diff --git a/tui/README.md b/tui/README.md
index 9d0d58aac..2228b725a 100644
--- a/tui/README.md
+++ b/tui/README.md
@@ -29,7 +29,10 @@ Changes reuse the gateway's normal model command and workspace policy checks.
 
 When you scroll away from the latest output, the scrollbar and `Ctrl+End` hint appear only until
 you return to the bottom. Large pastes are represented by a short editable placeholder in the
-composer; nanobot sends the original text unchanged.
+composer; nanobot sends the original text unchanged. Press `Ctrl+V` or `Alt+V` while the composer
+is focused to attach an image from the system clipboard. Image bytes stay behind removable
+`[Image #n]` placeholders until the message is sent; each placeholder behaves as one unit, and
+deleting it removes its image.
 
 While nanobot is working, the composer prompt becomes
 `Enter send now · Tab send next`; narrow terminals shorten it to `Enter now · Tab next`.
diff --git a/tui/src/app.test.ts b/tui/src/app.test.ts
index b170efb9b..9e649f8bb 100644
--- a/tui/src/app.test.ts
+++ b/tui/src/app.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 import { afterEach, describe, expect, test } from "bun:test"
-import { BoxRenderable, CliRenderEvents, TextareaRenderable, TextRenderable } from "@opentui/core"
+import {
+  BoxRenderable,
+  CliRenderEvents,
+  StyledText,
+  TextareaRenderable,
+  TextAttributes,
+  TextRenderable,
+} from "@opentui/core"
 import {
   MockTreeSitterClient,
   createTestRenderer,
@@ -15,7 +22,8 @@ import type {
   WorkspaceScopePayload,
 } from "./protocol"
 import type { HostAgentState, HostMetadata, TuiHost } from "./host"
-import type { Transcript } from "./transcript"
+import type { ClipboardImageReader } from "./clipboard-image"
+import { userMessageText, type Transcript } from "./transcript"
 
 const options: AppOptions = {
   wsUrl: "ws://localhost.invalid/ws",
@@ -51,6 +59,20 @@ test("formats a reusable session ID after exit", () => {
   )
 })
 
+test("projects image media as stable placeholders without exposing filenames", () => {
+  expect(userMessageText("What is this?", [
+    { name: "clipboard-image-2.png" },
+    { kind: "image", name: "screenshot.png" },
+    { kind: "file", name: "report.pdf" },
+  ])).toBe([
+    "What is this? [Image #2] [Image #1]",
+    "Attachments: report.pdf",
+  ].join("\n"))
+  expect(userMessageText("What is this?", [
+    { name: "clipboard-image-1.png" },
+  ], "What is this? [Image #1]")).toBe("What is this? [Image #1]")
+})
+
 function contrastRatio(foreground: string, background: string): number {
   const luminance = (color: string) => {
     const channel = (offset: number) => {
@@ -306,6 +328,278 @@ describe("NanobotTui layout", () => {
     expect(ui.composer.plainText).toBe("")
   })
 
