diff --git a/frontend/src/__tests__/netlist-builder.test.ts b/frontend/src/__tests__/netlist-builder.test.ts
index a7198b4e..bcf41f58 100644
--- a/frontend/src/__tests__/netlist-builder.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/__tests__/netlist-builder.test.ts
@@ -270,7 +270,10 @@ describe('NetlistBuilder — ESP32 internal pull-up (INPUT_PULLUP)', () => {
           id: 'esp32',
           vcc: 3.3,
           pins: { '4': { type: 'input', pull: 1 } },
-          groundPinNames: ['GND2'],
+          // NOTE: "GND2" is deliberately NOT listed in groundPinNames — it must
+          // canonicalize to node 0 via GROUND_PIN_RE (bare GNDn spelling). This
+          // is the exact pin the ESP32 DevKit element labels; before the regex
+          // fix it floated and the pulled-up input never read a clean level.
         },
       ],
       analysis: { kind: 'op' as const },
diff --git a/frontend/src/simulation/parts/BasicParts.ts b/frontend/src/simulation/parts/BasicParts.ts
index 3d428ea7..744b4141 100644
--- a/frontend/src/simulation/parts/BasicParts.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/simulation/parts/BasicParts.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,19 @@ import { useElectricalStore } from '../../store/useElectricalStore';
 import { useSimulatorStore } from '../../store/useSimulatorStore';
 import { emitPropertyChange } from './partUtils';
 
+/**
+ * Boards whose digital inputs are driven from the SPICE solve
+ * (connectDigitalInputsToMcu) advertise `spiceDrivenInputs`. For those, the
+ * input-control parts below (button / switch) must NOT push a pin level
+ * directly — they only flip the component property (pressed / value), which
+ * re-solves the circuit, and the connector decides the logic level from the
+ * real wiring. Pushing a seed here would bypass the wiring and make a
+ * mis-wired button read "correct" instead of like hardware.
+ */
+function spiceDriven(sim: unknown): boolean {
+  return !!(sim as { spiceDrivenInputs?: boolean } | null)?.spiceDrivenInputs;
+}
+
 /**
  * Basic Pushbutton implementation (full-size)
  */
@@ -19,15 +32,15 @@ PartSimulationRegistry.register('pushbutton', {
     // this, the firmware reads LOW from the moment loop() starts and
     // believes the button is permanently pressed (the classic "LED is
     // always on, pressing the button does nothing" UX bug).
-    if (arduinoPin !== null) avrSimulator.setPinState(arduinoPin, true);
+    if (arduinoPin !== null && !spiceDriven(avrSimulator)) avrSimulator.setPinState(arduinoPin, true);
 
     const onButtonPress = () => {
-      if (arduinoPin !== null) avrSimulator.setPinState(arduinoPin, false); // Active LOW
+      if (arduinoPin !== null && !spiceDriven(avrSimulator)) avrSimulator.setPinState(arduinoPin, false); // Active LOW
       (element as any).pressed = true;
       emitPropertyChange(componentId, 'pressed', true);
     };
     const onButtonRelease = () => {
-      if (arduinoPin !== null) avrSimulator.setPinState(arduinoPin, true);
+      if (arduinoPin !== null && !spiceDriven(avrSimulator)) avrSimulator.setPinState(arduinoPin, true);
       (element as any).pressed = false;
       emitPropertyChange(componentId, 'pressed', false);
     };
@@ -54,15 +67,15 @@ PartSimulationRegistry.register('pushbutton-6mm', {
 
