diff --git a/src/main/hosted-sandbox/hosted-account-ipc.test.ts b/src/main/hosted-sandbox/hosted-account-ipc.test.ts
index c2258530261..7e9fa6e3011 100644
--- a/src/main/hosted-sandbox/hosted-account-ipc.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/hosted-sandbox/hosted-account-ipc.test.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,22 @@ it('opens only a github.com page for Connect GitHub', async () => {
   expect(openExternal).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
 })
 
+it('re-reads the config after 5 minutes so a new build sheet sees a fresh median', async () => {
+  vi.useFakeTimers({ now: 0 })
+  try {
+    const config = register('https://github.com/x')
+    await handlers.get(CH.getConfig)?.()
+    vi.setSystemTime(4 * 60_000)
+    await handlers.get(CH.getConfig)?.()
+    expect(config).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    vi.setSystemTime(5 * 60_000)
+    await handlers.get(CH.getConfig)?.()
+    expect(config).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
+  } finally {
+    vi.useRealTimers()
+  }
+})
+
 it('reads the config once, and again after a failed read', async () => {
   let fail = true
   const config = vi.fn(async () => {
diff --git a/src/main/hosted-sandbox/hosted-account-ipc.ts b/src/main/hosted-sandbox/hosted-account-ipc.ts
index fcb9c52db80..5c704ce9152 100644
--- a/src/main/hosted-sandbox/hosted-account-ipc.ts
+++ b/src/main/hosted-sandbox/hosted-account-ipc.ts
@@ -5,20 +5,31 @@ import type { HostedSandboxConfigResponse } from '../../shared/hosted-sandbox/ho
 import type { HostedSandboxControlPlaneClient } from './hosted-sandbox-control-plane-client'
 import { failure } from './hosted-workspace-runtime'
 
+const CONFIG_TTL_MS = 5 * 60_000
+
 export const HOSTED_ACCOUNT_CHANNELS = [CH.getConfig, CH.connectGitHub] as const
 
 export function registerHostedAccountHandlers(
   client: Pick<HostedSandboxControlPlaneClient, 'config' | 'connectGitHub'>
 ): void {
-  // Timings move slowly and the Worker caches them for 5 minutes; one read per app session is plenty.
-  let config: Promise<HostedSandboxConfigResponse | null> | null = null
+  // The Worker re-measures every 5 minutes; match it so each new build sheet sees a fresh median.
+  let config: { at: number; value: Promise<HostedSandboxConfigResponse | null> } | null = null
   ipcMain.handle(CH.getConfig, () => {
-    config ??= client.config().catch(() => {
-      // Offline now says nothing about later: ask again next time.
-      config = null
-      return null
-    })
-    return config
+    const now = Date.now()
+    if (!config || now - config.at >= CONFIG_TTL_MS) {
+      const entry = {
+        at: now,
+        value: client.config().catch(() => {
+          // Offline now says nothing about later: ask again next time.
+          if (config === entry) {
+            config = null
+          }
+          return null
+        })
+      }
+      config = entry
+    }
+    return config.value
   })
 
   ipcMain.handle(CH.connectGitHub, async () => {
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/app-shell/TitlebarMainStrip.tsx b/src/renderer/src/app-shell/TitlebarMainStrip.tsx
index bf9b5576350..4c85673d892 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/app-shell/TitlebarMainStrip.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/app-shell/TitlebarMainStrip.tsx
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { TOGGLE_TERMINAL_PANE_EXPAND_EVENT } from '@/constants/terminal'
 import { ActivityTitlebarControls } from '../components/activity/ActivityTitlebarControls'
 import { useShortcutLabel } from '../hooks/useShortcutLabel'
 import { useAppStore } from '../store'
+import { selectVmBuildSurfaceShown } from '@/lib/workspace/creation/worktree-creation-surface'
 import { selectActiveTerminalChromeState } from './active-terminal-chrome-selector'
 import { hasCustomTitleBar } from './app-window-chrome'
 import type { AppChromeLayout } from './use-app-chrome-layout'
@@ -13,21 +14,29 @@ export function RightSidebarToggle(): React.JSX.Element {
   const t = useTranslate()
   const toggleRightSidebar = useAppStore((s) => s.toggleRightSidebar)
   const rightSidebarShortcutLabel = useShortcutLabel('sidebar.right.toggle')
+  // A build sheet keeps the sidebar closed (it has no workspace to show yet), so say why instead of doing nothing.
