diff --git a/src/main/git/worktree-add.ts b/src/main/git/worktree-add.ts
index 4110a4bda0b..8b43cdcca85 100644
--- a/src/main/git/worktree-add.ts
+++ b/src/main/git/worktree-add.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,46 @@ import type {
 import { gitExecOptions, resolveWorktreeAddTimeoutMs } from './worktree-operation-options'
 import { bumpWorktreeScanGeneration } from './worktree-scan-cache'
 
-async function persistWorktreeCreationBase(
+export type WorktreeAddBaseContext = AddWorktreeResult & {
+  effectiveBase: string
+}
+
+export async function resolveWorktreeAddBaseContext(
+  repoPath: string,
+  baseBranch: string,
+  refreshLocalBaseRef: boolean,
+  options: AddWorktreeOptions
+): Promise<WorktreeAddBaseContext> {
+  const effectiveBase = await resolveWorktreeAddBaseRef(baseBranch, (qualifiedRef) =>
+    hasWorktreeBaseCommitRef(repoPath, qualifiedRef, options)
+  )
+  const localBaseRefRefresh = refreshLocalBaseRef
+    ? await refreshLocalBaseRefForWorktreeCreate(
+        repoPath,
+        baseBranch,
+        effectiveBase,
+        options.remoteTrackingBase,
+        options
+      )
+    : undefined
+  const localBaseRefUpdateSuggestion =
+    !refreshLocalBaseRef && options.suggestLocalBaseRefUpdate
+      ? await getLocalBaseRefUpdateSuggestionForWorktreeCreate(
+          repoPath,
+          baseBranch,
+          effectiveBase,
+          options.remoteTrackingBase,
+          options
+        )
+      : undefined
+  return {
+    effectiveBase,
+    ...(localBaseRefRefresh ? { localBaseRefRefresh } : {}),
+    ...(localBaseRefUpdateSuggestion ? { localBaseRefUpdateSuggestion } : {})
+  }
+}
+
+export async function persistWorktreeCreationBase(
   worktreePath: string,
   branch: string,
   effectiveBase: string,
@@ -46,6 +85,35 @@ async function persistWorktreeCreationBase(
   }
 }
 
