diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/ChatForm/ChatFormActions/ChatFormActionAdd/ChatFormActionAddDropdown.svelte b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/ChatForm/ChatFormActions/ChatFormActionAdd/ChatFormActionAddDropdown.svelte
index 1ce731845f..7d0b3ac1e8 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/ChatForm/ChatFormActions/ChatFormActionAdd/ChatFormActionAddDropdown.svelte
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/ChatForm/ChatFormActions/ChatFormActionAdd/ChatFormActionAddDropdown.svelte
@@ -1,10 +1,6 @@
 <script lang="ts">
 	import { File, Image, MessageSquare, Mic, Plus, Video } from '@lucide/svelte';
-	import {
-		ChatFormActionAddReasoningSubmenu,
-		ChatFormActionAddToolsSubmenu,
-		McpLogo
-	} from '$lib/components/app';
+	import { ChatFormActionAddToolsSubmenu } from '$lib/components/app';
 	import { buttonVariants } from '$lib/components/ui/button';
 	import * as DropdownMenu from '$lib/components/ui/dropdown-menu';
 	import * as Tooltip from '$lib/components/ui/tooltip';
@@ -17,7 +13,6 @@
 	import { getChatFormActionsContext } from '$lib/contexts';
 	import { AttachmentAction, AttachmentItemEnabledWhen } from '$lib/enums';
 	import { useAttachmentMenu } from '$lib/hooks/use-attachment-menu.svelte';
-	import { serverStore } from '$lib/stores';
 
 	interface Props {
 		class?: string;
@@ -70,8 +65,10 @@
 					<DropdownMenu.Trigger
 						{...props}
 						class={cn(
-							buttonVariants({ variant: 'secondary' }),
-							'file-upload-button h-8 w-8 cursor-pointer rounded-full p-0'
+							// the composer sits on a muted surface, so this keeps a lighter one:
+							// ghost brings no fill of its own for the variant to fight over
+							buttonVariants({ variant: 'ghost' }),
+							'file-upload-button h-8 w-8 cursor-pointer rounded-full bg-background p-0 shadow-sm dark:bg-muted-foreground/15'
 						)}
 						disabled={chatFormActions.disabled}
 					>
@@ -97,13 +94,6 @@
 				}
 			}}
 		>
-			<!-- in router mode the models selector owns the reasoning submenu -->
-			{#if !serverStore.isRouterMode}
-				<ChatFormActionAddReasoningSubmenu />
-
-				<DropdownMenu.Separator />
-			{/if}
-
 			<DropdownMenu.Item
 				class="flex cursor-pointer items-center gap-2"
 				onclick={() => attachmentMenu.callbacks[AttachmentAction.FILE_UPLOAD]()}
@@ -144,15 +134,6 @@
 			</DropdownMenu.Item>
 
