diff --git a/src/main/persistence.test.ts b/src/main/persistence.test.ts
index 9ac653533..d63f9cf31 100644
--- a/src/main/persistence.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/persistence.test.ts
@@ -5277,6 +5277,27 @@ describe('Store', () => {
     expect(store.getUI().worktreeCardProperties).not.toContain('automation')
   })
 
+  it('preserves the current defaulted Compact preset without expanding display toggles', async () => {
+    writeDataFile({
+      schemaVersion: 1,
+      repos: [],
+      worktreeMeta: {},
+      settings: { compactWorktreeCards: true, experimentalNewWorktreeCardStyle: true },
+      ui: {
+        worktreeCardProperties: ['status', 'unread'],
+        _worktreeCardModeDefaulted: true
+      },
+      githubCache: { pr: {}, issue: {} },
+      workspaceSession: {}
+    })
+    const store = await createStore()
+
+    expect(store.getSettings().compactWorktreeCards).toBe(true)
+    expect(store.getUI().worktreeCardProperties).toEqual(['status', 'unread'])
+    expect(store.getUI().worktreeCardProperties).not.toContain('ports')
+    expect(store.getUI().worktreeCardProperties).not.toContain('inline-agents')
+  })
+
   it.each([
     ['raw', ['status', 'automation']],
     ['normalized', ['status', 'unread', 'automation']]
diff --git a/src/main/persistence.ts b/src/main/persistence.ts
index 0492a7b55..c99eb4343 100644
--- a/src/main/persistence.ts
+++ b/src/main/persistence.ts
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ import {
   getDefaultRepoHookSettings,
   getDefaultWorkspaceSession,
   getWorktreeCardModeProperties,
-  isLegacyDefaultedCompactWorktreeCardProperties,
+  isDefaultedCompactWorktreeCardProperties,
   normalizeAgentActivityDisplayMode,
   normalizeWorktreeCardProperties,
   ONBOARDING_FLOW_VERSION,
@@ -2806,7 +2806,7 @@ export class Store {
             const needsLegacyDefaultedCompactMigration =
               loadedCompactWorktreeCards &&
               parsed.ui?._worktreeCardModeDefaulted === true &&
-              isLegacyDefaultedCompactWorktreeCardProperties(rawCardProps)
+              isDefaultedCompactWorktreeCardProperties(rawCardProps)
             const migratedCardProps = (() => {
               if (!Array.isArray(rawCardProps)) {
                 return undefined
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/WorktreeCard.compact-hover.test.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/WorktreeCard.compact-hover.test.tsx
index 3d7e25d73..91be2c249 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/WorktreeCard.compact-hover.test.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/WorktreeCard.compact-hover.test.tsx
@@ -365,7 +365,8 @@ describe('WorktreeCard compact hover details', () => {
       />
     )
 
