diff --git a/apps/android/app/src/main/java/chat/simplex/app/model/SimpleXAPI.kt b/apps/android/app/src/main/java/chat/simplex/app/model/SimpleXAPI.kt
index c8f09cfe90..613003c036 100644
--- a/apps/android/app/src/main/java/chat/simplex/app/model/SimpleXAPI.kt
+++ b/apps/android/app/src/main/java/chat/simplex/app/model/SimpleXAPI.kt
@@ -268,9 +268,8 @@ open class ChatController(val ctrl: ChatCtrl, val alertManager: SimplexApp.Alert
   //            if chatModel.upsertChatItem(cInfo, cItem) {
   //              NtfManager.shared.notifyMessageReceived(cInfo, cItem)
   //            }
-//        default:
-//        logger.debug("unsupported event: \(res.responseType)")
-//      }
+      else ->
+        Log.d("SIMPLEX" , "unsupported event: ${r.responseType}")
     }
   }
 
@@ -394,6 +393,7 @@ class APIResponse(val resp: CR, val corr: String? = null) {
 sealed class CR {
   @Serializable @SerialName("activeUser") class ActiveUser(val user: User): CR()
   @Serializable @SerialName("chatStarted") class ChatStarted: CR()
+  @Serializable @SerialName("chatRunning") class ChatRunning: CR()
   @Serializable @SerialName("apiChats") class ApiChats(val chats: List<Chat>): CR()
   @Serializable @SerialName("apiChat") class ApiChat(val chat: Chat): CR()
   @Serializable @SerialName("invitation") class Invitation(val connReqInvitation: String): CR()
@@ -430,6 +430,7 @@ sealed class CR {
   val responseType: String get() = when(this) {
     is ActiveUser -> "activeUser"
     is ChatStarted -> "chatStarted"
+    is ChatRunning -> "chatRunning"
     is ApiChats -> "apiChats"
     is ApiChat -> "apiChats"
     is Invitation -> "invitation"
@@ -467,6 +468,7 @@ sealed class CR {
   val details: String get() = when(this) {
     is ActiveUser -> json.encodeToString(user)
     is ChatStarted -> noDetails()
+    is ChatRunning -> noDetails()
     is ApiChats -> json.encodeToString(chats)
     is ApiChat -> json.encodeToString(chat)
     is Invitation -> connReqInvitation
diff --git a/apps/ios/Shared/ContentView.swift b/apps/ios/Shared/ContentView.swift
index 36f233972c..ab891a6613 100644
--- a/apps/ios/Shared/ContentView.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/Shared/ContentView.swift
@@ -13,32 +13,31 @@ struct ContentView: View {
     @State private var showNotificationAlert = false
 
     var body: some View {
-        ZStack {
-            if let user = chatModel.currentUser {
-                ChatListView(user: user)
-                    .onAppear {
-                        do {
-                            try apiStartChat()
-                            chatModel.chats = try apiGetChats()
-                        } catch {
-                            fatalError("Failed to start or load chats: \(error)")
-                        }
-                        ChatReceiver.shared.start()
-                        NtfManager.shared.requestAuthorization(onDeny: {
-                            alertManager.showAlert(notificationAlert())
-                        })
+        if let user = chatModel.currentUser {
+            ChatListView(user: user)
+                .onAppear {
+                    do {
+                        try apiStartChat()
+                        chatModel.chats = try apiGetChats()
+                    } catch {
+                        fatalError("Failed to start or load chats: \(error)")
                     }
-            } else {
-                WelcomeView()
-            }
+                    ChatReceiver.shared.start()
+                    NtfManager.shared.requestAuthorization(onDeny: {
+                        alertManager.showAlert(notificationAlert())
+                    })
+                }
+                .alert(isPresented: $alertManager.presentAlert) { alertManager.alertView! }
+        } else {
+            WelcomeView()
+                .alert(isPresented: $alertManager.presentAlert) { alertManager.alertView! }
         }
-        .alert(isPresented: $alertManager.presentAlert) { alertManager.alertView! }
     }
 
