diff --git a/apps/nextjs/src/app/[locale]/boards/(content)/_client.tsx b/apps/nextjs/src/app/[locale]/boards/(content)/_client.tsx
index 9fa4b7c5d..efd9be8fb 100644
--- a/apps/nextjs/src/app/[locale]/boards/(content)/_client.tsx
+++ b/apps/nextjs/src/app/[locale]/boards/(content)/_client.tsx
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import {
 import { ScaledBoardCanvas } from "~/components/board/layout/scaled-board-canvas";
 import { BoardEmptySection } from "~/components/board/sections/empty-section";
 import { BoardGridEditorBoundary } from "~/components/board/sections/grid/board-grid-editor-boundary";
-import { BoardGridPortalHost, BoardGridPortalRenderer } from "~/components/board/sections/grid/grid-portal-host";
+import { BoardGridPortalHost } from "~/components/board/sections/grid/grid-portal-host";
 import { BoardSectionCollapseProvider } from "~/components/board/sections/section-collapse";
 import { BoardBackgroundVideo } from "~/components/layout/background";
 import { BoardSelectionProvider } from "~/components/board/selection/board-selection-context";
@@ -80,7 +80,6 @@ export const ClientBoard = () => {
                 label={board.name}
               >
                 <BoardGridEditorBoundary key={currentLayoutId}>
-                  <BoardGridPortalRenderer />
                   <div className={classes.columns} style={{ gridTemplateColumns }}>
                     {leftColumnCount > 0 && leftSection && (
                       <aside
diff --git a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/items/item-content.tsx b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/items/item-content.tsx
index 15d64af7a..368f86207 100644
--- a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/items/item-content.tsx
+++ b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/items/item-content.tsx
@@ -25,12 +25,14 @@ import type { WidgetComponentProps, WidgetDefinition, WidgetRuntimeRef } from "@
 import { loadWidgetResources, reduceWidgetOptionsWithDefinition } from "@homarr/widgets/manifest";
 
 import type { SectionItem } from "~/app/[locale]/boards/_types";
+import { getLogicalTrackSize } from "~/components/board/layout";
 import advancedFocusClasses from "../advanced-focus/advanced-focus.module.css";
 import { useAdvancedFocus } from "../advanced-focus/context";
 import { startAdvancedFocusEntrance } from "../advanced-focus/entrance";
 import { getAdvancedFocusClosePosition, getAdvancedFocusRect } from "../advanced-focus/geometry";
 import { AdvancedFocusManualSurface } from "../advanced-focus/manual-surface";
 import { redirectShiftWheel } from "../advanced-focus/wheel";
+import { useBoardGridPortalHost } from "../sections/grid/grid-portal-host";
 import classes from "../sections/item.module.css";
 import { useItemActions } from "./item-actions";
 import itemContentClasses from "./item-content.module.css";
@@ -103,9 +105,11 @@ const WidgetDefinitionLoadError = ({
 );
 
 export const BoardItemContent = ({ item }: BoardItemContentProps) => {
-  const { ref, width, height } = useElementSize<HTMLDivElement>();
-  const widgetStateRef = useRef<Record<string, unknown> | null>(null);
-  const widgetRuntimeRef = useRef(createWidgetRuntimeState());
+  const { ref, width: measuredWidth, height: measuredHeight } = useElementSize<HTMLDivElement>();
+  const { getEntryRuntime } = useBoardGridPortalHost();
+  const { widgetStateRef, widgetRuntimeRef } = getEntryRuntime(item.id, createBoardItemRuntime);
+  const width = measuredWidth || getLogicalTrackSize(item.width);
+  const height = measuredHeight || getLogicalTrackSize(item.height);
 
   return (
     <ErrorBoundary
@@ -134,6 +138,11 @@ export const BoardItemContent = ({ item }: BoardItemContentProps) => {
   );
 };
 
+const createBoardItemRuntime = () => ({
+  widgetStateRef: { current: null } as MutableRefObject<Record<string, unknown> | null>,
+  widgetRuntimeRef: { current: createWidgetRuntimeState() } as WidgetRuntimeRef,
+});
+
 interface LoadedBoardItemContentProps {
   item: SectionItem;
   width: number;
diff --git a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/container-section.tsx b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/container-section.tsx
index 7d1a68965..005eb7543 100644
--- a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/container-section.tsx
+++ b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/container-section.tsx
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ export const BoardContainerSection = ({ section }: Props) => {
         radius={board.itemRadius}
         p={0}
       >
-        {options.collapsible && !isEditMode && (
+        {options.collapsible && (
           <Button
             className={classes.containerToggle}
             pos="absolute"
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ export const BoardContainerSection = ({ section }: Props) => {
             w="100%"
             h={isVisuallyCollapsed ? "100%" : 24}
             px={12}
-            pe={options.showOpenAll ? 40 : 12}
+            pe={isEditMode ? 48 : options.showOpenAll ? 40 : 12}
             radius="sm"
             variant="default"
             justify={options.showLabel ? "flex-start" : "center"}
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ export const BoardContainerSection = ({ section }: Props) => {
             )}
           </Button>
         )}
-        {!isVisuallyCollapsed && (!options.collapsible || isEditMode) && options.showLabel && options.title && (
+        {!isVisuallyCollapsed && !options.collapsible && options.showLabel && options.title && (
           <Badge
             pos="absolute"
             top={-24}
diff --git a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/board-grid-editor-boundary.tsx b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/board-grid-editor-boundary.tsx
index 8a4afd423..ceb64c6de 100644
--- a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/board-grid-editor-boundary.tsx
+++ b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/board-grid-editor-boundary.tsx
@@ -2,13 +2,16 @@
 
 import type { ComponentType, PropsWithChildren } from "react";
 import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
+import { createPortal } from "react-dom";
 
 import { useEditMode } from "@homarr/boards/edit-mode";
 
-import { loadGridEditorAsync } from "./grid-editor-loader";
+import { getLoadedGridEditorModule, loadGridEditorAsync } from "./grid-editor-loader";
+import { GridEditorRegistryProvider, useRegisteredGridEditors } from "./grid-editor-registry";
 import { GridEditorRuntimeProvider } from "./grid-editor-runtime";
 
 type BoardGridEditorProviderComponent = ComponentType<PropsWithChildren>;
+type LoadedGridEditorModule = Awaited<ReturnType<typeof loadGridEditorAsync>>;
 
 /**
  * Keeps the dnd-kit runtime outside the read-only bundle while guaranteeing
@@ -16,17 +19,20 @@ type BoardGridEditorProviderComponent = ComponentType<PropsWithChildren>;
  */
 export const BoardGridEditorBoundary = ({ children }: PropsWithChildren) => {
   const [isEditMode] = useEditMode();
-  const [Provider, setProvider] = useState<BoardGridEditorProviderComponent | null>(null);
+  const [EditorModule, setEditorModule] = useState<LoadedGridEditorModule | null>(
+    getLoadedGridEditorModule() ?? null,
+  );
   const [hasLoadError, setHasLoadError] = useState(false);
+  const resolvedEditorModule = EditorModule ?? getLoadedGridEditorModule() ?? null;
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (!isEditMode || Provider) return;
+    if (!isEditMode || resolvedEditorModule) return;
 
     let cancelled = false;
     setHasLoadError(false);
     void loadGridEditorAsync()
       .then((module) => {
-        if (!cancelled) setProvider(() => module.BoardGridEditorProvider);
+        if (!cancelled) setEditorModule(module);
       })
       .catch(() => {
         if (!cancelled) setHasLoadError(true);
@@ -35,23 +41,34 @@ export const BoardGridEditorBoundary = ({ children }: PropsWithChildren) => {
     return () => {
       cancelled = true;
     };
-  }, [Provider, isEditMode]);
+  }, [isEditMode, resolvedEditorModule]);
 
-  if (!isEditMode) {
-    return <GridEditorRuntimeProvider status="idle">{children}</GridEditorRuntimeProvider>;
-  }
-
-  if (hasLoadError) {
-    return <GridEditorRuntimeProvider status="error">{children}</GridEditorRuntimeProvider>;
-  }
-
-  if (!Provider) {
-    return <GridEditorRuntimeProvider status="loading">{children}</GridEditorRuntimeProvider>;
-  }
+  const runtimeStatus = !isEditMode
+    ? "idle"
+    : hasLoadError
+      ? "error"
+      : resolvedEditorModule
+        ? "ready"
+        : "loading";
+  const Provider: BoardGridEditorProviderComponent | null = resolvedEditorModule?.BoardGridEditorProvider ?? null;
+  const GridEditor = resolvedEditorModule?.default ?? null;
 
   return (
-    <GridEditorRuntimeProvider status="ready">
-      <Provider>{children}</Provider>
-    </GridEditorRuntimeProvider>
+    <GridEditorRegistryProvider>
+      <GridEditorRuntimeProvider status={runtimeStatus}>{children}</GridEditorRuntimeProvider>
+      {isEditMode && Provider && GridEditor && (
+        <Provider>
+          <RegisteredGridEditors GridEditor={GridEditor} />
+        </Provider>
+      )}
+    </GridEditorRegistryProvider>
+  );
+};
+
+const RegisteredGridEditors = ({ GridEditor }: { GridEditor: LoadedGridEditorModule["default"] }) => {
+  const editors = useRegisteredGridEditors();
+
+  return Array.from(editors.values(), ({ host, disabled, ...props }) =>
+    disabled ? null : createPortal(<GridEditor {...props} />, host, props.sectionId),
   );
 };
diff --git a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/fixed-grid-item.tsx b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/fixed-grid-item.tsx
index 1525c71ea..ef5511160 100644
--- a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/fixed-grid-item.tsx
+++ b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/fixed-grid-item.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 "use client";
 
 import type { FocusEvent, KeyboardEvent, PropsWithChildren } from "react";
-import { useId, useRef, useState } from "react";
+import { useCallback, useId, useRef, useState } from "react";
 import { Box } from "@mantine/core";
 import combineClasses from "clsx";
 
