diff --git a/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-render.ts b/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-render.ts
index 30fc1473bb55..47538ccc9769 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-render.ts
+++ b/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-render.ts
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ export function renderAppSidebarHomeRow(host: AppSidebarRenderHost) {
 export function renderAppSidebarPagesHead(host: AppSidebarRenderHost) {
   return html`
     <div class="sidebar-nav__head">
-      <span class="sidebar-recent-sessions__label-text">${t("nav.pages")}</span>
+      <span class="sidebar-recent-sessions__label-text sr-only">${t("nav.pages")}</span>
       <button
         type="button"
         class="sidebar-nav__head-action"
diff --git a/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-catalog-render.ts b/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-catalog-render.ts
index e71d503315e0..ecf0a1588d74 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-catalog-render.ts
+++ b/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-catalog-render.ts
@@ -313,6 +313,9 @@ function renderCatalogHostGroup(
             aria-label=${errorHelp ? `${host.label}: ${errorHelp}` : host.label}
             title=${errorHelp ?? host.label}
           >
+            <span class="sidebar-session-group-toggle__lead" aria-hidden="true">
+              <span class="sidebar-session-group-toggle__icon">${icons.monitor}</span>
+            </span>
             <span class="sidebar-session-catalog-host__label">${host.label}</span>
             <span
               class="sidebar-session-catalog-host__count ${host.error
@@ -475,6 +478,7 @@ function renderCatalogSessionRow(
           }
         }}
       >
+        <span class="sidebar-session-indicator"></span>
         <span class="sidebar-recent-session__text">
           <span class="sidebar-recent-session__name hover-marquee">${label}</span>
         </span>
diff --git a/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-row-render.ts b/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-row-render.ts
index 7ae0205b0b70..f0f8dfdb0f9f 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-row-render.ts
+++ b/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-row-render.ts
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ import {
   resolveSidebarSessionSubtitle,
 } from "./session-row-subtitle.ts";
 import type { SidebarMenusController } from "./sidebar-menus-controller.ts";
+import { projectPresencePayload } from "./viewer-facepile.ts";
 import "./elapsed-time.ts";
 
 const SIDEBAR_VISIBLE_CHILD_SESSION_LIMIT = 4;
@@ -180,12 +181,22 @@ export function renderRecentSession(params: {
       ? session.archivedBy
       : session.createdActor
     : undefined;
-  const { running, leadingIndicator, trailingIndicator } = renderSessionLeadingState(
-    session,
-    pullRequestState,
-    ownerActor,
-    ownerAttribution,
-  );
+  const ownerId = ownerActor?.id?.trim();
+  const ownerViewing = ownerId
+    ? projectPresencePayload(
+        host.sessionData.presencePayload,
+        host.sessionDataContext?.gateway.snapshot.selfUser?.id,
+        host.sessionData.presenceInstanceId,
+      ).users.some((user) => user.id === ownerId && user.watchedSessions.includes(session.key))
+    : undefined;
+  const { running, leadingIndicator, trailingIndicator, renderedOwnerId } =
+    renderSessionLeadingState(
+      session,
+      pullRequestState,
+      ownerActor,
+      ownerAttribution,
+      ownerViewing,
+    );
   const trailingDescription = session.isChild
     ? ""
     : describeSessionTrailingState(session, pullRequestState);
@@ -242,8 +253,7 @@ export function renderRecentSession(params: {
     requiredScope: "operator.write",
   });
   const rowDraggable = !session.isChild && groupWriteAccess.allowed;
-  // Empty 16/20px lead columns indent titles past section labels and siblings.
-  const showLead = leadingIndicator !== nothing || session.visibility === "draft";
+  // Always reserve the lead so every title shares the section-label text line.
   const row = html`
     <div
       class=${rowClass}
@@ -278,18 +288,14 @@ export function renderRecentSession(params: {
         aria-describedby=${[stateId, metaId].filter(Boolean).join(" ") || nothing}
         @click=${(event: MouseEvent) => host.handleSessionRowClick(event, session)}
       >
-        ${showLead
-          ? html`<span class="sidebar-session-indicator"
-              >${leadingIndicator}
-              ${session.visibility === "draft"
-                ? html`<span
-                    class="session-row-draft-indicator"
-                    title=${t("chat.sessionSharing.draft")}
-                    >👻</span
-                  >`
-                : nothing}</span
-            >`
-          : nothing}
+        <span class="sidebar-session-indicator"
+          >${leadingIndicator}
+          ${session.visibility === "draft"
+            ? html`<span class="session-row-draft-indicator" title=${t("chat.sessionSharing.draft")}
+                >👻</span
+              >`
+            : nothing}</span
+        >
         <span class="sidebar-recent-session__text">
           <span class="sidebar-recent-session__name hover-marquee"
             >${session.archived
@@ -317,6 +323,7 @@ export function renderRecentSession(params: {
           .selfUserId=${host.sessionDataContext?.gateway.snapshot.selfUser?.id}
           .selfInstanceId=${host.sessionData.presenceInstanceId}
           .sessionKey=${session.key}
+          .excludeUserId=${renderedOwnerId}
           .maxVisible=${3}
           variant="session"
         ></openclaw-viewer-facepile>
diff --git a/ui/src/components/session-leading-indicator.ts b/ui/src/components/session-leading-indicator.ts
index 5ec4bc64407f..e4a8fcef7289 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/session-leading-indicator.ts
+++ b/ui/src/components/session-leading-indicator.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { html, nothing } from "lit";
+import { html, nothing, type TemplateResult } from "lit";
 import { t } from "../i18n/index.ts";
 import type { SidebarRecentSession } from "./app-sidebar-session-types.ts";
 import { icons } from "./icons.ts";
@@ -106,7 +106,13 @@ export function renderSessionLeadingState(
   pullRequestState: SessionPullRequestIndicatorState,
   ownerActor: SessionCreatedActor | null | undefined,
   attribution: "created" | "archived",
-) {
+  ownerViewing?: boolean,
+): {
+  running: boolean;
+  leadingIndicator: TemplateResult | typeof nothing;
+  trailingIndicator: TemplateResult | typeof nothing;
+  renderedOwnerId?: string;
+} {
   const running = session.hasActiveRun;
   const trailingIndicator = session.isChild
     ? nothing
@@ -159,11 +165,14 @@ export function renderSessionLeadingState(
     return {
       running,
       leadingIndicator: renderSessionGlyph({
-        content: renderSessionOwnerChip(ownerActor, "row", attribution),
+        content: renderSessionOwnerChip(ownerActor, "row", attribution, ownerViewing),
         running: false,
         circular: true,
       }),
       trailingIndicator,
+      // Single source for facepile dedup: only the identity actually shown in
+      // the lead may be excluded, else attention/archived rows hide a viewer.
+      renderedOwnerId: ownerActor.id,
     };
   }
   return {
diff --git a/ui/src/components/session-owner-chip.ts b/ui/src/components/session-owner-chip.ts
index 4f16b7428e8c..03f67aad03e6 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/session-owner-chip.ts
+++ b/ui/src/components/session-owner-chip.ts
@@ -48,12 +48,14 @@ export function renderSessionOwnerChip(
   createdActor: SessionCreatedActor | null | undefined,
   size: "row" | "header",
   attribution: "created" | "archived" = "created",
+  viewingNow?: boolean,
 ) {
   return createdActor?.id
     ? html`<openclaw-session-owner-chip
         .createdActor=${createdActor}
         size=${size}
         attribution=${attribution}
+        .viewingNow=${viewingNow}
       ></openclaw-session-owner-chip>`
     : nothing;
 }
@@ -84,18 +86,17 @@ function ownerHue(id: string): number {
 }
 
