diff --git a/apps/electron/src/renderer/actions/action-i18n.ts b/apps/electron/src/renderer/actions/action-i18n.ts
index 7edfd681b..8f69ea005 100644
--- a/apps/electron/src/renderer/actions/action-i18n.ts
+++ b/apps/electron/src/renderer/actions/action-i18n.ts
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ export const ACTION_LABEL_KEYS: Partial<Record<ActionId, string>> = {
   'panel.focusPrev': 'shortcuts.action.focusPrevPanel',
   'chat.stopProcessing': 'shortcuts.action.stopProcessing',
   'chat.cyclePermissionMode': 'shortcuts.action.cyclePermissionMode',
+  'chat.openThinkingMenu': 'shortcuts.action.openThinkingMenu',
   'chat.nextSearchMatch': 'shortcuts.action.nextSearchMatch',
   'chat.prevSearchMatch': 'shortcuts.action.prevSearchMatch',
 }
diff --git a/apps/electron/src/renderer/actions/definitions.ts b/apps/electron/src/renderer/actions/definitions.ts
index 82ecf3521..f0fd6b792 100644
--- a/apps/electron/src/renderer/actions/definitions.ts
+++ b/apps/electron/src/renderer/actions/definitions.ts
@@ -202,6 +202,13 @@ export const actions = {
     category: 'Chat',
     when: '!inputFocus && !menuOpen',
   },
+  'chat.openThinkingMenu': {
+    id: 'chat.openThinkingMenu',
+    label: 'Open Thinking Menu',
+    description: 'Open the thinking (reasoning effort) menu in the chat composer',
+    defaultHotkey: 'mod+shift+e',
+    category: 'Chat',
+  },
   'chat.nextSearchMatch': {
     id: 'chat.nextSearchMatch',
     label: 'Next Search Match',
diff --git a/apps/electron/src/renderer/components/app-shell/AppShell.tsx b/apps/electron/src/renderer/components/app-shell/AppShell.tsx
index f76515b6d..dc174dae4 100644
--- a/apps/electron/src/renderer/components/app-shell/AppShell.tsx
+++ b/apps/electron/src/renderer/components/app-shell/AppShell.tsx
@@ -222,6 +222,7 @@ import { hasOpenOverlay } from '@/lib/overlay-detection'
 import { getNextPermissionMode } from '@/lib/permission-mode-cycle'
 import { clearSourceIconCaches } from '@/lib/icon-cache'
 import { dispatchFocusInputEvent } from './input/focus-input-events'
+import { dispatchOpenComposerMenuEvent } from './input/composer-menu-events'
 import { resolveEffectiveConnectionSlug } from '@config/llm-connections'
 import { getWorkspaceDisplayName } from '@/utils/workspace'
 
@@ -1820,6 +1821,12 @@ function AppShellContent({
   useAction('nav.goBackAlt', goBack)
   useAction('nav.goForwardAlt', goForward)
 
+  // Open the composer's thinking (reasoning effort) menu (CMD+SHIFT+E).
+  // Targets the focused panel's composer via the scoped composer-menu event.
+  useAction('chat.openThinkingMenu', () =>
+    dispatchOpenComposerMenuEvent({ menu: 'thinking' }),
+  )
+
   // Search match navigation (CMD+G next, CMD+SHIFT+G prev)
   useAction(
     'chat.nextSearchMatch',
diff --git a/apps/electron/src/renderer/components/app-shell/input/FreeFormInput.tsx b/apps/electron/src/renderer/components/app-shell/input/FreeFormInput.tsx
index 37dd22440..8761b1e2c 100644
--- a/apps/electron/src/renderer/components/app-shell/input/FreeFormInput.tsx
+++ b/apps/electron/src/renderer/components/app-shell/input/FreeFormInput.tsx
@@ -102,6 +102,10 @@ import {
   clearPendingFocusForSession,
   consumePendingFocusForSession,
 } from './focus-input-events';
+import {
+  COMPOSER_MENU_EVENT,
+  type ComposerMenuEventDetail,
+} from './composer-menu-events';
 import {
   getRecentWorkingDirs,
   addRecentWorkingDir,
@@ -1291,6 +1295,33 @@ export function FreeFormInput({
       window.removeEventListener('craft:focus-input', handleFocusInput);
   }, [sessionId, isFocusedPanel, richInputRef]);
 
+  // Listen for craft:open-composer-menu events (open a toolbar menu from a
+  // global keyboard shortcut). Scoped like focus-input so the focused panel's
+  // composer responds.
