diff --git a/docs/browser-capture-harness.md b/docs/browser-capture-harness.md
index 983801c7e..0038774dc 100644
--- a/docs/browser-capture-harness.md
+++ b/docs/browser-capture-harness.md
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ It validates the compositor behavior that unit tests cannot see:
 
 - the resident automation `<webview>` starts in the production parking state;
 - the parked guest remains paintable and has a copyable viewport frame;
-- the resident webview guest is sized to 1280x800 logical pixels;
+- a never-presented resident webview guest defaults to 1280x800 logical pixels;
 - multiple resident webviews are parked as an overlapping stack without per-capture
   stacking changes;
 - a newly attached resident webview whose first useful frame is delayed can be captured
@@ -82,10 +82,11 @@ is usually saved as 2560x1600.
 
 Electron captures copy from the guest web contents' compositor surface. A resident
 webview parked with `display:none`, offscreen coordinates, or `opacity:0` can lose its
-copyable surface. The production parking state keeps the host fixed at `left:0`, `top:0`,
-`width:1px`, `height:1px`, `overflow:hidden`, `opacity:1`, and `pointer-events:none`.
-The webviews inside stay full-size at 1280x800, `display:inline-flex`, and absolutely
-overlap at `left:0`, `top:0`.
+copyable surface. Each production webview keeps one permanent body-level surface. Presenting
+or parking changes that surface's geometry without reparenting the webview. The parking state
+uses `left:0`, `top:0`, `width:1px`, `height:1px`, `overflow:hidden`, `opacity:1`, and
+`pointer-events:none`. The webview stays at its resolved logical viewport, defaulting to
+1280x800 before first presentation, with `display:inline-flex` at `left:0`, `top:0`.
 
 There is no renderer prep/restore handshake. Main disables guest background throttling
 once when the webview attaches, then screenshot capture uses the shared serialized queue,
diff --git a/packages/app/src/desktop/browser/automation/handler.test.ts b/packages/app/src/desktop/browser/automation/handler.test.ts
index 56c3c28df..81e1f0bb6 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/desktop/browser/automation/handler.test.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/desktop/browser/automation/handler.test.ts
@@ -411,6 +411,11 @@ describe("mountBrowserAutomationHandler", () => {
         height: 768,
       },
     });
+    expect(useBrowserStore.getState().browsersById[result.browserId]?.viewport).toEqual({
+      mode: "fixed",
+      width: 1024,
+      height: 768,
+    });
     expect(browser.browser.executedRequests).toHaveLength(1);
   });
 
diff --git a/packages/app/src/desktop/browser/automation/handler.ts b/packages/app/src/desktop/browser/automation/handler.ts
index a75e666fa..b646ee9ed 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/desktop/browser/automation/handler.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/desktop/browser/automation/handler.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,12 @@ import {
   removeResidentBrowserWebview,
   resizeResidentBrowserWebview,
 } from "@/desktop/browser/resident-webviews";
-import { createWorkspaceBrowser, getBrowserRecord, useBrowserStore } from "@/desktop/browser/store";
+import {
+  createFixedBrowserViewport,
+  createWorkspaceBrowser,
+  getBrowserRecord,
+  useBrowserStore,
+} from "@/desktop/browser/store";
 import { collectAllTabs, useWorkspaceLayoutStore } from "@/stores/workspace-layout-store";
 import { buildWorkspaceTabPersistenceKey } from "@/workspace-tabs/model";
 
@@ -208,6 +213,9 @@ function resizeBrowserTabForRequest(params: {
       message: `No browser tab found for ID: ${browserId}`,
     });
   }
+  useBrowserStore
+    .getState()
+    .setBrowserViewport(browserId, createFixedBrowserViewport(dimensions.width, dimensions.height));
 
   return {
     requestId: request.requestId,
diff --git a/packages/app/src/desktop/browser/pane/index.electron.tsx b/packages/app/src/desktop/browser/pane/index.electron.tsx
index 5130d9ce0..5daa3fbd5 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/desktop/browser/pane/index.electron.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/desktop/browser/pane/index.electron.tsx
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import { StyleSheet, useUnistyles, withUnistyles } from "react-native-unistyles"
 import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
 import * as Clipboard from "expo-clipboard";
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
+import { useRetainedPanelActive } from "@/components/retained-panel";
 import { Tooltip, TooltipContent, TooltipTrigger } from "@/components/ui/tooltip";
 import { useToast } from "@/contexts/toast-context";
 import {
@@ -49,10 +50,22 @@ import {
   isElectronRuntime,
   type DesktopBrowserShortcutEvent,
 } from "@/desktop/host";
-import { useBrowserStore, normalizeWorkspaceBrowserUrl } from "@/desktop/browser/store";
 import {
+  type BrowserViewport,
+  createFixedBrowserViewport,
+  normalizeWorkspaceBrowserUrl,
+  RESPONSIVE_BROWSER_VIEWPORT,
+  useBrowserStore,
+} from "@/desktop/browser/store";
+import {
+  applyBrowserWebviewViewport,
+  applyInactiveBrowserWebviewViewport,
+  isResidentBrowserWebviewReady,
   prepareBrowserWebview,
+  presentBrowserWebview,
+  rememberBrowserWebviewSize,
   releaseResidentBrowserWebview,
+  removeResidentBrowserWebview,
   takeResidentBrowserWebview,
 } from "../resident-webviews";
 
@@ -551,7 +564,7 @@ function DeviceSizeMenu({
   onSelect,
   triggerStyle,
 }: {
-  selectedId: DeviceSizeId;
+  selectedId: DeviceSizeId | null;
   onSelect: (id: DeviceSizeId) => void;
   triggerStyle: (state: { hovered?: boolean; pressed?: boolean }) => StyleProp<ViewStyle>;
 }) {
@@ -590,6 +603,22 @@ function DeviceSizeMenu({
   );
 }
 
+function deviceSizeIdForViewport(viewport: BrowserViewport): DeviceSizeId | null {
+  if (viewport.mode === "responsive") {
+    return "responsive";
+  }
+  return (
+    DEVICE_SIZE_PRESETS.find(
+      (preset) => preset.width === viewport.width && preset.height === viewport.height,
+    )?.id ?? null
+  );
+}
+
+function rememberResolvedBrowserWebviewSize(browserId: string, webview: HTMLElement): void {
+  const bounds = webview.getBoundingClientRect();
+  rememberBrowserWebviewSize({ browserId, width: bounds.width, height: bounds.height });
+}
+
 // eslint-disable-next-line complexity
 export function BrowserPane({
   browserId,
@@ -610,8 +639,16 @@ export function BrowserPane({
   const { t } = useTranslation();
   const browser = useBrowserStore((state) => state.browsersById[browserId] ?? null);
   const updateBrowser = useBrowserStore((state) => state.updateBrowser);
+  const setBrowserViewport = useBrowserStore((state) => state.setBrowserViewport);
+  const browserViewport = browser?.viewport ?? RESPONSIVE_BROWSER_VIEWPORT;
+  const browserViewportRef = useRef(browserViewport);
+  browserViewportRef.current = browserViewport;
+  const isPresented = useRetainedPanelActive();
+  const isPresentedRef = useRef(isPresented);
+  isPresentedRef.current = isPresented;
   const webviewRef = useRef<ElectronWebview | null>(null);
   const webviewHostRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement | null>(null);
+  const webviewClipRef = useRef<HTMLElement | null>(null);
   const urlInputRef = useRef<WebTextInput | null>(null);
   const initialUrlRef = useRef(browser?.url ?? "https://example.com");
   const browserIdRef = useRef(browserId);
@@ -629,7 +666,6 @@ export function BrowserPane({
   const toast = useToast();
   const toastRef = useRef(toast);
   toastRef.current = toast;
-  const [deviceSizeId, setDeviceSizeId] = useState<DeviceSizeId>("responsive");
   const [pendingSelection, setPendingSelection] = useState<BrowserElementSelection | null>(null);
   // Screenshot is captured at selection time (overlay already torn down, no
   // scroll drift) and reused when the annotation card is submitted.
@@ -727,7 +763,8 @@ export function BrowserPane({
     }
 
     const host = webviewHostRef.current;
-    if (!host) {
+    const clip = webviewClipRef.current;
+    if (!host || !clip) {
       return;
     }
 
@@ -740,6 +777,7 @@ export function BrowserPane({
     const residentWebview = takeResidentBrowserWebview(browserId) as ElectronWebview | null;
     const webview = residentWebview ?? (document.createElement("webview") as ElectronWebview);
     webviewRef.current = webview;
+    domReadyRef.current = isResidentBrowserWebviewReady(webview);
     if (!residentWebview) {
       prepareBrowserWebview(webview, {
         browserId,
@@ -747,14 +785,26 @@ export function BrowserPane({
         initialUrl: initialUnsafeNavigationMessage ? "about:blank" : initialUrlRef.current,
       });
     }
-    webview.style.display = "flex";
-    webview.style.flex = "1";
-    webview.style.width = "100%";
-    webview.style.height = "100%";
-    webview.style.border = "0";
-    webview.style.background = "transparent";
+    releaseResidentBrowserWebview(browserId, webview);
+    if (isPresentedRef.current) {
+      applyBrowserWebviewViewport(webview, browserViewportRef.current);
+      presentBrowserWebview(browserId, webview, host, clip);
+    } else {
+      applyInactiveBrowserWebviewViewport(browserId, webview, browserViewportRef.current);
+    }
+    const sizeObserver =
+      typeof ResizeObserver === "undefined"
+        ? null
+        : new ResizeObserver(() => {
+            if (!isPresentedRef.current) {
+              return;
+            }
+            presentBrowserWebview(browserIdRef.current, webview, host, clip);
+            rememberResolvedBrowserWebviewSize(browserIdRef.current, webview);
+          });
 
     const handleStartLoading = () => {
+      domReadyRef.current = false;
       updateBrowser(browserId, { isLoading: true, lastError: null });
       syncNavigationState({ syncUrl: false });
     };
@@ -846,7 +896,11 @@ export function BrowserPane({
     webview.addEventListener("focus", handleWebviewFocus);
     webview.addEventListener("mousedown", handleWebviewFocus);
 
