diff --git a/src/components/layout/AppShell/AppShell.tsx b/src/components/layout/AppShell/AppShell.tsx
index 76bae6f..4eef427 100644
--- a/src/components/layout/AppShell/AppShell.tsx
+++ b/src/components/layout/AppShell/AppShell.tsx
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
 import { useLocation, Link } from 'react-router';
 import { useQuery } from '@tanstack/react-query';
 import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
+import { motion } from 'framer-motion';
 
 import { useAuthStore } from '@/store/auth';
 import { useHaptic } from '@/platform';
@@ -109,11 +110,13 @@ export function AppShell({ children }: AppShellProps) {
     };
   }, []);
 
-  // Desktop navigation items
-  const desktopNavItems = [
+  // Desktop navigation — labels always visible (no hover-reveal gimmick)
+  const desktopNav = [
     { path: '/', label: t('nav.dashboard'), icon: HomeIcon },
     { path: '/subscriptions', label: t('nav.subscription'), icon: SubscriptionIcon },
     { path: '/balance', label: t('nav.balance'), icon: CreditCardIcon },
+    ...(referralEnabled ? [{ path: '/referral', label: t('nav.referral'), icon: UsersIcon }] : []),
+    ...(giftEnabled ? [{ path: '/gift', label: t('nav.gift'), icon: GiftIcon }] : []),
     { path: '/support', label: t('nav.support'), icon: ChatIcon },
     { path: '/info', label: t('nav.info'), icon: InfoIcon },
     { path: '/profile', label: t('nav.profile'), icon: UserIcon },
@@ -128,6 +131,48 @@ export function AppShell({ children }: AppShellProps) {
     haptic.impact('light');
   };
 
+  // A single elegant nav link: icon + label always visible, with a shared
+  // framer-motion pill that slides to the active item on navigation.
+  const renderNavLink = (
+    path: string,
+    label: string,
+    Icon: React.ComponentType<{ className?: string }>,
+    admin = false,
+  ) => {
+    const active = admin ? location.pathname.startsWith('/admin') : isActive(path);
+    return (
+      <Link
+        key={path}
+        to={path}
+        onClick={handleNavClick}
+        aria-label={label}
+        className={cn(
+          'relative flex items-center gap-2 rounded-lg px-3 py-1.5 text-[13px] font-medium transition-colors duration-200',
+          active
+            ? admin
+              ? 'text-warning-400'
+              : 'text-dark-50'
+            : admin
+              ? 'text-warning-500/70 hover:bg-warning-500/10 hover:text-warning-400'
+              : 'text-dark-400 hover:bg-dark-800/50 hover:text-dark-100',
+        )}
+      >
+        {active && (
+          <motion.span
+            layoutId="desktop-nav-active"
+            className={cn(
+              'absolute inset-0 rounded-lg',
+              admin ? 'bg-warning-500/10' : 'bg-dark-800',
+            )}
+            transition={{ type: 'spring', stiffness: 500, damping: 35 }}
+          />
+        )}
+        <Icon className="relative h-[17px] w-[17px] shrink-0" />
+        <span className="relative whitespace-nowrap">{label}</span>
+      </Link>
+    );
+  };
+
   // headerHeight comes from useHeaderHeight() — accounts for TG safe area in fullscreen
 
   return (
@@ -170,81 +215,12 @@ export function AppShell({ children }: AppShellProps) {
           </Link>
 
           {/* Center Navigation */}
-          <nav className="flex min-w-0 items-center gap-1">
-            {desktopNavItems.map((item) => (
-              <Link
-                key={item.path}
-                to={item.path}
-                onClick={handleNavClick}
-                aria-label={item.label}
-                className={cn(
-                  'group flex items-center rounded-xl px-2.5 py-2 transition-all duration-200',
-                  isActive(item.path)
-                    ? 'bg-dark-800 text-dark-50'
-                    : 'text-dark-400 hover:bg-dark-800/50 hover:text-dark-200',
-                )}
-              >
-                <item.icon className="h-[18px] w-[18px] shrink-0" />
