diff --git a/src/SettingsDialog.cpp b/src/SettingsDialog.cpp
index 65bed8b5..bc227e00 100644
--- a/src/SettingsDialog.cpp
+++ b/src/SettingsDialog.cpp
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 #include "utils/WebsocketNotifier.h"
 #include "widgets/NetworkProxyWidget.h"
 #include "utils/ColorScheme.h"
+#include "utils/DaemonManager.h"
 
 Settings::Settings(Nodes *nodes, QWidget *parent)
         : QDialog(parent)
@@ -169,6 +170,15 @@ void Settings::setupNetworkTab() {
         ui->nodeWidget->setupUI(m_nodes);
         connect(ui->nodeWidget, &NodeWidget::nodeSourceChanged, m_nodes, &Nodes::onNodeSourceChanged);
         connect(ui->nodeWidget, &NodeWidget::connectToNode, m_nodes, QOverload<const FeatherNode&>::of(&Nodes::connectToNode));
+        // wowlet: built-in node on/off — start/stop the embedded wownerod, then reconnect (autoConnect
+        // honours Config::runLocalNode: local 127.0.0.1 when on, the selected remote when off).
+        connect(ui->nodeWidget, &NodeWidget::localNodeToggled, this, [this](bool enabled){
+            if (enabled)
+                daemonManager()->start();
+            else
+                daemonManager()->stop();
+            m_nodes->autoConnect(true);
+        });
     } else {
         m_nodes = new Nodes(this, nullptr);
         ui->nodeWidget->setupUI(m_nodes);
diff --git a/src/widgets/NodeWidget.cpp b/src/widgets/NodeWidget.cpp
index 8a776516..de9a4ce7 100644
--- a/src/widgets/NodeWidget.cpp
+++ b/src/widgets/NodeWidget.cpp
@@ -5,10 +5,13 @@
 #include "ui_NodeWidget.h"
 
 #include <QAction>
+#include <QCheckBox>
 #include <QDesktopServices>
 #include <QInputDialog>
+#include <QLabel>
 #include <QMenu>
 #include <QTableWidget>
+#include <QVBoxLayout>
 
 #include "model/NodeModel.h"
 #include "utils/Icons.h"
@@ -52,6 +55,36 @@ NodeWidget::NodeWidget(QWidget *parent)
     ui->frame_addCustomNodes->setVisible(index);
 
     this->onWebsocketStatusChanged();
+
+    // wowlet: built-in node toggle + the "why run your own node" messaging. Running your own node is
+    // a privacy win (no remote operator sees your wallet) AND it strengthens the Wownero network by
+    // adding a peer — a deliberate differentiator we surface clearly here.
+    m_localNodeCheck = new QCheckBox(tr("Run your own Wownero node (much recommended)"), this);
+    m_localNodeCheck->setChecked(conf()->get(Config::runLocalNode).toBool());
+    auto *localNodeInfo = new QLabel(
+        tr("wowlet bundles its own node so you can be your own boss — and every node keeps the Wownero "
+           "network strong + decentralized. 🐕 Uncheck to use a remote node instead."), this);
+    localNodeInfo->setWordWrap(true);
+    localNodeInfo->setStyleSheet("color: gray;");
+
+    if (auto *vlayout = qobject_cast<QVBoxLayout*>(this->layout())) {
+        vlayout->insertWidget(0, localNodeInfo);
+        vlayout->insertWidget(0, m_localNodeCheck);
+    }
+
+    auto applyLocalNodeState = [this](bool on) {
+        // When the built-in node is on, the remote list is overridden — grey it out so it's obvious.
+        ui->stackedWidget->setEnabled(!on);
+        ui->checkBox_websocketList->setEnabled(!on);
+        ui->frame_addCustomNodes->setEnabled(!on);
+    };
+    applyLocalNodeState(m_localNodeCheck->isChecked());
+
+    connect(m_localNodeCheck, &QCheckBox::toggled, this, [this, applyLocalNodeState](bool checked){
+        conf()->set(Config::runLocalNode, checked);
+        applyLocalNodeState(checked);
+        emit localNodeToggled(checked);
+    });
 }
 
 void NodeWidget::onShowWSContextMenu(const QPoint &pos) {
diff --git a/src/widgets/NodeWidget.h b/src/widgets/NodeWidget.h
index af76739e..e260839d 100644
--- a/src/widgets/NodeWidget.h
+++ b/src/widgets/NodeWidget.h
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ namespace Ui {
 }
 
 class NodeModel;
+class QCheckBox;
 class NodeWidget : public QWidget
 {
     Q_OBJECT
@@ -44,12 +45,14 @@ private slots:
 signals:
     void connectToNode(FeatherNode node);
     void nodeSourceChanged(NodeSource nodeSource);
+    void localNodeToggled(bool enabled);
 
 private:
     void showContextMenu(const QPoint &pos, const FeatherNode &node);
     FeatherNode selectedNode();
 
     QScopedPointer<Ui::NodeWidget> ui;
+    QCheckBox *m_localNodeCheck = nullptr;
     Nodes *m_nodes;
     NodeModel  *m_customModel;
     NodeModel *m_wsModel;