diff --git a/src/renderer/src/app-startup-routing.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/app-startup-routing.test.ts
index a121f12e28b..5572c2dbdbf 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/app-startup-routing.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/app-startup-routing.test.ts
@@ -373,6 +373,7 @@ describe('renderer startup runtime routing', () => {
     expect(reconnectIndex).toBeLessThan(projectIndex)
     expect(projectIndex).toBeLessThan(readyIndex)
     expect(gateBlock).toContain('terminalStartupRestorationReady')
+    expect(gateBlock).not.toContain('hydrationSucceeded')
     expect(gateIndex).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0)
     expect(gateIndex).toBeLessThan(createIndex)
     expect(gateBlock.slice(gateIndex, createIndex)).toContain("outcome !== 'empty'")
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/Terminal.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/Terminal.tsx
index 73cf936f220..de5c158cb30 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/Terminal.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/Terminal.tsx
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ import { hasFeatureInteraction } from '../../../shared/feature-interactions'
 import BrowserPane from './browser-pane/BrowserPane'
 import { RetainedBrowserPaneOverlayLayer } from './browser-pane/assemble-chrome/BrowserPaneOverlayLayer'
 import EmulatorPaneOverlayLayer from './emulator-pane/EmulatorPaneOverlayLayer'
+import StructuredAgentSessionPaneOverlayLayer from './native-chat/StructuredAgentSessionPaneOverlayLayer'
 import { useClientHostedBrowserRows } from '@/lib/pane-manager/client-hosted-browser-row-state'
 import {
   onBrowserGuestPaintRetentionChange,
@@ -1518,12 +1519,7 @@ function Terminal(): React.JSX.Element | null {
     ? Object.hasOwn(tabsByWorktree, activeWorktreeId)
     : false
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (
-      !workspaceSessionReady ||
-      !terminalStartupRestorationReady ||
-      !hydrationSucceeded ||
-      !activeWorktreeId
-    ) {
+    if (!workspaceSessionReady || !terminalStartupRestorationReady || !activeWorktreeId) {
       return
     }
     // Why: host session-tabs are authoritative in the paired web client; a local fallback races the host's initial terminal and duplicates tabs.
@@ -1557,7 +1553,6 @@ function Terminal(): React.JSX.Element | null {
     activeWorktreeId,
     activeWorktreeHasTerminalState,
     createTab,
-    hydrationSucceeded,
     reconcileWorktreeTabModel,
     terminalStartupRestorationReady,
     workspaceSessionReady
@@ -2918,6 +2913,10 @@ const WorktreeSplitSurface = React.memo(function WorktreeSplitSurface({
       {isVisible || backgroundMountTabIds === null ? (
         <EmulatorPaneOverlayLayer worktreeId={worktreeId} isWorktreeActive={isVisible} />
       ) : null}
+      <StructuredAgentSessionPaneOverlayLayer
+        worktreeId={worktreeId}
+        isWorktreeActive={isVisible}
+      />
       <AiVaultSessionDropLayer worktreeId={worktreeId} enabled={isVisible} />
     </div>
   )
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/native-chat/StructuredAgentSessionPaneOverlayLayer.test.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/native-chat/StructuredAgentSessionPaneOverlayLayer.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..25991eac3ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/native-chat/StructuredAgentSessionPaneOverlayLayer.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,205 @@
+// @vitest-environment happy-dom
+
+import { act, cleanup, fireEvent, render } from '@testing-library/react'
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import type { Tab, TabGroup } from '../../../../shared/tab-types'
+
+type MockAppState = {
+  unifiedTabsByWorktree: Record<string, readonly Tab[]>
+  groupsByWorktree: Record<string, readonly TabGroup[]>
+  runtimeEnvironmentId: string | null
+  executionHostId: string
+  focusGroup: (worktreeId: string, groupId: string) => void
+}
+
+const mocks = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+  store: null as null | { setState: (state: Partial<MockAppState>) => void },
+  focusGroup: vi.fn(),
+  mountsByTabId: new Map<string, number>(),
+  unmountsByTabId: new Map<string, number>()
+}))
+
+vi.mock('@/store', async () => {
+  const { create } = await import('zustand')
+  const useAppStore = create<MockAppState>(() => ({
+    unifiedTabsByWorktree: {},
+    groupsByWorktree: {},
+    runtimeEnvironmentId: null,
+    executionHostId: 'local',
+    focusGroup: mocks.focusGroup
+  }))
+  mocks.store = useAppStore
+  return { useAppStore }
+})
+
+vi.mock('@/lib/worktree-runtime-owner', () => ({
+  getRuntimeEnvironmentIdForWorktree: (state: MockAppState) => state.runtimeEnvironmentId,
+  getExecutionHostIdForWorktree: (state: MockAppState) => state.executionHostId
+}))
+
+vi.mock('@/runtime/runtime-rpc-client', () => ({
+  getActiveRuntimeTarget: ({
+    activeRuntimeEnvironmentId
+  }: {
+    activeRuntimeEnvironmentId: string | null
+  }) =>
+    activeRuntimeEnvironmentId
+      ? { kind: 'environment', environmentId: activeRuntimeEnvironmentId }
+      : { kind: 'local' }
+}))
+
+vi.mock('./NativeChatView', async () => {
+  const { useEffect } = await import('react')
+  return {
+    default: function MockNativeChatView({
+      tabId,
+      isVisible
+    }: {
+      tabId: string
+      isVisible: boolean
+    }) {
+      useEffect(() => {
+        mocks.mountsByTabId.set(tabId, (mocks.mountsByTabId.get(tabId) ?? 0) + 1)
+        return () => {
+          mocks.unmountsByTabId.set(tabId, (mocks.unmountsByTabId.get(tabId) ?? 0) + 1)
+        }
+      }, [tabId])
+      return (
+        <span
+          data-chat-tab-id={tabId}
+          data-chat-visible={String(isVisible)}
+          data-native-chat-working="true"
+        />
+      )
+    }
+  }
+})
+
+import StructuredAgentSessionPaneOverlayLayer from './StructuredAgentSessionPaneOverlayLayer'
+
+const WORKTREE_ID = 'wt-1'
+const GROUP_ID = 'group-1'
+const FIRST_TAB_ID = 'structured-agent-session-session-1'
+const SECOND_TAB_ID = 'structured-agent-session-session-2'
+
+describe('StructuredAgentSessionPaneOverlayLayer', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    mocks.focusGroup.mockClear()
+    mocks.mountsByTabId.clear()
+    mocks.unmountsByTabId.clear()
+    mocks.store?.setState(createState(FIRST_TAB_ID))
+  })
+
+  afterEach(cleanup)
+
+  it('keeps materialized chat surfaces mounted while activation only swaps visibility', () => {
+    const view = render(
+      <StructuredAgentSessionPaneOverlayLayer worktreeId={WORKTREE_ID} isWorktreeActive />
+    )
+    const firstBefore = chatSurface(view.container, FIRST_TAB_ID)
+    const secondBefore = chatSurface(view.container, SECOND_TAB_ID)
+
+    expect(firstBefore.dataset.chatVisible).toBe('true')
+    expect(secondBefore.dataset.chatVisible).toBe('false')
+    expect(mocks.mountsByTabId).toEqual(
+      new Map([
+        [FIRST_TAB_ID, 1],
+        [SECOND_TAB_ID, 1]
+      ])
+    )
+
+    act(() => {
+      mocks.store?.setState({
+        groupsByWorktree: {
+          [WORKTREE_ID]: [createGroup(SECOND_TAB_ID)]
+        }
+      })
+    })
+
+    const firstAfter = chatSurface(view.container, FIRST_TAB_ID)
+    const secondAfter = chatSurface(view.container, SECOND_TAB_ID)
+    expect(firstAfter).toBe(firstBefore)
+    expect(secondAfter).toBe(secondBefore)
+    expect(firstAfter.dataset.chatVisible).toBe('false')
+    expect(secondAfter.dataset.chatVisible).toBe('true')
+    expect(mocks.mountsByTabId.get(FIRST_TAB_ID)).toBe(1)
+    expect(mocks.mountsByTabId.get(SECOND_TAB_ID)).toBe(1)
+    expect(mocks.unmountsByTabId.size).toBe(0)
+  })
+
+  it('routes overlay interaction back to the owning split group', () => {
+    const view = render(
+      <StructuredAgentSessionPaneOverlayLayer worktreeId={WORKTREE_ID} isWorktreeActive />
+    )
+    const slot = view.container.querySelector<HTMLElement>(
+      `[data-structured-agent-session-overlay-tab-id="${FIRST_TAB_ID}"]`
+    )
+
+    expect(slot).not.toBeNull()
+    fireEvent.pointerDown(slot!)
+    expect(mocks.focusGroup).toHaveBeenCalledWith(WORKTREE_ID, GROUP_ID)
+  })
+
+  it('keeps the base z-layer overridable by the working-chat stylesheet rule', () => {
+    const view = render(
+      <StructuredAgentSessionPaneOverlayLayer worktreeId={WORKTREE_ID} isWorktreeActive />
+    )
+    const slot = view.container.querySelector<HTMLElement>(
+      `[data-structured-agent-session-overlay-tab-id="${FIRST_TAB_ID}"]`
+    )
+
+    expect(slot).not.toBeNull()
+    expect(slot?.classList.contains('native-chat-pane-shell')).toBe(true)
+    expect(slot?.classList.contains('z-10')).toBe(true)
+    expect(slot?.style.zIndex).toBe('')
+    expect(slot?.querySelector('[data-native-chat-working="true"]')).not.toBeNull()
+  })
+})
+
+function createState(activeTabId: string): MockAppState {
+  return {
+    unifiedTabsByWorktree: {
+      [WORKTREE_ID]: [
+        structuredTab(FIRST_TAB_ID, 'session-1', 0),
+        structuredTab(SECOND_TAB_ID, 'session-2', 1)
+      ]
+    },
+    groupsByWorktree: { [WORKTREE_ID]: [createGroup(activeTabId)] },
+    runtimeEnvironmentId: null,
+    executionHostId: 'local',
+    focusGroup: mocks.focusGroup
+  }
+}
+
+function createGroup(activeTabId: string): TabGroup {
+  return {
+    id: GROUP_ID,
+    worktreeId: WORKTREE_ID,
+    activeTabId,
+    tabOrder: [FIRST_TAB_ID, SECOND_TAB_ID]
+  }
+}
+
+function structuredTab(id: string, sessionId: string, sortOrder: number): Tab {
+  return {
+    id,
+    entityId: sessionId,
+    groupId: GROUP_ID,
+    worktreeId: WORKTREE_ID,
+    contentType: 'agent-session',
+    agentSessionAgent: 'codex',
+    label: 'Codex Chat',
+    customLabel: null,
+    color: null,
+    sortOrder,
+    createdAt: sortOrder + 1
+  }
+}
+
+function chatSurface(container: HTMLElement, tabId: string): HTMLElement {
+  const surface = container.querySelector<HTMLElement>(`[data-chat-tab-id="${tabId}"]`)
+  if (!surface) {
+    throw new Error(`missing structured chat surface ${tabId}`)
+  }
+  return surface
+}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/native-chat/StructuredAgentSessionPaneOverlayLayer.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/native-chat/StructuredAgentSessionPaneOverlayLayer.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..555d23b9ec4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/native-chat/StructuredAgentSessionPaneOverlayLayer.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,139 @@
+import { memo, useCallback, useMemo } from 'react'
+import { useShallow } from 'zustand/react/shallow'
+import type { Tab, TabGroup } from '../../../../shared/tab-types'
+import { isAgentSessionHandleProvider } from '../../../../shared/agent-session-provider-handle'
+import { useAppStore } from '@/store'
+import {
+  getExecutionHostIdForWorktree,
+  getRuntimeEnvironmentIdForWorktree
+} from '@/lib/worktree-runtime-owner'
+import { getActiveRuntimeTarget, type RuntimeClientTarget } from '@/runtime/runtime-rpc-client'
+import { tabGroupBodyAnchorName } from '../tab-group/tab-group-body-anchor'
+import NativeChatView from './NativeChatView'
+
+type StructuredAgentSessionTab = Tab & {
+  contentType: 'agent-session'
+  agentSessionAgent: NonNullable<Tab['agentSessionAgent']>
+}
+
+const EMPTY_UNIFIED_TABS: readonly Tab[] = []
+const EMPTY_GROUPS: readonly TabGroup[] = []
+
+const StructuredAgentSessionOverlaySlot = memo(function StructuredAgentSessionOverlaySlot({
+  tab,
+  groupId,
+  isActive,
+  target,
+  allowFileUriLinks,
+  onFocusOwningGroup
+}: {
+  tab: StructuredAgentSessionTab
+  groupId: string | undefined
+  isActive: boolean
+  target: RuntimeClientTarget
+  allowFileUriLinks: boolean
+  onFocusOwningGroup: ((groupId: string) => void) | undefined
+}): React.JSX.Element {
+  const anchorName = groupId !== undefined ? tabGroupBodyAnchorName(groupId) : undefined
+  const style = useMemo<React.CSSProperties>(
+    () =>
+      anchorName
+        ? {
+            position: 'absolute',
+            positionAnchor: anchorName,
+            top: `anchor(${anchorName} top)`,
+            left: `anchor(${anchorName} left)`,
+            width: `anchor-size(${anchorName} width)`,
+            height: `anchor-size(${anchorName} height)`,
+            display: isActive ? 'flex' : 'none',
+            pointerEvents: isActive ? 'auto' : 'none'
+          }
+        : { display: 'none' },
+    [anchorName, isActive]
+  )
+  const focusOwningGroup = useCallback(() => {
+    if (groupId !== undefined && onFocusOwningGroup) {
+      onFocusOwningGroup(groupId)
+    }
+  }, [groupId, onFocusOwningGroup])
+
+  return (
+    <div
+      style={style}
+      className="native-chat-pane-shell z-10 min-h-0 min-w-0"
+      data-structured-agent-session-overlay-tab-id={tab.id}
+      aria-hidden={!isActive}
+      onPointerDown={focusOwningGroup}
+      onFocusCapture={focusOwningGroup}
+    >
+      <NativeChatView
+        mode="structured"
+        tabId={tab.id}
+        sessionId={tab.entityId}
+        agent={tab.agentSessionAgent}
+        isVisible={isActive}
+        target={target}
+        allowFileUriLinks={allowFileUriLinks}
+      />
+    </div>
+  )
+})
+
+const StructuredAgentSessionPaneOverlayLayer = memo(
+  function StructuredAgentSessionPaneOverlayLayer({
+    worktreeId,
+    isWorktreeActive
+  }: {
+    worktreeId: string
+    isWorktreeActive: boolean
+  }): React.JSX.Element {
+    const { unifiedTabs, groups, runtimeEnvironmentId, allowFileUriLinks } = useAppStore(
+      useShallow((state) => ({
+        unifiedTabs: state.unifiedTabsByWorktree[worktreeId] ?? EMPTY_UNIFIED_TABS,
+        groups: state.groupsByWorktree[worktreeId] ?? EMPTY_GROUPS,
+        runtimeEnvironmentId: getRuntimeEnvironmentIdForWorktree(state, worktreeId),
+        allowFileUriLinks: getExecutionHostIdForWorktree(state, worktreeId) === 'local'
+      }))
+    )
+    const focusGroup = useAppStore((state) => state.focusGroup)
+    const target = useMemo(
+      () => getActiveRuntimeTarget({ activeRuntimeEnvironmentId: runtimeEnvironmentId }),
+      [runtimeEnvironmentId]
+    )
+    const focusOwningGroup = useCallback(
+      (groupId: string) => focusGroup(worktreeId, groupId),
+      [focusGroup, worktreeId]
+    )
+    const groupActiveTabById = useMemo(
+      () => new Map(groups.map((group) => [group.id, group.activeTabId] as const)),
+      [groups]
+    )
+    const structuredTabs = useMemo(
+      () =>
+        unifiedTabs.filter(
+          (tab): tab is StructuredAgentSessionTab =>
+            tab.contentType === 'agent-session' &&
+            isAgentSessionHandleProvider(tab.agentSessionAgent)
+        ),
+      [unifiedTabs]
+    )
+
+    return (
+      <>
+        {structuredTabs.map((tab) => (
+          <StructuredAgentSessionOverlaySlot
+            key={tab.id}
+            tab={tab}
+            groupId={tab.groupId}
+            isActive={Boolean(isWorktreeActive && groupActiveTabById.get(tab.groupId) === tab.id)}
+            target={target}
+            allowFileUriLinks={allowFileUriLinks}
+            onFocusOwningGroup={focusOwningGroup}
+          />
+        ))}
+      </>
+    )
+  }
+)
+
+export default StructuredAgentSessionPaneOverlayLayer
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/native-chat/native-chat-stop-layering.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/native-chat/native-chat-stop-layering.test.ts
index cf688bbed89..4b18921f221 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/native-chat/native-chat-stop-layering.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/native-chat/native-chat-stop-layering.test.ts
@@ -10,10 +10,8 @@ describe('native chat Stop layering', () => {
   it('keeps a working chat pane above bottom-right product chrome', () => {
     const css = source('src/renderer/src/assets/main.css')
     const terminalPane = source('src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/TerminalPane.tsx')
-    const tabGroupPane = source('src/renderer/src/components/tab-group/TabGroupPanel.tsx')
 
