fix(native-chat): preserve initial chat mode on paired-host launches

src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.test.ts

@@ -17074,7 +17074,9 @@ describe('OrcaRuntimeService', () => {
     })
     runtime.syncWindowGraph(0, { tabs: [], leaves: [] })
 
-    const result = await runtime.createMobileSessionTerminal(`id:${TEST_WORKTREE_ID}`)
+    const result = await runtime.createMobileSessionTerminal(`id:${TEST_WORKTREE_ID}`, {
+      viewMode: 'chat'
+    })
 
     expect(spawn).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       expect.objectContaining({
@@ -17090,6 +17092,7 @@ describe('OrcaRuntimeService', () => {
       type: 'terminal',
       status: 'ready',
       terminal: expect.stringMatching(/^term_/),
+      viewMode: 'chat',
       isActive: true
     })
 
@@ -20138,7 +20141,8 @@ describe('OrcaRuntimeService', () => {
     })
 
     const result = await runtime.createMobileSessionTerminal(`id:${TEST_WORKTREE_ID}`, {
-      activate: false
+      activate: false,
+      viewMode: 'chat'
     })
 
     expect(send).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
@@ -20146,7 +20150,8 @@ describe('OrcaRuntimeService', () => {
       expect.objectContaining({
         worktreeId: TEST_WORKTREE_ID,
         activate: false,
-        source: 'runtime-session'
+        source: 'runtime-session',
+        viewMode: 'chat'
       })
     )
     expect(focusTerminal).not.toHaveBeenCalled()

src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.ts

@@ -17869,6 +17869,7 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
       agent?: TuiAgent
       launchConfig?: SleepingAgentLaunchConfig
       launchAgent?: TuiAgent
+      viewMode?: 'terminal' | 'chat'
       activate?: boolean
       clientMutationId?: string
       signal?: AbortSignal
@@ -17913,6 +17914,7 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
       agent?: TuiAgent
       launchConfig?: SleepingAgentLaunchConfig
       launchAgent?: TuiAgent
+      viewMode?: 'terminal' | 'chat'
       activate?: boolean
       clientMutationId?: string
       signal?: AbortSignal
@@ -17946,6 +17948,7 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
           env: startupCommand.env,
           startupCommandDelivery: startupCommand.startupCommandDelivery,
           launchAgent: startupCommand.launchAgent,
+          viewMode: opts.viewMode,
           targetGroupId: opts.targetGroupId,
           launchConfig: startupCommand.launchConfig
         }
@@ -17994,6 +17997,7 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
         ...(startupCommand.env ? { env: startupCommand.env } : {}),
         ...(startupCommand.launchConfig ? { launchConfig: startupCommand.launchConfig } : {}),
         ...(startupCommand.launchAgent ? { launchAgent: startupCommand.launchAgent } : {}),
+        ...(opts.viewMode ? { viewMode: opts.viewMode } : {}),
         startupCommandDelivery: startupCommand.startupCommandDelivery,
         source: 'runtime-session',
         activate: opts.activate
@@ -18057,6 +18061,7 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
           startupCommandDelivery: startupCommand.startupCommandDelivery,
           identity: { tabId: pendingSurface.tab.parentTabId, leafId: pendingSurface.tab.leafId },
           launchAgent: startupCommand.launchAgent,
+          viewMode: opts.viewMode,
           targetGroupId: opts.targetGroupId,
           launchConfig: startupCommand.launchConfig
         }
@@ -18180,6 +18185,7 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
       startupCommandDelivery?: WorktreeStartupLaunch['startupCommandDelivery']
       identity?: { tabId: string; leafId: string; sessionId?: string }
       launchAgent?: TuiAgent
+      viewMode?: 'terminal' | 'chat'
       targetGroupId?: string
       launchConfig?: SleepingAgentLaunchConfig
     } = {}
@@ -18240,6 +18246,7 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
       title: terminal.title ?? livePty.pty.title ?? 'Terminal',
       ...(cwd ? { startupCwd: cwd } : {}),
       ...(opts.launchAgent ? { launchAgent: opts.launchAgent } : {}),
+      ...(opts.viewMode ? { viewMode: opts.viewMode } : {}),
       parentLayout,
       isActive: activate
     }

