diff --git a/src/main/hosted-sandbox/cloud-create-from-github.test.ts b/src/main/hosted-sandbox/cloud-create-from-github.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..1783d99d019
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/hosted-sandbox/cloud-create-from-github.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { HostedEntitlementDeniedError } from './hosted-environment-provider'
+import { EnvironmentProviderError } from '../environment-providers/environment-provider-driver'
+import {
+  createCloudWorkspaceFromGitHub,
+  githubWorkspaceId,
+  type CreateFromGitHubClient
+} from './cloud-create-from-github'
+
+const READY = {
+  sandbox: {
+    id: 'sbx_1',
+    workspaceId: 'web-00000000',
+    status: 'running' as const,
+    machineSize: 'standard' as const,
+    region: 'iad1',
+    session: null,
+    createdAt: 1
+  },
+  connection: { type: 'orca-server' as const, pairingCode: 'code', projectRoot: '/work' }
+}
+
+function client(overrides: Partial<CreateFromGitHubClient> = {}): CreateFromGitHubClient {
+  return {
+    create: vi.fn(async () => READY),
+    bootPlan: vi.fn(async () => 'clone' as const),
+    cloneStatus: vi.fn(async () => ({ state: 'done' as const })),
+    destroy: vi.fn(async (id: string) => ({ id, status: 'destroyed' as const })),
+    ...overrides
+  }
+}
+
+const INPUT = {
+  slug: 'acme/web',
+  title: 'Fix login',
+  provisionId: 'c-1234',
+  idempotencyKey: 'create:c-1234'
+}
+
+describe('GitHub-only create on the build sheet (GH-CREATE-SHEET)', () => {
+  it('reports the same steps as an owned create: start, boot plan, clone, connecting', async () => {
+    const statuses = [
+      { state: 'running' as const, percent: 40, stage: 'download' as const },
+      { state: 'done' as const }
+    ]
+    const api = client({
+      create: vi.fn(async () => ({ ...READY, clone: { state: 'running' as const } })),
+      cloneStatus: vi.fn(async () => statuses.shift() ?? { state: 'done' as const })
+    })
+    const log: string[] = []
+    const result = await createCloudWorkspaceFromGitHub(api, INPUT, {
+      onLog: (chunk) => log.push(chunk)
+    })
+    expect(result).toEqual({ ok: true, value: { sandboxId: 'sbx_1' } })
+    expect(log[0]).toBe('[orca-cloud] provisioning\n')
+    expect(log).toContain('[orca-cloud] plan-clone\n')
+    expect(log).toContain('[orca-cloud] cloning\n')
+    expect(log).toContain('[orca-cloud] clone-progress 40 download\n')
+    expect(log.at(-1)).toBe('[orca-cloud] connecting\n')
+  })
+
+  it('sends the key and a workspace id fixed per creation, so a Retry replays the same create', async () => {
+    const api = client()
+    await createCloudWorkspaceFromGitHub(api, INPUT)
+    await createCloudWorkspaceFromGitHub(api, INPUT)
+    const [first, second] = vi.mocked(api.create).mock.calls
+    expect(first?.[0]).toEqual({
+      workspaceId: githubWorkspaceId('acme/web', 'c-1234'),
+      machineSize: 'standard',
+      title: 'Fix login',
+      repo: { url: 'https://github.com/acme/web.git' }
+    })
+    expect(first?.[2]).toBe('create:c-1234')
+    // Same body both times: the server replays an Idempotency-Key only for the same request.
+    expect(second?.[0]).toEqual(first?.[0])
+    expect(githubWorkspaceId('acme/web', 'c-1234')).toMatch(/^web-[0-9a-f]{8}$/)
+    expect(githubWorkspaceId('acme/web', 'c-5678')).not.toBe(
+      githubWorkspaceId('acme/web', 'c-1234')
+    )
+  })
+
+  it.each([
+    ['no_subscription'],
+    ['included_hours_exhausted'],
+    ['overage_cap_reached'],
+    ['payment_past_due']
+  ])(
+    'a billing refusal (%s) logs its reason line and comes back as cloudPlanRequired',
+    async (reason) => {
+      const api = client({
+        create: vi.fn(async () => {
+          throw new HostedEntitlementDeniedError('denied', reason)
+        })
+      })
+      const log: string[] = []
+      const result = await createCloudWorkspaceFromGitHub(api, INPUT, {
+        onLog: (chunk) => log.push(chunk)
+      })
+      // The sheet classifies these exactly as an owned create's (one shared classifier).
+      expect(log).toContain(`Orca Cloud: ${reason}\n`)
+      expect(result).toMatchObject({
+        ok: false,
+        code: 'entitlement_denied',
+        reason: 'cloudPlanRequired'
+      })
+    }
+  )
+
+  it('an unreachable control plane reads as unavailable', async () => {
+    const api = client({
+      create: vi.fn(async () => {
+        throw new EnvironmentProviderError('unavailable', 'Orca Cloud is unreachable.')
+      })
+    })
+    const result = await createCloudWorkspaceFromGitHub(api, INPUT)
+    expect(result).toMatchObject({ ok: false, code: 'unavailable', reason: 'cloudUnavailable' })
+  })
+
+  it('a create that answers after Cancel deletes its sandbox instead of leaving it running', async () => {
+    const controller = new AbortController()
+    const api = client({
+      create: vi.fn(async () => {
+        controller.abort()
+        return READY
+      })
+    })
+    const result = await createCloudWorkspaceFromGitHub(api, INPUT, { signal: controller.signal })
+    expect(result).toMatchObject({ ok: false })
+    expect(api.destroy).toHaveBeenCalledWith('sbx_1')
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/main/hosted-sandbox/cloud-create-from-github.ts b/src/main/hosted-sandbox/cloud-create-from-github.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..1809caa686c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/hosted-sandbox/cloud-create-from-github.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+// "Start in Orca Cloud" for a GitHub repository with no clone here (cloud-start D4), with the same
+// build sheet as an owned create (GH-CREATE-SHEET): the same progress lines (boot plan, start,
+// clone or update with git's percent) and the same failure lines and codes, so the window's sheet
+// reads both alike.
+import { createHash, randomBytes } from 'node:crypto'
+import type {
+  CloudWorkspaceErrorCode,
+  CloudWorkspaceResult
+} from '../../shared/hosted-sandbox/cloud-workspace-api'
+import type { HostedSandboxControlPlaneClient } from './hosted-sandbox-control-plane-client'
+import { createSandboxWithProgress } from './hosted-sandbox-driver'
+import { hostedCreateFailure, hostedProgressLine } from './hosted-sandbox-recipe'
+
+/** The server's Idempotency-Key format. */
+export const CLOUD_CREATE_IDEMPOTENCY_KEY = /^[A-Za-z0-9_.:-]{8,128}$/
+/** A creation id from the window: the build sheet's log and its Cancel are keyed by it. */
+export const CLOUD_CREATE_PROVISION_ID = /^[A-Za-z0-9_.:-]{1,128}$/
+
+export type CreateFromGitHubInput = {
+  /** `owner/repo`. */
+  slug: string
+  /** The name typed in the composer; empty for none. */
+  title: string
+  provisionId: string | null
+  idempotencyKey: string | null
+}
+
+export type CreateFromGitHubClient = Pick<
+  HostedSandboxControlPlaneClient,
+  'create' | 'bootPlan' | 'cloneStatus' | 'destroy'
+>
+
+/**
+ * The workspace id: `<repo>-<hex>`, like the phone's. Fixed per creation so a Retry sends the same
+ * body as the first attempt; the server replays an Idempotency-Key only for the same body.
+ */
+export function githubWorkspaceId(slug: string, provisionId: string | null): string {
+  const name = (slug.split('/').pop() ?? 'workspace').replace(/[^A-Za-z0-9_.-]/g, '-').slice(0, 48)
+  const suffix = provisionId
+    ? createHash('sha256').update(provisionId).digest('hex').slice(0, 8)
+    : randomBytes(4).toString('hex')
+  return `${name}-${suffix}`
+}
+
+const CODE_BY_FAILURE: Partial<Record<string, CloudWorkspaceErrorCode>> = {
+  cloudSignInRequired: 'unauthorized',
+  cloudPlanRequired: 'entitlement_denied',
+  cloudConcurrencyLimit: 'entitlement_denied',
+  cloudUnavailable: 'unavailable'
+}
+
+/**
+ * Starts the sandbox and waits for its clone, reporting each step through `onLog`. A failure comes
+ * back with the failure code as `reason` (e.g. `cloudPlanRequired`) after its reason line was logged.
+ */
+export async function createCloudWorkspaceFromGitHub(
+  client: CreateFromGitHubClient,
+  input: CreateFromGitHubInput,
+  io: { signal?: AbortSignal; onLog?: (chunk: string) => void } = {}
+): Promise<CloudWorkspaceResult<{ sandboxId: string }>> {
+  try {
+    const ready = await createSandboxWithProgress(
+      client,
+      {
+        workspaceId: githubWorkspaceId(input.slug, input.provisionId),
+        machineSize: 'standard',
+        repo: { url: `https://github.com/${input.slug}.git` },
+        ...(input.title ? { workspaceName: input.title } : {}),
+        ...(input.idempotencyKey ? { idempotencyKey: input.idempotencyKey } : {})
+      },
+      {
+        ...(io.signal ? { signal: io.signal } : {}),
+        onProgress: (progress) => io.onLog?.(hostedProgressLine(progress))
+      }
+    )
+    if (io.signal?.aborted) {
+      // Cancelled just as it answered: nothing will open it, so it must not keep running (and billing).
+      await client.destroy(ready.sandbox.id).catch(() => undefined)
+      return { ok: false, code: 'failed', message: 'Cancelled.' }
+    }
+    return { ok: true, value: { sandboxId: ready.sandbox.id } }
+  } catch (error) {
+    const result = hostedCreateFailure(error)
+    if (result.stderr) {
+      io.onLog?.(result.stderr)
+    }
+    const errorCode = result.failure?.errorCode ?? null
+    return {
+      ok: false,
+      code: (errorCode ? CODE_BY_FAILURE[errorCode] : undefined) ?? 'failed',
+      message:
+        result.failure?.error ??
+        (result.stderr.trim() || (error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error))),
+      reason: errorCode
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/main/hosted-sandbox/hosted-account-ipc.test.ts b/src/main/hosted-sandbox/hosted-account-ipc.test.ts
index b4df5abe6c5..f0249045c51 100644
--- a/src/main/hosted-sandbox/hosted-account-ipc.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/hosted-sandbox/hosted-account-ipc.test.ts
@@ -38,7 +38,13 @@ const REPO = 'https://github.com/acme/web'
 const githubUser = {
   githubUser: async () => ({ connected: false as const }),
   connectGitHubUser: async () => ({ authorizeUrl: 'https://github.com/login/oauth/authorize' }),
-  disconnectGitHubUser: async () => ({ connected: false as const })
+  disconnectGitHubUser: async () => ({ connected: false as const }),
+  // The GitHub-only create's progress (GH-CREATE-SHEET): an older control plane has no boot plan.
+  bootPlan: async (): Promise<'clone' | 'update'> => {
+    throw new Error('not_found')
+  },
+  cloneStatus: async () => ({ state: 'done' as const }),
+  destroy: async (id: string) => ({ id, status: 'destroyed' as const })
 }
 const unusedCreate = async (): Promise<never> => {
   throw new Error('not called')
@@ -72,11 +78,15 @@ it('starts a sandbox that clones a GitHub-only repository (D4), and refuses anyt
     ok: true,
     value: { sandboxId: 'sbx_1' }
   })
-  expect(create).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith({
-    workspaceId: expect.stringMatching(/^web-[0-9a-f]{8}$/),
-    machineSize: 'standard',
-    repo: { url: 'https://github.com/acme/web.git' }
-  })
+  expect(create).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith(
+    {
+      workspaceId: expect.stringMatching(/^web-[0-9a-f]{8}$/),
+      machineSize: 'standard',
+      repo: { url: 'https://github.com/acme/web.git' }
+    },
+    undefined,
+    undefined
+  )
   expect(
     await handlers.get(CH.createFromGitHub)?.({}, { repoUrl: 'https://gitlab.com/acme/web' })
   ).toMatchObject({ ok: false })
@@ -108,13 +118,15 @@ it('a GitHub-only create keeps the typed name as the workspace title (NAME-DROPP
     { repoIds: async () => null }
   )
   await handlers.get(CH.createFromGitHub)?.({}, { repoUrl: REPO, title: '  ik-paired  ' })
-  expect(create).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({ title: 'ik-paired' }))
+  expect(create.mock.lastCall?.[0]).toEqual(expect.objectContaining({ title: 'ik-paired' }))
   // No name typed: no title (lists fall back to the repository's name), never an empty one.
   await handlers.get(CH.createFromGitHub)?.({}, { repoUrl: REPO, title: '   ' })
-  expect(create).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith(expect.not.objectContaining({ title: expect.anything() }))
+  expect(create.mock.lastCall?.[0]).toEqual(
+    expect.not.objectContaining({ title: expect.anything() })
+  )
   // The control plane caps titles at 120.
   await handlers.get(CH.createFromGitHub)?.({}, { repoUrl: REPO, title: 'x'.repeat(200) })
-  expect(create).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({ title: 'x'.repeat(120) }))
+  expect(create.mock.lastCall?.[0]).toEqual(expect.objectContaining({ title: 'x'.repeat(120) }))
 })
 const SESSION = 'cs_abcdefghijklmnopqrstuv'
 
