diff --git a/crates/ide-core/src/settings.rs b/crates/ide-core/src/settings.rs
index e2b347abf..5900f7e80 100644
--- a/crates/ide-core/src/settings.rs
+++ b/crates/ide-core/src/settings.rs
@@ -285,6 +285,8 @@ pub struct AppearanceSettings {
     pub project_colors_in_toolbar: bool,
     pub dnd_with_alt_only: bool,
     pub menu_icons: bool,
+    /// `hamburger` | `merged`: main menu presentation in the frameless title bar.
+    pub main_menu_style: String,
     /// `subpixel` | `greyscale` | `none`
     pub ide_antialiasing: String,
     pub editor_antialiasing: String,
@@ -331,6 +333,7 @@ impl Default for AppearanceSettings {
             project_colors_in_toolbar: true,
             dnd_with_alt_only: false,
             menu_icons: true,
+            main_menu_style: "hamburger".into(),
             ide_antialiasing: "greyscale".into(),
             editor_antialiasing: "greyscale".into(),
             show_tool_window_bars: true,
@@ -716,6 +719,15 @@ impl Settings {
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
 
+    #[test]
+    fn main_menu_style_defaults_and_round_trips() {
+        let old: Settings = serde_json::from_str(r#"{"appearance":{"compactMode":true}}"#).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(old.appearance.main_menu_style, "hamburger");
+        let merged: Settings = serde_json::from_str(r#"{"appearance":{"mainMenuStyle":"merged"}}"#).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(merged.appearance.main_menu_style, "merged");
+        assert_eq!(serde_json::to_value(merged).unwrap()["appearance"]["mainMenuStyle"], "merged");
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn editor_font_weights_default_to_regular_and_bold() {
         let json = serde_json::to_value(Settings::default()).unwrap();
diff --git a/src/bindings.ts b/src/bindings.ts
index 9af2daa45..8b04d1432 100644
--- a/src/bindings.ts
+++ b/src/bindings.ts
@@ -1408,6 +1408,8 @@ export type AppearanceSettings = {
 	projectColorsInToolbar?: boolean,
 	dndWithAltOnly?: boolean,
 	menuIcons?: boolean,
+	/**  `hamburger` | `merged`: main menu presentation in the frameless title bar. */
+	mainMenuStyle?: string,
 	/**  `subpixel` | `greyscale` | `none` */
 	ideAntialiasing?: string,
 	editorAntialiasing?: string,
diff --git a/src/features/settings/__tests__/mainMenuStyle.test.tsx b/src/features/settings/__tests__/mainMenuStyle.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..87f6cae25
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/features/settings/__tests__/mainMenuStyle.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+import { act, fireEvent, render, screen } from "@testing-library/react";
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { usePlatform } from "@/platform/platformInfo";
+import { validateAppearanceExtras } from "../model/behaviorSchema";
+import { useSettingsDialog } from "../model/staging";
+import { BEHAVIOR_PAGES } from "../pages/behavior";
+
+const savedPlatform = usePlatform.getState();
+const savedDialog = useSettingsDialog.getState();
+afterEach(() => {
+  usePlatform.setState(savedPlatform);
+  useSettingsDialog.setState(savedDialog);
+});
+const option = BEHAVIOR_PAGES.find((p) => p.id === "appearance")!
+  .sections!.find((s) => s.title === "UI Options")!
