diff --git a/packages/desktop/scripts/e2e-cdp-smoke.mjs b/packages/desktop/scripts/e2e-cdp-smoke.mjs
index db356ac33..079cbdfad 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/scripts/e2e-cdp-smoke.mjs
+++ b/packages/desktop/scripts/e2e-cdp-smoke.mjs
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ async function main() {
   await clickButton('Chat');
   await clickButton('New Thread');
   await waitForText('New thread ready');
+  await waitForSelector('[data-testid="thread-list"]');
 
   await setFieldByAriaLabel('Message', 'Please exercise command approval.');
   await clickButton('Send');
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/renderer/api/client.ts b/packages/desktop/src/renderer/api/client.ts
index d9edaf633..18e342812 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/renderer/api/client.ts
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/renderer/api/client.ts
@@ -154,6 +154,7 @@ export interface DesktopSessionSummary {
   sessionId: string;
   title?: string;
   cwd?: string;
+  updatedAt?: string;
   models?: DesktopSessionModelState;
   modes?: DesktopSessionModeState;
 }
@@ -806,6 +807,8 @@ function isSessionSummary(value: unknown): value is DesktopSessionSummary {
     typeof candidate.sessionId === 'string' &&
     (typeof candidate.title === 'string' || candidate.title === undefined) &&
     (typeof candidate.cwd === 'string' || candidate.cwd === undefined) &&
+    (typeof candidate.updatedAt === 'string' ||
+      candidate.updatedAt === undefined) &&
     (candidate.models === undefined || isModelState(candidate.models)) &&
     (candidate.modes === undefined || isModeState(candidate.modes))
   );
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/layout/ProjectSidebar.tsx b/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/layout/ProjectSidebar.tsx
index fe6e2265e..0fb5a79f2 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/layout/ProjectSidebar.tsx
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/layout/ProjectSidebar.tsx
@@ -8,6 +8,12 @@ import type {
   DesktopProject,
   DesktopSessionSummary,
 } from '../../api/client.js';
+import {
+  FolderIcon,
+  FolderPlusIcon,
+  NewThreadIcon,
+  SlidersIcon,
+} from './SidebarIcons.js';
 import { ThreadList } from './ThreadList.js';
 import type { LoadState } from './types.js';
 
@@ -15,6 +21,7 @@ export function ProjectSidebar({
   activeProject,
   activeProjectId,
   activeSessionId,
+  isDraftSession,
   loadState,
   projects,
   sessions,
@@ -27,6 +34,7 @@ export function ProjectSidebar({
   activeProject: DesktopProject | null;
   activeProjectId: string | null;
   activeSessionId: string | null;
+  isDraftSession: boolean;
   loadState: LoadState;
   projects: DesktopProject[];
   sessions: DesktopSessionSummary[];
@@ -42,46 +50,44 @@ export function ProjectSidebar({
       aria-label="Projects and threads"
       data-testid="project-sidebar"
     >
-      <div className="brand-lockup">
-        <div className="brand-mark" aria-hidden="true">
-          Q
-        </div>
-        <div>
-          <h1>Qwen Code</h1>
-          <p>Desktop</p>
+      <div className="sidebar-toolbar">
+        <h1>Projects</h1>
+        <div className="sidebar-toolbar-actions">
+          <button
+            aria-label="Settings"
+            className="sidebar-icon-button"
+            title="Settings"
+            type="button"
+            onClick={onOpenSettings}
+          >
+            <SlidersIcon />
+            <span className="sr-only">Settings</span>
+          </button>
+          <button
+            aria-label="New Thread"
+            className="sidebar-icon-button"
+            disabled={loadState.state !== 'ready' || !activeProject}
+            title="New Thread"
+            type="button"
+            onClick={onCreateSession}
+          >
+            <NewThreadIcon />
+            <span className="sr-only">New Thread</span>
+          </button>
+          <button
+            aria-label="Open Project"
+            className="sidebar-icon-button"
+            title="Open Project"
+            type="button"
+            onClick={onChooseWorkspace}
+          >
+            <FolderPlusIcon />
+            <span className="sr-only">Open Project</span>
+          </button>
         </div>
       </div>
 
