diff --git a/frontend/src/app/AppLayout.jsx b/frontend/src/app/AppLayout.jsx
index 09b0dfd..87e1c85 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/AppLayout.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/app/AppLayout.jsx
@@ -31,8 +31,6 @@ const AppLayout = () => {
     onToggleSearchIncludeDescendants: documentsPreferences.toggleSearchIncludeDescendants,
     onSetSearchIncludeDescendants: documentsPreferences.setSearchIncludeDescendants,
     sortRefreshReadyRef: documentsPreferences.sortRefreshReadyRef,
-    deskHelpOpen: documentsPreferences.deskHelpOpen,
-    setDeskHelpOpen: documentsPreferences.setDeskHelpOpen,
     handleDeskExit: documentsPreferences.handleDeskExit,
   });
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/app/useDocumentsPreferences.js b/frontend/src/app/useDocumentsPreferences.js
index 89a139a..c02468f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/useDocumentsPreferences.js
+++ b/frontend/src/app/useDocumentsPreferences.js
@@ -42,17 +42,8 @@ export const useDocumentsPreferences = () => {
     return 'list';
   });
 
-  const [deskHelpOpen, setDeskHelpOpen] = useState(false);
   const lastNonDeskViewRef = useRef(documentsViewMode === 'desk' ? 'list' : documentsViewMode);
 
-  useEffect(() => {
-    if (documentsViewMode !== 'desk') {
-      lastNonDeskViewRef.current = documentsViewMode;
-    } else if (deskHelpOpen) {
-      setDeskHelpOpen(false);
-    }
-  }, [documentsViewMode, deskHelpOpen]);
-
   const setDocumentsViewMode = useCallback((mode) => {
     const next = mode === 'grid' ? 'grid' : mode === 'desk' ? 'desk' : 'list';
     setDocumentsViewModeState((previous) => {
@@ -122,8 +113,6 @@ export const useDocumentsPreferences = () => {
     documentsViewMode,
     handleDocumentsViewModeChange: setDocumentsViewMode,
     handleDeskExit,
-    deskHelpOpen,
-    setDeskHelpOpen,
     documentsSortField,
     documentsSortDirection,
     documentsSortFieldRef,
diff --git a/frontend/src/desktop/DesktopWorkspace.jsx b/frontend/src/desktop/DesktopWorkspace.jsx
index c5924e9..7b94936 100644
--- a/frontend/src/desktop/DesktopWorkspace.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/desktop/DesktopWorkspace.jsx
@@ -7,9 +7,7 @@ import React, {
   useState,
   useSyncExternalStore,
 } from 'react';
-import { createPortal } from 'react-dom';
 import { resolveDocumentAssetUrl } from '../asset_manager';
-import { CloseIcon } from '../ui/icons';
 import { formatTransform } from './math';
 import useDocumentDrag from './useDocumentDrag';
 import PreviewZoomOverlay from '../detail/PreviewZoomOverlay';
@@ -29,7 +27,6 @@ import usePreviewMetadata from './hooks/usePreviewMetadata';
 import '../styles/workspace/workspace-layout.css';
 import '../styles/workspace/workspace-items.css';
 import '../styles/workspace/workspace-cards.css';
-import '../styles/workspace/workspace-overlays.css';
 
 const DEBUG_DRAG = false;
 const DEBUG_FOCUS = false;
@@ -50,8 +47,6 @@ const DesktopWorkspace = ({
   onClearSelection = null,
   detailPanelOpen = false,
   onCloseDetailPanel = null,
-  helpOpen = false,
-  onHelpClose = null,
   tenantId = null,
   viewId = 'default',
 }) => {
@@ -641,12 +636,7 @@ const DesktopWorkspace = ({
       visibleDocIds,
     ],
   );
-  return (
-    <>
-      <DesktopWorkspaceView {...viewProps} />
-      <DesktopHelpOverlay open={helpOpen} onClose={onHelpClose} />
-    </>
-  );
+  return <DesktopWorkspaceView {...viewProps} />;
 };
 
 const DesktopWorkspaceView = ({
@@ -897,107 +887,3 @@ const DesktopWorkspaceView = ({
 };
 
