From 765b710bf57051e5268160c5f94beaeceb8fcd1e Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: brennanb2025 <brennankbenson@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 1 May 2026 15:30:17 -0700
Subject: [PATCH] feat(sidebar): bold unread workspaces instead of bell icon

Replaces the per-worktree bell affordance with a bold-title treatment
for unread workspaces, and drops the now-unused Mark Read/Unread
context-menu entry. The 'unread' card property still gates the
emphasis, so users can opt out. PR# label de-bolded to match the
softer title weight on read cards.

Co-authored-by: Orca <help@stably.ai>
---
 docs/bold-instead-of-bell.md                  | 312 ++++++++++++++++++
 .../src/components/sidebar/SidebarHeader.tsx  |   2 +-
 .../src/components/sidebar/WorktreeCard.tsx   |  94 +++---
 .../components/sidebar/WorktreeCardMeta.tsx   |   2 +-
 .../sidebar/WorktreeContextMenu.tsx           |  10 -
 .../src/components/tab-bar/SortableTab.tsx    |   8 +-
 6 files changed, 363 insertions(+), 65 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 docs/bold-instead-of-bell.md

diff --git a/docs/bold-instead-of-bell.md b/docs/bold-instead-of-bell.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..98104e1dc55
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/bold-instead-of-bell.md
@@ -0,0 +1,312 @@
+# Bold/Non-Bold Worktree Card Unread Indicator
+
+## Goal
+
+Replace the yellow bell glyph on each sidebar workspace card with a
+**bold / non-bold** treatment of the card title — matching the visual
+language already used by the inline agent activity rows under the
+experimental agent-status toggle (`DashboardAgentRow.tsx:262`). Unread
+**state** (what flips `worktree.isUnread`, what clears it, where it's
+persisted) stays exactly as it is today. The change is purely visual
+plus the removal of the now-unused manual toggle paths.
+
+## Why
+
+The amber `FilledBellIcon` on the sidebar card is the only remaining
+surface in the sidebar that encodes "needs attention" as a colored
+glyph. Agent rows already express the same semantic as a weight change
+(`font-semibold text-foreground` vs `font-normal text-muted-foreground`
+— see `DashboardAgentRow.tsx:262` and the comment block above it: "one
+attention axis, not two"). Extending that rule to the workspace card
+collapses the two axes on the sidebar into one, reclaims the left-rail
+real estate the bell occupies, and removes a duplicate use of amber —
+which also signals CI `pending`, conflict operations, and sparse
+checkout on the same card.
+
+This change is deliberately scoped to the **sidebar `WorktreeCard`**.
+`FilledBellIcon` also has a caller in `SortableTab.tsx:266` for
+tab-bar unread; that surface is **explicitly out of scope** (see
+"Out of scope" below) and the helper stays exported.
+
+## Today's behavior (the bell)
+
+- `worktree.isUnread` (a `WorktreeMeta` boolean, persisted) drives a
+  bell icon rendered on the **left rail** of `WorktreeCard`, gated by
+  the `'unread'` card property:
+  - `src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/WorktreeCard.tsx:380–404`
+    renders `<FilledBellIcon className="... text-amber-500 ...">` when
+    unread, or a ghost `<Bell>` (hover-reveal) when read.
+  - Clicking the icon toggles via `handleToggleUnreadQuick`
+    (`WorktreeCard.tsx:320–327`) → `updateWorktreeMeta({ isUnread: !… })`.
+  - The context menu has a parallel toggle
+    (`WorktreeContextMenu.tsx:67–69, 172–175`) that is also going away
+    (see "Remove manual toggle paths" below).
+- The unread flag is also flipped by activation/ack cascades in
+  `src/renderer/src/store/slices/worktrees.ts` (around L372, L407, L480,
+  L595, L669) and by the CLI orchestration handler
+  (`src/cli/handlers/orchestration.ts:71`). **None of this changes.**
+  Activation continues to clear unread automatically, which is the
+  dominant way unread becomes read today — and after this change, the
+  *only* manual way.
