diff --git a/config.php b/config.php
index 768a6fc..77c3626 100644
--- a/config.php
+++ b/config.php
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <?php
 
 define('APP_NAME', 'hyprcrd');
-define('APP_VERSION', '1.9.11');
+define('APP_VERSION', '1.9.12');
 
 // Database path — writable directory, outside webroot
 // DB_PATH / UPLOAD_DIR can be pre-defined by the Electron router for app isolation
diff --git a/electron/package.json b/electron/package.json
index 596944e..8144332 100644
--- a/electron/package.json
+++ b/electron/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "hyprcrd",
-  "version": "1.9.11",
+  "version": "1.9.12",
   "description": "hyprcrd — self-hosted card manager",
   "main": "main.js",
   "scripts": {
diff --git a/public/plugins/chat/chat.css b/public/plugins/chat/chat.css
index 5a86d3c..c591770 100644
--- a/public/plugins/chat/chat.css
+++ b/public/plugins/chat/chat.css
@@ -29,6 +29,23 @@
     flex-shrink: 0;
 }
 
+/* Combined caret + title trigger. Navigable (cursor + accent hover)
+   only when there's somewhere to go back to — toggled by JS via the
+   `.navigable` class. On the list it reads like a static label. */
+.chat-header-nav {
+    display: inline-flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    gap: 4px;
+    background: transparent;
+    border: none;
+    padding: 0;
+    color: var(--t-bright);
+    cursor: default;
+    transition: color 0.12s;
+}
+.chat-header-nav.navigable { cursor: pointer; color: var(--t-muted); }
+.chat-header-nav.navigable:hover { color: var(--t-accent); }
+
 .chat-view {
     display: flex;
     flex-direction: column;
diff --git a/public/plugins/chat/chat.html b/public/plugins/chat/chat.html
index a292f48..59ebca7 100644
--- a/public/plugins/chat/chat.html
+++ b/public/plugins/chat/chat.html
@@ -3,8 +3,14 @@
 <div id="chat-flyout" class="hidden">
     <div id="chat-flyout-header">
         <i class="ph ph-chats-circle text-t-accent text-sm"></i>
-        <span id="chat-flyout-title" class="font-pixel text-[10px] text-t-bright cursor-pointer hover:text-t-accent transition-colors" title="back to conversations">chat</span>
-        <button id="chat-header-back" class="hidden text-t-muted hover:text-t-accent transition-colors" data-tip="back to list"><i class="ph ph-caret-left text-sm"></i></button>
+        <!-- Caret + "chat" label are a single trigger with one tooltip.
+             The caret shows only when there's somewhere to go back to
+             (thread / pick / room-info); on the list itself the click
+             is a no-op and the button styles itself as inert. -->
+        <button id="chat-header-nav" type="button" class="chat-header-nav" data-tip="back to conversations">
+            <i id="chat-header-back-caret" class="ph ph-caret-left text-sm hidden"></i>
+            <span id="chat-flyout-title" class="font-pixel text-[10px]">chat</span>
+        </button>
         <span class="flex-1"></span>
         <button id="chat-thread-disposable" class="hidden text-t-muted hover:text-t-accent transition-colors" data-tip="disposable: messages drop after delivery"><i class="ph ph-fire text-sm"></i></button>
         <button id="chat-thread-info" class="hidden text-t-muted hover:text-t-accent transition-colors" data-tip="room info"><i class="ph ph-info text-sm"></i></button>
diff --git a/public/plugins/chat/chat.js b/public/plugins/chat/chat.js
index 5a778c3..0e264aa 100644
--- a/public/plugins/chat/chat.js
+++ b/public/plugins/chat/chat.js
@@ -179,11 +179,18 @@ function hideAllViews() {
         .forEach(id => $(id)?.classList.add('hidden'));
 }
 
