diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/native-chat/native-chat-file-link.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/native-chat/native-chat-file-link.test.ts
index 5f3aa7daa8e..b14fb0f653e 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/native-chat/native-chat-file-link.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/native-chat/native-chat-file-link.test.ts
@@ -65,7 +65,8 @@ describe('resolveNativeChatFileLinkContext', () => {
     ).toEqual({
       worktreeId: 'wt-1',
       worktreePath: '/repo/worktree',
-      runtimeEnvironmentId: 'env-1'
+      runtimeEnvironmentId: 'env-1',
+      sourceTabId: 'tab-1'
     })
   })
 
@@ -97,7 +98,7 @@ describe('resolveNativeChatFileLinkContext', () => {
         }),
         structuredTab.id
       )
-    ).toEqual(context)
+    ).toEqual({ ...context, sourceTabId: structuredTab.id })
   })
 
   it('resolves a detected-only workspace from the supplied snapshot catalog', () => {
@@ -114,7 +115,8 @@ describe('resolveNativeChatFileLinkContext', () => {
     ).toEqual({
       worktreeId: 'wt-1',
       worktreePath: '/repo/detected',
-      runtimeEnvironmentId: null
+      runtimeEnvironmentId: null,
+      sourceTabId: 'tab-1'
     })
   })
 
@@ -134,7 +136,8 @@ describe('resolveNativeChatFileLinkContext', () => {
     ).toEqual({
       worktreeId: folderKey,
       worktreePath: '/workspace/platform',
-      runtimeEnvironmentId: null
+      runtimeEnvironmentId: null,
+      sourceTabId: folderTab.id
     })
   })
 })
@@ -184,7 +187,8 @@ describe('floating workspace native chat', () => {
     expect(resolveNativeChatFileLinkContext(pinned, floatingTab.id)).toEqual({
       worktreeId: FLOATING_TERMINAL_WORKTREE_ID,
       worktreePath: '/home/me/pinned',
-      runtimeEnvironmentId: null
+      runtimeEnvironmentId: null,
+      sourceTabId: floatingTab.id
     })
   })
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/native-chat/native-chat-file-link.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/native-chat/native-chat-file-link.ts
index 38b5adbe5ac..b7bdef5e7ee 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/native-chat/native-chat-file-link.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/native-chat/native-chat-file-link.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ export type NativeChatFileLinkContext = {
   worktreeId: string
   worktreePath: string
   runtimeEnvironmentId: string | null
+  /** The chat's own tab (terminal or agent-session); editor opens place beside its group. */
+  sourceTabId?: string
 }
 
 export type NativeChatResolvedFileLink = {
@@ -120,7 +122,8 @@ function resolveNativeChatFileLinkContextForOwner(
   return {
     worktreeId,
     worktreePath,
-    runtimeEnvironmentId: getRuntimeEnvironmentIdForWorktree(state, worktreeId)
+    runtimeEnvironmentId: getRuntimeEnvironmentIdForWorktree(state, worktreeId),
+    sourceTabId: terminalTabId
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/native-chat/native-chat-link-target-actions.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/native-chat/native-chat-link-target-actions.ts
index 0f81196e2c4..9212ec09da6 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/native-chat/native-chat-link-target-actions.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/native-chat/native-chat-link-target-actions.ts
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ export function nativeChatFileOpenDeps(
     worktreeId: context.worktreeId,
     worktreePath: context.worktreePath,
     runtimeEnvironmentId: context.runtimeEnvironmentId,
+    sourceTabId: context.sourceTabId,
     onOpenFailure: (failure) =>
       failure.verdict === 'unverifiable'
         ? showFileLinkUnverifiableToast(target.absolutePath, failure.error)
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/native-chat/native-chat-owner-selectors.test.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/native-chat/native-chat-owner-selectors.test.tsx
index 93fce970819..ec4fb32da68 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/native-chat/native-chat-owner-selectors.test.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/native-chat/native-chat-owner-selectors.test.tsx
@@ -208,7 +208,8 @@ describe('native chat ownership selectors', () => {
     expect(select(current)).toEqual({
       worktreeId: 'chat-owner',
       worktreePath: '/after',
-      runtimeEnvironmentId: 'owning-runtime'
+      runtimeEnvironmentId: 'owning-runtime',
+      sourceTabId: 'chat'
     })
     useAppStore.setState(current)
     expect(select(initial)?.worktreePath).toBe('/before')
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/floating-file-link-selection.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/floating-file-link-selection.test.ts
index 3c7e9e3f102..cbddce1037f 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/floating-file-link-selection.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/floating-file-link-selection.test.ts
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ const deps = {
   runtimeEnvironmentId: null
 }
 const createBrowserTab = vi.fn()
-const openFile = vi.fn()
+const openFileForLink = vi.fn(() => null)
 const markWorktreeVisited = vi.fn()
 const recordWorktreeVisit = vi.fn()
 const revealWorktreeInSidebar = vi.fn()
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ beforeEach(() => {
     activeBrowserTabId: 'main-browser',
     rightSidebarTab: 'explorer',
     createBrowserTab,
-    openFile,
+    openFileForLink,
     markWorktreeVisited,
     recordWorktreeVisit,
     revealWorktreeInSidebar
@@ -141,9 +141,10 @@ describe('floating file links preserve main-window selection', () => {
     await buildFileLinkActions(filePath, null, null, deps, { kind: 'local' }).primary.run()
     await flushOpen()
 
-    expect(openFile).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+    expect(openFileForLink).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       expect.objectContaining({ filePath, worktreeId: FLOATING_TERMINAL_WORKTREE_ID }),
-      { forceContentReload: true }
+      { forceContentReload: true },
+      null
     )
     expect(mocks.findWorkspaceFileRoute).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
     expect(mainSelection()).toEqual(before)
@@ -153,9 +154,10 @@ describe('floating file links preserve main-window selection', () => {
     const before = mainSelection()
     openDetectedFilePath('/Users/me/floating/app.ts', null, null, deps)
     await flushOpen()
-    expect(openFile).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+    expect(openFileForLink).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       expect.objectContaining({ worktreeId: FLOATING_TERMINAL_WORKTREE_ID }),
-      { forceContentReload: true }
+      { forceContentReload: true },
+      null
     )
     expect(mainSelection()).toEqual(before)
   })
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-file-link-actions.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-file-link-actions.test.ts
index 6b2caedfe6e..55e900c30dd 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-file-link-actions.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-file-link-actions.test.ts
@@ -5,16 +5,18 @@ const mocks = vi.hoisted(() => {
   const settings: { activeRuntimeEnvironmentId: string | null } = {
     activeRuntimeEnvironmentId: null
   }
+  const tabGroups: Record<string, unknown> = {}
   return {
     canOpenWithSystemDefault: true,
     openDetectedFilePath: vi.fn(),
     settings,
-    worktreeRoot: false
+    worktreeRoot: false,
+    tabGroups
   }
 })
 
 vi.mock('@/store', () => ({
-  useAppStore: { getState: () => ({ settings: mocks.settings }) }
+  useAppStore: { getState: () => ({ settings: mocks.settings, ...mocks.tabGroups }) }
 }))
 
 vi.mock('./terminal-file-open-routing', () => ({
@@ -72,6 +74,7 @@ beforeEach(() => {
   mocks.canOpenWithSystemDefault = true
   mocks.settings = { activeRuntimeEnvironmentId: null }
   mocks.worktreeRoot = false
+  mocks.tabGroups = {}
   vi.clearAllMocks()
 })
 
@@ -291,3 +294,82 @@ describe('terminal file link actions', () => {
     })
   })
 })
+
+describe('open in this group', () => {
+  function seedGroups(groupIds: string[]): void {
+    const tabs = groupIds.map((groupId) => ({
+      id: `${groupId}-tab`,
+      entityId: `${groupId}-terminal`,
+      groupId,
+      contentType: 'terminal'
+    }))
+    mocks.tabGroups = {
+      unifiedTabsByWorktree: { 'wt-1': tabs },
+      groupsByWorktree: {
+        'wt-1': groupIds.map((id) => ({ id, activeTabId: `${id}-tab`, tabOrder: [`${id}-tab`] }))
+      },
+      layoutByWorktree: {
+        'wt-1':
+          groupIds.length === 1
+            ? { type: 'leaf', groupId: groupIds[0] }
+            : {
+                type: 'split',
+                direction: 'horizontal',
+                first: { type: 'leaf', groupId: groupIds[0] },
+                second: { type: 'leaf', groupId: groupIds[1] }
+              }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  function rowLabels(request: ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>): string[] {
+    const actionRequest = request.mock.calls[0][0]
+    return (actionRequest.secondaryActions ?? []).map((row: { label: string }) => row.label)
+  }
+
+  it('pins the source group when the source has a neighbor', () => {
+    seedGroups(['A', 'B'])
+    const request = vi.fn()
+    const sourceDeps = { ...deps, sourceTabId: 'A-terminal' }
+    handleTerminalFileLink('/repo/src/main.ts', 3, null, plainEvent(), sourceDeps, context(request))
+
+    const rows = request.mock.calls[0][0].secondaryActions
+    expect(rowLabels(request)).toContain('Open in this group')
+    rows.find((row: { label: string }) => row.label === 'Open in this group').run()
+    expect(mocks.openDetectedFilePath).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/repo/src/main.ts', 3, null, {
+      ...sourceDeps,
+      openInSourceGroup: true
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('omits the row for a single group, an unknown source, or a workspace switch', () => {
+    seedGroups(['A'])
+    const single = vi.fn()
+    handleTerminalFileLink(
+      '/repo/a.ts',
+      null,
+      null,
+      plainEvent(),
+      { ...deps, sourceTabId: 'A-terminal' },
+      context(single)
+    )
+    expect(rowLabels(single)).not.toContain('Open in this group')
+
+    seedGroups(['A', 'B'])
+    const unknown = vi.fn()
+    handleTerminalFileLink('/repo/a.ts', null, null, plainEvent(), deps, context(unknown))
+    expect(rowLabels(unknown)).not.toContain('Open in this group')
+
+    mocks.worktreeRoot = true
+    const root = vi.fn()
+    handleTerminalFileLink(
+      '/repo',
+      null,
+      null,
+      plainEvent(),
+      { ...deps, sourceTabId: 'A-terminal' },
+      context(root)
+    )
+    expect(rowLabels(root)).not.toContain('Open in this group')
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-file-link-actions.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-file-link-actions.ts
index 4337adb3689..7416f77d0f3 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-file-link-actions.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-file-link-actions.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import { translate } from '@/i18n/i18n'
 import { getRevealInFileManagerLabel, revealInFileManager } from '@/lib/reveal-in-file-manager'
 import { useAppStore } from '@/store'
 import { getLocalPathOpenOwnerForRoute, isLocalPathOpenBlocked } from '@/lib/local-path-open-guard'
+import { canOpenLinkInSourceGroup } from '@/store/slices/editor/tabs/editor-open-target-group'
 
 export type TerminalFileLinkActionDeps = {
   worktreeId: string
@@ -27,6 +28,8 @@ export type TerminalFileLinkActionDeps = {
   /** The paired-server terminal that printed the link; lets its host grant a file outside workspaces. */
   terminalHandle?: string | null
   onOpenFailure?: (failure: FileOpenFailure) => void
+  /** The tab that owns the link; editor opens place themselves relative to its group. */
+  sourceTabId?: string | null
 }
 
 export type FileLinkActions = Pick<
@@ -148,6 +151,21 @@ export function buildFileLinkActions(
         run: () => revealInFileManager(mappedPath, revealOwner)
       }
     : null
+  // Why: eligibility is unknown until the path resolves, so the row may still be refused then.
+  const openInGroupRow =
+    !worktreeRoot &&
+    fileContext.sourceHostResolved &&
+    canOpenLinkInSourceGroup(useAppStore.getState(), deps.worktreeId, deps.sourceTabId)
+      ? {
+          label: translate(
+            'auto.components.terminal.pane.TerminalLinkActionPopover.openInThisGroup',
+            'Open in this group'
+          ),
+          run: () =>
+            openDetectedFilePath(filePath, line, column, { ...deps, openInSourceGroup: true })
+        }
+      : null
+  const secondaryActions = [openInGroupRow, revealRow].filter((row) => row !== null)
   return {
     destination: mappedPath,
     kind: worktreeRoot ? 'workspace' : 'file',
@@ -164,6 +182,6 @@ export function buildFileLinkActions(
       run: () => openDetectedFilePath(filePath, line, column, deps)
     },
     ...(systemDefaultRow ? { alternate: systemDefaultRow } : {}),
-    ...(revealRow ? { secondaryActions: [revealRow] } : {})
+    ...(secondaryActions.length > 0 ? { secondaryActions } : {})
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-file-link-editor-open.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-file-link-editor-open.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d33d1e90bee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-file-link-editor-open.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+import { detectLanguage } from '@/lib/language-detect'
+import { useAppStore } from '@/store'
+import { scheduleEditorLineReveal } from '@/store/slices/editor/focus/editor-focus-reveal'
+import { isLiveEditorOpenGroup } from '@/store/slices/editor/tabs/editor-open-target-group'
+import type { OpenFile } from '@/store/slices/editor/types/open-file'
+import type {
+  EditorOpenLinkIntent,
+  EditorOpenResult
+} from '@/store/slices/editor/types/editor-open-link-intent'
+import type { ExecutionHostId } from '../../../../shared/execution-host'
+
+/** An explicit group request may only end in an editor in the scope it was captured from. */
+export function isExplicitEditorScopeKept(
+  intent: EditorOpenLinkIntent | null,
+  worktreeId: string,
+  executionHostId: ExecutionHostId,
+  clientLocal: boolean
+): boolean {
+  if (!intent?.targetGroupId || intent.workspaceId !== worktreeId || clientLocal) {
+    return false
+  }
+  return (
+    (intent.hostId === null || executionHostId === intent.hostId) &&
+    isLiveEditorOpenGroup(useAppStore.getState(), worktreeId, intent.targetGroupId)
+  )
+}
+
+/** The returned view still exists where the open put it, showing the same document. */
+function isOpenedEditorViewCurrent(worktreeId: string, opened: EditorOpenResult): boolean {
+  return (useAppStore.getState().unifiedTabsByWorktree?.[worktreeId] ?? []).some(
+    (tab) =>
+      tab.id === opened.viewStateId &&
+      tab.groupId === opened.groupId &&
+      tab.entityId === opened.fileId
+  )
+}
+
+/** Opens a resolved link target beside its source, then reveals its line in exactly that view. */
+export function openLinkedFileInEditor(
+  file: Omit<OpenFile, 'id' | 'isDirty' | 'language' | 'mode'>,
+  intent: EditorOpenLinkIntent | null,
+  position: { line: number | null; column: number | null },
+  isCurrentRequest: () => boolean
+): EditorOpenResult | null {
+  const language = detectLanguage(file.filePath)
+  const opened = useAppStore
+    .getState()
+    .openFileForLink({ ...file, language, mode: 'edit' }, { forceContentReload: true }, intent)
+  if (!opened || position.line === null) {
+    return opened
+  }
+  if (language === 'markdown') {
+    // Why: rich Markdown has no line-based reveal consumer; line links must mount Monaco.
+    useAppStore.getState().setMarkdownViewMode(opened.fileId, 'source')
+  }
+  // Why: another view of the same document keeps its cursor, and a newer click (even one
+  // without a line) supersedes this reveal until the editor consumes it.
+  scheduleEditorLineReveal(
+    useAppStore.getState,
+    file.filePath,
+    position.line,
+    position.column ?? 1,
+    opened.fileId,
+    {
+      viewStateId: opened.viewStateId,
+      canApply: () => isCurrentRequest() && isOpenedEditorViewCurrent(file.worktreeId, opened)
+    }
+  )
+  return opened
+}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-file-link-hit-testing.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-file-link-hit-testing.ts
index 7715e80c8d8..9f0997816eb 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-file-link-hit-testing.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-file-link-hit-testing.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ type FileLinkHitTestDeps = {
   terminalHandle?: string | null
   pathExistsCache?: Map<string, boolean>
   openWithSystemDefault?: boolean
+  sourceTabId?: string | null
 }
 
