diff --git a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/embedding/EmbeddedDashboard.tsx b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/embedding/EmbeddedDashboard.tsx
index a13376d3116..a0e9854173e 100644
--- a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/embedding/EmbeddedDashboard.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/embedding/EmbeddedDashboard.tsx
@@ -65,13 +65,7 @@ function EmbeddedDashboardRenderer({ model, initialState, onStateChange }: Rende
 
   return (
     <div className={styles.canvas}>
-      {controls && (
-        <div className={styles.controls}>
-          {controls.map((control) => (
-            <control.Component key={control.state.key} model={control} />
-          ))}
-        </div>
-      )}
+      {controls && <controls.Component model={controls} />}
       <div className={styles.body}>
         <body.Component model={body} />
       </div>
diff --git a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/panel-edit/PanelEditorRenderer.tsx b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/panel-edit/PanelEditorRenderer.tsx
index 6b0bce117fc..a464b0a538b 100644
--- a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/panel-edit/PanelEditorRenderer.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/panel-edit/PanelEditorRenderer.tsx
@@ -37,13 +37,7 @@ export function PanelEditorRenderer({ model }: SceneComponentProps<PanelEditor>)
       >
         <div className={styles.body}>
           <div className={styles.canvasContent}>
-            {controls && (
-              <div className={styles.controls}>
-                {controls.map((control) => (
-                  <control.Component key={control.state.key} model={control} />
-                ))}
-              </div>
-            )}
+            {controls && <controls.Component model={controls} />}
             <Splitter
               direction="column"
               primaryPaneStyles={{ minHeight: 0, paddingBottom: !dataPane ? 16 : 0 }}
diff --git a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/scene/DashboardControls.tsx b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/scene/DashboardControls.tsx
index 3a57af32991..2758c65bcf4 100644
--- a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/scene/DashboardControls.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/scene/DashboardControls.tsx
@@ -1,41 +1,89 @@
+import { css, cx } from '@emotion/css';
 import React from 'react';
 
-import { SceneObjectState, SceneObject, SceneObjectBase, SceneComponentProps } from '@grafana/scenes';
-import { Box, Stack } from '@grafana/ui';
+import { GrafanaTheme2 } from '@grafana/data';
+import {
+  SceneObjectState,
+  SceneObject,
+  SceneObjectBase,
+  SceneComponentProps,
+  SceneTimePicker,
+  SceneRefreshPicker,
+  SceneDebugger,
+} from '@grafana/scenes';
+import { Box, Stack, useStyles2 } from '@grafana/ui';
+
+import { getDashboardSceneFor } from '../utils/utils';
 
 import { DashboardLinksControls } from './DashboardLinksControls';
 
 interface DashboardControlsState extends SceneObjectState {
   variableControls: SceneObject[];
-  timeControls: SceneObject[];
-  linkControls: DashboardLinksControls;
+  timePicker: SceneTimePicker;
+  refreshPicker: SceneRefreshPicker;
   hideTimeControls?: boolean;
 }
 export class DashboardControls extends SceneObjectBase<DashboardControlsState> {
   static Component = DashboardControlsRenderer;
+
+  public constructor(state: Partial<DashboardControlsState>) {
+    super({
+      variableControls: [],
+      timePicker: state.timePicker ?? new SceneTimePicker({}),
+      refreshPicker: state.refreshPicker ?? new SceneRefreshPicker({}),
+      ...state,
+    });
+  }
 }
 
 function DashboardControlsRenderer({ model }: SceneComponentProps<DashboardControls>) {
-  const { variableControls, linkControls, timeControls, hideTimeControls } = model.useState();
+  const { variableControls, refreshPicker, timePicker, hideTimeControls } = model.useState();
+  const dashboard = getDashboardSceneFor(model);
+  const { links, meta, editPanel } = dashboard.useState();
+  const styles = useStyles2(getStyles);
+  const showDebugger = location.search.includes('scene-debugger');
 
