diff --git a/neode-ui/src/components/CopyButton.vue b/neode-ui/src/components/CopyButton.vue
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8e39bf31
--- /dev/null
+++ b/neode-ui/src/components/CopyButton.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,141 @@
+<template>
+  <button
+    type="button"
+    class="copy-btn"
+    :class="[sizeClass, copied ? 'copy-btn-copied' : '']"
+    :aria-label="copied ? 'Copied' : label"
+    @click.stop="copy"
+  >
+    <!-- Icon swaps to a tick on success; both are the same box so the button
+         never changes width mid-feedback (the jump was half the reason the
+         old ad-hoc buttons felt broken). -->
+    <svg v-if="!copied" class="copy-btn-icon" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+      <path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" d="M8 5H6a2 2 0 00-2 2v12a2 2 0 002 2h10a2 2 0 002-2v-2M8 5a2 2 0 002 2h4a2 2 0 002-2M8 5a2 2 0 012-2h4a2 2 0 012 2m0 0h2a2 2 0 012 2v3" />
+    </svg>
+    <svg v-else class="copy-btn-icon" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2.5" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+      <path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" d="M5 13l4 4L19 7" />
+    </svg>
+    <span v-if="!iconOnly" class="copy-btn-text">{{ copied ? copiedLabel : label }}</span>
+  </button>
+</template>
+
+<script setup lang="ts">
+import { ref, computed, onUnmounted } from 'vue'
+
+// One copy button for the whole app. Before this, 25 call sites each rolled
+// their own markup and feedback — some flipped a label, some did nothing at
+// all, and the widths jumped. Every copy affordance should look and behave
+// identically, so this owns both the visual and the timing.
+const props = withDefaults(defineProps<{
+  /** Text to place on the clipboard. */
+  value: string
+  /** Button label in the idle state. */
+  label?: string
+  /** Label shown while the success state is held. */
+  copiedLabel?: string
+  /** Icon with no text — for tight rows next to a truncated value. */
+  iconOnly?: boolean
+  size?: 'sm' | 'md'
+}>(), {
+  label: 'Copy',
+  copiedLabel: 'Copied',
+  iconOnly: false,
+  size: 'sm',
+})
+
+const emit = defineEmits<{ copied: [] }>()
+
+/** How long the success state is held. Long enough to register, short enough
+ *  that a second copy doesn't feel blocked. */
+const FEEDBACK_MS = 1600
+
+const copied = ref(false)
+let timer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null
+
+const sizeClass = computed(() => (props.size === 'md' ? 'copy-btn-md' : 'copy-btn-sm'))
+
+async function copy() {
+  try {
+    await navigator.clipboard.writeText(props.value)
+  } catch {
+    // Clipboard can reject (insecure origin, denied permission). Fall back to
+    // the legacy path so the button still works over plain http on a LAN IP,
+    // which is how plenty of nodes are reached.
+    try {
+      const ta = document.createElement('textarea')
+      ta.value = props.value
+      ta.setAttribute('readonly', '')
+      ta.style.position = 'fixed'
+      ta.style.opacity = '0'
+      document.body.appendChild(ta)
+      ta.select()
+      document.execCommand('copy')
+      document.body.removeChild(ta)
+    } catch {
+      return // genuinely could not copy — don't claim success
+    }
+  }
+  copied.value = true
+  emit('copied')
+  if (timer) clearTimeout(timer)
+  timer = setTimeout(() => {
+    copied.value = false
+    timer = null
+  }, FEEDBACK_MS)
+}
+
+onUnmounted(() => {
+  if (timer) clearTimeout(timer)
+})
+</script>
+
+<style scoped>
+.copy-btn {
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  gap: 0.375rem;
+  border-radius: 0.5rem;
+  border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1);
+  background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.06);
+  color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.75);
+  transition: background-color 0.15s ease, color 0.15s ease, border-color 0.15s ease;
+  white-space: nowrap;
+}
+.copy-btn:hover {
+  background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1);
+  color: #fff;
+}
+.copy-btn-sm {
+  padding: 0.35rem 0.6rem;
+  font-size: 0.75rem;
+}
+.copy-btn-md {
+  padding: 0.5rem 0.85rem;
+  font-size: 0.875rem;
+}
+.copy-btn-icon {
+  width: 0.95rem;
+  height: 0.95rem;
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+}
+.copy-btn-md .copy-btn-icon {
+  width: 1.05rem;
+  height: 1.05rem;
+}
+/* Success: emerald, matching the paid/settled language used elsewhere in the wallet. */
+.copy-btn-copied {
+  background: rgba(16, 185, 129, 0.16);
+  border-color: rgba(16, 185, 129, 0.4);
+  color: rgb(110, 231, 183);
+}
+.copy-btn-copied:hover {
+  background: rgba(16, 185, 129, 0.22);
+  color: rgb(110, 231, 183);
+}
+@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
+  .copy-btn {
+    transition: none;
+  }
+}
+</style>
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/components/LightningRequiredModal.vue b/neode-ui/src/components/LightningRequiredModal.vue
index 805c1df7..3d9d9ab8 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/components/LightningRequiredModal.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/components/LightningRequiredModal.vue
@@ -5,18 +5,23 @@
        same reasoning as ExternalExplorerModal. -->
   <BaseModal
     :show="lightning.show.value"
-    title="Lightning node required"
+    :title="lightning.status.value === 'stopped' ? 'Lightning node not running' : '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 v-if="lightning.status.value === 'stopped'" class="text-sm text-white/70 leading-relaxed">
+      Lightning payments need a Lightning node that's actually running. Yours is
+      installed but isn't running right now — start it from My Apps and try
+      again.
+    </p>
+    <p v-else class="text-sm text-white/70 leading-relaxed">
+      Lightning payments need 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-if="lightning.status.value !== 'stopped'" class="mt-4 space-y-2">
       <div
         v-for="node in nodes"
         :key="node.id"
@@ -61,6 +66,11 @@
       <button class="flex-1 glass-button px-4 py-2 rounded-lg text-sm" @click="onClose">
         {{ installing ? 'Close' : 'Not now' }}
       </button>
+      <button
+        v-if="lightning.status.value === 'stopped'"
+        class="flex-1 glass-button glass-button-warning px-4 py-2 rounded-lg text-sm font-medium"
+        @click="openApps"
+      >Open My Apps</button>
     </div>
   </BaseModal>
 </template>
@@ -68,6 +78,7 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
 import { ref } from 'vue'
 import BaseModal from '@/components/BaseModal.vue'
+import { useRouter } from 'vue-router'
 import { useAppStore } from '@/stores/app'
 import { useLightningRequired } from '@/composables/useLightningRequired'
 
