diff --git a/frontend/src/components/network/CanvasEmptyPrompt.tsx b/frontend/src/components/network/CanvasEmptyPrompt.tsx
index e1cec86d..1f532dfe 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/network/CanvasEmptyPrompt.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/network/CanvasEmptyPrompt.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-import { useState, useCallback } from 'react'
-import { Sparkles, ArrowRight, PencilRuler, Wand2 } from 'lucide-react'
+import { useState, useCallback, useEffect } from 'react'
+import { Sparkles, ArrowRight, PencilRuler, Wand2, X } from 'lucide-react'
 import { networkDiagramsApi } from '@/api'
 import type { AIGenerateResponse } from '@/types'
 
@@ -21,6 +21,12 @@ export function CanvasEmptyPrompt({ onGenerate }: CanvasEmptyPromptProps) {
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(false)
   const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null)
 
+  const switchToManual = useCallback(() => {
+    if (loading) return
+    setMode('manual')
+    setError(null)
+  }, [loading])
+
   const handleGenerate = useCallback(async (text?: string) => {
     const desc = (text ?? description).trim()
     if (!desc) return
@@ -40,16 +46,36 @@ export function CanvasEmptyPrompt({ onGenerate }: CanvasEmptyPromptProps) {
     }
   }, [description, onGenerate])
 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (mode === 'manual') return
+
+    const handleKeyDown = (event: KeyboardEvent) => {
+      if (event.key === 'Escape') {
+        event.preventDefault()
+        switchToManual()
+      }
+    }
+
+    window.addEventListener('keydown', handleKeyDown)
+    return () => window.removeEventListener('keydown', handleKeyDown)
+  }, [mode, switchToManual])
+
   if (mode === 'manual') {
     return (
       <div className="pointer-events-none absolute inset-x-0 bottom-6 z-10 flex justify-center px-6">
-        <div className="pointer-events-auto flex items-center gap-3 rounded-full border border-default bg-card/95 px-4 py-2 shadow-xl backdrop-blur">
-          <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-            Manual mode enabled. Drag devices from the left panel to start building.
-          </span>
+        <div className="pointer-events-auto flex max-w-xl items-center gap-3 rounded-2xl border border-default bg-card/95 px-4 py-3 shadow-xl backdrop-blur">
+          <div className="flex h-8 w-8 shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-accent/10 text-accent">
+            <PencilRuler size={14} />
+          </div>
+          <div className="min-w-0 flex-1">
+            <p className="text-sm font-medium text-heading">Manual mode is on</p>
+            <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+              Drag devices from the left panel onto the canvas, or reopen AI whenever you want.
+            </p>
+          </div>
           <button
             onClick={() => setMode('ai')}
-            className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 rounded-full border border-default px-3 py-1 text-xs font-medium text-primary hover:border-accent hover:text-accent"
+            className="inline-flex shrink-0 items-center gap-1 rounded-full border border-default px-3 py-1 text-xs font-medium text-primary hover:border-accent hover:text-accent"
           >
             <Sparkles size={12} />
             Open AI Generator
@@ -60,8 +86,23 @@ export function CanvasEmptyPrompt({ onGenerate }: CanvasEmptyPromptProps) {
   }
 
   return (
-    <div className="pointer-events-none absolute inset-0 z-10 flex items-center justify-center">
-      <div className="pointer-events-auto w-full max-w-lg rounded-xl border border-default bg-card p-8 shadow-2xl">
+    <div
+      className="pointer-events-none absolute inset-0 z-10 flex items-center justify-center bg-[rgba(10,14,20,0.42)] px-6"
+      onClick={event => {
+        if (event.target === event.currentTarget) {
+          switchToManual()
+        }
+      }}
+    >
+      <div className="pointer-events-auto relative w-full max-w-lg rounded-xl border border-default bg-card p-8 shadow-2xl">
+        <button
+          onClick={switchToManual}
+          disabled={loading}
+          aria-label="Close AI prompt and build manually"
+          className="absolute right-4 top-4 inline-flex h-8 w-8 items-center justify-center rounded-full border border-default text-muted-foreground hover:border-hover hover:text-primary disabled:opacity-40"
+        >
+          <X size={14} />
+        </button>
         {mode === 'choice' ? (
           <>
             <div className="mb-6 text-center">
@@ -74,6 +115,9 @@ export function CanvasEmptyPrompt({ onGenerate }: CanvasEmptyPromptProps) {
               <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
                 Generate a topology with AI or start with a blank canvas and build it manually.
               </p>
+              <p className="mt-2 text-[11px] text-muted-foreground/80">
+                Press <span className="font-medium text-primary">Esc</span> or click outside to skip AI and start dragging devices.
+              </p>
             </div>
 
             <div className="grid gap-3 sm:grid-cols-2">
@@ -91,18 +135,26 @@ export function CanvasEmptyPrompt({ onGenerate }: CanvasEmptyPromptProps) {
               </button>
 
               <button
-                onClick={() => setMode('manual')}
-                className="rounded-xl border border-default bg-elevated/30 p-4 text-left transition-colors hover:border-hover hover:bg-elevated/50"
+                onClick={switchToManual}
+                className="rounded-xl border-2 border-primary/20 bg-elevated/40 p-4 text-left transition-colors hover:border-accent hover:bg-elevated/60"
               >
-                <div className="mb-3 inline-flex rounded-lg bg-elevated p-2 text-primary">
+                <div className="mb-3 inline-flex rounded-lg bg-primary/10 p-2 text-primary">
                   <PencilRuler size={16} />
                 </div>
                 <div className="mb-1 text-sm font-semibold text-heading">Build manually</div>
                 <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-                  Close the AI prompt and drag devices from the left panel onto the canvas.
+                  Close this prompt and use click-and-drag from the left toolbar to place devices on the canvas.
                 </p>
               </button>
             </div>
+
+            <button
+              onClick={switchToManual}
+              className="mt-4 flex w-full items-center justify-center gap-2 rounded-lg border border-default px-4 py-3 text-sm font-medium text-primary hover:border-accent hover:text-accent"
+            >
+              <PencilRuler size={14} />
+              Skip AI and start dragging devices
+            </button>
           </>
         ) : (
           <>
@@ -116,6 +168,9 @@ export function CanvasEmptyPrompt({ onGenerate }: CanvasEmptyPromptProps) {
               <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
                 AI will generate the topology in seconds, or you can go back and switch to manual creation.
               </p>
+              <p className="mt-2 text-[11px] text-muted-foreground/80">
+                Press <span className="font-medium text-primary">Esc</span>, click outside, or use the close button to build manually instead.
+              </p>
             </div>
 
             <div className="relative mb-3">
@@ -153,12 +208,9 @@ export function CanvasEmptyPrompt({ onGenerate }: CanvasEmptyPromptProps) {
 
             <div className="flex gap-2">
               <button
-                onClick={() => {
-                  setMode('manual')
-                  setError(null)
-                }}
+                onClick={switchToManual}
                 disabled={loading}
-                className="flex-1 rounded-lg border border-default px-4 py-2.5 text-sm font-medium text-primary hover:border-hover disabled:opacity-40"
+                className="flex-1 rounded-lg border border-default px-4 py-2.5 text-sm font-medium text-primary hover:border-accent hover:text-accent disabled:opacity-40"
               >
                 Build Manually
               </button>