diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/App.vue b/apps/desktop/src/App.vue
index 933b3cf200..50547ee00d 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/App.vue
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/App.vue
@@ -868,6 +868,8 @@ const specialPageTabs = computed(() => ({
   settingsActive: settingsStore.settingsPageActive,
   driverStoreOpen: driverStoreTabOpen.value,
   driverStoreActive: driverStoreActive.value,
+  pluginCenterOpen: pluginCenterTabOpen.value,
+  pluginCenterActive: pluginCenterActive.value,
   driverUpdateCount: toolbarAgentDriverUpdateCount.value,
 }));
 provide(GROUP_TAB_BAR_PORTAL, createGroupTabBarPortal(computed(() => !isDetachedWindowContext && (driverStoreActive.value || pluginCenterActive.value || settingsStore.settingsPageActive))));
@@ -899,6 +901,8 @@ provide(EDITOR_TOOLBAR_ACTIONS, {
   closeSettingsPage,
   activateDriverStore: () => openDriverStorePage(),
   closeDriverStore: closeDriverStorePage,
+  activatePluginCenter: () => openPluginCenterPage(pluginCenterFocus.value),
+  closePluginCenter: closePluginCenterPage,
 });
 
 // Upstream "preview changes" entry: dormant until the group toolbar wires the
@@ -3635,7 +3639,6 @@ onUnmounted(() => {
                 :tab-bar-width="tabBarWidth"
                 :tab-bar-collapsed="tabBarCollapsed"
                 @activate-driver-store="openDriverStorePage"
-                @activate-plugin-center="openPluginCenterPage(pluginCenterFocus)"
                 @activate-settings-page="activateSettingsPage"
                 @activate-tab="activateQueryTab"
                 @close-driver-store="closeDriverStorePage"
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/components/layout/AppTabBar.vue b/apps/desktop/src/components/layout/AppTabBar.vue
index 08be62ae3b..d6960c1c80 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/components/layout/AppTabBar.vue
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/components/layout/AppTabBar.vue
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ const props = defineProps<{
 const emit = defineEmits<{
   "activate-driver-store": [];
   "close-driver-store": [];
-  "activate-plugin-center": [];
   "close-plugin-center": [];
   "activate-settings-page": [];
   "close-settings-page": [];
@@ -202,9 +201,6 @@ function handleCancelClose() {
   <div v-show="driverStoreActive || pluginCenterActive || settingsPageActive" data-special-page-workspace class="flex min-h-0 min-w-0 flex-1 overflow-hidden" :class="layoutClass">
     <div data-special-page-navigation class="flex min-h-0 min-w-0 shrink-0 flex-col overflow-auto" :style="navigationStyle">
       <div v-for="group in queryStore.groups" :key="group.id" :ref="(element) => setTabBarTarget(group.id, element)" :data-special-page-tab-target="group.id" class="flex min-h-0 min-w-0" :class="isVerticalLayout ? 'flex-1' : 'shrink-0'" />
-      <button v-if="pluginCenterOpen" type="button" data-plugin-center-tab class="shrink-0 rounded-md px-2 py-1 text-left text-sm" :class="pluginCenterActive ? 'bg-accent text-accent-foreground' : 'text-muted-foreground'" @click="emit('activate-plugin-center')">
-        {{ t("toolbar.pluginCenter") }}
-      </button>
     </div>
     <div data-special-page-content class="flex min-h-0 min-w-0 flex-1 flex-col overflow-hidden">
       <slot />
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/components/layout/EditorGroup.vue b/apps/desktop/src/components/layout/EditorGroup.vue
index cb98a1ea41..ceff63bc45 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/components/layout/EditorGroup.vue
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/components/layout/EditorGroup.vue
@@ -159,6 +159,8 @@ const groupExecutableSql = computed(() => {
         @close-settings="toolbar.closeSettingsPage()"
         @activate-driver-store="toolbar.activateDriverStore()"
         @close-driver-store="toolbar.closeDriverStore()"
+        @activate-plugin-center="toolbar.activatePluginCenter()"
+        @close-plugin-center="toolbar.closePluginCenter()"
       />
     </Teleport>
     <!-- The toolbar stays at the top of the pane's content column in every
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/components/layout/EditorGroupTabBar.vue b/apps/desktop/src/components/layout/EditorGroupTabBar.vue
index 4fe4347dc0..f529e77a5a 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/components/layout/EditorGroupTabBar.vue
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/components/layout/EditorGroupTabBar.vue
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ import {
   PanelTop,
   Pencil,
   Pin,
+  PlugZap,
   RotateCcw,
   RotateCw,
   Search,
@@ -98,8 +99,8 @@ const props = defineProps<{
   canDetachTabs?: boolean;
   /** A detached tab is being dragged over this bar — highlight it as the drop target. */
   detachedDropTarget?: boolean;
-  /** App-level special pages (settings / driver store) appended after the tabs. */
-  specialPageTabs?: { settingsOpen: boolean; settingsActive: boolean; driverStoreOpen: boolean; driverStoreActive: boolean; driverUpdateCount: number };
+  /** App-level special pages appended after the tabs. */
+  specialPageTabs?: { settingsOpen: boolean; settingsActive: boolean; driverStoreOpen: boolean; driverStoreActive: boolean; pluginCenterOpen: boolean; pluginCenterActive: boolean; driverUpdateCount: number };
 }>();
 
