diff --git a/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-catalog-render.ts b/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-catalog-render.ts
index a5e8183da95e..5fe671599ab1 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-catalog-render.ts
+++ b/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-catalog-render.ts
@@ -328,27 +328,42 @@ function renderCatalogHostGroup(
               const sectionId = `catalog-project:${catalog.id}:${host.hostId}:${group.key}`;
               const collapsed = params.collapsedSections.has(sectionId);
               return html`
-                <button
-                  type="button"
-                  class="sidebar-session-catalog-project__head"
-                  data-session-catalog-project=${group.key}
-                  aria-expanded=${String(!collapsed)}
-                  title=${group.title}
-                  @click=${() => params.onToggleSection(sectionId)}
-                >
-                  <span class="sidebar-session-catalog-project__icon" aria-hidden="true"
-                    >${collapsed ? icons.chevronRight : icons.chevronDown}</span
+                <div class="sidebar-session-catalog-project" role="listitem">
+                  <button
+                    type="button"
+                    class="sidebar-session-catalog-project__head"
+                    data-session-catalog-project=${group.key}
+                    aria-expanded=${String(!collapsed)}
+                    title=${group.title}
+                    @click=${() => params.onToggleSection(sectionId)}
                   >
-                  <span class="sidebar-session-catalog-project__label">${group.label}</span>
-                  <span class="sidebar-session-catalog-project__count" aria-hidden="true"
-                    >${group.sessions.length}</span
-                  >
-                </button>
-                ${collapsed
-                  ? nothing
-                  : group.sessions.map((session) =>
-                      renderCatalogSessionRow(catalog, host, session, liveRowsByKey, params, true),
-                    )}
+                    <span class="sidebar-session-catalog-project__icon" aria-hidden="true"
+                      >${collapsed ? icons.chevronRight : icons.chevronDown}</span
+                    >
+                    <span class="sidebar-session-catalog-project__label">${group.label}</span>
+                    <span class="sidebar-session-catalog-project__count" aria-hidden="true"
+                      >${group.sessions.length}</span
+                    >
+                  </button>
+                  ${collapsed
+                    ? nothing
+                    : html`<div
+                        class="sidebar-session-catalog-project__sessions"
+                        role="list"
+                        aria-label=${`${host.label}: ${group.label}`}
+                      >
+                        ${group.sessions.map((session) =>
+                          renderCatalogSessionRow(
+                            catalog,
+                            host,
+                            session,
+                            liveRowsByKey,
+                            params,
+                            true,
+                          ),
+                        )}
+                      </div>`}
+                </div>
               `;
             })}
             ${projectGroups.ungrouped.map((session) =>
@@ -464,7 +479,11 @@ function renderCatalogSessionRow(
       </a>
       <span class="sidebar-recent-session__aside session-row-aside">
         ${running
-          ? html`<span class="session-row-state" id=${stateId} aria-label=${stateDescription}
+          ? html`<span
+              class="session-row-state"
+              id=${stateId}
+              role="img"
+              aria-label=${stateDescription}
               >${renderSessionRunSpinner(false)}</span
             >`
           : nothing}
diff --git a/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-list-render.ts b/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-list-render.ts
index fd96c5962b4a..9d3cb02d48c5 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-list-render.ts
+++ b/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-list-render.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import { html, nothing } from "lit";
 import type { SessionCatalog } from "../../../packages/gateway-protocol/src/index.ts";
 import type { GatewaySessionRow } from "../api/types.ts";
-import { titleForRoute } from "../app-navigation.ts";
 import type { CatalogOpenTarget } from "../app/settings.ts";
 import { t } from "../i18n/index.ts";
 import type { CatalogProjectGrouping } from "../lib/sessions/catalog-project-grouping.ts";
@@ -248,7 +247,7 @@ function renderSessionSection(params: {
 
 function renderDraftSessionRow() {
   return html`
-    <div class="sidebar-recent-session sidebar-recent-session--draft">
+    <div class="sidebar-recent-session sidebar-recent-session--draft" role="listitem">
