diff --git a/packages/app/e2e/helpers/app.ts b/packages/app/e2e/helpers/app.ts
index de77a76c4..cf94c1b30 100644
--- a/packages/app/e2e/helpers/app.ts
+++ b/packages/app/e2e/helpers/app.ts
@@ -1,217 +1,36 @@
 import { expect, type Page } from "@playwright/test";
-import { buildCreateAgentPreferences, buildSeededHost } from "./daemon-registry";
 
 function escapeRegex(value: string): string {
   return value.replace(/[.*+?^${}()|[\]\\]/g, "\\$&");
 }
 
-function getE2EDaemonPort(): string {
-  const port = process.env.E2E_DAEMON_PORT;
-  if (!port) {
-    throw new Error("E2E_DAEMON_PORT is not set (expected from Playwright globalSetup).");
-  }
-  if (port === "6767") {
-    throw new Error(
-      "E2E_DAEMON_PORT is 6767. Refusing to run e2e against the default local daemon.",
-    );
-  }
-  return port;
-}
-
-async function ensureE2EStorageSeeded(page: Page): Promise<void> {
-  const port = getE2EDaemonPort();
-  const expectedEndpoint = `127.0.0.1:${port}`;
-  const expectedServerId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-  if (!expectedServerId) {
-    throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set (expected from Playwright globalSetup).");
-  }
-
-  const needsReset = await page.evaluate(
-    ({ expectedEndpoint: endpoint, expectedServerId: serverId }) => {
-      const raw = localStorage.getItem("@paseo:daemon-registry");
-      if (!raw) return true;
-      try {
-        const parsed = JSON.parse(raw);
-        if (!Array.isArray(parsed) || parsed.length !== 1) return true;
-        const entry = parsed[0] as { serverId?: string; connections?: unknown };
-        if (entry?.serverId !== serverId) return true;
-        const connections = entry?.connections;
-        if (!Array.isArray(connections)) return true;
-        if (
-          connections.some(
-            (c: { type?: string; endpoint?: string }) =>
-              c?.type === "directTcp" &&
-              typeof c?.endpoint === "string" &&
-              /:6767\b/.test(c.endpoint),
-          )
-        )
-          return true;
-        return !connections.some(
-          (c: { type?: string; endpoint?: string }) =>
-            c?.type === "directTcp" && c?.endpoint === endpoint,
-        );
-      } catch {
-        return true;
-      }
-    },
-    { expectedEndpoint, expectedServerId },
-  );
-
-  if (!needsReset) {
-    return;
-  }
-
-  const nowIso = new Date().toISOString();
-  const daemon = buildSeededHost({
-    serverId: expectedServerId,
-    endpoint: expectedEndpoint,
-    nowIso,
-  });
-  const preferences = buildCreateAgentPreferences(expectedServerId);
-  await page.evaluate(
-    ({ daemon: seededDaemon, preferences: seededPreferences }) => {
-      localStorage.setItem("@paseo:e2e", "1");
-      localStorage.setItem("@paseo:daemon-registry", JSON.stringify([seededDaemon]));
-      localStorage.setItem("@paseo:create-agent-preferences", JSON.stringify(seededPreferences));
-      localStorage.removeItem("@paseo:settings");
-    },
-    { daemon, preferences },
-  );
-
-  await page.reload();
-}
-
-function parseRegistryEntry(registryRaw: string): { serverId: string; connections: unknown } {
-  let registry: unknown;
-  try {
-    registry = JSON.parse(registryRaw);
-  } catch {
-    throw new Error("E2E expected @paseo:daemon-registry to be valid JSON.");
-  }
-  if (!Array.isArray(registry) || registry.length !== 1) {
-    throw new Error(
-      `E2E expected @paseo:daemon-registry to contain exactly 1 daemon (got ${Array.isArray(registry) ? registry.length : "non-array"}).`,
-    );
-  }
-  const daemon = registry[0] as { serverId?: string; connections?: unknown };
-  if (typeof daemon?.serverId !== "string" || daemon.serverId.length === 0) {
-    throw new Error(
-      `E2E expected seeded daemon to have a string serverId (got ${String(daemon?.serverId)}).`,
-    );
-  }
-  return { serverId: daemon.serverId, connections: daemon.connections };
-}
-
-function assertDaemonConnections(connections: unknown, expectedEndpoint: string): void {
-  if (
-    !Array.isArray(connections) ||
-    !connections.some(
-      (c: { type?: string; endpoint?: string }) =>
-        c?.type === "directTcp" && c?.endpoint === expectedEndpoint,
-    )
-  ) {
-    throw new Error(
-      `E2E expected seeded daemon connections to include directTcp ${expectedEndpoint} (got ${JSON.stringify(connections)}).`,
-    );
-  }
-  if (
-    Array.isArray(connections) &&
-    connections.some(
-      (c: { type?: string; endpoint?: string }) =>
-        c?.type === "directTcp" && typeof c?.endpoint === "string" && /:6767\b/.test(c.endpoint),
-    )
-  ) {
-    throw new Error(
-      `E2E detected a daemon endpoint pointing at :6767 (${JSON.stringify(connections)}).`,
-    );
-  }
-}
-
-function assertPreferencesMatch(prefsRaw: string, serverId: string): void {
-  try {
-    const prefs = JSON.parse(prefsRaw) as { serverId?: string };
-    if (prefs?.serverId !== serverId) {
-      throw new Error(
-        `E2E expected create-agent-preferences.serverId to match seeded daemon serverId (${serverId}) (got ${String(prefs?.serverId)}).`,
-      );
-    }
-  } catch (error) {
-    if (error instanceof Error) throw error;
-    throw new Error("E2E expected @paseo:create-agent-preferences to be valid JSON.", {
-      cause: error,
-    });
-  }
-}
-
-async function assertE2EUsesSeededTestDaemon(page: Page): Promise<void> {
-  const port = getE2EDaemonPort();
-  const expectedEndpoint = `127.0.0.1:${port}`;
-  const expectedServerId = process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID;
-  if (!expectedServerId) {
-    throw new Error("E2E_SERVER_ID is not set (expected from Playwright globalSetup).");
-  }
-
-  const snapshot = await page.evaluate(() => {
-    const registryRaw = localStorage.getItem("@paseo:daemon-registry");
-    const prefsRaw = localStorage.getItem("@paseo:create-agent-preferences");
-    return { registryRaw, prefsRaw };
-  });
-
-  if (!snapshot.registryRaw) {
-    throw new Error("E2E expected @paseo:daemon-registry to be set before app load.");
-  }
-
-  const { serverId, connections } = parseRegistryEntry(snapshot.registryRaw);
-  if (serverId !== expectedServerId) {
-    throw new Error(
-      `E2E expected seeded daemon serverId to be ${expectedServerId} (got ${serverId}).`,
-    );
-  }
-  assertDaemonConnections(connections, expectedEndpoint);
-
-  if (!snapshot.prefsRaw) {
-    throw new Error("E2E expected @paseo:create-agent-preferences to be set before app load.");
-  }
-  assertPreferencesMatch(snapshot.prefsRaw, serverId);
-}
-
 export const gotoAppShell = async (page: Page) => {
   await page.goto("/");
-  await ensureE2EStorageSeeded(page);
 };
 