     func notificationAlert() -> Alert {
         Alert(
             title: Text("Notification are disabled!"),
-             message: Text("Please open settings to enable"),
+             message: Text("The app can notify you when you receive messages or contact requests - please open settings to enable."),
              primaryButton: .default(Text("Open Settings")) {
                  DispatchQueue.main.async {
                      UIApplication.shared.open(URL(string: UIApplication.openSettingsURLString)!, options: [:], completionHandler: nil)
diff --git a/apps/ios/Shared/Model/SimpleXAPI.swift b/apps/ios/Shared/Model/SimpleXAPI.swift
index 5717791bb6..16b38c19b9 100644
--- a/apps/ios/Shared/Model/SimpleXAPI.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/Shared/Model/SimpleXAPI.swift
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ enum ChatResponse: Decodable, Error {
     case response(type: String, json: String)
     case activeUser(user: User)
     case chatStarted
+    case chatRunning
     case apiChats(chats: [ChatData])
     case apiChat(chat: ChatData)
     case invitation(connReqInvitation: String)
@@ -131,6 +132,7 @@ enum ChatResponse: Decodable, Error {
             case let .response(type, _): return "* \(type)"
             case .activeUser: return "activeUser"
             case .chatStarted: return "chatStarted"
+            case .chatRunning: return "chatRunning"
             case .apiChats: return "apiChats"
             case .apiChat: return "apiChat"
             case .invitation: return "invitation"
@@ -170,6 +172,7 @@ enum ChatResponse: Decodable, Error {
             case let .response(_, json): return json
             case let .activeUser(user): return String(describing: user)
             case .chatStarted: return noDetails
+            case .chatRunning: return noDetails
             case let .apiChats(chats): return String(describing: chats)
             case let .apiChat(chat): return String(describing: chat)
             case let .invitation(connReqInvitation): return connReqInvitation
@@ -306,8 +309,8 @@ func apiSendMessage(type: ChatType, id: Int64, msg: MsgContent) async throws ->
     throw r
 }
 
-func apiAddContact() async throws -> String {
-    let r = await chatSendCmd(.addContact)
+func apiAddContact() throws -> String {
+    let r = chatSendCmdSync(.addContact)
     if case let .invitation(connReqInvitation) = r { return connReqInvitation }
     throw r
 }
@@ -574,7 +577,10 @@ private func getChatCtrl() -> chat_ctrl {
     if let controller = chatController { return controller }
     let dataDir = FileManager.default.urls(for: .documentDirectory, in: .userDomainMask).first!.path + "/mobile_v1"
     var cstr = dataDir.cString(using: .utf8)!
+    logger.debug("getChatCtrl: chat_init")
+    ChatModel.shared.terminalItems.append(.cmd(.now, .string("chat_init")))
     chatController = chat_init(&cstr)
+    ChatModel.shared.terminalItems.append(.resp(.now, .response(type: "chat_controller", json: "chat_controller: no details")))
     return chatController!
 }
 
diff --git a/apps/ios/Shared/Views/ChatList/ChatListView.swift b/apps/ios/Shared/Views/ChatList/ChatListView.swift
index fe1e24ea39..766784b0e8 100644
--- a/apps/ios/Shared/Views/ChatList/ChatListView.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/Shared/Views/ChatList/ChatListView.swift
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ struct ChatListView: View {
             let link = url.absoluteString.replacingOccurrences(of: "///\(path)", with: "/\(path)")
             return Alert(
                 title: Text("Connect via \(action) link?"),
-                message: Text("Your profile will be sent to the contact that you received this link from: \(link)"),
+                message: Text("Your profile will be sent to the contact that you received this link from"),
                 primaryButton: .default(Text("Connect")) {
                     DispatchQueue.main.async {
                         Task {
diff --git a/apps/ios/Shared/Views/NewChat/AddContactView.swift b/apps/ios/Shared/Views/NewChat/AddContactView.swift
index f6d62deb26..3c924697ec 100644
--- a/apps/ios/Shared/Views/NewChat/AddContactView.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/Shared/Views/NewChat/AddContactView.swift
@@ -22,7 +22,9 @@ struct AddContactView: View {
                 .multilineTextAlignment(.center)
             QRCode(uri: connReqInvitation)
                 .padding()
-            Text("If you can't show QR code, you can share the invitation link via any channel")
+            (Text("If you cannot meet in person, you can ") +
+             Text("scan QR code in the video call").bold() +
+             Text(", or you can share the invitation link via any other channel."))
                 .font(.subheadline)
                 .multilineTextAlignment(.center)
                 .padding(.horizontal)
diff --git a/apps/ios/Shared/Views/NewChat/NewChatButton.swift b/apps/ios/Shared/Views/NewChat/NewChatButton.swift
index db8e1d9f39..d984ddd0df 100644
--- a/apps/ios/Shared/Views/NewChat/NewChatButton.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/Shared/Views/NewChat/NewChatButton.swift
@@ -35,18 +35,20 @@ struct NewChatButton: View {
     }
 