-      <section className="sidebar-section quick-actions">
-        <button
-          className="primary-button"
-          disabled={loadState.state !== 'ready' || !activeProject}
-          type="button"
-          onClick={onCreateSession}
-        >
-          New Thread
-        </button>
-        <button
-          className="secondary-button"
-          type="button"
-          onClick={onOpenSettings}
-        >
-          Settings
-        </button>
-      </section>
-
-      <section className="sidebar-section">
-        <h2>Projects</h2>
-        <div className="workspace-path">
-          {activeProject?.path || 'No folder selected'}
-        </div>
-        <button
-          className="secondary-button"
-          type="button"
-          onClick={onChooseWorkspace}
-        >
-          Open Project
-        </button>
+      <section className="sidebar-section project-navigator">
         <ProjectList
           activeProjectId={activeProjectId}
           projects={projects}
@@ -90,9 +96,13 @@ export function ProjectSidebar({
       </section>
 
       <section className="sidebar-section sidebar-section-fill">
-        <h2>Threads</h2>
+        <div className="sidebar-section-heading">
+          <h2>Threads</h2>
+          <span>{isDraftSession ? sessions.length + 1 : sessions.length}</span>
+        </div>
         <ThreadList
           activeSessionId={activeSessionId}
+          isDraftSession={isDraftSession}
           sessions={sessions}
           onSelect={onSelectSession}
         />
@@ -111,7 +121,7 @@ function ProjectList({
   onSelect: (projectId: string) => void;
 }) {
   if (projects.length === 0) {
-    return <div className="empty-row">No recent projects</div>;
+    return <div className="empty-row">No folder selected</div>;
   }
 
