diff --git a/src/main/ipc/dashboard-agent-launch-validation.ts b/src/main/ipc/dashboard-agent-launch-validation.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6bd9dbe5838
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/ipc/dashboard-agent-launch-validation.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+import type { DashboardSpawnAgentArgs } from '../../shared/dashboard-snapshot'
+import { isTuiAgent } from '../../shared/tui-agent-config'
+
+const MAX_ID_LENGTH = 4_096
+const MAX_WORKTREES = 500
+const MAX_AGENTS_PER_WORKTREE = 64
+
+function isBoundedId(value: unknown): value is string {
+  return typeof value === 'string' && value.length > 0 && value.length <= MAX_ID_LENGTH
+}
+
+export function isDashboardSpawnAgentArgs(value: unknown): value is DashboardSpawnAgentArgs {
+  if (!value || typeof value !== 'object' || Array.isArray(value)) {
+    return false
+  }
+  const args = value as Record<string, unknown>
+  return isBoundedId(args.worktreeId) && isTuiAgent(args.agent)
+}
+
+export function isDashboardLaunchOptions(value: unknown): boolean {
+  if (value === undefined) {
+    return true
+  }
+  if (!value || typeof value !== 'object' || Array.isArray(value)) {
+    return false
+  }
+  const entries = Object.entries(value as Record<string, unknown>)
+  return (
+    entries.length <= MAX_WORKTREES &&
+    entries.every(
+      ([worktreeId, agents]) =>
+        isBoundedId(worktreeId) &&
+        Array.isArray(agents) &&
+        agents.length <= MAX_AGENTS_PER_WORKTREE &&
+        agents.every(isTuiAgent)
+    )
+  )
+}
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/dashboard-payload-validation.test.ts b/src/main/ipc/dashboard-payload-validation.test.ts
index 954723a6182..e24afc35517 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/dashboard-payload-validation.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/dashboard-payload-validation.test.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ vi.mock('../../shared/repo-icon', async (importOriginal) => {
 import {
   admitDashboardSnapshot,
   isDashboardRevealAgentArgs,
+  isDashboardSpawnAgentArgs,
   isDashboardSnapshot
 } from './dashboard-payload-validation'
 
@@ -162,6 +163,26 @@ describe('dashboard payload validation', () => {
     ).toBe(false)
   })
 
+  it('validates bounded launch choices and spawn requests', () => {
+    expect(
+      isDashboardSnapshot({
+        ...SNAPSHOT,
+        launchableAgentsByWorktreeId: { 'worktree-1': ['codex', 'claude'] }
+      })
+    ).toBe(true)
+    expect(
+      isDashboardSnapshot({
+        ...SNAPSHOT,
+        launchableAgentsByWorktreeId: { 'worktree-1': ['not-an-agent'] }
+      })
+    ).toBe(false)
+    expect(isDashboardSnapshot({ ...SNAPSHOT, launchableAgentsByWorktreeId: [] })).toBe(false)
+
+    expect(isDashboardSpawnAgentArgs({ worktreeId: 'worktree-1', agent: 'codex' })).toBe(true)
+    expect(isDashboardSpawnAgentArgs({ worktreeId: '', agent: 'codex' })).toBe(false)
+    expect(isDashboardSpawnAgentArgs({ worktreeId: 'worktree-1', agent: 'unknown' })).toBe(false)
+  })
+
   it('bounds the conversation name', () => {
     expect(
       isDashboardSnapshot({
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/dashboard-payload-validation.ts b/src/main/ipc/dashboard-payload-validation.ts
index 0dfb80648d9..570fede47f6 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/dashboard-payload-validation.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/dashboard-payload-validation.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ import {
   AGENT_STATUS_MAX_FIELD_LENGTH,
   AGENT_TYPE_MAX_LENGTH
