diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index e6f62909c97..6f3978e7060 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ docs/**
 !docs/reference/git-compatibility.md
 !docs/reference/headless-linux-server.md
 !docs/reference/linux-glibc-compatibility.md
+!docs/reference/relay-grace-time-reconfiguration.md
 
 # Stably CLI (only docs/ are tracked)
 .stably/*
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/filesystem-watcher-large-batch.test.ts b/src/main/ipc/filesystem-watcher-large-batch.test.ts
index 01f7ccc90cc..80d45c90e43 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/filesystem-watcher-large-batch.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/filesystem-watcher-large-batch.test.ts
@@ -32,6 +32,11 @@ import { closeAllWatchers, registerFilesystemWatcherHandlers } from './filesyste
 import { stat } from 'node:fs/promises'
 import { subscribe as subscribeParcelWatcher } from '@parcel/watcher'
 import type { Event as WatcherEvent } from '@parcel/watcher'
+import type { FsChangedPayload } from '../../shared/types'
+import {
+  WATCH_BATCH_MAX_WAIT_MS,
+  WATCH_BATCH_TRAILING_MS
+} from '../../shared/filesystem-watch-batch-window'
 
 type HandlerMap = Record<string, (_event: unknown, args: unknown) => Promise<unknown> | unknown>
 
@@ -111,4 +116,61 @@ describe('local filesystem watcher large batches', () => {
     await closeAllWatchers()
     vi.useRealTimers()
   })
+
+  it('still coalesces a local burst on the shared trailing window', async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    vi.mocked(stat).mockResolvedValue({ isDirectory: () => true } as never)
+    let watcherCallback: ((err: Error | null, events: WatcherEvent[]) => void) | undefined
+    vi.mocked(subscribeParcelWatcher).mockImplementation(async (_root, callback) => {
+      watcherCallback = callback as typeof watcherCallback
+      return { unsubscribe: vi.fn() } as never
+    })
+    const worktreePath = resolve('/tmp/repo')
+    const filePath = join(worktreePath, 'a.ts')
+    const sender = { isDestroyed: () => false, send: vi.fn(), once: vi.fn(), id: 1 }
+
+    await handlers['fs:watchWorktree']({ sender }, { worktreePath })
+    watcherCallback?.(null, [{ type: 'update', path: filePath }])
+    watcherCallback?.(null, [{ type: 'update', path: filePath }])
+
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(WATCH_BATCH_TRAILING_MS - 1)
+    expect(sender.send).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1)
+    expect(sender.send).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(sender.send).toHaveBeenCalledWith('fs:changed', {
+      worktreePath,
+      events: [{ kind: 'update', absolutePath: filePath, isDirectory: true }]
+    })
+    await closeAllWatchers()
+    vi.useRealTimers()
+  })
+
+  it('still flushes a sustained local stream at the shared max wait', async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    vi.mocked(stat).mockResolvedValue({ isDirectory: () => true } as never)
+    let watcherCallback: ((err: Error | null, events: WatcherEvent[]) => void) | undefined
+    vi.mocked(subscribeParcelWatcher).mockImplementation(async (_root, callback) => {
+      watcherCallback = callback as typeof watcherCallback
+      return { unsubscribe: vi.fn() } as never
+    })
+    const worktreePath = resolve('/tmp/repo')
+    const sender = { isDestroyed: () => false, send: vi.fn(), once: vi.fn(), id: 1 }
+
+    await handlers['fs:watchWorktree']({ sender }, { worktreePath })
+    // Step under the trailing window so only the max wait can force a flush.
+    const step = 100
+    for (let elapsed = 0; elapsed <= WATCH_BATCH_MAX_WAIT_MS; elapsed += step) {
+      watcherCallback?.(null, [{ type: 'update', path: join(worktreePath, `f-${elapsed}.ts`) }])
+      if (elapsed < WATCH_BATCH_MAX_WAIT_MS) {
+        expect(sender.send).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+      }
+      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(step)
+    }
+
+    expect(sender.send).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect((sender.send.mock.calls[0][1] as FsChangedPayload).events).toHaveLength(6)
+    await closeAllWatchers()
+    vi.useRealTimers()
+  })
 })
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/filesystem-watcher-remote-batch.test.ts b/src/main/ipc/filesystem-watcher-remote-batch.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6d964c2b2d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/ipc/filesystem-watcher-remote-batch.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,191 @@
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import type { FsChangeEvent } from '../../shared/types'
+
+const { handleMock, getSshFilesystemProviderMock, providerRegistrationListeners } = vi.hoisted(
+  () => ({
+    handleMock: vi.fn(),
+    getSshFilesystemProviderMock: vi.fn(),
+    providerRegistrationListeners: new Set<(connectionId: string) => void>()
+  })
+)
+
+vi.mock('electron', () => ({ ipcMain: { handle: handleMock } }))
+vi.mock('fs/promises', () => ({ stat: vi.fn() }))
+vi.mock('@parcel/watcher', () => ({ subscribe: vi.fn() }))
+vi.mock('./filesystem-watcher-wsl', () => ({ createWslWatcher: vi.fn() }))
+vi.mock('../providers/ssh-filesystem-dispatch', () => ({
+  getSshFilesystemProvider: getSshFilesystemProviderMock,
+  onSshFilesystemProviderRegistered: (listener: (connectionId: string) => void) => {
+    providerRegistrationListeners.add(listener)
+    return () => providerRegistrationListeners.delete(listener)
+  }
+}))
+
+import { closeAllWatchers, registerFilesystemWatcherHandlers } from './filesystem-watcher'
+
+type HandlerMap = Record<string, (_event: unknown, args: unknown) => Promise<unknown> | unknown>
+type WatchCallback = (events: FsChangeEvent[]) => void
+
+const WORKTREE_PATH = '/home/me/repo'
+const WATCH_ARGS = { worktreePath: WORKTREE_PATH, connectionId: 'conn-1' }
+
+describe('remote filesystem watcher batching', () => {
+  const handlers: HandlerMap = {}
+  const watchCallbacks: WatchCallback[] = []
+
+  function makeSender(overrides: Partial<{ isDestroyed: () => boolean }> = {}) {
+    return { isDestroyed: () => false, send: vi.fn(), once: vi.fn(), id: 1, ...overrides }
+  }
+
+  beforeEach(async () => {
+    vi.useRealTimers()
+    handleMock.mockReset()
+    getSshFilesystemProviderMock.mockReset()
+    watchCallbacks.length = 0
+    for (const key of Object.keys(handlers)) {
+      delete handlers[key]
+    }
+    handleMock.mockImplementation((channel, handler) => {
+      handlers[channel] = handler
+    })
+    registerFilesystemWatcherHandlers()
+    await closeAllWatchers()
+    getSshFilesystemProviderMock.mockReturnValue({
+      watch: vi.fn(async (_root: string, callback: WatchCallback) => {
+        watchCallbacks.push(callback)
+        return vi.fn()
+      })
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('coalesces a burst of remote events into a single fs:changed send', async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    const sender = makeSender()
+    await handlers['fs:watchWorktree']({ sender }, WATCH_ARGS)
+
+    for (let i = 0; i < 50; i++) {
+      watchCallbacks[0]([{ kind: 'update', absolutePath: `${WORKTREE_PATH}/a.ts` }])
+    }
+    expect(sender.send).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(150)
+
+    expect(sender.send).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(sender.send).toHaveBeenCalledWith('fs:changed', {
+      worktreePath: WORKTREE_PATH,
+      events: [{ kind: 'update', absolutePath: `${WORKTREE_PATH}/a.ts` }]
+    })
+    await closeAllWatchers()
+    vi.useRealTimers()
+  })
+
+  // An atomic replace (delete+create) followed by an rm inside one window must still tombstone the path.
+  it('sends the net delete when a remote replace is removed in the same window', async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    const sender = makeSender()
+    await handlers['fs:watchWorktree']({ sender }, WATCH_ARGS)
+
+    watchCallbacks[0]([
+      { kind: 'delete', absolutePath: `${WORKTREE_PATH}/dist/app.js` },
+      { kind: 'create', absolutePath: `${WORKTREE_PATH}/dist/app.js` }
+    ])
+    watchCallbacks[0]([{ kind: 'delete', absolutePath: `${WORKTREE_PATH}/dist/app.js` }])
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(150)
+
+    expect(sender.send).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(sender.send).toHaveBeenCalledWith('fs:changed', {
+      worktreePath: WORKTREE_PATH,
+      events: [{ kind: 'delete', absolutePath: `${WORKTREE_PATH}/dist/app.js` }]
+    })
+    await closeAllWatchers()
+    vi.useRealTimers()
+  })
+
+  it('collapses an oversized remote burst into one overflow payload', async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    const sender = makeSender()
+    await handlers['fs:watchWorktree']({ sender }, WATCH_ARGS)
+
+    watchCallbacks[0](
+      Array.from(
+        { length: 6_000 },
+        (_unused, index): FsChangeEvent => ({
+          kind: 'update',
+          absolutePath: `${WORKTREE_PATH}/file-${index}.ts`
+        })
+      )
+    )
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(150)
+
+    expect(sender.send).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(sender.send).toHaveBeenCalledWith('fs:changed', {
+      worktreePath: WORKTREE_PATH,
+      events: [{ kind: 'overflow', absolutePath: WORKTREE_PATH }]
+    })
+    await closeAllWatchers()
+    vi.useRealTimers()
+  })
+
+  it('sends nothing when the worktree is unwatched before the flush deadline', async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    const sender = makeSender()
+    await handlers['fs:watchWorktree']({ sender }, WATCH_ARGS)
+
+    watchCallbacks[0]([{ kind: 'update', absolutePath: `${WORKTREE_PATH}/a.ts` }])
+    await handlers['fs:unwatchWorktree']({ sender }, WATCH_ARGS)
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1_000)
+
+    expect(sender.send).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    await closeAllWatchers()
+    vi.useRealTimers()
+  })
+
+  it('sends nothing when all watchers close before the flush deadline', async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    const sender = makeSender()
+    await handlers['fs:watchWorktree']({ sender }, WATCH_ARGS)
+
+    watchCallbacks[0]([{ kind: 'update', absolutePath: `${WORKTREE_PATH}/a.ts` }])
+    await closeAllWatchers()
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1_000)
+
+    expect(sender.send).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    vi.useRealTimers()
+  })
+
+  it('skips a WebContents destroyed while the batch was buffering', async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    let destroyed = false
+    const sender = makeSender({ isDestroyed: () => destroyed })
+    await handlers['fs:watchWorktree']({ sender }, WATCH_ARGS)
+
+    watchCallbacks[0]([{ kind: 'update', absolutePath: `${WORKTREE_PATH}/a.ts` }])
+    destroyed = true
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1_000)
+
+    expect(sender.send).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    await closeAllWatchers()
+    vi.useRealTimers()
+  })
+
+  it('drops a stale flush once a newer install owns the key', async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    const sender = makeSender()
+    await handlers['fs:watchWorktree']({ sender }, WATCH_ARGS)
+
+    for (const listener of providerRegistrationListeners) {
+      listener('conn-1')
+    }
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1_000)
+    expect(watchCallbacks).toHaveLength(2)
+    sender.send.mockClear()
+
+    // The replaced transport's callback still holds its own batch; its flush must not reach the renderer.
+    watchCallbacks[0]([{ kind: 'update', absolutePath: `${WORKTREE_PATH}/a.ts` }])
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1_000)
+
+    expect(sender.send).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    await closeAllWatchers()
+    vi.useRealTimers()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/filesystem-watcher-remote-cancellation.test.ts b/src/main/ipc/filesystem-watcher-remote-cancellation.test.ts
index f4af15588be..6a67f3a8fb7 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/filesystem-watcher-remote-cancellation.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/filesystem-watcher-remote-cancellation.test.ts
@@ -113,7 +113,8 @@ describe('remote filesystem watcher cancellation', () => {
     await Promise.all([first, second])
     expect(watchMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
     secondCallback?.([{ kind: 'update', absolutePath: '/home/me/repo/file.ts' }])
-    expect(secondSender.send).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    // Why: remote fs:changed rides the shared debounce window, so the send lands a flush later.
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(secondSender.send).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1))
 
     handlers['fs:unwatchWorktree']({ sender: { id: 2 } }, args)
     expect(secondUnwatch).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/filesystem-watcher.test.ts b/src/main/ipc/filesystem-watcher.test.ts
index b2f83baaf22..1e9e3cf509a 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/filesystem-watcher.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/filesystem-watcher.test.ts
@@ -58,9 +58,18 @@ import {
   WatcherChildCapacityError
 } from './parcel-watcher-child-registry'
 import { acquireWatcherRemovalGate } from './watcher-removal-gate'
+import { WATCH_BATCH_TRAILING_MS } from '../../shared/filesystem-watch-batch-window'
 
 type HandlerMap = Record<string, (_event: unknown, args: unknown) => Promise<unknown> | unknown>
 
+/** Remote fs:changed rides the shared debounce window, so drain it before asserting sends. */
+const emitRemote = async (onEvents: (e: unknown[]) => void, events: unknown[]) => {
+  onEvents(events)
+  await (vi.isFakeTimers()
+    ? vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(WATCH_BATCH_TRAILING_MS)
+    : new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, WATCH_BATCH_TRAILING_MS + 25)))
+}
+
 describe('registerFilesystemWatcherHandlers', () => {
   const handlers: HandlerMap = {}
   const originalPlatform = process.platform
@@ -234,7 +243,7 @@ describe('registerFilesystemWatcherHandlers', () => {
       onTerminalError: expect.any(Function)
     })
     const onEvents = watchMock.mock.calls[0][1]
-    onEvents([{ path: '/home/me/repo/file.txt', type: 'update' }])
+    await emitRemote(onEvents, [{ path: '/home/me/repo/file.txt', type: 'update' }])
     expect(sendMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith('fs:changed', {
       worktreePath: '/home/me/repo',
       events: [{ path: '/home/me/repo/file.txt', type: 'update' }]
@@ -329,7 +338,7 @@ describe('registerFilesystemWatcherHandlers', () => {
 
     expect(watchMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
     const recoveredEvents = watchMock.mock.calls[1][1] as (events: unknown[]) => void
-    recoveredEvents([{ kind: 'update', absolutePath: '/home/me/repo/file.ts' }])
+    await emitRemote(recoveredEvents, [{ kind: 'update', absolutePath: '/home/me/repo/file.ts' }])
     expect(senderOne.send).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
     expect(senderTwo.send).toHaveBeenCalledWith('fs:changed', {
       worktreePath: '/home/me/repo',
@@ -369,7 +378,7 @@ describe('registerFilesystemWatcherHandlers', () => {
     )
 
     const reinstalledEvents = watchMock.mock.calls[1][1] as (events: unknown[]) => void
-    reinstalledEvents([{ kind: 'update', absolutePath: '/home/me/repo/file.ts' }])
+    await emitRemote(reinstalledEvents, [{ kind: 'update', absolutePath: '/home/me/repo/file.ts' }])
     expect(sender.send).toHaveBeenCalledWith('fs:changed', {
       worktreePath: '/home/me/repo',
       events: [{ kind: 'update', absolutePath: '/home/me/repo/file.ts' }]
@@ -552,7 +561,7 @@ describe('registerFilesystemWatcherHandlers', () => {
 
     expect(watchMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
     const onEvents = watchMock.mock.calls[0][1]
-    onEvents([{ path: '/home/me/repo/file.txt', type: 'update' }])
+    await emitRemote(onEvents, [{ path: '/home/me/repo/file.txt', type: 'update' }])
     expect(sendOne).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
     expect(sendTwo).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
 
@@ -621,7 +630,7 @@ describe('registerFilesystemWatcherHandlers', () => {
       events: [{ kind: 'overflow', absolutePath: '/home/me/repo' }]
     })
     const replacementEvents = watchMock.mock.calls[1][1] as (events: unknown[]) => void
-    replacementEvents([{ kind: 'update', absolutePath: '/home/me/repo/file.ts' }])
+    await emitRemote(replacementEvents, [{ kind: 'update', absolutePath: '/home/me/repo/file.ts' }])
     expect(sender.send).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith('fs:changed', {
       worktreePath: '/home/me/repo',
       events: [{ kind: 'update', absolutePath: '/home/me/repo/file.ts' }]
@@ -716,7 +725,7 @@ describe('registerFilesystemWatcherHandlers', () => {
       'still watched by another client'
     )
     const onEvents = watchMock.mock.calls[0][1]
-    onEvents([{ path: '/home/me/repo/file.txt', type: 'update' }])
+    await emitRemote(onEvents, [{ path: '/home/me/repo/file.txt', type: 'update' }])
     expect(sendOne).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
 
     await handlers['fs:watchWorktree'](
@@ -724,7 +733,7 @@ describe('registerFilesystemWatcherHandlers', () => {
       { worktreePath: '/home/me/repo', connectionId: 'conn-1' }
     )
     expect(watchMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
-    onEvents([{ path: '/home/me/repo/file-2.txt', type: 'update' }])
+    await emitRemote(onEvents, [{ path: '/home/me/repo/file-2.txt', type: 'update' }])
     expect(sendOne).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
     expect(sendTwo).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
 
@@ -763,7 +772,7 @@ describe('registerFilesystemWatcherHandlers', () => {
     await Promise.all([firstWatch, secondWatch])
 
     const onEvents = watchMock.mock.calls[0][1]
-    onEvents([{ path: '/home/me/repo/file.txt', type: 'update' }])
+    await emitRemote(onEvents, [{ path: '/home/me/repo/file.txt', type: 'update' }])
     expect(sendOne).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
     expect(sendTwo).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
 
@@ -809,7 +818,7 @@ describe('registerFilesystemWatcherHandlers', () => {
     await Promise.all([firstWatch, secondWatch])
 
     const onEvents = watchMock.mock.calls[0][1]
-    onEvents([{ path: '/home/me/repo/file.txt', type: 'update' }])
+    await emitRemote(onEvents, [{ path: '/home/me/repo/file.txt', type: 'update' }])
     expect(sendOne).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
     expect(sendTwo).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
 
@@ -855,7 +864,7 @@ describe('registerFilesystemWatcherHandlers', () => {
 
     expect(unwatchMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
     const onEvents = watchMock.mock.calls[0][1]
-    onEvents([{ path: '/home/me/repo/file.txt', type: 'update' }])
+    await emitRemote(onEvents, [{ path: '/home/me/repo/file.txt', type: 'update' }])
     expect(sender.send).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
 
@@ -886,7 +895,7 @@ describe('registerFilesystemWatcherHandlers', () => {
     await Promise.all([firstWatch, secondWatch])
 
     const onEvents = watchMock.mock.calls[0][1]
-    onEvents([{ path: '/home/me/repo/file.txt', type: 'update' }])
+    await emitRemote(onEvents, [{ path: '/home/me/repo/file.txt', type: 'update' }])
     expect(senderOne.send).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
     expect(senderTwo.send).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
 
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/filesystem-watcher.ts b/src/main/ipc/filesystem-watcher.ts
index 58401722494..571f6c46b3a 100644
--- a/src/main/ipc/filesystem-watcher.ts
+++ b/src/main/ipc/filesystem-watcher.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,14 @@ import {
   onSshFilesystemProviderRegistered
 } from '../providers/ssh-filesystem-dispatch'
 import { MAX_BATCHED_WATCHER_EVENTS, queueWatcherEvents } from './filesystem-watcher-event-batch'
+import {
+  createRemoteWatcherEventBatch,
+  type RemoteWatcherEventBatch
+} from './remote-watcher-event-batch'
+import {
+  WATCH_BATCH_MAX_WAIT_MS,
+  WATCH_BATCH_TRAILING_MS
+} from '../../shared/filesystem-watch-batch-window'
 import { disposeWatcherProcess, subscribeViaWatcherProcess } from './parcel-watcher-process'
 import { isWatcherProcessFailure } from './parcel-watcher-process-failure'
 import {
@@ -32,11 +40,6 @@ import {
 // Why: suppress high-churn dirs at the watcher level (separate from the File Explorer display filter, which only hides rows).
 import { WATCHER_IGNORE_DIRS, buildParcelWatcherIgnoreOptions } from './filesystem-watcher-ignore'
 
-// ── Debounce helpers ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
-const DEBOUNCE_TRAILING_MS = 150
-const DEBOUNCE_MAX_WAIT_MS = 500
-
 // ── Per-root watcher state ───────────────────────────────────────────
 // WatchedRoot/WatcherSubscription live in filesystem-watcher-wsl.ts so native and WSL watchers share one shape.
 
