diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 79302f2..864d28b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ Press `/` to activate fuzzy filter mode. The filter uses fuzzy matching to filte
 | `L` | Follow logs (pods only) |
 | `D` | Delete resource (with confirmation) |
 | `e` | Edit resource |
-| `x` | Exec into pod |
+| `T` | Open system terminal |
 | `R` | Rollout restart (deployments) |
 
 ### Selection
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ keybindings:
   logs_follow: "L"
   delete: "D"
   edit: "e"
-  exec: "x"
+  terminal: "T"
   yaml_view: "Y"
   json_view: "J"
   search: "/"
diff --git a/internal/config/config.go b/internal/config/config.go
index 60af463..493e168 100644
--- a/internal/config/config.go
+++ b/internal/config/config.go
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ type Keybindings struct {
 	Logs   string `yaml:"logs"`
 	Delete string `yaml:"delete"`
 	Edit            string `yaml:"edit"`
-	Exec            string `yaml:"exec"`
+	Terminal        string `yaml:"terminal"`
 	PortForward     string `yaml:"port_forward"`
 	Scale           string `yaml:"scale"`
 	RolloutRestart  string `yaml:"rollout_restart"`
diff --git a/internal/config/defaults.go b/internal/config/defaults.go
index 364613a..92e997f 100644
--- a/internal/config/defaults.go
+++ b/internal/config/defaults.go
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ func DefaultConfig() *Config {
 			Logs:   "L",
 			Delete: "D",
 			Edit:            "e",
-			Exec:            "x",
+			Terminal:        "T",
 			PortForward:     "p",
 			Scale:           "s",
 			RolloutRestart:  "R",
diff --git a/internal/tui/app.go b/internal/tui/app.go
index 4fc0bcd..1be3ba7 100644
--- a/internal/tui/app.go
+++ b/internal/tui/app.go
@@ -626,9 +626,9 @@ func (m *Model) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		case "e":
 			// Edit resource
 			return m, m.editResource()
-		case "x":
-			// Exec into pod
-			return m, m.execIntoPod()
+		case m.config.Keybindings.Terminal:
+			// Open system terminal
+			return m, m.openTerminal()
 		case "R":
 			// Rollout restart
 			return m, m.startLoading(m.rolloutRestart())
@@ -838,11 +838,11 @@ func (m *Model) View() string {
 		}
 		b.WriteString(hint)
 	} else if m.search.IsFiltered() {
-		b.WriteString(wrapAtWidth(fmt.Sprintf("[Esc] clear filter  [/] modify filter  [d]escribe [L]ogs [D]elete [e]dit [x]exec  [+]new tab [%s]delete tab", deleteTabKey), m.width))
+		b.WriteString(wrapAtWidth(fmt.Sprintf("[Esc] clear filter  [/] modify filter  [d]escribe [L]ogs [D]elete [e]dit [T]erminal  [+]new tab [%s]delete tab", deleteTabKey), m.width))
 	} else if m.currentTab == SearchTabIndex {
 		b.WriteString(wrapAtWidth(fmt.Sprintf("[Enter] enter command  [/]filter results  [r]efresh  [q]uit  [+]new tab [%s]delete tab", deleteTabKey), m.width))
 	} else {
-		b.WriteString(wrapAtWidth(fmt.Sprintf("[d]escribe [L]ogs [Y]aml [D]elete [e]dit [x]exec [R]estart  [c]ontext [n]amespace  [s]ort [/]search [r]efresh [?]help  [+]new tab [%s]delete tab", deleteTabKey), m.width))
+		b.WriteString(wrapAtWidth(fmt.Sprintf("[d]escribe [L]ogs [Y]aml [D]elete [e]dit [T]erminal [R]estart  [c]ontext [n]amespace  [s]ort [/]search [r]efresh [?]help  [+]new tab [%s]delete tab", deleteTabKey), m.width))
 	}
 
 	return b.String()
@@ -1230,43 +1230,11 @@ func makeKubectlEditCmd(kubectlBin, resource, name, namespace string) *exec.Cmd
 	return cmd
 }
 
-// execIntoPod starts an exec session in the pod
-func (m *Model) execIntoPod() tea.Cmd {
-	names, namespace := m.getSelectedResourceInfo()
-	if len(names) == 0 {
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	resourceType := m.getCurrentResourceType()
-	// Exec only works for pods
-	if !isPodResource(resourceType) {
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	// Return a command that suspends the TUI
-	return tea.ExecProcess(
-		makeKubectlExecCmd(m.kubectl.BinaryPath(), names[0], namespace, ""),
-		func(err error) tea.Msg {
-			return nil // Don't show error, just return to TUI
-		},
-	)
-}
-
-// makeKubectlExecCmd creates an exec.Cmd for kubectl exec
-func makeKubectlExecCmd(kubectlBin, podName, namespace, container string) *exec.Cmd {
-	args := []string{"exec", "-it", podName}
-	if namespace != "" {
-		args = append(args, "-n", namespace)
-	}
-	if container != "" {
-		args = append(args, "-c", container)
-	}
-	args = append(args, "--", "/bin/sh")
-	cmd := exec.Command(kubectlBin, args...)
-	cmd.Stdin = os.Stdin
-	cmd.Stdout = os.Stdout
-	cmd.Stderr = os.Stderr
-	return cmd
+// openTerminal opens the system's default terminal emulator as a floating window.
+// The TUI stays alive; the user gets a plain interactive shell to type any command.
+func (m *Model) openTerminal() tea.Cmd {
+	launchTerminal()
+	return nil
 }
 
