diff --git a/packages/app/e2e/browser/composer-autocomplete.spec.ts b/packages/app/e2e/browser/composer-autocomplete.spec.ts
index f40b51304b..088159e7f0 100644
--- a/packages/app/e2e/browser/composer-autocomplete.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/app/e2e/browser/composer-autocomplete.spec.ts
@@ -105,7 +105,21 @@ interface PopoverFrameRecorderWindow extends Window {
   __stopComposerAutocompleteFrameRecorder?: () => void;
 }
 
-async function installListCommandsStub(page: Page): Promise<void> {
+interface ListCommandsReply {
+  commands: readonly { name: string; description: string; argumentHint: string }[];
+  error: string | null;
+}
+
+const TEST_COMMANDS_REPLY: ListCommandsReply = { commands: TEST_COMMANDS, error: null };
+
+/**
+ * Rewrites every `list_commands_response` with `reply()`. A reply that returns a promise holds
+ * the response until it settles, standing in for a slow host.
+ */
+async function installListCommandsStub(
+  page: Page,
+  reply: () => ListCommandsReply | Promise<ListCommandsReply> = () => TEST_COMMANDS_REPLY,
+): Promise<void> {
   await page.routeWebSocket(daemonWsRoutePattern(), (ws) => {
     const server = ws.connectToServer();
 
@@ -130,14 +144,20 @@ async function installListCommandsStub(page: Page): Promise<void> {
             };
           };
         };
+        const payload = parsed.message?.payload;
         if (
           parsed.type === "session" &&
           parsed.message?.type === "list_commands_response" &&
-          parsed.message.payload
+          payload
         ) {
-          parsed.message.payload.commands = TEST_COMMANDS;
-          parsed.message.payload.error = null;
-          ws.send(JSON.stringify(parsed));
+          const send = (result: ListCommandsReply) => {
+            payload.commands = result.commands;
+            payload.error = result.error;
+            ws.send(JSON.stringify(parsed));
+          };
+          const result = reply();
+          if (result instanceof Promise) void result.then(send);
+          else send(result);
           return;
         }
       } catch {
@@ -149,6 +169,17 @@ async function installListCommandsStub(page: Page): Promise<void> {
   });
 }
 
+function createHeldReply(): {
+  reply: () => Promise<ListCommandsReply>;
+  release: () => void;
+} {
+  let release = () => {};
+  const held = new Promise<ListCommandsReply>((resolve) => {
+    release = () => resolve(TEST_COMMANDS_REPLY);
+  });
+  return { reply: () => held, release };
+}
+
 async function openAppWideNewWorkspace(page: Page): Promise<void> {
   await page.getByTestId("sidebar-global-new-workspace").first().click();
   await page.waitForURL((url) => url.pathname === "/new", { timeout: 30_000 });
@@ -545,16 +576,17 @@ test.describe("Composer autocomplete", () => {
       const input = composerLocator(page);
       await expect(input).toBeEditable({ timeout: 30_000 });
 
-      await input.fill("/he");
+      // `/hea` lists two commands and `/he` enough to reach the height cap, so the list grows.
+      await input.fill("/hea");
       const popover = page.getByTestId("composer-autocomplete-popover");
-      await expect(popover.getByText("/help", { exact: true }).first()).toBeVisible({
+      await expect(popover.getByText("/heapdump", { exact: true }).first()).toBeVisible({
         timeout: 30_000,
       });
       const beforeDelete = await visiblePopoverBox(page);
 
       await input.press("Backspace");
-      await expect(input).toHaveValue("/h");
-      await expect(popover.getByText("/history", { exact: true }).first()).toBeVisible({
+      await expect(input).toHaveValue("/he");
+      await expect(popover.getByText("/hello", { exact: true }).first()).toBeVisible({
         timeout: 30_000,
       });
       const afterDelete = await visiblePopoverBox(page);
@@ -733,6 +765,116 @@ test.describe("Composer autocomplete", () => {
     }
   });
 
+  test("forgets an arrow-key choice once the search changes", async ({ page }) => {
+    await installListCommandsStub(page);
+    const session = await seedMockAgentWorkspace({
+      repoPrefix: "autocomplete-stale-choice-",
+      title: "Autocomplete stale choice",
+    });
+
+    try {
+      await openAgentRoute(page, session);
+      await expectWorkspaceTabVisible(page, session.agentId);
+      const input = composerLocator(page);
+      await expect(input).toBeEditable({ timeout: 30_000 });
+      await input.fill("/");
+      const popover = page.getByTestId("composer-autocomplete-popover");
+      await expect(popover.getByText("/tdd", { exact: true }).first()).toBeVisible({
+        timeout: 30_000,
+      });
+
+      // Down wraps from the default bottom row to the top: /clear, then /exit.
+      await input.press("ArrowDown");
+      await input.press("ArrowDown");
+      await input.press("h");
+      await expect(popover.getByText("/help", { exact: true }).first()).toBeVisible();
+      await input.press("Backspace");
+      await expect(input).toHaveValue("/");
+      await input.press("Enter");
+
+      await expect(input).toHaveValue("/tdd ");
+      await expectWorkspaceTabVisible(page, session.agentId);
+    } finally {
+      await session.cleanup();
+    }
+  });
+
+  test("shows loading inside the popover until a slow host answers", async ({ page }) => {
+    const host = createHeldReply();
+    await installListCommandsStub(page, host.reply);
+    const agent = await openReadyMockAgent(page);
+
+    try {
+      const input = composerLocator(page);
+      await expect(input).toBeEditable({ timeout: 30_000 });
+      await input.fill("/");
+
+      const popover = page.getByTestId("composer-autocomplete-popover");
+      await expect(popover.getByTestId("composer-autocomplete-loading")).toBeVisible({
+        timeout: 30_000,
+      });
+      const loading = await visiblePopoverBox(page);
+
+      host.release();
+      await expect(popover.getByText("/help", { exact: true }).first()).toBeVisible({
+        timeout: 30_000,
+      });
+      await expect(popover.getByTestId("composer-autocomplete-loading")).toHaveCount(0);
+      const results = await visiblePopoverBox(page);
+
+      expect(Math.abs(results.bottom - loading.bottom)).toBeLessThanOrEqual(4);
+    } finally {
+      await agent.cleanup();
+    }
+  });
+
+  test("shows why commands failed, keeps Enter from choosing a hidden command, and retries", async ({
+    page,
+  }) => {
+    let reply: () => ListCommandsReply | Promise<ListCommandsReply> = () => ({
+      commands: [],
+      error: "Timed out waiting for the agent session",
+    });
+    await installListCommandsStub(page, () => reply());
+    const session = await seedMockAgentWorkspace({
+      repoPrefix: "autocomplete-failing-host-",
+      title: "Autocomplete failing host",
+    });
+
+    try {
+      await openAgentRoute(page, session);
+      await expectWorkspaceTabVisible(page, session.agentId);
+      const input = composerLocator(page);
+      await expect(input).toBeEditable({ timeout: 30_000 });
+      await input.fill("/");
+
+      const popover = page.getByTestId("composer-autocomplete-popover");
+      const errorRow = popover.getByTestId("composer-autocomplete-error");
+      await expect(errorRow).toContainText("Timed out waiting for the agent session", {
+        timeout: 30_000,
+      });
+
+      await input.press("Enter");
+      await page.waitForTimeout(500);
+      await expectWorkspaceTabVisible(page, session.agentId);
+
+      await input.fill("/");
+      await expect(errorRow).toBeVisible({ timeout: 30_000 });
+
+      const host = createHeldReply();
+      reply = host.reply;
+      await errorRow.getByRole("button", { name: "Retry" }).click();
+      await expect(popover.getByTestId("composer-autocomplete-loading")).toBeVisible();
+
+      host.release();
+      await expect(popover.getByText("/help", { exact: true }).first()).toBeVisible({
+        timeout: 30_000,
+      });
+    } finally {
+      await session.cleanup();
+    }
+  });
+
   test.describe("compact sidebar layering", () => {
     test.use({ viewport: { width: 390, height: 844 }, isMobile: true, hasTouch: true });
 
diff --git a/packages/app/e2e/mobile/composer-keyboard/android.sh b/packages/app/e2e/mobile/composer-keyboard/android.sh
index 809483ceff..b3b20ed2b7 100755
--- a/packages/app/e2e/mobile/composer-keyboard/android.sh
+++ b/packages/app/e2e/mobile/composer-keyboard/android.sh
@@ -509,6 +509,8 @@ check_autocomplete() {
     fi
   fi
   ad wait 'id="composer-autocomplete-popover"' 10000
+  # Rows replace the popover's loading row once the host lists them; a cold Claude list is slow.
+  ad wait "text=\"${expected}\"" 30000
   # The popover remeasures once keyboard motion settles.
   sleep 1
   capture_screen "${prefix}.png"
diff --git a/packages/app/e2e/mobile/composer-keyboard/ios.mjs b/packages/app/e2e/mobile/composer-keyboard/ios.mjs
index 513d68623e..9deb02ab68 100644
--- a/packages/app/e2e/mobile/composer-keyboard/ios.mjs
+++ b/packages/app/e2e/mobile/composer-keyboard/ios.mjs
@@ -69,17 +69,23 @@ async function waitFor(name, predicate, timeoutMs = 10_000) {
   }
 }
 