     expect(terminalPane).toContain('native-chat-pane-shell absolute inset-0 z-10')
-    expect(tabGroupPane).toContain('native-chat-pane-shell absolute inset-0 z-10')
     expect(css).toMatch(/\[data-sonner-toaster\][^{]*\{[^}]*z-index:\s*40\s*!important;/s)
     expect(css).toMatch(
       /\.native-chat-pane-shell:has\(\[data-native-chat-working='true'\]\)[^{]*\{[^}]*z-index:\s*50;/s
@@ -28,4 +26,12 @@ describe('native chat Stop layering', () => {
       expect(source(path)).toContain('data-native-chat-working=')
     }
   })
+
+  it('owns structured session panes at the retained worktree overlay layer', () => {
+    const terminal = source('src/renderer/src/components/Terminal.tsx')
+    const tabGroup = source('src/renderer/src/components/tab-group/TabGroupPanel.tsx')
+
+    expect(terminal).toContain('<StructuredAgentSessionPaneOverlayLayer')
+    expect(tabGroup).not.toContain('<NativeChatView')
+  })
 })
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/settings/ExperimentalPane.test.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/settings/ExperimentalPane.test.tsx
index 3a972f13af9..b421b77bfc2 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/settings/ExperimentalPane.test.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/settings/ExperimentalPane.test.tsx
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ describe('ExperimentalPane', () => {
     expect(markup).toContain('aria-checked="true"')
   })
 
