diff --git a/features/login_screen.feature b/features/login_screen.feature
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6326467
--- /dev/null
+++ b/features/login_screen.feature
@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+Feature: Log in screen
+
+  As a returning RenewCMS user
+  I want a /login screen that authenticates me against POST /v1/auth/login, shows why a previous
+    attempt or session failed, and offers to create the owner account only while registration is
+    open
+  So that I can get back into the back office from any entry point (a direct visit, an expired
+    session, a completed password reset) with copy that matches what actually happened
+
+  Background:
+    Given /login is a public route (meta.auth "public") rendered as LoginPage inside AuthShell,
+      per docs/design/routes.md
+    And on mount, LoginPage calls GET /v1/auth/registration to learn whether registration is open
+    And the form has a Username field (placeholder "Your username") and a Password field (a
+      password input with a show/hide toggle, autocomplete "current-password", and a
+      "Forgot password?" link), per docs/design/components.md
+    And client-side validation runs on submit before any request is sent: Username is required
+      with "Use at least 3 characters." under 3 characters, and Password is required with
+      "Enter your password." when empty
+    And a valid submit calls POST /v1/auth/login with { username, password }
+    And on a 200 response, LoginPage re-resolves the session (GET /v1/auth/me, per
+      features/nuxt_ui_shell_foundation.feature and features/api_client_global_error_handling.feature)
+      and then navigates: to the original ?redirect= target if present, else to /home when the
+      session is verified, or to /register/pending when it is not
+    And a 403 response means the username/password pair is wrong, since the API never reveals
+      which field was wrong
+    And a 429 response carries a Retry-After header in seconds, surfaced by useApi and displayed as
+      a live countdown on the submit button; the button re-enables when the countdown reaches zero
+    And a 500 response, or a request that never reaches the server, is surfaced as a network/server
+      error; the fields keep whatever the user typed
+
+  Scenario: Default — registration is closed
+    Given GET /v1/auth/registration resolves 200 with { "open": false }
+    When the user navigates to /login
+    Then the heading is "Log in"
+    And the description is "Welcome back. Log in to manage your articles."
+    And the Username field shows placeholder "Your username" with no value
+    And the Password field shows no value
+    And the submit button reads "Log in"
+    And no "Create the owner account" footer link is shown
+
+  Scenario: Fresh install — registration is open
+    Given GET /v1/auth/registration resolves 200 with { "open": true }
+    When the user navigates to /login
+    Then the heading, description and fields render exactly as in the Default state
+    And the footer reads "First time here?" with a "Create the owner account" link
+
+  Scenario: Validation errors — nothing is sent for a short username and an empty password
+    Given the user is on /login
+    When the user types "ma" into Username, leaves Password empty, and submits
+    Then POST /v1/auth/login is never called
+    And the Username field shows the error "Use at least 3 characters."
+    And the Password field shows the error "Enter your password."
+
+  Scenario: Submitting — fields and button are disabled while the request is in flight
+    Given the user is on /login with Username "marta" and Password "limewash2026"
+    When the user submits and POST /v1/auth/login has not yet resolved
+    Then the Username and Password fields are disabled
+    And the submit button reads "Logging in…" and shows a loading state
+
+  Scenario: Wrong credentials — the password is cleared and focused
+    Given the user is on /login with Username "marta" and Password "wrong-password"
+    When the user submits and POST /v1/auth/login resolves 403
+    Then an error alert reads "That username and password don't match" with description
+      "Check both and try again. Passwords are case-sensitive."
+    And the Username field still shows "marta"
+    And the Password field is cleared and receives focus
+    And the submit button reads "Log in" again, no longer loading
+
+  Scenario: Too many attempts — the button is disabled with a live countdown
+    Given the user is on /login with Username "marta" and Password "limewash"
+    When the user submits and POST /v1/auth/login resolves 429 with a Retry-After of 42 seconds
+    Then an info alert reads "Too many attempts" with description
+      "For your security, wait a moment before trying again."
