diff --git a/client/internal/peer/status.go b/client/internal/peer/status.go
index 31e0d6e25..3e5c56dd2 100644
--- a/client/internal/peer/status.go
+++ b/client/internal/peer/status.go
@@ -1024,14 +1024,17 @@ func (d *Status) GetRelayStates() []relay.ProbeResult {
 		return d.relayStates
 	}
 
-	// extend the list of stun, turn servers with relay address
+	// extend the list of stun, turn servers with the relay server connections
 	relayStates := slices.Clone(d.relayStates)
 
-	// if the server connection is not established then we will use the general address
-	// in case of connection we will use the instance specific address
-	instanceAddr, _, err := d.relayMgr.RelayInstanceAddress()
-	if err != nil {
-		// TODO add their status
+	states := d.relayMgr.RelayStates()
+	if len(states) == 0 {
+		// no relay connection tracked yet; surface configured servers as
+		// unavailable with the real reconnect error when known
+		err := relayClient.ErrRelayClientNotConnected
+		if connErr := d.relayMgr.RelayConnectError(); connErr != nil {
+			err = connErr
+		}
 		for _, r := range d.relayMgr.ServerURLs() {
 			relayStates = append(relayStates, relay.ProbeResult{
 				URI: r,
@@ -1041,10 +1044,14 @@ func (d *Status) GetRelayStates() []relay.ProbeResult {
 		return relayStates
 	}
 
-	relayState := relay.ProbeResult{
-		URI: instanceAddr,
+	for _, rs := range states {
+		relayStates = append(relayStates, relay.ProbeResult{
+			URI:       rs.URL,
+			Err:       rs.Err,
+			Transport: rs.Transport,
+		})
 	}
-	return append(relayStates, relayState)
+	return relayStates
 }
 
 func (d *Status) ForwardingRules() []firewall.ForwardRule {
@@ -1405,6 +1412,7 @@ func (fs FullStatus) ToProto() *proto.FullStatus {
 		pbRelayState := &proto.RelayState{
 			URI:       relayState.URI,
 			Available: relayState.Err == nil,
+			Transport: relayState.Transport,
 		}
 		if err := relayState.Err; err != nil {
 			pbRelayState.Error = err.Error()
diff --git a/client/internal/relay/relay.go b/client/internal/relay/relay.go
index f00a8d93a..051717608 100644
--- a/client/internal/relay/relay.go
+++ b/client/internal/relay/relay.go
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ type ProbeResult struct {
 	URI  string
 	Err  error
 	Addr string
+	// Transport is the negotiated relay transport, empty
+	// for stun/turn probes or when not connected.
+	Transport string
 }
 
 type StunTurnProbe struct {
diff --git a/client/proto/daemon.pb.go b/client/proto/daemon.pb.go
index 70d9e8212..6b5a37658 100644
--- a/client/proto/daemon.pb.go
+++ b/client/proto/daemon.pb.go
@@ -1849,10 +1849,13 @@ func (x *ManagementState) GetError() string {
 
 // RelayState contains the latest state of the relay
 type RelayState struct {
-	state         protoimpl.MessageState `protogen:"open.v1"`
-	URI           string                 `protobuf:"bytes,1,opt,name=URI,proto3" json:"URI,omitempty"`
-	Available     bool                   `protobuf:"varint,2,opt,name=available,proto3" json:"available,omitempty"`
-	Error         string                 `protobuf:"bytes,3,opt,name=error,proto3" json:"error,omitempty"`
+	state     protoimpl.MessageState `protogen:"open.v1"`
+	URI       string                 `protobuf:"bytes,1,opt,name=URI,proto3" json:"URI,omitempty"`
+	Available bool                   `protobuf:"varint,2,opt,name=available,proto3" json:"available,omitempty"`
+	Error     string                 `protobuf:"bytes,3,opt,name=error,proto3" json:"error,omitempty"`
+	// transport is the negotiated relay transport (e.g. "ws", "quic"),
+	// empty for stun/turn probes or when not connected.
+	Transport     string `protobuf:"bytes,4,opt,name=transport,proto3" json:"transport,omitempty"`
 	unknownFields protoimpl.UnknownFields
 	sizeCache     protoimpl.SizeCache
 }
@@ -1908,6 +1911,13 @@ func (x *RelayState) GetError() string {
 	return ""
 }
 
