diff --git a/src/app.rs b/src/app.rs
index f2027c9..2105cf6 100644
--- a/src/app.rs
+++ b/src/app.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 use crossterm::event::{self, Event, KeyCode, KeyEvent, KeyEventKind, KeyModifiers};
 use ratatui::{
-    DefaultTerminal, Frame,
+    Frame,
     layout::{Constraint, Layout},
     style::{Color, Modifier, Style},
     text::Line,
@@ -55,19 +55,7 @@ impl App {
         Ok(app)
     }
 
-    pub fn run(&mut self, terminal: &mut DefaultTerminal) -> Result<()> {
-        loop {
-            terminal.draw(|frame| self.draw(frame))?;
-            if let Event::Key(key) = event::read()?
-                && matches!(key.kind, KeyEventKind::Press | KeyEventKind::Repeat)
-                && self.handle_key(key)
-            {
-                return Ok(());
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    fn handle_key(&mut self, key: KeyEvent) -> bool {
+    pub(crate) fn handle_key(&mut self, key: KeyEvent) -> bool {
         if key.code == KeyCode::Char('q')
             || (key.code == KeyCode::Char('c') && key.modifiers.contains(KeyModifiers::CONTROL))
         {
@@ -183,7 +171,7 @@ impl App {
         }
     }
 
