diff --git a/web/components/chat/chat-message.tsx b/web/components/chat/chat-message.tsx
index bcdb74e5..32e411f0 100644
--- a/web/components/chat/chat-message.tsx
+++ b/web/components/chat/chat-message.tsx
@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@ import {Avatar} from 'web/components/widgets/avatar'
 import {Content} from 'web/components/widgets/editor'
 import {UserAvatarAndBadge} from 'web/components/widgets/user-link'
 
+// Long-press on a message to open the emoji picker — off for now. Reactions can still be added from the
+// message's "..." menu, and existing ones still show and toggle.
+const LONG_PRESS_REACTIONS_ENABLED = false
+
 export function ChatMessageItem(props: {
   chats: ChatMessage[]
   currentUser: DisplayUser | undefined | null
@@ -58,6 +62,7 @@ export function ChatMessageItem(props: {
         : {username: '', avatarUrl: undefined, id: ''}
 
   const startLongPress = (messageId: number) => {
+    if (!LONG_PRESS_REACTIONS_ENABLED) return
     hasMovedRef.current = false
     lastPositionRef.current = null
     if (longPressTimerRef.current) clearTimeout(longPressTimerRef.current)
diff --git a/web/components/chat/message-reactions.tsx b/web/components/chat/message-reactions.tsx
index 0722bc37..4d90694f 100644
--- a/web/components/chat/message-reactions.tsx
+++ b/web/components/chat/message-reactions.tsx
@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@ export function MessageReactions({message, className, setMessages}: MessageReact
   if (reactionGroups.length === 0) return null
 
   return (
-    <div className={clsx('mt-1 flex flex-wrap gap-1', className)}>
+    // negative top margin: tuck the chips up against the bubble they belong to
+    <div className={clsx('-mt-1 flex flex-wrap gap-1', className)}>
       {reactionGroups.map(({emoji, users}) => {
         const hasReacted = users.includes(user?.id || '')
         return (
diff --git a/web/components/editor/emoji/emoji-enabled.ts b/web/components/editor/emoji/emoji-enabled.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..92352b05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/components/editor/emoji/emoji-enabled.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+/**
+ * Emoji support in the text editor — the `:shortcode` suggestion popup while typing and the smiley
+ * button in the format toolbar — is off for now. Flip to `true` to bring both back.
+ */
+export const EMOJI_ENABLED = false
diff --git a/web/components/editor/sticky-format-menu.tsx b/web/components/editor/sticky-format-menu.tsx
index 63faa9c6..547b1e32 100644
--- a/web/components/editor/sticky-format-menu.tsx
+++ b/web/components/editor/sticky-format-menu.tsx
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import {FileUploadButton} from '../buttons/file-upload-button'
 import {LoadingIndicator} from '../widgets/loading-indicator'
 import {Tooltip} from '../widgets/tooltip'
 import {EmbedModal} from './embed-modal'
+import {EMOJI_ENABLED} from './emoji/emoji-enabled'
 import type {UploadMutation} from './upload-extension'
 
 /* Toolbar, with buttons for images and embeds */
@@ -39,13 +40,15 @@ export function StickyFormatMenu(props: {
           <CodeBracketIcon className="h-5 w-5" aria-hidden="true" />
         </ToolbarButton>
       )}
-      <ToolbarButton
-        key={'emoji-button'}
-        label={t('sticky_format_menu.add_emoji', 'Add emoji')}
-        onClick={() => insertEmoji(editor)}
-      >
-        <FaceSmileIcon className="h-5 w-5" />
-      </ToolbarButton>
+      {EMOJI_ENABLED && (
+        <ToolbarButton
+          key={'emoji-button'}
+          label={t('sticky_format_menu.add_emoji', 'Add emoji')}
+          onClick={() => insertEmoji(editor)}
+        >
+          <FaceSmileIcon className="h-5 w-5" />
+        </ToolbarButton>
+      )}
 
       <EmbedModal editor={editor} open={iframeOpen} setOpen={setIframeOpen} />
       <div className="grow" />
diff --git a/web/components/widgets/editor.tsx b/web/components/widgets/editor.tsx
index 1aee3110..ebfa3397 100644
--- a/web/components/widgets/editor.tsx
+++ b/web/components/widgets/editor.tsx
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import {usePersistentLocalState} from 'web/hooks/use-persistent-local-state'
 import {safeLocalStorage} from 'web/lib/util/local'
 
