diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index a1a120aae..d19abf403 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -2644,6 +2644,23 @@ loadable play content. Everything a user does must be visible to connected peers
   2 (every canvas panel >= 1 texel per Quest pixel). `api.claimInput('sticks')` + the world-pan stick REEL (stick Y
   pushes/pulls a one-grip world, as Edit does an object); `addSetting({onLevels: true})` draws a choice as tabs on the
   VR Levels page, which now lists every level.
+- **ROADMAP 59 (59-hub) — TOOLS & CONNECTIONS, FEATURE STATUS, SKIES OFF THE BUNDLE.** `lib/tools/toolStatus.js` is a
+  LEAF registry (svelte/store only): `registerToolRows(section, readable)` per section (TOOL_SECTIONS order: chat,
+  mesh, animation, aibox, agents, desktop — a section shows once a source registers, so a later roadmap adds its
+  rows with ONE call) and `registerFeature({id, label, section, needs, fix?, ready, row})`. A row = status (`ready |
+  off | setup | error`), Test, Enable / Disable over the EXISTING switches (provider: active + master; voice:
+  additive `aiStt.enabled`, absent = on; desktop: `tools:blender`) and the features it turns on. NO KEY MOVED:
+  Settings ▸ AI became Settings ▸ Tools & connections (`AiSettings.svelte` keeps the provider forms as sub-pages,
+  `ToolsHub.svelte` is the main view; `'ai'` is a deep-link ALIAS in settingsNav). T5: a button whose tool is missing
+  STAYS VISIBLE — `toolLinks.explainMissing(id)` toasts "<label> needs <needs>: set one up in Settings ▸ Tools &
+  connections." and opens the row (`toolsFocus` scrolls + flashes it); the assistant's system prompt lists the same
+  missing features (`toolSummary`). `builtinTools.js` registers chat/voice/mesh/desktop; Test clients import lazily.
+  Skies (`hdri/skyFetch.js`): the five bundled `.hdr` live in the PACKS repo `hdri/` (jsDelivr, `VITE_HDRI_BASE` >
+  `VITE_PACKS_BASE` > packs@format-1); an export reads its own `hdri/<file>`; Cache Storage `tp-skies-v1` keeps a
+  picked sky (keyed by URL, older ref dropped); a CDN miss is `hdriStatus: 'unavailable'` = the flat preset + a retry
+  on `online`, never an error. e2e: `h.routeSkies` (OPT-IN — a route disables the context's HTTP cache) serves them
+  from a local packs checkout. Suites: vitest `toolStatus` (incl. the storage migration); e2e `tools-connections`,
+  `sky-cdn`.
 
 ## UI design system (redesign epic)
 
diff --git a/docs/settings-storage-keys.md b/docs/settings-storage-keys.md
index b8f0e2a55..794930e43 100644
--- a/docs/settings-storage-keys.md
+++ b/docs/settings-storage-keys.md
@@ -158,6 +158,22 @@ Order: "VR override", then the whole `VRSettingsSection` (see its table), then t
 | Fine-tune — Reset (`#nudge-reset`) | *action* `resetRoomNudge()` | deletes current room's entry in `colocation-nudge-v1` | — | DEVICE | lib/colocationNudge.js:153 | |
 | Ghost hands (`#colocated-ghost-hands`) | `colocatedGhostHands` | `colocatedGhostHands` | `true` | DEVICE | lib/colocationPresence.js:69 (writer :249) | bool str, read `!== 'false'`; load-write |
 
+### Tools & connections (was AI — 59 T4)
+
+59 T4 renamed the page and turned its main view into the Tools & connections hub
+(`components/menu/settings/ToolsHub.svelte` over `lib/tools/toolStatus.js` + `lib/tools/builtinTools.js`).
+**No key moved**: every row below is still written by the same store and key. The hub's per-row
+controls map onto them:
+
+| UI element | Store | Key(s) | Default | Scope | Defined at | Notes |
+|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
+| Chat / mesh provider row — Enable / Disable | `setAiActiveProvider(id)` + `setAiEnabled(on)` · `setMeshActiveProvider(id)` + `setMeshGenEnabled(on)` | `aiActiveProvider` + `aiEnabled` · `meshActiveProvider` + `meshGenEnabled` | — | DEVICE | lib/tools/builtinTools.js | Enable = make it active + master on; Disable = master off (the active pointer stays) |
+| Voice typing row — Enable / Disable | `setSttConfig({enabled})` | `aiStt` (`enabled`) | absent = on | DEVICE | lib/ai/stt.js | stored only as `enabled: false`; absent on every config saved before 59 |
+| Desktop tools ▸ Blender — Enable / Disable | `blenderEnabled` / `setBlenderEnabled` | `tools:blender` | absent = on | DEVICE | lib/tools/builtinTools.js | stored only as `'false'` |
+| Any row — Test | *action* `runToolTest(row)` | none | — | — | lib/tools/toolStatus.js | the result is in memory (`toolTests`), never stored |
+
+The rows of the old page, still the forms behind each row's *Set up*:
+
 ### AI
 
 | Row label | store | storage key | default | scope | defined at | encoding / notes |
@@ -333,7 +349,7 @@ Each row writes through the row's `set()`; `put(store, key, v)` (settingsSchema.
 | Face edit limit (`#vr-set-faceCap`, free number ≥ 10 on desktop) | `vrFaceCap` | `vrFaceCap` | `2500` (`VR_FACE_CAP`) | DEVICE | schema :305; lib/faceEdit.js:110 (const :107) | num str (int); load-write |
 | Vertex edit limit (`#vr-set-vertexCap`, free number ≥ 10) | `vrVertexCap` | `vrVertexCap` | `800` (`VR_VERTEX_CAP`) | DEVICE | schema :316; lib/meshEdit.js:1779 (const :1776) | num str (int); load-write |
 
-## AiSttSettings.svelte (inside AI)
+## AiSttSettings.svelte (inside Tools & connections ▸ Voice typing ▸ Set up)
 
 | Row label | store | storage key | default | scope | defined at | encoding / notes |
 |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
diff --git a/scripts/export-manifest.cjs b/scripts/export-manifest.cjs
index 59c7db18d..b3ef26c98 100644
--- a/scripts/export-manifest.cjs
+++ b/scripts/export-manifest.cjs
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ function excluded(rel) {
 		/^llms(-full)?\.txt$/.test(rel) ||
 		/^cloud-plugin.*\.js$/.test(rel) ||
 		rel.startsWith('templates/') ||
-		// 37-hdri: ~7.5 MB of bundled HDRIs — buildExport copies only the one the scene shows
+		// 37-hdri: buildExport copies only the sky the scene shows (59 T3: from the CDN — the .hdr
+		// files left the bundle; the preview cards stay excluded here as before)
 		rel.startsWith('hdri/') ||
 		rel.startsWith('.')
 	);
diff --git a/scripts/hdri-bake.cjs b/scripts/hdri-bake.cjs
index 03d6a8707..9bab4d3a9 100644
--- a/scripts/hdri-bake.cjs
+++ b/scripts/hdri-bake.cjs
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env node
+// 59 T3: the .hdr files themselves live in the PACKS repo's hdri/ now (served by jsDelivr) — after a
+// bake, move any copied .hdr there (never keep it in static/: the release zip must have none).
 // 37-hdri — bake the bundled HDRIs: copy each source .hdr into static/hdri/, write a small
 // tone-mapped PNG card next to it, and print the numbers the preset table in
 // src/lib/hdri/catalog.js is written from (sun direction, flat fallback colours).
diff --git a/scripts/third-party-notices.cjs b/scripts/third-party-notices.cjs
index 5e7fe280b..6b2e79179 100644
--- a/scripts/third-party-notices.cjs
+++ b/scripts/third-party-notices.cjs
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ const VENDORED = [
 	{ name: 'Press Start 2P', version: 'static/fonts', license: 'OFL-1.1', url: 'https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Press+Start+2P', file: 'static/fonts/LICENSE-press-start-2p.txt', source: 'static/fonts' },
 	{ name: 'Noto Sans subsets (3D label fonts)', version: 'static/fonts/unicode-font-resolver', license: 'OFL-1.1', url: 'https://github.com/notofonts', file: 'static/fonts/unicode-font-resolver/LICENSE-noto.txt', source: 'static/fonts/unicode-font-resolver (scripts/fetch-troika-fonts.cjs)' },
 	{ name: 'unicode-font-resolver data', version: 'v1.0.1', license: 'MIT', url: 'https://github.com/lojjic/unicode-font-resolver', file: 'static/fonts/unicode-font-resolver/LICENSE-unicode-font-resolver.txt', source: 'static/fonts/unicode-font-resolver (scripts/fetch-troika-fonts.cjs)' },
-	{ name: 'Poly Haven HDRIs', version: 'static/hdri', license: 'CC0-1.0', url: 'https://polyhaven.com/license', file: 'static/hdri/CREDITS.md', source: 'static/hdri' }
+	{ name: 'Poly Haven HDRIs', version: 'static/hdri', license: 'CC0-1.0', url: 'https://polyhaven.com/license', file: 'static/hdri/CREDITS.md', source: 'static/hdri (cards) + the packs repo hdri/ (the .hdr files, downloaded on first use)' }
 ];
 
 /** always in the bundle though nothing imports them by name (the compiler and the kit emit the imports) */
diff --git a/src/components/menu/AddMenu.svelte b/src/components/menu/AddMenu.svelte
index 6c03cd1da..b5b5367b6 100644
--- a/src/components/menu/AddMenu.svelte
+++ b/src/components/menu/AddMenu.svelte
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@
 	// Enter/click spawns at the menu's ground point and replicates.
 	import { minimalScroll } from '$lib/ui/minimalScroll.js';
 	import { untrack } from 'svelte';
-	import { addMenu, aiAssistantHidden, showToast, settingsOpen, settingsSection } from '../../stores/appStore.js';
-	import { aiReady } from '$lib/ai/providers';
+	import { addMenu, aiAssistantHidden } from '../../stores/appStore.js';
+	import { explainMissing } from '$lib/tools/toolLinks.js'; // 59 T5
 	import { primitivesCatalog } from '$lib/primitivesCatalog';
 	import { spawnAtPoint } from '$lib/addObjects';
 	import { rightDragMove, inputContextMenu } from '$lib/searchMenuUx';
@@ -102,16 +102,11 @@
 		dragged = false; // the next open re-anchors to wherever it is invoked from
 	}
 
-	// the menu's last row opens the AI assistant — the AiHudButton's own path (Settings › AI
-	// with a toast when no provider is set up yet), opening rather than toggling
+	// the menu's last row opens the AI assistant — the AiHudButton's own path (59 T5: a missing
+	// provider says so and opens its row in Tools & connections), opening rather than toggling
 	function openAi() {
 		close();
-		if (!aiReady()) {
-			showToast('Enable an AI provider in Settings to use the assistant');
-			settingsSection.set('ai');
-			settingsOpen.set(true);
-			return;
-		}
+		if (explainMissing('assistant')) return;
 		aiAssistantHidden.set('');
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/components/menu/AiAssistant.svelte b/src/components/menu/AiAssistant.svelte
index e2e187bf6..8bcf85403 100644
--- a/src/components/menu/AiAssistant.svelte
+++ b/src/components/menu/AiAssistant.svelte
@@ -7,9 +7,7 @@
 	import {
 		aiAssistantHidden,
 		aiPromptBarOpen,
-		showToast,
-		settingsOpen,
-		settingsSection
+		showToast
 	} from '../../stores/appStore';
 	import WindowChrome from '../ui/WindowChrome.svelte';
 	import Icon from '../ui/Icon.svelte';
@@ -22,6 +20,8 @@
 	import { focusStack } from '$lib/windowFocus';
 	import { tabbable } from '$lib/windowTabs';
 	import { sttConfig, sttReady } from '$lib/ai/stt';
+	import { explainMissing, openToolRow } from '$lib/tools/toolLinks.js'; // 59 T5
+	import { derived } from 'svelte/store';
 	import { dictation, startDictation, stopDictation } from '$lib/ai/sttCapture';
 
 	let prompt = $state('');
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@
 	let pillInput: any = $state(null);
 	let promptInput: any = $state(null);
 
+	/** 59 T5: the mic's tooltip says what is missing (the press opens its row) */
+	const voiceReady = derived(sttConfig, (c) => sttReady(c));
 	const hasProvider = $derived($aiProviders.length > 0 && !!$aiActiveProvider);
 	const pillVisible = $derived($aiPromptBarOpen && $aiEnabled && hasProvider && $aiAssistantHidden !== '');
 
@@ -52,12 +54,7 @@
 			return;
 		}
 		if ($dictation.state !== 'idle') return;
-		if (!sttReady($sttConfig)) {
-			showToast('Set up Voice typing in Settings ▸ AI to talk to the assistant', [
-				{ label: 'Open Settings', action: () => { settingsSection.set('ai'); settingsOpen.set(true); } }
-			]);
-			return;
-		}
+		if (explainMissing('voiceTyping')) return; // 59 T5: says what is missing, opens its row
 		const ok = await startDictation('desktop');
 		if (!ok && $dictation.error) showToast('Voice typing: ' + $dictation.error);
 	}
@@ -183,16 +180,14 @@
 						{/each}
 					</select>
 				{:else}
-					<!-- 38 NOTES-38 #24 (design page): the hint is the way there — the same Settings › AI
-					     deep link the provider toast uses -->
+					<!-- 38 NOTES-38 #24 (design page): the hint is the way there — 59 T5: the Chat providers
+					     row in Settings › Tools & connections, the same place the provider toast opens -->
 					<span class="ai-hint flex-1"
-						>No provider yet. <button
+						>No chat provider yet. <button
 							type="button"
+							id="ai-hint-setup"
 							class="ai-hint-link"
-							onclick={() => {
-								settingsSection.set('ai');
-								settingsOpen.set(true);
-							}}>Set one up in Settings › AI</button
+							onclick={() => openToolRow('chat')}>Set one up in Tools &amp; connections</button
 						></span
 					>
 				{/if}
@@ -215,7 +210,7 @@
 					class:ai-mic-on={$dictation.state === 'recording'}
 					aria-label={$dictation.state === 'recording' ? 'Stop voice typing' : 'Voice typing'}
 					aria-pressed={$dictation.state === 'recording'}
-					title={$dictation.state === 'recording' ? 'Stop and type what was said' : 'Voice typing (Settings ▸ AI)'}
+					title={$dictation.state === 'recording' ? 'Stop and type what was said' : $voiceReady ? 'Voice typing' : 'Voice typing needs a voice typing server — set one up in Settings ▸ Tools & connections'}
 					disabled={$aiBusy || $dictation.state === 'transcribing'}
 					onclick={toggleMic}
 				>
diff --git a/src/components/menu/AiSttSettings.svelte b/src/components/menu/AiSttSettings.svelte
index c21ffd591..17026b6e0 100644
--- a/src/components/menu/AiSttSettings.svelte
+++ b/src/components/menu/AiSttSettings.svelte
@@ -10,21 +10,19 @@
 	// (safeStorage, plaintext like every AI key here).
 	//
 	// 37-settings (R21): the provider is a segmented control with its status as a badge; the server form
-	// is a SUB-PAGE ("AI › Voice typing server") reached by a NavRow. `subpage` renders that form (the
+	// is a SUB-PAGE ("AI › Voice typing server") reached by a NavRow. 59 T4: the NavRow is the Tools &
+	// connections hub's Voice typing row now, and the preset picker moved into the sub-page.
+	// `subpage` renders that form (the
 	// AI page passes it while the sub-page is open). Same store, same key (aiStt).
-	import { getContext } from 'svelte';
 	import Section from '../ui/Section.svelte';
 	import SettingRow from '../ui/SettingRow.svelte';
-	import NavRow from '../ui/NavRow.svelte';
 	import Segmented from '../ui/Segmented.svelte';
 	import Button from '../ui/Button.svelte';
 	import Badge from '../ui/Badge.svelte';
-	import { NAV_CONTEXT } from '$lib/settingsNav';
-	import { STT_PRESETS, sttConfig, setSttConfig, applySttPreset, sttReady, sttPresetFor, transcribe, describeSttError } from '$lib/ai/stt.js';
+	import { STT_PRESETS, sttConfig, setSttConfig, applySttPreset, sttReady, sttPresetFor, transcribe, describeSttError, silentWav } from '$lib/ai/stt.js';
 
 	/** @type {{subpage?: boolean}} */
 	let { subpage = false } = $props();
-	const nav = /** @type {any} */ (getContext(NAV_CONTEXT));
 
 	/** @type {{ok: boolean, detail: string} | null} */
 	let testResult = $state(null);
@@ -33,28 +31,6 @@
 	/** @param {Event} e */
 	const value = (e) => /** @type {HTMLInputElement} */ (e.currentTarget).value;
 
-	/** half a second of silence as a 16 kHz mono WAV — enough for the server to answer, nothing to transcribe */
-	function silentWav() {
-		const samples = 8000;
-		const buffer = new ArrayBuffer(44 + samples * 2);
-		const view = new DataView(buffer);
-		const text = (/** @type {number} */ at, /** @type {string} */ s) => [...s].forEach((c, i) => view.setUint8(at + i, c.charCodeAt(0)));
-		text(0, 'RIFF');
-		view.setUint32(4, 36 + samples * 2, true);
-		text(8, 'WAVE');
-		text(12, 'fmt ');
-		view.setUint32(16, 16, true);
-		view.setUint16(20, 1, true);
-		view.setUint16(22, 1, true);
-		view.setUint32(24, 16000, true);
-		view.setUint32(28, 32000, true);
-		view.setUint16(32, 2, true);
-		view.setUint16(34, 16, true);
-		text(36, 'data');
-		view.setUint32(40, samples * 2, true);
-		return new Blob([buffer], { type: 'audio/wav' });
-	}
-
 	async function test() {
 		testing = true;
 		testResult = null;
@@ -70,18 +46,17 @@
 	const preset = $derived(sttPresetFor($sttConfig.preset));
 	const ready = $derived(sttReady($sttConfig));
 	const PRESETS = STT_PRESETS.map((p) => ({ value: p.preset, label: p.preset === 'custom' ? 'Self-hosted' : p.label, title: p.label }));
-	/** a host for the NavRow's value @param {string} url */
-	const hostOf = (url) => {
-		try {
-			return new URL(url).host;
-		} catch {
-			return url || 'not set';
-		}
-	};
 </script>
 