     // Same INPUT_PULLUP seeding as the full-size pushbutton — see comment
     // in `register('pushbutton', ...)` above for why this is required.
-    if (arduinoPin !== null) avrSimulator.setPinState(arduinoPin, true);
+    if (arduinoPin !== null && !spiceDriven(avrSimulator)) avrSimulator.setPinState(arduinoPin, true);
 
     const onPress = () => {
-      if (arduinoPin !== null) avrSimulator.setPinState(arduinoPin, false);
+      if (arduinoPin !== null && !spiceDriven(avrSimulator)) avrSimulator.setPinState(arduinoPin, false);
       (element as any).pressed = true;
       emitPropertyChange(componentId, 'pressed', true);
     };
     const onRelease = () => {
-      if (arduinoPin !== null) avrSimulator.setPinState(arduinoPin, true);
+      if (arduinoPin !== null && !spiceDriven(avrSimulator)) avrSimulator.setPinState(arduinoPin, true);
       (element as any).pressed = false;
       emitPropertyChange(componentId, 'pressed', false);
     };
@@ -87,13 +100,13 @@ PartSimulationRegistry.register('slide-switch', {
     // Read initial value from element (0 or 1)
     const raw = (element as any).value;
     let state = raw === 1 || raw === '1';
-    if (arduinoPin !== null) avrSimulator.setPinState(arduinoPin, state);
+    if (arduinoPin !== null && !spiceDriven(avrSimulator)) avrSimulator.setPinState(arduinoPin, state);
     emitPropertyChange(componentId, 'value', state ? 1 : 0);
 
     const onChange = () => {
       const v = (element as any).value;
       state = v === 1 || v === '1';
-      if (arduinoPin !== null) avrSimulator.setPinState(arduinoPin, state);
+      if (arduinoPin !== null && !spiceDriven(avrSimulator)) avrSimulator.setPinState(arduinoPin, state);
       emitPropertyChange(componentId, 'value', state ? 1 : 0);
     };
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/simulation/spice/NetlistBuilder.ts b/frontend/src/simulation/spice/NetlistBuilder.ts
index 2551c68c..be20a913 100644
--- a/frontend/src/simulation/spice/NetlistBuilder.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/simulation/spice/NetlistBuilder.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,11 @@ import { UnionFind } from './unionFind';
 import { componentToSpice } from './componentToSpice';
 import type { BuildNetlistInput, ComponentForSpice, BoardForSpice, WireForSpice } from './types';
 