 export function openFilePathLinkAtBufferPosition(
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-file-open-in-group-toast.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-file-open-in-group-toast.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ca1fd2f8e50
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-file-open-in-group-toast.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+import { toast } from 'sonner'
+import { translate } from '@/i18n/i18n'
+
+/** The file resolved to something other than an editor in the captured group, so nothing opened. */
+export function showOpenInGroupRefusedToast(filePath: string): void {
+  toast.error(
+    translate(
+      'auto.components.terminal.pane.TerminalLinkActionPopover.openInThisGroupRefused',
+      "Couldn't open {{value0}} in this group",
+      { value0: filePath }
+    )
+  )
+}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-file-open-routing.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-file-open-routing.ts
index c751cbee02a..3ac5e36d11f 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-file-open-routing.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-file-open-routing.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import { absolutePathToFileUri } from '@/components/editor/markdown-internal-links'
 import { getWorkspaceFilePreviewPlan, openFileInBrowserTab } from '@/lib/file-preview'
 import { downloadAndOpenRemoteTerminalFile } from './terminal-remote-file-download-open'
-import { detectLanguage } from '@/lib/language-detect'
 import { findWorkspaceFileRoute } from '@/lib/runtime-workspace-file-route'
 import { isPathInsideWorktree, toWorktreeRelativePath } from '@/lib/terminal-links'
 import { canClientOsOpenWorkspaceFile } from '@/lib/workspace-file-host-routing'
@@ -18,8 +17,7 @@ import {
 import {
   LOCAL_EXECUTION_HOST_ID,
   getConnectionExecutionHostId,
-  toRuntimeExecutionHostId,
-  type ExecutionHostId
+  toRuntimeExecutionHostId
 } from '../../../../shared/execution-host'
 import { statUserOpenedPath } from '@/lib/user-opened-local-path'
 import {
@@ -28,6 +26,10 @@ import {
   type HostWorkspaceFile
 } from './terminal-host-workspace-file'
 import { isFloatingWorkspaceId } from '../../../../shared/floating-workspace-worktree'
+import { captureEditorOpenLinkIntent } from '@/store/slices/editor/tabs/editor-open-target-group'
+import { cancelPendingEditorLineRevealFrames } from '@/store/slices/editor/focus/editor-focus-reveal'
+import { showOpenInGroupRefusedToast } from './terminal-file-open-in-group-toast'
+import { isExplicitEditorScopeKept, openLinkedFileInEditor } from './terminal-file-link-editor-open'
 
 export {
   getTerminalFileContext,
@@ -54,6 +56,10 @@ type TerminalFileOpenDeps = {
   terminalHandle?: string | null
   /** Reports a path that could not be verified before opening; skipped once a later open supersedes it. */
   onOpenFailure?: (failure: FileOpenFailure) => void
+  /** The tab that owns the link; editor opens place themselves relative to its group. */
+  sourceTabId?: string | null
+  /** "Open in this group": pins the source tab's group at activation, or refuses. */
+  openInSourceGroup?: boolean
 }
 
 export function isHtmlFilePath(filePath: string): boolean {
@@ -84,33 +90,6 @@ export function shouldOpenTerminalFileWithSystemDefault(fileContext: TerminalFil
 }
 
 let latestOpenDetectedFilePathRequestId = 0
-let pendingEditorRevealFrameIds: number[] = []
-
-function cancelPendingEditorRevealFrames(): void {
-  if (typeof cancelAnimationFrame === 'function') {
-    for (const frameId of pendingEditorRevealFrameIds) {
-      cancelAnimationFrame(frameId)
-    }
-  }
-  pendingEditorRevealFrameIds = []
-}
-
-function schedulePendingEditorReveal(callback: () => void): void {
-  cancelPendingEditorRevealFrames()
-  const firstFrameId = requestAnimationFrame(() => {
-    pendingEditorRevealFrameIds = pendingEditorRevealFrameIds.filter(
-      (frameId) => frameId !== firstFrameId
-    )
-    const secondFrameId = requestAnimationFrame(() => {
-      pendingEditorRevealFrameIds = pendingEditorRevealFrameIds.filter(
-        (frameId) => frameId !== secondFrameId
-      )
-      callback()
-    })
-    pendingEditorRevealFrameIds.push(secondFrameId)
-  })
-  pendingEditorRevealFrameIds.push(firstFrameId)
-}
 
 export function openDetectedFilePath(
   filePath: string,
@@ -126,11 +105,30 @@ export function openDetectedFilePath(
     terminalLinkWslDistro(deps.wslDistro, runtimeEnvironmentId)
   )
   const requestId = ++latestOpenDetectedFilePathRequestId
-  cancelPendingEditorRevealFrames()
+  cancelPendingEditorLineRevealFrames()
+  // Why: capture at activation; focus may move while the host resolves the path.
+  const linkIntent = captureEditorOpenLinkIntent(
+    useAppStore.getState(),
+    deps.worktreeId,
+    deps.sourceTabId,
+    { explicitSourceGroup: deps.openInSourceGroup === true }
+  )
+  const explicitGroupRequest = deps.openInSourceGroup === true
+  // Why: an explicit group request never substitutes a browser, system app, or download.
+  const refuseExplicitNonEditorRoute = (): boolean => {
+    if (!explicitGroupRequest) {
+      return false
+    }
+    if (requestId === latestOpenDetectedFilePathRequestId) {
+      showOpenInGroupRefusedToast(mappedFilePath)
+    }
+    return true
+  }
 
   void (async () => {
     let statResult
     let fileContext = getTerminalFileContext(worktreeId, worktreePath, runtimeEnvironmentId)
+    const sourceRuntimeOwnerId = runtimeTargetEnvironmentId(fileContext.target)
     let hostWorkspaceFile: HostWorkspaceFile | null = null
     let hostGrantId: string | null = null
     let clientLocal = false
@@ -149,6 +147,9 @@ export function openDetectedFilePath(
         fileContext
       )
       if (worktreeRootLink) {
+        if (refuseExplicitNonEditorRoute()) {
+          return
+        }
         // Why: root workspace switching must work for SSH/runtime paths without
         // local auth/stat, while still coalescing provider + fallback clicks.
         await Promise.resolve()
@@ -218,6 +219,9 @@ export function openDetectedFilePath(
     }
 
     if (statResult.isDirectory) {
+      if (refuseExplicitNonEditorRoute()) {
+        return
+      }
       if (canOpenWithSystemDefault) {
         await window.api.shell.openFilePath(mappedFilePath, LOCAL_EXECUTION_HOST_ID)
       }
@@ -236,6 +240,10 @@ export function openDetectedFilePath(
     // and remain the fallback if Shift+Cmd/Ctrl cannot launch the OS default.
     if (isHtmlFilePath(mappedFilePath) && hostGrantId === null) {
       if (canOpenWithSystemDefault) {
+        // Why: Orca's browser has no group placement in v1.
+        if (refuseExplicitNonEditorRoute()) {
+          return
+        }
         openHtmlFileInBrowser(mappedFilePath, worktreeId, clientLocal)
         return
       }
@@ -243,6 +251,9 @@ export function openDetectedFilePath(
       // unsupported plan (e.g. a paired doc outside the worktree) falls back to source.
       const plan = getWorkspaceFilePreviewPlan(useAppStore.getState(), worktreeId, mappedFilePath)
       if (plan.status === 'doc-preview') {
+        if (refuseExplicitNonEditorRoute()) {
+          return
+        }
         activateAndRevealWorktree(worktreeId, { providesInitialSurface: true })
         openFileInBrowserTab({ filePath: mappedFilePath, worktreeId })
         return
@@ -251,7 +262,12 @@ export function openDetectedFilePath(
 
     const store = useAppStore.getState()
     let targetWorktreeId = worktreeId
-    let targetExecutionHostId: ExecutionHostId | undefined = hostWorkspaceFile?.executionHostId
+    const runtimeOwnerId = runtimeTargetEnvironmentId(fileContext.target) ?? sourceRuntimeOwnerId
+    let targetExecutionHostId =
+      hostWorkspaceFile?.executionHostId ??
+      (runtimeOwnerId
+        ? toRuntimeExecutionHostId(runtimeOwnerId)
+        : getConnectionExecutionHostId(fileContext.connectionId))
     let relativePath = mappedFilePath
     if (worktreePath && isPathInsideWorktree(mappedFilePath, worktreePath)) {
       const maybeRelative = toWorktreeRelativePath(mappedFilePath, worktreePath)
@@ -268,11 +284,7 @@ export function openDetectedFilePath(
       )
     ) {
       // Why: early resolution is only needed to avoid an existing sibling-tab collision.
-      const runtimeOwnerId = runtimeTargetEnvironmentId(fileContext.target)
-      const executionHostId = runtimeOwnerId
-        ? toRuntimeExecutionHostId(runtimeOwnerId)
-        : getConnectionExecutionHostId(fileContext.connectionId)
-      const siblingRoute = findWorkspaceFileRoute(store, executionHostId, mappedFilePath)
+      const siblingRoute = findWorkspaceFileRoute(store, targetExecutionHostId, mappedFilePath)
       if (siblingRoute) {
         targetWorktreeId = siblingRoute.worktreeId
         targetExecutionHostId = siblingRoute.executionHostId
@@ -280,23 +292,29 @@ export function openDetectedFilePath(
       }
     }
 
+    if (
+      explicitGroupRequest &&
+      !isExplicitEditorScopeKept(linkIntent, targetWorktreeId, targetExecutionHostId, clientLocal)
+    ) {
+      // Why: refuse before activating the destination or touching editor state.
+      refuseExplicitNonEditorRoute()
+      return
+    }
+
     if (targetWorktreeId) {
       // Why: the route may name a folder-workspace key, and the same worktree id can exist
       // on several hosts — dispatch by workspace shape and keep the resolved host.
       activateAndRevealWorkspace(targetWorktreeId, {
         providesInitialSurface: true,
-        ...(targetExecutionHostId ? { executionHostId: targetExecutionHostId } : {})
+        executionHostId: targetExecutionHostId
       })
     }
 
-    const language = detectLanguage(mappedFilePath)
-    store.openFile(
+    const opened = openLinkedFileInEditor(
       {
         filePath: mappedFilePath,
         relativePath,
         worktreeId: targetWorktreeId || '',
-        language,
-        mode: 'edit',
         runtimeEnvironmentId: clientLocal ? null : runtimeEnvironmentId,
         // Why: a tab's owner must match its workspace's to be editable; this one is this computer's.
         ...(clientLocal && targetWorktreeId === worktreeId ? { readOnly: true } : {}),
@@ -310,32 +328,12 @@ export function openDetectedFilePath(
           ? { externalSshTargetId: fileContext.connectionId }
           : {})
       },
-      { forceContentReload: true }
+      linkIntent,
+      { line, column },
+      () => requestId === latestOpenDetectedFilePathRequestId
     )
-
-    if (line !== null) {
-      const openedStore = useAppStore.getState()
-      // Why: scope the reveal to the opened editor tab id so owner-qualified tabs
-      // across local/SSH/runtime contexts get it instead of an ambiguous path key.
-      const fileId = openedStore.activeFileIdByWorktree[targetWorktreeId] ?? mappedFilePath
-      if (language === 'markdown') {
-        // Why: rich Markdown has no line-based reveal consumer; line links must mount Monaco.
-        openedStore.setMarkdownViewMode(fileId, 'source')
-      }
-      const targetColumn = column ?? 1
-      store.setPendingEditorReveal(null)
-      schedulePendingEditorReveal(() => {
-        if (requestId !== latestOpenDetectedFilePathRequestId) {
-          return
-        }
-        store.setPendingEditorReveal({
-          filePath: mappedFilePath,
-          fileId,
-          line,
-          column: targetColumn,
-          matchLength: 0
-        })
-      })
+    if (!opened) {
+      refuseExplicitNonEditorRoute()
     }
   })()
 }
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-click-fallback.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-click-fallback.test.ts
index e1cd60603d9..778dc801ac0 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-click-fallback.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-click-fallback.test.ts
@@ -116,13 +116,16 @@ describe('createFilePathLinkProvider range bounds', () => {
       }),
       { forceContentReload: true }
     )
-    expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(2, {
-      filePath: '\\\\wsl.localhost\\Ubuntu\\root\\workspace\\myrepo\\README.md',
-      fileId: '\\\\wsl.localhost\\Ubuntu\\root\\workspace\\myrepo\\README.md',
-      line: 5,
-      column: 3,
-      matchLength: 0
-    })
+    expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(
+      2,
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        filePath: '\\\\wsl.localhost\\Ubuntu\\root\\workspace\\myrepo\\README.md',
+        fileId: '\\\\wsl.localhost\\Ubuntu\\root\\workspace\\myrepo\\README.md',
+        line: 5,
+        column: 3,
+        matchLength: 0
+      })
+    )
   })
 
