diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/BrowserActivity.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/BrowserActivity.kt
index 6d3e3355f3c6..39e6e6fae23b 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/BrowserActivity.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/BrowserActivity.kt
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ import com.duckduckgo.downloads.api.DownloadsScreens.DownloadsScreenNoParams
 import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.api.DuckAiFeatureState
 import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.api.DuckChat
 import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.api.DuckChatEntryPoint
+import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.api.InputMode
 import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.api.viewmodel.DuckChatSharedViewModel
 import com.duckduckgo.feedback.api.FeedbackScreenNoParams
 import com.duckduckgo.navigation.api.GlobalActivityStarter
@@ -295,6 +296,8 @@ open class BrowserActivity : DuckDuckGoActivity() {
     // we don't store isExternal in the tab model, as it's only meant for the first time the tab is loaded.
     private val externalLaunchTabIds = mutableSetOf<String>()
 
+    private val pendingInputModeTargets = mutableMapOf<String, InputMode>()
+
     private lateinit var renderer: BrowserStateRenderer
 
     private val binding: ActivityBrowserBinding by viewBinding()
@@ -351,6 +354,11 @@ open class BrowserActivity : DuckDuckGoActivity() {
     var isDataClearingInProgress: Boolean = false
     var isDuckChatVisible: Boolean = false
 
+    // One-shot carried from an "open Duck.ai for image generation" launch. The Duck.ai tab this
+    // launch creates doesn't exist yet, so the flag is held here and consumed by that tab's fragment
+    // the first time it shows the native input (see BrowserTabFragment.consumeDuckAiForceImageGeneration).
+    private var pendingDuckChatForceImageGeneration: Boolean = false
+
     private val startBookmarksActivityForResult =
         registerForActivityResult(ActivityResultContracts.StartActivityForResult()) { result: ActivityResult ->
             if (result.resultCode == RESULT_OK) {
@@ -687,6 +695,7 @@ open class BrowserActivity : DuckDuckGoActivity() {
     ): BrowserTabFragment {
         logcat(INFO) { "Opening new tab, url: $url, tabId: $tabId" }
         val fragment = BrowserTabFragment.newInstance(tabId, url, skipHome, isExternal)
+        fragment.inputModeTarget = consumeInputModeTargetForTab(tabId)
         addOrReplaceNewTab(fragment, tabId)
         currentTab = fragment
         return fragment
@@ -714,6 +723,10 @@ open class BrowserActivity : DuckDuckGoActivity() {
         return externalLaunchTabIds.remove(tabId)
     }
 
+    fun consumeInputModeTargetForTab(tabId: String): InputMode? {
+        return pendingInputModeTargets.remove(tabId)
+    }
+
     private fun selectTab(tab: TabEntity?) {
         logcat(VERBOSE) { "Select tab: $tab" }
 
@@ -834,6 +847,7 @@ open class BrowserActivity : DuckDuckGoActivity() {
 
         if (intent.getBooleanExtra(OPEN_DUCK_CHAT, false)) {
             val sourceTabId = intent.getStringExtra(SOURCE_TAB_ID_EXTRA)
+            pendingDuckChatForceImageGeneration = intent.getBooleanExtra(DUCK_CHAT_FORCE_IMAGE_GENERATION, false)
             intent.getStringExtra(DUCK_CHAT_ENTRY_POINT_EXTRA)?.let { source ->
                 runCatching { DuckChatEntryPoint.valueOf(source) }
                     .getOrNull()
@@ -1111,6 +1125,13 @@ open class BrowserActivity : DuckDuckGoActivity() {
         uri.getQueryParameter("prompt") == "1" && !uri.getQueryParameter("q").isNullOrBlank()
     }.getOrDefault(false)
 
+    /**
+     * Returns whether the Duck.ai tab being opened should preselect image generation, clearing the
+     * one-shot so later native-input shows behave normally. Consumed by the Duck.ai tab's fragment.
+     */
+    fun consumeDuckChatForceImageGeneration(): Boolean =
+        pendingDuckChatForceImageGeneration.also { pendingDuckChatForceImageGeneration = false }
+
     fun closeDuckChatFullScreen() {
         isDuckChatVisible = false
         currentTab?.closeCurrentTab()
@@ -1297,6 +1318,7 @@ open class BrowserActivity : DuckDuckGoActivity() {
             closeDuckChat: Boolean = false,
             duckChatUrl: String? = null,
             duckChatSessionActive: Boolean = false,
+            duckChatForceImageGeneration: Boolean = false,
             deletedTabCount: Int = 0,
         ): Intent {
             val intent = Intent(context, BrowserActivity::class.java)
@@ -1314,6 +1336,7 @@ open class BrowserActivity : DuckDuckGoActivity() {
             intent.putExtra(CLOSE_DUCK_CHAT, closeDuckChat)
             intent.putExtra(DUCK_CHAT_URL, duckChatUrl)
             intent.putExtra(DUCK_CHAT_SESSION_ACTIVE, duckChatSessionActive)
+            intent.putExtra(DUCK_CHAT_FORCE_IMAGE_GENERATION, duckChatForceImageGeneration)
             intent.putExtra(DELETED_TAB_COUNT_EXTRA, deletedTabCount)
             intent.putExtra(LAUNCH_REQUIRES_REGULAR_MODE, launchSource.requiresRegularMode)
             intent.putExtra(LAUNCH_SOURCE_PIXEL_VALUE, launchSource.toPixelLaunchSourceValue())
@@ -1350,6 +1373,7 @@ open class BrowserActivity : DuckDuckGoActivity() {
         private const val CLOSE_DUCK_CHAT = "CLOSE_DUCK_CHAT_EXTRA"
         private const val DUCK_CHAT_URL = "DUCK_CHAT_URL"
         private const val DUCK_CHAT_SESSION_ACTIVE = "DUCK_CHAT_SESSION_ACTIVE"
+        private const val DUCK_CHAT_FORCE_IMAGE_GENERATION = "DUCK_CHAT_FORCE_IMAGE_GENERATION"
 
         private const val MAX_ACTIVE_TABS = 40
         private const val KEY_TAB_PAGER_STATE = "tabPagerState"
@@ -1625,8 +1649,13 @@ open class BrowserActivity : DuckDuckGoActivity() {
         skipHome: Boolean = false,
         isExternal: Boolean = false,
         browserMode: BrowserMode = currentBrowserMode,
+        inputModeTarget: InputMode? = null,
     ) {
-        switchModeThen(browserMode, PendingAction.OpenNewTab(query, sourceTabId, skipHome, isExternal), BrowserModeSwitchSource.NEW_TAB)
+        switchModeThen(
+            browserMode,
+            PendingAction.OpenNewTab(query, sourceTabId, skipHome, isExternal, inputModeTarget),
+            BrowserModeSwitchSource.NEW_TAB,
+        )
     }
 
     /**
@@ -1668,6 +1697,7 @@ open class BrowserActivity : DuckDuckGoActivity() {
                 action.sourceTabId,
                 action.skipHome,
                 action.isExternal,
+                action.inputModeTarget,
             )
             is PendingAction.OpenExistingTab -> openExistingTab(action.tabId)
         }
@@ -1678,6 +1708,7 @@ open class BrowserActivity : DuckDuckGoActivity() {
         sourceTabId: String?,
         skipHome: Boolean,
         isExternal: Boolean,
+        inputModeTarget: InputMode? = null,
     ) {
         lifecycleScope.launch {
             if (swipingTabsFeature.isEnabled) {
@@ -1685,8 +1716,16 @@ open class BrowserActivity : DuckDuckGoActivity() {
                 if (isExternal) {
                     externalLaunchTabIds.add(tabId)
                 }
+                // Stash before the tab-list observer fires and TabPagerAdapter builds the fragment, so
+                // the target is available at createFragment (mirrors externalLaunchTabIds above).
+                if (inputModeTarget != null) {
+                    pendingInputModeTargets[tabId] = inputModeTarget
+                }
             } else {
-                viewModel.onNewTabRequested()
+                val tabId = viewModel.onNewTabRequested()
+                if (inputModeTarget != null) {
+                    pendingInputModeTargets[tabId] = inputModeTarget
+                }
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/BrowserTabFragment.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/BrowserTabFragment.kt
index 15e0dc637a4e..c4bfcadfaa36 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/BrowserTabFragment.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/BrowserTabFragment.kt
@@ -227,7 +227,6 @@ import com.duckduckgo.app.global.model.orderedTrackerBlockedEntities
 import com.duckduckgo.app.global.view.NonDismissibleBehavior
 import com.duckduckgo.app.global.view.launchDefaultAppActivity
 import com.duckduckgo.app.global.view.renderIfChanged
-import com.duckduckgo.app.onboarding.OnboardingInputScreenLaunchTarget
 import com.duckduckgo.app.pixels.AppPixelName
 import com.duckduckgo.app.pixels.BrowserModeSwitchSource
 import com.duckduckgo.app.settings.db.SettingsDataStore
@@ -297,6 +296,7 @@ import com.duckduckgo.common.ui.store.AppBrandDesignUpdateToggles
 import com.duckduckgo.common.ui.store.BrowserAppTheme
 import com.duckduckgo.common.ui.tabs.SwipingTabsFeatureProvider
 import com.duckduckgo.common.ui.view.DaxDialog
+import com.duckduckgo.common.ui.view.PopupMenuItemView
 import com.duckduckgo.common.ui.view.addClickableLink
 import com.duckduckgo.common.ui.view.dialog.ActionBottomSheetDialog
 import com.duckduckgo.common.ui.view.dialog.CustomAlertDialogBuilder
@@ -341,6 +341,7 @@ import com.duckduckgo.downloads.api.DownloadConfirmationDialogListener
 import com.duckduckgo.downloads.api.DownloadsFileActions
 import com.duckduckgo.downloads.api.FileDownloader
 import com.duckduckgo.downloads.api.FileDownloader.PendingFileDownload
+import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.api.DuckAiFeatureState
 import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.api.DuckChat
 import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.api.DuckChatContextual
 import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.api.DuckChatEntryPoint
@@ -662,6 +663,9 @@ class BrowserTabFragment :
     @Inject
     lateinit var duckChatContextual: DuckChatContextual
 
+    @Inject
+    lateinit var duckAiFeatureState: DuckAiFeatureState
+
     @Inject
     lateinit var newAddressBarPickerManager: NewAddressBarPickerManager
 
@@ -707,9 +711,6 @@ class BrowserTabFragment :
     @Inject
     lateinit var edgeToEdgeHandler: EdgeToEdgeHandler
 
