diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index bd35014..1faa019 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -26,7 +26,9 @@ heatmap**, a gym SBD panel and links to friends' sites.
 - **Draggable desktop icons** — free placement that snaps to a measured grid, one icon per
   cell, with a follow-the-cursor drag ghost.
 - **Multi-window manager** — draggable, resizable, minimizable, maximizable, focus/z-order
-  and animated open/close (with reduced-motion support).
+  and animated open/close (with reduced-motion support). The taskbar shrinks its window
+  buttons as more apps open and scrolls when they still don't fit, so every open app stays
+  reachable.
 - **Working terminal app** — command input with history (`↑`/`↓`, `Ctrl+L` to clear) and a
   hidden `ssh` easter egg.
 - **Live service status** — each self-hosted service is health-checked through the site's
diff --git a/src/app/components/WindowsDesktop.tsx b/src/app/components/WindowsDesktop.tsx
index aa60515..0acfabd 100644
--- a/src/app/components/WindowsDesktop.tsx
+++ b/src/app/components/WindowsDesktop.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 "use client";
 
-import { useRef, useState, type ReactNode } from "react";
+import { useEffect, useRef, useState, type ReactNode } from "react";
 import Image from "next/image";
 import { APPS, APP_BY_ID, createWebsiteApp, type AppDef } from "./apps";
 import WinWindow, { type WinState } from "./WinWindow";
@@ -89,9 +89,25 @@ export default function WindowsDesktop() {
   const friendItems = FRIEND_SHORTCUTS;
 
   const desktopRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
+  const tbRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
   const { positions, dragId, onPointerDown, consumeDrag } =
     useDesktopIcons(desktopRef, ICON_KEYS);
 
+  // When the taskbar buttons overflow, keep the focused window's button visible
+  // so opening an app doesn't leave its button off the (scrollable) right edge.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const bar = tbRef.current;
+    const active = bar?.querySelector<HTMLElement>(".win-tb-btn.active");
+    if (!bar || !active) return;
+    const barRect = bar.getBoundingClientRect();
+    const btnRect = active.getBoundingClientRect();
+    if (btnRect.left < barRect.left) {
+      bar.scrollLeft += btnRect.left - barRect.left;
+    } else if (btnRect.right > barRect.right) {
+      bar.scrollLeft += btnRect.right - barRect.right;
+    }
+  }, [activeId]);
+
   const [dynamicApps, setDynamicApps] = useState<Record<string, AppDef>>({});
   const getApp = (id: string): AppDef | undefined => APP_BY_ID[id] ?? dynamicApps[id];
 
@@ -452,7 +468,16 @@ export default function WindowsDesktop() {
           </span>
         </button>
 
-        <div className="win-tb-buttons">
+        <div
+          className="win-tb-buttons"
+          ref={tbRef}
+          onWheel={(e) => {
+            const bar = tbRef.current;
+            // Translate a vertical mouse wheel into horizontal scrolling while
+            // the button strip overflows, so every open app stays reachable.
+            if (bar && bar.scrollWidth > bar.clientWidth) bar.scrollLeft += e.deltaY;
+          }}
+        >
           {wins.map((w) => {
             const app = getApp(w.appId) ?? APP_BY_ID.welcome;
             return (
diff --git a/src/app/skeuo.css b/src/app/skeuo.css
index 1842ece..2c46eca 100644
--- a/src/app/skeuo.css
+++ b/src/app/skeuo.css
@@ -1106,13 +1106,35 @@ a.win-icon {
   gap: 2px;
   padding: 4px 4px;
   min-width: 0;
-  overflow: hidden;
+  position: relative;
+  /* Grow into the free space, then shrink the buttons, then scroll once even
+     the shrunken buttons no longer fit (see .win-tb-btn min-width). */
+  flex: 1 1 auto;
+  overflow-x: auto;
+  overflow-y: hidden;
+  scrollbar-width: thin;
+  scrollbar-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.28) transparent;
+}
+.win-tb-buttons::-webkit-scrollbar {
+  height: 4px;
+}
+.win-tb-buttons::-webkit-scrollbar-track {
+  background: transparent;
+}
+.win-tb-buttons::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb {
+  background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.28);
+  border-radius: 2px;
+}
+.win-tb-buttons::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb:hover {
+  background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.45);
 }
 .win-tb-btn {
   position: relative;
   display: flex;
   align-items: center;
   gap: 7px;
+  flex: 0 1 auto;
+  min-width: 0;
   max-width: 172px;
   padding: 0 10px;
   border: 1px solid transparent;
@@ -1182,6 +1204,7 @@ a.win-icon {
 }
 .win-tb-btn-label {
   font-size: 0.75rem;
+  min-width: 0;
   white-space: nowrap;
   overflow: hidden;
   text-overflow: ellipsis;