+export async function configurePushAutoSetupRemote(
+  worktreePath: string,
+  options: GitWorktreeExecOptions
+): Promise<void> {
+  try {
+    // Why: `--get` (not `--local --get`) treats a value at any scope as an explicit user choice.
+    let alreadySet = false
+    try {
+      await gitExecFileAsync(['config', '--get', 'push.autoSetupRemote'], {
+        ...gitExecOptions(worktreePath, options)
+      })
+      alreadySet = true
+    } catch (readError) {
+      // Why: exit 1 means unset; other codes are real read failures and must not overwrite config.
+      const code = (readError as { code?: unknown })?.code
+      if (code !== 1) {
+        throw readError
+      }
+    }
+    if (!alreadySet) {
+      await gitExecFileAsync(['config', '--local', 'push.autoSetupRemote', 'true'], {
+        ...gitExecOptions(worktreePath, options)
+      })
+    }
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.warn(`addWorktree: failed to set push.autoSetupRemote for ${worktreePath}`, error)
+  }
+}
+
 export async function unsetWorktreeCreationBase(
   worktreePath: string,
   branch: string,
@@ -120,27 +188,15 @@ async function performAddWorktree(
     // Why: --no-track avoids inheriting the base's upstream so `git status` won't misreport "behind by N" pre-publish; first push sets it (see push.autoSetupRemote below).
     args.push('--no-track', '-b', branch, worktreePath)
     if (baseBranch) {
-      effectiveBase = await resolveWorktreeAddBaseRef(baseBranch, (qualifiedRef) =>
-        hasWorktreeBaseCommitRef(repoPath, qualifiedRef, options)
+      const baseContext = await resolveWorktreeAddBaseContext(
+        repoPath,
+        baseBranch,
+        refreshLocalBaseRef,
+        options
       )
-      // Why: resolve the creation base first to distinguish remote-tracking refs from slash-containing local branches (mutation gated behind the explicit setting).
-      if (refreshLocalBaseRef) {
-        localBaseRefRefresh = await refreshLocalBaseRefForWorktreeCreate(
-          repoPath,
-          baseBranch,
-          effectiveBase,
-          options.remoteTrackingBase,
-          options
-        )
-      } else if (options.suggestLocalBaseRefUpdate) {
-        localBaseRefUpdateSuggestion = await getLocalBaseRefUpdateSuggestionForWorktreeCreate(
-          repoPath,
-          baseBranch,
-          effectiveBase,
-          options.remoteTrackingBase,
-          options
-        )
-      }
+      effectiveBase = baseContext.effectiveBase
+      localBaseRefRefresh = baseContext.localBaseRefRefresh
+      localBaseRefUpdateSuggestion = baseContext.localBaseRefUpdateSuggestion
       args.push(effectiveBase)
     }
   }
@@ -163,29 +219,7 @@ async function performAddWorktree(
   // `git push` create+set origin/<branch> (git >=2.37; older clients ignore it). `--local` on a
   // linked worktree writes the shared common-dir config (whole repo) — intentional and idempotent,
   // so it's warn-only and not rolled back on failure.
-  try {
-    // Why: `--get` (not `--local --get`) so a value at any scope counts as "user already chose" and isn't overwritten.
-    let alreadySet = false
-    try {
-      await gitExecFileAsync(['config', '--get', 'push.autoSetupRemote'], {
-        ...gitExecOptions(worktreePath, options)
-      })
-      alreadySet = true
-    } catch (readError) {
-      // Why: `git config --get` exits 1 only when unset at every scope; any other code is a real read failure — rethrow rather than overwrite the user's value.
-      const code = (readError as { code?: unknown })?.code
-      if (code !== 1) {
-        throw readError
-      }
-    }
-    if (!alreadySet) {
-      await gitExecFileAsync(['config', '--local', 'push.autoSetupRemote', 'true'], {
-        ...gitExecOptions(worktreePath, options)
-      })
-    }
-  } catch (error) {
-    console.warn(`addWorktree: failed to set push.autoSetupRemote for ${worktreePath}`, error)
-  }
+  await configurePushAutoSetupRemote(worktreePath, options)
   return {
     ...(localBaseRefRefresh ? { localBaseRefRefresh } : {}),
     ...(localBaseRefUpdateSuggestion ? { localBaseRefUpdateSuggestion } : {})
diff --git a/src/main/git/worktree-create-preparation-real-git.test.ts b/src/main/git/worktree-create-preparation-real-git.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..bdb1e9fcc4b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/git/worktree-create-preparation-real-git.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+import { execFileSync } from 'node:child_process'
+import { mkdir, mkdtemp, readFile, realpath, rm, writeFile } from 'node:fs/promises'
+import { tmpdir } from 'node:os'
+import { join } from 'node:path'
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import {
+  createWorktreePreparationLockReason,
+  isWorktreeCreatePreparation,
+  WORKTREE_CREATE_PREPARATION_DIRECTORY
+} from '../../shared/worktree/create-preparation'
+import { listWorktrees } from './worktree'
+import {
+  discardPreparedWorktree,
+  finalizePreparedWorktree,
+  prepareWorktreeCreateCheckout
+} from './worktree-create-preparation'
+import { areWorktreePathsEqual } from './worktree-path-comparison'
+
+const tempRoots: string[] = []
+
+function git(cwd: string, args: string[]): string {
+  return execFileSync('git', args, {
+    cwd,
+    encoding: 'utf8',
+    stdio: ['pipe', 'pipe', 'pipe']
+  }).trim()
+}
+
+async function createRepo(): Promise<{ repoPath: string; root: string }> {
+  const root = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), 'orca-prepared-worktree-'))
+  tempRoots.push(root)
+  const repoPath = join(root, 'repo')
+  execFileSync('git', ['init', '--quiet', repoPath])
+  git(repoPath, ['symbolic-ref', 'HEAD', 'refs/heads/main'])
+  git(repoPath, ['config', 'user.email', 'test@example.com'])
+  git(repoPath, ['config', 'user.name', 'Test User'])
+  git(repoPath, ['config', 'core.autocrlf', 'false'])
+  await writeFile(join(repoPath, 'version.txt'), 'one\n')
+  git(repoPath, ['add', 'version.txt'])
+  git(repoPath, ['commit', '--quiet', '-m', 'initial'])
+  return { repoPath, root }
+}
+
+afterEach(async () => {
+  await Promise.all(tempRoots.splice(0).map((root) => rm(root, { recursive: true, force: true })))
+})
+
+describe('prepared worktree creation with real Git', () => {
+  it('cleans up when the create signal is canceled', async () => {
+    const { repoPath, root } = await createRepo()
+    const preparationRoot = join(root, WORKTREE_CREATE_PREPARATION_DIRECTORY)
+    const preparedPath = join(preparationRoot, `${process.pid}-canceled`)
+    await mkdir(preparationRoot, { recursive: true })
+
+    await prepareWorktreeCreateCheckout(
+      repoPath,
+      preparedPath,
+      'main',
+      createWorktreePreparationLockReason('canceled-test')
+    )
+
+    const controller = new AbortController()
+    controller.abort()
+    await expect(
+      discardPreparedWorktree(repoPath, preparedPath, { signal: controller.signal })
+    ).resolves.toBeUndefined()
+
+    expect(await listWorktrees(repoPath, { includeCreatePreparations: true })).toHaveLength(1)
+  })
+
+  it('hides the preparation, retargets an advanced base, and attaches the final branch', async () => {
+    const { repoPath, root } = await createRepo()
+    const preparationRoot = join(root, WORKTREE_CREATE_PREPARATION_DIRECTORY)
+    const preparedPath = join(preparationRoot, `${process.pid}-test`)
+    const finalPath = join(root, 'final-worktree')
+    await mkdir(preparationRoot, { recursive: true })
+
+    await prepareWorktreeCreateCheckout(
+      repoPath,
+      preparedPath,
+      'main',
+      createWorktreePreparationLockReason('real-git-test')
+    )
+
+    const visibleBeforeSubmit = await listWorktrees(repoPath)
+    const allBeforeSubmit = await listWorktrees(repoPath, { includeCreatePreparations: true })
+    expect(visibleBeforeSubmit).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(allBeforeSubmit).toHaveLength(2)
+    expect(allBeforeSubmit.find(isWorktreeCreatePreparation)).toMatchObject({
+      locked: true,
+      lockReason: expect.stringContaining('orca-create-preparation:v1:')
+    })
+
+    await writeFile(join(repoPath, 'version.txt'), 'two\n')
+    git(repoPath, ['add', 'version.txt'])
+    git(repoPath, ['commit', '--quiet', '-m', 'advance base'])
+    const latestHead = git(repoPath, ['rev-parse', 'HEAD'])
+
+    await finalizePreparedWorktree(
+      repoPath,
+      preparedPath,
+      finalPath,
+      'feature/prepared',
+      'main',
+      false
+    )
+
+    expect(git(finalPath, ['rev-parse', 'HEAD'])).toBe(latestHead)
+    expect(git(finalPath, ['branch', '--show-current'])).toBe('feature/prepared')
+    expect((await readFile(join(finalPath, 'version.txt'), 'utf8')).replaceAll('\r\n', '\n')).toBe(
+      'two\n'
+    )
+    expect(git(finalPath, ['config', '--get', 'branch.feature/prepared.base'])).toBe(
+      'refs/heads/main'
+    )
+    expect(git(finalPath, ['config', '--get', 'push.autoSetupRemote'])).toBe('true')
+    const listedWorktrees = await listWorktrees(repoPath)
+    const resolvedFinalPath = await realpath(finalPath)
+    expect(
+      listedWorktrees.some((worktree) => areWorktreePathsEqual(worktree.path, resolvedFinalPath))
+    ).toBe(true)
+    expect(
+      listedWorktrees.find((worktree) => areWorktreePathsEqual(worktree.path, resolvedFinalPath))
+        ?.locked
+    ).not.toBe(true)
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/main/git/worktree-create-preparation.ts b/src/main/git/worktree-create-preparation.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..626b090a0e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/git/worktree-create-preparation.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,270 @@
+import { windowsLongPathGitArgs } from '../../shared/windows-long-path-git-args'
+import { resolveWorktreeAddBaseRef } from '../../shared/worktree/base-ref'
+import type { AddWorktreeOptions, AddWorktreeResult, GitWorktreeExecOptions } from './worktree'
+import {
+  configurePushAutoSetupRemote,
+  notifyPreparedWorktreeMutation,
+  persistWorktreeCreationBase,
+  resolveWorktreeAddBaseContext,
+  resolveWorktreeAddTimeoutMs,
+  WORKTREE_REMOVAL_REGISTRATION_TIMEOUT_MS
+} from './worktree'
+import { hasWorktreeBaseCommitRef } from './worktree-base-ref-probe'