@@ -349,7 +352,7 @@ function scheduleBatchFlush(root: WatchedRoot): void {
   }
 
   // If we've exceeded the max wait, flush immediately
-  if (now - root.batch.firstEventAt >= DEBOUNCE_MAX_WAIT_MS) {
+  if (now - root.batch.firstEventAt >= WATCH_BATCH_MAX_WAIT_MS) {
     if (root.batch.timer) {
       clearTimeout(root.batch.timer)
     }
@@ -361,7 +364,7 @@ function scheduleBatchFlush(root: WatchedRoot): void {
   if (root.batch.timer) {
     clearTimeout(root.batch.timer)
   }
-  root.batch.timer = setTimeout(() => void flushBatch(root), DEBOUNCE_TRAILING_MS)
+  root.batch.timer = setTimeout(() => void flushBatch(root), WATCH_BATCH_TRAILING_MS)
 }
 
 // ── Watcher creation ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -944,6 +947,8 @@ type RemoteWatcherState = {
   unwatch: () => void
   listeners: Map<number, WebContents>
   installToken: RemoteWatcherInstallToken
+  /** Held so every teardown can drop the trailing flush timer instead of letting it fire into a dead watch. */
+  batch: RemoteWatcherEventBatch
 }
 
 type RemoteWatcherInstallToken = {
@@ -1049,6 +1054,7 @@ export async function closeRemoteWatcherForWorktreePath(
   await (provider?.closeWatch
     ? provider.closeWatch(worktreePath)
     : Promise.resolve(state?.unwatch()))
+  state?.batch.close()
   remoteWatchers.delete(key)
   loggedUnavailableRemoteWatchers.delete(key)
 }
@@ -1161,6 +1167,7 @@ function releaseRemoteWatchListener(key: string, senderId: number): void {
     return
   }
   state.unwatch()
+  state.batch.close()
   remoteWatchers.delete(key)
 }
 
@@ -1287,23 +1294,47 @@ async function doInstallRemoteWatcher(
   cancelToken: RemoteWatcherInstallToken
 ): Promise<RemoteWatcherInstallResult> {
   let unwatch: () => void
-  try {
-    unwatch = await provider.watch(
-      worktreePath,
-      (events) => {
-        const state = remoteWatchers.get(key)
-        if (!state) {
-          return
+  // Why: the abandon paths below close the batch directly; once it is stored on the remoteWatchers
+  // entry, every later teardown closes it through that handle. deliver's state/installToken guard
+  // still covers a flush that races a close.
+  const batch = createRemoteWatcherEventBatch({
+    rootPath: worktreePath,
+    trailingMs: WATCH_BATCH_TRAILING_MS,
+    maxWaitMs: WATCH_BATCH_MAX_WAIT_MS,
+    maxEvents: MAX_BATCHED_WATCHER_EVENTS,
+    deliver: (events) => {
+      const state = remoteWatchers.get(key)
+      // Why: buffering defers delivery past install, so a bare non-null check would let a stale flush
+      // land on a different install generation.
+      if (!state || state.installToken !== cancelToken) {
+        return
+      }
+      for (const listener of state.listeners.values()) {
+        if (listener.isDestroyed()) {
+          continue
         }
-        for (const listener of state.listeners.values()) {
-          if (listener.isDestroyed()) {
-            continue
-          }
+        try {
           listener.send('fs:changed', {
             worktreePath,
             events
           } satisfies FsChangedPayload)
+        } catch (err) {
+          // Why: batching moved this send out of the SSH mux's notification try/catch into a bare
+          // timer, so a frame disposed mid-window would escape as a fatal main-process exception.
+          console.warn(
+            `[filesystem-watch] failed to deliver remote fs:changed for ${worktreePath}: ${
+              err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err)
+            }`
+          )
         }
+      }
+    }
+  })
+  try {
+    unwatch = await provider.watch(
+      worktreePath,
+      (events) => {
+        batch.push(events)
       },
       {
         signal: cancelToken.abortController.signal,
@@ -1312,6 +1343,9 @@ async function doInstallRemoteWatcher(
       }
     )
   } catch (err) {
+    // Why: the provider can fire its callback before rejecting (an aborted reinstall), so this
+    // abandon path owes the same close as the two below — nothing else holds the batch.
+    batch.close()
     if (cancelToken.cancelled || cancelToken.abortController.signal.aborted) {
       return 'cancelled'
     }
@@ -1326,6 +1360,7 @@ async function doInstallRemoteWatcher(
     Array.from(cancelToken.listeners.entries()).filter(([, listener]) => !listener.isDestroyed())
   )
   if (cancelToken.cancelled || liveListeners.size === 0) {
+    batch.close()
     try {
       unwatch()
     } catch (err) {
@@ -1334,9 +1369,10 @@ async function doInstallRemoteWatcher(
     return 'cancelled'
   }
   if (cancelToken.terminalError) {
+    batch.close()
     return 'unavailable'
   }
-  remoteWatchers.set(key, { unwatch, listeners: liveListeners, installToken: cancelToken })
+  remoteWatchers.set(key, { unwatch, listeners: liveListeners, installToken: cancelToken, batch })
   for (const listener of liveListeners.values()) {
     registerSenderCleanup(listener)
   }
@@ -1357,6 +1393,7 @@ function handleRemoteWatcherTerminalError(
     return
   }
   remoteWatchers.delete(key)
+  state.batch.close()
   if (remoteWatchersClosed || suspendedRemoteWatcherListeners.has(key)) {
     return
   }
@@ -1779,6 +1816,7 @@ function reinstallRemoteWatchersForConnection(connectionId: string): void {
     const stale = remoteWatchers.get(key)
     if (stale) {
       remoteWatchers.delete(key)
+      stale.batch.close()
       try {
         stale.unwatch()
       } catch {
@@ -1912,6 +1950,7 @@ export async function closeAllWatchers(): Promise<void> {
 
   // Why: remote watchers are separate from local @parcel/watcher subs; unwatch here or the relay keeps polling FS after shutdown.
   for (const [key, state] of remoteWatchers) {
+    state.batch.close()
     try {
       state.unwatch()
     } catch (err) {
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/remote-watcher-event-batch.test.ts b/src/main/ipc/remote-watcher-event-batch.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b659c446aed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/ipc/remote-watcher-event-batch.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,270 @@
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import type { FsChangeEvent } from '../../shared/types'
+import { createRemoteWatcherEventBatch } from './remote-watcher-event-batch'
+
+const ROOT = '/home/u/repo'
+
+function makeBatch(deliver: (events: FsChangeEvent[]) => void, maxEvents = 5_000) {
+  return createRemoteWatcherEventBatch({
+    rootPath: ROOT,
+    deliver,
+    trailingMs: 150,
+    maxWaitMs: 500,
+    maxEvents
+  })
+}
+
+describe('createRemoteWatcherEventBatch', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+  })
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    vi.useRealTimers()
+  })
+
+  it('collapses many pushes inside the trailing window into one delivery', () => {
+    const deliver = vi.fn()
+    const batch = makeBatch(deliver)
+
+    for (let i = 0; i < 50; i++) {
+      batch.push([{ kind: 'update', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/file-${i}.ts` }])
+      vi.advanceTimersByTime(1)
+    }
+    expect(deliver).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(150)
+    expect(deliver).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(deliver.mock.calls[0][0]).toHaveLength(50)
+  })
+
+  it('flushes at the max wait when pushes never stop', () => {
+    const deliver = vi.fn()
+    const batch = makeBatch(deliver)
+
+    for (let i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
+      batch.push([{ kind: 'update', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/a.ts` }])
+      vi.advanceTimersByTime(100)
+    }
+
+    expect(deliver).toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(deliver.mock.calls[0][0]).toEqual([{ kind: 'update', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/a.ts` }])
+  })
+
+  it('emits both events for delete then create, delete first', () => {
+    const deliver = vi.fn()
+    const batch = makeBatch(deliver)
+
+    batch.push([
+      { kind: 'delete', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/a.ts` },
+      { kind: 'create', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/a.ts` }
+    ])
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(150)
+
+    expect(deliver.mock.calls[0][0]).toEqual([
+      { kind: 'delete', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/a.ts` },
+      { kind: 'create', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/a.ts` }
+    ])
+  })
+
+  it('drops both events for create then delete', () => {
+    const deliver = vi.fn()
+    const batch = makeBatch(deliver)
+
+    batch.push([
+      { kind: 'create', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/tmp.ts` },
+      { kind: 'delete', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/tmp.ts` }
+    ])
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(150)
+
+    expect(deliver).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('clears a stale delete when a later update is known to be a file', () => {
+    const deliver = vi.fn()
+    const batch = makeBatch(deliver)
+
+    batch.push([
+      { kind: 'delete', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/a.ts` },
+      { kind: 'create', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/a.ts` },
+      { kind: 'update', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/a.ts`, isDirectory: false }
+    ])
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(150)
+
+    expect(deliver.mock.calls[0][0]).toEqual([
+      { kind: 'update', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/a.ts`, isDirectory: false }
+    ])
+  })
+
+  it('keeps the delete when a later update has unknown isDirectory', () => {
+    const deliver = vi.fn()
+    const batch = makeBatch(deliver)
+
+    batch.push([
+      { kind: 'delete', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/dist` },
+      { kind: 'create', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/dist` },
+      { kind: 'update', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/dist` }
+    ])
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(150)
+
+    expect(deliver.mock.calls[0][0]).toEqual([
+      { kind: 'delete', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/dist` },
+      { kind: 'update', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/dist` }
+    ])
+  })
+
+  it('emits the net delete for delete then create then delete', () => {
+    const deliver = vi.fn()
+    const batch = makeBatch(deliver)
+
+    batch.push([
+      { kind: 'delete', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/dist/app.js` },
+      { kind: 'create', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/dist/app.js` },
+      { kind: 'delete', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/dist/app.js` }
+    ])
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(150)
+
+    expect(deliver).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(deliver.mock.calls[0][0]).toEqual([
+      { kind: 'delete', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/dist/app.js` }
+    ])
+  })
+
+  it('re-hoists the delete when the window ends on a recreate', () => {
+    const deliver = vi.fn()
+    const batch = makeBatch(deliver)
+
+    batch.push([
+      { kind: 'delete', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/a.ts` },
+      { kind: 'create', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/a.ts` },
+      { kind: 'delete', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/a.ts` },
+      { kind: 'create', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/a.ts` }
+    ])
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(150)
+
+    expect(deliver.mock.calls[0][0]).toEqual([
+      { kind: 'delete', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/a.ts` },
+      { kind: 'create', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/a.ts` }
+    ])
+  })
+
+  it('keeps only the last update for one path', () => {
+    const deliver = vi.fn()
+    const batch = makeBatch(deliver)
+
+    batch.push([{ kind: 'update', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/a.ts`, isDirectory: false }])
+    batch.push([{ kind: 'update', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/a.ts`, isDirectory: false }])
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(150)
+
+    expect(deliver).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(deliver.mock.calls[0][0]).toEqual([
+      { kind: 'update', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/a.ts`, isDirectory: false }
+    ])
+  })
+
+  it('discards the buffer and delivers one overflow when an overflow event arrives', () => {
+    const deliver = vi.fn()
+    const batch = makeBatch(deliver)
+
+    batch.push([{ kind: 'update', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/a.ts` }])
+    batch.push([{ kind: 'overflow', absolutePath: ROOT }])
+    batch.push([{ kind: 'update', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/b.ts` }])
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(150)
+
+    expect(deliver).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(deliver.mock.calls[0][0]).toEqual([{ kind: 'overflow', absolutePath: ROOT }])
+  })
+
+  it('latches overflow once the accumulated batch exceeds maxEvents', () => {
+    const deliver = vi.fn()
+    const batch = makeBatch(deliver, 100)
+
+    for (let i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
+      batch.push(
+        Array.from(
+          { length: 50 },
+          (_unused, index): FsChangeEvent => ({
+            kind: 'update',
+            absolutePath: `${ROOT}/wave-${i}-${index}.ts`
+          })
+        )
+      )
+    }
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(150)
+
+    expect(deliver).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(deliver.mock.calls[0][0]).toEqual([{ kind: 'overflow', absolutePath: ROOT }])
+  })
+
+  it('never invents isDirectory for events that arrive without it', () => {
+    const deliver = vi.fn()
+    const batch = makeBatch(deliver)
+
+    batch.push([{ kind: 'create', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/dir` }])
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(150)
+
+    const [delivered] = deliver.mock.calls[0][0] as FsChangeEvent[]
+    expect(delivered.isDirectory).toBeUndefined()
+    expect('isDirectory' in delivered).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('passes an unknown kind through verbatim after the coalesced set', () => {
+    const deliver = vi.fn()
+    const batch = makeBatch(deliver)
+
+    batch.push([
+      { kind: 'rename', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/new.ts`, oldAbsolutePath: `${ROOT}/old.ts` },
+      { kind: 'update', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/a.ts` }
+    ])
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(150)
+
+    expect(deliver.mock.calls[0][0]).toEqual([
+      { kind: 'update', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/a.ts` },
+      { kind: 'rename', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/new.ts`, oldAbsolutePath: `${ROOT}/old.ts` }
+    ])
+  })
+
+  it('delivers nothing after close', () => {
+    const deliver = vi.fn()
+    const batch = makeBatch(deliver)
+
+    batch.push([{ kind: 'update', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/a.ts` }])
+    batch.close()
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(1_000)
+
+    expect(deliver).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('ignores a push that lands after close instead of arming a timer', () => {
+    const deliver = vi.fn()
+    const batch = makeBatch(deliver)
+
+    batch.close()
+    batch.push([{ kind: 'update', absolutePath: `${ROOT}/a.ts` }])
+
+    expect(vi.getTimerCount()).toBe(0)
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(1_000)
+    expect(deliver).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  // Why: the host platform is irrelevant — the coalesce key must stay shape-based, so a case-sensitive
+  // remote pair must survive it on any host, and neither path may pick up drive/backslash rewriting.
+  it('keeps case-distinct remote POSIX paths separate and byte-identical', () => {
+    const deliver = vi.fn()
+    const batch = makeBatch(deliver)
+
+    batch.push([{ kind: 'update', absolutePath: '/home/u/A' }])
+    batch.push([{ kind: 'update', absolutePath: '/home/u/a' }])
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(150)
+
+    const delivered = deliver.mock.calls[0][0] as FsChangeEvent[]
+    expect(delivered).toEqual([
+      { kind: 'update', absolutePath: '/home/u/A' },
+      { kind: 'update', absolutePath: '/home/u/a' }
+    ])
+    for (const event of delivered) {
+      expect(event.absolutePath).not.toContain('\\')
+      expect(event.absolutePath).not.toMatch(/^[a-zA-Z]:/)
+    }
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/main/ipc/remote-watcher-event-batch.ts b/src/main/ipc/remote-watcher-event-batch.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..86f10e81d96
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/ipc/remote-watcher-event-batch.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+import type { FsChangeEvent } from '../../shared/types'
+import { normalizeRuntimePathForComparison } from '../../shared/cross-platform-path'
+
+export type RemoteWatcherEventBatchOptions = {
+  rootPath: string
+  deliver: (events: FsChangeEvent[]) => void
+  trailingMs: number
+  maxWaitMs: number
+  maxEvents: number
+}
+
+export type RemoteWatcherEventBatch = {
+  push: (events: FsChangeEvent[]) => void
+  close: () => void
+}
+
+// Mirrors coalesceEvents in filesystem-watcher.ts, with two deliberate divergences: a hoisted delete
+// survives a later event of unknown isDirectory, so delete→create→update over-emits a delete; and
+// delete→create→delete emits that delete, which local drops — the path is gone, so the renderer needs it.
+function coalesceRemoteEvents(raw: FsChangeEvent[]): FsChangeEvent[] {
+  const lastByKey = new Map<string, FsChangeEvent>()
+  const deleteBeforeCreate = new Map<string, FsChangeEvent>()
+  const passthrough: FsChangeEvent[] = []
+
+  for (const event of raw) {
+    if (event.kind !== 'create' && event.kind !== 'update' && event.kind !== 'delete') {
+      // Why: 'rename' has no producer on this transport; forward it untouched rather than invent a rule.
+      passthrough.push(event)
+      continue
+    }
+    // Why: key on the comparison form, never node path.resolve — resolving a remote POSIX path on a
+    // Windows host mints C:\home\u\f, which the renderer's watch canonicalizer then rejects outright.
+    // Residual cost: its NFC fold merges canonically equivalent byte-distinct names on a POSIX host.
+    const key = normalizeRuntimePathForComparison(event.absolutePath)
+    const prev = lastByKey.get(key)
+
+    if (prev) {
+      if (prev.kind === 'delete' && event.kind === 'create') {
+        deleteBeforeCreate.set(key, prev)
+      }
+      if (prev.kind === 'create' && event.kind === 'delete') {
+        // Why: cancel only a path created and removed entirely inside the window; an earlier delete means
+        // the file predates it, so the window nets out to a delete the renderer still has to act on.
+        const netNoOp = !deleteBeforeCreate.delete(key)
+        if (netNoOp) {
+          lastByKey.delete(key)
+          continue
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    lastByKey.set(key, event)
+
+    // Why: drop the hoisted delete only when the later event proves the path is a live file, or repeats the
+    // delete. Remote events carry no isDirectory, and discarding it there strands a dead dir's cached subtree.
+    if (event.kind === 'delete' || (event.kind === 'update' && event.isDirectory === false)) {
+      deleteBeforeCreate.delete(key)
+    }
+  }
+
+  return [...deleteBeforeCreate.values(), ...lastByKey.values(), ...passthrough]
+}
+
+export function createRemoteWatcherEventBatch({
+  rootPath,
+  deliver,
+  trailingMs,
+  maxWaitMs,
+  maxEvents
+}: RemoteWatcherEventBatchOptions): RemoteWatcherEventBatch {
+  let buffered: FsChangeEvent[] = []
+  let overflowed = false
+  let firstEventAt = 0
+  let timer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null
+  let closed = false
+
+  function flush(): void {
+    if (timer) {
+      clearTimeout(timer)
+      timer = null
+    }
+    const pending = buffered
+    const latched = overflowed
+    buffered = []
+    overflowed = false
+    firstEventAt = 0
+
+    if (latched) {
+      deliver([{ kind: 'overflow', absolutePath: rootPath }])
+      return
+    }
+    const coalesced = coalesceRemoteEvents(pending)
+    if (coalesced.length > 0) {
+      deliver(coalesced)
+    }
+  }
+
+  function schedule(): void {
+    const now = Date.now()
+    if (firstEventAt === 0) {
+      firstEventAt = now
+    }
+    if (now - firstEventAt >= maxWaitMs) {
+      flush()
+      return
+    }
+    if (timer) {
+      clearTimeout(timer)
+    }
+    timer = setTimeout(flush, trailingMs)
+  }
+
+  return {
+    push(events) {
+      // Why: an in-flight provider receive can land after teardown; re-arming there would strand a timer.
+      if (closed) {
+        return
+      }
+      if (!overflowed) {
+        if (
+          buffered.length + events.length > maxEvents ||
+          events.some((event) => event.kind === 'overflow')
+        ) {
+          // Why: past the cap precision only burns memory; one overflow buys the same conservative refresh.
+          buffered = []
+          overflowed = true
+        } else {
+          // Why: a deletion storm can exceed V8's argument limit for push(...events).
+          for (const event of events) {
+            buffered.push(event)
+          }
+        }
+      }
+      schedule()
+    },
+    close() {
+      closed = true
+      if (timer) {
+        clearTimeout(timer)
+        timer = null
+      }
+      buffered = []
+      overflowed = false
+      firstEventAt = 0
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.test.ts b/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.test.ts
index 13534a7d560..e89bf7fb214 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.test.ts
@@ -32411,6 +32411,8 @@ describe('OrcaRuntimeService', () => {
       ]
     })
 
+    // No renderer graph on purpose: headless rename attribution must work from
+    // the persisted session alone.
     const { worktrees } = await runtime.getWorktreePs()
     const oldSummary = worktrees.find((worktree) => worktree.worktreeId === TEST_WORKTREE_ID)
     const renamedSummary = worktrees.find((worktree) => worktree.worktreeId === renamedWorktreeId)
@@ -32502,16 +32504,498 @@ describe('OrcaRuntimeService', () => {
           }
         ]
       })
+      // Why: local rows only project while their tab exists (#6072); freshness
+      // is what varies here, so keep the tab present in the runtime graph.
+      runtime.attachWindow(1)
+      runtime.syncWindowGraph(1, {
+        tabs: [
+          {
+            tabId: 'tab-1',
+            worktreeId: TEST_WORKTREE_ID,
+            title: 'Codex',
+            activeLeafId: '33333333-3333-4333-8333-333333333333',
+            layout: null
+          }
+        ],
+        leaves: []
+      })
 
       const { worktrees } = await runtime.getWorktreePs()
 
-      expect(worktrees.find((worktree) => worktree.worktreeId === TEST_WORKTREE_ID)).toMatchObject({
-        hasHostSidebarActivity,
-        status
-      })
+      const summary = worktrees.find((worktree) => worktree.worktreeId === TEST_WORKTREE_ID)
+      expect(summary).toMatchObject({ hasHostSidebarActivity, status })
+      // Why: inactive must mean "projected but not fresh", never "row dropped".
+      expect(summary?.agents).toHaveLength(1)
     }
   )
 
