diff --git a/components/email/__tests__/viewer-attachment-layout.test.tsx b/components/email/__tests__/viewer-attachment-layout.test.tsx
index a2c8104b1..89189b5ab 100644
--- a/components/email/__tests__/viewer-attachment-layout.test.tsx
+++ b/components/email/__tests__/viewer-attachment-layout.test.tsx
@@ -73,6 +73,16 @@ describe('attachment position in the reader', () => {
     expect(screen.queryByTestId('attachments-jump')).toBeNull();
   });
 
+  it('draws the bar, and nothing beside the sender, for the retired beside-sender value', async () => {
+    useSettingsStore.setState({ attachmentPosition: 'beside-sender' as never });
+    const { container } = render(<EmailViewer email={email} mailboxes={[]} selectedMailbox="inbox" />);
+    await screen.findByText('Here is the invoice.');
+    expect(container.querySelectorAll('[data-testid="attachment"]')).toHaveLength(2);
+    const sections = container.querySelectorAll('[data-testid="reader-attachments"]');
+    expect(sections).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect((sections[0] as HTMLElement).dataset.layout).toBe('bar');
+  });
+
   it('draws cards after the body, with a jump link in the header', async () => {
     useSettingsStore.setState({ attachmentPosition: 'below-message' });
     const { container } = render(<EmailViewer email={email} mailboxes={[]} selectedMailbox="inbox" />);
diff --git a/components/email/email-viewer.tsx b/components/email/email-viewer.tsx
index ddb75f8b4..d2f066a5b 100644
--- a/components/email/email-viewer.tsx
+++ b/components/email/email-viewer.tsx
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ import { applyMailTextSize, mailFitOptions } from "@/lib/mail-reading";
 import { useMailReading } from "@/hooks/use-mail-reading";
 import { useReadAloud } from "@/hooks/use-read-aloud";
 import { ReadAloudBar } from "./read-aloud-bar";
-import { attachmentIcon } from "./attachment-chips";
 import { ReaderAttachments, type AttachmentDragProps } from "./reader-attachments";
 import { ReaderViewDialog } from "./reader-view-dialog";
 import { ReadingMask } from "./reading-mask";
@@ -70,15 +69,12 @@ import {
   ChevronUp,
   ChevronLeft,
   ChevronRight,
-  Download,
   Mail,
   MailOpen,
   Loader2,
   Printer,
   FileText,
-  FileArchive,
   File,
-  Eye,
   Shield,
   Image,
   Tag,
@@ -1545,7 +1541,6 @@ export function EmailViewer({
   const resolvedTheme = useThemeStore((state) => state.resolvedTheme);
   const { startTour } = useTour();
   const [showFullHeaders, setShowFullHeaders] = useState(false);
-  const [showAllBesideAttachments, setShowAllBesideAttachments] = useState(false);
   const [isDownloadingAll, setIsDownloadingAll] = useState(false);
   const [imageThumbUrls, setImageThumbUrls] = useState<Record<string, string>>({});
   const [allowExternalContent, setAllowExternalContent] = useState(false);
@@ -3063,21 +3058,6 @@ export function EmailViewer({
     ),
   };
 
-  // Shared "Download all" chip, shown only when bundling is worthwhile (2+).
-  const downloadAllButton = effectiveAttachments.length > 1 ? (
-    <button
-      onClick={(e) => { e.stopPropagation(); handleDownloadAllAttachments(); }}
-      disabled={isDownloadingAll}
-      title={t('download_all')}
-      className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 px-2.5 py-1.5 text-xs text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground hover:bg-muted/60 rounded-md border border-border/50 transition-colors flex-shrink-0 disabled:opacity-60 disabled:cursor-wait"
-    >
-      {isDownloadingAll
-        ? <Loader2 className="w-3.5 h-3.5 animate-spin" />
-        : <FileArchive className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />}
-      {t('download_all')}
-    </button>
-  ) : null;
-
   // Pre-fetch URLs for image attachments so their actual contents can be
   // rendered as thumbnails inside the chip. Skips images larger than 10 MB.