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ interface FixedGridItemProps {
 /**
  * Static SSR geometry in view mode and the stable content/keyboard handle in
  * edit mode. The focused tile owns grid-based keyboard movement while dnd-kit
- * handles pointer and touch input on the outer editor shell.
+ * binds pointer and touch input to this same element without replacing it.
  */
 export const FixedGridItem = ({
   item,
@@ -46,11 +46,16 @@ export const FixedGridItem = ({
   const runtimeStatus = useGridEditorRuntimeStatus();
   const currentLayoutId = useCurrentLayout();
   const t = useI18n();
-  const { section, items, innerSections, columnCount, maxRowCount, announce } = useSectionContext();
+  const { section, columnCount, maxRowCount, placements, interactionDisabled, announce, entryElementStore } =
+    useSectionContext();
   const { commitSectionGrid } = useGridLayoutActions();
   const [isKeyboardEditing, setIsKeyboardEditing] = useState(false);
   const { isSelected, toggleSelectItem } = useBoardSelection();
   const selected = item.type === "item" && isSelected(item.id);
+  const registerElement = useCallback(
+    (element: HTMLDivElement | null) => entryElementStore.register(item.id, element),
+    [entryElementStore, item.id],
+  );
 
   const handleClickCapture = (event: React.MouseEvent) => {
     if (!isEditorActive || item.type !== "item" || (!event.metaKey && !event.ctrlKey)) return;
@@ -60,15 +65,14 @@ export const FixedGridItem = ({
     toggleSelectItem(item.id);
   };
   const instructionsId = useId();
-  const isEditorActive = isEditMode && runtimeStatus === "ready";
+  const isEditorActive = isEditMode && runtimeStatus === "ready" && !interactionDisabled;
   const placement = toPlacement(item);
-  const renderedPlacements = [...items, ...innerSections].map(toPlacement);
   const keyboardGridRef = useRef<{
     source: readonly SectionGridPlacement[];
     current: readonly SectionGridPlacement[];
   }>({
-    source: renderedPlacements,
-    current: renderedPlacements,
+    source: placements,
+    current: placements,
   });
   const displayName =
     item.type === "item"
@@ -111,14 +115,14 @@ export const FixedGridItem = ({
       setKeyboardEditing(false);
       return;
     }
-    if (!arePlacementListsEqual(keyboardGridRef.current.source, renderedPlacements)) {
+    if (!arePlacementListsEqual(keyboardGridRef.current.source, placements)) {
       keyboardGridRef.current = {
-        source: renderedPlacements,
-        current: renderedPlacements,
+        source: placements,
+        current: placements,
       };
     }
-    const placements = keyboardGridRef.current.current;
-    const current = placements.find((candidate) => candidate.id === item.id);
+    const currentPlacements = keyboardGridRef.current.current;
+    const current = currentPlacements.find((candidate) => candidate.id === item.id);
     if (!current) return;
 
     let transaction: GridTransaction<SectionGridPlacement>;
@@ -130,7 +134,7 @@ export const FixedGridItem = ({
               id: section.id,
               columnCount,
               maxRowCount,
-              placements,
+              placements: currentPlacements,
             },
           ],
         },
@@ -138,8 +142,8 @@ export const FixedGridItem = ({
       );
     } catch {
       keyboardGridRef.current = {
-        source: renderedPlacements,
-        current: renderedPlacements,
+        source: currentPlacements,
+        current: currentPlacements,
       };
       setKeyboardEditing(false);
       return;
@@ -188,13 +192,22 @@ export const FixedGridItem = ({
 
   return (
     <Box
+      ref={registerElement}
       {...semantics}
       onClickCapture={handleClickCapture}
       data-board-item-selected={selected ? "true" : undefined}
-      className={combineClasses(isEditorActive ? classes.editorEntry : classes.staticItem)}
-      style={isEditorActive ? { position: "relative", width: "100%", height: "100%" } : getLogicalItemStyle(placement)}
-      data-grid-item-id={isEditorActive ? undefined : item.id}
-      data-grid-item-type={isEditorActive ? undefined : item.type}
+      className={combineClasses(
+        classes.staticItem,
+        isEditorActive && "board-grid-entry",
+        isEditorActive && classes.editorEntry,
+      )}
+      style={getLogicalItemStyle(placement)}
+      data-grid-item-id={item.id}
+      data-grid-item-type={item.type}
+      data-grid-x={placement.x}
+      data-grid-y={placement.y}
+      data-grid-w={placement.w}
+      data-grid-h={placement.h}
       data-editor-grid-entry={isEditorActive ? "true" : undefined}
       data-type={item.type}
       data-kind={item.kind}
@@ -209,7 +222,7 @@ export const FixedGridItem = ({
       onBlur={isEditorActive ? handleBlur : undefined}
       onKeyDown={isEditorActive ? handleKeyboard : undefined}
     >
-      {children}
+      <div className={combineClasses("board-grid-content-mount", classes.contentMount)}>{children}</div>
       {isEditorActive && (
         <span id={instructionsId} className={classes.liveRegion}>
           {t("item.moveResize.keyboard.instructions")}
diff --git a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/grid-editor-loader.ts b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/grid-editor-loader.ts
index af9ef1164..5dc379149 100644
--- a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/grid-editor-loader.ts
+++ b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/grid-editor-loader.ts
@@ -3,16 +3,24 @@
 import type * as GridEditorModule from "./grid-editor";
 
 let editorModulePromise: Promise<typeof GridEditorModule> | undefined;
+let editorModule: typeof GridEditorModule | undefined;
 
 export const loadGridEditorAsync = () => {
-  editorModulePromise ??= import("./grid-editor").catch((error: unknown) => {
-    editorModulePromise = undefined;
-    throw error;
-  });
+  editorModulePromise ??= import("./grid-editor")
+    .then((loadedModule) => {
+      editorModule = loadedModule;
+      return loadedModule;
+    })
+    .catch((error: unknown) => {
+      editorModulePromise = undefined;
+      throw error;
+    });
 
   return editorModulePromise;
 };
 
+export const getLoadedGridEditorModule = () => editorModule;
+
 export const scheduleGridEditorWarmup = (loadAsync: () => Promise<unknown>) => {
   let animationFrameId: number | undefined;
   let idleCallbackId: number | undefined;
diff --git a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/grid-editor-registry.tsx b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/grid-editor-registry.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..aa7839e65
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/grid-editor-registry.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+"use client";
+
+import type { PropsWithChildren } from "react";
+import { createContext, useContext, useState, useSyncExternalStore } from "react";
+
+import type { ContainerSectionItem, Section, SectionItem } from "~/app/[locale]/boards/_types";
+import type { SectionGridPlacement } from "./use-grid-layout-actions";
+
+export interface GridEntryElementSnapshot {
+  revision: number;
+  elements: ReadonlyMap<string, HTMLElement>;
+}
+
+export interface GridEntryElementStore {
+  getSnapshot: () => GridEntryElementSnapshot;
+  subscribe: (listener: () => void) => () => void;
+  register: (id: string, element: HTMLElement | null) => void;
+}
+
+export const createGridEntryElementStore = (): GridEntryElementStore => {
+  const elements = new Map<string, HTMLElement>();
+  const listeners = new Set<() => void>();
+  let snapshot: GridEntryElementSnapshot = { revision: 0, elements };
+
+  return {
+    getSnapshot: () => snapshot,
+    subscribe: (listener) => {
+      listeners.add(listener);
+      return () => listeners.delete(listener);
+    },
+    register: (id, element) => {
+      const current = elements.get(id);
+      if (element ? current === element : current === undefined) return;
+
+      if (element) elements.set(id, element);
+      else elements.delete(id);
+      snapshot = { revision: snapshot.revision + 1, elements };
+      for (const listener of listeners) listener();
+    },
+  };
+};
+
+export interface GridEditorRenderProps {
+  sectionId: string;
+  columnCount: number;
+  rowCount: number;
+  maxRowCount: number | null;
+  placements: readonly SectionGridPlacement[];
+  transactionPlacements: readonly SectionGridPlacement[];
+  className: string;
+  section: Exclude<Section, { kind: "container" }> | ContainerSectionItem;
+  items: SectionItem[];
+  innerSections: ContainerSectionItem[];
+  entryElementStore: GridEntryElementStore;
+}
+
+export interface RegisteredGridEditor extends GridEditorRenderProps {
+  host: HTMLElement;
+  disabled: boolean;
+}
+
+interface GridEditorRegistrySnapshot {
+  revision: number;
+  editors: ReadonlyMap<string, RegisteredGridEditor>;
+}
+
+interface GridEditorRegistry {
+  getSnapshot: () => GridEditorRegistrySnapshot;
+  subscribe: (listener: () => void) => () => void;
+  register: (editor: RegisteredGridEditor) => () => void;
+}
+
+const createGridEditorRegistry = (): GridEditorRegistry => {
+  const editors = new Map<string, RegisteredGridEditor>();
+  const listeners = new Set<() => void>();
+  let snapshot: GridEditorRegistrySnapshot = { revision: 0, editors };
+
+  const publish = () => {
+    snapshot = { revision: snapshot.revision + 1, editors };
+    for (const listener of listeners) listener();
+  };
+
+  return {
+    getSnapshot: () => snapshot,
+    subscribe: (listener) => {
+      listeners.add(listener);
+      return () => listeners.delete(listener);
+    },
+    register: (editor) => {
+      editors.set(editor.sectionId, editor);
+      publish();
+      return () => {
+        if (editors.get(editor.sectionId) !== editor) return;
+        editors.delete(editor.sectionId);
+        publish();
+      };
+    },
+  };
+};
+
+const GridEditorRegistryContext = createContext<GridEditorRegistry | null>(null);
+
+export const GridEditorRegistryProvider = ({ children }: PropsWithChildren) => {
+  const [registry] = useState(createGridEditorRegistry);
+  return <GridEditorRegistryContext.Provider value={registry}>{children}</GridEditorRegistryContext.Provider>;
+};
+
+export const useGridEditorRegistry = () => {
+  const registry = useContext(GridEditorRegistryContext);
+  if (!registry) throw new Error("GridEditorRegistryProvider is required");
+  return registry;
+};
+
+export const useRegisteredGridEditors = () => {
+  const registry = useGridEditorRegistry();
+  return useSyncExternalStore(registry.subscribe, registry.getSnapshot, registry.getSnapshot).editors;
+};
diff --git a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/grid-editor.css b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/grid-editor.css
index d55282b3b..669f3534f 100644
--- a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/grid-editor.css
+++ b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/grid-editor.css
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
   inset: 0 auto auto 0;
   overflow: visible;
   border-radius: var(--mantine-radius-md);
+  pointer-events: none;
 }
 
