diff --git a/neode-ui/src/components/LightningChannelsPanel.vue b/neode-ui/src/components/LightningChannelsPanel.vue
index 7adb8057..fe1caf0b 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/components/LightningChannelsPanel.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/components/LightningChannelsPanel.vue
@@ -258,13 +258,11 @@
 
 <script setup lang="ts">
 import { ref, onMounted } from 'vue'
-import { useRouter } from 'vue-router'
 import { rpcClient } from '@/api/rpc-client'
+import { useAppLauncherStore } from '@/stores/appLauncher'
 
 defineProps<{ compact?: boolean }>()
 
-const router = useRouter()
-
 interface Channel {
   chan_id: string
   remote_pubkey: string
@@ -321,7 +319,8 @@ function fundingTxid(ch: Channel): string {
 
 function openInMempool(txid: string) {
   if (!txid) return
-  router.push({ name: 'app-session', params: { appId: 'mempool' }, query: { path: `/tx/${txid}` } })
+  // Overlay the explorer above the current page — never navigate away.
+  useAppLauncherStore().openSession('mempool', { path: `/tx/${txid}` })
 }
 
 function capacityPercent(amount: number, capacity: number): number {
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/components/TransactionsModal.vue b/neode-ui/src/components/TransactionsModal.vue
index cd4c370c..8d174364 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/components/TransactionsModal.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/components/TransactionsModal.vue
@@ -75,9 +75,9 @@
 </template>
 
 <script setup lang="ts">
-import { useRouter } from 'vue-router'
 import { useI18n } from 'vue-i18n'
 import BaseModal from '@/components/BaseModal.vue'
+import { useAppLauncherStore } from '@/stores/appLauncher'
 
 interface WalletTransaction {
   tx_hash: string
@@ -100,7 +100,6 @@ defineProps<{
 
 const emit = defineEmits<{ close: [] }>()
 const { t } = useI18n()
-const router = useRouter()
 
 function close() {
   emit('close')
@@ -120,7 +119,8 @@ function kindLabel(tx: WalletTransaction): string {
 
 function openInMempool(tx: WalletTransaction) {
   if (!isOnchain(tx)) return
-  router.push({ name: 'app-session', params: { appId: 'mempool' }, query: { path: `/tx/${tx.tx_hash}` } })
+  // Overlay the explorer above the current page — never navigate away.
+  useAppLauncherStore().openSession('mempool', { path: `/tx/${tx.tx_hash}` })
 }
 
 function formatTxTime(timestamp: number): string {
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/stores/appLauncher.ts b/neode-ui/src/stores/appLauncher.ts
index 68f3f43b..42c96d9f 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/stores/appLauncher.ts
+++ b/neode-ui/src/stores/appLauncher.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
 import { defineStore } from 'pinia'
 import { ref, watch } from 'vue'
 import { rpcClient } from '@/api/rpc-client'
-import router from '@/router'
 import { recordAppLaunch } from '@/utils/appUsage'
 import { requestExternalOpen } from '@/api/remote-relay'
 import { openInAppOrNewTab } from '@/utils/openExternal'
-import { IS_DEMO, isDemoExternal, demoAppUrl } from '@/composables/useDemoIntro'
+import { IS_DEMO, isDemoApp, isDemoExternal, demoAppUrl } from '@/composables/useDemoIntro'
 
 /**
  * Open a URL in a new browser tab — but if a companion (phone) is currently
@@ -209,25 +208,17 @@ export const useAppLauncherStore = defineStore('appLauncher', () => {
   const showConsent = ref(false)
   let previousActiveElement: HTMLElement | null = null
 
-  /** Active app in panel mode (store-based, no route change) */
+  /** Active app in the store-driven session (no route change) */
   const panelAppId = ref<string | null>(null)
+  /** Optional deep-link path inside the active app (e.g. /tx/<hash> for mempool) */
+  const panelPath = ref<string | null>(null)
 
-  /** Open app in session view — panel mode uses store, overlay/fullscreen uses route */
-  function dashboardReturnPath(): string {
-    const current = router.currentRoute?.value
-    if (!current) return '/dashboard/apps'
-    const fullPath = current.fullPath || '/dashboard/apps'
-    if (!fullPath.startsWith('/dashboard') || current.name === 'app-session') return '/dashboard/apps'
-    return fullPath
-  }
-
-  function openSession(appId: string) {
+  function openSession(appId: string, opts: { path?: string } = {}) {
     recordAppLaunch(appId)
     const mobile = isMobileViewport()
 
