diff --git a/apps/chattyness-app/style/tailwind.css b/apps/chattyness-app/style/tailwind.css
index a3d3d22..8f689c9 100644
--- a/apps/chattyness-app/style/tailwind.css
+++ b/apps/chattyness-app/style/tailwind.css
@@ -75,4 +75,14 @@
   .error-message {
     @apply p-4 bg-red-900/50 border border-red-500 rounded-lg text-red-200;
   }
+
+  /* Reconnection overlay spinner animation */
+  .reconnect-spinner {
+    animation: reconnect-pulse 1.5s ease-in-out infinite;
+  }
+}
+
+@keyframes reconnect-pulse {
+  0%, 100% { opacity: 1; }
+  50% { opacity: 0.5; }
 }
diff --git a/crates/chattyness-user-ui/src/components.rs b/crates/chattyness-user-ui/src/components.rs
index 5c365db..ce93976 100644
--- a/crates/chattyness-user-ui/src/components.rs
+++ b/crates/chattyness-user-ui/src/components.rs
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ pub mod scene_viewer;
 pub mod settings;
 pub mod settings_popup;
 pub mod tabs;
+pub mod reconnection_overlay;
 pub mod ws_client;
 
 pub use avatar_canvas::*;
@@ -38,6 +39,7 @@ pub use layout::*;
 pub use modals::*;
 pub use notification_history::*;
 pub use notifications::*;
+pub use reconnection_overlay::*;
 pub use scene_viewer::*;
 pub use settings::*;
 pub use settings_popup::*;
diff --git a/crates/chattyness-user-ui/src/components/reconnection_overlay.rs b/crates/chattyness-user-ui/src/components/reconnection_overlay.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c74c0cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/chattyness-user-ui/src/components/reconnection_overlay.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,391 @@
+//! Reconnection overlay component.
+//!
+//! Displays a full-screen overlay when WebSocket connection is lost,
+//! with countdown timer and automatic retry logic.
+
+use leptos::prelude::*;
+
+use super::ws_client::WsState;
+
+/// Reconnection attempt phase.
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum ReconnectionPhase {
+    /// Initial phase: 5 attempts with 5-second countdown each.
+    Initial { attempt: u8 },
+    /// Extended phase: 10 attempts with 10-second countdown each.
+    Extended { attempt: u8 },
+    /// All attempts exhausted.
+    Failed,
+}
+
+impl ReconnectionPhase {
+    /// Get the countdown duration in seconds for the current phase.
+    pub fn countdown_duration(&self) -> u32 {
+        match self {
+            Self::Initial { .. } => 5,
+            Self::Extended { .. } => 10,
+            Self::Failed => 0,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Get the maximum attempts for the current phase.
+    pub fn max_attempts(&self) -> u8 {
+        match self {
+            Self::Initial { .. } => 5,
+            Self::Extended { .. } => 10,
+            Self::Failed => 0,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Advance to the next attempt or phase.
+    pub fn next(self) -> Self {
+        match self {
+            Self::Initial { attempt } if attempt < 5 => Self::Initial { attempt: attempt + 1 },
+            Self::Initial { .. } => Self::Extended { attempt: 1 },
+            Self::Extended { attempt } if attempt < 10 => Self::Extended { attempt: attempt + 1 },
+            Self::Extended { .. } | Self::Failed => Self::Failed,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Get the current attempt number.
+    pub fn attempt(&self) -> u8 {
+        match self {
+            Self::Initial { attempt } | Self::Extended { attempt } => *attempt,
+            Self::Failed => 0,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Check if this is the initial phase.
+    pub fn is_initial(&self) -> bool {
+        matches!(self, Self::Initial { .. })
+    }
+}
+
+/// Internal state for the reconnection overlay.
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug)]
+enum OverlayState {
+    /// Hidden (connected).
+    Hidden,
+    /// Showing countdown.
+    Countdown {
+        phase: ReconnectionPhase,
+        remaining: u32,
+    },
+    /// Currently attempting to reconnect.
+    Reconnecting { phase: ReconnectionPhase },
+    /// All attempts failed.
+    Failed,
+}
+
+/// Reconnection overlay component.
+///
+/// Shows a full-screen overlay when WebSocket connection is lost,
+/// with countdown timer and automatic retry logic.
+#[component]
+pub fn ReconnectionOverlay(
+    /// WebSocket connection state to monitor.
+    ws_state: Signal<WsState>,
+    /// Callback to trigger a reconnection attempt.