 /**
- * Permanent session-owner avatar. Ownership is provenance, not presence:
- * this chip is solid and never pulses/expires, in deliberate contrast to the
- * translucent, ring-styled live-presence chips. Render only when the gateway
- * has 2+ distinct creator identities (solo mode shows no attribution chrome).
- * Human actors use only the durable profile projection carried by the session
- * record. Actors without that source keep stable initials because provenance
- * outlives live connection presence.
+ * Permanent session-owner avatar. Ownership is provenance, so the chip remains
+ * when its owner leaves; live viewing only changes avatar saturation. Render
+ * only when the gateway has 2+ distinct creator identities (solo mode shows no
+ * attribution chrome). Human actors use the durable profile projection carried
+ * by the session record; actors without it keep stable initials.
  */
 class SessionOwnerChip extends OpenClawLightDomElement {
   @property({ attribute: false }) createdActor: SessionCreatedActor | null = null;
   @property({ type: String }) size: "row" | "header" = "row";
   @property({ type: String }) attribution: "created" | "archived" = "created";
+  @property({ attribute: false }) viewingNow?: boolean;
 
   override render() {
     const createdActor = this.createdActor;
@@ -107,10 +108,13 @@ class SessionOwnerChip extends OpenClawLightDomElement {
       return nothing;
     }
     const title = createdActor.label || createdActor.id;
-    const accessibleLabel = t(
+    const attributionLabel = t(
       this.attribution === "archived" ? "sessionsView.archivedBy" : "sessionsView.createdBy",
       { name: title },
     );
+    const accessibleLabel = this.viewingNow
+      ? `${attributionLabel} · ${t("sessionsView.viewingNow")}`
+      : attributionLabel;
     const avatar = createdActor.avatarUrl
       ? resolveAvatar({
           id: createdActor.id,
@@ -120,7 +124,9 @@ class SessionOwnerChip extends OpenClawLightDomElement {
       : null;
     return html`
       <span
-        class="session-owner-chip session-owner-chip--${this.size}"
+        class="session-owner-chip session-owner-chip--${this.size} ${this.viewingNow === false
+          ? "session-owner-chip--away"
+          : ""}"
         style="--owner-hue: ${ownerHue(createdActor.id)}"
         role="img"
         aria-label=${accessibleLabel}
diff --git a/ui/src/components/viewer-facepile.test.ts b/ui/src/components/viewer-facepile.test.ts
index 6aeab7c3856c..dc57f49424da 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/viewer-facepile.test.ts
+++ b/ui/src/components/viewer-facepile.test.ts
@@ -153,6 +153,8 @@ type ViewerFacepileElement = HTMLElement & {
   selfUserId?: string;
   selfInstanceId?: string;
   sessionKey?: string;
+  excludeUserId?: string;
+  maxVisible: number;
   variant: "session" | "footer";
   buildInfo: ControlUiBuildInfo;
   gatewayVersion: string | null;
@@ -274,6 +276,37 @@ it("keeps session facepiles as plain non-interactive avatar clusters", async ()
   expect(facepile.querySelectorAll("openclaw-tooltip")).toHaveLength(1);
 });
 