   return (
@@ -131,10 +141,29 @@ function ProjectList({
           onClick={() => onSelect(project.id)}
           type="button"
         >
-          <span>{project.name}</span>
-          <small>{project.gitBranch || 'No Git branch'}</small>
+          <FolderIcon className="project-row-icon" />
+          <span className="project-row-copy">
+            <span>{project.name}</span>
+            <small>{formatProjectMeta(project)}</small>
+          </span>
         </button>
       ))}
     </div>
   );
 }
+
+function formatProjectMeta(project: DesktopProject): string {
+  const status = project.gitStatus;
+  const changes = status.modified + status.staged + status.untracked;
+  const branch = project.gitBranch || 'No Git branch';
+
+  if (!status.isRepository) {
+    return 'No Git repository';
+  }
+
+  if (changes > 0) {
+    return `${branch} · ${changes} changes`;
+  }
+
+  return branch;
+}
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/layout/SidebarIcons.tsx b/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/layout/SidebarIcons.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..970b81623
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/layout/SidebarIcons.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,125 @@
+/**
+ * @license
+ * Copyright 2026 Qwen Team
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+ */
+
+import type { SVGProps } from 'react';
+
+type SidebarIconProps = SVGProps<SVGSVGElement>;
+
+export function FolderIcon(props: SidebarIconProps) {
+  return (
+    <svg
+      aria-hidden="true"
+      fill="none"
+      height="20"
+      viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+      width="20"
+      {...props}
+    >
+      <path
+        d="M3.5 7.8c0-1.1.9-2 2-2h4.2l1.8 2.1h7c1.1 0 2 .9 2 2v7.5c0 1.1-.9 2-2 2h-13c-1.1 0-2-.9-2-2V7.8Z"
+        stroke="currentColor"
+        strokeLinecap="round"
+        strokeLinejoin="round"
+        strokeWidth="1.7"
+      />
+      <path
+        d="M3.8 11h16.4"
+        stroke="currentColor"
+        strokeLinecap="round"
+        strokeWidth="1.7"
+      />
+    </svg>
+  );
+}
+
+export function FolderPlusIcon(props: SidebarIconProps) {
+  return (
+    <svg
+      aria-hidden="true"
+      fill="none"
+      height="20"
+      viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+      width="20"
+      {...props}
+    >
+      <path
+        d="M3.5 7.8c0-1.1.9-2 2-2h4.2l1.8 2.1h7c1.1 0 2 .9 2 2v7.5c0 1.1-.9 2-2 2h-13c-1.1 0-2-.9-2-2V7.8Z"
+        stroke="currentColor"
+        strokeLinecap="round"
+        strokeLinejoin="round"
+        strokeWidth="1.7"
+      />
+      <path
+        d="M15.5 14.9h4.2m-2.1-2.1V17"
+        stroke="currentColor"
+        strokeLinecap="round"
+        strokeWidth="1.7"
+      />
+    </svg>
+  );
+}
+
+export function NewThreadIcon(props: SidebarIconProps) {
+  return (
+    <svg
+      aria-hidden="true"
+      fill="none"
+      height="20"
+      viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+      width="20"
+      {...props}
+    >
+      <path
+        d="M6.2 17.8 17.8 6.2M12.8 6.2h5v5M6.2 11.2v6.6h6.6"
+        stroke="currentColor"
+        strokeLinecap="round"
+        strokeLinejoin="round"
+        strokeWidth="1.7"
+      />
+    </svg>
+  );
+}
+
+export function SlidersIcon(props: SidebarIconProps) {
+  return (
+    <svg
+      aria-hidden="true"
+      fill="none"
+      height="20"
+      viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+      width="20"
+      {...props}
+    >
+      <path
+        d="M5.5 7h13M8.5 12h7M10.5 17h3"
+        stroke="currentColor"
+        strokeLinecap="round"
+        strokeWidth="1.8"
+      />
+    </svg>
+  );
+}
+
+export function OpenThreadIcon(props: SidebarIconProps) {
+  return (
+    <svg
+      aria-hidden="true"
+      fill="none"
+      height="18"
+      viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+      width="18"
+      {...props}
+    >
+      <path
+        d="M8.2 7.2h8.6v8.6M16.4 7.6 7.2 16.8"
+        stroke="currentColor"
+        strokeLinecap="round"
+        strokeLinejoin="round"
+        strokeWidth="1.8"
+      />
+    </svg>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/layout/ThreadList.tsx b/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/layout/ThreadList.tsx
index f68c6da89..996111b90 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/layout/ThreadList.tsx
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/layout/ThreadList.tsx
@@ -5,17 +5,20 @@
  */
 
 import type { DesktopSessionSummary } from '../../api/client.js';
+import { OpenThreadIcon } from './SidebarIcons.js';
 
 export function ThreadList({
   activeSessionId,
+  isDraftSession,
   sessions,
   onSelect,
 }: {
   activeSessionId: string | null;
+  isDraftSession: boolean;
   sessions: DesktopSessionSummary[];
   onSelect: (sessionId: string) => void;
 }) {
-  if (sessions.length === 0) {
+  if (!isDraftSession && sessions.length === 0) {
     return <div className="empty-row">No sessions</div>;
   }
 
