diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/components/sidebar/ConnectionTree.vue b/apps/desktop/src/components/sidebar/ConnectionTree.vue
index 7ea976ae5..2ff7d0a7e 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/components/sidebar/ConnectionTree.vue
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/components/sidebar/ConnectionTree.vue
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
 import { ref, shallowRef, computed, nextTick, watch, provide, onMounted, onUnmounted, type Component, type ComponentPublicInstance, type CSSProperties } from "vue";
 import { useI18n } from "vue-i18n";
-import { Search, X, ListFilter, ListOrdered, ArrowDownAZ, ArrowUpZA, Crosshair, Server, Database, FolderTree, Table2, Eye, RotateCcw } from "@lucide/vue";
+import { Search, X, ListFilter, ListOrdered, ArrowDownAZ, ArrowUpZA, CircleDot, Crosshair, Server, Database, FolderTree, Table2, Eye, RotateCcw } from "@lucide/vue";
 import { useConnectionStore } from "@/stores/connectionStore";
 import { useQueryStore } from "@/stores/queryStore";
 import { useSettingsStore } from "@/stores/settingsStore";
 import { useToast } from "@/composables/useToast";
 import type { ObjectSourceKind, TreeNode, TreeNodeType } from "@/types/database";
-import { filterSidebarSearchRootsByConnectionState, filterSidebarTree } from "@/lib/sidebar/sidebarSearchTree";
+import { filterSidebarSearchRootsByConnectionState, filterSidebarTree, filterSidebarTreeToConnectedConnections, resolveSidebarFilterGuards } from "@/lib/sidebar/sidebarSearchTree";
 import { isCancelSearchShortcut, isCopySidebarSelectionShortcut, isEditSidebarConnectionShortcut, isPasteSidebarSelectionShortcut } from "@/lib/editor/keyboardShortcuts";
 import { copyNameForTreeNode, objectSourceKindForTreeNode } from "@/lib/sidebar/treeNodeClick";
 import { copyToClipboard } from "@/lib/common/clipboard";
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ const settingsStore = useSettingsStore();
 const { toast } = useToast();
 const searchQuery = ref("");
 const deferredSearchQuery = ref("");
+const showConnectedConnectionsOnly = ref(false);
 const searchInputRef = ref<HTMLInputElement>();
 const rootRef = ref<HTMLElement>();
 const pointerInsideTree = ref(false);
@@ -118,7 +119,7 @@ watch(
 );
 
 function refreshActiveSidebarTableSearches() {
-  if (isFiltering.value) return;
+  if (isTreeSearchFiltering.value) return;
   for (const parentNodeId of Object.keys(store.sidebarTableSearchQueries)) {
     scheduleSidebarTableSearchRefresh(parentNodeId);
   }
@@ -200,7 +201,11 @@ function collectExpandedObjectSearchTargets(node: TreeNode, tasks: Promise<void>
 }
 
 const isSearching = computed(() => !!deferredSearchQuery.value);
-const isFiltering = computed(() => !!searchQuery.value.trim() || hasSearchScopeFilter.value);
+const sidebarFilterGuards = computed(() => resolveSidebarFilterGuards(showConnectedConnectionsOnly.value, searchQuery.value, hasSearchScopeFilter.value));
+// Connected-only filtering changes only root visibility, so descendant-local
+// features stay available while operations requiring the full root list pause.
+const isTreeSearchFiltering = computed(() => sidebarFilterGuards.value.isTreeSearchFiltering);
+const isRootListPartial = computed(() => sidebarFilterGuards.value.isRootListPartial);
 
 const SEARCH_SCOPE_TO_NODE_TYPES: Record<SearchScope, TreeNodeType[]> = {
   connection: ["connection"],
@@ -300,7 +305,7 @@ function clearSearchScopeFilter() {
 
 function scheduleSidebarTableSearchRefresh(parentNodeId: string, options?: { restoreFocus?: boolean }) {
   window.clearTimeout(tableSearchTimers.get(parentNodeId));
-  if (isFiltering.value) return;
+  if (isTreeSearchFiltering.value) return;
   const restoreToken = options?.restoreFocus ? ++tableSearchFocusRestoreTokenSeq : 0;
   if (restoreToken) {
     tableSearchFocusRestoreTokens.clear();
@@ -343,6 +348,9 @@ const displayedTreeNodes = computed(() => sortConnectionListForDisplay(store.tre
 
 const filteredNodes = computed(() => {
   let nodes = displayedTreeNodes.value;
+  if (showConnectedConnectionsOnly.value) {
+    nodes = filterSidebarTreeToConnectedConnections(nodes, store.connectedIds);
+  }
 