+    on_reconnect: Callback<()>,
+) -> impl IntoView {
+    // Internal overlay state
+    let (overlay_state, set_overlay_state) = signal(OverlayState::Hidden);
+
+    // Timer handle stored for cleanup
+    #[cfg(feature = "hydrate")]
+    let timer_handle: std::rc::Rc<std::cell::RefCell<Option<gloo_timers::callback::Interval>>> =
+        std::rc::Rc::new(std::cell::RefCell::new(None));
+
+    // Watch for WebSocket state changes
+    #[cfg(feature = "hydrate")]
+    {
+        let timer_handle = timer_handle.clone();
+
+        Effect::new(move |_| {
+            let state = ws_state.get();
+
+            match state {
+                WsState::Connected => {
+                    // Connection restored - hide overlay and stop timer
+                    if let Some(timer) = timer_handle.borrow_mut().take() {
+                        drop(timer);
+                    }
+                    set_overlay_state.set(OverlayState::Hidden);
+                }
+                WsState::Disconnected | WsState::Error => {
+                    // Check current state - only start countdown if we're hidden
+                    let current = overlay_state.get_untracked();
+                    if matches!(current, OverlayState::Hidden) {
+                        // Start initial countdown
+                        let phase = ReconnectionPhase::Initial { attempt: 1 };
+                        let duration = phase.countdown_duration();
+                        set_overlay_state.set(OverlayState::Countdown {
+                            phase,
+                            remaining: duration,
+                        });
+
+                        // Start timer
+                        start_countdown_timer(
+                            timer_handle.clone(),
+                            set_overlay_state,
+                            on_reconnect.clone(),
+                        );
+                    } else if matches!(current, OverlayState::Reconnecting { .. }) {
+                        // Reconnection attempt failed - advance to next attempt
+                        if let OverlayState::Reconnecting { phase } = current {
+                            let next_phase = phase.next();
+                            if matches!(next_phase, ReconnectionPhase::Failed) {
+                                set_overlay_state.set(OverlayState::Failed);
+                            } else {
+                                let duration = next_phase.countdown_duration();
+                                set_overlay_state.set(OverlayState::Countdown {
+                                    phase: next_phase,
+                                    remaining: duration,
+                                });
+                                // Restart timer for next countdown
+                                start_countdown_timer(
+                                    timer_handle.clone(),
+                                    set_overlay_state,
+                                    on_reconnect.clone(),
+                                );
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+                WsState::Connecting => {
+                    // Currently attempting to connect - keep current state
+                    // The reconnecting state should already be set
+                }
+            }
+        });
+    }
+
+    // Render based on state
+    move || {
+        let state = overlay_state.get();
+
+        match state {
+            OverlayState::Hidden => None,
+            OverlayState::Countdown { phase, remaining } => {
+                let (phase_text, attempt_text) = match phase {
+                    ReconnectionPhase::Initial { attempt } => {
+                        ("Attempt", format!("{} of 5", attempt))
+                    }
+                    ReconnectionPhase::Extended { attempt } => {
+                        ("Extended attempt", format!("{} of 10", attempt))
+                    }
+                    ReconnectionPhase::Failed => ("", String::new()),
+                };
+
+                Some(
+                    view! {
+                        <div
+                            class="fixed inset-0 z-[100] flex items-center justify-center"
+                            role="alertdialog"
+                            aria-modal="true"
+                            aria-labelledby="reconnect-title"
+                        >
+                            // Darkened backdrop
+                            <div
+                                class="absolute inset-0 bg-black/80 backdrop-blur-md"
+                                aria-hidden="true"
+                            ></div>
+
+                            // Dialog box
+                            <div class="relative bg-gray-800 rounded-lg shadow-2xl max-w-md w-full mx-4 p-8 border border-gray-700 text-center">
+                                // Countdown circle
+                                <div class="w-20 h-20 mx-auto rounded-full bg-yellow-900/30 flex items-center justify-center mb-6">
+                                    <span class="text-4xl font-bold text-yellow-300">
+                                        {remaining}
+                                    </span>
+                                </div>
+
+                                <h2
+                                    id="reconnect-title"
+                                    class="text-xl font-semibold text-white mb-2"
+                                >
+                                    "Lost connection..."