 <div id="ai-stt-settings" class="contents" data-keywords={keywords.join(' ')}>
 	{#if subpage}
+		<!-- 59 T4: Tools & connections ▸ Voice typing ▸ Set up — the provider picker sits above the form -->
+		<Section variant="card" label="Voice typing" badge="This device">
+			<SettingRow id="row-stt-preset" label="Voice typing provider" description="Speech to text for the assistant’s mic, in the AI window and in VR." wide>
+				<Segmented id="ai-stt-preset" label="Voice typing provider" options={PRESETS} value={$sttConfig.preset} onchange={(v) => { applySttPreset(v); testResult = null; }} />
+				<span id="ai-stt-status"><Badge tone={ready ? 'ok' : 'warn'} text={ready ? 'Ready' : $sttConfig.enabled === false ? 'Switched off' : preset.needsKey ? 'Needs an API key' : 'Needs a base URL'} /></span>
+			</SettingRow>
+		</Section>
 		<Section variant="card" label="Voice typing server" badge="This device">
 			<SettingRow id="row-stt-base" label="Base URL" description="The OpenAI-compatible endpoint, ending in /v1." wide>
 				<input id="ai-stt-base" class="settings-text" placeholder="https://…/v1" autocomplete="off" value={$sttConfig.baseUrl} onchange={(e) => setSttConfig({ baseUrl: value(e) })} />
@@ -105,12 +80,6 @@
 				{/snippet}
 			</SettingRow>
 		</Section>
-	{:else}
-		<SettingRow id="row-stt-preset" label="Voice typing provider" description="Speech to text for the assistant’s mic, in the AI window and in VR." wide>
-			<Segmented id="ai-stt-preset" label="Voice typing provider" options={PRESETS} value={$sttConfig.preset} onchange={(v) => { applySttPreset(v); testResult = null; }} />
-			<span id="ai-stt-status"><Badge tone={ready ? 'ok' : 'warn'} text={ready ? 'Ready' : preset.needsKey ? 'Needs an API key' : 'Needs a base URL'} /></span>
-		</SettingRow>
-		<NavRow id="ai-stt-server" label="Voice typing server" value={hostOf($sttConfig.baseUrl)} onclick={() => nav.openSub('ai:stt', 'Voice typing server', 'ai')} />
 	{/if}
 </div>
 
diff --git a/src/components/menu/Controls.svelte b/src/components/menu/Controls.svelte
index b330b8cbf..602d278f2 100644
--- a/src/components/menu/Controls.svelte
+++ b/src/components/menu/Controls.svelte
@@ -45,12 +45,12 @@
 	import Icon from '../ui/Icon.svelte';
 	import { createAttachmentKey, fromAction } from 'svelte/attachments';
 	// 41 G1: MobileAddButton / AiHudButton (and VoiceChat's mic button) became roster entries
-	import { aiAssistantHidden, settingsOpen, settingsSection, viewportMenuOpener } from '../../stores/appStore.js';
+	import { aiAssistantHidden, viewportMenuOpener } from '../../stores/appStore.js';
 	// 42 I9: the top-right group's and the touch tools' buttons join the roster
 	import { notesDrawerOpen, multiSelectMode, touchTools } from '../../stores/appStore.js';
 	import { undo, redo } from '$lib/history';
 	import { toolbarSlots, TOP_DEFAULT, TOUCH_DEFAULT, TOP_NATIVE, TOUCH_NATIVE } from '$lib/toolbarSlots';
-	import { aiReady } from '$lib/ai/providers';
+	import { explainMissing } from '$lib/tools/toolLinks.js'; // 59 T5
 	import { canvasCenter } from '$lib/canvasRect';
 	import { micActive, pttActive, toggleMic } from '$lib/voiceChat';
 	import { phoneShell } from '$lib/ui/phoneShell.js';
@@ -1372,14 +1372,10 @@
 		return id === SPACER ? 'Play' : (BUTTONS[id]?.label ?? BUTTONS[id]?.title ?? id);
 	}
 
-	/** the AI button press — AiHudButton's own path (I3): unconfigured points at Settings ▸ AI */
+	/** the AI button press — AiHudButton's own path (I3); 59 T5: unconfigured says what is missing
+	 *  and opens its row in Settings ▸ Tools & connections */
 	function toggleAiAssistant() {
-		if (!aiReady()) {
-			showQualityToast('Enable an AI provider in Settings to use the assistant');
-			settingsSection.set('ai');
-			settingsOpen.set(true);
-			return;
-		}
+		if (explainMissing('assistant')) return;
 		aiAssistantHidden.set($aiAssistantHidden === '' ? 'hidden' : '');
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/components/menu/Settings.svelte b/src/components/menu/Settings.svelte
index 32df297f6..9352709f2 100644
--- a/src/components/menu/Settings.svelte
+++ b/src/components/menu/Settings.svelte
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@
 	import ImportSettingsSection from './ImportSettingsSection.svelte'; // 46 P2
 	import PrivacySettings from './settings/PrivacySettings.svelte'; // 48 O1
 	import VRSettingsSection from './VRSettingsSection.svelte'; // the whole VR page
-	import AiSettings from './settings/AiSettings.svelte';
+	import AiSettings from './settings/AiSettings.svelte'; // 59 T4: the Tools & connections page (+ its provider forms)
 	import ConnectionSettings from './settings/ConnectionSettings.svelte';
 	import { settingsOpen, settingsSection, settingsSearchSeed, hidePanels, restorePanels, showToast } from '../../stores/appStore.js';
 	import { cloudPluginInfo } from '$lib/cloudHooks';
@@ -115,7 +115,8 @@
 	$: if ($settingsOpen) {
 		stepPanelsAside();
 		shortcutsExpanded = $settingsSection === 'shortcuts';
-		aiExpanded = $settingsSection === 'ai';
+		// 59 T4: Settings ▸ AI became Tools & connections ('ai' stays a deep-link alias)
+		aiExpanded = $settingsSection === 'ai' || String($settingsSection ?? '').startsWith('tools');
 		sceneExpanded = $settingsSection === 'scene';
 		connectionExpanded = $settingsSection === 'connection';
 		vrExpanded = $settingsSection === 'vr';
@@ -567,7 +568,7 @@
 					<VRSettingsSection />
 				</AccordionItem>
 				<AccordionItem bind:open={aiExpanded}>
-					{#snippet header()}AI{/snippet}
+					{#snippet header()}Tools & connections{/snippet}
 					<AiSettings />
 				</AccordionItem>
 				<AccordionItem bind:open={importExpanded}>
diff --git a/src/components/menu/scene/HdriSection.svelte b/src/components/menu/scene/HdriSection.svelte
index ea65b893e..d767079a1 100644
--- a/src/components/menu/scene/HdriSection.svelte
+++ b/src/components/menu/scene/HdriSection.svelte
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 	// .hdr/.exr (it becomes an Explorer item, pulled by peers by content hash), or None; then turn,
 	// brighten, blur or hide it. Every edit goes through editEnvSky, so it persists and replicates
 	// on the environment singleton like a background colour. The quality pin is LOCAL (Settings).
+	// 59 T3: the bundled skies download on first pick (hdri/skyFetch.js); the cards stay bundled.
 	import SliderRow from '../../ui/SliderRow.svelte';
 	import ThemedSelect from '../../ui/ThemedSelect.svelte';
 	import { environment, presetPayload, setEnvironment, editEnvSky } from '$lib/environment';
@@ -77,7 +78,9 @@
 				? 'Loading…'
 				: $hdriStatus.state === 'missing'
 					? 'Waiting for the file from a peer — the flat sky shows meanwhile.'
-					: $hdriStatus.state === 'error'
+					: $hdriStatus.state === 'unavailable'
+						? 'The sky image could not be downloaded — its flat sky shows. It tries again when you are back online.'
+						: $hdriStatus.state === 'error'
 						? 'Could not read this HDRI: ' + $hdriStatus.error
 						: $hdriStatus.state === 'ready' && $hdriStatus.tier === 'low'
 							? 'Headset quality (512 px)'
diff --git a/src/components/menu/settings/AiSettings.svelte b/src/components/menu/settings/AiSettings.svelte
index d9c9dc286..c72b2177a 100644
--- a/src/components/menu/settings/AiSettings.svelte
+++ b/src/components/menu/settings/AiSettings.svelte
@@ -2,15 +2,16 @@
 	import { minimalScroll } from '$lib/ui/minimalScroll.js';
 	import { registerSettingsKeywords } from '$lib/settingsSearch';
 	const ROW_WORDS = {
-		'enable assistant': ['ai', 'llm', 'claude', 'openai', 'assistant', 'prompt'],
-		'add provider': ['provider', 'api key', 'model', 'ai', 'llm'],
-		'mesh generation': ['meshy', 'ai', 'text to 3d', 'trellis', 'comfyui'],
-		'add mesh provider': ['meshy', 'comfyui', 'provider', 'mesh']
+		'add chat provider': ['provider', 'api key', 'model', 'ai', 'llm', 'claude', 'openai', 'assistant', 'prompt'],
+		'add mesh provider': ['meshy', 'comfyui', 'provider', 'mesh', 'mesh generation', 'text to 3d', 'trellis']
 	};
 	for (const [row, words] of Object.entries(ROW_WORDS)) registerSettingsKeywords(row, words);
 </script>
 
 <script>
+	// 59 T4: this page is Settings ▸ TOOLS & CONNECTIONS now. Its main view is the registry's hub
+	// (ToolsHub.svelte); the provider / mesh / voice FORMS below stay here as its sub-pages, unchanged,
+	// so the stores and storage keys they write are the ones every saved setup already uses.
 	// 37-settings (R21) — Settings ▸ AI on the redesign kit (docs/settings-inventory.md §3.11): the
 	// providers are a list of NavRows (+ Add provider) opening a provider SUB-PAGE with the form, the
 	// same for mesh providers and the voice-typing server; the storage note is a muted footnote. The
@@ -19,16 +20,15 @@
 	import { getContext } from 'svelte';
 	import Section from '../../ui/Section.svelte';
 	import SettingRow from '../../ui/SettingRow.svelte';
-	import NavRow from '../../ui/NavRow.svelte';
 	import Toggle from '../../ui/Toggle.svelte';
 	import Segmented from '../../ui/Segmented.svelte';
 	import Button from '../../ui/Button.svelte';
 	import AiSttSettings from '../AiSttSettings.svelte';
+	import ToolsHub from './ToolsHub.svelte';
+	import { toolsFocus } from '$lib/tools/toolStatus.js';
 	import { NAV_CONTEXT } from '$lib/settingsNav';
 	import { showToast } from '../../../stores/appStore.js';
 	import {
-		aiEnabled,
-		setAiEnabled,
 		aiProviders,
 		aiActiveProvider,
 		setAiActiveProvider,
@@ -41,8 +41,6 @@
 	} from '$lib/ai/providers';
 	import { testConnection, listModels } from '$lib/ai/client';
 	import {
-		meshGenEnabled,
-		setMeshGenEnabled,
 		meshProviders,
 		meshActiveProvider,
 		setMeshActiveProvider,
@@ -55,6 +53,21 @@
 
 	const nav = /** @type {any} */ (getContext(NAV_CONTEXT));
 	const sub = nav?.sub;
+	/** this page's section key (sectionKeyOf('Tools & connections')) */
+	const PAGE = 'toolsconnections';
+
+	/** a hub row's form (built-in sections) @param {string} kind @param {any} [ref] */
+	function openForm(kind, ref) {
+		if (kind === 'chat') aiStartEdit(ref);
+		else if (kind === 'chat:new') aiStartAdd();
+		else if (kind === 'mesh') meshStartEdit(ref);
+		else if (kind === 'mesh:new') meshStartAdd();
+		else if (kind === 'voice') nav.openSub('ai:stt', 'Voice typing', PAGE);
+	}
+	// T5: a missing-tool link lands on the hub, never inside a form left open earlier
+	$effect(() => {
+		if ($toolsFocus && $sub) nav.closeSub();
+	});
 	const view = $derived(
 		$sub?.id === 'ai:stt' ? 'stt' : $sub?.id?.startsWith('ai:provider') ? 'provider' : $sub?.id?.startsWith('ai:mesh') ? 'mesh' : 'main'
 	);
@@ -132,7 +145,7 @@
 		aiModelListOpen = false;
 		aiFormKeys = {};
 		aiFormPresetPrev = aiFormPreset;
-		nav.openSub('ai:provider:new', 'Add provider', 'ai');
+		nav.openSub('ai:provider:new', 'Add chat provider', PAGE);
 	}
 	/** @param {any} p */
 	function aiStartEdit(p) {
@@ -150,7 +163,7 @@
 		aiModelListOpen = false;
 		aiFormKeys = { [p.preset]: p.apiKey };
 		aiFormPresetPrev = p.preset;
-		nav.openSub('ai:provider:' + p.id, p.label, 'ai');
+		nav.openSub('ai:provider:' + p.id, p.label, PAGE);
 		aiRefreshModels(); // silent; keeps the picker current without a Test click
 	}
 	function aiSaveProvider() {
@@ -222,7 +235,7 @@
 		meshFormOutputNode = '';
 		meshFormMode = 'preview';
 		meshFormAssetProxy = '';
-		nav.openSub('ai:mesh:new', 'Add mesh provider', 'ai');
+		nav.openSub('ai:mesh:new', 'Add mesh provider', PAGE);
 	}
 	/** @param {any} p */
 	function meshStartEdit(p) {
@@ -235,7 +248,7 @@
 		meshFormOutputNode = p.outputNodeId ?? '';
 		meshFormMode = p.mode ?? 'preview';
 		meshFormAssetProxy = p.assetProxy ?? '';
-		nav.openSub('ai:mesh:' + p.id, p.label, 'ai');
+		nav.openSub('ai:mesh:' + p.id, p.label, PAGE);
 	}
 	function meshSaveProvider() {
 		if (!meshFormBaseUrl.trim()) {
@@ -427,28 +440,7 @@
 			{/if}
 		</div>
 	{:else}
-		<Section variant="card" label="Assistant" badge="This device">
-			<SettingRow id="row-ai-enable" label="Enable assistant" description="Build and edit the scene with prompts. Press ` for the quick prompt bar. Edits replicate and undo as one step.">
-				<Toggle id="ai-enabled" label="Enable assistant" checked={$aiEnabled} onchange={(on) => setAiEnabled(on)} />
-			</SettingRow>
-			{#each $aiProviders as p (p.id)}
-				<NavRow label={p.label} description={p.model} badge={$aiActiveProvider === p.id ? 'Active' : ''} data-provider={p.id} onclick={() => aiStartEdit(p)} />
-			{/each}
-			<NavRow id="ai-add-provider" label="Add provider" description={$aiProviders.length ? '' : 'No providers yet.'} onclick={aiStartAdd} />
-		</Section>
-		<Section variant="card" label="Voice typing" badge="This device">
-			<AiSttSettings />
-		</Section>
-		<Section variant="card" label="Mesh generation" badge="This device">
-			<SettingRow id="row-mesh-enable" label="Mesh generation" description="Text → 3D models from the Add menu or the assistant — a self-hosted ComfyUI with TRELLIS, or Meshy.">
-				<Toggle id="mesh-gen-enabled" label="Mesh generation" checked={$meshGenEnabled} onchange={(on) => setMeshGenEnabled(on)} />
-			</SettingRow>
-			{#each $meshProviders as p (p.id)}
-				<NavRow label={p.label} description={p.kind} badge={$meshActiveProvider === p.id ? 'Active' : ''} data-mesh-provider={p.id} onclick={() => meshStartEdit(p)} />
-			{/each}
-			<NavRow id="ai-add-mesh-provider" label="Add mesh provider" description={$meshProviders.length ? '' : 'No mesh providers yet.'} onclick={meshStartAdd} />
-		</Section>
-		<p class="settings-footnote">API keys are stored unencrypted in this browser and only ever sent to the provider you set up.</p>
+		<ToolsHub onform={openForm} />
 	{/if}
 </div>
 
