diff --git a/src/preload/browser-window-close-installation.ts b/src/preload/browser-window-close-installation.ts
index adf2fdb09bf..374c717ea61 100644
--- a/src/preload/browser-window-close-installation.ts
+++ b/src/preload/browser-window-close-installation.ts
@@ -1,15 +1,24 @@
-export function installBrowserWindowCloseGuard(): void {
-  const ignoreWindowClose = (): void => {}
+/** Why written out: the sandboxed preload can't load shared chunks; the test pins it to the shared constant. */
+export const PRELOAD_BROWSER_GUEST_WINDOW_CLOSE_CHANNEL = 'orca:guest-window-close'
+
+/**
+ * Runs serialized in the page's main world. The native close stays blocked: it destroyed the
+ * guest under a live <webview> (#11763, #12040). Orca decides whether to close the tab instead.
+ */
+export function installBrowserWindowCloseGuard(requestClose: () => void): void {
+  const close = (): void => {
+    requestClose()
+  }
   try {
     Object.defineProperty(window, 'close', {
       configurable: false,
       enumerable: false,
       writable: false,
-      value: ignoreWindowClose
+      value: close
     })
   } catch {
     try {
-      window.close = ignoreWindowClose
+      window.close = close
     } catch {}
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/preload/browser-window-close.test.ts b/src/preload/browser-window-close.test.ts
index 1b35a45f8df..91ff509cadd 100644
--- a/src/preload/browser-window-close.test.ts
+++ b/src/preload/browser-window-close.test.ts
@@ -1,20 +1,30 @@
 import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
 
-import { installBrowserWindowCloseGuard } from './browser-window-close-installation'
+import {
+  installBrowserWindowCloseGuard,
+  PRELOAD_BROWSER_GUEST_WINDOW_CLOSE_CHANNEL
+} from './browser-window-close-installation'
+import { BROWSER_GUEST_WINDOW_CLOSE_CHANNEL } from '../shared/browser-guest-window-close'
 
 describe('browser window close preload', () => {
   afterEach(() => {
     vi.unstubAllGlobals()
   })
 
-  it('installs a non-replaceable window.close no-op in the page world', () => {
+  it('replaces the native close with a non-replaceable request to Orca', () => {
     const nativeClose = vi.fn()
+    const requestClose = vi.fn()
     vi.stubGlobal('window', { close: nativeClose })
 
-    installBrowserWindowCloseGuard()
+    installBrowserWindowCloseGuard(requestClose)
 
     expect(window.close()).toBeUndefined()
-    expect(window.close).not.toBe(nativeClose)
+    expect(nativeClose).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(requestClose).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
     expect(Reflect.set(window, 'close', nativeClose)).toBe(false)
   })
+
+  it('sends on the channel the renderer listens on', () => {
+    expect(PRELOAD_BROWSER_GUEST_WINDOW_CLOSE_CHANNEL).toBe(BROWSER_GUEST_WINDOW_CLOSE_CHANNEL)
+  })
 })
diff --git a/src/preload/browser-window-close.ts b/src/preload/browser-window-close.ts
index 00935d8c1db..4687f8fb92e 100644
--- a/src/preload/browser-window-close.ts
+++ b/src/preload/browser-window-close.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,17 @@
-import { installBrowserWindowCloseGuard } from './browser-window-close-installation'
-import type { ContextBridge } from 'electron'
+import {
+  installBrowserWindowCloseGuard,
+  PRELOAD_BROWSER_GUEST_WINDOW_CLOSE_CHANNEL
+} from './browser-window-close-installation'
+import type { ContextBridge, IpcRenderer } from 'electron'
 
 // Raw require keeps the sandboxed preload standalone in the CJS build.
-const { contextBridge } = require('electron') as { contextBridge: ContextBridge }
+const electron: {
+  contextBridge: ContextBridge
+  ipcRenderer: Pick<IpcRenderer, 'sendToHost'>
+} = require('electron')
+const { contextBridge, ipcRenderer } = electron
 
-contextBridge.executeInMainWorld({ func: installBrowserWindowCloseGuard })
+contextBridge.executeInMainWorld({
+  func: installBrowserWindowCloseGuard,
+  args: [() => ipcRenderer.sendToHost(PRELOAD_BROWSER_GUEST_WINDOW_CLOSE_CHANNEL)]
+})
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-page-context-menu-items.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-page-context-menu-items.tsx
index 58643c05328..49651d1afe2 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-page-context-menu-items.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-page-context-menu-items.tsx
@@ -77,8 +77,9 @@ function buildMenuSections({
       webviewRef.current?.[command]()
     }
   })
-  const openInNewTab = (url: string, activate: boolean): void =>
+  const openInNewTab = (url: string, activate: boolean): void => {
     openUrlInTabBesideBrowserPage({ sourcePageId: browserPageId, worktreeId, url, activate })
+  }
   const openExternally = (url: string): void => {
     const targetUrl = normalizeExternalBrowserUrl(url)
     if (targetUrl) {
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-page-guest-focus.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-page-guest-focus.ts
index 4f29acd7d40..d767711c248 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-page-guest-focus.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-page-guest-focus.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { useMemo, type RefObject } from 'react'
+import { hasBrowserClientPageAttachedGuest } from '../browser-client-page-retained-elements'
 
 /**
  * How a browser pane hands focus to whatever renders the page. Panes differ in what that
@@ -20,7 +21,9 @@ export function useWebviewGuestFocus(
   return useMemo(
     () => ({
       blur: () => webviewRef.current?.blur(),
-      isAttached: () => webviewRef.current !== null,
+      // Why the live guest: focusing a webview before its guest attaches is lost once it does.
+      isAttached: () =>
+        webviewRef.current !== null && hasBrowserClientPageAttachedGuest(webviewRef.current),
       focus: () => {
         const webview = webviewRef.current
         if (!webview) {
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/use-browser-page-chrome-focus.test.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/use-browser-page-chrome-focus.test.tsx
index 69ca863f9f2..a40d0af378e 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/use-browser-page-chrome-focus.test.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/use-browser-page-chrome-focus.test.tsx
@@ -300,6 +300,68 @@ describe('useBrowserPageChromeFocus', () => {
     expect(document.activeElement).toBe(addressBar())
   })
 
+  // Why: #18832 — a link's new tab mounts before its guest attaches, so the request must outlast that.
+  it('focuses the page of a new tab once its guest attaches', () => {
+    act(() => requestBrowserFocus({ pageId: PAGE_ID, target: 'webview' }))
+
+    const view = render(<ChromeHarness hasGuest={false} />)
+    act(() => flushFrames(20))
+    view.rerender(<ChromeHarness />)
+    act(() => flushFrames())
+
+    expect(document.activeElement).toBe(guest())
+  })
+
+  // Why: a remote link's request can arrive after the pane mounted but before its guest attached.
+  it('focuses the page when a request event lands before its guest attaches', () => {
+    const view = render(<ChromeHarness hasGuest={false} />)
+    act(() => flushFrames())
+    act(() => requestBrowserFocus({ pageId: PAGE_ID, target: 'webview' }))
+    act(() => flushFrames(3))
+    view.rerender(<ChromeHarness />)
+    act(() => flushFrames())
+
+    expect(document.activeElement).toBe(guest())
+  })
+
+  it('leaves focus the user moves in the frame the guest attaches', () => {
+    act(() => requestBrowserFocus({ pageId: PAGE_ID, target: 'webview' }))
+
+    const view = render(<ChromeHarness hasGuest={false} />)
+    act(() => flushFrames(1))
+    act(() => addressBar().focus())
+    view.rerender(<ChromeHarness />)
+    act(() => flushFrames())
+
+    expect(document.activeElement).toBe(addressBar())
+  })
+
+  it('drops a pending page focus when the user leaves the tab before its guest attaches', () => {
+    act(() => requestBrowserFocus({ pageId: PAGE_ID, target: 'webview' }))
+
+    const view = render(<ChromeHarness hasGuest={false} />)
+    act(() => flushFrames(2))
+    view.rerender(<ChromeHarness hasGuest={false} isActive={false} />)
+    act(() => addressBar().focus())
+    view.rerender(<ChromeHarness />)
+    act(() => flushFrames())
+
+    expect(document.activeElement).toBe(addressBar())
+  })
+
+  it('leaves focus the user moves while the guest of a new tab attaches', () => {
+    act(() => requestBrowserFocus({ pageId: PAGE_ID, target: 'webview' }))
+
+    const view = render(<ChromeHarness hasGuest={false} />)
+    act(() => flushFrames(2))
+    act(() => addressBar().focus())
+    act(() => flushFrames(2))
+    view.rerender(<ChromeHarness />)
+    act(() => flushFrames())
+
+    expect(document.activeElement).toBe(addressBar())
+  })
+
   it('sends a durable palette request aimed at the page to the guest', () => {
     act(() => requestBrowserFocus({ pageId: PAGE_ID, target: 'webview' }))
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/use-browser-page-chrome-focus.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/use-browser-page-chrome-focus.ts
index 6188ab7ae9f..62600bd05e8 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/use-browser-page-chrome-focus.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/use-browser-page-chrome-focus.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,17 @@
-import { useCallback, useEffect, useRef, type MutableRefObject, type RefObject } from 'react'
+import {
+  useCallback,
+  useEffect,
+  useLayoutEffect,
+  useRef,
+  type MutableRefObject,
+  type RefObject
+} from 'react'
 import { useAppStore } from '@/store'
 import { getShortcutPlatform } from '@/hooks/useShortcutLabel'
 import { keybindingMatchesAction } from '../../../../../shared/keybindings'
 import {
   consumeBrowserFocusRequest,
+  queueBrowserFocusRequest,
   ORCA_BROWSER_FOCUS_REQUEST_EVENT,
   type BrowserFocusRequestDetail
 } from '../host-guest/browser-focus'
@@ -15,6 +23,8 @@ import { addAppKeyListener, removeAppKeyListener } from '@/lib/app-keyboard-rout
 
 /** Frames an address-bar grab keeps retrying before it lets the guest have focus back. */
 const ADDRESS_BAR_FOCUS_FRAMES = 6
+/** Frames a queued page-focus request waits for a new tab's guest to attach. */
+const GUEST_ATTACH_WAIT_FRAMES = 120
 
 /**
  * Who owns focus in a browser pane's chrome. Every pane — local, client-hosted and streamed —
@@ -50,6 +60,11 @@ export function useBrowserPageChromeFocus({
   const keybindings = useAppStore((s) => s.keybindings)
   const keepAddressBarFocusRef = useRef(false)
   const addressBarFocusGrabRef = useRef<(() => void) | null>(null)
+  // Why a layout effect: it lands before the previous render's passive cleanups read it.
+  const isActiveRef = useRef(isActive)
+  useLayoutEffect(() => {
+    isActiveRef.current = isActive
+  }, [isActive])
 
   const cancelAddressBarFocusGrab = useCallback((): void => {
     addressBarFocusGrabRef.current?.()
@@ -187,6 +202,60 @@ export function useBrowserPageChromeFocus({
     return () => removeAppKeyListener('keydown', handleKeyDown)
   }, [chromeShortcutScope, focusAddressBarNow, keybindings, workspaceId])
 
