diff --git a/datashuttle/tui/css/tui_tab.tcss b/datashuttle/tui/css/tui_tab.tcss
index bfbfe3a96..34321a84c 100644
--- a/datashuttle/tui/css/tui_tab.tcss
+++ b/datashuttle/tui/css/tui_tab.tcss
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ TabScreen > TabbedContent {
 
 #create_folders_buttons_horizontal {
     height: 3;
+    margin: 0 0 1 0
 }
 
 #template_settings_validation_on_checkbox.-on > .toggle--button{
@@ -52,9 +53,6 @@ TabScreen > TabbedContent {
     layout: horizontal;
     background: transparent;
     margin: 1 0 0 0;
-}
-
-#transfer_radioset:focus {
     border: transparent;
 }
 
diff --git a/datashuttle/tui/screens/datatypes.py b/datashuttle/tui/screens/datatypes.py
index 790cca553..a7d52fbea 100644
--- a/datashuttle/tui/screens/datatypes.py
+++ b/datashuttle/tui/screens/datatypes.py
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@
 )
 from textual.widgets.selection_list import Selection
 
+from datashuttle.tui.utils.tui_helpers import process_str_for_textual
+
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Select Displayed Datatypes Screen
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -261,7 +263,7 @@ def on_mount(self) -> None:
             if self.datatype_config[datatype]["displayed"]:
                 self.query_one(
                     f"#{get_checkbox_name(self.create_or_transfer, datatype)}"
-                ).tooltip = tooltips[datatype]
+                ).tooltip = process_str_for_textual(tooltips[datatype])
 
     def selected_datatypes(self) -> List[str]:
         """
diff --git a/datashuttle/tui/screens/setup_ssh.py b/datashuttle/tui/screens/setup_ssh.py
index 296865f2a..9219e3554 100644
--- a/datashuttle/tui/screens/setup_ssh.py
+++ b/datashuttle/tui/screens/setup_ssh.py
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
     Static,
 )
 
+from datashuttle.tui.utils.tui_helpers import process_str_for_textual
+
 
 class SetupSshScreen(ModalScreen):
     """
@@ -112,7 +114,9 @@ def ask_user_to_accept_hostkeys(self) -> None:
             )
             self.query_one("#setup_ssh_ok_button").disabled = True
 
-        self.query_one("#messagebox_message_label").update(message)
+        self.query_one("#messagebox_message_label").update(
+            process_str_for_textual(message)
+        )
         self.stage += 1
 
     def save_hostkeys_and_prompt_password_input(self) -> None:
@@ -137,7 +141,9 @@ def save_hostkeys_and_prompt_password_input(self) -> None:
             )
             self.query_one("#setup_ssh_ok_button").disabled = True
 
-        self.query_one("#messagebox_message_label").update(message)
+        self.query_one("#messagebox_message_label").update(
+            process_str_for_textual(message)
+        )
         self.stage += 1
 
     def use_password_to_setup_ssh_key_pairs(self) -> None:
@@ -169,4 +175,6 @@ def use_password_to_setup_ssh_key_pairs(self) -> None:
             )
             self.failed_password_attempts += 1
 
-        self.query_one("#messagebox_message_label").update(message)
+        self.query_one("#messagebox_message_label").update(
+            process_str_for_textual(message)
+        )
diff --git a/datashuttle/tui/tabs/create_folders.py b/datashuttle/tui/tabs/create_folders.py
index bbbc50343..27eb2f61a 100644
--- a/datashuttle/tui/tabs/create_folders.py
+++ b/datashuttle/tui/tabs/create_folders.py
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ def revalidate_inputs(self, all_prefixes: List[str]) -> None:
             value = self.query_one(key).value
             self.query_one(key).validate(value=value)
 
-    def update_input_tooltip(self, message: List[str], prefix: Prefix) -> None:
+    def update_input_tooltip(self, message: str, prefix: Prefix) -> None:
         """
         Update the value of a subject or session tooltip, which
         indicates the validation status of the input value.
diff --git a/datashuttle/tui/tabs/logging.py b/datashuttle/tui/tabs/logging.py
index fb45c8269..3667d8322 100644
--- a/datashuttle/tui/tabs/logging.py
+++ b/datashuttle/tui/tabs/logging.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
     CustomDirectoryTree,
 )
 from datashuttle.tui.utils.tui_decorators import require_double_click
+from datashuttle.tui.utils.tui_helpers import process_str_for_textual
 
 
 class RichLogScreen(ModalScreen):
@@ -85,7 +86,9 @@ def _on_mount(self, event: events.Mount) -> None:
     def update_most_recent_label(self):
         self.update_latest_log_path()
         self.query_one("#logging_most_recent_label").update(
-            f"or open most recent: {self.latest_log_path.stem}"
+            process_str_for_textual(
+                f"or open most recent: {self.latest_log_path.stem}"
+            )
         )
         self.refresh()
 
diff --git a/datashuttle/tui/tooltips.py b/datashuttle/tui/tooltips.py
index e8d0c771b..2cf6a6c28 100644
--- a/datashuttle/tui/tooltips.py
+++ b/datashuttle/tui/tooltips.py
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+from datashuttle.tui.utils.tui_helpers import process_str_for_textual
+
+
 def get_tooltip(id: str) -> str:
     """
     Master function to get tooltips for all widgets,
@@ -230,4 +233,4 @@ def get_tooltip(id: str) -> str:
             "NeuroBlueprint-formatted sub-, ses- or datatype folder."
         )
 
