diff --git a/Sources/StorageScope/Stores/RecentsStore.swift b/Sources/StorageScope/Stores/RecentsStore.swift
index 09cde2d..e9409e2 100644
--- a/Sources/StorageScope/Stores/RecentsStore.swift
+++ b/Sources/StorageScope/Stores/RecentsStore.swift
@@ -15,6 +15,40 @@ struct RecentScanEntry: Codable, Identifiable, Hashable {
     var id: String { path }
 }
 
+/// The UI state for recovering a recent scan whose security-scoped bookmark no
+/// longer resolves. This state deliberately contains no AppKit behavior: the
+/// owner of the store can present the recovery controls and perform folder
+/// selection asynchronously without an alert opening an `NSOpenPanel` inline.
+enum RecentScanRecoveryState: Equatable, Identifiable {
+    case idle
+    case needsAction(path: String)
+    case choosingFolder(path: String)
+
+    var id: String {
+        switch self {
+        case .idle:
+            return "idle"
+        case .needsAction(let path), .choosingFolder(let path):
+            return path
+        }
+    }
+
+    var path: String? {
+        switch self {
+        case .idle:
+            return nil
+        case .needsAction(let path), .choosingFolder(let path):
+            return path
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+enum RecentScanRecoveryAction: Equatable {
+    case chooseFolder
+    case forgetScan
+    case cancel
+}
+
 /// Serializes JSON encode + UserDefaults writes for `RecentsStore` and
 /// `SearchRecentsStore`. A monotonic generation counter drops writes whose
 /// generation is older than the latest committed one — this is the fix for the
@@ -52,6 +86,7 @@ final class RecentsStore: ObservableObject {
     private static let writer = RecentStoreWriter<[RecentScanEntry]>(key: recentScanEntriesKey)
 
     @Published private(set) var entries: [RecentScanEntry] = []
+    @Published private(set) var recoveryState: RecentScanRecoveryState = .idle
     private var writeGeneration: UInt64 = 0
 
     init() {
@@ -69,9 +104,64 @@ final class RecentsStore: ObservableObject {
 
     func forget(path: String) {
         entries.removeAll { $0.path == path }
+        if recoveryState.path == path {
+            recoveryState = .idle
+        }
         persist()
     }
 
+    /// Starts the explicit recovery flow for a recent scan whose bookmark could
+    /// not be resolved. Calling this only changes state; it never presents a
+    /// panel or an alert synchronously.
+    func requestRecovery(for path: String) {
+        guard !path.isEmpty else { return }
+        recoveryState = .needsAction(path: path)
+    }
+
+    /// Applies one of the recovery controls while the flow is awaiting a user
+    /// decision. `chooseFolder` moves to a separate state so its owner can start
+    /// an asynchronous folder picker and later call `completeRecovery()`.
+    @discardableResult
+    func applyRecoveryAction(_ action: RecentScanRecoveryAction) -> String? {
+        guard case .needsAction(let path) = recoveryState else { return nil }
+
+        switch action {
+        case .chooseFolder:
+            recoveryState = .choosingFolder(path: path)
+            return path
+        case .forgetScan:
+            forget(path: path)
+            return nil
+        case .cancel:
+            recoveryState = .idle
+            return nil
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Returns the stale path to the caller that owns folder selection and
+    /// advances the state to `.choosingFolder`.
+    @discardableResult
+    func chooseFolderForRecovery() -> String? {
+        applyRecoveryAction(.chooseFolder)
+    }
+
+    /// Removes the stale recent entry and dismisses the recovery flow.
+    func forgetScanFromRecovery() {
+        _ = applyRecoveryAction(.forgetScan)
+    }
+
+    /// Dismisses the recovery flow without changing the recent entry.
+    func cancelRecovery() {
+        guard recoveryState != .idle else { return }
+        recoveryState = .idle
+    }
+
+    /// Called after the asynchronous folder picker or replacement scan finishes
+    /// (including when the picker is dismissed) to return to the idle state.
+    func completeRecovery() {
+        recoveryState = .idle
+    }
+
     /// Rendered @Published mutations already updated `entries` synchronously on the main
     /// actor so SwiftUI sees the change immediately; the heavy JSON encode + UserDefaults
     /// write is dispatched to `RecentStoreWriter` (a serializing actor) so the main actor
@@ -110,4 +200,4 @@ final class RecentsStore: ObservableObject {
         entries = legacyPaths.map { RecentScanEntry(path: $0, scannedAt: now, totalBytes: 0) }
         UserDefaults.standard.removeObject(forKey: Self.legacyRecentScanPathsKey)
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/Sources/StorageScope/Stores/ScanStore.swift b/Sources/StorageScope/Stores/ScanStore.swift
index d6def5a..8394152 100644
--- a/Sources/StorageScope/Stores/ScanStore.swift
+++ b/Sources/StorageScope/Stores/ScanStore.swift
@@ -612,8 +612,9 @@ func setSelectedView(_ view: SmartView) {
 
         do {
             guard let resolvedURL = try bookmarkStore.resolve(path: path) else {
-                errorMessage = "StorageScope needs you to choose this folder again before rescanning it in the sandbox."
-                chooseFolderAndScan(startingAt: URL(fileURLWithPath: path, isDirectory: true))
+                session.lastErrorCategory = .staleBookmark(path: path)
+                errorMessage = nil
+                recents.requestRecovery(for: path)
                 return
             }
 
