diff --git a/hermes_cli/web_routers/chat_workspaces.py b/hermes_cli/web_routers/chat_workspaces.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fc63eb3556
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hermes_cli/web_routers/chat_workspaces.py
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+"""Chat workspace picker: which host directories a NEW dashboard chat can start in.
+
+The dashboard's ``/chat`` tab used to spawn every fresh TUI in the dashboard process's own
+launch directory, so from a phone or browser there was no way to say "work in ~/code/foo".
+This lists the same projects and discovered repositories the Desktop sidebar shows (the
+per-profile ``projects.db`` plus session-derived and scanned git roots) so the SPA can offer
+a picker, and ``/api/pty?cwd=`` (``chat_ws``) honours the choice.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import os
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Optional
+
+from fastapi import APIRouter, HTTPException
+
+from hermes_cli.web_deps import late
+from hermes_cli.web_routers._common import http_failure, scoped_to_thread
+
+router = APIRouter()
+
+_open_session_db_for_profile = late("_open_session_db_for_profile", "hermes_cli.web_server_sessions")
+
+
+def resolve_chat_cwd(raw: Optional[str]) -> Optional[str]:
+    """Validate a ``?cwd=`` for a fresh chat: an existing host directory, or None when unset.
+
+    A dead or relative path fails closed (400) instead of silently falling back to the launch
+    dir — the user picked a workspace and would otherwise get a session in the wrong place.
+    """
+    text = (raw or "").strip()
+    if not text:
+        return None
+    resolved = os.path.abspath(os.path.expanduser(text))
+    if not os.path.isdir(resolved):
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail=f"Working directory does not exist: {text}")
+    return resolved
+
+
+def _collect_workspaces(profile: Optional[str], scan: bool) -> dict:
+    # The dashboard hosts the in-process gateway (``web_server`` imports ``tui_gateway.server``
+    # at startup), so the sidebar's repo-discovery helpers are already bound there.
+    import tui_gateway.server as gateway
+    from hermes_cli import projects_db as pdb
+
+    db = _open_session_db_for_profile(profile, read_only=True)
+    try:
+        with pdb.connect_closing() as conn:
+            policy = gateway._repo_discovery_policy()
+            if scan and policy["enabled"]:
+                gateway._scan_discovered_repos_remote(conn, policy)
+            projects = [p.to_dict() for p in pdb.list_projects(conn)]
+            repos = gateway._discover_repos_payload(
+                db, conn=conn, backfill=False, include_cached=policy["enabled"])
+    finally:
+        db.close()
+    default_cwd = gateway._completion_cwd({"profile": profile} if profile else {})
+    return {
+        "projects": projects, "repos": repos, "default_cwd": default_cwd,
+        "home": str(Path.home()), "scan_enabled": bool(policy["enabled"])}
+
+
+@router.get("/api/chat/workspaces")
+async def get_chat_workspaces(profile: Optional[str] = None, scan: bool = False):
+    """Projects + discovered repos a fresh chat may start in; ``scan=1`` rescans the
+    configured discovery roots on the host first (headless installs have no Desktop to do it)."""
+    with http_failure("GET /api/chat/workspaces failed", 500, "Failed to list workspaces"):
+        return await scoped_to_thread(profile, lambda: _collect_workspaces(profile, scan))
diff --git a/hermes_cli/web_routers/chat_ws.py b/hermes_cli/web_routers/chat_ws.py
index 6a827f7f94..dcf6923a5d 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/web_routers/chat_ws.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/web_routers/chat_ws.py
@@ -478,6 +478,16 @@ async def pty_ws(ws: WebSocket) -> None:
     resolve_kwargs = {"resume": resume, "sidecar_url": sidecar_url, "profile": profile}
     if active_session_file is not None:
         resolve_kwargs["active_session_file"] = str(active_session_file)
+    # A picked workspace only applies to a FRESH chat; a resumed session keeps its own cwd.
+    if not resume:
+        from hermes_cli.web_routers.chat_workspaces import resolve_chat_cwd
+        try:
+            workspace_cwd = resolve_chat_cwd(ws.query_params.get("cwd"))
+        except HTTPException as exc:  # dead/relative path: fail closed, never the launch dir
+            await _pty_fail(ws, exc)
+            return
+        if workspace_cwd:
+            resolve_kwargs["workspace_cwd"] = workspace_cwd
 
     try:
         argv, cwd, env = await _resolve_chat_argv_async(**resolve_kwargs)
diff --git a/hermes_cli/web_server.py b/hermes_cli/web_server.py
index e6d7c8fe70..f4c4140c67 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/web_server.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/web_server.py
@@ -957,6 +957,7 @@ from hermes_cli.web_routers import (  # noqa: E402
     tools as _tools_routes,
     analytics as _analytics_routes,
     chat_ws as _chat_ws_routes,
+    chat_workspaces as _chat_workspaces_routes,
     dashboard_ui as _dashboard_ui_routes,
 )
 
@@ -987,6 +988,7 @@ app.include_router(_skills_routes.router)
 app.include_router(_tools_routes.router)
 app.include_router(_analytics_routes.router)
 app.include_router(_chat_ws_routes.router)
+app.include_router(_chat_workspaces_routes.router)
 app.include_router(_dashboard_ui_routes.router)
 
 # Plugin API routes and the dashboard auth routes (/login, /auth/*, /api/auth/*)
diff --git a/hermes_cli/web_server_chat.py b/hermes_cli/web_server_chat.py
index 047bc867af..32f9526b15 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/web_server_chat.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/web_server_chat.py
@@ -297,7 +297,8 @@ def _ws_auth_ok(ws: "WebSocket") -> bool:
 
 def _resolve_chat_argv(
     resume: Optional[str] = None, sidecar_url: Optional[str] = None, profile: Optional[str] = None,
-    active_session_file: Optional[str] = None) -> tuple[list[str], Optional[str], Optional[dict]]:
+    active_session_file: Optional[str] = None,
+    workspace_cwd: Optional[str] = None) -> tuple[list[str], Optional[str], Optional[dict]]:
     """Resolve the argv + cwd + env for the chat PTY (what ``hermes --tui`` runs).
 
