diff --git a/backend/src/routes/sessions.ts b/backend/src/routes/sessions.ts
index 1aab8a13..7f1299a8 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/sessions.ts
+++ b/backend/src/routes/sessions.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import type { FastifyInstance } from "fastify";
 import type { PiProcessManager } from "../pi/pi-process-manager.js";
-import type { ThtRunner } from "../tht/tht-runner.js";
+import type { SessionRow, ThtRunner } from "../tht/tht-runner.js";
 import type { SseHub } from "../sse/sse-hub.js";
 import type { Settings } from "../settings/settings-store.js";
 import { getPrincipal } from "../auth/auth.js";
@@ -213,7 +213,12 @@ export function sessionRoutes(
       const settings = await d.getSettings(principal);
       // Admin RLS is deliberately disabled for a normal 'mine' listing.
       const scopedPrincipal = scope === "mine" ? { ...principal, isAdmin: false } : principal;
-      return await runnerFor(scopedPrincipal).sessionList(settings.workspace);
+      const list: SessionRow[] = await runnerFor(scopedPrincipal).sessionList(settings.workspace);
+      // Annotate each row with whether a live Pi runtime is currently bound. The client
+      // opens an `active` session straight into its live view (reconnecting to its pending
+      // gate), while a cold session keeps its explicit Resume affordance — so a mere click
+      // never spawns a runtime.
+      return list.map((row) => ({ ...row, active: d.mgr.get(row.id) !== undefined }));
     } catch { return storageFailure(reply); }
   });
   app.get("/sessions/:id", async (req, reply) => {
diff --git a/backend/test/routes-sessions.test.ts b/backend/test/routes-sessions.test.ts
index 96b6c719..565c7b3c 100644
--- a/backend/test/routes-sessions.test.ts
+++ b/backend/test/routes-sessions.test.ts
@@ -109,11 +109,11 @@ test("A, B, and admin requests preserve owner isolation through session route mu
   const adminHeaders = { ...aliceHeaders, "x-thoth-principal-subject": "admin", "x-thoth-is-admin": "1" };
 
   expect((await app.inject({ method: "GET", url: "/sessions", headers: aliceHeaders })).json())
-    .toEqual([{ id: "a", author: "alice" }]);
+    .toEqual([{ id: "a", author: "alice", active: false }]);
   expect((await app.inject({ method: "GET", url: "/sessions", headers: bobHeaders })).json())
-    .toEqual([{ id: "b", author: "bob" }]);
+    .toEqual([{ id: "b", author: "bob", active: false }]);
   expect((await app.inject({ method: "GET", url: "/sessions?scope=all", headers: adminHeaders })).json())
-    .toEqual([{ id: "a", author: "alice" }, { id: "b", author: "bob" }]);
+    .toEqual([{ id: "a", author: "alice", active: false }, { id: "b", author: "bob", active: false }]);
 
   expect((await app.inject({ method: "POST", url: "/sessions/a/close", headers: bobHeaders })).statusCode)
     .toBe(404);
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ test("POST /sessions usa i settings (workspace/provider/model/thinking) e crea+a
   expect(sessionNewArg.thinking).toBe("high");
   expect(sessionNewArg.question).toBe("q");
   const list = await app.inject({ method: "GET", url: "/sessions" });
-  expect(list.json()).toEqual([{ id: "s1" }]);
+  expect(list.json()).toEqual([{ id: "s1", active: expect.any(Boolean) }]);
   unlinkSync(modelKey);
 });
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/api/types.ts b/frontend/src/api/types.ts
index 872e7543..9901e7d8 100644
--- a/frontend/src/api/types.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/api/types.ts
@@ -102,6 +102,8 @@ export interface SessionSummary {
   name: string | null;
   group: string | null;
   archived: boolean;
+  /** True while a live Pi runtime is bound: opening it reconnects to its pending gate. */
+  active?: boolean;
 }
 
 export type SessionScope = "mine" | "all";
diff --git a/frontend/src/shell/AppShell.session-mgmt.test.tsx b/frontend/src/shell/AppShell.session-mgmt.test.tsx
index d6130b12..486a7202 100644
--- a/frontend/src/shell/AppShell.session-mgmt.test.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/shell/AppShell.session-mgmt.test.tsx
@@ -181,6 +181,37 @@ test("opening the panel shows the session documents", async () => {
   expect(await screen.findByText("Domanda originale")).toBeInTheDocument();
 });
 
