diff --git a/desktop/src/app/AppShell.tsx b/desktop/src/app/AppShell.tsx
index d4932072a0..45315fb0dd 100644
--- a/desktop/src/app/AppShell.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/app/AppShell.tsx
@@ -799,7 +799,7 @@ export function AppShell() {
                             className="isolate min-h-0 min-w-0 overflow-hidden bg-sidebar"
                             style={chromeCssVarDefaults}
                           >
-                            <div className="relative z-10 ml-px mt-px flex min-h-0 flex-1 flex-col overflow-hidden rounded-tl-xl bg-background shadow-[-1px_-1px_0_0_hsl(var(--sidebar-border)/0.45)]">
+                            <div className="relative z-10 mb-2 ml-px mr-2 mt-px flex min-h-0 flex-1 flex-col overflow-hidden rounded-xl bg-background shadow-[-1px_-1px_0_0_hsl(var(--sidebar-border)/0.45)]">
                               <ConnectionBanner
                                 errorMessage={channelsErrorMessage}
                               />
diff --git a/desktop/src/app/AppTopChrome.tsx b/desktop/src/app/AppTopChrome.tsx
index 974fa73a89..3b725e8728 100644
--- a/desktop/src/app/AppTopChrome.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/app/AppTopChrome.tsx
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import * as React from "react";
 import {
   ChevronLeft,
   ChevronRight,
@@ -22,6 +23,10 @@ type AppTopChromeProps = {
 const TOP_CHROME_ICON_BUTTON_CLASS =
   "h-7 w-7 rounded-[4px] text-sidebar-foreground/65 hover:bg-sidebar-accent hover:text-sidebar-accent-foreground [&_svg]:size-4";
 
+function preventTopChromeWheel(event: WheelEvent) {
+  event.preventDefault();
+}
+
 function TopChromeSidebarTrigger() {
   const sidebar = useOptionalSidebar();
 
@@ -50,6 +55,7 @@ export function AppTopChrome({
   onGoBack,
   onGoForward,
 }: AppTopChromeProps) {
+  const topChromeRef = React.useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
   const isFullscreen = useIsFullscreen();
   // On macOS the traffic-light buttons overlay the chrome (see
   // `trafficLightPosition` in `tauri.conf.json`), so the nav row clears their
@@ -60,14 +66,29 @@ export function AppTopChrome({
   const navRowAlignmentClass =
     isMacPlatform() && !isFullscreen ? "translate-y-[3px]" : null;
 
+  React.useEffect(() => {
+    const topChrome = topChromeRef.current;
+    if (!topChrome) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const options = { capture: true, passive: false };
+    topChrome.addEventListener("wheel", preventTopChromeWheel, options);
+    return () => {
+      topChrome.removeEventListener("wheel", preventTopChromeWheel, options);
+    };
+  }, []);
+
   return (
     <div
+      ref={topChromeRef}
       className={cn(
         "relative z-45 flex shrink-0 cursor-default select-none items-center bg-sidebar pr-3 text-sidebar-foreground",
         topChromeBackdrop.height,
         navRowPaddingClass,
       )}
       data-tauri-drag-region
+      data-testid="app-top-chrome"
     >
       <div className={cn("flex items-center gap-0.5", navRowAlignmentClass)}>
         <TopChromeSidebarTrigger />
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/channels/ui/AgentSessionThreadPanel.tsx b/desktop/src/features/channels/ui/AgentSessionThreadPanel.tsx
index ab9712811f..9e202f7a26 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/channels/ui/AgentSessionThreadPanel.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/channels/ui/AgentSessionThreadPanel.tsx
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import { Button } from "@/shared/ui/button";
 import type { UserProfileLookup } from "@/features/profile/lib/identity";
 import {
   OverlayPanelBackdrop,
-  PANEL_BASE_CLASS,
+  PANEL_ENTER_BASE_CLASS,
   PANEL_OVERLAY_CLASS,
   PANEL_SINGLE_COLUMN_HEADER_LAYER_CLASS,
 } from "@/shared/ui/OverlayPanelBackdrop";
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ export function AgentSessionThreadPanel({
       {isFloatingOverlay && <OverlayPanelBackdrop onClose={onClose} />}
       <aside
         className={cn(
-          PANEL_BASE_CLASS,
+          PANEL_ENTER_BASE_CLASS,
           isSinglePanelView && "border-l-0",
           isFloatingOverlay && PANEL_OVERLAY_CLASS,
         )}
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/channels/ui/ChannelManagementAuxiliaryPanel.tsx b/desktop/src/features/channels/ui/ChannelManagementAuxiliaryPanel.tsx
index 612c488565..0a917ecac0 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/channels/ui/ChannelManagementAuxiliaryPanel.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/channels/ui/ChannelManagementAuxiliaryPanel.tsx
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ export function ChannelManagementAuxiliaryPanel({
 }: ChannelManagementAuxiliaryPanelProps) {
   const panel = (
     <ChannelManagementSheet
+      animateSplitEnter={isSinglePanelView && !useSplitAuxiliaryPane}
       channel={activeChannel}
       currentPubkey={currentPubkey}
       layout={useSplitAuxiliaryPane || isSinglePanelView ? "split" : "overlay"}
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/channels/ui/ChannelManagementSheet.tsx b/desktop/src/features/channels/ui/ChannelManagementSheet.tsx
index d57ab9ecdd..59c922af4e 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/channels/ui/ChannelManagementSheet.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/channels/ui/ChannelManagementSheet.tsx
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ import { useScrollBoundaryLock } from "@/shared/hooks/useScrollBoundaryLock";
 import {
   OverlayPanelBackdrop,
   PANEL_BASE_CLASS,
+  PANEL_ENTER_MOTION_CLASS,
   PANEL_OVERLAY_CLASS,
 } from "@/shared/ui/OverlayPanelBackdrop";
 import { ChannelCanvas } from "./ChannelCanvas";
@@ -81,6 +82,7 @@ import { ChannelManagementModerationActions } from "./ChannelManagementModeratio
 