-    host.appendChild(webview);
+    if (isPresentedRef.current) {
+      rememberResolvedBrowserWebviewSize(browserId, webview);
+    }
+    sizeObserver?.observe(host);
+    sizeObserver?.observe(clip);
     if (initialUnsafeNavigationMessage) {
       updateBrowserRef.current(browserIdRef.current, {
         isLoading: false,
@@ -855,6 +909,7 @@ export function BrowserPane({
     }
 
     return () => {
+      sizeObserver?.disconnect();
       webview.removeEventListener("did-start-loading", handleStartLoading);
       webview.removeEventListener("did-stop-loading", handleStopLoading);
       webview.removeEventListener("will-navigate", handleWillNavigate);
@@ -866,15 +921,13 @@ export function BrowserPane({
       webview.removeEventListener("dom-ready", handleDomReady);
       webview.removeEventListener("focus", handleWebviewFocus);
       webview.removeEventListener("mousedown", handleWebviewFocus);
-      if (host.contains(webview)) {
-        const browserStillExists = Boolean(
-          useBrowserStore.getState().browsersById[browserIdRef.current],
-        );
-        if (browserStillExists) {
-          releaseResidentBrowserWebview(browserIdRef.current, webview);
-        } else {
-          host.removeChild(webview);
-        }
+      const browserStillExists = Boolean(
+        useBrowserStore.getState().browsersById[browserIdRef.current],
+      );
+      if (browserStillExists) {
+        releaseResidentBrowserWebview(browserIdRef.current, webview);
+      } else {
+        removeResidentBrowserWebview(browserIdRef.current);
       }
       if (webviewRef.current === webview) {
         webviewRef.current = null;
@@ -884,6 +937,32 @@ export function BrowserPane({
     // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
   }, [browserId, onFocusPane]);
 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const webview = webviewRef.current;
+    if (!webview) {
+      return;
+    }
+    if (!isPresented) {
+      releaseResidentBrowserWebview(browserId, webview);
+      return;
+    }
+    applyBrowserWebviewViewport(webview, browserViewport);
+    const host = webviewHostRef.current;
+    const clip = webviewClipRef.current;
+    if (host && clip) {
+      presentBrowserWebview(browserId, webview, host, clip);
+    }
+    if (browserViewport.mode === "fixed") {
+      rememberBrowserWebviewSize({
+        browserId,
+        width: browserViewport.width,
+        height: browserViewport.height,
+      });
+    } else {
+      rememberResolvedBrowserWebviewSize(browserId, webview);
+    }
+  }, [browserId, browserViewport, isPresented]);
+
   const navigate = useCallback(
     (nextUrl: string) => {
       const normalizedUrl = normalizeWorkspaceBrowserUrl(nextUrl);
@@ -1525,12 +1604,26 @@ export function BrowserPane({
     [selectorMode],
   );
 
-  const devicePreset = useMemo(
-    () =>
-      DEVICE_SIZE_PRESETS.find((preset) => preset.id === deviceSizeId) ?? DEVICE_SIZE_PRESETS[0],
-    [deviceSizeId],
+  const selectedDeviceSizeId = useMemo(
+    () => deviceSizeIdForViewport(browserViewport),
+    [browserViewport],
+  );
+  const isResponsiveDevice = browserViewport.mode === "responsive";
+
+  const handleSelectDeviceSize = useCallback(
+    (deviceSizeId: DeviceSizeId) => {
+      const preset =
+        DEVICE_SIZE_PRESETS.find((candidate) => candidate.id === deviceSizeId) ??
+        DEVICE_SIZE_PRESETS[0];
+      setBrowserViewport(
+        browserId,
+        preset.width === null || preset.height === null
+          ? RESPONSIVE_BROWSER_VIEWPORT
+          : createFixedBrowserViewport(preset.width, preset.height),
+      );
+    },
+    [browserId, setBrowserViewport],
   );
-  const isResponsiveDevice = devicePreset.width === null;
 
   const webviewHostStyle = useMemo<CSSProperties>(
     () =>
@@ -1546,15 +1639,13 @@ export function BrowserPane({
         : {
             // Fixed-size device frame, centered within webviewWrap (see styles).
             display: "flex",
-            width: devicePreset.width ?? undefined,
-            maxWidth: "100%",
-            height: devicePreset.height ?? undefined,
-            maxHeight: "100%",
+            width: browserViewport.width,
+            height: browserViewport.height,
             minHeight: 0,
             background: theme.colors.surface0,
             boxShadow: "0 2px 16px rgba(0,0,0,0.25)",
           },
-    [devicePreset.height, devicePreset.width, isResponsiveDevice, theme.colors.surface0],
+    [browserViewport, isResponsiveDevice, theme.colors.surface0],
   );
 
   const webviewWrapStyle = useMemo(
@@ -1566,6 +1657,10 @@ export function BrowserPane({
     webviewHostRef.current = node;
   }, []);
 
+  const setWebviewClipNode = useCallback((node: unknown) => {
+    webviewClipRef.current = node instanceof HTMLElement ? node : null;
+  }, []);
+
   if (!isElectronRuntime()) {
     return (
       <View style={styles.unavailableState}>
@@ -1624,8 +1719,8 @@ export function BrowserPane({
         </View>
         <View style={styles.chromeRight}>
           <DeviceSizeMenu
-            selectedId={deviceSizeId}
-            onSelect={setDeviceSizeId}
+            selectedId={selectedDeviceSizeId}
+            onSelect={handleSelectDeviceSize}
             triggerStyle={baseIconButtonStyle}
           />
           <ToolbarButton
@@ -1678,7 +1773,11 @@ export function BrowserPane({
           </Text>
         </View>
       ) : null}
-      <View style={webviewWrapStyle}>
+      <View
+        ref={setWebviewClipNode}
+        style={webviewWrapStyle}
+        testID={`browser-webview-clip-${browserId}`}
+      >
         {createElement("div", {
           ref: setWebviewHostNode,
           style: webviewHostStyle,
@@ -1884,6 +1983,7 @@ const styles = StyleSheet.create((theme) => ({
   },
   annotationOverlay: {
     position: "absolute",
+    zIndex: 1,
     left: 0,
     right: 0,
     bottom: 0,
diff --git a/packages/app/src/desktop/browser/resident-webviews.browser.test.ts b/packages/app/src/desktop/browser/resident-webviews.browser.test.ts
index b3208205b..8d19983cd 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/desktop/browser/resident-webviews.browser.test.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/desktop/browser/resident-webviews.browser.test.ts
@@ -1,12 +1,18 @@
 import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 import {
+  applyBrowserWebviewViewport,
+  applyInactiveBrowserWebviewViewport,
   type BrowserWebviewProfileHost,
   clearResidentBrowserWebviewsForTests,
   ensureResidentBrowserWebview,
   getResidentBrowserWebview,
+  isResidentBrowserWebviewReady,
   prepareBrowserWebview,
+  presentBrowserWebview,
+  rememberBrowserWebviewSize,
   releaseResidentBrowserWebview,
   removeResidentBrowserWebview,
+  resizeResidentBrowserWebview,
   takeResidentBrowserWebview,
 } from "./resident-webviews";
 import {
@@ -54,14 +60,28 @@ function expectPermanentHostParking(host: HTMLElement): void {
   expect(host.style.position).toBe("fixed");
   expect(host.style.left).toBe("0px");
   expect(host.style.top).toBe("0px");
-  expect(host.style.width).toBe("1px");
-  expect(host.style.height).toBe("1px");
-  expect(host.style.overflow).toBe("hidden");
+  expect(host.style.width).toBe("100vw");
+  expect(host.style.height).toBe("100vh");
+  expect(host.style.overflow).toBe("visible");
   expect(host.style.opacity).toBe("1");
   expect(host.style.pointerEvents).toBe("none");
   expect(host.style.display).toBe("block");
-  expect(host.style.visibility).toBe("visible");
-  expect(host.style.transform).toBe("");
+  expect(host.style.zIndex).toBe("0");
+}
+
+function expectParkedSurface(surface: HTMLElement): void {
+  expect(surface.getAttribute("aria-hidden")).toBe("true");
+  expect(surface.style.position).toBe("fixed");
+  expect(surface.style.left).toBe("0px");
+  expect(surface.style.top).toBe("0px");
+  expect(surface.style.width).toBe("1px");
+  expect(surface.style.height).toBe("1px");
+  expect(surface.style.overflow).toBe("hidden");
+  expect(surface.style.opacity).toBe("1");
+  expect(surface.style.pointerEvents).toBe("none");
+  expect(surface.style.display).toBe("block");
+  expect(surface.style.visibility).toBe("visible");
+  expect(surface.style.transform).toBe("");
 }
 
 function expectResidentWebviewParking(webview: HTMLElement): void {
@@ -94,12 +114,110 @@ describe("resident browser webviews", () => {
 
     const host = residentHost();
     expect(visibleHost.children).toHaveLength(0);
-    expect(Array.from(host.children)).toEqual([webview]);
+    const surface = host.firstElementChild as HTMLElement;
+    expect(Array.from(surface.children)).toEqual([webview]);
     expect(webview.isConnected).toBe(true);
     expectPermanentHostParking(host);
+    expectParkedSurface(surface);
     expectResidentWebviewParking(webview);
   });
 
+  it("presents and parks a browser without changing its webview parent", () => {
+    const webview = ensureTestBrowser({
+      browserId: "browser-stable-parent",
+      workspaceId: "workspace-stable-parent",
+      url: "https://example.com",
+    });
+    const anchor = document.createElement("div");
+    const clip = document.createElement("div");
+    Object.defineProperty(anchor, "getBoundingClientRect", {
+      value: () => ({ left: 40, top: 60, width: 640, height: 480 }),
+    });
+    Object.defineProperty(clip, "getBoundingClientRect", {
+      value: () => ({ left: 40, top: 60, width: 640, height: 480 }),
+    });
+    if (!webview?.parentElement) {
+      throw new Error("Expected resident browser surface");
+    }
+    const permanentParent = webview.parentElement;
+
+    presentBrowserWebview("browser-stable-parent", webview, anchor, clip);
+    expect(webview.parentElement).toBe(permanentParent);
+    expect(permanentParent.style.left).toBe("40px");
+    expect(permanentParent.style.top).toBe("60px");
+    expect(permanentParent.style.width).toBe("640px");
+    expect(permanentParent.style.height).toBe("480px");
+    expect(permanentParent.style.pointerEvents).toBe("auto");
+    expect(permanentParent.getAttribute("aria-hidden")).toBe("false");
+
+    releaseResidentBrowserWebview("browser-stable-parent", webview);
+    expect(webview.parentElement).toBe(permanentParent);
+    expectParkedSurface(permanentParent);
+
+    presentBrowserWebview("browser-stable-parent", webview, anchor, clip);
+    expect(webview.parentElement).toBe(permanentParent);
+  });
+
+  it("clips an oversized fixed viewport to its pane without resizing the webview", () => {
+    const webview = ensureTestBrowser({
+      browserId: "browser-oversized",
+      workspaceId: "workspace-oversized",
+      url: "https://example.com",
+    });
+    if (!webview?.parentElement) {
+      throw new Error("Expected resident browser surface");
+    }
+    applyBrowserWebviewViewport(webview, { mode: "fixed", width: 2560, height: 1440 });
+    const anchor = document.createElement("div");
+    const clip = document.createElement("div");
+    Object.defineProperty(anchor, "getBoundingClientRect", {
+      value: () => ({ left: -800, top: -300, width: 2560, height: 1440 }),
+    });
+    Object.defineProperty(clip, "getBoundingClientRect", {
+      value: () => ({ left: 100, top: 150, width: 800, height: 600 }),
+    });
+
+    presentBrowserWebview("browser-oversized", webview, anchor, clip);
+
+    expect(webview.parentElement.style.left).toBe("100px");
+    expect(webview.parentElement.style.top).toBe("150px");
+    expect(webview.parentElement.style.width).toBe("800px");
+    expect(webview.parentElement.style.height).toBe("600px");
+    expect(webview.style.left).toBe("-900px");
+    expect(webview.style.top).toBe("-450px");
+    expect(webview.style.width).toBe("2560px");
+    expect(webview.style.height).toBe("1440px");
+
+    resizeResidentBrowserWebview({ browserId: "browser-oversized", width: 2560, height: 1440 });
+
+    expect(webview.style.left).toBe("-900px");
+    expect(webview.style.top).toBe("-450px");
+    expect(webview.parentElement.style.width).toBe("800px");
+    expect(webview.parentElement.style.height).toBe("600px");
+  });
+
+  it("retains document readiness with the resident webview", () => {
+    const webview = ensureTestBrowser({
+      browserId: "browser-ready",
+      workspaceId: "workspace-ready",
+      url: "https://example.com",
+    });
+    if (!webview) {
+      throw new Error("Expected resident browser webview");
+    }
+
+    expect(isResidentBrowserWebviewReady(webview)).toBe(false);
+    webview.dispatchEvent(new Event("dom-ready"));
+    releaseResidentBrowserWebview("browser-ready", webview);
+
+    const reusedWebview = takeResidentBrowserWebview("browser-ready");
+    expect(reusedWebview).toBe(webview);
+    expect(isResidentBrowserWebviewReady(reusedWebview as HTMLElement)).toBe(true);
+
+    webview.dispatchEvent(new Event("did-start-loading"));
+    expect(isResidentBrowserWebviewReady(webview)).toBe(false);
+  });
+
   it("creates a resident webview for an agent-created unfocused tab", () => {
     const webview = ensureTestBrowser({
       browserId: "browser-agent",
@@ -197,8 +315,10 @@ describe("resident browser webviews", () => {
     });
 