+it("excludes the session creator before choosing visible avatars and overflow", async () => {
+  const facepile = document.createElement("openclaw-viewer-facepile") as ViewerFacepileElement;
+  facepile.variant = "session";
+  facepile.sessionKey = "agent:main:active";
+  facepile.excludeUserId = "owner";
+  facepile.maxVisible = 2;
+  facepile.presencePayload = {
+    presence: ["owner", "alice", "bob", "carol"].map((id) => ({
+      instanceId: `${id}-instance`,
+      user: { id, name: id },
+      watchedSessions: ["agent:main:active"],
+    })),
+  };
+  document.body.append(facepile);
+
+  await vi.waitFor(async () => {
+    await facepile.updateComplete;
+    expect(
+      [...facepile.querySelectorAll("[data-viewer-id]")].map((avatar) =>
+        avatar.getAttribute("data-viewer-id"),
+      ),
+    ).toEqual(["alice", "bob"]);
+  });
+  expect(facepile.querySelector(".viewer-facepile")?.getAttribute("data-viewer-count")).toBe("3");
+  expect(facepile.querySelector(".viewer-avatar--overflow")?.textContent?.trim()).toBe("+1");
+  expect(facepile.querySelector('[data-viewer-id="owner"]')).toBeNull();
+  expect(facepile.querySelector(".viewer-avatar--overflow")?.getAttribute("aria-label")).toBe(
+    "carol",
+  );
+});
+
 it("detects only other viewers watching the requested session", () => {
   const payload = {
     presence: [
diff --git a/ui/src/components/viewer-facepile.ts b/ui/src/components/viewer-facepile.ts
index 6ef3bb4ef701..b3800c1a37e2 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/viewer-facepile.ts
+++ b/ui/src/components/viewer-facepile.ts
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ let cachedAuthenticatedSelfUserId: string | undefined;
 let cachedSelfInstanceId: string | undefined;
 let cachedPresenceProjection: ReturnType<typeof projectPresenceViewers> | undefined;
 
