diff --git a/apps/gridcraft/src/native_menu.rs b/apps/gridcraft/src/native_menu.rs
index 2c2866379..877c82fd8 100644
--- a/apps/gridcraft/src/native_menu.rs
+++ b/apps/gridcraft/src/native_menu.rs
@@ -283,27 +283,32 @@ impl NativeMenu {
     /// step with the session.
     fn sync_windows(&mut self, app: &SheetApp) {
         let windows = app.open_windows();
-        if windows == self.windows {
-            return;
+        if windows != self.windows
+            && let Some(menu) = &self.window_menu
+        {
+            let same_docs = windows.len() == self.windows.len() && windows.iter().zip(&self.windows).all(|(a, b)| a.doc == b.doc);
+            if same_docs {
+                for (item, w) in self.window_items.iter().zip(&windows) {
+                    item.set_text(w.label());
+                }
+            } else {
+                for item in self.window_items.drain(..) {
+                    let _ = menu.remove(&item);
+                }
+                for w in &windows {
+                    let item = CheckMenuItem::with_id(format!("{WINDOW_ITEM}{}", w.doc), w.label(), true, w.active, None);
+                    let _ = menu.append(&item);
+                    self.window_items.push(item);
+                }
+            }
+            self.windows = windows;
         }
-        let Some(menu) = &self.window_menu else { return };
-        let same_docs = windows.len() == self.windows.len() && windows.iter().zip(&self.windows).all(|(a, b)| a.doc == b.doc);
-        if same_docs {
-            for (item, w) in self.window_items.iter().zip(&windows) {
-                item.set_text(w.label());
+        // AppKit flips a check item when it is chosen, so the active check is put back every poll.
+        for (item, w) in self.window_items.iter().zip(&self.windows) {
+            if item.is_checked() != w.active {
                 item.set_checked(w.active);
             }
-        } else {
-            for item in self.window_items.drain(..) {
-                let _ = menu.remove(&item);
-            }
-            for w in &windows {
-                let item = CheckMenuItem::with_id(format!("{WINDOW_ITEM}{}", w.doc), w.label(), true, w.active, None);
-                let _ = menu.append(&item);
-                self.window_items.push(item);
-            }
         }
-        self.windows = windows;
     }
 
     pub fn poll(&mut self, app: &mut SheetApp, ctx: &egui::Context) {
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/editor.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/editor.rs
index eeeaf12da..3f23e8bed 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/editor.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/editor.rs
@@ -45,11 +45,15 @@ pub struct EditState {
     pub completion: Option<String>,
     /// Move the caret to the end on the next frame.
     pub caret_to_end: bool,
+    /// The cell's text when an F2-style edit began. Committing it unchanged leaves the cell alone
+    /// (no undo step, the workbook stays clean). `None` for an edit started by typing.
+    pub original: Option<String>,
 }
 
 impl EditState {
     pub fn new(doc: u64, sheet: usize, cell: CellRef, text: String, enter_mode: bool, from_formula_bar: bool) -> EditState {
         let caret = text.chars().count();
+        let original = (!enter_mode).then(|| text.clone());
         EditState {
             doc,
             sheet,
@@ -68,6 +72,7 @@ impl EditState {
             sync_caret: true,
             caret_to_end: true,
             completion: None,
+            original,
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
index 001abaad5..cc478168e 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
@@ -412,7 +412,7 @@ impl SheetApp {
             || matches!(id, "view.newWindow" | "view.hideWindow" | "view.unhideWindow")
             || (id == "view.switchWindows" && params.get("doc").is_some_and(|d| !d.is_null()));
         if id.starts_with("file.") || switches_window {
-            self.settle_drafts();
+            self.settle_drafts()?;
         }
         if matches!(id, "file.save" | "file.saveAs" | "file.saveBytes") {
             self.store_view_state();
@@ -575,8 +575,11 @@ impl SheetApp {
             self.open_switch_windows = true;
             return;
         }
-        if let Err(e) = self.run(id, params) {
-            self.alert(e);
+        match self.run(id, params) {
+            // A refused cell draft already shows its own message (with the rule's title).
+            Err(e) if self.message.as_ref().is_some_and(|(_, m)| *m == e) => {}
+            Err(e) => self.alert(e),
+            Ok(_) => {}
         }
     }
 
@@ -1013,8 +1016,8 @@ impl SheetApp {
     /// Commits the edit; `then` moves the selection (dr, dc) afterwards.
     ///
     /// The draft goes into the workbook it was typed in. If another workbook is showing, that
-    /// workbook stays active afterwards, and a draft its own workbook refuses (validation, a bad
-    /// formula) is dropped rather than left open over the wrong grid.
+    /// workbook stays active afterwards; a draft its own workbook refuses (validation, a bad
+    /// formula) brings that workbook back to the front with the draft still open.
     pub fn commit_edit(&mut self, dr: i64, dc: i64, array: bool, fill_selection: bool) -> bool {
         let Some(doc) = self.editor.as_ref().map(|ed| ed.doc) else { return true };
         let shown = self.session.active().map(|d| d.uid);
@@ -1028,25 +1031,21 @@ impl SheetApp {
         let back = self.session.active_index();
         self.session.set_active(owner);
         if !self.commit_edit_here(dr, dc, array, fill_selection) {
-            self.cancel_edit();
+            // Refused: its workbook stays in front with the draft open and the reason shown.
+            return false;
         }
         self.session.set_active(back);
         true
     }
 
