diff --git a/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/api/client.rs b/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/api/client.rs
index 5d3e7b842..298af10da 100644
--- a/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/api/client.rs
+++ b/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/api/client.rs
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ fn validate_relative_path(path: &str) -> ApiResult<()> {
         || path.chars().any(char::is_control)
     {
         return Err(ApiError::Network(
-            "authenticated daemon API URLs must be relative".to_owned(),
+            "authenticated Hypercolor API URLs must be relative".to_owned(),
         ));
     }
     Ok(())
@@ -459,7 +459,7 @@ async fn browser_send(
 ) -> Result<HttpResponse, super::http_transport::HttpTransportError> {
     let url =
         daemon_url(&request.path).ok_or_else(|| super::http_transport::HttpTransportError {
-            message: "verified daemon connection is unavailable".to_owned(),
+            message: "verified Hypercolor connection is unavailable".to_owned(),
         })?;
     let mut builder = RequestBuilder::new(&url).method(browser_method(request.method));
     if let Some(token) = authorization_token() {
diff --git a/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/api/system.rs b/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/api/system.rs
index cbaf82212..8cf28c5c7 100644
--- a/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/api/system.rs
+++ b/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/api/system.rs
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ pub async fn fetch_status() -> ApiResult<SystemStatus> {
     let system: SystemResource = client::fetch_json("/api/v1/system").await?;
     system
         .status
-        .ok_or_else(|| ApiError::Parse("System status requires daemon read access".to_owned()))
+        .ok_or_else(|| ApiError::Parse("System status requires Hypercolor read access".to_owned()))
 }
 
 /// Fetch the latest system sensor snapshot.
diff --git a/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/app.rs b/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/app.rs
index e9acea577..cb8c75bbe 100644
--- a/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/app.rs
+++ b/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/app.rs
@@ -1006,7 +1006,7 @@ fn ApiKeyPrompt(on_unlock: Callback<String>) -> impl IntoView {
             <div class="relative w-full max-w-sm rounded-lg border border-edge-subtle bg-surface-overlay p-5 modal-glow">
                 <div class="text-sm font-semibold text-fg-primary">"Network API Key"</div>
                 <div class="mt-1 text-xs text-fg-tertiary/75">
-                    "This daemon requires a key for network access."
+                    "The connected computer requires a key for network access."
                 </div>
                 <input
                     node_ref=input_ref
diff --git a/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/canvas_preview.rs b/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/canvas_preview.rs
index 64500aceb..49013f697 100644
--- a/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/canvas_preview.rs
+++ b/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/canvas_preview.rs
@@ -1082,7 +1082,7 @@ pub fn CanvasPreview(
                     title=move || if interactive_active.get() {
                         "Stop driving the effect from the preview"
                     } else {
-                        "Drive the effect — send preview clicks, keys, and wheel to the daemon"
+                        "Drive the effect with preview clicks, keys, and wheel input"
                     }
                     aria-label=move || if interactive_active.get() {
                         "Disable interactive preview input"
diff --git a/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/control_panel/capture_group.rs b/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/control_panel/capture_group.rs
index 3e8b5751d..d0eb8825e 100644
--- a/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/control_panel/capture_group.rs
+++ b/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/control_panel/capture_group.rs
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ pub fn CaptureSharedControls(
                             <h4
                                 class="text-[9px] font-mono uppercase tracking-[0.15em] shrink-0"
                                 style=label_style
-                                title="Writes the daemon capture pipeline; affects every screen-reactive effect"
+                                title="Changes the connected computer's capture source; affects every screen-reactive effect"
                             >
                                 "Capture \u{00b7} Shared"
                             </h4>
diff --git a/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/install_effect_panel.rs b/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/install_effect_panel.rs
index 379ca80ef..ca2bb085b 100644
--- a/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/install_effect_panel.rs
