diff --git a/web/src/structured.test.ts b/web/src/structured.test.ts
index ecf07f9..327ad6f 100644
--- a/web/src/structured.test.ts
+++ b/web/src/structured.test.ts
@@ -932,6 +932,226 @@ describe("structured connection: reconnection/error/loading", () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe("structured connection: transcript scrolling", () => {
+  let frames: Map<number, FrameRequestCallback>;
+  let nextFrame: number;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.clearAllMocks();
+    vi.useFakeTimers();
+    frames = new Map();
+    nextFrame = 1;
+    vi.stubGlobal("requestAnimationFrame", (cb: FrameRequestCallback) => {
+      const id = nextFrame++;
+      frames.set(id, cb);
+      return id;
+    });
+    vi.stubGlobal("cancelAnimationFrame", (id: number) => {
+      frames.delete(id);
+    });
+  });
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    vi.useRealTimers();
+    vi.unstubAllGlobals();
+  });
+
+  function metrics(conn: ReturnType<typeof mount>, height: number, clientHeight: number, top = 0) {
+    const scroll = conn.el.querySelector<HTMLElement>(".structured-scroll")!;
+    const values = { height, clientHeight, top };
+    Object.defineProperties(scroll, {
+      scrollHeight: { configurable: true, get: () => values.height },
+      clientHeight: { configurable: true, get: () => values.clientHeight },
+      scrollTop: {
+        configurable: true,
+        get: () => values.top,
+        set: (value: number) => { values.top = value; },
+      },
+    });
+    return { scroll, values };
+  }
+
+  function runFrames(): void {
+    const pending = [...frames.entries()];
+    frames.clear();
+    for (const [, cb] of pending) cb(0);
+  }
+
+  it("shows the bottom after the initial transcript snapshot is laid out", () => {
+    const ws = new FakeSocket();
+    const conn = mount({ sockets: [ws] });
+    const { values } = metrics(conn, 900, 300, 40);
+    ws.open();
+    ws.emit({
+      type: "transcript_snapshot",
+      snapshot: {
+        cursor: 1,
+        rows: [
+          row("agent:1", "agent_text", { content: { type: "text", text: "latest" } }),
+        ],
+      },
+    });
+
+    expect(values.top).toBe(40);
+    runFrames();
+    expect(values.top).toBe(600);
+    conn.dispose();
+  });
+
+  it("keeps pinned appends and patches at the bottom after layout", () => {
+    const ws = new FakeSocket();
+    const conn = mount({ sockets: [ws] });
+    const { values } = metrics(conn, 600, 200);
+    ws.open();
+    ws.emit({ type: "transcript_snapshot", snapshot: { cursor: 0, rows: [] } });
+    runFrames();
+
+    values.height = 720;
+    ws.emit({
+      type: "projection_update",
+      transcript: {
+        type: "append",
+        row: row("agent:1", "agent_text", { content: { type: "text", text: "partial" } }),
+      },
+      state: idleState,
+    });
+    runFrames();
+    expect(values.top).toBe(520);
+
+    values.height = 780;
+    ws.emit({
+      type: "projection_update",
+      transcript: {
+        type: "patch",
+        row: row("agent:1", "agent_text", {
+          content: { type: "text", text: "a longer completion" },
+        }),
+      },
+      state: idleState,
+    });
+    runFrames();
+    expect(values.top).toBe(580);
+    conn.dispose();
+  });
+
+  it("preserves a user-scrolled position across updates, approvals, and tool expansion", () => {
+    const ws = new FakeSocket();
+    const conn = mount({ sockets: [ws] });
+    const { scroll, values } = metrics(conn, 1000, 200);
+    ws.open();
+    ws.emit({ type: "transcript_snapshot", snapshot: { cursor: 1, rows: [toolRow("tool:1", "output")] } });
+    runFrames();
+
+    values.top = 180;
+    scroll.dispatchEvent(new Event("scroll"));
+    values.height = 1120;
+    ws.emit({
+      type: "projection_update",
+      transcript: { type: "append", row: row("agent:2", "agent_text", { content: { type: "text", text: "new" } }) },
+      state: idleState,
+    });
+    runFrames();
+    expect(values.top).toBe(180);
+