     func addContactAction() {
-        Task {
-            do {
-                connReqInvitation = try await apiAddContact()
-                addContact = true
-            } catch {
-                DispatchQueue.global().async {
-                    connectionErrorAlert(error)
-                }
-                logger.error("NewChatButton.addContactAction apiAddContact error: \(error.localizedDescription)")
+        do {
+            connReqInvitation = try apiAddContact()
+            addContact = true
+        } catch {
+            DispatchQueue.global().async {
+                connectionErrorAlert(error)
             }
+            logger.error("NewChatButton.addContactAction apiAddContact error: \(error.localizedDescription)")
         }
     }
+    
+    func addContactSheet() -> some View {
+        AddContactView(connReqInvitation: connReqInvitation)
+    }
 
     func connectContactSheet() -> some View {
         ConnectContactView(completed: { err in
diff --git a/src/Simplex/Chat.hs b/src/Simplex/Chat.hs
index d12a5cfa6e..d5afd8003a 100644
--- a/src/Simplex/Chat.hs
+++ b/src/Simplex/Chat.hs
@@ -144,7 +144,10 @@ processChatCommand = \case
     user <- withStore $ \st -> createUser st p True
     atomically . writeTVar u $ Just user
     pure $ CRActiveUser user
-  StartChat -> withUser' $ \user -> startChatController user $> CRChatStarted
+  StartChat -> withUser' $ \user ->
+    asks agentAsync >>= readTVarIO >>= \case
+      Just _ -> pure CRChatRunning
+      _ -> startChatController user $> CRChatStarted
   APIGetChats -> CRApiChats <$> withUser (\user -> withStore (`getChatPreviews` user))
   APIGetChat cType cId pagination -> withUser $ \user -> case cType of
     CTDirect -> CRApiChat . AChat SCTDirect <$> withStore (\st -> getDirectChat st user cId pagination)
@@ -528,7 +531,9 @@ subscribeUserConnections user@User {userId} = do
               subscribe cId `catchError` (toView . CRRcvFileSubError ft)
     subscribePendingConnections n = do
       cs <- withStore (`getPendingConnections` user)
-      subscribeConns n cs `catchError` \_ -> pure ()
+      summary <- pooledForConcurrentlyN n cs $ \Connection {agentConnId = acId@(AgentConnId cId)} ->
+        PendingSubStatus acId <$> ((subscribe cId $> Nothing) `catchError` (pure . Just))
+      toView $ CRPendingSubSummary summary
     subscribeUserContactLink n = do
       cs <- withStore (`getUserContactLinkConnections` userId)
       (subscribeConns n cs >> toView CRUserContactLinkSubscribed)
diff --git a/src/Simplex/Chat/Controller.hs b/src/Simplex/Chat/Controller.hs
index 25c7a10270..079d32fb3d 100644
--- a/src/Simplex/Chat/Controller.hs
+++ b/src/Simplex/Chat/Controller.hs
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ data ChatCommand
 data ChatResponse
   = CRActiveUser {user :: User}
   | CRChatStarted
+  | CRChatRunning
   | CRApiChats {chats :: [AChat]}
   | CRApiChat {chat :: AChat}
   | CRNewChatItem {chatItem :: AChatItem}
@@ -204,6 +205,7 @@ data ChatResponse
   | CRMemberSubError {groupInfo :: GroupInfo, contactName :: ContactName, chatError :: ChatError} -- TODO Contact?  or GroupMember?
   | CRMemberSubErrors {memberSubErrors :: [MemberSubError]}
   | CRGroupSubscribed {groupInfo :: GroupInfo}
+  | CRPendingSubSummary {pendingSubStatus :: [PendingSubStatus]}
   | CRSndFileSubError {sndFileTransfer :: SndFileTransfer, chatError :: ChatError}
   | CRRcvFileSubError {rcvFileTransfer :: RcvFileTransfer, chatError :: ChatError}
   | CRUserContactLinkSubscribed
@@ -236,6 +238,16 @@ data MemberSubError = MemberSubError
 instance ToJSON MemberSubError where
   toEncoding = J.genericToEncoding J.defaultOptions
 