@@ -98,6 +109,7 @@ const nodes: NodeChoice[] = [
   },
 ]
 
+const router = useRouter()
 const appStore = useAppStore()
 const lightning = useLightningRequired()
 
@@ -121,6 +133,11 @@ async function install(id: string) {
   }
 }
 
+function openApps() {
+  lightning.close()
+  router.push('/dashboard/apps')
+}
+
 function onClose() {
   error.value = ''
   lightning.close()
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/components/ReceiveBitcoinModal.vue b/neode-ui/src/components/ReceiveBitcoinModal.vue
index 7138f554..81edfd8d 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/components/ReceiveBitcoinModal.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/components/ReceiveBitcoinModal.vue
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
             <canvas ref="lightningQrCanvas" class="mx-auto mb-3 rounded-lg" style="image-rendering: pixelated;"></canvas>
             <p class="text-white/50 text-xs mb-1">{{ t('receiveBitcoin.invoiceShareLabel') }}</p>
             <p class="text-xs font-mono text-white/80 break-all">{{ invoiceResult }}</p>
-            <button @click="copyText(invoiceResult)" class="mt-2 text-xs text-orange-400 hover:text-orange-300">{{ t('common.copy') }}</button>
+            <CopyButton :value="invoiceResult" :label="t('common.copy')" class="mt-2" />
           </div>
         </div>
 