-    /// Settles the cell and text-box drafts before a command that can show another workbook or
-    /// write this one to a file: each is committed as Enter would, or dropped when it can't be
-    /// (the refusal is still reported), so a draft never lands in another workbook.
-    fn settle_drafts(&mut self) {
+    /// Commits the cell and text-box drafts, as Enter would, before a command that can show
+    /// another workbook or write this one to a file, so a draft never lands in another workbook.
+    /// A draft its workbook refuses stays open with the reason shown, and the command doesn't run.
+    fn settle_drafts(&mut self) -> Result<(), String> {
         if !self.commit_edit(0, 0, false, false) {
-            self.cancel_edit();
-        }
-        if let Err(e) = self.commit_text_box_edit() {
-            self.cancel_text_box_edit();
-            if self.message.is_none() {
-                self.message = Some(("Text Box".into(), clean_error(&e)));
-            }
+            return Err(self.message.as_ref().map(|(_, m)| m.clone()).unwrap_or_else(|| "The cell being edited can't be entered.".into()));
         }
+        self.commit_text_box_edit()
     }
 
     fn commit_edit_here(&mut self, dr: i64, dc: i64, array: bool, fill_selection: bool) -> bool {
@@ -1056,6 +1055,13 @@ impl SheetApp {
             Some(full) if full.to_lowercase().starts_with(&ed.text.to_lowercase()) => full.clone(),
             _ => ed.text.clone(),
         };
+        // F2 then Enter (or a file command) on an untouched draft: nothing to write.
+        if !fill_selection && !array && ed.original.as_ref() == Some(&text) {
+            if dr != 0 || dc != 0 {
+                self.move_after_enter(dr, dc);
+            }
+            return true;
+        }
         let text = match self.session.active().map(|d| formula_locale::canonical(&text, ed.locale, &d.wb, ed.sheet, ed.cell)) {
             Some(Ok(text)) => text,
             Some(Err(error)) => {
@@ -1355,7 +1361,8 @@ impl SheetApp {
         let t0 = now_ms();
         text_box::before_ui(self, &ctx);
         // Another workbook came forward without going through a command (which settles drafts
-        // first): the draft goes into its own workbook instead of floating over this one.
+        // first): the draft goes into its own workbook instead of floating over this one. If that
+        // workbook refuses it, it comes back to the front with the draft open.
         if self.editor.as_ref().is_some_and(|ed| self.session.active().map(|d| d.uid) != Some(ed.doc)) {
             self.commit_edit(0, 0, false, false);
         }
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/tests/file_menu.rs b/crates/ui-egui/tests/file_menu.rs
index 415e09902..5c447cb63 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/tests/file_menu.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/tests/file_menu.rs
@@ -351,19 +351,49 @@ fn new_workbook_keeps_the_typed_cell_in_the_first_and_switch_windows_brings_it_b
 }
 
 #[test]
-fn a_draft_its_workbook_refuses_is_dropped_when_switching_away() {
+fn a_draft_its_workbook_refuses_stops_the_switch_and_stays_open() {
     let mut h = harness(Services::default());
     let book1 = typing_in_book1_then_new(&mut h);
+    let book2 = h.state().session.doc().unwrap().uid;
     h.state_mut().session.execute("data.validation", serde_json::json!({"range": "A1", "type": "list", "formula1": "\"Red,Green\""})).unwrap();
     h.input_mut().events.push(egui::Event::Text("Purple".into()));
     h.run_steps(2);
-    assert!(h.state().editor.is_some());
     h.state_mut().run_or_alert("view.switchWindows", serde_json::json!({"doc": book1}));
     h.run_steps(2);
-    assert!(h.state().editor.is_none());
-    assert_eq!(h.state().session.doc().unwrap().uid, book1, "the switch still happens");
+    assert_eq!(h.state().session.doc().unwrap().uid, book2, "the switch doesn't happen");
+    assert_eq!(h.state().editor.as_ref().map(|ed| ed.text.as_str()), Some("Purple"), "the draft stays open to fix");
     assert_eq!(a1(&h, 1), Value::Empty, "Book2 is unchanged");
     assert!(h.state().message.is_some(), "the refusal is reported");
+
+    // Esc drops the draft; then the switch goes through.
+    h.state_mut().message = None;
+    h.state_mut().cancel_edit();
+    h.state_mut().run_or_alert("view.switchWindows", serde_json::json!({"doc": book1}));
+    h.run_steps(2);
+    assert_eq!(h.state().session.doc().unwrap().uid, book1);
+    assert!(h.state().message.is_none());
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn an_untouched_f2_draft_leaves_the_workbook_clean_on_a_file_command() {
+    let dir = std::env::temp_dir().join(format!("gridcraft-f2-draft-{}", std::process::id()));
+    std::fs::create_dir_all(&dir).unwrap();
+    let path = dir.join("Book.xlsx").to_string_lossy().into_owned();
+    let mut h = harness(Services::default());
+    h.state_mut().run("cell.set", serde_json::json!({"cell": "A1", "input": "=1+2"})).unwrap();
+    h.state_mut().run("file.save", serde_json::json!({"path": &path})).unwrap();
+    h.run_steps(2);
+    let undo = h.state().session.doc().unwrap().undo.len();
+    h.key_press(egui::Key::F2);
+    h.run_steps(2);
+    assert_eq!(h.state().editor.as_ref().map(|ed| ed.text.as_str()), Some("=1+2"));
+    h.state_mut().run_or_alert("file.new", serde_json::json!({}));
+    h.run_steps(2);
+    assert!(h.state().editor.is_none());
+    let book1 = &h.state().session.documents()[0];
+    assert!(!book1.is_dirty(), "nothing was typed, so nothing changed");
+    assert_eq!(book1.undo.len(), undo, "and no undo step was added");
+    let _ = std::fs::remove_dir_all(&dir);
 }
 
 fn pdf_picker_harness(dir: &std::path::Path) -> (Arc<Mutex<Vec<String>>>, egui_kittest::Harness<'static, SheetApp>) {