+  test("pastes clipboard images into removable placeholders and sends their data", async () => {
+    const sent: string[] = []
+    const sentOptions: MessageOptions[] = []
+    let disposed = false
+    const clipboard: ClipboardImageReader = {
+      read: async () => ({
+        mimeType: "image/png",
+        dataUrl: "data:image/png;base64,AAEC/w==",
+      }),
+      dispose: async () => { disposed = true },
+    }
+    setup = await createRenderer({ width: 72, height: 20, screenMode: "alternate-screen" })
+    const transport = client(sent, [], [], sentOptions)
+    const recordSend = transport.send
+    transport.send = (content, messageOptions) => {
+      recordSend(content, messageOptions)
+      return `image-turn-${sent.length}`
+    }
+    const app = NanobotTui.mount(
+      setup.renderer,
+      options,
+      transport,
+      new MockTreeSitterClient({ autoResolveTimeout: 0 }),
+      undefined,
+      clipboard,
+    )
+    app.accept({ event: "attached", chat_id: "chat" })
+    await waitUntil(() => (app as unknown as { ready: boolean }).ready)
+    const ui = app as unknown as {
+      composer: TextareaRenderable
+      draft: { imageCount: number }
+      promptHistory: string[]
+      status: { plainText: string }
+      transcript: {
+        userMessages: Set<{ renderable: TextRenderable }>
+      }
+    }
+
+    setup.mockInput.pressKey("v", { ctrl: true })
+    await waitUntil(() => ui.composer.plainText === "[Image #1] ")
+    expect(ui.status.plainText).toContain("Pasted Image #1")
+    const placeholderStyle = ui.composer.syntaxStyle?.getStyle("image.placeholder")
+    expect(placeholderStyle?.bold).toBeTrue()
+    expect(placeholderStyle?.fg?.toInts().slice(0, 3)).toEqual([239, 142, 48])
+    const placeholderStyleId = ui.composer.syntaxStyle?.getStyleId("image.placeholder")
+    if (placeholderStyleId === null || placeholderStyleId === undefined) {
+      throw new Error("image placeholder style was not registered")
+    }
+    expect(ui.composer.getLineHighlights(0)).toEqual([{
+      start: 0,
+      end: 10,
+      styleId: placeholderStyleId,
+      priority: 100,
+      hlRef: 0,
+    }])
+    ui.composer.setText("")
+    await waitUntil(() => ui.draft.imageCount === 0)
+    expect(ui.composer.getLineHighlights(0)).toEqual([])
+
+    setup.mockInput.pressKey("v", { ctrl: true })
+    await waitUntil(() => ui.composer.plainText === "[Image #1] ")
+    await setup.mockInput.typeText("[Image #1]")
+    ui.composer.submit()
+    await waitUntil(() => ui.status.plainText.includes("Duplicate image placeholder"))
+    expect(sent).toEqual([])
+    ui.composer.setText("[Image #1]")
+    ui.composer.submit()
+    await waitUntil(() => sent.length === 1)
+    expect(sent).toEqual([""])
+    expect(ui.promptHistory).toEqual([])
+    expect(sentOptions[0]?.media).toEqual([{
+      data_url: "data:image/png;base64,AAEC/w==",
+      name: "clipboard-image-1.png",
+    }])
+    expect(sentOptions[0]).not.toHaveProperty("displayContent")
+    await setup.flush()
+    const frame = setup.captureCharFrame()
+    expect(frame).toContain("[Image #1]")
+    expect(frame).not.toContain("clipboard-image-1.png")
+    const userContent = [...ui.transcript.userMessages].at(-1)?.renderable.content
+    expect(userContent).toBeInstanceOf(StyledText)
+    const imageChunk = (userContent as StyledText).chunks.find(({ text }) => text === "[Image #1]")
+    expect(imageChunk?.attributes).toBe(TextAttributes.BOLD)
+    expect(imageChunk?.fg?.toInts().slice(0, 3)).toEqual([239, 142, 48])
+
+    await setup.mockInput.typeText("这是什么？ ")
+    setup.mockInput.pressKey("v", { ctrl: true })
+    await waitUntil(() => ui.status.plainText.includes("Pasted Image #1"), 3_000)
+    expect(ui.composer.plainText).toBe("这是什么？ [Image #1] ")
+    setup.mockInput.pressTab()
+    expect(ui.status.plainText).toContain("Images cannot be queued")
+    expect(ui.composer.plainText).toBe("这是什么？ [Image #1] ")
+    ui.composer.submit()
+    await waitUntil(() => sent.length === 2)
+    expect(sent[1]).toBe("这是什么？")
+    expect(sentOptions[1]?.media).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(sentOptions[1]).not.toHaveProperty("displayContent")
+    await setup.flush()
+    expect(setup.captureCharFrame()).toContain("这是什么？ [Image #1]")
+
+    setup.renderer.destroy()
+    expect(disposed).toBeTrue()
+  })
+
+  test("keeps image placeholders atomic for cursor movement and deletion", async () => {
+    const clipboard: ClipboardImageReader = {
+      read: async () => ({
+        mimeType: "image/png",
+        dataUrl: "data:image/png;base64,AAEC/w==",
+      }),
+      dispose: async () => undefined,
+    }
+    setup = await createRenderer({ width: 72, height: 20, screenMode: "alternate-screen" })
+    const app = NanobotTui.mount(
+      setup.renderer,
+      options,
+      client(),
+      new MockTreeSitterClient({ autoResolveTimeout: 0 }),
+      undefined,
+      clipboard,
+    )
+    app.accept({ event: "attached", chat_id: "chat" })
+    await waitUntil(() => (app as unknown as { ready: boolean }).ready)
+    const ui = app as unknown as {
+      composer: TextareaRenderable
+      draft: { imageCount: number }
+      status: { plainText: string }
+    }
+
+    setup.mockInput.pressKey("v", { ctrl: true })
+    await waitUntil(() => ui.composer.plainText === "[Image #1] ")
+    await setup.flush()
+    await setup.mockMouse.click(ui.composer.x + 5, ui.composer.y)
+    expect(ui.composer.cursorOffset > 0 && ui.composer.cursorOffset < 10).toBeFalse()
+    ui.composer.cursorOffset = 0
+    setup.mockInput.pressArrow("right")
+    await waitUntil(() => ui.composer.cursorOffset === 10)
+    setup.mockInput.pressArrow("left")
+    await waitUntil(() => ui.composer.cursorOffset === 0)
+
+    setup.mockInput.pressArrow("right", { shift: true })
+    await waitUntil(() => ui.composer.cursorOffset === 10)
+    await setup.mockInput.typeText("replacement")
+    await waitUntil(() => ui.draft.imageCount === 0)
+    expect(ui.composer.plainText).toContain("replacement")
+    expect(ui.composer.plainText).not.toContain("Image #1")
+
+    ui.composer.setText("")
+    setup.mockInput.pressKey("v", { ctrl: true })
+    await waitUntil(() => ui.composer.plainText === "[Image #1] ")
+    ui.composer.cursorOffset = 0
+    setup.mockInput.pressKey("DELETE")
+    await waitUntil(() => ui.draft.imageCount === 0)
+    expect(ui.composer.plainText.trim()).toBe("")
+    expect(ui.status.plainText).toContain("Removed Image #1")
+
+    ui.composer.setText("")
+    setup.mockInput.pressKey("v", { ctrl: true })
+    await waitUntil(() => ui.composer.plainText === "[Image #1] ")
+    ui.composer.cursorOffset = 10
+    setup.mockInput.pressBackspace()
+    await waitUntil(() => ui.draft.imageCount === 0)
+    expect(ui.composer.plainText.trim()).toBe("")
+
+    ui.composer.setText("")
+    setup.mockInput.pressKey("v", { ctrl: true })
+    await waitUntil(() => ui.composer.plainText === "[Image #1] ")
+    ui.composer.setText("Image #1] ")
+    await waitUntil(() => ui.draft.imageCount === 0)
+    expect(ui.composer.plainText.trim()).toBe("")
+  })
+
+  test("keeps clipboard failures visible while an agent turn is active", async () => {
+    const sent: string[] = []
+    const clipboard: ClipboardImageReader = {
+      read: async () => { throw new Error("No image in clipboard") },
+      dispose: async () => undefined,
+    }
+    setup = await createRenderer({ width: 72, height: 20, screenMode: "alternate-screen" })
+    const app = NanobotTui.mount(
+      setup.renderer,
+      options,
+      client(sent),
+      new MockTreeSitterClient({ autoResolveTimeout: 0 }),
+      undefined,
+      clipboard,
+    )
+    app.accept({ event: "attached", chat_id: "chat" })
+    await waitUntil(() => (app as unknown as { ready: boolean }).ready)
+    const composer = (app as unknown as { composer: TextareaRenderable }).composer
+    composer.setText("start")
+    composer.submit()
+    await waitUntil(() => sent.length === 1)
+
+    setup.mockInput.pressKey("v", { ctrl: true })
+    await waitUntil(() => setup?.captureCharFrame().includes("No image in clipboard") === true)
+  })
+
+  test("keeps image placeholders out of command arguments", async () => {
+    const sent: string[] = []
+    const clipboard: ClipboardImageReader = {
+      read: async () => ({
+        mimeType: "image/png",
+        dataUrl: "data:image/png;base64,AAEC/w==",
+      }),
+      dispose: async () => undefined,
+    }
+    setup = await createRenderer({ width: 72, height: 20, screenMode: "alternate-screen" })
+    const app = NanobotTui.mount(
+      setup.renderer,
+      options,
+      client(sent),
+      new MockTreeSitterClient({ autoResolveTimeout: 0 }),
+      undefined,
+      clipboard,
+    )
+    app.accept({ event: "attached", chat_id: "chat" })
+    await waitUntil(() => (app as unknown as { ready: boolean }).ready)
+    const ui = app as unknown as {
+      composer: TextareaRenderable
+      status: { plainText: string }
+      commandMenu: { setCommands(commands: SlashCommand[]): void }
+    }
+    ui.commandMenu.setCommands([{
+      command: "/model",
+      title: "Model",
+      description: "Show or switch model presets",
+      argHint: "[preset]",
+      lifecycle: "side_channel",
+      acceptsArgs: true,
+    }])
+
+    await setup.mockInput.typeText("/model ")
+    setup.mockInput.pressKey("v", { ctrl: true })
+    await waitUntil(() => ui.composer.plainText === "/model [Image #1] ")
+    ui.composer.submit()
+    await waitUntil(() => ui.status.plainText.includes("Images cannot be used with commands"))
+
+    expect(sent).toEqual([])
+    expect(ui.composer.plainText).toBe("/model [Image #1] ")
+  })
+
+  test("ignores a clipboard result that finishes after the renderer is destroyed", async () => {
+    let resolveRead: ((image: {
+      mimeType: "image/png"
+      dataUrl: string
+    }) => void) | undefined
+    let disposed = false
+    const clipboard: ClipboardImageReader = {
+      read: () => new Promise((resolve) => { resolveRead = resolve }),
+      dispose: async () => { disposed = true },
+    }
+    setup = await createRenderer({ width: 72, height: 20, screenMode: "alternate-screen" })
+    const app = NanobotTui.mount(
+      setup.renderer,
+      options,
+      client(),
+      new MockTreeSitterClient({ autoResolveTimeout: 0 }),
+      undefined,
+      clipboard,
+    )
+    app.accept({ event: "attached", chat_id: "chat" })
+    await waitUntil(() => (app as unknown as { ready: boolean }).ready)
+
+    setup.mockInput.pressKey("v", { ctrl: true })
+    await waitUntil(() => resolveRead !== undefined)
+    setup.renderer.destroy()
+    resolveRead?.({ mimeType: "image/png", dataUrl: "data:image/png;base64,AAAA" })
+    await Bun.sleep(10)
+    expect(disposed).toBeTrue()
+  })
+
   test("steers with Enter, queues with Tab, and restores queued text with Alt+Up", async () => {
     const sent: string[] = []
     const sentOptions: MessageOptions[] = []
@@ -412,6 +706,11 @@ describe("NanobotTui layout", () => {
       turn_id: "remote-steer",
       active_turn_id: "remote-turn",
       starts_turn: false,
+      media_urls: [{
+        kind: "image",
+        url: "/api/media/sig/image",
+        name: "clipboard-image-2.png",
+      }],
     })
     await setup.flush()
 
@@ -420,6 +719,9 @@ describe("NanobotTui layout", () => {
     expect(occurrences(frame, "hello from terminal A")).toBe(1)
     expect(occurrences(frame, "Attachments: report.pdf")).toBe(1)
     expect(occurrences(frame, "one more remote detail")).toBe(1)
+    expect(occurrences(frame, "[Image #2]")).toBe(1)
+    expect(frame).toContain("one more remote detail [Image #2]")
+    expect(frame).not.toContain("clipboard-image-2.png")
     expect(state.activeTurn).toBeTrue()
     expect(state.activeTurnId).toBe("remote-turn")
 
@@ -1790,19 +2092,26 @@ describe("NanobotTui layout", () => {
       composer: {
         backgroundColor: { intent: string; toInts(): number[] }
         textColor: { toInts(): number[] }
+        syntaxStyle: { getStyle(name: string): { fg?: { toInts(): number[] } } | undefined } | null
       }
       transcript: {
         markdown: Set<{ syntaxStyle: object }>
         frames: Set<{ borderColor: { toInts(): number[] } }>
         userRows: Set<{ backgroundColor: { intent: string; toInts(): number[] } }>
-        user(content: string): void
+        userMessages: Set<{ renderable: TextRenderable }>
+        user(content: string, turnId?: string, media?: Array<{ kind: "image"; name: string }>): void
       }
     }
-    internals.transcript.user("Existing question")
+    internals.transcript.user("Existing question", undefined, [{
+      kind: "image",
+      name: "clipboard-image-1.png",
+    }])
     const userRow = [...internals.transcript.userRows][0]
+    const userMessage = [...internals.transcript.userMessages][0]
     const markdown = [...internals.transcript.markdown][0]
     const sessionFrame = [...internals.transcript.frames][0]
     const darkSyntax = markdown?.syntaxStyle
+    const darkComposerSyntax = internals.composer.syntaxStyle
 
     expect(userRow?.backgroundColor.intent).toBe("default")
 