 } from '../../shared/agent-status-types'
+import { isDashboardLaunchOptions } from './dashboard-agent-launch-validation'
+export { isDashboardSpawnAgentArgs } from './dashboard-agent-launch-validation'
 
 const MAX_DASHBOARD_CARDS = 1_000
 const MAX_DASHBOARD_SUBAGENTS = 100
@@ -85,6 +87,7 @@ export function isDashboardSnapshot(value: unknown): value is DashboardSnapshot
     snapshot.cards.every(isDashboardCard) &&
     (snapshot.showIdle === undefined || typeof snapshot.showIdle === 'boolean') &&
     isDashboardFilterOptions(snapshot.filterOptions) &&
+    isDashboardLaunchOptions(snapshot.launchableAgentsByWorktreeId) &&
     isDashboardRepoIcons(snapshot.repoIconsByRepoId)
   )
 }
@@ -113,6 +116,7 @@ export function admitDashboardSnapshot(value: unknown): DashboardSnapshotAdmissi
     snapshot.cards.length > MAX_DASHBOARD_CARDS ||
     (snapshot.showIdle !== undefined && typeof snapshot.showIdle !== 'boolean') ||
     !isDashboardFilterOptions(snapshot.filterOptions) ||
+    !isDashboardLaunchOptions(snapshot.launchableAgentsByWorktreeId) ||
     !isDashboardRepoIcons(snapshot.repoIconsByRepoId)
   ) {
     return null
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/dashboard-popout.test.ts b/src/main/ipc/dashboard-popout.test.ts
index d516faa4554..e5f5ae65222 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/dashboard-popout.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/dashboard-popout.test.ts
@@ -240,6 +240,19 @@ describe('registerDashboardPopoutHandlers', () => {
     expect(sendToTrustedMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith('ui:ackDashboardAgent', 'tab1:leaf1')
   })
 
+  it('relays only valid agent launches from the popout', () => {
+    const args = { worktreeId: 'worktree-1', agent: 'codex' }
+    handlers.get('dashboardPopout:spawnAgent')!({ sender: untrustedSender } as never, args)
+    handlers.get('dashboardPopout:spawnAgent')!({ sender: popoutSender } as never, {
+      ...args,
+      agent: 'unknown'
+    })
+    expect(sendToTrustedMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+
+    handlers.get('dashboardPopout:spawnAgent')!({ sender: popoutSender } as never, args)
+    expect(sendToTrustedMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith('ui:spawnDashboardAgent', args)
+  })
+
   it('reveals an agent in only the trusted main window', () => {
     const main = makeWindow(mainSender)
     getTrustedWindowMock.mockReturnValue(main)
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/dashboard-popout.ts b/src/main/ipc/dashboard-popout.ts
index c7a26421878..07dc6783dc6 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/dashboard-popout.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/dashboard-popout.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ import { getTrustedUIRendererWindow, isTrustedUIRenderer, sendToTrustedUIRendere
 import {
   admitDashboardSnapshot,
   isDashboardPaneKey,
-  isDashboardRevealAgentArgs
+  isDashboardRevealAgentArgs,
+  isDashboardSpawnAgentArgs
 } from './dashboard-payload-validation'
 
 // The most recent snapshot the main renderer published, replayed to the popout
@@ -36,6 +37,7 @@ export function registerDashboardPopoutHandlers(
   ipcMain.removeHandler('dashboard:getPopoutOpen')
   ipcMain.removeHandler('dashboardPopout:revealAgent')
   ipcMain.removeHandler('dashboardPopout:ackAgent')
+  ipcMain.removeHandler('dashboardPopout:spawnAgent')
 
   onDashboardPopoutOpenChanged((open) => {
     if (!open) {
@@ -141,4 +143,15 @@ export function registerDashboardPopoutHandlers(
       // Best-effort; the per-window focus above may still bring it forward.
