diff --git a/packages/electron/main.mjs b/packages/electron/main.mjs
index 24642f7f..6d8fb43a 100644
--- a/packages/electron/main.mjs
+++ b/packages/electron/main.mjs
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import { fileURLToPath, pathToFileURL } from 'node:url';
 import { promisify } from 'node:util';
 import updaterPkg from 'electron-updater';
 import { ElectronSshManager } from './ssh-manager.mjs';
+import { createTrayController } from './tray.mjs';
 
 const execFileAsync = promisify(execFile);
 
@@ -186,6 +187,8 @@ const state = {
   miniChatWindowsBySession: new Map(),
   sshStatuses: new Map(),
   sshLogs: new Map(),
+  trayController: null,
+  lastFocusedWindowId: null,
 };
 
 const quitRisk = {
@@ -249,6 +252,14 @@ const prepareForQuit = ({ installingUpdate = false } = {}) => {
   state.installingUpdate = installingUpdate;
   state.quitConfirmationPending = false;
 
+  if (state.trayController) {
+    try {
+      state.trayController.destroy();
+    } catch {
+    }
+    state.trayController = null;
+  }
+
   if (state.mainWindow && !state.mainWindow.isDestroyed()) {
     try {
       debounceWindowStatePersist(state.mainWindow, true);
@@ -1738,6 +1749,14 @@ const dispatchMenuAction = (action) => {
   dispatchDomEventToWindow(target, 'openchamber:menu-action', action);
 };
 
+// Mini-chat draft windows are not deduplicated, so this must reach the renderer
+// exactly once — emitToWindow alone (no DOM-event double dispatch). The renderer
+// resolves the active directory/project and opens the window.
+const dispatchOpenMiniChat = (browserWindow) => {
+  const target = browserWindow && !browserWindow.isDestroyed() ? browserWindow : getMenuTargetWindow();
+  if (target) emitToWindow(target, 'openchamber:open-mini-chat');
+};
+
 const dispatchCheckForUpdates = () => {
   emitToAllWindows('openchamber:check-for-updates');
   for (const browserWindow of BrowserWindow.getAllWindows()) {
@@ -3134,6 +3153,16 @@ const handleInvoke = async (browserWindow, command, args = {}) => {
       maybeShowNativeNotification(args);
       return null;
 
+    case 'desktop_tray_update':
+      if (state.trayController) {
+        try {
+          state.trayController.update(args || {});
+        } catch (error) {
+          log.warn('[electron] tray update failed', error);
+        }
+      }
+      return null;
+
     case 'desktop_clear_cache':
       await session.defaultSession.clearStorageData();
       for (const browserWindow of BrowserWindow.getAllWindows()) {
@@ -3568,23 +3597,33 @@ const handleInvoke = async (browserWindow, command, args = {}) => {
     case 'desktop_get_window_pinned':
       return { pinned: Boolean(browserWindow?.__ocPinned) };
 
-    case 'desktop_focus_main_window':
-      if (state.mainWindow && !state.mainWindow.isDestroyed()) {
-        if (state.mainWindow.isMinimized()) state.mainWindow.restore();
-        state.mainWindow.show();
-        state.mainWindow.focus();
-        const sessionId = typeof args.sessionId === 'string' ? args.sessionId.trim() : '';
-        const directory = typeof args.directory === 'string' ? args.directory.trim() : '';
-        const mode = typeof args.mode === 'string' ? args.mode.trim() : '';
-        if (sessionId) {
-          emitToWindow(state.mainWindow, 'openchamber:open-session', { sessionId, directory });
-        } else if (mode === 'draft') {
-          const projectId = typeof args.projectId === 'string' ? args.projectId.trim() : '';
-          emitToWindow(state.mainWindow, 'openchamber:open-draft-session', { directory, projectId });
-        }
+    case 'desktop_focus_main_window': {
+      const sessionId = typeof args.sessionId === 'string' ? args.sessionId.trim() : '';
+      const directory = typeof args.directory === 'string' ? args.directory.trim() : '';
+      const mode = typeof args.mode === 'string' ? args.mode.trim() : '';
+      const projectId = typeof args.projectId === 'string' ? args.projectId.trim() : '';
+      const hasMainWindow = state.mainWindow && !state.mainWindow.isDestroyed();
+
+      // No live main window (e.g. "Open in main window" from a mini-chat after
+      // the main window was closed): create one and open the session in it. A
+      // fresh window can't take an immediate emit, so queue the session as a
+      // pending deep-link and let did-finish-load flush it once ready.
+      if (!hasMainWindow) {
+        if (sessionId) pendingDeepLinks.push({ type: 'session', value: sessionId });
+        await openMainWindow();
         return { focused: true };
       }
-      return { focused: false };
+
+      if (state.mainWindow.isMinimized()) state.mainWindow.restore();
+      state.mainWindow.show();
+      state.mainWindow.focus();
+      if (sessionId) {
+        emitToWindow(state.mainWindow, 'openchamber:open-session', { sessionId, directory });
+      } else if (mode === 'draft') {
+        emitToWindow(state.mainWindow, 'openchamber:open-draft-session', { directory, projectId });
+      }
+      return { focused: true };
+    }
 
     case 'desktop_close_current_window':
       if (browserWindow && !browserWindow.isDestroyed()) {
@@ -3700,6 +3739,9 @@ const buildMacMenu = () => {
         { type: 'separator' },
         { label: 'New Session', accelerator: 'Cmd+N', click: () => dispatchAction('new-session') },
         { label: 'New Worktree', accelerator: 'Cmd+Shift+N', click: () => dispatchAction('new-worktree-session') },
+        // registerAccelerator:false → show the shortcut hint but let the
+        // renderer own the (customizable) key binding, avoiding a double open.
+        { label: 'New Mini Chat', accelerator: 'Cmd+Alt+N', registerAccelerator: false, click: () => dispatchOpenMiniChat() },
         { type: 'separator' },
         { label: 'Add Workspace', click: () => dispatchAction('change-workspace') },
         { type: 'separator' },
@@ -4006,6 +4048,157 @@ ipcMain.handle('openchamber:dialog:open', async (event, options) => {
   return result.filePaths[0] || null;
 });
 