+  .options.find((o) => o.kind === "custom")!;
+if (option.kind !== "custom") throw new Error("UI Options missing");
+const MainMenuStyleRow = option.component;
+
+describe("Main menu appearance setting", () => {
+  it.each(["windows", "linux"])("offers both styles on a frameless %s title bar", async (os) => {
+    usePlatform.setState({ os, framelessTitleBar: true });
+    render(<MainMenuStyleRow />);
+    const select = screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Main menu" });
+    expect(select).toHaveTextContent("Hamburger button");
+    fireEvent.click(select);
+    fireEvent.click(await screen.findByRole("option", { name: "Merged with main toolbar" }));
+    expect(select).toHaveTextContent("Merged with main toolbar");
+    expect(useSettingsDialog.getState().staged["global|appearance.mainMenuStyle"]?.value).toBe("merged");
+  });
+
+  it.each(["macos", "web", "linux"])("hides the setting without the frameless menu (%s)", (os) => {
+    usePlatform.setState({ os, framelessTitleBar: false });
+    render(<MainMenuStyleRow />);
+    expect(screen.queryByText("Main menu")).toBeNull();
+    expect(screen.queryByRole("button", { name: "Main menu" })).toBeNull();
+    act(() => usePlatform.setState({ os: "windows", framelessTitleBar: true }));
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Main menu" })).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it("preserves the hamburger default for existing or invalid settings", () => {
+    expect(validateAppearanceExtras({}).mainMenuStyle).toBe("hamburger");
+    expect(validateAppearanceExtras({ mainMenuStyle: "unknown" }).mainMenuStyle).toBe("hamburger");
+    expect(validateAppearanceExtras({ mainMenuStyle: "merged" }).mainMenuStyle).toBe("merged");
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/features/settings/model/behaviorSchema.ts b/src/features/settings/model/behaviorSchema.ts
index 73adc3ccd..777110ee2 100644
--- a/src/features/settings/model/behaviorSchema.ts
+++ b/src/features/settings/model/behaviorSchema.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ export interface AppearanceExtras {
   projectColorsInToolbar: boolean;
   dndWithAltOnly: boolean;
   menuIcons: boolean;
+  mainMenuStyle: "hamburger" | "merged";
   ideAntialiasing: Antialiasing;
   editorAntialiasing: Antialiasing;
   showToolWindowBars: boolean;
@@ -78,6 +79,7 @@ export const DEFAULT_APPEARANCE_EXTRAS: AppearanceExtras = {
   projectColorsInToolbar: true,
   dndWithAltOnly: false,
   menuIcons: true,
+  mainMenuStyle: "hamburger",
   ideAntialiasing: "greyscale",
   editorAntialiasing: "greyscale",
   showToolWindowBars: true,
@@ -127,6 +129,7 @@ export function validateAppearanceExtras(raw: unknown): AppearanceExtras {
     projectColorsInToolbar: b("projectColorsInToolbar"),
     dndWithAltOnly: b("dndWithAltOnly"),
     menuIcons: b("menuIcons"),
+    mainMenuStyle: oneOf(a.mainMenuStyle, ["hamburger", "merged"], d.mainMenuStyle),
     ideAntialiasing: oneOf(a.ideAntialiasing, AA, d.ideAntialiasing),
     editorAntialiasing: oneOf(a.editorAntialiasing, AA, d.editorAntialiasing),
     showToolWindowBars: b("showToolWindowBars"),
diff --git a/src/features/settings/pages/behavior.tsx b/src/features/settings/pages/behavior.tsx
index ecd39bfbc..c8e352062 100644
--- a/src/features/settings/pages/behavior.tsx
+++ b/src/features/settings/pages/behavior.tsx
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import { FontPicker } from "../components/FontPicker";
 import { useId, useRef, useState, type ReactNode } from "react";
 import clsx from "clsx";
 import { shortcutLabel } from "@/platform/keymap";
+import { usePlatform } from "@/platform/platformInfo";
 import { isTauri } from "@/platform/ipc";
 import { SCHEMES as EDITOR_SCHEMES, listSchemes, customSchemes } from "@/platform/colorScheme";
 import { formatTimestamp } from "@/platform/dateFormat";
@@ -223,6 +224,25 @@ function Grid({ left, right }: { left: ReactNode; right: ReactNode }) {
   );
 }
 
+function MainMenuStyleRow() {
+  const frameless = usePlatform((s) => s.framelessTitleBar);
+  const [mainMenuStyle, setMainMenuStyle] = useSetting<"hamburger" | "merged">("appearance.mainMenuStyle");
+  if (!frameless) return null;
+  return (
+    <Row label="Main menu">
+      <Select
+        value={mainMenuStyle ?? "hamburger"}
+        options={[
+          { value: "hamburger", label: "Hamburger button" },
+          { value: "merged", label: "Merged with main toolbar" },
+        ]}
+        onChange={setMainMenuStyle}
+        aria-label="Main menu"
+      />
+    </Row>
+  );
+}
+