-const GROUND_PIN_RE = /^(gnd|vss|vee|ground|gnd\.\d+)$/i;
+// Matches GND, VSS, VEE, GROUND and any numbered ground pin in the common
+// spellings boards actually emit: GND.1 / GND.2 (dotted), GND2 / GND3 (bare),
+// GND_2 (underscore). Several dev-kit board elements label their extra ground
+// pad "GND2" (no dot), which previously fell through and floated.
+const GROUND_PIN_RE = /^(gnd|vss|vee|ground)([._]?\d+)?$/i;
 // Deliberately excludes "V+" / "V-" (which are probe terminals) and
 // "VBB" (non-standard). VCC-like pins on boards are handled via the
 // board.vccPinNames list, not this regex.
diff --git a/frontend/src/simulation/spice/connectDigitalInputsToMcu.ts b/frontend/src/simulation/spice/connectDigitalInputsToMcu.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fb2effee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/simulation/spice/connectDigitalInputsToMcu.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+/**
+ * connectDigitalInputsToMcu — drive ESP32 digital input pins from the
+ * solved circuit, so `digitalRead()` reflects the REAL wiring.
+ *
+ * The ESP32 runs in backend QEMU; its GPIO input register is fed only by
+ * whatever the host injects via `esp32_gpio_in`. Historically a button was
+ * faked by the part layer (BasicParts seeds the pin HIGH and toggles it on
+ * press) — which ignores the actual circuit, so a mis-wired button still
+ * "worked". This connector replaces that for ESP32: after every SPICE solve
+ * it thresholds each input pin's net voltage and pushes the logic level into
+ * QEMU. Now the internal pull-up (modelled as a netlist resistor), the button
+ * switch, the GND connection and any short are all honoured — a button wired
+ * to the wrong terminal reads stuck-LOW, exactly like real silicon.
+ *
+ * Mirrors `connectAnalogInputsToMcu` (ADC path) and `connectChipInputsToSolve`
+ * (custom-chip path): it knows ONLY the electrical store shape.
+ *
+ * Only pins the MCU is NOT actively driving as outputs are injected, so we
+ * never fight a `digitalWrite`. Other boards (AVR / RP2040) keep the legacy
+ * part-seed path; only the ESP32 QEMU bridge opts in (`spiceDrivenInputs`).
+ */
+import { useSimulatorStore, getBoardSimulator, getBoardPinManager } from '../../store/useSimulatorStore';
+import { useElectricalStore } from '../../store/useElectricalStore';
+
+// 3.3 V LVCMOS thresholds with a hysteresis band so a node hovering near the
+// midpoint doesn't chatter. A pulled-up idle input sits at ~3.3 V and a
+// pressed button pulls it to ~0 V, so the band is rarely entered.
+const V_HIGH = 2.0;
+const V_LOW = 0.8;
+
+/** Map a board pin name to a plain GPIO number, or -1 if it isn't one we
+ *  drive digitally (GND/VCC/UART-named pads, etc.). */
+function gpioFromPinName(name: string): number {
+  if (/^\d+$/.test(name)) return parseInt(name, 10); // "4", "15"
+  const m = name.match(/^GPIO(\d+)$/i) || name.match(/^GP(\d+)$/i);
+  return m ? parseInt(m[1], 10) : -1;
+}
+
+export function connectDigitalInputsToMcu(): () => void {
+  // Last logic level pushed per `${boardId}:${gpio}`, so we only emit edges
+  // and the hysteresis band can hold the previous level. This connector is
+  // the sole writer of ESP32 input pins, so the cache tracks QEMU's state.
+  const lastLevel = new Map<string, boolean>();
+
+  function injectDigitalInputs() {
+    const { nodeVoltages, pinNetMap } = useElectricalStore.getState();
+    const { boards } = useSimulatorStore.getState();
+    for (const board of boards) {
+      const sim = getBoardSimulator(board.id) as
+        | { setPinState?: (pin: number, state: boolean) => void; spiceDrivenInputs?: boolean }
+        | null;
+      if (!sim?.spiceDrivenInputs || typeof sim.setPinState !== 'function') continue;
+      const pm = getBoardPinManager(board.id);
+      const driven = pm ? pm.getOutputPins() : new Set<number>();
+      const prefix = `${board.id}:`;
+      for (const [key, net] of pinNetMap) {
+        if (!key.startsWith(prefix)) continue;
+        const gpio = gpioFromPinName(key.slice(prefix.length));
+        if (gpio < 0) continue;
+        if (driven.has(gpio)) continue; // the MCU drives this pin (digitalWrite)
+        const v = nodeVoltages[net];
+        if (v == null) continue;
+        const stateKey = `${board.id}:${gpio}`;
+        const prev = lastLevel.get(stateKey);
+        let next: boolean;
+        if (v >= V_HIGH) next = true;
+        else if (v <= V_LOW) next = false;
+        else next = prev ?? false; // inside the hysteresis band — hold
+        if (prev === next) continue;
+        lastLevel.set(stateKey, next);
+        sim.setPinState(gpio, next);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  const unsubResult = useElectricalStore.subscribe((state, prev) => {
+    if (state.nodeVoltages !== prev.nodeVoltages) injectDigitalInputs();
+  });
+  // Reset the cache when boards change (Run / Reset spawns a fresh QEMU whose
+  // GPIO inputs default LOW, so we must re-emit even unchanged levels).
+  const unsubBoards = useSimulatorStore.subscribe((state, prev) => {
+    if (state.boards !== prev.boards) lastLevel.clear();
+  });
+  // Initial pass for examples that pre-populate the store before mount.
+  injectDigitalInputs();
+  return () => {
+    unsubResult();
+    unsubBoards();
+  };
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/simulation/spice/start.ts b/frontend/src/simulation/spice/start.ts
index 0db17391..0979c4ad 100644
--- a/frontend/src/simulation/spice/start.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/simulation/spice/start.ts
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import {
   type ElectricalSnapshot,
 } from './CircuitSimulationService';
 import { connectAnalogInputsToMcu } from './connectAnalogInputsToMcu';
+import { connectDigitalInputsToMcu } from './connectDigitalInputsToMcu';
 import { connectChipInputsToSolve } from './connectChipInputsToSolve';
 import { connectMcuEdgesToService } from './connectMcuEdgesToService';
 import { setElectricalResolveHook } from './electricalResolveHook';
@@ -82,6 +83,7 @@ export function startSimulation(): () => void {
 
