diff --git a/src/actions/launch.ts b/src/actions/launch.ts
index b3f89c5..db87844 100644
--- a/src/actions/launch.ts
+++ b/src/actions/launch.ts
@@ -15,9 +15,10 @@ export async function doLaunch() {
     return
   }
 
-  const items: { path: string; name: string; sessionId?: string; targetBranch?: string }[] = []
+  type LaunchItem = { path: string; name: string; tabNum: number; sessionId?: string; targetBranch?: string }
+  const items: LaunchItem[] = []
 
-  for (const path of app.selectedProjects) {
+  for (const [path, tabNum] of app.selectedProjects) {
     const project = app.projects.find(p => p.path === path)
     if (!project) continue
     const targetBranch = app.selectedBranches.get(path)
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ export async function doLaunch() {
       project.sessionCount = project.sessions.length
     }
     const lastSessionId = project.sessions[0]?.id
-    items.push({ path, name: project.name, sessionId: lastSessionId, targetBranch: needsBranch ? targetBranch : undefined })
+    items.push({ path, name: project.name, tabNum, sessionId: lastSessionId, targetBranch: needsBranch ? targetBranch : undefined })
   }
 
   for (const project of app.projects) {
@@ -36,41 +37,58 @@ export async function doLaunch() {
       if (app.selectedSessions.has(session.id)) {
         const targetBranch = app.selectedBranches.get(project.path)
         const needsBranch = targetBranch && targetBranch !== project.branch
-        items.push({ path: project.path, name: project.name, sessionId: session.id, targetBranch: needsBranch ? targetBranch : undefined })
+        // Sessions without explicit tab number go to tab 1
+        items.push({ path: project.path, name: project.name, tabNum: 1, sessionId: session.id, targetBranch: needsBranch ? targetBranch : undefined })
       }
     }
   }
 
   if (items.length === 0) return
 
-  // Determine target tab: use active grid tab or create a new one
-  let targetTabId: number
-  if (app.viewMode === "grid" && app.directGrid && app.gridTabs.length > 0) {
-    targetTabId = app.directGrid.activeTabId
-  } else {
-    targetTabId = createNewGridTab()
+  // Group items by tab number
+  const byTab = new Map<number, LaunchItem[]>()
+  for (const item of items) {
+    if (!byTab.has(item.tabNum)) byTab.set(item.tabNum, [])
+    byTab.get(item.tabNum)!.push(item)
   }
 
   ensureGridView()
 
-  const termW = process.stdout.columns || 120
-  const termH = process.stdout.rows || 40
-  const totalPanes = items.length + (app.directGrid?.getTabPaneCount(targetTabId) || 0)
-  const cols = totalPanes <= 1 ? 1 : totalPanes <= 2 ? 2 : totalPanes <= 4 ? 2 : 3
-  const rows = Math.ceil(totalPanes / cols)
-  const paneW = Math.max(Math.floor(termW / cols) - 2, 20)
-  const paneH = Math.max(Math.floor((termH - 2) / rows) - 4, 6)
+  // Launch each tab group into its own grid tab
+  for (const [tabNum, tabItems] of byTab) {
+    // Find existing grid tab for this number, or create one
+    let targetTabId: number
+    const existingTab = app.gridTabs.find(t => t.name === `Tab ${tabNum}`)
+    if (existingTab) {
+      targetTabId = existingTab.id
+    } else {
+      targetTabId = createNewGridTab()
+      // Rename to match the picker tab number
+      const tab = app.gridTabs.find(t => t.id === targetTabId)
+      if (tab) tab.name = `Tab ${tabNum}`
+    }
 