-                <span className="max-w-0 overflow-hidden whitespace-nowrap text-xs font-medium opacity-0 transition-all duration-200 group-focus-within:ml-2 group-focus-within:max-w-40 group-focus-within:opacity-100 group-hover:ml-2 group-hover:max-w-40 group-hover:opacity-100">
-                  {item.label}
-                </span>
-              </Link>
-            ))}
-            {referralEnabled && (
-              <Link
-                to="/referral"
-                onClick={handleNavClick}
-                aria-label={t('nav.referral')}
-                className={cn(
-                  'group flex items-center rounded-xl px-2.5 py-2 transition-all duration-200',
-                  isActive('/referral')
-                    ? 'bg-dark-800 text-dark-50'
-                    : 'text-dark-400 hover:bg-dark-800/50 hover:text-dark-200',
-                )}
-              >
-                <UsersIcon className="h-[18px] w-[18px] shrink-0" />
-                <span className="max-w-0 overflow-hidden whitespace-nowrap text-xs font-medium opacity-0 transition-all duration-200 group-focus-within:ml-2 group-focus-within:max-w-40 group-focus-within:opacity-100 group-hover:ml-2 group-hover:max-w-40 group-hover:opacity-100">
-                  {t('nav.referral')}
-                </span>
-              </Link>
-            )}
-            {giftEnabled && (
-              <Link
-                to="/gift"
-                onClick={handleNavClick}
-                aria-label={t('nav.gift')}
-                className={cn(
-                  'group flex items-center rounded-xl px-2.5 py-2 transition-all duration-200',
-                  isActive('/gift')
-                    ? 'bg-dark-800 text-dark-50'
-                    : 'text-dark-400 hover:bg-dark-800/50 hover:text-dark-200',
-                )}
-              >
-                <GiftIcon className="h-[18px] w-[18px] shrink-0" />
-                <span className="max-w-0 overflow-hidden whitespace-nowrap text-xs font-medium opacity-0 transition-all duration-200 group-focus-within:ml-2 group-focus-within:max-w-40 group-focus-within:opacity-100 group-hover:ml-2 group-hover:max-w-40 group-hover:opacity-100">
-                  {t('nav.gift')}
-                </span>
-              </Link>
-            )}
+          <nav className="flex min-w-0 items-center justify-center gap-0.5">
+            {desktopNav.map((item) => renderNavLink(item.path, item.label, item.icon))}
             {isAdmin && (
               <>
-                <div className="mx-1 h-5 w-px shrink-0 bg-dark-700" />
-                <Link
-                  to="/admin"
-                  onClick={handleNavClick}
-                  aria-label={t('admin.nav.title')}
-                  className={cn(
-                    'group flex items-center rounded-xl px-2.5 py-2 transition-all duration-200',
-                    location.pathname.startsWith('/admin')
-                      ? 'bg-warning-500/10 text-warning-400'
-                      : 'text-warning-500/70 hover:bg-warning-500/10 hover:text-warning-400',
-                  )}
-                >
-                  <ShieldIcon className="h-[18px] w-[18px] shrink-0" />
-                  <span className="max-w-0 overflow-hidden whitespace-nowrap text-xs font-medium opacity-0 transition-all duration-200 group-focus-within:ml-2 group-focus-within:max-w-40 group-focus-within:opacity-100 group-hover:ml-2 group-hover:max-w-40 group-hover:opacity-100">
-                    {t('admin.nav.title')}
-                  </span>
-                </Link>
+                <div className="mx-1.5 h-5 w-px shrink-0 bg-dark-700/70" />
+                {renderNavLink('/admin', t('admin.nav.title'), ShieldIcon, true)}
               </>
             )}
           </nav>
diff --git a/src/components/layout/AppShell/DesktopSidebar.tsx b/src/components/layout/AppShell/DesktopSidebar.tsx
deleted file mode 100644
index 6f44363..0000000
--- a/src/components/layout/AppShell/DesktopSidebar.tsx
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,212 +0,0 @@
-import { Link, useLocation } from 'react-router';