diff --git a/src/main/hosted-sandbox/hosted-account-ipc.ts b/src/main/hosted-sandbox/hosted-account-ipc.ts
index 90721076d6b..cc217b53bd7 100644
--- a/src/main/hosted-sandbox/hosted-account-ipc.ts
+++ b/src/main/hosted-sandbox/hosted-account-ipc.ts
@@ -1,12 +1,17 @@
 // Account-level Orca Cloud calls for the window: product config (measured timings), GitHub connect,
 // repository access (cloud-start N2) and the repositories the account's GitHub installations reach.
-import { randomBytes } from 'node:crypto'
 import { ipcMain, shell } from 'electron'
 import { ORCA_CLOUD_WORKSPACE_CHANNELS as CH } from '../../shared/hosted-sandbox/cloud-workspace-api'
 import type { HostedSandboxConfigResponse } from '../../shared/hosted-sandbox/hosted-sandbox-wire'
 import type { HostedSandboxControlPlaneClient } from './hosted-sandbox-control-plane-client'
 import { failure } from './hosted-workspace-runtime'
 import { githubRepoSlug, lookupGitHubRepoIds, type GitHubRepoIds } from './github-repo-ids'
+import {
+  CLOUD_CREATE_IDEMPOTENCY_KEY,
+  CLOUD_CREATE_PROVISION_ID,
+  createCloudWorkspaceFromGitHub
+} from './cloud-create-from-github'
+import { activeProvisionControllers } from '../ipc/provision-controllers'
 import {
   HOSTED_GITHUB_USER_CHANNELS,
   registerHostedGitHubUserHandlers
@@ -47,6 +52,9 @@ export function registerHostedAccountHandlers(
     | 'githubRepoAccess'
     | 'githubRepositories'
     | 'create'
+    | 'bootPlan'
+    | 'cloneStatus'
+    | 'destroy'
     | 'githubUser'
     | 'connectGitHubUser'
     | 'disconnectGitHubUser'
@@ -126,30 +134,50 @@ export function registerHostedAccountHandlers(
   })
 
   // D4: a repository the account's GitHub installations reach, with no clone here. The sandbox
-  // clones it; nothing touches this computer's disk. The id reads like the phone's: <repo>-<hex>.
-  ipcMain.handle(
-    CH.createFromGitHub,
-    async (_event, args?: { repoUrl?: unknown; title?: unknown }) => {
-      const slug = typeof args?.repoUrl === 'string' ? githubRepoSlug(args.repoUrl) : null
-      if (!slug) {
-        return { ok: false, code: 'failed', message: 'Not a GitHub repository.' }
-      }
-      const name = (slug.split('/').pop() ?? 'workspace')
-        .replace(/[^A-Za-z0-9_.-]/g, '-')
-        .slice(0, 48)
-      // The name typed in the composer, as the owned create sends it; else lists show the repo name.
-      const title = typeof args?.title === 'string' ? args.title.trim().slice(0, 120) : ''
-      try {
-        const ready = await client.create({
-          workspaceId: `${name}-${randomBytes(4).toString('hex')}`,
-          machineSize: 'standard',
-          repo: { url: `https://github.com/${slug}.git` },
-          ...(title ? { title } : {})
-        })
-        return { ok: true, value: { sandboxId: ready.sandbox.id } }
-      } catch (error) {
-        return failure(error)
+  // clones it; nothing touches this computer's disk. With a provision id the window shows the build
+  // sheet: progress streams on the build log channel and Cancel aborts it (GH-CREATE-SHEET).
+  ipcMain.handle(CH.createFromGitHub, async (event, args?: CreateFromGitHubArgs) => {
+    const slug = typeof args?.repoUrl === 'string' ? githubRepoSlug(args.repoUrl) : null
+    if (!slug) {
+      return { ok: false, code: 'failed', message: 'Not a GitHub repository.' }
+    }
+    // The name typed in the composer, as the owned create sends it; else lists show the repo name.
+    const title = typeof args?.title === 'string' ? args.title.trim().slice(0, 120) : ''
+    const provisionId = matching(args?.provisionId, CLOUD_CREATE_PROVISION_ID)
+    const idempotencyKey = matching(args?.idempotencyKey, CLOUD_CREATE_IDEMPOTENCY_KEY)
+    const controller = provisionId ? new AbortController() : null
+    if (provisionId && controller) {
+      activeProvisionControllers.set(provisionId, controller)
+    }
+    try {
+      return await createCloudWorkspaceFromGitHub(
+        client,
+        { slug, title, provisionId, idempotencyKey },
+        {
+          ...(controller ? { signal: controller.signal } : {}),
+          onLog: (chunk) => {
+            if (provisionId && !event.sender.isDestroyed()) {
+              event.sender.send('ephemeralVm:provisionEvent', {
+                provisionId,
+                stream: 'stderr',
+                chunk
+              })
+            }
+          }
+        }
+      )
+    } finally {
+      if (provisionId && activeProvisionControllers.get(provisionId) === controller) {
+        activeProvisionControllers.delete(provisionId)
       }
     }
-  )
+  })
+}
+
+type CreateFromGitHubArgs =
+  | { repoUrl?: unknown; title?: unknown; provisionId?: unknown; idempotencyKey?: unknown }
+  | undefined
+
+function matching(value: unknown, pattern: RegExp): string | null {
+  return typeof value === 'string' && pattern.test(value) ? value : null
 }
diff --git a/src/main/hosted-sandbox/hosted-sandbox-driver.ts b/src/main/hosted-sandbox/hosted-sandbox-driver.ts
index 36ac6af2dba..cb0ccc76f5c 100644
--- a/src/main/hosted-sandbox/hosted-sandbox-driver.ts
+++ b/src/main/hosted-sandbox/hosted-sandbox-driver.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import {
   EnvironmentProviderError,
   isEnvironmentProviderError,
   type EnvironmentProviderCallContext,
+  type EnvironmentCreateSpec,
   type EnvironmentHandle,
   type EnvironmentStatus
 } from '../environment-providers/environment-provider-driver'
@@ -61,35 +62,7 @@ export function createHostedSandboxDriver(
     capabilities: HOSTED_SANDBOX_CAPABILITIES,
 
