diff --git a/mobile/src/session/MobileNativeChatView.test.ts b/mobile/src/session/MobileNativeChatView.test.ts
index c573d89cc89..4c96fe28863 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/MobileNativeChatView.test.ts
+++ b/mobile/src/session/MobileNativeChatView.test.ts
@@ -4,14 +4,22 @@ import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
 import type { NativeChatMessage } from '../../../src/shared/native-chat-types'
 import { MobileNativeChatView } from './MobileNativeChatView'
 
-vi.mock('react-native', () => ({
-  ActivityIndicator: 'ActivityIndicator',
-  FlatList: 'FlatList',
-  Pressable: 'Pressable',
-  StyleSheet: { create: (styles: unknown) => styles, hairlineWidth: 1 },
-  Text: 'Text',
-  View: 'View'
-}))
+const scrollToEnd = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn())
+
+vi.mock('react-native', async () => {
+  const React = await import('react')
+  return {
+    ActivityIndicator: 'ActivityIndicator',
+    FlatList: React.forwardRef((props, ref) => {
+      React.useImperativeHandle(ref, () => ({ scrollToEnd }), [])
+      return React.createElement('FlatList', props)
+    }),
+    Pressable: 'Pressable',
+    StyleSheet: { create: (styles: unknown) => styles, hairlineWidth: 1 },
+    Text: 'Text',
+    View: 'View'
+  }
+})
 
 vi.mock('react-native-safe-area-context', () => ({
   useSafeAreaInsets: () => ({ top: 0, bottom: 0, left: 0, right: 0 })
@@ -77,6 +85,9 @@ type Overrides = {
   agentWorking?: boolean
   canStop?: boolean
   sendSurfaceId?: string
+  keyboardInset?: number
+  hasMore?: boolean
+  onLoadEarlier?: () => void
 }
 
 function assistantTurn(id: string, text: string): NativeChatMessage {
@@ -105,6 +116,7 @@ describe('MobileNativeChatView', () => {
   afterEach(() => {
     act(() => renderer?.unmount())
     renderer = null
+    scrollToEnd.mockReset()
   })
 
   async function render(overrides: Overrides = {}): Promise<void> {
@@ -133,15 +145,18 @@ describe('MobileNativeChatView', () => {
   })
 
   function listIds(): string[] {
-    const list = renderer!.root.find((node) => node.type === 'FlatList')
-    return (list.props.data as { id: string }[]).map((row) => row.id)
+    return (list().props.data as { id: string }[]).map((row) => row.id)
+  }
+
+  function list(): ReactTestInstance {
+    return renderer!.root.find((node) => node.type === 'FlatList')
   }
 
   function renderedRow(id: string): ReturnType<typeof createElement> {
-    const list = renderer!.root.find((node) => node.type === 'FlatList')
-    const data = list.props.data as NativeChatMessage[]
+    const listNode = list()
+    const data = listNode.props.data as NativeChatMessage[]
     const index = data.findIndex((row) => row.id === id)
-    return list.props.renderItem({ item: data[index], index })
+    return listNode.props.renderItem({ item: data[index], index })
   }
 
   function banners(): ReactTestInstance[] {
@@ -170,6 +185,19 @@ describe('MobileNativeChatView', () => {
     })
   }
 
+  async function scrollAwayFromTail(): Promise<void> {
+    await act(async () => {
+      list().props.onScrollBeginDrag?.({})
+      list().props.onScroll({
+        nativeEvent: {
+          contentOffset: { y: 200 },
+          contentSize: { height: 1_200 },
+          layoutMeasurement: { height: 500 }
+        }
+      })
+    })
+  }
+
   it('renders the route-reported failure verbatim', async () => {
     await render({ sendErrorMessage: 'Permission reply failed' })
 
@@ -214,6 +242,152 @@ describe('MobileNativeChatView', () => {
     expect(listIds()).toEqual(['a1', 'streaming'])
   })
 
