diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/UtilityDrawer.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/UtilityDrawer.tsx
index 02056cf7..9c5fe593 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/UtilityDrawer.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/UtilityDrawer.tsx
@@ -97,9 +97,10 @@ export function UtilityDrawer<TView extends string>({
           aria-label="Close tools and settings"
           className="utility-drawer__close"
           onClick={onClose}
+          title="Close tools and settings (Escape)"
           type="button"
         >
-          ×
+          <span aria-hidden="true">Esc</span>
         </button>
       </header>
 
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/utility-drawer.css b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/utility-drawer.css
index 47ef521b..3a0e3d9d 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/utility-drawer.css
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/renderer/components/utility-drawer.css
@@ -73,15 +73,17 @@
 
 .utility-drawer__close {
   display: grid;
-  width: 28px;
+  width: 36px;
   height: 28px;
   place-items: center;
   color: var(--muted);
   background: transparent;
   border: 1px solid transparent;
   border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
-  font-size: 18px;
+  font: 700 8px / 1 var(--font-mono);
+  letter-spacing: 0.08em;
   line-height: 1;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
 }
 
 .utility-drawer__close:hover {