diff --git a/src/render.ts b/src/render.ts
index 133607b..9441fb9 100644
--- a/src/render.ts
+++ b/src/render.ts
@@ -461,7 +461,7 @@ export function renderGroups(
     );
     if (repoRowIndex >= 0 && repoRowIndex < scrollOffset) {
       const g = groups[cursorRow.repoIndex];
-      const checkbox = g.repoSelected ? pc.green("✓") : " ";
+      const checkbox = g.repoSelected ? pc.green("✓") : pc.dim("✓");
       // Fix: clip to termWidth so the sticky line never wraps — see issue #105.
       stickyRepoLine = clipToWidth(
         pc.dim(`▲ ${checkbox} ${pc.bold(g.repoFullName)} ${pc.dim(buildMatchCountLabel(g))}`),
@@ -564,10 +564,8 @@ export function renderGroups(
 
     if (row.type === "repo") {
       const arrow = group.folded ? pc.magenta("▸") : pc.magenta("▾");
-      // ✓ for selected, space for deselected — keeps the line clean while a
-      // green checkmark clearly signals selection. The space preserves column
-      // alignment so the repo name always starts at the same offset.
-      const checkbox = group.repoSelected ? pc.green("✓") : " ";
+      // Green ✓ for selected; dimmed ✓ for deselected — provides a clickable target in both states.
+      const checkbox = group.repoSelected ? pc.green("✓") : pc.dim("✓");
       // On cursor rows, use bold+white for the repo name (dark bg applied
       // to the whole line via renderActiveLine; no inline bgMagenta needed).
       // On inactive rows, use bright purple (same as the bar) in bold.
@@ -602,7 +600,7 @@ export function renderGroups(
       const ei = row.extractIndex!;
       const match = group.matches[ei];
       const selected = group.extractSelected[ei];
-      const checkbox = selected ? pc.green("✓") : " ";
+      const checkbox = selected ? pc.green("✓") : pc.dim("✓");
       const seg = match.textMatches[0]?.matches[0];
       const locSuffix = seg ? `:${seg.line}:${seg.col}` : "";
       // Active extract row: locSuffix uses bold+white (same as path) for