   it('opens a single-row file path with the system default from shift modifier fallback', async () => {
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-client-local-file.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-client-local-file.test.ts
index e6d516d1491..6560e3aca91 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-client-local-file.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-client-local-file.test.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { activateAndRevealWorkspace } from '@/lib/worktree-activation'
 import { openDetectedFilePath } from './terminal-link-handlers'
 import { downloadAndOpenRemoteTerminalFile } from './terminal-remote-file-download-open'
 import { createTerminalLinkTestDoubles } from './terminal-link-handlers-test-fixtures'
@@ -78,6 +79,10 @@ describe('a link to this computer printed in a paired-server terminal', () => {
         access: { kind: 'user-file' }
       })
     )
+    expect(activateAndRevealWorkspace).toHaveBeenCalledWith('wt-feat', {
+      providesInitialSurface: true,
+      executionHostId: 'runtime:env-1'
+    })
     expect(openFileMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       expect.objectContaining({
         filePath: '/Users/me/notes.md',
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-file-open-routing.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-file-open-routing.test.ts
index 219f7547021..79546d1a4a8 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-file-open-routing.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-file-open-routing.test.ts
@@ -100,17 +100,21 @@ describe('handleOscLink', () => {
       { forceContentReload: true }
     )
     expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(1, null)
-    expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(2, {
-      filePath: '/tmp/src/main.ts',
-      fileId: '/tmp/src/main.ts',
-      line: 42,
-      column: 1,
-      matchLength: 0
-    })
+    expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(
+      2,
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        filePath: '/tmp/src/main.ts',
+        fileId: '/tmp/src/main.ts',
+        line: 42,
+        column: 1,
+        matchLength: 0
+      })
+    )
     expect(openFilePathMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
     // Why: the editor file is the surface — the cross-worktree jump must not add a shell.
     expect(activateAndRevealWorkspace).toHaveBeenCalledWith('wt-1', {
-      providesInitialSurface: true
+      providesInitialSurface: true,
+      executionHostId: 'local'
     })
   })
 
@@ -168,13 +172,16 @@ describe('handleOscLink', () => {
     await flushDoubleRaf()
 
     expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(1, null)
-    expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(2, {
-      filePath: '/tmp/src/main.ts',
-      fileId: '/tmp/src/main.ts',
-      line: 42,
-      column: 7,
-      matchLength: 0
-    })
+    expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(
+      2,
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        filePath: '/tmp/src/main.ts',
+        fileId: '/tmp/src/main.ts',
+        line: 42,
+        column: 7,
+        matchLength: 0
+      })
+    )
     expect(openFilePathMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
 
@@ -191,13 +198,15 @@ describe('handleOscLink', () => {
     await flushDoubleRaf()
 
     expect(setMarkdownViewModeMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(fileId, 'source')
-    expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith({
-      filePath,
-      fileId,
-      line: 230,
-      column: 1,
-      matchLength: 0
-    })
+    expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        filePath,
+        fileId,
+        line: 230,
+        column: 1,
+        matchLength: 0
+      })
+    )
   })
 
   it('scopes non-Markdown line reveals to the owner-qualified editor tab', async () => {
@@ -213,13 +222,15 @@ describe('handleOscLink', () => {
     await flushDoubleRaf()
 
     expect(setMarkdownViewModeMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
-    expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith({
-      filePath,
-      fileId,
-      line: 42,
-      column: 7,
-      matchLength: 0
-    })
+    expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        filePath,
+        fileId,
+        line: 42,
+        column: 7,
+        matchLength: 0
+      })
+    )
   })
 
   it('uses the system default app for shift+cmd/ctrl-click file paths', async () => {
@@ -253,13 +264,16 @@ describe('handleOscLink', () => {
       { forceContentReload: true }
     )
     expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(1, null)
-    expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(2, {
-      filePath: '/tmp/src/main.ts',
-      fileId: '/tmp/src/main.ts',
-      line: 42,
-      column: 7,
-      matchLength: 0
-    })
+    expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(
+      2,
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        filePath: '/tmp/src/main.ts',
+        fileId: '/tmp/src/main.ts',
+        line: 42,
+        column: 7,
+        matchLength: 0
+      })
+    )
   })
 
   it('cancels a pending Monaco reveal frame when another file open starts', async () => {
@@ -306,12 +320,15 @@ describe('handleOscLink', () => {
       { forceContentReload: true }
     )
     expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(1, null)
-    expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(2, {
-      filePath: '/tmp/src/second.ts',
-      fileId: '/tmp/src/second.ts',
-      line: 20,
-      column: 3,
-      matchLength: 0
-    })
+    expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(
+      2,
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        filePath: '/tmp/src/second.ts',
+        fileId: '/tmp/src/second.ts',
+        line: 20,
+        column: 3,
+        matchLength: 0
+      })
+    )
   })
 })
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-handlers-test-fixtures.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-handlers-test-fixtures.ts
index 2353ba68c0c..90aeb68c060 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-handlers-test-fixtures.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-handlers-test-fixtures.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { vi, type Mock } from 'vitest'
 import type { ExecutionHostId } from '../../../../shared/execution-host'
+import type { Tab, TabGroup } from '../../../../shared/tab-types'
 
 export type TerminalLinkStoreSettings = {
   openLinksInApp?: boolean
@@ -12,10 +13,17 @@ export type TerminalLinkStoreState = {
   setActiveWorktree: Mock
   createBrowserTab: Mock
   openFile: Mock
+  openFileForLink: Mock
   setPendingEditorReveal: Mock
   setMarkdownViewMode: Mock
   activeFileIdByWorktree: Record<string, string | null>
   openFiles: { filePath: string; worktreeId: string }[]
+  groupsByWorktree: Record<string, TabGroup[]>
+  unifiedTabsByWorktree: Record<
+    string,
+    (Pick<Tab, 'id' | 'entityId' | 'groupId'> &
+      Partial<Pick<Tab, 'contentType' | 'executionHostId'>>)[]
+  >
   worktreesByRepo: Record<
     string,
     {
@@ -34,6 +42,7 @@ export type TerminalLinkTestDoubles = {
   openFileUriMock: Mock
   openFilePathMock: Mock
   openFileMock: Mock
+  openFileForLinkMock: Mock
   statMock: Mock
   fsPathExistsMock: Mock
   runtimeEnvironmentCallMock: Mock
@@ -62,15 +71,35 @@ export function createTerminalLinkTestDoubles(): TerminalLinkTestDoubles {
   const setMarkdownViewModeMock = vi.fn()
 
   const deps = { worktreeId: 'wt-1', worktreePath: '/tmp' }
+  // Why: specs assert the legacy openFile(file, options) shape; the link entry point delegates to it
+  // and records the view it "opened" so the guarded reveal can find it.
+  const openFileForLinkMock = vi.fn(
+    (file: { filePath: string; worktreeId: string }, options: unknown) => {
+      const returned: unknown = openFileMock(file, options)
+      const fileId =
+        typeof returned === 'string'
+          ? returned
+          : (storeState.activeFileIdByWorktree[file.worktreeId] ?? file.filePath)
+      const view = { id: `view:${fileId}`, entityId: fileId, groupId: 'group-1' }
+      storeState.unifiedTabsByWorktree = {
+        ...storeState.unifiedTabsByWorktree,
+        [file.worktreeId]: [...(storeState.unifiedTabsByWorktree[file.worktreeId] ?? []), view]
+      }
+      return { fileId, viewStateId: view.id, groupId: view.groupId }
+    }
+  )
   const storeState: TerminalLinkStoreState = {
     settings: undefined as TerminalLinkStoreSettings | undefined,
     setActiveWorktree: setActiveWorktreeMock,
     createBrowserTab: createBrowserTabMock,
     openFile: openFileMock,
+    openFileForLink: openFileForLinkMock,
     setPendingEditorReveal: setPendingEditorRevealMock,
     setMarkdownViewMode: setMarkdownViewModeMock,
     activeFileIdByWorktree: {} as Record<string, string | null>,
     openFiles: [] as { filePath: string; worktreeId: string }[],
+    unifiedTabsByWorktree: {},
+    groupsByWorktree: {},
     worktreesByRepo: {},
     folderWorkspaces: [] as []
   }
@@ -80,6 +109,7 @@ export function createTerminalLinkTestDoubles(): TerminalLinkTestDoubles {
     openFileUriMock,
     openFilePathMock,
     openFileMock,
+    openFileForLinkMock,
     statMock,
     fsPathExistsMock,
     runtimeEnvironmentCallMock,
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-handlers-test-harness.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-handlers-test-harness.ts
index 43fd7a05a6d..17b60add654 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-handlers-test-harness.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-handlers-test-harness.ts
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@ export function installTerminalLinkTestEnvironment(doubles: TerminalLinkTestDoub
     storeState.settings = undefined
     storeState.activeFileIdByWorktree = {}
     storeState.openFiles = []
+    storeState.unifiedTabsByWorktree = {}
+    storeState.groupsByWorktree = {}
     storeState.worktreesByRepo = {}
     registerHttpLinkStoreAccessor(() => storeState)
     vi.stubGlobal('window', {
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-handlers.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-handlers.ts
index b8cfd5c54ba..24741756e12 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-handlers.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-handlers.ts
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@ export type LinkHandlerDeps = {
   /** The pane's terminal on its paired server, which may grant files it printed. */
   getRuntimeTerminalHandleForPane?: (paneId: number) => string | null
   getLinkActionContext?: (paneId: number) => TerminalLinkActionContext | null
+  /** The terminal tab whose panes print these links; editor opens place beside its group. */
+  sourceTabId?: string
 }
 