+++ b/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/install_effect_panel.rs
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ pub fn InstallEffectPanel() -> impl IntoView {
                     <div class="flex items-center justify-between gap-3 border-b border-edge-subtle/70 px-4 py-3">
                         <div>
                             <div class="text-sm font-semibold text-fg-primary">"Install Custom Effect"</div>
-                            <div class="text-[11px] text-fg-tertiary">"Preview the artifact metadata before uploading it to the daemon."</div>
+                            <div class="text-[11px] text-fg-tertiary">"Preview the artifact metadata before adding it to Hypercolor."</div>
                         </div>
                         <button
                             type="button"
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ pub fn InstallEffectPanel() -> impl IntoView {
                             <span class=("inline-flex", true) class=("animate-spin", move || is_uploading.get())>
                                 <Icon icon=if is_uploading.get() { LuLoader } else { LuCheck } width="14px" height="14px" />
                             </span>
-                            <span>{move || if is_uploading.get() { "Uploading…" } else { "Install to Daemon" }}</span>
+                            <span>{move || if is_uploading.get() { "Uploading…" } else { "Install in Hypercolor" }}</span>
                         </button>
                     </div>
                 </div>
diff --git a/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/settings_sections.rs b/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/settings_sections.rs
index dbfe4c036..6d23613b8 100644
--- a/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/settings_sections.rs
+++ b/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/settings_sections.rs
@@ -860,7 +860,7 @@ pub fn NetworkSection(
             <SectionHeader title="Network" icon=LuGlobe />
             <SettingSegmented
                 label="Access Mode"
-                description="How the daemon API is exposed"
+                description="How the Hypercolor API is exposed"
                 key="network.access_mode"
                 value=access_mode
                 options=access_mode_options
@@ -880,7 +880,7 @@ pub fn NetworkSection(
             <Show when=move || access_mode.get() == "custom">
             <SettingSegmented
                 label="Listen Scope"
-                description="Who can reach the daemon API"
+                description="Who can reach the Hypercolor API"
                 key="daemon.listen_scope"
                 policy_key="daemon.listen_address"
                 value=listen_scope
@@ -929,7 +929,7 @@ pub fn NetworkSection(
             </Show>
             <SettingToggle
                 label="Open Browser on Start"
-                description="Automatically open the web UI when the daemon starts"
+                description="Automatically open the web UI when Hypercolor starts"
                 key="web.open_browser"
                 value=open_browser
                 on_change=on_change
@@ -1094,7 +1094,7 @@ pub fn RenderingSection(
             />
             <SettingDropdown
                 label="Effect Error Fallback"
-                description="What the daemon should do after an effect render failure. Clear failed zones replaces dark or crashed assignments with empty scene slots."
+                description="What Hypercolor should do after an effect render failure. Clear failed zones replaces dark or crashed assignments with empty scene slots."
                 key="effect_engine.effect_error_fallback"
                 value=effect_error_fallback
                 options=Signal::stored(fallback_options)
diff --git a/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/settings_sections/audio.rs b/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/settings_sections/audio.rs
index 2185a50ef..a1e6723c9 100644
--- a/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/settings_sections/audio.rs
+++ b/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/settings_sections/audio.rs
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ pub fn AudioSection(
             />
             <SettingDropdown
                 label="Device"
-                description="Audio source for reactive effects; applies live when the daemon can switch safely"
+                description="Audio source for reactive effects; applies live when Hypercolor can switch safely"
                 key="audio.device"
                 value=device
                 options=audio_devices
diff --git a/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/settings_sections/developer.rs b/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/settings_sections/developer.rs
index 8eb4f6d96..cddf83ca4 100644
--- a/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/settings_sections/developer.rs
+++ b/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/settings_sections/developer.rs
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ pub fn DeveloperSection(
