diff --git a/scripts/control-ui-mock-dev.ts b/scripts/control-ui-mock-dev.ts
index 0e0cc09ab80a..c778fd0e16c7 100644
--- a/scripts/control-ui-mock-dev.ts
+++ b/scripts/control-ui-mock-dev.ts
@@ -30,12 +30,26 @@ type CliOptions = {
 };
 
 type SessionListOptions = {
+  creators?: readonly SessionCreatorFixture[];
   hasMore: boolean;
   nextOffset: number | null;
   offset?: number;
   totalCount: number;
 };
 
+type SessionCreatorFixture = { type: "human" | "agent"; id: string; label: string };
+
+// Two creator identities so the sidebar's collaborative ownership chrome
+// (owner avatars + People filter) renders in the mock harness.
+const MOCK_SESSION_CREATORS: readonly SessionCreatorFixture[] = [
+  { type: "human", id: "profile-peter", label: "Peter" },
+  { type: "human", id: "profile-mira", label: "Mira" },
+];
+const [MOCK_CREATOR_PETER, MOCK_CREATOR_MIRA] = MOCK_SESSION_CREATORS as [
+  SessionCreatorFixture,
+  SessionCreatorFixture,
+];
+
 const SESSION_PAGE_SIZE = 50;
 const TOTAL_MOCK_SESSIONS = 650;
 const TOTAL_TELEGRAM_SESSIONS = 180;
@@ -175,6 +189,7 @@ function sessionsListResponse(sessions: unknown[], options: SessionListOptions)
     hasMore: options.hasMore,
     limitApplied: 50,
     nextOffset: options.nextOffset,
+    ...(options.creators ? { creators: options.creators } : {}),
     offset: options.offset ?? 0,
     path: "",
     sessions,
@@ -183,11 +198,16 @@ function sessionsListResponse(sessions: unknown[], options: SessionListOptions)
   };
 }
 