+test("clicking a session with a live runtime reconnects to its gate instead of the panel", async () => {
+  let resumed: string | null = null;
+  server.use(
+    http.get("http://localhost:8787/sessions", () =>
+      HttpResponse.json([{ ...LIST[0], active: true }])),
+    http.post("http://localhost:8787/sessions/:id/resume", ({ params }) => {
+      resumed = params.id as string;
+      return resumeResult(resumed, true); // warm runtime → alreadyActive
+    }),
+    http.get("http://localhost:8787/sessions/:id", () =>
+      HttpResponse.json({ id: "s1", status: "open", phase: 1 })),
+  );
+  wrap();
+  await userEvent.click(await screen.findByText("Attiva uno"));
+  await waitFor(() => expect(resumed).toBe("s1"));
+  await waitFor(() => expect(FakeEventSource.instances.at(-1)?.url).toContain("/sessions/s1/events"));
+  // Live view, not the read-only documents panel.
+  expect(screen.queryByText("Domanda originale")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+});
+
+test("New session closes an open session detail panel", async () => {
+  server.use(http.post("http://localhost:8787/runtime/prewarm", () =>
+    HttpResponse.json({ status: "warming" }, { status: 202 })));
+  wrap();
+  await userEvent.click(await screen.findByText("Attiva uno")); // cold session → panel opens
+  await screen.findByText("Domanda originale");
+  await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /^new session$/i }));
+  await waitFor(() => expect(screen.queryByText("Domanda originale")).not.toBeInTheDocument());
+  expect(screen.getByText(/type your question/i)).toBeInTheDocument();
+});
+
 test("Archive accordion expands to reveal archived sessions", async () => {
   wrap();
   // archived hidden until the Archive accordion is expanded
@@ -246,7 +277,7 @@ test("an already-active same-session Resume preserves its EventSource and store"
   act(() => first.emitNamed("info", { type: "info", text: "Live state" }, "4"));
   const before = useSessionStore.getState().activityLog.map((entry) => ({ ...entry }));
 
-  await userEvent.click(screen.getByText("Attiva uno"));
+  await userEvent.click(screen.getByTestId("session-item-s1"));
   await screen.findByText("Domanda originale");
   await userEvent.click(await screen.findByRole("button", { name: /resume/i }));
 
@@ -278,7 +309,7 @@ test("concurrent same-id Resume invocations share one cold request and replaceme
   const oldSource = FakeEventSource.instances[0];
   act(() => oldSource.emitNamed("info", { type: "info", text: "Old generation" }, "900"));
 
-  await userEvent.click(screen.getByText("Attiva uno"));
+  await userEvent.click(screen.getByTestId("session-item-s1"));
   const resumeButton = await screen.findByRole("button", { name: /resume/i });
   await userEvent.click(resumeButton);
   await coldStarted.promise;
@@ -343,7 +374,7 @@ test("a committed Resume releases same-id single-flight before its manifest sett
   await userEvent.click(await screen.findByRole("button", { name: /resume/i }));
   await waitFor(() => expect(useSessionStore.getState().currentPhase).toBe("F3"));
 
-  await userEvent.click(screen.getByText("Attiva uno"));
+  await userEvent.click(screen.getByTestId("session-item-s1"));
   await userEvent.click(await screen.findByRole("button", { name: /resume/i }));
   await waitFor(() => expect(s1ResumeCalls).toBe(2));
   await waitFor(() => expect(useSessionStore.getState().currentPhase).toBe("F4"));
@@ -380,7 +411,7 @@ test("cold same-session Resume keeps the old stream until success then receives
     return resumeResult("s1");
   }));
 
-  await userEvent.click(screen.getByText("Attiva uno"));
+  await userEvent.click(screen.getByTestId("session-item-s1"));
   await screen.findByText("Domanda originale");
   await userEvent.click(await screen.findByRole("button", { name: /resume/i }));
   await resumeStarted;
@@ -446,7 +477,7 @@ test("a failed same-session Resume preserves its source, activity, and document
 
   server.use(http.post("http://localhost:8787/sessions/:id/resume", () =>
     new HttpResponse(null, { status: 409 })));
-  await userEvent.click(screen.getByText("Attiva uno"));
+  await userEvent.click(screen.getByTestId("session-item-s1"));
   await userEvent.click(await screen.findByRole("button", { name: /resume/i }));
   await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByText("Domanda originale")).toBeInTheDocument());
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/shell/AppShell.tsx b/frontend/src/shell/AppShell.tsx
index cea56bae..5d69b82c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/shell/AppShell.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/shell/AppShell.tsx
@@ -122,7 +122,17 @@ export function AppShell() {
 
   function openPanel(id: string) {
     const s = sessions.find((x) => x.id === id);
-    if (s) { setPanelSession(s); setShowActivity(false); }
+    if (!s) return;
+    // A session with a live Pi runtime opens straight into its live view: doResume
+    // reconnects to the already-active runtime and replays its pending gate, so an
+    // in-progress session never shows an empty screen that reads as "stopped". Cold or
+    // completed sessions keep the read-only documents panel (with its explicit Resume),
+    // so a mere click never spawns a runtime.
+    if (s.active && s.status === "open" && !s.archived && !isForeignSession(s)) {
+      void doResume(id);
+      return;
+    }
+    setPanelSession(s); setShowActivity(false);
   }
   function toggleActivity() {
     setShowActivity((v) => {
@@ -351,6 +361,9 @@ export function AppShell() {
   function startNewSession() {
     invalidateResumeIntent();
     resetSession();
+    // Starting a new question closes any open session detail panel: the reader is
+    // moving away from that session, so its left-hand box must not linger.
+    setPanelSession(null);
     setAwaitingQuestion(true);
     setCreatingSession(false);
     selectActiveSession(null);
diff --git a/frontend/src/shell/useActivityPanelResize.test.ts b/frontend/src/shell/useActivityPanelResize.test.ts
index 5b8e1f2a..b31036e9 100644
--- a/frontend/src/shell/useActivityPanelResize.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/shell/useActivityPanelResize.test.ts
@@ -10,10 +10,11 @@ import {
 } from "./useActivityPanelResize";
 
