diff --git a/public/src/uncloseai-embed-modal.js b/public/src/uncloseai-embed-modal.js
index 568c1f9..f7780aa 100644
--- a/public/src/uncloseai-embed-modal.js
+++ b/public/src/uncloseai-embed-modal.js
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ async function openUncloseaiEmbeddedModalNew() {
 					buildVaultUI();
 					// Close settings panel after locking
 					settingsOpen = false;
-					settingsPanel.classList.remove("open");
+					applySettingsState();
 					// Re-show the vault gate
 					showVaultGate();
 				};
@@ -1097,13 +1097,20 @@ async function openUncloseaiEmbeddedModalNew() {
 		let settingsOpen =
 			getVaultOrStorage("hermesSettingsOpen") === true ||
 			getVaultOrStorage("hermesSettingsOpen") === "true";
+
+		function applySettingsState() {
+			settingsPanel.classList.toggle("open", settingsOpen);
+			chatArea.style.display = settingsOpen ? "none" : "";
+			controls.style.display = settingsOpen ? "none" : "";
+		}
+
 		if (settingsOpen) {
-			settingsPanel.classList.add("open");
+			applySettingsState();
 		}
 
 		menuBtn.onclick = () => {
 			settingsOpen = !settingsOpen;
-			settingsPanel.classList.toggle("open", settingsOpen);
+			applySettingsState();
 			setVaultValue("hermesSettingsOpen", settingsOpen);
 		};
 
@@ -1112,7 +1119,7 @@ async function openUncloseaiEmbeddedModalNew() {
 			// If settings panel is open, close it first
 			if (settingsOpen) {
 				settingsOpen = false;
-				settingsPanel.classList.toggle("open", settingsOpen);
+				applySettingsState();
 				setVaultValue("hermesSettingsOpen", settingsOpen);
 				return; // Don't close modal yet
 			}
diff --git a/public/src/uncloseai-modal-builtin.css b/public/src/uncloseai-modal-builtin.css
index 5544a08..cb445fc 100644
--- a/public/src/uncloseai-modal-builtin.css
+++ b/public/src/uncloseai-modal-builtin.css
@@ -107,12 +107,6 @@ dialog#uncloseai-embedded-modal[data-theme="light"] {
   padding: 16px;
   display: none;
   overflow-y: auto;
-  position: absolute;
-  top: 0;
-  left: 0;
-  right: 0;
-  bottom: 0;
-  z-index: 10;
   background: #ffffff;
 }
 
@@ -1046,12 +1040,6 @@ dialog#uncloseai-embedded-modal[data-theme="dark"] .uncloseai-chat-box {
   padding: 16px;
   display: none;
   overflow-y: auto;
-  position: absolute;
-  top: 0;
-  left: 0;
-  right: 0;
-  bottom: 0;
-  z-index: 10;
   background: #ffffff;
 }
 
diff --git a/public/src/uncloseai-modal-pico.css b/public/src/uncloseai-modal-pico.css
index 0a2cf78..8ee2875 100644
--- a/public/src/uncloseai-modal-pico.css
+++ b/public/src/uncloseai-modal-pico.css
@@ -128,12 +128,6 @@ dialog#uncloseai-embedded-modal .uncloseai-modal-settings-btn {
   padding: 16px;
   display: none;
   overflow-y: auto;
-  position: absolute;
-  top: 0;
-  left: 0;
-  right: 0;
-  bottom: 0;
-  z-index: 10;
   background: #ffffff;
 }