+func (x *RelayState) GetTransport() string {
+	if x != nil {
+		return x.Transport
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+
 type NSGroupState struct {
 	state         protoimpl.MessageState `protogen:"open.v1"`
 	Servers       []string               `protobuf:"bytes,1,rep,name=servers,proto3" json:"servers,omitempty"`
@@ -6486,12 +6496,13 @@ const file_daemon_proto_rawDesc = "" +
 	"\x0fManagementState\x12\x10\n" +
 	"\x03URL\x18\x01 \x01(\tR\x03URL\x12\x1c\n" +
 	"\tconnected\x18\x02 \x01(\bR\tconnected\x12\x14\n" +
-	"\x05error\x18\x03 \x01(\tR\x05error\"R\n" +
+	"\x05error\x18\x03 \x01(\tR\x05error\"p\n" +
 	"\n" +
 	"RelayState\x12\x10\n" +
 	"\x03URI\x18\x01 \x01(\tR\x03URI\x12\x1c\n" +
 	"\tavailable\x18\x02 \x01(\bR\tavailable\x12\x14\n" +
-	"\x05error\x18\x03 \x01(\tR\x05error\"r\n" +
+	"\x05error\x18\x03 \x01(\tR\x05error\x12\x1c\n" +
+	"\ttransport\x18\x04 \x01(\tR\ttransport\"r\n" +
 	"\fNSGroupState\x12\x18\n" +
 	"\aservers\x18\x01 \x03(\tR\aservers\x12\x18\n" +
 	"\adomains\x18\x02 \x03(\tR\adomains\x12\x18\n" +
diff --git a/client/proto/daemon.proto b/client/proto/daemon.proto
index 265ab40bb..ea668f629 100644
--- a/client/proto/daemon.proto
+++ b/client/proto/daemon.proto
@@ -378,6 +378,9 @@ message RelayState {
   string URI = 1;
   bool available = 2;
   string error = 3;
+  // transport is the negotiated relay transport (e.g. "ws", "quic"),
+  // empty for stun/turn probes or when not connected.
+  string transport = 4;
 }
 
 message NSGroupState {
diff --git a/client/status/status.go b/client/status/status.go
index e7e8ee11c..5b815aaa3 100644
--- a/client/status/status.go
+++ b/client/status/status.go
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ type RelayStateOutputDetail struct {
 	URI       string `json:"uri" yaml:"uri"`
 	Available bool   `json:"available" yaml:"available"`
 	Error     string `json:"error" yaml:"error"`
+	Transport string `json:"transport,omitempty" yaml:"transport,omitempty"`
 }
 
 type RelayStateOutput struct {
@@ -219,7 +220,8 @@ func mapRelays(relays []*proto.RelayState) RelayStateOutput {
 			RelayStateOutputDetail{
 				URI:       relay.URI,
 				Available: available,
-				Error:     relay.GetError(),
+				Error:     relayErrorString(relay.GetError()),
+				Transport: relay.GetTransport(),
 			},
 		)
 
@@ -235,6 +237,12 @@ func mapRelays(relays []*proto.RelayState) RelayStateOutput {
 	}
 }
 
+// relayErrorString flattens a newline-joined aggregated relay error onto a
+// single line for status output.
+func relayErrorString(s string) string {
+	return strings.ReplaceAll(s, "\n", "; ")
+}
+
 func mapNSGroups(servers []*proto.NSGroupState) []NsServerGroupStateOutput {
 	mappedNSGroups := make([]NsServerGroupStateOutput, 0, len(servers))
 	for _, pbNsGroupServer := range servers {
@@ -441,6 +449,8 @@ func (o *OutputOverview) GeneralSummary(showURL bool, showRelays bool, showNameS
 					available = "Unavailable"
 					reason = fmt.Sprintf(", reason: %s", relay.Error)
 				}
+			} else if relay.Transport != "" {
+				available = fmt.Sprintf("%s via %s", available, relay.Transport)
 			}
 
 			relaysString += fmt.Sprintf("\n  [%s] is %s%s", relay.URI, available, reason)
diff --git a/client/status/status_test.go b/client/status/status_test.go
index 1ae7157c0..44fc30baf 100644
--- a/client/status/status_test.go
+++ b/client/status/status_test.go
@@ -647,3 +647,13 @@ func TestTimeAgo(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func TestMapRelaysTransport(t *testing.T) {
+	out := mapRelays([]*proto.RelayState{
+		{URI: "rels://relay.example:443", Available: true, Transport: "quic"},
+		{URI: "rels://relay2.example:443", Available: true, Transport: "ws"},
+	})
+	require.Len(t, out.Details, 2)
+	assert.Equal(t, "quic", out.Details[0].Transport)
+	assert.Equal(t, "ws", out.Details[1].Transport)
+}
diff --git a/relay/metrics/realy.go b/relay/metrics/realy.go
index efb597ff5..49a357557 100644
--- a/relay/metrics/realy.go
+++ b/relay/metrics/realy.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/attribute"
 	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel/metric"
 )
 