src/main/runtime/rpc/methods/session-tabs-schemas.ts

@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ export const CreateTerminalTab = WorktreeTabSelector.extend({
       message: 'Unknown launch agent'
     })
     .optional(),
+  viewMode: z.enum(['terminal', 'chat']).optional(),
   activate: z.boolean().optional(),
   // Why: idempotency key so a retried create (double-tap, reconnect replay)
   // returns the in-flight operation instead of spawning a duplicate terminal.

src/main/runtime/rpc/methods/session-tabs.test.ts

@@ -148,6 +148,7 @@ describe('session tab RPC methods', () => {
           agentEnv: { CODEX_PROFILE: 'captured' }
         },
         launchAgent: 'codex',
+        viewMode: 'chat',
         activate: true
       })
     )
@@ -167,6 +168,7 @@ describe('session tab RPC methods', () => {
         agentEnv: { CODEX_PROFILE: 'captured' }
       },
       launchAgent: 'codex',
+      viewMode: 'chat',
       activate: true
     })
   })

src/main/runtime/rpc/methods/session-tabs.ts

@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ export const SESSION_TAB_METHODS: RpcAnyMethod[] = [
         ...(params.launchConfig ? { launchConfig: params.launchConfig } : {}),
         ...(params.launchToken ? { launchToken: params.launchToken } : {}),
         ...(params.launchAgent ? { launchAgent: params.launchAgent } : {}),
+        ...(params.viewMode ? { viewMode: params.viewMode } : {}),
         activate: params.activate,
         clientMutationId: params.clientMutationId,
         // Why: a dead client connection must cancel the surface wait instead

src/renderer/src/hooks/useIpcEvents.test.ts

@@ -1760,6 +1760,7 @@ describe('useIpcEvents updater integration', () => {
             cwd?: string
             launchConfig?: SleepingAgentLaunchConfig
             launchAgent?: TuiAgent
+            viewMode?: 'terminal' | 'chat'
             title?: string
             activate?: boolean
             presentation?: 'background' | 'focused'
@@ -1906,6 +1907,7 @@ describe('useIpcEvents updater integration', () => {
               cwd?: string
               launchConfig?: SleepingAgentLaunchConfig
               launchAgent?: TuiAgent
+              viewMode?: 'terminal' | 'chat'
               title?: string
               activate?: boolean
               presentation?: 'background' | 'focused'
@@ -2223,11 +2225,16 @@ describe('useIpcEvents updater integration', () => {
       targetGroupId: 'group-left',
       title: 'Runtime Terminal',
       command: 'codex',
+      launchAgent: 'codex',
+      viewMode: 'terminal',
       activate: true,
       source: 'runtime-session'
     })
 
-    expect(createTab).toHaveBeenCalledWith('wt-2', 'group-left', undefined, undefined)
+    expect(createTab).toHaveBeenCalledWith('wt-2', 'group-left', undefined, {
+      launchAgent: 'codex',
+      viewMode: 'terminal'
+    })
     expect(replyTerminalCreate).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
       requestId: 'req-runtime-session',
       tabId: 'tab-new',

