diff --git a/lib/towerops/gaiia/sync.ex b/lib/towerops/gaiia/sync.ex
index 9988056a..7baf706b 100644
--- a/lib/towerops/gaiia/sync.ex
+++ b/lib/towerops/gaiia/sync.ex
@@ -32,7 +32,11 @@ defmodule Towerops.Gaiia.Sync do
          items_count = upsert_nodes(org_id, items, :inventory_item),
          {:ok, subs} <- Client.list_billing_subscriptions(api_key, opts) do
       subs_count = upsert_nodes(org_id, subs, :billing_subscription)
-      Integrations.update_sync_status(integration, "success")
+
+      message =
+        "Synced #{accounts_count} accounts, #{sites_count} sites, #{items_count} inventory items, #{subs_count} subscriptions"
+
+      Integrations.update_sync_status(integration, "success", message)
 
       {:ok,
        %{
@@ -43,7 +47,7 @@ defmodule Towerops.Gaiia.Sync do
        }}
     else
       {:error, reason} ->
-        Integrations.update_sync_status(integration, "failed")
+        Integrations.update_sync_status(integration, "failed", humanize_sync_error(reason))
         {:error, reason}
     end
   end
@@ -170,4 +174,19 @@ defmodule Towerops.Gaiia.Sync do
       endpoint -> [endpoint: endpoint]
     end
   end
+
+  defp humanize_sync_error(:unauthorized), do: "Authentication failed — check your API key"
+
+  defp humanize_sync_error(:forbidden), do: "Access denied — your API key may not have sufficient permissions"
+
+  defp humanize_sync_error(:not_found), do: "API endpoint not found — the Gaiia API may have changed"
+
+  defp humanize_sync_error(:timeout), do: "Connection timed out — Gaiia may be temporarily unavailable"
+
+  defp humanize_sync_error(%Req.TransportError{reason: :econnrefused}), do: "Connection refused — unable to reach Gaiia"
+
+  defp humanize_sync_error(%Req.TransportError{reason: reason}), do: "Connection error: #{reason}"
+
+  defp humanize_sync_error(reason) when is_binary(reason), do: reason
+  defp humanize_sync_error(_reason), do: "An unexpected error occurred during sync"
 end
diff --git a/lib/towerops/integrations.ex b/lib/towerops/integrations.ex
index 0aa35cc0..d4129465 100644
--- a/lib/towerops/integrations.ex
+++ b/lib/towerops/integrations.ex
@@ -37,11 +37,12 @@ defmodule Towerops.Integrations do
     |> Repo.update()
   end
 
-  def update_sync_status(%Integration{} = integration, status) do
+  def update_sync_status(%Integration{} = integration, status, message \\ nil) do
     integration
     |> Integration.changeset(%{
       last_sync_status: status,
-      last_synced_at: DateTime.truncate(DateTime.utc_now(), :second)
+      last_synced_at: DateTime.truncate(DateTime.utc_now(), :second),
+      last_sync_message: message
     })
     |> Repo.update()
   end
diff --git a/lib/towerops/integrations/integration.ex b/lib/towerops/integrations/integration.ex
index 3e77f545..d57cb46b 100644
--- a/lib/towerops/integrations/integration.ex
+++ b/lib/towerops/integrations/integration.ex
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ defmodule Towerops.Integrations.Integration do
     field :sync_interval_minutes, :integer, default: 10
     field :last_synced_at, :utc_datetime
     field :last_sync_status, :string, default: "never"
+    field :last_sync_message, :string
 
     belongs_to :organization, Towerops.Organizations.Organization
 
@@ -39,7 +40,8 @@ defmodule Towerops.Integrations.Integration do
       :credentials,
       :sync_interval_minutes,
       :last_synced_at,
-      :last_sync_status
+      :last_sync_status,
+      :last_sync_message
     ])
     |> validate_required([:organization_id, :provider])
     |> validate_inclusion(:provider, @valid_providers)
diff --git a/lib/towerops/preseem/sync.ex b/lib/towerops/preseem/sync.ex
index 35180c10..67c25b75 100644
--- a/lib/towerops/preseem/sync.ex
+++ b/lib/towerops/preseem/sync.ex
@@ -117,8 +117,9 @@ defmodule Towerops.Preseem.Sync do
 
     status = if synced_count == length(ap_list), do: "success", else: "partial"
 
