diff --git a/crates/g3-cli/src/interactive.rs b/crates/g3-cli/src/interactive.rs
index 835b4f1..c0f14bf 100644
--- a/crates/g3-cli/src/interactive.rs
+++ b/crates/g3-cli/src/interactive.rs
@@ -338,16 +338,16 @@ async fn handle_command<W: UiWriter>(
             Ok(true)
         }
         "/compact" => {
-            output.print("g3: compacting session ...");
+            output.print_g3_progress("compacting session");
             match agent.force_compact().await {
                 Ok(true) => {
-                    output.print("g3: compacting session ... done");
+                    output.print_g3_status("compacting session", "done");
                 }
                 Ok(false) => {
-                    output.print("g3: compacting session ... failed");
+                    output.print_g3_status("compacting session", "failed");
                 }
                 Err(e) => {
-                    output.print(&format!("g3: compacting session ... error: {}", e));
+                    output.print_g3_status("compacting session", &format!("error: {}", e));
                 }
             }
             Ok(true)
diff --git a/crates/g3-cli/src/simple_output.rs b/crates/g3-cli/src/simple_output.rs
index e6bd99b..0c1b1b4 100644
--- a/crates/g3-cli/src/simple_output.rs
+++ b/crates/g3-cli/src/simple_output.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+use crossterm::style::{Attribute, Color, ResetColor, SetAttribute, SetForegroundColor};
+
 /// Simple output helper for printing messages
 #[derive(Clone)]
 pub struct SimpleOutput;
@@ -14,6 +16,49 @@ impl SimpleOutput {
     pub fn print_smart(&self, message: &str) {
         println!("{}", message);
     }
+
+    /// Print a g3 status message with colored tag and status
+    /// Format: "g3: <message> ... [status]"
+    /// - "g3:" is bold green
+    /// - "done" status is normal
+    /// - "failed" and "error" statuses are red
+    pub fn print_g3_status(&self, message: &str, status: &str) {
+        let status_colored = match status {
+            s if s.starts_with("error") || s == "failed" => {
+                format!(
+                    "{}[{}]{}",
+                    SetForegroundColor(Color::Red),
+                    status,
+                    ResetColor
+                )
+            }
+            _ => format!("[{}]", status),
+        };
+
+        println!(
+            "{}{}g3:{}{} {} ... {}",
+            SetAttribute(Attribute::Bold),
+            SetForegroundColor(Color::Green),
+            ResetColor,
+            SetAttribute(Attribute::Reset),
+            message,
+            status_colored
+        );
+    }
+
+    /// Print a g3 status message in progress (no status yet)
+    /// Format: "g3: <message> ..."
+    /// - "g3:" is bold green
+    pub fn print_g3_progress(&self, message: &str) {
+        println!(
+            "{}{}g3:{}{} {} ...",
+            SetAttribute(Attribute::Bold),
+            SetForegroundColor(Color::Green),
+            ResetColor,
+            SetAttribute(Attribute::Reset),
+            message
+        );
+    }
 }
 
 impl Default for SimpleOutput {
diff --git a/crates/g3-cli/src/ui_writer_impl.rs b/crates/g3-cli/src/ui_writer_impl.rs
index 7b40515..48ff3b9 100644
--- a/crates/g3-cli/src/ui_writer_impl.rs
+++ b/crates/g3-cli/src/ui_writer_impl.rs
@@ -211,6 +211,41 @@ impl UiWriter for ConsoleUiWriter {
         println!("{}", message);
     }
 
+    fn print_g3_progress(&self, message: &str) {
+        use crossterm::style::{Attribute, Color, ResetColor, SetAttribute, SetForegroundColor};
+        println!(
+            "{}{}g3:{}{} {} ...",
+            SetAttribute(Attribute::Bold),
+            SetForegroundColor(Color::Green),
+            ResetColor,
+            SetAttribute(Attribute::Reset),
+            message
+        );
+    }
+
+    fn print_g3_status(&self, message: &str, status: &str) {
+        use crossterm::style::{Attribute, Color, ResetColor, SetAttribute, SetForegroundColor};
+        let status_colored = if status.starts_with("error") || status == "failed" {
+            format!(
+                "{}[{}]{}",
+                SetForegroundColor(Color::Red),
+                status,
+                ResetColor
+            )
+        } else {
+            format!("[{}]", status)
+        };
+        println!(
+            "{}{}g3:{}{} {} ... {}",
+            SetAttribute(Attribute::Bold),
+            SetForegroundColor(Color::Green),
+            ResetColor,
+            SetAttribute(Attribute::Reset),
+            message,
+            status_colored
+        );
+    }
+
     fn print_context_thinning(&self, message: &str) {
         // Animated highlight for context thinning
         // Use bright cyan/green with a quick flash animation
diff --git a/crates/g3-core/src/lib.rs b/crates/g3-core/src/lib.rs
index 09dad58..56e64ae 100644
--- a/crates/g3-core/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/g3-core/src/lib.rs
@@ -892,12 +892,14 @@ impl<W: UiWriter> Agent<W> {
 
