diff --git a/packages/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/settings.rs b/packages/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/settings.rs
index 8bf58b38..35d2d633 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/settings.rs
+++ b/packages/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/settings.rs
@@ -257,6 +257,9 @@ fn sanitize_settings_update(payload: &Value) -> Value {
         if let Some(Value::Bool(b)) = obj.get("queueModeEnabled") {
             result_obj.insert("queueModeEnabled".to_string(), json!(b));
         }
+        if let Some(Value::Bool(b)) = obj.get("autoCreateWorktree") {
+            result_obj.insert("autoCreateWorktree".to_string(), json!(b));
+        }
 
         // Number fields
         if let Some(Value::Number(n)) = obj.get("autoDeleteAfterDays") {
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/components/sections/openchamber/DefaultsSettings.tsx b/packages/ui/src/components/sections/openchamber/DefaultsSettings.tsx
index 70412574..c55e5e91 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/components/sections/openchamber/DefaultsSettings.tsx
+++ b/packages/ui/src/components/sections/openchamber/DefaultsSettings.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { updateDesktopSettings } from '@/lib/persistence';
 import { isDesktopRuntime, getDesktopSettings } from '@/lib/desktop';
 import { useConfigStore } from '@/stores/useConfigStore';
 import { getRegisteredRuntimeAPIs } from '@/contexts/runtimeAPIRegistry';
+import { getModifierLabel } from '@/lib/utils';
 
 export const DefaultsSettings: React.FC = () => {
   const setProvider = useConfigStore((state) => state.setProvider);
@@ -14,6 +15,8 @@ export const DefaultsSettings: React.FC = () => {
   const setAgent = useConfigStore((state) => state.setAgent);
   const setSettingsDefaultModel = useConfigStore((state) => state.setSettingsDefaultModel);
   const setSettingsDefaultAgent = useConfigStore((state) => state.setSettingsDefaultAgent);
+  const settingsAutoCreateWorktree = useConfigStore((state) => state.settingsAutoCreateWorktree);
+  const setSettingsAutoCreateWorktree = useConfigStore((state) => state.setSettingsAutoCreateWorktree);
   const providers = useConfigStore((state) => state.providers);
 
   const [defaultModel, setDefaultModel] = React.useState<string | undefined>();
@@ -126,6 +129,18 @@ export const DefaultsSettings: React.FC = () => {
     }
   }, [setAgent, setSettingsDefaultAgent]);
 
+  const handleAutoWorktreeChange = React.useCallback(async (e: React.ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>) => {
+    const enabled = e.target.checked;
+    setSettingsAutoCreateWorktree(enabled);
+    try {
+      await updateDesktopSettings({
+        autoCreateWorktree: enabled,
+      });
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.warn('Failed to save auto create worktree setting:', error);
+    }
+  }, [setSettingsAutoCreateWorktree]);
+
   if (isLoading) {
     return null;
   }
@@ -134,14 +149,13 @@ export const DefaultsSettings: React.FC = () => {
     <div className="space-y-4">
       <div className="space-y-1">
         <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
-          <h3 className="typography-ui-header font-semibold text-foreground">Default model & agent</h3>
+          <h3 className="typography-ui-header font-semibold text-foreground">Session Defaults</h3>
           <Tooltip delayDuration={1000}>
             <TooltipTrigger asChild>
               <RiInformationLine className="h-3.5 w-3.5 text-muted-foreground/60 cursor-help" />
             </TooltipTrigger>
             <TooltipContent sideOffset={8} className="max-w-xs">
-              Set the default model and agent for new sessions.<br />
-              When not set, uses agent&apos;s preferred model or opencode/big-pickle as fallback.
+              Configure default behaviors for new sessions.
             </TooltipContent>
           </Tooltip>
         </div>
@@ -174,6 +188,25 @@ export const DefaultsSettings: React.FC = () => {
           {defaultAgent && <span className="text-foreground">{defaultAgent}</span>}
         </div>
       )}
+
+      <div className="pt-2">
+        <label className="flex items-center gap-2 cursor-pointer">
+          <input
+            type="checkbox"
+            className="h-3.5 w-3.5 accent-primary"
+            checked={settingsAutoCreateWorktree}
+            onChange={handleAutoWorktreeChange}
+          />
+          <span className="typography-ui-label text-foreground">
+            Always create worktree for new sessions
+          </span>
+        </label>
+        <p className="typography-meta text-muted-foreground pl-5.5 mt-1">
+          {settingsAutoCreateWorktree
+            ? `New session (Worktree): ${getModifierLabel()} + N  •  New session (Standard): Shift + ${getModifierLabel()} + N`
+            : `New session (Standard): ${getModifierLabel()} + N  •  New session (Worktree): Shift + ${getModifierLabel()} + N`}
+        </p>
+      </div>
     </div>
   );
 };
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/components/session/SessionSidebar.tsx b/packages/ui/src/components/session/SessionSidebar.tsx
index 7a115a9e..3eb25a31 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/components/session/SessionSidebar.tsx
+++ b/packages/ui/src/components/session/SessionSidebar.tsx
@@ -698,6 +698,18 @@ export const SessionSidebar: React.FC<SessionSidebarProps> = ({
   const handleDeleteSession = React.useCallback(
     async (session: Session) => {
       const descendants = collectDescendants(session.id);
+      
+      // Check if this is a worktree session - if so, show confirmation dialog
+      const worktree = worktreeMetadata.get(session.id);
+      if (worktree) {
+        sessionEvents.requestDelete({
+          sessions: [session, ...descendants],
+          mode: 'worktree',
+          worktree,
+        });
+        return;
+      }
+
       if (descendants.length === 0) {
 