@@ -1821,6 +2130,12 @@ describe("NanobotTui layout", () => {
     expect(sessionFrame?.borderColor.toInts().slice(0, 3)).toEqual([212, 212, 216])
     expect(userRow?.backgroundColor.toInts().slice(0, 3)).toEqual([240, 240, 240])
     expect(markdown?.syntaxStyle).not.toBe(darkSyntax)
+    expect(internals.composer.syntaxStyle).not.toBe(darkComposerSyntax)
+    expect(internals.composer.syntaxStyle?.getStyle("image.placeholder")?.fg?.toInts().slice(0, 3))
+      .toEqual([185, 77, 11])
+    const recolored = userMessage?.renderable.content as StyledText
+    expect(recolored.chunks.find(({ text }) => text === "[Image #1]")?.fg?.toInts().slice(0, 3))
+      .toEqual([185, 77, 11])
   })
 
   test("distinguishes the composer with a quiet focus edge", async () => {
diff --git a/tui/src/app.ts b/tui/src/app.ts
index 20689a14e..11f4097d8 100644
--- a/tui/src/app.ts
+++ b/tui/src/app.ts
@@ -65,7 +65,11 @@ import {
   type TranscriptNavigation,
   type TranscriptTheme,
 } from "./transcript"
-import { ComposerDraft } from "./composer-draft"
+import { ComposerDraft, MAX_DRAFT_IMAGES } from "./composer-draft"
+import {
+  createClipboardImageReader,
+  type ClipboardImageReader,
+} from "./clipboard-image"
 import { BranchMenu, branchPoints } from "./branch-menu"
 import {
   MentionMenu,
@@ -184,6 +188,7 @@ const LIGHT: Palette = {
 const COMPOSER_PLACEHOLDER = "Ask nanobot anything"
 const ACTIVE_COMPOSER_PLACEHOLDER = "Enter send now · Tab send next"
 const COMPACT_ACTIVE_COMPOSER_PLACEHOLDER = "Enter now · Tab next"
+const IMAGE_PLACEHOLDER_STYLE = "image.placeholder"
 const SHIMMER_PAUSE = 16
 const SHIMMER_BAND = 4
 const SHIMMER_INTERVAL_MS = 80
@@ -259,6 +264,12 @@ function syntaxStyle(palette: Palette): SyntaxStyle {
   })
 }
 
+function composerSyntaxStyle(palette: Palette): SyntaxStyle {
+  return SyntaxStyle.fromStyles({
+    [IMAGE_PLACEHOLDER_STYLE]: { fg: RGBA.fromHex(palette.accent), bold: true },
+  })
+}
+
 function transcriptTheme(palette: Palette, backgroundKnown: boolean): TranscriptTheme {
   return {
     text: palette.text,
@@ -440,6 +451,7 @@ export class NanobotTui {
   private readonly titleText: TextRenderable
   private readonly composerFrame: BoxRenderable
   private readonly composer: TextareaRenderable
+  private composerSyntax: SyntaxStyle
   private readonly status: TextRenderable
   private readonly meta: TextRenderable
   private readonly host: TuiHost
@@ -510,8 +522,14 @@ export class NanobotTui {
   private hostWorkspace: string
   private hostBranch: string
   private readonly apiReauthenticator: ApiReauthenticator | undefined
+  private readonly clipboardImageReader: ClipboardImageReader
   private apiRefreshPromise: Promise<GatewayApiConnection> | null = null
   private skillLoadId = 0
+  private clipboardImagePending = false
+  private clipboardPasteGeneration = 0
+  private composerValue = ""
+  private composerCursor = 0
+  private reconcilingComposer = false
 
   private constructor(
     renderer: CliRenderer,
@@ -519,8 +537,10 @@ export class NanobotTui {
     client?: ChatClient,
     treeSitterClient = getTreeSitterClient(),
     host: TuiHost = createTuiHost({}),
+    clipboardImageReader: ClipboardImageReader = createClipboardImageReader(),
   ) {
     this.renderer = renderer
+    this.clipboardImageReader = clipboardImageReader
     this.defaultModelName = options.model
     this.defaultModelPreset = options.modelPreset
     this.modelName = options.model
@@ -534,6 +554,7 @@ export class NanobotTui {
     this.backgroundKnown = options.theme !== "auto" || renderer.themeMode !== null
     this.activeThemeMode = this.resolveThemeMode(renderer.themeMode)
     this.palette = this.activeThemeMode === "light" ? LIGHT : DARK
+    this.composerSyntax = composerSyntaxStyle(this.palette)
     this.host = host
     this.transcript = new Transcript(
       renderer,
@@ -730,6 +751,7 @@ export class NanobotTui {
       backgroundColor: composerSurface,
       focusedBackgroundColor: composerSurface,
       cursorColor: this.palette.accent,
+      syntaxStyle: this.composerSyntax,
       // A steady line cursor avoids the block-cell trails produced by some
       // terminals when a retained full-screen UI redraws around the composer.
       cursorStyle: { style: "line", blinking: false },
@@ -743,23 +765,14 @@ export class NanobotTui {
         { name: "return", action: "submit" },
       ],
       onCursorChange: () => {
+        this.keepComposerCursorOutsideImages()
         if (!this.sessionMenu.visible && !this.branchMenu.visible) this.syncComposerMenus()
       },
-      onContentChange: () => {
-        this.draft.prune(this.composer.plainText)
-        const clearedUnsent = this.unsentSubmit && !this.composer.plainText.trim()
-        if (clearedUnsent) this.unsentSubmit = false
-        this.runtimeControls.hide()
-        if (this.contextPanel.visible && this.composer.plainText) this.contextPanel.hide()
-        this.syncComposerPlaceholder()
-        if (this.sessionMenu.visible) this.syncSessionMenu()
-        else if (this.branchMenu.visible) this.syncBranchMenu()
-        else this.syncComposerMenus()
-        this.resizeComposer()
-        if (clearedUnsent && !this.activeTurn) {
-          this.status.content = this.ready ? this.readyStatus() : this.connectionMessage
-        }
-      },
+      onContentChange: () => this.handleComposerContentChange(),
+      onMouseDown: () => queueMicrotask(() => this.keepComposerCursorOutsideImages()),
+      onMouseUp: () => queueMicrotask(() => this.keepComposerCursorOutsideImages()),
+      onMouseDrag: () => queueMicrotask(() => this.keepComposerCursorOutsideImages()),
+      onMouseDragEnd: () => queueMicrotask(() => this.keepComposerCursorOutsideImages()),
       // IMEs may commit their final composed glyph after Enter. Matching the
       // OpenCode/OpenTUI integration, defer twice before reading plainText.
       onSubmit: () => this.deferSubmit(),
@@ -845,8 +858,16 @@ export class NanobotTui {
     client?: ChatClient,
     treeSitterClient?: TreeSitterClient,
     host?: TuiHost,
+    clipboardImageReader?: ClipboardImageReader,
   ): NanobotTui {
-    return new NanobotTui(renderer, options, client, treeSitterClient, host)
+    return new NanobotTui(
+      renderer,
+      options,
+      client,
+      treeSitterClient,
+      host,
+      clipboardImageReader,
+    )
   }
 
   async start(): Promise<void> {
@@ -889,7 +910,6 @@ export class NanobotTui {
   private submit(): void {
     if (this.quitting || this.composer.isDestroyed) return
     const visibleContent = this.composer.plainText.trim()
-    const content = this.draft.expand(visibleContent).trim()
     if (this.sessionLoading) {
       this.status.content = "Loading sessions…"
       return
@@ -945,6 +965,10 @@ export class NanobotTui {
       return
     }
     const command = this.commandMenu.resolve(visibleContent)
+    if ((command || visibleContent.startsWith("!")) && this.draft.media(visibleContent).length) {
+      this.status.content = "Images cannot be used with commands · remove the image first"
+      return
+    }
     if (command?.source === "tui") {
       if (command.command.action === "sessions") void this.openSessions()
       else if (command.command.action === "context") void this.openContext()
@@ -968,7 +992,8 @@ export class NanobotTui {
       this.markSubmitUnsent()
       return
     }
-    const prompt = { content, options: mentionOptions(content, this.availableMentions()) }
+    const prompt = this.composerPrompt()
+    if (!this.canSendPrompt(prompt)) return
     if (this.activeTurn) {
       this.sendPrompt(prompt, true)
       return
@@ -990,7 +1015,12 @@ export class NanobotTui {
     this.mentionMenu.hide()
     this.skillMenu.hide()
     this.recordPrompt(prompt.content)
-    this.transcript.user(prompt.content, turnId)
+    this.transcript.user(
+      prompt.content,
+      turnId,
+      prompt.options.media,
+      prompt.displayContent,
+    )
     this.hostBlocked = false
     this.setCurrentTask(prompt.content)
     if (steering) {
@@ -1080,12 +1110,13 @@ export class NanobotTui {
         this.reconcileTurnOwnership(event)
         return
       case "user_message": {
-        const attachments = event.media_urls?.map((media) => media.name).filter(Boolean) || []
-        const content = [
+        if (this.transcript.user(
           event.text,
-          attachments.length ? `Attachments: ${attachments.join(", ")}` : "",
-        ].filter(Boolean).join("\n")
-        if (this.transcript.user(content, event.turn_id)) this.recordPrompt(event.text)
+          event.turn_id,
+          event.media_urls,
+        )) {
+          this.recordPrompt(event.text)
+        }
         this.hostBlocked = false
         this.setCurrentTask(event.text)
         this.reconcileTurnOwnership(event)
@@ -1544,6 +1575,36 @@ export class NanobotTui {
     return queue
   }
 
