diff --git a/apps/tui-go/go.mod b/apps/tui-go/go.mod
index 84392ea9..0a9c3c3e 100644
--- a/apps/tui-go/go.mod
+++ b/apps/tui-go/go.mod
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ module github.com/correx/tui-go
 go 1.24.2
 
 require (
+	github.com/aymanbagabas/go-osc52/v2 v2.0.1
 	github.com/charmbracelet/bubbletea v1.3.10
 	github.com/charmbracelet/glamour v1.0.0
 	github.com/charmbracelet/lipgloss v1.1.1-0.20250404203927-76690c660834
@@ -13,7 +14,6 @@ require (
 
 require (
 	github.com/alecthomas/chroma/v2 v2.20.0 // indirect
-	github.com/aymanbagabas/go-osc52/v2 v2.0.1 // indirect
 	github.com/aymerick/douceur v0.2.0 // indirect
 	github.com/charmbracelet/colorprofile v0.4.1 // indirect
 	github.com/charmbracelet/x/cellbuf v0.0.15 // indirect
diff --git a/apps/tui-go/internal/app/model.go b/apps/tui-go/internal/app/model.go
index edb7bd73..ec2d715e 100644
--- a/apps/tui-go/internal/app/model.go
+++ b/apps/tui-go/internal/app/model.go
@@ -241,6 +241,11 @@ type Model struct {
 	routerMessages  map[string][]RouterEntry
 	routerConnected bool
 	chatMode        string
+	// transcriptSel is the index (into the selected session's transcript) of the message
+	// the operator has navigated to with ctrl+↑/↓; -1 = no selection (tail-follow). A
+	// selected message is highlighted, scrolled into view, and is what `y` copies.
+	transcriptSel int
+	copiedFlash   int // frame at which a copy happened, for a brief "copied" footer note
 
 	// provider
 	currentModel string
@@ -353,6 +358,7 @@ func NewModel(client *ws.Client) Model {
 		providerType:    "LOCAL",
 		snapshotPhase:   true,
 		eventStripShown: true,
+		transcriptSel:   -1,
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/apps/tui-go/internal/app/transcript_test.go b/apps/tui-go/internal/app/transcript_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..073a99b7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/tui-go/internal/app/transcript_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+package app
+
+import "testing"
+
+func transcriptModel(roles ...string) Model {
+	m := NewModel(nil)
+	m.selectedID = "s1"
+	msgs := make([]RouterEntry, len(roles))
+	for i, r := range roles {
+		msgs[i] = RouterEntry{Role: r, Content: r + itoa(i)}
+	}
+	m.routerMessages["s1"] = msgs
+	return m
+}
+
+// ctrl+↑/↓ jumps between USER messages: from no selection ↑ grabs the most recent user
+// message, keeps stepping to older ones (clamping), and ↓ steps back down, dropping to
+// tail-follow (-1) once past the last user message.
+func TestTranscriptNavUser(t *testing.T) {
+	// indices:      0       1        2       3        4
+	m := transcriptModel("user", "router", "user", "router", "user")
+
+	if m.transcriptSel != -1 {
+		t.Fatalf("initial sel = %d, want -1", m.transcriptSel)
+	}
+	m.transcriptNavUser(-1) // up from bottom → newest user (idx 4)
+	if m.transcriptSel != 4 {
+		t.Fatalf("up#1 = %d, want 4", m.transcriptSel)
+	}
+	m.transcriptNavUser(-1) // → user idx 2
+	if m.transcriptSel != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("up#2 = %d, want 2", m.transcriptSel)
+	}
+	m.transcriptNavUser(-1) // → user idx 0
+	if m.transcriptSel != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("up#3 = %d, want 0", m.transcriptSel)
+	}
+	m.transcriptNavUser(-1) // clamp at oldest
+	if m.transcriptSel != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("up#4 (clamp) = %d, want 0", m.transcriptSel)
+	}
+	m.transcriptNavUser(1) // → user idx 2
+	if m.transcriptSel != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("down#1 = %d, want 2", m.transcriptSel)
+	}
+	m.transcriptNavUser(1) // → user idx 4
+	m.transcriptNavUser(1) // past last user → tail-follow
+	if m.transcriptSel != -1 {
+		t.Fatalf("down past last = %d, want -1 (tail-follow)", m.transcriptSel)
+	}
+}
+
+// `y` copies the selected message, or the latest user/router turn when nothing is selected.
+func TestCopyText(t *testing.T) {
+	m := transcriptModel("user", "router", "tool")
+
+	// no selection → most recent user/router turn (the "router" at idx 1, since "tool"
+	// is skipped).
+	if got := m.copyText(); got != "router1" {
+		t.Fatalf("copyText (no sel) = %q, want %q", got, "router1")
+	}
+
+	m.transcriptSel = 0
+	if got := m.copyText(); got != "user0" {
+		t.Fatalf("copyText (sel idx 0) = %q, want %q", got, "user0")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/apps/tui-go/internal/app/update.go b/apps/tui-go/internal/app/update.go
index d2c4c415..1c16739f 100644
--- a/apps/tui-go/internal/app/update.go
+++ b/apps/tui-go/internal/app/update.go
@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
 package app
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
+	osc52 "github.com/aymanbagabas/go-osc52/v2"
 	tea "github.com/charmbracelet/bubbletea"
 	"github.com/correx/tui-go/internal/protocol"
 	"github.com/correx/tui-go/internal/ws"
@@ -15,6 +18,9 @@ type serverMsg struct{ m protocol.ServerMessage }
 type connMsg struct{ s ws.Status }
 type tickMsg struct{}
 
