diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ChatInputBar.vue b/frontend/src/components/ChatInputBar.vue
index 8a7555a..218961e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ChatInputBar.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ChatInputBar.vue
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ defineExpose({ focus, prefill })
 
     <div class="input-row">
       <!-- Note picker -->
-      <div v-if="!briefingMode" class="note-picker-wrapper">
+      <div class="note-picker-wrapper">
         <button
           class="btn-icon"
           @click="toggleNotePicker"
diff --git a/frontend/src/views/KnowledgeView.vue b/frontend/src/views/KnowledgeView.vue
index 5786ac0..c4c6cb6 100644
--- a/frontend/src/views/KnowledgeView.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/views/KnowledgeView.vue
@@ -1,17 +1,15 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
-import { ref, computed, watch, onMounted, onUnmounted, nextTick, watchEffect } from "vue";
+import { ref, watch, onMounted, onUnmounted, nextTick, watchEffect } from "vue";
 import { useRouter } from "vue-router";
-import { apiGet, apiPatch, transcribeAudio } from "@/api/client";
+import { apiGet, apiPatch } from "@/api/client";
 import { fmtCompact } from "@/utils/dateFormat";
-import { renderMarkdown } from "@/utils/markdown";
 import { useChatStore } from "@/stores/chat";
-import { useSettingsStore } from "@/stores/settings";
-import { useVoiceRecorder } from "@/composables/useVoiceRecorder";
 import GraphView from "@/views/GraphView.vue";
+import ChatPanel from "@/components/ChatPanel.vue";
+import ChatInputBar from "@/components/ChatInputBar.vue";
 
 const router = useRouter();
 const chatStore = useChatStore();
-const settingsStore = useSettingsStore();
 
 // ─── Types ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
@@ -154,58 +152,20 @@ function toggleGraphExpand() {
 
 // ─── Mini-chat widget ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-const chatInput = ref("");
 const chatOpen = ref(false);
 const chatCollapsed = ref(false);
 const chatConvId = ref<number | null>(null);
-const chatSending = ref(false);
-const chatMessages = computed(() => {
-  if (!chatConvId.value) return [];
-  const conv = chatStore.currentConversation;
-  if (!conv || conv.id !== chatConvId.value) return [];
-  return conv.messages ?? [];
-});
-const chatScrollEl = ref<HTMLElement | null>(null);
-const chatInputEl = ref<HTMLTextAreaElement | null>(null);
-
-const voiceEnabled = computed(() => settingsStore.voiceSttReady);
-const transcribingVoice = ref(false);
-const recorder = useVoiceRecorder();
-
-async function sendChatMessage() {
-  const text = chatInput.value.trim();
-  if (!text || chatSending.value || chatStore.streaming) return;
-
-  chatOpen.value = true;
-
-  // Create a conversation on first message
+async function onMinichatSubmit(payload: { content: string; contextNoteId?: number }) {
   if (!chatConvId.value) {
-    try {
-      const conv = await chatStore.createConversation("Quick chat");
-      chatConvId.value = conv.id;
-      await chatStore.fetchConversation(conv.id);
-    } catch { return; }
+    const conv = await chatStore.createConversation("Knowledge chat");
+    chatConvId.value = conv.id;
+    await chatStore.fetchConversation(conv.id);
   } else if (chatStore.currentConversation?.id !== chatConvId.value) {
     await chatStore.fetchConversation(chatConvId.value);
   }
-
-  chatInput.value = "";
-  chatSending.value = true;
-  try {
-    await chatStore.sendMessage(text);
-    await nextTick();
-    scrollChatToBottom();
-  } catch { /* silent */ } finally {
-    chatSending.value = false;
-  }
-}
-
-function scrollChatToBottom() {
-  nextTick(() => {
-    if (chatScrollEl.value) {
-      chatScrollEl.value.scrollTop = chatScrollEl.value.scrollHeight;
-    }
-  });
+  chatOpen.value = true;
+  chatCollapsed.value = false;
+  await chatStore.sendMessage(payload.content, payload.contextNoteId, undefined, true);
 }
 