+import { gitExecFileAsync } from './runner'
+import { runWithGitReadCacheInvalidation } from './status'
+
+function gitExecOptions(
+  cwd: string,
+  options: GitWorktreeExecOptions
+): { cwd: string; wslDistro?: string; signal?: AbortSignal; timeout?: number } {
+  return {
+    cwd,
+    ...(options.wslDistro ? { wslDistro: options.wslDistro } : {}),
+    ...(options.signal ? { signal: options.signal } : {}),
+    ...(options.timeout ? { timeout: options.timeout } : {})
+  }
+}
+
+function gitCleanupOptions(
+  cwd: string,
+  options: GitWorktreeExecOptions
+): { cwd: string; wslDistro?: string; timeout?: number } {
+  // Why: cancellation must not strand a partially moved worktree; cleanup is bounded separately.
+  return gitExecOptions(cwd, { ...options, signal: undefined })
+}
+
+async function performDiscardPreparedWorktree(
+  repoPath: string,
+  worktreePath: string,
+  options: GitWorktreeExecOptions
+): Promise<void> {
+  const cleanupGitOptions = {
+    ...gitCleanupOptions(repoPath, options),
+    timeout: options.timeout ?? WORKTREE_REMOVAL_REGISTRATION_TIMEOUT_MS
+  }
+  try {
+    await gitExecFileAsync(
+      [...windowsLongPathGitArgs(repoPath), 'worktree', 'unlock', worktreePath],
+      cleanupGitOptions
+    )
+  } catch {
+    // It may be unlocked already or only partially registered.
+  }
+  await gitExecFileAsync(
+    [...windowsLongPathGitArgs(repoPath), 'worktree', 'remove', '--force', worktreePath],
+    cleanupGitOptions
+  )
+}
+
+export async function prepareWorktreeCreateCheckout(
+  repoPath: string,
+  worktreePath: string,
+  baseBranch: string,
+  lockReason: string,
+  options: GitWorktreeExecOptions = {}
+): Promise<void> {
+  try {
+    await runWithGitReadCacheInvalidation(async () => {
+      const effectiveBase = await resolveWorktreeAddBaseRef(baseBranch, (qualifiedRef) =>
+        hasWorktreeBaseCommitRef(repoPath, qualifiedRef, options)
+      )
+      try {
+        await gitExecFileAsync(
+          [
+            ...windowsLongPathGitArgs(repoPath),
+            'worktree',
+            'add',
+            '--detach',
+            '--no-checkout',
+            worktreePath,
+            effectiveBase
+          ],
+          { ...gitExecOptions(repoPath, options), timeout: resolveWorktreeAddTimeoutMs() }
+        )
+        // Why: reset materializes files without running user post-checkout hooks before submit.
+        await gitExecFileAsync(
+          [...windowsLongPathGitArgs(worktreePath), 'reset', '--hard', effectiveBase],
+          { ...gitExecOptions(worktreePath, options), timeout: resolveWorktreeAddTimeoutMs() }
+        )
+        await gitExecFileAsync(
+          [
+            ...windowsLongPathGitArgs(repoPath),
+            'worktree',
+            'lock',
+            '--reason',
+            lockReason,
+            worktreePath
+          ],
+          { ...gitExecOptions(repoPath, options), timeout: resolveWorktreeAddTimeoutMs() }
+        )
+      } catch (error) {
+        await performDiscardPreparedWorktree(repoPath, worktreePath, options).catch(() => {})
+        throw error
+      }
+    })
+  } finally {
+    notifyPreparedWorktreeMutation(repoPath)
+  }
+}
+
+export async function discardPreparedWorktree(
+  repoPath: string,
+  worktreePath: string,
+  options: GitWorktreeExecOptions = {}
+): Promise<void> {
+  try {
+    await runWithGitReadCacheInvalidation(() =>
+      performDiscardPreparedWorktree(repoPath, worktreePath, options)
+    )
+  } finally {
+    notifyPreparedWorktreeMutation(repoPath)
+  }
+}
+
+export async function unlockPreparedWorktree(
+  repoPath: string,
+  worktreePath: string,
+  options: GitWorktreeExecOptions = {}
+): Promise<void> {
+  const cleanupGitOptions = {
+    ...gitCleanupOptions(repoPath, options),
+    timeout: options.timeout ?? WORKTREE_REMOVAL_REGISTRATION_TIMEOUT_MS
+  }
+  try {
+    await runWithGitReadCacheInvalidation(() =>
+      gitExecFileAsync(
+        [...windowsLongPathGitArgs(repoPath), 'worktree', 'unlock', worktreePath],
+        cleanupGitOptions
+      )
+    )
+  } finally {
+    notifyPreparedWorktreeMutation(repoPath)
+  }
+}
+
+async function removeFailedFinalization(
+  repoPath: string,
+  cleanupPath: string,
+  branch: string,
+  moved: boolean,
+  options: GitWorktreeExecOptions
+): Promise<void> {
+  let branchAttached = false
+  if (moved) {
+    try {
+      const { stdout } = await gitExecFileAsync(
+        ['symbolic-ref', '--short', 'HEAD'],
+        gitCleanupOptions(cleanupPath, options)
+      )
+      branchAttached = stdout.trim() === branch
+    } catch {
+      // Detached or no longer readable.
+    }
+  }
+  await performDiscardPreparedWorktree(repoPath, cleanupPath, options).catch(() => {})
+  if (branchAttached) {
+    await gitExecFileAsync(
+      ['branch', '-D', '--', branch],
+      gitCleanupOptions(repoPath, options)
+    ).catch(() => {})
+  }
+}
+
+export async function finalizePreparedWorktree(
+  repoPath: string,
+  preparedPath: string,
+  worktreePath: string,
+  branch: string,
+  baseBranch: string,
+  refreshLocalBaseRef = false,
+  options: AddWorktreeOptions = {}
+): Promise<AddWorktreeResult> {
+  const finalizeGitOptions: AddWorktreeOptions = {
+    ...options,
+    timeout: options.timeout ?? resolveWorktreeAddTimeoutMs()
+  }
+  try {
+    return await runWithGitReadCacheInvalidation(async () => {
+      const baseContext = await resolveWorktreeAddBaseContext(
+        repoPath,
+        baseBranch,
+        refreshLocalBaseRef,
+        finalizeGitOptions
+      )
+      const { stdout: targetHeadOutput } = await gitExecFileAsync(
+        ['rev-parse', '--verify', `${baseContext.effectiveBase}^{commit}`],
+        gitExecOptions(repoPath, finalizeGitOptions)
+      )
+      const targetHead = targetHeadOutput.trim()
+      const { stdout: preparedHeadOutput } = await gitExecFileAsync(
+        ['rev-parse', '--verify', 'HEAD'],
+        gitExecOptions(preparedPath, finalizeGitOptions)
+      )
+      if (preparedHeadOutput.trim() !== targetHead) {
+        await gitExecFileAsync(
+          [...windowsLongPathGitArgs(preparedPath), 'reset', '--hard', targetHead],
+          gitExecOptions(preparedPath, finalizeGitOptions)
+        )
+      }
+
+      let moved = false
+      try {
+        await gitExecFileAsync(
+          [
+            ...windowsLongPathGitArgs(repoPath),
+            'worktree',
+            'move',
+            '-f',
+            '-f',
+            preparedPath,
+            worktreePath
+          ],
+          gitExecOptions(repoPath, finalizeGitOptions)
+        )
+        moved = true
+        // Why: `-f -f` moves the locked preparation while preserving its lock reason (Git >=2.25).
+        await gitExecFileAsync(
+          [
+            ...windowsLongPathGitArgs(worktreePath),
+            'checkout',
+            '--no-track',
+            '-b',
+            branch,
+            targetHead
+          ],
+          gitExecOptions(worktreePath, finalizeGitOptions)
+        )
+        await persistWorktreeCreationBase(
+          worktreePath,
+          branch,
+          baseContext.effectiveBase,
+          finalizeGitOptions
+        )
+        await configurePushAutoSetupRemote(worktreePath, finalizeGitOptions)
+        await gitExecFileAsync(
+          [...windowsLongPathGitArgs(repoPath), 'worktree', 'unlock', worktreePath],
+          gitExecOptions(repoPath, finalizeGitOptions)
+        )
+      } catch (error) {
+        await removeFailedFinalization(
+          repoPath,
+          moved ? worktreePath : preparedPath,
+          branch,
+          moved,
+          finalizeGitOptions
+        )
+        throw error
+      }
+      return {
+        ...(baseContext.localBaseRefRefresh
+          ? { localBaseRefRefresh: baseContext.localBaseRefRefresh }
+          : {}),
+        ...(baseContext.localBaseRefUpdateSuggestion
+          ? { localBaseRefUpdateSuggestion: baseContext.localBaseRefUpdateSuggestion }
+          : {})
+      }
+    })
+  } finally {
+    notifyPreparedWorktreeMutation(repoPath)
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/main/git/worktree-listing.ts b/src/main/git/worktree-listing.ts
index dd6ee20765f..c2c293678d3 100644
--- a/src/main/git/worktree-listing.ts
+++ b/src/main/git/worktree-listing.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { stat } from 'node:fs/promises'
+import { isWorktreeCreatePreparation } from '../../shared/worktree/create-preparation'
 import type { GitWorktreeInfo } from '../../shared/worktree/types'
 import { readTranslatedWorktreeGraph, readWorktreeList } from './worktree-list-reader'
 import type { GitWorktreeExecOptions } from './worktree-operation-options'
@@ -13,7 +14,10 @@ export async function listWorktreeGraph(
   options: GitWorktreeExecOptions = {}
 ): Promise<GitWorktreeInfo[]> {
   try {
-    return await readTranslatedWorktreeGraph(repoPath, options)
+    const worktrees = await readTranslatedWorktreeGraph(repoPath, options)
+    return options.includeCreatePreparations
+      ? worktrees
+      : worktrees.filter((worktree) => !isWorktreeCreatePreparation(worktree))
   } catch (err) {
     if (getErrorCode(err) === 'ENOENT') {
       try {
@@ -39,7 +43,10 @@ export async function listWorktreesUnshared(
 ): Promise<GitWorktreeInfo[]> {
   try {
     const worktrees = await readTranslatedWorktreeGraph(repoPath, options)
-    return annotateSparseCheckoutStatus(worktrees)
+    const visibleWorktrees = options.includeCreatePreparations
+      ? worktrees
+      : worktrees.filter((worktree) => !isWorktreeCreatePreparation(worktree))
+    return annotateSparseCheckoutStatus(visibleWorktrees)
   } catch (err) {
     if (getErrorCode(err) === 'ENOENT') {
       try {
@@ -68,7 +75,10 @@ export async function listWorktreesStrict(
     const translatedPath = translateWorktreePath(worktree.path, repoPath, options)
     return translatedPath === worktree.path ? worktree : { ...worktree, path: translatedPath }
   })
-  return annotateSparseCheckoutStatus(worktrees)
+  const visibleWorktrees = options.includeCreatePreparations
+    ? worktrees
+    : worktrees.filter((worktree) => !isWorktreeCreatePreparation(worktree))
+  return annotateSparseCheckoutStatus(visibleWorktrees)
 }
 
