diff --git a/packages/client/runtime/src/client/contract/workspaces.ts b/packages/client/runtime/src/client/contract/workspaces.ts
index a541887df0..ff530ab800 100644
--- a/packages/client/runtime/src/client/contract/workspaces.ts
+++ b/packages/client/runtime/src/client/contract/workspaces.ts
@@ -21,9 +21,11 @@ export interface IWorkspaces {
    */
   connectWorkspace(workspaceId: WorkspaceId): Promise<SessionId>
   /**
-   * The New Session flow: connect the target (or recent) Workspace and open
-   * the resulting session; failures surface on the session list state.
-   * @param workspaceId - explicit target; omitted uses the recency projection.
+   * The New Session flow: connect the explicit, current-Session, or recent
+   * Workspace and open the resulting session; failures surface on the session
+   * list state.
+   * @param workspaceId - explicit target; omitted inherits the current
+   * Session's Workspace before falling back to the recency projection.
    */
   startSession(workspaceId?: WorkspaceId): void
   /**
diff --git a/packages/client/runtime/src/client/workspaces/service.ts b/packages/client/runtime/src/client/workspaces/service.ts
index 8b26d0f1b0..527f5ec0ab 100644
--- a/packages/client/runtime/src/client/workspaces/service.ts
+++ b/packages/client/runtime/src/client/workspaces/service.ts
@@ -167,14 +167,20 @@ export class WorkspacesService implements IWorkspaces {
   /**
    * The shared New Session action behind the shell entry points (sidebar
    * button, workspace browser): resolve the target Workspace — explicit wins,
-   * else the recent-Workspace projection — connect its blank session and
-   * navigate there; with no Workspace at all, clear the selection into the
-   * New Session view state. Connect failures are non-fatal (console
-   * diagnostics; the current view stays usable).
+   * then the current Session's Workspace, then the recent-Workspace
+   * projection — connect its blank session and navigate there; with no
+   * Workspace at all, clear the selection into the New Session view state.
+   * Connect failures are non-fatal (console diagnostics; the current view
+   * stays usable).
    * @param workspaceId - explicit target Workspace for scoped actions.
    */
   startSession(workspaceId?: WorkspaceId): void {
-    const target = workspaceId ?? this.list.getSnapshot().recentWorkspaceId
+    const workspace = this.list.getSnapshot()
+    const current = this.sessions.list.getSnapshot().current
+    const currentWorkspaceId = current === undefined
+      ? undefined
+      : workspace.items.find(item => item.sessionIds.includes(current))?.workspaceId
+    const target = workspaceId ?? currentWorkspaceId ?? workspace.recentWorkspaceId
     if (target === undefined) {
       this.sessions.clear()
       return
diff --git a/packages/client/ui-sidebar/src/client/contract/slots.ts b/packages/client/ui-sidebar/src/client/contract/slots.ts
index 7b30e4232e..4da4d14eed 100644
--- a/packages/client/ui-sidebar/src/client/contract/slots.ts
+++ b/packages/client/ui-sidebar/src/client/contract/slots.ts
@@ -58,8 +58,8 @@ export interface SidebarSettingsOwnerProps {
 export type SidebarRootInjected = {
   /**
    * Start a New Session: with a workspace, reuse-or-create its blank session
-   * and open it; without one, clear the selection into the New Session pure
-   * view state (the conversation.empty seat).
+   * and open it; without one, inherit the current Session Workspace, then the
+   * recent Workspace, or clear into the New Session pure view when none exist.
    */
   startSession: (workspaceId?: WorkspaceId) => void
   /** Toggle the sidebar column through the layout service. */
diff --git a/packages/client/ui-sidebar/src/client/index.ts b/packages/client/ui-sidebar/src/client/index.ts
index 3d7ed23aa4..a9706c3e99 100644
--- a/packages/client/ui-sidebar/src/client/index.ts
+++ b/packages/client/ui-sidebar/src/client/index.ts
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ export function apply(ctx: ClientContext): void {
 
   const injectProps = (): SidebarRootInjected => ({
     // The shell's New Session button rides the runtime's shared action
-    // (recent-Workspace targeting; explicit Workspace wins for scoped actions).
+    // (current Session Workspace, then recent Workspace).
     startSession: (workspaceId) => { ctx.workspaces.startSession(workspaceId) },
     toggleSidebar: () => { ctx.layout.toggleSidebar() },
   })
diff --git a/packages/client/ui-workspace/src/client/contract/slots.ts b/packages/client/ui-workspace/src/client/contract/slots.ts
index e5487d2657..8027a3623a 100644
--- a/packages/client/ui-workspace/src/client/contract/slots.ts
+++ b/packages/client/ui-workspace/src/client/contract/slots.ts
@@ -91,9 +91,9 @@ export type DirectoryPickingHooks = {
  */
 export type WorkspaceBrowserInjected = DirectoryPickingInjected & {
   /**
-   * Start a New Session in a Workspace: reuse-or-create its blank session
-   * and open it; with no workspace, clear the selection into the New Session
-   * pure view state (the conversation.empty seat).
+   * Start a New Session in a Workspace: reuse-or-create its blank session and
+   * open it; without an explicit workspace, inherit the current Session
+   * Workspace, then the recent Workspace, or clear into the New Session view.
    */
   startSession: (workspaceId?: WorkspaceId) => void
   /** Open a real Session. */
diff --git a/packages/client/ui-workspace/src/client/index.ts b/packages/client/ui-workspace/src/client/index.ts
index 41e88116fc..6b14243ecf 100644
--- a/packages/client/ui-workspace/src/client/index.ts
+++ b/packages/client/ui-workspace/src/client/index.ts
@@ -68,8 +68,8 @@ export function apply(ctx: ClientContext): void {
   const browserFlowSource = flowSource('sidebar.workspaces.directoryFlow')
   const pickerFlowSource = flowSource('conversation.hero.workspace.directoryFlow')
   const browserInjected = (): WorkspaceBrowserInjected => ({
-    // Explicit group actions keep their target; unscoped New Session rides
-    // the runtime's shared action (recent-Workspace projection inside).
+    // Explicit group actions keep their target; unscoped New Session inherits
+    // the current Session Workspace before the recent-Workspace fallback.
     startSession: (workspaceId) => { ctx.workspaces.startSession(workspaceId) },
     open: (sessionId) => { ctx.sessions.open(sessionId) },
     searchSessions,