diff --git a/src/components/AskUserPanel/AskUserPanel.module.css b/src/components/AskUserPanel/AskUserPanel.module.css
index 59aded2..175fce0 100644
--- a/src/components/AskUserPanel/AskUserPanel.module.css
+++ b/src/components/AskUserPanel/AskUserPanel.module.css
@@ -168,3 +168,47 @@
   border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
   padding: 6px 10px;
 }
+
+.collapseBtn {
+  margin-left: auto;
+  align-self: center;
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  width: 22px;
+  height: 22px;
+  padding: 0;
+  border: 1px solid var(--color-border-light);
+  border-radius: var(--radius-xs);
+  background: var(--color-bg-elevated);
+  color: var(--color-text-secondary);
+  cursor: pointer;
+  font-size: 11px;
+  line-height: 1;
+  transition: background 0.12s ease, color 0.12s ease, border-color 0.12s ease;
+}
+
+.collapseBtn:hover {
+  background: var(--color-bg-hover);
+  color: var(--color-text-primary);
+  border-color: var(--color-border-strong);
+}
+
+/* Cap the body so a long question + options can never swallow the
+   conversation; it scrolls internally past the cap. */
+.body {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: 12px;
+  max-height: min(60vh, 600px);
+  overflow-y: auto;
+}
+
+.collapsedSummary {
+  font-size: 13px;
+  color: var(--color-text-secondary);
+  white-space: nowrap;
+  overflow: hidden;
+  text-overflow: ellipsis;
+}
diff --git a/src/components/AskUserPanel/AskUserPanel.test.tsx b/src/components/AskUserPanel/AskUserPanel.test.tsx
index 399cb59..d785466 100644
--- a/src/components/AskUserPanel/AskUserPanel.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/AskUserPanel/AskUserPanel.test.tsx
@@ -319,3 +319,23 @@ describe('AskUserPanel — snapshot poll race regression', () => {
     expect(screen.getByText('Which option do you want?')).toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 });
+
+describe('AskUserPanel — collapse', () => {
+  it('collapses the body to a one-line summary and expands again', async () => {
+    const user = userEvent.setup();
+    mountWithPending(askUserRequest());
+
+    // Expanded by default: the options are visible.
+    expect(screen.getByText('Option A')).toBeInTheDocument();
+
+    // Collapse hides the body (options/textarea) but keeps the question
+    // visible as a summary, so the conversation behind it is reachable.
+    await user.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /collapse question/i }));
+    expect(screen.queryByText('Option A')).toBeNull();
+    expect(screen.getByText('Which option do you want?')).toBeInTheDocument();
+
+    // Expand restores the full body.
+    await user.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /expand question/i }));
+    expect(screen.getByText('Option A')).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/components/AskUserPanel/AskUserPanel.tsx b/src/components/AskUserPanel/AskUserPanel.tsx
index 348b356..7297857 100644
--- a/src/components/AskUserPanel/AskUserPanel.tsx
+++ b/src/components/AskUserPanel/AskUserPanel.tsx
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@ const AskUserPanel = ({ sessionId }: AskUserPanelProps) => {
   const [otherText, setOtherText] = useState('');
   const [submitting, setSubmitting] = useState(false);
   const [error, setError] = useState('');
+  // Collapse the body to a one-line summary so a long question can't swallow
+  // the conversation; the user expands to answer. Resets per new request.
+  const [collapsed, setCollapsed] = useState(false);
   const containerRef = useRef<HTMLElement | null>(null);
   const previousPendingIdRef = useRef<string | null>(null);
 
@@ -51,6 +54,7 @@ const AskUserPanel = ({ sessionId }: AskUserPanelProps) => {
     setOtherText('');
     setError('');
     setSubmitting(false);
+    setCollapsed(false);
   }, [pending?.pendingId]);
 