+  const building = useAppStore(selectVmBuildSurfaceShown)
   return (
     <Tooltip>
       <TooltipTrigger asChild>
         <button
-          className="sidebar-toggle mr-2"
-          onClick={toggleRightSidebar}
+          className="sidebar-toggle mr-2 aria-disabled:cursor-not-allowed aria-disabled:opacity-50"
+          onClick={building ? undefined : toggleRightSidebar}
+          aria-disabled={building || undefined}
           aria-label={t('auto.App.9e0b441a91', 'Toggle right sidebar')}
         >
           <PanelRight size={16} />
         </button>
       </TooltipTrigger>
       <TooltipContent side="bottom" sideOffset={6}>
-        {t('auto.App.c184e056de', 'Toggle right sidebar ({{value0}})', {
-          value0: rightSidebarShortcutLabel
-        })}
+        {building
+          ? t(
+              'auto.app.shell.TitlebarMainStrip.sidebarAfterBuild',
+              'Available when the workspace is ready'
+            )
+          : t('auto.App.c184e056de', 'Toggle right sidebar ({{value0}})', {
+              value0: rightSidebarShortcutLabel
+            })}
       </TooltipContent>
     </Tooltip>
   )
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/app-shell/right-sidebar-toggle-build.test.tsx b/src/renderer/src/app-shell/right-sidebar-toggle-build.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a41c50d28c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/app-shell/right-sidebar-toggle-build.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+// @vitest-environment happy-dom
+
+import { act, cleanup, fireEvent, render, screen } from '@testing-library/react'
+import { afterEach, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import { TooltipProvider } from '@/components/ui/tooltip'
+import { useAppStore } from '@/store'
+import type { PendingWorktreeCreation } from '@/lib/workspace/creation/pending-worktree-creation'
+import { RightSidebarToggle } from './TitlebarMainStrip'
+
+afterEach(cleanup)
+
+function showCloudBuild(): void {
+  useAppStore.setState({
+    activeView: 'terminal',
+    activePendingCreationId: 'c1',
+    rightSidebarOpen: false,
+    pendingWorktreeCreations: {
+      // oxlint-disable-next-line typescript/consistent-type-assertions -- SAFETY: the toggle reads only the fields set here.
+      c1: {
+        creationId: 'c1',
+        status: 'creating',
+        loaderVisible: true,
+        request: {
+          name: 'fix-login',
+          ephemeralVmRecipe: {
+            sourceRepoId: 'r',
+            recipeId: 'cloud',
+            projectId: 'p',
+            provider: 'orca-cloud'
+          }
+        }
+      } as PendingWorktreeCreation
+    }
+  })
+}
+
+it('explains itself instead of toggling a hidden sidebar during a build, by click or shortcut', () => {
+  showCloudBuild()
+  render(
+    <TooltipProvider>
+      <RightSidebarToggle />
+    </TooltipProvider>
+  )
+  const button = screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Toggle right sidebar' })
+  expect(button.getAttribute('aria-disabled')).toBe('true')
+  fireEvent.click(button)
+  // The shortcut path calls the store action directly.
+  act(() => useAppStore.getState().toggleRightSidebar())
+  expect(useAppStore.getState().rightSidebarOpen).toBe(false)
+  act(() => {
+    fireEvent.focus(button)
+  })
+  expect(document.body.textContent).toContain('Available when the workspace is ready')
+})
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/cloud-environment/build-log-model.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/cloud-environment/build-log-model.test.ts
index a4ca69afa54..5f34ee60e27 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/cloud-environment/build-log-model.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/cloud-environment/build-log-model.test.ts
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ describe('formatStepDuration', () => {
   it('formats compactly', () => {
     expect(formatStepDuration(null)).toBe('')
     expect(formatStepDuration(4_200)).toBe('4s')
-    expect(formatStepDuration(125_000)).toBe('2m 05s')
-    expect(formatStepDuration(3_725_000)).toBe('62m 05s')
+    expect(formatStepDuration(125_000)).toBe('2m 5s')
+    expect(formatStepDuration(3_725_000)).toBe('1h 2m 5s')
   })
 })
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/settings/cloud-api/cloud-api-format.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/settings/cloud-api/cloud-api-format.test.ts
index 7b46a14fb26..1312784f4ab 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/settings/cloud-api/cloud-api-format.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/settings/cloud-api/cloud-api-format.test.ts
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ describe('formatting', () => {
     expect(formatRunDuration(null)).toBe('—')
     expect(formatRunDuration(38_000)).toBe('38s')
     expect(formatRunDuration(252_000)).toBe('4m 12s')
-    expect(formatRunDuration(1_800_000)).toBe('30m 00s')
+    expect(formatRunDuration(1_800_000)).toBe('30m 0s')
     expect(formatCountdown(582_000)).toBe('9:42')
     expect(formatCountdown(-5)).toBe('0:00')
   })
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/VmBuildAgentSignInRow.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/VmBuildAgentSignInRow.tsx
index 177f18441ff..a108d170c0f 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/VmBuildAgentSignInRow.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/VmBuildAgentSignInRow.tsx
@@ -155,7 +155,8 @@ export function VmBuildAgentSignInRowView({
     <li className="flex flex-col gap-2 py-1.5" data-vm-build-agent-sign-in={model.kind}>
       <div className="flex items-center gap-2.5">
         {icon}
-        <div className="flex min-w-0 flex-1 flex-col">
+        {/* Sign-in progresses on its own (waiting, code shown, done); screen readers hear each step. */}