+// copiedFlashFrames is how many ticks the "✓ copied" footer note lingers after a yank.
+const copiedFlashFrames = 12
+
 func readServer(c *ws.Client) tea.Cmd {
 	return func() tea.Msg { return serverMsg{<-c.Incoming()} }
 }
@@ -48,6 +54,9 @@ func (m Model) animating() bool {
 	if m.overlay == OverlayPalette { // the palette shows a blinking filter caret
 		return true
 	}
+	if m.copiedFlash != 0 && m.frame-m.copiedFlash < copiedFlashFrames {
+		return true // keep ticking briefly so the "copied" note animates out
+	}
 	for i := range m.sessions {
 		if m.sessions[i].Active {
 			return true
@@ -182,6 +191,18 @@ func (m Model) handleKey(k tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	if m.displayState() == StateWorkflowPropose {
 		return m.handleProposeKey(k)
 	}
+	// Transcript message-jump works in any edit mode while in-session, so you can scroll
+	// back through your sent messages without leaving the input. ctrl+↑ older, ctrl+↓ newer.
+	if m.displayState() == StateInSession {
+		switch k.Type {
+		case tea.KeyCtrlUp:
+			m.transcriptNavUser(-1)
+			return m, nil
+		case tea.KeyCtrlDown:
+			m.transcriptNavUser(1)
+			return m, nil
+		}
+	}
 	if m.editMode == ModeInsert {
 		return m.handleInsertKey(k)
 	}
@@ -207,6 +228,12 @@ func (m Model) handleNormalKey(k tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	case tea.KeyEnter:
 		return m.normalEnter()
 	case tea.KeyEsc:
+		// In-session, esc first drops a transcript selection (back to tail-follow);
+		// otherwise it clears the session-list filter.
+		if m.transcriptSel >= 0 {
+			m.transcriptSel = -1
+			return m, nil
+		}
 		m.filter = ""
 		return m, nil
 	case tea.KeyCtrlX:
@@ -265,6 +292,13 @@ func (m Model) handleNormalKey(k tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		}
 	case "s":
 		m.cycleChatMode()
+	case "y":
+		// Copy the selected message (or the latest assistant turn if none is selected)
+		// to the system clipboard over OSC52 — SSH-safe, unlike a mouse drag.
+		if cmd := m.copyMessage(); cmd != nil {
+			m.copiedFlash = m.frame
+			return m, cmd
+		}
 	case "c":
 		if m.selectedID != "" {
 			m.client.Send(protocol.CancelSession(m.selectedID))
@@ -959,6 +993,7 @@ func (m *Model) listNav(dir int) {
 	}
 	if m.selectedID != list[n].ID {
 		m.bgUpdates = 0
+		m.transcriptSel = -1 // a different session's transcript: drop the stale selection
 	}
 	m.selectedID = list[n].ID
 	m.wfIndex = -1
@@ -1019,6 +1054,83 @@ func (m *Model) appendRouter(sid string, e RouterEntry) {
 	m.routerMessages[sid] = append(m.routerMessages[sid], e)
 }
 