-function pagedSessionsListResponse(sessions: unknown[], offset: number) {
+function pagedSessionsListResponse(
+  sessions: unknown[],
+  offset: number,
+  creators?: readonly SessionCreatorFixture[],
+) {
   const normalizedOffset = Math.max(0, Math.floor(offset));
   const page = sessions.slice(normalizedOffset, normalizedOffset + SESSION_PAGE_SIZE);
   const nextOffset = normalizedOffset + SESSION_PAGE_SIZE;
   return sessionsListResponse(page, {
+    creators,
     hasMore: nextOffset < sessions.length,
     nextOffset: nextOffset < sessions.length ? nextOffset : null,
     offset: normalizedOffset,
@@ -218,17 +238,18 @@ function buildSessionRows(params: {
 function buildSessionListCases(
   sessions: unknown[],
   matchBase: Record<string, unknown> = {},
+  creators?: readonly SessionCreatorFixture[],
 ): Array<{ match: Record<string, unknown>; response: unknown }> {
   const cases: Array<{ match: Record<string, unknown>; response: unknown }> = [];
   for (let offset = SESSION_PAGE_SIZE; offset < sessions.length; offset += SESSION_PAGE_SIZE) {
     cases.push({
       match: { ...matchBase, offset },
-      response: pagedSessionsListResponse(sessions, offset),
+      response: pagedSessionsListResponse(sessions, offset, creators),
     });
   }
   cases.push({
     match: matchBase,
-    response: pagedSessionsListResponse(sessions, 0),
+    response: pagedSessionsListResponse(sessions, 0, creators),
   });
   return cases;
 }
@@ -1080,6 +1101,7 @@ async function createChatPickerScenario(): Promise<ControlUiMockGatewayScenario>
       status: "running",
     }),
     sessionRow(NARRATION_DEMO_SESSION_KEY, "Sidebar narration demo", baseTime - 15_000, {
+      createdActor: MOCK_CREATOR_MIRA,
       hasActiveRun: true,
       startedAt: baseTime - 45_000,
       status: "running",
@@ -1092,6 +1114,7 @@ async function createChatPickerScenario(): Promise<ControlUiMockGatewayScenario>
       icon: "name:spark",
     }),
     sessionRow("agent:main:production-export", "Production export", baseTime - 75_000, {
+      createdActor: MOCK_CREATOR_MIRA,
       execCwd: "/Users/peter/Projects/clawdbot",
     }),
     sessionRow("agent:main:model-budget", "Model budget review", baseTime - 80_000, {
@@ -1100,6 +1123,7 @@ async function createChatPickerScenario(): Promise<ControlUiMockGatewayScenario>
       lastRunError: "Model out of credits: openai/gpt-5.6",
     }),
     sessionRow("agent:main:work-openclaw", "OpenClaw work checkout", baseTime - 85_000, {
+      createdActor: MOCK_CREATOR_PETER,
       execCwd: "/Users/peter/Work/openclaw",
       lastReadAt: baseTime - 120_000,
       observerDigest: {
@@ -1144,6 +1168,8 @@ async function createChatPickerScenario(): Promise<ControlUiMockGatewayScenario>
   const archivedSessions = [
     sessionRow("agent:main:archived-launch-notes", "Archived launch notes", baseTime - 86_400_000, {
       archived: true,
+      archivedBy: MOCK_CREATOR_MIRA,
+      createdActor: MOCK_CREATOR_PETER,
       totalTokens: 42_000,
     }),
     sessionRow(
@@ -1708,7 +1734,7 @@ async function createChatPickerScenario(): Promise<ControlUiMockGatewayScenario>
             ...searchPrefixes("claude-sonnet-4-6"),
             ...searchPrefixes("anthropic"),
           ]),
-          ...buildSessionListCases([...sessions, ...archivedSessions]),
+          ...buildSessionListCases([...sessions, ...archivedSessions], {}, MOCK_SESSION_CREATORS),
         ],
       },
     },
diff --git a/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-list-render.ts b/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-list-render.ts
index 09a5ff25af20..ae0e485cbd45 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-list-render.ts
+++ b/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-list-render.ts
@@ -168,7 +168,9 @@ function renderSessionSection(params: {
             ? html`
                 <button
                   type="button"
-                  class="sidebar-session-group-actions sidebar-session-sort"
+                  class="sidebar-session-group-actions sidebar-session-sort ${host.sessionCreatorFilterActive
+                    ? "sidebar-session-sort--filtered"
+                    : ""}"
                   title=${t("chat.sidebar.sortSessions")}
                   aria-label=${t("chat.sidebar.sortSessions")}
                   aria-haspopup="menu"
@@ -356,12 +358,13 @@ function renderSessionListBody(params: {
           trailing: params.codingTrailing ?? nothing,
         });
       }
-      // Threads hides its bare empty header; unfiltered custom categories stay
-      // visible because creation and drag flows depend on them as drop targets.
+      // Threads hides its bare empty header unless it owns the collaborative
+      // creator filter; custom categories stay visible as drop targets.
       if (
         section.id === "ungrouped" &&
         section.totalRowCount === 0 &&
         !showDraft &&
+        !host.sessionOwnershipVisible &&
         host.sessionsStatusFilter === "active" &&
         host.sessionOrganizer.draggingSessionKey === null
       ) {
@@ -384,7 +387,6 @@ export function renderSessionList(params: {
   expandedRows: SidebarRecentSession[];
   visibleRowCount: number;
   showDraft: boolean;
-  creatorFilter: TemplateResult | typeof nothing;
   catalogs: SessionCatalogRenderSnapshot;
 }) {
   const { host } = params;
@@ -419,7 +421,6 @@ export function renderSessionList(params: {
           `
         : nothing}
       <div class="sidebar-recent-sessions" aria-label=${titleForRoute("sessions")}>
-        ${params.creatorFilter}
         ${renderSessionListBody({
           host,
           sections: params.sections,
diff --git a/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-menu-renderers.ts b/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-menu-renderers.ts
index 070be93aa301..a35fa31deb3d 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-menu-renderers.ts
+++ b/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-menu-renderers.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import {
   type SidebarSessionStatusFilter,
 } from "./app-sidebar-session-types.ts";
 import { icons } from "./icons.ts";
+import { renderSessionOwnerChip, type SessionCreatorOption } from "./session-owner-chip.ts";
 import {
   consumeDropdownKeyboardDismissal,
   syncDropdownItemRadio,
@@ -95,9 +96,12 @@ export function renderSidebarSessionSortMenu(params: {
   sortMode: SidebarSessionSortMode;
   statusFilter: SidebarSessionStatusFilter;
   showCron: boolean;
+  creators: readonly SessionCreatorOption[];
+  creatorFilterId: string | null;
   onGroupingChange: (grouping: SidebarSessionsGrouping) => void;
   onSortModeChange: (mode: SidebarSessionSortMode) => void;
   onStatusFilterChange: (statusFilter: SidebarSessionStatusFilter) => void;
+  onCreatorFilterChange: (creatorId: string | null) => void;
   onShowCronChange: (show: boolean) => void;
   onClose: (restoreFocus: boolean) => void;
 }) {
@@ -130,6 +134,8 @@ export function renderSidebarSessionSortMenu(params: {
               params.onStatusFilterChange(
                 value.slice("status:".length) as SidebarSessionStatusFilter,
               );
+            } else if (value?.startsWith("creator:")) {
+              params.onCreatorFilterChange(value.slice("creator:".length) || null);
             } else if (value === "show-cron") {
               params.onShowCronChange(!params.showCron);
             }
@@ -210,6 +216,45 @@ export function renderSidebarSessionSortMenu(params: {
               </wa-dropdown-item>
             `,
           )}
+          ${params.creators.length >= 2
+            ? html`
+                <div class="session-menu__separator" role="separator"></div>
+                <div class="sidebar-session-sort-menu__title">${t("sessionsView.people")}</div>
+                <wa-dropdown-item
+                  class="sidebar-session-sort-menu__item"
+                  value="creator:"
+                  role="menuitemradio"
+                  aria-checked=${String(params.creatorFilterId === null)}
+                  ${ref((element) =>
+                    syncDropdownItemRadio(element, params.creatorFilterId === null),
+                  )}
+                >
+                  <span slot="details" class="session-menu__check" aria-hidden="true"
+                    >${params.creatorFilterId === null ? icons.check : nothing}</span
+                  >
+                  <span class="session-menu__text">${t("sessionsView.allCreators")}</span>
+                </wa-dropdown-item>
+                ${params.creators.map(
+                  (creator) => html`
+                    <wa-dropdown-item
+                      class="sidebar-session-sort-menu__item"
+                      value=${`creator:${creator.id}`}
+                      role="menuitemradio"
+                      aria-checked=${String(params.creatorFilterId === creator.id)}
+                      ${ref((element) =>
+                        syncDropdownItemRadio(element, params.creatorFilterId === creator.id),
+                      )}
+                    >
+                      <span slot="details" class="session-menu__check" aria-hidden="true"
+                        >${params.creatorFilterId === creator.id ? icons.check : nothing}</span
+                      >
+                      ${renderSessionOwnerChip(creator, "row")}
+                      <span class="session-menu__text">${creator.label ?? creator.id}</span>
+                    </wa-dropdown-item>
+                  `,
+                )}
+              `
+            : nothing}
           <div class="session-menu__separator" role="separator"></div>
           <wa-dropdown-item
             class="sidebar-session-sort-menu__item"
diff --git a/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-navigation.ts b/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-navigation.ts
index 6a713b4fd016..6b3fa61599d8 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-navigation.ts
+++ b/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-navigation.ts
@@ -81,11 +81,11 @@ export class AppSidebarSessionNavigationElement extends AppSidebarBase {
     );
   };
 
