diff --git a/apps/desktop/DESIGN.md b/apps/desktop/DESIGN.md
index 775fc9e530..07cc6fdec0 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/DESIGN.md
+++ b/apps/desktop/DESIGN.md
@@ -243,6 +243,11 @@ separate chip component.
 
 ## Reel
 
+The profile rail keeps its create/import actions outside the scrolling squares.
+Clipped horizontal edges reuse `edgeMask(edges, 'x')` from `fade-scroll.tsx`;
+the default axis remains vertical for `FadeScroll`. Fitting content is unmasked,
+and profile drag gestures temporarily remove the mask so the dragged square stays legible.
+
 `src/components/ui/reel.tsx`: one horizontal, snap-scrolling row (catalog
 category shelves, screenshot strips). Children keep their width and snap to
 the start; set it once from the parent (`className="*:w-68"`). Use it instead of
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/profile-rail-fleet.test.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/profile-rail-fleet.test.tsx
index 5508b6b401..e90543c1d6 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/profile-rail-fleet.test.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/profile-rail-fleet.test.tsx
@@ -238,6 +238,7 @@ afterEach(() => {
   cleanup()
   $profileOrder.set([])
   vi.clearAllMocks()
+  vi.restoreAllMocks()
   _resetFleetRosterForTests()
   hasMultipleConnections.set(false)
   connectionsRegistry.set(null)
@@ -247,6 +248,73 @@ afterEach(() => {
   delete (window as { hermesDesktop?: unknown }).hermesDesktop
 })
 
+describe('ProfileRail overflow', () => {
+  // jsdom drops valid gradient values containing calc(); observe the real DOM
+  // style assignment instead. Actual layout, resize and painting run in Chromium.
+  const observeMask = () => vi.spyOn(Object.getPrototypeOf(document.createElement('div').style), 'maskImage', 'set')
+  let mask: ReturnType<typeof observeMask>
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    mask = observeMask()
+  })
+
+  it('marks only clipped edges and leaves create/import outside the scrolling profiles', () => {
+    profiles.set(
+      Array.from({ length: 8 }, (_, index) => ({ is_default: index === 0, name: index ? `agent${index}` : 'default' }))
+    )
+    const { container } = render(<ProfileRail />)
+    const square = screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'agent1' })
+    const scroller = square.closest('.overflow-x-auto') as HTMLDivElement
+    expect(scroller).not.toBeNull()
+    Object.defineProperties(scroller, {
+      clientWidth: { configurable: true, value: 100 },
+      scrollWidth: { configurable: true, value: 200 }
+    })
+    fireEvent.scroll(scroller)
+    expect(mask.mock.calls.at(-1)?.[0]).toContain('to right, black,')
+    expect(mask.mock.calls.at(-1)?.[0]).toContain('transparent)')
+    expect(scroller.contains(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'New profile' }))).toBe(false)
+    expect(scroller.contains(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Import profile…' }))).toBe(false)
+
+    scroller.scrollLeft = 50
+    fireEvent.scroll(scroller)
+    expect(mask.mock.calls.at(-1)?.[0]).toContain('to right, transparent,')
+    expect(mask.mock.calls.at(-1)?.[0]).toContain('transparent)')
+    scroller.scrollLeft = 100
+    fireEvent.scroll(scroller)
+    expect(mask.mock.calls.at(-1)?.[0]).toContain('to right, transparent,')
+    expect(mask.mock.calls.at(-1)?.[0]).toMatch(/, black\)$/)
+
+    Object.defineProperty(scroller, 'clientWidth', { configurable: true, value: 300 })
+    scroller.scrollLeft = 0
+    fireEvent.scroll(scroller)
+    expect(mask.mock.calls.at(-1)?.[0]).toBe('')
+    expect(container.querySelector('[data-slot="profile-dropdown"]')).toBeNull()
+  })
+
+  it('restores wheel navigation and edge feedback after leaving the condensed menu', () => {
+    profiles.set(
+      Array.from({ length: 14 }, (_, index) => ({ is_default: index === 0, name: index ? `agent${index}` : 'default' }))
+    )
+    const { container } = render(<ProfileRail />)
+    expect(container.querySelector('[data-slot="profile-dropdown"]')).not.toBeNull()
+    act(() => profiles.set(profiles.get().slice(0, 8)))
+    const scroller = screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'agent1' }).closest('.overflow-x-auto') as HTMLDivElement
+    Object.defineProperties(scroller, {
+      clientWidth: { configurable: true, value: 100 },
+      scrollWidth: { configurable: true, value: 200 }
+    })
+    const wheel = new WheelEvent('wheel', { cancelable: true, deltaY: 30 })
+    scroller.dispatchEvent(wheel)
+    expect(wheel.defaultPrevented).toBe(true)
+    expect(scroller.scrollLeft).toBe(30)
+    fireEvent.scroll(scroller)
+    expect(mask.mock.calls.at(-1)?.[0]).toContain('transparent')
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'agent1' }))
+    expect(selectProfile).toHaveBeenCalledWith('agent1')
+  })
+})
+
 describe('ProfileRail fleet mode', () => {
   it.each([false, true])(
     'keeps right-click launch routes exact without selecting a profile (condensed=%s)',
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/profile-switcher.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/profile-switcher.tsx
index 9d3a2af36b..a639a76950 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/profile-switcher.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/profile-switcher.tsx
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import {
 import { CSS } from '@dnd-kit/utilities'
 import { LOCAL_CONNECTION_ID } from '@hermes/shared'
 import { useStore } from '@nanostores/react'
-import { Fragment, useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from 'react'
+import { Fragment, useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from 'react'
 import { useNavigate } from 'react-router'
 
