diff --git a/src/frontend/web/von_interface/static/js/components/taskPanel.js b/src/frontend/web/von_interface/static/js/components/taskPanel.js
index 603b6dd9..03aa87d0 100644
--- a/src/frontend/web/von_interface/static/js/components/taskPanel.js
+++ b/src/frontend/web/von_interface/static/js/components/taskPanel.js
@@ -30,6 +30,9 @@ let _filterTaskSourceId = 'all';
 let _isGlobalTabMode = false;  // True when rendering into global tasks tab
 let _taskDetailState = {};  // taskId -> detail panel state
 let _selectedTaskId = '';
+let _pendingTaskNavigation = null;
+let _referencedGlobalTaskId = '';
+let _panelReturnFocus = null;
 let _panelTaskIds = null;
 let _panelLoadGeneration = 0;
 let _bulkTaskVisibility = 'exclude';
@@ -182,6 +185,8 @@ function resetTaskPanelScopedState(activeOrganisationConceptId, { actorChanged =
     _taskQueueActivityGeneration += 1;
     stopTaskQueueActivityPolling();
     _taskQueueActivityLoadPromise = null;
+    _pendingTaskNavigation = null;
+    _referencedGlobalTaskId = '';
     _activeOrganisationConceptId = activeOrganisationConceptId;
     _globalTaskLoadGeneration += 1;
     _isLoading = false;
@@ -757,6 +762,20 @@ export function initializeTaskPanel() {
     ensureTaskPanelAuthStatusListener();
     renderTaskGroupFilterControls();
 
+    _panelEl.addEventListener('keydown', (event) => {
+        if (event.key === 'Escape') {
+            event.preventDefault();
+            event.stopPropagation();
+            hideTaskPanel();
+        }
+    });
+    document.addEventListener('pointerdown', (event) => {
+        if (_isVisible && !_panelEl.contains(event.target)
+            && !event.target.closest('#taskPanelToggleBtn')) {
+            hideTaskPanel({ restoreFocus: false });
+        }
+    });
+
     // Set up close button
     const closeBtn = document.getElementById('closeTaskPanel');
     if (closeBtn) {
@@ -823,12 +842,14 @@ export function showTaskPanel(options = {}) {
         _isGlobalTabMode = false;
         syncTaskQueueActivityPolling();
         _taskListEl = document.getElementById('taskList') || _taskListEl;
+        if (!_isVisible) _panelReturnFocus = document.activeElement;
         _panelEl.classList.remove('hidden');
         _panelEl.setAttribute('aria-hidden', 'false');
         _panelEl.querySelectorAll('.task-create-form, .task-filter-row').forEach(element => {
             element.classList.toggle('hidden', _panelTaskIds !== null);
         });
         _isVisible = true;
+        document.getElementById('closeTaskPanel')?.focus();
         // Auto-refresh tasks when panel becomes visible
         return refreshTasks();
     }
@@ -870,11 +891,12 @@ async function loadReferencedPanelTasks() {
 /**
  * Hide the task panel.
  */
-export function hideTaskPanel() {
+export function hideTaskPanel({ restoreFocus = true } = {}) {
     if (_panelEl) {
         _panelEl.classList.add('hidden');
         _panelEl.setAttribute('aria-hidden', 'true');
         _isVisible = false;
+        if (restoreFocus && _panelReturnFocus?.isConnected) _panelReturnFocus.focus();
     }
 }
 
@@ -909,6 +931,7 @@ async function openGlobalTasks() {
     _tasks = [];
     _taskDetailState = {};
     _selectedTaskId = '';
+    _referencedGlobalTaskId = '';
     ensureTaskPanelOrganisationSwitchListener();
     ensureTaskPanelAuthStatusListener();
     ensureTaskQueueActivityPollingListeners();
@@ -939,6 +962,17 @@ async function openGlobalTasks() {
         loadGlobalTasks({ telemetry }),
         loadTaskQueueActivity(),
     ]);
+    if (_pendingTaskNavigation) {
+        const task = _pendingTaskNavigation;
+        _pendingTaskNavigation = null;
+        const taskId = getTaskId(task);
+        if (!_tasks.some(item => getTaskId(item) === taskId)) _tasks.push(task);
+        _referencedGlobalTaskId = taskId;
+        await selectTask(taskId);
+        const inspector = _globalTasksContainer.querySelector('#globalTaskInspector');
+        inspector?.setAttribute('tabindex', '-1');
+        inspector?.focus();
+    }
     syncTaskQueueActivityPolling();
 }
 
@@ -1508,6 +1542,7 @@ function getFilteredTasks() {
     // Exact references remain reachable regardless of saved list filters.
