patricksmill · Nov 4, 2026 · Nov 4, 2026
diff --git a/docs/releases.md b/docs/releases.md
@@ -84,12 +84,12 @@ After merging:
 - [ ] [Release Please publish job](../.github/workflows/release-please.yml) completed (`publish-crates-io`)
 - [ ] [Release Artifacts](../.github/workflows/release-artifacts.yml) completed for frontend tags
 - [ ] crates.io shows the new version(s)
-- [ ] Smoke test: download archives and run `romm-cli --version` / `romm-tui --version`
+- [ ] Smoke test: download archives, run `romm-cli --version`, and launch `romm-tui` in a terminal to verify startup and exit. The TUI binary does not parse `--version`.
 
 Local preflight:
 
 ```bash
-./tools/release-check.sh
+bash tools/release-check.sh
 ```
 
 `release-check` always dry-runs `romm-api` first. Frontend `cargo publish --dry-run` runs only after that `romm-api` version exists on crates.io; otherwise frontends are validated with `cargo build --release`.

diff --git a/docs/tui.md b/docs/tui.md
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ On startup, the TUI checks for newer releases (disable with `ROMM_CHECK_UPDATES=
 - **Settings** — auth, paths, appearance, save-sync options
 - **Save downloads** — per-console save paths (see [api.md — custom save paths](api.md#custom-console-save-paths))
 
+Active text-entry fields show an inline `▏` caret by default, including metadata search, game search, library filters, settings, path pickers, and setup/authentication forms. Long values scroll to keep the insertion point visible; password and API-key fields remain masked.
+
 ### Screenshots
 
 #### Game details view

diff --git a/romm-tui/CHANGELOG.md b/romm-tui/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 - Consolidate library selection identity, count, and ROM request interpretation without changing browsing, prefetch, or saved-selection behavior.
 
+### Fixed
+
+- Show a visible typing caret by default across search, filters, settings, path pickers, and setup/authentication forms, including masked secret fields; keep the insertion point visible for long inputs.
+
 ## [1.4.2](https://github.com/patricksmill/romm-cli/compare/romm-tui-v1.4.1...romm-tui-v1.4.2) (2026-09-28)
 
 

diff --git a/romm-tui/src/tui/app/render.rs b/romm-tui/src/tui/app/render.rs
@@ -18,30 +18,18 @@ impl super::App {
             match &mut self.screen {
                 AppScreen::LibraryBrowse(lib) => {
                     lib.render(f, area, &styles);
-                    if let Some((x, y)) = lib.upload_prompt_cursor(area) {
-                        f.set_cursor_position((x, y));
-                    }
                 }
                 AppScreen::Search(search) => {
                     search.render(f, area, &styles);
-                    if let Some((x, y)) = search.cursor_position(area) {
-                        f.set_cursor_position((x, y));
-                    }
                 }
                 AppScreen::Settings(settings) => {
                     settings.render(f, area, &styles);
-                    if let Some((x, y)) = settings.cursor_position(area) {
-                        f.set_cursor_position((x, y));
-                    }
                 }
                 AppScreen::GameDetail(detail) => detail.render(f, area, &styles),
                 AppScreen::MetadataMatch(picker) => picker.render(f, area, &styles),
                 AppScreen::Download(d) => d.render(f, area, &styles),
                 AppScreen::SetupWizard(wizard) => {
                     wizard.render(f, area, &styles);
-                    if let Some((x, y)) = wizard.cursor_pos(area) {
-                        f.set_cursor_position((x, y));
-                    }
                 }
             }
 

diff --git a/romm-tui/src/tui/path_picker.rs b/romm-tui/src/tui/path_picker.rs
@@ -5,13 +5,16 @@ use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 use crossterm::event::{KeyCode, KeyEvent, KeyModifiers};
 use ratatui::layout::{Constraint, Direction, Layout, Rect};
 use ratatui::style::Modifier;
-use ratatui::widgets::{Block, Borders, List, ListItem, ListState, Paragraph};
+use ratatui::widgets::{List, ListItem, ListState, Paragraph};
 use ratatui::Frame;
 
 use crate::tui::footer_hint::{footer_hint_line, FooterHintEntry};
 use crate::tui::text_cursor;
 use crate::tui::theme::RommStyles;
 