     async create(spec, ctx) {
-      const machineSize = toMachineSize(spec.machineSize)
-      ctx?.onProgress?.({ phase: 'provisioning' })
-      // Names the repository step before the create answers (no relabel mid-run). Best effort: an
-      // older control plane answers 404 and the step is named when the create answers.
-      if (spec.repo) {
-        void client
-          .bootPlan(spec.repo.url, ctx?.signal)
-          .then((plan) =>
-            ctx?.onProgress?.({ phase: plan === 'update' ? 'plan-update' : 'plan-clone' })
-          )
-          .catch(() => undefined)
-      }
-      const ready = await client.create(
-        {
-          workspaceId: spec.workspaceId,
-          machineSize,
-          // Named rows: Home shows the workspace's name, never an untitled sandbox (PC-8).
-          ...(spec.workspaceName?.trim() ? { title: spec.workspaceName.trim().slice(0, 120) } : {}),
-          ...(spec.region ? { region: spec.region } : {}),
-          ...(spec.repo ? { repo: spec.repo } : {})
-        },
-        ctx?.signal,
-        spec.idempotencyKey
-      )
-      if (ready.clone) {
-        await waitForClone(client, ready.sandbox.id, ctx, { mode: ready.clone.mode ?? 'clone' })
-      }
-      ctx?.onProgress?.({ phase: 'connecting' })
-      return toReady(ready)
+      return toReady(await createSandboxWithProgress(client, spec, ctx))
     },
 
     async resume(handle, ctx) {
@@ -149,6 +122,47 @@ export function createHostedSandboxDriver(
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * One create with the build sheet's progress: the boot plan names the repository step, then the
+ * create, then git's clone or update until it is done. Shared by the owned create (the recipe) and
+ * the GitHub-only create (GH-CREATE-SHEET), so both sheets read the same phases.
+ */
+export async function createSandboxWithProgress(
+  client: Pick<HostedSandboxControlPlaneClient, 'create' | 'bootPlan' | 'cloneStatus' | 'destroy'>,
+  spec: EnvironmentCreateSpec,
+  ctx?: EnvironmentProviderCallContext
+): Promise<HostedSandboxReadyResponse> {
+  const machineSize = toMachineSize(spec.machineSize)
+  ctx?.onProgress?.({ phase: 'provisioning' })
+  // Names the repository step before the create answers (no relabel mid-run). Best effort: an
+  // older control plane answers 404 and the step is named when the create answers.
+  if (spec.repo) {
+    void client
+      .bootPlan(spec.repo.url, ctx?.signal)
+      .then((plan) =>
+        ctx?.onProgress?.({ phase: plan === 'update' ? 'plan-update' : 'plan-clone' })
+      )
+      .catch(() => undefined)
+  }
+  const ready = await client.create(
+    {
+      workspaceId: spec.workspaceId,
+      machineSize,
+      // Named rows: Home shows the workspace's name, never an untitled sandbox (PC-8).
+      ...(spec.workspaceName?.trim() ? { title: spec.workspaceName.trim().slice(0, 120) } : {}),
+      ...(spec.region ? { region: spec.region } : {}),
+      ...(spec.repo ? { repo: spec.repo } : {})
+    },
+    ctx?.signal,
+    spec.idempotencyKey
+  )
+  if (ready.clone) {
+    await waitForClone(client, ready.sandbox.id, ctx, { mode: ready.clone.mode ?? 'clone' })
+  }
+  ctx?.onProgress?.({ phase: 'connecting' })
+  return ready
+}
+
 /** A clone whose progress has not moved this long is stuck (git's own silent stretches are ~20 s). */
 export const CLONE_STALL_MS = 5 * 60_000
 const CLONE_POLL_MS = 1_000
diff --git a/src/main/hosted-sandbox/hosted-sandbox-recipe.ts b/src/main/hosted-sandbox/hosted-sandbox-recipe.ts
index 578969efb9e..03d8071e6bb 100644
--- a/src/main/hosted-sandbox/hosted-sandbox-recipe.ts
+++ b/src/main/hosted-sandbox/hosted-sandbox-recipe.ts
@@ -85,7 +85,8 @@ function ok(stdout: string): RecipeStepProviderResult {
   return { stdout, stderr: '', exitCode: 0, signal: null }
 }
 
-function failed(error: unknown): RecipeStepProviderResult {
+/** A control-plane failure as the build sheet reads it: a reason line and a failure code. */
+export function hostedCreateFailure(error: unknown): RecipeStepProviderResult {
   const base = { stdout: '', exitCode: 1, signal: null }
   if (
     isHostedEntitlementDenied(error) &&
@@ -142,6 +143,15 @@ function failed(error: unknown): RecipeStepProviderResult {
   return { ...base, stderr: `${error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)}\n` }
 }
 
+type HostedProgress = { phase: string; percent?: number; message?: string }
+
+/** `clone-progress <percent> <stage>` lines drive the sheet's clone step; the plain log hides them. */
+export function hostedProgressLine({ phase, percent, message }: HostedProgress): string {
+  return (phase === 'cloning' || phase === 'updating') && percent !== undefined
+    ? `[orca-cloud] clone-progress ${percent} ${message === 'checkout' ? 'checkout' : 'download'}\n`
+    : `[orca-cloud] ${phase}\n`
+}
+
 export function createHostedSandboxStepProvider(
   driver: HostedEnvironmentProviderDriver,
   hooks: {
@@ -159,21 +169,7 @@ export function createHostedSandboxStepProvider(
   return async ({ mode, repoPath, context, stdin, signal, onStderr }) => {
     const ctx = {
       signal,
-      // `clone-progress <percent> <stage>` lines drive the sheet's clone step; the plain log hides them.
-      onProgress: ({
-        phase,
-        percent,
-        message
-      }: {
-        phase: string
-        percent?: number
-        message?: string
-      }) =>
-        onStderr?.(
-          (phase === 'cloning' || phase === 'updating') && percent !== undefined
-            ? `[orca-cloud] clone-progress ${percent} ${message === 'checkout' ? 'checkout' : 'download'}\n`
-            : `[orca-cloud] ${phase}\n`
-        )
+      onProgress: (progress: HostedProgress) => onStderr?.(hostedProgressLine(progress))
     }
     try {
       if (mode === 'create') {
@@ -230,7 +226,7 @@ export function createHostedSandboxStepProvider(
       hooks.onStopped?.(handle.environmentId)
       return ok('')
     } catch (error) {
-      const result = failed(error)
+      const result = hostedCreateFailure(error)
       // Only streamed stderr reaches the build log, so the control plane's reason must be streamed too.
       if (result.stderr) {
         onStderr?.(result.stderr)
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/ephemeral-vm.ts b/src/main/ipc/ephemeral-vm.ts
index e29e15fdfb3..99063930d7f 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/ephemeral-vm.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/ephemeral-vm.ts
@@ -60,8 +60,7 @@ import {
   type EphemeralVmFailure
 } from '../../shared/ephemeral-vm-failure-copy'
 import { registerRecipeForwardedEnvHandler } from './ephemeral-vm-forwarded-env'
-
-const activeProvisionControllers = new Map<string, AbortController>()
+import { activeProvisionControllers } from './provision-controllers'
 
 export type EphemeralVmProvisionIpcResult =
   | {
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/provision-controllers.ts b/src/main/ipc/provision-controllers.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d8da3bfa2d9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/ipc/provision-controllers.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+// Cancel handles for builds the window shows on a build sheet, by provision (creation) id.
+// `ephemeralVm:cancelProvision` aborts whichever build registered the id: an owned VM or Orca Cloud
+// create, or a GitHub-only Orca Cloud create (GH-CREATE-SHEET).
+export const activeProvisionControllers = new Map<string, AbortController>()
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/cloud-secrets-ask/VmBuildSecretsRow.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/cloud-secrets-ask/VmBuildSecretsRow.tsx
index 5831c82940d..cc2916aec00 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/cloud-secrets-ask/VmBuildSecretsRow.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/cloud-secrets-ask/VmBuildSecretsRow.tsx
@@ -49,7 +49,11 @@ export function VmBuildSecretsRow({
 }): React.JSX.Element | null {
   const cloud = isOrcaCloudBuild(entry)
   const sourceRepoId = entry.request.ephemeralVmRecipe?.sourceRepoId
+  const githubName = entry.request.githubSource?.fullName
   const repoKey = useAppStore((state) => {
+    if (githubName) {
+      return `github.com/${githubName.toLowerCase()}`
+    }
     const repo = state.repos.find((candidate) => candidate.id === sourceRepoId)
     return repo ? cloudSecretRepoKey(repo) : null
   })
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/new-workspace/composer-modal-data.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/new-workspace/composer-modal-data.ts
index 44b945c08da..188bfae6e71 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/new-workspace/composer-modal-data.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/new-workspace/composer-modal-data.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ export type ComposerModalData = {
   prefilledName?: string
   initialRepoId?: string
   initialEphemeralVmRecipeId?: string
+  /** Orca Cloud: a GitHub repository with no clone here, picked again (GH-CREATE-SHEET's Back to draft). */
+  initialCloudGitHubRepo?: string
   initialProjectGroupId?: string
   linkedWorkItem?: LinkedWorkItemSummary | null
   initialGitHubWorkItem?: GitHubWorkItem | null
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/new-workspace/run-on/use-cloud-only-repo.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/new-workspace/run-on/use-cloud-only-repo.ts
index 1378325d091..0da7398689a 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/new-workspace/run-on/use-cloud-only-repo.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/new-workspace/run-on/use-cloud-only-repo.ts
@@ -29,11 +29,14 @@ export type CloudOnlyRepo = {
 