     Tests monkeypatch this with a tiny fake command.  Env contract: resume goes
@@ -306,7 +307,12 @@ def _resolve_chat_argv(
     in-memory gateway but is SKIPPED for profile-scoped chats (that gateway runs
     under the dashboard's own profile, so a scoped chat spawns its own);
     ``profile`` scopes the ENTIRE chat by pointing ``HERMES_HOME`` at the profile
-    dir, the same propagation ``hermes -p <name>`` performs.
+    dir, the same propagation ``hermes -p <name>`` performs. ``workspace_cwd``
+    (an already-validated host directory, ``chat_workspaces.resolve_chat_cwd``)
+    is the workspace the user picked for a FRESH chat: it becomes ``HERMES_CWD``
+    (where a self-spawned gateway starts) and ``HERMES_TUI_CWD`` (what the TUI
+    passes as the explicit ``cwd`` of ``session.create`` when attached to the
+    in-memory gateway, whose own cwd is the dashboard's launch dir).
     """
     from hermes_cli.web_server_profiles import _config_profile_scope, _resolve_profile_dir
     from hermes_cli.web_server_sessions import _open_session_db_for_profile, _session_latest_descendant
@@ -341,6 +347,9 @@ def _resolve_chat_argv(
             apply_terminal_config_to_env(env=env)
     except Exception:
         _log.warning("Failed to apply terminal config bridge for dashboard chat", exc_info=True)
+    if workspace_cwd:
+        env["HERMES_CWD"] = workspace_cwd
+        env["HERMES_TUI_CWD"] = workspace_cwd
     _apply_tui_python_env(env)
     env.setdefault("NODE_ENV", "production")
     # Mouse tracking would swallow wheel events the browser needs for
@@ -430,13 +439,16 @@ def _build_sidecar_url(channel: str) -> Optional[str]:
 
 async def _resolve_chat_argv_async(
     resume: Optional[str] = None, sidecar_url: Optional[str] = None, profile: Optional[str] = None,
-    active_session_file: Optional[str] = None) -> tuple[list[str], Optional[str], Optional[dict]]:
+    active_session_file: Optional[str] = None,
+    workspace_cwd: Optional[str] = None) -> tuple[list[str], Optional[str], Optional[dict]]:
     """Resolve chat argv off the event loop (it may run ``npm run build``); the
     async lock keeps one-build-at-a-time without parking worker threads."""
     from hermes_cli.web_server import _get_chat_argv_lock, app
     kwargs = {"resume": resume, "sidecar_url": sidecar_url, "profile": profile}
     if active_session_file is not None:
         kwargs["active_session_file"] = active_session_file
+    if workspace_cwd is not None:
+        kwargs["workspace_cwd"] = workspace_cwd
 
     async with _get_chat_argv_lock(app):
         return await asyncio.to_thread(_resolve_chat_argv, **kwargs)
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_web_server_chat_workspaces.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_web_server_chat_workspaces.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ec28be90a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_web_server_chat_workspaces.py
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+"""Dashboard chat workspace picker: ``GET /api/chat/workspaces`` + ``/api/pty?cwd=``.
+
+A fresh dashboard chat can be aimed at a host directory (the same projects/repos the
+Desktop sidebar lists); the pick reaches the TUI as ``HERMES_CWD``/``HERMES_TUI_CWD`` and a
+dead path fails closed instead of silently landing in the dashboard's launch dir.
+"""
+
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+from fastapi import HTTPException
+
+from hermes_cli import web_server, web_server_chat
+from hermes_cli.web_routers import chat_workspaces
+
+pytest.importorskip("starlette.testclient")
+from starlette.testclient import TestClient
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def client():
+    previous = getattr(web_server.app.state, "auth_required", None)
+    web_server.app.state.auth_required = False
+    test_client = TestClient(web_server.app)
+    test_client.headers[web_server._SESSION_HEADER_NAME] = web_server._SESSION_TOKEN
+    try:
+        yield test_client
+    finally:
+        if previous is None:
+            try:
+                delattr(web_server.app.state, "auth_required")
+            except AttributeError:
+                pass
+        else:
+            web_server.app.state.auth_required = previous
+
+
+def test_workspaces_lists_projects_and_discovered_repos(client, tmp_path):
+    """Explicit project folders AND the discovery cache both surface; the payload names the
+    default cwd a chat lands in when nothing is picked."""
+    from hermes_cli import projects_db as pdb
+
+    proj_dir = tmp_path / "proj"
+    proj_dir.mkdir()
+    repo_dir = tmp_path / "scanned"
+    repo_dir.mkdir()
+    with pdb.connect_closing() as conn:
+        pdb.create_project(conn, name="Demo", folders=[str(proj_dir)])
+        pdb.record_discovered_repos(conn, [(str(repo_dir), "scanned")], replace=True, policy_key="k")
+
+    body = client.get("/api/chat/workspaces").json()
+
+    assert [p["name"] for p in body["projects"]] == ["Demo"]
+    assert body["projects"][0]["folders"][0]["path"] == str(proj_dir)
+    assert str(repo_dir) in {r["root"] for r in body["repos"]}
+    assert Path(body["default_cwd"]).is_dir()
+    assert body["home"] == str(Path.home())
+
+
+def test_resolve_chat_cwd_fails_closed_and_reaches_the_tui_env(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+    """A picked directory becomes HERMES_CWD + HERMES_TUI_CWD on the PTY child; a missing one is a
+    400 (never the launch-dir fallback); unset means no override."""
+    import hermes_cli.main_tui_launch as tui_launch
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        tui_launch, "_make_tui_argv", lambda *_a, **_k: (["node", "fake-tui.js"], tmp_path))
+
+    assert chat_workspaces.resolve_chat_cwd("") is None
+    with pytest.raises(HTTPException) as exc:
+        chat_workspaces.resolve_chat_cwd(str(tmp_path / "gone"))
+    assert exc.value.status_code == 400
+
+    picked = chat_workspaces.resolve_chat_cwd(str(tmp_path))
+    _argv, _cwd, env = web_server_chat._resolve_chat_argv(workspace_cwd=picked)
+    assert env["HERMES_CWD"] == str(tmp_path)
+    assert env["HERMES_TUI_CWD"] == str(tmp_path)
+
+    _argv, _cwd, env = web_server_chat._resolve_chat_argv()
+    assert "HERMES_TUI_CWD" not in env
diff --git a/ui-tui/src/app/useSessionLifecycle.ts b/ui-tui/src/app/useSessionLifecycle.ts
index 5c89b56962..09314d14e9 100644
--- a/ui-tui/src/app/useSessionLifecycle.ts
+++ b/ui-tui/src/app/useSessionLifecycle.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { evictInkCaches } from '@hermes/ink'
 import type { InflightTurn, SessionResumeResult, Usage } from '@hermes/shared/gateway-events'
 import { type RefObject, useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useRef } from 'react'
 