-  @state() protected sessionCreatorFilterId: string | null = null;
+  @state() sessionCreatorFilterId: string | null = null;
 
-  protected sessionCreatorOptions: readonly SessionCreatorOption[] = [];
+  sessionCreatorOptions: readonly SessionCreatorOption[] = [];
   protected activeSessionCreatorId: string | null = null;
-  protected sessionCreatorFilterActive = false;
+  sessionCreatorFilterActive = false;
   sessionOwnershipVisible = false;
 
   @state() selectedSessionKeys: ReadonlySet<string> = new Set();
diff --git a/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-row-render.ts b/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-row-render.ts
index cfc1e3cf204f..2d8870591d8e 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-row-render.ts
+++ b/ui/src/components/app-sidebar-session-row-render.ts
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ import type { SessionDataController } from "./session-data-controller.ts";
 import { renderSessionLeadingState } from "./session-leading-indicator.ts";
 import type { SessionPullRequestIndicatorState } from "./session-menu-work.ts";
 import type { SessionOrganizerController } from "./session-organizer-controller.ts";
-import { renderSessionOwnerChip } from "./session-owner-chip.ts";
 import { renderSessionRowBadges } from "./session-row-badges.ts";
 import {
   renderSidebarSessionSubtitle,
@@ -72,6 +71,7 @@ export interface SessionListHost {
     | "toggleSessionSortMenu"
   >;
   readonly sessionsStatusFilter: SidebarSessionStatusFilter;
+  readonly sessionCreatorFilterActive: boolean;
   readonly sessionOwnershipVisible: boolean;
   readonly onOpenNewSession?: (agentId: string, target?: NewSessionTarget) => void;
   readonly onNavigate?: (
@@ -149,9 +149,17 @@ export function renderRecentSession(params: {
   const pullRequestState = session.worktreeId
     ? host.sessionPullRequestIndicatorState(session.key, session.worktreeId)
     : "none";
+  const ownerAttribution = host.sessionsStatusFilter === "archived" ? "archived" : "created";
+  const ownerActor = host.sessionOwnershipVisible
+    ? host.sessionsStatusFilter === "archived"
+      ? session.archivedBy
+      : session.createdActor
+    : undefined;
   const { running, pinnedState, leadingIndicator } = renderSessionLeadingState(
     session,
     pullRequestState,
+    ownerActor,
+    ownerAttribution,
   );
   const meta = display?.meta ?? session.meta;
   const rowMeta = session.pinned ? "" : meta;
@@ -228,15 +236,7 @@ export function renderRecentSession(params: {
         aria-describedby=${metaId ?? nothing}
         @click=${(event: MouseEvent) => host.handleSessionRowClick(event, session)}
       >
-        <span class="sidebar-session-indicator">${leadingIndicator}</span>${renderSessionOwnerChip(
-          host.sessionOwnershipVisible
-            ? host.sessionsStatusFilter === "archived"
-              ? session.archivedBy
-              : session.createdActor
-            : undefined,
-          "row",
-          host.sessionsStatusFilter === "archived" ? "archived" : "created",
-        )}
+        <span class="sidebar-session-indicator">${leadingIndicator}</span>
         <span class="sidebar-recent-session__text">
           <span class="sidebar-recent-session__name hover-marquee"
             >${session.archived
diff --git a/ui/src/components/app-sidebar.ts b/ui/src/components/app-sidebar.ts
index d510157694b0..f32b60768921 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/app-sidebar.ts
+++ b/ui/src/components/app-sidebar.ts
@@ -48,7 +48,6 @@ import {
   resolveLobsterRunOutcome,
 } from "./lobster-pet-contract.ts";
 import { SessionOrganizerController } from "./session-organizer-controller.ts";
-import { renderSessionCreatorFilter } from "./session-owner-chip.ts";
 import { SidebarMenusController } from "./sidebar-menus-controller.ts";
 // The shared loader retries transient chunk failures online; a deploy-pruned
 // chunk still stays off until reload when that retry fails, by design.
@@ -328,14 +327,6 @@ class AppSidebar extends AppSidebarSessionNavigationElement implements SessionLi
       showDraft:
         Boolean(this.draftSessionAgentId) &&
         normalizeAgentId(this.draftSessionAgentId) === expandedAgentId,
-      creatorFilter: renderSessionCreatorFilter({
-        creators: this.sessionOwnershipVisible ? this.sessionCreatorOptions : [],
-        selectedId: this.sessionCreatorFilterActive ? this.sessionCreatorFilterId : null,
-        onChange: (creatorId) => {
-          this.sessionCreatorFilterId = creatorId;
-          void this.context?.sessions.setCreatorFilter(creatorId);
-        },
-      }),
       catalogs: {
         catalogs: this.sessionData.sessionCatalogs,
         basePath: this.basePath,
diff --git a/ui/src/components/session-leading-indicator.ts b/ui/src/components/session-leading-indicator.ts
index 97fbdb1d34f7..4f5236089be9 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/session-leading-indicator.ts
+++ b/ui/src/components/session-leading-indicator.ts
@@ -8,10 +8,13 @@ import {
 } from "./session-attention-presentation.ts";
 import { resolveSessionIcon } from "./session-icon-registry.ts";
 import type { SessionPullRequestIndicatorState } from "./session-menu-work.ts";
+import { renderSessionOwnerChip, type SessionCreatedActor } from "./session-owner-chip.ts";
 