 export function useCloudOnlyRepo({
   repoId,
+  initialPicked = null,
   cloudSelected,
   cloudOffered,
   signedIn
 }: {
   repoId: string
+  /** `owner/repo` picked when the composer opens (Back to draft from its build sheet). */
+  initialPicked?: string | null
   /** Orca Cloud is the Run on target. */
   cloudSelected: boolean
   /** This build offers Orca Cloud (the Run on segment is enabled). */
@@ -45,7 +48,7 @@ export function useCloudOnlyRepo({
   // D4 rows show while Orca Cloud is picked, or for a folder, which can only start from GitHub.
   const enabled = (cloudSelected || folderProject) && cloudOffered
   const { repos, showMore } = useOrcaCloudGitHubRepositories(enabled && signedIn)
-  const [pickedName, setPickedName] = useState<string | null>(null)
+  const [pickedName, setPickedName] = useState<string | null>(initialPicked)
   const picked = useMemo(
     () => (enabled ? (repos?.find((repo) => repo.fullName === pickedName) ?? null) : null),
     [enabled, pickedName, repos]
@@ -73,10 +76,11 @@ export function useCloudOnlyRepo({
         ? startCloudWorkspaceFromGitHub({
             repoUrl: picked.url,
             fullName: picked.fullName,
+            composerRepoId: repoId,
             ...request
           })
         : Promise.resolve(false),
-    [picked]
+    [picked, repoId]
   )
   return {
     repos,
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/new-workspace/run-on/use-cloud-start-composer.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/new-workspace/run-on/use-cloud-start-composer.ts
index d16b86d780f..8980071e0ee 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/new-workspace/run-on/use-cloud-start-composer.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/new-workspace/run-on/use-cloud-start-composer.ts
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ export function useCloudStartComposer({
   selectedRecipeId,
   setRecipeId,
   repoId,
+  initialGitHubRepo = null,
   prompt,
   agent,
   initialTargetFixed,
@@ -55,6 +56,8 @@ export function useCloudStartComposer({
   selectedRecipeId: string | null
   setRecipeId: ((recipeId: string | null) => void) | undefined
   repoId: string
+  /** A GitHub-only repository to start with picked (`owner/repo`). */
+  initialGitHubRepo?: string | null
   prompt: string
   agent: string | null
   /** The composer was opened on an explicit target (Landing card, a recovery). */
@@ -88,6 +91,7 @@ export function useCloudStartComposer({
   const githubProjectCount = useAppStore((s) => s.repos.filter(isGitHubBackedProject).length)
   const cloudOnly = useCloudOnlyRepo({
     repoId,
+    initialPicked: initialGitHubRepo,
     cloudSelected,
     cloudOffered: segment === 'enabled',
     signedIn: availability !== 'needs-sign-in' && access.state !== 'signed-out'
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/new-workspace/run-on/use-composer-cloud-start.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/new-workspace/run-on/use-composer-cloud-start.ts
index 20dd1e818eb..cdef73ffa5d 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/new-workspace/run-on/use-composer-cloud-start.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/new-workspace/run-on/use-composer-cloud-start.ts
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ export function useComposerCloudStart({
     selectedRecipeId: cardProps.selectedEphemeralVmRecipeId ?? null,
     setRecipeId: cardProps.onEphemeralVmRecipeChange,
     repoId: cardProps.repoId,
+    initialGitHubRepo: modalData.initialCloudGitHubRepo ?? null,
     prompt: cardProps.name,
     agent: quickAgent,
     initialTargetFixed: Boolean(
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/VmBuildSheet.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/VmBuildSheet.tsx
index 4c3fa5d365f..272d8dc5a79 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/VmBuildSheet.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/VmBuildSheet.tsx
@@ -162,7 +162,8 @@ export function VmBuildSheet({
   // Unknown roles get the owner's copy; only a known member is told to ask someone else.
   const canManageBilling =
     billing.result?.status !== 'ok' || billing.result.entitlement.canManageBilling
-  const derived = deriveVmBuildSteps(entry, now, { cloud }).map((step) =>
+  const github = entry.request.githubSource
+  const derived = deriveVmBuildSteps(entry, now, { cloud, checks: !github }).map((step) =>
     nothingStarted(failure) && step.state === 'failed'
       ? { ...step, state: 'pending' as const, elapsedMs: null }
       : step
@@ -190,7 +191,7 @@ export function VmBuildSheet({
   const sourceRepo = useAppStore((state) =>
     recipe ? state.repos.find((repo) => repo.id === recipe.sourceRepoId) : undefined
   )
-  const repoName = orcaCloudRepoName(sourceRepo)
+  const repoName = github?.fullName ?? orcaCloudRepoName(sourceRepo)
   const [connectingGitHub, setConnectingGitHub] = React.useState(false)
   const connectGitHub = (): void => {
     setConnectingGitHub(true)
@@ -322,7 +323,7 @@ export function VmBuildSheet({
                   : Boolean(entry.request.ephemeralVmRuntimeId)
               }
               firstErrorLine={firstErrorLine}
-              canFixWithAgent={Boolean(recipe)}
+              canFixWithAgent={Boolean(recipe) && !github}
               canManageBilling={canManageBilling}
               signingIn={signingIn}
               connectingGitHub={connectingGitHub}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/VmBuildSheetCloudFailures.fixture.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/VmBuildSheetCloudFailures.fixture.tsx
index b82389f69c7..abfba458117 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/VmBuildSheetCloudFailures.fixture.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/VmBuildSheetCloudFailures.fixture.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
 import { defineFixture } from '../../component-fixtures/component-fixture'
-import { recordBillingStatus } from '../billing/billing-summary-store'
-import { sampleTeam } from '../billing/plan-billing-fixtures'
 import {
   CLOUD_FAILED_LOG,
   CLOUD_LOG,
@@ -10,28 +8,12 @@ import {
   LOG,
   frame,
   seedFixtureRepo,
+  stubBillingRole,
   T0
 } from './vm-build-sheet-fixture-support'
 
 // Orca Cloud refusals and failures, one card each.
 