+    And the Username field still shows "marta" and the Password field still shows "limewash"
+    And the submit button reads "Try again in 0:42" and is disabled
+    When 42 seconds elapse
+    Then the submit button re-enables and reads "Log in"
+
+  Scenario: Session expired — redirected from a 401 elsewhere
+    Given the user is redirected to "/login?redirect=/article/12/edit&reason=expired"
+    When /login renders
+    Then an info alert reads "Your session expired" with description
+      "Log in again to pick up where you left off. Unsaved changes are kept on this device."
+    And the Password field receives focus
+    And the submit button reads "Log in"
+
+  Scenario: Password changed — arrived from a successful reset
+    Given the user is redirected to "/login?reason=password-changed"
+    When /login renders
+    Then a success alert reads "Password changed" with description "Log in with your new password."
+    And the Username field shows placeholder "Your username" with no value
+    And the submit button reads "Log in"
+
+  Scenario Outline: Server or network error — the fields keep their values
+    Given the user is on /login with Username "marta" and Password <password>
+    When the user submits and POST /v1/auth/login <failure>
+    Then an error alert reads "Couldn't reach RenewCMS" with description
+      "Check your connection and try again."
+    And the Username field still shows "marta" and the Password field still shows <password>
+    And the submit button reads "Log in" again, no longer loading
+
+    Examples:
+      | password        | failure                                             |
+      | "limewash2026"  | fails with a 500 response                           |
+      | "limewash2026"  | never reaches the server                            |
+      | "short1"        | fails with a 400 response, because "short1" clears client-side validation (non-empty, 3+ characters) but is under the server's 8-character minimum, which the client does not check |
+
+  Scenario Outline: A successful log in navigates to the right destination
+    Given the user is on <path>
+    And GET /v1/auth/me, called after the 200 response, resolves 200 with is_verified <verified>
+    When the user submits valid credentials and POST /v1/auth/login resolves 200 with a jwt cookie
+    Then the app navigates to <destination>
+
+    Examples:
+      | path                                  | verified | destination            |
+      | /login                                | true     | /home                  |
+      | /login                                | false    | /register/pending      |
+      | /login?redirect=/article/12/edit      | true     | /article/12/edit       |
diff --git a/features/login_screen.qa.md b/features/login_screen.qa.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d06836a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/features/login_screen.qa.md
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+# QA: Log in screen
+
+## Automated (Vitest + Vue Test Utils, `task test:web`)
+
+Mock `useApi` (`GET /v1/auth/registration`, `POST /v1/auth/login`, `GET /v1/auth/me`) per case; no
+real backend, no httptest server. Mount LoginPage inside AuthShell with a test router whose current
+route starts at the path each case needs.
+
+1. **Default state** — mock `GET /v1/auth/registration` resolving `{ open: false }`; mount at
+   /login; assert heading "Log in", description "Welcome back. Log in to manage your articles.",
+   Username placeholder "Your username" with no value, Password with no value, submit button "Log
+   in", and no "Create the owner account" link.
+2. **Fresh install state** — mock `GET /v1/auth/registration` resolving `{ open: true }`; mount at
+   /login; assert the same heading/description/fields as case 1, plus a "Create the owner account"
+   link under "First time here?".
+3. **Validation errors state** — mount at /login; set Username to "ma", leave Password empty,
+   submit; assert the mocked `POST /v1/auth/login` was never called; assert Username shows "Use at
+   least 3 characters." and Password shows "Enter your password."
+4. **Submitting state** — set Username "marta", Password "limewash2026"; mock
+   `POST /v1/auth/login` with an unresolved promise; submit; assert Username and Password are
+   disabled and the submit button reads "Logging in…" with a loading indicator.
+5. **Wrong credentials state** — set Username "marta", Password "wrong-password"; mock
+   `POST /v1/auth/login` resolving 403; submit; assert an error alert with title "That username and
+   password don't match" and description "Check both and try again. Passwords are case-sensitive.";
+   assert Username still reads "marta"; assert Password is empty and has focus; assert the submit
+   button reads "Log in" and is no longer loading.
+6. **Too many attempts state** — set Username "marta", Password "limewash"; mock
+   `POST /v1/auth/login` resolving 429 with a `Retry-After: 42` header; submit; assert an info alert
+   with title "Too many attempts" and description "For your security, wait a moment before trying
+   again."; assert Username still reads "marta" and Password still reads "limewash"; assert the
+   submit button reads "Try again in 0:42" and is disabled; advance fake timers by 42 seconds;
+   assert the button re-enables and reads "Log in".