-  for (const item of items) {
-    const session = await createSession({
-      projectPath: item.path,
-      projectName: item.name,
-      sessionId: item.sessionId,
-      targetBranch: item.targetBranch,
-      width: paneW,
-      height: paneH,
-    })
-    await app.directGrid!.addPane(session, targetTabId)
+    const termW = process.stdout.columns || 120
+    const termH = process.stdout.rows || 40
+    const totalPanes = tabItems.length + (app.directGrid?.getTabPaneCount(targetTabId) || 0)
+    const cols = totalPanes <= 1 ? 1 : totalPanes <= 2 ? 2 : totalPanes <= 4 ? 2 : 3
+    const rows = Math.ceil(totalPanes / cols)
+    const paneW = Math.max(Math.floor(termW / cols) - 2, 20)
+    const paneH = Math.max(Math.floor((termH - 2) / rows) - 4, 6)
+
+    for (const item of tabItems) {
+      const session = await createSession({
+        projectPath: item.path,
+        projectName: item.name,
+        sessionId: item.sessionId,
+        targetBranch: item.targetBranch,
+        width: paneW,
+        height: paneH,
+      })
+      await app.directGrid!.addPane(session, targetTabId)
+    }
+
+    switchToGridTab(targetTabId)
   }
 
   app.selectedProjects.clear()
diff --git a/src/actions/launcher.ts b/src/actions/launcher.ts
index 260a49a..29fab27 100644
--- a/src/actions/launcher.ts
+++ b/src/actions/launcher.ts
@@ -9,13 +9,13 @@ interface LaunchItem {
 
 export async function launchSelections(
   projects: Project[],
-  selectedProjects: Set<string>,
+  selectedProjects: Map<string, number>,
   selectedSessions: Set<string>,
   selectedBranches: Map<string, string> = new Map()
 ): Promise<number> {
   const byProject = new Map<string, LaunchItem[]>()
 
-  for (const path of selectedProjects) {
+  for (const [path] of selectedProjects) {
     if (!byProject.has(path)) byProject.set(path, [])
     const targetBranch = selectedBranches.get(path)
     const project = projects.find(p => p.path === path)
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ export async function launchSelections(
 
   let count = 0
   for (const [, items] of byProject) {
-    const first = items[0]
+    const first = items[0]!
     const firstCmd = buildCmd(first)
 
     const newWindowScript = [
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ export async function launchSelections(
 
     for (let i = 1; i < items.length; i++) {
       await Bun.sleep(400)
-      const cmd = buildCmd(items[i])
+      const cmd = buildCmd(items[i]!)
 
       await runOsascript(
         'tell application "System Events" to keystroke "t" using command down'
diff --git a/src/input/handlers.ts b/src/input/handlers.ts
index ddcb933..e058593 100644
--- a/src/input/handlers.ts
+++ b/src/input/handlers.ts
@@ -56,10 +56,20 @@ function toggleSetItem<T>(set: Set<T>, item: T) {
   else set.add(item)
 }
 
+const MAX_TAB_NUM = 9
+
 function toggleRowSelection(row: DisplayRow) {
   const project = app.projects[row.projectIndex]
   if (row.type === "project" || row.type === "new-session") {
-    toggleSetItem(app.selectedProjects, project.path)
+    // Cycle tab number: none → 1 → 2 → ... → 9 → none
+    const current = app.selectedProjects.get(project.path)
+    if (current === undefined) {
+      app.selectedProjects.set(project.path, 1)
+    } else if (current < MAX_TAB_NUM) {
+      app.selectedProjects.set(project.path, current + 1)
+    } else {
+      app.selectedProjects.delete(project.path)
+    }
   } else if (row.type === "session") {
     toggleSetItem(app.selectedSessions, project.sessions![row.sessionIndex!].id)
   } else if (row.type === "branch") {
@@ -71,6 +81,18 @@ function toggleRowSelection(row: DisplayRow) {
   }
 }
 
