diff --git a/examples/chat/angular/src/app/modes/welcome-suggestions.component.ts b/examples/chat/angular/src/app/modes/welcome-suggestions.component.ts
index 2e2d10b7..59b2298a 100644
--- a/examples/chat/angular/src/app/modes/welcome-suggestions.component.ts
+++ b/examples/chat/angular/src/app/modes/welcome-suggestions.component.ts
@@ -43,11 +43,15 @@ import { FEATURED_SUGGESTIONS, MORE_SUGGESTIONS } from './welcome-suggestions';
       :host {
         display: flex;
         justify-content: center;
+        width: 100%;
+        padding: 0 12px;
+        box-sizing: border-box;
       }
       .welcome-suggestions__row {
         display: flex;
         align-items: center;
         gap: 12px;
+        max-width: 100%;
       }
       .welcome-suggestions__featured {
         flex: 1 1 0;
@@ -55,10 +59,25 @@ import { FEATURED_SUGGESTIONS, MORE_SUGGESTIONS } from './welcome-suggestions';
         max-width: 380px;
         overflow: hidden;
       }
+      /* chat-welcome-suggestion host is display: inline-block by default
+       * (sizes to content). At narrow viewports this lets the inner
+       * button overflow the wrapper and get clipped at the wrapper's
+       * right edge ("hard right border"). Force block sizing here so
+       * the host follows the wrapper's flex-shrunk width and the
+       * label inside ellipsizes. */
+      .welcome-suggestions__featured ::ng-deep chat-welcome-suggestion {
+        display: block;
+        width: 100%;
+      }
+      .welcome-suggestions__featured ::ng-deep .chat-welcome-suggestion {
+        width: 100%;
+      }
       .welcome-suggestions__featured ::ng-deep .chat-welcome-suggestion__label {
         white-space: nowrap;
         overflow: hidden;
         text-overflow: ellipsis;
+        min-width: 0;
+        flex: 1 1 auto;
       }
       /* Make the "More prompts" dropdown match the featured chip visually.
          Scoped to .welcome-suggestions__row so the model picker (also
diff --git a/examples/chat/angular/src/app/shell/demo-shell.component.css b/examples/chat/angular/src/app/shell/demo-shell.component.css
index be95153e..a46ee7d7 100644
--- a/examples/chat/angular/src/app/shell/demo-shell.component.css
+++ b/examples/chat/angular/src/app/shell/demo-shell.component.css
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
 .demo-shell__main[data-sidenav-mode="collapsed"] {
   padding-left: var(--ngaf-chat-sidenav-width-collapsed, 56px);
 }
-@media (max-width: 1023px) {
+@media (max-width: 767px) {
   .demo-shell__main[data-sidenav-mode] { padding-left: 0; }
 }
 
@@ -185,6 +185,11 @@
    * viewport minus the toolbar. */
   height: calc(100% - var(--demo-toolbar-height));
 }
+/* chat-sidebar panel renders top-aligned with the page, NOT under the
+ * toolbar — so the panel's close button sits at the same viewport-y as
+ * the hamburger inside the toolbar (both at surface-top + 8 padding).
+ * The panel's z-index is below the toolbar's so the toolbar still
+ * renders above it where they overlap on the right edge. */
 .demo-shell ::ng-deep .chat-sidebar__panel {
-  top: var(--demo-toolbar-height);
+  top: 0;
 }
diff --git a/examples/chat/angular/src/app/shell/demo-shell.component.ts b/examples/chat/angular/src/app/shell/demo-shell.component.ts
index 75c703dd..2e69ac65 100644
--- a/examples/chat/angular/src/app/shell/demo-shell.component.ts
+++ b/examples/chat/angular/src/app/shell/demo-shell.component.ts
@@ -180,8 +180,9 @@ export class DemoShell {
     (this.persistence.read('colorScheme') as 'light' | 'dark' | null) ?? 'dark',
   );
 
-  /** Whether the threads drawer is open. Persisted across reloads. */
-  protected readonly drawerOpen = signal<boolean>(this.persistence.read('drawerOpen') ?? false);
+  /** Whether the threads drawer is open. Always starts closed on a fresh
+   *  load — drawer mode is a transient UI state, not a persisted preference. */
+  protected readonly drawerOpen = signal<boolean>(false);
 