-  it('shows the structured-native-chat child setting only when Chat UI is enabled', async () => {
+  it('shows the structured-native-chat child setting only when Chat UI is the default view', async () => {
     const updateSettings = vi.fn()
     const disabledSettings = getDefaultSettings('/tmp')
     const disabledMarkup = renderToStaticMarkup(
@@ -230,22 +230,194 @@ describe('ExperimentalPane', () => {
     )
     expect(disabledMarkup).toContain('Chat UI')
     expect(disabledMarkup).not.toContain('Use updated structured native chat')
+    expect(disabledMarkup).not.toContain('Default view')
 
-    const settings = {
+    const terminalDefault = {
       ...getDefaultSettings('/tmp'),
       experimentalNativeChat: true,
       experimentalStructuredNativeChat: false,
       openAgentTabsInChatByDefault: false
     }
-    const { root, container } = await renderExperimentalPane({ updateSettings, settings })
+    const terminalRender = await renderExperimentalPane({
+      updateSettings,
+      settings: terminalDefault
+    })
+
+    // The default-view control is a sibling of the Chat UI toggle, never replaced by the opt-in.
+    expect(terminalRender.container.textContent).toContain('Default view')
+    expect(
+      terminalRender.container.querySelector('[data-slot="native-chat-default-view-select"]')
+    ).not.toBeNull()
+    // Structured chat has no entry path under Terminal chat, so its opt-in is not offered.
+    expect(terminalRender.container.textContent).not.toContain('Use updated structured native chat')
+    terminalRender.root.unmount()
+
+    const { root, container } = await renderExperimentalPane({
+      updateSettings,
+      settings: { ...terminalDefault, openAgentTabsInChatByDefault: true }
+    })
 
     expect(container.textContent).toContain('Use updated structured native chat')
     expect(container.textContent).toContain(
-      'Local macOS and Linux sessions only for now. Windows, WSL, remote, and SSH sessions continue to use terminal chat.'
+      'Local macOS and Linux sessions only for now. Windows, WSL, and remote execution hosts (including SSH) continue to use terminal chat.'
     )
+    expect(container.textContent).toContain('Default view')
+    root.unmount()
+  })
+
+  it('hides a stale structured opt-in under Terminal chat without clearing it', async () => {
+    const updateSettings = vi.fn()
+    const settings = {
+      ...getDefaultSettings('/tmp'),
+      experimentalNativeChat: true,
+      experimentalStructuredNativeChat: true,
+      openAgentTabsInChatByDefault: true
+    }
+    const { root, container } = await renderExperimentalPane({ updateSettings, settings })
+
+    expect(container.textContent).toContain('Use updated structured native chat')
+
+    const terminalChatOption = Array.from(
+      container.querySelectorAll<HTMLButtonElement>('[data-slot="select-item"]')
+    ).find((button) => button.getAttribute('data-value') === 'terminal-chat')
+    if (!terminalChatOption) {
+      throw new Error('Terminal chat default-view option was not rendered')
+    }
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      terminalChatOption.dispatchEvent(new MouseEvent('click', { bubbles: true }))
+    })
+
+    // Switching the default view must not clobber the persisted opt-in — only hide its control.
+    expect(updateSettings).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ openAgentTabsInChatByDefault: false })
+    expect(updateSettings).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    root.unmount()
+
+    const hidden = await renderExperimentalPane({
+      updateSettings,
+      settings: { ...settings, openAgentTabsInChatByDefault: false }
+    })
+
+    expect(hidden.container.textContent).not.toContain('Use updated structured native chat')
+    hidden.root.unmount()
+
+    // Returning to Chat UI restores the control still switched on.
+    const restored = await renderExperimentalPane({ updateSettings, settings })
+    const structuredSwitch = restored.container.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>(
+      '#experimental-native-chat button[role="switch"][aria-label="Toggle updated structured native chat"]'
+    )
+    expect(structuredSwitch?.getAttribute('aria-checked')).toBe('true')
+    restored.root.unmount()
+  })
+
+  it('shows Chat UI default-mode as a child setting only when Chat UI is enabled', async () => {
+    const updateSettings = vi.fn()
+    const disabledSettings = getDefaultSettings('/tmp')
+    const disabledMarkup = renderToStaticMarkup(
+      <ExperimentalPane settings={disabledSettings} updateSettings={vi.fn()} />
+    )
+    expect(disabledMarkup).toContain('Chat UI')
+    expect(disabledMarkup).not.toContain('Default view')
+
+    const settings = {
+      ...getDefaultSettings('/tmp'),
+      experimentalNativeChat: true,
+      openAgentTabsInChatByDefault: false
+    }
+    const { root, container } = await renderExperimentalPane({ updateSettings, settings })
+
+    expect(container.textContent).toContain('Default view')
+    expect(container.textContent).toContain('Terminal chat')
     expect(container.textContent).toContain('Chat UI')
-    expect(container.textContent).not.toContain('Default view')
-    expect(container.querySelector('[data-slot="native-chat-default-view-select"]')).toBeNull()
+    expect(
+      container
+        .querySelector('[data-slot="native-chat-default-view-select"]')
+        ?.getAttribute('data-value')
+    ).toBe('terminal-chat')
+
+    const nativeChatOption = Array.from(
+      container.querySelectorAll<HTMLButtonElement>('[data-slot="select-item"]')
+    ).find((button) => button.getAttribute('data-value') === 'native-chat')
+    if (!nativeChatOption) {
+      throw new Error('Chat UI default-view option was not rendered')
+    }
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      nativeChatOption.dispatchEvent(new MouseEvent('click', { bubbles: true }))
+    })
+
+    expect(updateSettings).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ openAgentTabsInChatByDefault: true })
+
+    root.unmount()
+
+    const nativeSettings = {
+      ...settings,
+      openAgentTabsInChatByDefault: true
+    }
+    const secondRender = await renderExperimentalPane({
+      updateSettings,
+      settings: nativeSettings
+    })
+
+    expect(
+      secondRender.container
+        .querySelector('[data-slot="native-chat-default-view-select"]')
+        ?.getAttribute('data-value')
+    ).toBe('native-chat')
+
+    const terminalChatOption = Array.from(
+      secondRender.container.querySelectorAll<HTMLButtonElement>('[data-slot="select-item"]')
+    ).find((button) => button.getAttribute('data-value') === 'terminal-chat')
+    if (!terminalChatOption) {
+      throw new Error('Terminal chat default-view option was not rendered')
+    }
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      terminalChatOption.dispatchEvent(new MouseEvent('click', { bubbles: true }))
+    })
+
+    expect(updateSettings).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ openAgentTabsInChatByDefault: false })
+
+    secondRender.root.unmount()
+  })
+
+  // The two controls are nested, but each still writes only its own key.
+  it('never writes one Chat UI child setting while changing the other', async () => {
+    const updateSettings = vi.fn()
+    const settings = {
+      ...getDefaultSettings('/tmp'),
+      experimentalNativeChat: true,
+      experimentalStructuredNativeChat: false,
+      openAgentTabsInChatByDefault: true
+    }
+    const { root, container } = await renderExperimentalPane({ updateSettings, settings })
+
+    const structuredSwitch = container.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>(
+      '#experimental-native-chat button[role="switch"][aria-label="Toggle updated structured native chat"]'
+    )
+    if (!structuredSwitch) {
+      throw new Error('Structured native chat switch was not rendered')
+    }
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      structuredSwitch.dispatchEvent(new MouseEvent('click', { bubbles: true }))
+    })
+
+    expect(updateSettings).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ experimentalStructuredNativeChat: true })
+
+    const terminalChatOption = Array.from(
+      container.querySelectorAll<HTMLButtonElement>('[data-slot="select-item"]')
+    ).find((button) => button.getAttribute('data-value') === 'terminal-chat')
+    if (!terminalChatOption) {
+      throw new Error('Terminal chat default-view option was not rendered')
+    }
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      terminalChatOption.dispatchEvent(new MouseEvent('click', { bubbles: true }))
+    })
+
+    expect(updateSettings).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ openAgentTabsInChatByDefault: false })
+    expect(updateSettings).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
     root.unmount()
   })
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/settings/NativeChatExperimentalSetting.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/settings/NativeChatExperimentalSetting.tsx
index 8ebf18cf08e..666641f61d8 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/settings/NativeChatExperimentalSetting.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/settings/NativeChatExperimentalSetting.tsx
@@ -1,10 +1,13 @@
 import type { GlobalSettings } from '../../../../shared/global-settings-types'
 import { translate } from '@/i18n/i18n'
 import { Label } from '../ui/label'
+import { Select, SelectContent, SelectItem, SelectTrigger, SelectValue } from '../ui/select'
 import { SearchableSetting } from './SearchableSetting'
 import { SettingsSwitch } from './SettingsFormControls'
 import { getExperimentalSearchEntry } from './experimental-search'
 