@@ -623,12 +624,41 @@ func setSelectedView(_ view: SmartView) {
             session.lastErrorCategory = category
             os_log("Reopen-bookmark failed for %{private}@: %{public}@",
                    log: Self.log, type: .error, path, String(describing: error))
-            errorMessage = category?.userMessage
-                ?? "StorageScope could not reopen this folder bookmark. Choose it again to refresh access. \(error.localizedDescription)"
-            chooseFolderAndScan(startingAt: URL(fileURLWithPath: path, isDirectory: true))
+            errorMessage = nil
+            recents.requestRecovery(for: path)
         }
     }
 
+    /// Begins the explicit recent-scan recovery flow. The confirmation dialog is
+    /// dismissed before opening the folder panel so stale bookmark failures never
+    /// chain an alert directly into a synchronous panel presentation.
+    func chooseFolderForRecentRecovery() {
+        guard let path = recents.chooseFolderForRecovery() else { return }
+
+        Task { @MainActor [weak self] in
+            await Task.yield()
+            guard let self else { return }
+            defer { recents.completeRecovery() }
+
+            let startingURL = URL(fileURLWithPath: path, isDirectory: true)
+            guard let url = FileActionService.chooseFolder(
+                startingAt: startingURL,
+                message: "Choose the folder again to refresh StorageScope's access."
+            ) else {
+                return
+            }
+            scanUserGrantedURL(url)
+        }
+    }
+
+    func forgetRecentScanRecovery() {
+        recents.forgetScanFromRecovery()
+    }
+
+    func cancelRecentScanRecovery() {
+        recents.cancelRecovery()
+    }
+
     func scanVolume(_ url: URL) {
         chooseFolderAndScan(startingAt: url)
     }
@@ -732,16 +762,15 @@ func setSelectedView(_ view: SmartView) {
             if let resolvedURL = try bookmarkStore.resolve(path: lastScannedURL.standardizedFileURL.path) {
                 scanUserGrantedURL(resolvedURL.url, access: resolvedURL.access)
             } else {
-                chooseFolderAndScan(startingAt: lastScannedURL)
+                recents.requestRecovery(for: lastScannedURL.standardizedFileURL.path)
             }
         } catch {
             let category = Self.categorize(error, fallbackPath: lastScannedURL.path)
             session.lastErrorCategory = category
             os_log("Rescan access failed for %{private}@: %{public}@",
                    log: Self.log, type: .error, lastScannedURL.path, String(describing: error))
-            errorMessage = category?.userMessage
-                ?? "StorageScope needs refreshed access before rescanning. \(error.localizedDescription)"
-            chooseFolderAndScan(startingAt: lastScannedURL)
+            errorMessage = nil
+            recents.requestRecovery(for: lastScannedURL.standardizedFileURL.path)
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/Sources/StorageScope/Views/ContentView.swift b/Sources/StorageScope/Views/ContentView.swift
index e626a31..74b7d03 100644
--- a/Sources/StorageScope/Views/ContentView.swift
+++ b/Sources/StorageScope/Views/ContentView.swift
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
-import AppKit
 import SwiftUI
 
 struct ContentView: View {
     @ObservedObject var store: ScanStore
     var onOpenSettings: () -> Void = {}
     @State private var columnVisibility: NavigationSplitViewVisibility = .all
-    // The inspector is secondary UI and must never be the reason the window
-    // doesn't fit the display — start it closed on narrow screens (UI_PLAN.md P0.3).
-    @State private var inspectorVisible = (NSScreen.main?.visibleFrame.width ?? 1440) >= 1350
+    // The inspector is secondary, selection-driven UI. Start it closed so a cold
+    // launch gives the scan setup and results the full window; users can reveal it
+    // from the toolbar once they have something to inspect.
+    @State private var inspectorVisible = false
     @FocusState private var searchFieldFocused: Bool
 
     /// Search-field prompt that reflects what the active view actually filters —
@@ -33,6 +33,30 @@ struct ContentView: View {
         }
     }
 