 import type { ProfileScope } from '@/api/client'
@@ -41,11 +41,13 @@ import {
   DropdownMenuSeparator,
   DropdownMenuTrigger
 } from '@/components/ui/dropdown-menu'
+import { edgeMask, scrollEdges } from '@/components/ui/fade-scroll'
 import { Popover, PopoverAnchor, PopoverContent } from '@/components/ui/popover'
 import { ProfileGlyph } from '@/components/ui/profile-glyph'
 import { Tip, Tooltip, TooltipContent, TooltipProvider, TooltipTrigger } from '@/components/ui/tooltip'
 import type { DesktopRegistryConnection } from '@/global'
 import { getProfileSoul, updateProfileSoul } from '@/hermes'
+import { useResizeObserver } from '@/hooks/use-resize-observer'
 import { type Translations, useI18n } from '@/i18n'
 import { sortConnectionsForDisplay } from '@/lib/connection-display'
 import { triggerHaptic } from '@/lib/haptics'
@@ -237,6 +239,9 @@ export function ProfileRail() {
   // square, not in the statusbar — the previous source stays painted).
   const [pendingRoute, setPendingRoute] = useState<null | string>(null)
   const scrollRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null)
+  const scrollContentRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null)
+  const [scrollMask, setScrollMask] = useState<string | undefined>()
+  const [dragging, setDragging] = useState(false)
   const { dialog: localDeviceDialog, request: requestLocalDevice } = useLocalDeviceSwitch()
 
   useFleetRoster(multipleConnections)
@@ -295,6 +300,30 @@ export function ProfileRail() {
   // squares wherever they live.
   const condensed = profiles.length + countRestAgents(restGroups) > PROFILE_DROPDOWN_THRESHOLD
 
+  const measureScroll = useCallback(() => {
+    const el = scrollRef.current
+
+    if (condensed || !el) {
+      setScrollMask(undefined)
+
+      return
+    }
+
+    setScrollMask(
+      edgeMask(
+        scrollEdges({
+          clientHeight: el.clientWidth,
+          scrollHeight: el.scrollWidth,
+          scrollTop: el.scrollLeft
+        }),
+        'x'
+      )
+    )
+  }, [condensed])
+
+  // Observe both widths: adding/removing a profile need not resize the viewport.
+  useResizeObserver(measureScroll, scrollRef, scrollContentRef)
+
   const switchToRest = (agent: FleetAgent) => {
     const commitRestSwitch = (target: FleetAgent) => {
       const key = fleetRouteKey(target.connectionId, target.profile)
@@ -382,6 +411,7 @@ export function ProfileRail() {
   const lastOverRef = useRef<string | null>(null)
 
   const handleDragStart = ({ active }: DragStartEvent) => {
+    setDragging(true)
     lastOverRef.current = String(active.id)
   }
 
@@ -395,6 +425,7 @@ export function ProfileRail() {
   }
 
   const handleDragEnd = ({ active, over }: DragEndEvent) => {
+    setDragging(false)
     lastOverRef.current = null
 
