diff --git a/src/command/cmd.rs b/src/command/cmd.rs
index 34beedd..d85968f 100644
--- a/src/command/cmd.rs
+++ b/src/command/cmd.rs
@@ -1288,7 +1288,9 @@ impl Cmd for CycleAxisAtCursor {
         if let Some(cat_name) = ctx.cat_at_cursor() {
             vec![Box::new(effect::CycleAxis(cat_name))]
         } else {
-            vec![]
+            vec![effect::set_status(
+                "Move cursor to a category header to change axis".to_string(),
+            )]
         }
     }
 }
@@ -1552,12 +1554,23 @@ impl Cmd for MoveTileCursor {
     }
 }
 
-/// Cycle or set the axis for the category at the tile cursor, then return to Normal.
+/// Cycle or set the axis for the category at the tile cursor.
+/// Stays in TileSelect mode so the user can adjust multiple tiles.
 /// `axis: None` → cycle, `axis: Some(a)` → set to `a`.
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct TileAxisOp {
     pub axis: Option<Axis>,
 }
+
+fn axis_label(axis: Axis) -> &'static str {
+    match axis {
+        Axis::Row => "Row",
+        Axis::Column => "Col",
+        Axis::Page => "Page",
+        Axis::None => "None",
+    }
+}
+
 impl Cmd for TileAxisOp {
     fn name(&self) -> &'static str {
         if self.axis.is_some() {
@@ -1569,6 +1582,18 @@ impl Cmd for TileAxisOp {
     fn execute(&self, ctx: &CmdContext) -> Vec<Box<dyn Effect>> {
         let cat_names = ctx.model.category_names();
         if let Some(name) = cat_names.get(ctx.tile_cat_idx) {
+            let new_axis = match self.axis {
+                Some(axis) => axis,
+                None => {
+                    let current = ctx.model.active_view().axis_of(name);
+                    match current {
+                        Axis::Row => Axis::Column,
+                        Axis::Column => Axis::Page,
+                        Axis::Page => Axis::None,
+                        Axis::None => Axis::Row,
+                    }
+                }
+            };
             let axis_effect: Box<dyn Effect> = match self.axis {
                 Some(axis) => Box::new(effect::SetAxis {
                     category: name.to_string(),
@@ -1576,13 +1601,10 @@ impl Cmd for TileAxisOp {
                 }),
                 None => Box::new(effect::CycleAxis(name.to_string())),
             };
-            vec![
-                axis_effect,
-                effect::mark_dirty(),
-                effect::change_mode(AppMode::Normal),
-            ]
+            let status = format!("{} → {}", name, axis_label(new_axis));
+            vec![axis_effect, effect::mark_dirty(), effect::set_status(status)]
         } else {
-            vec![effect::change_mode(AppMode::Normal)]
+            vec![]
         }
     }
 }