 function UiOptionsGrid() {
   return (
     <Grid
@@ -521,6 +541,12 @@ export const BEHAVIOR_PAGES: PageSpec[] = [
       {
         title: "UI Options",
         options: [
+          {
+            kind: "custom",
+            label: "Main menu",
+            keywords: ["Hamburger button", "Merged with main toolbar"],
+            component: MainMenuStyleRow,
+          },
           {
             kind: "custom",
             label: "Compact mode",
diff --git a/src/platform/locales/text/zh.json b/src/platform/locales/text/zh.json
index 6d9016ca6..88591de95 100644
--- a/src/platform/locales/text/zh.json
+++ b/src/platform/locales/text/zh.json
@@ -2190,6 +2190,9 @@
   "TypeScript version": "TypeScript 版本",
   "Types": "类型",
   "Typography Settings": "排版设置",
+  "Main menu": "主菜单",
+  "Hamburger button": "汉堡菜单按钮",
+  "Merged with main toolbar": "与主工具栏合并",
   "UI Options": "UI 选项",
   "UI elements take up less screen space": "UI 元素占用更少的屏幕空间",
   "UI font": "UI 字体",
diff --git a/src/workbench/MainMenu.interaction.test.tsx b/src/workbench/MainMenu.interaction.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0d003e88b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/workbench/MainMenu.interaction.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,240 @@
+import { act, fireEvent, render, screen, within } from "@testing-library/react";
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { commands, type Settings } from "@/platform/ipc";
+import { useProject } from "@/platform/project";
+import { registerActions } from "@/platform/actions";
+import { MainMenu } from "./MainMenu";
+
+let available = 500;
+let resize: () => void;
+const savedProject = useProject.getState();
+let dispose: () => void;
+const setStyle = (style: string) =>
+  useProject.setState({ settings: { appearance: { mainMenuStyle: style } } as Settings });
+const alt = () => {
+  fireEvent.keyDown(window, { key: "Alt", altKey: true });
+  fireEvent.keyUp(window, { key: "Alt" });
+};
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  available = 500;
+  vi.stubGlobal(
+    "ResizeObserver",
+    class {
+      constructor(private callback: () => void) {}
+      observe(element: HTMLElement) {
+        if (element.className.includes("mainMenuSlot")) resize = this.callback;
+      }
+      disconnect() {}
+    },
+  );
+  vi.spyOn(HTMLElement.prototype, "clientWidth", "get").mockImplementation(() => available);
+  vi.spyOn(HTMLElement.prototype, "scrollWidth", "get").mockReturnValue(300);
+  vi.spyOn(commands, "menuModel").mockResolvedValue([
+    {
+      kind: "submenu",
+      id: "file",
+      label: "File",
+      children: [{ kind: "action", id: "test.open", label: "Open", hint: null, arg: null }],
+    },
+    {
+      kind: "submenu",
+      id: "edit",
+      label: "Edit",
+      children: [{ kind: "action", id: "test.undo", label: "Undo", hint: null, arg: null }],
+    },
+  ]);
+  dispose = registerActions([
+    { id: "test.open", title: "Open", category: "Test", run: vi.fn() },
+    { id: "test.undo", title: "Undo", category: "Test", run: vi.fn() },
+  ]);
+  setStyle("hamburger");
+});
+afterEach(() => {
+  dispose();
+  useProject.setState(savedProject);
+  vi.restoreAllMocks();
+  vi.unstubAllGlobals();
+});
+
+const titles = () => within(screen.getByRole("menubar"));
+
+describe("main menu presentation", () => {
+  it("keeps the hamburger default, expanding on click and collapsing on Escape", async () => {
+    const expanded = vi.fn();
+    render(<MainMenu onExpandedChange={expanded} />);
+    expect(screen.queryByRole("menubar")).toBeNull();
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Main Menu" }));
+    expect(await screen.findByRole("menu", { name: "File" })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(expanded).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith(true);
+    fireEvent.keyDown(document.activeElement!, { key: "ArrowRight" });
+    expect(await screen.findByRole("menu", { name: "Edit" })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    fireEvent.keyDown(document.activeElement!, { key: "Escape" });
+    expect(screen.queryByRole("menubar")).toBeNull();
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Main Menu" })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(expanded).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith(false);
+    alt();
+    expect(await screen.findByRole("menu", { name: "File" })).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it("shows merged titles, switches menus with arrows, and retains titles after dismissal or an action", async () => {
