diff --git a/ROADMAP.md b/ROADMAP.md
index 93bc931e..01fb5b60 100644
--- a/ROADMAP.md
+++ b/ROADMAP.md
@@ -137,6 +137,7 @@ app's JSON control channel (`deckcraft --control PORT`).
 | 2026-10-17 | Edit Points: turning a shape into a freeform is one undo step, so Undo brings the original shape back (it used to stay a freeform) |
 | 2026-10-17 | While a placeholder's text is being edited, a click on a shape in front of it selects that shape instead of moving the caret, as in PowerPoint (#931) |
 | 2026-10-15 | Native saves keep an imported chart's embedded workbook, drawings and relationships; headless PPTX → edit → native save/reopen → PPTX tests verify the payloads and stale-workbook rejection |
+| 2026-10-18 | Thumbnails: navigating slides with the arrow keys scrolls the thumbnail pane to keep the current slide visible (#917) |
 | 2026-10-15 | PPTX trigger sequences keep separate On Click steps, including paragraph builds; synthetic import/edit/save/reopen and headless show regressions |
 | 2026-10-16 | Export: PNG with a transparent background — the slide background is left out, only the slide's content is drawn (Export… dialog, File › Export, web download, `file.export`/`file.render` `transparentBackground`, `deckcraft-cli render --transparent`) (#784) |
 | 2026-10-16 | Arrange ▸ Align: Align to Slide and Align Selected Objects, as in PowerPoint. One object aligns to the slide and several to each other until the other choice is ticked; the choice holds for that selection and also drives Distribute |
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
index eef9b1b3..a7dd9b8d 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
@@ -244,6 +244,10 @@ pub struct UiState {
     pub notes: bool,
     pub notes_height: f32,
     pub thumbs_width: f32,
+    /// Vertical scroll offset of the thumbnail pane, recorded each frame for the control
+    /// channel and tests; not persisted.
+    #[serde(skip)]
+    pub thumbs_scroll: f32,
     /// Open task pane: `format`, `animation`, `selection`, `comments`, `designer`, `background`,
     /// `smartart` (Text Pane).
     pub pane: Option<String>,
@@ -286,6 +290,7 @@ impl Default for UiState {
             notes: true,
             notes_height: 52.0,
             thumbs_width: 236.0,
+            thumbs_scroll: 0.0,
             pane: None,
             pane_width: 300.0,
             ruler: false,
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/thumbs.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/thumbs.rs
index d6c9c02c..694f1b7b 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/thumbs.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/thumbs.rs
@@ -26,11 +26,13 @@ pub fn show(app: &mut SlideApp, ui: &mut Ui) {
                 master_list(app, ui);
                 return;
             }
-            egui::ScrollArea::vertical().auto_shrink([false, false]).show(ui, |ui| {
+            let out = egui::ScrollArea::vertical().auto_shrink([false, false]).show(ui, |ui| {
                 ui.add_space(8.0);
                 list(app, ui);
                 ui.add_space(20.0);
             });
+            // Where the pane is scrolled to, for the control channel and tests (#917).
+            app.ui.thumbs_scroll = out.state.offset.y;
         });
     // Focus follows the last press: inside the pane keeps it, anywhere else (canvas, ribbon) drops it.
     if let Some(pos) = ui.input(|i| if i.pointer.primary_pressed() { i.pointer.interact_pos() } else { None }) {
@@ -47,6 +49,16 @@ fn list(app: &mut SlideApp, ui: &mut Ui) {
     let width = ui.available_width();
     let tw = (width - 40.0).max(60.0);
     let th = tw * (doc.slide_size.height / doc.slide_size.width.max(1.0)) as f32;
+    // Scroll the current slide into view when it changes, so arrow-key navigation follows
+    // along in the pane (#917). The scroll itself is minimal, only when the thumbnail leaves
+    // the view, as in PowerPoint, so the user's own scrolling stands; the first frame only
+    // records the slide.
+    let scroll_key = ui.id().with("thumb_scrolled_to");
+    let slide_changed = ui.data_mut(|d| {
+        let last: Option<usize> = d.get_temp(scroll_key);
+        d.insert_temp(scroll_key, cur);
+        last.is_some_and(|last| last != cur)
+    });
     let ppp = ui.ctx().pixels_per_point();
     let mut budget = 3u32;
     let mut rects = vec![];
@@ -166,6 +178,10 @@ fn list(app: &mut SlideApp, ui: &mut Ui) {
     if need_more {
         ui.ctx().request_repaint();
     }
+    // Scroll the current slide's thumbnail into view when the slide changes (#917).
+    if slide_changed && let Some((_, row_rect)) = rects.iter().find(|(i, _)| *i == cur) {
+        ui.scroll_to_rect(*row_rect, None);
+    }
     // Drag reorder: insertion line.
     if let Some((from, _)) = app.thumb_drag {
         if let Some(pp) = ui.input(|i| i.pointer.interact_pos()) {
@@ -323,3 +339,56 @@ fn master_list(app: &mut SlideApp, ui: &mut Ui) {
         }
     });
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use egui_kittest::Harness;
+
+    use super::*;
+    use crate::Services;
+    use deckcraft_engine::Session;
+
+    fn harness() -> Harness<'static, SlideApp> {
+        let mut h = Harness::builder().with_size(egui::vec2(1200.0, 800.0)).build_ui_state(
+            |ui, app: &mut SlideApp| {
+                app.logic(ui.ctx());
+                app.ui(ui);
+            },
+            SlideApp::new(Session::with_new(), Services::default()),
+        );
+        h.run_steps(3);
+        h
+    }
+
+    /// Vertical scroll offset of the thumbnail pane, as recorded each frame by `show`.
+    fn thumbs_scroll(h: &Harness<'_, SlideApp>) -> f32 {
+        h.state().ui.thumbs_scroll
+    }
+
+    /// #917: navigating to a slide below the fold scrolls the pane to reveal it; a neighbour
+    /// that is already on screen does not move the pane.
+    #[test]
+    fn navigating_slides_keeps_the_current_thumbnail_visible() {
+        let mut h = harness();
+        for _ in 0..30 {
+            h.state_mut().session.execute("slide.new", &json!({})).unwrap();
+        }
+        // slide.new selects each new slide; back to the first so the pane starts at the top.
+        h.state_mut().session.execute("slide.go", &json!({"index": 0})).unwrap();
+        h.run_steps(3);
+        let last = h.state().session.active().unwrap().doc.slides.len() - 1;
+        assert_eq!(thumbs_scroll(&h), 0.0, "the pane starts at the top");
+
+        // Jump to the last slide: the pane follows and reveals it.
+        h.state_mut().session.execute("slide.go", &json!({"index": last})).unwrap();
+        h.run_steps(120); // the scroll eases in over several frames
+        let jumped = thumbs_scroll(&h);
+        assert!(jumped > 100.0, "the pane scrolled to the last slide, offset {jumped}");
+
+        // One slide up was already on screen after that scroll: the pane holds still.
+        h.state_mut().session.execute("slide.go", &json!({"index": last - 1})).unwrap();
+        h.run_steps(120);
+        let held = thumbs_scroll(&h);
+        assert!((held - jumped).abs() < 1.0, "no re-scroll for a visible slide: {jumped} -> {held}");
+    }
+}