             <div class="text-xs text-fg-tertiary/50 -mt-2 mb-4">"Advanced options for development and debugging"</div>
             <SettingDropdown
                 label="Log Level"
-                description="Daemon logging verbosity"
+                description="Hypercolor logging verbosity"
                 key="daemon.log_level"
                 value=log_level
                 options=Signal::stored(log_options)
diff --git a/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/settings_sections/input.rs b/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/settings_sections/input.rs
index 5d7301e5b..942c14af7 100644
--- a/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/settings_sections/input.rs
+++ b/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/settings_sections/input.rs
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ pub fn InputSection(
                     on_change=on_change
                 />
                 <SettingDropdown
-                    label="Daemon effects"
+                    label="Effects on the connected computer"
                     description="Choose which interaction source authoritative device output receives"
                     key="input.daemon_route"
                     value=daemon_route
diff --git a/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/settings_sections/openrgb.rs b/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/settings_sections/openrgb.rs
index 9789660ac..0068ef8f7 100644
--- a/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/settings_sections/openrgb.rs
+++ b/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/settings_sections/openrgb.rs
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ pub(super) fn OpenRgbCard(on_change: Callback<(String, serde_json::Value)>) -> i
             {move || match hints.get() {
                 Some(Ok(Some(hints))) => view! {
                     <div class="space-y-2">
-                        <p class="text-xs font-medium text-fg-primary">"Install on this computer"</p>
+                        <p class="text-xs font-medium text-fg-primary">"Install on the connected computer"</p>
                         {hints.into_iter().map(|hint| view! {
                             <div><code class="block break-all text-xs text-fg-primary">{hint.command}</code><p class="text-xs text-fg-secondary">{hint.note}</p></div>
                         }).collect_view()}
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ fn OpenRgbStatusView(status: OpenRgbStatus, desktop_hints_ready: Signal<bool>) -
         </div>
         <p class="text-xs text-fg-secondary">{format!("{} routes have output disabled", status.output_disabled_count)}</p>
         <Show when=move || missing && !desktop_hints_ready.get()>
-            <div class="space-y-2"><p class="text-xs font-medium text-fg-primary">"Install on the daemon host"</p>
+            <div class="space-y-2"><p class="text-xs font-medium text-fg-primary">"Install on the connected computer"</p>
                 {host_hints.iter().cloned().map(|hint| view! {
                     <div><code class="block break-all text-xs text-fg-primary">{hint.command}</code><p class="text-xs text-fg-secondary">{hint.note}</p></div>
                 }).collect_view()}
diff --git a/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/settings_sections/session.rs b/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/settings_sections/session.rs
index abb939ffc..70aa2a86e 100644
--- a/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/settings_sections/session.rs
+++ b/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/components/settings_sections/session.rs
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ fn macos_owner_choice(identity: &ServiceIdentity) -> Option<MacosDaemonOwnerChoi
 fn humanize_identity(identity: &ServiceIdentity) -> String {
     match (identity.run_mode, identity.manager) {
         (DaemonRunMode::SupervisedChild, _) => "Hypercolor.app".to_owned(),
-        (DaemonRunMode::Standalone, _) => "a terminal-launched daemon".to_owned(),
+        (DaemonRunMode::Standalone, _) => "Hypercolor running from a terminal".to_owned(),
         (_, Some(ServiceManager::Launchd)) => "launchd service".to_owned(),
         (_, Some(ServiceManager::Homebrew)) => "Homebrew service".to_owned(),
         (_, Some(ServiceManager::Systemd)) => "systemd service".to_owned(),
@@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ const fn owner_choice_label(owner: MacosDaemonOwnerChoice) -> &'static str {
         MacosDaemonOwnerChoice::AppSidecar => "Use Hypercolor.app",
         MacosDaemonOwnerChoice::DirectLaunchd => "Use launchd service",
         MacosDaemonOwnerChoice::Homebrew => "Use Homebrew service",
-        MacosDaemonOwnerChoice::Standalone => "Use the terminal daemon",
+        MacosDaemonOwnerChoice::Standalone => "Use Hypercolor from the terminal",
     }
 }
 
@@ -461,10 +461,10 @@ fn macos_owner_outcome_message(outcome: &MacosOwnerCoordinatorOutcome) -> String
 fn owner_remedy_label(remedy: &MacosOwnerRemedy) -> String {
     match remedy {
         MacosOwnerRemedy::StopStandaloneOwner { pid } => {
-            format!("Quit the terminal-launched daemon (process {pid}), then try again.")