     expect(webview).toBe(staleWebview);
-    expect(Array.from(staleHost.children)).toEqual([staleWebview]);
+    const surface = staleHost.firstElementChild as HTMLElement;
+    expect(Array.from(surface.children)).toEqual([staleWebview]);
     expectPermanentHostParking(staleHost);
+    expectParkedSurface(surface);
     expectResidentWebviewParking(staleWebview);
   });
 
@@ -215,27 +335,73 @@ describe("resident browser webviews", () => {
     });
 
     const host = residentHost();
-    expect(firstWebview?.parentElement).toBe(host);
-    expect(secondWebview?.parentElement).toBe(host);
+    expect(firstWebview?.parentElement?.parentElement).toBe(host);
+    expect(secondWebview?.parentElement?.parentElement).toBe(host);
+    expect(firstWebview?.parentElement).not.toBe(secondWebview?.parentElement);
     expectResidentWebviewParking(firstWebview as HTMLElement);
     expectResidentWebviewParking(secondWebview as HTMLElement);
   });
 
-  it("moves a resident webview into a visible pane without recreating the node", () => {
+  it("returns a resident webview without detaching it from its permanent surface", () => {
     const webview = ensureTestBrowser({
       browserId: "browser-visible",
       workspaceId: "workspace-visible",
       url: "https://example.com",
     });
 
+    const permanentParent = webview?.parentElement;
     const visibleWebview = takeResidentBrowserWebview("browser-visible");
 
     expect(visibleWebview).toBe(webview);
-    expect(webview?.style.position).toBe("");
-    expect(webview?.style.left).toBe("");
-    expect(webview?.style.top).toBe("");
-    expect(webview?.style.zIndex).toBe("");
-    expect(takeResidentBrowserWebview("browser-visible")).toBeNull();
+    expect(webview?.parentElement).toBe(permanentParent);
+    expect(takeResidentBrowserWebview("browser-visible")).toBe(webview);
+  });
+
+  it("applies an exact fixed viewport without a flex width override", () => {
+    const webview = document.createElement("webview");
+
+    applyBrowserWebviewViewport(webview, { mode: "fixed", width: 640, height: 480 });
+
+    expect(webview.style.flex).toBe("0 0 auto");
+    expect(webview.style.width).toBe("640px");
+    expect(webview.style.height).toBe("480px");
+  });
+
+  it("parks a browser at its last resolved viewport dimensions", () => {
+    const visibleHost = document.createElement("div");
+    const webview = document.createElement("webview");
+    visibleHost.appendChild(webview);
+    document.body.appendChild(visibleHost);
+    rememberBrowserWebviewSize({ browserId: "browser-sized", width: 640, height: 480 });
+
+    releaseResidentBrowserWebview("browser-sized", webview);
+
+    expect(webview.style.width).toBe("640px");
+    expect(webview.style.height).toBe("480px");
+  });
+
+  it("keeps an inactive in-place browser at its last resolved viewport dimensions", () => {
+    const webview = document.createElement("webview");
+    rememberBrowserWebviewSize({ browserId: "browser-inactive", width: 640, height: 480 });
+
+    applyInactiveBrowserWebviewViewport("browser-inactive", webview, { mode: "responsive" });
+
+    expect(webview.style.flex).toBe("0 0 auto");
+    expect(webview.style.width).toBe("640px");
+    expect(webview.style.height).toBe("480px");
+  });
+
+  it("parks a cold inactive browser at its canonical fixed viewport", () => {
+    const webview = document.createElement("webview");
+
+    applyInactiveBrowserWebviewViewport("browser-restored-fixed", webview, {
+      mode: "fixed",
+      width: 800,
+      height: 600,
+    });
+
+    expect(webview.style.width).toBe("800px");
+    expect(webview.style.height).toBe("600px");
   });
 
   it("returns an existing visible pane webview instead of creating a resident duplicate", () => {
diff --git a/packages/app/src/desktop/browser/resident-webviews.ts b/packages/app/src/desktop/browser/resident-webviews.ts
index 92577f7da..65d4b3e02 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/desktop/browser/resident-webviews.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/desktop/browser/resident-webviews.ts
@@ -3,14 +3,18 @@ import {
   type DesktopAttachedBrowserRegistration,
   type DesktopBrowserBridge,
 } from "@/desktop/host";
+import type { BrowserViewport } from "@/desktop/browser/store";
 
 const RESIDENT_BROWSER_HOST_ID = "paseo-browser-resident-webviews";
 const BROWSER_ID_ATTRIBUTE = "data-paseo-browser-id";
+const BROWSER_SURFACE_ATTRIBUTE = "data-paseo-browser-surface";
 const RESIDENT_VIEWPORT_WIDTH = 1280;
 const RESIDENT_VIEWPORT_HEIGHT = 800;
 
 const residentWebviewsByBrowserId = new Map<string, HTMLElement>();
+const residentSurfacesByBrowserId = new Map<string, HTMLElement>();
 const residentWebviewSizesByBrowserId = new Map<string, { width: number; height: number }>();
+const readyResidentWebviews = new WeakSet<HTMLElement>();
 
 interface BrowserWebviewElement extends HTMLElement {
   src: string;
@@ -70,6 +74,15 @@ function registerBrowserWhenAttached(
   });
 }
 
+function registerBrowserReadiness(webview: HTMLElement): void {
+  webview.addEventListener("did-start-loading", () => {
+    readyResidentWebviews.delete(webview);
+  });
+  webview.addEventListener("dom-ready", () => {
+    readyResidentWebviews.add(webview);
+  });
+}
+
 function trimNonEmpty(value: string | null | undefined): string | null {
   if (typeof value !== "string") {
     return null;
@@ -83,24 +96,52 @@ function readDocument(): Document | null {
 }
 
 function applyResidentHostParkingStyle(host: HTMLElement): void {
-  // Parked browser webviews must remain paintable at all times; screenshot
-  // correctness depends on the proven states in docs/browser-capture-harness.md.
-  host.setAttribute("aria-hidden", "true");
+  // The host is permanent. Individual browser surfaces switch between their
+  // pane bounds and the proven paintable 1x1 parking geometry.
+  host.removeAttribute("aria-hidden");
   host.style.position = "fixed";
   host.style.left = "0";
   host.style.top = "0";
-  host.style.width = "1px";
-  host.style.height = "1px";
-  host.style.overflow = "hidden";
+  host.style.width = "100vw";
+  host.style.height = "100vh";
+  host.style.overflow = "visible";
   host.style.opacity = "1";
   host.style.pointerEvents = "none";
   host.style.display = "block";
-  host.style.zIndex = "";
+  host.style.zIndex = "0";
   host.style.clipPath = "";
   host.style.visibility = "visible";
   host.style.transform = "";
 }
 
+function applyParkedBrowserSurfaceStyle(surface: HTMLElement): void {
+  surface.setAttribute("aria-hidden", "true");
+  surface.style.position = "fixed";
+  surface.style.left = "0";
+  surface.style.top = "0";
+  surface.style.width = "1px";
+  surface.style.height = "1px";
+  surface.style.overflow = "hidden";
+  surface.style.opacity = "1";
+  surface.style.pointerEvents = "none";
+  surface.style.display = "block";
+  surface.style.visibility = "visible";
+  surface.style.transform = "";
+}
+
+function getBrowserSurface(browserId: string, ownerDocument: Document): HTMLElement {
+  const existing = residentSurfacesByBrowserId.get(browserId);
+  if (existing?.isConnected) {
+    return existing;
+  }
+  const surface = ownerDocument.createElement("div");
+  surface.setAttribute(BROWSER_SURFACE_ATTRIBUTE, browserId);
+  applyParkedBrowserSurfaceStyle(surface);
+  getResidentBrowserHost(ownerDocument).appendChild(surface);
+  residentSurfacesByBrowserId.set(browserId, surface);
+  return surface;
+}
+
 function getResidentBrowserHost(ownerDocument: Document): HTMLElement {
   const existing = ownerDocument.getElementById(RESIDENT_BROWSER_HOST_ID);
   if (existing) {
@@ -162,6 +203,105 @@ function clearResidentWebviewParkingStyle(webview: HTMLElement): void {
   webview.style.zIndex = "";
 }
 
