diff --git a/bin/agent-cognitive-probe.py b/bin/agent-cognitive-probe.py
index 14efa8b..93bb55c 100755
--- a/bin/agent-cognitive-probe.py
+++ b/bin/agent-cognitive-probe.py
@@ -225,14 +225,14 @@ def get_passive_cognitive_state(node):
         state = "INPUT_WAIT"
         locked = True
         reason = "Agent is waiting for operator or system input on a parked prompt"
-    elif not is_main:
-        state = "BUSY_SIDECHAT"
-        locked = True
-        reason = f"Agent is active in sidechat: {raw.get('title', 'Side Chat')}"
     elif "working" in avatar_status.lower() or "making" in avatar_status.lower():
         state = "WORKING"
         locked = True
         reason = f"Avatar status indicates work in progress: '{avatar_status}'"
+    elif not is_main:
+        state = "SIDECHAT_IDLE"
+        locked = False
+        reason = None
     else:
         state = "IDLE"
         locked = False
@@ -398,6 +398,58 @@ def get_agent_live_screen(node: str) -> dict:
     }
 
 
+JS_NAVIGATE_MAIN_CHAT = """(() => {
+    try {
+        const url = window.location.href;
+        if (url === 'https://muse.ai/' || url === 'https://muse.ai/thread/new') {
+            return { ok: true, already_main: true };
+        }
+        const candidates = Array.from(document.querySelectorAll('a, button, [role="button"], [data-testid]'));
+        const mainBtn = candidates.find(b => {
+            const t = (b.innerText || '').trim().toLowerCase();
+            return t === 'main chat' || b.getAttribute('aria-label') === 'Main chat' || b.getAttribute('data-testid') === 'hatch-sidebar-main-chat';
+        });
+        if (mainBtn) {
+            mainBtn.click();
+            return { ok: true, method: 'click' };
+        }
+        window.location.href = 'https://muse.ai/';
+        return { ok: true, method: 'navigate' };
+    } catch (e) {
+        return { error: String(e) };
+    }
+})()"""
+
+
+def navigate_to_main_chat(node: str) -> dict:
+    """Navigates the agent browser session back to Main Chat (https://muse.ai/)."""
+    if not is_running_on_bl():
+        try:
+            cmd = ["ssh", "-q", "-o", "ConnectTimeout=5", f"super@{REMOTE_HOST}",
+                   f"python3 /home/super/Projects/NetVM/bin/agent-cognitive-probe.py nav-main {node} --json"]
+            proc = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=10)
+            if proc.returncode == 0 and proc.stdout.strip():
+                return json.loads(proc.stdout.strip())
+        except Exception as e:
+            return {"error": str(e)}
+
+    return run_cdp_eval_inside_netns(node, JS_NAVIGATE_MAIN_CHAT)
+
+
+def cmd_nav_main(args):
+    node = getattr(args, "agent", None) or getattr(args, "node", None)
+    res = navigate_to_main_chat(node)
+    if getattr(args, "json", False):
+        print(json.dumps(res, indent=2))
+    else:
+        if isinstance(res, dict) and res.get("ok"):
+            m = res.get("method") or ("already in main chat" if res.get("already_main") else "default")
+            print(f"✓ Refocused agent '{node}' to Main Chat ({m})")
+        else:
+            err = res.get("error") if isinstance(res, dict) else str(res)
+            print(f"❌ Failed to refocus '{node}' to Main Chat: {err}")
+
+
 def cmd_read(args):
     node = getattr(args, "agent", None) or getattr(args, "node", None)
     data = get_agent_live_screen(node)
@@ -451,6 +503,7 @@ def cmd_read(args):
 def format_cognitive_badge(status):
     badges = {
         "IDLE": "🟢 IDLE",
+        "SIDECHAT_IDLE": "💬 SIDE_IDLE",
         "THINKING": "🧠 THINKING",
         "INPUT_WAIT": "⏸️ INPUT_WAIT",
         "BUSY_SIDECHAT": "💬 SIDECHAT",
@@ -573,6 +626,10 @@ def main():
     p_read.add_argument("node", help="Agent name")
     p_read.add_argument("--json", action="store_true", help="Output JSON")
 
+    p_nav = sub.add_parser("nav-main", help="Navigate agent browser session back to Main Chat")
+    p_nav.add_argument("node", help="Agent name")
+    p_nav.add_argument("--json", action="store_true", help="Output JSON")
+
     args = parser.parse_args()
     if not args.command:
         # Default to status
@@ -589,6 +646,8 @@ def main():
         cmd_read(args)
     elif args.command == "lock":
         cmd_lock(args)
+    elif args.command == "nav-main":
+        cmd_nav_main(args)
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
diff --git a/bin/box-work.py b/bin/box-work.py
index f490bb5..312532c 100755
--- a/bin/box-work.py
+++ b/bin/box-work.py
@@ -746,6 +746,16 @@ def cmd_start(args):
             pass
     s.close()
 