+import { STARTUP_WORKSPACE_CWD } from '../config/env.js'
 import { buildSetupRequiredSections, SETUP_REQUIRED_TITLE } from '../content/setup.js'
 import { introMsg, toTranscriptMessages } from '../domain/messages.js'
 import { ZERO } from '../domain/usage.js'
@@ -210,7 +211,10 @@ export function useSessionLifecycle(opts: UseSessionLifecycleOptions) {
         await closeSession(previousSid)
       }
 
-      const r = await rpc<SessionCreateResponse>('session.create', { cols: colsRef.current })
+      const r = await rpc<SessionCreateResponse>('session.create', {
+        cols: colsRef.current,
+        ...(STARTUP_WORKSPACE_CWD ? { cwd: STARTUP_WORKSPACE_CWD } : {})
+      })
 
       if (!r) {
         patchUiState({ status: 'ready' })
diff --git a/ui-tui/src/config/env.ts b/ui-tui/src/config/env.ts
index 426e6459ca..f4a2bcb085 100644
--- a/ui-tui/src/config/env.ts
+++ b/ui-tui/src/config/env.ts
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ export const TERMUX_TUI_MODE = isTermuxTuiMode()
 export const STARTUP_RESUME_ID = (process.env.HERMES_TUI_RESUME ?? '').trim()
 export const STARTUP_QUERY = (process.env.HERMES_TUI_QUERY ?? '').trim()
 export const STARTUP_IMAGE = (process.env.HERMES_TUI_IMAGE ?? '').trim()
+// Workspace the dashboard user picked for a fresh chat (`/api/pty?cwd=`). Sent as the explicit
+// `cwd` of session.create: the in-memory gateway's own cwd is the dashboard's launch dir.
+export const STARTUP_WORKSPACE_CWD = (process.env.HERMES_TUI_CWD ?? '').trim()
 
 // Mouse tracking mode resolution at startup. Per-mode selection (off|wheel|
 // buttons|all) lives in display.mouse_tracking in config.yaml — these env
diff --git a/web/src/components/ChatSessionList.tsx b/web/src/components/ChatSessionList.tsx
index 0544fa5420..e9315e85b0 100644
--- a/web/src/components/ChatSessionList.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/ChatSessionList.tsx
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import { AlertCircle, MessageSquarePlus, RefreshCw } from "lucide-react";
 import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from "react";
 import { useSearchParams } from "react-router";
 
+import { ChatWorkspacePicker } from "@/components/ChatWorkspacePicker";
 import { useI18n } from "@/i18n";
 import { api, type SessionInfo } from "@/lib/api";
 import { cn, timeAgo } from "@/lib/utils";
@@ -45,6 +46,14 @@ interface ChatSessionListProps {
    * omitted, we fall back to clearing the resume param ourselves.
    */
   onNewChat?: () => void;
+  /**
+   * Workspace a FRESH chat starts in (absolute host path, "" = server
+   * default). Owned by ChatPage, which sends it as `/api/pty?cwd=`; the
+   * picker renders here beside "New chat" so the choice sits next to the
+   * action it affects. Omit both to hide the picker.
+   */
+  workspaceCwd?: string;
+  onWorkspaceChange?: (cwd: string) => void;
 }
 
 function rowLabel(session: SessionInfo, untitled: string): string {
@@ -61,6 +70,8 @@ export function ChatSessionList({
   className,
   onPicked,
   onNewChat,
+  workspaceCwd,
+  onWorkspaceChange,
 }: ChatSessionListProps) {
   const { t } = useI18n();
   const [, setSearchParams] = useSearchParams();
@@ -242,6 +253,14 @@ export function ChatSessionList({
         </Button>
       </div>
 