+// --- macOS menu bar (status bar) ---------------------------------------------
+// Tray lives only on macOS; the renderer streams a compact state snapshot via
+// the `desktop_tray_update` IPC command (see the command switch). Tray clicks
+// flow back through dispatchTrayAction → renderer (focus/respond) or native
+// handlers (show window / quit).
+
+// Icon assets: a calm outline (idle), a statically filled cube (a finished
+// session left unread), and an eased sequence the busy state breathes through.
+const TRAY_BREATH_FRAME_COUNT = 16;
+// Track the most recently focused window (main or mini-chat) so tray actions
+// can target the surface the user was last using, even when the tray menu is
+// open and nothing is focused right now.
+app.on('browser-window-focus', (_event, browserWindow) => {
+  if (browserWindow && !browserWindow.isDestroyed()) {
+    state.lastFocusedWindowId = browserWindow.id;
+  }
+});
+
+// The window the user is "on" for tray routing: the focused one, else the last
+// focused that is still alive.
+const resolveTraySurface = () => {
+  const focused = BrowserWindow.getFocusedWindow();
+  if (focused && !focused.isDestroyed()) return focused;
+  if (state.lastFocusedWindowId != null) {
+    const remembered = BrowserWindow.fromId(state.lastFocusedWindowId);
+    if (remembered && !remembered.isDestroyed()) return remembered;
+  }
+  return null;
+};
+
+const trayIconAssets = () => {
+  const dir = path.join(resourceRoot(), 'icons', 'tray');
+  return {
+    idleIconPath: path.join(dir, 'trayTemplate-idle.png'),
+    unseenIconPath: path.join(dir, 'trayTemplate-unseen.png'),
+    breathIconPaths: Array.from({ length: TRAY_BREATH_FRAME_COUNT }, (_, i) =>
+      path.join(dir, `trayTemplate-breath-${String(i).padStart(2, '0')}.png`)),
+  };
+};
+
+const setupTray = () => {
+  if (process.platform !== 'darwin' || state.trayController) return;
+  const assets = trayIconAssets();
+  if (!fs.existsSync(assets.idleIconPath)) {
+    log.warn('[electron] tray icon missing, skipping tray setup', { iconPath: assets.idleIconPath });
+    return;
+  }
+  try {
+    state.trayController = createTrayController({
+      ...assets,
+      onAction: (action) => { void dispatchTrayAction(action); },
+    });
+    // Seed an empty snapshot so the icon appears immediately; the renderer
+    // pushes the real state once the sync stores are mounted.
+    state.trayController.update({ sessions: [], approvals: [] });
+  } catch (error) {
+    log.warn('[electron] failed to set up tray', error);
+    state.trayController = null;
+  }
+};
+
+// Bring the existing main window forward WITHOUT re-navigating it. Only when
+// no live window exists (truly closed) do we recreate one — recreation reloads,
+// but showing an existing window must not. This mirrors desktop_focus_main_window
+// and the notification "open session" path; calling openMainWindow on a live
+// window navigates it (full reload), which is the bug we're avoiding here.
+const revealMainWindow = async () => {
+  let target = state.mainWindow;
+  if (!target || target.isDestroyed()) {
+    target = await openMainWindow().catch(() => null) || state.mainWindow;
+  }
+  if (target && !target.isDestroyed()) {
+    if (target.isMinimized()) target.restore();
+    target.show();
+    target.focus();
+  }
+  return target;
+};
+
+// Open a session in the main window, creating one first if none is alive. A
+// freshly created window can't receive an immediate emit (its renderer hasn't
+// mounted its listeners yet), so we queue the session as a pending deep-link —
+// the did-finish-load handler flushes it once the window is ready.
+const focusMainWindowWithSession = async (sessionId, directory) => {
+  if (state.mainWindow && !state.mainWindow.isDestroyed()) {
+    if (state.mainWindow.isMinimized()) state.mainWindow.restore();
+    state.mainWindow.show();
+    state.mainWindow.focus();
+    if (sessionId) {
+      emitToWindow(state.mainWindow, 'openchamber:open-session', { sessionId, directory: directory || '' });
+    }
+    return;
+  }
+  if (sessionId) pendingDeepLinks.push({ type: 'session', value: sessionId });
+  await openMainWindow();
+};
+
+const dispatchTrayAction = async (action) => {
+  if (!action || typeof action !== 'object') return;
+
+  if (action.type === 'quit') {
+    app.quit();
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // Responding to a permission doesn't need to steal focus — just deliver it.
+  if (action.type === 'respond-permission') {
+    const target = (state.mainWindow && !state.mainWindow.isDestroyed())
+      ? state.mainWindow
+      : await revealMainWindow();
+    emitToWindow(target, 'openchamber:tray-action', action);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // Mini chat opens its own small window; we only need a renderer with context,
+  // not to surface the main window.
+  if (action.type === 'new-mini-chat') {
+    let target = getMenuTargetWindow();
+    if (!target) target = await revealMainWindow();
+    dispatchOpenMiniChat(target);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // Open a session on the surface the user was last on: if that's a mini-chat,
+  // switch THAT window to the session in place (no new window); otherwise use
+  // the main window.
+  if (action.type === 'focus-session') {
+    const surface = resolveTraySurface();
+    if (surface && surface.__ocMiniChat === true && action.sessionId) {
+      if (surface.isMinimized()) surface.restore();
+      surface.show();
+      surface.focus();
+      emitToWindow(surface, 'openchamber:open-session', {
+        sessionId: action.sessionId,
+        directory: action.directory || '',
+      });
+      return;
+    }
+    await focusMainWindowWithSession(action.sessionId, action.directory || '');
+    return;
+  }
+
+  const target = await revealMainWindow();
+  if (!target || target.isDestroyed()) return;
+
+  if (action.type === 'new-session') {
+    emitToWindow(target, 'openchamber:open-draft-session', { directory: '', projectId: '' });
+  }
+  // show-main-window: revealing the window above is the whole action.
+};
+
 app.on('window-all-closed', () => {
   if (process.platform === 'darwin' && !state.quitRequested) {
     return;
@@ -4061,16 +4254,23 @@ app.on('open-url', (event, url) => {
 
 app.on('activate', async () => {
   const windows = BrowserWindow.getAllWindows().filter((window) => !window.isDestroyed());
-  if (windows.length > 0) {
-    const visibleWindow = windows.find((window) => window.isVisible());
-    const targetWindow = visibleWindow || state.mainWindow || windows[0];
-    if (targetWindow.isMinimized()) targetWindow.restore();
-    targetWindow.show();
-    targetWindow.focus();
+  // Only spawn a main window when there is genuinely nothing to come back to.
+  if (windows.length === 0) {
+    await openMainWindow();
     return;
   }
 
-  await openMainWindow();
+  // Otherwise bring back the surface the user was last on — restoring it if
+  // minimized — instead of surfacing a hidden window or creating a new one.
+  // This covers e.g. "only a minimized mini-chat remains": it should un-minimize
+  // rather than open the main window.
+  const remembered = resolveTraySurface();
+  const targetWindow = (remembered && !remembered.isDestroyed())
+    ? remembered
+    : (windows.find((window) => window.isVisible() && !window.isMinimized()) || windows[0]);
+  if (targetWindow.isMinimized()) targetWindow.restore();
+  targetWindow.show();
+  targetWindow.focus();
 });
 
 app.whenReady().then(async () => {
@@ -4091,6 +4291,7 @@ app.whenReady().then(async () => {
 