-function stubBillingRole(canManageBilling: boolean, plan: Record<string, unknown> = {}): void {
-  // A team with overage on at a $25 cap (so the spend-cap blocker suggests $50); no plan numbers
-  // unless the fixture gives them (ENTITLEMENTS-C).
-  const entitlement = {
-    ...sampleTeam,
-    canManageBilling,
-    offers: null,
-    overage: { ...sampleTeam.overage, optedIn: true, spendCapCents: 2500 },
-    ...plan
-  }
-  // oxlint-disable-next-line typescript/consistent-type-assertions -- SAFETY: fixture plans override only entitlement fields the sheet reads.
-  const result = { status: 'ok', entitlement } as never
-  window.api.orcaProfiles.billingStatus = () => Promise.resolve(result)
-  // The caps come from the last billing read the app made.
-  recordBillingStatus(result)
-}
-
 // An owner unless stated: the card's billing fix depends on the role billing reports.
 function cloudFailure(
   errorCode: string | undefined,
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/VmBuildSheetGitHub.fixture.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/VmBuildSheetGitHub.fixture.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..2292e4a3429
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/VmBuildSheetGitHub.fixture.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+// GH-CREATE-SHEET: Orca Cloud from a GitHub repository with no clone here uses the same build sheet.
+// The logs are the lines main streams for it (cloud-create-from-github.ts), so the steps and the
+// billing cards come from the same parsing and classification as an owned create's.
+import { defineFixture } from '../../component-fixtures/component-fixture'
+import type { PendingWorktreeCreation } from '@/lib/workspace/creation/pending-worktree-creation'
+import { githubCreateRequest } from '@/lib/orca-cloud/start-cloud-workspace-from-github'
+import { sheet, stampsFor, stubBillingRole, T0 } from './vm-build-sheet-fixture-support'
+
+const REQUEST = githubCreateRequest({
+  repoUrl: 'https://github.com/nwparker/orca-sandbox-push-test',
+  fullName: 'nwparker/orca-sandbox-push-test',
+  prompt: 'Add a push test',
+  agent: 'claude',
+  composerRepoId: 'repo'
+})
+
+const STARTING = ['[orca-cloud] provisioning', '[orca-cloud] plan-clone']
+const CLONING = [...STARTING, '[orca-cloud] cloning', '[orca-cloud] clone-progress 42 download']
+const CLONED = [...CLONING, '[orca-cloud] clone-progress 100 checkout', '[orca-cloud] connecting']
+
+function github(lines: readonly string[], patch: Partial<PendingWorktreeCreation> = {}) {
+  const log = lines.join('\n')
+  // One line every ~1.3 s from T0 (stampsFor), so the clone starts a few seconds in.
+  return {
+    creationId: 'fixture',
+    phase: 'provisioning-vm' as const,
+    status: 'creating' as const,
+    startedAt: T0,
+    indeterminate: false,
+    loaderVisible: true,
+    provisioningLog: log,
+    provisioningLogStamps: stampsFor(lines.length),
+    phaseLog: [{ phase: 'provisioning-vm' as const, at: T0 }],
+    request: REQUEST,
+    ...patch
+  }
+}
+
+function fixture(
+  value: PendingWorktreeCreation,
+  now: number,
+  {
+    error = null,
+    canManageBilling = true
+  }: { error?: string | null; canManageBilling?: boolean } = {}
+) {
+  return defineFixture({
+    width: 760,
+    setup: () => stubBillingRole(canManageBilling),
+    render: () => sheet(value, error, now)
+  })
+}
+
+export const starting = fixture(github(STARTING), T0 + 2_500)
+
+export const cloning = fixture(github(CLONING), T0 + 9_000)
+
+export const opening = fixture(
+  github(CLONED, {
+    phase: 'creating',
+    phaseLog: [
+      { phase: 'provisioning-vm', at: T0 },
+      { phase: 'creating', at: T0 + 7_000 }
+    ]
+  }),
+  T0 + 8_000
+)
+
+export const openFailed = fixture(
+  github(CLONED, {
+    phase: 'creating',
+    status: 'error',
+    errorAt: T0 + 12_000,
+    phaseLog: [
+      { phase: 'provisioning-vm', at: T0 },
+      { phase: 'creating', at: T0 + 7_000 }
+    ]
+  }),
+  T0 + 12_000,
+  {
+    error:
+      'Your cloud workspace started, but this computer couldn’t open it yet. Open it from Cloud workspaces.'
+  }
+)
+
+// Billing refusals: main logs the control plane's reason line and returns cloudPlanRequired.
+function refused(reason: string, canManageBilling = true) {
+  return fixture(
+    github(['[orca-cloud] provisioning', `Orca Cloud: ${reason}`], {
+      status: 'error',
+      errorCode: 'cloudPlanRequired',
+      errorAt: T0 + 2_000
+    }),
+    T0 + 2_000,
+    { error: 'Orca Cloud workspaces need a plan with cloud hours.', canManageBilling }
+  )
+}
+
+export const refusedPlan = refused('no_subscription')
+export const refusedHoursUsed = refused('included_hours_exhausted')
+export const refusedSpendCap = refused('overage_cap_reached')
+export const refusedPayment = refused('payment_past_due')
+// A member can't fix billing: the card names who can, with no "See plans".
+export const refusedPlanMember = refused('no_subscription', false)
+export const refusedHoursUsedMember = refused('included_hours_exhausted', false)
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/vm-build-composer-return.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/vm-build-composer-return.test.ts
index ab74de0f3ee..d50217b88cf 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/vm-build-composer-return.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/vm-build-composer-return.test.ts
@@ -47,3 +47,38 @@ describe('composer data for a create billing refused', () => {
     expect(composerDataFromRefusedCreate(entry, { local: true }).prefilledName).toBeUndefined()
   })
 })
+
+describe('Back to draft from a GitHub-only create (GH-CREATE-SHEET)', () => {
+  const github = {
+    ...request,
+    repoId: '',
+    note: '',
+    githubSource: {
+      repoUrl: 'https://github.com/acme/web',
+      fullName: 'acme/web',
+      prompt: 'Fix login',
+      composerRepoId: 'repo-1'
+    }
+  }
+
+  it('reopens the composer on Orca Cloud with the GitHub repository picked and the prompt kept', () => {
+    expect(typedComposerPrompt({ request: github })).toBe('Fix login')
+    expect(composerDataFromRefusedCreate({ request: github }, { local: false })).toEqual({
+      initialRepoId: 'repo-1',
+      initialEphemeralVmRecipeId: 'cloud',
+      initialCloudGitHubRepo: 'acme/web',
+      prefilledName: 'Fix login',
+      recovery: { note: '', agent: 'claude' },
+      telemetrySource: 'sidebar'
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('"Create locally" keeps the composer’s own project, with no cloud repository', () => {
+    expect(composerDataFromRefusedCreate({ request: github }, { local: true })).toEqual({
+      initialRepoId: 'repo-1',
+      prefilledName: 'Fix login',
+      recovery: { note: '', agent: 'claude' },
+      telemetrySource: 'sidebar'
+    })
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/vm-build-composer-return.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/vm-build-composer-return.ts
index 1db89f80ec2..e5774256370 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/vm-build-composer-return.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/vm-build-composer-return.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ type ReturnSource = Pick<PendingWorktreeCreation, 'heldChatMessage' | 'request'>
 
 /** What the user typed for the agent: a prompt queued during the build, else the composer's. */
 export function typedComposerPrompt(entry: ReturnSource): string {
-  return entry.heldChatMessage ?? entry.request.note
+  return entry.heldChatMessage ?? entry.request.githubSource?.prompt ?? entry.request.note
 }
 
 /**
@@ -19,6 +19,23 @@ export function composerDataFromRefusedCreate(
 ): ComposerModalData {
   const { request } = entry
   const recipe = request.ephemeralVmRecipe
+  const github = request.githubSource
+  if (github) {
+    // The GitHub repository has no clone here: back on Orca Cloud with it picked again; "locally"
+    // keeps the composer's own project.
+    return {
+      ...(github.composerRepoId ? { initialRepoId: github.composerRepoId } : {}),
+      ...(local
+        ? {}
+        : {
+            initialEphemeralVmRecipeId: recipe?.recipeId,
+            initialCloudGitHubRepo: github.fullName
+          }),
+      prefilledName: entry.heldChatMessage ?? github.prompt,
+      recovery: { note: '', agent: request.agent },
+      telemetrySource: request.telemetrySource ?? 'unknown'
+    }
+  }
   return {
     initialRepoId: recipe?.sourceRepoId ?? request.repoId,
     ...(!local && recipe ? { initialEphemeralVmRecipeId: recipe.recipeId } : {}),
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/vm-build-sheet-fixture-support.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/vm-build-sheet-fixture-support.tsx
index 879850cdce2..079dfb21e4a 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/vm-build-sheet-fixture-support.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/vm-build-sheet-fixture-support.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ import { formatElapsedTime } from './worktree-creation-clock'
 import type { VmBuildStepTimings } from './vm-build-timing'
 import { useAppStore } from '@/store'
 import type { Repo } from '../../../../shared/repo-types'
+import { recordBillingStatus } from '../billing/billing-summary-store'
+import { sampleTeam } from '../billing/plan-billing-fixtures'
 
 export const LOG_LINES = [
   'Creating sandbox from snapshot snap_7f2c…',
@@ -115,3 +117,24 @@ export const CLOUD_FAILED_LOG = [
   'Orca Cloud refused the request (provider_unavailable).'
 ].join('\n')
 export const FAILED_LOG = `${LOG}\nError: snapshot snap_7f2c not found`
+
+/** Billing as the sheet reads it: an owner or a member of a team with overage on at a $25 cap. */
+export function stubBillingRole(
+  canManageBilling: boolean,
+  plan: Record<string, unknown> = {}
+): void {
+  // A team with overage on at a $25 cap (so the spend-cap blocker suggests $50); no plan numbers
+  // unless the fixture gives them (ENTITLEMENTS-C).
+  const entitlement = {
+    ...sampleTeam,
+    canManageBilling,
+    offers: null,
+    overage: { ...sampleTeam.overage, optedIn: true, spendCapCents: 2500 },
+    ...plan
+  }
+  // oxlint-disable-next-line typescript/consistent-type-assertions -- SAFETY: fixture plans override only entitlement fields the sheet reads.
+  const result = { status: 'ok', entitlement } as never
+  window.api.orcaProfiles.billingStatus = () => Promise.resolve(result)
+  // The caps come from the last billing read the app made.
+  recordBillingStatus(result)
+}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/vm-build-steps.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/vm-build-steps.test.ts
index 61a0eed0fa4..9b3ed412bc7 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/vm-build-steps.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/vm-build-steps.test.ts
@@ -410,3 +410,28 @@ describe('Orca Cloud clone step', () => {
     expect(humanizeOrcaCloudLogLine('[orca-cloud] clone-progress 40 download', t)).toBeNull()
   })
 })
+
+describe('GitHub-only Orca Cloud create (GH-CREATE-SHEET)', () => {
+  it('has no environment checks step: start, clone, then open', () => {
+    const log = '[orca-cloud] provisioning\n[orca-cloud] cloning\n[orca-cloud] connecting'
+    const steps = deriveVmBuildSteps(
+      {
+        ...base,
+        phase: 'creating',
+        phaseLog: [
+          { phase: 'provisioning-vm', at: 1000 },
+          { phase: 'creating', at: 6000 }
+        ],
+        provisioningLog: log,
+        provisioningLogStamps: [1000, 3000, 5000]
+      },
+      7000,
+      { cloud: true, checks: false }
+    )
+    expect(steps.map((step) => [step.id, step.state])).toEqual([
+      ['provision', 'done'],
+      ['clone', 'done'],
+      ['create', 'running']
+    ])
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/vm-build-steps.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/vm-build-steps.ts
index 2a4797f4057..9bda9f62b80 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/vm-build-steps.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/vm-build-steps.ts
@@ -104,7 +104,14 @@ function runningClone(
 export function deriveVmBuildSteps(
   entry: VmBuildEntry,
   now: number,
-  { cloud = false }: { cloud?: boolean } = {}
+  {
+    cloud = false,
+    checks: withChecks = true
+  }: {
+    cloud?: boolean
+    /** False for a GitHub-only Orca Cloud create: it is paired, so no environment checks run. */
+    checks?: boolean
+  } = {}
 ): VmBuildStep[] {
   const check = entry.environmentCheck
   const failed = entry.status === 'error'
@@ -177,5 +184,7 @@ export function deriveVmBuildSteps(
             percent: getVisibleCheckoutProgress(entry)?.percent ?? null
           })
 