+      {onWorkspaceChange && (
+        <ChatWorkspacePicker
+          profile={profile}
+          value={workspaceCwd ?? ""}
+          onChange={onWorkspaceChange}
+        />
+      )}
+
       <Button
         outlined
         size="sm"
diff --git a/web/src/components/ChatWorkspacePicker.tsx b/web/src/components/ChatWorkspacePicker.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..403b92129d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/components/ChatWorkspacePicker.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,159 @@
+/**
+ * ChatWorkspacePicker — choose which host directory a FRESH dashboard chat
+ * starts in.
+ *
+ * The dashboard is the "drive Hermes from a phone or any browser" surface,
+ * yet every new /chat used to spawn in the dashboard process's launch
+ * directory with no way to say "work in ~/code/foo". The Desktop sidebar
+ * already knows the user's projects and discovered repos; this exposes the
+ * same list here (GET /api/chat/workspaces) so a fresh chat can be aimed at
+ * one of them, or at a typed path. The choice is sent as `/api/pty?cwd=` and
+ * only affects fresh chats — a resumed session keeps its own workspace.
+ *
+ * The value is owned by ChatPage (persisted per profile) so the picker can be
+ * changed at any time and applies on the next "New chat".
+ */
+
+import { Button } from "@nous-research/ui/ui/components/button";
+import { Input } from "@nous-research/ui/ui/components/input";
+import { Select, SelectOption } from "@nous-research/ui/ui/components/select";
+import { FolderGit2, RefreshCw } from "lucide-react";
+import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from "react";
+
+import { useI18n } from "@/i18n";
+import { api, type ChatWorkspacesResponse } from "@/lib/api";
+import { abbreviateHomePath, workspaceOptions } from "@/lib/chat-workspaces";
+import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
+
+const CUSTOM_VALUE = "\u0000custom";
+
+interface ChatWorkspacePickerProps {
+  /** Management profile the chat is scoped to (its projects.db + sessions). */
+  profile?: string;
+  /** Picked workspace (absolute host path) or "" for the server default. */
+  value: string;
+  onChange: (cwd: string) => void;
+  className?: string;
+}
+
+export function ChatWorkspacePicker({
+  profile,
+  value,
+  onChange,
+  className,
+}: ChatWorkspacePickerProps) {
+  const { t } = useI18n();
+  const [data, setData] = useState<ChatWorkspacesResponse | null>(null);
+  const [loading, setLoading] = useState(false);
+  const [customOpen, setCustomOpen] = useState(false);
+  const [draft, setDraft] = useState(value);
+  const requestRef = useRef(0);
+
+  const load = useCallback(
+    (scan: boolean) => {
+      const token = ++requestRef.current;
+      void api
+        .getChatWorkspaces(profile, scan)
+        .then((res) => {
+          if (token !== requestRef.current) return;
+          setData(res);
+        })
+        .catch(() => {
+          // Best-effort: the picker degrades to default + custom path.
+        })
+        .finally(() => {
+          if (token === requestRef.current) setLoading(false);
+        });
+    },
+    [profile],
+  );
+  const rescan = useCallback(() => {
+    setLoading(true);
+    load(true);
+  }, [load]);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    load(false);
+  }, [load]);
+
+  const options = useMemo(() => (data ? workspaceOptions(data) : []), [data]);
+  const home = data?.home ?? "";
+  // A persisted custom path (or a repo that dropped out of discovery) still
+  // renders as the selected row instead of snapping back to the default.
+  const valueListed = !value || options.some((o) => o.value === value);
+  const defaultLabel = data?.default_cwd
+    ? `${t.sessions.workspaceDefault} · ${abbreviateHomePath(data.default_cwd, home)}`
+    : t.sessions.workspaceDefault;
+
+  const onSelect = useCallback(
+    (next: string) => {
+      if (next === CUSTOM_VALUE) {
+        setDraft(value);
+        setCustomOpen(true);
+        return;
+      }
+      setCustomOpen(false);
+      onChange(next);
+    },
+    [onChange, value],
+  );
+
+  const commitDraft = useCallback(() => {
+    const trimmed = draft.trim();
+    setCustomOpen(false);
+    if (trimmed !== value) onChange(trimmed);
+  }, [draft, onChange, value]);
+
+  return (
+    <div className={cn("flex flex-col gap-1.5 px-2 pb-2", className)}>
+      <div className="flex items-center gap-2 text-xs">
+        <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5 text-text-tertiary">
+          <FolderGit2 className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+          <span className="text-display tracking-wider">{t.sessions.workspace}</span>
+        </div>
+        <Button
+          ghost
+          size="icon"
+          onClick={rescan}
+          disabled={loading}
+          aria-label={t.sessions.workspaceRescan}
+          title={t.sessions.workspaceRescan}
+          className="ml-auto text-text-secondary hover:text-foreground"
+        >
+          <RefreshCw className={cn(loading && "animate-spin")} />
+        </Button>
+      </div>
+      <Select
+        className="min-w-0"
+        onValueChange={onSelect}
+        value={customOpen ? CUSTOM_VALUE : value}
+        aria-label={t.sessions.workspace}
+      >
+        <SelectOption value="">{defaultLabel}</SelectOption>
+        {options.map((opt) => (
+          <SelectOption key={opt.value} value={opt.value}>
+            {opt.label}
+          </SelectOption>
+        ))}
+        {!valueListed && !customOpen && (
