diff --git a/surfsense_web/components/assistant-ui/thinking-steps.tsx b/surfsense_web/components/assistant-ui/thinking-steps.tsx
index 900fc7b09..2c47b0006 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/components/assistant-ui/thinking-steps.tsx
+++ b/surfsense_web/components/assistant-ui/thinking-steps.tsx
@@ -20,8 +20,6 @@ export const ThinkingStepsDisplay: FC<{ steps: ThinkingStep[]; isThreadRunning?:
 	steps,
 	isThreadRunning = true,
 }) => {
-	const [isOpen, setIsOpen] = useState(true);
-
 	const getEffectiveStatus = useCallback(
 		(step: ThinkingStep): "pending" | "in_progress" | "completed" => {
 			if (step.status === "in_progress" && !isThreadRunning) {
@@ -38,12 +36,18 @@ export const ThinkingStepsDisplay: FC<{ steps: ThinkingStep[]; isThreadRunning?:
 		!isThreadRunning &&
 		steps.every((s) => getEffectiveStatus(s) === "completed");
 	const isProcessing = isThreadRunning && !allCompleted;
+	const [isOpen, setIsOpen] = useState(() => isProcessing);
 
 	useEffect(() => {
+		if (isProcessing) {
+			setIsOpen(true);
+			return;
+		}
+
 		if (allCompleted) {
 			setIsOpen(false);
 		}
-	}, [allCompleted]);
+	}, [allCompleted, isProcessing]);
 
 	if (steps.length === 0) return null;
 
diff --git a/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/header/Header.tsx b/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/header/Header.tsx
index d2077deb4..c28fecbbe 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/header/Header.tsx
+++ b/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/header/Header.tsx
@@ -1,20 +1,20 @@
 "use client";
 
-import { useAtom, useAtomValue } from "jotai";
-import { PanelRight } from "lucide-react";
+import { useAtomValue } from "jotai";
 import { usePathname } from "next/navigation";
+import { hitlEditPanelAtom } from "@/atoms/chat/hitl-edit-panel.atom";
 import { currentThreadAtom } from "@/atoms/chat/current-thread.atom";
 import { reportPanelAtom } from "@/atoms/chat/report-panel.atom";
 import { documentsSidebarOpenAtom } from "@/atoms/documents/ui.atoms";
+import { editorPanelAtom } from "@/atoms/editor/editor-panel.atom";
 import { rightPanelCollapsedAtom } from "@/atoms/layout/right-panel.atom";
 import { activeSearchSpaceIdAtom } from "@/atoms/search-spaces/search-space-query.atoms";
-import { activeTabAtom } from "@/atoms/tabs/tabs.atom";
+import { activeTabAtom, tabsAtom } from "@/atoms/tabs/tabs.atom";
 import { ChatHeader } from "@/components/new-chat/chat-header";
 import { ChatShareButton } from "@/components/new-chat/chat-share-button";
-import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
-import { Tooltip, TooltipContent, TooltipTrigger } from "@/components/ui/tooltip";
 import { useIsMobile } from "@/hooks/use-mobile";
 import type { ChatVisibility, ThreadRecord } from "@/lib/chat/thread-persistence";
+import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
 
 interface HeaderProps {
 	mobileMenuTrigger?: React.ReactNode;
@@ -25,9 +25,20 @@ export function Header({ mobileMenuTrigger }: HeaderProps) {
 	const searchSpaceId = useAtomValue(activeSearchSpaceIdAtom);
 	const isMobile = useIsMobile();
 	const activeTab = useAtomValue(activeTabAtom);
+	const tabs = useAtomValue(tabsAtom);
+	const collapsed = useAtomValue(rightPanelCollapsedAtom);
+	const documentsOpen = useAtomValue(documentsSidebarOpenAtom);
+	const reportState = useAtomValue(reportPanelAtom);
+	const editorState = useAtomValue(editorPanelAtom);
+	const hitlEditState = useAtomValue(hitlEditPanelAtom);
 
 	const isChatPage = pathname?.includes("/new-chat") ?? false;
 	const isDocumentTab = activeTab?.type === "document";
+	const reportOpen = reportState.isOpen && !!reportState.reportId;
+	const editorOpen = editorState.isOpen && !!editorState.documentId;
+	const hitlEditOpen = hitlEditState.isOpen && !!hitlEditState.onSave;
+	const showExpandButton = !isMobile && collapsed && (documentsOpen || reportOpen || editorOpen || hitlEditOpen);
+	const hasTabBar = tabs.length > 1;
 
 	const currentThreadState = useAtomValue(currentThreadAtom);
 