 // ─── Auto-refresh cards when chat creates/edits notes or tasks ───────────────
@@ -232,50 +192,12 @@ watch(
 );
 
 watch(() => chatStore.streaming, (streaming) => {
-  if (!streaming) {
-    scrollChatToBottom();
-    processedToolCalls.value = 0;
-  }
+  if (!streaming) processedToolCalls.value = 0;
 });
 
-async function closeChat() {
+function closeChat() {
   chatOpen.value = false;
   chatConvId.value = null;
-  chatInput.value = "";
-}
-
-function onChatKeydown(e: KeyboardEvent) {
-  if (e.key === "Enter" && !e.shiftKey) {
-    e.preventDefault();
-    sendChatMessage();
-  }
-}
-
-async function startPtt() {
-  if (!voiceEnabled.value || recorder.recording.value) return;
-  await recorder.startRecording();
-}
-
-async function stopPtt() {
-  if (!recorder.recording.value) return;
-  transcribingVoice.value = true;
-  try {
-    const blob = await recorder.stopRecording();
-    const { transcript } = await transcribeAudio(blob);
-    if (transcript.trim()) {
-      chatInput.value = transcript.trim();
-      await sendChatMessage();
-    }
-  } catch { /* silent */ } finally {
-    transcribingVoice.value = false;
-  }
-}
-
-function chatAutoResize() {
-  const el = chatInputEl.value;
-  if (!el) return;
-  el.style.height = "auto";
-  el.style.height = Math.min(el.scrollHeight, 120) + "px";
 }
 
 // ─── List item toggle ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -357,10 +279,7 @@ onMounted(() => {
   fetchItems(true);
   fetchTags();
   fetchTodayBar();
-  nextTick(() => {
-    chatInputEl.value?.focus();
-    setupScrollObserver();
-  });
+  nextTick(() => setupScrollObserver());
 });
 
 onUnmounted(() => {
@@ -571,81 +490,36 @@ watchEffect(() => {
 
     <!-- Floating mini-chat -->
     <div class="minichat" :class="{ 'minichat--open': chatOpen }">
-      <!-- Message history (shown when chatOpen and not collapsed) -->
-      <div v-if="chatOpen && !chatCollapsed" class="minichat-messages" ref="chatScrollEl">
-        <template v-if="chatMessages.length === 0 && !chatStore.streaming">
-          <div class="minichat-welcome">Ask me anything about your notes, tasks, or ideas.</div>
-        </template>
-        <div
-          v-for="msg in chatMessages"
-          :key="msg.id"
-          class="minichat-msg"
-          :class="msg.role === 'user' ? 'msg--user' : 'msg--assistant'"
-        >
-          <div class="msg-content" v-html="msg.role === 'assistant' ? renderMarkdown(msg.content) : msg.content"></div>
-        </div>
-        <div v-if="chatStore.streaming" class="minichat-msg msg--assistant">
-          <div class="msg-content streaming-indicator">
-            <span class="dot"></span><span class="dot"></span><span class="dot"></span>
-          </div>
+      <!-- Header with controls — only when chat is open -->
+      <div v-if="chatOpen" class="minichat-header">
+        <span class="minichat-title">Chat</span>
+        <div class="minichat-header-actions">
+          <button
+            class="btn-icon-sm"
+            @click="chatCollapsed = !chatCollapsed"
+            :title="chatCollapsed ? 'Expand' : 'Collapse'"
+          >
+            <svg width="12" height="12" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2.5">
+              <polyline v-if="chatCollapsed" points="18 15 12 9 6 15"/>
+              <polyline v-else points="6 9 12 15 18 9"/>
+            </svg>
+          </button>
+          <button class="btn-icon-sm" @click="closeChat" title="Close chat">✕</button>
         </div>
       </div>
 