         // Check if we need to do 90% auto-compaction
         if self.pending_90_compaction {
-            self.ui_writer
-                .print_context_status("\ng3: compacting session ...\n");
-            if let Err(e) = self.force_compact().await {
-                warn!("Failed to auto-compact at 90%: {}", e);
-            } else {
-                self.ui_writer.println("");
+            self.ui_writer.println("");
+            self.ui_writer.print_g3_progress("compacting session");
+            match self.force_compact().await {
+                Ok(true) => self.ui_writer.print_g3_status("compacting session", "done"),
+                Ok(false) => self.ui_writer.print_g3_status("compacting session", "failed"),
+                Err(e) => {
+                    self.ui_writer.print_g3_status("compacting session", &format!("error: {}", e));
+                }
             }
             self.pending_90_compaction = false;
         }
@@ -1071,12 +1073,11 @@ impl<W: UiWriter> Agent<W> {
             self.ui_writer.print_context_thinning(&thin_summary);
 
             if !self.context_window.should_compact() {
-                self.ui_writer
-                    .print_context_status("g3: thinning resolved capacity issue\n");
+                self.ui_writer.print_g3_status("thinning", "resolved");
                 return Ok(false);
             }
-            self.ui_writer
-                .print_context_status("g3: thinning insufficient, compacting ...\n");
+            self.ui_writer.print_g3_status("thinning", "insufficient");
+            self.ui_writer.print_g3_progress("compacting session");
         }
 
         // Compaction still needed
@@ -1086,10 +1087,10 @@ impl<W: UiWriter> Agent<W> {
 
         use crate::compaction::{perform_compaction, CompactionConfig};
 
-        self.ui_writer.print_context_status(&format!(
-            "\ng3: compacting session ({}%) ...",
-            self.context_window.percentage_used() as u32
-        ));
+        self.ui_writer.println("");
+        self.ui_writer.print_g3_progress(
+            &format!("compacting session ({}%)", self.context_window.percentage_used() as u32)
+        );
 
         let provider_name = self.providers.get(None)?.name().to_string();
         let latest_user_msg = request
@@ -1115,14 +1116,13 @@ impl<W: UiWriter> Agent<W> {
         .await?;
 
         if result.success {
-            self.ui_writer
-                .print_context_status("g3: compacting session ... done\n");
+            self.ui_writer.print_g3_status("compacting session", "done");
             self.compaction_events.push(result.chars_saved);
             request.messages = self.context_window.conversation_history.clone();
             return Ok(true);
         }
 
-        self.ui_writer.print_context_status("⚠️ Unable to compact context. Consider starting a new session if you continue to see errors.\n");
+        self.ui_writer.print_g3_status("compacting session", "failed");
         Err(anyhow::anyhow!(
             "Context window at capacity and compaction failed. Please start a new session."
         ))
diff --git a/crates/g3-core/src/ui_writer.rs b/crates/g3-core/src/ui_writer.rs
index f6e293c..8dc347a 100644
--- a/crates/g3-core/src/ui_writer.rs
+++ b/crates/g3-core/src/ui_writer.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,16 @@ pub trait UiWriter: Send + Sync {
     /// Print a context window status message
     fn print_context_status(&self, message: &str);
 
+    /// Print a g3-style status message in progress
+    /// Format: "g3: <message> ..."
+    /// - "g3:" should be bold green
+    fn print_g3_progress(&self, message: &str);
+
+    /// Print a g3-style status message with completion status
+    /// Format: "g3: <message> ... [status]"
+    /// - "g3:" should be bold green, "failed"/"error" status should be red
+    fn print_g3_status(&self, message: &str, status: &str);
+
     /// Print a context thinning success message with highlight and animation
     fn print_context_thinning(&self, message: &str);
 
@@ -124,6 +134,8 @@ impl UiWriter for NullUiWriter {
     fn print_inline(&self, _message: &str) {}
     fn print_system_prompt(&self, _prompt: &str) {}
     fn print_context_status(&self, _message: &str) {}
+    fn print_g3_progress(&self, _message: &str) {}
+    fn print_g3_status(&self, _message: &str, _status: &str) {}
     fn print_context_thinning(&self, _message: &str) {}
     fn print_tool_header(&self, _tool_name: &str, _tool_args: Option<&serde_json::Value>) {}
     fn print_tool_arg(&self, _key: &str, _value: &str) {}
diff --git a/crates/g3-core/tests/todo_staleness_test.rs b/crates/g3-core/tests/todo_staleness_test.rs
index 5f786ba..b93a6a1 100644
--- a/crates/g3-core/tests/todo_staleness_test.rs
+++ b/crates/g3-core/tests/todo_staleness_test.rs
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@ impl UiWriter for MockUiWriter {
             .unwrap()
             .push(format!("STATUS: {}", message));
     }
+    fn print_g3_progress(&self, _message: &str) {}
+    fn print_g3_status(&self, _message: &str, _status: &str) {}
     fn print_context_thinning(&self, _message: &str) {}
     fn print_tool_header(&self, _tool_name: &str, _tool_args: Option<&serde_json::Value>) {}
     fn print_tool_arg(&self, _key: &str, _value: &str) {}
diff --git a/crates/g3-planner/src/llm.rs b/crates/g3-planner/src/llm.rs
index 5a3fb04..0bbd004 100644
--- a/crates/g3-planner/src/llm.rs
+++ b/crates/g3-planner/src/llm.rs
@@ -233,6 +233,14 @@ impl g3_core::ui_writer::UiWriter for PlannerUiWriter {
     fn print_context_status(&self, message: &str) {
         println!("📊 {}", message);
     }
+
+    fn print_g3_progress(&self, message: &str) {
+        println!("g3: {} ...", message);
+    }
+
+    fn print_g3_status(&self, message: &str, status: &str) {
+        println!("g3: {} ... [{}]", message, status);
+    }
     
     fn print_context_thinning(&self, message: &str) {
         println!("🗜️  {}", message);