diff --git a/packages/app/src/browser/new-tab-requests/index.test.ts b/packages/app/src/browser/new-tab-requests/index.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..92fd80f7c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/app/src/browser/new-tab-requests/index.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import type { WorkspaceLayout } from "@/stores/workspace-layout-store";
+import { createDefaultLayout } from "@/stores/workspace-layout-store";
+import { openTabInLayoutFocused } from "@/stores/workspace-layout-actions";
+import { resolveBrowserNewTabRequest, type BrowserNewTabRequest } from ".";
+
+function createLayoutWithBrowser(browserId: string): WorkspaceLayout {
+  return openTabInLayoutFocused({
+    layout: createDefaultLayout(),
+    target: { kind: "browser", browserId },
+    now: 1,
+  }).layout;
+}
+
+describe("browser new-tab requests", () => {
+  it("accepts desktop requests from browser tabs in the current workspace", () => {
+    const request = resolveBrowserNewTabRequest({
+      payload: {
+        sourceBrowserId: "browser-1",
+        url: "https://example.com/target",
+      },
+      workspaceLayout: createLayoutWithBrowser("browser-1"),
+    });
+
+    expect(request).toEqual<BrowserNewTabRequest>({
+      sourceBrowserId: "browser-1",
+      url: "https://example.com/target",
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("ignores desktop requests from another workspace", () => {
+    const request = resolveBrowserNewTabRequest({
+      payload: {
+        sourceBrowserId: "browser-from-other-workspace",
+        url: "https://example.com/target",
+      },
+      workspaceLayout: createLayoutWithBrowser("browser-1"),
+    });
+
+    expect(request).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it("rejects unsupported desktop request URLs", () => {
+    const request = resolveBrowserNewTabRequest({
+      payload: {
+        sourceBrowserId: "browser-1",
+        url: "file:///etc/passwd",
+      },
+      workspaceLayout: createLayoutWithBrowser("browser-1"),
+    });
+
+    expect(request).toBeNull();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/app/src/browser/new-tab-requests/index.ts b/packages/app/src/browser/new-tab-requests/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e68f0b4f7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/app/src/browser/new-tab-requests/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+import { useEffect } from "react";
+import { getDesktopHost, type DesktopBrowserNewTabRequestEvent } from "@/desktop/host";
+import { collectAllTabs, type WorkspaceLayout } from "@/stores/workspace-layout-store";
+import { getIsElectron } from "@/constants/platform";
+import { useStableEvent } from "@/hooks/use-stable-event";
+
+export type BrowserNewTabRequest = DesktopBrowserNewTabRequestEvent;
+
+function isAllowedBrowserNewTabUrl(value: string): boolean {
+  try {
+    const parsed = new URL(value);
+    return (
+      parsed.protocol === "http:" || parsed.protocol === "https:" || parsed.href === "about:blank"
+    );
+  } catch {
+    return false;
+  }
+}
+
+function readDesktopBrowserNewTabRequest(payload: unknown): BrowserNewTabRequest | null {
+  if (!payload || typeof payload !== "object") {
+    return null;
+  }
+  const candidate = payload as Partial<BrowserNewTabRequest>;
+  if (typeof candidate.sourceBrowserId !== "string" || !candidate.sourceBrowserId.trim()) {
+    return null;
+  }
+  if (typeof candidate.url !== "string" || !isAllowedBrowserNewTabUrl(candidate.url)) {
+    return null;
+  }
+  return {
+    sourceBrowserId: candidate.sourceBrowserId,
+    url: candidate.url,
+  };
+}
+
+function workspaceContainsBrowser(input: {
+  workspaceLayout: WorkspaceLayout | null | undefined;
+  browserId: string;
+}): boolean {
+  if (!input.workspaceLayout) {
+    return false;
+  }
+  return collectAllTabs(input.workspaceLayout.root).some((tab) => {
+    return tab.target.kind === "browser" && tab.target.browserId === input.browserId;
+  });
+}
+
+export function resolveBrowserNewTabRequest(input: {
+  payload: unknown;
+  workspaceLayout: WorkspaceLayout | null | undefined;
+}): BrowserNewTabRequest | null {
+  const request = readDesktopBrowserNewTabRequest(input.payload);
+  if (!request) {
+    return null;
+  }
+  if (
+    !workspaceContainsBrowser({
+      workspaceLayout: input.workspaceLayout,
+      browserId: request.sourceBrowserId,
+    })
+  ) {
+    return null;
+  }
+  return request;
+}
+
+export function useDesktopBrowserNewTabRequests(input: {
+  enabled: boolean;
+  workspaceLayout: WorkspaceLayout | null | undefined;
+  openUrl: (url: string) => void;
+}): void {
+  const handleNewTabRequest = useStableEvent((payload: unknown) => {
+    const request = resolveBrowserNewTabRequest({
+      payload,
+      workspaceLayout: input.workspaceLayout,
+    });
+    if (!request) {
+      return;
+    }
+    input.openUrl(request.url);
+  });
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!input.enabled || !getIsElectron()) {
+      return;
+    }
+    const unsubscribe = getDesktopHost()?.events?.on?.(
+      "browser-new-tab-request",
+      handleNewTabRequest,
+    );
+    if (typeof unsubscribe === "function") {
+      return unsubscribe;
+    }
+    return () => {
+      void unsubscribe?.then((dispose) => dispose());
+    };
+  }, [handleNewTabRequest, input.enabled]);
+}
diff --git a/packages/app/src/desktop/host.ts b/packages/app/src/desktop/host.ts
index f61909903..3de1e50b4 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/desktop/host.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/desktop/host.ts
@@ -111,6 +111,11 @@ export interface DesktopBrowserShortcutEvent {
   action: "focus-url";
 }
 
