diff --git a/main_test.go b/main_test.go
index fa09fb6..80ffeb8 100644
--- a/main_test.go
+++ b/main_test.go
@@ -746,6 +746,20 @@ func TestUILifecycleControlsWithSelectedRecentVaultDoesNotPanic(t *testing.T) {
 	_ = u.lifecycleControls(gtx)
 }
 
+func TestUIShouldPrioritizeLifecyclePrimaryActionsOnPhone(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	phone := newUIWithSession("phone", &session.Manager{})
+	if !phone.shouldPrioritizeLifecyclePrimaryActions() {
+		t.Fatal("phone.shouldPrioritizeLifecyclePrimaryActions() = false, want true")
+	}
+
+	desktop := newUIWithSession("desktop", &session.Manager{})
+	if desktop.shouldPrioritizeLifecyclePrimaryActions() {
+		t.Fatal("desktop.shouldPrioritizeLifecyclePrimaryActions() = true, want false")
+	}
+}
+
 func TestUIRecentVaultListWithSelectedRecentVaultDoesNotPanic(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
@@ -6040,7 +6054,13 @@ func TestUIRemoteSyncSetupShortcutLabelUsesClearLanguage(t *testing.T) {
 func TestUILifecycleRemoteSyncActionLabelUsesSetupLanguageWithoutSavedBinding(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
-	u := newUIWithSession("desktop", &session.Manager{})
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	u := newUIWithSession("desktop", &session.Manager{}, statePaths{
+		DefaultSaveAsPath: filepath.Join(dir, "vault.kdbx"),
+		RecentVaultsPath:  filepath.Join(dir, "recent-vaults.json"),
+		RecentRemotesPath: filepath.Join(dir, "recent-remotes.json"),
+		UIPreferencesPath: filepath.Join(dir, "ui-prefs.json"),
+	})
 	u.vaultPath.SetText("/vaults/bellagio.kdbx")
 
