diff --git a/lua/diffs/commands.lua b/lua/diffs/commands.lua
index b3f9b42..4fc795b 100644
--- a/lua/diffs/commands.lua
+++ b/lua/diffs/commands.lua
@@ -86,8 +86,9 @@ function M.gdiff(revision, vertical)
 
   local diff_buf = vim.api.nvim_create_buf(false, true)
   vim.api.nvim_buf_set_lines(diff_buf, 0, -1, false, diff_lines)
-  vim.api.nvim_set_option_value('buftype', 'nofile', { buf = diff_buf })
-  vim.api.nvim_set_option_value('bufhidden', 'wipe', { buf = diff_buf })
+  vim.api.nvim_set_option_value('buftype', 'nowrite', { buf = diff_buf })
+  vim.api.nvim_set_option_value('bufhidden', 'delete', { buf = diff_buf })
+  vim.api.nvim_set_option_value('swapfile', false, { buf = diff_buf })
   vim.api.nvim_set_option_value('modifiable', false, { buf = diff_buf })
   vim.api.nvim_set_option_value('filetype', 'diff', { buf = diff_buf })
   vim.api.nvim_buf_set_name(diff_buf, 'diffs://' .. revision .. ':' .. rel_path)
@@ -176,14 +177,18 @@ function M.gdiff_file(filepath, opts)
 
   local diff_buf = vim.api.nvim_create_buf(false, true)
   vim.api.nvim_buf_set_lines(diff_buf, 0, -1, false, diff_lines)
-  vim.api.nvim_set_option_value('buftype', 'nofile', { buf = diff_buf })
-  vim.api.nvim_set_option_value('bufhidden', 'wipe', { buf = diff_buf })
+  vim.api.nvim_set_option_value('buftype', 'nowrite', { buf = diff_buf })
+  vim.api.nvim_set_option_value('bufhidden', 'delete', { buf = diff_buf })
+  vim.api.nvim_set_option_value('swapfile', false, { buf = diff_buf })
   vim.api.nvim_set_option_value('modifiable', false, { buf = diff_buf })
   vim.api.nvim_set_option_value('filetype', 'diff', { buf = diff_buf })
   vim.api.nvim_buf_set_name(diff_buf, 'diffs://' .. diff_label .. ':' .. rel_path)
   if repo_root then
     vim.api.nvim_buf_set_var(diff_buf, 'diffs_repo_root', repo_root)
   end
+  if old_rel_path ~= rel_path then
+    vim.api.nvim_buf_set_var(diff_buf, 'diffs_old_filepath', old_rel_path)
+  end
 
   vim.cmd(opts.vertical and 'vsplit' or 'split')
   vim.api.nvim_win_set_buf(0, diff_buf)
@@ -231,8 +236,9 @@ function M.gdiff_section(repo_root, opts)
   local diff_label = opts.staged and 'staged' or 'unstaged'
   local diff_buf = vim.api.nvim_create_buf(false, true)
   vim.api.nvim_buf_set_lines(diff_buf, 0, -1, false, result)
-  vim.api.nvim_set_option_value('buftype', 'nofile', { buf = diff_buf })
-  vim.api.nvim_set_option_value('bufhidden', 'wipe', { buf = diff_buf })
+  vim.api.nvim_set_option_value('buftype', 'nowrite', { buf = diff_buf })
+  vim.api.nvim_set_option_value('bufhidden', 'delete', { buf = diff_buf })
+  vim.api.nvim_set_option_value('swapfile', false, { buf = diff_buf })
   vim.api.nvim_set_option_value('modifiable', false, { buf = diff_buf })
   vim.api.nvim_set_option_value('filetype', 'diff', { buf = diff_buf })
   vim.api.nvim_buf_set_name(diff_buf, 'diffs://' .. diff_label .. ':all')
@@ -248,6 +254,77 @@ function M.gdiff_section(repo_root, opts)
   end)
 end
 
+---@param bufnr integer
+function M.read_buffer(bufnr)
+  local name = vim.api.nvim_buf_get_name(bufnr)
+  local url_body = name:match('^diffs://(.+)$')
+  if not url_body then
+    return
+  end
+
+  local label, path = url_body:match('^([^:]+):(.+)$')
+  if not label or not path then
+    return
+  end
+
+  local ok, repo_root = pcall(vim.api.nvim_buf_get_var, bufnr, 'diffs_repo_root')
+  if not ok or not repo_root then
+    return
+  end
+
+  local diff_lines
+
+  if path == 'all' then
+    local cmd = { 'git', '-C', repo_root, 'diff', '--no-ext-diff', '--no-color' }
+    if label == 'staged' then
+      table.insert(cmd, '--cached')
+    end
+    diff_lines = vim.fn.systemlist(cmd)
+    if vim.v.shell_error ~= 0 then
+      diff_lines = {}
+    end
+  else
+    local abs_path = repo_root .. '/' .. path