-    expect(markup).toContain('data-worktree-card-meta-row=""')
+    expect(markup).toContain('Workspace metadata')
+    expect(markup).not.toContain('data-worktree-card-meta-row=""')
     expectParentBodyIsHoverTrigger(markup)
     expect(markup.match(/data-hover-open-delay="100"/g)).toHaveLength(1)
     expect(markup).toContain('Reviewer handoff note')
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/WorktreeCard.pinned-repo-icon.test.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/WorktreeCard.pinned-repo-icon.test.tsx
index cb6128d1d..cd01ae925 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/WorktreeCard.pinned-repo-icon.test.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/WorktreeCard.pinned-repo-icon.test.tsx
@@ -142,4 +142,22 @@ describe('WorktreeCard pinned repo icon', () => {
     expect(markup).not.toContain('🦊')
     expect(markup).not.toContain('Project orca')
   })
+
+  it('uses the pinned-style repo icon in new card style instead of a metadata-row badge', async () => {
+    settings = { compactWorktreeCards: false, experimentalNewWorktreeCardStyle: true }
+    worktreeCardProperties = ['status']
+    const { default: WorktreeCard } = await import('./WorktreeCard')
+
+    const markup = renderToStaticMarkup(
+      <WorktreeCard
+        worktree={makeWorktree({ isPinned: false })}
+        repo={makeRepo()}
+        isActive={false}
+      />
+    )
+
+    expect(markup).toContain('🦊')
+    expect(markup).toContain('Project orca')
+    expect(markup).not.toContain('data-worktree-card-meta-row=""')
+  })
 })
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/WorktreeCard.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/WorktreeCard.tsx
index e8bc28686..99e2f10c8 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/WorktreeCard.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/WorktreeCard.tsx
@@ -220,8 +220,8 @@ const WorktreeCard = React.memo(function WorktreeCard({
   const fetchIssue = useAppStore((s) => s.fetchIssue)
   const fetchLinearIssue = useAppStore((s) => s.fetchLinearIssue)
   const cardProps = useAppStore((s) => s.worktreeCardProperties)
-  const compactCards = settings?.compactWorktreeCards === true
   const newCardStyle = settings?.experimentalNewWorktreeCardStyle === true
+  const compactCards = !newCardStyle && settings?.compactWorktreeCards === true
   const activeSurfaceIsSecondary = isActiveSurface && activeSurfaceVariant === 'secondary'
   const handleEditIssue = useCallback(
     (e: React.MouseEvent) => {
@@ -1031,9 +1031,13 @@ const WorktreeCard = React.memo(function WorktreeCard({
   // Why: pinned trees mix repos in one section; a leading repo icon keeps the
   // list scannable, so it shows regardless of groupBy's hideRepoBadge.
   const showPinnedRepoIcon = inPinnedSection && !!repo
+  // Why: the new card style retired the Compact/Detailed layout switch; repo
+  // identity uses the same compact chip as pinned cards instead of a lower pill.
+  const showRepoIdentityInTitle = newCardStyle || compactCards
   const showInlineRepoBadge =
-    compactCards && !!repo && !hideRepoBadge && !isFolder && !showPinnedRepoIcon
-  const showRepoBadgeInMetaRow = !compactCards && !!repo && !hideRepoBadge && !showPinnedRepoIcon
+    showRepoIdentityInTitle && !!repo && !hideRepoBadge && !isFolder && !showPinnedRepoIcon
+  const showRepoBadgeInMetaRow =
+    !showRepoIdentityInTitle && !!repo && !hideRepoBadge && !showPinnedRepoIcon
   const showHostContextBadge = !compactCards && !!hostContextLabel
   const showDetachedHeadInMetaRow = !compactCards && !isFolder && detachedHeadDisplay !== null
   const showBranch =
@@ -1207,7 +1211,6 @@ const WorktreeCard = React.memo(function WorktreeCard({
           className={cn(
             'flex shrink-0 justify-center',
             newCardStyle ? 'mr-1 w-5 items-center' : 'items-start pt-[2px]',
-            compactCards && newCardStyle && 'items-center pt-0',
             affiliateListMode && 'px-1'
           )}
           data-worktree-card-status-slot=""
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/web/web-preload-api.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/web/web-preload-api.test.ts
index ec236c402..6cdb12921 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/web/web-preload-api.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/web/web-preload-api.test.ts
@@ -762,6 +762,90 @@ describe('web UI preload API', () => {
     expect(ui.rightSidebarOpen).toBe(true)
   })
 
