diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/composer/focus.ts b/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/composer/focus.ts
index a490ef18b44c..a470edfcd958 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/composer/focus.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/composer/focus.ts
@@ -18,8 +18,10 @@ import { RICH_INPUT_SLOT } from './rich-editor'
 export type ComposerTarget = 'edit' | 'main' | (string & {})
 export type ComposerInsertMode = 'block' | 'inline'
 
-interface FocusDetail {
+export interface FocusDetail {
   target: ComposerTarget
+  /** Append after focus (type-to-focus / soft `/`). */
+  typeChar?: string
 }
 
 interface InsertDetail {
@@ -82,8 +84,10 @@ export const markActiveComposer = (target: ComposerTarget) => {
  *  Used by broadcast listeners (voice, Esc-to-stop) to act on exactly one. */
 export const getActiveComposer = (): ComposerTarget => activeTarget
 
-export const requestComposerFocus = (target: ComposerTarget | 'active' = 'active') =>
-  dispatch<FocusDetail>(FOCUS_EVENT, { target: resolve(target) })
+export const requestComposerFocus = (
+  target: ComposerTarget | 'active' = 'active',
+  { typeChar }: { typeChar?: string } = {}
+) => dispatch<FocusDetail>(FOCUS_EVENT, { target: resolve(target), typeChar })
 
 export const requestComposerInsert = (
   text: string,
@@ -98,8 +102,8 @@ export const requestComposerInsert = (
   dispatch<InsertDetail>(INSERT_EVENT, { mode, target: resolve(target), text: trimmed })
 }
 
-export const onComposerFocusRequest = (handler: (target: ComposerTarget) => void) =>
-  subscribe<FocusDetail>(FOCUS_EVENT, ({ target }) => handler(target))
+export const onComposerFocusRequest = (handler: (detail: FocusDetail) => void) =>
+  subscribe<FocusDetail>(FOCUS_EVENT, handler)
 
 export const onComposerInsertRequest = (handler: (detail: InsertDetail) => void) =>
   subscribe<InsertDetail>(INSERT_EVENT, handler)
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/composer/hooks/use-composer-draft.ts b/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/composer/hooks/use-composer-draft.ts
index b9fa789ad51d..11dc9534df0f 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/composer/hooks/use-composer-draft.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/composer/hooks/use-composer-draft.ts
@@ -158,10 +158,19 @@ export function useComposerDraft({
       return undefined
     }
 
-    const offFocus = onComposerFocusRequest(requested => {
-      if (requested === target) {
-        setFocusRequestId(id => id + 1)
+    const offFocus = onComposerFocusRequest(({ target: requested, typeChar }) => {
+      if (requested !== target) {
+        return
       }
+
+      // Type-to-focus appends at end; bare Enter just focuses.
+      if (typeChar) {
+        paintDraft(`${draftRef.current}${typeChar}`, true)
+
+        return
+      }
+
+      setFocusRequestId(id => id + 1)
     })
 
     const offInsert = onComposerInsertRequest(({ mode, target: requested, text }) => {
@@ -174,7 +183,7 @@ export function useComposerDraft({
       offFocus()
       offInsert()
     }
-  }, [appendExternalText, inputDisabled, target])
+  }, [appendExternalText, inputDisabled, paintDraft, target])
 
   const stashAt = (scope: string | null, text = draftRef.current, attachments = attachmentScope.$attachments.get()) =>
     stashSessionDraft(scope, text, attachments)
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/app/hooks/use-keybinds.ts b/apps/desktop/src/app/hooks/use-keybinds.ts
index 4df1edb202c4..e48c81dd2644 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/app/hooks/use-keybinds.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/app/hooks/use-keybinds.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,11 @@ import { closeActiveTerminal, createTerminal, cycleTerminal } from '@/app/right-
 import { activateTreeTabSlot, cycleTreeTabInFocusedZone, layoutHasRootSide } from '@/components/pane-shell/tree/store'
 import { contributedKeybindHandler, PROFILE_SLOT_COUNT, SESSION_SLOT_COUNT } from '@/lib/keybinds/actions'
 import { comboAllowedInInput, comboFromEvent, isEditableTarget } from '@/lib/keybinds/combo'
+import {
+  composerFocusKeysAllowed,
+  isComposerFocusSoftCombo,
+  typeToFocusChar
+} from '@/lib/keybinds/composer-focus-keys'
 import { $repoStatus } from '@/store/coding-status'
 import { toggleCommandPalette } from '@/store/command-palette'
 import { $capture, $comboIndex, endCapture, setBinding } from '@/store/keybinds'
@@ -122,7 +127,7 @@ export function useKeybinds(deps: KeybindRuntimeDeps): void {
   handlersRef.current = {
     'keybinds.openPanel': () => navigate(`${SETTINGS_ROUTE}?tab=keybinds`),
 
