feat(desktop): per-session profile switching + cross-profile sessions

Add first-class profile support to the desktop app without app reloads.

- Swap the single live gateway onto a session's profile lazily (spawned on
  demand by the Electron backend pool), so one backend serves the active
  profile and others stay cold — no OOM with many profiles.
- Aggregate sessions across profiles by reading each profile's state.db
  read-only; unified "All profiles" view groups sessions per profile with
  per-profile pagination, while the default view stays scoped to one profile.
- Add an Arc-style profile rail at the sidebar foot: a default<->all toggle
  pinned left, colored named-profile squares scrolling between, Manage pinned
  right. Profile identity is a deterministic per-name color.
- Route profile-scoped REST (config/env/skills/tools/model) to the active
  gateway profile and invalidate React Query caches on swap. Single-profile
  users never trigger a swap, so their path is unchanged.

Backend:
- web_server: profile-aware active/list endpoints + per-profile session
  totals; hermes_state: session_count(exclude_children); main.py: honor
  --profile over HERMES_HOME env for pooled backends.

UI primitives:
- Add a position-aware Tip tooltip (instant, themed) as a drop-in for native
  title=, and strip redundant tooltips from self-descriptive chrome.

apps/desktop/src/app/artifacts/index.tsx

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import {
   PaginationPrevious
 } from '@/components/ui/pagination'
 import { TextTab, TextTabMeta } from '@/components/ui/text-tab'
+import { Tip } from '@/components/ui/tooltip'
 import { getSessionMessages, listSessions } from '@/hermes'
 import { sessionTitle } from '@/lib/chat-runtime'
 import { ExternalLink, ExternalLinkIcon, hostPathLabel, urlSlugTitleLabel, useLinkTitle } from '@/lib/external-link'
@@ -736,7 +737,6 @@ function ArtifactCellAction({
     <button
       className="flex h-full w-full min-w-0 items-center gap-2 px-2.5 py-1.5 text-left text-[length:var(--conversation-caption-font-size)] leading-(--conversation-caption-line-height) font-normal text-(--ui-text-secondary) no-underline underline-offset-4 decoration-current/20 transition-colors hover:text-foreground hover:underline"
       onClick={onClick}
-      title={title}
       type="button"
     >
       {children}
@@ -774,15 +774,16 @@ function LocationCell({ artifact }: { artifact: ArtifactRecord; ctx: CellCtx })
 
   return (
     <div className="group/location flex min-w-0 items-center gap-1.5">
-      <div
-        className={cn(
-          'min-w-0 flex-1 truncate text-[length:var(--conversation-caption-font-size)] text-(--ui-text-tertiary)',
-          isLink ? 'font-normal' : 'font-mono'
-        )}
-        title={artifact.value}
-      >
-        {value}
-      </div>
+      <Tip label={artifact.value}>
+        <div
+          className={cn(
+            'min-w-0 flex-1 truncate text-[length:var(--conversation-caption-font-size)] text-(--ui-text-tertiary)',
+            isLink ? 'font-normal' : 'font-mono'
+          )}
+        >
+          {value}
+        </div>
+      </Tip>
       <CopyButton
         appearance="icon"
         buttonSize="icon-xs"

apps/desktop/src/app/chat/composer/attachments.tsx

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { useStore } from '@nanostores/react'
 
 import { Codicon } from '@/components/ui/codicon'
+import { Tip } from '@/components/ui/tooltip'
 import { FileText, FolderOpen, ImageIcon, Link, Terminal } from '@/lib/icons'
 import { normalizeOrLocalPreviewTarget } from '@/lib/local-preview'
 import type { ComposerAttachment } from '@/store/composer'
@@ -62,49 +63,49 @@ function AttachmentPill({ attachment, onRemove }: { attachment: ComposerAttachme
   }
 
   return (
-    <div
-      className="group/attachment relative min-w-0 shrink-0"
-      title={attachment.path || attachment.detail || attachment.label}
-    >
-      <button
-        aria-label={canPreview ? `Preview ${attachment.label}` : attachment.label}
-        className="flex max-w-56 items-center gap-2 border border-border/60 bg-background/50 px-2 py-1.5 text-left shadow-[inset_0_1px_0_rgba(255,255,255,0.25)] transition-colors hover:border-primary/35 hover:bg-accent/45 disabled:cursor-default"
-        disabled={!canPreview}
-        onClick={() => void openPreview()}
-        title={canPreview ? `Preview ${attachment.label}` : attachment.label}
-        type="button"
-      >
-        {attachment.previewUrl && attachment.kind === 'image' ? (
-          <img
-            alt={attachment.label}
-            className="size-8 shrink-0 border border-border/70 object-cover"
-            draggable={false}
-            src={attachment.previewUrl}
-          />
-        ) : (
-          <span className="grid size-8 shrink-0 place-items-center border border-border/55 bg-muted/35 text-muted-foreground">
-            <Icon className="size-3.5" />
-          </span>
-        )}
-        <span className="min-w-0">
-          <span className="block truncate text-[0.72rem] font-medium leading-4 text-foreground/90">
-            {attachment.label}
-          </span>
-          {detail && (
-            <span className="block truncate font-mono text-[0.6rem] leading-3 text-muted-foreground/65">{detail}</span>
-          )}
-        </span>
-      </button>
-      {onRemove && (
+    <Tip label={attachment.path || attachment.detail || attachment.label}>
+      <div className="group/attachment relative min-w-0 shrink-0">
         <button
-          aria-label={`Remove ${attachment.label}`}
-          className="absolute -right-1 -top-1 grid size-3.5 place-items-center rounded-full border border-border/70 bg-background text-muted-foreground opacity-0 shadow-xs transition hover:bg-accent hover:text-foreground group-hover/attachment:opacity-100 focus-visible:opacity-100"
-          onClick={() => onRemove(attachment.id)}
+          aria-label={canPreview ? `Preview ${attachment.label}` : attachment.label}
+          className="flex max-w-56 items-center gap-2 border border-border/60 bg-background/50 px-2 py-1.5 text-left shadow-[inset_0_1px_0_rgba(255,255,255,0.25)] transition-colors hover:border-primary/35 hover:bg-accent/45 disabled:cursor-default"
+          disabled={!canPreview}
+          onClick={() => void openPreview()}
           type="button"
         >
-          <Codicon name="close" size="0.625rem" />
+          {attachment.previewUrl && attachment.kind === 'image' ? (
+            <img
+              alt={attachment.label}
+              className="size-8 shrink-0 border border-border/70 object-cover"
+              draggable={false}
+              src={attachment.previewUrl}
+            />
+          ) : (
+            <span className="grid size-8 shrink-0 place-items-center border border-border/55 bg-muted/35 text-muted-foreground">
+              <Icon className="size-3.5" />
+            </span>
+          )}
+          <span className="min-w-0">
+            <span className="block truncate text-[0.72rem] font-medium leading-4 text-foreground/90">
+              {attachment.label}
+            </span>
+            {detail && (
+              <span className="block truncate font-mono text-[0.6rem] leading-3 text-muted-foreground/65">
+                {detail}
+              </span>
+            )}
+          </span>
         </button>
-      )}
-    </div>
+        {onRemove && (
+          <button
+            aria-label={`Remove ${attachment.label}`}
+            className="absolute -right-1 -top-1 grid size-3.5 place-items-center rounded-full border border-border/70 bg-background text-muted-foreground opacity-0 shadow-xs transition hover:bg-accent hover:text-foreground group-hover/attachment:opacity-100 focus-visible:opacity-100"
+            onClick={() => onRemove(attachment.id)}
+            type="button"
+          >
+            <Codicon name="close" size="0.625rem" />
+          </button>
+        )}
+      </div>
+    </Tip>
   )
 }

apps/desktop/src/app/chat/composer/controls.tsx

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
 import { Codicon } from '@/components/ui/codicon'
+import { Tip } from '@/components/ui/tooltip'
 import { triggerHaptic } from '@/lib/haptics'
 import { AudioLines, Layers3, Loader2, Square } from '@/lib/icons'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
@@ -64,38 +65,40 @@ export function ComposerControls({
     <div className="ml-auto flex shrink-0 items-center gap-(--composer-control-gap)">
       <DictationButton disabled={disabled} onToggle={onDictate} state={state.voice} status={voiceStatus} />
       {showVoicePrimary ? (
-        <Button
-          aria-label="Start voice conversation"
-          className={PRIMARY_ICON_BTN}
-          disabled={disabled}
-          onClick={() => {
-            triggerHaptic('open')
-            conversation.onStart()
-          }}
-          size="icon"
-          title="Start voice conversation"
-          type="button"
-        >
-          <AudioLines size={17} />
-        </Button>
+        <Tip label="Start voice conversation">
+          <Button
+            aria-label="Start voice conversation"
+            className={PRIMARY_ICON_BTN}
+            disabled={disabled}
+            onClick={() => {
+              triggerHaptic('open')
+              conversation.onStart()
+            }}
+            size="icon"
+            type="button"
+          >
+            <AudioLines size={17} />
+          </Button>
+        </Tip>
       ) : (
-        <Button
-          aria-label={busy ? (busyAction === 'queue' ? 'Queue message' : 'Stop') : 'Send'}
-          className={PRIMARY_ICON_BTN}
-          disabled={disabled || !canSubmit}
-          title={busy ? (busyAction === 'queue' ? 'Queue message' : 'Stop') : 'Send'}
-          type="submit"
-        >
-          {busy ? (
-            busyAction === 'queue' ? (
-              <Layers3 size={16} />
+        <Tip label={busy ? (busyAction === 'queue' ? 'Queue message' : 'Stop') : 'Send'}>
+          <Button
+            aria-label={busy ? (busyAction === 'queue' ? 'Queue message' : 'Stop') : 'Send'}
+            className={PRIMARY_ICON_BTN}
+            disabled={disabled || !canSubmit}
+            type="submit"
+          >
+            {busy ? (
+              busyAction === 'queue' ? (
+                <Layers3 size={16} />
+              ) : (
+                <span className="block size-3 rounded-[0.1875rem] bg-current" />
+              )
             ) : (
-              <span className="block size-3 rounded-[0.1875rem] bg-current" />
-            )
-          ) : (
-            <Codicon name="arrow-up" size="1rem" />
-          )}
-        </Button>
+              <Codicon name="arrow-up" size="1rem" />
+            )}
+          </Button>
+        </Tip>
       )}
     </div>
   )
@@ -126,22 +129,23 @@ function ConversationPill({
 
   return (
     <div className="ml-auto flex shrink-0 items-center gap-(--composer-control-gap)">
-      <Button
-        aria-label={muted ? 'Unmute microphone' : 'Mute microphone'}
-        aria-pressed={muted}
-        className={cn(GHOST_ICON_BTN, 'p-0', muted && 'bg-muted text-muted-foreground')}
-        disabled={disabled}
-        onClick={() => {
-          triggerHaptic('selection')
-          onToggleMute()
-        }}
-        size="icon"
-        title={muted ? 'Unmute microphone' : 'Mute microphone'}
-        type="button"
-        variant="ghost"
-      >
-        <Codicon name={muted ? 'mic-off' : 'mic'} size="1rem" />
-      </Button>
+      <Tip label={muted ? 'Unmute microphone' : 'Mute microphone'}>
+        <Button
+          aria-label={muted ? 'Unmute microphone' : 'Mute microphone'}
+          aria-pressed={muted}
+          className={cn(GHOST_ICON_BTN, 'p-0', muted && 'bg-muted text-muted-foreground')}
+          disabled={disabled}
+          onClick={() => {
+            triggerHaptic('selection')
+            onToggleMute()
+          }}
+          size="icon"
+          type="button"
+          variant="ghost"
+        >
+          <Codicon name={muted ? 'mic-off' : 'mic'} size="1rem" />
+        </Button>
+      </Tip>
       {listening && (
         <Button
           aria-label="Stop listening and send"
@@ -151,7 +155,6 @@ function ConversationPill({
             triggerHaptic('submit')
             onStopTurn()
           }}
-          title="Stop listening and send"
           type="button"
           variant="ghost"
         >
@@ -167,7 +170,6 @@ function ConversationPill({
           triggerHaptic('close')
           onEnd()
         }}
-        title="End voice conversation"
         type="button"
       >
         <ConversationIndicator level={level} listening={listening} speaking={speaking} />
@@ -224,34 +226,35 @@ function DictationButton({
     status === 'recording' ? 'Stop dictation' : status === 'transcribing' ? 'Transcribing dictation' : 'Voice dictation'
 
   return (
-    <Button
-      aria-label={aria}
-      aria-pressed={active}
-      className={cn(
-        GHOST_ICON_BTN,
-        'p-0',
-        'data-[active=true]:bg-accent data-[active=true]:text-foreground',
-        status === 'recording' && 'bg-primary/10 text-primary hover:bg-primary/15 hover:text-primary',
-        status === 'transcribing' && 'bg-primary/10 text-primary'
-      )}
-      data-active={active}
-      disabled={disabled || !state.enabled || status === 'transcribing'}
-      onClick={() => {
-        triggerHaptic(active ? 'close' : 'open')
-        onToggle()
-      }}
-      size="icon"
-      title={aria}
-      type="button"
-      variant="ghost"
-    >
-      {status === 'recording' ? (
-        <Square className="fill-current" size={12} />
-      ) : status === 'transcribing' ? (
-        <Loader2 className="animate-spin" size={16} />
-      ) : (
-        <Codicon name="mic" size="1rem" />
-      )}
-    </Button>
+    <Tip label={aria}>
+      <Button
+        aria-label={aria}
+        aria-pressed={active}
+        className={cn(
+          GHOST_ICON_BTN,
+          'p-0',
+          'data-[active=true]:bg-accent data-[active=true]:text-foreground',
+          status === 'recording' && 'bg-primary/10 text-primary hover:bg-primary/15 hover:text-primary',
+          status === 'transcribing' && 'bg-primary/10 text-primary'
+        )}
+        data-active={active}
+        disabled={disabled || !state.enabled || status === 'transcribing'}
+        onClick={() => {
+          triggerHaptic(active ? 'close' : 'open')
+          onToggle()
+        }}
+        size="icon"
+        type="button"
+        variant="ghost"
+      >
+        {status === 'recording' ? (
+          <Square className="fill-current" size={12} />
+        ) : status === 'transcribing' ? (
+          <Loader2 className="animate-spin" size={16} />
+        ) : (
+          <Codicon name="mic" size="1rem" />
+        )}
+      </Button>
+    </Tip>
   )
 }

apps/desktop/src/app/chat/composer/queue-panel.tsx

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { useState } from 'react'
 
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
 import { DisclosureCaret } from '@/components/ui/disclosure-caret'
+import { Tip } from '@/components/ui/tooltip'
 import { ArrowUp, Pencil, Trash2 } from '@/lib/icons'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 import type { QueuedPromptEntry } from '@/store/composer-queue'
@@ -80,41 +81,44 @@ export function QueuePanel({ busy, editingId, entries, onDelete, onEdit, onSendN
                       : 'opacity-0 group-hover/queue-row:opacity-100 group-focus-within/queue-row:opacity-100'
                   )}
                 >
-                  <Button
-                    aria-label="Edit queued turn"
-                    className="h-5 w-5 rounded-md"
-                    disabled={Boolean(editingId) && !isEditing}
-                    onClick={() => onEdit(entry)}
-                    size="icon-xs"
-                    title="Edit queued turn"
-                    type="button"
-                    variant="ghost"
-                  >
-                    <Pencil size={11} />
-                  </Button>
-                  <Button
-                    aria-label="Send queued turn now"
-                    className="h-5 w-5 rounded-md"
-                    disabled={busy || isEditing}
-                    onClick={() => onSendNow(entry.id)}
-                    size="icon-xs"
-                    title="Send queued turn now"
-                    type="button"
-                    variant="ghost"
-                  >
-                    <ArrowUp size={11} />
-                  </Button>
-                  <Button
-                    aria-label="Delete queued turn"
-                    className="h-5 w-5 rounded-md"
-                    onClick={() => onDelete(entry.id)}
-                    size="icon-xs"
-                    title="Delete queued turn"
-                    type="button"
-                    variant="ghost"
-                  >
-                    <Trash2 size={11} />
-                  </Button>
+                  <Tip label="Edit queued turn">
+                    <Button
+                      aria-label="Edit queued turn"
+                      className="h-5 w-5 rounded-md"
+                      disabled={Boolean(editingId) && !isEditing}
+                      onClick={() => onEdit(entry)}
+                      size="icon-xs"
+                      type="button"
+                      variant="ghost"
+                    >
+                      <Pencil size={11} />
+                    </Button>
+                  </Tip>
+                  <Tip label="Send queued turn now">
+                    <Button
+                      aria-label="Send queued turn now"
+                      className="h-5 w-5 rounded-md"
+                      disabled={busy || isEditing}
+                      onClick={() => onSendNow(entry.id)}
+                      size="icon-xs"
+                      type="button"
+                      variant="ghost"
+                    >
+                      <ArrowUp size={11} />
+                    </Button>
+                  </Tip>
+                  <Tip label="Delete queued turn">
+                    <Button
+                      aria-label="Delete queued turn"
+                      className="h-5 w-5 rounded-md"
+                      onClick={() => onDelete(entry.id)}
+                      size="icon-xs"
+                      type="button"
+                      variant="ghost"
+                    >
+                      <Trash2 size={11} />
+                    </Button>
+                  </Tip>
                 </div>
               </div>
             )

apps/desktop/src/app/chat/index.tsx

@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ import { useLocation } from 'react-router-dom'
 
 import { Thread } from '@/components/assistant-ui/thread'
 import { Backdrop } from '@/components/Backdrop'
-import { NotificationStack } from '@/components/notifications'
 import { PromptOverlays } from '@/components/prompt-overlays'
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
 import { Codicon } from '@/components/ui/codicon'
@@ -325,7 +324,6 @@ export function ChatView({
         selectedSessionId={selectedSessionId}
       />
 
-      <NotificationStack />
       <PromptOverlays />
 
       <div

apps/desktop/src/app/chat/right-rail/preview-console.tsx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { useEffect, useMemo, useRef } from 'react'
 
 import { requestComposerInsert } from '@/app/chat/composer/focus'
 import { CopyButton } from '@/components/ui/copy-button'
+import { Tip } from '@/components/ui/tooltip'
 import { PanelBottom, Send, Trash2 } from '@/lib/icons'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 import { notify } from '@/store/notifications'
@@ -80,17 +81,18 @@ function ConsoleRow({ copyText, log, onSend, onToggleSelect, selected }: Console
         selected && 'border-border/60 bg-accent/40'
       )}
     >
-      <button
-        className={cn(
-          'mt-0.5 text-left uppercase opacity-70 transition-colors hover:opacity-100',
-          consoleLevelClass[log.level] ?? consoleLevelClass[0]
-        )}
-        onClick={onToggleSelect}
-        title={selected ? 'Deselect entry' : 'Select entry'}
-        type="button"
-      >
-        {consoleLevelLabel[log.level] || 'log'}
-      </button>
+      <Tip label={selected ? 'Deselect entry' : 'Select entry'}>
+        <button
+          className={cn(
+            'mt-0.5 text-left uppercase opacity-70 transition-colors hover:opacity-100',
+            consoleLevelClass[log.level] ?? consoleLevelClass[0]
+          )}
+          onClick={onToggleSelect}
+          type="button"
+        >
+          {consoleLevelLabel[log.level] || 'log'}
+        </button>
+      </Tip>
       <div className="min-w-0" data-selectable-text="true">
         <span className={cn('block wrap-break-word', consoleLevelClass[log.level] ?? consoleLevelClass[0])}>
           {log.message}
@@ -112,14 +114,15 @@ function ConsoleRow({ copyText, log, onSend, onToggleSelect, selected }: Console
           showLabel={false}
           text={copyText}
         />
-        <button
-          className="rounded-md p-1 text-muted-foreground transition-colors hover:bg-accent hover:text-foreground"
-          onClick={onSend}
-          title="Send this entry to chat"
-          type="button"
-        >
-          <Send className="size-3" />
-        </button>
+        <Tip label="Send this entry to chat">
+          <button
+            className="rounded-md p-1 text-muted-foreground transition-colors hover:bg-accent hover:text-foreground"
+            onClick={onSend}
+            type="button"
+          >
+            <Send className="size-3" />
+          </button>
+        </Tip>
       </span>
     </div>
   )
@@ -225,11 +228,6 @@ export function PreviewConsolePanel({
             className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 rounded-md px-1.5 py-0.5 text-[0.625rem] text-muted-foreground transition-colors hover:bg-accent hover:text-foreground disabled:opacity-40"
             disabled={sendableLogs.length === 0}
             onClick={() => sendLogsToComposer(sendableLogs)}
-            title={
-              visibleSelection.length > 0
-                ? `Send ${visibleSelection.length} selected to chat`
-                : 'Send all log entries to chat'
-            }
             type="button"
           >
             <Send className="size-3" />
@@ -250,7 +248,6 @@ export function PreviewConsolePanel({
             className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 rounded-md px-1.5 py-0.5 text-[0.625rem] text-muted-foreground transition-colors hover:bg-accent hover:text-foreground disabled:opacity-40"
             disabled={logs.length === 0}
             onClick={consoleState.clear}
-            title="Clear console"
             type="button"
           >
             <Trash2 className="size-3" />

apps/desktop/src/app/chat/right-rail/preview-pane.tsx

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import type { PointerEvent as ReactPointerEvent } from 'react'
 import { useCallback, useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react'
 
 import type { SetTitlebarToolGroup, TitlebarTool } from '@/app/shell/titlebar-controls'
+import { Tip } from '@/components/ui/tooltip'
 import { Bug } from '@/lib/icons'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 import { notify, notifyError } from '@/store/notifications'
@@ -607,15 +608,16 @@ export function PreviewPane({
         {!embedded && (
           <div className="pointer-events-none flex min-h-(--titlebar-height) items-center gap-1.5 border-b border-border/60 bg-background px-2 py-1">
             <div className="min-w-0 flex-1">
-              <a
-                className="pointer-events-auto inline max-w-full truncate text-left text-xs font-medium text-foreground underline-offset-4 decoration-current/20 transition-colors hover:text-primary hover:underline"
-                href={currentUrl}
-                rel="noreferrer"
-                target="_blank"
-                title={`Open ${currentUrl}`}
-              >
-                {previewLabel || 'Preview'}
-              </a>
+              <Tip label={`Open ${currentUrl}`}>
+                <a
+                  className="pointer-events-auto inline max-w-full truncate text-left text-xs font-medium text-foreground underline-offset-4 decoration-current/20 transition-colors hover:text-primary hover:underline"
+                  href={currentUrl}
+                  rel="noreferrer"
+                  target="_blank"
+                >
+                  {previewLabel || 'Preview'}
+                </a>
+              </Tip>
             </div>
           </div>
         )}