   if (process.platform === 'darwin') {
     Menu.setApplicationMenu(buildMacMenu());
+    setupTray();
   } else {
     Menu.setApplicationMenu(buildAutoHiddenMenu());
   }
diff --git a/packages/electron/package.json b/packages/electron/package.json
index 12bb9a5f..7f119ff1 100644
--- a/packages/electron/package.json
+++ b/packages/electron/package.json
@@ -50,6 +50,10 @@
       {
         "from": "resources/icons/icon.ico",
         "to": "icons/icon.ico"
+      },
+      {
+        "from": "resources/icons/tray",
+        "to": "icons/tray"
       }
     ],
     "afterPack": "scripts/after-pack.cjs",
diff --git a/packages/electron/resources/icons/tray/tray-glyph.svg b/packages/electron/resources/icons/tray/tray-glyph.svg
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d48fb73c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/electron/resources/icons/tray/tray-glyph.svg
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 32 32" fill="none"
+     stroke="#000" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-linecap="round">
+  <g stroke-width="2.3">
+    <path d="M16 2.5 L28.5 9.5 L28.5 23 L16 30 L3.5 23 L3.5 9.5 Z"/>
+    <path d="M3.5 9.5 L16 16.25 L28.5 9.5"/>
+    <path d="M16 16.25 L16 30"/>
+  </g>
+  <!-- thinner stroke for the diamond on the top face -->
+  <path stroke-width="1.5" d="M16 6.5 L21.5 9.4 L16 12.3 L10.5 9.4 Z"/>
+</svg>
diff --git a/packages/electron/resources/icons/tray/trayTemplate-breath-00.png b/packages/electron/resources/icons/tray/trayTemplate-breath-00.png
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diff --git a/packages/electron/resources/icons/tray/trayTemplate-breath-15.png b/packages/electron/resources/icons/tray/trayTemplate-breath-15.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..29c7f7fc
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diff --git a/packages/electron/resources/icons/tray/trayTemplate-breath-15@2x.png b/packages/electron/resources/icons/tray/trayTemplate-breath-15@2x.png
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index 00000000..01541e30
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diff --git a/packages/electron/resources/icons/tray/trayTemplate-idle.png b/packages/electron/resources/icons/tray/trayTemplate-idle.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3f2cdb58
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diff --git a/packages/electron/resources/icons/tray/trayTemplate-idle@2x.png b/packages/electron/resources/icons/tray/trayTemplate-idle@2x.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d558046d
Binary files /dev/null and b/packages/electron/resources/icons/tray/trayTemplate-idle@2x.png differ
diff --git a/packages/electron/resources/icons/tray/trayTemplate-unseen.png b/packages/electron/resources/icons/tray/trayTemplate-unseen.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6c2f588a
Binary files /dev/null and b/packages/electron/resources/icons/tray/trayTemplate-unseen.png differ
diff --git a/packages/electron/resources/icons/tray/trayTemplate-unseen@2x.png b/packages/electron/resources/icons/tray/trayTemplate-unseen@2x.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d1eee378
Binary files /dev/null and b/packages/electron/resources/icons/tray/trayTemplate-unseen@2x.png differ
diff --git a/packages/electron/tray.mjs b/packages/electron/tray.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e37f9114
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/electron/tray.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,269 @@
+// macOS menu bar (status bar) controller.
+//
+// Surfaces a glanceable, always-visible view of OpenChamber's live state:
+//  1. an aggregate activity indicator (idle / busy / error+retry) in the icon
+//     title, rendered as a monochrome template image plus a text counter so it
+//     adapts to light/dark menu bars (colour can't be shown in template mode);
+//  2. pending approvals (permission + question requests) that block agents,
+//     with inline Allow/Deny actions;
+//  3. the list of active sessions with status + branch, click to focus;
+//  4. quick actions (new session, show window, quit).
+//
+// The live state lives in the renderer (Zustand). It is pushed here over the
+// existing IPC bridge via the `desktop_tray_update` command; this module owns
+// only presentation. Tray clicks call back through `onAction`, which main.mjs
+// routes to the renderer (focus-session, respond-permission, …) or handles
+// natively (show-main-window, quit).
+
+import { Tray, Menu, nativeImage } from 'electron';
+
+const MAX_SESSIONS = 12;
+const MAX_APPROVALS = 10;
+
+const truncate = (value, max) => {
+  const text = typeof value === 'string' ? value.trim() : '';
+  if (text.length <= max) return text;
+  return `${text.slice(0, Math.max(0, max - 1))}…`;
+};
+
+// Glyph only for sessions that have an actual state; idle sessions get blank
+// indentation so the row reads cleanly without an empty circle.
+const statusGlyph = (session) => {
+  if (session.status === 'busy') return '●';
+  if (session.status === 'retry') return '⟳';
+  if (session.hasError) return '▲';
+  if (session.unseen > 0) return '✓';
+  return '';
+};
+
+const sessionLabel = (session) => {
+  const glyph = statusGlyph(session);
+  const parts = [glyph || '   ', truncate(session.title || 'Untitled session', 38)];
+  if (session.branch) parts.push(`⎇ ${truncate(session.branch, 18)}`);
+  if (session.unseen > 0) parts.push(`(${session.unseen})`);
+  return parts.join('  ');
+};
+
+const approvalLabel = (approval) => {
+  const icon = approval.kind === 'permission' ? '⛔' : '❓';
+  const who = truncate(approval.sessionTitle || 'Session', 24);
+  const what = truncate(approval.label || (approval.kind === 'permission' ? 'Permission request' : 'Question'), 34);
+  return `${icon} ${who} — ${what}`;
+};
+
+// Text shown next to the icon — reserved for the two states where a precise
+// count is actionable: pending approvals and errors. Busy and unread are
+// conveyed by the icon itself (animated / filled faces), so they add no text.
+// Glyphs come from the Geometric Shapes block so macOS renders them monochrome
+// (not colour emoji) and tints them with the menu bar like the template icon.
+const computeTitle = (counts) => {
+  if (counts.approvals > 0) return `◆ ${counts.approvals}`; // decision needed
+  if (counts.error > 0) return `▲ ${counts.error}`;         // problem
+  return '';
+};
+
+// Which icon variant to show. Busy work animates a "breathing" fill; unread
+// (with nothing active) holds a static filled cube until the state clears;
+// otherwise the plain outline.
+const computeIconState = (counts) => {
+  if (counts.busy > 0) return 'busy';
+  if (counts.unseen > 0) return 'unseen';
+  return 'idle';
+};
+
+const computeTooltip = (counts, sessionCount) => {
+  if (sessionCount === 0) return 'OpenChamber — no active sessions';
+  const bits = [];
+  if (counts.approvals > 0) bits.push(`${counts.approvals} awaiting approval`);
+  if (counts.error > 0) bits.push(`${counts.error} with errors`);
+  if (counts.busy > 0) bits.push(`${counts.busy} working`);
+  if (counts.unseen > 0) bits.push(`${counts.unseen} unread`);
+  const suffix = bits.length ? ` · ${bits.join(', ')}` : ' · idle';
+  return `OpenChamber — ${sessionCount} session${sessionCount === 1 ? '' : 's'}${suffix}`;
+};
+
+// Frame cadence for the "breathing" busy animation. With the eased frame set
+// (denser near the extremes) a slower tick reads as a calm, continuous glow
+// rather than a snappy blink.
+const ANIM_INTERVAL_MS = 75;
+
+const toTemplateImage = (p) => {
+  const image = nativeImage.createFromPath(p);
+  image.setTemplateImage(true);
+  return image;
+};
+
+// idleIconPath: plain outline (calm state). unseenIconPath: statically filled
+// (a finished session left unread). breathIconPaths: eased outline→fill frames
+// the busy state ping-pongs through.
+export const createTrayController = ({ idleIconPath, unseenIconPath, breathIconPaths, onAction }) => {
+  let tray = null;
