diff --git a/e2e/app.tauri-mock.spec.ts b/e2e/app.tauri-mock.spec.ts
index e1668f80..95afd641 100644
--- a/e2e/app.tauri-mock.spec.ts
+++ b/e2e/app.tauri-mock.spec.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { expect, type Page, test } from '@playwright/test';
+import { contrastFailures } from './contrast';
 
 declare global {
   interface Window {
@@ -315,107 +316,53 @@ for (const colorScheme of ['dark', 'light'] as const) {
     await expect(page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Copy message' })).toBeVisible();
     await expect(page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Copy reply' })).toBeVisible();
     await page.mouse.move(2, 2);
-    // The palette tests check tokens in isolation; this measures the rendered
-    // page. Every text is made transparent and the viewport captured, so each
-    // text box is compared with the pixels actually behind it, gradients and
-    // layered surfaces included. Every text must meet WCAG AA for normal text
-    // (4.5:1); the app sets none large enough for the 3:1 allowance.
-    const texts = await page.evaluate(() => {
-      const found: { label: string; color: string; opacity: number; box: number[] }[] = [];
-      const seen = new Set<Element>();
-      const walker = document.createTreeWalker(document.body, NodeFilter.SHOW_TEXT);
-      for (let node = walker.nextNode(); node; node = walker.nextNode()) {
-        const element = node.parentElement;
-        if (!element || !node.textContent?.trim() || seen.has(element)) continue;
-        seen.add(element);
-        const style = getComputedStyle(element);
-        if (
-          style.visibility === 'hidden' ||
-          element.closest('[aria-hidden="true"], [inert], .coven-sr-only') ||
-          // Inactive controls are exempt from contrast (WCAG 1.4.3).
-          element.closest(':disabled, [aria-disabled="true"]') ||
-          (element.closest('details:not([open])') && !element.closest('summary'))
-        )
-          continue;
-        const range = document.createRange();
-        range.selectNodeContents(node);
-        const rect = range.getBoundingClientRect();
-        if (rect.width < 2 || rect.height < 2 || rect.bottom <= 0 || rect.top >= innerHeight)
-          continue;
-        let opacity = 1;
-        for (let e: Element | null = element; e; e = e.parentElement)
-          opacity *= Number.parseFloat(getComputedStyle(e).opacity);
-        found.push({
-          label: node.textContent.trim().slice(0, 30),
-          color: style.color,
-          opacity,
-          box: [rect.left, rect.top, rect.width, rect.height],
-        });
-      }
-      return found;
-    });
-    expect(texts.length).toBeGreaterThan(20);
-    const hide = await page.addStyleTag({
-      content:
-        '*, *::placeholder { color: transparent !important; -webkit-text-fill-color: transparent !important; text-shadow: none !important; caret-color: transparent !important; }',
+    expect(await contrastFailures(page)).toEqual([]);
+  });
+}
+
+for (const colorScheme of ['dark', 'light'] as const) {
+  test(`keeps overlays and hover states at WCAG AA contrast (${colorScheme})`, async ({ page }) => {
+    await page.emulateMedia({ colorScheme });
+    await installRuntimeFixture(page);
+    await page.goto('/');
+    const composer = page.getByRole('textbox', { name: 'Message Local familiar' });
+    await expect(composer).toBeEnabled();
+    await composer.fill('hello');
+    await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Send', exact: true }).click();
+    await expect(page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Copy reply' })).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(composer).toBeEnabled();
+    const found: string[] = [];
+    const measure = async (state: string) => {
+      for (const failure of await contrastFailures(page)) found.push(`${state}: ${failure}`);
+    };
+
+    await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Local familiar', exact: true }).hover();
+    await measure('hovered sidebar row');
+    await page.mouse.move(2, 2);
+
+    await page.getByRole('log', { name: 'Messages' }).focus();