-    return tooltip
+    return process_str_for_textual(tooltip)
diff --git a/datashuttle/tui/utils/tui_helpers.py b/datashuttle/tui/utils/tui_helpers.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2ddd133ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/datashuttle/tui/utils/tui_helpers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+def process_str_for_textual(message: str) -> str:
+    """
+    From textual v2, "[" in string is interpreted as markdown style syntax.
+    These need to be escaped in all strings passed to textual.
+    """
+    return message.replace("[", "\[")
diff --git a/datashuttle/tui/utils/tui_validators.py b/datashuttle/tui/utils/tui_validators.py
index 792fc1c5e..057dc9523 100644
--- a/datashuttle/tui/utils/tui_validators.py
+++ b/datashuttle/tui/utils/tui_validators.py
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@
 
 from textual.validation import ValidationResult, Validator
 
+from datashuttle.tui.utils.tui_helpers import process_str_for_textual
+
 
 class NeuroBlueprintValidator(Validator):
     def __init__(self, prefix: Prefix, parent: CreateFoldersTab) -> None:
@@ -33,7 +35,9 @@ def validate(self, name: str) -> ValidationResult:
         """
         valid, message = self.parent.run_local_validation(self.prefix)
 
-        self.parent.update_input_tooltip(message, self.prefix)
+        self.parent.update_input_tooltip(
+            process_str_for_textual(message), self.prefix
+        )
 
         if valid:
             if self.prefix == "sub":
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 997f6f406..9514a01ca 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ dependencies = [
     "fancylog>=0.4.2",
     "simplejson",
     "pyperclip",
-    "textual<=1.0.0",
+    "textual<=3.3.0",
     "show-in-file-manager",
     "gitpython",
     "typeguard"
diff --git a/tests/tests_tui/test_tui_create_folders.py b/tests/tests_tui/test_tui_create_folders.py
index 00a408f76..32bcf33ab 100644
--- a/tests/tests_tui/test_tui_create_folders.py
+++ b/tests/tests_tui/test_tui_create_folders.py
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-import re
-
 import pytest
 import test_utils
 from tui_base import TuiBase
@@ -98,6 +96,7 @@ async def test_create_folders_formatted_names(self, setup_project_paths):
             await self.check_and_click_onto_existing_project(
                 pilot, project_name
             )
+            import re
 
             # Fill the subject input with names with @DATE@ tags and
             # check the tooltip displays the formatted value.
@@ -107,15 +106,19 @@ async def test_create_folders_formatted_names(self, setup_project_paths):
                 "sub-001_@DATE@, sub-002_@DATE@",
             )
 
-            sub_1_regexp = "sub\-001_date\-\d{8}"
-            sub_2_regexp = "sub\-002_date\-\d{8}"
+            # A lot of regexp magic required to dynamically
+            # process date str but handle the [ escape needed
+            # to avoid textual processing these as markdown style syntax
+            sub_1_regexp = r"sub-001_date-\d{8}"
+            sub_2_regexp = r"sub-002_date-\d{8}"
             sub_tooltip_regexp = (
-                "Formatted names: \['"
+                re.escape("Formatted names: \\['")
                 + sub_1_regexp
-                + "', '"
+                + re.escape("', '")
                 + sub_2_regexp
-                + "'\]"
+                + re.escape("']")
             )
+
             sub_tooltip = pilot.app.screen.query_one(
                 "#create_folders_subject_input"
             ).tooltip
@@ -127,17 +130,19 @@ async def test_create_folders_formatted_names(self, setup_project_paths):
                 pilot, "#create_folders_session_input", "ses-001@TO@003_@DATE@"
             )
 
-            ses_1_regexp = "ses\-001_date\-\d{8}"
-            ses_2_regexp = "ses\-002_date\-\d{8}"
-            ses_3_regexp = "ses\-003_date\-\d{8}"
+            ses_1_regexp = r"ses-001_date-\d{8}"
+            ses_2_regexp = r"ses-002_date-\d{8}"
+            ses_3_regexp = r"ses-003_date-\d{8}"
+
+            # Build pattern with escaped fixed parts, regex for date parts
             ses_tooltip_regexp = (
-                "Formatted names: \['"
+                re.escape("Formatted names: \\['")
                 + ses_1_regexp
-                + "', '"
+                + re.escape("', '")
                 + ses_2_regexp
-                + "', '"
+                + re.escape("', '")
                 + ses_3_regexp
-                + "'\]"
+                + re.escape("']")
             )
             ses_tooltip = pilot.app.screen.query_one(
                 "#create_folders_session_input"
@@ -225,7 +230,7 @@ async def test_create_folders_bad_validation_tooltips(
                 pilot.app.screen.query_one(
                     "#create_folders_subject_input"
                 ).tooltip
-                == "Formatted names: ['sub-001']"
+                == "Formatted names: \['sub-001']"
             )
             assert (
                 pilot.app.screen.query_one(
@@ -411,8 +416,9 @@ async def test_name_template_next_sub_or_ses_and_validation(
                 pilot.app.screen.query_one(
                     "#create_folders_subject_input"
                 ).tooltip
-                == "Formatted names: ['sub-001']"
+                == "Formatted names: \['sub-001']"
             )
+
             assert (
                 pilot.app.screen.query_one(
                     "#create_folders_session_input"