+7. **Session expired state** — mount at
+   "/login?redirect=/article/12/edit&reason=expired"; assert an info alert with title "Your session
+   expired" and description "Log in again to pick up where you left off. Unsaved changes are kept on
+   this device."; assert the Password field has focus; assert the submit button reads "Log in".
+8. **Password changed state** — mount at "/login?reason=password-changed"; assert a success alert
+   with title "Password changed" and description "Log in with your new password."; assert Username
+   shows placeholder "Your username" with no value.
+9. **Server or network error state** — three sub-cases, one per Examples row: (a) a 500 response
+   with Password "limewash2026"; (b) a rejected fetch (network error) with Password "limewash2026";
+   (c) a 400 response with Password "short1" (6 characters — passes client validation since it's
+   non-empty and 3+ characters, but is under the server's 8-character minimum, which the client does
+   not check, so the request reaches the server and comes back 400). In each sub-case, set Username
+   "marta" and the row's Password, submit, and assert an error alert with title "Couldn't reach
+   RenewCMS" and description "Check your connection and try again."; assert Username still reads
+   "marta" and Password still reads the row's value; assert the submit button reads "Log in" and is
+   no longer loading. Sub-case (c) also asserts the mocked `POST /v1/auth/login` was actually called
+   (proving client validation let it through), unlike scenario 3's validation-errors case.
+10. **Successful log in redirects correctly** — one test per Examples row: mock
+    `POST /v1/auth/login` resolving 200, then `GET /v1/auth/me` resolving 200 with the row's
+    `is_verified`; mount at the row's path; submit valid credentials; assert the router's current
+    path equals the row's destination.
+    | path                                  | verified | destination            |
+    |----------------------------------------|----------|-------------------------|
+    | /login                                | true     | /home                  |
+    | /login                                | false    | /register/pending      |
+    | /login?redirect=/article/12/edit      | true     | /article/12/edit       |
+
+## Visual (manual verification — desktop and mobile, light and dark)
+
+Reference: `docs/design/source/RenewCMS Screens Auth.dc.html`, group "Log in".
+
+- [ ] Default state, desktop and mobile, light and dark: heading, description, Username, Password
+      with show/hide toggle, "Forgot password?" link, "Log in" button, matches the board exactly.
+- [ ] Fresh install state: "First time here? Create the owner account" footer renders below the
+      form, desktop and mobile, light and dark.
+- [ ] Validation errors state: both field errors render inline under their fields with the error
+      styling from components.md, desktop and mobile, light and dark.
+- [ ] Submitting state: disabled field styling and the loading spinner in the submit button, desktop
+      and mobile, light and dark.
+- [ ] Wrong credentials state: error alert (circle-x icon, `role="alert"`) above the heading,
+      cleared/focused Password field, desktop and mobile, light and dark.
+- [ ] Too many attempts state: info alert (timer icon), disabled button with the live "Try again in
+      m:ss" countdown text, desktop and mobile, light and dark.
+- [ ] Session expired state: info alert (clock icon), focused Password field, desktop and mobile,
+      light and dark.
+- [ ] Password changed state: success alert (circle-check icon, dismissible close button per
+      components.md), desktop and mobile, light and dark.
+- [ ] Server or network error state: error alert (circle-x icon, no close button), fields retain
+      their values, desktop and mobile, light and dark.
+- [ ] Keyboard/focus: Tab order is Username → Password → show/hide toggle → "Forgot password?" →
+      submit; the alert (when present) is announced via `role="status"` (info/success) or
+      `role="alert"` (error) without re-announcing on re-render; Password receives programmatic focus
+      exactly in the Wrong credentials and Session expired states, and nowhere else.
+
+## Manual verification
+
+- **Real GET /v1/auth/registration and POST /v1/auth/login against a running server** — Vitest only
+  mocks `useApi`; confirm the Default/Fresh install split and a real 403/429/200 round-trip against
+  `task dev` with a live SQLite file, since this slice's automated tests never exercise the actual Go
+  handlers, the rate limiter, or the real `jwt` cookie.
