diff --git a/bitchat/Views/ContentView.swift b/bitchat/Views/ContentView.swift
index f962f594..f57e2176 100644
--- a/bitchat/Views/ContentView.swift
+++ b/bitchat/Views/ContentView.swift
@@ -129,6 +129,45 @@ struct ContentView: View {
                         )
                 }
                 
+                // Right edge swipe zone for easier sidebar opening (iOS-native behavior)
+                if !showSidebar {
+                    HStack {
+                        Spacer()
+                        Color.clear
+                            .frame(width: 20)
+                            .contentShape(Rectangle())
+                            .gesture(
+                                DragGesture(minimumDistance: 5)
+                                    .onChanged { value in
+                                        let translationWidth = value.translation.width.isNaN ? 0 : value.translation.width
+                                        if translationWidth < 0 {
+                                            let newOffset = max(translationWidth, -300)
+                                            if abs(newOffset - sidebarDragOffset) > 2 {
+                                                var transaction = Transaction()
+                                                transaction.disablesAnimations = true
+                                                withTransaction(transaction) {
+                                                    sidebarDragOffset = newOffset
+                                                }
+                                            }
+                                        }
+                                    }
+                                    .onEnded { value in
+                                        let translationWidth = value.translation.width.isNaN ? 0 : value.translation.width
+                                        let velocity = value.velocity.width.isNaN ? 0 : value.velocity.width
+                                        withAnimation(.easeOut(duration: TransportConfig.uiAnimationMediumSeconds)) {
+                                            if translationWidth < -50 || velocity < -300 {
+                                                showSidebar = true
+                                                sidebarDragOffset = 0
+                                            } else {
+                                                sidebarDragOffset = 0
+                                            }
+                                        }
+                                    }
+                            )
+                    }
+                    .allowsHitTesting(true)
+                }
+
                 // Sidebar overlay
                 HStack(spacing: 0) {
                     // Tap to dismiss area
@@ -141,31 +180,19 @@ struct ContentView: View {
                             }
                         }
                     
-                    // Only render sidebar content when it's visible or animating
-                    if showSidebar || sidebarDragOffset != 0 {
-                        sidebarView
-                            #if os(macOS)
-                            .frame(width: min(300, max(0, geometry.size.width.isNaN ? 300 : geometry.size.width) * 0.4))
-                            #else
-                            .frame(width: max(0, geometry.size.width.isNaN ? 300 : geometry.size.width) * 0.7)
-                            #endif
-                            .transition(.move(edge: .trailing))
-                    } else {
-                        // Empty placeholder when hidden
-                        Color.clear
-                            #if os(macOS)
-                            .frame(width: min(300, max(0, geometry.size.width.isNaN ? 300 : geometry.size.width) * 0.4))
-                            #else
-                            .frame(width: max(0, geometry.size.width.isNaN ? 300 : geometry.size.width) * 0.7)
-                            #endif
-                    }
+                    // Always render sidebar to avoid layout recalculation during drag
+                    sidebarView
+                        #if os(macOS)
+                        .frame(width: min(300, max(0, geometry.size.width.isNaN ? 300 : geometry.size.width) * 0.4))
+                        #else
+                        .frame(width: max(0, geometry.size.width.isNaN ? 300 : geometry.size.width) * 0.7)
+                        #endif
                 }
                 .offset(x: {
                     let dragOffset = sidebarDragOffset.isNaN ? 0 : sidebarDragOffset
                     let width = geometry.size.width.isNaN ? 0 : max(0, geometry.size.width)
-                    return showSidebar ? -dragOffset : width - dragOffset
+                    return showSidebar ? dragOffset : width + dragOffset
                 }())
-                .animation(.easeInOut(duration: TransportConfig.uiAnimationSidebarSeconds), value: showSidebar)
             }
         }
         #if os(macOS)
@@ -921,9 +948,52 @@ struct ContentView: View {
                 .id(viewModel.allPeers.map { "\($0.peerID)-\($0.isConnected)" }.joined())
             }
             