+                                </h2>
+
+                                <p class="text-gray-300 mb-4">
+                                    {format!("attempting to reconnect in {} seconds", remaining)}
+                                </p>
+
+                                <p class="text-sm text-gray-400">
+                                    {format!("{} {}", phase_text, attempt_text)}
+                                </p>
+                            </div>
+                        </div>
+                    }
+                    .into_any(),
+                )
+            }
+            OverlayState::Reconnecting { phase } => {
+                let (phase_text, attempt_text) = match phase {
+                    ReconnectionPhase::Initial { attempt } => {
+                        ("Attempt", format!("{} of 5", attempt))
+                    }
+                    ReconnectionPhase::Extended { attempt } => {
+                        ("Extended attempt", format!("{} of 10", attempt))
+                    }
+                    ReconnectionPhase::Failed => ("", String::new()),
+                };
+
+                Some(
+                    view! {
+                        <div
+                            class="fixed inset-0 z-[100] flex items-center justify-center"
+                            role="alertdialog"
+                            aria-modal="true"
+                            aria-labelledby="reconnect-title"
+                        >
+                            // Darkened backdrop
+                            <div
+                                class="absolute inset-0 bg-black/80 backdrop-blur-md"
+                                aria-hidden="true"
+                            ></div>
+
+                            // Dialog box
+                            <div class="relative bg-gray-800 rounded-lg shadow-2xl max-w-md w-full mx-4 p-8 border border-gray-700 text-center">
+                                // Spinner
+                                <div class="w-20 h-20 mx-auto rounded-full bg-blue-900/30 flex items-center justify-center mb-6 reconnect-spinner">
+                                    <svg
+                                        class="w-10 h-10 text-blue-400 animate-spin"
+                                        xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
+                                        fill="none"
+                                        viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+                                    >
+                                        <circle
+                                            class="opacity-25"
+                                            cx="12"
+                                            cy="12"
+                                            r="10"
+                                            stroke="currentColor"
+                                            stroke-width="4"
+                                        ></circle>
+                                        <path
+                                            class="opacity-75"
+                                            fill="currentColor"
+                                            d="M4 12a8 8 0 018-8V0C5.373 0 0 5.373 0 12h4zm2 5.291A7.962 7.962 0 014 12H0c0 3.042 1.135 5.824 3 7.938l3-2.647z"
+                                        ></path>
+                                    </svg>
+                                </div>
+
+                                <h2
+                                    id="reconnect-title"
+                                    class="text-xl font-semibold text-white mb-2"
+                                >
+                                    "Reconnecting..."
+                                </h2>
+
+                                <p class="text-gray-300 mb-4">"Attempting to restore connection"</p>
+
+                                <p class="text-sm text-gray-400">
+                                    {format!("{} {}", phase_text, attempt_text)}
+                                </p>
+                            </div>
+                        </div>
+                    }
+                    .into_any(),
+                )
+            }
+            OverlayState::Failed => Some(
+                view! {
+                    <div
+                        class="fixed inset-0 z-[100] flex items-center justify-center"
+                        role="alertdialog"
+                        aria-modal="true"
+                        aria-labelledby="reconnect-title"
+                    >
+                        // Darkened backdrop
+                        <div
+                            class="absolute inset-0 bg-black/80 backdrop-blur-md"
+                            aria-hidden="true"
+                        ></div>
+
+                        // Dialog box
+                        <div class="relative bg-gray-800 rounded-lg shadow-2xl max-w-md w-full mx-4 p-8 border border-gray-700 text-center">
+                            // Error icon
+                            <div class="w-20 h-20 mx-auto rounded-full bg-red-900/30 flex items-center justify-center mb-6">
+                                <svg
+                                    class="w-10 h-10 text-red-400"
+                                    xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
+                                    fill="none"
+                                    viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+                                    stroke="currentColor"
+                                >
+                                    <path
+                                        stroke-linecap="round"
+                                        stroke-linejoin="round"
+                                        stroke-width="2"
+                                        d="M6 18L18 6M6 6l12 12"
+                                    ></path>
+                                </svg>
+                            </div>
+
+                            <h2
+                                id="reconnect-title"
+                                class="text-xl font-semibold text-white mb-2"
+                            >
+                                "Connection Failed"
+                            </h2>
+
+                            <p class="text-gray-300 mb-6">
+                                "Unable to reconnect after multiple attempts. Please check your network connection and try again."
+                            </p>
+
+                            <button
+                                type="button"
+                                class="px-6 py-3 bg-blue-600 hover:bg-blue-700 text-white font-semibold rounded-lg focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-blue-500 focus:ring-offset-2 focus:ring-offset-gray-800 transition-colors duration-200"
+                                on:click=move |_| {
+                                    #[cfg(feature = "hydrate")]
+                                    {
+                                        if let Some(window) = web_sys::window() {
+                                            let _ = window.location().reload();
+                                        }
+                                    }
+                                }
+                            >
+                                "Refresh Page"
+                            </button>
+                        </div>
+                    </div>
+                }
+                .into_any(),
+            ),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Start the countdown timer.