@@ -25,21 +28,106 @@ export function ThreadList({
       aria-label="Threads"
       data-testid="thread-list"
     >
-      {sessions.map((session) => (
-        <button
-          className={
-            session.sessionId === activeSessionId
-              ? 'session-row session-row-active'
-              : 'session-row'
-          }
-          key={session.sessionId}
-          onClick={() => onSelect(session.sessionId)}
-          type="button"
+      {isDraftSession ? (
+        <div
+          className="session-row session-row-active session-row-draft"
+          role="status"
         >
-          <span>{session.title || session.sessionId}</span>
-          <small>{session.cwd || session.sessionId}</small>
-        </button>
-      ))}
+          <span className="session-row-title">New thread</span>
+          <span className="session-row-trailing">
+            <span className="session-ring" aria-hidden="true" />
+            <span className="session-row-meta">draft</span>
+          </span>
+        </div>
+      ) : null}
+      {sessions.map((session) => {
+        const meta = formatSessionMeta(session);
+
+        return (
+          <button
+            className={
+              session.sessionId === activeSessionId
+                ? 'session-row session-row-active'
+                : 'session-row'
+            }
+            key={session.sessionId}
+            onClick={() => onSelect(session.sessionId)}
+            type="button"
+          >
+            <span className="session-row-title">
+              {session.title || session.sessionId}
+            </span>
+            <span className="session-row-trailing">
+              {session.sessionId === activeSessionId ? (
+                <span className="session-ring" aria-hidden="true" />
+              ) : (
+                <OpenThreadIcon className="session-open-icon" />
+              )}
+              {meta ? <span className="session-row-meta">{meta}</span> : null}
+            </span>
+          </button>
+        );
+      })}
     </div>
   );
 }
+
+function formatSessionMeta(session: DesktopSessionSummary): string | null {
+  const age = formatSessionAge(session.updatedAt);
+  if (age) {
+    return age;
+  }
+
+  return session.models?.currentModelId
+    ? shortenModelId(session.models.currentModelId)
+    : null;
+}
+
+function formatSessionAge(updatedAt: string | undefined): string | null {
+  if (!updatedAt) {
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  const timestamp = Date.parse(updatedAt);
+  if (Number.isNaN(timestamp)) {
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  const elapsedMs = Math.max(0, Date.now() - timestamp);
+  const minuteMs = 60_000;
+  const hourMs = 60 * minuteMs;
+  const dayMs = 24 * hourMs;
+
+  if (elapsedMs < minuteMs) {
+    return isChineseLocale() ? '刚刚' : 'now';
+  }
+
+  if (elapsedMs < hourMs) {
+    return formatAgeUnit(Math.floor(elapsedMs / minuteMs), 'm', '分');
+  }
+
+  if (elapsedMs < dayMs) {
+    return formatAgeUnit(Math.floor(elapsedMs / hourMs), 'h', '小时');
+  }
+
+  return formatAgeUnit(Math.floor(elapsedMs / dayMs), 'd', '天');
+}
+
+function formatAgeUnit(
+  value: number,
+  englishUnit: string,
+  chineseUnit: string,
+) {
+  return isChineseLocale()
+    ? `${value} ${chineseUnit}`
+    : `${value}${englishUnit}`;
+}
+
+function isChineseLocale(): boolean {
+  return /^zh(?:-|$)/iu.test(globalThis.navigator?.language ?? '');
+}
+
+function shortenModelId(modelId: string): string {
+  const normalized = modelId.split('/').pop() ?? modelId;
+  return normalized.length > 12 ? `${normalized.slice(0, 11)}...` : normalized;
+}
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/layout/WorkspacePage.tsx b/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/layout/WorkspacePage.tsx
index 41d018716..753eba419 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/layout/WorkspacePage.tsx
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/renderer/components/layout/WorkspacePage.tsx
@@ -154,6 +154,7 @@ export function WorkspacePage({
         activeProject={activeProject}
         activeProjectId={activeProjectId}
         activeSessionId={activeSessionId}
+        isDraftSession={isDraftSession}
         loadState={loadState}
         projects={projects}
         sessions={sessions}
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/renderer/styles.css b/packages/desktop/src/renderer/styles.css
index bd2d3fd5f..00cb458de 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/renderer/styles.css
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/renderer/styles.css
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
   --muted: #8c948c;
   --accent: #55a6ff;
   --accent-soft: rgba(85, 166, 255, 0.16);
+  --accent-warm: #f2c770;
   --success: #75d99c;
   --success-soft: rgba(117, 217, 156, 0.15);
   --warning: #f0b66e;
@@ -24,6 +25,8 @@
   color: var(--text);
   background: var(--bg);
   font-family:
+    'SF Pro Text',
+    'SF Pro Display',
     ui-sans-serif,
     -apple-system,
     BlinkMacSystemFont,
@@ -79,7 +82,7 @@ summary:focus-visible {
 
