diff --git a/mobile/app/h/[hostId]/session/[worktreeId].tsx b/mobile/app/h/[hostId]/session/[worktreeId].tsx
index fcc395ef43a..9ed22a07af4 100644
--- a/mobile/app/h/[hostId]/session/[worktreeId].tsx
+++ b/mobile/app/h/[hostId]/session/[worktreeId].tsx
@@ -172,11 +172,8 @@ import {
   getMobileSessionTabTitle,
   resolveMobileTerminalTabAgentId
 } from '../../../../src/session/mobile-terminal-tab-agent'
-import {
-  buildMobileNewTabAgentOptions,
-  type MobileNewTabAgentOption,
-  type MobileNewTabAgentSettings
-} from '../../../../src/session/mobile-new-tab-agent-options'
+import type { MobileNewTabAgentOption } from '../../../../src/session/mobile-new-tab-agent-options'
+import { loadMobileNewTabAgentOptions } from '../../../../src/session/mobile-new-tab-agent-loader'
 import { useMobileImageAttachment } from '../../../../src/session/use-mobile-image-attachment'
 import { useMobileAttachmentInputLeaseGate } from '../../../../src/session/use-mobile-attachment-input-lease-gate'
 import { useMobileTerminalPaste } from '../../../../src/session/use-mobile-terminal-paste'
@@ -836,11 +833,13 @@ export default function SessionScreen() {
   const { isWideLayout } = useResponsiveLayout()
   const [activePanel, setActivePanel] = useState<ActivePanel>(null)
   const [sessionContentRowWidth, setSessionContentRowWidth] = useState(0)
-  const canDockPanel = canDockSessionPanel({
-    isWideLayout,
-    availableWidth: sessionContentRowWidth,
-    dockWidth: HOST_DOCK_MIN_WIDTH
-  })
+  const canDockPanel =
+    !isFloatingWorkspaceRoute &&
+    canDockSessionPanel({
+      isWideLayout,
+      availableWidth: sessionContentRowWidth,
+      dockWidth: HOST_DOCK_MIN_WIDTH
+    })
   // Why: if rotation/split-screen makes the docked row too narrow, clear activePanel so it doesn't survive into overlay/push mode.
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!canDockPanel && activePanel !== null) {
@@ -2626,7 +2625,7 @@ export default function SessionScreen() {
           showToast('Open Orca on the host to wake sleeping agents.', 3000)
         }
       }
-      if (client && created !== '1') {
+      if (client && created !== '1' && !isFloatingWorkspaceRoute) {
         // Why: hydrate host-owned tabs without pulling other paired clients (esp. desktop) into this worktree.
         void client
           .sendRequest('worktree.activate', {
@@ -2649,7 +2648,7 @@ export default function SessionScreen() {
       }
       addTimer(() => void fetchTerminals({ allowEmptyLoaded: false }), 750)
       addTimer(() => void fetchTerminals({ allowEmptyLoaded: true }), 1500)
-      if (client && created === '1') {
+      if (client && created === '1' && !isFloatingWorkspaceRoute) {
         addTimer(() => {
           if (activeHandleRef.current) {
             return
@@ -2677,7 +2676,16 @@ export default function SessionScreen() {
         clearTimeout(t)
       }
     }
-  }, [client, connState, created, fetchSessionTabs, fetchTerminals, showToast, worktreeId])
+  }, [
+    client,
+    connState,
+    created,
+    fetchSessionTabs,
+    fetchTerminals,
+    isFloatingWorkspaceRoute,
+    showToast,
+    worktreeId
+  ])
 