-    'composer.focus': () => requestComposerFocus('main'),
+    'composer.focus': () => requestComposerFocus('active'),
     'composer.modelPicker': () => setModelPickerOpen(true),
     'composer.voice': requestVoiceToggle,
 
@@ -242,7 +247,15 @@ export function useKeybinds(deps: KeybindRuntimeDeps): void {
 
       const actionId = $comboIndex.get().get(combo)
 
+      // Unbound printable → type-to-focus. Bound chords (shift+n, …) win above.
       if (!actionId) {
+        const typeChar = typeToFocusChar(event)
+
+        if (typeChar && composerFocusKeysAllowed(event, 'type')) {
+          event.preventDefault()
+          requestComposerFocus('active', { typeChar })
+        }
+
         return
       }
 
@@ -250,6 +263,19 @@ export function useKeybinds(deps: KeybindRuntimeDeps): void {
         return
       }
 
+      // Soft `/` / Enter: gated so dialogs/buttons/terminal keep those keys.
+      // Rebound chords fall through to the normal handler.
+      if (actionId === 'composer.focus' && isComposerFocusSoftCombo(combo)) {
+        if (!composerFocusKeysAllowed(event, combo)) {
+          return
+        }
+
+        event.preventDefault()
+        requestComposerFocus('active', { typeChar: combo === '/' ? '/' : undefined })
+
+        return
+      }
+
       // Built-in handlers first (they carry React context); contributed
       // actions bring their own `run` through the registry.
       const handler = handlersRef.current[actionId] ?? contributedKeybindHandler(actionId)
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/components/assistant-ui/thread/user-edit-composer.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/components/assistant-ui/thread/user-edit-composer.tsx
index dfcc05717dc1..9015e9eee66e 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/components/assistant-ui/thread/user-edit-composer.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/components/assistant-ui/thread/user-edit-composer.tsx
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ export const UserEditComposer: FC<UserEditComposerProps> = ({ cwd, gateway, sess
   }, [focusEditor, focusRequestId])
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    const offFocus = onComposerFocusRequest(target => {
+    const offFocus = onComposerFocusRequest(({ target }) => {
       if (target === 'edit') {
         setFocusRequestId(id => id + 1)
       }
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/lib/keybinds/actions.ts b/apps/desktop/src/lib/keybinds/actions.ts
index 67a57b089bfc..78fe1d34474f 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/lib/keybinds/actions.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/lib/keybinds/actions.ts
@@ -54,7 +54,8 @@ const SESSION_SLOT_ACTIONS: KeybindActionMeta[] = Array.from({ length: SESSION_S
 
