diff --git a/mobile/src/components/MobileLoadErrorState.tsx b/mobile/src/components/MobileLoadErrorState.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..79ce0b24ea2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mobile/src/components/MobileLoadErrorState.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+import { Pressable, StyleSheet, Text, View } from 'react-native'
+import { colors, radii, spacing, typography } from '../theme/mobile-theme'
+
+/** A failed load: the message with its Retry button centered under it as one group. */
+export function MobileLoadErrorState({
+  message,
+  onRetry
+}: {
+  message: string
+  onRetry?: (() => void) | null
+}) {
+  return (
+    <View style={styles.state}>
+      <Text style={styles.errorText}>{message}</Text>
+      {onRetry ? (
+        <Pressable style={styles.retryButton} onPress={onRetry} accessibilityRole="button">
+          <Text style={styles.retryText}>Retry</Text>
+        </Pressable>
+      ) : null}
+    </View>
+  )
+}
+
+const styles = StyleSheet.create({
+  state: {
+    flex: 1,
+    alignItems: 'center',
+    justifyContent: 'center',
+    gap: spacing.md,
+    padding: spacing.xl
+  },
+  errorText: {
+    color: colors.statusRed,
+    fontSize: typography.bodySize,
+    textAlign: 'center'
+  },
+  retryButton: {
+    minHeight: 36,
+    alignItems: 'center',
+    justifyContent: 'center',
+    borderRadius: radii.button,
+    borderWidth: StyleSheet.hairlineWidth,
+    borderColor: colors.borderSubtle,
+    paddingHorizontal: spacing.lg
+  },
+  retryText: {
+    color: colors.textPrimary,
+    fontSize: typography.bodySize,
+    fontWeight: '600'
+  }
+})
diff --git a/mobile/src/files/MobileFileExplorerPanel.tsx b/mobile/src/files/MobileFileExplorerPanel.tsx
index 28edfb94f71..0fe234abdb6 100644
--- a/mobile/src/files/MobileFileExplorerPanel.tsx
+++ b/mobile/src/files/MobileFileExplorerPanel.tsx
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ import { fileDirectoryRead, legacyFileListRead } from './mobile-file-explorer-op
 import { fileExplorerStyles as styles } from './mobile-file-explorer-styles'
 import { MobileFileExplorerRow } from './mobile-file-explorer-row'
 import { navigateToMobileFilePreview } from './mobile-file-preview-navigation'
+import { MobileLoadErrorState } from '../components/MobileLoadErrorState'
 
 export function MobileFileExplorerPanel(props: {
   hostId: string
@@ -337,14 +338,7 @@ export function MobileFileExplorerPanel(props: {
       <ActivityIndicator size="small" color={colors.textSecondary} />
     </View>
   ) : error ? (
-    <View style={styles.state}>
-      <Text style={styles.errorText}>{error}</Text>
-      {rootRetry ? (
-        <Pressable style={styles.retryButton} onPress={rootRetry}>
-          <Text style={styles.retryText}>Retry</Text>
-        </Pressable>
-      ) : null}
-    </View>
+    <MobileLoadErrorState message={error} onRetry={rootRetry} />
   ) : rows.length === 0 ? (
     <View style={styles.state}>
       <Text style={styles.emptyText}>No files found</Text>
diff --git a/mobile/src/files/MobileFileMediaPreview.tsx b/mobile/src/files/MobileFileMediaPreview.tsx
index a648127d256..e2ab44eeac5 100644
--- a/mobile/src/files/MobileFileMediaPreview.tsx
+++ b/mobile/src/files/MobileFileMediaPreview.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { useEffect, useState } from 'react'
-import { ActivityIndicator, Pressable, Text, View } from 'react-native'
+import { ActivityIndicator, Text, View } from 'react-native'
 import { colors } from '../theme/mobile-theme'
 import type { MobileFilePreviewRpcSender } from './mobile-file-preview-operations'
 import type { MobileFileMedia } from './mobile-file-media'
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { createMobileMediaSink } from './mobile-media-preview-cache'
 import { MobileMediaPlayback } from './MobileMediaPlayback'
 import { filePreviewStyles as styles } from './mobile-file-preview-styles'
 import { formatPreviewByteLength } from './mobile-file-preview-response'
+import { MobileLoadErrorState } from '../components/MobileLoadErrorState'
 