+  it('drops a hydrated done hook row after its local tab is closed', async () => {
+    // Why (#6072): last-status.json hydrates hook rows for days; a closed tab's
+    // agent must not resurface on mobile as current worktree activity.
+    const { runtimeStore } = makeRuntimeStoreWithWorkspaceSession({
+      ...getDefaultWorkspaceSession(),
+      tabsByWorktree: {}
+    })
+    const now = Date.now()
+    const runtime = new OrcaRuntimeService(runtimeStore as never, undefined, {
+      getAgentStatusSnapshot: () => [
+        {
+          paneKey: 'closed-tab:66666666-6666-4666-8666-666666666666',
+          worktreeId: TEST_WORKTREE_ID,
+          tabId: 'closed-tab',
+          state: 'done',
+          prompt: 'refactor the parser',
+          agentType: 'claude',
+          connectionId: null,
+          receivedAt: now,
+          stateStartedAt: now - 60_000
+        }
+      ]
+    })
+
+    const { worktrees } = await runtime.getWorktreePs()
+    const summary = worktrees.find((worktree) => worktree.worktreeId === TEST_WORKTREE_ID)
+
+    expect(summary).toMatchObject({
+      liveTerminalCount: 0,
+      hasHostSidebarActivity: false,
+      status: 'inactive',
+      agents: []
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('keeps a hydrated row while its persisted session tab exists and no renderer graph is attached', async () => {
+    // Why: headless serve has no renderer graph; session.tabs.list serves this
+    // tab to mobile as current, so its agent row must stay (desktop parity).
+    const { runtimeStore } = makeRuntimeStoreWithWorkspaceSession({
+      ...getDefaultWorkspaceSession(),
+      tabsByWorktree: {
+        [TEST_WORKTREE_ID]: [
+          {
+            id: 'headless-tab',
+            ptyId: null,
+            worktreeId: TEST_WORKTREE_ID,
+            title: 'Codex',
+            customTitle: null,
+            color: null,
+            sortOrder: 0,
+            createdAt: 1
+          }
+        ]
+      }
+    })
+    const now = Date.now()
+    const runtime = new OrcaRuntimeService(runtimeStore as never, undefined, {
+      getAgentStatusSnapshot: () => [
+        {
+          paneKey: 'headless-tab:aaaaaaaa-aaaa-4aaa-8aaa-aaaaaaaaaaaa',
+          worktreeId: TEST_WORKTREE_ID,
+          tabId: 'headless-tab',
+          state: 'done',
+          prompt: 'finished while headless',
+          agentType: 'codex',
+          connectionId: null,
+          receivedAt: now,
+          stateStartedAt: now - 60_000
+        }
+      ]
+    })
+
+    const { worktrees } = await runtime.getWorktreePs()
+    const summary = worktrees.find((worktree) => worktree.worktreeId === TEST_WORKTREE_ID)
+
+    expect(summary?.agents).toEqual([
+      expect.objectContaining({ state: 'done', prompt: 'finished while headless' })
+    ])
+  })
+
+  it('resolves legacy numeric pane keys through the stale filter too', async () => {
+    // Why: non-UUID leaves produce `tabId:paneRuntimeId` keys with no tabId
+    // field; they still name a real tab and must not bypass the filter.
+    const { runtimeStore } = makeRuntimeStoreWithWorkspaceSession({
+      ...getDefaultWorkspaceSession(),
+      tabsByWorktree: {
+        [TEST_WORKTREE_ID]: [
+          {
+            id: 'open-tab',
+            ptyId: null,
+            worktreeId: TEST_WORKTREE_ID,
+            title: 'Codex',
+            customTitle: null,
+            color: null,
+            sortOrder: 0,
+            createdAt: 1
+          }
+        ]
+      }
+    })
+    const now = Date.now()
+    const runtime = new OrcaRuntimeService(runtimeStore as never, undefined, {
+      getAgentStatusSnapshot: () => [
+        {
+          paneKey: 'closed-tab:7',
+          worktreeId: TEST_WORKTREE_ID,
+          state: 'done',
+          prompt: 'stale legacy pane',
+          agentType: 'codex',
+          connectionId: null,
+          receivedAt: now,
+          stateStartedAt: now - 60_000
+        },
+        {
+          paneKey: 'open-tab:9',
+          worktreeId: TEST_WORKTREE_ID,
+          state: 'working',
+          prompt: 'live legacy pane',
+          agentType: 'codex',
+          connectionId: null,
+          receivedAt: now,
+          stateStartedAt: now - 100
+        }
+      ]
+    })
+
+    const { worktrees } = await runtime.getWorktreePs()
+    const summary = worktrees.find((worktree) => worktree.worktreeId === TEST_WORKTREE_ID)
+
+    expect(summary?.agents).toEqual([
+      expect.objectContaining({ paneKey: 'open-tab:9', prompt: 'live legacy pane' })
+    ])
+  })
+
+  it('keeps a local hook row while a connected PTY still backs its pane', async () => {
+    // Why: daemon-held terminals stay live across renderer graph gaps even when
+    // no session tab records them; a connected PTY is proof the pane exists.
+    const { runtimeStore } = makeRuntimeStoreWithWorkspaceSession({
+      ...getDefaultWorkspaceSession(),
+      tabsByWorktree: {}
+    })
+    const paneKey = 'daemon-tab:77777777-7777-4777-8777-777777777777'
+    const now = Date.now()
+    const runtime = new OrcaRuntimeService(runtimeStore as never, undefined, {
+      getAgentStatusSnapshot: () => [
+        {
+          paneKey,
+          worktreeId: TEST_WORKTREE_ID,
+          tabId: 'daemon-tab',
+          state: 'working',
+          prompt: 'long-running daemon agent',
+          agentType: 'codex',
+          connectionId: null,
+          receivedAt: now,
+          stateStartedAt: now - 100
+        }
+      ]
+    })
+    // paneKey-only record: the tabId rescue must not be what keeps this row.
+    runtime['recordPtyWorktree']('daemon-pty', TEST_WORKTREE_ID, {
+      connected: true,
+      paneKey
+    })
+
+    const { worktrees } = await runtime.getWorktreePs()
+    const summary = worktrees.find((worktree) => worktree.worktreeId === TEST_WORKTREE_ID)
+
+    expect(summary?.agents).toEqual([
+      expect.objectContaining({ paneKey, state: 'working', prompt: 'long-running daemon agent' })
+    ])
+    expect(summary).toMatchObject({ hasHostSidebarActivity: true, status: 'working' })
+  })
+
+  it('keeps a local hook row when a connected PTY matches only its tab id', async () => {
+    // Split-pane sibling: the PTY's paneKey names another leaf of the same tab,
+    // so only the tabId conjunct can rescue this row.
+    const { runtimeStore } = makeRuntimeStoreWithWorkspaceSession({
+      ...getDefaultWorkspaceSession(),
+      tabsByWorktree: {}
+    })
+    const now = Date.now()
+    const runtime = new OrcaRuntimeService(runtimeStore as never, undefined, {
+      getAgentStatusSnapshot: () => [
+        {
+          paneKey: 'daemon-tab:88888888-8888-4888-8888-888888888887',
+          worktreeId: TEST_WORKTREE_ID,
+          tabId: 'daemon-tab',
+          state: 'working',
+          prompt: 'sibling pane agent',
+          agentType: 'codex',
+          connectionId: null,
+          receivedAt: now,
+          stateStartedAt: now - 100
+        }
+      ]
+    })
+    runtime['recordPtyWorktree']('daemon-pty-2', TEST_WORKTREE_ID, {
+      connected: true,
+      tabId: 'daemon-tab',
+      paneKey: 'daemon-tab:99999999-9999-4999-8999-999999999998'
+    })
+
+    const { worktrees } = await runtime.getWorktreePs()
+    const summary = worktrees.find((worktree) => worktree.worktreeId === TEST_WORKTREE_ID)
+
+    expect(summary?.agents).toEqual([
+      expect.objectContaining({ prompt: 'sibling pane agent', state: 'working' })
+    ])
+  })
+
+  it('keeps a retained OSC row via its connected PTY after the pane binding is cleared', async () => {
+    // A controller incarnation change nulls pty.tabId/paneKey while the PTY
+    // stays connected (adoptControllerTerminalHandle); the ptyId conjunct is
+    // then the only rescue for the retained OSC row.
+    const { runtimeStore } = makeRuntimeStoreWithWorkspaceSession({
+      ...getDefaultWorkspaceSession(),
+      tabsByWorktree: {}
+    })
+    const runtime = new OrcaRuntimeService(runtimeStore as never)
+    runtime['recordPtyWorktree']('osc-pty', TEST_WORKTREE_ID, {
+      connected: true,
+      tabId: 'osc-tab',
+      paneKey: 'osc-tab:bbbbbbbb-bbbb-4bbb-8bbb-bbbbbbbbbbbb'
+    })
+    runtime.onPtyData(
+      'osc-pty',
+      '\x1b]9999;{"state":"working","prompt":"osc reporter","agentType":"codex"}\x07',
+      1
+    )
+    const pty = runtime['ptysById'].get('osc-pty')!
+    pty.tabId = null
+    pty.paneKey = null
+
+    const { worktrees } = await runtime.getWorktreePs()
+    const summary = worktrees.find((worktree) => worktree.worktreeId === TEST_WORKTREE_ID)
+
+    expect(summary?.agents).toEqual([expect.objectContaining({ prompt: 'osc reporter' })])
+  })
+
+  it('keeps the connected-PTY rescue when a hook row outraces the OSC row for the same pane', async () => {
+    // Hook payloads carry no ptyId; the OSC-observed one must survive the
+    // hook row winning the freshness race or the ptyId rescue goes dead.
+    const paneKey = 'race-tab:dddddddd-dddd-4ddd-8ddd-dddddddddddd'
+    const { runtimeStore } = makeRuntimeStoreWithWorkspaceSession({
+      ...getDefaultWorkspaceSession(),
+      tabsByWorktree: {}
+    })
+    const runtime = new OrcaRuntimeService(runtimeStore as never, undefined, {
+      getAgentStatusSnapshot: () => [
+        {
+          paneKey,
+          worktreeId: TEST_WORKTREE_ID,
+          tabId: 'race-tab',
+          state: 'working',
+          prompt: 'hook-fresh agent',
+          agentType: 'codex',
+          connectionId: null,
+          receivedAt: Date.now() + 60_000,
+          stateStartedAt: Date.now() - 100
+        }
+      ]
+    })
+    runtime['recordPtyWorktree']('race-pty', TEST_WORKTREE_ID, {
+      connected: true,
+      tabId: 'race-tab',
+      paneKey
+    })
+    runtime.onPtyData(
+      'race-pty',
+      '\x1b]9999;{"state":"working","prompt":"osc ping","agentType":"codex"}\x07',
+      1
+    )
+    const pty = runtime['ptysById'].get('race-pty')!
+    pty.tabId = null
+    pty.paneKey = null
+
+    const { worktrees } = await runtime.getWorktreePs()
+    const summary = worktrees.find((worktree) => worktree.worktreeId === TEST_WORKTREE_ID)
+
+    expect(summary?.agents).toEqual([expect.objectContaining({ prompt: 'hook-fresh agent' })])
+  })
+
+  it('keeps a retained OSC row from an SSH pane after its PTY disconnects', async () => {
+    // Why: OSC snapshots must carry the pane transport; hardcoding local would
+    // strip the SSH exemption off rows whose freshest update arrived via OSC.
+    const { runtimeStore } = makeRuntimeStoreWithWorkspaceSession({
+      ...getDefaultWorkspaceSession(),
+      tabsByWorktree: {}
+    })
+    const runtime = new OrcaRuntimeService(runtimeStore as never)
+    runtime['recordPtyWorktree']('ssh-osc-pty', TEST_WORKTREE_ID, {
+      connected: true,
+      connectionId: 'ssh-osc-1',
+      tabId: 'ssh-tab',
+      paneKey: 'ssh-tab:cccccccc-cccc-4ccc-8ccc-cccccccccccc'
+    })
+    runtime.onPtyData(
+      'ssh-osc-pty',
+      '\x1b]9999;{"state":"working","prompt":"remote osc agent","agentType":"codex"}\x07',
+      1
+    )
+    runtime['recordPtyWorktree']('ssh-osc-pty', TEST_WORKTREE_ID, { connected: false })
+
+    const { worktrees } = await runtime.getWorktreePs()
+    const summary = worktrees.find((worktree) => worktree.worktreeId === TEST_WORKTREE_ID)
+
+    expect(summary?.agents).toEqual([expect.objectContaining({ prompt: 'remote osc agent' })])
+  })
+
+  it('keeps a hook row with an unresolvable pane key', async () => {
+    // Why: no tabId means staleness is unprovable; the filter must pass it.
+    const { runtimeStore } = makeRuntimeStoreWithWorkspaceSession({
+      ...getDefaultWorkspaceSession(),
+      tabsByWorktree: {}
+    })
+    const now = Date.now()
+    const runtime = new OrcaRuntimeService(runtimeStore as never, undefined, {
+      getAgentStatusSnapshot: () => [
+        {
+          paneKey: 'opaque-key-without-structure',
+          worktreeId: TEST_WORKTREE_ID,
+          state: 'working',
+          prompt: 'unattributable pane',
+          agentType: 'codex',
+          connectionId: null,
+          receivedAt: now,
+          stateStartedAt: now - 100
+        }
+      ]
+    })
+
+    const { worktrees } = await runtime.getWorktreePs()
+    const summary = worktrees.find((worktree) => worktree.worktreeId === TEST_WORKTREE_ID)
+
+    expect(summary?.agents).toEqual([expect.objectContaining({ prompt: 'unattributable pane' })])
+  })
+
+  it('keeps a WSL hook row while its tab is still in the session', async () => {
+    // Guards the WSL clause against over-filtering: local-tab evidence must
+    // rescue WSL rows exactly like null-connection rows.
+    const { runtimeStore } = makeRuntimeStoreWithWorkspaceSession({
+      ...getDefaultWorkspaceSession(),
+      tabsByWorktree: {
+        [TEST_WORKTREE_ID]: [
+          {
+            id: 'open-wsl-tab',
+            ptyId: null,
+            worktreeId: TEST_WORKTREE_ID,
+            title: 'Codex',
+            customTitle: null,
+            color: null,
+            sortOrder: 0,
+            createdAt: 1
+          }
+        ]
+      }
+    })
+    const now = Date.now()
+    const runtime = new OrcaRuntimeService(runtimeStore as never, undefined, {
+      getAgentStatusSnapshot: () => [
+        {
+          paneKey: 'open-wsl-tab:99999999-9999-4999-8999-999999999997',
+          worktreeId: TEST_WORKTREE_ID,
+          tabId: 'open-wsl-tab',
+          state: 'working',
+          prompt: 'live in WSL',
+          agentType: 'codex',
+          connectionId: 'wsl:Ubuntu',
+          receivedAt: now,
+          stateStartedAt: now - 100
+        }
+      ]
+    })
+
+    const { worktrees } = await runtime.getWorktreePs()
+    const summary = worktrees.find((worktree) => worktree.worktreeId === TEST_WORKTREE_ID)
+
+    expect(summary?.agents).toEqual([expect.objectContaining({ prompt: 'live in WSL' })])
+  })
+
+  it('drops a hydrated WSL hook row after its local tab is closed', async () => {
+    // Why: WSL relay ids are transport provenance; the pane remains local.
+    const { runtimeStore } = makeRuntimeStoreWithWorkspaceSession({
+      ...getDefaultWorkspaceSession(),
+      tabsByWorktree: {}
+    })
+    const now = Date.now()
+    const runtime = new OrcaRuntimeService(runtimeStore as never, undefined, {
+      getAgentStatusSnapshot: () => [
+        {
+          paneKey: 'closed-wsl-tab:99999999-9999-4999-8999-999999999999',
+          worktreeId: TEST_WORKTREE_ID,
+          tabId: 'closed-wsl-tab',
+          state: 'done',
+          prompt: 'finished in WSL',
+          agentType: 'codex',
+          connectionId: 'wsl:Ubuntu',
+          receivedAt: now,
+          stateStartedAt: now - 60_000
+        }
+      ]
+    })
+
+    const { worktrees } = await runtime.getWorktreePs()
+    const summary = worktrees.find((worktree) => worktree.worktreeId === TEST_WORKTREE_ID)
+
+    expect(summary?.agents).toEqual([])
+  })
+
+  it('keeps remote hook rows whose tabs are only tracked on the remote host', async () => {
+    // Why: the local session partition for an SSH host can be empty while the
+    // remote host owns the terminals; absence there is not proof of a close.
+    const remoteRepo = {
+      id: 'repo-ssh-6072',
+      path: '/home/me/project',
+      displayName: 'remote-vm',
+      badgeColor: 'blue',
+      addedAt: 1,
+      connectionId: 'ssh-6072'
+    }
+    const remoteWorktree = {
+      path: '/home/me/project/.worktrees/feature-agents',
+      head: 'def',
+      branch: 'refs/heads/feature/agents',
+      isBare: false,
+      isMainWorktree: false
+    }
+    const remoteWorktreeId = `${remoteRepo.id}::${remoteWorktree.path}`
+    const metaById: Record<string, WorktreeMeta> = {
+      [remoteWorktreeId]: makeWorktreeMeta({ displayName: 'Remote agents' })
+    }
+    const runtimeStore = {
+      ...store,
+      getRepos: () => [remoteRepo],
+      getRepo: (id: string) => (id === remoteRepo.id ? remoteRepo : undefined),
+      getAllWorktreeMeta: () => metaById,
+      getWorktreeMeta: (worktreeId: string) => metaById[worktreeId],
+      getWorkspaceSession: () => getDefaultWorkspaceSession()
+    }
+    registerSshGitProvider('ssh-6072', {
+      listWorktrees: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue([remoteWorktree])
+    } as never)
+    const now = Date.now()
+    const runtime = new OrcaRuntimeService(runtimeStore as never, undefined, {
+      getAgentStatusSnapshot: () => [
+        {
+          paneKey: 'remote-tab:88888888-8888-4888-8888-888888888888',
+          worktreeId: remoteWorktreeId,
+          tabId: 'remote-tab',
+          state: 'working',
+          prompt: 'remote agent without local tab records',
+          agentType: 'codex',
+          connectionId: 'ssh-6072',
+          receivedAt: now,
+          stateStartedAt: now - 100
+        }
+      ]
+    })
+
+    const { worktrees } = await runtime.getWorktreePs()
+    const summary = worktrees.find((worktree) => worktree.worktreeId === remoteWorktreeId)
+
+    expect(summary?.agents).toEqual([
+      expect.objectContaining({ prompt: 'remote agent without local tab records' })
+    ])
+  })
+
   it('marks the desktop-active worktree as isActive', async () => {
     const { runtimeStore } = makeRuntimeStoreWithWorkspaceSession(
       makeWorkspaceSessionWithHeadlessTerminal()
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.ts b/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.ts
index 701bfb496e2..963c91811b9 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime.ts
@@ -368,9 +368,15 @@ import {
 } from '../../shared/setup-agent-sequencing'
 import { TASK_PROVIDERS } from '../../shared/task-providers'
 import { FIRST_PANE_ID } from '../../shared/pane-key'
-import { isTerminalLeafId, makePaneKey, parsePaneKey } from '../../shared/stable-pane-id'
+import {
+  isTerminalLeafId,
+  makePaneKey,
+  parseLegacyNumericPaneKey,
+  parsePaneKey
+} from '../../shared/stable-pane-id'
 import { parseAppSshPtyId } from '../../shared/ssh-pty-id'
 import { isValidHostTerminalTabId, isValidTerminalTabId } from '../../shared/terminal-tab-id'
+import { isWslHookRelayConnectionId } from '../../shared/wsl-hook-relay-contract'
 import {
   applyTerminalQuickCommandMutation,
   MAX_QUICK_COMMANDS,
@@ -1449,6 +1455,9 @@ type RuntimeAgentRowSnapshot = {
   ptyId: string
   worktreeId?: string
   tabId?: string
+  // Transport of the pane's PTY at retain time; null for local. Without it,
+  // OSC rows for SSH panes would lose the remote exemption in worktree.ps.
+  connectionId: string | null
   payload: ParsedAgentStatusPayload
   // When the current payload.state was first observed for this pane (ms).
   stateStartedAt: number
@@ -10056,6 +10065,7 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
             target.paneKey,
             target.worktreeId,
             target.tabId,
+            target.connectionId ?? null,
             payload
           ) || retainedChanged
         if (!this.onTerminalAgentStatus) {
@@ -10086,6 +10096,7 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
     paneKey: string,
     worktreeId: string | undefined,
     tabId: string | undefined,
+    connectionId: string | null,
     payload: ParsedAgentStatusPayload
   ): boolean {
     const now = Date.now()
@@ -10100,6 +10111,7 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
       ptyId,
       worktreeId,
       tabId,
+      connectionId,
       payload,
       stateStartedAt,
       updatedAt: now
@@ -16962,11 +16974,34 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
       }
     }
 
+    // Why: a connected PTY proves a pane is still live even when its tab has
+    // already left every session record (daemon-held terminals, graph gaps).
+    // Deliberately trusts the optimistic connected flag (no freshPtyLiveness
+    // gate, unlike the count loops above): evidence only KEEPS rows.
+    const connectedPtyEvidence = {
+      tabIds: new Set<string>(),
+      paneKeys: new Set<string>(),
+      ptyIds: new Set<string>()
+    }
+    for (const pty of this.ptysById.values()) {
+      if (!pty.connected) {
+        continue
+      }
+      connectedPtyEvidence.ptyIds.add(pty.ptyId)
+      if (pty.tabId) {
+        connectedPtyEvidence.tabIds.add(pty.tabId)
+      }
+      if (pty.paneKey) {
+        connectedPtyEvidence.paneKeys.add(pty.paneKey)
+      }
+    }
+
     this.attachAgentRowsToSummaries(
       summaries,
       runtimeWorktreeSummaryPathIndex,
       missingRuntimeWorktreeIds,
-      mirroredWorktreeIdByTabId
+      mirroredWorktreeIdByTabId,
+      connectedPtyEvidence
     )
 
     const sorted = [...summaries.values()].sort(compareWorktreePs)
@@ -16985,7 +17020,12 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
     summaries: Map<string, RuntimeWorktreePsSummary>,
     runtimeWorktreeSummaryPathIndex: RuntimeWorktreeSummaryPathIndex,
     missingRuntimeWorktreeIds: Set<string>,
-    mirroredWorktreeIdByTabId: ReadonlyMap<string, string>
+    mirroredWorktreeIdByTabId: ReadonlyMap<string, string>,
+    connectedPtyEvidence: {
+      tabIds: ReadonlySet<string>
+      paneKeys: ReadonlySet<string>
+      ptyIds: ReadonlySet<string>
+    }
   ): void {
     // Why: most agents report via hooks (agent-hooks/server), not OSC, so the
     // hook snapshot is the primary source — same one the desktop sidebar reads.
@@ -16994,8 +17034,10 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
       string,
       {
         paneKey: string
+        ptyId?: string
         tabId?: string
         worktreeId?: string
+        connectionId: string | null
         state: ParsedAgentStatusPayload['state']
         agentType: string | null
         prompt: string
@@ -17011,8 +17053,10 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
       const { payload } = snapshot
       rowSources.set(snapshot.paneKey, {
         paneKey: snapshot.paneKey,
+        ptyId: snapshot.ptyId,
         tabId: snapshot.tabId,
         worktreeId: snapshot.worktreeId,
+        connectionId: snapshot.connectionId,
         state: payload.state,
         agentType: payload.agentType ?? null,
         prompt: payload.prompt,
@@ -17033,8 +17077,12 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
       }
       rowSources.set(entry.paneKey, {
         paneKey: entry.paneKey,
+        // Hook payloads carry no ptyId; keep the OSC-observed one so the
+        // connected-PTY rescue survives a hook row winning the freshness race.
+        ptyId: existing?.ptyId,
         tabId: entry.tabId,
         worktreeId: entry.worktreeId,
+        connectionId: entry.connectionId,
         state: entry.state,
         agentType: entry.agentType ?? null,
         prompt: entry.prompt,
@@ -17055,9 +17103,31 @@ export class OrcaRuntimeService {
     for (const src of rowSources.values()) {
       // Why: hooks retain launch-time attribution across automatic workspace
       // renames; the tab's current mirrored owner is authoritative when present.
-      const tabId = src.tabId ?? parsePaneKey(src.paneKey)?.tabId
-      const worktreeId =
-        (tabId ? mirroredWorktreeIdByTabId.get(tabId) : undefined) ?? src.worktreeId
+      // Legacy numeric pane keys (non-UUID leaves) still name a real tab, so
+      // parse them too — otherwise their rows would bypass the stale filter.
+      const tabId =
+        src.tabId ??
+        parsePaneKey(src.paneKey)?.tabId ??
+        parseLegacyNumericPaneKey(src.paneKey)?.tabId
+      const mirroredWorktreeId = tabId ? mirroredWorktreeIdByTabId.get(tabId) : undefined
+      if (
+        tabId !== undefined &&
+        mirroredWorktreeId === undefined &&
+        (src.connectionId === null || isWslHookRelayConnectionId(src.connectionId)) &&
+        !connectedPtyEvidence.tabIds.has(tabId) &&
+        !connectedPtyEvidence.paneKeys.has(src.paneKey) &&
+        (src.ptyId === undefined || !connectedPtyEvidence.ptyIds.has(src.ptyId))
+      ) {
+        // Why: hook snapshots hydrate from last-status.json for days, so a row
+        // from a local or WSL-relayed pane whose tab left every session and the
+        // live graph, with no connected PTY, is retained history — surfacing it
+        // resurrects closed agents on mobile (#6072). SSH rows are exempt (their
+        // tabs may exist only remotely), as are rows with no resolvable tabId
+        // (staleness unprovable). Session tabs count as existence: headless
+        // serve has no renderer graph, and session.tabs.list serves them.
+        continue
+      }
+      const worktreeId = mirroredWorktreeId ?? src.worktreeId
       if (!worktreeId) {
         continue
       }
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/rpc/methods/file-watch-event-batcher.ts b/src/main/runtime/rpc/methods/file-watch-event-batcher.ts
index de96b7b6855..24e93e2affc 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/rpc/methods/file-watch-event-batcher.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/rpc/methods/file-watch-event-batcher.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
+import {
+  WATCH_BATCH_MAX_WAIT_MS,
+  WATCH_BATCH_TRAILING_MS
+} from '../../../../shared/filesystem-watch-batch-window'
 import type { FsChangeEvent } from '../../../../shared/types'
-
-const FILE_WATCH_FLUSH_MS = 150
-const FILE_WATCH_MAX_WAIT_MS = 500
-const MAX_FILE_WATCH_BATCH_EVENTS = 5_000
+import { MAX_BATCHED_WATCHER_EVENTS } from '../../../ipc/filesystem-watcher-event-batch'
 
