diff --git a/internal/tui/app.go b/internal/tui/app.go
index bea4663..405f362 100644
--- a/internal/tui/app.go
+++ b/internal/tui/app.go
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ type App struct {
 	overlay  overlay
 	leader   *leaderState
 	navKeys  []vim.Key
+	tabSeq   []vim.Key // first key of a buffer/tab sequence typed outside the editor
 	paneKeys bool
 
 	// tagMenu is the tag completion under the cursor; tagDismissed the token
diff --git a/internal/tui/input.go b/internal/tui/input.go
index b07d287..1d6f878 100644
--- a/internal/tui/input.go
+++ b/internal/tui/input.go
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ func (a *App) handleKey(k vim.Key) tea.Cmd {
 	}
 	a.deferReads = true
 	defer func() { a.deferReads = false }()
+	held := a.tabSeq
+	a.tabSeq = nil
 	if a.message != "" && !(k.Is("esc") && a.overlay == nil) {
 		a.message, a.messageErr = "", false
 	}
@@ -100,6 +102,15 @@ func (a *App) handleKey(k vim.Key) tea.Cmd {
 			return a.afterKey()
 		}
 	}
+	if a.tabSequenceKey(k, held) {
+		return a.afterKey()
+	}
+	a.surfaceKey(k)
+	return a.afterKey()
+}
+
+// surfaceKey hands a key to the focused surface.
+func (a *App) surfaceKey(k vim.Key) {
 	switch a.focus {
 	case focusSidebar:
 		a.sidebar.handleKey(a, k)
@@ -114,7 +125,48 @@ func (a *App) handleKey(k vim.Key) tea.Cmd {
 	default:
 		a.paneKey(k)
 	}
-	return a.afterKey()
+}
+
+// tabSequenceKey runs the buffer and tab sequences (`[b`, `]b`, `gt`, `gT`)
+// from every surface that is not a note editor; the editor handles them in
+// editorKey. A started sequence that does not complete is replayed to the
+// surface, so a lone `]` still reaches the view that binds it.
+func (a *App) tabSequenceKey(k vim.Key, held []vim.Key) bool {
+	if !a.prefs.VimMode || len(a.navKeys) > 0 {
+		return false
+	}
+	if a.focus == focusPane {
+		if t := a.activeTab(); t != nil && t.view == nil && a.buffers[t.path] != nil && t.mode != modePreview {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	seqIDs := []string{"vim.bufferPrevious", "vim.bufferNext", "vim.tabPrevious", "vim.tabNext"}
+	if len(held) > 0 {
+		if k.Is("esc") {
+			return true
+		}
+		seq := append(append([]vim.Key{}, held...), k)
+		for _, id := range seqIDs {
+			if complete, _ := matchSequence(seq, bindingKeys(a.keymap.Binding(id))); complete {
+				a.runSequenceAction(id, 1, false)
+				return true
+			}
+		}
+		a.surfaceKey(seq[0])
+		return false
+	}
+	for _, id := range seqIDs {
+		keys := bindingKeys(a.keymap.Binding(id))
+		if len(keys) > 1 && sameKey(k, keys[0]) {
+			a.tabSeq = []vim.Key{k}
+			return true
+		}
+		if len(keys) == 1 && sameKey(k, keys[0]) {
+			a.runSequenceAction(id, 1, false)
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
 }
 
 // completionKey takes the keys insert-mode completion owns: the ones that
diff --git a/internal/tui/mouse.go b/internal/tui/mouse.go
index 7fda616..72cdcb8 100644
--- a/internal/tui/mouse.go
+++ b/internal/tui/mouse.go
@@ -123,6 +123,9 @@ func (a *App) dividerAt(n *paneNode, x, y int) *paneNode {
 