-    fn draw(&mut self, frame: &mut Frame) {
+    pub(crate) fn draw(&mut self, frame: &mut Frame) {
         let area = frame.area();
         if area.width < 70 || area.height < 12 {
             frame.render_widget(
@@ -360,7 +348,7 @@ impl App {
             );
         }
         frame.render_widget(Paragraph::new(
-            " Tab focus · ↑↓/jk move · Enter open · s schema/rows\n ←→/hl columns · n/p page · r refresh · q/Ctrl-C quit"
+            " Tab focus · ↑↓/jk move · Enter open · s schema/rows\n ←→/hl columns · n/p page · r refresh · c connect · q quit"
         ).style(Style::default().fg(Color::DarkGray)), help);
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/connection.rs b/src/connection.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e7a9b75
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/connection.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,251 @@
+use std::{borrow::Cow, path::Path};
+
+use crossterm::event::{self, Event, KeyCode, KeyEvent, KeyEventKind, KeyModifiers};
+use ratatui::{
+    DefaultTerminal, Frame,
+    layout::{Constraint, Layout, Rect},
+    style::{Color, Style},
+    text::Line,
+    widgets::{Block, List, ListItem, Paragraph, Wrap},
+};
+
+use crate::{Result, app::App, db::Database, error_text};
+
+pub fn run(terminal: &mut DefaultTerminal, initial: Option<Database>) -> Result<()> {
+    let mut browser = initial.map(App::new).transpose()?;
+    let mut form = Form::default();
+    let mut show_form = browser.is_none();
+    loop {
+        terminal.draw(|frame| {
+            if show_form {
+                form.draw(frame, false);
+            } else if let Some(browser) = &mut browser {
+                browser.draw(frame);
+            }
+        })?;
+        match event::read()? {
+            Event::Key(key) if matches!(key.kind, KeyEventKind::Press | KeyEventKind::Repeat) => {
+                if key.code == KeyCode::Char('c') && key.modifiers.contains(KeyModifiers::CONTROL) {
+                    return Ok(());
+                }
+                if show_form {
+                    match key.code {
+                        KeyCode::Esc => {
+                            if browser.is_none() {
+                                return Ok(());
+                            }
+                            show_form = false;
+                        }
+                        KeyCode::Enter => {
+                            terminal.draw(|frame| form.draw(frame, true))?;
+                            match form.connect().and_then(App::new) {
+                                Ok(connected) => {
+                                    browser = Some(connected);
+                                    show_form = false;
+                                }
+                                Err(error) => form.error = Some(error_text(error.as_ref())),
+                            }
+                        }
+                        _ => form.path.edit(key),
+                    }
+                } else if key.code == KeyCode::Char('c') {
+                    form.error = None;
+                    show_form = true;
+                } else if browser
+                    .as_mut()
+                    .is_some_and(|browser| browser.handle_key(key))
+                {
+                    return Ok(());
+                }
+            }
+            Event::Paste(text) if show_form => form.path.paste(&text),
+            _ => {}
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Default)]
+struct Form {
+    path: Input,
+    error: Option<String>,
+}
+
+impl Form {
+    fn connect(&self) -> Result<Database> {
+        if self.path.value.is_empty() {
+            return Err("Enter an existing SQLite database file path.".into());
+        }
+        Database::open_sqlite(Path::new(&self.path.value))
+    }
+
+    fn draw(&self, frame: &mut Frame, connecting: bool) {
+        let area = frame.area();
+        if area.width < 70 || area.height < 12 {
+            frame.render_widget(
+                Paragraph::new("Enlarge terminal to at least 70×12. Ctrl-C to quit."),
+                area,
+            );
+            return;
+        }
+        let [header, body, status, help] = Layout::vertical([
+            Constraint::Length(2),
+            Constraint::Min(4),
+            Constraint::Length(3),
+            Constraint::Length(2),
+        ])
+        .areas(area);
+        frame.render_widget(
+            Paragraph::new(" dbdash │ New connection │ READ ONLY")
+                .style(Style::default().fg(Color::Cyan)),
+            header,
+        );
+        let [providers, details] =
+            Layout::horizontal([Constraint::Length(24), Constraint::Min(1)]).areas(body);
+        frame.render_widget(
+            List::new([ListItem::new(" SQLite · local file")
+                .style(Style::default().bg(Color::Blue).fg(Color::White))])
+            .block(Block::bordered().title(" Database type ")),
+            providers,
+        );
+        let [path, description] =
+            Layout::vertical([Constraint::Length(3), Constraint::Min(1)]).areas(details);
+        self.path
+            .draw(frame, path, " Database file path ", false, true);
+        frame.render_widget(Paragraph::new("Open an existing SQLite file.\nFiles are never created or modified.\n\nConnection details stay in this session.").wrap(Wrap { trim: false }), description);
+        let message = if connecting {
+            "Connecting…"
+        } else {
+            self.error.as_deref().unwrap_or("Not connected to a new database. The current connection stays open until this succeeds.")
+        };
+        frame.render_widget(
+            Paragraph::new(message)
+                .wrap(Wrap { trim: false })
+                .style(Style::default().fg(if self.error.is_some() && !connecting {
+                    Color::Red
+                } else {
+                    Color::Cyan
+                })),
+            status,
+        );
+        frame.render_widget(Paragraph::new(" Enter connect · Esc cancel/quit · Ctrl-C quit\n ←→ Home/End edit · Backspace/Delete erase · Ctrl-U clear").style(Style::default().fg(Color::DarkGray)), help);
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Default)]
+struct Input {
+    value: String,
+    cursor: usize,
+}
+
+impl Input {
+    fn edit(&mut self, key: KeyEvent) {
+        match key.code {
+            KeyCode::Left => {
+                self.cursor = self.value[..self.cursor]
+                    .char_indices()
+                    .next_back()
+                    .map_or(0, |(index, _)| index)
+            }
+            KeyCode::Right => {
+                self.cursor += self.value[self.cursor..]
+                    .chars()
+                    .next()
+                    .map_or(0, char::len_utf8)
+            }
+            KeyCode::Home => self.cursor = 0,
+            KeyCode::End => self.cursor = self.value.len(),
+            KeyCode::Backspace if self.cursor > 0 => {
+                let previous = self.value[..self.cursor]
+                    .char_indices()
+                    .next_back()
+                    .unwrap()
+                    .0;
+                self.value.drain(previous..self.cursor);
+                self.cursor = previous;
+            }
+            KeyCode::Delete if self.cursor < self.value.len() => {
+                self.value.remove(self.cursor);
+            }
+            KeyCode::Char('u') if key.modifiers.contains(KeyModifiers::CONTROL) => {
+                self.value.clear();
+                self.cursor = 0;
+            }
+            KeyCode::Char(character)
+                if !key
+                    .modifiers
+                    .intersects(KeyModifiers::CONTROL | KeyModifiers::ALT)
+                    && !character.is_control() =>
+            {
+                self.value.insert(self.cursor, character);
+                self.cursor += character.len_utf8();
+            }
+            _ => {}
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn paste(&mut self, value: &str) {
+        let text: String = value
+            .chars()
+            .filter(|character| !character.is_control())
+            .collect();
+        self.value.insert_str(self.cursor, &text);
+        self.cursor += text.len();
+    }
+
+    fn draw(&self, frame: &mut Frame, area: Rect, label: &str, secret: bool, focused: bool) {
+        let text: Cow<'_, str> = if secret {
+            Cow::Owned("•".repeat(self.value.chars().count()))
+        } else {
+            Cow::Borrowed(&self.value)
+        };
+        let before_cursor = if secret {
+            self.value[..self.cursor].chars().count()
+        } else {
+            Line::raw(&self.value[..self.cursor]).width()
+        };
+        let cursor = u16::try_from(before_cursor).unwrap_or(u16::MAX);
+        let offset = cursor.saturating_sub(area.width.saturating_sub(3));
+        frame.render_widget(
+            Paragraph::new(text).scroll((0, offset)).block(
+                Block::bordered()
+                    .title(label)
+                    .border_style(Style::default().fg(if focused {
+                        Color::Cyan
+                    } else {
+                        Color::DarkGray
+                    })),
+            ),
+            area,
+        );
+        if focused && area.width > 2 && area.height > 2 {
+            frame.set_cursor_position((area.x + 1 + cursor - offset, area.y + 1));
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn editing_preserves_unicode_and_filters_terminal_controls() {
+        let mut input = Input::default();
+        input.paste("aé🙂z\n\u{1b}");
+        input.edit(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Left, KeyModifiers::NONE));
+        input.edit(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Backspace, KeyModifiers::NONE));
+        assert_eq!(input.value, "aéz");
+        input.edit(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Char('界'), KeyModifiers::NONE));
+        input.edit(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Delete, KeyModifiers::NONE));
+        assert_eq!(input.value, "aé界");
+        input.edit(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Home, KeyModifiers::NONE));
+        input.edit(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Backspace, KeyModifiers::NONE));
+        input.paste("/tmp/");
+        assert_eq!(input.value, "/tmp/aé界");
+        input.edit(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::End, KeyModifiers::NONE));
+        input.edit(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Right, KeyModifiers::NONE));
+        assert_eq!(input.cursor, input.value.len());
+        input.edit(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Char('u'), KeyModifiers::CONTROL));
+        assert!(input.value.is_empty());
+        assert_eq!(input.cursor, 0);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 83299b7..6a93bc1 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 mod app;
+mod connection;
 mod db;
 
