diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 5ff9dedb..b6f95f7f 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -481,8 +481,9 @@ Use `@cio/ui/base/page` for dashboard page shells. See `packages/ui/README.md` 
 
 **Every settings page with save/discard** must use `Page.SettingsActions` as the last child of `Page.Root` (after `Page.Body`). Do not put Save in `Page.Header` or inline at the bottom of form sections.
 
-- Sticky at the viewport bottom while scrolling; docks naturally at the end of the page content
-- Save and Discard are disabled when `hasChanges` is false
+- Compact centered card (not full width), sticky at the viewport bottom while scrolling; docks naturally at the end of the page content
+- Only appears when `hasChanges` is true
+- Save is a primary button (not a split/combo control); Discard is secondary
 - Labels come from dashboard translations: `common.unsaved_changes.label`, `common.discard`, `common.save_changes`
 - Pair with `UnsavedChanges` for navigation guards where appropriate
 
diff --git a/packages/storybook/src/molecules/page/page.stories.svelte b/packages/storybook/src/molecules/page/page.stories.svelte
index e471375f..df7f80ae 100644
--- a/packages/storybook/src/molecules/page/page.stories.svelte
+++ b/packages/storybook/src/molecules/page/page.stories.svelte
@@ -428,7 +428,9 @@
       </Page.Header>
       <Page.Body>
         {#snippet child()}
-          <div class="text-muted-foreground rounded-lg border border-dashed p-6 text-sm">All changes saved.</div>
+          <div class="text-muted-foreground rounded-lg border border-dashed p-6 text-sm">
+            All changes saved. The compact save card stays hidden until the form is dirty.
+          </div>
         {/snippet}
       </Page.Body>
       <Page.SettingsActions
diff --git a/packages/ui/README.md b/packages/ui/README.md
index 790d7b9b..0892bee8 100644
--- a/packages/ui/README.md
+++ b/packages/ui/README.md
@@ -139,9 +139,9 @@ Composable page shell used across dashboard list and settings screens. Import as
 | `Page.Action`                  | Right-aligned header actions                                 |
 | `Page.Body`                    | Main content area (`child` snippet)                          |
 | `Page.BodyHeader`              | Toolbar inside the body                                      |
-| `Page.SettingsActions`         | Save/discard bar for settings forms (floats, then docks)     |
+| `Page.SettingsActions`         | Compact save/discard card for dirty settings forms           |
 
-**Settings pages:** Place `Page.SettingsActions` as the last child inside `Page.Root`, after `Page.Body`. The bar uses `position: sticky; bottom: 0` so it stays pinned to the viewport bottom while you scroll, then settles into normal flow at the end of the page. Do not put `overflow` on `Page.Root` that would break sticky positioning (horizontal overflow on `Page.Body` is fine). Disable Save and Discard via `hasChanges={false}` when the form is clean. Pass translated `statusLabel`, `discardLabel`, and `saveLabel` props from the dashboard. Use `disabled` to block Save only (Discard still follows `hasChanges`). Use `contentClass` for extra classes on the inner card when needed.
+**Settings pages:** Place `Page.SettingsActions` as the last child inside `Page.Root`, after `Page.Body`. The card uses `position: sticky; bottom: 0` so it stays pinned to the viewport bottom while you scroll, then settles into normal flow at the end of the page. Do not put `overflow` on `Page.Root` that would break sticky positioning (horizontal overflow on `Page.Body` is fine). The card is compact and centered (not full width) and **only renders when `hasChanges` is true**. Pass translated `statusLabel`, `discardLabel`, and `saveLabel` props from the dashboard. Save is a primary button; Discard is a secondary button. Use `disabled` to block Save only (Discard still follows `loading`). Use `contentClass` for extra classes on the inner card when needed.
 
 **`Page.Root` can come from a layout.** "Last child of `Page.Root`" is a runtime relationship, not a same-file one. Where a `+layout.svelte` owns the `Page.Root` and renders pages into it via `{@render children?.()}`, the page file itself contains only `Page.Header`, `Page.Body`, and `Page.SettingsActions` — that is correct and already satisfies the rule. Do **not** add a second `Page.Root` in the page: nesting them stacks two `min-h-[calc(100vh-48px)]` containers, drops the layout's width constraints, and shortens the sticky bar's containing block so it stops floating. Pages that rely on a layout-owned `Page.Root`:
 
@@ -150,11 +150,11 @@ Composable page shell used across dashboard list and settings screens. Import as
 
 **Never render `Page.SettingsActions` from inside `Page.Body`.** That includes rendering it from a feature component that a route passes into `Page.Body`'s `child` snippet. `Page.Body` sets `overflow-x-hidden`, and CSS computes `overflow-y` to `auto` whenever the other axis is not `visible` — so `Page.Body` is a scroll container. It is sized by its content and never scrolls internally, so a sticky bar inside it has no travel and renders flat at the end of the content. Keep the bar a sibling of `Page.Body` and lift the dirty/saving state up to the route with `bind:this` and `bind:hasUnsavedChanges`, the way `routes/(app)/courses/[id]/settings/+page.svelte` does.
 