     if (!_isGlobalTabMode && _panelTaskIds !== null) return _tasks;
     return _tasks.filter((task) => {
+        if (_isGlobalTabMode && getTaskId(task) === _referencedGlobalTaskId) return true;
         if (!taskMatchesGlobalScope(task)) {
             return false;
         }
@@ -3440,9 +3475,10 @@ function renderTaskItem(task) {
                 <div class="task-actions">
                     ${renderTaskExecuteWithVonButton(task)}
                     ${renderTaskDiscussButton(task)}
-                    <button class="task-detail-toggle-btn" data-task-id="${taskId}" title="${_isGlobalTabMode ? 'Inspect task details' : 'Show task details'}">
-                        ${_isGlobalTabMode ? 'Inspect' : (detailState.expanded ? 'Hide details' : 'Details')}
+                    <button type="button" class="task-detail-toggle-btn" data-task-id="${taskId}" ${!_isGlobalTabMode ? `aria-expanded="${detailState.expanded}"` : ''} title="${_isGlobalTabMode ? 'Inspect task details' : (detailState.expanded ? 'Hide task details' : 'Show task details')}">
+                        ${_isGlobalTabMode ? 'Inspect' : (detailState.expanded ? 'Hide details' : 'Show details')}
                     </button>
+                    ${!_isGlobalTabMode ? `<button type="button" class="task-open-in-tab-btn btn-mini" data-task-id="${taskId}">Open in Tasks</button>` : ''}
                     <select class="task-status-select" data-task-id="${taskId}" title="Change status">
                         ${TASK_STATUS_OPTIONS.map(opt => `
                             <option value="${opt.value}" ${task.status === opt.value ? 'selected' : ''}>
@@ -3739,6 +3775,18 @@ function attachTaskEventListeners() {
             });
         });
 
+        root.querySelectorAll('.task-open-in-tab-btn').forEach((button) => {
+            button.addEventListener('click', (event) => {
+                event.stopPropagation();
+                const task = _tasks.find(item => getTaskId(item) === button.dataset.taskId);
+                if (!task) return;
+                _pendingTaskNavigation = task;
+                hideTaskPanel({ restoreFocus: false });
+                activateTab('globalTasksTab');
+                void showGlobalTasks();
+            });
+        });
+
         root.querySelectorAll('.task-detail-toggle-btn').forEach((btn) => {
             btn.addEventListener('click', async (e) => {
                 e.stopPropagation();
@@ -3748,6 +3796,8 @@ function attachTaskEventListeners() {
                     await selectTask(taskId);
                 } else {
                     await toggleTaskDetails(taskId);
+                    Array.from(_panelEl.querySelectorAll('.task-detail-toggle-btn'))
+                        .find(button => button.dataset.taskId === taskId)?.focus();
                 }
             });
         });
diff --git a/src/frontend/web/von_interface/static/styles.css b/src/frontend/web/von_interface/static/styles.css
index 7c4cdf57..b044815d 100644
--- a/src/frontend/web/von_interface/static/styles.css
+++ b/src/frontend/web/von_interface/static/styles.css
@@ -1371,8 +1371,23 @@ body.von-signed-out {
 
 .task-panel {
     width: 480px;
-    max-width: 95vw;
-    max-height: 80vh;
+    box-sizing: border-box;
+    right: min(20px, 2vw);
+    max-width: 96vw;
+    height: min(720px, calc(100dvh - 90px));
+    max-height: calc(100dvh - 90px);
+}
+
+.task-panel .llm-popup-header {
+    flex-shrink: 0;
+}
+
+.task-panel .task-item,
+.task-panel .task-actions,
+.task-panel .task-detail-panel {
+    min-width: 0;
+    max-width: 100%;
+    overflow-wrap: anywhere;
 }
 
 .task-panel .llm-popup-body {
@@ -1380,8 +1395,9 @@ body.von-signed-out {
     flex-direction: column;
     gap: 12px;
     padding: 12px;
-    max-height: 70vh;
+    min-height: 0;
     overflow-y: auto;
+    scrollbar-gutter: stable;
 }
 
 .task-panel-header-actions {
diff --git a/src/frontend/web/von_interface/templates/chat_tab.html b/src/frontend/web/von_interface/templates/chat_tab.html
index 6af28542..70848e3f 100644
--- a/src/frontend/web/von_interface/templates/chat_tab.html
+++ b/src/frontend/web/von_interface/templates/chat_tab.html
@@ -367,12 +367,12 @@ <h4>Workflow Discovery</h4>
   </div>
 
   <!-- Task Panel (JVNAUTOSCI-1040) -->