apps/desktop/src/app/chat/right-rail/preview.tsx

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { useEffect, useMemo } from 'react'
 
 import type { SetTitlebarToolGroup } from '@/app/shell/titlebar-controls'
 import { Codicon } from '@/components/ui/codicon'
+import { Tip } from '@/components/ui/tooltip'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 import {
   $rightRailActiveTabId,
@@ -117,16 +118,17 @@ export function ChatPreviewRail({ onRestartServer, setTitlebarToolGroup }: ChatP
                 {active && (
                   <span aria-hidden="true" className="absolute inset-x-0 top-0 h-px bg-(--ui-stroke-primary)" />
                 )}
-                <button
-                  aria-selected={active}
-                  className="flex h-full min-w-0 max-w-full items-center overflow-hidden pl-3 pr-2 text-left outline-none"
-                  onClick={() => selectRightRailTab(tab.id)}
-                  role="tab"
-                  title={tab.label}
-                  type="button"
-                >
-                  <span className="block min-w-0 truncate">{tab.label}</span>
-                </button>
+                <Tip label={tab.label}>
+                  <button
+                    aria-selected={active}
+                    className="flex h-full min-w-0 max-w-full items-center overflow-hidden pl-3 pr-2 text-left outline-none"
+                    onClick={() => selectRightRailTab(tab.id)}
+                    role="tab"
+                    type="button"
+                  >
+                    <span className="block min-w-0 truncate">{tab.label}</span>
+                  </button>
+                </Tip>
                 <span
                   aria-hidden="true"
                   className="pointer-events-none absolute inset-y-0 right-0 w-9 bg-[linear-gradient(to_right,transparent,var(--tab-bg)_55%)] opacity-0 transition-opacity group-hover/tab:opacity-100 group-focus-within/tab:opacity-100"
@@ -135,7 +137,6 @@ export function ChatPreviewRail({ onRestartServer, setTitlebarToolGroup }: ChatP
                   aria-label={`Close ${tab.label}`}
                   className="pointer-events-none absolute right-1.5 top-1/2 grid size-4 -translate-y-1/2 place-items-center rounded-sm text-(--ui-text-tertiary) opacity-0 transition-[background-color,color,opacity] hover:bg-(--ui-bg-secondary) hover:text-foreground focus-visible:pointer-events-auto focus-visible:opacity-100 group-hover/tab:pointer-events-auto group-hover/tab:opacity-100 group-focus-within/tab:pointer-events-auto group-focus-within/tab:opacity-100"
                   onClick={() => closeRightRailTab(tab.id)}
-                  title={`Close ${tab.label}`}
                   type="button"
                 >
                   <Codicon name="close" size="0.75rem" />
@@ -148,7 +149,6 @@ export function ChatPreviewRail({ onRestartServer, setTitlebarToolGroup }: ChatP
           aria-label="Close preview pane"
           className="mr-1.5 grid size-6 shrink-0 self-center place-items-center rounded-md text-(--ui-text-tertiary) opacity-0 transition-opacity hover:bg-(--ui-control-hover-background) hover:text-foreground focus-visible:opacity-100 focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-sidebar-ring group-hover/rail-tabs:opacity-100 [-webkit-app-region:no-drag]"
           onClick={closeRightRail}
-          title="Close preview pane"
           type="button"
         >
           <Codicon name="close" size="0.75rem" />

apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/index.tsx

@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import {
 import { CSS } from '@dnd-kit/utilities'
 import { useStore } from '@nanostores/react'
 import type * as React from 'react'
-import { useEffect, useMemo, useState } from 'react'
+import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useState } from 'react'
 
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
 import { Codicon } from '@/components/ui/codicon'
@@ -34,7 +34,9 @@ import {
   SidebarMenuItem
 } from '@/components/ui/sidebar'
 import { Skeleton } from '@/components/ui/skeleton'
+import { Tip } from '@/components/ui/tooltip'
 import { searchSessions, type SessionInfo, type SessionSearchResult } from '@/hermes'
+import { profileColor } from '@/lib/profile-color'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 import {
   $panesFlipped,
@@ -51,8 +53,10 @@ import {
   SIDEBAR_SESSIONS_PAGE_SIZE,
   unpinSession
 } from '@/store/layout'
+import { $newChatProfile, $profiles, $profileScope, ALL_PROFILES, normalizeProfileKey } from '@/store/profile'
 import {
   $selectedStoredSessionId,
+  $sessionProfileTotals,
   $sessions,
   $sessionsLoading,
   $sessionsTotal,
@@ -64,6 +68,7 @@ import { type AppView, ARTIFACTS_ROUTE, MESSAGING_ROUTE, SKILLS_ROUTE } from '..
 import { SidebarPanelLabel } from '../../shell/sidebar-label'
 import type { SidebarNavItem } from '../../types'
 
+import { ProfileRail } from './profile-switcher'
 import { SidebarSessionRow } from './session-row'
 import { VirtualSessionList } from './virtual-session-list'
 
@@ -93,6 +98,9 @@ const SIDEBAR_NAV: SidebarNavItem[] = [
 ]
 
 const WORKSPACE_PAGE = 5
+// ALL-profiles view: show only the latest N per profile up front to keep the
+// unified list scannable, then reveal/fetch more in N-sized steps on demand.
+const PROFILE_INITIAL_PAGE = 5
 const WS_ID_PREFIX = 'workspace:'
 
 const wsId = (id: string) => `${WS_ID_PREFIX}${id}`
@@ -200,6 +208,7 @@ interface ChatSidebarProps extends React.ComponentProps<typeof Sidebar> {
   currentView: AppView
   onNavigate: (item: SidebarNavItem) => void
   onLoadMoreSessions: () => void
+  onLoadMoreProfileSessions?: (profile: string) => Promise<void> | void
   onResumeSession: (sessionId: string) => void
   onDeleteSession: (sessionId: string) => void
   onArchiveSession: (sessionId: string) => void
@@ -210,6 +219,7 @@ export function ChatSidebar({
   currentView,
   onNavigate,
   onLoadMoreSessions,
+  onLoadMoreProfileSessions,
   onResumeSession,
   onDeleteSession,
   onArchiveSession,
@@ -225,12 +235,20 @@ export function ChatSidebar({
   const sessions = useStore($sessions)
   const sessionsLoading = useStore($sessionsLoading)
   const sessionsTotal = useStore($sessionsTotal)
+  const sessionProfileTotals = useStore($sessionProfileTotals)
   const workingSessionIds = useStore($workingSessionIds)
+  const profiles = useStore($profiles)
+  const profileScope = useStore($profileScope)
+  // Only surface the profile switcher when more than one profile exists, so
+  // single-profile users see the unchanged sidebar.
+  const multiProfile = profiles.length > 1
+  const showAllProfiles = profileScope === ALL_PROFILES
   const [agentOrderIds, setAgentOrderIds] = useState<string[]>([])
   const [workspaceOrderIds, setWorkspaceOrderIds] = useState<string[]>([])
   const [searchQuery, setSearchQuery] = useState('')
   const [serverMatches, setServerMatches] = useState<SessionSearchResult[]>([])
   const [newSessionKbdFlash, setNewSessionKbdFlash] = useState(false)
+  const [profileLoadMorePending, setProfileLoadMorePending] = useState<Record<string, boolean>>({})
   const trimmedQuery = searchQuery.trim()
 
   // Flash the ⌘N hint full-opacity (no transition) for the press, so hitting
@@ -259,7 +277,19 @@ export function ChatSidebar({
     useSensor(KeyboardSensor, { coordinateGetter: sortableKeyboardCoordinates })
   )
 
-  const sortedSessions = useMemo(() => [...sessions].sort((a, b) => sessionTime(b) - sessionTime(a)), [sessions])
+  // Profile scope = the "workspace switcher" context. Concrete scope shows only
+  // that profile's sessions (clean rows, no per-row tags); ALL fans every
+  // profile in, grouped by profile below. Single-profile users land here with
+  // scope === their only profile, so nothing is filtered out.
+  const visibleSessions = useMemo(
+    () => (showAllProfiles ? sessions : sessions.filter(s => normalizeProfileKey(s.profile) === profileScope)),
+    [sessions, showAllProfiles, profileScope]
+  )
+
+  const sortedSessions = useMemo(
+    () => [...visibleSessions].sort((a, b) => sessionTime(b) - sessionTime(a)),
+    [visibleSessions]
+  )
 
   const workingSessionIdSet = useMemo(() => new Set(workingSessionIds), [workingSessionIds])
 
@@ -268,7 +298,7 @@ export function ChatSidebar({
   const sessionByAnyId = useMemo(() => {
     const map = new Map<string, SessionInfo>()
 
-    for (const s of sessions) {
+    for (const s of visibleSessions) {
       map.set(s.id, s)
 
       if (s._lineage_root_id && !map.has(s._lineage_root_id)) {
@@ -277,7 +307,7 @@ export function ChatSidebar({
     }
 
     return map
-  }, [sessions])
+  }, [visibleSessions])
 
   const pinnedSessions = useMemo(() => {
     const seen = new Set<string>()
@@ -366,11 +396,87 @@ export function ChatSidebar({
     [agentSessions, workspaceOrderIds]
   )
 
+  const loadMoreForProfileGroup = useCallback(
+    (profile: string) => {
+      if (!onLoadMoreProfileSessions) {
+        return
+      }
+
+      setProfileLoadMorePending(prev => ({ ...prev, [profile]: true }))
+
+      void Promise.resolve(onLoadMoreProfileSessions(profile))
+        .catch(() => undefined)
+        .finally(() =>
+          setProfileLoadMorePending(({ [profile]: _done, ...rest }) => rest)
+        )
+    },
+    [onLoadMoreProfileSessions]
+  )
+
+  // ALL-profiles view: one collapsible group per profile, color on the header
+  // (not on every row). Default profile floats to the top, the rest alpha.
+  const profileGroups = useMemo<SidebarSessionGroup[] | undefined>(() => {
+    if (!showAllProfiles) {
+      return undefined
+    }
+
+    const groups = new Map<string, SidebarSessionGroup>()
+
+    for (const session of agentSessions) {
+      const key = normalizeProfileKey(session.profile)
+
+      const group = groups.get(key) ?? {
+        color: profileColor(key),
+        id: key,
+        label: key,
+        mode: 'profile',
+        path: null,
+        sessions: []
+      }
+
+      group.sessions.push(session)
+
+      groups.set(key, group)
+    }
+
+    return [...groups.values()]
+      .map(group => ({
+        ...group,
+        loadingMore: Boolean(profileLoadMorePending[group.id]),
+        onLoadMore: onLoadMoreProfileSessions ? () => loadMoreForProfileGroup(group.id) : undefined,
+        totalCount: Math.max(group.sessions.length, sessionProfileTotals[group.id] ?? 0)
+      }))
+      // default (root) first, then the rest alphabetically.
+      .sort((a, b) => (a.id === 'default' ? -1 : b.id === 'default' ? 1 : a.label.localeCompare(b.label)))
+  }, [
+    showAllProfiles,
+    agentSessions,
+    loadMoreForProfileGroup,
+    onLoadMoreProfileSessions,
+    profileLoadMorePending,
+    sessionProfileTotals
+  ])
+
   const showSessionSkeletons = sessionsLoading && sortedSessions.length === 0
   const showSessionSections = showSessionSkeletons || sortedSessions.length > 0
-  const knownSessionTotal = Math.max(sessionsTotal, sortedSessions.length)
-  const hasMoreSessions = knownSessionTotal > sortedSessions.length
-  const remainingSessionCount = Math.max(0, knownSessionTotal - sortedSessions.length)
+  // Pagination is scope-aware. In "All profiles" mode it tracks the global
+  // unified set. When scoped to one profile it must compare that profile's own
+  // loaded rows against that profile's total — otherwise a huge default profile
+  // keeps "Load more" stuck on while you browse a small one (the aggregator's
+  // total sums every profile). Per-profile totals come from the aggregator
+  // (children excluded); fall back to the global total / loaded count.
+  const loadedSessionCount = showAllProfiles ? sessions.length : visibleSessions.length
+  const scopedProfileTotal = showAllProfiles ? undefined : sessionProfileTotals[profileScope]
+
+  const knownSessionTotal = Math.max(
+    showAllProfiles ? sessionsTotal : (scopedProfileTotal ?? loadedSessionCount),
+    loadedSessionCount
+  )
+
+  const hasMoreSessions = knownSessionTotal > loadedSessionCount
+  const remainingSessionCount = Math.max(0, knownSessionTotal - loadedSessionCount)
+
+  const recentsMeta = countLabel(agentSessions.length, knownSessionTotal)
 
   const handlePinnedDragEnd = ({ active, over }: DragEndEvent) => {
     if (!over || active.id === over.id) {
@@ -449,6 +555,8 @@ export function ChatSidebar({
                   (item.id === 'messaging' && currentView === 'messaging') ||
                   (item.id === 'artifacts' && currentView === 'artifacts')
 
+                const isNewSession = item.id === 'new-session'
+
                 return (
                   <SidebarMenuItem key={item.id}>
                     <SidebarMenuButton
@@ -460,7 +568,17 @@ export function ChatSidebar({
                         !isInteractive &&
                           'cursor-default hover:border-transparent hover:bg-transparent hover:text-inherit'
                       )}
-                      onClick={() => onNavigate(item)}
+                      onClick={() => {
+                        // A plain new session lands in whatever profile the live
+                        // gateway is on (= the active switcher context). null →
+                        // no swap. The switcher header is the single place to
+                        // change which profile that is.
+                        if (isNewSession) {
+                          $newChatProfile.set(null)
+                        }
+
+                        onNavigate(item)
+                      }}
                       tooltip={item.label}
                       type="button"
                     >
@@ -468,7 +586,7 @@ export function ChatSidebar({
                       {sidebarOpen && (
                         <>
                           <span className="min-w-0 flex-1 truncate max-[46.25rem]:hidden">{item.label}</span>
-                          {item.id === 'new-session' && (
+                          {isNewSession && (
                             <KbdGroup
                               className={cn('ml-auto max-[46.25rem]:hidden', newSessionKbdFlash && 'opacity-100!')}
                               keys={[...NEW_SESSION_KBD]}
@@ -544,11 +662,19 @@ export function ChatSidebar({
         {sidebarOpen && showSessionSections && !trimmedQuery && (
           <SidebarSessionsSection
             activeSessionId={activeSidebarSessionId}
-            contentClassName="flex min-h-0 flex-1 flex-col gap-px overflow-y-auto overscroll-contain pb-1.75"
+            contentClassName={cn(
+              'flex min-h-0 flex-1 flex-col overflow-y-auto overscroll-contain pb-1.75',
+              // Separate profile sections clearly in the ALL view; rows inside
+              // each group keep their own tight gap-px rhythm.
+              showAllProfiles ? 'gap-3' : 'gap-px'
+            )}
             dndSensors={dndSensors}
             emptyState={showSessionSkeletons ? <SidebarSessionSkeletons /> : <SidebarAllPinnedState />}
             footer={
-              !agentsGrouped && !showSessionSkeletons && hasMoreSessions ? (
+              // Hide "load more" only when workspace-grouped (those groups page
+              // themselves). ALL-profiles now pages per-profile from each profile
+              // header; the global footer only applies to non-ALL views.
+              !showAllProfiles && !agentsGrouped && !showSessionSkeletons && hasMoreSessions ? (
                 <SidebarLoadMoreRow
                   loading={sessionsLoading}
                   onClick={onLoadMoreSessions}
@@ -557,37 +683,43 @@ export function ChatSidebar({
               ) : null
             }
             forceEmptyState={showSessionSkeletons}
-            groups={agentsGrouped ? agentGroups : undefined}
+            groups={showAllProfiles ? profileGroups : agentsGrouped ? agentGroups : undefined}
             headerAction={
-              // Grouping operates on unpinned recents; if everything is
-              // pinned the toggle does nothing visible, so hide it to avoid
-              // a phantom click target.
-              agentSessions.length > 0 ? (
-                <Button
-                  aria-label={agentsGrouped ? 'Show sessions as a single list' : 'Group sessions by workspace'}
-                  className={cn(
-                    'text-(--ui-text-tertiary) opacity-70 hover:bg-(--ui-control-hover-background) hover:text-foreground hover:opacity-100 focus-visible:opacity-100',
-                    agentsGrouped && 'bg-(--ui-control-active-background) text-foreground opacity-100'
-                  )}
-                  onClick={event => {
-                    event.stopPropagation()
-                    setSidebarRecentsOpen(true)
-                    setSidebarAgentsGrouped(!agentsGrouped)
-                  }}
-                  size="icon-xs"
-                  title={agentsGrouped ? 'Ungroup sessions' : 'Group by workspace'}
-                  variant="ghost"
-                >
-                  <Codicon name={agentsGrouped ? 'list-unordered' : 'root-folder'} size="0.75rem" />
-                </Button>
-              ) : null
+              // Always reserve the icon-xs (size-6) slot so the header keeps the
+              // same height whether or not the toggle renders — otherwise the
+              // "Sessions" label jumps when switching to the ALL-profiles view.
+              // Grouping operates on unpinned recents; if everything is pinned
+              // the toggle does nothing, and it's irrelevant in the ALL-profiles
+              // view (always grouped by profile), so hide the button (not the slot).
+              <div className="grid size-6 shrink-0 place-items-center">
+                {!showAllProfiles && agentSessions.length > 0 ? (
+                  <Tip label={agentsGrouped ? 'Ungroup sessions' : 'Group by workspace'}>
+                    <Button
+                      aria-label={agentsGrouped ? 'Show sessions as a single list' : 'Group sessions by workspace'}
+                      className={cn(
+                        'text-(--ui-text-tertiary) opacity-70 hover:bg-(--ui-control-hover-background) hover:text-foreground hover:opacity-100 focus-visible:opacity-100',
+                        agentsGrouped && 'bg-(--ui-control-active-background) text-foreground opacity-100'
+                      )}
+                      onClick={event => {
+                        event.stopPropagation()
+                        setSidebarRecentsOpen(true)
+                        setSidebarAgentsGrouped(!agentsGrouped)
+                      }}
+                      size="icon-xs"
+                      variant="ghost"
+                    >
+                      <Codicon name={agentsGrouped ? 'list-unordered' : 'root-folder'} size="0.75rem" />
+                    </Button>
+                  </Tip>
+                ) : null}
+              </div>
             }
             label="Sessions"
-            labelMeta={countLabel(agentSessions.length, knownSessionTotal)}
+            labelMeta={recentsMeta}
             onArchiveSession={onArchiveSession}
             onDeleteSession={onDeleteSession}
-            onNewSessionInWorkspace={onNewSessionInWorkspace}
-            onReorder={handleAgentDragEnd}
+            onNewSessionInWorkspace={showAllProfiles ? undefined : onNewSessionInWorkspace}
+            onReorder={showAllProfiles ? undefined : handleAgentDragEnd}
             onResumeSession={onResumeSession}
             onToggle={() => setSidebarRecentsOpen(!agentsOpen)}
             onTogglePin={pinSession}
@@ -595,10 +727,16 @@ export function ChatSidebar({
             pinned={false}
             rootClassName="min-h-0 flex-1 p-0"
             sessions={agentSessions}
-            sortable={agentSessions.length > 1}
+            sortable={!showAllProfiles && agentSessions.length > 1}
             workingSessionIdSet={workingSessionIdSet}
           />
         )}
+
+        {multiProfile && sidebarOpen && (
+          <div className="shrink-0 px-0.5 pb-1 pt-0.5">
+            <ProfileRail />
+          </div>
+        )}
       </SidebarContent>
     </Sidebar>
   )
@@ -667,6 +805,12 @@ interface SidebarSessionGroup {
   label: string
   path: null | string
   sessions: SessionInfo[]
+  // Profile color for the ALL-profiles view; absent for workspace groups.
+  color?: null | string
+  loadingMore?: boolean
+  mode?: 'profile' | 'workspace'
+  onLoadMore?: () => void
+  totalCount?: number
 }
 
 interface SidebarSessionsSectionProps {
@@ -850,38 +994,62 @@ function SidebarWorkspaceGroup({
   ref,
   ...rest
 }: SidebarWorkspaceGroupProps) {
+  const isProfileGroup = group.mode === 'profile'
+  const pageStep = isProfileGroup ? PROFILE_INITIAL_PAGE : WORKSPACE_PAGE
   const [open, setOpen] = useState(true)
-  const [visibleCount, setVisibleCount] = useState(WORKSPACE_PAGE)
+  const [visibleCount, setVisibleCount] = useState(pageStep)
+
+  const loadedCount = group.sessions.length
+  // Profile groups know their on-disk total (children excluded); workspace
+  // groups only ever page within what's already loaded.
+  const totalCount = isProfileGroup ? Math.max(group.totalCount ?? loadedCount, loadedCount) : loadedCount
   const visibleSessions = group.sessions.slice(0, visibleCount)
-  const hiddenCount = Math.max(0, group.sessions.length - visibleSessions.length)
-  const nextCount = Math.min(WORKSPACE_PAGE, hiddenCount)
+  const hiddenCount = Math.max(0, totalCount - visibleSessions.length)
+  const nextCount = Math.min(pageStep, hiddenCount)
+
+  // Reveal already-loaded rows first; only hit the backend when the next page
+  // crosses what's been fetched for this profile.
+  const handleProfileLoadMore = () => {
+    const target = visibleCount + pageStep
+
+    setVisibleCount(target)
+
+    if (target > loadedCount && loadedCount < totalCount) {
+      group.onLoadMore?.()
+    }
+  }
 
