diff --git a/.changeset/chat-tab-stale-12h-macros-newtab.md b/.changeset/chat-tab-stale-12h-macros-newtab.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..373185428
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/chat-tab-stale-12h-macros-newtab.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"@agent-native/core": patch
+---
+
+Auto-hide sidebar tabs after 12 h of inactivity (previously 4 h, empty-only). Any tab inactive for more than 12 hours is now removed from the sidebar on load and the user is dropped into a fresh tab; older threads remain accessible via History.
diff --git a/packages/core/src/client/MultiTabAssistantChat.tsx b/packages/core/src/client/MultiTabAssistantChat.tsx
index e99e35870..7c7ff6715 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/client/MultiTabAssistantChat.tsx
+++ b/packages/core/src/client/MultiTabAssistantChat.tsx
@@ -1133,17 +1133,13 @@ export function MultiTabAssistantChat({
     const threadIds = new Set(threads.map((t) => t.id));
     const threadMap = new Map(threads.map((t) => [t.id, t]));
 
-    // Auto-close only empty tabs inactive for more than 4 hours. Non-empty
-    // conversations should survive refresh even if they are old; otherwise the
-    // chat appears to disappear even though it still exists in history.
-    const STALE_THRESHOLD_MS = 4 * 60 * 60 * 1000;
+    // Hide tabs that have had no activity for more than 12 hours. Stale tabs
+    // are removed from the sidebar on load but remain accessible via history.
+    const STALE_THRESHOLD_MS = 12 * 60 * 60 * 1000;
     const now = Date.now();
     const isStale = (id: string) => {
       const thread = threadMap.get(id);
-      return thread
-        ? thread.messageCount === 0 &&
-            now - thread.updatedAt > STALE_THRESHOLD_MS
-        : false;
+      return thread ? now - thread.updatedAt > STALE_THRESHOLD_MS : false;
     };
 
     // If the active thread is a sub-agent, switch to its parent or the most recent main thread
@@ -1159,7 +1155,7 @@ export function MultiTabAssistantChat({
     }
 
     setOpenTabIds((prev) => {
-      // Filter out tabs that no longer exist, sub-agent tabs, or stale tabs (>4h inactive)
+      // Filter out tabs that no longer exist, sub-agent tabs, or stale tabs (>12h inactive)
       const valid = prev.filter(
         (id) => threadIds.has(id) && !parentMap[id] && !isStale(id),
       );
diff --git a/templates/macros/app/components/VoiceDictation.tsx b/templates/macros/app/components/VoiceDictation.tsx
index e46719ff6..a3d6d86f9 100644
--- a/templates/macros/app/components/VoiceDictation.tsx
+++ b/templates/macros/app/components/VoiceDictation.tsx
@@ -66,9 +66,10 @@ export function VoiceDictation({ currentDate }: VoiceDictationProps) {
     (text: string) => {
       setState("processing");
       try {
-        // Open the agent sidebar now that the voice message is captured
+        // Open the agent sidebar now that the voice message is captured.
+        // Always open a fresh chat tab so each voice command gets its own thread.
         window.dispatchEvent(new Event("agent-panel:open"));
-        sendToAgent({ message: text, submit: true });
+        sendToAgent({ message: text, submit: true, newTab: true });
         // Timeout fallback: if sidebar is closed or event never fires,
         // don't leave the mic stuck in processing forever
         setTimeout(() => {