 type ChannelManagementSheetProps = {
   channel: Channel | null;
+  animateSplitEnter?: boolean;
   currentPubkey?: string;
   layout?: "overlay" | "split";
   onDeleted?: () => void;
@@ -91,6 +93,7 @@ type ChannelManagementSheetProps = {
 const DEFAULT_EPHEMERAL_TTL_SECONDS = 7 * 24 * 60 * 60;
 
 export function ChannelManagementSheet({
+  animateSplitEnter = false,
   channel,
   currentPubkey,
   layout = "overlay",
@@ -315,6 +318,7 @@ export function ChannelManagementSheet({
           className={cn(
             PANEL_BASE_CLASS,
             "h-full w-full cursor-default overflow-hidden border-l-0 p-0",
+            animateSplitEnter && PANEL_ENTER_MOTION_CLASS,
             isDark
               ? "bg-background/85 backdrop-blur-xl supports-[backdrop-filter]:bg-background/75"
               : "bg-background",
@@ -361,7 +365,8 @@ export function ChannelManagementSheet({
             className={cn(
               PANEL_BASE_CLASS,
               PANEL_OVERLAY_CLASS,
-              "w-[380px] cursor-default overflow-hidden p-0 transition ease-in-out data-[state=closed]:duration-300 data-[state=open]:duration-500 data-[state=open]:animate-in data-[state=closed]:animate-out data-[state=closed]:slide-out-to-right data-[state=open]:slide-in-from-right",
+              PANEL_ENTER_MOTION_CLASS,
+              "w-[380px] cursor-default overflow-hidden p-0 data-[state=closed]:animate-out data-[state=closed]:slide-out-to-right data-[state=closed]:duration-200",
               isDark
                 ? "bg-background/85 backdrop-blur-xl supports-[backdrop-filter]:bg-background/75"
                 : "bg-background",
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/channels/ui/ChannelPane.tsx b/desktop/src/features/channels/ui/ChannelPane.tsx
index a11370f700..9c23ac0737 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/channels/ui/ChannelPane.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/channels/ui/ChannelPane.tsx
@@ -794,7 +794,7 @@ export const ChannelPane = React.memo(function ChannelPane({
                     {hasTypingActivity ? (
                       <TypingIndicatorRow
                         channel={activeChannel}
-                        className="min-w-0 flex-1 px-0 py-0"
+                        className="min-w-0 flex-1 py-0 pl-[calc(0.75rem+1px)] pr-0 sm:pl-[calc(1rem+1px)]"
                         currentPubkey={currentPubkey}
                         profiles={profiles}
                         typingPubkeys={typingPubkeys}
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/channels/ui/RightAuxiliaryPane.tsx b/desktop/src/features/channels/ui/RightAuxiliaryPane.tsx
index f97a298482..66f6c77007 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/channels/ui/RightAuxiliaryPane.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/channels/ui/RightAuxiliaryPane.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 import type * as React from "react";
 
 import { THREAD_PANEL_MIN_WIDTH_PX } from "@/shared/hooks/useThreadPanelWidth";
+import { cn } from "@/shared/lib/cn";
+import { PANEL_ENTER_MOTION_CLASS } from "@/shared/ui/OverlayPanelBackdrop";
 
