diff --git a/frontend/src/api/client.ts b/frontend/src/api/client.ts
index e902eff..963c54b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/api/client.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/api/client.ts
@@ -60,10 +60,8 @@ apiClient.interceptors.response.use(
     isRefreshing = true
 
     const { refreshToken, setTokens, logout } = useAuthStore.getState()
-
     if (!refreshToken) {
       logout()
-      window.location.href = '/login'
       return Promise.reject(error)
     }
 
@@ -78,7 +76,6 @@ apiClient.interceptors.response.use(
     } catch (refreshError) {
       processQueue(refreshError, null)
       logout()
-      window.location.href = '/login'
       return Promise.reject(refreshError)
     } finally {
       isRefreshing = false
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/LoginPage.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/LoginPage.tsx
index 7c42d8c..03caf97 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/LoginPage.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/LoginPage.tsx
@@ -9,6 +9,53 @@ import { authApi } from '../api/client'
 import { useAuthStore } from '../store/authStore'
 import type { User } from '../types'
 
+/** Extract a human-readable error message from an Axios error. */
+function getErrorMessage(err: unknown): string {
+  // Network error — no response at all (server unreachable, CORS, DNS failure)
+  if (err instanceof Error && err.message === 'Network Error') {
+    return 'Unable to connect to the server. Please check your network connection and try again.'
+  }
+
+  // Axios-style error with a response body
+  const axiosErr = err as { response?: { status?: number; data?: { error?: { code?: string; message?: string } } } }
+  const status = axiosErr.response?.status
+  const code = axiosErr.response?.data?.error?.code
+  const msg = axiosErr.response?.data?.error?.message
+
+  // Rate limited
+  if (status === 429) {
+    return 'Too many login attempts. Please wait a moment and try again.'
+  }
+
+  // MFA required
+  if (code === 'mfa_required') {
+    return 'MFA_REQUIRED'  // sentinel — caller checks this
+  }
+
+  // Account disabled
+  if (code === 'account_disabled') {
+    return 'This account has been disabled. Contact your administrator.'
+  }
+
+  // Server-provided message
+  if (msg) {
+    return msg
+  }
+
+  // Generic status-based messages
+  if (status === 401) {
+    return 'Invalid username or password.'
+  }
+  if (status === 403) {
+    return 'Access denied.'
+  }
+  if (status && status >= 500) {
+    return 'A server error occurred. Please try again later.'
+  }
+
+  return 'Login failed. Please try again.'
+}
+
 export default function LoginPage() {
   const navigate = useNavigate()
   const { setTokens, setUser } = useAuthStore()
@@ -33,13 +80,12 @@ export default function LoginPage() {
       setUser(user as User)
       navigate('/dashboard', { replace: true })
     } catch (err: unknown) {
-      const e = err as { response?: { data?: { error?: { code?: string; message?: string } } } }
-      const code = e.response?.data?.error?.code
-      if (code === 'mfa_required') {
+      const message = getErrorMessage(err)
+      if (message === 'MFA_REQUIRED') {
         setNeedsMfa(true)
         setError('Please enter your MFA code.')
       } else {
-        setError(e.response?.data?.error?.message || 'Login failed')
+        setError(message)
       }
     } finally {
       setLoading(false)
@@ -50,16 +96,24 @@ export default function LoginPage() {
     <Container maxWidth="xs" sx={{ mt: 12 }}>
       <Paper elevation={4} sx={{ p: 4 }}>
         <Typography variant="h5" fontWeight={700} mb={3} align="center">
-          Linux Patch Manager
+          🐉 Linux Patch Manager
         </Typography>
 
-        {error && <Alert severity={needsMfa && error.startsWith('Please') ? 'info' : 'error'} sx={{ mb: 2 }}>{error}</Alert>}
+        {error && (
+          <Alert
+            severity={needsMfa ? 'info' : 'error'}
+            sx={{ mb: 2 }}
+            onClose={() => setError(null)}
+          >
+            {error}
+          </Alert>
+        )}
 
         <Box component="form" onSubmit={handleSubmit} noValidate>
           <TextField
             fullWidth margin="normal" label="Username" autoComplete="username"
             value={username} onChange={(e) => setUsername(e.target.value)}
-            disabled={loading} required
+            disabled={loading} required autoFocus
           />
           <TextField
             fullWidth margin="normal" label="Password" type={showPassword ? 'text' : 'password'}