   // The thumbnail can be opened on its own (context menu, drag to the tab
@@ -5068,154 +5048,6 @@ export function EmailViewer({
                   <bdi>{effectiveAttachments.length}</bdi>
                 </button>
               )}
-              {/* Attachments on the right (beside-sender mode) */}
-              {attachmentPosition === 'beside-sender' && effectiveAttachments.length > 0 && (
-                <div className="relative flex flex-col items-end justify-start gap-1 flex-shrink-0 max-w-[50%]">
-                  {effectiveAttachments.slice(0, 2).map((attachment) => {
-                    const { icon: FileIcon, className: fileIconClass } = attachmentIcon(attachment.type, attachment.name);
-                    const isPreviewable = isAttachmentPreviewable(attachment);
-                    const opensPreview = isPreviewable && mailAttachmentAction === 'preview';
-                    const thumbUrl = imageThumbUrls[attachment.id];
-                    return (
-                      <DraggableAttachmentChip key={attachment.id} attachment={attachment} client={blobClient} accountId={blobAccountId} enabled={dragOutActive} downloadName={resolveAttachmentName(attachment)}>
-                        {(dragProps) => (<>
-                      <div
-                        className={cn(
-                          "bg-muted/60 hover:bg-muted rounded-md border border-border/50 group relative cursor-pointer overflow-hidden",
-                          thumbUrl
-                            ? "inline-flex flex-col w-40"
-                            : "inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 px-2 py-1",
-                        )}
-                        title={`${opensPreview ? tFiles('preview') : t('download')} ${getAttachmentDisplayName(attachment.name, attachment.type)}`}
-                        onClick={() => handleEffectiveAttachmentOpen(attachment)}
-                        data-testid="attachment"
-                        data-attachment-name={attachment.name}
-                        draggable={dragProps.draggable}
-                        onPointerEnter={dragProps.onPointerEnter}
-                        onDragStart={dragProps.onDragStart}
-                        onDragEnd={dragProps.onDragEnd}
-                      >
-                        {thumbUrl && (
-                          <div className="w-full h-16 bg-background/40 flex items-center justify-center overflow-hidden">
-                            <img src={thumbUrl} alt="" className="w-full h-full object-cover" loading="lazy" />
-                          </div>
-                        )}
-                        <div className={cn(
-                          "flex items-center gap-1.5",
-                          thumbUrl && "px-2 py-1 border-t border-border/50 w-full",
-                        )}>
-                          <FileIcon className={cn("w-3.5 h-3.5 flex-shrink-0", fileIconClass)} />
-                          <span className={cn(
-                            "text-xs text-foreground truncate",
-                            thumbUrl ? "flex-1 min-w-0" : "max-w-[140px]",
-                          )}>
-                            {getAttachmentDisplayName(attachment.name, attachment.type)}
-                          </span>
-                          <span className="text-[0.625rem] text-muted-foreground flex-shrink-0">
-                            <bdi>{formatFileSize(attachment.size)}</bdi>
-                          </span>
-                        </div>
-                        <div className={cn(
-                          "absolute bg-background/95 opacity-0 pointer-events-none group-hover:opacity-100 group-hover:pointer-events-auto group-focus-within:opacity-100 group-focus-within:pointer-events-auto transition-opacity flex items-center justify-center gap-1 px-1.5 rounded-md",
-                          thumbUrl ? "top-1 end-1" : "inset-y-0 end-0 rounded-s-none rounded-e-md",
-                        )}>
-                          <IconButton
-                            label={t('download')}
-                            onClick={(e) => { e.stopPropagation(); handleEffectiveAttachmentDownload(attachment); }}
-                          >
-                            <Download />
-                          </IconButton>
-                          {opensPreview && (
-                            <IconButton
-                              label={tFiles('preview')}
-                              onClick={(e) => { e.stopPropagation(); handleEffectiveAttachmentOpen(attachment); }}