-      <!-- Input bar — matches shared chat-input-bar pattern -->
-      <div class="minichat-input-row">
-        <div class="chat-input-bar">
-          <textarea
-            ref="chatInputEl"
-            v-model="chatInput"
-            @keydown="onChatKeydown"
-            @input="chatAutoResize"
-            placeholder="Ask anything…"
-            :disabled="chatStore.streaming"
-            rows="1"
-          ></textarea>
-          <button
-            v-if="voiceEnabled && recorder.isSupported"
-            class="btn-attach btn-mic-ptt"
-            :class="{ 'mic-recording': recorder.recording.value, 'mic-transcribing': transcribingVoice }"
-            @mousedown.prevent="startPtt"
-            @mouseup.prevent="stopPtt"
-            @touchstart.prevent="startPtt"
-            @touchend.prevent="stopPtt"
-            :disabled="transcribingVoice"
-            title="Hold to speak"
-            aria-label="Push to talk"
-          >
-            <svg v-if="!transcribingVoice" width="17" height="17" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="currentColor">
-              <path d="M12 14c1.66 0 3-1.34 3-3V5c0-1.66-1.34-3-3-3S9 3.34 9 5v6c0 1.66 1.34 3 3 3zm-1-9c0-.55.45-1 1-1s1 .45 1 1v6c0 .55-.45 1-1 1s-1-.45-1-1V5zm6 6c0 2.76-2.24 5-5 5s-5-2.24-5-5H5c0 3.53 2.61 6.43 6 6.92V21h2v-3.08c3.39-.49 6-3.39 6-6.92h-2z"/>
-            </svg>
-            <svg v-else width="17" height="17" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="currentColor">
-              <circle cx="12" cy="12" r="8" opacity="0.35"/><circle cx="12" cy="12" r="4"/>
-            </svg>
-          </button>
-          <button
-            class="btn-send"
-            :disabled="!chatInput.trim() || chatSending || chatStore.streaming"
-            @click="sendChatMessage"
-            title="Send"
-          >&uarr;</button>
-        </div>
-        <button
-          v-if="chatOpen"
-          class="btn-close-chat"
-          @click="chatCollapsed = !chatCollapsed"
-          :title="chatCollapsed ? 'Expand chat' : 'Collapse chat'"
-        >
-          <svg width="12" height="12" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2.5">
-            <polyline v-if="chatCollapsed" points="18 15 12 9 6 15"/>
-            <polyline v-else points="6 9 12 15 18 9"/>
-          </svg>
-        </button>
-        <button
-          v-if="chatOpen"
-          class="btn-close-chat"
-          @click="closeChat"
-          title="Close chat"
-        >✕</button>
+      <!-- Full ChatPanel — when open, not collapsed, conversation exists -->
+      <div v-if="chatOpen && !chatCollapsed && chatConvId" class="minichat-chat-panel">
+        <ChatPanel variant="full" placeholder="Ask anything…" />
+      </div>
+
+      <!-- Standalone input bar — when closed or collapsed -->
+      <div v-if="!chatOpen || chatCollapsed" class="minichat-input-row">
+        <ChatInputBar
+          placeholder="Ask anything…"
+          @submit="onMinichatSubmit"
+          @abort="chatStore.cancelGeneration()"
+        />
       </div>
     </div>
 
@@ -1083,7 +957,10 @@ watchEffect(() => {
   background: var(--color-bg-secondary);
   border-radius: 16px 16px 0 0;
   box-shadow: 0 -8px 32px rgba(0,0,0,0.35), 0 -1px 0 rgba(255,255,255,0.05);
-  transition: box-shadow 0.2s;
+  transition: height 0.2s ease;
+}
+.minichat--open {
+  height: 500px;
 }
 .knowledge-root.graph-open .minichat {
   right: 500px;
@@ -1092,140 +969,45 @@ watchEffect(() => {
 .knowledge-root.graph-open.graph-expanded .minichat {
   right: min(960px, 60vw);
 }
-.minichat-messages {
-  max-height: 360px;
-  overflow-y: auto;
-  padding: 12px 16px;
+
+/* Header row (collapse / close buttons) */
+.minichat-header {
   display: flex;
-  flex-direction: column;
-  gap: 8px;
-  background: transparent;
-  border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.05);
-  border-radius: 16px 16px 0 0;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: space-between;
+  padding: 8px 14px;
+  border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(255,255,255,0.06);
+  flex-shrink: 0;
 }
-.minichat-welcome {
+.minichat-title {
+  font-size: 0.82rem;
+  font-weight: 600;
   color: var(--color-muted);
-  font-size: 0.85rem;
-  text-align: center;
-  padding: 20px;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  letter-spacing: 0.06em;
 }
-.minichat-msg { max-width: 85%; }
-.msg--user {
-  align-self: flex-end;
-  background: rgba(99,102,241,0.12);
-  border: 1px solid rgba(99,102,241,0.2);
-  border-radius: 12px 12px 2px 12px;
-  padding: 8px 12px;
-  font-size: 0.88rem;
-}
-.msg--assistant {
-  align-self: flex-start;
-  border-left: 2px solid var(--color-primary, #6366f1);
-  padding: 8px 12px;
-  font-size: 0.88rem;
-  background: rgba(255,255,255,0.02);
-  border-radius: 0 12px 12px 2px;
-}
-.msg-content { line-height: 1.5; white-space: pre-wrap; }
-.streaming-indicator {
+.minichat-header-actions {
   display: flex;
   gap: 4px;
   align-items: center;
-  padding: 4px 0;
-}
-.dot {
-  width: 6px; height: 6px;
-  border-radius: 50%;
-  background: var(--color-primary, #6366f1);
-  animation: dot-pulse 1.2s ease-in-out infinite;
-}
-.dot:nth-child(2) { animation-delay: 0.2s; }
-.dot:nth-child(3) { animation-delay: 0.4s; }
-@keyframes dot-pulse {
-  0%, 80%, 100% { opacity: 0.3; transform: scale(0.8); }
-  40% { opacity: 1; transform: scale(1); }
 }
 
