diff --git a/docs/specs/layout.md b/docs/specs/layout.md
index fddd7617..1aedc7c1 100644
--- a/docs/specs/layout.md
+++ b/docs/specs/layout.md
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ Wall starts in `command` mode by default. Embedders may pass `initialMode="passt
 
 ### Passthrough mode
 - All keyboard input routes to the active session's xterm.js instance
-- Only the mode-exit gesture (LCmd → RCmd) is intercepted
+- Only the mode-exit gesture (LCmd → RCmd, or LShift → RShift) is intercepted
 - In the VS Code host, selected workbench chords are mirrored: xterm still processes the key, and Dormouse also asks the extension host to run the matching VS Code command. See [the VS Code host spec](vscode.md) for the allowlist.
 - Selection overlay shows 2px solid border with glow
 - Terminal has DOM focus
@@ -166,8 +166,8 @@ Wall starts in `command` mode by default. Embedders may pass `initialMode="passt
 - Focus is deferred via `requestAnimationFrame` to prevent dockview from stealing it
 
 **Enter command mode:**
-- Left Cmd keydown, then Right Cmd keydown within 500ms
-- Detected via capture-phase `keydown` listener on `e.key === 'Meta'` and `e.location` (1 = left, 2 = right)
+- Left Cmd keydown, then Right Cmd keydown within 500ms — or the same left-then-right gesture with Shift (Left Shift, then Right Shift within 500ms)
+- Detected via capture-phase `keydown` listener on `e.key === 'Meta'` (or `e.key === 'Shift'`) and `e.location` (1 = left, 2 = right). The Meta and Shift tracks are independent, so a Left Cmd followed by a Right Shift does not trigger.
 - Works even when xterm has DOM focus because listener uses capture phase
 
 ## Keyboard shortcuts (command mode)
diff --git a/lib/src/components/wall/keyboard/handle-dual-tap.test.ts b/lib/src/components/wall/keyboard/handle-dual-tap.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7b956154
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/src/components/wall/keyboard/handle-dual-tap.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+/**
+ * @vitest-environment jsdom
+ */
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
+import { handleDualTap } from './handle-dual-tap';
+import type { DualTapState, WallKeyboardCtx } from './types';
+
+function makeCtx(mode: 'command' | 'passthrough' = 'passthrough'): {
+  ctx: WallKeyboardCtx;
+  exitTerminalMode: ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>;
+} {
+  const exitTerminalMode = vi.fn();
+  const ctx = {
+    modeRef: { current: mode },
+    exitTerminalMode,
+  } as unknown as WallKeyboardCtx;
+  return { ctx, exitTerminalMode };
+}
+
+function makeState(): DualTapState {
+  return {
+    lastCmdSide: { current: null },
+    lastCmdTime: { current: 0 },
+    lastShiftSide: { current: null },
+    lastShiftTime: { current: 0 },
+  };
+}
+
+/** location 1 = left, 2 = right (DOM_KEY_LOCATION_{LEFT,RIGHT}). */
+function keydown(key: string, location: number): KeyboardEvent {
+  return new KeyboardEvent('keydown', { key, location });
+}
+
+describe('handleDualTap', () => {
+  let now = 0;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    now = 1000;
+    vi.spyOn(Date, 'now').mockImplementation(() => now);
+  });
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    vi.restoreAllMocks();
+  });
+
+  it('exits passthrough on left-then-right Meta within 500ms', () => {
+    const { ctx, exitTerminalMode } = makeCtx('passthrough');
+    const state = makeState();
+
+    expect(handleDualTap(keydown('Meta', 1), ctx, state)).toBe(true);
+    expect(exitTerminalMode).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    now += 200;
+    expect(handleDualTap(keydown('Meta', 2), ctx, state)).toBe(true);
+    expect(exitTerminalMode).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    // State resets after a completed gesture so the next press starts fresh.
+    expect(state.lastCmdSide.current).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('does not exit when the right press lands after the 500ms window', () => {
+    const { ctx, exitTerminalMode } = makeCtx('passthrough');
+    const state = makeState();
+
+    handleDualTap(keydown('Meta', 1), ctx, state);
+    now += 500; // boundary is exclusive (< 500), so 500ms is too late
+    handleDualTap(keydown('Meta', 2), ctx, state);
+
+    expect(exitTerminalMode).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('does not exit on right-then-left ordering', () => {
+    const { ctx, exitTerminalMode } = makeCtx('passthrough');
+    const state = makeState();
+
+    handleDualTap(keydown('Meta', 2), ctx, state);
+    now += 100;
+    handleDualTap(keydown('Meta', 1), ctx, state);
+
+    expect(exitTerminalMode).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('exits passthrough on left-then-right Shift, independently of Meta', () => {
+    const { ctx, exitTerminalMode } = makeCtx('passthrough');
+    const state = makeState();
+
+    expect(handleDualTap(keydown('Shift', 1), ctx, state)).toBe(true);
+    now += 100;
+    expect(handleDualTap(keydown('Shift', 2), ctx, state)).toBe(true);
+
+    expect(exitTerminalMode).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(state.lastShiftSide.current).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('does not cross-trigger between Meta and Shift', () => {
+    const { ctx, exitTerminalMode } = makeCtx('passthrough');
+    const state = makeState();
+
+    // Left Meta then right Shift is not a completed gesture for either track.
+    handleDualTap(keydown('Meta', 1), ctx, state);
+    now += 100;
+    handleDualTap(keydown('Shift', 2), ctx, state);
+
+    expect(exitTerminalMode).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('consumes Meta and Shift but ignores other keys', () => {
+    const { ctx } = makeCtx('passthrough');
+    const state = makeState();
+
+    expect(handleDualTap(keydown('Meta', 1), ctx, state)).toBe(true);
+    expect(handleDualTap(keydown('Shift', 1), ctx, state)).toBe(true);
+    expect(handleDualTap(keydown('a', 0), ctx, state)).toBe(false);
+    expect(handleDualTap(keydown('Enter', 0), ctx, state)).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('completes the gesture but does not call exit when already in command mode', () => {
+    const { ctx, exitTerminalMode } = makeCtx('command');
+    const state = makeState();
+
+    handleDualTap(keydown('Meta', 1), ctx, state);
+    now += 100;
+    handleDualTap(keydown('Meta', 2), ctx, state);
+
+    expect(exitTerminalMode).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    // The gesture still resets its state even when the mode guard skips exit.
+    expect(state.lastCmdSide.current).toBeNull();
+  });
+});