+/// Display width of the path-bar focus prefix ("▶ ") in terminal cells.
+const PATH_PREFIX_WIDTH: usize = 2;
+
 /// Whether the user must pick a directory or a regular file.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub enum PathPickerMode {
@@ -407,13 +410,19 @@ impl PathPicker {
             PathPickerFocus::PathBar => "▶ ",
             PathPickerFocus::List => "  ",
         };
-        let (before, after) = text_cursor::split_at_cursor(&self.path_text, self.path_cursor);
         let path_style = if self.focus == PathPickerFocus::PathBar {
             styles.selection()
         } else {
             styles.text()
         };
-        let path_line = format!("{path_prefix}{before}▏{after}");
+        let path_text_width = usize::from(chunks[0].width).saturating_sub(PATH_PREFIX_WIDTH);
+        let path_line = match self.focus {
+            PathPickerFocus::PathBar => format!(
+                "{path_prefix}{}",
+                text_cursor::cursor_line(&self.path_text, self.path_cursor, path_text_width)
+            ),
+            PathPickerFocus::List => format!("{path_prefix}{}", self.path_text),
+        };
         let path_row = Rect {
             x: chunks[0].x,
             y: chunks[0].y,
@@ -467,29 +476,6 @@ impl PathPicker {
             chunks[2],
         );
     }
-
-    /// Terminal cursor inside path bar (relative to `area` passed to `render`).
-    pub fn cursor_position(&self, area: Rect, title: &str) -> Option<(u16, u16)> {
-        if self.focus != PathPickerFocus::PathBar {
-            return None;
-        }
-        let block = Block::default().title(title).borders(Borders::ALL);
-        let inner = block.inner(area);
-        let path_h = if self.io_error.is_some() { 2u16 } else { 1u16 };
-        let chunks = Layout::default()
-            .direction(Direction::Vertical)
-            .constraints([
-                Constraint::Length(path_h),
-                Constraint::Min(3),
-                Constraint::Length(2),
-            ])
-            .split(inner);
-        let path_prefix_chars = 2u16; // "▶ "
-        let path_before = text_cursor::char_column(&self.path_text, self.path_cursor) as u16;
-        let x = chunks[0].x + path_prefix_chars + path_before;
-        let y = chunks[0].y;
-        Some((x.min(chunks[0].x + chunks[0].width.saturating_sub(1)), y))
-    }
 }
 
 /// If the user is typing past `browse_dir` into a new path segment, return that segment's

diff --git a/romm-tui/src/tui/screens/library_browse/render.rs b/romm-tui/src/tui/screens/library_browse/render.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 use ratatui::layout::{Constraint, Layout, Rect};
-use ratatui::widgets::{Block, Borders, Cell, List, ListItem, ListState, Paragraph, Row, Table};
+use ratatui::widgets::{Cell, List, ListItem, ListState, Paragraph, Row, Table};
 use ratatui::Frame;
 
 use crate::tui::footer_hint::{render_footer_panel, FooterHintEntry};
@@ -148,7 +148,13 @@ impl LibraryBrowseScreen {
                     LibrarySearchMode::Filter => "Filter (list)",
                     LibrarySearchMode::Jump => "Jump (list)",
                 };
-                let p = Paragraph::new(format!("Search: {}", self.list_search.query))
+                let input = format!("Search: {}", self.list_search.query);
+                let input = crate::tui::text_cursor::cursor_line(
+                    &input,
+                    input.len(),
+                    usize::from(left_chunks[0].width.saturating_sub(2)),
+                );
+                let p = Paragraph::new(input)
                     .style(styles.text())
                     .block(styles.panel_block(title));
                 f.render_widget(p, left_chunks[0]);
@@ -179,7 +185,13 @@ impl LibraryBrowseScreen {
                 LibrarySearchMode::Filter => "Filter (games)",
                 LibrarySearchMode::Jump => "Jump (games)",
             };
-            let p = Paragraph::new(format!("Search: {}", self.rom_search.query))
+            let input = format!("Search: {}", self.rom_search.query);
+            let input = crate::tui::text_cursor::cursor_line(
+                &input,
+                input.len(),
+                usize::from(right_chunks[0].width.saturating_sub(2)),
+            );
+            let p = Paragraph::new(input)
                 .style(styles.text())
                 .block(styles.panel_block(title));
             f.render_widget(p, right_chunks[0]);
@@ -244,21 +256,6 @@ impl LibraryBrowseScreen {
             .render(f, rows[1], "Choose ROM file", UPLOAD_PICKER_HINTS, styles);
     }
 