+    private var recentRecoveryIsPresented: Binding<Bool> {
+        Binding(
+            get: {
+                if case .needsAction = store.recents.recoveryState {
+                    return true
+                }
+                return false
+            },
+            set: { isPresented in
+                if !isPresented {
+                    store.cancelRecentScanRecovery()
+                }
+            }
+        )
+    }
+
+    private var recentRecoveryMessage: String {
+        guard let path = store.recents.recoveryState.path else {
+            return "StorageScope could not reopen this recent scan."
+        }
+        let name = URL(fileURLWithPath: path).lastPathComponent.nonEmpty ?? "folder"
+        return "StorageScope lost access to \(name). Choose the folder again, forget this recent scan, or cancel."
+    }
+
     var body: some View {
         NavigationSplitView(columnVisibility: $columnVisibility) {
             SidebarView(store: store)
@@ -155,6 +179,23 @@ struct ContentView: View {
         } message: {
             Text(store.errorMessage ?? "")
         }
+        .confirmationDialog(
+            "Recent Scan Needs Attention",
+            isPresented: recentRecoveryIsPresented,
+            titleVisibility: .visible
+        ) {
+            Button("Choose Folder") {
+                store.chooseFolderForRecentRecovery()
+            }
+            Button("Forget Scan", role: .destructive) {
+                store.forgetRecentScanRecovery()
+            }
+            Button("Cancel", role: .cancel) {
+                store.cancelRecentScanRecovery()
+            }
+        } message: {
+            Text(recentRecoveryMessage)
+        }
         .sheet(item: $store.pendingTrashReviewPlan) { plan in
             TrashConfirmationSheet(
                 plan: plan,
diff --git a/Sources/StorageScope/Views/OverviewView.swift b/Sources/StorageScope/Views/OverviewView.swift
index a9757ec..dcf3b57 100644
--- a/Sources/StorageScope/Views/OverviewView.swift
+++ b/Sources/StorageScope/Views/OverviewView.swift
@@ -391,10 +391,11 @@ private struct StorageMapRow: View, Equatable {
         }
         .buttonStyle(.pressableRow)
         .onHover { isHovered = $0 }
-        .accessibilityElement(children: .ignore)
         .accessibilityLabel("\(displayName), \(StorageFormat.bytes(item.displaySize))")
         .accessibilityValue(isSelected ? "Selected" : "Not selected")
+        .accessibilityAddTraits(isSelected ? .isSelected : [])
         .accessibilityHint("Selects this storage item")
+        .accessibilityAction(named: "Show in Folder Tree") { onShowInTree() }
         .simultaneousGesture(TapGesture(count: 2).onEnded { onShowInTree() })
         .contextMenu {
             Button("Show in Folder Tree") { onShowInTree() }
diff --git a/Tests/StorageScopeTests/ScanStoreRecoveryStateTests.swift b/Tests/StorageScopeTests/ScanStoreRecoveryStateTests.swift
index efcccf5..fd35fe4 100644
--- a/Tests/StorageScopeTests/ScanStoreRecoveryStateTests.swift
+++ b/Tests/StorageScopeTests/ScanStoreRecoveryStateTests.swift
@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@ import Testing
 @MainActor
 @Suite("ScanStore recovery state")
 struct ScanStoreRecoveryStateTests {
+    private func recoveryPath() -> String {
+        "/tmp/storagescope-recovery-" + UUID().uuidString
+    }
+
     @Test("no scan, no filters: displayRecoveryState is .noScan")
     func noScanNoFilters() {
         let store = ScanStore()
@@ -53,4 +57,57 @@ struct ScanStoreRecoveryStateTests {
         store.filters.searchText = ""
         #expect(store.displayRecoveryState == .filteredEmpty)
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+
+    @Test("stale bookmark enters the explicit recovery decision state")
+    func staleBookmarkStartsRecovery() {
+        let recents = RecentsStore()
+        let path = recoveryPath()
+
+        recents.requestRecovery(for: path)
+
+        #expect(recents.recoveryState == .needsAction(path: path))
+        #expect(recents.recoveryState.path == path)
+    }
+
+    @Test("Choose Folder transitions to folder selection and returns the stale path")
+    func chooseFolderTransitionsToSelection() {
+        let recents = RecentsStore()
+        let path = recoveryPath()
+        recents.requestRecovery(for: path)
+
+        let selectedPath = recents.chooseFolderForRecovery()
+
+        #expect(selectedPath == path)
+        #expect(recents.recoveryState == .choosingFolder(path: path))
+
+        recents.completeRecovery()
+        #expect(recents.recoveryState == .idle)
+    }
+
+    @Test("Forget Scan removes the stale recent and returns to idle")
+    func forgetScanTransitionsToIdleAndRemovesEntry() {
+        let recents = RecentsStore()
+        let path = recoveryPath()
+        recents.remember(URL(fileURLWithPath: path), scannedAt: Date(), totalBytes: 1)
+        recents.requestRecovery(for: path)
+
+        recents.forgetScanFromRecovery()
+
+        #expect(recents.recoveryState == .idle)
+        #expect(!recents.entries.contains { $0.path == path })
+    }
+
+    @Test("Cancel dismisses recovery without forgetting the recent")
+    func cancelTransitionsToIdleAndKeepsEntry() {
+        let recents = RecentsStore()
+        let path = recoveryPath()
+        recents.remember(URL(fileURLWithPath: path), scannedAt: Date(), totalBytes: 1)
+        recents.requestRecovery(for: path)
+
+        recents.cancelRecovery()
+
+        #expect(recents.recoveryState == .idle)
+        #expect(recents.entries.contains { $0.path == path })
+        recents.forget(path: path)
+    }
+}