diff --git a/src/components/menu/settings/ToolsHub.svelte b/src/components/menu/settings/ToolsHub.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..40e1b06fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/menu/settings/ToolsHub.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,248 @@
+<script module>
+	import { registerSettingsKeywords } from '$lib/settingsSearch';
+	// the old Settings ▸ AI words still find the rows that moved here
+	registerSettingsKeywords('chat providers', [
+		'ai',
+		'llm',
+		'claude',
+		'openai',
+		'grok',
+		'gemini',
+		'assistant',
+		'provider',
+		'api key',
+		'model'
+	]);
+	registerSettingsKeywords('mesh providers', [
+		'meshy',
+		'comfyui',
+		'trellis',
+		'text to 3d',
+		'generate',
+		'mesh generation'
+	]);
+	registerSettingsKeywords('desktop tools', [
+		'blender',
+		'maya',
+		'3ds max',
+		'cascadeur',
+		'gltf',
+		'glb',
+		'dcc'
+	]);
+	registerSettingsKeywords('voice typing', ['stt', 'whisper', 'speech', 'mic', 'dictation']);
+</script>
+
+<script>
+	// 59 T4 — Settings ▸ Tools & connections: ONE page for everything outside the app. It renders the
+	// registry (`$lib/tools/toolStatus.js`) — every section that has rows, in page order — and knows
+	// nothing about any provider: a row brings its own status, Test, Enable / Disable and the
+	// features it turns on. A row's form is either its own `configure()` (a later roadmap's section)
+	// or a built-in form the AI page owns (`onform(kind, ref)` — the provider forms that moved here
+	// with their stores and keys unchanged).
+	import { tick } from 'svelte';
+	import Section from '../../ui/Section.svelte';
+	import SettingRow from '../../ui/SettingRow.svelte';
+	import NavRow from '../../ui/NavRow.svelte';
+	import Toggle from '../../ui/Toggle.svelte';
+	import Button from '../../ui/Button.svelte';
+	import Badge from '../../ui/Badge.svelte';
+	import {
+		toolSections,
+		toolTests,
+		runToolTest,
+		rowState,
+		toolsFocus
+	} from '$lib/tools/toolStatus.js';
+	import '$lib/tools/builtinTools.js';
+
+	/** @type {{onform?: (kind: string, ref?: any) => void}} */
+	let { onform = () => {} } = $props();
+
+	/** @type {Record<string, boolean>} */
+	let testing = $state({});
+
+	const TONE = /** @type {const} */ ({
+		ready: 'ok',
+		off: 'off',
+		setup: 'warn',
+		error: 'bad',
+		unknown: 'neutral'
+	});
+	/** @param {string} id a row id → a DOM-safe suffix */
+	const domId = (id) => id.replace(/[^a-zA-Z0-9_-]/g, '-');
+
+	/** @param {import('$lib/tools/toolStatus.js').ToolRow} row */
+	async function test(row) {
+		testing = { ...testing, [row.id]: true };
+		await runToolTest(row);
+		testing = { ...testing, [row.id]: false };
+	}
+	/** @param {import('$lib/tools/toolStatus.js').ToolRow} row */
+	function configure(row) {
+		if (row.configure) row.configure();
+		else if (row.form) onform(row.form.kind, row.form.ref);
+	}
+	/** @param {{onclick?: () => void, form?: string}} add */
+	function runAdd(add) {
+		if (add.onclick) add.onclick();
+		else if (add.form) onform(add.form + ':new');
+	}
+
+	// T5: a button whose tool is missing opens this page AT its row — scroll there and flash it
+	$effect(() => {
+		const focus = $toolsFocus;
+		if (!focus) return;
+		void tick().then(() =>
+			requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+				const el =
+					(focus.row &&
+						document.querySelector(`#settings-main [data-tool-row="${CSS.escape(focus.row)}"]`)) ||
+					document.querySelector(
+						`#settings-main [data-tool-section="${CSS.escape(focus.section)}"]`
+					);
+				if (!(el instanceof HTMLElement)) return;
+				el.scrollIntoView({ block: 'center' });
+				const flash = el.matches('.setting-row') ? el : el.querySelector('.setting-row');
+				flash?.classList.add('sr-flash');
+				setTimeout(() => flash?.classList.remove('sr-flash'), 1600);
+				toolsFocus.set(null);
+			})
+		);
+	});
+</script>
+
+{#each $toolSections as group (group.section.id)}
+	<div
+		class="tools-section"
+		data-tool-section={group.section.id}
+		id={'tools-section-' + group.section.id}
+	>
+		<Section variant="card" label={group.section.label} badge="This device">
+			{#if group.section.description}
+				<p class="tools-desc">{group.section.description}</p>
+			{/if}
+			{#each group.rows as row (row.id)}
+				{@const state = rowState(row, $toolTests)}
+				{@const result = $toolTests[row.id]}
+				{@const rid = 'tool-' + domId(row.id)}
+				<SettingRow id={rid} label={row.label} data-tool-row={row.id} data-tool-state={state}>
+					{#snippet desc()}
+						<span class="tools-status" data-tool-status={state}
+							><Badge tone={TONE[state] ?? 'neutral'} text={row.stateText || state} /></span
+						>
+						{#if row.detail}<span class="tools-detail">{row.detail}</span>{/if}
+						{#if row.features?.length}
+							<span class="tools-features"
+								><span class="tools-features-label">Turns on:</span>
+								{row.features.join(' · ')}</span
+							>
+						{/if}
+					{/snippet}
+					{#if row.test}
+						<Button
+							id={rid + '-test'}
+							size="sm"
+							variant="outline"
+							disabled={!!testing[row.id]}
+							onclick={() => test(row)}
+							title={'Test ' + row.label}>{testing[row.id] ? 'Testing…' : 'Test'}</Button
+						>
+					{/if}
+					{#if typeof row.enabled === 'boolean' && row.setEnabled}
+						<Toggle
+							id={rid + '-enable'}
+							label={'Enable ' + row.label}
+							title={row.enabled ? 'Disable' : 'Enable'}
+							checked={row.enabled}
+							onchange={(on) => row.setEnabled?.(on)}
+						/>
+					{/if}
+					{#if row.configure || (row.form && row.form.kind !== 'desktop')}
+						<Button
+							id={rid + '-configure'}
+							size="sm"
+							variant="ghost"
+							iconRight="chevron-right"
+							onclick={() => configure(row)}
+							title={'Set up ' + row.label}>Set up<span class="sr-only"> {row.label}</span></Button
+						>
+					{/if}
+					{#snippet extra()}
+						{#if result}
+							<p
+								id={rid + '-result'}
+								class="tools-result"
+								class:tools-ok={result.ok}
+								class:tools-bad={!result.ok}
+								role="status"
+							>
+								{result.ok ? '✓' : '✗'}
+								{result.detail}
+							</p>
+						{/if}
+					{/snippet}
+				</SettingRow>
+			{/each}
+			{#each group.adds as add (add.label)}
+				<NavRow
+					id={'tools-add-' + group.section.id}
+					label={add.label}
+					description={group.rows.length ? '' : 'Nothing set up yet.'}
+					onclick={() => runAdd(add)}
+				/>
+			{/each}
+		</Section>
+	</div>
+{/each}
+<p class="settings-footnote">
+	API keys are stored unencrypted in this browser and only ever sent to the provider you set up.
+</p>
+
+<style>
+	.tools-desc {
+		margin: 0;
+		font-size: var(--fs-desc);
+		line-height: 1.45;
+		color: var(--text-muted);
+	}
+	.tools-desc {
+		padding: var(--space-3) 18px 0;
+	}
+	.tools-status {
+		margin-right: var(--space-2);
+	}
+	.tools-detail {
+		overflow-wrap: anywhere;
+	}
+	.tools-features {
+		display: block;
+		margin-top: 2px;
+	}
+	.tools-features-label {
+		color: var(--text-faint);
+	}
+	.tools-result {
+		margin: 0;
+		font-size: var(--fs-desc);
+	}
+	.tools-ok {
+		color: var(--ink-good);
+	}
+	.tools-bad {
+		color: var(--ink-bad);
+	}
+	.sr-only {
+		position: absolute;
+		width: 1px;
+		height: 1px;
+		overflow: hidden;
+		clip: rect(0 0 0 0);
+		white-space: nowrap;
+	}
+	@media (max-width: 639.98px) {
+		.tools-desc {
+			padding: var(--space-3) var(--space-4) 0;
+		}
+	}
+</style>
diff --git a/src/components/phone/PhoneShell.svelte b/src/components/phone/PhoneShell.svelte
index 8d945ce5f..8a016fbdb 100644
--- a/src/components/phone/PhoneShell.svelte
+++ b/src/components/phone/PhoneShell.svelte
@@ -76,9 +76,7 @@
 		viewportMenu,
 		multiSelectMode,
 		touchTools,
-		showToast,
-		settingsOpen,
-		settingsSection
+		showToast
 	} from '../../stores/appStore';
 	import { selectedObjects, transformMode, editorMode } from '../../stores/sceneStore';
 	import { undo, redo, canUndo, canRedo } from '$lib/history';
@@ -88,7 +86,7 @@
 	import { requestPlay, willEnterXR, willEnterAR, playAsItems } from '$lib/playMode';
 	import { visibleDockKey, DOCK_TITLES, dockMinimized, dockHeight } from '$lib/bottomDock';
 	import { micActive, pttActive, toggleMic } from '$lib/voiceChat';
-	import { aiReady } from '$lib/ai/providers';
+	import { explainMissing } from '$lib/tools/toolLinks.js';
 	import { canvasCenter } from '$lib/canvasRect';
 	import { statsOpen } from '$lib/sceneBudget';
 	// 46 B1: the budget chip's phone form (an item of the bar catalog — in More ▸ Tools & View by default)
@@ -460,12 +458,7 @@
 	// ---- the More sheet --------------------------------------------------------------
 	function openAi() {
 		phoneSheet.set(null);
-		if (!aiReady()) {
-			showToast('Enable an AI provider in Settings to use the assistant');
-			settingsSection.set('ai');
-			settingsOpen.set(true);
-			return;
-		}
+		if (explainMissing('assistant')) return; // 59 T5
 		aiAssistantHidden.set('');
 	}
 	/** close the shell's own sheet, then run (a destination opened from More replaces it) */
diff --git a/src/components/play/VRAiPanel.svelte b/src/components/play/VRAiPanel.svelte
index 9f61261ab..66cc0374b 100644
--- a/src/components/play/VRAiPanel.svelte
+++ b/src/components/play/VRAiPanel.svelte
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@
 		<!-- the thread (the last few turns) -->
 		{#if !$vrAiReady}
 			<Text
-				text={'Configure an AI provider in Settings ▸ AI on desktop — the assistant uses the same provider here.'}
+				text={'The AI assistant needs a Chat provider: set one up in Settings ▸ Tools & connections on desktop — the assistant uses the same provider here.'}
 				color="#c9bcff"
 				fontSize={0.0085}
 				anchorX="center"
diff --git a/src/lib/addObjects.js b/src/lib/addObjects.js
index 3d541b1cf..175a7b8fe 100644
--- a/src/lib/addObjects.js
+++ b/src/lib/addObjects.js
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import { peers, meshGenModalOpen, showSidebar, inspectorClose } from '../stores/
 import { sceneCommand } from './commandsHandler.svelte';
 import { primitivesCatalog } from './primitivesCatalog';
 import { meshGenReady } from './ai/meshProviders';
+import { featureStatus } from './tools/toolStatus.js';
+import { explainMissing } from './tools/toolLinks.js'; // 59 T5
 import { addParticlesPreset } from './particleActions';
 import { PARTICLE_PRESETS } from './particlePresets';
 import { ARCH_TYPES, snapToMetre } from './arch/archGeometry.js';
@@ -168,15 +170,18 @@ export function buildAddChildren(pointOf) {
 				}
 			]
 		},
-		// Generate a custom mesh from a prompt (roadmap #11) — only when configured
-		...(meshGenReady()
-			? [
-					{
-						label: '✨ Generate 3D model…',
-						tooltip: 'Create a custom mesh from a text prompt',
-						action: () => meshGenModalOpen.set({ position: pointOf() })
-					}
-			  ]
-			: [])
+		// Generate a custom mesh from a prompt (roadmap #11). 59 T5: ALWAYS listed — with no Mesh
+		// provider the row says what is missing and opens its row in Tools & connections
+		meshGenReady()
+			? {
+					label: '✨ Generate 3D model…',
+					tooltip: 'Create a custom mesh from a text prompt',
+					action: () => meshGenModalOpen.set({ position: pointOf() })
+				}
+			: {
+					label: '✨ Generate 3D model… (set up)',
+					tooltip: featureStatus('generateMesh').message,
+					action: () => explainMissing('generateMesh')
+				}
 	];
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/ai/assistant.js b/src/lib/ai/assistant.js
index 4fe00ef73..368e66935 100644
--- a/src/lib/ai/assistant.js
+++ b/src/lib/ai/assistant.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { writable, get } from 'svelte/store';
-import { showToast, settingsOpen, settingsSection } from '../../stores/appStore.js';
-import { activeAiConfig, aiReady } from './providers.js';
+import { showToast } from '../../stores/appStore.js';
+import { activeAiConfig } from './providers.js';
+import { explainMissing } from '../tools/toolLinks.js';
 import { runChat, describeAiError } from './client.js';
 import { getAiTools, executeAiTool, buildSystemPrompt, summarizeScene, repairToolCall } from './tools.js';
 import { beginHistoryBatch, endHistoryBatch } from '$lib/history';
@@ -159,12 +160,7 @@ export async function runPrompt(text) {
 	if (!trimmed) return;
 	if (get(aiBusy)) return;
 
-	if (!aiReady()) {
-		showToast('Configure an AI provider in Settings to use the assistant');
-		settingsSection.set('ai');
-		settingsOpen.set(true);
-		return;
-	}
+	if (explainMissing('assistant')) return; // 59 T5
 	const config = activeAiConfig();
 	if (!config) return;
 
diff --git a/src/lib/ai/flowTools.js b/src/lib/ai/flowTools.js
index 0d17b27cb..d4628f081 100644
--- a/src/lib/ai/flowTools.js
+++ b/src/lib/ai/flowTools.js
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ export function createFlowNodesTool(args) {
 		if (!allowed.includes(type)) {
 			errors.push(
 				PHYSICS_NODE_TYPES.includes(type)
-					? 'node "' + type + '" needs Physics tools enabled (Settings -> AI)'
+					? 'node "' + type + '" needs Physics tools enabled (Settings ▸ Tools & connections ▸ the chat provider)'
 					: 'node type "' + type + '" cannot be created by the assistant'
 			);
 			continue;
diff --git a/src/lib/ai/meshJobs.js b/src/lib/ai/meshJobs.js
index 8e2e07056..c48282cbd 100644
--- a/src/lib/ai/meshJobs.js
+++ b/src/lib/ai/meshJobs.js
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ export async function generateMesh(params) {
 		throw new Error('no mesh provider');
 	}
 	if (!params.providerId && !meshGenReady()) {
-		showToast('The active mesh provider is not fully configured (Settings -> AI)');
+		showToast('The active mesh provider is not fully set up — Settings ▸ Tools & connections ▸ Mesh providers');
 		throw new Error('mesh provider not ready');
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/lib/ai/meshTest.js b/src/lib/ai/meshTest.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f0ef467bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/ai/meshTest.js
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+// 59 T4 — Test for a mesh-generation provider (Settings ▸ Tools & connections). Mesh providers had
+// no Test at all: the first sign of a wrong URL or key was a failed generation. Both probes are
+// READ-ONLY and cost nothing — ComfyUI answers `GET /system_stats`; Meshy lists our own tasks
+// (`GET /openapi/v2/text-to-3d?page_size=1`, no generation, no credits). A ComfyUI workflow is
+// checked locally (valid JSON with a {{PROMPT}} slot) because a server can be up while the
+// workflow it was given cannot run.
+
+/** @param {any} config a MeshProviderConfig @param {AbortSignal} [signal] @returns {Promise<{ok: boolean, detail: string}>} */
+export async function testMeshProvider(config, signal) {
+	const base = String(config?.baseUrl ?? '').replace(/\/+$/, '');
+	if (!base) return { ok: false, detail: 'No URL set' };
+	/** @type {Record<string, string>} */
+	const headers = config.apiKey ? { Authorization: 'Bearer ' + config.apiKey } : {};
+	if (config.kind === 'meshy' && !config.apiKey)
+		return { ok: false, detail: 'Meshy needs an API key' };
+	const url =
+		config.kind === 'meshy' ? base + '/openapi/v2/text-to-3d?page_size=1' : base + '/system_stats';
+	/** @type {Response} */
+	let res;
+	try {
+		res = await fetch(url, { headers, signal });
+	} catch {
+		return {
+			ok: false,
+			detail:
+				config.kind === 'comfyui'
+					? 'Could not reach ComfyUI — is it running, and started with --enable-cors-header?'
+					: 'Could not reach ' + base
+		};
+	}
+	if (res.status === 401 || res.status === 403)
+		return { ok: false, detail: 'The server refused the key (HTTP ' + res.status + ')' };
+	if (!res.ok) return { ok: false, detail: 'HTTP ' + res.status + ' from ' + base };
+	if (config.kind === 'comfyui') {
+		const wf = String(config.workflowJson ?? '').trim();
+		if (!wf) return { ok: false, detail: 'ComfyUI answers, but no workflow is set' };
+		try {
+			JSON.parse(wf);
+		} catch {
+			return { ok: false, detail: 'ComfyUI answers, but the workflow is not valid JSON' };
+		}
+		if (!wf.includes('{{PROMPT}}'))
+			return { ok: false, detail: 'ComfyUI answers, but the workflow has no {{PROMPT}} slot' };
+		return { ok: true, detail: 'Connected — ComfyUI answers and the workflow is ready' };
+	}
+	return { ok: true, detail: 'Connected — the key works' };
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/ai/stt.js b/src/lib/ai/stt.js
index 4bad4c7c9..be47636c9 100644
--- a/src/lib/ai/stt.js
+++ b/src/lib/ai/stt.js
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ import { AiHttpError, describeAiError } from './client.js';
  * @property {string} apiKey   bearer token (plaintext; may be empty for a self-hosted server)
  * @property {string} model    model id sent as `model`
  * @property {string} [language] optional ISO-639-1 hint ('en', 'de'…); empty = the server detects it
+ * @property {boolean} [enabled] 59 T4: Tools & connections ▸ Disable keeps the server set up but off.
+ *   ABSENT (every config saved before it) = on, so nothing migrates
  */
 
 /** @type {{preset: string, label: string, baseUrl: string, defaultModel: string, needsKey: boolean}[]} */
@@ -47,7 +49,8 @@ export function normalizeSttConfig(raw) {
 		baseUrl: String(raw.baseUrl ?? preset.baseUrl).trim().replace(/\/+$/, ''),
 		apiKey: String(raw.apiKey ?? '').trim(),
 		model: String(raw.model || preset.defaultModel).trim(),
-		language: String(raw.language ?? '').trim()
+		language: String(raw.language ?? '').trim(),
+		...(raw.enabled === false ? { enabled: false } : {})
 	};
 }
 
@@ -79,10 +82,32 @@ export function applySttPreset(preset) {
 	return setSttConfig({ preset: p.preset, baseUrl: p.baseUrl, model: p.defaultModel });
 }
 
+/** 59 T4: shared by the Voice typing page's Test and the Tools & connections row. Half a second of silence as a 16 kHz mono WAV — enough for the server to answer, nothing to transcribe */
+export function silentWav() {
+	const samples = 8000;
+	const buffer = new ArrayBuffer(44 + samples * 2);
+	const view = new DataView(buffer);
+	const text = (/** @type {number} */ at, /** @type {string} */ s) => [...s].forEach((c, i) => view.setUint8(at + i, c.charCodeAt(0)));
+	text(0, 'RIFF');
+	view.setUint32(4, 36 + samples * 2, true);
+	text(8, 'WAVE');
+	text(12, 'fmt ');
+	view.setUint32(16, 16, true);
+	view.setUint16(20, 1, true);
+	view.setUint16(22, 1, true);
+	view.setUint32(24, 16000, true);
+	view.setUint32(28, 32000, true);
+	view.setUint16(32, 2, true);
+	view.setUint16(34, 16, true);
+	text(36, 'data');
+	view.setUint32(40, samples * 2, true);
+	return new Blob([buffer], { type: 'audio/wav' });
+}
+
 /** Can voice typing run? A hosted preset needs a key; a self-hosted one only a base URL and a model.
  * @param {SttConfig=} config @returns {boolean} */
 export function sttReady(config = get(sttConfig)) {
-	if (!config?.baseUrl || !config?.model) return false;
+	if (!config?.baseUrl || !config?.model || config.enabled === false) return false;
 	return sttPresetFor(config.preset).needsKey ? !!config.apiKey : true;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/lib/ai/tools.js b/src/lib/ai/tools.js
index 6d31f429a..e07171a4c 100644
--- a/src/lib/ai/tools.js
+++ b/src/lib/ai/tools.js
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ import {
 import { setObjectColor, switchMaterialType, setMaterialParam } from '$lib/materialsHandler';
 import { notifyExternalMove } from '$lib/flowRuntime';
 import { meshGenReady } from './meshProviders.js';
+import { featureStatus, toolSummary } from '../tools/toolStatus.js';
+import '../tools/builtinTools.js'; // 59 T5: the registry the prompt's tool lines read
 import { graphOf, SCENE_GRAPH } from '../../stores/flowStore';
 import { sceneJoints } from '$lib/joints';
 import { graphToText } from '$lib/graphText';
@@ -653,7 +655,7 @@ export async function executeAiTool(rawName, rawArgs) {
 				// replicates the mesh when it lands (a progress card shows status).
 				const prompt = String(args?.prompt || '').trim();
 				if (!prompt) return { error: 'prompt required' };
-				if (!meshGenReady()) return { error: 'no mesh-generation provider is configured (Settings -> AI -> Mesh generation)' };
+				if (!meshGenReady()) return { error: 'no mesh-generation provider is configured — tell the user: ' + featureStatus('generateMesh').message };
 				import('$lib/ai/meshJobs')
 					.then((m) => m.generateMesh({ prompt, name: args?.name, position: args?.position }))
 					.catch(() => {});
@@ -1052,6 +1054,14 @@ export function buildSystemPrompt() {
 	const meshLine = meshGenReady()
 		? '\nCustom meshes: for objects no primitive can approximate, call generate_mesh with a text\ndescription (slow, async — it appears shortly). Prefer primitives for simple shapes.'
 		: '';
+	// 59 T5: the assistant reads the same tool status the buttons do — what is NOT set up here, so a
+	// request for it gets "that needs X, set it up in Tools & connections" instead of a guess
+	const missing = toolSummary().missing.filter((f) => f.id !== 'assistant');
+	const toolsLine = missing.length
+		? '\nNot set up on this device: ' +
+			missing.map((f) => f.label + ' (needs ' + f.needs + ')').join('; ') +
+			'. If the user asks for one of these, say what it needs and that they can set it up in Settings ▸ Tools & connections.'
+		: '';
 	const physics = physicsToolsEnabled();
 	const flowBlock = [
 		'',
@@ -1136,6 +1146,6 @@ export function buildSystemPrompt() {
 		"an object's name as the tool name — the name of a thing you create belongs in that object's",
 		'`name` field inside create_objects. Every call takes effect immediately, so never repeat a',
 		'call that already came back without an error — once the scene matches the request, stop',
-		'calling tools and write the summary.' + meshLine + flowBlock + extraBlock + physicsBlock
+		'calling tools and write the summary.' + meshLine + toolsLine + flowBlock + extraBlock + physicsBlock
 	].join('\n');
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/debugHooks.js b/src/lib/debugHooks.js
index 46aa9ba1b..71ebc8e5f 100644
--- a/src/lib/debugHooks.js
+++ b/src/lib/debugHooks.js
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ export const DEBUG_HOOKS = [
 	['hdriStores', () => import('./hdri/skyEnv.js')],
 	['hdriCore', () => import('./hdri/hdriCore.js')],
 	['hdriPrefs', () => import('./hdri/hdriPrefs.js')],
+	['hdriSky', () => import('./hdri/skyFetch.js')],
 	['sceneMusic', () => import('./sceneMusic')],
 	['animatedImports', () => import('./animatedImports')],
 	['fileHandler', () => import('./fileHandler.svelte')],
@@ -216,6 +217,8 @@ export const DEBUG_HOOKS = [
 	['aiTools', () => import('./ai/tools')],
 	['aiAssistant', () => import('./ai/assistant')],
 	['meshProviders', () => import('./ai/meshProviders')],
+	['toolStatus', () => import('./tools/toolStatus.js')],
+	['toolLinks', () => import('./tools/toolLinks.js')],
 	['meshJobs', () => import('./ai/meshJobs')],
 	['flowGraphsCtl', () => import('./flowGraphs')],
 	// 37 (R6): socket add/remove + the switcher type
diff --git a/src/lib/export/exportBuilder.js b/src/lib/export/exportBuilder.js
index a11bd2b67..549a5abf0 100644
--- a/src/lib/export/exportBuilder.js
+++ b/src/lib/export/exportBuilder.js
@@ -284,19 +284,23 @@ export async function buildExport(opts, onProgress = () => {}) {
 		}
 	);
 	// 37-hdri: the bundled HDRIs are not in the manifest (export-manifest.cjs) — copy only the one
-	// this scene's environment shows, at the same relative path the runtime fetches it from
+	// this scene's environment shows, at the same relative path the runtime fetches it from.
+	// 59 T3: they are not in the deployment at all any more — the bytes come from the sky cache or
+	// the CDN (fetchSky), and the export still carries its own copy (an export never needs the CDN)
 	{
 		const { presetPayload } = await import('../environment');
 		const { hdriOf } = await import('../hdri/hdriCore.js');
 		const { bundledHdri } = await import('../hdri/catalog.js');
+		const { fetchSky } = await import('../hdri/skyFetch.js');
 		const row = bundledHdri(hdriOf(presetPayload())?.src ?? '');
 		if (row) {
-			const res = await fetch(pageUrl(row.file));
-			if (res.ok) {
-				const bytes = new Uint8Array(await res.arrayBuffer());
+			try {
+				const bytes = new Uint8Array(await fetchSky(row.file));
 				out[row.file] = bytes;
 				breakdown.runtime += bytes.byteLength;
-			} else warnings.push(`The sky image ${row.file} could not be copied (HTTP ${res.status}) — the export shows its flat sky.`);
+			} catch (err) {
+				warnings.push(`The sky image ${row.file} could not be copied (${String(/** @type {any} */ (err)?.message ?? err)}) — the export shows its flat sky.`);
+			}
 		}
 	}
 	const indexRes = await fetch(pageUrl('index.html'));
diff --git a/src/lib/hdri/hdriCore.js b/src/lib/hdri/hdriCore.js
index 4acc5c757..2d0f7842e 100644
--- a/src/lib/hdri/hdriCore.js
+++ b/src/lib/hdri/hdriCore.js
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 // An environment payload (a stock preset or a customPreset) may carry ONE additive field:
 //
 //   hdri: {
-//     src: 'bundled:<id>' | 'hash:<sha256>',  where the pixels come from (a bundled file under
-//                                             static/hdri/, or an Explorer item by content hash —
+//     src: 'bundled:<id>' | 'hash:<sha256>',  where the pixels come from (a bundled sky — 59 T3:
+//                                             the packs CDN, skyFetch.js — or an Explorer item by content hash —
 //                                             a peer without the bytes pulls them, golden rule 9)
 //     name?: string,                          the file name a custom upload had (for the UI)
 //     rotation: degrees 0..360,               turns the sky AND the IBL (and the rig sun with them)
diff --git a/src/lib/hdri/hdriRuntime.js b/src/lib/hdri/hdriRuntime.js
index 846075bf2..2800a1a98 100644
--- a/src/lib/hdri/hdriRuntime.js
+++ b/src/lib/hdri/hdriRuntime.js
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ import { get } from 'svelte/store';
 import { hdriOf, resolveHdriTier, isHeadsetUA, TIER_MAX_WIDTH, downsampleRGBA, isHdriFileName } from './hdriCore.js';
 import { bundledHdri } from './catalog.js';
 import { skyEnv, envToneMapping, hdriStatus } from './skyEnv.js';
-import { pageUrl } from '../export/exportBoot.js';
+import { fetchSky, SkyUnavailable } from './skyFetch.js';
 import { qualityOverrides } from '../qualityGovernor';
 import { isVRMode } from '../../stores/sceneStore';
 import { hdriQuality } from './hdriPrefs.js';
@@ -72,9 +72,8 @@ async function fetchSource(src) {
 	if (held) return held;
 	const row = bundledHdri(src);
 	if (row) {
-		const res = await fetch(pageUrl(row.file));
-		if (!res.ok) throw new Error('HTTP ' + res.status + ' for ' + row.file);
-		const got = { buffer: await res.arrayBuffer(), name: row.file };
+		// 59 T3: off the bundle — Cache Storage, else the CDN (an export reads its own copy)
+		const got = { buffer: await fetchSky(row.file), name: row.file };
 		remember(sources, src, got);
 		return got;
 	}
@@ -173,6 +172,13 @@ function ensure(renderer, src, tier) {
 		},
 		(err) => {
 			prefiltered.delete(key);
+			// 59 T3: a bundled sky the CDN could not deliver is not an error — the preset's flat
+			// colours show (what an older peer shows) and the next `online` event tries again
+			if (err instanceof SkyUnavailable) {
+				console.info('[hdri] sky unavailable, showing the flat preset:', err.message);
+				if (wantKey === key) hdriStatus.update((s) => ({ ...s, state: 'unavailable', src, tier, error: '' }));
+				return;
+			}
 			console.warn('[hdri] could not load', src, err);
 			if (wantKey === key) hdriStatus.update((s) => ({ ...s, state: 'error', src, tier, error: String(err?.message ?? err) }));
 		}
@@ -289,6 +295,11 @@ export function installHdriLayer(register, apply) {
 	isVRMode.subscribe(retier);
 	qualityOverrides.subscribe(retier);
 	hdriQuality.subscribe(retier);
+	// 59 T3: back online -> a sky that could not be fetched gets another try
+	if (typeof window !== 'undefined')
+		window.addEventListener('online', () => {
+			if (wantKey && get(hdriStatus).state === 'unavailable') reapply();
+		});
 	// a CUSTOM HDRI is an Explorer file the scene references by hash: list it as a scene asset,
 	// so a .tpscene save / an export bundles its bytes (the music-track precedent). Re-registered
 	// when the hash changes, which is what makes the asset list recompute right away.
@@ -324,7 +335,7 @@ export const hdriDebug = {
 	settle: async () => {
 		for (let i = 0; i < 400; i++) {
 			const s = get(hdriStatus).state;
-			if (s === 'ready' || s === 'off' || s === 'error' || s === 'missing') return s;
+			if (s === 'ready' || s === 'off' || s === 'error' || s === 'missing' || s === 'unavailable') return s;
 			await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 50));
 		}
 		return get(hdriStatus).state;
diff --git a/src/lib/hdri/skyEnv.js b/src/lib/hdri/skyEnv.js
index 6af1feac2..09a5b1c69 100644
--- a/src/lib/hdri/skyEnv.js
+++ b/src/lib/hdri/skyEnv.js
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ export const skyEnv = writable(null);
 export const envToneMapping = writable(null);
 