-                            >
-                              <Eye />
-                            </IconButton>
-                          )}
-                          {canSaveToFiles && attachment.blobId && (
-                            <IconButton label={t("save_to_files.title")} onClick={(e) => { e.stopPropagation(); setSaveToFilesTarget(attachment); }}>
-                              <FolderInput className="w-4 h-4" />
-                            </IconButton>
-                          )}
-                          <AttachmentPluginMenu emailId={email?.id} attachment={attachment} />
-                        </div>
-                      </div>
-                        <AttachmentPluginFrames emailId={email?.id} attachment={attachment} />
-                        </>)}
-                      </DraggableAttachmentChip>
-                    );
-                  })}
-                  {effectiveAttachments.length > 2 && (
-                    <button
-                      onClick={() => setShowAllBesideAttachments(!showAllBesideAttachments)}
-                      className="text-xs text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground transition-colors px-2 py-0.5"
-                    >
-                      +{effectiveAttachments.length - 2} {t('more')}
-                    </button>
-                  )}
-                  {downloadAllButton}
-                  {/* Floating popup for remaining attachments */}
-                  {showAllBesideAttachments && effectiveAttachments.length > 2 && (
-                    <>
-                      <div className="fixed inset-0 z-40" onClick={() => setShowAllBesideAttachments(false)} />
-                      <div className="absolute top-full end-0 mt-1 z-50 bg-background border border-border rounded-lg shadow-lg p-2 flex flex-col gap-1 min-w-[220px]">
-                        {effectiveAttachments.slice(2).map((attachment) => {
-                          const { icon: FileIcon, className: fileIconClass } = attachmentIcon(attachment.type, attachment.name);
-                          const isPreviewable = isAttachmentPreviewable(attachment);
-                          const opensPreview = isPreviewable && mailAttachmentAction === 'preview';
-                          return (
-                            <DraggableAttachmentChip key={attachment.id} attachment={attachment} client={blobClient} accountId={blobAccountId} enabled={dragOutActive} downloadName={resolveAttachmentName(attachment)}>
-                              {(dragProps) => (<>
-                            <div
-                              className="flex items-center gap-1.5 px-2 py-1 rounded-md hover:bg-muted/60 group relative cursor-pointer w-full"
-                              title={`${opensPreview ? tFiles('preview') : t('download')} ${getAttachmentDisplayName(attachment.name, attachment.type)}`}
-                              onClick={() => { handleEffectiveAttachmentOpen(attachment); setShowAllBesideAttachments(false); }}
-                              draggable={dragProps.draggable}
-                              onPointerEnter={dragProps.onPointerEnter}
-                              onDragStart={dragProps.onDragStart}
-                              onDragEnd={dragProps.onDragEnd}
-                            >
-                              <FileIcon className={cn("w-3.5 h-3.5 flex-shrink-0", fileIconClass)} />
-                              <span className="text-xs text-foreground truncate max-w-[180px]">
-                                {getAttachmentDisplayName(attachment.name, attachment.type)}
-                              </span>
-                              <span className="text-[0.625rem] text-muted-foreground ms-auto flex-shrink-0">
-                                <bdi>{formatFileSize(attachment.size)}</bdi>
-                              </span>
-                              <div className="absolute inset-y-0 end-0 rounded-e-md bg-background/95 opacity-0 pointer-events-none group-hover:opacity-100 group-hover:pointer-events-auto group-focus-within:opacity-100 group-focus-within:pointer-events-auto transition-opacity flex items-center justify-center gap-1 px-1.5">
-                                <IconButton
-                                  label={t('download')}
-                                  onClick={(e) => { e.stopPropagation(); handleEffectiveAttachmentDownload(attachment); setShowAllBesideAttachments(false); }}