 .board-grid-entry {
@@ -22,6 +23,13 @@
   will-change: translate;
 }
 
+.board-grid-entry[data-grid-preview="true"]:not([data-dnd-active="true"]) {
+  transition:
+    translate 100ms ease,
+    width 100ms ease,
+    height 100ms ease;
+}
+
 .board-grid-entry[data-dnd-active="true"],
 .board-grid-entry[data-dnd-drag-source="true"] {
   z-index: 1000;
@@ -101,24 +109,12 @@
   zoom: var(--board-grid-overlay-content-zoom, 1);
 }
 
-body[data-board-grid-interacting] .board-grid-entry,
+body[data-board-grid-interacting] .board-grid-entry[data-dnd-active="true"],
+body[data-board-grid-interacting] .board-grid-entry[data-dnd-drag-source="true"],
 body[data-board-grid-interacting] .board-grid-placeholder {
   transition: none;
 }
 
-.board-grid-content-mount,
-.board-grid-portal-content,
-.board-grid-portal-content > [data-editor-grid-entry] {
-  width: 100%;
-  height: 100%;
-  overflow: visible;
-}
-
-.board-grid-content-mount {
-  position: absolute;
-  inset: 0;
-}
-
 body[data-board-grid-interacting="resize"] .board-grid-entry[data-dnd-active="true"] > .board-grid-content-mount {
   overflow: clip;
 }
diff --git a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/grid-editor.tsx b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/grid-editor.tsx
index 428e2a939..f8c5c4b49 100644
--- a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/grid-editor.tsx
+++ b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/grid-editor.tsx
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import {
   useState,
   useSyncExternalStore,
 } from "react";
+import { createPortal } from "react-dom";
 
 import "./grid-editor.css"; // oxlint-disable-line import/no-unassigned-import
 
@@ -37,8 +38,7 @@ import { IconGripHorizontal, IconGripVertical } from "@tabler/icons-react";
 import { useCurrentLayout, useRequiredBoard } from "@homarr/boards/context";
 import { useI18n } from "@homarr/translation/client";
 
-import { getLogicalItemStyle, getLogicalTrackSize, LOGICAL_GRID_PITCH } from "~/components/board/layout";
-import { useSectionContext } from "../section-context";
+import { getLogicalTrackSize, LOGICAL_GRID_PITCH } from "~/components/board/layout";
 import {
   beginGridTransaction,
   cancelGridTransaction,
@@ -57,27 +57,18 @@ import type { DragProjectionOrigin, GridResizeDirection, GridTransaction, Transa
 import type { DndGridEntryProps } from "./grid-entry-memo";
 import { areDndGridEntryPropsEqual } from "./grid-entry-memo";
 import { getGridDepth } from "./grid-depth";
+import type { GridEditorRenderProps } from "./grid-editor-registry";
 import { createGridInteractionStore } from "./grid-interaction-store";
 import { useBoardGridPortalHost } from "./grid-portal-host";
 import type { GridInteraction } from "./grid-preview-layer";
 import { GridPreviewLayer } from "./grid-preview-layer";
 import { createGridResizeOutlineController } from "./grid-resize-outline";
-import { useBoardSelection } from "~/components/board/selection/board-selection-context";
 import type { CommitSectionGridInput, SectionGridPlacement } from "./use-grid-layout-actions";
 import { useGridLayoutActions } from "./use-grid-layout-actions";
 
 const GRID_ENTRY_TYPE = "homarr-board-grid-entry";
 const GRID_TARGET_TYPE = "homarr-board-grid-target";
 
-interface GridEditorProps {
-  sectionId: string;
-  columnCount: number;
-  rowCount: number;
-  maxRowCount: number | null;
-  placements: readonly SectionGridPlacement[];
-  className: string;
-}
-
 interface GridEntryData {
   kind: typeof GRID_ENTRY_TYPE;
   sectionId: string;
@@ -727,14 +718,22 @@ export default function GridEditor({
   rowCount,
   maxRowCount,
   placements,
+  transactionPlacements,
   className,
-}: GridEditorProps) {
+  section,
+  items,
+  innerSections,
+  entryElementStore,
+}: GridEditorRenderProps) {
   const t = useI18n();
-  const { section, items, innerSections } = useSectionContext();
   const { registerGrid, getDepth, isDropTargetEligible } = useBoardGridEditorActions();
   const interactionStore = useBoardGridEditorInteractionStore();
   const gridRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
-  const [entryElements] = useState(() => new Map<string, HTMLElement>());
+  const entryElements = useSyncExternalStore(
+    entryElementStore.subscribe,
+    entryElementStore.getSnapshot,
+    entryElementStore.getSnapshot,
+  ).elements;
   const parentGridId = "parentSectionId" in section ? section.parentSectionId : null;
   const ownerPlacementId = "parentSectionId" in section ? section.id : null;
   const depth = getDepth(sectionId);
@@ -769,14 +768,6 @@ export default function GridEditor({
     },
     [droppableRef],
   );
-  const registerEntryElement = useCallback(
-    (id: string, element: HTMLElement | null) => {
-      if (element) entryElements.set(id, element);
-      else entryElements.delete(id);
-    },
-    [entryElements],
-  );
-
   useLayoutEffect(() => {
     const element = gridRef.current;
     if (!element) return;
@@ -786,11 +777,11 @@ export default function GridEditor({
       maxRowCount,
       parentGridId,
       ownerPlacementId,
-      placements,
+      placements: transactionPlacements,
       depth,
       element,
     });
-  }, [columnCount, depth, maxRowCount, ownerPlacementId, parentGridId, placements, registerGrid, sectionId]);
+  }, [columnCount, depth, maxRowCount, ownerPlacementId, parentGridId, registerGrid, sectionId, transactionPlacements]);
 
   return (
     <div
@@ -815,7 +806,7 @@ export default function GridEditor({
             label={labelById.get(placement.id) ?? placement.id}
             columnCount={columnCount}
             maxRowCount={maxRowCount}
-            registerElement={registerEntryElement}
+            element={entryElements.get(placement.id) ?? null}
           />
         );
       })}
@@ -844,24 +835,18 @@ const DndGridEntryComponent = ({
   label,
   columnCount,
   maxRowCount,
-  registerElement,
+  element,
 }: DndGridEntryProps) => {
-  const { acquireContainer, structureRevision } = useBoardGridPortalHost();
   const { beginResize, previewResize, completeResize, cancelResize } = useBoardGridEditorActions();
-  const { isSelected } = useBoardSelection();
-  const board = useRequiredBoard();
-  const isSelectedEntry = placement.type === "item" && isSelected(placement.id);
-  const mountRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
-  const shellRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
   const placementRef = useRef(placement);
   placementRef.current = placement;
   const resizeOutlineController = useMemo(
     () =>
       createGridResizeOutlineController(
-        () => shellRef.current,
+        () => element,
         () => placementRef.current,
       ),
-    [],
+    [element],
   );
   const sourceData = useMemo<GridEntryData>(
     () => ({ kind: GRID_ENTRY_TYPE, sectionId, placement, label }),
@@ -882,67 +867,39 @@ const DndGridEntryComponent = ({
   const modifiers = useMemo(
     () => [
       RestrictToElement.configure({
-        element: () => shellRef.current?.closest('[data-testid="board-canvas"]') ?? null,
+        element: () => element?.closest('[data-testid="board-canvas"]') ?? null,
       }),
     ],
-    [],
+    [element],
   );
-  const {
-    ref: draggableRef,
-    handleRef,
-    isDragSource,
-    isDropping,
-  } = useDraggable<GridEntryData>({
+  const { isDragSource, isDropping } = useDraggable<GridEntryData>({
     id: placement.id,
     type: GRID_ENTRY_TYPE,
     data: sourceData,
+    element,
+    handle: element,
+    disabled: element === null,
     sensors,
     modifiers,
   });
-  const setShellRef = useCallback(
-    (element: HTMLDivElement | null) => {
-      shellRef.current = element;
-      registerElement(placement.id, element);
-      draggableRef(element);
-      handleRef(element);
-    },
-    [draggableRef, handleRef, placement.id, registerElement],
-  );
-
   useEffect(() => () => resizeOutlineController.destroy(), [resizeOutlineController]);
 
   useLayoutEffect(() => {
-    const mount = mountRef.current;
-    if (!mount) return;
-    const container = acquireContainer(placement.id);
-    mount.replaceChildren(container);
-
+    if (!element) return;
+    if (isDragSource) element.dataset.dndDragSource = "true";
+    else delete element.dataset.dndDragSource;
+    if (isDropping) element.dataset.dndDropping = "true";
+    else delete element.dataset.dndDropping;
     return () => {
-      if (container.parentElement === mount) container.remove();
+      delete element.dataset.dndDragSource;
+      delete element.dataset.dndDropping;
     };
-  }, [acquireContainer, placement.id, structureRevision]);
+  }, [element, isDragSource, isDropping]);
 