 import {DEFAULT_PROTOCOL, SyncAutolink} from '../editor/autolink'
+import {EMOJI_ENABLED} from '../editor/emoji/emoji-enabled'
 import {EmojiExtension} from '../editor/emoji/emoji-extension'
 import {FloatingFormatMenu} from '../editor/floating-format-menu'
 import {BasicImage, DisplayImage} from '../editor/image'
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ const editorExtensions = (simple = false): Extensions =>
     }),
     simple ? DisplayImage : BasicImage,
     simple ? DisplayVideo : BasicVideo,
-    EmojiExtension,
+    ...(EMOJI_ENABLED ? [EmojiExtension] : []),
     DisplayLink,
     SyncAutolink,
     DisplayMention,
@@ -385,7 +386,9 @@ export function TextEditor(props: {
       )}
     >
       <FloatingFormatMenu editor={editor} advanced={!simple} />
-      <div className={clsx(`overflow-auto`, maxHeight)}>
+      {/* overscroll-contain: a drag started in the editor stays here instead of chaining out and
+          scrolling whatever is behind it (e.g. the chat page) */}
+      <div className={clsx(`overflow-auto overscroll-contain`, maxHeight)}>
         <EditorContent editor={editor} onBlur={onBlur} onChange={onChange} />
       </div>
 
diff --git a/web/hooks/use-visual-viewport-height.ts b/web/hooks/use-visual-viewport-height.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..746103b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/hooks/use-visual-viewport-height.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+import {useEffect} from 'react'
+
+/**
+ * Pins the calling page to the *visual* viewport (the part of the screen not covered by the on-screen
+ * keyboard) and stops the document itself from scrolling, for as long as the component is mounted.
+ *
+ * Why: on a chat page the composer sits at the bottom of the page. When the keyboard opens, the visual
+ * viewport shrinks but the document keeps its old height, so the browser/WebView scrolls the document up
+ * to keep the focused input visible — dragging the conversation header (the name of the person you're
+ * messaging) off the top of the screen. `100dvh` doesn't help: it tracks the *layout* viewport, which the
+ * keyboard doesn't change.
+ *
+ * The fix is to publish the live visual-viewport height as `--vvh` and let the page size itself off that,
+ * with the document locked at scroll 0 so nothing can push the header away. The page then only scrolls
+ * where we want it to: inside the message list.
+ */
+export const useVisualViewportHeight = () => {
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const root = document.documentElement
+    const vv = window.visualViewport
+
+    const update = () => {
+      root.style.setProperty('--vvh', `${vv?.height ?? window.innerHeight}px`)
+      // Undo any auto-scroll the browser did to reveal the focused input: with the page sized to the
+      // visual viewport there is nothing to scroll to, and a leftover offset hides the header.
+      if (document.scrollingElement) document.scrollingElement.scrollTop = 0
+      window.scrollTo(0, 0)
+    }
+
+    update()
+    vv?.addEventListener('resize', update)
+    vv?.addEventListener('scroll', update)
+    window.addEventListener('resize', update)
+    window.addEventListener('orientationchange', update)
+
+    const bodyStyle = {
+      overflow: document.body.style.overflow,
+      ob: document.body.style.overscrollBehavior,
+    }
+    const rootStyle = {overflow: root.style.overflow, ob: root.style.overscrollBehavior}
+    // Nothing outside the message list scrolls: overflow hidden on both the document element and the
+    // body (a drag started on the composer chains to whichever of the two is scrollable), and
+    // overscroll-behavior none so neither rubber-bands the whole page.
+    document.body.style.overflow = 'hidden'
+    document.body.style.overscrollBehavior = 'none'
+    root.style.overflow = 'hidden'
+    root.style.overscrollBehavior = 'none'
+
+    return () => {
+      vv?.removeEventListener('resize', update)
+      vv?.removeEventListener('scroll', update)
+      window.removeEventListener('resize', update)
+      window.removeEventListener('orientationchange', update)
+      document.body.style.overflow = bodyStyle.overflow
+      document.body.style.overscrollBehavior = bodyStyle.ob
+      root.style.overflow = rootStyle.overflow
+      root.style.overscrollBehavior = rootStyle.ob
+      root.style.removeProperty('--vvh')
+    }
+  }, [])
+}
diff --git a/web/pages/messages/[channelId].tsx b/web/pages/messages/[channelId].tsx
index 054d33ed..453e1d55 100644
--- a/web/pages/messages/[channelId].tsx
+++ b/web/pages/messages/[channelId].tsx
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ import {
 import {useRedirectIfSignedOut} from 'web/hooks/use-redirect-if-signed-out'
 import {useUser} from 'web/hooks/use-user'
 import {useUsersInStore} from 'web/hooks/use-user-supabase'
+import {useVisualViewportHeight} from 'web/hooks/use-visual-viewport-height'
 import {api} from 'web/lib/api'
 import {firebaseLogin} from 'web/lib/firebase/users'
 import {useT} from 'web/lib/locale'
@@ -119,6 +120,7 @@ export const PrivateChat = (props: {
   const {user, channel, memberIds} = props
   const t = useT()
   useHideBottomNavOnKeyboard()
+  useVisualViewportHeight()
   const channelId = channel.channel_id
   const isSafari = /^((?!chrome|android).)*safari/i.test(navigator.userAgent)
   const isMobile = useIsMobile()
@@ -275,9 +277,13 @@ export const PrivateChat = (props: {
   const [replyToUserInfo, setReplyToUserInfo] = useState<any>()
 