-// Keyboard motion has settled once two snapshots agree on the composer position.
+// Keyboard motion has settled once two snapshots agree on the composer position. The
+// popover shows a loading row until the host lists its commands; a cold Claude list is slow.
 async function settledPlacement(name, keyboard) {
   let previousTop;
-  return waitFor(name, (snap) => {
-    const composer = nodeById(snap, "message-input-root");
-    if (!nodeById(snap, "composer-autocomplete-popover") || !composer) return false;
-    if (keyboardShown(snap) !== keyboard) return false;
-    const stable = composer.rect.y === previousTop;
-    previousTop = composer.rect.y;
-    return stable;
-  });
+  return waitFor(
+    name,
+    (snap) => {
+      const composer = nodeById(snap, "message-input-root");
+      if (!nodeById(snap, "composer-autocomplete-popover") || !composer) return false;
+      if (nodeById(snap, "composer-autocomplete-loading")) return false;
+      if (keyboardShown(snap) !== keyboard) return false;
+      const stable = composer.rect.y === previousTop;
+      previousTop = composer.rect.y;
+      return stable;
+    },
+    30_000,
+  );
 }
 
 function assertPlacement(name, snap, expected) {
diff --git a/packages/app/src/agent-commands/use-query.ts b/packages/app/src/agent-commands/use-query.ts
index 000e6e8057..61a869d092 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/agent-commands/use-query.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/agent-commands/use-query.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import { useCallback } from "react";
+import { useQueryClient } from "@tanstack/react-query";
 import { useFetchQuery } from "@/data/query";
 import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
 import type { DaemonClient } from "@getpaseo/client/internal/daemon-client";
@@ -75,6 +77,7 @@ export function useAgentCommandsQuery({
     }),
   );
 
+  const queryClient = useQueryClient();
   const query = useFetchQuery({
     queryKey: agentCommandsQueryKey({ serverId, agentId, draftConfig }),
     queryFn: async () => {
@@ -101,10 +104,20 @@ export function useAgentCommandsQuery({
   // isLoading is true when fetching and no data yet
   const isLoading = query.isPending || query.isLoading;
 
+  // Reset rather than refetch: a refetch keeps the error status while it runs, and the menu
+  // shows loading for the retry.
+  const retry = useCallback(() => {
+    void queryClient.resetQueries({
+      queryKey: agentCommandsQueryKey({ serverId, agentId, draftConfig }),
+      exact: true,
+    });
+  }, [agentId, draftConfig, queryClient, serverId]);
+
   return {
     commands: query.data ?? [],
     isLoading,
     isError: query.isError && query.data === undefined,
     error: query.error,
+    retry,
   };
 }
diff --git a/packages/app/src/components/ui/autocomplete-popover.tsx b/packages/app/src/components/ui/autocomplete-popover.tsx
index e74c068658..c4229775bf 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/components/ui/autocomplete-popover.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/components/ui/autocomplete-popover.tsx
@@ -12,7 +12,11 @@ import { Portal } from "@gorhom/portal";
 import Animated, { useAnimatedReaction, useAnimatedStyle } from "react-native-reanimated";
 import { scheduleOnRN } from "react-native-worklets";
 import { useSafeAreaInsets } from "react-native-safe-area-context";
-import { Autocomplete, type AutocompleteOption } from "@/components/ui/autocomplete";
+import {
+  Autocomplete,
+  type AutocompleteOption,
+  type AutocompleteStatus,
+} from "@/components/ui/autocomplete";
 import {
   measureFloatingPanelPortalHost,
   useFloatingPanelPortalHostName,
@@ -37,10 +41,7 @@ interface AutocompletePopoverProps {
   options: readonly AutocompleteOption[];
   selectedIndex: number;
   onSelect: (option: AutocompleteOption) => void;
-  isLoading?: boolean;
-  errorMessage?: string;
-  loadingText?: string;
-  emptyText?: string;
+  status?: AutocompleteStatus | null;
 }
 
 export function AutocompletePopover({
@@ -50,10 +51,7 @@ export function AutocompletePopover({
   options,
   selectedIndex,
   onSelect,
-  isLoading,
-  errorMessage,
-  loadingText,
-  emptyText,
+  status,
 }: AutocompletePopoverProps): ReactElement | null {
   "use no memo";
   // React Compiler memoizes effect captures by reading SharedValue.value during render.
@@ -154,10 +152,7 @@ export function AutocompletePopover({
                 options={options}
                 selectedIndex={selectedIndex}
                 onSelect={onSelect}
-                isLoading={isLoading}
-                errorMessage={errorMessage}
-                loadingText={loadingText}
-                emptyText={emptyText}
+                status={status}
               />
             </Animated.View>
           </KeyboardTranslateView>
diff --git a/packages/app/src/components/ui/autocomplete.tsx b/packages/app/src/components/ui/autocomplete.tsx
index a9cb10f33e..86d62ba2b1 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/components/ui/autocomplete.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/components/ui/autocomplete.tsx
@@ -9,32 +9,79 @@ import {
   type NativeSyntheticEvent,
   type PressableStateCallbackType,
 } from "react-native";
-import { StyleSheet, useUnistyles } from "react-native-unistyles";
+import { StyleSheet, withUnistyles } from "react-native-unistyles";
 import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
-import { File, Folder } from "lucide-react-native";
+import {
+  Archive,
+  CircleAlert,
+  File,
+  Folder,
+  Puzzle,
+  RotateCw,
+  Sparkles,
+  SquarePen,
+  SquareSlash,
+} from "lucide-react-native";
+import type { MatchRange } from "@getpaseo/protocol/search/text-match";
+import { useIsCompactFormFactor } from "@/constants/layout";
 import type { Theme } from "@/styles/theme";
+import { Button } from "./button";
+import { HighlightedText } from "./highlighted-text";
+import { mutedIconColorMapping } from "./icon-color";
+import { LoadingSpinner } from "./loading-spinner";
 import { getScrollOffsetToRevealItem } from "./scroll-reveal";
+import { StatusBadge } from "./status-badge";
+
+export type AutocompleteOptionIcon =
+  | "command"
+  | "skill"
+  | "plugin"
+  | "archive"
+  | "new-draft"
+  | "file"
+  | "directory";
 
 export interface AutocompleteOption {
   id: string;
   label: string;
-  detail?: string;
+  icon: AutocompleteOptionIcon;
+  /** Spans of `label` the query matched. */
+  labelMatches?: readonly MatchRange[];
+  argumentHint?: string;
   description?: string;
-  kind?: "command" | "file" | "directory";
+  /** Where the option comes from, when that is not the provider itself: `Skill`, `Paseo`, a plugin. */
+  tag?: string;
 }
 
+/** What the list shows in place of options. */
+export type AutocompleteStatus =
+  | { kind: "loading"; message: string }
+  | { kind: "empty"; message: string }
+  | { kind: "error"; title: string; reason?: string; onRetry?: () => void };
+
 interface AutocompleteProps {
   options: readonly AutocompleteOption[];
   selectedIndex: number;
   onSelect: (option: AutocompleteOption) => void;
-  isLoading?: boolean;
-  errorMessage?: string;
-  loadingText?: string;
-  emptyText?: string;
+  status?: AutocompleteStatus | null;
   maxHeight?: number;
 }
 