     }
   })
+
+  ipcMain.handle('dashboardPopout:spawnAgent', (event, args: unknown): void => {
+    if (
+      !isDashboardPopoutRenderer(event.sender) ||
+      !isDashboardEnabled(store) ||
+      !isDashboardSpawnAgentArgs(args)
+    ) {
+      return
+    }
+    sendToTrustedUIRenderer('ui:spawnDashboardAgent', args)
+  })
 }
diff --git a/src/preload/api-types.ts b/src/preload/api-types.ts
index 6e70b03033d..c586fd6fd8a 100644
--- a/src/preload/api-types.ts
+++ b/src/preload/api-types.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,11 @@ import type {
 } from '../shared/hosted-review'
 import type { NativeFileDropPayload } from '../shared/native-file-drop'
 import type { BrowserFindSource } from '../shared/browser-find-source'
-import type { DashboardSnapshot, DashboardRevealAgentArgs } from '../shared/dashboard-snapshot'
+import type {
+  DashboardRevealAgentArgs,
+  DashboardSnapshot,
+  DashboardSpawnAgentArgs
+} from '../shared/dashboard-snapshot'
 import type {
   TerminalPreviewConnectResult,
   TerminalPreviewDataPayload
@@ -2470,10 +2474,12 @@ export type PreloadApi = {
     onSnapshotRequested: (callback: () => void) => () => void
     onRevealAgent: (callback: (args: DashboardRevealAgentArgs) => void) => () => void
     onAckAgent: (callback: (paneKey: string) => void) => () => void
+    onSpawnAgent: (callback: (args: DashboardSpawnAgentArgs) => void) => () => void
     requestSnapshot: () => Promise<void>
     onSnapshot: (callback: (snapshot: DashboardSnapshot) => void) => () => void
     revealAgent: (args: DashboardRevealAgentArgs) => Promise<void>
     ackAgent: (paneKey: string) => Promise<void>
+    spawnAgent: (args: DashboardSpawnAgentArgs) => Promise<void>
   }
   terminalPreview: {
     connect: (
diff --git a/src/preload/index.ts b/src/preload/index.ts
index cb38c18e9af..5f14a98bf0c 100644
--- a/src/preload/index.ts
+++ b/src/preload/index.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,11 @@ import { electronAPI } from '@electron-toolkit/preload'
 import { preloadE2EConfig } from './e2e-config'
 import { glApi } from './gitlab'
 import type { AppIdentity } from '../shared/app-identity'
-import type { DashboardSnapshot, DashboardRevealAgentArgs } from '../shared/dashboard-snapshot'
+import type {
+  DashboardRevealAgentArgs,
+  DashboardSnapshot,
+  DashboardSpawnAgentArgs
+} from '../shared/dashboard-snapshot'
 import type {
   TerminalPreviewConnectResult,
   TerminalPreviewDataPayload
@@ -2290,6 +2294,12 @@ const api = {
       ipcRenderer.on('ui:ackDashboardAgent', listener)
       return () => ipcRenderer.removeListener('ui:ackDashboardAgent', listener)
     },
+    onSpawnAgent: (callback: (args: DashboardSpawnAgentArgs) => void): (() => void) => {
+      const listener = (_event: Electron.IpcRendererEvent, args: DashboardSpawnAgentArgs): void =>
+        callback(args)
+      ipcRenderer.on('ui:spawnDashboardAgent', listener)
+      return () => ipcRenderer.removeListener('ui:spawnDashboardAgent', listener)
+    },
 
     // ── Consumer side (pop-out window) ───────────────────────────────────
     requestSnapshot: (): Promise<void> => ipcRenderer.invoke('dashboard:requestSnapshot'),
@@ -2302,7 +2312,9 @@ const api = {
     revealAgent: (args: DashboardRevealAgentArgs): Promise<void> =>
       ipcRenderer.invoke('dashboardPopout:revealAgent', args),
     ackAgent: (paneKey: string): Promise<void> =>
-      ipcRenderer.invoke('dashboardPopout:ackAgent', { paneKey })
+      ipcRenderer.invoke('dashboardPopout:ackAgent', { paneKey }),
+    spawnAgent: (args: DashboardSpawnAgentArgs): Promise<void> =>
+      ipcRenderer.invoke('dashboardPopout:spawnAgent', args)
   },
 
   terminalPreview: {
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/dashboard/build-dashboard-snapshot.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/dashboard/build-dashboard-snapshot.ts