+function assignTabNumber(row: DisplayRow, tabNum: number) {
+  const project = app.projects[row.projectIndex]
+  if (row.type === "project" || row.type === "new-session") {
+    const current = app.selectedProjects.get(project.path)
+    if (current === tabNum) {
+      app.selectedProjects.delete(project.path)  // toggle off if same number
+    } else {
+      app.selectedProjects.set(project.path, tabNum)
+    }
+  }
+}
+
 function syntheticKey(name: string, shift = false, ctrl = false): KeyEvent {
   return { name, shift, ctrl, meta: false, preventDefault: NOOP, stopPropagation: NOOP } as KeyEvent
 }
@@ -290,7 +312,7 @@ export async function handleKeypress(key: KeyEvent) {
     }
 
     case "a":
-      for (const p of app.projects) app.selectedProjects.add(p.path)
+      for (const p of app.projects) app.selectedProjects.set(p.path, 1)
       break
 
     case "n":
@@ -339,7 +361,7 @@ export async function handleKeypress(key: KeyEvent) {
     case "o": {
       if (app.selectedProjects.size === 0 && app.selectedSessions.size === 0) {
         const oRow = app.displayRows[app.cursor]
-        if (oRow) app.selectedProjects.add(app.projects[oRow.projectIndex].path)
+        if (oRow) app.selectedProjects.set(app.projects[oRow.projectIndex].path, 1)
       }
       if (app.selectedProjects.size > 0 || app.selectedSessions.size > 0) {
         await launchSelections(app.projects, app.selectedProjects, app.selectedSessions, app.selectedBranches)
@@ -350,6 +372,13 @@ export async function handleKeypress(key: KeyEvent) {
       break
     }
 
+    case "1": case "2": case "3": case "4": case "5":
+    case "6": case "7": case "8": case "9": {
+      const row = app.displayRows[app.cursor]
+      assignTabNumber(row, parseInt(key.name))
+      break
+    }
+
     case "q":
     case "escape":
       app.destroyed = true
diff --git a/src/lib/state.ts b/src/lib/state.ts
index be22839..65f2fb8 100644
--- a/src/lib/state.ts
+++ b/src/lib/state.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ export const app = {
 
   // Data
   projects: [] as Project[],
-  selectedProjects: new Set<string>(),
+  selectedProjects: new Map<string, number>(),  // path → tab number
   selectedSessions: new Set<string>(),
   selectedBranches: new Map<string, string>(),
   cursor: 0,
diff --git a/src/ui/formatters.ts b/src/ui/formatters.ts
index 9e8d475..8acc010 100644
--- a/src/ui/formatters.ts
+++ b/src/ui/formatters.ts
@@ -22,7 +22,25 @@ export function fmtSyncIndicator(ahead: number, behind: number): string {
   return parts.join("")
 }
 
-export function fmtProjectRow(project: import("../lib/types").Project, isSelected: boolean) {
+const TAB_COLORS = [
+  cyan,      // 1
+  green,     // 2
+  yellow,    // 3
+  magenta,   // 4
+  (s: string) => fg("#ff9e64")(s),  // 5
+  (s: string) => fg("#7dcfff")(s),  // 6
+  (s: string) => fg("#bb9af7")(s),  // 7
+  (s: string) => fg("#73daca")(s),  // 8
+  (s: string) => fg("#b4f9f8")(s),  // 9
+]
+
+function fmtTabCheck(tabNum: number | undefined) {
+  if (tabNum === undefined) return " "
+  const color = TAB_COLORS[(tabNum - 1) % TAB_COLORS.length]!
+  return color(String(tabNum))
+}
+
+export function fmtProjectRow(project: import("../lib/types").Project, isSelected: number | undefined) {
   let activeDot: string
   let activeTag: string
   if (project.activeSessions > 0) {
@@ -39,7 +57,7 @@ export function fmtProjectRow(project: import("../lib/types").Project, isSelecte
     activeDot = dim("○")
     activeTag = "  "
   }
-  const check = isSelected ? green("✓") : " "
+  const check = fmtTabCheck(isSelected)
   const arrow = project.expanded ? "▼" : "▶"
   const name =
     project.name.length > 28 ? project.name.slice(0, 25) + "..." : project.name
@@ -80,7 +98,7 @@ export function fmtSessionRow(
 ) {
   const project = app.projects[projectIdx]
   const session = project.sessions![sessionIdx]
-  const check = isSelected ? green("✓") : " "
+  const check = isSelected ? green("✓") : " "  // sessions still use boolean check
   const prefix = isLastSession ? "│ " : "├─"
   const title =
     session.title.length > 55
@@ -123,8 +141,8 @@ export function fmtSessionRow(
       ${dim("│")}     ${dim("Claude:")} ${fg(ACCENT)('"' + responseText + '"')}`
 }
 