@@ -119,8 +120,8 @@ func NewMetrics(ctx context.Context, meter metric.Meter) (*Metrics, error) {
 }
 
 // PeerConnected increments the number of connected peers and increments number of idle connections
-func (m *Metrics) PeerConnected(id string) {
-	m.peers.Add(m.ctx, 1)
+func (m *Metrics) PeerConnected(id, transport string) {
+	m.peers.Add(m.ctx, 1, metric.WithAttributes(attribute.String("transport", transport)))
 	m.mutexActivity.Lock()
 	defer m.mutexActivity.Unlock()
 
@@ -138,8 +139,8 @@ func (m *Metrics) RecordPeerStoreTime(duration time.Duration) {
 }
 
 // PeerDisconnected decrements the number of connected peers and decrements number of idle or active connections
-func (m *Metrics) PeerDisconnected(id string) {
-	m.peers.Add(m.ctx, -1)
+func (m *Metrics) PeerDisconnected(id, transport string) {
+	m.peers.Add(m.ctx, -1, metric.WithAttributes(attribute.String("transport", transport)))
 	m.mutexActivity.Lock()
 	defer m.mutexActivity.Unlock()
 
diff --git a/relay/server/listener/conn.go b/relay/server/listener/conn.go
index ef0869594..d86f7f58b 100644
--- a/relay/server/listener/conn.go
+++ b/relay/server/listener/conn.go
@@ -11,4 +11,6 @@ type Conn interface {
 	Write(ctx context.Context, b []byte) (n int, err error)
 	RemoteAddr() net.Addr
 	Close() error
+	// Protocol returns the transport name.
+	Protocol() string
 }
diff --git a/relay/server/listener/quic/conn.go b/relay/server/listener/quic/conn.go
index d8dafcd1f..da5e12d36 100644
--- a/relay/server/listener/quic/conn.go
+++ b/relay/server/listener/quic/conn.go
@@ -42,6 +42,11 @@ func (c *Conn) RemoteAddr() net.Addr {
 	return c.session.RemoteAddr()
 }
 
+// Protocol returns the transport name for this connection.
+func (c *Conn) Protocol() string {
+	return "quic"
+}
+
 func (c *Conn) Close() error {
 	c.closedMu.Lock()
 	if c.closed {
diff --git a/relay/server/listener/ws/conn.go b/relay/server/listener/ws/conn.go
index c22b5719d..b1b64fe8e 100644
--- a/relay/server/listener/ws/conn.go
+++ b/relay/server/listener/ws/conn.go
@@ -64,6 +64,11 @@ func (c *Conn) RemoteAddr() net.Addr {
 	return c.rAddr
 }
 
+// Protocol returns the transport name for this connection.
+func (c *Conn) Protocol() string {
+	return "ws"
+}
+
 func (c *Conn) Close() error {
 	c.closedMu.Lock()
 	c.closed = true
diff --git a/relay/server/relay.go b/relay/server/relay.go
index 56add8bea..84c424b8e 100644
--- a/relay/server/relay.go
+++ b/relay/server/relay.go
@@ -154,15 +154,16 @@ func (r *Relay) Accept(conn listener.Conn) {
 	}
 	r.notifier.PeerCameOnline(peer.ID())
 
+	transport := conn.Protocol()
 	r.metrics.RecordPeerStoreTime(time.Since(storeTime))
-	r.metrics.PeerConnected(peer.String())
+	r.metrics.PeerConnected(peer.String(), transport)
 	go func() {
 		peer.Work()
 		if deleted := r.store.DeletePeer(peer); deleted {
 			r.notifier.PeerWentOffline(peer.ID())
 		}
 		peer.log.Debugf("relay connection closed")
-		r.metrics.PeerDisconnected(peer.String())
+		r.metrics.PeerDisconnected(peer.String(), transport)
 	}()
 
 	if err := h.handshakeResponse(hsCtx); err != nil {
diff --git a/shared/relay/client/client.go b/shared/relay/client/client.go
index 002b8d134..8d4aa6020 100644
--- a/shared/relay/client/client.go
+++ b/shared/relay/client/client.go
@@ -145,6 +145,11 @@ func (cc *connContainer) close() {
 	}
 }
 