+    setStyle("merged");
+    const expanded = vi.fn();
+    render(
+      <>
+        <MainMenu onExpandedChange={expanded} />
+        <button>Toolbar control</button>
+      </>,
+    );
+    await screen.findByRole("menubar");
+    expect(screen.queryByRole("button", { name: "Main Menu" })).toBeNull();
+    fireEvent.click(titles().getByRole("menuitem", { name: "File" }));
+    expect(await screen.findByRole("menu", { name: "File" })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    fireEvent.keyDown(document.activeElement!, { key: "ArrowRight" });
+    expect(await screen.findByRole("menu", { name: "Edit" })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    fireEvent.keyDown(document.activeElement!, { key: "ArrowLeft" });
+    expect(await screen.findByRole("menu", { name: "File" })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    fireEvent.keyDown(document.activeElement!, { key: "Escape" });
+    expect(screen.queryByRole("menu")).toBeNull();
+    expect(screen.getByRole("menubar")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    fireEvent.click(titles().getByRole("menuitem", { name: "Edit" }));
+    fireEvent.click(await screen.findByRole("menuitem", { name: "Undo" }));
+    expect(screen.queryByRole("menu")).toBeNull();
+    expect(screen.getByRole("menubar")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    fireEvent.click(titles().getByRole("menuitem", { name: "File" }));
+    fireEvent.pointerDown(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Toolbar control" }));
+    await act(() => new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve)));
+    expect(screen.queryByRole("menu")).toBeNull();
+    expect(expanded).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(true);
+  });
+
+  it.each(["hamburger", "merged"])(
+    "%s switches on title clicks without an outside dismissal, then closes for toolbar clicks",
+    async (style) => {
+      setStyle(style);
+      render(
+        <>
+          <MainMenu />
+          <button>Toolbar control</button>
+        </>,
+      );
+      if (style === "hamburger") fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Main Menu" }));
+      await screen.findByRole("menubar");
+      if (style === "merged") fireEvent.click(titles().getByRole("menuitem", { name: "File" }));
+      const edit = titles().getByRole("menuitem", { name: "Edit" });
+      fireEvent.pointerDown(edit);
+      fireEvent.click(edit);
+      await act(() => new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve)));
+      expect(screen.getByRole("menu", { name: "Edit" })).toBeInTheDocument();
+      fireEvent.pointerDown(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Toolbar control" }));
+      await act(() => new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve)));
+      expect(screen.queryByRole("menu")).toBeNull();
+    },
+  );
+
+  it("focuses the merged titles with lone Alt and navigates before opening", async () => {
+    setStyle("merged");
+    render(
+      <>
+        <button>Editor</button>
+        <MainMenu />
+      </>,
+    );
+    await screen.findByRole("menubar");
+    const editor = screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Editor" });
+    editor.focus();
+    alt();
+    expect(titles().getByRole("menuitem", { name: "File" })).toHaveFocus();
+    expect(screen.queryByRole("menu")).toBeNull();
+    fireEvent.keyDown(document.activeElement!, { key: "ArrowLeft" });
+    expect(titles().getByRole("menuitem", { name: "Edit" })).toHaveFocus();
+    fireEvent.keyDown(document.activeElement!, { key: "ArrowDown" });
+    expect(await screen.findByRole("menu", { name: "Edit" })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    fireEvent.keyDown(document.activeElement!, { key: "Escape" });
+    expect(titles().getByRole("menuitem", { name: "Edit" })).toHaveFocus();
+    fireEvent.keyDown(document.activeElement!, { key: "Escape" });
+    expect(editor).toHaveFocus();
+  });
+
+  it("returns focus on a second lone Alt", async () => {
+    setStyle("merged");
+    render(
+      <>
+        <button>Editor</button>
+        <MainMenu />
+      </>,
+    );
+    await screen.findByRole("menubar");
+    const editor = screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Editor" });
+    editor.focus();
+    alt();
+    expect(titles().getByRole("menuitem", { name: "File" })).toHaveFocus();
+    alt();
+    expect(editor).toHaveFocus();
+    alt();
+    fireEvent.keyDown(document.activeElement!, { key: "Escape" });
+    expect(editor).toHaveFocus();
+  });
+