   return (
-    <Stack
-      grow={1}
-      direction={{
-        md: 'row',
-        xs: 'column',
-      }}
-    >
+    <div className={cx(styles.controls, meta.isEmbedded && styles.embedded)}>
       <Stack grow={1} wrap={'wrap'}>
         {variableControls.map((c) => (
           <c.Component model={c} key={c.state.key} />
         ))}
         <Box grow={1} />
-        <linkControls.Component model={linkControls} />
-      </Stack>
-      <Stack justifyContent={'flex-end'}>
-        {!hideTimeControls && timeControls.map((c) => <c.Component model={c} key={c.state.key} />)}
+        {!editPanel && <DashboardLinksControls links={links} uid={dashboard.state.uid} />}
       </Stack>
-    </Stack>
+      {!hideTimeControls && (
+        <Stack justifyContent={'flex-end'}>
+          <timePicker.Component model={timePicker} />
+          <refreshPicker.Component model={refreshPicker} />
+        </Stack>
+      )}
+      {showDebugger && <SceneDebugger scene={model} key={'scene-debugger'} />}
+    </div>
   );
 }
+
+function getStyles(theme: GrafanaTheme2) {
+  return {
+    controls: css({
+      display: 'flex',
+      alignItems: 'flex-start',
+      gap: theme.spacing(1),
+      position: 'sticky',
+      top: 0,
+      background: theme.colors.background.canvas,
+      zIndex: theme.zIndex.activePanel,
+      padding: theme.spacing(2, 0),
+      width: '100%',
+      marginLeft: 'auto',
+      [theme.breakpoints.down('sm')]: {
+        flexDirection: 'column-reverse',
+        alignItems: 'stretch',
+      },
+    }),
+    embedded: css({
+      background: 'unset',
+      position: 'unset',
+    }),
+  };
+}
diff --git a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/scene/DashboardLinksControls.tsx b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/scene/DashboardLinksControls.tsx
index d557b4efccd..a535b3517fe 100644
--- a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/scene/DashboardLinksControls.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/scene/DashboardLinksControls.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ import React from 'react';
 
 import { sanitizeUrl } from '@grafana/data/src/text/sanitize';
 import { selectors } from '@grafana/e2e-selectors';
-import { SceneComponentProps, SceneObjectBase, SceneObjectState } from '@grafana/scenes';
 import { DashboardLink } from '@grafana/schema';
 import { Tooltip } from '@grafana/ui';
 import {
@@ -12,17 +11,13 @@ import {
 import { getLinkSrv } from 'app/features/panel/panellinks/link_srv';
 
 import { LINK_ICON_MAP } from '../settings/links/utils';
-import { getDashboardSceneFor } from '../utils/utils';
 
-interface DashboardLinksControlsState extends SceneObjectState {}
-
-export class DashboardLinksControls extends SceneObjectBase<DashboardLinksControlsState> {
-  static Component = DashboardLinksControlsRenderer;
+export interface Props {
+  links: DashboardLink[];
+  uid?: string;
 }
 
-function DashboardLinksControlsRenderer({ model }: SceneComponentProps<DashboardLinksControls>) {
-  const { links, uid } = getDashboardSceneFor(model).useState();
-
+export function DashboardLinksControls({ links, uid }: Props) {
   if (!links || !uid) {
     return null;
   }
diff --git a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/scene/DashboardScene.test.tsx b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/scene/DashboardScene.test.tsx
index 320fa0d7c41..ed36aba0442 100644
--- a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/scene/DashboardScene.test.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/scene/DashboardScene.test.tsx
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ import {
   sceneGraph,
   SceneGridItem,
   SceneGridLayout,
-  SceneRefreshPicker,
   SceneTimeRange,
   SceneQueryRunner,
   SceneVariableSet,
@@ -22,7 +21,6 @@ import { dashboardSceneGraph } from '../utils/dashboardSceneGraph';
 import { djb2Hash } from '../utils/djb2Hash';
 
 import { DashboardControls } from './DashboardControls';
-import { DashboardLinksControls } from './DashboardLinksControls';
 import { DashboardScene, DashboardSceneState } from './DashboardScene';
 
 jest.mock('../settings/version-history/HistorySrv');
@@ -94,14 +92,14 @@ describe('DashboardScene', () => {
       });
 
       it('A change to time picker visibility settings should set isDirty true', () => {
-        const dashboardControls = dashboardSceneGraph.getDashboardControls(scene)!;
+        const dashboardControls = scene.state.controls!;
         const prevState = dashboardControls.state.hideTimeControls;
         dashboardControls.setState({ hideTimeControls: true });
 
         expect(scene.state.isDirty).toBe(true);
 
         scene.exitEditMode({ skipConfirm: true });
-        expect(dashboardSceneGraph.getDashboardControls(scene)!.state.hideTimeControls).toEqual(prevState);
+        expect(scene.state.controls!.state.hideTimeControls).toEqual(prevState);
       });
 
       it('A change to time zone should set isDirty true', () => {
@@ -217,17 +215,7 @@ function buildTestScene(overrides?: Partial<DashboardSceneState>) {
     $timeRange: new SceneTimeRange({
       timeZone: 'browser',
     }),
-    controls: [
-      new DashboardControls({
-        variableControls: [],
-        linkControls: new DashboardLinksControls({}),
-        timeControls: [
-          new SceneRefreshPicker({
-            intervals: ['1s'],
-          }),
-        ],
-      }),
-    ],
+    controls: new DashboardControls({}),
     body: new SceneGridLayout({
       children: [
         new SceneGridItem({
diff --git a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/scene/DashboardScene.tsx b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/scene/DashboardScene.tsx
index 701cdbfc709..e78c453fa88 100644
--- a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/scene/DashboardScene.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/scene/DashboardScene.tsx
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ export interface DashboardSceneState extends SceneObjectState {
   /** NavToolbar actions */
   actions?: SceneObject[];
   /** Fixed row at the top of the canvas with for example variables and time range controls */
-  controls?: SceneObject[];
+  controls?: DashboardControls;
   /** True when editing */
   isEditing?: boolean;
   /** True when user made a change */
diff --git a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/scene/DashboardSceneRenderer.tsx b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/scene/DashboardSceneRenderer.tsx
index 84950c6c999..cd58d311fdd 100644
--- a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/scene/DashboardSceneRenderer.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/scene/DashboardSceneRenderer.tsx
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import React from 'react';
 import { useLocation } from 'react-router-dom';
 