+// transportConn is implemented by relay connections that know their transport.
+type transportConn interface {
+	Protocol() string
+}
+
 // Client is a client for the relay server. It is responsible for establishing a connection to the relay server and
 // managing connections to other peers. All exported functions are safe to call concurrently. After close the connection,
 // the client can be reused by calling Connect again. When the client is closed, all connections are closed too.
@@ -182,6 +187,18 @@ type Client struct {
 	// datagramFallbackTriggered guards a single fallback per connection so a
 	// burst of oversized datagrams triggers one reconnect, not many.
 	datagramFallbackTriggered atomic.Bool
+
+	// transport is the negotiated relay transport of the
+	// current connection, guarded by mu.
+	transport string
+}
+
+// Transport returns the negotiated relay transport of the current connection,
+// or an empty string when not connected.
+func (c *Client) Transport() string {
+	c.mu.Lock()
+	defer c.mu.Unlock()
+	return c.transport
 }
 
 // SetTransportFallback wires the shared datagram-transport fallback tracker.
@@ -402,6 +419,9 @@ func (c *Client) connect(ctx context.Context) (*RelayAddr, error) {
 	}
 	c.relayConn = conn
 	c.datagramFallbackTriggered.Store(false)
+	if tc, ok := conn.(transportConn); ok {
+		c.transport = tc.Protocol()
+	}
 
 	instanceURL, err := c.handShake(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -792,6 +812,7 @@ func (c *Client) close(gracefullyExit bool) error {
 		return nil
 	}
 	c.serviceIsRunning = false
+	c.transport = ""
 
 	c.muInstanceURL.Lock()
 	c.instanceURL = nil
diff --git a/shared/relay/client/dialer/quic/conn.go b/shared/relay/client/dialer/quic/conn.go
index a5c982551..e5ad77b29 100644
--- a/shared/relay/client/dialer/quic/conn.go
+++ b/shared/relay/client/dialer/quic/conn.go
@@ -57,6 +57,11 @@ func (c *Conn) Write(b []byte) (int, error) {
 	return len(b), nil
 }
 
+// Protocol returns the transport name for this connection.
+func (c *Conn) Protocol() string {
+	return Network
+}
+
 func (c *Conn) RemoteAddr() net.Addr {
 	return c.session.RemoteAddr()
 }
diff --git a/shared/relay/client/dialer/quic/quic.go b/shared/relay/client/dialer/quic/quic.go
index 5e1758a1c..2e8de8af3 100644
--- a/shared/relay/client/dialer/quic/quic.go
+++ b/shared/relay/client/dialer/quic/quic.go
@@ -59,14 +59,12 @@ func (d Dialer) Dial(ctx context.Context, address, serverName string) (net.Conn,
 
 	udpConn, err := nbnet.ListenUDP("udp", &net.UDPAddr{Port: 0})
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("failed to listen on UDP: %s", err)
-		return nil, err
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("listen udp: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	udpAddr, err := net.ResolveUDPAddr("udp", quicURL)
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("failed to resolve UDP address: %s", err)
-		return nil, err
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("resolve %s: %w", quicURL, err)
 	}
 
 	session, err := quic.Dial(ctx, udpConn, udpAddr, tlsClientConfig, quicConfig)
@@ -74,7 +72,7 @@ func (d Dialer) Dial(ctx context.Context, address, serverName string) (net.Conn,
 		if errors.Is(err, context.Canceled) {
 			return nil, err
 		}
-		log.Errorf("failed to dial to Relay server via QUIC '%s': %s", quicURL, err)
+		log.Debugf("failed to dial to Relay server via QUIC '%s': %s", quicURL, err)
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
diff --git a/shared/relay/client/dialer/race_dialer.go b/shared/relay/client/dialer/race_dialer.go
index aef1ef464..d183802d0 100644
--- a/shared/relay/client/dialer/race_dialer.go
+++ b/shared/relay/client/dialer/race_dialer.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package dialer
 import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
+	"fmt"
 	"net"
 	"time"
 
@@ -71,6 +72,7 @@ func (r *RaceDial) Dial(ctx context.Context) (net.Conn, error) {
 
 	connChan := make(chan dialResult, len(r.dialerFns))
 	winnerConn := make(chan net.Conn, 1)
+	errChan := make(chan error, 1)
 	abortCtx, abort := context.WithCancel(ctx)
 	defer abort()
 
@@ -78,11 +80,11 @@ func (r *RaceDial) Dial(ctx context.Context) (net.Conn, error) {
 		go r.dial(dfn, abortCtx, connChan)
 	}
 
