diff --git a/apps/docs/docs/management/assistant.mdx b/apps/docs/docs/management/assistant.mdx
index 2a9f038ba..6fb125c9d 100644
--- a/apps/docs/docs/management/assistant.mdx
+++ b/apps/docs/docs/management/assistant.mdx
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ While a response is running, a compact activity bar appears at the bottom of the
 avatar shows a thinking indicator. The activity bar can be opened to follow the response. Completed
 responses add an unread count to the user menu until they are opened or dismissed. The expanded
 conversation has a minimize action that returns it to the activity bar without interrupting a response.
-Its desktop-style window controls can also maximize the conversation to the available viewport or close it
-without leaving an activity bar behind. Each control includes an icon, tooltip, and accessible label.
+Its adjacent close action hides the panel without leaving an activity bar behind. Both window actions use
+subtle buttons with an icon, tooltip, and accessible label.
 The transcript follows streamed output while it is already at the bottom, including fast responses. Scrolling
 up releases that follow state until **Scroll to latest** is selected or the user returns to the bottom.
 
diff --git a/apps/nextjs/src/components/assistant/assistant-panel.module.css b/apps/nextjs/src/components/assistant/assistant-panel.module.css
index 2de291799..a834504fd 100644
--- a/apps/nextjs/src/components/assistant/assistant-panel.module.css
+++ b/apps/nextjs/src/components/assistant/assistant-panel.module.css
@@ -117,15 +117,6 @@
   animation: assistant-panel-in 180ms cubic-bezier(0.22, 1, 0.36, 1);
 }
 
-.floatingPanel[data-maximized] {
-  inset: 1rem;
-  width: auto;
-  height: auto;
-  min-height: 0;
-  transform: none;
-  animation: none;
-}
-
 .widgetPanel {
   container-name: assistant-widget;
   container-type: size;
@@ -188,21 +179,8 @@
 }
 
 .windowControl {
-  width: 1.75rem;
-  height: 1.75rem;
-  border: 0;
-  color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.72);
-  transition:
-    filter 160ms cubic-bezier(0.22, 1, 0.36, 1),
-    transform 160ms cubic-bezier(0.22, 1, 0.36, 1);
-}
-
-.windowControl:hover {
-  filter: brightness(0.94) saturate(1.08);
-}
-
-.windowControl:active {
-  transform: scale(0.92);
+  width: 2.25rem;
+  height: 2.25rem;
 }
 
 .windowControl:focus-visible {
@@ -210,18 +188,6 @@
   outline-offset: 2px;
 }
 
-.windowControlClose {
-  background: var(--mantine-color-red-6);
-}
-
-.windowControlMinimize {
-  background: var(--mantine-color-yellow-5);
-}
-
-.windowControlMaximize {
-  background: var(--mantine-color-green-6);
-}
-
 .panelAction {
   width: 2.625rem;
   height: 2.625rem;
@@ -1666,14 +1632,6 @@
     min-height: min(20rem, calc(100dvh - 1rem - env(safe-area-inset-bottom, 0px)));
   }
 
-  .floatingPanel[data-maximized] {
-    inset: 0;
-    width: 100vw;
-    height: 100dvh;
-    min-height: 0;
-    border-radius: 0;
-  }
-
   .panelHeader {
     min-height: 3.5rem;
     padding: 0.5rem;
@@ -1809,7 +1767,6 @@
 @media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
   .activityBar,
   .floatingPanel,
-  .windowControl,
   .disclosureIcon,
   .reasoningChevron {
     animation: none;
diff --git a/apps/nextjs/src/components/assistant/assistant-panel.tsx b/apps/nextjs/src/components/assistant/assistant-panel.tsx
index a482eb7c9..7963efa57 100644
--- a/apps/nextjs/src/components/assistant/assistant-panel.tsx
+++ b/apps/nextjs/src/components/assistant/assistant-panel.tsx
@@ -78,7 +78,6 @@ import {
   IconApps,
   IconArrowUp,
   IconArrowsMaximize,
-  IconArrowsMinimize,
   IconAt,
   IconCheck,
   IconChevronDown,
@@ -2733,8 +2732,6 @@ interface AssistantConversationSurfaceProps extends AssistantConversationControl
   onExpand?: () => void;
   onMinimize?: () => void;
   onWindowClose?: () => void;
-  onToggleMaximize?: () => void;
-  maximized?: boolean;
 }
 
