diff --git a/plugins/_browser/webui/browser-store.js b/plugins/_browser/webui/browser-store.js
index df45b12e4..05d946de6 100644
--- a/plugins/_browser/webui/browser-store.js
+++ b/plugins/_browser/webui/browser-store.js
@@ -7,7 +7,11 @@ import { store as chatInputStore } from "/components/chat/input/input-store.js";
 import { store as pluginSettingsStore } from "/components/plugins/plugin-settings-store.js";
 import { store as chatsStore } from "/components/sidebar/chats/chats-store.js";
 import { store as rightCanvasStore } from "/components/canvas/right-canvas-store.js";
-import { openLatest as openLatestSurface, registerUrlHandler } from "/js/surfaces.js";
+import {
+  openLatest as openLatestSurface,
+  placeSurfaceModalHeaderAction,
+  registerUrlHandler,
+} from "/js/surfaces.js";
 
 const websocket = getNamespacedClient("/ws");
 websocket.addHandlers(["ws_webui"]);
@@ -2634,6 +2638,27 @@ const model = {
     };
     clampGeometry();
 
+    const newAction = globalThis.document.createElement("div");
+    newAction.className = "browser-header-actions surface-modal-new-action";
+    newAction.innerHTML = `
+      <button type="button" class="browser-header-new-button surface-modal-new-button" title="New Browser" aria-label="New Browser">
+        <span class="material-symbols-outlined" aria-hidden="true">add</span>
+        <span>New</span>
+      </button>
+    `;
+    const newButton = newAction.querySelector(".browser-header-new-button");
+    const onNewClick = async () => {
+      if (!newButton || newButton.disabled || this.isBusy()) return;
+      newButton.disabled = true;
+      try {
+        await this.openNewBrowser();
+      } finally {
+        if (globalThis.document?.contains?.(newButton)) newButton.disabled = false;
+      }
+    };
+    newButton?.addEventListener("click", onNewClick);
+    placeSurfaceModalHeaderAction(header, newAction, "new");
+
     const focusButton = globalThis.document.createElement("button");
     focusButton.type = "button";
     focusButton.className = "surface-button browser-modal-focus-button";
@@ -2658,12 +2683,7 @@ const model = {
       updateFocusButton(false);
     };
     updateFocusButton(false);
-    const closeButton = inner.querySelector(".modal-close");
-    if (closeButton) {
-      closeButton.insertAdjacentElement("beforebegin", focusButton);
-    } else {
-      header.appendChild(focusButton);
-    }
+    placeSurfaceModalHeaderAction(header, focusButton, "window");
     const onFocusClick = () => setFocusMode(!inner.classList.contains("is-focus-mode"));
     focusButton.addEventListener("click", onFocusClick);
 
@@ -2723,6 +2743,8 @@ const model = {
     header.addEventListener("pointerdown", onPointerDown);
 
     this._floatingCleanup = () => {
+      newButton?.removeEventListener("click", onNewClick);
+      newAction.remove();
       focusButton.removeEventListener("click", onFocusClick);
       focusButton.remove();
       header.removeEventListener("pointerdown", onPointerDown);
diff --git a/plugins/_browser/webui/main.html b/plugins/_browser/webui/main.html
index 50d363cc9..f09dbabb7 100644
--- a/plugins/_browser/webui/main.html
+++ b/plugins/_browser/webui/main.html
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   class="browser-modal"
   data-surface-id="browser"
   data-surface-modal-path="/plugins/_browser/webui/main.html"
-  data-surface-dock-title="Open Browser in surface"
+  data-surface-dock-title="Open Browser in canvas"
   data-surface-dock-icon="dock_to_right"
   data-canvas-surface="browser"
   data-canvas-modal-path="/plugins/_browser/webui/main.html"
diff --git a/plugins/_desktop/webui/desktop-panel.html b/plugins/_desktop/webui/desktop-panel.html
index 593da7d8e..1bbe300c3 100644
--- a/plugins/_desktop/webui/desktop-panel.html
+++ b/plugins/_desktop/webui/desktop-panel.html
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@
     }
 
