diff --git a/.changeset/placeholder-vscode-token.md b/.changeset/placeholder-vscode-token.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..4c4ed7a085b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/placeholder-vscode-token.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"kilo-code": patch
+---
+
+Use the VS Code-native placeholder color for input fields so placeholder text is consistently distinct from values you have typed (Settings, Agent Manager, prompt input, model search, etc.).
diff --git a/packages/kilo-ui/src/components/text-field.css b/packages/kilo-ui/src/components/text-field.css
index a8579590cfc..9c675564518 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-ui/src/components/text-field.css
+++ b/packages/kilo-ui/src/components/text-field.css
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
     color: var(--text-base);
 
     &::placeholder {
-      color: var(--icon-weak-base);
+      color: var(--vscode-input-placeholderForeground, var(--text-weaker));
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/agent-manager/agent-manager.css b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/agent-manager/agent-manager.css
index 5181f537af1..d94558636cd 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/agent-manager/agent-manager.css
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/agent-manager/agent-manager.css
@@ -1403,7 +1403,7 @@ body.am-wt-dragging-active * {
 }
 
 .am-tabs-menu-search-input::placeholder {
-  color: var(--text-weaker);
+  color: var(--vscode-input-placeholderForeground, var(--text-weaker));
 }
 
 .am-tabs-menu-list {
@@ -2482,7 +2482,7 @@ body.am-wt-dragging-active * {
 }
 
 .am-nv-name-input::placeholder {
-  color: var(--text-weaker);
+  color: var(--vscode-input-placeholderForeground, var(--text-weaker));
 }
 
 /* Dialog overrides for prompt-input-container — resizable from bottom edge */
@@ -2665,7 +2665,7 @@ body.am-wt-dragging-active * {
 }
 
 .am-mm-search-input::placeholder {
-  color: var(--text-weaker);
+  color: var(--vscode-input-placeholderForeground, var(--text-weaker));
 }
 
 .am-mm-list {
@@ -2808,7 +2808,7 @@ body.am-wt-dragging-active * {
 }
 
 .am-advanced-input::placeholder {
-  color: var(--text-weaker);
+  color: var(--vscode-input-placeholderForeground, var(--text-weaker));
 }
 
 /* Branch selector */
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/kiloclaw/kiloclaw.css b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/kiloclaw/kiloclaw.css
index a97a06b08c7..cd595c9c76f 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/kiloclaw/kiloclaw.css
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/kiloclaw/kiloclaw.css
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@
 }
 
 .kiloclaw-input::placeholder {
-  color: var(--vscode-input-placeholderForeground);
+  color: var(--vscode-input-placeholderForeground, var(--text-weaker));
 }
 
 /* Status sidebar */
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/styles/model-selector.css b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/styles/model-selector.css
index 7dbfaba6e55..4504a29c2da 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/styles/model-selector.css
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/styles/model-selector.css
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@
 }
 
 .model-selector-search::placeholder {
-  color: var(--vscode-input-placeholderForeground);
+  color: var(--vscode-input-placeholderForeground, var(--text-weaker));
 }
 
 .model-selector-list {
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/styles/prompt-input.css b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/styles/prompt-input.css
index 84b665c6963..99b98ef7329 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/styles/prompt-input.css
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/styles/prompt-input.css
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@
 }
 
 .prompt-input::placeholder {
-  color: var(--vscode-input-placeholderForeground);
+  color: var(--vscode-input-placeholderForeground, var(--text-weaker));
 }
 
 /* Input overlay (highlight + ghost text) */
diff --git a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/styles/question-dock.css b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/styles/question-dock.css
index e730d07fe66..97fea9ee903 100644
--- a/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/styles/question-dock.css
+++ b/packages/kilo-vscode/webview-ui/src/styles/question-dock.css
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@
     line-height: var(--line-height-large);
 
     &::placeholder {
-      color: var(--text-weak);
+      color: var(--vscode-input-placeholderForeground, var(--text-weaker));
     }
 
     &:disabled {