 async function annotateSparseCheckoutStatus(
diff --git a/src/main/git/worktree-operation-options.ts b/src/main/git/worktree-operation-options.ts
index c88c246be9c..9376fe63f85 100644
--- a/src/main/git/worktree-operation-options.ts
+++ b/src/main/git/worktree-operation-options.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ export type GitWorktreeExecOptions = {
   wslDistro?: string
   signal?: AbortSignal
   timeout?: number
+  includeCreatePreparations?: boolean
 }
 
 export type WorktreeRemovalPreflightOptions = GitWorktreeExecOptions & {
diff --git a/src/main/git/worktree-scan-cache.ts b/src/main/git/worktree-scan-cache.ts
index 3bb674c2a99..325a8b92d50 100644
--- a/src/main/git/worktree-scan-cache.ts
+++ b/src/main/git/worktree-scan-cache.ts
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ function shareWorktreeScan(
   const timeout = options.timeout ?? WORKTREE_LIST_TIMEOUT_MS
   // Why: callers with different deadlines cannot safely share which timeout wins the scan.
   // Why `run.name`: a strict joiner must never receive a softened `[]` from a lenient scan.
-  const key = `${repoPath}\0${options.wslDistro ?? ''}\0${timeout}\0${generation}\0${run.name}`
+  const key = `${repoPath}\0${options.wslDistro ?? ''}\0${timeout}\0${options.includeCreatePreparations === true}\0${generation}\0${run.name}`
   const inFlight = inFlightWorktreeScans.get(key)
   if (inFlight) {
     return inFlight
diff --git a/src/main/git/worktree.ts b/src/main/git/worktree.ts
index 317585a82e6..78562787a69 100644
--- a/src/main/git/worktree.ts
+++ b/src/main/git/worktree.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
 export { addWorktree } from './worktree-add'
+export {
+  configurePushAutoSetupRemote,
+  persistWorktreeCreationBase,
+  resolveWorktreeAddBaseContext
+} from './worktree-add'
 export { forceDeleteLocalBranch } from './worktree-branch-removal'
 export { parseWorktreeList } from './worktree-list-parser'
 export { listWorktreeGraph, listWorktreesStrict } from './worktree-listing'
@@ -25,5 +30,6 @@ export {
   listWorktrees,
   listWorktreesSharedStrict
 } from './worktree-scan-cache'
+export { bumpWorktreeScanGeneration as notifyPreparedWorktreeMutation } from './worktree-scan-cache'
 export { addSparseWorktree } from './worktree-sparse-add'
 export { parseCoreSparseCheckoutFlag } from './worktree-sparse-state'
diff --git a/src/main/host-tree-removal.ts b/src/main/host-tree-removal.ts
index dcc8a2f2a43..666d129b27c 100644
--- a/src/main/host-tree-removal.ts
+++ b/src/main/host-tree-removal.ts
@@ -6,15 +6,28 @@ import type { RmOptions } from 'node:fs'
 import { rm } from 'node:fs/promises'
 import { win32 } from 'node:path'
 import { setTimeout as delay } from 'node:timers/promises'
+import { isWindowsAbsolutePathLike } from '../shared/cross-platform-path'
+import { isWslUncPath } from '../shared/wsl-paths'
 
 const WINDOWS_REMOVE_RETRY_DELAYS_MS = [250, 500, 1_000, 2_000]
 const WINDOWS_RM_MAX_RETRIES = 8
 const WINDOWS_RM_RETRY_DELAY_MS = 150
 
