diff --git a/apps/kimi-web/src/App.vue b/apps/kimi-web/src/App.vue
index 9c8a6cb5b..b17b8455d 100644
--- a/apps/kimi-web/src/App.vue
+++ b/apps/kimi-web/src/App.vue
@@ -177,6 +177,8 @@ function normalizePreviewPath(inputPath: string): { path: string } | { error: st
 async function openFilePreview(target: FilePreviewRequest): Promise<void> {
   thinkingTarget.value = null; // shared right-side slot
   compactionTarget.value = null;
+  // Desktop: surface the preview as a split pane (a peer of chat/files).
+  if (!isMobile.value) conversationPaneRef.value?.openPreviewPane();
   const normalized = normalizePreviewPath(target.path);
   previewTarget.value = target;
   previewFile.value = null;
@@ -213,6 +215,7 @@ function openMediaPreview(media: ToolMedia): void {
   if (media.kind !== 'image') return;
   thinkingTarget.value = null;
   compactionTarget.value = null;
+  if (!isMobile.value) conversationPaneRef.value?.openPreviewPane();
   previewRequestSeq++;
   previewTarget.value = null;
   previewError.value = null;
@@ -303,8 +306,12 @@ function closeCompactionPanel(): void {
 }
 
 /** Any occupant of the shared right-side slot. */
+// File/media preview lives in the split-pane system on desktop (a peer of
+// chat/files); the right-side panel only hosts it on mobile, where there is no
+// split layout. Thinking/compaction summaries stay in the side panel always.
+const sidePreviewVisible = computed(() => previewVisible.value && isMobile.value);
 const sidePanelVisible = computed(
-  () => previewVisible.value || thinkingVisible.value || compactionPanelVisible.value,
+  () => sidePreviewVisible.value || thinkingVisible.value || compactionPanelVisible.value,
 );
 
 /** True while the panel's resize handle is being dragged — the width
@@ -654,6 +661,15 @@ function openPr(url: string): void {
       :active-workspace-id="client.activeWorkspaceId.value"
       :session-title="activeSessionTitle"
       :pr="null"
+      :preview-file="previewFile"
+      :preview-loading="previewLoading"
+      :preview-error="previewError"
+      :preview-line="previewTarget?.line"
+      :preview-download-url="previewDownloadUrl"
+      :preview-external-actions="previewExternalActions"
+      @close-preview="closeFilePreview"
+      @open-preview-external="openPreviewInEditor"
+      @reveal-preview="revealPreviewFile"
       @select-workspace="handleCreateSessionInWorkspace($event)"
       @open-in-app="(app) => client.openInApp(app)"
       @add-workspace="showAddWorkspace = true"
@@ -727,7 +743,7 @@ function openPr(url: string): void {
         @close="closeCompactionPanel"
       />
       <FilePreview
-        v-else-if="previewVisible"
+        v-else-if="sidePreviewVisible"
         :file="previewFile"
         :loading="previewLoading"
         :error="previewError"
diff --git a/apps/kimi-web/src/components/ConversationPane.vue b/apps/kimi-web/src/components/ConversationPane.vue
index c85c2afd9..2fd9cde6f 100644
--- a/apps/kimi-web/src/components/ConversationPane.vue
+++ b/apps/kimi-web/src/components/ConversationPane.vue
@@ -88,6 +88,15 @@ const props = defineProps<{
   sessionTitle?: string;
   /** GitHub PR for the current branch, when known (shown in the chat header). */
   pr?: { number: number; state: string; url: string } | null;
+  // ---- Global preview pane (file/media opened from chat links) ------------
+  // Owned by App; rendered here as a split pane (a peer of chat/files) so the
+  // preview lives at the same level as the other views, not in a separate panel.
+  previewFile?: FileData | null;
+  previewLoading?: boolean;
+  previewError?: string | null;
+  previewLine?: number;
+  previewDownloadUrl?: string | null;
+  previewExternalActions?: boolean;
 }>();
 