-    @Inject
-    lateinit var onboardingInputScreenLaunchTarget: OnboardingInputScreenLaunchTarget
-
     /**
      * We use this to monitor whether the user was seeing the in-context Email Protection signup prompt
      * This is needed because the activity stack will be cleared if an external link is opened in our browser
@@ -721,6 +722,11 @@ class BrowserTabFragment :
 
     var messageFromPreviousTab: Message? = null
 
+    // One-shot input-screen mode this tab should land on (e.g. "New Search" → Search), set by whoever
+    // opened the tab and handed to the viewmodel in loadData. Not persisted: only meaningful for the
+    // tab's initial launch within this process.
+    var inputModeTarget: InputMode? = null
+
     private val initialUrl get() = requireArguments().getString(URL_EXTRA_ARG)
 
     private val skipHome get() = requireArguments().getBoolean(SKIP_HOME_ARG)
@@ -771,7 +777,7 @@ class BrowserTabFragment :
 
     private val viewModel: BrowserTabViewModel by lazy {
         val viewModel = ViewModelProvider(this, viewModelFactory)[BrowserTabViewModel::class.java]
-        viewModel.loadData(tabId, initialUrl, skipHome, isLaunchedFromExternalApp)
+        viewModel.loadData(tabId, initialUrl, skipHome, isLaunchedFromExternalApp, inputModeTarget)
         viewModel
     }
 
@@ -835,9 +841,18 @@ class BrowserTabFragment :
             onMenuItemClicked(contentView.findViewById(com.duckduckgo.duckchat.impl.R.id.chatMenuPopupNewVoiceChat)) {
                 duckChat.openVoiceDuckChat(DuckChatEntryPoint.VOICE)
             }
+            onMenuItemClicked(contentView.findViewById(com.duckduckgo.duckchat.impl.R.id.chatMenuPopupNewImage)) {
+                viewModel.openNewImageDuckChat(omnibar.viewMode)
+            }
             onMenuItemClicked(contentView.findViewById(com.duckduckgo.duckchat.impl.R.id.chatMenuPopupNewTab)) {
+                // With the native sidebar this entry is relabelled "New Search": open the new tab with
+                // its input screen surfaced on the Search tab. The target is threaded to the new tab
+                // itself rather than armed globally, so it can't be consumed by another tab.
                 viewModel.recordPendingNewTabOpenedExit()
-                browserActivity?.launchNewTab(browserMode = BrowserMode.REGULAR)
+                browserActivity?.launchNewTab(
+                    browserMode = BrowserMode.REGULAR,
+                    inputModeTarget = if (duckAiFeatureState.nativeDuckAiSidebar.value) InputMode.SEARCH else null,
+                )
             }
             onMenuItemClicked(contentView.findViewById(com.duckduckgo.duckchat.impl.R.id.chatMenuPopupNewFireTab)) {
                 viewModel.recordPendingFireTabOpenedExit()
@@ -1394,7 +1409,7 @@ class BrowserTabFragment :
         }
     }
 
-    private fun showNativeInput(query: String = "") {
+    private fun showNativeInput(query: String = "", forceImageGeneration: Boolean = false) {
         nativeInputManager.showNativeInput(
             tabId = tabId,
             layoutInflater = layoutInflater,
@@ -1402,11 +1417,8 @@ class BrowserTabFragment :
             tabs = viewModel.tabs,
             currentTabUrl = viewModel.siteLiveData.asFlow().map { it?.url },
             query = query,
-            initialInputMode = if (onboardingInputScreenLaunchTarget.consumeOpenOnDuckAi()) {
-                InputMode.DUCK_AI
-            } else {
-                null
-            },
+            initialInputMode = viewModel.consumeInitialInputMode(),
+            forceImageGeneration = forceImageGeneration,
             callbacks = NativeInputCallbacks(
                 onSearchTextChanged = { text -> onUserEnteredText(text) },
                 onClearAutocomplete = {
@@ -2429,7 +2441,9 @@ class BrowserTabFragment :
         renderBrowserMenu(viewState = browserViewState, omnibarViewMode = ViewMode.DuckAI)
         omnibar.setViewMode(ViewMode.DuckAI)
         browserNavigationBarIntegration.configureDuckAIViewMode()
-        showNativeInput()
+        val forceImageGeneration = !nativeInputManager.isNativeInputShown() &&
+            (browserActivity?.consumeDuckChatForceImageGeneration() ?: false)
+        showNativeInput(forceImageGeneration = forceImageGeneration)
     }
 
     private fun showMaliciousWarning(
@@ -3952,6 +3966,21 @@ class BrowserTabFragment :
                     chatMenuPopup.contentView
                         .findViewById<View>(com.duckduckgo.duckchat.impl.R.id.chatMenuPopupNewFireTab)
                         .isVisible = fireModeAvailability.isAvailable()
+                    val nativeSidebarEnabled = duckAiFeatureState.nativeDuckAiSidebar.value
+                    chatMenuPopup.contentView
+                        .findViewById<View>(com.duckduckgo.duckchat.impl.R.id.chatMenuPopupNewImage)
+                        .isVisible = nativeSidebarEnabled
+                    chatMenuPopup.contentView
+                        .findViewById<PopupMenuItemView>(com.duckduckgo.duckchat.impl.R.id.chatMenuPopupNewTab)
+                        .setPrimaryText(
+                            getString(
+                                if (nativeSidebarEnabled) {
+                                    com.duckduckgo.browser.ui.R.string.chatMenuPopupNewSearch
+                                } else {
+                                    com.duckduckgo.browser.ui.R.string.chatMenuPopupNewTab
+                                },
+                            ),
+                        )
                     chatMenuPopup.showAnchoredView(activity, binding.rootView, anchor)
                 }
 
@@ -3988,7 +4017,7 @@ class BrowserTabFragment :
 
                 override fun onDuckAISidebarButtonPressed() {
                     pixel.fire(DuckChatPixelName.DUCK_CHAT_OMNIBAR_SIDEBAR_TAPPED)
-                    viewModel.openDuckChatSidebar()
+                    viewModel.onDuckChatSidebarButtonPressed()
                 }
 
                 override fun onDuckAIBackButtonPressed() {
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/BrowserTabViewModel.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/BrowserTabViewModel.kt
index 15f7d3a9fc85..25f13f3fcabf 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/BrowserTabViewModel.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/BrowserTabViewModel.kt
@@ -390,6 +390,7 @@ import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.api.DuckAiSessionExitTrigger
 import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.api.DuckChat
 import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.api.DuckChatEntryPoint
 import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.api.DuckChatInputModeState
+import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.api.InputMode
 import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.api.nativeinput.NativeInputState
 import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.impl.contextual.PageContextJSHelper
 import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.impl.contextual.RealPageContextJSHelper.Companion.PAGE_CONTEXT_FEATURE_NAME
@@ -781,6 +782,8 @@ class BrowserTabViewModel @Inject constructor(
     @VisibleForTesting
     internal var previousUrl: String? = null
     private lateinit var tabId: String
+
+    private var inputModeTarget: InputMode? = null
     private var webNavigationState: WebNavigationState? = null
     private var httpsUpgraded = false
     private var adBlockingAnimationClaimed = false
@@ -1012,9 +1015,11 @@ class BrowserTabViewModel @Inject constructor(
         initialUrl: String?,
         skipHome: Boolean,
         isExternal: Boolean,
+        inputModeTarget: InputMode? = null,
     ) {
         this.tabId = tabId
         this.skipHome = skipHome
+        this.inputModeTarget = inputModeTarget
         siteLiveData = tabRepository.retrieveSiteData(tabId)
         site = siteLiveData.value
 
@@ -3912,6 +3917,15 @@ class BrowserTabViewModel @Inject constructor(
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * The input-screen mode the next auto-launched input screen on this tab should open in, cleared as
+     * it is read. Prefers this tab's own launch target (e.g. "New Search" → Search) and falls back to
+     * the post-onboarding signal (→ Duck.ai). Returns `null` when neither is armed.
+     */
+    fun consumeInitialInputMode(): InputMode? =
+        inputModeTarget?.also { inputModeTarget = null }
+            ?: if (onboardingInputScreenLaunchTarget.consumeOpenOnDuckAi()) InputMode.DUCK_AI else null
+
     fun onUserClickCtaOkButton(cta: Cta) {
         releaseAddWidgetModalSlot(cta)
         viewModelScope.launch {
@@ -5808,6 +5822,15 @@ class BrowserTabViewModel @Inject constructor(
         }
     }
 
+    fun openNewImageDuckChat(viewMode: ViewMode) {
+        val entryPoint = if (viewMode == ViewMode.NewTab) {
+            DuckChatEntryPoint.BROWSING_MENU_NTP
+        } else {
+            DuckChatEntryPoint.BROWSING_MENU_WEBPAGE
+        }
+        duckChat.openDuckChatImageGeneration(entryPoint)
+    }
+
     fun openNewDuckChat(viewMode: ViewMode) {
         if (viewMode == ViewMode.DuckAI) {
             pixel.fire(DuckChatPixelName.DUCK_CHAT_OMNIBAR_NEW_CHAT_TAPPED)
@@ -5829,16 +5852,24 @@ class BrowserTabViewModel @Inject constructor(
         }
     }
 
-    fun openDuckChatSidebar() {
+    fun onCustomizeResponsesClicked() {
         viewModelScope.launch {
-            val subscriptionEvent = duckChatJSHelper.onNativeAction(NativeAction.SIDEBAR)
+            val subscriptionEvent = duckChatJSHelper.onNativeAction(NativeAction.CUSTOMIZE_RESPONSES)
             _subscriptionEventDataChannel.send(subscriptionEvent)
         }
     }
 
-    fun onCustomizeResponsesClicked() {
+    fun onDuckChatSidebarButtonPressed() {
+        if (duckAiFeatureState.nativeDuckAiSidebar.value) {
+            openDuckChatHistory()
+        } else {
+            openDuckChatSidebar()
+        }
+    }
+
+    fun openDuckChatSidebar() {
         viewModelScope.launch {
-            val subscriptionEvent = duckChatJSHelper.onNativeAction(NativeAction.CUSTOMIZE_RESPONSES)
+            val subscriptionEvent = duckChatJSHelper.onNativeAction(NativeAction.SIDEBAR)
             _subscriptionEventDataChannel.send(subscriptionEvent)
         }
     }
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/PendingModeSwitch.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/PendingModeSwitch.kt
index 46c39e90a902..66266a380f63 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/PendingModeSwitch.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/PendingModeSwitch.kt
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import androidx.core.os.BundleCompat
 import androidx.core.os.bundleOf
 import com.duckduckgo.app.pixels.BrowserModeSwitchSource
 import com.duckduckgo.browsermode.api.BrowserMode
+import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.api.InputMode
 