-    /// Cursor for the upload path field (when [`Self::upload_prompt`] is open).
-    pub fn upload_prompt_cursor(&self, area: Rect) -> Option<(u16, u16)> {
-        let up = self.upload_prompt.as_ref()?;
-        let popup = Self::upload_popup_rect(area);
-        let inner = Block::default()
-            .title("Upload ROM (Ctrl+u)")
-            .borders(Borders::ALL)
-            .inner(popup);
-        let rows = Layout::default()
-            .direction(ratatui::layout::Direction::Vertical)
-            .constraints([Constraint::Length(2), Constraint::Min(8)])
-            .split(inner);
-        up.picker.cursor_position(rows[1], "Choose ROM file")
-    }
-
     fn render_list(&self, f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, styles: &RommStyles) {
         let visible = self.visible_list_source_indices();
         let labels = self.list_row_labels();

diff --git a/romm-tui/src/tui/screens/metadata_match.rs b/romm-tui/src/tui/screens/metadata_match.rs
@@ -199,6 +199,11 @@ impl MetadataMatchScreen {
         match &self.phase {
             MetadataMatchPhase::QueryInput => {
                 let input_line = format!("Search: {}", self.search_query);
+                let input_line = crate::tui::text_cursor::cursor_line(
+                    &input_line,
+                    "Search: ".len() + self.cursor_pos,
+                    usize::from(block.inner(chunks[0]).width),
+                );
                 let p = Paragraph::new(input_line).style(styles.text()).block(block);
                 f.render_widget(p, chunks[0]);
             }

diff --git a/romm-tui/src/tui/screens/search.rs b/romm-tui/src/tui/screens/search.rs
@@ -172,6 +172,11 @@ impl SearchScreen {
             .split(area);
 
         let input_line = format!("Search: {}", self.query);
+        let input_line = crate::tui::text_cursor::cursor_line(
+            &input_line,
+            "Search: ".len() + self.cursor_pos,
+            usize::from(chunks[0].width.saturating_sub(2)),
+        );
         let input = Paragraph::new(input_line)
             .style(styles.text())
             .block(styles.panel_block("Search games"));
@@ -257,22 +262,6 @@ impl SearchScreen {
             None,
         );
     }
-
-    pub fn cursor_position(&self, area: Rect) -> Option<(u16, u16)> {
-        let chunks = Layout::default()
-            .constraints([
-                Constraint::Length(3),
-                Constraint::Min(5),
-                Constraint::Length(3),
-            ])
-            .direction(ratatui::layout::Direction::Vertical)
-            .split(area);
-        let pos = clamp_to_char_boundary(&self.query, self.cursor_pos);
-        let offset = 9 + self.query[..pos].chars().count() as u16;
-        let x = chunks[0].x + offset.min(chunks[0].width.saturating_sub(1));
-        let y = chunks[0].y + 1;
-        Some((x, y))
-    }
 }
 
 fn clamp_to_char_boundary(s: &str, pos: usize) -> usize {

diff --git a/romm-tui/src/tui/screens/settings/render.rs b/romm-tui/src/tui/screens/settings/render.rs
@@ -86,6 +86,12 @@ const CONSOLE_PICKER_HINTS: &[FooterHintEntry] = &[
     },
 ];
 
+/// Label prefix for the Base URL row, including its value spacing.
+const BASE_URL_LABEL: &str = "Base URL:     ";
+
+/// Highlight marker rendered in the gutter of the settings list.
+const LIST_HIGHLIGHT_SYMBOL: &str = ">> ";
+
 impl SettingsScreen {
     pub fn render(&mut self, f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, styles: &RommStyles) {
         if let Some((platform_id, ref mut picker)) = self.console_path_picker {
@@ -219,20 +225,26 @@ impl SettingsScreen {
         f.render_widget(tabs, chunks[1]);
 