+  it('seeds missing local card display properties from runtime-backed compact settings when ui.get is unavailable', async () => {
+    const runtimeCalls: { method: string; params: unknown }[] = []
+    vi.doMock('./web-runtime-client', () => ({
+      WebRuntimeClient: class {
+        call(method: string, params?: unknown): Promise<RuntimeRpcResponse<unknown>> {
+          runtimeCalls.push({ method, params })
+          if (method === 'settings.get') {
+            return Promise.resolve({
+              id: `call-${runtimeCalls.length}`,
+              ok: true,
+              result: { settings: { compactWorktreeCards: true } },
+              _meta: { runtimeId: 'runtime-1' }
+            })
+          }
+          return Promise.resolve({
+            id: `call-${runtimeCalls.length}`,
+            ok: false,
+            error: { code: 'method_not_found', message: 'Unknown method' },
+            _meta: { runtimeId: 'runtime-1' }
+          })
+        }
+
+        close(): void {}
+      }
+    }))
+
+    const globals = installBrowserGlobals('Linux')
+    writeStoredRuntimeEnvironment(globals.storage)
+    const { installWebPreloadApi } = await import('./web-preload-api')
+    installWebPreloadApi()
+
+    await globals.window.api.settings.get()
+    const ui = await globals.window.api.ui.get()
+
+    expect(ui.worktreeCardProperties).toEqual(['status', 'unread'])
+    expect(ui.worktreeCardProperties).not.toContain('ports')
+    expect(ui.worktreeCardProperties).not.toContain('inline-agents')
+    expect(runtimeCalls.map((call) => call.method)).toEqual(['settings.get', 'ui.get'])
+  })
+
+  it('preserves explicit local card display properties when compact fallback settings are present', async () => {
+    const runtimeCalls: { method: string; params: unknown }[] = []
+    vi.doMock('./web-runtime-client', () => ({
+      WebRuntimeClient: class {
+        call(method: string, params?: unknown): Promise<RuntimeRpcResponse<unknown>> {
+          runtimeCalls.push({ method, params })
+          if (method === 'settings.get') {
+            return Promise.resolve({
+              id: `call-${runtimeCalls.length}`,
+              ok: true,
+              result: { settings: { compactWorktreeCards: true } },
+              _meta: { runtimeId: 'runtime-1' }
+            })
+          }
+          return Promise.resolve({
+            id: `call-${runtimeCalls.length}`,
+            ok: false,
+            error: { code: 'method_not_found', message: 'Unknown method' },
+            _meta: { runtimeId: 'runtime-1' }
+          })
+        }
+
+        close(): void {}
+      }
+    }))
+
+    const globals = installBrowserGlobals('Linux')
+    writeStoredRuntimeEnvironment(globals.storage)
+    globals.storage.setItem(
+      'orca.web.ui.v1',
+      JSON.stringify({ worktreeCardProperties: ['status', 'pr'] })
+    )
+    const { installWebPreloadApi } = await import('./web-preload-api')
+    installWebPreloadApi()
+
+    await globals.window.api.settings.get()
+    const ui = await globals.window.api.ui.get()
+
+    expect(ui.worktreeCardProperties).toEqual(['status', 'unread', 'pr'])
+    expect(ui.worktreeCardProperties).not.toContain('ports')
+    expect(ui.worktreeCardProperties).not.toContain('inline-agents')
+    expect(runtimeCalls.map((call) => call.method)).toEqual(['settings.get', 'ui.get'])
+  })
+
   it('keeps newer feature interaction counts when runtime responses resolve out of order', async () => {
     const pending: ((response: RuntimeRpcResponse<unknown>) => void)[] = []
     vi.doMock('./web-runtime-client', () => ({
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/web/web-preload-api.ts b/src/renderer/src/web/web-preload-api.ts
index 6d4ec2f45..83e3d9993 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/web/web-preload-api.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/web/web-preload-api.ts
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ import {
   getDefaultSettings,
   getDefaultUIState,
   getDefaultWorkspaceSession,
+  getWorktreeCardModeProperties,
   normalizeAgentActivityDisplayMode,
   normalizeWorktreeCardProperties,
   ONBOARDING_FLOW_VERSION
@@ -2758,11 +2759,19 @@ function closeWebOnboarding(base: OnboardingState): OnboardingState {
 function readLocalWebUIState(): PersistedUIState {
   const defaults = getDefaultUIState()
   const stored = readJson<Partial<PersistedUIState>>(UI_STORAGE_KEY, {})
-  if (typeof stored.rightSidebarOpen === 'boolean') {
-    return mergeWebUIState(defaults, stored)
-  }
   const storedSettings = getStoredSettings()
-  return mergeWebUIState(defaults, {
+  const base = {
+    ...defaults,
+    // Why: when runtime ui.get is unavailable, web fallback must mirror the
+    // main-process missing-property seed from the legacy card layout mode.
+    worktreeCardProperties: getWorktreeCardModeProperties(
+      storedSettings.compactWorktreeCards ? 'Compact' : 'Default'
+    )
+  }
+  if (typeof stored.rightSidebarOpen === 'boolean') {
+    return mergeWebUIState(base, stored)
+  }
+  return mergeWebUIState(base, {
     ...stored,
     // Why: web fallback lacks main-process normalization, so migrate the
     // retired setting only when the local UI preference is still absent.
diff --git a/src/shared/constants.ts b/src/shared/constants.ts
index 00da56400..b502d4cc7 100644
--- a/src/shared/constants.ts
+++ b/src/shared/constants.ts
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ export {
   TASK_WORKTREE_CARD_PROPERTIES,
   getWorktreeCardModeProperties,
   getWorktreeCardModeUpdates,
-  isLegacyDefaultedCompactWorktreeCardProperties,
+  isDefaultedCompactWorktreeCardProperties,
   normalizeWorktreeCardProperties
 } from './worktree-card-properties'
 