+/** Convert a native host filesystem path to the Win32 long-path namespace. */
+export function toHostFilesystemPath(targetPath: string): string {
+  // POSIX paths are used by WSL callers even while the Electron process runs
+  // on Windows; do not reinterpret those as drive-relative Win32 paths.
+  return process.platform === 'win32' &&
+    isWindowsAbsolutePathLike(targetPath) &&
+    !isWslUncPath(targetPath)
+    ? win32.toNamespacedPath(targetPath)
+    : targetPath
+}
+
 export function toHostRemovalPath(targetPath: string): string {
   // Why: Git for Windows can fail long recursive deletes even after Orca has
   // proven the worktree target; Node's host deletion should use Win32 long paths.
-  return process.platform === 'win32' ? win32.toNamespacedPath(targetPath) : targetPath
+  return toHostFilesystemPath(targetPath)
 }
 
 function getHostRemovalOptions(): RmOptions {
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/worktree-remote.ts b/src/main/ipc/worktree-remote.ts
index 88e4942c94f..66234738128 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/worktree-remote.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/worktree-remote.ts
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import type {
 import { getPRForBranch } from '../github/client'
 import { listWorktrees, addWorktree, addSparseWorktree } from '../git/worktree'
 import type { AddWorktreeOptions, AddWorktreeResult } from '../git/worktree'
+import { consumePreparedWorktreeCreate } from '../worktree-create-preparation'
 import {
   getBranchConflictKind,
   resolveDefaultBaseRefViaExec,
@@ -2381,10 +2382,27 @@ export async function createLocalWorktree(
     ...remoteTrackingBaseOption,
     ...(suggestLocalBaseRefUpdate ? { suggestLocalBaseRefUpdate } : {})
   }
+  const preparedWorktreeOptions = suggestLocalBaseRefUpdate
+    ? addProjectGitOptions({ ...remoteTrackingBaseOption, suggestLocalBaseRefUpdate })
+    : addProjectGitOptions(remoteTrackingBaseOption)
   let addResult: AddWorktreeResult
   try {
     addResult =
       (await timing.time('git_worktree_add', async () => {
+        if (sparseDirectories.length === 0 && !checkoutExistingBranch) {
+          const preparedResult = await consumePreparedWorktreeCreate({
+            repoPath: repo.path,
+            workspaceRoot,
+            worktreePath,
+            branch: branchName,
+            baseBranch,
+            refreshLocalBaseRef: settings.refreshLocalBaseRefOnWorktreeCreate,
+            ...(preparedWorktreeOptions ? { options: preparedWorktreeOptions } : {})
+          })
+          if (preparedResult) {
+            return preparedResult
+          }
+        }
         if (sparseDirectories.length > 0) {
           if (checkoutExistingBranch) {
             return addSparseWorktree(
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/worktrees/create/register-worktree-prefetch-handler.ts b/src/main/ipc/worktrees/create/register-worktree-prefetch-handler.ts
index 19b0516f274..849a1ff66d9 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/worktrees/create/register-worktree-prefetch-handler.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/worktrees/create/register-worktree-prefetch-handler.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { ipcMain } from 'electron'
 import { prefetchWorktreeCreateBase } from '../../../worktree-create-base-prefetch'
+import { prepareWorktreeCreateForRepo } from '../../../worktree-create-preparation'
 import type { WorktreeIpcContext } from '../worktree-ipc-context'
 
 export function registerWorktreePrefetchHandler(context: WorktreeIpcContext): void {
@@ -13,7 +14,14 @@ export function registerWorktreePrefetchHandler(context: WorktreeIpcContext): vo
         return
       }
       try {
-        await prefetchWorktreeCreateBase({ repo, baseBranch: args.baseBranch, runtime })
+        const baseBranch = await prefetchWorktreeCreateBase({
+          repo,
+          baseBranch: args.baseBranch,
+          runtime
+        })
+        if (baseBranch) {
+          await prepareWorktreeCreateForRepo(store, repo, baseBranch)
+        }
       } catch {
         // Why: optimistic warm-up; the real create path awaits the same refresh and reports failures there.
       }
diff --git a/src/main/local-worktree-filesystem.test.ts b/src/main/local-worktree-filesystem.test.ts
index 9eed498e73d..52b1d16f21a 100644
--- a/src/main/local-worktree-filesystem.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/local-worktree-filesystem.test.ts
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ vi.mock('node:fs/promises', () => ({
 import {
   getLocalWorktreePathAccess,
   removeLocalWorktreePath,
+  toHostFilesystemPath,
   toHostRemovalPath
 } from './local-worktree-filesystem'
 
@@ -103,6 +104,27 @@ describe('local worktree filesystem runtime access', () => {
     })
   })
 
+  it('uses the same Win32 namespace for host directory creation on Windows', async () => {
+    await withPlatform('win32', async () => {
+      const longPath = `C:\\repo\\${'nested\\'.repeat(40)}feature`
+
+      expect(toHostFilesystemPath(longPath)).toBe(`\\\\?\\${longPath}`)
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('leaves POSIX WSL paths unchanged on a Windows host', async () => {
+    await withPlatform('win32', async () => {
+      expect(toHostFilesystemPath('/home/me/worktrees')).toBe('/home/me/worktrees')
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('leaves WSL UNC paths unchanged on a Windows host', async () => {
+    await withPlatform('win32', async () => {
+      const wslPath = String.raw`\\wsl.localhost\Ubuntu\home\me\worktrees`
+      expect(toHostFilesystemPath(wslPath)).toBe(wslPath)
+    })
+  })
+
   it('retries transient host removal failures on Windows', async () => {
     vi.useFakeTimers()
     await withPlatform('win32', async () => {
diff --git a/src/main/local-worktree-filesystem.ts b/src/main/local-worktree-filesystem.ts
index 9e4a1dba6a9..f5d8714e196 100644
--- a/src/main/local-worktree-filesystem.ts
+++ b/src/main/local-worktree-filesystem.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import { removeHostTree } from './host-tree-removal'
 import { toLinuxPath } from './wsl'
 import type { ReadPath, StatPath } from './worktree-orphan-gitdir-proof'
 
-export { toHostRemovalPath } from './host-tree-removal'
+export { toHostFilesystemPath, toHostRemovalPath } from './host-tree-removal'
 
 export type LocalWorktreeFilesystemOptions = {
   wslDistro?: string
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.ts b/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.ts
index 790fd3dcf53..77b63f3819e 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.ts
@@ -1258,6 +1258,10 @@ import {
   resolveWorktreeRemovalRepoOwner
 } from '../worktree-removal-repo-owner'
 import { prefetchWorktreeCreateBase } from '../worktree-create-base-prefetch'
+import {
+  consumePreparedWorktreeCreate,
+  prepareWorktreeCreateForRepo
+} from '../worktree-create-preparation'
 import { prepareLocalWorktreeRootForRepo } from '../worktree-root-preparation'
 import { getWorktreeWatcherRemoval } from '../ipc/worktree-watcher-removal'
 import { acquireWatcherRemovalGate } from '../ipc/watcher-removal-gate'
@@ -26498,11 +26502,18 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
     }
 
     const repo = await this.resolveRepoSelector(args.repoSelector)
-    await prefetchWorktreeCreateBase({
+    const baseBranch = await prefetchWorktreeCreateBase({
       repo,
       baseBranch: args.baseBranch,
       runtime: this
     })
+    if (baseBranch) {
+      try {
+        await prepareWorktreeCreateForRepo(this.requireStore(), repo, baseBranch)
+      } catch {
+        // Why: speculative preparation is an optimistic warm-up; the real create path reports failures.
+      }
+    }
   }
 