-                                >
-                                  <Download />
-                                </IconButton>
-                                {opensPreview && (
-                                  <IconButton
-                                    label={tFiles('preview')}
-                                    onClick={(e) => { e.stopPropagation(); handleEffectiveAttachmentOpen(attachment); setShowAllBesideAttachments(false); }}
-                                  >
-                                    <Eye />
-                                  </IconButton>
-                                )}
-                                {canSaveToFiles && attachment.blobId && (
-                                  <IconButton label={t("save_to_files.title")} onClick={(e) => { e.stopPropagation(); setSaveToFilesTarget(attachment); }}>
-                                    <FolderInput className="w-4 h-4" />
-                                  </IconButton>
-                                )}
-                                <AttachmentPluginMenu emailId={email?.id} attachment={attachment} />
-                              </div>
-                            </div>
-                              <AttachmentPluginFrames emailId={email?.id} attachment={attachment} />
-                              </>)}
-                            </DraggableAttachmentChip>
-                          );
-                        })}
-                      </div>
-                    </>
-                  )}
-                </div>
-              )}
             </div>
           </div>
       </div>
@@ -5906,11 +5738,10 @@ export function EmailViewer({
 
         <PluginSlot name="email-banner" extraProps={pluginEmailProps} />
 
-      {/* === ATTACHMENTS: a bar of tiles under the header. Beside-sender
-          mode keeps its own column on wide screens; cards mode draws them
-          after the body instead. === */}
+      {/* === ATTACHMENTS: a bar of tiles under the header, unless cards
+          mode draws them after the body. === */}
       {attachmentPosition !== 'below-message' && effectiveAttachments.length > 0 && (
-        <div className={cn("bg-background border-b border-border px-4 lg:px-6 py-3", attachmentPosition === 'beside-sender' && "lg:hidden")}>
+        <div className="bg-background border-b border-border px-4 lg:px-6 py-3">
           <ReaderAttachments {...readerAttachmentProps} layout="bar" />
         </div>
       )}
diff --git a/components/settings/reading-settings.tsx b/components/settings/reading-settings.tsx
index 39cbd2790..7b782ec74 100644
--- a/components/settings/reading-settings.tsx
+++ b/components/settings/reading-settings.tsx
@@ -162,10 +162,9 @@ export function ReadingSettings() {
       <SettingsSection id="attachments" title={tPage('sections.attachments')}>
         <SettingItem label={t('attachment_position.label')} description={t('attachment_position.description')}>
           <Select
-            value={attachmentPosition}
+            value={attachmentPosition === 'below-message' ? 'below-message' : 'below-header'}
             onChange={(value) => updateSetting('attachmentPosition', value as AttachmentPosition)}
             options={[
-              { value: 'beside-sender', label: t('attachment_position.beside-sender') },
               { value: 'below-header', label: t('attachment_position.below-header') },
               { value: 'below-message', label: t('attachment_position.below-message') },
             ]}
diff --git a/locales/ar/common.json b/locales/ar/common.json
index 66bc1b72f..992faf0ac 100644
--- a/locales/ar/common.json
+++ b/locales/ar/common.json
@@ -1903,7 +1903,6 @@
       "attachment_position": {
         "label": "موضع المرفق",
         "description": "أين تُعرض المرفقات في ترويسة الرسالة",
-        "beside-sender": "بجانب المرسل",
         "below-header": "أسفل الترويسة"
       },
       "emails_per_page": {
diff --git a/locales/ca/common.json b/locales/ca/common.json
index ea59b952d..f5687f2bc 100644
--- a/locales/ca/common.json
+++ b/locales/ca/common.json
@@ -1903,7 +1903,6 @@
       "attachment_position": {
         "label": "Posició dels fitxers adjunts",
         "description": "On mostrar els fitxers adjunts a la capçalera del correu",
-        "beside-sender": "Al costat del remitent",
         "below-header": "Sota la capçalera"
       },
       "emails_per_page": {
diff --git a/locales/cs/common.json b/locales/cs/common.json
index ebf45f5ab..4165fcdcd 100644