 const emit = defineEmits<{
@@ -113,6 +114,8 @@ const emit = defineEmits<{
   "close-settings": [];
   "activate-driver-store": [];
   "close-driver-store": [];
+  "activate-plugin-center": [];
+  "close-plugin-center": [];
 }>();
 
 const { t } = useI18n();
@@ -135,8 +138,8 @@ const suppressNextTabClick = ref(false);
 const isClassicLayout = computed(() => settingsStore.editorSettings.appLayout === "classic");
 // Special pages append to the focused group's strip only: one instance at a
 // time, in the pane the user is working in (v0.6.2 kept them in the single strip).
-const showSpecialPageTabs = computed(() => !!props.specialPageTabs && (props.specialPageTabs.settingsOpen || props.specialPageTabs.driverStoreOpen) && queryStore.focusedGroupId === props.groupId);
-const specialPageActive = computed(() => !!(props.specialPageTabs?.settingsActive || props.specialPageTabs?.driverStoreActive));
+const showSpecialPageTabs = computed(() => !!props.specialPageTabs && (props.specialPageTabs.settingsOpen || props.specialPageTabs.driverStoreOpen || props.specialPageTabs.pluginCenterOpen) && queryStore.focusedGroupId === props.groupId);
+const specialPageActive = computed(() => !!(props.specialPageTabs?.settingsActive || props.specialPageTabs?.driverStoreActive || props.specialPageTabs?.pluginCenterActive));
 
 function isTabActive(tab: QueryTab): boolean {
   return !specialPageActive.value && tab.id === props.activeTabId;
@@ -153,9 +156,11 @@ function specialPageTabClass(active: boolean): string[] {
 }
 
 function specialPageTabStyle(active: boolean) {
-  if (isVerticalLayout.value) return active ? { "--app-tab-background": "var(--accent)" } : undefined;
-  if (!isClassicLayout.value) return undefined;
-  return active ? { boxShadow: "inset 0 -2px 0 var(--ring)" } : undefined;
+  if (!active) return undefined;
+  const activeBackground = "color-mix(in srgb, var(--foreground) 18%, var(--background))";
+  if (isVerticalLayout.value) return { "--app-tab-background": "var(--accent)" };
+  if (!isClassicLayout.value) return { "--app-tab-background": activeBackground, borderColor: "var(--ring)" };
+  return { "--app-tab-background": activeBackground, boxShadow: "inset 0 -2px 0 color-mix(in srgb, var(--foreground) 72%, transparent)" };
 }
 const isVerticalLayout = computed(() => settingsStore.editorSettings.tabPlacement === "left" || settingsStore.editorSettings.tabPlacement === "right");
 const isWrapLayout = computed(() => !isVerticalLayout.value && settingsStore.editorSettings.tabLayout === "wrap");
@@ -192,16 +197,22 @@ function toggleCompactTabTitle() {
   compactTabTitle.value = !compactTabTitle.value;
 }
 
-function getSpecialPageTabMenuItems(surface: "settings" | "driverStore"): ContextMenuItem[] {
-  const closeCurrent = surface === "settings" ? () => emit("close-settings") : () => emit("close-driver-store");
-  const otherOpen = surface === "settings" ? props.specialPageTabs?.driverStoreOpen : props.specialPageTabs?.settingsOpen;
+function getSpecialPageTabMenuItems(surface: "settings" | "driverStore" | "pluginCenter"): ContextMenuItem[] {
+  const closeCurrent = surface === "settings" ? () => emit("close-settings") : surface === "driverStore" ? () => emit("close-driver-store") : () => emit("close-plugin-center");
+  const otherOpen =
+    surface === "settings" ? props.specialPageTabs?.driverStoreOpen || props.specialPageTabs?.pluginCenterOpen : surface === "driverStore" ? props.specialPageTabs?.settingsOpen || props.specialPageTabs?.pluginCenterOpen : props.specialPageTabs?.settingsOpen || props.specialPageTabs?.driverStoreOpen;
+  const closeOthers = () => {
+    if (surface !== "settings") emit("close-settings");
+    if (surface !== "driverStore") emit("close-driver-store");
+    if (surface !== "pluginCenter") emit("close-plugin-center");
+  };
   return [
     { label: compactTabTitle.value ? t("contextMenu.fullTabTitle") : t("contextMenu.compactTabTitle"), action: toggleCompactTabTitle, icon: compactTabTitle.value ? Maximize2 : Minimize2 },
     { label: "", separator: true },
     { label: t("contextMenu.closeTab"), action: closeCurrent, icon: X },
     {
       label: t("contextMenu.closeOtherTabs"),
-      action: () => (surface === "settings" ? emit("close-driver-store") : emit("close-settings")),
+      action: closeOthers,
       disabled: !otherOpen,
       icon: X,
     },
@@ -1392,7 +1403,7 @@ watch(
   { flush: "post" },
 );
 