 const emit = defineEmits<{
@@ -116,6 +125,12 @@ const emit = defineEmits<{
   openCompaction: [target: { turnId: string }];
   /** Edit + resend the last user message (App undoes, then refills composer). */
   editMessage: [text: string];
+  /** Preview pane: close it (App clears the preview state). */
+  closePreview: [];
+  /** Preview pane: open the previewed file in the external editor. */
+  openPreviewExternal: [];
+  /** Preview pane: reveal the previewed file in the OS file manager. */
+  revealPreview: [];
   /** Empty-composer workspace picker: start a new conversation elsewhere. */
   selectWorkspace: [workspaceId: string];
   /** Empty-composer workspace picker: create a new workspace. */
@@ -177,7 +192,29 @@ function switchTab(tab: PaneKey): void {
 function loadComposerForEdit(value: string): void {
   (dockedComposerRef.value ?? emptyComposerRef.value)?.loadForEdit(value);
 }
-defineExpose({ switchTab, loadComposerForEdit });
+
+/** Open (or focus) the preview pane — App calls this when a file/media preview
+    is requested, so the preview shows as a split pane at the chat/files level. */
+function openPreviewPane(): void {
+  paneLayout.openPreview();
+}
+
+/** Close the preview pane and tell App to clear the preview state. */
+function closePreviewPane(): void {
+  paneLayout.closePreview();
+  emit('closePreview');
+}
+
+// When App clears the preview (e.g. on a session switch), drop the now-empty
+// preview pane. Watcher batching means the transient null state while a preview
+// is opening (loading already true by then) never triggers this.
+watch(
+  () => [props.previewFile, props.previewLoading, props.previewError] as const,
+  ([file, loading, error]) => {
+    if (!file && !loading && !error) paneLayout.closePreview();
+  },
+);
+defineExpose({ switchTab, loadComposerForEdit, openPreviewPane });
 
 function firstGroupId(node: PaneLayout): string | undefined {
   if (node.type === 'group') return node.id;
@@ -764,9 +801,10 @@ onUnmounted(() => {
           :changes-count="changesCount"
           :todos="todos ?? []"
           :can-close="paneLayout.layout.value.type !== 'group'"
+          :has-preview="group.views.includes('preview')"
           @select="selectGroupPane(group, $event)"
           @split="paneLayout.split(group.id, $event)"
-          @close="paneLayout.close(group.id)"
+          @close="group.active === 'preview' ? closePreviewPane() : paneLayout.close(group.id)"
         >
           <div
             :ref="group.active === 'chat' ? 'panesRef' : undefined"
@@ -811,6 +849,21 @@ onUnmounted(() => {
               v-else-if="group.active === 'terminal' && sessionId"
               :session-id="sessionId"
             />
+            <!-- Preview pane: a file/media preview opened from a chat link, shown
+                 here as a peer of chat/files instead of a separate side panel. -->
+            <FilePreview
+              v-else-if="group.active === 'preview'"
+              :file="previewFile ?? null"
+              :loading="previewLoading ?? false"
+              :error="previewError ?? null"
+              :line="previewLine"
+              :download-url="previewDownloadUrl ?? null"
+              closable
+              :external-actions="previewExternalActions"
+              @close="closePreviewPane"
+              @open-external="emit('openPreviewExternal')"
+              @reveal="emit('revealPreview')"
+            />
             <template v-else-if="group.active === 'files'">
               <div v-show="!mobile || !filesShowPreview" class="files-nav">
                 <div v-if="hasGit" class="nav-seg">
diff --git a/apps/kimi-web/src/components/TabBar.vue b/apps/kimi-web/src/components/TabBar.vue
index d95c01e7c..47069f773 100644
--- a/apps/kimi-web/src/components/TabBar.vue
+++ b/apps/kimi-web/src/components/TabBar.vue
@@ -1,20 +1,28 @@
 <!-- apps/kimi-web/src/components/TabBar.vue -->
 <script setup lang="ts">
+import { computed } from 'vue';
 import { useI18n } from 'vue-i18n';
 import type { PaneKey, TodoView } from '../types';
 
-defineProps<{ active: PaneKey; runningTasks: number; changesCount?: number; todos?: TodoView[]; mobile?: boolean }>();
+const props = defineProps<{ active: PaneKey; runningTasks: number; changesCount?: number; todos?: TodoView[]; mobile?: boolean; hasPreview?: boolean }>();
 const emit = defineEmits<{ select: [pane: PaneKey] }>();
 
 const { t } = useI18n();
 
