diff --git a/crates/tui/src/tui/app.rs b/crates/tui/src/tui/app.rs
index 3eb494f16..b32a7d648 100644
--- a/crates/tui/src/tui/app.rs
+++ b/crates/tui/src/tui/app.rs
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ use crate::tui::approval::ApprovalMode;
 use crate::tui::clipboard::{ClipboardContent, ClipboardHandler};
 use crate::tui::file_mention::ContextReference;
 use crate::tui::history::{HistoryCell, TranscriptRenderOptions};
+use crate::tui::hotbar::HotbarActionRegistry;
 use crate::tui::paste_burst::{FlushResult, PasteBurst};
 use crate::tui::scrolling::{MouseScrollState, TranscriptLineMeta, TranscriptScroll};
 use crate::tui::selection::{SelectionAutoscroll, TranscriptSelection};
@@ -1163,6 +1164,9 @@ pub struct ToolEvidence {
 #[allow(clippy::struct_excessive_bools)]
 pub struct App {
     pub mode: AppMode,
+    /// Registered hotbar actions available for future slot config/render layers.
+    #[allow(dead_code)]
+    pub hotbar_actions: HotbarActionRegistry,
     /// Composer sub-state (input, cursor, history, menus).
     pub composer: ComposerState,
     /// Viewport sub-state (scroll, cache, selection).
@@ -1959,6 +1963,7 @@ impl App {
             };
         Self {
             mode: initial_mode,
+            hotbar_actions: HotbarActionRegistry::with_builtins(),
             composer: ComposerState {
                 input: initial_input_text,
                 cursor_position: initial_input_cursor,
diff --git a/crates/tui/src/tui/hotbar/actions.rs b/crates/tui/src/tui/hotbar/actions.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d80d196a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/tui/src/tui/hotbar/actions.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,525 @@
+use std::collections::BTreeMap;
+use std::sync::Arc;
+
+use anyhow::{Result, bail};
+
+use crate::tui::app::{App, AppAction, AppMode, SidebarFocus};
+use crate::tui::command_palette::{
+    CommandPaletteView, build_entries as build_command_palette_entries,
+};
+
+/// Result of firing a hotbar action.
+#[allow(dead_code)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq)]
+pub enum HotbarDispatch {
+    /// The action was fully handled by mutating [`App`].
+    Handled,
+    /// The event loop must handle an existing application action.
+    AppAction(AppAction),
+}
+
+/// Uniform interface for actions that can be bound to a hotbar slot.
+#[allow(dead_code)]
+pub trait HotbarAction: Send + Sync {
+    /// Stable action id used in config and dispatch.
+    fn id(&self) -> &str;
+
+    /// Compact cell label. Built-ins keep this at seven characters or less.
+    fn short_label(&self) -> &str;
+
+    /// Source category, such as `app`, `slash`, `mcp`, `skill`, or `plugin`.
+    fn category(&self) -> &str;
+
+    /// Whether the action is currently active in the supplied app state.
+    fn is_active(&self, app: &App) -> bool;
+
+    /// Fire the action.
