diff --git a/frontend/src/components/network/DiagramHeader.tsx b/frontend/src/components/network/DiagramHeader.tsx
index f4f3b397..9cc59332 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/network/DiagramHeader.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/network/DiagramHeader.tsx
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 import { useState, useCallback, useRef, useEffect } from 'react'
 import { useNavigate } from 'react-router-dom'
-import { ChevronLeft, Save, Download, FileJson, FileCode, Image, FileText, Undo2, Redo2, MousePointer2, Hand, Share2, Upload } from 'lucide-react'
+import { ChevronLeft, Save, Download, FileJson, FileCode, Image, FileText, Undo2, Redo2, MousePointer2, Hand, Share2, Upload, Cable } from 'lucide-react'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 
-export type InteractionMode = 'select' | 'pan'
+export type InteractionMode = 'select' | 'pan' | 'connect'
 
 interface DiagramHeaderProps {
   name: string
@@ -156,6 +156,18 @@ export function DiagramHeader({
         >
           <Hand size={15} />
         </button>
+        <button
+          onClick={() => onModeChange('connect')}
+          title="Connect (C)"
+          className={cn(
+            'p-1.5 transition-colors',
+            interactionMode === 'connect'
+              ? 'bg-elevated text-primary'
+              : 'text-muted-foreground hover:text-primary hover:bg-elevated/50',
+          )}
+        >
+          <Cable size={15} />
+        </button>
       </div>
 
       <div className="mx-2 h-5 w-px bg-border-default" />
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/network/NetworkCanvas.tsx b/frontend/src/components/network/NetworkCanvas.tsx
index ddd34f80..5dc18919 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/network/NetworkCanvas.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/network/NetworkCanvas.tsx
@@ -99,17 +99,22 @@ export function NetworkCanvas({
         edgeTypes={edgeTypes}
         defaultEdgeOptions={{ type: 'connection' }}
         edgesReconnectable
+        connectOnClick={interactionMode === 'connect'}
         reconnectRadius={20}
         connectionRadius={24}
         deleteKeyCode={['Backspace', 'Delete']}
         multiSelectionKeyCode="Shift"
-        panOnDrag={interactionMode === 'pan'}
+        panOnDrag={interactionMode === 'pan' ? [0, 1] : [1]}
         selectionOnDrag={interactionMode === 'select'}
         panActivationKeyCode="Space"
         snapToGrid={true}
         snapGrid={[20, 20]}
         fitView
-        className={interactionMode === 'pan' ? 'bg-page cursor-grab active:cursor-grabbing' : 'bg-page'}
+        className={cn(
+          'bg-page',
+          interactionMode === 'pan' && 'cursor-grab active:cursor-grabbing',
+          interactionMode === 'connect' && 'rf-connect-mode cursor-crosshair',
+        )}
       >
         <Background variant={BackgroundVariant.Dots} color="var(--color-border-default)" gap={20} size={1} />
         <Controls className="!border-default !bg-card [&>button]:!border-default [&>button]:!bg-card [&>button]:!fill-text-primary" />
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/network/hooks/useCanvasShortcuts.ts b/frontend/src/components/network/hooks/useCanvasShortcuts.ts
index 955ce0be..da33bfb8 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/network/hooks/useCanvasShortcuts.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/components/network/hooks/useCanvasShortcuts.ts
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ export function useCanvasShortcuts({
   onUndo: () => void
   onRedo: () => void
   onNudge: (dx: number, dy: number) => void
-  onSetMode: (mode: 'select' | 'pan') => void
+  onSetMode: (mode: 'select' | 'pan' | 'connect') => void
 }) {
   const { getNodes, fitView, screenToFlowPosition, setNodes: rfSetNodes } = useReactFlow()
   const clipboardRef = useRef<ClipboardData | null>(null)
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ export function useCanvasShortcuts({
         return
       }
 
-      // Mode shortcuts: V = select, H = pan
+      // Mode shortcuts: V = select, H = pan, C = connect
       if (!ctrl && e.key === 'v') {
         onSetMode('select')
         return
@@ -253,6 +253,10 @@ export function useCanvasShortcuts({
         onSetMode('pan')
         return
       }
+      if (!ctrl && e.key === 'c') {
+        onSetMode('connect')
+        return
+      }
 
       if (ctrl && e.key === 'c') {
         e.preventDefault()
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/network/ui/base-handle.tsx b/frontend/src/components/network/ui/base-handle.tsx
index 913d8abb..4f57ca45 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/network/ui/base-handle.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/network/ui/base-handle.tsx
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ export function BaseHandle({ className, children, ...props }: ComponentProps<typ
       className={cn(
         'h-[14px] w-[14px] rounded-full border border-default bg-elevated transition-opacity',
         'opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 group-focus-within:opacity-100',
+        '[.rf-connect-mode_&]:opacity-100',
         className,
       )}
     >
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/NetworkDiagrams/DiagramEditor.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/NetworkDiagrams/DiagramEditor.tsx
index 6b2eab67..689a9039 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/NetworkDiagrams/DiagramEditor.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/NetworkDiagrams/DiagramEditor.tsx
@@ -842,6 +842,11 @@ function DiagramEditorInner() {
               onPaneClick={closeContextMenu}
               interactionMode={interactionMode}
             />
+            {interactionMode === 'connect' && (
+              <div className="pointer-events-none absolute left-1/2 top-4 z-10 -translate-x-1/2 rounded-full border border-accent/30 bg-card/95 px-3 py-1.5 text-[11px] text-muted-foreground">
+                Connect mode: drag between device handles. Middle-click and drag to pan.
+              </div>
+            )}
             {nodes.length === 0 && !loading && (
               <CanvasEmptyPrompt onGenerate={handleAIGenerate} />
             )}