 import { GrafanaTheme2, PageLayoutType } from '@grafana/data';
-import { SceneComponentProps, SceneDebugger } from '@grafana/scenes';
+import { SceneComponentProps } from '@grafana/scenes';
 import { CustomScrollbar, useStyles2 } from '@grafana/ui';
 import { Page } from 'app/core/components/Page/Page';
 import { getNavModel } from 'app/core/selectors/navModel';
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ export function DashboardSceneRenderer({ model }: SceneComponentProps<DashboardS
   const pageNav = model.getPageNav(location, navIndex);
   const bodyToRender = model.getBodyToRender();
   const navModel = getNavModel(navIndex, 'dashboards/browse');
-  const showDebugger = location.search.includes('scene-debugger');
 
   if (editview) {
     return (
@@ -32,23 +31,11 @@ export function DashboardSceneRenderer({ model }: SceneComponentProps<DashboardS
     );
   }
 
-  const emptyState = (
-    <>
-      <div className={styles.controls}>{showDebugger && <SceneDebugger scene={model} key={'scene-debugger'} />}</div>
-      <DashboardEmpty dashboard={model} canCreate={!!model.state.meta.canEdit} />
-    </>
-  );
+  const emptyState = <DashboardEmpty dashboard={model} canCreate={!!model.state.meta.canEdit} />;
 
   const withPanels = (
     <>
-      {controls && (
-        <div className={styles.controls}>
-          {controls.map((control) => (
-            <control.Component key={control.state.key} model={control} />
-          ))}
-          {showDebugger && <SceneDebugger scene={model} key={'scene-debugger'} />}
-        </div>
-      )}
+      {controls && <controls.Component model={controls} />}
       <div className={cx(styles.body)}>
         <bodyToRender.Component model={bodyToRender} />
       </div>
@@ -88,18 +75,5 @@ function getStyles(theme: GrafanaTheme2) {
       gap: '8px',
       marginBottom: theme.spacing(2),
     }),
-
-    controls: css({
-      display: 'flex',
-      flexWrap: 'wrap',
-      alignItems: 'center',
-      gap: theme.spacing(1),
-      position: 'sticky',
-      top: 0,
-      background: theme.colors.background.canvas,
-      zIndex: theme.zIndex.activePanel,
-      padding: theme.spacing(2, 0),
-      marginLeft: 'auto',
-    }),
   };
 }
diff --git a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/serialization/transformSaveModelToScene.test.ts b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/serialization/transformSaveModelToScene.test.ts
index 490732bf0ee..2567575f3bf 100644
--- a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/serialization/transformSaveModelToScene.test.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/serialization/transformSaveModelToScene.test.ts
@@ -26,8 +26,6 @@ import {
   SceneGridLayout,
   SceneGridRow,
   SceneQueryRunner,
-  SceneRefreshPicker,
-  SceneTimePicker,
   VizPanel,
 } from '@grafana/scenes';
 import {
@@ -44,7 +42,6 @@ import { SHARED_DASHBOARD_QUERY } from 'app/plugins/datasource/dashboard';
 import { DASHBOARD_DATASOURCE_PLUGIN_ID } from 'app/plugins/datasource/dashboard/types';
 import { DashboardDataDTO } from 'app/types';
 
-import { DashboardControls } from '../scene/DashboardControls';
 import { PanelRepeaterGridItem } from '../scene/PanelRepeaterGridItem';
 import { PanelTimeRange } from '../scene/PanelTimeRange';
 import { RowRepeaterBehavior } from '../scene/RowRepeaterBehavior';
@@ -112,7 +109,7 @@ describe('transformSaveModelToScene', () => {
       const oldModel = new DashboardModel(dash);
 
       const scene = createDashboardSceneFromDashboardModel(oldModel);
-      const dashboardControls = scene.state.controls![0] as DashboardControls;
+      const dashboardControls = scene.state.controls!;
 
       expect(scene.state.title).toBe('test');
       expect(scene.state.uid).toBe('test-uid');
@@ -127,13 +124,8 @@ describe('transformSaveModelToScene', () => {
       expect(scene.state?.$variables?.getByName('constant')).toBeInstanceOf(ConstantVariable);
       expect(scene.state?.$variables?.getByName('CoolFilters')).toBeInstanceOf(AdHocFiltersVariable);
       expect(dashboardControls).toBeDefined();
-      expect(dashboardControls).toBeInstanceOf(DashboardControls);
-      expect(dashboardControls.state.timeControls).toHaveLength(2);
-      expect(dashboardControls.state.timeControls[0]).toBeInstanceOf(SceneTimePicker);
-      expect(dashboardControls.state.timeControls[1]).toBeInstanceOf(SceneRefreshPicker);
-      expect((dashboardControls.state.timeControls[1] as SceneRefreshPicker).state.intervals).toEqual(
-        defaultTimePickerConfig.refresh_intervals
-      );
+
+      expect(dashboardControls.state.refreshPicker.state.intervals).toEqual(defaultTimePickerConfig.refresh_intervals);
       expect(dashboardControls.state.hideTimeControls).toBe(true);
     });
 
