diff --git a/tests/test_dashboard_sidecar_close_on_disconnect.py b/tests/test_dashboard_sidecar_close_on_disconnect.py
index bb11e688cf1..b3490900d4f 100644
--- a/tests/test_dashboard_sidecar_close_on_disconnect.py
+++ b/tests/test_dashboard_sidecar_close_on_disconnect.py
@@ -11,3 +11,15 @@ def test_sidecar_session_create_requests_close_on_disconnect():
     call = re.search(r'"session\.create",\s*\{(.*?)\}', source, re.DOTALL)
     assert call, "sidecar session.create call not found"
     assert re.search(r"close_on_disconnect:\s*true", call.group(1))
+
+
+def test_sidecar_session_create_scopes_profile():
+    """The sidecar must pass the dashboard's selected profile so model/credential
+    info matches the PTY child under profile-scoped chat."""
+    source = CHAT_SIDEBAR.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+    assert '"session.create"' in source
+    assert re.search(
+        r"close_on_disconnect:\s*true,\s*\.\.\.\(profile\s*\?\s*\{\s*profile\s*\}\s*:\s*\{\}\)",
+        source,
+        re.DOTALL,
+    )
diff --git a/web/src/components/ChatSidebar.tsx b/web/src/components/ChatSidebar.tsx
index 66b15b95f92..1a53741d8fd 100644
--- a/web/src/components/ChatSidebar.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/ChatSidebar.tsx
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ import { HERMES_BASE_PATH, buildWsAuthParam } from "@/lib/api";
 
 import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
 import { AlertCircle, ChevronDown, RefreshCw } from "lucide-react";
-import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useState } from "react";
+import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from "react";
 
 interface SessionInfo {
   cwd?: string;
@@ -71,10 +71,12 @@ const STATE_TONE: Record<
 
 interface ChatSidebarProps {
   channel: string;
+  /** Management profile from the dashboard switcher — scopes session.create. */
+  profile?: string;
   className?: string;
 }
 
-export function ChatSidebar({ channel, className }: ChatSidebarProps) {
+export function ChatSidebar({ channel, profile, className }: ChatSidebarProps) {
   // `version` bumps on reconnect; gw is derived so we never call setState
   // for it inside an effect (React 19's set-state-in-effect rule). The
   // counter is the dependency on purpose — it's not read in the memo body,
@@ -90,8 +92,29 @@ export function ChatSidebar({ channel, className }: ChatSidebarProps) {
   const [modelOpen, setModelOpen] = useState(false);
   const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null);
 
+  // Profile or PTY channel change tears down both WebSockets. Bump `version`
+  // (same path as the manual Reconnect button) so the gateway client is
+  // recreated and the events feed resubscribes — otherwise the old events
+  // socket's close handler can leave a stale error banner after a switch.
+  const scopeKey = `${channel}\0${profile ?? ""}`;
+  const prevScopeKey = useRef<string | null>(null);
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (prevScopeKey.current === null) {
+      prevScopeKey.current = scopeKey;
+      return;
+    }
+    if (prevScopeKey.current === scopeKey) return;
+    prevScopeKey.current = scopeKey;
+    setError(null);
+    setTools([]);
+    setVersion((v) => v + 1);
+  }, [scopeKey]);
+
   useEffect(() => {
     let cancelled = false;
+    setSessionId(null);
+    setInfo({});
+    setError(null);
     const offState = gw.onState(setState);
 
     const offSessionInfo = gw.on<SessionInfo>("session.info", (ev) => {
@@ -124,6 +147,7 @@ export function ChatSidebar({ channel, className }: ChatSidebarProps) {
         // slash_worker subprocess) when the WS drops, instead of leaking it.
         return gw.request<{ session_id: string }>("session.create", {
           close_on_disconnect: true,
+          ...(profile ? { profile } : {}),
         });
       })
       .then((created) => {
@@ -145,6 +169,7 @@ export function ChatSidebar({ channel, className }: ChatSidebarProps) {
       offError();
       gw.close();
     };
+    // `profile` is read from render; scope changes bump `version` → new `gw`.
   }, [gw]);
 
   // Event subscriber WebSocket — receives the rebroadcast of every
@@ -304,7 +329,7 @@ export function ChatSidebar({ channel, className }: ChatSidebarProps) {
       )}
     >
       <Card className="flex items-center justify-between gap-2 px-3 py-2">
-        <div className="min-w-0">
+        <div className="min-w-0 flex-1">
           <div className="text-display text-xs tracking-wider text-text-tertiary">
             model
           </div>
@@ -314,19 +339,26 @@ export function ChatSidebar({ channel, className }: ChatSidebarProps) {
             size="sm"
             disabled={!canPickModel}
             onClick={() => setModelOpen(true)}
-            suffix={
-              canPickModel ? (
-                <ChevronDown className="text-text-secondary" />
-              ) : undefined
-            }
-            className="self-start min-w-0 px-0 py-0 normal-case tracking-normal text-sm font-medium hover:underline disabled:no-underline"
+            className={cn(
+              "max-w-full min-w-0 px-0 py-0",
+              "self-start normal-case tracking-normal text-sm font-medium",
+              "hover:underline disabled:no-underline",
+            )}
             title={info.model ?? "switch model"}
           >
-            <span className="truncate">{modelLabel}</span>
+            <span className="flex min-w-0 max-w-full items-center gap-1">
+              <span className="truncate">{modelLabel}</span>
+
+              {canPickModel ? (
+                <ChevronDown className="size-3.5 shrink-0 text-text-secondary" />
+              ) : null}
+            </span>
           </Button>
         </div>
 