-const tabs: { key: PaneKey; labelKey: string }[] = [
+const BASE_TABS: { key: PaneKey; labelKey: string }[] = [
   { key: 'chat', labelKey: 'sidebar.tabChat' },
   { key: 'files', labelKey: 'sidebar.tabFiles' },
   { key: 'tasks', labelKey: 'sidebar.tabTasks' },
   { key: 'todo', labelKey: 'sidebar.tabTodo' },
   { key: 'terminal', labelKey: 'sidebar.tabTerminal' },
 ];
+
+// 'preview' is a transient tab — shown only while this group hosts a preview.
+const tabs = computed(() =>
+  props.hasPreview
+    ? [...BASE_TABS, { key: 'preview' as PaneKey, labelKey: 'sidebar.tabPreview' }]
+    : BASE_TABS,
+);
 </script>
 
 <template>
diff --git a/apps/kimi-web/src/components/ViewGroup.vue b/apps/kimi-web/src/components/ViewGroup.vue
index 2a9fdad8f..8ce22e525 100644
--- a/apps/kimi-web/src/components/ViewGroup.vue
+++ b/apps/kimi-web/src/components/ViewGroup.vue
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ defineProps<{
   changesCount?: number;
   todos?: TodoView[];
   canClose?: boolean;
+  /** This group currently hosts a preview pane → show its 'preview' tab. */
+  hasPreview?: boolean;
 }>();
 
 const emit = defineEmits<{
@@ -25,6 +27,7 @@ const emit = defineEmits<{
         :running-tasks="runningTasks"
         :changes-count="changesCount"
         :todos="todos ?? []"
+        :has-preview="hasPreview"
         @select="emit('select', $event)"
       />
       <div class="view-actions">
diff --git a/apps/kimi-web/src/composables/usePaneLayout.ts b/apps/kimi-web/src/composables/usePaneLayout.ts
index 97837b384..82ab75cf0 100644
--- a/apps/kimi-web/src/composables/usePaneLayout.ts
+++ b/apps/kimi-web/src/composables/usePaneLayout.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ export type PaneSplit = {
 export type PaneLayout = PaneGroup | PaneSplit;
 
 const STORAGE_KEY = 'kimi-web.layout';
+// Default tab set for a group. 'preview' is intentionally NOT here — it's a
+// transient view added to a group only while a file/media preview is open, so
+// groups don't show an empty "Preview" tab the rest of the time.
 const ALL_VIEWS: PaneKey[] = ['chat', 'files', 'tasks', 'todo', 'terminal'];
 
 function nextId(prefix: string): string {
@@ -30,17 +33,44 @@ function defaultGroup(active: PaneKey = 'chat'): PaneGroup {
 }
 
 function isPaneKey(value: unknown): value is PaneKey {
-  return value === 'chat' || value === 'files' || value === 'tasks' || value === 'todo' || value === 'terminal';
+  return (
+    value === 'chat' ||
+    value === 'files' ||
+    value === 'tasks' ||
+    value === 'todo' ||
+    value === 'terminal' ||
+    value === 'preview'
+  );
+}
+
+/** First group id in the tree (depth-first), or null for an empty tree. */
+function firstGroupId(node: PaneLayout): string | null {
+  if (node.type === 'group') return node.id;
+  for (const child of node.children) {
+    const id = firstGroupId(child);
+    if (id) return id;
+  }
+  return null;
+}
+
+/** Whether any group already hosts the 'preview' view. */
+function hasPreviewGroup(node: PaneLayout): boolean {
+  if (node.type === 'group') return node.views.includes('preview');
+  return node.children.some(hasPreviewGroup);
 }
 
 function normalizeLayout(raw: unknown): PaneLayout | null {
   if (!raw || typeof raw !== 'object') return null;
   const node = raw as Record<string, unknown>;
   if (node['type'] === 'group') {
-    const active = isPaneKey(node['active']) ? node['active'] : 'chat';
-    const views = Array.isArray(node['views'])
-      ? node['views'].filter(isPaneKey)
-      : ALL_VIEWS;
+    // Drop the transient 'preview' view on reload — its content isn't persisted,
+    // so a restored preview pane would be empty. A preview-only group collapses
+    // away entirely (return null) so the split that hosted it folds back.
+    const rawViews = Array.isArray(node['views']) ? node['views'].filter(isPaneKey) : ALL_VIEWS;
+    const views = rawViews.filter((v) => v !== 'preview');
+    if (rawViews.length > 0 && views.length === 0) return null;
+    const rawActive = isPaneKey(node['active']) ? node['active'] : 'chat';
+    const active = rawActive === 'preview' ? 'chat' : rawActive;
     return {
       type: 'group',
       id: typeof node['id'] === 'string' ? node['id'] : nextId('group'),
@@ -53,6 +83,7 @@ function normalizeLayout(raw: unknown): PaneLayout | null {
       ? node['children'].map(normalizeLayout).filter((item): item is PaneLayout => item !== null)
       : [];
     if (children.length === 0) return null;
+    if (children.length === 1) return children[0]!;
     const sizes = Array.isArray(node['sizes']) && node['sizes'].length === children.length
       ? node['sizes'].map((size) => typeof size === 'number' && Number.isFinite(size) ? size : 1)
       : children.map(() => 1);
@@ -120,7 +151,11 @@ export function usePaneLayout() {
   }
 