@@ -1039,9 +1031,7 @@ describe('transformSaveModelToScene', () => {
       const scene = transformSaveModelToScene({ dashboard: dashboard_to_load1 as any, meta: {} });
 
       expect(scene.state.$data).toBeInstanceOf(SceneDataLayers);
-      expect((scene.state.controls![0] as DashboardControls)!.state.variableControls[1]).toBeInstanceOf(
-        SceneDataLayerControls
-      );
+      expect(scene.state.controls!.state.variableControls[1]).toBeInstanceOf(SceneDataLayerControls);
 
       const dataLayers = scene.state.$data as SceneDataLayers;
       expect(dataLayers.state.layers).toHaveLength(4);
@@ -1069,9 +1059,7 @@ describe('transformSaveModelToScene', () => {
       const scene = transformSaveModelToScene({ dashboard: dashboard_to_load1 as any, meta: {} });
 
       expect(scene.state.$data).toBeInstanceOf(SceneDataLayers);
-      expect((scene.state.controls![0] as DashboardControls)!.state.variableControls[1]).toBeInstanceOf(
-        SceneDataLayerControls
-      );
+      expect(scene.state.controls!.state.variableControls[1]).toBeInstanceOf(SceneDataLayerControls);
 
       const dataLayers = scene.state.$data as SceneDataLayers;
       expect(dataLayers.state.layers).toHaveLength(5);
@@ -1085,9 +1073,7 @@ describe('transformSaveModelToScene', () => {
       const scene = transformSaveModelToScene({ dashboard: dashboard_to_load1 as any, meta: {} });
 
       expect(scene.state.$data).toBeInstanceOf(SceneDataLayers);
-      expect((scene.state.controls![0] as DashboardControls)!.state.variableControls[1]).toBeInstanceOf(
-        SceneDataLayerControls
-      );
+      expect(scene.state.controls!.state.variableControls[1]).toBeInstanceOf(SceneDataLayerControls);
 
       const dataLayers = scene.state.$data as SceneDataLayers;
       expect(dataLayers.state.layers).toHaveLength(5);
diff --git a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/serialization/transformSaveModelToScene.ts b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/serialization/transformSaveModelToScene.ts
index b85744efcfe..9b7e0c988c5 100644
--- a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/serialization/transformSaveModelToScene.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/serialization/transformSaveModelToScene.ts
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ import { DashboardDTO } from 'app/types';
 import { AlertStatesDataLayer } from '../scene/AlertStatesDataLayer';
 import { DashboardAnnotationsDataLayer } from '../scene/DashboardAnnotationsDataLayer';
 import { DashboardControls } from '../scene/DashboardControls';
-import { DashboardLinksControls } from '../scene/DashboardLinksControls';
 import { registerDashboardMacro } from '../scene/DashboardMacro';
 import { DashboardScene } from '../scene/DashboardScene';
 import { LibraryVizPanel } from '../scene/LibraryVizPanel';
@@ -268,21 +267,16 @@ export function createDashboardSceneFromDashboardModel(oldModel: DashboardModel)
             layers,
           })
         : undefined,
-    controls: [
-      new DashboardControls({
-        variableControls: [new VariableValueSelectors({}), new SceneDataLayerControls()],
-        timeControls: [
-          new SceneTimePicker({}),
-          new SceneRefreshPicker({
-            refresh: oldModel.refresh,
-            intervals: oldModel.timepicker.refresh_intervals,
-            withText: true,
-          }),
-        ],
-        linkControls: new DashboardLinksControls({}),
-        hideTimeControls: oldModel.timepicker.hidden,
+    controls: new DashboardControls({
+      variableControls: [new VariableValueSelectors({}), new SceneDataLayerControls()],
+      timePicker: new SceneTimePicker({}),
+      refreshPicker: new SceneRefreshPicker({
+        refresh: oldModel.refresh,
+        intervals: oldModel.timepicker.refresh_intervals,
+        withText: true,
       }),
-    ],
+      hideTimeControls: oldModel.timepicker.hidden,
+    }),
   });
 
   return dashboardScene;
diff --git a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/serialization/transformSceneToSaveModel.ts b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/serialization/transformSceneToSaveModel.ts
index b47bd847fd4..d452f99539e 100644
--- a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/serialization/transformSceneToSaveModel.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/serialization/transformSceneToSaveModel.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ import {
   SceneDataTransformer,
   SceneVariableSet,
   LocalValueVariable,
-  SceneRefreshPicker,
 } from '@grafana/scenes';
 import {
   AnnotationQuery,
@@ -34,7 +33,6 @@ import { getPanelDataFrames } from 'app/features/dashboard/components/HelpWizard
 import { DASHBOARD_SCHEMA_VERSION } from 'app/features/dashboard/state/DashboardMigrator';
 import { GrafanaQueryType } from 'app/plugins/datasource/grafana/types';
 
