diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/Sidebar.tsx b/apps/web/src/components/Sidebar.tsx
index 9e9b12e3233f5c523e2633e3359f4f12d62a326a..bf99a142337873bec20068df599a1282f89bb22a 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/Sidebar.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/Sidebar.tsx
@@ -1400,6 +1400,11 @@ const SidebarThreadRow = memo(function SidebarThreadRow(props: {
           : shouldRecede
             ? "text-sidebar-muted-foreground/75 hover:bg-sidebar-row-hover hover:text-sidebar-foreground"
             : "bg-transparent text-sidebar-foreground hover:bg-sidebar-row-hover",
+    // Background work fades as a whole row, status label included, so it
+    // takes less attention than rows that need a human (input, approval).
+    shouldRecede &&
+      (status === "working" || status === "monitoring") &&
+      "opacity-70 transition-opacity hover:opacity-100 focus-within:opacity-100 motion-reduce:transition-none",
     isFileDragOver && "ring-1 ring-inset ring-primary/70",
     // The hover tint must not clobber an active/selected row's own surface.
     isFileDragOver && !props.isActive && !isSelected && "bg-sidebar-row-hover",