 export function createFileWatchEventBatcher(
   worktree: string,
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ export function createFileWatchEventBatcher(
         if (incomingOverflow) {
           events = [incomingOverflow]
           overflowed = true
-        } else if (events.length + nextEvents.length > MAX_FILE_WATCH_BATCH_EVENTS) {
+        } else if (events.length + nextEvents.length > MAX_BATCHED_WATCHER_EVENTS) {
           // Why: once precision is too expensive to retain and stream, one
           // overflow asks clients to refresh safely without a huge payload.
           events = [
@@ -66,14 +67,14 @@ export function createFileWatchEventBatcher(
       if (firstEventAt === 0) {
         firstEventAt = now
       }
-      if (now - firstEventAt >= FILE_WATCH_MAX_WAIT_MS) {
+      if (now - firstEventAt >= WATCH_BATCH_MAX_WAIT_MS) {
         flush()
         return
       }
       clearTimer()
       // Why: remote file-watch events cross the runtime WebSocket before the
       // renderer refreshes the tree. Match local watcher batching here.
-      timer = setTimeout(flush, FILE_WATCH_FLUSH_MS)
+      timer = setTimeout(flush, WATCH_BATCH_TRAILING_MS)
       if (typeof timer.unref === 'function') {
         timer.unref()
       }
diff --git a/src/relay/pty-handler.test.ts b/src/relay/pty-handler.test.ts
index c81d2b5a6a1..1c1ff41328d 100644
--- a/src/relay/pty-handler.test.ts
+++ b/src/relay/pty-handler.test.ts
@@ -3316,6 +3316,195 @@ describe('PtyHandler', () => {
     ])
     expect(handler.activePtyCount).toBe(0)
   })
+
+  describe('onPtyPoolEmpty', () => {
+    it('fires once when natural exit drains the last PTY, never while one remains', async () => {
+      const onExitCallbacks: ((evt: { exitCode: number }) => void)[] = []
+      mockPtySpawn.mockReturnValue({
+        ...mockPtyInstance,
+        onData: vi.fn(),
+        onExit: vi.fn((cb: (evt: { exitCode: number }) => void) => {
+          onExitCallbacks.push(cb)
+        })
+      })
+      const poolEmpty = vi.fn()
+      handler.onPtyPoolEmpty(poolEmpty)
+
+      await spawnPty()
+      await spawnPty()
+      expect(onExitCallbacks).toHaveLength(2)
+
+      onExitCallbacks[0]({ exitCode: 0 })
+      expect(handler.activePtyCount).toBe(1)
+      expect(poolEmpty).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+
+      onExitCallbacks[1]({ exitCode: 0 })
+      expect(handler.activePtyCount).toBe(0)
+      expect(poolEmpty).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    })
+
+    it('fires when the dead-shell reap inside attach removes the last PTY', async () => {
+      mockPtySpawn.mockReturnValue({ ...mockPtyInstance, onData: vi.fn(), onExit: vi.fn() })
+      const poolEmpty = vi.fn()
+      handler.onPtyPoolEmpty(poolEmpty)
+      await spawnPty()
+
+      const aliveSpy = vi.spyOn(ptyShellUtils, 'isProcessAlive').mockReturnValue(false)
+      try {
+        await expect(attachPty({ id: 'pty-1', suppressReplayNotification: true })).rejects.toThrow(
+          'PTY "pty-1" not found'
+        )
+      } finally {
+        aliveSpy.mockRestore()
+      }
+
+      expect(handler.activePtyCount).toBe(0)
+      expect(poolEmpty).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    })
+
+    it('fires when dispose-for-shutdown removes the last PTY', async () => {
+      mockPtySpawn.mockReturnValue({ ...mockPtyInstance, onData: vi.fn(), onExit: vi.fn() })
+      const poolEmpty = vi.fn()
+      handler.onPtyPoolEmpty(poolEmpty)
+      await spawnPty()
+      await spawnPty()
+
+      await handler.dispose({ waitForPhysicalExit: false })
+
+      expect(handler.activePtyCount).toBe(0)
+      expect(poolEmpty).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    })
+
+    it('fires when a spawn fails before the PTY ever reaches the pool', async () => {
+      // Why: removePty can only announce a PTY it stored, so a creation that dies mid-flight
+      // would otherwise leave the relay believing it is still non-idle forever.
+      mockPtySpawn.mockImplementation(() => {
+        throw new Error('posix_spawnp failed')
+      })
+      const poolEmpty = vi.fn()
+      handler.onPtyPoolEmpty(poolEmpty)
+
+      await expect(spawnPty()).rejects.toThrow()
+
+      expect(handler.activePtyCount).toBe(0)
+      expect(handler.pendingPtyCreationCount).toBe(0)
+      expect(poolEmpty).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    })
+
+    it('stays silent when a failing creation settles while another is still admitted', async () => {
+      let spawnCall = 0
+      mockPtySpawn.mockImplementation(() => {
+        spawnCall += 1
+        if (spawnCall === 1) {
+          throw new Error('posix_spawnp failed')
+        }
+        return { ...mockPtyInstance, onData: vi.fn(), onExit: vi.fn() }
+      })
+      const poolEmpty = vi.fn()
+      handler.onPtyPoolEmpty(poolEmpty)
+
+      // Both admissions land before either creation resolves, so the failing one must not
+      // announce an empty pool while the surviving one still owns a shell.
+      const failing = spawnPty()
+      const succeeding = spawnPty()
+      expect(handler.pendingPtyCreationCount).toBe(2)
+
+      await expect(failing).rejects.toThrow()
+      await succeeding
+
+      expect(handler.activePtyCount).toBe(1)
+      expect(poolEmpty).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    })
+
+    it('stops notifying after the returned unsubscribe runs', async () => {
+      const onExitCallbacks: ((evt: { exitCode: number }) => void)[] = []
+      mockPtySpawn.mockReturnValue({
+        ...mockPtyInstance,
+        onData: vi.fn(),
+        onExit: vi.fn((cb: (evt: { exitCode: number }) => void) => {
+          onExitCallbacks.push(cb)
+        })
+      })
+      const poolEmpty = vi.fn()
+      const unsubscribe = handler.onPtyPoolEmpty(poolEmpty)
+
+      await spawnPty()
+      onExitCallbacks[0]({ exitCode: 0 })
+      expect(poolEmpty).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+
+      unsubscribe()
+      await spawnPty()
+      onExitCallbacks[1]({ exitCode: 0 })
+      expect(handler.activePtyCount).toBe(0)
+      expect(poolEmpty).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    })
+  })
+
+  describe('onPtyPoolActive', () => {
+    it('fires at admission, while the pool is still empty', async () => {
+      mockPtySpawn.mockReturnValue({ ...mockPtyInstance, onData: vi.fn(), onExit: vi.fn() })
+      const poolCounts: number[] = []
+      handler.onPtyPoolActive(() => {
+        poolCounts.push(handler.activePtyCount)
+      })
+
+      const pending = spawnPty()
+      // The relay must learn it is non-idle here, not after the creation resolves.
+      expect(poolCounts).toEqual([0])
+
+      await pending
+      expect(poolCounts).toEqual([0, 1])
+    })
+
+    it('fires for a revived PTY whose creation was admitted before the pool was empty', async () => {
+      await spawnPty({ cols: 80, rows: 24, cwd: '/tmp' })
+      const state = (await dispatcher.callRequest('pty.serialize', { ids: ['pty-1'] })) as string
+      await handler.dispose({ waitForPhysicalExit: false })
+      dispatcher = createMockDispatcher()
+      handler = new PtyHandler(dispatcher as unknown as RelayDispatcher)
+      mockPtySpawn.mockReturnValue({ ...mockPtyInstance, onData: vi.fn(), onExit: vi.fn() })
+      const poolActive = vi.fn()
+      handler.onPtyPoolActive(poolActive)
+
+      const killSpy = vi.spyOn(process, 'kill').mockImplementation(() => true)
+      try {
+        await dispatcher.callRequest('pty.revive', { state })
+      } finally {
+        killSpy.mockRestore()
+      }
+
+      expect(handler.activePtyCount).toBe(1)
+      expect(poolActive).toHaveBeenCalled()
+    })
+
+    it('stops notifying after the returned unsubscribe runs', async () => {
+      mockPtySpawn.mockReturnValue({ ...mockPtyInstance, onData: vi.fn(), onExit: vi.fn() })
+      const poolActive = vi.fn()
+      const unsubscribe = handler.onPtyPoolActive(poolActive)
+
+      await spawnPty()
+      const callsWhileSubscribed = poolActive.mock.calls.length
+      expect(callsWhileSubscribed).toBeGreaterThan(0)
+
+      unsubscribe()
+      await spawnPty()
+      expect(poolActive).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(callsWhileSubscribed)
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('counts a spawn admitted but not yet pooled as a pending creation', async () => {
+    mockPtySpawn.mockReturnValue({ ...mockPtyInstance, onData: vi.fn(), onExit: vi.fn() })
+    expect(handler.pendingPtyCreationCount).toBe(0)
+
+    const pending = spawnPty()
+    // The shell is already owned even though activePtyCount still reads zero.
+    expect(handler.activePtyCount).toBe(0)
+    expect(handler.pendingPtyCreationCount).toBe(1)
+
+    await pending
+    expect(handler.activePtyCount).toBe(1)
+    expect(handler.pendingPtyCreationCount).toBe(0)
+  })
 })
 
 describe('attachIdentityMismatches', () => {
diff --git a/src/relay/pty-handler.ts b/src/relay/pty-handler.ts
index 67bfc4c6e15..cc685389f0a 100644
--- a/src/relay/pty-handler.ts
+++ b/src/relay/pty-handler.ts
@@ -372,6 +372,8 @@ export class PtyHandler {
   private reloadPtyModuleFromDisk = false
   // Why: single optional slot is intentional — callers compose externally; a throw is swallowed so it can't block cleanup.
   private exitListener: PtyExitListener | null = null
+  private ptyPoolEmptyListener: (() => void) | null = null
+  private ptyPoolActiveListener: (() => void) | null = null
   // Why: env augmenters run on every spawn so each PTY sees live hook coords without the dispatcher knowing about agent hooks.
   private envAugmenters: PtyEnvAugmenter[] = []
   private readonly agentSessionOwners = new ClaimedAgentPtyOwnerRegistry()
@@ -462,6 +464,10 @@ export class PtyHandler {
     }
   }
 
+  // Why: this value never reaches the grace *timer* — startGraceTimer's only caller always passes an
+  // explicit timeoutMs — but relay.startGrace reads it back through configuredGraceTimeMs to pick the
+  // grace branch, so a host-sent change does affect shutdown behavior. Callers and the host-sleep
+  // consequence: docs/reference/relay-grace-time-reconfiguration.md.
   setGraceTimeMs(graceTimeMs: number): void {
     this.graceTimeMs = Math.max(0, Math.floor(graceTimeMs))
   }
@@ -494,6 +500,53 @@ export class PtyHandler {
     this.exitListener = listener
   }
 
+  /** Notified when the last PTY leaves the pool, so the relay can re-arm its idle grace. */
+  onPtyPoolEmpty(listener: () => void): () => void {
+    this.ptyPoolEmptyListener = listener
+    return () => {
+      if (this.ptyPoolEmptyListener === listener) {
+        this.ptyPoolEmptyListener = null
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Notified when a PTY creation is admitted or a PTY joins the pool.
+   *
+   * Why: the relay arms its idle cap on an empty pool, and a spawn/revive that lands after that
+   * decision must disarm it — creation is asynchronous, so the pool-empty edge alone can't see it.
+   */
+  onPtyPoolActive(listener: () => void): () => void {
+    this.ptyPoolActiveListener = listener
+    return () => {
+      if (this.ptyPoolActiveListener === listener) {
+        this.ptyPoolActiveListener = null
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  private notifyPoolListener(listener: (() => void) | null, label: string): void {
+    if (!listener) {
+      return
+    }
+    try {
+      listener()
+    } catch (err) {
+      process.stderr.write(
+        `[pty-handler] ${label} listener threw: ${err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err)}\n`
+      )
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Why: the sole removal path, so the three exit routes can't drift on who announces an empty pool.
+  private removePty(id: string): void {
+    this.ptys.delete(id)
+    if (this.ptys.size > 0) {
+      return
+    }
+    this.notifyPoolListener(this.ptyPoolEmptyListener, 'pty-pool-empty')
+  }
+
   /** Register an env augmenter merged into every spawn env *after* process.env and renderer env.
    *  Used by the relay-hook server to inject ORCA_AGENT_HOOK_* coords. See docs/design/agent-status-over-ssh.md §3. */
   addEnvAugmenter(augmenter: PtyEnvAugmenter): () => void {
@@ -617,6 +670,8 @@ export class PtyHandler {
   private wireAndStore(managed: ManagedPty): void {
     managed.physicalExit = new PhysicalExitTracker()
     this.ptys.set(managed.id, managed)
+    // Why: a second announce covers any store whose admission window has already closed.
+    this.notifyPoolListener(this.ptyPoolActiveListener, 'pty-pool-active')
     const emitIngressData = (emission: PtyIngressEmission): void => {
       const rawLength = emission.rawEndSeq - emission.rawStartSeq
       this.appendReplayBuffer(managed, emission.data)
@@ -672,7 +727,7 @@ export class PtyHandler {
       this.publishPendingExit(managed.id)
       this.notifyExitListener(managed)
       this.agentSessionOwners.release(managed.id)
-      this.ptys.delete(managed.id)
+      this.removePty(managed.id)
       this.clearPtyInputState(managed.id)
       // Why: release the ptmx fd on natural exit, else the master fd leaks until GC (docs/fix-pty-fd-leak.md).
       disposeManagedPty(managed)
@@ -1157,6 +1212,9 @@ export class PtyHandler {
       throw error
     }
     this.pendingSpawnCount++
+    // Why: announce at admission, not at store — the relay must stop treating itself as idle before
+    // the creation parks on its first await, or an armed idle timer kills the shell it produces.
+    this.notifyPoolListener(this.ptyPoolActiveListener, 'pty-pool-active')
     let finished = false
     return () => {
       if (finished) {
@@ -1171,6 +1229,11 @@ export class PtyHandler {
         this.pendingCreationDrainResolvers.clear()
       }
       finishPtyCreationOperations(finishRemovalOperations)
+      // Why: a creation that failed before wireAndStore still leaves the pool empty, and removePty
+      // can't announce a PTY that was never stored — without this the relay never re-arms its idle cap.
+      if (this.ptys.size === 0 && this.pendingSpawnCount === 0) {
+        this.notifyPoolListener(this.ptyPoolEmptyListener, 'pty-pool-empty')
+      }
     }
   }
 
@@ -1535,7 +1598,7 @@ export class PtyHandler {
       this.notifyExitListener(managed)
       this.agentSessionOwners.release(managed.id)
       disposeManagedPty(managed)
-      this.ptys.delete(id)
+      this.removePty(id)
       this.clearPtyFlowState(id)
       throw new Error(`PTY "${id}" not found`)
     }
@@ -2065,7 +2128,7 @@ export class PtyHandler {
       this.notifyExitListener(managed)
       this.agentSessionOwners.release(managed.id)
       disposeManagedPty(managed)
-      this.ptys.delete(managed.id)
+      this.removePty(managed.id)
       this.clearPtyFlowState(managed.id)
     }
   }
@@ -2105,6 +2168,11 @@ export class PtyHandler {
     return this.ptys.size
   }
 
+  /** Spawns admitted but not yet in the pool — each already owns a shell the relay must not treat as idle. */
+  get pendingPtyCreationCount(): number {
+    return this.pendingSpawnCount
+  }
+
   get retainedStartupCommandCount(): number {
     let count = 0
     for (const managed of this.ptys.values()) {
diff --git a/src/relay/relay-grace-branch.test.ts b/src/relay/relay-grace-branch.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..1361715a4ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/relay/relay-grace-branch.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import { decideRelayGrace, type RelayGraceDecisionInput } from './relay-grace-branch'
+
+const EMPTY_DETACHED_STARTUP_GRACE_MS = 30_000
+const IDLE_RELAY_GRACE_MS = 15 * 60_000
+
+function decide(overrides: Partial<RelayGraceDecisionInput> = {}) {
+  return decideRelayGrace({
+    configuredGraceMs: 0,
+    relayIdle: false,
+    detached: false,
+    hasAcceptedSocketClient: true,
+    activePtyCount: 1,
+    retryDeferredShutdown: false,
+    emptyDetachedStartupGraceMs: EMPTY_DETACHED_STARTUP_GRACE_MS,
+    idleRelayGraceMs: IDLE_RELAY_GRACE_MS,
+    ...overrides
+  })
+}
+
+describe('decideRelayGrace', () => {
+  describe('the zero-only gate', () => {
+    it('honors a grace raised after launch instead of clamping it to the idle cap', () => {
+      // Why: the reported bug. startGrace used to read the launch-time argv closure, so a host that
+      // raised the grace to 24h via relay.configureGraceTime still got the 15-minute idle cap.
+      expect(decide({ configuredGraceMs: 86_400_000, relayIdle: true, activePtyCount: 0 })).toEqual(
+        {
+          branch: 'configured',
+          timeoutMs: 86_400_000
+        }
+      )
+    })
+
+    it('caps an idle relay running the unlimited default at the idle grace', () => {
+      // Why: prepareForHostSleep notifies graceTimeSeconds:0, which now reaches this selector.
+      // Deliberate behavior change: a host-sleep relay holding zero PTYs exits after the idle cap
+      // instead of living forever. Pinned so the revived path stays a decision, not an accident.
+      expect(decide({ configuredGraceMs: 0, relayIdle: true, activePtyCount: 0 })).toEqual({
+        branch: 'idle-no-ptys',
+        timeoutMs: IDLE_RELAY_GRACE_MS
+      })
+    })
+
+    it('leaves a non-idle relay on the configured branch even at the unlimited default', () => {
+      // Why: an admitted-but-unpooled creation keeps relayIdle false, so the cap must not apply —
+      // it would kill the shell that creation is about to produce (#6955).
+      expect(decide({ configuredGraceMs: 0, relayIdle: false })).toEqual({
+        branch: 'configured',
+        timeoutMs: 0
+      })
+    })
+  })
+
+  describe('branch precedence', () => {
+    it('prefers shutdown-deferred over every other branch', () => {
+      expect(
+        decide({
+          retryDeferredShutdown: true,
+          detached: true,
+          hasAcceptedSocketClient: false,
+          relayIdle: true,
+          activePtyCount: 0
+        })
+      ).toEqual({ branch: 'shutdown-deferred', timeoutMs: IDLE_RELAY_GRACE_MS })
+    })
+
+    it('prefers startup-empty-detached over the idle cap', () => {
+      expect(
+        decide({
+          detached: true,
+          hasAcceptedSocketClient: false,
+          relayIdle: true,
+          activePtyCount: 0
+        })
+      ).toEqual({ branch: 'startup-empty-detached', timeoutMs: EMPTY_DETACHED_STARTUP_GRACE_MS })
+    })
+
+    it('bounds a configured grace on the startup-empty-detached branch', () => {
+      expect(
+        decide({
+          configuredGraceMs: 5_000,
+          detached: true,
+          hasAcceptedSocketClient: false,
+          activePtyCount: 0
+        })
+      ).toEqual({ branch: 'startup-empty-detached', timeoutMs: 5_000 })
+    })
+
+    it('does not treat a detached relay that already accepted a client as startup-empty', () => {
+      expect(
+        decide({
+          detached: true,
+          hasAcceptedSocketClient: true,
+          relayIdle: true,
+          activePtyCount: 0
+        })
+      ).toEqual({ branch: 'idle-no-ptys', timeoutMs: IDLE_RELAY_GRACE_MS })
+    })
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/relay/relay-grace-branch.ts b/src/relay/relay-grace-branch.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..aa8aabcdd63
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/relay/relay-grace-branch.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+/** Which rule decided the current relay grace window. */
+export type RelayGraceBranch =
+  | 'shutdown-deferred'
+  | 'startup-empty-detached'
+  | 'idle-no-ptys'
+  | 'configured'
+
+export type RelayGraceDecisionInput = {
+  /** The live configured grace, not the launch-time argv value; 0 means unlimited. */
+  configuredGraceMs: number
+  /** Zero pooled PTYs *and* zero admitted-but-unpooled creations. */
+  relayIdle: boolean
+  detached: boolean
+  hasAcceptedSocketClient: boolean
+  activePtyCount: number
+  retryDeferredShutdown: boolean
+  emptyDetachedStartupGraceMs: number
+  idleRelayGraceMs: number
+}
+
+export type RelayGraceDecision = {
+  branch: RelayGraceBranch
+  timeoutMs: number
+}
+
+/**
+ * Picks the relay's shutdown grace window.
+ *
+ * Why a separate module: relay.ts runs `main()` on import and exports nothing, so the zero-only
+ * gate below — the property that keeps a configured grace from being clamped to the idle cap —
+ * could not otherwise be tested.
+ */
+export function decideRelayGrace(input: RelayGraceDecisionInput): RelayGraceDecision {
+  // Why: a detached relay that never accepted a client has no PTY state and shouldn't linger forever.
+  const startupEmptyDetached =
+    input.detached && !input.hasAcceptedSocketClient && input.activePtyCount === 0
+  // Why: zero PTYs means nothing left to preserve, so only the unlimited default is capped — an
+  // explicitly configured grace is honored verbatim rather than clamped down to the idle cap.
+  // Why: a spawn parked mid-creation is not in the pool yet, so capping on it would kill the live
+  // shell it is about to produce.
+  const idleNoPtys = input.relayIdle && input.configuredGraceMs === 0
+
+  const branch: RelayGraceBranch = input.retryDeferredShutdown
+    ? 'shutdown-deferred'
+    : startupEmptyDetached
+      ? 'startup-empty-detached'
+      : idleNoPtys
+        ? 'idle-no-ptys'
+        : 'configured'
+
+  const timeoutMs =
+    branch === 'startup-empty-detached'
+      ? input.configuredGraceMs === 0
+        ? input.emptyDetachedStartupGraceMs
+        : Math.min(input.configuredGraceMs, input.emptyDetachedStartupGraceMs)
+      : // Why: a refused kill leaves the PTY pooled, so the idle branch can't be reached — this
+        // branch must supply its own bound or the shipped grace=0 default arms no retry at all.
+        branch === 'idle-no-ptys' || branch === 'shutdown-deferred'
+        ? input.idleRelayGraceMs
+        : input.configuredGraceMs
+
+  return { branch, timeoutMs }
+}
diff --git a/src/relay/relay.ts b/src/relay/relay.ts
index f282cbb483e..f807fc6ac2f 100644
--- a/src/relay/relay.ts
+++ b/src/relay/relay.ts
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ import {
 } from '../shared/pi-agent-kind'
 import { resolveSetupAgentSequenceLaunchCommand } from '../shared/setup-agent-sequencing'
 import { pickRemoteCliEnv } from './remote-cli-env'
+import { decideRelayGrace, type RelayGraceBranch } from './relay-grace-branch'
 import { relayLogLine } from './relay-diagnostic-log'
 import { remoteCliRequestTimeoutMs } from './remote-cli-timeout'
 import { shouldReadRemoteCliStdin } from './remote-cli-stdin'
@@ -68,6 +69,9 @@ const EMPTY_DETACHED_STARTUP_GRACE_MS = parseNonNegativeIntEnv(
   'ORCA_RELAY_EMPTY_STARTUP_GRACE_MS',
   60_000
 )
+// Why: a relay holding zero PTYs preserves nothing, so an unlimited grace only accumulates idle daemons.
+// The env override is test-only — the remote relay is launched over a non-interactive SSH exec channel that carries no client env.
+const IDLE_RELAY_GRACE_MS = parseNonNegativeIntEnv('ORCA_RELAY_IDLE_GRACE_MS', 15 * 60_000)
 