+  /**
+   * Focuses the page, waiting for a new tab's guest to attach first. Returns a canceller that
+   * requeues an unfinished request unless `{ requeue: false }`, so a re-run still finds it.
+   */
+  const startGuestFocusRetry = useCallback(
+    ({ firstAttempt }: { firstAttempt: 'now' | 'next-frame' }) => {
+      let cancelled = false
+      let settled = false
+      let frameId = 0
+      let attempts = 0
+      let waitedFrames = 0
+      const focusAtRequest = document.activeElement
+      const runFocus = (): void => {
+        if (cancelled) {
+          return
+        }
+        // Why: the retry budget starts once there is a guest; focus the user moves meanwhile
+        // stays where they put it.
+        if (attempts === 0) {
+          const active = document.activeElement
+          if (active !== focusAtRequest && active !== document.body) {
+            settled = true
+            return
+          }
+          if (!guestFocus.isAttached() && waitedFrames < GUEST_ATTACH_WAIT_FRAMES) {
+            waitedFrames += 1
+            frameId = window.requestAnimationFrame(runFocus)
+            return
+          }
+        }
+        attempts += 1
+        settled = focusGuestNow()
+        if (!settled && attempts < ADDRESS_BAR_FOCUS_FRAMES) {
+          frameId = window.requestAnimationFrame(runFocus)
+        }
+      }
+      if (firstAttempt === 'now') {
+        runFocus()
+      } else {
+        frameId = window.requestAnimationFrame(runFocus)
+      }
+      return ({ requeue = true }: { requeue?: boolean } = {}): void => {
+        cancelled = true
+        window.cancelAnimationFrame(frameId)
+        // Why: a re-run (StrictMode, a dependency change) mid-wait must still find the request; a
+        // pane the user left drops it, so coming back later doesn't pull focus into the page.
+        if (requeue && !settled && waitedFrames < GUEST_ATTACH_WAIT_FRAMES && isActiveRef.current) {
+          queueBrowserFocusRequest({ pageId: browserTabId, target: 'webview' })
+        }
+      }
+    },
+    [browserTabId, focusGuestNow, guestFocus]
+  )
+
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!isActive) {
       return
@@ -201,25 +270,15 @@ export function useBrowserPageChromeFocus({
     // Why: lowering the latch is not enough — a grab already in flight would spend its remaining
     // frames dragging focus back off the page this request just aimed at.
     cancelAddressBarFocusGrab()
-    let cancelled = false
-    let frameId = 0
-    let attempts = 0
-    const runFocus = (): void => {
-      if (cancelled) {
-        return
-      }
-      attempts += 1
-      if (!focusGuestNow() && attempts < ADDRESS_BAR_FOCUS_FRAMES) {
-        frameId = window.requestAnimationFrame(runFocus)
-      }
-    }
-    // Why: focus can be queued before the pane mounts; persisting outside React lets it be claimed on mount instead of racing an event.
-    frameId = window.requestAnimationFrame(runFocus)
-    return () => {
-      cancelled = true
-      window.cancelAnimationFrame(frameId)
-    }
-  }, [browserTabId, cancelAddressBarFocusGrab, focusGuestNow, isActive, startAddressBarFocusGrab])
+    // Why a frame first: focus can be queued before the pane mounts and is claimed here.
+    return startGuestFocusRetry({ firstAttempt: 'next-frame' })
+  }, [
+    browserTabId,
+    cancelAddressBarFocusGrab,
+    isActive,
+    startAddressBarFocusGrab,
+    startGuestFocusRetry
+  ])
 
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!isActive) {
@@ -241,15 +300,26 @@ export function useBrowserPageChromeFocus({
         return
       }
       cancelAddressBarFocusGrab()
-      focusGuestNow()
+      cancelGuestFocus?.({ requeue: false })
+      // Why the same retry as on mount: a remote link's request can land after the pane mounted
+      // but before its guest attached.
+      cancelGuestFocus = startGuestFocusRetry({ firstAttempt: 'now' })
     }
+    let cancelGuestFocus: ReturnType<typeof startGuestFocusRetry> | null = null
     // Why: an already-active page never remounts, so listen for the event to consume the durable focus request immediately.
     window.addEventListener(ORCA_BROWSER_FOCUS_REQUEST_EVENT, handleBrowserFocusRequest)
     return () => {
       window.removeEventListener(ORCA_BROWSER_FOCUS_REQUEST_EVENT, handleBrowserFocusRequest)
       cancelAddressBarFocusGrab()
+      cancelGuestFocus?.()
     }
-  }, [browserTabId, cancelAddressBarFocusGrab, focusGuestNow, isActive, startAddressBarFocusGrab])
+  }, [
+    browserTabId,
+    cancelAddressBarFocusGrab,
+    isActive,
+    startAddressBarFocusGrab,
+    startGuestFocusRetry
+  ])
 
   return { focusAddressBarNow, focusGuestNow, startAddressBarFocusGrab, keepAddressBarFocusRef }
 }
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/browser-client-page-retained-elements.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/browser-client-page-retained-elements.ts
index 9bb5ebef7f7..7a3e185ec39 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/browser-client-page-retained-elements.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/browser-client-page-retained-elements.ts
@@ -49,17 +49,35 @@ export function hideRetainedHostWhileGuestIsBlank(
   }
 }
 
+type BrowserClientPageGuestMessageHandler = (
+  browserPageId: string,
+  webview: Electron.WebviewTag,
+  event: Electron.IpcMessageEvent
+) => void
+
+let guestMessageHandler: BrowserClientPageGuestMessageHandler | null = null
+
+// Why injected: this module also runs in a bare Electron fixture that cannot load the app store.
+export function registerBrowserClientPageGuestMessageHandler(
+  handler: BrowserClientPageGuestMessageHandler | null
+): void {
+  guestMessageHandler = handler
+}
+
 export function createBrowserClientPageWebview(options: {
   createWebview?: () => Electron.WebviewTag
   document: Document
-  partition: string
+  identity: { browserPageId: string; partition: string }
 }): Electron.WebviewTag {
   const webview =
     options.createWebview?.() ?? (options.document.createElement('webview') as Electron.WebviewTag)
-  webview.setAttribute('partition', options.partition)
+  webview.setAttribute('partition', options.identity.partition)
   webview.setAttribute('webpreferences', ORCA_BROWSER_PAGE_GUEST_WEB_PREFERENCES_ATTRIBUTE)
   webview.setAttribute('src', 'about:blank')
   Object.assign(webview.style, { display: 'flex', width: '100%', height: '100%' })
+  webview.addEventListener('ipc-message', (event) =>
+    guestMessageHandler?.(options.identity.browserPageId, webview, event)
+  )
   return webview
 }
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/browser-client-page-retained-registry.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/browser-client-page-retained-registry.ts
index f0241dc5c82..681781745ed 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/browser-client-page-retained-registry.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/browser-client-page-retained-registry.ts
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ export class BrowserClientPageRetainedRegistry {
     const webview = createBrowserClientPageWebview({
       createWebview: this.options.createWebview,
       document: this.options.document,
-      partition: identity.partition
+      identity
     })
 
     let resolveMount!: RetainedPage['resolveMount']
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-page-webview.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-page-webview.ts
index fc345a8ee1b..e9854e43708 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-page-webview.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-page-webview.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import {
   replacePersistentWebview,
   webviewRegistry
 } from './webview-registry'
+import { handleGuestWindowCloseMessage } from './browser-page-window-close'
 