 type RightAuxiliaryPaneProps = {
   canResetWidth: boolean;
@@ -23,7 +25,10 @@ export function RightAuxiliaryPane({
 }: RightAuxiliaryPaneProps) {
   return (
     <aside
-      className="group/right-pane relative flex h-full shrink-0 flex-col overflow-hidden bg-background before:pointer-events-none before:absolute before:bottom-0 before:left-0 before:top-0 before:z-40 before:w-px before:bg-border/80 before:content-['']"
+      className={cn(
+        "group/right-pane relative flex h-full shrink-0 flex-col overflow-hidden bg-background before:pointer-events-none before:absolute before:bottom-0 before:left-0 before:top-0 before:z-40 before:w-px before:bg-border/80 before:content-['']",
+        PANEL_ENTER_MOTION_CLASS,
+      )}
       data-testid={testId}
       style={{
         maxWidth: constrainToAvailableSpace
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/messages/ui/MessageComposerToolbar.tsx b/desktop/src/features/messages/ui/MessageComposerToolbar.tsx
index 468bf59207..6397366405 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/messages/ui/MessageComposerToolbar.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/messages/ui/MessageComposerToolbar.tsx
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ export const MessageComposerToolbar = React.memo(
           editor={editor}
           onLinkButton={onLinkButton}
         />
-        <div className="flex min-h-10 min-w-0 flex-1 items-center gap-1 py-1">
+        <div className="-ml-2 flex min-h-10 min-w-0 flex-1 items-center gap-1 py-1">
           {/*
            * AnimatePresence with mode="popLayout" — exiting elements
            * are popped out of flow immediately so entering elements
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/messages/ui/MessageThreadPanel.tsx b/desktop/src/features/messages/ui/MessageThreadPanel.tsx
index 0dc03640f5..69e40bdbef 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/messages/ui/MessageThreadPanel.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/messages/ui/MessageThreadPanel.tsx
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import {
 import { Button } from "@/shared/ui/button";
 import {
   OverlayPanelBackdrop,
-  PANEL_BASE_CLASS,
+  PANEL_ENTER_BASE_CLASS,
   PANEL_OVERLAY_CLASS,
   PANEL_SINGLE_COLUMN_HEADER_LAYER_CLASS,
 } from "@/shared/ui/OverlayPanelBackdrop";
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ function ThreadComposerSkeleton() {
         </div>
         <div
           className={cn(
-            "-mt-1 h-7 bg-background pb-1 pt-0",
+            "h-7 bg-background pb-1 pt-0",
             THREAD_PANEL_COMPOSER_GUTTER_CLASS,
           )}
         />
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ export function MessageThreadPanelSkeleton({
       {isFloatingOverlay && <OverlayPanelBackdrop onClose={onClose} />}
       <aside
         className={cn(
-          PANEL_BASE_CLASS,
+          PANEL_ENTER_BASE_CLASS,
           isSinglePanelView && "border-l-0",
           isFloatingOverlay && PANEL_OVERLAY_CLASS,
         )}
@@ -902,7 +902,7 @@ export function MessageThreadPanel({
           />
           <div
             className={cn(
-              "-mt-1 h-7 bg-background pb-1 pt-0",
+              "h-7 bg-background pb-1 pt-0",
               THREAD_PANEL_COMPOSER_GUTTER_CLASS,
             )}
           >
@@ -913,7 +913,7 @@ export function MessageThreadPanel({
               {threadTypingPubkeys.length > 0 ? (
                 <TypingIndicatorRow
                   channel={channel}
-                  className="min-w-0 flex-1 px-0 py-0"
+                  className="min-w-0 flex-1 py-0 pl-[calc(0.75rem+1px)] pr-0 sm:pl-[calc(1rem+1px)]"
                   currentPubkey={currentPubkey}
                   profiles={profiles}
                   typingPubkeys={threadTypingPubkeys}
@@ -974,7 +974,7 @@ export function MessageThreadPanel({
       {isFloatingOverlay && <OverlayPanelBackdrop onClose={onClose} />}
       <aside
         className={cn(
-          PANEL_BASE_CLASS,
+          PANEL_ENTER_BASE_CLASS,
           isSinglePanelView && "border-l-0",
           isFloatingOverlay && PANEL_OVERLAY_CLASS,
         )}
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/messages/ui/TypingIndicatorRow.tsx b/desktop/src/features/messages/ui/TypingIndicatorRow.tsx
index 009392409e..c446f883da 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/messages/ui/TypingIndicatorRow.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/messages/ui/TypingIndicatorRow.tsx
@@ -90,8 +90,8 @@ export function TypingIndicatorRow({
       {labels.length > 0 && (
         <div
           className={cn(
-            "flex w-full items-center gap-2",
-            isActivityVariant && "h-full",
+            "flex min-w-0 w-full items-center",
+            isActivityVariant ? "h-full gap-1.5" : "gap-2",
           )}
         >
           <div className="flex shrink-0 items-center">
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ export function TypingIndicatorRow({
                   key={pubkey}
                   className={cn(
                     "relative shrink-0 rounded-lg ring-1 ring-background",
-                    isActivityVariant ? "h-[18px] w-[18px]" : "h-5 w-5",
+                    isActivityVariant ? "h-4 w-4" : "h-5 w-5",
                     index > 0 && "-ml-1.5",
                   )}
                   data-testid="message-typing-avatar"
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ export function TypingIndicatorRow({
                     label={label}
                     className={cn(
                       isActivityVariant
-                        ? "h-[18px] w-[18px] text-3xs"
+                        ? "h-4 w-4 text-3xs"
                         : "h-5 w-5 text-3xs",
                     )}
                     iconClassName={
@@ -126,10 +126,10 @@ export function TypingIndicatorRow({
           </div>
           <p
             className={cn(
-              "truncate text-muted-foreground",
+              "min-w-0 translate-y-px truncate text-muted-foreground",
               isActivityVariant
-                ? "text-xs font-semibold leading-none"
-                : "text-sm",
+                ? "text-2xs font-medium leading-3"
+                : "text-xs font-medium leading-4",
             )}
             data-testid="message-typing-indicator-label"
           >
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/profile/ui/UserProfilePanel.tsx b/desktop/src/features/profile/ui/UserProfilePanel.tsx
index 335202c224..26e00102d9 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/profile/ui/UserProfilePanel.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/profile/ui/UserProfilePanel.tsx
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ import type { Channel, ManagedAgent, RelayAgent } from "@/shared/api/types";
 import { Button } from "@/shared/ui/button";
 import {
   OverlayPanelBackdrop,
-  PANEL_BASE_CLASS,
+  PANEL_ENTER_BASE_CLASS,
   PANEL_OVERLAY_CLASS,
   PANEL_SINGLE_COLUMN_HEADER_LAYER_CLASS,
 } from "@/shared/ui/OverlayPanelBackdrop";
@@ -461,7 +461,7 @@ export function UserProfilePanel({
       {isFloatingOverlay && <OverlayPanelBackdrop onClose={onClose} />}
       <aside
         className={cn(
-          PANEL_BASE_CLASS,
+          PANEL_ENTER_BASE_CLASS,
           isSinglePanelView && "border-l-0",
           isFloatingOverlay && PANEL_OVERLAY_CLASS,
         )}
diff --git a/desktop/src/shared/styles/globals.css b/desktop/src/shared/styles/globals.css
index ff63f30515..5e49a53edf 100644
--- a/desktop/src/shared/styles/globals.css
+++ b/desktop/src/shared/styles/globals.css
@@ -1496,7 +1496,25 @@
   }
 }
 
