diff --git a/panel/src/app/(dashboard)/prompter/page.tsx b/panel/src/app/(dashboard)/prompter/page.tsx
index 8f451c02..83abf9b2 100644
--- a/panel/src/app/(dashboard)/prompter/page.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/app/(dashboard)/prompter/page.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import { useEffect, useRef } from "react";
 import { Loader2, Sparkles, X } from "lucide-react";
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
+import { HelpTip } from "@/components/ui/help-tip";
 import { usePrompter } from "@/hooks/use-prompter";
 import { Team } from "@/types";
 import {
@@ -77,16 +78,25 @@ export default function PrompterPage() {
         </div>
         {/* End chat — reap the agent and return to the form (any chat state) */}
         {!showForm && state !== "success" && (
-          <Button
-            variant="ghost"
-            size="sm"
-            className="ml-auto text-muted-foreground"
-            onClick={startAnother}
-            disabled={state === "launching"}
-          >
-            <X className="mr-1 h-4 w-4" />
-            End chat
-          </Button>
+          <HelpTip label="Stops the agent session and clears this chat — you'll return to the intake form">
+            {/* disabled sets pointer-events:none on the Button, which would
+                swallow hover — the tip sits on a wrapping span instead. */}
+            <span
+              className="ml-auto"
+              tabIndex={state === "launching" ? undefined : 0}
+            >
+              <Button
+                variant="ghost"
+                size="sm"
+                className="text-muted-foreground"
+                onClick={startAnother}
+                disabled={state === "launching"}
+              >
+                <X className="mr-1 h-4 w-4" />
+                End chat
+              </Button>
+            </span>
+          </HelpTip>
         )}
       </div>
 
diff --git a/panel/src/app/(dashboard)/tasks/[taskId]/page.tsx b/panel/src/app/(dashboard)/tasks/[taskId]/page.tsx
index 0cd333f9..667ed112 100644
--- a/panel/src/app/(dashboard)/tasks/[taskId]/page.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/app/(dashboard)/tasks/[taskId]/page.tsx
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import { AlertTriangle, ArrowLeft } from "lucide-react";
 import Link from "next/link";
 import { useRouter } from "next/navigation";
 import { toast } from "sonner";
+import { HelpTip } from "@/components/ui/help-tip";
 
 interface TaskDetailPageProps {
   params: Promise<{ taskId: string }>;
@@ -415,12 +416,14 @@ export default function TaskDetailPage({ params }: TaskDetailPageProps) {
   if (error || !task) {
     return (
       <div className="space-y-6">
-        <Link href="/tasks" prefetch={false}>
-          <Button variant="ghost" size="sm">
-            <ArrowLeft className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
-            Back to Tasks
-          </Button>
-        </Link>
+        <HelpTip label="Returns to the task list, preserving whatever filters/sort/page you had set there.">
+          <Link href="/tasks" prefetch={false}>
+            <Button variant="ghost" size="sm">
+              <ArrowLeft className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
+              Back to Tasks
+            </Button>
+          </Link>
+        </HelpTip>
 
         <Card>
           <CardContent className="pt-6">
@@ -432,9 +435,11 @@ export default function TaskDetailPage({ params }: TaskDetailPageProps) {
                   "The task you're looking for doesn't exist or has been deleted."}
               </p>
               <div className="flex justify-center gap-4">
-                <Link href="/tasks" prefetch={false}>
-                  <Button>View All Tasks</Button>
-                </Link>
+                <HelpTip label="Leaves this not-found error and returns to the full task list.">
+                  <Link href="/tasks" prefetch={false}>
+                    <Button>View All Tasks</Button>
+                  </Link>
+                </HelpTip>
               </div>
             </div>
           </CardContent>
@@ -474,12 +479,14 @@ export default function TaskDetailPage({ params }: TaskDetailPageProps) {
         task.team !== Team.MAIN_PM && (
           <div className="flex justify-end gap-2">
             {task.team === Team.BOARD && (
-              <Button
-                variant="outline"
-                onClick={() => router.push(`/prompter?redraft=${task.id}`)}
-              >
-                Re-draft with board feedback
-              </Button>
+              <HelpTip label="Re-opens the intake chat, threading in the board's review notes so the draft can be revised.">
+                <Button
+                  variant="outline"
+                  onClick={() => router.push(`/prompter?redraft=${task.id}`)}
+                >
+                  Re-draft with board feedback
+                </Button>
+              </HelpTip>
             )}
             <ApproveAndStartButton task={task} />
           </div>
diff --git a/panel/src/app/(dashboard)/tasks/page.tsx b/panel/src/app/(dashboard)/tasks/page.tsx
index 4fc229eb..5ce971eb 100644
--- a/panel/src/app/(dashboard)/tasks/page.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/app/(dashboard)/tasks/page.tsx
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import type { TaskFilters as TaskApiFilters } from "@/lib/api/tasks";
 import { Skeleton } from "@/components/ui/skeleton";
 import { usePageRefresh } from "@/hooks";
 import { useScrollRestorationStore } from "@/lib/stores";
+import { HelpTip } from "@/components/ui/help-tip";
 
 function TasksPageContent() {
   const router = useRouter();
@@ -304,9 +305,11 @@ function TasksPageContent() {
       <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
         <div>
           <h1 className="text-3xl font-bold tracking-tight">Tasks</h1>
-          <p className="text-muted-foreground">
-            Manage and track all tasks across teams
-          </p>
+          <HelpTip label="Filters, sort, and pagination all persist in the URL — this view is bookmarkable and shareable.">
+            <p className="text-muted-foreground">
+              Manage and track all tasks across teams
+            </p>
+          </HelpTip>
         </div>
         <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
           <CreateTaskDialog />
diff --git a/panel/src/components/git/__tests__/code-snippet.test.tsx b/panel/src/components/git/__tests__/code-snippet.test.tsx
index c6a48e5f..b77393bb 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/git/__tests__/code-snippet.test.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/git/__tests__/code-snippet.test.tsx
@@ -71,6 +71,9 @@ describe("CodeSnippet", () => {
     // The active line's content is "b"; its row carries the highlight class.
     const row = screen.getByText("b").parentElement;
     expect(row?.className).toContain("bg-blue-500/15");
+    // The active line's number is now a real HelpTip trigger (Radix injects
+    // data-state via asChild), not a bare span.
+    expect(screen.getByText("2").getAttribute("data-state")).toBe("closed");
   });
 
   it("renders the fail-open hint on an error", () => {
diff --git a/panel/src/components/git/code-snippet.tsx b/panel/src/components/git/code-snippet.tsx
index cbe64ca4..56339931 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/git/code-snippet.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/git/code-snippet.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { useGitFile } from "@/hooks/use-git";
 import { Skeleton } from "@/components/ui/skeleton";
 import { ScrollArea } from "@/components/ui/scroll-area";
 import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
+import { HelpTip } from "@/components/ui/help-tip";
 
 interface CodeSnippetProps {
   branch: string | null | undefined;
@@ -64,9 +65,11 @@ export function CodeSnippet({
                     "bg-blue-500/15 ring-1 ring-inset ring-blue-500/30",
                 )}
               >
-                <span className="select-none w-8 shrink-0 text-right text-muted-foreground/60">
-                  {lineNo}
-                </span>
+                <HelpTip label={isActive ? "The line flagged in this finding" : ""}>
+                  <span className="select-none w-8 shrink-0 text-right text-muted-foreground/60">
+                    {lineNo}
+                  </span>
+                </HelpTip>
                 <span className="whitespace-pre">{text || " "}</span>
               </div>
             );
@@ -74,10 +77,12 @@ export function CodeSnippet({
         </pre>
       </ScrollArea>
       {data.truncated && (
-        <p className="border-t px-2 py-1 text-[10px] text-muted-foreground">
-          showing lines {data.start_line}–{data.start_line + lines.length - 1}{" "}
-          of {data.total_lines}
-        </p>
+        <HelpTip label="Only a window around the flagged line is loaded, not the whole file — widen `context` to see more.">
+          <p className="border-t px-2 py-1 text-[10px] text-muted-foreground w-fit">
+            showing lines {data.start_line}–
+            {data.start_line + lines.length - 1} of {data.total_lines}
+          </p>
+        </HelpTip>
       )}
     </div>
   );
diff --git a/panel/src/components/git/git-actions-panel.tsx b/panel/src/components/git/git-actions-panel.tsx
index 769faaec..f24f99ca 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/git/git-actions-panel.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/git/git-actions-panel.tsx
@@ -150,28 +150,51 @@ export function GitActionsPanel({
           open={showCommitDialog}
           onOpenChange={handleCommitDialogOpenChange}
         >
-          <DialogTrigger asChild>
-            <Button
-              className="w-full justify-start"
-              variant={hasStagedChanges ? "default" : "outline"}
-              disabled={!hasStagedChanges}
+          {/* HelpTip+span wraps the whole DialogTrigger, not the Button
+              itself — the Button stays DialogTrigger's asChild target so
+              Radix's Slot merge is undisturbed, and the outer span keeps the
+              tip hoverable even while disabled (disabled sets
+              pointer-events:none on the button, which would swallow hover on
+              anything nested inside it). */}
+          <HelpTip
+            label={
+              hasStagedChanges
+                ? "Records the staged files as a local commit — doesn't push to the remote."
+                : "Nothing staged yet — stage files first before a commit can be made."
+            }
+          >
+            <span
+              className="block w-full"
+              tabIndex={!hasStagedChanges ? 0 : undefined}
             >
-              <GitCommit className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
-              Commit Changes
-              {hasStagedChanges && (
-                <Badge variant="secondary" className="ml-auto">
-                  {status?.staged_files.length} files
-                </Badge>
-              )}
-            </Button>
-          </DialogTrigger>
+              <DialogTrigger asChild>
+                <Button
+                  className="w-full justify-start"
+                  variant={hasStagedChanges ? "default" : "outline"}
+                  disabled={!hasStagedChanges}
+                >
+                  <GitCommit className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
+                  Commit Changes
+                  {hasStagedChanges && (
+                    <Badge variant="secondary" className="ml-auto">
+                      {status?.staged_files.length} files
+                    </Badge>
+                  )}
+                </Button>
+              </DialogTrigger>
+            </span>
+          </HelpTip>
           <DialogContent>
             <DialogHeader>
               <DialogTitle>Commit Changes</DialogTitle>
             </DialogHeader>
             <div className="space-y-4 py-4">
               <div className="space-y-2">
-                <label className="text-sm font-medium">Commit Message</label>
+                <HelpTip label="Becomes the commit's message — shows up in the log panel and the PR's commit history.">
+                  <label className="text-sm font-medium w-fit">
+                    Commit Message
+                  </label>
+                </HelpTip>
                 <Textarea
                   placeholder="Describe your changes..."
                   value={commitMessage}
@@ -216,52 +239,82 @@ export function GitActionsPanel({
         </Dialog>
 
         {/* Push Action */}
-        <Button
-          className="w-full justify-start"
-          variant={canPush ? "default" : "outline"}
-          disabled={!canPush || isPushing}
-          onClick={() => onPush(false)}
+        <HelpTip
+          label={
+            canPush
+              ? "git push -u origin <branch>. Uploads your local commits to GitHub — never force, safe to repeat."
+              : "Nothing to push — no local commits sit ahead of the remote branch yet."
+          }
         >
-          {isPushing ? (
-            <RefreshCw className="h-4 w-4 mr-2 animate-spin" />
-          ) : (
-            <Upload className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
-          )}
-          Push to Remote
-          {status?.ahead !== undefined && status.ahead > 0 && (
-            <HelpTip label="Commits not yet pushed to the remote repository">
-              <Badge variant="secondary" className="ml-auto">
-                <ArrowUp className="h-3 w-3 mr-1" />
-                {status.ahead}
-              </Badge>
-            </HelpTip>
-          )}
-        </Button>
+          <span
+            className="block w-full"
+            tabIndex={!canPush ? 0 : undefined}
+          >
+            <Button
+              className="w-full justify-start"
+              variant={canPush ? "default" : "outline"}
+              disabled={!canPush || isPushing}
+              onClick={() => onPush(false)}
+            >
+              {isPushing ? (
+                <RefreshCw className="h-4 w-4 mr-2 animate-spin" />
+              ) : (
+                <Upload className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
+              )}
+              Push to Remote
+              {status?.ahead !== undefined && status.ahead > 0 && (
+                <HelpTip label="Commits not yet pushed to the remote repository">
+                  <Badge variant="secondary" className="ml-auto">
+                    <ArrowUp className="h-3 w-3 mr-1" />
+                    {status.ahead}
+                  </Badge>
+                </HelpTip>
+              )}
+            </Button>
+          </span>
+        </HelpTip>
 
         {/* Create PR Action */}
         <Dialog open={showPRDialog} onOpenChange={handlePRDialogOpenChange}>
-          <DialogTrigger asChild>
-            <Button
-              className="w-full justify-start"
-              variant="outline"
-              disabled={!canCreatePR}
+          <HelpTip
+            label={
+              canCreatePR
+                ? "Opens GitHub's PR creation flow for this branch against main."
+                : "Already on main with nothing ahead of it — there's no branch content to open a PR for."
+            }
+          >
+            <span
+              className="block w-full"
+              tabIndex={!canCreatePR ? 0 : undefined}
             >
-              <GitPullRequest className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
-              Create Pull Request
-            </Button>
-          </DialogTrigger>
+              <DialogTrigger asChild>
+                <Button
+                  className="w-full justify-start"
+                  variant="outline"
+                  disabled={!canCreatePR}
+                >
+                  <GitPullRequest className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
+                  Create Pull Request
+                </Button>
+              </DialogTrigger>
+            </span>
+          </HelpTip>
           <DialogContent className="max-w-lg">
             <DialogHeader>
               <DialogTitle>Create Pull Request</DialogTitle>
             </DialogHeader>
             <div className="space-y-4 py-4">
-              <div className="flex items-center gap-2 text-sm text-muted-foreground">
-                <Badge variant="outline">{status?.current_branch}</Badge>
-                <span>→</span>
-                <Badge variant="outline">main</Badge>
-              </div>
+              <HelpTip label="Source branch on the left merges into the target branch on the right.">
+                <div className="flex items-center gap-2 text-sm text-muted-foreground w-fit">
+                  <Badge variant="outline">{status?.current_branch}</Badge>
+                  <span>→</span>
+                  <Badge variant="outline">main</Badge>
+                </div>
+              </HelpTip>
               <div className="space-y-2">
-                <label className="text-sm font-medium">Title</label>
+                <HelpTip label="Becomes the pull request's title on GitHub.">
+                  <label className="text-sm font-medium w-fit">Title</label>
+                </HelpTip>
                 <Input
                   placeholder="PR title..."
                   value={prTitle}
@@ -269,7 +322,11 @@ export function GitActionsPanel({
                 />
               </div>
               <div className="space-y-2">
-                <label className="text-sm font-medium">Description</label>
+                <HelpTip label="The PR's body on GitHub — markdown supported, shown to reviewers.">
+                  <label className="text-sm font-medium w-fit">
+                    Description
+                  </label>
+                </HelpTip>
                 <Textarea
                   placeholder="Describe your changes..."
                   value={prBody}
@@ -300,23 +357,31 @@ export function GitActionsPanel({
           open={showMergeDialog}
           onOpenChange={handleMergeDialogOpenChange}
         >
-          <DialogTrigger asChild>
-            <Button className="w-full justify-start" variant="outline">
-              {isMerging ? (
-                <RefreshCw className="h-4 w-4 mr-2 animate-spin" />
-              ) : (
-                <GitMerge className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
-              )}
-              Merge PR
-            </Button>
-          </DialogTrigger>
+          <HelpTip label="Merges an open PR via GitHub's API — squash by default, falls back to merge/rebase if blocked by branch protection.">
+            <span className="block w-full">
+              <DialogTrigger asChild>
+                <Button className="w-full justify-start" variant="outline">
+                  {isMerging ? (
+                    <RefreshCw className="h-4 w-4 mr-2 animate-spin" />
+                  ) : (
+                    <GitMerge className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
+                  )}
+                  Merge PR
+                </Button>
+              </DialogTrigger>
+            </span>
+          </HelpTip>
           <DialogContent className="max-w-sm">
             <DialogHeader>
               <DialogTitle>Merge Pull Request</DialogTitle>
             </DialogHeader>
             <div className="space-y-4 py-4">
               <div className="space-y-2">
-                <label className="text-sm font-medium">PR Number</label>
+                <HelpTip label="The GitHub PR number to merge, e.g. the 42 in .../pull/42.">
+                  <label className="text-sm font-medium w-fit">
+                    PR Number
+                  </label>
+                </HelpTip>
                 <Input
                   type="number"
                   placeholder="e.g. 42"
@@ -351,51 +416,63 @@ export function GitActionsPanel({
         </Dialog>
 
         {/* Pull Action */}
-        <Button
-          className="w-full justify-start"
-          variant="outline"
-          disabled={isPulling}
-          onClick={onPull}
-        >
-          {isPulling ? (
-            <RefreshCw className="h-4 w-4 mr-2 animate-spin" />
-          ) : (
-            <Download className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
-          )}
-          Pull from Remote
-        </Button>
-
-        {/* Fetch Action */}
-        <Button
-          className="w-full justify-start"
-          variant="outline"
-          disabled={isFetching}
-          onClick={onFetch}
-        >
-          {isFetching ? (
-            <RefreshCw className="h-4 w-4 mr-2 animate-spin" />
-          ) : (
-            <RefreshCcw className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
-          )}
-          Fetch Remote
-        </Button>
-
-        {/* Rebase Action — destructive, requires confirmation */}
-        <AlertDialog>
-          <AlertDialogTrigger asChild>
+        <HelpTip label="Fetches origin, then fast-forwards your branch onto it. Refuses (no merge commit) if history has diverged.">
+          <span className="block w-full">
             <Button
               className="w-full justify-start"
               variant="outline"
-              disabled={isRebasing}
+              disabled={isPulling}
+              onClick={onPull}
             >
-              {isRebasing ? (
+              {isPulling ? (
                 <RefreshCw className="h-4 w-4 mr-2 animate-spin" />
               ) : (
-                <GitGraph className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
+                <Download className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
               )}
-              Rebase onto Remote
+              Pull from Remote
             </Button>
-          </AlertDialogTrigger>
+          </span>
+        </HelpTip>
+
+        {/* Fetch Action */}
+        <HelpTip label="Updates remote-tracking refs from origin only — never touches your working directory or local branch.">
+          <span className="block w-full">
+            <Button
+              className="w-full justify-start"
+              variant="outline"
+              disabled={isFetching}
+              onClick={onFetch}
+            >
+              {isFetching ? (
+                <RefreshCw className="h-4 w-4 mr-2 animate-spin" />
+              ) : (
+                <RefreshCcw className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
+              )}
+              Fetch Remote
+            </Button>
+          </span>
+        </HelpTip>
+
+        {/* Rebase Action — destructive, requires confirmation */}
+        <AlertDialog>
+          <HelpTip label="Rewrites this branch's commit history on top of another branch. Requires a force-push afterward — use with care.">
+            <span className="block w-full">
+              <AlertDialogTrigger asChild>
+                <Button
+                  className="w-full justify-start"
+                  variant="outline"
+                  disabled={isRebasing}
+                >
+                  {isRebasing ? (
+                    <RefreshCw className="h-4 w-4 mr-2 animate-spin" />
+                  ) : (
+                    <GitGraph className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
+                  )}
+                  Rebase onto Remote
+                </Button>
+              </AlertDialogTrigger>
+            </span>
+          </HelpTip>
           <AlertDialogContent className="border-destructive bg-destructive/5">
             <AlertDialogHeader>
               <AlertDialogTitle>Rebase onto target branch?</AlertDialogTitle>
@@ -407,7 +484,11 @@ export function GitActionsPanel({
               </AlertDialogDescription>
             </AlertDialogHeader>
             <div className="px-6 py-2 space-y-2">
-              <label className="text-sm font-medium">Target branch</label>
+              <HelpTip label="Branch/ref to replay commits onto, e.g. origin/main. On conflict, rebase auto-aborts — your tree stays untouched.">
+                <label className="text-sm font-medium w-fit">
+                  Target branch
+                </label>
+              </HelpTip>
               <Input
                 placeholder="Remote ref (e.g. origin/HEAD)"
                 value={rebaseTargetBranch}
diff --git a/panel/src/components/git/git-branch-panel.tsx b/panel/src/components/git/git-branch-panel.tsx
index 3fec4afa..f2bc611e 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/git/git-branch-panel.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/git/git-branch-panel.tsx
@@ -92,19 +92,27 @@ export function GitBranchPanel({
             Branches
           </span>
           <Dialog open={showCreateDialog} onOpenChange={setShowCreateDialog}>
-            <DialogTrigger asChild>
-              <Button size="sm" variant="outline">
-                <Plus className="h-3 w-3 mr-1" />
-                New
-              </Button>
-            </DialogTrigger>
+            <HelpTip label="Creates a new branch named {type}/{team}/{task-id}, branched from the task's parent branch (or the project default).">
+              <span className="inline-block">
+                <DialogTrigger asChild>
+                  <Button size="sm" variant="outline">
+                    <Plus className="h-3 w-3 mr-1" />
+                    New
+                  </Button>
+                </DialogTrigger>
+              </span>
+            </HelpTip>
             <DialogContent>
               <DialogHeader>
                 <DialogTitle>Create Task Branch</DialogTitle>
               </DialogHeader>
               <div className="space-y-4 py-4">
                 <div className="space-y-2">
-                  <label className="text-sm font-medium">Branch Type</label>
+                  <HelpTip label="Sets the branch-name prefix (feature/bug/chore/docs/hotfix) — doesn't otherwise change behavior.">
+                    <label className="text-sm font-medium w-fit">
+                      Branch Type
+                    </label>
+                  </HelpTip>
                   <Select
                     value={newBranchType}
                     onValueChange={(v) => setNewBranchType(v as BranchType)}
@@ -122,7 +130,11 @@ export function GitBranchPanel({
                   </Select>
                 </div>
                 <div className="space-y-2">
-                  <label className="text-sm font-medium">Task ID</label>
+                  <HelpTip label="Identifies the task this branch is for — gets embedded in the branch name (shortened to 8 chars).">
+                    <label className="text-sm font-medium w-fit">
+                      Task ID
+                    </label>
+                  </HelpTip>
                   <Input
                     placeholder="Enter task ID..."
                     value={taskId}
@@ -156,41 +168,56 @@ export function GitBranchPanel({
           <div className="space-y-3">
             {/* Local Branches */}
             <div>
-              <h4 className="text-xs font-semibold text-muted-foreground uppercase tracking-wider mb-1">
-                Local ({localBranches.length})
-              </h4>
+              <HelpTip label="Branches that exist in your local clone's .git — checking one out is instant, no fetch needed.">
+                <h4 className="text-xs font-semibold text-muted-foreground uppercase tracking-wider mb-1 w-fit">
+                  Local ({localBranches.length})
+                </h4>
+              </HelpTip>
               <div className="space-y-0.5">
                 {localBranches.map((branch) => (
-                  <Button
+                  <HelpTip
                     key={branch.name}
-                    onClick={() =>
-                      !branch.is_current && onCheckout(branch.name)
-                    }
-                    disabled={branch.is_current || isCheckingOut}
-                    variant="ghost"
-                    className={
-                      "w-full h-auto justify-between px-2 py-1.5 text-sm font-normal whitespace-normal " +
-                      (branch.is_current
-                        ? "bg-primary/10 text-primary hover:bg-primary/10 hover:text-primary"
-                        : "hover:bg-muted")
+                    label={
+                      branch.is_current
+                        ? "This is the branch you're already on."
+                        : "Switches your workspace to this branch (git checkout). Non-conflicting uncommitted changes carry over."
                     }
                   >
-                    <div className="flex items-center gap-2 min-w-0">
-                      {branch.is_current && (
-                        <Check className="h-3 w-3 text-primary shrink-0" />
-                      )}
-                      <span className="truncate font-mono text-xs">
-                        {branch.name}
-                      </span>
-                    </div>
-                    {branch.last_commit && (
-                      <HelpTip label="Short commit hash on this branch">
-                        <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground font-mono shrink-0">
-                          {branch.last_commit.slice(0, 7)}
-                        </span>
-                      </HelpTip>
-                    )}
-                  </Button>
+                    <span
+                      className="block"
+                      tabIndex={branch.is_current ? 0 : undefined}
+                    >
+                      <Button
+                        onClick={() =>
+                          !branch.is_current && onCheckout(branch.name)
+                        }
+                        disabled={branch.is_current || isCheckingOut}
+                        variant="ghost"
+                        className={
+                          "w-full h-auto justify-between px-2 py-1.5 text-sm font-normal whitespace-normal " +
+                          (branch.is_current
+                            ? "bg-primary/10 text-primary hover:bg-primary/10 hover:text-primary"
+                            : "hover:bg-muted")
+                        }
+                      >
+                        <div className="flex items-center gap-2 min-w-0">
+                          {branch.is_current && (
+                            <Check className="h-3 w-3 text-primary shrink-0" />
+                          )}
+                          <span className="truncate font-mono text-xs">
+                            {branch.name}
+                          </span>
+                        </div>
+                        {branch.last_commit && (
+                          <HelpTip label="Short commit hash on this branch">
+                            <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground font-mono shrink-0">
+                              {branch.last_commit.slice(0, 7)}
+                            </span>
+                          </HelpTip>
+                        )}
+                      </Button>
+                    </span>
+                  </HelpTip>
                 ))}
               </div>
             </div>
@@ -198,23 +225,31 @@ export function GitBranchPanel({
             {/* Remote Branches */}
             {remoteBranches.length > 0 && (
               <div>
-                <h4 className="text-xs font-semibold text-muted-foreground uppercase tracking-wider mb-1 flex items-center gap-1">
-                  <Cloud className="h-3 w-3" />
-                  Remote ({remoteBranches.length})
-                </h4>
+                <HelpTip label="Branches on origin without a local counterpart yet — checking one out creates a local tracking branch.">
+                  <h4 className="text-xs font-semibold text-muted-foreground uppercase tracking-wider mb-1 flex items-center gap-1 w-fit">
+                    <Cloud className="h-3 w-3" />
+                    Remote ({remoteBranches.length})
+                  </h4>
+                </HelpTip>
                 <div className="space-y-0.5">
                   {remoteBranches.map((branch) => (
-                    <Button
+                    <HelpTip
                       key={branch.name}
-                      onClick={() => onCheckout(branch.name)}
-                      disabled={isCheckingOut}
-                      variant="ghost"
-                      className="w-full h-auto justify-start px-2 py-1.5 text-sm font-normal whitespace-normal hover:bg-muted"
+                      label="Creates a local branch tracking this remote ref and switches to it."
                     >
-                      <span className="truncate font-mono text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-                        {branch.name}
+                      <span className="block">
+                        <Button
+                          onClick={() => onCheckout(branch.name)}
+                          disabled={isCheckingOut}
+                          variant="ghost"
+                          className="w-full h-auto justify-start px-2 py-1.5 text-sm font-normal whitespace-normal hover:bg-muted"
+                        >
+                          <span className="truncate font-mono text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                            {branch.name}
+                          </span>
+                        </Button>
                       </span>
-                    </Button>
+                    </HelpTip>
                   ))}
                 </div>
               </div>
diff --git a/panel/src/components/git/git-browser.tsx b/panel/src/components/git/git-browser.tsx
index 632ad570..702a99e1 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/git/git-browser.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/git/git-browser.tsx
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import { GitDiffViewer } from "./git-diff-viewer";
 import { GitActionsPanel } from "./git-actions-panel";
 import { GitBranch, FolderGit2 } from "lucide-react";
 import { useGitBrowser } from "@/hooks/use-git-browser";
+import { HelpTip } from "@/components/ui/help-tip";
 