       <span class="sidebar-recent-session__link">
         <span class="sidebar-session-indicator"></span>
         <span class="sidebar-recent-session__text">
@@ -484,7 +483,7 @@ export function renderSessionList(params: {
             </div>
           `
         : nothing}
-      <div class="sidebar-recent-sessions" aria-label=${titleForRoute("sessions")}>
+      <div class="sidebar-recent-sessions">
         ${renderSessionListBody({
           host,
           sections: params.sections,
diff --git a/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-row-render.ts b/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-row-render.ts
index 9b9f0df29fe0..e1ff3babf4dd 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-row-render.ts
+++ b/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-row-render.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { html, nothing, type TemplateResult } from "lit";
+import { ifDefined } from "lit/directives/if-defined.js";
 import { keyed } from "lit/directives/keyed.js";
 import type { SessionObserverDigest } from "../../../packages/gateway-protocol/src/schema/sessions.js";
 import type { NavigationRouteId } from "../app-navigation.ts";
@@ -156,8 +157,9 @@ export function renderRecentSession(params: {
   host: SessionListHost;
   session: SidebarRecentSession;
   display?: CatalogBackingSessionDisplay;
+  listItem?: boolean;
 }) {
-  const { host, session, display } = params;
+  const { host, session, display, listItem = true } = params;
   const pinAccess = host.readSessionMutationAccess({
     method: "sessions.patch",
     params: { key: session.key, pinned: !session.pinned },
@@ -239,7 +241,7 @@ export function renderRecentSession(params: {
     <div
       class=${rowClass}
       data-session-key=${session.key}
-      role="listitem"
+      role=${ifDefined(listItem ? "listitem" : undefined)}
       draggable=${rowDraggable ? "true" : "false"}
       title=${!session.isChild && !groupWriteAccess.allowed ? groupWriteAccess.reason : nothing}
       @dragstart=${!rowDraggable
@@ -357,7 +359,11 @@ export function renderRecentSession(params: {
       <span class="sidebar-recent-session__aside session-row-aside">
         ${trailingIndicator === nothing
           ? nothing
-          : html`<span class="session-row-state" id=${stateId} aria-label=${trailingDescription}
+          : html`<span
+              class="session-row-state"
+              id=${stateId}
+              role="img"
+              aria-label=${trailingDescription}
               >${trailingIndicator}</span
             >`}
         ${hasTrail
@@ -415,22 +421,34 @@ export function renderRecentSession(params: {
 export function renderSessionTree(params: {
   host: SessionListHost;
   session: SidebarRecentSession;
+  listItem?: boolean;
 }): TemplateResult {
-  const { host, session } = params;
+  const { host, session, listItem = true } = params;
   const expanded = host.isSessionChildrenExpanded(session);
   const visibleChildren = visibleSessionChildren({
     session,
     fullyShownChildSessionKeys: host.fullyShownChildSessionKeys,
   });
   const hiddenChildCount = session.children.length - visibleChildren.length;
-  return html`<div class="sidebar-session-tree" data-session-tree=${session.key}>
-    ${renderRecentSession({ host, session })}
+  return html`<div
+    class="sidebar-session-tree"
+    data-session-tree=${session.key}
+    role=${ifDefined(listItem ? "listitem" : undefined)}
+  >
+    ${renderRecentSession({ host, session, listItem: false })}
     ${expanded
-      ? html`<div
-          class="sidebar-session-tree__children"
-          aria-label=${t("sessionsView.childSessions")}
-        >
-          ${visibleChildren.map((child) => renderSessionTree({ host, session: child }))}
+      ? html`<div class="sidebar-session-tree__children">
+          ${visibleChildren.length > 0
+            ? html`<div
+                class="sidebar-session-tree__list"
+                role=${ifDefined(listItem ? "list" : undefined)}
+                aria-label=${ifDefined(listItem ? t("sessionsView.childSessions") : undefined)}
+              >
+                ${visibleChildren.map((child) =>
+                  renderSessionTree({ host, session: child, listItem }),
+                )}
+              </div>`
+            : nothing}
           ${hiddenChildCount > 0
             ? html`<button
                 class="sidebar-session-tree__show-more"
diff --git a/ui/src/components/app-sidebar.ts b/ui/src/components/app-sidebar.ts
index e2252db0a02d..e23bd6aceb8b 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/app-sidebar.ts
+++ b/ui/src/components/app-sidebar.ts
@@ -367,7 +367,8 @@ class AppSidebar extends AppSidebarSessionNavigationElement implements SessionLi
   }
 
   renderPinnedSidebarSession(session: SidebarRecentSession): TemplateResult {
-    return renderSessionTree({ host: this, session });
+    // Pinned sessions live in the navigation zone, not a session list.