 use std::{error::Error, io::IsTerminal, path::Path, process::ExitCode};
@@ -12,7 +13,7 @@ Usage:
   dbdash --sqlite PATH
   dbdash --help
 
-With no argument, the connection is read from DATABASE_URL.
+With no argument or DATABASE_URL, the in-app connection screen opens.
 Prefer the environment variable to keep passwords out of process arguments:
   export DATABASE_URL='postgresql://user@localhost:5432/database'
   cargo run
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@ Navigation:
   s             Toggle rows and column schema
   Left/Right    Scroll columns (h/l also work)
   n/p, PgDn/Up  Next / previous 100-row page
+  c             Open the connection screen (Esc keeps the current database)
   r             Refresh relations and the active relation
   q / Ctrl-C    Quit
 
@@ -66,11 +68,12 @@ fn run() -> Result<()> {
     }
     let sqlite = argument.as_ref().is_some_and(|arg| arg == "--sqlite");
     let connection = if sqlite {
-        args.next()
-            .ok_or("--sqlite requires a database file path; see dbdash --help")?
+        Some(
+            args.next()
+                .ok_or("--sqlite requires a database file path; see dbdash --help")?,
+        )
     } else {
         argument.or_else(|| std::env::var_os("DATABASE_URL"))
-            .ok_or("set DATABASE_URL, pass a PostgreSQL connection string, or use --sqlite PATH; see dbdash --help")?
     };
     if args.next().is_some() {
         return Err("unexpected extra arguments; see dbdash --help".into());
@@ -78,22 +81,30 @@ fn run() -> Result<()> {
     if !std::io::stdin().is_terminal() || !std::io::stdout().is_terminal() {
         return Err("an interactive terminal is required; see dbdash --help".into());
     }
-    let database = if sqlite {
-        db::Database::open_sqlite(Path::new(&connection))?
-    } else {
-        db::Database::connect(
-            connection
-                .to_str()
-                .ok_or("connection string must be UTF-8")?,
-        )?
-    };
-    let mut app = app::App::new(database)?;
+    let database = connection
+        .map(|connection| {
+            if sqlite {
+                db::Database::open_sqlite(Path::new(&connection))
+            } else {
+                db::Database::connect(
+                    connection
+                        .to_str()
+                        .ok_or("connection string must be UTF-8")?,
+                )
+            }
+        })
+        .transpose()?;
     let result = (|| {
         let mut terminal = ratatui::try_init()?;
-        app.run(&mut terminal)
+        crossterm::execute!(std::io::stdout(), crossterm::event::EnableBracketedPaste)?;
+        connection::run(&mut terminal, database)
     })();
+    let paste_result =
+        crossterm::execute!(std::io::stdout(), crossterm::event::DisableBracketedPaste);
     ratatui::restore();
-    result
+    result?;
+    paste_result?;
+    Ok(())
 }
 
 fn error_text(error: &(dyn Error + 'static)) -> String {