-	go r.processResults(connChan, winnerConn, abort)
+	go r.processResults(connChan, winnerConn, errChan, abort)
 
 	conn, ok := <-winnerConn
 	if !ok {
-		return nil, errors.New("failed to dial to Relay server on any protocol")
+		return nil, <-errChan
 	}
 	return conn, nil
 }
@@ -90,6 +92,7 @@ func (r *RaceDial) Dial(ctx context.Context) (net.Conn, error) {
 // dialSequential tries each dialer in order, returning the first connection and
 // falling back to the next on failure.
 func (r *RaceDial) dialSequential(ctx context.Context) (net.Conn, error) {
+	var errs []error
 	for _, dfn := range r.dialerFns {
 		if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
@@ -103,12 +106,13 @@ func (r *RaceDial) dialSequential(ctx context.Context) (net.Conn, error) {
 				return nil, err
 			}
 			r.log.Errorf("failed to dial via %s: %s", dfn.Protocol(), err)
+			errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", dfn.Protocol(), err))
 			continue
 		}
 		r.log.Infof("successfully dialed via: %s", dfn.Protocol())
 		return conn, nil
 	}
-	return nil, errors.New("failed to dial to Relay server on any protocol")
+	return nil, dialErr(errs)
 }
 
 func (r *RaceDial) dial(dfn DialeFn, abortCtx context.Context, connChan chan dialResult) {
@@ -120,8 +124,9 @@ func (r *RaceDial) dial(dfn DialeFn, abortCtx context.Context, connChan chan dia
 	connChan <- dialResult{Conn: conn, Protocol: dfn.Protocol(), Err: err}
 }
 
-func (r *RaceDial) processResults(connChan chan dialResult, winnerConn chan net.Conn, abort context.CancelFunc) {
+func (r *RaceDial) processResults(connChan chan dialResult, winnerConn chan net.Conn, errChan chan error, abort context.CancelFunc) {
 	var hasWinner bool
+	errsByProtocol := make(map[string]error)
 	for i := 0; i < len(r.dialerFns); i++ {
 		dr := <-connChan
 		if dr.Err != nil {
@@ -129,6 +134,7 @@ func (r *RaceDial) processResults(connChan chan dialResult, winnerConn chan net.
 				r.log.Infof("connection attempt aborted via: %s", dr.Protocol)
 			} else {
 				r.log.Errorf("failed to dial via %s: %s", dr.Protocol, dr.Err)
+				errsByProtocol[dr.Protocol] = fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", dr.Protocol, dr.Err)
 			}
 			continue
 		}
@@ -146,5 +152,29 @@ func (r *RaceDial) processResults(connChan chan dialResult, winnerConn chan net.
 		hasWinner = true
 		winnerConn <- dr.Conn
 	}
+	if !hasWinner {
+		errChan <- dialErr(r.orderedErrs(errsByProtocol))
+	}
 	close(winnerConn)
 }
+
+// orderedErrs returns the per-protocol errors in dialer order, so the combined
+// error is stable regardless of which attempt failed first.
+func (r *RaceDial) orderedErrs(byProtocol map[string]error) []error {
+	errs := make([]error, 0, len(byProtocol))
+	for _, dfn := range r.dialerFns {
+		if err, ok := byProtocol[dfn.Protocol()]; ok {
+			errs = append(errs, err)
+		}
+	}
+	return errs
+}
+
+// dialErr combines per-dialer failures, preserving the underlying reasons
+// (e.g. "connection refused") rather than a generic message.
+func dialErr(errs []error) error {
+	if len(errs) == 0 {
+		return errors.New("no relay transport available")
+	}
+	return errors.Join(errs...)
+}
diff --git a/shared/relay/client/dialer/ws/conn.go b/shared/relay/client/dialer/ws/conn.go
index 9497fab89..eec417c50 100644
--- a/shared/relay/client/dialer/ws/conn.go
+++ b/shared/relay/client/dialer/ws/conn.go
@@ -33,6 +33,11 @@ func NewConn(wsConn *websocket.Conn, serverAddress string, underlying net.Conn)
 	}
 }
 
