diff --git a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/App.css b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/App.css
index b83e7dd7..252a145f 100644
--- a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/App.css
+++ b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/App.css
@@ -1240,10 +1240,14 @@
 }
 
 .graph-view {
-  background-color: var(--background);
+  background-color: #f8f8f9;
   user-select: none;
 }
 
+.dark .graph-view {
+  background-color: #0b0b0d;
+}
+
 .graph-view::before {
   content: '';
   position: absolute;
diff --git a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/bases-view.tsx b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/bases-view.tsx
index f41a7a82..3fe191e6 100644
--- a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/bases-view.tsx
+++ b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/bases-view.tsx
@@ -884,7 +884,7 @@ function NoteRow({
 
   const row = (
     <tr
-      className="border-b border-border/50 hover:bg-accent/50 cursor-pointer transition-colors"
+      className="border-b border-black/10 dark:border-border/50 hover:bg-accent/50 cursor-pointer transition-colors"
       onClick={() => onSelectNote(note.path)}
     >
       {visibleColumns.map((col) => (
diff --git a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/bg-tasks-view.tsx b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/bg-tasks-view.tsx
index 1020dd0c..7b591731 100644
--- a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/bg-tasks-view.tsx
+++ b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/bg-tasks-view.tsx
@@ -1843,16 +1843,17 @@ export function BgTasksView({ onCreateWithCopilot, onEditWithCopilot, initialSlu
                                             </td>
                                             <td className="px-4 py-3">
                                                 {isRunning ? (
-                                                    <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+                                                    <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2 pl-7">
                                                         <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 rounded-md bg-primary/10 px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium text-foreground animate-pulse">
                                                             <Loader2 className="size-3 animate-spin" />
-                                                            Updating…
+                                                            Updating
                                                         </span>
                                                         <Button
                                                             variant="destructive"
                                                             size="sm"
                                                             onClick={() => handleStop(task.slug)}
                                                             disabled={isStopping}
+                                                            className="h-auto gap-1.5 rounded-md px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium"
                                                         >
                                                             {isStopping ? <Loader2 className="size-3 animate-spin" /> : <Square className="size-3" />}
                                                             Stop
diff --git a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/chat-empty-state.tsx b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/chat-empty-state.tsx
index b38e41a5..3db196e0 100644
--- a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/chat-empty-state.tsx
+++ b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/chat-empty-state.tsx
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@ const SUGGESTED_ACTIONS: { icon: typeof Mail; title: string; sub: string; prompt
 
 /**
  * Empty-state body for the chat surface: greeting and starter action cards.
- * Shown in both the side-pane copilot and full-screen chat.
+ * Shown in both the side-pane copilot and full-screen chat; the side pane
+ * (`wide` unset) uses slightly smaller type to fit the narrow column.
  */
 export function ChatEmptyState({
   onPickPrompt,
@@ -27,8 +28,12 @@ export function ChatEmptyState({
   return (
     <div className={cn('mx-auto flex w-full flex-col gap-5 py-6', wide ? 'max-w-4xl px-4' : 'max-w-md px-2')}>
       <div>
-        <div className="text-2xl font-semibold tracking-tight">What are we working on?</div>
-        <div className="mt-1 text-[15px] text-muted-foreground">Ask anything, or start with a suggestion.</div>
+        <div className={cn('font-semibold tracking-tight', wide ? 'text-2xl' : 'text-lg')}>
+          What are we working on?
+        </div>
+        <div className={cn('mt-1 text-muted-foreground', wide ? 'text-[15px]' : 'text-[13px]')}>
+          Ask anything, or start with a suggestion.
+        </div>
       </div>
 
