diff --git a/frontend/src/components/NotesRichTextEditor.contract.test.ts b/frontend/src/components/NotesRichTextEditor.contract.test.ts
index 48ef9ab..d74dea9 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/NotesRichTextEditor.contract.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/components/NotesRichTextEditor.contract.test.ts
@@ -10,10 +10,17 @@ const source = readFileSync(
 describe('NotesRichTextEditor formatting tabbar', () => {
   it('lists every formatting action through shared tabbar primitives', () => {
     expect(source.match(/<SkyTabBar\b/g)).toHaveLength(1)
-    expect(source.match(/<SkyTabButton\b/g)).toHaveLength(11)
+    expect(source.match(/<SkyTabButton\b/g)).toHaveLength(13)
     expect(source).toContain(
       "import { SkyIcon, SkyTabBar, SkyTabButton } from '@/ui'",
     )
+    expect(source).toContain(
+      '<SkyTabBar v-if="editor" :label="labels.toolbar" :labels="false">',
+    )
+    expect(source).toContain('<template v-if="!formatMode">')
+    expect(source).toContain('@click="formatMode = true"')
+    expect(source).toContain('@click="formatMode = false"')
+    expect(source).toContain(':disabled="editor.state.selection.empty"')
     expect(source).not.toContain('notes-rich-editor__toolbar-row')
     expect(source).not.toContain('scrollToolbar')
   })
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/NotesRichTextEditor.vue b/frontend/src/components/NotesRichTextEditor.vue
index 4ae25a9..5894af1 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/NotesRichTextEditor.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/NotesRichTextEditor.vue
@@ -15,8 +15,9 @@ import {
   Strikethrough,
   Underline,
   Undo2,
+  X,
 } from 'lucide-vue-next'
-import { onBeforeUnmount, watch } from 'vue'
+import { onBeforeUnmount, ref, watch } from 'vue'
 
 import { SkyIcon, SkyTabBar, SkyTabButton } from '@/ui'
 import {
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ export type NotesEditorLabels = {
   redo: string
   strike: string
   toolbar: string
+  closeFormatting: string
   underline: string
   undo: string
 }
@@ -50,6 +52,8 @@ const emit = defineEmits<{
   'update:modelValue': [value: string]
 }>()
 
+const formatMode = ref(false)
+
 const allowedTags = [
   'blockquote',
   'br',
@@ -231,6 +235,18 @@ function toggleSelectionQuote(): void {
   editor.value.view.focus()
 }
 
+function hasActiveTextFormat(): boolean {
+  if (!editor.value) return false
+  const size = editor.value.getAttributes('noteTextSize').size
+  return (
+    Boolean(size) ||
+    editor.value.isActive('bold') ||
+    editor.value.isActive('italic') ||
+    editor.value.isActive('underline') ||
+    editor.value.isActive('strike')
+  )
+}
+
 watch(
   () => props.modelValue,
   (body) => {
@@ -256,149 +272,135 @@ onBeforeUnmount(() => editor.value?.destroy())
       :editor="editor"
     />
 
