diff --git a/swift/Sources/Features/Auth/LoginRootView.swift b/swift/Sources/Features/Auth/LoginRootView.swift
index 4393062..f7ff904 100644
--- a/swift/Sources/Features/Auth/LoginRootView.swift
+++ b/swift/Sources/Features/Auth/LoginRootView.swift
@@ -12,64 +12,34 @@ struct LoginRootView: View {
         MacPairingView(model: model)
         #else
         NavigationStack {
-            ZStack(alignment: .top) {
-                LiveQRScannerView { payload in
+            PairingWelcomeView(
+                model: model,
+                onScanRequested: {
+                    model.isScannerPresented = true
+                },
+                onNFCRequested: {
+                    isNFCSheetPresented = true
+                }
+            )
+            .fullScreenCover(isPresented: $model.isScannerPresented) {
+                QRScannerSheet(
+                    title: "Scan pairing QR",
+                    description: "Open pairing in your idp.global web session, then scan the QR shown there to link this iPhone.",
+                    navigationTitle: "Link Passport"
+                ) { payload in
                     model.manualPairingPayload = payload
                     Task {
                         await model.signIn(with: payload, transport: .qr)
                     }
                 }
-                .ignoresSafeArea()
-
-                VStack(spacing: 0) {
-                    IdPGlassCapsule {
-                        VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 6) {
-                            Text("Scan a pairing code")
-                                .font(.headline)
-
-                            Text("Turn this iPhone into your idp.global passport with QR or NFC.")
-                                .font(.subheadline)
-                                .foregroundStyle(.secondary)
-                        }
-                        .frame(maxWidth: .infinity, alignment: .leading)
-                    }
-                    .padding(.horizontal, 16)
-                    .padding(.top, 12)
-
-                    Spacer()
-
-                    Button {
-                        isNFCSheetPresented = true
-                    } label: {
-                        IdPGlassCapsule {
-                            HStack(spacing: 10) {
-                                Image(systemName: "wave.3.right")
-                                    .foregroundStyle(IdP.tint)
-                                Text("Hold near NFC tag")
-                                    .font(.headline)
-                                    .foregroundStyle(.primary)
-                            }
-                        }
-                    }
-                    .buttonStyle(.plain)
-                    .padding(.horizontal, 16)
-                    .padding(.bottom, 24)
-                }
-            }
-            .toolbar {
-                ToolbarItem(placement: .topBarTrailing) {
-                    Button("Use demo payload") {
-                        Task {
-                            await model.signInWithSuggestedPayload()
-                        }
-                    }
-                    .font(.footnote)
-                    .disabled(model.isAuthenticating || model.suggestedPairingPayload.isEmpty)
-                }
             }
         }
         .sheet(isPresented: $isNFCSheetPresented) {
-            NFCSheet(actionTitle: "Approve") { request in
+            NFCSheet(
+                title: "Hold near pairing tag",
+                message: "Use a supported idp.global NFC tag to link this iPhone and attach a signed location proof.",
+                actionTitle: "Link device"
+            ) { request in
                 await model.signIn(with: request)
             }
         }
@@ -77,6 +47,163 @@ struct LoginRootView: View {
     }
 }
 
