diff --git a/frontend-vue/src/components/sidebar/ChannelList.vue b/frontend-vue/src/components/sidebar/ChannelList.vue
index a75891e..502562e 100644
--- a/frontend-vue/src/components/sidebar/ChannelList.vue
+++ b/frontend-vue/src/components/sidebar/ChannelList.vue
@@ -1,20 +1,26 @@
 <template>
-  <div class="channel-list-container">
-    <ul class="channel-list" role="list">
+  <div class="channel-list-container" ref="containerRef">
+    <ul class="channel-list" role="list" aria-label="Channels">
       <ChannelListItem
-        v-for="channel in channels"
+        v-for="(channel, index) in channels"
         :key="channel.id"
         :channel="channel"
         :is-active="channel.id === currentChannelId"
         :unread-count="unreadCounts[channel.id]"
-        @select="$emit('select-channel', $event)"
+        :tabindex="index === focusedChannelIndex ? 0 : -1"
+        :channel-index="index"
+        :data-channel-index="index"
+        @select="handleChannelSelect"
         @info="$emit('channel-info', $event)"
+        @keydown="handleChannelKeydown"
+        @focus="handleChannelFocus"
       />
     </ul>
   </div>
 </template>
 
 <script setup lang="ts">
+import { ref, computed, nextTick, watch, onMounted } from 'vue'
 import ChannelListItem from './ChannelListItem.vue'
 import type { Channel } from '@/types'
 
@@ -24,12 +30,129 @@ interface Props {
   unreadCounts: Record<number, number>
 }
 
-defineProps<Props>()
-
-defineEmits<{
+const emit = defineEmits<{
   'select-channel': [channelId: number]
   'channel-info': [channel: Channel]
 }>()
+
+const props = defineProps<Props>()
+
+const containerRef = ref<HTMLElement>()
+const focusedChannelIndex = ref(0)
+
+// Handle individual channel events
+const handleChannelSelect = (channelId: number) => {
+  emit('select-channel', channelId)
+}
+
+const handleChannelFocus = (index: number) => {
+  focusedChannelIndex.value = index
+}
+
+const handleChannelKeydown = (event: KeyboardEvent, channelIndex: number) => {
+  if (props.channels.length === 0) return
+  
+  // Don't handle keys with modifiers - let them bubble up for global shortcuts
+  if (event.ctrlKey || event.altKey || event.metaKey) {
+    return
+  }
+  
+  let newIndex = channelIndex
+  
+  switch (event.key) {
+    case 'ArrowUp':
+      event.preventDefault()
+      newIndex = Math.max(0, channelIndex - 1)
+      break
+      
+    case 'ArrowDown':
+      event.preventDefault()
+      newIndex = Math.min(props.channels.length - 1, channelIndex + 1)
+      break
+      
+    case 'Home':
+      event.preventDefault()
+      newIndex = 0
+      break
+      
+    case 'End':
+      event.preventDefault()
+      newIndex = props.channels.length - 1
+      break
+      
+    case 'Enter':
+    case ' ':
+      event.preventDefault()
+      const selectedChannel = props.channels[channelIndex]
+      if (selectedChannel) {
+        emit('select-channel', selectedChannel.id)
+      }
+      return
+      
+    case 'i':
+    case 'I':
+      // Only handle 'i' without modifiers
+      if (!event.shiftKey) {
+        event.preventDefault()
+        const infoChannel = props.channels[channelIndex]
+        if (infoChannel) {
+          emit('channel-info', infoChannel)
+        }
+        return
+      }
+      break
+      
+    default:
+      return
+  }
+  
+  if (newIndex !== channelIndex) {
+    focusChannel(newIndex)
+  }
+}
+
+const focusChannel = (index: number) => {
+  focusedChannelIndex.value = index
+  nextTick(() => {
+    const buttonElement = containerRef.value?.querySelector(`[data-channel-index="${index}"] .channel-button`) as HTMLElement
+    if (buttonElement) {
+      buttonElement.focus()
+      buttonElement.scrollIntoView({ block: 'nearest', behavior: 'smooth' })
+    }
+  })
+}
+
+
+// Watch for channels changes and adjust focus
+watch(() => props.channels.length, (newLength) => {
+  if (focusedChannelIndex.value >= newLength) {
+    focusedChannelIndex.value = Math.max(0, newLength - 1)
+  }
+})
+
+// Set initial focus to current channel or first channel
+watch(() => props.currentChannelId, (newChannelId) => {
+  if (newChannelId) {
+    const index = props.channels.findIndex(channel => channel.id === newChannelId)
+    if (index !== -1) {
+      focusedChannelIndex.value = index
+    }
+  }
+}, { immediate: true })
+
+onMounted(() => {
+  // Focus the current channel if available
+  if (props.currentChannelId) {
+    const index = props.channels.findIndex(channel => channel.id === props.currentChannelId)
+    if (index !== -1) {
+      focusedChannelIndex.value = index
+    }
+  }
+})
+
+defineExpose({
+  focusChannel
+})
 </script>
 
