diff --git a/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime-get-status.ts b/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime-get-status.ts
index 8da950285e6..27414703158 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime-get-status.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime-get-status.ts
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ import { wakeFolderRepoGitUpgradeWatch } from '../ipc/folder-repo-git-upgrade-wa
 import { runWorktreeChangeInvalidators } from '../ipc/worktree-change-invalidators'
 import { MACHINE_NAME_PUBLISH_WAIT_MS } from './runtime-machine-name'
 import { getManagedServerActions } from './managed-server-actions-registry'
+import type { WorktreeSortOrderUpdate } from '../../shared/worktree/sort-order-update'
 
 type RuntimeStatusHost = {
   getAvailableAuthoritativeWindow(): unknown
@@ -292,21 +293,29 @@ export abstract class OrcaRuntimeWithGetStatus extends OrcaRuntimeWithGetRuntime
 
   notifyWorktreesChanged(
     repoId: string,
-    options?: { invalidateGitScans?: boolean; sortOrderOnly?: boolean }
+    options?: {
+      invalidateGitScans?: boolean
+      sortOrderOnly?: boolean
+      sortOrders?: WorktreeSortOrderUpdate[]
+    }
   ): void {
     // Headless hosts invalidate here unless only metadata changed.
     if (options?.invalidateGitScans !== false) {
       runWorktreeChangeInvalidators(repoId)
     }
     if (options) {
-      this.notifier?.worktreesChanged(repoId, undefined, options)
+      const { sortOrders: _sortOrders, ...notifierOptions } = options
+      this.notifier?.worktreesChanged(repoId, undefined, notifierOptions)
     } else {
       this.notifier?.worktreesChanged(repoId)
     }
     this.emitClientEvent({
       type: 'worktreesChanged',
       repoId,
-      ...(options?.sortOrderOnly === true ? { sortOrderOnly: true } : {})
+      ...(options?.sortOrderOnly === true ? { sortOrderOnly: true } : {}),
+      ...(options?.sortOrderOnly === true && options.sortOrders
+        ? { sortOrders: options.sortOrders }
+        : {})
     })
   }
 
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime-tests/lineage-and-scan-cache-part-03.spec.ts b/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime-tests/lineage-and-scan-cache-part-03.spec.ts
index 64706d755e8..782bbffaa3c 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime-tests/lineage-and-scan-cache-part-03.spec.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/orca-runtime-tests/lineage-and-scan-cache-part-03.spec.ts
@@ -255,7 +255,15 @@ describe('OrcaRuntimeService', () => {
 
     expect(setWorktreeMeta).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
     expect(events).toEqual([
-      { type: 'worktreesChanged', repoId: TEST_REPO_ID, sortOrderOnly: true }
+      {
+        type: 'worktreesChanged',
+        repoId: TEST_REPO_ID,
+        sortOrderOnly: true,
+        sortOrders: [
+          { worktreeId: secondId, sortOrder: metaById[secondId].sortOrder },
+          { worktreeId: firstId, sortOrder: metaById[firstId].sortOrder }
+        ]
+      }
     ])
   })
 
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/runtime-created-worktree-terminal-target.test.ts b/src/main/runtime/runtime-created-worktree-terminal-target.test.ts
index 89b4274a296..f3a0131792c 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/runtime-created-worktree-terminal-target.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/runtime-created-worktree-terminal-target.test.ts
@@ -394,7 +394,17 @@ describe('workspace activation and metadata reentry', () => {
     )
     expect(notify.mock.calls).toEqual([
       ['repo'],
-      ['repo', { invalidateGitScans: false, sortOrderOnly: true }]
+      [
+        'repo',
+        {
+          invalidateGitScans: false,
+          sortOrderOnly: true,
+          sortOrders: [
+            { worktreeId: runtime.selectedWorktree.id, sortOrder: expect.any(Number) },
+            { worktreeId: otherId, sortOrder: expect.any(Number) }
+          ]
+        }
+      ]
     ])
   })
 
