diff --git a/config.php b/config.php
index e232a82..31e33de 100644
--- a/config.php
+++ b/config.php
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <?php
 
 define('APP_NAME', 'hyprcrd');
-define('APP_VERSION', '1.9.2');
+define('APP_VERSION', '1.9.3');
 
 // 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 1383410..3d39aea 100644
--- a/electron/package.json
+++ b/electron/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "hyprcrd",
-  "version": "1.9.2",
+  "version": "1.9.3",
   "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 0a302ca..93e783c 100644
--- a/public/plugins/chat/chat.css
+++ b/public/plugins/chat/chat.css
@@ -142,15 +142,58 @@
 
 /* ── Thread view ── */
 
-#chat-thread-header {
+/* Horizontal peer strip above the thread header. Lets the user hop
+   between conversations without bouncing back to the list. Scrollbar
+   hidden — wheel-over scrolls horizontally (see chat.js). */
+.chat-thread-peers {
     display: flex;
-    align-items: center;
-    gap: 8px;
-    padding: 8px 12px;
+    gap: 5px;
+    padding: 6px 8px;
     border-bottom: 1px solid var(--t-border);
     background: var(--t-bg);
+    overflow-x: auto;
+    overflow-y: hidden;
+    flex-shrink: 0;
+    scrollbar-width: none;
+    -ms-overflow-style: none;
+}
+.chat-thread-peers::-webkit-scrollbar { display: none; }
+.chat-thread-peers:empty { display: none; }
+
+.chat-peer-tab {
+    display: inline-flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    gap: 5px;
+    padding: 3px 8px;
+    border: 1px solid var(--t-border);
+    border-radius: var(--ui-radius-button, 3px);
+    background: var(--t-surface);
+    color: var(--t-muted);
+    font-family: var(--t-font-pixel);
+    font-size: 10px;
+    cursor: pointer;
+    flex-shrink: 0;
+    white-space: nowrap;
+    transition: border-color 0.12s, color 0.12s, background 0.12s;
+    position: relative;
+}
+.chat-peer-tab:hover {
+    border-color: var(--t-accent);
+    color: var(--t-accent);
+}
+.chat-peer-tab.active {
+    border-color: var(--t-accent);
+    background: var(--t-accent);
+    color: var(--t-bg);
+}
+.chat-peer-tab .chat-peer-dot {
+    width: 6px;
+    height: 6px;
+    border-radius: 50%;
+    background: var(--t-accent);
     flex-shrink: 0;
 }
+.chat-peer-tab.active .chat-peer-dot { background: var(--t-bg); }
 
 .chat-thread-messages {
     flex: 1;
diff --git a/public/plugins/chat/chat.html b/public/plugins/chat/chat.html
index 03c253c..2c1cca3 100644
--- a/public/plugins/chat/chat.html
+++ b/public/plugins/chat/chat.html
@@ -3,7 +3,9 @@
 <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 flex-1">chat</span>
+        <span id="chat-flyout-title" class="font-pixel text-[10px] text-t-bright">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>
+        <span class="flex-1"></span>
         <button id="chat-new-btn" class="text-t-muted hover:text-t-accent transition-colors" data-tip="new conversation"><i class="ph ph-plus-square text-sm"></i></button>
         <button id="chat-refresh-btn" class="text-t-muted hover:text-t-accent transition-colors" data-tip="refresh"><i class="ph ph-arrows-clockwise text-sm" id="chat-refresh-icon"></i></button>
         <button id="chat-close-btn" class="text-t-muted hover:text-t-danger transition-colors"><i class="ph ph-x text-sm"></i></button>
@@ -21,11 +23,7 @@
 
     <!-- Conversation thread view -->
     <div id="chat-thread-view" class="chat-view hidden">
-        <div id="chat-thread-header">
-            <button id="chat-thread-back" class="text-t-muted hover:text-t-accent transition-colors"><i class="ph ph-caret-left text-sm"></i></button>
-            <i class="ph ph-user-circle text-t-accent text-sm"></i>
-            <span id="chat-thread-peer" class="font-pixel text-[10px] text-t-bright flex-1 truncate"></span>
-        </div>
+        <div id="chat-thread-peers" class="chat-thread-peers"></div>
         <div id="chat-thread-messages" class="chat-thread-messages"></div>
         <form id="chat-thread-form">
             <input id="chat-thread-input" type="text" autocomplete="off" placeholder="type a message..." maxlength="2000">
diff --git a/public/plugins/chat/chat.js b/public/plugins/chat/chat.js
index 3772a48..0916107 100644
--- a/public/plugins/chat/chat.js
+++ b/public/plugins/chat/chat.js
@@ -142,6 +142,7 @@ function showListView() {
     $('chat-thread-view').classList.add('hidden');
     $('chat-pick-view').classList.add('hidden');
     $('chat-flyout-title').textContent = 'chat';
+    $('chat-header-back')?.classList.add('hidden');
     currentPeer = null;
 }
 