+    fn dispatch(&self, app: &mut App) -> Result<HotbarDispatch>;
+}
+
+#[derive(Default, Clone)]
+pub struct HotbarActionRegistry {
+    actions: BTreeMap<String, Arc<dyn HotbarAction>>,
+}
+
+impl HotbarActionRegistry {
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
+        Self::default()
+    }
+
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn with_builtins() -> Self {
+        let mut registry = Self::new();
+        registry.register_builtins();
+        registry
+    }
+
+    pub fn register(&mut self, action: impl HotbarAction + 'static) {
+        self.actions
+            .insert(action.id().to_string(), Arc::new(action));
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn register_builtins(&mut self) {
+        self.register(AppHotbarAction::new(
+            "voice.toggle",
+            "voice",
+            AppHotbarKind::VoiceToggle,
+        ));
+        self.register(AppHotbarAction::new(
+            "session.compact",
+            "compact",
+            AppHotbarKind::SessionCompact,
+        ));
+        self.register(AppHotbarAction::new(
+            "mode.plan",
+            "plan",
+            AppHotbarKind::Mode(AppMode::Plan),
+        ));
+        self.register(AppHotbarAction::new(
+            "mode.agent",
+            "agent",
+            AppHotbarKind::Mode(AppMode::Agent),
+        ));
+        self.register(AppHotbarAction::new(
+            "mode.yolo",
+            "yolo",
+            AppHotbarKind::Mode(AppMode::Yolo),
+        ));
+        self.register(AppHotbarAction::new(
+            "reasoning.cycle",
+            "reason",
+            AppHotbarKind::ReasoningCycle,
+        ));
+        self.register(AppHotbarAction::new(
+            "sidebar.toggle",
+            "side",
+            AppHotbarKind::SidebarToggle,
+        ));
+        self.register(AppHotbarAction::new(
+            "filetree.toggle",
+            "files",
+            AppHotbarKind::FileTreeToggle,
+        ));
+        self.register(AppHotbarAction::new(
+            "palette.open",
+            "palette",
+            AppHotbarKind::PaletteOpen,
+        ));
+        self.register(AppHotbarAction::new(
+            "trust.toggle",
+            "trust",
+            AppHotbarKind::TrustToggle,
+        ));
+    }
+
+    #[allow(dead_code)]
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn get(&self, id: &str) -> Option<Arc<dyn HotbarAction>> {
+        self.actions.get(id).cloned()
+    }
+
+    #[allow(dead_code)]
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn len(&self) -> usize {
+        self.actions.len()
+    }
+
+    #[allow(dead_code)]
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn is_empty(&self) -> bool {
+        self.actions.is_empty()
+    }
+
+    #[allow(dead_code)]
+    pub fn iter(&self) -> impl Iterator<Item = &dyn HotbarAction> {
+        self.actions.values().map(Arc::as_ref)
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
+enum AppHotbarKind {
+    VoiceToggle,
+    SessionCompact,
+    Mode(AppMode),
+    ReasoningCycle,
+    SidebarToggle,
+    FileTreeToggle,
+    PaletteOpen,
+    TrustToggle,
+}
+
+#[allow(dead_code)]
+struct AppHotbarAction {
+    id: &'static str,
+    short_label: &'static str,
+    kind: AppHotbarKind,
+}
+
+impl AppHotbarAction {
+    const fn new(id: &'static str, short_label: &'static str, kind: AppHotbarKind) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            id,
+            short_label,
+            kind,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl HotbarAction for AppHotbarAction {
+    fn id(&self) -> &str {
+        self.id
+    }
+
+    fn short_label(&self) -> &str {
+        self.short_label
+    }
+
+    fn category(&self) -> &str {
+        "app"
+    }
+
+    fn is_active(&self, app: &App) -> bool {
+        match self.kind {
+            AppHotbarKind::VoiceToggle => false,
+            AppHotbarKind::SessionCompact => app.is_compacting,
+            AppHotbarKind::Mode(mode) => app.mode == mode,
+            AppHotbarKind::ReasoningCycle => {
+                !app.auto_model && app.reasoning_effort != crate::tui::app::ReasoningEffort::Off
+            }
+            AppHotbarKind::SidebarToggle => app.sidebar_focus != SidebarFocus::Hidden,
