diff --git a/frontend/src/notes/colors.ts b/frontend/src/notes/colors.ts
index 0fcdd47..95765f5 100644
--- a/frontend/src/notes/colors.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/notes/colors.ts
@@ -57,6 +57,21 @@ export const LABEL_CHIP_CLASSES: Record<NoteColor, string> = {
   gray: "bg-neutral-200 text-neutral-700 dark:bg-neutral-700 dark:text-neutral-200",
 };
 
+// Solid fills for graph nodes (SVG needs concrete colors, not Tailwind bg classes).
+// Mid-tone hues read on both the light and dark graph background.
+export const NOTE_NODE_FILL: Record<NoteColor, string> = {
+  default: "#9ca3af",
+  red: "#ef4444",
+  orange: "#f97316",
+  yellow: "#f59e0b",
+  green: "#22c55e",
+  teal: "#14b8a6",
+  blue: "#3b82f6",
+  purple: "#a855f7",
+  pink: "#ec4899",
+  gray: "#6b7280",
+};
+
 export const NOTE_COLOR_LABELS: Record<NoteColor, string> = {
   default: "Default",
   red: "Red",
diff --git a/frontend/src/views/GraphView.vue b/frontend/src/views/GraphView.vue
index ffa6b6d..cf4ce55 100644
--- a/frontend/src/views/GraphView.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/views/GraphView.vue
@@ -2,11 +2,13 @@
 import { computed, onBeforeUnmount, onMounted, ref } from "vue";
 import { api } from "../api/client";
 import { useNotesStore, type Note } from "../stores/notes";
+import { NOTE_NODE_FILL, type NoteColor } from "../notes/colors";
 import NoteEditor from "../components/NoteEditor.vue";
 
 interface GNode {
   id: string;
   title: string;
+  color: string;
   x: number;
   y: number;
   vx: number;
@@ -21,26 +23,69 @@ const WIDTH = 1000;
 const HEIGHT = 700;
 
 const notes = useNotesStore();
-const nodes = ref<GNode[]>([]);
+const allNodes = ref<GNode[]>([]);
 const edges = ref<GEdge[]>([]);
 const loading = ref(true);
 const editing = ref<Note | null>(null);
+const showAll = ref(false);
+
+const svgRef = ref<SVGSVGElement | null>(null);
+const gRef = ref<SVGGElement | null>(null);
+
+// Pan/zoom applied to the inner <g>.
+const scale = ref(1);
+const tx = ref(0);
+const ty = ref(0);
 
 let frame = 0;
 let raf = 0;
 
+const connectedIds = computed(() => {
+  const s = new Set<string>();
+  for (const e of edges.value) {
+    s.add(e.source);
+    s.add(e.target);
+  }
+  return s;
+});
+
+// Connected notes only by default; the toggle adds unlinked ones.
+const activeNodes = computed(() =>
+  showAll.value ? allNodes.value : allNodes.value.filter((n) => connectedIds.value.has(n.id)),
+);
+const activeIds = computed(() => new Set(activeNodes.value.map((n) => n.id)));
+
+const edgeLines = computed(() => {
+  const byId = new Map(allNodes.value.map((n) => [n.id, n]));
+  const out: { x1: number; y1: number; x2: number; y2: number }[] = [];
+  for (const e of edges.value) {
+    if (!activeIds.value.has(e.source) || !activeIds.value.has(e.target)) continue;
+    const s = byId.get(e.source);
+    const t = byId.get(e.target);
+    if (s && t) out.push({ x1: s.x, y1: s.y, x2: t.x, y2: t.y });
+  }
+  return out;
+});
+
+function fill(color: string): string {
+  return NOTE_NODE_FILL[color as NoteColor] ?? NOTE_NODE_FILL.default;
+}
+
 async function loadGraph() {
   loading.value = true;
   try {
-    const res = await api.get<{ nodes: { id: string; title: string }[]; edges: GEdge[] }>("/api/graph");
+    const res = await api.get<{ nodes: { id: string; title: string; color: string }[]; edges: GEdge[] }>(
+      "/api/graph",
+    );
     const cx = WIDTH / 2;
     const cy = HEIGHT / 2;
     const count = Math.max(res.nodes.length, 1);
-    nodes.value = res.nodes.map((n, i) => {
+    allNodes.value = res.nodes.map((n, i) => {
       const angle = (i / count) * Math.PI * 2;
       return {
         id: n.id,
         title: n.title,
+        color: n.color,
         x: cx + Math.cos(angle) * 220 + (Math.random() - 0.5) * 40,
         y: cy + Math.sin(angle) * 220 + (Math.random() - 0.5) * 40,
         vx: 0,
@@ -51,13 +96,18 @@ async function loadGraph() {
   } finally {
     loading.value = false;
   }
+  reheat();
+}
+
+function reheat() {
   frame = 0;
   cancelAnimationFrame(raf);
-  if (nodes.value.length) simulate();
+  raf = 0;
+  if (activeNodes.value.length) simulate();
 }
 