+    return renderSessionTree({ host: this, session, listItem: false });
   }
 
   private renderSessions() {
diff --git a/ui/src/e2e/chat-flow.navigation-presentation.e2e.test.ts b/ui/src/e2e/chat-flow.navigation-presentation.e2e.test.ts
index ca64aba71964..43c4d8a0aaa3 100644
--- a/ui/src/e2e/chat-flow.navigation-presentation.e2e.test.ts
+++ b/ui/src/e2e/chat-flow.navigation-presentation.e2e.test.ts
@@ -876,8 +876,12 @@ suite.define(() => {
         .toContainEqual(expect.objectContaining({ includeDerivedTitles: true }));
       const label = row.locator(".sidebar-recent-session__name");
       const link = row.locator("a.sidebar-recent-session__link");
+      const tree = row.locator("..");
+      const list = tree.locator("..");
       await expect.poll(() => label.textContent()).toBe(readableTitle);
-      expect(await row.getAttribute("role")).toBe("listitem");
+      expect(await list.getAttribute("role")).toBe("list");
+      expect(await tree.getAttribute("role")).toBe("listitem");
+      expect(await row.getAttribute("role")).toBeNull();
       expect(await row.getAttribute("aria-label")).toBeNull();
       expect(await link.getAttribute("aria-label")).toBeNull();
       expect(await link.getAttribute("aria-current")).toBe("page");
diff --git a/ui/src/e2e/codex-sessions.e2e.test.ts b/ui/src/e2e/codex-sessions.e2e.test.ts
index 02f21ad440f0..46b26c24bb42 100644
--- a/ui/src/e2e/codex-sessions.e2e.test.ts
+++ b/ui/src/e2e/codex-sessions.e2e.test.ts
@@ -430,11 +430,24 @@ suite.define(() => {
       expect(await section.locator('[data-session-catalog-host="node:build"]').count()).toBe(1);
       expect(await section.getByText("Offline Workstation", { exact: true }).count()).toBe(0);
       expect(await section.getByText("Offline Laptop", { exact: true }).count()).toBe(0);
+      const localHost = section.locator('[data-session-catalog-host="gateway:local"]');
+      const localHostList = localHost.locator(":scope > .sidebar-session-catalog-host__sessions");
+      expect(await localHostList.getAttribute("role")).toBe("list");
+      expect(await localHostList.getAttribute("aria-label")).toBe("Local Codex");
       const projectHeads = section.locator("[data-session-catalog-project]");
       await expect.poll(() => projectHeads.count()).toBe(2);
+      expect(
+        await localHostList
+          .locator(":scope > *")
+          .evaluateAll((items) => items.map((item) => item.getAttribute("role"))),
+      ).toEqual(["listitem", "listitem"]);
       const openclawProject = section.locator(
         '[data-session-catalog-project="/Users/dev/openclaw"]',
       );
+      const openclawProjectItem = openclawProject.locator("..");
+      const openclawProjectList = openclawProjectItem.locator(":scope > [role=list]");
+      expect(await openclawProjectItem.getAttribute("role")).toBe("listitem");
+      expect(await openclawProjectList.getAttribute("aria-label")).toBe("Local Codex: openclaw");
       expect(
         await openclawProject.locator(".sidebar-session-catalog-project__label").textContent(),
       ).toBe("openclaw");
@@ -443,6 +456,16 @@ suite.define(() => {
       ).toBe("2");
       const projectRows = section.locator(".sidebar-recent-session--catalog-project-child");
       await expect.poll(() => projectRows.count()).toBe(3);
+      expect(
+        await openclawProjectList
+          .locator(":scope > *")
+          .evaluateAll((items) => items.map((item) => item.getAttribute("role"))),
+      ).toEqual(["listitem", "listitem"]);
+      const buildHostList = section.locator(
+        '[data-session-catalog-host="node:build"] > .sidebar-session-catalog-host__sessions',
+      );
+      expect(await buildHostList.getAttribute("aria-label")).toBe("Build Node");