+export interface DesktopBrowserNewTabRequestEvent {
+  sourceBrowserId: string;
+  url: string;
+}
+
 export interface DesktopBrowserBridge {
   setWorkspaceActiveBrowser?: (browserId: string | null) => Promise<void>;
   openDevTools?: (browserId: string) => Promise<unknown>;
diff --git a/packages/app/src/screens/workspace/workspace-screen.tsx b/packages/app/src/screens/workspace/workspace-screen.tsx
index 146514d1f..584e002e0 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/screens/workspace/workspace-screen.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/screens/workspace/workspace-screen.tsx
@@ -130,6 +130,7 @@ import {
   buildWorkspaceTabMenuEntries,
   type WorkspaceTabMenuEntry,
 } from "@/screens/workspace/workspace-tab-menu";
+import { useDesktopBrowserNewTabRequests } from "@/browser/new-tab-requests";
 import type { WorkspaceTabDescriptor } from "@/screens/workspace/workspace-tabs-types";
 import {
   resolveWorkspaceHeaderRenderState,
@@ -2329,6 +2330,12 @@ function WorkspaceScreenContent({
     [openWorkspaceTabFocused, persistenceKey],
   );
 
+  useDesktopBrowserNewTabRequests({
+    enabled: Boolean(persistenceKey),
+    workspaceLayout,
+    openUrl: handleOpenUrlInBrowserTab,
+  });
+
   const handleSelectSwitcherTab = useCallback(
     (key: string) => {
       navigateToTabId(key);
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/features/browser-webviews.ts b/packages/desktop/src/features/browser-webviews/index.ts
similarity index 53%
rename from packages/desktop/src/features/browser-webviews.ts
rename to packages/desktop/src/features/browser-webviews/index.ts
index f71cb5850..c6c575b8b 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/features/browser-webviews.ts
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/features/browser-webviews/index.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,34 @@
 import { webContents as allWebContents, type WebContents } from "electron";
+import {
+  BROWSER_NEW_TAB_REQUEST_EVENT,
+  handleBrowserWindowOpenRequest,
+  isAllowedBrowserWebviewUrl,
+} from "./window-open.js";
+
+export { BROWSER_NEW_TAB_REQUEST_EVENT, handleBrowserWindowOpenRequest };
 
 const browserIdsByWebContentsId = new Map<number, string>();
 let workspaceActiveBrowserId: string | null = null;
 