+          <SelectOption value={value}>{abbreviateHomePath(value, home)}</SelectOption>
+        )}
+        <SelectOption value={CUSTOM_VALUE}>{t.sessions.workspaceCustom}</SelectOption>
+      </Select>
+      {customOpen && (
+        <Input
+          autoFocus
+          value={draft}
+          placeholder={home ? `${home}/…` : "/path/to/project"}
+          onChange={(e) => setDraft(e.target.value)}
+          onBlur={commitDraft}
+          onKeyDown={(e) => {
+            if (e.key === "Enter") commitDraft();
+            if (e.key === "Escape") setCustomOpen(false);
+          }}
+          className="h-8 text-xs"
+        />
+      )}
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/web/src/i18n/af.ts b/web/src/i18n/af.ts
index 29c9abf230..7148f9c4a8 100644
--- a/web/src/i18n/af.ts
+++ b/web/src/i18n/af.ts
@@ -165,6 +165,10 @@ export const af: Translations = {
     failedToDeleteSelected: "Kon nie gekose sessies skrap nie",
     resumeInChat: "Hervat in Klets",
     newChat: "Nuwe klets",
+    workspace: "werkruimte",
+    workspaceDefault: "Verstek",
+    workspaceRescan: "Herskandeer bewaarplekke",
+    workspaceCustom: "Ander pad…",
     previousPage: "Vorige bladsy",
     nextPage: "Volgende bladsy",
     roles: {
diff --git a/web/src/i18n/de.ts b/web/src/i18n/de.ts
index 183037a467..7c0a1bd8df 100644
--- a/web/src/i18n/de.ts
+++ b/web/src/i18n/de.ts
@@ -165,6 +165,10 @@ export const de: Translations = {
     failedToDeleteSelected: "Ausgewählte Sitzungen konnten nicht gelöscht werden",
     resumeInChat: "Im Chat fortsetzen",
     newChat: "Neuer Chat",
+    workspace: "Arbeitsbereich",
+    workspaceDefault: "Standard",
+    workspaceRescan: "Repositories neu scannen",
+    workspaceCustom: "Anderer Pfad…",
     previousPage: "Vorherige Seite",
     nextPage: "Nächste Seite",
     roles: {
diff --git a/web/src/i18n/en.ts b/web/src/i18n/en.ts
index 41daace2aa..d2cfa1ba8b 100644
--- a/web/src/i18n/en.ts
+++ b/web/src/i18n/en.ts
@@ -194,6 +194,10 @@ export const en: Translations = {
     failedToDeleteSelected: "Failed to delete selected sessions",
     resumeInChat: "Resume in Chat",
     newChat: "New chat",
+    workspace: "workspace",
+    workspaceDefault: "Default",
+    workspaceRescan: "Rescan repositories",
+    workspaceCustom: "Other path…",
     previousPage: "Previous page",
     nextPage: "Next page",
     roles: {
diff --git a/web/src/i18n/es.ts b/web/src/i18n/es.ts
index df429c9967..e6a716a37c 100644
--- a/web/src/i18n/es.ts
+++ b/web/src/i18n/es.ts
@@ -165,6 +165,10 @@ export const es: Translations = {
     failedToDeleteSelected: "No se pudieron eliminar las sesiones seleccionadas",
     resumeInChat: "Reanudar en el chat",
     newChat: "Nuevo chat",
+    workspace: "espacio de trabajo",
+    workspaceDefault: "Predeterminado",
+    workspaceRescan: "Volver a buscar repositorios",
+    workspaceCustom: "Otra ruta…",
     previousPage: "Página anterior",
     nextPage: "Página siguiente",
     roles: {
diff --git a/web/src/i18n/fr.ts b/web/src/i18n/fr.ts
index 213bbdbb1f..ce8bfadee7 100644
--- a/web/src/i18n/fr.ts
+++ b/web/src/i18n/fr.ts
@@ -165,6 +165,10 @@ export const fr: Translations = {
     failedToDeleteSelected: "Échec de la suppression des sessions sélectionnées",
     resumeInChat: "Reprendre dans le chat",
     newChat: "Nouveau chat",
+    workspace: "espace de travail",
+    workspaceDefault: "Par défaut",
+    workspaceRescan: "Rechercher à nouveau les dépôts",
+    workspaceCustom: "Autre chemin…",
     previousPage: "Page précédente",
     nextPage: "Page suivante",
     roles: {
diff --git a/web/src/i18n/ga.ts b/web/src/i18n/ga.ts
index 36815d968f..4fa2f66bc3 100644
--- a/web/src/i18n/ga.ts
+++ b/web/src/i18n/ga.ts
@@ -165,6 +165,10 @@ export const ga: Translations = {
     failedToDeleteSelected: "Theip ar scriosadh na seisiún roghnaithe",
     resumeInChat: "Lean ar aghaidh sa chomhrá",
     newChat: "Comhrá nua",
+    workspace: "spás oibre",
+    workspaceDefault: "Réamhshocrú",
+    workspaceRescan: "Athscan na stórtha",
+    workspaceCustom: "Cosán eile…",
     previousPage: "Leathanach roimhe seo",
     nextPage: "An chéad leathanach eile",
     roles: {
diff --git a/web/src/i18n/hu.ts b/web/src/i18n/hu.ts
index 625e2f728d..f980526e2a 100644
--- a/web/src/i18n/hu.ts
+++ b/web/src/i18n/hu.ts
@@ -165,6 +165,10 @@ export const hu: Translations = {
     failedToDeleteSelected: "Nem sikerült törölni a kijelölt munkameneteket",
     resumeInChat: "Folytatás a csevegésben",
     newChat: "Új csevegés",
+    workspace: "munkaterület",
+    workspaceDefault: "Alapértelmezett",
+    workspaceRescan: "Tárolók újrakeresése",
+    workspaceCustom: "Másik útvonal…",
     previousPage: "Előző oldal",
     nextPage: "Következő oldal",
     roles: {
diff --git a/web/src/i18n/it.ts b/web/src/i18n/it.ts
index dd35370a44..a85a4c2576 100644
--- a/web/src/i18n/it.ts
+++ b/web/src/i18n/it.ts
@@ -165,6 +165,10 @@ export const it: Translations = {
     failedToDeleteSelected: "Impossibile eliminare le sessioni selezionate",
     resumeInChat: "Riprendi nella chat",
     newChat: "Nuova chat",
+    workspace: "area di lavoro",
+    workspaceDefault: "Predefinito",
+    workspaceRescan: "Riesamina i repository",
+    workspaceCustom: "Altro percorso…",
     previousPage: "Pagina precedente",
     nextPage: "Pagina successiva",
     roles: {
diff --git a/web/src/i18n/ja.ts b/web/src/i18n/ja.ts
index aa9b777932..e93f8ae563 100644
--- a/web/src/i18n/ja.ts
+++ b/web/src/i18n/ja.ts
@@ -165,6 +165,10 @@ export const ja: Translations = {
     failedToDeleteSelected: "選択したセッションの削除に失敗しました",
