diff --git a/lua/plugins/custom/alpha.lua b/lua/plugins/custom/alpha.lua
index 43d4586..89a3c88 100644
--- a/lua/plugins/custom/alpha.lua
+++ b/lua/plugins/custom/alpha.lua
@@ -5,12 +5,18 @@ return {
 		local alpha = require 'alpha'
 		local dashboard = require 'alpha.themes.dashboard'
 
+		-- Load ASCII splash
 		local splash = require 'ascii_splash'
 		dashboard.section.header.val = splash
 
+		-- Get Neovim starting directory
+		local start_dir = vim.fn.getcwd()
+
+		-- Setup buttons
 		dashboard.section.buttons.val = {
-			dashboard.button('e', '  New File', ':ene <BAR> startinsert <CR>'),
-			dashboard.button('q', '  Quit', ':qa<CR>'),
+			dashboard.button('i', '  New File', ':ene <BAR> startinsert <CR>'),
+			dashboard.button('<leader>n', '  Open Neo-tree', ':cd ' .. start_dir .. ' | Neotree toggle float<CR>'),
+			dashboard.button('<leader>q', '  Quit', ':qa<CR>'),
 		}
 
 		alpha.setup(dashboard.opts)
diff --git a/lua/plugins/custom/filetree.lua b/lua/plugins/custom/filetree.lua
index 04a6326..ea0b1a2 100644
--- a/lua/plugins/custom/filetree.lua
+++ b/lua/plugins/custom/filetree.lua
@@ -20,6 +20,12 @@ return {
 			return vim.fn.fnamemodify(path, ':p')
 		end
 
+		-- Helper function to detect Alpha dashboard buffer
+		local function is_alpha_buffer(buf)
+			local ft = vim.api.nvim_buf_get_option(buf, 'filetype')
+			return ft == 'alpha'
+		end
+
 		-- Handling deleted file or folder buffers, marking them as removed
 		local function delete_file_mark_removed(state)
 			local node = state.tree:get_node()
@@ -128,7 +134,8 @@ return {
 						local bufname = vim.api.nvim_buf_get_name(buf)
 						local buftype = vim.api.nvim_buf_get_option(buf, 'buftype')
 						local modified = vim.api.nvim_buf_get_option(buf, 'modified')
-						if bufname == '' and buftype == '' and not modified then
+						-- PATCH: Treat Alpha dashboard as empty
+						if (bufname == '' and buftype == '' and not modified) or is_alpha_buffer(buf) then
 							empty_buf = buf
 							vim.api.nvim_set_current_win(win)
 							break
diff --git a/lua/plugins/custom/telescope.lua b/lua/plugins/custom/telescope.lua
index 3ca1151..0a472fd 100644
--- a/lua/plugins/custom/telescope.lua
+++ b/lua/plugins/custom/telescope.lua
@@ -55,6 +55,13 @@ return {
 		-- smart_open function for Telescope to check if the current tab has an empty "No Name" buffer. If it has, it replaces the empty buffer and open a file in the same tab
 		local actions = require 'telescope.actions'
 		local action_state = require 'telescope.actions.state'
+
+		-- Helper function to detect Alpha dashboard buffer
+		local function is_alpha_buffer(buf)
+			local ft = vim.api.nvim_buf_get_option(buf, 'filetype')
+			return ft == 'alpha'
+		end
+
 		local function smart_open(prompt_bufnr)
 			local entry = action_state.get_selected_entry()
 			if not entry then
@@ -86,7 +93,9 @@ return {
 				local name = vim.api.nvim_buf_get_name(buf)
 				local buftype = vim.api.nvim_buf_get_option(buf, 'buftype')
 				local modified = vim.api.nvim_buf_get_option(buf, 'modified')
-				if name == '' and buftype == '' and not modified then
+
+				-- PATCH: also treat Alpha dashboard buffer as empty
+				if (name == '' and buftype == '' and not modified) or is_alpha_buffer(buf) then
 					vim.api.nvim_set_current_win(win)
 					vim.cmd('edit ' .. vim.fn.fnameescape(path))
 					return