-    // Demo: apps backed by a real external site that blocks iframing
-    // (mempool.space) open externally; everything else demoable renders in the
-    // in-app session.
+    // Demo: apps backed by a real external site that blocks iframing open
+    // externally; everything else demoable renders in the in-app session.
     if (IS_DEMO && isDemoExternal(appId)) {
       const ext = demoAppUrl(appId)
       if (ext) {
@@ -239,7 +230,9 @@ export const useAppLauncherStore = defineStore('appLauncher', () => {
     // Tab-only apps (set X-Frame-Options, can't be iframed). No interstitial:
     // desktop opens a new browser tab; mobile opens the in-app WebView (Android
     // companion) or a new browser tab (PWA) — see openInAppOrNewTab.
-    if (NEW_TAB_APP_IDS.has(appId)) {
+    // In the demo, demoable apps are served same-origin by the mock backend
+    // (no framing headers), so they always render in the in-app session.
+    if (NEW_TAB_APP_IDS.has(appId) && !(IS_DEMO && isDemoApp(appId))) {
       const launchUrl = directAppUrl(appId)
       if (launchUrl) {
         if (mobile) openInAppOrNewTab(launchUrl)
@@ -248,21 +241,17 @@ export const useAppLauncherStore = defineStore('appLauncher', () => {
       }
     }
 
-    // Iframeable apps. Mobile and desktop-panel mode both use the store-driven
-    // panel so the underlying page/tab never changes (no background swap) and
-    // closing returns the user to wherever they launched from. Only desktop
-    // overlay/fullscreen modes use a routed session.
-    const mode = localStorage.getItem(DISPLAY_MODE_KEY) || 'panel'
-    if (mobile || mode === 'panel') {
-      panelAppId.value = appId
-    } else {
-      panelAppId.value = null
-      router.push({ name: 'app-session', params: { appId }, query: { returnTo: dashboardReturnPath() } })
-    }
+    // Iframeable apps always use the store-driven session so the underlying
+    // page never changes: panel mode renders beside the page, overlay and
+    // fullscreen modes render above it (AppSession styles per display mode).
+    // Closing always returns the user exactly where they launched from.
+    panelPath.value = opts.path ?? null
+    panelAppId.value = appId
   }
 
   function closePanel() {
     panelAppId.value = null
+    panelPath.value = null
   }
 
   /** Legacy: open app in iframe overlay (kept for backward compat) */
@@ -299,9 +288,20 @@ export const useAppLauncherStore = defineStore('appLauncher', () => {
       return
     }
 
-    // Route to full-page session if we can resolve an app ID from the URL
+    // Open the in-app session if we can resolve an app ID from the URL,
+    // carrying through any deep-link path (e.g. /tx/<hash>).
     if (resolvedId) {
-      openSession(resolvedId)
+      let deepPath: string | undefined
+      try {
+        const u = new URL(launchUrl, window.location.origin)
+        let p = `${u.pathname}${u.search}${u.hash}`
+        // /app/<id>/-style URLs carry the mount prefix — strip it so only the
+        // app-internal path is treated as the deep link.
+        const prefix = `/app/${resolvedId}`
+        if (p.startsWith(prefix)) p = p.slice(prefix.length) || '/'
+        if (p && p !== '/') deepPath = p
+      } catch { /* no deep link */ }
+      openSession(resolvedId, { path: deepPath })
       return
     }
 
@@ -517,6 +517,7 @@ export const useAppLauncherStore = defineStore('appLauncher', () => {
     close,
     closePanel,
     panelAppId,
+    panelPath,
     showConsent,
     consentRequest,
     approveConsent,
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/AppSession.vue b/neode-ui/src/views/AppSession.vue
index 2535398e..44acd43b 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/AppSession.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/AppSession.vue
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <template>
   <div class="app-session-root">
-  <Teleport to="body" :disabled="isInlinePanel && !isMobile">
+  <Teleport to="body" :disabled="inlinePanelMode">
   <div
     :class="backdropClasses"
     @click.self="handleBackdropClick"
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@
 </template>
 
