diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.cpp b/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.cpp
index ee12ca740d..cd3c7e3381 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.cpp
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.cpp
@@ -558,6 +558,7 @@ void UITask::begin(DisplayDriver* display, SensorManager* sensors, NodePrefs* no
   _display = display;
   _sensors = sensors;
   _auto_off = millis() + AUTO_OFF_MILLIS;
+  _was_ext_powered = board.isExternalPowered();   // don't fire wake-on-connect if booted while powered
 
 #if defined(PIN_USER_BTN)
   user_btn.begin();
@@ -775,6 +776,15 @@ void UITask::loop() {
   }
 #endif
 
+  // Wake the display when external (USB) power is newly connected, as if a key
+  // was pressed. Only acts when the screen is currently off, so an already-lit
+  // display is left untouched (it still auto-offs unless KEEP_DISPLAY_ON_USB).
+  bool ext_powered = board.isExternalPowered();
+  if (ext_powered && !_was_ext_powered && _display != NULL && !_display->isOn()) {
+    c = checkDisplayOn(c);
+  }
+  _was_ext_powered = ext_powered;
+
   if (c != 0 && curr) {
     curr->handleInput(c);
     _auto_off = millis() + AUTO_OFF_MILLIS;   // extend auto-off timer
diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.h b/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.h
index a77ad6e7ec..1193438749 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.h
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.h
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ class UITask : public AbstractUITask {
   int _msgcount;
   unsigned long ui_started_at, next_batt_chck;
   int next_backlight_btn_check = 0;
+  bool _was_ext_powered = false;   // tracks USB/external power edge for wake-on-connect
 #ifdef PIN_STATUS_LED
   int led_state = 0;
   int next_led_change = 0;
diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/ui-orig/UITask.cpp b/examples/companion_radio/ui-orig/UITask.cpp
index 5529046775..dc2534aaab 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/ui-orig/UITask.cpp
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/ui-orig/UITask.cpp
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ void UITask::begin(DisplayDriver* display, SensorManager* sensors, NodePrefs* no
   _display = display;
   _sensors = sensors;
   _auto_off = millis() + AUTO_OFF_MILLIS;
+  _was_ext_powered = board.isExternalPowered();   // don't fire wake-on-connect if booted while powered
   clearMsgPreview();
   _node_prefs = node_prefs;
   if (_display != NULL) {
@@ -329,6 +330,18 @@ void UITask::loop() {
   if (buzzer.isPlaying())  buzzer.loop();
 #endif
 
+  // Wake the display when external (USB) power is newly connected, as if a
+  // button was pressed. Only acts when the screen is currently off, so an
+  // already-lit display is left untouched (it still auto-offs unless
+  // KEEP_DISPLAY_ON_USB).
+  bool ext_powered = board.isExternalPowered();
+  if (ext_powered && !_was_ext_powered && _display != NULL && !_display->isOn()) {
+    _display->turnOn();
+    _auto_off = millis() + AUTO_OFF_MILLIS;
+    _need_refresh = true;
+  }
+  _was_ext_powered = ext_powered;
+
   if (_display != NULL && _display->isOn()) {
     static bool _firstBoot = true;
     if(_firstBoot && (millis() - ui_started_at) >= BOOT_SCREEN_MILLIS) {
diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/ui-orig/UITask.h b/examples/companion_radio/ui-orig/UITask.h
index 60cd0d042c..fd24939164 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/ui-orig/UITask.h
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/ui-orig/UITask.h
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ class UITask : public AbstractUITask {
   int _msgcount;
   bool _need_refresh = true;
   bool _displayWasOn = false;  // Track display state before button press
+  bool _was_ext_powered = false;   // tracks USB/external power edge for wake-on-connect
   unsigned long ui_started_at;
 
   // Button handlers
diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/ui-tiny/UITask.cpp b/examples/companion_radio/ui-tiny/UITask.cpp
index 45a07a02ef..0c3877b93e 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/ui-tiny/UITask.cpp
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/ui-tiny/UITask.cpp
@@ -428,6 +428,7 @@ void UITask::begin(DisplayDriver* display, SensorManager* sensors, NodePrefs* no
   _display = display;
   _sensors = sensors;
   _auto_off = millis() + AUTO_OFF_MILLIS;
+  _was_ext_powered = board.isExternalPowered();   // don't fire wake-on-connect if booted while powered
   _cached_batt_mv = getBattMilliVolts();
 
 #if defined(PIN_USER_BTN)
@@ -653,6 +654,15 @@ void UITask::loop() {
   }
 #endif
 
+  // Wake the display when external (USB) power is newly connected, as if a key
+  // was pressed. Only acts when the screen is currently off, so an already-lit
+  // display is left untouched (it still auto-offs unless KEEP_DISPLAY_ON_USB).
+  bool ext_powered = board.isExternalPowered();
+  if (ext_powered && !_was_ext_powered && _display != NULL && !_display->isOn()) {
+    c = checkDisplayOn(c);
+  }
+  _was_ext_powered = ext_powered;
+
   if (c != 0 && curr) {
     curr->handleInput(c);
     _auto_off = millis() + AUTO_OFF_MILLIS;   // extend auto-off timer
diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/ui-tiny/UITask.h b/examples/companion_radio/ui-tiny/UITask.h
index 344e48b98f..882c79a4fb 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/ui-tiny/UITask.h
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/ui-tiny/UITask.h
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ class UITask : public AbstractUITask {
   int _msgcount;
   unsigned long ui_started_at, next_batt_chck;
   int next_backlight_btn_check = 0;
+  bool _was_ext_powered = false;   // tracks USB/external power edge for wake-on-connect
   uint16_t _cached_batt_mv;
 #ifdef PIN_STATUS_LED
   int led_state = 0;