diff --git a/extensions/smart-router/index.ts b/extensions/smart-router/index.ts
index f843fa2..99fff31 100644
--- a/extensions/smart-router/index.ts
+++ b/extensions/smart-router/index.ts
@@ -86,11 +86,7 @@ export default function (pi: ExtensionAPI) {
     // Pass-through if user locked the model manually
     if (isLocked && lockedModel) {
       pi.setModel(lockedModel);
-      pi.sendMessage({
-        customType: "router-status",
-        content: `🔒 Locked → ${lockedModel.id || "unknown"}`,
-        display: false,
-      });
+      ctx.ui.setStatus("router", `🔒 ${lockedModel.id || "unknown"}`);
       return;
     }
 
@@ -98,20 +94,12 @@ export default function (pi: ExtensionAPI) {
     if (prompt.trim().length < 15) {
       const model = getModel(ctx, "router-eval");
       if (model) pi.setModel(model);
-      pi.sendMessage({
-        customType: "router-status",
-        content: `⚡ Short prompt → ${modelLabel("router-eval")}`,
-        display: false,
-      });
+      ctx.ui.setStatus("router", `⚡ ${modelLabel("router-eval")}`);
       return;
     }
 
-    // Show analyzing indicator
-    pi.sendMessage({
-      customType: "router-status",
-      content: "🤔 Analyzing prompt intent...",
-      display: false,
-    });
+    // Show analyzing indicator in status bar
+    ctx.ui.setStatus("router", "🤔 Analyzing...");
 
     try {
       const OPENROUTER_API_KEY = process.env["OPENROUTER_API_KEY"] || "";
@@ -142,11 +130,7 @@ export default function (pi: ExtensionAPI) {
       if (!content) {
         const fallback = getModel(ctx, "free-core");
         if (fallback) pi.setModel(fallback);
-        pi.sendMessage({
-          customType: "router-status",
-          content: `⚠️ Analysis failed → fallback ${modelLabel("free-core")}`,
-          display: false,
-        });
+        ctx.ui.setStatus("router", `⚠️ fallback ${modelLabel("free-core")}`);
         return;
       }
 
@@ -189,22 +173,14 @@ export default function (pi: ExtensionAPI) {
         pi.setModel(model);
       }
 
-      // Show routing decision
-      pi.sendMessage({
-        customType: "router-status",
-        content: `🎯 ${tag} (${lang}) → ${modelLabel(modelKey)}`,
-        display: false,
-      });
+      // Show routing decision in status bar
+      ctx.ui.setStatus("router", `🎯 ${tag} → ${modelLabel(modelKey)}`);
 
     } catch (_error) {
       // Fallback gracefully on network drops
       const fallback = getModel(ctx, "free-core");
       if (fallback) pi.setModel(fallback);
-      pi.sendMessage({
-        customType: "router-status",
-        content: `⚠️ Error → fallback ${modelLabel("free-core")}`,
-        display: false,
-      });
+      ctx.ui.setStatus("router", `⚠️ fallback ${modelLabel("free-core")}`);
     }
   });
 }