+#if !os(macOS)
+private struct PairingWelcomeView: View {
+    @ObservedObject var model: AppViewModel
+    let onScanRequested: () -> Void
+    let onNFCRequested: () -> Void
+
+    var body: some View {
+        AppScrollScreen(compactLayout: true, bottomPadding: 150) {
+            AppPanel(compactLayout: true, radius: 30) {
+                ShadcnBadge(
+                    title: "Passport setup",
+                    tone: .accent,
+                    leading: Image(systemName: "shield.lefthalf.filled")
+                )
+
+                HStack(alignment: .top, spacing: 16) {
+                    ZStack {
+                        RoundedRectangle(cornerRadius: 20, style: .continuous)
+                            .fill(IdP.tint.opacity(0.14))
+                            .frame(width: 72, height: 72)
+
+                        Image(systemName: "qrcode.viewfinder")
+                            .font(.system(size: 30, weight: .semibold))
+                            .foregroundStyle(IdP.tint)
+                    }
+
+                    VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 8) {
+                        Text("Link this iPhone to your idp.global account")
+                            .font(.title2.weight(.bold))
+                            .fixedSize(horizontal: false, vertical: true)
+
+                        Text("Start pairing in your browser, then scan the fresh QR on the next screen. This device becomes your passport for approvals, alerts, and identity proofs.")
+                            .font(.subheadline)
+                            .foregroundStyle(Color.idpMutedForeground)
+                    }
+                }
+
+                Text("No camera? The scanner screen also lets you paste a pairing link manually.")
+                    .font(.footnote)
+                    .foregroundStyle(Color.idpMutedForeground)
+            }
+
+            AppSectionCard(
+                title: "How pairing works",
+                subtitle: "The QR is created by the web session you want to trust.",
+                compactLayout: true
+            ) {
+                VStack(spacing: 14) {
+                    PairingStepRow(
+                        number: 1,
+                        title: "Start from the web",
+                        message: "Open idp.global in your browser and begin a new device pairing flow."
+                    )
+
+                    PairingStepRow(
+                        number: 2,
+                        title: "Scan the QR",
+                        message: "Use the camera on the next screen to scan the pairing QR shown by that browser session."
+                    )
+
+                    PairingStepRow(
+                        number: 3,
+                        title: "Approve future sign-ins",
+                        message: "Once linked, this iPhone can receive approval requests and security alerts."
+                    )
+                }
+            }
+
+            AppSectionCard(
+                title: "Before you scan",
+                subtitle: "A few quick checks help the link complete cleanly.",
+                compactLayout: true
+            ) {
+                VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 10) {
+                    PairingNoteRow(icon: "safari", text: "Keep the pairing page open in your browser until this phone confirms the link.")
+                    PairingNoteRow(icon: "camera.fill", text: "Grant camera access when prompted so the QR can be read directly.")
+                    PairingNoteRow(icon: "wave.3.right", text: "If your organization uses NFC tags, you can link with NFC instead of QR.")
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        .navigationTitle("Welcome")
+        .idpInlineNavigationTitle()
+        .safeAreaInset(edge: .bottom) {
+            VStack(spacing: 10) {
+                Button(action: onScanRequested) {
+                    HStack(spacing: 10) {
+                        if model.isAuthenticating {
+                            ProgressView()
+                                .progressViewStyle(.circular)
+                                .tint(Color.idpPrimaryForeground)
+                        } else {
+                            Image(systemName: "camera.viewfinder")
+                        }
+
+                        Text(model.isAuthenticating ? "Linking device..." : "Scan pairing QR")
+                    }
+                }
+                .buttonStyle(PrimaryActionStyle())
+                .disabled(model.isAuthenticating)
+
+                Button(action: onNFCRequested) {
+                    Label("Use NFC tag instead", systemImage: "wave.3.right")
+                }
+                .buttonStyle(SecondaryActionStyle())
+                .disabled(model.isAuthenticating)
+            }
+            .padding(.horizontal, 16)
+            .padding(.top, 10)
+            .padding(.bottom, 14)
+            .background(.regularMaterial)
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+private struct PairingStepRow: View {
+    let number: Int
+    let title: String
+    let message: String
+
+    var body: some View {
+        HStack(alignment: .top, spacing: 12) {
+            Text("\(number)")
+                .font(.subheadline.weight(.bold))
+                .frame(width: 28, height: 28)
+                .foregroundStyle(IdP.tint)
+                .background(IdP.tint.opacity(0.12), in: Circle())
+
+            VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 4) {
+                Text(title)
+                    .font(.subheadline.weight(.semibold))
+                Text(message)
+                    .font(.footnote)
+                    .foregroundStyle(Color.idpMutedForeground)
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+private struct PairingNoteRow: View {
+    let icon: String
+    let text: String
+
+    var body: some View {
+        HStack(alignment: .top, spacing: 10) {
+            Image(systemName: icon)
+                .foregroundStyle(IdP.tint)
+                .frame(width: 18, height: 18)
+
+            Text(text)
+                .font(.footnote)
+                .foregroundStyle(Color.idpMutedForeground)
+                .fixedSize(horizontal: false, vertical: true)
+        }
+    }
+}
+#endif
+
 #if os(macOS)
 private struct MacPairingView: View {
     @ObservedObject var model: AppViewModel
diff --git a/swift/Sources/Features/Auth/QRScannerView.swift b/swift/Sources/Features/Auth/QRScannerView.swift
index 5135212..3a3c806 100644
--- a/swift/Sources/Features/Auth/QRScannerView.swift
+++ b/swift/Sources/Features/Auth/QRScannerView.swift
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ import AppKit
 #endif
 
 struct QRScannerSheet: View {
-    let seededPayload: String
     let title: String
     let description: String
     let navigationTitleText: String
@@ -19,13 +18,11 @@ struct QRScannerSheet: View {
     @State private var manualFallback = ""
 
     init(
-        seededPayload: String,
         title: String = "Scan QR",
         description: String = "Use the camera to scan an idp.global QR challenge.",
         navigationTitle: String = "Scan QR",
         onCodeScanned: @escaping (String) -> Void
     ) {
-        self.seededPayload = seededPayload
         self.title = title
         self.description = description
         self.navigationTitleText = navigationTitle
@@ -55,33 +52,18 @@ struct QRScannerSheet: View {
 