         const success = await deleteSession(session.id);
@@ -718,7 +730,7 @@ export const SessionSidebar: React.FC<SessionSidebarProps> = ({
         }
       }
     },
-    [collectDescendants, deleteSession, deleteSessions],
+    [collectDescendants, deleteSession, deleteSessions, worktreeMetadata],
   );
 
   const handleCreateSessionInGroup = React.useCallback(
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/components/ui/CommandPalette.tsx b/packages/ui/src/components/ui/CommandPalette.tsx
index 208119e9..448df09a 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/components/ui/CommandPalette.tsx
+++ b/packages/ui/src/components/ui/CommandPalette.tsx
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import {
 import { useUIStore } from '@/stores/useUIStore';
 import { useSessionStore } from '@/stores/useSessionStore';
 import { useDirectoryStore } from '@/stores/useDirectoryStore';
+import { useConfigStore } from '@/stores/useConfigStore';
 import { useThemeSystem } from '@/contexts/useThemeSystem';
 import { useDeviceInfo } from '@/lib/device';
 import { RiAddLine, RiChatAi3Line, RiCheckLine, RiCodeLine, RiComputerLine, RiGitBranchLine, RiLayoutLeftLine, RiMoonLine, RiQuestionLine, RiRestartLine, RiSettings3Line, RiSunLine, RiTerminalBoxLine, RiTimeLine } from '@remixicon/react';
@@ -37,6 +38,8 @@ export const CommandPalette: React.FC = () => {
     getSessionsByDirectory,
   } = useSessionStore();
 
+  const settingsAutoCreateWorktree = useConfigStore((state) => state.settingsAutoCreateWorktree);
+
   const { currentDirectory } = useDirectoryStore();
   const { themeMode, setThemeMode } = useThemeSystem();
 
@@ -133,12 +136,16 @@ export const CommandPalette: React.FC = () => {
           <CommandItem onSelect={handleCreateSession}>
             <RiAddLine className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />
             <span>New Session</span>
-            <CommandShortcut>{getModifierLabel()} + N</CommandShortcut>
+            <CommandShortcut>
+              {settingsAutoCreateWorktree ? `Shift + ${getModifierLabel()} + N` : `${getModifierLabel()} + N`}
+            </CommandShortcut>
           </CommandItem>
           <CommandItem onSelect={handleCreateWorktreeSession}>
             <RiGitBranchLine className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />
             <span>New Session with Worktree</span>
-            <CommandShortcut>Shift + {getModifierLabel()} + N</CommandShortcut>
+            <CommandShortcut>
+              {settingsAutoCreateWorktree ? `${getModifierLabel()} + N` : `Shift + ${getModifierLabel()} + N`}
+            </CommandShortcut>
           </CommandItem>
           <CommandItem onSelect={handleShowHelp}>
             <RiQuestionLine className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/components/ui/HelpDialog.tsx b/packages/ui/src/components/ui/HelpDialog.tsx
index f05c821b..89c3ece2 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/components/ui/HelpDialog.tsx
+++ b/packages/ui/src/components/ui/HelpDialog.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import {
   DialogTitle,
 } from "@/components/ui/dialog";
 import { useUIStore } from "@/stores/useUIStore";
+import { useConfigStore } from "@/stores/useConfigStore";
 import {
   RiAddLine,
   RiArrowUpSLine,
@@ -82,6 +83,7 @@ type ShortcutSection = {
 
