diff --git a/client/src/components/Sidebar.tsx b/client/src/components/Sidebar.tsx
index e054fe8b..889380d8 100644
--- a/client/src/components/Sidebar.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/Sidebar.tsx
@@ -108,6 +108,8 @@ const Sidebar = ({
   const [copiedServerFile, setCopiedServerFile] = useState(false);
   const { toast } = useToast();
 
+  const connectionTypeTip =
+    "Connect to server directly (requires CORS config on server) or via MCP Inspector Proxy";
   // Reusable error reporter for copy actions
   const reportError = useCallback(
     (error: unknown) => {
@@ -319,28 +321,33 @@ const Sidebar = ({
               </div>
 
               {/* Connection Type switch - only visible for non-STDIO transport types */}
-              <div className="space-y-2">
-                <label
-                  className="text-sm font-medium"
-                  htmlFor="connection-type-select"
-                >
-                  Connection Type
-                </label>
-                <Select
-                  value={connectionType}
-                  onValueChange={(value: "direct" | "proxy") =>
-                    setConnectionType(value)
-                  }
-                >
-                  <SelectTrigger id="connection-type-select">
-                    <SelectValue placeholder="Select connection type" />
-                  </SelectTrigger>
-                  <SelectContent>
-                    <SelectItem value="proxy">Via Proxy</SelectItem>
-                    <SelectItem value="direct">Direct</SelectItem>
-                  </SelectContent>
-                </Select>
-              </div>
+              <Tooltip>
+                <TooltipTrigger asChild>
+                  <div className="space-y-2">
+                    <label
+                      className="text-sm font-medium"
+                      htmlFor="connection-type-select"
+                    >
+                      Connection Type
+                    </label>
+                    <Select
+                      value={connectionType}
+                      onValueChange={(value: "direct" | "proxy") =>
+                        setConnectionType(value)
+                      }
+                    >
+                      <SelectTrigger id="connection-type-select">
+                        <SelectValue placeholder="Select connection type" />
+                      </SelectTrigger>
+                      <SelectContent>
+                        <SelectItem value="proxy">Via Proxy</SelectItem>
+                        <SelectItem value="direct">Direct</SelectItem>
+                      </SelectContent>
+                    </Select>
+                  </div>
+                </TooltipTrigger>
+                <TooltipContent>{connectionTypeTip}</TooltipContent>
+              </Tooltip>
             </>
           )}