 export default DesktopWorkspace;
-
-const DesktopHelpOverlay = ({ open = false, onClose = null }) => {
-  const portalTarget = typeof document !== 'undefined' ? document.body : null;
-  const closeButtonRef = useRef(null);
-  const previousFocusRef = useRef(null);
-
-  const handleClose = useCallback(() => {
-    if (typeof onClose === 'function') {
-      onClose();
-    }
-  }, [onClose]);
-
-  useEffect(() => {
-    if (!open || typeof window === 'undefined') {
-      return undefined;
-    }
-
-    const handleKeyDown = (event) => {
-      if (!event) {
-        return;
-      }
-      if (event.key === 'Escape') {
-        event.preventDefault();
-        handleClose();
-      }
-    };
-
-    window.addEventListener('keydown', handleKeyDown, true);
-    return () => window.removeEventListener('keydown', handleKeyDown, true);
-  }, [open, handleClose]);
-
-  useEffect(() => {
-    if (!open) {
-      const previous = previousFocusRef.current;
-      if (previous && typeof previous.focus === 'function') {
-        previous.focus();
-      }
-      previousFocusRef.current = null;
-      return;
-    }
-
-    if (typeof document !== 'undefined') {
-      previousFocusRef.current = document.activeElement instanceof HTMLElement
-        ? document.activeElement
-        : null;
-    }
-
-    if (closeButtonRef.current && typeof closeButtonRef.current.focus === 'function') {
-      closeButtonRef.current.focus();
-    }
-  }, [open]);
-
-  if (!open || !portalTarget) {
-    return null;
-  }
-
-  return createPortal(
-    <div className="desk-help-overlay" role="dialog" aria-modal="true" aria-labelledby="desk-help-title">
-      <div className="desk-help-overlay__backdrop" onClick={handleClose} />
-      <div className="desk-help-overlay__content">
-        <div className="desk-help-overlay__header">
-          <h2 id="desk-help-title">Desk view tips</h2>
-          <button
-            type="button"
-            className="icon-button"
-            onClick={handleClose}
-            aria-label="Close desk view tips"
-            ref={closeButtonRef}
-          >
-            <CloseIcon />
-          </button>
-        </div>
-        <div className="desk-help-overlay__body">
-          <p>Use the desk as a freeform workspace for triage and quick comparisons.</p>
-          <ul className="desk-help-overlay__list">
-            <li><strong>Single-click</strong> a document to open it in the detail panel.</li>
-            <li><strong>Double-click</strong> to open the zoomed preview.</li>
-            <li>
-              <strong>Drag</strong> selected cards to reposition them; build a selection with
-              {' '}
-              <kbd>Cmd</kbd>/<kbd>Ctrl</kbd>
-              {' '}+ click or Shift-click.
-            </li>
-            <li>
-              <strong>Cmd/Ctrl + click</strong> with an empty selection scoops up the stack under
-              {' '}the pointer.
-            </li>
-            <li><strong>Space</strong> clears the current selection.</li>
-            <li>
-              <strong>Drag tags</strong> from the sidebar onto a card to assign them, or fling a
-              {' '}tag away to remove it.
-            </li>
-          </ul>
-        </div>
-        <div className="desk-help-overlay__footer">
-          <button type="button" className="button primary" onClick={handleClose}>
-            Got it
-          </button>
-        </div>
-      </div>
-    </div>,
-    portalTarget,
-  );
-};
diff --git a/frontend/src/desktop/createDesktopSurface.js b/frontend/src/desktop/createDesktopSurface.js
index 50a860a..1018c94 100644
--- a/frontend/src/desktop/createDesktopSurface.js
+++ b/frontend/src/desktop/createDesktopSurface.js
@@ -54,7 +54,6 @@ const createDesktopSurface = ({
     viewMode: viewMode || 'desk',
     onViewModeChange,
     onRefresh,
-    onShowDeskHelp: viewMode === 'desk' ? workspaceProps?.onOpenHelp : null,
     includeDescendants: searchIncludeDescendants,
     onToggleIncludeDescendants: onToggleSearchIncludeDescendants,
   });
diff --git a/frontend/src/desktop/useDeskWorkspaceProps.js b/frontend/src/desktop/useDeskWorkspaceProps.js
index 32782c5..8d8f634 100644
--- a/frontend/src/desktop/useDeskWorkspaceProps.js
+++ b/frontend/src/desktop/useDeskWorkspaceProps.js
@@ -46,8 +46,6 @@ const useDeskWorkspaceProps = ({
   searchQuery,
   activeCorrespondentFilters,
   selectedFolder,
-  setDeskHelpOpen,
-  deskHelpOpen,
   openDetailPanel,
 }) => {
   const handleDeskDocumentStackSelect = useCallback(
@@ -107,14 +105,6 @@ const useDeskWorkspaceProps = ({
     [openDetailPanel, selectedDocumentIds],
   );
 