-export function fmtNewSessionRow(projectIdx: number, isSelected: boolean) {
-  const check = isSelected ? green("✓") : " "
+export function fmtNewSessionRow(projectIdx: number, isSelected: number | undefined) {
+  const check = fmtTabCheck(isSelected)
   return t`      ${dim("└─")} [${check}] ${green("+ New session")}`
 }
 
diff --git a/src/ui/panels.ts b/src/ui/panels.ts
index b270f95..fd9ce28 100644
--- a/src/ui/panels.ts
+++ b/src/ui/panels.ts
@@ -103,17 +103,20 @@ export function updateTabBar() {
 
 export function updateHeader() {
   const total = app.selectedProjects.size + app.selectedSessions.size
+  // Count distinct tab groups
+  const tabGroups = new Set(app.selectedProjects.values())
+  const tabNote = tabGroups.size > 1 ? ` → ${tabGroups.size} tabs` : ""
   const branchNote = app.selectedBranches.size > 0 ? ` (${app.selectedBranches.size} branch switch)` : ""
   const modeLabel = app.demoMode ? " [DEMO]" : ""
   const activeCount = app.projects.reduce((sum, p) => sum + (p.activeSessions > 0 ? 1 : 0), 0)
   const busyCount = app.projects.reduce((sum, p) => sum + (p.busySessions > 0 ? 1 : 0), 0)
   const idleCount = activeCount - busyCount
   if (activeCount > 0) {
-    app.headerText.content = t`  ${bold("cladm")}${yellow(modeLabel)} — ${String(total)} selected${branchNote}   ${dim(
+    app.headerText.content = t`  ${bold("cladm")}${yellow(modeLabel)} — ${String(total)} selected${tabNote}${branchNote}   ${dim(
       `sort: ${app.sortLabels[app.sortMode]} │ ${app.projects.length} projects`
     )} │ ${green(`${busyCount} busy`)} ${yellow(`${idleCount} idle`)}`
   } else {
-    app.headerText.content = t`  ${bold("cladm")}${yellow(modeLabel)} — ${String(total)} selected${branchNote}   ${dim(
+    app.headerText.content = t`  ${bold("cladm")}${yellow(modeLabel)} — ${String(total)} selected${tabNote}${branchNote}   ${dim(
       `sort: ${app.sortLabels[app.sortMode]} │ ${app.projects.length} projects`
     )}`
   }
@@ -291,14 +294,14 @@ function renderRowContent(i: number) {
   let content: ReturnType<typeof t>
   let rowHeight = 1
   if (row.type === "project") {
-    content = fmtProjectRow(project, app.selectedProjects.has(project.path))
+    content = fmtProjectRow(project, app.selectedProjects.get(project.path))
   } else if (row.type === "session") {
     content = fmtSessionRow(row.projectIndex, row.sessionIndex!, app.selectedSessions.has(project.sessions![row.sessionIndex!].id), false)
     rowHeight = 3
   } else if (row.type === "branch") {
     content = fmtBranchRow(row.projectIndex, row.branchName!, app.selectedBranches.get(project.path) === row.branchName)
   } else {
-    content = fmtNewSessionRow(row.projectIndex, app.selectedProjects.has(project.path))
+    content = fmtNewSessionRow(row.projectIndex, app.selectedProjects.get(project.path))
   }
 
   const isCursor = i === app.cursor