diff --git a/.agents/skills/dms-plugin-dev/references/dash-plugin-guide.md b/.agents/skills/dms-plugin-dev/references/dash-plugin-guide.md
index 8f3c33e54..014630631 100644
--- a/.agents/skills/dms-plugin-dev/references/dash-plugin-guide.md
+++ b/.agents/skills/dms-plugin-dev/references/dash-plugin-guide.md
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ Injected: `pluginId`, `pluginService`, `popoutService`, `entryId`, `dashHost` (`
 
 Base provides: `options`, `pluginData`, `getData(key, def)`, `setData(key, value)`.
 
-Optional: `implicitHeight`, `focusTarget`, `restoreFocus()`, `handleKeyEvent(event)` (return true to consume; Ctrl+Tab and Ctrl+PgUp/PgDown are reserved), `blocksTabNavigation`, `menuActions`, `signal tabRequested(string id)`, `signal navFocusRequested`.
+Optional: `implicitHeight`, `focusTarget`, `restoreFocus()`, `handleKeyEvent(event)` (return true to consume; Tab, Ctrl+Tab, F6 and Ctrl+PgUp/PgDown are reserved), `blocksTabNavigation`, `menuActions`, `signal tabRequested(string id)`, `signal navFocusRequested`.
 
 For tiles inside a tab, use `Card` from `qs.Modules.DankDash.Overview` so colors, radius and tones match the overview.
 
diff --git a/quickshell/Modules/DDash/DDashPopout.qml b/quickshell/Modules/DDash/DDashPopout.qml
index c032a64cf..6d869ef25 100644
--- a/quickshell/Modules/DDash/DDashPopout.qml
+++ b/quickshell/Modules/DDash/DDashPopout.qml
@@ -383,6 +383,7 @@ DPopout {
                 contentScope: pages.currentHost
                 contentTarget: pages.focusTarget
                 headerTargets: root.editMode ? pageActions.focusTargets : [tabBar, pageTitle.focusTarget]
+                tabsShown: root.showTabs
                 headerEdge: root.verticalNavigation ? (root.navigationEdge === SettingsData.Right ? "right" : "left") : (root.navigationEdge === SettingsData.Bottom ? "down" : "up")
                 onTabCycleRequested: direction => {
                     root.cycleTab(direction);
@@ -390,6 +391,7 @@ DPopout {
                         mainContainer.focusInitial();
                 }
                 onEditModeRequested: on => root.editMode = on
+                onLeaveRequested: mainContainer.focusInitial()
                 onOptionsDismissRequested: tabOptions.dismiss()
                 onCloseRequested: {
                     if (root.detailTabId !== "")
@@ -468,7 +470,6 @@ DPopout {
                             onEditRequested: root.editMode = true
                             visible: root.showTabs && !root.editMode
                             orientation: root.verticalNavigation ? Qt.Vertical : Qt.Horizontal
-                            tabHighlights: true
                             currentIndex: root.currentTabIndex
                             nextFocusTarget: pageActions.focusTargets[0] ?? pages.focusTarget
                             previousFocusTarget: pages.currentItem?.previousFocusTarget ?? pages.focusTarget
diff --git a/quickshell/Modules/DDash/DashKeyboard.qml b/quickshell/Modules/DDash/DashKeyboard.qml
index d36225da4..70a06d002 100644
--- a/quickshell/Modules/DDash/DashKeyboard.qml
+++ b/quickshell/Modules/DDash/DashKeyboard.qml
@@ -16,6 +16,13 @@ Item {
     property Item contentTarget: null
     property var headerTargets: []
     property string headerEdge: "up"
+    property bool tabsShown: true
+    // Outside the content, Tab switches tabs and the tab keeps Space and the arrows.
+    property bool steppedIn: false
+
+    onActiveChanged: steppedIn = false
+    onTabItemChanged: steppedIn = false
+    onEditModeChanged: steppedIn = false
 
     readonly property bool idle: active && !optionsShown && !menuOpen
     readonly property bool contentFocused: contentScope?.activeFocus ?? false
@@ -26,31 +33,39 @@ Item {
     signal editModeRequested(bool on)
     signal optionsDismissRequested
     signal closeRequested
+    signal leaveRequested
 
     function visibleHeaderTargets() {
         return headerTargets.filter(item => item && item.visible && item.enabled);
     }
 
+    // Outside edit mode the header is not a keyboard stop; leaving the content goes back to the tabs.
     function focusHeader(backwards) {
+        if (!editMode) {
+            leaveContent();
+            return;
+        }
         const targets = visibleHeaderTargets();
         const target = backwards ? targets[targets.length - 1] : targets[0];
         target?.forceActiveFocus(backwards ? Qt.BacktabFocusReason : Qt.TabFocusReason);
     }
 
     function enterContent(backwards) {
+        steppedIn = true;
         const target = backwards ? (tabItem?.previousFocusTarget ?? contentTarget) : contentTarget;
         FocusNavigation.focusItem(target, backwards);
     }
 