+      expect(await buildHostList.locator(":scope > [role=listitem]").count()).toBe(1);
       const threadRows = page.locator(
         '[data-session-section="ungrouped"] .sidebar-recent-session, [data-session-section="catalog:codex"] .sidebar-recent-session--catalog-project-child',
       );
@@ -545,6 +568,11 @@ suite.define(() => {
         .evaluate((element) => (element as HTMLElement).click());
       await expect.poll(() => projectHeads.count()).toBe(0);
       expect(await section.locator("[data-session-key]").count()).toBe(4);
+      expect(
+        await localHostList
+          .locator(":scope > *")
+          .evaluateAll((items) => items.map((item) => item.getAttribute("role"))),
+      ).toEqual(["listitem", "listitem", "listitem"]);
       expect(
         await page.evaluate((key) => localStorage.getItem(key), catalogGroupingStorageKey),
       ).toBe("none");
@@ -564,6 +592,11 @@ suite.define(() => {
         .getByRole("menuitemradio", { name: "Person" })
         .evaluate((element) => (element as HTMLElement).click());
       await expect.poll(() => projectHeads.count()).toBe(2);
+      expect(
+        await localHostList
+          .locator(":scope > *")
+          .evaluateAll((items) => items.map((item) => item.getAttribute("role"))),
+      ).toEqual(["listitem", "listitem", "listitem"]);
       expect(
         await section
           .locator('[data-session-catalog-project="person:profile-ada"]')
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/config/view-appearance-preferences.ts b/ui/src/pages/config/view-appearance-preferences.ts
index 0c28c85663e8..35ee12136422 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/config/view-appearance-preferences.ts
+++ b/ui/src/pages/config/view-appearance-preferences.ts
@@ -396,6 +396,7 @@ export function renderLobsterPetSection(props: ConfigProps) {
                           : "lobsterdex__mini--unseen"}"
                         style=${lobsterLookStyle(look)}
                         tabindex="0"
+                        role="img"
                         aria-label=${ariaLabel}
                       >
                         ${renderLobsterSvg(look, { standalone: true })}
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/config/view.browser.test.ts b/ui/src/pages/config/view.browser.test.ts
index 2dcad408043c..83467e99e28a 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/config/view.browser.test.ts
+++ b/ui/src/pages/config/view.browser.test.ts
@@ -1550,6 +1550,14 @@ describe("config view", () => {
     ]) {
       expect(text).toContain(expected);
     }
+    const lobsterPreviews = container.querySelectorAll(".lobsterdex__mini");
+    expect(lobsterPreviews).toHaveLength(42);
+    expect([...lobsterPreviews].every((preview) => preview.getAttribute("role") === "img")).toBe(
+      true,
+    );
+    expect(
+      [...lobsterPreviews].every((preview) => Boolean(preview.getAttribute("aria-label")?.trim())),
+    ).toBe(true);
     expect(container.querySelector('button[aria-label="Reset to default"]')).toBeNull();
   });
 
diff --git a/ui/src/styles/layout.css b/ui/src/styles/layout.css
index 164bc76e651c..cbbce7169d73 100644
--- a/ui/src/styles/layout.css
+++ b/ui/src/styles/layout.css
@@ -486,7 +486,7 @@ html.openclaw-native-web-chrome .shell-chrome-controls {
   font-weight: 650;
   letter-spacing: 0.08em;
   text-transform: uppercase;
-  color: color-mix(in srgb, var(--muted) 76%, transparent);
+  color: var(--muted);
 }
 
 /* Settings rail entries are anchors but read as app chrome: default arrow,
@@ -696,7 +696,7 @@ openclaw-settings-save-indicator {
   margin-left: auto;
   flex-shrink: 0;
   font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums;