-  const handleDeskHelpOpen = useCallback(() => {
-    setDeskHelpOpen(true);
-  }, [setDeskHelpOpen]);
-
-  const handleDeskHelpClose = useCallback(() => {
-    setDeskHelpOpen(false);
-  }, [setDeskHelpOpen]);
-
   const deskViewId = useMemo(() => {
     if (showingSearchResults) {
       const trimmedQuery = searchQuery.trim();
@@ -148,9 +138,6 @@ const useDeskWorkspaceProps = ({
       onEntryPointer: handleEntryPointerCore,
       onDocumentStackSelect: handleDeskDocumentStackSelect,
       onPromoteSelection: promoteSelectionOrder,
-      onOpenHelp: handleDeskHelpOpen,
-      helpOpen: deskHelpOpen,
-      onHelpClose: handleDeskHelpClose,
       tenantId: currentTenantId,
       viewId: deskViewId,
       selectedDocumentIds,
@@ -193,9 +180,6 @@ const useDeskWorkspaceProps = ({
       handleEntryPointerCore,
       handleDeskDocumentStackSelect,
       promoteSelectionOrder,
-      handleDeskHelpOpen,
-      deskHelpOpen,
-      handleDeskHelpClose,
       currentTenantId,
       deskViewId,
       selectedDocumentIds,
diff --git a/frontend/src/documents/panel/DocumentsToolbar.jsx b/frontend/src/documents/panel/DocumentsToolbar.jsx
index e593be0..083a314 100644
--- a/frontend/src/documents/panel/DocumentsToolbar.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/documents/panel/DocumentsToolbar.jsx
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import {
   IconFileStack,
   RefreshIcon,
   MinusVerticalIcon,
-  InfoIcon,
   FoldersIcon,
   FoldersOffIcon,
   SortAscendingLettersIcon,
@@ -17,7 +16,6 @@ export const createDocumentsTableHeaderActions = ({
   viewMode,
   onViewModeChange,
   onRefresh,
-  onShowDeskHelp = null,
   sortField = 'title',
   onSortFieldChange = null,
   sortDirection = 'asc',
@@ -78,22 +76,6 @@ export const createDocumentsTableHeaderActions = ({
 
   return (
     <>
-      {isDeskView && typeof onShowDeskHelp === 'function' ? (
-        <>
-          <button
-            type="button"
-            className="icon-button"
-            onClick={onShowDeskHelp}
-            aria-label="Show desk view tips"
-            title="Show desk view tips"
-          >
-            <InfoIcon />
-          </button>
-          <span className="main-content__actions-divider" aria-hidden="true">
-            <MinusVerticalIcon />
-          </span>
-        </>
-      ) : null}
       {includeDescendantsToggle ? (
         <>
           {includeDescendantsToggle}
diff --git a/frontend/src/hooks/documents/useDocumentsWorkspace.js b/frontend/src/hooks/documents/useDocumentsWorkspace.js
index 090a5c1..f79dc09 100644
--- a/frontend/src/hooks/documents/useDocumentsWorkspace.js
+++ b/frontend/src/hooks/documents/useDocumentsWorkspace.js
@@ -65,8 +65,6 @@ const useDocumentsWorkspace = ({
   onToggleSearchIncludeDescendants,
   onSetSearchIncludeDescendants,
   sortRefreshReadyRef,
-  deskHelpOpen = false,
-  setDeskHelpOpen,
   handleDeskExit,
 } = {}) => {
   const handleDocumentsViewModeChange = onDocumentsViewModeChange || noop;
@@ -74,7 +72,6 @@ const useDocumentsWorkspace = ({
   const handleDocumentsSortDirectionToggle = onDocumentsSortDirectionToggle || noop;
   const toggleSearchIncludeDescendants = onToggleSearchIncludeDescendants || noop;
   const setSearchIncludeDescendants = onSetSearchIncludeDescendants || noop;
-  const setDeskHelpOpenSafe = setDeskHelpOpen || noop;
   const handleDeskExitSafe = handleDeskExit || noop;
 
