diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/menus.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/menus.rs
index 04d43e0d3..2f1108bac 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/menus.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/menus.rs
@@ -128,6 +128,9 @@ pub const UI_COMMANDS: &[UiCommand] = &[
     // Overlay and the Remove panel list the modes.
     ("view.toolOverlay", "Cycle Tool Overlay", Some("Shift+H"), ""),
     ("view.visualizeSpots", "Visualize Spots", Some("A"), "View"),
+    // A while the Crop panel is open: the aspect lock as a first-class row. Visualize Spots keeps
+    // the key outside the panel; the two are a contextual pair in shortcuts::handle
+    ("crop.lockAspect", "Lock Aspect Ratio", Some("A"), ""),
     ("view.cropOverlay", "Cycle Crop Overlay", Some("Shift+O"), "View"),
     ("view.cropOverlayOrientation", "Cycle Crop Overlay Orientation", None, "View"),
     ("view.back", "Back to Grid", Some("Escape"), ""),
@@ -1125,6 +1128,8 @@ pub fn run_ui_command(app: &mut LightcraftApp, id: &str, p: &Value) -> Option<Re
             }
             Ok(Value::Null)
         }
+        // A under the Crop panel: the aspect lock (the panel's button runs the same toggle)
+        "crop.lockAspect" => app.run("crop.aspect", json!({"aspect": "toggle"})),
         "view.cropOverlay" => {
             use crate::state::CropOverlay::*;
             app.ui.crop_overlay = match app.ui.crop_overlay {
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/shortcuts.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/shortcuts.rs
index e7b58a9b5..374e54f1c 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/shortcuts.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/shortcuts.rs
@@ -68,8 +68,10 @@ pub fn shortcut_of<'a>(keymap: &'a Keymap, id: &str) -> Option<&'a str> {
     find_bindable(id).and_then(|b| binding(keymap, id, b.default))
 }
 
-/// Engine commands that intentionally share a key and are disambiguated by context in [`handle`].
-pub const CONTEXTUAL: &[(&str, &str)] = &[("photo.reject", "crop.rotateAspect")];
+/// Engine commands that intentionally share a key and are disambiguated by context in [`handle`]:
+/// the X pair by the Crop panel, A by whether it is open (Visualize Spots everywhere, the aspect
+/// lock under the Crop panel).
+pub const CONTEXTUAL: &[(&str, &str)] = &[("photo.reject", "crop.rotateAspect"), ("view.visualizeSpots", "crop.lockAspect")];
 
 /// Commands other than `id` whose shortcut is the key `sc` (contextual partners excepted).
 pub fn conflicts(keymap: &Keymap, id: &str, sc: &str) -> Vec<&'static str> {
@@ -621,6 +623,13 @@ pub fn handle(app: &mut LightcraftApp, ctx: &egui::Context) {
             if f == "crop.rotateAspect" && app.ui.right != crate::state::RightPanel::Crop {
                 continue;
             }
+            // A is both Visualize Spots and the crop aspect lock: each key only in its own context
+            if f == "view.visualizeSpots" && app.ui.right == crate::state::RightPanel::Crop {
+                continue;
+            }
+            if f == "crop.lockAspect" && app.ui.right != crate::state::RightPanel::Crop {
+                continue;
+            }
             // / refreshes the selected spot's source in the Remove tool (the filmstrip elsewhere)
             if f == "view.filmstrip" && app.ui.right == crate::state::RightPanel::Remove && app.session.active_spot.is_some() {
                 let _ = app.run("spot.refreshSource", json!({}));
@@ -631,12 +640,11 @@ pub fn handle(app: &mut LightcraftApp, ctx: &egui::Context) {
                 let _ = app.run("view.maskOverlayColor", json!({}));
                 continue;
             }
-            // while cropping: O cycles the guides, Shift+O their orientation, A locks the aspect
+            // while cropping: O cycles the guides, Shift+O their orientation
             if app.ui.right == crate::state::RightPanel::Crop {
                 let crop_key = match f.as_str() {
                     "view.maskOverlay" => Some(("view.cropOverlay", json!({}))),
                     "view.cropOverlay" => Some(("view.cropOverlayOrientation", json!({}))),
-                    "view.visualizeSpots" => Some(("crop.aspect", json!({"aspect": "toggle"}))),
                     _ => None,
                 };
                 if let Some((cmd, p)) = crop_key {
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/tests_keymap.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/tests_keymap.rs
index 92997d941..19e4027dd 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/tests_keymap.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/tests_keymap.rs
@@ -453,3 +453,52 @@ fn cmd_o_does_not_fire_while_a_dialog_is_open() {
     press(&mut h, "O", &["cmd"]);
     assert_eq!(calls.load(std::sync::atomic::Ordering::SeqCst), 1);
 }
+
+/// The crop aspect lock is a first-class row of Help - Keyboard Shortcuts: A, listed in the
+/// editor like any other command, sharing the key with Visualize Spots as a contextual pair.
+#[test]
+fn lock_aspect_ratio_is_a_listed_row_on_a() {
+    use crate::shortcuts::{CONTEXTUAL, Keymap, bindable, shortcut_of};
+    let b = bindable().iter().find(|b| b.id == "crop.lockAspect").expect("crop.lockAspect is mappable");
+    assert_eq!(b.label, "Lock Aspect Ratio");
+    assert_eq!(b.default, Some("A"));
+    assert_eq!(shortcut_of(&Keymap::new(), "crop.lockAspect"), Some("A"));
+    assert!(CONTEXTUAL.contains(&("view.visualizeSpots", "crop.lockAspect")), "A is disambiguated by context");
+    // the editor lists it: the row is on screen and records keys for it
+    let mut h = demo();
+    record(&mut h, "lock", "crop.lockAspect");
+    key(&mut h, "Escape", false);
+    assert_eq!(shortcut_of(&h.app.ui.settings.keymap, "crop.lockAspect"), Some("A"), "Esc cancels the recording: A stays");
+    key(&mut h, "Escape", false);
+    assert!(h.app.ui.dialog.is_none());
+}
+
+/// A locks the aspect while the Crop panel is open — Visualize Spots, the other A, must not take
+/// the panel or turn its view on — and outside the panel A opens Visualize Spots as usual.
+#[test]
+fn a_is_the_aspect_lock_under_crop_and_visualize_spots_elsewhere() {
+    use crate::state::RightPanel;
+    let mut h = demo();
+    let aspect = |h: &Headless| {
+        let id = h.app.session.active().expect("an active photo");
+        h.app.session.develop_of(id).expect("develop settings").crop.aspect
+    };
+    let spots_before = h.app.ui.visualize_spots;
+    h.app.run("panel.crop", json!({})).unwrap();
+    h.step();
+    h.step();
+    assert_eq!(h.app.ui.right, RightPanel::Crop);
+    let before = aspect(&h);
+    key(&mut h, "A", false);
+    assert_eq!(h.app.ui.right, RightPanel::Crop, "Visualize Spots must not take the panel");
+    assert_eq!(h.app.ui.visualize_spots, spots_before, "nor turn its view on");
+    assert_ne!(aspect(&h), before, "A locked the aspect");
+    key(&mut h, "A", false);
+    assert_eq!(aspect(&h), before, "A again unlocks it");
+    // outside the panel the same key is Visualize Spots again
+    h.app.ui.right = RightPanel::None;
+    key(&mut h, "A", false);
+    assert_eq!(h.app.ui.right, RightPanel::Remove, "A opens Remove with the visualization");
+    assert!(h.app.ui.visualize_spots, "Visualize Spots is on");
+    assert_eq!(aspect(&h), before, "and the aspect is untouched");
+}