diff --git a/packages/app/src/app/_layout.tsx b/packages/app/src/app/_layout.tsx
index 983456c98..143c2ccf2 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/app/_layout.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/app/_layout.tsx
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import { useSettings } from "@/hooks/use-settings";
 import { View, ActivityIndicator } from "react-native";
 import { GlobalFooter } from "@/components/global-footer";
 import { useUnistyles } from "react-native-unistyles";
+import { FooterControlsProvider } from "@/contexts/footer-controls-context";
 
 function AppContainer({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
   const { theme } = useUnistyles();
@@ -52,26 +53,28 @@ export default function RootLayout() {
         <KeyboardProvider>
           <BottomSheetModalProvider>
             <ProvidersWrapper>
-              <AppContainer>
-                <Stack
-                  screenOptions={{
-                    headerShown: false,
-                    animation: "slide_from_right",
-                    animationDuration: 250,
-                    gestureEnabled: true,
-                    gestureDirection: "horizontal",
-                    fullScreenGestureEnabled: true,
-                    animationMatchesGesture: true,
-                  }}
-                >
-                  <Stack.Screen name="index" />
-                  <Stack.Screen name="orchestrator" />
-                  <Stack.Screen name="agent/[id]" />
-                  <Stack.Screen name="settings" />
-                  <Stack.Screen name="audio-test" />
-                </Stack>
-                <GlobalFooter />
-              </AppContainer>
+              <FooterControlsProvider>
+                <AppContainer>
+                  <Stack
+                    screenOptions={{
+                      headerShown: false,
+                      animation: "slide_from_right",
+                      animationDuration: 250,
+                      gestureEnabled: true,
+                      gestureDirection: "horizontal",
+                      fullScreenGestureEnabled: true,
+                      animationMatchesGesture: true,
+                    }}
+                  >
+                    <Stack.Screen name="index" />
+                    <Stack.Screen name="orchestrator" />
+                    <Stack.Screen name="agent/[id]" />
+                    <Stack.Screen name="settings" />
+                    <Stack.Screen name="audio-test" />
+                  </Stack>
+                  <GlobalFooter />
+                </AppContainer>
+              </FooterControlsProvider>
             </ProvidersWrapper>
           </BottomSheetModalProvider>
         </KeyboardProvider>
diff --git a/packages/app/src/app/agent/[id].tsx b/packages/app/src/app/agent/[id].tsx
index eab03d0a1..a198f9e6b 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/app/agent/[id].tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/app/agent/[id].tsx
@@ -1,31 +1,34 @@
+import { useEffect, useMemo } from "react";
 import { View, Text } from "react-native";
 import { useLocalSearchParams } from "expo-router";
 import { useSafeAreaInsets } from "react-native-safe-area-context";
 import { useReanimatedKeyboardAnimation } from "react-native-keyboard-controller";
-import ReanimatedAnimated, { useAnimatedStyle, FadeIn } from "react-native-reanimated";
+import ReanimatedAnimated, { useAnimatedStyle } from "react-native-reanimated";
 import { StyleSheet, useUnistyles } from "react-native-unistyles";
 import { BackHeader } from "@/components/headers/back-header";
 import { AgentStreamView } from "@/components/agent-stream-view";
 import { AgentInputArea } from "@/components/agent-input-area";
 import { AgentStatusBar } from "@/components/agent-status-bar";
 import { useSession } from "@/contexts/session-context";
-import { useRealtime } from "@/contexts/realtime-context";
+import { FOOTER_HEIGHT, useFooterControls } from "@/contexts/footer-controls-context";
 
 export default function AgentScreen() {
   const { theme } = useUnistyles();
   const insets = useSafeAreaInsets();
   const { id } = useLocalSearchParams<{ id: string }>();
   const { agents, agentStreamState, pendingPermissions, respondToPermission } = useSession();
-  const { isRealtimeMode } = useRealtime();
+  const { registerFooterControls, unregisterFooterControls } = useFooterControls();
 
