diff --git a/desktop/daemon/src/main.rs b/desktop/daemon/src/main.rs
index 35bcd73..dd6598c 100644
--- a/desktop/daemon/src/main.rs
+++ b/desktop/daemon/src/main.rs
@@ -123,7 +123,14 @@ fn main() -> ExitCode {
     if let Ok(backend) = blocker_platform_linux::kwin::KwinBackend::connect() {
         println!("backend: kwin — native Wayland windows are visible");
         let _keep_connection = watcher_conn;
-        run_loop(&rx, &schedules, &usage, &context, blocker_platform_linux::Enforcement::Freeze);
+        run_loop(
+            &rx,
+            &schedules,
+            &usage,
+            &context,
+            blocker_platform_linux::Enforcement::Freeze,
+            &path,
+        );
         backend.shutdown();
         return ExitCode::SUCCESS;
     }
@@ -188,25 +195,32 @@ fn main() -> ExitCode {
 /// charge, and this consumes it. Two blocked threads and no CPU between events.
 fn run_loop(
     rx: &std::sync::mpsc::Receiver<blocker_platform_linux::FocusEvent>,
-    schedules: &[blocker_core::model::Schedule],
+    schedules_initial: &[blocker_core::model::Schedule],
     usage: &blocker_core::engine::UsageSnapshot,
     context: &blocker_core::engine::PlatformContext,
     enforcement: blocker_platform_linux::Enforcement,
+    db_path: &std::path::Path,
 ) {
-    let ctx = runner::LoopContext {
-        schedules,
-        usage,
-        platform_context: context,
-        boot_id: boot::current_boot_id(),
-        enforcement,
-    };
+    let mut current_schedules = schedules_initial.to_vec();
     let clock = blocker_platform_linux::SystemMonotonic;
     println!("enforcement: {enforcement:?}; entering the event loop");
     'events: loop {
+        let ctx = runner::LoopContext {
+            schedules: &current_schedules,
+            usage,
+            platform_context: context,
+            boot_id: boot::current_boot_id(),
+            enforcement,
+        };
         let (action, blocked, _) = runner::step(rx, &ctx, &clock, time::now());
         if blocked > 0 {
             println!("blocked an app ({action:?})");
         }
+        if let Ok(store) = blocker_storage::Store::open(db_path) {
+            if let Ok(reloaded) = store.load_schedules() {
+                current_schedules = reloaded;
+            }
+        }
         if action == runner::Action::Idle {
             break 'events;
         }
diff --git a/desktop/daemon/src/runner.rs b/desktop/daemon/src/runner.rs
index a1cd953..03919a9 100644
--- a/desktop/daemon/src/runner.rs
+++ b/desktop/daemon/src/runner.rs
@@ -108,11 +108,13 @@ pub fn step(
     let action = match &event {
         FocusEvent::Activated(_) => Action::Focused,
         FocusEvent::Cleared => Action::Unfocused,
+        FocusEvent::ReloadSchedules => Action::Idle,
     };
 
     let blocked = match &event {
         FocusEvent::Activated(window) => enforce_if_blocked(window, ctx, clock, wall),
         FocusEvent::Cleared => 0,
+        FocusEvent::ReloadSchedules => 0,
     };
 
     (action, blocked, wait)
diff --git a/desktop/platform-linux/src/lib.rs b/desktop/platform-linux/src/lib.rs
index 6af5a60..70336b4 100644
--- a/desktop/platform-linux/src/lib.rs
+++ b/desktop/platform-linux/src/lib.rs
@@ -79,6 +79,8 @@ pub enum FocusEvent {
     Activated(ForegroundWindow),
     /// The focused window closed, so there is no longer a foreground window.
     Cleared,
+    /// Reload active schedules from storage triggered by UI IPC.
+    ReloadSchedules,
 }
 
 /// Source of focus events.
diff --git a/desktop/platform-linux/src/watcher.rs b/desktop/platform-linux/src/watcher.rs
index 79efcd4..5332336 100644
--- a/desktop/platform-linux/src/watcher.rs
+++ b/desktop/platform-linux/src/watcher.rs
@@ -74,6 +74,16 @@ impl Watcher {
         // thread exits when the connection drops.
         let _ = self.sink.send(event);
     }
+
+    /// Instruct the daemon to reload schedules from the database immediately.
+    fn reload_schedules(&self) {
+        let _ = self.sink.send(FocusEvent::ReloadSchedules);
+    }
+
+    /// Ping method to check if the daemon is alive.
+    fn ping(&self) -> bool {
+        true
+    }
 }
 
 /// Acquire the bus name and export [`Watcher`], returning the live connection.
@@ -115,3 +125,25 @@ pub fn serve(sink: Sender<FocusEvent>) -> Result<Connection, WatcherError> {
 pub fn release(connection: &Connection) {
     let _ = connection.release_name(BUS_NAME);
 }
+
+/// Tell the running daemon via D-Bus to reload schedules from storage.
+pub fn notify_daemon_reload() -> Result<(), zbus::Error> {
+    let conn = Connection::session()?;
+    let proxy =
+        zbus::blocking::Proxy::new(&conn, BUS_NAME, OBJECT_PATH, "vu.valiq.blocker.Watcher")?;
+    let _: () = proxy.call("ReloadSchedules", &())?;
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+/// Query if the daemon is running and responding on D-Bus.
+pub fn is_daemon_running() -> bool {
+    if let Ok(conn) = Connection::session() {
+        if let Ok(proxy) =
+            zbus::blocking::Proxy::new(&conn, BUS_NAME, OBJECT_PATH, "vu.valiq.blocker.Watcher")
+        {
+            let res: zbus::Result<bool> = proxy.call("Ping", &());
+            return res.unwrap_or(false);
+        }
+    }
+    false
+}
diff --git a/desktop/ui/src/main.rs b/desktop/ui/src/main.rs
index bfe2937..e0f57d0 100644
--- a/desktop/ui/src/main.rs
+++ b/desktop/ui/src/main.rs
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ impl BlockerApp {
         }
         let mut store = blocker_storage::Store::open(&path).map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
         store.save_schedules(&self.schedules).map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+        let _ = blocker_platform_linux::watcher::notify_daemon_reload();
         Ok(())
     }
 }
@@ -174,7 +175,18 @@ impl BlockerApp {
             Tab::Status => {
                 ui.heading("Current Status");
                 ui.add_space(12.0);
-                ui.label(format!("Daemon Status: Connected ({})", self.status_message));
+                let daemon_live = blocker_platform_linux::watcher::is_daemon_running();
+                if daemon_live {
+                    ui.colored_label(
+                        egui::Color32::from_rgb(0, 200, 100),
+                        "Daemon Status: Running (D-Bus connected)",
+                    );
+                } else {
+                    ui.colored_label(
+                        egui::Color32::from_rgb(220, 80, 80),
+                        "Daemon Status: Inactive (not detected on D-Bus)",
+                    );
+                }
                 ui.label(format!("Active Schedules: {}", self.schedules.len()));
                 ui.add_space(16.0);
                 if ui.button("Test Block Notification").clicked() {