+    await page.keyboard.press('Control+f');
+    const find = page.getByRole('searchbox', { name: 'Find in conversation' });
+    await find.fill('hello');
+    await expect(find).toBeVisible();
+    await measure('find bar');
+    await page.keyboard.press('Escape');
+
+    await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Show screen' }).click();
+    await expect(page.locator('#coven-screen-viewer')).toBeVisible();
+    await measure('screen viewer');
+    await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Hide screen' }).click();
+
+    const transfer = await page.evaluateHandle(() => {
+      const data = new DataTransfer();
+      data.items.add(new File(['x'], 'a.md', { type: 'text/markdown' }));
+      return data;
     });
-    const backdrop = (await page.screenshot()).toString('base64');
-    await hide.evaluate((element) => (element as HTMLElement).remove());
-    const failures = await page.evaluate(
-      async ({ image, texts }) => {
-        const picture = new Image();
-        picture.src = `data:image/png;base64,${image}`;
-        await picture.decode();
-        const canvas = document.createElement('canvas');
-        canvas.width = picture.width;
-        canvas.height = picture.height;
-        const context = canvas.getContext('2d', { willReadFrequently: true });
-        if (!context) throw new Error('No 2D context.');
-        context.drawImage(picture, 0, 0);
-        const scale = picture.width / innerWidth;
-        const pixel = (x: number, y: number) =>
-          Array.from(context.getImageData(Math.round(x * scale), Math.round(y * scale), 1, 1).data);
-        const probe = document
-          .createElement('canvas')
-          .getContext('2d', { willReadFrequently: true });
-        if (!probe) throw new Error('No 2D context.');
-        const parse = (color: string): number[] => {
-          probe.clearRect(0, 0, 1, 1);
-          probe.fillStyle = color;
-          probe.fillRect(0, 0, 1, 1);
-          const [r = 0, g = 0, b = 0, a = 255] = probe.getImageData(0, 0, 1, 1).data;
-          return [r, g, b, a / 255];
-        };
-        const luminance = (c: number[]) =>
-          c
-            .slice(0, 3)
-            .map((v) => v / 255)
-            .map((v) => (v <= 0.03928 ? v / 12.92 : ((v + 0.055) / 1.055) ** 2.4))
-            .reduce((sum, v, i) => sum + v * ([0.2126, 0.7152, 0.0722][i] ?? 0), 0);
-        const ratio = (a: number[], b: number[]) => {
-          const [light = 0, dark = 0] = [luminance(a), luminance(b)].sort((x, y) => y - x);
-          return (light + 0.05) / (dark + 0.05);
-        };
-        const found: string[] = [];
-        for (const text of texts) {
-          const [left = 0, top = 0, width = 0, height = 0] = text.box;
-          // The darkest-to-lightest spread of a few points inside the box; the
-          // worst of them is the backdrop the text must stand out from.
-          const points = [0.25, 0.5, 0.75].map((f) => pixel(left + width * f, top + height / 2));
-          const [r, g, b, a] = parse(text.color);
-          let worst = Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY;
-          for (const back of points) {
-            const alpha = (a ?? 1) * text.opacity;
-            const shown = [r, g, b].map((v, i) => (v ?? 0) * alpha + (back[i] ?? 0) * (1 - alpha));
-            worst = Math.min(worst, ratio(shown, back));
-          }
-          if (worst < 4.5) found.push(`${worst.toFixed(2)} "${text.label}"`);
-        }
-        return found;
-      },
-      { image: backdrop, texts },
-    );
-    expect(failures).toEqual([]);
+    await page.locator('main.fr-thread').dispatchEvent('dragenter', { dataTransfer: transfer });
+    await expect(page.locator('.coven-drop-zone')).toBeVisible();
+    await measure('drop overlay');
+
+    expect(found).toEqual([]);
   });
 }
 
diff --git a/e2e/chat-lifecycle.spec.ts b/e2e/chat-lifecycle.spec.ts
index c0ebb22b..be1fb48a 100644
--- a/e2e/chat-lifecycle.spec.ts
+++ b/e2e/chat-lifecycle.spec.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 import { expect, test } from '@playwright/test';
 
+import { contrastFailures } from './contrast';
+