+// transcriptNavUser moves the transcript selection to the previous (dir<0) or next
+// (dir>0) USER message — "go back to my previous message". From no selection, ctrl+↑
+// grabs the most recent user message; ctrl+↓ past the last one drops back to tail-follow.
+// Messages only ever append, so a stored index stays pointing at the same message.
+func (m *Model) transcriptNavUser(dir int) {
+	msgs := m.routerMessages[m.selectedID]
+	n := len(msgs)
+	if n == 0 {
+		return
+	}
+	if dir < 0 {
+		start := m.transcriptSel
+		if start < 0 || start > n {
+			start = n // searching upward from the bottom
+		}
+		for i := start - 1; i >= 0; i-- {
+			if msgs[i].Role == "user" {
+				m.transcriptSel = i
+				return
+			}
+		}
+		return // already at the oldest user message
+	}
+	if m.transcriptSel < 0 {
+		return // already tailing the bottom
+	}
+	for i := m.transcriptSel + 1; i < n; i++ {
+		if msgs[i].Role == "user" {
+			m.transcriptSel = i
+			return
+		}
+	}
+	m.transcriptSel = -1 // past the last user message → resume tail-follow
+}
+
+// copyMessage returns a command that copies the selected message — or, with no
+// selection, the latest assistant/router turn — to the system clipboard via OSC52.
+// Returns nil when there is nothing to copy.
+func (m Model) copyMessage() tea.Cmd {
+	if text := m.copyText(); strings.TrimSpace(text) != "" {
+		return osc52Copy(text)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// copyText is the content `y` will yank: the selected message, or — with no selection —
+// the most recent user/router turn. Empty when there is nothing to copy.
+func (m Model) copyText() string {
+	msgs := m.routerMessages[m.selectedID]
+	if len(msgs) == 0 {
+		return ""
+	}
+	if m.transcriptSel >= 0 && m.transcriptSel < len(msgs) {
+		return msgs[m.transcriptSel].Content
+	}
+	for i := len(msgs) - 1; i >= 0; i-- {
+		if r := msgs[i].Role; r == "router" || r == "user" {
+			return msgs[i].Content
+		}
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+
+// osc52Copy writes the clipboard sequence to stderr (separate from the alt-screen on
+// stdout). Wrapped for tmux passthrough when running inside tmux so the copy still
+// reaches the outer terminal (e.g. over SSH / Termius).
+func osc52Copy(text string) tea.Cmd {
+	return func() tea.Msg {
+		seq := osc52.New(text)
+		if os.Getenv("TMUX") != "" {
+			seq = seq.Tmux()
+		}
+		fmt.Fprint(os.Stderr, seq)
+		return nil
+	}
+}
+
 // currentDiff returns the most recent tool diff in the selected transcript.
 func (m Model) currentDiff() string {
 	if s := m.session(m.selectedID); s != nil && s.Pending != nil && s.Pending.Preview != "" {
diff --git a/apps/tui-go/internal/app/view.go b/apps/tui-go/internal/app/view.go
index acbd5b9d..75e3d568 100644
--- a/apps/tui-go/internal/app/view.go
+++ b/apps/tui-go/internal/app/view.go
@@ -244,9 +244,12 @@ func (m Model) renderFooter() string {
 		}
 	default: // StateInSession
 		if nrw {
-			hints = []string{hint("i", "msg"), hint("e", "events"), hint("S", "stats"), hint("l", "back"), hint("p", "cmds"), hint("q", "quit")}
+			hints = []string{hint("i", "msg"), hint("^↑↓", "msgs"), hint("y", "copy"), hint("e", "events"), hint("l", "back"), hint("p", "cmds"), hint("q", "quit")}
 		} else {
-			hints = []string{hint("i", "message"), hint("e", "events"), hint("t", "tools"), hint("S", "stats"), hint("m", "model"), hint("s", "mode"), hint("l", "back"), hint("p", "cmds"), hint("q", "quit")}
+			hints = []string{hint("i", "message"), hint("^↑↓", "msgs"), hint("y", "copy"), hint("e", "events"), hint("t", "tools"), hint("S", "stats"), hint("m", "model"), hint("l", "back"), hint("p", "cmds"), hint("q", "quit")}
+		}
+		if m.copiedFlash != 0 && m.frame-m.copiedFlash < copiedFlashFrames {
+			hints = append(hints, lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(t.P.OK).Background(bg).Bold(true).Render("✓ copied"))
 		}
 		if s := m.session(m.selectedID); s != nil && s.Pending != nil {
 			hints = append(hints, hint("a", "approval (pending)"))
@@ -488,9 +491,18 @@ func (m Model) routerRows(w, h int) []string {
 		return []string{t.span("awaiting router response…", t.P.Faint)}
 	}
 	var rows []string
-	for _, e := range msgs {
+	msgStart := make([]int, len(msgs)) // first row index of each message, for scroll-to-selection
+	for mi, e := range msgs {
+		msgStart[mi] = len(rows)
 		switch e.Role {
 		case "user":
+			if mi == m.transcriptSel {
+				// Selected message: an inverted tag + a highlighted background bar so it's
+				// unmistakable which one ctrl+↑/↓ landed on (and what `y` will copy).
+				tag := lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(t.P.BgDeep).Background(t.P.Accent).Bold(true).Render(" › ")
+				rows = append(rows, tag+" "+lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(t.P.FgStrong).Background(t.P.Sel).Render(e.Content))
+				break
+			}
 			tag := lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(t.P.Accent).Background(t.P.Bg).Bold(true).Render("›")
 			rows = append(rows, tag+" "+t.span(e.Content, t.P.FgStrong))
 		case "router":
@@ -525,7 +537,18 @@ func (m Model) routerRows(w, h int) []string {
 			rows = append(rows, t.span(e.Content, t.P.Dim))
 		}
 	}
-	// keep last h rows
+	// With a selection, scroll so the selected message is visible (top-aligned, clamped
+	// to the end); otherwise tail-follow the newest output.
+	if m.transcriptSel >= 0 && m.transcriptSel < len(msgStart) && len(rows) > h {
+		start := msgStart[m.transcriptSel]
+		if start > len(rows)-h {
+			start = len(rows) - h
+		}
+		if start < 0 {
+			start = 0
+		}
+		return rows[start : start+h]
+	}
 	if len(rows) > h {
 		rows = rows[len(rows)-h:]
 	}