+type NativeChatDefaultView = 'terminal-chat' | 'native-chat'
+
 type NativeChatExperimentalSettingProps = {
   settings: GlobalSettings
   updateSettings: (updates: Partial<GlobalSettings>) => void
@@ -16,6 +19,8 @@ export function NativeChatExperimentalSetting({
 }: NativeChatExperimentalSettingProps): React.JSX.Element {
   const nativeChatEnabled = settings.experimentalNativeChat === true
   const structuredNativeChatEnabled = settings.experimentalStructuredNativeChat === true
+  const defaultView: NativeChatDefaultView =
+    settings.openAgentTabsInChatByDefault === true ? 'native-chat' : 'terminal-chat'
 
   return (
     <SearchableSetting
@@ -54,41 +59,95 @@ export function NativeChatExperimentalSetting({
         />
       </div>
       {nativeChatEnabled ? (
-        <div className="ml-4 border-l border-border pl-4">
-          <div className="mb-4 flex items-start justify-between gap-4">
+        <div className="ml-4 space-y-4 border-l border-border pl-4">
+          <div className="flex items-start justify-between gap-4">
             <div className="min-w-0 shrink space-y-0.5">
               <Label>
                 {translate(
-                  'auto.components.settings.ExperimentalPane.nativeChat.structuredTitle',
-                  'Use updated structured native chat'
+                  'auto.components.settings.ExperimentalPane.nativeChat.defaultTitle',
+                  'Default view'
                 )}
               </Label>
               <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
                 {translate(
-                  'auto.components.settings.ExperimentalPane.nativeChat.structuredCopy',
-                  'Opt in to the host-owned structured Codex runtime. Off keeps the existing terminal-backed chat path.'
-                )}
-              </p>
-              <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-                {translate(
-                  'auto.components.settings.ExperimentalPane.nativeChat.structuredScope',
-                  'Local macOS and Linux sessions only for now. Windows, WSL, remote, and SSH sessions continue to use terminal chat.'
+                  'auto.components.settings.ExperimentalPane.nativeChat.defaultCopy',
+                  'Choose how new supported agent terminal tabs open.'
                 )}
               </p>
             </div>
-            <SettingsSwitch
-              checked={structuredNativeChatEnabled}
-              ariaLabel={translate(
-                'auto.components.settings.ExperimentalPane.nativeChat.structuredToggleLabel',
-                'Toggle updated structured native chat'
-              )}
-              onChange={() =>
+            <Select
+              value={defaultView}
+              onValueChange={(value: NativeChatDefaultView) => {
                 updateSettings({
-                  experimentalStructuredNativeChat: !structuredNativeChatEnabled
+                  openAgentTabsInChatByDefault: value === 'native-chat'
                 })
-              }
-            />
+              }}
+            >
+              <SelectTrigger
+                aria-label={translate(
+                  'auto.components.settings.ExperimentalPane.nativeChat.defaultViewLabel',
+                  'Default Chat UI view'
+                )}
+                className="w-36"
+                size="sm"
+              >
+                <SelectValue />
+              </SelectTrigger>
+              <SelectContent position="popper" side="bottom" sideOffset={4} avoidCollisions={false}>
+                <SelectItem value="terminal-chat">
+                  {translate(
+                    'auto.components.settings.ExperimentalPane.nativeChat.defaultViewTerminal',
+                    'Terminal chat'
+                  )}
+                </SelectItem>
+                <SelectItem value="native-chat">
+                  {translate(
+                    'auto.components.settings.ExperimentalPane.nativeChat.defaultViewNative',
+                    'Chat UI'
+                  )}
+                </SelectItem>
+              </SelectContent>
+            </Select>
           </div>
+
+          {/* Structured chat rides the Chat UI default view; it has no entry path under Terminal
+              chat. Hidden only — the opt-in keeps its persisted value for when Chat UI returns. */}
+          {defaultView === 'native-chat' ? (
+            <div className="flex items-start justify-between gap-4">
+              <div className="min-w-0 shrink space-y-0.5">
+                <Label>
+                  {translate(
+                    'auto.components.settings.ExperimentalPane.nativeChat.structuredTitle',
+                    'Use updated structured native chat'
+                  )}
+                </Label>
+                <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                  {translate(
+                    'auto.components.settings.ExperimentalPane.nativeChat.structuredCopy',
+                    'Opt in to the host-owned structured Codex runtime. Off keeps the existing terminal-backed chat path.'
+                  )}
+                </p>
+                <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                  {translate(
+                    'auto.components.settings.ExperimentalPane.nativeChat.structuredScope',
+                    'Local macOS and Linux sessions only for now. Windows, WSL, and remote execution hosts (including SSH) continue to use terminal chat.'
+                  )}
+                </p>
+              </div>
+              <SettingsSwitch
+                checked={structuredNativeChatEnabled}
+                ariaLabel={translate(
+                  'auto.components.settings.ExperimentalPane.nativeChat.structuredToggleLabel',
+                  'Toggle updated structured native chat'
+                )}
+                onChange={() =>
+                  updateSettings({
+                    experimentalStructuredNativeChat: !structuredNativeChatEnabled
+                  })
+                }
+              />
+            </div>
+          ) : null}
         </div>
       ) : null}
     </SearchableSetting>
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/tab-bar/QuickLaunchButton.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/tab-bar/QuickLaunchButton.tsx
index c13031303dd..6af2508048c 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/tab-bar/QuickLaunchButton.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/tab-bar/QuickLaunchButton.tsx
@@ -200,23 +200,22 @@ function QuickLaunchAgentMenuItemsInner({
         const showsDefaultAgentShortcut =
           newAgentShortcut !== null && defaultAgent !== 'blank' && agent === defaultAgent
         return (
-          <React.Fragment key={agent}>
-            <DropdownMenuItem
-              onSelect={() => runLaunch(agent)}
-              className="gap-2 rounded-[7px] px-2 py-1.5 text-[12px] leading-5 font-medium"
-              title={translate(
-                'auto.components.tab.bar.QuickLaunchButton.ec2adf093e',
-                'Launch {{value0}} in a new terminal',
-                { value0: label }
-              )}
-            >
-              <AgentIcon agent={agent} size={14} />
-              <span className="flex-1">{label}</span>
-              {showsDefaultAgentShortcut ? (
-                <DropdownMenuShortcut>{newAgentShortcut}</DropdownMenuShortcut>
-              ) : null}
-            </DropdownMenuItem>
-          </React.Fragment>
+          <DropdownMenuItem
+            key={agent}
+            onSelect={() => runLaunch(agent)}
+            className="gap-2 rounded-[7px] px-2 py-1.5 text-[12px] leading-5 font-medium"
+            title={translate(
+              'auto.components.tab.bar.QuickLaunchButton.ec2adf093e',
+              'Launch {{value0}} in a new terminal',
+              { value0: label }
+            )}
+          >
+            <AgentIcon agent={agent} size={14} />
+            <span className="flex-1">{label}</span>
+            {showsDefaultAgentShortcut ? (
+              <DropdownMenuShortcut>{newAgentShortcut}</DropdownMenuShortcut>
+            ) : null}
+          </DropdownMenuItem>
         )
       })}
       <DropdownMenuItem
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/tab-group/TabGroupPanel.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/tab-group/TabGroupPanel.tsx
index ee4f56d4be5..6e48ddd0ec0 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/tab-group/TabGroupPanel.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/tab-group/TabGroupPanel.tsx
@@ -23,13 +23,6 @@ import type { TabGroup } from '../../../../shared/tab-types'
 import type { ClientHostedBrowserRow } from '../../../../shared/client-hosted-browser-rows'
 import { useClientHostedBrowserRows } from '@/lib/pane-manager/client-hosted-browser-row-state'
 import { resolveClientHostedBrowserRowStripGroupId } from '../tab-bar/client-hosted-browser-row-strip-placement'
-import NativeChatView from '../native-chat/NativeChatView'
-import {
-  getExecutionHostIdForWorktree,
-  getRuntimeEnvironmentIdForWorktree
-} from '@/lib/worktree-runtime-owner'
-import { getActiveRuntimeTarget } from '@/runtime/runtime-rpc-client'
-import { isAgentSessionHandleProvider } from '../../../../shared/agent-session-provider-handle'
 
 const EditorPanel = lazy(() => import('../editor/EditorPanel'))
 const EMPTY_GROUPS: readonly TabGroup[] = []
@@ -70,16 +63,6 @@ export default function TabGroupPanel({
 }): React.JSX.Element {
   const rightSidebarOpen = useAppStore((state) => state.rightSidebarOpen)
   const sidebarOpen = useAppStore((state) => state.sidebarOpen)
-  const structuredRuntimeEnvironmentId = useAppStore((state) =>
-    getRuntimeEnvironmentIdForWorktree(state, worktreeId)
-  )
-  const structuredFileLinksEnabled = useAppStore(
-    (state) => getExecutionHostIdForWorktree(state, worktreeId) === 'local'
-  )
-  const structuredRuntimeTarget = useMemo(
-    () => getActiveRuntimeTarget({ activeRuntimeEnvironmentId: structuredRuntimeEnvironmentId }),
-    [structuredRuntimeEnvironmentId]
-  )
   const model = useTabGroupWorkspaceModel({ groupId, worktreeId })
   const {
     activeTab,
@@ -391,23 +374,7 @@ export default function TabGroupPanel({
             </div>
           )}
 