   async createManagedWorktree(args: {
@@ -27087,9 +27098,27 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
       ...(suggestLocalBaseRefUpdate ? { suggestLocalBaseRefUpdate } : {})
     }
     const defaultAddWorktreeOption = addProjectGitOptions()
+    const preparedWorktreeOptions = suggestLocalBaseRefUpdate
+      ? addProjectGitOptions({ ...remoteTrackingBaseOption, suggestLocalBaseRefUpdate })
+      : remoteTrackingBaseOption
+        ? addProjectGitOptions(remoteTrackingBaseOption)
+        : defaultAddWorktreeOption
     let addResult: AddWorktreeResult
     try {
+      const preparedResult =
+        sparseDirectories.length === 0 && !checkoutExistingBranch
+          ? await consumePreparedWorktreeCreate({
+              repoPath: repo.path,
+              workspaceRoot,
+              worktreePath,
+              branch: branchName,
+              baseBranch,
+              refreshLocalBaseRef: settings.refreshLocalBaseRefOnWorktreeCreate,
+              ...(preparedWorktreeOptions ? { options: preparedWorktreeOptions } : {})
+            })
+          : null
       addResult =
+        preparedResult ??
         (await (sparseDirectories.length > 0
           ? checkoutExistingBranch
             ? addSparseWorktree(
@@ -27185,7 +27214,8 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
                       branchName,
                       baseBranch,
                       settings.refreshLocalBaseRefOnWorktreeCreate
-                    ))) ?? {}
+                    ))) ??
+        {}
     } catch (error) {
       if (shouldRetireGeneratedName && failedWorktreeCreationNeedsRetirement(error)) {
         await retireGeneratedWorktreeName(this.store, repo, settings, effectiveSanitizedName)
diff --git a/src/main/worktree-create-base-prefetch.ts b/src/main/worktree-create-base-prefetch.ts
index a7665fc4e15..50c81ed1959 100644
--- a/src/main/worktree-create-base-prefetch.ts
+++ b/src/main/worktree-create-base-prefetch.ts
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ async function prefetchLocalWorktreeCreateBase(
   repo: Repo,
   baseBranch: string | undefined,
   runtime: WorktreeCreateBasePrefetchRuntime
-): Promise<void> {
+): Promise<string | undefined> {
   const resolvedBaseBranch = await resolveWorktreeCreateBase({
     requestedBaseBranch: baseBranch,
     repoWorktreeBaseRef: repo.worktreeBaseRef,
@@ -64,13 +64,13 @@ async function prefetchLocalWorktreeCreateBase(
     }
   })
   if (!resolvedBaseBranch) {
-    return
+    return undefined
   }
   if (
     isFullGitObjectId(resolvedBaseBranch) &&
     (await hasLocalWorktreeBaseRef(repo.path, resolvedBaseBranch))
   ) {
-    return
+    return resolvedBaseBranch
   }
   const remoteTrackingBase = await runtime.resolveRemoteTrackingBase(repo.path, resolvedBaseBranch)
   if (remoteTrackingBase) {
@@ -79,34 +79,35 @@ async function prefetchLocalWorktreeCreateBase(
       !(await hasLocalWorktreeBaseRef(repo.path, resolvedBaseBranch))
     ) {
       await runtime.getOrStartRemoteTrackingBaseRefresh(repo.path, remoteTrackingBase)
-      return
+      return resolvedBaseBranch
     }
   }
   if (await hasLocalWorktreeBaseRef(repo.path, resolvedBaseBranch)) {
     // Why: hosted-review start points and local branch bases are already local; a broad remote fetch cannot make them fresher.
-    return
+    return resolvedBaseBranch
   }
 
   // Why: keep optimistic prefetch on the same best-effort fallback path as
   // create so the real create can reuse the runtime's remote fetch cache.
   await runtime.fetchRemoteWithCache(repo.path, 'origin')
+  return resolvedBaseBranch
 }
 
