diff --git a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(launcher)/launcher_cfg.svelte b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(launcher)/launcher_cfg.svelte
index 1c968163..2b6fd2ba 100644
--- a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(launcher)/launcher_cfg.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(launcher)/launcher_cfg.svelte
@@ -34,7 +34,11 @@
     import Launcher_Cfg_Local_Actions from './cfg_components/launcher_cfg_local_actions.svelte';
 
     // UI Tab State
-    let active_tab: 'system' | 'sync' | 'general' = $state('system');
+    // Tabs are audience-oriented:
+    //   setup   — what every onsite operator needs (mode preset, display, WS, screen saver)
+    //   hardware — native/Electron device management (health, OS control, updates, sync pause)
+    //   dev      — developer/debug tools; only useful when edit_mode is on
+    let active_tab: 'setup' | 'hardware' | 'dev' = $state('setup');
 
     /**
      * Auto-Collapse Coordinator
@@ -73,51 +77,100 @@
             Launcher Configuration
         </h2>
 
-        <button
-            type="button"
-            onclick={() => ($events_loc.launcher.hide_drawer__cfg = true)}
-            class="btn btn-icon dark:text-white hover:bg-surface-500/10 transition-colors"
-        >
-            <span class="fas fa-times"></span>
-            <span class="sr-only">Close Config</span>
-        </button>
+        <div class="flex items-center gap-1">
+            <!-- Subtle Edit Mode toggle — intentionally low-key so kiosk operators
+                 don't stumble on it, but accessible for setup/admin use.
+                 Glows primary when active; nearly invisible when off. -->
+            <button
+                type="button"
+                onclick={() => ($ae_loc.edit_mode = !$ae_loc.edit_mode)}
+                class="btn btn-icon transition-all duration-300"
+                class:text-primary-500={$ae_loc.edit_mode}
+                class:opacity-20={!$ae_loc.edit_mode}
+                class:hover:opacity-60={!$ae_loc.edit_mode}
+                title="{$ae_loc.edit_mode ? 'Disable' : 'Enable'} Edit Mode"
+            >
+                <span class="fas fa-pencil-alt text-xs"></span>
+                <span class="sr-only">Toggle Edit Mode</span>
+            </button>
+
+            <button
+                type="button"
+                onclick={() => ($events_loc.launcher.hide_drawer__cfg = true)}
+                class="btn btn-icon dark:text-white hover:bg-surface-500/10 transition-colors"
+            >
+                <span class="fas fa-times"></span>
+                <span class="sr-only">Close Config</span>
+            </button>
+        </div>
     </div>
 
     <!-- Category Tabs -->
-    <div class="w-full grid grid-cols-3 gap-1 bg-surface-500/10 p-1 rounded-lg">
+    <!-- Dev tab is only shown when Edit Mode is active — keeps the UI uncluttered
+         for onsite operators who never need those tools. Edit Mode is toggled via
+         the pencil icon in the header above. -->
+    <div
+        class="w-full gap-1 bg-surface-500/10 p-1 rounded-lg"
+        class:grid={true}
+        class:grid-cols-2={!$ae_loc.edit_mode}
+        class:grid-cols-3={$ae_loc.edit_mode}
+    >
         <button
             type="button"
-            onclick={() => (active_tab = 'system')}
+            onclick={() => (active_tab = 'setup')}
             class="btn btn-sm text-[10px] uppercase font-bold transition-all"
-            class:preset-filled-primary={active_tab === 'system'}
-            class:preset-tonal-surface={active_tab !== 'system'}
+            class:preset-filled-primary={active_tab === 'setup'}
+            class:preset-tonal-surface={active_tab !== 'setup'}
+            title="Display presets, interface toggles, WS controller, screen saver"
         >
-            <span class="fas fa-microchip mr-1"></span> System
+            <span class="fas fa-sliders-h mr-1"></span> Setup
         </button>
         <button
             type="button"
-            onclick={() => (active_tab = 'sync')}
+            onclick={() => (active_tab = 'hardware')}
             class="btn btn-sm text-[10px] uppercase font-bold transition-all"
-            class:preset-filled-primary={active_tab === 'sync'}
-            class:preset-tonal-surface={active_tab !== 'sync'}
+            class:preset-filled-primary={active_tab === 'hardware'}
+            class:preset-tonal-surface={active_tab !== 'hardware'}
+            title="Native hardware, Electron app health &amp; updates, sync control"
         >
-            <span class="fas fa-sync mr-1"></span> Sync
-        </button>
-        <button
-            type="button"
-            onclick={() => (active_tab = 'general')}
-            class="btn btn-sm text-[10px] uppercase font-bold transition-all"
-            class:preset-filled-primary={active_tab === 'general'}
-            class:preset-tonal-surface={active_tab !== 'general'}
-        >
-            <span class="fas fa-sliders-h mr-1"></span> General
+            <span class="fas fa-microchip mr-1"></span> Hardware
         </button>
+        {#if $ae_loc.edit_mode}
+            <button
+                type="button"
+                onclick={() => (active_tab = 'dev')}
+                class="btn btn-sm text-[10px] uppercase font-bold transition-all"
+                class:preset-filled-warning={active_tab === 'dev'}
+                class:preset-tonal-surface={active_tab !== 'dev'}
+                title="Developer &amp; debug tools"
+            >
+                <span class="fas fa-code mr-1"></span> Dev
+            </button>
+        {/if}
     </div>
 