src/renderer/src/hooks/useIpcEvents.ts

@@ -1684,16 +1684,20 @@ export function useIpcEvents(): void {
           if (shouldActivate) {
             activateTerminalInitiatedWorktree(store, worktreeId)
           }
+          // Why: the paired launch client already resolved the initial mode, so
+          // its explicit choice must win over this host renderer's local default.
           const tabOptions = data.launchAgent
             ? {
                 ...(shouldActivate ? {} : { activate: false, recordInteraction: false }),
                 launchAgent: data.launchAgent,
-                ...initialAgentTabViewModeProps(store.settings, {
-                  agent: data.launchAgent,
-                  nativeChatTranscriptIsLocalReadable: isNativeChatTranscriptLocalReadable(
-                    getConnectionIdFromState(store, worktreeId)
-                  )
-                }),
+                ...(data.viewMode
+                  ? { viewMode: data.viewMode }
+                  : initialAgentTabViewModeProps(store.settings, {
+                      agent: data.launchAgent,
+                      nativeChatTranscriptIsLocalReadable: isNativeChatTranscriptLocalReadable(
+                        getConnectionIdFromState(store, worktreeId)
+                      )
+                    })),
                 ...(data.cwd ? { startupCwd: data.cwd } : {})
               }
             : shouldActivate

src/renderer/src/lib/launch-agent-in-new-tab.test.ts

@@ -351,6 +351,30 @@ describe('launchAgentInNewTab', () => {
     expect(mockQueueTabStartupCommand).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
 
+  it('propagates the default chat mode to paired web runtime launches', async () => {
+    mockIsWebRuntimeSessionActive.mockReturnValue(true)
+    store.settings = {
+      agentCmdOverrides: {},
+      agentDefaultArgs: {},
+      agentDefaultEnv: {},
+      activeRuntimeEnvironmentId: 'web-runtime',
+      experimentalNativeChat: true,
+      openAgentTabsInChatByDefault: true
+    }
+    const { launchAgentInNewTab } = await import('./launch-agent-in-new-tab')
+
+    launchAgentInNewTab({ agent: 'codex', worktreeId: 'wt-1' })
+
+    expect(mockCreateWebRuntimeSessionTerminal).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        worktreeId: 'wt-1',
+        environmentId: 'web-runtime',
+        agent: 'codex',
+        viewMode: 'chat'
+      })
+    )
+  })
+
   it('surfaces a toast when host agent launch fails in paired web clients', async () => {
     mockIsWebRuntimeSessionActive.mockReturnValue(true)
     mockCreateWebRuntimeSessionTerminal.mockResolvedValue(false)

src/renderer/src/lib/launch-agent-in-new-tab.ts

@@ -201,6 +201,18 @@ export function launchAgentInNewTab(args: LaunchAgentInNewTabArgs): LaunchAgentI
     return null
   }
 
+  // Why: host-owned paired tabs must receive the same initial-view decision as
+  // local tabs; the remote host cannot infer this client's draft/default choice.
+  const viewModePromptDelivery =
+    hasPrompt && isFollowupPath && promptDelivery === 'auto-submit' ? 'draft' : promptDelivery
+  const initialViewModeProps = initialAgentTabViewModeProps(store.settings, {
+    agent,
+    promptDelivery: viewModePromptDelivery,
+    nativeChatTranscriptIsLocalReadable: isNativeChatTranscriptLocalReadable(
+      getConnectionIdFromState(store, worktreeId)
+    )
+  })
+
   const runtimeEnvironmentId = getRuntimeEnvironmentIdForWorktree(store, worktreeId)
   if (isWebRuntimeSessionActive(runtimeEnvironmentId) && pasteDraftAfterLaunch === null) {
     launchAgentInWebHostTab({
@@ -210,6 +222,7 @@ export function launchAgentInNewTab(args: LaunchAgentInNewTabArgs): LaunchAgentI
       groupId,
       hasPrompt,
       startupPlan,
+      ...initialViewModeProps,
       onPromptDelivered
     })
     return { tabId: null, startupPlan, pasteDraftAfterLaunch: false }
@@ -224,18 +237,10 @@ export function launchAgentInNewTab(args: LaunchAgentInNewTabArgs): LaunchAgentI
   // stays false), so gate the initial chat view like a `draft` launch —
   // otherwise a default `auto-submit` followup would open native chat with no
   // submitted turn to render.
-  const viewModePromptDelivery =
-    hasPrompt && isFollowupPath && promptDelivery === 'auto-submit' ? 'draft' : promptDelivery
   const tab = store.createTab(worktreeId, groupId, undefined, {
     launchAgent: agent,
     quickCommandLabel,
-    ...initialAgentTabViewModeProps(store.settings, {
-      agent,
-      promptDelivery: viewModePromptDelivery,
-      nativeChatTranscriptIsLocalReadable: isNativeChatTranscriptLocalReadable(
-        getConnectionIdFromState(store, worktreeId)
-      )
-    })
+    ...initialViewModeProps
   })
   store.queueTabStartupCommand(tab.id, {
     command: startupPlan.launchCommand,

