diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 461c59a..96ce9c0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -235,7 +235,9 @@ During deployment, choose the map. The lowest available lobby is assigned
 automatically, with the exact server ID shown before deployment. Its saved key is reused automatically,
 and any newly entered key is saved for that ID, including if deployment fails.
 Destroying a server preserves its saved key. Updating or removing a saved key
-does not change a running server; changes apply to future deployments.
+does not change an existing server; changes apply when that server ID is next
+created or rebuilt. Electric Cherry does not check whether Plutonium accepts a
+saved key. **Last saved** shows when the key was saved, not a validation result.
 
 Keys are stored in the application's SQLite database at `DB_PATH`, independently
 of server records. Preserve that database across container replacements. Key
diff --git a/src/lib/ui/components/DeployServerDialog.svelte b/src/lib/ui/components/DeployServerDialog.svelte
index f87a23a..0cd337f 100644
--- a/src/lib/ui/components/DeployServerDialog.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/ui/components/DeployServerDialog.svelte
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@
                 <div class="identity"><span class="eyebrow">Your new server</span><strong>{preview.name ?? 'Waiting for an available lobby'}</strong><p>{preview.port ? `Port ${preview.port} · ` : ''}Fresh identity, with its own server key.</p></div>
                 {#if preview.hasSavedKey}<p class="key-ready"><span aria-hidden="true">✓</span> Saved key ready</p>
                 {:else}<label>Plutonium server key<input type="password" bind:value={plutoKey} disabled={busy || saving || !preview.name} maxlength="512" autocomplete="off" placeholder="Paste the key for this server ID" /></label>{/if}
-                <p class="muted">{preview.hasSavedKey ? 'The saved key for this server ID will be reused automatically. Its validity is checked when the game starts. Update it in Keys.' : 'Add the key here. It is saved for this exact server ID when you launch, including if provisioning fails.'} <a href={`/server-keys?server=${encodeURIComponent(preview.name ?? '')}`} target="_blank" rel="noopener">Manage saved keys in a new tab</a>; your launch stays open here.</p>
+                <p class="muted">{preview.hasSavedKey ? 'The saved key for this server ID will be reused automatically. Electric Cherry does not check whether Plutonium accepts it. Update it in Keys.' : 'Add the key here. It is saved for this exact server ID when you launch, including if provisioning fails.'} <a href={`/server-keys?server=${encodeURIComponent(preview.name ?? '')}`} target="_blank" rel="noopener">Manage saved keys in a new tab</a>; your launch stays open here.</p>
                 <div class="launch-actions">{#if !sourceDeploymentId}<Button variant="ghost" disabled={busy || saving} onclick={() => { preview = null; plutoKey = ''; error = ''; }}>Back</Button>{/if}<Button type="submit" variant="primary" loading={busy} disabled={busy || saving || expired || !preview.ready || (!preview.hasSavedKey && !plutoKey.trim())}>Launch server</Button></div>
                 {#if !preview.hasSavedKey && !plutoKey.trim()}<p class="muted">Enter this server’s key to enable launch.</p>{/if}
                 <p class="caption">Preview valid until {$timeFormat.minuteTime(preview.expiresAt)}. Lobby and port availability are checked again at launch.</p>
diff --git a/src/routes/server-keys/+page.svelte b/src/routes/server-keys/+page.svelte
index 68c3079..fdd5b36 100644
--- a/src/routes/server-keys/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/server-keys/+page.svelte
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@
 <SectionHeader title="Keys" subtitle="Save a Plutonium key for each server ID. Keys are kept when a server is destroyed.">
     {#snippet actions()}<Button variant="primary" onclick={addKey}>Add key</Button>{/snippet}
 </SectionHeader>
+<p class="key-help">Saved keys are reused when a server is created or rebuilt. Electric Cherry does not check whether Plutonium accepts them. Updating or removing a saved key does not change an existing server.</p>
