diff --git a/src/components/chat/Messages.tsx b/src/components/chat/Messages.tsx
index df9d1a25..f44549fe 100644
--- a/src/components/chat/Messages.tsx
+++ b/src/components/chat/Messages.tsx
@@ -131,6 +131,34 @@ const MessagesImpl = () => {
   const vlistRef = useRef<VListHandle>(null);
   const initialTurnPinnedRef = useRef(false);
 
+  // When a thread is loaded/switched, drop the user at the bottom of the
+  // scroll container so they land on the latest exchange (typically the
+  // most recent assistant response). This relies on `<Messages>` being
+  // keyed by `threadId` in `<ThreadBody>` so React remounts it on every
+  // thread switch — a fresh mount is the one-shot signal, no ref guard
+  // or dep tracking needed. (Without the key the future
+  // `ChatRuntimesProvider` runtime cache would let React reconcile this
+  // tree in place across threads and the effect would stop firing.)
+  //
+  // We bail when `isStreaming` is true on mount so we don't fight the
+  // pin-to-top effect below in the brand-new-thread case (where
+  // `<Messages>` mounts mid-turn). Empty deps mean the effect won't
+  // re-fire when streaming ends, avoiding a post-turn scroll jolt.
+  useLayoutEffect(() => {
+    if (isStreaming) return;
+    if (messages.length === 0) return;
+    const handle = vlistRef.current;
+    if (!handle) return;
+    const lastIndex = messages.length - 1;
+    requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+      handle.scrollToIndex(lastIndex, { align: "end" });
+    });
+    // Intentional: fire once per <Messages> mount. `messages` and
+    // `isStreaming` are read from the first-render closure, which is
+    // the correct moment.
+    // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
+  }, []);
+
   // Pin the newest message just below the top of the viewport on every new
   // turn. Most turns arrive as a `ready → submitted` transition, but the
   // very first turn mounts `<Messages>` after we already left the welcome
diff --git a/src/components/chat/ThreadBody.tsx b/src/components/chat/ThreadBody.tsx
index a81e4b4e..47166758 100644
--- a/src/components/chat/ThreadBody.tsx
+++ b/src/components/chat/ThreadBody.tsx
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ interface ThreadBodyProps {
  * `<Messages>` can rely on their DOM being present on first mount.
  */
 export function ThreadBody({ empty }: ThreadBodyProps) {
-  const { messages, isHistoryLoading } = useChatContext();
+  const { threadId, messages, isHistoryLoading } = useChatContext();
 
   if (messages.length === 0 && isHistoryLoading) {
     return (
@@ -45,5 +45,14 @@ export function ThreadBody({ empty }: ThreadBodyProps) {
     );
   }
 
-  return <Messages />;
+  // Key by threadId so `<Messages>` remounts on every thread switch.
+  // Today, ChatProvider clears messages on switch and we route through
+  // the skeleton above, so a remount happens naturally. Once the
+  // ChatRuntimesProvider lands and BoundChatProvider rebinds
+  // useChat({ chat }) to a cached runtime, that gap disappears — React
+  // would otherwise reconcile in place and stale per-thread state
+  // (initial scroll position, lastMeasuredUser, prevStatusRef, the
+  // initialTurnPinnedRef guard, virtua's internal cache) would carry
+  // across threads. The key forces a fresh mount instead.
+  return <Messages key={threadId} />;
 }