-import { DashboardControls } from '../scene/DashboardControls';
 import { DashboardScene } from '../scene/DashboardScene';
 import { LibraryVizPanel } from '../scene/LibraryVizPanel';
 import { PanelRepeaterGridItem } from '../scene/PanelRepeaterGridItem';
@@ -54,9 +52,6 @@ export function transformSceneToSaveModel(scene: DashboardScene, isSnapshot = fa
   const variablesSet = state.$variables;
   const body = state.body;
 
-  let refreshIntervals: string[] | undefined;
-  let hideTimePicker: boolean | undefined;
-
   let panels: Panel[] = [];
   let graphTooltip = defaultDashboard.graphTooltip;
   let variables: VariableModel[] = [];
@@ -92,16 +87,7 @@ export function transformSceneToSaveModel(scene: DashboardScene, isSnapshot = fa
     variables = sceneVariablesSetToVariables(variablesSet);
   }
 
-  if (state.controls && state.controls[0] instanceof DashboardControls) {
-    hideTimePicker = state.controls[0].state.hideTimeControls;
-
-    const timeControls = state.controls[0].state.timeControls;
-    for (const control of timeControls) {
-      if (control instanceof SceneRefreshPicker && control.state.intervals) {
-        refreshIntervals = control.state.intervals;
-      }
-    }
-  }
+  const controlsState = state.controls?.state;
 
   if (state.$behaviors) {
     for (const behavior of state.$behaviors!) {
@@ -113,8 +99,8 @@ export function transformSceneToSaveModel(scene: DashboardScene, isSnapshot = fa
 
   const timePickerWithoutDefaults = removeDefaults<TimePickerConfig>(
     {
-      refresh_intervals: refreshIntervals,
-      hidden: hideTimePicker,
+      refresh_intervals: controlsState?.refreshPicker.state.intervals,
+      hidden: controlsState?.hideTimeControls,
       nowDelay: timeRange.UNSAFE_nowDelay,
     },
     defaultTimePickerConfig
diff --git a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/settings/DashboardLinksEditView.test.tsx b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/settings/DashboardLinksEditView.test.tsx
index 0143dfd43eb..e9e04c6a702 100644
--- a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/settings/DashboardLinksEditView.test.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/settings/DashboardLinksEditView.test.tsx
@@ -2,18 +2,10 @@ import { render as RTLRender } from '@testing-library/react';
 import React from 'react';
 import { TestProvider } from 'test/helpers/TestProvider';
 
-import {
-  behaviors,
-  SceneGridLayout,
-  SceneGridItem,
-  SceneRefreshPicker,
-  SceneTimeRange,
-  SceneTimePicker,
-} from '@grafana/scenes';
+import { behaviors, SceneGridLayout, SceneGridItem, SceneTimeRange } from '@grafana/scenes';
 import { DashboardCursorSync } from '@grafana/schema';
 
 import { DashboardControls } from '../scene/DashboardControls';
-import { DashboardLinksControls } from '../scene/DashboardLinksControls';
 import { DashboardScene } from '../scene/DashboardScene';
 import { activateFullSceneTree } from '../utils/test-utils';
 
@@ -225,18 +217,7 @@ async function buildTestScene() {
   const dashboard = new DashboardScene({
     $timeRange: new SceneTimeRange({}),
     $behaviors: [new behaviors.CursorSync({ sync: DashboardCursorSync.Off })],
-    controls: [
-      new DashboardControls({
-        variableControls: [],
-        linkControls: new DashboardLinksControls({}),
-        timeControls: [
-          new SceneTimePicker({}),
-          new SceneRefreshPicker({
-            intervals: ['1s'],
-          }),
-        ],
-      }),
-    ],
+    controls: new DashboardControls({}),
     title: 'hello',
     uid: 'dash-1',
     meta: {
diff --git a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/settings/GeneralSettingsEditView.test.tsx b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/settings/GeneralSettingsEditView.test.tsx
index 245f9334fdd..4becbbb2c77 100644
--- a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/settings/GeneralSettingsEditView.test.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/settings/GeneralSettingsEditView.test.tsx
@@ -1,15 +1,7 @@
-import {
-  behaviors,
-  SceneGridLayout,
-  SceneGridItem,
-  SceneRefreshPicker,
-  SceneTimeRange,
-  SceneTimePicker,
-} from '@grafana/scenes';
+import { behaviors, SceneGridLayout, SceneGridItem, SceneTimeRange } from '@grafana/scenes';
 import { DashboardCursorSync } from '@grafana/schema';
 
 import { DashboardControls } from '../scene/DashboardControls';
-import { DashboardLinksControls } from '../scene/DashboardLinksControls';
 import { DashboardScene } from '../scene/DashboardScene';
 import { activateFullSceneTree } from '../utils/test-utils';
 
