
+++ b/neode-ui/src/composables/useDemoIntro.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 /**
  * Public-demo helpers.
  *
- * The demo build (VITE_DEMO=1) replays the intro/onboarding on each visit, but
- * only once per calendar day per browser — tracked in localStorage so it
- * survives the short-lived backend session. Also exposes the shared demo
- * credentials shown on the login screen.
+ * The demo build (VITE_DEMO=1) replays the typing splash + intro/onboarding on
+ * EVERY fresh boot of the app at '/' (first visit or browser refresh) — see
+ * App.vue and RootRedirect.demoRoute. Also exposes the shared demo credentials
+ * shown on the login screen.
  */
 
 export const IS_DEMO =
@@ -13,36 +13,10 @@ export const IS_DEMO =
 /** Memorable shared password for the public demo (must match the mock backend). */
 export const DEMO_PASSWORD = 'entertoexit'
 
-const INTRO_DATE_KEY = 'demo_intro_date'
-
-function todayKey(): string {
-  // Local calendar day, e.g. "2026-06-22".
-  const d = new Date()
-  return `${d.getFullYear()}-${String(d.getMonth() + 1).padStart(2, '0')}-${String(d.getDate()).padStart(2, '0')}`
-}
-
-/** True if this browser already watched the intro earlier today. */
-export function demoIntroSeenToday(): boolean {
-  try {
-    return localStorage.getItem(INTRO_DATE_KEY) === todayKey()
-  } catch {
-    return false
-  }
-}
-
-/** Record that the intro has been seen today, so it won't replay until tomorrow. */
-export function markDemoIntroSeen(): void {
-  try {
-    localStorage.setItem(INTRO_DATE_KEY, todayKey())
-  } catch {
-    /* ignore (private mode / storage disabled) */
-  }
-}
-
-/** Forget today's "seen" marker so the intro plays again (e.g. "Replay Intro"). */
+/** Forget any legacy per-day gate marker (pre-2026-07 builds stored one). */
 export function clearDemoIntroSeen(): void {
   try {
-    localStorage.removeItem(INTRO_DATE_KEY)
+    localStorage.removeItem('demo_intro_date')
   } catch {
     /* ignore */
   }
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/Cloud.vue b/neode-ui/src/views/Cloud.vue
index 4bfee8fa..d9be21a7 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/Cloud.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/Cloud.vue
@@ -6,12 +6,12 @@
       <!-- Desktop: page tabs + category tabs + search on one row -->
       <div class="app-header-desktop items-center gap-4">
         <div class="flex-shrink-0">
-          <div class="cloud-tab-switcher hidden md:inline-flex">
+          <div class="mode-switcher hidden md:inline-flex">
             <button
               v-for="tab in TABS"
               :key="tab.id"
-              class="cloud-tab-btn"
-              :class="{ 'cloud-tab-btn-active': activeTab === tab.id }"
+              class="mode-switcher-btn"
+              :class="{ 'mode-switcher-btn-active': activeTab === tab.id }"
               @click="activeTab = tab.id"
             >{{ tab.name }}</button>
           </div>
@@ -789,8 +789,9 @@ defineExpose({ loadPeers })
 </script>
 
 <style scoped>
-/* Top-level tab switcher — deliberately a DIFFERENT look from the neutral
-   category pills below it: orange-tinted container + active state. */
+/* Mobile-only top-level tab switcher — deliberately a DIFFERENT look from the
+   neutral category pills below it (orange tint). Desktop keeps the standard
+   mode-switcher styling. */
 .cloud-tab-switcher {
   gap: 2px;
   padding: 3px;
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/OnboardingIntro.vue b/neode-ui/src/views/OnboardingIntro.vue
index 89a294b8..592796ae 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/OnboardingIntro.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/OnboardingIntro.vue
@@ -56,16 +56,13 @@ import { ref, onMounted } from 'vue'
 import { useRouter } from 'vue-router'
 import AnimatedLogo from '@/components/AnimatedLogo.vue'
 import { playNavSound } from '@/composables/useNavSounds'
-import { IS_DEMO, markDemoIntroSeen } from '@/composables/useDemoIntro'
+import { IS_DEMO } from '@/composables/useDemoIntro'
 
 const router = useRouter()
 const ctaButton = ref<HTMLButtonElement | null>(null)
 const isDemo = IS_DEMO
 
 onMounted(() => {
-  // Demo: once the visitor has seen the intro today, don't auto-replay it again
-  // until tomorrow (they can still use "Replay Intro" on the login screen).
-  if (IS_DEMO) markDemoIntroSeen()
   // Auto-focus after entry animation completes (1.4s animation delay + 0.6s duration)
   setTimeout(() => {
     ctaButton.value?.focus({ preventScroll: true })
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/RootRedirect.vue b/neode-ui/src/views/RootRedirect.vue
index fff3b4bb..740f85fe 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/RootRedirect.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/RootRedirect.vue
@@ -16,20 +16,20 @@
 import { ref, onMounted } from 'vue'
 import { useRouter } from 'vue-router'
 import { isOnboardingComplete } from '@/composables/useOnboarding'
-import { IS_DEMO, demoIntroSeenToday } from '@/composables/useDemoIntro'
+import { IS_DEMO } from '@/composables/useDemoIntro'
 import BootScreen from '@/components/BootScreen.vue'
 
 const router = useRouter()
 const showBootScreen = ref(false)
 
 /**
- * Public demo: replay the intro on every visit, but at most once per calendar
- * day per browser. If already seen today → straight to login; otherwise → intro.
+ * Public demo: every fresh boot of the app (first visit OR browser refresh at
+ * the root) replays the intro for the full effect. In-session SPA navigation
+ * never re-triggers it — this only runs when the app boots at '/'.
  */
 function demoRoute() {
-  const dest = demoIntroSeenToday() ? '/login' : '/onboarding/intro'
-  log('demoRoute', { dest })
-  router.replace(dest).catch(() => {})
+  log('demoRoute', { dest: '/onboarding/intro' })
+  router.replace('/onboarding/intro').catch(() => {})
 }
 
 function log(msg: string, data?: unknown) {