diff --git a/bin/muse-chat-api.py b/bin/muse-chat-api.py
index ef9e0e5..5596f66 100755
--- a/bin/muse-chat-api.py
+++ b/bin/muse-chat-api.py
@@ -159,11 +159,11 @@ def cmd_send(ws, message):
     }})()""", True)
     print(result)
 
-def cmd_messages(ws, n=5):
+def cmd_messages(ws, n=5, width=200):
     # Check approvals first (non-blocking)
     check_approvals(ws)
     result = ev(ws, f"""(() => {{
-      const ps = [...document.querySelectorAll('p')].slice(-{n*2}).map(p=>p.innerText.slice(0,200));
+      const ps = [...document.querySelectorAll('p')].slice(-{n*2}).map(p=>p.innerText.slice(0,{width}));
       return ps.join('\\n---\\n');
     }})()""")
     print(result)
@@ -181,15 +181,30 @@ def cmd_wait(ws, timeout=30):
     cmd_messages(ws, 2)
 
 def cmd_sidechat_use(ws, chat_id):
-    """Navigate to a side chat by ID."""
-    ws.send(json.dumps({
-        "id": 1, "method": "Page.navigate",
-        "params": {"url": f"https://muse.ai/thread/{chat_id}"}
-    }))
-    json.loads(ws.recv())
-    time.sleep(5)
-    url = ev(ws, "window.location.href")
-    print(f"Navigated to: {url}")
+    """Open sidebar, click the box with the chat name."""
+    import base64
+    b64 = base64.b64encode(chat_id.encode()).decode()
+    js = (
+        "(async()=>{"
+        # Open sidebar first
+        "const ob=[...document.querySelectorAll('button')].find("
+        "b=>b.textContent.includes('Open chat and side chats'));"
+        "if(ob)ob.click();"
+        "await new Promise(r=>setTimeout(r,2000));"
+        # Find and click the chat
+        "const name=atob('" + b64 + "');"
+        "const els=[...document.querySelectorAll('*')];"
+        "const cands=els.filter(e=>e.textContent&&e.textContent.includes(name));"
+        "cands.sort((a,b)=>a.textContent.length-b.textContent.length);"
+        "const el=cands[0];"
+        "if(!el)return 'NOTFOUND';"
+        "el.click();"
+        "await new Promise(r=>setTimeout(r,4000));"
+        "return window.location.href;"
+        "})()"
+    )
+    result = ev(ws, js, True)
+    print(f"Navigated to: {result}")
 
 def cmd_sidechat_main(ws):
     """Navigate back to main chat."""
@@ -218,6 +233,35 @@ def cmd_sidechat_list(ws):
     })()""")
     print(chats[:500])
 
+def cmd_sidechat_create(ws):
+    """Create a new side chat via the 'New side chat' button. Returns the new thread URL."""
+    # Ensure sidebar is open (same selector as cmd_sidechat_list: textContent)
+    ev(ws, """(() => {
+      const btn = [...document.querySelectorAll("button")].find(b =>
+        b.textContent.includes("Open chat and side chats")
+      );
+      if (btn) btn.click();
+    })()""")
+    import time as _time
+    _time.sleep(2)
+    result = ev(ws, """(() => {
+      const btn = [...document.querySelectorAll('button')].find(b =>
+        (b.getAttribute('aria-label')||'') === 'New side chat');
+      if (!btn) return 'NOT_FOUND';
+      btn.click();
+      return 'CLICKED';
+    })()""")
+    if result == 'NOT_FOUND':
+        print("ERROR: 'New side chat' button not found (sidebar may be closed)", file=sys.stderr)
+        sys.exit(1)
+    import time as _time
+    _time.sleep(5)
+    url = ev(ws, "window.location.href")
+    print(f"Created: {url}")
+    return url
+
+
+
 
 def cdp_call(ws, method, params=None):
     """Raw CDP method call for non-Runtime domains (DOM, Page, ...).
@@ -333,6 +377,10 @@ def main():
                    help='Agent name (matches node, profile, ACCOUNTS.md)')
     p.add_argument('command', choices=['send', 'messages', 'wait', 'approvals', 'sidechat', 'upload'])
     p.add_argument('arg', nargs='*', default=[])
+    p.add_argument('--dry-run', action='store_true',
+                 help='upload: stage attachment without sending')
+    p.add_argument('--message', default=None,
+                 help='upload: caption text sent with the file')
     args = p.parse_args()
 
     node, cdp_url = ACCOUNTS[args.account]
@@ -347,7 +395,8 @@ def main():
             cmd_send(ws, " ".join(args.arg))
         elif args.command == 'messages':
             n = int(args.arg[0]) if args.arg else 5
-            cmd_messages(ws, n)
+            w = int(args.arg[1]) if len(args.arg) > 1 else 200
+            cmd_messages(ws, n, w)
         elif args.command == 'wait':
             t = int(args.arg[0]) if args.arg else 30
             cmd_wait(ws, t)
@@ -355,10 +404,12 @@ def main():
             cmd_approvals(ws)
         elif args.command == 'sidechat':
             if not args.arg:
-                print("ERROR: sidechat requires subcommand (use|main|list)", file=sys.stderr)
+                print("ERROR: sidechat requires subcommand (use|main|list|create)", file=sys.stderr)
                 sys.exit(1)
             sub = args.arg[0]
-            if sub == "use":
+            if sub == "create":
+                cmd_sidechat_create(ws)
+            elif sub == "use":
                 if len(args.arg) < 2:
                     print("ERROR: sidechat use requires chat_id", file=sys.stderr)
                     sys.exit(1)
@@ -374,15 +425,8 @@ def main():
             if not args.arg:
                 print("ERROR: upload requires a filepath", file=sys.stderr)
                 sys.exit(1)
-            fpath = args.arg[0]
-            rest = args.arg[1:]
-            dry = '--dry-run' in rest
-            msg = None
-            if '--message' in rest:
-                i = rest.index('--message')
-                if i + 1 < len(rest):
-                    msg = rest[i + 1]
-            cmd_upload(ws, fpath, message=msg, dry_run=dry)
+            cmd_upload(ws, args.arg[0], message=args.message,
+                       dry_run=args.dry_run)
     finally:
         ws.close()