 /**
  * An action to run once the browser is in a given [BrowserMode]. Must be bundle-encodable (see
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ internal sealed class PendingAction {
         val sourceTabId: String?,
         val skipHome: Boolean,
         val isExternal: Boolean,
+        val inputModeTarget: InputMode? = null,
     ) : PendingAction()
     data class OpenExistingTab(val tabId: String) : PendingAction()
 }
@@ -63,6 +65,7 @@ internal fun PendingModeSwitch.toBundle(): Bundle {
             bundle.putString(KEY_SOURCE_TAB_ID, pendingAction.sourceTabId)
             bundle.putBoolean(KEY_SKIP_HOME, pendingAction.skipHome)
             bundle.putBoolean(KEY_IS_EXTERNAL, pendingAction.isExternal)
+            bundle.putString(KEY_INPUT_MODE_TARGET, pendingAction.inputModeTarget?.name)
         }
         is PendingAction.OpenExistingTab -> {
             bundle.putString(KEY_ACTION, ACTION_OPEN_EXISTING_TAB)
@@ -85,6 +88,7 @@ internal fun Bundle.toPendingModeSwitch(): PendingModeSwitch? {
             sourceTabId = getString(KEY_SOURCE_TAB_ID),
             skipHome = getBoolean(KEY_SKIP_HOME),
             isExternal = getBoolean(KEY_IS_EXTERNAL),
+            inputModeTarget = getString(KEY_INPUT_MODE_TARGET)?.let { runCatching { InputMode.valueOf(it) }.getOrNull() },
         )
         ACTION_OPEN_EXISTING_TAB -> PendingAction.OpenExistingTab(
             tabId = getString(KEY_EXISTING_TAB_ID) ?: return null,
@@ -102,6 +106,7 @@ private const val KEY_QUERY = "pendingModeSwitchQuery"
 private const val KEY_SOURCE_TAB_ID = "pendingModeSwitchSourceTabId"
 private const val KEY_SKIP_HOME = "pendingModeSwitchSkipHome"
 private const val KEY_IS_EXTERNAL = "pendingModeSwitchIsExternal"
+private const val KEY_INPUT_MODE_TARGET = "pendingModeSwitchInputModeTarget"
 private const val KEY_EXISTING_TAB_ID = "pendingModeSwitchExistingTabId"
 private const val ACTION_PROCESS_INTENT = "processIntent"
 private const val ACTION_OPEN_NEW_TAB = "openNewTab"
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/nativeinput/NativeInputManager.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/nativeinput/NativeInputManager.kt
index add59b648bea..c14568708b79 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/nativeinput/NativeInputManager.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/nativeinput/NativeInputManager.kt
@@ -147,6 +147,7 @@ interface NativeInputManager {
         query: String = "",
         callbacks: NativeInputCallbacks,
         initialInputMode: InputMode? = null,
+        forceImageGeneration: Boolean = false,
     )
 
     fun hideNativeInput(animate: Boolean = true, isNavigation: Boolean = false): Boolean
@@ -586,6 +587,7 @@ class RealNativeInputManager @Inject constructor(
         query: String,
         callbacks: NativeInputCallbacks,
         initialInputMode: InputMode?,
+        forceImageGeneration: Boolean,
     ) {
         if (!isNativeInputFieldEnabled) return
 
@@ -655,7 +657,7 @@ class RealNativeInputManager @Inject constructor(
             }
         }
         bindUrlCaching(widgetView)
-        attachWidget(widgetView, navBarView, isBottom, tabId)
+        attachWidget(widgetView, navBarView, isBottom, tabId, forceImageGeneration)
         // Bottom omnibar: slide the nav bar in with open. Top omnibar: snap the bar so the enter
         // morph can run from the omnibar while the buttons appear without animating — a concurrent
         // top slide fights that morph (and was only needed for bottom chrome).
@@ -1229,7 +1231,7 @@ class RealNativeInputManager @Inject constructor(
         )
     }
 
-    private fun attachWidget(widgetView: View, navBarView: View?, isBottom: Boolean, tabId: String) {
+    private fun attachWidget(widgetView: View, navBarView: View?, isBottom: Boolean, tabId: String, forceImageGeneration: Boolean) {
         // Inflated from a ?attr/actionBarSize height, so layoutParams carries the resolved nav bar height.
         val navBarHeightPx = navBarView?.layoutParams?.height?.takeIf { it > 0 } ?: 0
         this.navBarHeightPx = navBarHeightPx
@@ -1257,7 +1259,12 @@ class RealNativeInputManager @Inject constructor(
 
         widgetFrom(widgetView)?.apply {
             setWidgetRootView(widgetView)
-            configure(tabId = tabId, isDuckAiMode = omnibarController.isDuckAiMode(), isBottom = isBottom)
+            configure(
+                tabId = tabId,
+                isDuckAiMode = omnibarController.isDuckAiMode(),
+                isBottom = isBottom,
+                forceImageGeneration = forceImageGeneration,
+            )
         }
 
         applyWindowChrome(widgetView, isBottom)
@@ -1270,6 +1277,14 @@ class RealNativeInputManager @Inject constructor(
         // Stash so showNativeInput can avoid clearing isWidgetAnimating when the open slide
         // finishes before the enter morph.
         pendingEnterOwnsAnimating = enterStarted
+
+        if (forceImageGeneration) {
+            widgetView.doOnAttach {
+                if (widgetRoot === widgetView) {
+                    widgetFrom(widgetView)?.focusInput(rootView.context as? Activity)
+                }
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     override fun setInteractionLock(lock: InteractionLock) {
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/navigation/AppBrowserNav.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/navigation/AppBrowserNav.kt
index d7e96f94a629..5f3a787e4524 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/navigation/AppBrowserNav.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/navigation/AppBrowserNav.kt
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ class AppBrowserNav @Inject constructor() : BrowserNav {
         context: Context,
         hasSessionActive: Boolean,
         duckChatUrl: String,
+        forceImageGeneration: Boolean,
     ): Intent {
         return BrowserActivity.intent(
             context = context,
@@ -61,6 +62,7 @@ class AppBrowserNav @Inject constructor() : BrowserNav {
             openDuckChat = true,
             duckChatUrl = duckChatUrl,
             duckChatSessionActive = hasSessionActive,
+            duckChatForceImageGeneration = forceImageGeneration,
         )
     }
 
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/tabs/adapter/TabPagerAdapter.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/tabs/adapter/TabPagerAdapter.kt
index f2f8ed44c992..59a20613aaad 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/tabs/adapter/TabPagerAdapter.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/tabs/adapter/TabPagerAdapter.kt
@@ -73,13 +73,17 @@ class TabPagerAdapter(
         // Check if there's a message specifically for this tab's source tab ID
         val pendingMessage = pendingMessages.remove(tab.sourceTabId)
         pendingMessage?.cleanupJob?.cancel()
+        val inputModeTarget = activity.consumeInputModeTargetForTab(tab.tabId)
 
         return if (pendingMessage != null) {
             BrowserTabFragment.newInstance(tab.tabId, null, false, isExternal).apply {
                 this.messageFromPreviousTab = pendingMessage.message
+                this.inputModeTarget = inputModeTarget
             }
         } else {
-            BrowserTabFragment.newInstance(tab.tabId, tab.url, tab.skipHome, isExternal)
+            BrowserTabFragment.newInstance(tab.tabId, tab.url, tab.skipHome, isExternal).apply {
+                this.inputModeTarget = inputModeTarget
+            }
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/app/src/test/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/BrowserTabViewModelTest.kt b/app/src/test/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/BrowserTabViewModelTest.kt
index 347498d347dc..610add0cb26a 100644
--- a/app/src/test/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/BrowserTabViewModelTest.kt
+++ b/app/src/test/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/BrowserTabViewModelTest.kt
@@ -322,6 +322,7 @@ import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.api.DuckAiSessionExitTrigger
 import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.api.DuckChat
 import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.api.DuckChatEntryPoint
 import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.api.DuckChatInputModeState
+import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.api.InputMode
 import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.api.nativeinput.NativeInputState
 import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.impl.contextual.PageContextJSHelper
 import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.impl.contextual.RealPageContextJSHelper.Companion.PAGE_CONTEXT_FEATURE_NAME
@@ -870,6 +871,8 @@ class BrowserTabViewModelTest {
             whenever(mockDuckAiFeatureState.showPopupMenuShortcut).thenReturn(MutableStateFlow(false))
             whenever(mockDuckAiFeatureState.showInputScreen).thenReturn(mockDuckAiFeatureStateInputScreenFlow)
             whenever(mockDuckAiFeatureState.showContextualMode).thenReturn(mockDuckAiContextualModeFlow)
+            whenever(mockDuckAiFeatureState.nativeDuckAiSidebar).thenReturn(MutableStateFlow(false))
+            whenever(mockDuckAiFeatureState.nativeInputFieldEnabled).thenReturn(MutableStateFlow(false))
             whenever(mockDuckChatInputModeState.inputModeCapability).thenReturn(mockInputModeCapability)
             whenever(mockVpnMenuStateProvider.getVpnMenuState()).thenReturn(flowOf(VpnMenuState.Hidden))
             whenever(nonHttpAppLinkChecker.isPermitted(anyOrNull())).thenReturn(true)
@@ -1234,6 +1237,40 @@ class BrowserTabViewModelTest {
             assertCommandNotIssued<ShowKeyboard>()
         }
 
+    @Test
+    fun whenViewBecomesVisibleAndInputModeTargetArmedThenTargetDoesNotForceKeyboardOverInputScreen() =
+        runTest {
+            whenever(mockWidgetCapabilities.hasInstalledWidgets).thenReturn(true)
+            whenever(mockDuckAiFeatureState.showInputScreen).thenReturn(MutableStateFlow(true))
+            testee.loadData("abc", null, false, false, InputMode.SEARCH)
+
+            testee.onViewVisible()
+
+            // The launch target does not override the input-screen focus-drop rule.
+            assertCommandNotIssued<ShowKeyboard>()
+        }
+
+    @Test
+    fun whenInputModeTargetArmedThenConsumeInitialInputModeReturnsItThenClears() =
+        runTest {
+            testee.loadData("abc", null, false, false, InputMode.SEARCH)
+
+            assertEquals(InputMode.SEARCH, testee.consumeInitialInputMode())
+            // One-shot: a second read no longer returns it.
+            assertNull(testee.consumeInitialInputMode())
+        }
+
+    @Test
+    fun whenViewBecomesVisibleAndInputModeTargetNotArmedThenConsumeReturnsNull() =
+        runTest {
+            whenever(mockWidgetCapabilities.hasInstalledWidgets).thenReturn(true)
+            testee.loadData("abc", null, false, false)
+
+            testee.onViewVisible()
+
+            assertNull(testee.consumeInitialInputMode())
+        }
+
     @Test
     fun whenViewBecomesVisibleAndBrowserShowingThenKeyboardHidden() {
         setBrowserShowing(true)
@@ -11855,6 +11892,20 @@ class BrowserTabViewModelTest {
         verify(mockPixel).fire(DuckChatPixelName.DUCK_CHAT_OMNIBAR_NEW_CHAT_TAPPED)
     }
 