+#[cfg(feature = "hydrate")]
+fn start_countdown_timer(
+    timer_handle: std::rc::Rc<std::cell::RefCell<Option<gloo_timers::callback::Interval>>>,
+    set_overlay_state: WriteSignal<OverlayState>,
+    on_reconnect: Callback<()>,
+) {
+    use gloo_timers::callback::Interval;
+
+    // Stop any existing timer
+    if let Some(old_timer) = timer_handle.borrow_mut().take() {
+        drop(old_timer);
+    }
+
+    // Create new timer that ticks every second
+    let timer = Interval::new(1000, move || {
+        set_overlay_state.update(|state| {
+            if let OverlayState::Countdown { phase, remaining } = state {
+                if *remaining > 1 {
+                    // Decrement countdown
+                    *remaining -= 1;
+                } else {
+                    // Countdown reached zero - trigger reconnection
+                    *state = OverlayState::Reconnecting { phase: *phase };
+                    on_reconnect.run(());
+                }
+            }
+        });
+    });
+
+    *timer_handle.borrow_mut() = Some(timer);
+}
diff --git a/crates/chattyness-user-ui/src/components/ws_client.rs b/crates/chattyness-user-ui/src/components/ws_client.rs
index a162edc..a4e6952 100644
--- a/crates/chattyness-user-ui/src/components/ws_client.rs
+++ b/crates/chattyness-user-ui/src/components/ws_client.rs
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ pub struct WsError {
 pub fn use_channel_websocket(
     realm_slug: Signal<String>,
     channel_id: Signal<Option<uuid::Uuid>>,
+    reconnect_trigger: Signal<u32>,
     on_members_update: Callback<Vec<ChannelMemberWithAvatar>>,
     on_chat_message: Callback<ChatMessage>,
     on_loose_props_sync: Callback<Vec<LooseProp>>,
@@ -120,6 +121,8 @@ pub fn use_channel_websocket(
     Effect::new(move |_| {
         let slug = realm_slug.get();
         let ch_id = channel_id.get();
+        // Track reconnect_trigger to force reconnection when it changes
+        let _trigger = reconnect_trigger.get();
 
         // Cleanup previous connection
         if let Some(old_ws) = ws_ref_clone.borrow_mut().take() {
@@ -458,6 +461,7 @@ fn handle_server_message(
 pub fn use_channel_websocket(
     _realm_slug: Signal<String>,
     _channel_id: Signal<Option<uuid::Uuid>>,
+    _reconnect_trigger: Signal<u32>,
     _on_members_update: Callback<Vec<ChannelMemberWithAvatar>>,
     _on_chat_message: Callback<ChatMessage>,
     _on_loose_props_sync: Callback<Vec<LooseProp>>,
diff --git a/crates/chattyness-user-ui/src/pages/realm.rs b/crates/chattyness-user-ui/src/pages/realm.rs
index 78cd484..9a28abe 100644
--- a/crates/chattyness-user-ui/src/pages/realm.rs
+++ b/crates/chattyness-user-ui/src/pages/realm.rs
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ use uuid::Uuid;
 use crate::components::{
     ActiveBubble, AvatarEditorPopup, Card, ChatInput, ConversationModal, EmotionKeybindings,
     FadingMember, InventoryPopup, KeybindingsPopup, MessageLog, NotificationHistoryModal,
-    NotificationMessage, NotificationToast, RealmHeader, RealmSceneViewer, SettingsPopup,
-    ViewerSettings,
+    NotificationMessage, NotificationToast, RealmHeader, RealmSceneViewer, ReconnectionOverlay,
+    SettingsPopup, ViewerSettings,
 };
 #[cfg(feature = "hydrate")]
 use crate::components::{
@@ -118,6 +118,9 @@ pub fn RealmPage() -> impl IntoView {
     // Error notification state (for whisper failures, etc.)
     let (error_message, set_error_message) = signal(Option::<String>::None);
 
+    // Reconnection trigger - increment to force WebSocket reconnection
+    let (reconnect_trigger, set_reconnect_trigger) = signal(0u32);
+
     let realm_data = LocalResource::new(move || {
         let slug = slug.get();
         async move {
@@ -330,9 +333,10 @@ pub fn RealmPage() -> impl IntoView {
     });
 
     #[cfg(feature = "hydrate")]
-    let (_ws_state, ws_sender) = use_channel_websocket(
+    let (ws_state, ws_sender) = use_channel_websocket(
         slug,
         Signal::derive(move || channel_id.get()),
+        Signal::derive(move || reconnect_trigger.get()),
         on_members_update,
         on_chat_message,
         on_loose_props_sync,
@@ -954,6 +958,22 @@ pub fn RealmPage() -> impl IntoView {
                                                 />
                                             }
                                         }
+
+                                        // Reconnection overlay - shown when WebSocket disconnects
+                                        {
+                                            #[cfg(feature = "hydrate")]
+                                            let ws_state_for_overlay = ws_state;
+                                            #[cfg(not(feature = "hydrate"))]
+                                            let ws_state_for_overlay = Signal::derive(|| crate::components::ws_client::WsState::Disconnected);
+                                            view! {
+                                                <ReconnectionOverlay
+                                                    ws_state=ws_state_for_overlay
+                                                    on_reconnect=Callback::new(move |_: ()| {
+                                                        set_reconnect_trigger.update(|t| *t += 1);
+                                                    })
+                                                />
+                                            }
+                                        }
                                     }
                                         .into_any()
                                 }