 .desktop-shell {
   display: grid;
-  grid-template-columns: 280px minmax(0, 1fr);
+  grid-template-columns: 272px minmax(0, 1fr);
   width: 100%;
   height: 100vh;
   overflow: hidden;
@@ -93,51 +96,44 @@ summary:focus-visible {
   height: 100vh;
   min-height: 0;
   flex-direction: column;
-  gap: 18px;
+  gap: 10px;
   overflow: hidden;
-  padding: 18px 14px;
+  padding: 16px 12px 14px;
   border-right: 1px solid var(--line);
   background:
-    linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(40, 64, 65, 0.82), rgba(16, 19, 20, 0.96)),
-    #111415;
+    linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(37, 58, 61, 0.95), rgba(22, 28, 29, 0.98)),
+    radial-gradient(
+      circle at 32px 0,
+      rgba(242, 199, 112, 0.08),
+      transparent 34%
+    ),
+    #151b1d;
 }
 
-.brand-lockup {
+.sidebar-toolbar {
   display: flex;
   align-items: center;
-  gap: 10px;
-  min-height: 38px;
-  padding: 2px 4px 0;
+  justify-content: space-between;
+  min-height: 30px;
+  gap: 12px;
+  padding: 0 4px 4px;
 }
 
-.brand-mark {
-  display: grid;
-  width: 32px;
-  height: 32px;
-  flex: 0 0 auto;
-  place-items: center;
-  border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.14);
-  border-radius: 7px;
-  background: linear-gradient(135deg, #f2c770, #48a4ff);
-  color: #0f1112;
-  font-weight: 850;
-}
-
-.brand-lockup h1,
-.brand-lockup p,
+.sidebar-toolbar h1,
 .topbar h2,
 .topbar p,
 .panel h3 {
   margin: 0;
 }
 
-.brand-lockup h1 {
-  font-size: 15px;
-  font-weight: 780;
-  line-height: 1.1;
+.sidebar-toolbar h1 {
+  color: rgba(225, 232, 228, 0.62);
+  font-size: 16px;
+  font-weight: 720;
+  letter-spacing: 0;
+  line-height: 1;
 }
 
-.brand-lockup p,
 .eyebrow,
 .message-role {
   color: var(--muted);
@@ -147,24 +143,64 @@ summary:focus-visible {
   text-transform: uppercase;
 }
 
-.quick-actions {
+.sidebar-toolbar-actions {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 6px;
+}
+
+.sidebar-icon-button {
+  position: relative;
   display: grid;
-  grid-template-columns: minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 1fr);
-  gap: 8px;
+  width: 24px;
+  height: 24px;
+  place-items: center;
+  border-radius: 6px;
+  background: transparent;
+  color: rgba(225, 232, 228, 0.58);
+  transition:
+    background 140ms ease,
+    color 140ms ease,
+    transform 140ms ease;
+}
+
+.sidebar-icon-button:not(:disabled):hover {
+  background: rgba(238, 244, 239, 0.08);
+  color: rgba(245, 248, 244, 0.9);
+  transform: translateY(-1px);
+}
+
+.sidebar-icon-button svg {
+  display: block;
+}
+
+.sr-only {
+  position: absolute;
+  width: 1px;
+  height: 1px;
+  overflow: hidden;
+  clip: rect(0, 0, 0, 0);
+  clip-path: inset(50%);
+  white-space: nowrap;
 }
 
 .sidebar-section {
   display: flex;
   min-height: 0;
   flex-direction: column;
-  gap: 9px;
+  gap: 4px;
 }
 
 .sidebar-section-fill {
   flex: 1;
 }
 
-.sidebar-section h2 {
+.project-navigator {
+  flex: 0 0 auto;
+}
+
+.sidebar-section h2,
+.sidebar-section-heading span {
   margin: 0;
   color: var(--text-soft);
   font-size: 11px;
@@ -173,15 +209,25 @@ summary:focus-visible {
   text-transform: uppercase;
 }
 