 export const KEYBIND_ACTIONS: readonly KeybindActionMeta[] = [
   // ── Composer ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-  { id: 'composer.focus', category: 'composer', defaults: [] },
+  // Soft `/` / Enter focus (gated); other printables type-to-focus unbound.
+  { id: 'composer.focus', category: 'composer', defaults: ['/', 'enter'] },
   { id: 'composer.modelPicker', category: 'composer', defaults: [] },
   // Voice conversation toggle. Matches the documented `voice.record_key`
   // (Ctrl+B). On macOS that's literally ⌃B — distinct from the ⌘B sidebar
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/lib/keybinds/composer-focus-keys.test.ts b/apps/desktop/src/lib/keybinds/composer-focus-keys.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..01043a210ce5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/lib/keybinds/composer-focus-keys.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,149 @@
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+
+import { $workspaceIsPage } from '@/app/routes'
+import { closeSwitcher, $switcherOpen } from '@/store/session-switcher'
+
+import {
+  composerFocusBlockedBySurface,
+  composerFocusKeysAllowed,
+  isActivateOnEnterTarget,
+  typeToFocusChar
+} from './composer-focus-keys'
+
+function keydown(init: KeyboardEventInit & { target?: EventTarget }): KeyboardEvent {
+  const event = new KeyboardEvent('keydown', { bubbles: true, cancelable: true, ...init })
+
+  if (init.target) {
+    Object.defineProperty(event, 'target', { value: init.target })
+  }
+
+  return event
+}
+
+describe('isActivateOnEnterTarget', () => {
+  it('ignores body / null', () => {
+    expect(isActivateOnEnterTarget(document.body)).toBe(false)
+    expect(isActivateOnEnterTarget(null)).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('detects buttons and walks to a wrapping activator', () => {
+    const button = document.createElement('button')
+    const wrap = document.createElement('div')
+    wrap.setAttribute('role', 'button')
+    const child = document.createElement('span')
+    wrap.append(child)
+    document.body.append(button, wrap)
+
+    expect(isActivateOnEnterTarget(button)).toBe(true)
+    expect(isActivateOnEnterTarget(child)).toBe(true)
+    expect(isActivateOnEnterTarget(document.createElement('div'))).toBe(false)
+  })
+})
+
+describe('composerFocusBlockedBySurface', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    $workspaceIsPage.set(false)
+    closeSwitcher()
+    document.body.replaceChildren()
+  })
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    $workspaceIsPage.set(false)
+    closeSwitcher()
+    document.body.replaceChildren()
+  })
+
+  it('is clear on empty chat chrome', () => {
+    expect(composerFocusBlockedBySurface()).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('blocks dialogs, the session switcher, and full pages', () => {
+    const dialog = document.createElement('div')
+    dialog.setAttribute('role', 'dialog')
+    document.body.append(dialog)
+    expect(composerFocusBlockedBySurface()).toBe(true)
+
+    document.body.replaceChildren()
+    $switcherOpen.set(true)
+    expect(composerFocusBlockedBySurface()).toBe(true)
+
+    closeSwitcher()
+    $workspaceIsPage.set(true)
+    expect(composerFocusBlockedBySurface()).toBe(true)
+  })
+
+  it('blocks when focus is inside a terminal', () => {
+    const term = document.createElement('div')
+    term.setAttribute('data-terminal', '')
+    const inner = document.createElement('div')
+    term.append(inner)
+    document.body.append(term)
+    Object.defineProperty(document, 'activeElement', { configurable: true, get: () => inner })
+
+    expect(composerFocusBlockedBySurface()).toBe(true)
+
+    Object.defineProperty(document, 'activeElement', {
+      configurable: true,
+      get: () => document.body
+    })
+  })
+})
+
+describe('typeToFocusChar', () => {
+  it('returns printables (case/symbols via event.key)', () => {
+    expect(typeToFocusChar(keydown({ key: 'a', code: 'KeyA' }))).toBe('a')
+    expect(typeToFocusChar(keydown({ key: 'A', code: 'KeyA', shiftKey: true }))).toBe('A')
+    expect(typeToFocusChar(keydown({ key: '?', code: 'Slash', shiftKey: true }))).toBe('?')
+    expect(typeToFocusChar(keydown({ key: ' ', code: 'Space' }))).toBe(' ')
+  })
+
+  it('rejects non-printables and modified chords', () => {
+    expect(typeToFocusChar(keydown({ key: 'Enter', code: 'Enter' }))).toBeNull()
+    expect(typeToFocusChar(keydown({ key: 'a', code: 'KeyA', metaKey: true }))).toBeNull()
+    expect(typeToFocusChar(keydown({ key: 'a', code: 'KeyA', isComposing: true }))).toBeNull()
+  })
+})
+
+describe('composerFocusKeysAllowed', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    $workspaceIsPage.set(false)
+    closeSwitcher()
+    document.body.replaceChildren()
+    vi.spyOn(document, 'activeElement', 'get').mockReturnValue(document.body)