     .modal-inner.office-modal .modal-header {
-      grid-template-columns: minmax(0, 1fr) repeat(5, auto);
+      grid-template-columns: minmax(0, 1fr) auto auto;
     }
 
     .office-modal-input-shield {
diff --git a/plugins/_desktop/webui/desktop-store.js b/plugins/_desktop/webui/desktop-store.js
index 7c597e82a..a8acd6a53 100644
--- a/plugins/_desktop/webui/desktop-store.js
+++ b/plugins/_desktop/webui/desktop-store.js
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { createStore } from "/js/AlpineStore.js";
 import { callJsonApi } from "/js/api.js";
 import { getNamespacedClient } from "/js/websocket.js";
 import { store as fileBrowserStore } from "/components/modals/file-browser/file-browser-store.js";
-import { handleUrlIntent } from "/js/surfaces.js";
+import { handleUrlIntent, placeSurfaceModalHeaderAction } from "/js/surfaces.js";
 
 const officeSocket = getNamespacedClient("/ws");
 officeSocket.addHandlers(["ws_webui"]);
@@ -2337,9 +2337,9 @@ const model = {
     if (!header || header.querySelector(".office-header-actions")) return () => {};
 
     const root = globalThis.document.createElement("div");
-    root.className = "office-header-actions";
+    root.className = "office-header-actions surface-modal-new-action";
     root.innerHTML = `
-      <button type="button" class="office-header-new-button" aria-haspopup="menu" aria-expanded="false">
+      <button type="button" class="office-header-new-button surface-modal-new-button" aria-haspopup="menu" aria-expanded="false">
         <span class="material-symbols-outlined" aria-hidden="true">add</span>
         <span>New</span>
         <span class="material-symbols-outlined office-new-chevron" aria-hidden="true">expand_more</span>
@@ -2396,14 +2396,7 @@ const model = {
     globalThis.document.addEventListener("click", onDocumentClick);
     globalThis.document.addEventListener("keydown", onDocumentKeydown);
 
-    const firstHeaderAction = header.querySelector(
-      ".modal-surface-switcher, .modal-dock-button, .office-modal-focus-button, .modal-close",
-    );
-    if (firstHeaderAction) {
-      firstHeaderAction.insertAdjacentElement("beforebegin", root);
-    } else {
-      header.appendChild(root);
-    }
+    placeSurfaceModalHeaderAction(header, root, "new");
 
     setOpen(false);
     return () => {
@@ -2501,20 +2494,16 @@ const model = {
 
     const focusButton = globalThis.document.createElement("button");
     focusButton.type = "button";
-    focusButton.className = "modal-dock-button office-modal-focus-button";
+    focusButton.className = "surface-button office-modal-focus-button";
     focusButton.innerHTML = '<span class="material-symbols-outlined" aria-hidden="true">fullscreen</span>';
     const updateFocusButton = (active) => {
       const label = active ? "Restore size" : "Focus mode";
       focusButton.setAttribute("aria-label", label);
+      focusButton.setAttribute("title", label);
       focusButton.querySelector(".material-symbols-outlined").textContent = active ? "fullscreen_exit" : "fullscreen";
     };
     updateFocusButton(false);
-    const closeButton = inner.querySelector(".modal-close");
-    if (closeButton) {
-      closeButton.insertAdjacentElement("beforebegin", focusButton);
-    } else {
-      header.appendChild(focusButton);
-    }
+    placeSurfaceModalHeaderAction(header, focusButton, "window");
     cleanup.push(() => focusButton.remove());
 
     const setFocusMode = (enabled) => {
diff --git a/plugins/_desktop/webui/main.html b/plugins/_desktop/webui/main.html
index 6bcec6ad7..9d864347b 100644
--- a/plugins/_desktop/webui/main.html
+++ b/plugins/_desktop/webui/main.html
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   class="surface-modal office-modal modal-no-backdrop"
   data-surface-id="desktop"
   data-surface-modal-path="/plugins/_desktop/webui/main.html"
-  data-surface-dock-title="Open Desktop in surface"
+  data-surface-dock-title="Open Desktop in canvas"
   data-surface-dock-icon="dock_to_right"
   data-canvas-surface="desktop"
   data-canvas-modal-path="/plugins/_desktop/webui/main.html"
diff --git a/plugins/_editor/webui/editor-panel.html b/plugins/_editor/webui/editor-panel.html
index 3739bcc64..318aed2e5 100644
--- a/plugins/_editor/webui/editor-panel.html
+++ b/plugins/_editor/webui/editor-panel.html
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@
     }
 