 function GitBrowserContent() {
   const {
@@ -80,25 +81,29 @@ function GitBrowserContent() {
         </div>
         <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
           {/* Project Selector */}
-          <Select value={projectSlug} onValueChange={handleProjectChange}>
-            <SelectTrigger className="w-full sm:w-64">
-              <FolderGit2 className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
-              <SelectValue placeholder="Select a project..." />
-            </SelectTrigger>
-            <SelectContent>
-              {loadingProjects ? (
-                <div className="p-2">
-                  <Skeleton className="h-8 w-full" />
-                </div>
-              ) : (
-                projects?.map((p) => (
-                  <SelectItem key={p.id} value={p.slug}>
-                    {p.name}
-                  </SelectItem>
-                ))
-              )}
-            </SelectContent>
-          </Select>
+          <HelpTip label="Switches every panel below (status, branches, log, diff) to this project's clone on disk.">
+            <span className="w-full sm:w-64">
+              <Select value={projectSlug} onValueChange={handleProjectChange}>
+                <SelectTrigger className="w-full sm:w-64">
+                  <FolderGit2 className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
+                  <SelectValue placeholder="Select a project..." />
+                </SelectTrigger>
+                <SelectContent>
+                  {loadingProjects ? (
+                    <div className="p-2">
+                      <Skeleton className="h-8 w-full" />
+                    </div>
+                  ) : (
+                    projects?.map((p) => (
+                      <SelectItem key={p.id} value={p.slug}>
+                        {p.name}
+                      </SelectItem>
+                    ))
+                  )}
+                </SelectContent>
+              </Select>
+            </span>
+          </HelpTip>
         </div>
       </div>
 
diff --git a/panel/src/components/git/git-diff-viewer.tsx b/panel/src/components/git/git-diff-viewer.tsx
index a5add9b6..8e172583 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/git/git-diff-viewer.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/git/git-diff-viewer.tsx
@@ -104,21 +104,30 @@ export function GitDiffViewer({
     <Card>
       <CardHeader className="pb-2">
         <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-2">
-          <CardTitle className="text-sm flex items-center gap-2">
-            <FileCode className="h-4 w-4" />
-            Changes
-          </CardTitle>
-          <Button
-            variant={wrap ? "secondary" : "ghost"}
-            size="sm"
-            className="h-7 px-2 text-xs"
-            aria-pressed={wrap}
-            onClick={() => setWrap((w) => !w)}
-            title="Toggle line wrap"
+          <HelpTip label="Green = added lines, red = removed, blue = hunk header (@@ ... @@ shows the surrounding line range).">
+            <CardTitle className="text-sm flex items-center gap-2 w-fit">
+              <FileCode className="h-4 w-4" />
+              Changes
+            </CardTitle>
+          </HelpTip>
+          <HelpTip
+            label={
+              wrap
+                ? "Long lines wrap to fit the panel — click to scroll horizontally instead."
+                : "Long lines overflow with horizontal scroll — click to wrap them instead."
+            }
           >
-            <WrapText className="h-3.5 w-3.5 mr-1" />
-            Wrap
-          </Button>
+            <Button
+              variant={wrap ? "secondary" : "ghost"}
+              size="sm"
+              className="h-7 px-2 text-xs"
+              aria-pressed={wrap}
+              onClick={() => setWrap((w) => !w)}
+            >
+              <WrapText className="h-3.5 w-3.5 mr-1" />
+              Wrap
+            </Button>
+          </HelpTip>
         </div>
       </CardHeader>
       <CardContent className="p-0">
diff --git a/panel/src/components/git/git-log-panel.tsx b/panel/src/components/git/git-log-panel.tsx
index a71b570f..3062cd49 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/git/git-log-panel.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/git/git-log-panel.tsx
@@ -62,17 +62,22 @@ export function GitLogPanel({
         <CardTitle className="text-sm flex items-center gap-2">
           <GitCommit className="h-4 w-4" />
           Commit History
-          <Badge variant="secondary" className="ml-auto text-xs">
-            {log.branch}
-          </Badge>
+          <HelpTip label="Commits reachable from this branch, newest first.">
+            <Badge variant="secondary" className="ml-auto text-xs">
+              {log.branch}
+            </Badge>
+          </HelpTip>
         </CardTitle>
       </CardHeader>
       <CardContent className="p-0">
         <ScrollArea className="h-80">
           <div className="p-4 space-y-0">
             {log.commits.map((commit, index) => (
-              <Button
+              <HelpTip
                 key={commit.hash}
+                label={onSelectCommit ? "Select this commit" : ""}
+              >
+              <Button
                 onClick={() => onSelectCommit?.(commit)}
                 variant="ghost"
                 className={cn(
@@ -120,16 +125,19 @@ export function GitLogPanel({
                         <User className="h-3 w-3" />
                         {commit.author}
                       </span>
-                      <span className="flex items-center gap-1">
-                        <Calendar className="h-3 w-3" />
-                        {formatDistanceToNow(new Date(commit.date), {
-                          addSuffix: true,
-                        })}
-                      </span>
+                      <HelpTip label={new Date(commit.date).toLocaleString()}>
+                        <span className="flex items-center gap-1 w-fit">
+                          <Calendar className="h-3 w-3" />
+                          {formatDistanceToNow(new Date(commit.date), {
+                            addSuffix: true,
+                          })}
+                        </span>
+                      </HelpTip>
                     </div>
                   </div>
                 </div>
               </Button>
+              </HelpTip>
             ))}
           </div>
         </ScrollArea>
diff --git a/panel/src/components/git/git-status-panel.tsx b/panel/src/components/git/git-status-panel.tsx
index 5a7f3cd0..8d2303f1 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/git/git-status-panel.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/git/git-status-panel.tsx
@@ -70,20 +70,24 @@ export function GitStatusPanel({ status, isLoading }: GitStatusPanelProps) {
             Repository Status
           </span>
           {!hasChanges && (
-            <Badge variant="outline" className="text-green-600">
-              <CheckCircle className="h-3 w-3 mr-1" />
-              Clean
-            </Badge>
+            <HelpTip label="No staged, modified, or untracked files — the working tree matches HEAD.">
+              <Badge variant="outline" className="text-green-600">
+                <CheckCircle className="h-3 w-3 mr-1" />
+                Clean
+              </Badge>
+            </HelpTip>
           )}
         </CardTitle>
       </CardHeader>
       <CardContent className="space-y-4">
         {/* Branch Info */}
         <div className="flex items-center gap-4 text-sm">
-          <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
-            <GitBranch className="h-4 w-4 text-muted-foreground" />
-            <span className="font-medium">{status.current_branch}</span>
-          </div>
+          <HelpTip label="The branch currently checked out in this project's workspace.">
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-2 w-fit">
+              <GitBranch className="h-4 w-4 text-muted-foreground" />
+              <span className="font-medium">{status.current_branch}</span>
+            </div>
+          </HelpTip>
           {(status.ahead > 0 || status.behind > 0) && (
             <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
               {status.ahead > 0 && (
diff --git a/panel/src/components/kanban/core/kanban-board.tsx b/panel/src/components/kanban/core/kanban-board.tsx
index b86c2fd5..bac3ac4d 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/kanban/core/kanban-board.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/kanban/core/kanban-board.tsx
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import {
   TooltipContent,
   TooltipTrigger,
 } from "@/components/ui/tooltip";
+import { HelpTip } from "@/components/ui/help-tip";
 import { ChevronLeft, ChevronRight } from "lucide-react";
 import { toast } from "sonner";
 import {
@@ -391,34 +392,54 @@ export function KanbanBoard({
         {/* Mobile: single-column view with prev/next navigator (hidden on sm+) */}
         <div className="sm:hidden flex flex-1 min-h-0 flex-col">
           <div className="flex items-center gap-2 mb-4 shrink-0">
-            <Button
-              variant="outline"
-              size="icon"
-              className="min-h-11 min-w-11 shrink-0"
-              onClick={() => setActiveColumnIndex((i) => Math.max(0, i - 1))}
-              disabled={activeColumnIndex === 0}
-              aria-label="Previous column"
-            >
-              <ChevronLeft className="h-5 w-5" />
-            </Button>
+            {/* Buttons wrapped in a span, not tipped directly: disabled sets
+                pointer-events:none on the Button and would swallow hover. */}
+            <HelpTip label="Swipe to the previous lifecycle stage — each column is one task status">
+              <span
+                className="shrink-0"
+                tabIndex={activeColumnIndex === 0 ? undefined : 0}
+              >
+                <Button
+                  variant="outline"
+                  size="icon"
+                  className="min-h-11 min-w-11 shrink-0"
+                  onClick={() => setActiveColumnIndex((i) => Math.max(0, i - 1))}
+                  disabled={activeColumnIndex === 0}
+                  aria-label="Previous column"
+                >
+                  <ChevronLeft className="h-5 w-5" />
+                </Button>
+              </span>
+            </HelpTip>
             <p className="flex-1 text-center text-sm font-semibold">
               <span className="text-muted-foreground font-normal text-xs mr-1">
                 {activeColumnIndex + 1}/{columns.length}
               </span>
               {columns[activeColumnIndex]?.title}
             </p>
-            <Button
-              variant="outline"
-              size="icon"
-              className="min-h-11 min-w-11 shrink-0"
-              onClick={() =>
-                setActiveColumnIndex((i) => Math.min(columns.length - 1, i + 1))
-              }
-              disabled={activeColumnIndex === columns.length - 1}
-              aria-label="Next column"
-            >
-              <ChevronRight className="h-5 w-5" />
-            </Button>
+            <HelpTip label="Swipe to the next lifecycle stage — each column is one task status">
+              <span
+                className="shrink-0"
+                tabIndex={
+                  activeColumnIndex === columns.length - 1 ? undefined : 0
+                }
+              >
+                <Button
+                  variant="outline"
+                  size="icon"
+                  className="min-h-11 min-w-11 shrink-0"
+                  onClick={() =>
+                    setActiveColumnIndex((i) =>
+                      Math.min(columns.length - 1, i + 1),
+                    )
+                  }
+                  disabled={activeColumnIndex === columns.length - 1}
+                  aria-label="Next column"
+                >
+                  <ChevronRight className="h-5 w-5" />
+                </Button>
+              </span>
+            </HelpTip>
           </div>
           {columns[activeColumnIndex] && (
             <KanbanColumn
diff --git a/panel/src/components/kanban/core/kanban-card.tsx b/panel/src/components/kanban/core/kanban-card.tsx
index 4033f669..4066886a 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/kanban/core/kanban-card.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/kanban/core/kanban-card.tsx
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import {
   TooltipProvider,
   TooltipTrigger,
 } from "@/components/ui/tooltip";
+import { HelpTip } from "@/components/ui/help-tip";
 import { PriorityIndicator } from "../shared/priority-indicator";
 import { BlockedBadge } from "../shared/blocked-badge";
 import { AssigneeAvatar } from "../shared/assignee-avatar";
@@ -109,12 +110,13 @@ export function KanbanCard({
           <div className="flex-1 min-w-0 overflow-hidden">
             <Link href={"/tasks/" + task.id} className="block" prefetch={false}>
               <p className="font-medium text-sm line-clamp-2 hover:underline break-words">
-                <span
-                  className="font-mono text-muted-foreground"
-                  title={task.id}
+                <HelpTip
+                  label={`Full ID ${task.id} — the 8-char prefix is what commits and branch names for this task use`}
                 >
-                  #{task.id.slice(0, 8)}
-                </span>{" "}
+                  <span className="font-mono text-muted-foreground">
+                    #{task.id.slice(0, 8)}
+                  </span>
+                </HelpTip>{" "}
                 {task.title}
               </p>
             </Link>
@@ -144,9 +146,11 @@ export function KanbanCard({
 
         <div className="flex items-center justify-between mt-2">
           <div className="flex items-center gap-1 flex-wrap">
-            <Badge variant="outline" className="text-xs">
-              {task.team.replace(/_/g, " ")}
-            </Badge>
+            <HelpTip label="Delivery cell that owns this task — only its agents can claim it">
+              <Badge variant="outline" className="text-xs">
+                {task.team.replace(/_/g, " ")}
+              </Badge>
+            </HelpTip>
             <TaskTypeBadge type={task.task_type} showLabel={false} />
             {task.sequence != null && (
               <Tooltip>
diff --git a/panel/src/components/kanban/core/kanban-column.tsx b/panel/src/components/kanban/core/kanban-column.tsx
index 3450f334..72c058d8 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/kanban/core/kanban-column.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/kanban/core/kanban-column.tsx
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ import {
   TooltipContent,
   TooltipTrigger,
 } from "@/components/ui/tooltip";
+import { HelpTip } from "@/components/ui/help-tip";
+import { taskStatusDescription } from "@/components/tasks/task-status-badge";
 import { KanbanCard } from "./kanban-card";
 import { useDroppable } from "@dnd-kit/core";
 import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
@@ -55,9 +57,19 @@ export function KanbanColumn({
       )}
     >
       <div className="flex items-center justify-between mb-3">
-        <h3 className="font-semibold text-sm text-gray-800 dark:text-gray-100">
-          {title}
-        </h3>
+        {/* Reuses the canonical per-status copy (task-status-badge.tsx) so a
+            column header explains what a drag-drop here actually does. */}
+        <HelpTip
+          label={
+            taskStatusDescription(status)
+              ? `Dropping a card here fires this transition: ${taskStatusDescription(status)}`
+              : null
+          }
+        >
+          <h3 className="font-semibold text-sm text-gray-800 dark:text-gray-100 w-fit">
+            {title}
+          </h3>
+        </HelpTip>
         <Tooltip>
           <TooltipTrigger asChild>
             <Badge
diff --git a/panel/src/components/prompter/batch-review-card.tsx b/panel/src/components/prompter/batch-review-card.tsx
index 7f9221df..8b01bb3b 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/prompter/batch-review-card.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/prompter/batch-review-card.tsx
@@ -267,15 +267,17 @@ export function BatchReviewCard({
         )}
 
         <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-2 pt-1">
-          <Button
-            variant="outline"
-            size="sm"
-            onClick={onKeepChatting}
-            disabled={isLaunching}
-          >
-            <MessageCircle className="mr-1.5 h-3.5 w-3.5" />
-            Keep chatting
-          </Button>
+          <HelpTip label="Dismisses this review and returns to chat — nothing is launched, the draft batch is kept">
+            <Button
+              variant="outline"
+              size="sm"
+              onClick={onKeepChatting}
+              disabled={isLaunching}
+            >
+              <MessageCircle className="mr-1.5 h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+              Keep chatting
+            </Button>
+          </HelpTip>
           {/* Board review & Start → the Board reviews the whole batch first */}
           <HelpTip label="Routes the whole MegaTask through the Product Owner and Head of Marketing for review before any work starts.">
             <Button
diff --git a/panel/src/components/prompter/board-review-sent-card.tsx b/panel/src/components/prompter/board-review-sent-card.tsx
index 013a3ec1..190d53ea 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/prompter/board-review-sent-card.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/prompter/board-review-sent-card.tsx
@@ -78,21 +78,25 @@ export function BoardReviewSentCard({
       </CardContent>
 
       <CardFooter className="gap-2 pt-0">
-        <Button variant="outline" size="sm" asChild className="flex-1">
-          <Link
-            prefetch={false}
-            href={`/tasks/${taskId}`}
-            target="_blank"
-            rel="noopener noreferrer"
-          >
-            <ExternalLink className="mr-1.5 h-3.5 w-3.5" />
-            View umbrella task
-          </Link>
-        </Button>
-        <Button size="sm" className="flex-1" onClick={onStartAnother}>
-          <RefreshCw className="mr-1.5 h-3.5 w-3.5" />
-          Start another
-        </Button>
+        <HelpTip label="Opens the umbrella task in a new tab — use Approve & Start there once the board finishes">
+          <Button variant="outline" size="sm" asChild className="flex-1">
+            <Link
+              prefetch={false}
+              href={`/tasks/${taskId}`}
+              target="_blank"
+              rel="noopener noreferrer"
+            >
+              <ExternalLink className="mr-1.5 h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+              View umbrella task
+            </Link>
+          </Button>
+        </HelpTip>
+        <HelpTip label="Ends this session and resets to a fresh intake chat">
+          <Button size="sm" className="flex-1" onClick={onStartAnother}>
+            <RefreshCw className="mr-1.5 h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+            Start another
+          </Button>
+        </HelpTip>
       </CardFooter>
     </Card>
   );
diff --git a/panel/src/components/prompter/chat-composer.tsx b/panel/src/components/prompter/chat-composer.tsx
index 23f90bd6..a63eb205 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/prompter/chat-composer.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/prompter/chat-composer.tsx
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import {
   TooltipContent,
   TooltipTrigger,
 } from "@/components/ui/tooltip";
+import { HelpTip } from "@/components/ui/help-tip";
 import { Textarea } from "@/components/ui/textarea";
 
 interface ChatComposerProps {
@@ -57,16 +58,18 @@ export function ChatComposer({
       className="flex items-end gap-2 border-t bg-background px-4 py-3"
       style={{ paddingBottom: "max(0.75rem, env(safe-area-inset-bottom))" }}
     >
-      <Textarea
-        ref={textareaRef}
-        value={value}
-        onChange={(e) => setValue(e.target.value)}
-        onKeyDown={handleKeyDown}
-        placeholder={placeholder}
-        disabled={disabled || isSending}
-        rows={2}
-        className="flex-1 resize-none text-sm"
-      />
+      <HelpTip label="Enter sends; Shift+Enter inserts a newline">
+        <Textarea
+          ref={textareaRef}
+          value={value}
+          onChange={(e) => setValue(e.target.value)}
+          onKeyDown={handleKeyDown}
+          placeholder={placeholder}
+          disabled={disabled || isSending}
+          rows={2}
+          className="flex-1 resize-none text-sm"
+        />
+      </HelpTip>
       <Tooltip>
         <TooltipTrigger asChild>
           <Button
diff --git a/panel/src/components/prompter/chat-messages.tsx b/panel/src/components/prompter/chat-messages.tsx
index 07c01a23..e631da68 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/prompter/chat-messages.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/prompter/chat-messages.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import ReactMarkdown from "react-markdown";
 import remarkGfm from "remark-gfm";
 import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
 import { CopyButton } from "@/components/ui/copy-button";
+import { HelpTip } from "@/components/ui/help-tip";
 import type { ChatMessage, StartRoute } from "@/hooks/use-prompter";
 import { DraftProposalCard } from "./draft-proposal-card";
 
@@ -110,7 +111,11 @@ export function ChatMessages({
           return (
             <div key={msg.id} className="flex justify-start">
               <div className="group relative flex max-w-[70%] items-start gap-2 rounded-2xl rounded-tl-sm border border-destructive/30 bg-destructive/10 px-4 py-3 text-sm text-destructive">
-                <AlertTriangle className="mt-0.5 h-4 w-4 shrink-0" />
+                <HelpTip label="A request to the agent failed — this message did not come from it">
+                  <span className="mt-0.5 shrink-0" tabIndex={0}>
+                    <AlertTriangle className="h-4 w-4" />
+                  </span>
+                </HelpTip>
                 <span>{msg.content}</span>
                 <CopyButton
                   value={msg.content}
diff --git a/panel/src/components/prompter/draft-proposal-card.tsx b/panel/src/components/prompter/draft-proposal-card.tsx
index 454f6bf1..2bd29f02 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/prompter/draft-proposal-card.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/prompter/draft-proposal-card.tsx
@@ -88,17 +88,23 @@ export function DraftProposalCard({
           </CardTitle>
           <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-1 shrink-0">
             {draft.team && (
-              <Badge variant="secondary" className="text-xs">
-                {draft.team}
-              </Badge>
+              <HelpTip label="Delivery cell this task will be routed to">
+                <Badge variant="secondary" className="text-xs">
+                  {draft.team}
+                </Badge>
+              </HelpTip>
             )}
-            <Badge variant="outline" className="text-xs">
-              {priorityLabel}
-            </Badge>
-            {draft.task_type && (
+            <HelpTip label="How urgently agents work this once created — higher priority is claimed first">
               <Badge variant="outline" className="text-xs">
-                {draft.task_type}
+                {priorityLabel}
               </Badge>
+            </HelpTip>
+            {draft.task_type && (
+              <HelpTip label="Kind of work this is — affects which role picks it up">
+                <Badge variant="outline" className="text-xs">
+                  {draft.task_type}
+                </Badge>
+              </HelpTip>
             )}
             <CopyButton value={draftToText(draft)} className="ml-0.5" />
           </div>
@@ -161,15 +167,17 @@ export function DraftProposalCard({
       </CardContent>
 
       <CardFooter className="flex-wrap gap-2 pt-0">
-        <Button
-          variant="outline"
-          size="sm"
-          onClick={onKeepChatting}
-          disabled={isLaunching}
-        >
-          <MessageCircle className="mr-1.5 h-3.5 w-3.5" />
-          Keep chatting
-        </Button>
+        <HelpTip label="Dismisses this card and returns to chat — nothing is launched, the draft is kept">
+          <Button
+            variant="outline"
+            size="sm"
+            onClick={onKeepChatting}
+            disabled={isLaunching}
+          >
+            <MessageCircle className="mr-1.5 h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+            Keep chatting
+          </Button>
+        </HelpTip>
         {/* Board review & Start → PENDING, assigned to PO + HoM for review */}
         <HelpTip label="Routes this task through the Product Owner and Head of Marketing for review before any work starts.">
           <Button
diff --git a/panel/src/components/prompter/intake-form.tsx b/panel/src/components/prompter/intake-form.tsx
index 28fe1361..12649e9f 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/prompter/intake-form.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/prompter/intake-form.tsx
@@ -139,9 +139,11 @@ export function IntakeForm({
               onValueChange={onProjectId}
               disabled={isPreparing}
             >
-              <SelectTrigger>
-                <SelectValue placeholder="Select a project…" />
-              </SelectTrigger>
+              <HelpTip label="Only this project's repo is cloned and read by the agent">
+                <SelectTrigger>
+                  <SelectValue placeholder="Select a project…" />
+                </SelectTrigger>
+              </HelpTip>
               <SelectContent>
                 {projects.map((p) => (
                   <SelectItem key={p.id} value={p.id}>
@@ -201,9 +203,11 @@ export function IntakeForm({
                 onValueChange={onProductId}
                 disabled={isPreparing}
               >
-                <SelectTrigger>
-                  <SelectValue placeholder="Select a product…" />
-                </SelectTrigger>
+                <HelpTip label="Every cell repo mapped to this product is cloned and read by the agent">
+                  <SelectTrigger>
+                    <SelectValue placeholder="Select a product…" />
+                  </SelectTrigger>
+                </HelpTip>
                 <SelectContent>
                   {products.map((p) => (
                     <SelectItem key={p.id} value={p.id}>
@@ -229,14 +233,16 @@ export function IntakeForm({
             What do you want to build?{" "}
             <span className="text-destructive">*</span>
           </Label>
-          <Textarea
-            id="intake-initial-message"
-            value={initialMessage}
-            onChange={(e) => onInitialMessage(e.target.value)}
-            placeholder="Describe the idea. The agent will read the code and ask sharp follow-ups…"
-            rows={4}
-            disabled={isPreparing}
-          />
+          <HelpTip label="Kicks off the interview — you can refine details in chat afterward">
+            <Textarea
+              id="intake-initial-message"
+              value={initialMessage}
+              onChange={(e) => onInitialMessage(e.target.value)}
+              placeholder="Describe the idea. The agent will read the code and ask sharp follow-ups…"
+              rows={4}
+              disabled={isPreparing}
+            />
+          </HelpTip>
         </div>
 
         {/* Button's own disabled:pointer-events-none would swallow hover, so
diff --git a/panel/src/components/prompter/success-card.tsx b/panel/src/components/prompter/success-card.tsx
index 6e9b77d0..5ab95027 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/prompter/success-card.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/prompter/success-card.tsx
@@ -41,9 +41,11 @@ export function SuccessCard({
       <CardContent className="pb-3 space-y-2">
         <p className="text-sm font-medium">{taskTitle}</p>
         <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
-          <Badge variant="secondary" className="text-xs">
-            {team.replace("_", " ")}
-          </Badge>
+          <HelpTip label="Delivery cell this task was routed to">
+            <Badge variant="secondary" className="text-xs">
+              {team.replace("_", " ")}
+            </Badge>
+          </HelpTip>
           <HelpTip label={`Full task ID: ${taskId}`}>
             <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
               ID: {taskId.slice(0, 8)}…
@@ -53,21 +55,25 @@ export function SuccessCard({
       </CardContent>
 
       <CardFooter className="gap-2 pt-0">
-        <Button variant="outline" size="sm" asChild className="flex-1">
-          <Link
-            prefetch={false}
-            href={`/tasks/${taskId}`}
-            target="_blank"
-            rel="noopener noreferrer"
-          >
-            <ExternalLink className="mr-1.5 h-3.5 w-3.5" />
-            View Task
-          </Link>
-        </Button>
-        <Button size="sm" className="flex-1" onClick={onStartAnother}>
-          <RefreshCw className="mr-1.5 h-3.5 w-3.5" />
-          Start Another
-        </Button>
+        <HelpTip label="Opens the new task's detail page in a new tab">
+          <Button variant="outline" size="sm" asChild className="flex-1">
+            <Link
+              prefetch={false}
+              href={`/tasks/${taskId}`}
+              target="_blank"
+              rel="noopener noreferrer"
+            >
+              <ExternalLink className="mr-1.5 h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+              View Task
+            </Link>
+          </Button>
+        </HelpTip>
+        <HelpTip label="Ends this session and resets to a fresh intake chat">
+          <Button size="sm" className="flex-1" onClick={onStartAnother}>
+            <RefreshCw className="mr-1.5 h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+            Start Another
+          </Button>
+        </HelpTip>
       </CardFooter>
     </Card>
   );
diff --git a/panel/src/components/tasks/acceptance-criteria-editor.tsx b/panel/src/components/tasks/acceptance-criteria-editor.tsx
index e165c848..b5ed01a2 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/tasks/acceptance-criteria-editor.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/tasks/acceptance-criteria-editor.tsx
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import {
 import { Input } from "@/components/ui/input";
 import { Label } from "@/components/ui/label";
 import { Plus, X, GripVertical } from "lucide-react";
+import { HelpTip } from "@/components/ui/help-tip";
 
 interface AcceptanceCriteriaEditorProps {
   criteria: string[];
@@ -53,12 +54,16 @@ export function AcceptanceCriteriaEditor({
   return (
     <div className="space-y-3">
       <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
-        <Label>
-          Acceptance Criteria <span className="text-destructive">*</span>
-        </Label>
-        <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-          {criteria.length} item{criteria.length !== 1 ? "s" : ""}
-        </span>
+        <HelpTip label="QA and reviewers check each of these directly against the shipped work to decide pass/fail.">
+          <Label>
+            Acceptance Criteria <span className="text-destructive">*</span>
+          </Label>
+        </HelpTip>
+        <HelpTip label="How many criteria are defined so far — at least one is required to submit.">
+          <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+            {criteria.length} item{criteria.length !== 1 ? "s" : ""}
+          </span>
+        </HelpTip>
       </div>
 