+- **429 countdown drift** — confirm `useRetryAfter`'s live countdown does not drift or double-fire
+  the re-enable against a real elapsed 42-second wait, since Vitest fake timers only prove the logic,
+  not real wall-clock behavior.
diff --git a/web/src/composables/useRetryAfter.ts b/web/src/composables/useRetryAfter.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..68dba9d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/composables/useRetryAfter.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+import { computed, onUnmounted, ref } from 'vue'
+
+export function useRetryAfter() {
+	const remaining = ref(0)
+	let timer: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | null = null
+
+	function clear() {
+		if (timer !== null) {
+			clearInterval(timer)
+			timer = null
+		}
+	}
+
+	function start(seconds: number) {
+		clear()
+		remaining.value = Math.max(0, Math.floor(seconds))
+		if (remaining.value <= 0) {
+			return
+		}
+		timer = setInterval(() => {
+			remaining.value -= 1
+			if (remaining.value <= 0) {
+				remaining.value = 0
+				clear()
+			}
+		}, 1000)
+	}
+
+	const active = computed(() => remaining.value > 0)
+
+	const formatted = computed(() => {
+		const minutes = Math.floor(remaining.value / 60)
+		const seconds = remaining.value % 60
+		return `${minutes}:${seconds.toString().padStart(2, '0')}`
+	})
+
+	onUnmounted(clear)
+
+	return { remaining, active, formatted, start }
+}
diff --git a/web/src/views/LoginView.vue b/web/src/views/LoginView.vue
index f7d7dbb..8348a29 100644
--- a/web/src/views/LoginView.vue
+++ b/web/src/views/LoginView.vue
@@ -1,9 +1,271 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
+import { computed, nextTick, onMounted, ref } from 'vue'
+import { useRoute, useRouter } from 'vue-router'
 import AuthShell from '@/components/AuthShell.vue'
+import { ApiError, useApi } from '@/composables/useApi'
+import { useRetryAfter } from '@/composables/useRetryAfter'
+import { useSessionStore } from '@/stores/session'
+
+interface AlertState {
+	tone: 'error' | 'info' | 'success'
+	icon: string
+	title: string
+	description: string
+	closable: boolean
+}
+
+const wrongCredentialsAlert: AlertState = {
+	tone: 'error',
+	icon: 'i-lucide-circle-x',
+	title: "That username and password don't match",
+	description: 'Check both and try again. Passwords are case-sensitive.',
+	closable: false,
+}
+
+const tooManyAttemptsAlert: AlertState = {
+	tone: 'info',
+	icon: 'i-lucide-timer',
+	title: 'Too many attempts',
+	description: 'For your security, wait a moment before trying again.',
+	closable: false,
+}
+
+const serverErrorAlert: AlertState = {
+	tone: 'error',
+	icon: 'i-lucide-circle-x',
+	title: "Couldn't reach RenewCMS",
+	description: 'Check your connection and try again.',
+	closable: false,
+}
+
+const sessionExpiredAlert: AlertState = {
+	tone: 'info',
+	icon: 'i-lucide-clock',
+	title: 'Your session expired',
+	description:
+		'Log in again to pick up where you left off. Unsaved changes are kept on this device.',
+	closable: true,
+}
+
+const passwordChangedAlert: AlertState = {
+	tone: 'success',
+	icon: 'i-lucide-circle-check',
+	title: 'Password changed',
+	description: 'Log in with your new password.',
+	closable: true,
+}
+
+const route = useRoute()
+const router = useRouter()
+const api = useApi()
+const session = useSessionStore()
+const retryAfter = useRetryAfter()
+
+const registrationOpen = ref(false)
+const username = ref('')
+const password = ref('')
+const usernameError = ref('')
+const passwordError = ref('')
+const submitting = ref(false)
+const passwordShown = ref(false)
+const formEl = ref<HTMLFormElement | null>(null)
+
+const initialReason = typeof route.query.reason === 'string' ? route.query.reason : null
+
+const alert = ref<AlertState | null>(