+  private composerPrompt(): QueuedPrompt {
+    const visible = this.composer.plainText.trim()
+    const content = this.draft.expand(visible).trim()
+    const media = this.draft.media(visible)
+    const displayContent = this.draft.display(visible).trim()
+    return {
+      content,
+      ...(media.length ? { displayContent } : {}),
+      options: {
+        ...mentionOptions(content, this.availableMentions()),
+        ...(media.length ? { media } : {}),
+      },
+    }
+  }
+
+  private hasPrompt(prompt: QueuedPrompt): boolean {
+    return Boolean(prompt.content || prompt.options.media?.length)
+  }
+
+  private canSendPrompt(prompt: QueuedPrompt): boolean {
+    if (this.draft.hasImageLabelConflict(this.composer.plainText)) {
+      this.status.content = "Duplicate image placeholder text · rename or remove it before sending"
+      return false
+    }
+    if (!this.hasPrompt(prompt)) return false
+    if ((prompt.options.media?.length || 0) <= MAX_DRAFT_IMAGES) return true
+    this.status.content = `Remove images until ${MAX_DRAFT_IMAGES} or fewer remain`
+    return false
+  }
+
   private restoreQueuedPrompts(): void {
     const queued = this.promptQueue.restore()
     if (!queued.length) return
@@ -1555,6 +1616,10 @@ export class NanobotTui {
   private queueFollowUp(): void {
     if (!this.activeTurn || !this.ready) return
     const visibleContent = this.composer.plainText.trim()
+    if (this.draft.media(visibleContent).length) {
+      this.status.content = "Images cannot be queued · press Enter to send now"
+      return
+    }
     const content = this.draft.expand(visibleContent).trim()
     if (!content) return
     this.promptQueue.enqueue({
@@ -1719,6 +1784,18 @@ export class NanobotTui {
         return
       }
     }
+    if (
+      (key.ctrl || key.meta)
+      && key.name.toLocaleLowerCase() === "v"
+      && !this.sessionLoading
+      && !this.sessionMenu.visible
+      && !this.branchMenu.visible
+      && !this.contextPanel.visible
+    ) {
+      key.preventDefault()
+      void this.pasteClipboardImage()
+      return
+    }
     if (this.activeTurn && !key.ctrl && !key.meta && key.name === "tab") {
       this.queueFollowUp()
       key.preventDefault()
@@ -1735,6 +1812,20 @@ export class NanobotTui {
       key.preventDefault()
       return
     }
+    if (!key.ctrl && !key.meta && !key.shift && (key.name === "left" || key.name === "right")) {
+      const direction = key.name === "left" ? -1 : 1
+      const target = this.draft.moveImageCursor(
+        this.composer.plainText,
+        this.composerStringCursor(),
+        direction,
+      )
+      if (target !== null) {
+        this.composerCursor = target
+        this.setComposerStringCursor(this.composer.plainText, target)
+        key.preventDefault()
+        return
+      }
+    }
     if (!key.ctrl && !key.meta && (key.name === "up" || key.name === "down")) {
       const direction = key.name === "up" ? -1 : 1
       const boundary = direction < 0 ? 0 : this.composer.plainText.length
@@ -1795,7 +1886,7 @@ export class NanobotTui {
   }
 
   private navigateHistory(direction: -1 | 1): boolean {
-    if (this.promptHistory.length === 0) return false
+    if (this.promptHistory.length === 0 || this.draft.imageCount) return false
     if (direction < 0) {
       if (this.historyCursor === this.promptHistory.length) this.historyDraft = this.composer.plainText
       if (this.historyCursor === 0) return false
@@ -1846,6 +1937,11 @@ export class NanobotTui {
     this.composer.textColor = this.palette.text
     this.composer.focusedTextColor = this.palette.text
     this.composer.cursorColor = this.palette.accent
+    const previousComposerSyntax = this.composerSyntax
+    this.composerSyntax = composerSyntaxStyle(this.palette)
+    this.composer.syntaxStyle = this.composerSyntax
+    this.syncComposerImageHighlights(this.composer.plainText)
+    void this.renderer.idle().catch(() => {}).finally(() => previousComposerSyntax.destroy())
     this.renderTitleColor()
     this.status.fg = this.palette.muted
     this.meta.fg = this.palette.faint
@@ -2116,7 +2212,58 @@ export class NanobotTui {
     return this.composer.editBuffer.getTextRange(0, this.composer.cursorOffset).length
   }
 
+  private keepComposerCursorOutsideImages(): void {
+    if (this.reconcilingComposer) return
+    const value = this.composer.plainText
+    const cursor = this.composerStringCursor()
+    const target = this.draft.snapImageCursor(value, cursor, this.composerCursor)
+    this.composerCursor = target
+    if (target !== cursor) this.setComposerStringCursor(value, target)
+  }
+
+  private handleComposerContentChange(): void {
+    if (this.reconcilingComposer) return
+    let value = this.composer.plainText
+    let cursor = this.composerStringCursor()
+    const edit = this.draft.reconcileImageEdit(this.composerValue, value, cursor)
+    if (edit.value !== value) {
+      this.reconcilingComposer = true
+      try {
+        this.composer.replaceText(edit.value)
+        this.composer.clearSelection()
+        this.setComposerStringCursor(edit.value, edit.cursor)
+      } finally {
+        this.reconcilingComposer = false
+      }
+      value = edit.value
+      cursor = edit.cursor
+    }
+    this.composerValue = value
+    this.composerCursor = cursor
+    this.draft.prune(value)
+    this.syncComposerImageHighlights(value)
+    const clearedUnsent = this.unsentSubmit && !value.trim()
+    if (clearedUnsent) this.unsentSubmit = false
+    this.runtimeControls.hide()
+    if (this.contextPanel.visible && value) this.contextPanel.hide()
+    this.syncComposerPlaceholder()
+    if (this.sessionMenu.visible) this.syncSessionMenu()
+    else if (this.branchMenu.visible) this.syncBranchMenu()
+    else this.syncComposerMenus()
+    this.resizeComposer()
+    if (clearedUnsent && !this.activeTurn) {
+      this.status.content = this.ready ? this.readyStatus() : this.connectionMessage
+    }
+    if (edit.removedImages.length) {
+      this.status.content = `Removed ${edit.removedImages.join(", ")}`
+    }
+  }
+
   private setComposerStringCursor(value: string, cursor: number): void {
+    this.composer.cursorOffset = this.composerOffsetForStringIndex(value, cursor)
+  }
+
+  private composerOffsetForStringIndex(value: string, cursor: number): number {
     const target = Math.min(Math.max(cursor, 0), value.length)
     const before = value.slice(0, target)
     const row = before.split("\n").length - 1
@@ -2130,10 +2277,25 @@ export class NanobotTui {
       if (candidateLength > target) break
       if (candidateLength === target) offset = candidate
     }
-    this.composer.cursorOffset = offset
+    return offset
+  }
+
+  private syncComposerImageHighlights(value: string): void {
+    this.composer.clearAllHighlights()
+    const styleId = this.composerSyntax.getStyleId(IMAGE_PLACEHOLDER_STYLE)
+    if (styleId === null) return
+    for (const range of this.draft.imagePlaceholderRanges(value)) {
+      this.composer.addHighlightByCharRange({
+        start: this.composerOffsetForStringIndex(value, range.start),
+        end: this.composerOffsetForStringIndex(value, range.end),
+        styleId,
+        priority: 100,
+      })
+    }
   }
 
   private setComposer(content: string): void {
+    this.clipboardPasteGeneration += 1
     this.draft.clear()
     this.composer.setText(content)
     this.composer.cursorOffset = content.length
@@ -2141,8 +2303,42 @@ export class NanobotTui {
 
