diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8355f11..2a103a9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -18,9 +18,10 @@ Each user owns **projects**, and each project holds ordered **cards**.
 | 8 | Passwordless login — magic-link by default, password login behind a toggle | ✅ done |
 | 9 | Per-project card statuses ("To do" / "Doing" / "Done"); status chip, new cards start with none | ✅ done |
 | 10 | Project view — full-width, tabbed: alphabetical "All tasks" list + "Kanban" board, per-column drag ordering | ✅ done |
-| 11 | Persistent left sidebar (Dashboard link + project list/new-project form); dashboard = grid of project tiles | ✅ done |
+| 11 | Persistent left sidebar (Dashboard link + project dropdown); dashboard = grid of project tiles + new-project form | ✅ done |
 | 12 | Passwordless-only auth — registration and password login removed; a magic link is the sole way in, and creates the account if needed | ✅ done |
 | 13 | Global inbox — cards can have no project; moved into the sidebar, drag in/out of any project's kanban columns | ✅ done |
+| 14 | New-project form moved to the dashboard; sidebar project list is now a switcher dropdown; Kanban is a project's default tab | ✅ done |
 
 There is no password. Signing in is entering an email address and opening the
 magic link sent to it — the same step creates the account the first time. See
diff --git a/web/README.md b/web/README.md
index 74ac82c..ec90221 100644
--- a/web/README.md
+++ b/web/README.md
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ src/stores/cards.ts     Pinia store: one project's cards (CRUD; no reordering --
 src/stores/inbox.ts     Pinia store: the caller's global inbox (fetch + create)
 src/lib/api.ts          fetch wrapper, bearer token, typed ApiError
 src/lib/cardOrder.ts    reorderColumn() -- PUT /api/cards/order, shared by the sidebar and kanban board
-src/components/AppSidebar.vue left nav: Dashboard link, project list + form, Inbox + form
+src/components/AppSidebar.vue left nav: Dashboard link, project dropdown, Inbox + form
 src/components/CardRow.vue    editable text + status chip + delete, one card
 src/components/KanbanCard.vue small draggable card for the board columns and the inbox
 src/views/              DashboardView, ProjectView, LoginView, ProfileView,
@@ -47,14 +47,19 @@ src/views/              DashboardView, ProjectView, LoginView, ProfileView,
 Signed-in "app" routes (`meta.requiresAuth`) render inside a persistent shell:
 the top bar, then a left **sidebar** (`AppSidebar.vue`) beside the routed view.
 The sidebar stays mounted across navigation — it holds a **Dashboard** link, a
-divider, the project list + new-project form, another divider, then the
-**Inbox** (see below). The current page is highlighted via RouterLink's
-`active-class`. `<RouterView :key="route.path">` remounts the view on every
-path change so sidebar → project → project navigation always does a fresh load.
+divider, a project `<select>`, another divider, then the **Inbox** (see below).
+The dropdown is a `v-model`-bound writable `computed` (`selectedProjectId`):
+its getter reads the open project from `route.params.id`, so it tracks
+whichever project is current; its setter `router.push`es to the chosen one, so
+it also works as a project switcher from anywhere. `<RouterView
+:key="route.path">` remounts the view on every path change so switching
+projects always does a fresh load.
 
-`/` redirects to `/dashboard` (`DashboardView.vue`), a full-width grid linking
-to each project, showing its title and card count. Signed-out routes (`/login`,
-`/verify-email`) render without the sidebar.
+`/` redirects to `/dashboard` (`DashboardView.vue`): a full-width grid linking
+to each project (title + card count), then a **new-project form** directly
+below it (creating one stays on the dashboard; the grid and the sidebar
+dropdown both pick it up via the shared `projects` store). Signed-out routes
+(`/login`, `/verify-email`) render without the sidebar.
 
 ## Inbox
 
@@ -79,7 +84,8 @@ menu (top right) has a **Delete project** action that opens a confirmation modal
 confirming calls `DELETE /api/projects/:id` and returns to the dashboard.
 
 Below the header are two tabs (local `activeTab` state, `v-show` so both stay
-mounted):
+mounted). The tab order is fixed — **All tasks** first, **Kanban** second — but
+`activeTab` initialises to `'kanban'`, so a project opens on the board.
 