+    @Test
+    fun whenOpenNewImageDuckChatFromDuckAiThenOpensImageGenerationWithWebpageEntryPoint() = runTest {
+        testee.openNewImageDuckChat(ViewMode.DuckAI)
+
+        verify(mockDuckChat).openDuckChatImageGeneration(DuckChatEntryPoint.BROWSING_MENU_WEBPAGE)
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun whenOpenNewImageDuckChatFromNewTabThenOpensImageGenerationWithNtpEntryPoint() = runTest {
+        testee.openNewImageDuckChat(ViewMode.NewTab)
+
+        verify(mockDuckChat).openDuckChatImageGeneration(DuckChatEntryPoint.BROWSING_MENU_NTP)
+    }
+
     @Test
     fun whenDuckChatMenuItemClickedThenOpenNewDuckChatTab() =
         runTest {
@@ -11873,15 +11924,15 @@ class BrowserTabViewModelTest {
         }
 
     @Test
-    fun whenDuckChatNativeHistoryRequested() = runTest {
+    fun whenCustomizeResponsesClickedThenSubscriptionEventEmitted() = runTest {
         val expectedEvent = SubscriptionEventData(
-            featureName = "event1",
-            subscriptionName = "subscription1",
+            featureName = "aiChat",
+            subscriptionName = "submitCustomizeResponsesAction",
             params = JSONObject(),
         )
-        whenever(mockDuckChatJSHelper.onNativeAction(NativeAction.SIDEBAR)).thenReturn(expectedEvent)
+        whenever(mockDuckChatJSHelper.onNativeAction(NativeAction.CUSTOMIZE_RESPONSES)).thenReturn(expectedEvent)
 
-        testee.openDuckChatSidebar()
+        testee.onCustomizeResponsesClicked()
 
         testee.subscriptionEventDataFlow.test {
             val emittedEvent = awaitItem()
@@ -11893,46 +11944,58 @@ class BrowserTabViewModelTest {
     }
 
     @Test
-    fun whenCustomizeResponsesClickedThenSubscriptionEventEmitted() = runTest {
+    fun whenOpenDuckChatHistoryAndAvailableThenLaunchDuckChatHistoryCommandEmitted() = runTest {
+        testee.browserViewState.value = browserViewState().copy(showDuckChatHistoryOption = true)
+
+        testee.openDuckChatHistory()
+
+        assertCommandIssued<Command.LaunchDuckChatHistory>()
+        verify(mockDuckChatJSHelper, never()).onNativeAction(NativeAction.SIDEBAR)
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun whenOpenDuckChatHistoryAndUnavailableThenSidebarFallbackEmitted() = runTest {
         val expectedEvent = SubscriptionEventData(
-            featureName = "aiChat",
-            subscriptionName = "submitCustomizeResponsesAction",
+            featureName = "event1",
+            subscriptionName = "subscription1",
             params = JSONObject(),
         )
-        whenever(mockDuckChatJSHelper.onNativeAction(NativeAction.CUSTOMIZE_RESPONSES)).thenReturn(expectedEvent)
+        testee.browserViewState.value = browserViewState().copy(showDuckChatHistoryOption = false)
+        whenever(mockDuckChatJSHelper.onNativeAction(NativeAction.SIDEBAR)).thenReturn(expectedEvent)
 
-        testee.onCustomizeResponsesClicked()
+        testee.openDuckChatHistory()
 
+        assertCommandNotIssued<Command.LaunchDuckChatHistory>()
         testee.subscriptionEventDataFlow.test {
             val emittedEvent = awaitItem()
             assertEquals(expectedEvent.featureName, emittedEvent.featureName)
             assertEquals(expectedEvent.subscriptionName, emittedEvent.subscriptionName)
-            assertEquals(expectedEvent.params.toString(), emittedEvent.params.toString())
             cancelAndIgnoreRemainingEvents()
         }
     }
 
     @Test
-    fun whenOpenDuckChatHistoryAndAvailableThenLaunchDuckChatHistoryCommandEmitted() = runTest {
+    fun whenDuckChatSidebarButtonPressedAndNativeSidebarEnabledThenHistoryLaunched() = runTest {
+        whenever(mockDuckAiFeatureState.nativeDuckAiSidebar).thenReturn(MutableStateFlow(true))
         testee.browserViewState.value = browserViewState().copy(showDuckChatHistoryOption = true)
 
-        testee.openDuckChatHistory()
+        testee.onDuckChatSidebarButtonPressed()
 
         assertCommandIssued<Command.LaunchDuckChatHistory>()
         verify(mockDuckChatJSHelper, never()).onNativeAction(NativeAction.SIDEBAR)
     }
 
     @Test
-    fun whenOpenDuckChatHistoryAndUnavailableThenSidebarFallbackEmitted() = runTest {
+    fun whenDuckChatSidebarButtonPressedAndNativeSidebarDisabledThenLegacySidebarEventEmitted() = runTest {
         val expectedEvent = SubscriptionEventData(
             featureName = "event1",
             subscriptionName = "subscription1",
             params = JSONObject(),
         )
-        testee.browserViewState.value = browserViewState().copy(showDuckChatHistoryOption = false)
+        whenever(mockDuckAiFeatureState.nativeDuckAiSidebar).thenReturn(MutableStateFlow(false))
         whenever(mockDuckChatJSHelper.onNativeAction(NativeAction.SIDEBAR)).thenReturn(expectedEvent)
 
-        testee.openDuckChatHistory()
+        testee.onDuckChatSidebarButtonPressed()
 
         assertCommandNotIssued<Command.LaunchDuckChatHistory>()
         testee.subscriptionEventDataFlow.test {
@@ -11943,6 +12006,26 @@ class BrowserTabViewModelTest {
         }
     }
 
+    @Test
+    fun whenOpenDuckChatSidebarThenSidebarSubscriptionEventEmitted() = runTest {
+        val expectedEvent = SubscriptionEventData(
+            featureName = "event1",
+            subscriptionName = "subscription1",
+            params = JSONObject(),
+        )
+        whenever(mockDuckChatJSHelper.onNativeAction(NativeAction.SIDEBAR)).thenReturn(expectedEvent)
+
+        testee.openDuckChatSidebar()
+
+        testee.subscriptionEventDataFlow.test {
+            val emittedEvent = awaitItem()
+            assertEquals(expectedEvent.featureName, emittedEvent.featureName)
+            assertEquals(expectedEvent.subscriptionName, emittedEvent.subscriptionName)
+            assertEquals(expectedEvent.params.toString(), emittedEvent.params.toString())
+            cancelAndIgnoreRemainingEvents()
+        }
+    }
+
     @Test
     fun whenDuckChatNativeSettingsRequested() = runTest {
         val expectedEvent = SubscriptionEventData(
diff --git a/app/src/test/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/PendingModeSwitchTest.kt b/app/src/test/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/PendingModeSwitchTest.kt
index 9367691aa09e..d154749d637d 100644
--- a/app/src/test/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/PendingModeSwitchTest.kt
+++ b/app/src/test/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/PendingModeSwitchTest.kt
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import android.content.Intent
 import androidx.test.ext.junit.runners.AndroidJUnit4
 import com.duckduckgo.app.pixels.BrowserModeSwitchSource
 import com.duckduckgo.browsermode.api.BrowserMode
+import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.api.InputMode
 import org.junit.Assert.assertEquals
 import org.junit.Assert.assertNull
 import org.junit.Assert.assertTrue
@@ -53,6 +54,7 @@ class PendingModeSwitchTest {
                 sourceTabId = "tab-123",
                 skipHome = true,
                 isExternal = true,
+                inputModeTarget = InputMode.SEARCH,
             ),
             source = BrowserModeSwitchSource.NEW_TAB,
         )
diff --git a/app/src/test/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/nativeinput/RealNativeInputManagerTest.kt b/app/src/test/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/nativeinput/RealNativeInputManagerTest.kt
index 6c58125978e7..a88c916fa0e1 100644
--- a/app/src/test/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/nativeinput/RealNativeInputManagerTest.kt
+++ b/app/src/test/java/com/duckduckgo/app/browser/nativeinput/RealNativeInputManagerTest.kt
@@ -430,6 +430,7 @@ class RealNativeInputManagerTest {
                 onClearAutocomplete = {},
                 onStopTapped = {},
             ),
+            forceImageGeneration = false,
         )
         return widget
     }
@@ -443,6 +444,7 @@ class RealNativeInputManagerTest {
             currentTabUrl = emptyFlow(),
             query = "",
             callbacks = mock<NativeInputCallbacks>(),
+            forceImageGeneration = false,
         )
     }
 
diff --git a/browser-api/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/app/tabs/BrowserNav.kt b/browser-api/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/app/tabs/BrowserNav.kt
index 064a752c9d81..7baa90aaa894 100644
--- a/browser-api/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/app/tabs/BrowserNav.kt
+++ b/browser-api/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/app/tabs/BrowserNav.kt
@@ -32,7 +32,18 @@ interface BrowserNav {
      */
     fun openInNewTab(context: Context, url: String, sourceTabId: String? = null): Intent
     fun openInCurrentTab(context: Context, url: String): Intent
-    fun openDuckChat(context: Context, hasSessionActive: Boolean = false, duckChatUrl: String): Intent
+
+    /**
+     * Returns an Intent that opens Duck.ai full screen in a new tab.
+     *
+     * @param forceImageGeneration when true, the new tab's native input preselects the image-generation tool.
+     */
+    fun openDuckChat(
+        context: Context,
+        hasSessionActive: Boolean = false,
+        duckChatUrl: String,
+        forceImageGeneration: Boolean = false,
+    ): Intent
     fun closeDuckChat(context: Context): Intent
 