   return (
-    <Col className="w-full">
+    // Sized to the visual viewport (see useVisualViewportHeight) so the keyboard can't push the header
+    // off-screen: the header and composer are fixed rows, only the message list scrolls.
+    <Col className="w-full overflow-hidden h-[calc(var(--vvh,100dvh)-var(--hloss)-var(--bnv))] lg:h-[calc(100dvh-var(--hloss)-1.5rem)]">
       <Row
-        className={'bg-canvas-0 border border-canvas-200 h-14 items-center gap-2 rounded-xl px-2'}
+        className={
+          'bg-canvas-0 border border-canvas-200 h-14 shrink-0 items-center gap-2 rounded-xl px-2'
+        }
       >
         <BackButton className="self-stretch mr-2" />
         {members && members.length > 0 ? (
@@ -438,10 +444,12 @@ export const PrivateChat = (props: {
           </Modal>
         )}
       </Row>
-      <Col className="relative h-[calc(100dvh-149px-var(--bnv)-var(--hloss))] lg:h-[calc(100dvh-184px-var(--hloss))] xl:px-0">
+      <Col className="relative min-h-0 flex-1 xl:px-0">
+        {/* overscroll-contain: at the top of the feed, further upward scrolling stays here instead of
+            chaining to the document and dragging the header/composer with it. */}
         <div
           ref={outerDiv}
-          className="relative h-full overflow-y-auto"
+          className="relative h-full overflow-y-auto overscroll-contain"
           style={{
             transform: isSafari ? 'translate3d(0, 0, 0)' : 'none',
           }}
@@ -511,38 +519,45 @@ export const PrivateChat = (props: {
           </div>
         </div>
       </Col>
-      {allUsersBanned ? (
-        <div className="bg-canvas-50 border border-canvas-200 rounded-xl p-4 text-center m-2">
-          <span className="text-ink-500 text-sm">
-            {t(
-              'messages.cannot_message_banned',
-              "The profile was removed for suspicious activity; never send money to someone you haven't met.",
-            )}
-          </span>
-        </div>
-      ) : user.isBannedFromPosting ? (
-        <AccountOnHoldNotice reason={user.banReason} className="m-2" compact />
-      ) : noOtherUser ? (
-        <div className="bg-canvas-50 border border-canvas-200 rounded-xl p-4 text-center m-2">
-          <span className="text-ink-500 text-sm">
-            {t(
-              'messages.cannot_message_deleted',
-              "You can't text them as they deleted their account.",
-            )}
-          </span>
-        </div>
-      ) : (
-        <CommentInputTextArea
-          editor={editor}
-          user={user}
-          submit={submitMessage}
-          isSubmitting={isSubmitting}
-          submitOnEnter={!isMobile}
-          replyTo={replyToUserInfo}
-          isEditing={!!editingMessage}
-          cancelEditing={cancelEditing}
-        />
-      )}
+      {/* relative z-10: the composer is a static box, so the positioned message bubbles above it would
+          otherwise paint over its border / focus ring as they scroll past. */}
+      <div className="relative z-10 shrink-0">
+        {allUsersBanned ? (
+          <div className="bg-canvas-50 border border-canvas-200 rounded-xl p-4 text-center m-2">
+            <span className="text-ink-500 text-sm">
+              {t(
+                'messages.cannot_message_banned',
+                "The profile was removed for suspicious activity; never send money to someone you haven't met.",
+              )}
+            </span>
+          </div>
+        ) : user.isBannedFromPosting ? (
+          <AccountOnHoldNotice reason={user.banReason} className="m-2" compact />
+        ) : noOtherUser ? (
+          <div className="bg-canvas-50 border border-canvas-200 rounded-xl p-4 text-center m-2">
+            <span className="text-ink-500 text-sm">
+              {t(
+                'messages.cannot_message_deleted',
+                "You can't text them as they deleted their account.",
+              )}
+            </span>
+          </div>
+        ) : (
+          <CommentInputTextArea
+            editor={editor}
+            // Cap the composer at 40% of the *visible* viewport (the default max-h-[60vh] tracks the
+            // layout viewport, so with the keyboard up a long draft swallowed the whole feed).
+            maxHeight="max-h-[calc(var(--vvh)*0.4)]"
+            user={user}
+            submit={submitMessage}
+            isSubmitting={isSubmitting}
+            submitOnEnter={!isMobile}
+            replyTo={replyToUserInfo}
+            isEditing={!!editingMessage}
+            cancelEditing={cancelEditing}
+          />
+        )}
+      </div>
     </Col>
   )
 }
diff --git a/web/styles/globals.css b/web/styles/globals.css
index 9a8da9e8..3a406ccd 100644
--- a/web/styles/globals.css
+++ b/web/styles/globals.css
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
   --tnh: env(safe-area-inset-top); /* native top nav height */
   --hloss: calc(var(--bnh) + var(--tnh)); /* mobile height loss due to native top and bottom bars */
   --filter-offset: 0px; /* padding for filters on mobile */
+  --vvh: 100dvh; /* visual viewport height; overridden in px by useVisualViewportHeight() */
   touch-action: pan-y;
 }