   // Focus the panel when a request appears so keyboard users land
@@ -169,8 +173,22 @@ const AskUserPanel = ({ sessionId }: AskUserPanelProps) => {
     >
       <header className={styles.header}>
         <span className={styles.chip}>AGENT IS ASKING</span>
+        <button
+          type="button"
+          className={styles.collapseBtn}
+          onClick={() => setCollapsed((c) => !c)}
+          aria-expanded={!collapsed}
+          aria-label={collapsed ? 'Expand question' : 'Collapse question'}
+          title={collapsed ? 'Expand' : 'Collapse'}
+        >
+          {collapsed ? '▸' : '▾'}
+        </button>
       </header>
 
+      {collapsed ? (
+        <div className={styles.collapsedSummary}>{pending.question}</div>
+      ) : (
+        <div className={styles.body}>
       <div className={styles.question}>{pending.question}</div>
 
       {pending.extraContext && (
@@ -269,6 +287,8 @@ const AskUserPanel = ({ sessionId }: AskUserPanelProps) => {
           {submitting ? 'Sending…' : 'Send answer'}
         </button>
       </div>
+        </div>
+      )}
     </section>
   );
 };
diff --git a/src/components/InlineApprovalCard.module.css b/src/components/InlineApprovalCard.module.css
index 2fdacac..3be69bc 100644
--- a/src/components/InlineApprovalCard.module.css
+++ b/src/components/InlineApprovalCard.module.css
@@ -221,3 +221,48 @@
   background: var(--color-critical-bg, rgba(220, 38, 38, 0.04));
 }
 
+.collapseBtn {
+  margin-left: auto;
+  align-self: flex-start;
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  width: 22px;
+  height: 22px;
+  padding: 0;
+  border: 1px solid var(--color-border-light);
+  border-radius: var(--radius-xs);
+  background: var(--color-bg-elevated);
+  color: var(--color-text-secondary);
+  cursor: pointer;
+  font-size: 11px;
+  line-height: 1;
+  transition: background 0.12s ease, color 0.12s ease, border-color 0.12s ease;
+}
+
+.collapseBtn:hover {
+  background: var(--color-bg-hover);
+  color: var(--color-text-primary);
+  border-color: var(--color-border-strong);
+}
+
+/* Cap the body so a tall (or stacked) request can't swallow the
+   conversation; it scrolls internally past the cap. Buttons live inside,
+   reachable by scrolling within the card. */
+.cardBody {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: 10px;
+  max-height: min(60vh, 600px);
+  overflow-y: auto;
+}
+
+/* Collapsed one-line summary (applied alongside .command); must override
+   .command's pre-wrap, so it is declared after .command in source order. */
+.collapsedSummary {
+  white-space: nowrap;
+  overflow: hidden;
+  text-overflow: ellipsis;
+  word-break: normal;
+}
diff --git a/src/components/InlineApprovalCard.test.tsx b/src/components/InlineApprovalCard.test.tsx
index d4c791d..ab8e2b1 100644
--- a/src/components/InlineApprovalCard.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/InlineApprovalCard.test.tsx
@@ -120,4 +120,24 @@ describe('InlineApprovalCard', () => {
 
     await waitFor(() => expect(screen.queryByText('rg --files')).toBeNull());
   });
+
+  it('collapses the card body and expands it again', async () => {
+    const user = userEvent.setup();
+    render(<InlineApprovalCard workspaceId="ws-1" />);
+    await waitFor(() => expect(listenHandlers['permissions://request']).toBeTruthy());
+    fireRequest(SINGLE_SEGMENT_REQUEST);
+    await screen.findByText('rg --files');
+
+    // Expanded by default: the decision buttons are present.
+    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /allow once/i })).toBeInTheDocument();
+
+    // Collapse hides the body (buttons) but keeps the command summary.
+    await user.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /collapse request/i }));
+    expect(screen.queryByRole('button', { name: /allow once/i })).toBeNull();
+    expect(screen.getByText('rg --files')).toBeInTheDocument();
+
+    // Expand restores the decision buttons.
+    await user.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /expand request/i }));
+    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /allow once/i })).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/components/InlineApprovalCard.tsx b/src/components/InlineApprovalCard.tsx
index 70c5800..0703b57 100644
--- a/src/components/InlineApprovalCard.tsx
+++ b/src/components/InlineApprovalCard.tsx
@@ -63,6 +63,9 @@ const InlineApprovalCard = ({ workspaceId }: InlineApprovalCardProps) => {
   const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const firstCardRef = useRef<HTMLElement | null>(null);
   const previousCountRef = useRef(0);
+  // Per-card collapse: squish a card to a one-line summary so a tall (or
+  // stacked) request can't swallow the conversation. Default expanded.
+  const [collapsedIds, setCollapsedIds] = useState<Set<string>>(new Set());
 