 export async function prefetchWorktreeCreateBase(args: {
   repo: Repo
   baseBranch?: string
   runtime: WorktreeCreateBasePrefetchRuntime
-}): Promise<void> {
+}): Promise<string | undefined> {
   if (isFolderRepo(args.repo)) {
-    return
+    return undefined
   }
   if (args.repo.connectionId) {
     const provider = getSshGitProvider(args.repo.connectionId)
     if (!provider) {
-      return
+      return undefined
     }
     await prefetchRemoteWorktreeCreateBase(provider, args.repo, { baseBranch: args.baseBranch })
-    return
+    return undefined
   }
-  await prefetchLocalWorktreeCreateBase(args.repo, args.baseBranch, args.runtime)
+  return prefetchLocalWorktreeCreateBase(args.repo, args.baseBranch, args.runtime)
 }
diff --git a/src/main/worktree-create-preparation.test.ts b/src/main/worktree-create-preparation.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0f4aa01e78e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/worktree-create-preparation.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,214 @@
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import type { Store } from './persistence'
+import type { Repo } from '../shared/repo-types'
+import { WORKTREE_CREATE_PREPARATION_DIRECTORY } from '../shared/worktree/create-preparation'
+
+const mocks = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+  mkdir: vi.fn(),
+  listWorktreeGraph: vi.fn(),
+  prepareCheckout: vi.fn(),
+  finalize: vi.fn(),
+  discard: vi.fn(),
+  unlock: vi.fn(),
+  getWorktreeOptions: vi.fn()
+}))
+
+vi.mock('node:fs/promises', () => ({ mkdir: mocks.mkdir }))
+vi.mock('./git/worktree', () => ({ listWorktreeGraph: mocks.listWorktreeGraph }))
+vi.mock('./git/worktree-create-preparation', () => ({
+  prepareWorktreeCreateCheckout: mocks.prepareCheckout,
+  finalizePreparedWorktree: mocks.finalize,
+  discardPreparedWorktree: mocks.discard,
+  unlockPreparedWorktree: mocks.unlock
+}))
+vi.mock('./project-runtime-git-options', () => ({
+  getLocalProjectWorktreeGitOptions: mocks.getWorktreeOptions
+}))
+vi.mock('./ipc/worktree-logic', () => ({
+  computeWorkspaceRoot: (repoPath: string) =>
+    process.platform === 'win32' && /^[A-Za-z]:[\\/]/.test(repoPath)
+      ? 'C:\\workspace'
+      : '/workspace',
+  getWorktreePathSettings: () => ({
+    workspaceDir: process.platform === 'win32' ? 'C:\\workspace' : '/workspace',
+    nestWorkspaces: false
+  })
+}))
+
+import {
+  _resetWorktreeCreatePreparationsForTests,
+  consumePreparedWorktreeCreate,
+  prepareWorktreeCreateForRepo
+} from './worktree-create-preparation'
+
+const repo = { id: 'repo-1', path: '/repo' } as Repo
+const store = { getSettings: () => ({}) } as unknown as Store
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  mocks.mkdir.mockReset().mockResolvedValue(undefined)
+  mocks.listWorktreeGraph.mockReset().mockResolvedValue([])
+  mocks.prepareCheckout.mockReset().mockResolvedValue(undefined)
+  mocks.finalize.mockReset().mockResolvedValue({})
+  mocks.discard.mockReset().mockResolvedValue(undefined)
+  mocks.unlock.mockReset().mockResolvedValue(undefined)
+  mocks.getWorktreeOptions.mockReset().mockReturnValue({})
+})
+
+afterEach(async () => {
+  await _resetWorktreeCreatePreparationsForTests()
+})
+
+describe('worktree create preparation registry', () => {
+  it('namespaces native Windows preparation directories for long paths', async () => {
+    const originalPlatform = process.platform
+    Object.defineProperty(process, 'platform', { configurable: true, value: 'win32' })
+    try {
+      await prepareWorktreeCreateForRepo(store, { ...repo, path: 'C:\\repo' }, 'origin/main')
+
+      expect(mocks.mkdir).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        expect.stringMatching(/^\\\\\?\\C:\\workspace\\\.orca-preparing/),
+        { recursive: true }
+      )
+    } finally {
+      Object.defineProperty(process, 'platform', { configurable: true, value: originalPlatform })
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('deduplicates preparation for the same repo, base, runtime, and workspace root', async () => {
+    await Promise.all([
+      prepareWorktreeCreateForRepo(store, repo, 'origin/main'),
+      prepareWorktreeCreateForRepo(store, repo, 'origin/main')
+    ])
+
+    expect(mocks.prepareCheckout).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+  })
+
+  it('does not claim a preparation after the selected base changes', async () => {
+    await prepareWorktreeCreateForRepo(store, repo, 'origin/main')
+
+    await expect(
+      consumePreparedWorktreeCreate({
+        repoPath: repo.path,
+        workspaceRoot: '/workspace',
+        worktreePath: '/workspace/final',
+        branch: 'feature/test',
+        baseBranch: 'origin/release'
+      })
+    ).resolves.toBeNull()
+    expect(mocks.finalize).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('routes preparation and finalization through the selected WSL runtime', async () => {
+    const options = { wslDistro: 'Ubuntu' }
+    mocks.getWorktreeOptions.mockReturnValue(options)
+    await prepareWorktreeCreateForRepo(store, repo, 'origin/main')
+
+    await consumePreparedWorktreeCreate({
+      repoPath: repo.path,
+      workspaceRoot: '/workspace',
+      worktreePath: '/workspace/final',
+      branch: 'feature/test',
+      baseBranch: 'origin/main',
+      options
+    })
+
+    expect(mocks.prepareCheckout).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      repo.path,
+      expect.any(String),
+      'origin/main',
+      expect.any(String),
+      options
+    )
+    expect(mocks.finalize).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      repo.path,
+      expect.any(String),
+      '/workspace/final',
+      'feature/test',
+      'origin/main',
+      undefined,
+      options
+    )
+  })
+
+  it('retries stale cleanup after a transient listing failure', async () => {
+    mocks.listWorktreeGraph.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error('temporary listing failure'))
+    await prepareWorktreeCreateForRepo(store, repo, 'origin/main')
+    await prepareWorktreeCreateForRepo(store, repo, 'origin/release')
+
+    expect(mocks.listWorktreeGraph).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
+  })
+
+  it('unlocks a stale branch-attached final path instead of deleting user work', async () => {
+    mocks.listWorktreeGraph.mockResolvedValueOnce([
+      {
+        path: '/workspace/final',
+        branch: 'refs/heads/feature/test',
+        lockReason: 'orca-create-preparation:v1:999999999:stale',
+        head: 'deadbeef',
+        isBare: false,
+        isMainWorktree: false
+      }
+    ])
+
+    await prepareWorktreeCreateForRepo(store, repo, 'origin/main')
+
+    expect(mocks.unlock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(repo.path, '/workspace/final', {})
+    expect(mocks.discard).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(repo.path, '/workspace/final', {})
+  })
+
+  it('does not classify a user branch worktree under the preparation directory as stale', async () => {
+    mocks.listWorktreeGraph.mockResolvedValueOnce([
+      {
+        path: '/workspace/.orca-preparing/999999999-user-worktree',
+        branch: 'refs/heads/user-worktree',
+        lockReason: undefined,
+        head: 'deadbeef',
+        isBare: false,
+        isMainWorktree: false
+      }
+    ])
+
+    await prepareWorktreeCreateForRepo(store, repo, 'origin/main')
+
+    expect(mocks.unlock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(mocks.discard).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('does not discard a detached worktree with caller-controlled preparation metadata', async () => {
+    mocks.listWorktreeGraph.mockResolvedValueOnce([
+      {
+        path: `/workspace/${WORKTREE_CREATE_PREPARATION_DIRECTORY}/999-checkout`,
+        branch: undefined,
+        lockReason: 'orca-create-preparation:v1:999999999:spoofed',
+        head: 'deadbeef',
+        isBare: false,
+        isMainWorktree: false
+      }
+    ])
+
+    await prepareWorktreeCreateForRepo(store, repo, 'origin/main')
+
+    expect(mocks.discard).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      repo.path,
+      `/workspace/${WORKTREE_CREATE_PREPARATION_DIRECTORY}/999-checkout`,
+      {}
+    )
+  })
+
+  it('cleans up and returns null so normal add can run when finalization fails', async () => {
+    await prepareWorktreeCreateForRepo(store, repo, 'origin/main')
+    mocks.finalize.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error('submodules prevent worktree move'))
+
+    await expect(
+      consumePreparedWorktreeCreate({
+        repoPath: repo.path,
+        workspaceRoot: '/workspace',
+        worktreePath: '/workspace/final',
+        branch: 'feature/test',
+        baseBranch: 'origin/main'
+      })
+    ).resolves.toBeNull()
+    expect(mocks.mkdir).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/workspace', { recursive: true })
+    expect(mocks.discard).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/main/worktree-create-preparation.ts b/src/main/worktree-create-preparation.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c26ca64fcdb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/worktree-create-preparation.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,283 @@
+import { randomUUID } from 'node:crypto'
+import { mkdir } from 'node:fs/promises'
+import { posix, win32 } from 'node:path'
+import type { Store } from './persistence'
+import type { Repo } from '../shared/repo-types'
+import { isFolderRepo } from '../shared/repo-kind'
+import { isWindowsAbsolutePathLike } from '../shared/cross-platform-path'
+import {
+  WORKTREE_CREATE_PREPARATION_DIRECTORY,
+  createWorktreePreparationLockReason,
+  isWorktreeCreatePreparation,
+  parseWorktreePreparationOwnerPid,
+  parseWorktreePreparationPathOwnerPid
+} from '../shared/worktree/create-preparation'
+import type { AddWorktreeOptions, AddWorktreeResult } from './git/worktree'
+import { listWorktreeGraph } from './git/worktree'
+import {
+  discardPreparedWorktree,
+  finalizePreparedWorktree,
+  unlockPreparedWorktree,
+  prepareWorktreeCreateCheckout
+} from './git/worktree-create-preparation'
+import { getLocalProjectWorktreeGitOptions } from './project-runtime-git-options'
+import { computeWorkspaceRoot, getWorktreePathSettings } from './ipc/worktree-logic'
+import { toHostFilesystemPath } from './host-tree-removal'
+
+export const WORKTREE_CREATE_PREPARATION_TTL_MS = 5 * 60_000
+export const WORKTREE_CREATE_PREPARATION_LIMIT = 3
+const STALE_PREPARATION_CLEANUP_CONCURRENCY = 4
+
+type PreparationEntry = {
+  key: string
+  repoPath: string
+  workspaceRoot: string
+  preparedPath: string
+  options: AddWorktreeOptions
+  createdAt: number
+  ready: Promise<void>
+  expiration: NodeJS.Timeout
+}
+
+type ConsumePreparedWorktreeArgs = {
+  repoPath: string
+  workspaceRoot: string
+  worktreePath: string
+  branch: string
+  baseBranch: string
+  refreshLocalBaseRef?: boolean
+  options?: AddWorktreeOptions
+}
+
+const preparations = new Map<string, PreparationEntry>()
+const staleCleanupInFlight = new Map<string, Promise<void>>()
+
+function pathOps(path: string): Pick<typeof posix, 'dirname' | 'join' | 'normalize'> {
+  return isWindowsAbsolutePathLike(path) ? win32 : posix
+}
+
+function pathKey(path: string): string {
+  const normalized = pathOps(path).normalize(path)
+  return isWindowsAbsolutePathLike(path) ? normalized.toLowerCase() : normalized
+}
+
+function preparationKey(
+  repoPath: string,
+  workspaceRoot: string,
+  baseBranch: string,
+  options: AddWorktreeOptions
+): string {
+  return `${pathKey(repoPath)}\0${pathKey(workspaceRoot)}\0${baseBranch}\0${options.wslDistro ?? ''}`
+}
+
+function isProcessAlive(pid: number): boolean {
+  try {
+    process.kill(pid, 0)
+    return true
+  } catch (error) {
+    return (error as NodeJS.ErrnoException).code !== 'ESRCH'
+  }
+}
+
+async function discardEntry(entry: PreparationEntry): Promise<void> {
+  await entry.ready.catch(() => {})
+  await discardPreparedWorktree(entry.repoPath, entry.preparedPath, entry.options).catch(() => {})
+}
+
+function expireEntry(entry: PreparationEntry): void {
+  if (preparations.get(entry.key) !== entry) {
+    return
+  }
+  preparations.delete(entry.key)
+  void discardEntry(entry)
+}
+
+function enforcePreparationLimit(): void {
+  while (preparations.size >= WORKTREE_CREATE_PREPARATION_LIMIT) {
+    const oldest = [...preparations.values()].sort(
+      (left, right) => left.createdAt - right.createdAt
+    )[0]
+    if (!oldest) {
+      return
+    }
+    preparations.delete(oldest.key)
+    clearTimeout(oldest.expiration)
+    void discardEntry(oldest)
+  }
+}
+
+async function cleanupStalePreparations(
+  repoPath: string,
+  options: AddWorktreeOptions
+): Promise<void> {
+  const cleanupKey = `${pathKey(repoPath)}\0${options.wslDistro ?? ''}`
+  const existing = staleCleanupInFlight.get(cleanupKey)
+  if (existing) {
+    await existing.catch(() => {})
+    return
+  }
+  const cleanup = (async () => {
+    const worktrees = await listWorktreeGraph(repoPath, {
+      ...options,
+      includeCreatePreparations: true
+    })
+    const staleWorktrees = worktrees.filter(isWorktreeCreatePreparation)
+    let nextIndex = 0
+    async function discardNextStalePreparation(): Promise<void> {
+      while (nextIndex < staleWorktrees.length) {
+        const worktree = staleWorktrees[nextIndex]
+        nextIndex += 1
+        const lockOwnerPid = parseWorktreePreparationOwnerPid(worktree.lockReason)
+        const pathOwnerPid = parseWorktreePreparationPathOwnerPid(worktree.path)
+        if (!lockOwnerPid || isProcessAlive(lockOwnerPid)) {
+          continue
+        }
+        // Preserve a branch-attached final path after a crash; only detached or
+        // still-hidden preparations are safe to discard automatically.
+        if (worktree.branch && pathOwnerPid === null) {
+          await unlockPreparedWorktree(repoPath, worktree.path, options).catch(() => {})
+        } else if (pathOwnerPid === lockOwnerPid) {
+          await discardPreparedWorktree(repoPath, worktree.path, options).catch(() => {})
+        }
+      }
+    }
+    const workerCount = Math.min(STALE_PREPARATION_CLEANUP_CONCURRENCY, staleWorktrees.length)
+    await Promise.all(Array.from({ length: workerCount }, () => discardNextStalePreparation()))
+  })()
+  staleCleanupInFlight.set(cleanupKey, cleanup)
+  try {
+    await cleanup.catch(() => {})
+  } finally {
+    if (staleCleanupInFlight.get(cleanupKey) === cleanup) {
+      staleCleanupInFlight.delete(cleanupKey)
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+export function prepareWorktreeCreateForRepo(
+  store: Store,
+  repo: Repo,
+  baseBranch: string
+): Promise<void> {
+  if (repo.connectionId || isFolderRepo(repo)) {
+    return Promise.resolve()
+  }
+  const options = getLocalProjectWorktreeGitOptions(store, repo)
+  const workspaceRoot = computeWorkspaceRoot(
+    repo.path,
+    getWorktreePathSettings(repo, store.getSettings())
+  )
+  const key = preparationKey(repo.path, workspaceRoot, baseBranch, options)
+  const existing = preparations.get(key)
+  if (existing) {
+    return existing.ready
+  }
+
+  enforcePreparationLimit()
+  const preparationId = `${process.pid}-${randomUUID()}`
+  const lockReason = createWorktreePreparationLockReason(preparationId)
+  const preparedPath = pathOps(workspaceRoot).join(
+    workspaceRoot,
+    WORKTREE_CREATE_PREPARATION_DIRECTORY,
+    preparationId
+  )
+  const entry = {} as PreparationEntry
+  const expiration = setTimeout(() => expireEntry(entry), WORKTREE_CREATE_PREPARATION_TTL_MS)
+  expiration.unref()
+  Object.assign(entry, {
+    key,
+    repoPath: repo.path,
+    workspaceRoot,
+    preparedPath,
+    options,
+    createdAt: Date.now(),
+    expiration,
+    ready: (async () => {
+      await cleanupStalePreparations(repo.path, options)
+      await mkdir(
+        toHostFilesystemPath(
+          pathOps(workspaceRoot).join(workspaceRoot, WORKTREE_CREATE_PREPARATION_DIRECTORY)
+        ),
+        { recursive: true }
+      )
+      await prepareWorktreeCreateCheckout(repo.path, preparedPath, baseBranch, lockReason, options)
+    })()
+  } satisfies PreparationEntry)
+  preparations.set(key, entry)
+  void entry.ready.catch(() => {
+    if (preparations.get(key) === entry) {
+      preparations.delete(key)
+      clearTimeout(entry.expiration)
+    }
+  })
+  return entry.ready
+}
+
+async function claimPreparedWorktree(
+  repoPath: string,
+  workspaceRoot: string,
+  baseBranch: string,
+  options: AddWorktreeOptions
+): Promise<PreparationEntry | null> {
+  const key = preparationKey(repoPath, workspaceRoot, baseBranch, options)
+  const entry = preparations.get(key)
+  if (!entry) {
+    return null
+  }
+  preparations.delete(key)
+  clearTimeout(entry.expiration)
+  try {
+    await entry.ready
+    return entry
+  } catch {
+    return null
+  }
+}
+
+export async function consumePreparedWorktreeCreate(
+  args: ConsumePreparedWorktreeArgs
+): Promise<AddWorktreeResult | null> {
+  const options = args.options ?? {}
+  const entry = await claimPreparedWorktree(
+    args.repoPath,
+    args.workspaceRoot,
+    args.baseBranch,
+    options
+  )
+  if (!entry) {
+    return null
+  }
+  try {
+    await mkdir(toHostFilesystemPath(pathOps(args.worktreePath).dirname(args.worktreePath)), {
+      recursive: true
+    })
+    return await finalizePreparedWorktree(
+      args.repoPath,
+      entry.preparedPath,
+      args.worktreePath,
+      args.branch,
+      args.baseBranch,
+      args.refreshLocalBaseRef,
+      options
+    )
+  } catch (error) {
+    await discardPreparedWorktree(args.repoPath, entry.preparedPath, options).catch(() => {})
+    console.warn(
+      '[worktree-create] prepared checkout could not be finalized; using normal add',
+      error
+    )
+    return null
+  }
+}
+
+export async function _resetWorktreeCreatePreparationsForTests(): Promise<void> {
+  const entries = [...preparations.values()]
+  preparations.clear()
+  staleCleanupInFlight.clear()
+  await Promise.all(
+    entries.map(async (entry) => {
+      clearTimeout(entry.expiration)
+      await discardEntry(entry)
+    })
+  )
+}
diff --git a/src/shared/git-binary-compatibility.test.ts b/src/shared/git-binary-compatibility.test.ts
index 712910cef6d..11fede2ae10 100644
--- a/src/shared/git-binary-compatibility.test.ts
+++ b/src/shared/git-binary-compatibility.test.ts
@@ -151,6 +151,36 @@ describeBinaryCompatibility('real Git binary compatibility', () => {
     await rm(join(repoPath, 'deferred-trash'), { recursive: true, force: true })
   })
 