 export const HelpDialog: React.FC = () => {
   const { isHelpDialogOpen, setHelpDialogOpen } = useUIStore();
+  const settingsAutoCreateWorktree = useConfigStore((state) => state.settingsAutoCreateWorktree);
 
   const mod = getModifierLabel();
 
@@ -116,13 +118,13 @@ export const HelpDialog: React.FC = () => {
       items: [
         {
           keys: [`${mod} + N`],
-          description: "Create New Session",
-          icon: RiAddLine,
+          description: settingsAutoCreateWorktree ? "Create new session in worktree" : "Create New Session",
+          icon: settingsAutoCreateWorktree ? RiGitBranchLine : RiAddLine,
         },
         {
           keys: [`Shift + ${mod} + N`],
-          description: "Open Worktree Creator",
-          icon: RiGitBranchLine,
+          description: settingsAutoCreateWorktree ? "Create New Session" : "Create new session in worktree",
+          icon: settingsAutoCreateWorktree ? RiAddLine : RiGitBranchLine,
         },
         { keys: [`${mod} + I`], description: "Focus Chat Input", icon: RiText },
         {
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/hooks/useKeyboardShortcuts.ts b/packages/ui/src/hooks/useKeyboardShortcuts.ts
index c2a7b486..8d9cc5be 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/hooks/useKeyboardShortcuts.ts
+++ b/packages/ui/src/hooks/useKeyboardShortcuts.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { useAssistantStatus } from '@/hooks/useAssistantStatus';
 import { getRegisteredRuntimeAPIs } from '@/contexts/runtimeAPIRegistry';
 import { hasModifier } from '@/lib/utils';
 import { createWorktreeSession } from '@/lib/worktreeSessionCreator';
+import { useConfigStore } from '@/stores/useConfigStore';
 
 export const useKeyboardShortcuts = () => {
   const { openNewSessionDraft, abortCurrentOperation, armAbortPrompt, clearAbortPrompt, currentSessionId } = useSessionStore();
@@ -81,14 +82,20 @@ export const useKeyboardShortcuts = () => {
 
       if (hasModifier(e) && e.key.toLowerCase() === 'n') {
         e.preventDefault();
-        if (e.shiftKey) {
-          // Shift+Cmd/Ctrl+N creates a new session with auto-generated worktree
+        
+        const autoWorktree = useConfigStore.getState().settingsAutoCreateWorktree;
+        // If autoWorktree is true: Cmd+N -> Worktree, Cmd+Shift+N -> Standard
+        // If autoWorktree is false: Cmd+N -> Standard, Cmd+Shift+N -> Worktree
+        const shouldCreateWorktree = autoWorktree ? !e.shiftKey : e.shiftKey;
+
+        if (shouldCreateWorktree) {
+          // Create new session with auto-generated worktree
           setActiveMainTab('chat');
           setSessionSwitcherOpen(false);
           createWorktreeSession();
           return;
         }
-        // Cmd/Ctrl+N opens a new session without worktree
+        // Open a new session without worktree
         setActiveMainTab('chat');
         setSessionSwitcherOpen(false);
         openNewSessionDraft();
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/lib/desktop.ts b/packages/ui/src/lib/desktop.ts
index 75c33ac8..3455ca5f 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/lib/desktop.ts
+++ b/packages/ui/src/lib/desktop.ts
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ export type DesktopSettings = {
   autoDeleteAfterDays?: number;
   defaultModel?: string; // format: "provider/model"
   defaultAgent?: string;
+  autoCreateWorktree?: boolean;
   queueModeEnabled?: boolean;
 