+        <div className="flex min-w-0 flex-1 flex-col" aria-live="polite" aria-atomic="true">
           <span className="truncate">
             {t('vmBuildAgentSignIn.title', 'Agent sign-in')}
             {tag ? <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground"> · {tag}</span> : null}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/VmBuildFailureActions.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/VmBuildFailureActions.tsx
index b77b0e63c48..49ce22447c9 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/VmBuildFailureActions.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/VmBuildFailureActions.tsx
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ function failureActions(
             label: signingIn
               ? t('auto.components.OrcaSignInProgress.signingIn', 'Signing in…')
               : t('auto.components.worktree.creation.VmBuildFailureCard.signIn', 'Sign in'),
-            icon: signingIn ? <Loader2 className="motion-safe:animate-spin" /> : <LogIn />,
+            icon: signingIn ? <Loader2 className="animate-spin" /> : <LogIn />,
             onClick: actions.onSignIn,
             pending: signingIn
           }
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ function failureActions(
                   'auto.components.worktree.creation.VmBuildFailureCard.connectGitHub',
                   'Connect GitHub'
                 ),
-            icon: connectingGitHub ? <Loader2 className="motion-safe:animate-spin" /> : <Github />,
+            icon: connectingGitHub ? <Loader2 className="animate-spin" /> : <Github />,
             onClick: actions.onConnectGitHub,
             pending: connectingGitHub
           },
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/VmBuildFailureCard.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/VmBuildFailureCard.tsx
index fd5245ced1b..80d170a416e 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/VmBuildFailureCard.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/VmBuildFailureCard.tsx
@@ -69,7 +69,8 @@ export function VmBuildFailureCard({
   const headingRef = React.useRef<HTMLHeadingElement>(null)
   const cardRef = React.useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null)
   // Move focus to the card when it opens, so keyboard and screen-reader users land on the way forward.
-  React.useEffect(() => {
+  // Layout effect: focus lands before paint, so the collapsing card never strands it on <body>.
+  React.useLayoutEffect(() => {
     const card = cardRef.current
     const sheet = card?.closest('[data-vm-build-sheet]')
     const active = document.activeElement
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/VmBuildSheet.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/VmBuildSheet.tsx
index a16219c229a..652cb0bdb16 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/VmBuildSheet.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/VmBuildSheet.tsx
@@ -173,10 +173,7 @@ export function VmBuildSheet({
           <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
             <span className="grid size-4 shrink-0 place-items-center">
               {building ? (
-                <Loader2
-                  aria-hidden
-                  className="size-4 text-muted-foreground motion-safe:animate-spin"
-                />
+                <Loader2 aria-hidden className="size-4 text-muted-foreground animate-spin" />
               ) : state === 'ready' ? (
                 <CircleCheck aria-hidden className="size-4 text-foreground" />
               ) : gated ? (
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/VmBuildStepRow.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/VmBuildStepRow.tsx
index d3ba56c50b0..a2ed7037ef1 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/VmBuildStepRow.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/VmBuildStepRow.tsx
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ export function VmBuildStepRow({
           </span>
         ) : null}
         {step.elapsedMs !== null && step.state !== 'pending' ? (
-          <span className="w-12 text-right text-xs tabular-nums text-muted-foreground">
+          <span className="min-w-12 shrink-0 whitespace-nowrap text-right text-xs tabular-nums text-muted-foreground">
             {formatElapsedTime(step.elapsedMs)}
           </span>
         ) : null}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/WorktreeCreationPanel.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/WorktreeCreationPanel.tsx
index 51033961eba..54dfb17f755 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/WorktreeCreationPanel.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/WorktreeCreationPanel.tsx
@@ -9,7 +9,11 @@ import {
 import { Progress } from '@/components/ui/progress'
 import { useTranslate } from '@/i18n/use-translate'
 import WorktreeCreationTabStrip from './WorktreeCreationTabStrip'
-import { formatElapsedTime, useWorktreeCreationClock } from './worktree-creation-clock'
+import {
+  buildClockElapsedMs,
+  formatElapsedTime,
+  useWorktreeCreationClock
+} from './worktree-creation-clock'
 import { VmBuildSheet } from './VmBuildSheet'
 import { VmDeleteConfirmDialog } from './VmDeleteConfirmDialog'
 
@@ -25,12 +29,10 @@ export default function WorktreeCreationPanel({
   const entry = useAppStore((s) => s.pendingWorktreeCreations[creationId])
   const progressLabelId = React.useId()
   const [confirmingDelete, setConfirmingDelete] = React.useState(false)
-  const checksFinishedAt =
-    entry?.environmentCheck?.status === 'failed' ? entry.environmentCheck.finishedAt : undefined
   // Depend on primitives so stderr’s fresh entry objects cannot continuously reset the interval;
   // a build paused on failed checks waits on the user, so its clock stops.