 <script setup lang="ts">
-import { ref, computed, onMounted, onBeforeUnmount, watch } from 'vue'
+import { ref, computed, nextTick, onMounted, onBeforeUnmount, watch } from 'vue'
 import { useRoute, useRouter } from 'vue-router'
 import { useAppLauncherStore } from '@/stores/appLauncher'
 import { useAppStore } from '@/stores/app'
@@ -110,10 +110,12 @@ import { useAppIdentity } from './appSession/useAppIdentity'
 import { useNostrBridge } from './appSession/useNostrBridge'
 import { openExternalUrl, openInAppOrNewTab } from '@/utils/openExternal'
 import { useElectrsSync } from '@/composables/useElectrsSync'
-import { IS_DEMO, isDemoExternal } from '@/composables/useDemoIntro'
+import { IS_DEMO, isDemoApp, isDemoExternal } from '@/composables/useDemoIntro'
 
 const props = defineProps<{
   appIdProp?: string
+  /** Deep-link path inside the app (store-driven sessions), e.g. /tx/<hash> */
+  pathProp?: string
 }>()
 
 const emit = defineEmits<{
@@ -167,10 +169,12 @@ const blockedTitle = computed(() => appId.value === 'fedimint' || appId.value ==
 // viewport (and match the CSS `md` breakpoint) instead of a stale one-shot read.
 const isMobile = ref(typeof window !== 'undefined' && window.innerWidth < 768)
 function updateIsMobile() { isMobile.value = window.innerWidth < 768 }
-// In the demo, apps backed by a real external site that blocks iframing
-// (mempool.space) open in a new tab rather than the in-app session frame.
+// In the demo, apps backed by a real external site that blocks iframing open
+// in a new tab rather than the in-app session frame. Demoable apps are served
+// same-origin by the mock backend, so the prod new-tab list doesn't apply.
 const mustOpenNewTab = computed(() =>
-  NEW_TAB_APPS.has(appId.value) || (IS_DEMO && isDemoExternal(appId.value))
+  (NEW_TAB_APPS.has(appId.value) && !(IS_DEMO && isDemoApp(appId.value))) ||
+  (IS_DEMO && isDemoExternal(appId.value))
 )
 
 // ElectrumX shows a sync screen before its real UI (the Electrum server only
@@ -200,7 +204,8 @@ const screensaverSuppressedApps = new Set([
 
 const appUrl = computed(() => {
   const runtimeUrl = store.data?.['package-data']?.[appId.value]?.installed?.['interface-addresses']?.main?.['lan-address'] || undefined
-  return resolveAppUrl(appId.value, route.query.path as string | undefined, runtimeUrl)
+  const deepPath = props.pathProp ?? (route.query.path as string | undefined)
+  return resolveAppUrl(appId.value, deepPath, runtimeUrl)
 })
 
 function closeRouteSession() {
@@ -227,16 +232,8 @@ function setMode(mode: DisplayMode) {
   displayMode.value = mode
   localStorage.setItem(DISPLAY_MODE_KEY, mode)
 
-  // Switch from inline panel to route-based overlay/fullscreen
-  if (isInlinePanel.value && mode !== 'panel') {
-    const id = appId.value
-    emit('close')
-    const returnTo = route.fullPath.startsWith('/dashboard') ? route.fullPath : '/dashboard/apps'
-    router.push({ name: 'app-session', params: { appId: id }, query: { returnTo } })
-    return
-  }
-
-  // Switch from route-based to inline panel
+  // Route-based sessions (deep links) hand off to the store-driven session so
+  // the app keeps floating above the dashboard instead of owning the route.
   if (!isInlinePanel.value && mode === 'panel') {
     const id = appId.value
     const launcher = useAppLauncherStore()
@@ -250,22 +247,24 @@ function setMode(mode: DisplayMode) {
     return
   }
 
-  if (mode === 'fullscreen' && sessionRef.value && !document.fullscreenElement) {
-    sessionRef.value.requestFullscreen().catch(() => {})
-  }
 }
 
-// Reactive classes based on display mode. On mobile the store-driven panel
-// renders as a full-screen overlay (teleported to body) so it covers the nav
-// and the underlying page never changes — desktop keeps the inline panel.
+// Reactive classes based on display mode. The store-driven session honors the
+// selected display mode in place: panel renders inline beside the page,
+// overlay/fullscreen render above it (teleported to body) — the underlying
+// route never changes. Mobile always uses the full overlay.
+const inlinePanelMode = computed(() =>
+  isInlinePanel.value && !isMobile.value && displayMode.value === 'panel'
+)
+
 const backdropClasses = computed(() => {
-  if (isInlinePanel.value && !isMobile.value) return 'app-session-backdrop-inline'
+  if (inlinePanelMode.value) return 'app-session-backdrop-inline'
   return 'app-session-backdrop-overlay'
 })
 
 const panelClasses = computed(() => {
   const base = 'app-session-panel glass-card'
-  if (isInlinePanel.value && !isMobile.value) return `${base} app-session-inline`
+  if (inlinePanelMode.value) return `${base} app-session-inline`
   if (displayMode.value === 'fullscreen' && !isMobile.value) return `${base} app-session-fullscreen`
   return `${base} app-session-overlay`
 })
@@ -380,9 +379,14 @@ function onMessage(e: MessageEvent) {
 