 export const gotoHome = async (page: Page) => {
   await gotoAppShell(page);
-  const composer = page.getByRole("textbox", { name: "Message agent..." });
-  if (
-    !(await composer
-      .first()
-      .isVisible()
-      .catch(() => false))
-  ) {
-    const addProjectCta = page.getByText("Add a project", { exact: true }).first();
-    const addProjectSidebar = page.getByText("Add project", { exact: true }).first();
-    const newAgentButton = page.getByText("New agent", { exact: true }).first();
+  const composer = page.getByRole("textbox", { name: "Message agent..." }).first();
+  const entryButton = page
+    .getByText("Add a project", { exact: true })
+    .or(page.getByText("Add project", { exact: true }))
+    .or(page.getByText("New agent", { exact: true }))
+    .first();
 
-    await expect
-      .poll(
-        async () =>
-          (await addProjectCta.isVisible().catch(() => false)) ||
-          (await addProjectSidebar.isVisible().catch(() => false)) ||
-          (await newAgentButton.isVisible().catch(() => false)),
-        { timeout: 10000 },
-      )
-      .toBe(true);
+  await expect
+    .poll(
+      async () =>
+        (await composer.isVisible().catch(() => false)) ||
+        (await entryButton.isVisible().catch(() => false)),
+      { timeout: 10_000 },
+    )
+    .toBe(true);
 
