diff --git a/packages/app/src/panels/new-tab-action-order.ts b/packages/app/src/panels/new-tab-action-order.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..848c01504c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/app/src/panels/new-tab-action-order.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+export type LauncherAction = "agent" | "terminal" | "changes" | "files" | "browser" | "pullRequest";
+
+export function getLauncherActionOrder(isSidePanel: boolean): LauncherAction[] {
+  if (isSidePanel) {
+    return ["changes", "files", "terminal", "agent", "browser", "pullRequest"];
+  }
+  return ["agent", "terminal", "changes", "files", "browser", "pullRequest"];
+}
diff --git a/packages/app/src/panels/new-tab-panel.test.ts b/packages/app/src/panels/new-tab-panel.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ec0f50aae8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/app/src/panels/new-tab-panel.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { getLauncherActionOrder } from "@/panels/new-tab-action-order";
+
+describe("getLauncherActionOrder", () => {
+  it("leads with the work companion tools in the Side panel", () => {
+    expect(getLauncherActionOrder(true)).toEqual([
+      "changes",
+      "files",
+      "terminal",
+      "agent",
+      "browser",
+      "pullRequest",
+    ]);
+  });
+
+  it("leads with creating work in an ordinary pane", () => {
+    expect(getLauncherActionOrder(false)).toEqual([
+      "agent",
+      "terminal",
+      "changes",
+      "files",
+      "browser",
+      "pullRequest",
+    ]);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/app/src/panels/new-tab-panel.tsx b/packages/app/src/panels/new-tab-panel.tsx
index e6e9cc170b..8c8ef2b79f 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/panels/new-tab-panel.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/panels/new-tab-panel.tsx
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import { useShortcutKeys } from "@/hooks/use-shortcut-keys";
 import { useKeyboardActionHandler } from "@/hooks/use-keyboard-action-handler";
 import type { KeyboardActionDefinition } from "@/keyboard/keyboard-action-dispatcher";
 import { usePaneContext, usePaneFocus } from "@/panels/pane-context";
+import { getLauncherActionOrder, type LauncherAction } from "@/panels/new-tab-action-order";
 import type { PanelRegistration } from "@/panels/panel-registry";
 import { resolvePluginIcon } from "@/plugins/icons";
 import { useInstalledPlugins } from "@/plugins/registry";
@@ -92,6 +93,16 @@ const AGENT_SELECTION: NewTabSelection = { kind: "agent" };
 const TERMINAL_SELECTION: NewTabSelection = { kind: "terminal" };
 const BROWSER_SELECTION: NewTabSelection = { kind: "browser" };
 
+interface LauncherActionDefinition {
+  label: string;
+  Icon: LucideIcon;
+  disabled?: boolean;
+  hidden?: boolean;
+  selection: NewTabSelection;
+  shortcut?: string;
+  testID: string;
+}
+
 function LauncherIcon({ Icon, color = "" }: { Icon: LucideIcon; color?: string }) {
   return <Icon size={LAUNCHER_ICON_SIZE} color={color} />;
 }
@@ -255,7 +266,7 @@ function useNewTabDescriptor() {
 const NewTabPanel = memo(function NewTabPanel(): ReactElement {
   const { t } = useTranslation();
   const router = useRouter();
-  const { serverId, tabId } = usePaneContext();
+  const { isSidePanel, serverId, tabId } = usePaneContext();
   const { isInteractive, focusPane } = usePaneFocus();
   const launcher = useContext(NewTabLauncherContext);
   invariant(launcher, "NewTabLauncherProvider is required");
@@ -273,6 +284,53 @@ const NewTabPanel = memo(function NewTabPanel(): ReactElement {
   const editTerminalProfiles = useCallback(() => {
     router.push(buildSettingsHostSectionRoute(serverId, "terminals") as Href);
   }, [router, serverId]);
+  const launcherActions: Record<LauncherAction, LauncherActionDefinition> = {
+    agent: {
+      label: t("workspace.tabs.fallback.agent"),
+      Icon: SquarePen,
+      selection: AGENT_SELECTION,
+      shortcut: "workspace-tab-target-agent",
+      testID: "workspace-new-tab-agent",
+    },
+    terminal: {
+      label: t("workspace.tabs.fallback.terminal"),
+      Icon: SquareTerminal,
+      disabled: launcher.terminalDisabled,
+      selection: TERMINAL_SELECTION,
+      shortcut: "workspace-terminal-new",
+      testID: "workspace-new-tab-terminal",
+    },
+    changes: {
+      label: t("workspace.tabs.actions.changes"),
+      Icon: FileDiff,
+      hidden: !launcher.showChanges,
+      selection: CHANGES_SELECTION,
+      shortcut: "workspace-tab-target-changes",
+      testID: "workspace-new-tab-changes",
+    },
+    files: {
+      label: t("workspace.tabs.actions.files"),