                     Spacer()
 
-                    VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 12) {
-                        Text("Manual fallback")
-                            .font(.headline)
-
-                        TextEditor(text: $manualFallback)
-                            .font(.footnote.monospaced())
-                            .scrollContentBackground(.hidden)
-                            .frame(minHeight: 110)
-                            .padding(10)
-                            .background(Color.idpTertiaryFill, in: RoundedRectangle(cornerRadius: IdP.cardRadius, style: .continuous))
-
-                        VStack(spacing: 10) {
-                            Button("Use payload") {
-                                let chosen = manualFallback.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines)
-                                onCodeScanned(chosen.isEmpty ? seededPayload : chosen)
-                                dismiss()
-                            }
-                            .buttonStyle(PrimaryActionStyle())
-
-                            Button("Use demo payload") {
-                                manualFallback = seededPayload
-                            }
-                            .buttonStyle(SecondaryActionStyle())
+                    ManualFallbackCard(
+                        manualFallback: $manualFallback,
+                        onUsePayload: {
+                            let chosen = manualFallback.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines)
+                            guard !chosen.isEmpty else { return }
+                            onCodeScanned(chosen)
+                            dismiss()
+                        },
+                        onPasteFromClipboard: {
+                            manualFallback = ClipboardPayloadReader.readString()
                         }
-                    }
-                    .padding(18)
-                    .background(.regularMaterial, in: RoundedRectangle(cornerRadius: IdP.cardRadius, style: .continuous))
+                    )
                 }
                 .padding(16)
             }
@@ -94,9 +76,6 @@ struct QRScannerSheet: View {
                     }
                 }
             }
-            .onAppear {
-                manualFallback = seededPayload
-            }
         }
     }
 }
@@ -119,7 +98,7 @@ struct LiveQRScannerView: View {
     @State private var didDetectCode = false
 
     var body: some View {
-        ZStack(alignment: .bottomLeading) {
+        ZStack {
             Group {
                 if scanner.isPreviewAvailable {
                     ScannerPreview(session: scanner.captureSession)
@@ -141,21 +120,46 @@ struct LiveQRScannerView: View {
                 }
             }
 
-            Color.black.opacity(0.18)
+            LinearGradient(
+                colors: [Color.black.opacity(0.64), Color.clear, Color.black.opacity(0.78)],
+                startPoint: .top,
+                endPoint: .bottom
+            )
                 .ignoresSafeArea()
 
             ScanFrameOverlay(detected: didDetectCode)
                 .padding(40)
 
-            VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 6) {
-                Text("Point the camera at the pairing QR")
-                    .font(.headline.weight(.semibold))
-                    .foregroundStyle(.white)
-                Text(scanner.statusMessage)
-                    .font(.subheadline)
-                    .foregroundStyle(.white.opacity(0.84))
+            VStack {
+                HStack {
+                    ScannerStatusBadge(title: scanner.isPreviewAvailable ? "Camera ready" : "Manual fallback")
+                    Spacer()
+                }
+                .padding(.horizontal, 20)
+                .padding(.top, 18)
+
+                Spacer()
+
+                VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 8) {
+                    Text("Align the pairing QR inside the frame")
+                        .font(.headline.weight(.semibold))
+                        .foregroundStyle(.white)
+
+                    Text(scanner.statusMessage)
+                        .font(.subheadline)
+                        .foregroundStyle(.white.opacity(0.84))
+                        .fixedSize(horizontal: false, vertical: true)
+                }
+                .frame(maxWidth: .infinity, alignment: .leading)
+                .padding(18)
+                .background(Color.black.opacity(0.34), in: RoundedRectangle(cornerRadius: 24, style: .continuous))
+                .overlay(
+                    RoundedRectangle(cornerRadius: 24, style: .continuous)
+                        .stroke(Color.white.opacity(0.12), lineWidth: 1)
+                )
+                .padding(.horizontal, 18)
+                .padding(.bottom, 18)
             }
-            .padding(22)
         }
         .task {
             scanner.onCodeScanned = { payload in
@@ -185,6 +189,17 @@ private struct ScanFrameOverlay: View {
             let inset = detected ? 18.0 : 0
 