   return (
     <div className={cn('grid gap-px', dragging && 'z-10 opacity-60', className)} ref={ref} style={style} {...rest}>
       <div className="group/workspace flex min-h-6 items-center gap-1 px-2 pt-1 text-[0.6875rem] font-medium text-(--ui-text-tertiary)">
         <button
-          className="flex min-w-0 items-center gap-1 bg-transparent text-left hover:text-(--ui-text-secondary)"
+          className="flex min-w-0 items-center gap-1.5 bg-transparent text-left hover:text-(--ui-text-secondary)"
           onClick={() => setOpen(value => !value)}
-          title={group.path ?? undefined}
           type="button"
         >
+          {group.color ? (
+            <span aria-hidden="true" className="size-2 shrink-0 rounded-full" style={{ backgroundColor: group.color }} />
+          ) : null}
           <span className="truncate">{group.label}</span>
-          <SidebarCount>{group.sessions.length}</SidebarCount>
+          <SidebarCount>
+            {isProfileGroup ? countLabel(visibleSessions.length, totalCount) : group.sessions.length}
+          </SidebarCount>
           <DisclosureCaret
             className="text-(--ui-text-tertiary) opacity-0 transition group-hover/workspace:opacity-100"
             open={open}
           />
         </button>
         {onNewSession && (
-          <button
-            aria-label={`New session in ${group.label}`}
-            className="grid size-4 shrink-0 place-items-center rounded-sm bg-transparent text-(--ui-text-quaternary) opacity-0 transition-opacity hover:bg-(--ui-control-hover-background) hover:text-foreground group-hover/workspace:opacity-100"
-            onClick={() => onNewSession(group.path)}
-            title={`New session in ${group.label}`}
-            type="button"
-          >
-            <Codicon name="add" size="0.75rem" />
-          </button>
+          <Tip label={`New session in ${group.label}`}>
+            <button
+              aria-label={`New session in ${group.label}`}
+              className="grid size-4 shrink-0 place-items-center rounded-sm bg-transparent text-(--ui-text-quaternary) opacity-0 transition-opacity hover:bg-(--ui-control-hover-background) hover:text-foreground group-hover/workspace:opacity-100"
+              onClick={() => onNewSession(group.path)}
+              type="button"
+            >
+              <Codicon name="add" size="0.75rem" />
+            </button>
+          </Tip>
         )}
         {reorderable && (
           <span
@@ -904,17 +1072,21 @@ function SidebarWorkspaceGroup({
       {open && (
         <>
           {renderRows(visibleSessions)}
-          {hiddenCount > 0 && (
-            <button
-              aria-label={`Show ${nextCount} more in ${group.label}`}
-              className="ml-auto grid size-5 place-items-center rounded-sm bg-transparent text-(--ui-text-tertiary) transition-colors hover:bg-(--ui-control-hover-background) hover:text-foreground"
-              onClick={() => setVisibleCount(count => count + WORKSPACE_PAGE)}
-              title={`Show ${nextCount} more in ${group.label}`}
-              type="button"
-            >
-              <Codicon name="ellipsis" size="0.75rem" />
-            </button>
-          )}
+          {hiddenCount > 0 &&
+            (isProfileGroup ? (
+              <SidebarLoadMoreRow loading={Boolean(group.loadingMore)} onClick={handleProfileLoadMore} step={nextCount} />
+            ) : (
+              <Tip label={`Show ${nextCount} more in ${group.label}`}>
+                <button
+                  aria-label={`Show ${nextCount} more in ${group.label}`}
+                  className="ml-auto grid size-5 place-items-center rounded-sm bg-transparent text-(--ui-text-tertiary) transition-colors hover:bg-(--ui-control-hover-background) hover:text-foreground"
+                  onClick={() => setVisibleCount(count => count + WORKSPACE_PAGE)}
+                  type="button"
+                >
+                  <Codicon name="ellipsis" size="0.75rem" />
+                </button>
+              </Tip>
+            ))}
         </>
       )}
     </div>
@@ -961,12 +1133,16 @@ function SidebarLoadMoreRow({ loading, onClick, step }: SidebarLoadMoreRowProps)
 
   return (
     <button
-      className="flex min-h-5 items-center gap-1 self-start bg-transparent pl-2 text-left text-[0.6875rem] text-(--ui-text-tertiary) transition-colors duration-100 ease-out hover:text-foreground hover:transition-none disabled:cursor-default disabled:opacity-60 disabled:hover:text-(--ui-text-tertiary)"
+      className="flex min-h-5 items-center gap-1.5 self-start bg-transparent pl-2 text-left text-[0.6875rem] text-(--ui-text-tertiary) transition-colors duration-100 ease-out hover:text-foreground hover:transition-none disabled:cursor-default disabled:opacity-60 disabled:hover:text-(--ui-text-tertiary)"
       disabled={loading}
       onClick={onClick}
       type="button"
     >
-      <Codicon className="opacity-70" name={loading ? 'loading' : 'chevron-down'} size="0.75rem" spinning={loading} />
+      {/* Seat the icon in the same w-3.5 column session rows use for their dot
+          so the chevron + label line up with the rows above. */}
+      <span className="grid w-3.5 shrink-0 place-items-center">
+        <Codicon className="opacity-70" name={loading ? 'loading' : 'chevron-down'} size="0.75rem" spinning={loading} />
+      </span>
       <span>{label}</span>
     </button>
   )

apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/profile-switcher.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,143 @@
+import { useStore } from '@nanostores/react'
+import { useEffect } from 'react'
+import { useNavigate } from 'react-router-dom'
+
+import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
+import { Codicon } from '@/components/ui/codicon'
+import { Tip } from '@/components/ui/tooltip'
+import { profileColor, profileColorSoft } from '@/lib/profile-color'
+import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
+import {
+  $activeGatewayProfile,
+  $profiles,
+  $profileScope,
+  ALL_PROFILES,
+  normalizeProfileKey,
+  refreshActiveProfile,
+  selectProfile,
+  setShowAllProfiles
+} from '@/store/profile'
+
+import { PROFILES_ROUTE } from '../../routes'
+
+// Arc-Spaces-style profile rail at the sidebar foot: a default↔all toggle pinned
+// left, the colored named profiles scrolling between, and Manage pinned right.
+// The active profile pops in its own color — the "where am I" cue. Only mounted
+// when >1 profile exists, so single-profile users never see it.
+export function ProfileRail() {
+  const profiles = useStore($profiles)
+  const scope = useStore($profileScope)
+  const gatewayProfile = useStore($activeGatewayProfile)
+  const navigate = useNavigate()
+
+  const isAll = scope === ALL_PROFILES
+  const activeKey = normalizeProfileKey(gatewayProfile)
+  const defaultProfile = profiles.find(profile => profile.is_default)
+  const onDefault = !isAll && activeKey === 'default'
+
+  const named = profiles.filter(profile => !profile.is_default).sort((a, b) => a.name.localeCompare(b.name))
+
+  // Re-pull the running profile + list on mount so a profile created elsewhere
+  // shows up; cheap and best-effort.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    void refreshActiveProfile()
+  }, [])
+
+  return (
+    <div aria-label="Profiles" className="flex items-center gap-0.5" role="tablist">
+      {/* One button toggles default ↔ all: home face when scoped to a profile,
+          layers face when showing everything. Pinned left like Manage is right. */}
+      {defaultProfile ? (
+        // On default → toggle to all. Anywhere else (all view or a named
+        // profile) → return to default. So leaving a profile never lands on all.
+        <ProfilePill
+          active={isAll || onDefault}
+          glyph={isAll ? 'layers' : 'home'}
+          label={onDefault ? 'Show all profiles' : `Switch to ${defaultProfile.name}`}
+          onSelect={() => (onDefault ? setShowAllProfiles(true) : selectProfile(defaultProfile.name))}
+        />
+      ) : (
+        <ProfilePill active={isAll} glyph="layers" label="All profiles" onSelect={() => setShowAllProfiles(true)} />
+      )}
+
+      <div className="flex min-w-0 flex-1 items-center gap-1 overflow-x-auto [scrollbar-width:none] [&::-webkit-scrollbar]:hidden">
+        {named.map(profile => (
+          <ProfileSquare
+            active={!isAll && normalizeProfileKey(profile.name) === activeKey}
+            color={profileColor(profile.name)}
+            key={profile.name}
+            label={profile.name}
+            onSelect={() => selectProfile(profile.name)}
+          />
+        ))}
+      </div>
+
+      <ProfilePill active={false} glyph="ellipsis" label="Manage profiles…" onSelect={() => navigate(PROFILES_ROUTE)} />
+    </div>
+  )
+}
+
+interface ProfilePillProps {
+  active: boolean
+  // home / All / Manage are glyph action buttons (navigation, not identity).
+  glyph: string
+  label: string
+  onSelect: () => void
+}
+
+function ProfilePill({ active, glyph, label, onSelect }: ProfilePillProps) {
+  return (
+    <Tip label={label}>
+      <Button
+        aria-label={label}
+        aria-pressed={active}
+        className={cn(
+          'bg-transparent text-(--ui-text-tertiary) hover:bg-(--ui-control-hover-background) hover:text-foreground',
+          active && 'bg-(--ui-control-active-background) text-foreground'
+        )}
+        onClick={onSelect}
+        size="icon-xs"
+        type="button"
+        variant="ghost"
+      >
+        <Codicon name={glyph} size="0.875rem" />
+      </Button>
+    </Tip>
+  )
+}
+
+interface ProfileSquareProps {
+  active: boolean
+  color: null | string
+  label: string
+  onSelect: () => void
+}
+
+// A profile *is* its colored square — no icon-button chrome. Soft profile-tint
+// fill + the initial in the full color; the active one pops to full opacity with
+// a color ring. These pack tightly so the rail reads as a strip of profiles.
+function ProfileSquare({ active, color, label, onSelect }: ProfileSquareProps) {
+  const hue = color ?? 'var(--ui-text-quaternary)'
+
+  return (
+    <Tip label={label}>
+      <button
+        aria-label={label}
+        aria-pressed={active}
+        className={cn(
+          'grid size-5 shrink-0 place-items-center rounded-[3px] text-[0.5625rem] font-semibold uppercase leading-none transition-opacity hover:opacity-100',
+          active ? 'opacity-100' : 'opacity-55'
+        )}
+        onClick={onSelect}
+        style={{
+          backgroundColor: profileColorSoft(hue, active ? 30 : 22),
+          boxShadow: active ? `inset 0 0 0 1.5px ${hue}` : undefined,
+          color: color ?? undefined
+        }}
+        type="button"
+      >
+        {label.replace(/[^a-z0-9]/gi, '').charAt(0) || '?'}
+      </button>
+    </Tip>
+  )
+}

apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/session-actions-menu.tsx

@@ -15,16 +15,27 @@ import {
 } from '@/components/ui/dialog'
 import { DropdownMenu, DropdownMenuContent, DropdownMenuItem, DropdownMenuTrigger } from '@/components/ui/dropdown-menu'
 import { Input } from '@/components/ui/input'
-import { renameSession } from '@/hermes'
+import { renameSession, setSessionIcon } from '@/hermes'
 import { triggerHaptic } from '@/lib/haptics'
 import { exportSession } from '@/lib/session-export'
+import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 import { notify, notifyError } from '@/store/notifications'
 import { setSessions } from '@/store/session'
 
+// Curated glyphs for the per-session icon picker. Kept short so sessions from
+// different profiles stay visually distinguishable at a glance.
+const SESSION_ICON_CHOICES = [
+  '🦊', '🐙', '🦉', '🐝', '🐢', '🦄', '🚀', '⚡',
+  '🔥', '🌙', '⭐', '🎯', '🧪', '🔭', '🛠️', '🔒',
+  '💼', '📦', '🎨', '🧠'
+] as const
+
 interface SessionActions {
   sessionId: string
   title: string
   pinned?: boolean
+  profile?: string
+  icon?: null | string
   onPin?: () => void
   onArchive?: () => void
   onDelete?: () => void
@@ -41,8 +52,18 @@ interface ItemSpec {
   variant?: 'destructive'
 }
 
-function useSessionActions({ sessionId, title, pinned = false, onPin, onArchive, onDelete }: SessionActions) {
+function useSessionActions({
+  sessionId,
+  title,
+  pinned = false,
+  profile,
+  icon,
+  onPin,
+  onArchive,
+  onDelete
+}: SessionActions) {
   const [renameOpen, setRenameOpen] = useState(false)
+  const [iconOpen, setIconOpen] = useState(false)
 
   const items: ItemSpec[] = [
     {
@@ -82,6 +103,15 @@ function useSessionActions({ sessionId, title, pinned = false, onPin, onArchive,
         setRenameOpen(true)
       }
     },
+    {
+      disabled: !sessionId,
+      icon: 'symbol-color',
+      label: 'Icon',
+      onSelect: () => {
+        triggerHaptic('selection')
+        setIconOpen(true)
+      }
+    },
     {
       disabled: !onArchive,
       icon: 'archive',
@@ -113,7 +143,23 @@ function useSessionActions({ sessionId, title, pinned = false, onPin, onArchive,
     ))
 
   const renameDialog = (
-    <RenameSessionDialog currentTitle={title} onOpenChange={setRenameOpen} open={renameOpen} sessionId={sessionId} />
+    <>
+      <RenameSessionDialog
+        currentTitle={title}
+        onOpenChange={setRenameOpen}
+        open={renameOpen}
+        profile={profile}
+        sessionId={sessionId}
+      />
+      <IconPickerDialog
+        currentIcon={icon ?? null}
+        onOpenChange={setIconOpen}
+        open={iconOpen}
+        profile={profile}
+        sessionId={sessionId}
+        title={title}
+      />
+    </>
   )
 
   return { renameDialog, renderItems }
@@ -170,9 +216,10 @@ interface RenameSessionDialogProps {
   onOpenChange: (open: boolean) => void
   sessionId: string
   currentTitle: string
+  profile?: string
 }
 
-function RenameSessionDialog({ open, onOpenChange, sessionId, currentTitle }: RenameSessionDialogProps) {
+function RenameSessionDialog({ open, onOpenChange, sessionId, currentTitle, profile }: RenameSessionDialogProps) {
   const [value, setValue] = useState(currentTitle)
   const [submitting, setSubmitting] = useState(false)
   const inputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null)
@@ -200,7 +247,7 @@ function RenameSessionDialog({ open, onOpenChange, sessionId, currentTitle }: Re
     setSubmitting(true)
 
     try {
-      const result = await renameSession(sessionId, next)
+      const result = await renameSession(sessionId, next, profile)
       const finalTitle = result.title || next || ''
       setSessions(prev => prev.map(s => (s.id === sessionId ? { ...s, title: finalTitle || null } : s)))
       notify({ durationMs: 2_000, kind: 'success', message: 'Renamed' })
@@ -247,3 +294,67 @@ function RenameSessionDialog({ open, onOpenChange, sessionId, currentTitle }: Re
     </Dialog>
   )
 }
+
+interface IconPickerDialogProps {
+  open: boolean
+  onOpenChange: (open: boolean) => void
+  sessionId: string
+  title: string
+  currentIcon: null | string
+  profile?: string
+}
+
+function IconPickerDialog({ open, onOpenChange, sessionId, title, currentIcon, profile }: IconPickerDialogProps) {
+  const [submitting, setSubmitting] = useState(false)
+
+  const apply = async (icon: string) => {
+    if (!sessionId || submitting) {
+      return
+    }
+
+    setSubmitting(true)
+
+    try {
+      const result = await setSessionIcon(sessionId, icon, profile)
+      const finalIcon = result.icon ?? null
+      setSessions(prev => prev.map(s => (s.id === sessionId ? { ...s, icon: finalIcon } : s)))
+      onOpenChange(false)
+    } catch (err) {
+      notifyError(err, 'Could not set icon')
+    } finally {
+      setSubmitting(false)
+    }
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <Dialog onOpenChange={onOpenChange} open={open}>
+      <DialogContent className="max-w-md">
+        <DialogHeader>
+          <DialogTitle>Session icon</DialogTitle>
+          <DialogDescription>Pick a glyph for “{title || 'this session'}” so it stands out in the list.</DialogDescription>
+        </DialogHeader>
+        <div className="grid grid-cols-8 gap-1.5">
+          {SESSION_ICON_CHOICES.map(glyph => (
+            <button
+              className={cn(
+                'grid aspect-square place-items-center rounded-md border border-transparent text-lg transition-colors hover:bg-(--ui-control-hover-background)',
+                currentIcon === glyph && 'border-(--ui-stroke-tertiary) bg-(--ui-control-active-background)'
+              )}
+              disabled={submitting}
+              key={glyph}
+              onClick={() => void apply(glyph)}
+              type="button"
+            >
+              {glyph}
+            </button>
+          ))}
+        </div>
+        <DialogFooter>
+          <Button disabled={submitting || !currentIcon} onClick={() => void apply('')} type="button" variant="ghost">
+            Clear icon
+          </Button>
+        </DialogFooter>
+      </DialogContent>
+    </Dialog>
+  )
+}

apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/session-row.tsx

@@ -70,10 +70,12 @@ export function SidebarSessionRow({
 
   return (
     <SessionContextMenu
+      icon={session.icon}
       onArchive={onArchive}
       onDelete={onDelete}
       onPin={onPin}
       pinned={isPinned}
+      profile={session.profile}
       sessionId={session.id}
       title={title}
     >
@@ -123,8 +125,10 @@ export function SidebarSessionRow({
               className={cn(
                 // Scope the dot↔grabber swap to a local group so the grabber
                 // only reveals when hovering/focusing the handle itself, not
-                // anywhere on the row.
-                'group/handle relative -my-0.5 grid w-4 shrink-0 cursor-grab touch-none place-items-center self-stretch overflow-hidden active:cursor-grabbing',
+                // anywhere on the row. Width MUST match the non-reorderable dot
+                // column (w-3.5) so rows don't shift horizontally when reorder is
+                // toggled (e.g. scoped → ALL-profiles view).
+                'group/handle relative -my-0.5 grid w-3.5 shrink-0 cursor-grab touch-none place-items-center self-stretch overflow-hidden active:cursor-grabbing',
                 // The quest-glow box-shadow extends past the dot; let it bleed
                 // out instead of being clipped by this handle's overflow-hidden.
                 needsInput && 'overflow-visible'
@@ -152,10 +156,15 @@ export function SidebarSessionRow({
                 needsInput ? 'overflow-visible' : 'overflow-hidden'
               )}
             >
-              <SidebarRowDot isWorking={isWorking} needsInput={needsInput} />
-            </span>
+            <SidebarRowDot isWorking={isWorking} needsInput={needsInput} />
+          </span>
           )}
-          <span className="truncate text-[0.8125rem] font-normal text-(--ui-text-secondary) group-hover:text-foreground group-data-[working=true]:text-foreground/90">
+          {session.icon ? (
+            <span aria-hidden="true" className="shrink-0 text-xs leading-none">
+              {session.icon}
+            </span>
+          ) : null}
+          <span className="min-w-0 flex-1 truncate text-[0.8125rem] font-normal text-(--ui-text-secondary) group-hover:text-foreground group-data-[working=true]:text-foreground/90">
             {title}
           </span>
         </button>
@@ -166,10 +175,12 @@ export function SidebarSessionRow({
             </span>
           )}
           <SessionActionsMenu
+            icon={session.icon}
             onArchive={onArchive}
             onDelete={onDelete}
             onPin={onPin}
             pinned={isPinned}
+            profile={session.profile}
             sessionId={session.id}
             title={title}
           >

apps/desktop/src/app/command-center/index.tsx

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { PageLoader } from '@/components/page-loader'
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
 import { SearchField } from '@/components/ui/search-field'
 import { SegmentedControl } from '@/components/ui/segmented-control'
+import { Tip } from '@/components/ui/tooltip'
 import { getActionStatus, getLogs, getStatus, getUsageAnalytics, restartGateway, updateHermes } from '@/hermes'
 import type { ActionStatusResponse, AnalyticsResponse, StatusResponse } from '@/hermes'
 import { sessionTitle } from '@/lib/chat-runtime'
@@ -93,17 +94,18 @@ function RowIconButton({
   title: string
 }) {
   return (
-    <Button
-      aria-label={title}
-      className={cn('text-(--ui-text-tertiary) hover:bg-(--chrome-action-hover) hover:text-foreground', className)}
-      onClick={onClick}
-      size="icon-xs"
-      title={title}
-      type="button"
-      variant="ghost"
-    >
-      {children}
-    </Button>
+    <Tip label={title}>
+      <Button
+        aria-label={title}
+        className={cn('text-(--ui-text-tertiary) hover:bg-(--chrome-action-hover) hover:text-foreground', className)}
+        onClick={onClick}
+        size="icon-xs"
+        type="button"
+        variant="ghost"
+      >
+        {children}
+      </Button>
+    </Tip>
   )
 }
 
@@ -574,20 +576,21 @@ function UsagePanel({ error, loading, onRefresh, period, usage }: UsagePanelProp
                 const outputH = Math.round(((entry.output_tokens || 0) / maxTokens) * 96)
 
                 return (
-                  <div
-                    className="group relative flex h-24 min-w-0 flex-1 flex-col justify-end"
+                  <Tip
                     key={entry.day}
-                    title={`${entry.day} · in ${formatTokens(entry.input_tokens)} · out ${formatTokens(entry.output_tokens)}`}
+                    label={`${entry.day} · in ${formatTokens(entry.input_tokens)} · out ${formatTokens(entry.output_tokens)}`}
                   >
-                    <div
-                      className="w-full rounded-t-[1px] bg-[color:var(--dt-primary)]/50"
-                      style={{ height: Math.max(inputH, entry.input_tokens > 0 ? 1 : 0) }}
-                    />
-                    <div
-                      className="w-full bg-emerald-500/60"
-                      style={{ height: Math.max(outputH, entry.output_tokens > 0 ? 1 : 0) }}
-                    />
-                  </div>
+                    <div className="group relative flex h-24 min-w-0 flex-1 flex-col justify-end">
+                      <div
+                        className="w-full rounded-t-[1px] bg-[color:var(--dt-primary)]/50"
+                        style={{ height: Math.max(inputH, entry.input_tokens > 0 ? 1 : 0) }}
+                      />
+                      <div
+                        className="w-full bg-emerald-500/60"
+                        style={{ height: Math.max(outputH, entry.output_tokens > 0 ? 1 : 0) }}
+                      />
+                    </div>
+                  </Tip>
                 )
               })}
             </div>

apps/desktop/src/app/cron/index.tsx

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import { Input } from '@/components/ui/input'
 import { SearchField } from '@/components/ui/search-field'
 import { Select, SelectContent, SelectItem, SelectTrigger, SelectValue } from '@/components/ui/select'
 import { Textarea } from '@/components/ui/textarea'
+import { Tip } from '@/components/ui/tooltip'
 import {
   createCronJob,
   type CronJob,
@@ -591,16 +592,23 @@ function CronJobRow({
   )
 }
 