@@ -49,15 +60,8 @@ export function Header({ mobileMenuTrigger }: HeaderProps) {
 
 	const handleVisibilityChange = (_visibility: ChatVisibility) => {};
 
-	const [collapsed, setCollapsed] = useAtom(rightPanelCollapsedAtom);
-	const documentsOpen = useAtomValue(documentsSidebarOpenAtom);
-	const reportState = useAtomValue(reportPanelAtom);
-	const reportOpen = reportState.isOpen && !!reportState.reportId;
-	const hasRightPanelContent = documentsOpen || reportOpen;
-	const showExpandButton = !isMobile && collapsed && hasRightPanelContent;
-
 	return (
-		<header className="sticky top-0 z-10 flex h-14 shrink-0 items-center gap-2 bg-main-panel/95 backdrop-blur supports-backdrop-filter:bg-main-panel/60 px-4">
+		<header className="sticky top-0 z-10 flex h-12 shrink-0 items-center gap-2 bg-main-panel/95 backdrop-blur supports-backdrop-filter:bg-main-panel/60 px-4">
 			{/* Left side - Mobile menu trigger + Model selector */}
 			<div className="flex flex-1 items-center gap-2 min-w-0">
 				{mobileMenuTrigger}
@@ -67,26 +71,10 @@ export function Header({ mobileMenuTrigger }: HeaderProps) {
 			</div>
 
 			{/* Right side - Actions */}
-			<div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+			<div className={cn("ml-auto flex items-center gap-2", showExpandButton && !hasTabBar && "mr-10")}>
 				{hasThread && (
 					<ChatShareButton thread={threadForButton} onVisibilityChange={handleVisibilityChange} />
 				)}
-				{showExpandButton && (
-					<Tooltip>
-						<TooltipTrigger asChild>
-							<Button
-								variant="ghost"
-								size="icon"
-								onClick={() => setCollapsed(false)}
-								className="h-8 w-8 shrink-0"
-							>
-								<PanelRight className="h-4 w-4" />
-								<span className="sr-only">Expand panel</span>
-							</Button>
-						</TooltipTrigger>
-						<TooltipContent side="bottom">Expand panel</TooltipContent>
-					</Tooltip>
-				)}
 			</div>
 		</header>
 	);
diff --git a/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/right-panel/RightPanel.tsx b/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/right-panel/RightPanel.tsx
index 90cdde127..b92430607 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/right-panel/RightPanel.tsx
+++ b/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/right-panel/RightPanel.tsx
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ export function RightPanelExpandButton() {
 	if (!collapsed || !hasContent) return null;
 