       {/* Existing criteria list */}
@@ -70,11 +75,13 @@ export function AcceptanceCriteriaEditor({
               <span className="text-sm text-muted-foreground w-6">
                 {index + 1}.
               </span>
-              <Input
-                value={criterion}
-                onChange={(e) => handleUpdate(index, e.target.value)}
-                className="flex-1 h-8"
-              />
+              <HelpTip label="Edit this criterion's text directly — changes save as you type.">
+                <Input
+                  value={criterion}
+                  onChange={(e) => handleUpdate(index, e.target.value)}
+                  className="flex-1 h-8"
+                />
+              </HelpTip>
               <Tooltip>
                 <TooltipTrigger asChild>
                   <Button
@@ -96,22 +103,31 @@ export function AcceptanceCriteriaEditor({
 
       {/* Add new criterion */}
       <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
-        <Input
-          value={newCriterion}
-          onChange={(e) => setNewCriterion(e.target.value)}
-          onKeyDown={handleKeyDown}
-          placeholder="Enter acceptance criterion and press Enter..."
-          className="flex-1"
-        />
-        <Button
-          type="button"
-          variant="outline"
-          onClick={handleAdd}
-          disabled={!newCriterion.trim()}
-        >
-          <Plus className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
-          Add
-        </Button>
+        <HelpTip label="A specific, testable condition — Enter or Add appends it to the list above.">
+          <Input
+            value={newCriterion}
+            onChange={(e) => setNewCriterion(e.target.value)}
+            onKeyDown={handleKeyDown}
+            placeholder="Enter acceptance criterion and press Enter..."
+            className="flex-1"
+          />
+        </HelpTip>
+        <HelpTip label="Appends the text on the left as a new criterion; disabled until you type something.">
+          <span
+            className="inline-block"
+            tabIndex={!newCriterion.trim() ? 0 : undefined}
+          >
+            <Button
+              type="button"
+              variant="outline"
+              onClick={handleAdd}
+              disabled={!newCriterion.trim()}
+            >
+              <Plus className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
+              Add
+            </Button>
+          </span>
+        </HelpTip>
       </div>
 
       {/* Helper text */}
diff --git a/panel/src/components/tasks/approve-and-start-button.tsx b/panel/src/components/tasks/approve-and-start-button.tsx
index ed24edd8..02a79bd8 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/tasks/approve-and-start-button.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/tasks/approve-and-start-button.tsx
@@ -74,14 +74,16 @@ export function ApproveAndStartButton({ task }: ApproveAndStartButtonProps) {
 
   return (
     <>
-      <Button
-        size="sm"
-        className="bg-green-600 hover:bg-green-700"
-        onClick={() => setOpen(true)}
-      >
-        <Rocket className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
-        Approve &amp; Start
-      </Button>
+      <HelpTip label="Hands this task to the Main PM and unblocks any BACKLOG child tasks (CEO-only).">
+        <Button
+          size="sm"
+          className="bg-green-600 hover:bg-green-700"
+          onClick={() => setOpen(true)}
+        >
+          <Rocket className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
+          Approve &amp; Start
+        </Button>
+      </HelpTip>
 
       <Dialog
         open={open}
@@ -97,7 +99,9 @@ export function ApproveAndStartButton({ task }: ApproveAndStartButtonProps) {
           </DialogHeader>
 
           <div className="space-y-2">
-            <Label>Board review (Product Owner &amp; Head of Marketing)</Label>
+            <HelpTip label="Fetched live only while this dialog is open — read it before approving.">
+              <Label>Board review (Product Owner &amp; Head of Marketing)</Label>
+            </HelpTip>
             {boardLoading ? (
               <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
                 Loading board review…
@@ -140,18 +144,27 @@ export function ApproveAndStartButton({ task }: ApproveAndStartButtonProps) {
           </div>
 
           <DialogFooter>
-            <Button variant="outline" onClick={closeDialog}>
-              Cancel
-            </Button>
-            <Button
-              onClick={handleConfirm}
-              disabled={approveAndStartMutation.isPending}
-              className="bg-green-600 hover:bg-green-700"
-            >
-              {approveAndStartMutation.isPending
-                ? "Starting..."
-                : "Approve & Start"}
-            </Button>
+            <HelpTip label="Closes without approving; the note above is discarded.">
+              <Button variant="outline" onClick={closeDialog}>
+                Cancel
+              </Button>
+            </HelpTip>
+            <HelpTip label="Submits the approval note and hands the task to the Main PM.">
+              <span
+                className="inline-block"
+                tabIndex={approveAndStartMutation.isPending ? 0 : undefined}
+              >
+                <Button
+                  onClick={handleConfirm}
+                  disabled={approveAndStartMutation.isPending}
+                  className="bg-green-600 hover:bg-green-700"
+                >
+                  {approveAndStartMutation.isPending
+                    ? "Starting..."
+                    : "Approve & Start"}
+                </Button>
+              </span>
+            </HelpTip>
           </DialogFooter>
         </DialogContent>
       </Dialog>
diff --git a/panel/src/components/tasks/create-task-dialog.tsx b/panel/src/components/tasks/create-task-dialog.tsx
index fbad8c6b..1fa303b0 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/tasks/create-task-dialog.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/tasks/create-task-dialog.tsx
@@ -233,9 +233,11 @@ export function CreateTaskDialog() {
         <form onSubmit={handleSubmit} className="space-y-6 mt-4">
           {/* Title */}
           <div className="space-y-2">
-            <Label htmlFor="title">
-              Title <span className="text-destructive">*</span>
-            </Label>
+            <HelpTip label="5-200 characters. Shown in the task list, task detail, and used as the default PR title.">
+              <Label htmlFor="title">
+                Title <span className="text-destructive">*</span>
+              </Label>
+            </HelpTip>
             <Input
               id="title"
               value={title}
@@ -262,9 +264,11 @@ export function CreateTaskDialog() {
           {/* Team, Priority, Complexity, Status, Nature */}
           <div className="grid grid-cols-1 sm:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-5 gap-4">
             <div className="space-y-2">
-              <Label>
-                Team <span className="text-destructive">*</span>
-              </Label>
+              <HelpTip label="Which cell owns this task — governs claim eligibility and the branch name (feature/{team}/...).">
+                <Label>
+                  Team <span className="text-destructive">*</span>
+                </Label>
+              </HelpTip>
               <Select value={team} onValueChange={(v) => setTeam(v as Team)}>
                 <SelectTrigger className="w-full">
                   <SelectValue />
@@ -279,7 +283,9 @@ export function CreateTaskDialog() {
               </Select>
             </div>
             <div className="space-y-2">
-              <Label>Status</Label>
+              <HelpTip label="Pending is claimable immediately; Backlog waits for PM setup (dependencies/session) before it can be activated.">
+                <Label>Status</Label>
+              </HelpTip>
               <Select
                 value={status}
                 onValueChange={(v) => setStatus(v as TaskStatus)}
@@ -297,7 +303,9 @@ export function CreateTaskDialog() {
               </Select>
             </div>
             <div className="space-y-2">
-              <Label>Priority</Label>
+              <HelpTip label="Orders claim/dispatch queues — P0 tasks surface first. Doesn't force who claims it or block lower priorities.">
+                <Label>Priority</Label>
+              </HelpTip>
               <Select
                 value={String(priority)}
                 onValueChange={(v) => setPriority(parseInt(v, 10))}
@@ -315,7 +323,9 @@ export function CreateTaskDialog() {
               </Select>
             </div>
             <div className="space-y-2">
-              <Label>Complexity</Label>
+              <HelpTip label="Medium/High auto-routes a code task to the cell or Main PM to break down; a bare High dev task with no subtasks self-blocks.">
+                <Label>Complexity</Label>
+              </HelpTip>
               <Select
                 value={complexity}
                 onValueChange={(v) => setComplexity(v as Complexity)}
@@ -333,7 +343,9 @@ export function CreateTaskDialog() {
               </Select>
             </div>
             <div className="space-y-2">
-              <Label>Nature</Label>
+              <HelpTip label="Filtering only: Non-Technical root tasks awaiting PM review surface in the Board's strategic queue.">
+                <Label>Nature</Label>
+              </HelpTip>
               <Select
                 value={nature}
                 onValueChange={(v) => setNature(v as TaskNature)}
@@ -373,7 +385,9 @@ export function CreateTaskDialog() {
                 type="button"
                 className="w-full justify-between"
               >
-                <span>Advanced Options</span>
+                <HelpTip label="Parent task, agent assignment, task type, and repo/product routing.">
+                  <span>Advanced Options</span>
+                </HelpTip>
                 {advancedOpen ? (
                   <ChevronDown className="h-4 w-4" />
                 ) : (
@@ -384,7 +398,9 @@ export function CreateTaskDialog() {
             <CollapsibleContent className="space-y-4 pt-4">
               {/* Parent Task */}
               <div className="space-y-2">
-                <Label>Parent Task (for subtasks)</Label>
+                <HelpTip label="Nests this task under another — its claim order is then gated by sequence relative to siblings under the same parent.">
+                  <Label>Parent Task (for subtasks)</Label>
+                </HelpTip>
                 <TaskSelector
                   value={parentTaskId}
                   onChange={setParentTaskId}
@@ -398,7 +414,9 @@ export function CreateTaskDialog() {
 
               {/* Assign To */}
               <div className="space-y-2">
-                <Label>Assign To</Label>
+                <HelpTip label="Pin a specific agent; leave unassigned to let the orchestrator route by role, team, and availability.">
+                  <Label>Assign To</Label>
+                </HelpTip>
                 <AgentSelector
                   value={assignedTo}
                   onChange={setAssignedTo}
@@ -415,9 +433,11 @@ export function CreateTaskDialog() {
               <div className="space-y-4 pt-4 border-t">
                 <div className="flex items-center gap-2 mb-2">
                   <GitBranch className="h-4 w-4 text-muted-foreground" />
-                  <span className="font-medium text-sm">
-                    Git & Work Configuration
-                  </span>
+                  <HelpTip label="Every task type follows the same branch → commits → PR workflow; these fields just route it.">
+                    <span className="font-medium text-sm">
+                      Git & Work Configuration
+                    </span>
+                  </HelpTip>
                 </div>
 
                 {/* Task Type */}
@@ -447,7 +467,9 @@ export function CreateTaskDialog() {
 
                 {/* Project — required UNLESS a Product is picked (fan-out task) */}
                 <div className="space-y-2">
-                  <Label>Project</Label>
+                  <HelpTip label="The repo the branch/PR are opened against once this task is claimed.">
+                    <Label>Project</Label>
+                  </HelpTip>
                   <ProjectSelector
                     value={projectId || null}
                     onChange={(value) => setProjectId(value || "")}
@@ -467,7 +489,9 @@ export function CreateTaskDialog() {
 
                 {/* Product (optional) — drives per-cell project routing of subtasks */}
                 <div className="space-y-2">
-                  <Label>Product</Label>
+                  <HelpTip label="Fan-out: each delegated subtask routes to that cell's own mapped project instead of one repo.">
+                    <Label>Product</Label>
+                  </HelpTip>
                   <Select
                     value={productId || "none"}
                     onValueChange={(v) => setProductId(v === "none" ? "" : v)}
@@ -497,19 +521,28 @@ export function CreateTaskDialog() {
 
           {/* Actions */}
           <div className="flex justify-end gap-2 pt-4 border-t">
-            <Button
-              type="button"
-              variant="outline"
-              onClick={() => {
-                setOpen(false);
-                resetForm();
-              }}
-            >
-              Cancel
-            </Button>
-            <Button type="submit" disabled={createTask.isPending}>
-              {createTask.isPending ? "Creating..." : "Create Task"}
-            </Button>
+            <HelpTip label="Discards everything entered above without creating a task.">
+              <Button
+                type="button"
+                variant="outline"
+                onClick={() => {
+                  setOpen(false);
+                  resetForm();
+                }}
+              >
+                Cancel
+              </Button>
+            </HelpTip>
+            <HelpTip label="Validates the required fields, then creates the task via the API.">
+              <span
+                className="inline-block"
+                tabIndex={createTask.isPending ? 0 : undefined}
+              >
+                <Button type="submit" disabled={createTask.isPending}>
+                  {createTask.isPending ? "Creating..." : "Create Task"}
+                </Button>
+              </span>
+            </HelpTip>
           </div>
         </form>
       </DialogContent>
diff --git a/panel/src/components/tasks/dependency-selector.tsx b/panel/src/components/tasks/dependency-selector.tsx
index edac8fc6..d409ebaf 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/tasks/dependency-selector.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/tasks/dependency-selector.tsx
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import {
   PopoverTrigger,
 } from "@/components/ui/popover";
 import { Search, X, Link2 } from "lucide-react";
+import { HelpTip } from "@/components/ui/help-tip";
 
 interface DependencySelectorProps {
   selectedIds: string[];
@@ -68,7 +69,9 @@ export function DependencySelector({
 
   return (
     <div className="space-y-2">
-      <Label>Dependencies (optional)</Label>
+      <HelpTip label="This task cannot be claimed until every dependency listed here reaches a terminal state.">
+        <Label>Dependencies (optional)</Label>
+      </HelpTip>
 
       {/* Selected dependencies */}
       {selectedTasks.length > 0 && (
@@ -81,9 +84,14 @@ export function DependencySelector({
               <div className="flex items-center gap-2 min-w-0">
                 <Link2 className="h-4 w-4 text-muted-foreground shrink-0" />
                 <span className="text-sm truncate">{task.title}</span>
-                <Badge variant="outline" className="font-mono text-xs shrink-0">
-                  {task.id.slice(0, 8)}
-                </Badge>
+                <HelpTip label="First 8 characters of this task's full ID.">
+                  <Badge
+                    variant="outline"
+                    className="font-mono text-xs shrink-0"
+                  >
+                    {task.id.slice(0, 8)}
+                  </Badge>
+                </HelpTip>
               </div>
               <Tooltip>
                 <TooltipTrigger asChild>
@@ -106,25 +114,29 @@ export function DependencySelector({
 
       {/* Add dependency popover */}
       <Popover open={open} onOpenChange={setOpen}>
-        <PopoverTrigger asChild>
-          <Button
-            type="button"
-            variant="outline"
-            className="w-full justify-start"
-          >
-            <Search className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
-            Search tasks to add as dependencies...
-          </Button>
-        </PopoverTrigger>
+        <HelpTip label="Only shows tasks that aren't already completed or cancelled — those can't block anything.">
+          <PopoverTrigger asChild>
+            <Button
+              type="button"
+              variant="outline"
+              className="w-full justify-start"
+            >
+              <Search className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
+              Search tasks to add as dependencies...
+            </Button>
+          </PopoverTrigger>
+        </HelpTip>
         <PopoverContent className="w-80 sm:w-96 p-0" align="start">
           <div className="p-2 border-b">
-            <Input
-              value={search}
-              onChange={(e) => setSearch(e.target.value)}
-              placeholder="Search by title or ID..."
-              className="h-8"
-              autoFocus
-            />
+            <HelpTip label="Matches against task title or ID as you type.">
+              <Input
+                value={search}
+                onChange={(e) => setSearch(e.target.value)}
+                placeholder="Search by title or ID..."
+                className="h-8"
+                autoFocus
+              />
+            </HelpTip>
           </div>
           <ScrollArea className="h-[240px]">
             {filteredTasks.length === 0 ? (
@@ -136,36 +148,44 @@ export function DependencySelector({
                 {filteredTasks.map((task) => {
                   const isSelected = selectedIds.includes(task.id);
                   return (
-                    <Button
+                    <HelpTip
                       key={task.id}
-                      type="button"
-                      variant="ghost"
-                      className={`w-full h-auto justify-start gap-2 p-2 font-normal whitespace-normal ${
-                        isSelected ? "bg-primary/10 hover:bg-primary/10" : ""
-                      }`}
-                      onClick={() => toggleTask(task.id)}
+                      label={
+                        isSelected
+                          ? "Click to remove this dependency"
+                          : "Click to add this dependency"
+                      }
                     >
-                      <Checkbox
-                        checked={isSelected}
-                        tabIndex={-1}
-                        className="pointer-events-none shrink-0"
-                        aria-hidden
-                      />
-                      <div className="flex-1 min-w-0 text-left">
-                        <p className="text-sm truncate">{task.title}</p>
-                        <div className="flex items-center gap-2 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-                          <Badge
-                            variant="outline"
-                            className="font-mono text-xs"
-                          >
-                            {task.id.slice(0, 8)}
-                          </Badge>
-                          <span className="capitalize">
-                            {task.status.replace(/_/g, " ")}
-                          </span>
+                      <Button
+                        type="button"
+                        variant="ghost"
+                        className={`w-full h-auto justify-start gap-2 p-2 font-normal whitespace-normal ${
+                          isSelected ? "bg-primary/10 hover:bg-primary/10" : ""
+                        }`}
+                        onClick={() => toggleTask(task.id)}
+                      >
+                        <Checkbox
+                          checked={isSelected}
+                          tabIndex={-1}
+                          className="pointer-events-none shrink-0"
+                          aria-hidden
+                        />
+                        <div className="flex-1 min-w-0 text-left">
+                          <p className="text-sm truncate">{task.title}</p>
+                          <div className="flex items-center gap-2 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                            <Badge
+                              variant="outline"
+                              className="font-mono text-xs"
+                            >
+                              {task.id.slice(0, 8)}
+                            </Badge>
+                            <span className="capitalize">
+                              {task.status.replace(/_/g, " ")}
+                            </span>
+                          </div>
                         </div>
-                      </div>
-                    </Button>
+                      </Button>
+                    </HelpTip>
                   );
                 })}
               </div>
diff --git a/panel/src/components/tasks/docs-status-badge.tsx b/panel/src/components/tasks/docs-status-badge.tsx
index 70b93fa8..bc771629 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/tasks/docs-status-badge.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/tasks/docs-status-badge.tsx
@@ -81,34 +81,50 @@ export function DocsStatusBadge({
   // Full variant with labels
   return (
     <div className={cn("flex flex-col gap-2", className)}>
-      <div className="flex items-center justify-between text-sm">
-        <span className="flex items-center gap-1 text-muted-foreground">
-          <FileCheck className="h-4 w-4" />
-          Documentation
-        </span>
-        <span className="flex items-center gap-1">
-          {docsComplete ? (
-            <Check className="h-4 w-4 text-green-600" />
-          ) : (
-            <X className="h-4 w-4 text-amber-600" />
-          )}
-          {docsComplete ? "Complete" : "Pending"}
-        </span>
-      </div>
-      <div className="flex items-center justify-between text-sm">
-        <span className="flex items-center gap-1 text-muted-foreground">
-          <GitPullRequest className="h-4 w-4" />
-          Pull Request
-        </span>
-        <span className="flex items-center gap-1">
-          {prCreated ? (
-            <Check className="h-4 w-4 text-green-600" />
-          ) : (
-            <X className="h-4 w-4 text-amber-600" />
-          )}
-          {prCreated ? "Created" : "Pending"}
-        </span>
-      </div>
+      <HelpTip
+        label={
+          docsComplete
+            ? DOCS_DESCRIPTIONS.complete
+            : "Blocks the awaiting_documentation → awaiting_pm_review handoff until the documenter marks it done."
+        }
+      >
+        <div className="flex items-center justify-between text-sm">
+          <span className="flex items-center gap-1 text-muted-foreground">
+            <FileCheck className="h-4 w-4" />
+            Documentation
+          </span>
+          <span className="flex items-center gap-1">
+            {docsComplete ? (
+              <Check className="h-4 w-4 text-green-600" />
+            ) : (
+              <X className="h-4 w-4 text-amber-600" />
+            )}
+            {docsComplete ? "Complete" : "Pending"}
+          </span>
+        </div>
+      </HelpTip>
+      <HelpTip
+        label={
+          prCreated
+            ? PR_DESCRIPTIONS.created
+            : "The PR is opened before QA review, not after — this task hasn't reached that step yet."
+        }
+      >
+        <div className="flex items-center justify-between text-sm">
+          <span className="flex items-center gap-1 text-muted-foreground">
+            <GitPullRequest className="h-4 w-4" />
+            Pull Request
+          </span>
+          <span className="flex items-center gap-1">
+            {prCreated ? (
+              <Check className="h-4 w-4 text-green-600" />
+            ) : (
+              <X className="h-4 w-4 text-amber-600" />
+            )}
+            {prCreated ? "Created" : "Pending"}
+          </span>
+        </div>
+      </HelpTip>
     </div>
   );
 }
diff --git a/panel/src/components/tasks/edit-task-dialog.tsx b/panel/src/components/tasks/edit-task-dialog.tsx
index c996ff88..211e2541 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/tasks/edit-task-dialog.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/tasks/edit-task-dialog.tsx
@@ -166,7 +166,9 @@ function EditTaskDialogInner({
         <form onSubmit={handleSubmit} className="space-y-6 mt-4">
           {/* Title */}
           <div className="space-y-2">
-            <Label htmlFor="edit-title">Title</Label>
+            <HelpTip label="5-200 characters. Shown in the task list, task detail, and used as the default PR title.">
+              <Label htmlFor="edit-title">Title</Label>
+            </HelpTip>
             <Input
               id="edit-title"
               value={title}
@@ -187,7 +189,9 @@ function EditTaskDialogInner({
           {/* Team, Priority, Complexity, Nature */}
           <div className="grid grid-cols-2 md:grid-cols-4 gap-4">
             <div className="space-y-2">
-              <Label>Team</Label>
+              <HelpTip label="Which cell owns this task — governs claim eligibility. Changing it after a branch exists doesn't rename the branch.">
+                <Label>Team</Label>
+              </HelpTip>
               <Select value={team} onValueChange={(v) => setTeam(v as Team)}>
                 <SelectTrigger>
                   <SelectValue />
@@ -202,7 +206,9 @@ function EditTaskDialogInner({
               </Select>
             </div>
             <div className="space-y-2">
-              <Label>Priority</Label>
+              <HelpTip label="Orders claim/dispatch queues — P0 tasks surface first. Doesn't force who claims it or block lower priorities.">
+                <Label>Priority</Label>
+              </HelpTip>
               <Select
                 value={String(priority)}
                 onValueChange={(v) => setPriority(parseInt(v, 10))}
@@ -220,7 +226,9 @@ function EditTaskDialogInner({
               </Select>
             </div>
             <div className="space-y-2">
-              <Label>Complexity</Label>
+              <HelpTip label="Medium/High auto-routes a code task to the cell or Main PM to break down; a bare High dev task with no subtasks self-blocks.">
+                <Label>Complexity</Label>
+              </HelpTip>
               <Select
                 value={complexity}
                 onValueChange={(v) => setComplexity(v as Complexity)}
@@ -238,7 +246,9 @@ function EditTaskDialogInner({
               </Select>
             </div>
             <div className="space-y-2">
-              <Label>Nature</Label>
+              <HelpTip label="Filtering only: Non-Technical root tasks awaiting PM review surface in the Board's strategic queue.">
+                <Label>Nature</Label>
+              </HelpTip>
               <Select
                 value={nature}
                 onValueChange={(v) => setNature(v as TaskNature)}
@@ -265,7 +275,9 @@ function EditTaskDialogInner({
                 type="button"
                 className="w-full justify-between"
               >
-                <span>Advanced Options</span>
+                <HelpTip label="Agent assignment, target date, task type, and repo routing.">
+                  <span>Advanced Options</span>
+                </HelpTip>
                 {advancedOpen ? (
                   <ChevronDown className="h-4 w-4" />
                 ) : (
@@ -276,7 +288,9 @@ function EditTaskDialogInner({
             <CollapsibleContent className="space-y-4 pt-4">
               {/* Assigned To */}
               <div className="space-y-2">
-                <Label>Assigned To</Label>
+                <HelpTip label="Pin a specific agent; leave unassigned to let the orchestrator route by role, team, and availability.">
+                  <Label>Assigned To</Label>
+                </HelpTip>
                 <AgentSelector
                   value={assignedTo}
                   onChange={setAssignedTo}
@@ -287,7 +301,9 @@ function EditTaskDialogInner({
 
               {/* Target Date */}
               <div className="space-y-2">
-                <Label>Target Date</Label>
+                <HelpTip label="Informational deadline only — nothing in the lifecycle enforces or auto-escalates on it.">
+                  <Label>Target Date</Label>
+                </HelpTip>
                 <Input
                   type="datetime-local"
                   value={targetDate}
@@ -328,7 +344,9 @@ function EditTaskDialogInner({
 
                 {/* Project Selector (required - all tasks follow git workflow) */}
                 <div className="space-y-2">
-                  <Label>Project</Label>
+                  <HelpTip label="The repo the branch/PR are opened against. Locked once a branch exists — see below.">
+                    <Label>Project</Label>
+                  </HelpTip>
                   <ProjectSelector
                     value={projectId || null}
                     onChange={(value) => setProjectId(value || "")}
@@ -347,16 +365,25 @@ function EditTaskDialogInner({
 
           {/* Actions */}
           <div className="flex justify-end gap-2 pt-4 border-t">
-            <Button
-              type="button"
-              variant="outline"
-              onClick={() => onOpenChange(false)}
-            >
-              Cancel
-            </Button>
-            <Button type="submit" disabled={updateTask.isPending}>
-              {updateTask.isPending ? "Saving..." : "Save Changes"}
-            </Button>
+            <HelpTip label="Discards any edits made above and closes without saving.">
+              <Button
+                type="button"
+                variant="outline"
+                onClick={() => onOpenChange(false)}
+              >
+                Cancel
+              </Button>
+            </HelpTip>
+            <HelpTip label="Sends the changed fields to the API and updates the task in place.">
+              <span
+                className="inline-block"
+                tabIndex={updateTask.isPending ? 0 : undefined}
+              >
+                <Button type="submit" disabled={updateTask.isPending}>
+                  {updateTask.isPending ? "Saving..." : "Save Changes"}
+                </Button>
+              </span>
+            </HelpTip>
           </div>
         </form>
       </DialogContent>
diff --git a/panel/src/components/tasks/git-status-badge.tsx b/panel/src/components/tasks/git-status-badge.tsx
index 126dc284..83f7c289 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/tasks/git-status-badge.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/tasks/git-status-badge.tsx
@@ -52,10 +52,12 @@ export function GitStatusBadge({
   if (task.pr_number) {
     return (
       <MaybeLink href={task.pr_url ?? pullUrl(repoUrl, task.pr_number)}>
-        <Badge className="gap-1 text-xs bg-purple-500/10 text-purple-600 dark:text-purple-400">
-          <GitPullRequest className="h-3 w-3" />
-          PR #{task.pr_number}
-        </Badge>
+        <HelpTip label="Opens this task's pull request on GitHub in a new tab.">
+          <Badge className="gap-1 text-xs bg-purple-500/10 text-purple-600 dark:text-purple-400">
+            <GitPullRequest className="h-3 w-3" />
+            PR #{task.pr_number}
+          </Badge>
+        </HelpTip>
       </MaybeLink>
     );
   }
diff --git a/panel/src/components/tasks/markdown-editor.tsx b/panel/src/components/tasks/markdown-editor.tsx
index 21f69e4a..4ec84803 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/tasks/markdown-editor.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/tasks/markdown-editor.tsx
@@ -41,12 +41,20 @@ export function MarkdownEditor({
         >
           <TabsList className="h-8">
             <TabsTrigger value="write" className="text-xs px-2 h-6">
-              <Edit3 className="h-3 w-3 mr-1" />
-              Write
+              <HelpTip label="Edit the raw markdown text.">
+                <span className="flex items-center">
+                  <Edit3 className="h-3 w-3 mr-1" />
+                  Write
+                </span>
+              </HelpTip>
             </TabsTrigger>
             <TabsTrigger value="preview" className="text-xs px-2 h-6">
-              <Eye className="h-3 w-3 mr-1" />
-              Preview
+              <HelpTip label="Renders the markdown as it will appear elsewhere in the app.">
+                <span className="flex items-center">
+                  <Eye className="h-3 w-3 mr-1" />
+                  Preview
+                </span>
+              </HelpTip>
             </TabsTrigger>
           </TabsList>
         </Tabs>
@@ -76,9 +84,11 @@ export function MarkdownEditor({
           <span>Markdown supported</span>
         </HelpTip>
         {minLength && (
-          <span className={value.length < minLength ? "text-destructive" : ""}>
-            {value.length}/{minLength} min characters
-          </span>
+          <HelpTip label="Submission is blocked until the count reaches this minimum.">
+            <span className={value.length < minLength ? "text-destructive" : ""}>
+              {value.length}/{minLength} min characters
+            </span>
+          </HelpTip>
         )}
       </div>
 
diff --git a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-actions.tsx b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-actions.tsx
index c8e9e2e9..7d946fc3 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-actions.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-actions.tsx
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ import {
 import { toast } from "sonner";
 import { EditTaskDialog } from "./edit-task-dialog";
 import { RequiredNotesDialog } from "./task-detail/task-action-dialogs";
+import { HelpTip } from "@/components/ui/help-tip";
 
 interface TaskActionsProps {
   task: Task;
@@ -169,59 +170,77 @@ export function TaskActions({
         <DropdownMenuContent align="end">
           {/* Edit option */}
           {showEdit && canEdit && (
-            <DropdownMenuItem onClick={() => setEditOpen(true)}>
-              <Pencil className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
-              Edit
-            </DropdownMenuItem>
+            <HelpTip label="Opens the edit dialog to change title, description, team, priority, and more.">
+              <DropdownMenuItem onClick={() => setEditOpen(true)}>
+                <Pencil className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
+                Edit
+              </DropdownMenuItem>
+            </HelpTip>
           )}
 