 export function renderSessionLeadingState(
   session: SidebarRecentSession,
   pullRequestState: SessionPullRequestIndicatorState,
+  ownerActor: SessionCreatedActor | null | undefined,
+  attribution: "created" | "archived",
 ) {
   const running = session.hasActiveRun || session.status === "running";
   const sessionState = renderSessionState(session);
@@ -38,6 +41,44 @@ export function renderSessionLeadingState(
       >`,
     };
   }
+  if (!session.isChild && ownerActor?.id?.trim()) {
+    const label =
+      pullRequestState === "open"
+        ? t("sessionsView.openPullRequest")
+        : t("chat.pullRequests.merged");
+    return {
+      running,
+      pinnedState,
+      leadingIndicator: html`<span
+        class="sidebar-session-avatar ${running ? "sidebar-session-avatar--running" : ""}"
+      >
+        ${renderSessionOwnerChip(ownerActor, "row", attribution)}
+        ${running
+          ? html`<span
+              class="sidebar-session-avatar__running-ring"
+              role="img"
+              aria-label=${t("sessionsView.activeRun")}
+              title=${t("sessionsView.activeRun")}
+            ></span>`
+          : nothing}
+        ${session.unread
+          ? html`<span
+              class="sidebar-session-avatar__badge sidebar-session-avatar__badge--unread"
+              role="img"
+              aria-label=${t("sessionsView.unread")}
+            ></span>`
+          : pullRequestState !== "none"
+            ? html`<span
+                class="sidebar-session-avatar__badge sidebar-session-pr-indicator--${pullRequestState}"
+                data-session-pr-state=${pullRequestState}
+                role="img"
+                aria-label=${label}
+                title=${label}
+              ></span>`
+            : nothing}
+      </span>`,
+    };
+  }
   if (running) {
     return { running, pinnedState, leadingIndicator: sessionState };
   }
diff --git a/ui/src/components/session-owner-chip.ts b/ui/src/components/session-owner-chip.ts
index 7cf187640d03..9b490973c6bc 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/session-owner-chip.ts
+++ b/ui/src/components/session-owner-chip.ts
@@ -46,30 +46,6 @@ export function renderSessionOwnerChip(
     : nothing;
 }
 
-export function renderSessionCreatorFilter(params: {
-  creators: readonly SessionCreatorOption[];
-  selectedId: string | null;
-  onChange: (creatorId: string | null) => void;
-}) {
-  if (params.creators.length < 2) {
-    return nothing;
-  }
-  return html`<label class="sidebar-session-creator-filter">
-    <span>${t("sessionsView.filterByCreator")}</span>
-    <select
-      aria-label=${t("sessionsView.filterByCreator")}
-      .value=${params.selectedId ?? ""}
-      @change=${(event: Event) =>
-        params.onChange((event.currentTarget as HTMLSelectElement).value || null)}
-    >
-      <option value="">${t("sessionsView.allCreators")}</option>
-      ${params.creators.map(
-        (creator) => html`<option value=${creator.id}>${creator.label ?? creator.id}</option>`,
-      )}
-    </select>
-  </label>`;
-}
-
 function ownerInitials(createdActor: SessionCreatedActor): string {
   const source = createdActor.label?.trim() || createdActor.id?.trim() || "";
   if (!source) {
diff --git a/ui/src/components/sidebar-menus-controller.ts b/ui/src/components/sidebar-menus-controller.ts
index 984bbd9b366d..b85a56b2815a 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/sidebar-menus-controller.ts
+++ b/ui/src/components/sidebar-menus-controller.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import { fetchSessionMenuWork } from "./session-menu-work.ts";
 import type { SessionMenuWork } from "./session-menu.ts";
 import type { SessionOrganizerController } from "./session-organizer-controller.ts";
 import type { SessionOrganizerControllerHost } from "./session-organizer-operations.runtime.ts";
+import type { SessionCreatorOption } from "./session-owner-chip.ts";
 