-        {activeTab?.contentType === 'agent-session' &&
-        isAgentSessionHandleProvider(activeTab.agentSessionAgent) ? (
-          <div className="native-chat-pane-shell absolute inset-0 z-10 flex min-h-0 min-w-0">
-            <NativeChatView
-              key={activeTab.entityId}
-              mode="structured"
-              tabId={activeTab.id}
-              sessionId={activeTab.entityId}
-              agent={activeTab.agentSessionAgent}
-              isVisible={isVisible}
-              target={structuredRuntimeTarget}
-              allowFileUriLinks={structuredFileLinksEnabled}
-            />
-          </div>
-        ) : null}
-
-        {/* Why: terminal/browser/simulator panes render at the worktree level (overlay layers); per-group rendering remounted xterm/webview/simulator on split moves. */}
+        {/* Why: terminal/browser/simulator/structured-chat panes render at the worktree level; tab activation only changes overlay visibility and never remounts a live surface. */}
       </div>
     </div>
   )
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/en.json b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/en.json
index 2f7a3293a3b..6e7d9893336 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/en.json
+++ b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/en.json
@@ -3276,10 +3276,7 @@
             "ec2adf093e": "Launch {{value0}} in a new terminal",
             "465e432ef1": "Could not build launch command for {{value0}}.",
             "e518f544b1": "No agents detected",
-            "8dea9b5cdf": "No enabled agents",
-            "f378201fbd": "Could not create chat session",
-            "a847779775": "Start Codex without a terminal",
-            "0ea6a78efb": "Chat session"
+            "8dea9b5cdf": "No enabled agents"
           },
           "RecentTabSwitcher": {
             "329638ff6f": "Switch Tab",
@@ -6876,7 +6873,7 @@
             "defaultViewNative": "Chat UI",
             "structuredTitle": "Use updated structured native chat",
             "structuredCopy": "Opt in to the host-owned structured Codex runtime. Off keeps the existing terminal-backed chat path.",
-            "structuredScope": "Local macOS and Linux sessions only for now. Windows, WSL, remote, and SSH sessions continue to use terminal chat.",
+            "structuredScope": "Local macOS and Linux sessions only for now. Windows, WSL, and remote execution hosts (including SSH) continue to use terminal chat.",
             "structuredToggleLabel": "Toggle updated structured native chat"
           },
           "agentDashboard": {
@@ -16063,9 +16060,7 @@
       "nativeChat": {
         "contextMenu": {
           "copy": "Copy"
-        },
-        "structuredSessionLaunchStarting": "Opening Codex chat…",
-        "structuredSessionLaunchInProgress": "Codex chat is still opening"
+        }
       },
       "orca": {
         "profiles": {
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/launch-agent-structured-chat-guard.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/launch-agent-structured-chat-guard.test.ts
index 5838fada19b..dedcf257054 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/lib/launch-agent-structured-chat-guard.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/launch-agent-structured-chat-guard.test.ts
@@ -95,8 +95,7 @@ describe('structured chat adoption guard on the launch path', () => {
     store.settings.openAgentTabsInChatByDefault = true
   })
 
-  it('uses the updated structured-chat toggle without the legacy chat-default setting', async () => {
-    store.settings.openAgentTabsInChatByDefault = false
+  it('takes the structured path when the chat-default view is selected', async () => {
     const { launchAgentInNewTab, shouldQueueTerminalFocusAfterMenuClose } =
       await import('./launch-agent-in-new-tab')
 
@@ -113,6 +112,24 @@ describe('structured chat adoption guard on the launch path', () => {
     expect(mockWaitForAgentReady).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
 
+  /** The toggle is hidden under Terminal chat but its persisted value survives, so the launch
+   *  path must re-check the default view rather than trust a stale opt-in. */
+  it('ignores a stale structured opt-in while the default view is Terminal chat', async () => {
+    store.settings.openAgentTabsInChatByDefault = false
+    const { launchAgentInNewTab } = await import('./launch-agent-in-new-tab')
+
+    const result = launchAgentInNewTab({ agent: 'codex', worktreeId: 'wt-1' })
+
+    expect(result?.tabId).toBe('tab-1')
+    expect(mockLaunchStructuredCodexSession).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(mockCreateTab).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      'wt-1',
+      undefined,
+      undefined,
+      expect.objectContaining({ launchAgent: 'codex' })
+    )
+  })
+
   it('surfaces a direct structured launch failure instead of silently doing nothing', async () => {
     mockLaunchStructuredCodexSession.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error('provider unavailable'))
     const { launchAgentInNewTab } = await import('./launch-agent-in-new-tab')
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/resume-legacy-structured-agent-session.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/resume-stale-structured-agent-session.test.ts
similarity index 79%
rename from src/renderer/src/lib/resume-legacy-structured-agent-session.test.ts
rename to src/renderer/src/lib/resume-stale-structured-agent-session.test.ts
index 5604ba56885..db16786d27a 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/lib/resume-legacy-structured-agent-session.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/resume-stale-structured-agent-session.test.ts
@@ -1,29 +1,29 @@
 import { afterEach, describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
 import { useAppStore } from '@/store'
-import { LEGACY_AGENT_SESSION_ID } from '../../../shared/agent-session-record-legacy.test-fixture'
 import type { SleepingAgentSessionRecord } from '../../../shared/agent-session-resume'
 import { makePaneKey } from '../../../shared/stable-pane-id'
 import { structuredAgentSessionTabId } from '../../../shared/structured-agent-session-projection'
 import { resumeSleepingAgentSessionsForWorktree } from './resume-sleeping-agent-session'
 
 const initialAppStoreState = useAppStore.getState()
-const WORKTREE_ID = 'legacy-worktree'
+const WORKTREE_ID = 'stale-structured-worktree'
+const SESSION_ID = 'structured-session-stale'
 const LEAF_ID = '11111111-1111-4111-8111-111111111111'
 
 afterEach(() => {
   useAppStore.setState(initialAppStoreState, true)
 })
 
