diff --git a/artifacts/tx-os/src/pages/protocol.tsx b/artifacts/tx-os/src/pages/protocol.tsx
index 293a52f0..1562624a 100644
--- a/artifacts/tx-os/src/pages/protocol.tsx
+++ b/artifacts/tx-os/src/pages/protocol.tsx
@@ -884,6 +884,21 @@ export default function ProtocolPage() {
   const [roomsGroupOpen, setRoomsGroupOpen] = useState(false);
   const [menuOpen, setMenuOpen] = useState(true);
 
+  // Auto-open the sidebar group containing the active tab (initial load or
+  // deep link), while still letting the user collapse it manually afterwards.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (
+      tab === "roomsDashboard" ||
+      tab === "rooms" ||
+      tab === "bookings" ||
+      tab === "bookingSettings"
+    ) {
+      setRoomsGroupOpen(true);
+    } else if (tab === "gifts" || tab === "issues") {
+      setGiftsGroupOpen(true);
+    }
+  }, [tab]);
+
   const bookingAction = useMutation({
     mutationFn: (args: { id: number; action: "approve" | "cancel" }) =>
       apiJson(`${API}/protocol/bookings/${args.id}/${args.action}`, {
@@ -1466,7 +1481,7 @@ export default function ProtocolPage() {
                     x.key === "bookingSettings",
                 );
                 const groupActive = children.some((x) => x.key === tab);
-                const open = roomsGroupOpen || groupActive;
+                const open = roomsGroupOpen;
                 return (
                   <div key="roomsGroup" className="flex md:flex-col gap-1">
                     <button
@@ -1517,7 +1532,7 @@ export default function ProtocolPage() {
                   (x) => x.key === "gifts" || x.key === "issues",
                 );
                 const groupActive = children.some((x) => x.key === tab);
-                const open = giftsGroupOpen || groupActive;
+                const open = giftsGroupOpen;
                 return (
                   <div key="giftsGroup" className="flex md:flex-col gap-1">
                     <button