diff --git a/migrations/20260725160000_add_last_project/down.sql b/migrations/20260725160000_add_last_project/down.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7f5bfdf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/20260725160000_add_last_project/down.sql
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+ALTER TABLE preferences DROP COLUMN last_project_id;
diff --git a/migrations/20260725160000_add_last_project/up.sql b/migrations/20260725160000_add_last_project/up.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fc6a979
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrations/20260725160000_add_last_project/up.sql
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+ALTER TABLE preferences ADD COLUMN last_project_id INTEGER;
diff --git a/src/app.rs b/src/app.rs
index ef5c7f1..6d29397 100644
--- a/src/app.rs
+++ b/src/app.rs
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ use crate::settings::{
     RuntimePreferences, SpeculativePreferences, SsdPreferences, SteeringPreferences,
     StreamingCacheBudget,
 };
-use iced::widget::{markdown, scrollable};
+use iced::widget::{markdown, scrollable, text_input};
 use iced::{Size, Subscription, Task, keyboard, window};
 use rfd::AsyncFileDialog;
 use std::collections::{HashMap, HashSet, VecDeque};
@@ -208,6 +208,14 @@ impl App {
                         Err(error) => return Self::failed(error, main_window),
                     };
                     let context_limit = preferences.context_tokens.max(0) as u32;
+                    // Reopen on the project we left, with a fresh draft chat.
+                    let last_project = preferences
+                        .last_project_id
+                        .filter(|id| projects.iter().any(|item| item.project.id == *id));
+                    let drafts = last_project
+                        .map(|id| (id, projects::draft_title(&projects, id)))
+                        .into_iter()
+                        .collect();
                     let metrics =
                         Arc::new(Metrics::new(&application_support_path().join("kv-cache")));
                     let metrics_snapshot = metrics.snapshot();
@@ -228,9 +236,9 @@ impl App {
                         preference_draft,
                         preferences_open: false,
                         preference_error: None,
-                        selected_project: None,
+                        selected_project: last_project,
                         selected_session: None,
-                        drafts: HashMap::new(),
+                        drafts,
                         session_menu: None,
                         session_rename: None,
                         expanded_archives: HashSet::new(),
@@ -367,8 +375,7 @@ impl App {
                     return window::gain_focus(id);
                 }
             }
-            Message::WindowOpened(id) =>
-            {
+            Message::WindowOpened(id) => {
                 #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
                 if id == self.main_window && self._native_menu.is_none() {
                     match crate::native_menu::install() {
@@ -379,6 +386,9 @@ impl App {
                         }
                     }
                 }
+                if id == self.main_window && self.selected_project.is_some() {
+                    return focus_composer();
+                }
             }
             Message::WindowClosed(id) => {
                 if id == self.main_window {
@@ -714,7 +724,7 @@ impl App {
                         Some("Stop the active generation before changing sessions.".into());
                     return Task::none();
                 }
-                self.selected_project = Some(project_id);
+                self.remember_project(project_id);
                 self.selected_session = None;
                 self.conversation.clear();
                 self.composer.clear();
@@ -747,6 +757,10 @@ impl App {
                                 let _ = fs::remove_file(session_checkpoint_path(session_id));
                             }
                             self.drafts.remove(&project_id);
+                            if self.preferences.last_project_id == Some(project_id) {
+                                self.preferences.last_project_id = None;
+                                let _ = database.set_last_project(None);
+                            }
                             if self.selected_project == Some(project_id) {
                                 self.selected_project = None;
                                 self.selected_session = None;
@@ -761,7 +775,12 @@ impl App {
                     }
                 }
             }
-            Message::CreateSession(project_id) => self.create_session(project_id),
+            Message::CreateSession(project_id) => {
+                self.create_session(project_id);
+                if self.draft_selected(project_id) {
+                    return focus_composer();
+                }
+            }
             Message::DiscardSession(project_id) => self.discard_session(project_id),
             Message::OpenSessionMenu(session_id) => {
                 self.session_rename = None;
@@ -858,7 +877,7 @@ impl App {
                     Ok(messages) => {
                         self.conversation = messages.into_iter().map(ChatMessage::from).collect();
                         self.composer.clear();
-                        self.selected_project = Some(project_id);
+                        self.remember_project(project_id);
                         self.selected_session = Some(session_id);
                         let (used, limit, tokens_per_second) = saved_context.unwrap_or_default();
                         self.context_used = used.max(0) as u32;
@@ -1067,6 +1086,14 @@ pub(super) fn chat_scroll_id() -> scrollable::Id {
     scrollable::Id::new("chat-transcript")
 }
 
