diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/profile-switcher.test.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/profile-switcher.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..d106020823af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/profile-switcher.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+import { cleanup, fireEvent, render, screen, waitFor } from '@testing-library/react'
+import { MemoryRouter } from 'react-router-dom'
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+
+import { I18nProvider } from '@/i18n'
+import { $activeGatewayProfile, $profileColors, $profileOrder, $profiles, setShowAllProfiles } from '@/store/profile'
+import type { ProfileInfo } from '@/types/hermes'
+
+import { ProfileRail } from './profile-switcher'
+
+const getProfiles = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn<() => Promise<{ profiles: ProfileInfo[] }>>(async () => ({ profiles: [] })))
+
+vi.mock('@/hermes', () => ({
+  createProfile: vi.fn(async () => undefined),
+  deleteProfile: vi.fn(async () => undefined),
+  getProfiles,
+  renameProfile: vi.fn(async () => undefined),
+  updateProfileSoul: vi.fn(async () => undefined),
+  setApiRequestProfile: vi.fn()
+}))
+
+vi.mock('@/store/gateway', () => ({
+  $gateway: { get: () => null, subscribe: vi.fn(() => () => undefined) },
+  ensureGatewayForProfile: vi.fn(async () => undefined)
+}))
+
+vi.mock('@/lib/query-client', () => ({ queryClient: { invalidateQueries: vi.fn() } }))
+
+function profile(name: string, overrides: Partial<ProfileInfo> = {}): ProfileInfo {
+  return {
+    has_env: false,
+    is_default: false,
+    model: null,
+    name,
+    path: `/profiles/${name}`,
+    provider: null,
+    skill_count: 0,
+    ...overrides
+  }
+}
+
+function profilesFixture(): ProfileInfo[] {
+  return [profile('default', { is_default: true }), profile('work'), profile('personal')]
+}
+
+function renderRail() {
+  return render(
+    <I18nProvider configClient={null}>
+      <MemoryRouter>
+        <ProfileRail />
+      </MemoryRouter>
+    </I18nProvider>
+  )
+}
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  const profiles = profilesFixture()
+
+  getProfiles.mockResolvedValue({ profiles })
+  $profiles.set(profiles)
+  $activeGatewayProfile.set('default')
+  $profileOrder.set([])
+  $profileColors.set({})
+  setShowAllProfiles(false)
+})
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  cleanup()
+  vi.clearAllMocks()
+  $profiles.set([])
+  $profileOrder.set([])
+  $profileColors.set({})
+  setShowAllProfiles(false)
+  $activeGatewayProfile.set('default')
+})
+
+describe('ProfileRail', () => {
+  it('shows the default profile as a visible option separate from all profiles', () => {
+    renderRail()
+
+    const allProfiles = screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'All profiles' })
+    const defaultProfile = screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Switch to default' })
+
+    expect(allProfiles).not.toBe(defaultProfile)
+    expect(allProfiles.getAttribute('aria-pressed')).toBe('false')
+    expect(defaultProfile.getAttribute('aria-pressed')).toBe('true')
+    expect(defaultProfile.textContent).toContain('default')
+  })
+
+  it('keeps all profiles and concrete profile selection mutually exclusive', async () => {
+    renderRail()
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'All profiles' }))
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'All profiles' }).getAttribute('aria-pressed')).toBe('true')
+      expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Switch to default' }).getAttribute('aria-pressed')).toBe('false')
+    })
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Switch to default' }))
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'All profiles' }).getAttribute('aria-pressed')).toBe('false')
+      expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Switch to default' }).getAttribute('aria-pressed')).toBe('true')
+    })
+  })
+})
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/profile-switcher.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/profile-switcher.tsx
index 85b9dfaade83..427c8b7c587a 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/profile-switcher.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/profile-switcher.tsx
@@ -129,9 +129,14 @@ export function ProfileRail() {
   const isAll = scope === ALL_PROFILES
   const activeKey = normalizeProfileKey(gatewayProfile)
   const defaultProfile = profiles.find(profile => profile.is_default)
-  const onDefault = !isAll && activeKey === 'default'
+  const defaultKey = defaultProfile ? normalizeProfileKey(defaultProfile.name) : 'default'
+  const onDefault = !isAll && activeKey === defaultKey
+
+  const named = sortByProfileOrder(
+    profiles.filter(profile => !profile.is_default),
+    order
+  )
 