+export function rememberBrowserWebviewSize(input: {
+  browserId: string;
+  width: number;
+  height: number;
+}): { width: number; height: number } | null {
+  const browserId = trimNonEmpty(input.browserId);
+  if (!browserId || input.width <= 0 || input.height <= 0) {
+    return null;
+  }
+  const dimensions = {
+    width: Math.max(1, Math.round(input.width)),
+    height: Math.max(1, Math.round(input.height)),
+  };
+  residentWebviewSizesByBrowserId.set(browserId, dimensions);
+  return dimensions;
+}
+
+function applyBrowserWebviewDimensions(webview: HTMLElement, viewport: BrowserViewport): void {
+  webview.style.display = "flex";
+  webview.style.border = "0";
+  webview.style.background = "transparent";
+  if (viewport.mode === "responsive") {
+    webview.style.flex = "1";
+    webview.style.width = "100%";
+    webview.style.height = "100%";
+    return;
+  }
+  webview.style.flex = "0 0 auto";
+  webview.style.width = `${viewport.width}px`;
+  webview.style.height = `${viewport.height}px`;
+}
+
+export function applyBrowserWebviewViewport(webview: HTMLElement, viewport: BrowserViewport): void {
+  clearResidentWebviewParkingStyle(webview);
+  applyBrowserWebviewDimensions(webview, viewport);
+}
+
+export function applyInactiveBrowserWebviewViewport(
+  browserId: string,
+  webview: HTMLElement,
+  viewport: BrowserViewport,
+): void {
+  if (viewport.mode === "fixed") {
+    rememberBrowserWebviewSize({ browserId, width: viewport.width, height: viewport.height });
+  }
+  applyResidentWebviewStyle(webview, trimNonEmpty(browserId));
+}
+
+export function presentBrowserWebview(
+  browserId: string,
+  webview: HTMLElement,
+  anchor: HTMLElement,
+  clip: HTMLElement,
+): void {
+  const normalizedBrowserId = trimNonEmpty(browserId);
+  if (!normalizedBrowserId) {
+    return;
+  }
+  const ownerDocument = readDocument();
+  if (!ownerDocument) {
+    return;
+  }
+  const surface = getBrowserSurface(normalizedBrowserId, ownerDocument);
+  if (webview.parentElement !== surface) {
+    surface.appendChild(webview);
+  }
+  const anchorBounds = anchor.getBoundingClientRect();
+  const clipBounds = clip.getBoundingClientRect();
+  const left = Math.max(anchorBounds.left, clipBounds.left);
+  const top = Math.max(anchorBounds.top, clipBounds.top);
+  const right = Math.min(
+    anchorBounds.left + anchorBounds.width,
+    clipBounds.left + clipBounds.width,
+  );
+  const bottom = Math.min(
+    anchorBounds.top + anchorBounds.height,
+    clipBounds.top + clipBounds.height,
+  );
+  const surfaceLeft = Math.ceil(left);
+  const surfaceTop = Math.ceil(top);
+  const surfaceRight = Math.floor(right);
+  const surfaceBottom = Math.floor(bottom);
+  const hasVisibleArea = surfaceRight > surfaceLeft && surfaceBottom > surfaceTop;
+  surface.setAttribute("aria-hidden", "false");
+  surface.style.position = "fixed";
+  surface.style.left = `${surfaceLeft}px`;
+  surface.style.top = `${surfaceTop}px`;
+  surface.style.width = `${Math.max(0, surfaceRight - surfaceLeft)}px`;
+  surface.style.height = `${Math.max(0, surfaceBottom - surfaceTop)}px`;
+  surface.style.overflow = "hidden";
+  surface.style.opacity = "1";
+  surface.style.pointerEvents = hasVisibleArea ? "auto" : "none";
+  surface.style.display = "flex";
+  surface.style.visibility = "visible";
+  webview.style.position = "absolute";
+  webview.style.left = `${Math.round(anchorBounds.left - surfaceLeft)}px`;
+  webview.style.top = `${Math.round(anchorBounds.top - surfaceTop)}px`;
+}
+
 export function prepareBrowserWebview(
   webview: HTMLElement,
   input: {
@@ -181,6 +321,11 @@ export function prepareBrowserWebview(
     (webview as BrowserWebviewElement).src = input.initialUrl;
   }
   registerBrowserWhenAttached(webview as BrowserWebviewElement, input, browser);
+  registerBrowserReadiness(webview);
+}
+
+export function isResidentBrowserWebviewReady(webview: HTMLElement): boolean {
+  return readyResidentWebviews.has(webview);
 }
 
 export function ensureResidentBrowserWebview(input: {
@@ -247,8 +392,6 @@ export function takeResidentBrowserWebview(browserId: string): HTMLElement | nul
     return null;
   }
 
-  residentWebviewsByBrowserId.delete(normalizedBrowserId);
-  clearResidentWebviewParkingStyle(webview);
   return webview;
 }
 
@@ -265,7 +408,11 @@ export function releaseResidentBrowserWebview(browserId: string, webview: HTMLEl
 
   residentWebviewsByBrowserId.set(normalizedBrowserId, webview);
   applyResidentWebviewStyle(webview, normalizedBrowserId);
-  getResidentBrowserHost(ownerDocument).appendChild(webview);
+  const surface = getBrowserSurface(normalizedBrowserId, ownerDocument);
+  applyParkedBrowserSurfaceStyle(surface);
+  if (webview.parentElement !== surface) {
+    surface.appendChild(webview);
+  }
 }
 
 export function resizeResidentBrowserWebview(input: {
@@ -277,18 +424,18 @@ export function resizeResidentBrowserWebview(input: {
   if (!normalizedBrowserId) {
     return null;
   }
-  const width = Math.max(1, Math.round(input.width));
-  const height = Math.max(1, Math.round(input.height));
-  residentWebviewSizesByBrowserId.set(normalizedBrowserId, { width, height });
+  const dimensions = rememberBrowserWebviewSize(input);
+  if (!dimensions) {
+    return null;
+  }
 
   const ownerDocument = readDocument();
   const webview = ownerDocument ? findBrowserWebview(normalizedBrowserId, ownerDocument) : null;
   if (webview) {
-    webview.style.width = `${width}px`;
-    webview.style.height = `${height}px`;
+    applyBrowserWebviewDimensions(webview, { mode: "fixed", ...dimensions });
   }
 
-  return { width, height };
+  return dimensions;
 }
 
 export function removeResidentBrowserWebview(browserId: string): void {
@@ -298,9 +445,12 @@ export function removeResidentBrowserWebview(browserId: string): void {
   }
 
   const resident = residentWebviewsByBrowserId.get(normalizedBrowserId) ?? null;
+  const surface = residentSurfacesByBrowserId.get(normalizedBrowserId) ?? null;
   residentWebviewsByBrowserId.delete(normalizedBrowserId);
+  residentSurfacesByBrowserId.delete(normalizedBrowserId);
   residentWebviewSizesByBrowserId.delete(normalizedBrowserId);
   resident?.remove();
+  surface?.remove();
 }
 
 export function clearResidentBrowserWebviewsForTests(): void {
@@ -308,6 +458,7 @@ export function clearResidentBrowserWebviewsForTests(): void {
     webview.remove();
   }
   residentWebviewsByBrowserId.clear();
+  residentSurfacesByBrowserId.clear();
   residentWebviewSizesByBrowserId.clear();
   readDocument()?.getElementById(RESIDENT_BROWSER_HOST_ID)?.remove();
 }
diff --git a/packages/app/src/desktop/browser/store/index.ts b/packages/app/src/desktop/browser/store/index.ts
index d7ff86b06..7ff21c733 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/desktop/browser/store/index.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/desktop/browser/store/index.ts
@@ -7,18 +7,26 @@ import {
   type BrowserIndexState,
   type BrowserRecord,
   type BrowserRecordPatch,
+  type BrowserViewport,
   createBrowserRecord,
+  normalizeBrowserIndexState,
   normalizeBrowserUrl,
   removeBrowserFromIndex,
   sanitizeBrowsersForPersist,
   trimNonEmpty,
 } from "./state";
 
-export type { BrowserRecord } from "./state";
+export {
+  createFixedBrowserViewport,
+  RESPONSIVE_BROWSER_VIEWPORT,
+  type BrowserRecord,
+  type BrowserViewport,
+} from "./state";
 
 interface BrowserStoreState extends BrowserIndexState {
   createBrowser: (input?: { initialUrl?: string }) => string;
   updateBrowser: (browserId: string, patch: BrowserRecordPatch) => void;
+  setBrowserViewport: (browserId: string, viewport: BrowserViewport) => void;
   removeBrowser: (browserId: string) => void;
 }
 
@@ -57,6 +65,9 @@ export const useBrowserStore = create<BrowserStoreState>()(
       updateBrowser: (browserId, patch) => {
         set((state) => applyBrowserPatch(state, browserId, patch));
       },
+      setBrowserViewport: (browserId, viewport) => {
+        set((state) => applyBrowserPatch(state, browserId, { viewport }));
+      },
       removeBrowser: (browserId) => {
         set((state) => removeBrowserFromIndex(state, browserId));
       },
@@ -65,6 +76,10 @@ export const useBrowserStore = create<BrowserStoreState>()(
       name: "workspace-browser-store",
       storage: createJSONStorage(() => AsyncStorage),
       partialize: (state) => sanitizeBrowsersForPersist(state),
+      merge: (persistedState, currentState) => ({
+        ...currentState,
+        ...normalizeBrowserIndexState(persistedState),
+      }),
     },
   ),
 );
diff --git a/packages/app/src/desktop/browser/store/state.test.ts b/packages/app/src/desktop/browser/store/state.test.ts
index 02a258796..9d0d89bf5 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/desktop/browser/store/state.test.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/desktop/browser/store/state.test.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@ import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 import {
   applyBrowserPatch,
   type BrowserIndexState,
+  createFixedBrowserViewport,
   createBrowserRecord,
+  normalizeBrowserIndexState,
   normalizeBrowserUrl,
   removeBrowserFromIndex,
   sanitizeBrowsersForPersist,
@@ -57,12 +59,25 @@ describe("createBrowserRecord", () => {
       canGoForward: false,
       faviconUrl: null,
       lastError: null,
+      viewport: { mode: "responsive" },
       createdAt: 1000,
     });
   });
 });
 
 describe("applyBrowserPatch", () => {
+  it("updates the browser's canonical viewport", () => {
+    const initial = withRecords([
+      createBrowserRecord({ browserId: "b1", initialUrl: "https://a.test", now: 0 }),
+    ]);
+
+    const next = applyBrowserPatch(initial, "b1", {
+      viewport: createFixedBrowserViewport(639.6, 479.6),
+    });
+
+    expect(next.browsersById.b1?.viewport).toEqual({ mode: "fixed", width: 640, height: 480 });
+  });
+
   it("normalizes URL updates", () => {
     const initial = withRecords([
       createBrowserRecord({ browserId: "b1", initialUrl: "https://a.test", now: 0 }),
@@ -145,4 +160,32 @@ describe("sanitizeBrowsersForPersist", () => {
     expect(persisted.browsersById.b1?.isLoading).toBe(false);
     expect(persisted.browsersById.b1?.lastError).toBe(null);
   });
+
+  it("preserves viewport state", () => {
+    const base = createBrowserRecord({ browserId: "b1", initialUrl: "https://a.test", now: 0 });
+    const state = applyBrowserPatch(withRecords([base]), "b1", {
+      viewport: createFixedBrowserViewport(640, 480),
+    });
+
+    expect(sanitizeBrowsersForPersist(state).browsersById.b1?.viewport).toEqual({
+      mode: "fixed",
+      width: 640,
+      height: 480,
+    });
+  });
+});
+
+describe("normalizeBrowserIndexState", () => {
+  it("defaults legacy persisted records to Responsive", () => {
+    const legacy = createBrowserRecord({
+      browserId: "b1",
+      initialUrl: "https://a.test",
+      now: 0,
+    }) as Partial<ReturnType<typeof createBrowserRecord>>;
+    delete legacy.viewport;
+
+    expect(
+      normalizeBrowserIndexState({ browsersById: { b1: legacy } }).browsersById.b1?.viewport,
+    ).toEqual({ mode: "responsive" });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/packages/app/src/desktop/browser/store/state.ts b/packages/app/src/desktop/browser/store/state.ts
index 1c4125e17..3909a7aa3 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/desktop/browser/store/state.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/desktop/browser/store/state.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+export type BrowserViewport =
+  | { mode: "responsive" }
+  | { mode: "fixed"; width: number; height: number };
+
+export const RESPONSIVE_BROWSER_VIEWPORT: BrowserViewport = { mode: "responsive" };
+
 export interface BrowserRecord {
   browserId: string;
   url: string;
@@ -7,6 +13,7 @@ export interface BrowserRecord {
   canGoForward: boolean;
   faviconUrl: string | null;
   lastError: string | null;
+  viewport: BrowserViewport;
   createdAt: number;
 }
 