   // User-added skills catalogs (persisted to ~/.config/openchamber/settings.json)
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/lib/persistence.ts b/packages/ui/src/lib/persistence.ts
index 8686a2d3..ff05eb3d 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/lib/persistence.ts
+++ b/packages/ui/src/lib/persistence.ts
@@ -255,6 +255,9 @@ const sanitizeWebSettings = (payload: unknown): DesktopSettings | null => {
   if (typeof candidate.defaultAgent === 'string' && candidate.defaultAgent.length > 0) {
     result.defaultAgent = candidate.defaultAgent;
   }
+  if (typeof candidate.autoCreateWorktree === 'boolean') {
+    result.autoCreateWorktree = candidate.autoCreateWorktree;
+  }
   if (typeof candidate.queueModeEnabled === 'boolean') {
     result.queueModeEnabled = candidate.queueModeEnabled;
   }
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/lib/worktreeSessionCreator.ts b/packages/ui/src/lib/worktreeSessionCreator.ts
index 695fede6..74ce4e63 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/lib/worktreeSessionCreator.ts
+++ b/packages/ui/src/lib/worktreeSessionCreator.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { toast } from 'sonner';
 import { useSessionStore } from '@/stores/useSessionStore';
 import { useProjectsStore } from '@/stores/useProjectsStore';
 import { useConfigStore } from '@/stores/useConfigStore';
+import { useContextStore } from '@/stores/contextStore';
 import { useDirectoryStore } from '@/stores/useDirectoryStore';
 import { checkIsGitRepository } from '@/lib/gitApi';
 import { generateUniqueBranchName } from '@/lib/git/branchNameGenerator';
@@ -116,11 +117,57 @@ export async function createWorktreeSession(): Promise<{ id: string } | null> {
     }
 
     // Initialize the session
-    const agents = useConfigStore.getState().agents;
+    const configState = useConfigStore.getState();
+    const agents = configState.agents;
     sessionStore.initializeNewOpenChamberSession(session.id, agents);
     sessionStore.setSessionDirectory(session.id, metadata.path);
     sessionStore.setWorktreeMetadata(session.id, createdMetadata);
 
+    // Apply default agent and model settings
+    try {
+      const visibleAgents = configState.getVisibleAgents();
+      let agentName: string | undefined;
+
+      // Priority: settingsDefaultAgent → build → first visible
+      if (configState.settingsDefaultAgent) {
+        const settingsAgent = visibleAgents.find((a) => a.name === configState.settingsDefaultAgent);
+        if (settingsAgent) {
+          agentName = settingsAgent.name;
+        }
+      }
+      if (!agentName) {
+        agentName =
+          visibleAgents.find((agent) => agent.name === 'build')?.name ||
+          visibleAgents[0]?.name;
+      }
+
+      if (agentName) {
+        // 1. Update global UI state
+        configState.setAgent(agentName);
+
+        // 2. Persist to session context so it sticks after reload/switch
+        useContextStore.getState().saveSessionAgentSelection(session.id, agentName);
+
+        // 3. Handle default model for the agent if set in global settings
+        const settingsDefaultModel = configState.settingsDefaultModel;
+        if (settingsDefaultModel) {
+          const parts = settingsDefaultModel.split('/');
+          if (parts.length === 2) {
+            const [providerId, modelId] = parts;
+            // Validate model exists (optional, but good practice)
+            const modelMetadata = configState.getModelMetadata(providerId, modelId);
+            if (modelMetadata) {
+              useContextStore.getState().saveSessionModelSelection(session.id, providerId, modelId);
+              // Also save the specific agent's model preference for this session
+              useContextStore.getState().saveAgentModelForSession(session.id, agentName, providerId, modelId);
+            }
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    } catch {
+      // Ignore errors setting default agent
+    }
+
     // Update directory
     useDirectoryStore.getState().setDirectory(metadata.path, { showOverlay: false });
 
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/stores/useConfigStore.ts b/packages/ui/src/stores/useConfigStore.ts
index e648df99..fac0160c 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/stores/useConfigStore.ts
+++ b/packages/ui/src/stores/useConfigStore.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ const FALLBACK_MODEL_ID = "big-pickle";
 interface OpenChamberDefaults {
     defaultModel?: string;
     defaultAgent?: string;
+    autoCreateWorktree?: boolean;
 }
 
 const fetchOpenChamberDefaults = async (): Promise<OpenChamberDefaults> => {
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@ const fetchOpenChamberDefaults = async (): Promise<OpenChamberDefaults> => {
             return {
                 defaultModel: settings?.defaultModel,
                 defaultAgent: settings?.defaultAgent,
+                autoCreateWorktree: settings?.autoCreateWorktree,
             };
         }
 
