diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/document/FileSwitcherStrip.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/document/FileSwitcherStrip.svelte
index d70241bc..062eb99c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/document/FileSwitcherStrip.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/document/FileSwitcherStrip.svelte
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 <script lang="ts">
+import { tick } from 'svelte';
 import { m } from '$lib/paraglide/messages.js';
 
 export interface FileEntry {
@@ -33,6 +34,15 @@ function scrollNext() {
 	trackEl?.scrollBy({ left: 120, behavior: 'smooth' });
 }
 
+async function handleRemove(entry: FileEntry, index: number) {
+	const targetId = index > 0 ? files[index - 1].id : (files[index + 1]?.id ?? null);
+	onRemove(entry.id);
+	if (targetId) {
+		await tick();
+		(listEl?.querySelector<HTMLElement>(`[data-chip-id="${targetId}"]`) ?? null)?.focus();
+	}
+}
+
 $effect(() => {
 	if (!listEl) return;
 	const node = listEl;
@@ -85,7 +95,7 @@ $effect(() => {
 						data-chip-id={entry.id}
 						onclick={() => onSelect(entry.id)}
 						class={[
-							'inline-flex cursor-pointer items-center gap-1 rounded-[2px] px-1.5 py-0.5 text-[11px] font-bold transition-colors focus:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-accent',
+							'inline-flex cursor-pointer items-center gap-1 rounded-[2px] px-1.5 py-0.5 text-xs font-bold transition-colors focus:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-accent',
 							entry.id === activeId
 								? 'bg-accent text-primary'
 								: 'bg-black/[0.06] text-ink-2 hover:bg-black/10',
@@ -96,7 +106,7 @@ $effect(() => {
 					>
 						<span
 							class={[
-								'rounded-[2px] px-0.5 text-[9px] font-extrabold opacity-85',
+								'rounded-[2px] px-0.5 text-[11px] font-extrabold opacity-85',
 								entry.id === activeId ? 'bg-black/20' : 'bg-black/10'
 							].join(' ')}
 							>{i + 1}</span
@@ -111,7 +121,7 @@ $effect(() => {
 						type="button"
 						aria-label={m.bulk_remove_file()}
 						data-remove-id={entry.id}
-						onclick={() => onRemove(entry.id)}
+						onclick={() => handleRemove(entry, i)}
 						class="ml-0.5 flex h-[44px] w-[44px] items-center justify-center text-base text-ink-3 hover:text-ink focus:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-accent"
 					>
 						×
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/document/FileSwitcherStrip.svelte.spec.ts b/frontend/src/lib/components/document/FileSwitcherStrip.svelte.spec.ts
index 6a6ccc83..c45550c8 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/document/FileSwitcherStrip.svelte.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/document/FileSwitcherStrip.svelte.spec.ts
@@ -99,6 +99,32 @@ describe('FileSwitcherStrip', () => {
 		expect(srOnly).not.toBeNull();
 	});
 
+	it('focus moves to the previous chip after the middle chip is removed', async () => {
+		const files = makeFiles(3); // id-0, id-1, id-2
+		const onRemove = vi.fn();
+		const { container } = render(FileSwitcherStrip, {
+			files,
+			activeId: files[1].id,
+			onSelect: vi.fn(),
+			onRemove
+		});
+
+		const removeBtn = container.querySelector('[data-remove-id="id-1"]') as HTMLButtonElement;
+		expect(removeBtn).not.toBeNull();
+		removeBtn.click();
+		expect(onRemove).toHaveBeenCalledWith('id-1');
+
+		// After removal, focus should be on the chip for id-0 (the previous chip)
+		await vi.waitFor(
+			() => {
+				const prevChip = container.querySelector('[data-chip-id="id-0"]') as HTMLElement | null;
+				expect(prevChip).not.toBeNull();
+				expect(document.activeElement).toBe(prevChip);
+			},
+			{ timeout: 1000 }
+		);
+	});
+
 	it('ArrowRight moves focus to next chip without leaving strip', async () => {
 		const files = makeFiles(3);
 		const { container } = render(FileSwitcherStrip, {