 	return (
-		<div className="absolute top-4 right-4 z-20">
+		<div className="absolute top-0 right-4 z-20 flex h-12 items-center">
 			<Tooltip>
 				<TooltipTrigger asChild>
 					<Button
diff --git a/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/shell/LayoutShell.tsx b/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/shell/LayoutShell.tsx
index 6b2d17702..8cf2984ea 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/shell/LayoutShell.tsx
+++ b/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/shell/LayoutShell.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,11 @@
 import { useAtomValue } from "jotai";
 import { AnimatePresence, motion } from "motion/react";
 import { useCallback, useMemo, useState } from "react";
+import { hitlEditPanelAtom } from "@/atoms/chat/hitl-edit-panel.atom";
+import { reportPanelAtom } from "@/atoms/chat/report-panel.atom";
+import { documentsSidebarOpenAtom } from "@/atoms/documents/ui.atoms";
+import { editorPanelAtom } from "@/atoms/editor/editor-panel.atom";
+import { rightPanelCollapsedAtom } from "@/atoms/layout/right-panel.atom";
 import { activeTabAtom, type Tab } from "@/atoms/tabs/tabs.atom";
 import { TooltipProvider } from "@/components/ui/tooltip";
 import type { InboxItem } from "@/hooks/use-inbox";
@@ -13,7 +18,7 @@ import { useSidebarResize } from "../../hooks/useSidebarResize";
 import type { ChatItem, NavItem, PageUsage, SearchSpace, User } from "../../types/layout.types";
 import { Header } from "../header";
 import { IconRail } from "../icon-rail";
-import { RightPanel } from "../right-panel/RightPanel";
+import { RightPanel, RightPanelExpandButton } from "../right-panel/RightPanel";
 import {
 	AllPrivateChatsSidebarContent,
 	AllSharedChatsSidebarContent,
@@ -116,11 +121,26 @@ function MainContentPanel({
 	children: React.ReactNode;
 }) {
 	const activeTab = useAtomValue(activeTabAtom);
+	const rightPanelCollapsed = useAtomValue(rightPanelCollapsedAtom);
+	const documentsOpen = useAtomValue(documentsSidebarOpenAtom);
+	const reportState = useAtomValue(reportPanelAtom);
+	const editorState = useAtomValue(editorPanelAtom);
+	const hitlEditState = useAtomValue(hitlEditPanelAtom);
 	const isDocumentTab = activeTab?.type === "document";
+	const reportOpen = reportState.isOpen && !!reportState.reportId;
+	const editorOpen = editorState.isOpen && !!editorState.documentId;
+	const hitlEditOpen = hitlEditState.isOpen && !!hitlEditState.onSave;
+	const showRightPanelExpandButton =
+		rightPanelCollapsed && (documentsOpen || reportOpen || editorOpen || hitlEditOpen);
 
 	return (
 		<div className="relative flex flex-1 flex-col rounded-xl border bg-main-panel overflow-hidden min-w-0">
-			<TabBar onTabSwitch={onTabSwitch} onNewChat={onNewChat} />
+			<RightPanelExpandButton />
+			<TabBar
+				onTabSwitch={onTabSwitch}
+				onNewChat={onNewChat}
+				className={showRightPanelExpandButton ? "pr-14" : undefined}
+			/>
 			<Header />
 
 			{isDocumentTab && activeTab.documentId && activeTab.searchSpaceId ? (
diff --git a/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/sidebar/DocumentsSidebar.tsx b/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/sidebar/DocumentsSidebar.tsx
index ede469039..09f603f0f 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/sidebar/DocumentsSidebar.tsx
+++ b/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/sidebar/DocumentsSidebar.tsx
@@ -557,7 +557,7 @@ export function DocumentsSidebar({
 
 	const documentsContent = (
 		<>
-			<div className="shrink-0 flex h-14 items-center px-4">
+			<div className="shrink-0 flex h-12 items-center px-4">
 				<div className="flex w-full items-center justify-between">
 					<div className="flex items-center gap-2">
 						{isMobile && (
@@ -609,7 +609,7 @@ export function DocumentsSidebar({
 			</div>
 