+  it("does not reopen a title's menu after the titles collapse and return", async () => {
+    setStyle("merged");
+    render(<MainMenu />);
+    await screen.findByRole("menubar");
+    fireEvent.click(titles().getByRole("menuitem", { name: "Edit" }));
+    expect(await screen.findByRole("menu", { name: "Edit" })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    act(() => {
+      available = 100;
+      resize();
+    });
+    expect(screen.queryByRole("menu")).toBeNull();
+    act(() => {
+      available = 500;
+      resize();
+    });
+    expect(screen.getByRole("menubar")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.queryByRole("menu")).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it("falls back to a hamburger popup when narrow and restores titles when space returns", async () => {
+    available = 100;
+    setStyle("merged");
+    const expanded = vi.fn();
+    render(<MainMenu onExpandedChange={expanded} />);
+    await act(async () => {});
+    expect(screen.queryByRole("menubar")).toBeNull();
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Main Menu" }));
+    const root = await screen.findByRole("menu", { name: "Main Menu" });
+    fireEvent.click(within(root).getByRole("menuitem", { name: /File/ }));
+    expect(await screen.findByRole("menuitem", { name: "Open" })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("menuitem", { name: "Open" }));
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Main Menu" })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(expanded).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(true);
+    act(() => {
+      available = 500;
+      resize();
+    });
+    expect(screen.getByRole("menubar")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.queryByRole("button", { name: "Main Menu" })).toBeNull();
+    act(() => {
+      available = 100;
+      resize();
+    });
+    expect(screen.queryByRole("menubar")).toBeNull();
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Main Menu" })).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it("applies the setting immediately and restores toolbar visibility when switching from an expanded hamburger", async () => {
+    const expanded = vi.fn();
+    render(<MainMenu onExpandedChange={expanded} />);
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Main Menu" }));
+    await screen.findByRole("menu");
+    expect(expanded).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith(true);
+    act(() => setStyle("merged"));
+    await screen.findByRole("menubar");
+    expect(screen.queryByRole("menu")).toBeNull();
+    expect(expanded).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith(false);
+    act(() => setStyle("hamburger"));
+    expect(screen.queryByRole("menubar")).toBeNull();
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Main Menu" })).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/workbench/MainMenu.tsx b/src/workbench/MainMenu.tsx
index abac3a1bf..f9adf94a3 100644
--- a/src/workbench/MainMenu.tsx
+++ b/src/workbench/MainMenu.tsx
@@ -1,13 +1,8 @@
-/**
- * Frameless title bar (Windows, Linux): IDEA's main menu button. Clicking ☰ expands the menu bar
- * in place (File Edit View …) with File open; hovering another title switches
- * menus, ←/→ walk them, and closing the menu collapses the bar again. The
- * entries come from the same spec as the native menu (`menu_model`). As in
- * Windows apps and IDEA, pressing and releasing Alt alone opens it too.
- */
-import { useEffect, useRef, useState, type KeyboardEvent } from "react";
+/** Main menu for the frameless title bar, with hamburger and persistent title modes. */
+import { useEffect, useLayoutEffect, useRef, useState, type KeyboardEvent } from "react";
 import clsx from "clsx";
-import { lookup, t } from "@/platform/i18n";
+import { useProject } from "@/platform/project";
+import { lookup, t, useI18n } from "@/platform/i18n";
 import { commands, type MenuNode } from "@/platform/ipc";
 import { usePlatform } from "@/platform/platformInfo";
 import { Icon, MenuList, Popup, type MenuItem } from "@/ui";
@@ -70,77 +65,172 @@ export function onLoneAlt(target: Window, onAlt: () => void): () => void {
   };
 }
 
-export function MainMenu({ onExpandedChange }: { onExpandedChange?: (expanded: boolean) => void }) {
-  const [menus, setMenus] = useState<Submenu[] | null>(null);
-  const [open, setOpen] = useState<number | null>(null);
-  const [bar, setBar] = useState<HTMLDivElement | null>(null);
-  // A press on another title closes the open menu first (outside click); keep the bar expanded.