 /**
- * For the UI and the suite: what the HDRI layer is doing.
- * @type {import('svelte/store').Writable<{state: 'off'|'loading'|'ready'|'missing'|'error', src: string, tier: string, width: number, pmremSize: number, error: string, ms: number}>}
+ * For the UI and the suite: what the HDRI layer is doing. 59 T3: `unavailable` = a bundled sky the
+ * CDN could not deliver (offline / blocked) — the flat preset shows, which is not an error.
+ * @type {import('svelte/store').Writable<{state: 'off'|'loading'|'ready'|'missing'|'error'|'unavailable', src: string, tier: string, width: number, pmremSize: number, error: string, ms: number}>}
  */
 export const hdriStatus = writable({ state: 'off', src: '', tier: '', width: 0, pmremSize: 0, error: '', ms: 0 });
diff --git a/src/lib/hdri/skyFetch.js b/src/lib/hdri/skyFetch.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..daf8fb678
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/hdri/skyFetch.js
@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
+// 59 T3 — THE BUNDLED SKIES LEAVE THE BUNDLE. The five 1k `.hdr` files (~7.5 MB) used to ship in
+// static/hdri/ and so in every deployment and every release zip, while a scene shows at most one.
+// They live in the packs repo's `hdri/` folder now (byte-identical, CC0 Poly Haven) and come
+// through the same ref-pinned jsDelivr mirror as the packs; the preview CARDS stay bundled, so
+// Configure scene looks the same.
+//
+// THREE SOURCES, in order:
+//   1. an EXPORTED game reads the copy it carries beside index.html (`hdri/<file>`, the path the
+//      export builder writes) — an export must never need the CDN;
+//   2. this browser's Cache Storage (`tp-skies-v1`) — a sky picked once is not downloaded again,
+//      across reloads and offline. Keyed by the full URL, so a new pinned ref is a new entry; the
+//      older entry for the same file is dropped when the new one lands (the cache stays at most
+//      the five skies). The app BUILD keeps its never-cached rule: only these files go here;
+//   3. the CDN (`${SKY_BASE}/hdri/<file>`), whose answer is put into (2).
+//
+// A sky that cannot be fetched is NOT an error: the caller shows the preset's flat colours (what
+// an older peer shows anyway) and retries when the browser comes back online. `SkyUnavailable`
+// is how it tells the two apart.
+import { contentBase } from '../contentBase.js';
+import { exportMode, pageUrl } from '../export/exportBoot.js';
+
+/** the off-bundle base the skies come from: VITE_HDRI_BASE, else the packs override, else the pinned packs ref */
+export const SKY_BASE = contentBase(
+	import.meta.env.VITE_HDRI_BASE || import.meta.env.VITE_PACKS_BASE,
+	'https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/theprototype-app/packs@format-1'
+);
+
+export const SKY_CACHE = 'tp-skies-v1';
+
+/** a bundled sky could not be reached (offline, CDN blocked) — the flat preset shows, no error */
+export class SkyUnavailable extends Error {
+	/** @param {string} message */
+	constructor(message) {
+		super(message);
+		this.name = 'SkyUnavailable';
+	}
+}
+
+/** Where a bundled sky's bytes come from on this page. @param {string} file e.g. 'hdri/meadow_2_1k.hdr' */
+export function skyUrl(file) {
+	return exportMode ? pageUrl(file) : SKY_BASE + '/' + String(file).replace(/^\/+/, '');
+}
+
+/** @returns {Promise<Cache | null>} null where Cache Storage is missing (http, some webviews) or refused */
+async function openCache() {
+	try {
+		if (typeof caches === 'undefined') return null;
+		return await caches.open(SKY_CACHE);
+	} catch {
+		return null;
+	}
+}
+
+/**
+ * The bytes of a bundled sky. Throws SkyUnavailable when it cannot be reached.
+ * @param {string} file the catalog row's `file` @returns {Promise<ArrayBuffer>}
+ */
+export async function fetchSky(file) {
+	const url = skyUrl(file);
+	const cache = exportMode ? null : await openCache();
+	if (cache) {
+		try {
+			const hit = await cache.match(url);
+			if (hit) return await hit.arrayBuffer();
+		} catch {
+			/* a broken entry is fetched again below */
+		}
+	}
+	/** @type {Response} */
+	let res;
+	try {
+		res = await fetch(url);
+	} catch (err) {
+		throw new SkyUnavailable(
+			'could not reach ' + url + ': ' + String(/** @type {any} */ (err)?.message ?? err)
+		);
+	}
+	if (!res.ok) throw new SkyUnavailable('HTTP ' + res.status + ' for ' + url);
+	const buffer = await res.arrayBuffer();
+	if (cache) await keep(cache, url, file, buffer, res.headers.get('content-type'));
+	return buffer;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Store one sky and drop older entries for the same file (another pinned ref or base).
+ * @param {Cache} cache @param {string} url @param {string} file @param {ArrayBuffer} buffer @param {string | null} type
+ */
+async function keep(cache, url, file, buffer, type) {
+	try {
+		await cache.put(
+			url,
+			new Response(buffer, { headers: { 'content-type': type || 'application/octet-stream' } })
+		);
+		const name = '/' + String(file).replace(/^\/+/, '');
+		for (const req of await cache.keys())
+			if (req.url !== url && req.url.endsWith(name)) await cache.delete(req);
+	} catch {
+		/* quota or a private window: the sky still shows, it is just fetched again next time */
+	}
+}
+
+/** TEST/EVIDENCE: what the sky cache holds @returns {Promise<string[]>} */
+export async function cachedSkies() {
+	const cache = await openCache();
+	if (!cache) return [];
+	try {
+		return (await cache.keys()).map((r) => r.url);
+	} catch {
+		return [];
+	}
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/settings/categories.js b/src/lib/settings/categories.js
index 30e4b0356..f6fd33a3b 100644
--- a/src/lib/settings/categories.js
+++ b/src/lib/settings/categories.js
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ const META = {
 	import: { group: 'workspace', order: 8.5, description: 'What happens to big models and textures as they come in.' },
 	export: { group: 'workspace', order: 9, description: 'What the next exported game starts with.' },
 	vr: { group: 'devices', order: 10, description: 'Comfort, body, buttons and display in the headset — the same table as the headset’s own Settings.' },
-	ai: { group: 'devices', order: 11, description: 'The scene assistant, voice typing and mesh generation.' },
+	toolsconnections: { group: 'devices', order: 11, description: 'Everything outside the app — chat and mesh providers, voice typing, desktop tools. Set up only the ones you use: each shows whether it is ready, a Test and the features it turns on, and a button whose tool is missing brings you here.' }, // 59 T4 (was 'ai')
 	connection: { group: 'devices', order: 12, description: 'How you find other people.' },
 	privacy: { group: 'devices', order: 13, description: 'What this device sends about errors — anonymous, and you can switch it off.' },
 	aboutwhatsnew: { group: 'about', order: 99, description: '' }
diff --git a/src/lib/settings/resetCategory.js b/src/lib/settings/resetCategory.js
index 2411cce00..72bf96683 100644
--- a/src/lib/settings/resetCategory.js
+++ b/src/lib/settings/resetCategory.js
@@ -274,13 +274,16 @@ const RESETS = {
 		if (get(myHandModel)) setMyHandModel('');
 		colocatedGhostHands.set(true);
 	},
-	ai() {
+	toolsconnections() {
 		// Decision G: saved providers and API keys are DATA and stay; only the switches and the
-		// voice-typing endpoint go back (its API key stays too)
+		// voice-typing endpoint go back (its API key stays too). 59 T4: the page is Tools &
+		// connections now (it was 'ai'); its Desktop tools switch goes back to on
 		setAiEnabled(false);
 		setMeshGenEnabled(false);
 		const p = sttPresetFor('openai');
-		setSttConfig({ preset: p.preset, baseUrl: p.baseUrl, model: p.defaultModel, language: '' });
+		setSttConfig({ preset: p.preset, baseUrl: p.baseUrl, model: p.defaultModel, language: '', enabled: true });
+		safeStorage.removeItem('tools:blender');
+		void import('../tools/builtinTools.js').then((m) => m.setBlenderEnabled(true)).catch(() => {});
 	},
 	connection() {
 		softPeerCap.set(SOFT_PEER_CAP_DEFAULT);
@@ -327,8 +330,8 @@ export async function askResetCategory(key, label) {
 	const ok = await showConfirm({
 		title: `Reset ${label} to defaults?`,
 		message:
-			key === 'ai'
-				? 'The assistant, mesh generation and voice typing go back to their defaults on this device. Your saved providers and API keys stay.'
+			key === 'toolsconnections'
+				? 'Every tool here is switched back to its default on this device: the assistant and mesh generation off, voice typing on OpenAI, desktop tools on. Your saved providers and API keys stay.'
 				: `Every setting on the ${label} page goes back to its default, on this device only. Nothing else changes.`,
 		confirmLabel: 'Reset',
 		cancelLabel: 'Cancel'
diff --git a/src/lib/settingsIndex.js b/src/lib/settingsIndex.js
index 92809dffe..5fd741649 100644
--- a/src/lib/settingsIndex.js
+++ b/src/lib/settingsIndex.js
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ export const SETTINGS_SECTION_IDS = {
 	"Scene": "scene",
 	"Explorer": "explorer",
 	"VR": "vr",
-	"AI": "ai",
+	"Tools & connections": "tools",
 	"Import": "import",
 	"Export": "export",
 	"Node types": "nodetypes",
@@ -161,13 +161,12 @@ export const SETTINGS_ROWS = [
 	["VR", "Colocation probe (dev)", "CO0 on-device probe — run this inside the headset: it opens an immersive-ar session, creates an anchor at y…"],
 	["VR", "Colocation", "Not colocated — share one physical room with a co-present peer."],
 	["VR", "Ghost hands", "While colocated, a room-mate's avatar body, name label and voice are hidden — you are looking at and listen…"],
-	["AI", "Enable assistant", "AI scene assistant — build and edit the scene with prompts."],
-	["AI", "Providers", "No providers yet."],
-	["AI", "Voice typing provider", "Speech to text for the assistant's mic — in the AI window and in VR (Tools ▸ AI: hold the mic or the talk b…"],
-	["AI", "Voice typing server", "Test connection"],
-	["AI", "Mesh generation", "Text → 3D mesh — generate custom models from prompts (Add menu → “✨ Generate 3D model”, or the assistant)."],
-	["AI", "Mesh providers", "No mesh providers yet."],
-	["AI", "Storage", "API keys are stored unencrypted in this browser's local storage (like all settings) and never leave your de…"],
+	["Tools & connections", "Chat providers", "The models behind the AI assistant, the quick prompt bar and voice typing."],
+	["Tools & connections", "Add chat provider", "Grok, Gemini or any OpenAI-compatible server."],
+	["Tools & connections", "Voice typing", "Speech to text for the assistant's mic — in the AI window and in VR."],
+	["Tools & connections", "Mesh providers", "Text → 3D models from the Add menu or the assistant (ComfyUI or Meshy)."],
+	["Tools & connections", "Add mesh provider", "A self-hosted ComfyUI with TRELLIS, or Meshy."],
+	["Tools & connections", "Desktop tools", "Blender and other 3D tools: edit a model there and drop it back."],
 	["Import", "Optimize big models automatically", "Over the thresholds, an import gets an LOD chain and its textures are resized and GPU-compressed; the original stays in the Library."],
 	["Import", "Triangle threshold", "A model with more triangles than this gets its LOD chain."],
 	["Import", "Texture threshold", "A texture larger than this is resized and compressed."],
diff --git a/src/lib/settingsNav.js b/src/lib/settingsNav.js
index 8e978c977..fc9029caf 100644
--- a/src/lib/settingsNav.js
+++ b/src/lib/settingsNav.js
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ import { writable, get } from 'svelte/store';
 import { safeStorage } from './safeStorage';
 
 export const NAV_CONTEXT = 'settings-nav';
+/** deep-link keys a renamed section still answers to (the identifier stays, the word changes) */
+const KEY_ALIASES = /** @type {Record<string, string>} */ ({ ai: 'toolsconnections' }); // 59 T4
 const LAST_KEY = 'settings:section';
 
 /** 'Node types' -> 'nodetypes' — the shape of `settingsSection` deep-link keys ('vr', 'ai', 'explorer'…)
@@ -92,7 +94,7 @@ export function createSettingsNav() {
 
 	/** @param {string | null} key a `settingsSection` deep-link key */
 	function activateKey(key) {
-		const want = sectionKeyOf(key ?? '');
+		const want = KEY_ALIASES[sectionKeyOf(key ?? '')] ?? sectionKeyOf(key ?? '');
 		if (!want) return false;
 		// exact first, then a prefix: the 'touch' link names the "Touch controls" section
 		const list = get(entries);
diff --git a/src/lib/shortcuts.js b/src/lib/shortcuts.js
index b399cf7d6..3fd5e71ff 100644
--- a/src/lib/shortcuts.js
+++ b/src/lib/shortcuts.js
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import {
 	armExplorerSceneSave,
 	explorerClose
 } from '../stores/appStore';
-import { aiReady } from './ai/providers';
+import { explainMissing } from './tools/toolLinks.js';
 import {
 	focusObject,
 	duplicateSelection,
@@ -126,19 +126,14 @@ function deleteFromViewport() {
 