   // Keyboard animation
   const { height: keyboardHeight } = useReanimatedKeyboardAnimation();
+  const footerHeight = FOOTER_HEIGHT + insets.bottom;
+  const bottomInset = insets.bottom;
   const animatedKeyboardStyle = useAnimatedStyle(() => {
     "worklet";
     const absoluteHeight = Math.abs(keyboardHeight.value);
-    const padding = Math.max(0, absoluteHeight - insets.bottom);
+    const padding = Math.max(0, absoluteHeight - bottomInset);
     return {
-      paddingBottom: padding,
+      paddingBottom: footerHeight + padding,
     };
   });
 
@@ -35,6 +38,24 @@ export default function AgentScreen() {
     Array.from(pendingPermissions.entries()).filter(([_, perm]) => perm.agentId === id)
   );
 
+  const agentControls = useMemo(() => {
+    if (!id) return null;
+    return <AgentInputArea agentId={id} />;
+  }, [id]);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!agentControls || !agent) {
+      unregisterFooterControls();
+      return;
+    }
+
+    registerFooterControls(agentControls);
+
+    return () => {
+      unregisterFooterControls();
+    };
+  }, [agentControls, agent, registerFooterControls, unregisterFooterControls]);
+
   if (!agent) {
     return (
       <View style={styles.container}>
@@ -63,16 +84,9 @@ export default function AgentScreen() {
           }
         />
 
-        {/* Footer area - status bar + controls */}
-        <View style={[styles.footerContainer, !isRealtimeMode && { paddingBottom: insets.bottom }]}>
-          {/* Status bar - always visible, floating above controls */}
+        {/* Footer area - status bar pinned within screen */}
+        <View style={styles.footerContainer}>
           <AgentStatusBar agentId={id!} />
-          
-          {/* Controls - AgentInputArea always mounted, fades in/out */}
-          {/* When in realtime mode, GlobalFooter's RealtimeControls overlays this */}
-          <View style={styles.controlsContainer}>
-            <AgentInputArea agentId={id!} isRealtimeMode={isRealtimeMode} />
-          </View>
         </View>
       </ReanimatedAnimated.View>
     </View>
@@ -89,10 +103,7 @@ const styles = StyleSheet.create((theme) => ({
   },
   footerContainer: {
     backgroundColor: theme.colors.background,
-  },
-  controlsContainer: {
-    borderTopWidth: theme.borderWidth[1],
-    borderTopColor: theme.colors.border,
+    paddingBottom: theme.spacing[6],
   },
   errorContainer: {
     flex: 1,
diff --git a/packages/app/src/components/agent-input-area.tsx b/packages/app/src/components/agent-input-area.tsx
index d0236c850..7d084d8ee 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/components/agent-input-area.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/components/agent-input-area.tsx
@@ -1,22 +1,16 @@
 import { View, TextInput, Pressable } from "react-native";
-import { useState, useEffect } from "react";
+import { useState } from "react";
 import { StyleSheet, useUnistyles } from "react-native-unistyles";
 import { Mic, ArrowUp, AudioLines, Square } from "lucide-react-native";
 import { useSession } from "@/contexts/session-context";
 import { useRealtime } from "@/contexts/realtime-context";
 import { useAudioRecorder } from "@/hooks/use-audio-recorder";
-import Animated, {
-  useAnimatedStyle,
-  withTiming,
-  useSharedValue,
-} from "react-native-reanimated";
 
 interface AgentInputAreaProps {
   agentId: string;
-  isRealtimeMode: boolean;
 }
 
-export function AgentInputArea({ agentId, isRealtimeMode }: AgentInputAreaProps) {
+export function AgentInputArea({ agentId }: AgentInputAreaProps) {
   const { theme } = useUnistyles();
   const { ws, sendAgentMessage, sendAgentAudio } = useSession();
   const { startRealtime } = useRealtime();
@@ -26,23 +20,6 @@ export function AgentInputArea({ agentId, isRealtimeMode }: AgentInputAreaProps)
   const [isRecording, setIsRecording] = useState(false);
   const [isProcessing, setIsProcessing] = useState(false);
 