index c7c3c9711cc..6d8eb158566 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/dashboard/build-dashboard-snapshot.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/dashboard/build-dashboard-snapshot.ts
@@ -41,6 +41,10 @@ import {
   resolveDashboardCardContext,
   type DashboardCardContextState
 } from './dashboard-card-context'
+import {
+  buildDashboardWorktreeLaunchOptions,
+  type DashboardLaunchDetectionState
+} from './dashboard-worktree-launch-options'
 
 /** The store slices the snapshot builder reads. Kept as a Pick so unit tests
  *  can pass a partial store without constructing the whole AppState. */
@@ -60,7 +64,7 @@ export type DashboardSnapshotState = Pick<
   | 'settings'
 > &
   DashboardCardContextState &
-  Partial<DashboardCardTerminalInputState>
+  Partial<DashboardCardTerminalInputState & DashboardLaunchDetectionState>
 
 function bucketForState(state: DashboardAgentRow['state']): DashboardBucket {
   switch (state) {
@@ -330,6 +334,7 @@ export function buildDashboardSnapshot(
     cards,
     showIdle: state.settings?.experimentalAgentDashboardShowIdle === true,
     filterOptions,
+    launchableAgentsByWorktreeId: buildDashboardWorktreeLaunchOptions(state, cards),
     repoIconsByRepoId
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/dashboard/dashboard-worktree-launch-options.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/dashboard/dashboard-worktree-launch-options.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..2e59af2afd4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/dashboard/dashboard-worktree-launch-options.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import type { DashboardCard } from '../../../../shared/dashboard-snapshot'
+import { folderWorkspaceKey } from '../../../../shared/workspace-scope'
+import { buildDashboardWorktreeLaunchOptions } from './dashboard-worktree-launch-options'
+
+type LaunchState = Parameters<typeof buildDashboardWorktreeLaunchOptions>[0]
+
+function state(overrides: Partial<LaunchState> = {}): LaunchState {
+  return {
+    repos: [],
+    worktreesByRepo: {},
+    folderWorkspaces: [],
+    projectGroups: [],
+    detectedAgentIds: [],
+    remoteDetectedAgentIds: {},
+    runtimeDetectedAgentIds: {},
+    settings: null,
+    ...overrides
+  }
+}
+
+function card(overrides: Partial<DashboardCard> = {}): DashboardCard {
+  return {
+    paneKey: 'pane-1',
+    ptyId: 'pty-1',
+    agentType: 'codex',
+    bucket: 'working',
+    dotState: 'working',
+    task: 'Ship it',
+    repoId: 'repo-1',
+    worktreeId: 'worktree-1',
+    tabId: 'tab-1',
+    leafId: 'leaf-1',
+    repoName: 'Orca',
+    worktreeName: 'Dashboard',
+    startedAt: 1,
+    finishedAt: null,
+    stateChangedAt: 1,
+    unseen: false,
+    ...overrides
+  }
+}
+
+describe('buildDashboardWorktreeLaunchOptions', () => {
+  it('combines local detection with proven providers, honoring defaults and disabled agents', () => {
+    const options = buildDashboardWorktreeLaunchOptions(
+      state({
+        detectedAgentIds: ['claude', 'codex'],
+        settings: {
+          defaultTuiAgent: 'codex',
+          disabledTuiAgents: ['claude']
+        } as LaunchState['settings']
+      }),
+      [card(), card({ paneKey: 'pane-2', agentType: 'gemini' })]
+    )
+
+    expect(options).toEqual({ 'worktree-1': ['codex', 'gemini'] })
+  })
+
+  it('uses each git workspace execution host instead of local detection', () => {
+    const options = buildDashboardWorktreeLaunchOptions(
+      state({
+        repos: [
+          { id: 'repo-ssh', connectionId: 'ssh-1' },
+          { id: 'repo-runtime', executionHostId: 'runtime:hub-1' }
+        ] as LaunchState['repos'],
+        worktreesByRepo: {