     /**
diff --git a/browser/browser-ui/src/main/res/values/donottranslate.xml b/browser/browser-ui/src/main/res/values/donottranslate.xml
index a14975a05bc0..8ce3151562f9 100644
--- a/browser/browser-ui/src/main/res/values/donottranslate.xml
+++ b/browser/browser-ui/src/main/res/values/donottranslate.xml
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@
     <string name="browserMenuChats">Chats</string>
 
     <string name="chatMenuPopupNewVoiceChat">New Voice Chat</string>
+    <string name="chatMenuPopupNewImage">New Image</string>
     <string name="chatMenuPopupNewTab">New Tab</string>
+    <string name="chatMenuPopupNewSearch">New Search</string>
     <string name="chatMenuPopupNewFireTab">New Fire Tab</string>
 </resources>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/duckchat/duckchat-api/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/api/DuckAiFeatureState.kt b/duckchat/duckchat-api/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/api/DuckAiFeatureState.kt
index 9bb85232491e..82ec2ffb2221 100644
--- a/duckchat/duckchat-api/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/api/DuckAiFeatureState.kt
+++ b/duckchat/duckchat-api/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/api/DuckAiFeatureState.kt
@@ -80,4 +80,10 @@ interface DuckAiFeatureState {
      * [showInputScreen] (which is computed with `&& !isNativeInputFieldEnabled`).
      */
     val nativeInputFieldEnabled: StateFlow<Boolean>
+
+    /**
+     * Indicates whether the Duck.ai sidebar button should open the native chat history screen
+     * instead of the legacy web sidebar.
+     */
+    val nativeDuckAiSidebar: StateFlow<Boolean>
 }
diff --git a/duckchat/duckchat-api/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/api/DuckChat.kt b/duckchat/duckchat-api/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/api/DuckChat.kt
index 9e2b39df6c36..ff8e9f9a5bf7 100644
--- a/duckchat/duckchat-api/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/api/DuckChat.kt
+++ b/duckchat/duckchat-api/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/api/DuckChat.kt
@@ -203,4 +203,12 @@ interface DuckChat {
      * attributed back to the picker.
      */
     suspend fun onAddressBarPickerDuckAiSelected()
+
+    /**
+     * Opens Duck.ai in a new chat tab from [entryPoint] with the image-generation tool preselected on
+     * the native input. When the currently selected model can't generate images, first switches the
+     * (global) model selection to an available image-capable model; falls back to a normal new chat when
+     * no accessible model supports image generation.
+     */
+    fun openDuckChatImageGeneration(entryPoint: DuckChatEntryPoint)
 }
diff --git a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/RealDuckChat.kt b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/RealDuckChat.kt
index b1744a7042cb..4a46c09dd008 100644
--- a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/RealDuckChat.kt
+++ b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/RealDuckChat.kt
@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@ import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.api.InputMode
 import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.api.nativeinput.NativeInputState
 import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.impl.feature.AIChatImageUploadFeature
 import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.impl.feature.DuckChatFeature
+import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.impl.models.DuckAiModelManager
+import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.impl.models.Tool
 import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.impl.pixel.DuckChatPixels
 import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.impl.pixel.toPixelValue
 import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.impl.repository.AddressBarPickerAttributionRepository
@@ -188,6 +190,9 @@ interface DuckChatInternal : DuckChat {
     /** Single source of truth for the Duck.ai chat URL shape. */
     fun buildChatUrl(chatId: String): String
 
+    /** Returns the Duck.ai URL that opens with the chat protections panel open (e.g. https://duck.ai/chat?chatProtection=open). */
+    fun getChatProtectionUrl(): String
+
     /**
      * Calls onClose when a close event is emitted.
      */
@@ -479,6 +484,7 @@ class RealDuckChat @Inject constructor(
     private val voiceSessionStateManager: VoiceSessionStateManager,
     private val chatSuggestionsStore: ChatSuggestionsStore,
     private val duckAiTabSessionRepository: DuckAiTabSessionRepository,
+    private val duckAiModelManager: DuckAiModelManager,
 ) : DuckChatInternal,
     DuckAiFeatureState,
     DuckChatInputModeState,
@@ -496,6 +502,7 @@ class RealDuckChat @Inject constructor(
     private val _showModelPickerEvents = MutableSharedFlow<String>(extraBufferCapacity = 1)
     private val _editPromptRequests = MutableSharedFlow<EditPromptRequest>(extraBufferCapacity = 1)
     private val _nativeInputFieldEnabled = MutableStateFlow(false)
+    private val _nativeDuckAiSidebar = MutableStateFlow(false)
     private val _nativeChatInputEnabled = MutableStateFlow(false)
     private val _nativeInputNavBarEnabled = MutableStateFlow(false)
     private val _showVoiceSearchToggle = MutableStateFlow(false)
@@ -723,6 +730,8 @@ class RealDuckChat @Inject constructor(
 
     override val nativeInputFieldEnabled: StateFlow<Boolean> = _nativeInputFieldEnabled.asStateFlow()
 
+    override val nativeDuckAiSidebar: StateFlow<Boolean> = _nativeDuckAiSidebar.asStateFlow()
+
     override val chatState: StateFlow<ChatState> = _chatState.asStateFlow()
 
     override fun isImageUploadEnabled(): Boolean = isImageUploadEnabled
@@ -748,6 +757,30 @@ class RealDuckChat @Inject constructor(
         addressBarPickerAttributionRepository.onPickerDuckAiSelected()
     }
 
+    override fun openDuckChatImageGeneration(entryPoint: DuckChatEntryPoint) {
+        logcat { "Duck.ai: openDuckChatImageGeneration" }
+        appCoroutineScope.launch(dispatchers.io()) {
+            // Only force image generation once an image-capable model is selected, otherwise the tool
+            // would be unavailable. The new tab this opens consumes the flag when its input configures.
+            val forceImageGeneration = ensureImageCapableModelSelected()
+            withContext(dispatchers.main()) {
+                reportDuckChatEntry(entryPoint, opensNewTab = true, hasPrompt = false)
+                openDuckChat(emptyMap(), forceNewSession = true, forceImageGeneration = forceImageGeneration)
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun ensureImageCapableModelSelected(): Boolean {
+        val state = duckAiModelManager.modelState.value
+        val selectedModel = state.models.firstOrNull { it.id == state.selectedModelId }
+        if (selectedModel?.supportsTool(Tool.IMAGE_GENERATION) == true) return true
+        val imageCapableModel = state.models.firstOrNull {
+            it.isAccessible && it.supportsTool(Tool.IMAGE_GENERATION)
+        } ?: return false
+        duckAiModelManager.selectModel(imageCapableModel)
+        return true
+    }
+
     override fun openDuckChatWithPrefill(query: String, entryPoint: DuckChatEntryPoint) {
         logcat { "Duck.ai: openDuckChatWithPrefill query $query" }
         reportDuckChatEntry(entryPoint, opensNewTab = true, hasPrompt = false)
@@ -766,6 +799,9 @@ class RealDuckChat @Inject constructor(
 
     override fun getDuckChatSettingsUrl(): String = resolveDuckAiUrl(DUCK_CHAT_SETTINGS_WEB_LINK)
 
+    override fun getChatProtectionUrl(): String =
+        appendParameters(mapOf(CHAT_PROTECTION_QUERY_NAME to CHAT_PROTECTION_QUERY_VALUE) + nativeChatInputParameters(), getDuckChatLink())
+
     private fun addChatParameters(
         query: String,
         autoPrompt: Boolean,
@@ -826,6 +862,7 @@ class RealDuckChat @Inject constructor(
     private fun openDuckChat(
         parameters: Map<String, String>,
         forceNewSession: Boolean = false,
+        forceImageGeneration: Boolean = false,
     ) {
         val url = appendParameters(parameters + nativeChatInputParameters(), getDuckChatLink())
         appCoroutineScope.launch(dispatchers.io()) {
@@ -837,7 +874,7 @@ class RealDuckChat @Inject constructor(
 
             withContext(dispatchers.main()) {
                 logcat { "Duck.ai: restoring Duck.ai session $url hasSessionActive $hasSessionActive" }
-                openDuckChatSession(url, hasSessionActive)
+                openDuckChatSession(url, hasSessionActive, forceImageGeneration)
             }
         }
     }
@@ -845,11 +882,12 @@ class RealDuckChat @Inject constructor(
     private fun openDuckChatSession(
         url: String,
         hasSessionActive: Boolean,
+        forceImageGeneration: Boolean = false,
     ) {
         // if a new query was submitted we force a new session
         // we want to lose the context of the previous one if the user wanted a new query from outside Duck.ai
         browserNav
-            .openDuckChat(context, duckChatUrl = url, hasSessionActive = hasSessionActive)
+            .openDuckChat(context, duckChatUrl = url, hasSessionActive = hasSessionActive, forceImageGeneration = forceImageGeneration)
             .apply {
                 flags = Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK
                 context.startActivity(this)
@@ -1040,6 +1078,7 @@ class RealDuckChat @Inject constructor(
             isImageUploadEnabled = imageUploadFeature.self().isEnabled()
             isStandaloneMigrationEnabled = duckChatFeature.standaloneMigration().isEnabled()
             _nativeInputFieldEnabled.value = duckChatFeature.nativeInputField().isEnabled()
+            _nativeDuckAiSidebar.value = duckChatFeature.nativeDuckAiSidebar().isEnabled()
 
             keepSessionAliveInMinutes = settingsJson?.sessionTimeoutMinutes ?: DEFAULT_SESSION_ALIVE
 
@@ -1139,6 +1178,8 @@ class RealDuckChat @Inject constructor(
         private const val PROMPT_QUERY_VALUE = "1"
         private const val PLACEMENT_QUERY_NAME = "placement"
         private const val PLACEMENT_QUERY_VALUE = "sidebar"
+        private const val CHAT_PROTECTION_QUERY_NAME = "chatProtection"
+        private const val CHAT_PROTECTION_QUERY_VALUE = "open"
         private const val BANG_QUERY_NAME = "bang"
         private const val BANG_QUERY_VALUE = "true"
         private const val MODE_QUERY_NAME = "mode"
diff --git a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/feature/DuckChatFeature.kt b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/feature/DuckChatFeature.kt
index 4d3cbc5aec54..25fea61ef252 100644
--- a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/feature/DuckChatFeature.kt
+++ b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/feature/DuckChatFeature.kt
@@ -306,4 +306,12 @@ interface DuckChatFeature {
      */
     @Toggle.DefaultValue(DefaultFeatureValue.FALSE)
     fun updatedPickers(): Toggle
+
+    /**
+     * @return `true` when the Duck.ai sidebar button should open the native chat history screen
+     * instead of the legacy web sidebar.
+     * If the remote feature is not present defaults to `internal`.
+     */
+    @Toggle.DefaultValue(DefaultFeatureValue.INTERNAL)
+    fun nativeDuckAiSidebar(): Toggle
 }
diff --git a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/history/ChatHistoryFragment.kt b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/history/ChatHistoryFragment.kt
index ef06b06cbeff..23fe37b0ccd9 100644
--- a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/history/ChatHistoryFragment.kt
+++ b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/history/ChatHistoryFragment.kt
@@ -92,6 +92,8 @@ class ChatHistoryFragment : DuckDuckGoFragment(R.layout.fragment_chat_history) {
         ViewModelProvider(this, viewModelFactory)[ChatHistoryViewModel::class.java]
     }
 