+    values.height = 1180;
+    ws.emit({
+      type: "projection_update",
+      transcript: {
+        type: "append",
+        row: row("approval:1", "approval", { toolCall: {}, options: allApprovalOptions }),
+      },
+      state: {
+        ...idleState,
+        pending_approval: {
+          nonce: "n1",
+          request: { sessionId: "s1", toolCall: {}, options: allApprovalOptions },
+        },
+      },
+    });
+    runFrames();
+    expect(values.top).toBe(180);
+
+    conn.el.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>(".st-tool-head")!.click();
+    values.height = 1260;
+    runFrames();
+    expect(values.top).toBe(180);
+    conn.dispose();
+  });
+
+  it("resumes following when the user scrolls back near the bottom", () => {
+    const ws = new FakeSocket();
+    const conn = mount({ sockets: [ws] });
+    const { scroll, values } = metrics(conn, 1000, 200);
+    ws.open();
+    ws.emit({ type: "transcript_snapshot", snapshot: { cursor: 0, rows: [] } });
+    runFrames();
+
+    values.top = 750;
+    scroll.dispatchEvent(new Event("scroll"));
+    values.height = 1100;
+    ws.emit({
+      type: "projection_update",
+      transcript: {
+        type: "append",
+        row: row("agent:1", "agent_text", { content: { type: "text", text: "follow" } }),
+      },
+      state: idleState,
+    });
+    runFrames();
+    expect(values.top).toBe(900);
+    conn.dispose();
+  });
+
+  it("preserves a user-scrolled position across a reconnect snapshot", () => {
+    const first = new FakeSocket();
+    const second = new FakeSocket();
+    const conn = mount({ sockets: [first, second], shouldReconnect: () => true });
+    const { scroll, values } = metrics(conn, 1000, 200);
+    first.open();
+    first.emit({ type: "transcript_snapshot", snapshot: { cursor: 0, rows: [] } });
+    runFrames();
+
+    values.top = 160;
+    scroll.dispatchEvent(new Event("scroll"));
+    first.drop();
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(1000);
+    second.open();
+    values.height = 1200;
+    second.emit({
+      type: "transcript_snapshot",
+      snapshot: {
+        cursor: 1,
+        rows: [
+          row("agent:1", "agent_text", {
+            content: { type: "text", text: "reconnected" },
+          }),
+        ],
+      },
+    });
+    runFrames();
+    expect(values.top).toBe(160);
+    conn.dispose();
+  });
+
+  it("cancels a pending transcript frame when disposed or parked", () => {
+    const ws = new FakeSocket();
+    const conn = mount({ sockets: [ws] });
+    const { values } = metrics(conn, 900, 300, 25);
+    ws.open();
+    ws.emit({ type: "transcript_snapshot", snapshot: { cursor: 0, rows: [] } });
+    expect(frames.size).toBe(1);
+
+    conn.onUnmount();
+    expect(frames.size).toBe(0);
+    conn.onMount({ focus: false });
+    expect(frames.size).toBe(2);
+    conn.dispose();
+    expect(frames.size).toBe(0);
+    runFrames();
+    expect(values.top).toBe(25);
+  });
+});
+
 describe("structured connection: pane lifecycle", () => {
   beforeEach(() => vi.clearAllMocks());
 
diff --git a/web/src/structured.ts b/web/src/structured.ts
index c0853bb..00f2aea 100644
--- a/web/src/structured.ts
+++ b/web/src/structured.ts
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ export function createStructuredConnection(
   const stateEl = el.querySelector(".attach-state") as HTMLSpanElement;
   const pillsEl = el.querySelector(".st-pills") as HTMLSpanElement;
   const disconnectBtn = el.querySelector(".disconnect") as HTMLButtonElement;
+  const scrollEl = el.querySelector(".structured-scroll") as HTMLDivElement;
   const rowsEl = el.querySelector(".structured-rows") as HTMLDivElement;
   const railEl = el.querySelector(".structured-rail") as HTMLElement;
   const bodyEl = el.querySelector(".structured-body") as HTMLElement;
@@ -117,6 +118,65 @@ export function createStructuredConnection(
   let stateSocketGeneration = 0;
   let disposed = false;
 
+  // Within 64px, wheel and touch imprecision should still count as following.