-  return (
-    <div
-      ref={setShellRef}
-      className="board-grid-entry"
-      style={
-        {
-          ...getLogicalItemStyle(placement),
-          "--board-item-radius": `var(--mantine-radius-${board.itemRadius})`,
-        } as CSSProperties
-      }
-      data-grid-item-id={placement.id}
-      data-grid-item-type={placement.type}
-      data-grid-x={placement.x}
-      data-grid-y={placement.y}
-      data-grid-w={placement.w}
-      data-grid-h={placement.h}
-      data-dnd-drag-source={isDragSource ? "true" : undefined}
-      data-dnd-dropping={isDropping ? "true" : undefined}
-      data-board-item-selected={isSelectedEntry ? "true" : undefined}
-    >
-      <div ref={mountRef} className="board-grid-content-mount" />
+  if (!element) return null;
+
+  return createPortal(
+    <>
       <GridResizeHandles
         sectionId={sectionId}
         placement={placement}
@@ -955,7 +912,9 @@ const DndGridEntryComponent = ({
         cancelResize={cancelResize}
         scheduleResizeOutline={resizeOutlineController.schedule}
       />
-    </div>
+    </>,
+    element,
+    `board-grid-resize-handles:${placement.id}`,
   );
 };
 
diff --git a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/grid-entry-memo.ts b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/grid-entry-memo.ts
index d527127a7..8b49e3097 100644
--- a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/grid-entry-memo.ts
+++ b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/grid-entry-memo.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ export interface DndGridEntryProps {
   label: string;
   columnCount: number;
   maxRowCount: number | null;
-  registerElement: (id: string, element: HTMLElement | null) => void;
+  element: HTMLElement | null;
 }
 
 export const areDndGridEntryPropsEqual = (previous: DndGridEntryProps, next: DndGridEntryProps) =>
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ export const areDndGridEntryPropsEqual = (previous: DndGridEntryProps, next: Dnd
   previous.label === next.label &&
   previous.columnCount === next.columnCount &&
   previous.maxRowCount === next.maxRowCount &&
-  previous.registerElement === next.registerElement &&
+  previous.element === next.element &&
   previous.placement.id === next.placement.id &&
   previous.placement.type === next.placement.type &&
   previous.placement.x === next.placement.x &&
diff --git a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/grid-portal-host.tsx b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/grid-portal-host.tsx
index e30af1daf..8b3567d16 100644
--- a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/grid-portal-host.tsx
+++ b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/grid-portal-host.tsx
@@ -2,38 +2,23 @@
 
 import type { PropsWithChildren } from "react";
 import { createContext, useCallback, useContext, useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from "react";
-import { createPortal } from "react-dom";
 
 import type { RouterOutputs } from "@homarr/api";
 import { clientApi } from "@homarr/api/client";
 import { useSession } from "@homarr/auth/client";
-import { useCurrentLayout, useRequiredBoard } from "@homarr/boards/context";
+import { useRequiredBoard } from "@homarr/boards/context";
 import { useEditMode } from "@homarr/boards/edit-mode";
-import { getRootSectionLane } from "@homarr/definitions";
-
-import type { ContainerSectionItem, Section } from "~/app/[locale]/boards/_types";
-import { getBoardLaneColumnCount, normalizeGridPlacement } from "~/components/board/layout";
-import { SectionContentItem } from "../content";
-import { SectionProvider } from "../section-context";
-import { useSectionItems } from "../use-section-items";
 import classes from "./section-grid.module.css";
 
 interface GridPortalHostContextValue {
   announce: (message: string) => void;
   integrations: RouterOutputs["integration"]["all"] | undefined;
-  containers: ReadonlyMap<string, HTMLElement>;
-  acquireContainer: (id: string) => HTMLElement;
-  structureRevision: string;
+  getEntryRuntime: <TRuntime>(entryId: string, createRuntime: () => TRuntime) => TRuntime;
 }
 
 const GridPortalHostContext = createContext<GridPortalHostContextValue | null>(null);
 
-/**
- * One portal registry owns every edit-mode item on the board. Its content
- * containers are stable even when drag-and-drop replaces or transfers the
- * outer positioning shell, so moving between grids does not remount widget
- * content.
- */
+/** Shared board-grid services for editor announcements and integration data. */
 export const BoardGridPortalHost = ({ children }: PropsWithChildren) => {
   const board = useRequiredBoard();
   const { data: session } = useSession();
@@ -41,51 +26,27 @@ export const BoardGridPortalHost = ({ children }: PropsWithChildren) => {
   const { data: integrations } = clientApi.integration.all.useQuery(undefined, {
     enabled: Boolean(session) && isEditMode,
   });
-  const containersRef = useRef<Map<string, HTMLElement>>(new Map());
-  const [containers, setContainers] = useState<Map<string, HTMLElement>>(() => new Map());
   const [announcement, setAnnouncement] = useState({ id: 0, message: "" });
+  const entryRuntimesRef = useRef(new Map<string, unknown>());
   const announce = useCallback((message: string) => {
     setAnnouncement((previous) => ({ id: previous.id + 1, message }));
   }, []);
-  const liveEntryIds = useMemo(
-    () => new Set([...board.items.map((item) => item.id), ...board.sections.map((section) => section.id)]),
-    [board.items, board.sections],
-  );
-  const structureRevision = useMemo(() => [...liveEntryIds].toSorted().join(":"), [liveEntryIds]);
-
-  const acquireContainer = useCallback((id: string) => {
-    const existing = containersRef.current.get(id);
-    if (existing) return existing;
-
-    const container = document.createElement("div");
-    container.className = "board-grid-portal-content";
-    container.dataset.boardGridPortal = id;
-    containersRef.current.set(id, container);
-    setContainers(new Map(containersRef.current));
-    return container;
+  const getEntryRuntime = useCallback(<TRuntime,>(entryId: string, createRuntime: () => TRuntime): TRuntime => {
+    const existing = entryRuntimesRef.current.get(entryId);
+    if (existing !== undefined) return existing as TRuntime;
+    const runtime = createRuntime();
+    entryRuntimesRef.current.set(entryId, runtime);
+    return runtime;
   }, []);
-
+  const liveItemIds = useMemo(() => new Set(board.items.map((item) => item.id)), [board.items]);
   useEffect(() => {
-    // A cross-grid move can briefly have no shell, but the entry still exists
-    // on the board. Only remove containers whose board entity was deleted.
-    let didPrune = false;
-    for (const id of containersRef.current.keys()) {
-      if (liveEntryIds.has(id)) continue;
-      containersRef.current.delete(id);
-      didPrune = true;
+    for (const entryId of entryRuntimesRef.current.keys()) {
+      if (!liveItemIds.has(entryId)) entryRuntimesRef.current.delete(entryId);
     }
-    if (didPrune) setContainers(new Map(containersRef.current));
-  }, [liveEntryIds]);
-
+  }, [liveItemIds]);
   const value = useMemo<GridPortalHostContextValue>(
-    () => ({
-      announce,
-      integrations,
-      containers,
-      acquireContainer,
-      structureRevision,
-    }),
-    [acquireContainer, announce, containers, integrations, structureRevision],
+    () => ({ announce, integrations, getEntryRuntime }),
+    [announce, getEntryRuntime, integrations],
   );
 
   return (
@@ -98,158 +59,8 @@ export const BoardGridPortalHost = ({ children }: PropsWithChildren) => {
   );
 };
 
-/**
- * Renders stable portal content at this component's logical React position.
- * Keep it inside the editor runtime and dnd-kit providers so portaled entries
- * inherit the same keyboard, transaction, and nested-grid contexts as shells.
- */
-export const BoardGridPortalRenderer = () => {
-  const board = useRequiredBoard();
-  const currentLayoutId = useCurrentLayout();
-  const { announce, containers, integrations } = useBoardGridPortalHost();
-
-  return (
-    <>
-      {Array.from(containers, ([id, container]) => {
-        const ownerSectionId = getOwnerSectionId(board, currentLayoutId, id);
-        return ownerSectionId
-          ? createPortal(
-              <GridPortalContent
-                itemId={id}
-                ownerSectionId={ownerSectionId}
-                integrations={integrations}
-                announce={announce}
-              />,
-              container,
-              id,
-            )
-          : null;
-      })}
-    </>
-  );
-};
-
 export const useBoardGridPortalHost = () => {
   const context = useContext(GridPortalHostContext);
   if (!context) throw new Error("BoardGridPortalHost is required");
   return context;
 };
-
-interface GridPortalContentProps {
-  itemId: string;
-  ownerSectionId: string;
-  integrations: RouterOutputs["integration"]["all"] | undefined;
-  announce: (message: string) => void;
-}
-
-const GridPortalContent = ({ itemId, ownerSectionId, integrations, announce }: GridPortalContentProps) => {
-  const board = useRequiredBoard();
-  const currentLayoutId = useCurrentLayout();
-  const { items, innerSections } = useSectionItems(ownerSectionId);
-  const currentLayout = board.layouts.find((layout) => layout.id === currentLayoutId);
-  const section = currentLayout ? getRenderedSection(board, currentLayout, ownerSectionId) : null;
-
-  if (!section || !currentLayout) return null;
-
-  const columnCount = getSectionColumnCount(section, currentLayout);
-  if (columnCount < 1) return null;
-  const renderedItems = items.map((item) => normalizePortalEntry(item, columnCount));
-  const renderedInnerSections = innerSections.map((innerSection) => normalizePortalEntry(innerSection, columnCount));
-  const entry = [...renderedItems, ...renderedInnerSections].find((candidate) => candidate.id === itemId);
-  if (!entry) return null;
-
-  const configuredMaxRowCount = section.kind === "container" ? section.height : null;
-  const contentRowCount = Math.max(
-    1,
-    ...renderedItems.map((item) => item.yOffset + item.height),
-    ...renderedInnerSections.map((innerSection) => innerSection.yOffset + innerSection.height),
-  );
-  const maxRowCount = configuredMaxRowCount === null ? null : Math.max(configuredMaxRowCount, contentRowCount);
-
-  return (
-    <SectionProvider
-      value={{
-        section,
-        items: renderedItems,
-        innerSections: renderedInnerSections,
-        integrations,
-        columnCount,
-        maxRowCount,
-        announce,
-      }}
-    >
-      <SectionContentItem item={entry} integrations={integrations} />
-    </SectionProvider>
-  );
-};
-
-const getRenderedSection = (
-  board: ReturnType<typeof useRequiredBoard>,
-  currentLayout: ReturnType<typeof useRequiredBoard>["layouts"][number],
-  sectionId: string,
-  visited = new Set<string>(),
-): Exclude<Section, { kind: "container" }> | ContainerSectionItem | null => {
-  const section = board.sections.find((candidate) => candidate.id === sectionId);
-  if (!section) return null;
-  if (section.kind !== "container") return section;
-  if (visited.has(section.id)) return null;
-
-  const layout = section.layouts.find((candidate) => candidate.layoutId === currentLayout.id);
-  if (!layout) return null;
-  const parentSection = getRenderedSection(
-    board,
-    currentLayout,
-    layout.parentSectionId,
-    new Set(visited).add(section.id),
-  );
-  if (!parentSection) return null;
-  const parentColumnCount = getSectionColumnCount(parentSection, currentLayout);
-  if (parentColumnCount < 1) return null;
-  const normalized = normalizePortalEntry(layout, parentColumnCount);
-
-  return {
-    ...section,
-    ...normalized,
-    type: "section",
-  };
-};
-
-const getSectionColumnCount = (
-  section: Exclude<Section, { kind: "container" }> | ContainerSectionItem,
-  currentLayout: ReturnType<typeof useRequiredBoard>["layouts"][number],
-) =>
-  section.kind === "container"
-    ? section.width
-    : section.kind === "empty"
-      ? getBoardLaneColumnCount(currentLayout, getRootSectionLane(section.xOffset))
-      : currentLayout.columnCount;
-
-const normalizePortalEntry = <
-  TEntry extends { id?: string; xOffset: number; yOffset: number; width: number; height: number },
->(
-  entry: TEntry,
-  columnCount: number,
-) => {
-  const placement = normalizeGridPlacement(
-    { id: entry.id ?? "portal-entry", x: entry.xOffset, y: entry.yOffset, w: entry.width, h: entry.height },
-    columnCount,
-  );
-  return {
-    ...entry,
-    xOffset: placement.x,
-    yOffset: placement.y,
-    width: placement.w,
-    height: placement.h,
-  };
-};
-
-const getOwnerSectionId = (board: ReturnType<typeof useRequiredBoard>, layoutId: string, entryId: string) => {
-  const item = board.items.find((candidate) => candidate.id === entryId);
-  if (item) {
-    return item.layouts.find((layout) => layout.layoutId === layoutId)?.sectionId ?? null;
-  }
-
-  const section = board.sections.find((candidate) => candidate.kind === "container" && candidate.id === entryId);
-  if (!section || section.kind !== "container") return null;
-  return section.layouts.find((layout) => layout.layoutId === layoutId)?.parentSectionId ?? null;
-};
diff --git a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/section-grid.module.css b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/section-grid.module.css
index 6c619a4c7..a722a8eee 100644
--- a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/section-grid.module.css
+++ b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/section-grid.module.css
@@ -14,19 +14,23 @@
   inset: 0 auto auto 0;
 }
 