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/runtime-managed-worktree-metadata.ts b/src/main/runtime/runtime-managed-worktree-metadata.ts
index 8f78ce92345..4fe2f2769ce 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/runtime-managed-worktree-metadata.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/runtime-managed-worktree-metadata.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,10 @@ import type { GitPushTarget, Worktree } from '../../shared/worktree/types'
 import type { WorktreeMeta } from '../../shared/worktree/meta-types'
 import { worktreeWorkspaceKey } from '../../shared/workspace-scope'
 import { splitWorktreeId } from '../../shared/worktree/id'
-import { planWorktreeSortOrderUpdates } from '../../shared/worktree/sort-order-update'
+import {
+  planWorktreeSortOrderUpdates,
+  type WorktreeSortOrderUpdate
+} from '../../shared/worktree/sort-order-update'
 import { stripOrcaProvenanceMetaUpdates } from '../worktree-removal-safety'
 import { isRemovedFolderWorkspaceInstance } from '../folder-workspace-meta-presence'
 import type { RuntimeStore } from './runtime-store-contract'
@@ -139,7 +142,7 @@ export function persistRuntimeManagedWorktreeSortOrder(args: {
   orderedIds: string[]
   store: RuntimeStore
   invalidateResolved: () => void
-  notifyChanged: (repoId: string) => void
+  notifyChanged: (repoId: string, sortOrders: WorktreeSortOrderUpdate[]) => void
 }): { updated: number } {
   // A moving project keeps its old order; the rest of the batch still lands.
   const updates = planWorktreeSortOrderUpdates(
@@ -154,14 +157,15 @@ export function persistRuntimeManagedWorktreeSortOrder(args: {
     return { updated: 0 }
   }
   args.invalidateResolved()
-  const repoIds = new Set(
-    updates.flatMap(({ worktreeId }) => {
-      const parsed = splitWorktreeId(worktreeId)
-      return parsed ? [parsed.repoId] : []
-    })
-  )
-  for (const repoId of repoIds) {
-    args.notifyChanged(repoId)
+  const updatesByRepo = new Map<string, WorktreeSortOrderUpdate[]>()
+  for (const update of updates) {
+    const repoId = splitWorktreeId(update.worktreeId)?.repoId
+    if (repoId) {
+      updatesByRepo.set(repoId, [...(updatesByRepo.get(repoId) ?? []), update])
+    }
+  }
+  for (const [repoId, sortOrders] of updatesByRepo) {
+    args.notifyChanged(repoId, sortOrders)
   }
   return { updated: updates.length }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/runtime-sort-order-scan-cache.test.ts b/src/main/runtime/runtime-sort-order-scan-cache.test.ts
index 8d8d4ed1ebc..34ca93efbf0 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/runtime-sort-order-scan-cache.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/runtime-sort-order-scan-cache.test.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import {
   store
 } from './orca-runtime-test-fixtures.spec'
 import { registerRuntimeWindowLifecycle } from '../window/runtime-window-lifecycle'
+import type { RuntimeClientEvent } from '../../shared/runtime-client-events'
 
 vi.mock('electron', () => ({ ipcMain: { on: vi.fn(), removeListener: vi.fn() } }))
 
@@ -46,18 +47,29 @@ async function createScannedRuntime(): Promise<InstanceType<typeof OrcaRuntimeSe
 async function expectOrderSaveSkipsGitScan(
   runtime: InstanceType<typeof OrcaRuntimeService>
 ): Promise<void> {
-  const events: { type: string; repoId?: string }[] = []
+  const events: RuntimeClientEvent[] = []
   const unsubscribe = runtime.onClientEvent((event) => events.push(event))
 
   expect(runtime.persistManagedWorktreeSortOrder([secondId, firstId])).toEqual({ updated: 2 })
   unsubscribe()
   const listed = await runtime.listDetectedManagedWorktrees(`id:${TEST_REPO_ID}`)
 
-  expect(events).toEqual([{ type: 'worktreesChanged', repoId: TEST_REPO_ID, sortOrderOnly: true }])
   expect(listWorktrees).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
   const sortOrderOf = (id: string) =>
     listed.worktrees.find((worktree) => worktree.id === id)?.sortOrder ?? Number.NaN
   expect(sortOrderOf(secondId)).toBeGreaterThan(sortOrderOf(firstId))
+  // The event carries the saved values so a client can patch rows without refetching them.
+  expect(events).toEqual([
+    {
+      type: 'worktreesChanged',
+      repoId: TEST_REPO_ID,
+      sortOrderOnly: true,
+      sortOrders: [
+        { worktreeId: secondId, sortOrder: sortOrderOf(secondId) },
+        { worktreeId: firstId, sortOrder: sortOrderOf(firstId) }
+      ]
+    }
+  ])
 