-function IconAction({ children, className, ...props }: Omit<React.ComponentProps<typeof Button>, 'size' | 'variant'>) {
+function IconAction({
+  children,
+  className,
+  title,
+  ...props
+}: Omit<React.ComponentProps<typeof Button>, 'size' | 'variant'>) {
   return (
-    <Button
-      className={cn('text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground', className)}
-      size="icon-sm"
-      variant="ghost"
-      {...props}
-    >
-      {children}
-    </Button>
+    <Tip label={title}>
+      <Button
+        className={cn('text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground', className)}
+        size="icon-sm"
+        variant="ghost"
+        {...props}
+      >
+        {children}
+      </Button>
+    </Tip>
   )
 }
 

apps/desktop/src/app/desktop-controller.tsx

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import { Pane, PaneMain } from '@/components/pane-shell'
 import { useSkinCommand } from '@/themes/use-skin-command'
 
 import { formatRefValue } from '../components/assistant-ui/directive-text'
-import { getSessionMessages, listSessions } from '../hermes'
+import { getSessionMessages, listAllProfileSessions, type SessionInfo } from '../hermes'
 import { preserveLocalAssistantErrors, toChatMessages } from '../lib/chat-messages'
 import { toggleCommandPalette } from '../store/command-palette'
 import {
@@ -25,9 +25,11 @@ import {
   pinSession,
   SIDEBAR_DEFAULT_WIDTH,
   SIDEBAR_MAX_WIDTH,
+  SIDEBAR_SESSIONS_PAGE_SIZE,
   unpinSession
 } from '../store/layout'
 import { $filePreviewTarget, $previewTarget, closeActiveRightRailTab } from '../store/preview'
+import { normalizeProfileKey, refreshActiveProfile } from '../store/profile'
 import {
   $activeSessionId,
   $currentCwd,
@@ -45,6 +47,7 @@ import {
   setCurrentModel,
   setCurrentProvider,
   setMessages,
+  setSessionProfileTotals,
   setSessions,
   setSessionsLoading,
   setSessionsTotal
@@ -98,6 +101,26 @@ const ProfilesView = lazy(async () => ({ default: (await import('./profiles')).P
 const SettingsView = lazy(async () => ({ default: (await import('./settings')).SettingsView }))
 const SkillsView = lazy(async () => ({ default: (await import('./skills')).SkillsView }))
 
+// Rows a session refresh must preserve even if the aggregator omits them:
+// in-flight first turns (message_count 0), pinned rows aged off the page, and
+// the actively-viewed chat (its "working" flag clears a beat before the
+// aggregator sees the persisted row). Pass `scope` to only keep the active row
+// when it belongs to the profile being paged.
+function sessionsToKeep(scope?: string): Set<string> {
+  const keep = new Set<string>([...$workingSessionIds.get(), ...$pinnedSessionIds.get()])
+  const active = $selectedStoredSessionId.get()
+
+  if (active) {
+    const session = scope ? $sessions.get().find(s => s.id === active) : null
+
+    if (!scope || !session || normalizeProfileKey(session.profile) === scope) {
+      keep.add(active)
+    }
+  }
+
+  return keep
+}
+
 export function DesktopController() {
   const queryClient = useQueryClient()
   const location = useLocation()
@@ -236,17 +259,15 @@ export function DesktopController() {
       // Require at least one message so abandoned/empty "Untitled" drafts (one
       // was created per TUI/desktop launch before the lazy-create fix) don't
       // clutter the sidebar.
-      const result = await listSessions(limit, 1)
+      // Unified cross-profile list (served read-only off each profile's
+      // state.db; no per-profile backend is spawned). Single-profile users get
+      // the same rows tagged profile="default".
+      const result = await listAllProfileSessions(limit, 1)
 
       if (refreshSessionsRequestRef.current === requestId) {
-        // Don't hard-replace. Two kinds of rows must survive a refresh the
-        // server didn't return: (1) sessions whose first turn is still in
-        // flight (message_count 0, so min_messages=1 omits them) and (2)
-        // pinned sessions that have aged off the most-recent page — otherwise
-        // the pin "disappears until you refresh". mergeSessionPage keeps both.
-        const keepIds = new Set<string>([...$workingSessionIds.get(), ...$pinnedSessionIds.get()])
-        setSessions(prev => mergeSessionPage(prev, result.sessions, keepIds))
+        setSessions(prev => mergeSessionPage(prev, result.sessions, sessionsToKeep()))
         setSessionsTotal(typeof result.total === 'number' ? result.total : result.sessions.length)
+        setSessionProfileTotals(result.profile_totals ?? {})
       }
     } finally {
       if (refreshSessionsRequestRef.current === requestId) {
@@ -260,6 +281,21 @@ export function DesktopController() {
     void refreshSessions()
   }, [refreshSessions])
 
+  // ALL-profiles view pages one profile at a time: fetch that profile's next
+  // page and merge it in place, leaving every other profile's rows untouched.
+  const loadMoreSessionsForProfile = useCallback(async (profile: string) => {
+    const key = normalizeProfileKey(profile)
+    const inKey = (s: SessionInfo) => normalizeProfileKey(s.profile) === key
+    const loaded = $sessions.get().filter(inKey).length
+    const result = await listAllProfileSessions(loaded + SIDEBAR_SESSIONS_PAGE_SIZE, 1, 'exclude', 'recent', key)
+    const keep = sessionsToKeep(key)
+
+    setSessions(prev => [...prev.filter(s => !inKey(s)), ...mergeSessionPage(prev.filter(inKey), result.sessions, keep)])
+
+    const total = result.profile_totals?.[key] ?? result.total ?? result.sessions.length
+    setSessionProfileTotals(prev => ({ ...prev, [key]: Math.max(total, result.sessions.length) }))
+  }, [])
+
   const toggleSelectedPin = useCallback(() => {
     const sessionId = $selectedStoredSessionId.get()
 
@@ -349,9 +385,11 @@ export function DesktopController() {
         return
       }
 
+      const storedProfile = $sessions.get().find(session => session.id === storedSessionId)?.profile
+
       for (let index = 0; index < Math.max(1, attempts); index += 1) {
         try {
-          const latest = await getSessionMessages(storedSessionId)
+          const latest = await getSessionMessages(storedSessionId, storedProfile)
           updateSessionState(
             runtimeSessionId,
             state => ({
@@ -528,6 +566,7 @@ export function DesktopController() {
   useEffect(() => {
     if (gatewayState === 'open') {
       void refreshCurrentModel()
+      void refreshActiveProfile()
       void refreshSessions().catch(() => undefined)
     }
   }, [gatewayState, refreshCurrentModel, refreshSessions])
@@ -570,6 +609,7 @@ export function DesktopController() {
       currentView={currentView}
       onArchiveSession={sessionId => void archiveSession(sessionId)}
       onDeleteSession={sessionId => void removeSession(sessionId)}
+      onLoadMoreProfileSessions={loadMoreSessionsForProfile}
       onLoadMoreSessions={loadMoreSessions}
       onNavigate={selectSidebarItem}
       onNewSessionInWorkspace={startSessionInWorkspace}

apps/desktop/src/app/gateway/hooks/use-gateway-boot.ts

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import {
 } from '@/store/boot'
 import { setGateway } from '@/store/gateway'
 import { notify, notifyError } from '@/store/notifications'
+import { $activeGatewayProfile, touchActiveGatewayBackend } from '@/store/profile'
 import { $connection, setConnection, setGatewayState, setSessionsLoading } from '@/store/session'
 import type { RpcEvent } from '@/types/hermes'
 
@@ -97,7 +98,7 @@ export function useGatewayBoot({
       reconnecting = true
 
       try {
-        const conn = await desktop.getConnection()
+        const conn = await desktop.getConnection($activeGatewayProfile.get())
 
         if (cancelled) {
           return
@@ -212,6 +213,11 @@ export function useGatewayBoot({
     window.addEventListener('online', onOnline)
     document.addEventListener('visibilitychange', onVisible)
 
+    // Keep the active pool backend alive while this window is open (the main
+    // process can't observe the direct renderer↔backend WS). No-op for the
+    // primary backend.
+    const keepaliveTimer = setInterval(() => touchActiveGatewayBackend(), 60_000)
+
     const offWindowState = desktop.onWindowStateChanged?.(payload => {
       const current = $connection.get()
 
@@ -259,6 +265,16 @@ export function useGatewayBoot({
           return
         }
 
+        // Record which profile the primary (window) backend booted as, so
+        // same-profile resumes are no-op swaps and any reconnect targets the
+        // right backend. Best-effort: a missing preference means "default".
+        try {
+          const pref = await desktop.profile?.get?.()
+          $activeGatewayProfile.set((pref?.profile ?? '').trim() || 'default')
+        } catch {
+          $activeGatewayProfile.set('default')
+        }
+
         setDesktopBootStep({
           phase: 'renderer.config',
           message: 'Loading Hermes settings',
@@ -293,6 +309,7 @@ export function useGatewayBoot({
     return () => {
       cancelled = true
       clearReconnectTimer()
+      clearInterval(keepaliveTimer)
       window.removeEventListener('online', onOnline)
       document.removeEventListener('visibilitychange', onVisible)
       offPowerResume?.()

apps/desktop/src/app/gateway/hooks/use-gateway-request.ts

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { useCallback, useEffect, useRef } from 'react'
 
 import type { HermesGateway } from '@/hermes'
 import { isGatewayReauthRequired, resolveGatewayWsUrl } from '@/lib/gateway-ws-url'
+import { $activeGatewayProfile } from '@/store/profile'
 import { $gatewayState, setConnection } from '@/store/session'
 
 export function useGatewayRequest() {
@@ -49,7 +50,10 @@ export function useGatewayRequest() {
       reauthErrorRef.current = null
 
       try {
-        const conn = await desktop.getConnection()
+        // Reconnect to whichever profile the gateway is currently routed to (not
+        // always the primary), so a sleep/wake reconnect keeps the user on the
+        // profile they were chatting in.
+        const conn = await desktop.getConnection($activeGatewayProfile.get())
         connectionRef.current = conn
         setConnection(conn)
         // Re-mint the WS URL before reconnecting. OAuth tickets are single-use

apps/desktop/src/app/messaging/index.tsx

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
 import { DisclosureCaret } from '@/components/ui/disclosure-caret'
 import { Input } from '@/components/ui/input'
 import { Switch } from '@/components/ui/switch'
+import { Tip } from '@/components/ui/tooltip'
 import {
   getMessagingPlatforms,
   type MessagingEnvVarInfo,
@@ -659,22 +660,25 @@ function MessagingField({
           value={edits[field.key] || ''}
         />
         {field.url && (
-          <Button asChild size="icon-sm" title="Open docs" variant="ghost">
-            <a href={field.url} rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">
-              <ExternalLink className="size-3.5" />
-            </a>
-          </Button>
+          <Tip label="Open docs">
+            <Button asChild size="icon-sm" variant="ghost">
+              <a href={field.url} rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">
+                <ExternalLink className="size-3.5" />
+              </a>
+            </Button>
+          </Tip>
         )}
         {field.is_set && (
-          <Button
-            disabled={saving === `clear:${field.key}`}
-            onClick={() => onClear(field.key)}
-            size="icon-sm"
-            title={`Clear ${field.key}`}
-            variant="ghost"
-          >
-            <Trash2 className="size-3.5" />
-          </Button>
+          <Tip label={`Clear ${field.key}`}>
+            <Button
+              disabled={saving === `clear:${field.key}`}
+              onClick={() => onClear(field.key)}
+              size="icon-sm"
+              variant="ghost"
+            >
+              <Trash2 className="size-3.5" />
+            </Button>
+          </Tip>
         )}
       </div>
       {copy.help && <p className="text-xs leading-5 text-muted-foreground">{copy.help}</p>}

apps/desktop/src/app/profiles/index.tsx

@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
+import { useStore } from '@nanostores/react'
 import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from 'react'
 
 import { PageLoader } from '@/components/page-loader'
 import { Badge } from '@/components/ui/badge'
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
+import { Checkbox } from '@/components/ui/checkbox'
 import { Codicon } from '@/components/ui/codicon'
 import {
   Dialog,
@@ -12,21 +14,29 @@ import {
   DialogHeader,
   DialogTitle
 } from '@/components/ui/dialog'
+import {
+  DropdownMenu,
+  DropdownMenuContent,
+  DropdownMenuItem,
+  DropdownMenuSeparator,
+  DropdownMenuTrigger
+} from '@/components/ui/dropdown-menu'
 import { Input } from '@/components/ui/input'
 import { Textarea } from '@/components/ui/textarea'
+import { Tip } from '@/components/ui/tooltip'
 import {
   createProfile,
   deleteProfile,
   getProfiles,
-  getProfileSetupCommand,
   getProfileSoul,
   type ProfileInfo,
   renameProfile,
   updateProfileSoul
 } from '@/hermes'
-import { AlertTriangle, Pencil, Save, Terminal, Trash2, Users } from '@/lib/icons'
+import { AlertTriangle, Check, Loader2, Save, Users } from '@/lib/icons'
+import { profileColor } from '@/lib/profile-color'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
-import { notify, notifyError } from '@/store/notifications'
+import { $activeProfile, switchProfile } from '@/store/profile'
 
 import { useRefreshHotkey } from '../hooks/use-refresh-hotkey'
 import { OverlayMain, OverlaySidebar, OverlaySplitLayout } from '../overlays/overlay-split-layout'
@@ -40,6 +50,50 @@ function isValidProfileName(name: string): boolean {
   return PROFILE_NAME_RE.test(name.trim())
 }
 
+// Pick a free "<source>-copy" name for a duplicated profile, appending a numeric
+// suffix when the base is taken. Source is truncated to leave room for the
+// suffix and to stay within the 64-char profile-name limit.
+function uniqueCloneName(source: string, existing: Set<string>): string {
+  const base = `${source}-copy`.slice(0, 58)
+
+  if (!existing.has(base)) {
+    return base
+  }
+
+  for (let i = 2; i < 1000; i++) {
+    const candidate = `${base}-${i}`
+
+    if (!existing.has(candidate)) {
+      return candidate
+    }
+  }
+
+  return `${base}-${Date.now()}`
+}
+
+// Three-state affordance shared by every save/create/rename/delete button:
+// spinner while pending, a check on success, then back to the idle icon+label.
+function ActionStatus({
+  state,
+  idle,
+  busy,
+  done,
+  idleIcon = null
+}: {
+  state: 'done' | 'idle' | 'saving'
+  idle: string
+  busy: string
+  done: string
+  idleIcon?: React.ReactNode
+}) {
+  return (
+    <>
+      {state === 'saving' ? <Loader2 className="size-4 animate-spin" /> : state === 'done' ? <Check /> : idleIcon}
+      {state === 'saving' ? busy : state === 'done' ? done : idle}
+    </>
+  )
+}
+
 interface ProfilesViewProps {
   onClose: () => void
 }
@@ -48,13 +102,18 @@ export function ProfilesView({ onClose }: ProfilesViewProps) {
   const [profiles, setProfiles] = useState<null | ProfileInfo[]>(null)
   const [selectedName, setSelectedName] = useState<null | string>(null)
   const [createOpen, setCreateOpen] = useState(false)
+  const [pendingRename, setPendingRename] = useState<null | ProfileInfo>(null)
   const [pendingDelete, setPendingDelete] = useState<null | ProfileInfo>(null)
   const [deleting, setDeleting] = useState(false)
+  const [deleted, setDeleted] = useState(false)
+  const [deleteError, setDeleteError] = useState<null | string>(null)
+  const [loadError, setLoadError] = useState<null | string>(null)
 
   const refresh = useCallback(async () => {
     try {
       const { profiles: list } = await getProfiles()
       setProfiles(list)
+      setLoadError(null)
       setSelectedName(current => {
         if (current && list.some(p => p.name === current)) {
           return current
@@ -63,10 +122,18 @@ export function ProfilesView({ onClose }: ProfilesViewProps) {
         return list.find(p => p.is_default)?.name ?? list[0]?.name ?? null
       })
     } catch (err) {
-      notifyError(err, 'Failed to load profiles')
+      setLoadError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : 'Failed to load profiles')
+      setProfiles(prev => prev ?? [])
     }
   }, [])
 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (pendingDelete) {
+      setDeleted(false)
+      setDeleteError(null)
+    }
+  }, [pendingDelete])
+
   useRefreshHotkey(refresh)
 
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -90,7 +157,6 @@ export function ProfilesView({ onClose }: ProfilesViewProps) {
       }
 
       await createProfile({ name: trimmed, clone_from_default: cloneFromDefault })
-      notify({ kind: 'success', title: 'Profile created', message: trimmed })
       setSelectedName(trimmed)
       await refresh()
     },
@@ -110,32 +176,60 @@ export function ProfilesView({ onClose }: ProfilesViewProps) {
       }
 
       await renameProfile(from, target)
-      notify({ kind: 'success', title: 'Profile renamed', message: `${from} → ${target}` })
       setSelectedName(target)
       await refresh()
     },
     [refresh]
   )
 
+  const handleClone = useCallback(
+    async (source: ProfileInfo) => {
+      const existing = new Set((profiles ?? []).map(p => p.name))
+      const target = uniqueCloneName(source.name, existing)
+
+      try {
+        await createProfile({ name: target, clone_from: source.name })
+        setSelectedName(target)
+        await refresh()
+      } catch (err) {
+        setLoadError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : `Failed to duplicate ${source.name}`)
+      }
+    },
+    [profiles, refresh]
+  )
+
+  const handleMakeDefault = useCallback(async (profile: ProfileInfo) => {
+    try {
+      // Relaunches the backend under this profile's HERMES_HOME and reloads the
+      // window, so control normally doesn't return here.
+      await switchProfile(profile.name)
+    } catch (err) {
+      setLoadError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : `Failed to switch to ${profile.name}`)
+    }
+  }, [])
+
   const handleConfirmDelete = useCallback(async () => {
-    if (!pendingDelete) {
+    if (!pendingDelete || deleting || deleted) {
       return
     }
 
     setDeleting(true)
+    setDeleteError(null)
 
     try {
       await deleteProfile(pendingDelete.name)
-      notify({ kind: 'success', title: 'Profile deleted', message: pendingDelete.name })
-      setPendingDelete(null)
-      setSelectedName(null)
-      await refresh()
+      setDeleted(true)
+      window.setTimeout(() => {
+        setPendingDelete(null)
+        setSelectedName(null)
+        void refresh()
+      }, 700)
     } catch (err) {
-      notifyError(err, 'Failed to delete profile')
+      setDeleteError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : 'Failed to delete profile')
     } finally {
       setDeleting(false)
     }
-  }, [pendingDelete, refresh])
+  }, [deleted, deleting, pendingDelete, refresh])
 
   return (
     <OverlayView closeLabel="Close profiles" onClose={onClose}>
@@ -158,10 +252,20 @@ export function ProfilesView({ onClose }: ProfilesViewProps) {
                 <Codicon name="add" size="0.875rem" />
               </Button>
             </div>
+            {loadError && (
+              <div className="mb-1 flex items-start gap-2 rounded-md border border-destructive/30 bg-destructive/10 px-2 py-1.5 text-[0.66rem] text-destructive">
+                <AlertTriangle className="mt-0.5 size-3 shrink-0" />
+                <span>{loadError}</span>
+              </div>
+            )}
             {profiles.map(profile => (
               <ProfileRow
                 active={selected?.name === profile.name}
                 key={profile.name}
+                onClone={() => void handleClone(profile)}
+                onDelete={() => setPendingDelete(profile)}
+                onMakeDefault={() => void handleMakeDefault(profile)}
+                onRename={() => setPendingRename(profile)}
                 onSelect={() => setSelectedName(profile.name)}
                 profile={profile}
               />
@@ -171,12 +275,7 @@ export function ProfilesView({ onClose }: ProfilesViewProps) {
 
           <OverlayMain className="px-0">
             {selected ? (
-              <ProfileDetail
-                key={selected.name}
-                onDelete={() => setPendingDelete(selected)}
-                onRename={newName => handleRename(selected.name, newName)}
-                profile={selected}
-              />
+              <ProfileDetail key={selected.name} profile={selected} />
             ) : (
               <div className="grid h-full place-items-center px-6 py-12 text-center text-sm text-muted-foreground">
                 <div>
@@ -195,7 +294,21 @@ export function ProfilesView({ onClose }: ProfilesViewProps) {
         open={createOpen}
       />
 
-      <Dialog onOpenChange={open => !open && !deleting && setPendingDelete(null)} open={pendingDelete !== null}>
+      <RenameProfileDialog
+        currentName={pendingRename?.name ?? ''}
+        onClose={() => setPendingRename(null)}
+        onRename={async newName => {
+          if (pendingRename) {
+            await handleRename(pendingRename.name, newName)
+          }
+        }}
+        open={pendingRename !== null}
+      />
+
+      <Dialog
+        onOpenChange={open => !open && !deleting && !deleted && setPendingDelete(null)}
+        open={pendingDelete !== null}
+      >
         <DialogContent className="max-w-md">
           <DialogHeader>
             <DialogTitle>Delete profile?</DialogTitle>
@@ -208,12 +321,25 @@ export function ProfilesView({ onClose }: ProfilesViewProps) {
               ) : null}
             </DialogDescription>
           </DialogHeader>
+
+          {deleteError && (
+            <div className="flex items-start gap-2 rounded-md border border-destructive/30 bg-destructive/10 px-3 py-2 text-xs text-destructive">
+              <AlertTriangle className="mt-0.5 size-3.5 shrink-0" />
+              <span>{deleteError}</span>
+            </div>
+          )}
+
           <DialogFooter>
-            <Button disabled={deleting} onClick={() => setPendingDelete(null)} variant="outline">
+            <Button disabled={deleting || deleted} onClick={() => setPendingDelete(null)} type="button" variant="ghost">
               Cancel
             </Button>
-            <Button disabled={deleting} onClick={() => void handleConfirmDelete()} variant="destructive">
-              {deleting ? 'Deleting...' : 'Delete'}
+            <Button disabled={deleting || deleted} onClick={() => void handleConfirmDelete()} variant="destructive">
+              <ActionStatus
+                busy="Deleting…"
+                done="Deleted"
+                idle="Delete"
+                state={deleted ? 'done' : deleting ? 'saving' : 'idle'}
+              />
             </Button>
           </DialogFooter>
         </DialogContent>
@@ -222,95 +348,151 @@ export function ProfilesView({ onClose }: ProfilesViewProps) {
   )
 }
 