-describe('legacy structured sleeping session', () => {
+describe('stale structured sleeping session', () => {
   it('clears the synthetic terminal projection without spawning', () => {
-    const tabId = structuredAgentSessionTabId(LEGACY_AGENT_SESSION_ID)
+    const tabId = structuredAgentSessionTabId(SESSION_ID)
     const paneKey = makePaneKey(tabId, LEAF_ID)
     const record: SleepingAgentSessionRecord = {
       paneKey,
       tabId,
       worktreeId: WORKTREE_ID,
       agent: 'codex',
-      providerSession: { key: 'session_id', id: LEGACY_AGENT_SESSION_ID },
+      providerSession: { key: 'session_id', id: SESSION_ID },
       prompt: 'continue',
       state: 'working',
       capturedAt: 1,
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/structured-agent-session-launch.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/structured-agent-session-launch.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e83119ca3b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/structured-agent-session-launch.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,132 @@
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { toast } from 'sonner'
+import type { RuntimeMobileSessionTabsResult } from '../../../shared/runtime-session-contracts'
+import { launchStructuredCodexSession } from '@/lib/launch-structured-codex-session'
+import { refreshLocalStructuredSessionTabs } from '@/runtime/local-structured-session-tabs-sync'
+import { startStructuredCodexLaunch } from './structured-agent-session-launch'
+
+vi.mock('sonner', () => ({
+  toast: {
+    error: vi.fn(),
+    message: vi.fn()
+  }
+}))
+
+vi.mock('@/lib/launch-structured-codex-session', () => ({
+  launchStructuredCodexSession: vi.fn()
+}))
+
+vi.mock('@/runtime/local-structured-session-tabs-sync', () => ({
+  refreshLocalStructuredSessionTabs: vi.fn()
+}))
+
+vi.mock('@/i18n/i18n', () => ({
+  translate: (_key: string, fallback: string) => fallback
+}))
+
+function publishedSnapshot(worktreeId: string, sessionId: string): RuntimeMobileSessionTabsResult {
+  return {
+    worktree: worktreeId,
+    publicationEpoch: 'epoch-1',
+    snapshotVersion: 1,
+    activeGroupId: null,
+    activeTabId: null,
+    activeTabType: null,
+    tabs: [
+      {
+        type: 'agent-session',
+        id: 'tab-1',
+        title: 'Codex',
+        sessionId,
+        agent: 'codex',
+        isActive: true
+      }
+    ]
+  }
+}
+
+async function flushLaunchSettlement(): Promise<void> {
+  for (let i = 0; i < 8; i += 1) {
+    await Promise.resolve()
+  }
+}
+
+describe('startStructuredCodexLaunch', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.mocked(toast.message).mockReset()
+    vi.mocked(toast.error).mockReset()
+    vi.mocked(launchStructuredCodexSession).mockReset()
+    vi.mocked(refreshLocalStructuredSessionTabs).mockReset()
+  })
+
+  it('opens the chat without an informational progress toast', async () => {
+    const worktreeId = 'wt-open-quiet'
+    vi.mocked(launchStructuredCodexSession).mockResolvedValue('session-1')
+    vi.mocked(refreshLocalStructuredSessionTabs).mockResolvedValue([
+      publishedSnapshot(worktreeId, 'session-1')
+    ])
+
+    startStructuredCodexLaunch(worktreeId)
+    await flushLaunchSettlement()
+
+    expect(launchStructuredCodexSession).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(launchStructuredCodexSession).toHaveBeenCalledWith(worktreeId)
+    expect(toast.message).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(toast.error).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('coalesces a duplicate click silently while the launch is in flight', async () => {
+    const worktreeId = 'wt-duplicate-click'
+    let resolveLaunch: (sessionId: string) => void = () => {}
+    vi.mocked(launchStructuredCodexSession).mockImplementation(
+      () => new Promise<string>((resolve) => (resolveLaunch = resolve))
+    )
+    vi.mocked(refreshLocalStructuredSessionTabs).mockResolvedValue([
+      publishedSnapshot(worktreeId, 'session-2')
+    ])
+
+    startStructuredCodexLaunch(worktreeId)
+    startStructuredCodexLaunch(worktreeId)
+
+    expect(launchStructuredCodexSession).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(toast.message).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+
+    resolveLaunch('session-2')
+    await flushLaunchSettlement()
+    expect(toast.error).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('keeps the actionable error toast when the launch fails', async () => {
+    const worktreeId = 'wt-launch-fails'
+    vi.mocked(launchStructuredCodexSession).mockRejectedValue(new Error('codex binary missing'))
+
+    startStructuredCodexLaunch(worktreeId)
+    await flushLaunchSettlement()
+
+    expect(toast.error).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(toast.error).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Could not open Codex chat', {
+      description: 'codex binary missing'
+    })
+    expect(toast.message).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('releases the single-flight reservation after a failed launch so a retry relaunches', async () => {
+    const worktreeId = 'wt-retry-after-failure'
+    vi.mocked(launchStructuredCodexSession).mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error('transient'))
+    vi.mocked(launchStructuredCodexSession).mockResolvedValueOnce('session-3')
+    vi.mocked(refreshLocalStructuredSessionTabs).mockResolvedValue([
+      publishedSnapshot(worktreeId, 'session-3')
+    ])
+
+    startStructuredCodexLaunch(worktreeId)
+    await flushLaunchSettlement()
+    expect(toast.error).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+
+    startStructuredCodexLaunch(worktreeId)
+    await flushLaunchSettlement()
+
+    expect(launchStructuredCodexSession).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
+    expect(toast.message).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(toast.error).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/structured-agent-session-launch.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/structured-agent-session-launch.ts
index ef08ee781b5..a9864c6b2e9 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/lib/structured-agent-session-launch.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/structured-agent-session-launch.ts
@@ -87,15 +87,6 @@ function launchStructuredCodexSessionOnce(worktreeId: string): Promise<string> {
 }
 
 export function startStructuredCodexLaunch(worktreeId: string): void {
-  const alreadyOpening = pendingStructuredLaunchesByWorktree.has(worktreeId)
-  toast.message(
-    translate(
-      alreadyOpening
-        ? 'auto.components.nativeChat.structuredSessionLaunchInProgress'
-        : 'auto.components.nativeChat.structuredSessionLaunchStarting',
-      alreadyOpening ? 'Codex chat is still opening' : 'Opening Codex chat…'
-    )
-  )
   void launchStructuredCodexSessionOnce(worktreeId).catch((error) => {
     toast.error(
       translate(
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/structured-native-chat-availability.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/structured-native-chat-availability.test.ts
index 00abdbd1b86..770413208cc 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/lib/structured-native-chat-availability.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/structured-native-chat-availability.test.ts
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ function stateFor(input: {
       }
     ],
     repos: [{ id: 'repo-1', connectionId: input.connectionId ?? null, path: 'C:\\repo' }],
-    settings: { experimentalStructuredNativeChat: true },
+    settings: { experimentalStructuredNativeChat: true, openAgentTabsInChatByDefault: true },
     worktreesByRepo: {
       'repo-1': [
         {
@@ -101,7 +101,37 @@ describe('canUseStructuredNativeChat', () => {
   it('keeps the legacy bridge when the updated runtime is opted out', () => {
     expect(
       canUseStructuredNativeChat(
-        { ...stateFor({}), settings: { experimentalStructuredNativeChat: false } } as AppState,
+        {
+          ...stateFor({}),
+          settings: {
+            experimentalStructuredNativeChat: false,
+            openAgentTabsInChatByDefault: true
+          }
+        } as AppState,
+        'wt-1'
+      )
+    ).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('refuses a stale structured opt-in while the default view is Terminal chat', () => {
+    expect(
+      canUseStructuredNativeChat(
+        {
+          ...stateFor({}),
+          settings: {
+            experimentalStructuredNativeChat: true,
+            openAgentTabsInChatByDefault: false
+          }
+        } as AppState,
+        'wt-1'
+      )
+    ).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('refuses a structured opt-in when the default view was never chosen', () => {
+    expect(
+      canUseStructuredNativeChat(
+        { ...stateFor({}), settings: { experimentalStructuredNativeChat: true } } as AppState,
         'wt-1'
       )
     ).toBe(false)
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/structured-native-chat-availability.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/structured-native-chat-availability.ts
index 9a22831bc11..bc14ccfd4f0 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/lib/structured-native-chat-availability.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/structured-native-chat-availability.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,12 @@ export function canUseStructuredNativeChat(state: AppState, worktreeId: string):
   if (state.settings?.experimentalStructuredNativeChat !== true) {
     return false
   }
+  // Structured chat has no entry path of its own — it reuses the Chat UI default view. With
+  // Terminal chat selected the toggle is hidden but its persisted value survives, so gate on the
+  // default view too or a stale `true` would silently route new tabs into the structured runtime.
+  if (state.settings?.openAgentTabsInChatByDefault !== true) {
+    return false
+  }
   if (getExecutionHostIdForWorktree(state, worktreeId) !== 'local') {
     return false
   }
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/worktree-agent-activation-gate.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/worktree-agent-activation-gate.test.ts
index be5620da0f2..3b884affca1 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/lib/worktree-agent-activation-gate.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/worktree-agent-activation-gate.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
 import type { SleepingAgentSessionRecord } from '../../../shared/agent-session-resume'
-import { LEGACY_AGENT_SESSION_ID } from '../../../shared/agent-session-record-legacy.test-fixture'
 import { structuredAgentSessionTabId } from '../../../shared/structured-agent-session-projection'
 import type { PtyListedSession } from '../../../shared/pty-listed-session'
 import type { RuntimeMobileSessionTabsResult } from '../../../shared/runtime-types'
@@ -9,6 +8,7 @@ import type { TerminalSlice } from '@/store/slices/terminals'
 import { runWorktreeAgentActivationGate } from './worktree-agent-activation-gate'
 
 const WORKTREE_ID = 'repo::/worktree'
+const STALE_STRUCTURED_SESSION_ID = 'structured-session-stale'
 const LIVE_LEAF_ID = '11111111-1111-4111-8111-111111111111'
 const DEAD_LEAF_ID = '22222222-2222-4222-8222-222222222222'
 
@@ -252,10 +252,10 @@ describe('worktree agent activation gate', () => {
     expect(resume).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
 