+- Property toggle in `SidebarHeader.tsx:29` is `{ id: 'unread', label:
+  'Unread indicator' }`. Label may change; the id stays the same for
+  settings persistence compatibility.
+
+## Reference: how agent rows do bold/non-bold
+
+`WorktreeCardAgents` derives a per-row `isUnvisited` flag from the ack
+map (`WorktreeCardAgents.tsx:151`) and passes it to
+`DashboardAgentRow`, which switches classes at
+`DashboardAgentRow.tsx:262`:
+
+```
+isUnvisited ? 'font-semibold text-foreground' : 'font-normal text-muted-foreground'
+```
+
+We apply the same two-class pattern to the workspace card's title row.
+
+> Note: agent-row "unvisited" is derived at render time from an ack map
+> keyed on `stateStartedAt`; workspace `isUnread` is a persisted boolean
+> on `WorktreeMeta`. We're mirroring the *visual language*, not the
+> underlying state model. The two systems remain independent.
+
+## Target behavior
+
+### The rule: bold = unread
+
+**On a read card (`worktree.isUnread === false`), no text in the card
+body is rendered at `font-semibold` or heavier.** Bold is reserved as
+the unread signal. This applies to:
+
+- The title (`displayName`) — today `font-semibold text-foreground`
+  (`WorktreeCard.tsx:430`) → on read cards becomes
+  `font-normal text-muted-foreground`.
+- The repo badge label — today `font-semibold text-foreground`
+  (`WorktreeCard.tsx:508`) → drops to `font-normal text-foreground`
+  on read cards to preserve hierarchy (the repo label must not read
+  heavier than the workspace title above it).
+
+Small chrome labels already using `font-medium` (`primary`, `sparse`,
+`conflict`, Folder-kind badge) stay as-is — they're visually distinct
+from bold title copy and are *not* part of the "bold = unread" signal.
+
+**On an unread card (`worktree.isUnread === true`) and the `'unread'`
+card property is enabled:**
+
+- The title renders `font-semibold text-foreground`.
+- The repo badge label goes back to `font-semibold text-foreground`
+  so the hierarchy stays coherent.
+- The yellow bell does **not** render anywhere on the card.
+
+**When the card property `'unread'` is off:**
+
+- The card is always rendered as if read, regardless of the store flag.
+  This preserves the existing opt-out — users who previously hid the
+  bell via this property retain an equivalent "quiet mode."
+
+### Interactions
+
+- **Activation remains the only way to clear unread manually.** Clicking
+  the card activates the workspace, which runs the existing cascade in
+  `worktrees.ts` and clears `isUnread`. The title de-bolds as part of
+  the next render. This is how ~all read-state transitions already
+  happen today; the bell's click target and the context-menu "Mark
+  Read / Mark Unread" item were the manual escape hatches, and they
+  both go away (see next section).
+- No Alt-click, middle-click, or other hidden gesture is introduced.
+
+## Changes
+
+### 1. `WorktreeCard.tsx`
+
+- Delete the unread-button block (lines ~380–404):
+  - The `<Tooltip>` + `<button onClick={handleToggleUnreadQuick}>` +
+    `FilledBellIcon` / `Bell` tree.
+- Delete `handleToggleUnreadQuick` and `unreadTooltip` (lines ~320–329)
+  entirely. No replacement surface.
+- Delete the `FilledBellIcon` import at `WorktreeCard.tsx:30`.
+  `FilledBellIcon` itself stays exported from `WorktreeCardHelpers.tsx`
+  because `SortableTab.tsx:266` still uses it.
+- Update the left-rail wrapper condition:
+  - Current: `{(cardProps.includes('status') || cardProps.includes('unread')) && (…)}`
+  - New: `{cardProps.includes('status') && (…)}`
+  - The rail's only remaining child is the `StatusIndicator`; if
+    `'status'` is off and `'unread'` is on, the rail disappears (status
+    dot already doesn't render). That's correct — bold/non-bold needs
+    no rail real estate.