 type ProvidedFileLink = {
@@ -154,7 +156,8 @@ export function createFilePathLinkProvider(
                           worktreePath,
                           runtimeEnvironmentId,
                           wslDistro: deps.wslDistro,
-                          terminalHandle
+                          terminalHandle,
+                          sourceTabId: deps.sourceTabId
                         },
                         deps.getLinkActionContext?.(paneId)
                       )
@@ -249,7 +252,8 @@ export function installFilePathLinkClickFallback(
         wslDistro: deps.wslDistro,
         terminalHandle: deps.getRuntimeTerminalHandleForPane?.(paneId) ?? null,
         pathExistsCache: deps.pathExistsCache,
-        openWithSystemDefault: Boolean(event.shiftKey)
+        openWithSystemDefault: Boolean(event.shiftKey),
+        sourceTabId: deps.sourceTabId
       }
     )
     if (opened) {
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-open-beside-source.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-open-beside-source.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c80aed9db6e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-open-beside-source.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,249 @@
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { activateAndRevealWorkspace } from '@/lib/worktree-activation'
+import { openDetectedFilePath } from './terminal-link-handlers'
+import { createTerminalLinkTestDoubles } from './terminal-link-handlers-test-fixtures'
+import {
+  createDeferred,
+  flushAsyncWork,
+  flushDoubleRaf,
+  installTerminalLinkTestEnvironment,
+  setPlatform
+} from './terminal-link-handlers-test-harness'
+import type { PendingEditorReveal } from '@/store/slices/editor/types/pending-editor-reveal'
+
+const findWorkspaceFileRouteMock = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn())
+const toastErrorMock = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn())
+const doubles = createTerminalLinkTestDoubles()
+const {
+  storeState,
+  deps,
+  openFileForLinkMock,
+  createBrowserTabMock,
+  openFilePathMock,
+  setPendingEditorRevealMock,
+  statMock
+} = doubles
+
+vi.mock('@/store', () => ({
+  useAppStore: {
+    getState: () => storeState
+  }
+}))
+
+vi.mock('sonner', () => ({ toast: { error: toastErrorMock } }))
+
+vi.mock('@/lib/language-detect', () => ({
+  detectLanguage: () => 'plaintext'
+}))
+
+vi.mock('@/lib/worktree-activation', () => ({
+  activateAndRevealWorkspace: vi.fn(),
+  activateAndRevealWorktree: vi.fn()
+}))
+
+vi.mock('@/lib/connection-context', () => ({
+  getConnectionId: vi.fn(() => null)
+}))
+
+vi.mock('@/lib/runtime-workspace-file-route', () => ({
+  findWorkspaceFileRoute: findWorkspaceFileRouteMock
+}))
+
+installTerminalLinkTestEnvironment(doubles)
+
+function seedSourceTab(): void {
+  storeState.groupsByWorktree = {
+    'wt-1': [
+      { id: 'group-a', worktreeId: 'wt-1', activeTabId: 'unified-term', tabOrder: ['unified-term'] }
+    ]
+  }
+  storeState.unifiedTabsByWorktree = {
+    'wt-1': [
+      { id: 'unified-term', entityId: 'term-1', groupId: 'group-a', contentType: 'terminal' }
+    ]
+  }
+}
+
+const sourceDeps = { ...deps, sourceTabId: 'term-1' }
+
+function lastReveal(): PendingEditorReveal {
+  return setPendingEditorRevealMock.mock.calls.at(-1)?.[0]
+}
+
+describe('terminal file links carry their source tab', () => {
+  it('captures the source tab at activation and passes it to the open', async () => {
+    setPlatform('Macintosh')
+    seedSourceTab()
+    const stat = createDeferred<{ isDirectory: boolean }>()
+    statMock.mockImplementationOnce(() => stat.promise)
+
+    openDetectedFilePath('/tmp/src/a.ts', null, null, sourceDeps)
+    // Why: a move after the click changes where ranking starts, not which tab was captured.
+    storeState.unifiedTabsByWorktree = {}
+    stat.resolve({ isDirectory: false })
+    await flushAsyncWork()
+
+    expect(openFileForLinkMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({ filePath: '/tmp/src/a.ts', worktreeId: 'wt-1' }),
+      { forceContentReload: true },
+      { sourceTabId: 'unified-term', workspaceId: 'wt-1', hostId: null }
+    )
+  })
+
+  it('pins an explicit request to the source group', async () => {
+    setPlatform('Macintosh')
+    seedSourceTab()
+
+    openDetectedFilePath('/tmp/src/a.ts', null, null, { ...sourceDeps, openInSourceGroup: true })
+    await flushAsyncWork()
+
+    expect(openFileForLinkMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.anything(),
+      expect.anything(),
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        workspaceId: 'wt-1',
+        hostId: null,
+        targetGroupId: 'group-a'
+      })
+    )
+  })
+
+  it('refuses an explicit request that resolves to Orca browser HTML', async () => {
+    setPlatform('Macintosh')
+    seedSourceTab()
+
+    openDetectedFilePath('/tmp/report.html', null, null, { ...sourceDeps, openInSourceGroup: true })
+    await flushAsyncWork()
+
+    expect(createBrowserTabMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(openFileForLinkMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(toastErrorMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+  })
+
+  it('refuses a closed explicit group before activating its workspace', async () => {
+    setPlatform('Macintosh')
+    seedSourceTab()
+    const stat = createDeferred<{ isDirectory: boolean }>()
+    statMock.mockImplementationOnce(() => stat.promise)
+
+    openDetectedFilePath('/tmp/src/a.ts', null, null, { ...sourceDeps, openInSourceGroup: true })
+    storeState.groupsByWorktree = {}
+    stat.resolve({ isDirectory: false })
+    await flushAsyncWork()
+
+    expect(activateAndRevealWorkspace).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(openFileForLinkMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(toastErrorMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+  })
+
+  it('checks the resolved host even when no sibling-workspace route is needed', async () => {
+    setPlatform('Macintosh')
+    seedSourceTab()
+    storeState.unifiedTabsByWorktree['wt-1'][0].executionHostId = 'ssh:other-host'
+
+    openDetectedFilePath('/tmp/src/a.ts', null, null, { ...sourceDeps, openInSourceGroup: true })
+    await flushAsyncWork()
+
+    expect(activateAndRevealWorkspace).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(openFileForLinkMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(toastErrorMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+  })
+
+  it('refuses an explicit request that resolves to a directory', async () => {
+    setPlatform('Macintosh')
+    seedSourceTab()
+    statMock.mockResolvedValueOnce({ isDirectory: true })
+
+    openDetectedFilePath('/tmp/src', null, null, { ...sourceDeps, openInSourceGroup: true })
+    await flushAsyncWork()
+
+    expect(openFilePathMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(openFileForLinkMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(toastErrorMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+  })
+
+  it('refuses an explicit request routed to another workspace before activating it', async () => {
+    setPlatform('Macintosh')
+    seedSourceTab()
+    storeState.openFiles = [{ filePath: '/other/x.ts', worktreeId: 'wt-2' }]
+    findWorkspaceFileRouteMock.mockReturnValueOnce({
+      worktreeId: 'wt-2',
+      executionHostId: 'local',
+      relativePath: 'x.ts'
+    })
+
+    openDetectedFilePath('/other/x.ts', null, null, { ...sourceDeps, openInSourceGroup: true })
+    await flushAsyncWork()
+
+    expect(activateAndRevealWorkspace).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(openFileForLinkMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(toastErrorMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+  })
+
+  it('keeps automatic HTML opens on their existing browser route', async () => {
+    setPlatform('Macintosh')
+    seedSourceTab()
+
+    openDetectedFilePath('/tmp/report.html', null, null, sourceDeps)
+    await flushAsyncWork()
+
+    expect(createBrowserTabMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(toastErrorMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+})
+
+describe('terminal file link reveals target the opened view', () => {
+  it('scopes the reveal to the returned view', async () => {
+    setPlatform('Macintosh')
+
+    openDetectedFilePath('/tmp/src/a.ts', 12, 3, deps)
+    await flushAsyncWork()
+    await flushDoubleRaf()
+
+    const reveal = lastReveal()
+    expect(reveal).toMatchObject({
+      fileId: '/tmp/src/a.ts',
+      viewStateId: 'view:/tmp/src/a.ts',
+      line: 12,
+      column: 3
+    })
+    expect(reveal.canApply?.()).toBe(true)
+  })
+
+  it('invalidates a published reveal when a newer click has no line', async () => {
+    setPlatform('Macintosh')
+
+    openDetectedFilePath('/tmp/src/a.ts', 12, 3, deps)
+    await flushAsyncWork()
+    await flushDoubleRaf()
+    const reveal = lastReveal()
+
+    openDetectedFilePath('/tmp/src/b.ts', null, null, deps)
+
+    expect(reveal.canApply?.()).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('invalidates a reveal whose view closed before the editor consumed it', async () => {
+    setPlatform('Macintosh')
+
+    openDetectedFilePath('/tmp/src/a.ts', 12, 3, deps)
+    await flushAsyncWork()
+    await flushDoubleRaf()
+    const reveal = lastReveal()
+
+    storeState.unifiedTabsByWorktree = { 'wt-1': [] }
+
+    expect(reveal.canApply?.()).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('skips the reveal when the open was refused', async () => {
+    setPlatform('Macintosh')
+    openFileForLinkMock.mockReturnValueOnce(null)
+
+    openDetectedFilePath('/tmp/src/a.ts', 12, 3, deps)
+    await flushAsyncWork()
+    await flushDoubleRaf()
+
+    expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-osc-file-targets.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-osc-file-targets.test.ts
index bf5381ce9ef..d9c73dce2fd 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-osc-file-targets.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-osc-file-targets.test.ts
@@ -89,13 +89,16 @@ describe('handleOscLink', () => {
       { forceContentReload: true }
     )
     expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(1, null)
-    expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(2, {
-      filePath: 'C:/repo/src/index.ts',
-      fileId: 'C:/repo/src/index.ts',
-      line: 12,
-      column: 3,
-      matchLength: 0
-    })
+    expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(
+      2,
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        filePath: 'C:/repo/src/index.ts',
+        fileId: 'C:/repo/src/index.ts',
+        line: 12,
+        column: 3,
+        matchLength: 0
+      })
+    )
   })
 
   it('opens Windows UNC file URL links from Windows worktrees', async () => {
@@ -150,13 +153,16 @@ describe('handleOscLink', () => {
       { forceContentReload: true }
     )
     expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(1, null)
-    expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(2, {
-      filePath: '/tmp/test.txt',
-      fileId: '/tmp/test.txt',
-      line: 42,
-      column: 1,
-      matchLength: 0
-    })
+    expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(
+      2,
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        filePath: '/tmp/test.txt',
+        fileId: '/tmp/test.txt',
+        line: 42,
+        column: 1,
+        matchLength: 0
+      })
+    )
   })
 
   it('opens file URL links with the system default app for shift+cmd/ctrl-click', async () => {
@@ -193,13 +199,16 @@ describe('handleOscLink', () => {
       { forceContentReload: true }
     )
     expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(1, null)
-    expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(2, {
-      filePath: '/tmp/test.txt',
-      fileId: '/tmp/test.txt',
-      line: 42,
-      column: 7,
-      matchLength: 0
-    })
+    expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(
+      2,
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        filePath: '/tmp/test.txt',
+        fileId: '/tmp/test.txt',
+        line: 42,
+        column: 7,
+        matchLength: 0
+      })
+    )
   })
 
   it('opens UNC file URL links with line and column anchors', async () => {
@@ -227,13 +236,16 @@ describe('handleOscLink', () => {
       { forceContentReload: true }
     )
     expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(1, null)
-    expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(2, {
-      filePath: '//server/Share/Repo/src/app.ts',
-      fileId: '//server/Share/Repo/src/app.ts',
-      line: 12,
-      column: 3,
-      matchLength: 0
-    })
+    expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(
+      2,
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        filePath: '//server/Share/Repo/src/app.ts',
+        fileId: '//server/Share/Repo/src/app.ts',
+        line: 12,
+        column: 3,
+        matchLength: 0
+      })
+    )
   })
 
   it('opens relative OSC file links against the terminal cwd', async () => {
@@ -290,13 +302,16 @@ describe('handleOscLink', () => {
       }),
       { forceContentReload: true }
     )
-    expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(2, {
-      filePath: '\\\\wsl.localhost\\Ubuntu\\root\\workspace\\myrepo\\README.md',
-      fileId: '\\\\wsl.localhost\\Ubuntu\\root\\workspace\\myrepo\\README.md',
-      line: 5,
-      column: 3,
-      matchLength: 0
-    })
+    expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(
+      2,
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        filePath: '\\\\wsl.localhost\\Ubuntu\\root\\workspace\\myrepo\\README.md',
+        fileId: '\\\\wsl.localhost\\Ubuntu\\root\\workspace\\myrepo\\README.md',
+        line: 5,
+        column: 3,
+        matchLength: 0
+      })
+    )
   })
 
   it('maps file URL OSC links for a WSL worktree before opening them', async () => {
@@ -325,13 +340,16 @@ describe('handleOscLink', () => {
       }),
       { forceContentReload: true }
     )
-    expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(2, {
-      filePath: '\\\\wsl.localhost\\Ubuntu\\root\\workspace\\myrepo\\README.md',
-      fileId: '\\\\wsl.localhost\\Ubuntu\\root\\workspace\\myrepo\\README.md',
-      line: 5,
-      column: 3,
-      matchLength: 0
-    })
+    expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(
+      2,
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        filePath: '\\\\wsl.localhost\\Ubuntu\\root\\workspace\\myrepo\\README.md',
+        fileId: '\\\\wsl.localhost\\Ubuntu\\root\\workspace\\myrepo\\README.md',
+        line: 5,
+        column: 3,
+        matchLength: 0
+      })
+    )
   })
 
   it('opens tilde OSC file links against explicit terminal home when cwd is outside home', async () => {
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-wsl-path-mapping.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-wsl-path-mapping.test.ts
index 744cd12f988..82f2abcad81 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-wsl-path-mapping.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-link-wsl-path-mapping.test.ts
@@ -72,13 +72,15 @@ describe('createFilePathLinkProvider range bounds', () => {
     expect(openFileMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({ filePath: mappedPath }), {
       forceContentReload: true
     })
-    expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith({
-      filePath: mappedPath,
-      fileId: mappedPath,
-      line: 5,
-      column: 3,
-      matchLength: 0
-    })
+    expect(setPendingEditorRevealMock).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        filePath: mappedPath,
+        fileId: mappedPath,
+        line: 5,
+        column: 3,
+        matchLength: 0
+      })
+    )
   })
 