-  color: color-mix(in srgb, var(--muted) 82%, transparent);
+  color: var(--muted);
 }
 
 /* ===========================================
@@ -1721,8 +1721,7 @@ html.openclaw-native-macos
   font-weight: 650;
   letter-spacing: 0.08em;
   text-transform: uppercase;
-  color: color-mix(in srgb, var(--muted) 72%, var(--text) 28%);
-  opacity: 0.85;
+  color: var(--muted);
 }
 
 .sidebar-session-group-toggle
@@ -1733,21 +1732,23 @@ html.openclaw-native-macos
 /* 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. */
-.sidebar-recent-sessions__list {
-  display: flex;
-  flex-direction: column;
-  gap: 2px;
-  min-height: 12px;
-}
-
+.sidebar-recent-sessions__list,
 .sidebar-session-tree,
-.sidebar-session-tree__children {
+.sidebar-session-tree__children,
+.sidebar-session-tree__list,
+.sidebar-session-catalog-host__sessions,
+.sidebar-session-catalog-project,
+.sidebar-session-catalog-project__sessions {
   display: flex;
   flex-direction: column;
   gap: 2px;
   min-width: 0;
 }
 
+.sidebar-recent-sessions__list {
+  min-height: 12px;
+}
+
 .sidebar-session-tree__children {
   margin-left: var(--sidebar-lead);
   box-shadow: inset 1px 0 0 color-mix(in srgb, var(--border-strong) 52%, transparent);
@@ -1828,13 +1829,6 @@ html.openclaw-native-macos
   stroke-width: 1.8px;
 }
 
-.sidebar-session-catalog-host__sessions {
-  display: flex;
-  flex-direction: column;
-  gap: 2px;
-  min-width: 0;
-}
-
 .sidebar-session-catalog-project__head {
   display: flex;
   align-items: center;
diff --git a/ui/src/styles/theme-contrast.test.ts b/ui/src/styles/theme-contrast.test.ts
index a96a27d97bc4..f7e0a8bac812 100644
--- a/ui/src/styles/theme-contrast.test.ts
+++ b/ui/src/styles/theme-contrast.test.ts
@@ -97,7 +97,8 @@ function readOpacity(ruleBody: string): number {
 describe("Control UI theme contrast", () => {
   const baseCss = readFileSync(path.join(here, "base.css"), "utf8");
   const groupedCss = readFileSync(path.join(here, "chat", "grouped.css"), "utf8");
-  const layoutCss = readFileSync(path.join(here, "chat", "layout.css"), "utf8");
+  const chatLayoutCss = readFileSync(path.join(here, "chat", "layout.css"), "utf8");
+  const layoutCss = readFileSync(path.join(here, "layout.css"), "utf8");
 
   it("keeps default dark muted text tokens at WCAG AA on declared surfaces", () => {
     const dark = readCssVarBlock(baseCss, ":root");
@@ -130,7 +131,7 @@ describe("Control UI theme contrast", () => {
       requireCssColor(dark, "card"),
     ];
     const timestampRule = readRuleBody(groupedCss, ".chat-group-timestamp");
-    const slashArgsRule = readRuleBody(layoutCss, ".slash-menu-args");
+    const slashArgsRule = readRuleBody(chatLayoutCss, ".slash-menu-args");
 
     expect(timestampRule).toMatch(/color:\s*var\(--muted\)/);
     expect(slashArgsRule).toMatch(/color:\s*var\(--muted\)/);
@@ -147,4 +148,30 @@ describe("Control UI theme contrast", () => {
       expect(contrastRatio(slashArgsFg, background)).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(4.5);
     }
   });
+
+  it("keeps sidebar metadata on the AA-tested muted token without opacity dimming", () => {
+    const groupLabelRule = readRuleBody(layoutCss, ".settings-sidebar__group-label");
+    const buildRule = readRuleBody(layoutCss, ".settings-sidebar__footer .sidebar-footer-build");
+    const sessionLabelRule = readRuleBody(
+      layoutCss,
+      ".sidebar-recent-sessions__label-text,\n.sidebar-session-catalog-host__label",
+    );
+
+    expect(groupLabelRule).toMatch(/color:\s*var\(--muted\)/);
+    expect(buildRule).toMatch(/color:\s*var\(--muted\)/);
+    expect(sessionLabelRule).toMatch(/color:\s*var\(--muted\)/);
+    expect(readOpacity(sessionLabelRule)).toBe(1);
+
+    for (const selector of [
+      ':root[data-theme-mode="light"]',