+- Compute one derived flag near the top of the render body:
+  ```ts
+  // Why: the 'unread' card property is the user's opt-out. When off,
+  // we render as if the workspace is read so bold emphasis never appears,
+  // matching the old "hide the bell" behavior exactly.
+  const showUnreadEmphasis = cardProps.includes('unread') && worktree.isUnread
+  ```
+- Apply to the display name (`WorktreeCard.tsx:430`):
+  ```tsx
+  {/* Why: bold = unread is the single attention signal on this card,
+      mirroring DashboardAgentRow.tsx:262. The base class drops the
+      always-on font-semibold that was safe when a separate bell carried
+      the signal; now the title IS the signal, so it must de-bold on
+      read cards. */}
+  <div
+    className={cn(
+      'text-[12px] truncate leading-tight',
+      showUnreadEmphasis
+        ? 'font-semibold text-foreground'
+        : 'font-normal text-muted-foreground'
+    )}
+  >
+    {worktree.displayName}
+  </div>
+  ```
+- Apply to the repo badge label (`WorktreeCard.tsx:508`):
+  ```tsx
+  {/* Why: repo label tracks the title's weight. If the title is muted
+      (read), this stays non-bold so it doesn't out-weigh the workspace
+      identifier above it. If the title is bold (unread), this bolds
+      with it so the header row reads as one unit. */}
+  <span
+    className={cn(
+      'text-[10px] truncate max-w-[6rem] leading-none lowercase',
+      showUnreadEmphasis
+        ? 'font-semibold text-foreground'
+        : 'font-normal text-foreground'
+    )}
+  >
+    {repo.displayName}
+  </span>
+  ```
+  - Note: we keep `text-foreground` on the read state (not
+    `text-muted-foreground`) because the badge already sits on a tinted
+    `bg-accent` chip — muting the label as well would leave it nearly
+    invisible. The weight change alone is enough to restore hierarchy.
+
+### 2. Remove manual toggle paths
+
+The bell click and the context-menu toggle were the two ways to flip
+unread without activating the workspace. In practice, activation covers
+the overwhelming majority of read-state transitions, and neither manual
+path is load-bearing. Both go away:
+
+- **`WorktreeCard.tsx`**: `handleToggleUnreadQuick` / `unreadTooltip`
+  deleted (see section 1).
+- **`WorktreeContextMenu.tsx`**:
+  - Delete `handleToggleRead` (lines 67–69).
+  - Delete the `DropdownMenuItem` for "Mark Read / Mark Unread"
+    (lines 172–175).
+  - Remove `Bell` and `BellOff` from the `lucide-react` import at
+    lines 13–14; they have no other callers in this file.
+  - `updateWorktreeMeta` stays imported — still used by the pin toggle.
+
+`isUnread` continues to be set by terminal BEL and orchestration
+handlers and cleared by the activation cascade. The user-facing model
+becomes: *unread state is automatic; to clear it, open the workspace.*
+
+### 3. `WorktreeCardHelpers.tsx`
+
+- **No changes.** `FilledBellIcon` stays exported because
+  `SortableTab.tsx:266` still uses it for tab-bar unread.
+- If a future change aligns tab-bar unread with the sidebar's
+  bold-for-unread rule, this helper can be deleted then.
+
+### 4. `SidebarHeader.tsx`
+
+- Relabel the property option:
+  `{ id: 'unread', label: 'Bold unread workspaces' }` (or similar
+  copy reflecting the new mechanism).
+  The `id` must stay `'unread'` so settings persistence and existing
+  `cardProps.includes('unread')` checks keep working.
+- Tests referencing this property (`persistence.test.ts:571/590/610/629`)
+  continue to pass — id is unchanged.
+
+### 5. Tests to update / add
+
+- `src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/WorktreeCard.test.tsx` (if it
+  asserts on the bell): replace assertions with class-based checks on
+  the title and repo-badge elements. If the file doesn't exist, add
+  focused tests:
+  - unread + property on → title has `font-semibold text-foreground`,
+    repo badge label has `font-semibold text-foreground`.
