diff --git a/internal/gateway/ui/index.html b/internal/gateway/ui/index.html
index 5036d4b..2bfbfba 100644
--- a/internal/gateway/ui/index.html
+++ b/internal/gateway/ui/index.html
@@ -102,10 +102,17 @@ pre.configbox { background:var(--card2); border:1px solid var(--line); border-ra
 
 /* ---------- dashboard / usage metrics ---------- */
 .kpi-skeletons { grid-column:1 / -1; display:grid; grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(160px,1fr)); gap:12px; }
-.ksk { background:var(--card); border:1px solid var(--line); border-radius:14px; padding:14px 16px; min-height:150px; display:flex; flex-direction:column; gap:12px; }
-.ksk i { display:block; height:12px; border-radius:6px; background:linear-gradient(90deg,var(--card2) 25%,var(--line) 37%,var(--card2) 63%); background-size:400% 100%; animation:shimmer 1.2s infinite; }
-.ksk i:nth-child(1){ width:40%; } .ksk i:nth-child(2){ width:70%; height:22px; } .ksk i:nth-child(3){ width:100%; height:64px; }
+.ksk { background:var(--card); border:1px solid var(--line); border-radius:14px; padding:14px 16px; min-height:186px; display:flex; flex-direction:column; gap:10px; }
+.ksk i { display:block; height:11px; border-radius:6px; background:linear-gradient(90deg,var(--card2) 25%,var(--line) 37%,var(--card2) 63%); background-size:400% 100%; animation:shimmer 1.2s infinite; }
+.ksk i:nth-child(1){ width:38%; align-self:flex-start; } .ksk i:nth-child(2){ width:68%; height:24px; } .ksk i:nth-child(3){ width:100%; height:86px; margin-top:4px; }
 @keyframes shimmer { 0%{background-position:100% 0} 100%{background-position:0 0} }
+/* entry / transition animations */
+@keyframes fadeUp { from{opacity:0;transform:translateY(8px)} to{opacity:1;transform:none} }
+@keyframes fadeIn { from{opacity:0} to{opacity:1} }
+@keyframes tabIn { from{opacity:0;transform:translateY(6px) scale(.995)} to{opacity:1;transform:none} }
+.card { animation:fadeUp .28s ease both; }
+.tab-pane { animation:tabIn .25s ease; }
+.chat-log .chat-empty { animation:fadeIn .3s ease; }
 .kpis { display:grid; grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(160px,1fr)); gap:12px; margin-bottom:18px; }
 .kpi { background:var(--card); border:1px solid var(--line); border-radius:14px; padding:14px 16px; box-shadow:var(--shadow); }
 .kpi .k-hdr { display:flex; align-items:center; justify-content:space-between; gap:8px; margin-bottom:6px; }
@@ -456,12 +463,12 @@ html[data-theme="dark"] .dropzone.dragover, html[data-theme="dark"] .dropzone:ho
   </div>
 </header>
 <main>
-  <div id="tab-status"></div>
-  <div id="tab-chat" class="hidden"></div>
-  <div id="tab-keys" class="hidden"></div>
-  <div id="tab-sort" class="hidden"></div>
-  <div id="tab-sources" class="hidden"></div>
-  <div id="tab-adapters" class="hidden"></div>
+  <div id="tab-status" class="tab-pane"></div>
+  <div id="tab-chat" class="tab-pane hidden"></div>
+  <div id="tab-keys" class="tab-pane hidden"></div>
+  <div id="tab-sort" class="tab-pane hidden"></div>
+  <div id="tab-sources" class="tab-pane hidden"></div>
+  <div id="tab-adapters" class="tab-pane hidden"></div>
 </main>
 <div id="toast"></div>
 <script>
@@ -616,9 +623,14 @@ document.querySelectorAll('nav button').forEach(b => {
 function goTab(name) {
   document.querySelectorAll('nav button').forEach(x => x.classList.toggle('active', x.dataset.tab === name));
   ['status','chat','keys','sort','sources','adapters'].forEach(tn => $('#tab-' + tn).classList.toggle('hidden', tn !== name));
+  const pane = $('#tab-' + name);
+  if (pane) {
+    pane.style.animation = 'none';
+    void pane.offsetHeight; // reflow to restart the CSS transition
+    pane.style.animation = '';
+  }
   lastTab = name; refresh(lastTab);
-}
-applyI18n();
+}applyI18n();
 
 /* ---------- helpers ---------- */
 const $ = s => document.querySelector(s);