diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2688eba..a10a4f4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -60,12 +60,49 @@ return {
 
 ## Lazy.nvim
 
+### Basic setup
+
+```lua
+{
+  "devxplay/herdr.nvim",
+}
+```
+
+### LazyVim / NvChad / Distro compatibility
+
+LazyVim and similar Neovim distributions set default `Ctrl+h/j/k/l` keymaps for window navigation that load after plugins. To ensure herdr.nvim's keymaps take precedence, use this configuration:
+
 ```lua
 {
   "devxplay/herdr.nvim",
+  lazy = false,
+  priority = 1000,
+  config = function()
+    require("herdr").setup({
+      set_keymaps = false, -- We'll set them after LazyVim loads
+    })
+    
+    -- Set keymaps after LazyVim's defaults
+    vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd("VimEnter", {
+      callback = function()
+        vim.defer_fn(function()
+          vim.keymap.set("n", "<C-h>", function() require("herdr.navigator").navigate("left") end, { desc = "Navigate left" })
+          vim.keymap.set("n", "<C-j>", function() require("herdr.navigator").navigate("down") end, { desc = "Navigate down" })
+          vim.keymap.set("n", "<C-k>", function() require("herdr.navigator").navigate("up") end, { desc = "Navigate up" })
+          vim.keymap.set("n", "<C-l>", function() require("herdr.navigator").navigate("right") end, { desc = "Navigate right" })
+        end, 100)
+      end,
+    })
+  end,
 }
 ```
 
+This configuration:
+- Loads the plugin immediately (`lazy = false`)
+- Loads early with high priority (`priority = 1000`)
+- Waits for Neovim to finish starting, then sets the keymaps after a short delay
+- Ensures herdr.nvim's navigation keymaps override the distribution's defaults
+
 ## Herdr config
 
 Install `herdr-navigator` somewhere on your `PATH` for Herdr shell keybindings:
diff --git a/lua/herdr/navigator.lua b/lua/herdr/navigator.lua
index 6f05866..b57aad5 100644
--- a/lua/herdr/navigator.lua
+++ b/lua/herdr/navigator.lua
@@ -104,7 +104,21 @@ local function run_helper(args)
 end
 
 local function pane_id()
-	return vim.env.HERDR_ACTIVE_PANE_ID or vim.env.HERDR_PANE_ID
+	local id = vim.env.HERDR_ACTIVE_PANE_ID or vim.env.HERDR_PANE_ID
+	if id and id ~= "" then
+		return id
+	end
+
+	local handle = io.popen("herdr pane current 2>/dev/null")
+	if handle then
+		local result = handle:read("*a")
+		handle:close()
+		local json = vim.json and vim.json.decode(result) or vim.fn.json_decode(result)
+		if json and json.result and json.result.pane then
+			return json.result.pane.pane_id
+		end
+	end
+	return nil
 end
 
 local function nvim_panes_dir()
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 10d59b8..49abb07 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -205,16 +205,21 @@ fn active_workspace_and_tab() -> Result<(Value, Value), String> {
     Ok((workspace, tab))
 }
 
-fn pane_public_mapping(workspace: &Value, tab: &Value) -> Result<BTreeMap<i64, String>, String> {
+fn pane_public_mapping(workspace: &Value, _tab: &Value) -> Result<BTreeMap<i64, String>, String> {
     let workspace_id = workspace
         .get("id")
         .and_then(Value::as_str)
         .ok_or_else(|| "active Herdr workspace has no id".to_string())?;
-    let panes = tab
+    let panes = _tab
         .get("panes")
         .and_then(Value::as_object)
         .ok_or_else(|| "active Herdr tab has no panes object".to_string())?;
 
+    let public_pane_numbers = workspace
+        .get("public_pane_numbers")
+        .and_then(Value::as_object)
+        .ok_or_else(|| "active Herdr workspace has no public_pane_numbers".to_string())?;
+
     let mut internal_ids = panes
         .keys()
         .filter_map(|pane_id| pane_id.parse::<i64>().ok())
@@ -223,8 +228,13 @@ fn pane_public_mapping(workspace: &Value, tab: &Value) -> Result<BTreeMap<i64, S
 
     Ok(internal_ids
         .into_iter()
-        .enumerate()
-        .map(|(index, internal_id)| (internal_id, format!("{workspace_id}-{}", index + 1)))
+        .map(|internal_id| {
+            let public_number = public_pane_numbers
+                .get(&internal_id.to_string())
+                .and_then(Value::as_u64)
+                .unwrap_or(internal_id as u64 + 1);
+            (internal_id, format!("{workspace_id}:p{public_number}"))
+        })
         .collect())
 }
 
@@ -433,6 +443,17 @@ fn adjacent_public(
     candidates.first().map(|candidate| candidate.2.clone())
 }
 
+fn focus_pane_direction(pane_id: &str, direction: &str) -> Result<(), String> {
+    result(
+        "pane.focus_direction",
+        json!({
+            "pane_id": pane_id,
+            "direction": direction,
+        }),
+    )?;
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 fn focus_pane(pane_id: &str) -> Result<(), String> {
     let seq = now_ns();
     let normalized = pane_id.replace(['-', ':'], "_");
@@ -578,6 +599,12 @@ fn focus_adjacent(direction: &str, current_pane_id: Option<String>) -> Result<i3
         return Ok(1);
     };
 
+    // Try the new pane.focus_direction API first (herdr 0.7.0+)
+    if focus_pane_direction(&current_pane_id, direction).is_ok() {
+        return Ok(0);
+    }
+
+    // Fall back to computed approach for older herdr versions
     if let Some(target_public) = cached_adjacent(direction, &current_pane_id)? {
         focus_pane(&target_public)?;
         return Ok(0);
@@ -646,25 +673,25 @@ fn pane_is_registered_nvim(pane_id: &str) -> Result<bool, String> {
     Ok(dir.join(&public_pane_id).exists())
 }
 
-fn ctrl_text(direction: &str) -> Option<&'static str> {
+fn ctrl_key(direction: &str) -> Option<&'static str> {
     match direction {
-        "left" => Some("\u{0008}"),
-        "down" => Some("\u{000a}"),
-        "up" => Some("\u{000b}"),
-        "right" => Some("\u{000c}"),
+        "left" => Some("ctrl+h"),
+        "down" => Some("ctrl+j"),
+        "up" => Some("ctrl+k"),
+        "right" => Some("ctrl+l"),
         _ => None,
     }
 }
 
 fn send_ctrl_to_pane(pane_id: &str, direction: &str) -> Result<(), String> {
-    let Some(text) = ctrl_text(direction) else {
+    let Some(key) = ctrl_key(direction) else {
         return Err(format!("unsupported direction {direction}"));
     };
     result(
-        "pane.send_text",
+        "pane.send_keys",
         json!({
             "pane_id": pane_id,
-            "text": text,
+            "keys": [key],
         }),
     )?;
     Ok(())
@@ -825,13 +852,13 @@ fn run() -> Result<i32, String> {
     match (command, direction) {
         ("register", _) => register(),
         ("release", _) => release(),
-        ("focus", Some(direction)) if ctrl_text(direction).is_some() => {
+        ("focus", Some(direction)) if ctrl_key(direction).is_some() => {
             focus_adjacent(direction, None)
         }
         ("split", Some(direction)) if matches!(direction, "right" | "down") => {
             split_pane(direction)
         }
-        ("dispatch", Some(direction)) if ctrl_text(direction).is_some() => dispatch(direction),
+        ("dispatch", Some(direction)) if ctrl_key(direction).is_some() => dispatch(direction),
         _ => {
             usage();
             Ok(2)