+
+    local old_ok, old_rel_path = pcall(vim.api.nvim_buf_get_var, bufnr, 'diffs_old_filepath')
+    local old_abs_path = old_ok and old_rel_path and (repo_root .. '/' .. old_rel_path) or abs_path
+    local old_name = old_ok and old_rel_path or path
+
+    local old_lines, new_lines
+
+    if label == 'untracked' then
+      old_lines = {}
+      new_lines = git.get_working_content(abs_path) or {}
+    elseif label == 'staged' then
+      old_lines = git.get_file_content('HEAD', old_abs_path) or {}
+      new_lines = git.get_index_content(abs_path) or {}
+    elseif label == 'unstaged' then
+      old_lines = git.get_index_content(old_abs_path)
+      if not old_lines then
+        old_lines = git.get_file_content('HEAD', old_abs_path) or {}
+      end
+      new_lines = git.get_working_content(abs_path) or {}
+    else
+      old_lines = git.get_file_content(label, abs_path) or {}
+      new_lines = git.get_working_content(abs_path) or {}
+    end
+
+    diff_lines = generate_unified_diff(old_lines, new_lines, old_name, path)
+  end
+
+  vim.api.nvim_set_option_value('modifiable', true, { buf = bufnr })
+  vim.api.nvim_buf_set_lines(bufnr, 0, -1, false, diff_lines)
+  vim.api.nvim_set_option_value('modifiable', false, { buf = bufnr })
+  vim.api.nvim_set_option_value('buftype', 'nowrite', { buf = bufnr })
+  vim.api.nvim_set_option_value('bufhidden', 'delete', { buf = bufnr })
+  vim.api.nvim_set_option_value('swapfile', false, { buf = bufnr })
+  vim.api.nvim_set_option_value('filetype', 'diff', { buf = bufnr })
+
+  dbg('reloaded diff buffer %d (%s:%s)', bufnr, label, path)
+
+  require('diffs').attach(bufnr)
+end
+
 function M.setup()
   vim.api.nvim_create_user_command('Gdiff', function(opts)
     M.gdiff(opts.args ~= '' and opts.args or nil, false)
diff --git a/plugin/diffs.lua b/plugin/diffs.lua
index 35aa223..c51d417 100644
--- a/plugin/diffs.lua
+++ b/plugin/diffs.lua
@@ -23,6 +23,13 @@ vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd('FileType', {
   end,
 })
 
+vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd('BufReadCmd', {
+  pattern = 'diffs://*',
+  callback = function(args)
+    require('diffs.commands').read_buffer(args.buf)
+  end,
+})
+
 vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd('OptionSet', {
   pattern = 'diff',
   callback = function()
diff --git a/spec/read_buffer_spec.lua b/spec/read_buffer_spec.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f571d97
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/read_buffer_spec.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,400 @@
+require('spec.helpers')
+
+local commands = require('diffs.commands')
+local diffs = require('diffs')
+local git = require('diffs.git')
+
+local saved_git = {}
+local saved_systemlist
+local test_buffers = {}
+
+local function mock_git(overrides)
+  overrides = overrides or {}
+  saved_git.get_file_content = git.get_file_content
+  saved_git.get_index_content = git.get_index_content
+  saved_git.get_working_content = git.get_working_content
+
+  git.get_file_content = overrides.get_file_content
+    or function()
+      return { 'local M = {}', 'return M' }
+    end
+  git.get_index_content = overrides.get_index_content
+    or function()
+      return { 'local M = {}', 'return M' }
+    end
+  git.get_working_content = overrides.get_working_content
+    or function()
+      return { 'local M = {}', 'local x = 1', 'return M' }
+    end
+end
+
+local function mock_systemlist(fn)
+  saved_systemlist = vim.fn.systemlist
+  vim.fn.systemlist = function(cmd)
+    local result = fn(cmd)
+    saved_systemlist({ 'true' })
+    return result
+  end
+end
+
+local function restore_mocks()
+  for k, v in pairs(saved_git) do
+    git[k] = v
+  end