 type SidebarMenuAgent = {
   id: string;
@@ -76,6 +77,10 @@ interface SidebarMenusControllerHost
     Pick<SessionDataController, "approvalBadgeSnapshot" | "sessionsLoading">;
   readonly sessionDataContext: ApplicationContext<RouteId> | undefined;
   readonly sessionOrganizer: SessionOrganizerController;
+  readonly sessionCreatorFilterActive: boolean;
+  sessionCreatorFilterId: string | null;
+  readonly sessionCreatorOptions: readonly SessionCreatorOption[];
+  readonly sessionOwnershipVisible: boolean;
   readonly sidebarEntries: readonly string[];
   sessionSortMode: SidebarSessionSortMode;
   readonly terminalAvailable: boolean;
diff --git a/ui/src/components/sidebar-menus-render.ts b/ui/src/components/sidebar-menus-render.ts
index 0ecb80800da0..1c2f06195796 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/sidebar-menus-render.ts
+++ b/ui/src/components/sidebar-menus-render.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ import type { SessionDataController } from "./session-data-controller.ts";
 import type { SessionMenuAction, SessionMenuWork } from "./session-menu.ts";
 import type { SessionOrganizerController } from "./session-organizer-controller.ts";
 import type { SessionOrganizerControllerHost } from "./session-organizer-operations.runtime.ts";
+import type { SessionCreatorOption } from "./session-owner-chip.ts";
 
 type SidebarMenuAgent = {
   id: string;
@@ -59,6 +60,10 @@ interface SidebarMenusRenderHost extends ReactiveControllerHost, SessionOrganize
     Pick<SessionDataController, "approvalBadgeSnapshot" | "sessionsLoading">;
   readonly sessionDataContext: ApplicationContext<RouteId> | undefined;
   readonly sessionOrganizer: SessionOrganizerController;
+  readonly sessionCreatorFilterActive: boolean;
+  sessionCreatorFilterId: string | null;
+  readonly sessionCreatorOptions: readonly SessionCreatorOption[];
+  readonly sessionOwnershipVisible: boolean;
   readonly sidebarEntries: readonly string[];
   sessionSortMode: SidebarSessionSortMode;
   readonly themeMode: ThemeMode;
@@ -370,6 +375,8 @@ export function renderSidebarSessionSortMenuForController(
     sortMode: host.sessionSortMode,
     statusFilter: host.sessionsStatusFilter,
     showCron: host.sessionsShowCron,
+    creators: host.sessionOwnershipVisible ? host.sessionCreatorOptions : [],
+    creatorFilterId: host.sessionCreatorFilterActive ? host.sessionCreatorFilterId : null,
     onGroupingChange: (grouping) => {
       host.sessionOrganizer.setSessionsGrouping(grouping);
       controller.closeSessionSortMenu({ restoreFocus: true });
@@ -382,6 +389,11 @@ export function renderSidebarSessionSortMenuForController(
       host.sessionOrganizer.setSessionsStatusFilter(statusFilter);
       controller.closeSessionSortMenu({ restoreFocus: true });
     },
+    onCreatorFilterChange: (creatorId) => {
+      host.sessionCreatorFilterId = creatorId;
+      void host.sessionDataContext?.sessions.setCreatorFilter(creatorId);
+      controller.closeSessionSortMenu({ restoreFocus: true });
+    },
     onShowCronChange: (show) => {
       host.sessionOrganizer.setSessionsShowCron(show);
       controller.closeSessionSortMenu({ restoreFocus: true });
diff --git a/ui/src/e2e/session-ownership.e2e.test.ts b/ui/src/e2e/session-ownership.e2e.test.ts
index 81573189e023..55ff56edf08d 100644
--- a/ui/src/e2e/session-ownership.e2e.test.ts
+++ b/ui/src/e2e/session-ownership.e2e.test.ts
@@ -131,7 +131,17 @@ describeControlUiE2e("Control UI session ownership", () => {
     await currentPage.getByText("Ready.", { exact: true }).waitFor();
     await expect.poll(() => currentPage.locator("openclaw-session-owner-chip").count()).toBe(3);
 