+function getBrowserIdFromWebviewPartition(partition: string | undefined): string | null {
+  const prefix = "persist:paseo-browser-";
+  if (!partition?.startsWith(prefix)) {
+    return null;
+  }
+  const browserId = partition.slice(prefix.length).trim();
+  return browserId.length > 0 ? browserId : null;
+}
+
+export function readBrowserIdFromWebviewAttach(input: {
+  src?: string;
+  partition?: string;
+}): string | null {
+  if (!isAllowedBrowserWebviewUrl(input.src)) {
+    return null;
+  }
+  return getBrowserIdFromWebviewPartition(input.partition);
+}
+
 export function listRegisteredPaseoBrowserIds(): string[] {
   return Array.from(new Set(browserIdsByWebContentsId.values())).sort();
 }
@@ -45,3 +71,24 @@ export function getWorkspaceActivePaseoBrowserWebContents(): WebContents | null
   }
   return getPaseoBrowserWebContents(workspaceActiveBrowserId);
 }
+
+function preventUnsafeBrowserWebviewNavigation(
+  event: { preventDefault: () => void },
+  url: string | undefined,
+): void {
+  if (!isAllowedBrowserWebviewUrl(url)) {
+    event.preventDefault();
+  }
+}
+
+export function registerBrowserWebviewNavigationGuards(contents: WebContents): void {
+  contents.on("will-navigate", (event) => {
+    preventUnsafeBrowserWebviewNavigation(event, event.url);
+  });
+  contents.on("will-frame-navigate", (event) => {
+    preventUnsafeBrowserWebviewNavigation(event, event.url);
+  });
+  contents.on("will-redirect", (event) => {
+    preventUnsafeBrowserWebviewNavigation(event, event.url);
+  });
+}
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/features/browser-webviews/window-open.test.ts b/packages/desktop/src/features/browser-webviews/window-open.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9417c4e68
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/features/browser-webviews/window-open.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+
+import { handleBrowserWindowOpenRequest } from ".";
+
+describe("browser webview window-open requests", () => {
+  it("denies Electron window creation and requests a Paseo browser tab", () => {
+    const requestNewTab = vi.fn();
+
+    const result = handleBrowserWindowOpenRequest({
+      url: "https://example.com/target",
+      sourceBrowserId: "browser-1",
+      requestNewTab,
+    });
+
+    expect(result).toEqual({ action: "deny" });
+    expect(requestNewTab).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      sourceBrowserId: "browser-1",
+      url: "https://example.com/target",
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("denies unsupported window-open requests before asking for a Paseo browser tab", () => {
+    const requestNewTab = vi.fn();
+
+    const result = handleBrowserWindowOpenRequest({
+      url: "file:///etc/passwd",
+      sourceBrowserId: "browser-1",
+      requestNewTab,
+    });
+
+    expect(result).toEqual({ action: "deny" });
+    expect(requestNewTab).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/features/browser-webviews/window-open.ts b/packages/desktop/src/features/browser-webviews/window-open.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..18535722a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/features/browser-webviews/window-open.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+export const BROWSER_NEW_TAB_REQUEST_EVENT = "paseo:event:browser-new-tab-request";
+
+export interface BrowserNewTabRequestPayload {
+  sourceBrowserId: string;
+  url: string;
+}
+
+export function isAllowedBrowserWebviewUrl(value: string | undefined): boolean {
+  if (!value) {
+    return true;
+  }
+  try {
+    const parsed = new URL(value);
+    return (
+      parsed.protocol === "http:" || parsed.protocol === "https:" || parsed.href === "about:blank"
+    );
+  } catch {
+    return false;
+  }
+}
+
+export function handleBrowserWindowOpenRequest(input: {
+  url: string;
+  sourceBrowserId: string | null;
+  requestNewTab: (payload: BrowserNewTabRequestPayload) => void;
+}): { action: "deny" } {
+  if (!isAllowedBrowserWebviewUrl(input.url) || !input.sourceBrowserId) {
+    return { action: "deny" };
+  }
+
+  input.requestNewTab({
+    sourceBrowserId: input.sourceBrowserId,
+    url: input.url,
+  });
+  return { action: "deny" };
+}
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/features/menu.ts b/packages/desktop/src/features/menu.ts
index 94f29ac53..6e56e8efd 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/features/menu.ts
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/features/menu.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { app, Menu, BrowserWindow, ipcMain } from "electron";
-import { getWorkspaceActivePaseoBrowserWebContents } from "./browser-webviews.js";
+import { getWorkspaceActivePaseoBrowserWebContents } from "./browser-webviews/index.js";
 
