diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/chat_composer.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/chat_composer.rs
index 8140d413f7..265eef4961 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/chat_composer.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/bottom_pane/chat_composer.rs
@@ -507,33 +507,12 @@ impl ChatComposer {
     }
 
     fn display_label_for_image_placeholder(path: &Path) -> String {
-        let Some(file_name) = path.file_name().and_then(|name| name.to_str()) else {
-            return "image".to_string();
-        };
-
-        // Avoid dumping very long absolute paths into the composer UI (common when attaching screenshots).
-        if !path.is_absolute() {
-            return path.display().to_string();
-        }
-
-        // Count normal path segments (including the file name).
-        let mut segments: Vec<String> = Vec::new();
-        for c in path.components() {
-            if let std::path::Component::Normal(seg) = c {
-                segments.push(seg.to_string_lossy().into_owned());
-            }
-        }
-
-        // Keep short absolute paths readable.
-        if segments.len() <= 2 {
-            return path.display().to_string();
-        }
-
-        let top = segments
-            .first()
-            .cloned()
-            .unwrap_or_else(|| "...".to_string());
-        format!("/{top}/.../{file_name}")
+        // Keep the UI placeholder compact: show only the basename (pre-existing behavior).
+        // The model can still receive the full path via model_placeholder expansion.
+        path.file_name()
+            .and_then(|name| name.to_str())
+            .map(str::to_string)
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| "image".to_string())
     }
 
     fn model_placeholder_from_display_placeholder(
@@ -3320,7 +3299,7 @@ mod tests {
         let (result, _) =
             composer.handle_key_event(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Enter, KeyModifiers::NONE));
         match result {
-            InputResult::Submitted(text) => assert_eq!(text, "[/tmp/image1.png 32x16] hi"),
+            InputResult::Submitted(text) => assert_eq!(text, "[image1.png 32x16] hi"),
             _ => panic!("expected Submitted"),
         }
         let imgs = composer.take_recent_submission_images();
@@ -3343,7 +3322,7 @@ mod tests {
         let (result, _) =
             composer.handle_key_event(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Enter, KeyModifiers::NONE));
         match result {
-            InputResult::Submitted(text) => assert_eq!(text, "[/tmp/image2.png 10x5]"),
+            InputResult::Submitted(text) => assert_eq!(text, "[image2.png 10x5]"),
             _ => panic!("expected Submitted"),
         }
         let imgs = composer.take_recent_submission_images();
@@ -3369,15 +3348,15 @@ mod tests {
         composer.attach_image(path, 10, 5, "PNG");
 
         let text = composer.textarea.text().to_string();
-        assert!(text.contains("[/tmp/image_dup.png 10x5]"));
-        assert!(text.contains("[/tmp/image_dup.png 10x5 #2]"));
+        assert!(text.contains("[image_dup.png 10x5]"));
+        assert!(text.contains("[image_dup.png 10x5 #2]"));
         assert_eq!(
             composer.attached_images[0].display_placeholder,
-            "[/tmp/image_dup.png 10x5]"
+            "[image_dup.png 10x5]"
         );
         assert_eq!(
             composer.attached_images[1].display_placeholder,
-            "[/tmp/image_dup.png 10x5 #2]"
+            "[image_dup.png 10x5 #2]"
         );
     }
 
@@ -3445,15 +3424,11 @@ mod tests {
         composer.handle_key_event(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Backspace, KeyModifiers::NONE));
 
         assert_eq!(composer.attached_images.len(), 1);
-        let expected_placeholder_prefix = format!(
-            "[{} 10x5]",
-            PathBuf::from("/tmp/image_multibyte.png").display()
-        );
         assert!(
             composer
                 .textarea
                 .text()
-                .starts_with(&expected_placeholder_prefix)
+                .starts_with("[image_multibyte.png 10x5]")
         );
     }
 