-  <div id="taskPanel" class="llm-popup hidden task-panel" aria-hidden="true">
+  <div id="taskPanel" class="llm-popup hidden task-panel" role="dialog" aria-label="Tasks" aria-hidden="true">
     <div class="llm-popup-header">
       <span>Tasks</span>
       <div class="task-panel-header-actions">
-        <button id="refreshTasksBtn" class="btn-mini" title="Refresh tasks">🔄</button>
-        <button id="closeTaskPanel" class="btn-mini" title="Close">✕</button>
+        <button id="refreshTasksBtn" type="button" class="btn-mini" title="Refresh tasks" aria-label="Refresh tasks">Refresh</button>
+        <button id="closeTaskPanel" type="button" class="btn-mini" title="Close Tasks popup" aria-label="Close Tasks popup">Close</button>
       </div>
     </div>
     <div class="llm-popup-body">
diff --git a/tests/browser/taskPopupControls.cjs b/tests/browser/taskPopupControls.cjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fb58af00
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/browser/taskPopupControls.cjs
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+/** Tier 1 fixture: candidate task component, template and CSS; synthetic read-only tasks. */
+const { chromium, expect } = require('@playwright/test');
+const http = require('node:http');
+const fs = require('node:fs');
+const path = require('node:path');
+const assert = require('node:assert/strict');
+const root = path.resolve('src/frontend/web/von_interface/static');
+const output = path.resolve(process.argv[2] || '.run/task-popup-controls');
+const task = { task_concept_id: '#V#popup_fixture', title: 'Completed research task with a long title', description: 'long_unbroken_research_reference_'.repeat(12), status: 'completed', priority: 'medium' };
+const template = fs.readFileSync('src/frontend/web/von_interface/templates/chat_tab.html', 'utf8');
+const popup = template.slice(template.indexOf('  <div id="taskPanel"'), template.indexOf('  <div id="taskPanel"') + template.slice(template.indexOf('  <div id="taskPanel"')).indexOf('\n  </div>') + 9);
+const stubs = {
+    '/js/workflowStudioAccess.js': 'export const canUseWorkflowStudio=()=>false; export const setupWorkflowStudioAccess=()=>{}; ',
+    '/js/conceptTab.js': 'export const fetchConceptList=()=>{}; export const initializeConceptTab=()=>{}; export const updateConceptTabUI=()=>{};',
+    '/js/dynamicTabs.js': 'export const initializeDynamicTabs=()=>{}; export const loadDynamicConceptTabContent=()=>{};',
+    '/js/importExportTab.js': 'export const initializeImportExportTab=()=>{};',
+    '/js/vontology.js': 'export const initializeVontologyTab=()=>{};',
+
+    '/js/apiService.js': `export const getWindowSessionId=()=> 'fixture'; export const WINDOW_SESSION_HEADER='X-Von-Window-Session'; export const ensureUniqueWindowSessionId=async()=> 'fixture'; export const getUserContext=()=>({user_id:'#V#fixture',org_id:'#V#fixture_org'}); export const getJson=async url=>(await fetch(url)).json(); export const getJsonDetailed=async url=>({data:await getJson(url)}); export const postJson=()=>{throw Error('Unexpected write')}; export const patchJson=postJson; export const deleteJson=postJson;`,
+    '/js/utils/toast.js': 'export const showToast=()=>{};',
+    '/js/markdownUtils.js': 'export const renderMarkdownViaServer=async()=>"";',
+};
+const server = http.createServer((req, res) => {
+    const url = new URL(req.url, 'http://localhost');
+    if (url.pathname === '/') {
+        res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'text/html');
+        res.end(`<!doctype html><html><head><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><link rel="stylesheet" href="/styles.css"></head><body><button id="opener">Task reference</button><button id="outside">Outside</button>${popup}<button class="tab-button" data-tab="globalTasksTab">Tasks</button><div id="globalTasksTab" class="tab-content"><div id="globalTasksContainer"></div></div><script type="module">import {openTaskInPanel} from '/js/components/taskPanel.js'; document.querySelector('#opener').onclick=()=>openTaskInPanel('#V#popup_fixture');</script></body></html>`);
+    } else if (stubs[url.pathname]) {
+        res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'text/javascript'); res.end(stubs[url.pathname]);
+    } else if (url.pathname.startsWith('/api/')) {