   function setActive(groupId: string, active: PaneKey): void {
-    commit(updateGroup(layout.value, groupId, (group) => ({ ...group, active })));
+    commit(updateGroup(layout.value, groupId, (group) => ({
+      ...group,
+      views: group.views.includes(active) ? group.views : [...group.views, active],
+      active,
+    })));
   }
 
   function split(groupId: string, dir: 'row' | 'col'): void {
@@ -151,5 +186,68 @@ export function usePaneLayout() {
     commit(defaultGroup());
   }
 
-  return { layout, setActive, split, close, resize, reset };
+  /** Open (or focus) a 'preview' pane at the chat/files level. If no preview
+      group exists yet, split the first group and give the new one a 'preview'
+      view; otherwise just make the existing preview group active. */
+  function openPreview(): void {
+    if (hasPreviewGroup(layout.value)) {
+      commit(
+        mapGroups(layout.value, (group) =>
+          group.views.includes('preview') ? { ...group, active: 'preview' } : group,
+        ),
+      );
+      return;
+    }
+    const targetId = firstGroupId(layout.value);
+    if (!targetId) {
+      commit({ type: 'group', id: nextId('group'), views: ['preview'], active: 'preview' });
+      return;
+    }
+    commit(
+      updateGroup(layout.value, targetId, (group) => ({
+        type: 'split',
+        id: nextId('split'),
+        dir: 'row',
+        children: [group, { type: 'group', id: nextId('group'), views: ['preview'], active: 'preview' }],
+        sizes: [1, 1],
+      })),
+    );
+  }
+
+  /** Close any preview pane: a preview-only group collapses its split; a group
+      that also holds other views just switches away from preview. */
+  function closePreview(): void {
+    if (!hasPreviewGroup(layout.value)) return;
+    let next = layout.value;
+    // Collapse preview-only groups (they exist only for the preview).
+    const previewOnlyIds: string[] = [];
+    function collect(node: PaneLayout): void {
+      if (node.type === 'group') {
+        if (node.views.length === 1 && node.views[0] === 'preview') previewOnlyIds.push(node.id);
+      } else {
+        node.children.forEach(collect);
+      }
+    }
+    collect(next);
+    for (const id of previewOnlyIds) next = removeGroup(next, id);
+    // Any remaining group still listing 'preview' (mixed group) drops it.
+    next = mapGroups(next, (group) =>
+      group.views.includes('preview')
+        ? {
+            ...group,
+            views: group.views.filter((v) => v !== 'preview'),
+            active: group.active === 'preview' ? 'chat' : group.active,
+          }
+        : group,
+    );
+    commit(next);
+  }
+
+  return { layout, setActive, split, close, resize, reset, openPreview, closePreview };
+}
+
+/** Apply `fn` to every group in the tree. */
+function mapGroups(layout: PaneLayout, fn: (group: PaneGroup) => PaneGroup): PaneLayout {
+  if (layout.type === 'group') return fn(layout);
+  return { ...layout, children: layout.children.map((child) => mapGroups(child, fn)) };
 }
diff --git a/apps/kimi-web/src/i18n/locales/en/sidebar.ts b/apps/kimi-web/src/i18n/locales/en/sidebar.ts
index 0d2df876b..05ea7edaf 100644
--- a/apps/kimi-web/src/i18n/locales/en/sidebar.ts
+++ b/apps/kimi-web/src/i18n/locales/en/sidebar.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ export default {
   tabTasks: 'tasks',
   tabTodo: 'todo',
   tabTerminal: 'terminal',
+  tabPreview: 'preview',
   noSessions: 'No conversations yet',
   showMore: 'Show more ({count})',
 } as const;
diff --git a/apps/kimi-web/src/i18n/locales/zh/sidebar.ts b/apps/kimi-web/src/i18n/locales/zh/sidebar.ts
index b3965e1e4..f0a6e89ec 100644
--- a/apps/kimi-web/src/i18n/locales/zh/sidebar.ts
+++ b/apps/kimi-web/src/i18n/locales/zh/sidebar.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ export default {
   tabTasks: '后台任务',
   tabTodo: '待办',
   tabTerminal: '终端',
+  tabPreview: '预览',
   noSessions: '暂无对话',
   showMore: '展开更多 ({count})',
 };
diff --git a/apps/kimi-web/src/types.ts b/apps/kimi-web/src/types.ts
index 188b56861..8cb7e439b 100644
--- a/apps/kimi-web/src/types.ts
+++ b/apps/kimi-web/src/types.ts
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ export interface ConversationStatus {
 // ~/diff and ~/files were merged into a single ~/files tab (changed-first list +
 // a Changed|All toggle + an adaptive content pane: diff for changed files, content
 // preview for unchanged ones). 'diff' is gone; 'files' is the merged key.
-export type PaneKey = 'chat' | 'files' | 'tasks' | 'todo' | 'terminal';
+export type PaneKey = 'chat' | 'files' | 'tasks' | 'todo' | 'terminal' | 'preview';
 
