diff --git a/desktop/src/app/components/desktop/desktop.component.html b/desktop/src/app/components/desktop/desktop.component.html
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ac7ca97
--- /dev/null
+++ b/desktop/src/app/components/desktop/desktop.component.html
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+<!-- Desktop background + window area -->
+<div class="desktop-area" (click)="onDesktopClick()">
+  <!-- Render each window -->
+  @for (win of wm.visibleWindows(); track win.id) {
+    <app-window
+      [windowState]="win"
+      (close)="onWindowClose($event)"
+      (minimize)="onWindowMinimize($event)"
+      (maximize)="onWindowMaximize($event)"
+      (focus)="onWindowFocus($event)"
+      (geometryChange)="onWindowGeometryChange($event)"
+    >
+      <!-- File Explorer -->
+      @if (shouldShowApp(win, 'file-explorer')) {
+        <app-file-explorer />
+      }
+
+      <!-- Terminal -->
+      @if (shouldShowApp(win, 'terminal')) {
+        <app-terminal />
+      }
+
+      <!-- Text Editor -->
+      @if (shouldShowApp(win, 'text-editor')) {
+        <app-text-editor />
+      }
+
+      <!-- Settings -->
+      @if (shouldShowApp(win, 'settings')) {
+        <app-settings />
+      }
+
+      <!-- Browser -->
+      @if (shouldShowApp(win, 'browser')) {
+        <app-browser />
+      }
+
+      <!-- Remote Display -->
+      @if (shouldShowApp(win, 'remote-display') && win.sessionId) {
+        <app-remote-display [sessionId]="win.sessionId" />
+      }
+    </app-window>
+  }
+</div>
+
+<!-- Taskbar -->
+<app-taskbar
+  (startClick)="showStartMenu.set(!showStartMenu())"
+  (launchApp)="onLaunchApp($event)"
+/>
+
+<!-- Start Menu -->
+@if (showStartMenu()) {
+  <app-start-menu
+    (launchApp)="onLaunchApp($event)"
+    (close)="showStartMenu.set(false)"
+  />
+}
+
+<!-- Session Picker Dialog -->
+@if (showSessionPicker()) {
+  <div class="dialog-backdrop" (click)="closeSessionPicker()"></div>
+  <div class="session-picker">
+    <h3>Connect to Remote Session</h3>
+    <div class="session-list">
+      @for (session of sessions(); track session.id) {
+        <button class="session-item" (click)="openRemoteSession(session.id)">
+          <span class="session-icon">🖥️</span>
+          <div class="session-info">
+            <span class="session-id">{{ session.id.substring(0, 12) }}…</span>
+            <span class="session-status" [class.active]="session.status === 'active'">
+              {{ session.status }}
+            </span>
+          </div>
+        </button>
+      }
+    </div>
+    <div class="session-actions">
+      <button class="btn-primary" [disabled]="newSessionLoading()" (click)="createAndOpenSession()">
+        @if (newSessionLoading()) { Creating… } @else { + New Session }
+      </button>
+      <button class="btn-secondary" (click)="closeSessionPicker()">Cancel</button>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+}
diff --git a/desktop/src/app/components/desktop/desktop.component.scss b/desktop/src/app/components/desktop/desktop.component.scss
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d432dc8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/desktop/src/app/components/desktop/desktop.component.scss
@@ -0,0 +1,135 @@
+:host {
+  display: block;
+  width: 100%;
+  height: 100%;
+}
+
+// ── Desktop area ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+.desktop-area {
+  position: fixed;
+  inset: 0;
+  bottom: 48px;
+  // Windows 11-style gradient background
+  background: linear-gradient(135deg, #1a1a2e 0%, #16213e 25%, #0f3460 50%, #1a1a2e 75%, #0d1b2a 100%);
+  overflow: hidden;
+
+  // Subtle animated gradient
+  background-size: 400% 400%;
+  animation: gradientShift 20s ease infinite;
+}
+
+@keyframes gradientShift {
+  0%, 100% { background-position: 0% 50%; }
+  50% { background-position: 100% 50%; }
+}
+
+// ── Session Picker Dialog ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+.dialog-backdrop {
+  position: fixed;
+  inset: 0;
+  background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
+  z-index: 9000;
+}
+
+.session-picker {
+  position: fixed;
+  top: 50%;
+  left: 50%;
+  transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
+  width: 400px;
+  background: #2d2d2d;