+      ':root[data-theme="openknot-light"]',
+      ':root[data-theme="dash-light"]',
+    ]) {
+      const theme = readCssVarBlock(baseCss, selector);
+      const muted = requireCssColor(theme, "muted");
+      for (const surface of ["bg", "bg-elevated", "bg-muted", "card"]) {
+        expect(contrastRatio(muted, requireCssColor(theme, surface))).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(4.5);
+      }
+    }
+  });
 });
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 fa49502cf8be..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
@@ -37,6 +37,14 @@ describe("AppSidebar project session activity", () => {
                 canContinue: true,
                 canArchive: true,
               },
+              {
+                threadId: "loose-thread",
+                name: "Loose session",
+                status: "idle",
+                archived: false,
+                canContinue: true,
+                canArchive: true,
+              },
             ],
           },
         ],
@@ -48,8 +56,28 @@ describe("AppSidebar project session activity", () => {
     const project = sidebar.querySelector('[data-session-catalog-project="/work/openclaw"]');
     const active = sidebar.querySelector('[data-session-key*="active-thread"]');
     const idle = sidebar.querySelector('[data-session-key*="idle-thread"]');
+    const loose = sidebar.querySelector('[data-session-key*="loose-thread"]');
+    const projectItem = project?.closest(".sidebar-session-catalog-project");
+    const hostList = projectItem?.parentElement;
+    const projectList = active?.closest('[role="list"]');
     expect(project).not.toBeNull();
-    expect(active?.querySelector(".session-row-state .session-run-spinner")).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(hostList?.getAttribute("role")).toBe("list");
+    expect(hostList?.getAttribute("aria-label")).toBe("Local Codex");
+    expect(
+      [...(hostList?.children ?? [])].every((item) => item.getAttribute("role") === "listitem"),
+    ).toBe(true);
+    expect(projectItem?.getAttribute("role")).toBe("listitem");
+    expect(projectList?.getAttribute("aria-label")).toBe("Local Codex: openclaw");
+    expect(
+      [...(projectList?.children ?? [])].every((item) => item.getAttribute("role") === "listitem"),
+    ).toBe(true);
+    expect(idle?.closest('[role="list"]')).toBe(projectList);
+    expect(loose?.parentElement).toBe(hostList);
+    expect(loose?.getAttribute("role")).toBe("listitem");
+    const activeState = active?.querySelector(".session-row-state");
+    expect(activeState?.getAttribute("role")).toBe("img");
+    expect(activeState?.getAttribute("aria-label")).toBe("Active run");
+    expect(activeState?.querySelector(".session-run-spinner")).not.toBeNull();
     expect(active?.querySelector(".session-run-spinner")?.getAttribute("aria-label")).toBe(
       "Active run",
     );
diff --git a/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/child-sessions.ts b/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/child-sessions.ts
index a4c2fbc1ebf6..bb5d7205da8d 100644
--- a/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/child-sessions.ts
+++ b/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/child-sessions.ts
@@ -83,6 +83,16 @@ describe("AppSidebar agent chip", () => {
       configuredAgentsOnly: true,
     });
     const childRows = [...sidebar.querySelectorAll<HTMLElement>(".sidebar-recent-session--child")];
+    const parentTree = sidebar.querySelector('[data-session-tree="agent:main:parent"]');
+    const childList = parentTree?.querySelector(
+      ":scope > .sidebar-session-tree__children [role=list]",
+    );
+    const childTrees = [...(childList?.children ?? [])];
