diff --git a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/app/(dashboard)/home/_components/HomePage.integration.test.tsx b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/app/(dashboard)/home/_components/HomePage.integration.test.tsx
index 598fbf74efc..b957393be64 100644
--- a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/app/(dashboard)/home/_components/HomePage.integration.test.tsx
+++ b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/app/(dashboard)/home/_components/HomePage.integration.test.tsx
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ describe("HomePage", () => {
       </QueryClientProvider>,
     );
     const entry = screen.getByRole("region", { name: "Ask LiteAdmin" });
-    expect(await within(entry).findByPlaceholderText("Ask LiteAdmin…")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(await within(entry).findByPlaceholderText("What would you like to do?")).toBeInTheDocument();
     expect(within(entry).getByRole("button", { name: "Send message" })).toBeDisabled();
     expect(await screen.findByText("$501.74")).toBeInTheDocument();
   });
diff --git a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/app/(dashboard)/home/_components/HomePage.tsx b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/app/(dashboard)/home/_components/HomePage.tsx
index b0c63bb5dc0..22eb0a07f32 100644
--- a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/app/(dashboard)/home/_components/HomePage.tsx
+++ b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/app/(dashboard)/home/_components/HomePage.tsx
@@ -29,11 +29,14 @@ export default function HomePage() {
 
   return (
     <Page>
-      <PageHeader>
+      <PageHeader className="flex flex-wrap items-center justify-between gap-3">
         <PageHeaderTitle>Home</PageHeaderTitle>
         {!isViewOnly && (
-          <PageHeaderControls>
-            <Button render={<a href={uiHref("api-keys?create=true")} />}>
+          <PageHeaderControls className="mt-0">
+            <Button
+              render={<a href={uiHref("api-keys?create=true")} />}
+              className="bg-info text-info-foreground shadow-xs hover:bg-info/90"
+            >
               <Plus />
               Create New Virtual Key
             </Button>
diff --git a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/liteadmin/LiteAdmin.integration.test.tsx b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/liteadmin/LiteAdmin.integration.test.tsx
index 2bc586cd1bb..690721dbbd9 100644
--- a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/liteadmin/LiteAdmin.integration.test.tsx
+++ b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/liteadmin/LiteAdmin.integration.test.tsx
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ async function openWidget() {
 }
 
 function send(text: string) {
-  fireEvent.change(screen.getByPlaceholderText("Ask LiteAdmin…"), { target: { value: text } });
+  fireEvent.change(screen.getByRole("textbox"), { target: { value: text } });
   fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Send message" }));
 }
 
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ describe("LiteAdmin in the gateway", () => {
     renderWidget(undefined, true);
     const home = await screen.findByRole("region", { name: "Ask LiteAdmin" });
     await selectModel();
-    const input = within(home).getByPlaceholderText("Ask LiteAdmin…");
+    const input = within(home).getByPlaceholderText("What would you like to do?");
     fireEvent.change(input, { target: { value: "First question" } });
     if (method === "keyboard") fireEvent.keyDown(input, { key: "Enter" });
     else fireEvent.click(within(home).getByRole("button", { name: "Send message" }));
@@ -235,6 +235,31 @@ describe("LiteAdmin in the gateway", () => {
     ]);
   });
 
+  it("prefills each Home suggestion without sending until the edited draft is submitted", async () => {
+    const requests = gateway([answer("Budget details received.")]);
+    renderWidget(undefined, true);
+    await selectModel();
+    const input = screen.getByRole("textbox", { name: "Message LiteAdmin" });
+    for (const label of ["Create a key", "Add a model", "Set a budget"]) {
+      fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: label, exact: true }));
+      expect(input).toHaveValue(label);
+      expect(input).toHaveFocus();