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!client || connState !== 'connected') {
@@ -3582,7 +3590,8 @@ export default function SessionScreen() {
   }, [])
 
   const getActiveWorktreeConnectionId = useCallback(async (): Promise<string | null> => {
-    if (!client) {
+    // Why: the floating workspace always runs on the paired host itself, never an SSH repo target.
+    if (!client || isFloatingWorkspaceRoute) {
       return null
     }
     const repoId = getRepoIdFromMobileWorktreeId(worktreeId)
@@ -3593,7 +3602,7 @@ export default function SessionScreen() {
     const repos =
       ((repoResponse as RpcSuccess).result as { repos?: RuntimeRepoSummary[] }).repos ?? []
     return repos.find((repo) => repo.id === repoId)?.connectionId?.trim() || null
-  }, [client, worktreeId])
+  }, [client, isFloatingWorkspaceRoute, worktreeId])
 
   const refreshCanPaste = useCallback(() => {
     void Promise.all([
@@ -3690,43 +3699,14 @@ export default function SessionScreen() {
     setCreateTabAgentOptions([])
 
     void (async () => {
-      const [settingsResponse, repoResponse] = await Promise.all([
-        client.sendRequest('settings.get'),
-        client.sendRequest('repo.list')
-      ])
-      if (!settingsResponse.ok) {
-        throw new Error((settingsResponse as RpcFailure).error.message)
-      }
-      const settings = (
-        (settingsResponse as RpcSuccess).result as {
-          settings?: MobileNewTabAgentSettings
-        }
-      ).settings
-      if (!repoResponse.ok) {
-        throw new Error((repoResponse as RpcFailure).error.message)
-      }
-      const repoId = getRepoIdFromMobileWorktreeId(worktreeId)
-      if (!repoId) {
-        throw new Error('worktree_repo_missing')
-      }
-      const repos =
-        ((repoResponse as RpcSuccess).result as { repos?: RuntimeRepoSummary[] }).repos ?? []
-      const repo = repos.find((candidate) => candidate.id === repoId)
-      if (!repo) {
-        throw new Error('worktree_repo_not_found')
-      }
-      const connectionId = repo.connectionId?.trim() || null
-      const detectedResponse = connectionId
-        ? await client.sendRequest('preflight.detectRemoteAgents', { connectionId })
-        : await client.sendRequest('preflight.detectAgents')
-      if (!detectedResponse.ok) {
-        throw new Error((detectedResponse as RpcFailure).error.message)
-      }
+      const options = await loadMobileNewTabAgentOptions({
+        client,
+        worktreeId
+      })
       if (stale) {
         return
       }
-      const detectedAgentIds = (detectedResponse as RpcSuccess).result as unknown[]
-      setCreateTabAgentOptions(buildMobileNewTabAgentOptions(settings, detectedAgentIds))
+      setCreateTabAgentOptions(options)
       setCreateTabAgentLoadState('loaded')
     })().catch(() => {
       if (!stale) {
@@ -5084,7 +5064,11 @@ export default function SessionScreen() {
         visible={showQuickCommands && quickCommandsSupported === true}
         onClose={() => setShowQuickCommands(false)}
         client={client}
-        repoId={isFolderWorkspaceRoute ? null : getRepoIdFromMobileWorktreeId(worktreeId) || null}
+        repoId={
+          isFolderWorkspaceRoute || isFloatingWorkspaceRoute
+            ? null
+            : getRepoIdFromMobileWorktreeId(worktreeId) || null
+        }
         repoName={worktreeName || null}
         onLaunch={launchQuickCommand}
       />
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/mobile-new-tab-agent-loader.test.ts b/mobile/src/session/mobile-new-tab-agent-loader.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b9f5d9e174e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mobile/src/session/mobile-new-tab-agent-loader.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import type { RpcClient } from '../transport/rpc-client'
+import { FLOATING_WORKSPACE_WORKTREE_ID } from './floating-workspace'
+import { loadMobileNewTabAgentOptions } from './mobile-new-tab-agent-loader'
+
+function createClient(
+  handler: (method: string, params?: unknown) => Promise<unknown>
+): RpcClient & { sendRequest: ReturnType<typeof vi.fn> } {
+  return {
+    sendRequest: vi.fn(handler),
+    subscribe: vi.fn(() => () => {})
+  } as unknown as RpcClient & { sendRequest: ReturnType<typeof vi.fn> }
+}
+
+describe('mobile new-tab agent loading', () => {
+  it('detects agents locally for the floating workspace without listing repos', async () => {
+    const client = createClient(async (method) => {
+      if (method === 'settings.get') {
+        return {
+          ok: true,
+          result: { settings: { defaultTuiAgent: 'codex', disabledTuiAgents: [] } }
+        }
+      }