+  React.useEffect(() => {
+    const handleOpenMenu = (e: Event) => {
+      const detail = (e as CustomEvent<ComposerMenuEventDetail>).detail;
+      if (
+        !shouldHandleScopedInputEvent({
+          sessionId,
+          isFocusedPanel,
+          targetSessionId: detail?.sessionId,
+        })
+      )
+        return;
+
+      if (detail?.menu === 'thinking') {
+        // The thinking picker only renders in the full (non-compact) toolbar.
+        if (compactMode || !onThinkingLevelChange) return;
+        setThinkingDropdownOpen(true);
+      }
+    };
+
+    window.addEventListener(COMPOSER_MENU_EVENT, handleOpenMenu);
+    return () =>
+      window.removeEventListener(COMPOSER_MENU_EVENT, handleOpenMenu);
+  }, [sessionId, isFocusedPanel, compactMode, onThinkingLevelChange]);
+
   // Recover queued focus requests after session switch/mount races.
   React.useEffect(() => {
     if (!consumePendingFocusForSession(sessionId)) return;
diff --git a/apps/electron/src/renderer/components/app-shell/input/composer-menu-events.ts b/apps/electron/src/renderer/components/app-shell/input/composer-menu-events.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d03c0e1ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/electron/src/renderer/components/app-shell/input/composer-menu-events.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+/**
+ * Cross-component bridge for opening a composer toolbar menu from a global
+ * keyboard shortcut.
+ *
+ * The action registry lives at the app shell (it owns the global hotkey
+ * listener), while the composer's toolbar dropdowns (thinking / model) own
+ * their controlled `open` state inside `FreeFormInput`. This event lets the
+ * shell ask the focused composer to open one of its menus, mirroring the
+ * scoping model of `focus-input-events.ts` so multi-panel layouts target the
+ * right composer.
+ */
+
+/** Composer toolbar menus that can be opened via a shortcut. */
+export type ComposerMenu = 'thinking'
+
+export interface ComposerMenuEventDetail {
+  /** Restrict to a specific session's composer; omit to target the focused panel. */
+  sessionId?: string
+  menu: ComposerMenu
+}
+
+export const COMPOSER_MENU_EVENT = 'craft:open-composer-menu'
+
+/**
+ * Ask a composer to open one of its toolbar menus. With no `sessionId`, the
+ * focused panel's composer handles it (see `shouldHandleScopedInputEvent`).
+ */
+export function dispatchOpenComposerMenuEvent(detail: ComposerMenuEventDetail): void {
+  window.dispatchEvent(
+    new CustomEvent<ComposerMenuEventDetail>(COMPOSER_MENU_EVENT, { detail }),
+  )
+}
diff --git a/docs/loop/feature-ledger.md b/docs/loop/feature-ledger.md
index 8533dd40f..ca77ffcf9 100644
--- a/docs/loop/feature-ledger.md
+++ b/docs/loop/feature-ledger.md
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ log, not the system of record.
