diff --git a/__tests__/useAppStore.test.ts b/__tests__/useAppStore.test.ts
index 07619f7..0293548 100644
--- a/__tests__/useAppStore.test.ts
+++ b/__tests__/useAppStore.test.ts
@@ -162,13 +162,14 @@ describe('chat sessions', () => {
 });
 
 describe('persistence', () => {
-    it('persists settings and chats but not transient connection or streaming state', async () => {
+    it('persists settings, the selected model and chats but not transient connection or streaming state', async () => {
         useAppStore.setState({
             theme: 'dark',
             serverConfig: { host: 'lan.local', port: 4321, apiKey: 'k' },
             isConnected: true,
             isStreaming: true,
             activeModelId: 'model',
+            availableModels: [{ id: 'model', object: 'model', owned_by: 'x' }],
             editingMessageId: 'e',
         });
         state().addMessage({ role: 'user', content: 'persist me' });
@@ -178,9 +179,10 @@ describe('persistence', () => {
         const persisted = JSON.parse(raw as string).state;
 
         expect(Object.keys(persisted).sort()).toEqual(
-            ['chatSessions', 'currentChatId', 'messages', 'serverConfig', 'theme'],
+            ['activeModelId', 'chatSessions', 'currentChatId', 'messages', 'serverConfig', 'theme'],
         );
         expect(persisted.serverConfig).toEqual({ host: 'lan.local', port: 4321, apiKey: 'k' });
+        expect(persisted.activeModelId).toBe('model');
         expect(persisted.messages[0].content).toBe('persist me');
     });
 });
diff --git a/__tests__/useAutoConnect.test.ts b/__tests__/useAutoConnect.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..67a6884
--- /dev/null
+++ b/__tests__/useAutoConnect.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+import { act, renderHook } from '@testing-library/react-native';
+import { useAutoConnect } from '../hooks/useAutoConnect';
+import * as api from '../services/lmStudioApi';
+import { useAppStore } from '../store/useAppStore';
+
+jest.mock('../services/lmStudioApi');
+
+const mockApi = api as jest.Mocked<typeof api>;
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+    jest.resetAllMocks();
+    useAppStore.setState(useAppStore.getInitialState(), true);
+});
+
+describe('useAutoConnect', () => {
+    it('loads the models once on mount and marks the server connected', async () => {
+        mockApi.getModels.mockResolvedValue([{ id: 'm1', object: 'model', owned_by: 'x' }]);
+        renderHook(() => useAutoConnect());
+
+        await act(async () => {});
+        expect(mockApi.getModels).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+        expect(useAppStore.getState().isConnected).toBe(true);
+        expect(useAppStore.getState().activeModelId).toBe('m1');
+    });
+
+    it('leaves the app offline when the server does not answer', async () => {
+        mockApi.getModels.mockRejectedValue(new Error('down'));
+        renderHook(() => useAutoConnect());
+
+        await act(async () => {});
+        expect(useAppStore.getState().isConnected).toBe(false);
+    });
+
+    it('does not check again on re-render', async () => {
+        mockApi.getModels.mockResolvedValue([]);
+        const { rerender } = renderHook(() => useAutoConnect());
+        await act(async () => {});
+        rerender({});
+        await act(async () => {});
+        expect(mockApi.getModels).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    });
+});
diff --git a/app/chat/_layout.tsx b/app/chat/_layout.tsx
index 288c55f..ddc1c83 100644
--- a/app/chat/_layout.tsx
+++ b/app/chat/_layout.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { ModelSelector } from '@/components/chat/ModelSelector';
+import { useAutoConnect } from '@/hooks/useAutoConnect';
 import { useThemeColor } from '@/hooks/useThemeColor';
 import { useAppStore } from '@/store/useAppStore';
 import { Stack, useRouter } from 'expo-router';
@@ -10,6 +11,7 @@ export default function ChatLayout() {
     const router = useRouter();
     const clearChat = useAppStore(state => state.clearChat);
     const colors = useThemeColor();
+    useAutoConnect();
 
     const isLargeScreen = width > 768;
     const containerStyle = [
diff --git a/hooks/useAutoConnect.ts b/hooks/useAutoConnect.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..73de512
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hooks/useAutoConnect.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+import { useEffect } from 'react';
+import { useAppStore } from '../store/useAppStore';
+import { useLMStudio } from './useLMStudio';
+
+/**
+ * Checks the server once when the app opens, after the saved settings have been
+ * restored, so the connection badge and model list are not stale until the user
+ * visits Settings.
+ */
+export function useAutoConnect() {
+    const { fetchModels } = useLMStudio();
+
+    useEffect(() => {
+        const { persist } = useAppStore;
+        if (persist.hasHydrated()) {
+            void fetchModels();
+            return;
+        }
+        return persist.onFinishHydration(() => void fetchModels());
+        // Mount only: later checks are triggered by the user (model selector, Settings).
+        // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
+    }, []);
+}
diff --git a/store/useAppStore.ts b/store/useAppStore.ts
index 22856fe..3774e39 100644
--- a/store/useAppStore.ts
+++ b/store/useAppStore.ts
@@ -168,6 +168,7 @@ export const useAppStore = create<AppState>()(
             partialize: (state) => ({
                 theme: state.theme,
                 serverConfig: state.serverConfig,
+                activeModelId: state.activeModelId,
                 chatSessions: state.chatSessions,
                 messages: state.messages,
                 currentChatId: state.currentChatId,