+      if (method === 'preflight.detectAgents') {
+        return { ok: true, result: ['claude', 'codex'] }
+      }
+      throw new Error(`unexpected request: ${method}`)
+    })
+
+    await expect(
+      loadMobileNewTabAgentOptions({
+        client,
+        worktreeId: FLOATING_WORKSPACE_WORKTREE_ID
+      })
+    ).resolves.toEqual([
+      { agent: 'codex', label: 'Codex' },
+      { agent: 'claude', label: 'Claude' }
+    ])
+    expect(client.sendRequest.mock.calls.map(([method]) => method)).toEqual([
+      'preflight.detectAgents',
+      'settings.get'
+    ])
+  })
+
+  it('detects agents through the worktree repo connection for SSH sessions', async () => {
+    const client = createClient(async (method, params) => {
+      if (method === 'settings.get') {
+        return { ok: true, result: { settings: {} } }
+      }
+      if (method === 'repo.list') {
+        return { ok: true, result: { repos: [{ id: 'repo-1', connectionId: 'ssh-1' }] } }
+      }
+      if (method === 'preflight.detectRemoteAgents') {
+        expect(params).toEqual({ connectionId: 'ssh-1' })
+        return { ok: true, result: ['claude'] }
+      }
+      throw new Error(`unexpected request: ${method}`)
+    })
+
+    await expect(
+      loadMobileNewTabAgentOptions({
+        client,
+        worktreeId: 'repo-1::/remote/worktree'
+      })
+    ).resolves.toEqual([{ agent: 'claude', label: 'Claude' }])
+    expect(client.sendRequest.mock.calls.map(([method]) => method)).toEqual([
+      'repo.list',
+      'settings.get',
+      'preflight.detectRemoteAgents'
+    ])
+  })
+})
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/mobile-new-tab-agent-loader.ts b/mobile/src/session/mobile-new-tab-agent-loader.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ea87e74ba0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mobile/src/session/mobile-new-tab-agent-loader.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+import type { RpcClient } from '../transport/rpc-client'
+import type { RpcFailure, RpcSuccess } from '../transport/types'
+import { isFloatingWorkspaceWorktreeId } from './floating-workspace'
+import { getRepoIdFromMobileWorktreeId } from './mobile-session-route-helpers'
+import {
+  buildMobileNewTabAgentOptions,
+  type MobileNewTabAgentOption,
+  type MobileNewTabAgentSettings
+} from './mobile-new-tab-agent-options'
+
+type RuntimeRepoSummary = {
+  id: string
+  connectionId?: string | null
+}
+
+export async function loadMobileNewTabAgentOptions(args: {
+  client: RpcClient
+  worktreeId: string
+}): Promise<MobileNewTabAgentOption[]> {
+  const { client, worktreeId } = args
+  // Why: the floating workspace runs on the paired host, so it has no repo connection to resolve.
+  const detectedAgentsRequest = isFloatingWorkspaceWorktreeId(worktreeId)
+    ? client.sendRequest('preflight.detectAgents')
+    : loadWorkspaceDetectedAgents(client, worktreeId)
+  const [settingsResponse, detectedResponse] = await Promise.all([
+    client.sendRequest('settings.get'),
+    detectedAgentsRequest
+  ])
+  if (!settingsResponse.ok) {
+    throw new Error((settingsResponse as RpcFailure).error.message)
+  }
+  if (!detectedResponse.ok) {
+    throw new Error((detectedResponse as RpcFailure).error.message)
+  }
+  const settings = (
+    (settingsResponse as RpcSuccess).result as {
+      settings?: MobileNewTabAgentSettings
+    }
+  ).settings
+  return buildMobileNewTabAgentOptions(
+    settings,
+    (detectedResponse as RpcSuccess).result as unknown[]
+  )
+}
+
+async function loadWorkspaceDetectedAgents(client: RpcClient, worktreeId: string) {
+  const repoResponse = await client.sendRequest('repo.list')
+  if (!repoResponse.ok) {
+    throw new Error((repoResponse as RpcFailure).error.message)
+  }
+  const repoId = getRepoIdFromMobileWorktreeId(worktreeId)
+  const repos =
+    ((repoResponse as RpcSuccess).result as { repos?: RuntimeRepoSummary[] }).repos ?? []
+  const repo = repos.find((candidate) => candidate.id === repoId)
+  if (!repo) {
+    throw new Error('worktree_repo_not_found')
+  }
+  const connectionId = repo.connectionId?.trim() || null
+  return connectionId
+    ? client.sendRequest('preflight.detectRemoteAgents', { connectionId })
+    : client.sendRequest('preflight.detectAgents')
+}
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/mobile-session-startup-source.test.ts b/mobile/src/session/mobile-session-startup-source.test.ts
index c4083b1a545..3f29816f242 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/mobile-session-startup-source.test.ts
+++ b/mobile/src/session/mobile-session-startup-source.test.ts
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ describe('mobile session startup', () => {
     )
 
