diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/emulator-right-split-target.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/emulator-right-split-target.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..5d19b0d4e9a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/emulator-right-split-target.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+import type { TabGroupLayoutNode } from '../../../shared/types'
+
+type SearchResult = {
+  containsSource: boolean
+  reusableGroupId: string | null
+}
+
+function firstLeafGroupId(node: TabGroupLayoutNode): string {
+  if (node.type === 'leaf') {
+    return node.groupId
+  }
+  return firstLeafGroupId(node.first)
+}
+
+function findReusableRightSplitTarget(
+  node: TabGroupLayoutNode,
+  sourceGroupId: string
+): SearchResult {
+  if (node.type === 'leaf') {
+    return {
+      containsSource: node.groupId === sourceGroupId,
+      reusableGroupId: null
+    }
+  }
+
+  const first = findReusableRightSplitTarget(node.first, sourceGroupId)
+  if (first.containsSource) {
+    return {
+      containsSource: true,
+      // Why: prefer the closest existing right pane; it preserves nested split intent.
+      reusableGroupId:
+        first.reusableGroupId ??
+        (node.direction === 'horizontal' ? firstLeafGroupId(node.second) : null)
+    }
+  }
+
+  const second = findReusableRightSplitTarget(node.second, sourceGroupId)
+  return {
+    containsSource: second.containsSource,
+    reusableGroupId: second.reusableGroupId
+  }
+}
+
+export function findReusableRightSplitGroupId(
+  layout: TabGroupLayoutNode | undefined,
+  sourceGroupId: string
+): string | null {
+  if (!layout) {
+    return null
+  }
+  return findReusableRightSplitTarget(layout, sourceGroupId).reusableGroupId
+}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/ensure-simulator-tab-behavior.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/ensure-simulator-tab-behavior.test.ts
index afde48f80a7..43ecb03e0f3 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/lib/ensure-simulator-tab-behavior.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/ensure-simulator-tab-behavior.test.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ const mockStoreState = vi.hoisted(() => ({
   dropUnifiedTab: vi.fn(),
   focusGroup: vi.fn(),
   groupsByWorktree: {} as Record<string, { id: string }[]>,
+  layoutByWorktree: {} as Record<string, unknown>,
   settings: { mobileEmulatorEnabled: true },
   setActiveTab: vi.fn(),
   setActiveTabType: vi.fn(),
@@ -34,6 +35,7 @@ describe('ensureSimulatorTab', () => {
     mockStoreState.activeGroupIdByWorktree = { 'wt-1': 'group-1' }
     mockStoreState.activeWorktreeId = 'wt-1'
     mockStoreState.groupsByWorktree = { 'wt-1': [{ id: 'group-1' }] }
+    mockStoreState.layoutByWorktree = { 'wt-1': { type: 'leaf', groupId: 'group-1' } }
     mockStoreState.settings = { mobileEmulatorEnabled: true }
     mockStoreState.unifiedTabsByWorktree = {
       'wt-1': [{ id: 'sim-1', groupId: 'group-1', contentType: 'simulator' }]
@@ -116,6 +118,37 @@ describe('ensureSimulatorTab', () => {
     expect(mockStoreState.setActiveTabType).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
 
+  it('reuses an existing right split when requested', async () => {
+    mockStoreState.groupsByWorktree = { 'wt-1': [{ id: 'group-1' }, { id: 'group-2' }] }
+    mockStoreState.layoutByWorktree = {
+      'wt-1': {
+        type: 'split',
+        direction: 'horizontal',
+        first: { type: 'leaf', groupId: 'group-1' },
+        second: { type: 'leaf', groupId: 'group-2' }
+      }
+    }
+    mockStoreState.unifiedTabsByWorktree = { 'wt-1': [] }
+    mockStoreState.createUnifiedTab.mockReturnValue({
+      id: 'sim-2',
+      groupId: 'group-2',
+      contentType: 'simulator'
+    })
+    const { ensureSimulatorTab } = await import('./ensure-simulator-tab')
+
+    expect(ensureSimulatorTab('wt-1', { placement: 'rightSplit' })).toBe('sim-2')
+
+    expect(mockStoreState.createUnifiedTabInSplit).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(mockStoreState.createUnifiedTab).toHaveBeenCalledWith('wt-1', 'simulator', {
+      label: 'Mobile Emulator',
+      targetGroupId: 'group-2',
+      activate: true
+    })
+    expect(mockStoreState.activateTab).toHaveBeenCalledWith('sim-2')
+    expect(mockStoreState.focusGroup).toHaveBeenCalledWith('wt-1', 'group-2')
+    expect(mockStoreState.setActiveTabType).toHaveBeenCalledWith('simulator')
+  })
+
   it('falls back to the source group when atomic right split creation fails', async () => {
     mockStoreState.unifiedTabsByWorktree = { 'wt-1': [] }
     mockStoreState.createUnifiedTabInSplit.mockReturnValue(null)
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/ensure-simulator-tab.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/ensure-simulator-tab.ts
index 4c226abb0fb..43f83fb695a 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/lib/ensure-simulator-tab.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/ensure-simulator-tab.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { useAppStore } from '@/store'
+import { findReusableRightSplitGroupId } from './emulator-right-split-target'
 import { cancelPendingSimulatorPaneShutdown } from './simulator-pane-shutdown-scheduler'
 import { shouldShutdownSimulatorForPaneUnmountFromTabs } from './simulator-tab-shutdown'
 
@@ -58,6 +59,22 @@ export function ensureSimulatorTab(
   }
 
   if (options?.placement === 'rightSplit' && shouldSurface) {
+    const reusableRightGroupId = findReusableRightSplitGroupId(
+      store.layoutByWorktree[worktreeId],
+      sourceGroupId
+    )
+    if (reusableRightGroupId) {
+      const tab = store.createUnifiedTab(worktreeId, 'simulator', {
+        label: 'Mobile Emulator',
+        targetGroupId: reusableRightGroupId,
+        activate: true
+      })
+      store.activateTab(tab.id)
+      store.setActiveTabType('simulator')
+      store.focusGroup(worktreeId, tab.groupId)
+      return tab.id
+    }
+
     // Why: publish the simulator directly in its split group. A two-step
     // create-then-move can persist the midpoint during dev reload/HMR.
     const splitTab = store.createUnifiedTabInSplit(