-    await currentPage.getByLabel("Filter by creator").selectOption("profile-ada");
+    await currentPage.locator(".sidebar-session-sort").click();
+    const creatorMenu = currentPage.locator(".sidebar-session-sort-menu");
+    await creatorMenu.locator('[value="creator:profile-ada"]').waitFor();
+    await creatorMenu.evaluate((element) =>
+      element.dispatchEvent(
+        new CustomEvent("wa-select", {
+          bubbles: true,
+          detail: { item: { value: "creator:profile-ada" } },
+        }),
+      ),
+    );
     await currentPage.getByText("Ada research", { exact: true }).first().waitFor();
     await expect
       .poll(() => currentPage.locator('[data-session-key="agent:main:bob"]').count())
@@ -165,7 +175,13 @@ describeControlUiE2e("Control UI session ownership", () => {
     await currentPage.getByText("Bob operations", { exact: true }).first().waitFor();
     await currentPage.locator('[data-session-key="agent:main:ada"] a').click();
     await currentPage.getByText("Ready.", { exact: true }).waitFor();
-    expect(await currentPage.getByLabel("Filter by creator").count()).toBe(0);
+    await currentPage.locator(".sidebar-session-sort").click();
+    const creatorMenu = currentPage.locator(".sidebar-session-sort-menu");
+    await creatorMenu.waitFor();
+    expect(
+      await creatorMenu.locator(".sidebar-session-sort-menu__title", { hasText: "People" }).count(),
+    ).toBe(0);
+    expect(await creatorMenu.locator('[value^="creator:"]').count()).toBe(0);
     expect(await currentPage.locator("openclaw-session-owner-chip").count()).toBe(0);
   });
 
diff --git a/ui/src/i18n/locales/en.ts b/ui/src/i18n/locales/en.ts
index 5673a6cbcece..1ca8fd5a91d0 100644
--- a/ui/src/i18n/locales/en.ts
+++ b/ui/src/i18n/locales/en.ts
@@ -591,7 +591,7 @@ export const en: TranslationMap = {
     filters: "Filters",
     createdBy: "Created by {name}",
     archivedBy: "Archived by {name}",
-    filterByCreator: "Filter by creator",
+    people: "People",
     allCreators: "All people",
     filterControls: "Thread filters",
     sourceFilters: "Thread source filters",
diff --git a/ui/src/styles/components.css b/ui/src/styles/components.css
index a1a09e1880c0..00b27e656da8 100644
--- a/ui/src/styles/components.css
+++ b/ui/src/styles/components.css
@@ -45,24 +45,38 @@ openclaw-session-owner-chip {
   font-size: 10px;
 }
 
-.sidebar-session-creator-filter {
-  display: flex;
-  align-items: center;
-  gap: 8px;
-  padding: 2px 8px 6px;
-  color: var(--muted);
-  font-size: 10px;
+.sidebar-session-avatar {
+  position: relative;
+  display: inline-flex;
+  width: 16px;
+  height: 16px;
+  flex: 0 0 16px;
 }
 
-.sidebar-session-creator-filter select {
-  min-width: 0;
-  flex: 1 1 auto;
-  border: 1px solid var(--border);
-  border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
-  background: var(--bg);
-  color: var(--text);
-  font: inherit;
-  padding: 3px 22px 3px 6px;
+.sidebar-session-avatar__running-ring {
+  position: absolute;
+  inset: -2px;
+  box-sizing: border-box;
+  border: 1.5px solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent) 28%, transparent);
+  border-top-color: var(--accent);
+  border-radius: var(--radius-full);
+  pointer-events: none;
+}
+
+.sidebar-session-avatar__badge {
+  position: absolute;
+  z-index: 1;
+  top: -2px;
+  right: -2px;
+  width: 7px;
+  height: 7px;
+  border-radius: var(--radius-full);
+  background: currentColor;
+  box-shadow: 0 0 0 1.5px var(--bg);
+}
+
+.sidebar-session-avatar__badge--unread {
+  color: var(--accent);
 }
 
 .connect-splash__logo {
@@ -5681,6 +5695,10 @@ td.data-table-key-col {
   border: 1.5px solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent) 28%, transparent);
   border-top-color: var(--accent);
   border-radius: var(--radius-full);
+}
+
+.session-run-spinner,
+.sidebar-session-avatar__running-ring {
   animation: session-run-spin 0.8s linear infinite;
 }
 
@@ -5691,7 +5709,8 @@ td.data-table-key-col {
 }
 
 @media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
-  .session-run-spinner {
+  .session-run-spinner,
+  .sidebar-session-avatar__running-ring {
     animation: none;
     border-color: var(--accent);
   }
diff --git a/ui/src/styles/layout.css b/ui/src/styles/layout.css
index ec7df89cccce..aac28d1acafb 100644
--- a/ui/src/styles/layout.css
+++ b/ui/src/styles/layout.css
@@ -1409,6 +1409,7 @@ html.openclaw-native-macos
 }
 
 .sidebar-session-sort {
+  position: relative;
   display: inline-flex;
   align-items: center;
   justify-content: center;
@@ -1424,6 +1425,18 @@ html.openclaw-native-macos
     color var(--duration-fast) ease;
 }
 
