diff --git a/apps/client/src/components/ui/emoji-picker.tsx b/apps/client/src/components/ui/emoji-picker.tsx
index 8f87735d6..c360998a3 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/components/ui/emoji-picker.tsx
+++ b/apps/client/src/components/ui/emoji-picker.tsx
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ export interface EmojiPickerInterface {
     size?: string;
     variant?: string;
     c?: string;
+    tabIndex?: number;
   };
 }
 
@@ -121,6 +122,7 @@ function EmojiPicker({
           c={actionIconProps?.c || "gray"}
           variant={actionIconProps?.variant || "transparent"}
           size={actionIconProps?.size}
+          tabIndex={actionIconProps?.tabIndex}
           onClick={handlers.toggle}
           aria-label={t("Pick emoji")}
           aria-haspopup="dialog"
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/page/tree/components/doc-tree-row.tsx b/apps/client/src/features/page/tree/components/doc-tree-row.tsx
index ab2467a6f..657b9182c 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/page/tree/components/doc-tree-row.tsx
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/page/tree/components/doc-tree-row.tsx
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ type Props<T extends object> = {
   isLastSibling: boolean;
   openIds: ReadonlySet<string>;
   selectedId?: string;
+  // Roving tabindex: the single row that currently carries tabIndex={0}.
+  activeId?: string;
   renderRow: (props: RenderRowProps<T>) => ReactNode;
   indentPerLevel: number;
   onMove: (sourceId: string, op: DropOp) => void | Promise<void>;
@@ -62,6 +64,7 @@ function DocTreeRowInner<T extends object>(props: Props<T>) {
     isLastSibling,
     openIds,
     selectedId,
+    activeId,
     renderRow,
     indentPerLevel,
     onMove,
@@ -326,6 +329,7 @@ function DocTreeRowInner<T extends object>(props: Props<T>) {
           isReceivingDrop: receivingDrop,
           rowRef,
           ariaProps,
+          tabIndex: activeId === node.id ? 0 : -1,
           toggleOpen,
         })}
       </div>
@@ -373,6 +377,11 @@ function arePropsEqual<T extends object>(
   const wasSelected = prev.selectedId === id;
   const isSelected = next.selectedId === id;
   if (wasSelected !== isSelected) return false;
+  // activeId: same trick — only the outgoing and incoming active rows
+  // re-render when the user moves focus through the tree.
+  const wasActive = prev.activeId === id;
+  const isActive = next.activeId === id;
+  if (wasActive !== isActive) return false;
 
   return true;
 }
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/page/tree/components/doc-tree.tsx b/apps/client/src/features/page/tree/components/doc-tree.tsx
index 2217c9ca3..4dc11e641 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/page/tree/components/doc-tree.tsx
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/page/tree/components/doc-tree.tsx
@@ -5,12 +5,14 @@ import {
   useImperativeHandle,
   useMemo,
   useRef,
+  useState,
   type ReactNode,
   type Ref,
 } from 'react';
 import { useVirtualizer } from '@tanstack/react-virtual';
 import { autoScrollForElements } from '@atlaskit/pragmatic-drag-and-drop-auto-scroll/element';
 import type { TreeNode, DropOp } from '../model/tree-model.types';
+import { treeModel } from '../model/tree-model';
 import { DocTreeRow } from './doc-tree-row';
 import styles from '../styles/tree.module.css';
 
@@ -28,6 +30,10 @@ export type RenderRowProps<T extends object> = {
     'aria-expanded'?: boolean;
     'aria-controls'?: string;
   };
+  // Roving tabindex: exactly one row in the tree carries tabIndex={0} (the
+  // active row); every other row gets tabIndex={-1}. Consumers must spread
+  // this onto the same element they wire rowRef to.
+  tabIndex: 0 | -1;
   toggleOpen: () => void;
 };
 