+          'repo-ssh': [{ id: 'ssh-worktree', repoId: 'repo-ssh' }],
+          'repo-runtime': [{ id: 'runtime-worktree', repoId: 'repo-runtime' }]
+        } as unknown as LaunchState['worktreesByRepo'],
+        detectedAgentIds: ['claude'],
+        remoteDetectedAgentIds: { 'ssh-1': ['grok'] },
+        runtimeDetectedAgentIds: { 'hub-1': ['aider'] }
+      }),
+      [
+        card({ repoId: 'repo-ssh', worktreeId: 'ssh-worktree', agentType: 'grok' }),
+        card({ repoId: 'repo-runtime', worktreeId: 'runtime-worktree', agentType: 'aider' })
+      ]
+    )
+
+    expect(options).toEqual({ 'ssh-worktree': ['grok'], 'runtime-worktree': ['aider'] })
+  })
+
+  it('resolves folder workspace detection through its project host', () => {
+    const worktreeId = folderWorkspaceKey('folder-1')
+    const options = buildDashboardWorktreeLaunchOptions(
+      state({
+        folderWorkspaces: [
+          { id: 'folder-1', projectGroupId: 'group-1', connectionId: 'ssh-folder' }
+        ] as LaunchState['folderWorkspaces'],
+        projectGroups: [{ id: 'group-1' }] as LaunchState['projectGroups'],
+        remoteDetectedAgentIds: { 'ssh-folder': ['goose'] }
+      }),
+      [card({ repoId: 'folder-workspace:group-1', worktreeId })]
+    )
+
+    expect(options).toEqual({ [worktreeId]: ['codex', 'goose'] })
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/dashboard/dashboard-worktree-launch-options.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/dashboard/dashboard-worktree-launch-options.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..18325beb556
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/dashboard/dashboard-worktree-launch-options.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+import type { AppState } from '@/store/types'
+import { parseExecutionHostId } from '../../../../shared/execution-host'
+import type { DashboardCard } from '../../../../shared/dashboard-snapshot'
+import { isTuiAgent } from '../../../../shared/tui-agent-config'
+import {
+  filterEnabledTuiAgents,
+  TUI_AGENT_AUTO_PICK_ORDER
+} from '../../../../shared/tui-agent-selection'
+import type { TuiAgent } from '../../../../shared/types'
+import { parseWorkspaceKey } from '../../../../shared/workspace-scope'
+
+export type DashboardLaunchDetectionState = Pick<
+  AppState,
+  | 'detectedAgentIds'
+  | 'folderWorkspaces'
+  | 'projectGroups'
+  | 'remoteDetectedAgentIds'
+  | 'runtimeDetectedAgentIds'
+>
+
+type DashboardLaunchOptionState = Pick<AppState, 'repos' | 'settings' | 'worktreesByRepo'> &
+  Partial<DashboardLaunchDetectionState>
+
+type DashboardLaunchCatalog = {
+  foldersById: Map<string, AppState['folderWorkspaces'][number]>
+  groupsById: Map<string, AppState['projectGroups'][number]>
+  reposById: Map<string, AppState['repos'][number]>
+  worktreesByRepoAndId: Map<string, Map<string, AppState['worktreesByRepo'][string][number]>>
+}
+
+function buildDashboardLaunchCatalog(state: DashboardLaunchOptionState): DashboardLaunchCatalog {
+  return {
+    foldersById: new Map((state.folderWorkspaces ?? []).map((folder) => [folder.id, folder])),
+    groupsById: new Map((state.projectGroups ?? []).map((group) => [group.id, group])),
+    reposById: new Map((state.repos ?? []).map((repo) => [repo.id, repo])),
+    worktreesByRepoAndId: new Map(
+      Object.entries(state.worktreesByRepo ?? {}).map(([repoId, worktrees]) => [
+        repoId,
+        new Map(worktrees.map((worktree) => [worktree.id, worktree]))
+      ])
+    )
+  }
+}
+
+function detectedAgentsForWorktree(
+  state: DashboardLaunchOptionState,
+  worktreeId: string,
+  repoId: string,
+  catalog: DashboardLaunchCatalog
+): readonly TuiAgent[] {
+  const workspaceScope = parseWorkspaceKey(worktreeId)
+  if (workspaceScope?.type === 'folder') {