+.sidebar-section-heading {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: space-between;
+  min-height: 24px;
+  padding: 4px 8px 0 36px;
+}
+
+.sidebar-section-heading span {
+  color: rgba(225, 232, 228, 0.38);
+}
+
 .empty-row,
 .workspace-path {
   min-height: 40px;
-  padding: 10px 12px;
-  border: 1px solid var(--line);
-  border-radius: var(--radius);
-  background: rgba(10, 12, 13, 0.3);
-  color: var(--muted);
-  font-size: 12px;
+  padding: 10px 2px;
+  color: rgba(225, 232, 228, 0.52);
+  font-size: 15px;
+  font-weight: 680;
 }
 
 .workspace-path {
@@ -229,13 +275,13 @@ summary:focus-visible {
   align-content: start;
   grid-auto-rows: min-content;
   min-height: 0;
-  gap: 7px;
+  gap: 1px;
   overflow: auto;
-  padding-right: 2px;
+  padding: 0 2px 0 0;
 }
 
 .project-list {
-  max-height: 190px;
+  max-height: 132px;
 }
 
 .session-list {
@@ -244,45 +290,137 @@ summary:focus-visible {
 
 .project-row,
 .session-row {
+  position: relative;
   display: grid;
+  align-items: center;
   width: 100%;
-  min-height: 48px;
-  gap: 4px;
-  padding: 10px 12px;
-  border: 1px solid var(--line);
-  border-radius: var(--radius);
-  background: rgba(238, 244, 239, 0.035);
-  color: var(--text-soft);
+  min-height: 42px;
+  border: 0;
+  border-radius: 6px;
+  background: transparent;
+  color: rgba(233, 238, 235, 0.86);
   text-align: left;
+  transition:
+    background 140ms ease,
+    color 140ms ease;
+}
+
+.project-row {
+  grid-template-columns: 28px minmax(0, 1fr);
+  padding: 6px 8px 6px 6px;
+}
+
+.session-row {
+  grid-template-columns: minmax(0, 1fr) auto;
+  column-gap: 8px;
+  padding: 6px 8px 6px 36px;
 }
 
 .project-row-active,
 .session-row-active {
-  border-color: rgba(85, 166, 255, 0.48);
-  background: rgba(85, 166, 255, 0.11);
+  background: rgba(238, 244, 239, 0.052);
   color: var(--text);
 }
 
-.project-row span,
-.project-row small,
-.session-row span,
-.session-row small {
+.project-row-active::before,
+.session-row-active::before {
+  position: absolute;
+  top: 9px;
+  bottom: 9px;
+  left: 0;
+  width: 2px;
+  border-radius: 999px;
+  background: rgba(242, 199, 112, 0.74);
+  content: '';
+}
+
+.project-row:not(.project-row-active):hover,
+.session-row:not(.session-row-active):hover {
+  background: rgba(238, 244, 239, 0.035);
+  color: rgba(248, 250, 247, 0.95);
+}
+
+.project-row-icon {
+  justify-self: start;
+  width: 18px;
+  height: 18px;
+  margin-left: 0;
+  color: rgba(225, 232, 228, 0.82);
+}
+
+.project-row-copy,
+.session-row-title {
+  min-width: 0;
+  overflow: hidden;
+}
+
+.project-row-copy {
+  display: grid;
+  gap: 2px;
+}
+
+.project-row-copy span,
+.project-row-copy small,
+.session-row-title,
+.session-row-meta {
   min-width: 0;
   overflow: hidden;
   text-overflow: ellipsis;
   white-space: nowrap;
 }
 
-.project-row span,
-.session-row span {
-  font-size: 13px;
+.project-row-copy span,
+.session-row-title {
+  font-size: 14px;
+  font-weight: 680;
+  line-height: 1.25;
+}
+
+.project-row-copy small {
+  color: rgba(225, 232, 228, 0.48);
+  font-size: 10px;
+  font-weight: 680;
+  letter-spacing: 0;
+}
+
+.session-row-trailing {
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: flex-end;
+  min-width: 32px;
+  gap: 6px;
+  color: rgba(225, 232, 228, 0.52);
   font-weight: 760;
 }
 