-const BOLT_GLYPH_PATTERN = /\u26A1|\uFE0F/gu;
+const ROW_ICONS = {
+  command: withUnistyles(SquareSlash, mutedIconColorMapping),
+  skill: withUnistyles(Sparkles, mutedIconColorMapping),
+  plugin: withUnistyles(Puzzle, mutedIconColorMapping),
+  archive: withUnistyles(Archive, mutedIconColorMapping),
+  "new-draft": withUnistyles(SquarePen, mutedIconColorMapping),
+  file: withUnistyles(File, mutedIconColorMapping),
+  directory: withUnistyles(Folder, mutedIconColorMapping),
+} satisfies Record<AutocompleteOptionIcon, unknown>;
+const ErrorIcon = withUnistyles(CircleAlert, mutedIconColorMapping);
+const ThemedLoadingSpinner = withUnistyles(LoadingSpinner, mutedIconColorMapping);
+
+const ROW_ICON_SIZE = 14;
+
+const BOLT_GLYPH_PATTERN = /⚡|️/gu;
 
 function removeBoltGlyphs(value?: string): string | undefined {
   if (!value) {
@@ -48,7 +95,7 @@ interface AutocompleteRowProps {
   index: number;
   option: AutocompleteOption;
   isSelected: boolean;
-  mutedColor: string;
+  showArgumentHint: boolean;
   onSelect: (option: AutocompleteOption) => void;
   onRowLayout: (index: number, event: LayoutChangeEvent) => void;
 }
@@ -57,13 +104,15 @@ function AutocompleteRow({
   index,
   option,
   isSelected,
-  mutedColor,
+  showArgumentHint,
   onSelect,
   onRowLayout,
 }: AutocompleteRowProps) {
-  const optionLabel = removeBoltGlyphs(option.label) ?? option.label;
-  const optionDescription = removeBoltGlyphs(option.description);
-  const isFileOrDir = option.kind === "directory" || option.kind === "file";
+  const label = removeBoltGlyphs(option.label) ?? option.label;
+  const description = removeBoltGlyphs(option.description);
+  const argumentHint = showArgumentHint ? removeBoltGlyphs(option.argumentHint) : undefined;
+  const Icon = ROW_ICONS[option.icon];
+  const labelMatches = label === option.label ? option.labelMatches : undefined;
 
   const handleLayout = useCallback(
     (event: LayoutChangeEvent) => onRowLayout(index, event),
@@ -79,41 +128,77 @@ function AutocompleteRow({
   );
 
   return (
-    <Pressable onLayout={handleLayout} onPress={handlePress} style={pressableStyle}>
-      {isFileOrDir ? (
-        <>
-          <View style={styles.itemLeading}>
-            {option.kind === "directory" ? (
-              <Folder size={14} color={mutedColor} />
-            ) : (
-              <File size={14} color={mutedColor} />
-            )}
-          </View>
-          <View style={styles.itemMain}>
-            <View style={styles.itemHeader}>
-              <Text style={styles.itemLabel}>{optionLabel}</Text>
-              {removeBoltGlyphs(option.detail) ? (
-                <Text style={styles.itemDetail}>{removeBoltGlyphs(option.detail)}</Text>
-              ) : null}
-            </View>
-            {optionDescription ? (
-              <Text style={styles.itemDescription} numberOfLines={1}>
-                {optionDescription}
-              </Text>
-            ) : null}
-          </View>
-        </>
-      ) : (
-        <View style={styles.itemMainRow}>
-          <Text style={styles.itemLabel}>{optionLabel}</Text>
-          {optionDescription ? (
-            <Text style={styles.itemDescriptionInline} numberOfLines={1}>
-              {optionDescription}
+    <Pressable
+      onLayout={handleLayout}
+      onPress={handlePress}
+      style={pressableStyle}
+      // Name and description only; the hint and tag repeat what the name implies.
+      accessibilityLabel={description ? `${label}, ${description}` : label}
+    >
+      <View style={styles.itemIcon}>
+        <Icon size={ROW_ICON_SIZE} />
+      </View>
+      <HighlightedText
+        text={label}
+        ranges={labelMatches}
+        style={styles.itemLabel}
+        numberOfLines={1}
+      />
+      {argumentHint ? (
+        <Text style={styles.itemArgumentHint} numberOfLines={1}>
+          {argumentHint}
+        </Text>
+      ) : null}
+      <Text style={styles.itemDescription} numberOfLines={1}>
+        {description ?? ""}
+      </Text>
+      {option.tag ? <StatusBadge label={option.tag} size="xs" /> : null}
+    </Pressable>
+  );
+}
+
+function AutocompleteStatusRow({ status }: { status: AutocompleteStatus }) {
+  const { t } = useTranslation();
+
+  if (status.kind === "error") {
+    return (
+      <View style={styles.statusRow} testID="composer-autocomplete-error">
+        <View style={styles.itemIcon}>
+          <ErrorIcon size={ROW_ICON_SIZE} />
+        </View>
+        <View style={styles.statusText}>
+          <Text style={styles.statusTitle} numberOfLines={2}>
+            {status.title}
+          </Text>
+          {status.reason ? (
+            <Text style={styles.statusReason} numberOfLines={2}>
+              {status.reason}
             </Text>
           ) : null}
         </View>
-      )}
-    </Pressable>
+        {status.onRetry ? (
+          <Button variant="secondary" size="sm" leftIcon={RotateCw} onPress={status.onRetry}>
+            {t("common.actions.retry")}
+          </Button>
+        ) : null}
+      </View>
+    );
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <View
+      style={styles.statusRow}
+      testID={status.kind === "loading" ? "composer-autocomplete-loading" : undefined}
+    >
+      {status.kind === "loading" ? (
+        <View style={styles.itemIcon}>
+          <ThemedLoadingSpinner size={ROW_ICON_SIZE} />
+        </View>
+      ) : null}
+      <Text style={styles.statusMessage} numberOfLines={2}>
+        {status.message}
+      </Text>
+    </View>
   );
 }
 
@@ -121,16 +206,11 @@ export function Autocomplete({
   options,
   selectedIndex,
   onSelect,
-  isLoading = false,
-  errorMessage,
-  loadingText,
-  emptyText,
+  status,
   maxHeight = 220,
 }: AutocompleteProps) {
   const { t } = useTranslation();
-  const { theme } = useUnistyles();
-  const resolvedLoadingText = loadingText ?? t("common.states.loading");
-  const resolvedEmptyText = emptyText ?? t("common.empty.noResults");
+  const isCompact = useIsCompactFormFactor();
   const scrollRef = useRef<ScrollView>(null);
   const rowLayoutsRef = useRef<Map<number, { top: number; height: number }>>(new Map());
   const viewportHeightRef = useRef(0);
@@ -210,117 +290,51 @@ export function Autocomplete({
     [ensureActiveItemVisible],
   );
 
-  const selectedOption = options[selectedIndex];
   const containerStyle = useMemo(() => [styles.container, { maxHeight }], [maxHeight]);
 
-  if (isLoading) {
-    return (
-      <View style={containerStyle}>
-        <View style={styles.emptyItem}>
-          <Text style={styles.emptyText}>{resolvedLoadingText}</Text>
-        </View>
-      </View>
-    );
-  }
+  const noResultsMessage = t("common.empty.noResults");
+  const shownStatus = useMemo<AutocompleteStatus | null>(
+    () => status ?? (options.length === 0 ? { kind: "empty", message: noResultsMessage } : null),
+    [noResultsMessage, options.length, status],
+  );
 
-  if (errorMessage) {
+  if (shownStatus) {
     return (
       <View style={containerStyle}>
-        <View style={styles.emptyItem}>
-          <Text style={styles.emptyText}>Error: {errorMessage}</Text>
-        </View>
-      </View>
-    );
-  }
-
-  if (options.length === 0) {
-    return (
-      <View style={containerStyle}>
-        <View style={styles.emptyItem}>
-          <Text style={styles.emptyText}>{resolvedEmptyText}</Text>
-        </View>
+        <AutocompleteStatusRow status={shownStatus} />
       </View>
     );
   }
 
   return (
-    <View style={styles.outerWrapper}>
-      {selectedOption?.kind === "command" && selectedOption.description ? (
-        <View style={styles.detailCard}>
-          <Text style={styles.detailLabel} numberOfLines={1}>
-            {removeBoltGlyphs(selectedOption.label) ?? selectedOption.label}
-          </Text>
-          <Text style={styles.detailDescription} numberOfLines={2} ellipsizeMode="tail">
-            {removeBoltGlyphs(selectedOption.description)}
-          </Text>
-          {selectedOption.detail ? (
-            <Text style={styles.detailHint} numberOfLines={1}>
-              {removeBoltGlyphs(selectedOption.detail)}
-            </Text>
-          ) : null}
-        </View>
-      ) : null}
-      <View style={containerStyle}>
-        <ScrollView
-          ref={scrollRef}
-          onLayout={handleScrollViewLayout}
-          onContentSizeChange={pinToBottom}
-          onScroll={handleScroll}
-          scrollEventThrottle={16}
-          style={styles.scrollView}
-          contentContainerStyle={styles.scrollContent}
-          keyboardShouldPersistTaps="always"
-        >
-          {options.map((option, index) => (
-            <AutocompleteRow
-              key={option.id}
-              index={index}
-              option={option}
-              isSelected={index === selectedIndex}
-              mutedColor={theme.colors.foregroundMuted}
-              onSelect={onSelect}
-              onRowLayout={handleRowLayout}
-            />
-          ))}
-        </ScrollView>
-      </View>
+    <View style={containerStyle}>
+      <ScrollView
+        ref={scrollRef}
+        onLayout={handleScrollViewLayout}
+        onContentSizeChange={pinToBottom}
+        onScroll={handleScroll}
+        scrollEventThrottle={16}
+        style={styles.scrollView}
+        contentContainerStyle={styles.scrollContent}
+        keyboardShouldPersistTaps="always"
+      >
+        {options.map((option, index) => (
+          <AutocompleteRow
+            key={option.id}
+            index={index}
+            option={option}
+            isSelected={index === selectedIndex}
+            showArgumentHint={!isCompact}
+            onSelect={onSelect}
+            onRowLayout={handleRowLayout}
+          />
+        ))}
+      </ScrollView>
     </View>
   );
 }
 