+    expect(childList?.getAttribute("aria-label")).toBe("Child sessions");
+    expect(childTrees).toHaveLength(2);
+    expect(childTrees.every((tree) => tree.getAttribute("role") === "listitem")).toBe(true);
+    expect(childRows.every((row) => !row.hasAttribute("role"))).toBe(true);
+    expect(childRows.every((row) => row.closest("[role=list]") === childList)).toBe(true);
     expect(childRows.map((row) => row.textContent)).toEqual([
       expect.stringContaining("Research sources"),
       expect.stringContaining("Check tests"),
@@ -689,35 +699,4 @@ describe("AppSidebar agent chip", () => {
       sidebar.querySelector('[data-session-key="agent:worker:child"] [aria-label="Done"]'),
     ).not.toBeNull();
   });
-
-  it("keeps a selected child reachable when its parent is outside the loaded window", async () => {
-    const gateway = createGateway({} as GatewayBrowserClient);
-    const harness = createSessionsHarness("main", ["agent:main:child"]);
-    const { sidebar } = await mountSidebar(gateway, harness.sessions);
-    harness.publishList({
-      result: {
-        ts: 2,
-        path: "",
-        count: 1,
-        defaults: { modelProvider: null, model: null, contextTokens: null },
-        sessions: [
-          {
-            key: "agent:main:child",
-            spawnedBy: "agent:main:missing-parent",
-            kind: "direct",
-            label: "Reachable orphan",
-            updatedAt: 2,
-            status: "done",
-          },
-        ],
-      },
-    });
-    (sidebar as unknown as { activeRouteId: string }).activeRouteId = "chat";
-    sidebar.sessionKey = "agent:main:child";
-    await sidebar.updateComplete;
-
-    const row = sidebar.querySelector('[data-session-key="agent:main:child"]');
-    expect(row?.textContent).toContain("Reachable orphan");
-    expect(row?.classList.contains("sidebar-recent-session--child")).toBe(false);
-  });
 });
diff --git a/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/session-list-sections.ts b/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/session-list-sections.ts
index 5e2034c55551..dffd6fa9b3d7 100644
--- a/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/session-list-sections.ts
+++ b/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/session-list-sections.ts
@@ -29,9 +29,11 @@ describe("AppSidebar session section visibility", () => {
       section?.querySelector(".sidebar-session-group-toggle")?.getAttribute("aria-expanded"),
     ).toBe("true");
     expect(list?.firstElementChild?.classList.contains("sidebar-recent-session--draft")).toBe(true);
-    expect(list?.querySelector(".sidebar-recent-session--draft")?.textContent?.trim()).toBe(
-      "New session",
-    );
+    const draft = list?.querySelector(".sidebar-recent-session--draft");
+    expect(list?.getAttribute("role")).toBe("list");
+    expect(draft?.parentElement).toBe(list);
+    expect(draft?.getAttribute("role")).toBe("listitem");
+    expect(draft?.textContent?.trim()).toBe("New session");
     const draftLead = list?.querySelector(
       ".sidebar-recent-session--draft .sidebar-session-indicator",
     );
@@ -172,4 +174,46 @@ describe("AppSidebar session section visibility", () => {
     await sidebar.updateComplete;
     expect(sidebar.querySelector('[data-session-section="ungrouped"]')).not.toBeNull();
   });
+
+  it("renders no chat rows when only the main session exists", async () => {
+    const gateway = createGateway({} as GatewayBrowserClient);
+    const { sidebar } = await mountSidebar(gateway, createSessions("main", ["agent:main:main"]));
+    (sidebar as unknown as { activeRouteId: string }).activeRouteId = "chat";
+    await sidebar.updateComplete;
+
+    // The identity card is the main-session entry; the list stays empty.