+data PendingSubStatus = PendingSubStatus
+  { connId :: AgentConnId,
+    connError :: Maybe ChatError
+  }
+  deriving (Show, Generic)
+
+instance ToJSON PendingSubStatus where
+  toJSON = J.genericToJSON J.defaultOptions {J.omitNothingFields = True}
+  toEncoding = J.genericToEncoding J.defaultOptions {J.omitNothingFields = True}
+
 data ChatError
   = ChatError {errorType :: ChatErrorType}
   | ChatErrorAgent {agentError :: AgentErrorType}
diff --git a/src/Simplex/Chat/View.hs b/src/Simplex/Chat/View.hs
index f0286d7251..e753ed7dfb 100644
--- a/src/Simplex/Chat/View.hs
+++ b/src/Simplex/Chat/View.hs
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ responseToView :: Bool -> ChatResponse -> [StyledString]
 responseToView testView = \case
   CRActiveUser User {profile} -> viewUserProfile profile
   CRChatStarted -> ["chat started"]
+  CRChatRunning -> []
   CRApiChats chats -> if testView then testViewChats chats else [plain . bshow $ J.encode chats]
   CRApiChat chat -> if testView then testViewChat chat else [plain . bshow $ J.encode chat]
   CRNewChatItem (AChatItem _ _ chat item) -> viewChatItem chat item
@@ -103,9 +104,9 @@ responseToView testView = \case
   CRContactSubscribed c -> [ttyContact' c <> ": connected to server"]
   CRContactSubError c e -> [ttyContact' c <> ": contact error " <> sShow e]
   CRContactSubSummary summary ->
-    (if null connected then [] else [sShow (length connected) <> " contacts connected (use " <> highlight' "/cs" <> " for the list)"]) <> viewErrorsSummary errors " contact errors"
+    (if null subscribed then [] else [sShow (length subscribed) <> " contacts connected (use " <> highlight' "/cs" <> " for the list)"]) <> viewErrorsSummary errors " contact errors"
     where
-      (errors, connected) = partition (isJust . contactError) summary
+      (errors, subscribed) = partition (isJust . contactError) summary
   CRGroupInvitation GroupInfo {localDisplayName = ldn, groupProfile = GroupProfile {fullName}} ->
     [groupInvitation ldn fullName]
   CRReceivedGroupInvitation g c role -> viewReceivedGroupInvitation g c role
@@ -122,6 +123,10 @@ responseToView testView = \case
   CRMemberSubError g c e -> [ttyGroup' g <> " member " <> ttyContact c <> " error: " <> sShow e]
   CRMemberSubErrors summary -> viewErrorsSummary summary " group member errors"
   CRGroupSubscribed g -> [ttyFullGroup g <> ": connected to server(s)"]
+  CRPendingSubSummary summary ->
+    (if null subscribed then [] else [sShow (length subscribed) <> " pending connections subscribed"]) <> viewErrorsSummary errors " connection errors"
+    where
+      (errors, subscribed) = partition (isJust . connError) summary
   CRSndFileSubError SndFileTransfer {fileId, fileName} e ->
     ["sent file " <> sShow fileId <> " (" <> plain fileName <> ") error: " <> sShow e]
   CRRcvFileSubError RcvFileTransfer {fileId, fileInvitation = FileInvitation {fileName}} e ->