+  - unread + property off → title is `font-normal text-muted-foreground`,
+    repo badge label is `font-normal text-foreground`.
+  - read + property on → same as the unread + property-off case.
+  - No `FilledBellIcon` renders in any of the above states.
+- `WorktreeContextMenu` test (if one exists): assert that the
+  "Mark Read / Mark Unread" item is gone and that `handleToggleRead`
+  is no longer referenced.
+- Keep `smart-sort.test.ts` / `visible-worktrees.test.ts` / the
+  `isUnread` store tests unchanged — they verify the flag's semantics,
+  which are unchanged.
+
+### 6. Accessibility
+
+- The bell's `aria-label` ("Mark as read / Mark as unread") disappears
+  along with the button.
+- Add a visually-hidden prefix inside the title when unread so screen
+  readers still surface the state:
+  ```tsx
+  {showUnreadEmphasis && <span className="sr-only">Unread: </span>}
+  {worktree.displayName}
+  ```
+  The `sr-only` span is preferred over `aria-label` on the card root —
+  the card is a non-interactive `<div>`, and `aria-label` on a bare
+  `<div>` with no role is inconsistently announced across screen
+  readers. A visible-text prefix in the accessible name is reliable.
+- No focusable toggle control exists anymore, so there's no keyboard
+  affordance for flipping unread. That's consistent with removing the
+  manual toggle paths entirely — if we later decide this regression
+  is too sharp, a visible hover-reveal dot is the cleanest place to
+  re-add one.
+
+## Interaction-state matrix
+
+| Card state | Title | Repo badge | Bell | Notes |
+|---|---|---|---|---|
+| unread + property on | `font-semibold text-foreground` | `font-semibold text-foreground` | — | Primary target behavior |
+| unread + property off | `font-normal text-muted-foreground` | `font-normal text-foreground` | — | Opt-out active; store flag unchanged |
+| read + property on | `font-normal text-muted-foreground` | `font-normal text-foreground` | — | Baseline read |
+| read + property off | `font-normal text-muted-foreground` | `font-normal text-foreground` | — | Same as read + property on (no signal to hide) |
+| SSH disconnected + unread | bold + `opacity-60` (inherited from card root) | bold + `opacity-60` | — | Dimmed but still bolder than the read cards next to it |
+| Deleting + unread | bold + `opacity-50 grayscale` | bold + `opacity-50 grayscale` | — | Deleting takes visual priority; acceptable |
+
+Note: during `isDeleting`, a backdrop-blurred overlay
+(`WorktreeCard.tsx:~345`) sits over the card body with a "Deleting…"
+chip. The title's bold class is preserved but visually subordinate to
+the overlay — the matrix row describes the class state, not the
+compositional appearance.
+
+## Acceptance criteria
+
+- [ ] No yellow bell renders anywhere on the sidebar `WorktreeCard` at
+      any state. (Tab bar's `SortableTab` bell is unaffected and out of
+      scope.)
+- [ ] On a read card, no text in the card body renders at
+      `font-semibold` or heavier.
+- [ ] On an unread card (with the `'unread'` property enabled), the
+      title and repo badge label render at
+      `font-semibold text-foreground`.
+- [ ] Turning off the `'unread'` property returns every card to the
+      read visual state regardless of `isUnread`.
+- [ ] Activating a worktree still clears unread (existing cascade
+      logic in `worktrees.ts` untouched).
+- [ ] The "Mark Read / Mark Unread" context-menu item is gone.
+- [ ] `handleToggleUnreadQuick` and `handleToggleRead` are deleted.
+- [ ] `FilledBellIcon` stays exported (still used by `SortableTab`);
+      its import in `WorktreeCard.tsx` is removed.
+- [ ] Screen reader announces unread state via an `sr-only` prefix
+      inside the title element.