@@ -38,19 +30,9 @@ describe('GeneralSettingsEditView', () => {
       expect(settings.getTimeRange()).toBe(dashboard.state.$timeRange);
     });
 
-    it('should return the dashboard refresh picker', () => {
-      expect(settings.getRefreshPicker()).toBe(
-        (dashboard.state?.controls?.[0] as DashboardControls)?.state?.timeControls?.[1]
-      );
-    });
-
     it('should return the cursor sync', () => {
       expect(settings.getCursorSync()).toBe(dashboard.state.$behaviors?.[0]);
     });
-
-    it('should return the dashboard controls', () => {
-      expect(settings.getDashboardControls()).toBe(dashboard.state.controls?.[0]);
-    });
   });
 
   describe('Dashboard updates', () => {
@@ -133,18 +115,7 @@ async function buildTestScene() {
   const dashboard = new DashboardScene({
     $timeRange: new SceneTimeRange({}),
     $behaviors: [new behaviors.CursorSync({ sync: DashboardCursorSync.Off })],
-    controls: [
-      new DashboardControls({
-        variableControls: [],
-        linkControls: new DashboardLinksControls({}),
-        timeControls: [
-          new SceneTimePicker({}),
-          new SceneRefreshPicker({
-            intervals: ['1s'],
-          }),
-        ],
-      }),
-    ],
+    controls: new DashboardControls({}),
     title: 'hello',
     uid: 'dash-1',
     meta: {
diff --git a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/settings/GeneralSettingsEditView.tsx b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/settings/GeneralSettingsEditView.tsx
index fc84309fdc9..3c1315b0a79 100644
--- a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/settings/GeneralSettingsEditView.tsx
+++ b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/settings/GeneralSettingsEditView.tsx
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ import { DeleteDashboardButton } from 'app/features/dashboard/components/DeleteD
 
 import { DashboardScene } from '../scene/DashboardScene';
 import { NavToolbarActions } from '../scene/NavToolbarActions';
-import { dashboardSceneGraph } from '../utils/dashboardSceneGraph';
 import { getDashboardSceneFor } from '../utils/utils';
 
 import { DashboardEditView, DashboardEditViewState, useDashboardEditPageNav } from './utils';
@@ -61,7 +60,7 @@ export class GeneralSettingsEditView
   }
 
   public getRefreshPicker() {
-    return dashboardSceneGraph.getRefreshPicker(this._dashboard);
+    return this.getDashboardControls().state.refreshPicker;
   }
 
   public getCursorSync() {
@@ -75,7 +74,7 @@ export class GeneralSettingsEditView
   }
 
   public getDashboardControls() {
-    return dashboardSceneGraph.getDashboardControls(this._dashboard);
+    return this._dashboard.state.controls!;
   }
 
   public onTitleChange = (value: string) => {
@@ -151,8 +150,8 @@ export class GeneralSettingsEditView
     const { title, description, tags, meta, editable } = model.getDashboard().useState();
     const { sync: graphTooltip } = model.getCursorSync()?.useState() || {};
     const { timeZone, weekStart, UNSAFE_nowDelay: nowDelay } = model.getTimeRange().useState();
-    const { intervals } = model.getRefreshPicker()?.useState() || {};
-    const { hideTimeControls } = model.getDashboardControls()?.useState() || {};
+    const { intervals } = model.getRefreshPicker().useState();
+    const { hideTimeControls } = model.getDashboardControls().useState();
 
     return (
       <Page navModel={navModel} pageNav={pageNav} layout={PageLayoutType.Standard}>
diff --git a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/utils/DashboardModelCompatibilityWrapper.test.ts b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/utils/DashboardModelCompatibilityWrapper.test.ts
index 93c7a45b45f..be5d199260a 100644
--- a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/utils/DashboardModelCompatibilityWrapper.test.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/utils/DashboardModelCompatibilityWrapper.test.ts
@@ -3,11 +3,9 @@ import {
   behaviors,
   SceneGridItem,
   SceneGridLayout,
-  SceneRefreshPicker,
   SceneQueryRunner,
   SceneTimeRange,
   VizPanel,
-  SceneTimePicker,
   SceneDataTransformer,
   SceneDataLayers,
 } from '@grafana/scenes';
@@ -17,7 +15,6 @@ import { SHARED_DASHBOARD_QUERY } from 'app/plugins/datasource/dashboard';
 import { AlertStatesDataLayer } from '../scene/AlertStatesDataLayer';
 import { DashboardAnnotationsDataLayer } from '../scene/DashboardAnnotationsDataLayer';
 import { DashboardControls } from '../scene/DashboardControls';
-import { DashboardLinksControls } from '../scene/DashboardLinksControls';
 import { DashboardScene } from '../scene/DashboardScene';
 import { NEW_LINK } from '../settings/links/utils';
 