 /**
  * Toggle the quick AI prompt pill (roadmap #10). Opens only when a provider is
- * configured; otherwise points the user at Settings -> AI.
+ * configured; otherwise says what is missing and opens Settings ▸ Tools & connections.
  */
 function toggleAiPrompt() {
 	if (get(aiPromptBarOpen)) {
 		aiPromptBarOpen.set(false);
 		return;
 	}
-	if (!aiReady()) {
-		showToast('Enable an AI provider in Settings to use the assistant');
-		settingsSection.set('ai');
-		settingsOpen.set(true);
-		return;
-	}
+	if (explainMissing('assistant')) return; // 59 T5: says what is missing, opens its row
 	aiPromptBarOpen.set(true);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/lib/tools/builtinTools.js b/src/lib/tools/builtinTools.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e007c8075
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/tools/builtinTools.js
@@ -0,0 +1,262 @@
+// 59 T4/T5 — the Tools & connections rows and features this build ships: chat providers + voice
+// typing, mesh providers, desktop tools. Each row is DERIVED from the stores the old Settings ▸ AI
+// sections already used — same stores, same storage keys, nothing migrates (the move is the page,
+// not the data). Imported for its side effect by `toolLinks.js`, which every button that needs a
+// tool reaches, so the registry is filled before anyone asks it.
+//
+// ENABLE / DISABLE per row, over the existing switches:
+//   - a chat / mesh provider is ENABLED when it is the active one AND its master switch is on;
+//     Enable = make it active + switch the master on, Disable = switch the master off (the
+//     provider, its key and the active pointer stay)
+//   - voice typing: the additive `enabled` field on its config (absent = on)
+//   - a desktop tool: a LOCAL pref (`tools:blender`, default on) — off hides nothing in this lane;
+//     the `editInBlender` feature reads it (59-replace's menu entry asks `featureStatus`)
+// Test functions import their clients lazily, so this module adds nothing heavy to the boot graph.
+import { writable, derived } from 'svelte/store';
+import { safeStorage } from '../safeStorage';
+import { registerToolRows, registerFeature } from './toolStatus.js';
+import {
+	aiProviders,
+	aiActiveProvider,
+	aiEnabled,
+	setAiActiveProvider,
+	setAiEnabled,
+	aiReady
+} from '../ai/providers.js';
+import {
+	meshProviders,
+	meshActiveProvider,
+	meshGenEnabled,
+	setMeshActiveProvider,
+	setMeshGenEnabled,
+	meshGenReady
+} from '../ai/meshProviders.js';
+import { sttConfig, setSttConfig, sttReady, sttPresetFor } from '../ai/stt.js';
+
+/** 'https://api.x.ai/v1' → 'api.x.ai' @param {string} url */
+function hostOf(url) {
+	try {
+		return new URL(url).host;
+	} catch {
+		return url || 'no URL';
+	}
+}
+
+// ---- chat providers ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+/** @param {any} p */
+const chatConfigured = (p) => !!(p.baseUrl && p.model);
+
+/** @type {import('svelte/store').Readable<import('./toolStatus.js').ToolRow[]>} */
+const chatRows = derived([aiProviders, aiActiveProvider, aiEnabled], ([list, active, on]) =>
+	list.map((p) => {
+		const inUse = on && active === p.id;
+		const configured = chatConfigured(p);
+		return {
+			id: 'chat:' + p.id,
+			section: 'chat',
+			label: p.label || 'Chat provider',
+			detail: (p.model || 'no model') + ' · ' + hostOf(p.baseUrl),
+			state: /** @type {import('./toolStatus.js').ToolState} */ (
+				!configured ? 'setup' : inUse ? 'ready' : 'off'
+			),
+			stateText: !configured
+				? 'Needs a base URL and a model'
+				: inUse
+					? 'In use'
+					: active === p.id
+						? 'Assistant switched off'
+						: 'Not in use',
+			features: ['AI assistant', 'Quick prompt bar', ...(p.physicsTools ? ['Physics tools'] : [])],
+			enabled: inUse,
+			setEnabled: (/** @type {boolean} */ yes) => {
+				if (yes) {
+					setAiActiveProvider(p.id);
+					setAiEnabled(true);
+				} else setAiEnabled(false);
+			},
+			test: async () => {
+				const { testConnection } = await import('../ai/client.js');
+				const r = await testConnection(p);
+				if (r.ok && r.modelOk === false)
+					return {
+						ok: false,
+						detail: r.detail + ' — but the model “' + p.model + '” did not answer'
+					};
+				return { ok: r.ok, detail: r.detail };
+			},
+			form: { kind: 'chat', ref: p }
+		};
+	})
+);
+
+/** voice typing is one server, so one row (it lives under Chat: it is how you talk to the assistant) */
+const voiceRow = derived(sttConfig, (cfg) => {
+	const preset = sttPresetFor(cfg.preset);
+	const ready = sttReady(cfg);
+	const off = cfg.enabled === false;
+	const missing =
+		!cfg.baseUrl || !cfg.model
+			? 'Needs a base URL and a model'
+			: preset.needsKey && !cfg.apiKey
+				? 'Needs an API key'
+				: '';
+	return [
+		{
+			id: 'chat:voice',
+			section: 'chat',
+			label: 'Voice typing',
+			detail:
+				(preset.preset === 'custom' ? 'Self-hosted' : preset.label) + ' · ' + hostOf(cfg.baseUrl),
+			state: /** @type {import('./toolStatus.js').ToolState} */ (
+				ready ? 'ready' : off && !missing ? 'off' : 'setup'
+			),
+			stateText: ready ? 'In use' : off ? 'Switched off' : missing,
+			features: ['The assistant’s mic', 'Talk in VR'],
+			enabled: !off,
+			setEnabled: (/** @type {boolean} */ yes) => void setSttConfig({ enabled: yes }),
+			test: async () => {
+				const { transcribe, describeSttError, silentWav } = await import('../ai/stt.js');
+				try {
+					await transcribe(silentWav());
+					return { ok: true, detail: 'Connected — the server accepted a recording' };
+				} catch (error) {
+					return { ok: false, detail: describeSttError(error) };
+				}
+			},
+			form: { kind: 'voice' }
+		}
+	];
+});
+
+registerToolRows('chat', chatRows, { add: { label: 'Add chat provider', form: 'chat' } });
+registerToolRows('chat', voiceRow);
+
+// ---- mesh providers ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+/** the meshGenReady rule for ONE provider @param {any} p */
+function meshConfigured(p) {
+	if (!p.baseUrl) return 'Needs a URL';
+	if (p.kind === 'comfyui' && !(p.workflowJson && p.workflowJson.trim()))
+		return 'Needs a ComfyUI workflow';
+	if (p.kind === 'meshy' && !p.apiKey) return 'Needs an API key';
+	return '';
+}
+
+const meshRows = derived(
+	[meshProviders, meshActiveProvider, meshGenEnabled],
+	([list, active, on]) =>
+		list.map((p) => {
+			const inUse = on && active === p.id;
+			const missing = meshConfigured(p);
+			return {
+				id: 'mesh:' + p.id,
+				section: 'mesh',
+				label: p.label || 'Mesh provider',
+				detail: (p.kind === 'meshy' ? 'Meshy' : 'ComfyUI') + ' · ' + hostOf(p.baseUrl),
+				state: /** @type {import('./toolStatus.js').ToolState} */ (
+					missing ? 'setup' : inUse ? 'ready' : 'off'
+				),
+				stateText:
+					missing ||
+					(inUse ? 'In use' : active === p.id ? 'Mesh generation switched off' : 'Not in use'),
+				features: ['Generate 3D model (Add menu)', 'generate_mesh for the assistant'],
+				enabled: inUse,
+				setEnabled: (/** @type {boolean} */ yes) => {
+					if (yes) {
+						setMeshActiveProvider(p.id);
+						setMeshGenEnabled(true);
+					} else setMeshGenEnabled(false);
+				},
+				test: async () => (await import('../ai/meshTest.js')).testMeshProvider(p),
+				form: { kind: 'mesh', ref: p }
+			};
+		})
+);
+registerToolRows('mesh', meshRows, { add: { label: 'Add mesh provider', form: 'mesh' } });
+
+// ---- desktop tools ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+const BLENDER_KEY = 'tools:blender';
+/** LOCAL: Desktop tools ▸ Blender (the manual round trip) is on — default on, nothing to install */
+export const blenderEnabled = writable(safeStorage.getItem(BLENDER_KEY) !== 'false');
+/** @param {boolean} on */
+export function setBlenderEnabled(on) {
+	blenderEnabled.set(!!on);
+	if (on) safeStorage.removeItem(BLENDER_KEY);
+	else safeStorage.setItem(BLENDER_KEY, 'false');
+}
+
+/** can this browser keep a handle on a saved file (59 T7a watch)? Chromium desktop only */
+function canWatchFiles() {
+	return (
+		typeof window !== 'undefined' &&
+		typeof (/** @type {any} */ (window).showSaveFilePicker) === 'function'
+	);
+}
+
+const desktopRows = derived(blenderEnabled, (on) => [
+	{
+		id: 'desktop:blender',
+		section: 'desktop',
+		label: 'Blender and other 3D tools',
+		detail: 'Maya, 3ds Max, Cascadeur … anything that opens and saves glTF',
+		state: /** @type {import('./toolStatus.js').ToolState} */ (on ? 'ready' : 'off'),
+		stateText: on ? 'Nothing to install' : 'Switched off',
+		features: ['Edit in Blender…', 'Drop the file back to replace the model'],
+		enabled: on,
+		setEnabled: setBlenderEnabled,
+		test: async () => ({
+			ok: true,
+			detail: canWatchFiles()
+				? 'Ready — this browser can also watch the saved file and offer Reload'
+				: 'Ready — drop the saved file back onto the object (this browser cannot watch files)'
+		}),
+		form: { kind: 'desktop' }
+	}
+]);
+registerToolRows('desktop', desktopRows);
+
+// ---- features (T5) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+registerFeature({
+	id: 'assistant',
+	label: 'The AI assistant',
+	section: 'chat',
+	needs: 'a Chat provider',
+	ready: derived([aiEnabled, aiProviders, aiActiveProvider], () => aiReady()),
+	row: () => {
+		let id = null;
+		aiActiveProvider.subscribe((v) => (id = v))();
+		return id ? 'chat:' + id : null;
+	}
+});
+registerFeature({
+	id: 'voiceTyping',
+	label: 'Voice typing',
+	section: 'chat',
+	needs: 'a voice typing server',
+	ready: derived(sttConfig, (cfg) => sttReady(cfg)),
+	row: () => 'chat:voice'
+});
+registerFeature({
+	id: 'generateMesh',
+	label: 'Generate 3D model',
+	section: 'mesh',
+	needs: 'a Mesh provider',
+	ready: derived([meshGenEnabled, meshProviders, meshActiveProvider], () => meshGenReady()),
+	row: () => {
+		let id = null;
+		meshActiveProvider.subscribe((v) => (id = v))();
+		return id ? 'mesh:' + id : null;
+	}
+});
+registerFeature({
+	id: 'editInBlender',
+	label: 'Edit in Blender',
+	section: 'desktop',
+	needs: 'Desktop tools ▸ Blender',
+	fix: 'switch it on',
+	ready: blenderEnabled,
+	row: () => 'desktop:blender'
+});
diff --git a/src/lib/tools/toolLinks.js b/src/lib/tools/toolLinks.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..87bf2b604
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/tools/toolLinks.js
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+// 59 T5 — what a button does when its tool is missing: say WHAT is missing and open the row in
+// Settings ▸ Tools & connections, instead of hiding the button. One place, so the AI button, the
+// quick prompt bar, the Add menu's Generate 3D model, the mic and the phone's More sheet all say
+// the same sentence and land on the same row.
+import { settingsOpen, settingsSection, showToast } from '../../stores/appStore.js';
+import { featureStatus, toolsFocus } from './toolStatus.js';
+import './builtinTools.js'; // fills the registry before anyone asks it
+
+/** the Settings deep-link key of the page (`settingsNav` matches the prefix of 'toolsconnections') */
+export const TOOLS_SECTION_KEY = 'tools';
+
+/**
+ * Open Settings ▸ Tools & connections at a section (and a row in it).
+ * @param {string} section a TOOL_SECTIONS id @param {string | null} [row] a row id ('mesh:<id>')
+ */
+export function openToolRow(section, row = null) {
+	toolsFocus.set({ section, row, at: Date.now() });
+	settingsSection.set(TOOLS_SECTION_KEY);
+	settingsOpen.set(true);
+}
+
+/**
+ * The T5 gate a button calls first: ready → false (go on); missing → a toast saying what is
+ * missing, Settings opened at its row, and true (stop).
+ * @param {string} featureId @returns {boolean} true when the feature cannot run
+ */
+export function explainMissing(featureId) {
+	const status = featureStatus(featureId);
+	if (status.ready) return false;
+	showToast(status.message);
+	openToolRow(status.section, status.row);
+	return true;
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/tools/toolStatus.js b/src/lib/tools/toolStatus.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5600b7b60
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/tools/toolStatus.js
@@ -0,0 +1,251 @@
+// 59 T4/T5 — THE TOOLS & CONNECTIONS REGISTRY: one list of everything outside the app (chat and
+// mesh providers, voice typing, desktop tools; later the animation providers, the AI box and the
+// agents), and one answer to "can this feature run here, and if not, what is missing?".
+//
+// A LEAF (svelte/store only), so the Settings page, every button that needs a tool, the assistant's
+// system prompt and a unit test all read the same thing without an import family behind it.
+//
+// TWO KINDS OF ENTRY:
+//   - a ROW SOURCE per section: a readable of rows. A row is one tool the user can set up — a status
+//     dot, a Test, Enable / Disable and the FEATURES it turns on. A source, not a static row,
+//     because most sections are lists the user grows (one row per provider). A later roadmap adds
+//     its section's rows with ONE call (`registerToolRows('animation', store)`): the page renders
+//     every section that has a source, in TOOL_SECTIONS order.
+//   - a FEATURE: something a button does that needs a tool ("Generate 3D model" needs a Mesh
+//     provider). Buttons for a missing tool STAY VISIBLE and say what is missing (T5) — they ask
+//     `featureStatus(id)` rather than hiding themselves, and the assistant lists the same answers.
+//
+// LOCAL: nothing here is sent, saved in a scene or undone. Each source keeps its own stores and
+// storage keys (the providers' keys did not move when their Settings sections did).
+import { writable, derived, get } from 'svelte/store';
+
+/** @typedef {'ready'|'off'|'setup'|'error'|'unknown'} ToolState */
+
+/**
+ * @typedef {{
+ *   id: string,
+ *   section: string,
+ *   label: string,
+ *   detail?: string,
+ *   state: ToolState,
+ *   stateText: string,
+ *   features: string[],
+ *   enabled?: boolean | null,
+ *   setEnabled?: (on: boolean) => void,
+ *   test?: () => Promise<{ok: boolean, detail: string}>,
+ *   configure?: () => void,
+ *   form?: {kind: string, ref?: any}
+ * }} ToolRow
+ */
+
+/** @typedef {{id: string, label: string, description: string}} ToolSection */
+
+/** the page's sections, in order — a section shows once something registered rows for it */
+/** @type {ToolSection[]} */
+export const TOOL_SECTIONS = [
+	{
+		id: 'chat',
+		label: 'Chat providers',
+		description: 'The models behind the AI assistant, the quick prompt bar and voice typing.'
+	},
+	{
+		id: 'mesh',
+		label: 'Mesh providers',
+		description: 'Text → 3D models from the Add menu or the assistant.'
+	},
+	{
+		id: 'animation',
+		label: 'Animation providers',
+		description: 'Rig a model and generate animation clips.'
+	},
+	{
+		id: 'aibox',
+		label: 'theprototype AI box',
+		description: 'Your own GPU box: health, models, licences.'
+	},
+	{
+		id: 'agents',
+		label: 'Agents',
+		description:
+			'Coding agents connected to this session, the invite link and the MCP setup command.'
+	},
+	{
+		id: 'desktop',
+		label: 'Desktop tools',
+		description: 'Blender and other 3D tools: edit a model there and drop it back.'
+	}
+];
+
+/** a section's title for the user ('mesh' → 'Mesh providers') @param {string} id */
+export function sectionLabel(id) {
+	return TOOL_SECTIONS.find((s) => s.id === id)?.label ?? id;
+}
+
+// ---- rows ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+/** @type {import('svelte/store').Writable<{section: string, rows: import('svelte/store').Readable<ToolRow[]>, add?: {label: string, onclick?: () => void, form?: string}}[]>} */
+const sources = writable([]);
+
+/**
+ * Register a section's rows. Returns the unregister function.
+ * @param {string} section a TOOL_SECTIONS id (an unknown one renders after the known ones)
+ * @param {import('svelte/store').Readable<ToolRow[]>} rows
+ * @param {{add?: {label: string, onclick?: () => void, form?: string}}} [opts] the section's "Add …" row
+ * @returns {() => void}
+ */
+export function registerToolRows(section, rows, opts = {}) {
+	const entry = { section, rows, add: opts.add };
+	sources.update((list) => [...list, entry]);
+	return () => sources.update((list) => list.filter((e) => e !== entry));
+}
+
+const ORDER = (/** @type {string} */ id) => {
+	const i = TOOL_SECTIONS.findIndex((s) => s.id === id);
+	return i < 0 ? TOOL_SECTIONS.length : i;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Every section that has rows registered, in page order, with its rows and its add action.
+ * @type {import('svelte/store').Readable<{section: ToolSection, rows: ToolRow[], adds: {label: string, onclick?: () => void, form?: string}[]}[]>}
+ */
+export const toolSections = derived(sources, (list, set) => {
+	const stores = list.map((e) => e.rows);
+	if (!stores.length) {
+		set([]);
+		return;
+	}
+	return derived(stores, (values) => {
+		/** @type {Map<string, {section: ToolSection, rows: ToolRow[], adds: any[]}>} */
+		const by = new Map();
+		list.forEach((e, i) => {
+			const meta = TOOL_SECTIONS.find((s) => s.id === e.section) ?? {
+				id: e.section,
+				label: e.section,
+				description: ''
+			};
+			if (!by.has(e.section)) by.set(e.section, { section: meta, rows: [], adds: [] });
+			const slot = /** @type {any} */ (by.get(e.section));
+			slot.rows.push(...(values[i] ?? []));
+			if (e.add) slot.adds.push(e.add);
+		});
+		return [...by.values()].sort((a, b) => ORDER(a.section.id) - ORDER(b.section.id));
+	}).subscribe(set);
+});
+
+/** the last Test result per row id (in memory: a Test is a question about NOW) */
+/** @type {import('svelte/store').Writable<Record<string, {ok: boolean, detail: string, at: number}>>} */
+export const toolTests = writable({});
+
+/** Run a row's Test and remember its answer. @param {ToolRow} row */
+export async function runToolTest(row) {
+	if (!row.test) return null;
+	let result;
+	try {
+		result = await row.test();
+	} catch (err) {
+		result = { ok: false, detail: String(/** @type {any} */ (err)?.message ?? err) };
+	}
+	const entry = { ok: !!result?.ok, detail: String(result?.detail ?? ''), at: Date.now() };
+	toolTests.update((m) => ({ ...m, [row.id]: entry }));
+	return entry;
+}
+
+/** The dot a row shows: a failed Test turns a ready row red until the next Test passes. @param {ToolRow} row @param {Record<string, {ok: boolean}>} [tests] */
+export function rowState(row, tests = get(toolTests)) {
+	const t = tests[row.id];
+	if (t && !t.ok && row.state === 'ready') return 'error';
+	return row.state;
+}
+
+// ---- features --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+/**
+ * @typedef {{
+ *   id: string,
+ *   label: string,
+ *   section: string,
+ *   needs: string,
+ *   fix?: string,
+ *   ready: import('svelte/store').Readable<boolean>,
+ *   row?: () => string | null
+ * }} ToolFeature
+ */
+
+/** @type {import('svelte/store').Writable<ToolFeature[]>} */
+const features = writable([]);
+
+/**
+ * Register a feature that needs a tool. `needs` completes "<label> needs …" ("a Mesh provider").
+ * @param {ToolFeature} feature @returns {() => void}
+ */
+export function registerFeature(feature) {
+	features.update((list) => [...list.filter((f) => f.id !== feature.id), feature]);
+	return () => features.update((list) => list.filter((f) => f !== feature));
+}
+
+/**
+ * @typedef {{id: string, label: string, section: string, ready: boolean, needs: string, message: string, row: string | null}} FeatureStatus
+ */
+
+/** @param {ToolFeature} f @returns {FeatureStatus} */
+function statusOf(f) {
+	const ready = !!get(f.ready);
+	return {
+		id: f.id,
+		label: f.label,
+		section: f.section,
+		ready,
+		needs: f.needs,
+		message: ready ? '' : missingMessage(f.label, f.needs, f.fix),
+		row: f.row?.() ?? null
+	};
+}
+
+/** "Generate 3D model needs a Mesh provider: set one up in Settings ▸ Tools & connections."
+ * @param {string} label @param {string} needs @param {string} [fix] what to do (default "set one up") */
+export function missingMessage(label, needs, fix = 'set one up') {
+	return `${label} needs ${needs}: ${fix} in Settings ▸ Tools & connections.`;
+}
+
+/** What a feature needs right now; an unregistered id reads as ready (nothing to explain). @param {string} id @returns {FeatureStatus} */
+export function featureStatus(id) {
+	const f = get(features).find((x) => x.id === id);
+	return f
+		? statusOf(f)
+		: { id, label: id, section: '', ready: true, needs: '', message: '', row: null };
+}
+
+/** Every feature's status, live. @type {import('svelte/store').Readable<FeatureStatus[]>} */
+export const featureStatuses = derived(features, (list, set) => {
+	if (!list.length) {
+		set([]);
+		return;
+	}
+	return derived(
+		list.map((f) => f.ready),
+		() => list.map(statusOf)
+	).subscribe(set);
+});
+
+/**
+ * The lines the AI assistant (and, later, agents) read: what can and cannot run here.
+ * @returns {{ready: FeatureStatus[], missing: FeatureStatus[]}}
+ */
+export function toolSummary() {
+	const all = get(features).map(statusOf);
+	return { ready: all.filter((f) => f.ready), missing: all.filter((f) => !f.ready) };
+}
+
+// ---- where the page should land -------------------------------------------------------------
+
+/** the row (or section) Settings ▸ Tools & connections scrolls to and flashes; `at` makes a repeat a change */
+/** @type {import('svelte/store').Writable<{section: string, row: string | null, at: number} | null>} */
+export const toolsFocus = writable(null);
+
+/** TEST: forget every registration (unit tests only) */
+export function _resetToolRegistry() {
+	sources.set([]);
+	features.set([]);
+	toolTests.set({});
+	toolsFocus.set(null);
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/vr/aiPanel.js b/src/lib/vr/aiPanel.js
index 30003783a..e4e4e9d40 100644
--- a/src/lib/vr/aiPanel.js
+++ b/src/lib/vr/aiPanel.js
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ export function beginVoice(source) {
 	}
 	if (!get(vrSttReady)) {
 		hapticPulse(0.4, 80);
-		notice('Set up Voice typing in Settings ▸ AI on desktop');
+		notice('Voice typing needs a voice typing server: set one up in Settings ▸ Tools & connections on desktop');
 		return false;
 	}
 	if (get(vrAiBusy) || get(dictation).state !== 'idle') return false;
diff --git a/static/hdri/CREDITS.md b/static/hdri/CREDITS.md
index da5a33a8a..9677d6f8f 100644
--- a/static/hdri/CREDITS.md
+++ b/static/hdri/CREDITS.md
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
 # Bundled HDRIs
 
 All five are **CC0** (public domain) from [Poly Haven](https://polyhaven.com/hdris), at their 1k size
-(1024×512 Radiance RGBE), unmodified. The `.png` cards beside them are tone-mapped previews baked by
+(1024×512 Radiance RGBE), unmodified. The `.png` cards here are tone-mapped previews baked by
 `scripts/hdri-bake.cjs`.
 