+      expect(screen.queryByRole("complementary", { name: "LiteAdmin" })).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+      expect(requests.filter((request) => request.url.endsWith("/chat/completions"))).toHaveLength(0);
+    }
+    fireEvent.change(input, { target: { value: "Set a budget of $10 for my team" } });
+    fireEvent.keyDown(input, { key: "Enter", shiftKey: true });
+    fireEvent.keyDown(input, { key: "Enter", isComposing: true });
+    expect(requests.filter((request) => request.url.endsWith("/chat/completions"))).toHaveLength(0);
+    fireEvent.keyDown(input, { key: "Enter" });
+    expect(await screen.findByText("Budget details received.")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    const completions = requests.filter((request) => request.url.endsWith("/chat/completions"));
+    expect(completions).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(completions[0].body.model).toBe("chat-model");
+    expect(completions[0].body.messages).toContainEqual({ role: "user", content: "Set a budget of $10 for my team" });
+    expect(requests.filter((request) => request.url.endsWith("/key/generate"))).toHaveLength(0);
+  });
+
   it("preserves the draft and chosen model when opening, closing and leaving Home", async () => {
     const requests = gateway([answer("Draft received.")], {
       models: [
@@ -244,12 +269,14 @@ describe("LiteAdmin in the gateway", () => {
     });
     const view = renderWidget(undefined, true);
     await selectModel();
-    fireEvent.change(screen.getByPlaceholderText("Ask LiteAdmin…"), { target: { value: "Keep this draft" } });
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "LiteAdmin" }));
+    fireEvent.change(screen.getByPlaceholderText("What would you like to do?"), {
+      target: { value: "Keep this draft" },
+    });
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Recent chats" }));
     expect(screen.getByPlaceholderText("Ask LiteAdmin…")).toHaveValue("Keep this draft");
     fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Close LiteAdmin" }));
     const home = screen.getByRole("region", { name: "Ask LiteAdmin" });
-    expect(within(home).getByPlaceholderText("Ask LiteAdmin…")).toHaveValue("Keep this draft");
+    expect(within(home).getByPlaceholderText("What would you like to do?")).toHaveValue("Keep this draft");
     view.refresh(false);
     expect(home).not.toBeInTheDocument();
     fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "LiteAdmin" }));
@@ -293,16 +320,16 @@ describe("LiteAdmin in the gateway", () => {
     fireEvent.change(screen.getByPlaceholderText("Ask LiteAdmin…"), { target: { value: "First draft" } });
     fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Close LiteAdmin" }));
     const home = screen.getByRole("region", { name: "Ask LiteAdmin" });
-    expect(within(home).getByPlaceholderText("Ask LiteAdmin…")).toHaveValue("First draft");
-    expect(screen.getAllByPlaceholderText("Ask LiteAdmin…")).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(within(home).getByPlaceholderText("What would you like to do?")).toHaveValue("First draft");
+    expect(screen.getAllByPlaceholderText("What would you like to do?")).toHaveLength(1);
 
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "LiteAdmin" }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Recent chats" }));
     fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("tab", { name: "Chat 2" }));
     expect(screen.getByPlaceholderText("Ask LiteAdmin…")).toHaveValue("Second draft");
     expect(screen.getByRole("combobox", { name: "LiteAdmin model" })).toHaveValue("other-chat-model");
     expect(screen.getAllByLabelText("LiteAdmin conversation")).toHaveLength(1);
     fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Close LiteAdmin" }));
-    expect(within(home).getByPlaceholderText("Ask LiteAdmin…")).toHaveValue("Second draft");
+    expect(within(home).getByPlaceholderText("What would you like to do?")).toHaveValue("Second draft");
     fireEvent.click(within(home).getByRole("button", { name: "Send message" }));
     await screen.findByText("Second follow-up.");
     expect(screen.getByRole("tab", { name: "Chat 2" })).toHaveAttribute("aria-selected", "true");
@@ -531,13 +558,13 @@ describe("LiteAdmin in the gateway", () => {
     const { client } = renderWidget(undefined, true);
     const home = await screen.findByRole("region", { name: "Ask LiteAdmin" });