 // handleMouse is the entry point for every mouse event.
 func (a *App) handleMouse(m tea.MouseMsg) {
+	if m.Action != tea.MouseActionMotion {
+		a.tabSeq = nil
+	}
 	switch m.Action {
 	case tea.MouseActionRelease:
 		a.mouse.drag = ""
diff --git a/internal/tui/tabsequence_test.go b/internal/tui/tabsequence_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7bd84cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/tui/tabsequence_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,152 @@
+package tui
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	tea "github.com/charmbracelet/bubbletea"
+
+	"github.com/ZenNotes/tui/internal/keymaps"
+	"github.com/ZenNotes/tui/internal/vim"
+)
+
+type probeView struct{ keys []vim.Key }
+
+func (v *probeView) title() string                                { return "probe" }
+func (v *probeView) hint(a *App) string                           { return "" }
+func (v *probeView) refresh(a *App)                               {}
+func (v *probeView) render(a *App, w, h int, focused bool) string { return "" }
+func (v *probeView) handleKey(a *App, k vim.Key) bool {
+	v.keys = append(v.keys, k)
+	return true
+}
+
+func tabSequenceApp() (*App, *probeView) {
+	a := &App{keymap: keymaps.NewResolver(nil), theme: buildTheme(true), prefs: prefsView{}}
+	a.prefs.VimMode = true
+	pv := &probeView{}
+	p := &pane{tabs: []*tab{{path: "virtual:a", view: pv}, {path: "virtual:b", view: &probeView{}}}}
+	a.panes = &paneNode{leaf: p}
+	a.activePane = p
+	a.focus = focusPane
+	return a, pv
+}
+
+func TestBufferSequencesCycleTabsFromAView(t *testing.T) {
+	a, pv := tabSequenceApp()
+	typeKeys(a, "]b")
+	if a.activePane.active != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("]b from a view: active = %d", a.activePane.active)
+	}
+	typeKeys(a, "[b")
+	if a.activePane.active != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("[b from a view: active = %d", a.activePane.active)
+	}
+	if len(pv.keys) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("a completed sequence leaked keys to the view: %v", pv.keys)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestBracketNotFollowedByBReachesTheView(t *testing.T) {
+	a, pv := tabSequenceApp()
+	typeKeys(a, "]x")
+	if a.activePane.active != 0 || len(pv.keys) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("active=%d keys=%v", a.activePane.active, pv.keys)
+	}
+}
+
+type closeOverlay struct{}
+
+func (closeOverlay) handleKey(a *App, k vim.Key)    { a.overlay = nil }
+func (closeOverlay) render(a *App, w, h int) string { return "" }
+
+func requireDropped(t *testing.T, a *App, pv *probeView) {
+	t.Helper()
+	if a.activePane.active != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("a stale held key switched tabs: active = %d", a.activePane.active)
+	}
+	for _, k := range pv.keys {
+		if k.IsRune(']') {
+			t.Fatalf("a held key was replayed to the view: %v", pv.keys)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestHeldKeyIsDroppedWhenAnOverlayTakesTheInput(t *testing.T) {
+	a, pv := tabSequenceApp()
+	typeKeys(a, "]")
+	a.overlay = closeOverlay{}
+	a.handleKey(vim.R('x'))
+	typeKeys(a, "b")
+	requireDropped(t, a, pv)
+	typeKeys(a, "]b")
+	if a.activePane.active != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("a fresh sequence after the drop: active = %d", a.activePane.active)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestHeldKeyIsDroppedByALeaderSequence(t *testing.T) {
+	a, pv := tabSequenceApp()
+	typeKeys(a, "]")
+	a.handleKey(vim.R(' '))
+	a.leader = nil
+	typeKeys(a, "b")
+	requireDropped(t, a, pv)
+}
+
+func TestHeldKeyIsDroppedByThePanePrefix(t *testing.T) {
+	a, pv := tabSequenceApp()
+	typeKeys(a, "]")
+	a.handleKey(vim.Ctrl('w'))
+	a.paneKeys = false
+	typeKeys(a, "b")
+	requireDropped(t, a, pv)
+}
+
+func TestHeldKeyIsDroppedByAMouseClick(t *testing.T) {
+	a, pv := tabSequenceApp()
+	typeKeys(a, "]")
+	a.handleMouse(tea.MouseMsg{Action: tea.MouseActionPress, Button: tea.MouseButtonLeft})
+	typeKeys(a, "b")
+	requireDropped(t, a, pv)
+}
+
+func TestHeldKeyIsDroppedWhenFocusMovesToAnEditor(t *testing.T) {
+	a, _ := newFeatureTestApp(t)
+	a.openNote("note.md", true)
+	note := a.activePane.active
+	pv := &probeView{}
+	a.activePane.tabs = append(a.activePane.tabs, &tab{path: "virtual:a", view: pv}, &tab{path: "virtual:b", view: &probeView{}})
+	view := len(a.activePane.tabs) - 2
+	a.activePane.active = view
+	a.focus = focusPane
+	typeKeys(a, "]")
+	a.activePane.active = note
+	a.handleKey(vim.KeyEsc)
+	a.activePane.active = view
+	typeKeys(a, "b")
+	if a.activePane.active != view || len(pv.keys) != 1 || !pv.keys[0].IsRune('b') {
+		t.Fatalf("active = %d keys = %v", a.activePane.active, pv.keys)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestEscapeCancelsAHeldKeyWithoutReplay(t *testing.T) {
+	a, pv := tabSequenceApp()
+	typeKeys(a, "]")
+	a.handleKey(vim.KeyEsc)
+	if len(pv.keys) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("Esc replayed the held key: %v", pv.keys)
+	}
+	typeKeys(a, "b")
+	requireDropped(t, a, pv)
+}
+
+func TestHeldKeyIsDroppedWhenVimModeTurnsOff(t *testing.T) {
+	a, pv := tabSequenceApp()
+	typeKeys(a, "]")
+	a.prefs.VimMode = false
+	a.handleKey(vim.R('x'))
+	a.prefs.VimMode = true
+	pv.keys = nil
+	typeKeys(a, "b")
+	requireDropped(t, a, pv)
+}