 type State = { uri: string } | { error: string } | { bytes: number; total: number }
 type Props = { media: MobileFileMedia; client: MobileFilePreviewRpcSender | null; title: string }
@@ -62,18 +63,7 @@ function MediaDownload({ media, client, title }: Props) {
     return <MobileMediaPlayback key={state.uri} uri={state.uri} mimeType={mimeType} title={title} />
   }
   if ('error' in state) {
-    return (
-      <View style={styles.state}>
-        <Text style={styles.errorText}>{state.error}</Text>
-        <Pressable
-          style={styles.retryButton}
-          onPress={() => setAttempt(attempt + 1)}
-          accessibilityRole="button"
-        >
-          <Text style={styles.retryText}>Retry</Text>
-        </Pressable>
-      </View>
-    )
+    return <MobileLoadErrorState message={state.error} onRetry={() => setAttempt(attempt + 1)} />
   }
   return (
     <View style={styles.state}>
diff --git a/mobile/src/files/MobileFilePreviewBody.tsx b/mobile/src/files/MobileFilePreviewBody.tsx
index bbfc51b4c95..c01a37cc4d9 100644
--- a/mobile/src/files/MobileFilePreviewBody.tsx
+++ b/mobile/src/files/MobileFilePreviewBody.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { MobileFileMediaPreview } from './MobileFileMediaPreview'
 import type { MobileFilePreviewRpcSender } from './mobile-file-preview-operations'
-import { ActivityIndicator, Image, Pressable, ScrollView, Text, View } from 'react-native'
+import { ActivityIndicator, Image, ScrollView, Text, View } from 'react-native'
 import { colors } from '../theme/mobile-theme'
 import type { MobileFilePreviewResult } from './mobile-file-preview-request'
 import { MobileFileMarkdownPreview } from './MobileFileMarkdownPreview'
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { MobileFilePreviewEditableSource } from './MobileFilePreviewEditableSour
 import { MobileFilePreviewSourceText } from './MobileFilePreviewSourceText'
 import type { MobileFilePreviewLineColumn } from './mobile-file-preview-line-column'
 import { filePreviewStyles as styles } from './mobile-file-preview-styles'
+import { MobileLoadErrorState } from '../components/MobileLoadErrorState'
 
 type Props = {
   preview: MobileFilePreviewResult
@@ -36,16 +37,7 @@ export function MobileFilePreviewBody({ preview, ...options }: Props) {
     )
   }
   if (preview.status === 'error' || preview.status === 'waiting') {
-    return (
-      <View style={styles.state}>
-        <Text style={styles.errorText}>{preview.message}</Text>
-        {options.onRetry ? (
-          <Pressable style={styles.retryButton} onPress={options.onRetry}>
-            <Text style={styles.retryText}>Retry</Text>
-          </Pressable>
-        ) : null}
-      </View>
-    )
+    return <MobileLoadErrorState message={preview.message} onRetry={options.onRetry} />
   }
   if (preview.status === 'empty') {
     return options.editable ? (
diff --git a/mobile/src/files/mobile-file-explorer-styles.ts b/mobile/src/files/mobile-file-explorer-styles.ts
index 5df9710be10..c284dd10155 100644
--- a/mobile/src/files/mobile-file-explorer-styles.ts
+++ b/mobile/src/files/mobile-file-explorer-styles.ts
@@ -119,24 +119,5 @@ export const fileExplorerStyles = StyleSheet.create({
   emptyText: {
     color: colors.textSecondary,
     fontSize: typography.bodySize
-  },
-  errorText: {
-    color: colors.statusRed,
-    fontSize: typography.bodySize,
-    textAlign: 'center'
-  },
-  retryButton: {
-    minHeight: 36,
-    alignItems: 'center',
-    justifyContent: 'center',
-    borderRadius: radii.button,
-    borderWidth: StyleSheet.hairlineWidth,
-    borderColor: colors.borderSubtle,
-    paddingHorizontal: spacing.lg
-  },
-  retryText: {
-    color: colors.textPrimary,
-    fontSize: typography.bodySize,
-    fontWeight: '600'
   }
 })
diff --git a/mobile/src/files/mobile-file-preview-styles.ts b/mobile/src/files/mobile-file-preview-styles.ts
index 5b0df61caa5..40dc5a5c3c8 100644
--- a/mobile/src/files/mobile-file-preview-styles.ts
+++ b/mobile/src/files/mobile-file-preview-styles.ts
@@ -59,20 +59,6 @@ export const filePreviewStyles = StyleSheet.create({
     fontSize: typography.bodySize,
     textAlign: 'center'
   },
-  retryButton: {
-    minHeight: 36,
-    alignItems: 'center',
-    justifyContent: 'center',
-    borderRadius: radii.button,
-    borderWidth: StyleSheet.hairlineWidth,
-    borderColor: colors.borderSubtle,
-    paddingHorizontal: spacing.lg
-  },
-  retryText: {
-    color: colors.textPrimary,
-    fontSize: typography.bodySize,
-    fontWeight: '600'
-  },
   saveButton: {
     width: 36,
     height: 36,
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/MobileMarkdownReader.tsx b/mobile/src/session/MobileMarkdownReader.tsx
index a84599ded3a..07ade79af60 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/MobileMarkdownReader.tsx
+++ b/mobile/src/session/MobileMarkdownReader.tsx
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import {
 } from './markdown-floating-actions-layout'
 import type { MarkdownDocState } from './mobile-session-route-types'
 import { styles } from './mobile-session-styles'
+import { MobileLoadErrorState } from '../components/MobileLoadErrorState'
 
