diff --git a/surfsense_web/app/dashboard/[search_space_id]/new-chat/[[...chat_id]]/page.tsx b/surfsense_web/app/dashboard/[search_space_id]/new-chat/[[...chat_id]]/page.tsx
index 0f0eaed96..8e877b99c 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/app/dashboard/[search_space_id]/new-chat/[[...chat_id]]/page.tsx
+++ b/surfsense_web/app/dashboard/[search_space_id]/new-chat/[[...chat_id]]/page.tsx
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ export default function NewChatPage() {
 	const initializeThread = useCallback(async () => {
 		setIsInitializing(true);
 
-		// Reset all state when switching between chats to prevent stale data
+		// Reset all state when switching between chats/search spaces to prevent stale data
 		setMessages([]);
 		setThreadId(null);
 		setCurrentThread(null);
@@ -284,8 +284,8 @@ export default function NewChatPage() {
 		setMentionedDocuments([]);
 		setSidebarDocuments([]);
 		setMessageDocumentsMap({});
-		clearPlanOwnerRegistry(); // Reset plan ownership for new chat
-		closeReportPanel(); // Close report panel when switching chats
+		clearPlanOwnerRegistry();
+		closeReportPanel();
 
 		try {
 			if (urlChatId > 0) {
@@ -346,6 +346,7 @@ export default function NewChatPage() {
 		}
 	}, [
 		urlChatId,
+		searchSpaceId,
 		setMessageDocumentsMap,
 		setMentionedDocuments,
 		setSidebarDocuments,
@@ -1671,7 +1672,7 @@ export default function NewChatPage() {
 			<DeleteGoogleDriveFileToolUI />
 			<SandboxExecuteToolUI />
 			{/* <WriteTodosToolUI /> Disabled for now */}
-			<div className="flex h-[calc(100dvh-64px)] overflow-hidden">
+			<div key={searchSpaceId} className="flex h-[calc(100dvh-64px)] overflow-hidden">
 				<div className="flex-1 flex flex-col min-w-0 overflow-hidden">
 					<Thread messageThinkingSteps={messageThinkingSteps} />
 				</div>
diff --git a/surfsense_web/components/assistant-ui/thread.tsx b/surfsense_web/components/assistant-ui/thread.tsx
index 38426a47b..94a3618e9 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/components/assistant-ui/thread.tsx
+++ b/surfsense_web/components/assistant-ui/thread.tsx
@@ -220,14 +220,14 @@ const ThreadWelcome: FC = () => {
 
 	return (
 		<div className="aui-thread-welcome-root mx-auto flex w-full max-w-(--thread-max-width) grow flex-col items-center px-4 relative">
-			{/* Greeting positioned above the composer - fixed position */}
+			{/* Greeting positioned above the composer */}
 			<div className="aui-thread-welcome-message absolute bottom-[calc(50%+5rem)] left-0 right-0 flex flex-col items-center text-center">
-				<h1 className="aui-thread-welcome-message-inner fade-in slide-in-from-bottom-2 animate-in text-3xl md:text-5xl delay-100 duration-500 ease-out fill-mode-both">
+				<h1 className="aui-thread-welcome-message-inner text-3xl md:text-5xl">
 					{greeting}
 				</h1>
 			</div>
 			{/* Composer - top edge fixed, expands downward only */}
-			<div className="fade-in slide-in-from-bottom-3 animate-in delay-200 duration-500 ease-out fill-mode-both w-full flex items-start justify-center absolute top-[calc(50%-3.5rem)] left-0 right-0">
+			<div className="w-full flex items-start justify-center absolute top-[calc(50%-3.5rem)] left-0 right-0">
 				<Composer />
 			</div>
 		</div>
diff --git a/surfsense_web/components/layout/providers/LayoutDataProvider.tsx b/surfsense_web/components/layout/providers/LayoutDataProvider.tsx
index 4e167b2e4..3de1b7ac5 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/components/layout/providers/LayoutDataProvider.tsx
+++ b/surfsense_web/components/layout/providers/LayoutDataProvider.tsx
@@ -262,6 +262,15 @@ export function LayoutDataProvider({ searchSpaceId, children }: LayoutDataProvid
 		}
 	}, [pendingNewChat, params?.chat_id, router, searchSpaceId, resetCurrentThread]);
 
+	// Reset transient slide-out panels when switching search spaces.
+	// Some browsers can retain overlay/backdrop state across route transitions.
+	useEffect(() => {
+		setIsInboxSidebarOpen(false);
+		setIsAllSharedChatsSidebarOpen(false);
+		setIsAllPrivateChatsSidebarOpen(false);
+		setIsAnnouncementsSidebarOpen(false);
+	}, [searchSpaceId]);
+
 	const searchSpaces: SearchSpace[] = useMemo(() => {
 		if (!searchSpacesData || !Array.isArray(searchSpacesData)) return [];
 		return searchSpacesData.map((space) => ({
diff --git a/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/right-panel/RightPanel.tsx b/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/right-panel/RightPanel.tsx
index 0c812d88f..1e48f6f74 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/right-panel/RightPanel.tsx
+++ b/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/right-panel/RightPanel.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 import { useAtom, useAtomValue, useSetAtom } from "jotai";
 import { PanelRight, PanelRightClose } from "lucide-react";
-import { AnimatePresence, motion } from "motion/react";
 import { startTransition, useEffect } from "react";
 import { closeReportPanelAtom, reportPanelAtom } from "@/atoms/chat/report-panel.atom";
 import { documentsSidebarOpenAtom } from "@/atoms/documents/ui.atoms";
@@ -99,70 +98,35 @@ export function RightPanel({ documentsPanel }: RightPanelProps) {
 	const targetWidth = PANEL_WIDTHS[effectiveTab];
 	const collapseButton = <CollapseButton onClick={() => setCollapsed(true)} />;
 