 export function setBrowserPageWebviewInputLock(
   webview: Electron.WebviewTag,
@@ -80,6 +81,9 @@ export function ensureBrowserPageWebview({
   guest.addEventListener('render-process-gone', () => {
     guest.style.visibility = 'hidden'
   })
+  guest.addEventListener('ipc-message', (event) => {
+    handleGuestWindowCloseMessage(browserTabId, guest, event)
+  })
   registerPersistentWebview(browserTabId, webview)
   activeContainer.appendChild(webview)
   created = true
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-page-window-close.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-page-window-close.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a87a4eaec97
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-page-window-close.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+
+const { dispatchMock, closeBrowserPageMock, storeState } = vi.hoisted(() => {
+  const value: Record<string, unknown> = {}
+  return { dispatchMock: vi.fn(), closeBrowserPageMock: vi.fn(), storeState: { value } }
+})
+
+vi.mock('@/store', () => ({ useAppStore: { getState: () => storeState.value } }))
+vi.mock('@/lib/workspace-tab-commands', () => ({ dispatchWorkspaceTabCommand: dispatchMock }))
+
+import {
+  handleGuestWindowCloseMessage,
+  markBrowserPageOpenedByPage
+} from './browser-page-window-close'
+import { BROWSER_GUEST_WINDOW_CLOSE_CHANNEL } from '../../../../../shared/browser-guest-window-close'
+
+function seedTab(pageId: string, isPinned = false, siblingPageIds: string[] = []): void {
+  storeState.value = {
+    closeBrowserPage: closeBrowserPageMock,
+    browserTabsByWorktree: { 'wt-1': [{ id: 'ws-1' }] },
+    browserPagesByWorkspace: { 'ws-1': [{ id: pageId }, ...siblingPageIds.map((id) => ({ id }))] },
+    unifiedTabsByWorktree: {
+      'wt-1': [{ id: 'tab-1', contentType: 'browser', entityId: 'ws-1', isPinned }]
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+function closeFrom(pageId: string, history: { back: boolean; forward: boolean }): void {
+  const webview = { canGoBack: () => history.back, canGoForward: () => history.forward }
+  handleGuestWindowCloseMessage(pageId, webview, { channel: BROWSER_GUEST_WINDOW_CLOSE_CHANNEL })
+}
+
+describe('window.close() from a browser page', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    dispatchMock.mockReset()
+    closeBrowserPageMock.mockReset()
+  })
+
+  it('closes a tab with a single history entry through the Cmd/Ctrl+W command', () => {
+    seedTab('page-a')
+    closeFrom('page-a', { back: false, forward: false })
+    expect(dispatchMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      type: 'close',
+      target: { kind: 'tab', worktreeId: 'wt-1', tabId: 'tab-1' }
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('ignores a page the user navigated in that no page opened, like Chrome', () => {
+    seedTab('page-b')
+    closeFrom('page-b', { back: true, forward: false })
+    expect(dispatchMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('closes a page-opened tab even after it navigated', () => {
+    seedTab('page-c')
+    markBrowserPageOpenedByPage('page-c')
+    closeFrom('page-c', { back: true, forward: false })
+    expect(dispatchMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+  })
+
+  it('never closes a pinned tab', () => {
+    seedTab('page-d', true)
+    closeFrom('page-d', { back: false, forward: false })
+    expect(dispatchMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('closes only the calling page when its Orca tab holds other pages', () => {
+    seedTab('page-e', false, ['page-sibling'])
+    closeFrom('page-e', { back: false, forward: false })
+    expect(closeBrowserPageMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith('page-e')
+    expect(dispatchMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-page-window-close.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-page-window-close.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..be5da1e5c68
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-page-window-close.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+import { useAppStore } from '@/store'
+import { dispatchWorkspaceTabCommand } from '@/lib/workspace-tab-commands'
+import { resolveBrowserWorkspaceOwner } from '@/lib/browser-workspace-source-resolution'
+import { BROWSER_GUEST_WINDOW_CLOSE_CHANNEL } from '../../../../../shared/browser-guest-window-close'
+
+// Why not saved: like Chrome, a restored tab no longer counts as opened by its page.
+const pagesOpenedByPage = new Set<string>()
+
+export function markBrowserPageOpenedByPage(pageId: string): void {
+  pagesOpenedByPage.add(pageId)
+}
+
+/** Closes the page's Orca tab when its guest calls window.close() and the web would allow it. */
+export function handleGuestWindowCloseMessage(
+  pageId: string,
+  webview: Pick<Electron.WebviewTag, 'canGoBack' | 'canGoForward'>,
+  event: Pick<Electron.IpcMessageEvent, 'channel'>
+): void {
+  if (event.channel !== BROWSER_GUEST_WINDOW_CLOSE_CHANNEL) {
+    return
+  }
+  // Why: the web's rule — a script may close a tab a page opened, or one with a single history entry.
+  const closable =
+    pagesOpenedByPage.has(pageId) || (!webview.canGoBack() && !webview.canGoForward())
+  if (!closable) {
+    return
+  }
+  const state = useAppStore.getState()
+  const owner = resolveBrowserWorkspaceOwner(state, pageId)
+  if (!owner) {
+    return
+  }
+  const tab = (state.unifiedTabsByWorktree[owner.worktreeId] ?? []).find(
+    (candidate) => candidate.contentType === 'browser' && candidate.entityId === owner.workspaceId
+  )
+  // Why: a pinned tab is one the user chose to keep; a page script can't overrule that.
+  if (tab?.isPinned) {
+    return
+  }
+  pagesOpenedByPage.delete(pageId)
+  // Why: the page closes, not the Orca tab around it, when that tab holds other pages too.
+  if ((state.browserPagesByWorkspace[owner.workspaceId] ?? []).length > 1) {
+    state.closeBrowserPage(pageId)
+    return
+  }
+  // Why the tab itself: the floating panel's shortcut bridge only reaches its focused split.
+  dispatchWorkspaceTabCommand({
+    type: 'close',
+    target: tab
+      ? { kind: 'tab', worktreeId: owner.worktreeId, tabId: tab.id }
+      : { kind: 'browser-source', sourceId: pageId }
+  })
+}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/editor/rich-markdown-editor-click-routing.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/editor/rich-markdown-editor-click-routing.test.ts
index 3159874748c..3eeef905789 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/editor/rich-markdown-editor-click-routing.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/editor/rich-markdown-editor-click-routing.test.ts
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ vi.mock('@/lib/workspace-browser-tab-open', () => ({
 const openUrl = vi.fn()
 const openFileUri = vi.fn()
 const createBrowserTab = vi.fn()
-const openOwnedBrowser = vi.fn(async () => {})
+const openOwnedBrowser = vi.fn(async (): Promise<string | null> => null)
 const activateMarkdownLink = vi.fn()
 let editor: Editor | null = null
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/settings/BrowserLinkRoutingBackgroundSetting.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/settings/BrowserLinkRoutingBackgroundSetting.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a36e8a64723
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/settings/BrowserLinkRoutingBackgroundSetting.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+import type { GlobalSettings } from '../../../../shared/global-settings-types'
+import { SearchableSetting } from './SearchableSetting'
+import { SettingsSwitchRow } from './SettingsFormControls'
+import { getLinkRoutingBackgroundSearchEntry } from './browser-link-routing-copy'
+
+type BrowserLinkRoutingBackgroundSettingProps = {
+  settings: Pick<GlobalSettings, 'openLinksInAppInBackground'>
+  updateSettings: (updates: Partial<GlobalSettings>) => void
+}
+
+export function BrowserLinkRoutingBackgroundSetting({
+  settings,
+  updateSettings
+}: BrowserLinkRoutingBackgroundSettingProps): React.JSX.Element {
+  const entry = getLinkRoutingBackgroundSearchEntry()
+
+  return (
+    <SearchableSetting
+      title={entry.title}
+      description={entry.description}
+      keywords={entry.keywords}
+    >
+      {/* Nested under Link Routing: it only changes how an Orca-routed link opens. */}
+      <div className="ml-4 border-l border-border pl-4">
+        <SettingsSwitchRow
+          label={entry.title}
+          description={entry.description}
+          checked={settings.openLinksInAppInBackground === true}
+          onChange={() =>
+            updateSettings({
+              openLinksInAppInBackground: settings.openLinksInAppInBackground !== true
+            })
+          }
+        />
+      </div>
+    </SearchableSetting>
+  )
+}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/settings/BrowserPane.search-catalog.test.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/settings/BrowserPane.search-catalog.test.tsx
index 3ce2be66fbd..7bfa605f476 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/settings/BrowserPane.search-catalog.test.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/settings/BrowserPane.search-catalog.test.tsx
@@ -69,6 +69,9 @@ vi.mock('./BrowserLinkRoutingSetting', () => ({
 vi.mock('./BrowserLinkRoutingModifierSetting', () => ({
   BrowserLinkRoutingModifierSetting: () => <span>Modifier row</span>
 }))
+vi.mock('./BrowserLinkRoutingBackgroundSetting', () => ({
+  BrowserLinkRoutingBackgroundSetting: () => <span>Background links row</span>
+}))
 vi.mock('./BrowserTerminalLinkActionsSetting', () => ({
   BrowserTerminalLinkActionsSetting: () => <span>Terminal links row</span>
 }))
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/settings/BrowserPane.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/settings/BrowserPane.tsx
index 18196ba9437..6f2074beea3 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/settings/BrowserPane.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/settings/BrowserPane.tsx
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import { BrowserUseSetup } from './BrowserUsePane'
 import { BrowserSearchEngineSetting } from './BrowserSearchEngineSetting'
 import { BrowserLinkRoutingSetting } from './BrowserLinkRoutingSetting'
 import { BrowserLinkRoutingModifierSetting } from './BrowserLinkRoutingModifierSetting'
+import { BrowserLinkRoutingBackgroundSetting } from './BrowserLinkRoutingBackgroundSetting'
 import { BrowserTerminalLinkActionsSetting } from './BrowserTerminalLinkActionsSetting'
 import { BrowserLocalhostWorktreeLabelsSetting } from './BrowserLocalhostWorktreeLabelsSetting'
 import { BrowserClientHostedRemoteSetting } from './BrowserClientHostedRemoteSetting'
@@ -119,6 +120,7 @@ export function BrowserPane({
   const showUserAgent = matchesSettingsSearch(searchQuery, [browserSearchEntries[10]])
   const showSitePermissions = matchesSettingsSearch(searchQuery, [browserSearchEntries[11]])
   const showProfileScope = matchesSettingsSearch(searchQuery, [browserSearchEntries[12]])
+  const showLinkRoutingBackground = matchesSettingsSearch(searchQuery, [browserSearchEntries[13]])
   const showBrowserUse = matchesSettingsSearch(searchQuery, getBrowserUsePaneSearchEntries())
   const isMac = isMacUserAgent()
   const linkRoutingDescription = getBrowserLinkRoutingDescription(
@@ -271,6 +273,10 @@ export function BrowserPane({
         />
       ) : null}
 
+      {showLinkRoutingBackground ? (
+        <BrowserLinkRoutingBackgroundSetting settings={settings} updateSettings={updateSettings} />
+      ) : null}
+
       {showTerminalLinkActions ? (
         <BrowserTerminalLinkActionsSetting
           settings={settings}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/settings/browser-link-routing-copy.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/settings/browser-link-routing-copy.ts
index 5a4d5bac2d6..78e87c3111b 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/settings/browser-link-routing-copy.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/settings/browser-link-routing-copy.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 import { translate } from '@/i18n/i18n'
+import type { SettingsSearchEntry } from './settings-search'
+import { translateSearchKeyword } from './settings-search-keywords'
 
 export function getBrowserLinkRoutingShortcutLabel(platform: { isMac: boolean }): string {
   return platform.isMac ? '⇧⌘-click' : 'Shift+Ctrl+click'
@@ -65,3 +67,40 @@ export function getLinkRoutingModifierDescription({
         { chord }
       )
 }
+
+function getLinkRoutingBackgroundTitle(): string {
+  return translate(
+    'auto.components.settings.BrowserLinkRoutingBackgroundSetting.title',
+    'Open links in the background'
+  )
+}
+
+function getLinkRoutingBackgroundDescription(): string {
+  return translate(
+    'auto.components.settings.BrowserLinkRoutingBackgroundSetting.description',
+    'Links from the terminal, chat, and markdown join the browser without taking focus from where you clicked.'
+  )
+}
+
+export function getLinkRoutingBackgroundSearchEntry(): SettingsSearchEntry {
+  return {
+    title: getLinkRoutingBackgroundTitle(),
+    description: getLinkRoutingBackgroundDescription(),
+    keywords: [
+      ...translateSearchKeyword('auto.components.settings.browser.search.2d2d995c58', 'browser'),
+      ...translateSearchKeyword('auto.components.settings.browser.search.bea27bac4b', 'links'),
+      ...translateSearchKeyword(
+        'auto.components.settings.browser.search.linkRoutingBackground.background',
+        'background'
+      ),
+      ...translateSearchKeyword(
+        'auto.components.settings.browser.search.linkRoutingBackground.focus',
+        'focus'
+      ),
+      ...translateSearchKeyword(
+        'auto.components.settings.browser.search.linkRoutingBackground.tab',
+        'tab'
+      )
+    ]
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/settings/browser-search.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/settings/browser-search.test.ts
index 9b1cbf35ac2..b6d0fcdd9bc 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/settings/browser-search.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/settings/browser-search.test.ts
@@ -108,7 +108,8 @@ describe('browser link routing modifier copy', () => {
       'SSH workspaces',
       'Browser identity',
       'Site permissions',
-      'Profile for new tabs'
+      'Profile for new tabs',
+      'Open links in the background'
     ])
   })
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/settings/browser-search.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/settings/browser-search.ts
index 719b321d155..5afddaee817 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/settings/browser-search.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/settings/browser-search.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { getBrowserProfileScopeSearchEntry } from './browser-profile-scope-searc
 import { getBrowserSitePermissionsSearchEntry } from './browser-site-permissions-search'
 import {
   getBrowserLinkRoutingDescription,
+  getLinkRoutingBackgroundSearchEntry,
   getLinkRoutingModifierDescription,
   getLinkRoutingModifierTitle
 } from './browser-link-routing-copy'
@@ -300,6 +301,7 @@ export function getBrowserPaneSearchEntries(
     },
     getBrowserUserAgentSearchEntry(),
     getBrowserSitePermissionsSearchEntry(),
-    getBrowserProfileScopeSearchEntry()
+    getBrowserProfileScopeSearchEntry(),
+    getLinkRoutingBackgroundSearchEntry()
   ]
 }
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-action-routing.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-action-routing.test.ts
index be546428c90..ef4aec667ae 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-action-routing.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-action-routing.test.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import { handleTerminalHttpLink } from './terminal-url-link-hit-testing'
 const openUrl = vi.fn()
 const createBrowserTab = vi.fn()
 const setActiveWorktree = vi.fn()
-const openRuntimeBrowserTab = vi.fn(() => Promise.resolve())
+const openRuntimeBrowserTab = vi.fn((): Promise<string | null> => Promise.resolve(null))
 
 function plainEvent(): MouseEvent {
   return {
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-runtime-host-link-routing.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-runtime-host-link-routing.test.ts
index 9bd10474235..6ceec37e086 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-runtime-host-link-routing.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-runtime-host-link-routing.test.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ const ROWS = 24
 const openUrlMock = vi.fn()
 const setActiveWorktreeMock = vi.fn()
 const createBrowserTabMock = vi.fn()
-const openRuntimeBrowserTabMock = vi.fn(() => Promise.resolve())
+const openRuntimeBrowserTabMock = vi.fn((): Promise<string | null> => Promise.resolve(null))
 const runtimeSourceOwner = { kind: 'runtime', runtimeEnvironmentId: 'env-1' } as const
 const sshSourceOwner = { kind: 'ssh', connectionId: 'ssh-1' } as const
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/hooks/ipc-events/browser-state-ipc-bridge.ts b/src/renderer/src/hooks/ipc-events/browser-state-ipc-bridge.ts
index 4be4180d097..955c01db304 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/hooks/ipc-events/browser-state-ipc-bridge.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/hooks/ipc-events/browser-state-ipc-bridge.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import {
   releaseBrowserAutomationVisibility
 } from '@/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-automation-visibility'
 import { acquireBrowserAutomationBootstrapLease } from './browser-automation-bootstrap-lease'
+import { markBrowserPageOpenedByPage } from '@/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-page-window-close'
 import {
   beginAgentInputFocusGuard,
   clearAgentInputFocusGuards,
@@ -141,12 +142,15 @@ export function registerBrowserStateIpcBridge(
       if (!sourcePage || runtimeEnvironmentIdOrLocalUnlessTwin(store, sourcePage.worktreeId)) {
         return
       }
-      openUrlInTabBesideBrowserPage({
+      const openedPageId = openUrlInTabBesideBrowserPage({
         sourcePageId: browserPageId,
         worktreeId: sourcePage.worktreeId,
         url,
         activate: activate ?? true
       })
+      if (openedPageId) {
+        markBrowserPageOpenedByPage(openedPageId)
+      }
     })
   )
 }
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/hooks/ipc-events/browser-state-open-link-profile.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/hooks/ipc-events/browser-state-open-link-profile.test.ts
index 7512ec8bd4b..888115e4595 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/hooks/ipc-events/browser-state-open-link-profile.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/hooks/ipc-events/browser-state-open-link-profile.test.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
 