             ZStack {
+                RoundedRectangle(cornerRadius: 30, style: .continuous)
+                    .fill(Color.black.opacity(0.18))
+                    .frame(width: size - inset, height: size - inset)
+
+                RoundedRectangle(cornerRadius: 30, style: .continuous)
+                    .stroke(
+                        Color.white.opacity(detected ? 0.95 : 0.75),
+                        style: StrokeStyle(lineWidth: detected ? 3 : 2, lineCap: .round, lineJoin: .round)
+                    )
+                    .frame(width: size - inset, height: size - inset)
+
                 CornerTick(rotation: .degrees(0))
                     .frame(width: size, height: size)
                 CornerTick(rotation: .degrees(90))
@@ -202,6 +217,110 @@ private struct ScanFrameOverlay: View {
     }
 }
 
+private struct ScannerStatusBadge: View {
+    let title: String
+
+    var body: some View {
+        HStack(spacing: 8) {
+            Circle()
+                .fill(IdP.tint)
+                .frame(width: 8, height: 8)
+
+            Text(title)
+                .font(.footnote.weight(.semibold))
+                .foregroundStyle(.white)
+        }
+        .padding(.horizontal, 12)
+        .padding(.vertical, 8)
+        .background(Color.black.opacity(0.26), in: Capsule(style: .continuous))
+        .overlay(
+            Capsule(style: .continuous)
+                .stroke(Color.white.opacity(0.10), lineWidth: 1)
+        )
+    }
+}
+
+private struct ManualFallbackCard: View {
+    @Binding var manualFallback: String
+    let onUsePayload: () -> Void
+    let onPasteFromClipboard: () -> Void
+
+    private var hasManualPayload: Bool {
+        !manualFallback.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines).isEmpty
+    }
+
+    var body: some View {
+        VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 14) {
+            HStack(alignment: .top, spacing: 12) {
+                Image(systemName: "doc.text.viewfinder")
+                    .font(.system(size: 18, weight: .semibold))
+                    .foregroundStyle(IdP.tint)
+                    .frame(width: 34, height: 34)
+                    .background(IdP.tint.opacity(0.12), in: RoundedRectangle(cornerRadius: 12, style: .continuous))
+
+                VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 4) {
+                    Text("Paste pairing link")
+                        .font(.headline)
+
+                    Text("If scanning is unavailable, paste the idp.global pairing link from your browser or clipboard.")
+                        .font(.footnote)
+                        .foregroundStyle(Color.idpMutedForeground)
+                        .fixedSize(horizontal: false, vertical: true)
+                }
+            }
+
+            ZStack(alignment: .topLeading) {
+                TextEditor(text: $manualFallback)
+                    .font(.footnote.monospaced())
+                    .scrollContentBackground(.hidden)
+                    .frame(minHeight: 110)
+                    .padding(10)
+                    .background(Color.idpTertiaryFill, in: RoundedRectangle(cornerRadius: IdP.cardRadius, style: .continuous))
+
+                if manualFallback.isEmpty {
+                    Text("idp.global://pair?token=...")
+                        .font(.footnote.monospaced())
+                        .foregroundStyle(Color.idpMutedForeground)
+                        .padding(.horizontal, 16)
+                        .padding(.vertical, 18)
+                        .allowsHitTesting(false)
+                }
+            }
+
+            VStack(spacing: 10) {
+                Button("Use pasted payload", action: onUsePayload)
+                    .buttonStyle(PrimaryActionStyle())
+                    .disabled(!hasManualPayload)
+
+                Button {
+                    onPasteFromClipboard()
+                } label: {
+                    Label("Paste from clipboard", systemImage: "doc.on.clipboard")
+                }
+                .buttonStyle(SecondaryActionStyle())
+            }
+        }
+        .padding(18)
+        .background(.regularMaterial, in: RoundedRectangle(cornerRadius: IdP.cardRadius, style: .continuous))
+        .overlay(
+            RoundedRectangle(cornerRadius: IdP.cardRadius, style: .continuous)
+                .stroke(Color.white.opacity(0.10), lineWidth: 1)
+        )
+    }
+}
+
+private enum ClipboardPayloadReader {
+    static func readString() -> String {
+        #if os(iOS)
+        UIPasteboard.general.string?.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines) ?? ""
+        #elseif os(macOS)
+        NSPasteboard.general.string(forType: .string)?.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines) ?? ""
+        #else
+        ""
+        #endif
+    }
+}
+
 private struct CornerTick: View {
     let rotation: Angle
 
@@ -233,7 +352,7 @@ private final class QRScannerViewModel: NSObject, ObservableObject, AVCaptureMet
         #if os(iOS) && targetEnvironment(simulator)
         await MainActor.run {
             isPreviewAvailable = false
-            statusMessage = "The iOS simulator has no live camera feed. Use the demo payload below."
+            statusMessage = "The iOS simulator has no live camera feed. Paste a pairing link below instead."
         }
         #endif