diff --git a/docs/contract.md b/docs/contract.md
index 953b5eb..8d6ee69 100644
--- a/docs/contract.md
+++ b/docs/contract.md
@@ -102,7 +102,8 @@ Editing flow:
 
 - `Enter`: save and submit the current input
 - `Esc`: save draft and close the editor
-- `Up`, `Down`, `Tab`, `Shift+Tab`: save draft and continue navigation
+- arrow keys and `Tab` stay in the editor so the cursor can move while typing
+- navigation resumes only after closing the editor with `Esc`
 
 ## Non-interactive mode
 
diff --git a/src/ui/constants.ts b/src/ui/constants.ts
index 54eac9a..6525243 100644
--- a/src/ui/constants.ts
+++ b/src/ui/constants.ts
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@ export const UI_TEXT = {
 	reviewTitle: "Review your answers",
 	readyToSubmit: "Ready to submit your answers?",
 	unanswered: "→ (unanswered)",
-	footerInput: " Enter submit · Esc save and close · Tab/←→ save and navigate",
-	footerNote: " Enter save · Esc save and close · Tab/←→ save and navigate",
+	footerInput: " Enter submit · Esc save and close",
+	footerNote: " Enter save · Esc save and close",
 	footerSubmit: " ↑↓ select · Enter confirm · Esc cancel",
 	footerMulti:
 		" ⇆ tab · ↑↓ select · Space toggle · Enter continue · N option note · Ctrl+N question note · Esc dismiss · 1-9 quick toggle",
diff --git a/src/ui/input.ts b/src/ui/input.ts
index 1f1d712..6bd3546 100644
--- a/src/ui/input.ts
+++ b/src/ui/input.ts
@@ -42,18 +42,6 @@ export function formatKeybindingLabel(key: string): string {
 }
 
 function getEditingInputCommand(data: string): AskInputCommand {
-	if (matchesKey(data, Key.tab) || matchesKey(data, Key.right)) {
-		return { kind: "editMoveTab", delta: 1 };
-	}
-	if (matchesKey(data, Key.shift("tab")) || matchesKey(data, Key.left)) {
-		return { kind: "editMoveTab", delta: -1 };
-	}
-	if (matchesKey(data, Key.up)) {
-		return { kind: "editMoveOption", delta: -1 };
-	}
-	if (matchesKey(data, Key.down)) {
-		return { kind: "editMoveOption", delta: 1 };
-	}
 	if (matchesKey(data, Key.escape)) {
 		return { kind: "editClose" };
 	}
diff --git a/tests/input.test.ts b/tests/input.test.ts
index 3d60b46..8e8fe9a 100644
--- a/tests/input.test.ts
+++ b/tests/input.test.ts
@@ -21,19 +21,35 @@ function inputState() {
 	return state;
 }
 
-test("editing views let up and down move navigation", () => {
+test("typing mode delegates arrow keys to the editor", () => {
 	const input = inputState();
+
 	assert.deepEqual(getInputCommand(input, "\x1b[A"), {
-		kind: "editMoveOption",
-		delta: -1,
+		kind: "delegateToEditor",
 	});
 	assert.deepEqual(getInputCommand(input, "\x1b[B"), {
-		kind: "editMoveOption",
-		delta: 1,
+		kind: "delegateToEditor",
+	});
+	assert.deepEqual(getInputCommand(input, "\x1b[C"), {
+		kind: "delegateToEditor",
+	});
+	assert.deepEqual(getInputCommand(input, "\x1b[D"), {
+		kind: "delegateToEditor",
 	});
 });
 
-test("note editing views let up and down move navigation", () => {
+test("typing mode delegates tab to the editor", () => {
+	const input = inputState();
+
+	assert.deepEqual(getInputCommand(input, "\t"), {
+		kind: "delegateToEditor",
+	});
+	assert.deepEqual(getInputCommand(input, "\x1b[Z"), {
+		kind: "delegateToEditor",
+	});
+});
+
+test("note editing mode delegates arrows and tab to the editor", () => {
 	const state = enterQuestionNoteMode(
 		createInitialState({
 			questions: [
@@ -48,11 +64,18 @@ test("note editing views let up and down move navigation", () => {
 	);
 
 	assert.deepEqual(getInputCommand(state, "\x1b[A"), {
-		kind: "editMoveOption",
-		delta: -1,
+		kind: "delegateToEditor",
 	});
 	assert.deepEqual(getInputCommand(state, "\x1b[B"), {
-		kind: "editMoveOption",
-		delta: 1,
+		kind: "delegateToEditor",
+	});
+	assert.deepEqual(getInputCommand(state, "\x1b[C"), {
+		kind: "delegateToEditor",
+	});
+	assert.deepEqual(getInputCommand(state, "\x1b[D"), {
+		kind: "delegateToEditor",
+	});
+	assert.deepEqual(getInputCommand(state, "\t"), {
+		kind: "delegateToEditor",
 	});
 });
diff --git a/tests/render-helpers.test.ts b/tests/render-helpers.test.ts
index d644747..a22e82a 100644
--- a/tests/render-helpers.test.ts
+++ b/tests/render-helpers.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 import assert from "node:assert/strict";
 import test from "node:test";
-import { renderEditorBlock } from "../src/ui/render-helpers.ts";
+import {
+	renderEditorBlock,
+	renderFooterText,
+} from "../src/ui/render-helpers.ts";
 
 const ABC_PATTERN = /abc/;
 const BORDER_PATTERN = /┌|└/;
@@ -69,3 +72,8 @@ test("renderEditorBlock reapplies background after editor reset sequences", () =
 	assert.match(lines[0], SELECTED_BG_PATTERN);
 	assert(lines[0].includes("\x1b[0m{selectedBg}"));
 });
+
+test("editing footers do not advertise tab navigation", () => {
+	assert.equal(renderFooterText("input"), " Enter submit · Esc save and close");
+	assert.equal(renderFooterText("note"), " Enter save · Esc save and close");
+});