+
+## Out of scope
+
+- **Tab bar (`SortableTab`) unread styling.** `SortableTab.tsx:266`
+  still uses `FilledBellIcon`. Aligning the tab bar with the
+  bold-for-unread rule is a follow-up; this doc deliberately does not
+  touch it. The acceptance criterion above is scoped to the sidebar
+  `WorktreeCard` specifically.
+- Terminal bell, notifications pane, or any other bell site outside
+  the sidebar card.
+- Redesigning the unread cascade rules (what sets `isUnread`).
+- Reintroducing a manual toggle affordance (hover dot, modifier click,
+  keyboard shortcut). If triage-without-activation becomes a real
+  user-reported regression, add it in a follow-up — do not ship a
+  speculative affordance now.
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/SidebarHeader.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/SidebarHeader.tsx
index a943e8cd9cd..14e514e9a71 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/SidebarHeader.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/SidebarHeader.tsx
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ const GROUP_BY_OPTIONS = [
 
 const PROPERTY_OPTIONS: { id: WorktreeCardProperty; label: string }[] = [
   { id: 'status', label: 'Terminal status' },
-  { id: 'unread', label: 'Unread indicator' },
+  { id: 'unread', label: 'Bold unread workspaces' },
   { id: 'ci', label: 'CI checks' },
   { id: 'issue', label: 'Linked issue' },
   { id: 'pr', label: 'Linked PR' },
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/WorktreeCard.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/WorktreeCard.tsx
index f394b077a67..8291aaffea1 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/WorktreeCard.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/WorktreeCard.tsx
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { useShallow } from 'zustand/react/shallow'
 import { useAppStore } from '@/store'
 import { Badge } from '@/components/ui/badge'
 import { Tooltip, TooltipTrigger, TooltipContent } from '@/components/ui/tooltip'
-import { Bell, GitMerge, LoaderCircle, CircleCheck, CircleX, Server, ServerOff } from 'lucide-react'
+import { GitMerge, LoaderCircle, CircleCheck, CircleX, Server, ServerOff } from 'lucide-react'
 import StatusIndicator from './StatusIndicator'
 import CacheTimer from './CacheTimer'
 import WorktreeContextMenu from './WorktreeContextMenu'
@@ -26,8 +26,7 @@ import {
   checksLabel,
   CONFLICT_OPERATION_LABELS,
   EMPTY_TABS,
-  EMPTY_BROWSER_TABS,
-  FilledBellIcon
+  EMPTY_BROWSER_TABS
 } from './WorktreeCardHelpers'
 import { IssueSection, PrSection, CommentSection } from './WorktreeCardMeta'
 
@@ -53,7 +52,6 @@ const WorktreeCard = React.memo(function WorktreeCard({
   hintNumber
 }: WorktreeCardProps) {
   const openModal = useAppStore((s) => s.openModal)
-  const updateWorktreeMeta = useAppStore((s) => s.updateWorktreeMeta)
   const fetchPRForBranch = useAppStore((s) => s.fetchPRForBranch)
   const fetchIssue = useAppStore((s) => s.fetchIssue)
   const cardProps = useAppStore((s) => s.worktreeCardProperties)
@@ -317,16 +315,11 @@ const WorktreeCard = React.memo(function WorktreeCard({
     })
   }, [worktree.id, worktree.displayName, worktree.linkedIssue, worktree.comment, openModal])
 
-  const handleToggleUnreadQuick = useCallback(
-    (event: React.MouseEvent<HTMLButtonElement>) => {
-      event.preventDefault()
-      event.stopPropagation()
-      updateWorktreeMeta(worktree.id, { isUnread: !worktree.isUnread })
-    },
-    [worktree.id, worktree.isUnread, updateWorktreeMeta]
-  )
-
-  const unreadTooltip = worktree.isUnread ? 'Mark read' : 'Mark unread'
+  // Why: the 'unread' card property is the user's opt-out. When off, we render
+  // as if the workspace is read so bold emphasis never appears — matching the
+  // old "hide the bell" behavior exactly. The persisted `worktree.isUnread`
+  // flag is unchanged; only the rendering changes.