-function projectPresencePayload(
+export function projectPresencePayload(
   value: unknown,
   authenticatedSelfUserId?: string,
   selfInstanceId?: string,
@@ -189,6 +189,7 @@ class ViewerFacepile extends OpenClawLightDomContentsElement {
   @property({ attribute: false }) selfUserId?: string;
   @property({ attribute: false }) selfInstanceId?: string;
   @property({ attribute: false }) sessionKey?: string;
+  @property({ attribute: false }) excludeUserId?: string;
   @property({ type: Number, attribute: "max-visible" }) maxVisible = 3;
   @property() variant: "session" | "footer" = "session";
   @property({ attribute: false }) buildInfo: ControlUiBuildInfo = CONTROL_UI_BUILD_INFO;
@@ -201,9 +202,13 @@ class ViewerFacepile extends OpenClawLightDomContentsElement {
       this.selfInstanceId,
     );
     const sessionKey = this.sessionKey;
+    const excludeUserId = normalized(this.excludeUserId);
     const users = sessionKey
       ? projection.users.filter(
-          (user) => user.id !== projection.selfUserId && user.watchedSessions.includes(sessionKey),
+          (user) =>
+            user.id !== projection.selfUserId &&
+            user.id !== excludeUserId &&
+            user.watchedSessions.includes(sessionKey),
         )
       : this.variant === "footer"
         ? projection.users.filter((user) => user.id !== projection.selfUserId)
diff --git a/ui/src/e2e/sidebar-alignment.capture.e2e.test.ts b/ui/src/e2e/sidebar-alignment.capture.e2e.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..1ddb85f4ce88
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/e2e/sidebar-alignment.capture.e2e.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,149 @@
+import { mkdir } from "node:fs/promises";
+import path from "node:path";
+import { expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { installMockGateway } from "../test-helpers/control-ui-e2e.ts";
+import { createControlUiE2eSuite } from "./control-ui-e2e-suite.test-support.ts";
+
+const suite = createControlUiE2eSuite({
+  name: "Control UI sidebar alignment capture",
+  startServerBeforeBrowser: true,
+  unavailableMessage: (executablePath) =>
+    `Playwright Chromium is not installed or cannot start at ${executablePath}. Run \`pnpm --dir ui exec playwright install --with-deps chromium\`.`,
+});
+
+const outputDir = path.resolve(
+  process.cwd(),
+  process.env.OPENCLAW_SIDEBAR_CAPTURE_OUTPUT_DIR ?? ".artifacts/control-ui-e2e/sidebar-alignment",
+);
+const screenshotPath = path.join(outputDir, "sidebar.png");
+const baseTime = Date.parse("2026-08-14T12:00:00.000Z");
+
+function session(
+  key: string,
+  label: string,
+  category: string,
+  overrides: Record<string, unknown> = {},
+) {
+  return {
+    contextTokens: null,
+    displayName: label,
+    hasActiveRun: false,
+    key,
+    kind: "direct",
+    label,
+    model: "gpt-5.5",
+    modelProvider: "openai",
+    category,
+    status: "done",
+    totalTokens: 0,
+    updatedAt: baseTime,
+    ...overrides,
+  };
+}
+
+suite.define(() => {
+  it("captures the complete sidebar alignment fixture", async () => {
+    await suite.withPage(
+      {
+        locale: "en-US",
+        serviceWorkers: "block",
+        viewport: { height: 900, width: 1440 },
+      },
+      async ({ page }) => {
+        await installMockGateway(page, {
+          hasMultipleSessionSharingIdentities: true,
+          presenceUsers: [
+            {
+              self: true,
+              id: "profile-operator",
+              name: "Operator",
+              watchedSessions: ["agent:main:plain"],
+            },
+            {
+              id: "profile-ada",
+              name: "Ada",
+              watchedSessions: ["agent:main:owner-present"],
+            },
+            {
+              id: "profile-zoe",
+              name: "Zoe",
+              watchedSessions: ["agent:main:owner-present"],
+            },
+          ],
+          sessionGroups: ["Research", "Operations"],
+          sessionKey: "agent:main:plain",
+          methodResponses: {
+            "sessions.list": {
+              count: 4,
+              creators: [
+                { id: "profile-ada", label: "Ada" },
+                { id: "profile-bob", label: "Bob" },
+              ],
+              defaults: { contextTokens: null, model: "gpt-5.5", modelProvider: "openai" },
+              path: "",
+              sessions: [
+                session("agent:main:owner-present", "Owner present", "Research", {
+                  createdActor: { type: "human", id: "profile-ada", label: "Ada" },
+                  updatedAt: baseTime + 4_000,
+                }),
+                session("agent:main:plain", "No leading artwork", "Research", {
+                  updatedAt: baseTime + 3_000,
+                }),
+                session("agent:main:owner-away", "Owner away", "Operations", {
+                  createdActor: { type: "human", id: "profile-bob", label: "Bob" },
+                  updatedAt: baseTime + 2_000,
+                }),
+                session("agent:main:running", "Running session", "Operations", {
+                  activeRunIds: ["run-sidebar-capture"],
+                  hasActiveRun: true,
+                  status: "running",
+                  updatedAt: baseTime + 1_000,
+                }),
+              ],
+              ts: baseTime,
+            },
+          },
+        });
+
+        const response = await page.goto(`${suite.server.baseUrl}chat`);
+        expect(response?.status()).toBe(200);
+        const sidebar = page.locator(".sidebar");
+        await sidebar.waitFor({ state: "visible" });
+        await expect.poll(() => sidebar.locator(".nav-section__items .nav-item").count()).toBe(3);
+        await expect
+          .poll(() => sidebar.locator('[data-session-section^="category:"]').count())
+          .toBe(2);
+        await expect.poll(() => sidebar.locator(".sidebar-recent-session").count()).toBe(4);
+        await expect
+          .poll(() =>
+            sidebar
+              .locator('[data-session-key="agent:main:owner-present"] .viewer-facepile')
+              .getAttribute("data-viewer-count"),
+          )
+          .toBe("1");
+        await expect
+          .poll(() =>
+            sidebar
+              .locator('[data-session-key="agent:main:owner-present"] .session-owner-chip')
+              .getAttribute("class"),
+          )
+          .not.toContain("session-owner-chip--away");
+        await expect
+          .poll(() =>
+            sidebar
+              .locator('[data-session-key="agent:main:owner-away"] .session-owner-chip')
+              .getAttribute("class"),
+          )
+          .toContain("session-owner-chip--away");
+
+        const clip = await sidebar.boundingBox();
+        if (!clip) {
+          throw new Error("Sidebar did not expose a screenshot bounding box");
+        }
+        await mkdir(outputDir, { recursive: true });
+        await page.screenshot({ animations: "disabled", clip, path: screenshotPath });
+        process.stdout.write(`Sidebar screenshot: ${screenshotPath}\n`);
+      },
+    );
+  });
+});
diff --git a/ui/src/i18n/locales/en.ts b/ui/src/i18n/locales/en.ts
index 72a8d0b02d32..a99d209c35e7 100644
--- a/ui/src/i18n/locales/en.ts
+++ b/ui/src/i18n/locales/en.ts
@@ -837,6 +837,7 @@ export const en: TranslationMap = {
     limit: "Limit",
     createdBy: "Created by {name}",
     archivedBy: "Archived by {name}",
+    viewingNow: "viewing now",
     people: "People",
     allCreators: "All people",
     filterControls: "Session filters",
diff --git a/ui/src/styles/components.css b/ui/src/styles/components.css
index f0cd0c262776..329409902f9e 100644
--- a/ui/src/styles/components.css
+++ b/ui/src/styles/components.css
@@ -31,12 +31,20 @@ openclaw-session-owner-chip {
   color: white;
   font-weight: 700;
   line-height: 1;
+  transition:
+    filter var(--duration-fast) ease,
+    opacity var(--duration-fast) ease;
+}
+
+.session-owner-chip--away {
+  filter: grayscale(0.8);
+  opacity: 0.45;
 }
 
 .session-owner-chip--row {
-  width: 16px;
-  height: 16px;
-  font-size: 8px;
+  width: 20px;
+  height: 20px;
+  font-size: 10px;
 }
 
