diff --git a/web/src/components/InputBox.tsx b/web/src/components/InputBox.tsx
index 636f49e9..515c3c40 100644
--- a/web/src/components/InputBox.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/InputBox.tsx
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ const supportsFieldSizing = CSS.supports("field-sizing", "content");
 
 interface CommonProps {
   onInterrupt: () => void;
+  /** narrow screens hide the composer while the reader is scrolled up */
+  hidden?: boolean;
   isProcessing: boolean;
   stdinClosed?: boolean;
   disabled: boolean;
@@ -361,6 +363,7 @@ export function InputBox(props: InputBoxProps) {
 function OrdinaryInputBox({
   onSend,
   onInterrupt,
+  hidden = false,
   isProcessing,
   stdinClosed,
   disabled,
@@ -527,7 +530,9 @@ function OrdinaryInputBox({
 
   return (
     <div
-      class={`input-box${isDragging ? " input-box-dragging" : ""}`}
+      class={`input-box${isDragging ? " input-box-dragging" : ""}${
+        hidden ? " input-box-hidden" : ""
+      }`}
       onDragOver={onDragOver}
       onDragLeave={onDragLeave}
       onDrop={onDrop}
diff --git a/web/src/components/MessageList.tsx b/web/src/components/MessageList.tsx
index 26e21ce7..a7f758dd 100644
--- a/web/src/components/MessageList.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/MessageList.tsx
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ interface Props {
   onViewFile?: (filePath: string) => void;
   spawnedTidsByItemId?: Map<string, Map<number, number>>;
   getTaskHref?: (id: string) => string;
+  /** fires when the list settles at, or leaves, the bottom */
+  onAtBottomChange?: (atBottom: boolean) => void;
 }
 
 function ResultMessageView({ message }: { message: DisplayMessage }) {
@@ -851,8 +853,12 @@ export function MessageList({
   onViewFile,
   spawnedTidsByItemId,
   getTaskHref,
+  onAtBottomChange,
 }: Props) {
   const containerRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
+  // through a ref so the scroll listener never has to be torn down and rebound
+  const onAtBottomChangeRef = useRef(onAtBottomChange);
+  onAtBottomChangeRef.current = onAtBottomChange;
 
   // Subscribe to outbox so the component re-renders when entries are added/removed.
   const [outboxTick, setOutboxTick] = useState(0);
@@ -931,8 +937,17 @@ export function MessageList({
   useEffect(() => {
     const el = containerRef.current;
     if (!el) return;
+    // a little tolerance: momentum scrolling lands a pixel or two off zero
+    const atBottom = () => el.scrollTop >= -24;
+    let wasAtBottom = atBottom();
+    onAtBottomChangeRef.current?.(wasAtBottom);
     const onScroll = () => {
       el.style.overflowAnchor = el.scrollTop >= -1 ? "none" : "auto";
+      const now = atBottom();
+      if (now !== wasAtBottom) {
+        wasAtBottom = now;
+        onAtBottomChangeRef.current?.(now);
+      }
     };
     el.addEventListener("scroll", onScroll, { passive: true });
     return () => {
diff --git a/web/src/components/SessionView.tsx b/web/src/components/SessionView.tsx
index 31bc4cd5..396775ac 100644
--- a/web/src/components/SessionView.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/SessionView.tsx
@@ -96,6 +96,23 @@ function SessionViewInner({
   agentUsage,
 }: Props) {
   const inputRef = useRef<HTMLTextAreaElement>(null);
+  // a phone pins the composer above the keyboard, and iOS lets the two drift
+  // apart once the page scrolls, leaving the box floating over a gap that only
+  // a drag starting inside it puts right. Scrolling up to read is also the
+  // moment neither is wanted, so leaving the bottom dismisses both and
+  // returning restores the composer.
+  const [composerHidden, setComposerHidden] = useState(false);
+  const handleAtBottomChange = useCallback((atBottom: boolean) => {
+    const narrow =
+      typeof window !== "undefined" &&
+      typeof window.matchMedia === "function" &&
+      window.matchMedia("(max-width: 768px)").matches;
+    if (!narrow) return;
+    setComposerHidden(!atBottom);
+    // blurring is what dismisses the keyboard; iOS will not raise it again
+    // without a tap, so returning to the bottom restores only the box
+    if (!atBottom) inputRef.current?.blur();
+  }, []);
   const insertTextRef = useRef<((text: string) => void) | null>(null);
   const pasteTextRef = useRef<((text: string) => void) | null>(null);
   const resumeRef = useRef<HTMLButtonElement>(null);
@@ -415,6 +432,7 @@ function SessionViewInner({
         </div>
       ) : (
         <MessageList
+          onAtBottomChange={handleAtBottomChange}
           taskTid={tid}
           messages={task.messages}
           replacementEvents={task.replacementEvents}
@@ -494,6 +512,7 @@ function SessionViewInner({
             }}
             isProcessing={task.isProcessing}
             stdinClosed={task.stdinClosed}
+            hidden={composerHidden}
             disabled={!connected}
             sessionId={task.uuid}
             inputDraft={task.inputDraft}
diff --git a/web/src/styles.css b/web/src/styles.css
index cea89215..f763dd6a 100644
--- a/web/src/styles.css
+++ b/web/src/styles.css
@@ -3747,6 +3747,13 @@ pre.extra-field-value {
 
 /* Responsive: narrow screens */
 @media (max-width: 768px) {
+  /* scrolled up to read: the composer and its keyboard are only in the way,
+     and iOS drifts them apart anyway once the page scrolls. wider screens keep
+     the composer, where there is room for it and no keyboard to dismiss */
+  .input-box.input-box-hidden {
+    display: none;
+  }
+
   .banner-usage {
     width: 132px;
     flex-basis: 132px;