 			{/* Connected tools strip */}
-			<div className="shrink-0 mx-4 mt-2 mb-3 flex select-none items-center gap-2 rounded-lg border bg-muted/50 transition-colors hover:bg-muted/80">
+			<div className="shrink-0 mx-4 mt-4 mb-4 flex select-none items-center gap-2 rounded-lg border bg-muted/50 transition-colors hover:bg-muted/80">
 				<button
 					type="button"
 					onClick={() => setConnectorDialogOpen(true)}
diff --git a/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/sidebar/Sidebar.tsx b/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/sidebar/Sidebar.tsx
index 85d9cd799..db8b10fe9 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/sidebar/Sidebar.tsx
+++ b/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/sidebar/Sidebar.tsx
@@ -105,15 +105,15 @@ export function Sidebar({
 		>
 			{/* Header - search space name or collapse button when collapsed */}
 			{isCollapsed ? (
-				<div className="flex h-14 shrink-0 items-center justify-center border-b">
-					<SidebarCollapseButton
+			<div className="flex h-12 shrink-0 items-center justify-center border-b">
+				<SidebarCollapseButton
 						isCollapsed={isCollapsed}
 						onToggle={onToggleCollapse ?? (() => {})}
 						disableTooltip={disableTooltips}
 					/>
 				</div>
 			) : (
-				<div className="flex h-14 shrink-0 items-center gap-0 px-1 border-b">
+				<div className="flex h-12 shrink-0 items-center gap-0 px-1 border-b">
 					<SidebarHeader
 						searchSpace={searchSpace}
 						isCollapsed={isCollapsed}
diff --git a/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/tabs/TabBar.tsx b/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/tabs/TabBar.tsx
index 14de3add6..c163d3e3f 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/tabs/TabBar.tsx
+++ b/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/tabs/TabBar.tsx
@@ -58,8 +58,11 @@ export function TabBar({ onTabSwitch, onNewChat, className }: TabBarProps) {
 	if (tabs.length <= 1) return null;
 
 	return (
-		<div className={cn("flex items-center shrink-0 border-b bg-main-panel", className)}>
-			<div ref={scrollRef} className="flex items-center flex-1 overflow-x-auto scrollbar-none">
+		<div className={cn("flex h-12 items-stretch shrink-0 border-b bg-main-panel", className)}>
+			<div
+				ref={scrollRef}
+				className="flex h-full items-stretch flex-1 overflow-x-auto overflow-y-hidden scrollbar-hide [scrollbar-width:none] [-ms-overflow-style:none] [&::-webkit-scrollbar]:hidden"
+			>
 				{tabs.map((tab) => {
 					const isActive = tab.id === activeTabId;
 					const Icon = tab.type === "document" ? FileText : MessageSquare;
@@ -71,10 +74,10 @@ export function TabBar({ onTabSwitch, onNewChat, className }: TabBarProps) {
 							data-tab-id={tab.id}
 							onClick={() => handleTabClick(tab)}
 							className={cn(
-								"group relative flex items-center gap-1.5 px-3 h-9 min-w-0 max-w-[200px] text-xs font-medium border-r transition-colors shrink-0",
+								"group relative flex h-full items-center self-stretch gap-1.5 px-3 min-w-0 max-w-[200px] text-xs font-medium border-r transition-colors shrink-0",
 								isActive
-									? "bg-main-panel text-foreground"
-									: "bg-muted/30 text-muted-foreground hover:bg-muted/60 hover:text-foreground"
+									? "bg-muted/40 text-foreground"
+									: "bg-transparent text-muted-foreground hover:bg-muted/25 hover:text-foreground"
 							)}
 						>
 							{isActive && <span className="absolute bottom-0 left-0 right-0 h-[2px] bg-primary" />}
@@ -103,18 +106,19 @@ export function TabBar({ onTabSwitch, onNewChat, className }: TabBarProps) {
 						</button>
 					);
 				})}
+				{onNewChat && (
+					<div className="flex h-full items-center px-1.5 shrink-0">
+						<button
+							type="button"
+							onClick={onNewChat}
+							className="flex h-7 w-7 items-center justify-center rounded-md text-muted-foreground transition-colors hover:text-foreground hover:bg-muted/60"
+							title="New Chat"
+						>
+							<Plus className="size-3.5" />
+						</button>
+					</div>
+				)}
 			</div>
-
-			{onNewChat && (
-				<button
-					type="button"
-					onClick={onNewChat}
-					className="flex items-center justify-center size-9 shrink-0 text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground hover:bg-muted/60 transition-colors"
-					title="New Chat"
-				>
-					<Plus className="size-3.5" />
-				</button>
-			)}
 		</div>
 	);
 }