 const styles = StyleSheet.create((theme: Theme) => ({
-  outerWrapper: {
-    flexShrink: 1,
-    minHeight: 0,
-    gap: theme.spacing[1],
-  },
-  detailCard: {
-    flexShrink: 1,
-    minHeight: 0,
-    overflow: "hidden",
-    backgroundColor: theme.colors.surface1,
-    borderWidth: theme.borderWidth[1],
-    borderColor: theme.colors.borderAccent,
-    borderRadius: theme.borderRadius.lg,
-    paddingHorizontal: theme.spacing[3],
-    paddingVertical: theme.spacing[3],
-    ...theme.shadow.md,
-  },
-  detailLabel: {
-    color: theme.colors.foreground,
-    fontSize: theme.fontSize.base,
-    fontWeight: theme.fontWeight.normal,
-  },
-  detailDescription: {
-    color: theme.colors.foregroundMuted,
-    fontSize: theme.fontSize.sm,
-    marginTop: theme.spacing[1],
-  },
-  detailHint: {
-    color: theme.colors.foregroundMuted,
-    fontSize: theme.fontSize.sm,
-    marginTop: theme.spacing[1],
-  },
   container: {
     flexShrink: 1,
     // Keep a complete selectable row (36), list padding (8), and borders (2).
@@ -342,60 +356,63 @@ const styles = StyleSheet.create((theme: Theme) => ({
   item: {
     flexDirection: "row",
     alignItems: "center",
+    gap: theme.spacing[2],
     minHeight: 36,
     paddingHorizontal: theme.spacing[3],
     paddingVertical: theme.spacing[2],
   },
-  itemLeading: {
-    width: 18,
-    alignItems: "center",
-    justifyContent: "center",
-    marginRight: theme.spacing[1],
-  },
   itemActive: {
     backgroundColor: theme.colors.surface2,
   },
-  itemMain: {
-    flex: 1,
-    minWidth: 0,
-  },
-  itemMainRow: {
-    flex: 1,
-    minWidth: 0,
-    flexDirection: "row",
+  itemIcon: {
+    width: 16,
     alignItems: "center",
-    gap: theme.spacing[2],
-  },
-  itemHeader: {
-    flexDirection: "row",
-    alignItems: "center",
-    gap: theme.spacing[2],
+    justifyContent: "center",
   },
   itemLabel: {
+    flexShrink: 0,
+    maxWidth: "60%",
     color: theme.colors.foreground,
     fontSize: theme.fontSize.base,
     fontWeight: theme.fontWeight.normal,
   },
-  itemDetail: {
+  itemArgumentHint: {
+    flexShrink: 0,
+    maxWidth: "30%",
     color: theme.colors.foregroundMuted,
+    fontFamily: theme.fontFamily.mono,
     fontSize: theme.fontSize.sm,
   },
   itemDescription: {
+    flex: 1,
+    minWidth: 0,
     color: theme.colors.foregroundMuted,
     fontSize: theme.fontSize.sm,
-    marginTop: 2,
   },
-  itemDescriptionInline: {
+  statusRow: {
+    flexDirection: "row",
+    alignItems: "center",
+    gap: theme.spacing[2],
+    minHeight: 44,
+    paddingHorizontal: theme.spacing[3],
+    paddingVertical: theme.spacing[2],
+  },
+  statusText: {
+    flex: 1,
+    minWidth: 0,
+    gap: 2,
+  },
+  statusTitle: {
+    color: theme.colors.foreground,
+    fontSize: theme.fontSize.sm,
+  },
+  statusReason: {
+    color: theme.colors.foregroundMuted,
+    fontSize: theme.fontSize.sm,
+  },
+  statusMessage: {
     flex: 1,
     color: theme.colors.foregroundMuted,
     fontSize: theme.fontSize.sm,
   },
-  emptyItem: {
-    paddingHorizontal: theme.spacing[3],
-    paddingVertical: theme.spacing[3],
-  },
-  emptyText: {
-    color: theme.colors.foregroundMuted,
-    fontSize: theme.fontSize.base,
-  },
 })) as unknown as Record<string, object>;
diff --git a/packages/app/src/composer/index.tsx b/packages/app/src/composer/index.tsx
index b7dd4ee36a..60b05be23e 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/composer/index.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/composer/index.tsx
@@ -1058,10 +1058,7 @@ function ComposerAutocompleteBinding({
       options={autocomplete.options}
       selectedIndex={autocomplete.selectedIndex}
       onSelect={onSelect}
-      isLoading={autocomplete.isLoading}
-      errorMessage={autocomplete.errorMessage}
-      loadingText={autocomplete.loadingText}
-      emptyText={autocomplete.emptyText}
+      status={autocomplete.status}
     >
       {children}
     </ComposerAutocomplete>
diff --git a/packages/app/src/hooks/use-agent-autocomplete.ts b/packages/app/src/hooks/use-agent-autocomplete.ts
index ef144477dc..a400cf6862 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/hooks/use-agent-autocomplete.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/hooks/use-agent-autocomplete.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@ import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useState } from "react";
 import { keepPreviousData, useQuery } from "@tanstack/react-query";
 import type { TFunction } from "i18next";
 import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
-import type { AutocompleteOption } from "@/components/ui/autocomplete";
+import type { AutocompleteOption, AutocompleteStatus } from "@/components/ui/autocomplete";
+import { findHighlightRanges } from "@/components/ui/highlighted-text-segments";
 import {
   useAutocompleteCommands,
   type AgentSlashCommand,
@@ -13,6 +14,9 @@ import { orderAutocompleteOptions } from "@/components/ui/autocomplete-utils";
 import { useAutocomplete } from "./use-autocomplete";
 import { useSessionStore } from "@/stores/session-store";
 import { useHostRuntimeClient, useHostRuntimeIsConnected } from "@/runtime/host-runtime";
+import { useProvidersSnapshot } from "@/hooks/use-providers-snapshot";
+import { pluginDisplayName, usePluginList } from "@/plugins/plugin-list";
+import { resolveProviderLabel } from "@/utils/provider-definitions";
 import { CLIENT_SLASH_COMMANDS, type ClientSlashCommand } from "@/client-slash-commands";
 import type { PluginClientSlashCommand } from "@/plugins/client-slash-commands";
 import { mergeSlashCommandSources } from "@/plugins/client-slash-commands/model";
@@ -70,10 +74,8 @@ interface AgentAutocompleteResult {
   isVisible: boolean;
   options: AutocompleteOption[];
   selectedIndex: number;
-  isLoading: boolean;
-  errorMessage?: string;
-  loadingText: string;
-  emptyText: string;
+  /** Shown in place of options; set exactly when `options` is empty. */
+  status: AutocompleteStatus | null;
   onSelectOption: (option: AutocompleteOption, input?: AgentAutocompleteInputSnapshot) => void;
   onKeyPress: (event: AgentAutocompleteKeyPressEvent) => boolean;
 }
@@ -162,39 +164,69 @@ function mapDirectorySuggestionsToEntries(payload: {
   }));
 }
 
-function mapCommandToOption(entry: AvailableCommand, t: TFunction): AgentAutocompleteOption {
+const CLIENT_COMMAND_ICONS = {
+  "archive-agent": "archive",
+  "replace-agent-with-draft": "new-draft",
+} as const satisfies Record<ClientSlashCommand["kind"], AutocompleteOption["icon"]>;
+
+interface CommandOptionContext {
+  query: string;
+  pluginNames: ReadonlyMap<string, string>;
+  t: TFunction;
+}
+
+function mapCommandToOption(
+  entry: AvailableCommand,
+  context: CommandOptionContext,
+): AgentAutocompleteOption {
   const command = entry.command;
   const base = {
     id: command.name,
     label: `/${command.name}`,
-    detail: command.argumentHint || undefined,
-    description:
-      entry.source === "client" ? t(entry.command.descriptionKey) : entry.command.description,
-    kind: "command" as const,
+    // The label carries a leading slash the query does not.
+    labelMatches: findHighlightRanges(context.query, command.name).map((range) => ({
+      start: range.start + 1,
+      length: range.length,
+    })),
+    argumentHint: command.argumentHint || undefined,
   };
   if (entry.source === "client") {
     return {
       ...base,
       type: "client_command",
       command: entry.command,
+      icon: CLIENT_COMMAND_ICONS[entry.command.kind],
+      description: context.t(entry.command.descriptionKey),
+      tag: "Paseo",
     };
   }
   if (entry.source === "plugin") {
-    return { ...base, type: "plugin_command", command: entry.command };
+    return {
+      ...base,
+      type: "plugin_command",
+      command: entry.command,
+      icon: "plugin",
+      description: entry.command.description,
+      tag: context.pluginNames.get(entry.command.pluginId) ?? entry.command.pluginId,
+    };
   }
+  const isSkill = entry.command.kind === "skill";
   return {
     ...base,
     type: "provider_command",
+    icon: isSkill ? "skill" : "command",
+    description: entry.command.description,
+    tag: isSkill ? context.t("agentAutocomplete.skillTag") : undefined,
   };
 }
 
 type AutocompleteMode = "command" | "file" | null;
 
 interface BuildAutocompleteOptionsInput {
-  isVisible: boolean;
   mode: AutocompleteMode;
   commands: AgentSlashCommand[];
   pluginCommands: readonly PluginClientSlashCommand[];
+  pluginNames: ReadonlyMap<string, string>;
   isDraftContext: boolean;
   commandFilterQuery: string;
   activeSlashCommand: SlashCommandRange | null;
@@ -203,11 +235,7 @@ interface BuildAutocompleteOptionsInput {
   t: TFunction;
 }
 