+  let lastTitle = null;
+
+  // macOS auto-picks the @2x file next to each path and tints the alpha.
+  const idleFrame = toTemplateImage(idleIconPath);
+  const unseenFrame = toTemplateImage(unseenIconPath);
+  const breathFrames = breathIconPaths.map(toTemplateImage);
+
+  let iconState = null;
+  let animTimer = null;
+  let animIndex = 0;
+  let animDir = 1;
+
+  const stopAnim = () => {
+    if (animTimer) {
+      clearInterval(animTimer);
+      animTimer = null;
+    }
+  };
+
+  const startAnim = () => {
+    if (animTimer || !tray || tray.isDestroyed?.()) return;
+    animIndex = 0;
+    animDir = 1;
+    animTimer = setInterval(() => {
+      if (!tray || tray.isDestroyed?.()) return;
+      tray.setImage(breathFrames[animIndex] || idleFrame);
+      // Ping-pong for a seamless, infinite in-and-out breath.
+      animIndex += animDir;
+      if (animIndex >= breathFrames.length - 1) { animIndex = breathFrames.length - 1; animDir = -1; }
+      else if (animIndex <= 0) { animIndex = 0; animDir = 1; }
+    }, ANIM_INTERVAL_MS);
+  };
+
+  const applyIconState = (nextState) => {
+    if (nextState === iconState) return;
+    iconState = nextState;
+    if (!tray || tray.isDestroyed?.()) return;
+    if (nextState === 'busy') {
+      startAnim();
+    } else if (nextState === 'unseen') {
+      stopAnim();
+      tray.setImage(unseenFrame);
+    } else {
+      stopAnim();
+      tray.setImage(idleFrame);
+    }
+  };
+
+  const ensureTray = () => {
+    if (tray && !tray.isDestroyed?.()) return tray;
+    tray = new Tray(idleFrame);
+    tray.setIgnoreDoubleClickEvents(true);
+    return tray;
+  };
+
+  const buildMenu = (snapshot) => {
+    const sessions = Array.isArray(snapshot.sessions) ? snapshot.sessions : [];
+    const approvals = Array.isArray(snapshot.approvals) ? snapshot.approvals : [];
+    const header = typeof snapshot.instanceName === 'string' && snapshot.instanceName.trim()
+      ? snapshot.instanceName.trim()
+      : 'OpenChamber';
+
+    const template = [
+      { label: header, enabled: false },
+      { type: 'separator' },
+    ];
+
+    if (approvals.length > 0) {
+      template.push({ label: 'Needs your attention', enabled: false });
+      const approvalItem = (approval) => {
+        if (approval.kind === 'permission') {
+          return {
+            label: approvalLabel(approval),
+            submenu: [
+              { label: 'Allow once', click: () => onAction({ type: 'respond-permission', sessionId: approval.sessionId, id: approval.id, response: 'once' }) },
+              { label: 'Allow always', click: () => onAction({ type: 'respond-permission', sessionId: approval.sessionId, id: approval.id, response: 'always' }) },
+              { type: 'separator' },
+              { label: 'Deny', click: () => onAction({ type: 'respond-permission', sessionId: approval.sessionId, id: approval.id, response: 'reject' }) },
+              { type: 'separator' },
+              { label: 'Open in app', click: () => onAction({ type: 'focus-session', sessionId: approval.sessionId }) },
+            ],
+          };
+        }
+        return {
+          label: approvalLabel(approval),
+          click: () => onAction({ type: 'focus-session', sessionId: approval.sessionId }),
+        };
+      };
+      for (const approval of approvals.slice(0, MAX_APPROVALS)) {
+        template.push(approvalItem(approval));
+      }
+      const approvalOverflow = approvals.slice(MAX_APPROVALS);
+      if (approvalOverflow.length > 0) {
+        template.push({
+          label: `${approvalOverflow.length} more…`,
+          submenu: approvalOverflow.map(approvalItem),
+        });
+      }
+      template.push({ type: 'separator' });
+    }
+
+    const sessionItem = (session) => ({
+      label: sessionLabel(session),
+      click: () => onAction({ type: 'focus-session', sessionId: session.id }),
+    });
+
+    if (sessions.length > 0) {
+      template.push({ label: 'Sessions', enabled: false });
+      for (const session of sessions.slice(0, MAX_SESSIONS)) {
+        template.push(sessionItem(session));
+      }
+      const overflow = sessions.slice(MAX_SESSIONS);
+      if (overflow.length > 0) {
+        template.push({
+          label: `${overflow.length} more…`,
+          submenu: overflow.map(sessionItem),
+        });
+      }
+    } else {
+      template.push({ label: 'No active sessions', enabled: false });
+    }
+
+    template.push(
+      { type: 'separator' },
+      { label: 'New Session', click: () => onAction({ type: 'new-session' }) },
+      { label: 'New Mini Chat', click: () => onAction({ type: 'new-mini-chat' }) },
+      { label: 'Show OpenChamber', click: () => onAction({ type: 'show-main-window' }) },
+      { type: 'separator' },
+      { label: 'Quit OpenChamber', click: () => onAction({ type: 'quit' }) },
+    );
+
+    return Menu.buildFromTemplate(template);
+  };
+
+  const update = (rawSnapshot) => {
+    const snapshot = rawSnapshot && typeof rawSnapshot === 'object' ? rawSnapshot : {};
+    const sessions = Array.isArray(snapshot.sessions) ? snapshot.sessions : [];
+    const approvals = Array.isArray(snapshot.approvals) ? snapshot.approvals : [];
+
+    const counts = {
+      busy: sessions.filter((s) => s.status === 'busy' || s.status === 'retry').length,
+      error: sessions.filter((s) => s.hasError).length,
+      approvals: approvals.length,
+      unseen: sessions.reduce((sum, s) => sum + (Number.isFinite(s.unseen) ? s.unseen : 0), 0),
+    };
+
+    const widget = ensureTray();
+    const title = computeTitle(counts);
+    if (title !== lastTitle) {
+      widget.setTitle(title);
+      lastTitle = title;
+    }
+    applyIconState(computeIconState(counts));
+    widget.setToolTip(computeTooltip(counts, sessions.length));
+    widget.setContextMenu(buildMenu(snapshot));
+  };
+
+  const destroy = () => {
+    stopAnim();
+    if (tray && !tray.isDestroyed?.()) {
+      tray.destroy();
+    }
+    tray = null;
+    lastTitle = null;
+    iconState = null;
+  };
+
+  return { update, destroy };
+};
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/App.tsx b/packages/ui/src/App.tsx
index 3ad10d35..583d4b9d 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/App.tsx
+++ b/packages/ui/src/App.tsx
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import { ErrorBoundary } from '@/components/ui/ErrorBoundary';
 // useEventStream removed — replaced by SyncProvider + SyncBridge
 import { useMenuActions } from '@/hooks/useMenuActions';
 import { useSessionStatusBootstrap } from '@/hooks/useSessionStatusBootstrap';
+import { useTraySync } from '@/hooks/useTraySync';
 import { useRouter } from '@/hooks/useRouter';
 import { usePushVisibilityBeacon } from '@/hooks/usePushVisibilityBeacon';
 import { useWebNotificationStream } from '@/hooks/useWebNotificationStream';
@@ -17,7 +18,7 @@ import { usePwaInstallPrompt } from '@/hooks/usePwaInstallPrompt';
 import { useWindowTitle } from '@/hooks/useWindowTitle';
 import { useConfigStore } from '@/stores/useConfigStore';
 import { hasModifier } from '@/lib/utils';
-import { isDesktopLocalOriginActive, isDesktopShell, restartDesktopApp } from '@/lib/desktop';
+import { isDesktopLocalOriginActive, isDesktopShell, restartDesktopApp, invokeDesktop } from '@/lib/desktop';
 import {
   getInjectedBootOutcome,
   getBootInjectionStatus,
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ import {
 } from '@/lib/desktopBoot';
 import type { RecoveryVariant } from '@/components/onboarding/DesktopConnectionRecovery';
 import { useSessionUIStore } from '@/sync/session-ui-store';
+import { markSessionViewed } from '@/sync/notification-store';
 import { useDirectoryStore } from '@/stores/useDirectoryStore';
 import { useProjectsStore } from '@/stores/useProjectsStore';
 import { opencodeClient } from '@/lib/opencode/client';
@@ -601,6 +603,38 @@ function App({ apis }: AppProps) {
     return () => window.removeEventListener('openchamber:open-session', handler as EventListener);
   }, []);
 