 function simulate() {
-  const list = nodes.value;
+  const list = activeNodes.value;
   const cx = WIDTH / 2;
   const cy = HEIGHT / 2;
   const byId = new Map(list.map((n) => [n.id, n]));
@@ -102,6 +152,11 @@ function simulate() {
   }
 
   for (const n of list) {
+    if (n === dragNode) {
+      n.vx = 0;
+      n.vy = 0;
+      continue; // pinned to the cursor while dragging
+    }
     n.vx += (cx - n.x) * 0.002;
     n.vy += (cy - n.y) * 0.002;
     n.vx *= 0.85;
@@ -111,19 +166,87 @@ function simulate() {
   }
 
   frame++;
-  if (frame < 400) raf = requestAnimationFrame(simulate);
+  // Keep running while cooling, or indefinitely while a node is being dragged.
+  raf = frame < 400 || dragNode ? requestAnimationFrame(simulate) : 0;
 }
 
-const edgeLines = computed(() => {
-  const byId = new Map(nodes.value.map((n) => [n.id, n]));
-  const out: { x1: number; y1: number; x2: number; y2: number }[] = [];
-  for (const e of edges.value) {
-    const s = byId.get(e.source);
-    const t = byId.get(e.target);
-    if (s && t) out.push({ x1: s.x, y1: s.y, x2: t.x, y2: t.y });
+// --- pointer interaction: drag a node, pan the background, wheel-zoom ---
+let dragNode: GNode | null = null;
+let dragMoved = false;
+let downPos = { x: 0, y: 0 };
+let panning = false;
+let panLast = { x: 0, y: 0 };
+
+function toLocal(el: SVGGraphicsElement | null, e: MouseEvent) {
+  const ctm = el?.getScreenCTM();
+  if (!ctm) return { x: 0, y: 0 };
+  const p = new DOMPoint(e.clientX, e.clientY).matrixTransform(ctm.inverse());
+  return { x: p.x, y: p.y };
+}
+
+function onNodeDown(n: GNode, e: MouseEvent) {
+  e.stopPropagation();
+  dragNode = n;
+  dragMoved = false;
+  downPos = { x: e.clientX, y: e.clientY };
+  reheat();
+  window.addEventListener("mousemove", onMove);
+  window.addEventListener("mouseup", onUp);
+}
+
+function onBgDown(e: MouseEvent) {
+  panning = true;
+  panLast = toLocal(svgRef.value, e);
+  window.addEventListener("mousemove", onMove);
+  window.addEventListener("mouseup", onUp);
+}
+
+function onMove(e: MouseEvent) {
+  if (dragNode) {
+    if (Math.hypot(e.clientX - downPos.x, e.clientY - downPos.y) > 3) dragMoved = true;
+    const p = toLocal(gRef.value, e);
+    dragNode.x = p.x;
+    dragNode.y = p.y;
+  } else if (panning) {
+    const p = toLocal(svgRef.value, e);
+    tx.value += p.x - panLast.x;
+    ty.value += p.y - panLast.y;
+    panLast = p;
   }
-  return out;
-});
+}
+
+function onUp() {
+  window.removeEventListener("mousemove", onMove);
+  window.removeEventListener("mouseup", onUp);
+  const node = dragNode;
+  const moved = dragMoved;
+  dragNode = null;
+  panning = false;
+  // A press without a drag is a click → open the note.
+  if (node && !moved) void openNode(node);
+}
+
+function onWheel(e: WheelEvent) {
+  e.preventDefault();
+  const vb = toLocal(svgRef.value, e);
+  const gx = (vb.x - tx.value) / scale.value;
+  const gy = (vb.y - ty.value) / scale.value;
+  const factor = e.deltaY < 0 ? 1.1 : 1 / 1.1;
+  scale.value = Math.min(Math.max(scale.value * factor, 0.3), 3);
+  tx.value = vb.x - gx * scale.value;
+  ty.value = vb.y - gy * scale.value;
+}
+
+function resetView() {
+  scale.value = 1;
+  tx.value = 0;
+  ty.value = 0;
+}
+
+function toggleAll() {
+  showAll.value = !showAll.value;
+  reheat();
+}
 