     expect(await within(home).findByText("Add a chat model to your gateway to use LiteAdmin.")).toBeInTheDocument();
-    expect(within(home).getByPlaceholderText("Ask LiteAdmin…")).toBeDisabled();
+    expect(within(home).getByPlaceholderText("What would you like to do?")).toBeDisabled();
     expect(within(home).getByRole("button", { name: "Send message" })).toBeDisabled();
     options.models = [{ model_group: "chat-model", mode: "chat" }];
     await act(async () => client.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ["liteadmin-models"] }));
     await selectModel();
     for (const text of ["   ", "x".repeat(MAX_INPUT_LENGTH + 1)]) {
-      const input = within(home).getByPlaceholderText("Ask LiteAdmin…");
+      const input = within(home).getByPlaceholderText("What would you like to do?");
       fireEvent.change(input, { target: { value: text } });
       fireEvent.keyDown(input, { key: "Enter" });
       const submit = within(home).getByRole("button", { name: "Send message" });
@@ -566,15 +593,17 @@ describe("LiteAdmin in the gateway", () => {
     await act(async () => settingsReady.resolve());
     const consent = await within(home).findByRole("button", { name: "Use configured gateway" });
     expect(within(home).getByText(EXTERNAL_INFERENCE)).toBeInTheDocument();
-    expect(within(home).queryByPlaceholderText("Ask LiteAdmin…")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(within(home).queryByPlaceholderText("What would you like to do?")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
     fireEvent.click(consent);
     await selectModel();
-    fireEvent.change(within(home).getByPlaceholderText("Ask LiteAdmin…"), { target: { value: "Old gateway draft" } });
+    fireEvent.change(within(home).getByPlaceholderText("What would you like to do?"), {
+      target: { value: "Old gateway draft" },
+    });
     settings.target = `${EXTERNAL_INFERENCE}/changed`;
     await act(async () => client.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ["proxySettings"] }));
     fireEvent.click(await within(home).findByRole("button", { name: "Use configured gateway" }));
     await selectModel();
-    expect(within(home).getByPlaceholderText("Ask LiteAdmin…")).toHaveValue("");
+    expect(within(home).getByPlaceholderText("What would you like to do?")).toHaveValue("");
     expect(home).toBeVisible();
     expect(requests.some((request) => request.url.endsWith("/chat/completions"))).toBe(false);
   });
diff --git a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/liteadmin/LiteAdmin.tsx b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/liteadmin/LiteAdmin.tsx
index bf296d47746..350379588c1 100644
--- a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/liteadmin/LiteAdmin.tsx
+++ b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/liteadmin/LiteAdmin.tsx
@@ -8,12 +8,13 @@ import {
   useLayoutEffect,
   useRef,
   useState,
+  type ComponentProps,
   type ReactNode,
   type RefObject,
 } from "react";
 import { createPortal } from "react-dom";
 import { useQuery, type UseQueryResult } from "@tanstack/react-query";
-import { Plus, Sparkles, X } from "lucide-react";
+import { History, Plus, Sparkles, X } from "lucide-react";
 import useAuthorized from "@/app/(dashboard)/hooks/useAuthorized";
 import { useDisableLiteAdmin } from "@/app/(dashboard)/hooks/useDisableLiteAdmin";
 import { useProxySettingsQuery } from "@/app/(dashboard)/hooks/proxySettings/useProxySettings";
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ import { cn } from "@/lib/cva.config";
 import { isProxyAdminRole } from "@/utils/roles";
 import { getPreferredLiteAdminModel, MAX_INPUT_LENGTH, resolveInferenceTarget } from "./agent";
 import { LiteAdminConversation } from "./LiteAdminConversation";
+import { LiteAdminHomeComposer } from "./LiteAdminHomeComposer";
 import { useLiteAdmin, type ConversationEntry, type LiteAdminSession } from "./useLiteAdmin";
 
 type ManagementSession = Omit<LiteAdminSession, "inferenceBaseUrl">;
@@ -100,17 +102,18 @@ export function LiteAdminHome() {
   if (!state) return null;
   const { open, show, setHomeContainer } = state;
   return (
-    <section aria-label="Ask LiteAdmin" hidden={open} className="rounded-2xl border bg-card">
-      <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-3 p-4">
-        <div>
-          <h2 className="flex items-center gap-2 text-sm font-medium">