+  saved_git = {}
+  if saved_systemlist then
+    vim.fn.systemlist = saved_systemlist
+    saved_systemlist = nil
+  end
+end
+
+---@param name string
+---@param vars? table<string, any>
+---@return integer
+local function create_diffs_buffer(name, vars)
+  local existing = vim.fn.bufnr(name)
+  if existing ~= -1 then
+    vim.api.nvim_buf_delete(existing, { force = true })
+  end
+  local bufnr = vim.api.nvim_create_buf(false, true)
+  vim.api.nvim_buf_set_name(bufnr, name)
+  vars = vars or {}
+  for k, v in pairs(vars) do
+    vim.api.nvim_buf_set_var(bufnr, k, v)
+  end
+  table.insert(test_buffers, bufnr)
+  return bufnr
+end
+
+local function cleanup_buffers()
+  for _, bufnr in ipairs(test_buffers) do
+    if vim.api.nvim_buf_is_valid(bufnr) then
+      vim.api.nvim_buf_delete(bufnr, { force = true })
+    end
+  end
+  test_buffers = {}
+end
+
+describe('read_buffer', function()
+  after_each(function()
+    restore_mocks()
+    cleanup_buffers()
+  end)
+
+  describe('early returns', function()
+    it('does nothing on non-diffs:// buffer', function()
+      local bufnr = vim.api.nvim_create_buf(false, true)
+      table.insert(test_buffers, bufnr)
+      assert.has_no.errors(function()
+        commands.read_buffer(bufnr)
+      end)
+      assert.are.same({ '' }, vim.api.nvim_buf_get_lines(bufnr, 0, -1, false))
+    end)
+
+    it('does nothing on malformed url without colon separator', function()
+      local bufnr = create_diffs_buffer('diffs://nocolonseparator')
+      vim.api.nvim_buf_set_var(bufnr, 'diffs_repo_root', '/tmp')
+      local lines_before = vim.api.nvim_buf_get_lines(bufnr, 0, -1, false)
+      assert.has_no.errors(function()
+        commands.read_buffer(bufnr)
+      end)
+      assert.are.same(lines_before, vim.api.nvim_buf_get_lines(bufnr, 0, -1, false))
+    end)
+
+    it('does nothing when diffs_repo_root is missing', function()
+      local bufnr = create_diffs_buffer('diffs://staged:missing_root.lua')
+      assert.has_no.errors(function()
+        commands.read_buffer(bufnr)
+      end)
+      assert.are.same({ '' }, vim.api.nvim_buf_get_lines(bufnr, 0, -1, false))
+    end)
+  end)
+
+  describe('buffer options', function()
+    it('sets buftype, bufhidden, swapfile, modifiable, filetype', function()
+      mock_git()
+      local bufnr = create_diffs_buffer('diffs://staged:options_test.lua', {
+        diffs_repo_root = '/tmp',
+      })
+
+      commands.read_buffer(bufnr)
+
+      assert.are.equal('nowrite', vim.api.nvim_get_option_value('buftype', { buf = bufnr }))
+      assert.are.equal('delete', vim.api.nvim_get_option_value('bufhidden', { buf = bufnr }))
+      assert.is_false(vim.api.nvim_get_option_value('swapfile', { buf = bufnr }))
+      assert.is_false(vim.api.nvim_get_option_value('modifiable', { buf = bufnr }))
+      assert.are.equal('diff', vim.api.nvim_get_option_value('filetype', { buf = bufnr }))
+    end)
+  end)
+
+  describe('dispatch', function()
+    it('calls get_file_content + get_index_content for staged label', function()
+      local called_get_file = false
+      local called_get_index = false
+      mock_git({
+        get_file_content = function()
+          called_get_file = true
+          return { 'old' }
+        end,
+        get_index_content = function()
+          called_get_index = true
+          return { 'new' }
+        end,
+      })
+
+      local bufnr = create_diffs_buffer('diffs://staged:dispatch_staged.lua', {
+        diffs_repo_root = '/tmp',
+      })
+      commands.read_buffer(bufnr)
+
+      assert.is_true(called_get_file)
+      assert.is_true(called_get_index)
+    end)
+
+    it('calls get_index_content + get_working_content for unstaged label', function()
+      local called_get_index = false