-  // Animated opacity for smooth transitions
-  const opacity = useSharedValue(isRealtimeMode ? 0 : 1);
-
-  useEffect(() => {
-    opacity.value = withTiming(isRealtimeMode ? 0 : 1, { duration: 250 });
-  }, [isRealtimeMode]);
-
-  const animatedStyle = useAnimatedStyle(() => {
-    return {
-      opacity: opacity.value,
-      // When hidden, use absolute positioning to remove from layout flow
-      position: opacity.value < 0.5 ? ("absolute" as const) : ("relative" as const),
-      // When hidden, disable pointer events so GlobalFooter's controls are interactive
-      pointerEvents: opacity.value < 0.5 ? ("none" as const) : ("auto" as const),
-    };
-  });
-
   async function handleSendMessage() {
     if (!userInput.trim() || !ws.isConnected) return;
 
@@ -99,7 +76,7 @@ export function AgentInputArea({ agentId, isRealtimeMode }: AgentInputAreaProps)
   const hasText = userInput.trim().length > 0;
 
   return (
-    <Animated.View style={[styles.container, animatedStyle]}>
+    <View style={styles.container}>
       {/* Text input */}
       <TextInput
         value={userInput}
@@ -159,7 +136,7 @@ export function AgentInputArea({ agentId, isRealtimeMode }: AgentInputAreaProps)
             </>
           )}
       </View>
-    </Animated.View>
+    </View>
   );
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/app/src/components/global-footer.tsx b/packages/app/src/components/global-footer.tsx
index b290a8574..0f3e2ea4f 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/components/global-footer.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/components/global-footer.tsx
@@ -1,14 +1,15 @@
 import { useEffect } from "react";
-import { View, Pressable } from "react-native";
+import { View, Pressable, StyleSheet as RNStyleSheet } from "react-native";
 import { usePathname } from "expo-router";
 import { useSafeAreaInsets } from "react-native-safe-area-context";
 import { StyleSheet, useUnistyles } from "react-native-unistyles";
 import { AudioLines } from "lucide-react-native";
 import { useRealtime } from "@/contexts/realtime-context";
 import { useSession } from "@/contexts/session-context";
+import { useFooterControls, FOOTER_HEIGHT } from "@/contexts/footer-controls-context";
 import { RealtimeControls } from "./realtime-controls";
-import Animated, { 
-  FadeIn, 
+import Animated, {
+  FadeIn,
   FadeOut,
   useAnimatedStyle,
   withTiming,
@@ -21,44 +22,80 @@ export function GlobalFooter() {
   const pathname = usePathname();
   const { isRealtimeMode, startRealtime } = useRealtime();
   const { ws } = useSession();
+  const { controls } = useFooterControls();
 
   // Determine current screen type
   const isAgentScreen = pathname?.startsWith("/agent/");
 
-  // Determine if footer should be visible
-  // Hidden when: on agent screen AND realtime is off
-  const shouldHide = isAgentScreen && !isRealtimeMode;
+  const hasRegisteredControls = !!controls;
+  const showAgentControls = isAgentScreen && hasRegisteredControls;
 
-  // Controlled opacity for agent screen transitions (synced with AgentInputArea)
-  const realtimeOpacity = useSharedValue(isRealtimeMode ? 1 : 0);
+  const transition = useSharedValue(isRealtimeMode ? 1 : 0);
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (isAgentScreen) {
-      // On agent screen, use controlled animation for smooth cross-fade
-      realtimeOpacity.value = withTiming(isRealtimeMode ? 1 : 0, { duration: 250 });
+    if (showAgentControls) {
+      transition.value = withTiming(isRealtimeMode ? 1 : 0, { duration: 250 });
     }
-  }, [isRealtimeMode, isAgentScreen]);
+  }, [isRealtimeMode, showAgentControls]);
 
   const realtimeAnimatedStyle = useAnimatedStyle(() => {
     return {
-      opacity: realtimeOpacity.value,
-      pointerEvents: realtimeOpacity.value > 0.5 ? ("auto" as const) : ("none" as const),
+      opacity: transition.value,
+      pointerEvents: transition.value > 0.5 ? ("auto" as const) : ("none" as const),
     };
   });
 