           {/* Backlog status info */}
           {isBacklog && (
             <>
-              <DropdownMenuItem disabled className="text-muted-foreground">
-                <Clock className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
-                Awaiting PM Activation
-              </DropdownMenuItem>
+              <HelpTip label="Backlog tasks need PM setup (dependencies/session) before they become claimable.">
+                <span className="block" tabIndex={0}>
+                  <DropdownMenuItem disabled className="text-muted-foreground">
+                    <Clock className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
+                    Awaiting PM Activation
+                  </DropdownMenuItem>
+                </span>
+              </HelpTip>
               <DropdownMenuSeparator />
             </>
           )}
 
           {/* Lifecycle actions */}
           {task.status === TaskStatus.PENDING && (
-            <DropdownMenuItem onClick={() => handleAction("claim")}>
-              <Play className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
-              Claim
-            </DropdownMenuItem>
+            <HelpTip label="Locks this task to you (pending → claimed).">
+              <DropdownMenuItem onClick={() => handleAction("claim")}>
+                <Play className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
+                Claim
+              </DropdownMenuItem>
+            </HelpTip>
           )}
           {task.status === TaskStatus.CLAIMED && (
-            <DropdownMenuItem onClick={() => handleAction("start")}>
-              <Play className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
-              Start
-            </DropdownMenuItem>
+            <HelpTip label="Begins active work (claimed → in_progress).">
+              <DropdownMenuItem onClick={() => handleAction("start")}>
+                <Play className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
+                Start
+              </DropdownMenuItem>
+            </HelpTip>
           )}
           {task.status === TaskStatus.IN_PROGRESS && (
-            <DropdownMenuItem onClick={() => handleAction("pause")}>
-              <Pause className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
-              Pause
-            </DropdownMenuItem>
+            <HelpTip label="Stops work temporarily; can be resumed later (in_progress → paused).">
+              <DropdownMenuItem onClick={() => handleAction("pause")}>
+                <Pause className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
+                Pause
+              </DropdownMenuItem>
+            </HelpTip>
           )}
           {task.status === TaskStatus.PAUSED && (
-            <DropdownMenuItem onClick={() => handleAction("resume")}>
-              <Play className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
-              Resume
-            </DropdownMenuItem>
+            <HelpTip label="Resumes paused work (paused → in_progress).">
+              <DropdownMenuItem onClick={() => handleAction("resume")}>
+                <Play className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
+                Resume
+              </DropdownMenuItem>
+            </HelpTip>
           )}
           {task.status === TaskStatus.BLOCKED && (
-            <DropdownMenuItem onClick={() => handleAction("unblock")}>
-              <Play className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
-              Unblock
-            </DropdownMenuItem>
+            <HelpTip label="Clears the block and restores the original owner (blocked → in_progress or pending).">
+              <DropdownMenuItem onClick={() => handleAction("unblock")}>
+                <Play className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
+                Unblock
+              </DropdownMenuItem>
+            </HelpTip>
           )}
           {task.status === TaskStatus.CANCELLED && (
-            <DropdownMenuItem onClick={() => handleAction("reopen")}>
-              <Play className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
-              Reopen
-            </DropdownMenuItem>
+            <HelpTip label="Resurrects a cancelled task back to pending — an audited privileged override.">
+              <DropdownMenuItem onClick={() => handleAction("reopen")}>
+                <Play className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
+                Reopen
+              </DropdownMenuItem>
+            </HelpTip>
           )}
 
           {task.status !== TaskStatus.COMPLETED &&
@@ -230,42 +249,50 @@ export function TaskActions({
               <>
                 <DropdownMenuSeparator />
 
-                <DropdownMenuItem onClick={() => handleAction("complete")}>
-                  <CheckCircle className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
-                  Complete
-                </DropdownMenuItem>
-                <DropdownMenuItem
-                  onClick={() => handleAction("cancel")}
-                  className="text-orange-600"
-                >
-                  <XCircle className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
-                  Cancel
-                </DropdownMenuItem>
+                <HelpTip label="Directly completes the task — requires the normal review chain done, or this is your own PM root.">
+                  <DropdownMenuItem onClick={() => handleAction("complete")}>
+                    <CheckCircle className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
+                    Complete
+                  </DropdownMenuItem>
+                </HelpTip>
+                <HelpTip label="Cancels this task and every subtask beneath it; the reason becomes the audit record.">
+                  <DropdownMenuItem
+                    onClick={() => handleAction("cancel")}
+                    className="text-orange-600"
+                  >
+                    <XCircle className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
+                    Cancel
+                  </DropdownMenuItem>
+                </HelpTip>
               </>
             )}
 
           {/* Cancel for backlog tasks (allowed - can remove from backlog) */}
           {isBacklog && (
-            <DropdownMenuItem
-              onClick={() => handleAction("cancel")}
-              className="text-orange-600"
-            >
-              <XCircle className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
-              Cancel
-            </DropdownMenuItem>
+            <HelpTip label="Removes this task from the backlog and cancels any subtasks; the reason becomes the audit record.">
+              <DropdownMenuItem
+                onClick={() => handleAction("cancel")}
+                className="text-orange-600"
+              >
+                <XCircle className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
+                Cancel
+              </DropdownMenuItem>
+            </HelpTip>
           )}
 
           {/* Delete option */}
           {showDelete && canDelete && (
             <>
               <DropdownMenuSeparator />
-              <DropdownMenuItem
-                onClick={() => setDeleteOpen(true)}
-                className="text-red-600"
-              >
-                <Trash2 className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
-                Delete
-              </DropdownMenuItem>
+              <HelpTip label="Permanently deletes this task and every subtask beneath it — cannot be undone.">
+                <DropdownMenuItem
+                  onClick={() => setDeleteOpen(true)}
+                  className="text-red-600"
+                >
+                  <Trash2 className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
+                  Delete
+                </DropdownMenuItem>
+              </HelpTip>
             </>
           )}
         </DropdownMenuContent>
@@ -314,13 +341,17 @@ export function TaskActions({
             </AlertDialogDescription>
           </AlertDialogHeader>
           <AlertDialogFooter>
-            <AlertDialogCancel>Cancel</AlertDialogCancel>
-            <AlertDialogAction
-              onClick={handleDelete}
-              className="bg-red-600 hover:bg-red-700"
-            >
-              {deleteTask.isPending ? "Deleting..." : "Delete"}
-            </AlertDialogAction>
+            <HelpTip label="Closes without deleting anything.">
+              <AlertDialogCancel>Cancel</AlertDialogCancel>
+            </HelpTip>
+            <HelpTip label="Deletes the task and cascades to every subtask beneath it, leaf-first.">
+              <AlertDialogAction
+                onClick={handleDelete}
+                className="bg-red-600 hover:bg-red-700"
+              >
+                {deleteTask.isPending ? "Deleting..." : "Delete"}
+              </AlertDialogAction>
+            </HelpTip>
           </AlertDialogFooter>
         </AlertDialogContent>
       </AlertDialog>
diff --git a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/__tests__/tab-progress-collapse.test.tsx b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/__tests__/tab-progress-collapse.test.tsx
index a9d46614..336a7b8e 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/__tests__/tab-progress-collapse.test.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/__tests__/tab-progress-collapse.test.tsx
@@ -44,11 +44,15 @@ describe("TabProgress progress-update collapse", () => {
     const task = buildTask({ progress_updates: makeUpdates(30) });
     const { container } = render(<TabProgress task={task} />);
 
-    // Each update's collapse trigger is the only <button> in its <li> that
-    // carries Radix's data-state attribute; list order matches sort order
-    // (newest first), so the first two entries are the 2 most recent.
+    // Scope to the collapse trigger specifically via its test id — the row
+    // also carries a delete button wrapped in a HelpTip/Tooltip, which
+    // stamps its own Radix data-state, so a bare "button[data-state]"
+    // selector would match both. List order matches sort order (newest
+    // first), so the first two entries are the 2 most recent.
     const triggers = Array.from(
-      container.querySelectorAll("li button[data-state]"),
+      container.querySelectorAll(
+        'li button[data-testid="progress-update-trigger"]',
+      ),
     );
     expect(triggers).toHaveLength(30);
     expect(triggers[0]).toHaveAttribute("data-state", "open");
diff --git a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/__tests__/task-detail-readability.test.tsx b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/__tests__/task-detail-readability.test.tsx
index 126afdf7..39ec50ea 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/__tests__/task-detail-readability.test.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/__tests__/task-detail-readability.test.tsx
@@ -54,8 +54,14 @@ describe("Task detail readability: long progress history + long criteria list",
     const task = buildTask({ progress_updates: makeUpdates(32) });
     const { container } = render(<TabProgress task={task} />);
 
+    // Scope to the collapse trigger specifically via its test id — the row
+    // also carries a delete button wrapped in a HelpTip/Tooltip, which
+    // stamps its own Radix data-state, so a bare "button[data-state]"
+    // selector would match both.
     const triggers = Array.from(
-      container.querySelectorAll("li button[data-state]"),
+      container.querySelectorAll(
+        'li button[data-testid="progress-update-trigger"]',
+      ),
     );
     expect(triggers).toHaveLength(32);
     const openCount = triggers.filter(
diff --git a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/acceptance-criteria.tsx b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/acceptance-criteria.tsx
index 8e2ae675..d64d7f9b 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/acceptance-criteria.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/acceptance-criteria.tsx
@@ -180,19 +180,27 @@ export function AcceptanceCriteria({ task }: AcceptanceCriteriaProps) {
 
   return (
     <CollapsibleSection
-      title="Acceptance Criteria"
+      title={
+        <HelpTip label="What proves this task is done — reviewers and the auto-submit gate check coverage against these">
+          <span className="w-fit">Acceptance Criteria</span>
+        </HelpTip>
+      }
       content={criteriaText}
       open={isAdding || editingIndex !== null ? true : undefined}
       actions={
         <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
-          <span className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
-            {completedCount}/{criteria.length} completed
-          </span>
+          <HelpTip label="Criteria whose checkbox is checked, out of the total">
+            <span className="text-sm text-muted-foreground w-fit">
+              {completedCount}/{criteria.length} completed
+            </span>
+          </HelpTip>
           {!isAdding && (
-            <Button size="sm" variant="ghost" onClick={() => setIsAdding(true)}>
-              <Plus className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
-              Add
-            </Button>
+            <HelpTip label="Adds a new empty criterion to this list">
+              <Button size="sm" variant="ghost" onClick={() => setIsAdding(true)}>
+                <Plus className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
+                Add
+              </Button>
+            </HelpTip>
           )}
         </div>
       }
diff --git a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/checkpoint-card.tsx b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/checkpoint-card.tsx
index 725fa1de..7b074a0b 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/checkpoint-card.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/checkpoint-card.tsx
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { Card, CardContent } from "@/components/ui/card";
 import { Bookmark, Clock, User, ListTodo, FileText } from "lucide-react";
 import { getAgentDisplayName } from "@/lib/agent-utils";
 import { formatAbsoluteTimestamp } from "@/lib/utils";
+import { HelpTip } from "@/components/ui/help-tip";
 
 interface CheckpointCardProps {
   checkpoint: Checkpoint;
@@ -14,10 +15,12 @@ export function CheckpointCard({ checkpoint }: CheckpointCardProps) {
   return (
     <Card className="overflow-hidden">
       <div className="bg-primary/10 px-4 py-2 flex items-center justify-between">
-        <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
-          <Bookmark className="h-4 w-4 text-primary" />
-          <span className="font-medium text-sm">Checkpoint</span>
-        </div>
+        <HelpTip label="A saved state snapshot an agent leaves so work can resume later without re-deriving context">
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+            <Bookmark className="h-4 w-4 text-primary" />
+            <span className="font-medium text-sm">Checkpoint</span>
+          </div>
+        </HelpTip>
         <div className="flex items-center gap-2 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
           <Clock className="h-3 w-3" />
           {formatAbsoluteTimestamp(checkpoint.timestamp)}
@@ -32,7 +35,9 @@ export function CheckpointCard({ checkpoint }: CheckpointCardProps) {
 
         {/* State Summary */}
         <div className="mb-4">
-          <h4 className="text-sm font-medium mb-1">State Summary</h4>
+          <HelpTip label="What the agent understood to be true about the task when this checkpoint was saved">
+            <h4 className="text-sm font-medium mb-1 w-fit">State Summary</h4>
+          </HelpTip>
           <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground whitespace-pre-wrap">
             {checkpoint.state_summary}
           </p>
@@ -41,10 +46,12 @@ export function CheckpointCard({ checkpoint }: CheckpointCardProps) {
         {/* Remaining Work */}
         {checkpoint.remaining_work.length > 0 && (
           <div className="mb-4">
-            <div className="flex items-center gap-2 mb-2">
-              <ListTodo className="h-4 w-4 text-muted-foreground" />
-              <h4 className="text-sm font-medium">Remaining Work</h4>
-            </div>
+            <HelpTip label="Sub-steps the agent identified as still outstanding at checkpoint time">
+              <div className="flex items-center gap-2 mb-2 w-fit">
+                <ListTodo className="h-4 w-4 text-muted-foreground" />
+                <h4 className="text-sm font-medium">Remaining Work</h4>
+              </div>
+            </HelpTip>
             <ul className="list-disc list-inside text-sm text-muted-foreground space-y-1">
               {checkpoint.remaining_work.map((item, idx) => (
                 <li key={idx}>{item}</li>
@@ -56,10 +63,12 @@ export function CheckpointCard({ checkpoint }: CheckpointCardProps) {
         {/* Notes */}
         {checkpoint.notes && (
           <div>
-            <div className="flex items-center gap-2 mb-2">
-              <FileText className="h-4 w-4 text-muted-foreground" />
-              <h4 className="text-sm font-medium">Notes</h4>
-            </div>
+            <HelpTip label="Free-form notes the checkpointing agent left for whoever resumes this task">
+              <div className="flex items-center gap-2 mb-2 w-fit">
+                <FileText className="h-4 w-4 text-muted-foreground" />
+                <h4 className="text-sm font-medium">Notes</h4>
+              </div>
+            </HelpTip>
             <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground whitespace-pre-wrap">
               {checkpoint.notes}
             </p>
diff --git a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/progress-timeline.tsx b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/progress-timeline.tsx
index 1a43cdcc..6f1c29f4 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/progress-timeline.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/progress-timeline.tsx
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { Progress } from "@/components/ui/progress";
 import { MessageSquare, Clock } from "lucide-react";
 import { getAgentDisplayName } from "@/lib/agent-utils";
 import { formatAbsoluteTimestamp } from "@/lib/utils";
+import { HelpTip } from "@/components/ui/help-tip";
 
 interface ProgressTimelineProps {
   updates: ProgressUpdate[];
@@ -45,17 +46,21 @@ export function ProgressTimeline({ updates }: ProgressTimelineProps) {
     <Card>
       <CardHeader className="pb-3">
         <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
-          <CardTitle className="text-lg">Progress Updates</CardTitle>
+          <HelpTip label="Timestamped status updates posted while agents work this task, newest first">
+            <CardTitle className="text-lg w-fit">Progress Updates</CardTitle>
+          </HelpTip>
           <span className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
             {updates.length} update{updates.length !== 1 ? "s" : ""}
           </span>
         </div>
         {latestWithPercentage && (
           <div className="mt-2">
-            <div className="flex items-center justify-between text-sm mb-1">
-              <span className="text-muted-foreground">Overall Progress</span>
-              <span className="font-medium">{currentProgress}%</span>
-            </div>
+            <HelpTip label="The most recent percentage reported — self-reported or derived from completed plan steps">
+              <div className="flex items-center justify-between text-sm mb-1">
+                <span className="text-muted-foreground">Overall Progress</span>
+                <span className="font-medium">{currentProgress}%</span>
+              </div>
+            </HelpTip>
             <Progress value={currentProgress} className="h-2" />
           </div>
         )}
@@ -100,9 +105,11 @@ export function ProgressTimeline({ updates }: ProgressTimelineProps) {
                             value={update.percentage}
                             className="h-1.5 flex-1"
                           />
-                          <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground w-10 text-right">
-                            {update.percentage}%
-                          </span>
+                          <HelpTip label="This update's reported completion percentage, out of 100">
+                            <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground w-10 text-right">
+                              {update.percentage}%
+                            </span>
+                          </HelpTip>
                         </div>
                       </div>
                     )}
diff --git a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/subtasks-list.tsx b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/subtasks-list.tsx
index c9787b51..e4babe11 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/subtasks-list.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/subtasks-list.tsx
@@ -65,30 +65,34 @@ export function SubtasksList({ task }: SubtasksListProps) {
     <Card>
       <CardHeader className="pb-3">
         <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
-          <CardTitle className="text-lg flex items-center gap-2">
-            <ListTree className="h-5 w-5" />
-            Subtasks
-            {totalCount > 0 && (
-              <Badge variant="secondary" className="ml-2">
-                {completedCount}/{totalCount}
-              </Badge>
-            )}
-          </CardTitle>
+          <HelpTip label="Direct children of this task; badge is completed/total">
+            <CardTitle className="text-lg flex items-center gap-2 w-fit">
+              <ListTree className="h-5 w-5" />
+              Subtasks
+              {totalCount > 0 && (
+                <Badge variant="secondary" className="ml-2">
+                  {completedCount}/{totalCount}
+                </Badge>
+              )}
+            </CardTitle>
+          </HelpTip>
           <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
             {totalCount > 0 && (
               <span className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
                 {completionPercent}% complete
               </span>
             )}
-            <Link
-              href={`/tasks?parent=${task.id}&team=${task.team}`}
-              prefetch={false}
-            >
-              <Button size="sm" variant="ghost">
-                <Plus className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
-                Add
-              </Button>
-            </Link>
+            <HelpTip label="Opens the Tasks list, pre-filtered to this parent and team, to create a new subtask">
+              <Link
+                href={`/tasks?parent=${task.id}&team=${task.team}`}
+                prefetch={false}
+              >
+                <Button size="sm" variant="ghost">
+                  <Plus className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
+                  Add
+                </Button>
+              </Link>
+            </HelpTip>
           </div>
         </div>
       </CardHeader>
diff --git a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/tab-collision.tsx b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/tab-collision.tsx
index 27384852..5841b519 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/tab-collision.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/tab-collision.tsx
@@ -77,7 +77,9 @@ function SiblingCard({ sib }: { sib: CollisionSibling }) {
             </code>
           )}
           {sib.pr_number != null && (
-            <Badge variant="outline">#{sib.pr_number}</Badge>
+            <HelpTip label="This sibling's pull request number, if one has been opened yet">
+              <Badge variant="outline">#{sib.pr_number}</Badge>
+            </HelpTip>
           )}
           {sib.adds_migration && (
             <HelpTip label={MIGRATION_TIP}>
@@ -130,9 +132,11 @@ function SiblingCard({ sib }: { sib: CollisionSibling }) {
 
         {sib.undeclared.length > 0 && (
           <div className="rounded border border-amber-300 dark:border-amber-800 bg-amber-50 dark:bg-amber-950/40 p-2 text-xs">
-            <span className="text-amber-700 dark:text-amber-300 font-medium">
-              Drift — touched but not declared:
-            </span>
+            <HelpTip label="Files this sibling actually touched in commits but never declared in its collision surface">
+              <span className="text-amber-700 dark:text-amber-300 font-medium w-fit">
+                Drift — touched but not declared:
+              </span>
+            </HelpTip>
             <div className="mt-1 flex flex-wrap gap-1">
               {sib.undeclared.map((f) => (
                 <code
@@ -197,9 +201,11 @@ export function TabCollision({ task }: TabCollisionProps) {
     <div className="space-y-4">
       <DeclaredSurfaceCard data={data} />
       <div>
-        <h3 className="text-sm font-semibold mb-3">
-          {siblings.length} colliding sibling{siblings.length > 1 ? "s" : ""}
-        </h3>
+        <HelpTip label="Siblings whose declared file surface overlaps yours, or that share a migration/shared-file chain">
+          <h3 className="text-sm font-semibold mb-3 w-fit">
+            {siblings.length} colliding sibling{siblings.length > 1 ? "s" : ""}
+          </h3>
+        </HelpTip>
         <div className="space-y-3">
           {siblings.map((sib) => (
             <SiblingCard key={sib.id} sib={sib} />
@@ -218,7 +224,9 @@ function DeclaredSurfaceCard({ data }: { data: CollisionMap }) {
   return (
     <Card>
       <CardContent className="pt-4 space-y-2">
-        <h3 className="text-sm font-semibold">Declared surface</h3>
+        <HelpTip label="The file globs, migration flag, and shared-surface flag this task pre-declared for sequencing">
+          <h3 className="text-sm font-semibold w-fit">Declared surface</h3>
+        </HelpTip>
         {hasSurface ? (
           <>
             {data.intends_to_touch.length > 0 && (
diff --git a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/tab-commits.tsx b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/tab-commits.tsx
index 0d438bc6..c061640b 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/tab-commits.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/tab-commits.tsx
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import {
 } from "lucide-react";
 import { toast } from "sonner";
 import { getAgentDisplayName } from "@/lib/agent-utils";
+import { formatAbsoluteTimestamp } from "@/lib/utils";
 import { HelpTip } from "@/components/ui/help-tip";
 
 interface TabCommitsProps {
@@ -114,13 +115,15 @@ export function TabCommits({ task }: TabCommitsProps) {
     <Card>
       <CardHeader className="pb-3">
         <div className="grid grid-cols-3 items-center gap-4">
-          <CardTitle className="text-lg flex items-center gap-2">
-            <GitCommit className="h-5 w-5" />
-            Linked Commits
-            <span className="text-sm font-normal text-muted-foreground">
-              ({commits.length})
-            </span>
-          </CardTitle>
+          <HelpTip label="Commits attributed to this task — new ones link automatically as devs push">
+            <CardTitle className="text-lg flex items-center gap-2 w-fit">
+              <GitCommit className="h-5 w-5" />
+              Linked Commits
+              <span className="text-sm font-normal text-muted-foreground">
+                ({commits.length})
+              </span>
+            </CardTitle>
+          </HelpTip>
           <div className="flex items-center justify-center gap-2">
             {task.branch_name && (
               <HelpTip label="Git branch this task is being worked on">
@@ -149,14 +152,16 @@ export function TabCommits({ task }: TabCommitsProps) {
           </div>
           <div className="flex justify-end">
             {!isAdding && (
-              <Button
-                size="sm"
-                variant="ghost"
-                onClick={() => setIsAdding(true)}
-              >
-                <Plus className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
-                Link
-              </Button>
+              <HelpTip label="Manually attach a commit hash — normally commits link automatically via the commit verb">
+                <Button
+                  size="sm"
+                  variant="ghost"
+                  onClick={() => setIsAdding(true)}
+                >
+                  <Plus className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
+                  Link
+                </Button>
+              </HelpTip>
             )}
           </div>
         </div>
@@ -167,9 +172,11 @@ export function TabCommits({ task }: TabCommitsProps) {
           <div className="border rounded-lg p-4 mb-4 space-y-3">
             <div className="grid grid-cols-2 gap-3">
               <div>
-                <label className="text-sm font-medium mb-1 block">
-                  Commit Hash
-                </label>
+                <HelpTip label="7-40 character git SHA; a short hash is fine">
+                  <label className="text-sm font-medium mb-1 block w-fit">
+                    Commit Hash
+                  </label>
+                </HelpTip>
                 <Input
                   ref={hashRef}
                   value={newHash}
@@ -179,9 +186,11 @@ export function TabCommits({ task }: TabCommitsProps) {
                 />
               </div>
               <div>
-                <label className="text-sm font-medium mb-1 block">
-                  Commit Message
-                </label>
+                <HelpTip label="Free-text description shown wherever this commit is displayed">
+                  <label className="text-sm font-medium mb-1 block w-fit">
+                    Commit Message
+                  </label>
+                </HelpTip>
                 <Input
                   value={newMessage}
                   onChange={(e) => setNewMessage(e.target.value)}
@@ -224,10 +233,12 @@ export function TabCommits({ task }: TabCommitsProps) {
             <p className="text-sm mt-2 mb-4">
               Commits will be linked as developers push code for this task.
             </p>
-            <Button variant="outline" onClick={() => setIsAdding(true)}>
-              <Plus className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
-              Link Commit Manually
-            </Button>
+            <HelpTip label="Manually attach a commit hash if auto-linking missed one">
+              <Button variant="outline" onClick={() => setIsAdding(true)}>
+                <Plus className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
+                Link Commit Manually
+              </Button>
+            </HelpTip>
           </div>
         ) : (
           <div className="space-y-3">
@@ -266,10 +277,12 @@ export function TabCommits({ task }: TabCommitsProps) {
                           )}
 
                           {/* Time */}
-                          <span className="flex items-center gap-1">
-                            <Clock className="h-3 w-3" />
-                            {formatTime(commit.timestamp)}
-                          </span>
+                          <HelpTip label={formatAbsoluteTimestamp(commit.timestamp)}>
+                            <span className="flex items-center gap-1">
+                              <Clock className="h-3 w-3" />
+                              {formatTime(commit.timestamp)}
+                            </span>
+                          </HelpTip>
                         </div>
                       </div>
                     </div>
diff --git a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/tab-dependencies.tsx b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/tab-dependencies.tsx
index 27d834d8..62174f7d 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/tab-dependencies.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/tab-dependencies.tsx
@@ -26,6 +26,17 @@ interface TabDependenciesProps {
   task: Task;
 }
 