     <!-- Tab Content -->
     <div class="w-full flex flex-col gap-2 min-h-[400px]">
-        {#if active_tab === 'system'}
-            <div class="animate-in fade-in slide-in-from-left-2 duration-300">
+
+        <!-- SETUP: everything onsite operators need day-to-day -->
+        {#if active_tab === 'setup'}
+            <div class="animate-in fade-in slide-in-from-left-2 duration-300 flex flex-col gap-2">
+                <!-- Mode preset is the #1 onsite action — give it prominent placement -->
+                <Launcher_Cfg_App_Modes
+                    on_expand={() => handle_section_expand('app_modes')}
+                />
+                <Launcher_Cfg_Controller
+                    on_expand={() => handle_section_expand('controller')}
+                />
+                <Launcher_Cfg_Screen_Saver
+                    on_expand={() => handle_section_expand('screen_saver')}
+                />
+            </div>
+        {/if}
+
+        <!-- HARDWARE: Electron/native device management only -->
+        {#if active_tab === 'hardware'}
+            <div class="animate-in fade-in slide-in-from-bottom-2 duration-300 flex flex-col gap-2">
                 {#if $ae_loc.is_native}
                     <Launcher_Cfg_Health
                         on_expand={() => handle_section_expand('health')}
@@ -129,38 +182,29 @@
                         on_expand={() => handle_section_expand('updates')}
                     />
                 {:else}
-                    <div class="card p-8 text-center opacity-50 italic text-sm">
-                        Native OS features are only available when running in
-                        the Aether Desktop app.
+                    <div class="card p-6 text-center opacity-50 italic text-sm flex flex-col gap-2 items-center">
+                        <span class="fas fa-desktop text-2xl opacity-30"></span>
+                        <p>Native OS features are only available in the Aether Desktop app.</p>
+                        <p class="text-[10px] opacity-60">Oral/default session room devices running Electron will see controls here.</p>
                     </div>
                 {/if}
-            </div>
-        {/if}
 
-        {#if active_tab === 'sync'}
-            <div class="animate-in fade-in slide-in-from-bottom-2 duration-300">
+                <!-- Sync pause is useful for anyone doing onsite troubleshooting, not just devs -->
                 <Launcher_Cfg_Sync_Timers
                     on_expand={() => handle_section_expand('sync_timers')}
                 />
             </div>
         {/if}
 
-        {#if active_tab === 'general'}
-            <div class="animate-in fade-in slide-in-from-right-2 duration-300">
-                <Launcher_Cfg_Controller
-                    on_expand={() => handle_section_expand('controller')}
-                />
-                <Launcher_Cfg_App_Modes
-                    on_expand={() => handle_section_expand('app_modes')}
-                />
-                <Launcher_Cfg_Screen_Saver
-                    on_expand={() => handle_section_expand('screen_saver')}
-                />
+        <!-- DEV: developer/debug tools — only reachable when Edit Mode is on -->
+        {#if active_tab === 'dev' && $ae_loc.edit_mode}
+            <div class="animate-in fade-in slide-in-from-right-2 duration-300 flex flex-col gap-2">
                 <Launcher_Cfg_Local_Actions
                     on_expand={() => handle_section_expand('local_actions')}
                 />
             </div>
         {/if}
+
     </div>
 
     <!-- Global Actions Footer -->
@@ -172,16 +216,18 @@
                 type="button"
                 onclick={() =>
                     ($events_loc.launcher.hide_drawer__debug = false)}
-                class="btn btn-sm preset-tonal-error hover:preset-filled-error-500 transition-all"
+                class="btn btn-sm preset-tonal-warning hover:preset-filled-warning-500 transition-all"
+                class:hidden={!$ae_loc.edit_mode}
             >
                 <span class="fas fa-bug mr-2"></span>
-                Open Debug
+                Debug Panel
             </button>
 
             <button
                 type="button"
                 onclick={() => location.reload()}
                 class="btn btn-sm preset-tonal-secondary hover:preset-filled-secondary-500 transition-all"
+                class:col-span-2={!$ae_loc.edit_mode}
             >
                 <span class="fas fa-sync-alt mr-2"></span>
                 Reload Page