diff --git a/webui/src/components/settings/SettingsView.tsx b/webui/src/components/settings/SettingsView.tsx
index 1dcf16d2c..f5801187c 100644
--- a/webui/src/components/settings/SettingsView.tsx
+++ b/webui/src/components/settings/SettingsView.tsx
@@ -2347,8 +2347,12 @@ export function SettingsView({
         )}
       >
         <div
+          key={activeSection}
+          data-testid="settings-section-transition"
+          data-settings-section={activeSection}
           className={cn(
-            "mx-auto w-full px-4 py-6 sm:px-8 sm:py-8 lg:py-12",
+            "mx-auto w-full animate-in fade-in-0 slide-in-from-bottom-1 px-4 py-6 duration-200 ease-out",
+            "motion-reduce:animate-none sm:px-8 sm:py-8 lg:py-12",
             activeSection === "channels" ? "max-w-[1240px] xl:px-10" : "max-w-[920px]",
             activeSection === "channels" && "flex min-h-full flex-col xl:h-full xl:min-h-0",
             hostChromeInset && "pt-[4.25rem] sm:pt-[4.25rem] lg:pt-[4.75rem]",
diff --git a/webui/src/tests/app-layout.test.tsx b/webui/src/tests/app-layout.test.tsx
index 31147ed24..a6d4971af 100644
--- a/webui/src/tests/app-layout.test.tsx
+++ b/webui/src/tests/app-layout.test.tsx
@@ -2058,11 +2058,12 @@ describe("App layout", () => {
     expect(window.location.hash).toBe("#/settings?section=voice");
   });
 
-  it("opens Apps from the main sidebar without replacing the sidebar", async () => {
+  it("transitions between Apps and Skills without replacing the sidebar", async () => {
     mockFetchRoutes({
       "/api/settings": baseSettingsPayload(),
       "/api/settings/cli-apps": { apps: [], installed_count: 0, catalog_updated_at: "2026-04-18" },
       "/api/settings/mcp-presets": { presets: [], installed_count: 0 },
+      "/api/webui/skills": { skills: [] },
     });
 
     render(<App />);
@@ -2080,7 +2081,34 @@ describe("App layout", () => {
       "aria-current",
       "page",
     );
+    expect(screen.getByTestId("settings-section-transition")).toHaveAttribute(
+      "data-settings-section",
+      "apps",
+    );
+    expect(screen.getByTestId("settings-section-transition")).toHaveClass(
+      "animate-in",
+      "fade-in-0",
+      "slide-in-from-bottom-1",
+      "duration-200",
+      "motion-reduce:animate-none",
+    );
     expect(document.title).toBe("Apps · nanobot");
+
+    fireEvent.click(within(sidebar).getByRole("button", { name: "Skills" }));
+
+    expect(await screen.findByRole("heading", { name: "Skills" })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(screen.getByTestId("settings-section-transition")).toHaveAttribute(
+        "data-settings-section",
+        "skills",
+      );
+    });
+    expect(screen.getByRole("navigation", { name: "Sidebar navigation" })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(within(sidebar).getByRole("button", { name: "Skills" })).toHaveAttribute(
+      "aria-current",
+      "page",
+    );
+    expect(document.title).toBe("Skills · nanobot");
   });
 
   it("returns from settings to the blank start page when no session was active", async () => {