diff --git a/internal/server/solver.go b/internal/server/solver.go
index 99a4520..f5484cf 100644
--- a/internal/server/solver.go
+++ b/internal/server/solver.go
@@ -108,7 +108,27 @@ func (h *handlers) applyTemplate(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		writeError(w, err, nil)
 		return
 	}
-	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, res)
+
+	// Auto-solve by default. ?solve=0 opts out for power users who want
+	// to inspect the seeded devices/requirements before the solver runs.
+	// This is THE fix for the v6 UX hole: m hit Apply, saw an empty
+	// canvas because nothing reloaded *and* nothing solved. With the
+	// frontend re-snapshotting after the POST returns and the response
+	// already carrying solver output, m sees the wired diagram in one click.
+	skipSolve := r.URL.Query().Get("solve") == "0"
+	combined := map[string]any{"template_apply": res}
+	if !skipSolve {
+		solveRes, err := h.store.Solve(pid, false)
+		if err != nil {
+			// Apply succeeded but Solve failed — don't 500 the whole
+			// call. Return template_apply with the solve error inline so
+			// the UI can recover (devices are there; m can re-solve).
+			combined["solve_error"] = err.Error()
+		} else {
+			combined["solve"] = solveRes
+		}
+	}
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, combined)
 }
 
 // fmtSscan parses a base-10 int from a string, returning (n, nil) on success.
diff --git a/web/static/main.js b/web/static/main.js
index 57127fe..fbd4764 100644
--- a/web/static/main.js
+++ b/web/static/main.js
@@ -2055,21 +2055,25 @@ async function openApplyTemplateModal() {
       if (did) skip.push(did);
     });
     try {
-      await applyTemplate(state.active.id, {
+      // The server auto-solves by default since v0c7d165 — the response
+      // is {template_apply, solve} (or {template_apply, solve_error}).
+      // We don't need to read the body here; activateProject() below
+      // pulls a fresh snapshot that includes both the seeded devices
+      // and any cables the solver placed.
+      const projID = state.active.id;
+      await applyTemplate(projID, {
         template_id: tid,
         name_overrides: overrides,
         skip_devices: skip,
       });
-      const snap = await getSnapshot(state.active.id);
-      state.frames = snap.frames || [];
-      state.devices = snap.devices || [];
-      state.ports = snap.ports || [];
-      state.ioMarkers = snap.io_markers || [];
-      state.requirements = snap.connection_requirements || [];
-      state.cables = snap.cables || [];
-      state.bundles = snap.bundles || [];
       dlg.close();
-      render();
+      // Route through the canonical project-load path. That re-hydrates
+      // ALL collections (frames, devices, ports, io_markers, cables,
+      // bundles, requirements, cable_types, device_types) AND clears
+      // the selection — important because m may have had a stale
+      // selection from before the apply. Slice 6's bare re-snapshot
+      // missed the device_types refresh + selection reset.
+      await activateProject(projID);
     } catch (ex) {
       showError(err, ex.message || "Apply failed");
     }