+  // Open a draft Mini Chat window from the native File menu / tray. Uses a
+  // dedicated single-fire event (not the menu-action channel) because draft
+  // mini-chat windows are NOT deduplicated — a double dispatch would open two.
+  React.useEffect(() => {
+    if (typeof window === 'undefined') return;
+    const onOpenMiniChat = () => {
+      const currentDir = useDirectoryStore.getState().currentDirectory;
+      const { activeProjectId, projects } = useProjectsStore.getState();
+      const activeProject = projects.find((p) => p.id === activeProjectId) ?? null;
+      void invokeDesktop('desktop_open_draft_mini_chat_window', {
+        directory: currentDir || activeProject?.path || '',
+        projectId: activeProject?.id ?? null,
+      });
+    };
+    window.addEventListener('openchamber:open-mini-chat', onOpenMiniChat);
+    return () => window.removeEventListener('openchamber:open-mini-chat', onOpenMiniChat);
+  }, []);
+
+  // When the window regains focus, mark the currently-selected session as seen.
+  // Turn-completes that arrive while the app is backgrounded are intentionally
+  // left unseen (see isViewedInCurrentSession); coming back to the window is the
+  // signal that the user has now looked at it, so the marker clears.
+  React.useEffect(() => {
+    if (typeof window === 'undefined') return;
+    const onFocus = () => {
+      const sessionId = useSessionUIStore.getState().currentSessionId;
+      if (sessionId) markSessionViewed(sessionId);
+    };
+    window.addEventListener('focus', onFocus);
+    return () => window.removeEventListener('focus', onFocus);
+  }, []);
+
   React.useEffect(() => {
     if (typeof window === 'undefined') return;
 
