diff --git a/frontend/src/components/MarkdownToolbar.vue b/frontend/src/components/MarkdownToolbar.vue
index e3350d5..23fe9b1 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/MarkdownToolbar.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/MarkdownToolbar.vue
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ const groups = [
           :class="['md-btn', { active: btn.isActive() }]"
           :title="btn.title"
           type="button"
+          tabindex="-1"
           @mousedown.prevent="btn.command()"
         >
           <span class="btn-icon" v-html="ICONS[btn.id]" />
diff --git a/frontend/src/views/NoteEditorView.vue b/frontend/src/views/NoteEditorView.vue
index 95616a9..edf27b5 100644
--- a/frontend/src/views/NoteEditorView.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/views/NoteEditorView.vue
@@ -49,6 +49,15 @@ const noteId = computed(() =>
 );
 const isEditing = computed(() => noteId.value !== null);
 
+const titlePlaceholder = computed(() => {
+  switch (noteType.value) {
+    case 'person': return 'Name';
+    case 'place': return 'Place name';
+    case 'list': return 'List title';
+    default: return 'Title';
+  }
+});
+
 const renderedPreview = computed(() => renderMarkdown(body.value));
 
 // AI Assist — pass noteId for draft persistence
@@ -243,6 +252,9 @@ onMounted(async () => {
     // No draft — normal
   }
 
+  await nextTick();
+  titleRef.value?.focus();
+
   // Initial link suggestions
   fetchLinkSuggestions();
 });
@@ -357,7 +369,7 @@ onUnmounted(() => assist.clearSelection());
         ref="titleRef"
         v-model="title"
         type="text"
-        placeholder="Title"
+        :placeholder="titlePlaceholder"
         class="title-input"
         @input="markDirty"
         @keydown.ctrl.s.prevent="save"