+            AppHotbarKind::FileTreeToggle => app.file_tree.is_some(),
+            AppHotbarKind::PaletteOpen => false,
+            AppHotbarKind::TrustToggle => app.trust_mode,
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn dispatch(&self, app: &mut App) -> Result<HotbarDispatch> {
+        match self.kind {
+            AppHotbarKind::VoiceToggle => {
+                app.status_message =
+                    Some("Voice input is not available in this terminal session yet.".to_string());
+                Ok(HotbarDispatch::Handled)
+            }
+            AppHotbarKind::SessionCompact => {
+                if app.is_compacting {
+                    app.status_message = Some("Compaction is already running.".to_string());
+                    return Ok(HotbarDispatch::Handled);
+                }
+                Ok(HotbarDispatch::AppAction(AppAction::CompactContext))
+            }
+            AppHotbarKind::Mode(mode) => {
+                let changed = app.set_mode(mode);
+                if changed {
+                    Ok(HotbarDispatch::AppAction(AppAction::ModeChanged(mode)))
+                } else {
+                    Ok(HotbarDispatch::Handled)
+                }
+            }
+            AppHotbarKind::ReasoningCycle => {
+                if app.auto_model {
+                    bail!("Reasoning effort is controlled by auto model routing.");
+                }
+                app.reasoning_effort = app.reasoning_effort.cycle_next();
+                app.last_effective_reasoning_effort = None;
+                app.update_model_compaction_budget();
+                app.status_message = Some(format!(
+                    "Reasoning effort: {}",
+                    app.reasoning_effort.as_setting()
+                ));
+                Ok(HotbarDispatch::AppAction(AppAction::UpdateCompaction(
+                    app.compaction_config(),
+                )))
+            }
+            AppHotbarKind::SidebarToggle => {
+                if app.sidebar_focus == SidebarFocus::Hidden {
+                    app.set_sidebar_focus(SidebarFocus::Auto);
+                    app.status_message = Some("Sidebar focus: auto".to_string());
+                } else {
+                    app.set_sidebar_focus(SidebarFocus::Hidden);
+                    app.status_message = Some("Sidebar hidden".to_string());
+                }
+                Ok(HotbarDispatch::Handled)
+            }
+            AppHotbarKind::FileTreeToggle => {
+                if app.file_tree.is_some() {
+                    app.file_tree = None;
+                    app.status_message = Some("File tree closed".to_string());
+                } else {
+                    app.file_tree = Some(crate::tui::file_tree::FileTreeState::new(&app.workspace));
+                    app.status_message =
+                        Some("File tree: ↑/↓ navigate  Enter select  Esc close".to_string());
+                }
+                app.needs_redraw = true;
+                Ok(HotbarDispatch::Handled)
+            }
+            AppHotbarKind::PaletteOpen => {
+                app.view_stack
+                    .push(CommandPaletteView::new(build_command_palette_entries(
+                        app.ui_locale,
+                        &app.skills_dir,
+                        &app.workspace,
+                        &app.mcp_config_path,
+                        app.mcp_snapshot.as_ref(),
+                    )));
+                Ok(HotbarDispatch::Handled)
+            }
+            AppHotbarKind::TrustToggle => {
+                app.trust_mode = !app.trust_mode;
+                app.status_message = Some(if app.trust_mode {
+                    "Workspace trust mode enabled.".to_string()
+                } else {
+                    "Workspace trust mode disabled.".to_string()
+                });
+                Ok(HotbarDispatch::Handled)
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use std::path::PathBuf;
+
+    use crate::config::Config;
+    use crate::tui::app::{ReasoningEffort, TuiOptions};
+    use crate::tui::views::ModalKind;
+
+    use super::*;
+
+    fn test_app() -> App {
+        let options = TuiOptions {
+            model: "deepseek-v4-pro".to_string(),