 async function openNode(n: GNode) {
   const found = notes.items.find((x) => x.id === n.id);
@@ -138,20 +261,49 @@ async function onNavigate(id: string) {
 }
 
 onMounted(loadGraph);
-onBeforeUnmount(() => cancelAnimationFrame(raf));
+onBeforeUnmount(() => {
+  cancelAnimationFrame(raf);
+  window.removeEventListener("mousemove", onMove);
+  window.removeEventListener("mouseup", onUp);
+});
 </script>
 
 <template>
   <div class="flex h-full flex-col p-4">
-    <h1 class="mb-3 text-lg font-semibold">Graph</h1>
+    <div class="mb-3 flex flex-wrap items-center justify-between gap-3">
+      <h1 class="text-lg font-semibold">Graph</h1>
+      <div class="flex items-center gap-3 text-sm">
+        <label class="flex cursor-pointer items-center gap-1.5 text-neutral-600 dark:text-neutral-300">
+          <input type="checkbox" class="accent-brand" :checked="showAll" @change="toggleAll" />
+          Show unlinked notes
+        </label>
+        <button
+          type="button"
+          class="rounded-md border border-neutral-300 px-2 py-1 text-xs hover:bg-neutral-100 focus:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-brand dark:border-neutral-700 dark:hover:bg-neutral-800"
+          @click="resetView"
+        >
+          Reset view
+        </button>
+      </div>
+    </div>
 
     <div v-if="loading" class="py-24 text-center text-sm text-neutral-400">Loading graph…</div>
 
-    <div v-else-if="nodes.length === 0" class="py-24 text-center">
-      <h2 class="text-lg font-semibold text-neutral-700 dark:text-neutral-200">No connections yet</h2>
+    <div v-else-if="allNodes.length === 0" class="py-24 text-center">
+      <h2 class="text-lg font-semibold text-neutral-700 dark:text-neutral-200">No notes yet</h2>
       <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-neutral-400">
-        Link notes with <span class="font-mono text-brand-700 dark:text-brand">[[Note title]]</span> to see them
-        connected here.
+        Create notes and link them with
+        <span class="font-mono text-brand-700 dark:text-brand">[[Note title]]</span> to see them here.
+      </p>
+    </div>
+
+    <div v-else-if="activeNodes.length === 0" class="py-24 text-center">
+      <h2 class="text-lg font-semibold text-neutral-700 dark:text-neutral-200">No links yet</h2>
+      <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-neutral-400">
+        Link notes with <span class="font-mono text-brand-700 dark:text-brand">[[Note title]]</span>, or
+        <button type="button" class="text-brand-700 underline dark:text-brand" @click="toggleAll">
+          show all notes
+        </button>.
       </p>
     </div>
 