+  const showUnreadEmphasis = cardProps.includes('unread') && worktree.isUnread
 
   const cardBody = (
     <div
@@ -367,41 +360,14 @@ const WorktreeCard = React.memo(function WorktreeCard({
         </div>
       )}
 
-      {/* Status indicator on the left */}
-      {(cardProps.includes('status') || cardProps.includes('unread')) && (
+      {/* Status indicator on the left.
+           Why: bold-for-unread carries the attention signal in the title row
+           now, so the rail only needs to render when the status dot is
+           enabled — the 'unread' property is intentionally excluded here. */}
+      {cardProps.includes('status') && (
         <div className="flex flex-col items-center justify-start pt-[2px] gap-2 shrink-0">
-          {cardProps.includes('status') && (
-            <>
-              <StatusIndicator status={status} aria-hidden="true" />
-              <span className="sr-only">{getWorktreeStatusLabel(status)}</span>
-            </>
-          )}
-
-          {cardProps.includes('unread') && (
-            <Tooltip>
-              <TooltipTrigger asChild>
-                <button
-                  type="button"
-                  onClick={handleToggleUnreadQuick}
-                  className={cn(
-                    'group/unread flex size-4 cursor-pointer items-center justify-center rounded transition-all',
-                    'hover:bg-accent/80 active:scale-95',
-                    'focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-1 focus-visible:ring-ring'
-                  )}
-                  aria-label={worktree.isUnread ? 'Mark as read' : 'Mark as unread'}
-                >
-                  {worktree.isUnread ? (
-                    <FilledBellIcon className="size-[13px] text-amber-500 drop-shadow-sm" />
-                  ) : (
-                    <Bell className="size-3 text-muted-foreground/40 opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100 group-hover/unread:opacity-100 transition-opacity" />
-                  )}
-                </button>
-              </TooltipTrigger>
-              <TooltipContent side="right" sideOffset={8}>
-                <span>{unreadTooltip}</span>
-              </TooltipContent>
-            </Tooltip>
-          )}
+          <StatusIndicator status={status} aria-hidden="true" />
+          <span className="sr-only">{getWorktreeStatusLabel(status)}</span>
         </div>
       )}
 
@@ -427,7 +393,23 @@ const WorktreeCard = React.memo(function WorktreeCard({
               </Tooltip>
             )}
 
-            <div className="text-[12px] font-semibold text-foreground truncate leading-tight">
+            {/* Why: bold = unread is the single attention signal on this
+                 card, mirroring DashboardAgentRow.tsx:262. The base class
+                 drops the always-on font-semibold that was safe when a
+                 separate bell carried the signal; now the title IS the
+                 signal, so it must de-bold on read cards. */}
+            <div
+              className={cn(
+                'text-[12px] truncate leading-tight',
+                showUnreadEmphasis
+                  ? 'font-semibold text-foreground'
+                  : 'font-normal text-muted-foreground'
+              )}
+            >
+              {/* Why: the card root is a non-interactive <div>, so aria-label
+                   on it is announced inconsistently across screen readers.