-function buildCommandAutocompleteOptions(input: BuildAutocompleteOptionsInput) {
-  if (!input.isVisible) {
-    return [];
-  }
-
+function buildAutocompleteOptions(input: BuildAutocompleteOptionsInput): AgentAutocompleteOption[] {
   if (input.mode === "command") {
     const providerCommands = input.commands.map((command) => ({
       source: "provider" as const,
@@ -236,8 +264,12 @@ function buildCommandAutocompleteOptions(input: BuildAutocompleteOptionsInput) {
       availableCommands,
       input.commandFilterQuery,
     );
-    const orderedMatches = orderAutocompleteOptions(matches);
-    return orderedMatches.map((entry) => mapCommandToOption(entry, input.t));
+    const context = {
+      query: input.commandFilterQuery,
+      pluginNames: input.pluginNames,
+      t: input.t,
+    };
+    return orderAutocompleteOptions(matches).map((entry) => mapCommandToOption(entry, context));
   }
 
   const activeFileMention = input.activeFileMention;
@@ -247,7 +279,7 @@ function buildCommandAutocompleteOptions(input: BuildAutocompleteOptionsInput) {
       type: "workspace_entry" as const,
       id: `${entry.kind}:${entry.path}`,
       label: entry.path,
-      kind: entry.kind,
+      icon: entry.kind,
       entryPath: entry.path,
       mention: activeFileMention,
     }));
@@ -295,42 +327,140 @@ function resolveCanLoadCommands(args: {
   return Boolean(args.agentId) || args.isDraftContext;
 }
 
-function resolveAutocompleteIsLoading(args: {
-  mode: AutocompleteMode;
-  isCommandsLoading: boolean;
-  fileSuggestionsIsPending: boolean;
-  fileSuggestionsIsLoading: boolean;
-  optionsLength: number;
-}): boolean {
-  if (args.mode === "command") {
-    return args.isCommandsLoading && args.optionsLength === 0;
-  }
-  if (args.mode === "file") {
-    return (
-      args.fileSuggestionsIsPending || (args.fileSuggestionsIsLoading && args.optionsLength === 0)
-    );
-  }
-  return false;
+type CommandsState = "ready" | "loading" | "error";
+
+function resolveCommandsState(input: {
+  canListCommands: boolean;
+  isLoading: boolean;
+  isError: boolean;
+}): CommandsState {
+  if (!input.canListCommands) return "ready";
+  if (input.isError) return "error";
+  if (input.isLoading) return "loading";
+  return "ready";
 }
 
-function resolveAutocompleteErrorMessage(args: {
-  mode: AutocompleteMode;
-  isCommandError: boolean;
-  commandError: Error | null;
-  fileSuggestionsError: unknown;
+interface AutocompleteMenu {
+  options: AgentAutocompleteOption[];
+  status: AutocompleteStatus | null;
+}
+
+/**
+ * One state for the open menu, so options and a loading or error row cannot both claim it:
+ * while a status row shows there are no options for Enter or Tab to pick.
+ */
+function resolveCommandMenu(input: {
+  commandsState: CommandsState;
+  options: () => AgentAutocompleteOption[];
+  providerLabel: string | null;
+  error: Error | null;
+  onRetry: () => void;
+  emptyText: string;
   t: TFunction;
-}): string | undefined {
-  if (args.mode === "command") {
-    return args.isCommandError
-      ? (args.commandError?.message ?? args.t("agentAutocomplete.failedToLoad"))
-      : undefined;
+}): AutocompleteMenu {
+  const { t } = input;
+  if (input.commandsState === "loading") {
+    const message = input.providerLabel
+      ? t("agentAutocomplete.loadingProviderCommands", { provider: input.providerLabel })
+      : t("agentAutocomplete.loadingCommands");
+    return { options: [], status: { kind: "loading", message } };
   }
-  if (args.mode === "file") {
-    return args.fileSuggestionsError instanceof Error
-      ? args.fileSuggestionsError.message
-      : undefined;
+  if (input.commandsState === "error") {
+    const title = input.providerLabel
+      ? t("agentAutocomplete.providerCommandsFailed", { provider: input.providerLabel })
+      : t("agentAutocomplete.commandsFailed");
+    return {
+      options: [],
+      status: { kind: "error", title, reason: input.error?.message, onRetry: input.onRetry },
+    };
   }
-  return undefined;
+  return withEmptyStatus(input.options(), input.emptyText);
+}
+
+function resolveFileMenu(input: {
+  options: () => AgentAutocompleteOption[];
+  isPending: boolean;
+  isLoading: boolean;
+  error: unknown;
+  t: TFunction;
+}): AutocompleteMenu {
+  const options = input.options();
+  if (input.isPending || (input.isLoading && options.length === 0)) {
+    return {
+      options: [],
+      status: { kind: "loading", message: input.t("agentAutocomplete.searchingWorkspace") },
+    };
+  }
+  if (input.error instanceof Error) {
+    return {
+      options: [],
+      status: {
+        kind: "error",
+        title: input.t("agentAutocomplete.filesFailed"),
+        reason: input.error.message,
+      },
+    };
+  }
+  return withEmptyStatus(options, input.t("agentAutocomplete.noFiles"));
+}
+
+function withEmptyStatus(options: AgentAutocompleteOption[], emptyText: string): AutocompleteMenu {
+  return options.length > 0
+    ? { options, status: null }
+    : { options, status: { kind: "empty", message: emptyText } };
+}
+
+/** How long a command menu waits for commands before it opens on a loading row. */
+const COMMANDS_LOADING_REVEAL_MS = 300;
+
+/**
+ * Whether the open command menu has waited long enough to show a loading row. Commands that
+ * arrive sooner paint the list as the first frame; once the wait is over, loading (a retry)
+ * shows at once so the open menu never closes on itself.
+ */
+function useLoadingRevealed(isMenuOpen: boolean): boolean {
+  const [revealed, setRevealed] = useState(false);
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!isMenuOpen) {
+      setRevealed(false);
+      return undefined;
+    }
+    const timer = setTimeout(() => setRevealed(true), COMMANDS_LOADING_REVEAL_MS);
+    return () => clearTimeout(timer);
+  }, [isMenuOpen]);
+  return revealed;
+}
+
+/** The names command rows and status rows show: the provider's label and each plugin's name. */
+function useCommandSourceNames(input: {
+  serverId: string;
+  agentId: string;
+  draftConfig: DraftCommandConfig | undefined;
+  cwd: string;
+  isCommandMenuOpen: boolean;
+  commandsState: CommandsState;
+  pluginCommandCount: number;
+}): { providerLabel: string | null; pluginNames: ReadonlyMap<string, string> } {
+  const agentProvider = useSessionStore(
+    (state) => state.sessions[input.serverId]?.agents?.get(input.agentId)?.provider,
+  );
+  const provider = input.draftConfig?.provider ?? agentProvider;
+  // Only a loading or error row names the provider; only plugin rows need plugin names.
+  const { entries: providerEntries } = useProvidersSnapshot(input.serverId, {
+    cwd: input.cwd,
+    enabled: input.isCommandMenuOpen && input.commandsState !== "ready",
+  });
+  const pluginList = usePluginList(input.serverId, {
+    enabled: input.isCommandMenuOpen && input.pluginCommandCount > 0,
+  });
+  const pluginNames = useMemo(
+    () => new Map((pluginList.data ?? []).map((plugin) => [plugin.id, pluginDisplayName(plugin)])),
+    [pluginList.data],
+  );
+  return {
+    providerLabel: provider ? resolveProviderLabel(provider, providerEntries) : null,
+    pluginNames,
+  };
 }
 