 test.beforeEach(async ({ page }) => {
   await page.addInitScript(() => {
     const session = {
@@ -120,3 +122,35 @@ test('confirms app-local delete and never lists tombstones', async ({ page }) =>
   await archived.check();
   await expect(page.getByText('No archived familiars.')).toBeVisible();
 });
+
+for (const colorScheme of ['dark', 'light'] as const) {
+  test(`keeps the chat actions menu, delete dialog, context picker and mentions at WCAG AA contrast (${colorScheme})`, async ({
+    page,
+  }) => {
+    await page.emulateMedia({ colorScheme });
+    await expect(page.getByRole('textbox', { name: 'Message Lifecycle familiar' })).toBeEnabled();
+    const found: string[] = [];
+    await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Chat actions' }).click();
+    await expect(page.getByRole('menu')).toBeVisible();
+    await page.keyboard.press('ArrowDown');
+    await expect(page.getByRole('menuitem').first()).toBeVisible();
+    for (const failure of await contrastFailures(page)) found.push(`menu: ${failure}`);
+    await page.getByRole('menuitem', { name: 'Delete chat' }).click();
+    const dialog = page.getByRole('dialog', { name: 'Delete chat from this app?' });
+    await expect(dialog).toBeVisible();
+    for (const failure of await contrastFailures(page, { minimum: 3 }))
+      found.push(`dialog: ${failure}`);
+    await dialog.getByRole('button', { name: 'Keep chat' }).click();
+    await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Add context', exact: true }).click();
+    await expect(page.getByRole('listbox', { name: 'Known context' })).toBeVisible();
+    for (const failure of await contrastFailures(page)) found.push(`context picker: ${failure}`);
+    await page.keyboard.press('Escape');
+    const composer = page.getByRole('textbox', { name: 'Message Lifecycle familiar' });
+    await composer.fill('@');
+    await expect(page.getByRole('listbox', { name: 'Context suggestions' })).toBeVisible();
+    for (const failure of await contrastFailures(page))
+      found.push(`mention suggestions: ${failure}`);
+    await composer.fill('');
+    expect(found).toEqual([]);
+  });
+}
diff --git a/e2e/contrast.ts b/e2e/contrast.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5dc36670
--- /dev/null
+++ b/e2e/contrast.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+import { expect, type Page } from '@playwright/test';
+
+/** Every visible text measured against the pixels behind it; failures below 4.5:1. */
+export async function contrastFailures(page: Page, { minimum = 20 } = {}): Promise<string[]> {
+  // The palette tests check tokens in isolation; this measures the rendered
+  // page. Every text is made transparent and the viewport captured, so each
+  // text box is compared with the pixels actually behind it, gradients and
+  // layered surfaces included. Every text must meet WCAG AA for normal text
+  // (4.5:1); the app sets none large enough for the 3:1 allowance.
+  // Let entry transitions settle; a menu measured mid-fade reads as a failure.
+  await page.waitForFunction(() =>
+    document.getAnimations().every((animation) => animation.playState !== 'running'),
+  );
+  const texts = await page.evaluate(() => {
+    // An open modal makes everything outside it inert; only the modal is read.
+    const modal = document.querySelector(':modal');
+    const found: { label: string; color: string; opacity: number; box: number[] }[] = [];
+    const seen = new Set<Element>();
+    const walker = document.createTreeWalker(document.body, NodeFilter.SHOW_TEXT);
+    for (let node = walker.nextNode(); node; node = walker.nextNode()) {
+      const element = node.parentElement;
+      if (!element || !node.textContent?.trim() || seen.has(element)) continue;
+      seen.add(element);
+      const style = getComputedStyle(element);
+      if (
+        style.visibility === 'hidden' ||
+        // aria-hidden text is still seen, so it is measured; inert and
+        // screen-reader-only text is not.
+        element.closest('[inert], .coven-sr-only') ||
+        (modal && !modal.contains(element)) ||
+        // Inactive controls are exempt from contrast (WCAG 1.4.3).
