diff --git a/app/routers/dashboard.py b/app/routers/dashboard.py
index 514d604..4181c35 100644
--- a/app/routers/dashboard.py
+++ b/app/routers/dashboard.py
@@ -72,37 +72,14 @@ def _sidebar_data(request: Request, repos: list[dict]) -> dict:
     gitea_workspace = False
 
     if ws_cookie and ws_cookie.startswith("gitea:"):
-        # Gitea workspace: fetch repo tree for sidebar
+        # Gitea workspace: set owner/repo for client-side tree loading
         parts = ws_cookie.split(":", 2)
         if len(parts) >= 3:
             gitea_owner = parts[1]
             gitea_repo = parts[2]
             active_ws_name = f"{gitea_owner}/{gitea_repo}"
             gitea_workspace = True
-            # Fetch root tree from Gitea API (use admin token as fallback)
-            try:
-                from app.services.gitea_client import get_user_gitea_client, GiteaClient
-                gitea = get_user_gitea_client(request) or GiteaClient()
-                import asyncio
-                tree_items = asyncio.run(gitea.get_repo_contents(gitea_owner, gitea_repo))
-                for item in tree_items:
-                    is_folder = item.get("type") == "dir"
-                    workspace_pages.append({
-                        "id": item.get("path", ""),
-                        "name": item.get("name", ""),
-                        "icon": "📁" if is_folder else "📄",
-                        "url": f"javascript:void(0)",
-                        "active": False,
-                        "indent": 0,
-                        "depth": 0,
-                        "has_children": is_folder,
-                        "children": [],
-                        "_gitea_path": item.get("path", ""),
-                        "_gitea_type": "folder" if is_folder else "file",
-                        "_gitea_sha": item.get("sha", ""),
-                    })
-            except Exception:
-                pass
+            workspace_pages = []  # loaded client-side
     elif ws_cookie:
         workspace_pages = _load_workspace_pages(ws_cookie)
         try:
diff --git a/app/templates/base.html b/app/templates/base.html
index 4a45e43..80591ee 100644
--- a/app/templates/base.html
+++ b/app/templates/base.html
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@
   {% endfor %}
 {% endmacro %}
       <div class="sidebar-section-items" x-show="sectionsOpen.workspace" x-transition>
-        <ul class="sidebar-items" data-section="workspace">
+        <ul class="sidebar-items" data-section="workspace" id="sidebar-workspace-items">
           {% if workspace_pages %}
             {{ render_workspace_tree(workspace_pages) }}
           {% else %}
diff --git a/app/templates/gitea_workspace.html b/app/templates/gitea_workspace.html
index 1f5d2c5..bb56534 100644
--- a/app/templates/gitea_workspace.html
+++ b/app/templates/gitea_workspace.html
@@ -113,10 +113,36 @@ function giteaWorkspace() {
     init() {
       // Set cookie for sidebar
       document.cookie = 'flowdeck_workspace=gitea:' + this.owner + ':' + this.repo + ';path=/;SameSite=Lax';
+      // Load root tree into sidebar
+      this.loadSidebarTree();
       // Listen for sidebar clicks on Gitea items
       this.setupSidebarClicks();
     },
 
+    async loadSidebarTree() {
+      try {
+        var r = await fetch('/api/gitea/projects/' + this.owner + '/' + this.repo + '/tree');
+        if (!r.ok) return;
+        var d = await r.json();
+        var items = d.tree || [];
+        var container = document.getElementById('sidebar-workspace-items');
+        if (!container) return;
+        container.innerHTML = '';
+        var self = this;
+        items.forEach(function(item) {
+          var icon = item.type === 'folder' ? '📁' : '📄';
+          var li = document.createElement('li');
+          li.className = 'sidebar-item';
+          li.setAttribute('data-gitea-path', item.path);
+          li.setAttribute('data-gitea-type', item.type === 'folder' ? 'folder' : 'file');
+          li.setAttribute('data-gitea-sha', item.sha || '');
+          li.style.cssText = 'padding-left:12px;cursor:pointer;';
+          li.innerHTML = '<span class=\"page-icon\">' + icon + '</span><span class=\"page-name\">' + item.name + '</span>';
+          container.appendChild(li);
+        });
+      } catch(e) { console.error('Sidebar tree load failed:', e); }
+    },
+
     setupSidebarClicks() {
       var self = this;
       document.addEventListener('click', function(e) {