diff --git a/docs/RELEASE_GUIDE.md b/docs/RELEASE_GUIDE.md
index 553b2ab..a620ba7 100644
--- a/docs/RELEASE_GUIDE.md
+++ b/docs/RELEASE_GUIDE.md
@@ -105,6 +105,32 @@ state/delivery latency with the hard limits in `RESOURCE_BUDGET.md`.
 - Capture `/api/health`, reset reason, and the exact source revision before
   reporting a failure. Never capture or publish tokens or Wi-Fi credentials.
 
+## Network recovery qualification
+
+This target-board checklist is required before declaring the Wi-Fi recovery
+milestone complete. It is deliberately manual: radio association, DHCP, AP
+visibility, and memory stability cannot be proven by a host build.
+
+Before each case, record `/api/health` where the device is reachable. Record
+the `gameId` and `version` of an active game before a network transition and
+again after clients reconnect. Do not include credentials, session tokens, or
+private network names in the record.
+
+| Case | Required observation |
+| --- | --- |
+| Saved network cold boot | The board obtains a DHCP address and serves the application without configuration. |
+| Missing/deleted, malformed, or unavailable profile | `Battleship-open` is visible no later than 30 seconds after boot or loss of connectivity; `/setup` works at `http://192.168.4.1/setup`. |
+| Incorrect password, hidden network, or DHCP unavailable | The previous saved profile remains intact; the fallback AP and configuration page remain usable. |
+| External-network loss during an active game | After fallback begins, reconnect clients through the AP and verify the same `gameId` and a current state snapshot. |
+| Successful replacement | Keep the fallback connection until the success confirmation, then reconnect through the new DHCP address without rebooting and verify the game remains in RAM. |
+| Repeated transition run | Complete 20 external-network-loss/fallback/recovery cycles. Compare health snapshots for reset reason, minimum free heap, largest free block, and response responsiveness. |
+
+During a failed saved-network attempt, serial output must show the disconnect
+reason and either a successful STA address or the 30-second fallback timeout.
+For fallback, confirm the AP address and `fallback AP active`; report DNS or
+HTTP startup failures as failures of this checklist. The firmware must never
+erase NVS, LittleFS, or flash while performing these checks.
+
 ## Release record template
 
 Complete this only after all physical checks pass:
diff --git a/docs/openapi.yaml b/docs/openapi.yaml
index 8444568..cefa36a 100644
--- a/docs/openapi.yaml
+++ b/docs/openapi.yaml
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ components:
       properties:
         ok: { type: boolean, enum: [true] }
         uptimeMs: { $ref: '#/components/schemas/GameId' }
-        wifiState: { type: string, enum: [not_configured, connecting, connected] }
+        wifiState: { type: string, enum: [not_configured, connecting, connected, fallback] }
         freeHeapBytes: { $ref: '#/components/schemas/GameId' }
         minimumFreeHeapBytes: { $ref: '#/components/schemas/GameId' }
         largestFreeBlockBytes: { $ref: '#/components/schemas/GameId' }