diff --git a/src/daemon.rs b/src/daemon.rs
index de61b2c..c05baeb 100644
--- a/src/daemon.rs
+++ b/src/daemon.rs
@@ -456,11 +456,35 @@ async fn run_daemon_async() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error + Send + Syn
         true
     }
 
+    let cmd_tx_power = cmd_tx.clone();
+    std::thread::spawn(move || {
+        let mut last_ac = crate::config::ScytheConfig::is_ac_power_connected();
+        loop {
+            std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_secs(1));
+            let now_ac = crate::config::ScytheConfig::is_ac_power_connected();
+            if now_ac != last_ac {
+                last_ac = now_ac;
+                let _ = cmd_tx_power.send(Command::PowerStateChanged(now_ac));
+            }
+        }
+    });
+
+    fn spawn_power_toast(title: &str, subtitle: &str, icon: &str) {
+        let exe = std::env::current_exe()
+            .map(|p| p.to_string_lossy().to_string())
+            .unwrap_or_else(|_| "scythe".to_string());
+        let _ = std::process::Command::new(exe)
+            .args(["--toast", title, subtitle, icon])
+            .stdin(std::process::Stdio::null())
+            .stdout(std::process::Stdio::null())
+            .stderr(std::process::Stdio::null())
+            .spawn();
+    }
+
     let recorder_handle = thread::spawn(move || {
         let mut config = crate::config::ScytheConfig::load();
         let mut replay_effective = effective_replay_active(&config);
         replay_state_clone.store(replay_effective, Ordering::SeqCst);
-        let mut last_power_state = crate::config::ScytheConfig::is_ac_power_connected();
 
         let active_bitrate = if config.replay_enabled {
             config.replay_bitrate_kbps
@@ -746,7 +770,6 @@ async fn run_daemon_async() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error + Send + Syn
                                 config = new_config;
                                 replay_effective = effective_replay_active(&config);
                                 replay_state_clone.store(replay_effective, Ordering::SeqCst);
-                                last_power_state = crate::config::ScytheConfig::is_ac_power_connected();
                                 if !replay_effective && config.replay_enabled {
                                     while ring.try_pop().is_some() {}
                                     eprintln!("Replay paused: power-only armed and running on battery.");
@@ -784,6 +807,25 @@ async fn run_daemon_async() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error + Send + Syn
                                 };
                                 ticker = crossbeam_channel::tick(std::time::Duration::from_nanos(1_000_000_000 / config.fps.max(1) as u64));
                             },
+                            Command::PowerStateChanged(on_ac) => {
+                                let was_effective = replay_effective;
+                                replay_effective = effective_replay_active(&config);
+                                replay_state_clone.store(replay_effective, Ordering::SeqCst);
+                                if !replay_effective && (was_effective || !on_ac) {
+                                    while ring.try_pop().is_some() {}
+                                    eprintln!("Power lost: replay buffer paused and drained.");
+                                    if config.autostart_power_only && config.show_replay_notifications {
+                                        spawn_power_toast("POWER", "power lost, replay paused", "error");
+                                    }
+                                } else if replay_effective && !was_effective {
+                                    encoder.force_keyframe();
+                                    has_new_frame = true;
+                                    println!("Power restored: replay buffer resumed.");
+                                    if config.show_replay_notifications {
+                                        spawn_power_toast("POWER", "power restored, replay resumed", "replay");
+                                    }
+                                }
+                            },
                             Command::SaveReplay => {
                                 if replay_effective {
                                     let now = std::time::Instant::now();
@@ -1028,18 +1070,6 @@ async fn run_daemon_async() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error + Send + Syn
                     }
 
                     let is_streaming = stream_sender.is_some();
-                    let power_now = crate::config::ScytheConfig::is_ac_power_connected();
-                    if power_now != last_power_state {
-                        last_power_state = power_now;
-                        replay_effective = effective_replay_active(&config);
-                        replay_state_clone.store(replay_effective, Ordering::SeqCst);
-                        if !replay_effective {
-                            while ring.try_pop().is_some() {}
-                            eprintln!("AC power lost: replay buffer paused and drained.");
-                        } else {
-                            println!("AC power restored: replay buffer resumed.");
-                        }
-                    }
                     if !normal_recording && !replay_effective && !is_streaming {
                         has_new_frame = false;
                         continue;
diff --git a/src/ipc.rs b/src/ipc.rs
index 0d2a3c9..1cb4ab6 100644
--- a/src/ipc.rs
+++ b/src/ipc.rs
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ pub enum Command {
     CycleAudioMode,
     ToggleCursor,
     ReloadConfig,
+    PowerStateChanged(bool),
     StopDaemon,
     ShowOverlay,
     GetStatus,
diff --git a/src/overlay_egui.rs b/src/overlay_egui.rs
index 859aa0e..afeec1f 100644
--- a/src/overlay_egui.rs
+++ b/src/overlay_egui.rs
@@ -3626,10 +3626,7 @@ fn render_scythe_notification_card(
         _ => accent,
     };
 
-    // 1. Deep window drop shadow
-    draw_window_shadow(painter, rect, 0.75 * anim_alpha);
-
-    // 2. Obsidian panel fill (#111111, zero roundness, no outline)
+    // 1. Obsidian panel fill (#111111, zero roundness, no outline, no shadow bloom)
     painter.rect_filled(
         rect,
         CornerRadius::ZERO,
@@ -3656,7 +3653,7 @@ fn render_scythe_notification_card(
         Color32::from_rgba_unmultiplied(active_color.r(), active_color.g(), active_color.b(), (255.0 * anim_alpha) as u8),
     );
 
-    // 5. Square icon cell (28x28 recessed #0e0e0e, hairline #222222)
+    // 5. Square icon cell (28x28 recessed #0e0e0e, no outline)
     let badge_size = 28.0_f32;
     let badge_rect = egui::Rect::from_min_size(
         egui::pos2(rect.left() + 26.0, rect.top() + 14.0),
@@ -3667,12 +3664,6 @@ fn render_scythe_notification_card(
         CornerRadius::ZERO,
         Color32::from_rgba_unmultiplied(14, 14, 14, (255.0 * anim_alpha) as u8),
     );
-    painter.rect_stroke(
-        badge_rect,
-        CornerRadius::ZERO,
-        Stroke::new(1.0_f32, Color32::from_rgba_unmultiplied(34, 34, 34, (220.0 * anim_alpha) as u8)),
-        egui::StrokeKind::Inside,
-    );
 
     // 6. Icon render inside badge
     let icon_center = badge_rect.center();