 export const AssistantConversationSurface = ({
@@ -2752,8 +2749,6 @@ export const AssistantConversationSurface = ({
   onExpand,
   onMinimize,
   onWindowClose,
-  onToggleMaximize,
-  maximized = false,
 }: AssistantConversationSurfaceProps) => {
   const t = useScopedI18n("common.assistant");
   const reducedMotion = useReducedMotion();
@@ -2768,7 +2763,7 @@ export const AssistantConversationSurface = ({
   return (
     <>
       <Group className={classes.panelHeader} justify="space-between" wrap="nowrap" gap="xs">
-        {onWindowClose && onMinimize && onToggleMaximize && (
+        {onWindowClose && onMinimize && (
           <Group
             component="fieldset"
             className={classes.windowControls}
@@ -2778,34 +2773,24 @@ export const AssistantConversationSurface = ({
           >
             <Tooltip label={t("close")}>
               <ActionIcon
-                className={`${classes.windowControl} ${classes.windowControlClose}`}
+                className={classes.windowControl}
+                variant="subtle"
+                color="gray"
                 onClick={onWindowClose}
                 aria-label={t("close")}
               >
-                <IconX size={12} stroke={2.4} />
+                <IconX size={16} />
               </ActionIcon>
             </Tooltip>
             <Tooltip label={t("minimize")}>
               <ActionIcon
-                className={`${classes.windowControl} ${classes.windowControlMinimize}`}
+                className={classes.windowControl}
+                variant="subtle"
+                color="gray"
                 onClick={onMinimize}
                 aria-label={t("minimize")}
               >
-                <IconMinus size={12} stroke={2.4} />
-              </ActionIcon>
-            </Tooltip>
-            <Tooltip label={maximized ? t("restore") : t("maximize")}>
-              <ActionIcon
-                className={`${classes.windowControl} ${classes.windowControlMaximize}`}
-                onClick={onToggleMaximize}
-                aria-label={maximized ? t("restore") : t("maximize")}
-                aria-pressed={maximized}
-              >
-                {maximized ? (
-                  <IconArrowsMinimize size={11} stroke={2.4} />
-                ) : (
-                  <IconArrowsMaximize size={11} stroke={2.4} />
-                )}
+                <IconMinus size={17} />
               </ActionIcon>
             </Tooltip>
           </Group>
@@ -2925,7 +2910,6 @@ export const AssistantPanel = ({
 }: AssistantPanelProps) => {
   const t = useScopedI18n("common.assistant");
   const previousFocusRef = useRef<HTMLElement | null>(null);
-  const [maximized, setMaximized] = useState(false);
 
   useWindowEvent("keydown", (event) => {
     if (opened && event.key === "Escape") onClose();
@@ -2965,7 +2949,7 @@ export const AssistantPanel = ({
         />
       )}
       {opened && (
-        <dialog className={classes.floatingPanel} data-maximized={maximized || undefined} aria-label={t("title")} open>
+        <dialog className={classes.floatingPanel} aria-label={t("title")} open>
           <AssistantConversationSurface
             isRunning={isRunning}
             pendingAction={pendingAction}
@@ -2983,8 +2967,6 @@ export const AssistantPanel = ({
               onDismissActivity();
               onClose();
             }}
-            onToggleMaximize={() => setMaximized((current) => !current)}
-            maximized={maximized}
           />
         </dialog>
       )}
diff --git a/packages/translation/src/lang/en.json b/packages/translation/src/lang/en.json
index 419922fec..908de1e10 100644
--- a/packages/translation/src/lang/en.json
+++ b/packages/translation/src/lang/en.json
@@ -2018,8 +2018,6 @@
       "open": "Open Homarr Assistant",
       "close": "Close assistant",
       "minimize": "Minimize assistant",
-      "maximize": "Maximize assistant",
-      "restore": "Restore assistant size",
       "windowControls": "Conversation window controls",
       "spotlight": "Ask Homarr Assistant",
       "spotlightDescription": "Type and send a prompt without leaving the command menu.",