+.editorPortalHost {
+  display: contents;
+}
+
 .staticItem {
   overflow: visible;
-  transition:
-    left 220ms ease,
-    top 220ms ease,
-    width 220ms ease,
-    height 220ms ease;
+}
+
+.contentMount {
+  position: absolute;
+  inset: 0;
+  width: 100%;
+  height: 100%;
+  overflow: visible;
 }
 
 .editorEntry {
-  position: relative;
-  width: 100%;
-  height: 100%;
   overflow: visible;
   cursor: grab;
   user-select: none;
@@ -43,19 +47,6 @@
   border-radius: var(--mantine-radius-md);
 }
 
-.editorLoading {
-  position: absolute;
-  inset: 0;
-  z-index: 20;
-  overflow: hidden;
-}
-
-.editorLoadingItem {
-  background-color: var(--mantine-color-default);
-  border: 1px solid var(--mantine-color-default-border);
-  border-radius: var(--mantine-radius-md);
-}
-
 .liveRegion {
   position: absolute;
   width: 1px;
@@ -67,9 +58,3 @@
   white-space: nowrap;
   border: 0;
 }
-
-@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
-  .staticItem {
-    transition: none;
-  }
-}
diff --git a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/section-grid.tsx b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/section-grid.tsx
index e2c990f5a..73260ba13 100644
--- a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/section-grid.tsx
+++ b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/section-grid.tsx
@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
 "use client";
 
-import { useEffect, useMemo, useState } from "react";
-import dynamic from "next/dynamic";
-import { Box, LoadingOverlay } from "@mantine/core";
+import type { CSSProperties, KeyboardEvent, PointerEvent } from "react";
+import { useEffect, useLayoutEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from "react";
+import { Box } from "@mantine/core";
 import combineClasses from "clsx";
 
 import { useCurrentLayout, useRequiredBoard } from "@homarr/boards/context";
 import { useEditMode } from "@homarr/boards/edit-mode";
-import { useI18n } from "@homarr/translation/client";
 
 import type { ContainerSectionItem, Section } from "~/app/[locale]/boards/_types";
 import {
@@ -15,56 +14,21 @@ import {
   getEditableCanvasAttributes,
   getGridRowCountForVisualHeight,
   getLayoutRowCount,
-  getLogicalItemStyle,
   getLogicalTrackSize,
   getReadonlyCanvasAttributes,
   normalizeGridPlacement,
 } from "~/components/board/layout";
 import { useBoardCanvasScale } from "~/components/board/layout/scaled-board-canvas";
-import { loadGridEditorAsync } from "./grid-editor-loader";
 import { useGridEditorRuntimeStatus } from "./grid-editor-runtime";
+import { createGridEntryElementStore, useGridEditorRegistry } from "./grid-editor-registry";
 import type { SectionGridPlacement } from "./use-grid-layout-actions";
 import { SectionContent } from "../content";
-import { useCollapsedSectionIds } from "../section-collapse";
-import { SectionProvider, useSectionContext } from "../section-context";
+import { useCollapsedSectionIds, useExpandSectionsForEditing } from "../section-collapse";
+import { SectionProvider } from "../section-context";
 import { useSectionItems } from "../use-section-items";
 import { useBoardGridPortalHost } from "./grid-portal-host";
 import classes from "./section-grid.module.css";
 
-const GridEditor = dynamic(loadGridEditorAsync, {
-  loading: GridEditorLoading,
-  ssr: false,
-});
-
-function GridEditorLoading() {
-  const t = useI18n();
-  const { items, innerSections } = useSectionContext();
-
-  return (
-    <Box
-      component="output"
-      className={classes.editorLoading}
-      data-testid="board-grid-editor-loading"
-      aria-label={t("common.action.loading")}
-    >
-      {[...items, ...innerSections].map((item) => (
-        <Box
-          key={item.id}
-          className={classes.editorLoadingItem}
-          style={getLogicalItemStyle({
-            x: item.xOffset,
-            y: item.yOffset,
-            w: item.width,
-            h: item.height,
-          })}
-          aria-hidden="true"
-        />
-      ))}
-      <LoadingOverlay visible />
-    </Box>
-  );
-}
-
 interface SectionGridProps {
   section: Exclude<Section, { kind: "container" }> | ContainerSectionItem;
   columnCount: number;
@@ -85,21 +49,19 @@ export const SectionGrid = ({
   const [isEditMode] = useEditMode();
   const canvasScale = useBoardCanvasScale();
   const editorRuntimeStatus = useGridEditorRuntimeStatus();
+  const editorRegistry = useGridEditorRegistry();
+  const editorHostRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
+  const [entryElementStore] = useState(createGridEntryElementStore);
   const board = useRequiredBoard();
   const currentLayoutId = useCurrentLayout();
   const { items, innerSections } = useSectionItems(section.id);
   const { announce, integrations } = useBoardGridPortalHost();
   const collapsedSectionIds = useCollapsedSectionIds();
-  const minimumBySectionId = useMemo(
-    () =>
-      new Map(
-        innerSections.map((innerSection) => [
-          innerSection.id,
-          getContainerMinimumSize(board, currentLayoutId, innerSection.id),
-        ]),
-      ),
-    [board, currentLayoutId, innerSections],
-  );
+  const expandSectionsForEditing = useExpandSectionsForEditing();
+  const minimumBySectionId = useMemo(() => {
+    const minimumSizes = getContainerMinimumSizes(board, currentLayoutId);
+    return new Map(innerSections.map((innerSection) => [innerSection.id, minimumSizes.get(innerSection.id)]));
+  }, [board, currentLayoutId, innerSections]);
 
   const placements = useMemo(
     () =>
@@ -121,41 +83,112 @@ export const SectionGrid = ({
       }),
     [columnCount, innerSections, items, minimumBySectionId],
   );
+  const collapsibleSectionIds = useMemo(
+    () =>
+      new Set(
+        innerSections.filter((innerSection) => innerSection.options.collapsible).map((innerSection) => innerSection.id),
+      ),
+    [innerSections],
+  );
 
+  const directCollapsedIds = useMemo(
+    () =>
+      new Set(
+        placements
+          .filter(
+            (placement) =>
+              placement.type === "section" &&
+              collapsedSectionIds.has(placement.id) &&
+              collapsibleSectionIds.has(placement.id),
+          )
+          .map((placement) => placement.id),
+      ),
+    [collapsedSectionIds, collapsibleSectionIds, placements],
+  );
   const displayPlacements = useMemo(() => {
-    const directCollapsedIds = new Set(
-      placements
-        .filter(
-          (placement) =>
-            placement.type === "section" &&
-            collapsedSectionIds.has(placement.id) &&
-            innerSections.find((innerSection) => innerSection.id === placement.id)?.options.collapsible,
-        )
-        .map((placement) => placement.id),
-    );
     if (directCollapsedIds.size === 0) return placements;
 
     return getCollapsedDisplayLayout(placements, {
       columnCount,
       collapsedItemIds: directCollapsedIds,
     });
-  }, [collapsedSectionIds, columnCount, innerSections, placements]);
+  }, [columnCount, directCollapsedIds, placements]);
 