   const now = useWorktreeCreationClock(
-    entry?.status === 'creating' && entry.environmentCheck?.status !== 'failed'
+    entry?.status === 'creating' && entry.waitingSince === undefined
   )
   if (!entry) {
     return null
@@ -46,8 +48,7 @@ export default function WorktreeCreationPanel({
   // A VM build keeps its sheet through fetch and checkout, so it never drops to the one-line status.
   const isVmCreation = Boolean(entry.request.ephemeralVmRecipe) || entry.phase === 'provisioning-vm'
   const title = entry.request.displayName || entry.request.name
-  const stoppedAt = checksFinishedAt ?? (isError ? entry.errorAt : undefined)
-  const elapsedLabel = formatElapsedTime((stoppedAt ?? now) - entry.startedAt)
+  const elapsedLabel = formatElapsedTime(buildClockElapsedMs(entry, now))
   const checkoutProgress = getVisibleCheckoutProgress(entry)
 
   return (
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/WorktreeSetupSteps.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/WorktreeSetupSteps.tsx
index a1575b6951a..48717932fc2 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/WorktreeSetupSteps.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/WorktreeSetupSteps.tsx
@@ -32,10 +32,7 @@ export function StepIcon({ state }: { state: WorktreeSetupStep['state'] }): Reac
   switch (state) {
     case 'running':
       return (
-        <Loader2
-          aria-hidden
-          className="size-3.5 shrink-0 text-muted-foreground motion-safe:animate-spin"
-        />
+        <Loader2 aria-hidden className="size-3.5 shrink-0 text-muted-foreground animate-spin" />
       )
     case 'done':
       return <CircleCheck aria-hidden className="size-3.5 shrink-0 text-foreground" />
@@ -85,7 +82,7 @@ export function WorktreeSetupSteps({
                 <span className="text-xs tabular-nums text-muted-foreground">{step.percent}%</span>
               ) : null}
               {step.elapsedMs !== null ? (
-                <span className="w-12 text-right text-xs tabular-nums text-muted-foreground">
+                <span className="min-w-12 shrink-0 whitespace-nowrap text-right text-xs tabular-nums text-muted-foreground">
                   {formatElapsedTime(step.elapsedMs)}
                 </span>
               ) : null}
@@ -102,7 +99,10 @@ export function WorktreeSetupSteps({
       </ol>
       {error !== null ? (
         <div className="mt-1 flex flex-col gap-2 border-t border-border pt-2">
-          <p className="break-words text-xs text-muted-foreground">{error}</p>
+          {/* The failure is the one thing that changed; announce it like the VM sheet's card does. */}
+          <p role="alert" className="break-words text-xs text-foreground">
+            {error}
+          </p>
           <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5">
             <Button type="button" variant="outline" size="xs" onClick={onRetry}>
               <RotateCcw />
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/orca-cloud-build-log.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/orca-cloud-build-log.ts
index 4082ee88ead..3e593a14c8c 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/orca-cloud-build-log.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/orca-cloud-build-log.ts
@@ -45,8 +45,8 @@ function phaseLabel(phase: string, t: Translate): string | null {
       )
     case 'rolling-over':
       return t(
-        'auto.components.worktree.creation.orcaCloudBuildLog.rollingOver',
-        'Starting a fresh session…'
+        'auto.components.worktree.creation.orcaCloudBuildLog.rollingOver2',
+        'Restarting the sandbox…'
       )
     case 'destroying':
       return t(
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/vm-build-failure-copy.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/vm-build-failure-copy.ts
index 3ec2bcc5a72..36d460618c8 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/vm-build-failure-copy.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/vm-build-failure-copy.ts
@@ -98,8 +98,8 @@ export function vmBuildFailureCopy(
               'Your team has reached this month’s spend cap. Raise it to keep starting sandboxes. Nothing was created, and you weren’t charged.'
             )
           : t(
-              'auto.components.worktree.creation.VmBuildFailureCard.spendCapReachedBodyMember',
-              'Your team has reached this month’s spend cap. Ask an owner or admin to add hours. Nothing was created, and you weren’t charged.'
+              'auto.components.worktree.creation.VmBuildFailureCard.spendCapReachedBodyMember2',
+              'Your team has reached this month’s spend cap. Ask an owner or admin to raise the spend cap. Nothing was created, and you weren’t charged.'