-  it('does not activate a terminal for a legacy structured sleeping projection', async () => {
-    const tabId = structuredAgentSessionTabId(LEGACY_AGENT_SESSION_ID)
-    const legacy = sleepingRecord(tabId, LIVE_LEAF_ID, LEGACY_AGENT_SESSION_ID)
-    const { deps, createTab, resume } = testDeps({ structured: true, sleeping: [legacy] })
+  it('does not activate a terminal for a stale structured sleeping projection', async () => {
+    const tabId = structuredAgentSessionTabId(STALE_STRUCTURED_SESSION_ID)
+    const stale = sleepingRecord(tabId, LIVE_LEAF_ID, STALE_STRUCTURED_SESSION_ID)
+    const { deps, createTab, resume } = testDeps({ structured: true, sleeping: [stale] })
 
     await expect(runWorktreeAgentActivationGate(WORKTREE_ID, deps)).resolves.toBe('blocked')
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/runtime/local-structured-session-tabs-host-isolation.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/runtime/local-structured-session-tabs-host-isolation.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..614eae533af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/runtime/local-structured-session-tabs-host-isolation.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,219 @@
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import type { RuntimeMobileSessionTabsResult } from '../../../shared/runtime-types'
+import { toRuntimeExecutionHostId, toSshExecutionHostId } from '../../../shared/execution-host'
+import { toWebTerminalSurfaceTabId } from './web-runtime-session'
+import {
+  applyLocalStructuredSessionTabSnapshots,
+  projectLocalStructuredSessionTabs
+} from './local-structured-session-tabs-sync'
+import { applyWebSessionTabsSnapshot, type WebSessionTabsSyncState } from './web-session-tabs-sync'
+import {
+  ENV,
+  HOST_SURFACE_ID,
+  LEAF_ID,
+  NOW,
+  WT,
+  makeSnapshot,
+  makeState,
+  resetWebSessionTabsSyncTestState
+} from './web-session-tabs-sync-test-harness'
+
+vi.mock('../store', () => ({
+  useAppStore: {
+    setState: vi.fn()
+  }
+}))
+
+const REMOTE_GROUP = 'remote-group'
+const STRUCTURED_GROUP = 'structured-group'
+const HOST_TAB_ID = 'host-tab-1'
+const MIRRORED_TAB_ID = toWebTerminalSurfaceTabId(HOST_TAB_ID)
+
+function terminalSnapshot(version = 1): RuntimeMobileSessionTabsResult {
+  return makeSnapshot(
+    [
+      {
+        type: 'terminal',
+        id: HOST_SURFACE_ID,
+        parentTabId: HOST_TAB_ID,
+        leafId: LEAF_ID,
+        title: 'Terminal',
+        status: 'ready',
+        terminal: 'term-host',
+        isActive: true
+      }
+    ],
+    {
+      snapshotVersion: version,
+      activeGroupId: REMOTE_GROUP,
+      tabGroups: [{ id: REMOTE_GROUP, activeTabId: HOST_TAB_ID, tabOrder: [HOST_TAB_ID] }],
+      tabGroupLayout: { type: 'leaf', groupId: REMOTE_GROUP }
+    }
+  )
+}
+
+function pendingTerminalSnapshot(): RuntimeMobileSessionTabsResult {
+  return makeSnapshot(
+    [
+      {
+        type: 'terminal',
+        id: HOST_SURFACE_ID,
+        parentTabId: HOST_TAB_ID,
+        leafId: LEAF_ID,
+        title: 'Starting terminal',
+        status: 'pending-handle',
+        terminal: null,
+        isActive: true
+      }
+    ],
+    {
+      activeGroupId: REMOTE_GROUP,
+      tabGroups: [{ id: REMOTE_GROUP, activeTabId: HOST_TAB_ID, tabOrder: [HOST_TAB_ID] }],
+      tabGroupLayout: { type: 'leaf', groupId: REMOTE_GROUP }
+    }
+  )
+}
+
+function structuredSnapshot(): RuntimeMobileSessionTabsResult {
+  return makeSnapshot(
+    [
+      {
+        type: 'agent-session',
+        id: 'agent-session:codex-1',
+        title: 'Codex Chat',
+        sessionId: 'codex-1',
+        agent: 'codex',
+        isActive: true
+      }
+    ],
+    {
+      publicationEpoch: 'structured:epoch-1',
+      activeGroupId: STRUCTURED_GROUP,
+      activeTabId: 'agent-session:codex-1',
+      activeTabType: 'agent-session',
+      tabGroups: [
+        {
+          id: STRUCTURED_GROUP,
+          activeTabId: 'agent-session:codex-1',
+          tabOrder: ['agent-session:codex-1']
+        }
+      ],
+      tabGroupLayout: { type: 'leaf', groupId: STRUCTURED_GROUP }
+    }
+  )
+}
+
+function applySnapshot(
+  state: WebSessionTabsSyncState,
+  snapshot: RuntimeMobileSessionTabsResult,
+  environmentId: string,
+  options?: Parameters<typeof applyWebSessionTabsSnapshot>[4]
+): WebSessionTabsSyncState {
+  return {
+    ...state,
+    ...applyWebSessionTabsSnapshot(state, snapshot, environmentId, NOW, options)
+  } as WebSessionTabsSyncState
+}
+
+function expectRemoteTerminalTopology(state: WebSessionTabsSyncState): void {
+  expect(state.tabsByWorktree[WT]).toEqual([
+    expect.objectContaining({ id: MIRRORED_TAB_ID, ptyId: `remote:${ENV}@@term-host` })
+  ])
+  expect(state.unifiedTabsByWorktree[WT]).toEqual(
+    expect.arrayContaining([
+      expect.objectContaining({ id: MIRRORED_TAB_ID, contentType: 'terminal' })
+    ])
+  )
+  expect(state.groupsByWorktree[WT]).toEqual(
+    expect.arrayContaining([
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        id: REMOTE_GROUP,
+        tabOrder: expect.arrayContaining([MIRRORED_TAB_ID])
+      })
+    ])
+  )
+  expect(state.activeGroupIdByWorktree[WT]).toBe(REMOTE_GROUP)
+  expect(state.layoutByWorktree[WT]).toEqual({ type: 'leaf', groupId: REMOTE_GROUP })
+  expect(state.activeTabIdByWorktree[WT]).toBe(MIRRORED_TAB_ID)
+  expect(state.activeTabTypeByWorktree[WT]).toBe('terminal')
+}
+
+describe('local structured session tab host isolation', () => {
+  beforeEach(resetWebSessionTabsSyncTestState)
+
+  it('materializes a complete terminal group and layout into an otherwise empty paired state', () => {
+    const state = applySnapshot(makeState(), terminalSnapshot(), ENV)
+
+    expectRemoteTerminalTopology(state)
+  })
+
+  it('materializes the active paired worktree without disturbing another worktree layout', () => {
+    const otherWorktree = 'repo::/other-worktree'
+    const otherLayout = { type: 'leaf' as const, groupId: 'other-group' }
+    const state = applySnapshot(
+      makeState({ layoutByWorktree: { [otherWorktree]: otherLayout } }),
+      terminalSnapshot(),
+      ENV
+    )
+
+    expectRemoteTerminalTopology(state)
+    expect(state.layoutByWorktree[otherWorktree]).toBe(otherLayout)
+  })
+
+  it('keeps ordinary remote topology stable across agent-only inventory frames', () => {
+    let state = applySnapshot(makeState(), terminalSnapshot(), ENV)
+    state = applySnapshot(
+      state,
+      projectLocalStructuredSessionTabs(structuredSnapshot()),
+      'local-structured-session',
+      {
+        contentScope: 'agent-session',
+        preserveLocalLayout: true,
+        terminalPtyMode: 'local'
+      }
+    )
+    expectRemoteTerminalTopology(state)
+
+    state = applySnapshot(state, terminalSnapshot(2), ENV)
+    expectRemoteTerminalTopology(state)
+  })
+
+  it('keeps startup terminal topology through pending, ready, and repeated ready frames', () => {
+    let state = applySnapshot(makeState(), pendingTerminalSnapshot(), ENV)
+    expect(state.tabsByWorktree[WT]).toEqual([
+      expect.objectContaining({ id: MIRRORED_TAB_ID, ptyId: null })
+    ])
+    expect(state.groupsByWorktree[WT]).toEqual([
+      expect.objectContaining({ id: REMOTE_GROUP, tabOrder: [MIRRORED_TAB_ID] })
+    ])
+    expect(state.layoutByWorktree[WT]).toEqual({ type: 'leaf', groupId: REMOTE_GROUP })
+
+    state = applySnapshot(state, terminalSnapshot(2), ENV)
+    expectRemoteTerminalTopology(state)
+    const stableGroups = state.groupsByWorktree
+    const stableLayouts = state.layoutByWorktree
+
+    state = applySnapshot(state, terminalSnapshot(3), ENV)
+    expectRemoteTerminalTopology(state)
+    expect(state.groupsByWorktree).toBe(stableGroups)
+    expect(state.layoutByWorktree).toBe(stableLayouts)
+  })
+
+  it.each([
+    ['paired', toRuntimeExecutionHostId(ENV)],
+    ['SSH', toSshExecutionHostId('ssh-target-1')]
+  ])('does not project local structured inventory into a %s-owned workspace', (_name, hostId) => {
+    const state = makeState({
+      activeWorkspaceExecutionHostId: hostId
+    } as Partial<WebSessionTabsSyncState>)
+
+    const next = applyLocalStructuredSessionTabSnapshots(
+      state,
+      [structuredSnapshot()],
+      undefined,
+      NOW
+    )
+
+    expect(next).toBe(state)
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/runtime/local-structured-session-tabs-sync.ts b/src/renderer/src/runtime/local-structured-session-tabs-sync.ts
index a336b14923d..2eb3e8eab01 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/runtime/local-structured-session-tabs-sync.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/runtime/local-structured-session-tabs-sync.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,10 @@ import { useEffect } from 'react'
 import { STRUCTURED_AGENT_SESSION_RUNTIME_CAPABILITY } from '../../../shared/protocol-version'
 import type { RuntimeMobileSessionTabsResult } from '../../../shared/runtime-types'
 import { useAppStore } from '../store'
+import type { WorktreeRuntimeOwnerState } from '../lib/worktree-runtime-owner'
+import { getExecutionHostIdForWorktree } from '../lib/worktree-runtime-owner'
 import { applyWebSessionTabsSnapshot, applyWebSessionTabsStorePatch } from './web-session-tabs-sync'
+import type { WebSessionTabsSyncState } from './web-session-tabs-sync'
 