+@keyframes buzz-side-panel-enter {
+  from {
+    opacity: 0;
+    transform: translate3d(24px, 0, 0);
+  }
+
+  to {
+    opacity: 1;
+    transform: translate3d(0, 0, 0);
+  }
+}
+
 @layer components {
+  .buzz-side-panel-enter {
+    animation: buzz-side-panel-enter 260ms cubic-bezier(0.32, 0.72, 0, 1) both;
+    transform-origin: right center;
+    will-change: transform, opacity;
+  }
+
   .buzz-huddle-shell {
     --buzz-huddle-drawer-height: 5rem;
     --buzz-huddle-drawer-radius: 24px;
@@ -1634,6 +1652,11 @@
   }
 
   @media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
+    .buzz-side-panel-enter {
+      animation: none;
+      will-change: auto;
+    }
+
     .buzz-huddle-app-surface {
       transition: none;
     }
diff --git a/desktop/src/shared/ui/OverlayPanelBackdrop.tsx b/desktop/src/shared/ui/OverlayPanelBackdrop.tsx
index 2eafe0c969..848dd0238b 100644
--- a/desktop/src/shared/ui/OverlayPanelBackdrop.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/shared/ui/OverlayPanelBackdrop.tsx
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@ export const PANEL_BASE_CLASS =
 export const PANEL_OVERLAY_CLASS =
   "fixed bottom-0 right-0 top-11 z-40 h-auto shadow-xl max-w-[calc(100vw-2rem)]";
 
+export const PANEL_ENTER_MOTION_CLASS = "buzz-side-panel-enter";
+
+export const PANEL_ENTER_BASE_CLASS = `${PANEL_BASE_CLASS} ${PANEL_ENTER_MOTION_CLASS}`;
+
 /**
  * Single-column panel headers should render above the local panel backdrop
  * (z-40) but stay below global top chrome controls (z-[45]).