   runtime.publishWorktreeRemovalChange(TEST_REPO_ID)
   await runtime.listDetectedManagedWorktrees(`id:${TEST_REPO_ID}`)
diff --git a/src/main/runtime/workspaces/workspace-metadata.ts b/src/main/runtime/workspaces/workspace-metadata.ts
index 1adc4f4df86..188f371c319 100644
--- a/src/main/runtime/workspaces/workspace-metadata.ts
+++ b/src/main/runtime/workspaces/workspace-metadata.ts
@@ -172,8 +172,12 @@ export abstract class OrcaRuntimeWithCreateManagedRemoteWorktree extends OrcaRun
       orderedIds,
       store: this.store,
       invalidateResolved: () => this.invalidateResolvedWorktreeCache(),
-      notifyChanged: (repoId) =>
-        this.notifyWorktreesChanged(repoId, { invalidateGitScans: false, sortOrderOnly: true })
+      notifyChanged: (repoId, sortOrders) =>
+        this.notifyWorktreesChanged(repoId, {
+          invalidateGitScans: false,
+          sortOrderOnly: true,
+          sortOrders
+        })
     })
   }
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/hooks/ipc-events/runtime-client-ipc-bridge-ownership.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/hooks/ipc-events/runtime-client-ipc-bridge-ownership.test.ts
index 2dbc2737ea3..e48d86d244e 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/hooks/ipc-events/runtime-client-ipc-bridge-ownership.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/hooks/ipc-events/runtime-client-ipc-bridge-ownership.test.ts
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ function createHarness() {
       replay = false,
       event?:
         | RuntimeClientEvent
-        | { type: 'worktreesChanged'; repoId: string; sortOrderOnly: unknown }
+        | { type: 'worktreesChanged'; repoId: string; sortOrderOnly: unknown; sortOrders?: unknown }
     ) => {
       const response = {
         id: 'r',
@@ -213,6 +213,53 @@ it.each([true, false, undefined, 'true', 1, null])(
   }
 )
 
+it.each([
+  { sortOrderOnly: true, valid: true, known: true, kept: true },
+  { sortOrderOnly: undefined, valid: true, known: true, kept: false },
+  { sortOrderOnly: true, valid: false, known: true, kept: false },
+  // An unknown repo refetches so a slow discovery cannot replay older values last.
+  { sortOrderOnly: true, valid: true, known: false, kept: false }
+])('forwards published order values only on a valid order-only event (%o)', async (input) => {
+  const h = createHarness()
+  const sortOrders = input.valid
+    ? [{ worktreeId: 'remote-repo::/a', sortOrder: 5 }]
+    : [{ worktreeId: 'remote-repo::/a' }]
+  if (input.known) {
+    useAppStore.setState({
+      repos: [
+        {
+          id: 'remote-repo',
+          path: '/remote/repo',
+          displayName: 'Remote repo',
+          badgeColor: 'blue',
+          addedAt: 1,
+          executionHostId: 'runtime:host-a'
+        }
+      ]
+    })
+  }
+  try {
+    h.start()
+    h.emit(0, false, {
+      type: 'worktreesChanged',
+      repoId: 'remote-repo',
+      sortOrderOnly: input.sortOrderOnly,
+      sortOrders
+    })
+    for (let index = 0; index < 10; index += 1) {
+      await Promise.resolve()
+    }
+    expect(h.enqueue).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      repoId: 'remote-repo',
+      executionHostId: 'runtime:host-a',
+      ...(input.sortOrderOnly === true ? { sortOrderOnly: true } : {}),
+      ...(input.kept ? { sortOrders } : {})
+    })
+  } finally {
+    await h.finish()
+  }
+})
+
 it('invalidates lineage before unknown-repository discovery can block a structural event', async () => {
   const h = createHarness()
   const repos = Promise.withResolvers<never[]>()
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/hooks/ipc-events/runtime-client-ipc-bridge.ts b/src/renderer/src/hooks/ipc-events/runtime-client-ipc-bridge.ts
index 6eab4308a65..4fd0f8fb5a4 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/hooks/ipc-events/runtime-client-ipc-bridge.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/hooks/ipc-events/runtime-client-ipc-bridge.ts
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ import {
   invalidateRuntimeClientEventReplay
 } from './runtime-environment-subscription-selection'
 import type { WorktreeEventRuntime } from './worktree-event-runtime'
+import { readPublishedSortOrders } from '../../store/slices/worktrees/listing/worktree-sort-order-patch'
 