+// Grounded in roboco/services/gateway/claim_guards.py: dependency_ids
+// genuinely gates claim (a task can't be claimed until every dependency
+// reaches completed/cancelled); blocker_ids is the pure-informational
+// inverse ("tasks this one is blocking") and does not itself gate anything.
+const FIELD_TIPS: Record<DependencyListProps["field"], string> = {
+  dependency_ids:
+    "Tasks that must reach completed/cancelled before this one can be claimed.",
+  blocker_ids:
+    "Tasks that depend on this one — informational; does not block this task's own claim.",
+};
+
 interface DependencyListProps {
   task: Task;
   field: "dependency_ids" | "blocker_ids";
@@ -124,19 +135,33 @@ function DependencyList({
       <CardHeader>
         <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
           <CardTitle className="text-lg flex items-center gap-2">
-            {icon}
-            {title}
+            <HelpTip label={FIELD_TIPS[field]}>
+              <span className="flex items-center gap-2">
+                {icon}
+                {title}
+              </span>
+            </HelpTip>
             {ids.length > 0 && field === "blocker_ids" && (
-              <Badge variant="destructive" className="ml-2">
-                {ids.length}
-              </Badge>
+              <HelpTip label="Number of other tasks currently depending on this one">
+                <Badge variant="destructive" className="ml-2">
+                  {ids.length}
+                </Badge>
+              </HelpTip>
             )}
           </CardTitle>
           {!isAdding && (
-            <Button size="sm" variant="ghost" onClick={() => setIsAdding(true)}>
-              <Plus className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
-              Add
-            </Button>
+            <HelpTip
+              label={
+                field === "dependency_ids"
+                  ? "Add a task ID this task must wait on"
+                  : "Add a task ID that this task is blocking"
+              }
+            >
+              <Button size="sm" variant="ghost" onClick={() => setIsAdding(true)}>
+                <Plus className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
+                Add
+              </Button>
+            </HelpTip>
           )}
         </div>
       </CardHeader>
@@ -167,9 +192,17 @@ function DependencyList({
                       </span>
                     </Link>
                   </HelpTip>
-                  <Badge variant="outline" className={badgeClass}>
-                    {badgeLabel}
-                  </Badge>
+                  <HelpTip
+                    label={
+                      field === "dependency_ids"
+                        ? "Click the id to open this dependency task"
+                        : "This task is blocking the linked task's claim"
+                    }
+                  >
+                    <Badge variant="outline" className={badgeClass}>
+                      {badgeLabel}
+                    </Badge>
+                  </HelpTip>
                   <HelpTip label="Remove this dependency">
                     <Button
                       size="sm"
@@ -198,25 +231,35 @@ function DependencyList({
                   className="h-8 text-sm flex-1 font-mono"
                   disabled={updateTask.isPending}
                 />
-                <Button
-                  size="sm"
-                  variant="ghost"
-                  onClick={() => {
-                    setNewId("");
-                    setIsAdding(false);
-                  }}
-                  className="h-7 w-7 p-0"
+                <HelpTip label="Discard and cancel">
+                  <Button
+                    size="sm"
+                    variant="ghost"
+                    onClick={() => {
+                      setNewId("");
+                      setIsAdding(false);
+                    }}
+                    className="h-7 w-7 p-0"
+                  >
+                    <X className="h-4 w-4" />
+                  </Button>
+                </HelpTip>
+                <HelpTip
+                  label={
+                    field === "dependency_ids"
+                      ? "Add this task ID as a dependency"
+                      : "Add this task ID as a blocked task"
+                  }
                 >
-                  <X className="h-4 w-4" />
-                </Button>
-                <Button
-                  size="sm"
-                  onClick={handleAdd}
-                  disabled={!newId.trim() || updateTask.isPending}
-                  className="h-7 w-7 p-0"
-                >
-                  <Check className="h-4 w-4" />
-                </Button>
+                  <Button
+                    size="sm"
+                    onClick={handleAdd}
+                    disabled={!newId.trim() || updateTask.isPending}
+                    className="h-7 w-7 p-0"
+                  >
+                    <Check className="h-4 w-4" />
+                  </Button>
+                </HelpTip>
               </li>
             )}
           </ul>
@@ -367,8 +410,12 @@ export function TabDependencies({ task }: TabDependenciesProps) {
         <CardHeader>
           <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
             <CardTitle className="text-lg flex items-center gap-2">
-              <ArrowUp className="h-5 w-5 text-purple-500" />
-              Parent Task
+              <HelpTip label="The coordination task this one was delegated under, if any">
+                <span className="flex items-center gap-2">
+                  <ArrowUp className="h-5 w-5 text-purple-500" />
+                  Parent Task
+                </span>
+              </HelpTip>
             </CardTitle>
           </div>
         </CardHeader>
@@ -386,26 +433,30 @@ export function TabDependencies({ task }: TabDependenciesProps) {
                 className="h-8 text-sm flex-1 font-mono"
                 disabled={updateTask.isPending}
               />
-              <Button
-                size="sm"
-                variant="ghost"
-                onClick={() => {
-                  setParentValue(task.parent_task_id ?? "");
-                  setEditingParent(false);
-                }}
-                className="h-7 w-7 p-0"
-              >
-                <X className="h-4 w-4" />
-              </Button>
-              <Button
-                size="sm"
-                onClick={handleParentSave}
-                onMouseDown={(e) => e.preventDefault()}
-                disabled={updateTask.isPending}
-                className="h-7 w-7 p-0"
-              >
-                <Check className="h-4 w-4" />
-              </Button>
+              <HelpTip label="Discard and cancel">
+                <Button
+                  size="sm"
+                  variant="ghost"
+                  onClick={() => {
+                    setParentValue(task.parent_task_id ?? "");
+                    setEditingParent(false);
+                  }}
+                  className="h-7 w-7 p-0"
+                >
+                  <X className="h-4 w-4" />
+                </Button>
+              </HelpTip>
+              <HelpTip label="Save this parent task ID">
+                <Button
+                  size="sm"
+                  onClick={handleParentSave}
+                  onMouseDown={(e) => e.preventDefault()}
+                  disabled={updateTask.isPending}
+                  className="h-7 w-7 p-0"
+                >
+                  <Check className="h-4 w-4" />
+                </Button>
+              </HelpTip>
             </div>
           ) : task.parent_task_id ? (
             <div
@@ -427,17 +478,19 @@ export function TabDependencies({ task }: TabDependenciesProps) {
               <Badge variant="outline" className="ml-auto">
                 View Parent
               </Badge>
-              <Button
-                size="sm"
-                variant="ghost"
-                onClick={(e) => {
-                  e.stopPropagation();
-                  startEditingParent();
-                }}
-                className="h-7 w-7 p-0 opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 transition-opacity"
-              >
-                <Trash2 className="h-3 w-3 text-destructive" />
-              </Button>
+              <HelpTip label="Opens editing to change or clear the parent task — does not delete anything">
+                <Button
+                  size="sm"
+                  variant="ghost"
+                  onClick={(e) => {
+                    e.stopPropagation();
+                    startEditingParent();
+                  }}
+                  className="h-7 w-7 p-0 opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 transition-opacity"
+                >
+                  <Trash2 className="h-3 w-3 text-destructive" />
+                </Button>
+              </HelpTip>
             </div>
           ) : (
             <p
@@ -455,8 +508,12 @@ export function TabDependencies({ task }: TabDependenciesProps) {
         <CardHeader>
           <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
             <CardTitle className="text-lg flex items-center gap-2">
-              <Hash className="h-5 w-5 text-amber-500" />
-              Sequence
+              <HelpTip label="A same-parent sibling with a strictly lower sequence must go terminal before this one can be claimed; ties run in parallel">
+                <span className="flex items-center gap-2">
+                  <Hash className="h-5 w-5 text-amber-500" />
+                  Sequence
+                </span>
+              </HelpTip>
             </CardTitle>
           </div>
         </CardHeader>
@@ -475,23 +532,27 @@ export function TabDependencies({ task }: TabDependenciesProps) {
                 className="h-8 text-sm flex-1"
                 disabled={updateTask.isPending}
               />
-              <Button
-                size="sm"
-                variant="ghost"
-                onClick={() => setEditingSequence(false)}
-                className="h-7 w-7 p-0"
-              >
-                <X className="h-4 w-4" />
-              </Button>
-              <Button
-                size="sm"
-                onClick={handleSequenceSave}
-                onMouseDown={(e) => e.preventDefault()}
-                disabled={updateTask.isPending}
-                className="h-7 w-7 p-0"
-              >
-                <Check className="h-4 w-4" />
-              </Button>
+              <HelpTip label="Discard and cancel">
+                <Button
+                  size="sm"
+                  variant="ghost"
+                  onClick={() => setEditingSequence(false)}
+                  className="h-7 w-7 p-0"
+                >
+                  <X className="h-4 w-4" />
+                </Button>
+              </HelpTip>
+              <HelpTip label="Save this sequence number">
+                <Button
+                  size="sm"
+                  onClick={handleSequenceSave}
+                  onMouseDown={(e) => e.preventDefault()}
+                  disabled={updateTask.isPending}
+                  className="h-7 w-7 p-0"
+                >
+                  <Check className="h-4 w-4" />
+                </Button>
+              </HelpTip>
             </div>
           ) : (
             <div
@@ -504,17 +565,19 @@ export function TabDependencies({ task }: TabDependenciesProps) {
               <span className="ml-2 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
                 Order within siblings — lower runs first
               </span>
-              <Button
-                size="sm"
-                variant="ghost"
-                onClick={(e) => {
-                  e.stopPropagation();
-                  startEditingSequence();
-                }}
-                className="ml-auto h-7 w-7 p-0 opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 transition-opacity"
-              >
-                <Pencil className="h-3 w-3" />
-              </Button>
+              <HelpTip label="Edit the sequence number">
+                <Button
+                  size="sm"
+                  variant="ghost"
+                  onClick={(e) => {
+                    e.stopPropagation();
+                    startEditingSequence();
+                  }}
+                  className="ml-auto h-7 w-7 p-0 opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 transition-opacity"
+                >
+                  <Pencil className="h-3 w-3" />
+                </Button>
+              </HelpTip>
             </div>
           )}
         </CardContent>
diff --git a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/tab-findings.tsx b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/tab-findings.tsx
index 609b23fd..624f14b7 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/tab-findings.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/tab-findings.tsx
@@ -119,7 +119,11 @@ function FindingCard({
         </div>
         {finding.evidence && (
           <details className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-            <summary className="cursor-pointer select-none">Evidence</summary>
+            <HelpTip label="The raw evidence text the reviewer captured for this finding">
+              <summary className="cursor-pointer select-none w-fit">
+                Evidence
+              </summary>
+            </HelpTip>
             <pre className="mt-1 whitespace-pre-wrap rounded bg-muted/50 p-2">
               {finding.evidence}
             </pre>
@@ -174,20 +178,31 @@ export function TabFindings({ task }: TabFindingsProps) {
       {(data?.summary.length ?? 0) > 0 && (
         <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-2">
           {data!.summary.map((s) => (
-            <Badge key={s.origin} variant="outline">
-              {ORIGIN_LABEL[s.origin] ?? s.origin}: {s.open} open ·{" "}
-              {s.addressed + s.verified + s.waived} closed
-            </Badge>
+            <HelpTip
+              key={s.origin}
+              label="Closed combines addressed, verified, and waived findings"
+            >
+              <Badge variant="outline">
+                {ORIGIN_LABEL[s.origin] ?? s.origin}: {s.open} open ·{" "}
+                {s.addressed + s.verified + s.waived} closed
+              </Badge>
+            </HelpTip>
           ))}
         </div>
       )}
       {rounds.map((group) => (
         <div key={group.round} className="space-y-3">
           <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
-            <h3 className="text-sm font-semibold">Round {group.round}</h3>
-            <Badge variant="outline">
-              {ORIGIN_LABEL[group.origin] ?? group.origin}
-            </Badge>
+            <HelpTip label="Each bounce back to the assignee starts a new round">
+              <h3 className="text-sm font-semibold w-fit">
+                Round {group.round}
+              </h3>
+            </HelpTip>
+            <HelpTip label="Which reviewer stage raised this round's findings">
+              <Badge variant="outline">
+                {ORIGIN_LABEL[group.origin] ?? group.origin}
+              </Badge>
+            </HelpTip>
           </div>
           <div className="space-y-3">
             {group.items.map((f) => (
diff --git a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/tab-notes.tsx b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/tab-notes.tsx
index d6b6a736..52346cd6 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/tab-notes.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/tab-notes.tsx
@@ -62,7 +62,17 @@ function prReviewBadge(task: Task): React.ReactNode {
     failed: { label: "Failed", cls: "bg-red-500" },
   };
   const v = map[verdict] ?? { label: verdict, cls: "bg-gray-500" };
-  return <Badge className={`ml-2 ${v.cls} text-white`}>{v.label}</Badge>;
+  const tip: Record<string, string> = {
+    approved: "The PR reviewer approved this task's assembled PR.",
+    passed: "The PR reviewer passed the in-path gate — on to PM review.",
+    changes_requested: "The PR reviewer asked for changes before merging.",
+    failed: "The PR reviewer failed this task back to needs_revision.",
+  };
+  return (
+    <HelpTip label={tip[verdict]}>
+      <Badge className={`ml-2 ${v.cls} text-white`}>{v.label}</Badge>
+    </HelpTip>
+  );
 }
 
 // The card background mirrors the PR reviewer's verdict, so a FAILED review reads
@@ -269,14 +279,17 @@ function EditableNoteCard({
                 </TabsTrigger>
               </TabsList>
             </Tabs>
-            <Button
-              size="sm"
-              variant="ghost"
-              onClick={handleCancel}
-              disabled={updateTask.isPending}
-            >
-              <X className="h-4 w-4" />
-            </Button>
+            <HelpTip label="Discard changes without saving">
+              <Button
+                size="sm"
+                variant="ghost"
+                onClick={handleCancel}
+                disabled={updateTask.isPending}
+                aria-label="Cancel edit"
+              >
+                <X className="h-4 w-4" />
+              </Button>
+            </HelpTip>
             <Button
               size="sm"
               onClick={handleSave}
@@ -362,7 +375,11 @@ export function TabNotes({ task }: TabNotesProps) {
         task={task}
         field="dev_notes"
         title="Developer Notes"
-        icon={<Code className="h-5 w-5" />}
+        icon={
+          <HelpTip label="Written by the developer — approach, decisions, anything QA should know">
+            <Code className="h-5 w-5" />
+          </HelpTip>
+        }
         bgClass="bg-muted/50"
       />
 
@@ -371,7 +388,11 @@ export function TabNotes({ task }: TabNotesProps) {
         task={task}
         field="doc_notes"
         title="Documenter Notes"
-        icon={<BookText className="h-5 w-5" />}
+        icon={
+          <HelpTip label="Written by the documenter during the awaiting_documentation phase">
+            <BookText className="h-5 w-5" />
+          </HelpTip>
+        }
         bgClass="bg-muted/50"
       />
 
@@ -382,22 +403,32 @@ export function TabNotes({ task }: TabNotesProps) {
         title="QA Notes"
         icon={<TestTube className="h-5 w-5" />}
         badge={
-          <Badge
-            variant={
+          <HelpTip
+            label={
               task.qa_verified === true
-                ? "default"
+                ? "QA passed this task on to documentation."
                 : task.qa_verified === false
-                  ? "destructive"
-                  : "secondary"
+                  ? "QA failed this task back to needs_revision."
+                  : "QA hasn't reviewed this task yet."
             }
-            className="ml-2"
           >
-            {task.qa_verified === true
-              ? "Passed"
-              : task.qa_verified === false
-                ? "Failed"
-                : "Pending"}
-          </Badge>
+            <Badge
+              variant={
+                task.qa_verified === true
+                  ? "default"
+                  : task.qa_verified === false
+                    ? "destructive"
+                    : "secondary"
+              }
+              className="ml-2"
+            >
+              {task.qa_verified === true
+                ? "Passed"
+                : task.qa_verified === false
+                  ? "Failed"
+                  : "Pending"}
+            </Badge>
+          </HelpTip>
         }
         bgClass={
           task.qa_verified === true
diff --git a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/tab-overview.tsx b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/tab-overview.tsx
index f554c7d5..7064d71f 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/tab-overview.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/tab-overview.tsx
@@ -54,7 +54,9 @@ export function TabOverview({ task }: TabOverviewProps) {
       {task.quick_context && (
         <Card>
           <CardHeader>
-            <CardTitle className="text-lg">Quick Context</CardTitle>
+            <HelpTip label="Short notes for resuming work after an interruption — mirrored on the Notes tab">
+              <CardTitle className="text-lg w-fit">Quick Context</CardTitle>
+            </HelpTip>
           </CardHeader>
           <CardContent>
             <Markdown className="text-sm">{task.quick_context}</Markdown>
@@ -65,7 +67,9 @@ export function TabOverview({ task }: TabOverviewProps) {
       {/* Verification Status */}
       <Card>
         <CardHeader>
-          <CardTitle className="text-lg">Verification Status</CardTitle>
+          <HelpTip label="Two independent checks: the developer's self-verification, then QA's separate review">
+            <CardTitle className="text-lg w-fit">Verification Status</CardTitle>
+          </HelpTip>
         </CardHeader>
         <CardContent>
           <div className="flex items-center gap-4">
@@ -73,29 +77,33 @@ export function TabOverview({ task }: TabOverviewProps) {
               <span className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
                 Self Verified:
               </span>
-              <Badge variant={task.self_verified ? "default" : "secondary"}>
-                {task.self_verified ? "Yes" : "No"}
-              </Badge>
+              <HelpTip label="The developer confirmed they tested their own work before requesting QA review">
+                <Badge variant={task.self_verified ? "default" : "secondary"}>
+                  {task.self_verified ? "Yes" : "No"}
+                </Badge>
+              </HelpTip>
             </div>
             <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
               <span className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
                 QA Verified:
               </span>
-              <Badge
-                variant={
-                  task.qa_verified === true
-                    ? "default"
+              <HelpTip label="Whether QA reviewed this task: Passed, Failed (back to needs_revision), or Pending (not reviewed yet)">
+                <Badge
+                  variant={
+                    task.qa_verified === true
+                      ? "default"
+                      : task.qa_verified === false
+                        ? "destructive"
+                        : "secondary"
+                  }
+                >
+                  {task.qa_verified === true
+                    ? "Passed"
                     : task.qa_verified === false
-                      ? "destructive"
-                      : "secondary"
-                }
-              >
-                {task.qa_verified === true
-                  ? "Passed"
-                  : task.qa_verified === false
-                    ? "Failed"
-                    : "Pending"}
-              </Badge>
+                      ? "Failed"
+                      : "Pending"}
+                </Badge>
+              </HelpTip>
             </div>
           </div>
         </CardContent>
diff --git a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/tab-plan.tsx b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/tab-plan.tsx
index d09fb178..c54124ef 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/tab-plan.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/tab-plan.tsx
@@ -126,6 +126,11 @@ function ApproachSection({ task, plan }: { task: Task; plan: TaskPlan }) {
       actions={
         isEditing ? (
           <>
+            {/* Write/Preview is a stateful TabsTrigger — wrapping it in
+                HelpTip would clobber Radix's data-state (see task-tabs.tsx),
+                and the two-word label + icon already say what it does, so
+                it's left untipped rather than reassert-patched for a
+                same-line write/preview toggle. */}
             <Tabs
               value={editMode}
               onValueChange={(v) => setEditMode(v as "write" | "preview")}
@@ -151,21 +156,25 @@ function ApproachSection({ task, plan }: { task: Task; plan: TaskPlan }) {
                 <X className="h-4 w-4" />
               </Button>
             </HelpTip>
-            <Button
-              size="sm"
-              onClick={handleSave}
-              onMouseDown={(e) => e.preventDefault()}
-              disabled={updateTask.isPending}
-            >
-              <Check className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
-              Save
-            </Button>
+            <HelpTip label="Save this approach text to the task's plan">
+              <Button
+                size="sm"
+                onClick={handleSave}
+                onMouseDown={(e) => e.preventDefault()}
+                disabled={updateTask.isPending}
+              >
+                <Check className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
+                Save
+              </Button>
+            </HelpTip>
           </>
         ) : (
-          <Button size="sm" variant="ghost" onClick={startEditing}>
-            <Edit3 className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
-            Edit
-          </Button>
+          <HelpTip label="Open the approach text for editing">
+            <Button size="sm" variant="ghost" onClick={startEditing}>
+              <Edit3 className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
+              Edit
+            </Button>
+          </HelpTip>
         )
       }
     >
@@ -302,10 +311,12 @@ function SubTasksSection({ task, plan }: { task: Task; plan: TaskPlan }) {
             {completedCount}/{subTasks.length} completed
           </span>
           {!isAdding && (
-            <Button size="sm" variant="ghost" onClick={() => setIsAdding(true)}>
-              <Plus className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
-              Add
-            </Button>
+            <HelpTip label="Add a new sub-task to this plan">
+              <Button size="sm" variant="ghost" onClick={() => setIsAdding(true)}>
+                <Plus className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
+                Add
+              </Button>
+            </HelpTip>
           )}
         </>
       }
@@ -318,11 +329,24 @@ function SubTasksSection({ task, plan }: { task: Task; plan: TaskPlan }) {
               key={subtask.id}
               className="flex items-center gap-3 py-2 group"
             >
-              <Checkbox
-                checked={subtask.completed}
-                onCheckedChange={() => handleToggle(subtask.id)}
-                disabled={updateTask.isPending}
-              />
+              <HelpTip
+                label={
+                  subtask.completed
+                    ? "Mark this sub-task incomplete"
+                    : "Mark this sub-task complete"
+                }
+              >
+                {/* Checkbox exposes Radix's own data-state=checked/unchecked
+                    for its check-mark styling; re-assert it explicitly after
+                    the Tooltip wrap so the Slot merge can't clobber it (same
+                    trap as task-tabs.tsx's TabsTrigger). */}
+                <Checkbox
+                  checked={subtask.completed}
+                  data-state={subtask.completed ? "checked" : "unchecked"}
+                  onCheckedChange={() => handleToggle(subtask.id)}
+                  disabled={updateTask.isPending}
+                />
+              </HelpTip>
               {editingId === subtask.id ? (
                 <div className="flex-1 flex items-center gap-2">
                   <Input
@@ -339,24 +363,28 @@ function SubTasksSection({ task, plan }: { task: Task; plan: TaskPlan }) {
                 </div>
               ) : (
                 <>
-                  <span
-                    className={`flex-1 cursor-pointer hover:bg-muted/30 px-2 py-1 -mx-2 rounded ${
-                      subtask.completed
-                        ? "line-through text-muted-foreground"
-                        : ""
-                    }`}
-                    onClick={() => {
-                      setEditingId(subtask.id);
-                      setEditTitle(subtask.title);
-                    }}
-                  >
-                    {subtask.title}
-                    {subtask.estimated_hours && (
-                      <Badge variant="outline" className="ml-2 text-xs">
-                        ~{subtask.estimated_hours}h
-                      </Badge>
-                    )}
-                  </span>
+                  <HelpTip label="Click to rename this sub-task">
+                    <span
+                      className={`flex-1 cursor-pointer hover:bg-muted/30 px-2 py-1 -mx-2 rounded ${
+                        subtask.completed
+                          ? "line-through text-muted-foreground"
+                          : ""
+                      }`}
+                      onClick={() => {
+                        setEditingId(subtask.id);
+                        setEditTitle(subtask.title);
+                      }}
+                    >
+                      {subtask.title}
+                      {subtask.estimated_hours && (
+                        <HelpTip label="Estimated effort for this sub-task, in hours">
+                          <Badge variant="outline" className="ml-2 text-xs">
+                            ~{subtask.estimated_hours}h
+                          </Badge>
+                        </HelpTip>
+                      )}
+                    </span>
+                  </HelpTip>
                   <HelpTip label="Delete this sub-task">
                     <Button
                       size="sm"
@@ -509,10 +537,12 @@ function TechConsiderationsSection({
       }
       actions={
         !isAdding && (
-          <Button size="sm" variant="ghost" onClick={() => setIsAdding(true)}>
-            <Plus className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
-            Add
-          </Button>
+          <HelpTip label="Add a new technical consideration">
+            <Button size="sm" variant="ghost" onClick={() => setIsAdding(true)}>
+              <Plus className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
+              Add
+            </Button>
+          </HelpTip>
         )
       }
     >
@@ -536,15 +566,17 @@ function TechConsiderationsSection({
               </div>
             ) : (
               <>
-                <span
-                  className="flex-1 text-sm cursor-pointer hover:bg-muted/30 px-2 py-1 -mx-2 rounded"
-                  onClick={() => {
-                    setEditingIdx(idx);
-                    setEditValue(item);
-                  }}
-                >
-                  {item}
-                </span>
+                <HelpTip label="Click to edit this consideration">
+                  <span
+                    className="flex-1 text-sm cursor-pointer hover:bg-muted/30 px-2 py-1 -mx-2 rounded"
+                    onClick={() => {
+                      setEditingIdx(idx);
+                      setEditValue(item);
+                    }}
+                  >
+                    {item}
+                  </span>
+                </HelpTip>
                 <HelpTip label="Delete this consideration">
                   <Button
                     size="sm"
@@ -708,10 +740,12 @@ function RisksSection({ task, plan }: { task: Task; plan: TaskPlan }) {
       }
       actions={
         !isAdding && (
-          <Button size="sm" variant="ghost" onClick={() => setIsAdding(true)}>
-            <Plus className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
-            Add
-          </Button>
+          <HelpTip label="Add a new risk with a mitigation and severity">
+            <Button size="sm" variant="ghost" onClick={() => setIsAdding(true)}>
+              <Plus className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
+              Add
+            </Button>
+          </HelpTip>
         )
       }
     >
@@ -733,16 +767,18 @@ function RisksSection({ task, plan }: { task: Task; plan: TaskPlan }) {
                 className="text-sm"
               />
               <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
-                <Select value={editSeverity} onValueChange={setEditSeverity}>
-                  <SelectTrigger className="w-32 h-8">
-                    <SelectValue />
-                  </SelectTrigger>
-                  <SelectContent>
-                    <SelectItem value="low">Low</SelectItem>
-                    <SelectItem value="medium">Medium</SelectItem>
-                    <SelectItem value="high">High</SelectItem>
-                  </SelectContent>
-                </Select>
+                <HelpTip label="How likely/costly this risk is — see the severity badge for what each level means">
+                  <Select value={editSeverity} onValueChange={setEditSeverity}>
+                    <SelectTrigger className="w-32 h-8">
+                      <SelectValue />
+                    </SelectTrigger>
+                    <SelectContent>
+                      <SelectItem value="low">Low</SelectItem>
+                      <SelectItem value="medium">Medium</SelectItem>
+                      <SelectItem value="high">High</SelectItem>
+                    </SelectContent>
+                  </Select>
+                </HelpTip>
                 <div className="flex-1" />
                 <HelpTip label="Discard and cancel">
                   <Button
@@ -826,16 +862,18 @@ function RisksSection({ task, plan }: { task: Task; plan: TaskPlan }) {
               className="text-sm"
             />
             <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
-              <Select value={newSeverity} onValueChange={setNewSeverity}>
-                <SelectTrigger className="w-32 h-8">
-                  <SelectValue />
-                </SelectTrigger>
-                <SelectContent>
-                  <SelectItem value="low">Low</SelectItem>
-                  <SelectItem value="medium">Medium</SelectItem>
-                  <SelectItem value="high">High</SelectItem>
-                </SelectContent>
-              </Select>
+              <HelpTip label="How likely/costly this risk is — see the severity badge for what each level means">
+                <Select value={newSeverity} onValueChange={setNewSeverity}>
+                  <SelectTrigger className="w-32 h-8">
+                    <SelectValue />
+                  </SelectTrigger>
+                  <SelectContent>
+                    <SelectItem value="low">Low</SelectItem>
+                    <SelectItem value="medium">Medium</SelectItem>
+                    <SelectItem value="high">High</SelectItem>
+                  </SelectContent>
+                </Select>
+              </HelpTip>
               <div className="flex-1" />
               <HelpTip label="Discard and cancel">
                 <Button
@@ -964,10 +1002,12 @@ function OpenQuestionsSection({ task, plan }: { task: Task; plan: TaskPlan }) {
       }
       actions={
         !isAdding && (
-          <Button size="sm" variant="ghost" onClick={() => setIsAdding(true)}>
-            <Plus className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
-            Add
-          </Button>
+          <HelpTip label="Add a new open question">
+            <Button size="sm" variant="ghost" onClick={() => setIsAdding(true)}>
+              <Plus className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
+              Add
+            </Button>
+          </HelpTip>
         )
       }
     >
@@ -1051,12 +1091,14 @@ function OpenQuestionsSection({ task, plan }: { task: Task; plan: TaskPlan }) {
                 </div>
               ) : (
                 <div className="ml-7">
-                  <Badge
-                    variant="outline"
-                    className="text-yellow-600 border-yellow-300"
-                  >
-                    Awaiting Answer
-                  </Badge>
+                  <HelpTip label="No answer recorded yet — click this card to add one">
+                    <Badge
+                      variant="outline"
+                      className="text-yellow-600 border-yellow-300"
+                    >
+                      Awaiting Answer
+                    </Badge>
+                  </HelpTip>
                 </div>
               )}
             </div>
@@ -1157,10 +1199,12 @@ export function TabPlan({ task }: TabPlanProps) {
               A plan will be created once an agent claims and starts working on
               this task.
             </p>
-            <Button onClick={createPlan} disabled={updateTask.isPending}>
-              <Plus className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
-              Create Plan
-            </Button>
+            <HelpTip label="Creates an empty plan object on this task so approach/sub-tasks/risks can be filled in manually">
+              <Button onClick={createPlan} disabled={updateTask.isPending}>
+                <Plus className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
+                Create Plan
+              </Button>
+            </HelpTip>
           </div>
         </CardContent>
       </Card>
diff --git a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/tab-progress.tsx b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/tab-progress.tsx
index 841cbbf6..48b51a14 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/tab-progress.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/tab-progress.tsx
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import { toast } from "sonner";
 import { getAgentDisplayName } from "@/lib/agent-utils";
 import { formatAbsoluteTimestamp } from "@/lib/utils";
 import { exceedsReadabilityThreshold } from "@/lib/content-readability";
+import { HelpTip } from "@/components/ui/help-tip";
 