+  it('lets content growth own streaming tail-follow without a delayed animated command', async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    try {
+      const folded = [assistantTurn('a1', 'Starting')]
+      await render({ folded })
+      await act(async () => vi.runOnlyPendingTimers())
+      scrollToEnd.mockClear()
+
+      await update({ folded, streaming: 'Streaming output' })
+      act(() => list().props.onContentSizeChange(320, 900))
+
+      expect(scrollToEnd).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+      expect(scrollToEnd).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith({ animated: false })
+      await act(async () => vi.advanceTimersByTime(60))
+      expect(scrollToEnd).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+    } finally {
+      vi.useRealTimers()
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('stops tail-follow before loading earlier history can resize the list', async () => {
+    const folded = [assistantTurn('a1', 'History')]
+    const onLoadEarlier = vi.fn()
+    await render({ folded, hasMore: true, onLoadEarlier })
+    scrollToEnd.mockClear()
+
+    act(() => {
+      list().props.onScrollBeginDrag?.({})
+      list().props.onScroll({
+        nativeEvent: {
+          contentOffset: { y: 40 },
+          contentSize: { height: 1_200 },
+          layoutMeasurement: { height: 500 }
+        }
+      })
+      list().props.onContentSizeChange(320, 950)
+    })
+
+    expect(onLoadEarlier).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+    expect(scrollToEnd).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('does not treat programmatic scroll metrics as user intent', async () => {
+    const folded = [assistantTurn('a1', 'Latest')]
+    await render({ folded })
+    scrollToEnd.mockClear()
+
+    act(() => {
+      list().props.onScroll({
+        nativeEvent: {
+          contentOffset: { y: 200 },
+          contentSize: { height: 1_200 },
+          layoutMeasurement: { height: 500 }
+        }
+      })
+      list().props.onContentSizeChange(320, 1_300)
+    })
+
+    expect(scrollToEnd).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+    expect(scrollToEnd).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith({ animated: false })
+    expect(
+      renderer!.root.findAll((node) => node.props.accessibilityLabel === 'Scroll to latest')
+    ).toHaveLength(0)
+  })
+
+  it('detaches before the Load earlier messages button prepends history', async () => {
+    const folded = [assistantTurn('a1', 'Short history')]
+    const onLoadEarlier = vi.fn()
+    await render({ folded, hasMore: true, onLoadEarlier })
+    scrollToEnd.mockClear()
+
+    const header = list().props.ListHeaderComponent as { props: { onPress: () => void } }
+    act(() => {
+      header.props.onPress()
+      list().props.onContentSizeChange(320, 950)
+    })
+
+    expect(onLoadEarlier).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+    expect(scrollToEnd).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(
+      renderer!.root.findAll((node) => node.props.accessibilityLabel === 'Scroll to latest')
+    ).toHaveLength(1)
+  })
+
+  it('routes an accepted send through the immediate nonanimated tail owner', async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    try {
+      const folded = [assistantTurn('a1', 'History')]
+      await render({ folded })
+      await act(async () => vi.runOnlyPendingTimers())
+      await scrollAwayFromTail()
+      scrollToEnd.mockClear()
+
+      await pressSend()
+
+      expect(scrollToEnd).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+      expect(scrollToEnd).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith({ animated: false })
+      await act(async () => vi.advanceTimersByTime(60))
+      expect(scrollToEnd).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+    } finally {
+      vi.useRealTimers()
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('routes the latest-message chevron through the tail owner and resumes following', async () => {
+    const folded = [assistantTurn('a1', 'History')]
+    await render({ folded })
+    await scrollAwayFromTail()
+    scrollToEnd.mockClear()
+
+    const chevron = renderer!.root.find(
+      (node) => node.props.accessibilityLabel === 'Scroll to latest'
+    )
+    act(() => chevron.props.onPress())
+    expect(scrollToEnd).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith({ animated: false })
+
+    act(() => list().props.onContentSizeChange(320, 1_300))
+    expect(scrollToEnd).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
+  })
+
+  it('repins after a keyboard-driven viewport layout only while following', async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    try {
+      const folded = [assistantTurn('a1', 'Latest')]
+      await render({ folded })
+      await act(async () => vi.runOnlyPendingTimers())
+      scrollToEnd.mockClear()
+
+      await update({ folded, keyboardInset: 320 })
+      act(() => list().props.onLayout?.({ nativeEvent: { layout: { height: 400 } } }))
+
+      expect(scrollToEnd).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+      expect(scrollToEnd).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith({ animated: false })
+      await act(async () => vi.advanceTimersByTime(60))
+      expect(scrollToEnd).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+
+      await scrollAwayFromTail()
+      scrollToEnd.mockClear()
+      await update({ folded, keyboardInset: 0 })
+      act(() => list().props.onLayout?.({ nativeEvent: { layout: { height: 700 } } }))
+      expect(scrollToEnd).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    } finally {
+      vi.useRealTimers()
+    }
+  })
+
   it('renders an accepted optimistic image send without a queued state', async () => {
     await render({
       pending: [{ id: 'pending-1', text: 'look', images: ['file:///phone-photo.jpg'] }]
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/MobileNativeChatView.tsx b/mobile/src/session/MobileNativeChatView.tsx
index 67fc93506a9..63527495c3e 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/MobileNativeChatView.tsx
+++ b/mobile/src/session/MobileNativeChatView.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from 'react'
+import { useCallback, useMemo, useRef, useState } from 'react'
 import {
   ActivityIndicator,
   FlatList,
@@ -190,17 +190,10 @@ export function MobileNativeChatView({
   // Lift the composer clear of the keyboard, plus the bottom safe-area so it
   // never sits under the home indicator / nav bar (mirrors the terminal dock).
   const bottomPad = keyboardInset > 0 ? keyboardInset + insets.bottom : insets.bottom
-  const [atBottom, setAtBottom] = useState(true)
-  const sendScrollTimerRef = useRef<ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null>(null)
+  const [followingTail, setFollowingTail] = useState(true)
+  const atBottomRef = useRef(true)
+  const followingTailRef = useRef(true)
   const { fontScale, pinchGesture } = useMobileNativeChatPinchGesture()
-  useEffect(
-    () => () => {
-      if (sendScrollTimerRef.current) {
-        clearTimeout(sendScrollTimerRef.current)
-      }
-    },
-    []
-  )
 