+// Protocol returns the transport name for this connection.
+func (c *Conn) Protocol() string {
+	return Network
+}
+
 func (c *Conn) Read(b []byte) (n int, err error) {
 	t, ioReader, err := c.Conn.Reader(c.ctx)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/shared/relay/client/dialer/ws/ws.go b/shared/relay/client/dialer/ws/ws.go
index 8a13ba126..6b310b73d 100644
--- a/shared/relay/client/dialer/ws/ws.go
+++ b/shared/relay/client/dialer/ws/ws.go
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ type Dialer struct {
 }
 
 func (d Dialer) Protocol() string {
-	return "WS"
+	return Network
 }
 
 func (d Dialer) Dial(ctx context.Context, address, serverName string) (net.Conn, error) {
@@ -39,7 +39,12 @@ func (d Dialer) Dial(ctx context.Context, address, serverName string) (net.Conn,
 		if errors.Is(err, context.Canceled) {
 			return nil, err
 		}
-		log.Errorf("failed to dial to Relay server '%s': %s", wsURL, err)
+		// websocket.Dial wraps the cause in verbose layers; surface the
+		// underlying network error when present.
+		var opErr *net.OpError
+		if errors.As(err, &opErr) {
+			return nil, opErr
+		}
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	if resp.Body != nil {
diff --git a/shared/relay/client/dialers_generic_test.go b/shared/relay/client/dialers_generic_test.go
index c4ef9cc59..f6c885108 100644
--- a/shared/relay/client/dialers_generic_test.go
+++ b/shared/relay/client/dialers_generic_test.go
@@ -41,14 +41,14 @@ func TestGetDialers(t *testing.T) {
 		preferWS bool
 		want     []string
 	}{
-		{name: "auto races quic and ws", mode: "auto", mtu: iface.DefaultMTU, want: []string{"quic", "WS"}},
-		{name: "ws pinned", mode: "ws", mtu: iface.DefaultMTU, want: []string{"WS"}},
+		{name: "auto races quic and ws", mode: "auto", mtu: iface.DefaultMTU, want: []string{"quic", "ws"}},
+		{name: "ws pinned", mode: "ws", mtu: iface.DefaultMTU, want: []string{"ws"}},
 		{name: "quic pinned", mode: "quic", mtu: iface.DefaultMTU, want: []string{"quic"}},
-		{name: "prefer-quic orders quic first", mode: "prefer-quic", mtu: iface.DefaultMTU, want: []string{"quic", "WS"}},
-		{name: "prefer-ws orders ws first", mode: "prefer-ws", mtu: iface.DefaultMTU, want: []string{"WS", "quic"}},
-		{name: "mtu above default forces ws", mode: "auto", mtu: iface.DefaultMTU + 100, want: []string{"WS"}},
-		{name: "sticky fallback forces ws in auto", mode: "auto", mtu: iface.DefaultMTU, preferWS: true, want: []string{"WS"}},
-		{name: "sticky fallback forces ws in prefer-quic", mode: "prefer-quic", mtu: iface.DefaultMTU, preferWS: true, want: []string{"WS"}},
+		{name: "prefer-quic orders quic first", mode: "prefer-quic", mtu: iface.DefaultMTU, want: []string{"quic", "ws"}},
+		{name: "prefer-ws orders ws first", mode: "prefer-ws", mtu: iface.DefaultMTU, want: []string{"ws", "quic"}},
+		{name: "mtu above default forces ws", mode: "auto", mtu: iface.DefaultMTU + 100, want: []string{"ws"}},
+		{name: "sticky fallback forces ws in auto", mode: "auto", mtu: iface.DefaultMTU, preferWS: true, want: []string{"ws"}},
+		{name: "sticky fallback forces ws in prefer-quic", mode: "prefer-quic", mtu: iface.DefaultMTU, preferWS: true, want: []string{"ws"}},
 		{name: "quic pin overrides sticky fallback", mode: "quic", mtu: iface.DefaultMTU, preferWS: true, want: []string{"quic"}},
 	}
 
@@ -91,11 +91,11 @@ func TestStickyFallbackAfterDatagramTooLarge(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	// First dial races both transports.
-	assert.Equal(t, []string{"quic", "WS"}, protocols(c.getDialers(transportModeFromEnv())))
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"quic", "ws"}, protocols(c.getDialers(transportModeFromEnv())))
 
 	// An oversized datagram records the fallback for this server.
 	c.onDatagramTooLarge(&closeTrackingConn{}, netErr.ErrDatagramTooLarge)
 
 	// The reconnect now sticks to WebSocket.
-	assert.Equal(t, []string{"WS"}, protocols(c.getDialers(transportModeFromEnv())))
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"ws"}, protocols(c.getDialers(transportModeFromEnv())))
 }
diff --git a/shared/relay/client/guard.go b/shared/relay/client/guard.go
index d7892d0ce..98b1b333e 100644
--- a/shared/relay/client/guard.go
+++ b/shared/relay/client/guard.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package client
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/cenkalti/backoff/v4"
@@ -20,6 +21,10 @@ type Guard struct {
 	// maxBackoffInterval caps the exponential backoff between reconnect
 	// attempts.
 	maxBackoffInterval time.Duration
+
+	// lastErr is the error from the most recent failed reconnect attempt,
+	// surfaced as the home relay status while disconnected.
+	lastErr atomic.Pointer[error]
 }
 
