diff --git a/app/main.py b/app/main.py
index a2df1a3..d9a2d46 100644
--- a/app/main.py
+++ b/app/main.py
@@ -230,12 +230,19 @@ def _execute_console_command(args: list) -> str:
             typ = type_names.get(c.get('type', 1), '?')
             pk_short = pk[:12]
             opl = c.get('out_path_len', -1)
-            if opl == -1:
-                path_str = 'Flood'
+            if opl > 0:
+                # Decode path: lower 6 bits = hop count, upper 2 bits = hash_size-1
+                hop_count = opl & 0x3F
+                hash_size = (opl >> 6) + 1
+                raw = c.get('out_path', '')
+                meaningful = raw[:hop_count * hash_size * 2]
+                chunk = hash_size * 2
+                hops = [meaningful[i:i+chunk].upper() for i in range(0, len(meaningful), chunk)]
+                path_str = '→'.join(hops) if hops else f'len:{opl}'
             elif opl == 0:
-                path_str = '0 hop'
+                path_str = 'Direct'
             else:
-                path_str = c.get('out_path', f'len:{opl}')
+                path_str = 'Flood'
             lines.append(f"  {name:30} {typ:4}  {pk_short}  {path_str}")
         return f"Contacts ({len(lines)}) on device:\n" + "\n".join(lines)
 
diff --git a/app/routes/api.py b/app/routes/api.py
index bf1a013..b2831e4 100644
--- a/app/routes/api.py
+++ b/app/routes/api.py
@@ -2376,17 +2376,23 @@ def get_contacts_detailed_api():
 
         for public_key, details in contacts_detailed.items():
             # Compute path display string
+            # out_path_len encodes hop count (lower 6 bits) and hash_size (upper 2 bits)
+            # In MeshCore V1: hash_size=1 byte per hop, so each hop = 2 hex chars
             out_path_len = details.get('out_path_len', -1)
-            out_path = details.get('out_path', '')
-            if out_path:
-                # out_path present = known route (even if out_path_len says -1)
-                path_or_mode = out_path
-            elif out_path_len == -1:
-                path_or_mode = 'Flood'
+            out_path_raw = details.get('out_path', '')
+            if out_path_len > 0 and out_path_raw:
+                hop_count = out_path_len & 0x3F
+                hash_size = (out_path_len >> 6) + 1  # 1, 2, or 3 bytes per hop
+                # Truncate to meaningful bytes (firmware buffer may have trailing garbage)
+                meaningful_hex = out_path_raw[:hop_count * hash_size * 2]
+                # Format as HEX→HEX→HEX (each hop is hash_size*2 hex chars)
+                chunk = hash_size * 2
+                hops = [meaningful_hex[i:i+chunk].upper() for i in range(0, len(meaningful_hex), chunk)]
+                path_or_mode = '→'.join(hops) if hops else out_path_raw
             elif out_path_len == 0:
-                path_or_mode = '0 hop'
+                path_or_mode = 'Direct'
             else:
-                path_or_mode = f'Path len: {out_path_len}'
+                path_or_mode = 'Flood'
 
             contact = {
                 # All original fields from contact_info
diff --git a/app/static/js/contacts.js b/app/static/js/contacts.js
index 6ab30e6..c9a4fe7 100644
--- a/app/static/js/contacts.js
+++ b/app/static/js/contacts.js
@@ -2148,15 +2148,14 @@ function createExistingContactCard(contact, index) {
         pathDiv = document.createElement('div');
         pathDiv.className = 'text-muted small';
         const mode = contact.path_or_mode || 'Flood';
-        const pathLen = contact.out_path_len;
         if (mode === 'Flood') {
             pathDiv.innerHTML = '<i class="bi bi-broadcast"></i> Flood';
-        } else if (mode === '0 hop') {
-            pathDiv.innerHTML = '<i class="bi bi-arrow-right-short"></i> Direct (0 hop)';
+        } else if (mode === 'Direct') {
+            pathDiv.innerHTML = '<i class="bi bi-arrow-right-short"></i> Direct';
         } else {
-            // mode is hex path string, show hops count + path
-            const hops = pathLen >= 0 ? pathLen : '?';
-            pathDiv.innerHTML = `<i class="bi bi-signpost-split"></i> Path: ${mode} (${hops} hops)`;
+            // mode is formatted path like "E7→DE→54→54→D8"
+            const hopCount = mode.split('→').length;
+            pathDiv.innerHTML = `<i class="bi bi-signpost-split"></i> ${mode} <span class="text-muted">(${hopCount} hops)</span>`;
         }
     }