 // A draft's agentId is a draft key the daemon does not know, so a draft lists
@@ -345,14 +475,10 @@ function resolveDraftCommandContext(draft: DraftCommandTarget | undefined) {
   };
 }
 
-function resolveAutocompleteEmptyText(args: {
-  mode: AutocompleteMode;
+function resolveCommandsEmptyText(args: {
   draft: DraftCommandTarget | undefined;
   t: TFunction;
 }): string {
-  if (args.mode === "file") {
-    return args.t("agentAutocomplete.noFiles");
-  }
   if (args.draft?.status === "needs-project") {
     return args.t("agentAutocomplete.chooseProjectForCommands");
   }
@@ -438,10 +564,25 @@ export function useAgentAutocomplete(input: UseAgentAutocompleteInput): AgentAut
     enabled: mode === "command" && canLoadCommands && canListCommands,
     draftConfig: queryDraftConfig,
   });
-  const { commands, isError, error } = commandsQuery;
-  const isCommandsLoading = canListCommands && commandsQuery.isLoading;
-
-  const isVisible = canShowAutocomplete && !(mode === "command" && isCommandsLoading);
+  const commandsState = resolveCommandsState({
+    canListCommands,
+    isLoading: commandsQuery.isLoading,
+    isError: commandsQuery.isError,
+  });
+  const isCommandMenuOpen = mode === "command" && canShowAutocomplete;
+  const isLoadingRevealed = useLoadingRevealed(isCommandMenuOpen);
+  const isVisible =
+    canShowAutocomplete &&
+    !(isCommandMenuOpen && commandsState === "loading" && !isLoadingRevealed);
+  const { providerLabel, pluginNames } = useCommandSourceNames({
+    serverId,
+    agentId,
+    draftConfig: queryDraftConfig,
+    cwd: autocompleteCwd,
+    isCommandMenuOpen,
+    commandsState,
+    pluginCommandCount: pluginClientSlashCommands.length,
+  });
 
   const fileSuggestionsQuery = useQuery({
     queryKey: [
@@ -479,33 +620,67 @@ export function useAgentAutocomplete(input: UseAgentAutocompleteInput): AgentAut
     placeholderData: keepPreviousData,
   });
 
-  const options = useMemo<AgentAutocompleteOption[]>(
-    () =>
-      buildCommandAutocompleteOptions({
+  const commandsEmptyText = resolveCommandsEmptyText({ draft, t });
+  const retryCommandsQuery = commandsQuery.retry;
+  const retryCommands = useCallback(() => {
+    retryCommandsQuery();
+    // Pressing Retry takes focus on web; hand it back so the user keeps typing the command.
+    onAutocompleteApplied?.();
+  }, [onAutocompleteApplied, retryCommandsQuery]);
+  const { options, status } = useMemo<AutocompleteMenu>(() => {
+    if (!isVisible) return { options: [], status: null };
+    const buildOptions = () =>
+      buildAutocompleteOptions({
         activeFileMention,
         commandFilterQuery,
-        commands,
+        commands: commandsQuery.commands,
         pluginCommands: pluginClientSlashCommands,
+        pluginNames,
         activeSlashCommand,
         fileSuggestions: fileSuggestionsQuery.data ?? [],
         isDraftContext,
-        isVisible,
         mode,
         t,
-      }),
-    [
-      activeFileMention,
-      activeSlashCommand,
-      commandFilterQuery,
-      commands,
-      pluginClientSlashCommands,
-      fileSuggestionsQuery.data,
-      isDraftContext,
-      isVisible,
-      mode,
+      });
+    if (mode === "file") {
+      return resolveFileMenu({
+        options: buildOptions,
+        isPending: fileSuggestionsQuery.isPending,
+        isLoading: fileSuggestionsQuery.isLoading,
+        error: fileSuggestionsQuery.error,
+        t,
+      });
+    }
+    return resolveCommandMenu({
+      commandsState,
+      options: buildOptions,
+      providerLabel,
+      error: commandsQuery.error,
+      onRetry: retryCommands,
+      emptyText: commandsEmptyText,
       t,
-    ],
-  );
+    });
+  }, [
+    activeFileMention,
+    activeSlashCommand,
+    commandFilterQuery,
+    commandsEmptyText,
+    commandsQuery.commands,
+    commandsQuery.error,
+    commandsState,
+    fileSuggestionsQuery.data,
+    fileSuggestionsQuery.error,
+    fileSuggestionsQuery.isLoading,
+    fileSuggestionsQuery.isPending,
+    isDraftContext,
+    isVisible,
+    mode,
+    pluginClientSlashCommands,
+    pluginNames,
+    providerLabel,
+    retryCommands,
+    t,
+  ]);
 
   const onSelectOption = useCallback(
     (option: AutocompleteOption, snapshot?: AgentAutocompleteInputSnapshot) => {
@@ -587,35 +762,11 @@ export function useAgentAutocomplete(input: UseAgentAutocompleteInput): AgentAut
         : undefined,
   });
 
-  const isLoading = resolveAutocompleteIsLoading({
-    mode,
-    isCommandsLoading,
-    fileSuggestionsIsPending: fileSuggestionsQuery.isPending,
-    fileSuggestionsIsLoading: fileSuggestionsQuery.isLoading,
-    optionsLength: options.length,
-  });
-  const errorMessage = resolveAutocompleteErrorMessage({
-    mode,
-    isCommandError: isError,
-    commandError: error,
-    fileSuggestionsError: fileSuggestionsQuery.error,
-    t,
-  });
-
-  const loadingText =
-    mode === "file"
-      ? t("agentAutocomplete.searchingWorkspace")
-      : t("agentAutocomplete.loadingCommands");
-  const emptyText = resolveAutocompleteEmptyText({ mode, draft, t });
-
   return {
     isVisible,
     options,
     selectedIndex,
-    isLoading,
-    errorMessage,
-    loadingText,
-    emptyText,
+    status,
     onSelectOption,
     onKeyPress,
   };
diff --git a/packages/app/src/hooks/use-autocomplete.ts b/packages/app/src/hooks/use-autocomplete.ts
index b461c95551..6392602810 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/hooks/use-autocomplete.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/hooks/use-autocomplete.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useCallback, useEffect, useRef, useState } from "react";
+import { useCallback, useEffect, useState } from "react";
 import {
   getAutocompleteFallbackIndex,
   getAutocompleteNextIndex,
@@ -31,38 +31,22 @@ export function useAutocomplete<
   TOption,
   TKeyPressEvent extends AutocompleteKeyPressEvent = AutocompleteKeyPressEvent,
 >(input: UseAutocompleteInput<TOption, TKeyPressEvent>): UseAutocompleteResult<TKeyPressEvent> {
-  const [selectedIndex, setSelectedIndex] = useState(-1);
-  const previousQueryRef = useRef("");
+  // The user's choice, tied to the query it was made for. The shown index is resolved from it
+  // during render, so a list never paints its first frame without a selection: the popover only
+  // measures once a non-empty list has one.
+  const [choice, setChoice] = useState<{ index: number; query: string } | null>(null);
+  const itemCount = input.isVisible ? input.options.length : 0;
+  const selectedIndex = resolveSelectedIndex({
+    choice,
+    query: input.query,
+    itemCount,
+    optionsPosition: input.optionsPosition,
+  });
 
+  // A choice belongs to one search. Until this clears it, the query check above ignores it.
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (!input.isVisible) {
-      previousQueryRef.current = input.query;
-      setSelectedIndex(-1);
-      return;
-    }
-
-    const queryChanged = previousQueryRef.current !== input.query;
-    previousQueryRef.current = input.query;
-
-    setSelectedIndex((current) => {
-      if (input.options.length === 0) {
-        return -1;
-      }
-
-      const fallbackIndex = getAutocompleteFallbackIndex(
-        input.options.length,
-        input.optionsPosition,
-      );
-
-      if (queryChanged) {
-        return fallbackIndex;
-      }
-      if (current < 0 || current >= input.options.length) {
-        return fallbackIndex;
-      }
-      return current;
-    });
-  }, [input.isVisible, input.options.length, input.query, input.optionsPosition]);
+    setChoice(null);
+  }, [input.isVisible, input.query]);
 
   const onKeyPress = useCallback(
     (event: TKeyPressEvent) => {
@@ -70,41 +54,22 @@ export function useAutocomplete<
         return false;
       }
 