 // NewGuard creates a new guard for the relay client. A non-positive
@@ -37,6 +42,15 @@ func NewGuard(sp *ServerPicker, maxBackoffInterval time.Duration) *Guard {
 	return g
 }
 
+// LastError returns the error from the most recent failed reconnect attempt, or
+// nil if reconnection last succeeded.
+func (g *Guard) LastError() error {
+	if p := g.lastErr.Load(); p != nil {
+		return *p
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 // StartReconnectTrys is called when the relay client is disconnected from the relay server.
 // It attempts to reconnect to the relay server. The function first tries a quick reconnect
 // to the same server that was used before, if the server URL is still valid. If the quick
@@ -63,6 +77,7 @@ func (g *Guard) StartReconnectTrys(ctx context.Context, relayClient *Client) {
 		case <-ticker.C:
 			if err := g.retry(ctx); err != nil {
 				log.Errorf("failed to pick new Relay server: %s", err)
+				g.setLastError(err)
 				continue
 			}
 			return
@@ -72,6 +87,10 @@ func (g *Guard) StartReconnectTrys(ctx context.Context, relayClient *Client) {
 	}
 }
 
+func (g *Guard) setLastError(err error) {
+	g.lastErr.Store(&err)
+}
+
 func (g *Guard) tryToQuickReconnect(parentCtx context.Context, rc *Client) bool {
 	if rc == nil {
 		return false
@@ -89,6 +108,7 @@ func (g *Guard) tryToQuickReconnect(parentCtx context.Context, rc *Client) bool
 
 	if err := rc.Connect(parentCtx); err != nil {
 		log.Errorf("failed to reconnect to relay server: %s", err)
+		g.setLastError(err)
 		return false
 	}
 	return true
@@ -100,6 +120,7 @@ func (g *Guard) retry(ctx context.Context) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	g.setLastError(nil)
 
 	// prevent to work with a deprecated Relay client instance
 	g.drainRelayClientChan()
@@ -125,6 +146,7 @@ func (g *Guard) isServerURLStillValid(rc *Client) bool {
 }
 
 func (g *Guard) notifyReconnected() {
+	g.setLastError(nil)
 	select {
 	case g.OnReconnected <- struct{}{}:
 	default:
diff --git a/shared/relay/client/manager.go b/shared/relay/client/manager.go
index f87da15de..e1515401e 100644
--- a/shared/relay/client/manager.go
+++ b/shared/relay/client/manager.go
@@ -43,6 +43,17 @@ type OnServerCloseListener func()
 // ManagerOption configures a Manager at construction time.
 type ManagerOption func(*Manager)
 
+// RelayConnState is the connection state of a single relay server.
+type RelayConnState struct {
+	// URL is the server's instance address when connected, otherwise the
+	// configured server URL.
+	URL string
+	// Transport is the negotiated transport, empty if not connected.
+	Transport string
+	// Err is set when the relay is not connected.
+	Err error
+}
+
 // WithMaxBackoffInterval caps the exponential backoff between reconnect
 // attempts to the home relay. A non-positive value keeps the default.
 func WithMaxBackoffInterval(d time.Duration) ManagerOption {
@@ -130,6 +141,9 @@ func (m *Manager) Serve() error {
 
 	client, err := m.serverPicker.PickServer(m.ctx)
 	if err != nil {
+		// record the initial failure so status shows the real reason before
+		// the guard's first retry tick
+		m.reconnectGuard.setLastError(err)
 		go m.reconnectGuard.StartReconnectTrys(m.ctx, nil)
 	} else {
 		m.storeClient(client)
@@ -242,6 +256,56 @@ func (m *Manager) ServerURLs() []string {
 	return m.serverPicker.ServerURLs.Load().([]string)
 }
 
