diff --git a/desktop/playwright.config.ts b/desktop/playwright.config.ts
index 5c5bdbc566..776ad2e8c3 100644
--- a/desktop/playwright.config.ts
+++ b/desktop/playwright.config.ts
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ export default defineConfig({
         "**/relay-connectivity.spec.ts",
         "**/unread-pill.spec.ts",
         "**/sidebar-more-unread-overlap.spec.ts",
+        "**/sidebar-community-rail-insets.spec.ts",
         "**/sidebar-snapshot.spec.ts",
         "**/home-collapsed-top-chrome.spec.ts",
         "**/top-chrome-zoom-clearance.spec.ts",
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/sidebar/ui/AppSidebar.tsx b/desktop/src/features/sidebar/ui/AppSidebar.tsx
index 9c7f3cf166..0838707feb 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/sidebar/ui/AppSidebar.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/sidebar/ui/AppSidebar.tsx
@@ -503,13 +503,12 @@ export function AppSidebar({
       variant="sidebar"
     >
       <div
-        className={`relative flex min-h-0 flex-1 flex-col overflow-hidden ${
-          communities.length > 1 ? "md:-ml-[11px] md:w-[calc(100%+11px)]" : ""
-        }`}
+        className="relative flex min-h-0 flex-1 flex-col overflow-hidden"
         data-sidebar-background
         data-testid="app-sidebar-scroll-anchor"
       >
         <AppSidebarPinnedHeader
+          className={communities.length > 1 ? "md:-ml-2" : undefined}
           channelLabels={dmChannelLabels}
           currentPubkey={currentPubkey}
           currentChannelId={
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/sidebar/ui/AppSidebarPinnedHeader.tsx b/desktop/src/features/sidebar/ui/AppSidebarPinnedHeader.tsx
index a9bf7058eb..4a360577f9 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/sidebar/ui/AppSidebarPinnedHeader.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/sidebar/ui/AppSidebarPinnedHeader.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { TopbarSearch } from "@/features/search/ui/TopbarSearch";
 import { SidebarProjectsSection } from "@/features/sidebar/ui/SidebarProjectsSection";
 import { FeatureGate } from "@/shared/features";
 import type { Channel, SearchHit } from "@/shared/api/types";
+import { cn } from "@/shared/lib/cn";
 import {
   SidebarHeader,
   SidebarMenu,
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@ type SidebarSelectedView =
 
 type AppSidebarPinnedHeaderProps = {
   channelLabels: Record<string, string>;
+  className?: string;
   currentChannelId?: string | null;
   currentPubkey?: string;
   onBrowseChannels?: () => void;
@@ -51,6 +53,7 @@ type AppSidebarPrimaryMenuProps = {
 
 export function AppSidebarPinnedHeader({
   channelLabels,
+  className,
   currentChannelId,
   currentPubkey,
   onBrowseChannels,
@@ -66,7 +69,7 @@ export function AppSidebarPinnedHeader({
 }: AppSidebarPinnedHeaderProps) {
   return (
     <div
-      className="mx-[3px] shrink-0 px-2 pb-2 pt-3"
+      className={cn("mx-[3px] shrink-0 px-2 pb-2 pt-3", className)}
       data-testid="sidebar-pinned-header"
     >
       <TopbarSearch
diff --git a/desktop/tests/e2e/sidebar-community-rail-insets.spec.ts b/desktop/tests/e2e/sidebar-community-rail-insets.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..eca9b41d4f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/desktop/tests/e2e/sidebar-community-rail-insets.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+import { expect, test, type Locator, type Page } from "@playwright/test";
+
+import { installMockBridge } from "../helpers/bridge";
+
+const COMMUNITIES = [
+  {
+    id: "ws-a",
+    name: "Alpha",
+    relayUrl: "ws://localhost:3000",
+    addedAt: "2026-01-01T00:00:00.000Z",
+  },
+  {
+    id: "ws-b",
+    name: "Bravo",
+    relayUrl: "ws://localhost:3001",
+    addedAt: "2026-01-02T00:00:00.000Z",
+  },
+];
+
+async function seedCommunities(page: Page) {
+  await page.addInitScript((communities) => {
+    window.localStorage.setItem(
+      "buzz-communities",
+      JSON.stringify(communities),
+    );
+    window.localStorage.setItem("buzz-active-community-id", "ws-a");
+  }, COMMUNITIES);
+}
+
+async function showUpdateCard(page: Page) {
+  await page.evaluate(() => {
+    const testWindow = window as Window & {
+      __BUZZ_E2E__?: { mock?: { updateAvailable?: boolean } };
+    };
+    testWindow.__BUZZ_E2E__ = {
+      ...(testWindow.__BUZZ_E2E__ ?? {}),
+      mock: {
+        ...(testWindow.__BUZZ_E2E__?.mock ?? {}),
+        updateAvailable: true,
+      },
+    };
+  });
+
+  await page.getByTestId("sidebar-profile-card").click();
+  await page.getByTestId("profile-popover-settings").click();
+  await page.getByTestId("settings-nav-updates").click();
+  await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Check for Updates" }).click();
+  await expect(page.getByTestId("settings-panel-updates")).toContainText(
+    "Update downloaded. Click to apply.",
+  );
+  await page.getByTestId("settings-back-to-app").click();
+}
+
+async function settleElementAnimations(locator: Locator) {
+  await locator.evaluate((element) =>
+    Promise.allSettled(
+      element.getAnimations().map((animation) => animation.finished),
+    ),
+  );
+}
+
+test("keeps sidebar cards and drag surfaces inset beside the community rail", async ({
+  page,
+}) => {
+  await installMockBridge(page, undefined, { skipCommunitySeed: true });
+  await seedCommunities(page);
+  await page.goto("/");
+  await expect(page.getByTestId("community-rail")).toBeVisible();
+
+  await showUpdateCard(page);
+
+  const sidebar = page.getByTestId("app-sidebar");
+  const updateCard = page.getByTestId("sidebar-update-card");
+  await expect(updateCard).toBeVisible();
+  await settleElementAnimations(updateCard);
+  const [sidebarBox, updateCardBox] = await Promise.all([
+    sidebar.boundingBox(),
+    updateCard.boundingBox(),
+  ]);
+  expect(sidebarBox).not.toBeNull();
+  expect(updateCardBox).not.toBeNull();
+  expect((updateCardBox?.x ?? 0) - (sidebarBox?.x ?? 0)).toBeCloseTo(8, 0);
+
+  const channelRow = page.getByTestId("channel-general");
+  await expect(channelRow).toBeVisible();
+  const channelRowBox = await channelRow.boundingBox();
+  expect(channelRowBox).not.toBeNull();
+  expect((channelRowBox?.x ?? 0) - (sidebarBox?.x ?? 0)).toBeCloseTo(11, 0);
+  if (!channelRowBox) return;
+
+  await page.mouse.move(
+    channelRowBox.x + channelRowBox.width / 2,
+    channelRowBox.y + channelRowBox.height / 2,
+  );
+  await page.mouse.down();
+  await page.mouse.move(
+    channelRowBox.x + channelRowBox.width / 2,
+    channelRowBox.y + channelRowBox.height / 2 + 8,
+    { steps: 5 },
+  );
+
+  const dragOverlay = page.getByTestId("sidebar-channel-drag-overlay");
+  await expect(dragOverlay).toBeVisible();
+  const dragOverlayBox = await dragOverlay.boundingBox();
+  expect(dragOverlayBox).not.toBeNull();
+  expect(
+    (dragOverlayBox?.x ?? 0) - (sidebarBox?.x ?? 0),
+  ).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(10);
+  await page.mouse.up();
+});