     expect(startupEffect).toContain("void client\n          .sendRequest('worktree.activate'")
+    expect(startupEffect).toContain("if (client && created !== '1' && !isFloatingWorkspaceRoute)")
+    expect(startupEffect).toContain("if (client && created === '1' && !isFloatingWorkspaceRoute)")
     expect(startupEffect).toContain('notifyClients: false')
     expect(startupEffect).not.toContain("await client\n          .sendRequest('worktree.activate'")
     expect(startupEffect.indexOf("sendRequest('worktree.activate'")).toBeLessThan(
diff --git a/mobile/src/transport/host-status-gates.test.ts b/mobile/src/transport/host-status-gates.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..4ce8add5fac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mobile/src/transport/host-status-gates.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+import { createElement } from 'react'
+import { act, create, type ReactTestRenderer } from 'react-test-renderer'
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import type { RpcClient } from './rpc-client'
+import { useHostStatusGates, type HostStatusGates } from './host-status-gates'
+
+function suppressReactTestRendererDeprecationWarning(): () => void {
+  const originalConsoleError = console.error
+  const spy = vi.spyOn(console, 'error').mockImplementation((...args) => {
+    if (typeof args[0] === 'string' && args[0].includes('react-test-renderer is deprecated')) {
+      return
+    }
+    originalConsoleError(...args)
+  })
+  return () => spy.mockRestore()
+}
+
+describe('useHostStatusGates', () => {
+  it('clears every prior-host gate before a reused client can be replaced', async () => {
+    const sendRequest = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
+      ok: true,
+      result: {
+        capabilities: ['browser.screencast.v1'],
+        floatingWorkspaceEnabled: true
+      }
+    })
+    const client = { sendRequest } as unknown as RpcClient
+    let gates: HostStatusGates | null = null
+    let renderer: ReactTestRenderer | null = null
+
+    function Probe({ hostId }: { hostId: string }): null {
+      gates = useHostStatusGates({ hostId, client, connState: 'connected' })
+      return null
+    }
+
+    const restore = suppressReactTestRendererDeprecationWarning()
+    try {
+      await act(async () => {
+        renderer = create(createElement(Probe, { hostId: 'host-1' }))
+        await Promise.resolve()
+      })
+      expect(gates).toMatchObject({
+        hostCapabilities: ['browser.screencast.v1'],
+        floatingWorkspaceEnabled: true
+      })
+
+      await act(async () => {
+        renderer?.update(createElement(Probe, { hostId: 'host-2' }))
+      })
+      expect(gates).toMatchObject({
+        hostCapabilities: [],
+        floatingWorkspaceEnabled: false,
+        compatVerdict: { kind: 'ok' }
+      })
+      expect(sendRequest).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+    } finally {
+      restore()
+      renderer?.unmount()
+    }
+  })
+})
diff --git a/mobile/src/transport/host-status-gates.ts b/mobile/src/transport/host-status-gates.ts
index 04cba2957ed..29175225228 100644
--- a/mobile/src/transport/host-status-gates.ts
+++ b/mobile/src/transport/host-status-gates.ts
@@ -27,8 +27,10 @@ export function useHostStatusGates(args: {
     clientRef.current = client
   }, [client])
 