     .modal-inner.editor-modal .modal-header {
-      grid-template-columns: minmax(0, 1fr) repeat(4, auto);
+      grid-template-columns: minmax(0, 1fr) auto auto;
     }
 
     .editor-tabs {
diff --git a/plugins/_editor/webui/editor-store.js b/plugins/_editor/webui/editor-store.js
index ab9007670..4418bce71 100644
--- a/plugins/_editor/webui/editor-store.js
+++ b/plugins/_editor/webui/editor-store.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { createStore } from "/js/AlpineStore.js";
 import { callJsonApi } from "/js/api.js";
 import { getNamespacedClient } from "/js/websocket.js";
 import { store as fileBrowserStore } from "/components/modals/file-browser/file-browser-store.js";
+import { placeSurfaceModalHeaderAction } from "/js/surfaces.js";
 import {
   buildMarkdownPages,
   isExternalHref,
@@ -1591,9 +1592,9 @@ const model = {
     if (!header || header.querySelector(".editor-header-actions")) return () => {};
 
     const root = document.createElement("div");
-    root.className = "editor-header-actions";
+    root.className = "editor-header-actions surface-modal-new-action";
     root.innerHTML = `
-      <button type="button" class="editor-header-new-button" aria-haspopup="menu" aria-expanded="false">
+      <button type="button" class="editor-header-new-button surface-modal-new-button" aria-haspopup="menu" aria-expanded="false">
         <span class="material-symbols-outlined" aria-hidden="true">add</span>
         <span>New</span>
         <span class="material-symbols-outlined editor-new-chevron" aria-hidden="true">expand_more</span>
@@ -1642,12 +1643,7 @@ const model = {
     document.addEventListener("click", onMarkdownClick);
     document.addEventListener("keydown", onMarkdownKeydown);
 
-    const firstHeaderAction = header.querySelector(".modal-close");
-    if (firstHeaderAction) {
-      firstHeaderAction.insertAdjacentElement("beforebegin", root);
-    } else {
-      header.appendChild(root);
-    }
+    placeSurfaceModalHeaderAction(header, root, "new");
 
     setOpen(false);
     return () => {
@@ -1666,10 +1662,9 @@ const model = {
     inner.dataset.editorModalReady = "1";
     inner.classList.add("editor-modal");
     const cleanup = [];
-    const closeButton = inner.querySelector(".modal-close");
     const focusButton = document.createElement("button");
     focusButton.type = "button";
-    focusButton.className = "modal-dock-button editor-modal-focus-button";
+    focusButton.className = "surface-button editor-modal-focus-button";
     focusButton.innerHTML = '<span class="material-symbols-outlined" aria-hidden="true">fullscreen</span>';
     const updateFocusButton = (active) => {
       const label = active ? "Restore size" : "Focus mode";
@@ -1684,11 +1679,7 @@ const model = {
       updateFocusButton(active);
     };
     focusButton.addEventListener("click", onFocusClick);
-    if (closeButton) {
-      closeButton.insertAdjacentElement("beforebegin", focusButton);
-    } else {
-      header.appendChild(focusButton);
-    }
+    placeSurfaceModalHeaderAction(header, focusButton, "window");
     cleanup.push(() => focusButton.removeEventListener("click", onFocusClick));
     cleanup.push(() => focusButton.remove());
 
diff --git a/plugins/_editor/webui/main.html b/plugins/_editor/webui/main.html
index aaae661fd..54921ed4a 100644
--- a/plugins/_editor/webui/main.html
+++ b/plugins/_editor/webui/main.html
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   class="surface-modal editor-modal modal-no-backdrop"
   data-surface-id="editor"
   data-surface-modal-path="/plugins/_editor/webui/main.html"
-  data-surface-dock-title="Open Editor in surface"
+  data-surface-dock-title="Open Editor in canvas"
   data-surface-dock-icon="dock_to_right"
   data-canvas-surface="editor"
   data-canvas-modal-path="/plugins/_editor/webui/main.html"
diff --git a/webui/css/surfaces.css b/webui/css/surfaces.css
index 84a6ea827..acff4e115 100644
--- a/webui/css/surfaces.css
+++ b/webui/css/surfaces.css
@@ -29,6 +29,42 @@
   gap: 5px;
 }
 