-const { createBrowserTabMock, storeState } = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+const { createBrowserTabMock, dispatchEventMock, storeState } = vi.hoisted(() => ({
   createBrowserTabMock: vi.fn(),
+  dispatchEventMock: vi.fn(),
   storeState: {
     value: {} as Record<string, unknown>
   }
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ function captureOpenLinkHandler(): (event: {
         ? target[property as string]
         : new Proxy({}, { get: () => () => noopUnsubscribe })
   })
-  ;(globalThis as { window?: unknown }).window = { api }
+  vi.stubGlobal('window', { api, dispatchEvent: dispatchEventMock })
 
   registerBrowserStateIpcBridge([], () => false)
   if (!handler) {
@@ -64,6 +65,8 @@ function captureOpenLinkHandler(): (event: {
 describe('link-opened Orca tabs', () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     createBrowserTabMock.mockReset()
+    dispatchEventMock.mockReset()
+    createBrowserTabMock.mockReturnValue({ id: 'new-tab', activePageId: 'new-page' })
   })
 
   it('inherits the opener tab session so an isolated profile cannot leak into the default one', () => {
@@ -138,4 +141,28 @@ describe('link-opened Orca tabs', () => {
       expect.objectContaining({ activate: false })
     )
   })
+
+  // Why: #18832 — focus left on the opener made Cmd/Ctrl+W close the opener instead.
+  it('moves keyboard focus into a foreground link tab but not a background one', () => {
+    storeState.value = {
+      browserPagesByWorkspace: {
+        'workspace-1': [{ id: 'page-1', workspaceId: 'workspace-1', worktreeId: 'worktree-1' }]
+      },
+      browserTabsByWorktree: {},
+      createBrowserTab: createBrowserTabMock
+    }
+    const handler = captureOpenLinkHandler()
+
+    handler({
+      browserPageId: 'page-1',
+      url: 'https://docs.example.com/background',
+      activate: false
+    })
+    expect(dispatchEventMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+
+    handler({ browserPageId: 'page-1', url: 'https://docs.example.com/foreground' })
+    expect(dispatchEventMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({ detail: { pageId: 'new-page', target: 'webview' } })
+    )
+  })
 })
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/en.json b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/en.json
index 2da8050d744..53188a159a7 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/en.json
+++ b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/en.json
@@ -10005,6 +10005,11 @@
               "invert": "invert",
               "opposite": "opposite"
             },
+            "linkRoutingBackground": {
+              "background": "background",
+              "focus": "focus",
+              "tab": "tab"
+            },
             "terminalLinkActions": {
               "terminal": "terminal",
               "chat": "chat",
@@ -12137,6 +12142,10 @@
           "descriptionSystem": "Links open in Orca, so {{chord}}+click sends one to your system browser instead.",
           "descriptionOrca": "Links open in your system browser. When enabled, {{chord}}+click opens one in Orca's built-in browser instead."
         },
+        "BrowserLinkRoutingBackgroundSetting": {
+          "title": "Open links in the background",
+          "description": "Links from the terminal, chat, and markdown join the browser without taking focus from where you clicked."
+        },
         "BrowserTerminalLinkActionsSetting": {
           "title": "Terminal URL clicks",
           "descriptionV2": "Control clicks on detected URLs printed in terminal panes and chat transcripts.",
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/es.json b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/es.json
index 54a163c0783..b0b66af1967 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/es.json
+++ b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/es.json
@@ -9709,6 +9709,11 @@
               "invert": "invertir",
               "opposite": "opuesto"
             },
+            "linkRoutingBackground": {
+              "background": "segundo plano",
+              "focus": "foco",
+              "tab": "pestaña"
+            },
             "72c58f7792": "vista web",
             "82ba1c80ea": "localhost",
             "bea27bac4b": "enlaces",
@@ -11905,6 +11910,10 @@
           "descriptionSystem": "Los enlaces se abren en Orca, por lo que {{chord}}+clic envía uno al navegador de su sistema.",
           "descriptionOrca": "Los enlaces se abren en el navegador de su sistema. Cuando está habilitado, {{chord}}+clic abre uno en el navegador integrado de Orca."
         },
+        "BrowserLinkRoutingBackgroundSetting": {
+          "title": "Abrir enlaces en segundo plano",
+          "description": "Los enlaces de la terminal, el chat y markdown se abren en el navegador sin quitar el foco de donde hiciste clic."
+        },
         "PluginConsentDialog": {
           "workerTrust": "Proceso en segundo plano — se ejecuta en su propio proceso",
           "instructionalTrust": "Contenido instructivo — se ejecuta más tarde con la autoridad del usuario o del agente",
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/fr.json b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/fr.json
index 45e05dd70e1..d0fe10a3c9f 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/fr.json
+++ b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/fr.json
@@ -9895,6 +9895,11 @@
               "invert": "inverser",
               "opposite": "opposé"
             },
+            "linkRoutingBackground": {
+              "background": "arrière-plan",
+              "focus": "focus",
+              "tab": "onglet"
+            },
             "terminalLinkActions": {
               "terminal": "terminal",
               "click": "clic",
@@ -12027,6 +12032,10 @@
           "descriptionSystem": "Les liens s'ouvrent dans Orca ; {{chord}}+clic les envoie plutôt à votre navigateur système.",
           "descriptionOrca": "Les liens s'ouvrent dans votre navigateur système. Une fois activé, {{chord}}+clic en ouvre un dans le navigateur intégré d'Orca."
         },
+        "BrowserLinkRoutingBackgroundSetting": {
+          "title": "Ouvrir les liens en arrière-plan",
+          "description": "Les liens du terminal, du chat et du markdown s'ouvrent dans le navigateur sans retirer le focus de l'endroit où vous avez cliqué."
+        },
         "BrowserTerminalLinkActionsSetting": {
           "title": "Afficher les actions de lien du terminal",
           "descriptionV2": "Contrôlez les clics sur les URL détectées imprimées dans les volets du terminal et les transcriptions de discussion.",
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/ja.json b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/ja.json
index 88a8c4a0058..c9f15b0b891 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/ja.json
+++ b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/ja.json
@@ -9715,6 +9715,11 @@
               "invert": "反転",
               "opposite": "逆"
             },
+            "linkRoutingBackground": {
+              "background": "バックグラウンド",
+              "focus": "フォーカス",
+              "tab": "タブ"
+            },
             "72c58f7792": "ウェブビュー",
             "82ba1c80ea": "ローカルホスト",
             "bea27bac4b": "リンク",
@@ -11889,6 +11894,10 @@
           "descriptionSystem": "リンクは Orca で開きます。{{chord}}+クリックすると、システムのブラウザで開きます。",
           "descriptionOrca": "リンクはシステムのブラウザで開きます。有効にすると、{{chord}}+クリックで Orca 内蔵のブラウザで開きます。"
         },
+        "BrowserLinkRoutingBackgroundSetting": {
+          "title": "リンクをバックグラウンドで開く",
+          "description": "ターミナル、チャット、Markdown のリンクを、クリックした場所からフォーカスを移さずにブラウザーで開きます。"
+        },
         "PluginConsentDialog": {
           "workerTrust": "バックグラウンドワーカー — 自身のプロセスを実行",
           "instructionalTrust": "インストラクショナルコンテンツ — ユーザーまたは Agent の権限で後から実行",
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/ko.json b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/ko.json
index cca794ccb48..0d58b686417 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/ko.json
+++ b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/ko.json
@@ -9678,6 +9678,11 @@
               "invert": "반전",
               "opposite": "반대"
             },
+            "linkRoutingBackground": {
+              "background": "백그라운드",
+              "focus": "포커스",
+              "tab": "탭"
+            },
             "72c58f7792": "웹뷰",
             "82ba1c80ea": "로컬호스트",
             "bea27bac4b": "링크",
@@ -11889,6 +11894,10 @@
           "descriptionSystem": "링크가 Orca에서 열리므로, {{chord}}+클릭 시 시스템 기본 브라우저에서 대신 열립니다.",
           "descriptionOrca": "링크가 시스템 기본 브라우저에서 열립니다. 활성화하면 {{chord}}+클릭 시 Orca 내장 브라우저에서 대신 열립니다."
         },
+        "BrowserLinkRoutingBackgroundSetting": {
+          "title": "링크를 백그라운드에서 열기",
+          "description": "터미널, 채팅, 마크다운의 링크를 클릭한 위치에서 포커스를 옮기지 않고 브라우저에서 엽니다."
+        },
         "PluginConsentDialog": {
           "workerTrust": "백그라운드 워커 — 자체 프로세스 실행",
           "instructionalTrust": "지시 내용 — 사용자 또는 에이전트 권한으로 나중에 실행",
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/pt.json b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/pt.json
index c3b5ef7ec38..85c1fc5b0ab 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/pt.json
+++ b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/pt.json
@@ -3660,6 +3660,11 @@
               "invert": "inverter",
               "opposite": "oposto"
             },
+            "linkRoutingBackground": {
+              "background": "segundo plano",
+              "focus": "foco",
+              "tab": "aba"
+            },
             "terminalLinkActions": {
               "terminal": "terminal",
               "chat": "chat",
@@ -8189,6 +8194,10 @@
           "descriptionSystem": "Os links abrem no Orca, então {{chord}}+clique envia um para o seu navegador do sistema.",
           "descriptionOrca": "Os links abrem no seu navegador do sistema. Quando ativado, {{chord}}+clique abre um no navegador integrado do Orca."
         },
+        "BrowserLinkRoutingBackgroundSetting": {
+          "title": "Abrir links em segundo plano",
+          "description": "Links do terminal, do chat e do markdown abrem no navegador sem tirar o foco de onde você clicou."
+        },
         "PluginKeybindingConsentPreview": {
           "heading": "Atalhos de teclado",
           "worktree": "Executa somente enquanto um espaço de trabalho está ativo.",
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/zh.json b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/zh.json
index a54ce6dc937..463097f8f4c 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/zh.json
+++ b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/zh.json
@@ -9678,6 +9678,11 @@
               "invert": "反转",
               "opposite": "相反"
             },
+            "linkRoutingBackground": {
+              "background": "后台",
+              "focus": "焦点",
+              "tab": "标签页"
+            },
             "72c58f7792": "网页视图",
             "82ba1c80ea": "本地主机",
             "bea27bac4b": "链接",
@@ -11889,6 +11894,10 @@
           "descriptionSystem": "链接在 Orca 中打开，因此 {{chord}}+点击会将其发送到系统浏览器。",
           "descriptionOrca": "链接在系统浏览器中打开。启用后，{{chord}}+点击会改在 Orca 内置浏览器中打开。"
         },
+        "BrowserLinkRoutingBackgroundSetting": {
+          "title": "在后台打开链接",
+          "description": "终端、聊天和 Markdown 中的链接会在浏览器中打开，焦点仍停留在你点击的位置。"
+        },
         "PluginConsentDialog": {
           "workerTrust": "后台工作进程 — 运行自己的进程",
           "instructionalTrust": "指令内容 — 在用户或智能体权限下运行",
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/browser-page-tab-opening.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/browser-page-tab-opening.ts
index 962f09f7505..6aa4c674b6e 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/lib/browser-page-tab-opening.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/browser-page-tab-opening.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { useAppStore } from '@/store'
 import { findPage, findWorkspace } from '@/store/slices/browser-page-records'
 import { redactKagiSessionToken } from '../../../shared/browser-url'
 import { resolveBrowserSourceUnifiedTab } from './browser-workspace-source-resolution'
+import { requestBrowserFocus } from '@/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-focus'
 
