diff --git a/codex-rs/core/src/tools/spec.rs b/codex-rs/core/src/tools/spec.rs
index a897e5a8f6..b08726ea7b 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/src/tools/spec.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/src/tools/spec.rs
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@ pub(crate) struct ToolsConfig {
     pub js_repl_enabled: bool,
     pub js_repl_tools_only: bool,
     pub collab_tools: bool,
-    pub collaboration_modes_tools: bool,
     pub experimental_supported_tools: Vec<String>,
 }
 
@@ -62,7 +61,6 @@ impl ToolsConfig {
         let include_js_repl_tools_only =
             include_js_repl && features.enabled(Feature::JsReplToolsOnly);
         let include_collab_tools = features.enabled(Feature::Collab);
-        let include_collaboration_modes_tools = features.enabled(Feature::CollaborationModes);
         let include_search_tool = features.enabled(Feature::Apps);
 
         let shell_type = if !features.enabled(Feature::ShellTool) {
@@ -98,7 +96,6 @@ impl ToolsConfig {
             js_repl_enabled: include_js_repl,
             js_repl_tools_only: include_js_repl_tools_only,
             collab_tools: include_collab_tools,
-            collaboration_modes_tools: include_collaboration_modes_tools,
             experimental_supported_tools: model_info.experimental_supported_tools.clone(),
         }
     }
@@ -1484,10 +1481,8 @@ pub(crate) fn build_specs(
         builder.register_handler("js_repl_reset", js_repl_reset_handler);
     }
 
-    if config.collaboration_modes_tools {
-        builder.push_spec(create_request_user_input_tool());
-        builder.register_handler("request_user_input", request_user_input_handler);
-    }
+    builder.push_spec(create_request_user_input_tool());
+    builder.register_handler("request_user_input", request_user_input_handler);
 
     if config.search_tool
         && let Some(app_tools) = app_tools
@@ -1874,7 +1869,7 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     #[test]
-    fn request_user_input_requires_collaboration_modes_feature() {
+    fn request_user_input_is_available_even_if_collaboration_modes_disabled() {
         let config = test_config();
         let model_info =
             ModelsManager::construct_model_info_offline_for_tests("gpt-5-codex", &config);
@@ -1887,8 +1882,8 @@ mod tests {
         });
         let (tools, _) = build_specs(&tools_config, None, None, &[]).build();
         assert!(
-            !tools.iter().any(|t| t.spec.name() == "request_user_input"),
-            "request_user_input should be disabled when collaboration_modes feature is off"
+            tools.iter().any(|t| t.spec.name() == "request_user_input"),
+            "request_user_input should remain enabled even when collaboration_modes is disabled"
         );
 
         features.enable(Feature::CollaborationModes);
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget.rs
index dcbee999bc..cf4171c75e 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget.rs
@@ -2699,9 +2699,7 @@ impl ChatWidget {
                 .as_ref()
                 .is_some_and(|items| !items.is_empty()),
         );
-        widget.bottom_pane.set_collaboration_modes_enabled(
-            widget.config.features.enabled(Feature::CollaborationModes),
-        );
+        widget.bottom_pane.set_collaboration_modes_enabled(true);
         widget.sync_personality_command_enabled();
         #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
         widget.bottom_pane.set_windows_degraded_sandbox_active(
@@ -2866,9 +2864,7 @@ impl ChatWidget {
                 .as_ref()
                 .is_some_and(|items| !items.is_empty()),
         );
-        widget.bottom_pane.set_collaboration_modes_enabled(
-            widget.config.features.enabled(Feature::CollaborationModes),
-        );
+        widget.bottom_pane.set_collaboration_modes_enabled(true);
         widget.sync_personality_command_enabled();
 
         widget
@@ -3022,9 +3018,7 @@ impl ChatWidget {
                 .as_ref()
                 .is_some_and(|items| !items.is_empty()),
         );
-        widget.bottom_pane.set_collaboration_modes_enabled(
-            widget.config.features.enabled(Feature::CollaborationModes),
-        );
+        widget.bottom_pane.set_collaboration_modes_enabled(true);
         widget.sync_personality_command_enabled();
         #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
         widget.bottom_pane.set_windows_degraded_sandbox_active(
@@ -6027,22 +6021,6 @@ impl ChatWidget {
         if feature == Feature::Steer {
             self.bottom_pane.set_steer_enabled(enabled);
         }
-        if feature == Feature::CollaborationModes {
-            self.bottom_pane.set_collaboration_modes_enabled(enabled);
-            let settings = self.current_collaboration_mode.settings.clone();
-            self.current_collaboration_mode = CollaborationMode {
-                mode: ModeKind::Default,
-                settings,
-            };
-            self.active_collaboration_mask = if enabled {
-                collaboration_modes::default_mask(self.models_manager.as_ref())
-            } else {
-                None
-            };
-            self.update_collaboration_mode_indicator();
-            self.refresh_model_display();
-            self.request_redraw();
-        }
         if feature == Feature::Personality {
             self.sync_personality_command_enabled();
         }
@@ -6198,7 +6176,7 @@ impl ChatWidget {
     }
 
     fn collaboration_modes_enabled(&self) -> bool {
-        self.config.features.enabled(Feature::CollaborationModes)
+        true
     }
 
