diff --git a/VoiceInk/Views/Recorder/MiniRecorderView.swift b/VoiceInk/Views/Recorder/MiniRecorderView.swift
index 17a8d24..0482ec6 100644
--- a/VoiceInk/Views/Recorder/MiniRecorderView.swift
+++ b/VoiceInk/Views/Recorder/MiniRecorderView.swift
@@ -46,43 +46,27 @@ struct MiniRecorderView: View {
                     }
                     .overlay {
                         HStack(spacing: 0) {
-                            // Left button zone
-                            Group {
-                                if windowManager.isExpanded {
-                                    RecorderPromptButton(showPopover: $showEnhancementPromptPopover)
-                                        .transition(.scale(scale: 0.5).combined(with: .opacity))
-                                }
-                            }
-                            .frame(width: windowManager.isExpanded ? nil : 0)
-                            .frame(maxWidth: windowManager.isExpanded ? .infinity : 0)
-                            .clipped()
-                            .opacity(windowManager.isExpanded ? 1 : 0)
-                            .animation(.easeInOut(duration: 0.25), value: windowManager.isExpanded)
-                            
                             if windowManager.isExpanded {
+                                // Left button zone - only exists when expanded
+                                RecorderPromptButton(showPopover: $showEnhancementPromptPopover)
+                                    .transition(.scale(scale: 0.5).combined(with: .opacity))
+                                    .animation(.easeInOut(duration: 0.25), value: windowManager.isExpanded)
+                                
                                 Spacer()
                             }
                             
-                            // Fixed visualizer zone  
+                            // Fixed visualizer zone - takes full width when compact
                             statusView
                                 .frame(maxWidth: .infinity)
                             
                             if windowManager.isExpanded {
                                 Spacer()
+                                
+                                // Right button zone - only exists when expanded
+                                RecorderPowerModeButton(showPopover: $showPowerModePopover)
+                                    .transition(.scale(scale: 0.5).combined(with: .opacity))
+                                    .animation(.easeInOut(duration: 0.25), value: windowManager.isExpanded)
                             }
-                            
-                            // Right button zone
-                            Group {
-                                if windowManager.isExpanded {
-                                    RecorderPowerModeButton(showPopover: $showPowerModePopover)
-                                        .transition(.scale(scale: 0.5).combined(with: .opacity))
-                                }
-                            }
-                            .frame(width: windowManager.isExpanded ? nil : 0)
-                            .frame(maxWidth: windowManager.isExpanded ? .infinity : 0)
-                            .clipped()
-                            .opacity(windowManager.isExpanded ? 1 : 0)
-                            .animation(.easeInOut(duration: 0.25), value: windowManager.isExpanded)
                         }
                         .padding(.vertical, 8)
                     }
diff --git a/VoiceInk/Views/Recorder/MiniWindowManager.swift b/VoiceInk/Views/Recorder/MiniWindowManager.swift
index fc18e8a..8656073 100644
--- a/VoiceInk/Views/Recorder/MiniWindowManager.swift
+++ b/VoiceInk/Views/Recorder/MiniWindowManager.swift
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ class MiniWindowManager: ObservableObject {
         guard isVisible else { return }
         
         self.isVisible = false
-        
+        self.isExpanded = false  
         self.miniPanel?.hide { [weak self] in
             guard let self = self else { return }
             self.deinitializeWindow()