+            workspace: PathBuf::from("."),
+            config_path: None,
+            config_profile: None,
+            allow_shell: false,
+            use_alt_screen: true,
+            use_mouse_capture: false,
+            use_bracketed_paste: true,
+            max_subagents: 1,
+            skills_dir: PathBuf::from("."),
+            memory_path: PathBuf::from("memory.md"),
+            notes_path: PathBuf::from("notes.txt"),
+            mcp_config_path: PathBuf::from("mcp.json"),
+            use_memory: false,
+            start_in_agent_mode: true,
+            skip_onboarding: true,
+            yolo: false,
+            resume_session_id: None,
+            initial_input: None,
+        };
+        let mut app = App::new(options, &Config::default());
+        app.ui_locale = crate::localization::Locale::En;
+        app
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn builtins_register_expected_actions() {
+        let registry = HotbarActionRegistry::with_builtins();
+        let ids = registry.iter().map(HotbarAction::id).collect::<Vec<_>>();
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            ids,
+            vec![
+                "filetree.toggle",
+                "mode.agent",
+                "mode.plan",
+                "mode.yolo",
+                "palette.open",
+                "reasoning.cycle",
+                "session.compact",
+                "sidebar.toggle",
+                "trust.toggle",
+                "voice.toggle",
+            ]
+        );
+        assert!(registry.get("missing.action").is_none());
+        for action in registry.iter() {
+            assert_eq!(action.category(), "app");
+            assert!(
+                action.short_label().chars().count() <= 7,
+                "{} has an overlong short label",
+                action.id()
+            );
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn app_starts_with_builtin_hotbar_registry() {
+        let app = test_app();
+        assert_eq!(
+            app.hotbar_actions.len(),
+            HotbarActionRegistry::with_builtins().len()
+        );
+        assert!(app.hotbar_actions.get("mode.agent").is_some());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn mode_actions_report_active_state_and_dispatch() {
+        let registry = HotbarActionRegistry::with_builtins();
+        let plan = registry.get("mode.plan").expect("plan action");
+        let agent = registry.get("mode.agent").expect("agent action");
+        let yolo = registry.get("mode.yolo").expect("yolo action");
+        let mut app = test_app();
+
+        assert!(agent.is_active(&app));
+        assert!(!plan.is_active(&app));
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            plan.dispatch(&mut app).expect("dispatch plan"),
+            HotbarDispatch::AppAction(AppAction::ModeChanged(AppMode::Plan))
+        );
+        assert_eq!(app.mode, AppMode::Plan);
+        assert!(plan.is_active(&app));
+        assert!(!agent.is_active(&app));
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            yolo.dispatch(&mut app).expect("dispatch yolo"),
+            HotbarDispatch::AppAction(AppAction::ModeChanged(AppMode::Yolo))
+        );
+        assert!(app.allow_shell);
+        assert!(app.trust_mode);
+        assert!(yolo.is_active(&app));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn compact_action_emits_existing_app_action() {
+        let registry = HotbarActionRegistry::with_builtins();
+        let compact = registry.get("session.compact").expect("compact action");
+        let mut app = test_app();
+
+        assert!(!compact.is_active(&app));
+        assert_eq!(
+            compact.dispatch(&mut app).expect("dispatch compact"),
+            HotbarDispatch::AppAction(AppAction::CompactContext)
+        );
+        app.is_compacting = true;
+        assert!(compact.is_active(&app));
+        assert_eq!(
+            compact
+                .dispatch(&mut app)
+                .expect("dispatch compact while busy"),
+            HotbarDispatch::Handled
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            app.status_message.as_deref(),
+            Some("Compaction is already running.")