   private clearComposer(): void {
     this.unsentSubmit = false
-    this.draft.clear()
-    this.composer.setText("")
+    this.setComposer("")
+  }
+
+  private async pasteClipboardImage(): Promise<void> {
+    if (this.clipboardImagePending) return
+    if (this.draft.imageCount >= MAX_DRAFT_IMAGES) {
+      this.status.content = `A message can include up to ${MAX_DRAFT_IMAGES} images`
+      return
+    }
+    const generation = this.clipboardPasteGeneration
+    this.clipboardImagePending = true
+    this.status.content = "Reading clipboard image…"
+    try {
+      const image = await this.clipboardImageReader.read()
+      if (this.quitting || generation !== this.clipboardPasteGeneration) return
+      const insertion = this.draft.image(image, this.composer.plainText)
+      if (!insertion) {
+        this.status.content = `A message can include up to ${MAX_DRAFT_IMAGES} images`
+        return
+      }
+      this.composer.insertText(insertion.text)
+      this.status.content = `Pasted ${insertion.description} · review before sending`
+    } catch (error) {
+      if (
+        this.quitting
+        || this.composer.isDestroyed
+        || generation !== this.clipboardPasteGeneration
+      ) return
+      const message = error instanceof Error
+        ? error.message
+        : "Clipboard image paste is unavailable"
+      this.status.content = message
+      this.transcript.notice(message, true)
+    } finally {
+      this.clipboardImagePending = false
+    }
   }
 
   private handlePaste(event: PasteEvent): void {
@@ -2496,6 +2692,7 @@ export class NanobotTui {
   }
 
   private recordPrompt(content: string): void {
+    if (!content) return
     if (this.promptHistory.at(-1) !== content) this.promptHistory.push(content)
     if (this.promptHistory.length > 50) this.promptHistory.shift()
     this.historyCursor = this.promptHistory.length
@@ -2723,10 +2920,14 @@ export class NanobotTui {
   }
 
   private handleDestroy = (): void => {
+    this.quitting = true
+    this.clipboardPasteGeneration += 1
     if (this.shimmerTimer) clearInterval(this.shimmerTimer)
     this.stopSessionRefresh()
+    this.composerSyntax.destroy()
     this.transcript.destroy()
     this.diffViewer.destroy()
+    void this.clipboardImageReader.dispose().catch(() => {})
     this.host.release()
     this.client.close()
   }
diff --git a/tui/src/clipboard-image.test.ts b/tui/src/clipboard-image.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2496cbab9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tui/src/clipboard-image.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+import { describe, expect, test } from "bun:test"
+import type { ClipboardReadResult, HostClipboardService } from "@opentui/core"
+
+import { createClipboardImageReader } from "./clipboard-image"
+
+function clipboard(result: ClipboardReadResult) {
+  let disposed = false
+  const service = {
+    maxWriteBytes: 1,
+    read: async () => result,
+    writeText: async () => ({ status: "unsupported" as const }),
+    clear: async () => ({ status: "unsupported" as const }),
+    dispose: async () => { disposed = true },
+  } satisfies HostClipboardService
+  return { service, disposed: () => disposed }
+}
+
+describe("clipboard image reader", () => {
+  test("encodes supported native clipboard bytes as a data URL", async () => {
+    const fake = clipboard({
+      status: "read",
+      representation: { mimeType: "image/png", bytes: Uint8Array.from([0, 1, 2, 255]) },
+    })
+    const reader = createClipboardImageReader(() => fake.service)
+
+    expect(await reader.read()).toEqual({
+      mimeType: "image/png",
+      dataUrl: "data:image/png;base64,AAEC/w==",
+    })
+    await reader.dispose()
+    expect(fake.disposed()).toBeTrue()
+  })
+
+  test.each([
+    ["empty", "No image in clipboard"],
+    ["limit-exceeded", "Clipboard image is larger than 6 MB"],
+    ["timed-out", "Clipboard image read timed out"],
+    ["unsupported", "Clipboard image paste is unavailable"],
+  ] as const)("reports %s without exposing native details", async (status, message) => {
+    const fake = clipboard({ status })
+    const reader = createClipboardImageReader(() => fake.service)
+
+    await expect(reader.read()).rejects.toThrow(message)
+    await reader.dispose()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/tui/src/clipboard-image.ts b/tui/src/clipboard-image.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ca0aaf90f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tui/src/clipboard-image.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+import {
+  createHostClipboard,
+  type HostClipboardService,
+} from "@opentui/core"
+
+const IMAGE_MIME_TYPES = [
+  "image/png",
+  "image/jpeg",
+  "image/webp",
+  "image/gif",
+] as const
+const MAX_IMAGE_BYTES = 6 * 1024 * 1024
+
+export interface ClipboardImage {
+  dataUrl: string
+  mimeType: typeof IMAGE_MIME_TYPES[number]
+}
+
+export interface ClipboardImageReader {
+  read(): Promise<ClipboardImage>
+  dispose(): Promise<void>
+}
+
+type ClipboardFactory = () => HostClipboardService
+
+function readFailure(status: string): Error {
+  if (status === "empty") return new Error("No image in clipboard")
+  if (status === "limit-exceeded") return new Error("Clipboard image is larger than 6 MB")
+  if (status === "timed-out") return new Error("Clipboard image read timed out")
+  return new Error("Clipboard image paste is unavailable")
+}
+
+/** Lazily owns OpenTUI's native host clipboard so ordinary TUI startup does no clipboard work. */
+export function createClipboardImageReader(
+  createClipboard: ClipboardFactory = () => createHostClipboard({ maxReadBytes: MAX_IMAGE_BYTES }),
+): ClipboardImageReader {
+  let clipboard: HostClipboardService | null = null
+  let disposed = false
+
+  return {
+    async read(): Promise<ClipboardImage> {
+      if (disposed) throw new Error("Clipboard image paste is unavailable")
+      clipboard ||= createClipboard()
+      const result = await clipboard.read({ preferredTypes: IMAGE_MIME_TYPES })
+      if (result.status !== "read") throw readFailure(result.status)
+      const normalizedMime = result.representation.mimeType.toLowerCase()
+      const mimeType = IMAGE_MIME_TYPES.find((candidate) => candidate === normalizedMime)
+      if (!mimeType) throw new Error("Clipboard does not contain a supported image")
+      const bytes = result.representation.bytes
+      if (!bytes.length) throw new Error("Clipboard image is empty")
+      if (bytes.length > MAX_IMAGE_BYTES) throw new Error("Clipboard image is larger than 6 MB")
+      return {
+        mimeType,
+        dataUrl: `data:${mimeType};base64,${Buffer.from(bytes).toString("base64")}`,
+      }
+    },
+    async dispose(): Promise<void> {
+      if (disposed) return
+      disposed = true
+      await clipboard?.dispose()
+      clipboard = null
+    },
+  }
+}
diff --git a/tui/src/composer-draft.test.ts b/tui/src/composer-draft.test.ts
index 0b05e5abc..53de366f9 100644
--- a/tui/src/composer-draft.test.ts
+++ b/tui/src/composer-draft.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { describe, expect, test } from "bun:test"
 
-import { ComposerDraft } from "./composer-draft"
+import { ComposerDraft, MAX_DRAFT_IMAGES } from "./composer-draft"
 