     if (!over || active.id === over.id) {
@@ -452,6 +483,7 @@ export function ProfileRail() {
         <DndContext
           collisionDetection={closestCenter}
           modifiers={[stepThroughCells]}
+          onDragCancel={() => setDragging(false)}
           onDragEnd={handleDragEnd}
           onDragOver={handleDragOver}
           onDragStart={handleDragStart}
@@ -563,64 +595,69 @@ export function ProfileRail() {
           />
         </div>
       ) : (
-        <div
-          className="flex min-w-0 flex-1 items-center gap-1 overflow-x-auto [scrollbar-width:none] [&::-webkit-scrollbar]:hidden"
-          ref={scrollRef}
-        >
-          {/* The active gateway's squares. In fleet mode they sit in the
+        <>
+          <div
+            className="flex min-w-0 flex-1 items-center gap-1 overflow-x-auto [scrollbar-width:none] [&::-webkit-scrollbar]:hidden"
+            onScroll={measureScroll}
+            ref={scrollRef}
+            style={{ maskImage: dragging ? undefined : scrollMask }}
+          >
+            <div className="flex shrink-0 items-center gap-1" ref={scrollContentRef}>
+              {/* The active gateway's squares. In fleet mode they sit in the
               gateway's registry slot with a home square at their head, so the
               strip keeps one shape whichever gateway is active. */}
-          {fleet
-            ? fleetSequence.map((entry, index) =>
-                entry.kind === 'active' ? (
-                  <Fragment key="active">
-                    <FleetDivider
-                      connection={activeConnection}
-                      first={index === 0}
-                      label={activeConnection ? p.fleet.gateway(activeConnection.label) : null}
-                      reachable
-                    />
-                    <span
-                      aria-label={activeConnection ? p.fleet.gateway(activeConnection.label) : undefined}
-                      className="flex shrink-0 items-center gap-1"
-                      data-active="true"
-                      data-connection-id={activeConnection?.id}
-                      data-slot="profile-rail-gateway"
-                      role="group"
-                    >
-                      {defaultProfile && (
-                        <ProfilePill
-                          active={onDefault}
-                          connectionId={activeConnectionId ?? undefined}
-                          glyph="home"
-                          label={profileLabel(defaultProfile)}
-                          onSelect={() => selectProfile(defaultProfile.name)}
-                          profile={defaultProfile.name}
+              {fleet
+                ? fleetSequence.map((entry, index) =>
+                    entry.kind === 'active' ? (
+                      <Fragment key="active">
+                        <FleetDivider
+                          connection={activeConnection}
+                          first={index === 0}
+                          label={activeConnection ? p.fleet.gateway(activeConnection.label) : null}
+                          reachable
                         />
-                      )}
-                      {activeStrip}
-                    </span>
-                  </Fragment>
-                ) : (
-                  <FleetRestGroup
-                    colors={colors}
-                    first={index === 0}
-                    group={entry.group}
-                    key={entry.group.connectionId}
-                    onDelete={setPendingRestDelete}
-                    onEditSoul={setPendingRestSoul}
-                    onRecolor={(agent, color) => setProfileColor(agent.profile, color)}
-                    onRename={setPendingRestRename}
-                    onSelect={switchToRest}
-                    pendingRoute={pendingRoute}
-                  />
-                )
-              )
-            : activeStrip}
-
+                        <span
+                          aria-label={activeConnection ? p.fleet.gateway(activeConnection.label) : undefined}
+                          className="flex shrink-0 items-center gap-1"
+                          data-active="true"
+                          data-connection-id={activeConnection?.id}
+                          data-slot="profile-rail-gateway"
+                          role="group"
+                        >
+                          {defaultProfile && (
+                            <ProfilePill
+                              active={onDefault}
+                              connectionId={activeConnectionId ?? undefined}
+                              glyph="home"
+                              label={profileLabel(defaultProfile)}
+                              onSelect={() => selectProfile(defaultProfile.name)}
+                              profile={defaultProfile.name}
+                            />
+                          )}
+                          {activeStrip}
+                        </span>
+                      </Fragment>
+                    ) : (
+                      <FleetRestGroup
+                        colors={colors}
+                        first={index === 0}
+                        group={entry.group}
+                        key={entry.group.connectionId}
+                        onDelete={setPendingRestDelete}
+                        onEditSoul={setPendingRestSoul}
+                        onRecolor={(agent, color) => setProfileColor(agent.profile, color)}
+                        onRename={setPendingRestRename}
+                        onSelect={switchToRest}
+                        pendingRoute={pendingRoute}
+                      />
+                    )
+                  )
+                : activeStrip}
+            </div>
+          </div>
           <AddProfileButton label={p.newProfile} onClick={() => setCreateOpen(true)} />
           <ImportProfileButton label={p.importProfile} />
-        </div>
+        </>
       )}
 
       {/* Always reachable, even with only the default profile: the manage
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/components/ui/fade-scroll.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/components/ui/fade-scroll.tsx
index 38bafe0c84..50a0acc355 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/components/ui/fade-scroll.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/components/ui/fade-scroll.tsx
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ export interface FadeEdges {
  * The mask for a pair of clipped edges, or `undefined` when nothing is clipped
  * — a list that fits must not be dimmed at all.
  */
-export function edgeMask({ above, below }: FadeEdges): string | undefined {
+export function edgeMask({ above, below }: FadeEdges, axis: 'x' | 'y' = 'y'): string | undefined {
   if (!above && !below) {
     return undefined
   }
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ export function edgeMask({ above, below }: FadeEdges): string | undefined {
   const top = above ? `transparent, black ${FADE}` : 'black'
   const bottom = below ? `black calc(100% - ${FADE}), transparent` : 'black'
 
-  return `linear-gradient(to bottom, ${top}, ${bottom})`
+  return `linear-gradient(to ${axis === 'x' ? 'right' : 'bottom'}, ${top}, ${bottom})`
 }
 
 /** Which edges of a scroller currently have content clipped behind them. */