   const q = deferredSearchQuery.value;
   nodes = filterSidebarTree(nodes, q, searchCollapsedIds.value, searchableNodeTypes.value);
@@ -355,7 +363,7 @@ const filteredNodes = computed(() => {
 
 const flatNodes = computed<FlatTreeNode[]>(() =>
   insertSidebarTableSearchControls(flattenTree(filteredNodes.value), {
-    enabled: settingsStore.editorSettings.sidebarTableSearchEnabled && !isFiltering.value,
+    enabled: settingsStore.editorSettings.sidebarTableSearchEnabled && !isTreeSearchFiltering.value,
     sidebarObjectDisplay: settingsStore.editorSettings.sidebarObjectDisplay,
     activeQueries: store.sidebarTableSearchQueries,
   }),
@@ -512,7 +520,7 @@ watch(
 );
 
 const stickyNode = computed<FlatTreeNode | null>(() => {
-  if (!useVirtualTree.value || isFiltering.value) return null;
+  if (!useVirtualTree.value || isTreeSearchFiltering.value) return null;
   const nodes = flatNodes.value;
   const len = nodes.length;
   if (len === 0) return null;
@@ -717,9 +725,10 @@ async function createNewGroup() {
 async function startRenamingCreatedGroup(groupId: string) {
   pendingRenameGroupId.value = groupId;
   store.selectedTreeNodeId = groupId;
-  if (isFiltering.value) {
+  if (isRootListPartial.value) {
     searchQuery.value = "";
     deferredSearchQuery.value = "";
+    showConnectedConnectionsOnly.value = false;
     clearSearchScopeFilter();
   }
 
@@ -754,9 +763,10 @@ async function locateActiveTabInSidebar() {
   await ensureTreeLoadedForTarget(initialTarget);
 
   // Clear any active search filter so the node is visible
-  if (isFiltering.value) {
+  if (isRootListPartial.value) {
     searchQuery.value = "";
     deferredSearchQuery.value = "";
+    showConnectedConnectionsOnly.value = false;
     clearSearchScopeFilter();
   }
 