 type Props = {
   documentId: string
@@ -48,15 +49,7 @@ export function MobileMarkdownReader({
     )
   }
   if (doc.status === 'error') {
-    return (
-      <View style={styles.markdownState}>
-        <Text style={styles.markdownError}>{doc.message}</Text>
-        <Pressable style={styles.markdownRefreshButton} onPress={onRefresh}>
-          <RefreshCw size={14} color={colors.textPrimary} />
-          <Text style={styles.markdownRefreshText}>Retry</Text>
-        </Pressable>
-      </View>
-    )
+    return <MobileLoadErrorState message={doc.message} onRetry={onRefresh} />
   }
 
   const statusText = doc.saveError
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/MobileSessionFileReader.tsx b/mobile/src/session/MobileSessionFileReader.tsx
index 43add744377..4c764eafbd1 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/MobileSessionFileReader.tsx
+++ b/mobile/src/session/MobileSessionFileReader.tsx
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import type {
 } from './mobile-session-route-types'
 import { DiffLineRow } from './MobileSessionDiffLineRow'
 import { sendableMobileDiffComments } from './mobile-diff-comments'
+import { MobileLoadErrorState } from '../components/MobileLoadErrorState'
 
 export function FileReader({
   doc,
@@ -181,11 +182,7 @@ export function FileReader({
     )
   }
   if (doc.status === 'error') {
-    return (
-      <View style={styles.markdownState}>
-        <Text style={styles.markdownError}>{doc.message}</Text>
-      </View>
-    )
+    return <MobileLoadErrorState message={doc.message} />
   }
 
   if (doc.kind === 'diff') {
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/MobileSessionMarkdownReader.test.tsx b/mobile/src/session/MobileSessionMarkdownReader.test.tsx
index 9903c5b7cc4..fc297fe9d22 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/MobileSessionMarkdownReader.test.tsx
+++ b/mobile/src/session/MobileSessionMarkdownReader.test.tsx
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@ vi.mock('react-native', () => ({
   View: 'View',
   Text: 'Text',
   Pressable: 'Pressable',
-  ActivityIndicator: 'ActivityIndicator'
+  ActivityIndicator: 'ActivityIndicator',
+  StyleSheet: { create: <T,>(styles: T) => styles, hairlineWidth: 1 }
 }))
 vi.mock('lucide-react-native', () => ({ RefreshCw: 'RefreshCw' }))
 vi.mock('../components/MobileRichMarkdownEditor', () => ({
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/MobileSessionMarkdownReader.tsx b/mobile/src/session/MobileSessionMarkdownReader.tsx
index 82f20e7beb1..630af05b40e 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/MobileSessionMarkdownReader.tsx
+++ b/mobile/src/session/MobileSessionMarkdownReader.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { markdownReaderStatusText } from './mobile-markdown-reader-status'
 import { colors, spacing } from '../theme/mobile-theme'
 import { styles } from './mobile-session-styles'
 import type { MarkdownDocState } from './mobile-session-route-types'
+import { MobileLoadErrorState } from '../components/MobileLoadErrorState'
 
 export function MarkdownReader({
   documentId,
@@ -38,15 +39,7 @@ export function MarkdownReader({
     )
   }
   if (doc.status === 'error') {
-    return (
-      <View style={styles.markdownState}>
-        <Text style={styles.markdownError}>{doc.message}</Text>
-        <Pressable style={styles.markdownRefreshButton} onPress={onRefresh}>
-          <RefreshCw size={14} color={colors.textPrimary} />
-          <Text style={styles.markdownRefreshText}>Retry</Text>
-        </Pressable>
-      </View>
-    )
+    return <MobileLoadErrorState message={doc.message} onRetry={onRefresh} />
   }
 