-function ProfileRow({ active, onSelect, profile }: { active: boolean; onSelect: () => void; profile: ProfileInfo }) {
+function ProfileRow({
+  active,
+  onClone,
+  onDelete,
+  onMakeDefault,
+  onRename,
+  onSelect,
+  profile
+}: {
+  active: boolean
+  onClone: () => void
+  onDelete: () => void
+  onMakeDefault: () => void
+  onRename: () => void
+  onSelect: () => void
+  profile: ProfileInfo
+}) {
+  const running = useStore($activeProfile)
+  const isRunning = profile.name === running
+
   return (
-    <button
+    <div
       className={cn(
-        'flex w-full flex-col items-start gap-0.5 rounded-md px-2 py-1.5 text-left transition-colors',
+        'group relative flex items-center rounded-md border transition-colors',
         active
-          ? 'bg-(--ui-row-active-background) text-foreground'
-          : 'text-(--ui-text-secondary) hover:bg-(--ui-row-hover-background) hover:text-foreground'
+          ? 'border-(--ui-stroke-tertiary) bg-(--ui-bg-tertiary)'
+          : 'border-transparent hover:bg-(--chrome-action-hover)'
       )}
-      onClick={onSelect}
-      type="button"
     >
-      <span className="flex w-full items-center justify-between gap-2">
-        <span className="truncate text-sm font-medium">{profile.name}</span>
-        {profile.is_default && <span className="text-[0.6rem] text-primary">default</span>}
-      </span>
-      <span className="text-[0.66rem] text-muted-foreground">
-        {profile.skill_count} {profile.skill_count === 1 ? 'skill' : 'skills'}
-        {profile.has_env ? ' · env' : ''}
-      </span>
-    </button>
+      <button
+        className={cn(
+          'flex min-w-0 flex-1 flex-col items-start gap-0.5 rounded-md px-2 py-1.5 text-left text-[length:var(--conversation-text-font-size)] transition-colors',
+          active ? 'text-foreground' : 'text-(--ui-text-secondary) group-hover:text-foreground'
+        )}
+        onClick={onSelect}
+        type="button"
+      >
+        <span className="flex w-full items-center gap-1.5 pr-6">
+          {profile.is_default ? null : (
+            <span
+              aria-hidden="true"
+              className="size-2 shrink-0 rounded-full"
+              style={{ backgroundColor: profileColor(profile.name) ?? 'var(--ui-text-quaternary)' }}
+            />
+          )}
+          <span className="truncate text-sm font-medium">{profile.name}</span>
+          {isRunning && (
+            <Tip label="Current default profile">
+              <Codicon className="shrink-0 text-(--ui-accent)" name="pass-filled" size="0.75rem" />
+            </Tip>
+          )}
+        </span>
+        <span className="text-[0.66rem] text-muted-foreground">
+          {isRunning ? 'default · ' : ''}
+          {profile.skill_count} {profile.skill_count === 1 ? 'skill' : 'skills'}
+        </span>
+      </button>
+
+      <ProfileActionsMenu
+        isRunning={isRunning}
+        onClone={onClone}
+        onDelete={onDelete}
+        onMakeDefault={onMakeDefault}
+        onRename={onRename}
+        profile={profile}
+      >
+        <Button
+          aria-label={`Actions for ${profile.name}`}
+          className="absolute right-1 top-1 size-6 bg-transparent text-(--ui-text-tertiary) opacity-0 transition-opacity hover:bg-(--ui-control-active-background) hover:text-foreground focus-visible:opacity-100 group-hover:opacity-100 data-[state=open]:bg-(--ui-control-active-background) data-[state=open]:text-foreground data-[state=open]:opacity-100"
+          size="icon-xs"
+          title="Profile actions"
+          variant="ghost"
+        >
+          <Codicon name="ellipsis" size="0.875rem" />
+        </Button>
+      </ProfileActionsMenu>
+    </div>
   )
 }
 
-function ProfileDetail({
+function ProfileActionsMenu({
+  children,
+  isRunning,
+  onClone,
   onDelete,
+  onMakeDefault,
   onRename,
   profile
 }: {
+  children: React.ReactNode
+  isRunning: boolean
+  onClone: () => void
   onDelete: () => void
-  onRename: (newName: string) => Promise<void>
+  onMakeDefault: () => void
+  onRename: () => void
   profile: ProfileInfo
 }) {
-  const [renameOpen, setRenameOpen] = useState(false)
-  const [copying, setCopying] = useState(false)
-
-  const handleCopySetup = useCallback(async () => {
-    setCopying(true)
-
-    try {
-      const { command } = await getProfileSetupCommand(profile.name)
-      await navigator.clipboard.writeText(command)
-      notify({ kind: 'success', title: 'Setup command copied', message: command })
-    } catch (err) {
-      notifyError(err, 'Failed to copy setup command')
-    } finally {
-      setCopying(false)
-    }
-  }, [profile.name])
+  return (
+    <DropdownMenu>
+      <DropdownMenuTrigger asChild>{children}</DropdownMenuTrigger>
+      <DropdownMenuContent align="end" aria-label={`Actions for ${profile.name}`} className="w-44" sideOffset={6}>
+        <DropdownMenuItem disabled={isRunning} onSelect={onMakeDefault}>
+          <Codicon name="pass" size="0.875rem" />
+          <span>{isRunning ? 'Current default' : 'Make default'}</span>
+        </DropdownMenuItem>
+        <DropdownMenuSeparator />
+        {!profile.is_default && (
+          <DropdownMenuItem onSelect={onRename}>
+            <Codicon name="edit" size="0.875rem" />
+            <span>Rename</span>
+          </DropdownMenuItem>
+        )}
+        <DropdownMenuItem onSelect={onClone}>
+          <Codicon name="copy" size="0.875rem" />
+          <span>Duplicate</span>
+        </DropdownMenuItem>
+        {!profile.is_default && (
+          <DropdownMenuItem
+            className="text-destructive focus:text-destructive"
+            onSelect={onDelete}
+            variant="destructive"
+          >
+            <Codicon name="trash" size="0.875rem" />
+            <span>Delete</span>
+          </DropdownMenuItem>
+        )}
+      </DropdownMenuContent>
+    </DropdownMenu>
+  )
+}
 
+function ProfileDetail({ profile }: { profile: ProfileInfo }) {
   return (
     <div className="flex h-full min-h-0 flex-col">
       <div className="min-h-0 flex-1 overflow-y-auto">
         <div className="mx-auto max-w-2xl space-y-6 px-6 py-6">
           <header className="space-y-3">
-            <div className="flex flex-wrap items-start justify-between gap-3">
-              <div className="min-w-0">
-                <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2">
-                  <h3 className="text-xl font-semibold tracking-tight">{profile.name}</h3>
-                  {profile.is_default && <Badge>Default</Badge>}
-                  {profile.has_env && <Badge variant="muted">.env</Badge>}
-                </div>
-                <p className="mt-1 font-mono text-[0.7rem] text-muted-foreground" title={profile.path}>
-                  {profile.path}
-                </p>
-              </div>
-              <div className="flex shrink-0 items-center gap-3">
-                {!profile.is_default && (
-                  <Button onClick={() => setRenameOpen(true)} size="sm" variant="text">
-                    <Pencil />
-                    Rename
-                  </Button>
-                )}
-                <Button disabled={copying} onClick={() => void handleCopySetup()} size="sm" variant="text">
-                  <Terminal />
-                  {copying ? 'Copying...' : 'Copy setup'}
-                </Button>
-                {!profile.is_default && (
-                  <Button
-                    className="hover:text-destructive hover:no-underline"
-                    onClick={onDelete}
-                    size="sm"
-                    variant="text"
-                  >
-                    <Trash2 />
-                    Delete
-                  </Button>
-                )}
+            <div className="min-w-0">
+              <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2">
+                <h3 className="text-xl font-semibold tracking-tight">{profile.name}</h3>
+                {profile.is_default && <Badge>Default</Badge>}
               </div>
+              <Tip label={profile.path}>
+                <p className="mt-1 font-mono text-[0.7rem] text-muted-foreground">{profile.path}</p>
+              </Tip>
             </div>
 
             <dl className="grid gap-2 text-xs sm:grid-cols-2">
@@ -331,16 +513,6 @@ function ProfileDetail({
           <SoulEditor profileName={profile.name} />
         </div>
       </div>
-
-      <RenameProfileDialog
-        currentName={profile.name}
-        onClose={() => setRenameOpen(false)}
-        onRename={async newName => {
-          await onRename(newName)
-          setRenameOpen(false)
-        }}
-        open={renameOpen}
-      />
     </div>
   )
 }
@@ -358,14 +530,16 @@ function SoulEditor({ profileName }: { profileName: string }) {
   const [content, setContent] = useState('')
   const [original, setOriginal] = useState('')
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true)
-  const [saving, setSaving] = useState(false)
+  const [status, setStatus] = useState<'idle' | 'saved' | 'saving'>('idle')
   const [error, setError] = useState<null | string>(null)
   const requestRef = useRef<string>(profileName)
+  const savedTimerRef = useRef<null | number>(null)
 
   useEffect(() => {
     requestRef.current = profileName
     setLoading(true)
     setError(null)
+    setStatus('idle')
     setContent('')
     setOriginal('')
 
@@ -389,21 +563,37 @@ function SoulEditor({ profileName }: { profileName: string }) {
     })()
   }, [profileName])
 
+  useEffect(
+    () => () => {
+      if (savedTimerRef.current !== null) {
+        window.clearTimeout(savedTimerRef.current)
+      }
+    },
+    []
+  )
+
   const dirty = content !== original
   const isEmpty = !content.trim()
+  const saving = status === 'saving'
 
   async function handleSave() {
-    setSaving(true)
+    setStatus('saving')
     setError(null)
 
+    if (savedTimerRef.current !== null) {
+      window.clearTimeout(savedTimerRef.current)
+    }
+
     try {
       await updateProfileSoul(profileName, content)
       setOriginal(content)
-      notify({ kind: 'success', title: 'SOUL.md saved', message: profileName })
+      setStatus('saved')
+      savedTimerRef.current = window.setTimeout(() => {
+        setStatus(current => (current === 'saved' ? 'idle' : current))
+      }, 2200)
     } catch (err) {
+      setStatus('idle')
       setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : 'Failed to save SOUL.md')
-    } finally {
-      setSaving(false)
     }
   }
 
@@ -438,9 +628,14 @@ function SoulEditor({ profileName }: { profileName: string }) {
       )}
 
       <div className="flex justify-end">
-        <Button disabled={!dirty || saving || loading} onClick={() => void handleSave()} size="sm">
-          <Save />
-          {saving ? 'Saving...' : 'Save SOUL.md'}
+        <Button disabled={loading || saving || !dirty} onClick={() => void handleSave()} size="sm">
+          <ActionStatus
+            busy="Saving…"
+            done="Saved"
+            idle="Save SOUL.md"
+            idleIcon={<Save />}
+            state={saving ? 'saving' : status === 'saved' && !dirty ? 'done' : 'idle'}
+          />
         </Button>
       </div>
     </section>
@@ -458,7 +653,7 @@ function CreateProfileDialog({
 }) {
   const [name, setName] = useState('')
   const [cloneFromDefault, setCloneFromDefault] = useState(true)
-  const [saving, setSaving] = useState(false)
+  const [status, setStatus] = useState<'done' | 'idle' | 'saving'>('idle')
   const [error, setError] = useState<null | string>(null)
 
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -469,11 +664,12 @@ function CreateProfileDialog({
     setName('')
     setCloneFromDefault(true)
     setError(null)
-    setSaving(false)
+    setStatus('idle')
   }, [open])
 
   const trimmed = name.trim()
   const invalid = trimmed !== '' && !isValidProfileName(trimmed)
+  const busy = status === 'saving' || status === 'done'
 
   async function handleSubmit(event: React.FormEvent) {
     event.preventDefault()
@@ -484,21 +680,21 @@ function CreateProfileDialog({
       return
     }
 
-    setSaving(true)
+    setStatus('saving')
     setError(null)
 
     try {
       await onCreate(trimmed, cloneFromDefault)
-      onClose()
+      setStatus('done')
+      window.setTimeout(onClose, 800)
     } catch (err) {
+      setStatus('idle')
       setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : 'Failed to create profile')
-    } finally {
-      setSaving(false)
     }
   }
 
   return (
-    <Dialog onOpenChange={value => !value && !saving && onClose()} open={open}>
+    <Dialog onOpenChange={value => !value && !busy && onClose()} open={open}>
       <DialogContent className="max-w-md">
         <DialogHeader>
           <DialogTitle>New profile</DialogTitle>
@@ -525,16 +721,15 @@ function CreateProfileDialog({
             </p>
           </div>
 
-          <label className="flex cursor-pointer items-center gap-2 rounded-md border border-border/40 bg-background/50 px-3 py-2 text-sm">
-            <input
+          <label className="flex cursor-pointer select-none items-start gap-2.5 px-0.5 py-1">
+            <Checkbox
               checked={cloneFromDefault}
-              className="size-4 accent-primary"
-              onChange={event => setCloneFromDefault(event.target.checked)}
-              type="checkbox"
+              className="mt-0.5 shrink-0"
+              onCheckedChange={checked => setCloneFromDefault(checked === true)}
             />
-            <span>
-              <span className="font-medium">Clone from default</span>
-              <span className="ml-2 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+            <span className="grid gap-0.5 leading-snug">
+              <span className="text-sm font-medium">Clone from default</span>
+              <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
                 Copy config, skills, and SOUL.md from your default profile.
               </span>
             </span>
@@ -548,11 +743,11 @@ function CreateProfileDialog({
           )}
 
           <DialogFooter>
-            <Button disabled={saving} onClick={onClose} type="button" variant="outline">
+            <Button disabled={busy} onClick={onClose} type="button" variant="ghost">
               Cancel
             </Button>
-            <Button disabled={saving || !trimmed || invalid} type="submit">
-              {saving ? 'Creating...' : 'Create profile'}
+            <Button disabled={busy || !trimmed || invalid} type="submit">
+              <ActionStatus busy="Creating…" done="Created" idle="Create profile" state={status} />
             </Button>
           </DialogFooter>
         </form>
@@ -573,7 +768,7 @@ function RenameProfileDialog({
   open: boolean
 }) {
   const [name, setName] = useState(currentName)
-  const [saving, setSaving] = useState(false)
+  const [status, setStatus] = useState<'done' | 'idle' | 'saving'>('idle')
   const [error, setError] = useState<null | string>(null)
 
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -583,12 +778,13 @@ function RenameProfileDialog({
 
     setName(currentName)
     setError(null)
-    setSaving(false)
+    setStatus('idle')
   }, [currentName, open])
 
   const trimmed = name.trim()
   const unchanged = trimmed === currentName
   const invalid = trimmed !== '' && !unchanged && !isValidProfileName(trimmed)
+  const busy = status === 'saving' || status === 'done'
 
   async function handleSubmit(event: React.FormEvent) {
     event.preventDefault()
@@ -605,20 +801,21 @@ function RenameProfileDialog({
       return
     }
 
-    setSaving(true)
+    setStatus('saving')
     setError(null)
 
     try {
       await onRename(trimmed)
+      setStatus('done')
+      window.setTimeout(onClose, 800)
     } catch (err) {
+      setStatus('idle')
       setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : 'Failed to rename profile')
-    } finally {
-      setSaving(false)
     }
   }
 
   return (
-    <Dialog onOpenChange={value => !value && !saving && onClose()} open={open}>
+    <Dialog onOpenChange={value => !value && !busy && onClose()} open={open}>
       <DialogContent className="max-w-md">
         <DialogHeader>
           <DialogTitle>Rename profile</DialogTitle>
@@ -653,11 +850,11 @@ function RenameProfileDialog({
           )}
 
           <DialogFooter>
-            <Button disabled={saving} onClick={onClose} type="button" variant="outline">
+            <Button disabled={busy} onClick={onClose} type="button" variant="ghost">
               Cancel
             </Button>
-            <Button disabled={saving || invalid || unchanged} type="submit">
-              {saving ? 'Renaming...' : 'Rename'}
+            <Button disabled={busy || invalid || unchanged} type="submit">
+              <ActionStatus busy="Renaming…" done="Renamed" idle="Rename" state={status} />
             </Button>
           </DialogFooter>
         </form>

apps/desktop/src/app/right-sidebar/index.tsx

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { ErrorBoundary } from '@/components/error-boundary'
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
 import { Codicon } from '@/components/ui/codicon'
 import { Loader } from '@/components/ui/loader'
+import { Tip } from '@/components/ui/tooltip'
 import { normalizeOrLocalPreviewTarget } from '@/lib/local-preview'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 import { $panesFlipped } from '@/store/layout'
@@ -148,21 +149,21 @@ function RightSidebarChrome({
       <div className="flex items-center gap-2 px-2.5 py-1">
         <nav aria-label="Right sidebar panels" className="flex min-w-0 items-center gap-1">
           {tabs.map(tab => (
-            <Button
-              aria-label={tab.label}
-              aria-pressed={tab.id === activeTab}
-              className={cn(
-                'text-(--ui-text-tertiary) hover:bg-(--ui-control-hover-background) hover:text-foreground',
-                tab.id === activeTab && 'bg-(--ui-control-active-background) text-foreground'
-              )}
-              key={tab.id}
-              onClick={() => setRightSidebarTab(tab.id)}
-              size="icon-xs"
-              title={tab.label}
-              variant="ghost"
-            >
-              <Codicon name={tab.icon} size="0.875rem" />
-            </Button>
+            <Tip key={tab.id} label={tab.label}>
+              <Button
+                aria-label={tab.label}
+                aria-pressed={tab.id === activeTab}
+                className={cn(
+                  'text-(--ui-text-tertiary) hover:bg-(--ui-control-hover-background) hover:text-foreground',
+                  tab.id === activeTab && 'bg-(--ui-control-active-background) text-foreground'
+                )}
+                onClick={() => setRightSidebarTab(tab.id)}
+                size="icon-xs"
+                variant="ghost"
+              >
+                <Codicon name={tab.icon} size="0.875rem" />
+              </Button>
+            </Tip>
           ))}
         </nav>
 
@@ -216,21 +217,21 @@ function FilesystemTab({
   return (
     <div className="group/project-header flex min-h-0 flex-1 flex-col">
       <RightSidebarSectionHeader>
-        <button
-          className="flex min-w-0 flex-1 items-center rounded-md text-left hover:text-(--ui-text-secondary)"
-          onClick={() => void onChangeFolder()}
-          title={hasCwd ? `${cwd} — click to change folder` : 'Open a folder'}
-          type="button"
-        >
-          <SidebarPanelLabel>{cwdName}</SidebarPanelLabel>
-        </button>
+        <Tip label={hasCwd ? `${cwd} — click to change folder` : 'Open a folder'}>
+          <button
+            className="flex min-w-0 flex-1 items-center rounded-md text-left hover:text-(--ui-text-secondary)"
+            onClick={() => void onChangeFolder()}
+            type="button"
+          >
+            <SidebarPanelLabel>{cwdName}</SidebarPanelLabel>
+          </button>
+        </Tip>
         <Button
           aria-label="Refresh tree"
           className={HEADER_ACTION_CLASS}
           disabled={!hasCwd || loading}
           onClick={onRefresh}
           size="icon-xs"
-          title="Refresh tree"
           variant="ghost"
         >
           <Codicon name="refresh" size="0.8125rem" spinning={loading} />
@@ -240,7 +241,6 @@ function FilesystemTab({
           className={HEADER_ACTION_CLASS}
           onClick={() => void onChangeFolder()}
           size="icon-xs"
-          title={hasCwd ? 'Open a different folder' : 'Open a folder'}
           variant="ghost"
         >
           <Codicon name="folder-opened" size="0.8125rem" />
@@ -251,7 +251,6 @@ function FilesystemTab({
           disabled={!hasCwd || !canCollapse}
           onClick={onCollapseAll}
           size="icon-xs"
-          title="Collapse all folders"
           variant="ghost"
         >
           <Codicon name="collapse-all" size="0.8125rem" />

apps/desktop/src/app/right-sidebar/terminal/index.tsx

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { useStore } from '@nanostores/react'
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
 import { Codicon } from '@/components/ui/codicon'
 import { Loader } from '@/components/ui/loader'
+import { Tip } from '@/components/ui/tooltip'
 
 import { SidebarPanelLabel } from '../../shell/sidebar-label'
 import { $terminalTakeover, setRightSidebarTab, setTerminalTakeover } from '../store'
@@ -39,17 +40,18 @@ export function TerminalTab({ cwd, onAddSelectionToChat }: TerminalTabProps) {
     <div className="relative flex min-h-0 min-w-0 flex-1 flex-col">
       <div className="flex h-8 shrink-0 items-center gap-2 px-2.5">
         <SidebarPanelLabel className="text-white!">{shellName}</SidebarPanelLabel>
-        <Button
-          aria-label={label}
-          className="ml-auto size-6 rounded-md text-white!"
-          onClick={toggleTakeover}
-          size="icon"
-          title={label}
-          type="button"
-          variant="ghost"
-        >
-          <Codicon name={takeover ? 'screen-normal' : 'screen-full'} size="0.875rem" />
-        </Button>
+        <Tip label={label}>
+          <Button
+            aria-label={label}
+            className="ml-auto size-6 rounded-md text-white!"
+            onClick={toggleTakeover}
+            size="icon"
+            type="button"
+            variant="ghost"
+          >
+            <Codicon name={takeover ? 'screen-normal' : 'screen-full'} size="0.875rem" />
+          </Button>
+        </Tip>
       </div>
       <div className="relative min-h-0 flex-1 bg-[#002b36] p-2">
         {status === 'starting' && (

apps/desktop/src/app/session/hooks/use-prompt-actions.ts

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import type { AppendMessage, ThreadMessage } from '@assistant-ui/react'
 import { type MutableRefObject, useCallback } from 'react'
 