 /** Opens `url` in a new Orca browser tab right after the page's tab, in the page's own profile. */
 export function openUrlInTabBesideBrowserPage(args: {
@@ -9,7 +10,7 @@ export function openUrlInTabBesideBrowserPage(args: {
   worktreeId: string
   url: string
   activate: boolean
-}): void {
+}): string | null {
   const { sourcePageId, worktreeId, url, activate } = args
   const store = useAppStore.getState()
   const sourcePage = findPage(store.browserPagesByWorkspace, sourcePageId)
@@ -18,7 +19,7 @@ export function openUrlInTabBesideBrowserPage(args: {
     ? findWorkspace(store.browserTabsByWorktree, sourcePage.workspaceId)
     : null
   const sourceUnifiedTab = resolveBrowserSourceUnifiedTab(store, sourcePageId, worktreeId)
-  store.createBrowserTab(worktreeId, url, {
+  const created = store.createBrowserTab(worktreeId, url, {
     // Why: a Kagi private-session search URL carries a token; only the stored URL is redacted.
     title: redactKagiSessionToken(url),
     activate,
@@ -33,4 +34,9 @@ export function openUrlInTabBesideBrowserPage(args: {
         }
       : {})
   })
+  // Why: keyboard focus follows a foreground tab, so Cmd/Ctrl+W closes it instead of its opener.
+  if (activate && created.activePageId) {
+    requestBrowserFocus({ pageId: created.activePageId, target: 'webview' })
+  }
+  return created.activePageId ?? null
 }
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/http-link-browser-placement.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/http-link-browser-placement.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..91e6d3072bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/http-link-browser-placement.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import { resolveHttpLinkBrowserPlacement } from './http-link-browser-placement'
+
+const WT = 'wt-1'
+const terminal = { id: 'term', contentType: 'terminal' } as const
+const browser = { id: 'browser', contentType: 'browser' } as const
+const split = {
+  type: 'split',
+  direction: 'horizontal',
+  first: { type: 'leaf', groupId: 'left' },
+  second: { type: 'leaf', groupId: 'right' }
+} as const
+
+function state(overrides: {
+  rightActiveTabId: string
+  activeGroupId: string
+  tabs?: { id: string; contentType: 'terminal' | 'browser' | 'editor' }[]
+}): Parameters<typeof resolveHttpLinkBrowserPlacement>[0] {
+  return {
+    layoutByWorktree: { [WT]: split },
+    activeGroupIdByWorktree: { [WT]: overrides.activeGroupId },
+    groupsByWorktree: {
+      [WT]: [
+        { id: 'left', activeTabId: 'term' },
+        { id: 'right', activeTabId: overrides.rightActiveTabId }
+      ]
+    },
+    unifiedTabsByWorktree: { [WT]: overrides.tabs ?? [terminal, browser] }
+  }
+}
+
+describe('resolveHttpLinkBrowserPlacement', () => {
+  it('adds the link to a browser already on screen, whichever pane the link came from', () => {
+    expect(
+      resolveHttpLinkBrowserPlacement(
+        state({ rightActiveTabId: 'browser', activeGroupId: 'left' }),
+        WT
+      )
+    ).toEqual({ targetGroupId: 'right' })
+  })
+
+  it('ignores a browser hidden behind another tab and splits beside the source instead', () => {
+    const editor = { id: 'editor', contentType: 'editor' } as const
+    expect(
+      resolveHttpLinkBrowserPlacement(
+        state({
+          rightActiveTabId: 'editor',
+          activeGroupId: 'left',
+          tabs: [terminal, browser, editor]
+        }),
+        WT
+      )
+    ).toEqual({
+      split: { sourceGroupId: 'left', splitDirection: 'right', activate: false }
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('fills an empty source pane rather than splitting beside it', () => {
+    expect(
+      resolveHttpLinkBrowserPlacement(
+        state({ rightActiveTabId: '', activeGroupId: 'right', tabs: [terminal] }),
+        WT
+      )
+    ).toEqual({ targetGroupId: 'right' })
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/http-link-browser-placement.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/http-link-browser-placement.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..45673db1ed4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/http-link-browser-placement.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+import type { AppState } from '@/store/types'
+import type { CreateBrowserTabOptions } from '@/store/slices/browser/browser-slice-contract'
+import type { TabSplitTarget } from '@/store/slices/tabs/tabs-slice-contract'
+import type { Tab, TabGroup } from '../../../shared/tab-types'
+import { liveLayoutGroupIds } from '@/store/slices/editor/tabs/editor-open-target-group'
+import { requestBrowserFocus } from '@/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-focus'
+import type { OpenWorkspaceBrowserTabRequest } from './workspace-browser-tab-open'
+import type { BrowserWorkspace } from '../../../shared/browser-workspace-types'
+import type { GlobalSettings } from '../../../shared/global-settings-types'
+import { isFloatingWorkspaceId } from '../../../shared/floating-workspace-worktree'
+
+export type HttpLinkBrowserPlacement = { targetGroupId: string } | { split: TabSplitTarget }
+
+export type HttpLinkBrowserTabState = Partial<
+  Pick<AppState, 'layoutByWorktree' | 'activeGroupIdByWorktree' | 'activeView' | 'setActiveView'>
+> & {
+  groupsByWorktree?: Record<string, readonly Pick<TabGroup, 'id' | 'activeTabId'>[]>
+  unifiedTabsByWorktree?: Record<
+    string,
+    readonly (Pick<Tab, 'id'> & Partial<Pick<Tab, 'contentType'>>)[]
+  >
+  settings?: Partial<Pick<GlobalSettings, 'openLinksInAppInBackground'>> | null
+  createBrowserTab: (
+    worktreeId: string,
+    url: string,
+    opts: Pick<CreateBrowserTabOptions, 'activate' | 'targetGroupId' | 'split'>
+  ) => Pick<BrowserWorkspace, 'activePageId'> | undefined
+}
+
+/** How the remote opener places and focuses a link's tab; same rule as a local link. */
+export type HttpLinkBrowserRequestFields = Pick<
+  OpenWorkspaceBrowserTabRequest,
+  'targetGroupId' | 'split' | 'focusOnCreate' | 'selectWorktree'
+>
+
+/**
+ * Where a link opened from an Orca surface lands: the browser already on screen, else a split
+ * beside the clicked pane so the terminal or agent stays visible. Clicking a pane focuses its
+ * group, so the worktree's active group is the link's source.
+ */
+export function resolveHttpLinkBrowserPlacement(
+  state: Omit<HttpLinkBrowserTabState, 'createBrowserTab'>,
+  worktreeId: string
+): HttpLinkBrowserPlacement | null {
+  const groups = state.groupsByWorktree?.[worktreeId] ?? []
+  const tabsById = new Map((state.unifiedTabsByWorktree?.[worktreeId] ?? []).map((t) => [t.id, t]))
+  const visibleGroupIds = liveLayoutGroupIds(state, worktreeId)
+  for (const groupId of visibleGroupIds) {
+    const activeTabId = groups.find((group) => group.id === groupId)?.activeTabId
+    if (activeTabId && tabsById.get(activeTabId)?.contentType === 'browser') {
+      return { targetGroupId: groupId }
+    }
+  }
+  const sourceGroupId = state.activeGroupIdByWorktree?.[worktreeId]
+  if (!sourceGroupId || !visibleGroupIds.has(sourceGroupId)) {
+    return null
+  }
+  // Why: an empty pane covers nothing, so the link fills it instead of splitting beside it.
+  if (!groups.find((group) => group.id === sourceGroupId)?.activeTabId) {
+    return { targetGroupId: sourceGroupId }
+  }
+  // Why unactivated: a host snapshot reads an activated empty group as a terminal pane (see file-preview.ts).
+  return { split: { sourceGroupId, splitDirection: 'right', activate: false } }
+}
+
+export function isHttpLinkBackgroundOpen(
+  state: Pick<HttpLinkBrowserTabState, 'settings'>
+): boolean {
+  return state.settings?.openLinksInAppInBackground === true
+}
+
+export function openLocalHttpLinkTab(
+  state: HttpLinkBrowserTabState,
+  worktreeId: string,
+  url: string,
+  placement = resolveHttpLinkBrowserPlacement(state, worktreeId)
+): void {
+  const background = isHttpLinkBackgroundOpen(state)
+  const tab = state.createBrowserTab(worktreeId, url, { activate: !background, ...placement })
+  if (background) {
+    return
+  }
+  showWorkspaceTabs(state, worktreeId)
+  focusHttpLinkPage(tab?.activePageId)
+}
+
+/** Keyboard focus follows a link's tab, so Cmd/Ctrl+W closes the link rather than its source. */
+export function focusHttpLinkPage(pageId: string | null | undefined): void {
+  if (pageId) {
+    requestBrowserFocus({ pageId, target: 'webview' })
+  }
+}
+
+export function prepareRemoteHttpLinkTab(
+  state: Omit<HttpLinkBrowserTabState, 'createBrowserTab'>,
+  worktreeId: string
+): HttpLinkBrowserRequestFields {
+  const placement = resolveHttpLinkBrowserPlacement(state, worktreeId)
+  if (isHttpLinkBackgroundOpen(state)) {
+    return { ...placement, focusOnCreate: false, selectWorktree: false }
+  }
+  showWorkspaceTabs(state, worktreeId)
+  return placement ?? {}
+}
+
+/** A link clicked in Agents View lands in the workspace's tab layout, so bring that layout on screen. */
+function showWorkspaceTabs(
+  state: Pick<HttpLinkBrowserTabState, 'activeView' | 'setActiveView'>,
+  worktreeId: string
+): void {
+  if (!isFloatingWorkspaceId(worktreeId) && state.activeView !== 'terminal') {
+    state.setActiveView?.('terminal')
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/http-link-modifier-routing.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/http-link-modifier-routing.test.ts
index 3cd6dcd2aaa..fbfb50b99e4 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/lib/http-link-modifier-routing.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/http-link-modifier-routing.test.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ describe('modifier routing across link source owners', () => {
   const openUrlMock = vi.fn()
   const setActiveWorktreeMock = vi.fn()
   const createBrowserTabMock = vi.fn()
-  const openRuntimeBrowserTabMock = vi.fn(() => Promise.resolve())
+  const openRuntimeBrowserTabMock = vi.fn((): Promise<string | null> => Promise.resolve(null))
   const storeState = {
     settings: {} as {
       openLinksInApp?: boolean
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/http-link-routing.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/http-link-routing.test.ts
index 93d9c61a44e..6f76968c03e 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/lib/http-link-routing.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/http-link-routing.test.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,9 @@ const openUrlMock = vi.fn()
 const registerLocalhostLabelMock = vi.fn()
 const setActiveWorktreeMock = vi.fn()
 const createBrowserTabMock = vi.fn()
-const openRuntimeBrowserTabMock = vi.fn(() => Promise.resolve())
+const setActiveViewMock = vi.fn()
+const openRuntimeBrowserTabMock = vi.fn((): Promise<string | null> => Promise.resolve(null))
+const dispatchEventMock = vi.fn()
 
 function noActiveWorkspace(): {
   activeWorktreeId: string | null
@@ -27,17 +29,22 @@ function noActiveWorkspace(): {
   return { activeWorktreeId: null, activeWorkspaceExecutionHostId: null }
 }
 