+	initialReason === 'expired'
+		? sessionExpiredAlert
+		: initialReason === 'password-changed'
+			? passwordChangedAlert
+			: null,
+)
+
+const alertRole = computed(() => (alert.value?.tone === 'error' ? 'alert' : 'status'))
+
+const submitLabel = computed(() => {
+	if (submitting.value) {
+		return 'Logging in…'
+	}
+	if (retryAfter.active.value) {
+		return `Try again in ${retryAfter.formatted.value}`
+	}
+	return 'Log in'
+})
+
+const submitDisabled = computed(() => submitting.value || retryAfter.active.value)
+
+function focusField(selector: string) {
+	nextTick(() => {
+		formEl.value?.querySelector<HTMLInputElement>(selector)?.focus()
+	})
+}
+
+function focusPassword() {
+	focusField('input[autocomplete="current-password"]')
+}
+
+function focusUsername() {
+	focusField('input[placeholder="Your username"]')
+}
+
+function focusFirstInvalid() {
+	if (usernameError.value) {
+		focusUsername()
+		return
+	}
+	if (passwordError.value) {
+		focusPassword()
+	}
+}
+
+function validate() {
+	usernameError.value = username.value.trim().length < 3 ? 'Use at least 3 characters.' : ''
+	passwordError.value = password.value.length === 0 ? 'Enter your password.' : ''
+	return !usernameError.value && !passwordError.value
+}
+
+async function afterLoginSuccess() {
+	await session.retry()
+
+	const redirect = typeof route.query.redirect === 'string' ? route.query.redirect : null
+	if (redirect) {
+		await router.push(redirect)
+		return
+	}
+
+	if (session.session?.verified) {
+		await router.push('/home')
+		return
+	}
+
+	await router.push('/register/pending')
+}
+
+function handleLoginError(error: unknown) {
+	if (error instanceof ApiError && error.status === 403) {
+		alert.value = wrongCredentialsAlert
+		password.value = ''
+		focusPassword()
+		return
+	}
+
+	if (error instanceof ApiError && error.status === 429) {
+		alert.value = tooManyAttemptsAlert
+		retryAfter.start(error.retryAfter ?? 0)
+		return
+	}
+
+	alert.value = serverErrorAlert
+}
+
+async function onSubmit() {
+	if (submitDisabled.value) {
+		return
+	}
+
+	if (!validate()) {
+		focusFirstInvalid()
+		return
+	}
+
+	submitting.value = true
+	try {
+		await api.request('/v1/auth/login', {
+			method: 'POST',
+			headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+			body: JSON.stringify({ username: username.value, password: password.value }),
+		})
+		await afterLoginSuccess()
+	} catch (error) {
+		handleLoginError(error)
+	} finally {
+		submitting.value = false
+	}
+}
+
+onMounted(async () => {
+	if (initialReason === 'expired') {
+		focusPassword()
+	}
+
+	try {
+		const status = await api.request<{ open: boolean }>('/v1/auth/registration')
+		registrationOpen.value = status.open
+	} catch {
+		registrationOpen.value = false
+	}
+})
 </script>
 
 <template>
-	<AuthShell title="Log in">
-		<p>Log in placeholder.</p>
+	<AuthShell title="Log in" description="Welcome back. Log in to manage your articles.">
+		<template v-if="alert" #notice>
+			<UAlert
+				:color="alert.tone"
+				:icon="alert.icon"
+				:title="alert.title"
+				:description="alert.description"
+				variant="soft"
+				:close="alert.closable"
+				:role="alertRole"
+				@close="alert = null"
+			/>
+		</template>
+
+		<form ref="formEl" class="flex flex-col gap-4" @submit.prevent="onSubmit">
+			<UFormField label="Username" name="username" :error="usernameError">
+				<UInput
+					v-model="username"
+					placeholder="Your username"
+					autocomplete="username"
+					:disabled="submitting"
+					class="w-full"
+				/>
+			</UFormField>
+
+			<UFormField name="password" :error="passwordError">
+				<template #label>
+					<div class="flex w-full items-center justify-between">
+						<span>Password</span>
+						<RouterLink to="/register/reset/request" class="text-primary text-sm">
+							Forgot password?