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn reasoning_cycle_updates_effort_and_compaction() {
+        let registry = HotbarActionRegistry::with_builtins();
+        let reasoning = registry.get("reasoning.cycle").expect("reasoning action");
+        let mut app = test_app();
+        app.reasoning_effort = ReasoningEffort::Off;
+
+        assert!(!reasoning.is_active(&app));
+        assert!(matches!(
+            reasoning.dispatch(&mut app).expect("dispatch reasoning"),
+            HotbarDispatch::AppAction(AppAction::UpdateCompaction(_))
+        ));
+        assert_eq!(app.reasoning_effort, ReasoningEffort::High);
+        assert!(reasoning.is_active(&app));
+        assert_eq!(
+            app.status_message.as_deref(),
+            Some("Reasoning effort: high")
+        );
+
+        app.auto_model = true;
+        assert!(!reasoning.is_active(&app));
+        assert!(reasoning.dispatch(&mut app).is_err());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn sidebar_toggle_reports_visibility_and_dispatches() {
+        let registry = HotbarActionRegistry::with_builtins();
+        let sidebar = registry.get("sidebar.toggle").expect("sidebar action");
+        let mut app = test_app();
+
+        assert!(sidebar.is_active(&app));
+        assert_eq!(
+            sidebar.dispatch(&mut app).expect("dispatch sidebar hide"),
+            HotbarDispatch::Handled
+        );
+        assert_eq!(app.sidebar_focus, SidebarFocus::Hidden);
+        assert!(!sidebar.is_active(&app));
+
+        sidebar.dispatch(&mut app).expect("dispatch sidebar show");
+        assert_eq!(app.sidebar_focus, SidebarFocus::Auto);
+        assert!(sidebar.is_active(&app));
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn filetree_toggle_reports_open_state_and_dispatches() {
+        let registry = HotbarActionRegistry::with_builtins();
+        let filetree = registry.get("filetree.toggle").expect("filetree action");
+        let mut app = test_app();
+
+        assert!(!filetree.is_active(&app));
+        assert_eq!(
+            filetree.dispatch(&mut app).expect("dispatch filetree open"),
+            HotbarDispatch::Handled
+        );
+        assert!(app.file_tree.is_some());
+        assert!(filetree.is_active(&app));
+
+        filetree
+            .dispatch(&mut app)
+            .expect("dispatch filetree close");
+        assert!(app.file_tree.is_none());
+        assert!(!filetree.is_active(&app));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn palette_action_opens_command_palette() {
+        let registry = HotbarActionRegistry::with_builtins();
+        let palette = registry.get("palette.open").expect("palette action");
+        let mut app = test_app();
+
+        assert!(!palette.is_active(&app));
+        assert_eq!(
+            palette.dispatch(&mut app).expect("dispatch palette"),
+            HotbarDispatch::Handled
+        );
+        assert_eq!(app.view_stack.top_kind(), Some(ModalKind::CommandPalette));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn trust_toggle_reports_trust_state_and_dispatches() {
+        let registry = HotbarActionRegistry::with_builtins();
+        let trust = registry.get("trust.toggle").expect("trust action");
+        let mut app = test_app();
+        app.trust_mode = false;
+
+        assert!(!trust.is_active(&app));
+        assert_eq!(
+            trust.dispatch(&mut app).expect("dispatch trust on"),
+            HotbarDispatch::Handled
+        );
+        assert!(app.trust_mode);
+        assert!(trust.is_active(&app));
+
+        trust.dispatch(&mut app).expect("dispatch trust off");
+        assert!(!app.trust_mode);
+        assert!(!trust.is_active(&app));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn voice_toggle_is_safe_until_voice_input_lands() {
+        let registry = HotbarActionRegistry::with_builtins();
+        let voice = registry.get("voice.toggle").expect("voice action");
+        let mut app = test_app();
+
+        assert!(!voice.is_active(&app));
+        assert_eq!(
+            voice.dispatch(&mut app).expect("dispatch voice"),
+            HotbarDispatch::Handled
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            app.status_message.as_deref(),
+            Some("Voice input is not available in this terminal session yet.")
+        );
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/tui/src/tui/hotbar/mod.rs b/crates/tui/src/tui/hotbar/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..41c983b04
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/tui/src/tui/hotbar/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+//! Hotbar action registry foundation.
+//!
+//! Later hotbar slices add config, sidebar rendering, and key dispatch. This
+//! module only defines the action surface and the built-in actions that those
+//! layers will consume.
+
+pub mod actions;
+
+pub use actions::HotbarActionRegistry;
diff --git a/crates/tui/src/tui/mod.rs b/crates/tui/src/tui/mod.rs
index af2d8996d..43d3b8b1b 100644
--- a/crates/tui/src/tui/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/tui/src/tui/mod.rs
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ pub mod footer_ui;
 pub mod format_helpers;
 pub mod frame_rate_limiter;
 pub mod history;
+pub mod hotbar;
 pub mod key_actions;
 pub mod key_shortcuts;
 pub mod keybindings;