+  const FOLLOW_BOTTOM_THRESHOLD_PX = 64;
+  let followingBottom = true;
+  let receivedSnapshot = false;
+  let scrollWorkActive = true;
+  let parkedScrollTop: number | null = null;
+  let scrollFrame: number | null = null;
+  let pendingScroll: { top: number; follow: boolean } | null = null;
+
+  function cancelScrollFrame(): void {
+    if (scrollFrame !== null) window.cancelAnimationFrame(scrollFrame);
+    scrollFrame = null;
+    pendingScroll = null;
+  }
+
+  function beginTranscriptLayout(forceBottom = false): void {
+    if (!scrollWorkActive || disposed) return;
+    if (pendingScroll) {
+      if (forceBottom) pendingScroll.follow = true;
+      return;
+    }
+    pendingScroll = {
+      top: scrollEl.scrollTop,
+      follow: forceBottom || followingBottom,
+    };
+  }
+
+  function finishTranscriptLayout(): void {
+    if (!scrollWorkActive || disposed || !pendingScroll || scrollFrame !== null) return;
+    scrollFrame = window.requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+      scrollFrame = null;
+      const pending = pendingScroll;
+      pendingScroll = null;
+      if (!pending || disposed || !scrollWorkActive) return;
+      scrollEl.scrollTop = pending.follow
+        ? Math.max(0, scrollEl.scrollHeight - scrollEl.clientHeight)
+        : pending.top;
+    });
+  }
+
+  function updateTranscriptLayout(update: () => void, forceBottom = false): void {
+    beginTranscriptLayout(forceBottom);
+    update();
+    finishTranscriptLayout();
+  }
+
+  function onTranscriptScroll(): void {
+    const distance = scrollEl.scrollHeight - scrollEl.clientHeight - scrollEl.scrollTop;
+    followingBottom = distance <= FOLLOW_BOTTOM_THRESHOLD_PX;
+    cancelScrollFrame();
+  }
+
+  function onTranscriptClick(event: Event): void {
+    if ((event.target as Element | null)?.closest(".st-tool-head")) beginTranscriptLayout();
+  }
+
+  scrollEl.addEventListener("scroll", onTranscriptScroll);
+  scrollEl.addEventListener("click", onTranscriptClick, true);
+
   function lastRowIdOfKind(kind: TranscriptRowKind): string | null {
     for (let i = rows.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) if (rows[i].kind === kind) return rows[i].id;
     return null;
@@ -160,6 +220,7 @@ export function createStructuredConnection(
       (expanded) => {
         if (expanded) expandedRowIds.add(row.id);
         else expandedRowIds.delete(row.id);
+        finishTranscriptLayout();
       },
     );
     if (!el) return null;
@@ -207,44 +268,50 @@ export function createStructuredConnection(
   }
 
   function applySnapshot(snapshot: { rows: TranscriptRow[] }): void {
-    rows = [...snapshot.rows];
-    const expandableIds = new Set(
-      rows.filter((row) => row.kind === "tool_call" || row.kind === "tool_diff").map((row) => row.id),
-    );
-    for (const id of expandedRowIds) if (!expandableIds.has(id)) expandedRowIds.delete(id);
-    rowIndex.clear();
-    rows.forEach((row, i) => rowIndex.set(row.id, i));
-    rowEls.clear();
-    rowsEl.replaceChildren();
-    for (const row of rows) mountRow(row);
+    const forceBottom = !receivedSnapshot;
+    updateTranscriptLayout(() => {
+      rows = [...snapshot.rows];
+      const expandableIds = new Set(
+        rows.filter((row) => row.kind === "tool_call" || row.kind === "tool_diff").map((row) => row.id),
+      );
+      for (const id of expandedRowIds) if (!expandableIds.has(id)) expandedRowIds.delete(id);
+      rowIndex.clear();
+      rows.forEach((row, i) => rowIndex.set(row.id, i));
+      rowEls.clear();
+      rowsEl.replaceChildren();
+      for (const row of rows) mountRow(row);
+    }, forceBottom);
+    receivedSnapshot = true;
   }
 
   function applyDelta(delta: TranscriptDelta | null | undefined): void {
     if (!delta) return;
-    if (delta.type === "append") {
-      rowIndex.set(delta.row.id, rows.length);
-      rows.push(delta.row);
-      mountRow(delta.row);
-    } else if (delta.type === "patch") {
-      const i = rowIndex.get(delta.row.id);
-      if (i === undefined) {
+    updateTranscriptLayout(() => {
+      if (delta.type === "append") {