-  const pressedTitle = useRef(false);
+async function loadMenus(): Promise<Submenu[]> {
+  const model: MenuNode[] = await commands.menuModel().catch(() => []);
+  return model.filter(isSubmenu);
+}
 
+type MainMenuProps = { onExpandedChange?: (expanded: boolean) => void };
+
+export function MainMenu(props: MainMenuProps) {
+  const merged = useProject((s) => s.settings?.appearance?.mainMenuStyle === "merged");
+  return <MainMenuBar key={String(merged)} merged={merged} {...props} />;
+}
+
+function MainMenuBar({ merged, onExpandedChange }: MainMenuProps & { merged: boolean }) {
+  useI18n((s) => s.locale);
+  const [menus, setMenus] = useState<Submenu[]>([]);
+  const [expanded, setExpanded] = useState(false);
+  const [open, setOpen] = useState<number | null>(null);
+  const [focused, setFocused] = useState(0);
+  const [bar, setBar] = useState<HTMLDivElement | null>(null);
+  const slot = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
+  const measure = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
+  const hamburger = useRef<HTMLButtonElement>(null);
+  const previousFocus = useRef<HTMLElement | null>(null);
+  const [fits, setFits] = useState(false);
+  const pressedTitle = useRef(false);
+  const persistent = merged && fits;
+  const showTitles = persistent || (!merged && expanded);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    let disposed = false;
+    if (merged)
+      void loadMenus().then((top) => {
+        if (!disposed) setMenus(top);
+      });
+    return () => {
+      disposed = true;
+    };
+  }, [merged]);
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!merged || open === null) return;
+    let disposed = false;
+    void loadMenus().then((top) => {
+      if (!disposed && top.length) setMenus(top);
+    });
+    return () => {
+      disposed = true;
+    };
+  }, [merged, open]);
+  useEffect(() => {
+    onExpandedChange?.(!merged && expanded);
+    return () => onExpandedChange?.(false);
+  }, [merged, expanded, onExpandedChange]);
+
+  // The invisible copy keeps the natural flex basis even while the slot shrinks.
+  // Measuring the allocated slot includes all neighbouring toolbar/caption controls.
+  useLayoutEffect(() => {
+    if (!merged || !slot.current || !measure.current) return;
+    const update = () => {
+      const next = menus.length > 0 && slot.current!.clientWidth >= measure.current!.scrollWidth;
+      setFits(next);
+      // Each presentation's menu closes with it, and must not reopen when it returns.
+      if (next) setExpanded(false);
+      else setOpen(null);
+    };
+    const observer = new ResizeObserver(update);
+    observer.observe(slot.current);
+    observer.observe(measure.current);
+    update();
+    return () => observer.disconnect();
+  }, [merged, menus]);
+
+  const close = () => {
+    setOpen(null);
+    setExpanded(false);
+  };
   const expand = async () => {
-    const model: MenuNode[] = await commands.menuModel().catch(() => []);
-    const top = model.filter(isSubmenu);
+    const top = await loadMenus();
     if (!top.length) return;
     setMenus(top);
+    setExpanded(true);
     setOpen(0);
-    onExpandedChange?.(true);
   };
-  const collapse = () => {
-    setOpen(null);
-    setMenus(null);
-    onExpandedChange?.(false);
+  const focusTitle = (i: number) => {
+    setFocused(i);
+    (bar?.children[i] as HTMLElement | undefined)?.focus();
   };
   const onMenuClose = (reason?: string) => {
-    if (reason !== "outside") return collapse();
+    if (reason !== "outside") {
+      if (reason === "escape" && persistent) focusTitle(open ?? focused);
+      return close();
+    }
     setTimeout(() => {
       if (pressedTitle.current) pressedTitle.current = false;
-      else collapse();
+      else close();
     });
   };
-  useEffect(() => onLoneAlt(window, () => (menus ? collapse() : void expand())));
-  const step = (delta: number) => {
-    if (!menus || open === null) return;
-    setOpen((open + delta + menus.length) % menus.length);
-  };
-  // ←/→ not used by the menu (top level, or a leaf item) move to the neighbouring menu.