-      if (event.key === "ArrowUp") {
+      if (event.key === "ArrowUp" || event.key === "ArrowDown") {
         event.preventDefault();
-        setSelectedIndex((current) =>
-          getAutocompleteNextIndex({
-            currentIndex: current,
+        setChoice({
+          index: getAutocompleteNextIndex({
+            currentIndex: selectedIndex,
             itemCount: input.options.length,
-            key: "ArrowUp",
+            key: event.key,
           }),
-        );
-        return true;
-      }
-
-      if (event.key === "ArrowDown") {
-        event.preventDefault();
-        setSelectedIndex((current) =>
-          getAutocompleteNextIndex({
-            currentIndex: current,
-            itemCount: input.options.length,
-            key: "ArrowDown",
-          }),
-        );
+          query: input.query,
+        });
         return true;
       }
 
       if (event.key === "Tab" || event.key === "Enter") {
         event.preventDefault();
-        const fallbackIndex = getAutocompleteFallbackIndex(
-          input.options.length,
-          input.optionsPosition,
-        );
-        const resolvedIndex =
-          selectedIndex >= 0 && selectedIndex < input.options.length
-            ? selectedIndex
-            : fallbackIndex;
-        const selectedOption = input.options[resolvedIndex];
+        const selectedOption = input.options[selectedIndex];
         if (selectedOption) {
           input.onSelectOption(selectedOption, event);
         }
@@ -127,3 +92,21 @@ export function useAutocomplete<
     onKeyPress,
   };
 }
+
+function resolveSelectedIndex(input: {
+  choice: { index: number; query: string } | null;
+  query: string;
+  itemCount: number;
+  optionsPosition?: AutocompleteOptionsPosition;
+}): number {
+  const { choice } = input;
+  if (
+    choice &&
+    choice.query === input.query &&
+    choice.index >= 0 &&
+    choice.index < input.itemCount
+  ) {
+    return choice.index;
+  }
+  return getAutocompleteFallbackIndex(input.itemCount, input.optionsPosition);
+}
diff --git a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources.test.ts b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources.test.ts
index b73b2c4fec..af4c059fb2 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources.test.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources.test.ts
@@ -820,7 +820,7 @@ describe("translation resources", () => {
     expect(en.branchSwitcher.stashRestored).toBe("Stashed changes restored");
     expect(en.agentAutocomplete.searchingWorkspace).toBe("Searching workspace...");
     expect(en.agentAutocomplete.noCommands).toBe("No commands found");
-    expect(en.agentAutocomplete.failedToLoad).toBe("Failed to load");
+    expect(en.agentAutocomplete.commandsFailed).toBe("Couldn't load commands");
     expect(en.loadOlderHistory.failed).toBe("Couldn't load older history");
     expect(en.agentControls.thinking.extraHigh).toBe("Extra high");
     expect(en.agentControls.model.unknown).toBe("Unknown model");
diff --git a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ar.ts b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ar.ts
index 48e7f15d4f..9b3c41f663 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ar.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ar.ts
@@ -1642,7 +1642,11 @@ export const ar: TranslationResources = {
     loadingCommands: "جارٍ تحميل الأوامر...",
     noFiles: "لم يتم العثور على ملفات أو أدلة",
     noCommands: "لم يتم العثور على أي أوامر",
-    failedToLoad: "فشل التحميل",
+    loadingProviderCommands: "جارٍ تحميل أوامر {{provider}}...",
+    commandsFailed: "تعذر تحميل الأوامر",
+    providerCommandsFailed: "تعذر تحميل أوامر {{provider}}",
+    filesFailed: "تعذر البحث في الملفات",
+    skillTag: "مهارة",
     chooseProjectForCommands: "اختر مشروعًا لعرض الأوامر",
     chooseModelForCommands: "اختر نموذجًا لعرض الأوامر",
   },
diff --git a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/en.ts b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/en.ts
index bf1444d3ad..ecb2890c93 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/en.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/en.ts
@@ -1668,7 +1668,11 @@ export const en = {
     loadingCommands: "Loading commands...",
     noFiles: "No files or directories found",
     noCommands: "No commands found",
-    failedToLoad: "Failed to load",
+    loadingProviderCommands: "Loading {{provider}} commands...",
+    commandsFailed: "Couldn't load commands",
+    providerCommandsFailed: "Couldn't load {{provider}} commands",
+    filesFailed: "Couldn't search files",
+    skillTag: "Skill",
     chooseProjectForCommands: "Choose a project to see commands",
     chooseModelForCommands: "Select a model to see commands",
   },
diff --git a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/es.ts b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/es.ts
index cf2534f323..11968541d4 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/es.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/es.ts
@@ -1689,7 +1689,11 @@ export const es: TranslationResources = {
     loadingCommands: "Cargando comandos...",
     noFiles: "No se encontraron archivos ni directorios",
     noCommands: "No se encontraron comandos",
-    failedToLoad: "No se pudo cargar",
+    loadingProviderCommands: "Cargando comandos de {{provider}}...",
+    commandsFailed: "No se pudieron cargar los comandos",
+    providerCommandsFailed: "No se pudieron cargar los comandos de {{provider}}",
+    filesFailed: "No se pudieron buscar archivos",
+    skillTag: "Skill",
     chooseProjectForCommands: "Elige un proyecto para ver los comandos",
     chooseModelForCommands: "Selecciona un modelo para ver los comandos",
   },
diff --git a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/fr.ts b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/fr.ts
index 73acbfb9e8..4f31acf15a 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/fr.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/fr.ts
@@ -1686,7 +1686,11 @@ export const fr: TranslationResources = {
     loadingCommands: "Chargement des commandes…",
     noFiles: "Aucun fichier ou répertoire trouvé",
     noCommands: "Aucune commande trouvée",
-    failedToLoad: "Échec du chargement",
+    loadingProviderCommands: "Chargement des commandes {{provider}}…",
+    commandsFailed: "Impossible de charger les commandes",
+    providerCommandsFailed: "Impossible de charger les commandes {{provider}}",
+    filesFailed: "Impossible de rechercher les fichiers",
+    skillTag: "Skill",
     chooseProjectForCommands: "Choisissez un projet pour afficher les commandes",
     chooseModelForCommands: "Sélectionnez un modèle pour afficher les commandes",
   },
diff --git a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ja.ts b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ja.ts
index a845f43303..4913934cfd 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ja.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ja.ts
@@ -1660,7 +1660,11 @@ export const ja: TranslationResources = {
     loadingCommands: "コマンドを読み込み中...",
     noFiles: "ファイルまたはディレクトリが見つかりません",
     noCommands: "コマンドが見つかりません",
-    failedToLoad: "読み込みに失敗しました",
+    loadingProviderCommands: "{{provider}} のコマンドを読み込み中...",
+    commandsFailed: "コマンドを読み込めませんでした",
+    providerCommandsFailed: "{{provider}} のコマンドを読み込めませんでした",
+    filesFailed: "ファイルを検索できませんでした",
+    skillTag: "スキル",
     chooseProjectForCommands: "コマンドを表示するにはプロジェクトを選択してください",
     chooseModelForCommands: "コマンドを表示するにはモデルを選択してください",
   },
diff --git a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ko.ts b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ko.ts
index 033affa05e..76c101c1d1 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ko.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ko.ts
@@ -1653,7 +1653,11 @@ export const ko: TranslationResources = {
     loadingCommands: "명령 불러오는 중...",
     noFiles: "파일 또는 디렉터리를 찾을 수 없습니다",
     noCommands: "명령을 찾을 수 없습니다",
-    failedToLoad: "불러오지 못했습니다",
+    loadingProviderCommands: "{{provider}} 명령 불러오는 중...",
+    commandsFailed: "명령을 불러오지 못했습니다",
+    providerCommandsFailed: "{{provider}} 명령을 불러오지 못했습니다",
+    filesFailed: "파일을 검색하지 못했습니다",
+    skillTag: "스킬",
     chooseProjectForCommands: "명령을 보려면 프로젝트를 선택하세요",
     chooseModelForCommands: "명령을 보려면 모델을 선택하세요",
   },
diff --git a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/pt-BR.ts b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/pt-BR.ts
index c48f2974bc..cbd13dfd60 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/pt-BR.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/pt-BR.ts
@@ -1674,7 +1674,11 @@ export const ptBR: TranslationResources = {
     loadingCommands: "Carregando comandos...",
     noFiles: "Nenhum arquivo ou diretório encontrado",
     noCommands: "Nenhum comando encontrado",
-    failedToLoad: "Falha ao carregar",
+    loadingProviderCommands: "Carregando comandos do {{provider}}...",
+    commandsFailed: "Não foi possível carregar os comandos",
+    providerCommandsFailed: "Não foi possível carregar os comandos do {{provider}}",
+    filesFailed: "Não foi possível buscar arquivos",
+    skillTag: "Skill",
     chooseProjectForCommands: "Escolha um projeto para ver os comandos",
     chooseModelForCommands: "Selecione um modelo para ver os comandos",
   },
diff --git a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ru.ts b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ru.ts
index 226c03cfe4..ee788167f5 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ru.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ru.ts
@@ -1672,7 +1672,11 @@ export const ru: TranslationResources = {
     loadingCommands: "Загрузка команд...",
     noFiles: "Файлы и каталоги не найдены",
     noCommands: "Команды не найдены",
-    failedToLoad: "Не удалось загрузить",
+    loadingProviderCommands: "Загрузка команд {{provider}}...",
+    commandsFailed: "Не удалось загрузить команды",
+    providerCommandsFailed: "Не удалось загрузить команды {{provider}}",
+    filesFailed: "Не удалось найти файлы",
+    skillTag: "Навык",
     chooseProjectForCommands: "Выберите проект, чтобы увидеть команды",
     chooseModelForCommands: "Выберите модель, чтобы увидеть команды",
   },
diff --git a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/zh-CN.ts b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/zh-CN.ts
index f95fdc9dfb..ea9d34fd4f 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/zh-CN.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/zh-CN.ts
@@ -1625,7 +1625,11 @@ export const zhCN: TranslationResources = {
     loadingCommands: "正在加载 commands...",
     noFiles: "没有找到文件或目录",
     noCommands: "没有找到 commands",
-    failedToLoad: "加载失败",
+    loadingProviderCommands: "正在加载 {{provider}} commands...",
+    commandsFailed: "无法加载 commands",
+    providerCommandsFailed: "无法加载 {{provider}} commands",
+    filesFailed: "无法搜索文件",
+    skillTag: "Skill",
     chooseProjectForCommands: "选择项目以查看命令",
     chooseModelForCommands: "选择模型以查看命令",
   },
diff --git a/packages/app/src/utils/agent-command-autocomplete.test.ts b/packages/app/src/utils/agent-command-autocomplete.test.ts
index 9d0067a02c..8443c0688b 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/utils/agent-command-autocomplete.test.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/utils/agent-command-autocomplete.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 
+import {
+  getAutocompleteFallbackIndex,
+  orderAutocompleteOptions,
+} from "@/components/ui/autocomplete-utils";
 import {
   applySlashCommandReplacement,
   filterAndRankCommandAutocompleteEntries,
@@ -33,6 +37,53 @@ describe("filterAndRankCommandAutocompleteEntries", () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe("filterAndRankCommandAutocompleteEntries on an empty query", () => {
+  const rootEntries = [
+    { source: "client" as const, command: { name: "exit", aliases: ["quit", "q"] } },
+    { source: "client" as const, command: { name: "clear", aliases: ["new"] } },
+    { source: "plugin" as const, command: { name: "handoff" } },
+    { source: "provider" as const, command: { name: "compact" } },
+    { source: "provider" as const, command: { name: "review" } },
+  ];
+
+  function selectedOnEnter(query: string) {
+    const listed = orderAutocompleteOptions(
+      filterAndRankCommandAutocompleteEntries(rootEntries, query),
+    );
+    return listed[getAutocompleteFallbackIndex(listed.length)]?.command.name;
+  }
+
+  it("selects a provider command, never an immediate Paseo action", () => {
+    expect(selectedOnEnter("")).toBe("compact");
+  });
+
+  it("lists Paseo actions farthest from the input", () => {
+    const listed = orderAutocompleteOptions(
+      filterAndRankCommandAutocompleteEntries(rootEntries, ""),
+    );
+    expect(listed.map((entry) => entry.command.name)).toEqual([
+      "clear",
+      "exit",
+      "handoff",
+      "review",
+      "compact",
+    ]);
+  });
+
+  it("still selects a typed Paseo action", () => {
+    expect(selectedOnEnter("exit")).toBe("exit");
+  });
+
+  it("waits for a search when Paseo actions are all there is", () => {
+    const clientOnly = rootEntries.filter((entry) => entry.source === "client");
+
+    expect(filterAndRankCommandAutocompleteEntries(clientOnly, "")).toEqual([]);
+    expect(
+      filterAndRankCommandAutocompleteEntries(clientOnly, "ex").map((entry) => entry.command.name),
+    ).toEqual(["exit"]);
+  });
+});
+
 describe("findActiveSlashCommand", () => {
   it("detects a slash command token in the middle of the prompt", () => {
     const text = "use /tas before implementation";
diff --git a/packages/app/src/utils/agent-command-autocomplete.ts b/packages/app/src/utils/agent-command-autocomplete.ts
index 39ee7f94d1..ffc5810b94 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/utils/agent-command-autocomplete.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/utils/agent-command-autocomplete.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,10 @@ import {
   scoreTextFields,
 } from "@getpaseo/protocol/search/text-match";
 
