diff --git a/src/ui.rs b/src/ui.rs
index fc3c8b8..eb447e1 100644
--- a/src/ui.rs
+++ b/src/ui.rs
@@ -14,19 +14,24 @@ use std::time::Duration;
 struct EmbedUi {
     term: Option<EmbeddedTerm>,
     visible: bool,
+    /// Keyboard focus is on the claude pane (vs. the feed above it).
+    /// Directional: ctrl-↓ moves focus into the pane, ctrl-↑ back to the feed.
+    claude_focused: bool,
     port: u16,
 }
 
 impl EmbedUi {
-    /// Pane is visible and the child is still running → it owns plain keys.
+    /// Pane is visible, child alive, and holds keyboard focus → it gets keys.
     fn focused(&self) -> bool {
-        self.visible && self.term.as_ref().is_some_and(|t| !t.exited())
+        self.visible
+            && self.claude_focused
+            && self.term.as_ref().is_some_and(|t| !t.exited())
     }
 }
 
 pub fn run(app: SharedApp, port: u16) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let mut terminal = ratatui::init();
-    let mut eui = EmbedUi { term: None, visible: false, port };
+    let mut eui = EmbedUi { term: None, visible: false, claude_focused: false, port };
     let res = event_loop(&mut terminal, app, &mut eui);
     ratatui::restore();
     res
@@ -35,6 +40,7 @@ pub fn run(app: SharedApp, port: u16) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
 fn toggle_embed(eui: &mut EmbedUi, app: &SharedApp) {
     if eui.visible {
         eui.visible = false;
+        eui.claude_focused = false;
         // A dead child is dropped on hide so the next toggle respawns.
         if eui.term.as_ref().is_some_and(|t| t.exited()) {
             eui.term = None;
@@ -42,6 +48,11 @@ fn toggle_embed(eui: &mut EmbedUi, app: &SharedApp) {
         }
         return;
     }
+    show_embed_pane(eui, app);
+}
+
+/// Show (spawning if needed) the claude pane and give it keyboard focus.
+fn show_embed_pane(eui: &mut EmbedUi, app: &SharedApp) {
     if eui.term.as_ref().is_some_and(|t| t.exited()) {
         eui.term = None;
     }
@@ -62,6 +73,7 @@ fn toggle_embed(eui: &mut EmbedUi, app: &SharedApp) {
         }
     }
     eui.visible = true;
+    eui.claude_focused = true;
 }
 
 fn event_loop(
@@ -78,21 +90,37 @@ fn event_loop(
             if k.kind == KeyEventKind::Release {
                 continue;
             }
-            // Alt-c toggles the embedded claude pane in every state.
-            if k.code == KeyCode::Char('c') && k.modifiers.contains(KeyModifiers::ALT) {
+            // `CT_DEBUG_KEYS=1`: surface every key event in the status bar,
+            // for diagnosing what the outer terminal actually delivers.
+            if std::env::var_os("CT_DEBUG_KEYS").is_some() {
+                app.lock().unwrap().status =
+                    format!("key: {:?} mods={:?} kind={:?}", k.code, k.modifiers, k.kind);
+            }
+            // Pane controls, available in every state (alt-keys are out:
+            // they compose characters on some keyboard layouts):
+            //   F2      show/hide the claude pane
+            //   ctrl-↓  focus the claude pane (showing it if hidden)
+            //   ctrl-↑  focus the feed
+            let ctrl = k.modifiers.contains(KeyModifiers::CONTROL);
+            if k.code == KeyCode::F(2) {
                 if k.kind == KeyEventKind::Press {
                     toggle_embed(eui, &app);
                 }
                 continue;
             }
-            let embed_focused = eui.focused();
-            // Modifier-split routing: while the pane is focused, plain keys
-            // (incl. ctrl-c!) belong to claude; ALT-keys control the feed.
-            // The filter popup is modal and keeps its plain keys.
-            if embed_focused
-                && !k.modifiers.contains(KeyModifiers::ALT)
-                && app.lock().unwrap().filter_popup.is_none()
-            {
+            if ctrl && k.code == KeyCode::Down {
+                if k.kind == KeyEventKind::Press {
+                    app.lock().unwrap().filter_popup = None;
+                    show_embed_pane(eui, &app);
+                }
+                continue;
+            }
+            if ctrl && k.code == KeyCode::Up {
+                eui.claude_focused = false;
+                continue;
+            }
+            // While the claude pane has focus, everything else belongs to it.
+            if eui.focused() {
                 if let Some(et) = &eui.term {
                     et.key(k);
                 }
@@ -103,10 +131,7 @@ fn event_loop(
             }
             let mut a = app.lock().unwrap();
             let nsess = a.sessions.len();
-            if !embed_focused
-                && k.code == KeyCode::Char('c')
-                && k.modifiers.contains(KeyModifiers::CONTROL)
-            {
+            if k.code == KeyCode::Char('c') && ctrl {
                 return Ok(());
             }
             // Filter popup captures input while open.
@@ -324,6 +349,7 @@ fn draw(f: &mut Frame, app: &SharedApp, eui: &mut EmbedUi) {
     a.follow = new_follow;
 
     // Embedded claude pane
+    let embed_focused = eui.focused();
     if show_embed {
         let et = eui.term.as_mut().unwrap();
         let exited = et.exited();
@@ -333,12 +359,17 @@ fn draw(f: &mut Frame, app: &SharedApp, eui: &mut EmbedUi) {
         } else {
             format!(" claude · {id} ")
         };
-        let block = Block::bordered().title(title);
+        // Bold cyan border = the pane has keyboard focus.
+        let block = if embed_focused {
+            Block::bordered().title(title).border_style(Style::new().cyan().bold())
+        } else {
+            Block::bordered().title(title).border_style(Style::new().dark_gray())
+        };
         let inner = block.inner(embed_area);
         f.render_widget(block, embed_area);
         if exited {
             f.render_widget(
-                Paragraph::new("\n  claude exited — alt-c to close this pane")
+                Paragraph::new("\n  claude exited — F2 to close this pane")
                     .dark_gray(),
                 inner,
             );
@@ -350,13 +381,14 @@ fn draw(f: &mut Frame, app: &SharedApp, eui: &mut EmbedUi) {
         }
     }
 
-    let embed_focused = eui.focused();
     let keys = if a.filter_popup.is_some() {
         "space toggle · j/k move · f/esc close"
     } else if embed_focused {
-        "alt-c hide claude · alt-q quit · alt-j/k scroll · alt-f filter · alt-n/p session"
+        "ctrl-↑ feed · F2 hide claude"
+    } else if show_embed {
+        "ctrl-↓ claude · q quit · tab session · j/k scroll · f filter · F2 hide"
     } else {
-        "q quit · tab session · s sessions · j/k scroll · f filter · g top · G bottom · alt-c claude"
+        "q quit · tab session · s sessions · j/k scroll · f filter · g top · G bottom · ctrl-↓/F2 claude"
     };
     f.render_widget(
         Paragraph::new(Line::from(format!(" {} | {keys}", a.status)).dark_gray()),