+// Toggle the caret + make the "chat" trigger look/feel clickable only
+// when there's actually somewhere to go back to.
+function setNavState(canBack) {
+    $('chat-header-back-caret')?.classList.toggle('hidden', !canBack);
+    $('chat-header-nav')?.classList.toggle('navigable', canBack);
+}
+
 function showListView() {
     hideAllViews();
     $('chat-list-view').classList.remove('hidden');
     $('chat-flyout-title').textContent = 'chat';
-    $('chat-header-back')?.classList.add('hidden');
+    setNavState(false);
     $('chat-thread-disposable')?.classList.add('hidden');
     $('chat-thread-info')?.classList.add('hidden');
     currentThread = null;
@@ -193,7 +200,7 @@ function showThreadView(thread) {
     hideAllViews();
     $('chat-thread-view').classList.remove('hidden');
     $('chat-flyout-title').textContent = 'chat';
-    $('chat-header-back')?.classList.remove('hidden');
+    setNavState(true);
     currentThread = thread;
     // Room-only: info icon. 1:1-only: disposable icon.
     $('chat-thread-info')?.classList.toggle('hidden', thread.kind !== 'room');
@@ -205,7 +212,7 @@ function showThreadView(thread) {
 function showPickView() {
     hideAllViews();
     $('chat-pick-view').classList.remove('hidden');
-    $('chat-header-back')?.classList.add('hidden');
+    setNavState(false);
     $('chat-thread-disposable')?.classList.add('hidden');
     $('chat-thread-info')?.classList.add('hidden');
 }
@@ -213,7 +220,7 @@ function showPickView() {
 function showRoomInfoView() {
     hideAllViews();
     $('chat-room-info-view').classList.remove('hidden');
-    $('chat-header-back')?.classList.add('hidden');
+    setNavState(false);
     $('chat-thread-disposable')?.classList.add('hidden');
     $('chat-thread-info')?.classList.add('hidden');
 }
@@ -749,12 +756,14 @@ function init() {
     $('chat-refresh-btn').addEventListener('click', () => pollOnce().then(loadConversations));
     $('chat-new-btn').addEventListener('click', openPickView);
     $('chat-empty-start')?.addEventListener('click', openPickView);
-    const gotoList = () => { showListView(); loadConversations(); };
-    $('chat-header-back').addEventListener('click', gotoList);
-    // Clicking the "chat" title is the same as hitting the back caret —
-    // a second affordance so users don't have to aim at a small icon.
-    // No-op when already on the list (showListView is idempotent).
-    $('chat-flyout-title')?.addEventListener('click', gotoList);
+    // Caret + "chat" label are one button with one tooltip. Click is a
+    // no-op when the caret is hidden (already on the list) — the CSS
+    // .navigable class tracks whether the button looks clickable.
+    $('chat-header-nav')?.addEventListener('click', () => {
+        if (!$('chat-header-nav')?.classList.contains('navigable')) return;
+        showListView();
+        loadConversations();
+    });
     $('chat-pick-back').addEventListener('click', showListView);
     $('chat-thread-form').addEventListener('submit', sendMessage);
     $('chat-thread-info')?.addEventListener('click', openRoomInfo);
diff --git a/public/plugins/tests/chat.test.js b/public/plugins/tests/chat.test.js
index fa44953..7e9498a 100644
--- a/public/plugins/tests/chat.test.js
+++ b/public/plugins/tests/chat.test.js
@@ -30,20 +30,20 @@ describe('Chat: flyout', () => {
         expect(f.classList.contains('hidden')).toBe(true);
     });
 
-    it('header-back visibility matches active view', async () => {
+    it('header back-caret visibility matches active view', async () => {
         await ensureFlyoutClosed();
         click('#chat-footer-btn');
         await waitFor(() => !$('#chat-flyout').classList.contains('hidden'));
         // Wait for loadConversations + initial view pick to settle.
         await sleep(150);
-        const back = $('#chat-header-back');
+        const caret = $('#chat-header-back-caret');
         const threadShown = !$('#chat-thread-view').classList.contains('hidden');
         const listShown = !$('#chat-list-view').classList.contains('hidden');
         // Exactly one of thread / list should be active here (pick view
         // is only reached via the + button).
         expect(threadShown || listShown).toBe(true);
-        if (threadShown) expect(back.classList.contains('hidden')).toBe(false);
-        if (listShown) expect(back.classList.contains('hidden')).toBe(true);
+        if (threadShown) expect(caret.classList.contains('hidden')).toBe(false);
+        if (listShown) expect(caret.classList.contains('hidden')).toBe(true);
         await ensureFlyoutClosed();
     });
 
@@ -57,9 +57,9 @@ describe('Chat: flyout', () => {
         expect($('#chat-pick-view').classList.contains('hidden')).toBe(false);
         expect($('#chat-list-view').classList.contains('hidden')).toBe(true);
         expect($('#chat-thread-view').classList.contains('hidden')).toBe(true);
-        // Header back is only for thread view — not needed when pick has
+        // Back caret is only for thread view — not needed when pick has
         // its own dedicated back button.
-        expect($('#chat-header-back').classList.contains('hidden')).toBe(true);
+        expect($('#chat-header-back-caret').classList.contains('hidden')).toBe(true);
         click('#chat-pick-back');
         await sleep(50);
         expect($('#chat-pick-view').classList.contains('hidden')).toBe(true);