   it('resolves relative POSIX terminal links against the pane cwd before mapping', async () => {
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-osc-link-routing.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-osc-link-routing.ts
index b041cb65f0d..22c3db57a8b 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-osc-link-routing.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-osc-link-routing.ts
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ export function handleOscLink(
     Partial<
       Pick<
         LinkHandlerDeps,
-        'runtimeEnvironmentId' | 'startupCwd' | 'terminalHomePath' | 'wslDistro'
+        'runtimeEnvironmentId' | 'startupCwd' | 'terminalHomePath' | 'wslDistro' | 'sourceTabId'
       >
     > & {
       sourceOwner?: HttpLinkSourceOwner
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-pane-mount-preparation.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-pane-mount-preparation.ts
index 82984b64c8f..2f3bf3ce648 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-pane-mount-preparation.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/terminal-pane-mount-preparation.ts
@@ -172,7 +172,8 @@ export function prepareTerminalPaneMount(
       return sourceOwner.kind === 'runtime' ? sourceOwner.runtimeEnvironmentId : null
     },
     getRuntimeTerminalHandleForPane: (id) => resolveTerminalRuntimeHandle(paneTransports.get(id)),
-    getLinkActionContext
+    getLinkActionContext,
+    sourceTabId: deps.tabId
   }
   let resizeRaf: number | null = null
   const queueResizeAll = (focusActive: boolean): void => {
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/en.json b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/en.json
index 5b437bfd2dd..b65dcaf6dc4 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/en.json
+++ b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/en.json
@@ -3521,7 +3521,9 @@
             "copiedLink": "Copied link",
             "copyLinkFailed": "Failed to copy link",
             "downloadOpenWithDefaultApp": "Download & open with default app",
-            "downloadOpenFailed": "Failed to download '{{value0}}'."
+            "downloadOpenFailed": "Failed to download '{{value0}}'.",
+            "openInThisGroup": "Open in this group",
+            "openInThisGroupRefused": "Couldn't open {{value0}} in this group"
           },
           "TerminalSessionStateSaveFailureDialog": {
             "6bee0c8f17": "Open Disk Space Analyzer",
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/es.json b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/es.json
index c18acc13531..88f8b780700 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/es.json
+++ b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/es.json
@@ -3427,7 +3427,9 @@
             "copiedLink": "Enlace copiado",
             "copyLinkFailed": "No se pudo copiar el enlace",
             "downloadOpenWithDefaultApp": "Descargar y abrir con la aplicación predeterminada",
-            "downloadOpenFailed": "No se pudo descargar '{{value0}}'."
+            "downloadOpenFailed": "No se pudo descargar '{{value0}}'.",
+            "openInThisGroup": "Abrir en este grupo",
+            "openInThisGroupRefused": "No se pudo abrir {{value0}} en este grupo"
           },
           "TerminalQuickCommandsSubmenu": {
             "3ccc7981bb": "Anfitrión no disponible",
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/fr.json b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/fr.json
index 9b4039ed242..a501c973fbb 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/fr.json
+++ b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/fr.json
@@ -3401,7 +3401,9 @@
             "copiedLink": "Lien copié",
             "copyLinkFailed": "Échec de la copie du lien",
             "downloadOpenWithDefaultApp": "Téléchargez et ouvrez avec l'application par défaut",
-            "downloadOpenFailed": "Échec du téléchargement de « {{value0}} »."
+            "downloadOpenFailed": "Échec du téléchargement de « {{value0}} ».",
+            "openInThisGroup": "Ouvrir dans ce groupe",
+            "openInThisGroupRefused": "Impossible d'ouvrir {{value0}} dans ce groupe"
           },
           "TerminalSessionStateSaveFailureDialog": {
             "6bee0c8f17": "Ouvrir l'Analyseur d'espace disque",
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/ja.json b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/ja.json
index ee50bc24967..33a7758d01e 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/ja.json
+++ b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/ja.json
@@ -3429,7 +3429,9 @@
             "copiedLink": "コピーされたリンク",
             "copyLinkFailed": "リンクのコピーに失敗しました",
             "downloadOpenWithDefaultApp": "ダウンロードしてデフォルトのアプリで開く",
-            "downloadOpenFailed": "「{{value0}}」のダウンロードに失敗しました。"
+            "downloadOpenFailed": "「{{value0}}」のダウンロードに失敗しました。",
+            "openInThisGroup": "このグループで開く",
+            "openInThisGroupRefused": "{{value0}} をこのグループで開けませんでした"
           },
           "TerminalQuickCommandsSubmenu": {
             "3ccc7981bb": "ホストが利用不可",
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/ko.json b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/ko.json
index 2587ba6f7dc..a573b8eea8b 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/ko.json
+++ b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/ko.json
@@ -3429,7 +3429,9 @@
             "copiedLink": "복사된 링크",
             "copyLinkFailed": "링크를 복사하지 못했습니다.",
             "downloadOpenWithDefaultApp": "기본 앱 다운로드 및 열기",
-            "downloadOpenFailed": "'{{value0}}'을(를) 다운로드하지 못했습니다."
+            "downloadOpenFailed": "'{{value0}}'을(를) 다운로드하지 못했습니다.",
+            "openInThisGroup": "이 그룹에서 열기",
+            "openInThisGroupRefused": "이 그룹에서 {{value0}}을(를) 열 수 없습니다"
           },
           "TerminalQuickCommandsSubmenu": {
             "3ccc7981bb": "호스트를 사용할 수 없음",
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/zh.json b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/zh.json
index 9170f34a78e..55209715352 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/zh.json
+++ b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/zh.json
@@ -3429,7 +3429,9 @@
             "copiedLink": "已复制链接",
             "copyLinkFailed": "复制链接失败",
             "downloadOpenWithDefaultApp": "下载并使用默认应用程序打开",
-            "downloadOpenFailed": "无法下载“{{value0}}”。"
+            "downloadOpenFailed": "无法下载“{{value0}}”。",
+            "openInThisGroup": "在此分组中打开",
+            "openInThisGroupRefused": "无法在此分组中打开 {{value0}}"
           },
           "TerminalQuickCommandsSubmenu": {
             "3ccc7981bb": "主机不可用",
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor-open-link-placement.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor-open-link-placement.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..bb432f29505
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor-open-link-placement.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,323 @@
+import type { StoreApi } from 'zustand/vanilla'
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { createEditorTabsStore } from './editor-slice-test-harness'
+import type { AppState } from '../types'
+import type { OpenFile } from './editor/types/open-file'
+import { captureEditorOpenLinkIntent } from './editor/tabs/editor-open-target-group'
+import { removeGroupLayoutLeaf } from '../../../../shared/workspace-layout/tab-group-layout-tree'
+
+vi.mock('sonner', () => ({ toast: { error: vi.fn() } }))
+
+function fileInput(filePath: string, worktreeId = 'wt-1'): Omit<OpenFile, 'id' | 'isDirty'> {
+  return {
+    filePath,
+    relativePath: filePath.replace('/repo/', ''),
+    worktreeId,
+    language: 'typescript',
+    mode: 'edit'
+  }
+}
+
+function splitRight(store: StoreApi<AppState>, groupId: string): string {
+  const created = store.getState().createEmptySplitGroup('wt-1', groupId, 'right')
+  if (!created) {
+    throw new Error('Expected split group')
+  }
+  return created
+}
+
+function addTab(
+  store: StoreApi<AppState>,
+  contentType: 'terminal' | 'agent-session',
+  id: string,
+  groupId?: string
+): void {
+  store.getState().createUnifiedTab('wt-1', contentType, {
+    id,
+    entityId: `${id}-entity`,
+    label: id,
+    ...(groupId ? { targetGroupId: groupId } : {})
+  })
+}
+
+function addEditor(store: StoreApi<AppState>, filePath: string, groupId: string): void {
+  store.getState().openFile(fileInput(filePath), { targetGroupId: groupId })
+}
+
+/** Drops a tab the way a close would, without the terminal slice the harness lacks. */
+function removeTab(store: StoreApi<AppState>, tabId: string): void {
+  const state = store.getState()
+  store.setState({
+    unifiedTabsByWorktree: {
+      'wt-1': state.unifiedTabsByWorktree['wt-1']!.filter((tab) => tab.id !== tabId)
+    },
+    groupsByWorktree: {
+      'wt-1': state.groupsByWorktree['wt-1']!.map((group) => {
+        const tabOrder = group.tabOrder.filter((id) => id !== tabId)
+        return { ...group, tabOrder, activeTabId: tabOrder.at(-1) ?? null }
+      })
+    }
+  })
+}
+
+function removeGroup(store: StoreApi<AppState>, groupId: string): void {
+  const state = store.getState()
+  store.setState({
+    groupsByWorktree: {
+      'wt-1': state.groupsByWorktree['wt-1']!.filter((group) => group.id !== groupId)
+    },
+    layoutByWorktree: {
+      'wt-1': removeGroupLayoutLeaf(state.layoutByWorktree['wt-1']!, groupId)!
+    }
+  })
+}
+
+function focus(store: StoreApi<AppState>, groupId: string): void {
+  store.setState({ activeGroupIdByWorktree: { 'wt-1': groupId } })
+}
+
+function groupOfFile(store: StoreApi<AppState>, filePath: string): string[] {
+  return (store.getState().unifiedTabsByWorktree['wt-1'] ?? [])
+    .filter((tab) => tab.entityId === filePath)
+    .map((tab) => tab.groupId)
+}
+
+/** Three columns A–B–C with the source tab in A. */
+function seedColumns(
+  store: StoreApi<AppState>,
+  source: 'terminal' | 'agent-session',
+  middle: 'terminal' | 'editor',
+  right: 'terminal' | 'editor'
+): { a: string; b: string; c: string } {
+  addTab(store, source, 'source')
+  const a = store.getState().groupsByWorktree['wt-1']![0]!.id
+  const b = splitRight(store, a)
+  const c = splitRight(store, b)
+  for (const [groupId, kind] of [
+    [b, middle],
+    [c, right]
+  ] as const) {
+    if (kind === 'editor') {
+      addEditor(store, `/repo/${groupId}-seed.ts`, groupId)
+    } else {
+      addTab(store, 'terminal', `${groupId}-terminal`, groupId)
+    }
+  }
+  focus(store, a)
+  return { a, b, c }
+}
+
+function linkIntent(store: StoreApi<AppState>, explicit = false) {
+  return captureEditorOpenLinkIntent(store.getState(), 'wt-1', 'source', {
+    explicitSourceGroup: explicit
+  })
+}
+
+describe('file links open beside their source', () => {
+  it('captures the source only within the workspace that owns the link', () => {
+    const store = createEditorTabsStore()
+    store.getState().createUnifiedTab('wt-2', 'terminal', { id: 'source' })
+    addTab(store, 'terminal', 'source')
+
+    expect(linkIntent(store)?.workspaceId).toBe('wt-1')
+    expect(captureEditorOpenLinkIntent(store.getState(), 'missing', 'source')).toBeNull()
+  })
+
+  it('moves a native-chat link from the chat group to the neighboring editor', () => {
+    const store = createEditorTabsStore()
+    addTab(store, 'agent-session', 'source')
+    const a = store.getState().groupsByWorktree['wt-1']![0]!.id
+    const b = splitRight(store, a)
+    addEditor(store, '/repo/seed.ts', b)
+    focus(store, a)
+
+    store.getState().openFile(fileInput('/repo/plain.ts'))
+    const opened = store
+      .getState()
+      .openFileForLink(fileInput('/repo/link.ts'), {}, linkIntent(store))
+
+    // Why: the plain open documents the unchanged baseline for callers without link intent.
+    expect(groupOfFile(store, '/repo/plain.ts')).toEqual([a])
+    expect(groupOfFile(store, '/repo/link.ts')).toEqual([b])
+    expect(opened).toMatchObject({ fileId: '/repo/link.ts', groupId: b })
+  })
+
+  it('covers the adjacent terminal instead of jumping to a nonadjacent editor', () => {
+    const store = createEditorTabsStore()
+    const { a, b, c } = seedColumns(store, 'terminal', 'terminal', 'editor')
+
+    store.getState().openFile(fileInput('/repo/plain.ts'))
+    focus(store, a)
+    store.getState().openFileForLink(fileInput('/repo/link.ts'), {}, linkIntent(store))
+
+    expect(groupOfFile(store, '/repo/plain.ts')).toEqual([c])
+    expect(groupOfFile(store, '/repo/link.ts')).toEqual([b])
+  })
+
+  it('selects an existing unselected view of the file over a nearby editor', () => {
+    const store = createEditorTabsStore()
+    const { a, b, c } = seedColumns(store, 'terminal', 'editor', 'terminal')
+    addEditor(store, '/repo/link.ts', c)
+    store.getState().activateTab(`${c}-terminal`)
+    focus(store, a)
+    const existing = store
+      .getState()
+      .unifiedTabsByWorktree['wt-1']!.find((tab) => tab.entityId === '/repo/link.ts')!
+
+    const opened = store
+      .getState()
+      .openFileForLink(fileInput('/repo/link.ts'), {}, linkIntent(store))
+
+    expect(groupOfFile(store, '/repo/link.ts')).toEqual([c])
+    expect(opened).toEqual({ fileId: '/repo/link.ts', viewStateId: existing.id, groupId: c })
+    expect(store.getState().groupsByWorktree['wt-1']!.find((g) => g.id === c)?.activeTabId).toBe(
+      existing.id
+    )
+    expect(b).not.toBe(c)
+  })
+
+  it('opens a second view in the neighbor when only the source holds the file', () => {
+    const store = createEditorTabsStore()
+    const { a, b } = seedColumns(store, 'terminal', 'terminal', 'terminal')
+    addEditor(store, '/repo/link.ts', a)
+    store.getState().activateTab('source')
+
+    const opened = store
+      .getState()
+      .openFileForLink(fileInput('/repo/link.ts'), {}, linkIntent(store))
+
+    expect(groupOfFile(store, '/repo/link.ts').sort()).toEqual([a, b].sort())
+    expect(store.getState().openFiles.filter((f) => f.filePath === '/repo/link.ts')).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(opened?.groupId).toBe(b)
+  })
+
+  it('keeps placement on the captured source when focus moves during resolution', () => {
+    const store = createEditorTabsStore()
+    const { b, c } = seedColumns(store, 'terminal', 'terminal', 'terminal')
+    const intent = linkIntent(store)
+    focus(store, c)
+
+    store.getState().openFileForLink(fileInput('/repo/link.ts'), {}, intent)
+
+    expect(groupOfFile(store, '/repo/link.ts')).toEqual([b])
+  })
+
+  it('follows a source tab that moved to another group while its old group survives', () => {
+    const store = createEditorTabsStore()
+    const { a, b, c } = seedColumns(store, 'terminal', 'terminal', 'terminal')
+    addTab(store, 'terminal', 'keeps-a-alive', a)
+    const intent = linkIntent(store)
+    store.getState().moveUnifiedTabToGroup(intent!.sourceTabId, b)
+
+    store.getState().openFileForLink(fileInput('/repo/link.ts'), {}, intent)
+
+    // From B the preferred neighbor is C; a stale source in A would choose B.
+    expect(groupOfFile(store, '/repo/link.ts')).toEqual([c])
+  })
+
+  it('uses default placement once the source tab has closed', () => {
+    const store = createEditorTabsStore()
+    const { a, c } = seedColumns(store, 'terminal', 'terminal', 'editor')
+    addTab(store, 'terminal', 'keeps-a-alive', a)
+    const intent = linkIntent(store)
+    removeTab(store, intent!.sourceTabId)
+    focus(store, a)
+
+    store.getState().openFileForLink(fileInput('/repo/link.ts'), {}, intent)
+
+    // The focused terminal's existing preference sends the file to the visible editor.
+    expect(groupOfFile(store, '/repo/link.ts')).toEqual([c])
+  })
+
+  it('uses destination defaults when resolution routes to another workspace', () => {
+    const store = createEditorTabsStore()
+    seedColumns(store, 'terminal', 'terminal', 'terminal')
+
+    const opened = store
+      .getState()
+      .openFileForLink(fileInput('/other/link.ts', 'wt-2'), {}, linkIntent(store))
+
+    expect(opened?.groupId).toBe(store.getState().groupsByWorktree['wt-2']?.[0]?.id)
+  })
+
+  it('pins an explicit request to the captured group even when another group has the file', () => {
+    const store = createEditorTabsStore()
+    const { a, c } = seedColumns(store, 'terminal', 'terminal', 'terminal')
+    addEditor(store, '/repo/link.ts', c)
+    store.getState().activateTab('source')
+
+    const opened = store
+      .getState()
+      .openFileForLink(fileInput('/repo/link.ts'), {}, linkIntent(store, true))
+
+    expect(opened?.groupId).toBe(a)
+    expect(groupOfFile(store, '/repo/link.ts').sort()).toEqual([a, c].sort())
+  })
+
+  it('refuses an explicit request whose group closed, without touching editor state', () => {
+    const store = createEditorTabsStore()
+    const { b } = seedColumns(store, 'terminal', 'terminal', 'terminal')
+    store.getState().activateTab(`${b}-terminal`)
+    const intent = captureEditorOpenLinkIntent(store.getState(), 'wt-1', `${b}-terminal`, {
+      explicitSourceGroup: true
+    })
+    removeGroup(store, b)
+    const before = store.getState().openFiles
+
+    const opened = store.getState().openFileForLink(fileInput('/repo/link.ts'), {}, intent)
+
+    expect(opened).toBeNull()
+    expect(store.getState().openFiles).toBe(before)
+    expect(store.getState().groupsByWorktree['wt-1']!.some((g) => g.id === b)).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('refuses when the chosen group disappears at the mutation seam', () => {
+    const store = createEditorTabsStore()
+    const { b } = seedColumns(store, 'terminal', 'terminal', 'terminal')
+    const intent = linkIntent(store)
+    const unsubscribe = store.subscribe((state, previous) => {
+      if (state.openFiles !== previous.openFiles) {
+        unsubscribe()
+        removeGroup(store, b)
+      }
+    })
+
+    const opened = store.getState().openFileForLink(fileInput('/repo/link.ts'), {}, intent)
+
+    expect(opened).toBeNull()
+    expect(groupOfFile(store, '/repo/link.ts')).toEqual([])
+    expect(store.getState().groupsByWorktree['wt-1']!.some((g) => g.id === b)).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('returns the created view and focuses it', () => {
+    const store = createEditorTabsStore()
+    const { b } = seedColumns(store, 'terminal', 'terminal', 'terminal')
+
+    const opened = store
+      .getState()
+      .openFileForLink(fileInput('/repo/link.ts'), {}, linkIntent(store))
+    const view = store
+      .getState()
+      .unifiedTabsByWorktree['wt-1']!.find((tab) => tab.entityId === '/repo/link.ts')
+
+    expect(opened).toEqual({ fileId: '/repo/link.ts', viewStateId: view?.id, groupId: b })
+    expect(store.getState().activeGroupIdByWorktree['wt-1']).toBe(b)
+    expect(store.getState().pendingEditorFocusRequest).toMatchObject({
+      fileId: '/repo/link.ts',
+      viewStateId: view?.id
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('keeps the source in place when it is the only group', () => {
+    const store = createEditorTabsStore()
+    addTab(store, 'terminal', 'source')
+    const a = store.getState().groupsByWorktree['wt-1']![0]!.id
+
+    const opened = store
+      .getState()
+      .openFileForLink(fileInput('/repo/link.ts'), {}, linkIntent(store))
+
+    expect(opened?.groupId).toBe(a)
+    expect(store.getState().groupsByWorktree['wt-1']).toHaveLength(1)
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor/actions/open-file-action.ts b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor/actions/open-file-action.ts
index a6d22a490c6..d32fa8943e6 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor/actions/open-file-action.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor/actions/open-file-action.ts
@@ -1,64 +1,98 @@
 import type { EditorGet, EditorSet } from '../types/editor-set-get'
 import type { EditorSlice } from '../types/editor-slice'
+import type { OpenFile } from '../types/open-file'
+import type { OpenFileOptions } from '../types/editor-files-slice'
+import type { EditorOpenLinkIntent, EditorOpenResult } from '../types/editor-open-link-intent'
 import { openWorkspaceEditorItem } from '../tabs/workspace-editor-item'
-import type { EditorTabContentType } from '../tabs/editor-tab-content-type'
+import { editorTabContentTypeForMode } from '../tabs/editor-tab-content-type'
+import { isLiveEditorOpenGroup } from '../tabs/editor-open-target-group'
 import {
   EDITOR_FOCUS_REQUEST_TTL_MS,
   takeNextEditorFocusRequestToken
 } from '../focus/editor-focus-reveal'
-import { applyOpenFileToState } from './open-file-apply'
+import { applyOpenFileToState, type OpenFileApplyScratch } from './open-file-apply'
 import { ORCA_LAYOUT_OWNER_IS_MAIN } from '../../../../../../shared/layout-owner-switch'
 import { recordReopenedEditorFileInLayoutOwner } from '../tabs/editor-tab-layout-owner'
 
