diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 18c2136..5b73f41 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -71,7 +71,8 @@ The tmux server runs in its own unit, so every Claude process lives in **that**
 | Ctrl-b 0 / 1 | Claude window / shell window |
 | Ctrl-b s | Switch session (the URL follows) |
 | Ctrl-b d | Detach (the session keeps running) |
-| Shift+drag | Native browser selection (plain drag goes to tmux copy-mode, which copies via OSC 52) |
+| Drag | Selects text; it stays highlighted and is copied when you let go. Double-click selects a word, triple-click a line. Clicks on the tmux status line still go to tmux. |
+| Ctrl+C | Copies the selection when there is one; otherwise interrupts as usual |
 | Ctrl+Shift+C / V | Copy selection / paste |
 | Ctrl+Shift+P | Command palette (also the ⌕ button) |
 | Ctrl+Shift+E | Files pane (Esc: back, then close) |
diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 33cce5a..d2f4b01 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -1,3 +1,13 @@
+devdesk (0.10.2) bookworm; urgency=medium
+
+  * Selecting text in the terminal works like a normal terminal (#51). A
+    drag is a browser selection that stays highlighted and is copied when
+    you let go, with a short toast. Ctrl+C copies the selection and
+    interrupts only when nothing is selected. The wheel still scrolls tmux
+    history, and the tmux status line still takes clicks.
+
+ -- Jared Vititoe <jjvititoe1@gmail.com>  Mon, 12 Oct 2026 16:36:00 -0400
+
 devdesk (0.10.1) bookworm; urgency=medium
 
   * Everything in 0.10.0, which was never published: its CI test for the
diff --git a/web/index.template.html b/web/index.template.html
index 1c7f150..ab541fe 100644
--- a/web/index.template.html
+++ b/web/index.template.html
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@
     <span class="lt-footer-sep">│</span>
     <span class="lt-footer-hint"><span class="lt-footer-key">^b d</span>detach</span>
     <span class="lt-footer-sep">│</span>
-    <span class="lt-footer-hint"><span class="lt-footer-key">⇧drag</span>select</span>
+    <span class="lt-footer-hint"><span class="lt-footer-key">drag</span>copy</span>
     <span class="lt-footer-sep">│</span>
     <span class="lt-footer-hint"><span class="lt-footer-key">drop / paste</span>attach files</span>
     <span class="lt-footer-sep">│</span>
diff --git a/web/src/main.js b/web/src/main.js
index 3342bca..b15ae08 100644
--- a/web/src/main.js
+++ b/web/src/main.js
@@ -876,6 +876,8 @@ const KEY_HELP = [
     ['Ctrl+⇧ E', 'Files: browse, preview, diff, edit (Esc closes)'],
     ['Ctrl+P', 'Files: go to file'],
     ['Ctrl+S', 'Files: save the open file'],
+    ['Drag', 'Select text; it is copied when you let go'],
+    ['Ctrl+C', 'Copy the selection (interrupts only when nothing is selected)'],
     ['Ctrl+⇧ C / V', 'Copy selection / paste'],
     ['⇧ drag', 'Select text in the browser'],
     ['Drop or paste a file', 'Upload it and attach it for Claude'],
@@ -1199,6 +1201,7 @@ async function boot() {
     fontSize,
     theme: getTheme(),
     onShiftEnter: () => state.conn?.sendInput('\n'),
+    onCopied: (text) => toast.success(`Copied ${text.length.toLocaleString()} character${text.length === 1 ? '' : 's'}`, 1500),
   }));
   onThemeChange((theme) => {
     term.options.theme = THEMES[theme];
diff --git a/web/src/term.js b/web/src/term.js
index c7b9fce..6c42c32 100644
--- a/web/src/term.js
+++ b/web/src/term.js
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ export async function loadFonts(size) {
   }
 }
 
-export function createTerminal(container, { fontSize, theme = 'dark', onShiftEnter }) {
+export function createTerminal(container, { fontSize, theme = 'dark', onShiftEnter, onCopied }) {
   const term = new Terminal({
     fontFamily: FONT_FAMILY,
     fontSize,
@@ -113,16 +113,28 @@ export function createTerminal(container, { fontSize, theme = 'dark', onShiftEnt
     window.open(uri, '_blank', 'noopener');
   }));
 
+  const copySelection = () => {
+    const text = term.getSelection();
+    navigator.clipboard?.writeText(text).then(() => onCopied?.(text), () => {});
+  };
+
   term.attachCustomKeyEventHandler((event) => {
     // Shift+Enter: newline in Claude's prompt (Ctrl+J), not submit.
     if (event.key === 'Enter' && event.shiftKey && !event.ctrlKey && !event.altKey && !event.metaKey) {
       if (event.type === 'keydown') onShiftEnter();
       return false;
     }
+    // Ctrl+C with text selected copies it instead of interrupting (devdesk#51).
+    if (event.type === 'keydown' && event.ctrlKey && !event.shiftKey && !event.altKey && !event.metaKey
+        && event.code === 'KeyC' && term.hasSelection()) {
+      copySelection();
+      term.clearSelection();
+      return false;
+    }
     // Ctrl+Shift+C / Ctrl+Shift+V: browser clipboard, like desktop terminals.
     if (event.type === 'keydown' && event.ctrlKey && event.shiftKey && !event.altKey) {
       if (event.code === 'KeyC' && term.hasSelection()) {
-        navigator.clipboard?.writeText(term.getSelection()).catch(() => {});
+        copySelection();
         return false;
       }
       if (event.code === 'KeyV') {
@@ -135,6 +147,35 @@ export function createTerminal(container, { fontSize, theme = 'dark', onShiftEnt
 
   term.open(container);
 
+  // devdesk#51: tmux runs with the mouse on (wheel scrolls its history), so a
+  // drag would select inside tmux, which copies and then drops the highlight on
+  // release. A left-button drag in the terminal is made a browser selection
+  // instead (what Shift+drag does): it stays highlighted and is copied on
+  // release. Clicks on tmux's status line (the window tabs) still go to tmux.
+  const screen = () => container.querySelector('.xterm-screen');
+  container.addEventListener('mousedown', (event) => {
+    if (event.button !== 0 || event.shiftKey || event.ddForced || term.modes.mouseTrackingMode === 'none') return;
+    const rect = screen()?.getBoundingClientRect();
+    if (!rect) return;
+    const row = Math.floor(((event.clientY - rect.top) / rect.height) * term.rows);
+    if (row >= term.rows - 1) return; // status line
+    event.preventDefault();
+    event.stopImmediatePropagation();
+    const forced = new MouseEvent('mousedown', {
+      bubbles: true, cancelable: true, view: window, detail: event.detail, button: 0, buttons: event.buttons,
+      clientX: event.clientX, clientY: event.clientY, screenX: event.screenX, screenY: event.screenY,
+      shiftKey: true, ctrlKey: event.ctrlKey, altKey: event.altKey, metaKey: event.metaKey,
+    });
+    forced.ddForced = true;
+    event.target.dispatchEvent(forced);
+  }, true);
+  // Copy when the drag (or double/triple click) ends with something selected.
+  container.addEventListener('mouseup', () => {
+    setTimeout(() => {
+      if (term.hasSelection() && term.getSelection().trim()) copySelection();
+    }, 0);
+  });
+
   // Touch devices: the DOM renderer is more reliable at high DPR than WebGL.
   if (window.matchMedia?.('(pointer: coarse)').matches) return { term, fit };
   try {