-    if (await addProjectCta.isVisible().catch(() => false)) {
-      await addProjectCta.click();
-    } else if (await addProjectSidebar.isVisible().catch(() => false)) {
-      await addProjectSidebar.click();
-    } else {
-      await newAgentButton.click();
-    }
+  if (!(await composer.isVisible().catch(() => false))) {
+    await entryButton.click();
   }
-  await expect(composer.first()).toBeVisible({ timeout: 30000 });
+
+  await expect(composer).toBeVisible({ timeout: 30_000 });
 };
 
 export const openSettings = async (page: Page) => {
@@ -341,46 +160,6 @@ export const setWorkingDirectory = async (page: Page, directory: string) => {
 };
 
 export const ensureHostSelected = async (page: Page) => {
-  await ensureE2EStorageSeeded(page);
-
-  // Absolute verification that we're using the per-run e2e daemon (never :6767).
-  // Also self-heal a rare case where app code rewrites daemon IDs after boot, by
-  // realigning create-agent-preferences.serverId to the sole seeded daemon.
-  try {
-    await assertE2EUsesSeededTestDaemon(page);
-  } catch (error) {
-    const message = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error);
-    if (!/create-agent-preferences\.serverId/i.test(message)) {
-      throw error;
-    }
-
-    const fix = await page.evaluate(() => {
-      const registryRaw = localStorage.getItem("@paseo:daemon-registry");
-      const prefsRaw = localStorage.getItem("@paseo:create-agent-preferences");
-      if (!registryRaw || !prefsRaw) return { ok: false, reason: "missing storage" } as const;
-      const registry = JSON.parse(registryRaw) as Array<{ serverId?: string }>;
-      const prefs = JSON.parse(prefsRaw) as { serverId?: string };
-      if (!Array.isArray(registry) || registry.length !== 1)
-        return { ok: false, reason: "registry shape" } as const;
-      const serverId = registry[0]?.serverId;
-      if (typeof serverId !== "string" || serverId.length === 0)
-        return { ok: false, reason: "missing serverId" } as const;
-      prefs.serverId = serverId;
-      localStorage.setItem("@paseo:create-agent-preferences", JSON.stringify(prefs));
-      // Prevent the fixture's init-script from overwriting the corrected prefs on reload.
-      const nonce = localStorage.getItem("@paseo:e2e-seed-nonce") ?? "1";
-      localStorage.setItem("@paseo:e2e-disable-default-seed-once", nonce);
-      return { ok: true } as const;
-    });
-
-    if (!fix.ok) {
-      throw error;
-    }
-
-    await page.reload();
-    await assertE2EUsesSeededTestDaemon(page);
-  }
-
   const input = page.getByRole("textbox", { name: "Message agent..." });
   await expect(input).toBeVisible();
 
@@ -392,7 +171,7 @@ export const ensureHostSelected = async (page: Page) => {
   if (await selectHostLabel.isVisible()) {
     await selectHostLabel.click();
 
-    // E2E safety: we enforce a single seeded daemon, so the option should be unambiguous.
+    // We enforce a single seeded daemon, so the option should be unambiguous.
     const localhostOption = page.getByText("localhost", { exact: true }).first();
     const daemonIdOption = page
       .getByText(process.env.E2E_SERVER_ID ?? "srv_e2e_test_daemon", { exact: true })
@@ -657,40 +436,3 @@ export const createAgentInRepo = async (
   await setWorkingDirectory(page, config.directory);
   await createAgent(page, config.prompt);
 };
-
-export async function waitForAgentFinishUI(page: Page, timeout = 30000) {
-  // Wait for the stop button to disappear
-  const stopButton = page.getByRole("button", { name: /stop|cancel/i });
-
-  // First, let's debug what's happening - wait a bit to see the state
-  await page.waitForTimeout(2000);
-
-  // Check if stop button is visible
-  const isVisible = await stopButton.isVisible().catch(() => false);
-
-  if (isVisible) {
-    // If stop button is still visible after permission denial,
-    // it might be that the agent is waiting for something.
-    // Let's check if there's a tool call result or other UI indication
-
-    // Look for any indication that the agent has processed the permission denial
-    const toolCallResult = page.getByText(/permission.*denied|denied|blocked/i);
-
-    // Wait for the tool call result to appear
-    await expect(toolCallResult)
-      .toBeVisible({ timeout: 10000 })
-      .catch(() => {
-        // If no specific message, just wait for the button to disappear
-      });
-
-    // Now wait for the stop button to disappear
-    await expect(stopButton).not.toBeVisible({ timeout });
-  }
-}
-
-export async function getToolCallCount(page: Page): Promise<number> {
-  // Tool calls are rendered as ExpandableBadge components with tool names like Bash, Write, Read, etc.
-  // They appear as pressable badges in the agent stream
-  const toolCallBadges = page.locator('[data-testid="tool-call-badge"]');
-  return toolCallBadges.count();
-}
diff --git a/packages/app/e2e/helpers/launcher.ts b/packages/app/e2e/helpers/launcher.ts
index 241055b9e..63e3a3f6f 100644
--- a/packages/app/e2e/helpers/launcher.ts
+++ b/packages/app/e2e/helpers/launcher.ts
@@ -68,20 +68,6 @@ export async function getActiveTabTestId(page: Page): Promise<string | null> {
 