-  // Why: clear the prior host's verdict on switch so a stale block screen can't linger.
+  // Why: Expo can render the next host once with the prior client, so hide every host-scoped gate until its client answers.
   useEffect(() => {
+    setHostCapabilities([])
+    setFloatingWorkspaceEnabled(false)
     setCompatVerdict({ kind: 'ok' })
   }, [hostId])
 
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.test.ts b/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.test.ts
index 5f0b47d4952..b706173ff05 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.test.ts
@@ -1725,6 +1725,27 @@ describe('OrcaRuntimeService', () => {
     expect(disabledRuntime.getStatus().floatingWorkspaceEnabled).toBe(false)
   })
 
+  it('lists floating session tabs without resolving repo worktrees', async () => {
+    const getRepos = vi.fn(store.getRepos)
+    const listProcesses = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue([])
+    const runtime = new OrcaRuntimeService({
+      ...store,
+      getRepo: () => undefined,
+      getRepos
+    } as never)
+    runtime.setPtyController({
+      write: () => true,
+      kill: () => true,
+      getForegroundProcess: async () => null,
+      listProcesses
+    })
+
+    await runtime.listMobileSessionTabs(`id:${FLOATING_TERMINAL_WORKTREE_ID}`)
+
+    expect(listProcesses).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+    expect(getRepos).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
   it('advertises browser screencast only when a renderer window is available', () => {
     const runtime = createRuntime()
     electronMocks.BrowserWindow.fromId.mockReturnValue({ isDestroyed: () => false } as never)
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.ts b/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.ts
index d916cf290a6..daacf754ac5 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.ts
@@ -3518,7 +3518,7 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
     const explicitWorktreeId = this.getValidatedExplicitWorktreeIdSelector(worktreeSelector)
     if (explicitWorktreeId) {
       this.hydrateHeadlessMobileSessionTabsFromWorkspaceSession(explicitWorktreeId)
-      await this.refreshMobileSessionPtyRecords()
+      await this.refreshMobileSessionPtyRecords(explicitWorktreeId)
       return this.getMobileSessionTabsForWorktree(explicitWorktreeId)
     }
     const worktree = await this.resolveWorktreeSelector(worktreeSelector)
@@ -4559,12 +4559,19 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
     }
   }
 
-  private async refreshMobileSessionPtyRecords(): Promise<void> {
+  private async refreshMobileSessionPtyRecords(
+    targetWorktreeId: string | null = null
+  ): Promise<void> {
     if (!this.ptyController?.listProcesses) {
       return
     }
-    const resolvedWorktrees = await this.listResolvedWorktrees()
-    await this.refreshPtyWorktreeRecordsFromController(resolvedWorktrees)
+    // Why: floating PTY identity is explicit, so polling must not resolve every Git/SSH worktree.
+    const isFloatingWorkspace = targetWorktreeId === FLOATING_TERMINAL_WORKTREE_ID
+    const resolvedWorktrees = isFloatingWorkspace ? [] : await this.listResolvedWorktrees()
+    await this.refreshPtyWorktreeRecordsFromController(
+      resolvedWorktrees,
+      isFloatingWorkspace ? targetWorktreeId : null
+    )
   }
 
   async activateMobileSessionTab(
@@ -4577,7 +4584,7 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
     const worktreeId =
       explicitWorktreeId ?? (await this.resolveWorktreeSelector(worktreeSelector)).id
     this.hydrateHeadlessMobileSessionTabsFromWorkspaceSession(worktreeId)
-    await this.refreshMobileSessionPtyRecords()
+    await this.refreshMobileSessionPtyRecords(worktreeId)
     const snapshot = this.mobileSessionTabsByWorktree.get(worktreeId)
     const directTab = snapshot?.tabs.find((candidate) => candidate.id === tabId)
     const tab = leafId