@@ -37,7 +34,7 @@ describe('DashboardModelCompatibilityWrapper', () => {
     expect(wrapper.time.from).toBe('now-6h');
     expect(wrapper.timezone).toBe('America/New_York');
     expect(wrapper.weekStart).toBe('friday');
-    expect(wrapper.timepicker.refresh_intervals).toEqual(['1s']);
+    expect(wrapper.timepicker.refresh_intervals![0]).toEqual('5s');
     expect(wrapper.timepicker.hidden).toEqual(true);
     expect(wrapper.panels).toHaveLength(5);
 
@@ -60,9 +57,7 @@ describe('DashboardModelCompatibilityWrapper', () => {
     expect(wrapper.panels[3].datasource).toEqual({ uid: 'gdev-testdata', type: 'grafana-testdata-datasource' });
     expect(wrapper.panels[4].datasource).toEqual({ uid: SHARED_DASHBOARD_QUERY, type: 'datasource' });
 
-    (scene.state.controls![0] as DashboardControls).setState({
-      hideTimeControls: false,
-    });
+    scene.state.controls!.setState({ hideTimeControls: false });
 
     const wrapper2 = new DashboardModelCompatibilityWrapper(scene);
     expect(wrapper2.timepicker.hidden).toEqual(false);
@@ -175,19 +170,9 @@ function setup() {
         }),
       ],
     }),
-    controls: [
-      new DashboardControls({
-        variableControls: [],
-        linkControls: new DashboardLinksControls({}),
-        timeControls: [
-          new SceneTimePicker({}),
-          new SceneRefreshPicker({
-            intervals: ['1s'],
-          }),
-        ],
-        hideTimeControls: true,
-      }),
-    ],
+    controls: new DashboardControls({
+      hideTimeControls: true,
+    }),
     body: new SceneGridLayout({
       children: [
         new SceneGridItem({
diff --git a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/utils/DashboardModelCompatibilityWrapper.ts b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/utils/DashboardModelCompatibilityWrapper.ts
index 4e4b6c12ed2..21b83ce910b 100644
--- a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/utils/DashboardModelCompatibilityWrapper.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/utils/DashboardModelCompatibilityWrapper.ts
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ import { DashboardScene } from '../scene/DashboardScene';
 import { dataLayersToAnnotations } from '../serialization/dataLayersToAnnotations';
 
 import { PanelModelCompatibilityWrapper } from './PanelModelCompatibilityWrapper';
-import { dashboardSceneGraph } from './dashboardSceneGraph';
 import { findVizPanelByKey, getVizPanelKeyForPanelId } from './utils';
 
 /**
@@ -68,8 +67,8 @@ export class DashboardModelCompatibilityWrapper {
 
   public get timepicker() {
     return {
-      refresh_intervals: dashboardSceneGraph.getRefreshPicker(this._scene)?.state.intervals,
-      hidden: dashboardSceneGraph.getDashboardControls(this._scene)?.state.hideTimeControls ?? false,
+      refresh_intervals: this._scene.state.controls!.state.refreshPicker.state.intervals,
+      hidden: this._scene.state.controls!.state.hideTimeControls ?? false,
     };
   }
 
diff --git a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/utils/dashboardSceneGraph.test.ts b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/utils/dashboardSceneGraph.test.ts
index 927e9bf6313..5e106d15d90 100644
--- a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/utils/dashboardSceneGraph.test.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/utils/dashboardSceneGraph.test.ts
@@ -4,8 +4,6 @@ import {
   SceneGridLayout,
   SceneGridRow,
   SceneQueryRunner,
-  SceneRefreshPicker,
-  SceneTimePicker,
   SceneTimeRange,
   VizPanel,
 } from '@grafana/scenes';
@@ -13,7 +11,6 @@ import {
 import { AlertStatesDataLayer } from '../scene/AlertStatesDataLayer';
 import { DashboardAnnotationsDataLayer } from '../scene/DashboardAnnotationsDataLayer';
 import { DashboardControls } from '../scene/DashboardControls';
-import { DashboardLinksControls } from '../scene/DashboardLinksControls';
 import { DashboardScene, DashboardSceneState } from '../scene/DashboardScene';
 import { VizPanelLinks, VizPanelLinksMenu } from '../scene/PanelLinks';
 