     resumeInChat: "チャットで再開",
     newChat: "新しいチャット",
+    workspace: "ワークスペース",
+    workspaceDefault: "デフォルト",
+    workspaceRescan: "リポジトリを再スキャン",
+    workspaceCustom: "別のパス…",
     previousPage: "前のページ",
     nextPage: "次のページ",
     roles: {
diff --git a/web/src/i18n/ko.ts b/web/src/i18n/ko.ts
index bdd3f1e597..297e8493a8 100644
--- a/web/src/i18n/ko.ts
+++ b/web/src/i18n/ko.ts
@@ -165,6 +165,10 @@ export const ko: Translations = {
     failedToDeleteSelected: "선택한 세션 삭제에 실패했습니다",
     resumeInChat: "채팅에서 다시 시작",
     newChat: "새 채팅",
+    workspace: "작업 공간",
+    workspaceDefault: "기본값",
+    workspaceRescan: "저장소 다시 검색",
+    workspaceCustom: "다른 경로…",
     previousPage: "이전 페이지",
     nextPage: "다음 페이지",
     roles: {
diff --git a/web/src/i18n/pt.ts b/web/src/i18n/pt.ts
index 5f77f8c1fd..711483f1e2 100644
--- a/web/src/i18n/pt.ts
+++ b/web/src/i18n/pt.ts
@@ -165,6 +165,10 @@ export const pt: Translations = {
     failedToDeleteSelected: "Falha ao eliminar as sessões selecionadas",
     resumeInChat: "Retomar no Chat",
     newChat: "Novo chat",
+    workspace: "área de trabalho",
+    workspaceDefault: "Padrão",
+    workspaceRescan: "Reexaminar repositórios",
+    workspaceCustom: "Outro caminho…",
     previousPage: "Página anterior",
     nextPage: "Página seguinte",
     roles: {
diff --git a/web/src/i18n/ru.ts b/web/src/i18n/ru.ts
index df94e1380f..e2c469fc26 100644
--- a/web/src/i18n/ru.ts
+++ b/web/src/i18n/ru.ts
@@ -165,6 +165,10 @@ export const ru: Translations = {
     failedToDeleteSelected: "Не удалось удалить выбранные сессии",
     resumeInChat: "Продолжить в чате",
     newChat: "Новый чат",
+    workspace: "рабочая папка",
+    workspaceDefault: "По умолчанию",
+    workspaceRescan: "Пересканировать репозитории",
+    workspaceCustom: "Другой путь…",
     previousPage: "Предыдущая страница",
     nextPage: "Следующая страница",
     roles: {
diff --git a/web/src/i18n/tr.ts b/web/src/i18n/tr.ts
index 5ea52416de..edef05053e 100644
--- a/web/src/i18n/tr.ts
+++ b/web/src/i18n/tr.ts
@@ -165,6 +165,10 @@ export const tr: Translations = {
     failedToDeleteSelected: "Seçilen oturumlar silinemedi",
     resumeInChat: "Sohbette Devam Et",
     newChat: "Yeni sohbet",
+    workspace: "çalışma alanı",
+    workspaceDefault: "Varsayılan",
+    workspaceRescan: "Depoları yeniden tara",
+    workspaceCustom: "Başka yol…",
     previousPage: "Önceki sayfa",
     nextPage: "Sonraki sayfa",
     roles: {
diff --git a/web/src/i18n/types.ts b/web/src/i18n/types.ts
index f96afda632..ea0597f475 100644
--- a/web/src/i18n/types.ts
+++ b/web/src/i18n/types.ts
@@ -208,6 +208,10 @@ export interface Translations {
     failedToDeleteSelected: string;
     resumeInChat: string;
     newChat: string;
+    workspace: string;
+    workspaceDefault: string;
+    workspaceRescan: string;
+    workspaceCustom: string;
     previousPage: string;
     nextPage: string;
     roles: {
diff --git a/web/src/i18n/uk.ts b/web/src/i18n/uk.ts
index c38f57b6b5..fd6dfadb78 100644
--- a/web/src/i18n/uk.ts
+++ b/web/src/i18n/uk.ts
@@ -165,6 +165,10 @@ export const uk: Translations = {
     failedToDeleteSelected: "Не вдалося видалити вибрані сесії",
     resumeInChat: "Продовжити в чаті",
     newChat: "Новий чат",
+    workspace: "робоча папка",
+    workspaceDefault: "За замовчуванням",
+    workspaceRescan: "Пересканувати репозиторії",
+    workspaceCustom: "Інший шлях…",
     previousPage: "Попередня сторінка",
     nextPage: "Наступна сторінка",
     roles: {
diff --git a/web/src/i18n/zh-hant.ts b/web/src/i18n/zh-hant.ts
index 85085604f1..57f8fab86b 100644
--- a/web/src/i18n/zh-hant.ts
+++ b/web/src/i18n/zh-hant.ts
@@ -165,6 +165,10 @@ export const zhHant: Translations = {
     failedToDeleteSelected: "刪除所選工作階段失敗",
     resumeInChat: "在對話中繼續",
     newChat: "新對話",
+    workspace: "工作區",
+    workspaceDefault: "預設",
+    workspaceRescan: "重新掃描儲存庫",
+    workspaceCustom: "其他路徑…",
     previousPage: "上一頁",
     nextPage: "下一頁",
     roles: {
diff --git a/web/src/i18n/zh.ts b/web/src/i18n/zh.ts
index 7eeefea9f1..a1f934882c 100644
--- a/web/src/i18n/zh.ts
+++ b/web/src/i18n/zh.ts
@@ -163,6 +163,10 @@ export const zh: Translations = {
     failedToDeleteSelected: "删除所选会话失败",
     resumeInChat: "在对话中继续",
     newChat: "新对话",
+    workspace: "工作区",
+    workspaceDefault: "默认",
+    workspaceRescan: "重新扫描仓库",
+    workspaceCustom: "其他路径…",
     previousPage: "上一页",
     nextPage: "下一页",
     roles: {
diff --git a/web/src/lib/api.ts b/web/src/lib/api.ts
index 47e063f37d..f9ff67aa43 100644
--- a/web/src/lib/api.ts
+++ b/web/src/lib/api.ts
@@ -462,6 +462,20 @@ export const api = {
     fetchJSON<SessionInfo>(
       appendProfileParam(`/api/sessions/${encodeURIComponent(id)}`, profile),
     ),
+  /**
+   * Directories a FRESH dashboard chat may start in: the profile's explicit
+   * projects plus discovered git repos (session-derived + scanned). ``scan``
+   * asks the host to rescan its discovery roots first (headless installs have
+   * no Desktop to populate the cache).
+   */
+  getChatWorkspaces: (profile = getManagementProfile(), scan = false) =>
+    fetchJSON<ChatWorkspacesResponse>(
+      appendQueryParam(
+        appendProfileParam("/api/chat/workspaces", profile),
+        "scan",
+        scan ? "1" : undefined,
+      ),
+    ),
   getSessionLatestDescendant: (id: string, profile = getManagementProfile()) =>
     fetchJSON<SessionLatestDescendantResponse>(
       appendProfileParam(
@@ -2038,6 +2052,31 @@ export interface DiskPressureStatus {
   used_percent?: number | null;
 }
 