       <div className="overflow-hidden rounded-xl border border-border">
@@ -38,19 +43,24 @@ export function ChatEmptyState({
             type="button"
             onClick={() => onPickPrompt(action.prompt)}
             className={cn(
-              'group flex w-full items-center gap-1.5 px-3.5 py-3 text-left transition-colors hover:bg-accent/50',
+              'group flex w-full items-center gap-1.5 text-left transition-colors hover:bg-accent/50',
+              wide ? 'px-3.5 py-3' : 'px-3 py-2.5',
               i > 0 && 'border-t border-border/60',
             )}
           >
-            <action.icon className="mr-2 size-4 shrink-0 text-foreground/80" strokeWidth={1.75} />
-            <span className="shrink-0 text-sm font-medium text-foreground">{action.title}</span>
-            <span className="truncate text-[13px] text-muted-foreground">{action.sub}</span>
-            <ArrowRight className="ml-auto size-3.5 shrink-0 text-muted-foreground/50 transition-colors group-hover:text-foreground" />
+            <action.icon className={cn('mr-2 shrink-0 text-foreground/80', wide ? 'size-4' : 'size-3.5')} strokeWidth={1.75} />
+            <span className={cn('shrink-0 font-medium text-foreground', wide ? 'text-sm' : 'text-[13px]')}>
+              {action.title}
+            </span>
+            <span className={cn('truncate text-muted-foreground', wide ? 'text-[13px]' : 'text-[12px]')}>
+              {action.sub}
+            </span>
+            <ArrowRight className={cn('ml-auto shrink-0 text-muted-foreground/50 transition-colors group-hover:text-foreground', wide ? 'size-3.5' : 'size-3')} />
           </button>
         ))}
       </div>
 
-      <ToolConnectionsCard />
+      <ToolConnectionsCard compact={!wide} />
     </div>
   )
 }
diff --git a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/knowledge-view.tsx b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/knowledge-view.tsx
index 254dc0e6..862bf416 100644
--- a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/knowledge-view.tsx
+++ b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/knowledge-view.tsx
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ export function KnowledgeView({
   const currentFolder = folderPath ? findNode(tree, folderPath) : null
 