 ### All tasks
 
diff --git a/web/src/components/AppSidebar.vue b/web/src/components/AppSidebar.vue
index 87754d7..79cb48c 100644
--- a/web/src/components/AppSidebar.vue
+++ b/web/src/components/AppSidebar.vue
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import { ApiError } from '../lib/api'
 import { reorderColumn } from '../lib/cardOrder'
 import { useCardsStore } from '../stores/cards'
 import { useInboxStore } from '../stores/inbox'
-import { MAX_PROJECTS, useProjectsStore } from '../stores/projects'
+import { useProjectsStore } from '../stores/projects'
 import type { Card } from '../types'
 import KanbanCard from './KanbanCard.vue'
 
@@ -16,13 +16,8 @@ const inbox = useInboxStore()
 const router = useRouter()
 const route = useRoute()
 
-const title = ref('')
-const createError = ref<ApiError | null>(null)
-const submitting = ref(false)
 const loadError = ref<string | null>(null)
 
-const atLimit = computed(() => projects.projects.length >= MAX_PROJECTS)
-
 onMounted(() => {
   if (!projects.loaded) void loadProjects()
   if (!inbox.loaded) void loadInbox()
@@ -37,19 +32,14 @@ async function loadProjects() {
   }
 }
 
-async function onCreate() {
-  submitting.value = true
-  createError.value = null
-  try {
-    const project = await projects.createProject(title.value)
-    title.value = ''
-    await router.push({ name: 'project', params: { id: project.id } })
-  } catch (e) {
-    createError.value = e instanceof ApiError ? e : new ApiError('Could not create the project.', 0)
-  } finally {
-    submitting.value = false
-  }
-}
+// The dropdown doubles as a project switcher: it reflects whichever project
+// (if any) is currently open, and selecting one navigates there.
+const selectedProjectId = computed<number | ''>({
+  get: () => (route.name === 'project' ? Number(route.params.id) : ''),
+  set: (id) => {
+    if (id !== '') void router.push({ name: 'project', params: { id } })
+  },
+})
 
 // --- Inbox: a global holding area, not tied to any project. Cards drag in
 // and out of it from a project's kanban board (shared "kanban" group).
@@ -126,47 +116,19 @@ async function onInboxChange(change: ColumnChange) {
     <p v-else-if="projects.loading && !projects.loaded" class="sidebar__note muted">Loading…</p>
     <p v-else-if="projects.projects.length === 0" class="sidebar__note muted">No projects yet.</p>
 
-    <nav v-else class="sidebar__nav sidebar__projects">
-      <RouterLink
-        v-for="project in projects.projects"
-        :key="project.id"
-        :to="{ name: 'project', params: { id: project.id } }"
-        class="sidebar__link sidebar__link--project"
-        active-class="sidebar__link--active"
-      >
-        <svg class="sidebar__icon" viewBox="0 0 16 16" aria-hidden="true">
-          <rect x="1" y="2" width="3.5" height="12" rx="1" />
-          <rect x="6.25" y="2" width="3.5" height="9" rx="1" />
-          <rect x="11.5" y="2" width="3.5" height="6" rx="1" />
-        </svg>
-        <span class="sidebar__link-text">{{ project.title }}</span>
-      </RouterLink>
-    </nav>
-
-    <form class="sidebar__form" @submit.prevent="onCreate">
-      <input
-        v-model="title"
-        type="text"
-        maxlength="255"
-        required
-        :disabled="atLimit"
-        placeholder="New project"
-        aria-label="New project title"
-      />
-      <small v-if="createError?.fieldError('title')" class="field-error">
-        {{ createError.fieldError('title') }}
-      </small>
-      <small
-        v-else-if="createError && Object.keys(createError.details).length === 0"
-        class="field-error"
-      >
-        {{ createError.message }}
-      </small>
-      <button type="submit" :disabled="submitting || atLimit">
-        {{ submitting ? 'Creating…' : 'Add project' }}
-      </button>
-      <small v-if="atLimit" class="hint">Limit of {{ MAX_PROJECTS }} projects reached.</small>
-    </form>
+    <div v-else class="sidebar__select">
+      <svg class="sidebar__icon" viewBox="0 0 16 16" aria-hidden="true">
+        <rect x="1" y="2" width="3.5" height="12" rx="1" />
+        <rect x="6.25" y="2" width="3.5" height="9" rx="1" />
+        <rect x="11.5" y="2" width="3.5" height="6" rx="1" />
+      </svg>
+      <select v-model="selectedProjectId" aria-label="Go to project">
+        <option value="" disabled>Choose a project…</option>
+        <option v-for="project in projects.projects" :key="project.id" :value="project.id">
+          {{ project.title }}
+        </option>
+      </select>
+    </div>
 
     <hr class="sidebar__divider" />
 
diff --git a/web/src/style.css b/web/src/style.css
index 4fc2b5f..92eafa9 100644
--- a/web/src/style.css
+++ b/web/src/style.css
@@ -158,9 +158,23 @@ body {
   color: var(--muted);
 }
 
-.sidebar__projects {
-  max-height: 45vh;
-  overflow-y: auto;
+.sidebar__select {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 0.6rem;
+  padding: 0.2rem 0.6rem;
+}
+
+.sidebar__select select {
+  flex: 1;
+  min-width: 0;
+  font: inherit;
+  font-size: 0.9rem;
+  padding: 0.35rem 0.4rem;
+  border: 1px solid var(--border);
+  border-radius: 6px;
+  background: var(--bg);
+  color: var(--text);
 }
 