   /** Whether the Cmd+K search palette is open. */
   protected readonly paletteOpen = signal<boolean>(false);
@@ -201,15 +202,15 @@ export class DemoShell {
 
   /**
    * User's chosen desktop sidenav mode. Persisted across reloads.
-   * Below 1024px the shell ignores this and forces drawer mode.
+   * Below 768px the shell ignores this and forces drawer mode.
    */
   private readonly storedDesktopMode = signal<'expanded' | 'collapsed'>(
     (this.persistence.read('sidenavMode') as 'expanded' | 'collapsed' | null) ?? 'expanded',
   );
 
-  /** Computed sidenav mode: viewport forces drawer below 1024px, else user preference. */
+  /** Computed sidenav mode: viewport forces drawer below 768px, else user preference. */
   protected readonly sidenavMode = computed<ChatSidenavMode>(() =>
-    this.viewportWidth() >= 1024 ? this.storedDesktopMode() : 'drawer',
+    this.viewportWidth() >= 768 ? this.storedDesktopMode() : 'drawer',
   );
 
   /** Active threads filtered by the selected project (or all when none selected). */
@@ -399,7 +400,6 @@ export class DemoShell {
 
   protected onSidenavOpenChange(next: boolean): void {
     this.drawerOpen.set(next);
-    this.persistence.write('drawerOpen', next);
   }
 
   protected toggleSidenav(): void {
diff --git a/libs/a2ui/package.json b/libs/a2ui/package.json
index f4cc6a31..a5bcc9d5 100644
--- a/libs/a2ui/package.json
+++ b/libs/a2ui/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@ngaf/a2ui",
-  "version": "0.0.44",
+  "version": "0.0.46",
   "license": "MIT",
   "repository": {
     "type": "git",
diff --git a/libs/ag-ui/package.json b/libs/ag-ui/package.json
index af761f51..839eaccc 100644
--- a/libs/ag-ui/package.json
+++ b/libs/ag-ui/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@ngaf/ag-ui",
-  "version": "0.0.44",
+  "version": "0.0.46",
   "peerDependencies": {
     "@ngaf/chat": "*",
     "@ngaf/licensing": "*",
diff --git a/libs/chat/package.json b/libs/chat/package.json
index 560b8a3c..ff0db163 100644
--- a/libs/chat/package.json
+++ b/libs/chat/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@ngaf/chat",
-  "version": "0.0.44",
+  "version": "0.0.46",
   "exports": {
     "./chat.css": "./chat.css",
     "./themes/default-dark.css": "./themes/default-dark.css",
diff --git a/libs/chat/src/lib/styles/chat-history-search-palette.styles.ts b/libs/chat/src/lib/styles/chat-history-search-palette.styles.ts
index 366909f5..3a6cdecd 100644
--- a/libs/chat/src/lib/styles/chat-history-search-palette.styles.ts
+++ b/libs/chat/src/lib/styles/chat-history-search-palette.styles.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ export const CHAT_HISTORY_SEARCH_PALETTE_STYLES = `
     position: fixed;
     inset: 0;
     background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);
-    z-index: 50;
+    z-index: var(--ngaf-chat-z-modal-scrim, 1100);
     border: 0;
     padding: 0;
     cursor: pointer;
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ export const CHAT_HISTORY_SEARCH_PALETTE_STYLES = `
     border: 1px solid var(--ngaf-chat-separator);
     border-radius: 12px;
     box-shadow: 0 16px 48px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.25);
-    z-index: 51;
+    z-index: var(--ngaf-chat-z-modal, 1101);
     display: flex;
     flex-direction: column;
     overflow: hidden;
diff --git a/libs/chat/src/lib/styles/chat-sidenav.styles.ts b/libs/chat/src/lib/styles/chat-sidenav.styles.ts
index d56d4def..c3f28deb 100644
--- a/libs/chat/src/lib/styles/chat-sidenav.styles.ts
+++ b/libs/chat/src/lib/styles/chat-sidenav.styles.ts
@@ -65,6 +65,10 @@ export const CHAT_SIDENAV_STYLES = `
     flex-shrink: 0;
     padding: var(--ngaf-chat-space-3);
   }
+  /* Collapse the header slot when the consumer doesn't project content
+   * — matches the chat-window pattern. Avoids 24px of dead space above
+   * the New chat button. */
+  .chat-sidenav__header:empty { display: none; }
   .chat-sidenav__topbar {
     flex-shrink: 0;
     display: flex;
diff --git a/libs/chat/src/lib/styles/chat-tokens.ts b/libs/chat/src/lib/styles/chat-tokens.ts
index 6cb8745e..a0f494a3 100644
--- a/libs/chat/src/lib/styles/chat-tokens.ts
+++ b/libs/chat/src/lib/styles/chat-tokens.ts
@@ -122,10 +122,14 @@ const SPACING_TOKENS = `
 