+type CommandAutocompleteSource = "provider" | "plugin" | "client";
+
 interface CommandAutocompleteEntry {
+  source: CommandAutocompleteSource;
   command: {
     name: string;
     aliases?: readonly string[];
@@ -12,9 +15,14 @@ interface CommandAutocompleteEntry {
   };
 }
 
-interface InlineSkillCommandEntry extends CommandAutocompleteEntry {
-  source: "provider" | "client";
-}
+// The list renders reversed above the input with the first entry selected. Paseo's own actions
+// run at once (`/exit` archives), so an empty query never selects one: they sort farthest from
+// the input, and with nothing else to list the menu waits for a search.
+const EMPTY_QUERY_SOURCE_ORDER: Record<CommandAutocompleteSource, number> = {
+  provider: 0,
+  plugin: 1,
+  client: 2,
+};
 
 export type SlashCommandPosition = "start" | "inline";
 
@@ -54,7 +62,11 @@ export function filterAndRankCommandAutocompleteEntries<TEntry extends CommandAu
 ): TEntry[] {
   const normalizedQuery = query.trim().toLowerCase();
   if (normalizedQuery.length === 0) {
-    return [...entries];
+    if (entries.every((entry) => entry.source === "client")) return [];
+    // Hermes has no `toSorted`.
+    return [...entries].sort(
+      (a, b) => EMPTY_QUERY_SOURCE_ORDER[a.source] - EMPTY_QUERY_SOURCE_ORDER[b.source],
+    );
   }
 
   const scoredEntries: ScoredCommandAutocompleteEntry<TEntry>[] = [];
@@ -76,7 +88,7 @@ export function filterAndRankCommandAutocompleteEntries<TEntry extends CommandAu
   return scoredEntries.map((scored) => scored.entry);
 }
 
-export function filterInlineSkillCommandEntries<TEntry extends InlineSkillCommandEntry>(
+export function filterInlineSkillCommandEntries<TEntry extends CommandAutocompleteEntry>(
   entries: readonly TEntry[],
 ): TEntry[] {
   return entries.filter((entry) => entry.source === "provider" && entry.command.kind === "skill");
diff --git a/packages/server/src/server/agent/providers/claude/agent.test.ts b/packages/server/src/server/agent/providers/claude/agent.test.ts
index a9f709ab1a..07b46c6b7b 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/server/agent/providers/claude/agent.test.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/server/agent/providers/claude/agent.test.ts
@@ -2985,7 +2985,7 @@ describe("ClaudeAgentSession context window usage", () => {
     expect(persistedQueryFactory.mock.calls[0]?.[0].options.persistSession).toBe(true);
   });
 
-  test("classifies Claude root-only commands separately from inline skills", async () => {
+  test("classifies Claude root-only commands separately from inline skills and hides internal ones", async () => {
     const queryFactory = vi.fn(({ prompt }: { prompt: AsyncIterable<unknown> }) => {
       void prompt;
       return {
@@ -3018,6 +3018,11 @@ describe("ClaudeAgentSession context window usage", () => {
             description: "Start a new session with empty context",
             argumentHint: "",
           },
+          {
+            name: "__remote-workflow",
+            description: "Run a remote workflow (server-launched sessions only)",
+            argumentHint: "",
+          },
         ],
         rewindFiles: async () => ({ canRewind: true }),
         [Symbol.asyncIterator]() {
diff --git a/packages/server/src/server/agent/providers/claude/agent.ts b/packages/server/src/server/agent/providers/claude/agent.ts
index bc5ab24af4..06b0c36e1f 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/server/agent/providers/claude/agent.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/server/agent/providers/claude/agent.ts
@@ -442,6 +442,12 @@ interface SlashCommandInvocation {
   rawInput: string;
 }
 
+// Claude Code reserves `__`-prefixed commands for its own server-launched sessions
+// (for example `/__remote-workflow`); a user cannot run them from a Paseo agent.
+function isClaudeInternalSlashCommand(commandName: string): boolean {
+  return commandName.startsWith("__");
+}
+
 function classifyClaudeSlashCommand(commandName: string): AgentSlashCommand["kind"] {
   // Claude exposes commands and skills as one flat SDK list, without structured source
   // metadata. Keep obvious root-only/session controls out of inline autocomplete and
@@ -3115,6 +3121,7 @@ class ClaudeAgentSession implements AgentSession {
     const commands = await q.supportedCommands();
     const commandMap = new Map<string, AgentSlashCommand>();
     for (const cmd of commands) {
+      if (isClaudeInternalSlashCommand(cmd.name)) continue;
       if (!commandMap.has(cmd.name)) {
         commandMap.set(cmd.name, {
           name: cmd.name,