 type SocketIdentity = {
   dev: bigint
@@ -679,8 +683,21 @@ async function main(): Promise<void> {
   function configureRelayGraceTime(params: Record<string, unknown>): { graceTimeMs: number } {
     const seconds = Number(params.graceTimeSeconds)
     if (Number.isFinite(seconds) && seconds >= 0) {
+      const previousGraceMs = ptyHandler.configuredGraceTimeMs
       // Why: the host sends 0 before system sleep so live remote PTYs survive longer than the ordinary grace window.
       ptyHandler.setGraceTimeMs(Math.floor(seconds) * 1000)
+      // Why: startGrace samples the configured value at arm time, so a raise that lands while the idle
+      // timer is already running would still fire at the old deadline. Re-arm only on an actual change
+      // — the host re-asserts the same value on every establish, and restarting the window on those
+      // would keep a grace alive indefinitely.
+      if (
+        ptyHandler.configuredGraceTimeMs !== previousGraceMs &&
+        graceDeadlineAt !== null &&
+        graceReason !== null &&
+        !shutdownInFlight
+      ) {
+        startGrace('grace reconfigured')
+      }
     }
     return { graceTimeMs: ptyHandler.configuredGraceTimeMs }
   }
@@ -829,6 +846,9 @@ async function main(): Promise<void> {
   let hasAcceptedSocketClient = false
   let graceDeadlineAt: number | null = null
   let graceReason: string | null = null
+  // Why: only the idle branch is a "nothing left to preserve" bet, so only it may be revoked when a
+  // PTY appears mid-window; the other branches keep their armed deadline.
+  let graceBranch: RelayGraceBranch | null = null
 
   dispatcher.onRequest('relay.status', async () => ({
     pid: process.pid,
@@ -864,6 +884,7 @@ async function main(): Promise<void> {
     }
     graceDeadlineAt = null
     graceReason = null
+    graceBranch = null
     ptyHandler.cancelGraceTimer()
   }
 
@@ -1116,26 +1137,45 @@ async function main(): Promise<void> {
     dispatcher.invalidateClient()
   })
 
-  function startGrace(reason: string): void {
-    const startupEmptyDetached =
-      detached && !hasAcceptedSocketClient && ptyHandler.activePtyCount === 0
-    // Why: a detached relay that never accepted a client has no PTY state and shouldn't linger forever.
-    const timeoutMs = startupEmptyDetached
-      ? graceTimeMs === 0
-        ? EMPTY_DETACHED_STARTUP_GRACE_MS
-        : Math.min(graceTimeMs, EMPTY_DETACHED_STARTUP_GRACE_MS)
-      : graceTimeMs
+  function startGrace(reason: string, options?: { retryDeferredShutdown?: boolean }): void {
+    // Why: the live configured value, not the launch-time argv closure — the host can raise the grace
+    // after launch via relay.configureGraceTime, and a zero-only gate reading a stale zero would be
+    // zero-at-launch-only, i.e. correct only by coincidence.
+    const decision = decideRelayGrace({
+      configuredGraceMs: ptyHandler.configuredGraceTimeMs,
+      relayIdle: isRelayIdle(),
+      detached,
+      hasAcceptedSocketClient,
+      activePtyCount: ptyHandler.activePtyCount,
+      retryDeferredShutdown: options?.retryDeferredShutdown === true,
+      emptyDetachedStartupGraceMs: EMPTY_DETACHED_STARTUP_GRACE_MS,
+      idleRelayGraceMs: IDLE_RELAY_GRACE_MS
+    })
+    graceBranch = decision.branch
+    const timeoutMs = decision.timeoutMs
     graceDeadlineAt = timeoutMs === 0 ? null : Date.now() + timeoutMs
     graceReason = reason
     relayLogLine(
-      `[relay] Grace started (${reason}): timeoutMs=${timeoutMs}, startupEmptyDetached=${startupEmptyDetached}, ptys=${ptyHandler.activePtyCount}, clients=${socketClients.size}`
+      `[relay] Grace started (${reason}): timeoutMs=${timeoutMs}, branch=${graceBranch}, ptys=${ptyHandler.activePtyCount}, clients=${socketClients.size}`
     )
     ptyHandler.startGraceTimer(() => {
+      // Why: last line of defense for the idle cap — a PTY that appeared without announcing itself
+      // must not be killed by a timer armed while the relay was still empty (#6955).
+      if (graceBranch === 'idle-no-ptys' && !isRelayIdle()) {
+        relayLogLine(`[relay] Grace expired (${reason}) but relay is no longer idle; re-evaluating`)
+        startGrace(reason)
+        return
+      }
       relayLogLine(`[relay] Grace expired (${reason}); shutting down`)
       shutdown()
     }, timeoutMs)
   }
 
+  // Why: a creation admitted but not yet pooled already owns a shell, so it counts as non-idle.
+  function isRelayIdle(): boolean {
+    return ptyHandler.activePtyCount === 0 && ptyHandler.pendingPtyCreationCount === 0
+  }
+
   if (detached) {
     // Why: detached stdin is /dev/null, so listening would EOF → grace → shutdown before --connect arrives; use the socket instead.
     startGrace('detached startup')
@@ -1176,9 +1216,12 @@ async function main(): Promise<void> {
     )
     graceDeadlineAt = null
     graceReason = null
+    graceBranch = null
     void ptyHandler
       .dispose()
       .then(() => {
+        stopPoolWatch()
+        stopPoolActiveWatch()
         dispatcher.dispose()
         fsHandler.dispose()
         gitHandler.dispose()
@@ -1192,13 +1235,41 @@ async function main(): Promise<void> {
       })
       .catch((error) => {
         // Why: keep owning a PTY whose native kill was rejected so a transient signal failure doesn't orphan a remote shell.
+        // Why: the pool watches stay registered — the socket server is still listening, so a client can
+        // reconnect and cancel this grace, and that revived relay still needs both re-evaluations.
         shutdownInFlight = false
         relayLogLine(
           `[relay] Shutdown deferred: ${error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)}`
         )
+        // Why: shutdown() already cleared graceReason, so without re-arming a client-less relay
+        // whose kill was refused would stay resident forever with nothing left to retry it.
+        if (socketClients.size === 0) {
+          startGrace('shutdown deferred', { retryDeferredShutdown: true })
+        }
       })
   }
 
+  // Why: with the shipped unlimited default the grace timer is never armed, so an expiry can't
+  // notice the pool emptying; re-evaluate on the last exit instead. graceReason (not
+  // graceTimerActive) is the only signal that a grace window is open in that configuration.
+  // Why: a null deadline is exactly that unlimited case; re-arming a scheduled one would restart
+  // an explicitly configured window and double it.
+  const stopPoolWatch = ptyHandler.onPtyPoolEmpty(() => {
+    if (graceReason !== null && graceDeadlineAt === null && !shutdownInFlight) {
+      startGrace('last pty exited')
+    }
+  })
+
+  // Why: the idle cap is armed on an empty pool, but creation is asynchronous — a spawn or revive
+  // admitted after that decision (the client dropped mid-`pty.revive`, say) makes the relay non-idle
+  // again, and re-evaluating disarms the timer instead of letting it kill a live PTY (#6955).
+  // The grace window itself stays open, so the PTY's own exit still re-arms the cap.
+  const stopPoolActiveWatch = ptyHandler.onPtyPoolActive(() => {
+    if (graceBranch === 'idle-no-ptys' && graceReason !== null && !shutdownInFlight) {
+      startGrace(graceReason)
+    }
+  })
+
   process.on('SIGTERM', shutdown)
   process.on('SIGINT', shutdown)
   // Why: default SIGHUP exits immediately, killing PTYs before grace; ignore it so the relay survives SSH disconnect.
diff --git a/src/relay/subprocess.test.ts b/src/relay/subprocess.test.ts
index e80a3ccec86..57b3466707d 100644
--- a/src/relay/subprocess.test.ts
+++ b/src/relay/subprocess.test.ts
@@ -108,6 +108,57 @@ const WORKING_NODE_PTY_MODULE = `module.exports = { spawn() { return {
   onData() {}, onExit() {}, write() {}, resize() {}, kill() {}, clear() {}
 } } }\n`
 
+// A shell that reports its own exit after a delay, so the relay sees the pool drain on its own.
+function selfExitingNodePtyModule(exitAfterMs: number): string {
+  return `module.exports = { spawn() {
+  const exitHandlers = []
+  setTimeout(() => { for (const cb of exitHandlers) { cb({ exitCode: 0, signal: 0 }) } }, ${exitAfterMs})
+  return {
+    pid: process.pid,
+    process: 'mock-shell',
+    onData() {}, onExit(cb) { exitHandlers.push(cb) }, write() {}, resize() {}, kill() {}, clear() {}
+  }
+} }\n`
+}
+
+// A shell whose first dispose is refused, so ptyHandler.dispose() rejects once before a retry can succeed.
+const KILL_REJECTS_FIRST_DISPOSE_MODULE = `let killAttempts = 0
+module.exports = { spawn() {
+  const exitHandlers = []
+  return {
+    pid: 2147483646,
+    process: 'mock-shell',
+    onData() {}, onExit(cb) { exitHandlers.push(cb) }, write() {}, resize() {}, clear() {},
+    kill() {
+      killAttempts++
+      if (killAttempts <= 2) { throw new Error('kill refused') }
+      setTimeout(() => { for (const cb of exitHandlers) { cb({ exitCode: 0, signal: 0 }) } }, 0)
+    }
+  }
+} }\n`
+
+// Why: an ESM mock with top-level await parks loadPty() in the window where a spawn is admitted but not yet pooled.
+function writeSlowLoadingNodePty(root: string, loadDelayMs: number): void {
+  const nodePtyDir = path.join(root, 'node_modules', 'node-pty')
+  mkdirSync(path.join(nodePtyDir, 'lib'), { recursive: true })
+  writeFileSync(path.join(nodePtyDir, 'package.json'), '{"type":"module","main":"lib/index.js"}\n')
+  writeFileSync(
+    path.join(nodePtyDir, 'lib', 'index.js'),
+    `await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, ${loadDelayMs}))
+export function spawn() {
+  const exitHandlers = []
+  return {
+    pid: process.pid,
+    process: 'mock-shell',
+    onData() {}, onExit(cb) { exitHandlers.push(cb) }, write() {}, resize() {}, clear() {},
+    // Report the exit so relay shutdown can complete instead of parking on waitForPhysicalExit.
+    kill() { setTimeout(() => { for (const cb of exitHandlers) { cb({ exitCode: 0, signal: 0 }) } }, 0) }
+  }
+}
+`
+  )
+}
+
 describe('Subprocess: Relay entry point', () => {
   let relay: RelayProcess | null = null
   let tmpDir: string
@@ -504,6 +555,210 @@ describe('Subprocess: Relay entry point', () => {
     10_000
   )
 
+  // Why: a relay holding zero PTYs preserves nothing, so the unlimited default must still be
+  // bounded once a client has come and gone — but an explicitly configured grace is never shortened.
+  function spawnIdleGraceDaemon(
+    nodePtyModule: string,
+    graceTimeSeconds: string,
+    idleGraceMs: string
+  ): { daemon: RelayProcess; sockPath: string } {
+    const daemonEntry = path.join(tmpDir, 'relay.js')
+    copyFileSync(relayEntry, daemonEntry)
+    writeMockNodePty(tmpDir, nodePtyModule)
+    const sockPath = path.join(tmpDir, 'relay.sock')
+    const daemon = spawnRelayEntry(
+      daemonEntry,
+      ['--detached', '--grace-time', graceTimeSeconds, '--sock-path', sockPath],
+      { ...process.env, ORCA_RELAY_IDLE_GRACE_MS: idleGraceMs }
+    )
+    return { daemon, sockPath }
+  }
+
+  async function connectAndDisconnect(
+    sockPath: string,
+    whileConnected?: (bridge: RelayProcess) => Promise<void>
+  ): Promise<void> {
+    const bridge = spawn(['--connect', '--sock-path', sockPath])
+    try {
+      await bridge.sentinelReceived
+      await whileConnected?.(bridge)
+    } finally {
+      bridge.kill('SIGTERM')
+      await bridge.waitForExit().catch(() => {})
+    }
+  }
+
+  it.skipIf(process.platform === 'win32')(
+    'shuts down an idle relay with no PTYs after the idle grace even with --grace-time 0',
+    async () => {
+      tmpDir = mkdtempSync(path.join(tmpdir(), 'relay-idle-'))
+      const sockPath = path.join(tmpDir, 'relay.sock')
+      relay = spawn(['--detached', '--grace-time', '0', '--sock-path', sockPath], {
+        ...process.env,
+        ORCA_RELAY_IDLE_GRACE_MS: '200'
+      })
+      await relay.sentinelReceived
+
+      // Accepting a client defeats the startup-empty branch, so only the idle cap can end this relay.
+      await connectAndDisconnect(sockPath)
+
+      await relay.waitForExit(2000)
+      expect(relay.proc.exitCode).toBe(0)
+    },
+    15_000
+  )
+
+  it.skipIf(process.platform === 'win32')(
+    'keeps a relay with a live PTY alive past the idle grace',
+    async () => {
+      tmpDir = mkdtempSync(path.join(tmpdir(), 'relay-idle-live-pty-'))
+      const { daemon, sockPath } = spawnIdleGraceDaemon(WORKING_NODE_PTY_MODULE, '0', '200')
+      relay = daemon
+      await relay.sentinelReceived
+
+      await connectAndDisconnect(sockPath, async (bridge) => {
+        const resp = await bridge.waitForResponse(bridge.send('pty.spawn', { cols: 80, rows: 24 }))
+        expect(resp.error).toBeUndefined()
+      })
+
+      await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 1200))
+      expect(relay.proc.exitCode).toBeNull()
+    },
+    15_000
+  )
+
+  it.skipIf(process.platform === 'win32')(
+    're-arms the idle grace when the last PTY exits during grace',
+    async () => {
+      tmpDir = mkdtempSync(path.join(tmpdir(), 'relay-idle-rearm-'))
+      const { daemon, sockPath } = spawnIdleGraceDaemon(selfExitingNodePtyModule(1500), '0', '200')
+      relay = daemon
+      await relay.sentinelReceived
+
+      await connectAndDisconnect(sockPath, async (bridge) => {
+        const resp = await bridge.waitForResponse(bridge.send('pty.spawn', { cols: 80, rows: 24 }))
+        expect(resp.error).toBeUndefined()
+      })
+
+      // The live PTY must suppress the idle grace at disconnect; only its own exit re-arms it.
+      await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 300))
+      expect(relay.proc.exitCode).toBeNull()
+
+      await relay.waitForExit(5000)
+      expect(relay.proc.exitCode).toBe(0)
+    },
+    20_000
+  )
+
+  it.skipIf(process.platform === 'win32')(
+    'honors an explicitly configured grace instead of clamping it to the idle cap',
+    async () => {
+      tmpDir = mkdtempSync(path.join(tmpdir(), 'relay-idle-configured-'))
+      const sockPath = path.join(tmpDir, 'relay.sock')
+      relay = spawn(['--detached', '--grace-time', '3600', '--sock-path', sockPath], {
+        ...process.env,
+        ORCA_RELAY_IDLE_GRACE_MS: '200'
+      })
+      await relay.sentinelReceived
+
+      await connectAndDisconnect(sockPath)
+
+      await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 1000))
+      expect(relay.proc.exitCode).toBeNull()
+    },
+    15_000
+  )
+
+  it.skipIf(process.platform === 'win32')(
+    'keeps the relay alive when the client drops while a PTY creation is still in flight',
+    async () => {
+      tmpDir = mkdtempSync(path.join(tmpdir(), 'relay-idle-inflight-'))
+      const daemonEntry = path.join(tmpDir, 'relay.js')
+      copyFileSync(relayEntry, daemonEntry)
+      writeSlowLoadingNodePty(tmpDir, 1500)
+      const sockPath = path.join(tmpDir, 'relay.sock')
+      relay = spawnRelayEntry(
+        daemonEntry,
+        ['--detached', '--grace-time', '0', '--sock-path', sockPath],
+        { ...process.env, ORCA_RELAY_IDLE_GRACE_MS: '200' }
+      )
+      await relay.sentinelReceived
+
+      const bridge = spawn(['--connect', '--sock-path', sockPath])
+      await bridge.sentinelReceived
+      // Revive, not spawn: it has no client-disconnect abort, so it really does produce a live shell
+      // after the parked module load resolves.
+      bridge.send('pty.revive', {
+        state: JSON.stringify([
+          { id: 'pty-restored', pid: process.pid, cols: 80, rows: 24, cwd: tmpDir }
+        ])
+      })
+      // Let the creation park on the module load: it already owns a shell but is not in the pool yet.
+      await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 400))
+      bridge.kill('SIGTERM')
+      await bridge.waitForExit().catch(() => {})
+
+      // Well past the idle cap and past the point where the parked creation lands in the pool.
+      await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 2500))
+      expect(relay.proc.exitCode).toBeNull()
+
+      const probe = spawn(['--connect', '--sock-path', sockPath])
+      try {
+        await probe.sentinelReceived
+        const status = await probe.waitForResponse(probe.send('relay.status'))
+        expect((status.result as { ptys: { active: number } }).ptys.active).toBe(1)
+      } finally {
+        probe.kill('SIGTERM')
+        await probe.waitForExit().catch(() => {})
+      }
+    },
+    20_000
+  )
+
+  it.skipIf(process.platform === 'win32')(
+    'does not extend an explicitly configured grace when the last PTY exits mid-window',
+    async () => {
+      tmpDir = mkdtempSync(path.join(tmpdir(), 'relay-configured-rearm-'))
+      const { daemon, sockPath } = spawnIdleGraceDaemon(selfExitingNodePtyModule(2500), '3', '200')
+      relay = daemon
+      await relay.sentinelReceived
+
+      await connectAndDisconnect(sockPath, async (bridge) => {
+        const resp = await bridge.waitForResponse(bridge.send('pty.spawn', { cols: 80, rows: 24 }))
+        expect(resp.error).toBeUndefined()
+      })
+
+      // The 3s window keeps governing; re-arming at the ~2.5s PTY exit would push shutdown past 5s.
+      await relay.waitForExit(4200)
+      expect(relay.proc.exitCode).toBe(0)
+    },
+    20_000
+  )
+
+  it.skipIf(process.platform === 'win32')(
+    're-arms grace after a shutdown deferred by a rejected kill, so the relay still exits',
+    async () => {
+      tmpDir = mkdtempSync(path.join(tmpdir(), 'relay-shutdown-deferred-'))
+      const { daemon, sockPath } = spawnIdleGraceDaemon(
+        KILL_REJECTS_FIRST_DISPOSE_MODULE,
+        '2',
+        '200'
+      )
+      relay = daemon
+      await relay.sentinelReceived
+
+      await connectAndDisconnect(sockPath, async (bridge) => {
+        const resp = await bridge.waitForResponse(bridge.send('pty.spawn', { cols: 80, rows: 24 }))
+        expect(resp.error).toBeUndefined()
+      })
+
+      // First grace expiry hits the refused kill; only the re-armed window can retry it.
+      await relay.waitForExit(8000)
+      expect(relay.proc.exitCode).toBe(0)
+    },
+    20_000
+  )
+
   it('reports relay diagnostics over relay.status', async () => {
     relay = spawn()
     await relay.sentinelReceived
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/FileExplorer.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/FileExplorer.tsx
index 81a41e20aea..9e22f01ac5d 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/FileExplorer.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/FileExplorer.tsx
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ import { useFileExplorerDragDrop } from './useFileExplorerDragDrop'
 import { useFileExplorerImport } from './useFileExplorerImport'
 import { useFileExplorerManualRefresh } from './useFileExplorerManualRefresh'
 import { useFileExplorerTree } from './useFileExplorerTree'
+import { decideExpandedDirLoad } from './file-explorer-stale-dir-cache'
 import { useFileExplorerWatch } from './useFileExplorerWatch'
 import {
   buildAddProjectFromFolderModalData,
@@ -148,6 +149,7 @@ function FileExplorerFiles(): React.JSX.Element {
     markPathAsDirectory,
     refreshTree,
     refreshDir,
+    isDirStale,
     resetAndLoad
   } = useFileExplorerTree(worktreePath, expanded, activeWorktreeId)
   const hasNameFilterQuery = nameFilterQuery.trim().length > 0
@@ -347,11 +349,14 @@ function FileExplorerFiles(): React.JSX.Element {
       return
     }
     for (const dirPath of expanded) {
-      if (!dirCache[dirPath]?.children.length && !dirCache[dirPath]?.loading) {
-        const depth =
-          splitPathSegments(dirPath.slice(visibleFilesWorktreePath.length + 1)).length - 1
-        void loadDir(dirPath, depth)
+      // Why: a full refresh (watcher overflow) re-reads only root and the dirs expanded at the time,
+      // so a listing cached while collapsed is unverified — re-read it here instead of trusting it.
+      const decision = decideExpandedDirLoad(dirCache[dirPath], isDirStale(dirPath))
+      if (decision === 'skip') {
+        continue
       }
+      const depth = splitPathSegments(dirPath.slice(visibleFilesWorktreePath.length + 1)).length - 1
+      void loadDir(dirPath, depth, decision === 'reload' ? { force: true } : undefined)
     }
   }, [expanded, visibleFilesWorktreePath]) // eslint-disable-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/useFileExplorerTree.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/file-explorer-expanded-dirs-refresh.test.ts
similarity index 58%
rename from src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/useFileExplorerTree.test.ts
rename to src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/file-explorer-expanded-dirs-refresh.test.ts
index b98e61c825e..97e2dbd25d3 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/useFileExplorerTree.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/file-explorer-expanded-dirs-refresh.test.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import type { SetStateAction } from 'react'
 import type { DirEntry } from '../../../../shared/types'
 import type { DirCache } from './file-explorer-types'
 import { createFileExplorerDirLoadTracker } from './file-explorer-dir-load-tracker'
-import { refreshFileExplorerExpandedDirs } from './useFileExplorerTree'
+import { refreshFileExplorerExpandedDirs } from './file-explorer-expanded-dirs-refresh'
 
 type CacheUpdate = SetStateAction<Record<string, DirCache>>
 
@@ -44,7 +44,10 @@ describe('refreshFileExplorerExpandedDirs', () => {
       worktreePath: '/repo',
       dirLoadTracker: createFileExplorerDirLoadTracker(),
       setDirCache,
-      readDirectory
+      readDirectory,
+      // A limit at or above the dir count must stay a single wave, i.e. exactly
+      // today's two batched writes.
+      maxConcurrentReads: 16
     })
 
     expect(refreshed).toBe(true)
@@ -128,7 +131,8 @@ describe('refreshFileExplorerExpandedDirs', () => {
       worktreePath: '/repo',
       dirLoadTracker: tracker,
       setDirCache,
-      readDirectory
+      readDirectory,
+      maxConcurrentReads: 16
     })
 