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
             <canvas ref="onchainQrCanvas" class="mx-auto mb-3 rounded-lg" style="image-rendering: pixelated;"></canvas>
             <p class="text-white/50 text-xs mb-2">{{ t('receiveBitcoin.yourBitcoinAddress') }}</p>
             <p class="text-sm font-mono text-white/90 break-all">{{ onchainAddress }}</p>
-            <button @click="copyText(onchainAddress)" class="mt-2 text-xs text-orange-400 hover:text-orange-300">{{ t('common.copy') }}</button>
+            <CopyButton :value="onchainAddress" :label="t('common.copy')" class="mt-2" />
           </div>
           <div v-else class="mb-3 text-center">
             <p class="text-white/50 text-sm mb-2">{{ t('web5.generateFreshAddress') }}</p>
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@
             <canvas ref="arkQrCanvas" class="mx-auto mb-3 rounded-lg" style="image-rendering: pixelated;"></canvas>
             <p class="text-white/50 text-xs mb-2">Your Ark address</p>
             <p class="text-sm font-mono text-white/90 break-all">{{ arkAddress }}</p>
-            <button @click="copyText(arkAddress)" class="mt-2 text-xs text-orange-400 hover:text-orange-300">{{ t('common.copy') }}</button>
+            <CopyButton :value="arkAddress" :label="t('common.copy')" class="mt-2" />
           </div>
           <div v-else class="mb-3 text-center">
             <p class="text-white/50 text-sm mb-2">Generate a fresh Ark address to receive off-chain sats instantly.</p>
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ import { ref, nextTick, watch } from 'vue'
 import { useI18n } from 'vue-i18n'
 import { rpcClient } from '@/api/rpc-client'
 import BaseModal from '@/components/BaseModal.vue'
+import CopyButton from '@/components/CopyButton.vue'
 import { explainReceiveAddressFailure } from '@/utils/bitcoinReceive'
 import { useLightningRequired } from '@/composables/useLightningRequired'
 
@@ -147,10 +148,6 @@ function close() {
   emit('close')
 }
 
-function copyText(text: string) {
-  navigator.clipboard.writeText(text).catch(() => {})
-}
-
 async function receive() {
   processing.value = true
   error.value = ''
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/components/SendBitcoinModal.vue b/neode-ui/src/components/SendBitcoinModal.vue
index e097b796..9a01cb0c 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/components/SendBitcoinModal.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/components/SendBitcoinModal.vue
@@ -25,20 +25,14 @@
                 <p class="text-xs text-white/50 mb-1">Payment hash</p>
                 <div class="flex items-center gap-2">
                   <p class="flex-1 text-xs font-mono text-white/80 break-all">{{ successInfo.hash }}</p>
-                  <button
-                    class="shrink-0 px-2.5 py-1.5 rounded-lg text-xs glass-button"
-                    @click="copyDetail(successInfo.hash)"
-                  >{{ copiedDetail === successInfo.hash ? 'Copied!' : 'Copy' }}</button>
+                  <CopyButton class="shrink-0" :value="successInfo.hash" />
                 </div>
               </div>
               <div v-if="successInfo.txid">
                 <p class="text-xs text-white/50 mb-1">Transaction ID</p>
                 <div class="flex items-center gap-2">
                   <p class="flex-1 text-xs font-mono text-white/80 break-all">{{ successInfo.txid }}</p>
-                  <button
-                    class="shrink-0 px-2.5 py-1.5 rounded-lg text-xs glass-button"
-                    @click="copyDetail(successInfo.txid)"
-                  >{{ copiedDetail === successInfo.txid ? 'Copied!' : 'Copy' }}</button>
+                  <CopyButton class="shrink-0" :value="successInfo.txid" />
                 </div>
               </div>
               <p v-if="successInfo.note" class="text-xs text-white/60">{{ successInfo.note }}</p>
@@ -258,10 +252,13 @@
 import { ref, computed, watch, nextTick } from 'vue'
 import { useI18n } from 'vue-i18n'
 import { rpcClient } from '@/api/rpc-client'
+import { useLightningRequired } from '@/composables/useLightningRequired'
 import BaseModal from '@/components/BaseModal.vue'
+import CopyButton from '@/components/CopyButton.vue'
 import ScreensaverRing from '@/components/ScreensaverRing.vue'
 