+      Icon: FolderTree,
+      selection: FILES_SELECTION,
+      shortcut: "workspace-tab-target-files",
+      testID: "workspace-new-tab-files",
+    },
+    browser: {
+      label: t("workspace.tabs.fallback.browser"),
+      Icon: Globe,
+      hidden: !launcher.showBrowser,
+      selection: BROWSER_SELECTION,
+      shortcut: "workspace-tab-target-browser",
+      testID: "workspace-new-tab-browser",
+    },
+    pullRequest: {
+      label: t("workspace.tabs.actions.pullRequest"),
+      Icon: GitPullRequest,
+      hidden: !launcher.showPullRequest,
+      selection: PULL_REQUEST_SELECTION,
+      testID: "workspace-new-tab-pull-request",
+    },
+  };
 
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!isWeb || !isInteractive) return;
@@ -380,54 +438,11 @@ const NewTabPanel = memo(function NewTabPanel(): ReactElement {
       <ScrollView contentContainerStyle={styles.scrollContent}>
         <View style={styles.rail}>
           <View style={styles.group}>
-            <LauncherRow
-              label={t("workspace.tabs.fallback.agent")}
-              Icon={SquarePen}
-              selection={AGENT_SELECTION}
-              shortcut="workspace-tab-target-agent"
-              testID="workspace-new-tab-agent"
-            />
-            <LauncherRow
-              label={t("workspace.tabs.fallback.terminal")}
-              Icon={SquareTerminal}
-              disabled={launcher.terminalDisabled}
-              selection={TERMINAL_SELECTION}
-              shortcut="workspace-terminal-new"
-              testID="workspace-new-tab-terminal"
-            />
-            {launcher.showChanges ? (
-              <LauncherRow
-                label={t("workspace.tabs.actions.changes")}
-                Icon={FileDiff}
-                selection={CHANGES_SELECTION}
-                shortcut="workspace-tab-target-changes"
-                testID="workspace-new-tab-changes"
-              />
-            ) : null}
-            <LauncherRow
-              label={t("workspace.tabs.actions.files")}
-              Icon={FolderTree}
-              selection={FILES_SELECTION}
-              shortcut="workspace-tab-target-files"
-              testID="workspace-new-tab-files"
-            />
-            {launcher.showBrowser ? (
-              <LauncherRow
-                label={t("workspace.tabs.fallback.browser")}
-                Icon={Globe}
-                selection={BROWSER_SELECTION}
-                shortcut="workspace-tab-target-browser"
-                testID="workspace-new-tab-browser"
-              />
-            ) : null}
-            {launcher.showPullRequest ? (
-              <LauncherRow
-                label={t("workspace.tabs.actions.pullRequest")}
-                Icon={GitPullRequest}
-                selection={PULL_REQUEST_SELECTION}
-                testID="workspace-new-tab-pull-request"
-              />
-            ) : null}
+            {getLauncherActionOrder(isSidePanel).map((actionId) => {
+              const action = launcherActions[actionId];
+              if (action.hidden) return null;
+              return <LauncherRow key={actionId} {...action} />;
+            })}
             {pluginPanels.map(({ pluginId, panel }) => (
               <PluginLauncherRow
                 key={`${pluginId}:${panel.id}`}
diff --git a/packages/app/src/panels/pane-context.tsx b/packages/app/src/panels/pane-context.tsx
index 2020e9800b..56a0c22ce4 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/panels/pane-context.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/panels/pane-context.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ import type { WorkspaceFileOpenRequest } from "@/workspace/file-open";
 export interface PaneContextValue {
   serverId: string;
   workspaceId: string;
+  /** Whether this pane is the workspace's dedicated Side panel. */
+  isSidePanel: boolean;
   tabId: string;
   target: WorkspaceTabTarget;
   state?: JsonValue;
diff --git a/packages/app/src/screens/workspace/workspace-pane-content.test.tsx b/packages/app/src/screens/workspace/workspace-pane-content.test.tsx
index 974fc095d1..4367e3fb5b 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/screens/workspace/workspace-pane-content.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/screens/workspace/workspace-pane-content.test.tsx
@@ -55,11 +55,12 @@ const agentTab: WorkspaceTabDescriptor = {
   target: { kind: "agent", agentId: "agent-a" },
 };
 
-function buildContent(tab: WorkspaceTabDescriptor = agentTab) {
+function buildContent(tab: WorkspaceTabDescriptor = agentTab, isSidePanel = false) {
   return buildWorkspacePaneContentModel({
     tab,