+      local called_get_working = false
+      mock_git({
+        get_index_content = function()
+          called_get_index = true
+          return { 'index' }
+        end,
+        get_working_content = function()
+          called_get_working = true
+          return { 'working' }
+        end,
+      })
+
+      local bufnr = create_diffs_buffer('diffs://unstaged:dispatch_unstaged.lua', {
+        diffs_repo_root = '/tmp',
+      })
+      commands.read_buffer(bufnr)
+
+      assert.is_true(called_get_index)
+      assert.is_true(called_get_working)
+    end)
+
+    it('calls only get_working_content for untracked label', function()
+      local called_get_file = false
+      local called_get_working = false
+      mock_git({
+        get_file_content = function()
+          called_get_file = true
+          return {}
+        end,
+        get_working_content = function()
+          called_get_working = true
+          return { 'new file' }
+        end,
+      })
+
+      local bufnr = create_diffs_buffer('diffs://untracked:dispatch_untracked.lua', {
+        diffs_repo_root = '/tmp',
+      })
+      commands.read_buffer(bufnr)
+
+      assert.is_false(called_get_file)
+      assert.is_true(called_get_working)
+    end)
+
+    it('calls get_file_content + get_working_content for revision label', function()
+      local captured_rev
+      local called_get_working = false
+      mock_git({
+        get_file_content = function(rev)
+          captured_rev = rev
+          return { 'old' }
+        end,
+        get_working_content = function()
+          called_get_working = true
+          return { 'new' }
+        end,
+      })
+
+      local bufnr = create_diffs_buffer('diffs://HEAD~3:dispatch_rev.lua', {
+        diffs_repo_root = '/tmp',
+      })
+      commands.read_buffer(bufnr)
+
+      assert.are.equal('HEAD~3', captured_rev)
+      assert.is_true(called_get_working)
+    end)
+
+    it('falls back from index to HEAD for unstaged when index returns nil', function()
+      local call_order = {}
+      mock_git({
+        get_index_content = function()
+          table.insert(call_order, 'index')
+          return nil
+        end,
+        get_file_content = function()
+          table.insert(call_order, 'head')
+          return { 'head content' }
+        end,
+        get_working_content = function()
+          return { 'working content' }
+        end,
+      })
+
+      local bufnr = create_diffs_buffer('diffs://unstaged:dispatch_fallback.lua', {
+        diffs_repo_root = '/tmp',
+      })
+      commands.read_buffer(bufnr)
+
+      assert.are.same({ 'index', 'head' }, call_order)
+    end)
+
+    it('runs git diff for section diffs with path=all', function()
+      local captured_cmd
+      mock_systemlist(function(cmd)
+        captured_cmd = cmd
+        return {
+          'diff --git a/file.lua b/file.lua',
+          '--- a/file.lua',
+          '+++ b/file.lua',
+          '@@ -1 +1 @@',
+          '-old',
+          '+new',
+        }
+      end)
+
+      local bufnr = create_diffs_buffer('diffs://unstaged:all', {
+        diffs_repo_root = '/home/test/repo',
+      })
+      commands.read_buffer(bufnr)
+
+      assert.is_not_nil(captured_cmd)
+      assert.are.equal('git', captured_cmd[1])
+      assert.are.equal('/home/test/repo', captured_cmd[3])
+      assert.are.equal('diff', captured_cmd[4])
+
+      local lines = vim.api.nvim_buf_get_lines(bufnr, 0, -1, false)
+      assert.are.equal('diff --git a/file.lua b/file.lua', lines[1])
+    end)
+
+    it('passes --cached for staged section diffs', function()
+      local captured_cmd
+      mock_systemlist(function(cmd)
+        captured_cmd = cmd
