diff --git a/frontend/src/providers/stacks-provider.tsx b/frontend/src/providers/stacks-provider.tsx
index e2e1cfb..dde0d82 100644
--- a/frontend/src/providers/stacks-provider.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/providers/stacks-provider.tsx
@@ -9,12 +9,21 @@
  * `StacksProvider` object, which left the previous `showConnect`/
  * `openContractCall` calls hanging with no popup.
  *
+ * Connect is deliberately stateless-first: we clear any cached approval and
+ * force the wallet chooser on every connect, so switching accounts in the
+ * wallet (e.g. sender -> recipient) always takes effect. Cached data made
+ * reconnects silently return the previous account.
+ *
  * Ref: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stacks/connect
  */
 
 import { type ReactNode, useEffect, useCallback } from "react";
+import { toast } from "sonner";
 import { useWalletStore } from "@/stores/wallet-store";
 
+/** Stacks addresses start with S + P/M (mainnet) or T/N (testnet). */
+const STX_ADDRESS_RE = /^S[PMTN]/;
+
 export function StacksProvider({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
   const { setAddress, disconnect } = useWalletStore();
 
@@ -22,11 +31,30 @@ export function StacksProvider({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
   useEffect(() => {
     (async () => {
       try {
+        // Purge pre-v8 leftovers. Returning visitors carry the legacy
+        // UserSession blob, and our persisted store may claim "connected"
+        // from that era — without a matching v8 session the UI would lie
+        // and wallet actions would misbehave.
+        try {
+          localStorage.removeItem("blockstack-session");
+          localStorage.removeItem("blockstack-gaia-hub-config");
+        } catch {
+          /* storage unavailable — nothing to clean */
+        }
+
         const { isConnected, getLocalStorage } = await import("@stacks/connect");
         if (isConnected()) {
-          const address = getLocalStorage()?.addresses.stx[0]?.address;
-          if (address) setAddress(address);
+          const stx = getLocalStorage()?.addresses.stx.find((a) =>
+            STX_ADDRESS_RE.test(a.address)
+          );
+          if (stx) {
+            setAddress(stx.address);
+            return;
+          }
         }
+        // No live v8 session: make the UI agree (clears any stale
+        // persisted "connected" state from before the migration).
+        disconnect();
       } catch {
         // Stale or incompatible connect data — start fresh
         disconnect();
@@ -44,16 +72,55 @@ export function useStacksAuth() {
   const handleConnect = useCallback(async () => {
     setConnecting(true);
     try {
-      const { connect, getLocalStorage } = await import("@stacks/connect");
-      await connect(); // opens the wallet chooser + approval popup
-      const address = getLocalStorage()?.addresses.stx[0]?.address;
-      if (address) {
-        setAddress(address);
-      } else {
+      const {
+        connect,
+        disconnect: walletDisconnect,
+        JsonRpcError,
+      } = await import("@stacks/connect");
+
+      // Drop any cached approval/addresses so the wallet is always asked
+      // fresh — otherwise a reconnect can silently return the previously
+      // approved account even after the user switched accounts in the wallet.
+      walletDisconnect();
+
+      const res = await connect({ forceWalletSelect: true }).catch(
+        (err: unknown) => {
+          // User closed the chooser or rejected in the wallet — not an error
+          if (
+            err instanceof JsonRpcError &&
+            (err.code === -32000 || err.code === -31001)
+          ) {
+            return null;
+          }
+          throw err;
+        }
+      );
+
+      if (!res) {
         setConnecting(false);
+        return;
       }
-    } catch {
-      // User closed the popup or wallet rejected — back to idle
+
+      // Use the wallet's fresh response (authoritative for the currently
+      // selected account), never merged localStorage.
+      const stx = res.addresses.find((a) => STX_ADDRESS_RE.test(a.address));
+      if (!stx) {
+        toast.error(
+          "The wallet returned no Stacks address. Switch to a Stacks account in your wallet and try again."
+        );
+        setConnecting(false);
+        return;
+      }
+
+      setAddress(stx.address);
+      toast.success(
+        `Connected ${stx.address.slice(0, 6)}…${stx.address.slice(-4)}`
+      );
+    } catch (err) {
+      console.error("[wallet connect]", err);
+      toast.error(
+        "Couldn't reach the wallet. Unlock the extension, then try again."
+      );
       setConnecting(false);
     }
   }, [setAddress, setConnecting]);