 export function registerRuntimeClientIpcBridge(
   unsubs: (() => void)[],
@@ -42,15 +43,15 @@ export function registerRuntimeClientIpcBridge(
   unsubs.push(() => {
     stopped = true
   })
+  const isRuntimeEventRepoKnown = ({ repoId, executionHostId }: OwnedWorktreeEvent): boolean =>
+    (useAppStore.getState().repos ?? []).some(
+      (repo) => repo.id === repoId && getRepoExecutionHostId(repo) === executionHostId
+    )
   const ensureRuntimeEventRepoKnown = async (
     environmentId: string,
-    { repoId, executionHostId }: OwnedWorktreeEvent
+    event: OwnedWorktreeEvent
   ): Promise<void> => {
-    if (
-      (useAppStore.getState().repos ?? []).some(
-        (repo) => repo.id === repoId && getRepoExecutionHostId(repo) === executionHostId
-      )
-    ) {
+    if (isRuntimeEventRepoKnown(event)) {
       return
     }
     await useAppStore.getState().fetchRuntimeEnvironmentRepos(environmentId)
@@ -141,6 +142,13 @@ export function registerRuntimeClientIpcBridge(
           ...(event.sortOrderOnly === true ? { sortOrderOnly: true } : {})
         }
       })
+      const sortOrders =
+        event.sortOrderOnly === true ? readPublishedSortOrders(event.sortOrders) : null
+      if (sortOrders && isRuntimeEventRepoKnown(owned)) {
+        // Why sync: published values must enqueue in receipt order; an unknown repo refetches instead.
+        worktreeChangeRefreshQueue.enqueue({ ...owned, sortOrders })
+        return
+      }
       void ensureRuntimeEventRepoKnown(environmentId, owned).then(() =>
         worktreeChangeRefreshQueue.enqueue(owned)
       )
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/hooks/ipc-events/worktree-event-lineage-refresh.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/hooks/ipc-events/worktree-event-lineage-refresh.test.ts
index a87c1eda007..3bb28b6fd40 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/hooks/ipc-events/worktree-event-lineage-refresh.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/hooks/ipc-events/worktree-event-lineage-refresh.test.ts
@@ -27,9 +27,17 @@ vi.mock('../../store', () => ({
   useAppStore: {
     get getState() {
       return store.getState
+    },
+    get setState() {
+      return store.setState
     }
   }
 }))
+const sshStateGeneration = vi.hoisted(() => ({ value: 0 }))
+vi.mock('@/store/slices/runtime-environment-ssh', async (importOriginal) => ({
+  ...(await importOriginal<object>()),
+  getEnvironmentSshStateGeneration: () => sshStateGeneration.value
+}))
 vi.mock('@/lib/worktree-activation', () => ({ activateAndRevealWorktree: vi.fn() }))
 vi.mock('sonner', () => ({ toast: { warning: vi.fn() } }))
 vi.mock('@/components/worktree-base-fallback-notice', () => ({
@@ -103,6 +111,48 @@ describe('remote worktree event lineage refresh', () => {
     expect(responseBytes * 25).toBeGreaterThan(900_000)
   })
 
+  it('downloads nothing for a 25-repository save whose host publishes the values', async () => {
+    const rows = Array.from({ length: 105 }, (_, index) =>
+      makeWorktree({
+        id: `repo-${index % 25}::/home/orca/workspaces/project/feature-${index}`,
+        repoId: `repo-${index % 25}`,
+        hostId: 'runtime:env-1',
+        runtimeOwnerEnvironmentId: 'env-1',
+        sortOrder: index
+      })
+    )
+    const worktreesByRepo: Record<string, ReturnType<typeof makeWorktree>[]> = {}
+    for (const row of rows) {
+      ;(worktreesByRepo[row.repoId] ??= []).push(row)
+    }
+    store.setState({ worktreesByRepo, sortEpoch: 3 })
+    const { worktreeChangeRefreshQueue: queue } = createWorktreeEventRuntime(unsubs, () => false)
+    const now = 1_800_000_000_000
+    const events = Object.entries(worktreesByRepo).map(([repoId, repoRows]) => ({
+      type: 'worktreesChanged' as const,
+      repoId,
+      sortOrderOnly: true,
+      sortOrders: repoRows.map((row, index) => ({
+        worktreeId: row.id,
+        sortOrder: now - index * 1000
+      }))
+    }))
+    for (const event of events) {
+      queue.enqueue({ ...event, executionHostId: 'runtime:env-1' })
+    }
+    await flushPromises()
+    expect(store.getState().fetchWorktrees).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(store.getState().fetchWorktreeLineage).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(store.getState().sortEpoch).toBe(3)
+    expect(store.getState().worktreesByRepo['repo-0'][0].sortOrder).toBe(now)
+    // The save now costs only the pushed events (about 16 KB with real-length ids).
+    const eventBytes = events.reduce(
+      (sum, event) => sum + Buffer.byteLength(JSON.stringify(event)),
+      0
+    )
+    expect(eventBytes).toBeLessThan(15_000)
+  })
+
   it.each([undefined, false])(
     'keeps the full refresh for an older or unmarked event (%s)',
     async (sortOrderOnly) => {
@@ -238,7 +288,7 @@ function createActualActionFixture() {
 }
 