   const statusText = markdownReaderStatusText(doc)
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/mobile-session-review-comment-styles.ts b/mobile/src/session/mobile-session-review-comment-styles.ts
index a3b80615446..bce974aa48e 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/mobile-session-review-comment-styles.ts
+++ b/mobile/src/session/mobile-session-review-comment-styles.ts
@@ -100,26 +100,9 @@ export const mobileSessionReviewCommentStyles = StyleSheet.create({
     fontSize: typography.metaSize,
     fontWeight: '700'
   },
-  markdownRefreshButton: {
-    alignSelf: 'flex-start',
-    flexDirection: 'row',
-    alignItems: 'center',
-    gap: spacing.xs,
-    backgroundColor: colors.bgRaised,
-    borderWidth: 1,
-    borderColor: colors.borderSubtle,
-    borderRadius: radii.button,
-    paddingHorizontal: spacing.md,
-    paddingVertical: spacing.xs
-  },
   markdownButtonDisabled: {
     opacity: 0.45
   },
-  markdownRefreshText: {
-    color: colors.textPrimary,
-    fontSize: 13,
-    fontWeight: '600'
-  },
   markdownFloatingBar: {
     position: 'absolute',
     left: spacing.md,
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/session-markdown-source-copy.test.tsx b/mobile/src/session/session-markdown-source-copy.test.tsx
index a5fea94e998..1b6b6da58db 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/session-markdown-source-copy.test.tsx
+++ b/mobile/src/session/session-markdown-source-copy.test.tsx
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ vi.mock('react-native', () => ({
   Text: 'Text',
   Pressable: 'Pressable',
   ActivityIndicator: 'ActivityIndicator',
+  StyleSheet: { create: <T,>(styles: T) => styles, hairlineWidth: 1 },
   Platform: { OS: 'ios' },
   Keyboard: { dismiss: vi.fn() }
 }))
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/runtime/mobile-markdown-bridge-save-guards.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/runtime/mobile-markdown-bridge-save-guards.test.ts
index f9aa5340123..7eec2945195 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/runtime/mobile-markdown-bridge-save-guards.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/runtime/mobile-markdown-bridge-save-guards.test.ts
@@ -15,10 +15,6 @@ import {
   setupWindow
 } from './mobile-markdown-bridge-test-harness'
 
-vi.mock('@/components/tab-bar/group-tab-order', () => ({
-  getActiveTabNavOrder: () => [{ type: 'editor', id: '/repo/README.md', tabId: 'tab-md' }]
-}))
-
 vi.mock('@/lib/connection-context', () => ({
   getConnectionIdForFile: () => null
 }))
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/runtime/mobile-markdown-bridge-test-harness.ts b/src/renderer/src/runtime/mobile-markdown-bridge-test-harness.ts
index 1d7b41f9105..994b6844df6 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/runtime/mobile-markdown-bridge-test-harness.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/runtime/mobile-markdown-bridge-test-harness.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { expect, vi } from 'vitest'
 import type { RuntimeMobileMarkdownRequest } from '../../../shared/mobile-markdown-document'
 import { useAppStore } from '../store'
+import type { Tab } from '../../../shared/tab-types'
 
 type WindowStub = {
   addEventListener: Window['addEventListener']
@@ -73,6 +74,25 @@ export function resetEditorState(): void {
       }
     ]
   } as never)
+  useAppStore.setState({
+    unifiedTabsByWorktree: { 'wt-1': [markdownUnifiedTab('tab-md', '/repo/README.md', 'group-1')] }
+  })
+}
+
+/** The desktop tab strip entry a phone names a markdown tab by. */
+export function markdownUnifiedTab(id: string, fileId: string, groupId: string): Tab {
+  return {
+    id,
+    entityId: fileId,
+    groupId,
+    worktreeId: 'wt-1',
+    contentType: 'editor',
+    label: fileId,
+    customLabel: null,
+    color: null,
+    sortOrder: 0,
+    createdAt: 0
+  }
 }
 
 export function openMarkdownFile(): void {
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/runtime/mobile-markdown-bridge.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/runtime/mobile-markdown-bridge.test.ts
index 8597316794f..a374218eb2e 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/runtime/mobile-markdown-bridge.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/runtime/mobile-markdown-bridge.test.ts
@@ -11,16 +11,13 @@ import { FLOATING_TERMINAL_WORKTREE_ID } from '../../../shared/constants'
 import { attachMobileMarkdownBridge } from './mobile-markdown-bridge'
 import {
   cleanupMobileMarkdownBridgeHarness,
+  markdownUnifiedTab,
   openMarkdownFile,
   resetEditorState,
   sendRequest,
   setupWindow
 } from './mobile-markdown-bridge-test-harness'
 