 // Enter fullscreen on mount if mode is fullscreen
 watch(displayMode, (mode) => {
-  if (mode === 'fullscreen' && sessionRef.value && !document.fullscreenElement) {
-    sessionRef.value.requestFullscreen().catch(() => {})
-  }
+  if (mode !== 'fullscreen') return
+  // The panel may teleport to <body> on this mode change — request fullscreen
+  // after the DOM settles so we grab the element at its new location.
+  void nextTick(() => {
+    if (displayMode.value === 'fullscreen' && sessionRef.value && !document.fullscreenElement) {
+      sessionRef.value.requestFullscreen().catch(() => {})
+    }
+  })
 })
 
 onMounted(() => {
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/Dashboard.vue b/neode-ui/src/views/Dashboard.vue
index faaf9887..63e80ed8 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/Dashboard.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/Dashboard.vue
@@ -120,7 +120,11 @@
       <!-- Panel mode app session — renders alongside current page content -->
       <Transition name="panel-slide">
         <div v-if="appLauncher.panelAppId" class="app-panel-container">
-          <AppSession :app-id-prop="appLauncher.panelAppId" @close="appLauncher.closePanel()" />
+          <AppSession
+            :app-id-prop="appLauncher.panelAppId"
+            :path-prop="appLauncher.panelPath ?? undefined"
+            @close="appLauncher.closePanel()"
+          />
         </div>
       </Transition>
     </main>
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/Home.vue b/neode-ui/src/views/Home.vue
index 56840b8f..fcb963c3 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/Home.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/Home.vue
@@ -517,7 +517,8 @@ async function devFaucet() { try { await rpcClient.call({ method: 'dev.faucet',
 const walletConnected = ref(false); const walletOnchain = ref(0); const walletLightning = ref(0); const walletEcash = ref(0); const walletFedimint = ref(0)
 const walletTransactions = ref<WalletTransaction[]>([])
 
-function openInMempool(txHash: string) { router.push({ name: 'app-session', params: { appId: 'mempool' }, query: { path: `/tx/${txHash}` } }) }
+// Overlay the explorer above the current page — never navigate away.
+function openInMempool(txHash: string) { useAppLauncherStore().openSession('mempool', { path: `/tx/${txHash}` }) }
 
 // wallet.ecash-history's shape (see handle_wallet_ecash_history in
 // api/rpc/wallet.rs) — distinct from the LND-shaped WalletTransaction used
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/appSession/appSessionConfig.ts b/neode-ui/src/views/appSession/appSessionConfig.ts
index 5cd5b7fd..f9cb888a 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/appSession/appSessionConfig.ts
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/appSession/appSessionConfig.ts
@@ -82,7 +82,11 @@ export function resolveAppUrl(id: string, routeQueryPath?: string, runtimeUrl?:
   // mempool). Non-demoable apps fall through to a generic notice page.
   if (IS_DEMO) {
     const base = demoAppUrl(id)
-    if (base) return routeQueryPath ? base + routeQueryPath : base
+    if (base) {
+      if (!routeQueryPath) return base
+      // Join without a double slash (/app/mempool/ + /tx/x → /app/mempool/tx/x)
+      return base.replace(/\/+$/, '') + (routeQueryPath.startsWith('/') ? routeQueryPath : '/' + routeQueryPath)
+    }
     return `/app/${id}/`
   }
 
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/web5/Web5Wallet.vue b/neode-ui/src/views/web5/Web5Wallet.vue
index 4f51bb71..5d8cc6cb 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/web5/Web5Wallet.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/web5/Web5Wallet.vue
@@ -148,12 +148,11 @@
 
 <script setup lang="ts">
 import { ref } from 'vue'
-import { useRouter } from 'vue-router'
 import { useI18n } from 'vue-i18n'
 import { formatTxTime } from './utils'
 import type { WalletTransaction } from './types'
+import { useAppLauncherStore } from '@/stores/appLauncher'
 
-const router = useRouter()
 const { t } = useI18n()
 
 const showIncomingTxPanel = ref(false)
@@ -179,6 +178,7 @@ defineEmits<{
 }>()
 
 function openInMempool(txHash: string) {
-  router.push({ name: 'app-session', params: { appId: 'mempool' }, query: { path: `/tx/${txHash}` } })
+  // Overlay the explorer above the current page — never navigate away.
+  useAppLauncherStore().openSession('mempool', { path: `/tx/${txHash}` })
 }
 </script>