diff --git a/settings/quickshell.nix b/settings/quickshell.nix
index 1bf6562..0023a49 100644
--- a/settings/quickshell.nix
+++ b/settings/quickshell.nix
@@ -1295,7 +1295,10 @@ in
                         // Opening from fully closed: seed the chrome as a
                         // small stub on the widget so the panel grows out of
                         // it (reviving mid-close morphs back instead).
-                        if (!activeDropdown && chrome.height < 0.5) {
+                        // width, not height: the growth axis is horizontal now.
+                        // chrome.height is tH, which is never 0, so testing it
+                        // meant this never fired and the panel never seeded.
+                        if (!activeDropdown && chrome.width < 0.5) {
                             chrome.seedFromButton(dd);
                         }
                         // Retarget the chrome before closing the previous
@@ -2049,7 +2052,19 @@ in
                         snap = true;
                         tY = stubY(dd);
                         tH = stubH;
-                        snap = false;
+                        // Stay snapped for the length of the grow, rather than
+                        // unsnapping immediately. The panel then expands along
+                        // ONE axis — width — at whatever height its content is
+                        // right now, and content that lands mid-grow (async
+                        // DBus tray menus) is followed instantly instead of
+                        // kicking off a second, visibly separate animation.
+                        _unsnap.restart();
+                    }
+
+                    Timer {
+                        id: _unsnap
+                        interval: Theme.animMorph
+                        onTriggered: chrome.snap = false
                     }
                     function shrinkToButton(dd) {
                         tY = stubY(dd);
@@ -2103,62 +2118,22 @@ in
                     fullHeight: menuItems.height + 2 * Theme.panelGap
 
                     onVisibleChanged: {
-                        if (!visible) {
-                            menuOpener.menu = null;
-                            pendingItem = null;
-                            _menuWait.stop();
-                        }
+                        if (!visible) menuOpener.menu = null;
                     }
 
                     QsMenuOpener {
                         id: menuOpener
                     }
 
-                    // The DBus menu populates asynchronously and Steam's is
-                    // slow. Opening on click sized the panel from an EMPTY
-                    // body: menuItems.width is fixed, so the width was already
-                    // final while fullHeight was just padding — the panel shot
-                    // out sideways, then lurched taller when the items landed.
-                    // Two motions instead of one. Load first, open once there
-                    // is something to show.
-                    property var pendingItem: null
-                    readonly property bool menuReady:
-                        menuOpener.children && menuOpener.children.values.length > 0
-
+                    // Opens immediately — never wait on the menu. Late content
+                    // is handled by the chrome staying snapped for the length
+                    // of the grow (see seedFromButton), so the height follows
+                    // instantly instead of starting a second animation.
                     function openFor(item, y) {
                         dropdownY = y;
                         trayItem = item;
                         menuOpener.menu = item.menu;
-                        if (menuReady) {
-                            pendingItem = null;
-                            bar.toggleDropdown(contextMenu, null);
-                        } else {
-                            pendingItem = item;
-                            _menuWait.restart();
-                        }
-                    }
-
-                    function openPending() {
-                        if (!pendingItem) return;
-                        pendingItem = null;
-                        _menuWait.stop();
-                        if (bar.activeDropdown !== contextMenu)
-                            bar.toggleDropdown(contextMenu, null);
-                    }
-
-                    // Never strand a click if the menu never populates.
-                    Timer {
-                        id: _menuWait
-                        interval: 500
-                        onTriggered: contextMenu.openPending()
-                    }
-
-                    Connections {
-                        target: menuOpener.children
-                        function onValuesChanged() {
-                            if (contextMenu.pendingItem && contextMenu.menuReady)
-                                contextMenu.openPending();
-                        }
+                        bar.toggleDropdown(contextMenu, null);
                     }
 
                     Card {