             )
       }
     case 'payment':
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/vm-build-timing.test.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/vm-build-timing.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d63db26cebc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/vm-build-timing.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+// @vitest-environment happy-dom
+
+import { cleanup, renderHook, waitFor } from '@testing-library/react'
+import { afterEach, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { useVmBuildStepTimings } from './vm-build-timing'
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  cleanup()
+  vi.unstubAllGlobals()
+})
+
+it('asks for the measured timing on every new build sheet, never for VM recipes', async () => {
+  const getConfig = vi
+    .fn()
+    .mockResolvedValueOnce({
+      idleSleepMinutes: 15,
+      createTiming: { p50Ms: 3000, p95Ms: 9000, samples: 40 }
+    })
+    .mockResolvedValueOnce({
+      idleSleepMinutes: 15,
+      createTiming: { p50Ms: 5000, p95Ms: 9000, samples: 41 }
+    })
+  vi.stubGlobal('window', Object.assign(window, { api: { orcaCloudWorkspace: { getConfig } } }))
+
+  const first = renderHook(() => useVmBuildStepTimings(true))
+  await waitFor(() => expect(first.result.current.provision?.p50Ms).toBe(3000))
+  first.unmount()
+
+  const second = renderHook(() => useVmBuildStepTimings(true))
+  // The last answer shows at once, then the fresh one replaces it.
+  expect(second.result.current.provision?.p50Ms).toBe(3000)
+  await waitFor(() => expect(second.result.current.provision?.p50Ms).toBe(5000))
+  expect(getConfig).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
+
+  renderHook(() => useVmBuildStepTimings(false))
+  expect(getConfig).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
+})
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/vm-build-timing.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/vm-build-timing.ts
index ae045586dc5..da4495fad67 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/vm-build-timing.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/vm-build-timing.ts
@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@ export type VmBuildStepTimings = Partial<Record<VmBuildStepId, VmBuildStepTiming
 
 const NONE: VmBuildStepTimings = {}
 
-// One read per window: the control plane measures recent sandbox starts (GET /v1/config) and
-// main caches the answer, so every build sheet shows the same median.
+// Each new build sheet asks again: the control plane re-measures recent sandbox starts
+// (GET /v1/config) and main caches the answer for 5 minutes. The last answer shows meanwhile.
 let measured: VmBuildStepTimings | null = null
 let pending: Promise<VmBuildStepTimings> | null = null
 
@@ -20,15 +20,16 @@ function loadMeasuredTimings(): Promise<VmBuildStepTimings> {
       if (!config) {
         // Unreachable now says nothing about later: the next sheet asks again.
         pending = null
-        return NONE
+        return measured ?? NONE
       }
       // Only "Start sandbox" is measured. Without a measurement there is no hint, never a guess.
       measured = config.createTiming ? { provision: config.createTiming } : NONE
+      pending = null
       return measured
     })
     .catch(() => {
       pending = null
-      return NONE
+      return measured ?? NONE
     })
   return pending
 }
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ export function useVmBuildStepTimings(cloud: boolean): VmBuildStepTimings {
     cloud ? (measured ?? NONE) : NONE
   )
   React.useEffect(() => {
-    if (!cloud || measured) {
+    if (!cloud) {
       return
     }
     let live = true
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ export function useVmBuildStepTimings(cloud: boolean): VmBuildStepTimings {
       live = false
     }
   }, [cloud])
-  return cloud ? (measured ?? timings) : NONE
+  return cloud ? timings : NONE
 }
 
 /** The hint in whole seconds, never "~0s". */
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/worktree-creation-clock.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/worktree-creation-clock.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..675bbe909ba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/worktree-creation-clock.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+
+vi.mock('@/i18n/i18n', () => ({ getIntlLocale: () => 'en' }))
+
+import { buildClockElapsedMs, formatElapsedTime } from './worktree-creation-clock'
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  vi.unstubAllGlobals()
+})
+
+describe('formatElapsedTime', () => {
+  it('formats with Intl in the given locale and keeps minutes once past an hour', () => {
+    expect(formatElapsedTime(5_000, 'en')).toBe('5s')
+    expect(formatElapsedTime(125_000, 'en')).toBe('2m 5s')
+    expect(formatElapsedTime(3_605_000, 'en')).toBe('1h 0m 5s')
+    expect(formatElapsedTime(125_000, 'de')).toBe('2 Min., 5 Sek.')
+  })
+
+  it('falls back to the same English shape where Intl.DurationFormat is missing', () => {
+    vi.stubGlobal('Intl', { ...Intl, DurationFormat: undefined })
+    // A locale no earlier call cached, so the stub decides.
+    expect(formatElapsedTime(5_000, 'en-x-fallback')).toBe('5s')
+    expect(formatElapsedTime(125_000, 'en-x-fallback')).toBe('2m 5s')
+    expect(formatElapsedTime(3_605_000, 'en-x-fallback')).toBe('1h 0m 5s')
+  })
+})
+
+describe('buildClockElapsedMs', () => {
+  const T0 = 1_000_000
+  const base = { startedAt: T0, status: 'creating' as const }
+
+  it('stops while failed checks wait, resumes where it stopped, and starts over on Try again', () => {
+    // Checks fail 10s in; the user waits 50s.
+    const waiting = { ...base, waitingSince: T0 + 10_000 }
+    expect(buildClockElapsedMs(waiting, T0 + 60_000)).toBe(10_000)
+    // Retry checks at 60s: the wait is folded away.