   // Subscribe to backend approval-request events AND seed from the
   // backend's pending list on mount. The seed catches requests that
@@ -182,6 +185,15 @@ const InlineApprovalCard = ({ workspaceId }: InlineApprovalCardProps) => {
     }
   }, [requests.length]);
 
+  const toggleCollapsed = useCallback((requestId: string) => {
+    setCollapsedIds((current) => {
+      const next = new Set(current);
+      if (next.has(requestId)) next.delete(requestId);
+      else next.add(requestId);
+      return next;
+    });
+  }, []);
+
   const dismissRequest = useCallback((requestId: string) => {
     setRequests((current) => current.filter((q) => q.requestId !== requestId));
   }, []);
@@ -290,6 +302,7 @@ const InlineApprovalCard = ({ workspaceId }: InlineApprovalCardProps) => {
         {requests.map((req, cardIndex) => {
           const cardState = perCardState[req.requestId] || {};
           const isSubmitting = submittingId === req.requestId;
+          const isCollapsed = collapsedIds.has(req.requestId);
           return (
             <article
               key={req.requestId}
@@ -306,7 +319,21 @@ const InlineApprovalCard = ({ workspaceId }: InlineApprovalCardProps) => {
                       : 'An agent wants to run:'}
                   </span>
                 </div>
+                <button
+                  type="button"
+                  className={styles.collapseBtn}
+                  onClick={() => toggleCollapsed(req.requestId)}
+                  aria-expanded={!isCollapsed}
+                  aria-label={isCollapsed ? 'Expand request' : 'Collapse request'}
+                  title={isCollapsed ? 'Expand' : 'Collapse'}
+                >
+                  {isCollapsed ? '▸' : '▾'}
+                </button>
               </header>
+              {isCollapsed ? (
+                <pre className={`${styles.command} ${styles.collapsedSummary}`}>{req.command}</pre>
+              ) : (
+                <div className={styles.cardBody}>
               <pre className={styles.command}>{req.command}</pre>
               <section className={styles.segments}>
                 <p className={styles.segmentsLabel}>
@@ -420,6 +447,8 @@ const InlineApprovalCard = ({ workspaceId }: InlineApprovalCardProps) => {
                   </button>
                 </footer>
               )}
+                </div>
+              )}
             </article>
           );
         })}
diff --git a/src/components/InlinePathGrantCard.module.css b/src/components/InlinePathGrantCard.module.css
index 0ae5472..20cb66b 100644
--- a/src/components/InlinePathGrantCard.module.css
+++ b/src/components/InlinePathGrantCard.module.css
@@ -250,3 +250,48 @@
   color: var(--color-critical-dark, #B91C1C);
   font-size: 12px;
 }
+
+.collapseBtn {
+  margin-left: auto;
+  align-self: flex-start;
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  width: 22px;
+  height: 22px;
+  padding: 0;
+  border: 1px solid var(--color-border-light);
+  border-radius: var(--radius-xs);
+  background: var(--color-bg-elevated);
+  color: var(--color-text-secondary);
+  cursor: pointer;
+  font-size: 11px;
+  line-height: 1;
+  transition: background 0.12s ease, color 0.12s ease, border-color 0.12s ease;
+}
+
+.collapseBtn:hover {
+  background: var(--color-bg-hover);
+  color: var(--color-text-primary);
+  border-color: var(--color-border-strong);
+}
+
+/* Cap the body so a tall (or stacked) request can't swallow the
+   conversation; it scrolls internally past the cap. */
+.cardBody {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: 10px;
+  max-height: min(60vh, 600px);
+  overflow-y: auto;
+}
+
+.collapsedSummary {
+  font-family: ui-monospace, SFMono-Regular, Menlo, Monaco, Consolas, 'Liberation Mono', monospace;
+  font-size: 12px;
+  color: var(--color-text-primary);
+  white-space: nowrap;
+  overflow: hidden;
+  text-overflow: ellipsis;
+}
diff --git a/src/components/InlinePathGrantCard.tsx b/src/components/InlinePathGrantCard.tsx
index 302bdb6..a88431d 100644
--- a/src/components/InlinePathGrantCard.tsx
+++ b/src/components/InlinePathGrantCard.tsx
@@ -102,6 +102,9 @@ const InlinePathGrantCard = ({ workspaceId }: InlinePathGrantCardProps) => {
   const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const firstCardRef = useRef<HTMLElement | null>(null);
   const previousCountRef = useRef(0);
+  // Per-card collapse: squish a card to a one-line summary so a tall (or
+  // stacked) request can't swallow the conversation. Default expanded.
+  const [collapsedIds, setCollapsedIds] = useState<Set<string>>(new Set());
 