+    private var overflowMenuEnabled = false
+
     private val adapter = ChatHistoryAdapter(
         onChatClicked = { item -> viewModel.onChatRowClicked(item.chatId) },
         onChatMoreClicked = { item, anchor -> showRowPopup(item, anchor) },
@@ -133,6 +135,13 @@ class ChatHistoryFragment : DuckDuckGoFragment(R.layout.fragment_chat_history) {
         binding.toolbar.inflateMenu(R.menu.menu_chat_history_default)
         binding.toolbar.setOnMenuItemClickListener(::onMenuItemClicked)
 
+        viewLifecycleOwner.lifecycleScope.launch {
+            overflowMenuEnabled = withContext(dispatchers.io()) { duckChatFeature.nativeDuckAiSidebar().isEnabled() }
+            if (!viewModel.isSelectMode() && !binding.searchBar.isVisible) {
+                binding.toolbar.menu.findItem(R.id.chat_history_action_overflow)?.isVisible = overflowMenuEnabled
+            }
+        }
+
         binding.chatHistoryList.layoutManager = LinearLayoutManager(requireContext())
         binding.chatHistoryList.adapter = adapter
 
@@ -182,6 +191,14 @@ class ChatHistoryFragment : DuckDuckGoFragment(R.layout.fragment_chat_history) {
         when (event) {
             is ChatHistoryViewModel.NavigationEvent.OpenChat ->
                 startActivity(browserNav.openInNewTab(requireContext(), event.url, event.sourceTabId))
+            is ChatHistoryViewModel.NavigationEvent.OpenChatProtection ->
+                startActivity(
+                    if (event.inNewTab) {
+                        browserNav.openInNewTab(requireContext(), event.url, event.sourceTabId)
+                    } else {
+                        browserNav.openInCurrentTab(requireContext(), event.url)
+                    },
+                )
             is ChatHistoryViewModel.NavigationEvent.OpenRename -> openRenameScreen(event.chatId, event.currentTitle)
             is ChatHistoryViewModel.NavigationEvent.ShowDownloadComplete -> showDownloadCompleteSnackbar(event.fileName)
             is ChatHistoryViewModel.NavigationEvent.ShowBulkDownloadComplete -> showBulkDownloadCompleteSnackbar(event.count)
@@ -287,6 +304,7 @@ class ChatHistoryFragment : DuckDuckGoFragment(R.layout.fragment_chat_history) {
         binding.toolbar.menu.findItem(R.id.chat_history_action_new)?.isVisible = true
         binding.toolbar.menu.findItem(R.id.chat_history_action_search)?.isVisible = true
         binding.toolbar.menu.findItem(R.id.chat_history_action_download_selected)?.isVisible = false
+        binding.toolbar.menu.findItem(R.id.chat_history_action_overflow)?.isVisible = overflowMenuEnabled
     }
 
     private fun applySelectModeToolbar(count: Int) {
@@ -298,6 +316,7 @@ class ChatHistoryFragment : DuckDuckGoFragment(R.layout.fragment_chat_history) {
         binding.toolbar.menu.findItem(R.id.chat_history_action_new)?.isVisible = false
         binding.toolbar.menu.findItem(R.id.chat_history_action_search)?.isVisible = false
         binding.toolbar.menu.findItem(R.id.chat_history_action_download_selected)?.isVisible = true
+        binding.toolbar.menu.findItem(R.id.chat_history_action_overflow)?.isVisible = false
     }
 
     private fun buildEntries(
@@ -360,6 +379,10 @@ class ChatHistoryFragment : DuckDuckGoFragment(R.layout.fragment_chat_history) {
             viewModel.onDownloadSelectedRequested()
             true
         }
+        R.id.chat_history_action_overflow -> {
+            binding.toolbar.findViewById<View>(R.id.chat_history_action_overflow)?.let { showOverflowPopup(it) }
+            true
+        }
         else -> false
     }
 
@@ -378,6 +401,20 @@ class ChatHistoryFragment : DuckDuckGoFragment(R.layout.fragment_chat_history) {
         // onBackPressedCallback.isEnabled is reset by render() — select mode may still be active.
     }
 
+    private fun showOverflowPopup(anchor: View) {
+        val popup = PopupMenu(layoutInflater, R.layout.popup_chat_history_overflow)
+        val view = popup.contentView
+        val selectChats = view.findViewById<PopupMenuItemView>(R.id.selectChats)
+        if (viewModel.uiState.value is ChatHistoryUiState.Loaded) {
+            selectChats.show()
+            popup.onMenuItemClicked(selectChats) { viewModel.onEnterSelectMode() }
+        } else {
+            selectChats.gone()
+        }
+        popup.onMenuItemClicked(view.findViewById(R.id.chatsProtection)) { viewModel.onChatsProtectionClicked() }
+        popup.show(binding.root, anchor)
+    }
+
     private fun showRowPopup(item: ChatHistoryItem, anchor: View) {
         viewLifecycleOwner.lifecycleScope.launch {
             val isRenameEnabled = withContext(dispatchers.io()) { duckChatFeature.renameChat().isEnabled() }
diff --git a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/history/ChatHistoryViewModel.kt b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/history/ChatHistoryViewModel.kt
index dfce85a73f31..1b9f91334ad5 100644
--- a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/history/ChatHistoryViewModel.kt
+++ b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/history/ChatHistoryViewModel.kt
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 package com.duckduckgo.duckchat.impl.history
 
+import androidx.core.net.toUri
 import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
 import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
 import com.duckduckgo.anvil.annotations.ContributesViewModel
@@ -287,6 +288,20 @@ class ChatHistoryViewModel @Inject constructor(
         controls.update { it.copy(mode = Mode.Selecting(emptySet())) }
     }
 
+    fun onChatsProtectionClicked() {
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            val sourceTab = tabRepository.getSelectedTab()
+            val fromChatTab = sourceTab?.url?.let { duckChat.isDuckChatUrl(it.toUri()) } == true
+            navigationChannel.trySend(
+                NavigationEvent.OpenChatProtection(
+                    url = duckChat.getChatProtectionUrl(),
+                    sourceTabId = sourceTab?.tabId,
+                    inNewTab = !fromChatTab,
+                ),
+            )
+        }
+    }
+
     fun onSelectionToggled(chatId: String) {
         controls.update { c ->
             val mode = c.mode as? Mode.Selecting ?: return@update c
@@ -408,6 +423,7 @@ class ChatHistoryViewModel @Inject constructor(
 
     sealed interface NavigationEvent {
         data class OpenChat(val url: String, val sourceTabId: String?) : NavigationEvent
+        data class OpenChatProtection(val url: String, val sourceTabId: String?, val inNewTab: Boolean) : NavigationEvent
         data class OpenRename(val chatId: String, val currentTitle: String) : NavigationEvent
         data class ShowDownloadComplete(val fileName: String) : NavigationEvent
         data class ShowBulkDownloadComplete(val count: Int) : NavigationEvent
diff --git a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/ui/NativeInputModeWidgetViewModel.kt b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/ui/NativeInputModeWidgetViewModel.kt
index 306e5a1318a6..b37c5471841c 100644
--- a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/ui/NativeInputModeWidgetViewModel.kt
+++ b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/ui/NativeInputModeWidgetViewModel.kt
@@ -541,12 +541,17 @@ class NativeInputModeWidgetViewModel @Inject constructor(
         }
     }
 
-    fun configure(tabId: String, isDuckAiMode: Boolean, isBottom: Boolean) {
+    fun configure(tabId: String, isDuckAiMode: Boolean, isBottom: Boolean, forceImageGeneration: Boolean = false) {
         activeTabId.value = tabId
         val context = if (isDuckAiMode) NativeInputState.InputContext.DUCK_AI else NativeInputState.InputContext.BROWSER
         val position = if (isBottom) NativeInputState.InputPosition.BOTTOM else NativeInputState.InputPosition.TOP
         widgetConfig.value = WidgetConfig(inputContext = context, inputPosition = position)
         replayPendingState(tabId)
+        // An "open Duck.ai for image generation" launch preselects image generation on the new tab.
+        // The image-capable model was already selected when the launch was requested.
+        if (isDuckAiMode && forceImageGeneration) {
+            nativeInputStatePublisher.update(tabId) { it.copy(selectedTool = Tool.IMAGE_GENERATION.rawValue) }
+        }
     }
 
     private fun replayPendingState(tabId: String) {
diff --git a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/ui/nativeinput/views/NativeInputModeWidget.kt b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/ui/nativeinput/views/NativeInputModeWidget.kt
index 004e4617c3f0..b6a1d7a5d3fc 100644
--- a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/ui/nativeinput/views/NativeInputModeWidget.kt
+++ b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/java/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/ui/nativeinput/views/NativeInputModeWidget.kt
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ interface NativeInputWidget {
         onPageContextRemoved: () -> Unit,
     )
     fun storePendingPrompt(query: String)
-    fun configure(tabId: String, isDuckAiMode: Boolean, isBottom: Boolean)
+    fun configure(tabId: String, isDuckAiMode: Boolean, isBottom: Boolean, forceImageGeneration: Boolean = false)
     fun configureContextual(tabId: String)
     fun configureForEdit(sessionId: String)
     fun adoptEditAttachments(images: List<SubmittedImage>, files: List<SubmittedFile>)
@@ -1677,10 +1677,10 @@ class NativeInputModeWidget @JvmOverloads constructor(
         optionsView?.clearSelection()
     }
 