+						</RouterLink>
+					</div>
+				</template>
+				<UInput
+					v-model="password"
+					:type="passwordShown ? 'text' : 'password'"
+					autocomplete="current-password"
+					:disabled="submitting"
+					class="w-full"
+				>
+					<template #trailing>
+						<UButton
+							:icon="passwordShown ? 'i-lucide-eye-off' : 'i-lucide-eye'"
+							variant="ghost"
+							color="neutral"
+							size="sm"
+							square
+							:aria-label="passwordShown ? 'Hide password' : 'Show password'"
+							:aria-pressed="passwordShown"
+							@click="passwordShown = !passwordShown"
+						/>
+					</template>
+				</UInput>
+			</UFormField>
+
+			<UButton type="submit" block :loading="submitting" :disabled="submitDisabled">
+				{{ submitLabel }}
+			</UButton>
+		</form>
+
+		<template v-if="registrationOpen" #footer>
+			<p>
+				First time here?
+				<RouterLink to="/register" class="text-primary"
+					>Create the owner account</RouterLink
+				>
+			</p>
+		</template>
 	</AuthShell>
 </template>
diff --git a/web/src/views/__tests__/LoginView.spec.ts b/web/src/views/__tests__/LoginView.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fb2a218
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/views/__tests__/LoginView.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,306 @@
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { mount, flushPromises } from '@vue/test-utils'
+import { createPinia, setActivePinia } from 'pinia'
+import uiPlugin from '@nuxt/ui/vue-plugin'
+import router from '@/router'
+import LoginView from '../LoginView.vue'
+
+function mockResponse(status: number, body: unknown = null, headers: Record<string, string> = {}) {
+	return {
+		ok: status >= 200 && status < 300,
+		status,
+		headers: { get: (name: string) => headers[name] ?? null },
+		json: async () => body,
+	} as unknown as Response
+}
+
+function routeFor(url: string, init?: RequestInit) {
+	const method = init?.method ?? 'GET'
+	return `${method} ${url}`
+}
+
+function fetchRouter(handlers: Record<string, () => Response | Promise<Response>>) {
+	return vi.fn((url: string, init?: RequestInit) => {
+		const key = routeFor(url, init)
+		const handler = handlers[key]
+		if (!handler) {
+			throw new Error(`Unexpected fetch call: ${key}`)
+		}
+		return handler()
+	})
+}
+
+let currentWrapper: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof mount>> | null = null
+
+async function mountLogin(
+	path: string,
+	handlers: Record<string, () => Response | Promise<Response>>,
+) {
+	setActivePinia(createPinia())
+	global.fetch = fetchRouter({
+		'GET /v1/auth/registration': () => mockResponse(200, { open: false }),
+		...handlers,
+	}) as unknown as typeof fetch
+	await router.push(path)
+	const wrapper = mount(LoginView, {
+		attachTo: document.body,
+		global: {
+			plugins: [router, uiPlugin],
+		},
+	})
+	currentWrapper = wrapper
+	await flushPromises()
+	return wrapper
+}
+
+async function fillAndSubmit(
+	wrapper: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof mountLogin>>,
+	username: string,
+	password: string,
+) {
+	await wrapper.find('input[placeholder="Your username"]').setValue(username)
+	await wrapper.find('input[autocomplete="current-password"]').setValue(password)
+	await wrapper.find('form').trigger('submit')
+	await flushPromises()
+}
+
+afterEach(async () => {
+	currentWrapper?.unmount()
+	currentWrapper = null
+	await router.push('/login')
+})
+
+describe('Default — registration is closed', () => {
+	it('renders the default state with no create-account footer link', async () => {
+		const wrapper = await mountLogin('/login', {
+			'GET /v1/auth/registration': () => mockResponse(200, { open: false }),
+		})
+
+		expect(wrapper.find('h1').text()).toBe('Log in')
+		expect(wrapper.text()).toContain('Welcome back. Log in to manage your articles.')
+
+		const usernameInput = wrapper.find('input[placeholder="Your username"]')
+		expect((usernameInput.element as HTMLInputElement).value).toBe('')
+
+		const passwordInput = wrapper.find('input[autocomplete="current-password"]')
+		expect((passwordInput.element as HTMLInputElement).value).toBe('')
+
+		expect(wrapper.find('button[type="submit"]').text()).toBe('Log in')
+		expect(wrapper.text()).not.toContain('Create the owner account')
+	})
+})
+
+describe('Fresh install — registration is open', () => {
+	it('renders the same fields plus the create-account footer link', async () => {
+		const wrapper = await mountLogin('/login', {
+			'GET /v1/auth/registration': () => mockResponse(200, { open: true }),
+		})
+
+		expect(wrapper.find('h1').text()).toBe('Log in')
+		expect(wrapper.text()).toContain('First time here?')
