diff --git a/changelog.md b/changelog.md
index b569039..049078a 100644
--- a/changelog.md
+++ b/changelog.md
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 2026-04-06 - 13.0.8 - fix(ops-view-vpn)
+show target profile names in VPN forms and load profile candidates for autocomplete
+
+- fetch target profiles when the VPN operations view connects so profile data is available in the UI
+- replace comma-separated target profile ID inputs with a restricted autocomplete list based on available target profiles
+- map stored target profile IDs to profile names for table and detail displays, while resolving selected names back to IDs on save
+
 ## 2026-04-06 - 13.0.7 - fix(vpn,target-profiles)
 refresh VPN client security when target profiles change and include profile target IPs in direct destination allow-lists
 
diff --git a/ts/00_commitinfo_data.ts b/ts/00_commitinfo_data.ts
index e528aad..32f6ea1 100644
--- a/ts/00_commitinfo_data.ts
+++ b/ts/00_commitinfo_data.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,6 @@
  */
 export const commitinfo = {
   name: '@serve.zone/dcrouter',
-  version: '13.0.7',
+  version: '13.0.8',
   description: 'A multifaceted routing service handling mail and SMS delivery functions.'
 }
diff --git a/ts_web/00_commitinfo_data.ts b/ts_web/00_commitinfo_data.ts
index e528aad..32f6ea1 100644
--- a/ts_web/00_commitinfo_data.ts
+++ b/ts_web/00_commitinfo_data.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,6 @@
  */
 export const commitinfo = {
   name: '@serve.zone/dcrouter',
-  version: '13.0.7',
+  version: '13.0.8',
   description: 'A multifaceted routing service handling mail and SMS delivery functions.'
 }
diff --git a/ts_web/elements/ops-view-vpn.ts b/ts_web/elements/ops-view-vpn.ts
index acbeea4..55c40c4 100644
--- a/ts_web/elements/ops-view-vpn.ts
+++ b/ts_web/elements/ops-view-vpn.ts
@@ -60,6 +60,8 @@ export class OpsViewVpn extends DeesElement {
   async connectedCallback() {
     await super.connectedCallback();
     await appstate.vpnStatePart.dispatchAction(appstate.fetchVpnAction, null);
+    // Ensure target profiles are loaded for autocomplete candidates
+    await appstate.targetProfilesStatePart.dispatchAction(appstate.fetchTargetProfilesAction, null);
   }
 
   public static styles = [
@@ -328,7 +330,11 @@ export class OpsViewVpn extends DeesElement {
             'Routing': routingHtml,
             'VPN IP': client.assignedIp || '-',
             'Target Profiles': client.targetProfileIds?.length
-              ? html`${client.targetProfileIds.map(t => html`<span class="tagBadge">${t}</span>`)}`
+              ? html`${client.targetProfileIds.map(id => {
+                  const profileState = appstate.targetProfilesStatePart.getState();
+                  const profile = profileState?.profiles.find(p => p.id === id);
+                  return html`<span class="tagBadge">${profile?.name || id}</span>`;
+                })}`
               : '-',
             'Description': client.description || '-',
             'Created': new Date(client.createdAt).toLocaleDateString(),
@@ -341,13 +347,14 @@ export class OpsViewVpn extends DeesElement {
             type: ['header'],
             actionFunc: async () => {
               const { DeesModal } = await import('@design.estate/dees-catalog');
+              const profileCandidates = this.getTargetProfileCandidates();
               const createModal = await DeesModal.createAndShow({
                 heading: 'Create VPN Client',
                 content: html`
                   <dees-form>
                     <dees-input-text .key=${'clientId'} .label=${'Client ID'} .required=${true}></dees-input-text>
                     <dees-input-text .key=${'description'} .label=${'Description'}></dees-input-text>
-                    <dees-input-text .key=${'targetProfileIds'} .label=${'Target Profile IDs (comma-separated)'}></dees-input-text>
+                    <dees-input-list .key=${'targetProfileNames'} .label=${'Target Profiles'} .placeholder=${'Type to search profiles...'} .candidates=${profileCandidates} .allowFreeform=${false}></dees-input-list>
                     <dees-input-checkbox .key=${'forceDestinationSmartproxy'} .label=${'Force traffic through SmartProxy'} .value=${true}></dees-input-checkbox>
                     <div class="hostIpGroup" style="display: none; flex-direction: column; gap: 16px;">
                       <dees-input-checkbox .key=${'useHostIp'} .label=${'Get Host IP'} .value=${false}></dees-input-checkbox>
@@ -383,9 +390,9 @@ export class OpsViewVpn extends DeesElement {
                       if (!form) return;
                       const data = await form.collectFormData();
                       if (!data.clientId) return;
-                      const targetProfileIds = data.targetProfileIds
-                        ? data.targetProfileIds.split(',').map((t: string) => t.trim()).filter(Boolean)
-                        : undefined;
+                      const targetProfileIds = this.resolveProfileNamesToIds(
+                        Array.isArray(data.targetProfileNames) ? data.targetProfileNames : [],
+                      );
 
