diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/main.cpp b/examples/companion_radio/main.cpp
index 73635a7..176cf2f 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/main.cpp
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/main.cpp
@@ -1739,19 +1739,6 @@ void setup() {
       ui_task.gotoOnboarding();
       // Show hint immediately overlaid on the onboarding screen
       if (!prefs->hint_shown) ui_task.showBootHint(true);
-    } else if (!prefs->hint_shown) {
-      // Not a first-time flash (has a name), but hint never dismissed yet
-      // Deferred — will activate after splash screen transitions to home
-      ui_task.showBootHint(false);
-    }
-  }
-  #endif
-
-  #if defined(LilyGo_T5S3_EPaper_Pro)
-  {
-    NodePrefs* prefs = the_mesh.getNodePrefs();
-    if (!prefs->hint_shown) {
-      ui_task.showBootHint(false);  // Deferred — after splash
     }
   }
   #endif
diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/Settingsscreen.h b/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/Settingsscreen.h
index edbbac1..14327cb 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/Settingsscreen.h
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/Settingsscreen.h
@@ -242,6 +242,9 @@ private:
   // Dirty flag for radio params — prompt to apply
   bool _radioChanged;
 
+  // T5S3: signal UITask to open VKB when entering text edit mode
+  bool _needsTextVKB;
+
   // 4G modem state (runtime cache of config)
   #ifdef HAS_4G_MODEM
   bool _modemEnabled;
@@ -545,7 +548,7 @@ public:
       _editMode(EDIT_NONE), _editPos(0), _editPickerIdx(0),
       _editFloat(0), _editInt(0), _confirmAction(0),
       _onboarding(false), _subScreen(SUB_NONE), _savedTopCursor(0),
-      _radioChanged(false) {
+      _radioChanged(false), _needsTextVKB(false) {
     memset(_editBuf, 0, sizeof(_editBuf));
     #ifdef MECK_OTA_UPDATE
     _otaServer = nullptr;
@@ -740,6 +743,19 @@ public:
 
   #endif
 
+  // T5S3 VKB integration for text editing (channel name, device name, freq, APN)
+  bool needsTextVKB() const { return _needsTextVKB; }
+  void clearTextNeedsVKB() { _needsTextVKB = false; }
+  const char* getEditBuf() const { return _editBuf; }
+  SettingsRowType getCurrentRowType() const { return _rows[_cursor].type; }
+  void submitEditText(const char* text) {
+    strncpy(_editBuf, text, SETTINGS_TEXT_BUF - 1);
+    _editBuf[SETTINGS_TEXT_BUF - 1] = '\0';
+    _editPos = strlen(_editBuf);
+    // Simulate Enter to confirm the edit through the normal path
+    handleInput('\r');
+  }
+
   // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
   // OTA firmware update
   // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -1068,6 +1084,9 @@ public:
     strncpy(_editBuf, initial, SETTINGS_TEXT_BUF - 1);
     _editBuf[SETTINGS_TEXT_BUF - 1] = '\0';
     _editPos = strlen(_editBuf);
+#if defined(LilyGo_T5S3_EPaper_Pro)
+    _needsTextVKB = true;  // Signal UITask to open virtual keyboard
+#endif
   }
 
   void startEditPicker(int initialIdx) {
diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.cpp b/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.cpp
index 78b3e6e..ae4612e 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.cpp
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.cpp
@@ -1758,6 +1758,21 @@ if (curr) curr->poll();
         }
 #endif
 
+        // Check if settings screen needs VKB for text editing (channel name, freq, APN)
+        if (isOnSettingsScreen() && !_vkbActive) {
+          SettingsScreen* ss = (SettingsScreen*)settings_screen;
+          if (ss->needsTextVKB()) {
+            ss->clearTextNeedsVKB();
+            // Pick a context-appropriate label
+            const char* label = "Edit";
+            SettingsRowType rt = ss->getCurrentRowType();
+            if (rt == ROW_NAME) label = "Node Name";
+            else if (rt == ROW_ADD_CHANNEL) label = "Channel Name";
+            else if (rt == ROW_FREQ) label = "Frequency";
+            showVirtualKeyboard(VKB_SETTINGS_TEXT, label, ss->getEditBuf(), 31);
+          }
+        }
+
         if (_hintActive && millis() < _hintExpiry) {
           // Boot navigation hint overlay — multi-line, larger box
           _display->setTextSize(1);
@@ -2141,6 +2156,19 @@ void UITask::onVKBSubmit() {
       if (_screenBeforeVKB) setCurrScreen(_screenBeforeVKB);
       break;
     }
+    case VKB_SETTINGS_TEXT: {
+      // Generic settings text edit — copy text back to settings edit buffer
+      // and confirm via the normal Enter path (handles name/freq/channel/APN)
+      SettingsScreen* ss = (SettingsScreen*)settings_screen;
+      if (strlen(text) > 0) {
+        ss->submitEditText(text);
+      } else {
+        // Empty submission — cancel the edit
+        ss->handleInput('q');
+      }
+      if (_screenBeforeVKB) setCurrScreen(_screenBeforeVKB);
+      break;
+    }
     case VKB_NOTES: {
       NotesScreen* notes = (NotesScreen*)getNotesScreen();
       if (notes && strlen(text) > 0) {