-import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
-import { motion } from 'framer-motion';
-import { useQuery } from '@tanstack/react-query';
-
-import { useAuthStore } from '@/store/auth';
-import { displayName } from '@/utils/displayName';
-import {
-  brandingApi,
-  getCachedBranding,
-  setCachedBranding,
-  preloadLogo,
-  isLogoPreloaded,
-} from '@/api/branding';
-import { cn } from '@/lib/utils';
-import { usePlatform } from '@/platform';
-// Icons
-import {
-  HomeIcon,
-  SubscriptionIcon,
-  WalletIcon,
-  UsersIcon,
-  ChatIcon,
-  UserIcon,
-  LogoutIcon,
-  GamepadIcon,
-  ClipboardIcon,
-  InfoIcon,
-  CogIcon,
-  WheelIcon,
-} from './icons';
-
-const FALLBACK_NAME = import.meta.env.VITE_APP_NAME || 'Cabinet';
-const FALLBACK_LOGO = import.meta.env.VITE_APP_LOGO || 'V';
-
-interface DesktopSidebarProps {
-  isAdmin?: boolean;
-  wheelEnabled?: boolean;
-  referralEnabled?: boolean;
-  hasContests?: boolean;
-  hasPolls?: boolean;
-}
-
-export function DesktopSidebar({
-  isAdmin,
-  wheelEnabled,
-  referralEnabled,
-  hasContests,
-  hasPolls,
-}: DesktopSidebarProps) {
-  const { t } = useTranslation();
-  const location = useLocation();
-  const user = useAuthStore((state) => state.user);
-  const logout = useAuthStore((state) => state.logout);
-  const { haptic } = usePlatform();
-
-  // Branding
-  const { data: branding } = useQuery({
-    queryKey: ['branding'],
-    queryFn: async () => {
-      const data = await brandingApi.getBranding();
-      setCachedBranding(data);
-      await preloadLogo(data);
-      return data;
-    },
-    initialData: getCachedBranding() ?? undefined,
-    initialDataUpdatedAt: 0,
-    staleTime: 60000,
-    refetchOnWindowFocus: true,
-    retry: 1,
-  });
-
-  const appName = branding ? branding.name : FALLBACK_NAME;
-  const logoLetter = branding?.logo_letter || FALLBACK_LOGO;
-  const hasCustomLogo = branding?.has_custom_logo || false;
-  const logoUrl = branding ? brandingApi.getLogoUrl(branding) : null;
-
-  const isActive = (path: string) =>
-    path === '/' ? location.pathname === '/' : location.pathname.startsWith(path);
-  const isAdminActive = () => location.pathname.startsWith('/admin');
-
-  const navItems = [
-    { path: '/', label: t('nav.dashboard'), icon: HomeIcon },
-    { path: '/subscriptions', label: t('nav.subscription'), icon: SubscriptionIcon },
-    { path: '/balance', label: t('nav.balance'), icon: WalletIcon },
-    ...(referralEnabled ? [{ path: '/referral', label: t('nav.referral'), icon: UsersIcon }] : []),
-    { path: '/support', label: t('nav.support'), icon: ChatIcon },
-    ...(hasContests ? [{ path: '/contests', label: t('nav.contests'), icon: GamepadIcon }] : []),
-    ...(hasPolls ? [{ path: '/polls', label: t('nav.polls'), icon: ClipboardIcon }] : []),
-    ...(wheelEnabled ? [{ path: '/wheel', label: t('nav.wheel'), icon: WheelIcon }] : []),
-    { path: '/info', label: t('nav.info'), icon: InfoIcon },
-  ];
-
-  const handleNavClick = () => {
-    haptic.impact('light');
-  };
-
-  return (
-    <aside className="h-viewport fixed left-0 top-0 z-40 flex w-60 flex-col border-r border-dark-700/30 bg-dark-950/80 backdrop-blur-linear">
-      {/* Logo */}
-      <div className="flex h-16 items-center gap-3 border-b border-dark-700/30 px-4">
-        <Link to="/" className="flex items-center gap-3" onClick={handleNavClick}>
-          <div className="relative flex h-10 w-10 flex-shrink-0 items-center justify-center overflow-hidden rounded-linear-lg border border-dark-700/50 bg-dark-800/80">
-            <span
-              className={cn(
-                'absolute text-lg font-bold text-accent-400 transition-opacity duration-200',
-                hasCustomLogo && isLogoPreloaded() ? 'opacity-0' : 'opacity-100',
-              )}
-            >
-              {logoLetter}
-            </span>
-            {hasCustomLogo && logoUrl && (
-              <img
-                src={logoUrl}
-                alt={appName || 'Logo'}
-                className={cn(