--- a/locales/cs/common.json
+++ b/locales/cs/common.json
@@ -1900,7 +1900,6 @@
       "attachment_position": {
         "label": "Pozice příloh",
         "description": "Kde zobrazovat přílohy v hlavičce e-mailu",
-        "beside-sender": "Vedle odesílatele",
         "below-header": "Pod hlavičkou"
       },
       "emails_per_page": {
diff --git a/locales/da/common.json b/locales/da/common.json
index 1edf0549c..4ffdcc90c 100644
--- a/locales/da/common.json
+++ b/locales/da/common.json
@@ -1903,7 +1903,6 @@
       "attachment_position": {
         "label": "Placering af vedhæftninger",
         "description": "Hvor vedhæftninger skal vises i e-mail-headeren",
-        "beside-sender": "Ved siden af afsender",
         "below-header": "Under header"
       },
       "emails_per_page": {
diff --git a/locales/de/common.json b/locales/de/common.json
index 4905539a0..683230c84 100644
--- a/locales/de/common.json
+++ b/locales/de/common.json
@@ -1903,8 +1903,7 @@
       "attachment_position": {
         "label": "Anhangsposition",
         "description": "Wo die Anhänge einer geöffneten E-Mail angezeigt werden",
-        "beside-sender": "Neben dem Absender",
-        "below-header": "Unter dem Header",
+        "below-header": "Als Leiste unter dem Header",
         "below-message": "Als Karten unter der Nachricht"
       },
       "emails_per_page": {
diff --git a/locales/en/common.json b/locales/en/common.json
index 6f747623b..e5a3bc1ea 100644
--- a/locales/en/common.json
+++ b/locales/en/common.json
@@ -1906,8 +1906,7 @@
       "attachment_position": {
         "label": "Attachment position",
         "description": "Where to display the attachments of an open email",
-        "beside-sender": "Next to sender",
-        "below-header": "Below header",
+        "below-header": "Bar below the header",
         "below-message": "Cards below the message"
       },
       "emails_per_page": {
diff --git a/locales/es/common.json b/locales/es/common.json
index e94157cb3..fb1937046 100644
--- a/locales/es/common.json
+++ b/locales/es/common.json
@@ -1900,7 +1900,6 @@
       "attachment_position": {
         "label": "Posición del adjunto",
         "description": "Dónde mostrar los adjuntos en el encabezado del correo",
-        "beside-sender": "Junto al remitente",
         "below-header": "Debajo del encabezado"
       },
       "emails_per_page": {
diff --git a/locales/et/common.json b/locales/et/common.json
index 7e9d987e2..a48fd665c 100644
--- a/locales/et/common.json
+++ b/locales/et/common.json
@@ -1903,7 +1903,6 @@
       "attachment_position": {
         "label": "Manuse asukoht",
         "description": "Kuhu kuvada manused kirja päises",
-        "beside-sender": "Saatja kõrval",
         "below-header": "Päise all"
       },
       "emails_per_page": {
diff --git a/locales/fa/common.json b/locales/fa/common.json
index 78cd59e77..9dba3ad7c 100644
--- a/locales/fa/common.json
+++ b/locales/fa/common.json
@@ -1903,7 +1903,6 @@
       "attachment_position": {
         "label": "موقعیت پیوست",
         "description": "محل پیوست‌ها",
-        "beside-sender": "کنار فرستنده",
         "below-header": "زیر هدر"
       },
       "emails_per_page": {
diff --git a/locales/fr/common.json b/locales/fr/common.json
index 0bdacbe58..80d5fe208 100644
--- a/locales/fr/common.json
+++ b/locales/fr/common.json
@@ -1900,7 +1900,6 @@
       "attachment_position": {
         "label": "Position des pièces jointes",
         "description": "Où afficher les pièces jointes dans l'en-tête de l'email",
-        "beside-sender": "À côté de l'expéditeur",
         "below-header": "Sous l'en-tête"
       },
       "emails_per_page": {
diff --git a/locales/he/common.json b/locales/he/common.json
index c0f6c0c1d..289536d1d 100644
--- a/locales/he/common.json
+++ b/locales/he/common.json
@@ -1837,7 +1837,6 @@
       "attachment_position": {
         "label": "עמדת התקשרות",
         "description": "היכן להציג קבצים מצורפים בכותרת הדוא\"ל",
-        "beside-sender": "ליד השולח",
         "below-header": "מתחת לכותרת"
       },
       "emails_per_page": {
diff --git a/locales/hu/common.json b/locales/hu/common.json
index cdbbca20c..313a7030c 100644
--- a/locales/hu/common.json
+++ b/locales/hu/common.json
@@ -1903,7 +1903,6 @@
       "attachment_position": {
         "label": "Csatolmány pozíciója",
         "description": "Hol jelenjenek meg a csatolmányok az e-mail fejlécben",
-        "beside-sender": "Feladó mellett",
         "below-header": "Fejléc alatt"