+export interface ChatWorkspaceProject {
+  id: string;
+  slug: string;
+  name: string;
+  primary_path: string | null;
+  archived: boolean;
+  folders: Array<{ path: string; label: string | null; is_primary: boolean }>;
+}
+
+export interface ChatWorkspaceRepo {
+  root: string;
+  label: string;
+  sessions: number;
+  last_active: number;
+}
+
+export interface ChatWorkspacesResponse {
+  projects: ChatWorkspaceProject[];
+  repos: ChatWorkspaceRepo[];
+  /** Where a fresh chat lands when no workspace is picked. */
+  default_cwd: string;
+  home: string;
+  scan_enabled: boolean;
+}
+
 export interface SessionInfo {
   id: string;
   source: string | null;
diff --git a/web/src/lib/chat-workspaces.test.ts b/web/src/lib/chat-workspaces.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..bebbffc088
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/lib/chat-workspaces.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+
+import type { ChatWorkspacesResponse } from "@/lib/api";
+import { abbreviateHomePath, workspaceOptions } from "@/lib/chat-workspaces";
+
+const base: ChatWorkspacesResponse = {
+  projects: [],
+  repos: [],
+  default_cwd: "/home/u/.hermes",
+  home: "/home/u",
+  scan_enabled: true,
+};
+
+describe("workspaceOptions", () => {
+  it("lists project folders first, then repos by recency, deduped on path", () => {
+    const data: ChatWorkspacesResponse = {
+      ...base,
+      projects: [
+        {
+          id: "p1",
+          slug: "site",
+          name: "Site",
+          primary_path: "/home/u/code/site",
+          archived: false,
+          folders: [
+            { path: "/home/u/code/site", label: null, is_primary: true },
+            { path: "/home/u/code/site-infra", label: "infra", is_primary: false },
+          ],
+        },
+        {
+          id: "p2",
+          slug: "old",
+          name: "Old",
+          primary_path: "/home/u/code/old",
+          archived: true,
+          folders: [{ path: "/home/u/code/old", label: null, is_primary: true }],
+        },
+      ],
+      repos: [
+        { root: "/home/u/code/site", label: "site", sessions: 3, last_active: 50 },
+        { root: "/home/u/code/lib", label: "lib", sessions: 1, last_active: 10 },
+        { root: "/home/u/code/app", label: "app", sessions: 2, last_active: 90 },
+      ],
+    };
+
+    expect(workspaceOptions(data)).toEqual([
+      { value: "/home/u/code/site", label: "Site · ~/code/site" },
+      { value: "/home/u/code/site-infra", label: "Site · infra" },
+      { value: "/home/u/code/app", label: "app  ~/code/app" },
+      { value: "/home/u/code/lib", label: "lib  ~/code/lib" },
+    ]);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("abbreviateHomePath", () => {
+  it("collapses the home prefix only on a path boundary", () => {
+    expect(abbreviateHomePath("/home/u/code/x", "/home/u")).toBe("~/code/x");
+    expect(abbreviateHomePath("/home/u", "/home/u/")).toBe("~");
+    expect(abbreviateHomePath("/home/user2/code", "/home/u")).toBe("/home/user2/code");
+  });
+});
diff --git a/web/src/lib/chat-workspaces.ts b/web/src/lib/chat-workspaces.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2adedc3d0a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/lib/chat-workspaces.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+/**
+ * Workspace picker plumbing for the dashboard Chat tab: which host directory a
+ * FRESH chat starts in (`/api/pty?cwd=`), persisted per management profile so
+ * a phone remembers the repo it drives.
+ */
+
+import type { ChatWorkspacesResponse } from "@/lib/api";
+
+export interface WorkspaceOption {
+  value: string;
+  label: string;
+}
+
+const STORAGE_PREFIX = "hermes-chat-workspace:";
+
+export function workspaceStorageKey(profile?: string): string {
+  return `${STORAGE_PREFIX}${profile ?? ""}`;
+}
+
+export function readStoredWorkspace(profile?: string): string {
+  try {
+    return localStorage.getItem(workspaceStorageKey(profile)) ?? "";
+  } catch {
+    return "";
+  }
+}
+
+export function writeStoredWorkspace(profile: string | undefined, cwd: string): void {
+  try {
+    const key = workspaceStorageKey(profile);
+    if (cwd) localStorage.setItem(key, cwd);
+    else localStorage.removeItem(key);
+  } catch {
+    // Storage unavailable (private mode / quota): the pick still applies this session.
+  }
+}
+
+/** `~`-abbreviate a host path for compact display. */
+export function abbreviateHomePath(path: string, home: string): string {
+  const h = home.replace(/[\\/]+$/, "");
+  if (!h) return path;
+  if (path === h) return "~";
+  const sep = path.startsWith(h + "/") ? "/" : path.startsWith(h + "\\") ? "\\" : null;
+  return sep ? `~${sep}${path.slice(h.length + 1)}` : path;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Flatten the workspaces payload into picker rows: explicit project folders
+ * first (a multi-folder project contributes one row per folder), then
+ * discovered repos not already covered by a project folder, most recently
+ * active first. Deduped on the path.
+ */
+export function workspaceOptions(data: ChatWorkspacesResponse): WorkspaceOption[] {
+  const seen = new Set<string>();
+  const out: WorkspaceOption[] = [];
+  const push = (value: string, label: string) => {
+    if (!value || seen.has(value)) return;
+    seen.add(value);
+    out.push({ value, label });
+  };
+  for (const project of data.projects) {
+    if (project.archived) continue;
+    const folders = project.folders.length
+      ? project.folders
+      : project.primary_path
+        ? [{ path: project.primary_path, label: null, is_primary: true }]
+        : [];
+    for (const folder of folders) {
+      const suffix =
+        folders.length > 1
+          ? ` · ${folder.label || abbreviateHomePath(folder.path, data.home)}`
+          : "";
+      push(folder.path, `${project.name}${suffix}`);
+    }
+  }
+  const repos = [...data.repos].sort((a, b) => b.last_active - a.last_active);
+  for (const repo of repos) {
+    push(repo.root, `${repo.label}  ${abbreviateHomePath(repo.root, data.home)}`);
+  }
+  return out;
+}
diff --git a/web/src/pages/ChatPage.tsx b/web/src/pages/ChatPage.tsx
index 5cb6ce777d..2a97574dfa 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/ChatPage.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/ChatPage.tsx
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ import { ChatSessionList } from "@/components/ChatSessionList";
 import { usePageHeader } from "@/contexts/usePageHeader";
 import { useI18n } from "@/i18n";
 import { api } from "@/lib/api";
+import { readStoredWorkspace, writeStoredWorkspace } from "@/lib/chat-workspaces";
 import { latchChatActivation } from "@/lib/chat-activation";
 import { copyTextToClipboard } from "@/lib/clipboard";
 import { normalizeSessionTitle } from "@/lib/chat-title";
@@ -383,6 +384,27 @@ export default function ChatPage({ isActive = true }: { isActive?: boolean }) {
   // management profile. Changing it remounts the terminal (key below /
   // effect dep) so the user explicitly starts a fresh scoped session.
   const { profile: scopedProfile } = useProfileScope();
+  // Workspace a FRESH chat starts in (`/api/pty?cwd=`), persisted per
+  // management profile (a phone remembers the repo it drives). The connect
+  // effect reads storage directly, so changing the picker never respawns the
+  // live PTY: it applies on the next "New chat".
+  const [workspaceCwd, setWorkspaceCwdState] = useState(() =>
+    readStoredWorkspace(scopedProfile),
+  );
+  const setWorkspaceCwd = useCallback(
+    (next: string) => {
+      writeStoredWorkspace(scopedProfile, next);
+      setWorkspaceCwdState(next);
+    },
+    [scopedProfile],
+  );
+  // Profile switch: show that profile's remembered workspace (state, not an
+  // effect, so no cascading render).
+  const [workspaceProfile, setWorkspaceProfile] = useState(scopedProfile);
+  if (workspaceProfile !== scopedProfile) {
+    setWorkspaceProfile(scopedProfile);
+    setWorkspaceCwdState(readStoredWorkspace(scopedProfile));
+  }
   const channel = useMemo(
     () => generateChannelId(`${resumeParam ?? ""}\0${scopedProfile}`),
     [resumeParam, scopedProfile],
@@ -1228,6 +1250,10 @@ export default function ChatPage({ isActive = true }: { isActive?: boolean }) {
       const params: Record<string, string> = { channel };
       if (resumeParam) params.resume = resumeParam;
       if (forceFresh) params.fresh = "1";
+      // Picked workspace: only meaningful for a fresh chat (a resumed session
+      // keeps its own cwd); the server validates the directory exists.
+      const pickedWorkspace = resumeParam ? "" : readStoredWorkspace(scopedProfile);
+      if (pickedWorkspace) params.cwd = pickedWorkspace;
       // Keep-alive identity: reattach to this tab's living PTY across
       // refresh/transient drops. A forced-fresh start rotates the token so
       // the previous keep-alive PTY is not reattached (registry reaps it).
@@ -1868,6 +1894,8 @@ export default function ChatPage({ isActive = true }: { isActive?: boolean }) {
               profile={scopedProfile}
               onPicked={closeMobilePanel}
               onNewChat={startFreshDashboardChat}
+              workspaceCwd={workspaceCwd}
+              onWorkspaceChange={setWorkspaceCwd}
             />
           </div>
         </div>
@@ -2077,6 +2105,8 @@ export default function ChatPage({ isActive = true }: { isActive?: boolean }) {
                 activeSessionId={resumeParam}
                 profile={scopedProfile}
                 onNewChat={startFreshDashboardChat}
+                workspaceCwd={workspaceCwd}
+                onWorkspaceChange={setWorkspaceCwd}
               />
             </div>
           </div>
diff --git a/website/docs/user-guide/features/web-dashboard.md b/website/docs/user-guide/features/web-dashboard.md
index bd695ce1b6..3b123023ed 100644
--- a/website/docs/user-guide/features/web-dashboard.md
+++ b/website/docs/user-guide/features/web-dashboard.md
@@ -148,6 +148,8 @@ The **Chat** tab embeds the full Hermes TUI (the same interface you get from `he
 