-    <SkyTabBar v-if="editor" :label="labels.toolbar">
-      <SkyTabButton
-        :active="
-          ['tiny', 'small', 'compact'].includes(
-            editor.getAttributes('noteTextSize').size,
-          )
-        "
-        :aria-label="labels.undo"
-        :disabled="!editor.can().chain().focus().undo().run()"
-        @click="editor.chain().focus().undo().run()"
-      >
-        <template #icon
-          ><SkyIcon :size="19"><Undo2 /></SkyIcon
-        ></template>
-      </SkyTabButton>
-      <SkyTabButton
-        :active="
-          ['medium', 'large', 'huge'].includes(
-            editor.getAttributes('noteTextSize').size,
-          )
-        "
-        :aria-label="labels.redo"
-        :disabled="!editor.can().chain().focus().redo().run()"
-        @click="editor.chain().focus().redo().run()"
-      >
-        <template #icon
-          ><SkyIcon :size="19"><Redo2 /></SkyIcon
-        ></template>
-      </SkyTabButton>
-      <SkyTabButton
-        :active="editor.isActive('bold')"
-        :class="{
-          'notes-rich-editor__tool--active': [
-            'tiny',
-            'small',
-            'compact',
-          ].includes(editor.getAttributes('noteTextSize').size),
-          'notes-rich-editor__tool--unavailable': editor.state.selection.empty,
-        }"
-        :aria-label="labels.decreaseText"
-        @pointerdown.prevent="adjustTextSize(-1)"
-      >
-        <span class="notes-rich-editor__text-tool">A−</span>
-      </SkyTabButton>
-      <SkyTabButton
-        :active="editor.isActive('italic')"
-        :class="{
-          'notes-rich-editor__tool--active': [
-            'medium',
-            'large',
-            'huge',
-          ].includes(editor.getAttributes('noteTextSize').size),
-          'notes-rich-editor__tool--unavailable': editor.state.selection.empty,
-        }"
-        :aria-label="labels.increaseText"
-        @pointerdown.prevent="adjustTextSize(1)"
-      >
-        <span
-          class="notes-rich-editor__text-tool notes-rich-editor__text-tool--large"
-          >A+</span
+    <SkyTabBar v-if="editor" :label="labels.toolbar" :labels="false">
+      <template v-if="!formatMode">
+        <SkyTabButton
+          :aria-label="labels.undo"
+          :disabled="!editor.can().chain().focus().undo().run()"
+          @click="editor.chain().focus().undo().run()"
         >
-      </SkyTabButton>
-      <SkyTabButton
-        :class="{
-          'notes-rich-editor__tool--active': editor.isActive('bold'),
-        }"
-        :aria-label="labels.bold"
-        @click="editor.chain().focus().toggleBold().run()"
-      >
-        <template #icon
-          ><SkyIcon :size="19"><Bold /></SkyIcon
-        ></template>
-      </SkyTabButton>
-      <SkyTabButton
-        :class="{
-          'notes-rich-editor__tool--active': editor.isActive('italic'),
-        }"
-        :aria-label="labels.italic"
-        @click="editor.chain().focus().toggleItalic().run()"
-      >
-        <template #icon
-          ><SkyIcon :size="19"><Italic /></SkyIcon
-        ></template>
-      </SkyTabButton>
-      <SkyTabButton
-        :active="editor.isActive('underline')"
-        :class="{
-          'notes-rich-editor__tool--active': editor.isActive('underline'),
-        }"
-        :aria-label="labels.underline"
-        @click="editor.chain().focus().toggleUnderline().run()"
-      >
-        <template #icon
-          ><SkyIcon :size="19"><Underline /></SkyIcon
-        ></template>
-      </SkyTabButton>
-      <SkyTabButton
-        :active="editor.isActive('strike')"
-        :class="{
-          'notes-rich-editor__tool--active': editor.isActive('strike'),
-        }"
-        :aria-label="labels.strike"
-        @click="editor.chain().focus().toggleStrike().run()"
-      >
-        <template #icon
-          ><SkyIcon :size="19"><Strikethrough /></SkyIcon
-        ></template>
-      </SkyTabButton>
-      <SkyTabButton
-        :active="editor.isActive('bulletList')"
-        :class="{
-          'notes-rich-editor__tool--active': editor.isActive('bulletList'),
-        }"
-        :aria-label="labels.bulletList"
-        @click="editor.chain().focus().toggleBulletList().run()"
-      >
-        <template #icon
-          ><SkyIcon :size="20"><List /></SkyIcon
-        ></template>
-      </SkyTabButton>
-      <SkyTabButton
-        :active="editor.isActive('orderedList')"
-        :class="{
-          'notes-rich-editor__tool--active': editor.isActive('orderedList'),
-        }"
-        :aria-label="labels.numberedList"
-        @click="editor.chain().focus().toggleOrderedList().run()"
-      >
-        <template #icon
-          ><SkyIcon :size="20"><ListOrdered /></SkyIcon
-        ></template>
-      </SkyTabButton>
-      <SkyTabButton
-        :class="{
-          'notes-rich-editor__tool--unavailable': editor.state.selection.empty,
-        }"
-        :aria-label="labels.quote"