 export const LOCAL_STRUCTURED_SESSION_OWNER = 'local-structured-session'
 let localStructuredSessionTabsRestorePromise: Promise<void> | null = null
@@ -52,25 +55,42 @@ export function applyStructuredSessionTabSnapshots(
   owner = LOCAL_STRUCTURED_SESSION_OWNER
 ): void {
   const settleStructuredSessionMirror = applyWebSessionTabsStorePatch(
-    (state) => {
-      let next = state
-      for (const snapshot of snapshots) {
-        const patch = applyWebSessionTabsSnapshot(
-          next,
-          projectLocalStructuredSessionTabs(snapshot),
-          owner,
-          Date.now(),
-          { preserveLocalLayout: true, terminalPtyMode: 'local' }
-        )
-        next = patch === next ? next : ({ ...next, ...patch } as typeof state)
-      }
-      return next
-    },
+    (state) => applyLocalStructuredSessionTabSnapshots(state, snapshots, owner),
     { frames: [] }
   )
   settleStructuredSessionMirror()
 }
 
+export function applyLocalStructuredSessionTabSnapshots<
+  State extends WebSessionTabsSyncState & WorktreeRuntimeOwnerState
+>(
+  state: State,
+  snapshots: readonly RuntimeMobileSessionTabsResult[],
+  owner = LOCAL_STRUCTURED_SESSION_OWNER,
+  now = Date.now()
+): State {
+  let next = state
+  for (const snapshot of snapshots) {
+    // Why: the execution host owns its tabs; local inventory must not rewrite paired or SSH panes.
+    if (getExecutionHostIdForWorktree(next, snapshot.worktree) !== 'local') {
+      continue
+    }
+    const patch = applyWebSessionTabsSnapshot(
+      next,
+      projectLocalStructuredSessionTabs(snapshot),
+      owner,
+      now,
+      {
+        contentScope: 'agent-session',
+        preserveLocalLayout: true,
+        terminalPtyMode: 'local'
+      }
+    )
+    next = patch === next ? next : ({ ...next, ...patch } as State)
+  }
+  return next
+}
+
 export function restoreLocalStructuredSessionTabsOnce(): Promise<void> {
   localStructuredSessionTabsRestorePromise ??= refreshLocalStructuredSessionTabs()
     .then(() => undefined)
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/runtime/web-session-structured-tab-focus.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/runtime/web-session-structured-tab-focus.test.ts
index 8ae3930e607..cde8bb66991 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/runtime/web-session-structured-tab-focus.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/runtime/web-session-structured-tab-focus.test.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@ function structuredTab(sessionId: string, sortOrder: number): Tab {
     customLabel: null,
     color: null,
     sortOrder,
-    createdAt: sortOrder + 1
+    createdAt: sortOrder + 1,
+    isPinned: false
   }
 }
 
@@ -99,6 +100,11 @@ describe('web session structured tab focus', () => {
 
     const patch = applyWebSessionTabsSnapshot(state, snapshot, 'environment-1', 10)
 
-    expect(patch.groupsByWorktree?.[WORKTREE_ID]?.[0]?.activeTabId).toBe(second.id)
+    const applied = patch === state ? state : ({ ...state, ...patch } as WebSessionTabsSyncState)
+
+    expect(applied.groupsByWorktree[WORKTREE_ID]?.[0]?.activeTabId).toBe(second.id)
+    expect(applied.unifiedTabsByWorktree[WORKTREE_ID]).toBe(
+      state.unifiedTabsByWorktree[WORKTREE_ID]
+    )
   })
 })
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/runtime/web-session-tabs-sync.ts b/src/renderer/src/runtime/web-session-tabs-sync.ts
index e6f8443a0e7..a213b2dbfe3 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/runtime/web-session-tabs-sync.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/runtime/web-session-tabs-sync.ts
@@ -169,6 +169,7 @@ type SessionTabsRemovalFence = {
 }
 
 export type WebSessionTabsSnapshotApplyOptions = {
+  contentScope?: 'all' | 'agent-session'
   preserveLocalLayout?: boolean
   terminalPtyMode?: 'local' | 'remote'
 }
@@ -2801,7 +2802,10 @@ function applyWebSessionTabsSnapshotWithContext(
   }
   const currentTerminalTabs = state.tabsByWorktree[worktreeId] ?? []
   const existingTerminalById = new Map(currentTerminalTabs.map((tab) => [tab.id, tab]))
-  const terminalSurfaceTabs = snapshot.tabs.filter(isTerminalSurfaceTab)
+  const reconcilesNonAgentTabs = options?.contentScope !== 'agent-session'
+  const terminalSurfaceTabs = reconcilesNonAgentTabs
+    ? snapshot.tabs.filter(isTerminalSurfaceTab)
+    : []
   const readyTerminalTabs = terminalSurfaceTabs.filter(isReadyTerminalTab)
   const nextRemotePtyIds = new Set(
     readyTerminalTabs.map((tab) => toRemoteRuntimePtyId(tab.terminal, environmentId))
@@ -2834,16 +2838,18 @@ function applyWebSessionTabsSnapshotWithContext(
     }
   }
   const exactProvisionalHandoffs = new Set(provisionalHandoffHostTabIds.keys())
-  const retainedTerminalTabs = currentTerminalTabs.filter(
-    (tab) =>
-      !shouldReplaceTerminalTab(
-        tab,
-        environmentId,
-        nextRemotePtyIds,
-        nextMirroredTerminalIds,
-        exactProvisionalHandoffs
+  const retainedTerminalTabs = reconcilesNonAgentTabs
+    ? currentTerminalTabs.filter(
+        (tab) =>
+          !shouldReplaceTerminalTab(
+            tab,
+            environmentId,
+            nextRemotePtyIds,
+            nextMirroredTerminalIds,
+            exactProvisionalHandoffs
+          )
       )
-  )
+    : currentTerminalTabs
   const mirroredTerminalTabs = buildMirroredTerminalTabs(
     snapshot,
     environmentId,
@@ -2880,7 +2886,7 @@ function applyWebSessionTabsSnapshotWithContext(
   const hostGroupIdByTabId = buildHostGroupIdByTabId(snapshot.tabGroups)
   const currentUnifiedTabs = state.unifiedTabsByWorktree[worktreeId] ?? []
   const existingTabIndex = buildWebSessionExistingTabIndex({ unifiedTabs: currentUnifiedTabs })
-  const readyBrowserTabs = snapshot.tabs.filter(isReadyBrowserTab)
+  const readyBrowserTabs = reconcilesNonAgentTabs ? snapshot.tabs.filter(isReadyBrowserTab) : []
   const nextRemoteBrowserPageIds = new Set(readyBrowserTabs.map((tab) => tab.browserPageId))
   const mirroredBrowserTabs = buildMirroredBrowserTabs(
     snapshot,
@@ -2896,7 +2902,7 @@ function applyWebSessionTabsSnapshotWithContext(
   )
   const currentBrowserTabs = state.browserTabsByWorktree[worktreeId] ?? []
   const removedBrowserWorkspaceIds = new Set(
-    currentBrowserTabs
+    (reconcilesNonAgentTabs ? currentBrowserTabs : [])
       .filter((tab) => {
         if (mirroredBrowserWorkspaceIds.has(tab.id)) {
           return true
@@ -2947,7 +2953,7 @@ function applyWebSessionTabsSnapshotWithContext(
     retainedBrowserTabs.length + mirroredBrowserTabs.length > 0
       ? [...retainedBrowserTabs, ...mirroredBrowserTabs.map((entry) => entry.workspace)]
       : null
-  const readyEditorTabs = snapshot.tabs.filter(isReadyEditorTab)
+  const readyEditorTabs = reconcilesNonAgentTabs ? snapshot.tabs.filter(isReadyEditorTab) : []
   const worktreeOpenFiles = webSessionOpenFilesForWorktree(state, worktreeId, batchContext)
   const mirroredEditorTabs = buildMirroredEditorTabs(
     snapshot,
@@ -2970,7 +2976,7 @@ function applyWebSessionTabsSnapshotWithContext(
   const mirroredEditorFileIds = new Set(mirroredEditorTabs.map((entry) => entry.file.id))
   const mirroredEditorHostTabIds = new Set(mirroredEditorTabs.map((entry) => entry.hostTabId))
   const removedEditorFileIds = new Set(
-    worktreeOpenFiles
+    (reconcilesNonAgentTabs ? worktreeOpenFiles : [])
       .filter(
         (file) =>
           file.runtimeEnvironmentId === environmentId &&