 .session-owner-chip--header {
@@ -57,9 +65,16 @@ openclaw-session-owner-chip {
 .session-glyph {
   position: relative;
   display: inline-flex;
-  width: 16px;
-  height: 16px;
-  flex: 0 0 16px;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  width: 20px;
+  height: 20px;
+  flex: 0 0 20px;
+}
+
+.session-glyph--circular .session-glyph__content {
+  width: 20px;
+  height: 20px;
 }
 
 .session-glyph__content {
@@ -72,8 +87,8 @@ openclaw-session-owner-chip {
 }
 
 /* The ring is a circle, so square artwork (page icons, thumbnails, arbitrary
-   SVGs) must shrink to keep its corners inside it. Circular avatars already
-   fit. A 16px square scaled below 0.75 clears the ring's 17px inner circle. */
+   SVGs) must shrink to keep its corners inside it. A 16px square scaled below
+   0.75 clears its 21px inner circle; 20px circular avatars fill their lead. */
 .session-glyph--running .session-glyph__content {
   transform: scale(0.72);
 }
diff --git a/ui/src/styles/layout.css b/ui/src/styles/layout.css
index 025731a92f9b..3b06f78321a7 100644
--- a/ui/src/styles/layout.css
+++ b/ui/src/styles/layout.css
@@ -1387,6 +1387,7 @@ body.update-dialog-open .sidebar-update-card__status {
 }
 
 .sidebar-nav {
+  position: relative;
   padding: 0;
 }
 
@@ -1426,7 +1427,10 @@ body.update-dialog-open .sidebar-update-card__status {
 }
 
 .sidebar-recent-sessions {
+  --sidebar-inset: 8px;
   --sidebar-lead: 20px;
+  --sidebar-row-gap: 8px;
+  --sidebar-text-offset: calc(var(--sidebar-inset) + var(--sidebar-lead) + var(--sidebar-row-gap));
 
   display: flex;
   flex-direction: column;
@@ -1501,7 +1505,7 @@ body.update-dialog-open .sidebar-update-card__status {
   align-items: center;
   gap: 8px;
   min-height: 24px;
-  padding: 0 10px 0 0;
+  padding: 0 10px 0 var(--sidebar-inset);
   color: color-mix(in srgb, var(--muted) 72%, var(--text) 28%);
 }
 
@@ -1516,7 +1520,7 @@ body.update-dialog-open .sidebar-update-card__status {
 .sidebar-session-group-toggle {
   display: flex;
   align-items: center;
-  gap: 0;
+  gap: var(--sidebar-row-gap);
   min-width: 0;
   flex: 1 1 auto;
   padding: 2px 0;
@@ -1617,8 +1621,8 @@ body.update-dialog-open .sidebar-update-card__status {
 
 .sidebar-session-catalog-load-more {
   display: block;
-  width: calc(100% - var(--sidebar-lead) - 10px);
-  margin: 3px 10px 5px var(--sidebar-lead);
+  width: calc(100% - var(--sidebar-text-offset) - 10px);
+  margin: 3px 10px 5px var(--sidebar-text-offset);
   padding: 4px 0;
   border: none;
   border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
@@ -1786,11 +1790,6 @@ body.update-dialog-open .sidebar-update-card__status {
   color: var(--muted);
 }
 
-.sidebar-session-group-toggle
-  > :not(.sidebar-session-group-toggle__lead):not(.sidebar-recent-sessions__label-text) {
-  margin-left: 5px;
-}
-
 /* Flex, not grid: WebKit does not re-run a grid flex-item's intrinsic sizing
    when rows stream in or grow a second subtitle line after first layout, so a
    grid list keeps a stale height and the next section paints over its rows. */
@@ -1813,19 +1812,23 @@ body.update-dialog-open .sidebar-update-card__status {
 
 .sidebar-session-tree__children {
   margin-left: var(--sidebar-lead);
-  box-shadow: inset 1px 0 0 color-mix(in srgb, var(--border-strong) 52%, transparent);
+  background: linear-gradient(
+      color-mix(in srgb, var(--border-strong) 52%, transparent),
+      color-mix(in srgb, var(--border-strong) 52%, transparent)
+    )
+    calc(var(--sidebar-inset) + 10px) 0 / 1px 100% no-repeat;
 }
 
 .sidebar-session-tree__loading {
   min-height: 28px;
-  padding: 6px var(--sidebar-lead);
+  padding: 6px var(--sidebar-text-offset);
   color: var(--muted);
   font-size: var(--control-ui-text-xs);
 }
 
 .sidebar-session-tree__show-more {
   min-height: 28px;
-  padding: 6px var(--sidebar-lead);
+  padding: 6px var(--sidebar-text-offset);
   border: 0;
   background: transparent;
   color: var(--muted);
@@ -1854,7 +1857,7 @@ body.update-dialog-open .sidebar-update-card__status {
   align-items: center;
   gap: 8px;
   min-height: 19px;
-  padding: 1px 12px 1px var(--sidebar-lead);
+  padding: 1px 12px 1px var(--sidebar-inset);
   color: color-mix(in srgb, var(--muted) 82%, var(--text) 18%);
 }
 