@@ -46,6 +48,7 @@ const fetchOpenChamberDefaults = async (): Promise<OpenChamberDefaults> => {
                     return {
                         defaultModel: typeof data?.defaultModel === 'string' ? data.defaultModel : undefined,
                         defaultAgent: typeof data?.defaultAgent === 'string' ? data.defaultAgent : undefined,
+                        autoCreateWorktree: typeof data?.autoCreateWorktree === 'boolean' ? data.autoCreateWorktree : undefined,
                     };
                 }
             } catch {
@@ -65,6 +68,7 @@ const fetchOpenChamberDefaults = async (): Promise<OpenChamberDefaults> => {
         return {
             defaultModel: typeof data?.defaultModel === 'string' ? data.defaultModel : undefined,
             defaultAgent: typeof data?.defaultAgent === 'string' ? data.defaultAgent : undefined,
+            autoCreateWorktree: typeof data?.autoCreateWorktree === 'boolean' ? data.autoCreateWorktree : undefined,
         };
     } catch {
         return {};
@@ -351,6 +355,7 @@ interface ConfigStore {
     // OpenChamber settings-based defaults (take precedence over agent preferences)
     settingsDefaultModel: string | undefined; // format: "provider/model"
     settingsDefaultAgent: string | undefined;
+    settingsAutoCreateWorktree: boolean;
 
     activateDirectory: (directory: string | null | undefined) => Promise<void>;
 
@@ -362,6 +367,7 @@ interface ConfigStore {
     setSelectedProvider: (providerId: string) => void;
     setSettingsDefaultModel: (model: string | undefined) => void;
     setSettingsDefaultAgent: (agent: string | undefined) => void;
+    setSettingsAutoCreateWorktree: (enabled: boolean) => void;
     saveAgentModelSelection: (agentName: string, providerId: string, modelId: string) => void;
     getAgentModelSelection: (agentName: string) => { providerId: string; modelId: string } | null;
     checkConnection: () => Promise<boolean>;
@@ -402,6 +408,7 @@ export const useConfigStore = create<ConfigStore>()(
                 modelsMetadata: new Map<string, ModelMetadata>(),
                 settingsDefaultModel: undefined,
                 settingsDefaultAgent: undefined,
+                settingsAutoCreateWorktree: false,
 
                 activateDirectory: async (directory) => {
                     const directoryKey = toDirectoryKey(directory);
@@ -730,6 +737,7 @@ export const useConfigStore = create<ConfigStore>()(
                                 const nextState: Partial<ConfigStore> = {
                                     settingsDefaultModel: openChamberDefaults.defaultModel,
                                     settingsDefaultAgent: openChamberDefaults.defaultAgent,
+                                    settingsAutoCreateWorktree: openChamberDefaults.autoCreateWorktree ?? false,
                                     directoryScoped: {
                                         ...state.directoryScoped,
                                         [directoryKey]: nextSnapshot,
@@ -1111,6 +1119,10 @@ export const useConfigStore = create<ConfigStore>()(
                     set({ settingsDefaultAgent: agent });
                 },
 
+                setSettingsAutoCreateWorktree: (enabled: boolean) => {
+                    set({ settingsAutoCreateWorktree: enabled });
+                },
+
                 checkConnection: async () => {
                     const maxAttempts = 5;
                     let attempt = 0;
diff --git a/packages/web/server/index.js b/packages/web/server/index.js
index e870aff0..fe22f131 100644
--- a/packages/web/server/index.js
+++ b/packages/web/server/index.js
@@ -599,6 +599,9 @@ const sanitizeSettingsUpdate = (payload) => {
   if (typeof candidate.queueModeEnabled === 'boolean') {
     result.queueModeEnabled = candidate.queueModeEnabled;
   }
+  if (typeof candidate.autoCreateWorktree === 'boolean') {
+    result.autoCreateWorktree = candidate.autoCreateWorktree;
+  }
 
   const skillCatalogs = sanitizeSkillCatalogs(candidate.skillCatalogs);
   if (skillCatalogs) {