+    const resumed = { ...base, pausedMs: 50_000, resumedAt: T0 + 60_000 }
+    // A stale tick from before the resume never reads below the frozen value.
+    expect(buildClockElapsedMs(resumed, T0 + 30_000)).toBe(10_000)
+    expect(buildClockElapsedMs(resumed, T0 + 65_000)).toBe(15_000)
+    // Checks fail again 5s later; another 100s wait stays frozen at 15s.
+    const waitingAgain = { ...resumed, waitingSince: T0 + 65_000 }
+    expect(buildClockElapsedMs(waitingAgain, T0 + 165_000)).toBe(15_000)
+    // Try again starts a new run with its own clock.
+    const retried = { startedAt: T0 + 200_000, status: 'creating' as const }
+    expect(buildClockElapsedMs(retried, T0 + 203_000)).toBe(3_000)
+  })
+
+  it('stops at an error', () => {
+    expect(
+      buildClockElapsedMs({ ...base, status: 'error', errorAt: T0 + 7_000 }, T0 + 99_000)
+    ).toBe(7_000)
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/worktree-creation-clock.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/worktree-creation-clock.ts
index f61815a63c3..1375bda855e 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/worktree-creation-clock.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/worktree-creation/worktree-creation-clock.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import { getIntlLocale } from '@/i18n/i18n'
+import type { PendingWorktreeCreation } from '@/lib/workspace/creation/pending-worktree-creation'
 import { useEffect, useState } from 'react'
 import { installWindowVisibilityInterval } from '@/lib/window-visibility-interval'
 
@@ -8,17 +10,80 @@ export function useWorktreeCreationClock(running: boolean): number {
     if (!running) {
       return
     }
+    // A resumed clock reads the time at once rather than a tick later.
+    setNow(Date.now())
     return installWindowVisibilityInterval({ run: () => setNow(Date.now()), intervalMs: 1000 })
   }, [running])
   return now
 }
 
-export function formatElapsedTime(elapsedMs: number): string {
+/**
+ * The build's own time: stopped while failed checks wait on the user (and at an error), with the
+ * waits left out, and never reading earlier than the last resume, so a stale tick cannot flicker back.
+ */
+export function buildClockElapsedMs(
+  entry: Pick<
+    PendingWorktreeCreation,
+    'startedAt' | 'status' | 'errorAt' | 'waitingSince' | 'pausedMs' | 'resumedAt'
+  >,
+  now: number
+): number {
+  const end =
+    entry.waitingSince ??
+    (entry.status === 'error' ? entry.errorAt : undefined) ??
+    Math.max(now, entry.resumedAt ?? 0)
+  return Math.max(0, end - entry.startedAt - (entry.pausedMs ?? 0))
+}
+
+type DurationFormatter = { format: (duration: Record<string, number>) => string }
+type DurationFormatOptions = {
+  style: 'narrow'
+  secondsDisplay: 'always'
+  minutesDisplay: 'always' | 'auto'
+}
+type DurationFormatConstructor = new (
+  locale: string,
+  options: DurationFormatOptions
+) => DurationFormatter
+
+const durationFormatters = new Map<string, DurationFormatter | null>()
+
+// Intl.DurationFormat localizes units ("1m 5s", "1 Min., 5 Sek."); runtimes without it get the same
+// English shape. Past an hour the minutes always show ("1h 0m 5s"), so a glance never misreads it.
+function durationFormatter(locale: string, withHours: boolean): DurationFormatter | null {
+  const key = `${locale}|${withHours}`
+  if (!durationFormatters.has(key)) {
+    // oxlint-disable-next-line typescript/consistent-type-assertions -- SAFETY: the TS lib lacks Intl.DurationFormat; it is read as optional and only constructed when present.
+    const DurationFormat = (Intl as unknown as { DurationFormat?: DurationFormatConstructor })
+      .DurationFormat
+    let formatter: DurationFormatter | null = null
+    try {
+      formatter = DurationFormat
+        ? new DurationFormat(locale, {
+            style: 'narrow',
+            secondsDisplay: 'always',
+            minutesDisplay: withHours ? 'always' : 'auto'
+          })
+        : null
+    } catch {
+      // An unsupported locale tag falls back to the English shape below.