       },
       "emails_per_page": {
diff --git a/locales/it/common.json b/locales/it/common.json
index 48ff32bf4..96f9aa5d8 100644
--- a/locales/it/common.json
+++ b/locales/it/common.json
@@ -1900,7 +1900,6 @@
       "attachment_position": {
         "label": "Posizione degli allegati",
         "description": "Dove visualizzare gli allegati nell'intestazione dell'email",
-        "beside-sender": "Accanto al mittente",
         "below-header": "Sotto l'intestazione"
       },
       "emails_per_page": {
diff --git a/locales/ja/common.json b/locales/ja/common.json
index 0cc87579d..5cc6cb0d4 100644
--- a/locales/ja/common.json
+++ b/locales/ja/common.json
@@ -1900,7 +1900,6 @@
       "attachment_position": {
         "label": "添付ファイルの位置",
         "description": "メールヘッダー内での添付ファイルの表示位置",
-        "beside-sender": "送信者の横",
         "below-header": "ヘッダーの下"
       },
       "emails_per_page": {
diff --git a/locales/ko/common.json b/locales/ko/common.json
index c9b21b2c4..4d9a2d749 100644
--- a/locales/ko/common.json
+++ b/locales/ko/common.json
@@ -1900,7 +1900,6 @@
       "attachment_position": {
         "label": "첨부파일 위치",
         "description": "메일 상단에서 첨부파일을 어디에 표시할지 설정해요",
-        "beside-sender": "보낸 사람 옆",
         "below-header": "제목 아래"
       },
       "emails_per_page": {
diff --git a/locales/lv/common.json b/locales/lv/common.json
index 9084df8d8..d2f605921 100644
--- a/locales/lv/common.json
+++ b/locales/lv/common.json
@@ -1900,7 +1900,6 @@
       "attachment_position": {
         "label": "Pielikumu novietojums",
         "description": "Kur rādīt pielikumus vēstules galvenē",
-        "beside-sender": "Blakus sūtītājam",
         "below-header": "Zem galvenes"
       },
       "emails_per_page": {
diff --git a/locales/mn/common.json b/locales/mn/common.json
index 2940d16e3..670da454e 100644
--- a/locales/mn/common.json
+++ b/locales/mn/common.json
@@ -1903,7 +1903,6 @@
       "attachment_position": {
         "label": "Хавсралтын байрлал",
         "description": "Имэйл толгой хэсэгт хавсралтуудыг хаана харуулах вэ",
-        "beside-sender": "Илгээгчийн хажууд",
         "below-header": "Толгойн доор"
       },
       "emails_per_page": {
diff --git a/locales/nb/common.json b/locales/nb/common.json
index 4c8a42a98..09f80d3c9 100644
--- a/locales/nb/common.json
+++ b/locales/nb/common.json
@@ -1903,7 +1903,6 @@
       "attachment_position": {
         "label": "Plassering av vedlegg",
         "description": "Velg hvor vedlegg skal vises i e-postoverskriften",
-        "beside-sender": "Ved siden av avsender",
         "below-header": "Under overskriften"
       },
       "emails_per_page": {
diff --git a/locales/nl/common.json b/locales/nl/common.json
index 9579031e8..fdd207b5e 100644
--- a/locales/nl/common.json
+++ b/locales/nl/common.json
@@ -1900,7 +1900,6 @@
       "attachment_position": {
         "label": "Positie van bijlagen",
         "description": "Waar bijlagen in de e-mailkop worden weergegeven",
-        "beside-sender": "Naast de afzender",
         "below-header": "Onder de kop"
       },
       "emails_per_page": {
diff --git a/locales/pl/common.json b/locales/pl/common.json
index 0ba0c8530..86b6174c3 100644
--- a/locales/pl/common.json
+++ b/locales/pl/common.json
@@ -1900,7 +1900,6 @@
       "attachment_position": {
         "label": "Pozycja załączników",
         "description": "Gdzie wyświetlać załączniki w nagłówku wiadomości e-mail",
-        "beside-sender": "Obok nadawcy",
         "below-header": "Pod nagłówkiem"
       },
       "emails_per_page": {
diff --git a/locales/pt/common.json b/locales/pt/common.json
index 56b2f7dc9..5895060d2 100644
--- a/locales/pt/common.json
+++ b/locales/pt/common.json
@@ -1900,7 +1900,6 @@
       "attachment_position": {
         "label": "Posição dos anexos",
         "description": "Onde exibir os anexos no cabeçalho do e-mail",
-        "beside-sender": "Ao lado do remetente",
         "below-header": "Abaixo do cabeçalho"
       },
       "emails_per_page": {
diff --git a/locales/ro/common.json b/locales/ro/common.json
index 3e23426c4..8fabd2d36 100644
--- a/locales/ro/common.json
+++ b/locales/ro/common.json
@@ -1903,7 +1903,6 @@
       "attachment_position": {
         "label": "Poziția atașamentului",
         "description": "Unde să afișați atașamentele în antetul e-mailului",
-        "beside-sender": "Lângă expeditor",
         "below-header": "Sub antet"
       },
       "emails_per_page": {
diff --git a/locales/ru/common.json b/locales/ru/common.json