 /**
  * Only the 2 most recent entries default to expanded; older entries (and
@@ -159,29 +160,35 @@ function ProgressUpdatesSection({ task }: { task: Task }) {
     <Card>
       <CardHeader className="pb-3">
         <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
-          <CardTitle className="text-lg">Progress Updates</CardTitle>
+          <HelpTip label="A timestamped log of status updates entered by devs, QA, or the CEO">
+            <CardTitle className="text-lg">Progress Updates</CardTitle>
+          </HelpTip>
           <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
             <span className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
               {updates.length} update{updates.length !== 1 ? "s" : ""}
             </span>
             {!isAdding && (
-              <Button
-                size="sm"
-                variant="ghost"
-                onClick={() => setIsAdding(true)}
-              >
-                <Plus className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
-                Add
-              </Button>
+              <HelpTip label="Log a new progress update, optionally with a completion percentage">
+                <Button
+                  size="sm"
+                  variant="ghost"
+                  onClick={() => setIsAdding(true)}
+                >
+                  <Plus className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
+                  Add
+                </Button>
+              </HelpTip>
             )}
           </div>
         </div>
         {latestWithPercentage && (
           <div className="mt-2">
-            <div className="flex items-center justify-between text-sm mb-1">
-              <span className="text-muted-foreground">Overall Progress</span>
-              <span className="font-medium">{currentProgress}%</span>
-            </div>
+            <HelpTip label="The percentage from the most recent update that included one — manually entered, not computed from acceptance criteria">
+              <div className="flex items-center justify-between text-sm mb-1">
+                <span className="text-muted-foreground">Overall Progress</span>
+                <span className="font-medium">{currentProgress}%</span>
+              </div>
+            </HelpTip>
             <Progress value={currentProgress} className="h-2" />
           </div>
         )}
@@ -197,35 +204,41 @@ function ProgressUpdatesSection({ task }: { task: Task }) {
               className="text-sm min-h-[80px]"
             />
             <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
-              <Input
-                type="number"
-                value={newPercentage}
-                onChange={(e) => setNewPercentage(e.target.value)}
-                placeholder="Progress %"
-                className="w-32 h-8 text-sm"
-                min="0"
-                max="100"
-              />
+              <HelpTip label="Optional — leave blank to log a note with no percentage">
+                <Input
+                  type="number"
+                  value={newPercentage}
+                  onChange={(e) => setNewPercentage(e.target.value)}
+                  placeholder="Progress %"
+                  className="w-32 h-8 text-sm"
+                  min="0"
+                  max="100"
+                />
+              </HelpTip>
               <div className="flex-1" />
-              <Button
-                size="sm"
-                variant="ghost"
-                onClick={() => {
-                  setNewMessage("");
-                  setNewPercentage("");
-                  setIsAdding(false);
-                }}
-              >
-                <X className="h-4 w-4" />
-              </Button>
-              <Button
-                size="sm"
-                onClick={handleAdd}
-                disabled={!newMessage.trim() || updateTask.isPending}
-              >
-                <Check className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
-                Add Update
-              </Button>
+              <HelpTip label="Discard and cancel">
+                <Button
+                  size="sm"
+                  variant="ghost"
+                  onClick={() => {
+                    setNewMessage("");
+                    setNewPercentage("");
+                    setIsAdding(false);
+                  }}
+                >
+                  <X className="h-4 w-4" />
+                </Button>
+              </HelpTip>
+              <HelpTip label="Save this progress update to the task">
+                <Button
+                  size="sm"
+                  onClick={handleAdd}
+                  disabled={!newMessage.trim() || updateTask.isPending}
+                >
+                  <Check className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
+                  Add Update
+                </Button>
+              </HelpTip>
             </div>
           </div>
         )}
@@ -253,9 +266,16 @@ function ProgressUpdatesSection({ task }: { task: Task }) {
                     className="bg-muted/50 rounded-lg p-3"
                   >
                     <div className="flex items-center justify-between mb-1">
+                      {/* CollapsibleTrigger is a stateful Radix trigger — HelpTip's
+                          asChild Slot would clobber its open/closed data-state
+                          (same trap as task-tabs.tsx), and this Collapsible is
+                          uncontrolled so there's no local state to re-assert.
+                          Left untipped; the chevron + agent name are visually
+                          self-explanatory as an expand/collapse row. */}
                       <CollapsibleTrigger asChild>
                         <button
                           type="button"
+                          data-testid="progress-update-trigger"
                           className="group/trigger flex min-w-0 items-center gap-1 text-left"
                         >
                           <ChevronDown className="h-3 w-3 shrink-0 text-muted-foreground transition-transform duration-200 group-data-[state=closed]/trigger:-rotate-90" />
@@ -273,14 +293,16 @@ function ProgressUpdatesSection({ task }: { task: Task }) {
                           {formatTime(update.timestamp)} ·{" "}
                           {formatAbsoluteTimestamp(update.timestamp)}
                         </span>
-                        <Button
-                          size="sm"
-                          variant="ghost"
-                          onClick={() => handleDelete(idx)}
-                          className="h-6 w-6 p-0 opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 text-destructive"
-                        >
-                          <Trash2 className="h-3 w-3" />
-                        </Button>
+                        <HelpTip label="Delete this progress update">
+                          <Button
+                            size="sm"
+                            variant="ghost"
+                            onClick={() => handleDelete(idx)}
+                            className="h-6 w-6 p-0 opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 text-destructive"
+                          >
+                            <Trash2 className="h-3 w-3" />
+                          </Button>
+                        </HelpTip>
                       </div>
                     </div>
                     <CollapsibleContent>
@@ -382,23 +404,27 @@ function CheckpointsSection({ task }: { task: Task }) {
     <Card>
       <CardHeader className="pb-3">
         <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
-          <CardTitle className="text-lg flex items-center gap-2">
-            <Bookmark className="h-5 w-5" />
-            Checkpoints
-          </CardTitle>
+          <HelpTip label="A saved snapshot of task state + remaining work, useful for handoff between agents">
+            <CardTitle className="text-lg flex items-center gap-2">
+              <Bookmark className="h-5 w-5" />
+              Checkpoints
+            </CardTitle>
+          </HelpTip>
           <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
             <span className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
               {checkpoints.length} saved
             </span>
             {!isAdding && (
-              <Button
-                size="sm"
-                variant="ghost"
-                onClick={() => setIsAdding(true)}
-              >
-                <Plus className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
-                Add
-              </Button>
+              <HelpTip label="Save a new checkpoint of the current state and remaining work">
+                <Button
+                  size="sm"
+                  variant="ghost"
+                  onClick={() => setIsAdding(true)}
+                >
+                  <Plus className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
+                  Add
+                </Button>
+              </HelpTip>
             )}
           </div>
         </div>
@@ -442,26 +468,30 @@ function CheckpointsSection({ task }: { task: Task }) {
             </div>
             <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
               <div className="flex-1" />
-              <Button
-                size="sm"
-                variant="ghost"
-                onClick={() => {
-                  setNewSummary("");
-                  setNewRemaining("");
-                  setNewNotes("");
-                  setIsAdding(false);
-                }}
-              >
-                <X className="h-4 w-4" />
-              </Button>
-              <Button
-                size="sm"
-                onClick={handleAdd}
-                disabled={!newSummary.trim() || updateTask.isPending}
-              >
-                <Check className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
-                Save Checkpoint
-              </Button>
+              <HelpTip label="Discard and cancel">
+                <Button
+                  size="sm"
+                  variant="ghost"
+                  onClick={() => {
+                    setNewSummary("");
+                    setNewRemaining("");
+                    setNewNotes("");
+                    setIsAdding(false);
+                  }}
+                >
+                  <X className="h-4 w-4" />
+                </Button>
+              </HelpTip>
+              <HelpTip label="Save this checkpoint to the task">
+                <Button
+                  size="sm"
+                  onClick={handleAdd}
+                  disabled={!newSummary.trim() || updateTask.isPending}
+                >
+                  <Check className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
+                  Save Checkpoint
+                </Button>
+              </HelpTip>
             </div>
           </div>
         )}
@@ -491,6 +521,8 @@ function CheckpointsSection({ task }: { task: Task }) {
                     defaultOpen={defaultEntryOpen(idx, checkpointContent)}
                   >
                     <div className="bg-primary/10 px-4 py-2 flex items-center justify-between">
+                      {/* Uncontrolled CollapsibleTrigger — left untipped, see
+                          the identical note in ProgressUpdatesSection above. */}
                       <CollapsibleTrigger asChild>
                         <button
                           type="button"
@@ -512,14 +544,16 @@ function CheckpointsSection({ task }: { task: Task }) {
                           {formatTime(checkpoint.timestamp)} ·{" "}
                           {formatAbsoluteTimestamp(checkpoint.timestamp)}
                         </span>
-                        <Button
-                          size="sm"
-                          variant="ghost"
-                          onClick={() => handleDelete(checkpoint.id)}
-                          className="h-6 w-6 p-0 opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 text-destructive"
-                        >
-                          <Trash2 className="h-3 w-3" />
-                        </Button>
+                        <HelpTip label="Delete this checkpoint">
+                          <Button
+                            size="sm"
+                            variant="ghost"
+                            onClick={() => handleDelete(checkpoint.id)}
+                            className="h-6 w-6 p-0 opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 text-destructive"
+                          >
+                            <Trash2 className="h-3 w-3" />
+                          </Button>
+                        </HelpTip>
                       </div>
                     </div>
                     <CollapsibleContent>
diff --git a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/task-action-dialogs.tsx b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/task-action-dialogs.tsx
index 3be2cce8..e5aa49f2 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/task-action-dialogs.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/task-action-dialogs.tsx
@@ -61,7 +61,11 @@ export function EscalateToCeoDialog({
         </DialogHeader>
         <div className="grid gap-4 py-4">
           <div className="grid gap-2">
-            <Label htmlFor="reason">Reason for escalation</Label>
+            <HelpTip label="Shown to the CEO in their approval queue alongside this task">
+              <Label htmlFor="reason" className="w-fit">
+                Reason for escalation
+              </Label>
+            </HelpTip>
             <Textarea
               id="reason"
               value={reason}
@@ -72,15 +76,24 @@ export function EscalateToCeoDialog({
           </div>
         </div>
         <DialogFooter>
-          <Button variant="outline" onClick={() => handleOpenChange(false)}>
-            Cancel
-          </Button>
-          <Button
-            onClick={handleConfirm}
-            disabled={!reason.trim() || isPending}
-          >
-            {isPending ? "Escalating..." : "Escalate"}
-          </Button>
+          <HelpTip label="Closes without escalating; the task stays in its current status">
+            <Button variant="outline" onClick={() => handleOpenChange(false)}>
+              Cancel
+            </Button>
+          </HelpTip>
+          <HelpTip label={!reason.trim() ? "Enter a reason to enable" : null}>
+            <span
+              className="inline-block"
+              tabIndex={!reason.trim() ? 0 : undefined}
+            >
+              <Button
+                onClick={handleConfirm}
+                disabled={!reason.trim() || isPending}
+              >
+                {isPending ? "Escalating..." : "Escalate"}
+              </Button>
+            </span>
+          </HelpTip>
         </DialogFooter>
       </DialogContent>
     </Dialog>
@@ -126,7 +139,11 @@ export function CeoRejectDialog({
         </DialogHeader>
         <div className="grid gap-4 py-4">
           <div className="grid gap-2">
-            <Label htmlFor="notes">Required changes</Label>
+            <HelpTip label="Recorded as the CEO's rejection reason; the task returns to needs_revision">
+              <Label htmlFor="notes" className="w-fit">
+                Required changes
+              </Label>
+            </HelpTip>
             <Textarea
               id="notes"
               value={notes}
@@ -137,16 +154,25 @@ export function CeoRejectDialog({
           </div>
         </div>
         <DialogFooter>
-          <Button variant="outline" onClick={() => handleOpenChange(false)}>
-            Cancel
-          </Button>
-          <Button
-            variant="destructive"
-            onClick={handleConfirm}
-            disabled={!notes.trim() || isPending}
-          >
-            {isPending ? "Submitting..." : "Request Changes"}
-          </Button>
+          <HelpTip label="Closes without rejecting; the task stays in awaiting CEO approval">
+            <Button variant="outline" onClick={() => handleOpenChange(false)}>
+              Cancel
+            </Button>
+          </HelpTip>
+          <HelpTip label={!notes.trim() ? "Explain what changes are needed to enable" : null}>
+            <span
+              className="inline-block"
+              tabIndex={!notes.trim() ? 0 : undefined}
+            >
+              <Button
+                variant="destructive"
+                onClick={handleConfirm}
+                disabled={!notes.trim() || isPending}
+              >
+                {isPending ? "Submitting..." : "Request Changes"}
+              </Button>
+            </span>
+          </HelpTip>
         </DialogFooter>
       </DialogContent>
     </Dialog>
@@ -179,13 +205,15 @@ export function ApproveAndMergeDialog({
           </DialogDescription>
         </DialogHeader>
         <DialogFooter>
-          <Button
-            variant="outline"
-            onClick={() => onOpenChange(false)}
-            disabled={isPending}
-          >
-            Cancel
-          </Button>
+          <HelpTip label="Closes without approving or merging">
+            <Button
+              variant="outline"
+              onClick={() => onOpenChange(false)}
+              disabled={isPending}
+            >
+              Cancel
+            </Button>
+          </HelpTip>
           <Button onClick={onConfirm} disabled={isPending}>
             {isPending ? "Merging..." : "Approve & Merge"}
           </Button>
@@ -263,14 +291,20 @@ export function CeoApproveDialog({
           </div>
         </div>
         <DialogFooter>
-          <Button variant="outline" onClick={() => handleOpenChange(false)}>
-            Cancel
-          </Button>
-          <HelpTip label={remainingCharsTip(notes.trim().length, _CEO_NOTES_MIN)}>
-            <Button onClick={handleConfirm} disabled={tooShort || isPending}>
-              {isPending ? "Approving..." : "Approve & Merge"}
+          <HelpTip label="Closes without approving; the task stays in awaiting CEO approval">
+            <Button variant="outline" onClick={() => handleOpenChange(false)}>
+              Cancel
             </Button>
           </HelpTip>
+          {/* Button's own disabled:pointer-events-none would swallow hover, so
+              the tip sits on a wrapping span rather than the Button itself. */}
+          <HelpTip label={remainingCharsTip(notes.trim().length, _CEO_NOTES_MIN)}>
+            <span className="inline-block" tabIndex={tooShort ? 0 : undefined}>
+              <Button onClick={handleConfirm} disabled={tooShort || isPending}>
+                {isPending ? "Approving..." : "Approve & Merge"}
+              </Button>
+            </span>
+          </HelpTip>
         </DialogFooter>
       </DialogContent>
     </Dialog>
@@ -344,18 +378,24 @@ export function RequiredNotesDialog({
           </div>
         </div>
         <DialogFooter>
-          <Button variant="outline" onClick={() => handleOpenChange(false)}>
-            Cancel
-          </Button>
-          <HelpTip label={remainingCharsTip(text.trim().length, minChars)}>
-            <Button
-              variant={destructive ? "destructive" : "default"}
-              onClick={handleConfirm}
-              disabled={tooShort || isPending}
-            >
-              {isPending ? "Working..." : confirmLabel}
+          <HelpTip label="Closes without confirming; nothing is changed">
+            <Button variant="outline" onClick={() => handleOpenChange(false)}>
+              Cancel
             </Button>
           </HelpTip>
+          {/* Button's own disabled:pointer-events-none would swallow hover, so
+              the tip sits on a wrapping span rather than the Button itself. */}
+          <HelpTip label={remainingCharsTip(text.trim().length, minChars)}>
+            <span className="inline-block" tabIndex={tooShort ? 0 : undefined}>
+              <Button
+                variant={destructive ? "destructive" : "default"}
+                onClick={handleConfirm}
+                disabled={tooShort || isPending}
+              >
+                {isPending ? "Working..." : confirmLabel}
+              </Button>
+            </span>
+          </HelpTip>
         </DialogFooter>
       </DialogContent>
     </Dialog>
@@ -401,7 +441,11 @@ export function CreateBranchDialog({
         </DialogHeader>
         <div className="grid gap-4 py-4">
           <div className="grid gap-2">
-            <Label htmlFor="branch-type">Branch Type</Label>
+            <HelpTip label="Chooses the branch-name prefix — see the naming preview below">
+              <Label htmlFor="branch-type" className="w-fit">
+                Branch Type
+              </Label>
+            </HelpTip>
             <Select value={branchType} onValueChange={setBranchType}>
               <SelectTrigger>
                 <SelectValue />
@@ -420,12 +464,16 @@ export function CreateBranchDialog({
           </div>
         </div>
         <DialogFooter>
-          <Button variant="outline" onClick={() => handleOpenChange(false)}>
-            Cancel
-          </Button>
-          <Button onClick={handleConfirm} disabled={isPending}>
-            {isPending ? "Creating..." : "Create Branch"}
-          </Button>
+          <HelpTip label="Closes without creating a branch">
+            <Button variant="outline" onClick={() => handleOpenChange(false)}>
+              Cancel
+            </Button>
+          </HelpTip>
+          <HelpTip label="Creates and checks out the branch immediately — no confirmation after this">
+            <Button onClick={handleConfirm} disabled={isPending}>
+              {isPending ? "Creating..." : "Create Branch"}
+            </Button>
+          </HelpTip>
         </DialogFooter>
       </DialogContent>
     </Dialog>
@@ -482,7 +530,11 @@ export function CreatePRDialog({
         </DialogHeader>
         <div className="grid gap-4 py-4">
           <div className="grid gap-2">
-            <Label htmlFor="pr-title">Title</Label>
+            <HelpTip label="Seeded from the task title by default — edit before creating">
+              <Label htmlFor="pr-title" className="w-fit">
+                Title
+              </Label>
+            </HelpTip>
             <Input
               id="pr-title"
               value={title}
@@ -491,7 +543,11 @@ export function CreatePRDialog({
             />
           </div>
           <div className="grid gap-2">
-            <Label htmlFor="pr-body">Description</Label>
+            <HelpTip label="Becomes the pull request's description on GitHub">
+              <Label htmlFor="pr-body" className="w-fit">
+                Description
+              </Label>
+            </HelpTip>
             <Textarea
               id="pr-body"
               value={body}
@@ -502,12 +558,24 @@ export function CreatePRDialog({
           </div>
         </div>
         <DialogFooter>
-          <Button variant="outline" onClick={() => handleOpenChange(false)}>
-            Cancel
-          </Button>
-          <Button onClick={handleConfirm} disabled={!title.trim() || isPending}>
-            {isPending ? "Creating..." : "Create PR"}
-          </Button>
+          <HelpTip label="Closes without creating a PR">
+            <Button variant="outline" onClick={() => handleOpenChange(false)}>
+              Cancel
+            </Button>
+          </HelpTip>
+          <HelpTip label={!title.trim() ? "Enter a title to enable" : null}>
+            <span
+              className="inline-block"
+              tabIndex={!title.trim() ? 0 : undefined}
+            >
+              <Button
+                onClick={handleConfirm}
+                disabled={!title.trim() || isPending}
+              >
+                {isPending ? "Creating..." : "Create PR"}
+              </Button>
+            </span>
+          </HelpTip>
         </DialogFooter>
       </DialogContent>
     </Dialog>
diff --git a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/task-breadcrumb.tsx b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/task-breadcrumb.tsx
index c135a787..644ff238 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/task-breadcrumb.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/task-breadcrumb.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import { Task } from "@/types";
 import { useTask } from "@/hooks/use-tasks";
 import { Skeleton } from "@/components/ui/skeleton";
+import { HelpTip } from "@/components/ui/help-tip";
 import { ChevronRight } from "lucide-react";
 import Link from "next/link";
 
@@ -28,14 +29,16 @@ export function TaskBreadcrumb({ task }: TaskBreadcrumbProps) {
       {isLoading || !parent ? (
         <Skeleton className="h-4 w-32" />
       ) : (
-        <Link
-          href={`/tasks/${parent.id}`}
-          prefetch={false}
-          className="truncate hover:text-foreground hover:underline"
-          title={parent.title}
-        >
-          {parent.title}
-        </Link>
+        <HelpTip label="Go to the parent task — only the immediate parent is shown here, not the full ancestry chain">
+          <Link
+            href={`/tasks/${parent.id}`}
+            prefetch={false}
+            className="truncate hover:text-foreground hover:underline"
+            title={parent.title}
+          >
+            {parent.title}
+          </Link>
+        </HelpTip>
       )}
       <ChevronRight className="h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0" />
       <span className="truncate text-foreground/70" title={task.title}>
diff --git a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/task-description.tsx b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/task-description.tsx
index 148b9b7b..3840cda6 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/task-description.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/task-description.tsx
@@ -189,7 +189,9 @@ export function TaskDescription({ task }: TaskDescriptionProps) {
           defaultOpen={false}
           title={
             <>
-              <ShieldAlert className="h-4 w-4 text-amber-600 dark:text-amber-400" />
+              <HelpTip label="Read-only architectural rules derived from the project's conventions — auto-attached, not editable here">
+                <ShieldAlert className="h-4 w-4 text-amber-600 dark:text-amber-400" />
+              </HelpTip>
               <span className="text-amber-800 dark:text-amber-300">
                 Constraints
               </span>
diff --git a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/task-header.tsx b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/task-header.tsx
index d3176b8e..b3243e77 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/task-header.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/task-header.tsx
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ import {
 import { toast } from "sonner";
 import { TaskTypeBadge } from "../task-type-badge";
 import { CopyButton } from "@/components/ui/copy-button";
+import { HelpTip } from "@/components/ui/help-tip";
 import {
   Tooltip,
   TooltipContent,
@@ -117,6 +118,55 @@ const statusLabels: Record<TaskStatus, string> = {
   [TaskStatus.CANCELLED]: "Cancelled",
 };
 
+// Per-action explanation of the real backend consequence — grounded in
+// roboco/foundation/policy/lifecycle.py (ActionSpec/IntentSpec source +
+// target statuses, allowed_roles) and the handlers in
+// app/(dashboard)/tasks/[taskId]/page.tsx (handleAction). Some of these
+// route through an admin-override PATCH rather than a dedicated lifecycle
+// verb — the tip says so where that's the case.
+const ACTION_TIPS: Record<string, string> = {
+  claim: "Locks this task to you so no one else can claim it (pending → claimed).",
+  start: "Begins active work on the task (claimed → in_progress).",
+  "create-branch":
+    "Creates the git branch for this task; status does not change.",
+  pause:
+    "Pauses active work (in_progress → paused); use Resume to continue later.",
+  block:
+    "Flags an external blocker (in_progress → blocked); only a PM can unblock it.",
+  "create-pr":
+    "Opens the pull request for this task's branch; status does not change.",
+  verify: "Marks work self-verified, the step before QA (in_progress → verifying).",
+  unblock: "PM-only: clears the blocker and resumes work (blocked → in_progress).",
+  resume: "Resumes paused work (paused → in_progress).",
+  "submit-qa": "Hands the task to QA for review (verifying → awaiting_qa).",
+  "pass-qa":
+    "QA-only: passes review and starts docs (awaiting_qa → awaiting_documentation).",
+  "fail-qa":
+    "QA-only: sends the task back to the developer (awaiting_qa → needs_revision).",
+  "docs-complete":
+    "Documenter-only: marks docs done, moves to PM review (→ awaiting_pm_review).",
+  "submit-pm-review":
+    "Sends the finished work to the PM for merge review (→ awaiting_pm_review).",
+  complete:
+    "PM-only: approves and marks the task completed (awaiting_pm_review → completed).",
+  "escalate-to-ceo":
+    "Sends this task to the CEO for final sign-off (→ awaiting_ceo_approval).",
+  "request-changes":
+    "Sends the task back to the developer for changes (→ needs_revision).",
+  "ceo-approve":
+    "CEO-only: approves and completes the task (→ completed); requires a note.",
+  "approve-and-merge":
+    "CEO-only: merges the PR and marks the task completed in one step.",
+  "ceo-reject": "CEO-only: sends the task back for revision (→ needs_revision).",
+  reopen: "Admin override: force-sets a cancelled task back to pending.",
+  activate: "PM-only: releases the task from backlog into the claim pool (→ pending).",
+  "start-revision":
+    "Admin override: forces the task straight to in_progress, skipping re-claim.",
+  cancel: "PM/CEO-only: cancels the task permanently; requires a documented reason.",
+  "merge-pr":
+    "Merges this task's PR on GitHub; the backend updates task state as a side effect.",
+};
+
 interface TaskHeaderProps {
   task: Task;
   onAction?: (action: string) => void;
@@ -515,13 +565,14 @@ export function TaskHeader({ task, onAction, nav }: TaskHeaderProps) {
                 disabled={updateTask.isPending}
               />
             ) : (
-              <h1
-                className="text-2xl font-bold cursor-pointer hover:bg-muted/50 px-2 py-1 -mx-2 rounded transition-colors truncate"
-                onClick={startEditingTitle}
-                title={task.title}
-              >
-                {task.title}
-              </h1>
+              <HelpTip label={`Click to rename — full title: "${task.title}"`}>
+                <h1
+                  className="text-2xl font-bold cursor-pointer hover:bg-muted/50 px-2 py-1 -mx-2 rounded transition-colors truncate"
+                  onClick={startEditingTitle}
+                >
+                  {task.title}
+                </h1>
+              </HelpTip>
             )}
 
