diff --git a/gui/connection_tab.py b/gui/connection_tab.py
index 4a95e37..779f55c 100644
--- a/gui/connection_tab.py
+++ b/gui/connection_tab.py
@@ -44,19 +44,6 @@ class ConnectionRow(QWidget):
         layout.setContentsMargins(4, 2, 4, 2)
         layout.setSpacing(6)
 
-        # ── History dropdown ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
-        self._hist_combo = QComboBox()
-        self._hist_combo.setPlaceholderText("History ▾")
-        self._hist_combo.setMinimumWidth(150)
-        self._hist_combo.setSizeAdjustPolicy(QComboBox.AdjustToContents)
-        self._hist_combo.currentIndexChanged.connect(self._load_history)
-        layout.addWidget(self._hist_combo)
-
-        sep = QFrame()
-        sep.setFrameShape(QFrame.VLine)
-        sep.setFrameShadow(QFrame.Sunken)
-        layout.addWidget(sep)
-
         # ── Receiver ID ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
         layout.addWidget(QLabel("ID:"))
         self._id_edit = QLineEdit()
@@ -127,7 +114,6 @@ class ConnectionRow(QWidget):
 
         if config:
             self.apply_config(config)
-        self.refresh_history()
 
     # ── Serial port detection ────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
@@ -166,14 +152,6 @@ class ConnectionRow(QWidget):
     def get_receiver_id(self) -> str:
         return self._rid
 
-    def refresh_history(self):
-        self._hist_combo.blockSignals(True)
-        self._hist_combo.clear()
-        self._hist_combo.addItem("History ▾")
-        for cfg in self._model.get_lru():
-            self._hist_combo.addItem(cfg.display_str(), userData=cfg)
-        self._hist_combo.blockSignals(False)
-
     def set_connected(self, connected: bool):
         self._connected = connected
         self._dot.set_connected(connected)
@@ -187,16 +165,6 @@ class ConnectionRow(QWidget):
     def _on_type_changed(self, idx: int):
         self._stack.setCurrentIndex(idx)
 
-    def _load_history(self, idx: int):
-        if idx <= 0:
-            return
-        cfg = self._hist_combo.itemData(idx)
-        if cfg:
-            self.apply_config(cfg)
-        self._hist_combo.blockSignals(True)
-        self._hist_combo.setCurrentIndex(0)
-        self._hist_combo.blockSignals(False)
-
     def _toggle(self):
         if self._connected:
             if self._rid:
@@ -235,7 +203,7 @@ class ConnectionTab(QWidget):
         outer.setContentsMargins(8, 8, 8, 8)
         outer.setSpacing(6)
 
-        # Scroll area
+        # ── Scroll area with rows ─────────────────────────────────────────────
         self._scroll = QScrollArea()
         self._scroll.setWidgetResizable(True)
         self._scroll.setHorizontalScrollBarPolicy(Qt.ScrollBarAlwaysOff)
@@ -249,17 +217,53 @@ class ConnectionTab(QWidget):
         self._scroll.setWidget(self._inner)
         outer.addWidget(self._scroll)
 
-        add_btn = QPushButton("＋  Add Connection")
-        add_btn.setMaximumWidth(180)
-        add_btn.clicked.connect(lambda: self._add_row())
-        outer.addWidget(add_btn, alignment=Qt.AlignLeft)
+        # ── Bottom bar: history combo (left) + Add button (right) ─────────────
+        bottom = QHBoxLayout()
+        bottom.setSpacing(8)
+
+        self._hist_combo = QComboBox()
+        self._hist_combo.setPlaceholderText("Select from history…")
+        self._hist_combo.setMinimumWidth(260)
+        self._hist_combo.setSizeAdjustPolicy(QComboBox.AdjustToContents)
+        self._refresh_history_combo()
+        bottom.addWidget(self._hist_combo)
+
+        add_btn = QPushButton("＋  Add")
+        add_btn.setFixedWidth(90)
+        add_btn.clicked.connect(self._on_add)
+        bottom.addWidget(add_btn)
+
+        bottom.addStretch()
+
+        outer.addLayout(bottom)
 
         model.connection_changed.connect(self._on_connection_changed)
 
+    # ── History combo ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+    def _refresh_history_combo(self):
+        self._hist_combo.blockSignals(True)
+        current = self._hist_combo.currentData()
+        self._hist_combo.clear()
+        for cfg in self._model.get_lru():
+            self._hist_combo.addItem(cfg.display_str(), userData=cfg)
+        # restore selection if still present
+        if current:
+            idx = self._hist_combo.findText(current.display_str())
+            if idx >= 0:
+                self._hist_combo.setCurrentIndex(idx)
+        self._hist_combo.blockSignals(False)
+
+    # ── Row management ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+    def _on_add(self):
+        cfg = self._hist_combo.currentData()   # None when placeholder shown
+        self._add_row(cfg)
+        self._hist_combo.setCurrentIndex(-1)   # reset to placeholder
+
     def _add_row(self, config: ConnectionConfig = None):
         row = ConnectionRow(self._model, config)
         row.remove_requested.connect(self._remove_row)
-        # Insert before the trailing stretch
         self._vbox.insertWidget(self._vbox.count() - 1, row)
         self._rows.append(row)
 
@@ -276,7 +280,6 @@ class ConnectionTab(QWidget):
         for row in self._rows:
             if row.get_receiver_id() == rid:
                 row.set_connected(connected)
-                if connected:
-                    for r in self._rows:
-                        r.refresh_history()
                 break
+        if connected:
+            self._refresh_history_combo()