   const placementById = useMemo(
     () => new Map(displayPlacements.map((placement) => [placement.id, placement])),
     [displayPlacements],
   );
-  const displayedItems = items.map((item) => withPlacement(item, placementById.get(item.id)));
-  const displayedInnerSections = innerSections.map((item) => withPlacement(item, placementById.get(item.id)));
+  const displayedItems = useMemo(
+    () => items.map((item) => withPlacement(item, placementById.get(item.id))),
+    [items, placementById],
+  );
+  const displayedInnerSections = useMemo(
+    () => innerSections.map((item) => withPlacement(item, placementById.get(item.id))),
+    [innerSections, placementById],
+  );
   const minimumViewportRowCount = useMinimumViewportRowCount(section.kind === "empty", canvasScale);
   const contentRowCount = Math.max(1, getLayoutRowCount(displayPlacements));
   const rowCount = Math.max(contentRowCount, requestedRowCount, minimumViewportRowCount);
   const maxRowCount = section.kind === "container" || railPlacement !== "main" ? rowCount : null;
   const logicalWidth = getLogicalTrackSize(columnCount);
   const logicalHeight = getLogicalTrackSize(rowCount);
-  const canvasAttributes = isEditMode
-    ? getEditableCanvasAttributes({ label, columnCount, rowCount })
-    : getReadonlyCanvasAttributes({ label });
+  // A collapsed container's compact coordinates are display-only. Its own
+  // nested grid stays inactive until an explicit edit interaction expands it.
+  const isInteractionDisabled = section.kind === "container" && collapsedSectionIds.has(section.id);
+  const canvasAttributes =
+    isEditMode && !isInteractionDisabled
+      ? getEditableCanvasAttributes({ label, columnCount, rowCount })
+      : getReadonlyCanvasAttributes({ label });
+  const editorClassName = combineClasses("board-grid-editor", classes.editorGrid);
+  const expandCollapsedSectionsForPointerEdit = (event: PointerEvent<HTMLDivElement>) => {
+    if (!isEditMode || directCollapsedIds.size === 0 || event.button !== 0) return;
+    const target = event.target;
+    if (!(target instanceof Element)) return;
+    const entry = target.closest('[data-editor-grid-entry="true"]');
+    if (!entry || !event.currentTarget.contains(entry)) return;
+    if (!target.closest(".board-grid-resize-handle") && target.closest(INTERACTIVE_GRID_SELECTOR)) return;
+    expandSectionsForEditing(directCollapsedIds);
+  };
+  const expandCollapsedSectionsForKeyboardEdit = (event: KeyboardEvent<HTMLDivElement>) => {
+    if (!isEditMode || directCollapsedIds.size === 0 || !EDIT_ACTIVATION_KEYS.has(event.key)) return;
+    const target = event.target;
+    if (!(target instanceof Element) || !target.matches('[data-editor-grid-entry="true"]')) return;
+    expandSectionsForEditing(directCollapsedIds);
+  };
+
+  useLayoutEffect(() => {
+    const host = editorHostRef.current;
+    if (!host) return;
+
+    return editorRegistry.register({
+      host,
+      disabled: isInteractionDisabled,
+      sectionId: section.id,
+      section,
+      items: displayedItems,
+      innerSections: displayedInnerSections,
+      columnCount,
+      rowCount,
+      maxRowCount,
+      placements: displayPlacements,
+      transactionPlacements: placements,
+      className: editorClassName,
+      entryElementStore,
+    });
+  }, [
+    columnCount,
+    displayPlacements,
+    displayedInnerSections,
+    displayedItems,
+    editorClassName,
+    editorRegistry,
+    entryElementStore,
+    isInteractionDisabled,
+    maxRowCount,
+    placements,
+    rowCount,
+    section,
+  ]);
 
   return (
     <SectionProvider
@@ -166,47 +199,48 @@ export const SectionGrid = ({
         integrations,
         columnCount,
         maxRowCount,
+        placements: displayPlacements,
+        interactionDisabled: isInteractionDisabled,
         announce,
+        entryElementStore,
       }}
     >
       <Box
         {...canvasAttributes}
         className={combineClasses(classes.viewport, className)}
-        style={{
-          width: logicalWidth,
-          height: `var(--board-grid-drag-height, ${logicalHeight}px)`,
-        }}
+        style={
+          {
+            width: logicalWidth,
+            height: `var(--board-grid-drag-height, ${logicalHeight}px)`,
+            "--board-item-radius": `var(--mantine-radius-${board.itemRadius})`,
+          } as CSSProperties
+        }
         data-section-id={section.id}
         data-section-kind={section.kind}
         data-rail-placement={railPlacement}
+        data-grid-interaction-disabled={isEditMode && isInteractionDisabled ? "true" : undefined}
+        onPointerDownCapture={expandCollapsedSectionsForPointerEdit}
+        onKeyDownCapture={expandCollapsedSectionsForKeyboardEdit}
       >
-        {isEditMode && editorRuntimeStatus === "ready" ? (
-          <GridEditor
-            sectionId={section.id}
-            columnCount={columnCount}
-            rowCount={rowCount}
-            maxRowCount={maxRowCount}
-            placements={displayPlacements}
-            className={combineClasses("board-grid-editor", classes.editorGrid)}
-          />
-        ) : isEditMode && editorRuntimeStatus === "loading" ? (
-          <GridEditorLoading />
-        ) : (
-          <Box
-            className={classes.staticGrid}
-            style={{ width: logicalWidth, height: logicalHeight }}
-            data-grid-section-id={section.id}
-            data-kind={section.kind}
-            data-grid-editor-error={isEditMode && editorRuntimeStatus === "error" ? "true" : undefined}
-          >
-            <SectionContent />
-          </Box>
-        )}
+        <Box
+          className={classes.staticGrid}
+          style={{ width: logicalWidth, height: logicalHeight }}
+          data-grid-section-id={section.id}
+          data-kind={section.kind}
+          data-grid-editor-error={isEditMode && editorRuntimeStatus === "error" ? "true" : undefined}
+        >
+          <SectionContent />
+        </Box>
+        <div ref={editorHostRef} className={classes.editorPortalHost} />
       </Box>
     </SectionProvider>
   );
 };
 
+const INTERACTIVE_GRID_SELECTOR =
+  'a,button,input,textarea,select,option,[contenteditable="true"],[role="button"],[data-grid-no-drag]';
+const EDIT_ACTIVATION_KEYS = new Set(["Enter", " ", "ArrowLeft", "ArrowRight", "ArrowUp", "ArrowDown"]);
+
 const useMinimumViewportRowCount = (enabled: boolean, canvasScale: number) => {
   const [visualHeight, setVisualHeight] = useState(0);
 
@@ -225,37 +259,70 @@ const useMinimumViewportRowCount = (enabled: boolean, canvasScale: number) => {
   return enabled ? getGridRowCountForVisualHeight(visualHeight, canvasScale) : 0;
 };
 
-const getContainerMinimumSize = (
-  board: ReturnType<typeof useRequiredBoard>,
-  layoutId: string,
-  sectionId: string,
-  visited = new Set<string>(),
-): { width: number; height: number } => {
-  if (visited.has(sectionId)) return { width: 1, height: 1 };
-  const nextVisited = new Set(visited).add(sectionId);
-  const directItems: PlacementBounds[] = board.items.flatMap((item) => {
-    const layout = item.layouts.find((candidate) => candidate.layoutId === layoutId);
-    return layout?.sectionId === sectionId ? [layout] : [];
-  });
-  const directSections: PlacementBounds[] = board.sections.flatMap((candidate) => {
-    if (candidate.kind !== "container") return [];
-    const layout = candidate.layouts.find((candidateLayout) => candidateLayout.layoutId === layoutId);
-    if (!layout || layout.parentSectionId !== sectionId) return [];
-    const minimum = getContainerMinimumSize(board, layoutId, candidate.id, nextVisited);
-    return [
-      {
-        ...layout,
-        width: Math.max(layout.width, minimum.width),
-        height: Math.max(layout.height, minimum.height),
-      },
-    ];
-  });
-  const children = [...directItems, ...directSections];
+const containerMinimumSizeCache = new WeakMap<
+  ReturnType<typeof useRequiredBoard>,
+  Map<string, ReadonlyMap<string, { width: number; height: number }>>
+>();
 
-  return {
-    width: Math.max(1, ...children.map((child) => child.xOffset + child.width)),
-    height: Math.max(1, ...children.map((child) => child.yOffset + child.height)),
+const getContainerMinimumSizes = (board: ReturnType<typeof useRequiredBoard>, layoutId: string) => {
+  const cachedByLayout = containerMinimumSizeCache.get(board);
+  const cached = cachedByLayout?.get(layoutId);
+  if (cached) return cached;
+
+  const directItemsBySectionId = new Map<string, PlacementBounds[]>();
+  for (const item of board.items) {
+    const layout = item.layouts.find((candidate) => candidate.layoutId === layoutId);
+    if (!layout) continue;
+    const entries = directItemsBySectionId.get(layout.sectionId) ?? [];
+    entries.push(layout);
+    directItemsBySectionId.set(layout.sectionId, entries);
+  }
+
+  const directSectionsBySectionId = new Map<string, { id: string; placement: PlacementBounds }[]>();
+  for (const section of board.sections) {
+    if (section.kind !== "container") continue;
+    const layout = section.layouts.find((candidate) => candidate.layoutId === layoutId);
+    if (!layout) continue;
+    const entries = directSectionsBySectionId.get(layout.parentSectionId) ?? [];
+    entries.push({ id: section.id, placement: layout });
+    directSectionsBySectionId.set(layout.parentSectionId, entries);
+  }
+
+  const minimumBySectionId = new Map<string, { width: number; height: number }>();
+  const visiting = new Set<string>();
+  const resolve = (sectionId: string): { width: number; height: number } => {
+    const existing = minimumBySectionId.get(sectionId);
+    if (existing) return existing;
+    if (visiting.has(sectionId)) return { width: 1, height: 1 };
+    visiting.add(sectionId);
+
+    const itemBounds = directItemsBySectionId.get(sectionId) ?? [];
+    const sectionBounds = (directSectionsBySectionId.get(sectionId) ?? []).map(({ id, placement }) => {
+      const minimum = resolve(id);
+      return {
+        ...placement,
+        width: Math.max(placement.width, minimum.width),
+        height: Math.max(placement.height, minimum.height),
+      };
+    });
+    const children = [...itemBounds, ...sectionBounds];
+    const minimum = {
+      width: Math.max(1, ...children.map((child) => child.xOffset + child.width)),
+      height: Math.max(1, ...children.map((child) => child.yOffset + child.height)),
+    };
+    visiting.delete(sectionId);
+    minimumBySectionId.set(sectionId, minimum);
+    return minimum;
   };
+
+  for (const section of board.sections) {
+    if (section.kind === "container") resolve(section.id);
+  }
+
+  const nextByLayout = cachedByLayout ?? new Map();
+  nextByLayout.set(layoutId, minimumBySectionId);
+  containerMinimumSizeCache.set(board, nextByLayout);
+  return minimumBySectionId;
 };
 
 interface PlacementBounds {
diff --git a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/test/fixed-grid-item.spec.ts b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/test/fixed-grid-item.spec.ts
index 858d68cb3..5cb587347 100644
--- a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/test/fixed-grid-item.spec.ts
+++ b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/test/fixed-grid-item.spec.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ const mocks = vi.hoisted(() => ({
   commitSectionGrid: vi.fn(),
   isSelected: vi.fn(() => false),
   toggleSelectItem: vi.fn(),
+  registerElement: vi.fn(),
   editMode: true,
   maxRowCount: null as number | null,
   items: [
@@ -79,7 +80,17 @@ vi.mock("../../section-context", () => ({
     innerSections: [],
     columnCount: 3,
     maxRowCount: mocks.maxRowCount,
+    placements: mocks.items.map((item) => ({
+      id: item.id,
+      type: item.type,
+      x: item.xOffset,
+      y: item.yOffset,
+      w: item.width,
+      h: item.height,
+    })),
+    interactionDisabled: false,
     announce: mocks.announce,
+    entryElementStore: { register: mocks.registerElement },
   }),
 }));
 