+    message = "Synced #{synced_count} access points, matched #{matched_count} devices"
     log_sync(integration, status, synced_count, %{}, duration_ms)
-    Integrations.update_sync_status(integration, status)
+    Integrations.update_sync_status(integration, status, message)
 
     {:ok, %{synced: synced_count, matched: matched_count}}
   end
@@ -126,8 +127,9 @@ defmodule Towerops.Preseem.Sync do
   defp handle_failed_sync(integration, reason, start_time) do
     duration_ms = System.monotonic_time(:millisecond) - start_time
 
+    message = humanize_sync_error(reason)
     log_sync(integration, "failed", 0, %{error: inspect(reason)}, duration_ms)
-    Integrations.update_sync_status(integration, "failed")
+    Integrations.update_sync_status(integration, "failed", message)
 
     {:error, reason}
   end
@@ -167,4 +169,11 @@ defmodule Towerops.Preseem.Sync do
   defp cast_to_float(nil), do: nil
   defp cast_to_float(val) when is_float(val), do: val
   defp cast_to_float(val) when is_integer(val), do: val / 1
+
+  defp humanize_sync_error(:unauthorized), do: "Authentication failed — check your API key"
+
+  defp humanize_sync_error(:timeout), do: "Connection timed out — Preseem may be temporarily unavailable"
+
+  defp humanize_sync_error(reason) when is_binary(reason), do: reason
+  defp humanize_sync_error(_reason), do: "An unexpected error occurred during sync"
 end
diff --git a/lib/towerops_web/controllers/api/v1/integrations_controller.ex b/lib/towerops_web/controllers/api/v1/integrations_controller.ex
index f6fc7e82..49e433d9 100644
--- a/lib/towerops_web/controllers/api/v1/integrations_controller.ex
+++ b/lib/towerops_web/controllers/api/v1/integrations_controller.ex
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ defmodule ToweropsWeb.Api.V1.IntegrationsController do
       sync_interval_minutes: integration.sync_interval_minutes,
       last_synced_at: integration.last_synced_at,
       last_sync_status: integration.last_sync_status,
+      last_sync_message: integration.last_sync_message,
       inserted_at: integration.inserted_at,
       updated_at: integration.updated_at
     }
diff --git a/lib/towerops_web/live/org/settings_live.html.heex b/lib/towerops_web/live/org/settings_live.html.heex
index 8c2ca4cd..accfa4d3 100644
--- a/lib/towerops_web/live/org/settings_live.html.heex
+++ b/lib/towerops_web/live/org/settings_live.html.heex
@@ -866,6 +866,18 @@
                     </span>
                   <% end %>
 
+                  <%= if integration.last_sync_message && integration.last_sync_message != "" do %>
+                    <span class={[
+                      "text-xs",
+                      if(integration.last_sync_status == "failed",
+                        do: "text-red-600 dark:text-red-400",
+                        else: "text-gray-500 dark:text-gray-400"
+                      )
+                    ]}>
+                      {integration.last_sync_message}
+                    </span>
+                  <% end %>
+
                   <%= if integration.last_synced_at do %>
                     <span class="text-xs text-gray-400 dark:text-gray-500">
                       · Next sync in ~{next_sync_minutes(
diff --git a/priv/repo/migrations/20260214200600_add_last_sync_message_to_integrations.exs b/priv/repo/migrations/20260214200600_add_last_sync_message_to_integrations.exs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b49061b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/priv/repo/migrations/20260214200600_add_last_sync_message_to_integrations.exs
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+defmodule Towerops.Repo.Migrations.AddLastSyncMessageToIntegrations do
+  use Ecto.Migration
+
+  def change do
+    alter table(:integrations) do
+      add :last_sync_message, :text
+    end
+  end
+end