+    const folder = catalog.foldersById.get(workspaceScope.folderWorkspaceId)
+    const group = folder ? catalog.groupsById.get(folder.projectGroupId) : undefined
+    const host = parseExecutionHostId(group?.executionHostId)
+    if (host?.kind === 'runtime') {
+      return state.runtimeDetectedAgentIds?.[host.environmentId] ?? []
+    }
+    const connectionId = folder?.connectionId ?? group?.connectionId
+    return connectionId ? (state.remoteDetectedAgentIds?.[connectionId] ?? []) : []
+  }
+
+  const worktree = catalog.worktreesByRepoAndId.get(repoId)?.get(worktreeId)
+  const repo = catalog.reposById.get(worktree?.repoId ?? repoId)
+  const host = parseExecutionHostId(worktree?.hostId ?? repo?.executionHostId)
+  if (host?.kind === 'runtime') {
+    return state.runtimeDetectedAgentIds?.[host.environmentId] ?? []
+  }
+  const connectionId = host?.kind === 'ssh' ? host.targetId : repo?.connectionId
+  return connectionId
+    ? (state.remoteDetectedAgentIds?.[connectionId] ?? [])
+    : (state.detectedAgentIds ?? [])
+}
+
+/** Host-detected choices plus providers already proven to run in the workspace. */
+export function buildDashboardWorktreeLaunchOptions(
+  state: DashboardLaunchOptionState,
+  cards: readonly DashboardCard[]
+): Record<string, TuiAgent[]> {
+  const catalog = buildDashboardLaunchCatalog(state)
+  const cardsByWorktreeId = new Map<string, DashboardCard[]>()
+  for (const card of cards) {
+    const existing = cardsByWorktreeId.get(card.worktreeId)
+    if (existing) {
+      existing.push(card)
+    } else {
+      cardsByWorktreeId.set(card.worktreeId, [card])
+    }
+  }
+
+  const result: Record<string, TuiAgent[]> = {}
+  for (const [worktreeId, worktreeCards] of cardsByWorktreeId) {
+    const available = new Set<TuiAgent>(
+      detectedAgentsForWorktree(state, worktreeId, worktreeCards[0].repoId, catalog)
+    )
+    for (const card of worktreeCards) {
+      if (isTuiAgent(card.agentType)) {
+        available.add(card.agentType)
+      }
+    }
+    const enabled = filterEnabledTuiAgents(
+      TUI_AGENT_AUTO_PICK_ORDER.filter((agent) => available.has(agent)),
+      state.settings?.disabledTuiAgents
+    )
+    const preferred = state.settings?.defaultTuiAgent
+    result[worktreeId] =
+      preferred && preferred !== 'blank' && enabled.includes(preferred)
+        ? [preferred, ...enabled.filter((agent) => agent !== preferred)]
+        : enabled
+  }
+  return result
+}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/dashboard/launch-dashboard-agent.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/dashboard/launch-dashboard-agent.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a207244cdb9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/dashboard/launch-dashboard-agent.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+
+const mocks = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+  getKnownWorktreeById: vi.fn(),
+  setActiveWorktree: vi.fn(),
+  launchAgentInNewTab: vi.fn(),
+  getExecutionHostIdForWorktree: vi.fn()
+}))
+
+vi.mock('@/store', () => ({
+  useAppStore: {
+    getState: () => ({
+      settings: null,
+      getKnownWorktreeById: mocks.getKnownWorktreeById,
+      setActiveWorktree: mocks.setActiveWorktree
+    })
+  }
+}))
+vi.mock('@/lib/launch-agent-in-new-tab', () => ({
+  launchAgentInNewTab: mocks.launchAgentInNewTab
+}))
+vi.mock('@/lib/worktree-runtime-owner', () => ({
+  getExecutionHostIdForWorktree: mocks.getExecutionHostIdForWorktree
+}))
+
+import { launchDashboardAgent } from './launch-dashboard-agent'
+
+describe('launchDashboardAgent', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.clearAllMocks()
+    mocks.getExecutionHostIdForWorktree.mockReturnValue('ssh:docs')
+    mocks.getKnownWorktreeById.mockReturnValue({ id: 'folder:docs' })