@@ -98,6 +109,7 @@ describe("fixed grid item behavior", () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     mocks.announce.mockReset();
     mocks.commitSectionGrid.mockReset();
+    mocks.registerElement.mockReset();
     mocks.editMode = true;
     mocks.maxRowCount = null;
     getWeatherMock().advancedOptions.title = null;
diff --git a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/test/grid-entry-memo.spec.tsx b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/test/grid-entry-memo.spec.tsx
index da55f1607..3cb55bf9f 100644
--- a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/test/grid-entry-memo.spec.tsx
+++ b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/test/grid-entry-memo.spec.tsx
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ describe("grid entry memoization", () => {
       {
         "data-grid-id": props.placement.id,
         "data-x": props.placement.x,
-        ref: (element: HTMLSpanElement | null) => props.registerElement(props.placement.id, element),
       },
       createElement(WidgetProbe),
     );
@@ -79,21 +78,17 @@ describe("grid entry memoization", () => {
   });
 
   test("keeps 100 entry and widget renders frozen across interaction store previews", () => {
-    const elements = new Map<string, HTMLElement>();
     const interactionStore = createGridInteractionStore<GridInteraction>();
     const gridRef = { current: null as HTMLDivElement | null };
     const setGridRef = (element: HTMLDivElement | null) => {
       gridRef.current = element;
     };
-    const registerElement = (id: string, element: HTMLElement | null) => {
-      if (element) elements.set(id, element);
-      else elements.delete(id);
-    };
     const entries = Array.from({ length: 100 }, (_, index) => ({
       ...createProps(),
-      registerElement,
+      element: document.createElement("span"),
       placement: { ...createProps().placement, id: `item-${index}`, x: index % 10, y: Math.floor(index / 10) },
     }));
+    const elements = new Map(entries.map((entry) => [entry.placement.id, entry.element]));
     const renderPreviewBoard = (nextEntries: DndGridEntryProps[]) => {
       act(() =>
         root.render(
@@ -160,7 +155,7 @@ describe("grid entry memoization", () => {
   test.each([
     ["label", (props: DndGridEntryProps) => ({ ...props, label: "Changed" })],
     ["grid limits", (props: DndGridEntryProps) => ({ ...props, maxRowCount: 10 })],
-    ["element registration", (props: DndGridEntryProps) => ({ ...props, registerElement: () => undefined })],
+    ["bound element", (props: DndGridEntryProps) => ({ ...props, element: document.createElement("span") })],
     [
       "minimum size",
       (props: DndGridEntryProps) => ({
@@ -198,5 +193,5 @@ const createProps = (): DndGridEntryProps => ({
   label: "Weather",
   columnCount: 12,
   maxRowCount: null,
-  registerElement: () => undefined,
+  element: null,
 });
diff --git a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/test/grid-import-boundary.spec.ts b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/test/grid-import-boundary.spec.ts
index 6da6a4f2a..827756828 100644
--- a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/test/grid-import-boundary.spec.ts
+++ b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/test/grid-import-boundary.spec.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { describe, expect, test } from "vitest";
 const gridDirectory = resolve(import.meta.dirname, "..");
 const nextjsSourceDirectory = resolve(gridDirectory, "../../../../");
 const sectionGridPath = resolve(gridDirectory, "section-grid.tsx");
+const editorBoundaryPath = resolve(gridDirectory, "board-grid-editor-boundary.tsx");
 const editorLoaderPath = resolve(gridDirectory, "grid-editor-loader.ts");
 
 describe("board grid import boundary", () => {
@@ -33,15 +34,16 @@ describe("board grid import boundary", () => {
     ]);
   });
 
-  test("loads the editor through next/dynamic only in the edit branch", () => {
-    const source = readFileSync(sectionGridPath, "utf8");
+  test("loads the editor only in edit mode without replacing static board content", () => {
+    const sectionSource = readFileSync(sectionGridPath, "utf8");
+    const boundarySource = readFileSync(editorBoundaryPath, "utf8");
 
-    expect(source).toMatch(/import dynamic from ["']next\/dynamic["']/);
-    expect(source).toMatch(
-      /const GridEditor = dynamic\(loadGridEditorAsync,\s*{[\s\S]*?loading:\s*GridEditorLoading,[\s\S]*?ssr:\s*false,[\s\S]*?}\);/,
-    );
-    expect(source.match(/<GridEditor\b/g)).toHaveLength(1);
-    expect(source).toMatch(/isEditMode\s*&&\s*editorRuntimeStatus\s*===\s*["']ready["']\s*\?\s*\(\s*<GridEditor\b/);
+    expect(sectionSource).not.toMatch(/import dynamic from ["']next\/dynamic["']/);
+    expect(sectionSource).toMatch(/<SectionContent\s*\/>/);
+    expect(sectionSource).toMatch(/<div ref={editorHostRef} className={classes\.editorPortalHost}\s*\/>/);
+    expect(boundarySource).toMatch(/loadGridEditorAsync\(\)/);
+    expect(boundarySource).toMatch(/isEditMode\s*&&\s*Provider\s*&&\s*GridEditor/);
+    expect(boundarySource).toMatch(/createPortal\(<GridEditor \{\.\.\.props} \/>, host, props\.sectionId\)/);
     expect(getRuntimeImports(sectionGridPath).filter(({ specifier }) => specifier === "./grid-editor")).toEqual([]);
     expect(
       getRuntimeImports(editorLoaderPath)
diff --git a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/test/grid-portal-host.spec.ts b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/test/grid-portal-host.spec.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index d38ea78de..000000000
--- a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/grid/test/grid-portal-host.spec.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,104 +0,0 @@
-import { act, createElement, useLayoutEffect } from "react";
-import { createRoot } from "react-dom/client";
-import type { Root } from "react-dom/client";
-import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, test, vi } from "vitest";
-
-import { BoardGridPortalHost, useBoardGridPortalHost } from "../grid-portal-host";
-
-const mocks = vi.hoisted(() => ({
-  board: {
-    items: [{ id: "weather", layouts: [{ layoutId: "desktop", sectionId: "root" }] }],
-    sections: [],
-  },
-}));
-
-vi.mock("@homarr/api/client", () => ({
-  clientApi: {
-    integration: {
-      all: {
-        useQuery: () => ({ data: undefined }),
-      },
-    },
-  },
-}));
-
-vi.mock("@homarr/auth/client", () => ({
-  useSession: () => ({ data: { user: { id: "user" } } }),
-}));
-
-vi.mock("@homarr/boards/context", () => ({
-  useCurrentLayout: () => "desktop",
-  useRequiredBoard: () => mocks.board,
-}));
-
-vi.mock("@homarr/boards/edit-mode", () => ({
-  useEditMode: () => [true],
-}));
-
-describe("board grid portal host", () => {
-  let container: HTMLDivElement;
-  let root: Root;
-
-  beforeEach(() => {
-    mocks.board = {
-      items: [{ id: "weather", layouts: [{ layoutId: "desktop", sectionId: "root" }] }],
-      sections: [],
-    };
-    container = document.createElement("div");
-    document.body.append(container);
-    root = createRoot(container);
-  });
-
-  afterEach(() => {
-    act(() => root.unmount());
-    container.remove();
-  });
-
-  test("keeps a portal across relocation and prunes it after permanent deletion", () => {
-    const acquired: HTMLElement[] = [];
-
-    renderHost(root, true, 0, acquired);
-    expect(getContainerCount(container)).toBe("1");
-
-    mocks.board = {
-      items: [{ id: "weather", layouts: [{ layoutId: "desktop", sectionId: "other" }] }],
-      sections: [],
-    };
-    renderHost(root, true, 1, acquired);
-    expect(getContainerCount(container)).toBe("1");
-    expect(new Set(acquired).size).toBe(1);
-
-    mocks.board = { items: [], sections: [] };
-    renderHost(root, false, 2, acquired);
-    expect(getContainerCount(container)).toBe("0");
-  });
-});
-
-const renderHost = (root: Root, acquire: boolean, revision: number, acquired: HTMLElement[]) => {
-  act(() => {
-    root.render(
-      createElement(BoardGridPortalHost, null, createElement(PortalRegistryProbe, { acquire, revision, acquired })),
-    );
-  });
-};
-
-const PortalRegistryProbe = ({
-  acquire,
-  revision,
-  acquired,
-}: {
-  acquire: boolean;
-  revision: number;
-  acquired: HTMLElement[];
-}) => {
-  const portalHost = useBoardGridPortalHost();
-
-  useLayoutEffect(() => {
-    if (acquire) acquired.push(portalHost.acquireContainer("weather"));
-  }, [acquire, acquired, portalHost, revision]);
-
-  return createElement("span", { "data-container-count": String(portalHost.containers.size) });
-};
-
-const getContainerCount = (container: HTMLElement) =>
-  container.querySelector<HTMLElement>("[data-container-count]")?.dataset.containerCount;
diff --git a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/section-collapse.tsx b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/section-collapse.tsx
index 5911ada44..6d2492e2f 100644
--- a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/section-collapse.tsx
+++ b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/section-collapse.tsx
@@ -12,13 +12,16 @@ import { readSectionCollapsedFromStorage, writeSectionCollapsedToStorage } from
 
 interface SectionCollapseContextValue {
   collapsedSectionIds: ReadonlySet<string>;
+  visuallyCollapsedSectionIds: ReadonlySet<string>;
   setCollapsed: (sectionId: string, collapsed: boolean) => void;
+  expandForEditing: (sectionIds: ReadonlySet<string>) => void;
 }
 