         // -- Editable List --
+        let list_block = styles.panel_block(format!(" {} ", self.selected_tab.title()));
+        // The list's actual content width, excluding the border and highlight gutter.
+        let row_width = list_block
+            .inner(chunks[2])
+            .width
+            .saturating_sub(LIST_HIGHLIGHT_SYMBOL.len() as u16);
         let items = self
             .visible_rows()
             .iter()
             .copied()
-            .map(|row| self.render_row_item(row, styles))
+            .map(|row| self.render_row_item(row, styles, row_width))
             .collect::<Vec<_>>();
 
         let mut state = ListState::default();
         state.select(Some(self.selected_row_index()));
 
         let list = List::new(items)
-            .block(styles.panel_block(format!(" {} ", self.selected_tab.title())))
+            .block(list_block)
             .highlight_style(styles.selection())
-            .highlight_symbol(">> ");
+            .highlight_symbol(LIST_HIGHLIGHT_SYMBOL);
 
         f.render_stateful_widget(list, chunks[2], &mut state);
 
@@ -278,7 +290,21 @@ impl SettingsScreen {
         render_footer_panel(f, chunks[4], styles, help, None);
     }
 
-    fn render_row_item(&self, row: SettingsRow, styles: &RommStyles) -> ListItem<'static> {
+    fn render_row_item(
+        &self,
+        row: SettingsRow,
+        styles: &RommStyles,
+        row_width: u16,
+    ) -> ListItem<'static> {
+        if self.editing
+            && row == SettingsRow::BaseUrl
+            && self.selected_row() == SettingsRow::BaseUrl
+        {
+            let value_width = usize::from(row_width).saturating_sub(BASE_URL_LABEL.len());
+            let value = text_cursor::cursor_line(&self.edit_buffer, self.edit_cursor, value_width);
+            return ListItem::new(format!("{BASE_URL_LABEL}{value}")).style(styles.text());
+        }
+
         let label = self.row_label(row);
         match row {
             SettingsRow::SyncDevice | SettingsRow::SyncNow if !self.save_sync_supported() => {
@@ -291,7 +317,7 @@ impl SettingsScreen {
     pub(crate) fn row_label(&self, row: SettingsRow) -> String {
         let label = match row {
             SettingsRow::BaseUrl => format!(
-                "Base URL:     {}",
+                "{BASE_URL_LABEL}{}",
                 if self.editing && self.selected_row() == SettingsRow::BaseUrl {
                     &self.edit_buffer
                 } else {
@@ -360,47 +386,6 @@ impl SettingsScreen {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn cursor_position(&self, area: Rect) -> Option<(u16, u16)> {
-        if let Some((kind, ref picker)) = self.path_picker {
-            let chunks = Layout::default()
-                .constraints([
-                    Constraint::Length(4),
-                    Constraint::Min(12),
-                    Constraint::Length(3),
-                ])
-                .direction(ratatui::layout::Direction::Vertical)
-                .split(area);
-            let title = match kind {
-                SettingsPickerKind::RomsDir => "Choose ROMs directory",
-                SettingsPickerKind::SaveDir => "Choose save directory",
-            };
-            return picker.cursor_position(chunks[1], title);
-        }
-
-        if !self.editing || self.selected_row() != SettingsRow::BaseUrl {
-            return None;
-        }
-
-        let chunks = Layout::default()
-            .constraints([
-                Constraint::Length(4),
-                Constraint::Length(3),
-                Constraint::Min(10),
-                Constraint::Length(3),
-                Constraint::Length(3),
-            ])
-            .direction(ratatui::layout::Direction::Vertical)
-            .split(area);
-
-        let list_area = chunks[2];
-        let y = list_area.y + 1 + self.selected_row_index() as u16;
-        let label_len = 14; // "Base URL:     ".len()
-        let edit_col = text_cursor::char_column(&self.edit_buffer, self.edit_cursor) as u16;
-        let x = list_area.x + 1 /* border */ + 3 /* highlight symbol */ + label_len + edit_col;
-
-        Some((x, y))
-    }
-
     fn render_device_picker(&mut self, f: &mut Frame, area: Rect, styles: &RommStyles) {
         let chunks = Layout::default()
             .constraints([