@@ -672,6 +706,8 @@ function App({ apis }: AppProps) {
 
   useMenuActions(handleToggleMemoryDebug);
 
+  useTraySync();
+
   useSessionStatusBootstrap({ enabled: embeddedBackgroundWorkEnabled });
 
   React.useEffect(() => {
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/apps/ElectronMiniChatApp.tsx b/packages/ui/src/apps/ElectronMiniChatApp.tsx
index e7ed2823..991300da 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/apps/ElectronMiniChatApp.tsx
+++ b/packages/ui/src/apps/ElectronMiniChatApp.tsx
@@ -141,6 +141,25 @@ const MiniChatBootstrap: React.FC<{ config: MiniChatConfig }> = ({ config }) =>
     sessionBootstrappedRef.current = true;
   }, [config, currentSessionId, sessions, setCurrentSession, sync]);
 
+  // Switch this mini-chat to another session in place (e.g. picked from the
+  // tray while this window was focused) instead of spawning a new window.
+  React.useEffect(() => {
+    const onOpenSession = (event: Event) => {
+      const detail = (event as CustomEvent<{ sessionId?: string; directory?: string }>).detail;
+      const sessionId = typeof detail?.sessionId === 'string' ? detail.sessionId.trim() : '';
+      if (!sessionId) return;
+      if (useSessionUIStore.getState().currentSessionId === sessionId) return;
+      const directory = typeof detail?.directory === 'string' && detail.directory.trim().length > 0
+        ? detail.directory.trim()
+        : (sessions.find((entry) => entry.id === sessionId) as { directory?: string | null } | undefined)?.directory ?? null;
+      void sync.ensureSessionRenderable(sessionId);
+      setCurrentSession(sessionId, directory);
+      sessionBootstrappedRef.current = true;
+    };
+    window.addEventListener('openchamber:open-session', onOpenSession);
+    return () => window.removeEventListener('openchamber:open-session', onOpenSession);
+  }, [sessions, setCurrentSession, sync]);
+
   React.useEffect(() => {
     if (config.mode !== 'draft' || draftOpen || currentSessionId) return;
     openNewSessionDraft({
@@ -188,6 +207,29 @@ const MiniChatBootstrap: React.FC<{ config: MiniChatConfig }> = ({ config }) =>
     };
   }, [projects]);
 
+  // Dismiss the HTML splash (see mini-chat.html) once the real content is ready,
+  // so the window doesn't flash through white/connecting states. Fades out when
+  // the target session is active (or the draft is open); a grace timer ensures
+  // it never hangs (e.g. an unavailable session renders its own state).
+  const splashDismissedRef = React.useRef(false);
+  React.useEffect(() => {
+    if (splashDismissedRef.current || !isInitialized) return;
+    const dismiss = () => {
+      if (splashDismissedRef.current) return;
+      splashDismissedRef.current = true;
+      const el = typeof document !== 'undefined' ? document.getElementById('initial-loading') : null;
+      if (el) {
+        el.classList.add('fade-out');
+        window.setTimeout(() => el.remove(), 300);
+      }
+    };
+    const ready = config.mode === 'session'
+      ? currentSessionId === config.sessionId
+      : draftOpen;
+    const timer = window.setTimeout(dismiss, ready ? 100 : 1500);
+    return () => window.clearTimeout(timer);
+  }, [isInitialized, config.mode, config.sessionId, currentSessionId, draftOpen]);
+
   return null;
 };
 