 			<ChatFormActionAddToolsSubmenu />
-
-			<DropdownMenu.Item
-				class="flex cursor-pointer items-center gap-2"
-				onclick={chatFormActions.onMcpSettingsClick}
-			>
-				<McpLogo class={ICON_CLASS_DEFAULT} />
-
-				<span>MCP Servers</span>
-			</DropdownMenu.Item>
 		</DropdownMenu.Content>
 	</DropdownMenu.Root>
 </div>
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/ChatForm/ChatFormActions/ChatFormActionAdd/ChatFormActionAddReasoningSubmenu.svelte b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/ChatForm/ChatFormActions/ChatFormActionAdd/ChatFormActionAddReasoningSubmenu.svelte
deleted file mode 100644
index 197d6c2e59..0000000000
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/ChatForm/ChatFormActions/ChatFormActionAdd/ChatFormActionAddReasoningSubmenu.svelte
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,75 +0,0 @@
-<script lang="ts">
-	import { Check, Info, Lightbulb, LightbulbOff } from '@lucide/svelte';
-	import * as DropdownMenu from '$lib/components/ui/dropdown-menu';
-	import * as Tooltip from '$lib/components/ui/tooltip';
-	import { ICON_CLASS_DEFAULT } from '$lib/constants';
-	import { useReasoningMenu } from '$lib/hooks/use-reasoning-menu.svelte';
-
-	const reasoning = useReasoningMenu();
-</script>
-
-<DropdownMenu.Sub>
-	<DropdownMenu.SubTrigger class="flex cursor-pointer items-center gap-2">
-		{#if reasoning.isReasoningActive}
-			<Lightbulb class="{ICON_CLASS_DEFAULT} shrink-0 text-amber-400" />
-		{:else if reasoning.isOff}
-			<LightbulbOff class="{ICON_CLASS_DEFAULT} shrink-0 text-muted-foreground" />
-		{:else}
-			<Lightbulb class="{ICON_CLASS_DEFAULT} shrink-0 text-muted-foreground" />
-		{/if}
-
-		<span
-			class="text-sm inline-flex gap-2 {!reasoning.isReasoningActive
-				? 'text-muted-foreground'
-				: ''}"
-		>
-			Reasoning
-
-			<span class="capitalize text-muted-foreground">
-				{reasoning.currentEffort}
-			</span>
-		</span>
-	</DropdownMenu.SubTrigger>
-
-	<DropdownMenu.SubContent
-		class="w-60 bg-popover p-1.5 text-popover-foreground shadow-md outline-none"
-	>
-		{#each reasoning.levels as level (level.value)}
-			{@const tokenLabel = reasoning.tokenLabel(level)}
-			<DropdownMenu.Item
-				class="flex w-full cursor-pointer items-center gap-3 rounded-md px-2 py-1.75 text-left text-sm transition-colors hover:bg-accent {reasoning.isSelected(
-					level
-				)
-					? 'bg-accent'
-					: ''}"
-				onclick={() => reasoning.select(level)}
-			>
-				{#if reasoning.isSelected(level)}
-					<Check class="{ICON_CLASS_DEFAULT} shrink-0 text-foreground" />
-				{:else}
-					<div class="{ICON_CLASS_DEFAULT} shrink-0"></div>
-				{/if}
-
-				<span class="flex-1">{level.label}</span>
-
-				{#if tokenLabel}
-					<span class="text-[11px] text-muted-foreground opacity-60">
-						{tokenLabel}
-					</span>
-				{/if}
-
-				{#if level.hasInfo}
-					<Tooltip.Root>
-						<Tooltip.Trigger>
-							<Info class="h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0 text-muted-foreground" />
-						</Tooltip.Trigger>
-
-						<Tooltip.Content side="left">
-							<p>Maximum reasoning effort with extended context usage</p>
-						</Tooltip.Content>
-					</Tooltip.Root>
-				{/if}
-			</DropdownMenu.Item>
-		{/each}
-	</DropdownMenu.SubContent>
-</DropdownMenu.Sub>
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/ChatForm/ChatFormActions/ChatFormActionAdd/ChatFormActionAddSheet.svelte b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/ChatForm/ChatFormActions/ChatFormActionAdd/ChatFormActionAddSheet.svelte
index acd0f4d211..56e8434e86 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/ChatForm/ChatFormActions/ChatFormActionAdd/ChatFormActionAddSheet.svelte
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/ChatForm/ChatFormActions/ChatFormActionAdd/ChatFormActionAddSheet.svelte
@@ -226,20 +226,20 @@
 							</div>
 						</Collapsible.Content>
 					</Collapsible.Root>
+
+					<button
+						class={sheetItemClass}
+						onclick={() => {
+							sheetOpen = false;
+							chatFormActions.onMcpSettingsClick?.();
+						}}
+						type="button"
+					>
+						<McpLogo class="inline {ICON_CLASS_DEFAULT} shrink-0" />
+
+						<span>MCP Servers</span>
+					</button>
 				{/if}
-
-				<button
-					class={sheetItemClass}
-					onclick={() => {
-						sheetOpen = false;
-						chatFormActions.onMcpSettingsClick?.();
-					}}
-					type="button"
-				>
-					<McpLogo class="inline {ICON_CLASS_DEFAULT} shrink-0" />
-
-					<span>MCP Servers</span>
-				</button>
 			</div>
 		</Sheet.Content>
 	</Sheet.Root>
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/ChatForm/ChatFormActions/ChatFormActionReasoning.svelte b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/ChatForm/ChatFormActions/ChatFormActionReasoning.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..dc40ecbc6a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/ChatForm/ChatFormActions/ChatFormActionReasoning.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+	import { Check, Info, Lightbulb, LightbulbOff } from '@lucide/svelte';
+	import { Button } from '$lib/components/ui/button';
+	import * as DropdownMenu from '$lib/components/ui/dropdown-menu';
+	import * as Tooltip from '$lib/components/ui/tooltip';
+	import { ICON_CLASS_DEFAULT } from '$lib/constants';
+	import { ReasoningEffort } from '$lib/enums';
+	import { useReasoningMenu } from '$lib/hooks/use-reasoning-menu.svelte';
+
+	const reasoning = useReasoningMenu();
+
+	// "Default" is the resting state, where the bulb alone carries the meaning
+	let isDefault = $derived(reasoning.currentEffort === ReasoningEffort.DEFAULT);
+</script>
+
+<!-- Reasoning effort sits beside the model selector: the level belongs to the chat, not
+     to the model list, and the label says which one is in force without opening it. -->
+<DropdownMenu.Root>
+	<DropdownMenu.Trigger>
+		{#snippet child({ props })}
+			<Button
+				{...props}
+				aria-label="Reasoning effort"
+				class="h-auto gap-1 rounded-sm {isDefault ? 'px-1' : 'px-1.75!'} py-1 text-xs"
+				variant="ghost"
+			>
+				<span class="flex items-center gap-0.75 {reasoning.isOff ? 'text-muted-foreground' : ''}">
+					{#if reasoning.isOff}
+						<LightbulbOff class="size-3 shrink-0" />
+					{:else}
+						<Lightbulb class="size-3 shrink-0" />
+					{/if}
+
+					{#if !isDefault}
+						<span class="capitalize">{reasoning.currentEffort}</span>
+					{/if}
+				</span>
+			</Button>
+		{/snippet}
+	</DropdownMenu.Trigger>
+
+	<DropdownMenu.Content align="end" class="min-w-56">
+		{#each reasoning.levels as level (level.value)}
+			{@const tokenLabel = reasoning.tokenLabel(level)}
+
+			<DropdownMenu.Item class="gap-3" onSelect={() => reasoning.select(level)}>
+				{#if reasoning.isSelected(level)}
+					<Check class="{ICON_CLASS_DEFAULT} shrink-0 text-foreground" />
+				{:else}
+					<div class="{ICON_CLASS_DEFAULT} shrink-0"></div>
+				{/if}
+
+				<span class="min-w-0 flex-1 truncate">{level.label}</span>
+
+				{#if tokenLabel}
+					<span class="shrink-0 text-[11px] text-muted-foreground opacity-60">{tokenLabel}</span>
+				{/if}
+
+				{#if level.hasInfo}
+					<Tooltip.Root>
+						<Tooltip.Trigger>
+							<Info class="h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0 text-muted-foreground" />
+						</Tooltip.Trigger>
+
+						<Tooltip.Content side="right">
+							<p>Maximum reasoning effort with extended context usage</p>
+						</Tooltip.Content>
+					</Tooltip.Root>
+				{/if}
+			</DropdownMenu.Item>
+		{/each}
+	</DropdownMenu.Content>
+</DropdownMenu.Root>
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/ChatForm/ChatFormActions/ChatFormActions.svelte b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/ChatForm/ChatFormActions/ChatFormActions.svelte
index 395f2cfbe1..748f062a65 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/ChatForm/ChatFormActions/ChatFormActions.svelte
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/ChatForm/ChatFormActions/ChatFormActions.svelte
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 	import { page } from '$app/state';
 	import {
 		ChatFormActionModels,
+		ChatFormActionReasoning,
 		ChatFormActionRecord,
 		ChatFormActionsAdd,
 		ChatFormActionSubmit,
@@ -29,9 +30,9 @@
 		uploadedFiles?: ChatUploadedFile[];
 		onFileUpload?: () => void;
 		onMicClick?: () => void;
+		onMcpSettingsClick?: () => void;
 		onStop?: () => void;
 		onSystemPromptClick?: () => void;
-		onMcpSettingsClick?: () => void;
 	}
 