 describe("ComposerDraft", () => {
   test("keeps ordinary pastes editable as ordinary text", () => {
@@ -25,4 +25,127 @@ describe("ComposerDraft", () => {
     expect(draft.expand(first.text.trim())).toBe(first.text.trim())
     expect(draft.expand(second.text.trim())).toBe(content)
   })
+
+  test("keeps image bytes outside the editor and drops attachments with deleted placeholders", () => {
+    const draft = new ComposerDraft()
+    const first = draft.image({ mimeType: "image/png", dataUrl: "data:image/png;base64,AAAA" })
+    const second = draft.image({ mimeType: "image/jpeg", dataUrl: "data:image/jpeg;base64,BBBB" })
+
+    expect(first?.text).toBe("[Image #1] ")
+    expect(second?.text).toBe("[Image #2] ")
+    const visible = `compare ${second?.text}${first?.text}`
+    expect(draft.expand(visible)).toBe("compare   ")
+    expect(draft.display(visible)).toBe(visible)
+    expect(draft.media(visible)).toEqual([
+      { data_url: "data:image/jpeg;base64,BBBB", name: "clipboard-image-2.jpg" },
+      { data_url: "data:image/png;base64,AAAA", name: "clipboard-image-1.png" },
+    ])
+
+    draft.prune(first?.text || "")
+    expect(draft.imageCount).toBe(1)
+    expect(draft.media(second?.text || "")).toEqual([])
+  })
+
+  test("removes a partially edited image placeholder as one atomic unit", () => {
+    const draft = new ComposerDraft()
+    const image = draft.image({ mimeType: "image/png", dataUrl: "data:image/png;base64,AAAA" })
+    const previous = `before ${image?.text}after`
+    const value = previous.replace("[Image #1]", "Image #1]")
+
+    expect(draft.reconcileImageEdit(previous, value, 7)).toEqual({
+      value: "before  after",
+      cursor: 7,
+      removedImages: ["Image #1"],
+    })
+    expect(draft.imageCount).toBe(0)
+    expect(draft.media(value)).toEqual([])
+  })
+
+  test("removes an edited duplicate occurrence without leaving a placeholder fragment", () => {
+    const draft = new ComposerDraft()
+    const image = draft.image({ mimeType: "image/png", dataUrl: "data:image/png;base64,AAAA" })
+    const label = image?.text.trim() || ""
+    const previous = `${label} ${label}`
+
+    expect(draft.reconcileImageEdit(previous, previous.slice(1), 0)).toEqual({
+      value: ` ${label}`,
+      cursor: 0,
+      removedImages: [],
+    })
+    expect(draft.imageCount).toBe(1)
+  })
+
+  test("snaps cursor movement across complete image placeholders", () => {
+    const draft = new ComposerDraft()
+    const image = draft.image({ mimeType: "image/png", dataUrl: "data:image/png;base64,AAAA" })
+    const visible = `a ${image?.text}b`
+
+    expect(draft.snapImageCursor(visible, 3, 2)).toBe(12)
+    expect(draft.snapImageCursor(visible, 11, 12)).toBe(2)
+    expect(draft.snapImageCursor(visible, 2, 0)).toBe(2)
+    expect(draft.snapImageCursor(visible, 12, 13)).toBe(12)
+    expect(draft.moveImageCursor(visible, 2, 1)).toBe(12)
+    expect(draft.moveImageCursor(visible, 12, -1)).toBe(2)
+  })
+
+  test("allocates image labels around literal composer text", () => {
+    const draft = new ComposerDraft()
+    const content = "Explain [Image #1]"
+    const insertion = draft.image(
+      { mimeType: "image/png", dataUrl: "data:image/png;base64,AAAA" },
+      content,
+    )
+
+    expect(insertion?.text).toBe("[Image #2] ")
+    expect(draft.expand(`${content} ${insertion?.text}`.trim())).toBe(`${content} `)
+  })
+
+  test("detects image labels duplicated after insertion without deleting text", () => {
+    const draft = new ComposerDraft()
+    const image = draft.image({ mimeType: "image/png", dataUrl: "data:image/png;base64,AAAA" })
+    const visible = `${image?.text}Explain [Image #1]`
+
+    expect(draft.hasImageLabelConflict(visible)).toBeTrue()
+    expect(draft.expand(visible)).toBe(visible)
+  })
+
+  test("detects image labels inside compacted paste text added afterward", () => {
+    const draft = new ComposerDraft()
+    const image = draft.image({ mimeType: "image/png", dataUrl: "data:image/png;base64,AAAA" })
+    const content = ["Explain [Image #1]", ...Array.from({ length: 11 }, () => "detail")].join("\n")
+    const paste = draft.paste(content)
+    const visible = `${image?.text}${paste.text}`
+
+    expect(draft.hasImageLabelConflict(visible)).toBeTrue()
+    expect(draft.expand(visible)).toContain("Explain [Image #1]")
+  })
+
+  test("allocates image labels around hidden compacted paste text", () => {
+    const draft = new ComposerDraft()
+    const content = ["Explain [Image #1]", ...Array.from({ length: 11 }, () => "detail")].join("\n")
+    const paste = draft.paste(content)
+    const image = draft.image(
+      { mimeType: "image/png", dataUrl: "data:image/png;base64,AAAA" },
+      paste.text,
+    )
+
+    expect(image?.text).toBe("[Image #2] ")
+    expect(draft.expand(`${paste.text}${image?.text}`)).toContain("Explain [Image #1]")
+  })
+
+  test("matches the gateway image count before accepting another placeholder", () => {
+    const draft = new ComposerDraft()
+    for (let index = 0; index < MAX_DRAFT_IMAGES; index += 1) {
+      expect(draft.image({
+        mimeType: "image/png",
+        dataUrl: `data:image/png;base64,${index}`,
+      })).not.toBeNull()
+    }
+
+    expect(draft.image({
+      mimeType: "image/png",
+      dataUrl: "data:image/png;base64,overflow",
+    })).toBeNull()
+    expect(draft.imageCount).toBe(MAX_DRAFT_IMAGES)
+  })
 })
diff --git a/tui/src/composer-draft.ts b/tui/src/composer-draft.ts
index 9af6666a5..04b1d391a 100644
--- a/tui/src/composer-draft.ts
+++ b/tui/src/composer-draft.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
+import type { OutboundMedia } from "./protocol"
+
 const LARGE_PASTE_CHARS = 1_000
 const LARGE_PASTE_LINES = 10
+export const MAX_DRAFT_IMAGES = 4
 
 export interface PasteInsertion {
   text: string
@@ -7,9 +10,32 @@ export interface PasteInsertion {
   description: string
 }
 
-/** Keeps large pasted text out of the editor without changing what is sent. */
+export interface DraftEditReconciliation {
+  value: string
+  cursor: number
+  removedImages: string[]
+}
+
+const IMAGE_EXTENSIONS = {
+  "image/png": "png",
+  "image/jpeg": "jpg",
+  "image/webp": "webp",
+  "image/gif": "gif",
+} as const
+
+interface DraftImage {
+  dataUrl: string
+  mimeType: keyof typeof IMAGE_EXTENSIONS
+}
+
+/** Keeps large pasted text and image payloads out of the editable composer surface. */
 export class ComposerDraft {
   private readonly pastes = new Map<string, string>()
+  private readonly images = new Map<string, OutboundMedia>()
+
+  get imageCount(): number {
+    return this.images.size
+  }
 
   paste(value: string): PasteInsertion {
     const text = value.replace(/\r\n/gu, "\n").replace(/\r/gu, "\n")
@@ -26,19 +52,148 @@ export class ComposerDraft {
     return { text: `${label} `, compacted: true, description }
   }
 
-  expand(visible: string): string {
+  private imageLabelInUse(label: string, visible: string): boolean {
+    if (this.images.has(label) || visible.includes(label)) return true
+    for (const content of this.pastes.values()) {
+      if (content.includes(label)) return true
+    }
+    return false
+  }
+
+  private nextImageIndex(visible: string): number {
+    let index = 1
+    while (this.imageLabelInUse(`[Image #${index}]`, visible)) index += 1
+    return index
+  }
+
+  image(image: DraftImage, visible = ""): PasteInsertion | null {
+    if (this.images.size >= MAX_DRAFT_IMAGES) return null
+    const index = this.nextImageIndex(visible)
+    const label = `[Image #${index}]`
+    this.images.set(label, {
+      data_url: image.dataUrl,
+      name: `clipboard-image-${index}.${IMAGE_EXTENSIONS[image.mimeType]}`,
+    })
+    return { text: `${label} `, compacted: true, description: label.slice(1, -1) }
+  }
+
+  private expandPastes(visible: string): string {
     let expanded = visible
     for (const [label, content] of this.pastes) expanded = expanded.split(label).join(content)
     return expanded
   }
 