+		expect(wrapper.text()).toContain('Create the owner account')
+	})
+})
+
+describe('Validation errors — nothing is sent for a short username and an empty password', () => {
+	it('shows both field errors and never calls the login endpoint', async () => {
+		const login = vi.fn(() => mockResponse(200))
+		const wrapper = await mountLogin('/login', {
+			'POST /v1/auth/login': login,
+		})
+
+		await wrapper.find('input[placeholder="Your username"]').setValue('ma')
+		await wrapper.find('form').trigger('submit')
+		await flushPromises()
+
+		expect(login).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+		expect(wrapper.text()).toContain('Use at least 3 characters.')
+		expect(wrapper.text()).toContain('Enter your password.')
+	})
+})
+
+describe('Submitting — fields and button are disabled while the request is in flight', () => {
+	it('disables the fields and shows the loading label', async () => {
+		let resolveLogin: (() => void) | null = null
+		const wrapper = await mountLogin('/login', {
+			'POST /v1/auth/login': () =>
+				new Promise((resolve) => {
+					resolveLogin = () => resolve(mockResponse(200))
+				}),
+		})
+
+		await wrapper.find('input[placeholder="Your username"]').setValue('marta')
+		await wrapper.find('input[autocomplete="current-password"]').setValue('limewash2026')
+		await wrapper.find('form').trigger('submit')
+		await flushPromises()
+
+		expect(
+			(wrapper.find('input[placeholder="Your username"]').element as HTMLInputElement)
+				.disabled,
+		).toBe(true)
+		expect(
+			(wrapper.find('input[autocomplete="current-password"]').element as HTMLInputElement)
+				.disabled,
+		).toBe(true)
+		const submitButton = wrapper.find('button[type="submit"]')
+		expect(submitButton.text()).toBe('Logging in…')
+		expect((submitButton.element as HTMLButtonElement).disabled).toBe(true)
+
+		resolveLogin?.()
+		await flushPromises()
+	})
+})
+
+describe('Wrong credentials — the password is cleared and focused', () => {
+	it('shows the mismatch alert, keeps the username, clears and focuses the password', async () => {
+		const wrapper = await mountLogin('/login', {
+			'POST /v1/auth/login': () => mockResponse(403),
+		})
+
+		await fillAndSubmit(wrapper, 'marta', 'wrong-password')
+
+		expect(wrapper.text()).toContain("That username and password don't match")
+		expect(wrapper.text()).toContain('Check both and try again. Passwords are case-sensitive.')
+
+		const usernameInput = wrapper.find('input[placeholder="Your username"]')
+		expect((usernameInput.element as HTMLInputElement).value).toBe('marta')
+
+		const passwordInput = wrapper.find('input[autocomplete="current-password"]')
+		expect((passwordInput.element as HTMLInputElement).value).toBe('')
+		expect(passwordInput.element).toBe(document.activeElement)
+
+		const submitButton = wrapper.find('button[type="submit"]')
+		expect(submitButton.text()).toBe('Log in')
+		expect((submitButton.element as HTMLButtonElement).disabled).toBe(false)
+	})
+})
+
+describe('Too many attempts — the button is disabled with a live countdown', () => {
+	it('counts down from the Retry-After value and re-enables at zero', async () => {
+		vi.useFakeTimers()
+		const wrapper = await mountLogin('/login', {
+			'POST /v1/auth/login': () => mockResponse(429, null, { 'Retry-After': '42' }),
+		})
+
+		await fillAndSubmit(wrapper, 'marta', 'limewash')
+
+		expect(wrapper.text()).toContain('Too many attempts')
+		expect(wrapper.text()).toContain('For your security, wait a moment before trying again.')