     normalizedServerId: "server-a",
     normalizedWorkspaceId: "workspace-a",
+    isSidePanel,
     onOpenTab: vi.fn(),
     onCloseCurrentTab: vi.fn(),
     onRetargetCurrentTab: vi.fn(),
@@ -122,6 +123,24 @@ describe("WorkspacePaneContent", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  it("exposes whether the pane is the Side panel to its content", () => {
+    container = document.createElement("div");
+    document.body.appendChild(container);
+    root = createRoot(container);
+
+    act(() => {
+      root?.render(
+        <WorkspacePaneContent
+          content={buildContent(agentTab, true)}
+          isPaneFocused
+          isWorkspaceFocused
+        />,
+      );
+    });
+
+    expect(snapshots[0]?.paneContextValue.isSidePanel).toBe(true);
+  });
+
   it("keeps pane content mounted when a draft tab is retargeted in place", () => {
     container = document.createElement("div");
     document.body.appendChild(container);
diff --git a/packages/app/src/screens/workspace/workspace-pane-content.tsx b/packages/app/src/screens/workspace/workspace-pane-content.tsx
index e8ab76500a..aa02409f19 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/screens/workspace/workspace-pane-content.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/screens/workspace/workspace-pane-content.tsx
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ export interface BuildWorkspacePaneContentModelInput {
   tab: WorkspaceTabDescriptor;
   normalizedServerId: string;
   normalizedWorkspaceId: string;
+  isSidePanel: boolean;
   fileNavigationRevision?: number;
   onOpenTab: (target: WorkspaceTabDescriptor["target"]) => void;
   onCloseCurrentTab: () => void;
@@ -36,6 +37,7 @@ export function buildWorkspacePaneContentModel({
   tab,
   normalizedServerId,
   normalizedWorkspaceId,
+  isSidePanel,
   fileNavigationRevision,
   onOpenTab,
   onCloseCurrentTab,
@@ -53,6 +55,7 @@ export function buildWorkspacePaneContentModel({
     paneContextValue: {
       serverId: normalizedServerId,
       workspaceId: normalizedWorkspaceId,
+      isSidePanel,
       tabId: tab.tabId,
       target: tab.target,
       state: tab.state,
@@ -91,6 +94,7 @@ export function WorkspacePaneContent({
     () => ({
       serverId: paneContextValue.serverId,
       workspaceId: paneContextValue.workspaceId,
+      isSidePanel: paneContextValue.isSidePanel,
       tabId: paneContextValue.tabId,
       target: paneContextValue.target,
       state: paneContextValue.state,
@@ -113,6 +117,7 @@ export function WorkspacePaneContent({
       paneContextValue.target,
       paneContextValue.state,
       paneContextValue.workspaceId,
+      paneContextValue.isSidePanel,
       retargetCurrentTab,
       setCurrentTabState,
     ],
diff --git a/packages/app/src/screens/workspace/workspace-screen.tsx b/packages/app/src/screens/workspace/workspace-screen.tsx
index 5048b81908..003827f23d 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/screens/workspace/workspace-screen.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/screens/workspace/workspace-screen.tsx
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ import {
   findPaneById,
   getFocusedBrowserId,
   FOCUSED_PANE_PLACEMENT,
+  selectSidePanelPaneId,
   type WorkspaceLayout,
   type WorkspaceTabPlacement,
   useWorkspaceLayoutStore,
@@ -1745,6 +1746,9 @@ function WorkspaceScreenContent({
   const workspaceLayout = useWorkspaceLayoutStore((state) =>
     persistenceKey ? (state.layoutByWorkspace[persistenceKey] ?? null) : null,
   );
+  const sidePanelPaneId = useWorkspaceLayoutStore((state) =>
+    persistenceKey ? selectSidePanelPaneId(state, persistenceKey) : null,
+  );
   const hasHydratedWorkspaceLayoutStore = useWorkspaceLayoutStoreHydrated();
   const workspaceSetupSnapshot = useWorkspaceSetupStore((state) =>
     persistenceKey ? (state.snapshots[persistenceKey] ?? null) : null,
@@ -3360,6 +3364,8 @@ function WorkspaceScreenContent({
         tab: input.tab,
         normalizedServerId,
         normalizedWorkspaceId,
+        isSidePanel:
+          canRenderDesktopPaneSplits && input.paneId !== null && input.paneId === sidePanelPaneId,
         fileNavigationRevision: fileNavigationRevisionByTabId[input.tab.tabId] ?? 0,
         onOpenTab: (target) => {
           if (!persistenceKey) {
@@ -3415,11 +3421,13 @@ function WorkspaceScreenContent({
       navigateToTabId,
       normalizedServerId,
       normalizedWorkspaceId,
+      canRenderDesktopPaneSplits,
       openImportSheet,
       revealWorkspaceChildTab,
       persistenceKey,
       replaceWorkspaceTabTarget,
       setWorkspaceTabState,
+      sidePanelPaneId,
     ],
   );
   const focusedPaneId = useMemo(