 interface ShowContextMenuInput {
   kind?: "terminal";
diff --git a/packages/desktop/src/main.ts b/packages/desktop/src/main.ts
index 17721ee30..4f4cdedbc 100644
--- a/packages/desktop/src/main.ts
+++ b/packages/desktop/src/main.ts
@@ -46,12 +46,16 @@ import { registerOpenerHandlers } from "./features/opener.js";
 import { registerEditorTargetHandlers } from "./features/editor-targets.js";
 import { setupApplicationMenu } from "./features/menu.js";
 import {
+  BROWSER_NEW_TAB_REQUEST_EVENT,
   getPaseoBrowserIdForWebContents,
   getPaseoBrowserWebContents,
+  handleBrowserWindowOpenRequest,
   listRegisteredPaseoBrowserIds,
+  readBrowserIdFromWebviewAttach,
+  registerBrowserWebviewNavigationGuards,
   registerPaseoBrowserWebContents,
   setWorkspaceActivePaseoBrowserId,
-} from "./features/browser-webviews.js";
+} from "./features/browser-webviews/index.js";
 import { parseOpenProjectPathFromArgv } from "./open-project-routing.js";
 import { PendingOpenProjectStore } from "./pending-open-project-store.js";
 import { getDesktopSettingsStore } from "./settings/desktop-settings-electron.js";
@@ -73,28 +77,6 @@ const PASEO_DEBUG = process.env.PASEO_DEBUG === "1";
 const DISABLE_SINGLE_INSTANCE_LOCK = process.env.PASEO_DISABLE_SINGLE_INSTANCE_LOCK === "1";
 const APP_NAME = process.env.PASEO_TEST_APP_NAME?.trim() || "Paseo";
 
-function isAllowedBrowserWebviewUrl(value: string | undefined): boolean {
-  if (!value) {
-    return true;
-  }
-  try {
-    const parsed = new URL(value);
-    return (
-      parsed.protocol === "http:" || parsed.protocol === "https:" || parsed.href === "about:blank"
-    );
-  } catch {
-    return false;
-  }
-}
-
-function preventUnsafeBrowserWebviewNavigation(
-  event: Electron.Event,
-  url: string | undefined,
-): void {
-  if (!isAllowedBrowserWebviewUrl(url)) {
-    event.preventDefault();
-  }
-}
 const BROWSER_SHORTCUT_EVENT = "paseo:event:browser-shortcut";
 const BROWSER_FORWARDED_KEY_EVENT = "paseo:event:browser-forwarded-key";
 
@@ -127,15 +109,6 @@ const DESKTOP_SMOKE_ENV = "PASEO_DESKTOP_SMOKE";
 const DESKTOP_SMOKE_STOP_REQUEST = "paseo-smoke-stop";
 app.setName(APP_NAME);
 
-function getBrowserIdFromWebviewPartition(partition: string | undefined): string | null {
-  const prefix = "persist:paseo-browser-";
-  if (!partition?.startsWith(prefix)) {
-    return null;
-  }
-  const browserId = partition.slice(prefix.length).trim();
-  return browserId.length > 0 ? browserId : null;
-}
-
 const pendingBrowserWebviewIds: string[] = [];
 
 function isBrowserRefreshInput(input: Electron.Input): boolean {
@@ -470,11 +443,7 @@ async function createWindow(
   setupDefaultContextMenu(mainWindow);
   setupDragDropPrevention(mainWindow);
   mainWindow.webContents.on("will-attach-webview", (event, webPreferences, params) => {
-    if (!isAllowedBrowserWebviewUrl(params.src)) {
-      event.preventDefault();
-      return;
-    }
-    const browserId = getBrowserIdFromWebviewPartition(params.partition);
+    const browserId = readBrowserIdFromWebviewAttach(params);
     if (!browserId) {
       event.preventDefault();
       return;
@@ -534,25 +503,19 @@ async function createWindow(
         });
       }
     });
-    contents.setWindowOpenHandler(({ url }) => {
-      if (!isAllowedBrowserWebviewUrl(url)) {
-        return { action: "deny" };
-      }
-      contents.loadURL(url).catch(() => undefined);
-      return { action: "deny" };
-    });
+    contents.setWindowOpenHandler(({ url }) =>
+      handleBrowserWindowOpenRequest({
+        url,
+        sourceBrowserId: getPaseoBrowserIdForWebContents(contents),
+        requestNewTab: (payload) => {
+          mainWindow.webContents.send(BROWSER_NEW_TAB_REQUEST_EVENT, payload);
+        },
+      }),
+    );
     contents.on("context-menu", (_contextMenuEvent, params) => {
       showBrowserWebviewContextMenu(mainWindow, contents, params);
     });
-    contents.on("will-navigate", (event) => {
-      preventUnsafeBrowserWebviewNavigation(event, event.url);
-    });
-    contents.on("will-frame-navigate", (event) => {
-      preventUnsafeBrowserWebviewNavigation(event, event.url);
-    });
-    contents.on("will-redirect", (event) => {
-      preventUnsafeBrowserWebviewNavigation(event, event.url);
-    });
+    registerBrowserWebviewNavigationGuards(contents);
   });
 
   mainWindow.once("ready-to-show", () => {