+                   A visible-text prefix inside the accessible name is reliable. */}
+              {showUnreadEmphasis && <span className="sr-only">Unread: </span>}
               {worktree.displayName}
             </div>
 
@@ -505,7 +487,19 @@ const WorktreeCard = React.memo(function WorktreeCard({
           {repo && !hideRepoBadge && (
             <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5 shrink-0 px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded-[4px] bg-accent border border-border dark:bg-accent/50 dark:border-border/60">
               <div className="size-1.5 rounded-full" style={{ backgroundColor: repo.badgeColor }} />
-              <span className="text-[10px] font-semibold text-foreground truncate max-w-[6rem] leading-none lowercase">
+              {/* Why: repo label tracks the title's weight. Keeps
+                   text-foreground on the read state (not muted) because this
+                   label sits on a tinted bg-accent chip — muting it would leave
+                   it nearly invisible; the weight change alone restores
+                   hierarchy against the title. */}
+              <span
+                className={cn(
+                  'text-[10px] truncate max-w-[6rem] leading-none lowercase',
+                  showUnreadEmphasis
+                    ? 'font-semibold text-foreground'
+                    : 'font-normal text-foreground'
+                )}
+              >
                 {repo.displayName}
               </span>
             </div>
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/WorktreeCardMeta.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/WorktreeCardMeta.tsx
index a0ec8dbf2b7..e5e69c761fd 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/WorktreeCardMeta.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/WorktreeCardMeta.tsx
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ export function PrSection({ pr, onClick }: PrSectionProps): React.JSX.Element {
               href={pr.url}
               target="_blank"
               rel="noreferrer"
-              className="text-foreground opacity-80 font-medium shrink-0 hover:text-foreground hover:underline"
+              className="text-muted-foreground shrink-0 hover:text-foreground hover:underline"
               onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}
             >
               PR #{pr.number}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/WorktreeContextMenu.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/WorktreeContextMenu.tsx
index 8a7164df77e..bf7402632c6 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/WorktreeContextMenu.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/sidebar/WorktreeContextMenu.tsx
@@ -10,8 +10,6 @@ import { Tooltip, TooltipContent, TooltipTrigger } from '@/components/ui/tooltip
 import {
   FolderOpen,
   Copy,
-  Bell,
-  BellOff,
   Link,
   MessageSquare,
   Moon,
@@ -64,10 +62,6 @@ const WorktreeContextMenu = React.memo(function WorktreeContextMenu({
     window.api.ui.writeClipboardText(worktree.path)
   }, [worktree.path])
 
-  const handleToggleRead = useCallback(() => {
-    updateWorktreeMeta(worktree.id, { isUnread: !worktree.isUnread })
-  }, [worktree.id, worktree.isUnread, updateWorktreeMeta])
-
   const handleTogglePin = useCallback(() => {
     updateWorktreeMeta(worktree.id, { isPinned: !worktree.isPinned })
   }, [worktree.id, worktree.isPinned, updateWorktreeMeta])
@@ -169,10 +163,6 @@ const WorktreeContextMenu = React.memo(function WorktreeContextMenu({
             <Pencil className="size-3.5" />
             Rename
           </DropdownMenuItem>
-          <DropdownMenuItem onSelect={handleToggleRead} disabled={isDeleting}>
-            {worktree.isUnread ? <BellOff className="size-3.5" /> : <Bell className="size-3.5" />}
-            {worktree.isUnread ? 'Mark Read' : 'Mark Unread'}
-          </DropdownMenuItem>
           <DropdownMenuItem onSelect={handleLinkIssue} disabled={isDeleting}>
             <Link className="size-3.5" />
             {worktree.linkedIssue ? 'Edit GH Issue' : 'Link GH Issue'}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/tab-bar/SortableTab.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/tab-bar/SortableTab.tsx
index 79c99c22371..51578eaa443 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/tab-bar/SortableTab.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/tab-bar/SortableTab.tsx
@@ -259,9 +259,11 @@ export default function SortableTab({
           )}
           {showActivityAffordance ? (
             // Why: the activity marker sits to the LEFT of the tab title using
-            // Orca's filled bell glyph (amber-500 with a subtle drop shadow)
-            // so it matches the worktree-level bell in the sidebar — keeping
-            // every "needs your attention" surface in Orca consistent.
+            // Orca's filled bell glyph (amber-500 with a subtle drop shadow).
+            // The sidebar WorktreeCard used to render the same bell; it now
+            // uses a bold-title treatment (see docs/bold-instead-of-bell.md).
+            // The tab bar keeps the bell for now — aligning the two surfaces
+            // is a deliberate follow-up (out-of-scope in that doc).
             <span data-testid="tab-activity-bell" className="inline-flex shrink-0">
               <FilledBellIcon className="w-3 h-3 mr-1 text-amber-500 drop-shadow-sm" />
             </span>