+.surface-modal-actions {
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 5px;
+  min-width: 0;
+}
+
+.surface-modal-action-group {
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 5px;
+  min-width: 0;
+}
+
+.surface-modal-action-group[hidden],
+.surface-modal-action-separator[hidden] {
+  display: none;
+}
+
+.surface-modal-action-separator {
+  display: block;
+  flex: 0 0 1px;
+  width: 1px;
+  height: 20px;
+  margin: 0 5px;
+  border-radius: 999px;
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-border) 72%, transparent);
+}
+
+.surface-modal-new-action {
+  position: relative;
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  flex: 0 0 auto;
+}
+
 .surface-dock-button,
 .surface-button,
 .modal-dock-button,
@@ -68,6 +104,62 @@
   font-size: 19px;
 }
 
+.surface-modal-new-button {
+  appearance: none;
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  gap: 5px;
+  height: 34px;
+  min-height: 34px;
+  padding: 0 9px 0 8px;
+  border: 1px solid transparent;
+  border-radius: 7px;
+  background: transparent;
+  color: var(--color-text);
+  cursor: pointer;
+  font: inherit;
+  font-size: 12px;
+  font-weight: 750;
+  letter-spacing: 0;
+  line-height: 1;
+  opacity: 0.82;
+  white-space: nowrap;
+  transition: background-color 0.16s ease, border-color 0.16s ease, opacity 0.16s ease;
+}
+
+.surface-modal-new-button:hover:not(:disabled),
+.surface-modal-new-action.is-open .surface-modal-new-button {
+  opacity: 1;
+  border-color: color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-primary) 28%, var(--color-border));
+  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-background-hover) 72%, transparent);
+}
+
+.surface-modal-new-button:disabled {
+  cursor: default;
+  opacity: 0.45;
+}
+
+.surface-modal-new-button .material-symbols-outlined {
+  font-size: 18px;
+  line-height: 1;
+}
+
+@media (max-width: 560px) {
+  .surface-modal-actions,
+  .surface-modal-action-group {
+    gap: 3px;
+  }
+
+  .surface-modal-action-separator {
+    margin: 0 3px;
+  }
+
+  .surface-modal-new-button span:not(.material-symbols-outlined) {
+    display: none;
+  }
+}
+
 .surface-image,
 .modal-surface-image {
   display: block;
diff --git a/webui/js/surfaces.js b/webui/js/surfaces.js
index 7357f3afe..9afe0869a 100644
--- a/webui/js/surfaces.js
+++ b/webui/js/surfaces.js
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ const LEGACY_SURFACE_IDS = new Map([
 
 const registeredSurfaces = new Map();
 const urlHandlers = new Set();
+const SURFACE_MODAL_ACTION_GROUPS = ["surfaces", "window", "new"];
 
 export const CORE_SURFACES = [
   {
@@ -277,6 +278,97 @@ function getModalSwitchSurfaces(metadata) {
     .sort((left, right) => (left.order ?? 100) - (right.order ?? 100));
 }
 