   const fallbackSortFieldRef = useRef(documentsSortField);
@@ -1446,8 +1443,6 @@ const useDocumentsWorkspace = ({
     searchQuery,
     activeCorrespondentFilters,
     selectedFolder,
-    setDeskHelpOpen: setDeskHelpOpenSafe,
-    deskHelpOpen,
     openDetailPanel,
   });
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/settings/sections/ApiTokensSection.jsx b/frontend/src/settings/sections/ApiTokensSection.jsx
index 141528e..b3ea68c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/settings/sections/ApiTokensSection.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/settings/sections/ApiTokensSection.jsx
@@ -365,9 +365,6 @@ const ApiTokensSection = ({
               const selectedSet = token?.capability_set_id
                 ? capabilitySetMap[token.capability_set_id]
                 : null;
-              const capabilityList = Array.isArray(token?.capabilities) && token.capabilities.length
-                ? token.capabilities
-                : selectedSet?.capabilities || [];
               const capabilitySetLabel = selectedSet?.label
                 || selectedSet?.slug
                 || token.capability_set_id
diff --git a/frontend/src/styles/workspace/workspace-overlays.css b/frontend/src/styles/workspace/workspace-overlays.css
deleted file mode 100644
index d612f55..0000000
--- a/frontend/src/styles/workspace/workspace-overlays.css
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,94 +0,0 @@
-/* Workspace overlays (help, guidance, etc.) */
-.desk-help-overlay {
-  position: fixed;
-  inset: 0;
-  z-index: 2000000;
-  display: flex;
-  align-items: center;
-  justify-content: center;
-  padding: clamp(1.5rem, 4vw, 3rem);
-  pointer-events: none;
-}
-
-.desk-help-overlay__backdrop {
-  position: absolute;
-  inset: 0;
-  background: var(--surface-overlay);
-  backdrop-filter: blur(8px);
-  pointer-events: auto;
-}
-
-.desk-help-overlay__content {
-  position: relative;
-  width: min(640px, 92vw);
-  max-height: min(80vh, 640px);
-  background: var(--surface);
-  border: 1px solid var(--border);
-  box-shadow: 0 24px 64px var(--shadow-strong);
-  border-radius: 1.25rem;
-  display: flex;
-  flex-direction: column;
-  pointer-events: auto;
-  overflow: hidden;
-}
-
-.desk-help-overlay__header,
-.desk-help-overlay__footer {
-  display: flex;
-  align-items: center;
-  justify-content: space-between;
-  padding: 1rem 1.25rem;
-}
-
-.desk-help-overlay__header {
-  border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border);
-}
-
-.desk-help-overlay__header h2 {
-  margin: 0;
-  font-size: 1.15rem;
-  font-weight: 600;
-}
-
-.desk-help-overlay__body {
-  padding: 1rem 1.25rem 1.5rem;
-  overflow-y: auto;
-  display: flex;
-  flex-direction: column;
-  gap: 0.75rem;
-  line-height: 1.55;
-}
-
-.desk-help-overlay__body p {
-  margin: 0;
-  color: var(--muted);
-}
-
-.desk-help-overlay__list {
-  margin: 0;
-  padding-left: 1.1rem;
-  display: flex;
-  flex-direction: column;
-  gap: 0.5rem;
-}
-
-.desk-help-overlay__list li {
-  color: var(--fg);
-}
-
-.desk-help-overlay__body kbd {
-  display: inline-block;
-  padding: 0.15rem 0.4rem;
-  border-radius: 0.4rem;
-  border: 1px solid var(--border-strong);
-  background: var(--surface-subtle);
-  font-size: 0.85em;
-  line-height: 1;
-  font-family: inherit;
-}
-
-.desk-help-overlay__footer {
-  border-top: 1px solid var(--border);
-  justify-content: flex-end;
-  gap: 0.5rem;
-}