 // ─── Tab actions ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-/** Click the new agent tab button in the tab bar. Creates a draft/chat tab directly. */
-export async function clickNewTabButton(page: Page): Promise<void> {
-  const button = page.getByTestId("workspace-new-agent-tab").filter({ visible: true }).first();
-  await expect(button).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10_000 });
-  await button.click();
-}
-
-/** Click the new terminal button in the workspace tab bar. Creates a terminal tab directly. */
-export async function clickNewTerminalButton(page: Page): Promise<void> {
-  const button = page.getByTestId("workspace-new-terminal").filter({ visible: true }).first();
-  await expect(button).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10_000 });
-  await button.click();
-}
-
 /** Press Cmd+T (macOS) or Ctrl+T (Linux/Windows) to open a new tab. */
 export async function pressNewTabShortcut(page: Page): Promise<void> {
   const modifier = process.platform === "darwin" ? "Meta" : "Control";
@@ -90,11 +76,6 @@ export async function pressNewTabShortcut(page: Page): Promise<void> {
 
 // ─── Tab bar assertions ───────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-/** @deprecated The launcher panel was removed. Actions go directly to their target. */
-export async function waitForLauncherPanel(_page: Page): Promise<void> {
-  // No-op: the launcher panel no longer exists.
-}
-
 /** Assert the new agent tab button is visible in the tab bar. */
 export async function assertNewChatTileVisible(page: Page): Promise<void> {
   await expect(
@@ -119,7 +100,7 @@ export async function clickNewChat(page: Page): Promise<void> {
 }
 
 /** Click the new terminal button to create a terminal tab. */
-export async function clickTerminal(page: Page): Promise<void> {
+export async function clickNewTerminal(page: Page): Promise<void> {
   const button = page.getByTestId("workspace-new-terminal").filter({ visible: true }).first();
   await expect(button).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10_000 });
   await button.click();
diff --git a/packages/app/e2e/helpers/workspace-lifecycle.ts b/packages/app/e2e/helpers/workspace-lifecycle.ts
index a462bbfd1..383872850 100644
--- a/packages/app/e2e/helpers/workspace-lifecycle.ts
+++ b/packages/app/e2e/helpers/workspace-lifecycle.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { expect, type Page } from "@playwright/test";
-import { clickNewChat, clickTerminal } from "./launcher";
+import { clickNewChat, clickNewTerminal } from "./launcher";
 import { setupDeterministicPrompt, waitForTerminalContent } from "./terminal-perf";
 
 function terminalSurface(page: Page) {
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ export async function expectTerminalCwd(page: Page, expectedPath: string): Promi
 }
 
 export async function createStandaloneTerminalFromLauncher(page: Page): Promise<void> {
-  await clickTerminal(page);
+  await clickNewTerminal(page);
   await expect(terminalSurface(page)).toBeVisible({ timeout: 20_000 });
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/app/e2e/launcher-tab.spec.ts b/packages/app/e2e/launcher-tab.spec.ts
index 35cdce0e9..db919a94e 100644
--- a/packages/app/e2e/launcher-tab.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/app/e2e/launcher-tab.spec.ts
@@ -5,10 +5,9 @@ import {
   assertNewChatTileVisible,
   assertTerminalTileVisible,
   assertSingleNewTabButton,
-  clickNewTabButton,
   pressNewTabShortcut,
   clickNewChat,
-  clickTerminal,
+  clickNewTerminal,
   countTabsOfKind,
   getTabTestIds,
   waitForTabWithTitle,
@@ -77,7 +76,7 @@ test.describe("Tab creation", () => {
   test("clicking new agent tab creates a draft tab", async ({ page }) => {
     await gotoWorkspace(page, workspaceId);
 
