diff --git a/app/app.py b/app/app.py
index d5d3913..f08dbcb 100644
--- a/app/app.py
+++ b/app/app.py
@@ -163,6 +163,25 @@ with st.sidebar:
             icon="🔒",
         )
     _task_indicator()
+
+    # Cloud LLM indicator — shown whenever any cloud backend is active
+    _llm_cfg_path = Path(__file__).parent.parent / "config" / "llm.yaml"
+    try:
+        import yaml as _yaml
+        from scripts.byok_guard import cloud_backends as _cloud_backends
+        _active_cloud = _cloud_backends(_yaml.safe_load(_llm_cfg_path.read_text()) or {})
+    except Exception:
+        _active_cloud = []
+    if _active_cloud:
+        _provider_names = ", ".join(b.replace("_", " ").title() for b in _active_cloud)
+        st.warning(
+            f"**Cloud LLM active**\n\n"
+            f"{_provider_names}\n\n"
+            "AI features send content to this provider. "
+            "[Change in Settings](2_Settings)",
+            icon="🔓",
+        )
+
     st.divider()
     st.caption(f"Peregrine {_get_version()}")
     inject_feedback_button(page=pg.title)