diff --git a/crates/collab_ui/src/collab_panel.rs b/crates/collab_ui/src/collab_panel.rs
index 3c32e76fea6dcd64b2a8b74c565544954af28c44..392e2340f14c5b633bcd9a0a8128d9423aed6a22 100644
--- a/crates/collab_ui/src/collab_panel.rs
+++ b/crates/collab_ui/src/collab_panel.rs
@@ -2340,46 +2340,57 @@ impl CollabPanel {
 
     fn render_signed_out(&mut self, cx: &mut Context<Self>) -> Div {
         let collab_blurb = "Work with your team in realtime with collaborative editing, voice, shared notes and more.";
-        let is_signing_in = self.client.status().borrow().is_signing_in();
-        let button_label = if is_signing_in {
-            "Signing in…"
+
+        // Two distinct "not connected" states:
+        //   - Authenticated (has credentials): user just needs to connect.
+        //   - Unauthenticated (no credentials): user needs to sign in via GitHub.
+        let is_authenticated = self.client.user_id().is_some();
+        let status = *self.client.status().borrow();
+        let is_busy = status.is_signing_in();
+
+        let (button_id, button_label, button_icon) = if is_authenticated {
+            (
+                "connect",
+                if is_busy { "Connecting…" } else { "Connect" },
+                IconName::Public,
+            )
         } else {
-            "Sign in"
+            (
+                "sign_in",
+                if is_busy {
+                    "Signing in…"
+                } else {
+                    "Sign In with GitHub"
+                },
+                IconName::Github,
+            )
         };
 
         v_flex()
-            .gap_6()
             .p_4()
+            .gap_4()
+            .size_full()
+            .text_center()
+            .justify_center()
             .child(Label::new(collab_blurb))
             .child(
-                v_flex()
-                    .gap_2()
-                    .child(
-                        Button::new("sign_in", button_label)
-                            .start_icon(Icon::new(IconName::Github).color(Color::Muted))
-                            .style(ButtonStyle::Filled)
-                            .full_width()
-                            .disabled(is_signing_in)
-                            .on_click(cx.listener(|this, _, window, cx| {
-                                let client = this.client.clone();
-                                let workspace = this.workspace.clone();
-                                cx.spawn_in(window, async move |_, mut cx| {
-                                    client
-                                        .connect(true, &mut cx)
-                                        .await
-                                        .into_response()
-                                        .notify_workspace_async_err(workspace, &mut cx);
-                                })
-                                .detach()
-                            })),
-                    )
-                    .child(
-                        v_flex().w_full().items_center().child(
-                            Label::new("Sign in to enable collaboration.")
-                                .color(Color::Muted)
-                                .size(LabelSize::Small),
-                        ),
-                    ),
+                Button::new(button_id, button_label)
+                    .full_width()
+                    .start_icon(Icon::new(button_icon).color(Color::Muted))
+                    .style(ButtonStyle::Outlined)
+                    .disabled(is_busy)
+                    .on_click(cx.listener(|this, _, window, cx| {
+                        let client = this.client.clone();
+                        let workspace = this.workspace.clone();
+                        cx.spawn_in(window, async move |_, mut cx| {
+                            client
+                                .connect(true, &mut cx)
+                                .await
+                                .into_response()
+                                .notify_workspace_async_err(workspace, &mut cx);
+                        })
+                        .detach()
+                    })),
             )
     }