@@ -3501,7 +3476,7 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(
             vec![AttachedImage {
                 path: path2,
-                display_placeholder: "[/tmp/image_dup2.png 10x5]".to_string(),
+                display_placeholder: "[image_dup2.png 10x5]".to_string(),
                 model_placeholder: "[/tmp/image_dup2.png 10x5]".to_string()
             }],
             composer.attached_images,
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/tests.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/tests.rs
index d380e12d42..f8cb0bfaee 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/tests.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/chatwidget/tests.rs
@@ -1093,7 +1093,7 @@ async fn ctrl_c_cleared_prompt_is_recoverable_via_history() {
     chat.bottom_pane.insert_str("draft message ");
     chat.bottom_pane
         .attach_image(PathBuf::from("/tmp/preview.png"), 24, 42, "png");
-    let placeholder = "[/tmp/preview.png 24x42]";
+    let placeholder = "[preview.png 24x42]";
     assert!(
         chat.bottom_pane.composer_text().ends_with(placeholder),
         "expected placeholder {placeholder:?} in composer text"
@@ -1124,7 +1124,7 @@ async fn ctrl_c_cleared_prompt_is_recoverable_via_history() {
 async fn submitting_image_shows_short_path_but_sends_full_path_to_model() {
     let (mut chat, mut rx, mut op_rx) = make_chatwidget_manual(None).await;
 
-    // Use a long absolute path so the display placeholder is shortened.
+    // Use a long absolute path so we can verify display vs model text differ.
     let image_path = PathBuf::from("/var/tmp/some/dir/image.png");
 
     chat.bottom_pane.insert_str("see ");
@@ -1133,8 +1133,8 @@ async fn submitting_image_shows_short_path_but_sends_full_path_to_model() {
 
     let display_text = chat.bottom_pane.composer_text();
     assert!(
-        display_text.contains("[/var/.../image.png 24x42]"),
-        "expected shortened display placeholder, got {display_text:?}"
+        display_text.contains("[image.png 24x42]"),
+        "expected basename display placeholder, got {display_text:?}"
     );
 
     chat.handle_key_event(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Enter, KeyModifiers::NONE));
@@ -1147,8 +1147,8 @@ async fn submitting_image_shows_short_path_but_sends_full_path_to_model() {
     );
     let rendered = lines_to_single_string(&cells[0]);
     assert!(
-        rendered.contains("/var/.../image.png"),
-        "expected transcript to contain shortened placeholder, got {rendered:?}"
+        rendered.contains("image.png 24x42"),
+        "expected transcript to contain basename placeholder, got {rendered:?}"
     );
     assert!(
         !rendered.contains("/var/tmp/some/dir/image.png"),
@@ -1176,8 +1176,8 @@ async fn submitting_image_shows_short_path_but_sends_full_path_to_model() {
         "expected model text to contain full path, got {model_text:?}"
     );
     assert!(
-        !model_text.contains("/var/.../image.png"),
-        "expected model text not to contain shortened placeholder, got {model_text:?}"
+        !model_text.contains("[image.png 24x42]"),
+        "expected model text not to contain display placeholder, got {model_text:?}"
     );
 }
 
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui2/src/bottom_pane/chat_composer.rs b/codex-rs/tui2/src/bottom_pane/chat_composer.rs
index 67ab352def..5ba79ac8c7 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui2/src/bottom_pane/chat_composer.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui2/src/bottom_pane/chat_composer.rs
@@ -193,33 +193,12 @@ impl ChatComposer {
     }
 
     fn display_label_for_image_placeholder(path: &Path) -> String {
-        let Some(file_name) = path.file_name().and_then(|name| name.to_str()) else {
-            return "image".to_string();
-        };
-
-        // Avoid dumping very long absolute paths into the composer UI (common when attaching screenshots).
-        if !path.is_absolute() {
-            return path.display().to_string();
-        }
-
-        // Count normal path segments (including the file name).
-        let mut segments: Vec<String> = Vec::new();
-        for c in path.components() {
-            if let std::path::Component::Normal(seg) = c {
-                segments.push(seg.to_string_lossy().into_owned());
-            }
-        }
-
-        // Keep short absolute paths readable.
-        if segments.len() <= 2 {
-            return path.display().to_string();
-        }
-
-        let top = segments
-            .first()
-            .cloned()
-            .unwrap_or_else(|| "...".to_string());
-        format!("/{top}/.../{file_name}")
+        // Keep the UI placeholder compact: show only the basename (pre-existing behavior).
+        // The model can still receive the full path via model_placeholder expansion.
+        path.file_name()
+            .and_then(|name| name.to_str())
+            .map(str::to_string)
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| "image".to_string())
     }
 