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/hooks/useTraySync.ts b/packages/ui/src/hooks/useTraySync.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..46788561
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/ui/src/hooks/useTraySync.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,375 @@
+import React from 'react';
+import type { Session } from '@opencode-ai/sdk/v2';
+import { canUseElectronDesktopIPC, invokeDesktop, isDesktopLocalOriginActive } from '@/lib/desktop';
+import { getRuntimeApiBaseUrl } from '@/lib/runtime-switch';
+import { desktopHostsGet, getDesktopHostApiUrl, locationMatchesHost, redactSensitiveUrl } from '@/lib/desktopHosts';
+import { getSyncChildStores, getAllSyncSessions } from '@/sync/sync-refs';
+import { useNotificationStore } from '@/sync/notification-store';
+import { respondToPermission } from '@/sync/session-actions';
+import {
+  useGlobalSessionsStore,
+  ensureGlobalSessionsLoaded,
+  refreshGlobalSessions,
+  resolveGlobalSessionDirectory,
+} from '@/stores/useGlobalSessionsStore';
+import { toast } from '@/components/ui';
+import type { PermissionRequest } from '@/types/permission';
+import type { QuestionRequest } from '@/types/question';
+
+// macOS menu bar bridge. The Electron main process owns the Tray UI; this hook
+// streams a compact snapshot of live session/approval state to it via the
+// `desktop_tray_update` IPC command, and routes tray clicks back into the app.
+//
+// Only meaningful on the macOS desktop shell — main.mjs no-ops the command on
+// other platforms, but we still gate here to avoid pointless work.
+
+const TRAY_ACTION_EVENT = 'openchamber:tray-action';
+// Event-driven updates do the real work; this is just a slow safety net.
+const POLL_INTERVAL_MS = 5000;
+const FLUSH_DEBOUNCE_MS = 120;
+// Pull the full cross-project session list periodically. SSE keeps the active
+// directory instant; this catches sessions created in directories this client
+// never opened (other worktrees, other projects, the TUI, …).
+const GLOBAL_REFRESH_MS = 45000;
+const MAX_SESSIONS = 20;
+
+type TraySessionStatus = 'idle' | 'busy' | 'retry';
+
+type TraySession = {
+  id: string;
+  title: string;
+  status: TraySessionStatus;
+  branch: string;
+  unseen: number;
+  hasError: boolean;
+  directory: string;
+};
+
+type TrayApproval = {
+  kind: 'permission' | 'question';
+  id: string;
+  sessionId: string;
+  sessionTitle: string;
+  label: string;
+  directory: string;
+};
+
+type TraySnapshot = {
+  sessions: TraySession[];
+  approvals: TrayApproval[];
+  // Active instance label (e.g. "Local OpenChamber" or a remote host name) so
+  // the tray header makes clear which instance/window it reflects.
+  instanceName: string;
+};
+
+// focus-session / new-session are routed natively by the main process through
+// the existing `openchamber:open-session` / `openchamber:open-draft-session`
+// events (handled in App.tsx). Only respond-permission needs handling here.
+type TrayAction =
+  | { type: 'respond-permission'; sessionId: string; id: string; response: 'once' | 'always' | 'reject' };
+
+type DesktopBridgeGlobal = {
+  listen?: (
+    event: string,
+    handler: (evt: { payload?: unknown }) => void
+  ) => Promise<() => void>;
+};
+
+const isMac = (): boolean => {
+  if (typeof window === 'undefined') return false;
+  return (window as unknown as { __OPENCHAMBER_PLATFORM__?: string }).__OPENCHAMBER_PLATFORM__ === 'darwin';
+};
+
+const permissionLabel = (request: PermissionRequest): string => {
+  const head = typeof request.permission === 'string' ? request.permission : 'Permission';
+  const pattern = Array.isArray(request.patterns) ? request.patterns.find((p) => typeof p === 'string' && p.trim()) : '';
+  return pattern ? `${head}: ${pattern}` : head;
+};
+
+const questionLabel = (request: QuestionRequest): string => {
+  const first = Array.isArray(request.questions) ? request.questions[0] : undefined;
+  return first?.header || first?.question || 'Question';
+};
+
+const updatedAt = (session: Session): number =>
+  session.time?.updated ?? session.time?.created ?? 0;
+
+// Mirrors the header's instance resolution (Header.refreshCurrentInstanceLabel):
+// the local origin shows as "Local OpenChamber"; a remote host shows its
+// configured name. Async because the host config is read over IPC.
+const resolveInstanceName = async (): Promise<string> => {
+  try {
+    if (isDesktopLocalOriginActive()) return 'Local OpenChamber';
+    const localOrigin = (window as unknown as { __OPENCHAMBER_LOCAL_ORIGIN__?: string }).__OPENCHAMBER_LOCAL_ORIGIN__
+      || window.location.origin;
+    const runtimeApiBaseUrl = getRuntimeApiBaseUrl();
+    if (runtimeApiBaseUrl && locationMatchesHost(runtimeApiBaseUrl, localOrigin)) return 'Local OpenChamber';
+    const cfg = await desktopHostsGet();
+    const match = cfg.hosts.find((host) =>
+      runtimeApiBaseUrl ? locationMatchesHost(runtimeApiBaseUrl, getDesktopHostApiUrl(host)) : false);
+    if (match?.label?.trim()) return redactSensitiveUrl(match.label.trim());
+    return 'Instance';
+  } catch {
+    return '';
+  }
+};
+
+// Live data lives in the directory-scoped sync child stores. Aggregate it once
+// into flat lookups so we can attach it to the global session list by id.
+type LiveData = {
+  statusById: Map<string, TraySessionStatus>;
+  branchByDirectory: Map<string, string>;
+  approvals: TrayApproval[];
+  titleById: Map<string, string>;
+};
+
+const collectLiveData = (): LiveData => {
+  const statusById = new Map<string, TraySessionStatus>();
+  const branchByDirectory = new Map<string, string>();
+  const approvals: TrayApproval[] = [];
+  const titleById = new Map<string, string>();
+
+  let stores;
+  try {
+    stores = getSyncChildStores();
+  } catch {
+    return { statusById, branchByDirectory, approvals, titleById };
+  }
+
+  for (const [directory, store] of stores.children.entries()) {
+    const state = store.getState();
+    if (state.vcs?.branch) branchByDirectory.set(directory, state.vcs.branch);
+
+    for (const session of state.session) {
+      if (!session?.id) continue;
+      titleById.set(session.id, session.title);
+      const type = state.session_status[session.id]?.type;
+      statusById.set(session.id, type === 'busy' ? 'busy' : type === 'retry' ? 'retry' : 'idle');
+    }
+
+    for (const [sessionId, requests] of Object.entries(state.permission ?? {})) {
+      for (const request of requests ?? []) {
+        if (!request?.id) continue;
+        const sid = request.sessionID || sessionId;
+        approvals.push({ kind: 'permission', id: request.id, sessionId: sid, sessionTitle: '', label: permissionLabel(request), directory });
+      }
+    }
+    for (const [sessionId, requests] of Object.entries(state.question ?? {})) {
+      for (const request of requests ?? []) {
+        if (!request?.id) continue;
+        const sid = request.sessionID || sessionId;
+        approvals.push({ kind: 'question', id: request.id, sessionId: sid, sessionTitle: '', label: questionLabel(request), directory });
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  return { statusById, branchByDirectory, approvals, titleById };
+};
+
+const buildSnapshot = (instanceName: string): TraySnapshot => {
+  const live = collectLiveData();
+  const notif = useNotificationStore.getState().index.session;
+
+  // The list source is the GLOBAL store — every project/worktree the backend
+  // knows about, independent of which directories this client has opened. Live
+  // status/unread/branch are merged in by id where we have them (the session's
+  // directory is synced); otherwise the row is shown as idle.
+  const allSessions = useGlobalSessionsStore.getState().activeSessions;
+  const titleById = new Map<string, string>(live.titleById);
+  const childrenByParent = new Map<string, string[]>();
+  for (const session of allSessions) {
+    if (!session?.id) continue;
+    if (session.title) titleById.set(session.id, session.title);
+    if (session.parentID) {
+      const siblings = childrenByParent.get(session.parentID) ?? [];
+      siblings.push(session.id);
+      childrenByParent.set(session.parentID, siblings);
+    }
+  }
+
+  const collectDescendants = (rootId: string): string[] => {
+    const out: string[] = [];
+    const stack = [...(childrenByParent.get(rootId) ?? [])];
+    const seen = new Set<string>();
+    while (stack.length) {
+      const id = stack.pop() as string;
+      if (seen.has(id)) continue;
+      seen.add(id);
+      out.push(id);
+      stack.push(...(childrenByParent.get(id) ?? []));
+    }
+    return out;
+  };
+
+  const rollupStatus = (family: string[]): TraySessionStatus => {
+    const statuses = family.map((id) => live.statusById.get(id) ?? 'idle');
+    if (statuses.includes('busy')) return 'busy';
+    if (statuses.includes('retry')) return 'retry';
+    return 'idle';
+  };
+
+  const sessions: TraySession[] = allSessions
+    .filter((s) => s?.id && !s.parentID) // root rows; sub-session work rolls up
+    .slice()
+    .sort((a, b) => updatedAt(b) - updatedAt(a)) // most recently updated first
+    .slice(0, MAX_SESSIONS)
+    .map((session) => {
+      const family = [session.id, ...collectDescendants(session.id)];
+      const directory = resolveGlobalSessionDirectory(session) ?? '';
+      return {
+        id: session.id,
+        title: session.title || 'Untitled session',
+        status: rollupStatus(family),
+        branch: directory ? (live.branchByDirectory.get(directory) ?? '') : '',
+        unseen: family.reduce((sum, id) => sum + (notif.unseenCount[id] ?? 0), 0),
+        hasError: family.some((id) => notif.unseenHasError[id] ?? false),
+        directory,
+      };
+    });
+
+  const approvals = live.approvals.map((a) => ({ ...a, sessionTitle: titleById.get(a.sessionId) || '' }));
+
+  return { sessions, approvals, instanceName };
+};
+
+export const useTraySync = (): void => {
+  React.useEffect(() => {
+    if (!isMac() || !canUseElectronDesktopIPC()) return;
+
+    let disposed = false;
+    let lastSerialized = '';
+    let flushTimer: number | null = null;
+    // The active instance is fixed per window load (switching hosts re-navigates
+    // the window, remounting this hook). Resolve it once, then re-push.
+    let instanceName = '';
+
+    const flushNow = () => {
+      if (disposed) return;
+      const snapshot = buildSnapshot(instanceName);
+      const serialized = JSON.stringify(snapshot);
+      if (serialized === lastSerialized) return;
+      lastSerialized = serialized;
+      void invokeDesktop('desktop_tray_update', snapshot);
+    };
+
+    void resolveInstanceName().then((name) => {
+      if (disposed) return;
+      instanceName = name;
+      flushNow();
+    });
+
+    // Coalesce bursts (e.g. token-by-token streaming updates a store rapidly)
+    // into a single push, while staying near-instant for discrete events like
+    // a new session appearing.
+    const scheduleFlush = () => {
+      if (disposed || flushTimer !== null) return;
+      flushTimer = window.setTimeout(() => {
+        flushTimer = null;
+        flushNow();
+      }, FLUSH_DEBOUNCE_MS);
+    };
+
+    // Event-driven: subscribe to each directory store so session create/update/
+    // status changes propagate immediately, and to the registry so stores for
+    // newly-opened directories get wired up as they appear.
+    const storeUnsubs = new Map<string, () => void>();
+
+    const rebindStores = () => {
+      if (disposed) return;
+      let stores;
+      try {
+        stores = getSyncChildStores();
+      } catch {
+        return;
+      }
+      const live = new Set<string>();
+      for (const [directory, store] of stores.children.entries()) {
+        live.add(directory);
+        if (!storeUnsubs.has(directory)) {
+          storeUnsubs.set(directory, store.subscribe(() => scheduleFlush()));
+        }
+      }
+      for (const [directory, unsub] of storeUnsubs) {
+        if (!live.has(directory)) {
+          unsub();
+          storeUnsubs.delete(directory);
+        }
+      }
+    };
+
+    let unsubscribeRegistry: (() => void) | null = null;
+    try {
+      unsubscribeRegistry = getSyncChildStores().subscribeRegistry(() => {
+        rebindStores();
+        scheduleFlush();
+      });
+    } catch {
+      // Sync provider not mounted yet — the fallback poll below recovers.
+    }
+    rebindStores();
+
+    const unsubscribeNotif = useNotificationStore.subscribe(() => scheduleFlush());
+    // The global store drives the session list. It updates instantly via SSE
+    // for the active directory; subscribe so those land in the tray at once.
+    const unsubscribeGlobal = useGlobalSessionsStore.subscribe(() => scheduleFlush());
+
+    // Make the tray self-sufficient: load the full cross-project list now
+    // (independent of the sidebar) and refresh it periodically so sessions from
+    // directories this client never opened still show up and stay current.
+    void ensureGlobalSessionsLoaded(getAllSyncSessions());
+    const refreshInterval = window.setInterval(() => { void refreshGlobalSessions(); }, GLOBAL_REFRESH_MS);
+
+    // Safety net: catches anything the event subscriptions miss (e.g. a store
+    // that existed before the registry subscription was attached).
+    const interval = window.setInterval(() => { rebindStores(); flushNow(); }, POLL_INTERVAL_MS);
+
+    flushNow();
+
+    return () => {
+      disposed = true;
+      if (flushTimer !== null) window.clearTimeout(flushTimer);
+      window.clearInterval(interval);
+      window.clearInterval(refreshInterval);
+      unsubscribeNotif();
+      unsubscribeGlobal();
+      unsubscribeRegistry?.();
+      for (const unsub of storeUnsubs.values()) unsub();
+      storeUnsubs.clear();
+    };
+  }, []);
+
+  React.useEffect(() => {
+    if (!isMac() || typeof window === 'undefined') return;
+    const bridge = (window as unknown as { __OPENCHAMBER_DESKTOP__?: DesktopBridgeGlobal }).__OPENCHAMBER_DESKTOP__;
+    const listen = bridge?.listen;
+    if (typeof listen !== 'function') return;
+
+    const handle = (action: TrayAction) => {
+      switch (action.type) {
+        case 'respond-permission':
+          void respondToPermission(action.sessionId, action.id, action.response).catch(() => {
+            toast.error('Failed to respond to permission request');
+          });
+          break;
+      }
+    };
+
+    let unlisten: null | (() => void | Promise<void>) = null;
+    listen(TRAY_ACTION_EVENT, (evt) => {
+      const action = evt?.payload as TrayAction | undefined;
+      if (!action || typeof action !== 'object' || typeof action.type !== 'string') return;
+      handle(action);
+    })
+      .then((fn) => { unlisten = fn; })
+      .catch(() => { /* ignore */ });
+
+    return () => {
+      try {
+        const result = unlisten?.();
+        if (result instanceof Promise) void result.catch(() => {});
+      } catch {
+        // ignore
+      }
+    };
+  }, []);
+};
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/lib/shortcuts.ts b/packages/ui/src/lib/shortcuts.ts
index 2ebe9cc0..62cdeca3 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/lib/shortcuts.ts
+++ b/packages/ui/src/lib/shortcuts.ts
@@ -219,6 +219,7 @@ const SHORTCUT_ACTIONS: ReadonlyArray<ShortcutAction> = [
     defaultCombo: 'mod+alt+n',
     label: 'New Mini Chat window',
     description: 'Open a new Mini Chat draft window',
+    customizable: true,
   },
   {
     id: 'submit_message',
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/sync/sync-context.tsx b/packages/ui/src/sync/sync-context.tsx
index 1f44bfe3..1aff7111 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/sync/sync-context.tsx
+++ b/packages/ui/src/sync/sync-context.tsx
@@ -387,9 +387,21 @@ export function setExternallyViewedSession(directory: string, sessionId: string,
   externallyViewedSessions.set(key, Date.now() + EXTERNAL_VIEW_TTL_MS)
 }
 