 const SectionCollapseContext = createContext<SectionCollapseContextValue | null>(null);
 
 export const BoardSectionCollapseProvider = ({ children }: PropsWithChildren) => {
   const board = useRequiredBoard();
+  const [isEditMode] = useEditMode();
   const { status } = useSession();
   const { mutate } = clientApi.section.changeCollapsed.useMutation();
   const [collapsedById, setCollapsedById] = useState<Record<string, boolean>>(() =>
@@ -27,8 +30,13 @@ export const BoardSectionCollapseProvider = ({ children }: PropsWithChildren) =>
     ),
   );
   const collapsedByIdRef = useRef(collapsedById);
+  const [temporarilyExpandedIds, setTemporarilyExpandedIds] = useState<ReadonlySet<string>>(() => new Set());
   collapsedByIdRef.current = collapsedById;
 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!isEditMode) setTemporarilyExpandedIds((current) => (current.size === 0 ? current : new Set()));
+  }, [isEditMode]);
+
   useEffect(() => {
     setCollapsedById((previous) => {
       const next = { ...previous };
@@ -57,6 +65,12 @@ export const BoardSectionCollapseProvider = ({ children }: PropsWithChildren) =>
       const previousCollapsed = collapsedByIdRef.current[sectionId] ?? false;
       collapsedByIdRef.current = { ...collapsedByIdRef.current, [sectionId]: collapsed };
       setCollapsedById((previous) => ({ ...previous, [sectionId]: collapsed }));
+      setTemporarilyExpandedIds((current) => {
+        if (!current.has(sectionId)) return current;
+        const next = new Set(current);
+        next.delete(sectionId);
+        return next;
+      });
 
       if (status === "authenticated") {
         mutate(
@@ -76,47 +90,70 @@ export const BoardSectionCollapseProvider = ({ children }: PropsWithChildren) =>
     [mutate, status],
   );
 
-  const value = useMemo<SectionCollapseContextValue>(
-    () => ({
-      collapsedSectionIds: new Set(
-        Object.entries(collapsedById)
-          .filter(([, collapsed]) => collapsed)
-          .map(([sectionId]) => sectionId),
+  const expandForEditing = useCallback(
+    (sectionIds: ReadonlySet<string>) => {
+      if (!isEditMode || sectionIds.size === 0) return;
+      setTemporarilyExpandedIds((current) => {
+        const next = new Set(current);
+        for (const sectionId of sectionIds) next.add(sectionId);
+        return next.size === current.size ? current : next;
+      });
+    },
+    [isEditMode],
+  );
+
+  const value = useMemo<SectionCollapseContextValue>(() => {
+    const collapsedSectionIds = new Set(
+      Object.entries(collapsedById)
+        .filter(([, collapsed]) => collapsed)
+        .map(([sectionId]) => sectionId),
+    );
+    return {
+      collapsedSectionIds,
+      visuallyCollapsedSectionIds: new Set(
+        [...collapsedSectionIds].filter((sectionId) => !isEditMode || !temporarilyExpandedIds.has(sectionId)),
       ),
       setCollapsed,
-    }),
-    [collapsedById, setCollapsed],
-  );
+      expandForEditing,
+    };
+  }, [collapsedById, expandForEditing, isEditMode, setCollapsed, temporarilyExpandedIds]);
 
   return <SectionCollapseContext.Provider value={value}>{children}</SectionCollapseContext.Provider>;
 };
 
 export const useSectionCollapse = ({ sectionId, collapsible }: { sectionId: string; collapsible: boolean }) => {
   const context = useContext(SectionCollapseContext);
-  const [isEditMode] = useEditMode();
 
   if (!context) {
     throw new Error("BoardSectionCollapseProvider is required");
   }
 
   const isCollapsed = collapsible && context.collapsedSectionIds.has(sectionId);
+  const isVisuallyCollapsed = collapsible && context.visuallyCollapsedSectionIds.has(sectionId);
   return {
     isCollapsed,
-    isVisuallyCollapsed: isCollapsed && !isEditMode,
+    isVisuallyCollapsed,
     setCollapsed: (collapsed: boolean) => context.setCollapsed(sectionId, collapsed),
-    toggle: () => context.setCollapsed(sectionId, !isCollapsed),
+    toggle: () => context.setCollapsed(sectionId, !isVisuallyCollapsed),
   };
 };
 
 export const useCollapsedSectionIds = () => {
   const context = useContext(SectionCollapseContext);
-  const [isEditMode] = useEditMode();
 
   if (!context) {
     throw new Error("BoardSectionCollapseProvider is required");
   }
 
-  return isEditMode ? EMPTY_SET : context.collapsedSectionIds;
+  return context.visuallyCollapsedSectionIds;
 };
 
-const EMPTY_SET = new Set<string>();
+export const useExpandSectionsForEditing = () => {
+  const context = useContext(SectionCollapseContext);
+
+  if (!context) {
+    throw new Error("BoardSectionCollapseProvider is required");
+  }
+
+  return context.expandForEditing;
+};
diff --git a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/section-context.ts b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/section-context.ts
index a06fde51e..41179e688 100644
--- a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/section-context.ts
+++ b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/section-context.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ import { createContext, useContext } from "react";
 import type { RouterOutputs } from "@homarr/api";
 
 import type { ContainerSectionItem, Section, SectionItem } from "~/app/[locale]/boards/_types";
+import type { GridEntryElementStore } from "./grid/grid-editor-registry";
+import type { SectionGridPlacement } from "./grid/use-grid-layout-actions";
 
 interface SectionContextProps {
   section: Exclude<Section, { kind: "container" }> | ContainerSectionItem;
@@ -11,7 +13,10 @@ interface SectionContextProps {
   integrations: RouterOutputs["integration"]["all"] | undefined;
   columnCount: number;
   maxRowCount: number | null;
+  placements: readonly SectionGridPlacement[];
+  interactionDisabled: boolean;
   announce: (message: string) => void;
+  entryElementStore: GridEntryElementStore;
 }
 
 const SectionContext = createContext<SectionContextProps | null>(null);
diff --git a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/use-section-items.ts b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/use-section-items.ts
index f4ab23b0a..27ded688a 100644
--- a/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/use-section-items.ts
+++ b/apps/nextjs/src/components/board/sections/use-section-items.ts
@@ -7,47 +7,55 @@ import type { ContainerSectionItem, SectionItem } from "~/app/[locale]/boards/_t
 export const useSectionItems = (sectionId: string): { innerSections: ContainerSectionItem[]; items: SectionItem[] } => {
   const board = useRequiredBoard();
   const currentLayoutId = useCurrentLayout();
-
-  const innerSections = useMemo(
-    () =>
-      board.sections
-        .filter((innerSection) => innerSection.kind === "container")
-        .map(({ layouts, ...innerSection }) => {
-          const layout = layouts.find((layout) => layout.layoutId === currentLayoutId);
-
-          if (!layout) return null;
-
-          return {
-            ...layout,
-            ...innerSection,
-            type: "section" as const,
-          };
-        })
-        .filter((item) => item !== null)
-        .filter((innerSection) => innerSection.parentSectionId === sectionId),
-    [board.sections, currentLayoutId, sectionId],
-  );
-
-  const items = useMemo(
-    () =>
-      board.items
-        .map(({ layouts, ...item }) => {
-          const layout = layouts.find((layout) => layout.layoutId === currentLayoutId);
-          if (!layout) return null;
-
-          return {
-            ...layout,
-            ...item,
-            type: "item" as const,
-          };
-        })
-        .filter((item) => item !== null)
-        .filter((item) => item.sectionId === sectionId),
-    [board.items, currentLayoutId, sectionId],
-  );
+  const index = useMemo(() => getSectionItemsIndex(board, currentLayoutId), [board, currentLayoutId]);
 
   return {
-    innerSections,
-    items,
+    innerSections: index.innerSectionsByParentId.get(sectionId) ?? EMPTY_INNER_SECTIONS,
+    items: index.itemsBySectionId.get(sectionId) ?? EMPTY_ITEMS,
   };
 };
+
+interface SectionItemsIndex {
+  innerSectionsByParentId: ReadonlyMap<string, ContainerSectionItem[]>;
+  itemsBySectionId: ReadonlyMap<string, SectionItem[]>;
+}
+
+const sectionItemsIndexCache = new WeakMap<
+  ReturnType<typeof useRequiredBoard>,
+  Map<string, SectionItemsIndex>
+>();
+const EMPTY_INNER_SECTIONS: ContainerSectionItem[] = [];
+const EMPTY_ITEMS: SectionItem[] = [];
+
+const getSectionItemsIndex = (board: ReturnType<typeof useRequiredBoard>, layoutId: string): SectionItemsIndex => {
+  const cachedByLayout = sectionItemsIndexCache.get(board);
+  const cached = cachedByLayout?.get(layoutId);
+  if (cached) return cached;
+
+  const innerSectionsByParentId = new Map<string, ContainerSectionItem[]>();
+  for (const section of board.sections) {
+    if (section.kind !== "container") continue;
+    const { layouts, ...definition } = section;
+    const layout = layouts.find((candidate) => candidate.layoutId === layoutId);
+    if (!layout) continue;
+    const entries = innerSectionsByParentId.get(layout.parentSectionId) ?? [];
+    entries.push({ ...layout, ...definition, type: "section" });
+    innerSectionsByParentId.set(layout.parentSectionId, entries);
+  }
+
+  const itemsBySectionId = new Map<string, SectionItem[]>();
+  for (const item of board.items) {
+    const { layouts, ...definition } = item;
+    const layout = layouts.find((candidate) => candidate.layoutId === layoutId);
+    if (!layout) continue;
+    const entries = itemsBySectionId.get(layout.sectionId) ?? [];
+    entries.push({ ...layout, ...definition, type: "item" });
+    itemsBySectionId.set(layout.sectionId, entries);
+  }
+
+  const index = { innerSectionsByParentId, itemsBySectionId };
+  const nextByLayout = cachedByLayout ?? new Map();
+  nextByLayout.set(layoutId, index);
+  sectionItemsIndexCache.set(board, nextByLayout);
+  return index;
+};