-    function cycleRegion(backwards) {
-        const targets = visibleHeaderTargets();
-        if (!targets.some(FocusNavigation.containsFocus) && targets.length > 0) {
-            focusHeader(backwards);
-            return;
-        }
-        if (FocusNavigation.moveFocus(targets, backwards))
-            return;
-        enterContent(backwards);
+    function leaveContent() {
+        steppedIn = false;
+        leaveRequested();
+    }
+
+    function toggleContent(backwards) {
+        if (steppedIn)
+            leaveContent();
+        else
+            enterContent(backwards);
     }
 
     function inContent(item) {
@@ -61,6 +76,13 @@ Item {
         return false;
     }
 
+    function tabKey(backwards) {
+        if (tabsShown && !steppedIn)
+            tabCycleRequested(backwards ? -1 : 1);
+        else
+            walkContent(backwards);
+    }
+
     // Tab wraps inside the content, as in Settings.
     function walkContent(backwards) {
         if (!contentFocused) {
@@ -77,24 +99,14 @@ Item {
         }
     }
 
-    // A tab without restoreFocus parks focus on the host, which counts as content.
-    function toggleRegion() {
-        if (headerFocused || visibleHeaderTargets().length === 0)
-            enterContent(false);
-        else
-            focusHeader(false);
-    }
-
     function moveCard(direction) {
         if (!contentFocused) {
-            if (direction === headerEdge)
-                focusHeader(false);
-            else
+            if (direction !== headerEdge)
                 enterContent(false);
             return;
         }
         if (tabItem?.moveCardFocus?.(direction) !== true && direction === headerEdge)
-            focusHeader(false);
+            leaveContent();
     }
 
     function arrowDirection(event) {
@@ -155,31 +167,32 @@ Item {
             return false;
         if (editMode)
             editModeRequested(false);
+        else if (steppedIn && tabsShown)
+            leaveContent();
         else
             closeRequested();
         return true;
     }
 
-    // The tab row takes Tab itself to move its highlight.
     Shortcut {
         sequence: "Tab"
-        enabled: root.browsing && !root.headerFocused
+        enabled: root.browsing
         context: Qt.WindowShortcut
-        onActivated: root.walkContent(false)
+        onActivated: root.tabKey(false)
     }
 
     Shortcut {
         sequence: "Shift+Tab"
-        enabled: root.browsing && !root.headerFocused
+        enabled: root.browsing
         context: Qt.WindowShortcut
-        onActivated: root.walkContent(true)
+        onActivated: root.tabKey(true)
     }
 
     Shortcut {
         sequences: ["Ctrl+Tab", "Ctrl+Shift+Tab"]
         enabled: root.browsing
         context: Qt.WindowShortcut
-        onActivated: root.toggleRegion()
+        onActivated: root.toggleContent(false)
     }
 
     Shortcut {
@@ -207,14 +220,14 @@ Item {
         sequence: "F6"
         enabled: root.browsing
         context: Qt.WindowShortcut
-        onActivated: root.cycleRegion(false)
+        onActivated: root.toggleContent(false)
     }
 
     Shortcut {
         sequence: "Shift+F6"
         enabled: root.browsing
         context: Qt.WindowShortcut
-        onActivated: root.cycleRegion(true)
+        onActivated: root.toggleContent(true)
     }
 
     Shortcut {
diff --git a/quickshell/Modules/DIsland/Activities/DashTabFace.qml b/quickshell/Modules/DIsland/Activities/DashTabFace.qml
index 0deb5c0f1..f89cb4afe 100644
--- a/quickshell/Modules/DIsland/Activities/DashTabFace.qml
+++ b/quickshell/Modules/DIsland/Activities/DashTabFace.qml
@@ -131,8 +131,10 @@ FocusScope {
         contentScope: tabLoader
         contentTarget: root.tab?.focusTarget ?? null
         headerTargets: root.editMode ? pageActions.focusTargets : [tabBarLoader.item, sheetHandle.focusTarget]
+        tabsShown: root.tabsShown
         onTabCycleRequested: direction => root.controller.cycleDashTab(direction, tabBarLoader.item?.activeFocus ?? false)
         onEditModeRequested: on => root.editMode = on
+        onLeaveRequested: root.focusFace()
         onOptionsDismissRequested: tabOptions.dismiss()
         onCloseRequested: root.controller.requestCollapse()
     }
@@ -160,7 +162,6 @@ FocusScope {
                 id: tabBar
 
                 editable: true
-                tabHighlights: true
                 evenlySpaced: SettingsData.dashTabsEvenlySpaced
                 currentIndex: root.controller.dashTabIds.indexOf(root.entryId)
                 nextFocusTarget: root.tab?.focusTarget ?? null