-  // If realtime is active, show realtime controls
+  const agentControlsAnimatedStyle = useAnimatedStyle(() => {
+    return {
+      opacity: 1 - transition.value,
+      pointerEvents: transition.value < 0.5 ? ("auto" as const) : ("none" as const),
+    };
+  });
+
+  if (showAgentControls) {
+    return (
+      <View
+        style={[
+          styles.container,
+          {
+            paddingBottom: insets.bottom,
+            height: FOOTER_HEIGHT + insets.bottom,
+          },
+        ]}
+      >
+        <View style={styles.content}>
+          <Animated.View
+            style={[RNStyleSheet.absoluteFillObject, agentControlsAnimatedStyle]}
+          >
+            {controls}
+          </Animated.View>
+          <Animated.View
+            style={[RNStyleSheet.absoluteFillObject, realtimeAnimatedStyle]}
+          >
+            <RealtimeControls />
+          </Animated.View>
+        </View>
+      </View>
+    );
+  }
+
+  if (isAgentScreen) {
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  // Determine if realtime is active on non-agent screens
   if (isRealtimeMode) {
     return (
       <Animated.View
         style={[
-          styles.container, 
-          { paddingBottom: insets.bottom },
-          // Use controlled opacity on agent screen for smooth transition
-          isAgentScreen && realtimeAnimatedStyle
+          styles.container,
+          {
+            paddingBottom: insets.bottom,
+            height: FOOTER_HEIGHT + insets.bottom,
+          },
         ]}
-        // Keep FadeIn/FadeOut for non-agent screens (home, orchestrator, etc)
-        entering={!isAgentScreen ? FadeIn.duration(400) : undefined}
-        exiting={!isAgentScreen ? FadeOut.duration(250) : undefined}
+        entering={FadeIn.duration(400)}
+        exiting={FadeOut.duration(250)}
       >
         <RealtimeControls />
       </Animated.View>
@@ -66,18 +103,16 @@ export function GlobalFooter() {
   }
 
   // For home and orchestrator screens, show centered realtime button
-  // On agent screens, don't render at all
-  if (shouldHide) {
-    return null;
-  }
-
   return (
     <Animated.View
       entering={FadeIn.duration(250)}
       exiting={FadeOut.duration(250)}
       style={[
         styles.container,
-        { paddingBottom: insets.bottom }
+        {
+          paddingBottom: insets.bottom,
+          height: FOOTER_HEIGHT + insets.bottom,
+        },
       ]}
     >
       <View style={styles.centeredButtonContainer}>
@@ -102,8 +137,9 @@ const styles = StyleSheet.create((theme) => ({
     borderTopWidth: theme.borderWidth[1],
     borderTopColor: theme.colors.border,
   },
-  realtimeContainer: {
-    backgroundColor: theme.colors.background,
+  content: {
+    flex: 1,
+    height: FOOTER_HEIGHT,
   },
   centeredButtonContainer: {
     padding: theme.spacing[6],
diff --git a/packages/app/src/contexts/footer-controls-context.tsx b/packages/app/src/contexts/footer-controls-context.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7c7af8930
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/app/src/contexts/footer-controls-context.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+import { createContext, useCallback, useContext, useMemo, useState } from "react";
+import type { ReactNode } from "react";
+
+export const FOOTER_HEIGHT = 88;
+
+interface FooterControlsContextValue {
+  controls: ReactNode | null;
+  registerFooterControls: (controls: ReactNode) => void;
+  unregisterFooterControls: () => void;
+}
+
+const FooterControlsContext = createContext<FooterControlsContextValue | undefined>(undefined);
+
+export function FooterControlsProvider({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
+  const [controls, setControls] = useState<ReactNode | null>(null);
+
+  const registerFooterControls = useCallback((nextControls: ReactNode) => {
+    setControls(nextControls);
+  }, []);
+
+  const unregisterFooterControls = useCallback(() => {
+    setControls(null);
+  }, []);
+
+  const value = useMemo(
+    () => ({
+      controls,
+      registerFooterControls,
+      unregisterFooterControls,
+    }),
+    [controls, registerFooterControls, unregisterFooterControls],
+  );
+
+  return (
+    <FooterControlsContext.Provider value={value}>
+      {children}
+    </FooterControlsContext.Provider>
+  );
+}
+
+export function useFooterControls() {
+  const context = useContext(FooterControlsContext);
+
+  if (!context) {
+    throw new Error("useFooterControls must be used within a FooterControlsProvider");
+  }
+
+  return context;
+}