+
+		expect(
+			(wrapper.find('input[placeholder="Your username"]').element as HTMLInputElement).value,
+		).toBe('marta')
+		expect(
+			(wrapper.find('input[autocomplete="current-password"]').element as HTMLInputElement)
+				.value,
+		).toBe('limewash')
+
+		const button = wrapper.find('button[type="submit"]')
+		expect(button.text()).toBe('Try again in 0:42')
+		expect((button.element as HTMLButtonElement).disabled).toBe(true)
+
+		await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(42000)
+		await flushPromises()
+
+		expect(wrapper.find('button[type="submit"]').text()).toBe('Log in')
+		expect((wrapper.find('button[type="submit"]').element as HTMLButtonElement).disabled).toBe(
+			false,
+		)
+		vi.useRealTimers()
+	})
+})
+
+describe('Session expired — redirected from a 401 elsewhere', () => {
+	it('shows the session-expired alert and focuses the password field', async () => {
+		const wrapper = await mountLogin('/login?redirect=/article/12/edit&reason=expired', {})
+
+		expect(wrapper.text()).toContain('Your session expired')
+		expect(wrapper.text()).toContain(
+			'Log in again to pick up where you left off. Unsaved changes are kept on this device.',
+		)
+
+		const passwordInput = wrapper.find('input[autocomplete="current-password"]')
+		expect(passwordInput.element).toBe(document.activeElement)
+		expect(wrapper.find('button[type="submit"]').text()).toBe('Log in')
+	})
+})
+
+describe('Password changed — arrived from a successful reset', () => {
+	it('shows the success alert and the untouched fields', async () => {
+		const wrapper = await mountLogin('/login?reason=password-changed', {})
+
+		expect(wrapper.text()).toContain('Password changed')
+		expect(wrapper.text()).toContain('Log in with your new password.')
+
+		const usernameInput = wrapper.find('input[placeholder="Your username"]')
+		expect((usernameInput.element as HTMLInputElement).value).toBe('')
+		expect(wrapper.find('button[type="submit"]').text()).toBe('Log in')
+	})
+})
+
+describe('Server or network error — the fields keep their values', () => {
+	it.each([
+		{ name: 'a 500 response', password: 'limewash2026', handler: () => mockResponse(500) },
+		{
+			name: 'a network failure',
+			password: 'limewash2026',
+			handler: () => Promise.reject(new TypeError('Failed to fetch')),
+		},
+		{
+			name: 'a 400 response under the server minimum',
+			password: 'short1',
+			handler: () => mockResponse(400),
+		},
+	])(
+		'shows the network/server error alert and keeps the fields for $name',
+		async ({ password, handler }) => {
+			const login = vi.fn(handler)
+			const wrapper = await mountLogin('/login', {
+				'POST /v1/auth/login': login,
+			})
+
+			await fillAndSubmit(wrapper, 'marta', password)
+
+			expect(login).toHaveBeenCalled()
+			expect(wrapper.text()).toContain("Couldn't reach RenewCMS")
+			expect(wrapper.text()).toContain('Check your connection and try again.')
+
+			expect(
+				(wrapper.find('input[placeholder="Your username"]').element as HTMLInputElement)
+					.value,
+			).toBe('marta')
+			expect(
+				(wrapper.find('input[autocomplete="current-password"]').element as HTMLInputElement)
+					.value,
+			).toBe(password)
+
+			const submitButton = wrapper.find('button[type="submit"]')
+			expect(submitButton.text()).toBe('Log in')
+			expect((submitButton.element as HTMLButtonElement).disabled).toBe(false)
+		},
+	)
+})
+
+describe('A successful log in navigates to the right destination', () => {
+	it.each([
+		{ path: '/login', verified: true, destination: '/home' },
+		{ path: '/login', verified: false, destination: '/register/pending' },
+		{
+			path: '/login?redirect=/article/12/edit',
+			verified: true,
+			destination: '/article/12/edit',
+		},
+	])(
+		'navigates to $destination for path $path and verified $verified',
+		async ({ path, verified, destination }) => {
+			const wrapper = await mountLogin(path, {
+				'POST /v1/auth/login': () => mockResponse(200),
+				'GET /v1/auth/me': () => mockResponse(200, { is_verified: verified }),
+			})
+
+			await fillAndSubmit(wrapper, 'marta', 'limewash2026')
+
+			await vi.waitFor(() => expect(router.currentRoute.value.path).toBe(destination))
+		},
+	)
+})