 const { t } = useI18n()
+const lightning = useLightningRequired()
 
 const props = defineProps<{ show: boolean }>()
 const emit = defineEmits<{ close: []; sent: []; scan: [] }>()
@@ -321,15 +318,6 @@ const successInfo = ref<{
   txid?: string
   note?: string
 } | null>(null)
-const copiedDetail = ref('')
-
-function copyDetail(text: string) {
-  navigator.clipboard.writeText(text).catch(() => {})
-  copiedDetail.value = text
-  setTimeout(() => {
-    if (copiedDetail.value === text) copiedDetail.value = ''
-  }, 1500)
-}
 const ecashToken = ref('')
 
 // "Send all funds" — sweeps the whole on-chain balance (explicit on-chain tab only)
@@ -530,6 +518,9 @@ function review() {
   const method = effectiveMethod.value
   const d = dest.value.trim()
   if (method === 'lightning') {
+    // Gate BEFORE the confirm step, not at submit: walking a user through
+    // review-and-confirm only to fail on a missing node is the defect.
+    if (!lightning.requireLightningNode()) return
     if (!d) { error.value = t('web5.pasteInvoice'); return }
     invoiceAmountSats.value = parseBolt11AmountSats(d)
   } else {
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/composables/__tests__/useLightningRequired.test.ts b/neode-ui/src/composables/__tests__/useLightningRequired.test.ts
index 9d933c78..7fef5313 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/composables/__tests__/useLightningRequired.test.ts
+++ b/neode-ui/src/composables/__tests__/useLightningRequired.test.ts
@@ -23,24 +23,39 @@ describe('useLightningRequired', () => {
     useLightningRequired().close()
   })
 
-  it('lets the action through when a Lightning node is installed', () => {
-    packages.value = { lnd: {}, 'bitcoin-knots': {} }
+  it('lets the action through when a Lightning node is running', () => {
+    packages.value = { lnd: { state: 'running' }, 'bitcoin-knots': { state: 'running' } }
     const lightning = useLightningRequired()
 
-    expect(lightning.hasLightningNode()).toBe(true)
+    expect(lightning.lightningStatus()).toBe('running')
     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: {} }
+  it('blocks when the node is present but NOT running, and says so', () => {
+    // The bug this closes: `id in packages` is not "usable". A node with an
+    // lnd entry in a non-running state produced a raw connection-refused
+    // error ("Operation failed. Check server logs for details.").
+    packages.value = { lnd: { state: 'stopped' } }
     const lightning = useLightningRequired()
 
+    expect(lightning.lightningStatus()).toBe('stopped')
+    expect(lightning.requireLightningNode()).toBe(false)
+    expect(lightning.show.value).toBe(true)
+    expect(lightning.status.value).toBe('stopped')
+  })
+
+  it('blocks and raises the install modal when no Lightning node is installed', () => {
+    packages.value = { 'bitcoin-knots': { state: 'running' }, immich: { state: 'running' } }
+    const lightning = useLightningRequired()
+
+    expect(lightning.lightningStatus()).toBe('absent')
     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)
+    expect(lightning.status.value).toBe('absent')
   })
 
   it('shares one modal state across call sites', () => {
@@ -54,8 +69,8 @@ describe('useLightningRequired', () => {
     expect(a.show.value).toBe(false)
   })
 