src/renderer/src/lib/launch-agent-web-host-tab.ts

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import {
   createWebRuntimeSessionTerminal,
   isWebTerminalSurfaceTabId
 } from '@/runtime/web-runtime-session'
-import type { TuiAgent } from '../../../shared/types'
+import type { Tab, TuiAgent } from '../../../shared/types'
 import { translate } from '@/i18n/i18n'
 
 function removeStaleLocalAgentTabsForWebHostLaunch(worktreeId: string): void {
@@ -32,16 +32,26 @@ export function launchAgentInWebHostTab(args: {
   groupId?: string
   hasPrompt: boolean
   startupPlan: AgentStartupPlan
+  viewMode?: Tab['viewMode']
   onPromptDelivered?: () => void
 }): void {
-  const { agent, worktreeId, environmentId, groupId, hasPrompt, startupPlan, onPromptDelivered } =
-    args
+  const {
+    agent,
+    worktreeId,
+    environmentId,
+    groupId,
+    hasPrompt,
+    startupPlan,
+    viewMode,
+    onPromptDelivered
+  } = args
   removeStaleLocalAgentTabsForWebHostLaunch(worktreeId)
   void createWebRuntimeSessionTerminal({
     worktreeId,
     environmentId,
     targetGroupId: groupId,
     activate: true,
+    ...(viewMode ? { viewMode } : {}),
     ...(hasPrompt
       ? {
           command: startupPlan.launchCommand,

src/renderer/src/runtime/web-runtime-session.test.ts

@@ -490,6 +490,7 @@ describe('createWebRuntimeSessionTerminal', () => {
           agentEnv: { CODEX_PROFILE: 'captured' }
         },
         launchAgent: 'codex',
+        viewMode: 'chat',
         activate: true
       })
     ).resolves.toBe(true)
@@ -510,6 +511,7 @@ describe('createWebRuntimeSessionTerminal', () => {
           agentEnv: { CODEX_PROFILE: 'captured' }
         },
         launchAgent: 'codex',
+        viewMode: 'chat',
         activate: true
       },
       timeoutMs: 15_000

src/renderer/src/runtime/web-runtime-session.ts

@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ export async function createWebRuntimeSessionTerminal(args: {
   launchConfig?: SleepingAgentLaunchConfig
   agent?: TuiAgent
   launchAgent?: TuiAgent
+  viewMode?: 'terminal' | 'chat'
   activate?: boolean
   selectWorktree?: boolean
 }): Promise<boolean> {
@@ -85,6 +86,7 @@ export async function createWebRuntimeSessionTerminal(args: {
         ...(args.launchConfig ? { launchConfig: args.launchConfig } : {}),
         agent: args.agent,
         ...(args.launchAgent ? { launchAgent: args.launchAgent } : {}),
+        ...(args.viewMode ? { viewMode: args.viewMode } : {}),
         activate: args.activate !== false
       },
       timeoutMs: 15_000

src/shared/runtime-types.ts

@@ -490,6 +490,7 @@ type RuntimeTerminalCreateBaseRequestPayload = {
   launchConfig?: SleepingAgentLaunchConfig
   launchToken?: string
   launchAgent?: TuiAgent
+  viewMode?: 'terminal' | 'chat'
   startupCommandDelivery?: StartupCommandDelivery
   title?: string
   activate?: boolean