+  border: 1px solid #444;
+  border-radius: 12px;
+  box-shadow: 0 8px 48px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
+  z-index: 9100;
+  padding: 24px;
+
+  h3 {
+    margin: 0 0 16px;
+    color: #e0e0e0;
+    font-size: 16px;
+  }
+}
+
+.session-list {
+  max-height: 240px;
+  overflow-y: auto;
+  margin-bottom: 16px;
+}
+
+.session-item {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 12px;
+  width: 100%;
+  padding: 10px 12px;
+  border: none;
+  background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.03);
+  color: #ccc;
+  cursor: pointer;
+  border-radius: 6px;
+  margin-bottom: 4px;
+  font-size: 13px;
+
+  &:hover {
+    background: rgba(0, 120, 212, 0.15);
+  }
+}
+
+.session-icon {
+  font-size: 20px;
+}
+
+.session-info {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  text-align: left;
+}
+
+.session-id {
+  font-family: 'Consolas', monospace;
+  font-size: 12px;
+}
+
+.session-status {
+  font-size: 11px;
+  color: #888;
+  text-transform: capitalize;
+
+  &.active {
+    color: #4caf50;
+  }
+}
+
+.session-actions {
+  display: flex;
+  gap: 8px;
+  justify-content: flex-end;
+}
+
+.btn-primary {
+  padding: 8px 20px;
+  border: none;
+  background: #0078d4;
+  color: #fff;
+  font-size: 13px;
+  border-radius: 6px;
+  cursor: pointer;
+
+  &:hover { background: #1a86d9; }
+  &:disabled { opacity: 0.5; cursor: not-allowed; }
+}
+
+.btn-secondary {
+  padding: 8px 20px;
+  border: 1px solid #555;
+  background: transparent;
+  color: #ccc;
+  font-size: 13px;
+  border-radius: 6px;
+  cursor: pointer;
+
+  &:hover { background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.05); }
+}
diff --git a/desktop/src/app/components/desktop/desktop.component.ts b/desktop/src/app/components/desktop/desktop.component.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8258d17
--- /dev/null
+++ b/desktop/src/app/components/desktop/desktop.component.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,186 @@
+import { Component, signal, computed, OnInit, OnDestroy, ViewChild, ElementRef } from '@angular/core';
+import { CommonModule } from '@angular/common';
+import { FormsModule } from '@angular/forms';
+import { RouterModule } from '@angular/router';
+
+import { WindowManagerService, type WindowState } from '../../services/window-manager.service';
+import { ApiService, type Session } from '../../services/api.service';
+
+import { WindowComponent } from '../window/window.component';
+import { TaskbarComponent } from '../taskbar/taskbar.component';
+import { StartMenuComponent } from '../start-menu/start-menu.component';
+import { RemoteDisplayComponent } from '../remote-display/remote-display.component';
+import { TerminalComponent } from '../apps/terminal/terminal.component';
+import { TextEditorComponent } from '../apps/text-editor/text-editor.component';
+import { FileExplorerComponent } from '../apps/file-explorer/file-explorer.component';
+import { SettingsComponent } from '../apps/settings/settings.component';
+import { BrowserComponent } from '../apps/browser/browser.component';
+
+@Component({
+  selector: 'app-desktop',
+  standalone: true,
+  imports: [
+    CommonModule,
+    FormsModule,
+    RouterModule,
+    WindowComponent,
+    TaskbarComponent,
+    StartMenuComponent,
+    RemoteDisplayComponent,
+    TerminalComponent,
+    TextEditorComponent,
+    FileExplorerComponent,
+    SettingsComponent,
+    BrowserComponent,
+  ],
+  templateUrl: './desktop.component.html',
+  styleUrl: './desktop.component.scss',
+})
+export class DesktopComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
+  /** Whether the start menu is visible. */
+  readonly showStartMenu = signal(false);
+
+  /** Session list for the start menu / remote desktop launcher. */
+  readonly sessions = signal<Session[]>([]);
+  readonly showSessionPicker = signal(false);
+  readonly newSessionLoading = signal(false);
+
+  /** Clock for desktop (separate from taskbar). */
+  readonly currentTime = computed(() => {
+    return new Date().toLocaleTimeString([], { hour: '2-digit', minute: '2-digit' });
+  });
+
+  constructor(
+    public wm: WindowManagerService,
+    private api: ApiService,
+  ) {}
+
+  ngOnInit(): void {
+    // Refresh clock every second.
