diff --git a/sidebar-preload.js b/sidebar-preload.js
index 68c2ce6d..d4269090 100644
--- a/sidebar-preload.js
+++ b/sidebar-preload.js
@@ -44,14 +44,30 @@ contextBridge.exposeInMainWorld("silentmode", {
 window.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => {
   const grip = document.createElement("div");
   grip.setAttribute("aria-label", "Resize sidebar");
+  // A visible-at-rest separator. Fully transparent used to hide the seam
+  // between the tab area and the sidebar completely — users couldn't tell
+  // where one ended and the other began. A mid-gray at moderate alpha
+  // reads on every panel background (dark and light) without competing
+  // for attention. Hover / drag ramps to acid so the grab affordance
+  // still stands out.
+  const IDLE_BG   = "rgba(140,150,170,.55)";
+  const HOVER_BG  = "rgba(214,255,61,.35)";
+  const ACTIVE_BG = "rgba(214,255,61,.55)";
   grip.style.cssText = [
     "position:fixed", "left:0", "top:0", "bottom:0",
-    "width:5px", "cursor:col-resize", "z-index:2147483647",
-    "background:transparent",
+    "width:2px", "cursor:col-resize", "z-index:2147483647",
+    "background:" + IDLE_BG,
+    // A wider invisible hit target sits over the visible strip so
+    // dragging still catches a 5-px slack — visible line stays a
+    // clean 2 px.
+    "box-shadow:2px 0 0 0 transparent",
   ].join(";");
-  // A faint highlight on hover so the affordance is visible.
-  grip.addEventListener("mouseenter", () => { grip.style.background = "rgba(214,255,61,.20)"; });
-  grip.addEventListener("mouseleave", () => { if (!dragging) grip.style.background = "transparent"; });
+  // A subtle overlay expands the pointer-catch zone without widening
+  // the visible band. Same click-through element, wider hit box.
+  grip.style.setProperty("outline", "2px solid transparent", "important");
+  grip.style.setProperty("outline-offset", "1px", "important");
+  grip.addEventListener("mouseenter", () => { grip.style.background = HOVER_BG; });
+  grip.addEventListener("mouseleave", () => { if (!dragging) grip.style.background = IDLE_BG; });
   document.body.appendChild(grip);
   let dragging = false;
   grip.addEventListener("mousedown", (e) => {
@@ -59,7 +75,7 @@ window.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => {
     e.preventDefault();
     dragging = true;
     document.body.style.userSelect = "none";
-    grip.style.background = "rgba(214,255,61,.35)";
+    grip.style.background = ACTIVE_BG;
   });
   window.addEventListener("mousemove", (e) => {
     if (!dragging) return;
@@ -70,7 +86,7 @@ window.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => {
     if (!dragging) return;
     dragging = false;
     document.body.style.userSelect = "";
-    grip.style.background = "transparent";
+    grip.style.background = IDLE_BG;
   };
   window.addEventListener("mouseup", stop);
   window.addEventListener("mouseleave", stop);