+.sidebar-session-sort--filtered::after {
+  position: absolute;
+  top: 2px;
+  right: 2px;
+  width: 5px;
+  height: 5px;
+  border-radius: var(--radius-full);
+  background: var(--accent);
+  box-shadow: 0 0 0 1.5px var(--bg);
+  content: "";
+}
+
 .sidebar-session-sort:hover,
 .sidebar-session-sort[aria-expanded="true"],
 .sidebar-session-sort[aria-pressed="true"] {
diff --git a/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/session-ownership.ts b/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/session-ownership.ts
index 037bbb2d1d73..d0b914ee6441 100644
--- a/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/session-ownership.ts
+++ b/ui/src/test-helpers/app-sidebar-cases/session-ownership.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,39 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 import type { GatewayBrowserClient } from "../../api/gateway.ts";
-import { createGateway, createSessionsHarness, mountSidebar } from "../app-sidebar.ts";
+import {
+  createGateway,
+  createSessionsHarness,
+  mountSidebar,
+  type SidebarLifecycleState,
+} from "../app-sidebar.ts";
+import { waitForFast } from "../wait-for.ts";
 import "../../components/app-sidebar.ts";
 
+async function openCreatorMenu(sidebar: SidebarLifecycleState): Promise<HTMLElement> {
+  const trigger = sidebar.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>(".sidebar-session-sort");
+  if (!trigger) {
+    throw new Error("expected session sort trigger");
+  }
+  trigger.click();
+  await sidebar.updateComplete;
+  const menu = sidebar.querySelector<HTMLElement>(".sidebar-session-sort-menu");
+  if (!menu) {
+    throw new Error("expected session sort menu");
+  }
+  return menu;
+}
+
+async function selectCreator(sidebar: SidebarLifecycleState, creatorId: string | null) {
+  const menu = await openCreatorMenu(sidebar);
+  menu.dispatchEvent(
+    new CustomEvent("wa-select", {
+      bubbles: true,
+      detail: { item: { value: `creator:${creatorId ?? ""}` } },
+    }),
+  );
+  await sidebar.updateComplete;
+}
+
 describe("AppSidebar session ownership", () => {
   it("uses the complete facet and requests unloaded creators from the Gateway", async () => {
     const gateway = createGateway({} as GatewayBrowserClient);
@@ -28,11 +59,17 @@ describe("AppSidebar session ownership", () => {
     expect(sidebar.sessionData.sessionsResult?.creators).toHaveLength(2);
     expect(sidebar.querySelector('[data-session-key="agent:main:ada"]')).not.toBeNull();
     expect(sidebar.querySelectorAll("openclaw-session-owner-chip")).toHaveLength(1);
-    const select = sidebar.querySelector<HTMLSelectElement>(
-      '.sidebar-session-creator-filter select[aria-label="Filter by creator"]',
+    const menu = await openCreatorMenu(sidebar);
+    expect(menu.textContent).toContain("People");
+    expect(menu.querySelector('[value="creator:"]')).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(menu.querySelector('[value="creator:profile-ada"]')).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(menu.querySelector('[value="creator:profile-bob"]')).not.toBeNull();
+    menu.dispatchEvent(
+      new CustomEvent("wa-select", {
+        bubbles: true,
+        detail: { item: { value: "creator:profile-bob" } },
+      }),
     );
-    select!.value = "profile-bob";
-    select!.dispatchEvent(new Event("change", { bubbles: true }));
     await sidebar.updateComplete;
     expect(harness.setCreatorFilter).toHaveBeenCalledWith("profile-bob");
 
@@ -61,7 +98,13 @@ describe("AppSidebar session ownership", () => {
     harness.publishList({ result, agentId: "main" });
     await sidebar.updateComplete;
 
-    expect(sidebar.querySelector(".sidebar-session-creator-filter")).toBeNull();
+    const menu = await openCreatorMenu(sidebar);
+    expect(
+      [...menu.querySelectorAll(".sidebar-session-sort-menu__title")].some(
+        (title) => title.textContent?.trim() === "People",
+      ),
+    ).toBe(false);
+    expect(menu.querySelector('[value^="creator:"]')).toBeNull();
     expect(sidebar.querySelector("openclaw-session-owner-chip")).toBeNull();
   });
 
@@ -133,20 +176,15 @@ describe("AppSidebar session ownership", () => {
     harness.publishList({ result, agentId: "main" });
     await sidebar.updateComplete;
 
-    const select = sidebar.querySelector<HTMLSelectElement>(
-      '.sidebar-session-creator-filter select[aria-label="Filter by creator"]',
-    );
-    expect(select).not.toBeNull();
     expect(sidebar.querySelectorAll("openclaw-session-owner-chip")).toHaveLength(2);
 
-    select!.value = "profile-ada";
-    select!.dispatchEvent(new Event("change", { bubbles: true }));
-    await sidebar.updateComplete;
+    await selectCreator(sidebar, "profile-ada");
 
     expect(sidebar.querySelector('[data-session-key="agent:main:ada"]')).not.toBeNull();
     expect(sidebar.querySelector('[data-session-key="agent:main:bob"]')).toBeNull();
     expect(sidebar.querySelector('[data-session-section="category:Research"]')).not.toBeNull();
     expect(sidebar.querySelector('[data-session-section="category:Operations"]')).toBeNull();
+    expect(sidebar.querySelector(".sidebar-session-sort--filtered")).not.toBeNull();
   });
 
   it("filters catalog rows by authoritative creator ownership", async () => {
@@ -215,12 +253,7 @@ describe("AppSidebar session ownership", () => {
 