@@ -122,6 +128,10 @@ function DocTreeInner<T extends object>(
   // ~500ms of no typing. Refs only — no re-render needed per keystroke.
   const typeaheadBufferRef = useRef('');
   const typeaheadTimerRef = useRef<ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null>(null);
+  // Roving tabindex: the row most-recently focused by the user. Falls back
+  // to selectedId, then to the first visible row, when the tracked id is
+  // gone from the flat list (e.g. its branch was collapsed).
+  const [activeId, setActiveId] = useState<string | undefined>(undefined);
   const contextId = useMemo(
     () => uniqueContextId ?? Symbol('doc-tree'),
     [uniqueContextId],
@@ -157,6 +167,20 @@ function DocTreeInner<T extends object>(
     [data, openIds],
   );
 
+  // Membership lookup for the flat list. Used to validate activeId/selectedId
+  // before promoting them to the effective active row.
+  const flatIds = useMemo(() => new Set(flat.map((r) => r.node.id)), [flat]);
+
+  // Effective active row for tabindex purposes. Prefers user-focused row,
+  // then the currently selected page, then the first visible row. The user's
+  // arrow / Home / End / typeahead navigation updates activeId via the focus
+  // event delegated on the <ul>; explicit clicks also flow through focus.
+  const effectiveActiveId = useMemo(() => {
+    if (activeId && flatIds.has(activeId)) return activeId;
+    if (selectedId && flatIds.has(selectedId)) return selectedId;
+    return flat[0]?.node.id;
+  }, [activeId, selectedId, flatIds, flat]);
+
   const virtualizer = useVirtualizer({
     count: flat.length,
     getScrollElement: () => scrollRef.current,
@@ -250,10 +274,14 @@ function DocTreeInner<T extends object>(
           e.key === 'ArrowRight' ||
           e.key === 'Home' ||
           e.key === 'End');
+      // Star expands all sibling subtrees of the focused row (WAI-ARIA tree
+      // pattern). Allowed with Shift since on most keyboards Shift+8 is how
+      // "*" is produced. Handled separately from typeahead.
+      const isStarKey = e.key === '*';
       // Single printable character → typeahead. e.key.length === 1 excludes
       // multi-char names like "ArrowDown", "Enter", "Tab", etc.
-      const isTypeahead = e.key.length === 1 && !isNavKey;
-      if (!isNavKey && !isTypeahead) return;
+      const isTypeahead = e.key.length === 1 && !isNavKey && !isStarKey;
+      if (!isNavKey && !isTypeahead && !isStarKey) return;
 
       const target = e.target as HTMLElement;
       if (target.matches('input, textarea, [contenteditable="true"]')) return;
@@ -315,6 +343,26 @@ function DocTreeInner<T extends object>(
         (row.node as { hasChildren?: boolean }).hasChildren === true;
       const isOpen = openIds.has(row.node.id);
 
+      // Asterisk: expand every sibling subtree at the focused row's level.
+      // Walks the authoritative tree (not flat, which only carries visible
+      // rows) so we also expand siblings whose own subtree is currently
+      // collapsed. Focus and selection stay put per the WAI-ARIA pattern.
+      if (isStarKey) {
+        e.preventDefault();
+        const info = treeModel.siblingsOf(rootDataRef.current, row.node.id);
+        if (info) {
+          for (const sib of info.siblings) {
+            const sibHasChildren =
+              (sib.children && sib.children.length > 0) ||
+              (sib as { hasChildren?: boolean }).hasChildren === true;
+            if (sibHasChildren && !openIds.has(sib.id)) {
+              onToggle(sib.id, true);
+            }
+          }
+        }
+        return;
+      }
+
       switch (e.key) {
         case 'ArrowDown':
           e.preventDefault();
@@ -375,6 +423,19 @@ function DocTreeInner<T extends object>(
     [],
   );
 