@@ -16,6 +23,62 @@ export interface BrowserIndexState {
   browsersById: Record<string, BrowserRecord>;
 }
 
+export function createFixedBrowserViewport(width: number, height: number): BrowserViewport {
+  return {
+    mode: "fixed",
+    width: Math.max(1, Math.round(width)),
+    height: Math.max(1, Math.round(height)),
+  };
+}
+
+export function normalizeBrowserViewport(value: unknown): BrowserViewport {
+  if (
+    value &&
+    typeof value === "object" &&
+    (value as { mode?: unknown }).mode === "fixed" &&
+    typeof (value as { width?: unknown }).width === "number" &&
+    typeof (value as { height?: unknown }).height === "number"
+  ) {
+    return createFixedBrowserViewport(
+      (value as { width: number }).width,
+      (value as { height: number }).height,
+    );
+  }
+  return RESPONSIVE_BROWSER_VIEWPORT;
+}
+
+function browserViewportsEqual(left: BrowserViewport, right: BrowserViewport): boolean {
+  return (
+    left.mode === right.mode &&
+    (left.mode === "responsive" ||
+      (right.mode === "fixed" && left.width === right.width && left.height === right.height))
+  );
+}
+
+export function normalizeBrowserIndexState(value: unknown): BrowserIndexState {
+  if (!value || typeof value !== "object") {
+    return { browsersById: {} };
+  }
+  const browsersById = (value as { browsersById?: unknown }).browsersById;
+  if (!browsersById || typeof browsersById !== "object") {
+    return { browsersById: {} };
+  }
+  return {
+    browsersById: Object.fromEntries(
+      Object.entries(browsersById).map(([browserId, record]) => {
+        const browser = record as BrowserRecord & { viewport?: unknown };
+        return [
+          browserId,
+          {
+            ...browser,
+            viewport: normalizeBrowserViewport(browser.viewport),
+          } satisfies BrowserRecord,
+        ];
+      }),
+    ),
+  };
+}
+
 export function trimNonEmpty(value: string | null | undefined): string | null {
   if (typeof value !== "string") {
     return null;
@@ -55,6 +118,7 @@ export function createBrowserRecord(input: {
     canGoForward: false,
     faviconUrl: null,
     lastError: null,
+    viewport: RESPONSIVE_BROWSER_VIEWPORT,
     createdAt: input.now,
   };
 }
@@ -73,9 +137,13 @@ export function applyBrowserPatch<S extends BrowserIndexState>(
     return state;
   }
 
+  const nextViewport = patch.viewport
+    ? normalizeBrowserViewport(patch.viewport)
+    : existing.viewport;
   const nextRecord: BrowserRecord = {
     ...existing,
     ...patch,
+    viewport: nextViewport,
     url: normalizeBrowserUrl(patch.url ?? existing.url),
   };
 
@@ -86,7 +154,8 @@ export function applyBrowserPatch<S extends BrowserIndexState>(
     nextRecord.canGoBack === existing.canGoBack &&
     nextRecord.canGoForward === existing.canGoForward &&
     nextRecord.faviconUrl === existing.faviconUrl &&
-    nextRecord.lastError === existing.lastError
+    nextRecord.lastError === existing.lastError &&
+    browserViewportsEqual(nextRecord.viewport, existing.viewport)
   ) {
     return state;
   }
diff --git a/packages/desktop/e2e/browser-tabs.e2e.mjs b/packages/desktop/e2e/browser-tabs.e2e.mjs
index 3b2a833a9..6283f1fb0 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/e2e/browser-tabs.e2e.mjs
+++ b/packages/desktop/e2e/browser-tabs.e2e.mjs
@@ -272,11 +272,68 @@ async function readGuest(page, browserId) {
     return {
       webContentsId: webview.getWebContentsId(),
       parentId: webview.parentElement?.id ?? null,
+      width: Math.round(webview.getBoundingClientRect().width),
+      height: Math.round(webview.getBoundingClientRect().height),
     };
   }, browserId);
 }
 
-async function runRegression({ page, client, serverId, targetUrl }) {
+async function readPresentation(page, browserId) {
+  return await page.evaluate((id) => {
+    const surface = document.querySelector(`[data-paseo-browser-surface="${id}"]`);
+    const clip = document.querySelector(`[data-testid="browser-webview-clip-${id}"]`);
+    if (!(surface instanceof HTMLElement) || !(clip instanceof HTMLElement)) return null;
+    const surfaceRect = surface.getBoundingClientRect();
+    const clipRect = clip.getBoundingClientRect();
+    const webview = surface.querySelector(`[data-paseo-browser-id="${id}"]`);
+    if (!(webview instanceof HTMLElement)) return null;
+    const webviewRect = webview.getBoundingClientRect();
+    const outsidePoint = {
+      x: Math.max(0, Math.round(clipRect.left - 1)),
+      y: Math.round(clipRect.top + clipRect.height / 2),
+    };
+    const outsideTarget = document.elementFromPoint(outsidePoint.x, outsidePoint.y);
+    return {
+      surface: {
+        left: Math.round(surfaceRect.left),
+        top: Math.round(surfaceRect.top),
+        right: Math.round(surfaceRect.right),
+        bottom: Math.round(surfaceRect.bottom),
+      },
+      clip: {
+        left: Math.round(clipRect.left),
+        top: Math.round(clipRect.top),
+        right: Math.round(clipRect.right),
+        bottom: Math.round(clipRect.bottom),
+      },
+      webview: {
+        left: Math.round(webviewRect.left),
+        top: Math.round(webviewRect.top),
+      },
+      capturesOutsideInput: surface.contains(outsideTarget),
+    };
+  }, browserId);
+}
+
+async function readViewport(client, browserId) {
+  const evaluated = await callBrowserTool(client, "browser_evaluate", {
+    browserId,
+    function: "() => ({ width: window.innerWidth, height: window.innerHeight })",
+  });
+  return JSON.parse(evaluated.resultJson);
+}
+
+function recordViewportMismatch(failures, label, actual, expected) {
+  if (actual.width === expected.width && actual.height === expected.height) {
+    return;
+  }
+  failures.push(
+    `${label}: expected ${expected.width}x${expected.height}, received ${actual.width}x${actual.height}`,
+  );
+}
+
+async function runRegression({ page, client, serverId, targetUrl, callerAgentId }) {
+  const failures = [];
   const originalWorkspaceId = workspaceIds[0];
   const originalWorkspaceRow = page.getByTestId(
     `sidebar-workspace-row-${serverId}:${originalWorkspaceId}`,
@@ -300,6 +357,117 @@ async function runRegression({ page, client, serverId, targetUrl }) {
   );
   const firstGuest = await readGuest(page, browserId);
   assert(firstGuest, "Original browser guest was not attached to its workspace pane");
+  recordViewportMismatch(
+    failures,
+    "Responsive viewport follows the visible browser pane",
+    await readViewport(client, browserId),
+    { width: firstGuest.width, height: firstGuest.height },
+  );
+
+  await callBrowserTool(client, "browser_wait", {
+    browserId,
+    text: "Bridge target",
+    timeoutMs: 5_000,
+  });
+  const requestedViewport = { width: 640, height: 480 };
+  await callBrowserTool(client, "browser_resize", { browserId, ...requestedViewport });
+  recordViewportMismatch(
+    failures,
+    "browser_resize updates the visible shared viewport",
+    await readViewport(client, browserId),
+    requestedViewport,
+  );
+
+  const oversizedViewport = { width: 2560, height: 1440 };
+  await callBrowserTool(client, "browser_resize", { browserId, ...oversizedViewport });
+  recordViewportMismatch(
+    failures,
+    "oversized preset preserves the requested guest viewport",
+    await readViewport(client, browserId),
+    oversizedViewport,
+  );
+  await page.waitForFunction(
+    ({ id, width, height }) => {
+      const webview = document.querySelector(`[data-paseo-browser-id="${id}"]`);
+      return (
+        webview instanceof HTMLElement &&
+        Math.round(webview.getBoundingClientRect().width) === width &&
+        Math.round(webview.getBoundingClientRect().height) === height
+      );
+    },
+    { id: browserId, ...oversizedViewport },
+    { timeout: timeoutMs },
+  );
+  const presentation = await readPresentation(page, browserId);
+  assert(presentation, "Oversized browser presentation geometry was unavailable");
+  if (
+    presentation.surface.left < presentation.clip.left ||
+    presentation.surface.top < presentation.clip.top ||
+    presentation.surface.right > presentation.clip.right ||
+    presentation.surface.bottom > presentation.clip.bottom
+  ) {
+    failures.push(
+      `oversized browser surface stays inside its pane: ${JSON.stringify(presentation)}`,
+    );
+  }
+  if (presentation.capturesOutsideInput) {
+    failures.push("oversized browser surface captures input outside its pane");
+  }
+  await callBrowserTool(client, "browser_resize", { browserId, ...oversizedViewport });
+  const repeatedResizePresentation = await readPresentation(page, browserId);
+  assert(repeatedResizePresentation, "Repeated resize presentation geometry was unavailable");
+  if (
+    repeatedResizePresentation.webview.left !== presentation.webview.left ||
+    repeatedResizePresentation.webview.top !== presentation.webview.top
+  ) {
+    failures.push(
+      `repeating an oversized resize preserves the guest offset: before ${JSON.stringify(presentation.webview)}, after ${JSON.stringify(repeatedResizePresentation.webview)}`,
+    );
+  }
+  await callBrowserTool(client, "browser_resize", { browserId, ...requestedViewport });
+
+  await originalDeck.getByTestId(`workspace-tab-agent_${callerAgentId}`).click();
+  await page.waitForTimeout(500);
+  try {
+    await callBrowserTool(client, "browser_screenshot", { browserId });
+  } catch (error) {
+    failures.push(`inactive browser remains captureable: ${String(error)}`);
+  }
+  recordViewportMismatch(
+    failures,
+    "inactive browser preserves the shared viewport",
+    await readViewport(client, browserId),
+    requestedViewport,
+  );
+  const focusContinuitySentinel = "preserve-browser-document-across-focus";
+  await callBrowserTool(client, "browser_evaluate", {
+    browserId,
+    function: `() => { globalThis.__paseoFocusContinuity = ${JSON.stringify(focusContinuitySentinel)}; return globalThis.__paseoFocusContinuity; }`,
+  });
+
+  await originalDeck.getByTestId(`workspace-tab-browser_${browserId}`).click();
+  await page.waitForFunction(
+    ({ id, webContentsId }) => {
+      const webview = document.querySelector(`[data-paseo-browser-id="${id}"]`);
+      return (
+        webview?.parentElement?.getAttribute("data-paseo-browser-surface") === id &&
+        webview.parentElement.style.pointerEvents === "auto" &&
+        webview.getWebContentsId() === webContentsId
+      );
+    },
+    { id: browserId, webContentsId: firstGuest.webContentsId },
+    { timeout: timeoutMs },
+  );
+  const continuityResult = await callBrowserTool(client, "browser_evaluate", {
+    browserId,
+    function: "() => globalThis.__paseoFocusContinuity ?? null",
+  });
+  const continuityValue = JSON.parse(continuityResult.resultJson);
+  if (continuityValue !== focusContinuitySentinel) {
+    failures.push(
+      `focusing the browser tab preserves the current document: expected ${JSON.stringify(focusContinuitySentinel)}, received ${JSON.stringify(continuityValue)}`,
+    );
+  }
 