 
 | slug | title | source | feasibility | status | issue | pr | branch | updated | notes |
 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
+| thinking-menu-shortcut | Keyboard shortcut (⌘⇧E) to open the composer's thinking (effort) menu | Claude Code Desktop effort-menu shortcut (⌘⇧E); explicit follow-up flagged in #44 | frontend-only | pr-open | [#54](https://github.com/modelstudioai/openwork/issues/54) | [#55](https://github.com/modelstudioai/openwork/pull/55) | loop/thinking-menu-shortcut | 2026-07-04 | New `chat.openThinkingMenu` action (`mod+shift+e`) → scoped `craft:open-composer-menu` event → `FreeFormInput` opens its already-controlled `thinkingDropdownOpen`. Mirrors `craft:focus-input`/`shouldHandleScopedInputEvent` for multi-panel safety. Auto-appears in Command Palette + Shortcuts reference. 1 new i18n key across 7 locales. Avoids ⌘⇧I (reserved for DevTools) / ⌘⇧M (permission mode already has Shift+Tab). typecheck zero-delta (11 pre-existing); `bun test` zero-delta (56 identical failures, diffed vs main); i18n parity OK; renderer build ✅; assertion transpiles ✅. **CDP blocked locally** (same egress limit: `libsignal` GitHub dep + Electron binary 403). |
 | prompt-history-recall | Recall previously-sent prompts in the composer with Up/Down arrows | Claude Code CLI `↑` history + Codex desktop "recover your previous prompt by pressing the up arrow" | frontend-only | pr-open | [#52](https://github.com/modelstudioai/openwork/issues/52) | [#53](https://github.com/modelstudioai/openwork/pull/53) | loop/composer-prompt-history | 2026-07-04 | New pure module `prompt-history.ts` (push/prev/next/entry-at) + global `localStorage['craft-prompt-history']`. Wired into `FreeFormInput.handleKeyDown`: Up recalls when composer empty/recalling, Down walks newer & restores draft, edit/submit/session-switch exit recall. Zero new i18n keys. `data-testid="composer-input"` added for e2e. **DoD:** typecheck:all +0 vs main (11 pre-existing electron errors only); packages/ui clean; `bun test` failure set byte-identical to main (56 pre-existing, verified by stash-diff) + 20 new passing unit tests; renderer build ✅; assertion transpiles. **CDP could not run locally** (egress 403s the Electron binary download, same as prior loop PRs) — assertion included for CI/reviewer. |
 | reduce-motion | "Reduce motion" accessibility setting in Appearance | Claude desktop / macOS / Windows "Reduce motion" + `prefers-reduced-motion` | frontend-only | pr-open | [#50](https://github.com/modelstudioai/openwork/issues/50) | [#51](https://github.com/modelstudioai/openwork/pull/51) | (loop) | 2026-07-03 | Reconciled from GitHub: PR open, awaiting review. Not re-selectable. |
 | composer-expand | Expand / collapse (maximize) toggle for the chat composer | Claude desktop / ChatGPT desktop / Codex desktop composer maximize | frontend-only | pr-open | [#48](https://github.com/modelstudioai/openwork/issues/48) | [#49](https://github.com/modelstudioai/openwork/pull/49) | (loop) | 2026-07-03 | Reconciled from GitHub: PR open, awaiting review. Not re-selectable. |
diff --git a/e2e/assertions/thinking-menu-shortcut.assert.ts b/e2e/assertions/thinking-menu-shortcut.assert.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..98f2e7e58
--- /dev/null
+++ b/e2e/assertions/thinking-menu-shortcut.assert.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+/**
+ * Feature assertion: the keyboard shortcut that opens the composer's thinking
+ * (reasoning effort) menu.
+ *
+ * Mirrors Claude Code Desktop's effort-menu shortcut (⌘⇧E). Drives the real
+ * built app over CDP:
+ *   composer renders a thinking-level trigger with its menu CLOSED → dispatch
+ *   the Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+E keydown at the window level → the thinking menu OPENS
+ *   (lists all six levels).
+ *
+ * Asserting the menu is closed *before* the keypress and open *after* it proves
+ * the shortcut actually opens the menu — not merely that the menu can render.
+ */
+
+import type { Assertion } from '../runner';
+
+const TRIGGER = '[data-testid="thinking-level-trigger"]';
+const ITEM = '[data-testid="thinking-level-item"]';
+
+/** The six thinking levels are the single source of truth for the count. */
+const EXPECTED_LEVEL_COUNT = 6;
+
+/** Menu items that are actually visible (Radix renders them in a portal). */
+const VISIBLE_ITEMS_EXPR = `[...document.querySelectorAll(${JSON.stringify(
+  ITEM,
+)})].filter((el) => el.offsetParent !== null)`;
+
+/**
+ * Dispatch the effort-menu shortcut at the window level, where the action
+ * registry's capture-phase keydown listener lives. `mod` resolves to Cmd on
+ * macOS and Ctrl elsewhere; set both `metaKey` and `ctrlKey` so the same event
+ * matches on either platform (the registry only checks the platform's mod key).