 .sidebar__inbox-cards {
@@ -174,31 +188,6 @@ body {
   font-size: 0.85rem;
 }
 
-.sidebar__form {
-  display: flex;
-  flex-direction: column;
-  gap: 0.4rem;
-  margin-top: 1rem;
-  padding-top: 1rem;
-  border-top: 1px solid var(--border);
-}
-
-.sidebar__form input {
-  font: inherit;
-  font-size: 0.9rem;
-  padding: 0.4rem 0.55rem;
-  border: 1px solid var(--border);
-  border-radius: 6px;
-  background: var(--bg);
-  color: var(--text);
-}
-
-.sidebar__form button[type='submit'] {
-  padding: 0.45rem 0.7rem;
-  font-size: 0.9rem;
-  border-radius: 6px;
-}
-
 .card {
   background: var(--surface);
   border: 1px solid var(--border);
@@ -644,6 +633,7 @@ h1 {
   margin: 1.25rem 0;
 }
 
+.form--new-project,
 .form--new-card {
   margin-top: 1.5rem;
   padding-top: 1.25rem;
diff --git a/web/src/views/DashboardView.vue b/web/src/views/DashboardView.vue
index 99537a9..f567531 100644
--- a/web/src/views/DashboardView.vue
+++ b/web/src/views/DashboardView.vue
@@ -1,13 +1,19 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
-import { onMounted, ref } from 'vue'
+import { computed, onMounted, ref } from 'vue'
 import { RouterLink } from 'vue-router'
 import { ApiError } from '../lib/api'
-import { useProjectsStore } from '../stores/projects'
+import { MAX_PROJECTS, useProjectsStore } from '../stores/projects'
 
 const projects = useProjectsStore()
 
 const loadError = ref<string | null>(null)
 
+const title = ref('')
+const createError = ref<ApiError | null>(null)
+const submitting = ref(false)
+
+const atLimit = computed(() => projects.projects.length >= MAX_PROJECTS)
+
 onMounted(load)
 
 async function load() {
@@ -18,6 +24,19 @@ async function load() {
     loadError.value = e instanceof ApiError ? e.message : 'Could not load the dashboard.'
   }
 }
+
+async function onCreate() {
+  submitting.value = true
+  createError.value = null
+  try {
+    await projects.createProject(title.value)
+    title.value = ''
+  } catch (e) {
+    createError.value = e instanceof ApiError ? e : new ApiError('Could not create the project.', 0)
+  } finally {
+    submitting.value = false
+  }
+}
 </script>
 
 <template>
@@ -25,8 +44,8 @@ async function load() {
     <p v-if="loadError" class="form-error">{{ loadError }}</p>
     <p v-else-if="projects.loading && !projects.loaded" class="muted">Loading…</p>
     <p v-else-if="projects.projects.length === 0" class="muted">
-      No projects yet — create one from the sidebar. Anything uncategorised
-      lives in the inbox, also in the sidebar.
+      No projects yet — create one below. Anything uncategorised lives in the
+      inbox, in the sidebar.
     </p>
 
     <div v-else class="dashboard__grid">
@@ -42,5 +61,27 @@ async function load() {
         </span>
       </RouterLink>
     </div>
+
+    <form class="form form--new-project" @submit.prevent="onCreate">
+      <label>
+        <span>New project title</span>
+        <input v-model="title" type="text" maxlength="255" required :disabled="atLimit" />
+        <small v-if="createError?.fieldError('title')" class="field-error">
+          {{ createError.fieldError('title') }}
+        </small>
+      </label>
+
+      <p v-if="createError && Object.keys(createError.details).length === 0" class="form-error">
+        {{ createError.message }}
+      </p>
+
+      <button type="submit" :disabled="submitting || atLimit">
+        {{ submitting ? 'Creating…' : 'Create project' }}
+      </button>
+
+      <p v-if="atLimit" class="hint">
+        You have reached the maximum of {{ MAX_PROJECTS }} projects.
+      </p>
+    </form>
   </div>
 </template>
diff --git a/web/src/views/ProjectView.vue b/web/src/views/ProjectView.vue
index 71e3391..ba2fd65 100644
--- a/web/src/views/ProjectView.vue
+++ b/web/src/views/ProjectView.vue
@@ -23,11 +23,12 @@ const statuses = ref<CardStatus[]>([])
 const loadError = ref<string | null>(null)
 const actionError = ref<string | null>(null)
 
+// Tab order is unchanged (All tasks first); Kanban is just the default view.
 const tabs = [
   { key: 'all', label: 'All tasks' },
   { key: 'kanban', label: 'Kanban' },
 ] as const
-const activeTab = ref<(typeof tabs)[number]['key']>('all')
+const activeTab = ref<(typeof tabs)[number]['key']>('kanban')
 
 const titleDraft = ref('')
 const descriptionDraft = ref('')