     expect(sidebar.querySelector(`[data-session-key="${backingSessionKey}"]`)).not.toBeNull();
     expect(sidebar.textContent).toContain("External unowned session");
-    const select = sidebar.querySelector<HTMLSelectElement>(
-      '.sidebar-session-creator-filter select[aria-label="Filter by creator"]',
-    );
-    select!.value = "profile-ada";
-    select!.dispatchEvent(new Event("change", { bubbles: true }));
-    await sidebar.updateComplete;
+    await selectCreator(sidebar, "profile-ada");
 
     expect(sidebar.querySelector(`[data-session-key="${backingSessionKey}"]`)).toBeNull();
     expect(sidebar.textContent).not.toContain("External unowned session");
@@ -291,13 +324,108 @@ describe("AppSidebar session ownership", () => {
     harness.publishList({ result, agentId: "main" });
     await sidebar.updateComplete;
 
-    const select = sidebar.querySelector<HTMLSelectElement>(
-      '.sidebar-session-creator-filter select[aria-label="Filter by creator"]',
-    );
-    select!.value = "profile-ada";
-    select!.dispatchEvent(new Event("change", { bubbles: true }));
-    await sidebar.updateComplete;
+    await selectCreator(sidebar, "profile-ada");
 
     expect(sidebar.querySelector(`[data-session-key="${unloadedSessionKey}"]`)).not.toBeNull();
   });
+
+  it("renders unread state as a corner badge on an owner avatar", async () => {
+    const key = "agent:main:unread";
+    const harness = createSessionsHarness("main", ["agent:main:main", key, "agent:main:other"]);
+    const result = harness.sessions.state.result;
+    if (!result) {
+      throw new Error("expected session list");
+    }
+    const unread = result.sessions.find((row) => row.key === key);
+    const other = result.sessions.find((row) => row.key.endsWith(":other"));
+    if (!unread || !other) {
+      throw new Error("expected ownership rows");
+    }
+    unread.createdActor = { type: "human", id: "profile-ada", label: "Ada" };
+    unread.unread = true;
+    other.createdActor = { type: "human", id: "profile-bob", label: "Bob" };
+    result.creators = [
+      { id: "profile-ada", label: "Ada" },
+      { id: "profile-bob", label: "Bob" },
+    ];
+
+    const { sidebar } = await mountSidebar(
+      createGateway({} as GatewayBrowserClient),
+      harness.sessions,
+    );
+    harness.publishList({ result, agentId: "main" });
+    await sidebar.updateComplete;
+
+    const row = sidebar.querySelector(`[data-session-key="${key}"]`);
+    expect(
+      row?.querySelector(".sidebar-session-avatar openclaw-session-owner-chip"),
+    ).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(
+      row?.querySelector('.sidebar-session-avatar__badge[aria-label="Unread"]'),
+    ).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(row?.querySelector(".sidebar-recent-session__unread")).toBeNull();
+    expect(row?.querySelector(".sidebar-session-indicator__dot")).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it("keeps owner avatars off child rows", async () => {
+    const parentKey = "agent:main:parent";
+    const childKey = "agent:main:child";
+    const harness = createSessionsHarness("main", [parentKey]);
+    const result = harness.sessions.state.result;
+    if (!result) {
+      throw new Error("expected session list");
+    }
+    const parentRow = result.sessions[0];
+    if (!parentRow) {
+      throw new Error("expected parent row");
+    }
+    result.sessions[0] = {
+      ...parentRow,
+      key: parentKey,
+      createdActor: { type: "human", id: "profile-ada", label: "Ada" },
+      childSessions: [childKey],
+    };
+    result.creators = [
+      { id: "profile-ada", label: "Ada" },
+      { id: "profile-bob", label: "Bob" },
+    ];
+    harness.list.mockResolvedValue({
+      ts: 2,
+      path: "",
+      count: 1,
+      defaults: { modelProvider: null, model: null, contextTokens: null },
+      sessions: [
+        {
+          key: childKey,
+          spawnedBy: parentKey,
+          kind: "direct",
+          label: "Child task",
+          updatedAt: 2,
+          status: "done",
+          createdActor: { type: "human", id: "profile-bob", label: "Bob" },
+        },
+      ],
+    });
+
+    const { sidebar } = await mountSidebar(
+      createGateway({} as GatewayBrowserClient),
+      harness.sessions,
+    );
+    harness.publishList({ result, agentId: "main" });
+    await sidebar.updateComplete;
+    sidebar.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>(`[data-child-session-toggle="${parentKey}"]`)?.click();
+    await waitForFast(() =>
+      expect(sidebar.querySelector(`[data-session-key="${childKey}"]`)).not.toBeNull(),
+    );
+
+    expect(
+      sidebar.querySelector(`[data-session-key="${parentKey}"] openclaw-session-owner-chip`),
+    ).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(
+      sidebar.querySelector(`[data-session-key="${childKey}"] openclaw-session-owner-chip`),
+    ).toBeNull();
+    expect(
+      sidebar.querySelector(`[data-session-key="${childKey}"] [aria-label="Done"]`),
+    ).not.toBeNull();
+  });
 });