@@ -1450,6 +1460,17 @@ defineExpose({ focusSearch, createNewGroup, collapseAllTreeNodes });
           align="end"
           @update:model-value="selectSearchScopeMenuItem"
         />
+        <button
+          type="button"
+          class="shrink-0 h-6 w-6 flex items-center justify-center rounded border hover:bg-accent"
+          :class="showConnectedConnectionsOnly ? 'text-primary bg-primary/10 border-primary/30' : 'border-border text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground'"
+          :aria-label="t('sidebar.showActiveConnectionsOnly')"
+          :aria-pressed="showConnectedConnectionsOnly"
+          :title="t('sidebar.showActiveConnectionsOnly')"
+          @click="showConnectedConnectionsOnly = !showConnectedConnectionsOnly"
+        >
+          <CircleDot class="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+        </button>
       </div>
     </div>
     <CustomContextMenu ref="sidebarContextMenuRef" :items="sidebarContextMenuItems" v-slot="contextMenuSlot">
@@ -1472,7 +1493,7 @@ defineExpose({ focusSearch, createNewGroup, collapseAllTreeNodes });
             <TreeItem
               :node="item.node"
               :depth="item.depth"
-              :drag-disabled="isFiltering || isConnectionListAlphabeticallySorted"
+              :drag-disabled="isRootListPartial || isConnectionListAlphabeticallySorted"
               :pending-rename="pendingRenameGroupId === item.node.id"
               :highlighted="highlightedNodeId === item.node.id"
               :comment-label-width="sidebarCommentLabelWidths.get(item.node.id)"
@@ -1496,7 +1517,7 @@ defineExpose({ focusSearch, createNewGroup, collapseAllTreeNodes });
             :key="item.id"
             :node="item.node"
             :depth="item.depth"
-            :drag-disabled="isFiltering || isConnectionListAlphabeticallySorted"
+            :drag-disabled="isRootListPartial || isConnectionListAlphabeticallySorted"
             :pending-rename="pendingRenameGroupId === item.node.id"
             :highlighted="highlightedNodeId === item.id"
             :comment-label-width="sidebarCommentLabelWidths.get(item.node.id)"
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/locales/en.ts b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/locales/en.ts
index 72722ddf7..998c5abda 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/locales/en.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/locales/en.ts
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ export default {
     expand: "Expand sidebar",
     showMore: "Show {count} more...",
     filterByType: "Filter by type",
+    showActiveConnectionsOnly: "Show active connections only",
     sortConnections: "Sort connections",
     sortConnectionsManual: "Manual order",
     sortConnectionsAscending: "Name: A–Z",
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/locales/es.ts b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/locales/es.ts
index 89bdf32f5..6f89a0583 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/locales/es.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/locales/es.ts
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ export default withEnglishFallback({
     expand: "Expandir barra lateral",
     showMore: "Mostrar {count} más...",
     filterByType: "Filtrar por tipo",
+    showActiveConnectionsOnly: "Mostrar solo conexiones activas",
     sortConnections: "Ordenar conexiones",
     sortConnectionsManual: "Orden manual",
     sortConnectionsAscending: "Nombre: A–Z",
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/locales/it.ts b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/locales/it.ts
index 764710f50..0633a7168 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/locales/it.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/locales/it.ts
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ export default withEnglishFallback({
     expand: "Espandi barra laterale",
     showMore: "Mostra altri {count}...",
     filterByType: "Filtra per tipo",
+    showActiveConnectionsOnly: "Mostra solo connessioni attive",
     sortConnections: "Ordina connessioni",
     sortConnectionsManual: "Ordine manuale",
     sortConnectionsAscending: "Nome: A–Z",
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/locales/ja.ts b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/locales/ja.ts
index 7363d8b9c..75b4420a0 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/locales/ja.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/locales/ja.ts
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ export default withEnglishFallback({
     expand: "サイドバーを展開",
     showMore: "さらに{count}件表示...",
     filterByType: "タイプでフィルター",
+    showActiveConnectionsOnly: "アクティブな接続のみを表示",
     sortConnections: "接続を並べ替え",
     sortConnectionsManual: "手動順",
     sortConnectionsAscending: "名前: A–Z",
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/locales/pt-BR.ts b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/locales/pt-BR.ts
index 1d9fd4fb6..8680e31a3 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/locales/pt-BR.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/locales/pt-BR.ts
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ export default withEnglishFallback({
     expand: "Expandir barra lateral",
     showMore: "Mostrar mais {count}...",
     filterByType: "Filtrar por tipo",
+    showActiveConnectionsOnly: "Mostrar apenas conexões ativas",
     sortConnections: "Ordenar conexões",
     sortConnectionsManual: "Ordem manual",
     sortConnectionsAscending: "Nome: A–Z",
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/locales/zh-CN.ts b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/locales/zh-CN.ts
index 871929f3b..8564cb7db 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/locales/zh-CN.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/locales/zh-CN.ts
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ export default withEnglishFallback({
     expand: "展开侧边栏",
     showMore: "加载更多 ({count})...",
     filterByType: "按类型筛选",
+    showActiveConnectionsOnly: "仅显示活跃连接",
     sortConnections: "连接排序",
     sortConnectionsManual: "手动排序",
     sortConnectionsAscending: "名称：A–Z",
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/locales/zh-TW.ts b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/locales/zh-TW.ts
index 8952eb47f..7ae3dc4f4 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/locales/zh-TW.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/locales/zh-TW.ts
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ export default withEnglishFallback({
     expand: "展開側邊欄",
     showMore: "再顯示 {count} 個……",
     filterByType: "依類型篩選",