+ */
+const PRESS_SHORTCUT_EXPR = `(() => {
+  window.dispatchEvent(new KeyboardEvent('keydown', {
+    key: 'e',
+    code: 'KeyE',
+    ctrlKey: true,
+    metaKey: true,
+    shiftKey: true,
+    bubbles: true,
+    cancelable: true,
+  }));
+  return true;
+})()`;
+
+const assertion: Assertion = {
+  name: 'Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+E opens the composer thinking-level menu',
+  async run(app) {
+    const { session } = app;
+
+    // App fully mounted.
+    await session.waitForFunction(
+      '!document.getElementById("_loader") && (document.getElementById("root")?.childElementCount ?? 0) > 0',
+      { timeoutMs: 30000, message: 'React UI did not mount' },
+    );
+
+    // Reach the ready AppShell (not onboarding / workspace picker) — the same
+    // stable, non-localized anchor the other composer assertions wait on.
+    await session.waitForSelector('[aria-label="Craft menu"]', {
+      timeoutMs: 30000,
+      message: 'app did not reach the ready AppShell state',
+    });
+
+    // The composer renders a thinking-level trigger.
+    await session.waitForSelector(TRIGGER, {
+      timeoutMs: 20000,
+      message: 'thinking-level picker trigger did not render in the composer',
+    });
+
+    // Precondition: the menu is closed (no visible items).
+    if ((await session.evaluate<number>(`${VISIBLE_ITEMS_EXPR}.length`)) !== 0) {
+      throw new Error('thinking-level menu was already open before pressing the shortcut');
+    }
+
+    // Press the shortcut at the window level.
+    if (!(await session.evaluate<boolean>(PRESS_SHORTCUT_EXPR))) {
+      throw new Error('failed to dispatch the Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+E keydown');
+    }
+
+    // The menu opens and lists all six thinking levels — proving the shortcut
+    // opened it.
+    await session.waitForFunction(
+      `${VISIBLE_ITEMS_EXPR}.length === ${EXPECTED_LEVEL_COUNT}`,
+      {
+        timeoutMs: 8000,
+        message: `thinking-level menu did not open (expected ${EXPECTED_LEVEL_COUNT} levels) after pressing Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+E`,
+      },
+    );
+  },
+};
+
+export default assertion;
diff --git a/packages/shared/src/i18n/locales/de.json b/packages/shared/src/i18n/locales/de.json
index 7293edbea..b50908787 100644
--- a/packages/shared/src/i18n/locales/de.json
+++ b/packages/shared/src/i18n/locales/de.json
@@ -1173,6 +1173,7 @@
   "shortcuts.action.newChatInPanel": "Neuer Chat im Panel",
   "shortcuts.action.newWindow": "Neues Fenster",
   "shortcuts.action.nextSearchMatch": "Nächster Treffer",
+  "shortcuts.action.openThinkingMenu": "Denk-Menü öffnen",
   "shortcuts.action.prevSearchMatch": "Vorheriger Treffer",
   "shortcuts.action.quit": "Beenden",
   "shortcuts.action.search": "Suchen",
diff --git a/packages/shared/src/i18n/locales/en.json b/packages/shared/src/i18n/locales/en.json
index a25879e84..bf574f915 100644
--- a/packages/shared/src/i18n/locales/en.json
+++ b/packages/shared/src/i18n/locales/en.json
@@ -1173,6 +1173,7 @@
   "shortcuts.action.newChatInPanel": "New Chat in Panel",
   "shortcuts.action.newWindow": "New Window",
   "shortcuts.action.nextSearchMatch": "Next Search Match",