-            Spacer()
-        }
-        .background(backgroundColor)
+                Spacer()
+            }
+            .background(backgroundColor)
+            .simultaneousGesture(
+                DragGesture(minimumDistance: 10)
+                    .onChanged { value in
+                        let translationWidth = value.translation.width.isNaN ? 0 : value.translation.width
+                        let translationHeight = value.translation.height.isNaN ? 0 : value.translation.height
+
+                        // Only handle horizontal drags on the sidebar
+                        guard abs(translationWidth) > abs(translationHeight) * 1.5 else { return }
+
+                        if translationWidth > 0 {
+                            let newOffset = min(translationWidth, 300)
+                            if abs(newOffset - sidebarDragOffset) > 2 {
+                                var transaction = Transaction()
+                                transaction.disablesAnimations = true
+                                withTransaction(transaction) {
+                                    sidebarDragOffset = newOffset
+                                }
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                    .onEnded { value in
+                        let translationWidth = value.translation.width.isNaN ? 0 : value.translation.width
+                        let translationHeight = value.translation.height.isNaN ? 0 : value.translation.height
+                        let velocity = value.velocity.width.isNaN ? 0 : value.velocity.width
+
+                        // Only handle if drag is predominantly horizontal
+                        guard abs(translationWidth) > abs(translationHeight) * 1.5 else {
+                            sidebarDragOffset = 0
+                            return
+                        }
+
+                        withAnimation(.easeOut(duration: TransportConfig.uiAnimationMediumSeconds)) {
+                            if translationWidth > 100 || (translationWidth > 50 && velocity > 500) {
+                                showSidebar = false
+                                sidebarDragOffset = 0
+                            } else {
+                                sidebarDragOffset = 0
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+            )
+            
+            
         }
     }
     
@@ -939,29 +1009,56 @@ struct ContentView: View {
         }
         .background(backgroundColor)
         .foregroundColor(textColor)
-        .gesture(
-            DragGesture()
+        .simultaneousGesture(
+            DragGesture(minimumDistance: 10)
                 .onChanged { value in
-                    let translation = value.translation.width.isNaN ? 0 : value.translation.width
-                    if !showSidebar && translation < 0 {
-                        sidebarDragOffset = max(translation, -300)
-                    } else if showSidebar && translation > 0 {
-                        sidebarDragOffset = min(-300 + translation, 0)
+                    let translationWidth = value.translation.width.isNaN ? 0 : value.translation.width
+                    let translationHeight = value.translation.height.isNaN ? 0 : value.translation.height
+
+                    // Only handle if drag is predominantly horizontal (prevents interfering with scroll)
+                    guard abs(translationWidth) > abs(translationHeight) * 1.5 else { return }
+
+                    if !showSidebar && translationWidth < 0 {
+                        let newOffset = max(translationWidth, -300)
+                        if abs(newOffset - sidebarDragOffset) > 2 {
+                            var transaction = Transaction()
+                            transaction.disablesAnimations = true
+                            withTransaction(transaction) {
+                                sidebarDragOffset = newOffset
+                            }
+                        }
+                    } else if showSidebar && translationWidth > 0 {
+                        let newOffset = min(-300 + translationWidth, 0)
+                        if abs(newOffset - sidebarDragOffset) > 2 {
+                            var transaction = Transaction()
+                            transaction.disablesAnimations = true
+                            withTransaction(transaction) {
+                                sidebarDragOffset = newOffset
+                            }
+                        }
                     }
                 }
                 .onEnded { value in
-                    let translation = value.translation.width.isNaN ? 0 : value.translation.width
+                    let translationWidth = value.translation.width.isNaN ? 0 : value.translation.width
+                    let translationHeight = value.translation.height.isNaN ? 0 : value.translation.height
                     let velocity = value.velocity.width.isNaN ? 0 : value.velocity.width
+
+                    // Only handle if drag is predominantly horizontal
+                    guard abs(translationWidth) > abs(translationHeight) * 1.5 else {
+                        sidebarDragOffset = 0
+                        return
+                    }
+
                     withAnimation(.easeOut(duration: TransportConfig.uiAnimationMediumSeconds)) {
                         if !showSidebar {
-                            if translation < -100 || (translation < -50 && velocity < -500) {
+                            if translationWidth < -100 || (translationWidth < -50 && velocity < -500) {
                                 showSidebar = true
                                 sidebarDragOffset = 0
                             } else {
                                 sidebarDragOffset = 0
                             }
                         } else {
-                            if translation > 100 || (translation > 50 && velocity > 500) {
+                            if translationWidth > 100 || (translationWidth > 50 && velocity > 500) {
                                 showSidebar = false
                                 sidebarDragOffset = 0
                             } else {