                       // Apply conditional logic based on checkbox states
                       const forceSmartproxy = data.forceDestinationSmartproxy ?? true;
@@ -479,7 +486,7 @@ export class OpsViewVpn extends DeesElement {
                       <div class="infoItem"><span class="infoLabel">Transport</span><span class="infoValue">${conn.transport}</span></div>
                     ` : ''}
                     <div class="infoItem"><span class="infoLabel">Description</span><span class="infoValue">${client.description || '-'}</span></div>
-                    <div class="infoItem"><span class="infoLabel">Target Profiles</span><span class="infoValue">${client.targetProfileIds?.join(', ') || '-'}</span></div>
+                    <div class="infoItem"><span class="infoLabel">Target Profiles</span><span class="infoValue">${this.resolveProfileIdsToNames(client.targetProfileIds)?.join(', ') || '-'}</span></div>
                     <div class="infoItem"><span class="infoLabel">Routing</span><span class="infoValue">${client.forceDestinationSmartproxy !== false ? 'SmartProxy' : client.useHostIp ? 'Host IP' : 'Direct'}</span></div>
                     ${client.useHostIp ? html`
                       <div class="infoItem"><span class="infoLabel">Host IP</span><span class="infoValue">${client.useDhcp ? 'DHCP' : client.staticIp ? `Static: ${client.staticIp}` : 'Not configured'}</span></div>
@@ -643,7 +650,8 @@ export class OpsViewVpn extends DeesElement {
               const client = actionData.item as interfaces.data.IVpnClient;
               const { DeesModal } = await import('@design.estate/dees-catalog');
               const currentDescription = client.description ?? '';
-              const currentTargetProfileIds = client.targetProfileIds?.join(', ') ?? '';
+              const currentTargetProfileNames = this.resolveProfileIdsToNames(client.targetProfileIds) || [];
+              const profileCandidates = this.getTargetProfileCandidates();
               const currentForceSmartproxy = client.forceDestinationSmartproxy ?? true;
               const currentUseHostIp = client.useHostIp ?? false;
               const currentUseDhcp = client.useDhcp ?? false;
@@ -659,7 +667,7 @@ export class OpsViewVpn extends DeesElement {
                 content: html`
                   <dees-form>
                     <dees-input-text .key=${'description'} .label=${'Description'} .value=${currentDescription}></dees-input-text>
-                    <dees-input-text .key=${'targetProfileIds'} .label=${'Target Profile IDs (comma-separated)'} .value=${currentTargetProfileIds}></dees-input-text>
+                    <dees-input-list .key=${'targetProfileNames'} .label=${'Target Profiles'} .placeholder=${'Type to search profiles...'} .candidates=${profileCandidates} .allowFreeform=${false} .value=${currentTargetProfileNames}></dees-input-list>
                     <dees-input-checkbox .key=${'forceDestinationSmartproxy'} .label=${'Force traffic through SmartProxy'} .value=${currentForceSmartproxy}></dees-input-checkbox>
                     <div class="hostIpGroup" style="display: ${currentForceSmartproxy ? 'none' : 'flex'}; flex-direction: column; gap: 16px;">
                       <dees-input-checkbox .key=${'useHostIp'} .label=${'Get Host IP'} .value=${currentUseHostIp}></dees-input-checkbox>
@@ -690,9 +698,9 @@ export class OpsViewVpn extends DeesElement {
                       const form = modalArg.shadowRoot?.querySelector('.content')?.querySelector('dees-form');
                       if (!form) return;
                       const data = await form.collectFormData();
-                      const targetProfileIds = data.targetProfileIds
-                        ? data.targetProfileIds.split(',').map((t: string) => t.trim()).filter(Boolean)
-                        : [];
+                      const targetProfileIds = this.resolveProfileNamesToIds(
+                        Array.isArray(data.targetProfileNames) ? data.targetProfileNames : [],
+                      );
 
                       // Apply conditional logic based on checkbox states
                       const forceSmartproxy = data.forceDestinationSmartproxy ?? true;
@@ -805,4 +813,43 @@ export class OpsViewVpn extends DeesElement {
       </div>
     `;
   }
+
+  /**
+   * Build autocomplete candidates from loaded target profiles.
+   * viewKey = profile name (displayed), payload = { id } (carried for resolution).
+   */
+  private getTargetProfileCandidates() {
+    const profileState = appstate.targetProfilesStatePart.getState();
+    const profiles = profileState?.profiles || [];
+    return profiles.map((p) => ({ viewKey: p.name, payload: { id: p.id } }));
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Convert profile IDs to profile names (for populating edit form values).
+   */
+  private resolveProfileIdsToNames(ids?: string[]): string[] | undefined {
+    if (!ids?.length) return undefined;
+    const profileState = appstate.targetProfilesStatePart.getState();
+    const profiles = profileState?.profiles || [];
+    return ids.map((id) => {
+      const profile = profiles.find((p) => p.id === id);
+      return profile?.name || id;
+    });
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Convert profile names back to IDs (for saving form data).
+   * Uses the dees-input-list candidates' payload when available.
+   */
+  private resolveProfileNamesToIds(names: string[]): string[] | undefined {
+    if (!names.length) return undefined;
+    const profileState = appstate.targetProfilesStatePart.getState();
+    const profiles = profileState?.profiles || [];
+    return names
+      .map((name) => {
+        const profile = profiles.find((p) => p.name === name);
+        return profile?.id;
+      })
+      .filter((id): id is string => !!id);
+  }
 }