diff --git a/src/renderer/src/assets/main.css b/src/renderer/src/assets/main.css
index 867ed6e958f..61725dc762d 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/assets/main.css
+++ b/src/renderer/src/assets/main.css
@@ -166,14 +166,14 @@
   --terminal-pane-title-on-dark-fg: rgb(255 255 255 / 0.52);
   --terminal-pane-title-on-dark-input-fg: rgb(255 255 255 / 0.7);
   --terminal-pane-title-on-dark-placeholder: rgb(255 255 255 / 0.38);
-  --terminal-pane-title-on-dark-button-fg: rgb(255 255 255 / 0.3);
+  --terminal-pane-title-on-dark-button-fg: rgb(255 255 255 / 0.48);
   --terminal-pane-title-on-dark-button-hover-fg: rgb(255 255 255 / 0.8);
   --terminal-pane-title-on-dark-input-bg: rgb(255 255 255 / 0.04);
   --terminal-pane-title-on-dark-separator: rgb(255 255 255 / 0.06);
   --terminal-pane-title-on-light-fg: rgb(24 24 27 / 0.64);
   --terminal-pane-title-on-light-input-fg: rgb(24 24 27 / 0.82);
   --terminal-pane-title-on-light-placeholder: rgb(24 24 27 / 0.48);
-  --terminal-pane-title-on-light-button-fg: rgb(24 24 27 / 0.42);
+  --terminal-pane-title-on-light-button-fg: rgb(24 24 27 / 0.58);
   --terminal-pane-title-on-light-button-hover-fg: rgb(24 24 27 / 0.82);
   --terminal-pane-title-on-light-input-bg: rgb(24 24 27 / 0.05);
   --terminal-pane-title-on-light-separator: rgb(24 24 27 / 0.1);
@@ -247,14 +247,14 @@
   --terminal-pane-title-on-dark-fg: rgb(255 255 255 / 0.52);
   --terminal-pane-title-on-dark-input-fg: rgb(255 255 255 / 0.7);
   --terminal-pane-title-on-dark-placeholder: rgb(255 255 255 / 0.38);
-  --terminal-pane-title-on-dark-button-fg: rgb(255 255 255 / 0.3);
+  --terminal-pane-title-on-dark-button-fg: rgb(255 255 255 / 0.48);
   --terminal-pane-title-on-dark-button-hover-fg: rgb(255 255 255 / 0.8);
   --terminal-pane-title-on-dark-input-bg: rgb(255 255 255 / 0.04);
   --terminal-pane-title-on-dark-separator: rgb(255 255 255 / 0.06);
   --terminal-pane-title-on-light-fg: rgb(24 24 27 / 0.64);
   --terminal-pane-title-on-light-input-fg: rgb(24 24 27 / 0.82);
   --terminal-pane-title-on-light-placeholder: rgb(24 24 27 / 0.48);
-  --terminal-pane-title-on-light-button-fg: rgb(24 24 27 / 0.42);
+  --terminal-pane-title-on-light-button-fg: rgb(24 24 27 / 0.58);
   --terminal-pane-title-on-light-button-hover-fg: rgb(24 24 27 / 0.82);
   --terminal-pane-title-on-light-input-bg: rgb(24 24 27 / 0.05);
   --terminal-pane-title-on-light-separator: rgb(24 24 27 / 0.1);
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/assets/terminal.css b/src/renderer/src/assets/terminal.css
index c78145379ca..92c0868929b 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/assets/terminal.css
+++ b/src/renderer/src/assets/terminal.css
@@ -353,6 +353,11 @@
   background: transparent;
   border-bottom: none;
   padding: 0 4px;
+  pointer-events: none;
+}
+
+.pane-title-bar[data-chromeless] .pane-title-actions {
+  pointer-events: auto;
 }
 
 .pane-title-close {
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/TerminalPane.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/TerminalPane.tsx
index d49b48c0fa7..def670bfdc1 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/TerminalPane.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/TerminalPane.tsx
@@ -1760,27 +1760,24 @@ export default function TerminalPane({
     return subscribeTerminalPaneAttention(tabId, applyTerminalPaneAttention)
   }, [tabId, paneCount, applyTerminalPaneAttention])
 
-  // Sync the pane title reservation before paint. The title UI stays outside
-  // xterm's DOM, but xterm must still fit below it so the first terminal row is
-  // never hidden under the title strip.
+  // Sync the pane title reservation before paint. Text/banner chrome stays
+  // outside xterm's DOM, but xterm must still fit below it so the first
+  // terminal row is never hidden under meaningful status UI.
   useLayoutEffect(() => {
     const manager = managerRef.current
     if (!manager) {
       return
     }
-    // Show the title bar space when the pane has a title, is being
-    // inline-edited, or has transient startup chrome. Unread activity does
-    // not reserve this space; its overlay should not reflow terminal content.
+    // Show title space only for text/status chrome. Chromeless pane controls
+    // float over xterm so untitled panes keep their first row.
     const needsFit = syncSessionRestoredBannerTitleSpace({
       panes: manager.getPanes(),
       paneTitles,
       renamingPaneId,
-      sessionRestoredBannerPaneIds,
-      reservePaneHeaderSpace: isActive && (isVisible || shouldMeasureHiddenStartup)
+      sessionRestoredBannerPaneIds
     })
     if (needsFit && (isVisible || shouldMeasureHiddenStartup)) {
-      // Why: inactive terminal tabs can drop active-only header reservation.
-      // Fitting that hidden geometry changes PTY rows and wakes TUIs with
+      // Why: fitting hidden geometry changes PTY rows and wakes TUIs with
       // SIGWINCH; the visible resume path owns any real layout correction.
       fitPanes(manager)
     }
@@ -1790,7 +1787,6 @@ export default function TerminalPane({
     paneTitles,
     renamingPaneId,
     sessionRestoredBannerPaneIds,
-    isActive,
     isVisible,
     shouldMeasureHiddenStartup
   ])
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/TerminalPaneHeaderOverlay.test.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/TerminalPaneHeaderOverlay.test.tsx
index 6178db32516..78e80b3231e 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/TerminalPaneHeaderOverlay.test.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/TerminalPaneHeaderOverlay.test.tsx
@@ -127,11 +127,13 @@ describe('TerminalPaneHeaderOverlay', () => {
     expect(onClosePane).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(1)
   })
 