             {/* Row 2: copyable task id + status + team + type. The dropdowns are
@@ -530,13 +581,12 @@ export function TaskHeader({ task, onAction, nav }: TaskHeaderProps) {
                 flex-wrap: on narrow viewports the id/status/team/type group
                 wraps to further rows instead of overflowing horizontally. */}
             <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2 mt-1.5">
-              <span
-                className="inline-flex h-7 shrink-0 items-center gap-1 rounded-md border bg-muted/40 px-2.5 font-mono text-sm text-muted-foreground"
-                title={task.id}
-              >
-                #{task.id.slice(0, 8)}
-                <CopyButton value={task.id} className="-mr-1 px-1 py-0" />
-              </span>
+              <HelpTip label={`Full task ID: ${task.id}`}>
+                <span className="inline-flex h-7 shrink-0 items-center gap-1 rounded-md border bg-muted/40 px-2.5 font-mono text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+                  #{task.id.slice(0, 8)}
+                  <CopyButton value={task.id} className="-mr-1 px-1 py-0" />
+                </span>
+              </HelpTip>
 
               <span className="text-muted-foreground shrink-0">|</span>
 
@@ -669,42 +719,49 @@ export function TaskHeader({ task, onAction, nav }: TaskHeaderProps) {
                 </TooltipContent>
               </Tooltip>
               <DropdownMenuContent align="end">
-                {/* Lifecycle actions (non-cancel) */}
+                {/* Lifecycle actions (non-cancel) — each tip states the real
+                    source→target status transition and which role can fire
+                    it, grounded in lifecycle.py's ActionSpec/IntentSpec table. */}
                 {actions
                   .filter((a) => a.action !== "cancel")
                   .map((action) => (
-                    <DropdownMenuItem
-                      key={action.action}
-                      onClick={() => handleAction(action.action)}
-                    >
-                      {action.icon}
-                      {action.label}
-                    </DropdownMenuItem>
+                    <HelpTip key={action.action} label={ACTION_TIPS[action.action]}>
+                      <DropdownMenuItem
+                        onClick={() => handleAction(action.action)}
+                      >
+                        {action.icon}
+                        {action.label}
+                      </DropdownMenuItem>
+                    </HelpTip>
                   ))}
 
                 {/* Cancel action */}
                 {actions.some((a) => a.action === "cancel") && (
                   <>
                     <DropdownMenuSeparator />
-                    <DropdownMenuItem
-                      onClick={() => handleAction("cancel")}
-                      className="text-orange-600"
-                    >
-                      <XCircle className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
-                      Cancel Task
-                    </DropdownMenuItem>
+                    <HelpTip label={ACTION_TIPS.cancel}>
+                      <DropdownMenuItem
+                        onClick={() => handleAction("cancel")}
+                        className="text-orange-600"
+                      >
+                        <XCircle className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
+                        Cancel Task
+                      </DropdownMenuItem>
+                    </HelpTip>
                   </>
                 )}
 
                 {/* Delete option */}
                 <DropdownMenuSeparator />
-                <DropdownMenuItem
-                  onClick={() => setDeleteOpen(true)}
-                  className="text-red-600"
-                >
-                  <Trash2 className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
-                  Delete Task
-                </DropdownMenuItem>
+                <HelpTip label="Permanently deletes this task record from the database; cannot be undone.">
+                  <DropdownMenuItem
+                    onClick={() => setDeleteOpen(true)}
+                    className="text-red-600"
+                  >
+                    <Trash2 className="h-4 w-4 mr-2" />
+                    Delete Task
+                  </DropdownMenuItem>
+                </HelpTip>
               </DropdownMenuContent>
             </DropdownMenu>
           )}
diff --git a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/task-metadata.tsx b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/task-metadata.tsx
index b457ac8a..508070b4 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/task-metadata.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/task-metadata.tsx
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ import {
 import { toast } from "sonner";
 import { getAgentDisplayName, resolveToSlug } from "@/lib/agent-utils";
 import { branchUrl } from "@/lib/repo-url";
+import { formatAbsoluteTimestamp } from "@/lib/utils";
 import { CopyButton } from "@/components/ui/copy-button";
 import { HelpTip } from "@/components/ui/help-tip";
 import { TaskTypeBadge } from "../task-type-badge";
@@ -232,28 +233,30 @@ export function TaskMetadata({ task }: TaskMetadataProps) {
             <AlertTriangle className="h-4 w-4" />
             Priority
           </div>
-          <Select
-            value={task.priority.toString()}
-            onValueChange={handlePriorityChange}
-            disabled={updateTask.isPending}
-          >
-            <SelectTrigger
-              className={`w-full h-8 text-sm border-0 ${priorityColors[task.priority] ?? priorityColors[2]}`}
+          <HelpTip label="How urgently this should be worked — P0 is highest, P3 is lowest">
+            <Select
+              value={task.priority.toString()}
+              onValueChange={handlePriorityChange}
+              disabled={updateTask.isPending}
             >
-              <SelectValue />
-            </SelectTrigger>
-            <SelectContent>
-              {Object.entries(priorityLabels).map(([value, label]) => (
-                <SelectItem key={value} value={value}>
-                  <span
-                    className={`px-2 py-0.5 rounded ${priorityColors[parseInt(value)]}`}
-                  >
-                    {label}
-                  </span>
-                </SelectItem>
-              ))}
-            </SelectContent>
-          </Select>
+              <SelectTrigger
+                className={`w-full h-8 text-sm border-0 ${priorityColors[task.priority] ?? priorityColors[2]}`}
+              >
+                <SelectValue />
+              </SelectTrigger>
+              <SelectContent>
+                {Object.entries(priorityLabels).map(([value, label]) => (
+                  <SelectItem key={value} value={value}>
+                    <span
+                      className={`px-2 py-0.5 rounded ${priorityColors[parseInt(value)]}`}
+                    >
+                      {label}
+                    </span>
+                  </SelectItem>
+                ))}
+              </SelectContent>
+            </Select>
+          </HelpTip>
         </CardContent>
       </Card>
 
@@ -264,22 +267,24 @@ export function TaskMetadata({ task }: TaskMetadataProps) {
             <Target className="h-4 w-4" />
             Complexity
           </div>
-          <Select
-            value={task.estimated_complexity}
-            onValueChange={handleComplexityChange}
-            disabled={updateTask.isPending}
-          >
-            <SelectTrigger className="w-full h-8 text-sm border-0 bg-transparent hover:bg-muted/50">
-              <SelectValue />
-            </SelectTrigger>
-            <SelectContent>
-              {Object.values(Complexity).map((complexity) => (
-                <SelectItem key={complexity} value={complexity}>
-                  {complexityLabels[complexity]}
-                </SelectItem>
-              ))}
-            </SelectContent>
-          </Select>
+          <HelpTip label="A manual estimate of implementation effort; not derived from the plan or ACs">
+            <Select
+              value={task.estimated_complexity}
+              onValueChange={handleComplexityChange}
+              disabled={updateTask.isPending}
+            >
+              <SelectTrigger className="w-full h-8 text-sm border-0 bg-transparent hover:bg-muted/50">
+                <SelectValue />
+              </SelectTrigger>
+              <SelectContent>
+                {Object.values(Complexity).map((complexity) => (
+                  <SelectItem key={complexity} value={complexity}>
+                    {complexityLabels[complexity]}
+                  </SelectItem>
+                ))}
+              </SelectContent>
+            </Select>
+          </HelpTip>
         </CardContent>
       </Card>
 
@@ -302,13 +307,14 @@ export function TaskMetadata({ task }: TaskMetadataProps) {
               disabled={updateTask.isPending}
             />
           ) : (
-            <span
-              className="font-medium cursor-pointer hover:bg-muted/50 px-2 py-1 -mx-2 rounded transition-colors inline-block"
-              onClick={startEditingAssigned}
-              title="Click to edit"
-            >
-              {getAgentDisplayName(task.assigned_to)}
-            </span>
+            <HelpTip label="Click to reassign — enter an agent slug (e.g. be-dev-1), or clear to unassign">
+              <span
+                className="font-medium cursor-pointer hover:bg-muted/50 px-2 py-1 -mx-2 rounded transition-colors inline-block"
+                onClick={startEditingAssigned}
+              >
+                {getAgentDisplayName(task.assigned_to)}
+              </span>
+            </HelpTip>
           )}
         </CardContent>
       </Card>
@@ -320,9 +326,11 @@ export function TaskMetadata({ task }: TaskMetadataProps) {
             <User className="h-4 w-4" />
             Created By
           </div>
-          <span className="font-medium">
-            {getAgentDisplayName(task.created_by)}
-          </span>
+          <HelpTip label="The agent or human who originally created this task record">
+            <span className="font-medium">
+              {getAgentDisplayName(task.created_by)}
+            </span>
+          </HelpTip>
         </CardContent>
       </Card>
 
@@ -348,9 +356,17 @@ export function TaskMetadata({ task }: TaskMetadataProps) {
             <Calendar className="h-4 w-4" />
             Created
           </div>
-          <span className="font-medium">
-            {formatRelativeTime(task.created_at)}
-          </span>
+          <HelpTip
+            label={
+              task.created_at
+                ? `Exact timestamp: ${formatAbsoluteTimestamp(task.created_at)}`
+                : ""
+            }
+          >
+            <span className="font-medium">
+              {formatRelativeTime(task.created_at)}
+            </span>
+          </HelpTip>
         </CardContent>
       </Card>
 
@@ -361,9 +377,17 @@ export function TaskMetadata({ task }: TaskMetadataProps) {
             <Clock className="h-4 w-4" />
             Started
           </div>
-          <span className="font-medium">
-            {formatRelativeTime(task.started_at)}
-          </span>
+          <HelpTip
+            label={
+              task.started_at
+                ? `Exact timestamp: ${formatAbsoluteTimestamp(task.started_at)}`
+                : ""
+            }
+          >
+            <span className="font-medium">
+              {formatRelativeTime(task.started_at)}
+            </span>
+          </HelpTip>
         </CardContent>
       </Card>
 
@@ -386,13 +410,14 @@ export function TaskMetadata({ task }: TaskMetadataProps) {
               disabled={updateTask.isPending}
             />
           ) : (
-            <span
-              className="font-medium cursor-pointer hover:bg-muted/50 px-2 py-1 -mx-2 rounded transition-colors inline-block"
-              onClick={startEditingTargetDate}
-              title="Click to edit"
-            >
-              {task.target_date ? formatDate(task.target_date) : "Not set"}
-            </span>
+            <HelpTip label="Click to set/change the target completion date">
+              <span
+                className="font-medium cursor-pointer hover:bg-muted/50 px-2 py-1 -mx-2 rounded transition-colors inline-block"
+                onClick={startEditingTargetDate}
+              >
+                {task.target_date ? formatDate(task.target_date) : "Not set"}
+              </span>
+            </HelpTip>
           )}
         </CardContent>
       </Card>
@@ -404,9 +429,17 @@ export function TaskMetadata({ task }: TaskMetadataProps) {
             <Clock className="h-4 w-4" />
             Completed
           </div>
-          <span className="font-medium">
-            {formatRelativeTime(task.completed_at)}
-          </span>
+          <HelpTip
+            label={
+              task.completed_at
+                ? `Exact timestamp: ${formatAbsoluteTimestamp(task.completed_at)}`
+                : ""
+            }
+          >
+            <span className="font-medium">
+              {formatRelativeTime(task.completed_at)}
+            </span>
+          </HelpTip>
         </CardContent>
       </Card>
 
@@ -462,21 +495,24 @@ export function TaskMetadata({ task }: TaskMetadataProps) {
             </div>
             <div className="flex items-center gap-1">
               {branchHref ? (
-                <a
-                  href={branchHref}
-                  target="_blank"
-                  rel="noopener noreferrer"
-                  title="Open branch in GitHub"
-                  className="inline-flex transition-opacity hover:opacity-80"
-                >
+                <HelpTip label="Open this branch on GitHub in a new tab">
+                  <a
+                    href={branchHref}
+                    target="_blank"
+                    rel="noopener noreferrer"
+                    className="inline-flex transition-opacity hover:opacity-80"
+                  >
+                    <Badge variant="outline" className="font-mono text-sm">
+                      {task.branch_name}
+                    </Badge>
+                  </a>
+                </HelpTip>
+              ) : (
+                <HelpTip label="The git branch for this task; no project git_url configured to link out to it">
                   <Badge variant="outline" className="font-mono text-sm">
                     {task.branch_name}
                   </Badge>
-                </a>
-              ) : (
-                <Badge variant="outline" className="font-mono text-sm">
-                  {task.branch_name}
-                </Badge>
+                </HelpTip>
               )}
               <CopyButton value={task.branch_name} />
             </div>
@@ -493,17 +529,21 @@ export function TaskMetadata({ task }: TaskMetadataProps) {
               Pull Request
             </div>
             {task.pr_url ? (
-              <a
-                href={task.pr_url}
-                target="_blank"
-                rel="noopener noreferrer"
-                className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 text-blue-600 hover:underline dark:text-blue-400"
-              >
-                PR #{task.pr_number}
-                <ExternalLink className="h-3 w-3" />
-              </a>
+              <HelpTip label="Opens this task's pull request on GitHub in a new tab">
+                <a
+                  href={task.pr_url}
+                  target="_blank"
+                  rel="noopener noreferrer"
+                  className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 text-blue-600 hover:underline dark:text-blue-400"
+                >
+                  PR #{task.pr_number}
+                  <ExternalLink className="h-3 w-3" />
+                </a>
+              </HelpTip>
             ) : (
-              <span className="font-medium">#{task.pr_number}</span>
+              <HelpTip label="PR number on record; no pr_url stored to link out to it">
+                <span className="font-medium">#{task.pr_number}</span>
+              </HelpTip>
             )}
           </CardContent>
         </Card>
@@ -517,15 +557,19 @@ export function TaskMetadata({ task }: TaskMetadataProps) {
             Project
           </div>
           {task.project_id && project ? (
-            <Link
-              prefetch={false}
-              href={`/projects`}
-              className="font-medium text-blue-600 hover:underline dark:text-blue-400"
-            >
-              {project.name}
-            </Link>
+            <HelpTip label="Opens the Projects list (not a deep link to this specific project)">
+              <Link
+                prefetch={false}
+                href={`/projects`}
+                className="font-medium text-blue-600 hover:underline dark:text-blue-400"
+              >
+                {project.name}
+              </Link>
+            </HelpTip>
           ) : (
-            <span className="font-medium text-muted-foreground">-</span>
+            <HelpTip label="This task has no associated project">
+              <span className="font-medium text-muted-foreground">-</span>
+            </HelpTip>
           )}
         </CardContent>
       </Card>
diff --git a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/work-session-card.tsx b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/work-session-card.tsx
index 6a98f798..ae86c044 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/work-session-card.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-detail/work-session-card.tsx
@@ -191,16 +191,18 @@ export function WorkSessionCard({ taskId }: WorkSessionCardProps) {
               {session.branch_name}
             </code>
           </div>
-          <div className="flex items-center gap-2 text-sm text-muted-foreground">
-            <span>Base:</span>
-            <code className="bg-muted px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded text-xs font-mono">
-              {session.base_branch}
-            </code>
-            <span>→</span>
-            <code className="bg-muted px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded text-xs font-mono">
-              {session.target_branch}
-            </code>
-          </div>
+          <HelpTip label="Base is the branch this session forked from; target is where its PR merges into">
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-2 text-sm text-muted-foreground w-fit">
+              <span>Base:</span>
+              <code className="bg-muted px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded text-xs font-mono">
+                {session.base_branch}
+              </code>
+              <span>→</span>
+              <code className="bg-muted px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded text-xs font-mono">
+                {session.target_branch}
+              </code>
+            </div>
+          </HelpTip>
         </div>
 
         {/* PR Info */}
@@ -226,36 +228,42 @@ export function WorkSessionCard({ taskId }: WorkSessionCardProps) {
               </div>
             </div>
             {session.pr_url && (
-              <Button variant="outline" size="sm" asChild>
-                <a
-                  href={session.pr_url}
-                  target="_blank"
-                  rel="noopener noreferrer"
-                >
-                  <ExternalLink className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
-                  View PR
-                </a>
-              </Button>
+              <HelpTip label="Opens the pull request on GitHub in a new tab">
+                <Button variant="outline" size="sm" asChild>
+                  <a
+                    href={session.pr_url}
+                    target="_blank"
+                    rel="noopener noreferrer"
+                  >
+                    <ExternalLink className="h-4 w-4 mr-1" />
+                    View PR
+                  </a>
+                </Button>
+              </HelpTip>
             )}
           </div>
         )}
 
         {/* Stats Row */}
         <div className="flex items-center gap-4 pt-2">
-          <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
-            <GitCommit className="h-4 w-4 text-muted-foreground" />
-            <span className="text-sm">
-              {session.commits.length} commit
-              {session.commits.length !== 1 ? "s" : ""}
-            </span>
-          </div>
-          <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
-            <FileCode className="h-4 w-4 text-muted-foreground" />
-            <span className="text-sm">
-              {session.files_modified.length} file
-              {session.files_modified.length !== 1 ? "s" : ""}
-            </span>
-          </div>
+          <HelpTip label="Commits recorded against this branch's work session">
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-2 w-fit">
+              <GitCommit className="h-4 w-4 text-muted-foreground" />
+              <span className="text-sm">
+                {session.commits.length} commit
+                {session.commits.length !== 1 ? "s" : ""}
+              </span>
+            </div>
+          </HelpTip>
+          <HelpTip label="Distinct files touched across this session's commits">
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-2 w-fit">
+              <FileCode className="h-4 w-4 text-muted-foreground" />
+              <span className="text-sm">
+                {session.files_modified.length} file
+                {session.files_modified.length !== 1 ? "s" : ""}
+              </span>
+            </div>
+          </HelpTip>
           <HelpTip label={formatAbsoluteTimestamp(session.started_at)}>
             <div className="text-sm text-muted-foreground ml-auto w-fit">
               Started{" "}
@@ -268,12 +276,14 @@ export function WorkSessionCard({ taskId }: WorkSessionCardProps) {
 
         {/* View Full Session Link */}
         <div className="flex justify-end pt-2">
-          <Link href={`/work-sessions/${session.id}`} prefetch={false}>
-            <Button variant="outline" size="sm" className="gap-2">
-              <ExternalLink className="h-3 w-3" />
-              View Details
-            </Button>
-          </Link>
+          <HelpTip label="Opens the full work-session record — branch, every commit, and status history">
+            <Link href={`/work-sessions/${session.id}`} prefetch={false}>
+              <Button variant="outline" size="sm" className="gap-2">
+                <ExternalLink className="h-3 w-3" />
+                View Details
+              </Button>
+            </Link>
+          </HelpTip>
         </div>
       </CardContent>
     </Card>
diff --git a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-filters.tsx b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-filters.tsx
index e5161de5..c74241e8 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-filters.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-filters.tsx
@@ -143,27 +143,31 @@ export function TaskFilters({
       <CardContent className="pt-6">
         <div className="flex flex-col sm:flex-row gap-4">
           <div className="flex-1">
-            <Input
-              placeholder="Search tasks..."
-              value={searchQuery}
-              onChange={(e) => onSearchChange(e.target.value)}
-            />
+            <HelpTip label="Debounced server-side search across title, description, and task ID prefix.">
+              <Input
+                placeholder="Search tasks..."
+                value={searchQuery}
+                onChange={(e) => onSearchChange(e.target.value)}
+              />
+            </HelpTip>
           </div>
           <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-2">
             {/* Status Multi-Select */}
             <Popover>
-              <PopoverTrigger asChild>
-                <Button variant="outline" className="min-w-32 justify-between">
-                  <span className="truncate">
-                    {statusFilter.length === 0
-                      ? "All Statuses"
-                      : statusFilter.length === 1
-                        ? STATUS_LABELS[statusFilter[0]]
-                        : `${statusFilter.length} statuses`}
-                  </span>
-                  <ChevronDown className="ml-2 h-4 w-4 shrink-0 opacity-50" />
-                </Button>
-              </PopoverTrigger>
+              <HelpTip label="Multi-select — pick any number of statuses; the list shows tasks matching any of them.">
+                <PopoverTrigger asChild>
+                  <Button variant="outline" className="min-w-32 justify-between">
+                    <span className="truncate">
+                      {statusFilter.length === 0
+                        ? "All Statuses"
+                        : statusFilter.length === 1
+                          ? STATUS_LABELS[statusFilter[0]]
+                          : `${statusFilter.length} statuses`}
+                    </span>
+                    <ChevronDown className="ml-2 h-4 w-4 shrink-0 opacity-50" />
+                  </Button>
+                </PopoverTrigger>
+              </HelpTip>
               <PopoverContent className="w-56 p-2" align="start">
                 <div className="flex items-center justify-between mb-2 pb-2 border-b">
                   <span className="text-sm font-medium">Status</span>
@@ -197,18 +201,20 @@ export function TaskFilters({
 
             {/* Team Multi-Select */}
             <Popover>
-              <PopoverTrigger asChild>
-                <Button variant="outline" className="min-w-32 justify-between">
-                  <span className="truncate">
-                    {teamFilter.length === 0
-                      ? "All Teams"
-                      : teamFilter.length === 1
-                        ? TEAM_LABELS[teamFilter[0]]
-                        : `${teamFilter.length} teams`}
-                  </span>
-                  <ChevronDown className="ml-2 h-4 w-4 shrink-0 opacity-50" />
-                </Button>
-              </PopoverTrigger>
+              <HelpTip label="Multi-select — pick any number of teams; the list shows tasks matching any of them.">
+                <PopoverTrigger asChild>
+                  <Button variant="outline" className="min-w-32 justify-between">
+                    <span className="truncate">
+                      {teamFilter.length === 0
+                        ? "All Teams"
+                        : teamFilter.length === 1
+                          ? TEAM_LABELS[teamFilter[0]]
+                          : `${teamFilter.length} teams`}
+                    </span>
+                    <ChevronDown className="ml-2 h-4 w-4 shrink-0 opacity-50" />
+                  </Button>
+                </PopoverTrigger>
+              </HelpTip>
               <PopoverContent className="w-48 p-2" align="start">
                 <div className="flex items-center justify-between mb-2 pb-2 border-b">
                   <span className="text-sm font-medium">Team</span>
@@ -243,21 +249,23 @@ export function TaskFilters({
             {/* Task Type Multi-Select (optional) */}
             {onTaskTypeChange && (
               <Popover>
-                <PopoverTrigger asChild>
-                  <Button
-                    variant="outline"
-                    className="min-w-32 justify-between"
-                  >
-                    <span className="truncate">
-                      {taskTypeFilter.length === 0
-                        ? "All Types"
-                        : taskTypeFilter.length === 1
-                          ? TASK_TYPE_LABELS[taskTypeFilter[0]]
-                          : `${taskTypeFilter.length} types`}
-                    </span>
-                    <ChevronDown className="ml-2 h-4 w-4 shrink-0 opacity-50" />
-                  </Button>
-                </PopoverTrigger>
+                <HelpTip label="Multi-select — pick any number of task types; the list shows tasks matching any of them.">
+                  <PopoverTrigger asChild>
+                    <Button
+                      variant="outline"
+                      className="min-w-32 justify-between"
+                    >
+                      <span className="truncate">
+                        {taskTypeFilter.length === 0
+                          ? "All Types"
+                          : taskTypeFilter.length === 1
+                            ? TASK_TYPE_LABELS[taskTypeFilter[0]]
+                            : `${taskTypeFilter.length} types`}
+                      </span>
+                      <ChevronDown className="ml-2 h-4 w-4 shrink-0 opacity-50" />
+                    </Button>
+                  </PopoverTrigger>
+                </HelpTip>
                 <PopoverContent className="w-48 p-2" align="start">
                   <div className="flex items-center justify-between mb-2 pb-2 border-b">
                     <span className="text-sm font-medium">Task Type</span>
@@ -295,21 +303,23 @@ export function TaskFilters({
             {/* Project Multi-Select (optional) */}
             {onProjectChange && projectOptions.length > 0 && (
               <Popover>
-                <PopoverTrigger asChild>
-                  <Button
-                    variant="outline"
-                    className="min-w-32 justify-between"
-                  >
-                    <span className="truncate">
-                      {projectFilter.length === 0
-                        ? "All Projects"
-                        : projectFilter.length === 1
-                          ? projectLabel(projectFilter[0])
-                          : `${projectFilter.length} projects`}
-                    </span>
-                    <ChevronDown className="ml-2 h-4 w-4 shrink-0 opacity-50" />
-                  </Button>
-                </PopoverTrigger>
+                <HelpTip label="Multi-select — pick any number of projects; the list shows tasks matching any of them.">
+                  <PopoverTrigger asChild>
+                    <Button
+                      variant="outline"
+                      className="min-w-32 justify-between"
+                    >
+                      <span className="truncate">
+                        {projectFilter.length === 0
+                          ? "All Projects"
+                          : projectFilter.length === 1
+                            ? projectLabel(projectFilter[0])
+                            : `${projectFilter.length} projects`}
+                      </span>
+                      <ChevronDown className="ml-2 h-4 w-4 shrink-0 opacity-50" />
+                    </Button>
+                  </PopoverTrigger>
+                </HelpTip>
                 <PopoverContent className="w-56 p-2" align="start">
                   <div className="flex items-center justify-between mb-2 pb-2 border-b">
                     <span className="text-sm font-medium">Project</span>
@@ -345,21 +355,23 @@ export function TaskFilters({
             {/* Product Multi-Select (optional) */}
             {onProductChange && productOptions.length > 0 && (
               <Popover>
-                <PopoverTrigger asChild>
-                  <Button
-                    variant="outline"
-                    className="min-w-32 justify-between"
-                  >
-                    <span className="truncate">
-                      {productFilter.length === 0
-                        ? "All Products"
-                        : productFilter.length === 1
-                          ? productLabel(productFilter[0])
-                          : `${productFilter.length} products`}
-                    </span>
-                    <ChevronDown className="ml-2 h-4 w-4 shrink-0 opacity-50" />
-                  </Button>
-                </PopoverTrigger>
+                <HelpTip label="Multi-select — pick any number of products; the list shows tasks matching any of them.">
+                  <PopoverTrigger asChild>
+                    <Button
+                      variant="outline"
+                      className="min-w-32 justify-between"
+                    >
+                      <span className="truncate">
+                        {productFilter.length === 0
+                          ? "All Products"
+                          : productFilter.length === 1
+                            ? productLabel(productFilter[0])
+                            : `${productFilter.length} products`}
+                      </span>
+                      <ChevronDown className="ml-2 h-4 w-4 shrink-0 opacity-50" />
+                    </Button>
+                  </PopoverTrigger>
+                </HelpTip>
                 <PopoverContent className="w-56 p-2" align="start">
                   <div className="flex items-center justify-between mb-2 pb-2 border-b">
                     <span className="text-sm font-medium">Product</span>
@@ -466,20 +478,22 @@ export function TaskFilters({
               taskTypeFilter.length > 0 ||
               projectFilter.length > 0 ||
               productFilter.length > 0) && (
-              <Button
-                variant="ghost"
-                size="sm"
-                className="h-6 px-2 text-xs"
-                onClick={() => {
-                  clearStatuses();
-                  clearTeams();
-                  clearTaskTypes();
-                  clearProjects();
-                  clearProducts();
-                }}
-              >
-                Clear all
-              </Button>
+              <HelpTip label="Removes every active filter above, restoring the unfiltered task list.">
+                <Button
+                  variant="ghost"
+                  size="sm"
+                  className="h-6 px-2 text-xs"
+                  onClick={() => {
+                    clearStatuses();
+                    clearTeams();
+                    clearTaskTypes();
+                    clearProjects();
+                    clearProducts();
+                  }}
+                >
+                  Clear all
+                </Button>
+              </HelpTip>
             )}
           </div>
         )}
diff --git a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-selector.tsx b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-selector.tsx
index d1478182..65dd634c 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-selector.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-selector.tsx
@@ -151,10 +151,12 @@ export function TaskSelector({
       <SelectContent className="max-h-[300px]">
         {allowClear && value && (
           <SelectItem value="__clear__" className="text-muted-foreground">
-            <span className="flex items-center gap-2">
-              <X className="h-4 w-4" />
-              No parent (standalone task)
-            </span>
+            <HelpTip label="Clears the parent link — this becomes a standalone root task.">
+              <span className="flex items-center gap-2">
+                <X className="h-4 w-4" />
+                No parent (standalone task)
+              </span>
+            </HelpTip>
           </SelectItem>
         )}
 
diff --git a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-table.tsx b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-table.tsx
index 9530cdb9..2760ee17 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-table.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-table.tsx
@@ -244,16 +244,20 @@ function SortableHeader({
 
   return (
     <TableHead className={className}>
-      <Button
-        onClick={() => onSort(field)}
-        variant="ghost"
-        className="h-auto -ml-2 px-2 py-1 gap-1 font-normal"
-      >
-        {label}
-        {!isActive && <ArrowUpDown className="h-4 w-4 text-muted-foreground" />}
-        {direction === "asc" && <ArrowUp className="h-4 w-4" />}
-        {direction === "desc" && <ArrowDown className="h-4 w-4" />}
-      </Button>
+      <HelpTip label="Sorts ascending, then descending, then clears — click again to cycle.">
+        <Button
+          onClick={() => onSort(field)}
+          variant="ghost"
+          className="h-auto -ml-2 px-2 py-1 gap-1 font-normal"
+        >
+          {label}
+          {!isActive && (
+            <ArrowUpDown className="h-4 w-4 text-muted-foreground" />
+          )}
+          {direction === "asc" && <ArrowUp className="h-4 w-4" />}
+          {direction === "desc" && <ArrowDown className="h-4 w-4" />}
+        </Button>
+      </HelpTip>
     </TableHead>
   );
 }
@@ -473,22 +477,26 @@ export function TaskTable({
         {hasAnyChildren && !isLoading && (
           <div className="flex items-center gap-2 px-4 py-2 border-b bg-muted/30">
             <span className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">Tree view:</span>
-            <Button
-              variant="ghost"
-              size="sm"
-              className="h-7 text-xs"
-              onClick={expandAll}
-            >
-              Expand all
-            </Button>
-            <Button
-              variant="ghost"
-              size="sm"
-              className="h-7 text-xs"
-              onClick={collapseAll}
-            >
-              Collapse all
-            </Button>
+            <HelpTip label="Opens every parent row so all subtasks show inline, ignoring current sort.">
+              <Button
+                variant="ghost"
+                size="sm"
+                className="h-7 text-xs"
+                onClick={expandAll}
+              >
+                Expand all
+              </Button>
+            </HelpTip>
+            <HelpTip label="Hides every subtask row, showing only root-level tasks.">
+              <Button
+                variant="ghost"
+                size="sm"
+                className="h-7 text-xs"
+                onClick={collapseAll}
+              >
+                Collapse all
+              </Button>
+            </HelpTip>
           </div>
         )}
 