+    mocks.launchAgentInNewTab.mockReturnValue({ tabId: 'tab-1' })
+  })
+
+  it('activates a folder or git workspace on its execution host before launching', () => {
+    expect(launchDashboardAgent({ worktreeId: 'folder:docs', agent: 'codex' })).toBe(true)
+    expect(mocks.getKnownWorktreeById).toHaveBeenCalledWith('folder:docs', 'ssh:docs')
+    expect(mocks.setActiveWorktree).toHaveBeenCalledWith('folder:docs', 'ssh:docs')
+    expect(mocks.launchAgentInNewTab).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      agent: 'codex',
+      worktreeId: 'folder:docs',
+      launchSource: 'unknown'
+    })
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/dashboard/launch-dashboard-agent.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/dashboard/launch-dashboard-agent.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..be3b644e5a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/dashboard/launch-dashboard-agent.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+import { launchAgentInNewTab } from '@/lib/launch-agent-in-new-tab'
+import { useAppStore } from '@/store'
+import { getExecutionHostIdForWorktree } from '@/lib/worktree-runtime-owner'
+import type { DashboardSpawnAgentArgs } from '../../../../shared/dashboard-snapshot'
+import { isTuiAgentEnabled } from '../../../../shared/tui-agent-selection'
+
+/** Starts the requested agent through the same host-aware tab path as Quick Launch. */
+export function launchDashboardAgent({ worktreeId, agent }: DashboardSpawnAgentArgs): boolean {
+  const state = useAppStore.getState()
+  const executionHostId = getExecutionHostIdForWorktree(state, worktreeId)
+  const worktree = state.getKnownWorktreeById(worktreeId, executionHostId)
+  if (!worktree || !isTuiAgentEnabled(agent, state.settings?.disabledTuiAgents)) {
+    return false
+  }
+  state.setActiveWorktree(worktreeId, executionHostId)
+  return (
+    launchAgentInNewTab({
+      agent,
+      worktreeId,
+      launchSource: 'unknown'
+    }) !== null
+  )
+}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/dashboard/useDashboardPopoutBridge.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/dashboard/useDashboardPopoutBridge.ts
index 0c0d26909cc..63f8f53e8b0 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/dashboard/useDashboardPopoutBridge.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/dashboard/useDashboardPopoutBridge.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { useAppStore, type AppState } from '@/store'
 import { activateTabAndFocusPane } from '@/lib/activate-tab-and-focus-pane'
 import type { RepoIcon } from '../../../../shared/repo-icon'
 import { buildDashboardSnapshot, type DashboardSnapshotState } from './build-dashboard-snapshot'
+import { launchDashboardAgent } from './launch-dashboard-agent'
 
 // Why: cap snapshot rebuilds during bursts of agent-status pings. The board is a
 // glanceable surface, so ~4 updates/sec is plenty and keeps the cross-worktree
@@ -57,6 +58,9 @@ export function dashboardSnapshotInputsChanged(
     // Why: settings controls idle visibility and generated conversation names.
     state.settings !== previousState.settings ||
     state.workspaceStatuses !== previousState.workspaceStatuses ||
+    state.detectedAgentIds !== previousState.detectedAgentIds ||
+    state.remoteDetectedAgentIds !== previousState.remoteDetectedAgentIds ||
+    state.runtimeDetectedAgentIds !== previousState.runtimeDetectedAgentIds ||
     // Why: freshness can change a bucket without replacing any backing map.
     state.agentStatusEpoch !== previousState.agentStatusEpoch ||
     // Why: each card carries the host-input profile its preview terminal keys
@@ -103,6 +107,13 @@ function watchSnapshotInputs(onChanged: () => void): () => void {
  *     the agent's worktree and focus its pane in this (main) window.
