diff --git a/surfsense_desktop/src/modules/quick-ask.ts b/surfsense_desktop/src/modules/quick-ask.ts
index d700b421a..b31ae1bcd 100644
--- a/surfsense_desktop/src/modules/quick-ask.ts
+++ b/surfsense_desktop/src/modules/quick-ask.ts
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ function createQuickAskWindow(x: number, y: number): BrowserWindow {
 
   const spaceId = pendingSearchSpaceId;
   const route = spaceId ? `/dashboard/${spaceId}/new-chat` : '/dashboard';
-  quickAskWindow.loadURL(`http://localhost:${getServerPort()}${route}`);
+  quickAskWindow.loadURL(`http://localhost:${getServerPort()}${route}?quickAssist=true`);
 
   quickAskWindow.once('ready-to-show', () => {
     quickAskWindow?.show();
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ function createQuickAskWindow(x: number, y: number): BrowserWindow {
 
 async function openQuickAsk(text: string): Promise<void> {
   pendingText = text;
+  pendingMode = 'quick-assist';
   pendingSearchSpaceId = await getActiveSearchSpaceId();
   const cursor = screen.getCursorScreenPoint();
   const pos = clampToScreen(cursor.x, cursor.y, 450, 750);
diff --git a/surfsense_web/components/assistant-ui/assistant-message.tsx b/surfsense_web/components/assistant-ui/assistant-message.tsx
index 49853b0b5..605d9d518 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/components/assistant-ui/assistant-message.tsx
+++ b/surfsense_web/components/assistant-ui/assistant-message.tsx
@@ -90,6 +90,11 @@ import { useMediaQuery } from "@/hooks/use-media-query";
 import { useElectronAPI } from "@/hooks/use-platform";
 import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
 
+// Captured once at module load — survives client-side navigations that strip the query param.
+const IS_QUICK_ASSIST_WINDOW =
+	typeof window !== "undefined" &&
+	new URLSearchParams(window.location.search).get("quickAssist") === "true";
+
 // Dynamically import video presentation tool to avoid loading Babel and Remotion in main bundle
 const GenerateVideoPresentationToolUI = dynamic(
 	() =>
@@ -465,14 +470,8 @@ const AssistantActionBar: FC = () => {
 	const isLast = useAuiState((s) => s.message.isLast);
 	const aui = useAui();
 	const api = useElectronAPI();
-	const [isQuickAssist, setIsQuickAssist] = useState(false);
 
-	useEffect(() => {
-		if (!api?.getQuickAskMode) return;
-		api.getQuickAskMode().then((mode) => {
-			if (mode) setIsQuickAssist(true);
-		});
-	}, [api]);
+	const isQuickAssist = !!api?.replaceText && IS_QUICK_ASSIST_WINDOW;
 
 	return (
 		<ActionBarPrimitive.Root