diff --git a/muxplex/frontend/app.js b/muxplex/frontend/app.js
index f2f3fc3..3e88b88 100644
--- a/muxplex/frontend/app.js
+++ b/muxplex/frontend/app.js
@@ -898,6 +898,87 @@ function closeViewDropdown() {
   if (trigger) trigger.setAttribute('aria-expanded', 'false');
 }
 
+/**
+ * Show an inline text input inside the view dropdown for creating a new view.
+ * Replaces the '+ New View' button with a text input inside the dropdown menu.
+ * - Removes any existing input and re-focuses it if already present.
+ * - On Enter: validates name (not empty, not reserved, not duplicate),
+ *   then PATCHes /api/settings with the new view appended to views,
+ *   updates _serverSettings.views on success, and calls switchView(name).
+ * - On Escape: closes the dropdown.
+ * - On blur: closes the dropdown after 150ms if input is no longer focused.
+ */
+function showNewViewInput() {
+  var menu = $('view-dropdown-menu');
+  if (!menu) return;
+
+  // Re-focus existing input instead of creating a duplicate
+  var existing = menu.querySelector('.view-dropdown__new-input');
+  if (existing) {
+    existing.focus();
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // Find the '+ New View' button to replace
+  var newViewBtn = menu.querySelector('[data-action="new-view"]');
+  if (!newViewBtn) return;
+
+  // Create the inline text input
+  var input = document.createElement('input');
+  input.type = 'text';
+  input.className = 'view-dropdown__new-input';
+  input.placeholder = 'View name';
+  input.maxLength = 30;
+  input.setAttribute('aria-label', 'New view name');
+
+  // Replace the '+ New View' button with the input
+  newViewBtn.parentNode.replaceChild(input, newViewBtn);
+  input.focus();
+
+  input.addEventListener('keydown', function(e) {
+    if (e.key === 'Enter') {
+      var name = input.value.trim();
+
+      // Validate: not empty
+      if (!name) return;
+
+      // Validate: not reserved
+      if (name === 'all' || name === 'hidden') {
+        showToast('Cannot use reserved name \'' + name + '\'');
+        return;
+      }
+
+      // Validate: not duplicate
+      var views = (_serverSettings && _serverSettings.views) || [];
+      if (views.find(function(v) { return v.name === name; })) {
+        showToast('View \'' + name + '\' already exists');
+        return;
+      }
+
+      // Create view and PATCH /api/settings
+      var updatedViews = views.concat([{ name: name, sessions: [] }]);
+      api('PATCH', '/api/settings', { views: updatedViews })
+        .then(function() {
+          if (_serverSettings) _serverSettings.views = updatedViews;
+          switchView(name);
+        })
+        .catch(function() {
+          showToast('Failed to create view');
+        });
+    } else if (e.key === 'Escape') {
+      closeViewDropdown();
+    }
+  });
+
+  input.addEventListener('blur', function() {
+    setTimeout(function() {
+      if (document.activeElement !== input) {
+        closeViewDropdown();
+      }
+    }, 150);
+  });
+}
+
 /**
  * Switch to a named view. Updates _activeView, re-renders the grid and sidebar,
  * updates the dropdown label, and persists the change via PATCH /api/state.
@@ -2439,8 +2520,11 @@ function bindStaticEventListeners() {
       }
       var action = e.target.closest('[data-action]');
       if (action) {
-        // action handlers (new-view, manage-views) — placeholder for future tasks
-        closeViewDropdown();
+        if (action.dataset.action === 'new-view') {
+          showNewViewInput();
+        } else {
+          closeViewDropdown();
+        }
       }
     });
   }
@@ -2870,6 +2954,7 @@ if (typeof module !== 'undefined' && module.exports) {
     renderViewDropdown,
     toggleViewDropdown,
     closeViewDropdown,
+    showNewViewInput,
     switchView,
     // Federation tiles
     buildStatusTileHTML,
diff --git a/muxplex/tests/test_frontend_js.py b/muxplex/tests/test_frontend_js.py
index 85f8727..d8ee4aa 100644
--- a/muxplex/tests/test_frontend_js.py
+++ b/muxplex/tests/test_frontend_js.py
@@ -3229,3 +3229,35 @@ def test_backtick_only_on_grid_not_fullscreen() -> None:
     assert "'grid'" in body, (
         "handleGlobalKeydown must check _viewMode === 'grid' before handling backtick/number shortcuts"
     )
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# New View inline creation flow (task-8)
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def test_show_new_view_input_function_exists() -> None:
+    """app.js defines showNewViewInput for inline view creation."""
+    assert "function showNewViewInput" in _JS, (
+        "showNewViewInput must be defined in app.js"
+    )
+
+
+def test_show_new_view_input_patches_settings() -> None:
+    """showNewViewInput handler PATCHes /api/settings with views on Enter."""
+    match = re.search(
+        r"function showNewViewInput\s*\(\s*\)\s*\{(.*?)(?=\nasync function |\nfunction |\n// )",
+        _JS,
+        re.DOTALL,
+    )
+    assert match, "showNewViewInput function not found"
+    body = match.group(1)
+    assert "PATCH" in body, (
+        "showNewViewInput must PATCH /api/settings to create the view"
+    )
+    assert "/api/settings" in body, (
+        "showNewViewInput must PATCH /api/settings with the updated views"
+    )
+    assert "views" in body, (
+        "showNewViewInput must include 'views' in the PATCH body"
+    )