+Since roadmap 59 (T3) the `.hdr` files themselves are NOT in the app: they live in the packs repo's
+[`hdri/`](https://github.com/theprototype-app/packs/tree/main/hdri) folder and download the first time a
+sky is picked (the ref-pinned jsDelivr mirror, kept in the browser's Cache Storage). An exported game
+still carries the one sky its scene uses.
+
 | preset | file | Poly Haven asset | author(s) |
 |---|---|---|---|
 | Clear sky | `kloofendal_48d_partly_cloudy_puresky_1k.hdr` | [Kloofendal 48d Partly Cloudy (Pure Sky)](https://polyhaven.com/a/kloofendal_48d_partly_cloudy_puresky) | Greg Zaal, Jarod Guest |
diff --git a/static/hdri/dikhololo_night_1k.hdr b/static/hdri/dikhololo_night_1k.hdr
deleted file mode 100644
index e64612ff7..000000000
Binary files a/static/hdri/dikhololo_night_1k.hdr and /dev/null differ
diff --git a/static/hdri/kloofendal_48d_partly_cloudy_puresky_1k.hdr b/static/hdri/kloofendal_48d_partly_cloudy_puresky_1k.hdr
deleted file mode 100644
index cb2eb4653..000000000
Binary files a/static/hdri/kloofendal_48d_partly_cloudy_puresky_1k.hdr and /dev/null differ
diff --git a/static/hdri/meadow_2_1k.hdr b/static/hdri/meadow_2_1k.hdr
deleted file mode 100644
index 5bd15c563..000000000
Binary files a/static/hdri/meadow_2_1k.hdr and /dev/null differ
diff --git a/static/hdri/spruit_sunrise_1k.hdr b/static/hdri/spruit_sunrise_1k.hdr
deleted file mode 100644
index 8897536c6..000000000
Binary files a/static/hdri/spruit_sunrise_1k.hdr and /dev/null differ
diff --git a/static/hdri/studio_small_09_1k.hdr b/static/hdri/studio_small_09_1k.hdr
deleted file mode 100644
index e9a2d2272..000000000
Binary files a/static/hdri/studio_small_09_1k.hdr and /dev/null differ
diff --git a/tests/e2e/ai-assistant.test.cjs b/tests/e2e/ai-assistant.test.cjs
index b75d776d4..ecd01e51a 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/ai-assistant.test.cjs
+++ b/tests/e2e/ai-assistant.test.cjs
@@ -65,7 +65,8 @@ h.run(async () => {
 		window.__stores.settingsOpen.set(true);
 	});
 	await A.page.waitForTimeout(400);
-	h.check(await A.page.getByText('Enable assistant', { exact: false }).first().isVisible(), 'Settings -> AI section renders');
+	// 59 T4: the 'ai' deep link lands on Tools & connections, the provider is a Chat providers row
+	h.check(await A.page.locator('#settings-main [data-tool-section="chat"]').first().isVisible(), 'Settings -> Tools & connections renders the Chat providers section');
 	await A.page.evaluate(() => window.__stores.settingsOpen.set(false));
 	await A.page.waitForTimeout(200);
 	// The pill is rendered by AiAssistant.svelte from its OWN static import of the
diff --git a/tests/e2e/hdri.test.cjs b/tests/e2e/hdri.test.cjs
index 1568681a4..1134e8a6e 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/hdri.test.cjs
+++ b/tests/e2e/hdri.test.cjs
@@ -100,6 +100,9 @@ h.run(async () => {
 	const opts = { context: { viewport: { width: 1280, height: 720 } } };
 	const A = await h.setupPage(browser, 'A', opts);
 	const B = await h.setupPage(browser, 'B', opts);
+	// 59 T3: the skies come from the packs CDN — served from a local packs checkout when there is one
+	await h.routeSkies(A.page);
+	await h.routeSkies(B.page);
 
 	// a box to select (a selection makes the desktop frame go through the composer)
 	const boxUuid = await A.page.evaluate(`(() => {
@@ -189,7 +192,7 @@ h.run(async () => {
 	// ---- 6. a custom HDRI by content hash -----------------------------------------------------
 	const hash = await A.page.evaluate(async () => {
 		const st = window.__stores;
-		const res = await fetch(new URL('hdri/spruit_sunrise_1k.hdr', document.baseURI));
+		const res = await fetch(st.hdriSky.skyUrl('hdri/spruit_sunrise_1k.hdr')); // 59 T3: off the bundle
 		const src = new Uint8Array(await res.arrayBuffer());
 		// trailing bytes after the last scanline: same image, a hash no bundled file has
 		const bytes = new Uint8Array(src.length + 16);
diff --git a/tests/e2e/helpers.cjs b/tests/e2e/helpers.cjs
index b39fbda66..20071ad36 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/helpers.cjs
+++ b/tests/e2e/helpers.cjs
@@ -651,6 +651,42 @@ const MODULES_REPO =
 			require('path').resolve(__dirname, '../../../modules')
 		].find((p) => require('fs').existsSync(p)) ??
 		require('path').resolve(__dirname, '../../../theprototype.app-modules')) + '/';
+// 59 T3: the bundled skies live in the PACKS repo's hdri/ now and the app fetches them from the
+// ref-pinned jsDelivr mirror. Until a packs tag carries them (and for offline runs), a suite serves
+// them from a sibling packs checkout: SKIES_DIR (env) wins, then ../packs/hdri, then a packs lane
+// worktree's. `routeSkies` is OPT-IN (a route disables the context's HTTP cache — never global):
+// it counts every sky request, can BLOCK them all (the CDN-down case) and passes through to the
+// real CDN when no local copy exists (E2E_SKIES_CDN=1 forces that: the post-tag proof).
+const SKIES_DIR = (() => {
+	const path = require('path');
+	const fs = require('fs');
+	if (process.env.SKIES_DIR) return path.resolve(process.env.SKIES_DIR);
+	const root = path.resolve(__dirname, '../../..');
+	const lanes = fs.existsSync(root) ? fs.readdirSync(root).filter((d) => /^packs-lane-59-/.test(d)).sort() : [];
+	return [path.join(root, 'packs/hdri'), ...lanes.map((d) => path.join(root, d, 'hdri'))].find((d) => fs.existsSync(path.join(d, 'meadow_2_1k.hdr'))) ?? null;
+})();
+/**
+ * @param {any} target a page or a browser context
+ * @param {{block?: boolean}} [opts]
+ * @returns {Promise<{hits: string[], count: () => number, dir: string | null}>}
+ */
+async function routeSkies(target, opts = {}) {
+	const fs = require('fs');
+	const path = require('path');
+	/** @type {string[]} */
+	const hits = [];
+	await target.route(/\/hdri\/[^/?#]+\.hdr(\?.*)?$/, async (/** @type {any} */ route) => {
+		const url = route.request().url();
+		// the app's own origin (a custom upload is never fetched by URL; an export's copy is) passes
+		if (url.startsWith(URL)) return route.continue();
+		hits.push(url);
+		if (opts.block) return route.abort('internetdisconnected');
+		const file = SKIES_DIR && !process.env.E2E_SKIES_CDN ? path.join(SKIES_DIR, path.basename(new globalThis.URL(url).pathname)) : null;
+		if (file && fs.existsSync(file)) return route.fulfill({ status: 200, body: fs.readFileSync(file), headers: { 'content-type': 'application/octet-stream', 'access-control-allow-origin': '*' } });
+		return route.continue();
+	});
+	return { hits, count: () => hits.length, dir: SKIES_DIR };
+}
 function moduleZipPath(id) {
 	return MODULES_REPO + id + '.zip';
 }
@@ -1061,4 +1097,4 @@ function envelopeDelta(a, b) {
 	return { maxDelta, meanDelta: n ? sum / n : 0, worstSlice };
 }
 
-module.exports = { URL, GPU_ARGS, APPROVE_LABEL, approveButton, watchPress, check, launch, setupPage, setupPageQuiet, connect, leavePlay, eventually, projectPoint, freshReload, answerRestore, closePeer, finish, run, installModule, moduleZipPath, makeCollectibleChains, pageErrors, externalErrors, grabFrame, centeredClip, frameDelta, framePixelsOffColor, AUDIO_ARGS, audioMetrics, renderOffline, envelopeDelta };
+module.exports = { URL, GPU_ARGS, routeSkies, SKIES_DIR, APPROVE_LABEL, approveButton, watchPress, check, launch, setupPage, setupPageQuiet, connect, leavePlay, eventually, projectPoint, freshReload, answerRestore, closePeer, finish, run, installModule, moduleZipPath, makeCollectibleChains, pageErrors, externalErrors, grabFrame, centeredClip, frameDelta, framePixelsOffColor, AUDIO_ARGS, audioMetrics, renderOffline, envelopeDelta };
diff --git a/tests/e2e/roadmap-13-ui-polish.test.cjs b/tests/e2e/roadmap-13-ui-polish.test.cjs
index f00421912..931bf7b17 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/roadmap-13-ui-polish.test.cjs
+++ b/tests/e2e/roadmap-13-ui-polish.test.cjs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 //       matches the "+" in every theme
 //   I2  the left corner stack matches the right: "+" at bottom-16 (mic parity),
 //       AI at bottom-4 (chat parity)
-//   I3  the AI HUD button ALWAYS renders; unconfigured, clicking opens Settings ▸ AI;
+//   I3  the AI HUD button ALWAYS renders; unconfigured, clicking opens Settings ▸ Tools & connections (59; was AI);
 //       configured, it opens the chat window
 //   I4  the far-zoom "circle": (a) the grid fade SNAPS to its target (no multi-frame
 //       lerp ramp), and (b) the shadow-catcher disc has depthWrite:false so N8AO no
@@ -109,7 +109,8 @@ h.run(async () => {
 		);
 	});
 	h.check(openedSettings.open === true, 'I3: unconfigured click opens Settings');
-	h.check(openedSettings.section === 'ai', 'I3: unconfigured click targets the AI section');
+	// 59 T5: the AI section is Settings ▸ Tools & connections (deep-link key 'tools'; 'ai' is an alias)
+	h.check(openedSettings.section === 'tools', 'I3: unconfigured click targets Tools & connections (' + openedSettings.section + ')');
 	await A.page.evaluate(() => window.__stores.settingsOpen.set(false));
 
 	// configure a provider + enable AI (persisted), then reload to one module graph
diff --git a/tests/e2e/settings-shell.test.cjs b/tests/e2e/settings-shell.test.cjs
index 28f2899f3..96803d734 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/settings-shell.test.cjs
+++ b/tests/e2e/settings-shell.test.cjs
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ h.run(async () => {
 	// 46 P2: Settings ▸ Import sits beside Export
 	h.check(JSON.stringify(byGroup('workspace')) === JSON.stringify(['Scene', 'Explorer', 'Node types', 'Import', 'Export']), 'Workspace: Scene, Explorer, Node types, Import, Export');
 	// 48 O1: Privacy (the error-report switch) closes the group
-	h.check(JSON.stringify(byGroup('devices')) === JSON.stringify(['VR', 'AI', 'Connection', 'Privacy']), 'Devices & services: VR, AI, Connection, Privacy (' + byGroup('devices').join(', ') + ')');
+	h.check(JSON.stringify(byGroup('devices')) === JSON.stringify(['VR', 'Tools & connections', 'Connection', 'Privacy']), 'Devices & services: VR, Tools & connections, Connection, Privacy (' + byGroup('devices').join(', ') + ')');
 	h.check(labels[labels.length - 1] === 'About & what’s new' && s.rows[s.rows.length - 1].group === 'about', '"About & what’s new" is pinned last');
 	const pinned = await page.evaluate(() => {
 		const about = document.querySelector('#settings-nav .sn-about')?.getBoundingClientRect();
@@ -76,12 +76,13 @@ h.run(async () => {
 		'Node types': '#node-types-section',
 		Export: '#export-settings-section',
 		VR: '[data-tour="settings-vr-controls"]',
-		AI: '#ai-enabled',
+		'Tools & connections': '[data-tool-section="chat"]', // 59 T4 (was AI: #ai-enabled)
 		Connection: '#peer-server-mode',
 		'About & what’s new': '#about-copy-diagnostics'
 	};
 	for (const label of labels) {
-		await page.locator('#settings-nav .sn-row', { hasText: label }).first().click();
+		// exact label: "Connection" is also a substring of "Tools & connections" (59 T4)
+		await page.locator('#settings-nav .sn-row').filter({ has: page.locator('.sn-label', { hasText: new RegExp('^\\s*' + label.replace(/[.*+?^${}()|[\]\\]/g, '\\$&') + '\\s*$') }) }).first().click();
 		await page.waitForTimeout(250);
 		s = await state(page);
 		const proof = proofs[label];
@@ -133,7 +134,7 @@ h.run(async () => {
 	await page.evaluate(() => window.__stores.settingsSection.set('ai'));
 	await page.waitForTimeout(500);
 	s = await state(page);
-	h.check(s.titles.length === 1 && s.titles[0] === 'AI', 'the AI deep link (the HUD AI button) lands on AI');
+	h.check(s.titles.length === 1 && s.titles[0] === 'Tools & connections', 'the old AI deep link (the HUD AI button) lands on Tools & connections');
 