@@ -150,14 +151,17 @@ function showThreadView(peer) {
     $('chat-thread-view').classList.remove('hidden');
     $('chat-pick-view').classList.add('hidden');
     $('chat-flyout-title').textContent = 'chat';
-    $('chat-thread-peer').textContent = peer;
+    $('chat-header-back')?.classList.remove('hidden');
     currentPeer = peer;
+    // Re-render tabs so the active highlight follows the thread switch.
+    renderPeerTabs();
 }
 
 function showPickView() {
     $('chat-list-view').classList.add('hidden');
     $('chat-thread-view').classList.add('hidden');
     $('chat-pick-view').classList.remove('hidden');
+    $('chat-header-back')?.classList.add('hidden');
 }
 
 // ── Conversation list ─────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -174,6 +178,7 @@ function renderConversations() {
     const list = $('chat-list');
     const empty = $('chat-empty');
     if (!list || !empty) return;
+    renderPeerTabs();
     if (!conversations.length) {
         list.innerHTML = '';
         empty.classList.remove('hidden');
@@ -205,6 +210,56 @@ function renderConversations() {
     });
 }
 
+// ── Peer tabs (thread-view quick-switch strip) ────────────────────
+// Horizontal row above the thread so the user can hop between
+// conversations without going back to the list. Hidden scrollbar;
+// vertical wheel delta is redirected to horizontal scroll.
+
+function renderPeerTabs() {
+    const strip = $('chat-thread-peers');
+    if (!strip) return;
+    // Fold the current peer in even if no messages exist yet (fresh
+    // pick-view selection), so switching back to it via tab is always
+    // possible.
+    const peers = conversations.slice();
+    if (currentPeer && !peers.some(c => c.peer === currentPeer)) {
+        peers.unshift({ peer: currentPeer, unread: 0 });
+    }
+    if (!peers.length) { strip.innerHTML = ''; return; }
+    strip.innerHTML = peers.map(c => {
+        const active = c.peer === currentPeer ? ' active' : '';
+        const dot = parseInt(c.unread) > 0 && c.peer !== currentPeer
+            ? '<span class="chat-peer-dot"></span>' : '';
+        return `<button class="chat-peer-tab${active}" data-peer="${escapeHtml(c.peer)}" title="${escapeHtml(c.peer)}">${dot}<span>${escapeHtml(c.peer)}</span></button>`;
+    }).join('');
+    strip.querySelectorAll('.chat-peer-tab').forEach(tab => {
+        tab.addEventListener('click', () => {
+            const peer = tab.dataset.peer;
+            if (peer && peer !== currentPeer) openConversation(peer);
+        });
+    });
+    // Keep the active tab in view after a switch so the user can see
+    // what's selected when the list overflows.
+    const active = strip.querySelector('.chat-peer-tab.active');
+    if (active) active.scrollIntoView({ block: 'nearest', inline: 'nearest' });
+}
+
+// Redirect vertical wheel scrolls to horizontal scroll on the peer
+// strip. Attached once on init — preventDefault only when we actually
+// consume the delta, so a trackpad user's native horizontal gesture
+// still works.
+function wirePeerStripWheel() {
+    const strip = $('chat-thread-peers');
+    if (!strip || strip.dataset.wheelWired) return;
+    strip.dataset.wheelWired = '1';
+    strip.addEventListener('wheel', (e) => {
+        if (e.deltaY === 0) return;
+        if (strip.scrollWidth <= strip.clientWidth) return;
+        e.preventDefault();
+        strip.scrollLeft += e.deltaY;
+    }, { passive: false });
+}
+
 // ── Thread ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 async function openConversation(peer) {
@@ -380,9 +435,10 @@ function init() {
     $('chat-refresh-btn').addEventListener('click', () => pollOnce().then(loadConversations));
     $('chat-new-btn').addEventListener('click', openPickView);
     $('chat-empty-start')?.addEventListener('click', openPickView);
-    $('chat-thread-back').addEventListener('click', () => { showListView(); loadConversations(); });
+    $('chat-header-back').addEventListener('click', () => { showListView(); loadConversations(); });
     $('chat-pick-back').addEventListener('click', showListView);
     $('chat-thread-form').addEventListener('submit', sendMessage);
+    wirePeerStripWheel();
 
     // Esc closes flyout when focus is inside it
     $('chat-flyout').addEventListener('keydown', e => {