 describe("activity panel resize contract", () => {
-  test("computes desktop bounds while preserving 512px centrally", () => {
-    expect(getActivityPanelBounds(1200)).toEqual({ min: 288, max: 576 });
-    expect(getActivityPanelBounds(1024)).toEqual({ min: 288, max: 512 });
-    expect(getActivityPanelBounds(800)).toEqual({ min: 288, max: 288 });
+  test("lets the panel reach a 50/50 split while preserving 512px centrally when narrow", () => {
+    expect(getActivityPanelBounds(2000)).toEqual({ min: 288, max: 1000 }); // exactly 50%
+    expect(getActivityPanelBounds(1200)).toEqual({ min: 288, max: 600 }); // 50%, central 600 ≥ 512
+    expect(getActivityPanelBounds(1024)).toEqual({ min: 288, max: 512 }); // 50% == central-min
+    expect(getActivityPanelBounds(800)).toEqual({ min: 288, max: 288 }); // central-min binds before 50%
   });
 
   test("clamps finite values and falls back for invalid values", () => {
diff --git a/frontend/src/shell/useActivityPanelResize.ts b/frontend/src/shell/useActivityPanelResize.ts
index d7d0e177..862d69ee 100644
--- a/frontend/src/shell/useActivityPanelResize.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/shell/useActivityPanelResize.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import type { KeyboardEventHandler, PointerEventHandler, RefObject } from "react
 
 export const ACTIVITY_PANEL_DEFAULT_WIDTH = 384;
 export const ACTIVITY_PANEL_MIN_WIDTH = 288;
+/** Pre-measurement fallback ceiling only; the measured bound is 50% of the container (see below). */
 export const ACTIVITY_PANEL_MAX_WIDTH = 576;
 export const ACTIVITY_CENTRAL_MIN_WIDTH = 512;
 export const ACTIVITY_PANEL_STORAGE_KEY = "thothii:model-activity-panel-width";
@@ -10,11 +11,13 @@ export const ACTIVITY_PANEL_STORAGE_KEY = "thothii:model-activity-panel-width";
 export type ActivityPanelBounds = { min: number; max: number };
 
 export function getActivityPanelBounds(containerWidth: number): ActivityPanelBounds {
+  // The separator may be dragged out to a full 50/50 split. On containers too narrow
+  // for that (below ~1024px) the central-min guard binds first, keeping the chat usable.
   return {
     min: ACTIVITY_PANEL_MIN_WIDTH,
     max: Math.max(
       ACTIVITY_PANEL_MIN_WIDTH,
-      Math.min(ACTIVITY_PANEL_MAX_WIDTH, containerWidth - ACTIVITY_CENTRAL_MIN_WIDTH),
+      Math.min(containerWidth * 0.5, containerWidth - ACTIVITY_CENTRAL_MIN_WIDTH),
     ),
   };
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/test/setup.ts b/frontend/src/test/setup.ts
index 2e77f7ed..ed2ee3d1 100644
--- a/frontend/src/test/setup.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/test/setup.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,26 @@
 import "@testing-library/jest-dom/vitest";
 import { server } from "./msw";
 
+// Node 25 ships an experimental global `localStorage` that shadows jsdom's Storage and
+// lacks spec methods like clear(), so tests calling localStorage.clear()/setItem() throw.
+// Swap in a spec-compliant in-memory Storage. Feature-detected: inert on runtimes whose
+// localStorage already implements clear() (e.g. CI on an LTS Node with working jsdom).
+if (typeof localStorage === "undefined" || typeof localStorage.clear !== "function") {
+  const store = new Map<string, string>();
+  const storage: Storage = {
+    get length() { return store.size; },
+    clear() { store.clear(); },
+    getItem(key: string) { return store.has(key) ? store.get(key)! : null; },
+    key(index: number) { return Array.from(store.keys())[index] ?? null; },
+    removeItem(key: string) { store.delete(key); },
+    setItem(key: string, value: string) { store.set(String(key), String(value)); },
+  };
+  Object.defineProperty(globalThis, "localStorage", { value: storage, configurable: true, writable: true });
+  if (typeof window !== "undefined") {
+    Object.defineProperty(window, "localStorage", { value: storage, configurable: true, writable: true });
+  }
+}
+
 // jsdom lacks matchMedia; sonner's <Toaster> (mounted in AppShell) needs it.
 if (!window.matchMedia) {
   window.matchMedia = (query: string) =>