 export interface ActivationBadges {
   plan: boolean;
diff --git a/apps/kimi-web/test/pane-layout-preview.test.ts b/apps/kimi-web/test/pane-layout-preview.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..da9639afd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/kimi-web/test/pane-layout-preview.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+// apps/kimi-web/test/pane-layout-preview.test.ts
+//
+// The preview pane is a transient view that lives at the same level as
+// chat/files: opening it splits the layout (like the split button); closing it
+// collapses the split back.
+
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+import { usePaneLayout, type PaneLayout, type PaneGroup } from '../src/composables/usePaneLayout';
+
+function groups(node: PaneLayout): PaneGroup[] {
+  return node.type === 'group' ? [node] : node.children.flatMap(groups);
+}
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  try { localStorage.clear(); } catch { /* ignore */ }
+});
+afterEach(() => {
+  try { localStorage.clear(); } catch { /* ignore */ }
+});
+
+describe('usePaneLayout preview pane', () => {
+  it('opens the preview as a split peer and closes back to one group', () => {
+    const pl = usePaneLayout();
+    // Default: a single chat group.
+    expect(pl.layout.value.type).toBe('group');
+
+    pl.openPreview();
+    // Now a split with a dedicated preview group alongside the original.
+    expect(pl.layout.value.type).toBe('split');
+    const previewGroups = groups(pl.layout.value).filter((g) => g.views.includes('preview'));
+    expect(previewGroups).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(previewGroups[0]!.active).toBe('preview');
+
+    pl.closePreview();
+    // Collapses back to a single (non-preview) group.
+    expect(pl.layout.value.type).toBe('group');
+    expect(groups(pl.layout.value).some((g) => g.views.includes('preview'))).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('focuses the existing preview group instead of splitting again', () => {
+    const pl = usePaneLayout();
+    pl.openPreview();
+    const afterFirst = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(pl.layout.value));
+    pl.openPreview();
+    // No new split — still exactly one preview group.
+    expect(groups(pl.layout.value).filter((g) => g.views.includes('preview'))).toHaveLength(1);
+    // Same split structure (id unchanged).
+    expect((pl.layout.value as { id: string }).id).toBe(afterFirst.id);
+  });
+
+  it('keeps a preview split group when the user switches it to another tab', () => {
+    const pl = usePaneLayout();
+    pl.openPreview();
+
+    const previewGroup = groups(pl.layout.value).find((g) => g.views.includes('preview'));
+    expect(previewGroup).toBeDefined();
+
+    pl.setActive(previewGroup!.id, 'files');
+    pl.closePreview();
+
+    const remainingGroups = groups(pl.layout.value);
+    expect(remainingGroups).toHaveLength(2);
+    expect(remainingGroups.some((g) => g.views.includes('preview'))).toBe(false);
+    expect(remainingGroups.some((g) => g.active === 'files')).toBe(true);
+  });
+});