+type LinkTestSettings = {
+  openLinksInApp?: boolean
+  openLinksInAppModifierInverts?: boolean
+  openLinksInAppInBackground?: boolean
+  openLinksInAppPreferencePrompted?: boolean
+  activeRuntimeEnvironmentId?: string | null
+  localhostWorktreeLabelsEnabled?: boolean
+}
+const noSettings = (): LinkTestSettings | undefined => undefined
+const terminalView = (): 'terminal' | 'activity' => 'terminal'
+
 const storeState = {
-  settings: undefined as
-    | {
-        openLinksInApp?: boolean
-        openLinksInAppModifierInverts?: boolean
-        openLinksInAppPreferencePrompted?: boolean
-        activeRuntimeEnvironmentId?: string | null
-        localhostWorktreeLabelsEnabled?: boolean
-      }
-    | undefined,
+  settings: noSettings(),
   setActiveWorktree: setActiveWorktreeMock,
+  activeView: terminalView(),
+  setActiveView: setActiveViewMock,
   ...noActiveWorkspace(),
   createBrowserTab: createBrowserTabMock,
   repos: [] as { id: string; displayName: string; repoIcon?: null; badgeColor?: string }[],
@@ -56,11 +63,13 @@ const storeState = {
 beforeEach(() => {
   vi.clearAllMocks()
   storeState.settings = undefined
+  storeState.activeView = 'terminal'
   Object.assign(storeState, noActiveWorkspace())
   storeState.workspacePortScansByKey = {}
   registerHttpLinkStoreAccessor(() => storeState)
   registerWorkspaceHttpLinkBrowserOpener(openRuntimeBrowserTabMock)
   vi.stubGlobal('window', {
+    dispatchEvent: dispatchEventMock,
     api: {
       shell: {
         openUrl: openUrlMock
@@ -100,6 +109,28 @@ describe('openHttpLink', () => {
     expect(openUrlMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
 
+  // Why: #31530 — queued links must not pull focus or the selected workspace away from the source.
+  it('opens in the background without selecting the tab or its workspace', () => {
+    storeState.settings = { openLinksInApp: true, openLinksInAppInBackground: true }
+
+    openHttpLink('https://example.com/', { worktreeId: 'wt-1' })
+
+    expect(setActiveWorktreeMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(createBrowserTabMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith('wt-1', 'https://example.com/', {
+      activate: false
+    })
+  })
+
+  // Why: #7813 — a link clicked in Agents View landed in a tab layout that was not on screen.
+  it('brings the workspace tabs on screen for a link clicked in Agents View', () => {
+    storeState.settings = { openLinksInApp: true }
+    storeState.activeView = 'activity'
+
+    openHttpLink('https://example.com/', { worktreeId: 'wt-1' })
+
+    expect(setActiveViewMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith('terminal')
+  })
+
   it('defaults to the system browser when settings have not hydrated', () => {
     storeState.settings = undefined
 
@@ -219,6 +250,24 @@ describe('openHttpLink', () => {
     expect(openUrlMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
 
+  // Why: an SSH page renders on this desktop, so its link tab takes keyboard focus like a local one.
+  it('focuses the page an SSH link opened on this desktop', async () => {
+    storeState.settings = { openLinksInApp: true }
+    openRuntimeBrowserTabMock.mockResolvedValueOnce('ssh-page')
+
+    openHttpLink('https://example.com/', {
+      allowRemoteInApp: true,
+      worktreeId: 'wt-1',
+      sourceOwner: { kind: 'ssh', connectionId: 'ssh-1' }
+    })
+
+    await vi.waitFor(() =>
+      expect(dispatchEventMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        expect.objectContaining({ detail: { pageId: 'ssh-page', target: 'webview' } })
+      )
+    )
+  })
+
   it('routes runtime and SSH document owners through their workspace browsers', () => {
     storeState.settings = { openLinksInApp: true, localhostWorktreeLabelsEnabled: true }
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/http-link-routing.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/http-link-routing.ts
index 81057fca002..0aa5931ce13 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/lib/http-link-routing.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/http-link-routing.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,15 @@ import type { WorkspacePort, WorkspacePortScanResult } from '../../../shared/wor
 import { toast } from 'sonner'
 import type { ExecutionHostId } from '../../../shared/execution-host'
 import { reselectWorkspaceKeepingHost } from './active-workspace-host'
+import {
+  focusHttpLinkPage,
+  isHttpLinkBackgroundOpen,
+  openLocalHttpLinkTab,
+  prepareRemoteHttpLinkTab,
+  resolveHttpLinkBrowserPlacement,
+  type HttpLinkBrowserRequestFields,
+  type HttpLinkBrowserTabState
+} from './http-link-browser-placement'
 
 export type OpenHttpLinkOptions = {
   worktreeId?: string | null
@@ -29,7 +38,7 @@ export type HttpLinkSourceOwner =
   | { kind: 'ssh'; connectionId: string }
   | { kind: 'unknown' }
 
-type StoreAccessor = () => {
+type StoreAccessor = () => HttpLinkBrowserTabState & {
   settings?: Partial<
     Pick<
       GlobalSettings,
@@ -42,7 +51,6 @@ type StoreAccessor = () => {
   setActiveWorktree: (worktreeId: string, executionHostId?: ExecutionHostId) => void
   activeWorktreeId?: string | null
   activeWorkspaceExecutionHostId?: ExecutionHostId | null
-  createBrowserTab: (worktreeId: string, url: string, opts: { activate: boolean }) => unknown
   repos?: readonly LocalhostLinkRepo[]
   projects?: readonly LocalhostLinkProject[]
   worktreesByRepo?: Record<string, LocalhostLinkWorktree[]>
@@ -51,7 +59,7 @@ type StoreAccessor = () => {
   workspacePortScansByKey?: Record<string, WorkspacePortScanResult>
 }
 
-type WorkspaceHttpLinkBrowserRequest = {
+type WorkspaceHttpLinkBrowserRequest = HttpLinkBrowserRequestFields & {
   workspaceId: string
   url: string
   intent: { kind: 'url' }
@@ -59,7 +67,10 @@ type WorkspaceHttpLinkBrowserRequest = {
   expectedSshConnectionId?: string
 }
 
-type WorkspaceHttpLinkBrowserOpener = (request: WorkspaceHttpLinkBrowserRequest) => Promise<void>
+/** Resolves to the page id when the page renders on this desktop, else null. */
+type WorkspaceHttpLinkBrowserOpener = (
+  request: WorkspaceHttpLinkBrowserRequest
+) => Promise<string | null>
 
 type LocalhostLinkRepo = {
   id: string
@@ -155,23 +166,28 @@ export function openHttpLink(url: string, opts: OpenHttpLinkOptions = {}): void
       effectiveSourceOwner?.kind === 'ssh' ||
       (!effectiveSourceOwner && remoteRuntimeActive))
   ) {
-    if (workspaceHttpLinkBrowserOpener) {
+    if (workspaceHttpLinkBrowserOpener && state) {
+      const fields = prepareRemoteHttpLinkTab(state, worktreeId)
       void workspaceHttpLinkBrowserOpener({
         workspaceId: worktreeId,
         url,
         intent: { kind: 'url' },
+        ...fields,
         ...(effectiveSourceOwner?.kind === 'runtime'
           ? { expectedRuntimeEnvironmentId: effectiveSourceOwner.runtimeEnvironmentId }
           : effectiveSourceOwner?.kind === 'ssh'
             ? { expectedSshConnectionId: effectiveSourceOwner.connectionId }
             : {})
-      }).catch((error) => {
-        toast.error(
-          error instanceof Error
-            ? error.message
-            : translate('auto.lib.workspace.browser.tab.open.urlFailed', 'Unable to open URL.')
-        )
-      })
+      }).then(
+        (pageId) => focusHttpLinkPage(fields.focusOnCreate === false ? null : pageId),
+        (error) => {
+          toast.error(
+            error instanceof Error
+              ? error.message
+              : translate('auto.lib.workspace.browser.tab.open.urlFailed', 'Unable to open URL.')
+          )
+        }
+      )
     }
     return
   }
@@ -181,18 +197,20 @@ export function openHttpLink(url: string, opts: OpenHttpLinkOptions = {}): void
     // history entry — the user isn't changing worktrees, they're opening a tab
     // in the one they're already in. activateAndRevealWorktree is reserved for
     // file-link jumps that genuinely switch worktrees.
-    if (!isFloatingWorkspaceId(worktreeId)) {
+    if (!isHttpLinkBackgroundOpen(state) && !isFloatingWorkspaceId(worktreeId)) {
       // Why: the floating workspace uses a synthetic worktree id. Promoting it
       // to the global activeWorktreeId deselects the real repo workspace.
       reselectWorkspaceKeepingHost(state, worktreeId)
     }
     const localhostRoute = localhostLabelRouteForHttpLink(url, state, sourceOwner)
     if (!localhostRoute) {
-      state.createBrowserTab(worktreeId, url, { activate: true })
+      openLocalHttpLinkTab(state, worktreeId, url)
       return
     }
+    // Why placed now: the clicked pane is the active group only until the user clicks elsewhere.
+    const placement = resolveHttpLinkBrowserPlacement(state, worktreeId)
     void openLabeledLocalhostLink(url, localhostRoute, (labeledUrl) => {
-      state.createBrowserTab(worktreeId, labeledUrl, { activate: true })
+      openLocalHttpLinkTab(storeAccessor?.() ?? state, worktreeId, labeledUrl, placement)
     })
     return
   }
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/workspace-browser-tab-open.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/workspace-browser-tab-open.test.ts
index 1613931aa75..b176baa3bca 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/lib/workspace-browser-tab-open.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/workspace-browser-tab-open.test.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,12 @@ import {
   openWorkspaceBrowserTab
 } from './workspace-browser-tab-open'
 