-        @pointerdown.prevent="toggleSelectionQuote"
-      >
-        <template #icon
-          ><SkyIcon :size="19"><Quote /></SkyIcon
-        ></template>
-      </SkyTabButton>
+          <template #icon
+            ><SkyIcon :size="20"><Undo2 /></SkyIcon
+          ></template>
+        </SkyTabButton>
+        <SkyTabButton
+          :aria-label="labels.redo"
+          :disabled="!editor.can().chain().focus().redo().run()"
+          @click="editor.chain().focus().redo().run()"
+        >
+          <template #icon
+            ><SkyIcon :size="20"><Redo2 /></SkyIcon
+          ></template>
+        </SkyTabButton>
+        <SkyTabButton
+          :active="hasActiveTextFormat()"
+          :aria-label="labels.toolbar"
+          @click="formatMode = true"
+        >
+          <span class="notes-rich-editor__format-tool">Aa</span>
+        </SkyTabButton>
+        <SkyTabButton
+          :active="editor.isActive('bulletList')"
+          :aria-label="labels.bulletList"
+          @click="editor.chain().focus().toggleBulletList().run()"
+        >
+          <template #icon
+            ><SkyIcon :size="21"><List /></SkyIcon
+          ></template>
+        </SkyTabButton>
+        <SkyTabButton
+          :active="editor.isActive('orderedList')"
+          :aria-label="labels.numberedList"
+          @click="editor.chain().focus().toggleOrderedList().run()"
+        >
+          <template #icon
+            ><SkyIcon :size="21"><ListOrdered /></SkyIcon
+          ></template>
+        </SkyTabButton>
+        <SkyTabButton
+          :aria-label="labels.quote"
+          :disabled="editor.state.selection.empty"
+          @pointerdown.prevent="toggleSelectionQuote"
+        >
+          <template #icon
+            ><SkyIcon :size="20"><Quote /></SkyIcon
+          ></template>
+        </SkyTabButton>
+      </template>
+
+      <template v-else>
+        <SkyTabButton
+          :active="
+            ['tiny', 'small', 'compact'].includes(
+              editor.getAttributes('noteTextSize').size,
+            )
+          "
+          :aria-label="labels.decreaseText"
+          :disabled="editor.state.selection.empty"
+          @pointerdown.prevent="adjustTextSize(-1)"
+        >
+          <span class="notes-rich-editor__text-tool">A−</span>
+        </SkyTabButton>
+        <SkyTabButton
+          :active="
+            ['medium', 'large', 'huge'].includes(
+              editor.getAttributes('noteTextSize').size,
+            )
+          "
+          :aria-label="labels.increaseText"
+          :disabled="editor.state.selection.empty"
+          @pointerdown.prevent="adjustTextSize(1)"
+        >
+          <span
+            class="notes-rich-editor__text-tool notes-rich-editor__text-tool--large"
+            >A+</span
+          >
+        </SkyTabButton>
+        <SkyTabButton
+          :active="editor.isActive('bold')"
+          :aria-label="labels.bold"
+          @click="editor.chain().focus().toggleBold().run()"
+        >
+          <template #icon
+            ><SkyIcon :size="20"><Bold /></SkyIcon
+          ></template>
+        </SkyTabButton>
+        <SkyTabButton
+          :active="editor.isActive('italic')"
+          :aria-label="labels.italic"
+          @click="editor.chain().focus().toggleItalic().run()"
+        >
+          <template #icon
+            ><SkyIcon :size="20"><Italic /></SkyIcon
+          ></template>
+        </SkyTabButton>
+        <SkyTabButton
+          :active="editor.isActive('underline')"
+          :aria-label="labels.underline"
+          @click="editor.chain().focus().toggleUnderline().run()"
+        >
+          <template #icon
+            ><SkyIcon :size="20"><Underline /></SkyIcon
+          ></template>
+        </SkyTabButton>
+        <SkyTabButton
+          :active="editor.isActive('strike')"
+          :aria-label="labels.strike"
+          @click="editor.chain().focus().toggleStrike().run()"
+        >
+          <template #icon
+            ><SkyIcon :size="20"><Strikethrough /></SkyIcon
+          ></template>
+        </SkyTabButton>
+        <SkyTabButton
+          :aria-label="labels.closeFormatting"
+          @click="formatMode = false"
+        >
+          <template #icon
+            ><SkyIcon :size="20"><X /></SkyIcon
+          ></template>
+        </SkyTabButton>
+      </template>
     </SkyTabBar>
   </section>
 </template>
@@ -543,4 +545,10 @@ onBeforeUnmount(() => editor.value?.destroy())
 .notes-rich-editor__text-tool--large {
   font-size: 17px;
 }
+
+.notes-rich-editor__format-tool {
+  font-size: 17px;
+  font-weight: 500;
+  letter-spacing: -0.03em;
+}
 </style>
diff --git a/frontend/src/ui/controls.css b/frontend/src/ui/controls.css
index ed55b44..d75bb86 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ui/controls.css
+++ b/frontend/src/ui/controls.css
@@ -2724,10 +2724,25 @@ label.sky-list-item__row {
   padding: 0;
 }
 