@@ -1894,10 +1897,10 @@ body.update-dialog-open .sidebar-update-card__status {
 .sidebar-session-catalog-project__head {
   display: flex;
   align-items: center;
-  gap: 0;
+  gap: var(--sidebar-row-gap);
   width: 100%;
   min-height: 18px;
-  padding: 2px 12px 0 0;
+  padding: 2px 12px 0 var(--sidebar-inset);
   border: 0;
   border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
   background: transparent;
@@ -1959,7 +1962,7 @@ body.update-dialog-open .sidebar-update-card__status {
   display: flex;
   justify-content: flex-start;
   gap: 14px;
-  padding: 0 10px 10px var(--sidebar-lead);
+  padding: 0 10px 10px var(--sidebar-text-offset);
 }
 
 .sidebar-session-pagination__button {
@@ -1978,7 +1981,7 @@ body.update-dialog-open .sidebar-update-card__status {
 
 .sidebar-session-empty-hint {
   display: block;
-  padding: 4px 10px 10px var(--sidebar-lead);
+  padding: 4px 10px 10px var(--sidebar-text-offset);
   color: var(--muted);
   font-size: var(--control-ui-text-xs);
 }
@@ -2054,21 +2057,15 @@ body.update-dialog-open .sidebar-update-card__status {
 .sidebar-recent-session__link {
   display: flex;
   align-items: center;
-  gap: 0;
+  gap: var(--sidebar-row-gap);
   flex: 1 1 auto;
   min-width: 0;
-  padding: 3px 4px 3px 0;
+  padding: 3px 4px 3px var(--sidebar-inset);
   color: inherit;
   cursor: var(--cursor-action);
   text-decoration: none;
 }
 
-.sidebar-recent-sessions
-  .sidebar-recent-session__link
-  > :not(.sidebar-session-indicator):not(.sidebar-recent-session__text) {
-  margin-left: 8px;
-}
-
 .sidebar-child-session-toggle {
   display: inline-flex;
   align-items: center;
@@ -2836,7 +2833,7 @@ wa-dropdown-item.session-menu__item::part(submenu-icon) {
   justify-content: flex-start;
   gap: 8px;
   min-height: 32px;
-  padding: 0 9px;
+  padding: 0 8px;
   border-radius: var(--radius-md);
   border: 1px solid transparent;
   background: transparent;
@@ -2851,18 +2848,24 @@ wa-dropdown-item.session-menu__item::part(submenu-icon) {
 }
 
 .nav-item__icon {
-  width: 16px;
+  width: 20px;
   height: 16px;
   display: flex;
   align-items: center;
   justify-content: center;
-  flex-shrink: 0;
+  flex: 0 0 20px;
   opacity: 0.72;
   transition:
     opacity var(--duration-fast) ease,
     color var(--duration-fast) ease;
 }
 
+.nav-item .session-glyph .nav-item__icon {
+  width: 16px;
+  height: 16px;
+  flex-basis: 16px;
+}
+
 .nav-item__icon svg {
   width: 16px;
   height: 16px;
@@ -2939,7 +2942,7 @@ wa-dropdown-item.session-menu__item::part(submenu-icon) {
 .sidebar-zone-entry .sidebar-recent-session {
   position: relative;
   min-height: 32px;
-  padding: 0 9px;
+  padding: 0 8px;
   border: 1px solid transparent;
   background: transparent;
   color: var(--muted);
@@ -3109,15 +3112,16 @@ wa-dropdown-item.session-menu__item::part(submenu-icon) {
 
 /* "Pages" section head: zone-style label plus the pin-editor affordance. */
 .sidebar-nav__head {
+  position: absolute;
+  z-index: 1;
+  top: 0;
+  right: 0;
   display: flex;
   align-items: center;
+  justify-content: flex-end;
   padding: 2px 8px 2px 12px;
 }
 
-.sidebar-nav__head .sidebar-recent-sessions__label-text {
-  flex: 1 1 auto;
-}
-
 .sidebar-nav__head-action {
   display: inline-flex;
   align-items: center;
@@ -3130,9 +3134,24 @@ wa-dropdown-item.session-menu__item::part(submenu-icon) {
   background: transparent;
   color: var(--muted);
   cursor: var(--cursor-action);
+  opacity: 0;
   transition:
     color var(--duration-fast) ease,
-    background var(--duration-fast) ease;
+    background var(--duration-fast) ease,
+    opacity var(--duration-fast) ease;
+}
+
+.sidebar-nav:hover .sidebar-nav__head-action,
+.sidebar-nav:focus-within .sidebar-nav__head-action {
+  opacity: 1;
+}
+
+/* Touch has no hover: keep the Pages editor discoverable, matching the
+   child-session-toggle touch override above. */
+@media (hover: none), (pointer: coarse) {
+  .sidebar-nav__head-action {
+    opacity: 1;
+  }
 }
 