+        res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'application/json');
+        res.end(JSON.stringify(decodeURIComponent(url.pathname) === '/api/tasks/#V#popup_fixture' ? task : url.pathname === '/api/tasks/' ? { tasks: [] } : {}));
+    } else {
+        const file = path.join(root, url.pathname);
+        if (!file.startsWith(root + '/') || !fs.existsSync(file)) { res.statusCode = 404; res.end(); return; }
+        res.setHeader('Content-Type', file.endsWith('.css') ? 'text/css' : 'text/javascript');
+        res.end(fs.readFileSync(file));
+    }
+});
+(async () => {
+    fs.mkdirSync(output, { recursive: true });
+    await new Promise(resolve => server.listen(0, '127.0.0.1', resolve));
+    let browser;
+    const measurements = [];
+    try {
+        browser = await chromium.launch();
+        const page = await browser.newPage();
+        const errors = []; page.on('pageerror', error => { errors.push(error.message); console.error(error.message); });
+        for (const viewport of [{ width: 1440, height: 900 }, { width: 390, height: 844 }, { width: 320, height: 568 }]) {
+            await page.setViewportSize(viewport);
+            await page.goto(`http://127.0.0.1:${server.address().port}/`);
+            await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Task reference', exact: true }).click();
+            const panel = page.getByRole('dialog', { name: 'Tasks', exact: true });
+            await expect(panel.locator('.task-detail-toggle-btn')).toHaveAttribute('aria-expanded', 'true');
+            const before = await panel.boundingBox();
+            await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Hide details', exact: true }).click();
+            const details = page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Show details', exact: true });
+            await expect(details).toHaveAttribute('aria-expanded', 'false');
+            await expect(details).toBeFocused();
+            const after = await panel.boundingBox();
+            assert(Math.abs(before.height - after.height) < 1 && Math.abs(before.width - after.width) < 1, 'details do not resize popup');
+            const overflow = await panel.evaluate(el => el.scrollWidth - el.clientWidth);
+            const bodyOverflow = await panel.locator('.llm-popup-body').evaluate(el => el.scrollWidth - el.clientWidth);
+            assert(before.x >= 0 && before.x + before.width <= viewport.width + 1 && before.y + before.height <= viewport.height, 'popup stays inside viewport');
+            assert(overflow <= 1 && bodyOverflow <= 1, 'no horizontal clipping');
+            await details.press('Enter');
+            await expect(panel.locator('.task-detail-toggle-btn')).toHaveAttribute('aria-expanded', 'true');
+            await expect(panel.locator('.task-detail-loading')).toHaveCount(0);
+            await expect(panel.locator('.task-detail-toggle-btn')).toBeFocused();
+            await page.screenshot({ path: path.join(output, `popup-${viewport.width}.png`) });
+            await page.keyboard.press('Escape');
+            await expect(panel).toBeHidden();
+            await expect(page.locator('#opener')).toBeFocused();
+            await page.locator('#opener').click();
+            await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Close Tasks popup' }).press('Space');
+            await expect(panel).toBeHidden();
+            await page.locator('#opener').click();
+            await page.locator('#outside').click();
+            await expect(panel).toBeHidden();
+            await page.locator('#opener').click();
+            await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Open in Tasks', exact: true }).press('Enter');
+            await expect(panel).toBeHidden();
+            await expect(page.locator('#globalTaskInspector')).toContainText(task.title);
+            await expect(page.locator('#globalTaskInspector')).toBeFocused();
+            assert.equal(await page.evaluate(() => location.hash), '#globalTasksTab');
+            measurements.push({ viewport, before, after, overflow, bodyOverflow });
+        }
+        assert.deepEqual(errors, []);
+        fs.writeFileSync(path.join(output, 'measurements.json'), JSON.stringify(measurements, null, 2));
+        console.log(JSON.stringify(measurements));