-  return cloneStep ? [provision, cloneStep, checks, create] : [provision, checks, create]
+  return [provision, cloneStep, withChecks ? checks : null, create].filter(
+    (candidate): candidate is VmBuildStep => candidate !== null
+  )
 }
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/en.json b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/en.json
index f59c898270e..ae712356397 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/en.json
+++ b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/en.json
@@ -23915,7 +23915,6 @@
         "addRepository": "Add a GitHub repository",
         "moreAccess": "Give Orca Cloud access to more repositories…",
         "startFailed": "Couldn’t start the cloud workspace. Nothing was created, and you weren’t charged.",
-        "starting": "Starting {{repo}} in Orca Cloud…",
         "openLater": "Your cloud workspace started, but this computer couldn’t open it yet. Open it from Cloud workspaces.",
         "showMore": "Show more repositories…",
         "folderDetail": "Orca Cloud starts from a GitHub repository. This project is a folder on this computer.",
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/orca-cloud/github-cloud-create-key.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/orca-cloud/github-cloud-create-key.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..5ff07a47397
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/orca-cloud/github-cloud-create-key.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import {
+  forgetGitHubCreateKey,
+  githubCreateIdempotencyKey,
+  noteGitHubCreateOutcome,
+  resetGitHubCreateKeysForTest
+} from './github-cloud-create-key'
+
+beforeEach(() => resetGitHubCreateKeysForTest())
+
+describe('GitHub-only create Idempotency-Key (GH-CREATE-SHEET)', () => {
+  it('a Retry after a lost answer resends the same key, so it gets the same sandbox back', () => {
+    const first = githubCreateIdempotencyKey('c1')
+    noteGitHubCreateOutcome('c1', true)
+    expect(githubCreateIdempotencyKey('c1')).toBe(first)
+    noteGitHubCreateOutcome('c1', true)
+    expect(githubCreateIdempotencyKey('c1')).toBe(first)
+  })
+
+  it('a Retry after an answered failure is a new attempt with a new key', () => {
+    const first = githubCreateIdempotencyKey('c1')
+    noteGitHubCreateOutcome('c1', false)
+    const second = githubCreateIdempotencyKey('c1')
+    expect(second).toBe(`${first}:retry-1`)
+    // Its answer is then lost: the next Retry resends that second key.
+    noteGitHubCreateOutcome('c1', true)
+    expect(githubCreateIdempotencyKey('c1')).toBe(second)
+  })
+
+  it('keys are per creation and within the server format', () => {
+    const a = githubCreateIdempotencyKey('c1')
+    const b = githubCreateIdempotencyKey('c2')
+    expect(a).not.toBe(b)
+    expect(a).toMatch(/^[A-Za-z0-9_.:-]{8,128}$/)
+    forgetGitHubCreateKey('c1')
+    expect(githubCreateIdempotencyKey('c1')).toBe(a)
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/orca-cloud/github-cloud-create-key.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/orca-cloud/github-cloud-create-key.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b7f68c68afc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/orca-cloud/github-cloud-create-key.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+// The Idempotency-Key a GitHub-only Orca Cloud create sends (GH-CREATE-SHEET). One per creation.
+// A Retry after a lost answer (the control plane never replied) resends the same key, so the server
+// hands back the sandbox the first attempt may have made instead of starting a second one. A Retry
+// after an answered failure is a new attempt with its own key: the server already released a key
+// that created nothing, and one whose sandbox was deleted (a failed clone) must not replay it.
+
+type KeyState = { key: string; attempts: number; lastUnanswered: boolean }
+
+const keys = new Map<string, KeyState>()
+
+/** The key for the next attempt of this creation. */
+export function githubCreateIdempotencyKey(creationId: string): string {
+  const state = keys.get(creationId)
+  if (!state) {
+    const key = `create:${creationId}`
+    keys.set(creationId, { key, attempts: 0, lastUnanswered: false })
+    return key
+  }
+  if (state.lastUnanswered) {
+    return state.attempts === 0 ? state.key : `${state.key}:retry-${state.attempts}`
+  }
+  state.attempts += 1
+  return `${state.key}:retry-${state.attempts}`
+}
+
+/** How the last attempt ended: `unanswered` when the control plane's answer never arrived. */
+export function noteGitHubCreateOutcome(creationId: string, unanswered: boolean): void {
+  const state = keys.get(creationId)
+  if (state) {
+    state.lastUnanswered = unanswered
+  }
+}
+
+export function forgetGitHubCreateKey(creationId: string): void {
+  keys.delete(creationId)
+}
+
+/** Tests only. */
+export function resetGitHubCreateKeysForTest(): void {
+  keys.clear()
+}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/orca-cloud/github-create-source.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/orca-cloud/github-create-source.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..98b66c1db7f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/orca-cloud/github-create-source.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+/** What a GitHub-only Orca Cloud create starts from (D4, GH-CREATE-SHEET). */
+export type GitHubCreateSource = {
+  repoUrl: string
+  /** `owner/repo`. */
+  fullName: string
+  /** The composer's text: the workspace's title and the agent's first prompt. */
+  prompt: string
+  /** The project the composer had selected, for Back to draft. */
+  composerRepoId: string
+}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/orca-cloud/start-cloud-workspace-from-github.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/orca-cloud/start-cloud-workspace-from-github.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c1deaf4a381
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/orca-cloud/start-cloud-workspace-from-github.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,162 @@
+// @vitest-environment happy-dom
+// GH-CREATE-SHEET: a GitHub-only Orca Cloud create runs on the same build sheet as any cloud
+// create (a pending creation with the Orca Cloud recipe), streams its build log there, and its Retry
+// never makes a second sandbox: after a lost answer it resends the same Idempotency-Key, and after a
+// failed open it only opens the sandbox it already has.
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { useAppStore } from '@/store'
+
+const mocks = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+  open: vi.fn(
+    async (): Promise<
+      { ok: true; worktreeId: string | null } | { ok: false; message: string }
+    > => ({
+      ok: true,
+      worktreeId: null
+    })
+  )
+}))
+
+vi.mock('@/components/cloud-workspaces/open-cloud-workspace', () => ({
+  openCloudWorkspace: mocks.open
+}))
+vi.mock('@/lib/agent-session/launch/new-tab/launch-agent-in-new-tab', () => ({
+  launchAgentInNewTabWithOutcome: vi.fn()
+}))
+
+import {
+  retryGitHubCloudCreate,
+  startCloudWorkspaceFromGitHub
+} from './start-cloud-workspace-from-github'
+import { resetGitHubCreateKeysForTest } from './github-cloud-create-key'
+
+type CreateArgs = { repoUrl: string; title?: string; provisionId?: string; idempotencyKey?: string }
+type ProvisionListener = (event: { provisionId: string; stream: string; chunk: string }) => void