+  })
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    $workspaceIsPage.set(false)
+    closeSwitcher()
+    document.body.replaceChildren()
+    vi.restoreAllMocks()
+  })
+
+  it('passes rebound chords; allows soft keys on the transcript', () => {
+    expect(composerFocusKeysAllowed(keydown({ key: 'i', code: 'KeyI', metaKey: true }), 'mod+i')).toBe(true)
+    expect(composerFocusKeysAllowed(keydown({ key: '/', code: 'Slash', target: document.body }), '/')).toBe(true)
+    expect(composerFocusKeysAllowed(keydown({ key: 'Enter', code: 'Enter', target: document.body }), 'enter')).toBe(
+      true
+    )
+    expect(composerFocusKeysAllowed(keydown({ key: 'h', code: 'KeyH', target: document.body }), 'type')).toBe(true)
+  })
+
+  it('refuses editables; refuses Enter on buttons but allows / and typing', () => {
+    const input = document.createElement('input')
+    const button = document.createElement('button')
+    document.body.append(input, button)
+
+    expect(composerFocusKeysAllowed(keydown({ key: 'a', code: 'KeyA', target: input }), 'type')).toBe(false)
+    expect(composerFocusKeysAllowed(keydown({ key: 'Enter', code: 'Enter', target: button }), 'enter')).toBe(false)
+    expect(composerFocusKeysAllowed(keydown({ key: '/', code: 'Slash', target: button }), '/')).toBe(true)
+    expect(composerFocusKeysAllowed(keydown({ key: 'a', code: 'KeyA', target: button }), 'type')).toBe(true)
+  })
+
+  it('refuses when a dialog is open', () => {
+    const dialog = document.createElement('div')
+    dialog.setAttribute('role', 'dialog')
+    document.body.append(dialog)
+
+    expect(composerFocusKeysAllowed(keydown({ key: 'a', code: 'KeyA', target: document.body }), 'type')).toBe(false)
+  })
+})
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/lib/keybinds/composer-focus-keys.ts b/apps/desktop/src/lib/keybinds/composer-focus-keys.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..b6569770cc53
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/lib/keybinds/composer-focus-keys.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+/**
+ * Soft focus / type-to-focus for the chat composer.
+ *
+ * On empty chat chrome, Enter focuses the composer; printable keys focus and
+ * type. Bound shortcuts still win via the keybind index. Surfaces that own
+ * keys (dialogs, menus, terminal, …) are left alone.
+ */
+
+import { $workspaceIsPage } from '@/app/routes'
+import { switcherActive } from '@/store/session-switcher'
+
+import { isEditableTarget, isFocusWithin } from './combo'
+
+/** `composer.focus` defaults that need the surface/target gate. */
+export const isComposerFocusSoftCombo = (combo: string) => combo === '/' || combo === 'enter'
+
+const ENTER_ACTIVATES = [
+  'a[href]',
+  'button',
+  'summary',
+  'input',
+  'textarea',
+  'select',
+  '[contenteditable=""]',
+  '[contenteditable="true"]',
+  '[role="button"]',
+  '[role="checkbox"]',
+  '[role="combobox"]',
+  '[role="link"]',
+  '[role="menuitem"]',
+  '[role="menuitemcheckbox"]',
+  '[role="menuitemradio"]',
+  '[role="option"]',
+  '[role="radio"]',
+  '[role="switch"]',
+  '[role="tab"]',
+  '[role="treeitem"]'
+].join(',')
+
+const BLOCKING_SURFACE =
+  '[role="dialog"],[role="alertdialog"],[role="menu"],[role="listbox"],[data-radix-popper-content-wrapper]'
+
+/** True when the focused control would normally handle Enter itself. */
+export function isActivateOnEnterTarget(target: EventTarget | null): boolean {
+  const el = target as HTMLElement | null
+
+  return Boolean(el && el !== document.body && el !== document.documentElement && el.closest(ENTER_ACTIVATES))
+}
+
+/** Dialogs, menus, terminal, full pages, session switcher — they keep their keys. */
+export function composerFocusBlockedBySurface(): boolean {
+  return (
+    switcherActive() ||
+    $workspaceIsPage.get() ||
+    isFocusWithin('[data-terminal]') ||
+    Boolean(document.querySelector(BLOCKING_SURFACE))
+  )
+}
+
+/** Printable `event.key` for type-to-focus, or null (modifiers / non-printables / IME). */
+export function typeToFocusChar(event: KeyboardEvent): string | null {
+  if (event.defaultPrevented || event.isComposing || event.metaKey || event.ctrlKey || event.altKey) {
+    return null
+  }
+
+  // Length 1 ⇒ letter/digit/punct/space; Enter/Tab/Arrows/Dead/F-keys are longer.
+  return event.key.length === 1 ? event.key : null
+}
+
+/**
+ * Whether soft focus / type-to-focus may run.
+ * `combo` is `/` | `enter` | `'type'` (unbound printable); other chords pass.
+ */
+export function composerFocusKeysAllowed(event: KeyboardEvent, combo: string): boolean {
+  if (combo !== 'type' && !isComposerFocusSoftCombo(combo)) {
+    return true
+  }
+
+  if (event.defaultPrevented || event.isComposing || isEditableTarget(event.target) || composerFocusBlockedBySurface()) {
+    return false
+  }
+
+  return !(combo === 'enter' && isActivateOnEnterTarget(event.target))
+}