+        return { 'diff --git a/f.lua b/f.lua', '@@ -1 +1 @@', '-a', '+b' }
+      end)
+
+      local bufnr = create_diffs_buffer('diffs://staged:all', {
+        diffs_repo_root = '/tmp',
+      })
+      commands.read_buffer(bufnr)
+
+      assert.is_truthy(vim.tbl_contains(captured_cmd, '--cached'))
+    end)
+  end)
+
+  describe('content', function()
+    it('generates valid unified diff header with correct paths', function()
+      mock_git({
+        get_file_content = function()
+          return { 'old' }
+        end,
+        get_working_content = function()
+          return { 'new' }
+        end,
+      })
+
+      local bufnr = create_diffs_buffer('diffs://HEAD:lua/diffs/init.lua', {
+        diffs_repo_root = '/tmp',
+      })
+      commands.read_buffer(bufnr)
+
+      local lines = vim.api.nvim_buf_get_lines(bufnr, 0, -1, false)
+      assert.are.equal('diff --git a/lua/diffs/init.lua b/lua/diffs/init.lua', lines[1])
+      assert.are.equal('--- a/lua/diffs/init.lua', lines[2])
+      assert.are.equal('+++ b/lua/diffs/init.lua', lines[3])
+    end)
+
+    it('uses old_filepath for diff header in renames', function()
+      mock_git({
+        get_file_content = function(_, path)
+          assert.are.equal('/tmp/old_name.lua', path)
+          return { 'old content' }
+        end,
+        get_index_content = function()
+          return { 'new content' }
+        end,
+      })
+
+      local bufnr = create_diffs_buffer('diffs://staged:new_name.lua', {
+        diffs_repo_root = '/tmp',
+        diffs_old_filepath = 'old_name.lua',
+      })
+      commands.read_buffer(bufnr)
+
+      local lines = vim.api.nvim_buf_get_lines(bufnr, 0, -1, false)
+      assert.are.equal('diff --git a/old_name.lua b/new_name.lua', lines[1])
+      assert.are.equal('--- a/old_name.lua', lines[2])
+      assert.are.equal('+++ b/new_name.lua', lines[3])
+    end)
+
+    it('produces empty buffer when old and new are identical', function()
+      mock_git({
+        get_file_content = function()
+          return { 'identical' }
+        end,
+        get_working_content = function()
+          return { 'identical' }
+        end,
+      })
+
+      local bufnr = create_diffs_buffer('diffs://HEAD:nodiff.lua', {
+        diffs_repo_root = '/tmp',
+      })
+      commands.read_buffer(bufnr)
+
+      local lines = vim.api.nvim_buf_get_lines(bufnr, 0, -1, false)
+      assert.are.same({ '' }, lines)
+    end)
+
+    it('replaces existing buffer content on reload', function()
+      mock_git({
+        get_file_content = function()
+          return { 'old' }
+        end,
+        get_working_content = function()
+          return { 'new' }
+        end,
+      })
+
+      local bufnr = create_diffs_buffer('diffs://HEAD:replace_test.lua', {
+        diffs_repo_root = '/tmp',
+      })
+      vim.api.nvim_buf_set_lines(bufnr, 0, -1, false, { 'stale', 'content', 'from', 'before' })
+
+      commands.read_buffer(bufnr)
+
+      local lines = vim.api.nvim_buf_get_lines(bufnr, 0, -1, false)
+      assert.are.equal('diff --git a/replace_test.lua b/replace_test.lua', lines[1])
+      for _, line in ipairs(lines) do
+        assert.is_not_equal('stale', line)
+      end
+    end)
+  end)
+
+  describe('attach integration', function()
+    it('calls attach on the buffer', function()
+      mock_git()
+
+      local attach_called_with
+      local original_attach = diffs.attach
+      diffs.attach = function(bufnr)
+        attach_called_with = bufnr
+      end
+
+      local bufnr = create_diffs_buffer('diffs://staged:attach_test.lua', {
+        diffs_repo_root = '/tmp',
+      })
+      commands.read_buffer(bufnr)
+
+      assert.are.equal(bufnr, attach_called_with)
+
+      diffs.attach = original_attach
+    end)
+  end)
+end)