+    // Load available sessions.
+    this.loadSessions();
+
+    // Click outside start menu to close it.
+    document.addEventListener('mousedown', this.onGlobalClick);
+  }
+
+  ngOnDestroy(): void {
+    document.removeEventListener('mousedown', this.onGlobalClick);
+  }
+
+  private onGlobalClick = (e: MouseEvent): void => {
+    // Close start menu if clicking outside it and outside the taskbar start button.
+    const target = e.target as HTMLElement;
+    if (
+      this.showStartMenu() &&
+      !target.closest('app-start-menu') &&
+      !target.closest('.start-btn')
+    ) {
+      this.showStartMenu.set(false);
+    }
+  };
+
+  // ── App launching ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+  onLaunchApp(appId: string): void {
+    switch (appId) {
+      case 'file-explorer':
+        this.wm.openWindow({ title: 'File Explorer', icon: '📁', appId: 'file-explorer', width: 750, height: 480 });
+        break;
+      case 'terminal':
+        this.wm.openWindow({ title: 'Terminal', icon: '⬛', appId: 'terminal', width: 680, height: 420 });
+        break;
+      case 'text-editor':
+        this.wm.openWindow({ title: 'Text Editor', icon: '📝', appId: 'text-editor', width: 700, height: 500 });
+        break;
+      case 'settings':
+        this.wm.openWindow({ title: 'Settings', icon: '⚙️', appId: 'settings', width: 650, height: 450 });
+        break;
+      case 'browser':
+        this.wm.openWindow({ title: 'Browser', icon: '🌐', appId: 'browser', width: 900, height: 600 });
+        break;
+      case 'remote-display':
+        this.showSessionPicker.set(true);
+        break;
+    }
+  }
+
+  // ── Session management ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+  loadSessions(): void {
+    this.api.listSessions().subscribe({
+      next: (resp) => {
+        if (resp.ok && resp.data) {
+          this.sessions.set(resp.data);
+        }
+      },
+    });
+  }
+
+  createAndOpenSession(): void {
+    this.newSessionLoading.set(true);
+    this.api.createSession().subscribe({
+      next: (resp) => {
+        this.newSessionLoading.set(false);
+        if (resp.ok && resp.data) {
+          this.openRemoteSession(resp.data.id);
+          this.loadSessions();
+        }
+      },
+      error: () => {
+        this.newSessionLoading.set(false);
+      },
+    });
+  }
+
+  openRemoteSession(sessionId: string): void {
+    this.wm.openWindow({
+      title: `Remote Desktop — ${sessionId.substring(0, 8)}…`,
+      icon: '🖥️',
+      appId: 'remote-display',
+      sessionId,
+      width: 960,
+      height: 640,
+    });
+    this.showSessionPicker.set(false);
+  }
+
+  closeSessionPicker(): void {
+    this.showSessionPicker.set(false);
+  }
+
+  // ── Window events ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+  onWindowClose(id: string): void {
+    this.wm.closeWindow(id);
+  }
+
+  onWindowMinimize(id: string): void {
+    this.wm.minimizeWindow(id);
+  }
+
+  onWindowMaximize(id: string): void {
+    this.wm.toggleMaximize(id);
+  }
+
+  onWindowFocus(id: string): void {
+    this.wm.focusWindow(id);
+  }
+
+  onWindowGeometryChange(event: { id: string; x: number; y: number; width: number; height: number }): void {
+    this.wm.updateWindowGeometry(event.id, { x: event.x, y: event.y, width: event.width, height: event.height });
+  }
+
+  // ── Desktop click (deselect) ────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+  onDesktopClick(): void {
+    this.wm.activeWindowId.set(null);
+    this.showStartMenu.set(false);
+  }
+
+  // ── Render the correct app component inside a window ────────────────────
+
+  shouldShowApp(windowState: WindowState, appId: string): boolean {
+    return windowState.appId === appId;
+  }
+}