-    override fun configure(tabId: String, isDuckAiMode: Boolean, isBottom: Boolean) {
+    override fun configure(tabId: String, isDuckAiMode: Boolean, isBottom: Boolean, forceImageGeneration: Boolean) {
         activeTabId = tabId
         doOnAttach {
-            viewModel.configure(tabId, isDuckAiMode, isBottom)
+            viewModel.configure(tabId, isDuckAiMode, isBottom, forceImageGeneration)
             if (isDuckAiMode) selectChatTab()
         }
     }
diff --git a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/res/drawable/ic_shield_check_24.xml b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/res/drawable/ic_shield_check_24.xml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..f1ad8db0de68
--- /dev/null
+++ b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/res/drawable/ic_shield_check_24.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+<vector xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
+    android:width="24dp"
+    android:height="24dp"
+    android:viewportWidth="24"
+    android:viewportHeight="24">
+  <path
+      android:pathData="M12,2c1.078,0 2.187,0.36 3.125,1.267 0.608,0.588 1.626,1.2 3.042,1.651 0.919,0.294 1.86,0.591 2.557,1.235 0.744,0.688 1.118,1.669 1.224,3.097l0.025,0.389c0.103,1.842 -0.035,4.028 -1.376,6.443l-0.307,0.521c-1.063,1.715 -2.638,3.053 -4.162,3.96C14.626,21.459 13.062,22 11.98,22c-1.083,0 -2.638,-0.543 -4.13,-1.438 -1.514,-0.909 -3.078,-2.247 -4.14,-3.959 -1.733,-2.796 -1.81,-5.306 -1.659,-7.353l0.053,-0.515c0.153,-1.153 0.52,-1.98 1.172,-2.582 0.696,-0.644 1.638,-0.941 2.557,-1.235 1.415,-0.452 2.433,-1.063 3.041,-1.651C9.813,2.359 10.923,2 12,2M12,3.505c-0.726,0 -1.448,0.233 -2.078,0.843 -0.817,0.79 -2.058,1.501 -3.63,2.004 -0.998,0.319 -1.588,0.531 -1.993,0.906 -0.357,0.33 -0.655,0.878 -0.746,2.102v0.001c-0.14,1.884 -0.064,4.03 1.435,6.448h0.001c0.906,1.46 2.272,2.644 3.637,3.463 1.388,0.832 2.664,1.223 3.355,1.223s1.979,-0.392 3.377,-1.224c1.375,-0.82 2.749,-2.002 3.654,-3.462 1.5,-2.418 1.575,-4.563 1.436,-6.449 -0.09,-1.224 -0.388,-1.772 -0.745,-2.102 -0.405,-0.374 -0.996,-0.587 -1.994,-0.906 -1.574,-0.502 -2.814,-1.215 -3.63,-2.004 -0.63,-0.61 -1.352,-0.843 -2.079,-0.843M15.468,8.912c0.29,-0.298 0.767,-0.304 1.064,-0.014s0.304,0.766 0.014,1.064l-5.133,5.271c-0.286,0.294 -0.754,0.305 -1.053,0.025l-2.88,-2.7c-0.304,-0.283 -0.319,-0.759 -0.035,-1.062s0.76,-0.32 1.063,-0.035l2.341,2.193z"
+      android:fillColor="?attr/daxColorPrimaryIcon"/>
+</vector>
diff --git a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/res/layout/popup_chat_history_overflow.xml b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/res/layout/popup_chat_history_overflow.xml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..e0cbc58746e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/res/layout/popup_chat_history_overflow.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<!--
+  ~ Copyright (c) 2026 DuckDuckGo
+  ~
+  ~ Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+  ~ you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+  ~ You may obtain a copy of the License at
+  ~
+  ~     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+  ~
+  ~ Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+  ~ distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+  ~ WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+  ~ See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+  ~ limitations under the License.
+  -->
+
+<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
+    xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
+    android:layout_width="match_parent"
+    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+    android:background="@drawable/popup_menu_bg"
+    android:orientation="vertical">
+
+    <com.duckduckgo.common.ui.view.PopupMenuItemView
+        android:id="@+id/selectChats"
+        android:layout_width="match_parent"
+        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+        app:leadingIcon="@drawable/ic_chevron_circle_down_24"
+        app:primaryText="@string/duck_ai_chat_history_overflow_select_chats" />
+
+    <com.duckduckgo.common.ui.view.PopupMenuItemView
+        android:id="@+id/chatsProtection"
+        android:layout_width="match_parent"
+        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+        app:leadingIcon="@drawable/ic_shield_check_24"
+        app:primaryText="@string/duck_ai_chat_history_overflow_chats_protection" />
+
+</LinearLayout>
diff --git a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/res/layout/popup_chat_menu.xml b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/res/layout/popup_chat_menu.xml
index 1163a6bed715..0170af2816c8 100644
--- a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/res/layout/popup_chat_menu.xml
+++ b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/res/layout/popup_chat_menu.xml
@@ -35,6 +35,14 @@
         app:primaryText="@string/chatMenuPopupNewVoiceChat"
         app:leadingIcon="@drawable/ic_voice_24" />
 
+    <com.duckduckgo.common.ui.view.PopupMenuItemView
+        android:id="@+id/chatMenuPopupNewImage"
+        android:layout_width="match_parent"
+        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+        android:visibility="gone"
+        app:primaryText="@string/chatMenuPopupNewImage"
+        app:leadingIcon="@drawable/ic_image_24" />
+
     <com.duckduckgo.common.ui.view.divider.HorizontalDivider
         app:defaultPadding="false"
         android:layout_width="match_parent"
diff --git a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/res/menu/menu_chat_history_default.xml b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/res/menu/menu_chat_history_default.xml
index 7c1010ad4e5b..25a7805d0ab0 100644
--- a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/res/menu/menu_chat_history_default.xml
+++ b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/res/menu/menu_chat_history_default.xml
@@ -42,4 +42,11 @@
         android:title="@string/duck_ai_chat_history_action_fire_content_description"
         app:showAsAction="always" />
 
+    <item
+        android:id="@+id/chat_history_action_overflow"
+        android:icon="@drawable/ic_menu_vertical_24"
+        android:title="@string/duck_ai_chat_history_action_overflow_content_description"
+        android:visible="false"
+        app:showAsAction="always" />
+
 </menu>
diff --git a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/res/values/donottranslate.xml b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/res/values/donottranslate.xml
index 1b53bb52c004..2246c8474f1f 100644
--- a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/res/values/donottranslate.xml
+++ b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/main/res/values/donottranslate.xml
@@ -39,4 +39,8 @@
     <!-- Duck.ai on/off, shown in the onboarding Duck.ai state choice -->
     <string name="duckChatOnboardingDuckAiStateOn">Turn Duck.ai On</string>
     <string name="duckChatOnboardingDuckAiStateOff">Keep Duck.ai Off</string>
+
+    <!-- Chat history overflow (three-dot) menu -->
+    <string name="duck_ai_chat_history_overflow_select_chats">Select Chats</string>
+    <string name="duck_ai_chat_history_overflow_chats_protection">Chat Protection</string>
 </resources>
diff --git a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/test/kotlin/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/RealDuckChatTest.kt b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/test/kotlin/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/RealDuckChatTest.kt
index ed9632a3e497..7c39516b31a0 100644
--- a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/test/kotlin/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/RealDuckChatTest.kt
+++ b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/test/kotlin/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/RealDuckChatTest.kt
@@ -40,6 +40,10 @@ import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.api.InputMode
 import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.api.nativeinput.NativeInputState
 import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.impl.feature.AIChatImageUploadFeature
 import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.impl.feature.DuckChatFeature
+import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.impl.models.AIChatModel
+import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.impl.models.DuckAiModelManager
+import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.impl.models.ModelState
+import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.impl.models.Tool
 import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.impl.pixel.DuckChatPixels
 import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.impl.repository.AddressBarPickerAttributionRepository
 import com.duckduckgo.duckchat.impl.repository.DuckChatFeatureRepository
@@ -109,6 +113,7 @@ class RealDuckChatTest {
     private val mockVoiceSessionStateManager: VoiceSessionStateManager = mock()
     private val chatSuggestionsStore: ChatSuggestionsStore = mock()
     private val mockDuckAiTabSessionRepository: DuckAiTabSessionRepository = mock()
+    private val mockDuckAiModelManager: DuckAiModelManager = mock()
 
     private lateinit var testee: RealDuckChat
 
@@ -153,11 +158,12 @@ class RealDuckChatTest {
                 mockVoiceSessionStateManager,
                 chatSuggestionsStore,
                 mockDuckAiTabSessionRepository,
+                mockDuckAiModelManager,
             ),
         )
         coroutineRule.testScope.advanceUntilIdle()
 
-        whenever(mockBrowserNav.openDuckChat(any(), any(), any())).thenReturn(mockIntent)
+        whenever(mockBrowserNav.openDuckChat(any(), any(), any(), any())).thenReturn(mockIntent)
         whenever(mockBrowserNav.closeDuckChat(any())).thenReturn(mockIntent)
     }
 
@@ -1974,6 +1980,67 @@ class RealDuckChatTest {
         assertFalse(results[1])
     }
 