   for (const workspaceId of workspaceIds.slice(1)) {
     await page.getByTestId(`sidebar-workspace-row-${serverId}:${workspaceId}`).click();
@@ -312,21 +480,22 @@ async function runRegression({ page, client, serverId, targetUrl }) {
     ({ id, previousWebContentsId }) => {
       const webview = document.querySelector(`[data-paseo-browser-id="${id}"]`);
       return (
-        webview?.parentElement?.id === "paseo-browser-resident-webviews" &&
+        webview?.parentElement?.getAttribute("data-paseo-browser-surface") === id &&
+        webview.parentElement.style.width === "1px" &&
         typeof webview.getWebContentsId === "function" &&
-        webview.getWebContentsId() !== previousWebContentsId
+        webview.getWebContentsId() === previousWebContentsId
       );
     },
     { id: browserId, previousWebContentsId: firstGuest.webContentsId },
     { timeout: timeoutMs },
   );
-  const replacementGuest = await readGuest(page, browserId);
-  assert(replacementGuest, "Replacement browser guest was not parked after workspace eviction");
+  const parkedGuest = await readGuest(page, browserId);
+  assert(parkedGuest, "Browser guest was not parked after workspace eviction");
 
   const listed = await callBrowserTool(client, "browser_list_tabs");
   assert(
     listed.tabs.some((tab) => tab.browserId === browserId),
-    "browser_list_tabs lost the original tab after guest replacement",
+    "browser_list_tabs lost the original tab after workspace eviction",
   );
 
   const snapshot = await callBrowserTool(client, "browser_snapshot", { browserId });
@@ -344,10 +513,47 @@ async function runRegression({ page, client, serverId, targetUrl }) {
     timeoutMs: 5_000,
   });
 
+  await originalWorkspaceRow.click();
+  await originalDeck.getByTestId(`workspace-tab-browser_${browserId}`).click();
+  await page.waitForFunction(
+    ({ id, webContentsId }) => {
+      const webview = document.querySelector(`[data-paseo-browser-id="${id}"]`);
+      return (
+        webview?.parentElement?.getAttribute("data-paseo-browser-surface") === id &&
+        webview.parentElement.style.pointerEvents === "auto" &&
+        webview.getWebContentsId() === webContentsId
+      );
+    },
+    { id: browserId, webContentsId: firstGuest.webContentsId },
+    { timeout: timeoutMs },
+  );
+  recordViewportMismatch(
+    failures,
+    "browser viewport survives workspace eviction and reattachment",
+    await readViewport(client, browserId),
+    requestedViewport,
+  );
+
+  await originalDeck.getByRole("button", { name: "Annotate element" }).click();
+  await page.waitForTimeout(250);
+  const selectorResult = await callBrowserTool(client, "browser_evaluate", {
+    browserId,
+    function: "() => Boolean(globalThis.__paseoSelector)",
+  });
+  if (JSON.parse(selectorResult.resultJson) !== true) {
+    failures.push("reused loaded browser remains ready for element annotation after remount");
+  }
+
+  if (failures.length > 0) {
+    throw new Error(`Browser viewport regressions:\n- ${failures.join("\n- ")}`);
+  }
+
   return {
     browserId,
     originalWebContentsId: firstGuest.webContentsId,
-    replacementWebContentsId: replacementGuest.webContentsId,
+    finalWebContentsId: parkedGuest.webContentsId,
+    viewport: "passed",
+    inactiveCapture: "passed",
     list: "passed",
     snapshot: "passed",
     click: "passed",
@@ -446,10 +652,11 @@ async function main() {
       client,
       serverId: status.serverId,
       targetUrl: target.url,
+      callerAgentId,
     });
     writeJson(path.join(artifactDir, "result.json"), report);
     console.log(
-      `Browser desktop browser E2E passed: WebContents ${report.originalWebContentsId} -> ${report.replacementWebContentsId}; list, snapshot, click passed.`,
+      `Browser desktop browser E2E passed: WebContents ${report.originalWebContentsId} remained ${report.finalWebContentsId}; viewport, inactive capture, focus continuity, list, snapshot, click passed.`,
     );
   } catch (error) {
     console.error(`Browser desktop browser E2E failed. Artifacts: ${artifactDir}`);
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/features/browser-automation/ipc.test.ts b/packages/desktop/src/features/browser-automation/ipc.test.ts
index 2cb168f4c..dba758196 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/features/browser-automation/ipc.test.ts
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/features/browser-automation/ipc.test.ts
@@ -20,11 +20,14 @@ class FakeDebugger {
   public blockCommands = false;
   public readonly blockedCommandNames = new Set<string>();
   public readonly failedCommandNames = new Set<string>();
+  public readonly failedCommandErrors = new Map<string, Error>();
   public readonly promptDialogs: unknown[] = [];
   public failPromptDrain = false;
+  public beforeCommand: ((command: string) => void) | null = null;
   private messageListener:
     | ((event: unknown, method: string, params?: Record<string, unknown>) => void)
     | null = null;
+  private detachListener: (() => void) | null = null;
   private readonly blockedCommands: Array<() => void> = [];
 
   public isAttached(): boolean {
@@ -37,6 +40,11 @@ class FakeDebugger {
 
   public async sendCommand(command: string, params?: Record<string, unknown>): Promise<unknown> {
     this.commands.push({ command, params: params ?? {} });
+    this.beforeCommand?.(command);
+    const commandError = this.failedCommandErrors.get(command);
+    if (commandError) {
+      throw commandError;
+    }
     if (this.failedCommandNames.has(command)) {
       throw new Error(`${command} failed`);
     }
@@ -58,10 +66,15 @@ class FakeDebugger {
   }
 
   public on(
-    event: "message",
-    listener: (event: unknown, method: string, params?: Record<string, unknown>) => void,
+    event: "message" | "detach",
+    listener:
+      | ((event: unknown, method: string, params?: Record<string, unknown>) => void)
+      | (() => void),
   ): void {
-    expect(event).toBe("message");
+    if (event === "detach") {
+      this.detachListener = listener;
+      return;
+    }
     this.messageListener = listener;
   }
 
@@ -72,6 +85,11 @@ class FakeDebugger {
     this.messageListener({}, method, params);
   }
 
+  public emitDetach(): void {
+    this.attachedProtocolVersions.length = 0;
+    this.detachListener?.();
+  }
+
   public finishNextCommand(): void {
     const resolve = this.blockedCommands.shift();
     if (!resolve) {
@@ -92,6 +110,7 @@ type ConsoleMessageListener = (
 class FakeWebContents {
   public readonly debugger = new FakeDebugger();
   public readonly inputEvents: IsolatedKeyboardInputEvent[] = [];
+  public readonly loadedUrls: string[] = [];
   public readonly captures: Array<{
     rect: Rectangle | undefined;
     options: { stayHidden?: boolean } | undefined;
@@ -138,7 +157,9 @@ class FakeWebContents {
     return null;
   }
 
-  public async loadURL(): Promise<void> {}
+  public async loadURL(url: string): Promise<void> {
+    this.loadedUrls.push(url);
+  }
 
   public goBack(): void {}
 
@@ -186,6 +207,7 @@ class FakeWebContents {
 
   public destroy(): void {
     this.destroyed = true;
+    this.debugger.emitDetach();
     this.destroyedListener?.();
   }
 }
@@ -571,6 +593,54 @@ describe("browser automation IPC adapter", () => {
     );
     warn.mockRestore();
   });
+
+  test("does not run the command after the debugger target closes during setup", async () => {
+    const contents = new FakeWebContents(31);
+    contents.debugger.beforeCommand = (command) => {
+      if (command === "Page.enable") {
+        contents.destroy();
+      }
+    };
+    contents.debugger.failedCommandErrors.set(
+      "Page.enable",
+      new Error("target closed while handling command"),
+    );
+    const tab = adaptWebContents(contents);
+    const warn = vi.spyOn(console, "warn").mockImplementation(() => {});
+
+    await expect(
+      tab.captureDialogs?.(() => tab.loadURL("https://replacement.example.com")),
+    ).rejects.toThrow("target closed while handling command");
+    expect(contents.loadedUrls).toEqual([]);
+    expect(warn).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    warn.mockRestore();
+  });
+
+  test("runs without dialog capture after a live debugger session detaches", async () => {
+    const contents = new FakeWebContents(32);
+    const tab = adaptWebContents(contents);
+
+    await expect(tab.captureDialogs?.(async () => "captured")).resolves.toEqual({
+      result: "captured",
+      dialogs: [],
+    });
+    contents.debugger.emitDetach();
+    contents.debugger.failedCommandNames.add("Page.enable");
+    const warn = vi.spyOn(console, "warn").mockImplementation(() => {});
+
+    await expect(
+      tab.captureDialogs?.(() => tab.loadURL("https://replacement.example.com")),
+    ).resolves.toEqual({ result: undefined, dialogs: [] });
+    expect(contents.loadedUrls).toEqual(["https://replacement.example.com"]);
+    expect(contents.debugger.attachedProtocolVersions).toEqual(["1.3"]);
+    expect(warn).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      "[browser-automation] Dialog capture unavailable; running command without it",
+      { contentsId: 32, error: expect.any(Error) },
+    );
+
+    warn.mockRestore();
+  });
 });
 