-        <Badge tone={STATE_TONE[state]}>{STATE_LABEL[state]}</Badge>
+        <Badge tone={STATE_TONE[state]} className="shrink-0">
+          {STATE_LABEL[state]}
+        </Badge>
       </Card>
 
       {banner && (
diff --git a/web/src/contexts/ProfileProvider.tsx b/web/src/contexts/ProfileProvider.tsx
index 0beedb49bc5..91c5440e413 100644
--- a/web/src/contexts/ProfileProvider.tsx
+++ b/web/src/contexts/ProfileProvider.tsx
@@ -26,10 +26,12 @@ import { ProfileContext } from "@/contexts/profile-context";
  * truth, the effect below re-asserts `?profile=` onto the new location
  * after each navigation, so the scope survives nav and stays deep-linkable.
  *
- * This exists because "Set as active" on the Profiles page only flips the
- * sticky active_profile file (future CLI/gateway runs) — it cannot retarget
- * the running dashboard. The switcher is the dashboard's own, visible,
- * write-target selector.
+ * This exists because "Set as active" on the Profiles page historically only
+ * flipped the sticky active_profile file (future CLI/gateway runs). The
+ * switcher is the dashboard's write-target selector for Chat and management
+ * pages. We now sync the switcher when the sticky active profile differs from
+ * the dashboard process on load, and ProfilesPage updates the switcher when
+ * you click "Set as active".
  */
 export function ProfileProvider({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
   const [searchParams, setSearchParams] = useSearchParams();
@@ -77,14 +79,34 @@ export function ProfileProvider({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
   }, [pathname, profile]);
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    api
-      .getProfiles()
-      .then((res) => setProfiles(res.profiles.map((p) => p.name)))
-      .catch(() => {});
-    api
-      .getActiveProfile()
-      .then((info) => setCurrentProfile(info.current || "default"))
+    let cancelled = false;
+    const urlProfile = searchParams.get("profile");
+
+    Promise.all([api.getProfiles(), api.getActiveProfile()])
+      .then(([profilesRes, info]) => {
+        if (cancelled) return;
+
+        setProfiles(profilesRes.profiles.map((p) => p.name));
+
+        const current = info.current || "default";
+        const active = info.active || "default";
+        setCurrentProfile(current);
+
+        // Deep links (?profile=) win. Otherwise align the switcher with the
+        // sticky active profile so Chat and management pages match what the
+        // Profiles page shows as "active" (machine dashboard runs as
+        // `current`, usually default).
+        if (urlProfile === null && active !== current) {
+          setManagementProfile(active);
+          setProfileState(active);
+        }
+      })
       .catch(() => {});
+
+    return () => {
+      cancelled = true;
+    };
+    // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
   }, []);
 
   const setProfile = useCallback(
diff --git a/web/src/pages/ChatPage.tsx b/web/src/pages/ChatPage.tsx
index 34975035530..b8c1ecbcbf1 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/ChatPage.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/ChatPage.tsx
@@ -861,7 +861,7 @@ export default function ChatPage({ isActive = true }: { isActive?: boolean }) {
               "border-t border-current/10",
             )}
           >
-            <ChatSidebar channel={channel} />
+            <ChatSidebar channel={channel} profile={scopedProfile} />
           </div>
         </div>
       </>,
@@ -929,7 +929,7 @@ export default function ChatPage({ isActive = true }: { isActive?: boolean }) {
             className="flex min-h-0 shrink-0 flex-col overflow-hidden lg:h-full lg:w-80"
           >
             <div className="min-h-0 flex-1 overflow-hidden">
-              <ChatSidebar channel={channel} />
+              <ChatSidebar channel={channel} profile={scopedProfile} />
             </div>
           </div>
         )}
diff --git a/web/src/pages/ProfilesPage.tsx b/web/src/pages/ProfilesPage.tsx
index fdf89fa4a41..781ca0c7783 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/ProfilesPage.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/ProfilesPage.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import {
   useState,
 } from "react";
 import { useNavigate } from "react-router-dom";
+import { useProfileScope } from "@/contexts/useProfileScope";
 import {
   AlignLeft,
   Check,
@@ -259,6 +260,7 @@ export default function ProfilesPage() {
   const { toast, showToast } = useToast();
   const { t } = useI18n();
   const { setEnd } = usePageHeader();
+  const { setProfile } = useProfileScope();
 
   // Locale strings with English fallbacks. The enriched keys are optional in
   // the i18n type so untranslated locales don't break the build — they render
@@ -305,7 +307,7 @@ export default function ProfilesPage() {
       manageSkills: p.manageSkills ?? "Manage skills & tools",
       activeSetHint:
         p.activeSetHint ??
-        "Applies to new CLI/gateway runs. This dashboard still manages its own profile — use “Manage skills & tools” to edit {name}.",
+        "Dashboard switched to manage {name}. New CLI/gateway runs will use this profile too.",
     };
   }, [t.profiles]);
 
@@ -495,10 +497,7 @@ export default function ProfilesPage() {
       // The backend normalizes/validates the name; trust the canonical
       // value it returns rather than the raw input.
       const { active } = await api.setActiveProfile(name);
-      // "Set as active" only flips the sticky default for FUTURE CLI/gateway
-      // invocations — it does NOT retarget this running dashboard. Say so,
-      // or users assume skill/tool toggles now apply to the activated
-      // profile (they don't — that's what "Manage skills & tools" is for).
+      setProfile(active);
       showToast(
         `${L.activeSet}: ${active} — ${L.activeSetHint.replace("{name}", active)}`,
         "success",