-  it('keeps close-pane available for untitled split pane headers', () => {
+  it('keeps split and close-pane controls available for untitled split pane headers', () => {
     const { container, onClosePane, onRemoveTitle } = renderOverlay({
       paneTitles: { 1: '', 2: '' }
     })
 
+    expect(container.querySelector('button[aria-label="Split Terminal Right"]')).not.toBeNull()
+    expect(container.querySelector('.pane-title-drag-handle')).toBeNull()
     const closePane = container.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>('button[aria-label="Close Pane"]')
     expect(closePane).not.toBeNull()
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/TerminalPaneHeaderOverlay.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/TerminalPaneHeaderOverlay.tsx
index ca10b1ac38b..2aa1d729745 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/TerminalPaneHeaderOverlay.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/TerminalPaneHeaderOverlay.tsx
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ export default function TerminalPaneHeaderOverlay({
               />
             ) : (
               <>
-                {paneCount > 1 && (
+                {paneCount > 1 && !isChromeless && (
                   <div
                     className="pane-title-drag-handle"
                     aria-hidden="true"
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ export default function TerminalPaneHeaderOverlay({
                     {title}
                   </button>
                 ) : null}
-                <div className="pane-title-actions ml-auto flex shrink-0 items-center gap-0.5">
+                <div className="pane-title-actions ml-auto flex shrink-0 items-center gap-0">
                   {showAlwaysOnHeaders ? (
                     <Tooltip>
                       <TooltipTrigger asChild>
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/session-restored-banner-pane-state.test.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/session-restored-banner-pane-state.test.tsx
index 1683b4fa5e5..da560dc16fb 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/session-restored-banner-pane-state.test.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/session-restored-banner-pane-state.test.tsx
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ describe('session restored banner pane state', () => {
     expect(paneText(createdPane)).toBe(SESSION_RESTORED_BANNER_TEXT)
   })
 
-  it('reserves title space for always-on pane headers on the active tab', () => {
+  it('does not reserve title space for chromeless always-on pane headers', () => {
     const activePane = createPane(1)
     const secondPane = createPane(2)
 
@@ -84,13 +84,28 @@ describe('session restored banner pane state', () => {
       panes: [activePane, secondPane],
       paneTitles: {},
       renamingPaneId: null,
-      sessionRestoredBannerPaneIds: new Set(),
-      reservePaneHeaderSpace: true
+      sessionRestoredBannerPaneIds: new Set()
+    })
+
+    expect(needsFit).toBe(false)
+    expect(activePane.container.hasAttribute('data-has-title')).toBe(false)
+    expect(secondPane.container.hasAttribute('data-has-title')).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('reserves title space for explicit titles and inline rename', () => {
+    const titledPane = createPane(1)
+    const renamingPane = createPane(2)
+
+    const needsFit = syncSessionRestoredBannerTitleSpace({
+      panes: [titledPane, renamingPane],
+      paneTitles: { [titledPane.id]: 'server' },
+      renamingPaneId: renamingPane.id,
+      sessionRestoredBannerPaneIds: new Set()
     })
 
     expect(needsFit).toBe(true)
-    expect(activePane.container.hasAttribute('data-has-title')).toBe(true)
-    expect(secondPane.container.hasAttribute('data-has-title')).toBe(true)
+    expect(titledPane.container.hasAttribute('data-has-title')).toBe(true)
+    expect(renamingPane.container.hasAttribute('data-has-title')).toBe(true)
   })
 
   it('renders and reserves title space only on the restored inactive split pane', async () => {
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/session-restored-banner-pane-state.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/session-restored-banner-pane-state.ts
index 969225d8365..03fd87ad600 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/session-restored-banner-pane-state.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/terminal-pane/session-restored-banner-pane-state.ts
@@ -88,12 +88,10 @@ export function syncSessionRestoredBannerTitleSpace(args: {
   paneTitles: Readonly<Record<number, string>>
   renamingPaneId: number | null
   sessionRestoredBannerPaneIds: ReadonlySet<number>
-  reservePaneHeaderSpace?: boolean
 }): boolean {
   let needsFit = false
   for (const pane of args.panes) {
     const shouldShow =
-      args.reservePaneHeaderSpace === true ||
       !!args.paneTitles[pane.id] ||
       args.renamingPaneId === pane.id ||
       args.sessionRestoredBannerPaneIds.has(pane.id)