diff --git a/assistant/src/daemon/computer-use-session.ts b/assistant/src/daemon/computer-use-session.ts
index 7853489b3f3..465bbee6dc2 100644
--- a/assistant/src/daemon/computer-use-session.ts
+++ b/assistant/src/daemon/computer-use-session.ts
@@ -140,6 +140,18 @@ export class ComputerUseSession {
     this.targetAppName = targetAppName;
     this.targetAppBundleId = targetAppBundleId;
     this.requiresRecording = requiresRecording ?? false;
+
+    log.info(
+      {
+        sessionId,
+        qaMode: !!requiresRecording,
+        requiresRecording: this.requiresRecording,
+        targetAppName,
+        targetAppBundleId,
+        recordingGateStatus: this.recordingGateStatus,
+      },
+      'CU session initialized',
+    );
   }
 
   // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -197,11 +209,19 @@ export class ComputerUseSession {
       this.recordingHandshakeTimer = setTimeout(() => {
         if (this.recordingGateStatus === 'pending') {
           log.error(
-            { sessionId: this.sessionId, timeoutMs: RECORDING_HANDSHAKE_TIMEOUT_MS },
+            {
+              sessionId: this.sessionId,
+              timeoutMs: RECORDING_HANDSHAKE_TIMEOUT_MS,
+              recordingGateStatus: this.recordingGateStatus,
+              requiresRecording: this.requiresRecording,
+              targetAppName: this.targetAppName,
+              targetAppBundleId: this.targetAppBundleId,
+              stepCount: this.stepCount,
+            },
             'Recording handshake timeout — recording never started',
           );
           this.abortWithError(
-            'Recording handshake timed out: recording did not start within 8 seconds. Session aborted to prevent unrecorded actions.',
+            `Recording handshake timed out after ${RECORDING_HANDSHAKE_TIMEOUT_MS / 1000} seconds. The screen recording did not start. Session aborted because recording is required for QA sessions. Check screen recording permissions in System Settings > Privacy & Security.`,
           );
         }
       }, RECORDING_HANDSHAKE_TIMEOUT_MS);
@@ -692,7 +712,7 @@ export class ComputerUseSession {
       if (this.requiresRecording && this.recordingGateStatus !== 'started') {
         if (this.recordingGateStatus === 'failed') {
           const reason = this.recordingFailureReason ?? 'unknown';
-          this.abortWithError(`Recording failed: ${reason}. Session cannot proceed without recording.`);
+          this.abortWithError(`Recording failed to start: ${reason}. Session aborted because recording is required for QA sessions.`);
           return {
             content: `Recording failed: ${reason}. Session aborted.`,
             isError: true,
@@ -700,8 +720,14 @@ export class ComputerUseSession {
         }
         if (this.recordingGateStatus === 'pending' && DESTRUCTIVE_TOOLS.has(toolName)) {
           log.warn(
-            { sessionId: this.sessionId, toolName, recordingGateStatus: this.recordingGateStatus },
-            'Blocked destructive action — recording has not started yet',
+            {
+              sessionId: this.sessionId,
+              toolName,
+              recordingGateStatus: this.recordingGateStatus,
+              requiresRecording: this.requiresRecording,
+              stepCount: this.stepCount,
+            },
+            'Blocked destructive action — recording not started',
           );
           return {
             content: 'Recording has not started yet. Waiting for recording confirmation before executing destructive actions. Use computer_use_wait to wait, or computer_use_done/computer_use_respond if the task can be completed without interaction.',
diff --git a/assistant/src/daemon/handlers/computer-use.ts b/assistant/src/daemon/handlers/computer-use.ts
index 1cb6865e798..d146f264663 100644
--- a/assistant/src/daemon/handlers/computer-use.ts
+++ b/assistant/src/daemon/handlers/computer-use.ts
@@ -389,14 +389,20 @@ function handleCuRecordingStatus(msg: CuRecordingStatus, _socket: net.Socket, ct
     log.warn({ sessionId: msg.sessionId }, 'CU recording status for unknown session');
     return;
   }
-  log.info(
-    { sessionId: msg.sessionId, status: msg.status, reason: msg.reason },
-    'CU recording status update',
-  );
+  const previousStatus = session.recordingGateStatus;
   session.recordingGateStatus = msg.status;
   if (msg.status === 'failed' && msg.reason) {
     session.recordingFailureReason = msg.reason;
   }
+  log.info(
+    {
+      sessionId: msg.sessionId,
+      previousStatus,
+      newStatus: msg.status,
+      reason: msg.reason,
+    },
+    'Recording gate status changed',
+  );
 }
 
 export const computerUseHandlers = defineHandlers({
diff --git a/clients/macos/vellum-assistant/Features/Session/SessionOverlayView.swift b/clients/macos/vellum-assistant/Features/Session/SessionOverlayView.swift
index bf55e84913f..8c8e173aa08 100644
--- a/clients/macos/vellum-assistant/Features/Session/SessionOverlayView.swift
+++ b/clients/macos/vellum-assistant/Features/Session/SessionOverlayView.swift
@@ -265,8 +265,9 @@ struct SessionOverlayView: View {
                             .foregroundColor(VColor.error)
                             .fixedSize(horizontal: false, vertical: true)
                             .frame(maxWidth: .infinity, alignment: .leading)
+                            .textSelection(.enabled)
                     }
-                    .frame(maxHeight: 60)
+                    .frame(maxHeight: 80)
                 }
                 .padding(.horizontal, VSpacing.xs)
             } else if session.isRecordingActive {