index 932db4221..00491dff4 100644
--- a/locales/ru/common.json
+++ b/locales/ru/common.json
@@ -1900,7 +1900,6 @@
       "attachment_position": {
         "label": "Расположение вложений",
         "description": "Где отображать вложения в заголовке письма",
-        "beside-sender": "Рядом с отправителем",
         "below-header": "Под заголовком"
       },
       "emails_per_page": {
diff --git a/locales/sk/common.json b/locales/sk/common.json
index 6d1c4fefa..fcd171908 100644
--- a/locales/sk/common.json
+++ b/locales/sk/common.json
@@ -1903,7 +1903,6 @@
       "attachment_position": {
         "label": "Pozícia príloh",
         "description": "Kde zobrazovať prílohy v hlavičke e-mailu",
-        "beside-sender": "Vedľa odosielateľa",
         "below-header": "Pod hlavičkou"
       },
       "emails_per_page": {
diff --git a/locales/th/common.json b/locales/th/common.json
index 5144d2da8..6a7659ec8 100644
--- a/locales/th/common.json
+++ b/locales/th/common.json
@@ -4344,7 +4344,6 @@
       "attachment_position": {
         "label": "ตำแหน่งไฟล์แนบ",
         "description": "ตำแหน่งที่จะแสดงไฟล์แนบในส่วนหัวของอีเมล",
-        "beside-sender": "ข้างผู้ส่ง",
         "below-header": "ใต้ส่วนหัว"
       },
       "emails_per_page": {
diff --git a/locales/tr/common.json b/locales/tr/common.json
index 981df0421..ed1e61e2c 100644
--- a/locales/tr/common.json
+++ b/locales/tr/common.json
@@ -1900,7 +1900,6 @@
       "attachment_position": {
         "label": "Ek Konumu",
         "description": "E-posta başlığında eklerin nerede görüntüleneceği",
-        "beside-sender": "Göndericinin yanı",
         "below-header": "Başlığın altı"
       },
       "emails_per_page": {
diff --git a/locales/uk/common.json b/locales/uk/common.json
index 5e597d1fa..c18e4e299 100644
--- a/locales/uk/common.json
+++ b/locales/uk/common.json
@@ -1900,7 +1900,6 @@
       "attachment_position": {
         "label": "Позиція прикріплення",
         "description": "Де відображати вкладення в заголовку електронної пошти",
-        "beside-sender": "Поруч із відправником",
         "below-header": "Під заголовком"
       },
       "emails_per_page": {
diff --git a/locales/vi/common.json b/locales/vi/common.json
index 16e55ab2c..c577a5e38 100644
--- a/locales/vi/common.json
+++ b/locales/vi/common.json
@@ -1915,7 +1915,6 @@
       "attachment_position": {
         "label": "Vị trí tệp đính kèm",
         "description": "Vị trí hiển thị tệp đính kèm trong phần đầu thư",
-        "beside-sender": "Bên cạnh người gửi",
         "below-header": "Bên dưới phần đầu thư"
       },
       "emails_per_page": {
diff --git a/locales/zh-TW/common.json b/locales/zh-TW/common.json
index 0133522f0..a2c0219a1 100644
--- a/locales/zh-TW/common.json
+++ b/locales/zh-TW/common.json
@@ -1903,7 +1903,6 @@
       "attachment_position": {
         "label": "附件位置",
         "description": "選擇在郵件標頭的哪個位置顯示附件",
-        "beside-sender": "寄件者旁",
         "below-header": "標頭下方"
       },
       "emails_per_page": {
diff --git a/locales/zh/common.json b/locales/zh/common.json
index c5f7b4182..da45e9c9f 100644
--- a/locales/zh/common.json
+++ b/locales/zh/common.json
@@ -1900,7 +1900,6 @@
       "attachment_position": {
         "label": "附件位置",
         "description": "在邮件标题中的何处显示附件",
-        "beside-sender": "发件人旁",
         "below-header": "标题下方"
       },
       "emails_per_page": {
diff --git a/stores/__tests__/settings-store-attachments.test.ts b/stores/__tests__/settings-store-attachments.test.ts
index 4c9b658ca..9f682f056 100644
--- a/stores/__tests__/settings-store-attachments.test.ts
+++ b/stores/__tests__/settings-store-attachments.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
-import { useSettingsStore } from '../settings-store';
+import { migrateSettings, useSettingsStore } from '../settings-store';
 
 describe('settings-store attachment action', () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
@@ -14,6 +14,28 @@ describe('settings-store attachment action', () => {
     expect(useSettingsStore.getState().quickReplyEnabled).toBe(true);
   });
 
+  it('shows attachments as a bar under the header by default', () => {
+    expect(useSettingsStore.getState().attachmentPosition).toBe('below-header');
+  });
+
+  it('moves the retired beside-sender position to the bar', () => {
+    const migrated = migrateSettings({ attachmentPosition: 'beside-sender', explicitSettings: [] }, 11) as unknown as Record<string, unknown>;
+    expect(migrated.attachmentPosition).toBe('below-header');