+// RelayConnectError returns the error from the most recent failed home relay
+// reconnect attempt, or nil if the relay last connected successfully.
+func (m *Manager) RelayConnectError() error {
+	return m.reconnectGuard.LastError()
+}
+
+// RelayStates returns the connection state of the home relay and every foreign
+// relay the manager currently tracks.
+func (m *Manager) RelayStates() []RelayConnState {
+	var states []RelayConnState
+
+	m.relayClientMu.RLock()
+	home := m.relayClient
+	m.relayClientMu.RUnlock()
+	if home != nil {
+		st := relayConnState(home)
+		// The home relay reconnects through the guard, so the real failure
+		// reason lives there rather than on the (stale) client.
+		if st.Err != nil {
+			if gErr := m.reconnectGuard.LastError(); gErr != nil {
+				st.Err = gErr
+			}
+		}
+		states = append(states, st)
+	}
+
+	// Snapshot the tracks, then query each outside the map lock: a track can be
+	// held by an in-progress Connect, and blocking on it must not stall other
+	// relay operations.
+	m.relayClientsMutex.RLock()
+	tracks := make([]*RelayTrack, 0, len(m.relayClients))
+	for _, rt := range m.relayClients {
+		tracks = append(tracks, rt)
+	}
+	m.relayClientsMutex.RUnlock()
+
+	// Only connected foreign relays carry state; a failed connect is evicted
+	// immediately (openConnVia), so there is no error state to surface.
+	for _, rt := range tracks {
+		rt.RLock()
+		rc := rt.relayClient
+		rt.RUnlock()
+		if rc != nil {
+			states = append(states, relayConnState(rc))
+		}
+	}
+
+	return states
+}
+
 // HasRelayAddress returns true if the manager is serving. With this method can check if the peer can communicate with
 // Relay service.
 func (m *Manager) HasRelayAddress() bool {
@@ -460,3 +524,11 @@ func (m *Manager) notifyOnDisconnectListeners(serverAddress string) {
 	}
 	delete(m.onDisconnectedListeners, serverAddress)
 }
+
+func relayConnState(c *Client) RelayConnState {
+	addr, err := c.ServerInstanceURL()
+	if err != nil {
+		return RelayConnState{URL: c.connectionURL, Err: err}
+	}
+	return RelayConnState{URL: addr, Transport: c.Transport()}
+}
diff --git a/shared/relay/client/picker.go b/shared/relay/client/picker.go
index 992e48114..bb721e4ad 100644
--- a/shared/relay/client/picker.go
+++ b/shared/relay/client/picker.go
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ func (sp *ServerPicker) PickServer(parentCtx context.Context) (*Client, error) {
 
 	connResultChan := make(chan connResult, totalServers)
 	successChan := make(chan connResult, 1)
+	errChan := make(chan error, 1)
 	concurrentLimiter := make(chan struct{}, maxConcurrentServers)
 
 	log.Debugf("pick server from list: %v", sp.ServerURLs.Load().([]string))
@@ -54,17 +55,17 @@ func (sp *ServerPicker) PickServer(parentCtx context.Context) (*Client, error) {
 		}(url)
 	}
 
-	go sp.processConnResults(connResultChan, successChan)
+	go sp.processConnResults(connResultChan, successChan, errChan)
 
 	select {
 	case cr, ok := <-successChan:
 		if !ok {
-			return nil, errors.New("failed to connect to any relay server: all attempts failed")
+			return nil, <-errChan
 		}
 		log.Infof("chosen home Relay server: %s", cr.Url)
 		return cr.RelayClient, nil
 	case <-ctx.Done():
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to connect to any relay server: %w", ctx.Err())
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("connect to relay server: %w", ctx.Err())
 	}
 }
 
@@ -80,12 +81,14 @@ func (sp *ServerPicker) startConnection(ctx context.Context, resultChan chan con
 	}
 }
 
-func (sp *ServerPicker) processConnResults(resultChan chan connResult, successChan chan connResult) {
+func (sp *ServerPicker) processConnResults(resultChan chan connResult, successChan chan connResult, errChan chan error) {
 	var hasSuccess bool
+	var errs []error
 	for numOfResults := 0; numOfResults < cap(resultChan); numOfResults++ {
 		cr := <-resultChan
 		if cr.Err != nil {
 			log.Tracef("failed to connect to Relay server: %s: %v", cr.Url, cr.Err)
+			errs = append(errs, cr.Err)
 			continue
 		}
 		log.Infof("connected to Relay server: %s", cr.Url)
@@ -101,5 +104,16 @@ func (sp *ServerPicker) processConnResults(resultChan chan connResult, successCh
 		hasSuccess = true
 		successChan <- cr
 	}
+	if !hasSuccess {
+		errChan <- pickErr(errs)
+	}
 	close(successChan)
 }
+
+// pickErr combines per-server connection failures into a single error.
+func pickErr(errs []error) error {
+	if len(errs) == 0 {
+		return errors.New("no relay server available")
+	}
+	return errors.Join(errs...)
+}