-  it('treats an empty package list as no Lightning node', () => {
+  it('treats an empty package list as absent', () => {
     packages.value = {}
-    expect(useLightningRequired().hasLightningNode()).toBe(false)
+    expect(useLightningRequired().lightningStatus()).toBe('absent')
   })
 })
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/composables/useLightningRequired.ts b/neode-ui/src/composables/useLightningRequired.ts
index d266475b..2f1ac434 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/composables/useLightningRequired.ts
+++ b/neode-ui/src/composables/useLightningRequired.ts
@@ -1,51 +1,70 @@
-// Shared "this action needs a Lightning node" gate (2026-08-02).
+// Shared "this action needs a working 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.
+// Creating a Lightning invoice used to fail at the RPC layer whenever this
+// node had no usable Lightning implementation — `lnd.createinvoice` returned
+// connection-refused and the Receive screen rendered "Operation failed. Check
+// server logs for details." That reads as the wallet being broken, when the
+// truth is a missing (or stopped) prerequisite the user can act on.
 //
-// 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.
+// Callers ask `requireLightningNode()` BEFORE attempting the call. When there
+// is no usable node it opens the global LightningRequiredModal 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".
+// Keyed on package STATE, not mere presence: `package-data` carries an entry
+// for a Lightning app that is known to this node but not actually running, so
+// `id in packages` is NOT "installed and usable" — that assumption was the
+// first version's bug, and it let the raw RPC error through on a node with no
+// lnd container at all.
 import { ref } from 'vue'
 import { useAppStore } from '@/stores/app'
+import { PackageState } from '@/types/api'
 
 /** 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. */
+ * `available` flag in LightningRequiredModal; nothing else changes. */
 export const LIGHTNING_NODE_APP_IDS = ['lnd'] as const
 
+/** `absent` — nothing installed, offer to install one.
+ *  `stopped` — installed but not running, point the user at My Apps.
+ *  `running` — good to go. */
+export type LightningStatus = 'absent' | 'stopped' | 'running'
+
 // Module-scope: one source of truth shared by every caller and the single
 // global modal mounted in App.vue.
 const show = ref(false)
+const status = ref<LightningStatus>('absent')
 
 export function useLightningRequired() {
   const appStore = useAppStore()
 
-  /** True when some Lightning implementation is installed on this node. */
+  /** Best status across every known Lightning implementation. */
+  function lightningStatus(): LightningStatus {
+    const pkgs = (appStore.packages ?? {}) as Record<string, { state?: string } | undefined>
+    let best: LightningStatus = 'absent'
+    for (const id of LIGHTNING_NODE_APP_IDS) {
+      const entry = pkgs[id]
+      if (!entry) continue
+      if (entry.state === PackageState.Running) return 'running'
+      // Present but not running: installing, starting, stopped, exited…
+      best = 'stopped'
+    }
+    return best
+  }
+
   function hasLightningNode(): boolean {
-    const installed = Object.keys(appStore.packages ?? {})
-    return installed.some((pkgId) =>
-      (LIGHTNING_NODE_APP_IDS as readonly string[]).includes(pkgId),
-    )
+    return lightningStatus() === 'running'
   }
 
   /**
    * Gate a Lightning-only action. Returns true to proceed; returns false and
-   * opens the install modal when this node has no Lightning implementation.
+   * opens the modal (in the mode matching why) when there is no usable node.
    */
   function requireLightningNode(): boolean {
-    if (hasLightningNode()) return true
+    const s = lightningStatus()
+    if (s === 'running') return true
+    status.value = s
     show.value = true
     return false
   }
@@ -54,5 +73,5 @@ export function useLightningRequired() {
     show.value = false
   }
 
-  return { show, hasLightningNode, requireLightningNode, close }
+  return { show, status, lightningStatus, hasLightningNode, requireLightningNode, close }
 }