-  const named = sortByProfileOrder(profiles.filter(profile => !profile.is_default), order)
   const multiProfile = profiles.length > 1
 
   // distance constraint: a small drag reorders, a tap still selects the profile.
@@ -196,19 +201,26 @@ export function ProfileRail() {
 
   return (
     <div aria-label="Profiles" className="flex items-center gap-0.5" role="tablist">
-      {/* One button toggles default ↔ all: home face when scoped to a profile,
-          layers face when showing everything. Pinned left like Manage is right.
-          Hidden until a second profile exists. */}
+      {/* Multi-profile users need two distinct concepts here: "All profiles" is
+          an aggregate browsing mode; the default/root profile is a real profile
+          identity and must stay visible by name. */}
       {multiProfile &&
         (defaultProfile ? (
-          // On default → toggle to all. Anywhere else (all view or a named
-          // profile) → return to default. So leaving a profile never lands on all.
-          <ProfilePill
-            active={isAll || onDefault}
-            glyph={isAll ? 'layers' : 'home'}
-            label={onDefault ? p.showAllProfiles : p.switchToProfile(defaultProfile.name)}
-            onSelect={() => (onDefault ? setShowAllProfiles(true) : selectProfile(defaultProfile.name))}
-          />
+          <>
+            <ProfilePill
+              active={isAll}
+              glyph="layers"
+              label={p.allProfiles}
+              onSelect={() => setShowAllProfiles(true)}
+            />
+            <ProfileLabelPill
+              active={onDefault}
+              glyph="home"
+              label={defaultProfile.name}
+              onSelect={() => selectProfile(defaultProfile.name)}
+              tooltip={p.switchToProfile(defaultProfile.name)}
+            />
+          </>
         ) : (
           <ProfilePill active={isAll} glyph="layers" label={p.allProfiles} onSelect={() => setShowAllProfiles(true)} />
         ))}
@@ -333,6 +345,36 @@ function ProfilePill({ active, glyph, label, onSelect }: ProfilePillProps) {
   )
 }
 
+interface ProfileLabelPillProps {
+  active: boolean
+  glyph: string
+  label: string
+  tooltip: string
+  onSelect: () => void
+}
+
+function ProfileLabelPill({ active, glyph, label, onSelect, tooltip }: ProfileLabelPillProps) {
+  return (
+    <Tip label={tooltip}>
+      <Button
+        aria-label={tooltip}
+        aria-pressed={active}
+        className={cn(
+          'h-6 max-w-20 gap-1 overflow-hidden bg-transparent px-1.5 text-[0.6875rem] text-(--ui-text-tertiary) hover:bg-(--ui-control-hover-background) hover:text-foreground',
+          active && 'bg-(--ui-control-active-background) text-foreground'
+        )}
+        onClick={onSelect}
+        size="xs"
+        type="button"
+        variant="ghost"
+      >
+        <Codicon name={glyph} size="0.75rem" />
+        <span className="min-w-0 truncate">{label}</span>
+      </Button>
+    </Tip>
+  )
+}
+
 interface ProfileSquareProps {
   active: boolean
   color: null | string
@@ -481,7 +523,11 @@ function ProfileSquare({ active, color, label, onDelete, onRecolor, onRename, on
             <Codicon name="edit" size="0.875rem" />
             <span>{p.rename}</span>
           </ContextMenuItem>
-          <ContextMenuItem className="text-destructive focus:text-destructive" onSelect={onDelete} variant="destructive">
+          <ContextMenuItem
+            className="text-destructive focus:text-destructive"
+            onSelect={onDelete}
+            variant="destructive"
+          >
             <Codicon name="trash" size="0.875rem" />
             <span>{t.common.delete}</span>
           </ContextMenuItem>