-    await clickNewTabButton(page);
+    await clickNewChat(page);
 
     // Draft composer should appear (the agent message input)
     const composer = page.getByRole("textbox", { name: "Message agent..." });
@@ -92,7 +91,7 @@ test.describe("Tab creation", () => {
     test.setTimeout(45_000);
     await gotoWorkspace(page, workspaceId);
 
-    await clickTerminal(page);
+    await clickNewTerminal(page);
 
     // Terminal surface should appear
     const terminal = page.locator('[data-testid="terminal-surface"]');
@@ -141,7 +140,7 @@ test.describe("Terminal title propagation", () => {
     try {
       // Navigate to workspace and open a terminal
       await gotoWorkspace(page, workspaceId);
-      await clickTerminal(page);
+      await clickNewTerminal(page);
 
       const terminal = page.locator('[data-testid="terminal-surface"]');
       await expect(terminal.first()).toBeVisible({ timeout: 20_000 });
@@ -171,7 +170,7 @@ test.describe("Terminal title propagation", () => {
 
     try {
       await gotoWorkspace(page, workspaceId);
-      await clickTerminal(page);
+      await clickNewTerminal(page);
 
       const terminal = page.locator('[data-testid="terminal-surface"]');
       await expect(terminal.first()).toBeVisible({ timeout: 20_000 });
@@ -231,7 +230,7 @@ test.describe("Tab transitions (no flash)", () => {
     const terminal = page.locator('[data-testid="terminal-surface"]');
     const elapsed = await measureTileTransition(
       page,
-      () => clickTerminal(page),
+      () => clickNewTerminal(page),
       terminal.first(),
       20_000,
     );
diff --git a/packages/app/e2e/workspace-cwd.spec.ts b/packages/app/e2e/workspace-cwd.spec.ts
index 8f1fba891..146b3da87 100644
--- a/packages/app/e2e/workspace-cwd.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/app/e2e/workspace-cwd.spec.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { expect, test } from "./fixtures";
-import { clickTerminal } from "./helpers/launcher";
+import { clickNewTerminal } from "./helpers/launcher";
 import { setupDeterministicPrompt, waitForTerminalContent } from "./helpers/terminal-perf";
 
 test.describe("Workspace cwd correctness", () => {
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ test.describe("Workspace cwd correctness", () => {
 
     const workspace = await withWorkspace({ prefix: "workspace-cwd-main-" });
     await workspace.navigateTo();
-    await clickTerminal(page);
+    await clickNewTerminal(page);
 
     const terminal = page.locator('[data-testid="terminal-surface"]');
     await expect(terminal.first()).toBeVisible({ timeout: 20_000 });
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ test.describe("Workspace cwd correctness", () => {
 
     const workspace = await withWorkspace({ worktree: true, prefix: "workspace-cwd-worktree-" });
     await workspace.navigateTo();
-    await clickTerminal(page);
+    await clickNewTerminal(page);
 
     const terminal = page.locator('[data-testid="terminal-surface"]');
     await expect(terminal.first()).toBeVisible({ timeout: 20_000 });
diff --git a/packages/app/e2e/workspace-setup-runtime.spec.ts b/packages/app/e2e/workspace-setup-runtime.spec.ts
index 41f0e34ab..22085cea1 100644
--- a/packages/app/e2e/workspace-setup-runtime.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/app/e2e/workspace-setup-runtime.spec.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { existsSync } from "node:fs";
 import { expect, test } from "./fixtures";
 import { createTempGitRepo } from "./helpers/workspace";
-import { clickTerminal, waitForTabBar } from "./helpers/launcher";
+import { clickNewTerminal, waitForTabBar } from "./helpers/launcher";
 import {
   connectWorkspaceSetupClient,
   createWorkspaceThroughDaemon,
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ test.describe("Workspace setup runtime authority", () => {
       await openHomeWithProject(page, repo.path);
       await navigateToWorkspaceViaSidebar(page, workspaceId);
 
-      await clickTerminal(page);
+      await clickNewTerminal(page);
 
       const terminal = page.locator('[data-testid="terminal-surface"]');
       await expect(terminal.first()).toBeVisible({ timeout: 20_000 });