 	// ---- 4. Sub-pages: in the content area, breadcrumb + back, Esc backs out first ---------------
 	await page.locator('#settings-nav .sn-row', { hasText: 'VR' }).first().click();
diff --git a/tests/e2e/settingsNarrowShared.cjs b/tests/e2e/settingsNarrowShared.cjs
index 8eacf0b11..5df51d67b 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/settingsNarrowShared.cjs
+++ b/tests/e2e/settingsNarrowShared.cjs
@@ -94,6 +94,9 @@ h.run(async () => {
 		// the screenshot's row, named: on an unfolded phone the provider row stacks
 		if (size === 'unfolded' || size === 'w700') {
 			await open(page, 'ai');
+			// 59 T4: the provider picker lives in Tools & connections ▸ Voice typing ▸ Set up
+			await page.click('#tool-chat-voice-configure');
+			await page.waitForSelector('#row-stt-preset', { state: 'visible', timeout: 5000 });
 			const stt = await page.evaluate(() => {
 				const row = document.querySelector('#row-stt-preset');
 				if (!row) return null;
diff --git a/tests/e2e/sky-cdn.test.cjs b/tests/e2e/sky-cdn.test.cjs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e2a1849fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/e2e/sky-cdn.test.cjs
@@ -0,0 +1,182 @@
+// 59 T3 — THE BUNDLED SKIES COME FROM THE CDN, ONCE:
+//   1. picking Meadow fetches `hdri/meadow_2_1k.hdr` from the packs base (not the app's origin)
+//      exactly once, and the sky is ready
+//   2. Cache Storage (`tp-skies-v1`) holds it; after a RELOAD picking Meadow again fetches nothing
+//      (counterfactual: a sky never picked — Sunrise — IS fetched, so the counter is live)
+//   3. CDN BLOCKED (fresh profile): Starlight shows the preset's FLAT colours — status
+//      `unavailable`, no IBL on the scene, no error text, no page error — and back online it loads
+//   4. against a BUILT app (export-manifest.json present): an export of a Meadow scene carries
+//      `hdri/meadow_2_1k.hdr` byte-identical to the CDN's; on a dev server this part SKIPS
+//
+// The skies are served from a local packs checkout by h.routeSkies (SKIES_DIR, ../packs/hdri or a
+// packs-lane-59-* worktree) — E2E_SKIES_CDN=1 lets them through to the real jsDelivr (post-tag).
+// Deployed (PROD) builds: E2E_BLOCK_SW=1, or the service worker hides the requests from the route.
+// Run: APP_URL=https://theprototype.app:5442/ npm run e2e -- sky-cdn
+const h = require('./helpers.cjs');
+
+const GET = `(s) => { let v; s.subscribe((x) => (v = x))(); return v; }`;
+/** @param {any} page */
+const status = (page) => page.evaluate(`(${GET})(window.__stores.hdriStores.hdriStatus)`);
+/** @param {any} page */
+const sceneSky = (page) =>
+	page.evaluate(`(() => {
+		const get = ${GET};
+		const st = window.__stores;
+		const scene = get(st.globalScene);
+		return {
+			environment: scene.environment?.name ?? null,
+			background: scene.background?.isColor ? '#' + scene.background.getHexString() : (scene.background?.name ?? null),
+			flat: st.environment.presetPayload().background ?? null
+		};
+	})()`);
+/** @param {any} page @param {string} key */
+const pick = (page, key) =>
+	page.evaluate((k) => window.__stores.environment.setEnvironment(k), key);
+/** wait until the layer has settled ON `key` (a preset switch passes through 'off' first, and the
+ * environment applies on its own schedule — a bare settle() can answer for the PREVIOUS sky)
+ * @param {any} page @param {string} key @returns {Promise<string>} */
+const settle = async (page, key) => {
+	for (let i = 0; i < 400; i++) {
+		const st = await status(page);
+		if (st.src === 'bundled:' + key && st.state !== 'loading') return st.state;
+		await page.waitForTimeout(50);
+	}
+	return (await status(page)).state;
+};
+
+h.run(async () => {
+	const browser = await h.launch({ args: h.GPU_ARGS });
+	const opts = { context: { viewport: { width: 1280, height: 720 } } };
+	const A = await h.setupPage(browser, 'A', opts);
+	const skies = await h.routeSkies(A.page);
+	console.log(
+		`skies from ${process.env.E2E_SKIES_CDN ? 'the real CDN' : (skies.dir ?? 'the real CDN (no local packs checkout)')}`
+	);
+	const base = await A.page.evaluate(() => window.__stores.hdriSky.SKY_BASE);
+	const appOrigin = new URL(h.URL).origin;
+
+	// ---- 1. first pick downloads --------------------------------------------------------------
+	h.check(skies.count() === 0, `no sky is fetched at boot (${skies.count()})`);
+	await pick(A.page, 'meadow');
+	h.check((await settle(A.page, 'meadow')) === 'ready', 'Meadow is ready');
+	h.check(
+		skies.count() === 1,
+		`Meadow was fetched once (${skies.count()}: ${skies.hits.join(', ')})`
+	);
+	const url = skies.hits[0] ?? '';
+	h.check(
+		url === base + '/hdri/meadow_2_1k.hdr' && !url.startsWith(appOrigin),
+		`from the packs base, not the app (${url})`
+	);
+	const sky = await sceneSky(A.page);
+	h.check(
+		sky.environment === 'hdri:bundled:meadow|full',
+		`the HDRI lights the scene (${sky.environment})`
+	);
+	const appHdr = await A.page.evaluate(
+		async () => (await fetch(new URL('hdri/meadow_2_1k.hdr', document.baseURI))).status
+	);
+	h.check(
+		appHdr === 404 || appHdr >= 400,
+		`the app itself no longer serves hdri/*.hdr (HTTP ${appHdr})`
+	);
+
+	// ---- 2. Cache Storage keeps it across a reload -------------------------------------------
+	const cached = await A.page.evaluate(() => window.__stores.hdriSky.cachedSkies());
+	h.check(cached.includes(url), `Cache Storage holds the sky (${cached.join(', ')})`);
+	await h.freshReload(A);
+	await h.answerRestore(A);
+	await A.page.evaluate(() => window.__stores.environment.setEnvironment('studio'));
+	await pick(A.page, 'meadow');
+	h.check((await settle(A.page, 'meadow')) === 'ready', 'after a reload Meadow is ready again');
+	h.check(skies.count() === 1, `…and was NOT fetched again (${skies.count()} sky requests in all)`);
+	await pick(A.page, 'sunrise');
+	h.check((await settle(A.page, 'sunrise')) === 'ready', 'Sunrise is ready');
+	h.check(
+		skies.count() === 2 && /\/hdri\/spruit_sunrise_1k\.hdr$/.test(skies.hits[1] ?? ''),
+		`counterfactual: a sky never picked IS fetched (${skies.count()})`
+	);
+
+	// ---- 4. an export embeds the chosen sky (built app only) ---------------------------------
+	await pick(A.page, 'meadow');
+	await settle(A.page, 'meadow');
+	// the exporter refuses an empty scene
+	await A.page.evaluate(() => window.__stores.commandsHandler.sceneCommand('/create box'));
+	await A.page.waitForTimeout(300);
+	const exp = await A.page.evaluate(async () => {
+		const b = window.__stores.exportBuilder;
+		try {
+			await b.loadExportManifest();
+		} catch (e) {
+			return { skip: String(e?.message ?? e), zip: '', cdn: '' };
+		}
+		const b64 = (/** @type {Uint8Array} */ buf) => {
+			let s = '';
+			for (let i = 0; i < buf.length; i += 0x8000)
+				s += String.fromCharCode(...buf.subarray(i, i + 0x8000));
+			return btoa(s);
+		};
+		const out = await b.buildExport({
+			preset: 'static',
+			title: 'Sky check',
+			thumbnail: false,
+			startFullscreen: false,
+			showFps: false,
+			quality: 'auto',
+			vrButton: false,
+			useCdnForPacks: false
+		});
+		const cdn = new Uint8Array(
+			await (await fetch(window.__stores.hdriSky.skyUrl('hdri/meadow_2_1k.hdr'))).arrayBuffer()
+		);
+		return { skip: '', zip: b64(new Uint8Array(await out.blob.arrayBuffer())), cdn: b64(cdn) };
+	});
+	if (exp.skip) console.log('SKIP export check (not a built app): ' + exp.skip);
+	else {
+		const { unzipSync } = require('fflate');
+		const files = unzipSync(new Uint8Array(Buffer.from(exp.zip, 'base64')));
+		const hdr = files['hdri/meadow_2_1k.hdr'];
+		const cdn = Buffer.from(exp.cdn, 'base64');
+		h.check(
+			!!hdr && Buffer.compare(Buffer.from(hdr), cdn) === 0,
+			`the export carries hdri/meadow_2_1k.hdr byte-identical to the CDN's (${hdr?.length ?? 0} bytes)`
+		);
+		const others = Object.keys(files).filter(
+			(n) => /\.hdr$/.test(n) && n !== 'hdri/meadow_2_1k.hdr'
+		);
+		h.check(others.length === 0, `…and no other sky (${others.join(', ') || 'none'})`);
+	}
+	await A.ctx.close();
+
+	// ---- 3. CDN blocked: the flat preset, no error -------------------------------------------
+	const B = await h.setupPage(browser, 'B', opts);
+	const blocked = await h.routeSkies(B.page, { block: true });
+	await pick(B.page, 'starlight');
+	h.check(
+		(await settle(B.page, 'starlight')) === 'unavailable',
+		`CDN blocked: the sky is unavailable, not an error (${(await status(B.page)).state})`
+	);
+	h.check(blocked.count() >= 1, `the sky was asked for (${blocked.count()})`);
+	const flat = await sceneSky(B.page);
+	h.check(flat.environment === null, `no HDRI on the scene (${flat.environment})`);
+	h.check(
+		!!flat.flat && flat.background === String(flat.flat).toLowerCase(),
+		`the preset's flat sky shows (${flat.background} = ${flat.flat})`
+	);
+	const st = await status(B.page);
+	h.check(st.error === '', `no error recorded (${JSON.stringify(st.error)})`);
+	h.check(h.pageErrors(B).length === 0, `no page error (${h.pageErrors(B).join(' | ')})`);
+	// back online: the next `online` event loads it
+	await B.page.unrouteAll({ behavior: 'ignoreErrors' });
+	const back = await h.routeSkies(B.page);
+	await B.page.evaluate(() => window.dispatchEvent(new Event('online')));
+	await h.eventually(
+		() => status(B.page),
+		(v) => v.state === 'ready' && v.src === 'bundled:starlight',
+		'back online, Starlight loads',
+		20000
+	);
+	h.check(back.count() === 1, `…with one fetch (${back.count()})`);
+
+	await h.finish(browser);
+});
diff --git a/tests/e2e/tools-connections.test.cjs b/tests/e2e/tools-connections.test.cjs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b97c66012
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/e2e/tools-connections.test.cjs
@@ -0,0 +1,347 @@
+// 59 T4/T5 — SETTINGS ▸ TOOLS & CONNECTIONS, end to end on one page (mock servers by page.route):
+//   1. MIGRATION: providers saved by the old Settings ▸ AI page (seeded into localStorage BEFORE boot,
+//      under their old keys) show as rows here with their state; nothing was rewritten
+//   2. the page: sections in order (Chat providers, Mesh providers, Desktop tools), each row with a
+//      status dot, Test, Enable / Disable and the features it turns on
+//   3. Test buttons: chat (GET /models ✓, a 401 ✗), mesh (Meshy task list ✓, ComfyUI without a workflow
+//      ✗), voice typing (✓), desktop (✓) — a failed Test on a ready row turns its dot red
+//   4. Enable / Disable act on the same switches (aiEnabled), and the feature status follows
+//   5. T5: with no Mesh provider ready, the viewport Add menu still lists "Generate 3D model… (set up)";
+//      pressing it says what is missing and opens Settings at the Mesh providers section; with the
+//      assistant disabled the AI button does the same for the Chat provider row
+//   6. the assistant's system prompt lists what is not set up (the same status)
+//   7. axe: no serious / critical violation on the page (53 A4's gate, scoped to Settings)
+// Run: APP_URL=https://theprototype.app:5442/ npm run e2e -- tools-connections
+const h = require('./helpers.cjs');
+const { AxeBuilder } = require('@axe-core/playwright');
+
+const GET = `(s) => { let v; s.subscribe((x) => (v = x))(); return v; }`;
+
+h.run(async () => {
+	const browser = await h.launch();
+	const A = await h.setupPage(browser, 'A', {
+		context: { viewport: { width: 1280, height: 860 } }
+	});
+	const page = A.page;
+	const origin = new URL(h.URL).origin;
+
+	// ---- mock servers -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+	await page.route('**/mock-ai/v1/models', (r) =>
+		r.fulfill({
+			status: 200,
+			contentType: 'application/json',
+			body: JSON.stringify({ data: [{ id: 'mock' }] })
+		})
+	);
+	await page.route('**/mock-bad/v1/models', (r) =>
+		r.fulfill({ status: 401, contentType: 'application/json', body: '{"error":"bad key"}' })
+	);
+	await page.route('**/mock-bad/v1/chat/completions', (r) =>
+		r.fulfill({ status: 401, contentType: 'application/json', body: '{"error":"bad key"}' })
+	);
+	/** @type {string[]} */
+	const meshAuth = [];
+	await page.route('**/mock-meshy/openapi/v2/text-to-3d**', (r) => {
+		meshAuth.push(r.request().headers()['authorization'] ?? '');
+		return r.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json', body: '[]' });
+	});
+	await page.route('**/mock-comfy/system_stats', (r) =>
+		r.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json', body: '{"system":{}}' })
+	);
+	await page.route('**/mock-stt/v1/audio/transcriptions', (r) =>
+		r.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json', body: '{"text":""}' })
+	);
+
+	// ---- 1. migration: the old keys, seeded before boot -----------------------------------------
+	await page.evaluate((o) => {
+		localStorage.setItem(
+			'aiProviders',
+			JSON.stringify([
+				{
+					id: 'p-good',
+					preset: 'custom',
+					label: 'Mock good',
+					baseUrl: o + '/mock-ai/v1',
+					apiKey: 'k',
+					model: 'mock'
+				}
+			])
+		);
+		localStorage.setItem('aiActiveProvider', 'p-good');
+		localStorage.setItem('aiEnabled', 'true');
+		localStorage.setItem(
+			'meshProviders',
+			JSON.stringify([
+				{
+					id: 'm-meshy',
+					kind: 'meshy',
+					label: 'Meshy mock',
+					baseUrl: o + '/mock-meshy',
+					apiKey: 'mk'
+				}
+			])
+		);
+		localStorage.setItem('meshActiveProvider', 'm-meshy');
+		localStorage.setItem('meshGenEnabled', 'false');
+		localStorage.setItem(
+			'aiStt',
+			JSON.stringify({
+				preset: 'custom',
+				baseUrl: o + '/mock-stt/v1',
+				apiKey: '',
+				model: 'whisper-1'
+			})
+		);
+	}, origin);
+	await h.freshReload(A);
+	await h.answerRestore(A);
+	const before = await page.evaluate(() => localStorage.getItem('aiProviders'));
+
+	await page.evaluate(() => {
+		window.__stores.settingsSection.set('tools');
+		window.__stores.settingsOpen.set(true);
+	});
+	await page.waitForSelector('#settings-main [data-tool-section="chat"]', {
+		state: 'visible',
+		timeout: 15000
+	});
+	const title = await page.evaluate(() =>
+		[...document.querySelectorAll('#settings-sections .ss-page')]
+			.filter((p) => /** @type {HTMLElement} */ (p).offsetParent !== null)
+			.map((p) => (p.querySelector('.ss-title')?.textContent || '').replace(/›\s*$/, '').trim())
+			.join('|')
+	);
+	h.check(
+		/Tools & connections/.test(title),
+		`the deep link opens Settings ▸ Tools & connections (${title})`
+	);
+	const rows = await page.evaluate(() =>
+		[...document.querySelectorAll('#settings-main [data-tool-row]')].map((r) => ({
+			id: r.getAttribute('data-tool-row'),
+			state: r.getAttribute('data-tool-state'),
+			text: r.textContent?.replace(/\s+/g, ' ').trim()
+		}))
+	);
+	const row = (/** @type {string} */ id) => rows.find((r) => r.id === id);
+	h.check(
+		row('chat:p-good')?.state === 'ready' && /Mock good/.test(row('chat:p-good')?.text ?? ''),
+		`the saved chat provider is a ready row (${JSON.stringify(row('chat:p-good'))})`
+	);
+	h.check(
+		row('mesh:m-meshy')?.state === 'off',
+		`the saved Meshy provider is a row, off (mesh generation was off) (${row('mesh:m-meshy')?.state})`
+	);
+	h.check(
+		row('chat:voice')?.state === 'ready',
+		`voice typing reads ready (${row('chat:voice')?.state})`
+	);
+	h.check(
+		row('desktop:blender')?.state === 'ready',
+		`Desktop tools ▸ Blender reads ready (${row('desktop:blender')?.state})`
+	);
+	h.check(
+		(await page.evaluate(() => localStorage.getItem('aiProviders'))) === before,
+		'the stored providers were not rewritten by the move'
+	);
+
+	// ---- 2. the page --------------------------------------------------------------------------
+	// SHOTS=<dir>: evidence screenshots of the page (the default theme here, dark at the end)
+	const shot = async (/** @type {string} */ name) => {
+		if (!process.env.SHOTS) return;
+		require('node:fs').mkdirSync(process.env.SHOTS, { recursive: true });
+		await page
+			.locator('dialog.settings-dialog')
+			.screenshot({ path: require('node:path').join(process.env.SHOTS, name + '.png') })
+			.catch(() => {});
+	};
+	await shot('tools-connections-default');
+	const sections = await page.evaluate(() =>
+		[...document.querySelectorAll('#settings-main [data-tool-section]')].map((e) =>
+			e.getAttribute('data-tool-section')
+		)
+	);
+	h.check(sections.join(',') === 'chat,mesh,desktop', `sections in order: ${sections.join(', ')}`);
+	const anatomy = await page.evaluate(() => {
+		const r = document.querySelector('#settings-main [data-tool-row="chat:p-good"]');
+		return {
+			dot: !!r?.querySelector('[data-tool-status] .badge-dot'),
+			test: !!r?.querySelector('#tool-chat-p-good-test'),
+			toggle: r?.querySelector('#tool-chat-p-good-enable')?.getAttribute('aria-pressed'),
+			features: r?.querySelector('.tools-features')?.textContent?.trim()
+		};
+	});
+	h.check(
+		anatomy.dot &&
+			anatomy.test &&
+			anatomy.toggle === 'true' &&
+			/AI assistant/.test(anatomy.features ?? ''),
+		`a row has a status dot, Test, Enable / Disable and its features (${JSON.stringify(anatomy)})`
+	);
+
+	// ---- 3. Test buttons ------------------------------------------------------------------------
+	/** @param {string} dom @returns {Promise<string>} */
+	const runTest = async (dom) => {
+		await page.click(`#tool-${dom}-test`);
+		await page.waitForSelector(`#tool-${dom}-result`, { timeout: 15000 });
+		return (await page.locator(`#tool-${dom}-result`).textContent())?.trim() ?? '';
+	};
+	let t = await runTest('chat-p-good');
+	h.check(t.startsWith('✓') && /Connected/.test(t), `chat Test reaches /models (${t})`);
+	t = await runTest('mesh-m-meshy');
+	h.check(
+		t.startsWith('✓') && meshAuth[0] === 'Bearer mk',
+		`mesh Test lists Meshy tasks with the key, no generation (${t}; ${meshAuth[0]})`
+	);
+	t = await runTest('chat-voice');
+	h.check(t.startsWith('✓'), `voice typing Test (${t})`);
+	t = await runTest('desktop-blender');
+	h.check(t.startsWith('✓') && /Ready/.test(t), `desktop tools Test (${t})`);
+	// a broken key on the ACTIVE provider: ✗ and the dot turns red; a ComfyUI with no workflow: ✗
+	await page.evaluate((o) => {
+		const st = window.__stores;
+		st.aiProviders.updateAiProvider('p-good', { baseUrl: o + '/mock-bad/v1' });
+		st.meshProviders.addMeshProvider({
+			kind: 'comfyui',
+			label: 'Comfy mock',
+			baseUrl: o + '/mock-comfy'
+		});
+	}, origin);
+	await page.waitForTimeout(200);
+	t = await runTest('chat-p-good');
+	const red = await page.locator('[data-tool-row="chat:p-good"]').getAttribute('data-tool-state');
+	h.check(
+		t.startsWith('✗') && red === 'error',
+		`a refused key: ✗ and the dot turns red (${t}; ${red})`
+	);
+	const comfyDom = await page.evaluate(() => {
+		const r = [...document.querySelectorAll('[data-tool-row^="mesh:"]')].find((e) =>
+			/Comfy mock/.test(e.textContent ?? '')
+		);
+		return r?.id?.replace(/^tool-/, '') ?? '';
+	});
+	t = await runTest(comfyDom);
+	h.check(t.startsWith('✗') && /workflow/.test(t), `ComfyUI without a workflow: ✗ says so (${t})`);
+	await page.evaluate(
+		(o) => window.__stores.aiProviders.updateAiProvider('p-good', { baseUrl: o + '/mock-ai/v1' }),
+		origin
+	);
+
+	// ---- 4. Enable / Disable --------------------------------------------------------------------
+	await page.click('#tool-chat-p-good-enable');
+	await page.waitForTimeout(150);
+	let st = await page.evaluate(
+		`(() => ({ on: (${GET})(window.__stores.aiProviders.aiEnabled), ready: window.__stores.toolStatus.featureStatus('assistant').ready, row: document.querySelector('[data-tool-row="chat:p-good"]')?.getAttribute('data-tool-state') }))()`
+	);
+	h.check(
+		st.on === false && st.ready === false && st.row === 'off',
+		`Disable switches the assistant off (${JSON.stringify(st)})`
+	);
+
+	// ---- 5. T5: a missing tool explains itself and opens its row --------------------------------
+	await page.evaluate(() => window.__stores.settingsOpen.set(false));
+	await page.waitForTimeout(300);
+	await page.evaluate(() =>
+		window.__stores.viewportMenu.set({ x: 260, y: 160, point: [0, 0, 0], only: 'add' })
+	);
+	const gen = page
+		.locator('[role="menu"] [role="menuitem"]', { hasText: 'Generate 3D model' })
+		.first();
+	await gen.waitFor({ state: 'visible', timeout: 8000 });
+	h.check(
+		/set up/.test((await gen.textContent()) ?? ''),
+		`Generate 3D model stays in the Add menu and says it needs setting up (${(await gen.textContent())?.trim()})`
+	);
+	await gen.click();
+	await page.waitForSelector('#settings-main [data-tool-section="mesh"]', {
+		state: 'visible',
+		timeout: 10000
+	});
+	const toast1 = await page.evaluate(() =>
+		[...document.querySelectorAll('.tp-toast, [role="status"]')]
+			.map((e) => e.textContent ?? '')
+			.join(' | ')
+	);
+	h.check(
+		/Generate 3D model needs a Mesh provider/.test(toast1),
+		`…pressing it says what is missing (${toast1.slice(0, 160)})`
+	);
+	const meshInView = await page.evaluate(() => {
+		const el = document.querySelector('#settings-main [data-tool-row="mesh:m-meshy"]');
+		const main = document.querySelector('#settings-main');
+		if (!el || !main) return false;
+		const a = el.getBoundingClientRect();
+		const b = main.getBoundingClientRect();
+		return a.top >= b.top - 1 && a.bottom <= b.bottom + 1;
+	});
+	h.check(meshInView, '…and opens Tools & connections at the Mesh provider row');
+	await page.evaluate(() => window.__stores.settingsOpen.set(false));
+	await page.waitForTimeout(300);
+	await page.locator('#ai-hud-button').first().click();
+	await page.waitForSelector('#settings-main [data-tool-section="chat"]', {
+		state: 'visible',
+		timeout: 10000
+	});
+	const toast2 = await page.evaluate(() =>
+		[...document.querySelectorAll('.tp-toast, [role="status"]')]
+			.map((e) => e.textContent ?? '')
+			.join(' | ')
+	);
+	h.check(
+		/The AI assistant needs a Chat provider/.test(toast2),
+		`the AI button with the assistant off explains and opens the Chat row (${toast2.slice(0, 160)})`
+	);
+
+	// ---- 6. the assistant reads the same status -------------------------------------------------
+	const prompt = await page.evaluate(() => window.__stores.aiTools.buildSystemPrompt());
+	h.check(
+		/Not set up on this device: [^\n]*Generate 3D model \(needs a Mesh provider\)/.test(prompt),
+		'the system prompt lists Generate 3D model as not set up'
+	);
+	await page.evaluate(() => {
+		window.__stores.meshProviders.setMeshActiveProvider('m-meshy');
+		window.__stores.meshProviders.setMeshGenEnabled(true);
+	});
+	const prompt2 = await page.evaluate(() => window.__stores.aiTools.buildSystemPrompt());
+	h.check(
+		!/Generate 3D model \(needs/.test(prompt2) && /generate_mesh/.test(prompt2),
+		'with Meshy enabled the line is gone and generate_mesh is offered'
+	);
+
+	// ---- 7. axe: serious / critical only ---------------------------------------------------------
+	await page.evaluate(() => window.__stores.settingsSection.set('tools'));
+	await page.waitForTimeout(400);
+	const res = await new AxeBuilder({ page })
+		.include('dialog.settings-dialog')
+		.withTags(['wcag2a', 'wcag2aa', 'wcag21a', 'wcag21aa', 'wcag22aa', 'best-practice'])
+		.analyze();
+	const gated = res.violations.filter(
+		(/** @type {any} */ v) => v.impact === 'serious' || v.impact === 'critical'
+	);
+	for (const v of res.violations)
+		console.log(
+			`  [axe] ${v.impact} ${v.id} (${v.nodes.length}) — ${v.help}${
+				gated.includes(v)
+					? ' :: ' +
+						v.nodes
+							.slice(0, 4)
+							.map((/** @type {any} */ n) => n.target.join(' '))
+							.join(', ')
+					: ''
+			}`
+		);
+	h.check(
+		gated.length === 0,
+		`axe: no serious/critical violation on Tools & connections (${gated.map((/** @type {any} */ v) => v.id).join(', ') || 'none'})`
+	);
+	await page.evaluate(() => {
+		document.documentElement.dataset.theme = 'dark';
+		document.documentElement.classList.add('dark');
+	});
+	await page.waitForTimeout(200);
+	await shot('tools-connections-dark');
+	h.check(
+		h.pageErrors(A).length === 0,
+		`no page errors (${h.pageErrors(A).join(' | ').slice(0, 200)})`
+	);
+	await h.finish(browser);
+});
diff --git a/tests/e2e/vr-ai-voice.test.cjs b/tests/e2e/vr-ai-voice.test.cjs
index b9cf1f5f5..b0d801dcc 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/vr-ai-voice.test.cjs
+++ b/tests/e2e/vr-ai-voice.test.cjs
@@ -48,11 +48,14 @@ h.run(async () => {
 		window.__stores.aiProviders.setAiEnabled(true);
 	}, origin);
 