   return (
-    <div className="flex h-full flex-col overflow-hidden">
+    <div className="flex h-full flex-col overflow-hidden bg-[#f8f8f9] dark:bg-[#0b0b0d]">
       <div className="mx-auto w-full max-w-[1120px] shrink-0 flex items-start justify-between gap-4 px-[30px] pt-[34px] pb-5">
         <div className="min-w-0">
           <h1 className="text-[24px] font-[650] tracking-[-0.02em] text-[#0d0e11] dark:text-[#f4f5f7]">Brain</h1>
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ export function KnowledgeView({
               {folders.length === 0 ? (
                 <EmptyState text="No folders yet." />
               ) : (
-                <div className="overflow-hidden rounded-xl border border-border">
+                <div className="overflow-hidden rounded-xl border border-black/15 dark:border-border">
                   {folders.map((node, i) => (
                     <div key={node.path} className={cn(i > 0 && 'border-t border-border/60')}>
                       <FolderCard
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ export function KnowledgeView({
               {looseNotes.length > 0 && (
                 <div className="mt-8">
                   <SectionHeader label={`Loose notes · ${looseNotes.length}`} />
-                  <div className="overflow-hidden rounded-xl border border-border">
+                  <div className="overflow-hidden rounded-xl border border-black/15 dark:border-border">
                     {looseNotes.map((node, i) => (
                       <div key={node.path} className={cn(i > 0 && 'border-t border-border/60')}>
                         <ItemRow
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ function QuickAction({
 function SectionHeader({ label, aside }: { label: string; aside?: string }) {
   return (
     <div className="mb-2.5 flex items-center justify-between">
-      <span className="text-[11px] font-semibold uppercase tracking-wider text-muted-foreground">
+      <span className="text-xs font-bold uppercase tracking-wider text-muted-foreground">
         {label}
       </span>
       {aside && <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">{aside}</span>}
@@ -568,7 +568,7 @@ function FolderDetail({
       {items.length === 0 ? (
         <EmptyState text="This folder is empty." />
       ) : (
-        <div className="overflow-hidden rounded-xl border border-border">
+        <div className="overflow-hidden rounded-xl border border-black/15 dark:border-border">
           {items.map((node, i) => (
             <div key={node.path} className={cn(i > 0 && 'border-t border-border/60')}>
               <ItemRow
diff --git a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/sidebar-content.tsx b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/sidebar-content.tsx
index 84a53410..569f9de6 100644
--- a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/sidebar-content.tsx
+++ b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/sidebar-content.tsx
@@ -789,6 +789,14 @@ export function SidebarContentPanel({
                   )}
                 </SidebarMenuButton>
               </SidebarMenuItem>
+              {codeModeEnabled && (
+                <SidebarMenuItem>
+                  <SidebarMenuButton data-tour-id="nav-code" isActive={activeNav === 'code'} onClick={onOpenCode}>
+                    <Code2 className="size-4 shrink-0" />
+                    <span className="flex-1 truncate">Code</span>
+                  </SidebarMenuButton>
+                </SidebarMenuItem>
+              )}
               <SidebarMenuItem>
                 <SidebarMenuButton
                   data-tour-id="nav-meetings"
@@ -868,14 +876,6 @@ export function SidebarContentPanel({
                   </div>
                 ) : null}
               </SidebarMenuItem>
-              {codeModeEnabled && (
-                <SidebarMenuItem>
-                  <SidebarMenuButton data-tour-id="nav-code" isActive={activeNav === 'code'} onClick={onOpenCode}>
-                    <Code2 className="size-4 shrink-0" />
-                    <span className="flex-1 truncate">Code</span>
-                  </SidebarMenuButton>
-                </SidebarMenuItem>
-              )}
               <SidebarMenuItem>
                 <SidebarMenuButton
                   data-tour-id="nav-knowledge"
diff --git a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/tool-connections-card.tsx b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/tool-connections-card.tsx
index 2d1ab4e2..cc99fae0 100644
--- a/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/tool-connections-card.tsx
+++ b/apps/x/apps/renderer/src/components/tool-connections-card.tsx
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ function ToolkitPreviewIcon({
   )
 }
 
-export function ToolConnectionsCard({ className }: { className?: string }) {
+export function ToolConnectionsCard({ className, compact = false }: { className?: string; compact?: boolean }) {
   const [toolkitPreviews, setToolkitPreviews] = useState<ToolkitPreview[]>(cachedToolkitPreviews ?? [])
   const [toolkitLogosLoaded, setToolkitLogosLoaded] = useState(cachedToolkitLogosLoaded)
   const [connectionsSettingsOpen, setConnectionsSettingsOpen] = useState(false)
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ export function ToolConnectionsCard({ className }: { className?: string }) {
       <div className={cn('rounded-xl border border-border bg-card p-4', className)}>
         <div className="flex items-start gap-3">
           <div className="min-w-0 flex-1">
-            <div className="text-[13.5px] leading-snug">
+            <div className={cn('leading-snug', compact ? 'text-[12.5px]' : 'text-[13.5px]')}>
               <span className="text-muted-foreground">Bring context from and take action in the apps you already use.</span>
             </div>
             <div className="mt-3 flex min-h-5 flex-wrap items-center gap-1.5">
@@ -116,7 +116,10 @@ export function ToolConnectionsCard({ className }: { className?: string }) {
               <button
                 type="button"
                 onClick={() => setConnectionsSettingsOpen(true)}
-                className="ml-1 flex h-5 shrink-0 items-center gap-1 rounded-md px-1 text-[12px] font-medium text-primary hover:underline"
+                className={cn(
+                  'ml-1 flex h-5 shrink-0 items-center gap-1 rounded-md px-1 font-medium text-primary hover:underline',
+                  compact ? 'text-[11.5px]' : 'text-[12px]',
+                )}
               >
                 Connections
                 <ArrowRight className="size-3" />