-The bar also sits at `z-50`, matching the editor root so it paints above editor content (later in DOM wins the tie) while staying below body-portaled dialogs and sheets. Its shadow appears only while it is pinned away from its flow position, tracked by an `IntersectionObserver` on a 1px sentinel rendered as its next sibling.
+The card also sits at `z-50`, matching the editor root so it paints above editor content (later in DOM wins the tie) while staying below body-portaled dialogs and sheets. The sticky wrapper is full width with `pointer-events: none` so it does not block clicks beside the compact card.
 
 | Prop           | Description                                            |
 | -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
-| `hasChanges`   | Enables Save and Discard when the form is dirty        |
+| `hasChanges`   | When true, shows the floating save/discard card        |
 | `loading`      | Shows loading state on Save                            |
 | `disabled`     | Disables Save only (e.g. while not initialized)        |
 | `contentClass` | Extra classes on the inner card (width, padding, etc.) |
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/base/page/page-settings-actions.svelte b/packages/ui/src/base/page/page-settings-actions.svelte
index 434e3fc6..6f979b18 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/base/page/page-settings-actions.svelte
+++ b/packages/ui/src/base/page/page-settings-actions.svelte
@@ -27,54 +27,53 @@
     onSave?: () => void | Promise<void>;
     onDiscard?: () => void;
   } = $props();
-
-  const actionsDisabled = $derived(!hasChanges || loading);
-
-  let dockSentinel: HTMLDivElement | null = $state(null);
-  let isDocked = $state(true);
-
-  $effect(() => {
-    if (!dockSentinel) return;
-
-    const observer = new IntersectionObserver(([entry]) => {
-      isDocked = entry.isIntersecting;
-    });
-    observer.observe(dockSentinel);
-
-    return () => observer.disconnect();
-  });
 </script>
 
-<div
-  bind:this={ref}
-  data-slot="page-settings-actions"
-  class={cn('ui:sticky ui:bottom-0 ui:z-50 ui:pb-4 ui:shrink-0', className)}
-  {...restProps}
->
-  <div
-    class={cn(
-      'ui:flex ui:flex-col ui:gap-3 ui:sm:flex-row ui:sm:items-center ui:sm:justify-between',
-      'ui:rounded-lg ui:border ui:border-border ui:bg-background ui:p-4 ui:transition-shadow',
-      !isDocked && 'ui:shadow-md',
-      contentClassName
-    )}
-  >
-    <p class="ui:text-sm ui:text-muted-foreground">{statusLabel}</p>
-
-    <div class="ui:flex ui:shrink-0 ui:items-center ui:justify-end ui:gap-2">
-      <Button variant="ghost" type="button" disabled={actionsDisabled} onclick={onDiscard}>
-        {discardLabel}
-      </Button>
-      <Button type="button" {loading} disabled={actionsDisabled || disabled} onclick={onSave}>
-        {saveLabel}
-      </Button>
-    </div>
-  </div>
+<div class="ui:sr-only" role="status" aria-atomic="true" aria-live="polite">
+  {hasChanges ? statusLabel : ''}
 </div>
 
-<div
-  bind:this={dockSentinel}
-  data-slot="page-settings-actions-sentinel"
-  class="ui:h-px ui:shrink-0"
-  aria-hidden="true"
-></div>
+{#if hasChanges}
+  <div
+    bind:this={ref}
+    data-slot="page-settings-actions"
+    class={cn(
+      'ui:pointer-events-none ui:sticky ui:bottom-0 ui:z-50 ui:flex ui:shrink-0 ui:justify-center ui:px-2 ui:pb-4',
+      className
+    )}
+    {...restProps}
+  >
+    <div
+      class={cn(
+        'ui:pointer-events-auto ui:flex ui:w-fit ui:max-w-full ui:flex-wrap ui:items-center ui:justify-center ui:gap-x-6 ui:gap-y-2 ui:rounded-lg ui:bg-foreground ui:px-3.5 ui:py-2 ui:text-background ui:shadow-lg',
+        contentClassName
+      )}
+    >
+      <div class="ui:flex ui:min-w-0 ui:items-center ui:gap-2">
+        <span
+          class="ui:flex ui:size-5 ui:shrink-0 ui:items-center ui:justify-center ui:rounded-full ui:bg-primary ui:text-[11px] ui:font-semibold ui:leading-none ui:text-primary-foreground"
+          aria-hidden="true"
+        >
+          !
+        </span>
+        <p class="ui:text-sm ui:font-medium">{statusLabel}</p>
+      </div>
+
+      <div class="ui:flex ui:shrink-0 ui:items-center ui:gap-2">
+        <Button
+          variant="secondary"
+          size="sm"
+          type="button"
+          class="ui:bg-background ui:text-foreground ui:hover:bg-background/80"
+          disabled={loading}
+          onclick={onDiscard}
+        >
+          {discardLabel}
+        </Button>
+        <Button variant="default" size="sm" type="button" {loading} disabled={loading || disabled} onclick={onSave}>
+          {saveLabel}
+        </Button>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+{/if}