 class FakeHostWebContents {
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/features/browser-automation/ipc.ts b/packages/desktop/src/features/browser-automation/ipc.ts
index 12f35b798..ea1941c31 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/features/browser-automation/ipc.ts
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/features/browser-automation/ipc.ts
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ interface WebContentsDebugger {
     event: "message",
     listener: (event: unknown, method: string, params?: Record<string, unknown>) => void,
   ): void;
+  on?(event: "detach", listener: () => void): void;
 }
 
 interface ConsoleMessageEmitter {
@@ -188,6 +189,7 @@ function getDialogMonitor(
 class DialogMonitor {
   private enabled = false;
   private listenerRegistered = false;
+  private detachGeneration = 0;
   private readonly activeCollectors: DialogCollector[] = [];
 
   public constructor(
@@ -200,10 +202,14 @@ class DialogMonitor {
     task: () => Promise<T>,
   ): Promise<{ result: T; dialogs: BrowserAutomationDialogEvent[] }> {
     const collector: DialogCollector = { dialogs: [] };
+    const setupDetachGeneration = this.detachGeneration;
     try {
       await this.enable();
       await this.installPromptShim();
     } catch (error) {
+      if (this.contents.isDestroyed() || this.detachGeneration !== setupDetachGeneration) {
+        throw error;
+      }
       console.warn("[browser-automation] Dialog capture unavailable; running command without it", {
         contentsId: this.contentsId,
         error,
@@ -244,6 +250,10 @@ class DialogMonitor {
         }
         void this.handleOpening(params ?? {});
       });
+      this.contents.debugger.on("detach", () => {
+        this.enabled = false;
+        this.detachGeneration += 1;
+      });
     }
     await this.sendDebugCommand("Page.enable");
     this.enabled = true;
diff --git a/packages/server/src/server/agent/providers/claude/agent.sub-agent-replay.test.ts b/packages/server/src/server/agent/providers/claude/agent.sub-agent-replay.test.ts
index 0b7e96f73..9c8b26771 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/server/agent/providers/claude/agent.sub-agent-replay.test.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/server/agent/providers/claude/agent.sub-agent-replay.test.ts
@@ -57,14 +57,18 @@ function taskToolResult(options: { isError?: boolean; mentionAgentId?: boolean }
   });
 }
 
-function sidechainEntry(): string {
+function sidechainEntry(options: { agentId?: string; stopReason?: string | null } = {}): string {
   return JSON.stringify({
     type: "assistant",
     isSidechain: true,
-    agentId: AGENT_ID,
+    agentId: options.agentId ?? AGENT_ID,
     sessionId: "replay-session",
     timestamp: "2026-07-26T06:27:50.000Z",
-    message: { role: "assistant", content: [{ type: "text", text: "summary of the docs" }] },
+    message: {
+      role: "assistant",
+      content: [{ type: "text", text: "summary of the docs" }],
+      stop_reason: options.stopReason ?? null,
+    },
   });
 }
 
@@ -77,24 +81,40 @@ describe("ClaudeAgentSession persisted subagent replay", () => {
   let cwd: string;
   let configDir: string;
 
+  function writeParentSession(parentLines: string[]): string {
+    const historyDir = claudeProjectDirSync(cwd, { configDir });
+    mkdirSync(historyDir, { recursive: true });
+    writeFileSync(path.join(historyDir, "replay-session.jsonl"), parentLines.join("\n"));
+    return path.join(historyDir, "replay-session", "subagents");
+  }
+
+  function writeSubagent(options: {
+    subagentDir: string;
+    agentId?: string;
+    meta?: string | null;
+    sidechainLines?: string[];
+  }): void {
+    const agentId = options.agentId ?? AGENT_ID;
+    mkdirSync(options.subagentDir, { recursive: true });
+    writeFileSync(
+      path.join(options.subagentDir, `agent-${agentId}.jsonl`),
+      (options.sidechainLines ?? [sidechainEntry({ agentId })]).join("\n"),
+    );
+    if (options.meta !== null && options.meta !== undefined) {
+      writeFileSync(path.join(options.subagentDir, `agent-${agentId}.meta.json`), options.meta);
+    }
+  }
+
   function writeSession(options: {
     parentLines: string[];
     meta?: string | null;
     sidechainLines?: string[];
   }): void {
-    const historyDir = claudeProjectDirSync(cwd, { configDir });
-    mkdirSync(historyDir, { recursive: true });
-    writeFileSync(path.join(historyDir, "replay-session.jsonl"), options.parentLines.join("\n"));
-
-    const subagentDir = path.join(historyDir, "replay-session", "subagents");
-    mkdirSync(subagentDir, { recursive: true });
-    writeFileSync(
-      path.join(subagentDir, `agent-${AGENT_ID}.jsonl`),
-      (options.sidechainLines ?? [sidechainEntry()]).join("\n"),
-    );
-    if (options.meta !== null && options.meta !== undefined) {
-      writeFileSync(path.join(subagentDir, `agent-${AGENT_ID}.meta.json`), options.meta);
-    }
+    writeSubagent({
+      subagentDir: writeParentSession(options.parentLines),
+      meta: options.meta,
+      sidechainLines: options.sidechainLines,
+    });
   }
 
   async function replayDescriptors(): Promise<
@@ -198,6 +218,69 @@ describe("ClaudeAgentSession persisted subagent replay", () => {
     expect(statuses).toContain("running");
   });
 
+  test("finishes a Task subagent from its own end_turn when the parent outcome is missing", async () => {
+    writeSession({
+      parentLines: [taskToolUse()],
+      meta: JSON.stringify({ toolUseId: TOOL_USE_ID }),
+      sidechainLines: [sidechainEntry({ stopReason: "end_turn" })],
+    });
+
+    expect(upserts(await replayDescriptors()).at(-1)).toMatchObject({
+      id: TOOL_USE_ID,
+      status: "completed",
+    });
+  });
+
+  test("does not replay a skill-spawned subagent the parent never named", async () => {
+    // The reported bug. A /code-review subagent has no Task tool_use, so its sidecar carries only
+    // agentType and its id appears nowhere in the parent — it used to replay as running forever,
+    // and every reopen resurrected it.
+    writeSession({
+      parentLines: [parentEntry([{ type: "text", text: "running /code-review" }])],
+      meta: JSON.stringify({ agentType: "general-purpose" }),
+      sidechainLines: [sidechainEntry({ stopReason: "end_turn" })],
+    });
+
+    expect(upserts(await replayDescriptors())).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  test("does not accumulate internal workflow agents as replay-only running rows", async () => {
+    const subagentRoot = writeParentSession([
+      parentEntry([
+        {
+          type: "tool_use",
+          id: "toolu_workflow",
+          name: "Workflow",
+          input: { script: "await Promise.all([agent('one'), agent('two'), agent('three')])" },
+        },
+      ]),
+    ]);
+    const workflowDir = path.join(subagentRoot, "workflows", "wf_c240e728-6ea");
+
+    for (const agentId of ["a17a341a0902f5799", "ae2d01ba2dfa46032", "abc9f20546c326c53"]) {
+      writeSubagent({
+        subagentDir: workflowDir,
+        agentId,
+        meta: JSON.stringify({ agentType: "workflow-subagent", spawnDepth: 1 }),
+        sidechainLines: [sidechainEntry({ agentId, stopReason: "end_turn" })],
+      });
+    }
+
+    expect(upserts(await replayDescriptors())).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  test("does not replay a subagent whose toolUseId names no Task call in this transcript", async () => {
+    // A grandchild recorded before spawnDepth existed: the Task call it names was made inside a
+    // sibling's session, so no tool_result for it can ever reach this parent.
+    writeSession({
+      parentLines: [parentEntry([{ type: "text", text: "no task calls here" }])],
+      meta: JSON.stringify({ toolUseId: TOOL_USE_ID, agentType: "Explore" }),
+      sidechainLines: [sidechainEntry({ stopReason: "end_turn" })],
+    });
+
+    expect(upserts(await replayDescriptors())).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
   test.each([
     ["truncated json", '{"toolUseId":"toolu_01DgLoPMW9"'],
     ["not json", "toolUseId: toolu"],
diff --git a/packages/server/src/server/agent/providers/claude/subagents/replay-source.test.ts b/packages/server/src/server/agent/providers/claude/subagents/replay-source.test.ts
index e47fe817f..6dceb8d0c 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/server/agent/providers/claude/subagents/replay-source.test.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/server/agent/providers/claude/subagents/replay-source.test.ts
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ describe("observeReplaySubagents", () => {
     // Claude Code writes every descendant into the same subagents/ directory. A grandchild's
     // toolUseId names a Task call made inside its parent's session, so nothing here can resolve
     // it: it would replay as an extra row the live stream never showed, with no Task card and no
-    // outcome, running forever. One recorded session showed 10 subagents live and 22 on reopen.
+    // outcome. One recorded session showed 10 subagents live and 22 on reopen.
     const observations = observeReplaySubagents({
       subagents: [
         { agentId: AGENT_ID, meta: { toolUseId: TOOL_USE_ID, spawnDepth: 1 }, entries: [] },
@@ -126,8 +126,7 @@ describe("observeReplaySubagents", () => {
     expect(observations[0]).toMatchObject({ kind: "declared", id: TOOL_USE_ID });
   });
 
-  it("recovers identity from meta when the parent's Task call is missing", () => {
-    // The case the legacy scrape cannot handle: no tool_result, so no link and no identity.
+  it("drops a meta-linked subagent when the parent never declared its Task", () => {
     const observations = observeReplaySubagents({
       subagents: [
         {
@@ -140,12 +139,7 @@ describe("observeReplaySubagents", () => {
       convertEntry: () => [],
     });
 
-    expect(observations[0]).toMatchObject({
-      id: TOOL_USE_ID,
-      toolCallId: TOOL_USE_ID,
-      title: "Explore",
-      description: "Find the code",
-    });
+    expect(observations).toEqual([]);
   });
 
   it("falls back to the scraped link when there is no meta file", () => {
@@ -165,14 +159,127 @@ describe("observeReplaySubagents", () => {
     expect(rest.at(-1)).toMatchObject({ kind: "status", status: "completed" });
   });
 