-import { transcribeAudio } from '@/hermes'
+import { getProfiles, transcribeAudio } from '@/hermes'
 import { appendTextPart, branchGroupForUser, type ChatMessage, chatMessageText, textPart } from '@/lib/chat-messages'
 import {
   attachmentDisplayText,
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import {
 } from '@/store/composer'
 import { clearNotifications, notify, notifyError } from '@/store/notifications'
 import { requestDesktopOnboarding } from '@/store/onboarding'
+import { $activeGatewayProfile, $newChatProfile, ensureGatewayProfile, normalizeProfileKey } from '@/store/profile'
 import {
   $busy,
   $messages,
@@ -440,6 +441,51 @@ export function usePromptActions({
           return
         }
 
+        // /profile selects which profile new chats open in — no app relaunch.
+        // A profile is per-session now, so an existing thread can't change its
+        // profile mid-stream; `/profile <name>` instead points the next new chat
+        // (and the current empty draft) at that profile's backend.
+        if (normalizedName === 'profile') {
+          const target = arg.trim()
+          const current = normalizeProfileKey($activeGatewayProfile.get())
+
+          if (!target) {
+            notify({
+              kind: 'success',
+              message: `Profile: ${current}. Use /profile <name> or the "New session" picker to start a chat in another profile.`
+            })
+
+            return
+          }
+
+          try {
+            const { profiles } = await getProfiles()
+            const match = profiles.find(profile => profile.name === target)
+
+            if (!match) {
+              notify({
+                kind: 'error',
+                title: 'Unknown profile',
+                message: `No profile named "${target}". Available: ${profiles.map(profile => profile.name).join(', ')}`
+              })
+
+              return
+            }
+
+            const key = normalizeProfileKey(match.name)
+
+            $newChatProfile.set(key)
+            // Swap the live gateway now so an empty draft sends into this
+            // profile immediately; an existing thread keeps its own profile.
+            await ensureGatewayProfile(key)
+            notify({ kind: 'success', message: `New chats will use profile ${match.name}.` })
+          } catch (err) {
+            notifyError(err, 'Failed to set profile')
+          }
+
+          return
+        }
+
         const sessionId = sessionHint || activeSessionIdRef.current || (await createBackendSessionForSend())
 
         if (!sessionId) {

apps/desktop/src/app/session/hooks/use-session-actions.ts

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import { clearQueuedPrompts } from '@/store/composer-queue'
 import { $pinnedSessionIds } from '@/store/layout'
 import { clearNotifications, notify, notifyError } from '@/store/notifications'
 import { requestDesktopOnboarding } from '@/store/onboarding'
+import { $activeGatewayProfile, $newChatProfile, ensureGatewayProfile, normalizeProfileKey } from '@/store/profile'
 import {
   $currentCwd,
   $messages,
@@ -173,6 +174,10 @@ function upsertOptimisticSession(
   preview: string | null = null
 ) {
   const now = Date.now() / 1000
+  // Stamp the profile the session was just created on (= the live gateway's
+  // profile) so the scoped sidebar shows the new row immediately instead of
+  // filtering it out as "default" until the aggregator re-fetches.
+  const profileKey = normalizeProfileKey($activeGatewayProfile.get())
 
   const session: SessionInfo = {
     cwd: created.info?.cwd ?? null,
@@ -180,11 +185,13 @@ function upsertOptimisticSession(
     id,
     input_tokens: 0,
     is_active: true,
+    is_default_profile: profileKey === 'default',
     last_active: now,
     message_count: created.message_count ?? created.messages?.length ?? 0,
     model: created.info?.model ?? null,
     output_tokens: 0,
     preview,
+    profile: profileKey,
     source: 'tui',
     started_at: now,
     title,
@@ -320,6 +327,9 @@ export function useSessionActions({
       creatingSessionRef.current = true
 
       try {
+        // Route the new chat to the chosen profile's backend (null = primary,
+        // so single-profile users are unaffected).
+        await ensureGatewayProfile($newChatProfile.get())
         const cwd = $currentCwd.get().trim() || getRememberedWorkspaceCwd()
         const created = await requestGateway<SessionCreateResponse>('session.create', { cols: 96, ...(cwd && { cwd }) })
         const stored = created.stored_session_id ?? null
@@ -420,6 +430,12 @@ export function useSessionActions({
       const isCurrentResume = () =>
         resumeRequestRef.current === requestId && selectedStoredSessionIdRef.current === storedSessionId
 
+      // Swap the single live gateway to this session's profile before any
+      // gateway call (no-op when it's already on that profile / single-profile).
+      const storedForProfile = $sessions.get().find(session => session.id === storedSessionId)
+      const sessionProfile = storedForProfile?.profile
+      await ensureGatewayProfile(sessionProfile)
+
       const cachedRuntimeId = runtimeIdByStoredSessionIdRef.current.get(storedSessionId)
       const cachedState = cachedRuntimeId && sessionStateByRuntimeIdRef.current.get(cachedRuntimeId)
 
@@ -482,7 +498,7 @@ export function useSessionActions({
         let localSnapshot = $messages.get()
 
         try {
-          const storedMessages = await getSessionMessages(storedSessionId)
+          const storedMessages = await getSessionMessages(storedSessionId, sessionProfile)
 
           if (isCurrentResume()) {
             localSnapshot = preserveLocalAssistantErrors(toChatMessages(storedMessages.messages), $messages.get())
@@ -552,7 +568,7 @@ export function useSessionActions({
           return
         }
 
-        const fallback = await getSessionMessages(storedSessionId)
+        const fallback = await getSessionMessages(storedSessionId, sessionProfile)
 
         if (!isCurrentResume()) {
           return

apps/desktop/src/app/settings/env-credentials.tsx

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { useEffect, useState } from 'react'
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
 import { Codicon } from '@/components/ui/codicon'
 import { Input } from '@/components/ui/input'
+import { Tip } from '@/components/ui/tooltip'
 import { deleteEnvVar, getEnvVars, revealEnvVar, setEnvVar } from '@/hermes'
 import { Check, Eye, EyeOff, type IconComponent, Save, Trash2 } from '@/lib/icons'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
@@ -45,35 +46,28 @@ function EnvActions({
   return (
     <div className="flex shrink-0 items-center gap-1.5">
       {info.url && (
-        <Button asChild size="xs" title="Open provider docs" variant="ghost">
+        <Button asChild size="xs" variant="ghost">
           <a href={info.url} rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">
             Docs
           </a>
         </Button>
       )}
       {info.is_set && showReveal && (
-        <Button
-          onClick={() => onReveal(varKey)}
-          size="icon-xs"
-          title={isRevealed ? 'Hide value' : 'Reveal value'}
-          variant="ghost"
-        >
-          {isRevealed ? <EyeOff /> : <Eye />}
-        </Button>
+        <Tip label={isRevealed ? 'Hide value' : 'Reveal value'}>
+          <Button onClick={() => onReveal(varKey)} size="icon-xs" variant="ghost">
+            {isRevealed ? <EyeOff /> : <Eye />}
+          </Button>
+        </Tip>
       )}
       <Button onClick={onEdit} size="xs" variant="outline">
         {info.is_set ? 'Replace' : 'Set'}
       </Button>
       {info.is_set && (
-        <Button
-          disabled={saving === varKey}
-          onClick={() => onClear(varKey)}
-          size="icon-xs"
-          title="Clear value"
-          variant="ghost"
-        >
-          <Trash2 />
-        </Button>
+        <Tip label="Clear value">
+          <Button disabled={saving === varKey} onClick={() => onClear(varKey)} size="icon-xs" variant="ghost">
+            <Trash2 />
+          </Button>
+        </Tip>
       )}
     </div>
   )

apps/desktop/src/app/settings/index.tsx

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { IconDownload, IconRefresh, IconUpload } from '@tabler/icons-react'
 import { useRef } from 'react'
 
+import { Tip } from '@/components/ui/tooltip'
 import { getHermesConfigDefaults, getHermesConfigRecord, saveHermesConfig } from '@/hermes'
 import { triggerHaptic } from '@/lib/haptics'
 import { Archive, Globe, Info, KeyRound, Sparkles, Wrench, Zap } from '@/lib/icons'
@@ -149,28 +150,32 @@ export function SettingsView({ gateway, onClose, onConfigSaved, onMainModelChang
             onClick={() => setActiveView('about')}
           />
           <div className="mt-auto flex items-center gap-1 pt-2">
-            <OverlayIconButton onClick={() => void exportConfig()} title="Export config">
-              <IconDownload className="size-3.5" />
-            </OverlayIconButton>
-            <OverlayIconButton
-              onClick={() => {
-                triggerHaptic('open')
-                importInputRef.current?.click()
-              }}
-              title="Import config"
-            >
-              <IconUpload className="size-3.5" />
-            </OverlayIconButton>
-            <OverlayIconButton
-              className="hover:text-destructive"
-              onClick={() => {
-                triggerHaptic('warning')
-                void resetConfig()
-              }}
-              title="Reset to defaults"
-            >
-              <IconRefresh className="size-3.5" />
-            </OverlayIconButton>
+            <Tip label="Export config">
+              <OverlayIconButton onClick={() => void exportConfig()}>
+                <IconDownload className="size-3.5" />
+              </OverlayIconButton>
+            </Tip>
+            <Tip label="Import config">
+              <OverlayIconButton
+                onClick={() => {
+                  triggerHaptic('open')
+                  importInputRef.current?.click()
+                }}
+              >
+                <IconUpload className="size-3.5" />
+              </OverlayIconButton>
+            </Tip>
+            <Tip label="Reset to defaults">
+              <OverlayIconButton
+                className="hover:text-destructive"
+                onClick={() => {
+                  triggerHaptic('warning')
+                  void resetConfig()
+                }}
+              >
+                <IconRefresh className="size-3.5" />
+              </OverlayIconButton>
+            </Tip>
           </div>
         </OverlaySidebar>
 

apps/desktop/src/app/settings/sessions-settings.tsx

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { useCallback, useEffect, useState } from 'react'
 
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
+import { Tip } from '@/components/ui/tooltip'
 import { deleteSession, listSessions, setSessionArchived } from '@/hermes'
 import { sessionTitle } from '@/lib/chat-runtime'
 import { triggerHaptic } from '@/lib/haptics'
@@ -134,18 +135,19 @@ export function SessionsSettings() {
                         {busy ? <Loader2 className="size-3.5 animate-spin" /> : <ArchiveOff className="size-3.5" />}
                         <span>Unarchive</span>
                       </Button>
-                      <Button
-                        aria-label="Delete permanently"
-                        className="text-muted-foreground hover:text-destructive"
-                        disabled={busy}
-                        onClick={() => void remove(session)}
-                        size="icon"
-                        title="Delete permanently"
-                        type="button"
-                        variant="ghost"
-                      >
-                        <Trash2 className="size-3.5" />
-                      </Button>
+                      <Tip label="Delete permanently">
+                        <Button
+                          aria-label="Delete permanently"
+                          className="text-muted-foreground hover:text-destructive"
+                          disabled={busy}
+                          onClick={() => void remove(session)}
+                          size="icon"
+                          type="button"
+                          variant="ghost"
+                        >
+                          <Trash2 className="size-3.5" />
+                        </Button>
+                      </Tip>
                     </div>
                   }
                   description={session.preview || undefined}

apps/desktop/src/app/settings/toolset-config-panel.tsx

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useState } from 'react'
 import { PageLoader } from '@/components/page-loader'
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
 import { Input } from '@/components/ui/input'
+import { Tip } from '@/components/ui/tooltip'
 import { deleteEnvVar, getToolsetConfig, revealEnvVar, selectToolsetProvider, setEnvVar } from '@/hermes'
 import { Check, ExternalLink, Eye, EyeOff, Loader2, Save, Trash2 } from '@/lib/icons'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
@@ -110,7 +111,7 @@ function EnvVarField({ envVar, isSet, onSaved, onCleared }: EnvVarFieldProps) {
         </div>
         <div className="flex shrink-0 items-center gap-1.5">
           {envVar.url && (
-            <Button asChild size="xs" title="Open provider docs" variant="ghost">
+            <Button asChild size="xs" variant="ghost">
               <a href={envVar.url} rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">
                 Docs
                 <ExternalLink className="size-3" />
@@ -118,23 +119,21 @@ function EnvVarField({ envVar, isSet, onSaved, onCleared }: EnvVarFieldProps) {
             </Button>
           )}
           {isSet && (
-            <Button onClick={() => void handleReveal()} size="icon-xs" title="Reveal value" variant="ghost">
-              {revealed !== null ? <EyeOff /> : <Eye />}
-            </Button>
+            <Tip label="Reveal value">
+              <Button onClick={() => void handleReveal()} size="icon-xs" variant="ghost">
+                {revealed !== null ? <EyeOff /> : <Eye />}
+              </Button>
+            </Tip>
           )}
           <Button onClick={() => setEditing(e => !e)} size="xs" variant="textStrong">
             {isSet ? 'Replace' : 'Set'}
           </Button>
           {isSet && (
-            <Button
-              disabled={busy}
-              onClick={() => void handleClear()}
-              size="icon-xs"
-              title="Clear value"
-              variant="ghost"
-            >
-              <Trash2 />
-            </Button>
+            <Tip label="Clear value">
+              <Button disabled={busy} onClick={() => void handleClear()} size="icon-xs" variant="ghost">
+                <Trash2 />
+              </Button>
+            </Tip>
           )}
         </div>
       </div>

apps/desktop/src/app/shell/app-shell.tsx

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { useStore } from '@nanostores/react'
 import type { CSSProperties, ReactNode } from 'react'
 import { useSyncExternalStore } from 'react'
 
+import { NotificationStack } from '@/components/notifications'
 import { PaneShell } from '@/components/pane-shell'
 import { SidebarProvider } from '@/components/ui/sidebar'
 import {
@@ -153,6 +154,10 @@ export function AppShell({
       </main>
 
       {overlays}
+
+      {/* Mounted at the shell root (after overlays) so success/error toasts
+          surface above every route and overlay — not just the chat view. */}
+      <NotificationStack />
     </SidebarProvider>
   )
 }

apps/desktop/src/app/shell/gateway-menu-panel.tsx

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { IconLayoutDashboard } from '@tabler/icons-react'
 
 import { StatusDot, type StatusTone } from '@/components/status-dot'
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
+import { Tip } from '@/components/ui/tooltip'
 import { Activity, AlertCircle } from '@/lib/icons'
 import type { RuntimeReadinessResult } from '@/lib/runtime-readiness'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
@@ -76,16 +77,17 @@ export function GatewayMenuPanel({
           </span>
         </div>
         <div className="flex items-center">
-          <Button
-            aria-label="Open system panel"
-            className="text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground"
-            onClick={onOpenSystem}
-            size="icon-sm"
-            title="Open system panel"
-            variant="ghost"
-          >
-            <IconLayoutDashboard />
-          </Button>
+          <Tip label="Open system panel">
+            <Button
+              aria-label="Open system panel"
+              className="text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground"
+              onClick={onOpenSystem}
+              size="icon-sm"
+              variant="ghost"
+            >
+              <IconLayoutDashboard />
+            </Button>
+          </Tip>
         </div>
       </div>
 
@@ -99,13 +101,11 @@ export function GatewayMenuPanel({
           <SectionLabel>Recent activity</SectionLabel>
           <ul className="mt-1.5 space-y-0.5">
             {recentLogs.map((line, index) => (
-              <li
-                className="truncate font-mono text-[0.68rem] text-muted-foreground/85"
-                key={`${index}:${line}`}
-                title={line.trim()}
-              >
-                {trimLogLine(line) || '\u00A0'}
-              </li>
+              <Tip key={`${index}:${line}`} label={line.trim()}>
+                <li className="truncate font-mono text-[0.68rem] text-muted-foreground/85">
+                  {trimLogLine(line) || '\u00A0'}
+                </li>
+              </Tip>
             ))}
           </ul>
           <button

apps/desktop/src/app/shell/statusbar-controls.tsx

@@ -91,18 +91,11 @@ function StatusbarItemView({ item, navigate }: { item: StatusbarItem; navigate:
     </>
   )
 
-  const title = item.title ?? (typeof item.label === 'string' ? item.label : undefined)
-
   if (item.variant === 'menu' && (item.menuContent || (item.menuItems && item.menuItems.length > 0))) {
     return (
       <DropdownMenu>
         <DropdownMenuTrigger asChild>
-          <button
-            className={cn(STATUSBAR_ACTION_CLASS, item.className)}
-            disabled={item.disabled}
-            title={title}
-            type="button"
-          >
+          <button className={cn(STATUSBAR_ACTION_CLASS, item.className)} disabled={item.disabled} type="button">
             {content}
           </button>
         </DropdownMenuTrigger>
@@ -135,7 +128,6 @@ function StatusbarItemView({ item, navigate }: { item: StatusbarItem; navigate:
                         href={menuItem.href}
                         rel="noreferrer"
                         target="_blank"
-                        title={menuItem.title ?? menuItem.label}
                       >
                         {menuItem.icon}
                         <span className="truncate">{menuItem.label}</span>
@@ -168,13 +160,7 @@ function StatusbarItemView({ item, navigate }: { item: StatusbarItem; navigate:
 
   if (item.href || item.variant === 'link') {
     return (
-      <a
-        className={cn(STATUSBAR_ACTION_CLASS, item.className)}
-        href={item.href}
-        rel="noreferrer"
-        target="_blank"
-        title={title}
-      >
+      <a className={cn(STATUSBAR_ACTION_CLASS, item.className)} href={item.href} rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">
         {content}
       </a>
     )
@@ -191,7 +177,6 @@ function StatusbarItemView({ item, navigate }: { item: StatusbarItem; navigate:
 
         item.onSelect?.()
       }}
-      title={title}
       type="button"
     >
       {content}

apps/desktop/src/app/shell/titlebar-controls.tsx

@@ -4,14 +4,6 @@ import { useLocation, useNavigate } from 'react-router-dom'
 
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
 import { Codicon } from '@/components/ui/codicon'
-import {
-  DropdownMenu,
-  DropdownMenuContent,
-  DropdownMenuItem,
-  DropdownMenuLabel,
-  DropdownMenuSeparator,
-  DropdownMenuTrigger
-} from '@/components/ui/dropdown-menu'
 import { triggerHaptic } from '@/lib/haptics'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 import { $hapticsMuted, toggleHapticsMuted } from '@/store/haptics'
@@ -24,7 +16,7 @@ import {
   toggleSidebarOpen
 } from '@/store/layout'
 
-import { appViewForPath, isOverlayView, PROFILES_ROUTE } from '../routes'
+import { appViewForPath, isOverlayView } from '../routes'
 
 import { titlebarButtonClass } from './titlebar'
 
@@ -185,7 +177,6 @@ export function TitlebarControls({ leftTools = [], tools = [], onOpenSettings }:
         {visibleSystemToolsBeforeSettings.map(tool => (
           <TitlebarToolButton key={tool.id} navigate={navigate} tool={tool} />
         ))}
-        <ProfilesMenuButton navigate={navigate} />
         {settingsTool && <TitlebarToolButton navigate={navigate} tool={settingsTool} />}
         <TitlebarToolButton navigate={navigate} tool={rightSidebarTool} />
       </div>
@@ -193,47 +184,6 @@ export function TitlebarControls({ leftTools = [], tools = [], onOpenSettings }:
   )
 }
 
-function ProfilesMenuButton({ navigate }: { navigate: ReturnType<typeof useNavigate> }) {
-  return (
-    <DropdownMenu>
-      <DropdownMenuTrigger asChild>
-        <Button
-          aria-label="Profiles"
-          className={cn(titlebarButtonClass, 'bg-transparent select-none')}
-          onPointerDown={event => event.stopPropagation()}
-          size="icon-titlebar"
-          title="Profiles"
-          type="button"
-          variant="ghost"
-        >
-          {/* Optical bump: the `account` glyph has more internal padding than
-              `search`/`settings-gear`, so at the shared 0.875rem it reads small.
-              Nudge just this glyph to visually match its neighbours. */}
-          <Codicon name="account" size="1rem" />
-        </Button>
-      </DropdownMenuTrigger>
-      <DropdownMenuContent align="end" className="w-64" sideOffset={8}>
-        <DropdownMenuLabel>
-          <div className="text-sm font-medium text-foreground">Profiles</div>
-          <div className="mt-1 text-xs font-normal leading-4 text-muted-foreground">
-            Advanced Hermes environments for separate personas, config, skills, and SOUL.md.
-          </div>
-        </DropdownMenuLabel>
-        <DropdownMenuSeparator />
-        <DropdownMenuItem
-          onSelect={() => {
-            triggerHaptic('open')
-            navigate(PROFILES_ROUTE)
-          }}
-        >
-          <Codicon name="account" size="1rem" />
-          <span>Manage profiles</span>
-        </DropdownMenuItem>
-      </DropdownMenuContent>
-    </DropdownMenu>
-  )
-}
-
 function TitlebarToolButton({ navigate, tool }: { navigate: ReturnType<typeof useNavigate>; tool: TitlebarTool }) {
   // Titlebar actions never show an active background — state reads from the
   // icon itself (e.g. the mute/unmute glyph). aria-pressed still carries it
@@ -249,7 +199,6 @@ function TitlebarToolButton({ navigate, tool }: { navigate: ReturnType<typeof us
           onPointerDown={event => event.stopPropagation()}
           rel="noreferrer"
           target="_blank"
-          title={tool.title ?? tool.label}
         >
           {tool.icon}
         </a>
@@ -272,7 +221,6 @@ function TitlebarToolButton({ navigate, tool }: { navigate: ReturnType<typeof us
       }}
       onPointerDown={event => event.stopPropagation()}
       size="icon-titlebar"
-      title={tool.title ?? tool.label}
       type="button"
       variant="ghost"
     >

apps/desktop/src/components/assistant-ui/tooltip-icon-button.tsx

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import { type ComponentPropsWithRef, forwardRef } from 'react'
 