     fn initial_collaboration_mask(
@@ -6206,9 +6184,6 @@ impl ChatWidget {
         models_manager: &ModelsManager,
         model_override: Option<&str>,
     ) -> Option<CollaborationModeMask> {
-        if !config.features.enabled(Feature::CollaborationModes) {
-            return None;
-        }
         let mut mask = match config.experimental_mode {
             Some(kind) => collaboration_modes::mask_for_kind(models_manager, kind)?,
             None => collaboration_modes::default_mask(models_manager)?,
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/tests.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/tests.rs
index f069db9160..bc840112ea 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/tests.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/tests.rs
@@ -1575,11 +1575,12 @@ async fn make_chatwidget_manual(
         skills: None,
     });
     bottom.set_steer_enabled(true);
-    bottom.set_collaboration_modes_enabled(cfg.features.enabled(Feature::CollaborationModes));
+    bottom.set_collaboration_modes_enabled(true);
     let auth_manager =
         codex_core::test_support::auth_manager_from_auth(CodexAuth::from_api_key("test"));
     let codex_home = cfg.codex_home.clone();
     let models_manager = Arc::new(ModelsManager::new(codex_home, auth_manager.clone()));
+    let active_collaboration_mask = collaboration_modes::default_mask(models_manager.as_ref());
     let reasoning_effort = None;
     let base_mode = CollaborationMode {
         mode: ModeKind::Default,
@@ -1598,7 +1599,7 @@ async fn make_chatwidget_manual(
         active_cell_revision: 0,
         config: cfg,
         current_collaboration_mode,
-        active_collaboration_mask: None,
+        active_collaboration_mask,
         auth_manager,
         models_manager,
         otel_manager,
@@ -3552,17 +3553,11 @@ async fn slash_init_skips_when_project_doc_exists() {
 }
 
 #[tokio::test]
-async fn collab_mode_shift_tab_cycles_only_when_enabled_and_idle() {
+async fn collab_mode_shift_tab_cycles_when_idle() {
     let (mut chat, _rx, _op_rx) = make_chatwidget_manual(None).await;
     chat.set_feature_enabled(Feature::CollaborationModes, false);
 
     let initial = chat.current_collaboration_mode().clone();
-    chat.handle_key_event(KeyEvent::from(KeyCode::BackTab));
-    assert_eq!(chat.current_collaboration_mode(), &initial);
-    assert_eq!(chat.active_collaboration_mode_kind(), ModeKind::Default);
-
-    chat.set_feature_enabled(Feature::CollaborationModes, true);
-
     chat.handle_key_event(KeyEvent::from(KeyCode::BackTab));
     assert_eq!(chat.active_collaboration_mode_kind(), ModeKind::Plan);
     assert_eq!(chat.current_collaboration_mode(), &initial);
@@ -3815,10 +3810,9 @@ async fn set_reasoning_effort_updates_active_collaboration_mask() {
 }
 
 #[tokio::test]
-async fn collab_mode_is_sent_after_enabling() {
+async fn collab_mode_is_sent_on_submit() {
     let (mut chat, _rx, mut op_rx) = make_chatwidget_manual(None).await;
     chat.thread_id = Some(ThreadId::new());
-    chat.set_feature_enabled(Feature::CollaborationModes, true);
 
     chat.bottom_pane
         .set_composer_text("hello".to_string(), Vec::new(), Vec::new());
@@ -3840,26 +3834,13 @@ async fn collab_mode_is_sent_after_enabling() {
 }
 
 #[tokio::test]
-async fn collab_mode_toggle_on_applies_default_preset() {
+async fn collab_mode_flag_toggle_does_not_disable_default_preset() {
     let (mut chat, _rx, mut op_rx) = make_chatwidget_manual(None).await;
     chat.thread_id = Some(ThreadId::new());
+    chat.set_feature_enabled(Feature::CollaborationModes, false);
 
     chat.bottom_pane
-        .set_composer_text("before toggle".to_string(), Vec::new(), Vec::new());
-    chat.handle_key_event(KeyEvent::from(KeyCode::Enter));
-    match next_submit_op(&mut op_rx) {
-        Op::UserTurn {
-            collaboration_mode: None,
-            personality: Some(Personality::Pragmatic),
-            ..
-        } => {}
-        other => panic!("expected Op::UserTurn without collaboration_mode, got {other:?}"),
-    }
-
-    chat.set_feature_enabled(Feature::CollaborationModes, true);
-
-    chat.bottom_pane
-        .set_composer_text("after toggle".to_string(), Vec::new(), Vec::new());
+        .set_composer_text("while disabled".to_string(), Vec::new(), Vec::new());
     chat.handle_key_event(KeyEvent::from(KeyCode::Enter));
     match next_submit_op(&mut op_rx) {
         Op::UserTurn {
@@ -3875,9 +3856,6 @@ async fn collab_mode_toggle_on_applies_default_preset() {
             panic!("expected Op::UserTurn with default collaboration_mode, got {other:?}")
         }
     }
-
-    assert_eq!(chat.active_collaboration_mode_kind(), ModeKind::Default);
-    assert_eq!(chat.current_collaboration_mode().mode, ModeKind::Default);
 }
 
 #[tokio::test]