+    <section aria-label="Ask LiteAdmin" hidden={open} className="space-y-3">
+      <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center justify-between gap-x-4 gap-y-2">
+        <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-x-3 gap-y-1">
+          <h2 className="flex items-center gap-2 text-sm font-semibold">
             <Sparkles className="size-4 text-info" />
             LiteAdmin
           </h2>
-          <p className="mt-1 text-sm text-muted-foreground">Ask about your gateway. Review changes in chat.</p>
+          <p className="border-l pl-3 text-sm text-muted-foreground">Control your entire gateway.</p>
         </div>
-        <Button variant="ghost" size="sm" onClick={show}>
-          Open chat
+        <Button variant="ghost" size="sm" onClick={show} className="text-muted-foreground">
+          <History className="size-3.5" />
+          Recent chats
         </Button>
       </div>
       <div ref={setHomeContainer} />
@@ -417,22 +420,24 @@ function LiteAdminChat({
   };
   if (!active) return null;
   const homeContainer = !open ? state?.homeContainer : null;
+  const composerProps = {
+    value: input,
+    onChange: setInput,
+    onSubmit: send,
+    onCancel: chat.phase === "applying" ? undefined : chat.stop,
+    disabled: busy || !selectedModel,
+    isLoading: busy,
+    submitDisabled,
+  };
   const composer = (
-    <div className="space-y-3 border-t p-3">
-      <ModelPicker models={models} value={selectedModel} onChange={setModel} disabled={busy} />
-      {tooLong && <FieldError>Keep your message within {MAX_INPUT_LENGTH.toLocaleString()} characters.</FieldError>}
-      <ChatComposer
-        value={input}
-        onChange={setInput}
-        onSubmit={send}
-        onCancel={chat.phase === "applying" ? undefined : chat.stop}
-        placeholder="Ask LiteAdmin…"
-        disabled={busy || !selectedModel}
-        isLoading={busy}
-        submitDisabled={submitDisabled}
-      />
-      <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">Use a model you trust with your gateway data.</p>
-    </div>
+    <LiteAdminComposer
+      {...composerProps}
+      models={models}
+      model={selectedModel}
+      onModelChange={setModel}
+      home={Boolean(homeContainer)}
+      tooLong={tooLong}
+    />
   );
   return (
     <TabsContent value={id} className="flex min-h-0 flex-1 flex-col">
@@ -448,32 +453,73 @@ function LiteAdminChat({
   );
 }
 
+function LiteAdminComposer({
+  models,
+  model,
+  onModelChange,
+  home,
+  tooLong,
+  ...props
+}: Omit<ComponentProps<typeof LiteAdminHomeComposer>, "modelPicker"> & {
+  models: UseQueryResult<ModelGroup[]>;
+  model: string | null;
+  onModelChange: (value: string | null) => void;
+  home: boolean;
+  tooLong: boolean;
+}) {
+  return (
+    <div className={cn("space-y-3", !home && "border-t p-3")}>
+      {!home && <ModelPicker models={models} value={model} onChange={onModelChange} disabled={props.isLoading} />}
+      <ModelStatus models={models} />
+      {tooLong && <FieldError>Keep your message within {MAX_INPUT_LENGTH.toLocaleString()} characters.</FieldError>}
+      {home ? (
+        <LiteAdminHomeComposer
+          {...props}
+          modelPicker={
+            <ModelPicker models={models} value={model} onChange={onModelChange} disabled={props.isLoading} compact />
+          }
+        />
+      ) : (
+        <>
+          <ChatComposer {...props} placeholder="Ask LiteAdmin…" />
+          <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">Use a model you trust with your gateway data.</p>
+        </>
+      )}
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
 function ModelPicker({
   models,
   value,
   onChange,
   disabled,
+  compact = false,
 }: {
   models: UseQueryResult<ModelGroup[]>;
   value: string | null;
   onChange: (value: string | null) => void;
   disabled: boolean;
+  compact?: boolean;
 }) {
+  if (models.isPending) return <Skeleton className="h-8 w-full" aria-label="Loading models" />;
+  return (
+    <SearchSelect
+      aria-label="LiteAdmin model"
+      options={(models.data ?? []).map((item) => ({ value: item.model_group, label: item.model_group }))}
+      value={value}
+      onValueChange={onChange}
+      placeholder="Choose a chat model"
+      disabled={disabled}
+      allowClear={false}