 .sidebar-nav__head-action:hover,
diff --git a/ui/src/styles/layout.mobile.css b/ui/src/styles/layout.mobile.css
index 5f82cb7a5716..6d0442e84cf2 100644
--- a/ui/src/styles/layout.mobile.css
+++ b/ui/src/styles/layout.mobile.css
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ html:not(.openclaw-native-macos):not(.openclaw-native-nav):not(.openclaw-native-
 .shell--mobile-nav .nav-item {
   margin: 0;
   min-height: 40px;
-  padding: 0 12px;
+  padding: 0 12px 0 8px;
   font-size: calc(13px * var(--control-ui-text-scale));
   border-radius: var(--radius-md);
   white-space: nowrap;
diff --git a/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/catalog-project-activity.ts b/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/catalog-project-activity.ts
index ce119b7d2c96..7c39d00469b4 100644
--- a/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/catalog-project-activity.ts
+++ b/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/catalog-project-activity.ts
@@ -81,8 +81,12 @@ describe("AppSidebar project session activity", () => {
     expect(active?.querySelector(".session-run-spinner")?.getAttribute("aria-label")).toBe(
       "Active run",
     );
-    expect(active?.querySelector(".sidebar-session-indicator")).toBeNull();
-    expect(idle?.querySelector(".sidebar-session-indicator")).toBeNull();
+    const activeLead = active?.querySelector(".sidebar-session-indicator");
+    const idleLead = idle?.querySelector(".sidebar-session-indicator");
+    expect(activeLead).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(activeLead?.childElementCount).toBe(0);
+    expect(idleLead).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(idleLead?.childElementCount).toBe(0);
     expect(idle?.querySelector(".session-row-state")).toBeNull();
   });
 });
diff --git a/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/session-indicators.ts b/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/session-indicators.ts
index d17b45a8589b..4eecce7f6397 100644
--- a/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/session-indicators.ts
+++ b/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/session-indicators.ts
@@ -6,8 +6,10 @@ import { SESSION_PULL_REQUESTS_SUBSCRIBE_METHOD } from "../../lib/session-pull-r
 import { createGatewayHarness, createSessionsHarness, mountSidebar } from "../app-sidebar.ts";
 import { waitForFast } from "../wait-for.ts";
 
-function expectNoLead(row: Element | null) {
-  expect(row?.querySelector(".sidebar-session-indicator")).toBeNull();
+function expectEmptyLead(row: Element | null) {
+  const lead = row?.querySelector(".sidebar-session-indicator");
+  expect(lead).not.toBeNull();
+  expect(lead?.childElementCount).toBe(0);
 }
 
 describe("AppSidebar session indicators", () => {
@@ -236,11 +238,11 @@ describe("AppSidebar session indicators", () => {
       expect(sidebar.querySelector('[data-session-pr-state="merged"]')).not.toBeNull();
     });
     const plain = sidebar.querySelector(`[data-session-key="${keys.plain}"]`);
-    expectNoLead(plain);
+    expectEmptyLead(plain);
     expect(plain?.querySelector(".session-row-state")).toBeNull();
 
     const forked = sidebar.querySelector(`[data-session-key="${keys.forked}"]`);
-    expectNoLead(forked);
+    expectEmptyLead(forked);
     expect(
       forked?.querySelector(".session-row-aside > .session-row-state .session-row-fork-indicator"),
     ).not.toBeNull();
@@ -250,14 +252,14 @@ describe("AppSidebar session indicators", () => {
     expect(forked?.querySelector(".session-row-fork-indicator")?.hasAttribute("title")).toBe(false);
 
     const unread = sidebar.querySelector(`[data-session-key="${keys.unread}"]`);
-    expectNoLead(unread);
+    expectEmptyLead(unread);
     expect(
       unread?.querySelector(".session-row-aside > .session-row-state .session-unread-dot"),
     ).not.toBeNull();
 
     const runningUnread = sidebar.querySelector(`[data-session-key="${keys.runningUnread}"]`);
     expect(runningUnread?.classList.contains("session-row-host--running")).toBe(true);
-    expectNoLead(runningUnread);
+    expectEmptyLead(runningUnread);
     expect(
       runningUnread?.querySelector(".session-row-aside > .session-row-state .session-run-spinner"),
     ).not.toBeNull();
@@ -281,7 +283,7 @@ describe("AppSidebar session indicators", () => {
 
     for (const key of [keys.openPullRequest, keys.mergedPullRequest]) {
       const row = sidebar.querySelector(`[data-session-key="${key}"]`);
-      expectNoLead(row);
+      expectEmptyLead(row);
       expect(row?.querySelector(".session-row-state [data-session-pr-state]")).not.toBeNull();
       expect(row?.querySelector("a")?.getAttribute("title")).toContain(
         key === keys.openPullRequest ? "Open PR" : "Merged",
@@ -297,7 +299,7 @@ describe("AppSidebar session indicators", () => {
     sessions.publishList({ result });
     await waitForFast(() => {
       expect(sidebar.querySelector('[data-session-pr-state="open"]')).toBeNull();
-      expectNoLead(sidebar.querySelector(`[data-session-key="${keys.openPullRequest}"]`));
+      expectEmptyLead(sidebar.querySelector(`[data-session-key="${keys.openPullRequest}"]`));
     });
   });
 });
diff --git a/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/session-ownership.ts b/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/session-ownership.ts
index eec8cd5e4e00..6a438e977e15 100644
--- a/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/session-ownership.ts
+++ b/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/session-ownership.ts
@@ -121,6 +121,11 @@ describe("AppSidebar session ownership", () => {
     const bobAvatarBefore = sidebar
       .querySelector('[data-session-key="agent:main:bob"] openclaw-viewer-avatar img')
       ?.getAttribute("src");
+    expect(
+      sidebar
+        .querySelector('[data-session-key="agent:main:bob"] .session-owner-chip')
+        ?.classList.contains("session-owner-chip--away"),
+    ).toBe(true);
 