-vi.mock('@/components/tab-bar/group-tab-order', () => ({
-  getActiveTabNavOrder: () => [{ type: 'editor', id: '/repo/README.md', tabId: 'tab-md' }]
-}))
-
 vi.mock('@/lib/connection-context', () => ({
   getConnectionIdForFile: () => null
 }))
@@ -114,6 +111,72 @@ describe('mobile markdown bridge', () => {
     }
   })
 
+  it('reads a markdown tab that sits in a split group the desktop is not focused on', async () => {
+    openMarkdownFile()
+    useAppStore.setState({
+      unifiedTabsByWorktree: {
+        'wt-1': [markdownUnifiedTab('tab-md', '/repo/README.md', 'group-split')]
+      },
+      groupsByWorktree: {
+        'wt-1': [
+          { id: 'group-main', worktreeId: 'wt-1', activeTabId: null, tabOrder: [] },
+          {
+            id: 'group-split',
+            worktreeId: 'wt-1',
+            activeTabId: 'tab-md',
+            tabOrder: ['tab-md']
+          }
+        ]
+      },
+      activeGroupIdByWorktree: { 'wt-1': 'group-main' }
+    })
+    setupWindow({ readFile: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ content: '# split', isBinary: false }) })
+    const detach = attachMobileMarkdownBridge()
+
+    try {
+      const response = await sendRequest({
+        id: 'read-split',
+        operation: 'read',
+        worktreeId: 'wt-1',
+        tabId: 'tab-md'
+      })
+
+      expect(response).toMatchObject({ ok: true, result: { content: '# split' } })
+    } finally {
+      detach()
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('reads the requested tab when the same file is open in two groups', async () => {
+    openMarkdownFile()
+    useAppStore.setState({
+      unifiedTabsByWorktree: {
+        'wt-1': [
+          markdownUnifiedTab('tab-main', '/repo/README.md', 'group-main'),
+          markdownUnifiedTab('tab-split', '/repo/README.md', 'group-split')
+        ]
+      }
+    })
+    setupWindow({ readFile: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ content: '# both', isBinary: false }) })
+    const detach = attachMobileMarkdownBridge()
+
+    try {
+      const response = await sendRequest({
+        id: 'read-duplicate',
+        operation: 'read',
+        worktreeId: 'wt-1',
+        tabId: 'tab-split'
+      })
+
+      expect(response).toMatchObject({
+        ok: true,
+        result: { tabId: 'tab-split', filePath: '/repo/README.md', content: '# both' }
+      })
+    } finally {
+      detach()
+    }
+  })
+
   it('rejects save when a clean file changed after mobile read', async () => {
     openMarkdownFile()
     const writeFile = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined)
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/runtime/mobile-markdown-bridge.ts b/src/renderer/src/runtime/mobile-markdown-bridge.ts
index ccfb7029663..5dd45942342 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/runtime/mobile-markdown-bridge.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/runtime/mobile-markdown-bridge.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-import { getActiveTabNavOrder } from '@/components/tab-bar/group-tab-order'
 import {
   ORCA_EDITOR_FILE_SAVED_EVENT,
   requestEditorFileSave,
@@ -188,13 +187,13 @@ function resolveMarkdownTarget(
   tabId: string
 ): { tab: OpenFile; sourceFile: OpenFile } {
   const state = useAppStore.getState()
-  const orderItem = getActiveTabNavOrder(state, worktreeId).find(
-    (item) => item.type === 'editor' && (item.tabId === tabId || item.id === tabId)
-  )
-  const tabFileId = orderItem?.type === 'editor' ? orderItem.id : tabId
-  const tab = state.openFiles.find(
-    (file) => file.worktreeId === worktreeId && (file.id === tabFileId || file.id === tabId)
+  // Why every group: the phone lists tabs from all split groups, not just the desktop's focused one.
+  const unifiedTab = (state.unifiedTabsByWorktree[worktreeId] ?? []).find(
+    (candidate) => candidate.id === tabId && candidate.contentType === 'editor'
   )
+  // Hosts publish the file id when a file has no unified tab.
+  const fileId = unifiedTab?.entityId ?? tabId
+  const tab = state.openFiles.find((file) => file.worktreeId === worktreeId && file.id === fileId)
   if (!tab || !isMarkdownTab(tab)) {
     throw new Error('tab_not_found')
   }