+    # 3b. Refocus agent to Main Chat if resting in a sidechat
+    if acp:
+        try:
+            nav_res = acp.navigate_to_main_chat(agent)
+            if isinstance(nav_res, dict) and nav_res.get("ok") and not nav_res.get("already_main"):
+                print(c_dim(f"✓ Refocused @{agent} session to Main Chat"))
+                time.sleep(1.0)
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+
     # 4. Notify agent via direct chat with Readback requirement
     prompt_msg = (
         f"New build ticket #{issue_num} assigned to you: {title}.\n"
diff --git a/tests/test_box_cognitive.py b/tests/test_box_cognitive.py
index 314ef93..b3d2ac5 100644
--- a/tests/test_box_cognitive.py
+++ b/tests/test_box_cognitive.py
@@ -14,11 +14,69 @@ class TestAgentCognitiveProbe(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def test_badge_formatting(self):
         self.assertIn("IDLE", acp.format_cognitive_badge("IDLE"))
+        self.assertIn("SIDE_IDLE", acp.format_cognitive_badge("SIDECHAT_IDLE"))
         self.assertIn("THINKING", acp.format_cognitive_badge("THINKING"))
         self.assertIn("INPUT_WAIT", acp.format_cognitive_badge("INPUT_WAIT"))
         self.assertIn("SIDECHAT", acp.format_cognitive_badge("BUSY_SIDECHAT"))
         self.assertIn("DARK", acp.format_cognitive_badge("DARK"))
 
+    @patch("agent_cognitive_probe.is_running_on_bl", return_value=True)
+    @patch("agent_cognitive_probe.run_cdp_eval_inside_netns")
+    def test_passive_sidechat_idle_state(self, mock_cdp, mock_bl):
+        # Simulate settled sidechat — generation complete, no parked modals
+        mock_cdp.return_value = {
+            "is_generating": False,
+            "is_typing": False,
+            "avatar_status": "Connected",
+            "is_main_chat": False,
+            "title": "Chat — test sidechat",
+            "is_input_wait": False
+        }
+        res = acp.get_passive_cognitive_state("def")
+        self.assertEqual(res["status"], "SIDECHAT_IDLE")
+        self.assertFalse(res["cognitive_lock"])
+        self.assertIsNone(res["lock_reason"])
+
+    @patch("agent_cognitive_probe.is_running_on_bl", return_value=True)
+    @patch("agent_cognitive_probe.run_cdp_eval_inside_netns")
+    def test_passive_sidechat_thinking_state(self, mock_cdp, mock_bl):
+        # In a sidechat but actively generating
+        mock_cdp.return_value = {
+            "is_generating": True,
+            "is_typing": False,
+            "avatar_status": "Connected",
+            "is_main_chat": False,
+            "title": "Chat — test sidechat",
+            "is_input_wait": False
+        }
+        res = acp.get_passive_cognitive_state("pip")
+        self.assertEqual(res["status"], "THINKING")
+        self.assertTrue(res["cognitive_lock"])
+
+    @patch("agent_cognitive_probe.is_running_on_bl", return_value=True)
+    @patch("agent_cognitive_probe.run_cdp_eval_inside_netns")
+    def test_passive_sidechat_input_wait_state(self, mock_cdp, mock_bl):
+        # In a sidechat with parked approval modal
+        mock_cdp.return_value = {
+            "is_generating": False,
+            "is_typing": False,
+            "avatar_status": "Connected",
+            "is_main_chat": False,
+            "title": "Chat — test sidechat",
+            "is_input_wait": True
+        }
+        res = acp.get_passive_cognitive_state("pip")
+        self.assertEqual(res["status"], "INPUT_WAIT")
+        self.assertTrue(res["cognitive_lock"])
+
+    @patch("agent_cognitive_probe.is_running_on_bl", return_value=True)
+    @patch("agent_cognitive_probe.run_cdp_eval_inside_netns")
+    def test_navigate_main_chat(self, mock_cdp, mock_bl):
+        mock_cdp.return_value = {"ok": True, "method": "click"}
+        res = acp.navigate_to_main_chat("def")
+        self.assertTrue(res["ok"])
+        self.assertEqual(res["method"], "click")
+
     @patch("agent_cognitive_probe.is_running_on_bl", return_value=True)
     @patch("agent_cognitive_probe.run_cdp_eval_inside_netns")
     def test_passive_thinking_state(self, mock_cdp, mock_bl):