+  useEffect(() =>
+    onLoneAlt(window, () => {
+      if (open !== null || expanded) {
+        close();
+        if (persistent) focusTitle(focused);
+      } else if (persistent) {
+        if (bar?.contains(document.activeElement)) previousFocus.current?.focus();
+        else {
+          previousFocus.current = document.activeElement as HTMLElement;
+          focusTitle(0);
+        }
+      } else void expand();
+    }),
+  );
   const onKeyDown = (e: KeyboardEvent) => {
-    if (e.key !== "ArrowLeft" && e.key !== "ArrowRight") return;
-    e.preventDefault();
-    step(e.key === "ArrowRight" ? 1 : -1);
+    if (e.key === "ArrowLeft" || e.key === "ArrowRight") {
+      if (!menus.length) return;
+      e.preventDefault();
+      const next = ((open ?? focused) + (e.key === "ArrowRight" ? 1 : -1) + menus.length) % menus.length;
+      if (open !== null) setOpen(next);
+      else focusTitle(next);
+    } else if (e.key === "ArrowDown" && open === null) {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      setOpen(focused);
+    } else if (e.key === "Escape" && open === null) {
+      close();
+      previousFocus.current?.focus();
+    }
   };
 
-  if (!menus)
-    return (
-      <button
-        type="button"
-        className={styles.mainMenuButton}
-        aria-label={t("menu.mainMenu")}
-        title={t("menu.mainMenu")}
-        onClick={() => void expand()}
-      >
-        <Icon name="main-menu" size={16} />
-      </button>
-    );
-
-  return (
-    <div ref={setBar} role="menubar" className={styles.menuBar}>
+  const button = (
+    <button
+      ref={hamburger}
+      type="button"
+      className={styles.mainMenuButton}
+      aria-label={t("menu.mainMenu")}
+      title={t("menu.mainMenu")}
+      aria-haspopup="menu"
+      aria-expanded={expanded}
+      onClick={() => {
+        if (expanded) close();
+        else void expand();
+      }}
+    >
+      <Icon name="main-menu" size={16} />
+    </button>
+  );
+  const titles = (
+    <div ref={setBar} role="menubar" className={styles.menuBar} onKeyDown={onKeyDown}>
       {menus.map((m, i) => (
         <button
           key={m.id}
           type="button"
           role="menuitem"
+          tabIndex={focused === i ? 0 : -1}
           aria-haspopup="menu"
           aria-expanded={open === i}
           className={clsx(styles.menuTitle, open === i && styles.menuTitleOpen)}
+          onFocus={() => setFocused(i)}
           onPointerDown={() => {
             pressedTitle.current = true;
+            setTimeout(() => {
+              pressedTitle.current = false;
+            });
           }}
           onPointerEnter={() => {
             if (open !== null) setOpen(i);
           }}
           onClick={() => {
-            pressedTitle.current = false;
-            if (open === i) collapse();
+            if (open === i) close();
             else setOpen(i);
           }}
         >
@@ -156,16 +246,41 @@ export function MainMenu({ onExpandedChange }: { onExpandedChange?: (expanded: b
           offset={2}
           role="presentation"
           autoFocus={false}
+          restoreFocus={!persistent}
           onClose={onMenuClose}
           className={menuStyles.popup}
         >
-          <div onKeyDown={onKeyDown}>
-            <MenuList
-              items={menuItems(menus[open].children)}
-              onDone={collapse}
-              aria-label={label(menus[open].id, menus[open].label)}
-            />
-          </div>
+          <MenuList
+            items={menuItems(menus[open].children)}
+            onDone={close}
+            aria-label={label(menus[open].id, menus[open].label)}
+          />
+        </Popup>
+      )}
+    </div>
+  );
+  if (!merged) return showTitles ? titles : button;
+  return (
+    <div ref={slot} className={styles.mainMenuSlot}>
+      <div ref={measure} className={clsx(styles.menuBar, styles.menuMeasure)} aria-hidden="true" inert>
+        {menus.map((m) => (