@@ -159,27 +311,43 @@ onBeforeUnmount(() => cancelAnimationFrame(raf));
       v-else
       class="min-h-[500px] flex-1 overflow-hidden rounded-xl border border-neutral-200 bg-neutral-50 dark:border-neutral-800 dark:bg-neutral-950"
     >
-      <svg :viewBox="`0 0 ${WIDTH} ${HEIGHT}`" class="h-full w-full" preserveAspectRatio="xMidYMid meet">
-        <line
-          v-for="(l, i) in edgeLines"
-          :key="`e${i}`"
-          :x1="l.x1"
-          :y1="l.y1"
-          :x2="l.x2"
-          :y2="l.y2"
-          class="stroke-neutral-300 dark:stroke-neutral-700"
-          stroke-width="1.5"
-        />
-        <g v-for="n in nodes" :key="n.id" class="cursor-pointer" @click="openNode(n)">
-          <circle :cx="n.x" :cy="n.y" r="8" class="fill-brand" />
-          <text
-            :x="n.x"
-            :y="n.y - 13"
-            text-anchor="middle"
-            class="fill-neutral-600 text-[12px] dark:fill-neutral-300"
-          >
-            {{ n.title }}
-          </text>
+      <svg
+        ref="svgRef"
+        :viewBox="`0 0 ${WIDTH} ${HEIGHT}`"
+        class="h-full w-full cursor-grab select-none touch-none"
+        preserveAspectRatio="xMidYMid meet"
+        @mousedown="onBgDown"
+        @wheel="onWheel"
+      >
+        <g ref="gRef" :transform="`translate(${tx} ${ty}) scale(${scale})`">
+          <line
+            v-for="(l, i) in edgeLines"
+            :key="`e${i}`"
+            :x1="l.x1"
+            :y1="l.y1"
+            :x2="l.x2"
+            :y2="l.y2"
+            class="stroke-neutral-300 dark:stroke-neutral-700"
+            stroke-width="1.5"
+          />
+          <g v-for="n in activeNodes" :key="n.id" class="cursor-pointer" @mousedown="onNodeDown(n, $event)">
+            <circle
+              :cx="n.x"
+              :cy="n.y"
+              r="8"
+              :fill="fill(n.color)"
+              class="stroke-neutral-50 dark:stroke-neutral-950"
+              stroke-width="1.5"
+            />
+            <text
+              :x="n.x"
+              :y="n.y - 13"
+              text-anchor="middle"
+              class="fill-neutral-600 text-[12px] dark:fill-neutral-300"
+            >
+              {{ n.title }}
+            </text>
+          </g>
         </g>
       </svg>
     </div>
diff --git a/src/thoughtsync/graph.py b/src/thoughtsync/graph.py
index bbe4f53..f480fe6 100644
--- a/src/thoughtsync/graph.py
+++ b/src/thoughtsync/graph.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ from sqlalchemy.orm import aliased
 
 from .auth import login_required
 from .db import session_scope
+from .models.label import Label, NoteLabel
 from .models.note import Note
 from .models.note_link import NoteLink
 
@@ -15,11 +16,13 @@ bp = Blueprint("graph", __name__, url_prefix="/api/graph")
 @bp.get("")
 @login_required
 async def get_graph():
-    """Wiki-link graph: nodes are the owner's connected notes, edges are resolved
-    [[links]] (note_links.target_norm matched to a note's normalized title)."""
+    """Wiki-link graph. Nodes are ALL of the owner's non-trashed notes (the frontend
+    toggles whether to show unlinked ones); each carries its first label's color for
+    clustering. Edges are resolved [[links]] (note_links.target_norm matched to a
+    note's normalized title)."""
     source = aliased(Note)
     target = aliased(Note)
-    stmt = (
+    edge_stmt = (
         select(source.id, target.id)
         .select_from(NoteLink)
         .join(source, source.id == NoteLink.source_id)
@@ -33,9 +36,8 @@ async def get_graph():
         )
     )
     async with session_scope() as db:
-        rows = (await db.execute(stmt)).all()
+        rows = (await db.execute(edge_stmt)).all()
         edges = []
-        node_ids: set = set()
         seen: set = set()
         for src_id, tgt_id in rows:
             key = (src_id, tgt_id)
@@ -43,10 +45,25 @@ async def get_graph():
                 continue
             seen.add(key)
             edges.append({"source": str(src_id), "target": str(tgt_id)})
-            node_ids.add(src_id)
-            node_ids.add(tgt_id)
-        nodes = []
-        if node_ids:
-            note_rows = (await db.scalars(select(Note).where(Note.id.in_(node_ids)))).all()
-            nodes = [{"id": str(n.id), "title": n.title or "Untitled"} for n in note_rows]
+
+        # First label color per note (labels ordered by name) → node color.
+        color_rows = (
+            await db.execute(
+                select(NoteLabel.note_id, Label.color)
+                .join(Label, Label.id == NoteLabel.label_id)
+                .where(Label.owner_id == g.user_id)
+                .order_by(Label.name)
+            )
+        ).all()
+        first_color: dict = {}
+        for note_id, color in color_rows:
+            first_color.setdefault(note_id, color)
+
+        note_rows = (
+            await db.scalars(select(Note).where(Note.owner_id == g.user_id, Note.deleted_at.is_(None)))
+        ).all()
+        nodes = [
+            {"id": str(n.id), "title": n.title or "Untitled", "color": first_color.get(n.id, "default")}
+            for n in note_rows
+        ]
         return jsonify({"nodes": nodes, "edges": edges})