+    @Test
+    fun whenOpenDuckChatImageGenerationAndCurrentModelSupportsItThenModelNotSwitchedAndOpensWithImageGenerationForced() = runTest {
+        val current = aiModel("m1", tools = listOf(Tool.IMAGE_GENERATION))
+        whenever(mockDuckAiModelManager.modelState).thenReturn(
+            MutableStateFlow(ModelState(models = listOf(current), selectedModelId = "m1")),
+        )
+
+        testee.openDuckChatImageGeneration(DuckChatEntryPoint.BROWSING_MENU_WEBPAGE)
+        coroutineRule.testScope.advanceUntilIdle()
+
+        verify(mockDuckAiModelManager, never()).selectModel(any())
+        verify(mockBrowserNav).openDuckChat(any(), any(), any(), forceImageGeneration = eq(true))
+        verify(mockContext).startActivity(mockIntent)
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun whenOpenDuckChatImageGenerationAndCurrentModelUnsupportedThenSwitchesToCapableModelAndForcesImageGeneration() = runTest {
+        val current = aiModel("m1")
+        val capable = aiModel("m2", tools = listOf(Tool.IMAGE_GENERATION))
+        whenever(mockDuckAiModelManager.modelState).thenReturn(
+            MutableStateFlow(ModelState(models = listOf(current, capable), selectedModelId = "m1")),
+        )
+
+        testee.openDuckChatImageGeneration(DuckChatEntryPoint.BROWSING_MENU_WEBPAGE)
+        coroutineRule.testScope.advanceUntilIdle()
+
+        verify(mockDuckAiModelManager).selectModel(capable)
+        verify(mockBrowserNav).openDuckChat(any(), any(), any(), forceImageGeneration = eq(true))
+        verify(mockContext).startActivity(mockIntent)
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun whenOpenDuckChatImageGenerationAndNoAccessibleImageCapableModelThenDoesNotForceImageGenerationButStillOpens() = runTest {
+        val current = aiModel("m1")
+        val inaccessible = aiModel("m2", isAccessible = false, tools = listOf(Tool.IMAGE_GENERATION))
+        whenever(mockDuckAiModelManager.modelState).thenReturn(
+            MutableStateFlow(ModelState(models = listOf(current, inaccessible), selectedModelId = "m1")),
+        )
+
+        testee.openDuckChatImageGeneration(DuckChatEntryPoint.BROWSING_MENU_WEBPAGE)
+        coroutineRule.testScope.advanceUntilIdle()
+
+        verify(mockDuckAiModelManager, never()).selectModel(any())
+        verify(mockBrowserNav).openDuckChat(any(), any(), any(), forceImageGeneration = eq(false))
+        verify(mockContext).startActivity(mockIntent)
+    }
+
+    private fun aiModel(
+        id: String,
+        isAccessible: Boolean = true,
+        tools: List<Tool> = emptyList(),
+    ) = AIChatModel(
+        id = id,
+        name = id,
+        displayName = id,
+        shortName = id,
+        accessTier = emptyList(),
+        isAccessible = isAccessible,
+        supportedTools = tools,
+    )
+
     private suspend fun enableChatHistoryFlags() {
         duckChatFeature.self().setRawStoredState(State(enable = true))
         duckChatFeature.useNativeStorageChatData().setRawStoredState(State(enable = true))
diff --git a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/test/kotlin/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/contextual/DuckChatContextualViewModelTest.kt b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/test/kotlin/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/contextual/DuckChatContextualViewModelTest.kt
index 7608f3f45ed2..32d84dc53186 100644
--- a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/test/kotlin/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/contextual/DuckChatContextualViewModelTest.kt
+++ b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/test/kotlin/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/contextual/DuckChatContextualViewModelTest.kt
@@ -2729,6 +2729,7 @@ class DuckChatContextualViewModelTest {
         override suspend fun hasUserEnabledChatHistory(): Boolean = false
         override fun observeHasChatSuggestions(): Flow<Boolean> = emptyFlow()
         override suspend fun onAddressBarPickerDuckAiSelected() = Unit
+        override fun openDuckChatImageGeneration(entryPoint: DuckChatEntryPoint) = Unit
     }
 
     private class FakeDuckChatContextualDataStore : DuckChatContextualDataStore {
diff --git a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/test/kotlin/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/contextual/DuckChatContextualWebViewViewModelTest.kt b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/test/kotlin/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/contextual/DuckChatContextualWebViewViewModelTest.kt
index a8fa97aa2ad6..b457eb16edad 100644
--- a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/test/kotlin/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/contextual/DuckChatContextualWebViewViewModelTest.kt
+++ b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/test/kotlin/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/contextual/DuckChatContextualWebViewViewModelTest.kt
@@ -665,6 +665,7 @@ class DuckChatContextualWebViewViewModelTest {
         override suspend fun hasUserEnabledChatHistory(): Boolean = false
         override fun observeHasChatSuggestions(): Flow<Boolean> = emptyFlow()
         override suspend fun onAddressBarPickerDuckAiSelected() = Unit
+        override fun openDuckChatImageGeneration(entryPoint: DuckChatEntryPoint) = Unit
     }
 
     private class FakeDuckChatContextualDataStore : DuckChatContextualDataStore {
diff --git a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/test/kotlin/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/history/ChatHistoryViewModelTest.kt b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/test/kotlin/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/history/ChatHistoryViewModelTest.kt
index ee1a099f38dc..9b489be4e3f7 100644
--- a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/test/kotlin/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/history/ChatHistoryViewModelTest.kt
+++ b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/test/kotlin/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/history/ChatHistoryViewModelTest.kt
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 package com.duckduckgo.duckchat.impl.history
 
+import androidx.test.ext.junit.runners.AndroidJUnit4
 import app.cash.turbine.TurbineTestContext
 import app.cash.turbine.test
 import com.duckduckgo.app.statistics.pixels.Pixel
@@ -41,14 +42,17 @@ import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.Flow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.MutableStateFlow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.test.runTest
 import org.junit.Assert.assertEquals
+import org.junit.Assert.assertFalse
 import org.junit.Assert.assertTrue
 import org.junit.Rule
 import org.junit.Test
+import org.junit.runner.RunWith
 import org.mockito.kotlin.mock
 import org.mockito.kotlin.verify
 import org.mockito.kotlin.verifyNoInteractions
 import org.mockito.kotlin.whenever
 
+@RunWith(AndroidJUnit4::class)
 class ChatHistoryViewModelTest {
 
     @get:Rule
@@ -441,6 +445,38 @@ class ChatHistoryViewModelTest {
             }
         }
 
+    @Test
+    fun `onChatsProtectionClicked while on a duck ai chat tab reuses that tab`() =
+        coroutineRule.testScope.runTest {
+            whenever(tabRepository.getSelectedTab()).thenReturn(TabEntity(tabId = "chat-tab", url = "https://duck.ai/chat"))
+
+            viewModel.navigationEvents.test {
+                viewModel.onChatsProtectionClicked()
+
+                val event = awaitItem() as ChatHistoryViewModel.NavigationEvent.OpenChatProtection
+                assertEquals("https://duck.ai/chat?chatProtection=open", event.url)
+                assertEquals("chat-tab", event.sourceTabId)
+                assertFalse(event.inNewTab)
+                cancelAndIgnoreRemainingEvents()
+            }
+        }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `onChatsProtectionClicked from any other tab opens chat protection in a new tab`() =
+        coroutineRule.testScope.runTest {
+            whenever(tabRepository.getSelectedTab()).thenReturn(TabEntity(tabId = "web-tab", url = "https://example.com"))
+
+            viewModel.navigationEvents.test {
+                viewModel.onChatsProtectionClicked()
+
+                val event = awaitItem() as ChatHistoryViewModel.NavigationEvent.OpenChatProtection
+                assertEquals("https://duck.ai/chat?chatProtection=open", event.url)
+                assertEquals("web-tab", event.sourceTabId)
+                assertTrue(event.inNewTab)
+                cancelAndIgnoreRemainingEvents()
+            }
+        }
+
     @Test
     fun `onChatRowLongClicked in default mode enters select mode with the row pre-selected`() = runTest {
         source.value = listOf(item("a"), item("b"))
diff --git a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/test/kotlin/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/messaging/fakes/FakeDuckChat.kt b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/test/kotlin/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/messaging/fakes/FakeDuckChat.kt
index 60ce39968161..462e1a0e2ce0 100644
--- a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/test/kotlin/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/messaging/fakes/FakeDuckChat.kt
+++ b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/test/kotlin/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/messaging/fakes/FakeDuckChat.kt
@@ -135,6 +135,8 @@ class FakeDuckChat(
 
     override suspend fun onAddressBarPickerDuckAiSelected() { }
 
+    override fun openDuckChatImageGeneration(entryPoint: DuckChatEntryPoint) { }
+
     fun setEnabled(enabled: Boolean) {
         this.enabled = enabled
     }
diff --git a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/test/kotlin/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/messaging/fakes/FakeDuckChatInternal.kt b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/test/kotlin/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/messaging/fakes/FakeDuckChatInternal.kt
index 2b40d9163a01..4ef06b138dd0 100644
--- a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/test/kotlin/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/messaging/fakes/FakeDuckChatInternal.kt
+++ b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/test/kotlin/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/messaging/fakes/FakeDuckChatInternal.kt
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ class FakeDuckChatInternal(
 
     override fun getDuckChatSettingsUrl(): String = "https://duck.ai?settings=open"
 
-    override fun isDuckChatUrl(uri: Uri): Boolean = false
+    override fun isDuckChatUrl(uri: Uri): Boolean = uri.host == "duck.ai"
 
     override suspend fun wasOpenedBefore(): Boolean = false
 
@@ -233,8 +233,12 @@ class FakeDuckChatInternal(
 
     override suspend fun onAddressBarPickerDuckAiSelected() { }
 
+    override fun openDuckChatImageGeneration(entryPoint: DuckChatEntryPoint) { }
+
     override fun buildChatUrl(chatId: String): String = "https://duck.ai?chatID=$chatId"
 
+    override fun getChatProtectionUrl(): String = "https://duck.ai/chat?chatProtection=open"
+
     private val _defaultTogglePosition = MutableStateFlow<String?>(null)
 
     override suspend fun setDefaultTogglePosition(position: DefaultTogglePosition) {
diff --git a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/test/kotlin/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/ui/NativeInputModeWidgetViewModelTest.kt b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/test/kotlin/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/ui/NativeInputModeWidgetViewModelTest.kt
index 72f98504e98c..5ca28767ae9d 100644
--- a/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/test/kotlin/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/ui/NativeInputModeWidgetViewModelTest.kt
+++ b/duckchat/duckchat-impl/src/test/kotlin/com/duckduckgo/duckchat/impl/ui/NativeInputModeWidgetViewModelTest.kt
@@ -437,6 +437,30 @@ class NativeInputModeWidgetViewModelTest {
         assertEquals(NativeInputState.ToggleSelection.DUCK_AI, state.toggleSelection)
     }
 
+    @Test
+    fun whenConfigureDuckAiModeAndForceImageGenerationThenImageToolSelectedForTab() = runTest {
+        testee.configure(tabId = "tab-1", isDuckAiMode = true, isBottom = false, forceImageGeneration = true)
+
+        assertEquals(
+            Tool.IMAGE_GENERATION.rawValue,
+            nativeInputStateProvider.stateForTab("tab-1").value.selectedTool,
+        )
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun whenConfigureDuckAiModeAndNotForceImageGenerationThenNoToolSelected() = runTest {
+        testee.configure(tabId = "tab-1", isDuckAiMode = true, isBottom = false, forceImageGeneration = false)
+
+        assertNull(nativeInputStateProvider.stateForTab("tab-1").value.selectedTool)
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun whenConfigureBrowserModeAndForceImageGenerationThenNoToolSelected() = runTest {
+        testee.configure(tabId = "tab-1", isDuckAiMode = false, isBottom = false, forceImageGeneration = true)
+
+        assertNull(nativeInputStateProvider.stateForTab("tab-1").value.selectedTool)
+    }
+
     @Test
     fun whenEditRequestTargetsThisTabThenItIsEmitted() = runTest {
         testee.configure(tabId = "tab-1", isDuckAiMode = true, isBottom = false)