+/* ChatPanel body — fills remaining space */
+.minichat-chat-panel {
+  flex: 1;
+  min-height: 0;
+  overflow: hidden;
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+}
+.minichat-chat-panel :deep(.chat-body) {
+  flex: 1;
+  min-height: 0;
+}
+
+/* Standalone input row (closed / collapsed state) */
 .minichat-input-row {
-  display: flex;
-  align-items: center;
-  gap: 8px;
   padding: 10px 14px;
-}
-/* Reuse the shared chat-input-bar pattern */
-.chat-input-bar {
-  flex: 1;
-  display: flex;
-  align-items: center;
-  gap: 0.5rem;
-  padding: 0.5rem 0.5rem 0.5rem 0.75rem;
-  background: var(--color-input-bar-bg);
-  border-radius: 20px;
-  box-shadow: 0 2px 12px var(--color-shadow);
-}
-.chat-input-bar textarea {
-  flex: 1;
-  resize: none;
-  padding: 0.4rem 0.5rem;
-  border: none;
-  border-radius: 12px;
-  font-family: inherit;
-  font-size: 0.95rem;
-  background: transparent;
-  color: var(--color-input-bar-text);
-  outline: none;
-  max-height: 120px;
-  overflow-y: auto;
-}
-.chat-input-bar textarea::placeholder { color: var(--color-input-bar-placeholder); }
-.chat-input-bar textarea:disabled { opacity: 0.5; }
-.btn-attach {
-  background: none;
-  border: none;
-  cursor: pointer;
-  color: var(--color-input-bar-text);
-  opacity: 0.6;
-  padding: 0.25rem;
-  display: flex;
-  align-items: center;
-  justify-content: center;
-}
-.btn-attach:hover { opacity: 1; }
-.btn-attach:disabled { opacity: 0.3; cursor: default; }
-.btn-mic-ptt { transition: color 0.15s, opacity 0.15s; }
-.btn-mic-ptt.mic-recording { color: #ef4444 !important; opacity: 1 !important; }
-.btn-mic-ptt.mic-transcribing { color: var(--color-primary); opacity: 1 !important; }
-.btn-send {
-  width: 34px;
-  min-width: 34px;
-  height: 34px;
-  padding: 0;
-  display: flex;
-  align-items: center;
-  justify-content: center;
-  background: var(--color-primary);
-  color: #fff;
-  border: none;
-  border-radius: 50%;
-  cursor: pointer;
-  font-size: 1.1rem;
   flex-shrink: 0;
 }
-.btn-send:disabled { opacity: 0.35; cursor: default; }
-.btn-close-chat {
-  flex-shrink: 0;
-  background: none;
-  border: 1px solid var(--color-border, rgba(255,255,255,0.1));
-  border-radius: 8px;
-  color: var(--color-muted);
-  cursor: pointer;
-  width: 30px;
-  height: 30px;
-  display: flex;
-  align-items: center;
-  justify-content: center;
-  font-size: 0.8rem;
-  transition: color 0.15s;
-}
-.btn-close-chat:hover { color: var(--color-text); }
 </style>