+  private labelOccurrences(content: string, label: string): number {
+    return content.split(label).length - 1
+  }
+
+  imagePlaceholderRanges(visible: string): Array<{ start: number; end: number }> {
+    const ranges: Array<{ start: number; end: number }> = []
+    for (const label of this.images.keys()) {
+      let start = visible.indexOf(label)
+      while (start >= 0) {
+        ranges.push({ start, end: start + label.length })
+        start = visible.indexOf(label, start + label.length)
+      }
+    }
+    return ranges.sort((left, right) => left.start - right.start)
+  }
+
+  snapImageCursor(visible: string, cursor: number, previousCursor: number): number {
+    const range = this.imagePlaceholderRanges(visible)
+      .find(({ start, end }) => cursor > start && cursor < end)
+    if (!range) return cursor
+    if (previousCursor <= range.start) return range.end
+    if (previousCursor >= range.end) return range.start
+    return cursor - range.start < range.end - cursor ? range.start : range.end
+  }
+
+  moveImageCursor(visible: string, cursor: number, direction: -1 | 1): number | null {
+    const range = this.imagePlaceholderRanges(visible).find(({ start, end }) => (
+      direction < 0
+        ? cursor > start && cursor <= end
+        : cursor >= start && cursor < end
+    ))
+    if (!range) return null
+    return direction < 0 ? range.start : range.end
+  }
+
+  reconcileImageEdit(
+    previous: string,
+    value: string,
+    cursor: number,
+  ): DraftEditReconciliation {
+    let oldStart = 0
+    const sharedLength = Math.min(previous.length, value.length)
+    while (oldStart < sharedLength && previous[oldStart] === value[oldStart]) oldStart += 1
+
+    let oldEnd = previous.length
+    let newEnd = value.length
+    while (
+      oldEnd > oldStart
+      && newEnd > oldStart
+      && previous[oldEnd - 1] === value[newEnd - 1]
+    ) {
+      oldEnd -= 1
+      newEnd -= 1
+    }
+
+    const ranges = this.imagePlaceholderRanges(previous).filter(({ start, end }) => (
+      oldStart === oldEnd
+        ? oldStart > start && oldStart < end
+        : oldStart < end && oldEnd > start
+    ))
+    if (!ranges.length) return { value, cursor, removedImages: [] }
+
+    const replaceStart = Math.min(oldStart, ...ranges.map((range) => range.start))
+    const replaceEnd = Math.max(oldEnd, ...ranges.map((range) => range.end))
+    const inserted = value.slice(oldStart, newEnd)
+    const reconciled = previous.slice(0, replaceStart) + inserted + previous.slice(replaceEnd)
+    const missing = [...this.images.keys()].filter((label) => !reconciled.includes(label))
+    for (const label of missing) this.images.delete(label)
+    return {
+      value: reconciled,
+      cursor: replaceStart + inserted.length,
+      removedImages: missing.map((label) => label.slice(1, -1)),
+    }
+  }
+
+  hasImageLabelConflict(visible: string): boolean {
+    const expanded = this.expandPastes(visible)
+    return [...this.images.keys()]
+      .some((label) => this.labelOccurrences(expanded, label) !== 1)
+  }
+
+  expand(visible: string): string {
+    let expanded = this.expandPastes(visible)
+    for (const label of this.images.keys()) {
+      if (this.labelOccurrences(expanded, label) === 1) expanded = expanded.replace(label, "")
+    }
+    return expanded
+  }
+
+  display(visible: string): string {
+    return this.expandPastes(visible)
+  }
+
+  media(visible: string): OutboundMedia[] {
+    return [...this.images]
+      .filter(([label]) => visible.includes(label))
+      .sort(([left], [right]) => visible.indexOf(left) - visible.indexOf(right))
+      .map(([, media]) => media)
+  }
+
   prune(visible: string): void {
     for (const label of this.pastes.keys()) {
       if (!visible.includes(label)) this.pastes.delete(label)
     }
+    for (const label of this.images.keys()) {
+      if (!visible.includes(label)) this.images.delete(label)
+    }
   }
 
   clear(): void {
     this.pastes.clear()
+    this.images.clear()
   }
 }
diff --git a/tui/src/prompt-queue.ts b/tui/src/prompt-queue.ts
index bc5d1c05c..419f0cdfc 100644
--- a/tui/src/prompt-queue.ts
+++ b/tui/src/prompt-queue.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import type { MessageOptions } from "./protocol"
 
 export interface QueuedPrompt {
   content: string
+  displayContent?: string
   options: MessageOptions
 }
 
diff --git a/tui/src/protocol.test.ts b/tui/src/protocol.test.ts
index bb3d8412e..571ff0501 100644
--- a/tui/src/protocol.test.ts
+++ b/tui/src/protocol.test.ts
@@ -459,6 +459,7 @@ describe("gateway protocol", () => {
         }),
       })
       client.send("hello", {
+        media: [{ data_url: "data:image/png;base64,AAAA", name: "clipboard-image-1.png" }],
         cliApps: [{ name: "github" }],
         sessionMentions: [{ name: "plan", session_key: "websocket:plan" }],
         userShell: true,
@@ -477,6 +478,9 @@ describe("gateway protocol", () => {
       expect(outbound[1]?.chat_id).toBe("terminal")
       expect(outbound[1]?.content).toBe("hello")
       expect(outbound[1]?.user_shell).toBe(true)
+      expect(outbound[1]?.media).toEqual([
+        { data_url: "data:image/png;base64,AAAA", name: "clipboard-image-1.png" },
+      ])
       expect(outbound[1]?.cli_apps).toEqual([{ name: "github" }])
       expect(outbound[1]?.session_mentions).toEqual([
         { name: "plan", session_key: "websocket:plan" },
@@ -875,6 +879,12 @@ describe("gateway protocol", () => {
       return Promise.resolve(new Response(JSON.stringify({
         messages: [
           { role: "user", content: "hello", turnId: "turn-1" },
+          {
+            role: "user",
+            content: "",
+            turnId: "turn-image",
+            media: [{ kind: "image", url: "/api/media/sig/image", name: "shot.png" }],
+          },
           {
             role: "tool",
             kind: "trace",
@@ -883,7 +893,7 @@ describe("gateway protocol", () => {
             toolEvents: [{ phase: "end", call_id: "read-1", name: "read_file" }],
           },
           { role: "assistant", kind: "reasoning", content: "private thought" },
-          { role: "assistant", content: "hi", forkIndex: 1 },
+          { role: "assistant", content: "hi", forkIndex: 2 },
         ],
         page: { has_more_before: true, before_cursor: "older-1" },
       })))
@@ -894,12 +904,18 @@ describe("gateway protocol", () => {
       expect(history).toEqual({
         messages: [
           { role: "user", content: "hello", turnId: "turn-1" },
+          {
+            role: "user",
+            content: "",
+            turnId: "turn-image",
+            media: [{ kind: "image", url: "/api/media/sig/image", name: "shot.png" }],
+          },
           {
             role: "activity",
             content: "read_file",
             toolEvents: [{ phase: "end", call_id: "read-1", name: "read_file" }],
           },
-          { role: "assistant", content: "hi", forkIndex: 1 },
+          { role: "assistant", content: "hi", forkIndex: 2 },
         ],
         hasMoreBefore: true,
         beforeCursor: "older-1",
diff --git a/tui/src/protocol.ts b/tui/src/protocol.ts
index f895e9515..a9d867104 100644
--- a/tui/src/protocol.ts
+++ b/tui/src/protocol.ts
@@ -53,12 +53,17 @@ interface FileDiff {
   text?: string
 }
 
-interface MediaAttachment {
+export interface MediaAttachment {
   kind: "image" | "video" | "file"
   url: string
   name?: string
 }
 
+export interface OutboundMedia {
+  data_url: string
+  name?: string
+}
+
 export interface WorkspaceScopePayload {
   project_path: string
   project_name?: string
@@ -181,6 +186,7 @@ type OutboundEvent =
       turn_id: string
       webui: true
       workspace_scope?: WorkspaceScopePayload
+      media?: OutboundMedia[]
       cli_apps?: Array<{ name: string }>
       mcp_presets?: Array<{ name: string }>
       session_mentions?: SessionMention[]
@@ -225,6 +231,7 @@ export interface HistoryMessage {
   role: "user" | "assistant" | "activity"
   content: string
   turnId?: string
+  media?: MediaAttachment[]
   toolEvents?: ToolProgressEvent[]
   fileEdits?: FileEditEvent[]
   forkIndex?: number
@@ -288,6 +295,7 @@ export interface SkillCandidate {
 }
 
 export interface MessageOptions {
+  media?: OutboundMedia[]
   cliApps?: Array<{ name: string }>
   mcpPresets?: Array<{ name: string }>
   sessionMentions?: SessionMention[]
@@ -623,18 +631,20 @@ export async function fetchHistory(
       (role !== "user" && role !== "assistant")
       || message.kind === "reasoning"
       || typeof content !== "string"
-      || !content.trim()
     ) {
       continue
     }
+    const media = Array.isArray(message.media) ? message.media.filter(isMediaAttachment) : []
     if (role === "user") {
+      if (!content.trim() && !media.length) continue
       userIndex += 1
       messages.push({
         role: "user",
         content,
+        ...(media.length ? { media } : {}),
         ...(typeof message.turnId === "string" ? { turnId: message.turnId } : {}),
       })
-    } else {
+    } else if (content.trim()) {
       messages.push({ role: "assistant", content, forkIndex: userIndex })
     }
   }
@@ -1190,6 +1200,7 @@ export class NanobotClient {
       webui: true,
       ...(this.workspaceScope ? { workspace_scope: this.workspaceScope } : {}),
       ...(options.userShell ? { user_shell: true } : {}),
+      ...(options.media?.length ? { media: options.media } : {}),
       ...(options.cliApps?.length ? { cli_apps: options.cliApps } : {}),
       ...(options.mcpPresets?.length ? { mcp_presets: options.mcpPresets } : {}),
       ...(options.sessionMentions?.length
diff --git a/tui/src/transcript.ts b/tui/src/transcript.ts
index d9e528bbd..c705c43f4 100644
--- a/tui/src/transcript.ts
+++ b/tui/src/transcript.ts
@@ -3,14 +3,21 @@ import {
   MarkdownRenderable,
   RGBA,
   ScrollBoxRenderable,
+  StyledText,
   SyntaxStyle,
   TextAttributes,
   TextRenderable,
   type CliRenderer,
+  type TextChunk,
   type TreeSitterClient,
 } from "@opentui/core"
 