+        element.closest(':disabled, [aria-disabled="true"]') ||
+        (element.closest('details:not([open])') && !element.closest('summary'))
+      )
+        continue;
+      const range = document.createRange();
+      range.selectNodeContents(node);
+      const rect = range.getBoundingClientRect();
+      if (rect.width < 2 || rect.height < 2 || rect.bottom <= 0 || rect.top >= innerHeight)
+        continue;
+      let opacity = 1;
+      for (let e: Element | null = element; e; e = e.parentElement)
+        opacity *= Number.parseFloat(getComputedStyle(e).opacity);
+      found.push({
+        label: node.textContent.trim().slice(0, 30),
+        color: style.color,
+        opacity,
+        box: [rect.left, rect.top, rect.width, rect.height],
+      });
+    }
+    return found;
+  });
+  expect(texts.length).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(minimum);
+  const hide = await page.addStyleTag({
+    content:
+      '*, *::placeholder { color: transparent !important; -webkit-text-fill-color: transparent !important; text-shadow: none !important; caret-color: transparent !important; }',
+  });
+  const backdrop = (await page.screenshot()).toString('base64');
+  await hide.evaluate((element) => (element as HTMLElement).remove());
+  const failures = await page.evaluate(
+    async ({ image, texts }) => {
+      const picture = new Image();
+      picture.src = `data:image/png;base64,${image}`;
+      await picture.decode();
+      const canvas = document.createElement('canvas');
+      canvas.width = picture.width;
+      canvas.height = picture.height;
+      const context = canvas.getContext('2d', { willReadFrequently: true });
+      if (!context) throw new Error('No 2D context.');
+      context.drawImage(picture, 0, 0);
+      const scale = picture.width / innerWidth;
+      const pixel = (x: number, y: number) =>
+        Array.from(context.getImageData(Math.round(x * scale), Math.round(y * scale), 1, 1).data);
+      const probe = document.createElement('canvas').getContext('2d', { willReadFrequently: true });
+      if (!probe) throw new Error('No 2D context.');
+      const parse = (color: string): number[] => {
+        probe.clearRect(0, 0, 1, 1);
+        probe.fillStyle = color;
+        probe.fillRect(0, 0, 1, 1);
+        const [r = 0, g = 0, b = 0, a = 255] = probe.getImageData(0, 0, 1, 1).data;
+        return [r, g, b, a / 255];
+      };
+      const luminance = (c: number[]) =>
+        c
+          .slice(0, 3)
+          .map((v) => v / 255)
+          .map((v) => (v <= 0.03928 ? v / 12.92 : ((v + 0.055) / 1.055) ** 2.4))
+          .reduce((sum, v, i) => sum + v * ([0.2126, 0.7152, 0.0722][i] ?? 0), 0);
+      const ratio = (a: number[], b: number[]) => {
+        const [light = 0, dark = 0] = [luminance(a), luminance(b)].sort((x, y) => y - x);
+        return (light + 0.05) / (dark + 0.05);
+      };
+      const found: string[] = [];
+      for (const text of texts) {
+        const [left = 0, top = 0, width = 0, height = 0] = text.box;
+        // The darkest-to-lightest spread of a few points inside the box; the
+        // worst of them is the backdrop the text must stand out from.
+        const points = [0.25, 0.5, 0.75].map((f) => pixel(left + width * f, top + height / 2));
+        const [r, g, b, a] = parse(text.color);
+        let worst = Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY;
+        for (const back of points) {
+          const alpha = (a ?? 1) * text.opacity;
+          const shown = [r, g, b].map((v, i) => (v ?? 0) * alpha + (back[i] ?? 0) * (1 - alpha));
+          worst = Math.min(worst, ratio(shown, back));
+        }
+        if (worst < 4.5) found.push(`${worst.toFixed(2)} "${text.label}"`);
+      }
+      return found;
+    },
+    { image: backdrop, texts },
+  );
+  return failures;
+}
diff --git a/src/coven/context-picker.css b/src/coven/context-picker.css
index 97e180fd..d068fcb8 100644
--- a/src/coven/context-picker.css
+++ b/src/coven/context-picker.css
@@ -32,6 +32,13 @@
 .chat-context-panel::backdrop {
   background: rgb(0 0 0 / 15%);
 }
+/* The picker is not modal: the page behind stays readable and clickable, so
+   on a light page it is not dimmed below AA. The panel's shadow separates it. */
+@media (prefers-color-scheme: light) {
+  .chat-context-panel::backdrop {
+    background: transparent;
+  }
+}
 /* Older desktop webviews retain the bounded inline picker. */
 .chat-context-panel:not([popover]) {
   position: static;