-watch([() => props.specialPageTabs?.settingsActive, () => props.specialPageTabs?.driverStoreActive, () => settingsStore.editorSettings.tabPlacement, () => props.tabBarCollapsed], () => {
+watch([() => props.specialPageTabs?.settingsActive, () => props.specialPageTabs?.driverStoreActive, () => props.specialPageTabs?.pluginCenterActive, () => settingsStore.editorSettings.tabPlacement, () => props.tabBarCollapsed], () => {
   nextTick(() => {
     updateScrollButtons();
     if (showSpecialPageTabs.value && specialPageActive.value) {
@@ -1614,6 +1625,31 @@ watch([() => props.specialPageTabs?.settingsActive, () => props.specialPageTabs?
                   </CustomContextMenu>
                 </template>
                 <template v-if="!section.pinned && showSpecialPageTabs">
+                  <CustomContextMenu v-if="specialPageTabs?.pluginCenterOpen" :items="getSpecialPageTabMenuItems('pluginCenter')" v-slot="{ onContextMenu }">
+                    <div
+                      data-plugin-center-tab
+                      class="app-tab-pill group flex shrink-0 cursor-default items-center gap-1 px-2 text-xs transition-colors whitespace-nowrap select-none"
+                      :class="specialPageTabClass(!!specialPageTabs?.pluginCenterActive)"
+                      :style="specialPageTabStyle(!!specialPageTabs?.pluginCenterActive)"
+                      :data-active-tab="specialPageTabs?.pluginCenterActive"
+                      :title="t('toolbar.pluginCenter')"
+                      :aria-label="t('toolbar.pluginCenter')"
+                      :aria-pressed="!!specialPageTabs?.pluginCenterActive"
+                      role="button"
+                      tabindex="0"
+                      @click="emit('activate-plugin-center')"
+                      @keydown.enter.self.prevent="emit('activate-plugin-center')"
+                      @keydown.space.self.prevent="emit('activate-plugin-center')"
+                      @contextmenu="onContextMenu"
+                      @mousedown.middle.prevent="emit('close-plugin-center')"
+                    >
+                      <PlugZap class="h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0 text-violet-600 dark:text-violet-400" />
+                      <span v-if="!isTabBarCollapsed" class="min-w-0 flex-1 truncate">{{ t("toolbar.pluginCenter") }}</span>
+                      <button v-if="!isTabBarCollapsed" class="shrink-0 rounded p-0.5 hover:bg-muted-foreground/20" :aria-label="t('common.close')" :title="t('common.close')" @click.stop="emit('close-plugin-center')">
+                        <X class="h-3 w-3" />
+                      </button>
+                    </div>
+                  </CustomContextMenu>
                   <CustomContextMenu v-if="specialPageTabs?.settingsOpen" :items="getSpecialPageTabMenuItems('settings')" v-slot="{ onContextMenu }">
                     <div
                       data-settings-page-tab
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/components/layout/editorToolbarActions.ts b/apps/desktop/src/components/layout/editorToolbarActions.ts
index 63464c6f79..d29e7c1c85 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/components/layout/editorToolbarActions.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/components/layout/editorToolbarActions.ts
@@ -9,12 +9,14 @@ import type { InjectionKey, Ref } from "vue";
  * the acting tab from the explicit tabId argument (never re-reading the global
  * active tab after an await).
  */
-/** Open/active state of the App-level special pages (settings / driver store). */
+/** Open/active state of the App-level special pages. */
 export interface SpecialPageTabsState {
   settingsOpen: boolean;
   settingsActive: boolean;
   driverStoreOpen: boolean;
   driverStoreActive: boolean;
+  pluginCenterOpen: boolean;
+  pluginCenterActive: boolean;
   driverUpdateCount: number;
 }
 
@@ -49,6 +51,8 @@ export interface EditorToolbarActions {
   closeSettingsPage(): void;
   activateDriverStore(): void;
   closeDriverStore(): void;
+  activatePluginCenter(): void;
+  closePluginCenter(): void;
 }
 
 export const EDITOR_TOOLBAR_ACTIONS: InjectionKey<EditorToolbarActions> = Symbol("dbx:editor-toolbar-actions");
@@ -63,7 +67,7 @@ export function createNoopEditorToolbarActions(): EditorToolbarActions {
   const mode = { value: "explain" } as Ref<"explain" | "autotrace">;
   const flag = { value: true } as Ref<boolean>;
   const specialPageTabs = {
-    value: { settingsOpen: false, settingsActive: false, driverStoreOpen: false, driverStoreActive: false, driverUpdateCount: 0 },
+    value: { settingsOpen: false, settingsActive: false, driverStoreOpen: false, driverStoreActive: false, pluginCenterOpen: false, pluginCenterActive: false, driverUpdateCount: 0 },
   } as Ref<SpecialPageTabsState>;
   return {
     explainMode: mode,
@@ -93,5 +97,7 @@ export function createNoopEditorToolbarActions(): EditorToolbarActions {
     closeSettingsPage: noop,
     activateDriverStore: noop,
     closeDriverStore: noop,
+    activatePluginCenter: noop,
+    closePluginCenter: noop,
   };
 }