diff --git a/src/shared/worktree-card-properties.test.ts b/src/shared/worktree-card-properties.test.ts
index 00a738380..6a24606c1 100644
--- a/src/shared/worktree-card-properties.test.ts
+++ b/src/shared/worktree-card-properties.test.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import {
   TASK_WORKTREE_CARD_PROPERTIES,
   getWorktreeCardModeProperties,
   getWorktreeCardModeUpdates,
-  isLegacyDefaultedCompactWorktreeCardProperties,
+  isDefaultedCompactWorktreeCardProperties,
   normalizeWorktreeCardProperties
 } from './worktree-card-properties'
 
@@ -62,15 +62,12 @@ describe('worktree card properties', () => {
     })
   })
 
-  it('recognizes only the exact old defaulted Compact preset', () => {
-    expect(isLegacyDefaultedCompactWorktreeCardProperties(['status', 'automation'])).toBe(true)
-    expect(isLegacyDefaultedCompactWorktreeCardProperties(['status', 'unread', 'automation'])).toBe(
-      true
-    )
-    expect(isLegacyDefaultedCompactWorktreeCardProperties(['automation', 'status'])).toBe(false)
-    expect(isLegacyDefaultedCompactWorktreeCardProperties(['status'])).toBe(false)
-    expect(isLegacyDefaultedCompactWorktreeCardProperties(['status', 'automation', 'pr'])).toBe(
-      false
-    )
+  it('recognizes only exact defaulted Compact presets', () => {
+    expect(isDefaultedCompactWorktreeCardProperties(['status'])).toBe(true)
+    expect(isDefaultedCompactWorktreeCardProperties(['status', 'unread'])).toBe(true)
+    expect(isDefaultedCompactWorktreeCardProperties(['status', 'automation'])).toBe(true)
+    expect(isDefaultedCompactWorktreeCardProperties(['status', 'unread', 'automation'])).toBe(true)
+    expect(isDefaultedCompactWorktreeCardProperties(['automation', 'status'])).toBe(false)
+    expect(isDefaultedCompactWorktreeCardProperties(['status', 'automation', 'pr'])).toBe(false)
   })
 })
diff --git a/src/shared/worktree-card-properties.ts b/src/shared/worktree-card-properties.ts
index ee1cee312..76b1c32eb 100644
--- a/src/shared/worktree-card-properties.ts
+++ b/src/shared/worktree-card-properties.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ export const DEFAULT_WORKTREE_CARD_PROPERTIES: WorktreeCardProperty[] = [
 // Why: compact cards default to the quiet preset; metadata icons remain opt-in
 // through Show properties instead of appearing automatically.
 export const COMPACT_WORKTREE_CARD_PROPERTIES: WorktreeCardProperty[] = ['status']
+const NORMALIZED_COMPACT_WORKTREE_CARD_PROPERTIES: WorktreeCardProperty[] = ['status', 'unread']
 
 const LEGACY_COMPACT_WORKTREE_CARD_PROPERTIES_WITH_AUTOMATION: WorktreeCardProperty[] = [
   'status',
@@ -83,10 +84,12 @@ export function getWorktreeCardModeUpdates(mode: WorktreeCardMode): {
   }
 }
 
-export function isLegacyDefaultedCompactWorktreeCardProperties(
+export function isDefaultedCompactWorktreeCardProperties(
   properties: readonly unknown[] | null | undefined
 ): boolean {
   return (
+    matchesWorktreeCardProperties(properties, COMPACT_WORKTREE_CARD_PROPERTIES) ||
+    matchesWorktreeCardProperties(properties, NORMALIZED_COMPACT_WORKTREE_CARD_PROPERTIES) ||
     matchesWorktreeCardProperties(
       properties,
       LEGACY_COMPACT_WORKTREE_CARD_PROPERTIES_WITH_AUTOMATION