 export function createOpenFileAction(
   set: EditorSet,
   get: EditorGet
-): Pick<EditorSlice, 'openFile'> {
-  return {
-    openFile: (file, options) => {
-      const editorItemWorktreeId = file.worktreeId
-      const editorItemLabel = file.relativePath
-      const editorItemContentType: EditorTabContentType =
-        file.mode === 'conflict-review' || file.mode === 'check-details' || file.mode === 'diff'
-          ? file.mode
-          : 'editor'
-      const scratch = {
-        editorItemFileId: file.filePath,
-        editorItemTargetGroupId: options?.targetGroupId,
-        editorItemIsPreview: false
-      }
-      const before = ORCA_LAYOUT_OWNER_IS_MAIN ? get() : null
-      set((s) => applyOpenFileToState(s, file, options, scratch))
-      const editorItemViewStateId = openWorkspaceEditorItem(
+): Pick<EditorSlice, 'openFile' | 'openFileForLink'> {
+  const open = (
+    file: Omit<OpenFile, 'id' | 'isDirty'>,
+    options: OpenFileOptions | undefined,
+    linkIntent: EditorOpenLinkIntent | null
+  ): { fileId: string; result: EditorOpenResult | null } => {
+    const editorItemWorktreeId = file.worktreeId
+    const scratch: OpenFileApplyScratch = {
+      editorItemFileId: file.filePath,
+      editorItemTargetGroupId: options?.targetGroupId,
+      editorItemIsPreview: false,
+      refused: false
+    }
+    const before = ORCA_LAYOUT_OWNER_IS_MAIN ? get() : null
+    set((s) => applyOpenFileToState(s, file, options, scratch, linkIntent))
+    if (scratch.refused) {
+      return { fileId: scratch.editorItemFileId, result: null }
+    }
+    // Why: a reentrant update may remove the chosen group after selection; never recreate it.
+    if (
+      linkIntent &&
+      scratch.editorItemTargetGroupId &&
+      !isLiveEditorOpenGroup(get(), editorItemWorktreeId, scratch.editorItemTargetGroupId)
+    ) {
+      return { fileId: scratch.editorItemFileId, result: null }
+    }
+    const editorItemViewStateId = openWorkspaceEditorItem(
+      get(),
+      scratch.editorItemFileId,
+      editorItemWorktreeId,
+      file.relativePath,
+      editorTabContentTypeForMode(file.mode),
+      scratch.editorItemIsPreview,
+      scratch.editorItemTargetGroupId,
+      options?.selection
+    )
+    if (ORCA_LAYOUT_OWNER_IS_MAIN && before) {
+      recordReopenedEditorFileInLayoutOwner(
+        before,
         get(),
-        scratch.editorItemFileId,
         editorItemWorktreeId,
-        editorItemLabel,
-        editorItemContentType,
-        scratch.editorItemIsPreview,
-        scratch.editorItemTargetGroupId,
-        options?.selection
+        editorItemViewStateId
       )
-      if (ORCA_LAYOUT_OWNER_IS_MAIN && before) {
-        recordReopenedEditorFileInLayoutOwner(
-          before,
-          get(),
-          editorItemWorktreeId,
-          editorItemViewStateId
-        )
+    }
+    if (options?.focusEditor) {
+      set({
+        pendingEditorFocusRequest: {
+          fileId: scratch.editorItemFileId,
+          worktreeId: editorItemWorktreeId,
+          viewStateId: editorItemViewStateId,
+          expiresAt: Date.now() + EDITOR_FOCUS_REQUEST_TTL_MS,
+          token: takeNextEditorFocusRequestToken()
+        }
+      })
+    }
+    // Why: openWorkspaceEditorItem falls back to the file id when no tab exists; that is not a view.
+    const view = (get().unifiedTabsByWorktree?.[editorItemWorktreeId] ?? []).find(
+      (tab) => tab.id === editorItemViewStateId && tab.entityId === scratch.editorItemFileId
+    )
+    return {
+      fileId: scratch.editorItemFileId,
+      result: view
+        ? { fileId: scratch.editorItemFileId, viewStateId: view.id, groupId: view.groupId }
+        : null
+    }
+  }
+
+  return {
+    openFile: (file, options) => open(file, options, null).fileId,
+    openFileForLink: (file, options, intent) => {
+      const { result } = open(file, { ...options, focusEditor: true }, intent)
+      // Why: created and reused views must land identically; creating in another group leaves focus behind.
+      if (result) {
+        get().focusGroup?.(file.worktreeId, result.groupId)
       }
-      if (options?.focusEditor) {
-        set({
-          pendingEditorFocusRequest: {
-            fileId: scratch.editorItemFileId,
-            worktreeId: editorItemWorktreeId,
-            viewStateId: editorItemViewStateId,
-            expiresAt: Date.now() + EDITOR_FOCUS_REQUEST_TTL_MS,
-            token: takeNextEditorFocusRequestToken()
-          }
-        })
-      }
-      return scratch.editorItemFileId
+      return result
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor/actions/open-file-apply.ts b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor/actions/open-file-apply.ts
index 80ebbabde55..f6c38b57f38 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor/actions/open-file-apply.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor/actions/open-file-apply.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import { getRecentlyClosedTabPosition, pushRecentlyClosedTabKind } from '../../r
 import type { AppState } from '../../../types'
 import {
   type ClosedEditorTabSnapshot,
-  type EditorTabSelection,
   MAX_RECENT_CLOSED_EDITOR_TABS,
   type OpenFile
 } from '../types/open-file'
@@ -19,8 +18,11 @@ import {
 } from '../file-ids/editor-file-ids'
 import {
   buildEditorActiveResult,
+  resolveEditorLinkOpenPlacement,
   resolveEditorOpenTargetGroupId
 } from '../tabs/editor-open-target-group'
+import type { OpenFileOptions } from '../types/editor-files-slice'
+import type { EditorOpenLinkIntent } from '../types/editor-open-link-intent'
 import { resolveEditorPreviewIntent } from '../tabs/editor-preview-tab-setting'
 import {
   getReplaceablePreviewFileId,
@@ -32,24 +34,16 @@ export type OpenFileApplyScratch = {
   editorItemTargetGroupId: string | undefined
   /** Resolved against the setting inside the reducer so the tab can't disagree with its OpenFile. */
   editorItemIsPreview: boolean
+  /** Set when a link's explicit target failed revalidation; state was left untouched. */
+  refused: boolean
 }
 