+    const cards = migrateSettings({ attachmentPosition: 'below-message', explicitSettings: [] }, 11) as unknown as Record<string, unknown>;
+    expect(cards.attachmentPosition).toBe('below-message');
+  });
+
+  it('does not count the old default as chosen when older settings migrate', () => {
+    const migrated = migrateSettings({ attachmentPosition: 'beside-sender' }, 7) as unknown as Record<string, unknown>;
+    expect(migrated.explicitSettings).not.toContain('attachmentPosition');
+  });
+
+  it('moves beside-sender to the bar in settings synced from an older build', () => {
+    useSettingsStore.getState().updateSetting('attachmentPosition', 'below-message');
+    expect(useSettingsStore.getState().importSettings(JSON.stringify({ attachmentPosition: 'beside-sender' }))).toBe(true);
+    expect(useSettingsStore.getState().attachmentPosition).toBe('below-header');
+  });
+
   it('defaults to preview when settings are reset', () => {
     expect(useSettingsStore.getState().mailAttachmentAction).toBe('preview');
   });
diff --git a/stores/settings-store.ts b/stores/settings-store.ts
index 211685e6a..bea2dfa98 100644
--- a/stores/settings-store.ts
+++ b/stores/settings-store.ts
@@ -302,8 +302,8 @@ export type FirstDayOfWeek = 0 | 1 | 6; // 0 = Sunday, 1 = Monday, 6 = Saturday
 export type TimeZoneSetting = 'auto' | (string & {});
 export type ExternalContentPolicy = 'ask' | 'block' | 'allow';
 export type MailAttachmentAction = 'preview' | 'download';
-/** 'below-message' shows larger preview cards after the body. */
-export type AttachmentPosition = 'beside-sender' | 'below-header' | 'below-message';
+/** 'below-header': a bar of tiles under the header. 'below-message': preview cards after the body. */
+export type AttachmentPosition = 'below-header' | 'below-message';
 export type ToolbarPosition = 'top' | 'below-subject';
 export type ArchiveMode = 'single' | 'year' | 'month';
 export type MailLayout = 'split' | 'focus' | 'horizontal';
@@ -901,7 +901,7 @@ const DEFAULT_SETTINGS = {
   messageSpacing: 'auto' as MessageSpacing,
   plainTextFont: 'sans' as PlainTextFont,
   mailAttachmentAction: 'preview' as MailAttachmentAction,
-  attachmentPosition: 'beside-sender' as AttachmentPosition,
+  attachmentPosition: 'below-header' as AttachmentPosition,
   emailAlwaysLightMode: false,
   archiveMode: 'single' as ArchiveMode,
   hoverActions: ['delete', 'star', 'markRead', 'archive'] as HoverAction[],
@@ -1547,6 +1547,7 @@ export const useSettingsStore = create<SettingsState>()(
           migrateAnimationsSetting(settings);
           migrateNotificationSoundDefault(settings);
           migrateTintListRowsDefault(settings);
+          migrateAttachmentPosition(settings);
 
           // Apply settings, noting which keys were taken over for the
           // onSettingsImport hook.
@@ -1948,7 +1949,7 @@ export const useSettingsStore = create<SettingsState>()(
     },
     {
       name: 'settings-storage',
-      version: 11,
+      version: 12,
       migrate: migrateSettings,
       onRehydrateStorage: () => {
         return (state) => {
@@ -2053,6 +2054,8 @@ export function migrateSettings(persisted: unknown, version: number): SettingsSt
         // taken as chosen below.
         migrateNotificationSoundDefault(state);
         migrateTintListRowsDefault(state);
+        // The old default must not be taken as chosen below either.
+        migrateAttachmentPosition(state);
         // v8: admin policy defaults (#1248) skip settings the user chose.
         // Earlier builds did not record that, so a setting that differs from
         // the build default is taken as chosen.
@@ -2063,6 +2066,18 @@ export function migrateSettings(persisted: unknown, version: number): SettingsSt
         return state as unknown as SettingsState;
 }
 
+/**
+ * v12: the attachments next to the sender ('beside-sender', the old default)
+ * gave way to the bar under the header. Imports and server copies from older
+ * builds still carry the old value and go through this too.
+ */
+export function migrateAttachmentPosition(state: Record<string, unknown>): void {
+  if (state.attachmentPosition === undefined) return;
+  if (state.attachmentPosition !== 'below-header' && state.attachmentPosition !== 'below-message') {
+    state.attachmentPosition = 'below-header';
+  }
+}
+
 /**
  * v9: the Animations on/off switch became Reduce motion (System / On /
  * Off). Off meant "no animations"; On let the OS setting decide, which is