 const LAYER_TOKENS = `
   /* Z-index layers — documented for consumers + future primitives.
-   * Default values listed; overridable per-app via :root or :host. */
+   * Default values listed; overridable per-app via :root or :host.
+   * Modal layers sit above drawer so palettes/dialogs stay reachable
+   * when the drawer is open. */
   --ngaf-chat-z-overlay-content: 30;   /* chat-sidebar panel, chat-popup window */
   --ngaf-chat-z-drawer-scrim: 1000;    /* chat-sidenav-scrim backdrop */
   --ngaf-chat-z-drawer: 1001;          /* chat-sidenav drawer mode host */
+  --ngaf-chat-z-modal-scrim: 1100;     /* chat-history-search-palette backdrop */
+  --ngaf-chat-z-modal: 1101;           /* chat-history-search-palette dialog */
 `;
 
 const EDGE_CLAIM_TOKENS = `
diff --git a/libs/chat/src/lib/styles/chat-window.styles.ts b/libs/chat/src/lib/styles/chat-window.styles.ts
index bb97c35b..006ac27e 100644
--- a/libs/chat/src/lib/styles/chat-window.styles.ts
+++ b/libs/chat/src/lib/styles/chat-window.styles.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,11 @@ export const CHAT_WINDOW_STYLES = `
     color: var(--ngaf-chat-primary);
   }
   .chat-window__header:empty { display: none; }
+  /* When the consumer doesn't project a header, balance the chat content
+   * with breathing room at the top equivalent to the input gap at the bottom. */
+  .chat-window__header:empty + .chat-window__body {
+    padding-top: var(--ngaf-chat-input-gap);
+  }
   .chat-window__body {
     flex: 1;
     min-height: 0;
diff --git a/libs/langgraph/package.json b/libs/langgraph/package.json
index 4d401722..b85b225a 100644
--- a/libs/langgraph/package.json
+++ b/libs/langgraph/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@ngaf/langgraph",
-  "version": "0.0.44",
+  "version": "0.0.46",
   "peerDependencies": {
     "@ngaf/chat": "*",
     "@ngaf/licensing": "*",
diff --git a/libs/licensing/package.json b/libs/licensing/package.json
index 2d2f9d43..e35502ab 100644
--- a/libs/licensing/package.json
+++ b/libs/licensing/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@ngaf/licensing",
-  "version": "0.0.44",
+  "version": "0.0.46",
   "license": "MIT",
   "repository": {
     "type": "git",
diff --git a/libs/render/package.json b/libs/render/package.json
index 22699762..b44fba78 100644
--- a/libs/render/package.json
+++ b/libs/render/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@ngaf/render",
-  "version": "0.0.44",
+  "version": "0.0.46",
   "peerDependencies": {
     "@angular/core": "^20.0.0 || ^21.0.0",
     "@angular/common": "^20.0.0 || ^21.0.0",
diff --git a/libs/telemetry/package.json b/libs/telemetry/package.json
index 118a9bc9..ee6071d3 100644
--- a/libs/telemetry/package.json
+++ b/libs/telemetry/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@ngaf/telemetry",
-  "version": "0.0.44",
+  "version": "0.0.46",
   "license": "MIT",
   "publishConfig": {
     "access": "public"