+    }
+    durationFormatters.set(key, formatter)
+  }
+  return durationFormatters.get(key) ?? null
+}
+
+export function formatElapsedTime(elapsedMs: number, locale: string = getIntlLocale()): string {
   const totalSeconds = Math.max(0, Math.floor(elapsedMs / 1000))
-  const minutes = Math.floor(totalSeconds / 60)
+  const hours = Math.floor(totalSeconds / 3600)
+  const minutes = Math.floor((totalSeconds % 3600) / 60)
   const seconds = totalSeconds % 60
-  if (minutes === 0) {
-    return `${seconds}s`
+  const formatter = durationFormatter(locale, hours > 0)
+  if (formatter) {
+    return formatter.format({ hours, minutes, seconds })
+  }
+  if (hours > 0) {
+    return `${hours}h ${minutes}m ${seconds}s`
   }
-  return `${minutes}m ${seconds.toString().padStart(2, '0')}s`
+  return minutes > 0 ? `${minutes}m ${seconds}s` : `${seconds}s`
 }
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/en.json b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/en.json
index bc3e97db9ce..4e411f8bb4b 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/en.json
+++ b/src/renderer/src/i18n/locales/en.json
@@ -4102,7 +4102,6 @@
             "outOfHoursBodyMember": "Your team has used this month’s sandbox hours. Ask an owner or admin to add hours. Nothing was created, and you weren’t charged.",
             "spendCapReachedTitle": "Spend cap reached",
             "spendCapReachedBody": "Your team has reached this month’s spend cap. Raise it to keep starting sandboxes. Nothing was created, and you weren’t charged.",
-            "spendCapReachedBodyMember": "Your team has reached this month’s spend cap. Ask an owner or admin to add hours. Nothing was created, and you weren’t charged.",
             "paymentFailedTitle": "Payment failed",
             "paymentFailedBody": "New sandboxes can’t start until the payment goes through. Nothing was created, and you weren’t charged.",
             "paymentFailedBodyMember": "New sandboxes can’t start until the payment goes through. Ask an owner or admin to update the payment method. Nothing was created, and you weren’t charged.",
@@ -4120,7 +4119,8 @@
             "snapshotBody3": "The sandbox starts from a saved copy of your environment, and that copy couldn’t be found. Nothing was created, and you weren’t charged. Try again, or contact support if it keeps happening.",
             "connectGitHubFailed": "Couldn’t open GitHub. Try again in a moment.",
             "noGithubRemoteBody2": "Orca Cloud clones your code from GitHub, and this repository has no GitHub remote. Push it to GitHub, then try again. Nothing was created, and you weren’t charged.",
-            "howToPushToGitHub": "How to push to GitHub"
+            "howToPushToGitHub": "How to push to GitHub",
+            "spendCapReachedBodyMember2": "Your team has reached this month’s spend cap. Ask an owner or admin to raise the spend cap. Nothing was created, and you weren’t charged."
           },
           "VmBuildLog": {
             "jumpToError": "Jump to first error",
@@ -4139,7 +4139,6 @@
             "connecting": "Connecting to the sandbox…",
             "resuming": "Waking the sandbox…",
             "suspending": "Putting the sandbox to sleep…",
-            "rollingOver": "Starting a fresh session…",
             "destroying": "Deleting the sandbox…",
             "denyNoPlan": "Your account has no active Team plan.",
             "denySpendCap": "This month’s spend cap is reached.",
@@ -4157,7 +4156,8 @@
             "denyConcurrency2": "You’re at your team’s limit of running sandboxes.",
             "denyMemberConcurrency2": "You’re at your limit of running sandboxes.",
             "denyMachineSize2": "This sandbox size isn’t part of your plan.",
-            "refusedProvider2": "Orca Cloud is unavailable right now."
+            "refusedProvider2": "Orca Cloud is unavailable right now.",
+            "rollingOver2": "Restarting the sandbox…"
           },
           "environmentCheckCopy": {
             "gitMissing": "git isn’t installed.",
@@ -20914,6 +20914,13 @@
         "title": "Orca refused this browser",
         "retry": "Try again"
       }
+    },
+    "app": {
+      "shell": {
+        "TitlebarMainStrip": {
+          "sidebarAfterBuild": "Available when the workspace is ready"
+        }
+      }
     }
   },
   "components": {
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/ephemeral-vm-environment-check.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/ephemeral-vm-environment-check.ts
index 7cedbe7e6d9..6e1738935c1 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/lib/ephemeral-vm-environment-check.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/ephemeral-vm-environment-check.ts
@@ -70,6 +70,20 @@ async function runVmEnvironmentCheck(
  * build sheet; it resolves true to continue (passed, unsupported, or "Open anyway") and false to cancel.
  * Nothing here tears the VM down: only cancelling does, so a degraded open keeps the VM that provisioned.
  */
+/** The user decided: fold the wait into pausedMs so the clock resumes where it stopped. */
+export function resumeBuildClock(creationId: string, now = Date.now()): void {
+  const state = useAppStore.getState()
+  const entry = state.pendingWorktreeCreations[creationId]
+  if (entry?.waitingSince === undefined) {
+    return
+  }
+  state.updatePendingWorktreeCreation(creationId, {
+    pausedMs: (entry.pausedMs ?? 0) + Math.max(0, now - entry.waitingSince),
+    waitingSince: undefined,
+    resumedAt: now
+  })
+}
+
 export async function gateVmCreateOnEnvironmentCheck(
   creationId: string,
   environmentId: string,
@@ -105,13 +119,15 @@ export async function gateVmCreateOnEnvironmentCheck(
       })
       return true
     }
+    const failedAt = Date.now()
     update(creationId, {
       environmentCheck: {
         status: 'failed',
         checks: result.checks,
         startedAt,
-        finishedAt: Date.now()
-      }
+        finishedAt: failedAt
+      },
+      waitingSince: failedAt
     })
     if (useAppStore.getState().activePendingCreationId !== creationId) {
       // The paused build keeps its VM running, so a background create must say it needs the user.
