diff --git a/settings/hyprland.nix b/settings/hyprland.nix
index bcf1455..da7c6ab 100644
--- a/settings/hyprland.nix
+++ b/settings/hyprland.nix
@@ -244,7 +244,9 @@ in
             hl.animation({ leaf = "layers",     enabled = true, speed = 1, bezier = "snap" })
             hl.animation({ leaf = "border",     enabled = true, speed = 2, bezier = "default" })
             hl.animation({ leaf = "fade",       enabled = true, speed = 1, bezier = "default" })
-            hl.animation({ leaf = "workspaces", enabled = true, speed = 1, bezier = "snap" })
+            -- slidevert: workspaces slide up/down to match the vertical
+            -- workspace column in the bar (default "slide" is horizontal).
+            hl.animation({ leaf = "workspaces", enabled = true, speed = 1, bezier = "snap", style = "slidevert" })
 
             -- Window rules
             -- Don't lock/idle while any window is fullscreen (video, games).
diff --git a/settings/quickshell.nix b/settings/quickshell.nix
index 6c3d2a4..51e0cf8 100644
--- a/settings/quickshell.nix
+++ b/settings/quickshell.nix
@@ -1923,7 +1923,9 @@ in
                         id: trayArea
                         spacing: 8
                         width: Theme.barWidth
-                        anchors.verticalCenter: parent.verticalCenter
+                        // NO vertical anchor here: a Column refuses to position
+                        // ANY child if one of them sets top/bottom/verticalCenter
+                        // /fill/centerIn, and silently piles them all at y=0.
 
                         Repeater {
                             model: SystemTray.items