+
+let listener: ProvisionListener | null = null
+const createFromGitHub = vi.fn<(args: CreateArgs) => Promise<unknown>>()
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  resetGitHubCreateKeysForTest()
+  useAppStore.setState({ pendingWorktreeCreations: {}, activePendingCreationId: null })
+  Object.assign(window, {
+    api: {
+      ...window.api,
+      orcaCloudWorkspace: { createFromGitHub },
+      cloudWorkspaces: {
+        get: vi.fn(async (id: string) => ({ ok: true, value: { id } }))
+      },
+      ephemeralVm: {
+        onProvisionEvent: (callback: ProvisionListener) => {
+          listener = callback
+          return () => {
+            listener = null
+          }
+        },
+        cancelProvision: vi.fn(async () => ({ cancelled: true }))
+      }
+    }
+  })
+})
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  vi.clearAllMocks()
+})
+
+const REQUEST = {
+  repoUrl: 'https://github.com/acme/web',
+  fullName: 'acme/web',
+  prompt: 'Fix login',
+  agent: null,
+  composerRepoId: 'repo-1'
+}
+
+function onlyCreation() {
+  const entries = Object.values(useAppStore.getState().pendingWorktreeCreations)
+  expect(entries).toHaveLength(1)
+  return entries[0]!
+}
+
+describe('GitHub-only create on the build sheet', () => {
+  it('opens the sheet as an Orca Cloud build and streams its log there', async () => {
+    let finish: (value: unknown) => void = () => {}
+    createFromGitHub.mockImplementation(
+      (args: CreateArgs) =>
+        new Promise((resolve) => {
+          listener?.({
+            provisionId: args.provisionId ?? '',
+            stream: 'stderr',
+            chunk: '[orca-cloud] provisioning\n'
+          })
+          finish = resolve
+        })
+    )
+    const started = startCloudWorkspaceFromGitHub(REQUEST)
+    const entry = onlyCreation()
+    expect(useAppStore.getState().activePendingCreationId).toBe(entry.creationId)
+    expect(entry.request.ephemeralVmRecipe?.provider).toBe('orca-cloud')
+    expect(entry.request.githubSource).toMatchObject({
+      fullName: 'acme/web',
+      composerRepoId: 'repo-1'
+    })
+    expect(entry.request.displayName).toBe('Fix login')
+    await vi.waitFor(() =>
+      expect(onlyCreation().provisioningLog).toContain('[orca-cloud] provisioning')
+    )
+    expect(createFromGitHub).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      repoUrl: REQUEST.repoUrl,
+      title: 'Fix login',
+      provisionId: entry.creationId,
+      idempotencyKey: `create:${entry.creationId}`
+    })
+    finish({ ok: true, value: { sandboxId: 'sbx_1' } })
+    expect(await started).toBe(true)
+    // Opened: the workspace replaces the sheet.
+    expect(useAppStore.getState().pendingWorktreeCreations).toEqual({})
+  })
+
+  it('a billing refusal stays on the sheet with its code for the blocker', async () => {
+    createFromGitHub.mockResolvedValue({
+      ok: false,
+      code: 'entitlement_denied',
+      message: 'denied',
+      reason: 'cloudPlanRequired'
+    })
+    expect(await startCloudWorkspaceFromGitHub(REQUEST)).toBe(false)
+    expect(onlyCreation()).toMatchObject({ status: 'error', errorCode: 'cloudPlanRequired' })
+  })
+
+  it('Retry after a lost answer resends the same key, so no second sandbox is made', async () => {
+    createFromGitHub.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error('ipc dropped'))
+    await startCloudWorkspaceFromGitHub(REQUEST)
+    const { creationId } = onlyCreation()
+    createFromGitHub.mockResolvedValueOnce({ ok: true, value: { sandboxId: 'sbx_1' } })
+    retryGitHubCloudCreate(creationId)
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(createFromGitHub).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2))
+    const keys = createFromGitHub.mock.calls.map((call) => call[0].idempotencyKey)
+    expect(keys[1]).toBe(keys[0])
+  })
+
+  it('Retry after an answered failure is a new attempt with a new key', async () => {
+    createFromGitHub.mockResolvedValueOnce({ ok: false, code: 'failed', message: 'clone failed' })
+    await startCloudWorkspaceFromGitHub(REQUEST)
+    const { creationId } = onlyCreation()
+    createFromGitHub.mockResolvedValueOnce({ ok: true, value: { sandboxId: 'sbx_2' } })
+    retryGitHubCloudCreate(creationId)
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(createFromGitHub).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2))
+    const keys = createFromGitHub.mock.calls.map((call) => call[0].idempotencyKey)
+    expect(keys[1]).toBe(`${keys[0]}:retry-1`)
+  })
+
+  it('Retry after a failed open opens the same sandbox and never creates again', async () => {
+    createFromGitHub.mockResolvedValue({ ok: true, value: { sandboxId: 'sbx_1' } })
+    mocks.open.mockResolvedValueOnce({ ok: false, message: 'pairing failed' })
+    expect(await startCloudWorkspaceFromGitHub(REQUEST)).toBe(false)
+    const failed = onlyCreation()
+    expect(failed).toMatchObject({ status: 'error', phase: 'creating' })
+    retryGitHubCloudCreate(failed.creationId)
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(useAppStore.getState().pendingWorktreeCreations).toEqual({}))
+    expect(createFromGitHub).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(mocks.open).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/orca-cloud/start-cloud-workspace-from-github.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/orca-cloud/start-cloud-workspace-from-github.ts
index 9bb99da5859..4dffd096d87 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/lib/orca-cloud/start-cloud-workspace-from-github.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/orca-cloud/start-cloud-workspace-from-github.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
 // "Start in Orca Cloud" for a repository with no clone here (cloud-start D4): the sandbox clones it
 // from GitHub, this computer pairs to it like any cloud workspace, and the composer's prompt goes
 // to the chosen agent there. Nothing is written to this computer's disk.
-import { toast } from 'sonner'
+//
+// GH-CREATE-SHEET: it shows the same build sheet as an Orca Cloud create from a local clone: Start
+// sandbox, Clone repository (git's progress), Open workspace, with the same failure cards, billing
+// blocker, Retry and Back to draft. The sheet is a pending creation like any other; this module
+// runs it instead of the worktree create.
 import { useAppStore } from '@/store'
 import { translate } from '@/i18n/i18n'
 import { openCloudWorkspace } from '@/components/cloud-workspaces/open-cloud-workspace'
@@ -10,58 +14,211 @@ import { createNonSecureContextUuid } from '../../../../shared/non-secure-contex
 import { resolveDefaultAgentForWorktree } from '@/lib/agent-session/launch/shortcuts/agent-tab-shortcuts'
 import { captureAgentTabLaunchContext } from '@/components/agent-tab-launch-context'
 import { isTuiAgent } from '../../../../shared/agent-launch/catalog/tui-agent-config'
+import { ORCA_CLOUD_RECIPE_ID } from '../../../../shared/hosted-sandbox/orca-cloud-recipe-id'
+import type { WorktreeCreationRequest } from '@/lib/workspace/creation/pending-worktree-creation'
+import { appendProvisioningLog } from '@/lib/workspace/creation/pending-creation-provisioning-log'
+import { trackOrcaCloudCreateStep } from '@/lib/orca-cloud-cancel-cleanup'
+import {
+  forgetGitHubCreateKey,
+  githubCreateIdempotencyKey,
+  noteGitHubCreateOutcome
+} from './github-cloud-create-key'
 
