diff --git a/packages/studio/src/hooks/useDomEditWiring.ts b/packages/studio/src/hooks/useDomEditWiring.ts
index 3d4232ebd..c4c3706c1 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/hooks/useDomEditWiring.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/hooks/useDomEditWiring.ts
@@ -171,12 +171,13 @@ export function useDomEditWiring({
 
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!domEditSelection?.id) return;
-    const { selectedElementId, elements, setSelectedElementId } = usePlayerStore.getState();
+    const { selectedElementId, elements, setSelectionAnchor } = usePlayerStore.getState();
     // Resolve through the canonical resolver (source-file + ancestor + active-comp
     // fallback) rather than a narrow domId/id match, so a sub-composition selection
-    // maps to the same clip the rest of the selection pipeline picks.
+    // maps to the same clip the rest of the selection pipeline picks. Use the
+    // anchor-only setter: this is a DOM->store echo and must not collapse a group.
     const key = resolveTimelineIdForSelection(domEditSelection, elements, activeCompPath);
-    if (key && key !== selectedElementId) setSelectedElementId(key);
+    if (key && key !== selectedElementId) setSelectionAnchor(key);
   }, [domEditSelection, activeCompPath]);
 
   // ── GSAP cache sync ──
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/hooks/useDomSelection.ts b/packages/studio/src/hooks/useDomSelection.ts
index 346432455..654d88848 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/hooks/useDomSelection.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/hooks/useDomSelection.ts
@@ -203,12 +203,24 @@ export function useDomSelection({
           setRightCollapsed(false);
           setRightPanelTab("design");
         }
-        const nextSelectedTimelineId = resolveTimelineIdForSelection(
+        // Mirror the whole DOM group to the store so it stays the single source of
+        // truth: a single selection collapses to one id; a preserved group (echo
+        // during a gesture) keeps every member instead of shrinking to the anchor.
+        const anchorId = resolveTimelineIdForSelection(
           nextSelection,
           timelineElements,
           activeCompPath,
         );
-        setSelectedTimelineElementId(nextSelectedTimelineId);
+        const groupIds = nextGroup
+          .map((selection) =>
+            resolveTimelineIdForSelection(selection, timelineElements, activeCompPath),
+          )
+          .filter((id): id is string => Boolean(id));
+        if (groupIds.length > 0) {
+          usePlayerStore.getState().setSelection(groupIds, anchorId);
+        } else {
+          setSelectedTimelineElementId(anchorId);
+        }
         return;
       }
 
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/player/store/playerStore.test.ts b/packages/studio/src/player/store/playerStore.test.ts
index abf415cbe..8d70cc81b 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/player/store/playerStore.test.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/player/store/playerStore.test.ts
@@ -249,16 +249,32 @@ describe("usePlayerStore", () => {
       expect(state.selectedElementId).toBe("el-3");
     });
 
-    it("re-selecting a current member keeps the multi-selection and moves the anchor", () => {
+    it("setSelectedElementId collapses to a single element even for a current member", () => {
       const store = usePlayerStore.getState();
       store.setSelection(["el-1", "el-2", "el-3"], "el-1");
-      // A DOM->selection sync echo during a group drag re-selects the grabbed
-      // member; this must NOT collapse the set to that single element.
+      // A genuine single selection (click) collapses the set, even if the id was a member.
       store.setSelectedElementId("el-2");
 
       const state = usePlayerStore.getState();
+      expect([...state.selectedElementIds]).toEqual(["el-2"]);
+      expect(state.selectedElementId).toBe("el-2");
+    });
+
+    it("setSelectionAnchor moves the anchor within a group without collapsing it", () => {
+      const store = usePlayerStore.getState();
+      store.setSelection(["el-1", "el-2", "el-3"], "el-1");
+      // A DOM->store echo during a group gesture only moves the anchor.
+      store.setSelectionAnchor("el-2");
+
+      let state = usePlayerStore.getState();
       expect([...state.selectedElementIds]).toEqual(["el-1", "el-2", "el-3"]);
       expect(state.selectedElementId).toBe("el-2");
+
+      // A non-member anchor is a genuine new single selection.
+      store.setSelectionAnchor("outside");
+      state = usePlayerStore.getState();
+      expect([...state.selectedElementIds]).toEqual(["outside"]);
+      expect(state.selectedElementId).toBe("outside");
     });
 
     it("clearing single selection empties the set", () => {
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/player/store/playerStore.ts b/packages/studio/src/player/store/playerStore.ts
index 24ec3a258..ac7fcf0d4 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/player/store/playerStore.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/player/store/playerStore.ts
@@ -161,6 +161,8 @@ interface PlayerState {
   setBeatDragging: (dragging: boolean) => void;
   setElements: (elements: TimelineElement[]) => void;
   setSelectedElementId: (id: string | null) => void;
+  /** Move the selection anchor within an active multi-selection without collapsing it. */
+  setSelectionAnchor: (id: string | null) => void;
   updateElement: (
     elementId: string,
     updates: Partial<
@@ -409,18 +411,12 @@ export const usePlayerStore = create<PlayerState>((set, get) => ({
   setTimelineReady: (ready) => set({ timelineReady: ready }),
   setBeatDragging: (dragging) => set({ beatDragging: dragging }),
   setElements: (elements) => set({ elements }),
+  // A genuine single selection: always collapse the set to just this element. User
+  // intent (timeline click, preview click via applyDomSelection) flows here; DOM sync
+  // echoes that must preserve a group go through setSelectionAnchor instead.
   setSelectedElementId: (id) =>
     set((s) => {
-      // Re-selecting an element that is already part of an active multi-selection
-      // (e.g. a DOM->selection sync echo while a group drag re-patches the preview)
-      // updates the anchor WITHOUT collapsing the set. A genuinely new element
-      // (not currently in the set) replaces the whole selection with itself.
-      const keepSet = id != null && s.selectedElementIds.size > 1 && s.selectedElementIds.has(id);
-      const selectedElementIds = keepSet
-        ? s.selectedElementIds
-        : id
-          ? new Set([id])
-          : new Set<string>();
+      const selectedElementIds = id ? new Set([id]) : new Set<string>();
       // Selecting a different element drops any active keyframe selection — otherwise
       // a stale activeKeyframePct from a prior diamond click would force the next drag
       // to "modify" a keyframe on the new element. A diamond click sets the pct AFTER
@@ -434,6 +430,16 @@ export const usePlayerStore = create<PlayerState>((set, get) => ({
           }
         : { selectedElementId: id, selectedElementIds };
     }),
+  // Move the anchor within an active multi-selection WITHOUT collapsing it — used by
+  // DOM->store sync echoes while a group gesture re-patches the preview. A non-member
+  // id is treated as a genuine new single selection.
+  setSelectionAnchor: (id) =>
+    set((s) => {
+      if (id != null && s.selectedElementIds.size > 1 && s.selectedElementIds.has(id)) {
+        return { selectedElementId: id };
+      }
+      return { selectedElementId: id, selectedElementIds: id ? new Set([id]) : new Set<string>() };
+    }),
   updateElement: (elementId, updates) =>
     set((state) => ({
       elements: state.elements.map((el) =>