  */
 export function useDashboardPopoutBridge(enabled: boolean): void {
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!enabled) {
+      return
+    }
+    return window.api.dashboard.onSpawnAgent?.(launchDashboardAgent)
+  }, [enabled])
+
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!enabled) {
       return
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/dashboard/useLiveDashboardSnapshot.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/dashboard/useLiveDashboardSnapshot.ts
index 43933bfae62..9782f91c697 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/dashboard/useLiveDashboardSnapshot.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/dashboard/useLiveDashboardSnapshot.ts
@@ -51,6 +51,9 @@ export function useLiveDashboardSnapshot(): DashboardSnapshot {
   const runtimeEnvironmentCatalogHydrated = useAppStore((s) => s.runtimeEnvironmentCatalogHydrated)
   const removedRuntimeEnvironmentIds = useAppStore((s) => s.removedRuntimeEnvironmentIds)
   const paneForegroundAgentByPaneKey = useAppStore((s) => s.paneForegroundAgentByPaneKey)
+  const detectedAgentIds = useAppStore((s) => s.detectedAgentIds)
+  const remoteDetectedAgentIds = useAppStore((s) => s.remoteDetectedAgentIds)
+  const runtimeDetectedAgentIds = useAppStore((s) => s.runtimeDetectedAgentIds)
   // Why: freshness can flip a bucket without any backing map changing; the epoch
   // ticks on the freshness boundary so the memo re-derives stale-decayed cards.
   const agentStatusEpoch = useAppStore((s) => s.agentStatusEpoch)
@@ -87,6 +90,9 @@ export function useLiveDashboardSnapshot(): DashboardSnapshot {
           runtimeEnvironmentCatalogHydrated,
           removedRuntimeEnvironmentIds,
           paneForegroundAgentByPaneKey,
+          detectedAgentIds,
+          remoteDetectedAgentIds,
+          runtimeDetectedAgentIds,
           // Why: read non-reactively — resolveWindowsShiftEnterEncoding takes
           // launch identity but never routes on it, so subscribing would only
           // rebuild the board. Matches the bridge's republish gate.
@@ -122,6 +128,9 @@ export function useLiveDashboardSnapshot(): DashboardSnapshot {
       runtimeEnvironmentCatalogHydrated,
       removedRuntimeEnvironmentIds,
       paneForegroundAgentByPaneKey,
+      detectedAgentIds,
+      remoteDetectedAgentIds,
+      runtimeDetectedAgentIds,
       agentStatusEpoch
     ]
   )
diff --git a/src/shared/dashboard-snapshot.ts b/src/shared/dashboard-snapshot.ts
index 043786e57c2..5c5b6084392 100644
--- a/src/shared/dashboard-snapshot.ts
+++ b/src/shared/dashboard-snapshot.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import type { AgentType } from './agent-status-types'
 import type { RepoIcon } from './repo-icon'
+import type { TuiAgent } from './types'
 
 /**
  * Serializable contract for the pop-out agent dashboard. The main renderer owns
@@ -128,6 +129,8 @@ export type DashboardSnapshot = {
   /** Available filter dimensions are store-derived so zero-card projects and
    *  statuses remain selectable. Optional for preload-version compatibility. */
   filterOptions?: DashboardFilterOptions
+  /** Launch choices resolved on each workspace's execution host. */
+  launchableAgentsByWorktreeId?: Record<string, TuiAgent[]>
   /** Icons for the repos the cards belong to. Keyed by repoId rather than
    *  carried per card: image icons are data URLs up to 400KB, and the snapshot
    *  is republished several times a second. Optional so a pop-out running
@@ -139,6 +142,7 @@ export const EMPTY_DASHBOARD_SNAPSHOT: DashboardSnapshot = {
   generatedAt: 0,
   cards: [],
   filterOptions: { projects: [], workspaceStatuses: [] },
+  launchableAgentsByWorktreeId: {},
   repoIconsByRepoId: {}
 }
 
@@ -151,3 +155,8 @@ export type DashboardRevealAgentArgs = {
   tabId: string
   leafId: string | null
 }
+
+export type DashboardSpawnAgentArgs = {
+  worktreeId: string
+  agent: TuiAgent
+}