diff --git a/src/lib/components/chat/Chat.svelte b/src/lib/components/chat/Chat.svelte
index 0d67858d9a..d942f0280f 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/chat/Chat.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/chat/Chat.svelte
@@ -704,6 +704,11 @@
 				}
 			}
 
+			// Persist controls panel state for desktop only
+			if (!$mobile) {
+				localStorage.setItem('showControls', JSON.stringify(value));
+			}
+
 			if (!value) {
 				showCallOverlay.set(false);
 				showOverview.set(false);
@@ -712,6 +717,18 @@
 			}
 		});
 
+		// Restore controls panel state on desktop
+		if (!$mobile) {
+			try {
+				const savedShowControls = localStorage.getItem('showControls');
+				if (savedShowControls !== null && JSON.parse(savedShowControls)) {
+					showControls.set(true);
+				}
+			} catch (e) {
+				// ignore
+			}
+		}
+
 		selectedFolderSubscribe = selectedFolder.subscribe(async (folder) => {
 			if (
 				folder?.data?.model_ids &&
@@ -1089,7 +1106,9 @@
 			}
 		}
 
-		await showControls.set(false);
+		if ($mobile) {
+			await showControls.set(false);
+		}
 		await showCallOverlay.set(false);
 		await showOverview.set(false);
 		await showArtifacts.set(false);
diff --git a/src/lib/components/chat/ChatControls.svelte b/src/lib/components/chat/ChatControls.svelte
index 774b6fe867..ef42958340 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/chat/ChatControls.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/chat/ChatControls.svelte
@@ -169,7 +169,9 @@
 	});
 
 	onDestroy(() => {
-		showControls.set(false);
+		if (!largeScreen) {
+			showControls.set(false);
+		}
 		mediaQuery.removeEventListener('change', handleMediaQuery);
 		document.removeEventListener('mousedown', onMouseDown);
 		document.removeEventListener('mouseup', onMouseUp);