 **Session switcher (right rail):** the Chat tab carries its own ChatGPT-style conversation list in a thin right rail beside the terminal, so you can swap conversations without leaving the page. The rail stacks the model picker on top and the session list directly below it; the terminal takes up most of the screen. The list shows your most recent sessions for the active profile — title (falling back to a message preview), relative last-active time, message count, and the source channel for non-CLI sessions. Click any row to resume it in place (the terminal respawns with that conversation's history); the active session is highlighted. **New chat** starts a fresh session, and a refresh control re-pulls the list. The rail is read-only for switching — delete, rename, export, and bulk cleanup still live on the **Sessions** tab. On narrow screens it folds into a slide-over panel.
 
+**Workspace picker:** a fresh chat starts wherever the dashboard process was launched — useless when you are driving Hermes from a phone and want it in `~/code/foo`. The rail's **workspace** selector lists the same directories the Desktop sidebar knows: your explicit projects (`hermes projects`) and every discovered git repository (session-derived plus the `desktop.repo_scan_roots` scan), most recently active first, with an **Other path…** entry for anything else. The choice is remembered per profile and applies to the next **New chat** (a resumed session keeps its own working directory); the rescan button re-walks the discovery roots on the host, so a repo you just cloned over SSH shows up without a restart. A path that no longer exists is refused with an error instead of silently starting in the launch directory. Backed by `GET /api/chat/workspaces` and the `cwd` parameter of the `/api/pty` WebSocket.
+
 **Prerequisites:**
 
 - Node.js (same requirement as `hermes --tui`; the TUI bundle is built on first launch)
@@ -465,6 +467,10 @@ Both collectors are fail-safe: any sampling error degrades the block to
 `{"pressure": "unknown"}` instead of failing the status endpoint. The numbers
 are coarse (whole MB, whole-percent) since `/api/status` is public.
 
+### GET /api/chat/workspaces
+
+Directories a fresh Chat-tab session may start in: the profile's projects (with folders) and discovered git repositories (`root`, `label`, `sessions`, `last_active`), plus `default_cwd` (where a chat lands when nothing is picked) and `home`. `?scan=1` rescans `desktop.repo_scan_roots` on the host first. Pair with `/api/pty?cwd=<path>`, which fails closed on a missing directory.
+
 ### GET /api/sessions
 
 Returns the 20 most recent sessions with metadata (model, token counts, timestamps, preview).