   // `data` is the list source: folded transcript + synthetic streaming bubble +
   // route-owned accepted echoes. Memoize on the same deps so the
@@ -216,18 +209,22 @@ export function MobileNativeChatView({
       }),
     [messages, folded, streaming, pending, imagePreviewsByMessageId]
   )
+  const hasDataRef = useRef(false)
+  hasDataRef.current = data.length > 0
 
-  // Follow the tail as the conversation grows and keep the newest message above
-  // the keyboard when it opens — but only when already pinned to the bottom, so
-  // we don't yank the user away while they read history. (Also fires on keyboard
-  // close, which is harmless while atBottom.)
-  useEffect(() => {
-    if (data.length === 0 || !atBottom) {
+  const pinToTail = useCallback(() => {
+    if (!followingTailRef.current || !hasDataRef.current) {
       return
     }
-    const t = setTimeout(() => listRef.current?.scrollToEnd({ animated: true }), 60)
-    return () => clearTimeout(t)
-  }, [data.length, atBottom, keyboardInset])
+    listRef.current?.scrollToEnd({ animated: false })
+  }, [])
+
+  const jumpToTail = useCallback(() => {
+    followingTailRef.current = true
+    atBottomRef.current = true
+    setFollowingTail(true)
+    pinToTail()
+  }, [pinToTail])
 
   const handleSend = useCallback(
     async (text: string): Promise<boolean> => {
@@ -239,30 +236,41 @@ export function MobileNativeChatView({
       // or a stale "Message not sent" sits above the delivered message.
       onClearSendError?.()
       // Always jump to the newest message when the user sends.
-      setAtBottom(true)
-      if (sendScrollTimerRef.current) {
-        clearTimeout(sendScrollTimerRef.current)
-      }
-      sendScrollTimerRef.current = setTimeout(() => {
-        sendScrollTimerRef.current = null
-        listRef.current?.scrollToEnd({ animated: true })
-      }, 60)
+      jumpToTail()
       return true
     },
-    [onSend, onClearSendError]
+    [onSend, onClearSendError, jumpToTail]
   )
 
+  const beginUserScroll = useCallback(() => {
+    followingTailRef.current = false
+    setFollowingTail(false)
+  }, [])
+
+  const finishUserScroll = useCallback(() => {
+    followingTailRef.current = atBottomRef.current
+    setFollowingTail(atBottomRef.current)
+  }, [])
+
+  const loadEarlier = useCallback(() => {
+    followingTailRef.current = false
+    atBottomRef.current = false
+    setFollowingTail(false)
+    onLoadEarlier?.()
+  }, [onLoadEarlier])
+
   const onScroll = useCallback(
     (e: NativeSyntheticEvent<NativeScrollEvent>) => {
       const { contentOffset, contentSize, layoutMeasurement } = e.nativeEvent
       const distanceFromBottom = contentSize.height - (contentOffset.y + layoutMeasurement.height)
-      setAtBottom(distanceFromBottom < 80)
+      const isAtBottom = distanceFromBottom < 80
+      atBottomRef.current = isAtBottom
       // Near the top — page in older history.
       if (contentOffset.y < 60 && hasMore && !loadingEarlier) {
-        onLoadEarlier?.()
+        loadEarlier()
       }
     },
-    [hasMore, loadingEarlier, onLoadEarlier]
+    [hasMore, loadingEarlier, loadEarlier]
   )
 
   // Per-turn status rows: one live indicator while the turn runs, then a settled
@@ -318,17 +326,18 @@ export function MobileNativeChatView({
               // instead of being swallowed by the dismiss gesture.
               keyboardShouldPersistTaps="handled"
               onScroll={onScroll}
+              onScrollBeginDrag={beginUserScroll}
+              onScrollEndDrag={finishUserScroll}
+              onMomentumScrollBegin={beginUserScroll}
+              onMomentumScrollEnd={finishUserScroll}
               scrollEventThrottle={32}
-              onContentSizeChange={() => {
-                if (data.length > 0 && atBottom) {
-                  listRef.current?.scrollToEnd({ animated: false })
-                }
-              }}
+              onContentSizeChange={pinToTail}
+              onLayout={pinToTail}
               ListHeaderComponent={
                 hasMore ? (
                   <Pressable
                     style={styles.loadEarlier}
-                    onPress={onLoadEarlier}
+                    onPress={loadEarlier}
                     disabled={loadingEarlier}
                   >
                     {loadingEarlier ? (
@@ -360,11 +369,11 @@ export function MobileNativeChatView({
             />
           </GestureDetector>
           {/* Jump-to-latest control. */}
-          {!atBottom ? (
+          {!followingTail ? (
             <Pressable
               accessibilityLabel="Scroll to latest"
               style={[styles.fab, styles.fabBottom]}
-              onPress={() => listRef.current?.scrollToEnd({ animated: true })}
+              onPress={jumpToTail}
             >
               <ArrowDown size={18} color={colors.textPrimary} strokeWidth={2.2} />
             </Pressable>