diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index e58644f..1e6ee08 100755
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "hatchling.build"
 
 [project]
 name = "codefa"
-version = "1.2.51"
+version = "1.2.53"
 description = "Local proxy connecting coding agents to OpenAI-compatible AI providers"
 readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.14.0"
diff --git a/src/codefa/api/admin_static/admin.css b/src/codefa/api/admin_static/admin.css
index 9608809..ab46b9a 100755
--- a/src/codefa/api/admin_static/admin.css
+++ b/src/codefa/api/admin_static/admin.css
@@ -163,15 +163,13 @@ textarea {
   display: flex;
   align-items: center;
   justify-content: center;
-  width: 40px;
-  height: 40px;
-  border-radius: 50%;
+  height: 32px;
+  width: auto;
   background: transparent;
   border: none;
   box-shadow: none;
   padding: 0;
   flex-shrink: 0;
-  overflow: hidden;
   transition: transform var(--transition-fast);
 }
 
@@ -180,10 +178,10 @@ textarea {
 }
 
 .brand-logo-img {
-  width: 100%;
-  height: 100%;
-  object-fit: cover;
-  border-radius: 50%;
+  height: 32px;
+  width: auto;
+  max-width: 36px;
+  object-fit: contain;
   display: block;
 }
 
@@ -1092,8 +1090,7 @@ html[data-theme="light"] .action-bar {
   }
 
   .brand-mark {
-    width: 36px;
-    height: 36px;
+    height: 28px;
   }
 
   .main {
diff --git a/src/codefa/api/admin_static/admin.js b/src/codefa/api/admin_static/admin.js
index c433edd..bfc08ae 100755
--- a/src/codefa/api/admin_static/admin.js
+++ b/src/codefa/api/admin_static/admin.js
@@ -453,9 +453,16 @@ function inputForField(field) {
   input.type = field.type === "number" ? "number" : "text";
   if (field.type === "secret") {
     input.type = "password";
-    input.placeholder = field.configured
-      ? "Configured - enter a new value to replace"
-      : "Not configured";
+    const isProxy = (field.key || "").endsWith("_PROXY");
+    if (isProxy) {
+      input.placeholder = field.configured
+        ? "Configured - enter new proxy or leave empty"
+        : "Optional - leave empty for direct connection";
+    } else {
+      input.placeholder = field.configured
+        ? "Configured - enter a new API Key to replace"
+        : "Not configured - enter API Key";
+    }
     input.value = "";
     input.autocomplete = "off";
   } else {
diff --git a/src/codefa/config/admin/provider_manifest.py b/src/codefa/config/admin/provider_manifest.py
index c882fc2..b3706cc 100755
--- a/src/codefa/config/admin/provider_manifest.py
+++ b/src/codefa/config/admin/provider_manifest.py
@@ -237,12 +237,16 @@ def _proxy_field_specs() -> tuple[dict[str, Any], ...]:
         specs.append(
             {
                 "key": _settings_env_key(descriptor.proxy_attr),
-                "label": f"{descriptor.display_name} Proxy",
+                "label": f"{descriptor.display_name} Proxy (Optional)",
                 "section_id": "providers",
                 "field_type": "secret",
                 "settings_attr": descriptor.proxy_attr,
                 "secret": True,
                 "advanced": True,
+                "description": (
+                    f"Optional HTTP/SOCKS5 proxy URL for {descriptor.display_name} "
+                    "(leave empty for direct connection)."
+                ),
             }
         )
     return tuple(specs)
diff --git a/uv.lock b/uv.lock
index 2007aad..cf33560 100755
--- a/uv.lock
+++ b/uv.lock
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ wheels = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "codefa"
-version = "1.2.51"
+version = "1.2.53"
 source = { editable = "." }
 dependencies = [
     { name = "aiohttp" },