 export function applyOpenFileToState(
   s: AppState,
   file: Omit<OpenFile, 'id' | 'isDirty'>,
-  options:
-    | {
-        preview?: boolean
-        targetGroupId?: string
-        recordReplacedPreview?: boolean
-        suppressActiveRuntimeFallback?: boolean
-        forceContentReload?: boolean
-        focusEditor?: boolean
-        reopenId?: string
-        selection?: EditorTabSelection
-      }
-    | undefined,
-  scratch: OpenFileApplyScratch
+  options: OpenFileOptions | undefined,
+  scratch: OpenFileApplyScratch,
+  linkIntent: EditorOpenLinkIntent | null = null
 ): Partial<AppState> | AppState {
   const worktreeId = file.worktreeId
   let operationProvenance = file.operationProvenance
@@ -93,13 +87,20 @@ export function applyOpenFileToState(
           runtimeEnvironmentId,
           reusableOpenFileModes
         )
+  const linkPlacement =
+    linkIntent && resolveEditorLinkOpenPlacement(s, worktreeId, linkIntent, id, file.mode)
+  if (linkPlacement?.kind === 'refused') {
+    scratch.refused = true
+    return s
+  }
   scratch.editorItemFileId = id
   const isPreview = resolveEditorPreviewIntent(s, options?.preview)
   scratch.editorItemIsPreview = isPreview
   const recordReplacedPreview = options?.recordReplacedPreview ?? false
   // Why: resolve the target group up-front so preview replacement is scoped to it (group B open must not evict group A's preview).
-  const targetGroupId =
-    resolveEditorOpenTargetGroupId(s, worktreeId, options?.targetGroupId) ?? undefined
+  const requestedGroupId =
+    linkPlacement?.kind === 'group' ? linkPlacement.groupId : options?.targetGroupId
+  const targetGroupId = resolveEditorOpenTargetGroupId(s, worktreeId, requestedGroupId) ?? undefined
   scratch.editorItemTargetGroupId = targetGroupId
   const activeResult =
     options?.selection === 'none' ? {} : buildEditorActiveResult(s, worktreeId, id)
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor/tabs/editor-open-adjacent-group.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor/tabs/editor-open-adjacent-group.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..841cae97da3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor/tabs/editor-open-adjacent-group.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,227 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import type { Tab, TabGroup, TabGroupLayoutNode } from '../../../../../../shared/tab-types'
+import { findNeighbor, pickAdjacentEditorOpenGroupId } from './editor-open-adjacent-group'
+
+const FILE_ID = '/repo/src/main.ts'
+
+const leaf = (groupId: string): TabGroupLayoutNode => ({ type: 'leaf', groupId })
+const columns = (
+  first: TabGroupLayoutNode,
+  second: TabGroupLayoutNode,
+  ratio?: number
+): TabGroupLayoutNode => ({ type: 'split', direction: 'horizontal', first, second, ratio })
+const rows = (
+  first: TabGroupLayoutNode,
+  second: TabGroupLayoutNode,
+  ratio?: number
+): TabGroupLayoutNode => ({ type: 'split', direction: 'vertical', first, second, ratio })
+
+function tab(id: string, groupId: string, contentType: Tab['contentType'], entityId = id): Tab {
+  return {
+    id,
+    entityId,
+    groupId,
+    worktreeId: 'wt-1',
+    contentType,
+    label: id,
+    customLabel: null,
+    color: null,
+    sortOrder: 0,
+    createdAt: 0
+  }
+}
+
+type Fixture = {
+  /** Groups whose selected tab is an editor (other than the file); the rest show a terminal. */
+  editors?: string[]
+  /** Groups holding an unselected tab of the file. */
+  withFile?: string[]
+  /** Groups holding an unselected, unrelated editor tab behind their terminal. */
+  inactiveEditors?: string[]
+}
+
+function collectGroupIds(node: TabGroupLayoutNode): string[] {
+  return node.type === 'leaf'
+    ? [node.groupId]
+    : [...collectGroupIds(node.first), ...collectGroupIds(node.second)]
+}
+
+function buildState(layout: TabGroupLayoutNode, fixture: Fixture = {}) {
+  const groups: TabGroup[] = []
+  const tabs: Tab[] = []
+  for (const groupId of collectGroupIds(layout)) {
+    const active = fixture.editors?.includes(groupId)
+      ? tab(`${groupId}-editor`, groupId, 'editor')
+      : tab(`${groupId}-terminal`, groupId, 'terminal')
+    tabs.push(active)
+    if (fixture.withFile?.includes(groupId)) {
+      tabs.push(tab(`${groupId}-file`, groupId, 'editor', FILE_ID))
+    }
+    if (fixture.inactiveEditors?.includes(groupId)) {
+      tabs.push(tab(`${groupId}-old-editor`, groupId, 'editor'))
+    }
+    groups.push({
+      id: groupId,
+      worktreeId: 'wt-1',
+      activeTabId: active.id,
+      tabOrder: tabs.filter((t) => t.groupId === groupId).map((t) => t.id)
+    })
+  }
+  return { groups, tabs }
+}
+
+function pick(layout: TabGroupLayoutNode, sourceGroupId: string, fixture?: Fixture) {
+  const { groups, tabs } = buildState(layout, fixture)
+  return pickAdjacentEditorOpenGroupId({
+    layout,
+    groups,
+    tabs,
+    sourceGroupId,
+    fileId: FILE_ID,
+    contentType: 'editor'
+  })
+}
+
+describe('pickAdjacentEditorOpenGroupId', () => {
+  it('opens across a two-column split in both directions', () => {
+    const layout = columns(leaf('A'), leaf('B'))
+    expect(pick(layout, 'A')).toBe('B')
+    expect(pick(layout, 'B')).toBe('A')
+  })
+
+  it('opens across a two-row split in both directions', () => {
+    const layout = rows(leaf('A'), leaf('B'))
+    expect(pick(layout, 'A')).toBe('B')
+    expect(pick(layout, 'B')).toBe('A')
+  })
+
+  it('prefers the right neighbor over the left in three columns', () => {
+    expect(pick(columns(leaf('A'), columns(leaf('B'), leaf('C'))), 'B')).toBe('C')
+  })
+
+  it('ignores the diagonal group in a four-way grid', () => {
+    const grid = columns(rows(leaf('TL'), leaf('BL')), rows(leaf('TR'), leaf('BR')))
+    expect(pick(grid, 'BR')).toBe('BL')
+    // Why: corner-only contact is not adjacency, so TL's editor earns no preference.
+    expect(pick(grid, 'BR', { editors: ['TL'] })).toBe('BL')
+  })
+
+  it('picks the upper-right group beside a tall source regardless of their height ratio', () => {
+    for (const ratio of [0.2, 0.5, 0.8]) {
+      expect(pick(columns(leaf('A'), rows(leaf('B'), leaf('C'), ratio)), 'A')).toBe('B')
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('lets a neighbor showing an editor beat side order', () => {
+    expect(pick(columns(leaf('A'), rows(leaf('B'), leaf('C'))), 'A', { editors: ['C'] })).toBe('C')
+  })
+
+  it('orders neighbors below a wide source left to right', () => {
+    expect(pick(rows(leaf('A'), columns(leaf('L'), leaf('R'))), 'A')).toBe('L')
+  })
+
+  it('compares equal-priority editors right, left, below, above', () => {
+    const editors = ['L', 'R', 'T', 'B']
+    const cross = rows(
+      leaf('T'),
+      rows(columns(leaf('L'), columns(leaf('S'), leaf('R'))), leaf('B'))
+    )
+    expect(pick(cross, 'S', { editors })).toBe('R')
+    expect(pick(cross, 'S', { editors: ['L', 'T', 'B'] })).toBe('L')
+    expect(pick(cross, 'S', { editors: ['T', 'B'] })).toBe('B')
+    expect(pick(cross, 'S', { editors: ['T'] })).toBe('T')
+  })
+
+  it('reuses a nonadjacent visible group that already holds the file', () => {
+    expect(pick(columns(leaf('A'), columns(leaf('B'), leaf('C'))), 'A', { withFile: ['C'] })).toBe(
+      'C'
+    )
+  })
+
+  it('prefers a neighboring view when the file has several', () => {
+    const layout = columns(leaf('A'), columns(leaf('B'), columns(leaf('C'), leaf('D'))))
+    expect(pick(layout, 'A', { withFile: ['B', 'D'] })).toBe('B')
+    expect(pick(layout, 'A', { withFile: ['C', 'D'] })).toBe('C')
+  })
+
+  it('opens a second view beside the source when only the source has the file', () => {
+    expect(pick(columns(leaf('A'), leaf('B')), 'A', { withFile: ['A'] })).toBe('B')
+  })
+
+  it('keeps a single group in place', () => {
+    expect(pick(leaf('A'), 'A')).toBe('A')
+  })
+
+  it('covers an adjacent agent before a nonadjacent editor without the file', () => {
+    expect(pick(columns(leaf('A'), columns(leaf('B'), leaf('C'))), 'A', { editors: ['C'] })).toBe(
+      'B'
+    )
+  })
+
+  it('selects an old unselected matching tab over a nearby editor', () => {
+    expect(
+      pick(columns(leaf('A'), columns(leaf('B'), leaf('C'))), 'A', {
+        editors: ['B'],
+        withFile: ['C']
+      })
+    ).toBe('C')
+  })
+
+  it('does not treat an inactive editor tab as showing an editor', () => {
+    const layout = columns(leaf('L'), columns(leaf('S'), leaf('R')))
+    expect(pick(layout, 'S', { editors: ['L'], inactiveEditors: ['R'] })).toBe('L')
+  })
+
+  it('does not match a diff of the same file as a reusable view', () => {
+    const layout = columns(leaf('A'), columns(leaf('B'), leaf('C')))
+    const { groups, tabs } = buildState(layout)
+    tabs.push(tab('C-diff', 'C', 'diff', FILE_ID))
+    expect(
+      pickAdjacentEditorOpenGroupId({
+        layout,
+        groups,
+        tabs,
+        sourceGroupId: 'A',
+        fileId: FILE_ID,
+        contentType: 'editor'
+      })
+    ).toBe('B')
+  })
+
+  it('is invariant to candidate order', () => {
+    const layout = columns(leaf('A'), rows(leaf('B'), leaf('C')))
+    const { groups, tabs } = buildState(layout, { editors: ['B', 'C'] })
+    const input = { layout, sourceGroupId: 'A', fileId: FILE_ID, contentType: 'editor' as const }
+    const forward = pickAdjacentEditorOpenGroupId({ ...input, groups, tabs })
+    const reversed = pickAdjacentEditorOpenGroupId({
+      ...input,
+      groups: groups.toReversed(),
+      tabs: tabs.toReversed()
+    })
+    expect(forward).toBe('B')
+    expect(reversed).toBe(forward)
+  })
+
+  it('agrees across split histories that draw the same grid', () => {
+    const byColumns = columns(rows(leaf('TL'), leaf('BL')), rows(leaf('TR'), leaf('BR')))
+    const byRows = rows(columns(leaf('TL'), leaf('TR')), columns(leaf('BL'), leaf('BR')))
+    for (const source of ['TL', 'TR', 'BL', 'BR']) {
+      expect(pick(byRows, source)).toBe(pick(byColumns, source))
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('returns null when the source is not a live leaf', () => {
+    expect(pick(columns(leaf('A'), leaf('B')), 'gone')).toBeNull()
+  })
+})
+
+describe('findNeighbor', () => {
+  it('requires positive overlap along the shared edge', () => {
+    const source = { left: 0, top: 0, right: 0.5, bottom: 0.5 }
+    expect(findNeighbor(source, { left: 0.5, top: 0.5, right: 1, bottom: 1 })).toBeNull()
+    expect(findNeighbor(source, { left: 0.5, top: 0.25, right: 1, bottom: 1 })).toEqual({
+      side: 'right',
+      position: 0.25
+    })
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor/tabs/editor-open-adjacent-group.ts b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor/tabs/editor-open-adjacent-group.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c468e0705ed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor/tabs/editor-open-adjacent-group.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,150 @@
+import type { Tab, TabGroup, TabGroupLayoutNode } from '../../../../../../shared/tab-types'
+import { isEditorTabContentType, type EditorTabContentType } from './editor-tab-content-type'
+
+type LayoutRect = { left: number; top: number; right: number; bottom: number }
+type LayoutLeaf = { groupId: string; rect: LayoutRect; layoutOrder: number }
+type NeighborSide = 'right' | 'left' | 'below' | 'above'
+type Neighbor = { side: NeighborSide; position: number }
+
+type Candidate = {
+  id: string
+  neighbor: Neighbor | null
+  hasMatchingFile: boolean
+  showsEditor: boolean
+  layoutOrder: number
+}
+type Rank = readonly [number, number, number, number]
+
+const EPSILON = 1e-9
+const SIDE_ORDER = { right: 0, left: 1, below: 2, above: 3 } as const
+
+function clampRatio(ratio: number | undefined): number {
+  return typeof ratio === 'number' && Number.isFinite(ratio) && ratio > 0 && ratio < 1 ? ratio : 0.5
+}
+
+/** Leaves in stable tree order, each projected into the unit square by its split ratios. */
+function projectLayoutLeaves(layout: TabGroupLayoutNode): LayoutLeaf[] {
+  const leaves: LayoutLeaf[] = []
+  const visit = (node: TabGroupLayoutNode, rect: LayoutRect): void => {
+    if (node.type === 'leaf') {
+      if (rect.right - rect.left > EPSILON && rect.bottom - rect.top > EPSILON) {
+        leaves.push({ groupId: node.groupId, rect, layoutOrder: leaves.length })
+      }
+      return
+    }
+    const ratio = clampRatio(node.ratio)
+    if (node.direction === 'horizontal') {
+      const split = rect.left + (rect.right - rect.left) * ratio
+      visit(node.first, { ...rect, right: split })
+      visit(node.second, { ...rect, left: split })
+    } else {
+      const split = rect.top + (rect.bottom - rect.top) * ratio
+      visit(node.first, { ...rect, bottom: split })
+      visit(node.second, { ...rect, top: split })
+    }
+  }
+  visit(layout, { left: 0, top: 0, right: 1, bottom: 1 })
+  return leaves
+}
+
+function overlaps(a0: number, a1: number, b0: number, b1: number): boolean {
+  return Math.min(a1, b1) - Math.max(a0, b0) > EPSILON
+}
+
+function touches(a: number, b: number): boolean {
+  return Math.abs(a - b) <= EPSILON
+}
+
+/** Shared edge with positive overlap; corner-only contact is not adjacency. */
+export function findNeighbor(source: LayoutRect, target: LayoutRect): Neighbor | null {
+  const verticalOverlap = overlaps(source.top, source.bottom, target.top, target.bottom)
+  const horizontalOverlap = overlaps(source.left, source.right, target.left, target.right)
+  if (verticalOverlap && touches(source.right, target.left)) {
+    return { side: 'right', position: target.top }
+  }
+  if (verticalOverlap && touches(source.left, target.right)) {
+    return { side: 'left', position: target.top }
+  }
+  if (horizontalOverlap && touches(source.bottom, target.top)) {
+    return { side: 'below', position: target.left }
+  }
+  if (horizontalOverlap && touches(source.top, target.bottom)) {
+    return { side: 'above', position: target.left }
+  }
+  return null
+}
+
+function rankCandidate(candidate: Candidate, sourceGroupId: string): Rank | null {
+  const { neighbor, hasMatchingFile, showsEditor, layoutOrder } = candidate
+  if (candidate.id === sourceGroupId) {
+    return [4, 0, 0, layoutOrder]
+  }
+  if (!neighbor) {
+    return hasMatchingFile ? [1, 0, 0, layoutOrder] : null
+  }
+  const priority = hasMatchingFile ? 0 : showsEditor ? 2 : 3
+  return [priority, SIDE_ORDER[neighbor.side], neighbor.position, layoutOrder]
+}
+
+function compareRanks(a: Rank, b: Rank): number {
+  return a[0] - b[0] || a[1] - b[1] || a[2] - b[2] || a[3] - b[3]
+}
+
+type AdjacentEditorOpenInput = {
+  layout: TabGroupLayoutNode
+  groups: readonly TabGroup[]
+  tabs: readonly Tab[]
+  sourceGroupId: string
+  /** File identity already resolved by the open path; never re-derived from paths here. */
+  fileId: string
+  contentType: EditorTabContentType
+}
+
+/**
+ * Minimum-rank destination for a file link: neighbor with the file, any group with the
+ * file, neighbor showing an editor, any neighbor, then the source. Null when the source
+ * is not a live leaf of this layout.
+ */
+export function pickAdjacentEditorOpenGroupId(input: AdjacentEditorOpenInput): string | null {
+  const leaves = projectLayoutLeaves(input.layout)
+  const source = leaves.find((leaf) => leaf.groupId === input.sourceGroupId)
+  const liveGroups = new Map(input.groups.map((group) => [group.id, group]))
+  if (!source || !liveGroups.has(source.groupId)) {
+    return null
+  }
+  const groupsWithFile = new Set<string>()
+  const tabsById = new Map<string, Tab>()
+  for (const tab of input.tabs) {
+    tabsById.set(tab.id, tab)
+    if (tab.entityId === input.fileId && tab.contentType === input.contentType) {
+      groupsWithFile.add(tab.groupId)
+    }
+  }
+  // Why: the source keeps its conversation visible, so a source-only copy earns no preference.
+  groupsWithFile.delete(source.groupId)
+
+  let bestId: string | null = null
+  let bestRank: Rank | null = null
+  for (const leaf of leaves) {
+    const group = liveGroups.get(leaf.groupId)
+    if (!group) {
+      continue
+    }
+    const activeTab = group.activeTabId ? tabsById.get(group.activeTabId) : undefined
+    const rank = rankCandidate(
+      {
+        id: leaf.groupId,
+        neighbor: leaf.groupId === source.groupId ? null : findNeighbor(source.rect, leaf.rect),
+        hasMatchingFile: groupsWithFile.has(leaf.groupId),
+        showsEditor: activeTab ? isEditorTabContentType(activeTab.contentType) : false,
+        layoutOrder: leaf.layoutOrder
+      },
+      source.groupId
+    )
+    if (rank && (!bestRank || compareRanks(rank, bestRank) < 0)) {
+      bestRank = rank
+      bestId = leaf.groupId
+    }
+  }
+  return bestId
+}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor/tabs/editor-open-target-group.ts b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor/tabs/editor-open-target-group.ts
index c3ecf03edc6..7a1ff3b80fe 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor/tabs/editor-open-target-group.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor/tabs/editor-open-target-group.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
 import type { AppState } from '../../../types'
 import type { Tab, TabGroup, WorkspaceVisibleTabType } from '../../../../../../shared/tab-types'
-import { isEditorTabContentType } from './editor-tab-content-type'
+import { editorTabContentTypeForMode, isEditorTabContentType } from './editor-tab-content-type'
+import type { OpenFile } from '../types/open-file'
 import { ownsGlobalSelection } from '../../../global-selection-owner'
+import type { EditorOpenLinkIntent } from '../types/editor-open-link-intent'
+import { pickAdjacentEditorOpenGroupId } from './editor-open-adjacent-group'
+import { collectTabGroupLayoutGroupIds } from '../../../../../../shared/workspace-layout/tab-group-moves'
 
 export function getGroupActiveTab(group: TabGroup, tabsById: Map<string, Tab>): Tab | null {
   return group.activeTabId ? (tabsById.get(group.activeTabId) ?? null) : null
@@ -79,6 +83,118 @@ export function resolveEditorOpenTargetGroupId(
   return recentEditorGroup?.id ?? activeGroup.id
 }
 