@@ -126,6 +142,7 @@ export async function gateVmCreateOnEnvironmentCheck(
     if (decision === 'cancel' || !isPending()) {
       return false
     }
+    resumeBuildClock(creationId)
     if (decision === 'open-anyway') {
       toast.warning(
         translate(
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/workspace/creation/pending-worktree-creation.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/workspace/creation/pending-worktree-creation.ts
index 4cd3a920c64..77028bb8a69 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/lib/workspace/creation/pending-worktree-creation.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/workspace/creation/pending-worktree-creation.ts
@@ -176,6 +176,12 @@ export type PendingWorktreeCreation = {
   provisioningLogStamps?: readonly number[]
   /** VM creates: the provisioned VM's environment checks, run before the workspace is created. */
   environmentCheck?: PendingVmEnvironmentCheck
+  /** VM creates: since when failed checks have waited on the user; the build clock stops meanwhile. */
+  waitingSince?: number
+  /** VM creates: time already spent waiting on the user this run, left out of the build clock. */
+  pausedMs?: number
+  /** VM creates: when the user last resumed the build; the clock never reads earlier than this. */
+  resumedAt?: number
   /** VM creates: the provisioned VM's runtime environment, known once it answers. */
   vmEnvironmentId?: string
   // Local git checkout meter; absent when git emits none or creation runs over SSH/runtime.
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/lib/workspace/creation/worktree-creation-flow.ts b/src/renderer/src/lib/workspace/creation/worktree-creation-flow.ts
index a8c8b4cc54b..4cb9243712b 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/lib/workspace/creation/worktree-creation-flow.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/lib/workspace/creation/worktree-creation-flow.ts
@@ -198,6 +198,9 @@ export function retryBackgroundWorktreeCreation(creationId: string): void {
     provisioningLog: undefined,
     provisioningLogStamps: undefined,
     environmentCheck: undefined,
+    waitingSince: undefined,
+    pausedMs: undefined,
+    resumedAt: undefined,
     checkoutProgress: undefined,
     worktreeId: undefined
   })
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/right-sidebar/right-sidebar-state.ts b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/right-sidebar/right-sidebar-state.ts
index a6fe232bdef..54ad3f0185e 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/right-sidebar/right-sidebar-state.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/right-sidebar/right-sidebar-state.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import { selectVmBuildSurfaceShown } from '@/lib/workspace/creation/worktree-creation-surface'
 import type { EditorGet, EditorSet } from '../editor/types/editor-set-get'
 import type { ActivityBarPosition } from '../editor/types/open-file'
 import type {
@@ -35,7 +36,7 @@ export type RightSidebarState = {
   setActivityBarPosition: (position: ActivityBarPosition) => void
 }
 
-export function createRightSidebarState(set: EditorSet, _get: EditorGet): RightSidebarState {
+export function createRightSidebarState(set: EditorSet, get: EditorGet): RightSidebarState {
   return {
     rightSidebarOpen: false,
     rightSidebarWidth: 280,
@@ -47,7 +48,13 @@ export function createRightSidebarState(set: EditorSet, _get: EditorGet): RightS
     rightSidebarExplorerViewByWorktree: {},
     rightSidebarEffectiveTab: null,
     activityBarPosition: 'top',
-    toggleRightSidebar: () => set((s) => ({ rightSidebarOpen: !s.rightSidebarOpen })),
+    toggleRightSidebar: () => {
+      // A build sheet keeps the sidebar closed; flipping the hidden preference would surprise later.
+      if (selectVmBuildSurfaceShown(get())) {
+        return
+      }
+      set((s) => ({ rightSidebarOpen: !s.rightSidebarOpen }))
+    },
     setRightSidebarOpen: (open) => set({ rightSidebarOpen: open }),
     setRightSidebarWidth: (width) => set({ rightSidebarWidth: width }),
     setRightSidebarTab: (tab) =>
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/worktrees/worktree-slice-contract.ts b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/worktrees/worktree-slice-contract.ts
index 83f39a6867a..4bf6773edcc 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/worktrees/worktree-slice-contract.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/worktrees/worktree-slice-contract.ts
@@ -182,6 +182,9 @@ export type WorktreeSlice = {
       provisioningLog?: string
       provisioningLogStamps?: PendingWorktreeCreation['provisioningLogStamps']
       environmentCheck?: PendingWorktreeCreation['environmentCheck']
+      waitingSince?: number
+      pausedMs?: number
+      resumedAt?: number
       vmEnvironmentId?: string
       checkoutProgress?: PendingWorktreeCreation['checkoutProgress']
       worktreeId?: string