+pub(super) fn composer_id() -> text_input::Id {
+    text_input::Id::new("chat-composer")
+}
+
+fn focus_composer() -> Task<Message> {
+    text_input::focus(composer_id())
+}
+
 fn scroll_chat_to_end() -> Task<Message> {
     scrollable::snap_to(chat_scroll_id(), scrollable::RelativeOffset::END)
 }
diff --git a/src/app/projects.rs b/src/app/projects.rs
index 0bd932e..3d27003 100644
--- a/src/app/projects.rs
+++ b/src/app/projects.rs
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ impl App {
 
         match database.create_project(name, path) {
             Ok(project) => {
-                self.selected_project = Some(project.id);
+                self.remember_project(project.id);
                 self.selected_session = None;
                 self.pending_project_path = None;
                 self.project_name_input.clear();
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ impl App {
         }
         let title = draft_title(&self.projects, project_id);
         self.drafts.entry(project_id).or_insert(title);
-        self.selected_project = Some(project_id);
+        self.remember_project(project_id);
         self.selected_session = None;
         self.conversation.clear();
         self.composer.clear();
@@ -104,12 +104,26 @@ impl App {
             .ok_or_else(|| "The project database is unavailable.".to_owned())?;
         let session = database.create_session(project_id, &title)?;
         self.drafts.remove(&project_id);
-        self.selected_project = Some(project_id);
+        self.remember_project(project_id);
         self.selected_session = Some(session.id);
         self.reload_projects();
         Ok(session.id)
     }
 
+    /// Selects a project and stores it as the one to reopen on the next launch.
+    pub(super) fn remember_project(&mut self, project_id: i32) {
+        self.selected_project = Some(project_id);
+        if self.preferences.last_project_id == Some(project_id) {
+            return;
+        }
+        self.preferences.last_project_id = Some(project_id);
+        if let Some(database) = &mut self.database
+            && let Err(error) = database.set_last_project(Some(project_id))
+        {
+            self.error = Some(error);
+        }
+    }
+
     /// True when the sidebar row for this project's draft is the active chat.
     pub(super) fn draft_selected(&self, project_id: i32) -> bool {
         self.selected_project == Some(project_id) && self.selected_session.is_none()
@@ -125,7 +139,7 @@ impl App {
     }
 }
 
-fn draft_title(projects: &[ProjectWithSessions], project_id: i32) -> String {
+pub(super) fn draft_title(projects: &[ProjectWithSessions], project_id: i32) -> String {
     let stored = projects
         .iter()
         .find(|item| item.project.id == project_id)
diff --git a/src/app/view.rs b/src/app/view.rs
index f7d465c..d62edd0 100644
--- a/src/app/view.rs
+++ b/src/app/view.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ use model_manager::{download_status_bar, format_bytes, format_duration};
 
 use super::{
     ActiveDownload, App, DetailTab, Message, MetricsPoint, ModelDownload, ModelOperation,
-    chat_scroll_id, models_path,
+    chat_scroll_id, composer_id, models_path,
 };
 use crate::database::{ProjectWithSessions, Session, SessionState};
 use crate::model::{
diff --git a/src/app/view/chat.rs b/src/app/view/chat.rs
index 644326a..8ea1267 100644
--- a/src/app/view/chat.rs
+++ b/src/app/view/chat.rs
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ impl App {
                 }
             }
             let composer = text_input("Ask DS4Server anything…", &self.composer)
+                .id(composer_id())
                 .on_input(Message::ComposerChanged)
                 .on_submit(Message::SubmitPrompt)
                 .padding(12)
diff --git a/src/database.rs b/src/database.rs
index af8f998..eaa7c4e 100644
--- a/src/database.rs
+++ b/src/database.rs
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@ pub struct AppPreferences {
     pub endpoint_enabled: bool,
     pub endpoint_cors: bool,
     pub sidebar_collapsed: bool,
+    /// Project the app reopens on. Cleared when that project goes away.
+    pub last_project_id: Option<i32>,
 }
 
 impl Default for AppPreferences {
@@ -98,6 +100,7 @@ impl Default for AppPreferences {
             endpoint_enabled: true,
             endpoint_cors: false,
             sidebar_collapsed: false,
+            last_project_id: None,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -441,6 +444,14 @@ impl Database {
             .map_err(|error| error.to_string())
     }
 
+    pub fn set_last_project(&mut self, project_id: Option<i32>) -> Result<(), String> {
+        diesel::update(preferences::table.find(1))
+            .set(preferences::last_project_id.eq(project_id))
+            .execute(&mut self.connection)
+            .map(|_| ())
+            .map_err(|error| error.to_string())
+    }
+
     #[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
     pub fn update_preferences(
         &mut self,
@@ -851,6 +862,7 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(loaded[0].sessions[0].id, ordinary);
 
         database.set_sidebar_collapsed(true).unwrap();
+        database.set_last_project(Some(project.id)).unwrap();
 
         database.delete_project(project.id).unwrap();
         assert!(database.load_projects().unwrap().is_empty());
@@ -859,6 +871,7 @@ mod tests {
         let mut reopened = Database::open(&path).unwrap();
         let preferences = reopened.load_preferences().unwrap();
         assert!(preferences.sidebar_collapsed);
+        assert_eq!(preferences.last_project_id, Some(project.id));
         assert_eq!(preferences.selected_model, "glm-5.2");
         assert_eq!(preferences.idle_timeout_minutes, 30);
         assert_eq!(preferences.endpoint_port, 4567);
diff --git a/src/schema.rs b/src/schema.rs
index da9e329..5383906 100644
--- a/src/schema.rs
+++ b/src/schema.rs
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ diesel::table! {
         endpoint_enabled -> Bool,
         endpoint_cors -> Bool,
         sidebar_collapsed -> Bool,
+        last_project_id -> Nullable<Integer>,
     }
 }