-	// --- 1. Settings ▸ AI ▸ Voice typing: the rows, the presets, persistence ---
+	// --- 1. Settings ▸ Tools & connections ▸ Voice typing: the rows, the presets, persistence ---
+	// (59 T4: the 'ai' deep link lands on Tools & connections; the Voice typing row's Set up opens the form)
 	await A.page.evaluate(() => {
 		window.__stores.settingsSection.set('ai');
 		window.__stores.settingsOpen.set(true);
 	});
+	await A.page.waitForSelector('#tool-chat-voice-configure', { state: 'visible', timeout: 10000 });
+	await A.page.click('#tool-chat-voice-configure');
 	await A.page.waitForSelector('#ai-stt-preset', { state: 'visible', timeout: 10000 });
 	// 37-settings: the provider is a segmented control; the server form is a sub-page (AI › Voice typing server)
 	const presets = await A.page.$$eval('#ai-stt-preset [role=radio]', (o) => o.map((x) => x.getAttribute('data-value')));
@@ -69,7 +72,6 @@ h.run(async () => {
 	h.check(groq.saved?.preset === 'groq', 'the choice is persisted');
 	// self-hosted at the mock
 	await A.page.click('#ai-stt-preset-custom');
-	await A.page.click('#ai-stt-server');
 	await A.page.waitForSelector('#ai-stt-base', { state: 'visible', timeout: 5000 });
 	await A.page.fill('#ai-stt-base', origin + '/mock-stt/v1');
 	await A.page.locator('#ai-stt-base').dispatchEvent('change');
@@ -79,9 +81,11 @@ h.run(async () => {
 	await A.page.click('#ai-stt-test');
 	await A.page.waitForSelector('#ai-stt-test-result', { timeout: 10000 });
 	h.check((await A.page.locator('#ai-stt-test-result').textContent()).includes('Connected'), 'Test connection reaches the server');
-	await A.page.locator('.ss-back').click();
 	await A.page.waitForSelector('#ai-stt-status', { state: 'visible', timeout: 5000 });
 	h.check((await A.page.locator('#ai-stt-status').textContent()).includes('Ready'), 'self-hosted with a URL reads Ready');
+	await A.page.locator('.ss-back').click();
+	await A.page.waitForSelector('#tool-chat-voice', { state: 'visible', timeout: 5000 });
+	h.check((await A.page.locator('#tool-chat-voice [data-tool-status]').getAttribute('data-tool-status')) === 'ready', '…and the Tools & connections row reads ready');
 	const testCall = sttCalls[sttCalls.length - 1];
 	h.check(testCall?.fileField && testCall?.model === 'whisper-1' && testCall?.auth === 'Bearer stt-key', `the request is multipart file + model with the bearer key (${JSON.stringify(testCall)})`);
 	await A.page.evaluate(() => window.__stores.settingsOpen.set(false));
diff --git a/tests/unit/hdriCore.test.js b/tests/unit/hdriCore.test.js
index 0793f78c7..893856796 100644
--- a/tests/unit/hdriCore.test.js
+++ b/tests/unit/hdriCore.test.js
@@ -127,12 +127,17 @@ describe('rotateAboutY', () => {
 });
 
 describe('the bundled catalog', () => {
-	it('every row has its file and card in static/, and a preset of the same key', () => {
+	// 59 T3: the .hdr files live in the PACKS repo's hdri/ (the CDN); only the cards stay in static/
+	const PACKS_HDRI = [path.resolve('../packs/hdri'), ...(fs.existsSync('..') ? fs.readdirSync('..').filter((d) => /^packs-lane-59-/.test(d)).map((d) => path.resolve('..', d, 'hdri')) : [])].find((d) =>
+		fs.existsSync(path.join(d, 'meadow_2_1k.hdr'))
+	);
+	it('every row has its card in static/ (and NOT its .hdr — the release zip carries none), and a preset of the same key', () => {
 		for (const [key, row] of Object.entries(BUNDLED_HDRIS)) {
-			expect(fs.existsSync(path.join('static', row.file)), row.file).toBe(true);
+			expect(fs.existsSync(path.join('static', row.file)), row.file + ' must not be bundled').toBe(false);
+			expect(row.file).toMatch(/^hdri\/[a-z0-9_]+_1k\.hdr$/);
 			expect(fs.existsSync(path.join('static', row.card)), row.card).toBe(true);
-			// ≤ 1k (the brief): a 1024x512 RGBE file is ~1.5 MB
-			expect(fs.statSync(path.join('static', row.file)).size).toBeLessThan(2.5 * 1024 * 1024);
+			// ≤ 1k (the brief): a 1024x512 RGBE file is ~1.5 MB — checked where a packs checkout is beside us
+			if (PACKS_HDRI) expect(fs.statSync(path.join(PACKS_HDRI, path.basename(row.file))).size).toBeLessThan(2.5 * 1024 * 1024);
 			const block = presetBlock(key);
 			expect(block, key).toContain("hdri: { src: 'bundled:" + key + "'");
 			expect(bundledHdri('bundled:' + key)).toBe(row);
diff --git a/tests/unit/settingsCategories.test.js b/tests/unit/settingsCategories.test.js
index f51f079fd..56152555b 100644
--- a/tests/unit/settingsCategories.test.js
+++ b/tests/unit/settingsCategories.test.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
 import { groupSections, orderSections, categoryMeta, SETTINGS_GROUPS } from '../../src/lib/settings/categories.js';
 
 // the section keys as Settings.svelte registers them (template order), plus one a lane might add
-const REGISTERED = ['interface', 'accessibility', 'controls', 'input', 'touchcontrols', 'scene', 'explorer', 'vr', 'ai', 'export', 'nodetypes', 'connection', 'shortcuts', 'aboutwhatsnew'];
+const REGISTERED = ['interface', 'accessibility', 'controls', 'input', 'touchcontrols', 'scene', 'explorer', 'vr', 'toolsconnections', 'export', 'nodetypes', 'connection', 'shortcuts', 'aboutwhatsnew'];
 
 describe('settings categories', () => {
 	it('groups the menu exactly as the spec lists it, About left out (it is pinned)', () => {
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ describe('settings categories', () => {
 		expect(g.map((x) => x.group.label)).toEqual(['General', 'Workspace', 'Devices & services']);
 		expect(g[0].keys).toEqual(['interface', 'accessibility', 'controls', 'input', 'touchcontrols', 'shortcuts']);
 		expect(g[1].keys).toEqual(['scene', 'explorer', 'nodetypes', 'export']);
-		expect(g[2].keys).toEqual(['vr', 'ai', 'connection']);
+		expect(g[2].keys).toEqual(['vr', 'toolsconnections', 'connection']);
 		expect(g.flatMap((x) => x.keys)).not.toContain('aboutwhatsnew');
 	});
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/toolStatus.test.js b/tests/unit/toolStatus.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..90d011e49
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/toolStatus.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,268 @@
+// @ts-nocheck — store fixtures over plain objects; the modules themselves are typed
+import { describe, it, expect, beforeEach, vi } from 'vitest';
+import { writable, get } from 'svelte/store';
+import {
+	registerToolRows,
+	registerFeature,
+	toolSections,
+	featureStatus,
+	featureStatuses,
+	toolSummary,
+	runToolTest,
+	toolTests,
+	rowState,
+	missingMessage,
+	TOOL_SECTIONS,
+	_resetToolRegistry
+} from '../../src/lib/tools/toolStatus.js';
+
+// 59 T4/T5: the Tools & connections registry — sections in page order, rows from live sources,
+// feature status + the sentence a button says when its tool is missing.
+
+const row = (id, section, state = 'ready') => ({
+	id,
+	section,
+	label: id,
+	state,
+	stateText: state,
+	features: []
+});
+
+describe('toolStatus registry', () => {
+	beforeEach(() => _resetToolRegistry());
+
+	it('lists only sections with rows, in TOOL_SECTIONS order, whatever the registration order', () => {
+		registerToolRows('desktop', writable([row('desktop:blender', 'desktop')]));
+		registerToolRows('chat', writable([row('chat:a', 'chat')]));
+		const ids = get(toolSections).map((s) => s.section.id);
+		expect(ids).toEqual(['chat', 'desktop']);
+		expect(TOOL_SECTIONS.map((s) => s.id)).toEqual([
+			'chat',
+			'mesh',
+			'animation',
+			'aibox',
+			'agents',
+			'desktop'
+		]);
+	});
+
+	it('a later roadmap adds its section with ONE call, and the rows follow the source live', () => {
+		const anim = writable([]);
+		const off = registerToolRows('animation', anim, {
+			add: { label: 'Add animation provider', form: 'animation' }
+		});
+		expect(get(toolSections).find((s) => s.section.id === 'animation')?.rows).toEqual([]);
+		anim.set([row('animation:x', 'animation')]);
+		const sec = get(toolSections).find((s) => s.section.id === 'animation');
+		expect(sec.rows.map((r) => r.id)).toEqual(['animation:x']);
+		expect(sec.adds.map((a) => a.label)).toEqual(['Add animation provider']);
+		off();
+		expect(get(toolSections).some((s) => s.section.id === 'animation')).toBe(false);
+	});
+
+	it('two sources in one section merge into one section', () => {
+		registerToolRows('chat', writable([row('chat:a', 'chat')]));
+		registerToolRows('chat', writable([row('chat:voice', 'chat')]));
+		const chat = get(toolSections);
+		expect(chat).toHaveLength(1);
+		expect(chat[0].rows.map((r) => r.id)).toEqual(['chat:a', 'chat:voice']);
+	});
+
+	it('a failed Test turns a ready row red, a passing one clears it; a throwing test is a failure', async () => {
+		let ok = false;
+		const r = {
+			...row('mesh:m', 'mesh'),
+			test: async () => ({ ok, detail: ok ? 'fine' : 'refused' })
+		};
+		expect(rowState(r)).toBe('ready');
+		await runToolTest(r);
+		expect(get(toolTests)['mesh:m']).toMatchObject({ ok: false, detail: 'refused' });
+		expect(rowState(r)).toBe('error');
+		ok = true;
+		await runToolTest(r);
+		expect(rowState(r)).toBe('ready');
+		const boom = {
+			...row('mesh:b', 'mesh'),
+			test: async () => {
+				throw new Error('offline');
+			}
+		};
+		expect(await runToolTest(boom)).toMatchObject({ ok: false, detail: 'offline' });
+		// a row that is not set up keeps its own state (the Test does not mask "needs a key")
+		expect(rowState({ ...row('mesh:m', 'mesh', 'setup') }, { 'mesh:m': { ok: false } })).toBe(
+			'setup'
+		);
+	});
+});
+
+describe('feature status (T5)', () => {
+	beforeEach(() => _resetToolRegistry());
+
+	it('a missing tool explains itself in one sentence and names the row', () => {
+		const ready = writable(false);
+		registerFeature({
+			id: 'generateMesh',
+			label: 'Generate 3D model',
+			section: 'mesh',
+			needs: 'a Mesh provider',
+			ready,
+			row: () => 'mesh:p1'
+		});
+		const s = featureStatus('generateMesh');
+		expect(s).toMatchObject({ ready: false, section: 'mesh', row: 'mesh:p1' });
+		expect(s.message).toBe(
+			'Generate 3D model needs a Mesh provider: set one up in Settings ▸ Tools & connections.'
+		);
+		ready.set(true);
+		expect(featureStatus('generateMesh')).toMatchObject({ ready: true, message: '' });
+	});
+
+	it('the fix phrase can be the feature’s own', () => {
+		expect(missingMessage('Edit in Blender', 'Desktop tools ▸ Blender', 'switch it on')).toBe(
+			'Edit in Blender needs Desktop tools ▸ Blender: switch it on in Settings ▸ Tools & connections.'
+		);
+	});
+
+	it('an unknown feature reads as ready (nothing to explain, never a stuck button)', () => {
+		expect(featureStatus('nope')).toMatchObject({ ready: true, message: '' });
+	});
+
+	it('the summary the assistant reads splits ready from missing, live', () => {
+		const a = writable(true);
+		const b = writable(false);
+		registerFeature({
+			id: 'assistant',
+			label: 'The AI assistant',
+			section: 'chat',
+			needs: 'a Chat provider',
+			ready: a
+		});
+		registerFeature({
+			id: 'generateAnimation',
+			label: 'Generate animation',
+			section: 'animation',
+			needs: 'an Animation provider',
+			ready: b
+		});
+		let sum = toolSummary();
+		expect(sum.ready.map((f) => f.id)).toEqual(['assistant']);
+		expect(sum.missing.map((f) => f.id)).toEqual(['generateAnimation']);
+		const seen = [];
+		const stop = featureStatuses.subscribe((list) => seen.push(list.filter((f) => f.ready).length));
+		b.set(true);
+		stop();
+		expect(seen).toEqual([1, 2]);
+		sum = toolSummary();
+		expect(sum.missing).toEqual([]);
+	});
+
+	it('re-registering a feature id replaces it (a lane that upgrades the check does not duplicate it)', () => {
+		registerFeature({ id: 'x', label: 'X', section: 'chat', needs: 'y', ready: writable(false) });
+		registerFeature({ id: 'x', label: 'X2', section: 'chat', needs: 'y', ready: writable(true) });
+		expect(get(featureStatuses).map((f) => f.label)).toEqual(['X2']);
+	});
+});
+
+describe('migration: the moved Settings sections keep their stored settings', () => {
+	it('providers saved by the old Settings ▸ AI page show as Tools & connections rows with their state', async () => {
+		_resetToolRegistry();
+		vi.resetModules();
+		const data = new Map(
+			Object.entries({
+				aiProviders: JSON.stringify([
+					{
+						id: 'g1',
+						preset: 'grok',
+						label: 'Grok',
+						baseUrl: 'https://api.x.ai/v1',
+						apiKey: 'k',
+						model: 'grok-4'
+					},
+					{ id: 'c1', preset: 'custom', label: 'Box', baseUrl: '', apiKey: '', model: '' }
+				]),
+				aiActiveProvider: 'g1',
+				aiEnabled: 'true',
+				meshProviders: JSON.stringify([
+					{ id: 'm1', kind: 'meshy', label: 'Meshy', baseUrl: 'https://api.meshy.ai', apiKey: '' }
+				]),
+				meshActiveProvider: 'm1',
+				meshGenEnabled: 'true',
+				aiStt: JSON.stringify({
+					preset: 'groq',
+					baseUrl: 'https://api.groq.com/openai/v1',
+					apiKey: 'gk',
+					model: 'whisper-large-v3'
+				})
+			})
+		);
+		globalThis.localStorage = {
+			getItem: (k) => (data.has(k) ? data.get(k) : null),
+			setItem: (k, v) => data.set(k, String(v)),
+			removeItem: (k) => data.delete(k),
+			key: (i) => [...data.keys()][i] ?? null,
+			get length() {
+				return data.size;
+			},
+			clear: () => data.clear()
+		};
+		const reg = await import('../../src/lib/tools/toolStatus.js');
+		await import('../../src/lib/tools/builtinTools.js');
+		const sections = get(reg.toolSections);
+		const rows = Object.fromEntries(sections.flatMap((s) => s.rows.map((r) => [r.id, r])));
+		expect(sections.map((s) => s.section.id)).toEqual(['chat', 'mesh', 'desktop']);
+		expect(rows['chat:g1']).toMatchObject({
+			label: 'Grok',
+			state: 'ready',
+			enabled: true,
+			detail: 'grok-4 · api.x.ai'
+		});
+		expect(rows['chat:c1']).toMatchObject({
+			state: 'setup',
+			enabled: false,
+			stateText: 'Needs a base URL and a model'
+		});
+		expect(rows['chat:voice']).toMatchObject({ state: 'ready', enabled: true });
+		expect(rows['mesh:m1']).toMatchObject({ state: 'setup', stateText: 'Needs an API key' });
+		expect(rows['desktop:blender']).toMatchObject({ state: 'ready', enabled: true });
+		expect(reg.featureStatus('assistant')).toMatchObject({ ready: true, row: 'chat:g1' });
+		expect(reg.featureStatus('generateMesh')).toMatchObject({ ready: false, row: 'mesh:m1' });
+		expect(reg.featureStatus('voiceTyping').ready).toBe(true);
+
+		// Disable / Enable act on the SAME stores and keys the old page used
+		rows['chat:g1'].setEnabled(false);
+		expect(data.get('aiEnabled')).toBe('false');
+		expect(reg.featureStatus('assistant').ready).toBe(false);
+		const again = Object.fromEntries(
+			get(reg.toolSections).flatMap((s) => s.rows.map((r) => [r.id, r]))
+		);
+		expect(again['chat:g1']).toMatchObject({
+			state: 'off',
+			stateText: 'Assistant switched off',
+			enabled: false
+		});
+		again['chat:g1'].setEnabled(true);
+		expect(data.get('aiEnabled')).toBe('true');
+		expect(data.get('aiActiveProvider')).toBe('g1');
+		// voice: the additive `enabled` flag — off is stored, on removes it (absent = on)
+		again['chat:voice'].setEnabled(false);
+		expect(JSON.parse(data.get('aiStt')).enabled).toBe(false);
+		expect(reg.featureStatus('voiceTyping').ready).toBe(false);
+		again['chat:voice'].setEnabled(true);
+		expect('enabled' in JSON.parse(data.get('aiStt'))).toBe(false);
+		// the providers' records themselves were never rewritten
+		expect(JSON.parse(data.get('aiProviders'))[0]).toEqual({
+			id: 'g1',
+			preset: 'grok',
+			label: 'Grok',
+			baseUrl: 'https://api.x.ai/v1',
+			apiKey: 'k',
+			model: 'grok-4'
+		});
+		// desktop: a LOCAL pref, default on
+		again['desktop:blender'].setEnabled(false);
+		expect(data.get('tools:blender')).toBe('false');
+		expect(reg.featureStatus('editInBlender').message).toBe(
+			'Edit in Blender needs Desktop tools ▸ Blender: switch it on in Settings ▸ Tools & connections.'
+		);
+	});
+});