-                  'absolute h-full w-full object-contain transition-opacity duration-200',
-                  isLogoPreloaded() ? 'opacity-100' : 'opacity-0',
-                )}
-              />
-            )}
-          </div>
-          {appName && (
-            <span className="whitespace-nowrap text-base font-semibold text-dark-100">
-              {appName}
-            </span>
-          )}
-        </Link>
-      </div>
-
-      {/* Navigation */}
-      <nav className="flex-1 space-y-1 overflow-y-auto p-3">
-        {navItems.map((item) => (
-          <Link
-            key={item.path}
-            to={item.path}
-            onClick={handleNavClick}
-            className={cn(
-              'group flex items-center gap-3 rounded-linear px-3 py-2.5 text-sm font-medium transition-all duration-200',
-              isActive(item.path)
-                ? 'bg-accent-500/10 text-accent-400'
-                : 'text-dark-400 hover:bg-dark-800/50 hover:text-dark-100',
-            )}
-          >
-            <item.icon className="h-5 w-5 shrink-0" />
-            <span>{item.label}</span>
-            {isActive(item.path) && (
-              <motion.div
-                layoutId="sidebar-active-indicator"
-                className="absolute left-0 h-8 w-0.5 rounded-r-full bg-accent-400"
-                transition={{ type: 'spring', stiffness: 500, damping: 30 }}
-              />
-            )}
-          </Link>
-        ))}
-
-        {/* Admin section */}
-        {isAdmin && (
-          <>
-            <div className="my-3 h-px bg-dark-700/30" />
-            <Link
-              to="/admin"
-              onClick={handleNavClick}
-              className={cn(
-                'group flex items-center gap-3 rounded-linear px-3 py-2.5 text-sm font-medium transition-all duration-200',
-                isAdminActive()
-                  ? 'bg-warning-500/10 text-warning-400'
-                  : 'text-warning-500/70 hover:bg-warning-500/10 hover:text-warning-400',
-              )}
-            >
-              <CogIcon className="h-5 w-5 shrink-0" />
-              <span>{t('admin.nav.title')}</span>
-            </Link>
-          </>
-        )}
-      </nav>
-
-      {/* User section */}
-      <div className="border-t border-dark-700/30 p-3">
-        <Link
-          to="/profile"
-          onClick={handleNavClick}
-          className={cn(
-            'group flex items-center gap-3 rounded-linear px-3 py-2.5 transition-all duration-200',
-            isActive('/profile') ? 'bg-dark-800/80' : 'hover:bg-dark-800/50',
-          )}
-        >
-          <div className="flex h-8 w-8 items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-dark-700">
-            <UserIcon className="h-4 w-4 text-dark-400" />
-          </div>
-          <div className="min-w-0 flex-1">
-            <p className="truncate text-sm font-medium text-dark-100">{displayName(user)}</p>
-            <p className="truncate text-xs text-dark-500">
-              @{user?.username || `ID: ${user?.telegram_id}`}
-            </p>
-          </div>
-        </Link>
-
-        <button
-          onClick={() => {
-            haptic.impact('light');
-            logout();
-          }}
-          className="mt-2 flex w-full items-center gap-3 rounded-linear px-3 py-2.5 text-sm text-dark-400 transition-all duration-200 hover:bg-error-500/10 hover:text-error-400"
-        >
-          <LogoutIcon className="h-5 w-5 shrink-0" />
-          <span>{t('nav.logout')}</span>
-        </button>
-      </div>
-    </aside>
-  );
-}
diff --git a/src/components/layout/AppShell/index.ts b/src/components/layout/AppShell/index.ts
index 233b39d..37de912 100644
--- a/src/components/layout/AppShell/index.ts
+++ b/src/components/layout/AppShell/index.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
 export { AppShell } from './AppShell';
-export { DesktopSidebar } from './DesktopSidebar';
 export { MobileBottomNav } from './MobileBottomNav';
 export { AppHeader } from './AppHeader';