+    expect(sidebar.querySelectorAll(".sidebar-recent-session")).toHaveLength(0);
+    expect(sidebar.querySelector("openclaw-sidebar-agent-card")).not.toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it("keeps a selected child reachable when its parent is outside the loaded window", async () => {
+    const gateway = createGateway({} as GatewayBrowserClient);
+    const harness = createSessionsHarness("main", ["agent:main:child"]);
+    const { sidebar } = await mountSidebar(gateway, harness.sessions);
+    harness.publishList({
+      result: {
+        ts: 2,
+        path: "",
+        count: 1,
+        defaults: { modelProvider: null, model: null, contextTokens: null },
+        sessions: [
+          {
+            key: "agent:main:child",
+            spawnedBy: "agent:main:missing-parent",
+            kind: "direct",
+            label: "Reachable orphan",
+            updatedAt: 2,
+            status: "done",
+          },
+        ],
+      },
+    });
+    (sidebar as unknown as { activeRouteId: string }).activeRouteId = "chat";
+    sidebar.sessionKey = "agent:main:child";
+    await sidebar.updateComplete;
+
+    const row = sidebar.querySelector('[data-session-key="agent:main:child"]');
+    expect(row?.textContent).toContain("Reachable orphan");
+    expect(row?.classList.contains("sidebar-recent-session--child")).toBe(false);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/sessions.ts b/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/sessions.ts
index 596b59ce1ca0..1a2b83c24a46 100644
--- a/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/sessions.ts
+++ b/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/sessions.ts
@@ -290,9 +290,15 @@ describe("AppSidebar session accessibility", () => {
 
     const list = sidebar.querySelector('[data-session-section="ungrouped"] [role="list"]');
     const row = sidebar.querySelector(`[data-session-key="${key}"]`);
+    const tree = row?.closest(".sidebar-session-tree");
     const link = row?.querySelector<HTMLAnchorElement>(".sidebar-recent-session__link");
     expect(list?.getAttribute("aria-label")).toBe("Sessions");
-    expect(row?.getAttribute("role")).toBe("listitem");
+    expect(tree?.parentElement).toBe(list);
+    expect(tree?.getAttribute("role")).toBe("listitem");
+    expect(row?.hasAttribute("role")).toBe(false);
+    expect(sidebar.querySelector(".sidebar-recent-sessions")?.hasAttribute("aria-label")).toBe(
+      false,
+    );
     expect(row?.hasAttribute("aria-label")).toBe(false);
     expect(link?.hasAttribute("aria-label")).toBe(false);
     expect(link?.getAttribute("aria-current")).toBe("page");
@@ -300,7 +306,10 @@ describe("AppSidebar session accessibility", () => {
     expect(lead).not.toBeNull();
     expect(lead?.childElementCount).toBe(0);
     expect(link?.querySelector(".sidebar-recent-session__text")).not.toBeNull();
-    expect(row?.querySelector(".session-row-state .session-unread-dot")).not.toBeNull();
+    const rowState = row?.querySelector(".session-row-state");
+    expect(rowState?.getAttribute("role")).toBe("img");
+    expect(rowState?.getAttribute("aria-label")).toBe("Unread");
+    expect(rowState?.querySelector(".session-unread-dot")).not.toBeNull();
     expect(link?.querySelector(".sidebar-recent-session__name")?.textContent).toBe(
       "Quarterly launch plan",
     );
@@ -310,17 +319,6 @@ describe("AppSidebar session accessibility", () => {
     );
     expect(row?.querySelector(".session-row-trail")).toBeNull();
   });
-
-  it("renders no chat rows when only the main session exists", async () => {
-    const gateway = createGateway({} as GatewayBrowserClient);
-    const { sidebar } = await mountSidebar(gateway, createSessions("main", ["agent:main:main"]));
-    (sidebar as unknown as { activeRouteId: string }).activeRouteId = "chat";
-    await sidebar.updateComplete;
-
-    // The identity card is the main-session entry; the list stays empty.
-    expect(sidebar.querySelectorAll(".sidebar-recent-session")).toHaveLength(0);
-    expect(sidebar.querySelector("openclaw-sidebar-agent-card")).not.toBeNull();
-  });
 });
 
 describe("AppSidebar session navigation", () => {
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 05e63cc602a7..e7937892a2e9 100644
--- a/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/sidebar-zone.ts
+++ b/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/sidebar-zone.ts
@@ -251,6 +251,11 @@ describe("AppSidebar interleaved zone", () => {
     );
     expect(labels).toEqual(["Usage", "Alpha", "Plugins"]);
     expect(sidebar.querySelector('[data-session-section="pinned"]')).toBeNull();
+    const pinnedRow = sidebar.querySelector('[data-session-key="agent:main:alpha"]');
+    const pinnedTree = pinnedRow?.closest(".sidebar-session-tree");
+    expect(pinnedRow?.hasAttribute("role")).toBe(false);
+    expect(pinnedTree?.hasAttribute("role")).toBe(false);
+    expect(pinnedRow?.closest('[role="list"]')).toBeNull();
     expect(sidebar.querySelector(".nav-item--home")?.hasAttribute("draggable")).toBe(false);
   });