 <div class="ui-toolbar"><input type="search" aria-label="Search keys" bind:value={search} oninput={event => { search = event.currentTarget.value; limit = 25; saveSearch(); }} placeholder="Search servers…" /></div>
 
 {#if error && !open}<div role="alert" class="ui-error">{error}<Button size="sm" onclick={reload}>Retry</Button></div>{/if}
@@ -100,12 +101,12 @@
 {:else if !filtered.length}<EmptyState title={keys.length ? "No matching keys" : "No saved keys"} description="Add a key here or save one when creating a server." />
 {:else}
     <div class="table-wrap"><table>
-        <thead><tr><th>Server ID</th><th>Status</th><th>Key</th><th>Actions</th></tr></thead>
+        <thead><tr><th>Server ID</th><th>Server</th><th>Last saved</th><th>Actions</th></tr></thead>
         <tbody>{#each filtered.slice(0,limit) as key (key.server_id)}
             <tr>
                 <td>{#if key.deployed}<a href="/servers/{encodeURIComponent(key.server_id)}"><ServerIdentity name={key.server_id} /></a>{:else}<ServerIdentity name={key.server_id} />{/if}<code>{key.server_id}</code></td>
                 <td>{key.deployed ? 'Server exists' : 'No server deployed'}</td>
-                <td>Stored, not validated<small>Saved {savedAt(key.updated_at)}<br />Used on next deployment</small></td>
+                <td>{savedAt(key.updated_at)}</td>
                 <td><div class="actions">
                     <Button ariaLabel={`Update key for ${serverTitle(key.server_id)}`} disabled={busy} onclick={() => { serverId = key.server_id; plutoKey = ''; editing = true; error = ''; notice = ''; open = true; }}>Update</Button>
                     <Button ariaLabel={`Remove key for ${serverTitle(key.server_id)}`} disabled={busy} onclick={() => remove(key.server_id)}>Remove</Button>
@@ -125,7 +126,7 @@
         <Input bind:value={serverId} placeholder="t5_zombie_theater_2" required readonly={editing} disabled={busy} mono />
     </Field>{:else}<div class="id-picker"><label>Game<select bind:value={game} disabled={busy} onchange={event => mapSlug = zombieMaps(event.currentTarget.value)[0].slug}><option value="t5">Black Ops I</option><option value="t6">Black Ops II</option></select></label><label>Map<select bind:value={mapSlug} disabled={busy}>{#each zombieMaps(game) as map}<option value={map.slug}>{map.friendly}</option>{/each}</select></label><label>Lobby<input type="number" min="1" max="20" step="1" bind:value={lobby} disabled={busy} required /></label></div><p>Server ID: <code>{chosenId}</code></p>{/if}
     {#if !editing && keys.some(key => key.server_id === chosenId)}<p role="status">A key is already saved for this ID. Saving replaces it for the next deployment; the running server keeps its current key.</p>{/if}
-    <Field label="Plutonium server key" hint="Changes apply the next time this server ID is deployed.">
+    <Field label="Plutonium server key" hint="Used when this server ID is created or rebuilt. Existing servers keep their current key.">
         <Input type="password" bind:value={plutoKey} placeholder="Paste key" autocomplete="off" required disabled={busy} />
     </Field>
     <div class="actions">
@@ -136,7 +137,8 @@
     {#if !validId || !plutoKey.trim()}<p role="status">Choose a valid server ID and enter its Plutonium key to save.</p>{/if}
 </Dialog>
 <style>
-    a { color: var(--accent-primary-hover); }small { display: block; color: var(--text-secondary); font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.6; margin-top: 5px; }
+    a { color: var(--accent-primary-hover); }
+    .key-help { margin: 0; font-size: var(--text-sm); line-height: 1.65; }
     .id-picker { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1.4fr 80px; gap: 12px; }.id-picker label { display: grid; gap: 8px; font-size: 14px; }.id-picker input, .id-picker select { width: 100%; min-width: 0; padding: 10px; border: 1px solid var(--border-control); border-radius: var(--radius-md); background: var(--surface-sunken); color: inherit; }.raw-toggle { display: flex; gap: 8px; align-items: center; font-size: 14px; }
     @media (max-width: 600px) { .id-picker { grid-template-columns: 1fr; } }