diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/Panels/PreviewWorkspace/PreviewTab.tsx b/apps/web/src/components/Panels/PreviewWorkspace/PreviewTab.tsx
index 5b781a77..eedc3a25 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/Panels/PreviewWorkspace/PreviewTab.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/Panels/PreviewWorkspace/PreviewTab.tsx
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ export function PreviewTab({
         zIndex: isDragging ? 1 : undefined,
       }}
       className={cn(
-        'group relative flex h-9 w-fit max-w-48 min-w-20 flex-[0_1_auto] cursor-pointer items-center gap-1.5 px-2.5 text-sm',
+        'group relative flex h-9 w-fit max-w-48 min-w-20 flex-none cursor-pointer items-center gap-1.5 px-2.5 text-sm',
         'border-edge-default border-r',
         'focus-visible:outline-info focus-visible:outline-1 focus-visible:-outline-offset-2',
         isActive
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ export function PreviewTab({
       <Tooltip
         content={tabDescription}
         placement="bottom"
-        wrapperClassName="inline-flex min-w-0"
+        wrapperClassName="inline-flex min-w-0 flex-1"
       >
         <span
           data-testid="preview-tab-title"
@@ -197,11 +197,7 @@ export function PreviewTab({
       </Tooltip>
       <div
         data-testid="preview-tab-actions"
-        className={cn(
-          'pointer-events-none absolute right-1 z-10 flex items-center gap-0 opacity-0 transition-opacity',
-          'group-hover:pointer-events-auto group-hover:opacity-100 focus-within:pointer-events-auto focus-within:opacity-100',
-          isActive ? 'bg-surface' : 'bg-hover',
-        )}
+        className="ml-auto flex shrink-0 items-center gap-0"
       >
         {tab.transient && (
           <Button
diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/Panels/PreviewWorkspace/PreviewWorkspace.test.tsx b/apps/web/src/components/Panels/PreviewWorkspace/PreviewWorkspace.test.tsx
index a9e43faf..301af803 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/Panels/PreviewWorkspace/PreviewWorkspace.test.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/Panels/PreviewWorkspace/PreviewWorkspace.test.tsx
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ describe('tab strip', () => {
     expect(tabs()[0].classList.contains('h-9')).toBe(true);
   });
 
-  it('sizes tabs to content and shrinks them before scrolling', () => {
+  it('sizes tabs to content without shrinking their controls', () => {
     openNode('a');
     openNode('b');
     render([canvasNode('a', 'Alpha'), canvasNode('b', 'Beta')]);
@@ -256,7 +256,20 @@ describe('tab strip', () => {
     const [inactiveTab, activeTab] = tabs();
     expect(inactiveTab.classList.contains('min-w-20')).toBe(true);
     expect(inactiveTab.classList.contains('w-fit')).toBe(true);
-    expect(inactiveTab.classList.contains('flex-[0_1_auto]')).toBe(true);
+    expect(inactiveTab.classList.contains('flex-none')).toBe(true);
+    expect(inactiveTab.classList.contains('flex-[0_1_auto]')).toBe(false);
+    for (const tab of [inactiveTab, activeTab]) {
+      const actionRail = tab.querySelector<HTMLElement>(
+        '[data-testid="preview-tab-actions"]',
+      );
+      expect(actionRail?.classList.contains('shrink-0')).toBe(true);
+      expect(actionRail?.classList.contains('absolute')).toBe(false);
+      expect(actionRail?.classList.contains('opacity-0')).toBe(false);
+      expect(actionRail?.classList.contains('pointer-events-none')).toBe(false);
+      expect(
+        actionRail?.querySelector('[aria-label^="Close "]'),
+      ).not.toBeNull();
+    }
     expect(activeTab.classList.contains('border-r')).toBe(true);
     expect(activeTab.classList.contains('last:border-r-0')).toBe(false);
     expect(activeTab.classList.contains('bg-surface')).toBe(true);
@@ -616,13 +629,12 @@ describe('activation', () => {
     expect(title?.classList.contains('transition-colors')).toBe(true);
     expect(icon?.classList.contains('group-hover:text-fg-subtle')).toBe(true);
     expect(icon?.classList.contains('transition-colors')).toBe(true);
-    expect(actionRail?.classList.contains('absolute')).toBe(true);
-    expect(actionRail?.classList.contains('opacity-0')).toBe(true);
+    expect(actionRail?.classList.contains('absolute')).toBe(false);
+    expect(actionRail?.classList.contains('shrink-0')).toBe(true);
+    expect(actionRail?.classList.contains('opacity-0')).toBe(false);
+    expect(actionRail?.classList.contains('pointer-events-none')).toBe(false);
     expect(actionRail?.classList.contains('group-hover:opacity-100')).toBe(
-      true,
-    );
-    expect(actionRail?.classList.contains('focus-within:opacity-100')).toBe(
-      true,
+      false,
     );
     expect(actionRail?.contains(keepButton ?? null)).toBe(true);
     expect(actionRail?.contains(closeButton ?? null)).toBe(true);
diff --git a/docs/architecture/preview-workspace.md b/docs/architecture/preview-workspace.md
index dac1dec0..6a1644c6 100644
--- a/docs/architecture/preview-workspace.md
+++ b/docs/architecture/preview-workspace.md
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ The separator exposes a symmetric pointer target around its visible rule, tracks
 
 Each group uses the WAI-ARIA tabs pattern with a tablist, selected tab, labelled tabpanel, and roving keyboard focus. Only the focused group responds to group-level shortcuts; editable controls, search, menus, and media viewers keep ownership of their own keys.
 
-Tab titles are visually truncated while retaining full accessible labels and tooltips. Transient tabs are visually distinct and expose their temporary status and promotion gesture accessibly.
+Tab titles are visually truncated while retaining full accessible labels and tooltips. Tabs do not shrink their action controls when the strip is crowded; the strip scrolls horizontally instead. Close remains visible on every tab, and the one-way Pin action remains visible on transient tabs, so pointer, keyboard, and touch users do not depend on hover to operate a tab. Transient tabs are visually distinct and expose their temporary status and promotion gesture accessibly.
 
 ## 9. Integration rules