 	if !u.shouldShowLifecycleRemoteSyncAction() {
diff --git a/ui_forms.go b/ui_forms.go
index 57438c1..94bdd52 100644
--- a/ui_forms.go
+++ b/ui_forms.go
@@ -22,6 +22,92 @@ func (u *ui) lifecycleControls(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
 	busy := u.lifecycleBusy()
 	showLocalChooser := u.showLocalVaultChooser()
 	selectedLocalPath := strings.TrimSpace(u.vaultPath.Text())
+	advancedSection := func(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
+		if busy {
+			return layout.Dimensions{}
+		}
+		return layout.Flex{Axis: layout.Vertical}.Layout(gtx,
+			layout.Rigid(u.lifecycleAdvancedDisclosure),
+			layout.Rigid(layout.Spacer{Height: unit.Dp(6)}.Layout),
+			layout.Rigid(func(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
+				if u.lifecycleAdvancedHidden {
+					return layout.Dimensions{}
+				}
+				if u.lifecycleMode == "remote" {
+					return layout.Dimensions{}
+				}
+				return compactCard(gtx, func(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
+					return layout.Flex{Axis: layout.Vertical}.Layout(gtx,
+						layout.Rigid(func(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
+							lbl := material.Label(u.theme, unit.Sp(13), "Vault settings")
+							lbl.Color = accentColor
+							return lbl.Layout(gtx)
+						}),
+						layout.Rigid(layout.Spacer{Height: unit.Dp(4)}.Layout),
+						layout.Rigid(func(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
+							lbl := material.Label(u.theme, unit.Sp(12), u.lifecycleSecuritySettingsSummary())
+							lbl.Color = mutedColor
+							return lbl.Layout(gtx)
+						}),
+						layout.Rigid(layout.Spacer{Height: unit.Dp(8)}.Layout),
+						layout.Rigid(func(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
+							return tonedButton(gtx, u.theme, &u.openSecuritySettings, "Open Vault Settings")
+						}),
+					)
+				})
+			}),
+		)
+	}
+	primaryActionsSection := func(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
+		return layout.Flex{Axis: layout.Vertical}.Layout(gtx,
+			layout.Rigid(func(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
+				label := "Open Vault"
+				if busy {
+					label = "Opening Vault..."
+				}
+				if busy {
+					return passiveTonedButton(gtx, u.theme, label)
+				}
+				return tonedButton(gtx, u.theme, &u.openVault, label)
+			}),
+			layout.Rigid(func(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
+				if busy || !u.shouldShowLifecycleRemoteSyncAction() {
+					return layout.Dimensions{}
+				}
+				return layout.Spacer{Height: unit.Dp(6)}.Layout(gtx)
+			}),
+			layout.Rigid(func(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
+				if busy || !u.shouldShowLifecycleRemoteSyncAction() {
+					return layout.Dimensions{}
+				}
+				return tonedButton(gtx, u.theme, &u.lifecycleRemoteSyncAction, u.lifecycleRemoteSyncActionLabel())
+			}),
+			layout.Rigid(layout.Spacer{Height: unit.Dp(6)}.Layout),
+			layout.Rigid(func(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
+				lbl := material.Label(u.theme, unit.Sp(11), "Need a fresh database instead?")
+				lbl.Color = mutedColor
+				return lbl.Layout(gtx)
+			}),
+			layout.Rigid(layout.Spacer{Height: unit.Dp(4)}.Layout),
+			layout.Rigid(func(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
+				if busy {
+					return passiveSectionTab(gtx, u.theme, "Create New Vault", false)
+				}
+				return sectionTabButton(gtx, u.theme, &u.createVault, "Create New Vault", false)
+			}),
+		)
+	}
+	selectedVaultSection := func(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
+		if busy || selectedLocalPath == "" {
+			return layout.Dimensions{}
+		}
+		return layout.Flex{Axis: layout.Vertical}.Layout(gtx,
+			layout.Rigid(layout.Spacer{Height: unit.Dp(8)}.Layout),
+			layout.Rigid(func(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
+				return u.selectedLocalVaultCard(gtx, selectedLocalPath)
+			}),
+		)
+	}
 	return layout.Flex{Axis: layout.Vertical}.Layout(gtx,
 		layout.Rigid(func(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
 			lbl := material.Label(u.theme, unit.Sp(12), "OPEN A VAULT")
@@ -119,106 +205,30 @@ func (u *ui) lifecycleControls(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
 			}
 			return keyFileSelector(u.theme, &u.keyFilePath, &u.pickKeyFile)(gtx)
 		}),
-		layout.Rigid(func(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
-			if busy {
-				return layout.Dimensions{}
-			}
-			return layout.Spacer{Height: unit.Dp(8)}.Layout(gtx)
-		}),
-		layout.Rigid(func(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
-			if busy {
-				return layout.Dimensions{}
-			}
-			return u.lifecycleAdvancedDisclosure(gtx)
-		}),
-		layout.Rigid(func(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
-			if busy {
-				return layout.Dimensions{}
-			}
-			return layout.Spacer{Height: unit.Dp(6)}.Layout(gtx)
-		}),
-		layout.Rigid(func(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
-			if busy || u.lifecycleAdvancedHidden {
-				return layout.Dimensions{}
-			}
-			if u.lifecycleMode == "remote" {
-				return layout.Dimensions{}
-			}
-			return compactCard(gtx, func(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
-				return layout.Flex{Axis: layout.Vertical}.Layout(gtx,
-					layout.Rigid(func(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
-						lbl := material.Label(u.theme, unit.Sp(13), "Vault settings")
-						lbl.Color = accentColor
-						return lbl.Layout(gtx)
-					}),
-					layout.Rigid(layout.Spacer{Height: unit.Dp(4)}.Layout),
-					layout.Rigid(func(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
-						lbl := material.Label(u.theme, unit.Sp(12), u.lifecycleSecuritySettingsSummary())
-						lbl.Color = mutedColor
-						return lbl.Layout(gtx)
-					}),
-					layout.Rigid(layout.Spacer{Height: unit.Dp(8)}.Layout),
-					layout.Rigid(func(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
-						return tonedButton(gtx, u.theme, &u.openSecuritySettings, "Open Vault Settings")
-					}),
-				)
-			})
-		}),
 		layout.Rigid(layout.Spacer{Height: unit.Dp(8)}.Layout),
 		layout.Rigid(func(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
+			if u.shouldPrioritizeLifecyclePrimaryActions() {
+				return layout.Flex{Axis: layout.Vertical}.Layout(gtx,
+					layout.Rigid(primaryActionsSection),
+					layout.Rigid(selectedVaultSection),
+					layout.Rigid(layout.Spacer{Height: unit.Dp(8)}.Layout),
+					layout.Rigid(advancedSection),
+				)
+			}
 			return layout.Flex{Axis: layout.Vertical}.Layout(gtx,
-				layout.Rigid(func(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
-					label := "Open Vault"
-					if busy {
-						label = "Opening Vault..."
-					}
-					if busy {
-						return passiveTonedButton(gtx, u.theme, label)
-					}
-					return tonedButton(gtx, u.theme, &u.openVault, label)
-				}),
-				layout.Rigid(func(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
-					if busy || !u.shouldShowLifecycleRemoteSyncAction() {
-						return layout.Dimensions{}
-					}
-					return layout.Spacer{Height: unit.Dp(6)}.Layout(gtx)
-				}),
-				layout.Rigid(func(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
-					if busy || !u.shouldShowLifecycleRemoteSyncAction() {
-						return layout.Dimensions{}
-					}
-					return tonedButton(gtx, u.theme, &u.lifecycleRemoteSyncAction, u.lifecycleRemoteSyncActionLabel())
-				}),
-				layout.Rigid(layout.Spacer{Height: unit.Dp(6)}.Layout),
-				layout.Rigid(func(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
-					lbl := material.Label(u.theme, unit.Sp(11), "Need a fresh database instead?")
-					lbl.Color = mutedColor
-					return lbl.Layout(gtx)
-				}),
-				layout.Rigid(layout.Spacer{Height: unit.Dp(4)}.Layout),
-				layout.Rigid(func(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
-					if busy {
-						return passiveSectionTab(gtx, u.theme, "Create New Vault", false)
-					}
-					return sectionTabButton(gtx, u.theme, &u.createVault, "Create New Vault", false)
-				}),
-				layout.Rigid(func(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
-					if busy || selectedLocalPath == "" {
-						return layout.Dimensions{}
-					}
-					return layout.Spacer{Height: unit.Dp(8)}.Layout(gtx)
-				}),
-				layout.Rigid(func(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
-					if busy || selectedLocalPath == "" {
-						return layout.Dimensions{}
-					}
-					return u.selectedLocalVaultCard(gtx, selectedLocalPath)
-				}),
+				layout.Rigid(advancedSection),
+				layout.Rigid(layout.Spacer{Height: unit.Dp(8)}.Layout),
+				layout.Rigid(primaryActionsSection),
+				layout.Rigid(selectedVaultSection),
 			)
 		}),
 	)
 }
 
+func (u *ui) shouldPrioritizeLifecyclePrimaryActions() bool {
+	return u.mode == "phone"
+}
+
 func (u *ui) selectedRemoteConnectionCard(gtx layout.Context) layout.Dimensions {
 	heading := u.selectedRemoteCardHeading()
 	primary := u.selectedRemoteCardPrimaryText()