+.sky-glass.sky-fab--neutral {
+  background: var(--sky-glass-solid, rgba(247, 247, 248, 0.96));
+  color: var(--sky-text, #000000);
+}
+
+.sky-fab--neutral .sky-fab__accent-layer,
+.sky-fab--neutral .sky-fab__dark-accent-layer,
+.sky-fab--neutral .sky-fab__surface-layer {
+  display: none;
+}
+
 .sky-glass.sky-fab:active:not(:disabled) {
   background: transparent;
 }
 
+.sky-glass.sky-fab--neutral:active:not(:disabled) {
+  background: var(--sky-glass-solid, rgba(247, 247, 248, 0.96));
+}
+
 .sky-fab--disabled {
   cursor: default;
   opacity: 0.42;
diff --git a/frontend/src/ui/controls/SkyFab.test.ts b/frontend/src/ui/controls/SkyFab.test.ts
index d07d6ba..cc6bf7d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ui/controls/SkyFab.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/ui/controls/SkyFab.test.ts
@@ -55,4 +55,22 @@ describe('SkyFab', () => {
     expect(fabTokens).toContain('--sky-fab-accent-inset-start')
     expect(fabTokens).not.toContain('rgba(10, 132, 255, 0.25)')
   })
+
+  it('offers a neutral glass variant without accent layers', async () => {
+    const html = await renderToString(
+      createSSRApp({
+        render: () => h(SkyFab, { ariaLabel: 'Create', variant: 'neutral' }),
+      }),
+    )
+
+    expect(html).toContain('sky-fab--neutral')
+
+    const controls = readFileSync(
+      fileURLToPath(new URL('../controls.css', import.meta.url)),
+      'utf8',
+    )
+    expect(controls).toMatch(
+      /\.sky-glass\.sky-fab--neutral\s*\{[^}]*background:\s*var\(--sky-glass-solid/s,
+    )
+  })
 })
diff --git a/frontend/src/ui/controls/SkyFab.vue b/frontend/src/ui/controls/SkyFab.vue
index 6979cb9..131b901 100644
--- a/frontend/src/ui/controls/SkyFab.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/ui/controls/SkyFab.vue
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ const props = withDefaults(
     text?: string
     textPosition?: 'after' | 'before'
     type?: 'button' | 'reset' | 'submit'
+    variant?: 'neutral' | 'primary'
   }>(),
   {
     ariaLabel: '',
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ const props = withDefaults(
     text: '',
     textPosition: 'after',
     type: 'button',
+    variant: 'primary',
   },
 )
 
@@ -71,6 +73,7 @@ function handleClick(event: MouseEvent): void {
     :class="{
       'sky-fab--disabled': disabled,
       'sky-fab--icon-only': !hasText,
+      'sky-fab--neutral': variant === 'neutral',
       'sky-fab--with-text': hasText,
     }"
     role="button"
diff --git a/frontend/src/views/apps/NotesApp.menu.contract.test.ts b/frontend/src/views/apps/NotesApp.menu.contract.test.ts
index d94f1f1..ed2df99 100644
--- a/frontend/src/views/apps/NotesApp.menu.contract.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/views/apps/NotesApp.menu.contract.test.ts
@@ -15,16 +15,22 @@ const listSource = source.slice(
 describe('NotesApp list controls', () => {
   it('places the Sky searchbar and create action together at the bottom', () => {
     const composerSource = listSource.slice(
-      listSource.indexOf('<footer'),
-      listSource.indexOf('</footer>') + '</footer>'.length,
+      listSource.indexOf('<SkyToolbar'),
+      listSource.indexOf('</SkyToolbar>') + '</SkyToolbar>'.length,
     )
 