     // Not every dir was still current, so the refresh reports partial completion.
@@ -172,7 +176,8 @@ describe('refreshFileExplorerExpandedDirs', () => {
       worktreePath: '/repo',
       dirLoadTracker: tracker,
       setDirCache,
-      readDirectory
+      readDirectory,
+      maxConcurrentReads: 16
     })
 
     // Let /repo/src resolve (and pass its resolve-time token check) while
@@ -207,4 +212,137 @@ describe('refreshFileExplorerExpandedDirs', () => {
       children: [{ name: 'guide.md' }]
     })
   })
+
+  it('never exceeds maxConcurrentReads in flight and still commits every directory', async () => {
+    const dirs = Array.from({ length: 20 }, (_, index) => ({
+      dirPath: `/repo/d${index}`,
+      depth: 0
+    }))
+    let cache: Record<string, DirCache> = {}
+    const setDirCache = vi.fn((update: CacheUpdate) => {
+      cache = typeof update === 'function' ? update(cache) : update
+    })
+    let inFlight = 0
+    let peakInFlight = 0
+    const readDirectory = vi.fn(async (dirPath: string) => {
+      inFlight++
+      peakInFlight = Math.max(peakInFlight, inFlight)
+      await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 0))
+      inFlight--
+      return {
+        entries: [entry(`${dirPath.slice('/repo/'.length)}.ts`)],
+        operationOwner: { kind: 'local' as const }
+      }
+    })
+
+    const refreshed = await refreshFileExplorerExpandedDirs({
+      dirs,
+      worktreePath: '/repo',
+      dirLoadTracker: createFileExplorerDirLoadTracker(),
+      setDirCache,
+      readDirectory,
+      maxConcurrentReads: 4
+    })
+
+    expect(refreshed).toBe(true)
+    expect(peakInFlight).toBeLessThanOrEqual(4)
+    expect(readDirectory).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(20)
+    // One up-front loading write plus one result write per wave (five waves).
+    expect(setDirCache).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(6)
+    for (const { dirPath } of dirs) {
+      expect(cache[dirPath]).toMatchObject({
+        loading: false,
+        children: [{ name: expect.any(String) }]
+      })
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('marks queued dirs loading up front so only the first wave reads', async () => {
+    const dirs = Array.from({ length: 9 }, (_, index) => ({
+      dirPath: `/repo/d${index}`,
+      depth: 0
+    }))
+    let cache: Record<string, DirCache> = {}
+    const setDirCache = vi.fn((update: CacheUpdate) => {
+      cache = typeof update === 'function' ? update(cache) : update
+    })
+    let releaseFirstWave!: () => void
+    const firstWaveGate = new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+      releaseFirstWave = resolve
+    })
+    const readDirectory = vi.fn(async (dirPath: string) => {
+      if (['/repo/d0', '/repo/d1', '/repo/d2'].includes(dirPath)) {
+        await firstWaveGate
+      }
+      return { entries: [], operationOwner: { kind: 'local' as const } }
+    })
+
+    const refreshPromise = refreshFileExplorerExpandedDirs({
+      dirs,
+      worktreePath: '/repo',
+      dirLoadTracker: createFileExplorerDirLoadTracker(),
+      setDirCache,
+      readDirectory,
+      maxConcurrentReads: 3
+    })
+    await Promise.resolve()
+
+    expect(cache['/repo/d0']).toMatchObject({ loading: true })
+    // A queued dir must already advertise loading:true, or FileExplorer's
+    // auto-load effect fans out an unbounded loadDir for it on the next
+    // `expanded` change — the reads this cap exists to bound.
+    expect(cache['/repo/d6']).toMatchObject({ loading: true })
+    expect(readDirectory).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(3)
+
+    releaseFirstWave()
+    await refreshPromise
+
+    expect(cache['/repo/d6']).toMatchObject({ loading: false })
+  })
+
+  it('drops a later-wave directory superseded while an earlier wave was reading', async () => {
+    const tracker = createFileExplorerDirLoadTracker()
+    let cache: Record<string, DirCache> = {}
+    const setDirCache = vi.fn((update: CacheUpdate) => {
+      cache = typeof update === 'function' ? update(cache) : update
+    })
+    let releaseFirst!: () => void
+    const firstGate = new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+      releaseFirst = resolve
+    })
+    const readDirectory = vi.fn(async (dirPath: string) => {
+      if (dirPath === '/repo/a') {
+        await firstGate
+      }
+      return { entries: [entry('x.ts')], operationOwner: { kind: 'local' as const } }
+    })
+
+    const refreshPromise = refreshFileExplorerExpandedDirs({
+      dirs: [
+        { dirPath: '/repo/a', depth: 0 },
+        { dirPath: '/repo/b', depth: 0 }
+      ],
+      worktreePath: '/repo',
+      dirLoadTracker: tracker,
+      setDirCache,
+      readDirectory,
+      maxConcurrentReads: 1
+    })
+    await Promise.resolve()
+
+    // A watcher-driven refreshDir supersedes the queued wave-2 dir before it
+    // ever starts reading; its token was already taken up front.
+    tracker.begin('/repo/b')
+    const newerBCache: DirCache = { loading: false, children: [] }
+    setDirCache((prev) => ({ ...prev, '/repo/b': newerBCache }))
+
+    releaseFirst()
+    const refreshed = await refreshPromise
+
+    expect(refreshed).toBe(false)
+    expect(cache['/repo/a']).toMatchObject({ loading: false, children: [{ name: 'x.ts' }] })
+    // Wave 2 must neither read nor commit the superseded dir.
+    expect(readDirectory).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(cache['/repo/b']).toEqual(newerBCache)
+  })
 })
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/file-explorer-expanded-dirs-refresh.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/file-explorer-expanded-dirs-refresh.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..280520c6425
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/file-explorer-expanded-dirs-refresh.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+import type { Dispatch, SetStateAction } from 'react'
+import type { DirCache } from './file-explorer-types'
+import type { FileExplorerDirLoadTracker } from './file-explorer-dir-load-tracker'
+import {
+  fileExplorerEntriesToTreeNodes,
+  type FileExplorerDirectoryListing
+} from './file-explorer-directory-listing'
+
+export type RefreshFileExplorerTreeDir = {
+  dirPath: string
+  depth: number
+}
+
+export type RefreshFileExplorerExpandedDirsParams = {
+  dirs: RefreshFileExplorerTreeDir[]
+  worktreePath: string
+  dirLoadTracker: FileExplorerDirLoadTracker
+  setDirCache: Dispatch<SetStateAction<Record<string, DirCache>>>
+  readDirectory: (dirPath: string) => Promise<FileExplorerDirectoryListing>
+  maxConcurrentReads: number
+  /** Called per dir whose fresh listing was committed, so callers can clear a staleness mark. */
+  onDirCommitted?: (dirPath: string) => void
+}
+
+export async function refreshFileExplorerExpandedDirs({
+  dirs,
+  worktreePath,
+  dirLoadTracker,
+  setDirCache,
+  readDirectory,
+  maxConcurrentReads,
+  onDirCommitted
+}: RefreshFileExplorerExpandedDirsParams): Promise<boolean> {
+  if (dirs.length === 0) {
+    return true
+  }
+
+  const uniqueDirs = Array.from(new Map(dirs.map((dir) => [dir.dirPath, dir])).values())
+  // Why: begin every token before the first read so a concurrent refreshDir or
+  // worktree reset supersedes dirs still queued in a later wave, exactly as the
+  // single-batch version did.
+  const loadTokens = new Map(
+    uniqueDirs.map((dir) => [dir.dirPath, dirLoadTracker.begin(dir.dirPath)])
+  )
+  const waveSize = Math.max(1, Math.floor(maxConcurrentReads))
+  let committedDirs = 0
+
+  // Why: mark every dir loading up front, not per wave — FileExplorer's auto-load
+  // effect re-runs on any `expanded` change and fans out an unbounded loadDir per
+  // dir that is neither cached nor loading, which would defeat the wave cap.
+  setDirCache((prev) => {
+    const next = { ...prev }
+    for (const { dirPath } of uniqueDirs) {
+      next[dirPath] = {
+        children: prev[dirPath]?.children ?? [],
+        loading: true
+      }
+    }
+    return next
+  })
+
+  for (let start = 0; start < uniqueDirs.length; start += waveSize) {
+    // Why: a dir superseded while an earlier wave was reading is left to its
+    // newer load — reading it here would only burn a round trip for a result
+    // that is dropped at commit time.
+    const wave = uniqueDirs
+      .slice(start, start + waveSize)
+      .filter(({ dirPath }) => dirLoadTracker.isCurrent(loadTokens.get(dirPath)!))
+    if (wave.length === 0) {
+      continue
+    }
+
+    // Why: batch each wave's results into one setDirCache write, so the whole
+    // refresh costs 1 + ceil(N / waveSize) cache spreads rather than one per dir.
+    const results = await Promise.all(
+      wave.map(async ({ dirPath, depth }) => {
+        const loadToken = loadTokens.get(dirPath)!
+        try {
+          const listing = await readDirectory(dirPath)
+          if (!dirLoadTracker.isCurrent(loadToken)) {
+            return { current: false as const }
+          }
+          return {
+            current: true as const,
+            dirPath,
+            cache: {
+              children: fileExplorerEntriesToTreeNodes(
+                listing.entries,
+                dirPath,
+                depth,
+                worktreePath,
+                listing.operationOwner
+              ),
+              loading: false,
+              operationOwner: listing.operationOwner
+            }
+          }
+        } catch {
+          if (!dirLoadTracker.isCurrent(loadToken)) {
+            return { current: false as const }
+          }
+          return {
+            current: true as const,
+            dirPath,
+            cache: { children: [], loading: false }
+          }
+        }
+      })
+    )
+
+    // Why: the batch commits only after the slowest read in the wave, so a dir
+    // can be superseded (watcher refreshDir, worktree reset) after its own read
+    // resolved. Re-check tokens at commit time so the batched write never
+    // clobbers a newer load — preserving the old per-dir commit ordering.
+    const currentResults = results.filter(
+      (result): result is Extract<typeof result, { current: true }> =>
+        result.current && dirLoadTracker.isCurrent(loadTokens.get(result.dirPath)!)
+    )
+    if (currentResults.length === 0) {
+      continue
+    }
+
+    setDirCache((prev) => {
+      const next = { ...prev }
+      for (const result of currentResults) {
+        next[result.dirPath] = result.cache
+      }
+      return next
+    })
+    for (const result of currentResults) {
+      onDirCommitted?.(result.dirPath)
+    }
+    committedDirs += currentResults.length
+  }
+
+  return committedDirs === uniqueDirs.length
+}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/file-explorer-refresh-concurrency.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/file-explorer-refresh-concurrency.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b1d319933b7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/file-explorer-refresh-concurrency.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import { fileExplorerRefreshConcurrency } from './file-explorer-refresh-concurrency'
+
+describe('fileExplorerRefreshConcurrency', () => {
+  it('allows the widest fan-out for local disk reads', () => {
+    expect(fileExplorerRefreshConcurrency({ kind: 'local' })).toBe(16)
+  })
+
+  it('caps SSH-owned worktrees at the remote tier', () => {
+    expect(fileExplorerRefreshConcurrency({ kind: 'ssh', connectionId: 'target-1' })).toBe(4)
+  })
+
+  it('treats an SSH-backed runtime as remote', () => {
+    expect(
+      fileExplorerRefreshConcurrency({
+        kind: 'runtime',
+        environmentId: 'env-1',
+        executionHostId: 'ssh:target-1'
+      })
+    ).toBe(4)
+  })
+
+  it('uses the runtime tier for a non-SSH runtime host', () => {
+    expect(
+      fileExplorerRefreshConcurrency({
+        kind: 'runtime',
+        environmentId: 'env-1',
+        executionHostId: 'runtime:env-1'
+      })
+    ).toBe(8)
+  })
+
+  it('falls back to the conservative remote tier when ownership is unresolved', () => {
+    expect(fileExplorerRefreshConcurrency({ kind: 'unresolved' })).toBe(4)
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/file-explorer-refresh-concurrency.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/file-explorer-refresh-concurrency.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..49c6170ad6b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/file-explorer-refresh-concurrency.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+import { parseExecutionHostId } from '../../../../shared/execution-host'
+import type { FileExplorerOperationOwner } from './file-explorer-types'
+
+export const FILE_EXPLORER_LOCAL_REFRESH_CONCURRENCY = 16
+export const FILE_EXPLORER_RUNTIME_REFRESH_CONCURRENCY = 8
+export const FILE_EXPLORER_REMOTE_REFRESH_CONCURRENCY = 4
+
+/**
+ * In-flight directory-read cap for one File Explorer refresh, by how expensive a
+ * read is on the owning transport.
+ *
+ * Why: tiers come from the owner, not from `getFileExplorerOperationRoute`,
+ * which maps every non-SSH runtime host to `expectedExecutionHostId: 'local'` —
+ * including an `orca serve` runtime reached over a network socket, whose reads
+ * are RPC round trips rather than disk reads.
+ */
+export function fileExplorerRefreshConcurrency(owner: FileExplorerOperationOwner): number {
+  switch (owner.kind) {
+    case 'local':
+      return FILE_EXPLORER_LOCAL_REFRESH_CONCURRENCY
+    case 'ssh':
+      return FILE_EXPLORER_REMOTE_REFRESH_CONCURRENCY
+    case 'runtime':
+      return parseExecutionHostId(owner.executionHostId)?.kind === 'ssh'
+        ? FILE_EXPLORER_REMOTE_REFRESH_CONCURRENCY
+        : FILE_EXPLORER_RUNTIME_REFRESH_CONCURRENCY
+    case 'unresolved':
+      // Why: unknown ownership could be the slowest transport; stay conservative.
+      return FILE_EXPLORER_REMOTE_REFRESH_CONCURRENCY
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/file-explorer-stale-dir-cache.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/file-explorer-stale-dir-cache.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e0cf1c1eccf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/file-explorer-stale-dir-cache.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import type { DirCache, TreeNode } from './file-explorer-types'
+import { collectStaleDirCachePaths, decideExpandedDirLoad } from './file-explorer-stale-dir-cache'
+
+function cache(...dirPaths: string[]): Record<string, DirCache> {
+  return Object.fromEntries(dirPaths.map((dirPath) => [dirPath, { children: [], loading: false }]))
+}
+
+describe('collectStaleDirCachePaths', () => {
+  it('marks a cached dir that a full refresh will not re-read', () => {
+    expect(
+      collectStaleDirCachePaths(cache('/repo', '/repo/src', '/repo/docs'), '/repo', new Set())
+    ).toEqual(['/repo/src', '/repo/docs'])
+  })
+
+  it('never marks the root or a currently expanded dir', () => {
+    expect(
+      collectStaleDirCachePaths(
+        cache('/repo', '/repo/src', '/repo/docs'),
+        '/repo',
+        new Set(['/repo/src'])
+      )
+    ).toEqual(['/repo/docs'])
+  })
+
+  it('returns nothing when the cache holds only refreshed dirs', () => {
+    expect(
+      collectStaleDirCachePaths(cache('/repo', '/repo/src'), '/repo', new Set(['/repo/src']))
+    ).toEqual([])
+  })
+})
+
+describe('decideExpandedDirLoad', () => {
+  const children = [{ name: 'gone.ts', path: '/repo/src/gone.ts' } as TreeNode]
+
+  it('re-reads a cached dir whose listing the last full refresh skipped', () => {
+    expect(decideExpandedDirLoad({ children, loading: false }, true)).toBe('reload')
+  })
+
+  it('trusts a cached listing that is not stale', () => {
+    expect(decideExpandedDirLoad({ children, loading: false }, false)).toBe('skip')
+  })
+
+  it('reads a dir that has never been listed', () => {
+    expect(decideExpandedDirLoad(undefined, false)).toBe('load')
+    expect(decideExpandedDirLoad({ children: [], loading: false }, false)).toBe('load')
+  })
+
+  it('never stacks a read on one already in flight, stale or not', () => {
+    expect(decideExpandedDirLoad({ children, loading: true }, true)).toBe('skip')
+    expect(decideExpandedDirLoad({ children: [], loading: true }, false)).toBe('skip')
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/file-explorer-stale-dir-cache.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/file-explorer-stale-dir-cache.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..007e18960c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/file-explorer-stale-dir-cache.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+import type { DirCache } from './file-explorer-types'
+
+/**
+ * Cached directories a full tree refresh does not re-read.
+ *
+ * Why: `refreshTree` reads the root plus the currently expanded dirs, but `toggleDir` drops a dir
+ * from `expandedDirs` without purging `dirCache`. After a watcher overflow discarded the precise
+ * events, those collapsed-but-cached listings are unverified and must be re-read on re-expansion —
+ * otherwise a file deleted while the dir was collapsed stays visible forever, since the expansion
+ * effect skips any dir that already has children.
+ */
+export function collectStaleDirCachePaths(
+  cache: Record<string, DirCache>,
+  worktreePath: string,
+  expanded: Set<string>
+): string[] {
+  return Object.keys(cache).filter((dirPath) => dirPath !== worktreePath && !expanded.has(dirPath))
+}
+
+export type ExpandedDirLoadDecision = 'skip' | 'load' | 'reload'
+
+/** What the expansion effect owes a newly expanded dir: nothing, a first read, or a forced re-read. */
+export function decideExpandedDirLoad(
+  cached: DirCache | undefined,
+  stale: boolean
+): ExpandedDirLoadDecision {
+  if (cached?.loading) {
+    return 'skip'
+  }
+  if (!cached?.children.length) {
+    return 'load'
+  }
+  return stale ? 'reload' : 'skip'
+}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/file-explorer-types.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/file-explorer-types.ts
index 7cf4bbb96d3..8fa8a432544 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/file-explorer-types.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/file-explorer-types.ts
@@ -22,3 +22,12 @@ export type DirCache = {
   loading: boolean
   operationOwner?: FileExplorerOperationOwner
 }
+
+/**
+ * How a full tree refresh ended.
+ *
+ * Why three states, not a boolean: a caller that dropped its own pending dir refreshes because the
+ * tree refresh covered them must re-issue on `superseded` (someone newer owns those reads) but NOT
+ * on `root-unreadable` — there the transport is down, and re-issuing buys one dead timeout per dir.
+ */
+export type FileExplorerTreeRefreshOutcome = 'refreshed' | 'superseded' | 'root-unreadable'
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/file-explorer-watch-reconcile.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/file-explorer-watch-reconcile.test.ts
index d62420f7915..c6d221b4fad 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/file-explorer-watch-reconcile.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/file-explorer-watch-reconcile.test.ts
@@ -439,3 +439,32 @@ describe('processFileExplorerFsPayload update reconciliation', () => {
     expect(remainingExpanded).toEqual(new Set())
   })
 })
+
+describe('processFileExplorerFsPayload overflow reconciliation', () => {
+  it('routes an overflow event to a single tree refresh and skips per-dir refreshes', () => {
+    const root = '/repo'
+    const refreshDir = vi.fn()
+    const refreshTree = vi.fn()
+    processFileExplorerFsPayload({
+      payload: {
+        worktreePath: root,
+        events: [
+          { kind: 'create', absolutePath: `${root}/a.txt` },
+          { kind: 'overflow', absolutePath: root },
+          { kind: 'create', absolutePath: `${root}/src/b.txt` }
+        ]
+      },
+      currentWorktreePath: root,
+      worktreeId: 'wt-1',
+      cache: { [root]: cacheWithChildren([]), [`${root}/src`]: cacheWithChildren([]) },
+      expanded: new Set([`${root}/src`]),
+      setDirCache: vi.fn(),
+      setSelectedPath: vi.fn(),
+      refreshDir,
+      refreshTree
+    })
+
+    expect(refreshTree).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+    expect(refreshDir).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/file-explorer-watch-refresh-scheduler.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/file-explorer-watch-refresh-scheduler.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..376479eb388
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/file-explorer-watch-refresh-scheduler.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,382 @@
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { createFileExplorerWatchRefreshScheduler } from './file-explorer-watch-refresh-scheduler'
+import type { FileExplorerTreeRefreshOutcome } from './file-explorer-types'
+
+const TRAILING_MS = 150
+const MAX_WAIT_MS = 500
+
+function createDeferred(): {
+  promise: Promise<FileExplorerTreeRefreshOutcome>
+  resolve: (outcome?: FileExplorerTreeRefreshOutcome) => void
+} {
+  let resolve!: (outcome?: FileExplorerTreeRefreshOutcome) => void
+  const promise = new Promise<FileExplorerTreeRefreshOutcome>((res) => {
+    resolve = (outcome = 'refreshed') => res(outcome)
+  })
+  return { promise, resolve }
+}
+
+function setup(
+  overrides: Partial<Parameters<typeof createFileExplorerWatchRefreshScheduler>[0]> = {}
+) {
+  const { refreshTree: treeImpl, refreshDir: dirImpl, ...rest } = overrides
+  const refreshTree = vi.fn(
+    treeImpl ?? (async (): Promise<FileExplorerTreeRefreshOutcome> => 'refreshed')
+  )
+  const refreshDir = vi.fn(dirImpl ?? (async (_dirPath: string) => {}))
+  const scheduler = createFileExplorerWatchRefreshScheduler({
+    refreshTree,
+    refreshDir,
+    isCoveredByFullRefresh: () => false,
+    dirConcurrency: 4,
+    ...rest
+  })
+  return { refreshTree, refreshDir, scheduler }
+}
+
+describe('createFileExplorerWatchRefreshScheduler', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+  })
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    vi.useRealTimers()
+  })
+
+  it('coalesces a burst of full-refresh requests into one tree refresh', async () => {
+    const { refreshTree, scheduler } = setup()
+
+    for (let index = 0; index < 20; index++) {
+      scheduler.requestFullRefresh()
+    }
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(TRAILING_MS)
+
+    expect(refreshTree).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+  })
+
+  it('flushes at the max wait even when requests keep arriving inside the trailing window', async () => {
+    const { refreshTree, scheduler } = setup()
+
+    scheduler.requestFullRefresh()
+    for (let index = 0; index < 4; index++) {
+      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(100)
+      scheduler.requestFullRefresh()
+    }
+    expect(refreshTree).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(MAX_WAIT_MS - 400)
+
+    expect(refreshTree).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+  })
+
+  it('dedupes dir refreshes that differ only in path spelling', async () => {
+    const { refreshDir, scheduler } = setup()
+
+    // Spellings only the runtime-path normalizer folds: Windows separators and a
+    // trailing slash. Raw-string keying would issue three reads of one dir.
+    scheduler.requestDirRefresh('C:/repo/src/')
+    scheduler.requestDirRefresh('C:\\repo\\src')
+    scheduler.requestDirRefresh('C:/repo/src')
+    scheduler.requestDirRefresh('/repo/docs/')
+    scheduler.requestDirRefresh('/repo/docs')
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(TRAILING_MS)
+
+    expect(refreshDir).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
+    expect(refreshDir.mock.calls.map(([dirPath]) => dirPath)).toEqual(['C:/repo/src', '/repo/docs'])
+  })
+
+  it('still refreshes a pending dir that a full refresh does not cover', async () => {
+    // Regression guard: dirCache keys are a strict superset of expanded dirs, so
+    // a full refresh must not subsume pending dir refreshes.
+    const { refreshTree, refreshDir, scheduler } = setup()
+
+    scheduler.requestDirRefresh('/repo/collapsed')
+    scheduler.requestFullRefresh()
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(TRAILING_MS)
+
+    expect(refreshTree).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(refreshDir).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(refreshDir).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/repo/collapsed')
+  })
+
+  it('skips a pending dir the full refresh already re-read', async () => {
+    const { refreshTree, refreshDir, scheduler } = setup({
+      isCoveredByFullRefresh: (dirPath) => dirPath === '/repo/src'
+    })
+
+    scheduler.requestDirRefresh('/repo/src')
+    scheduler.requestFullRefresh()
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(TRAILING_MS)
+
+    expect(refreshTree).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(refreshDir).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('re-issues covered dir refreshes when the tree refresh was superseded', async () => {
+    // Regression guard: refreshTree bails without re-reading the expanded dirs when its root
+    // load is superseded. Nothing marks an expanded dir stale, so dropping these would leave
+    // them stale until a manual refresh — collapse/re-expand does not heal it.
+    const gate = createDeferred()
+    const { refreshDir, scheduler } = setup({
+      refreshTree: () => gate.promise,
+      isCoveredByFullRefresh: (dirPath) => dirPath === '/repo/src'
+    })
+
+    scheduler.requestDirRefresh('/repo/src')
+    scheduler.requestFullRefresh()
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(TRAILING_MS)
+
+    gate.resolve('superseded')
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(TRAILING_MS)
+
+    expect(refreshDir).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(refreshDir).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/repo/src')
+  })
+
+  it('drops pending dir refreshes when the tree refresh could not read the root', async () => {
+    // Regression guard: a failed root read means the transport is down, so re-issuing buys one
+    // dead timeout per dir and holds inFlight open, blocking every later refresh.
+    const gate = createDeferred()
+    const { refreshDir, scheduler } = setup({
+      refreshTree: () => gate.promise,
+      isCoveredByFullRefresh: () => false
+    })
+
+    scheduler.requestDirRefresh('/repo/src')
+    scheduler.requestDirRefresh('/repo/docs')
+    scheduler.requestFullRefresh()
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(TRAILING_MS)
+
+    gate.resolve('root-unreadable')
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(MAX_WAIT_MS)
+
+    expect(refreshDir).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('refreshes a covered dir when no full refresh is pending', async () => {
+    const { refreshTree, refreshDir, scheduler } = setup({
+      isCoveredByFullRefresh: () => true
+    })
+
+    scheduler.requestDirRefresh('/repo/src')
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(TRAILING_MS)
+
+    expect(refreshTree).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(refreshDir).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+  })
+
+  it('does not start a second run while the first is still in flight', async () => {
+    const gate = createDeferred()
+    const { refreshTree, scheduler } = setup({ refreshTree: () => gate.promise })
+
+    scheduler.requestFullRefresh()
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(TRAILING_MS)
+    expect(refreshTree).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+
+    scheduler.requestFullRefresh()
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(MAX_WAIT_MS)
+    expect(refreshTree).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+
+    gate.resolve()
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(TRAILING_MS)
+
+    expect(refreshTree).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
+  })
+
+  it('flushes a dir request that arrived during an in-flight run', async () => {
+    const gate = createDeferred()
+    const { refreshDir, scheduler } = setup({ refreshTree: () => gate.promise })
+
+    scheduler.requestFullRefresh()
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(TRAILING_MS)
+
+    scheduler.requestDirRefresh('/repo/late')
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(MAX_WAIT_MS)
+    expect(refreshDir).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+
+    gate.resolve()
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(TRAILING_MS)
+
+    expect(refreshDir).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(refreshDir).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/repo/late')
+  })
+
+  it('never runs more dir refreshes at once than dirConcurrency', async () => {
+    let inFlight = 0
+    let peakInFlight = 0
+    const refreshDir = vi.fn(async (_dirPath: string) => {
+      inFlight++
+      peakInFlight = Math.max(peakInFlight, inFlight)
+      await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 10))
+      inFlight--
+    })
+    const { scheduler } = setup({ refreshDir, dirConcurrency: 4 })
+
+    for (let index = 0; index < 20; index++) {
+      scheduler.requestDirRefresh(`/repo/d${index}`)
+    }
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(TRAILING_MS + 20 * 10)
+
+    expect(refreshDir).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(20)
+    expect(peakInFlight).toBeLessThanOrEqual(4)
+  })
+
+  it('cancels a pending flush', async () => {
+    const { refreshTree, refreshDir, scheduler } = setup()
+
+    scheduler.requestFullRefresh()
+    scheduler.requestDirRefresh('/repo/src')
+    scheduler.cancel()
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(MAX_WAIT_MS)
+
+    expect(refreshTree).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(refreshDir).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('stops refreshing queued dirs when cancelled mid-run', async () => {
+    // Regression guard: refreshDir is bound to a live ref that React reassigns
+    // before the effect cleanup runs, so a queued path surviving cancel() would
+    // be read against the NEXT worktree's binding.
+    const gate = createDeferred()
+    const refreshDir = vi.fn(async (dirPath: string) => {
+      if (dirPath === '/repo/d0') {
+        await gate.promise
+      }
+    })
+    const { scheduler } = setup({ refreshDir, dirConcurrency: 1 })
+
+    for (let index = 0; index < 4; index++) {
+      scheduler.requestDirRefresh(`/repo/d${index}`)
+    }
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(TRAILING_MS)
+    expect(refreshDir).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+
+    scheduler.cancel()
+    gate.resolve()
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(MAX_WAIT_MS)
+
+    expect(refreshDir).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+  })
+
+  it('still refreshes a dir first expanded while the tree refresh was in flight', async () => {
+    const gate = createDeferred()
+    const expanded = new Set<string>()
+    const { refreshDir, scheduler } = setup({
+      refreshTree: () => gate.promise,
+      isCoveredByFullRefresh: (dirPath) => expanded.has(dirPath)
+    })
+
+    scheduler.requestDirRefresh('/repo/late')
+    scheduler.requestFullRefresh()
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(TRAILING_MS)
+
+    // refreshTree already ran against the old expanded set, so this dir was
+    // never re-read and its pending refresh must survive.
+    expanded.add('/repo/late')
+    gate.resolve()
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(TRAILING_MS)
+
+    expect(refreshDir).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(refreshDir).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/repo/late')
+  })
+
+  it('drops a dir queued during an in-flight run when cancel lands first', async () => {
+    const gate = createDeferred()
+    const { refreshTree, refreshDir, scheduler } = setup({ refreshTree: () => gate.promise })
+
+    scheduler.requestFullRefresh()
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(TRAILING_MS)
+    scheduler.requestDirRefresh('/repo/src')
+    scheduler.cancel()
+
+    gate.resolve()
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(MAX_WAIT_MS)
+
+    expect(refreshTree).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(refreshDir).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('uses the injected timer functions', async () => {
+    const schedule = vi.fn((callback: () => void, delayMs: number) => setTimeout(callback, delayMs))
+    const clear = vi.fn((timer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout>) => {
+      clearTimeout(timer)
+    })
+    const { refreshTree, scheduler } = setup({ schedule, clear })
+
+    scheduler.requestFullRefresh()
+    scheduler.requestFullRefresh()
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(TRAILING_MS)
+
+    expect(schedule).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
+    expect(clear).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(refreshTree).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+  })
+
+  it('keeps a full refresh ahead of the dir refreshes it does not cover', async () => {
+    const order: string[] = []
+    const { scheduler } = setup({
+      refreshTree: async (): Promise<FileExplorerTreeRefreshOutcome> => {
+        order.push('tree')
+        return 'refreshed'
+      },
+      refreshDir: async (dirPath) => {
+        order.push(dirPath)
+      }
+    })
+
+    scheduler.requestDirRefresh('/repo/collapsed')
+    scheduler.requestFullRefresh()
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(TRAILING_MS)
+
+    expect(order).toEqual(['tree', '/repo/collapsed'])
+  })
+
+  // Why: local workspaces pass a zero window because the main process already coalesced the burst
+  // on the same 150/500 timings. Stacking a second debounce there only doubled paint latency.
+  describe('zero window (local transport)', () => {
+    const zeroWindow = { trailingMs: 0, maxWaitMs: 0 }
+
+    it('flushes on the next tick instead of waiting out a trailing window', async () => {
+      const { refreshTree, scheduler } = setup(zeroWindow)
+
+      scheduler.requestFullRefresh()
+      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0)
+
+      expect(refreshTree).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    })
+
+    it('still coalesces one payload burst into a single refresh', async () => {
+      const { refreshTree, refreshDir, scheduler } = setup(zeroWindow)
+
+      for (let index = 0; index < 20; index++) {
+        scheduler.requestFullRefresh()
+        scheduler.requestDirRefresh('/repo/src')
+      }
+      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0)
+
+      expect(refreshTree).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+      expect(refreshDir).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+      expect(refreshDir).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/repo/src')
+    })
+
+    it('does not start a second run while one is in flight', async () => {
+      const deferred = createDeferred()
+      const { refreshTree, scheduler } = setup({
+        ...zeroWindow,
+        refreshTree: () => deferred.promise
+      })
+
+      scheduler.requestFullRefresh()
+      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0)
+      scheduler.requestFullRefresh()
+      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0)
+
+      expect(refreshTree).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+
+      deferred.resolve()
+      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0)
+
+      expect(refreshTree).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
+    })
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/file-explorer-watch-refresh-scheduler.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/file-explorer-watch-refresh-scheduler.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..246ead05519
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/file-explorer-watch-refresh-scheduler.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,152 @@
+import type { FileExplorerTreeRefreshOutcome } from './file-explorer-types'
+import { normalizeRuntimePathForComparison } from '../../../../shared/cross-platform-path'
+import {
+  WATCH_BATCH_MAX_WAIT_MS,
+  WATCH_BATCH_TRAILING_MS
+} from '../../../../shared/filesystem-watch-batch-window'
+import { forEachWithConcurrency } from '../../../../shared/map-with-concurrency'
+
+type SchedulerTimer = ReturnType<typeof setTimeout>
+
+export type FileExplorerWatchRefreshScheduler = {
+  requestFullRefresh: () => void
+  requestDirRefresh: (dirPath: string) => void
+  cancel: () => void
+}
+
+export type CreateFileExplorerWatchRefreshSchedulerParams = {
+  refreshTree: () => Promise<FileExplorerTreeRefreshOutcome>
+  refreshDir: (dirPath: string) => Promise<void>
+  /** Dirs a full tree refresh already re-reads; the scheduler has no view of `expanded`. */
+  isCoveredByFullRefresh: (dirPath: string) => boolean
+  dirConcurrency: number
+  trailingMs?: number
+  maxWaitMs?: number
+  schedule?: (callback: () => void, delayMs: number) => SchedulerTimer
+  clear?: (timer: SchedulerTimer) => void
+}
+
+/**
+ * Coalesces watcher-driven File Explorer refreshes into one debounced run.
+ *
+ * Why: an overflow storm otherwise issues K × (1 + N_expanded) readDirectory
+ * round trips on the same SSH mux that carries PTY output. Transport-agnostic on
+ * purpose — it sits above both the Electron fs:changed bus and the runtime-RPC
+ * file-change subscription.
+ */
+export function createFileExplorerWatchRefreshScheduler({
+  refreshTree,
+  refreshDir,
+  isCoveredByFullRefresh,
+  dirConcurrency,
+  trailingMs = WATCH_BATCH_TRAILING_MS,
+  maxWaitMs = WATCH_BATCH_MAX_WAIT_MS,
+  schedule = setTimeout,
+  clear = clearTimeout
+}: CreateFileExplorerWatchRefreshSchedulerParams): FileExplorerWatchRefreshScheduler {
+  let pendingFull = false
+  const pendingDirs = new Map<string, string>()
+  let firstRequestAt: number | null = null
+  let timer: SchedulerTimer | null = null
+  let inFlight: Promise<void> | null = null
+  let disposed = false
+
+  function clearTimer(): void {
+    if (timer !== null) {
+      clear(timer)
+      timer = null
+    }
+  }
+
+  function arm(delayMs: number): void {
+    clearTimer()
+    timer = schedule(() => {
+      timer = null
+      // Why: a run started here would race the in-flight one; the settle
+      // handler re-arms instead, so nothing pending is dropped.
+      if (inFlight === null) {
+        run()
+      }
+    }, delayMs)
+  }
+
+  function armForRequest(): void {
+    firstRequestAt ??= Date.now()
+    arm(Math.max(0, Math.min(trailingMs, firstRequestAt + maxWaitMs - Date.now())))
+  }
+
+  function run(): void {
+    const full = pendingFull
+    const dirs = Array.from(pendingDirs.values())
+    pendingFull = false
+    pendingDirs.clear()
+    firstRequestAt = null
+
+    const started = (async () => {
+      // Why: isCoveredByFullRefresh reads a live `expanded` ref, so resolve it
+      // against the set refreshTree is about to read — a dir expanded during the
+      // tree refresh was never re-read and must keep its pending refresh.
+      const covered = full ? new Set(dirs.filter(isCoveredByFullRefresh)) : null
+      const outcome = full && !disposed ? await refreshTree() : null
+      // Why: refreshTree bails without touching the expanded dirs when its root load is
+      // superseded, so trusting `covered` there would drop those refreshes for good — nothing
+      // marks an expanded dir stale, so a later re-expansion won't re-read it either.
+      // Why: 'root-unreadable' is the opposite case. The transport just failed a read, so
+      // re-issuing buys one dead timeout per dir and holds `inFlight` open the whole time,
+      // blocking every later refresh. Drop them; a recovered watcher resyncs with an overflow.
+      const outstanding =
+        outcome === 'root-unreadable'
+          ? []
+          : covered && outcome === 'refreshed'
+            ? dirs.filter((dirPath) => !covered.has(dirPath))
+            : dirs
+      // Why: forEachWithConcurrency has no cancel hook, and the bound refreshDir
+      // is a live ref — a queued path would otherwise be read against the next
+      // worktree's binding after a switch.
+      await forEachWithConcurrency(outstanding, dirConcurrency, (dirPath) =>
+        disposed ? Promise.resolve() : refreshDir(dirPath)
+      )
+    })()
+    inFlight = started
+    void started
+      .catch(() => {
+        // Refresh failures are transient; the next watcher event retries.
+      })
+      .finally(() => {
+        if (inFlight === started) {
+          inFlight = null
+        }
+        if (!disposed && (pendingFull || pendingDirs.size > 0)) {
+          arm(trailingMs)
+        }
+      })
+  }
+
+  return {
+    requestFullRefresh: () => {
+      if (disposed) {
+        return
+      }
+      // Why: pendingDirs is deliberately NOT cleared. toggleDir drops a dir from
+      // expandedDirs without purging dirCache, so cache keys are a strict
+      // superset of what refreshTree re-reads; subsuming them would strand a
+      // stale listing for a collapsed-but-cached dir.
+      pendingFull = true
+      armForRequest()
+    },
+    requestDirRefresh: (dirPath: string) => {
+      if (disposed) {
+        return
+      }
+      pendingDirs.set(normalizeRuntimePathForComparison(dirPath), dirPath)
+      armForRequest()
+    },
+    cancel: () => {
+      disposed = true
+      clearTimer()
+      pendingFull = false
+      pendingDirs.clear()
+      firstRequestAt = null
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/useFileExplorerManualRefresh.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/useFileExplorerManualRefresh.ts
index 36fc1d24caf..b5c48de77da 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/useFileExplorerManualRefresh.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/useFileExplorerManualRefresh.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { useCallback, useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react'
 