+          <span key={m.id} className={styles.menuTitle}>
+            {label(m.id, m.label)}
+          </span>
+        ))}
+      </div>
+      <div className={styles.menuPresentation}>{showTitles ? titles : button}</div>
+      {!showTitles && expanded && (
+        <Popup
+          open
+          anchor={hamburger}
+          onClose={close}
+          placement="bottom-start"
+          role="presentation"
+          autoFocus={false}
+          className={menuStyles.popup}
+        >
+          <MenuList items={menuItems(menus)} onDone={close} aria-label={t("menu.mainMenu")} />
         </Popup>
       )}
     </div>
diff --git a/src/workbench/TitleBar.module.css b/src/workbench/TitleBar.module.css
index da2d54ded..f4dde6046 100644
--- a/src/workbench/TitleBar.module.css
+++ b/src/workbench/TitleBar.module.css
@@ -125,7 +125,32 @@
   outline: 2px solid var(--focus-ring);
   outline-offset: -2px;
 }
-/* The expanded main menu: File Edit View … in place of the project widgets. */
+/* Preserve the menu's natural width while allowing its slot to yield to toolbar controls. */
+.mainMenuSlot {
+  position: relative;
+  flex: 0 1 auto;
+  min-width: 34px;
+  height: 30px;
+  overflow: hidden;
+}
+.mainMenuSlot ~ .item,
+.mainMenuSlot ~ .tools {
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+}
+.menuMeasure {
+  width: max-content;
+  visibility: hidden;
+  pointer-events: none;
+}
+.menuPresentation {
+  position: absolute;
+  top: 0;
+  left: 0;
+  height: 100%;
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+}
+/* The main menu titles. */
 .menuBar {
   flex: none;
   display: flex;
diff --git a/src/workbench/TitleBar.test.tsx b/src/workbench/TitleBar.test.tsx
index eb99647a4..580e43e06 100644
--- a/src/workbench/TitleBar.test.tsx
+++ b/src/workbench/TitleBar.test.tsx
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
 
 vi.mock("./WindowControls", () => ({ WindowControls: () => null }));
-import { fireEvent, render, screen } from "@testing-library/react";
+import { act, fireEvent, render, screen } from "@testing-library/react";
 import { registerActions } from "@/platform/actions";
+import { commands, type Settings } from "@/platform/ipc";
+import { useProject } from "@/platform/project";
 import { usePlatform } from "@/platform/platformInfo";
 import { useThemeOverride } from "./theme";
 import { customizeToolbarItems, gearMenuItems, TitleBar } from "./TitleBar";
@@ -103,3 +105,32 @@ describe("title bar in Distraction Free Mode (bare)", () => {
     }
   });
 });
+
+describe("merged title bar menu", () => {
+  it.each(["windows", "linux", "macos"])(
+    "%s keeps toolbar controls available and uses the menu only when frameless",
+    async (os) => {
+      const savedPlatform = usePlatform.getState();
+      const savedProject = useProject.getState();
+      const model = vi
+        .spyOn(commands, "menuModel")
+        .mockResolvedValue([{ kind: "submenu", id: "file", label: "File", children: [] }]);
+      usePlatform.setState({ os, framelessTitleBar: os !== "macos", overlayTitleBar: os === "macos" });
+      useProject.setState({ settings: { appearance: { mainMenuStyle: "merged" } } as Settings });
+      try {
+        render(<TitleBar />);
+        await act(async () => {});
+        expect(!!screen.queryByRole("menubar")).toBe(os !== "macos");
+        expect(screen.queryByRole("button", { name: "Main Menu" })).toBeNull();
+        if (os !== "macos") fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("menuitem", { name: "File" }));
+        expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "OpenIDEA" })).toBeInTheDocument();
+        fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "IDE and Project Settings" }));
+        expect(await screen.findByRole("menu", { name: "IDE and Project Settings" })).toBeInTheDocument();
+      } finally {
+        usePlatform.setState(savedPlatform);
+        useProject.setState(savedProject);
+        model.mockRestore();
+      }
+    },
+  );
+});