@@ -21,67 +18,6 @@ import { dashboardSceneGraph } from './dashboardSceneGraph';
 import { findVizPanelByKey } from './utils';
 
 describe('dashboardSceneGraph', () => {
-  describe('getTimePicker', () => {
-    it('should return null if no time picker', () => {
-      const scene = buildTestScene({
-        controls: [
-          new DashboardControls({
-            variableControls: [],
-            linkControls: new DashboardLinksControls({}),
-            timeControls: [],
-          }),
-        ],
-      });
-
-      const timePicker = dashboardSceneGraph.getTimePicker(scene);
-      expect(timePicker).toBeNull();
-    });
-
-    it('should return time picker', () => {
-      const scene = buildTestScene();
-      const timePicker = dashboardSceneGraph.getTimePicker(scene);
-      expect(timePicker).not.toBeNull();
-    });
-  });
-
-  describe('getRefreshPicker', () => {
-    it('should return null if no refresh picker', () => {
-      const scene = buildTestScene({
-        controls: [
-          new DashboardControls({
-            variableControls: [],
-            linkControls: new DashboardLinksControls({}),
-            timeControls: [],
-          }),
-        ],
-      });
-
-      const refreshPicker = dashboardSceneGraph.getRefreshPicker(scene);
-      expect(refreshPicker).toBeNull();
-    });
-
-    it('should return refresh picker', () => {
-      const scene = buildTestScene();
-      const refreshPicker = dashboardSceneGraph.getRefreshPicker(scene);
-      expect(refreshPicker).not.toBeNull();
-    });
-  });
-
-  describe('getDashboardControls', () => {
-    it('should return null if no dashboard controls', () => {
-      const scene = buildTestScene({ controls: [] });
-
-      const dashboardControls = dashboardSceneGraph.getDashboardControls(scene);
-      expect(dashboardControls).toBeNull();
-    });
-
-    it('should return dashboard controls', () => {
-      const scene = buildTestScene();
-      const dashboardControls = dashboardSceneGraph.getDashboardControls(scene);
-      expect(dashboardControls).not.toBeNull();
-    });
-  });
-
   describe('getPanelLinks', () => {
     it('should throw if no links object defined', () => {
       const scene = buildTestScene();
@@ -155,18 +91,7 @@ function buildTestScene(overrides?: Partial<DashboardSceneState>) {
     title: 'hello',
     uid: 'dash-1',
     $timeRange: new SceneTimeRange({}),
-    controls: [
-      new DashboardControls({
-        variableControls: [],
-        linkControls: new DashboardLinksControls({}),
-        timeControls: [
-          new SceneTimePicker({}),
-          new SceneRefreshPicker({
-            intervals: ['1s'],
-          }),
-        ],
-      }),
-    ],
+    controls: new DashboardControls({}),
     $data: new SceneDataLayers({
       layers: [
         new DashboardAnnotationsDataLayer({
diff --git a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/utils/dashboardSceneGraph.ts b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/utils/dashboardSceneGraph.ts
index cfea3809e6a..3047692da5b 100644
--- a/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/utils/dashboardSceneGraph.ts
+++ b/public/app/features/dashboard-scene/utils/dashboardSceneGraph.ts
@@ -1,48 +1,14 @@
-import {
-  SceneTimePicker,
-  SceneRefreshPicker,
-  VizPanel,
-  SceneGridItem,
-  SceneGridRow,
-  SceneDataLayers,
-  sceneGraph,
-} from '@grafana/scenes';
+import { VizPanel, SceneGridItem, SceneGridRow, SceneDataLayers, sceneGraph } from '@grafana/scenes';
 
-import { DashboardControls } from '../scene/DashboardControls';
 import { DashboardScene } from '../scene/DashboardScene';
 import { VizPanelLinks } from '../scene/PanelLinks';
 
 function getTimePicker(scene: DashboardScene) {
-  const dashboardControls = getDashboardControls(scene);
-
-  if (dashboardControls) {
-    const timePicker = dashboardControls.state.timeControls.find((c) => c instanceof SceneTimePicker);
-    if (timePicker && timePicker instanceof SceneTimePicker) {
-      return timePicker;
-    }
-  }
-
-  return null;
+  return scene.state.controls?.state.timePicker;
 }
 
 function getRefreshPicker(scene: DashboardScene) {
-  const dashboardControls = getDashboardControls(scene);
-
-  if (dashboardControls) {
-    for (const control of dashboardControls.state.timeControls) {
-      if (control instanceof SceneRefreshPicker) {
-        return control;
-      }
-    }
-  }
-  return null;
-}
-
-function getDashboardControls(scene: DashboardScene) {
-  if (scene.state.controls?.[0] instanceof DashboardControls) {
-    return scene.state.controls[0];
-  }
-  return null;
+  return scene.state.controls?.state.refreshPicker;
 }
 
 function getPanelLinks(panel: VizPanel) {
@@ -92,7 +58,6 @@ function getDataLayers(scene: DashboardScene): SceneDataLayers {
 export const dashboardSceneGraph = {
   getTimePicker,
   getRefreshPicker,
-  getDashboardControls,
   getPanelLinks,
   getVizPanels,
   getDataLayers,