+      className={compact ? "border-transparent shadow-none dark:bg-transparent" : undefined}
+    />
+  );
+}
+
+function ModelStatus({ models }: { models: UseQueryResult<ModelGroup[]> }) {
   return (
     <>
-      {models.isPending ? (
-        <Skeleton className="h-8" aria-label="Loading models" />
-      ) : (
-        <SearchSelect
-          aria-label="LiteAdmin model"
-          options={(models.data ?? []).map((item) => ({ value: item.model_group, label: item.model_group }))}
-          value={value}
-          onValueChange={onChange}
-          placeholder="Choose a chat model"
-          disabled={disabled}
-          allowClear={false}
-        />
-      )}
       {models.isError && (
         <Alert variant="destructive">
           <AlertDescription>
diff --git a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/liteadmin/LiteAdminHomeComposer.tsx b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/liteadmin/LiteAdminHomeComposer.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6b666aa238f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/liteadmin/LiteAdminHomeComposer.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+import { useRef, type ReactNode } from "react";
+import { ArrowUp, Box, CreditCard, KeyRound, Square } from "lucide-react";
+import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
+import { InputGroup, InputGroupTextarea } from "@/components/ui/input-group";
+
+const suggestions = [
+  { label: "Create a key", icon: KeyRound },
+  { label: "Add a model", icon: Box },
+  { label: "Set a budget", icon: CreditCard },
+];
+
+export function LiteAdminHomeComposer({
+  value,
+  onChange,
+  onSubmit,
+  onCancel,
+  disabled,
+  isLoading,
+  submitDisabled,
+  modelPicker,
+}: {
+  value: string;
+  onChange: (value: string) => void;
+  onSubmit: () => void;
+  onCancel?: () => void;
+  disabled: boolean;
+  isLoading: boolean;
+  submitDisabled: boolean;
+  modelPicker: ReactNode;
+}) {
+  const inputRef = useRef<HTMLTextAreaElement>(null);
+  return (
+    <InputGroup className="h-auto flex-col rounded-xl border-border bg-card shadow-xs">
+      <InputGroupTextarea
+        ref={inputRef}
+        value={value}
+        onChange={(event) => onChange(event.target.value)}
+        onKeyDown={(event) => {
+          if (event.key === "Enter" && !event.shiftKey && !event.nativeEvent.isComposing) {
+            event.preventDefault();
+            if (!submitDisabled && !isLoading) onSubmit();
+          }
+        }}
+        placeholder="What would you like to do?"
+        aria-label="Message LiteAdmin"
+        disabled={disabled}
+        rows={2}
+        className="min-h-24 max-h-48 w-full rounded-t-xl px-5 pt-5 pb-2 text-sm placeholder:text-muted-foreground [field-sizing:content]"
+      />
+      <div className="flex w-full flex-wrap items-center justify-between gap-3 px-4 pb-4">
+        <div className="flex flex-wrap gap-2">
+          {suggestions.map(({ label, icon: Icon }) => (
+            <Button
+              key={label}
+              type="button"
+              variant="outline"
+              size="sm"
+              disabled={disabled}
+              className="gap-2 bg-muted/30 font-normal text-muted-foreground shadow-none"
+              onClick={() => {
+                onChange(label);
+                inputRef.current?.focus();
+              }}
+            >
+              <Icon className="size-3.5" />
+              {label}
+            </Button>
+          ))}
+        </div>
+        <div className="ml-auto flex min-w-0 max-w-full items-center gap-2">
+          <div className="w-48 min-w-0 text-muted-foreground">{modelPicker}</div>
+          {isLoading && onCancel ? (
+            <Button type="button" size="icon-sm" aria-label="Stop request" onClick={onCancel}>
+              <Square className="size-3.5 fill-current" />
+            </Button>
+          ) : (
+            <Button
+              type="button"
+              size="icon-sm"
+              aria-label="Send message"
+              disabled={submitDisabled || isLoading}
+              onClick={onSubmit}
+              className="rounded-lg bg-info text-info-foreground shadow-xs hover:bg-info/90"
+            >
+              <ArrowUp className="size-4" />
+            </Button>
+          )}
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    </InputGroup>
+  );
+}