+type LinkPlacementState = Pick<
+  AppState,
+  'groupsByWorktree' | 'unifiedTabsByWorktree' | 'layoutByWorktree'
+>
+
+/** The unified tab a link came from; a terminal surface may know only its backing terminal id. */
+function findLinkSourceTab(tabs: readonly Tab[], sourceTabId: string): Tab | undefined {
+  return (
+    tabs.find((tab) => tab.id === sourceTabId) ??
+    tabs.find((tab) => tab.contentType === 'terminal' && tab.entityId === sourceTabId)
+  )
+}
+
+/** Captures a link activation's source at click time, so later focus changes cannot redirect it. */
+export function captureEditorOpenLinkIntent(
+  state: Pick<AppState, 'unifiedTabsByWorktree'>,
+  workspaceId: string,
+  sourceTabId: string | null | undefined,
+  options?: { explicitSourceGroup?: boolean }
+): EditorOpenLinkIntent | null {
+  if (!sourceTabId) {
+    return null
+  }
+  const tab = findLinkSourceTab(state.unifiedTabsByWorktree?.[workspaceId] ?? [], sourceTabId)
+  if (!tab) {
+    return null
+  }
+  return {
+    sourceTabId: tab.id,
+    workspaceId,
+    hostId: tab.executionHostId ?? null,
+    ...(options?.explicitSourceGroup ? { targetGroupId: tab.groupId } : {})
+  }
+}
+
+function liveLayoutGroupIds(state: LinkPlacementState, worktreeId: string): Set<string> {
+  const layout = state.layoutByWorktree?.[worktreeId]
+  const groupIds = new Set((state.groupsByWorktree?.[worktreeId] ?? []).map((group) => group.id))
+  if (!layout) {
+    return groupIds
+  }
+  return new Set([...collectTabGroupLayoutGroupIds(layout)].filter((id) => groupIds.has(id)))
+}
+
+export function isLiveEditorOpenGroup(
+  state: LinkPlacementState,
+  worktreeId: string,
+  groupId: string
+): boolean {
+  return liveLayoutGroupIds(state, worktreeId).has(groupId)
+}
+
+/** "Open in this group" only differs from automatic placement when the source has company. */
+export function canOpenLinkInSourceGroup(
+  state: LinkPlacementState,
+  workspaceId: string,
+  sourceTabId: string | null | undefined
+): boolean {
+  const tab = sourceTabId
+    ? findLinkSourceTab(state.unifiedTabsByWorktree?.[workspaceId] ?? [], sourceTabId)
+    : undefined
+  if (!tab) {
+    return false
+  }
+  const groupIds = liveLayoutGroupIds(state, workspaceId)
+  return groupIds.has(tab.groupId) && groupIds.size > 1
+}
+
+export type EditorLinkOpenPlacement =
+  | { kind: 'group'; groupId: string }
+  | { kind: 'default' }
+  | { kind: 'refused' }
+
+/**
+ * Link-intent extension of resolveEditorOpenTargetGroupId: an explicit target is honored
+ * or refused as captured; an automatic open ranks groups around the source's current group.
+ */
+export function resolveEditorLinkOpenPlacement(
+  state: LinkPlacementState,
+  worktreeId: string,
+  intent: EditorOpenLinkIntent,
+  fileId: string,
+  mode: OpenFile['mode']
+): EditorLinkOpenPlacement {
+  if (intent.targetGroupId) {
+    return intent.workspaceId === worktreeId &&
+      isLiveEditorOpenGroup(state, worktreeId, intent.targetGroupId)
+      ? { kind: 'group', groupId: intent.targetGroupId }
+      : { kind: 'refused' }
+  }
+  // Why: groups in another workspace's layout have no spatial relationship to the source.
+  if (intent.workspaceId !== worktreeId) {
+    return { kind: 'default' }
+  }
+  const layout = state.layoutByWorktree?.[worktreeId]
+  const tabs = state.unifiedTabsByWorktree?.[worktreeId] ?? []
+  const source = tabs.find((tab) => tab.id === intent.sourceTabId)
+  // Why: a closed or re-hosted source falls back to defaults, never to its stale initial group.
+  if (!layout || !source || (source.executionHostId ?? null) !== intent.hostId) {
+    return { kind: 'default' }
+  }
+  const groupId = pickAdjacentEditorOpenGroupId({
+    layout,
+    groups: state.groupsByWorktree?.[worktreeId] ?? [],
+    tabs,
+    sourceGroupId: source.groupId,
+    fileId,
+    contentType: editorTabContentTypeForMode(mode)
+  })
+  return groupId ? { kind: 'group', groupId } : { kind: 'default' }
+}
+
 export function buildEditorActiveResult(
   state: Pick<AppState, 'activeFileIdByWorktree' | 'activeTabTypeByWorktree' | 'activeWorktreeId'>,
   worktreeId: string,
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor/tabs/editor-tab-content-type.ts b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor/tabs/editor-tab-content-type.ts
index 3f4a3c065f6..1427ad1de2c 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor/tabs/editor-tab-content-type.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor/tabs/editor-tab-content-type.ts
@@ -21,3 +21,7 @@ export function isEditorTabContentType(
 export function isVirtualEditorFile(file: Pick<OpenFile, 'mode'>): boolean {
   return file.mode === 'check-details'
 }
+
+export function editorTabContentTypeForMode(mode: OpenFile['mode']): EditorTabContentType {
+  return mode === 'conflict-review' || mode === 'check-details' || mode === 'diff' ? mode : 'editor'
+}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor/types/editor-files-slice.ts b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor/types/editor-files-slice.ts
index be6893b7a64..34297d11b40 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor/types/editor-files-slice.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor/types/editor-files-slice.ts
@@ -21,12 +21,24 @@ import type {
   EditorTabSelection,
   OpenFile
 } from './open-file'
+import type { EditorOpenLinkIntent, EditorOpenResult } from './editor-open-link-intent'
 import type { OpenFilePathRekey, RekeyOpenFilesResult } from './open-file-path-rekey'
 import type {
   RestoredEditorOwnerMigration,
   RestoredEditorOwnerResult
 } from './restored-editor-owner'
 
+export type OpenFileOptions = {
+  preview?: boolean
+  targetGroupId?: string
+  recordReplacedPreview?: boolean
+  suppressActiveRuntimeFallback?: boolean
+  forceContentReload?: boolean
+  focusEditor?: boolean
+  reopenId?: string
+  selection?: EditorTabSelection
+}
+
 export type EditorFilesSlice = {
   // Open files / editor tabs
   openFiles: OpenFile[]
@@ -35,19 +47,13 @@ export type EditorFilesSlice = {
   activeTabTypeByWorktree: Record<string, WorkspaceVisibleTabType> // worktreeId -> last active tab type
   activeTabType: WorkspaceVisibleTabType
   setActiveTabType: (type: WorkspaceVisibleTabType, worktreeId: string | null) => void
-  openFile: (
+  openFile: (file: Omit<OpenFile, 'id' | 'isDirty'>, options?: OpenFileOptions) => string
+  /** openFile for a captured link activation; returns the actual view, or null when refused. */
+  openFileForLink: (
     file: Omit<OpenFile, 'id' | 'isDirty'>,
-    options?: {
-      preview?: boolean
-      targetGroupId?: string
-      recordReplacedPreview?: boolean
-      suppressActiveRuntimeFallback?: boolean
-      forceContentReload?: boolean
-      focusEditor?: boolean
-      reopenId?: string
-      selection?: EditorTabSelection
-    }
-  ) => string
+    options: Omit<OpenFileOptions, 'targetGroupId' | 'focusEditor' | 'selection'> | undefined,
+    intent: EditorOpenLinkIntent | null
+  ) => EditorOpenResult | null
   openNewMarkdownInActiveWorkspace: (groupId: string) => Promise<void>
   // Why: sequences openFile/setMarkdownViewMode/reveal around an async Monaco remount. See docs/markdown-internal-link-opening-design.md.
   activateMarkdownLink: (
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor/types/editor-open-link-intent.ts b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor/types/editor-open-link-intent.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..5344e74445e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/editor/types/editor-open-link-intent.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+import type { ExecutionHostId } from '../../../../../../shared/execution-host'
+
+/** A link's source, captured before async path resolution. */
+export type EditorOpenLinkIntent = {
+  workspaceId: string
+  sourceTabId: string
+  /** The source tab's owning host at capture; null when the tab carries none. */
+  hostId: ExecutionHostId | null
+  /** Set only for "Open in this group"; otherwise follow the source tab's current group. */
+  targetGroupId?: string
+}
+
+/** The view an open actually created or reused; the file id alone names only the document. */
+export type EditorOpenResult = {
+  fileId: string
+  viewStateId: string
+  groupId: string
+}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/tabs/tabs-reconciliation-empty-groups.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/tabs/tabs-reconciliation-empty-groups.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..2493c7a98f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/tabs/tabs-reconciliation-empty-groups.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { createTestStore, makeTab } from '../store-test-helpers'
+import { createTabsSliceMockApi } from '../tabs-slice-test-harness'
+import { captureEditorOpenLinkIntent } from '../editor/tabs/editor-open-target-group'
+
+vi.mock('sonner', () => ({ toast: { info: vi.fn(), success: vi.fn(), error: vi.fn() } }))
+
+createTabsSliceMockApi()
+
+function splitWorkspace(workspaceId: string, source: 'terminal' | 'agent-session' = 'terminal') {
+  const store = createTestStore()
+  store.getState().createUnifiedTab(workspaceId, source, { id: 'source', entityId: 'source' })
+  if (source === 'terminal') {
+    store.setState({
+      tabsByWorktree: {
+        [workspaceId]: [makeTab({ id: 'source', worktreeId: workspaceId, ptyId: 'pty-1' })]
+      },
+      ptyIdsByTabId: { source: ['pty-1'] }
+    })
+  }
+  const sourceGroupId = store.getState().groupsByWorktree[workspaceId][0].id
+  const emptyGroupId = store.getState().createEmptySplitGroup(workspaceId, sourceGroupId, 'right')
+  if (!emptyGroupId) {
+    throw new Error('Expected an empty split group')
+  }
+  return { store, sourceGroupId, emptyGroupId }
+}
+
+describe.each(['repo1::/tmp/feature', 'folder:folder-1'])('empty groups in %s', (workspaceId) => {
+  it.each(['terminal', 'agent-session'] as const)(
+    'preserves an empty neighbor through reconciliation before opening a %s link',
+    (source) => {
+      const { store, sourceGroupId, emptyGroupId } = splitWorkspace(workspaceId, source)
+      const before = store.getState()
+      const intent = captureEditorOpenLinkIntent(before, workspaceId, 'source')
+      expect(intent).not.toBeNull()
+      expect(before.activeGroupIdByWorktree[workspaceId]).toBe(emptyGroupId)
+
+      for (let pass = 0; pass < 2; pass++) {
+        expect(store.getState().reconcileWorktreeTabModel(workspaceId).renderableTabCount).toBe(1)
+        const state = store.getState()
+        expect(state.groupsByWorktree[workspaceId]).toBe(before.groupsByWorktree[workspaceId])
+        expect(state.layoutByWorktree[workspaceId]).toBe(before.layoutByWorktree[workspaceId])
+        expect(state.activeGroupIdByWorktree[workspaceId]).toBe(emptyGroupId)
+      }
+
+      const opened = store.getState().openFileForLink(
+        {
+          filePath: '/tmp/feature/link.ts',
+          relativePath: 'link.ts',
+          worktreeId: workspaceId,
+          language: 'typescript',
+          mode: 'edit'
+        },
+        {},
+        intent
+      )
+
+      expect(opened?.groupId).toBe(emptyGroupId)
+      const state = store.getState()
+      expect(state.unifiedTabsByWorktree[workspaceId]).toContainEqual(
+        expect.objectContaining({ id: opened?.viewStateId, groupId: emptyGroupId })
+      )
+      expect(
+        state.groupsByWorktree[workspaceId].find((group) => group.id === sourceGroupId)
+      ).toMatchObject({ activeTabId: 'source', tabOrder: ['source'] })
+    }
+  )
+
+  it('removes a group emptied by stale-tab cleanup while preserving an already empty group', () => {
+    const { store, sourceGroupId, emptyGroupId } = splitWorkspace(workspaceId)
+    const layoutWithEmptyNeighbor = store.getState().layoutByWorktree[workspaceId]
+    const staleGroupId = store.getState().createEmptySplitGroup(workspaceId, emptyGroupId, 'right')
+    if (!staleGroupId) {
+      throw new Error('Expected a stale split group')
+    }
+    store.getState().createUnifiedTab(workspaceId, 'browser', {
+      id: 'stale-browser',
+      entityId: 'missing-browser',
+      targetGroupId: staleGroupId
+    })
+
+    store.getState().reconcileWorktreeTabModel(workspaceId)
+
+    const state = store.getState()
+    expect(state.groupsByWorktree[workspaceId].map((group) => group.id)).toEqual([
+      sourceGroupId,
+      emptyGroupId
+    ])
+    expect(state.layoutByWorktree[workspaceId]).toEqual(layoutWithEmptyNeighbor)
+    expect(state.activeGroupIdByWorktree[workspaceId]).toBe(sourceGroupId)
+    expect(state.unifiedTabsByWorktree[workspaceId].map((tab) => tab.id)).toEqual(['source'])
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/tabs/tabs-reconciliation.ts b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/tabs/tabs-reconciliation.ts
index 561a1483705..22466065de7 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/tabs/tabs-reconciliation.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/tabs/tabs-reconciliation.ts
@@ -157,7 +157,11 @@ export function projectWorktreeTabModelReconciliation(
   })
   const prunedGroups =
     validTabs.length > 0
-      ? nextGroupsWithEmpty.filter((group) => group.tabOrder.length > 0)
+      ? nextGroupsWithEmpty.filter(
+          // Preserve intentional empty panes; only collapse groups emptied by stale-tab cleanup.
+          (group, index) =>
+            group.tabOrder.length > 0 || reconciledGroups[index].tabOrder.length === 0
+        )
       : nextGroupsWithEmpty
   const groupsChanged =
     prunedGroups.length !== groups.length ||