 const REFRESH_SPINNER_DELAY_MS = 200
 
-export function useFileExplorerManualRefresh(refreshTree: () => Promise<void>): {
+export function useFileExplorerManualRefresh(refreshTree: () => Promise<unknown>): {
   isRefreshing: boolean
   showRefreshSpinner: boolean
   handleRefresh: () => void
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/useFileExplorerTree.stale-dirs.test.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/useFileExplorerTree.stale-dirs.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9c665f4cce6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/useFileExplorerTree.stale-dirs.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,155 @@
+// @vitest-environment happy-dom
+
+import { act, cleanup, renderHook } from '@testing-library/react'
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import type { DirEntry } from '../../../../shared/types'
+import { useFileExplorerTree } from './useFileExplorerTree'
+
+const readDirectoryMock = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn())
+vi.mock('./file-explorer-directory-listing', async (importOriginal) => ({
+  ...(await importOriginal<Record<string, unknown>>()),
+  readFileExplorerDirectory: readDirectoryMock
+}))
+vi.mock('./file-explorer-operation-owner', async (importOriginal) => ({
+  ...(await importOriginal<Record<string, unknown>>()),
+  getFileExplorerOperationOwner: () => ({ kind: 'local' as const })
+}))
+
+function entry(name: string, isDirectory = false): DirEntry {
+  return { name, isDirectory } as DirEntry
+}
+
+function listing(...entries: DirEntry[]) {
+  return { entries, operationOwner: { kind: 'local' as const } }
+}
+
+describe('useFileExplorerTree stale collapsed dirs', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    readDirectoryMock.mockReset()
+    readDirectoryMock.mockResolvedValue(listing())
+  })
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    cleanup()
+  })
+
+  it('marks a collapsed cached dir the full refresh skipped, and clears it on the next read', async () => {
+    const { result } = renderHook(() => useFileExplorerTree('/repo', new Set(), 'wt-1'))
+
+    readDirectoryMock.mockResolvedValueOnce(listing(entry('gone.ts')))
+    await act(async () => {
+      await result.current.loadDir('/repo/src', 0)
+    })
+    expect(result.current.dirCache['/repo/src'].children).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(result.current.isDirStale('/repo/src')).toBe(false)
+
+    // The overflow refresh reads root and the (empty) expanded set — not the collapsed /repo/src.
+    readDirectoryMock.mockClear()
+    await act(async () => {
+      await result.current.refreshTree()
+    })
+    expect(readDirectoryMock).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith('wt-1', '/repo', '/repo/src')
+    expect(result.current.isDirStale('/repo/src')).toBe(true)
+    // Its cached children stay put until something re-reads them.
+    expect(result.current.dirCache['/repo/src'].children).toHaveLength(1)
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      await result.current.loadDir('/repo/src', 0, { force: true })
+    })
+    expect(result.current.isDirStale('/repo/src')).toBe(false)
+    expect(result.current.dirCache['/repo/src'].children).toHaveLength(0)
+  })
+
+  it('does not mark the root or a dir the full refresh re-read', async () => {
+    const expanded = new Set(['/repo/src'])
+    const { result } = renderHook(() => useFileExplorerTree('/repo', expanded, 'wt-1'))
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      await result.current.loadDir('/repo/src', 0)
+    })
+    await act(async () => {
+      await result.current.refreshTree()
+    })
+
+    expect(result.current.isDirStale('/repo')).toBe(false)
+    expect(result.current.isDirStale('/repo/src')).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('keeps a mark a superseded refresh never verified, even once the dir is expanded', async () => {
+    // Regression guard: refreshTree used to REPLACE the mark set. A dir marked while collapsed and
+    // then expanded was dropped by the replacement (expanded dirs are never marked) — and when that
+    // refresh bailed on a superseded root load, nothing re-read it and nothing still called it
+    // unverified, so re-expanding served the pre-overflow listing forever.
+    const expanded = new Set<string>()
+    const { result, rerender } = renderHook(() => useFileExplorerTree('/repo', expanded, 'wt-1'))
+
+    readDirectoryMock.mockResolvedValueOnce(listing(entry('gone.ts')))
+    await act(async () => {
+      await result.current.loadDir('/repo/src', 0)
+    })
+    await act(async () => {
+      await result.current.refreshTree()
+    })
+    expect(result.current.isDirStale('/repo/src')).toBe(true)
+
+    expanded.add('/repo/src')
+    rerender()
+
+    let releaseRoot!: () => void
+    const rootGate = new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+      releaseRoot = resolve
+    })
+    readDirectoryMock.mockImplementationOnce(async () => {
+      await rootGate
+      return listing()
+    })
+
+    let refresh!: Promise<string>
+    act(() => {
+      refresh = result.current.refreshTree()
+    })
+    await act(async () => {
+      // A concurrent root read supersedes this refresh's token, so it bails before the expanded set.
+      void result.current.refreshDir('/repo')
+      releaseRoot()
+      expect(await refresh).toBe('superseded')
+    })
+
+    expect(result.current.isDirStale('/repo/src')).toBe(true)
+  })
+
+  it('does not read the expanded dirs when the root read failed', async () => {
+    // Regression guard: loadDir swallows read errors unless failOnError is set, so a dead
+    // transport used to report a completed root read and fan out one doomed wave per 4 dirs.
+    const expanded = new Set(['/repo/a', '/repo/b'])
+    const { result } = renderHook(() => useFileExplorerTree('/repo', expanded, 'wt-1'))
+
+    readDirectoryMock.mockReset()
+    readDirectoryMock.mockRejectedValue(new Error('ETIMEDOUT'))
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      expect(await result.current.refreshTree()).toBe('root-unreadable')
+    })
+
+    // Only the root read was attempted; the expanded dirs were not.
+    expect(readDirectoryMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(readDirectoryMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith('wt-1', '/repo', '/repo')
+  })
+
+  it('drops stale marks when the tree is reset for a new worktree', async () => {
+    const { result } = renderHook(() => useFileExplorerTree('/repo', new Set(), 'wt-1'))
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      await result.current.loadDir('/repo/src', 0)
+    })
+    await act(async () => {
+      await result.current.refreshTree()
+    })
+    expect(result.current.isDirStale('/repo/src')).toBe(true)
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      result.current.resetAndLoad()
+    })
+    expect(result.current.isDirStale('/repo/src')).toBe(false)
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/useFileExplorerTree.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/useFileExplorerTree.ts
index 591d9fd4d9f..d6f695c2ac3 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/useFileExplorerTree.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/useFileExplorerTree.ts
@@ -1,12 +1,9 @@
 import type { Dispatch, SetStateAction } from 'react'
 import { useCallback, useRef, useState } from 'react'
-import type { DirCache } from './file-explorer-types'
+import type { DirCache, FileExplorerTreeRefreshOutcome } from './file-explorer-types'
 import { splitPathSegments } from './path-tree'
 import { statRuntimePath } from '@/runtime/runtime-file-client'
-import {
-  createFileExplorerDirLoadTracker,
-  type FileExplorerDirLoadTracker
-} from './file-explorer-dir-load-tracker'
+import { createFileExplorerDirLoadTracker } from './file-explorer-dir-load-tracker'
 import {
   getFileExplorerOperationOwner,
   getFileExplorerOwnerUnresolvedMessage,
@@ -14,9 +11,11 @@ import {
 } from './file-explorer-operation-owner'
 import {
   fileExplorerEntriesToTreeNodes,
-  readFileExplorerDirectory,
-  type FileExplorerDirectoryListing
+  readFileExplorerDirectory
 } from './file-explorer-directory-listing'
+import { refreshFileExplorerExpandedDirs } from './file-explorer-expanded-dirs-refresh'
+import { collectStaleDirCachePaths } from './file-explorer-stale-dir-cache'
+import { fileExplorerRefreshConcurrency } from './file-explorer-refresh-concurrency'
 