+// The window must actually be focused for the active session to count as
+// "seen": if the app is minimized or in the background, a turn finishing in the
+// currently-selected session should still raise an unseen marker (in the tray
+// and in-app), since the user isn't looking at it.
+function isWindowFocused(): boolean {
+  return typeof document !== "undefined" && document.hasFocus()
+}
+
 function isViewedInCurrentSession(directory: string, sessionId?: string): boolean {
   if (!sessionId) return false
-  if (_activeDirectory && _activeSession && directory === _activeDirectory && sessionId === _activeSession) return true
+  if (
+    _activeDirectory && _activeSession
+    && directory === _activeDirectory && sessionId === _activeSession
+    && isWindowFocused()
+  ) return true
   pruneExternallyViewedSessions()
   return externallyViewedSessions.has(viewedSessionKey(directory, sessionId))
 }
diff --git a/packages/web/mini-chat.html b/packages/web/mini-chat.html
index ee84d145..f73a2358 100644
--- a/packages/web/mini-chat.html
+++ b/packages/web/mini-chat.html
@@ -4,9 +4,95 @@
     <meta charset="UTF-8" />
     <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0, maximum-scale=1.0, user-scalable=no, viewport-fit=cover" />
     <title>OpenChamber Mini Chat</title>
+
+    <script>
+      // Apply theme + splash colors before first paint so the window opens on a
+      // branded splash instead of flashing white while React/CSS load.
+      (function() {
+        try {
+          var themeMode = localStorage.getItem('themeMode');
+          var variant = localStorage.getItem('selectedThemeVariant');
+          var useSystem = localStorage.getItem('useSystemTheme');
+          var isDark;
+
+          if (themeMode === 'dark') {
+            isDark = true;
+          } else if (themeMode === 'light') {
+            isDark = false;
+          } else if (themeMode === 'system' || useSystem === null || useSystem === 'true') {
+            isDark = window.matchMedia('(prefers-color-scheme: dark)').matches;
+          } else if (variant === 'light' || variant === 'dark') {
+            isDark = variant === 'dark';
+          } else {
+            isDark = window.matchMedia('(prefers-color-scheme: dark)').matches;
+          }
+
+          document.documentElement.classList.add(isDark ? 'dark' : 'light');
+          document.documentElement.setAttribute('data-splash-variant', isDark ? 'dark' : 'light');
+          document.documentElement.style.setProperty('color-scheme', isDark ? 'dark' : 'light');
+
+          var splashBgLight = localStorage.getItem('splashBgLight');
+          var splashFgLight = localStorage.getItem('splashFgLight');
+          var splashBgDark = localStorage.getItem('splashBgDark');
+          var splashFgDark = localStorage.getItem('splashFgDark');
+
+          if (splashBgLight) document.documentElement.style.setProperty('--splash-background-light', splashBgLight);
+          if (splashFgLight) document.documentElement.style.setProperty('--splash-stroke-light', splashFgLight);
+          if (splashBgDark) document.documentElement.style.setProperty('--splash-background-dark', splashBgDark);
+          if (splashFgDark) document.documentElement.style.setProperty('--splash-stroke-dark', splashFgDark);
+        } catch (error) {
+          console.warn('Failed to apply theme:', error);
+        }
+      })();
+    </script>
+
+    <style>
+      /* A plain themed backdrop — no logo. The mini-chat content renders its
+         own (single) OpenChamber cube in its empty state, so a cube here would
+         briefly show a second, differently-sized one before handing off. The
+         backdrop matches bg-background, so fading it out is seamless. */
+      :root {
+        --splash-background-dark: #151313;
+        --splash-background-light: #FFFCF0;
+        --splash-background: var(--splash-background-dark);
+      }
+      html[data-splash-variant='light'] { --splash-background: var(--splash-background-light); }
+      html[data-splash-variant='dark'] { --splash-background: var(--splash-background-dark); }
+
+      #initial-loading {
+        background-color: var(--splash-background);
+        height: 100vh;
+        width: 100%;
+        position: absolute;
+        inset: 0;
+        z-index: 9999;
+        transition: opacity 0.3s ease-out;
+      }
+      #initial-loading.fade-out {
+        opacity: 0;
+        pointer-events: none;
+      }
+    </style>
+
     <script type="module" src="/src/mini-chat-main.tsx"></script>
   </head>
   <body class="h-full bg-background text-foreground">
-    <div id="root" class="h-full"></div>
+    <div id="root" class="h-full">
+      <!-- Themed backdrop until the mini-chat React app is ready (dismissed in
+           ElectronMiniChatApp). No logo here on purpose — the content renders
+           the single OpenChamber cube itself. -->
+      <div id="initial-loading"></div>
+    </div>
+
+    <script>
+      // Safety net: never let the splash hang if the app fails to dismiss it.
+      setTimeout(function() {
+        var loading = document.getElementById('initial-loading');
+        if (loading) {
+          loading.classList.add('fade-out');
+          setTimeout(function() { loading.remove(); }, 300);
+        }
+      }, 8000);
+    </script>
   </body>
 </html>