+    expect(composerSource).toContain('component="footer"')
+    expect(listSource).toContain('<SkyScrollArea as="main"')
     expect(composerSource).toContain('<SkySearchbar')
     expect(composerSource).toContain('v-model="searchQuery"')
     expect(composerSource).toContain('<SkyFab')
+    expect(composerSource).toContain('variant="neutral"')
     expect(composerSource).toContain('@click="createNote"')
+    expect(composerSource).not.toContain('notes-search')
+    expect(composerSource).not.toContain('notes-create-fab')
     expect(listSource).not.toContain('<k-searchbar')
     expect(listSource).not.toContain('<template #right>')
+    expect(listSource).not.toContain('!pt-[44px]')
   })
 })
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/views/apps/NotesApp.vue b/frontend/src/views/apps/NotesApp.vue
index 20b10a0..84432ff 100644
--- a/frontend/src/views/apps/NotesApp.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/views/apps/NotesApp.vue
@@ -24,7 +24,14 @@ import NotesRichTextEditor from '@/components/NotesRichTextEditor.vue'
 import { useNotesStore } from '@/stores/notes'
 import { useEasyShareStore } from '@/stores/easyshare'
 import { usePhoneStore } from '@/stores/phone'
-import { SkyActionSheet, SkyButton, SkyFab, SkySearchbar } from '@/ui'
+import {
+  SkyActionSheet,
+  SkyButton,
+  SkyFab,
+  SkyScrollArea,
+  SkySearchbar,
+  SkyToolbar,
+} from '@/ui'
 import type { Note } from '@/utils/notes'
 import { noteBodyToPlainText } from '@/utils/noteRichText'
 
@@ -60,6 +67,7 @@ const visibleNotes = computed(() => {
 const editorLabels = computed(() => ({
   bold: phone.t('Apps.notes.tools.bold'),
   bulletList: phone.t('Apps.notes.tools.bulletList'),
+  closeFormatting: phone.t('Common.close'),
   decreaseText: phone.t('Apps.notes.tools.decreaseText'),
   increaseText: phone.t('Apps.notes.tools.increaseText'),
   italic: phone.t('Apps.notes.tools.italic'),
@@ -116,7 +124,10 @@ function editNote(note: Note): void {
 function persistDraft(): Note | undefined {
   const draft = {
     body: draftBody.value,
-    title: titleFromDraftBody(draftBody.value) || currentNote.value?.title.trim() || '',
+    title:
+      titleFromDraftBody(draftBody.value) ||
+      currentNote.value?.title.trim() ||
+      '',
   }
 
   if (editorId.value) {
@@ -174,65 +185,70 @@ function shareNote(): void {
 <template>
   <k-page
     v-if="!editorOpened"
-    class="notes-list-page !pt-[44px]"
+    class="notes-list-page"
     :aria-label="phone.t('Apps.notes.name')"
   >
     <k-navbar large transparent :title="phone.t('Apps.notes.name')" />
 
-    <k-list v-if="visibleNotes.length" strong inset>
-      <k-list-item
-        v-for="note in visibleNotes"
-        :key="note.id"
-        href="#"
-        :title="noteTitle(note)"
-        :subtitle="noteSubtitle(note)"
-        :chevron="false"
-        strong-title="auto"
-        @click.prevent="editNote(note)"
-      >
-        <template v-if="note.pinned" #after>
-          <Pin :size="15" aria-hidden="true" />
-        </template>
-      </k-list-item>
-    </k-list>
-
-    <template v-else>
-      <k-block-title large>{{
-        phone.t(searchQuery ? 'Apps.notes.noResults' : 'Apps.notes.emptyTitle')
-      }}</k-block-title>
-      <k-block strong inset>{{
-        phone.t(
-          searchQuery ? 'Apps.notes.noResultsBody' : 'Apps.notes.emptyBody',
-        )
-      }}</k-block>
-      <k-list v-if="!searchQuery" strong inset>
-        <k-list-button link-component="button" @click="createNote">
-          {{ phone.t('Apps.notes.newNote') }}
-        </k-list-button>
+    <SkyScrollArea as="main" class="notes-list-scroll">
+      <k-list v-if="visibleNotes.length" strong inset>
+        <k-list-item
+          v-for="note in visibleNotes"
+          :key="note.id"
+          href="#"
+          :title="noteTitle(note)"
+          :subtitle="noteSubtitle(note)"
+          :chevron="false"
+          strong-title="auto"
+          @click.prevent="editNote(note)"
+        >
+          <template v-if="note.pinned" #after>
+            <Pin :size="15" aria-hidden="true" />
+          </template>
+        </k-list-item>
       </k-list>
-    </template>
 
