diff --git a/src/tui/commands.cpp b/src/tui/commands.cpp
index 1d47862..51a69ae 100644
--- a/src/tui/commands.cpp
+++ b/src/tui/commands.cpp
@@ -27,9 +27,28 @@ void Tui::RegisterCommands() {
         {{"command name (optional)", Completion::Command}},
         [this](const std::vector<std::string> &args) {
             if (args.empty()) {
-                // Bare → open the feature-reference screen.
-                screen_back_idx = -1;
-                screen_idx = 6;
+                // Bare → textual list of commands. The feature-reference
+                // screen lives at `screen_idx = 6` and is reachable from
+                // the dashboard with `[h]`.
+                size_t maxw = 0;
+                for (const auto &kv : commands) maxw = std::max(maxw, kv.first.size());
+                auto print_group = [&](const std::string &title, bool want_interactive) {
+                    bool printed_any = false;
+                    for (const auto &kv : commands) {
+                        if (kv.second.hidden) continue;
+                        if (kv.second.interactive != want_interactive) continue;
+                        if (!printed_any) { Print(title); printed_any = true; }
+                        Print("  " + kv.first
+                              + std::string(maxw - kv.first.size() + 2, ' ')
+                              + kv.second.description);
+                    }
+                };
+                Print("Commands — type `help <name>` for details.");
+                print_group("Interactive (open a full-screen mode):", true);
+                print_group("Other:", false);
+                Print("Keys: Esc cancels a multi-step prompt or returns to the dashboard;");
+                Print("      Tab completes commands/paths or cycles focus in screens;");
+                Print("      PageUp/PageDown scroll output, Home/End jump to top/bottom.");
                 return;
             }
             const std::string &name = args[0];
@@ -55,9 +74,7 @@ void Tui::RegisterCommands() {
             }
         },
         /*prompt_for_missing=*/ false,
-        "bare → open the help screen; `help <name>` → textual command help",
-        /*scriptable=*/ false,
-        /*interactive=*/ true,
+        "list commands (or `help <name>` for one command's details)",
     };
     commands["clear"] = { {}, [this](auto &) { output.clear(); }, true,
                           "clear the visualization area" };
@@ -571,8 +588,11 @@ void Tui::RegisterCommands() {
     };
     // UI alias: the dashboard surfaces this command as `plug`. Keep the
     // canonical `connect` for script + save/restore stability.
+    // `plug` is the user-facing name (dashboard shortcut [p]). `connect`
+    // stays registered for script + save/restore backward compatibility but
+    // is hidden from `help`.
     commands["plug"] = commands["connect"];
-    commands["plug"].description = "alias of `connect` (UI label used in the dashboard)";
+    commands["connect"].hidden = true;
 
     commands["explore"] = { {}, [this](auto &) {
         if (!sys) { Print("no system: run 'new' first."); return; }
diff --git a/src/tui/tui.hpp b/src/tui/tui.hpp
index 60c754e..e59a71d 100644
--- a/src/tui/tui.hpp
+++ b/src/tui/tui.hpp
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ class Tui {
         std::string description;
         bool scriptable = true;
         bool interactive = false;  ///< opens a full-screen mode when called bare
+        bool hidden = false;       ///< don't list in `help` (used by aliases)
     };
 
     // ---- Shell state ----