+function createBrowserTabMock() {
+  return vi.fn((_worktreeId: string, _url: string, _options: Record<string, unknown>) => ({
+    activePageId: 'page-1'
+  }))
+}
+
 const mocks = vi.hoisted(() => ({
   createRemote: vi.fn(),
   getState: vi.fn(),
@@ -69,7 +75,7 @@ beforeEach(() => {
 
 describe('openWorkspaceBrowserTab', () => {
   it('opens client-owned searches with a safe title and host-specific profile', async () => {
-    const createBrowserTab = vi.fn()
+    const createBrowserTab = createBrowserTabMock()
     const sshHost = toSshExecutionHostId('ssh-target')
     mocks.state = {
       ...ownerState(sshHost),
@@ -107,7 +113,7 @@ describe('openWorkspaceBrowserTab', () => {
   })
 
   it('creates a client tab without activating it when requested', async () => {
-    const createBrowserTab = vi.fn()
+    const createBrowserTab = createBrowserTabMock()
     const sshHost = toSshExecutionHostId('ssh-target')
     mocks.state = {
       ...ownerState(sshHost),
@@ -137,7 +143,7 @@ describe('openWorkspaceBrowserTab', () => {
     mocks.state = {
       ...ownerState(sshHost),
       settings: { browserSshWorkspaceRoutingDisabledTargetIds: ['ssh-target'] },
-      createBrowserTab: vi.fn(),
+      createBrowserTab: createBrowserTabMock(),
       defaultBrowserSessionProfileId: 'focused-profile',
       defaultBrowserSessionProfileIdByHostId: { [sshHost]: 'ssh-profile' }
     }
@@ -160,7 +166,7 @@ describe('openWorkspaceBrowserTab', () => {
   })
 
   it('surfaces the opening workspace and titles runtime-owned URL tabs by target', async () => {
-    const createBrowserTab = vi.fn()
+    const createBrowserTab = createBrowserTabMock()
     mocks.state = {
       ...ownerState(toRuntimeExecutionHostId('hub-a')),
       ...browserCapableRuntime('hub-a'),
@@ -198,7 +204,7 @@ describe('openWorkspaceBrowserTab', () => {
     mocks.state = {
       ...ownerState(toRuntimeExecutionHostId('hub-a')),
       ...browserCapableRuntime('hub-a'),
-      createBrowserTab: vi.fn(),
+      createBrowserTab: createBrowserTabMock(),
       defaultBrowserSessionProfileId: 'client-profile',
       defaultBrowserSessionProfileIdByHostId: {}
     }
@@ -223,7 +229,7 @@ describe('openWorkspaceBrowserTab', () => {
   })
 
   it('waits for host registration before reconciling an asserted runtime link', async () => {
-    const createBrowserTab = vi.fn()
+    const createBrowserTab = createBrowserTabMock()
     mocks.state = {
       ...ownerState(toRuntimeExecutionHostId('hub-a')),
       ...browserCapableRuntime('hub-a'),
@@ -249,7 +255,7 @@ describe('openWorkspaceBrowserTab', () => {
   })
 
   it('keeps an asserted runtime link on its owner when policy selects the local client', async () => {
-    const createBrowserTab = vi.fn()
+    const createBrowserTab = createBrowserTabMock()
     mocks.state = {
       ...ownerState(toRuntimeExecutionHostId('hub-a')),
       ...browserCapableRuntime('hub-a'),
@@ -289,7 +295,7 @@ describe('openWorkspaceBrowserTab', () => {
     mocks.state = {
       ...ownerState(toRuntimeExecutionHostId('hub-a')),
       ...browserCapableRuntime('hub-a'),
-      createBrowserTab: vi.fn(),
+      createBrowserTab: createBrowserTabMock(),
       defaultBrowserSessionProfileId: 'client-profile',
       defaultBrowserSessionProfileIdByHostId: {}
     }
@@ -311,7 +317,7 @@ describe('openWorkspaceBrowserTab', () => {
     mocks.state = {
       ...ownerState(toRuntimeExecutionHostId('hub-a')),
       ...browserCapableRuntime('hub-a'),
-      createBrowserTab: vi.fn(),
+      createBrowserTab: createBrowserTabMock(),
       defaultBrowserSessionProfileId: 'client-profile',
       defaultBrowserSessionProfileIdByHostId: {}
     }
@@ -320,7 +326,7 @@ describe('openWorkspaceBrowserTab', () => {
     mocks.state = {
       ...ownerState(toRuntimeExecutionHostId('hub-b')),
       ...browserCapableRuntime('hub-b'),
-      createBrowserTab: vi.fn(),
+      createBrowserTab: createBrowserTabMock(),
       defaultBrowserSessionProfileId: 'client-profile',
       defaultBrowserSessionProfileIdByHostId: {}
     }
@@ -341,7 +347,7 @@ describe('openWorkspaceBrowserTab', () => {
     mocks.state = {
       ...ownerState(toRuntimeExecutionHostId('hub-a')),
       ...browserCapableRuntime('hub-a'),
-      createBrowserTab: vi.fn(),
+      createBrowserTab: createBrowserTabMock(),
       defaultBrowserSessionProfileId: 'client-profile',
       defaultBrowserSessionProfileIdByHostId: {}
     }
@@ -363,7 +369,7 @@ describe('openWorkspaceBrowserTab', () => {
     mocks.state = {
       ...ownerState(sshHost, 'hub-a'),
       ...browserCapableRuntime('hub-a'),
-      createBrowserTab: vi.fn(),
+      createBrowserTab: createBrowserTabMock(),
       defaultBrowserSessionProfileId: 'client-profile',
       defaultBrowserSessionProfileIdByHostId: {}
     }
@@ -384,7 +390,7 @@ describe('openWorkspaceBrowserTab', () => {
   it('does not fall back to a client browser for an incapable asserted runtime', async () => {
     mocks.state = {
       ...ownerState(toRuntimeExecutionHostId('hub-a')),
-      createBrowserTab: vi.fn(),
+      createBrowserTab: createBrowserTabMock(),
       defaultBrowserSessionProfileId: 'client-profile',
       defaultBrowserSessionProfileIdByHostId: {}
     }
@@ -408,7 +414,7 @@ describe('openWorkspaceBrowserTab', () => {
     mocks.state = {
       ...ownerState(toRuntimeExecutionHostId('hub-a')),
       ...browserCapableRuntime('hub-a'),
-      createBrowserTab: vi.fn(),
+      createBrowserTab: createBrowserTabMock(),
       defaultBrowserSessionProfileId: 'client-profile',
       defaultBrowserSessionProfileIdByHostId: {}
     }
@@ -429,7 +435,7 @@ describe('openWorkspaceBrowserTab', () => {
   })
 
   it('does not route an asserted floating-terminal source to either runtime or local browser', async () => {
-    const createBrowserTab = vi.fn()
+    const createBrowserTab = createBrowserTabMock()
     mocks.state = {
       activeWorktreeId: FLOATING_TERMINAL_WORKTREE_ID,
       activeWorkspaceExecutionHostId: toRuntimeExecutionHostId('hub-a'),
@@ -465,7 +471,7 @@ describe('openWorkspaceBrowserTab', () => {
       activeWorktreeId: FLOATING_TERMINAL_WORKTREE_ID,
       activeWorkspaceExecutionHostId: toRuntimeExecutionHostId('hub-a'),
       ...browserCapableRuntime('hub-a'),
-      createBrowserTab: vi.fn(),
+      createBrowserTab: createBrowserTabMock(),
       defaultBrowserSessionProfileId: 'client-profile',
       defaultBrowserSessionProfileIdByHostId: {}
     }
@@ -491,7 +497,7 @@ describe('openWorkspaceBrowserTab', () => {
 
   // Two dev servers on one host must not share a tab title.
   it('keeps the port in local-dev tab titles', async () => {
-    const createBrowserTab = vi.fn()
+    const createBrowserTab = createBrowserTabMock()
     mocks.state = {
       ...ownerState(LOCAL_EXECUTION_HOST_ID),
       createBrowserTab,
@@ -510,7 +516,7 @@ describe('openWorkspaceBrowserTab', () => {
   })
 
   it('uses the desktop provider when the runtime cannot stream browsers', async () => {
-    const createBrowserTab = vi.fn()
+    const createBrowserTab = createBrowserTabMock()
     const sshHost = toSshExecutionHostId('ssh-target')
     mocks.state = {
       ...ownerState(sshHost, 'hub-a'),
@@ -535,7 +541,7 @@ describe('openWorkspaceBrowserTab', () => {
   })
 
   it('does not fall back locally when the runtime create outcome is unknown', async () => {
-    const createBrowserTab = vi.fn()
+    const createBrowserTab = createBrowserTabMock()
     mocks.state = {
       ...ownerState(toRuntimeExecutionHostId('hub-a')),
       ...browserCapableRuntime('hub-a'),
@@ -592,7 +598,7 @@ describe('openWorkspaceBrowserTab', () => {
     mocks.state = {
       ...ownerState(toRuntimeExecutionHostId('hub-a')),
       ...browserCapableRuntime('hub-a'),
-      createBrowserTab: vi.fn(),
+      createBrowserTab: createBrowserTabMock(),
       defaultBrowserSessionProfileId: 'focused-profile',
       defaultBrowserSessionProfileIdByHostId: { local: 'local-profile' }
     }
@@ -615,7 +621,7 @@ describe('links from a managed server reached over SSH', () => {
         ['orcad-env', { status: { capabilities: [] }, checkedAt: 1 }]
       ]),
       settings,
-      createBrowserTab: vi.fn(),
+      createBrowserTab: createBrowserTabMock(),
       defaultBrowserSessionProfileId: 'client-profile',
       defaultBrowserSessionProfileIdByHostId: {}
     }
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/workspace-browser-tab-open.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/workspace-browser-tab-open.ts
index 3b773e15020..517333cedc9 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/lib/workspace-browser-tab-open.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/workspace-browser-tab-open.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { createWebRuntimeSessionBrowserTab } from '@/runtime/web-runtime-browser-creation'
+import { resolveWebRuntimeBrowserClientTargetGroup } from '@/runtime/web-runtime-browser-client-target-group'
 import { useAppStore } from '@/store'
 import type { AppState } from '@/store/types'
 import { resolveNewBrowserTabProfile } from '@/store/slices/browser/browser-new-tab-profile'
@@ -11,6 +12,7 @@ import type { SearchEngine } from '../../../shared/browser-url'
 import { FLOATING_TERMINAL_WORKTREE_ID } from '../../../shared/constants'
 import { BROWSER_SCREENCAST_RUNTIME_CAPABILITY } from '../../../shared/protocol-version'
 import type { BrowserClientHostPlacementPreference } from '../../../shared/browser-client-host-placement'
+import type { TabSplitTarget } from '@/store/slices/tabs/tabs-slice-contract'
 import {
   getClientCreationActionPolicy,
   runtimeHostsPagesOnThisDesktop,
@@ -30,6 +32,8 @@ export type WorkspaceBrowserTabIntent = { kind: 'url' } | { kind: 'search'; engi
 export type OpenWorkspaceBrowserTabRequest = {
   workspaceId: string
   targetGroupId?: string
+  /** Opens the tab in a new split beside this group instead of targetGroupId. */
+  split?: TabSplitTarget
   /** Client-local unified tab id of the source; a source-following open omits targetGroupId. */
   afterTabId?: string
   url: string
@@ -174,18 +178,20 @@ function createClientBrowserTab(
   // Why: a desktop-hosted page in a runtime workspace stays owned by that runtime, or the
   // unified tab is disowned from its worktree (palette and activation skip it).
   ownerHostId: ExecutionHostId = hostId
-): void {
+): string | null {
   try {
-    state.createBrowserTab(request.workspaceId, request.url, {
+    const created = state.createBrowserTab(request.workspaceId, request.url, {
       activate: request.focusOnCreate !== false,
       browserRuntimeEnvironmentId: null,
       focusAddressBar: false,
       executionHostId: ownerHostId,
       ...resolveNewBrowserTabProfile(state, request.workspaceId, hostId),
       targetGroupId: request.targetGroupId,
+      ...(request.split ? { split: request.split } : {}),
       ...(request.afterTabId ? { afterTabId: request.afterTabId } : {}),
       title: presentation.title
     })
+    return created.activePageId ?? null
   } catch (error) {
     throw openFailure(presentation.error, 'client tab creation rejected', error)
   }
@@ -200,9 +206,10 @@ function assertManagedBrowserEnabled(
   }
 }
 