-.project-row small,
-.session-row small {
-  color: var(--muted);
+.session-open-icon {
+  width: 15px;
+  height: 15px;
+  color: rgba(225, 232, 228, 0.48);
+}
+
+.session-row:not(:hover):not(.session-row-active) .session-open-icon {
+  opacity: 0;
+}
+
+.session-ring {
+  width: 13px;
+  height: 13px;
+  border: 2px solid rgba(225, 232, 228, 0.2);
+  border-top-color: rgba(225, 232, 228, 0.5);
+  border-radius: 999px;
+}
+
+.session-row-meta {
+  max-width: 48px;
+  color: rgba(225, 232, 228, 0.54);
   font-size: 11px;
+  font-weight: 720;
+  line-height: 1;
+}
+
+.session-row-draft {
+  cursor: default;
 }
 
 .workbench {
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/server/index.test.ts b/packages/desktop/src/server/index.test.ts
index 7af09bcb7..254a1b6fc 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/server/index.test.ts
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/server/index.test.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 import { execFile } from 'node:child_process';
 import { mkdtemp, readFile, realpath, rm, writeFile } from 'node:fs/promises';
 import { tmpdir } from 'node:os';
-import { join } from 'node:path';
+import { basename, join } from 'node:path';
 import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
 import { WebSocket } from 'ws';
 import type {
@@ -195,6 +195,51 @@ describe('DesktopServer', () => {
     });
   });
 
+  it('derives recent project names from the project directory', async () => {
+    const projectPath = await createTempDirectory('qwen-desktop-project-');
+    const storePath = join(
+      await createTempDirectory('qwen-desktop-store-'),
+      'desktop-projects.json',
+    );
+    await writeFile(
+      storePath,
+      `${JSON.stringify(
+        {
+          version: 1,
+          projects: [
+            {
+              id: 'stored-project',
+              name: 'Custom Display Name',
+              path: projectPath,
+              lastOpenedAt: 1_774_704_300_000,
+            },
+          ],
+        },
+        null,
+        2,
+      )}\n`,
+      'utf8',
+    );
+
+    const server = await createTestServer(undefined, undefined, storePath);
+    const listed = await getJson(server, '/api/projects', {
+      Authorization: 'Bearer test-token',
+    });
+
+    expect(listed.status).toBe(200);
+    expect(listed.body).toMatchObject({
+      ok: true,
+      projects: [
+        {
+          id: 'stored-project',
+          name: basename(projectPath),
+          path: projectPath,
+        },
+      ],
+    });
+    expect(JSON.stringify(listed.body)).not.toContain('Custom Display Name');
+  });
+
   it('returns project diffs and can stage and commit changes', async () => {
     const projectPath = await createCommittedGitProject();
     const storePath = join(
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/server/services/projectService.ts b/packages/desktop/src/server/services/projectService.ts
index f23a0307e..589055866 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/server/services/projectService.ts
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/server/services/projectService.ts
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ export class DesktopProjectService {
     const path = await normalizeDirectoryPath(projectPath);
     const storedProject: StoredProject = {
       id: createProjectId(path),
-      name: basename(path) || path,
+      name: getProjectName(path),
       path,
       lastOpenedAt: this.now().getTime(),
     };
@@ -122,6 +122,7 @@ export class DesktopProjectService {
     const gitStatus = await readGitStatus(project.path);
     return {
       ...project,
+      name: getProjectName(project.path),
       gitBranch: gitStatus.branch,
       gitStatus,
     };
@@ -308,6 +309,10 @@ function createProjectId(path: string): string {
   return createHash('sha256').update(path).digest('hex').slice(0, 16);
 }
 
+function getProjectName(path: string): string {
+  return basename(path) || path;
+}
+
 function isProjectStoreFile(value: unknown): value is ProjectStoreFile {
   if (!value || typeof value !== 'object') {
     return false;