diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/hotkeys/registry.ts b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/hotkeys/registry.ts
index 27d19256aa6..cb9aadf4517 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/hotkeys/registry.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/hotkeys/registry.ts
@@ -186,14 +186,16 @@ export const HOTKEYS_REGISTRY = {
 		label: "Toggle Changes Tab",
 		category: "Layout",
 	},
-	TOGGLE_EXPAND_SIDEBAR: {
+	OPEN_DIFF_VIEWER: {
 		key: {
 			mac: "meta+shift+l",
 			windows: "ctrl+shift+alt+l",
 			linux: "ctrl+shift+alt+l",
 		},
-		label: "Toggle Expand Sidebar",
+		label: "Open Diff Viewer",
 		category: "Layout",
+		description:
+			"Open the diff viewer in a new tab, or focus the existing diff viewer",
 	},
 	TOGGLE_WORKSPACE_SIDEBAR: {
 		key: { mac: "meta+b", windows: "ctrl+shift+b", linux: "ctrl+shift+b" },
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/routes/_authenticated/_dashboard/v2-workspace/$workspaceId/hooks/useWorkspaceHotkeys/useWorkspaceHotkeys.ts b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/routes/_authenticated/_dashboard/v2-workspace/$workspaceId/hooks/useWorkspaceHotkeys/useWorkspaceHotkeys.ts
index 83308f52a08..205a334364c 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/routes/_authenticated/_dashboard/v2-workspace/$workspaceId/hooks/useWorkspaceHotkeys/useWorkspaceHotkeys.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/routes/_authenticated/_dashboard/v2-workspace/$workspaceId/hooks/useWorkspaceHotkeys/useWorkspaceHotkeys.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import type { StoreApi } from "zustand";
 import type {
 	BrowserPaneData,
 	ChatPaneData,
+	DiffPaneData,
 	PaneViewerData,
 	TerminalPaneData,
 } from "../../types";
@@ -70,6 +71,33 @@ export function useWorkspaceHotkeys({
 		});
 	});
 
+	useHotkey("OPEN_DIFF_VIEWER", () => {
+		if (collections.v2WorkspaceLocalState.get(workspaceId)) {
+			collections.v2WorkspaceLocalState.update(workspaceId, (draft) => {
+				draft.rightSidebarOpen = true;
+				draft.sidebarState.activeTab = "changes";
+			});
+		}
+
+		const state = store.getState();
+		for (const tab of state.tabs) {
+			for (const pane of Object.values(tab.panes)) {
+				if (pane.kind !== "diff") continue;
+				state.setActiveTab(tab.id);
+				state.setActivePane({ tabId: tab.id, paneId: pane.id });
+				return;
+			}
+		}
+		state.addTab({
+			panes: [
+				{
+					kind: "diff",
+					data: { path: "", collapsedFiles: [] } as DiffPaneData,
+				},
+			],
+		});
+	});
+
 	// --- Tab management ---
 
 	const isClosingPaneRef = useRef(false);
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/routes/_authenticated/_dashboard/workspace/$workspaceId/page.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/routes/_authenticated/_dashboard/workspace/$workspaceId/page.tsx
index b5cfdee609d..6288cab9459 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/routes/_authenticated/_dashboard/workspace/$workspaceId/page.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/routes/_authenticated/_dashboard/workspace/$workspaceId/page.tsx
@@ -330,8 +330,8 @@ function WorkspacePage() {
 	// Toggle changes sidebar (⌘L)
 	useHotkey("TOGGLE_SIDEBAR", () => toggleSidebar());
 
-	// Toggle expand/collapse sidebar (⌘⇧L)
-	useHotkey("TOGGLE_EXPAND_SIDEBAR", () => {
+	// Open diff viewer (⌘⇧L)
+	useHotkey("OPEN_DIFF_VIEWER", () => {
 		if (!isSidebarOpen) {
 			setSidebarOpen(true);
 			setSidebarMode(SidebarMode.Changes);
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/screens/main/components/WorkspaceView/RightSidebar/index.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/screens/main/components/WorkspaceView/RightSidebar/index.tsx
index 11df11e195c..55ec2680787 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/screens/main/components/WorkspaceView/RightSidebar/index.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/screens/main/components/WorkspaceView/RightSidebar/index.tsx
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ export function RightSidebar() {
 						<TooltipContent side="bottom" showArrow={false}>
 							<HotkeyLabel
 								label={isExpanded ? "Collapse sidebar" : "Expand sidebar"}
-								id="TOGGLE_EXPAND_SIDEBAR"
+								id="OPEN_DIFF_VIEWER"
 							/>
 						</TooltipContent>
 					</Tooltip>