 export type StartFromGitHubRequest = {
   repoUrl: string
   fullName: string
   prompt: string
   agent: string | null
+  /** The project the composer had selected, for Back to draft. */
+  composerRepoId?: string
 }
 
-const failedCopy = (): string =>
-  translate(
-    'components.newWorkspace.cloudOnly.startFailed',
-    'Couldn’t start the cloud workspace. Nothing was created, and you weren’t charged.'
-  )
+const NETWORK_FAILURE =
+  /\b(ENOTFOUND|EAI_AGAIN|ECONNREFUSED|ECONNRESET|ETIMEDOUT|fetch failed|network (error|unreachable))\b/i
 
-/** Resolves true once the workspace is open (its agent may still be starting). */
-export async function startCloudWorkspaceFromGitHub(
-  request: StartFromGitHubRequest
-): Promise<boolean> {
-  const toastId = toast.loading(
-    translate('components.newWorkspace.cloudOnly.starting', 'Starting {{repo}} in Orca Cloud…', {
-      repo: request.fullName
+// Sandboxes a creation already started, so a Retry after a failed open opens it, never makes another.
+const startedSandboxes = new Map<string, string>()
+
+/** The pending creation's request: the sheet's title, Orca Cloud copy, Retry and Back to draft. */
+export function githubCreateRequest(request: StartFromGitHubRequest): WorktreeCreationRequest {
+  const prompt = request.prompt.trim()
+  const repoName = request.fullName.split('/').pop() ?? request.fullName
+  return {
+    repoId: '',
+    // The composer's name field is the workspace's name (NAME-DROPPED); the repository's otherwise.
+    name: prompt.slice(0, 120) || repoName,
+    displayName: prompt.slice(0, 120) || repoName,
+    displayNameKind: prompt ? 'user' : 'generated',
+    setupDecision: 'inherit',
+    agent: isTuiAgent(request.agent) ? request.agent : null,
+    pendingFirstAgentMessageRename: false,
+    note: '',
+    startupPlan: null,
+    quickPrompt: request.prompt,
+    quickTelemetry: null,
+    telemetrySource: 'unknown',
+    ephemeralVmRecipe: {
+      sourceRepoId: '',
+      recipeId: ORCA_CLOUD_RECIPE_ID,
+      projectId: '',
+      provider: 'orca-cloud'
+    },
+    githubSource: {
+      repoUrl: request.repoUrl,
+      fullName: request.fullName,
+      prompt: request.prompt,
+      composerRepoId: request.composerRepoId ?? ''
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+/** Opens the build sheet and starts; resolves true once the workspace is open. */
+export function startCloudWorkspaceFromGitHub(request: StartFromGitHubRequest): Promise<boolean> {
+  const creationId = createNonSecureContextUuid()
+  const store = useAppStore.getState()
+  store.beginPendingWorktreeCreation({
+    creationId,
+    phase: 'provisioning-vm',
+    status: 'creating',
+    startedAt: Date.now(),
+    indeterminate: false,
+    loaderVisible: true,
+    provisioningLog: '',
+    provisioningLogStamps: [],
+    request: githubCreateRequest(request)
+  })
+  store.setActiveView('terminal')
+  store.setSidebarOpen(true)
+  return runGitHubCloudCreate(creationId)
+}
+
+/** The sheet's Retry (and the plans page's retry after checkout) for a GitHub-only create. */
+export function retryGitHubCloudCreate(creationId: string): void {
+  const store = useAppStore.getState()
+  if (!store.pendingWorktreeCreations[creationId]?.request.githubSource) {
+    return
+  }
+  const opening = startedSandboxes.has(creationId)
+  store.updatePendingWorktreeCreation(creationId, {
+    status: 'creating',
+    loaderVisible: true,
+    error: undefined,
+    errorCode: undefined,
+    // The sandbox is up: only opening it is tried again, so its steps stay done.
+    ...(opening
+      ? { phase: 'creating' }
+      : {
+          startedAt: Date.now(),
+          phase: 'provisioning-vm',
+          provisioningLog: '',
+          provisioningLogStamps: []
+        })
+  })
+  store.setActivePendingWorktreeCreation(creationId)
+  store.setActiveView('terminal')
+  void runGitHubCloudCreate(creationId)
+}
+
+function current(creationId: string) {
+  return useAppStore.getState().pendingWorktreeCreations[creationId]
+}
+
+function fail(creationId: string, error: string, errorCode?: string | null): false {
+  if (current(creationId)) {
+    useAppStore.getState().updatePendingWorktreeCreation(creationId, {
+      status: 'error',
+      error,
+      errorCode: errorCode ?? undefined
     })
+  }
+  return false
+}
+
+async function startSandbox(creationId: string): Promise<string | null> {
+  const source = current(creationId)?.request.githubSource
+  if (!source) {
+    return null
+  }
+  const unsubscribe = window.api.ephemeralVm.onProvisionEvent?.((event) => {
+    if (event.provisionId === creationId && event.stream === 'stderr') {
+      appendProvisioningLog(creationId, event.chunk)
+    }
+  })
+  const title = source.prompt.trim().slice(0, 120)
+  const created = await trackOrcaCloudCreateStep(
+    creationId,
+    window.api.orcaCloudWorkspace
+      .createFromGitHub({
+        repoUrl: source.repoUrl,
+        ...(title ? { title } : {}),
+        provisionId: creationId,
+        idempotencyKey: githubCreateIdempotencyKey(creationId)
+      })
+      .catch(() => null)
+  ).finally(() => unsubscribe?.())
+  noteGitHubCreateOutcome(
+    creationId,
+    !created ||
+      (!created.ok && (created.code === 'unavailable' || NETWORK_FAILURE.test(created.message)))
   )
-  // The composer's name field is the workspace's name: send it as the title (NAME-DROPPED).
-  const title = request.prompt.trim().slice(0, 120)
-  const created = await window.api.orcaCloudWorkspace
-    .createFromGitHub({ repoUrl: request.repoUrl, ...(title ? { title } : {}) })
-    .catch(() => null)
   if (!created?.ok) {
-    toast.error(failedCopy(), { id: toastId })
+    fail(
+      creationId,
+      created?.message ??
+        translate(
+          'components.newWorkspace.cloudOnly.startFailed',
+          'Couldn’t start the cloud workspace. Nothing was created, and you weren’t charged.'
+        ),
+      created?.reason
+    )
+    return null
+  }
+  startedSandboxes.set(creationId, created.value.sandboxId)
+  return created.value.sandboxId
+}
+
+async function runGitHubCloudCreate(creationId: string): Promise<boolean> {
+  const request = current(creationId)?.request
+  const source = request?.githubSource
+  if (!request || !source) {
     return false
   }
-  // The sandbox exists from here on: a failure below must never offer to create it again.
-  const workspace = await window.api.cloudWorkspaces.get(created.value.sandboxId).catch(() => null)
+  const sandboxId = startedSandboxes.get(creationId) ?? (await startSandbox(creationId))
+  if (!sandboxId) {
+    return false
+  }
+  if (!current(creationId)) {
+    // Cancelled while it started: main stopped the create and deleted what it had made.
+    startedSandboxes.delete(creationId)
+    return false
+  }
+  useAppStore.getState().updatePendingWorktreeCreation(creationId, { phase: 'creating' })
+  const workspace = await window.api.cloudWorkspaces.get(sandboxId).catch(() => null)
   const opened = workspace?.ok ? await openCloudWorkspace(workspace.value) : null
   if (!opened?.ok) {
-    toast.error(
-      translate(
-        'components.newWorkspace.cloudOnly.openLater',
-        'Your cloud workspace started, but this computer couldn’t open it yet. Open it from Cloud workspaces.'
-      ),
-      { id: toastId }
+    // The sandbox exists from here on: Retry opens it and never creates it again.
+    return fail(
+      creationId,
+      opened?.message ??
+        translate(
+          'components.newWorkspace.cloudOnly.openLater',
+          'Your cloud workspace started, but this computer couldn’t open it yet. Open it from Cloud workspaces.'
+        )
     )
-    return true
   }
-  toast.dismiss(toastId)
-  const worktreeId = opened.worktreeId
-  if (!worktreeId || !request.prompt.trim()) {
-    return true
+  startedSandboxes.delete(creationId)
+  forgetGitHubCreateKey(creationId)
+  // Opened: the workspace replaces the sheet. Nothing to clean up, the sandbox is the workspace.
+  useAppStore.getState().removePendingWorktreeCreation(creationId, { cleanupVm: false })
+  if (opened.worktreeId && source.prompt.trim()) {
+    void launchPrompt(opened.worktreeId, source.prompt, request.agent)
   }
-  const agent = isTuiAgent(request.agent)
-    ? request.agent
+  return true
+}
+
+async function launchPrompt(worktreeId: string, prompt: string, picked: string | null) {
+  const agent = isTuiAgent(picked)
+    ? picked
     : await resolveDefaultAgentForWorktree(useAppStore.getState, worktreeId).catch(() => null)
   if (agent) {
     launchAgentInNewTabWithOutcome({
@@ -69,10 +226,9 @@ export async function startCloudWorkspaceFromGitHub(
       ...captureAgentTabLaunchContext(worktreeId),
       agent,
       worktreeId,
-      prompt: request.prompt,
+      prompt,
       promptDelivery: 'submit-after-ready',
       launchSource: 'unknown'
     })
   }
-  return true
 }
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/workspace/creation/pending-worktree-creation.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/workspace/creation/pending-worktree-creation.ts
index 59d2a98a93a..6b8a9f043b4 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/lib/workspace/creation/pending-worktree-creation.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/workspace/creation/pending-worktree-creation.ts
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import { translate } from '@/i18n/i18n'
 import type { Translate } from '@/i18n/use-translate'
 import type { EnvironmentDoctorCheck } from '../../../../../shared/environment-doctor-types'
 import type { NativeChatComposerDraftImage } from '@/components/native-chat/drafts/native-chat-composer-draft-storage'
+import type { GitHubCreateSource } from '@/lib/orca-cloud/github-create-source'
 import type { AgentJournalSkillRef } from '../../../../../shared/agent-session/journal/agent-session-journal-types'
 
 /** Creation phases include renderer preflight, base fetch and worktree add; remote/runtime can skip git phases, while VM recipes provision before runtime creation. */
@@ -66,6 +67,11 @@ export type WorktreeCreationRequest = {
     /** Set for the built-in hosted provider, whose build sheet speaks in plain language. */
     provider?: 'orca-cloud'
   }
+  /**
+   * Orca Cloud from a GitHub repository with no clone here (D4, GH-CREATE-SHEET): the sandbox clones
+   * it and this computer pairs to it. Same build sheet; Retry and Back to draft use this.
+   */
+  githubSource?: GitHubCreateSource
   // Capture local/runtime progress routing at submit so focus changes cannot alter Retry behavior.
   worktreeCreateProgressMode?: WorktreeCreationProgressMode
   name: string
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/workspace/creation/worktree-creation-flow.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/workspace/creation/worktree-creation-flow.ts
index 5ff2bc3fa8d..93310aa0325 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/lib/workspace/creation/worktree-creation-flow.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/workspace/creation/worktree-creation-flow.ts
@@ -177,6 +177,13 @@ export function retryBackgroundWorktreeCreation(creationId: string): void {
   if (!entry) {
     return
   }
+  if (entry.request.githubSource) {
+    // GH-CREATE-SHEET: no worktree create here; the sandbox clones from GitHub and is paired.
+    void import('@/lib/orca-cloud/start-cloud-workspace-from-github').then(
+      ({ retryGitHubCloudCreate }) => retryGitHubCloudCreate(creationId)
+    )
+    return
+  }
   if (entry.chatInputHandedOff && entry.worktreeId) {
     store.updatePendingWorktreeCreation(creationId, {
       status: 'creating',
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/worktrees/create/pending-worktree-creation.ts b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/worktrees/create/pending-worktree-creation.ts
index 3ac855a0cf8..177eb7bf2f6 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/worktrees/create/pending-worktree-creation.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/worktrees/create/pending-worktree-creation.ts
@@ -149,7 +149,13 @@ export function createRemovePendingWorktreeCreation(
         .catch(() => undefined)
     }
     const cleanup = cleanUpCancelledVm(creationId, removedEntry.request, get)
-    if (removedEntry.status === 'creating' && isOrcaCloudCreateRequest(removedEntry.request)) {
+    // A GitHub-only create past its start is opening a sandbox that stays; nothing is deleted.
+    const opening = Boolean(removedEntry.request.githubSource) && removedEntry.phase === 'creating'
+    if (
+      removedEntry.status === 'creating' &&
+      isOrcaCloudCreateRequest(removedEntry.request) &&
+      !opening
+    ) {
       beginOrcaCloudCancelCleanup(creationId, cleanup ? [cleanup] : [], {
         runtimeId: removedEntry.request.ephemeralVmRuntimeId,
         createStartedAt: removedEntry.startedAt,
diff --git a/src/shared/hosted-sandbox/cloud-workspace-api.ts b/src/shared/hosted-sandbox/cloud-workspace-api.ts
index 70b49baf94d..bb4973574ad 100644
--- a/src/shared/hosted-sandbox/cloud-workspace-api.ts
+++ b/src/shared/hosted-sandbox/cloud-workspace-api.ts
@@ -116,6 +116,13 @@ export type OrcaCloudWorkspaceApi = {
     repoUrl: string
     /** The name typed in the composer; becomes the workspace's title (NAME-DROPPED). */
     title?: string
+    /**
+     * The window's creation id (GH-CREATE-SHEET): progress streams as `ephemeralVm:provisionEvent`
+     * under it, and `ephemeralVm.cancelProvision` with it cancels the create.
+     */
+    provisionId?: string
+    /** One per Create press; a retry after a lost answer reuses it and gets the same sandbox. */
+    idempotencyKey?: string
   }) => Promise<CloudWorkspaceResult<{ sandboxId: string }>>
   onWakeProgress: (callback: (event: CloudWakeProgressEvent) => void) => () => void
   onOom: (callback: (event: CloudOomEvent) => void) => () => void