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
+import { Tip } from '@/components/ui/tooltip'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 
 export interface TooltipIconButtonProps extends ComponentPropsWithRef<typeof Button> {
@@ -11,19 +12,20 @@ export interface TooltipIconButtonProps extends ComponentPropsWithRef<typeof But
 }
 
 export const TooltipIconButton = forwardRef<HTMLButtonElement, TooltipIconButtonProps>(
-  ({ children, tooltip, side: _side = 'bottom', className, ...rest }, ref) => {
+  ({ children, tooltip, side = 'bottom', className, ...rest }, ref) => {
     return (
-      <Button
-        size="icon-xs"
-        variant="ghost"
-        {...rest}
-        aria-label={tooltip}
-        className={cn('aui-button-icon', className)}
-        ref={ref}
-        title={tooltip}
-      >
-        {children}
-      </Button>
+      <Tip label={tooltip} side={side}>
+        <Button
+          size="icon-xs"
+          variant="ghost"
+          {...rest}
+          aria-label={tooltip}
+          className={cn('aui-button-icon', className)}
+          ref={ref}
+        >
+          {children}
+        </Button>
+      </Tip>
     )
   }
 )

apps/desktop/src/components/notifications.tsx

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { useStore } from '@nanostores/react'
 import { type ReactNode, useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react'
+import { createPortal } from 'react-dom'
 
 import { Alert, AlertDescription, AlertTitle } from '@/components/ui/alert'
 import { Codicon } from '@/components/ui/codicon'
@@ -63,10 +64,16 @@ export function NotificationStack() {
   const [latest, ...olderNotifications] = notifications
   const overflowCount = olderNotifications.length
 
-  return (
+  // Portaled to <body> with a z above the Radix dialog layer (overlay z-[120],
+  // content z-[130]). Without the portal the stack lives inside the React root
+  // subtree, which any body-level dialog/overlay portal paints over — so a
+  // success toast fired while a dialog is open (or over an OverlayView page)
+  // was invisible. The titlebar-height var only exists inside the app shell
+  // scope, so fall back to its constant (34px) when mounted on <body>.
+  return createPortal(
     <div
       aria-label="Notifications"
-      className="pointer-events-none absolute left-1/2 top-[calc(var(--titlebar-height)+0.75rem)] z-1050 flex w-[min(32rem,calc(100%-2rem))] -translate-x-1/2 flex-col gap-2"
+      className="pointer-events-none fixed left-1/2 top-[calc(var(--titlebar-height,34px)+0.75rem)] z-[200] flex w-[min(32rem,calc(100%-2rem))] -translate-x-1/2 flex-col gap-2"
       role="region"
     >
       <NotificationItem notification={latest} />
@@ -81,7 +88,8 @@ export function NotificationStack() {
           </button>
         </div>
       )}
-    </div>
+    </div>,
+    document.body
   )
 }
 

apps/desktop/src/components/ui/copy-button.tsx

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import * as React from 'react'
 
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
 import { DropdownMenuItem } from '@/components/ui/dropdown-menu'
+import { Tip } from '@/components/ui/tooltip'
 import { triggerHaptic } from '@/lib/haptics'
 import { Check, Copy, X } from '@/lib/icons'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
@@ -178,7 +179,6 @@ export function CopyButton({
         )}
         disabled={disabled}
         onClick={event => void copy(event)}
-        title={feedbackLabel}
         type="button"
       >
         {content}
@@ -188,34 +188,37 @@ export function CopyButton({
 
   if (appearance === 'tool-row') {
     return (
-      <button
-        aria-label={ariaLabel}
-        className={cn(
-          'grid size-6 place-items-center rounded-md text-muted-foreground/70 opacity-0 transition-opacity hover:bg-accent/55 hover:text-foreground focus-visible:opacity-100 group-hover/tool-row:opacity-100 disabled:opacity-40',
-          className
-        )}
-        disabled={disabled}
-        onClick={event => void copy(event)}
-        title={feedbackLabel}
-        type="button"
-      >
-        {icon}
-      </button>
+      <Tip label={feedbackLabel}>
+        <button
+          aria-label={ariaLabel}
+          className={cn(
+            'grid size-6 place-items-center rounded-md text-muted-foreground/70 opacity-0 transition-opacity hover:bg-accent/55 hover:text-foreground focus-visible:opacity-100 group-hover/tool-row:opacity-100 disabled:opacity-40',
+            className
+          )}
+          disabled={disabled}
+          onClick={event => void copy(event)}
+          type="button"
+        >
+          {icon}
+        </button>
+      </Tip>
     )
   }
 
-  return (
+  const button = (
     <Button
       aria-label={ariaLabel}
       className={className}
       disabled={disabled}
       onClick={event => void copy(event)}
       size={buttonSize ?? (appearance === 'icon' ? 'icon' : 'default')}
-      title={feedbackLabel}
       type="button"
       variant={buttonVariant}
     >
       {content}
     </Button>
   )
+
+  // Only icon-only buttons need a tooltip; the text variant already shows its label.
+  return appearance === 'icon' ? <Tip label={feedbackLabel}>{button}</Tip> : button
 }

apps/desktop/src/components/ui/dialog.tsx

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { Dialog as DialogPrimitive } from 'radix-ui'
 import * as React from 'react'
 
+import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
 import { Codicon } from '@/components/ui/codicon'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
 
@@ -57,12 +58,16 @@ function DialogContent({
       >
         {children}
         {showCloseButton && (
-          <DialogPrimitive.Close
-            className="absolute right-2.5 top-2.5 rounded-md p-1 text-(--ui-text-tertiary) opacity-70 transition-opacity hover:bg-(--chrome-action-hover) hover:text-foreground hover:opacity-100 focus:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring/50 disabled:pointer-events-none"
-            data-slot="dialog-close-button"
-          >
-            <Codicon name="close" size="1rem" />
-            <span className="sr-only">Close</span>
+          <DialogPrimitive.Close asChild data-slot="dialog-close-button">
+            <Button
+              aria-label="Close"
+              className="absolute right-2.5 top-2.5 text-(--ui-text-tertiary) hover:bg-(--chrome-action-hover) hover:text-foreground"
+              size="icon-xs"
+              variant="ghost"
+            >
+              <Codicon name="close" size="1rem" />
+              <span className="sr-only">Close</span>
+            </Button>
           </DialogPrimitive.Close>
         )}
       </DialogPrimitive.Content>

apps/desktop/src/components/ui/tooltip.tsx

@@ -17,15 +17,18 @@ function TooltipTrigger({ ...props }: React.ComponentProps<typeof TooltipPrimiti
 
 function TooltipContent({
   className,
-  sideOffset = 0,
+  sideOffset = 6,
   children,
   ...props
 }: React.ComponentProps<typeof TooltipPrimitive.Content>) {
   return (
     <TooltipPrimitive.Portal>
       <TooltipPrimitive.Content
+        // Instant, no transition (the Provider's delayDuration=0 + no animate-*
+        // classes). bg-foreground/text-background auto-inverts per theme: white
+        // on near-black in light mode, black on white in dark.
         className={cn(
-          'z-50 w-fit origin-(--radix-tooltip-content-transform-origin) animate-in rounded-md bg-foreground px-3 py-1.5 text-xs text-balance text-background fade-in-0 zoom-in-95 data-[side=bottom]:slide-in-from-top-2 data-[side=left]:slide-in-from-right-2 data-[side=right]:slide-in-from-left-2 data-[side=top]:slide-in-from-bottom-2 data-[state=closed]:animate-out data-[state=closed]:fade-out-0 data-[state=closed]:zoom-out-95',
+          'z-[200] w-fit bg-foreground px-1.5 py-1 text-[11px] font-bold leading-none text-background select-none [font-family:Arial,sans-serif]',
           className
         )}
         data-slot="tooltip-content"
@@ -33,10 +36,34 @@ function TooltipContent({
         {...props}
       >
         {children}
-        <TooltipPrimitive.Arrow className="z-50 size-2.5 translate-y-[calc(-50%_-_0.125rem)] rotate-45 rounded-[0.125rem] bg-foreground fill-foreground" />
       </TooltipPrimitive.Content>
     </TooltipPrimitive.Portal>
   )
 }
 
-export { Tooltip, TooltipContent, TooltipProvider, TooltipTrigger }
+interface TipProps extends Omit<React.ComponentProps<typeof TooltipPrimitive.Content>, 'content'> {
+  label: React.ReactNode
+  children: React.ReactNode
+  delayDuration?: number
+}
+
+// Drop-in replacement for native `title=`: wrap any single element. Instant,
+// position-aware, themed. Self-contained (carries its own Provider) so it works
+// anywhere without a provider ancestor. Renders the child untouched when label
+// is falsy.
+function Tip({ label, children, delayDuration = 0, ...props }: TipProps) {
+  if (!label) {
+    return <>{children}</>
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <TooltipProvider delayDuration={delayDuration}>
+      <Tooltip>
+        <TooltipTrigger asChild>{children}</TooltipTrigger>
+        <TooltipContent {...props}>{label}</TooltipContent>
+      </Tooltip>
+    </TooltipProvider>
+  )
+}
+
+export { Tip, Tooltip, TooltipContent, TooltipProvider, TooltipTrigger }

apps/desktop/src/global.d.ts

@@ -3,8 +3,14 @@ export {}
 declare global {
   interface Window {
     hermesDesktop: {
-      getConnection: () => Promise<HermesConnection>
-      getGatewayWsUrl: () => Promise<string>
+      // Resolve a backend connection. Omit `profile` (or pass the primary) for
+      // the window's backend; pass a named profile to lazily spawn/reuse that
+      // profile's backend from the pool.
+      getConnection: (profile?: string | null) => Promise<HermesConnection>
+      // Keepalive: mark a pool profile backend as recently used so the idle
+      // reaper spares it while its chat is active.
+      touchBackend: (profile?: string | null) => Promise<{ ok: boolean }>
+      getGatewayWsUrl: (profile?: null | string) => Promise<string>
       getBootProgress: () => Promise<DesktopBootProgress>
       getConnectionConfig: () => Promise<DesktopConnectionConfig>
       saveConnectionConfig: (payload: DesktopConnectionConfigInput) => Promise<DesktopConnectionConfig>
@@ -13,6 +19,13 @@ declare global {
       probeConnectionConfig: (remoteUrl: string) => Promise<DesktopConnectionProbeResult>
       oauthLoginConnectionConfig: (remoteUrl: string) => Promise<DesktopOauthLoginResult>
       oauthLogoutConnectionConfig: (remoteUrl?: string) => Promise<DesktopOauthLogoutResult>
+      profile: {
+        get: () => Promise<DesktopActiveProfile>
+        // Persists the desktop's profile choice and relaunches the local
+        // backend under the new HERMES_HOME (reloads the window). Pass null to
+        // clear the preference.
+        set: (name: string | null) => Promise<DesktopActiveProfile>
+      }
       api: <T>(request: HermesApiRequest) => Promise<T>
       notify: (payload: HermesNotification) => Promise<boolean>
       requestMicrophoneAccess: () => Promise<boolean>
@@ -151,6 +164,9 @@ export interface HermesConnection {
   token: string
   wsUrl: string
   logs: string[]
+  // Set for pool (non-primary) backends so the renderer knows which profile a
+  // connection belongs to.
+  profile?: string
   windowButtonPosition: { x: number; y: number } | null
 }
 
@@ -165,6 +181,12 @@ export interface HermesWindowState {
   windowButtonPosition: { x: number; y: number } | null
 }
 
+export interface DesktopActiveProfile {
+  // The desktop's stored profile preference, or null when unset (legacy launch
+  // that defers to the sticky active_profile / default).
+  profile: string | null
+}
+
 export interface DesktopConnectionConfig {
   envOverride: boolean
   mode: 'local' | 'remote'
@@ -293,6 +315,10 @@ export interface HermesApiRequest {
   method?: string
   body?: unknown
   timeoutMs?: number
+  // Route this REST call to a specific profile's backend. Omit for the primary
+  // (window) backend. Read-only cross-profile data is served by the primary, so
+  // this is only needed for profile-scoped live/settings calls.
+  profile?: string | null
 }
 
 export interface HermesNotification {

apps/desktop/src/hermes.ts

@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ import type {
   OAuthSubmitResponse,
   PaginatedSessions,
   ProfileCreatePayload,
-  ProfileSetupCommand,
   ProfileSoul,
   ProfilesResponse,
   SessionMessagesResponse,
@@ -81,7 +80,6 @@ export type {
   PaginatedSessions,
   ProfileCreatePayload,
   ProfileInfo,
-  ProfileSetupCommand,
   ProfileSoul,
   ProfilesResponse,
   RpcEvent,
@@ -111,6 +109,22 @@ export class HermesGateway extends JsonRpcGatewayClient {
   }
 }
 
+// Profile that profile-scoped REST settings (config/env/skills/tools/model/…)
+// should target. Mirrors $activeGatewayProfile, pushed in from the store via
+// setApiRequestProfile so this module needs no store import (avoids a cycle).
+// Electron main consumes request.profile to pick which backend *process* serves
+// the call; each pooled backend already has its own HERMES_HOME, so no backend
+// change is needed. Null → primary, so single-profile users are unaffected.
+let _apiProfile: null | string = null
+
+export function setApiRequestProfile(profile: null | string): void {
+  _apiProfile = profile || null
+}
+
+function profileScoped(): { profile?: string } {
+  return _apiProfile ? { profile: _apiProfile } : {}
+}
+
 export async function listSessions(
   limit = 40,
   minMessages = 0,
@@ -128,6 +142,30 @@ export async function listSessions(
   }
 }
 
+// Unified, read-only session list aggregated across ALL profiles. Served by the
+// primary backend straight off each profile's state.db — no per-profile backend
+// is spawned. Single-profile users get the same rows as listSessions(), tagged
+// profile="default".
+export async function listAllProfileSessions(
+  limit = 40,
+  minMessages = 0,
+  archived: 'exclude' | 'include' | 'only' = 'exclude',
+  order: 'created' | 'recent' = 'recent',
+  profile: 'all' | (string & {}) = 'all'
+): Promise<PaginatedSessions> {
+  const result = await window.hermesDesktop.api<PaginatedSessions>({
+    path:
+      `/api/profiles/sessions?limit=${limit}&offset=0&min_messages=${Math.max(0, minMessages)}` +
+      `&archived=${archived}&order=${order}&profile=${encodeURIComponent(profile)}`
+  })
+
+  return {
+    ...result,
+    sessions: result.sessions.slice(0, limit),
+    offset: 0
+  }
+}
+
 export function setSessionArchived(id: string, archived: boolean): Promise<{ ok: boolean }> {
   return window.hermesDesktop.api<{ ok: boolean }>({
     path: `/api/sessions/${encodeURIComponent(id)}`,
@@ -142,9 +180,13 @@ export function searchSessions(query: string): Promise<SessionSearchResponse> {
   })
 }
 
-export function getSessionMessages(id: string): Promise<SessionMessagesResponse> {
+// `profile` reads another profile's transcript straight off its state.db via the
+// primary backend (no spawn). Omit for the current/default profile.
+export function getSessionMessages(id: string, profile?: string | null): Promise<SessionMessagesResponse> {
+  const suffix = profile ? `?profile=${encodeURIComponent(profile)}` : ''
+
   return window.hermesDesktop.api<SessionMessagesResponse>({
-    path: `/api/sessions/${encodeURIComponent(id)}/messages`
+    path: `/api/sessions/${encodeURIComponent(id)}/messages${suffix}`
   })
 }
 
@@ -155,16 +197,35 @@ export function deleteSession(id: string): Promise<{ ok: boolean }> {
   })
 }
 
-export function renameSession(id: string, title: string): Promise<{ ok: boolean; title: string }> {
+export function renameSession(
+  id: string,
+  title: string,
+  profile?: string | null
+): Promise<{ ok: boolean; title: string }> {
   return window.hermesDesktop.api<{ ok: boolean; title: string }>({
     path: `/api/sessions/${encodeURIComponent(id)}`,
     method: 'PATCH',
-    body: { title }
+    body: { title, ...(profile ? { profile } : {}) }
+  })
+}
+
+// Set ("" clears) a per-session icon glyph. `profile` targets another profile's
+// session (the backend opens its state.db). Omit for the current profile.
+export function setSessionIcon(
+  id: string,
+  icon: string,
+  profile?: string | null
+): Promise<{ ok: boolean; icon: string | null }> {
+  return window.hermesDesktop.api<{ ok: boolean; icon: string | null }>({
+    path: `/api/sessions/${encodeURIComponent(id)}`,
+    method: 'PATCH',
+    body: { icon, ...(profile ? { profile } : {}) }
   })
 }
 
 export function getGlobalModelInfo(): Promise<ModelInfoResponse> {
   return window.hermesDesktop.api<ModelInfoResponse>({
+    ...profileScoped(),
     path: '/api/model/info'
   })
 }
@@ -202,36 +263,42 @@ export function getLogs(params: {
   const suffix = query.toString()
 
   return window.hermesDesktop.api<LogsResponse>({
+    ...profileScoped(),
     path: suffix ? `/api/logs?${suffix}` : '/api/logs'
   })
 }
 
 export function getHermesConfig(): Promise<HermesConfig> {
   return window.hermesDesktop.api<HermesConfig>({
+    ...profileScoped(),
     path: '/api/config'
   })
 }
 
 export function getHermesConfigRecord(): Promise<HermesConfigRecord> {
   return window.hermesDesktop.api<HermesConfigRecord>({
+    ...profileScoped(),
     path: '/api/config'
   })
 }
 
 export function getHermesConfigDefaults(): Promise<HermesConfigRecord> {
   return window.hermesDesktop.api<HermesConfigRecord>({
+    ...profileScoped(),
     path: '/api/config/defaults'
   })
 }
 
 export function getHermesConfigSchema(): Promise<ConfigSchemaResponse> {
   return window.hermesDesktop.api<ConfigSchemaResponse>({
+    ...profileScoped(),
     path: '/api/config/schema'
   })
 }
 
 export function saveHermesConfig(config: HermesConfigRecord): Promise<{ ok: boolean }> {
   return window.hermesDesktop.api<{ ok: boolean }>({
+    ...profileScoped(),
     path: '/api/config',
     method: 'PUT',
     body: { config }
@@ -240,12 +307,14 @@ export function saveHermesConfig(config: HermesConfigRecord): Promise<{ ok: bool
 
 export function getEnvVars(): Promise<Record<string, EnvVarInfo>> {
   return window.hermesDesktop.api<Record<string, EnvVarInfo>>({
+    ...profileScoped(),
     path: '/api/env'
   })
 }
 
 export function setEnvVar(key: string, value: string): Promise<{ ok: boolean }> {
   return window.hermesDesktop.api<{ ok: boolean }>({
+    ...profileScoped(),
     path: '/api/env',
     method: 'PUT',
     body: { key, value }
@@ -257,6 +326,7 @@ export function validateProviderCredential(
   value: string
 ): Promise<{ ok: boolean; reachable: boolean; message: string; models?: string[] }> {
   return window.hermesDesktop.api<{ ok: boolean; reachable: boolean; message: string; models?: string[] }>({
+    ...profileScoped(),
     path: '/api/providers/validate',
     method: 'POST',
     body: { key, value }
@@ -265,6 +335,7 @@ export function validateProviderCredential(
 
 export function deleteEnvVar(key: string): Promise<{ ok: boolean }> {
   return window.hermesDesktop.api<{ ok: boolean }>({
+    ...profileScoped(),
     path: '/api/env',
     method: 'DELETE',
     body: { key }
@@ -273,6 +344,7 @@ export function deleteEnvVar(key: string): Promise<{ ok: boolean }> {
 
 export function revealEnvVar(key: string): Promise<{ key: string; value: string }> {
   return window.hermesDesktop.api<{ key: string; value: string }>({
+    ...profileScoped(),
     path: '/api/env/reveal',
     method: 'POST',
     body: { key }
@@ -281,12 +353,14 @@ export function revealEnvVar(key: string): Promise<{ key: string; value: string
 
 export function listOAuthProviders(): Promise<OAuthProvidersResponse> {
   return window.hermesDesktop.api<OAuthProvidersResponse>({
+    ...profileScoped(),
     path: '/api/providers/oauth'
   })
 }
 
 export function startOAuthLogin(providerId: string): Promise<OAuthStartResponse> {
   return window.hermesDesktop.api<OAuthStartResponse>({
+    ...profileScoped(),
     path: `/api/providers/oauth/${encodeURIComponent(providerId)}/start`,
     method: 'POST',
     body: {}
@@ -295,6 +369,7 @@ export function startOAuthLogin(providerId: string): Promise<OAuthStartResponse>
 
 export function submitOAuthCode(providerId: string, sessionId: string, code: string): Promise<OAuthSubmitResponse> {
   return window.hermesDesktop.api<OAuthSubmitResponse>({
+    ...profileScoped(),
     path: `/api/providers/oauth/${encodeURIComponent(providerId)}/submit`,
     method: 'POST',
     body: { session_id: sessionId, code }
@@ -303,12 +378,14 @@ export function submitOAuthCode(providerId: string, sessionId: string, code: str
 
 export function pollOAuthSession(providerId: string, sessionId: string): Promise<OAuthPollResponse> {
   return window.hermesDesktop.api<OAuthPollResponse>({
+    ...profileScoped(),
     path: `/api/providers/oauth/${encodeURIComponent(providerId)}/poll/${encodeURIComponent(sessionId)}`
   })
 }
 
 export function cancelOAuthSession(sessionId: string): Promise<{ ok: boolean }> {
   return window.hermesDesktop.api<{ ok: boolean }>({
+    ...profileScoped(),
     path: `/api/providers/oauth/sessions/${encodeURIComponent(sessionId)}`,
     method: 'DELETE'
   })
@@ -316,12 +393,14 @@ export function cancelOAuthSession(sessionId: string): Promise<{ ok: boolean }>
 
 export function getSkills(): Promise<SkillInfo[]> {
   return window.hermesDesktop.api<SkillInfo[]>({
+    ...profileScoped(),
     path: '/api/skills'
   })
 }
 
 export function toggleSkill(name: string, enabled: boolean): Promise<{ ok: boolean; name: string; enabled: boolean }> {
   return window.hermesDesktop.api<{ ok: boolean; name: string; enabled: boolean }>({
+    ...profileScoped(),
     path: '/api/skills/toggle',
     method: 'PUT',
     body: { name, enabled }
@@ -330,6 +409,7 @@ export function toggleSkill(name: string, enabled: boolean): Promise<{ ok: boole
 
 export function getToolsets(): Promise<ToolsetInfo[]> {
   return window.hermesDesktop.api<ToolsetInfo[]>({
+    ...profileScoped(),
     path: '/api/tools/toolsets'
   })
 }
@@ -339,6 +419,7 @@ export function toggleToolset(
   enabled: boolean
 ): Promise<{ ok: boolean; name: string; enabled: boolean }> {
   return window.hermesDesktop.api<{ ok: boolean; name: string; enabled: boolean }>({
+    ...profileScoped(),
     path: `/api/tools/toolsets/${encodeURIComponent(name)}`,
     method: 'PUT',
     body: { enabled }
@@ -347,6 +428,7 @@ export function toggleToolset(
 
 export function getToolsetConfig(name: string): Promise<ToolsetConfig> {
   return window.hermesDesktop.api<ToolsetConfig>({
+    ...profileScoped(),
     path: `/api/tools/toolsets/${encodeURIComponent(name)}/config`
   })
 }
@@ -356,6 +438,7 @@ export function selectToolsetProvider(
   provider: string
 ): Promise<{ ok: boolean; name: string; provider: string }> {
   return window.hermesDesktop.api<{ ok: boolean; name: string; provider: string }>({
+    ...profileScoped(),
     path: `/api/tools/toolsets/${encodeURIComponent(name)}/provider`,
     method: 'PUT',
     body: { provider }
@@ -485,20 +568,16 @@ export function updateProfileSoul(name: string, content: string): Promise<{ ok:
   })
 }
 