+  // Event-delegated focus tracking — when any descendant (a row's Link, or an
+  // inner action button) gains focus, mark the enclosing row as active. Keeps
+  // tabIndex aligned with the user's current position whether they got there
+  // by click, arrow nav, or focusByIndex's programmatic .focus() call.
+  const handleFocusIn = useCallback(
+    (e: React.FocusEvent<HTMLUListElement>) => {
+      const rowEl = (e.target as HTMLElement).closest('[data-row-id]');
+      const id = rowEl?.getAttribute('data-row-id');
+      if (id) setActiveId(id);
+    },
+    [],
+  );
+
   if (data.length === 0 && emptyState) {
     return <div className={styles.treeContainer}>{emptyState}</div>;
   }
@@ -387,6 +448,7 @@ function DocTreeInner<T extends object>(
       <ul
         role="tree"
         onKeyDown={handleKeyDown}
+        onFocus={handleFocusIn}
         style={{
           position: 'relative',
           height: totalSize,
@@ -417,6 +479,7 @@ function DocTreeInner<T extends object>(
                 isLastSibling={row.isLastSibling}
                 openIds={openIds}
                 selectedId={selectedId}
+                activeId={effectiveActiveId}
                 renderRow={renderRow}
                 indentPerLevel={indentPerLevel}
                 onMove={onMove}
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/page/tree/components/space-tree-node-menu.tsx b/apps/client/src/features/page/tree/components/space-tree-node-menu.tsx
index f7cab98bc..91a21b052 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/page/tree/components/space-tree-node-menu.tsx
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/page/tree/components/space-tree-node-menu.tsx
@@ -126,6 +126,7 @@ export function NodeMenu({ node, canEdit }: NodeMenuProps) {
             variant="transparent"
             c="gray"
             aria-label={t("Page menu")}
+            tabIndex={-1}
             onClick={(e) => {
               e.preventDefault();
               e.stopPropagation();
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/page/tree/components/space-tree-row.tsx b/apps/client/src/features/page/tree/components/space-tree-row.tsx
index 4adeccb2c..d19bd6e85 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/page/tree/components/space-tree-row.tsx
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/page/tree/components/space-tree-row.tsx
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ export function SpaceTreeRow({
   toggleOpen,
   rowRef,
   ariaProps,
+  tabIndex,
   readOnly,
 }: SpaceTreeRowProps) {
   const { t } = useTranslation();
@@ -140,6 +141,7 @@ export function SpaceTreeRow({
       ref={rowRef as React.Ref<HTMLAnchorElement>}
       to={pageUrl}
       className={classes.node}
+      tabIndex={tabIndex}
       {...ariaProps}
       onClick={() => {
         if (mobileSidebarOpened) {
@@ -163,6 +165,7 @@ export function SpaceTreeRow({
           }
           readOnly={!canEdit}
           removeEmojiAction={handleRemoveEmoji}
+          actionIconProps={{ tabIndex: -1 }}
         />
       </div>
 
@@ -220,6 +223,7 @@ function PageArrow({ isOpen, hasChildren, onToggle }: PageArrowProps) {
       c="gray"
       aria-label={isOpen ? t("Collapse") : t("Expand")}
       aria-expanded={isOpen}
+      tabIndex={-1}
       onClick={(e) => {
         e.preventDefault();
         e.stopPropagation();
@@ -271,6 +275,7 @@ function CreateNode({
       variant="transparent"
       c="gray"
       aria-label={t("Create page")}
+      tabIndex={-1}
       onClick={(e) => {
         e.preventDefault();
         e.stopPropagation();
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/share/components/shared-tree.tsx b/apps/client/src/features/share/components/shared-tree.tsx
index 1fd19e30f..4e4a71127 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/share/components/shared-tree.tsx
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/share/components/shared-tree.tsx
@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@ function SharedTreeRow({
   isSelected,
   rowRef,
   ariaProps,
+  tabIndex,
   toggleOpen,
 }: RenderRowProps<SharedPageTreeNode>) {
   const { shareId } = useParams();
@@ -131,6 +132,7 @@ function SharedTreeRow({
     <Box
       ref={rowRef as React.Ref<HTMLAnchorElement>}
       {...ariaProps}
+      tabIndex={tabIndex}
       data-selected={isSelected || undefined}
       className={clsx(classes.node, styles.treeNode)}
       component={Link}
@@ -156,6 +158,7 @@ function SharedTreeRow({
           }
           readOnly={true}
           removeEmojiAction={() => {}}
+          actionIconProps={{ tabIndex: -1 }}
         />
       </div>
       <span className={classes.text}>{node.name || t("untitled")}</span>
@@ -198,6 +201,7 @@ function SharedPageArrow({
       size={20}
       variant="subtle"
       c="gray"
+      tabIndex={-1}
       onClick={(e) => {
         e.preventDefault();
         e.stopPropagation();