-import type { FileEditEvent, HistoryMessage, ToolProgressEvent } from "./protocol"
+import type {
+  FileEditEvent,
+  HistoryMessage,
+  MediaAttachment,
+  ToolProgressEvent,
+} from "./protocol"
 import { renderLatexAsUnicode } from "./latex"
 import { hideScrollbars } from "./scrollbox"
 import { mergeToolEvent, renderToolEvent } from "./tool-renderers"
@@ -58,6 +65,54 @@ const ACTIVITY_PREVIEW_LINES = 4
 // subsequent deltas to the renderer cadence.
 const STREAM_FLUSH_MS = 32
 
+export interface UserMessageMedia {
+  kind?: MediaAttachment["kind"]
+  name?: string
+}
+
+interface UserMessageProjection {
+  imageLabels: string[]
+  attachmentNames: string[]
+}
+
+function projectUserMessage(media: readonly UserMessageMedia[]): UserMessageProjection {
+  const imageNames: Array<string | undefined> = []
+  const attachmentNames: string[] = []
+  for (const item of media) {
+    // Outbound TUI media has no explicit kind because this path currently only
+    // sends clipboard images. Gateway and history media carry the kind.
+    if (item.kind === undefined || item.kind === "image") imageNames.push(item.name)
+    else if (item.name) attachmentNames.push(item.name)
+  }
+
+  const used = new Set<number>()
+  let next = 1
+  const imageLabels = imageNames.map((name) => {
+    const match = name?.match(/^clipboard-image-(\d+)\.[^.]+$/iu)
+    const preferred = match ? Number(match[1]) : 0
+    let index = Number.isSafeInteger(preferred) && preferred > 0 && !used.has(preferred)
+      ? preferred
+      : next
+    while (used.has(index)) index += 1
+    used.add(index)
+    while (used.has(next)) next += 1
+    return `[Image #${index}]`
+  })
+  return { imageLabels, attachmentNames }
+}
+
+export function userMessageText(
+  content: string,
+  media: readonly UserMessageMedia[] = [],
+  displayContent?: string,
+): string {
+  const { imageLabels, attachmentNames } = projectUserMessage(media)
+  return [
+    displayContent ?? [content, imageLabels.join(" ")].filter(Boolean).join(" "),
+    attachmentNames.length ? `Attachments: ${attachmentNames.join(", ")}` : "",
+  ].filter(Boolean).join("\n")
+}
+
 /** Projects gateway events into retained, reflowable conversation cells. */
 export class Transcript {
   readonly root: ScrollBoxRenderable
@@ -71,6 +126,12 @@ export class Transcript {
   private readonly activities = new Set<Activity>()
   private readonly frames = new Set<BoxRenderable>()
   private readonly userRows = new Set<BoxRenderable>()
+  private readonly userMessages = new Set<{
+    renderable: TextRenderable
+    content: string
+    media: UserMessageMedia[]
+    displayContent?: string
+  }>()
   private readonly userTurnIds = new Set<string>()
   private wrote = false
   private nextId = 0
@@ -116,6 +177,13 @@ export class Transcript {
     const previousSyntax = this.theme.syntax
     this.theme = theme
     for (const { renderable, tone } of this.styledText) renderable.fg = theme[tone]
+    for (const message of this.userMessages) {
+      message.renderable.content = this.userMessageContent(
+        message.content,
+        message.media,
+        message.displayContent,
+      )
+    }
     for (const renderable of this.markdown) renderable.syntaxStyle = theme.syntax
     for (const frame of this.frames) frame.borderColor = theme.border
     for (const row of this.userRows) {
@@ -171,6 +239,7 @@ export class Transcript {
     this.activities.clear()
     this.frames.clear()
     this.userRows.clear()
+    this.userMessages.clear()
     this.userTurnIds.clear()
     this.wrote = false
     this.nextId = 0
@@ -182,7 +251,9 @@ export class Transcript {
 
   history(messages: HistoryMessage[]): void {
     for (const message of messages) {
-      if (message.role === "user") this.user(message.content, message.turnId)
+      if (message.role === "user") {
+        this.user(message.content, message.turnId, message.media)
+      }
       else if (message.role === "assistant") this.assistant(message.content)
       else if (message.fileEdits?.length) this.fileEdits(message.fileEdits)
       else this.progress(message.content, message.toolEvents)
@@ -198,7 +269,7 @@ export class Transcript {
     for (const message of messages) {
       if (message.role === "user") {
         if (message.turnId && this.userTurnIds.has(message.turnId)) continue
-        this.writeRole("›", message.content, "user", index++)
+        this.writeUser(message.content, message.media, index++)
         if (message.turnId) this.userTurnIds.add(message.turnId)
       } else if (message.role === "assistant") {
         this.writeMarkdown(message.content, false, index++)
@@ -224,11 +295,16 @@ export class Transcript {
     return this.root.scrollTop <= 0
   }
 
-  user(content: string, turnId?: string): boolean {
+  user(
+    content: string,
+    turnId?: string,
+    media: readonly UserMessageMedia[] = [],
+    displayContent?: string,
+  ): boolean {
     if (turnId && this.userTurnIds.has(turnId)) return false
     this.noteOutput()
     this.finishActivity()
-    this.writeRole("›", content, "user")
+    this.writeUser(content, media, undefined, displayContent)
     if (turnId) this.userTurnIds.add(turnId)
     return true
   }
@@ -336,6 +412,7 @@ export class Transcript {
     this.activity = null
     this.frames.clear()
     this.userRows.clear()
+    this.userMessages.clear()
     this.theme.syntax.destroy()
   }
 
@@ -468,7 +545,7 @@ export class Transcript {
   }
 
   private createText(
-    content: string,
+    content: string | StyledText,
     tone: "text" | "muted" | "error" | "user",
     bold = false,
     id = "text",
@@ -487,10 +564,10 @@ export class Transcript {
 
   private writeRole(
     marker: string,
-    content: string,
+    content: string | StyledText,
     tone: "muted" | "error" | "user",
     index?: number,
-  ): void {
+  ): TextRenderable {
     const row = this.createRow(tone === "user" ? "user" : "notice", "row")
     if (tone === "user") {
       row.backgroundColor = this.theme.userBackground
@@ -509,6 +586,76 @@ export class Transcript {
     row.add(text)
     this.root.add(row, index)
     this.wrote = true
+    return text
+  }
+
+  private writeUser(
+    content: string,
+    media: readonly UserMessageMedia[] = [],
+    index?: number,
+    displayContent?: string,
+  ): void {
+    const retainedMedia = [...media]
+    const renderable = this.writeRole(
+      "›",
+      this.userMessageContent(content, retainedMedia, displayContent),
+      "user",
+      index,
+    )
+    this.userMessages.add({ renderable, content, media: retainedMedia, displayContent })
+  }
+
+  private userMessageContent(
+    content: string,
+    media: readonly UserMessageMedia[],
+    displayContent?: string,
+  ): StyledText {
+    const { imageLabels, attachmentNames } = projectUserMessage(media)
+    const chunks: TextChunk[] = []
+    const append = (text: string) => {
+      if (text) chunks.push({ __isChunk: true, text })
+    }
+    const nextLine = () => {
+      if (chunks.length) append("\n")
+    }
+
+    if (displayContent !== undefined) {
+      const ranges = imageLabels
+        .map((label) => ({ label, start: displayContent.indexOf(label) }))
+        .filter(({ start }) => start >= 0)
+        .sort((left, right) => left.start - right.start)
+      let cursor = 0
+      for (const { label, start } of ranges) {
+        append(displayContent.slice(cursor, start))
+        chunks.push({
+          __isChunk: true,
+          text: label,
+          fg: RGBA.fromHex(this.theme.user),
+          attributes: TextAttributes.BOLD,
+        })
+        cursor = start + label.length
+      }
+      append(displayContent.slice(cursor))
+    } else {
+      append(content)
+    }
+    if (displayContent === undefined && imageLabels.length) {
+      if (chunks.length) append(" ")
+      for (const [index, label] of imageLabels.entries()) {
+        if (index > 0) append(" ")
+        chunks.push({
+          __isChunk: true,
+          text: label,
+          fg: RGBA.fromHex(this.theme.user),
+          attributes: TextAttributes.BOLD,
+        })
+      }
+    }
+    if (attachmentNames.length) {
+      nextLine()
+      append(`Attachments: ${attachmentNames.join(", ")}`)
+    }
+    return new StyledText(chunks)
   }
 
   private createMarkdown(content: string, streaming: boolean, id = "markdown"): MarkdownRenderable {