   useEffect(() => {
     // Switching workspaces reuses this component instance — the Workspace
@@ -206,6 +209,15 @@ const InlinePathGrantCard = ({ workspaceId }: InlinePathGrantCardProps) => {
     }
   }, [requests.length]);
 
+  const toggleCollapsed = useCallback((requestId: string) => {
+    setCollapsedIds((current) => {
+      const next = new Set(current);
+      if (next.has(requestId)) next.delete(requestId);
+      else next.add(requestId);
+      return next;
+    });
+  }, []);
+
   const dismissRequest = useCallback((requestId: string) => {
     setRequests((current) => current.filter((q) => q.requestId !== requestId));
   }, []);
@@ -255,6 +267,7 @@ const InlinePathGrantCard = ({ workspaceId }: InlinePathGrantCardProps) => {
           access: req.requestedAccess,
         };
         const isSubmitting = submittingId === req.requestId;
+        const isCollapsed = collapsedIds.has(req.requestId);
 
         // Validation: edited path must be the original or a descendant
         // (component-wise prefix). Edited access must be no stronger
@@ -289,8 +302,22 @@ const InlinePathGrantCard = ({ workspaceId }: InlinePathGrantCardProps) => {
                     : 'An agent wants to extend its filesystem grants:'}
                 </span>
               </div>
+              <button
+                type="button"
+                className={styles.collapseBtn}
+                onClick={() => toggleCollapsed(req.requestId)}
+                aria-expanded={!isCollapsed}
+                aria-label={isCollapsed ? 'Expand request' : 'Collapse request'}
+                title={isCollapsed ? 'Expand' : 'Collapse'}
+              >
+                {isCollapsed ? '▸' : '▾'}
+              </button>
             </header>
 
+            {isCollapsed ? (
+              <div className={styles.collapsedSummary}>{card.path}</div>
+            ) : (
+              <div className={styles.cardBody}>
             <div className={styles.reasonBlock}>
               <span className={styles.reasonLabel}>Reason from agent:</span>
               <div className={styles.reasonText}>{req.reason || '(no reason given)'}</div>
@@ -410,6 +437,8 @@ const InlinePathGrantCard = ({ workspaceId }: InlinePathGrantCardProps) => {
             {error && submittingId === null && (
               <div className={styles.error}>{error}</div>
             )}
+              </div>
+            )}
           </article>
         );
       })}