         rowIndex.set(delta.row.id, rows.length);
         rows.push(delta.row);
         mountRow(delta.row);
+      } else if (delta.type === "patch") {
+        const i = rowIndex.get(delta.row.id);
+        if (i === undefined) {
+          rowIndex.set(delta.row.id, rows.length);
+          rows.push(delta.row);
+          mountRow(delta.row);
+        } else {
+          rows[i] = delta.row;
+          remountRow(delta.row);
+        }
       } else {
-        rows[i] = delta.row;
-        remountRow(delta.row);
+        const i = rowIndex.get(delta.id);
+        if (i === undefined) return;
+        rows.splice(i, 1);
+        expandedRowIds.delete(delta.id);
+        rowIndex.clear();
+        rows.forEach((row, idx) => rowIndex.set(row.id, idx));
+        rowEls.get(delta.id)?.remove();
+        rowEls.delete(delta.id);
       }
-    } else {
-      const i = rowIndex.get(delta.id);
-      if (i === undefined) return;
-      rows.splice(i, 1);
-      expandedRowIds.delete(delta.id);
-      rowIndex.clear();
-      rows.forEach((row, idx) => rowIndex.set(row.id, idx));
-      rowEls.get(delta.id)?.remove();
-      rowEls.delete(delta.id);
-    }
+    });
   }
 
   function toolRowCount(): number {
@@ -293,10 +360,12 @@ export function createStructuredConnection(
     reconcileAwaitingBegin();
     const newPendingId = state.pending_approval ? lastRowIdOfKind("approval") : null;
     if (newPendingId !== pendingApprovalRowId) {
-      const prev = pendingApprovalRowId;
-      pendingApprovalRowId = newPendingId;
-      if (prev !== null && rowIndex.has(prev)) remountRow(rows[rowIndex.get(prev)!]);
-      if (newPendingId !== null) remountRow(rows[rowIndex.get(newPendingId)!]);
+      updateTranscriptLayout(() => {
+        const prev = pendingApprovalRowId;
+        pendingApprovalRowId = newPendingId;
+        if (prev !== null && rowIndex.has(prev)) remountRow(rows[rowIndex.get(prev)!]);
+        if (newPendingId !== null) remountRow(rows[rowIndex.get(newPendingId)!]);
+      });
     }
     renderPills();
     renderRailNow();
@@ -493,6 +562,12 @@ export function createStructuredConnection(
   // `mountToken` is bumped on every mount/unmount so a stale frame can tell
   // it is no longer the most recent one.
   let mountToken = 0;
+  let focusFrame: number | null = null;
+
+  function cancelFocusFrame(): void {
+    if (focusFrame !== null) window.cancelAnimationFrame(focusFrame);
+    focusFrame = null;
+  }
 
   return {
     sessionId,
@@ -500,13 +575,26 @@ export function createStructuredConnection(
     onMount(mountOpts?: { focus?: boolean }) {
       const focusOnMount = mountOpts?.focus !== false;
       const token = ++mountToken;
-      requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+      scrollWorkActive = true;
+      pendingScroll = {
+        top: parkedScrollTop ?? scrollEl.scrollTop,
+        follow: followingBottom,
+      };
+      parkedScrollTop = null;
+      finishTranscriptLayout();
+      cancelFocusFrame();
+      focusFrame = window.requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+        focusFrame = null;
         if (disposed || token !== mountToken) return; // parked/remounted since this was scheduled
         if (focusOnMount && !input.disabled) input.focus();
       });
     },
     onUnmount() {
       mountToken++;
+      parkedScrollTop = pendingScroll?.top ?? scrollEl.scrollTop;
+      scrollWorkActive = false;
+      cancelScrollFrame();
+      cancelFocusFrame();
     },
     focusTerminal() {
       if (!input.disabled) input.focus();
@@ -519,11 +607,16 @@ export function createStructuredConnection(
       if (disposed) return;
       disposed = true;
       mountToken++;
+      scrollWorkActive = false;
+      cancelScrollFrame();
+      cancelFocusFrame();
       cancelReconnect();
       resizeObserver.disconnect();
       unsubscribeStore?.();
       closeCurrentSocket();
       expandedRowIds.clear();
+      scrollEl.removeEventListener("scroll", onTranscriptScroll);
+      scrollEl.removeEventListener("click", onTranscriptClick, true);
       el.remove();
     },
   };