+/** Resolves to the page id when the page renders on this desktop, else null. */
 export async function openWorkspaceBrowserTab(
   request: OpenWorkspaceBrowserTabRequest
-): Promise<void> {
+): Promise<string | null> {
   const presentation = intentPresentation(request.intent, request.url)
   if (!validateTarget(request.url)) {
     throw openFailure(presentation.error, 'target is not an http(s) URL')
@@ -263,8 +270,7 @@ export async function openWorkspaceBrowserTab(
     if (!host || host.kind === 'runtime') {
       throw openFailure(presentation.error, `unresolved client host: ${route.executionHostId}`)
     }
-    createClientBrowserTab(state, request, host.id, presentation)
-    return
+    return createClientBrowserTab(state, request, host.id, presentation)
   }
   if (
     route.executionHostId &&
@@ -285,8 +291,7 @@ export async function openWorkspaceBrowserTab(
     const localHostId = host && host.kind !== 'runtime' ? host.id : LOCAL_EXECUTION_HOST_ID
     const ownerHostId =
       host?.kind === 'runtime' && route.executionHostId ? route.executionHostId : localHostId
-    createClientBrowserTab(state, request, localHostId, presentation, ownerHostId)
-    return
+    return createClientBrowserTab(state, request, localHostId, presentation, ownerHostId)
   }
   let created = false
   try {
@@ -294,9 +299,7 @@ export async function openWorkspaceBrowserTab(
       worktreeId: request.workspaceId,
       environmentId,
       url: request.url,
-      targetGroupId: request.targetGroupId,
-      // Client placement survives older hosts publishing a page before the create response.
-      ...(request.targetGroupId ? { clientTargetGroupId: request.targetGroupId } : {}),
+      ...resolveWebRuntimeBrowserClientTargetGroup(state, request, environmentId),
       ...(request.afterTabId ? { clientAfterTabId: request.afterTabId } : {}),
       // Owner-pinned links need the host tab published before client reconciliation.
       ...(expectedEnvironmentId !== null ? { waitForRegistration: true } : {}),
@@ -317,4 +320,5 @@ export async function openWorkspaceBrowserTab(
   if (!created) {
     throw openFailure(presentation.error, 'runtime browser tab creation was unavailable')
   }
+  return null
 }
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/main.tsx b/src/renderer/src/main.tsx
index b7c92fbf7ee..ce013ca68d0 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/main.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/main.tsx
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ import { getOrCreateRendererRoot } from './lib/react-renderer-root'
 import { primeTerminalWebglAddon } from './lib/pane-manager/pane-webgl-renderer'
 import { SkillWarningPreviewLauncher } from './components/skills/SkillWarningPreviewLauncher'
 import { installBrowserClientPageRenderer } from './components/browser-pane/browser-client-page-renderer-installation'
+import { registerBrowserClientPageGuestMessageHandler } from './components/browser-pane/browser-client-page-retained-elements'
+import { handleGuestWindowCloseMessage } from './components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-page-window-close'
 import { installOsFileDropCancellationGuard } from './lib/os-file-drop-cancellation-guard'
 
 const disposeOsFileDropGuard = installOsFileDropCancellationGuard()
@@ -47,6 +49,7 @@ if (
 }
 
 applyDocumentTheme('system', { disableTransitions: false })
+registerBrowserClientPageGuestMessageHandler(handleGuestWindowCloseMessage)
 const browserClientPageRenderer = installBrowserClientPageRenderer()
 import.meta.hot?.dispose(() => browserClientPageRenderer?.dispose())
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/runtime/web-runtime-browser-client-target-group.ts b/src/renderer/src/runtime/web-runtime-browser-client-target-group.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ee82d76f3e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/runtime/web-runtime-browser-client-target-group.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+import type { AppState } from '@/store/types'
+import type { TabSplitTarget } from '@/store/slices/tabs/tabs-slice-contract'
+import type { CreateWebRuntimeSessionBrowserTabArgs } from './web-runtime-browser-creation-context'
+import { isWebRuntimeSessionActive } from './web-runtime-session-environment'
+
+/**
+ * The client group a runtime-hosted tab lands in. A requested split becomes a client-only group
+ * the host never sees; runtime creation removes it again when the create fails.
+ */
+export function resolveWebRuntimeBrowserClientTargetGroup(
+  state: Pick<AppState, 'createEmptySplitGroup'>,
+  request: { workspaceId: string; targetGroupId?: string; split?: TabSplitTarget },
+  environmentId: string
+): Pick<
+  CreateWebRuntimeSessionBrowserTabArgs,
+  'targetGroupId' | 'clientTargetGroupId' | 'clientTargetGroupCreated'
+> {
+  const splitGroupId =
+    request.split && isWebRuntimeSessionActive(environmentId)
+      ? state.createEmptySplitGroup(
+          request.workspaceId,
+          request.split.sourceGroupId,
+          request.split.splitDirection,
+          { activate: false }
+        )
+      : null
+  if (splitGroupId) {
+    return { clientTargetGroupId: splitGroupId, clientTargetGroupCreated: true }
+  }
+  return {
+    targetGroupId: request.targetGroupId,
+    // Client placement survives older hosts publishing a page before the create response.
+    ...(request.targetGroupId ? { clientTargetGroupId: request.targetGroupId } : {})
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/store/index.ts b/src/renderer/src/store/index.ts
index f9b0498a146..9288dd5dca2 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/store/index.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/store/index.ts
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ attachEditorBufferIdentityEvents(() => useAppStore.getState())
 registerWindowsPathAccessEnvironments(() => useAppStore.getState().runtimeEnvironments)
 registerWorkspaceHttpLinkBrowserOpener(async (request) => {
   const { openWorkspaceBrowserTab } = await import('@/lib/workspace-browser-tab-open')
-  await openWorkspaceBrowserTab(request)
+  return openWorkspaceBrowserTab(request)
 })
 
 // Why: names the fattest store slices in renderer_memory_highwater breadcrumbs
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor/tabs/editor-open-target-group.ts b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor/tabs/editor-open-target-group.ts
index 7a1ff3b80fe..049db5283d4 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor/tabs/editor-open-target-group.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor/tabs/editor-open-target-group.ts
@@ -118,7 +118,13 @@ export function captureEditorOpenLinkIntent(
   }
 }
 
-function liveLayoutGroupIds(state: LinkPlacementState, worktreeId: string): Set<string> {
+export function liveLayoutGroupIds(
+  state: {
+    layoutByWorktree?: LinkPlacementState['layoutByWorktree']
+    groupsByWorktree?: Record<string, readonly Pick<TabGroup, 'id'>[]>
+  },
+  worktreeId: string
+): Set<string> {
   const layout = state.layoutByWorktree?.[worktreeId]
   const groupIds = new Set((state.groupsByWorktree?.[worktreeId] ?? []).map((group) => group.id))
   if (!layout) {
diff --git a/src/shared/browser-guest-window-close.ts b/src/shared/browser-guest-window-close.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..53510bd7382
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/shared/browser-guest-window-close.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+/** Guest-to-embedder message a page's window.close() sends instead of closing natively. */
+export const BROWSER_GUEST_WINDOW_CLOSE_CHANNEL = 'orca:guest-window-close'
diff --git a/src/shared/browser-link-opening-settings.ts b/src/shared/browser-link-opening-settings.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c39328f8835
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/shared/browser-link-opening-settings.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+export type BrowserLinkOpeningSettings = {
+  /** Links from Orca surfaces join the browser without taking focus from the pane they came from. */
+  openLinksInAppInBackground?: boolean
+}
diff --git a/src/shared/default-global-settings.ts b/src/shared/default-global-settings.ts
index 33230785a0d..67f48ef54f3 100644
--- a/src/shared/default-global-settings.ts
+++ b/src/shared/default-global-settings.ts
@@ -131,6 +131,7 @@ export function buildDefaultSettings(args: {
     localhostWorktreeLabelsEnabled: false,
     openLinksInAppPreferencePrompted: false,
     openLinksInAppModifierInverts: false,
+    openLinksInAppInBackground: false,
     terminalLinkActionPopoverEnabled: true,
     terminalLinkClickBehavior: 'actions',
     terminalUrlMiddleClickBehavior: 'open',
diff --git a/src/shared/global-settings-base.ts b/src/shared/global-settings-base.ts
index e2f49a6803d..af5c2ca0777 100644
--- a/src/shared/global-settings-base.ts
+++ b/src/shared/global-settings-base.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import type { BrowserLinkOpeningSettings } from './browser-link-opening-settings'
 import type { ClaudeAccountSwitchSettings } from './claude-account-switch-settings'
 import type { ExternalConversationSettings } from './external-conversation-settings'
 import type { NativeChatGlobalSettings } from './native-chat-appearance-settings'
@@ -7,4 +8,5 @@ import type { WorktreeDeletionPreferences } from './worktree-deletion-preference
 export type GlobalSettingsBase = NativeChatGlobalSettings &
   WorktreeDeletionPreferences &
   ClaudeAccountSwitchSettings &
-  ExternalConversationSettings
+  ExternalConversationSettings &
+  BrowserLinkOpeningSettings
diff --git a/src/shared/telemetry-property-schemas.ts b/src/shared/telemetry-property-schemas.ts
index bb15a8c4150..a06f94fb37a 100644
--- a/src/shared/telemetry-property-schemas.ts
+++ b/src/shared/telemetry-property-schemas.ts
@@ -200,6 +200,7 @@ export const SETTINGS_CHANGED_WHITELIST = [
   'editorAutoSave',
   'openLinksInApp',
   'openLinksInAppModifierInverts',
+  'openLinksInAppInBackground',
   'terminalLinkActionPopoverEnabled',
   'experimentalMobile',
   'experimentalPet',
diff --git a/tests/e2e/ssh-orcad-terminal-browser-link.spec.ts b/tests/e2e/ssh-orcad-terminal-browser-link.spec.ts
index 69c77ce9a68..54762eabf30 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/ssh-orcad-terminal-browser-link.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/e2e/ssh-orcad-terminal-browser-link.spec.ts
@@ -60,7 +60,9 @@ async function terminalLinkPoint(
 
 /** Prints origin+path as one link; split apart so the typed command never shows the whole URL. */
 async function printLink(page: Page, tabId: string, origin: string, path: string): Promise<void> {
-  await typeInTerminal(page, tabId, `printf '%s%s\\n' '${origin}' '${path}'`)
+  // Why the blank row: a link opened beside the terminal narrows it, and a URL that exactly fills a
+  // row would read the prompt below as its edge-wrapped continuation.
+  await typeInTerminal(page, tabId, `printf '%s%s\\n\\n' '${origin}' '${path}'`)
   await expectPaneText(page, tabId, `${origin}${path}`)
 }