diff --git a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(launcher)/cfg_components/launcher_cfg_native_os.svelte b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(launcher)/cfg_components/launcher_cfg_native_os.svelte
index 92bba4ce..be088adc 100644
--- a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(launcher)/cfg_components/launcher_cfg_native_os.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(launcher)/cfg_components/launcher_cfg_native_os.svelte
@@ -55,7 +55,15 @@
     description="OS: {$ae_loc.native_device?.meta_json?.platform ||
         '...'} | Kiosk & Apps"
 >
-    <!-- Content omitted for brevity, preserved in file -->
+    <!-- Dev preview banner: shown when edit_mode is on but not running in Electron.
+         electron_relay functions all return null when native is absent — no errors. -->
+    {#if $ae_loc.edit_mode && !$ae_loc.is_native}
+        <div class="flex items-center gap-2 px-2 py-1.5 rounded-lg bg-warning-500/10 border border-warning-500/30 mb-1">
+            <span class="fas fa-flask text-warning-500 text-xs"></span>
+            <span class="text-[9px] text-warning-500 font-bold uppercase tracking-wide">Dev Preview — controls visible but non-functional without Electron</span>
+        </div>
+    {/if}
+
     {#if system_status}
         <div
             class="col-span-full text-[10px] text-center italic bg-surface-500/10 py-1 rounded animate-pulse text-primary-500 border border-primary-500/20"
diff --git a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(launcher)/cfg_components/launcher_cfg_section.svelte b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(launcher)/cfg_components/launcher_cfg_section.svelte
index 54cd0961..8edb537c 100644
--- a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(launcher)/cfg_components/launcher_cfg_section.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(launcher)/cfg_components/launcher_cfg_section.svelte
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@
             {/if}
 
             <div
-                class="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-1 gap-4 lg:gap-3"
+                class="grid grid-cols-1 gap-3"
             >
                 {@render children?.()}
             </div>
diff --git a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(launcher)/launcher_cfg.svelte b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(launcher)/launcher_cfg.svelte
index 2b6fd2ba..c03f35bf 100644
--- a/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(launcher)/launcher_cfg.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/events/[event_id]/(launcher)/launcher_cfg.svelte
@@ -36,9 +36,9 @@
     // UI Tab State
     // 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)
+    //   device   — sync engine (all devices) + native/Electron OS controls (native or edit_mode)
     //   dev      — developer/debug tools; only useful when edit_mode is on
-    let active_tab: 'setup' | 'hardware' | 'dev' = $state('setup');
+    let active_tab: 'setup' | 'device' | 'dev' = $state('setup');
 
     /**
      * Auto-Collapse Coordinator
@@ -127,13 +127,13 @@
         </button>
         <button
             type="button"
-            onclick={() => (active_tab = 'hardware')}
+            onclick={() => (active_tab = 'device')}
             class="btn btn-sm text-[10px] uppercase font-bold transition-all"
-            class:preset-filled-primary={active_tab === 'hardware'}
-            class:preset-tonal-surface={active_tab !== 'hardware'}
-            title="Native hardware, Electron app health &amp; updates, sync control"
+            class:preset-filled-primary={active_tab === 'device'}
+            class:preset-tonal-surface={active_tab !== 'device'}
+            title="Sync engine, device health &amp; native OS controls"
         >
-            <span class="fas fa-microchip mr-1"></span> Hardware
+            <span class="fas fa-desktop mr-1"></span> Device
         </button>
         {#if $ae_loc.edit_mode}
             <button
@@ -168,31 +168,35 @@
             </div>
         {/if}
 
-        <!-- HARDWARE: Electron/native device management only -->
-        {#if active_tab === 'hardware'}
+        <!-- DEVICE: sync engine first (all devices) + native OS controls (native or edit_mode preview) -->
+        {#if active_tab === 'device'}
             <div class="animate-in fade-in slide-in-from-bottom-2 duration-300 flex flex-col gap-2">
-                {#if $ae_loc.is_native}
+                <!-- Sync pause/timers — relevant to every device, not just native -->
+                <Launcher_Cfg_Sync_Timers
+                    on_expand={() => handle_section_expand('sync_timers')}
+                />
+
+                <!-- Native sections: always in Electron; visible in edit_mode for dev preview.
+                     electron_relay.ts guards all calls — safe to import/render without Electron. -->
+                {#if $ae_loc.is_native || $ae_loc.edit_mode}
                     <Launcher_Cfg_Health
                         on_expand={() => handle_section_expand('health')}
                     />
                     <Launcher_Cfg_Native_OS
                         on_expand={() => handle_section_expand('native_os')}
                     />
-                    <Launcher_Cfg_Updates
-                        on_expand={() => handle_section_expand('updates')}
-                    />
+                    {#if $ae_loc.is_native}
+                        <Launcher_Cfg_Updates
+                            on_expand={() => handle_section_expand('updates')}
+                        />
+                    {/if}
                 {:else}
-                    <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 class="py-3 text-center opacity-40 italic text-xs flex flex-col gap-1 items-center">
+                        <span class="fas fa-desktop text-lg opacity-30"></span>
+                        <p>Native OS controls available in Aether Desktop.</p>
+                        <p class="text-[9px]">Enable Edit Mode to preview.</p>
                     </div>
                 {/if}
-
-                <!-- 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}