 // launchInNewShell opens a command in a new terminal window.
@@ -1299,6 +1267,33 @@ func launchInNewShell(args []string) {
 	}
 }
 
+// launchTerminal opens the system's default terminal emulator with a plain
+// interactive shell — no pre-loaded command. The caller's TUI is unaffected.
+func launchTerminal() {
+	terminals := []struct {
+		bin  string
+		args []string
+	}{
+		{"x-terminal-emulator", nil},
+		{"gnome-terminal", nil},
+		{"konsole", nil},
+		{"xfce4-terminal", nil},
+		{"xterm", nil},
+		{"open", []string{"-a", "Terminal"}}, // macOS
+	}
+
+	for _, t := range terminals {
+		if path, err := exec.LookPath(t.bin); err == nil {
+			cmd := exec.Command(path, t.args...)
+			cmd.Stdout = nil
+			cmd.Stderr = nil
+			cmd.Stdin = nil
+			_ = cmd.Start()
+			return
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 // makeKubectlLogsFollowCmd creates an exec.Cmd for kubectl logs -f
 func makeKubectlLogsFollowCmd(kubectlBin, podName, namespace, container string) *exec.Cmd {
 	args := []string{"logs", "-f", podName}
@@ -1467,9 +1462,6 @@ func (m *Model) handleSelectorResult() tea.Cmd {
 		container := strings.TrimPrefix(selected, "log ")
 		container = strings.TrimSuffix(container, " --follow")
 		return m.viewLogsWithContainer(container, follow)
-	case "container-exec":
-		// Use selected container for exec
-		return m.execWithContainer(selected)
 	case "context":
 		// Switch context
 		return m.switchContext(selected)
@@ -1524,27 +1516,6 @@ func (m *Model) viewLogsWithContainer(container string, follow bool) tea.Cmd {
 	}
 }
 
-// execWithContainer starts exec with a specific container
-func (m *Model) execWithContainer(container string) tea.Cmd {
-	if len(m.pendingNames) == 0 {
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	podName := m.pendingNames[0]
-	namespace := m.pendingNs
-	kubectlBin := m.kubectl.BinaryPath()
-
-	m.pendingNames = nil
-	m.pendingNs = ""
-
-	return tea.ExecProcess(
-		makeKubectlExecCmd(kubectlBin, podName, namespace, container),
-		func(err error) tea.Msg {
-			return nil
-		},
-	)
-}
-
 // switchContext switches to a different kubectl context
 func (m *Model) switchContext(contextName string) tea.Cmd {
 	return func() tea.Msg {
diff --git a/internal/tui/keys.go b/internal/tui/keys.go
index fb9a901..88dbcb4 100644
--- a/internal/tui/keys.go
+++ b/internal/tui/keys.go
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ type KeyMap struct {
 	Logs     key.Binding
 	Delete   key.Binding
 	Edit            key.Binding
-	Exec            key.Binding
+	Terminal        key.Binding
 	PortForward     key.Binding
 	Scale           key.Binding
 	RolloutRestart  key.Binding
@@ -96,9 +96,9 @@ func NewKeyMap(cfg config.Keybindings) *KeyMap {
 			key.WithKeys(cfg.Edit),
 			key.WithHelp(cfg.Edit, "edit"),
 		),
-		Exec: key.NewBinding(
-			key.WithKeys(cfg.Exec),
-			key.WithHelp(cfg.Exec, "exec"),
+		Terminal: key.NewBinding(
+			key.WithKeys(cfg.Terminal),
+			key.WithHelp(cfg.Terminal, "terminal"),
 		),
 		PortForward: key.NewBinding(
 			key.WithKeys(cfg.PortForward),
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ func (k KeyMap) FullHelp() [][]key.Binding {
 		{k.Up, k.Down, k.Enter, k.Escape},
 		{k.TabNext, k.TabPrev, k.Search, k.Refresh},
 		{k.Describe, k.Logs, k.Delete, k.Edit},
-		{k.Exec, k.PortForward, k.Scale, k.RolloutRestart},
+		{k.Terminal, k.PortForward, k.Scale, k.RolloutRestart},
 		{k.YAMLView, k.JSONView, k.SwitchNamespace, k.SwitchContext},
 		{k.Help, k.Quit},
 	}
diff --git a/internal/tui/messages.go b/internal/tui/messages.go
index ec6a6fe..b73260e 100644
--- a/internal/tui/messages.go
+++ b/internal/tui/messages.go
@@ -64,13 +64,6 @@ type LogsFollowMsg struct {
 	NewShell   bool // if true, open in a new terminal shell instead of suspending the TUI
 }
 
-// ExecRequestMsg is sent to request exec into a container
-type ExecRequestMsg struct {
-	PodName   string
-	Namespace string
-	Container string
-}
-
 // TabAddedMsg is sent when a new tab has been validated and saved to config
 type TabAddedMsg struct {
 	Name    string