 type UseFileExplorerTreeResult = {
   dirCache: Record<string, DirCache>
@@ -30,113 +29,13 @@ type UseFileExplorerTreeResult = {
   ) => Promise<boolean>
   statPath: (path: string) => Promise<{ isDirectory: boolean }>
   markPathAsDirectory: (path: string) => void
-  refreshTree: () => Promise<void>
+  refreshTree: () => Promise<FileExplorerTreeRefreshOutcome>
   refreshDir: (dirPath: string) => Promise<void>
+  /** True while a dir's cached listing predates the last full refresh that skipped it. */
+  isDirStale: (dirPath: string) => boolean
   resetAndLoad: () => void
 }
 
-type RefreshFileExplorerTreeDir = {
-  dirPath: string
-  depth: number
-}
-
-type RefreshFileExplorerExpandedDirsParams = {
-  dirs: RefreshFileExplorerTreeDir[]
-  worktreePath: string
-  dirLoadTracker: FileExplorerDirLoadTracker
-  setDirCache: Dispatch<SetStateAction<Record<string, DirCache>>>
-  readDirectory: (dirPath: string) => Promise<FileExplorerDirectoryListing>
-}
-
-export async function refreshFileExplorerExpandedDirs({
-  dirs,
-  worktreePath,
-  dirLoadTracker,
-  setDirCache,
-  readDirectory
-}: RefreshFileExplorerExpandedDirsParams): Promise<boolean> {
-  if (dirs.length === 0) {
-    return true
-  }
-
-  const uniqueDirs = Array.from(new Map(dirs.map((dir) => [dir.dirPath, dir])).values())
-  const loadTokens = new Map(
-    uniqueDirs.map((dir) => [dir.dirPath, dirLoadTracker.begin(dir.dirPath)])
-  )
-
-  // Why: expanded refresh can touch many directories; commit the loading and
-  // result states in two batched setDirCache writes (rather than per-directory)
-  // so refreshing large worktrees stays O(N) instead of O(N²) cache spreads.
-  setDirCache((prev) => {
-    const next = { ...prev }
-    for (const { dirPath } of uniqueDirs) {
-      next[dirPath] = {
-        children: prev[dirPath]?.children ?? [],
-        loading: true
-      }
-    }
-    return next
-  })
-
-  const results = await Promise.all(
-    uniqueDirs.map(async ({ dirPath, depth }) => {
-      const loadToken = loadTokens.get(dirPath)!
-      try {
-        const listing = await readDirectory(dirPath)
-        if (!dirLoadTracker.isCurrent(loadToken)) {
-          return { current: false as const }
-        }
-        return {
-          current: true as const,
-          dirPath,
-          cache: {
-            children: fileExplorerEntriesToTreeNodes(
-              listing.entries,
-              dirPath,
-              depth,
-              worktreePath,
-              listing.operationOwner
-            ),
-            loading: false,
-            operationOwner: listing.operationOwner
-          }
-        }
-      } catch {
-        if (!dirLoadTracker.isCurrent(loadToken)) {
-          return { current: false as const }
-        }
-        return {
-          current: true as const,
-          dirPath,
-          cache: { children: [], loading: false }
-        }
-      }
-    })
-  )
-
-  // Why: the batch commits only after the slowest read, so a dir can be
-  // superseded (watcher refreshDir, worktree reset) after its own read
-  // resolved. Re-check tokens at commit time so the batched write never
-  // clobbers a newer load — preserving the old per-dir commit ordering.
-  const currentResults = results.filter(
-    (result): result is Extract<typeof result, { current: true }> =>
-      result.current && dirLoadTracker.isCurrent(loadTokens.get(result.dirPath)!)
-  )
-  if (currentResults.length === 0) {
-    return false
-  }
-
-  setDirCache((prev) => {
-    const next = { ...prev }
-    for (const result of currentResults) {
-      next[result.dirPath] = result.cache
-    }
-    return next
-  })
-
-  return currentResults.length === uniqueDirs.length
-}
-
 export function useFileExplorerTree(
   worktreePath: string | null,
   expanded: Set<string>,
@@ -147,6 +46,11 @@ export function useFileExplorerTree(
   const dirCacheRef = useRef(dirCache)
   dirCacheRef.current = dirCache
   const dirLoadTrackerRef = useRef(createFileExplorerDirLoadTracker())
+  // Why: a ref, not state — the expansion effect must read the mark set by a refresh that landed
+  // after the effect's render, and a state write would only be visible one render too late.
+  const staleDirsRef = useRef(new Set<string>())
+  // Why: separates a failed root read from a superseded one — loadDir returns false for both.
+  const rootReadFailedRef = useRef(false)
 
   const loadDir = useCallback(
     async (
@@ -159,6 +63,8 @@ export function useFileExplorerTree(
         return true
       }
       const loadToken = dirLoadTrackerRef.current.begin(dirPath)
+      // Why: this read starts after the refresh that marked the dir, so its result is current.
+      staleDirsRef.current.delete(dirPath)
       // Why: when force-reloading a directory (e.g. after a file is created,
       // duplicated, or deleted), keep the previous children visible while the
       // fresh listing loads. Clearing to [] would momentarily shrink the
@@ -200,6 +106,7 @@ export function useFileExplorerTree(
           // empty worktree. Preserve the message so the UI can distinguish
           // "no files" from "could not read this worktree".
           setRootError(error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error))
+          rootReadFailedRef.current = true
         }
         setDirCache((prev) => ({ ...prev, [dirPath]: { children: [], loading: false } }))
         return !options?.failOnError
@@ -248,17 +155,42 @@ export function useFileExplorerTree(
     [activeWorktreeId, worktreePath]
   )
 
-  const refreshTree = useCallback(async () => {
+  const refreshTree = useCallback(async (): Promise<FileExplorerTreeRefreshOutcome> => {
     if (!worktreePath) {
-      return
+      // Why: not 'root-unreadable' — no read was attempted, and that outcome tells callers to DROP
+      // their pending refreshes. Report the refresh as not-done so they keep them instead.
+      return 'superseded'
     }
     // Why: clearing the entire dirCache here would momentarily empty the
     // visible projection and jump the virtualizer to the top. Instead we rely
     // on force-reload keeping existing children visible until fresh data lands.
+    // Why: mark before the first read, against the live expanded set — a dir expanded after this
+    // point loads through the expansion effect, which would otherwise trust a listing this refresh
+    // never re-read.
+    // Why: union, not replace. This refresh can bail below without re-reading a single expanded
+    // dir, so replacing would erase an earlier mark for a dir nothing has verified since. Marks are
+    // cleared only where a read actually lands: loadDir, and onDirCommitted per committed wave.
+    // Why: prune first — a mark only means anything while the dir still has a cached listing to
+    // distrust, and unioning without this would accumulate every path visited in the session.
+    for (const dirPath of staleDirsRef.current) {
+      if (dirCacheRef.current[dirPath] === undefined) {
+        staleDirsRef.current.delete(dirPath)
+      }
+    }
+    // Why: callers use the latest refreshTree identity, so this closure has the live expanded set.
+    for (const dirPath of collectStaleDirCachePaths(dirCacheRef.current, worktreePath, expanded)) {
+      staleDirsRef.current.add(dirPath)
+    }
     const refreshSession = dirLoadTrackerRef.current.getSession()
-    const rootLoadCompleted = await loadDir(worktreePath, -1, { force: true })
+    rootReadFailedRef.current = false
+    // Why: failOnError, else a dead transport reports a completed root read and we fan out one
+    // doomed wave per 4 expanded dirs — 200 dirs is ~50 sequential 15s timeouts, and the watch
+    // scheduler cannot start another refresh for that entire window.
+    const rootLoadCompleted = await loadDir(worktreePath, -1, { force: true, failOnError: true })
     if (!rootLoadCompleted || !dirLoadTrackerRef.current.isSessionCurrent(refreshSession)) {
-      return
+      // Why: the expanded dirs below were never re-read either way, but the two reasons want
+      // opposite handling from callers — see FileExplorerTreeRefreshOutcome.
+      return rootReadFailedRef.current ? 'root-unreadable' : 'superseded'
     }
     // Why: root (worktreePath) was just force-loaded above; exclude it here so
     // refreshFileExplorerExpandedDirs doesn't queue a duplicate read of root.
@@ -268,13 +200,19 @@ export function useFileExplorerTree(
         dirPath,
         depth: splitPathSegments(dirPath.slice(worktreePath.length + 1)).length - 1
       }))
-    await refreshFileExplorerExpandedDirs({
+    const allDirsCommitted = await refreshFileExplorerExpandedDirs({
       dirs: expandedDirs,
       worktreePath,
       dirLoadTracker: dirLoadTrackerRef.current,
       setDirCache,
-      readDirectory: (dirPath) => readFileExplorerDirectory(activeWorktreeId, worktreePath, dirPath)
+      readDirectory: (dirPath) =>
+        readFileExplorerDirectory(activeWorktreeId, worktreePath, dirPath),
+      maxConcurrentReads: fileExplorerRefreshConcurrency(
+        getFileExplorerOperationOwner(activeWorktreeId)
+      ),
+      onDirCommitted: (dirPath) => staleDirsRef.current.delete(dirPath)
     })
+    return allDirsCommitted ? 'refreshed' : 'superseded'
   }, [activeWorktreeId, expanded, loadDir, worktreePath])
 
   const refreshDir = useCallback(
@@ -291,12 +229,15 @@ export function useFileExplorerTree(
     [worktreePath, loadDir]
   )
 
+  const isDirStale = useCallback((dirPath: string) => staleDirsRef.current.has(dirPath), [])
+
   const rootCache = worktreePath ? dirCache[worktreePath] : undefined
 
   const resetAndLoad = useCallback(() => {
     // Why: stale readDir responses from the previous worktree/reset session
     // must not repopulate the explorer after the tree has been cleared.
     dirLoadTrackerRef.current.reset()
+    staleDirsRef.current.clear()
     setDirCache({})
     setRootError(null)
     if (worktreePath) {
@@ -314,6 +255,7 @@ export function useFileExplorerTree(
     markPathAsDirectory,
     refreshTree,
     refreshDir,
+    isDirStale,
     resetAndLoad
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/useFileExplorerVisibleRowProjection.debounce.test.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/useFileExplorerVisibleRowProjection.debounce.test.tsx
index b6dd71c8a05..00ffeee274d 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/useFileExplorerVisibleRowProjection.debounce.test.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/useFileExplorerVisibleRowProjection.debounce.test.tsx
@@ -22,24 +22,28 @@ function useProjection(query: string) {
   })
 }
 
-function useTreeProjection() {
+function treeDirCache(loading: boolean) {
+  return {
+    '/repo': {
+      children: [
+        {
+          name: 'src',
+          path: '/repo/src',
+          relativePath: 'src',
+          isDirectory: true,
+          depth: 0
+        }
+      ],
+      loading
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+function useTreeProjection(dirCache = treeDirCache(false)) {
   return useFileExplorerVisibleRowProjection(
     'worktree-1',
     '/repo',
-    {
-      '/repo': {
-        children: [
-          {
-            name: 'src',
-            path: '/repo/src',
-            relativePath: 'src',
-            isDirectory: true,
-            depth: 0
-          }
-        ],
-        loading: false
-      }
-    },
+    dirCache,
     new Set(),
     true,
     true,
@@ -95,4 +99,19 @@ describe('file explorer ignored-path query debounce', () => {
     expect(getRuntimeGitIgnoredPathsMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
     expect(getRuntimeGitIgnoredPathsMock.mock.calls[0]?.[1]).toEqual(['src'])
   })
+
+  it('does not re-issue the ignored check for a dirCache commit that changes no path', () => {
+    // A wave-batched tree refresh commits a fresh dirCache object per wave. The
+    // ignored query is an uncancellable remote git check-ignore over the whole
+    // visible tree, so identical contents must not re-issue it.
+    const hook = renderHook(({ dirCache }) => useTreeProjection(dirCache), {
+      initialProps: { dirCache: treeDirCache(false) }
+    })
+    expect(getRuntimeGitIgnoredPathsMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+
+    hook.rerender({ dirCache: treeDirCache(true) })
+    hook.rerender({ dirCache: treeDirCache(false) })
+
+    expect(getRuntimeGitIgnoredPathsMock).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+  })
 })
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/useFileExplorerVisibleRowProjection.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/useFileExplorerVisibleRowProjection.ts
index 813555af1c5..06a5e110ad4 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/useFileExplorerVisibleRowProjection.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/useFileExplorerVisibleRowProjection.ts
@@ -109,6 +109,28 @@ export function createVisibleFileExplorerRowProjection(
   return createFileExplorerRowProjectionFromParts(visibleFlatRows, rowsByPath)
 }
 
+/**
+ * Holds the array identity while its contents are unchanged.
+ *
+ * Why: a tree refresh commits dirCache once per read wave, and every commit
+ * rebuilds this list. Each new identity would re-issue the uncancellable git
+ * check-ignore over the whole visible tree — the remote round trips the wave cap
+ * exists to bound.
+ */
+function useContentStableRelativePaths(relativePaths: string[], enabled: boolean): string[] {
+  // Why: filters need fresh identities per keystroke and must not evict the tree signature.
+  // Why: NUL cannot occur in paths, so the signature can reconstruct the list losslessly.
+  const signature = useMemo(
+    () => (enabled ? relativePaths.join('\u0000') : null),
+    [enabled, relativePaths]
+  )
+  const stableTreePaths = useMemo(
+    () => (signature ? signature.split('\u0000') : EMPTY_RELATIVE_PATHS),
+    [signature]
+  )
+  return enabled ? stableTreePaths : relativePaths
+}
+
 export function useFileExplorerVisibleRowProjection(
   activeWorktreeId: string | null,
   worktreePath: string | null,
@@ -128,7 +150,7 @@ export function useFileExplorerVisibleRowProjection(
   const settings = useAppStore((s) => s.settings)
   const updateSettings = useAppStore((s) => s.updateSettings)
   const showGitIgnoredFiles = settings?.showGitIgnoredFiles ?? true
-  const relativePaths = useMemo(
+  const rebuiltRelativePaths = useMemo(
     () =>
       activeRepoSupportsGit
         ? nameFilter
@@ -140,6 +162,9 @@ export function useFileExplorerVisibleRowProjection(
         : EMPTY_RELATIVE_PATHS,
     [activeRepoSupportsGit, dirCache, expanded, nameFilter, showDotfiles, worktreePath]
   )
+  // Why: the name-filter list is debounced per keystroke, so it must keep a fresh
+  // identity; only the dirCache-derived list needs stability across wave commits.
+  const relativePaths = useContentStableRelativePaths(rebuiltRelativePaths, !nameFilter)
   const canLoadIgnoredPaths =
     activeRepoSupportsGit &&
     Boolean(activeWorktreeId) &&
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/useFileExplorerWatch.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/useFileExplorerWatch.ts
index be089be1666..c75dfd4fac8 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/useFileExplorerWatch.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/right-sidebar/useFileExplorerWatch.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,21 @@
 import { useEffect, useRef, type Dispatch, type SetStateAction } from 'react'
 import type { FsChangedPayload } from '../../../../shared/types'
-import type { DirCache, FileExplorerOperationOwner } from './file-explorer-types'
+import type {
+  DirCache,
+  FileExplorerOperationOwner,
+  FileExplorerTreeRefreshOutcome
+} from './file-explorer-types'
 import type { InlineInput } from './FileExplorerRow'
 import { useAppStore } from '@/store'
 import { subscribeRuntimeFileChanges } from '@/runtime/runtime-file-client'
+import { normalizeRuntimePathForComparison } from '../../../../shared/cross-platform-path'
 import {
+  getFileExplorerOperationOwner,
   getFileExplorerOperationOwnerFromState,
   type FileExplorerOwnerState
 } from './file-explorer-operation-owner'
+import { fileExplorerRefreshConcurrency } from './file-explorer-refresh-concurrency'
+import { createFileExplorerWatchRefreshScheduler } from './file-explorer-watch-refresh-scheduler'
 import { processFileExplorerFsPayload } from './file-explorer-watch-reconcile'
 
 export {
@@ -30,7 +38,7 @@ type UseFileExplorerWatchParams = {
   expanded: Set<string>
   setSelectedPath: Dispatch<SetStateAction<string | null>>
   refreshDir: (dirPath: string) => Promise<void>
-  refreshTree: () => Promise<void>
+  refreshTree: () => Promise<FileExplorerTreeRefreshOutcome>
   inlineInput: InlineInput | null
   dragSourcePath: string | null
   isNativeDragOver: boolean
@@ -127,6 +135,29 @@ export function useFileExplorerWatch({
 
     const currentWorktreePath = worktreePath
 
+    // Why: one scheduler per subscription covers BOTH remote transports (the
+    // Electron fs:changed bus and the runtime-RPC subscription below), and its
+    // lifetime is tied to the watched worktree so a switch can't refresh the
+    // previous root.
+    const owner = getFileExplorerOperationOwner(worktreeIdRef.current)
+    const scheduler = createFileExplorerWatchRefreshScheduler({
+      refreshTree: () => refreshTreeRef.current(),
+      refreshDir: (dirPath) => refreshDirRef.current(dirPath),
+      // Why exact-match on `expanded`, not a normalized compare: dirPath already arrives as a
+      // resolved dirCache key (resolveCachedDirPath), and refreshTree re-reads dirCache under the
+      // verbatim expanded strings — a differently-spelled key it never wrote would be reported
+      // covered and left stale. Only the root is normalized: it is keyed by worktreePath.
+      isCoveredByFullRefresh: (dirPath) =>
+        normalizeRuntimePathForComparison(dirPath) ===
+          normalizeRuntimePathForComparison(currentWorktreePath) ||
+        expandedRef.current.has(dirPath),
+      dirConcurrency: fileExplorerRefreshConcurrency(owner),
+      // Why: main already coalesced the burst on this same 150/500 window before it reached the
+      // fs:changed bus, so a second debounce here only doubles paint latency. Zero still arms a 0ms
+      // timer, keeping intra-payload dedup and the concurrency cap.
+      ...(owner.kind === 'local' ? { trailingMs: 0, maxWaitMs: 0 } : {})
+    })
+
     function processPayload(payload: FsChangedPayload): void {
       const wtId = worktreeIdRef.current
       if (!wtId) {
@@ -140,12 +171,8 @@ export function useFileExplorerWatch({
         expanded: expandedRef.current,
         setDirCache,
         setSelectedPath,
-        refreshDir: (dirPath) => {
-          void refreshDirRef.current(dirPath)
-        },
-        refreshTree: () => {
-          void refreshTreeRef.current()
-        }
+        refreshDir: scheduler.requestDirRefresh,
+        refreshTree: scheduler.requestFullRefresh
       })
     }
 
@@ -207,6 +234,7 @@ export function useFileExplorerWatch({
     return () => {
       disposed = true
       unsubscribeListener?.()
+      scheduler.cancel()
       deferredRef.current = []
       processPayloadRef.current = null
     }
diff --git a/src/shared/filesystem-watch-batch-window.ts b/src/shared/filesystem-watch-batch-window.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..fbbae133b78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/shared/filesystem-watch-batch-window.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+// Why: the main-process watcher batcher and the renderer's Explorer refresh
+// scheduler share one flush window so local and remote latency can't drift.
+
+export const WATCH_BATCH_TRAILING_MS = 150
+export const WATCH_BATCH_MAX_WAIT_MS = 500