+  it('supports prepared worktree creation and finalization', async () => {
+    await runGit(['worktree', 'add', '--detach', '--no-checkout', 'compat-prepared', 'HEAD'])
+    await runGit(['-C', 'compat-prepared', 'reset', '--hard', 'HEAD'])
+    await runGit([
+      'worktree',
+      'lock',
+      '--reason',
+      'orca-create-preparation:v1:compat',
+      'compat-prepared'
+    ])
+    // Why: `-f -f` moves a locked preparation while preserving its lock reason (Git >=2.25).
+    await runGit(['worktree', 'move', '-f', '-f', 'compat-prepared', 'compat-final'])
+    await runGit([
+      '-C',
+      'compat-final',
+      'checkout',
+      '--no-track',
+      '-b',
+      'compat-prepared-final',
+      'HEAD'
+    ])
+
+    await expect(runGit(['-C', 'compat-final', 'branch', '--show-current'])).resolves.toMatchObject(
+      { stdout: 'compat-prepared-final\n' }
+    )
+    await runGit(['worktree', 'unlock', 'compat-final'])
+    await runGit(['worktree', 'remove', '--force', 'compat-final'])
+    await runGit(['branch', '-D', 'compat-prepared-final'])
+  })
+
   it('recognizes ref and merge-tree compatibility boundaries', async () => {
     const fetchHeadPath = join(repoPath, '.git', 'FETCH_HEAD')
     await writeFile(fetchHeadPath, 'sentinel\n')
diff --git a/src/shared/worktree/create-preparation.test.ts b/src/shared/worktree/create-preparation.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..beaca89d186
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/shared/worktree/create-preparation.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import {
+  createWorktreePreparationLockReason,
+  isWorktreeCreatePreparation,
+  parseWorktreePreparationPathOwnerPid,
+  WORKTREE_CREATE_PREPARATION_DIRECTORY
+} from './create-preparation'
+
+describe('worktree create preparation classification', () => {
+  it('recognizes an explicitly locked preparation regardless of branch state', () => {
+    expect(
+      isWorktreeCreatePreparation({
+        path: `/workspace/${WORKTREE_CREATE_PREPARATION_DIRECTORY}/123-checkout`,
+        branch: 'refs/heads/feature',
+        lockReason: createWorktreePreparationLockReason('test')
+      })
+    ).toBe(true)
+  })
+
+  it('does not classify a branch-attached user worktree by path alone', () => {
+    expect(
+      isWorktreeCreatePreparation({
+        path: `/workspace/${WORKTREE_CREATE_PREPARATION_DIRECTORY}/123-user-worktree`,
+        branch: 'refs/heads/feature',
+        lockReason: undefined
+      })
+    ).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('does not classify an unlocked detached path without durable ownership', () => {
+    expect(
+      isWorktreeCreatePreparation({
+        path: `/workspace/${WORKTREE_CREATE_PREPARATION_DIRECTORY}/123-checkout`,
+        branch: undefined,
+        lockReason: undefined
+      })
+    ).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('does not parse an arbitrary preparation path with a numeric prefix', () => {
+    expect(
+      parseWorktreePreparationPathOwnerPid(
+        `/workspace/${WORKTREE_CREATE_PREPARATION_DIRECTORY}/123-checkout`
+      )
+    ).toBeNull()
+  })
+
+  it('does not classify an arbitrary detached user path by directory name alone', () => {
+    expect(
+      isWorktreeCreatePreparation({
+        path: `/workspace/${WORKTREE_CREATE_PREPARATION_DIRECTORY}/user-worktree`,
+        branch: undefined,
+        lockReason: undefined
+      })
+    ).toBe(false)
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/shared/worktree/create-preparation.ts b/src/shared/worktree/create-preparation.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8d98e75d75d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/shared/worktree/create-preparation.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+export const WORKTREE_CREATE_PREPARATION_DIRECTORY = '.orca-preparing'
+export const WORKTREE_CREATE_PREPARATION_LOCK_PREFIX = 'orca-create-preparation:v1:'
+const WORKTREE_CREATE_PREPARATION_ID_PATTERN =
+  /^(\d+)-[0-9a-f]{8}-[0-9a-f]{4}-4[0-9a-f]{3}-[89ab][0-9a-f]{3}-[0-9a-f]{12}$/i
+
+export function createWorktreePreparationLockReason(sessionId: string): string {
+  return `${WORKTREE_CREATE_PREPARATION_LOCK_PREFIX}${process.pid}:${sessionId}`
+}
+
+export function parseWorktreePreparationOwnerPid(lockReason?: string): number | null {
+  if (!lockReason?.startsWith(WORKTREE_CREATE_PREPARATION_LOCK_PREFIX)) {
+    return null
+  }
+  const pid = Number(lockReason.slice(WORKTREE_CREATE_PREPARATION_LOCK_PREFIX.length).split(':')[0])
+  return Number.isSafeInteger(pid) && pid > 0 ? pid : null
+}
+
+export function parseWorktreePreparationPathOwnerPid(path: string): number | null {
+  const pathParts = path.split(/[\\/]+/)
+  const preparationIndex = pathParts.lastIndexOf(WORKTREE_CREATE_PREPARATION_DIRECTORY)
+  if (preparationIndex === -1) {
+    return null
+  }
+  const preparationId = pathParts[preparationIndex + 1]
+  if (!preparationId || !WORKTREE_CREATE_PREPARATION_ID_PATTERN.test(preparationId)) {
+    return null
+  }
+  const pid = Number(preparationId.split('-')[0])
+  return Number.isSafeInteger(pid) && pid > 0 ? pid : null
+}
+
+export function isWorktreeCreatePreparation(worktree: {
+  path: string
+  lockReason?: string
+  branch?: string
+}): boolean {
+  // The Git lock reason is the durable ownership proof. A path can be chosen
+  // by a user (including for an uncommitted detached worktree), so path shape
+  // alone must never hide or force-remove it. A crash before locking may leave
+  // an unlocked detached entry for manual cleanup, but cannot delete user data.
+  return parseWorktreePreparationOwnerPid(worktree.lockReason) !== null
+}
diff --git a/tests/tools/benchmarks/worktree-create-speculation-bench.mjs b/tests/tools/benchmarks/worktree-create-speculation-bench.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b6af96d761f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/tools/benchmarks/worktree-create-speculation-bench.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,155 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+import { spawnSync } from 'node:child_process'
+import { mkdtempSync, rmSync } from 'node:fs'
+import os from 'node:os'
+import path from 'node:path'
+import { performance } from 'node:perf_hooks'
+
+function parseArgs(argv) {
+  const options = { repo: process.cwd(), base: 'HEAD', iterations: 5 }
+  const firstFlag = argv.findIndex((value, index) => index > 0 && value.startsWith('--'))
+  for (let index = firstFlag === -1 ? argv.length : firstFlag; index < argv.length; index += 1) {
+    const flag = argv[index]
+    const value = argv[index + 1]
+    if (flag === '--repo' && value) {
+      options.repo = path.resolve(value)
+    } else if (flag === '--base' && value) {
+      options.base = value
+    } else if (flag === '--iterations' && value && Number.isInteger(Number(value))) {
+      options.iterations = Number(value)
+    } else {
+      throw new Error(`Unknown or incomplete argument: ${flag}`)
+    }
+    index += 1
+  }
+  if (options.iterations < 1) {
+    throw new Error('--iterations must be positive')
+  }
+  return options
+}
+
+function git(repo, args) {
+  const result = spawnSync('git', ['-C', repo, ...args], {
+    encoding: 'utf8',
+    maxBuffer: 64 * 1024 * 1024,
+    windowsHide: true
+  })
+  if (result.status !== 0) {
+    throw new Error(`git ${args.join(' ')} failed\n${result.stderr || result.stdout}`)
+  }
+  return result.stdout.trim()
+}
+
+function time(operation) {
+  const startedAt = performance.now()
+  operation()
+  return performance.now() - startedAt
+}
+
+function median(values) {
+  const sorted = [...values].sort((left, right) => left - right)
+  const middle = Math.floor(sorted.length / 2)
+  return sorted.length % 2 === 0 ? (sorted[middle - 1] + sorted[middle]) / 2 : sorted[middle]
+}
+
+function summarize(samples) {
+  return {
+    medianMs: Number(median(samples).toFixed(1)),
+    minMs: Number(Math.min(...samples).toFixed(1)),
+    maxMs: Number(Math.max(...samples).toFixed(1)),
+    samplesMs: samples.map((sample) => Number(sample.toFixed(1)))
+  }
+}
+
+function removeWorktree(repo, worktreePath, branch, locked = false) {
+  if (locked) {
+    git(repo, ['worktree', 'unlock', worktreePath])
+  }
+  git(repo, ['worktree', 'remove', '--force', worktreePath])
+  if (branch) {
+    git(repo, ['branch', '-D', branch])
+  }
+}
+
+function benchmark(options) {
+  const repo = git(options.repo, ['rev-parse', '--show-toplevel'])
+  const base = git(repo, ['rev-parse', '--verify', `${options.base}^{commit}`])
+  const retargetBase = git(repo, ['rev-parse', '--verify', `${base}~20^{commit}`])
+  const scratchRoot = mkdtempSync(path.join(path.dirname(repo), '.orca-create-bench-'))
+  const samples = { baseline: [], prepare: [], submit: [], retarget: [], cancel: [] }
+  const prefix = `orca-create-bench-${process.pid}-${Date.now()}`
+
+  try {
+    for (let index = 0; index < options.iterations; index += 1) {
+      const baselinePath = path.join(scratchRoot, `baseline-${index}`)
+      const baselineBranch = `${prefix}-baseline-${index}`
+      samples.baseline.push(
+        time(() =>
+          git(repo, ['worktree', 'add', '--no-track', '-b', baselineBranch, baselinePath, base])
+        )
+      )
+      removeWorktree(repo, baselinePath, baselineBranch)
+
+      const preparedPath = path.join(scratchRoot, `prepared-${index}`)
+      const finalPath = path.join(scratchRoot, `final-${index}`)
+      const finalBranch = `${prefix}-final-${index}`
+      samples.prepare.push(
+        time(() => {
+          git(repo, ['worktree', 'add', '--detach', '--no-checkout', preparedPath, base])
+          git(preparedPath, ['reset', '--hard', base])
+          git(repo, [
+            'worktree',
+            'lock',
+            '--reason',
+            `orca-create-preparation:v1:${process.pid}:${index}`,
+            preparedPath
+          ])
+        })
+      )
+      samples.submit.push(
+        time(() => {
+          const targetHead = git(repo, ['rev-parse', '--verify', `${base}^{commit}`])
+          git(preparedPath, ['rev-parse', '--verify', 'HEAD'])
+          git(repo, ['worktree', 'move', '-f', '-f', preparedPath, finalPath])
+          git(finalPath, ['checkout', '--no-track', '-b', finalBranch, targetHead])
+          git(repo, ['worktree', 'unlock', finalPath])
+        })
+      )
+      removeWorktree(repo, finalPath, finalBranch)
+
+      const retargetPath = path.join(scratchRoot, `retarget-${index}`)
+      git(repo, ['worktree', 'add', '--detach', '--no-checkout', retargetPath, base])
+      git(retargetPath, ['reset', '--hard', base])
+      git(repo, ['worktree', 'lock', '--reason', 'orca-create-preparation:v1:bench', retargetPath])
+      samples.retarget.push(time(() => git(retargetPath, ['reset', '--hard', retargetBase])))
+      removeWorktree(repo, retargetPath, undefined, true)
+
+      const cancelledPath = path.join(scratchRoot, `cancel-${index}`)
+      git(repo, ['worktree', 'add', '--detach', '--no-checkout', cancelledPath, base])
+      git(cancelledPath, ['reset', '--hard', base])
+      git(repo, ['worktree', 'lock', '--reason', 'orca-create-preparation:v1:bench', cancelledPath])
+      samples.cancel.push(time(() => removeWorktree(repo, cancelledPath, undefined, true)))
+    }
+  } finally {
+    rmSync(scratchRoot, { force: true, recursive: true })
+    git(repo, ['worktree', 'prune'])
+  }
+
+  return {
+    platform: `${process.platform}-${process.arch}`,
+    os: os.release(),
+    gitVersion: git(repo, ['--version']),
+    repo,
+    trackedFiles: Number(git(repo, ['ls-files']).split('\n').filter(Boolean).length),
+    iterations: options.iterations,
+    base,
+    retargetBase,
+    baselineSubmit: summarize(samples.baseline),
+    speculativePrepare: summarize(samples.prepare),
+    speculativeSubmit: summarize(samples.submit),
+    changeBaseAfterPrepare: summarize(samples.retarget),
+    cancelPrepared: summarize(samples.cancel)
+  }
+}
+
+console.log(JSON.stringify(benchmark(parseArgs(process.argv)), null, 2))