     fn layout_areas(&self, area: Rect) -> [Rect; 3] {
@@ -3210,7 +3189,7 @@ mod tests {
         let (result, _) =
             composer.handle_key_event(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Enter, KeyModifiers::NONE));
         match result {
-            InputResult::Submitted(text) => assert_eq!(text, "[/tmp/image1.png 32x16] hi"),
+            InputResult::Submitted(text) => assert_eq!(text, "[image1.png 32x16] hi"),
             _ => panic!("expected Submitted"),
         }
         let imgs = composer.take_recent_submission_images();
@@ -3233,7 +3212,7 @@ mod tests {
         let (result, _) =
             composer.handle_key_event(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Enter, KeyModifiers::NONE));
         match result {
-            InputResult::Submitted(text) => assert_eq!(text, "[/tmp/image2.png 10x5]"),
+            InputResult::Submitted(text) => assert_eq!(text, "[image2.png 10x5]"),
             _ => panic!("expected Submitted"),
         }
         let imgs = composer.take_recent_submission_images();
@@ -3306,15 +3285,11 @@ mod tests {
         composer.handle_key_event(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Backspace, KeyModifiers::NONE));
 
         assert_eq!(composer.attached_images.len(), 1);
-        let expected_placeholder_prefix = format!(
-            "[{} 10x5]",
-            PathBuf::from("/tmp/image_multibyte.png").display()
-        );
         assert!(
             composer
                 .textarea
                 .text()
-                .starts_with(&expected_placeholder_prefix)
+                .starts_with("[image_multibyte.png 10x5]")
         );
     }
 
@@ -3362,7 +3337,7 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(
             vec![AttachedImage {
                 path: path2,
-                display_placeholder: "[/tmp/image_dup2.png 10x5]".to_string(),
+                display_placeholder: "[image_dup2.png 10x5]".to_string(),
                 model_placeholder: "[/tmp/image_dup2.png 10x5]".to_string()
             }],
             composer.attached_images,
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui2/src/chatwidget/tests.rs b/codex-rs/tui2/src/chatwidget/tests.rs
index 4fde367287..e34d8533c1 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui2/src/chatwidget/tests.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui2/src/chatwidget/tests.rs
@@ -1053,7 +1053,7 @@ async fn ctrl_c_cleared_prompt_is_recoverable_via_history() {
     chat.bottom_pane.insert_str("draft message ");
     chat.bottom_pane
         .attach_image(PathBuf::from("/tmp/preview.png"), 24, 42, "png");
-    let placeholder = "[/tmp/preview.png 24x42]";
+    let placeholder = "[preview.png 24x42]";
     assert!(
         chat.bottom_pane.composer_text().ends_with(placeholder),
         "expected placeholder {placeholder:?} in composer text"
@@ -1084,7 +1084,7 @@ async fn ctrl_c_cleared_prompt_is_recoverable_via_history() {
 async fn submitting_image_shows_short_path_but_sends_full_path_to_model() {
     let (mut chat, mut rx, mut op_rx) = make_chatwidget_manual(None).await;
 
-    // Use a long absolute path so the display placeholder is shortened.
+    // Use a long absolute path so we can verify display vs model text differ.
     let image_path = PathBuf::from("/var/tmp/some/dir/image.png");
 
     chat.bottom_pane.insert_str("see ");
@@ -1093,8 +1093,8 @@ async fn submitting_image_shows_short_path_but_sends_full_path_to_model() {
 
     let display_text = chat.bottom_pane.composer_text();
     assert!(
-        display_text.contains("[/var/.../image.png 24x42]"),
-        "expected shortened display placeholder, got {display_text:?}"
+        display_text.contains("[image.png 24x42]"),
+        "expected basename display placeholder, got {display_text:?}"
     );
 
     chat.handle_key_event(KeyEvent::new(KeyCode::Enter, KeyModifiers::NONE));
@@ -1107,8 +1107,8 @@ async fn submitting_image_shows_short_path_but_sends_full_path_to_model() {
     );
     let rendered = lines_to_single_string(&cells[0]);
     assert!(
-        rendered.contains("/var/.../image.png"),
-        "expected transcript to contain shortened placeholder, got {rendered:?}"
+        rendered.contains("image.png 24x42"),
+        "expected transcript to contain basename placeholder, got {rendered:?}"
     );
     assert!(
         !rendered.contains("/var/tmp/some/dir/image.png"),
@@ -1136,8 +1136,8 @@ async fn submitting_image_shows_short_path_but_sends_full_path_to_model() {
         "expected model text to contain full path, got {model_text:?}"
     );
     assert!(
-        !model_text.contains("/var/.../image.png"),
-        "expected model text not to contain shortened placeholder, got {model_text:?}"
+        !model_text.contains("[image.png 24x42]"),
+        "expected model text not to contain display placeholder, got {model_text:?}"
     );
 }