-	const contentKey =
-		effectiveTab === "sources" && documentsOpen
-			? "sources"
-			: effectiveTab === "report" && reportOpen
-				? "report"
-				: null;
+	if (!isVisible) return null;
 
 	return (
-		<AnimatePresence>
-			{isVisible && (
-				<motion.aside
-					key="right-panel"
-					initial={{ width: 0, opacity: 0 }}
-					animate={{ width: targetWidth, opacity: 1 }}
-					exit={{ width: 0, opacity: 0 }}
-					transition={{
-						width: { type: "spring", stiffness: 400, damping: 35, mass: 0.8 },
-						opacity: { duration: 0.2, ease: "easeOut" },
-					}}
-					style={{ willChange: "width, opacity", contain: "layout style" }}
-					className="flex h-full shrink-0 flex-col border-l bg-background overflow-hidden"
-				>
-					<div className="relative flex-1 min-h-0 overflow-hidden">
-						<AnimatePresence mode="popLayout" initial={false}>
-							{contentKey === "sources" && documentsPanel && (
-								<motion.div
-									key="sources"
-									initial={{ opacity: 0, x: 8 }}
-									animate={{ opacity: 1, x: 0 }}
-									exit={{ opacity: 0, x: -8 }}
-									transition={{ duration: 0.15, ease: "easeOut" }}
-									className="h-full"
-								>
-									<DocumentsSidebar
-										open={documentsPanel.open}
-										onOpenChange={documentsPanel.onOpenChange}
-										embedded
-										headerAction={collapseButton}
-									/>
-								</motion.div>
-							)}
-							{contentKey === "report" && (
-								<motion.div
-									key="report"
-									initial={{ opacity: 0, x: 8 }}
-									animate={{ opacity: 1, x: 0 }}
-									exit={{ opacity: 0, x: -8 }}
-									transition={{ duration: 0.15, ease: "easeOut" }}
-									className="h-full"
-								>
-									<div className="flex h-full flex-col">
-										<ReportPanelContent
-											reportId={reportState.reportId!}
-											title={reportState.title || "Report"}
-											onClose={closeReport}
-											shareToken={reportState.shareToken}
-										/>
-									</div>
-								</motion.div>
-							)}
-						</AnimatePresence>
+		<aside
+			style={{ width: targetWidth }}
+			className="flex h-full shrink-0 flex-col border-l bg-background overflow-hidden transition-[width] duration-200 ease-out"
+		>
+			<div className="relative flex-1 min-h-0 overflow-hidden">
+				{effectiveTab === "sources" && documentsOpen && documentsPanel && (
+					<div className="h-full">
+						<DocumentsSidebar
+							open={documentsPanel.open}
+							onOpenChange={documentsPanel.onOpenChange}
+							embedded
+							headerAction={collapseButton}
+						/>
 					</div>
-				</motion.aside>
-			)}
-		</AnimatePresence>
+				)}
+				{effectiveTab === "report" && reportOpen && (
+					<div className="h-full">
+						<ReportPanelContent
+							reportId={reportState.reportId!}
+							title={reportState.title || "Report"}
+							onClose={closeReport}
+							shareToken={reportState.shareToken}
+						/>
+					</div>
+				)}
+			</div>
+		</aside>
 	);
 }
diff --git a/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/shell/LayoutShell.tsx b/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/shell/LayoutShell.tsx
index ab2945f61..f03283192 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/shell/LayoutShell.tsx
+++ b/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/shell/LayoutShell.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 "use client";
 
-import { motion } from "motion/react";
 import { useMemo, useState } from "react";
 import { TooltipProvider } from "@/components/ui/tooltip";
 import type { InboxItem } from "@/hooks/use-inbox";
@@ -308,27 +307,23 @@ export function LayoutShell({
 							isResizing={isResizing}
 						/>
 
-						<motion.main
-							layout={isResizing ? false : "position"}
-							style={{ contain: "inline-size" }}
-							className="flex-1 flex flex-col min-w-0"
-						>
+						<main className="flex-1 flex flex-col min-w-0">
 							<Header />
 
 							<div className={cn("flex-1", isChatPage ? "overflow-hidden" : "overflow-auto")}>
 								{children}
 							</div>
-						</motion.main>
+						</main>
 
-						{/* Right panel — tabbed Sources/Report (desktop only) */}
-						{documentsPanel && (
-							<RightPanel
-								documentsPanel={{
-									open: documentsPanel.open,
-									onOpenChange: documentsPanel.onOpenChange,
-								}}
-							/>
-						)}
+					{/* Right panel — tabbed Sources/Report (desktop only) */}
+					{documentsPanel && (
+						<RightPanel
+							documentsPanel={{
+								open: documentsPanel.open,
+								onOpenChange: documentsPanel.onOpenChange,
+							}}
+						/>
+					)}
 
 						{/* Inbox Sidebar - slide-out panel */}
 						{inbox && (