-export function getProfileSetupCommand(name: string): Promise<ProfileSetupCommand> {
-  return window.hermesDesktop.api<ProfileSetupCommand>({
-    path: `/api/profiles/${encodeURIComponent(name)}/setup-command`
-  })
-}
-
 export function getUsageAnalytics(days = 30): Promise<AnalyticsResponse> {
   return window.hermesDesktop.api<AnalyticsResponse>({
+    ...profileScoped(),
     path: `/api/analytics/usage?days=${Math.max(1, Math.floor(days))}`
   })
 }
 
 export function getGlobalModelOptions(): Promise<ModelOptionsResponse> {
   return window.hermesDesktop.api<ModelOptionsResponse>({
+    ...profileScoped(),
     path: '/api/model/options'
   })
 }
@@ -515,6 +594,7 @@ export interface RecommendedDefaultModel {
 // free user gets a free model instead of a paid default.
 export function getRecommendedDefaultModel(provider: string): Promise<RecommendedDefaultModel> {
   return window.hermesDesktop.api<RecommendedDefaultModel>({
+    ...profileScoped(),
     path: `/api/model/recommended-default?provider=${encodeURIComponent(provider)}`
   })
 }
@@ -524,6 +604,7 @@ export function setGlobalModel(
   model: string
 ): Promise<{ ok: boolean; provider: string; model: string }> {
   return window.hermesDesktop.api<{ ok: boolean; provider: string; model: string }>({
+    ...profileScoped(),
     path: '/api/model/set',
     method: 'POST',
     body: {
@@ -536,12 +617,14 @@ export function setGlobalModel(
 
 export function getAuxiliaryModels(): Promise<AuxiliaryModelsResponse> {
   return window.hermesDesktop.api<AuxiliaryModelsResponse>({
+    ...profileScoped(),
     path: '/api/model/auxiliary'
   })
 }
 
 export function setModelAssignment(body: ModelAssignmentRequest): Promise<ModelAssignmentResponse> {
   return window.hermesDesktop.api<ModelAssignmentResponse>({
+    ...profileScoped(),
     path: '/api/model/set',
     method: 'POST',
     body

apps/desktop/src/lib/desktop-slash-commands.ts

@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ const DESKTOP_COMMAND_META = [
   ['/goal', 'Manage the standing goal for this session'],
   ['/help', 'Show desktop slash commands'],
   ['/new', 'Start a new desktop chat'],
+  ['/profile', 'Switch the active Hermes profile'],
   ['/queue', 'Queue a prompt for the next turn'],
   ['/resume', 'Resume a saved session'],
   ['/retry', 'Retry the last user message'],
@@ -111,7 +112,6 @@ const ADVANCED_COMMANDS = new Set([
   '/insights',
   '/kanban',
   '/personality',
-  '/profile',
   '/reasoning',
   '/reload-mcp',
   '/reload-skills',

apps/desktop/src/lib/gateway-ws-url.ts

@@ -25,8 +25,10 @@ import type { HermesConnection } from '@/global'
  * transport failure.
  */
 export interface ResolveGatewayWsUrlDeps {
-  /** `window.hermesDesktop.getGatewayWsUrl`, if the preload exposes it. */
-  getGatewayWsUrl?: () => Promise<string>
+  /** `window.hermesDesktop.getGatewayWsUrl`, if the preload exposes it. The
+   *  optional profile selects which backend to mint for — critical when swapping
+   *  to a pooled profile, since the default mint resolves the primary backend. */
+  getGatewayWsUrl?: (profile?: null | string) => Promise<string>
 }
 
 export class GatewayReauthRequiredError extends Error {
@@ -47,9 +49,13 @@ export function isGatewayReauthRequired(error: unknown): error is GatewayReauthR
 
 export async function resolveGatewayWsUrl(
   desktop: ResolveGatewayWsUrlDeps,
-  conn: Pick<HermesConnection, 'authMode' | 'wsUrl'>
+  conn: Pick<HermesConnection, 'authMode' | 'profile' | 'wsUrl'>
 ): Promise<string> {
   const mint = desktop.getGatewayWsUrl
+  // Mint for THIS connection's profile, not the primary. Without it a pooled
+  // profile swap re-mints the default backend's URL and connects to the wrong
+  // backend.
+  const profile = conn.profile ?? null
 
   if (conn.authMode === 'oauth') {
     if (!mint) {
@@ -62,7 +68,7 @@ export async function resolveGatewayWsUrl(
     }
 
     try {
-      return await mint()
+      return await mint(profile)
     } catch (error) {
       throw new GatewayReauthRequiredError(
         'Your remote gateway session has expired. Open Settings → Gateway and click "Sign in" again.',
@@ -74,7 +80,7 @@ export async function resolveGatewayWsUrl(
   // token / local: the URL carries a long-lived token. Re-mint when available
   // (cheap, keeps parity), but the cached URL is a safe fallback.
   if (mint) {
-    const fresh = await mint().catch(() => null)
+    const fresh = await mint(profile).catch(() => null)
 
     if (fresh) {
       return fresh

apps/desktop/src/lib/profile-color.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+// Deterministic per-profile color so a profile is glanceable across the app
+// (the sidebar profile rail). The default/root profile has no color — named
+// profiles get a stable hue derived from the name, so the same profile always
+// reads the same color without persisting anything.
+
+const PROFILE_TAG_SATURATION = 68
+const PROFILE_TAG_LIGHTNESS = 58
+
+function hashString(value: string): number {
+  let hash = 0
+
+  for (let index = 0; index < value.length; index += 1) {
+    hash = (hash * 31 + value.charCodeAt(index)) >>> 0
+  }
+
+  return hash
+}
+
+// Returns an hsl() string for a named profile, or null for default/empty
+// (rendered neutral / untagged).
+export function profileColor(name: null | string | undefined): null | string {
+  const key = (name ?? '').trim()
+
+  if (!key || key === 'default') {
+    return null
+  }
+
+  const hue = hashString(key) % 360
+
+  return `hsl(${hue} ${PROFILE_TAG_SATURATION}% ${PROFILE_TAG_LIGHTNESS}%)`
+}
+
+// Translucent fill derived from a profile color, for tag backgrounds.
+export function profileColorSoft(color: string, percent = 16): string {
+  return `color-mix(in srgb, ${color} ${percent}%, transparent)`
+}

apps/desktop/src/lib/query-client.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+import { QueryClient } from '@tanstack/react-query'
+
+// Shared React Query client. Lives in its own module (not main.tsx) so non-React
+// code — e.g. the profile store on a gateway swap — can invalidate cached,
+// profile-scoped settings without importing the app entry point.
+export const queryClient = new QueryClient({
+  defaultOptions: {
+    queries: {
+      refetchOnWindowFocus: false,
+      staleTime: 60_000
+    }
+  }
+})

apps/desktop/src/main.tsx

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import './styles.css'
 
-import { QueryClient, QueryClientProvider } from '@tanstack/react-query'
+import { QueryClientProvider } from '@tanstack/react-query'
 import { StrictMode } from 'react'
 import { createRoot } from 'react-dom/client'
 import { HashRouter } from 'react-router-dom'
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import App from './app'
 import { ErrorBoundary } from './components/error-boundary'
 import { HapticsProvider } from './components/haptics-provider'
 import { installClipboardShim } from './lib/clipboard'
+import { queryClient } from './lib/query-client'
 import { ThemeProvider } from './themes/context'
 
 installClipboardShim()
@@ -22,15 +23,6 @@ if (import.meta.env.MODE !== 'production') {
   import('./app/chat/perf-probe')
 }
 
-const queryClient = new QueryClient({
-  defaultOptions: {
-    queries: {
-      refetchOnWindowFocus: false,
-      staleTime: 60_000
-    }
-  }
-})
-
 createRoot(document.getElementById('root')!).render(
   <StrictMode>
     <ErrorBoundary label="root">

apps/desktop/src/store/profile.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,217 @@
+import { atom, computed } from 'nanostores'
+
+import { getProfiles, setApiRequestProfile } from '@/hermes'
+import { resolveGatewayWsUrl } from '@/lib/gateway-ws-url'
+import { queryClient } from '@/lib/query-client'
+import { persistBoolean, storedBoolean } from '@/lib/storage'
+import { $gateway } from '@/store/gateway'
+import { setConnection } from '@/store/session'
+import type { ProfileInfo } from '@/types/hermes'
+
+// Canonical key for a profile: trimmed, empty → "default". Used everywhere we
+// compare a session's owning profile against the live gateway's profile.
+export function normalizeProfileKey(name: string | null | undefined): string {
+  const value = (name ?? '').trim()
+
+  return value || 'default'
+}
+
+// The profile the running local backend is actually scoped to (mirrors
+// /api/profiles/active `current`). "default" is the root ~/.hermes. This is the
+// display source of truth for the statusbar pill; the desktop's *stored*
+// preference (which may be unset) lives in the Electron main process.
+export const $activeProfile = atom<string>('default')
+
+// Cached profile list for the picker. Refreshed lazily; the dropdown also
+// re-fetches on open so a profile created elsewhere shows up.
+export const $profiles = atom<ProfileInfo[]>([])
+
+export function setActiveProfile(name: string): void {
+  $activeProfile.set(name || 'default')
+}
+
+interface ActiveProfileResponse {
+  active: string
+  current: string
+}
+
+// Pull the running backend's current profile + the available profile list.
+// Best-effort: failures (backend not up yet) leave the prior values intact.
+export async function refreshActiveProfile(): Promise<void> {
+  try {
+    const res = await window.hermesDesktop.api<ActiveProfileResponse>({ path: '/api/profiles/active' })
+
+    setActiveProfile(res.current || 'default')
+  } catch {
+    // Backend may not be ready; keep the last known value.
+  }
+
+  try {
+    const { profiles } = await getProfiles()
+    $profiles.set(profiles)
+  } catch {
+    // Leave the cached list in place.
+  }
+}
+
+// Persist the choice and relaunch the backend under the new HERMES_HOME. The
+// main process reloads the window, so this normally never returns to the caller
+// (the renderer is torn down). We optimistically reflect the selection first so
+// the pill updates instantly if the reload is delayed.
+export async function switchProfile(name: string): Promise<void> {
+  if (!name || name === $activeProfile.get()) {
+    return
+  }
+
+  setActiveProfile(name)
+  await window.hermesDesktop.profile.set(name)
+}
+
+// ── Swap-minimal gateway routing ──────────────────────────────────────────
+// One live gateway at a time. When the user opens/sends a session whose profile
+// differs from the gateway's current profile, we lazily reconnect the single
+// gateway to that profile's backend (spawned on demand by the Electron pool).
+// A single-profile user never triggers a swap, so their path is unchanged.
+
+// The profile the live gateway WebSocket is currently connected to. Initialized
+// to the primary (window) backend's profile on boot.
+export const $activeGatewayProfile = atom<string>('default')
+
+// Profile for the NEXT new chat (chosen via the new-chat picker). null = primary
+// / default, so single-profile users are unaffected.
+export const $newChatProfile = atom<string | null>(null)
+
+// Route profile-scoped REST settings (config/env/skills/tools/model/…) to the
+// profile the live gateway is currently on, and drop cached settings from the
+// previous profile so pages refetch against the right backend. Fires once
+// immediately (no real change → no invalidation), so single-profile users just
+// get "default" (→ the primary backend) with no extra fetches.
+let _lastRoutedProfile: string | null = null
+
+$activeGatewayProfile.subscribe(value => {
+  const key = normalizeProfileKey(value)
+  setApiRequestProfile(key)
+
+  if (_lastRoutedProfile !== null && _lastRoutedProfile !== key) {
+    // Profile-scoped settings + the unified session list are now stale.
+    void queryClient.invalidateQueries()
+  }
+
+  _lastRoutedProfile = key
+})
+
+let gatewaySwitch: Promise<void> | null = null
+
+// Reconnect the single live gateway to `profile`'s backend if it isn't already
+// there. A null/empty target means "no explicit profile" → keep the gateway on
+// whatever profile it's currently on (so a plain new chat stays put and a
+// single-profile user never swaps). No-op fast path when already on target.
+export async function ensureGatewayProfile(profile: string | null | undefined): Promise<void> {
+  if (profile == null || !String(profile).trim()) {
+    // "No explicit profile" = use the current gateway. But if an explicit swap
+    // (e.g. the user just picked a profile in the switcher) is still in flight,
+    // let it settle first so a new chat doesn't race session.create against a
+    // half-open socket and land on the wrong backend.
+    if (gatewaySwitch) {
+      await gatewaySwitch.catch(() => undefined)
+    }
+
+    return
+  }
+
+  const target = normalizeProfileKey(profile)
+
+  if (normalizeProfileKey($activeGatewayProfile.get()) === target) {
+    return
+  }
+
+  // Serialize concurrent swaps so two rapid session switches don't fight over
+  // the single socket.
+  if (gatewaySwitch) {
+    await gatewaySwitch.catch(() => undefined)
+
+    if (normalizeProfileKey($activeGatewayProfile.get()) === target) {
+      return
+    }
+  }
+
+  gatewaySwitch = (async () => {
+    const desktop = window.hermesDesktop
+    const gateway = $gateway.get()
+
+    if (!desktop || !gateway) {
+      return
+    }
+
+    // getConnection lazily spawns/reuses the profile's pool backend (or returns
+    // the primary when target is the primary's profile).
+    const conn = await desktop.getConnection(target)
+    setConnection(conn)
+    const wsUrl = await resolveGatewayWsUrl(desktop, conn)
+    // The single socket is still OPEN to the *previous* profile's backend, and
+    // gateway.connect() no-ops on an already-open socket. Drop it first so the
+    // reconnect actually re-points at the target profile's backend — otherwise
+    // the swap silently stays on the old backend (session.create writes to the
+    // wrong profile's DB). close() nulls the socket without emitting a 'closed'
+    // state, so it doesn't trip the boot auto-reconnect.
+    gateway.close()
+    await gateway.connect(wsUrl)
+    $activeGatewayProfile.set(target)
+    void desktop.touchBackend?.(target).catch(() => undefined)
+  })()
+
+  try {
+    await gatewaySwitch
+  } finally {
+    gatewaySwitch = null
+  }
+}
+
+// ── Sidebar profile scope (the "workspace switcher" model) ─────────────────
+// Mirrors how Slack/VS Code/Linear do multi-context: you're "in" one profile at
+// a time and the sidebar shows only that profile's sessions (clean rows, no
+// per-row tags). The lone exception is an explicit "All profiles" mode that
+// fans every profile's sessions into one grouped, browsable list.
+
+export const ALL_PROFILES = '__all__'
+
+const SHOW_ALL_PROFILES_STORAGE_KEY = 'hermes.desktop.showAllProfiles'
+
+// Opt-in unified view. When false, scope follows the live gateway profile, so
+// single-profile users (who never see the switcher) are completely unaffected.
+export const $showAllProfiles = atom<boolean>(storedBoolean(SHOW_ALL_PROFILES_STORAGE_KEY, false))
+
+$showAllProfiles.subscribe(value => persistBoolean(SHOW_ALL_PROFILES_STORAGE_KEY, value))
+
+// The profile context the sidebar is currently showing: a concrete profile key,
+// or ALL_PROFILES for the unified grouped view. Concrete scope is tied to the
+// gateway so opening/selecting a profile (which swaps the gateway) moves the
+// whole sidebar with it — a real context switch, not a separate filter to keep
+// in sync.
+export const $profileScope = computed([$showAllProfiles, $activeGatewayProfile], (showAll, gateway) =>
+  showAll ? ALL_PROFILES : normalizeProfileKey(gateway)
+)
+
+// Switch the active context to `name`: leave "All profiles" mode, point new
+// chats at it, and swap the single live gateway onto its backend (which moves
+// $activeGatewayProfile → name, so $profileScope follows).
+export function selectProfile(name: string): void {
+  const target = normalizeProfileKey(name)
+  $showAllProfiles.set(false)
+  $newChatProfile.set(target)
+  void ensureGatewayProfile(target)
+}
+
+export function setShowAllProfiles(value: boolean): void {
+  $showAllProfiles.set(value)
+}
+
+// Keepalive ping for the active pool backend so the main-process idle reaper
+// (which can't see the direct renderer↔backend WS) spares it. No-op for the
+// primary/default backend, which is never pooled.
+export function touchActiveGatewayBackend(): void {
+  // Always ping: the main process no-ops for non-pool (primary) backends, so we
+  // don't need to know which profile is primary from here.
+  const target = normalizeProfileKey($activeGatewayProfile.get())
+  void window.hermesDesktop?.touchBackend?.(target).catch(() => undefined)
+}

apps/desktop/src/store/session.ts

@@ -76,6 +76,11 @@ export const $connection = atom<HermesConnection | null>(null)
 export const $gatewayState = atom('idle')
 export const $sessions = atom<SessionInfo[]>([])
 export const $sessionsTotal = atom<number>(0)
+// Listable conversation count per profile (children excluded), keyed by profile
+// name. Lets the sidebar scope its "Load more" footer to the active profile so a
+// huge default profile doesn't keep "Load more" visible while browsing a small
+// one. Empty for single-profile users (fall back to $sessionsTotal).
+export const $sessionProfileTotals = atom<Record<string, number>>({})
 export const $sessionsLoading = atom(true)
 export const $workingSessionIds = atom<string[]>([])
 export const $activeSessionId = atom<string | null>(null)
@@ -114,6 +119,8 @@ export const setConnection = (next: Updater<HermesConnection | null>) => updateA
 export const setGatewayState = (next: Updater<string>) => updateAtom($gatewayState, next)
 export const setSessions = (next: Updater<SessionInfo[]>) => updateAtom($sessions, next)
 export const setSessionsTotal = (next: Updater<number>) => updateAtom($sessionsTotal, next)
+export const setSessionProfileTotals = (next: Updater<Record<string, number>>) =>
+  updateAtom($sessionProfileTotals, next)
 export const setSessionsLoading = (next: Updater<boolean>) => updateAtom($sessionsLoading, next)
 export const setWorkingSessionIds = (next: Updater<string[]>) => updateAtom($workingSessionIds, next)
 export const setActiveSessionId = (next: Updater<string | null>) => updateAtom($activeSessionId, next)

apps/desktop/src/types/hermes.ts

@@ -241,6 +241,14 @@ export interface PaginatedSessions {
   offset: number
   sessions: SessionInfo[]
   total: number
+  /** Listable conversation count per profile (children excluded), keyed by
+   *  profile name. Lets the sidebar scope its "Load more" footer to the active
+   *  profile instead of the global total. Present only on
+   *  `/api/profiles/sessions`. */
+  profile_totals?: Record<string, number>
+  /** Per-profile read failures from the cross-profile aggregator (e.g. a locked
+   *  or corrupt state.db). Present only on `/api/profiles/sessions`. */
+  errors?: Array<{ profile: string; error: string }>
 }
 
 export interface RpcEvent<T = unknown> {
@@ -277,6 +285,15 @@ export interface SessionInfo {
   started_at: number
   title: null | string
   tool_call_count: number
+  /** Owning profile name, set by the cross-profile aggregator
+   *  (`/api/profiles/sessions`). Absent on legacy single-profile responses,
+   *  which the UI treats as the default profile. */
+  profile?: string
+  /** True when {@link profile} is the default profile. */
+  is_default_profile?: boolean
+  /** Optional per-session glyph the user picked so sessions from different
+   *  profiles are visually distinguishable in the unified list. */
+  icon?: null | string
 }
 
 export interface SessionMessage {
@@ -435,6 +452,8 @@ export interface CronJobUpdates {
 }
 
 export interface ProfileCreatePayload {
+  clone_all?: boolean
+  clone_from?: string
   clone_from_default?: boolean
   name: string
   no_skills?: boolean
@@ -450,10 +469,6 @@ export interface ProfileInfo {
   skill_count: number
 }
 
-export interface ProfileSetupCommand {
-  command: string
-}
-
 export interface ProfileSoul {
   content: string
   exists: boolean