+            format!("Quit Hypercolor running from the terminal (process {pid}), then try again.")
         }
         MacosOwnerRemedy::RestartStandalone { pid } => {
-            format!("Restart the terminal-launched daemon (process {pid}), then try again.")
+            format!("Restart Hypercolor running from the terminal (process {pid}), then try again.")
         }
         MacosOwnerRemedy::StartAppSidecar => "Start Hypercolor.app.".to_owned(),
         MacosOwnerRemedy::StartLaunchdService => "Start the launchd service.".to_owned(),
@@ -489,7 +489,7 @@ fn humanize_owner(owner: &str) -> String {
         "app_sidecar" => "Hypercolor.app".to_owned(),
         "launchd_service" | "direct_launchd" => "launchd service".to_owned(),
         "homebrew_service" | "homebrew" => "Homebrew service".to_owned(),
-        "standalone" => "a terminal-launched daemon".to_owned(),
+        "standalone" => "Hypercolor running from a terminal".to_owned(),
         value => {
             let mut value = value.replace('_', " ");
             if let Some(first) = value.get_mut(0..1) {
@@ -740,10 +740,13 @@ mod tests {
             recovery_required: None,
         };
 
-        assert_eq!(humanize_owner("standalone"), "a terminal-launched daemon");
+        assert_eq!(
+            humanize_owner("standalone"),
+            "Hypercolor running from a terminal"
+        );
         assert_eq!(
             humanize_identity(&ServiceIdentity::STANDALONE),
-            "a terminal-launched daemon"
+            "Hypercolor running from a terminal"
         );
         assert_eq!(
             macos_owner_choices(&status),
diff --git a/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/pages/effects.rs b/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/pages/effects.rs
index 1a74e3dfa..c8b66ec0d 100644
--- a/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/pages/effects.rs
+++ b/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/pages/effects.rs
@@ -368,13 +368,13 @@ pub fn EffectsPage() -> impl IntoView {
             effect.name,
             match effect_error.fallback.as_deref() {
                 Some("clear_zones") => {
-                    "The daemon cleared this effect from the active scene after a render failure."
+                    "Hypercolor cleared this effect from the active scene after a render failure."
                         .to_owned()
                 }
                 Some(fallback) if !fallback.is_empty() => {
-                    format!("The daemon applied fallback \"{fallback}\" after a render failure.")
+                    format!("Hypercolor applied fallback \"{fallback}\" after a render failure.")
                 }
-                _ => "The daemon reported a render failure for this effect.".to_owned(),
+                _ => "Hypercolor reported a render failure for this effect.".to_owned(),
             },
         ))
     });
diff --git a/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/ws/transport.rs b/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/ws/transport.rs
index d4da0a08b..1a67ffc8b 100644
--- a/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/ws/transport.rs
+++ b/crates/hypercolor-ui/src/ws/transport.rs
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ fn validate_relative_path(path: &str) -> Result<(), WebSocketTransportError> {
         return Ok(());
     }
     Err(WebSocketTransportError {
-        message: "authenticated daemon WebSocket URLs must be relative".to_owned(),
+        message: "authenticated Hypercolor WebSocket URLs must be relative".to_owned(),
     })
 }
 
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ impl WebSocketTransport for BrowserWebSocketTransport {
         events: WebSocketEventHandler,
     ) -> Result<Rc<dyn WebSocketConnection>, WebSocketTransportError> {
         let url = build_ws_url(&request.path).ok_or_else(|| WebSocketTransportError {
-            message: "verified daemon WebSocket route is unavailable".to_owned(),
+            message: "verified Hypercolor WebSocket route is unavailable".to_owned(),
         })?;
         let socket = arraybuffer_websocket(&url, &request.protocol).map_err(|error| {
             WebSocketTransportError {