-  it("keeps an unlinkable subagent visible under its own id", () => {
-    const [declared] = observeReplaySubagents({
+  it("drops an unlinkable subagent", () => {
+    const observations = observeReplaySubagents({
       subagents: [{ agentId: AGENT_ID, meta: null, entries: [] }],
       parent: emptyParent(),
       convertEntry: () => [],
     });
-    expect(declared).toMatchObject({ id: AGENT_ID });
-    expect(declared).not.toHaveProperty("toolCallId");
+    expect(observations).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  it("drops a terminal subagent the parent has no Task call for", () => {
+    // A legacy grandchild: its toolUseId names a Task call made inside a sibling's transcript, so
+    // no tool_result for it can ever reach the parent. Left running, it never stops.
+    const descriptor = applyToStore(
+      observeReplaySubagents({
+        subagents: [
+          {
+            agentId: AGENT_ID,
+            meta: { toolUseId: TOOL_USE_ID },
+            entries: [
+              {
+                type: "assistant",
+                timestamp: "2026-07-31T03:41:00.000Z",
+                message: { stop_reason: "end_turn" },
+              },
+            ],
+          },
+        ],
+        parent: emptyParent(),
+        convertEntry: () => [],
+      }),
+    );
+
+    expect(descriptor).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it("drops a terminal skill-spawned subagent that has no link at all", () => {
+    // A /code-review run: no Task tool_use exists to name it, so its sidecar carries only
+    // agentType and its id appears nowhere in the parent transcript.
+    const descriptor = applyToStore(
+      observeReplaySubagents({
+        subagents: [
+          {
+            agentId: AGENT_ID,
+            meta: { agentType: "general-purpose" },
+            entries: [
+              {
+                type: "assistant",
+                timestamp: "2026-07-31T03:41:00.000Z",
+                message: { stop_reason: "end_turn" },
+              },
+            ],
+          },
+        ],
+        parent: emptyParent(),
+        convertEntry: () => [],
+      }),
+    );
+
+    expect(descriptor).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it("reports a scraped link's failure as failed", () => {
+    const descriptor = applyToStore(
+      observeReplaySubagents({
+        subagents: [{ agentId: AGENT_ID, meta: null, entries: [] }],
+        parent: {
+          toolCalls: new Map([[TOOL_USE_ID, { title: "Explore" }]]),
+          linksByAgentId: new Map([[AGENT_ID, { toolCallId: TOOL_USE_ID, failed: true }]]),
+          outcomesByToolCallId: new Map(),
+        },
+        convertEntry: () => [],
+      }),
+    );
+
+    expect(descriptor).toMatchObject({ id: TOOL_USE_ID, status: "failed" });
+  });
+
+  it("drops a non-terminal linkless subagent", () => {
+    const observations = observeReplaySubagents({
+      subagents: [
+        {
+          agentId: AGENT_ID,
+          meta: { agentType: "general-purpose" },
+          entries: [
+            {
+              type: "assistant",
+              timestamp: "2026-07-31T03:41:00.000Z",
+              message: { stop_reason: null },
+            },
+          ],
+        },
+      ],
+      parent: emptyParent(),
+      convertEntry: () => [],
+    });
+
+    expect(observations).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  it("finishes a terminal Task child when the parent has not recorded its outcome", () => {
+    const descriptor = applyToStore(
+      observeReplaySubagents({
+        subagents: [
+          {
+            agentId: AGENT_ID,
+            meta: { toolUseId: TOOL_USE_ID },
+            entries: [
+              {
+                type: "assistant",
+                timestamp: "2026-07-31T03:41:00.000Z",
+                message: { stop_reason: "end_turn" },
+              },
+            ],
+          },
+        ],
+        parent: { ...parentWithTaskCall(), outcomesByToolCallId: new Map() },
+        convertEntry: () => [],
+      }),
+    );
+
+    expect(descriptor).toMatchObject({ status: "completed" });
   });
 
   it("leaves a subagent with no recorded outcome running", () => {
diff --git a/packages/server/src/server/agent/providers/claude/subagents/replay-source.ts b/packages/server/src/server/agent/providers/claude/subagents/replay-source.ts
index 61fc2c54f..99eb8e6c6 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/server/agent/providers/claude/subagents/replay-source.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/server/agent/providers/claude/subagents/replay-source.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { z } from "zod";
 
 import type { AgentTimelineItem } from "../../../agent-sdk-types.js";
 import { normalizeProviderReplayTimestamp } from "../../../provider-history-timestamps.js";
+import type { ProviderSubagentStatus } from "../../../provider-subagents/store.js";
 import { resolveObservedClaudeModelId } from "../models.js";
 import type { SubagentObservation } from "./observation.js";
 import { buildClaudeSubagentSubtitle, type ClaudeSubagentUsage } from "./presentation.js";
@@ -152,51 +153,81 @@ export interface ClaudeReplayParentFacts {
   outcomesByToolCallId: ReadonlyMap<string, { failed: boolean }>;
 }
 
-interface ResolvedLink {
+interface ParentLink {
   id: string;
-  toolCallId: string | null;
-  failed: boolean | null;
+  toolCallId: string;
+  /** Terminal status recorded by the parent, or null when its Task has no outcome yet. */
+  status: ProviderSubagentStatus | null;
 }
 
 /**
- * Resolve the canonical subagent id.
+ * Resolve a child only when the parent transcript declares the corresponding Task.
  *
- * `meta.toolUseId` is authoritative: it is the same id the live stream keys on. The legacy path
- * scrapes `agentId:` out of stringified tool-result content, which both misses the link when the
- * parent's tool_result is absent and matches unrelated text — on a real five-subagent session it
- * produced eight ids, inventing `z`, `string`, and `update`. It stays only as a fallback for
- * sessions recorded before the meta file existed.
+ * `meta.toolUseId` is authoritative for identity — it is the same id the live stream keys on. The
+ * legacy path scrapes `agentId:` out of stringified tool-result content, which both misses the link
+ * when the parent's tool_result is absent and matches unrelated text — on a real five-subagent
+ * session it produced eight ids, inventing `z`, `string`, and `update`. It stays only as a fallback
+ * for sessions recorded before the meta file existed.
+ *
+ * ```
+ * meta.toolUseId matches a parent Task?
+ * ├─ yes → use it and the parent's outcome, when present
+ * └─ no  → a legacy scraped agentId link matches a parent Task?
+ *           ├─ yes → use it and its recorded outcome
+ *           └─ no  → drop it; live never declared this child either
+ * ```
+ *
+ * Claude writes grandchildren and skill-owned sidechains beside direct children. Admitting those
+ * without a parent Task creates replay-only rows with no identity or lifecycle source. Filtering
+ * here keeps live and replay on the same declaration boundary.
  */
-function resolveLink(
+function resolveParentLink(
   subagent: ClaudeReplaySubagentInput,
   parent: ClaudeReplayParentFacts,
-): ResolvedLink {
+): ParentLink | null {
   const metaToolUseId = subagent.meta?.toolUseId?.trim();
-  if (metaToolUseId) {
+  if (metaToolUseId && parent.toolCalls.has(metaToolUseId)) {
     const outcome = parent.outcomesByToolCallId.get(metaToolUseId);
+    let status: ProviderSubagentStatus | null = null;
+    if (outcome) status = outcome.failed ? "failed" : "completed";
     return {
       id: metaToolUseId,
       toolCallId: metaToolUseId,
-      failed: outcome ? outcome.failed : null,
+      status,
     };
   }
 
   const scraped = parent.linksByAgentId.get(subagent.agentId);
-  if (scraped) {
-    return { id: scraped.toolCallId, toolCallId: scraped.toolCallId, failed: scraped.failed };
+  if (scraped && parent.toolCalls.has(scraped.toolCallId)) {
+    return {
+      id: scraped.toolCallId,
+      toolCallId: scraped.toolCallId,
+      status: scraped.failed ? "failed" : "completed",
+    };
   }
 
-  // No link at all: keep the subagent visible under its own agent id rather than dropping it.
-  return { id: subagent.agentId, toolCallId: null, failed: null };
+  return null;
+}
+
+/** A final `end_turn` is the child's own completion signal when the parent result is absent. */
+function readChildTerminalStatus(
+  entries: readonly ClaudeReplayEntry[],
+): ProviderSubagentStatus | null {
+  for (let index = entries.length - 1; index >= 0; index--) {
+    const entry = entries[index];
+    if (entry?.type !== "assistant") continue;
+    return entry.message?.stop_reason === "end_turn" ? "completed" : null;
+  }
+  return null;
 }
 
 /**
- * The parent's tool input is the same source the live path reads, so it wins; meta.json fills the
- * gap when the parent's Task call is missing from the transcript.
+ * The parent's tool input is the same identity source the live path reads; meta.json contributes
+ * provider details only after that declaration has admitted the child.
  */
 function declareSubagent(
   subagent: ClaudeReplaySubagentInput,
-  link: ResolvedLink,
+  link: ParentLink,
   toolCall: { title?: string; description?: string } | undefined,
 ): SubagentObservation {
   const title = toolCall?.title ?? subagent.meta?.agentType;
@@ -214,7 +245,7 @@ function declareSubagent(
 
 function observeSubtitle(
   subagent: ClaudeReplaySubagentInput,
-  link: ResolvedLink,
+  link: ParentLink,
   title: string | undefined,
 ): SubagentObservation | null {
   const runtime = readRuntime(subagent.entries);
@@ -244,8 +275,9 @@ function observeSubagent(
   parent: ClaudeReplayParentFacts,
   convertEntry: (entry: ClaudeReplayEntry) => AgentTimelineItem[],
 ): SubagentObservation[] {
-  const link = resolveLink(subagent, parent);
-  const toolCall = link.toolCallId ? parent.toolCalls.get(link.toolCallId) : undefined;
+  const link = resolveParentLink(subagent, parent);
+  if (!link) return [];
+  const toolCall = parent.toolCalls.get(link.toolCallId);
 
   const observations: SubagentObservation[] = [declareSubagent(subagent, link, toolCall)];
   const subtitle = observeSubtitle(subagent, link, toolCall?.title ?? subagent.meta?.agentType);
@@ -263,14 +295,15 @@ function observeSubagent(
     }
   }
 
-  // A transcript with no recorded outcome is a subagent that never finished — leave it running
-  // rather than inventing a completion.
-  if (link.failed !== null) {
+  // Prefer the parent's result because it carries failure. If that result is missing, the child's
+  // final end_turn still proves completion. Any other shape remains running.
+  const terminalStatus = link.status ?? readChildTerminalStatus(subagent.entries);
+  if (terminalStatus) {
     const lastTimestamp = normalizeProviderReplayTimestamp(subagent.entries.at(-1)?.timestamp);
     observations.push({
       kind: "status",
       id: link.id,
-      status: link.failed ? "failed" : "completed",
+      status: terminalStatus,
       ...(lastTimestamp ? { timestamp: lastTimestamp } : {}),
     });
   }
@@ -286,9 +319,8 @@ function observeSubagent(
  * another subagent. A grandchild's `toolUseId` names a Task call made inside its parent's session,
  * so nothing in this transcript can resolve it — surveyed across recorded sessions, every depth-1
  * id matched a Task tool_use block in the parent transcript and no deeper id did. Replaying them
- * anyway adds rows the live stream never showed, each with no Task card and no recoverable
- * outcome, which leaves them running forever. One session recorded 10 subagents live and would
- * replay 22.
+ * anyway adds rows the live stream never showed, each with no Task card and no recoverable outcome.
+ * One session recorded 10 subagents live and would replay 22.
  *
  * Absent depth means a session recorded before the field existed: keep the subagent rather than
  * lose it, matching how every other missing field here is treated.