@@ -510,7 +518,9 @@ export function TaskTable({
                     onSort={handleSort}
                     className="whitespace-nowrap"
                   />
-                  <TableHead className="whitespace-nowrap">Git</TableHead>
+                  <HelpTip label="Branch, PR, or docs/PR progress — whichever this task's git workflow has reached.">
+                    <TableHead className="whitespace-nowrap">Git</TableHead>
+                  </HelpTip>
                   <SortableHeader
                     label="Team"
                     field="team"
@@ -518,9 +528,11 @@ export function TaskTable({
                     onSort={handleSort}
                     className="whitespace-nowrap"
                   />
-                  <TableHead className="whitespace-nowrap">
-                    Project / Product
-                  </TableHead>
+                  <HelpTip label="A direct Project shows its name; a fan-out task shows its Product instead.">
+                    <TableHead className="whitespace-nowrap">
+                      Project / Product
+                    </TableHead>
+                  </HelpTip>
                   <SortableHeader
                     label="Priority"
                     field="priority"
@@ -589,19 +601,27 @@ export function TaskTable({
                             style={{ paddingLeft: `${node.depth * 1.5}rem` }}
                           >
                             {hasChildren ? (
-                              <Button
-                                onClick={() => toggleExpand(task.id)}
-                                variant="ghost"
-                                size="icon-sm"
-                                className="p-0.5 h-5 w-5 shrink-0"
-                                aria-label={isExpanded ? "Collapse" : "Expand"}
+                              <HelpTip
+                                label={
+                                  isExpanded
+                                    ? "Hides this task's subtasks"
+                                    : "Shows this task's subtasks inline"
+                                }
                               >
-                                {isExpanded ? (
-                                  <ChevronDown className="h-4 w-4" />
-                                ) : (
-                                  <ChevronRightIcon className="h-4 w-4" />
-                                )}
-                              </Button>
+                                <Button
+                                  onClick={() => toggleExpand(task.id)}
+                                  variant="ghost"
+                                  size="icon-sm"
+                                  className="p-0.5 h-5 w-5 shrink-0"
+                                  aria-label={isExpanded ? "Collapse" : "Expand"}
+                                >
+                                  {isExpanded ? (
+                                    <ChevronDown className="h-4 w-4" />
+                                  ) : (
+                                    <ChevronRightIcon className="h-4 w-4" />
+                                  )}
+                                </Button>
+                              </HelpTip>
                             ) : (
                               <span className="w-5 shrink-0" />
                             )}
@@ -625,13 +645,15 @@ export function TaskTable({
                                   </HelpTip>
                                 )}
                                 {childCount > 0 && (
-                                  <Badge
-                                    variant="secondary"
-                                    className="text-xs shrink-0"
-                                  >
-                                    {childCount} subtask
-                                    {childCount !== 1 ? "s" : ""}
-                                  </Badge>
+                                  <HelpTip label="Direct subtasks under this task, regardless of their current status.">
+                                    <Badge
+                                      variant="secondary"
+                                      className="text-xs shrink-0"
+                                    >
+                                      {childCount} subtask
+                                      {childCount !== 1 ? "s" : ""}
+                                    </Badge>
+                                  </HelpTip>
                                 )}
                               </div>
                             </Link>
@@ -677,14 +699,28 @@ export function TaskTable({
                           </Badge>
                         </TableCell>
                         <TableCell className="whitespace-nowrap">
-                          <Badge variant="outline">
-                            {getAgentDisplayName(task.assigned_to)}
-                          </Badge>
+                          <HelpTip
+                            label={
+                              task.assigned_to
+                                ? "The agent currently pinned to this task."
+                                : "No agent pinned — the orchestrator routes it by role and availability."
+                            }
+                          >
+                            <Badge variant="outline">
+                              {getAgentDisplayName(task.assigned_to)}
+                            </Badge>
+                          </HelpTip>
                         </TableCell>
                         <TableCell className="text-muted-foreground text-sm whitespace-nowrap">
-                          {formatDistanceToNow(new Date(task.created_at), {
-                            addSuffix: true,
-                          })}
+                          <HelpTip
+                            label={new Date(task.created_at).toLocaleString()}
+                          >
+                            <span>
+                              {formatDistanceToNow(new Date(task.created_at), {
+                                addSuffix: true,
+                              })}
+                            </span>
+                          </HelpTip>
                         </TableCell>
                         <TableCell>
                           <TaskActions task={task} />
@@ -720,19 +756,27 @@ export function TaskTable({
                         <div className="min-w-0 flex-1">
                           <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5">
                             {hasChildren && (
-                              <Button
-                                onClick={() => toggleExpand(task.id)}
-                                variant="ghost"
-                                size="icon-sm"
-                                className="h-5 w-5 shrink-0 p-0.5"
-                                aria-label={isExpanded ? "Collapse" : "Expand"}
+                              <HelpTip
+                                label={
+                                  isExpanded
+                                    ? "Hides this task's subtasks"
+                                    : "Shows this task's subtasks inline"
+                                }
                               >
-                                {isExpanded ? (
-                                  <ChevronDown className="h-4 w-4" />
-                                ) : (
-                                  <ChevronRightIcon className="h-4 w-4" />
-                                )}
-                              </Button>
+                                <Button
+                                  onClick={() => toggleExpand(task.id)}
+                                  variant="ghost"
+                                  size="icon-sm"
+                                  className="h-5 w-5 shrink-0 p-0.5"
+                                  aria-label={isExpanded ? "Collapse" : "Expand"}
+                                >
+                                  {isExpanded ? (
+                                    <ChevronDown className="h-4 w-4" />
+                                  ) : (
+                                    <ChevronRightIcon className="h-4 w-4" />
+                                  )}
+                                </Button>
+                              </HelpTip>
                             )}
                             <Link
                               prefetch={false}
@@ -757,10 +801,12 @@ export function TaskTable({
                                 </HelpTip>
                               )}
                               {childCount > 0 && (
-                                <Badge variant="secondary" className="text-xs">
-                                  {childCount} subtask
-                                  {childCount !== 1 ? "s" : ""}
-                                </Badge>
+                                <HelpTip label="Direct subtasks under this task, regardless of their current status.">
+                                  <Badge variant="secondary" className="text-xs">
+                                    {childCount} subtask
+                                    {childCount !== 1 ? "s" : ""}
+                                  </Badge>
+                                </HelpTip>
                               )}
                             </div>
                           ) : null}
@@ -805,14 +851,28 @@ export function TaskTable({
                           </Badge>
                         </ResponsiveTableCardRow>
                         <ResponsiveTableCardRow label="Assigned">
-                          <Badge variant="outline">
-                            {getAgentDisplayName(task.assigned_to)}
-                          </Badge>
+                          <HelpTip
+                            label={
+                              task.assigned_to
+                                ? "The agent currently pinned to this task."
+                                : "No agent pinned — the orchestrator routes it by role and availability."
+                            }
+                          >
+                            <Badge variant="outline">
+                              {getAgentDisplayName(task.assigned_to)}
+                            </Badge>
+                          </HelpTip>
                         </ResponsiveTableCardRow>
                         <ResponsiveTableCardRow label="Created">
-                          {formatDistanceToNow(new Date(task.created_at), {
-                            addSuffix: true,
-                          })}
+                          <HelpTip
+                            label={new Date(task.created_at).toLocaleString()}
+                          >
+                            <span>
+                              {formatDistanceToNow(new Date(task.created_at), {
+                                addSuffix: true,
+                              })}
+                            </span>
+                          </HelpTip>
                         </ResponsiveTableCardRow>
                       </div>
                     </ResponsiveTableCard>
@@ -827,7 +887,9 @@ export function TaskTable({
         {!isLoading && tasks && tasks.length > 0 && (
           <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center justify-end gap-4 px-4 py-3 border-t">
             <div className="flex items-center gap-2 text-sm text-muted-foreground">
-              <span>Rows:</span>
+              <HelpTip label="How many rows show per page; resets to page 1 when changed.">
+                <span>Rows:</span>
+              </HelpTip>
               <Select
                 value={String(pageSize)}
                 onValueChange={handlePageSizeChange}
@@ -844,30 +906,46 @@ export function TaskTable({
                 </SelectContent>
               </Select>
             </div>
-            <span className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
-              {startIndex + 1}-{endIndex} of {totalItems}
-            </span>
+            <HelpTip label="Range within the current filtered/sorted, flattened tree view — not the total unfiltered task count.">
+              <span className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+                {startIndex + 1}-{endIndex} of {totalItems}
+              </span>
+            </HelpTip>
             <div className="flex items-center gap-1">
-              <Button
-                variant="outline"
-                size="icon"
-                className="h-8 w-8"
-                onClick={() => goToPage(currentPage - 1)}
-                disabled={currentPage === 1}
-                aria-label="Previous page"
-              >
-                <ChevronLeft className="h-4 w-4" />
-              </Button>
-              <Button
-                variant="outline"
-                size="icon"
-                className="h-8 w-8"
-                onClick={() => goToPage(currentPage + 1)}
-                disabled={currentPage === totalPages}
-                aria-label="Next page"
-              >
-                <ChevronRight className="h-4 w-4" />
-              </Button>
+              <HelpTip label="Previous page.">
+                <span
+                  className="inline-block"
+                  tabIndex={currentPage === 1 ? 0 : undefined}
+                >
+                  <Button
+                    variant="outline"
+                    size="icon"
+                    className="h-8 w-8"
+                    onClick={() => goToPage(currentPage - 1)}
+                    disabled={currentPage === 1}
+                    aria-label="Previous page"
+                  >
+                    <ChevronLeft className="h-4 w-4" />
+                  </Button>
+                </span>
+              </HelpTip>
+              <HelpTip label="Next page.">
+                <span
+                  className="inline-block"
+                  tabIndex={currentPage === totalPages ? 0 : undefined}
+                >
+                  <Button
+                    variant="outline"
+                    size="icon"
+                    className="h-8 w-8"
+                    onClick={() => goToPage(currentPage + 1)}
+                    disabled={currentPage === totalPages}
+                    aria-label="Next page"
+                  >
+                    <ChevronRight className="h-4 w-4" />
+                  </Button>
+                </span>
+              </HelpTip>
             </div>
           </div>
         )}
diff --git a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-type-badge.tsx b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-type-badge.tsx
index efbce37e..b70f3512 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/tasks/task-type-badge.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/tasks/task-type-badge.tsx
@@ -2,11 +2,7 @@
 
 import { TaskType } from "@/types";
 import { Badge } from "@/components/ui/badge";
-import {
-  Tooltip,
-  TooltipContent,
-  TooltipTrigger,
-} from "@/components/ui/tooltip";
+import { HelpTip } from "@/components/ui/help-tip";
 import {
   Code,
   FileText,
@@ -22,6 +18,18 @@ interface TaskTypeBadgeProps {
   className?: string;
 }
 
+// What each task type classifies as its artifact kind. Every type still
+// follows the identical full git workflow (branch, commits, PR) — this is
+// classification only, not a different pipeline.
+const TYPE_DESCRIPTIONS: Record<TaskType, string> = {
+  [TaskType.CODE]: "Source code changes.",
+  [TaskType.DOCUMENTATION]: "Documentation updates.",
+  [TaskType.RESEARCH]: "Research findings, committed as notes.",
+  [TaskType.PLANNING]: "Plans or architecture, committed as docs.",
+  [TaskType.DESIGN]: "Designs or specs, committed as assets.",
+  [TaskType.ADMINISTRATIVE]: "Process docs, committed as notes.",
+};
+
 const TYPE_CONFIG: Record<
   TaskType,
   { label: string; icon: React.ReactNode; color: string }
@@ -71,16 +79,13 @@ export function TaskTypeBadge({
   if (!config) return null;
 
   return (
-    <Tooltip>
-      <TooltipTrigger asChild>
-        <Badge variant="outline" className={`${config.color} ${className}`}>
-          <span className="flex items-center gap-1">
-            {config.icon}
-            {showLabel && <span>{config.label}</span>}
-          </span>
-        </Badge>
-      </TooltipTrigger>
-      <TooltipContent>Task type: {config.label}</TooltipContent>
-    </Tooltip>
+    <HelpTip label={TYPE_DESCRIPTIONS[type]}>
+      <Badge variant="outline" className={`${config.color} ${className}`}>
+        <span className="flex items-center gap-1">
+          {config.icon}
+          {showLabel && <span>{config.label}</span>}
+        </span>
+      </Badge>
+    </HelpTip>
   );
 }
diff --git a/panel/src/components/work-sessions/work-session-filters.tsx b/panel/src/components/work-sessions/work-session-filters.tsx
index 739ce857..f0a26b3a 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/work-sessions/work-session-filters.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/work-sessions/work-session-filters.tsx
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import {
 import { Badge } from "@/components/ui/badge";
 import { Search, Filter, X } from "lucide-react";
 import { WorkSessionStatus } from "@/types";
+import { HelpTip } from "@/components/ui/help-tip";
 
 interface WorkSessionFiltersProps {
   searchQuery: string;
@@ -21,10 +22,22 @@ interface WorkSessionFiltersProps {
   onStatusChange: (value: WorkSessionStatus[]) => void;
 }
 
-const statuses: { value: WorkSessionStatus; label: string }[] = [
-  { value: WorkSessionStatus.ACTIVE, label: "Active" },
-  { value: WorkSessionStatus.COMPLETED, label: "Completed" },
-  { value: WorkSessionStatus.ABANDONED, label: "Abandoned" },
+const statuses: { value: WorkSessionStatus; label: string; hint: string }[] = [
+  {
+    value: WorkSessionStatus.ACTIVE,
+    label: "Active",
+    hint: "An agent is currently working this branch.",
+  },
+  {
+    value: WorkSessionStatus.COMPLETED,
+    label: "Completed",
+    hint: "The session's PR was merged — the branch's work is done.",
+  },
+  {
+    value: WorkSessionStatus.ABANDONED,
+    label: "Abandoned",
+    hint: "Superseded by a re-claim, cancellation, or project deletion — never an auto-timeout.",
+  },
 ];
 
 export function WorkSessionFilters({
@@ -51,29 +64,36 @@ export function WorkSessionFilters({
   return (
     <div className="flex flex-col gap-4 sm:flex-row sm:items-center">
       {/* Search */}
-      <div className="relative flex-1 max-w-sm">
-        <Search className="absolute left-3 top-1/2 h-4 w-4 -translate-y-1/2 text-muted-foreground" />
-        <Input
-          placeholder="Search by branch name..."
-          value={searchQuery}
-          onChange={(e) => onSearchChange(e.target.value)}
-          className="pl-9"
-        />
-      </div>
+      <HelpTip label="Filters the table client-side by branch name substring — doesn't re-query the server.">
+        <div className="relative flex-1 max-w-sm">
+          <Search className="absolute left-3 top-1/2 h-4 w-4 -translate-y-1/2 text-muted-foreground" />
+          <Input
+            placeholder="Search by branch name..."
+            value={searchQuery}
+            onChange={(e) => onSearchChange(e.target.value)}
+            className="pl-9"
+          />
+        </div>
+      </HelpTip>
 
       {/* Status Filter */}
       <DropdownMenu>
-        <DropdownMenuTrigger asChild>
-          <Button variant="outline" className="gap-2">
-            <Filter className="h-4 w-4" />
-            Status
-            {statusFilter.length > 0 && (
-              <Badge variant="secondary" className="ml-1">
-                {statusFilter.length}
-              </Badge>
-            )}
-          </Button>
-        </DropdownMenuTrigger>
+        {/* DropdownMenuTrigger's asChild is safe to wrap directly (unlike
+            TabsTrigger/CollapsibleTrigger) — it carries no persistent visual
+            data-state of its own. */}
+        <HelpTip label="Show only sessions in the checked status(es). No selection shows every session.">
+          <DropdownMenuTrigger asChild>
+            <Button variant="outline" className="gap-2">
+              <Filter className="h-4 w-4" />
+              Status
+              {statusFilter.length > 0 && (
+                <Badge variant="secondary" className="ml-1">
+                  {statusFilter.length}
+                </Badge>
+              )}
+            </Button>
+          </DropdownMenuTrigger>
+        </HelpTip>
         <DropdownMenuContent align="start" className="w-48">
           <DropdownMenuLabel>Filter by Status</DropdownMenuLabel>
           <DropdownMenuSeparator />
@@ -83,7 +103,9 @@ export function WorkSessionFilters({
               checked={statusFilter.includes(status.value)}
               onCheckedChange={() => handleStatusToggle(status.value)}
             >
-              {status.label}
+              <HelpTip label={status.hint}>
+                <span className="w-fit">{status.label}</span>
+              </HelpTip>
             </DropdownMenuCheckboxItem>
           ))}
         </DropdownMenuContent>
@@ -91,10 +113,12 @@ export function WorkSessionFilters({
 
       {/* Clear Filters */}
       {hasActiveFilters && (
-        <Button variant="ghost" onClick={clearFilters} className="gap-2">
-          <X className="h-4 w-4" />
-          Clear
-        </Button>
+        <HelpTip label="Resets the search text and status filter — shows every work session again.">
+          <Button variant="ghost" onClick={clearFilters} className="gap-2">
+            <X className="h-4 w-4" />
+            Clear
+          </Button>
+        </HelpTip>
       )}
     </div>
   );
diff --git a/panel/src/components/work-sessions/work-session-table.tsx b/panel/src/components/work-sessions/work-session-table.tsx
index 106f8c06..f442265b 100644
--- a/panel/src/components/work-sessions/work-session-table.tsx
+++ b/panel/src/components/work-sessions/work-session-table.tsx
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import {
   ResponsiveTableCardRow,
 } from "@/components/ui/responsive-table";
 import { Skeleton } from "@/components/ui/skeleton";
+import { HelpTip } from "@/components/ui/help-tip";
 import {
   GitBranch,
   GitPullRequest,
@@ -40,6 +41,15 @@ interface WorkSessionTableProps {
   isLoading: boolean;
 }
 
+// Mirrors the status hints in work-session-filters.tsx's dropdown — grounded
+// in roboco/services/work_session.py's transition triggers.
+const STATUS_HINTS: Record<WorkSessionStatus, string> = {
+  active: "An agent is currently working this branch.",
+  completed: "The session's PR was merged — the branch's work is done.",
+  abandoned:
+    "Superseded by a re-claim, cancellation, or project deletion — never an auto-timeout.",
+};
+
 function getStatusBadge(status: WorkSessionStatus) {
   switch (status) {
     case "active":
@@ -68,6 +78,29 @@ function getStatusBadge(status: WorkSessionStatus) {
   }
 }
 
+function StatusBadge({ status }: { status: WorkSessionStatus }) {
+  return (
+    <HelpTip label={STATUS_HINTS[status]}>
+      <span className="w-fit">{getStatusBadge(status)}</span>
+    </HelpTip>
+  );
+}
+
+function PrBadge({ hasPr }: { hasPr: boolean }) {
+  return hasPr ? (
+    <HelpTip label="This session's branch has an open pull request on GitHub.">
+      <Badge className="bg-purple-500/10 text-purple-500 w-fit">
+        <GitPullRequest className="h-3 w-3 mr-1" />
+        PR Open
+      </Badge>
+    </HelpTip>
+  ) : (
+    <HelpTip label="No pull request opened yet for this session's branch.">
+      <span className="text-sm text-muted-foreground w-fit">No PR</span>
+    </HelpTip>
+  );
+}
+
 export function WorkSessionTable({
   sessions,
   isLoading,
@@ -115,42 +148,44 @@ export function WorkSessionTable({
                   <TableCell>
                     <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
                       <GitBranch className="h-4 w-4 text-muted-foreground" />
-                      <Link
-                        prefetch={false}
-                        href={`/work-sessions/${session.id}`}
-                        className="font-medium hover:underline font-mono text-sm"
-                      >
-                        {session.branch_name}
-                      </Link>
+                      <HelpTip label="Open this session's detail page.">
+                        <Link
+                          prefetch={false}
+                          href={`/work-sessions/${session.id}`}
+                          className="font-medium hover:underline font-mono text-sm"
+                        >
+                          {session.branch_name}
+                        </Link>
+                      </HelpTip>
                     </div>
                   </TableCell>
                   <TableCell>
-                    <Link
-                      prefetch={false}
-                      href={`/tasks/${session.task_id}`}
-                      className="text-sm text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground hover:underline"
-                      title={session.task_id}
-                    >
-                      {session.task_id.slice(0, 8)}...
-                    </Link>
+                    <HelpTip label={`Open task ${session.task_id}`}>
+                      <Link
+                        prefetch={false}
+                        href={`/tasks/${session.task_id}`}
+                        className="text-sm text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground hover:underline"
+                      >
+                        {session.task_id.slice(0, 8)}...
+                      </Link>
+                    </HelpTip>
                   </TableCell>
-                  <TableCell>{getStatusBadge(session.status)}</TableCell>
                   <TableCell>
-                    {session.has_pr ? (
-                      <Badge className="bg-purple-500/10 text-purple-500">
-                        <GitPullRequest className="h-3 w-3 mr-1" />
-                        PR Open
-                      </Badge>
-                    ) : (
-                      <span className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
-                        No PR
-                      </span>
-                    )}
+                    <StatusBadge status={session.status} />
+                  </TableCell>
+                  <TableCell>
+                    <PrBadge hasPr={session.has_pr} />
                   </TableCell>
                   <TableCell className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
-                    {formatDistanceToNow(new Date(session.started_at), {
-                      addSuffix: true,
-                    })}
+                    <HelpTip
+                      label={new Date(session.started_at).toLocaleString()}
+                    >
+                      <span className="w-fit">
+                        {formatDistanceToNow(new Date(session.started_at), {
+                          addSuffix: true,
+                        })}
+                      </span>
+                    </HelpTip>
                   </TableCell>
                   <TableCell>
                     <Tooltip>
@@ -180,14 +215,17 @@ export function WorkSessionTable({
               <div className="flex items-start justify-between gap-2">
                 <div className="flex min-w-0 items-center gap-2">
                   <GitBranch className="h-4 w-4 shrink-0 text-muted-foreground" />
-                  <Link
-                    prefetch={false}
-                    href={`/work-sessions/${session.id}`}
-                    className="truncate font-mono text-sm font-medium hover:underline"
-                    title={session.branch_name}
+                  <HelpTip
+                    label={`Open this session's detail page — ${session.branch_name}`}
                   >
-                    {session.branch_name}
-                  </Link>
+                    <Link
+                      prefetch={false}
+                      href={`/work-sessions/${session.id}`}
+                      className="truncate font-mono text-sm font-medium hover:underline"
+                    >
+                      {session.branch_name}
+                    </Link>
+                  </HelpTip>
                 </div>
                 <Tooltip>
                   <TooltipTrigger asChild>
@@ -205,32 +243,32 @@ export function WorkSessionTable({
               </div>
               <div className="mt-3 divide-y">
                 <ResponsiveTableCardRow label="Task">
-                  <Link
-                    prefetch={false}
-                    href={`/tasks/${session.task_id}`}
-                    className="text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground hover:underline"
-                    title={session.task_id}
-                  >
-                    {session.task_id.slice(0, 8)}...
-                  </Link>
+                  <HelpTip label={`Open task ${session.task_id}`}>
+                    <Link
+                      prefetch={false}
+                      href={`/tasks/${session.task_id}`}
+                      className="text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground hover:underline"
+                    >
+                      {session.task_id.slice(0, 8)}...
+                    </Link>
+                  </HelpTip>
                 </ResponsiveTableCardRow>
                 <ResponsiveTableCardRow label="Status">
-                  {getStatusBadge(session.status)}
+                  <StatusBadge status={session.status} />
                 </ResponsiveTableCardRow>
                 <ResponsiveTableCardRow label="PR">
-                  {session.has_pr ? (
-                    <Badge className="bg-purple-500/10 text-purple-500">
-                      <GitPullRequest className="h-3 w-3 mr-1" />
-                      PR Open
-                    </Badge>
-                  ) : (
-                    <span className="text-muted-foreground">No PR</span>
-                  )}
+                  <PrBadge hasPr={session.has_pr} />
                 </ResponsiveTableCardRow>
                 <ResponsiveTableCardRow label="Started">
-                  {formatDistanceToNow(new Date(session.started_at), {
-                    addSuffix: true,
-                  })}
+                  <HelpTip
+                    label={new Date(session.started_at).toLocaleString()}
+                  >
+                    <span className="w-fit">
+                      {formatDistanceToNow(new Date(session.started_at), {
+                        addSuffix: true,
+                      })}
+                    </span>
+                  </HelpTip>
                 </ResponsiveTableCardRow>
               </div>
             </ResponsiveTableCard>