+    } finally { await browser?.close(); server.close(); }
+})().catch(error => { console.error(error); process.exitCode = 1; });
diff --git a/tests/frontend/taskPanelReference.test.js b/tests/frontend/taskPanelReference.test.js
index 8298011e..91fbceaa 100644
--- a/tests/frontend/taskPanelReference.test.js
+++ b/tests/frontend/taskPanelReference.test.js
@@ -33,3 +33,51 @@ test('an older task response cannot replace the most recently selected task', as
     expect(document.getElementById('taskList').textContent).toContain('Latest selected task');
     expect(document.getElementById('taskList').textContent).not.toContain('Earlier task');
 });
+
+test('popup exposes explicit close, keyboard dismissal, outside dismissal and detail state', async () => {
+    document.body.innerHTML = '<button id="opener">Task reference</button><button id="outside">Outside</button><div id="taskPanel" class="hidden"><button id="closeTaskPanel">Close</button><div id="taskList"></div></div>';
+    const { getJson } = require(base + 'apiService.js');
+    getJson.mockImplementation(async url => url === '/api/tasks/%23V%23exact_task' ? { task_concept_id: '#V#exact_task', title: 'Exact task', status: 'completed' } : {});
+    const panel = require(base + 'components/taskPanel.js');
+    const opener = document.getElementById('opener');
+    opener.focus();
+    await panel.openTaskInPanel('#V#exact_task');
+    expect(document.activeElement.id).toBe('closeTaskPanel');
+    const details = document.querySelector('.task-detail-toggle-btn');
+    expect(details.textContent.trim()).toBe('Hide details');
+    expect(details.getAttribute('aria-expanded')).toBe('true');
+    details.click();
+    await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 0));
+    expect(document.querySelector('.task-detail-toggle-btn').getAttribute('aria-expanded')).toBe('false');
+    expect(document.activeElement.classList.contains('task-detail-toggle-btn')).toBe(true);
+    document.activeElement.dispatchEvent(new KeyboardEvent('keydown', { key: 'Escape', bubbles: true }));
+    expect(document.getElementById('taskPanel').getAttribute('aria-hidden')).toBe('true');
+    expect(document.activeElement).toBe(opener);
+    await panel.openTaskInPanel('#V#exact_task');
+    document.getElementById('outside').dispatchEvent(new Event('pointerdown', { bubbles: true }));
+    expect(document.getElementById('taskPanel').classList.contains('hidden')).toBe(true);
+    await panel.openTaskInPanel('#V#exact_task');
+    document.getElementById('closeTaskPanel').click();
+    expect(document.getElementById('taskPanel').classList.contains('hidden')).toBe(true);
+});
+
+test('Open in Tasks closes the popup and selects the exact task beyond the first page and saved filters', async () => {
+    document.body.innerHTML = '<div id="taskPanel" class="hidden"><button id="closeTaskPanel">Close</button><select id="taskStatusFilter"><option value="pending">Pending</option></select><div id="taskList"></div></div><div id="globalTasksContainer"></div>';
+    const { getJson } = require(base + 'apiService.js');
+    getJson.mockImplementation(async url => {
+        if (url === '/api/tasks/%23V%23exact_task') return { task_concept_id: '#V#exact_task', title: 'Exact completed task', status: 'completed' };
+        if (url.includes('limit=50')) return { tasks: [{ task_concept_id: '#V#other', title: 'Other task', status: 'pending' }] };
+        return {};
+    });
+    const panel = require(base + 'components/taskPanel.js');
+    await panel.openTaskInPanel('#V#exact_task');
+    document.getElementById('taskStatusFilter').dispatchEvent(new Event('change'));
+    document.querySelector('.task-open-in-tab-btn').click();
+    expect(document.getElementById('taskPanel').classList.contains('hidden')).toBe(true);
+    expect(require(base + 'tabNavigation.js').activateTab).toHaveBeenCalledWith('globalTasksTab');
+    await panel.showGlobalTasks();
+    expect(document.querySelector('#globalTaskInspector').textContent).toContain('Exact completed task');
+    expect(document.querySelector('.task-item.is-selected').dataset.taskId).toBe('#V#exact_task');
+    expect(document.getElementById('globalTaskStatusFilter').value).toBe('pending');
+    expect(document.activeElement.id).toBe('globalTaskInspector');
+});