-    <footer
+      <template v-else>
+        <k-block-title large>{{
+          phone.t(
+            searchQuery ? 'Apps.notes.noResults' : 'Apps.notes.emptyTitle',
+          )
+        }}</k-block-title>
+        <k-block strong inset>{{
+          phone.t(
+            searchQuery ? 'Apps.notes.noResultsBody' : 'Apps.notes.emptyBody',
+          )
+        }}</k-block>
+        <k-list v-if="!searchQuery" strong inset>
+          <k-list-button link-component="button" @click="createNote">
+            {{ phone.t('Apps.notes.newNote') }}
+          </k-list-button>
+        </k-list>
+      </template>
+    </SkyScrollArea>
+
+    <SkyToolbar
       class="notes-composer sky-ui-provider"
       :class="{ 'sky-ui-provider--dark': phone.isDarkMode }"
+      component="footer"
+      :aria-label="phone.t('Apps.notes.searchPlaceholder')"
     >
       <SkySearchbar
         v-model="searchQuery"
-        class="notes-search"
         :clear-label="phone.t('Common.clear')"
         :label="phone.t('Apps.notes.searchPlaceholder')"
         :placeholder="phone.t('Apps.notes.searchPlaceholder')"
       />
       <SkyFab
-        class="notes-create-fab"
         :aria-label="phone.t('Apps.notes.newNote')"
+        variant="neutral"
         @click="createNote"
       >
         <template #icon>
           <SquarePen :size="21" aria-hidden="true" />
         </template>
       </SkyFab>
-    </footer>
+    </SkyToolbar>
   </k-page>
 
   <k-page v-else class="notes-editor-page !pt-[44px] !pb-0">
@@ -281,11 +297,7 @@ function shareNote(): void {
             {{ phone.t('Apps.easyShare.name') }}
           </SkyButton>
           <SkyButton block large tonal @click="togglePinned">
-            <PinOff
-              v-if="currentNote?.pinned"
-              :size="19"
-              aria-hidden="true"
-            />
+            <PinOff v-if="currentNote?.pinned" :size="19" aria-hidden="true" />
             <Pin v-else :size="19" aria-hidden="true" />
             {{
               phone.t(
@@ -314,35 +326,10 @@ function shareNote(): void {
 
 <style scoped>
 .notes-list-page {
-  padding-bottom: calc(
-    var(--sky-safe-area-bottom) + var(--sky-touch-target) + 24px
-  ) !important;
-}
-
-.notes-composer {
-  position: absolute;
-  z-index: 20;
-  right: 0;
-  bottom: 0;
-  left: 0;
-  min-width: 0;
-  padding: 8px calc(var(--sky-page-gutter) + var(--sky-safe-area-right))
-    calc(var(--sky-safe-area-bottom) + 8px)
-    calc(var(--sky-page-gutter) + var(--sky-safe-area-left));
-  display: grid;
-  grid-template-columns: minmax(0, 1fr) var(--sky-touch-target);
-  align-items: center;
-  gap: 10px;
-  background: linear-gradient(to top, var(--sky-bg) 72%, transparent);
-}
-
-.notes-search {
-  min-width: 0;
-}
-
-.notes-create-fab {
-  width: var(--sky-touch-target);
-  height: var(--sky-touch-target);
+  padding-bottom: 0 !important;
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  overflow: hidden;
 }
 
 .notes-editor-page {