+function directChildByClass(parent, className) {
+  return Array.from(parent?.children || []).find((child) => child.classList?.contains(className)) || null;
+}
+
+function ensureSurfaceModalActionRail(header) {
+  if (!header) return null;
+  let rail = directChildByClass(header, "surface-modal-actions");
+  if (!rail) {
+    rail = document.createElement("div");
+    rail.className = "surface-modal-actions";
+    rail.setAttribute("aria-label", "Surface modal actions");
+
+    const closeButton = directChildByClass(header, "modal-close") || header.querySelector?.(".modal-close");
+    if (closeButton) {
+      closeButton.insertAdjacentElement("beforebegin", rail);
+    } else {
+      header.appendChild(rail);
+    }
+  }
+
+  for (const [index, groupName] of SURFACE_MODAL_ACTION_GROUPS.entries()) {
+    if (!rail.querySelector(`[data-surface-modal-action-group="${groupName}"]`)) {
+      if (index > 0 && !rail.querySelector(`[data-surface-modal-separator-before="${groupName}"]`)) {
+        const separator = document.createElement("span");
+        separator.className = "surface-modal-action-separator";
+        separator.dataset.surfaceModalSeparatorBefore = groupName;
+        separator.setAttribute("aria-hidden", "true");
+        rail.appendChild(separator);
+      }
+
+      const group = document.createElement("div");
+      group.className = `surface-modal-action-group surface-modal-action-group-${groupName}`;
+      group.dataset.surfaceModalActionGroup = groupName;
+      rail.appendChild(group);
+    }
+  }
+
+  refreshSurfaceModalActionRail(header);
+  return rail;
+}
+
+function surfaceModalActionGroup(header, groupName) {
+  const rail = ensureSurfaceModalActionRail(header);
+  return rail?.querySelector?.(`[data-surface-modal-action-group="${groupName}"]`) || null;
+}
+
+export function refreshSurfaceModalActionRail(header) {
+  const rail = directChildByClass(header, "surface-modal-actions");
+  if (!rail) return;
+
+  const groups = Object.fromEntries(
+    SURFACE_MODAL_ACTION_GROUPS.map((groupName) => [
+      groupName,
+      rail.querySelector(`[data-surface-modal-action-group="${groupName}"]`),
+    ]),
+  );
+  const hasActions = Object.fromEntries(
+    Object.entries(groups).map(([groupName, group]) => [
+      groupName,
+      Boolean(group?.children?.length),
+    ]),
+  );
+
+  for (const [groupName, group] of Object.entries(groups)) {
+    if (group) group.hidden = !hasActions[groupName];
+  }
+
+  const beforeWindow = rail.querySelector('[data-surface-modal-separator-before="window"]');
+  if (beforeWindow) beforeWindow.hidden = !(hasActions.surfaces && (hasActions.window || hasActions.new));
+
+  const beforeNew = rail.querySelector('[data-surface-modal-separator-before="new"]');
+  if (beforeNew) beforeNew.hidden = !(hasActions.window && hasActions.new);
+}
+
+export function placeSurfaceModalHeaderAction(header, element, groupName = "window", options = {}) {
+  if (!header || !element) return;
+  const normalizedGroup = SURFACE_MODAL_ACTION_GROUPS.includes(groupName) ? groupName : "window";
+  const group = surfaceModalActionGroup(header, normalizedGroup);
+  if (!group) return;
+
+  if (options.prepend) {
+    if (element.parentElement !== group || group.firstElementChild !== element) {
+      group.insertBefore(element, group.firstElementChild);
+    }
+  } else if (element.parentElement !== group) {
+    group.appendChild(element);
+  }
+
+  refreshSurfaceModalActionRail(header);
+}
+
 function markSurfaceModal(modal, metadata) {
   const element = modal?.element;
   const inner = modal?.inner || element?.querySelector?.(".modal-inner");
@@ -350,11 +442,11 @@ function configureModalSurfaceSwitcher(modal, metadata) {
     switcher.appendChild(createModalSurfaceButton(surface, metadata, modal));
   }
 
-  modal.close?.insertAdjacentElement("beforebegin", switcher);
+  placeSurfaceModalHeaderAction(modal.header, switcher, "surfaces");
 }
 
 function configureModalDockButton(modal, metadata) {
-  if (!metadata || !modal?.header || modal.header.querySelector(".surface-dock-button, .modal-dock-button")) {
+  if (!metadata || !modal?.header || modal.header.querySelector(".surface-dock-button")) {
     return;
   }
 
@@ -384,7 +476,7 @@ function configureModalDockButton(modal, metadata) {
     }
   });
 
-  modal.close?.insertAdjacentElement("beforebegin", button);
+  placeSurfaceModalHeaderAction(modal.header, button, "window", { prepend: true });
 }
 
 async function configureSurfaceModal(event) {