 <style scoped>
@@ -39,6 +162,7 @@ defineEmits<{
   padding: 0.5rem 0;
 }
 
+
 .channel-list {
   list-style: none;
   margin: 0;
diff --git a/frontend-vue/src/components/sidebar/ChannelListItem.vue b/frontend-vue/src/components/sidebar/ChannelListItem.vue
index 9a1ee4c..ba4f68a 100644
--- a/frontend-vue/src/components/sidebar/ChannelListItem.vue
+++ b/frontend-vue/src/components/sidebar/ChannelListItem.vue
@@ -4,13 +4,18 @@
       'channel-item',
       { 'channel-item--active': isActive }
     ]"
+    :data-channel-index="channelIndex"
+    role="listitem"
   >
     <div class="channel-wrapper">
       <button
         class="channel-button"
         @click="$emit('select', channel.id)"
+        @focus="handleFocus"
+        @keydown="handleKeydown"
+        :tabindex="tabindex"
         :aria-pressed="isActive"
-        :aria-label="`Select channel ${channel.name}`"
+        :aria-label="channelAriaLabel"
       >
         <span class="channel-name">{{ channel.name }}</span>
         <span v-if="unreadCount" class="channel-unread">
@@ -31,20 +36,46 @@
 </template>
 
 <script setup lang="ts">
+import { computed } from 'vue'
 import type { Channel } from '@/types'
 
 interface Props {
   channel: Channel
   isActive: boolean
   unreadCount?: number
+  tabindex?: number
+  channelIndex?: number
 }
 
-defineProps<Props>()
-
-defineEmits<{
+const emit = defineEmits<{
   select: [channelId: number]
   info: [channel: Channel]
+  focus: [index: number]
+  keydown: [event: KeyboardEvent, index: number]
 }>()
+
+const props = defineProps<Props>()
+
+// Better ARIA label that announces the channel name and unread count
+const channelAriaLabel = computed(() => {
+  let label = `${props.channel.name} channel`
+  if (props.unreadCount) {
+    label += `, ${props.unreadCount} unread message${props.unreadCount > 1 ? 's' : ''}`
+  }
+  return label
+})
+
+const handleFocus = () => {
+  if (props.channelIndex !== undefined) {
+    emit('focus', props.channelIndex)
+  }
+}
+
+const handleKeydown = (event: KeyboardEvent) => {
+  if (props.channelIndex !== undefined) {
+    emit('keydown', event, props.channelIndex)
+  }
+}
 </script>
 
 <style scoped>
diff --git a/frontend-vue/src/composables/useKeyboardShortcuts.ts b/frontend-vue/src/composables/useKeyboardShortcuts.ts
index b3fde5c..251ec50 100644
--- a/frontend-vue/src/composables/useKeyboardShortcuts.ts
+++ b/frontend-vue/src/composables/useKeyboardShortcuts.ts
@@ -25,11 +25,8 @@ export function useKeyboardShortcuts() {
   }
 
   const handleKeydown = (event: KeyboardEvent) => {
-    // Skip shortcuts when focused on input/textarea elements
     const target = event.target as HTMLElement
-    if (target?.tagName === 'INPUT' || target?.tagName === 'TEXTAREA') {
-      return
-    }
+    const isInInputField = target?.tagName === 'INPUT' || target?.tagName === 'TEXTAREA'
 
     const config: ShortcutConfig = {
       key: event.key.toLowerCase(),
@@ -44,6 +41,16 @@ export function useKeyboardShortcuts() {
     const shortcut = shortcuts.value.get(shortcutKey)
 
     if (shortcut) {
+      // Allow certain shortcuts to work globally, even in input fields
+      const isGlobalShortcut = (shortcut.ctrlKey && shortcut.shiftKey) || 
+                              shortcut.altKey || 
+                              shortcut.key === 'escape'
+      
+      // Skip shortcuts that shouldn't work in input fields
+      if (isInInputField && !isGlobalShortcut) {
+        return
+      }
+      
       if (shortcut.preventDefault !== false) {
         event.preventDefault()
       }
diff --git a/frontend-vue/src/views/MainView.vue b/frontend-vue/src/views/MainView.vue
index 527aa56..6a36555 100644
--- a/frontend-vue/src/views/MainView.vue
+++ b/frontend-vue/src/views/MainView.vue
@@ -309,6 +309,11 @@ const selectChannel = async (channelId: number) => {
   }
   
   scrollToBottom()
+  
+  // Auto-focus message input when switching channels
+  nextTick(() => {
+    messageInput.value?.focus()
+  })
 }
 
 const handleSendMessage = async (content: string) => {
@@ -452,7 +457,12 @@ onMounted(async () => {
     await selectChannel(appStore.channels[0].id)
   }
   
-  // 6. Set up periodic sync for unsent messages
+  // 6. Auto-focus message input on page load
+  nextTick(() => {
+    messageInput.value?.focus()
+  })
+  
+  // 7. Set up periodic sync for unsent messages
   const syncInterval = setInterval(async () => {
     if (appStore.unsentMessages.length > 0) {
       try {