 	let {
@@ -135,6 +136,7 @@
 		get onFileUpload() {
 			return onFileUpload;
 		},
+
 		get onMcpSettingsClick() {
 			return onMcpSettingsClick;
 		},
@@ -160,6 +162,8 @@
 		{/if}
 
 		{#if showModelSelector}
+			<ChatFormActionReasoning />
+
 			<ChatFormActionModels
 				bind:hasAudioModality
 				bind:hasModelSelected
diff --git a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/index.ts b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/index.ts
index d0cd2de675..2f7d417b4e 100644
--- a/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/index.ts
+++ b/tools/ui/src/lib/components/app/chat/index.ts
@@ -197,6 +197,7 @@ export { default as ChatFormActionSubmit } from './ChatForm/ChatFormActions/Chat
  * Exposes an `open` method for programmatically opening the selector.
  */
 export { default as ChatFormActionModels } from './ChatForm/ChatFormActions/ChatFormActionModels.svelte';
+export { default as ChatFormActionReasoning } from './ChatForm/ChatFormActions/ChatFormActionReasoning.svelte';
 
 /**
  * Dropdown submenu for managing tool permissions in the chat form.
@@ -220,14 +221,6 @@ export { default as ChatFormActionModels } from './ChatForm/ChatFormActions/Chat
  */
 export { default as ChatFormActionAddToolsSubmenu } from './ChatForm/ChatFormActions/ChatFormActionAdd/ChatFormActionAddToolsSubmenu.svelte';
 
-/** Dropdown submenu for selecting reasoning effort level.
- *
- * Shows a "Reasoning" sub-menu item with a lightbulb icon indicating
- * thinking status, and a nested list of effort levels.
- * Only visible when the current model supports thinking.
- */
-export { default as ChatFormActionAddReasoningSubmenu } from './ChatForm/ChatFormActions/ChatFormActionAdd/ChatFormActionAddReasoningSubmenu.svelte';
-
 /**
  * Compact context-usage gauge with per-turn and cumulative breakdown in the tooltip.
  */