+    showActiveConnectionsOnly: "僅顯示作用中連線",
     sortConnections: "連線排序",
     sortConnectionsManual: "手動排序",
     sortConnectionsAscending: "名稱：A–Z",
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/lib/__tests__/sidebar/sidebarConnectionStateFilter.spec.ts b/apps/desktop/src/lib/__tests__/sidebar/sidebarConnectionStateFilter.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..de664b2e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/lib/__tests__/sidebar/sidebarConnectionStateFilter.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { filterSidebarTreeToConnectedConnections } from "@/lib/sidebar/sidebarSearchTree";
+import type { TreeNode } from "@/types/database";
+
+function connection(id: string): TreeNode {
+  return {
+    id,
+    label: id,
+    type: "connection",
+    connectionId: id,
+    isExpanded: true,
+    children: [{ id: `${id}:database`, label: "database", type: "database", connectionId: id }],
+  };
+}
+
+function group(id: string, children: TreeNode[]): TreeNode {
+  return { id, label: id, type: "connection-group", isExpanded: true, children };
+}
+
+describe("connected sidebar connection filter", () => {
+  it("keeps connected connections and their nested groups while removing disconnected connections and empty groups", () => {
+    const connected = connection("connected");
+    const tree = [connection("disconnected"), group("team", [group("production", [connected]), group("inactive", [connection("other")])])];
+
+    const result = filterSidebarTreeToConnectedConnections(tree, new Set(["connected"]));
+
+    expect(result).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(result[0]?.id).toBe("team");
+    expect(result[0]?.children?.[0]?.id).toBe("production");
+    expect(result[0]?.children?.[0]?.children?.[0]).toBe(connected);
+    expect(result[0]?.children?.some((node) => node.id === "inactive")).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("preserves the existing tree when every displayed connection is active", () => {
+    const first = connection("first");
+    const tree = [group("team", [first])];
+
+    expect(filterSidebarTreeToConnectedConnections(tree, new Set(["first"]))).toBe(tree);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/lib/__tests__/sidebar/sidebarFilterGuards.spec.ts b/apps/desktop/src/lib/__tests__/sidebar/sidebarFilterGuards.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d9b7f4188
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/lib/__tests__/sidebar/sidebarFilterGuards.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+import { readFileSync } from "node:fs";
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { resolveSidebarFilterGuards } from "@/lib/sidebar/sidebarSearchTree";
+
+describe("sidebar filter guards", () => {
+  it.each([
+    { connectedOnly: false, query: "", scoped: false, treeSearch: false, rootPartial: false },
+    { connectedOnly: true, query: "", scoped: false, treeSearch: false, rootPartial: true },
+    { connectedOnly: false, query: "table", scoped: false, treeSearch: true, rootPartial: true },
+    { connectedOnly: true, query: "table", scoped: false, treeSearch: true, rootPartial: true },
+    { connectedOnly: false, query: "   ", scoped: true, treeSearch: true, rootPartial: true },
+    { connectedOnly: true, query: "   ", scoped: true, treeSearch: true, rootPartial: true },
+    { connectedOnly: false, query: "table", scoped: true, treeSearch: true, rootPartial: true },
+    { connectedOnly: true, query: "table", scoped: true, treeSearch: true, rootPartial: true },
+  ])("separates connected-only=$connectedOnly query=$query scoped=$scoped", ({ connectedOnly, query, scoped, treeSearch, rootPartial }) => {
+    expect(resolveSidebarFilterGuards(connectedOnly, query, scoped)).toEqual({
+      isTreeSearchFiltering: treeSearch,
+      isRootListPartial: rootPartial,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("keeps descendant-local features separate from partial-root operations", () => {
+    const source = readFileSync(new URL("../../../components/sidebar/ConnectionTree.vue", import.meta.url), "utf8");
+
+    expect(source).toContain("sidebarTableSearchEnabled && !isTreeSearchFiltering.value");
+    expect(source).toContain("!useVirtualTree.value || isTreeSearchFiltering.value");
+    expect(source.match(/if \(isRootListPartial\.value\)/g)).toHaveLength(2);
+    expect(source.match(/:drag-disabled="isRootListPartial \|\| isConnectionListAlphabeticallySorted"/g)).toHaveLength(2);
+    expect(source).not.toContain("isFiltering");
+  });
+});
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/lib/sidebar/sidebarSearchTree.ts b/apps/desktop/src/lib/sidebar/sidebarSearchTree.ts
index 926d6e334..c3f3dd883 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/lib/sidebar/sidebarSearchTree.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/lib/sidebar/sidebarSearchTree.ts
@@ -79,3 +79,51 @@ export function filterSidebarSearchRootsByConnectionState(nodes: TreeNode[], con
     return node.connectionId ? connectedIds.has(node.connectionId) : true;
   });
 }
+
+export function resolveSidebarFilterGuards(showConnectedConnectionsOnly: boolean, searchQuery: string, hasSearchScopeFilter: boolean) {
+  const isTreeSearchFiltering = !!searchQuery.trim() || hasSearchScopeFilter;
+  return {
+    isTreeSearchFiltering,
+    isRootListPartial: showConnectedConnectionsOnly || isTreeSearchFiltering,
+  };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Produces a display-only connection tree containing connected connections and
+ * the groups that contain them. Connection descendants stay intact because
+ * this filter controls the connection list, not database-object visibility.
+ */
+export function filterSidebarTreeToConnectedConnections(nodes: readonly TreeNode[], connectedIds: ReadonlySet<string>): TreeNode[] {
+  let changed = false;
+  const filtered: TreeNode[] = [];
+
+  for (const node of nodes) {
+    if (node.type === "connection") {
+      if (node.connectionId && connectedIds.has(node.connectionId)) {
+        filtered.push(node);
+      } else {
+        changed = true;
+      }
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    if (node.type !== "connection-group") {
+      filtered.push(node);
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    const children = filterSidebarTreeToConnectedConnections(node.children ?? [], connectedIds);
+    if (children.length === 0) {
+      changed = true;
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (children !== node.children) {
+      changed = true;
+      filtered.push({ ...node, children });
+    } else {
+      filtered.push(node);
+    }
+  }
+
+  return changed ? filtered : (nodes as TreeNode[]);
+}