     gateway.publishEvent("presence", {
       presence: [
@@ -131,6 +136,7 @@ describe("AppSidebar session ownership", () => {
             name: "Bob",
             avatarUrl: "/api/users/profile-bob/avatar?v=99",
           },
+          watchedSessions: ["agent:main:bob"],
         },
       ],
     });
@@ -140,6 +146,11 @@ describe("AppSidebar session ownership", () => {
         .querySelector('[data-session-key="agent:main:bob"] openclaw-viewer-avatar img')
         ?.getAttribute("src"),
     ).toBe(bobAvatarBefore);
+    const bobChip = sidebar.querySelector(
+      '[data-session-key="agent:main:bob"] .session-owner-chip',
+    );
+    expect(bobChip?.classList.contains("session-owner-chip--away")).toBe(false);
+    expect(bobChip?.getAttribute("title")).toBe("Created by Bob · viewing now");
 
     const adaChip = sidebar.querySelector(
       '[data-session-key="agent:main:ada"] .session-owner-chip',
@@ -376,6 +387,12 @@ describe("AppSidebar session ownership", () => {
       sidebar.querySelector('openclaw-session-owner-chip span[title="Archived by Bob"]'),
     ).not.toBeNull();
     expect(sidebar.querySelector('span[title="Created by Ada"]')).toBeNull();
+    // Facepile dedup follows the rendered lead: the archivist chip is shown,
+    // so Bob is excluded while creator Ada must stay visible as a viewer.
+    const archivedFacepile = sidebar.querySelector(
+      '[data-session-key="agent:main:archived"] openclaw-viewer-facepile',
+    ) as (HTMLElement & { excludeUserId?: string }) | null;
+    expect(archivedFacepile?.excludeUserId).toBe("profile-bob");
 
     collaborator.createdActor = { type: "human", id: "profile-ada", label: "Ada" };
     result.creators = [{ id: "profile-ada", label: "Ada" }];
@@ -383,6 +400,10 @@ describe("AppSidebar session ownership", () => {
     await sidebar.updateComplete;
 
     expect(sidebar.querySelector("openclaw-session-owner-chip")).toBeNull();
+    const soloFacepile = sidebar.querySelector(
+      '[data-session-key="agent:main:archived"] openclaw-viewer-facepile',
+    ) as (HTMLElement & { excludeUserId?: string }) | null;
+    expect(soloFacepile?.excludeUserId).toBeUndefined();
   });
 
   it("filters by creator and hides custom groups without matching sessions", async () => {
diff --git a/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/sessions.ts b/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/sessions.ts
index e17285c8d7ac..926214691b4a 100644
--- a/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/sessions.ts
+++ b/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/sessions.ts
@@ -367,7 +367,9 @@ describe("AppSidebar session accessibility", () => {
     expect(row?.hasAttribute("aria-label")).toBe(false);
     expect(link?.hasAttribute("aria-label")).toBe(false);
     expect(link?.getAttribute("aria-current")).toBe("page");
-    expect(link?.querySelector(".sidebar-session-indicator")).toBeNull();
+    const lead = link?.querySelector(".sidebar-session-indicator");
+    expect(lead).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(lead?.childElementCount).toBe(0);
     expect(link?.querySelector(".sidebar-recent-session__text")).not.toBeNull();
     const rowState = row?.querySelector(".session-row-state");
     expect(rowState?.getAttribute("role")).toBe("img");
diff --git a/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/sidebar-zone.ts b/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/sidebar-zone.ts
index f9a069348204..8dc82cbb1e17 100644
--- a/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/sidebar-zone.ts
+++ b/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/sidebar-zone.ts
@@ -149,8 +149,9 @@ describe("AppSidebar interleaved zone", () => {
     // Pinning is not a status, so it must not claim the row's one leading slot.
     const row = sidebar.querySelector('[data-session-key="agent:main:page"]');
     const plain = sidebar.querySelector('[data-session-key="agent:main:plain"]');
-    expect(row?.querySelector(".sidebar-session-indicator")).toBeNull();
-    expect(plain?.querySelector(".sidebar-session-indicator")).toBeNull();
+    expect(row?.querySelector(".sidebar-session-indicator")?.innerHTML).toBe(
+      plain?.querySelector(".sidebar-session-indicator")?.innerHTML,
+    );
     expect(row?.querySelector(".nav-item__state")).toBeNull();
     expect(row?.querySelector(".session-row-state .sidebar-recent-session__state")).not.toBeNull();
   });
diff --git a/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/transient-menus.ts b/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/transient-menus.ts
index 34929e8cb3f7..39fd95f6eea5 100644
--- a/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/transient-menus.ts
+++ b/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/transient-menus.ts
@@ -96,6 +96,11 @@ describe("AppSidebar transient menus", () => {
   it("ignores a stale More-menu hide after opening its replacement", async () => {
     const gateway = createGateway({} as GatewayBrowserClient);
     const { sidebar } = await mountSidebar(gateway, createSessions("main", ["agent:main:main"]));
+    const pagesLabel = sidebar.querySelector(
+      ".sidebar-nav__head .sidebar-recent-sessions__label-text",
+    );
+    expect(pagesLabel?.classList.contains("sr-only")).toBe(true);
+    expect(pagesLabel?.textContent).toBe("Pages");
     const trigger = sidebar.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>(".sidebar-nav__head-action");
     if (!trigger) {
       throw new Error("expected Pages menu trigger");