   const unsubService = service.start();
   const unsubAdc = connectAnalogInputsToMcu();
+  const unsubDigitalIn = connectDigitalInputsToMcu();
   const unsubChipIn = connectChipInputsToSolve();
   const unsubEdges = connectMcuEdgesToService(service);
 
@@ -138,6 +140,7 @@ export function startSimulation(): () => void {
     setElectricalResolveHook(null);
     unsubService();
     unsubAdc();
+    unsubDigitalIn();
     unsubChipIn();
     unsubEdges();
   };
diff --git a/frontend/src/store/useSimulatorStore.ts b/frontend/src/store/useSimulatorStore.ts
index 44ba15c7..ff31dba4 100644
--- a/frontend/src/store/useSimulatorStore.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/store/useSimulatorStore.ts
@@ -121,6 +121,11 @@ export const ARDUINO_POSITION = DEFAULT_BOARD_POSITION;
 // can call setPinState / pinManager just like they would on a local simulator. ──
 class Esp32BridgeShim {
   pinManager: PinManager;
+  // Digital input pins are driven from the SPICE solve
+  // (connectDigitalInputsToMcu), not the part-level seed — so a button reads
+  // the real circuit (pull-up, GND, shorts) like hardware. Parts check this
+  // flag and skip their direct setPinState seed for this board.
+  readonly spiceDrivenInputs = true;
   onSerialData: ((ch: string) => void) | null = null;
   onPinChangeWithTime: ((pin: number, state: boolean, timeMs: number) => void) | null = null;
   onBaudRateChange: ((baud: number) => void) | null = null;
@@ -574,17 +579,13 @@ function makeGpioRoutingClearHandler(boardId: string) {
 
 function makePinPullHandler(boardId: string) {
   return (gpio: number, pull: 0 | 1 | 2) => {
+    // Record the internal pull so the netlist stamps a weak resistor
+    // (vcc_rail for pull-up, GND for pull-down) and request a re-solve. The
+    // digital read itself is driven from the solved circuit by
+    // connectDigitalInputsToMcu — we deliberately do NOT seed the pin directly
+    // here, because that would bypass the real wiring and re-introduce the
+    // "mis-wired button still works" bug.
     pinManagerMap.get(boardId)?.setPinPull(gpio, pull);
-    // Drive the digital input to the pull's idle level so the firmware's
-    // digitalRead reflects INPUT_PULLUP / INPUT_PULLDOWN. QEMU does not model
-    // the MCU's internal pull on the GPIO input register, and the part-level
-    // HIGH seed (BasicParts) is sent at component-attach — before the
-    // several-second QEMU boot finishes — so it's lost and the pin reads LOW.
-    // This fires when the guest actually programs the pull (inside pinMode,
-    // post-boot), so it sticks. A real button press/release overrides it after.
-    if (pull !== 0) getEsp32Bridge(boardId)?.sendPinEvent(gpio, pull === 1);
-    // The pull also feeds the SPICE netlist (a weak resistor); re-solve so the
-    // electrical view matches.
     requestElectricalResolve();
   };
 }