+  "shortcuts.action.openThinkingMenu": "Open Thinking Menu",
   "shortcuts.action.prevSearchMatch": "Previous Search Match",
   "shortcuts.action.quit": "Quit",
   "shortcuts.action.search": "Search",
diff --git a/packages/shared/src/i18n/locales/es.json b/packages/shared/src/i18n/locales/es.json
index ae802bd4e..6e03a8dfc 100644
--- a/packages/shared/src/i18n/locales/es.json
+++ b/packages/shared/src/i18n/locales/es.json
@@ -1173,6 +1173,7 @@
   "shortcuts.action.newChatInPanel": "Nuevo chat en panel",
   "shortcuts.action.newWindow": "Nueva ventana",
   "shortcuts.action.nextSearchMatch": "Siguiente coincidencia",
+  "shortcuts.action.openThinkingMenu": "Abrir menú de razonamiento",
   "shortcuts.action.prevSearchMatch": "Coincidencia anterior",
   "shortcuts.action.quit": "Salir",
   "shortcuts.action.search": "Buscar",
diff --git a/packages/shared/src/i18n/locales/hu.json b/packages/shared/src/i18n/locales/hu.json
index e9480d987..d2fa1a894 100644
--- a/packages/shared/src/i18n/locales/hu.json
+++ b/packages/shared/src/i18n/locales/hu.json
@@ -1173,6 +1173,7 @@
   "shortcuts.action.newChatInPanel": "Új chat a panelben",
   "shortcuts.action.newWindow": "Új ablak",
   "shortcuts.action.nextSearchMatch": "Következő találat",
+  "shortcuts.action.openThinkingMenu": "Gondolkodás menü megnyitása",
   "shortcuts.action.prevSearchMatch": "Előző találat",
   "shortcuts.action.quit": "Kilépés",
   "shortcuts.action.search": "Keresés",
diff --git a/packages/shared/src/i18n/locales/ja.json b/packages/shared/src/i18n/locales/ja.json
index 156d290b1..675a173f6 100644
--- a/packages/shared/src/i18n/locales/ja.json
+++ b/packages/shared/src/i18n/locales/ja.json
@@ -1173,6 +1173,7 @@
   "shortcuts.action.newChatInPanel": "パネルで新規チャット",
   "shortcuts.action.newWindow": "新規ウィンドウ",
   "shortcuts.action.nextSearchMatch": "次の検索結果",
+  "shortcuts.action.openThinkingMenu": "思考メニューを開く",
   "shortcuts.action.prevSearchMatch": "前の検索結果",
   "shortcuts.action.quit": "終了",
   "shortcuts.action.search": "検索",
diff --git a/packages/shared/src/i18n/locales/pl.json b/packages/shared/src/i18n/locales/pl.json
index 3e19a32ca..c23ee5133 100644
--- a/packages/shared/src/i18n/locales/pl.json
+++ b/packages/shared/src/i18n/locales/pl.json
@@ -1173,6 +1173,7 @@
   "shortcuts.action.newChatInPanel": "Nowy czat w panelu",
   "shortcuts.action.newWindow": "Nowe okno",
   "shortcuts.action.nextSearchMatch": "Następny wynik wyszukiwania",
+  "shortcuts.action.openThinkingMenu": "Otwórz menu myślenia",
   "shortcuts.action.prevSearchMatch": "Poprzedni wynik wyszukiwania",
   "shortcuts.action.quit": "Zakończ",
   "shortcuts.action.search": "Szukaj",
diff --git a/packages/shared/src/i18n/locales/zh-Hans.json b/packages/shared/src/i18n/locales/zh-Hans.json
index 2dd8337aa..94fc36ceb 100644
--- a/packages/shared/src/i18n/locales/zh-Hans.json
+++ b/packages/shared/src/i18n/locales/zh-Hans.json
@@ -1173,6 +1173,7 @@
   "shortcuts.action.newChatInPanel": "在面板中新建聊天",
   "shortcuts.action.newWindow": "新建窗口",
   "shortcuts.action.nextSearchMatch": "下一个搜索匹配",
+  "shortcuts.action.openThinkingMenu": "打开思考菜单",
   "shortcuts.action.prevSearchMatch": "上一个搜索匹配",
   "shortcuts.action.quit": "退出",
   "shortcuts.action.search": "搜索",