 describe('order-only refresh with actual store actions', () => {
-  it('hydrates a cold client, then keeps new sortOrder and sortEpoch without a lineage download', async () => {
+  it('hydrates a cold client, then takes an older host order save without a lineage download or re-sort', async () => {
     const h = createActualActionFixture()
     h.queue.enqueue({ repoId: 'repo', executionHostId: 'runtime:env-1', sortOrderOnly: true })
     await vi.waitFor(() => expect(isRemoteWorktreeLineageFresh(store.getState, 'env-1')).toBe(true))
@@ -249,10 +299,114 @@ describe('order-only refresh with actual store actions', () => {
     h.queue.enqueue({ repoId: 'repo', executionHostId: 'runtime:env-1', sortOrderOnly: true })
     await vi.waitFor(() => expect(store.getState().worktreesByRepo.repo[0].sortOrder).toBe(20))
     await flushPromises()
-    expect(store.getState().sortEpoch).toBe(beforeEpoch + 1)
+    // A sortOrder-only refetch must not schedule the next Smart re-sort and save (#27268).
+    expect(store.getState().sortEpoch).toBe(beforeEpoch)
     expect(h.lineageReadCount()).toBe(1)
   })
 
+  it('patches a published order save in place without any host read or re-sort', async () => {
+    const h = createActualActionFixture()
+    await h.warm()
+    const readsBefore = runtimeEnvironmentCall.mock.calls.length
+    const beforeEpoch = store.getState().sortEpoch
+    h.queue.enqueue({
+      repoId: 'repo',
+      executionHostId: 'runtime:env-1',
+      sortOrderOnly: true,
+      sortOrders: [{ worktreeId: h.worktree.id, sortOrder: 99 }]
+    })
+    await flushPromises()
+    expect(store.getState().worktreesByRepo.repo[0].sortOrder).toBe(99)
+    expect(store.getState().sortEpoch).toBe(beforeEpoch)
+    expect(runtimeEnvironmentCall.mock.calls.length).toBe(readsBefore)
+  })
+
+  it('refetches when a published row was never loaded here', async () => {
+    const h = createActualActionFixture()
+    await h.warm()
+    store.setState({ worktreesByRepo: {} })
+    h.setOrder(42)
+    h.queue.enqueue({
+      repoId: 'repo',
+      executionHostId: 'runtime:env-1',
+      sortOrderOnly: true,
+      sortOrders: [{ worktreeId: h.worktree.id, sortOrder: 99 }]
+    })
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(store.getState().worktreesByRepo.repo?.[0]?.sortOrder).toBe(42))
+  })
+
+  it('still retries lineage on a published save when the host snapshot is not fresh', async () => {
+    const h = createActualActionFixture()
+    h.queue.enqueue({
+      repoId: 'repo',
+      executionHostId: 'runtime:env-1',
+      sortOrderOnly: true,
+      sortOrders: [{ worktreeId: h.worktree.id, sortOrder: 99 }]
+    })
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(h.lineageReadCount()).toBe(1))
+    expect(
+      runtimeEnvironmentCall.mock.calls.filter(
+        ([request]) => request.method !== 'worktree.lineageList'
+      )
+    ).toEqual([])
+    expect(store.getState().worktreesByRepo.repo[0].sortOrder).toBe(99)
+  })
+
+  it.each(['reconnect', 'event-stream gap'] as const)(
+    'refetches instead of applying values published before a %s',
+    async (gap) => {
+      const h = createActualActionFixture()
+      await h.warm()
+      const listing = Promise.withResolvers<void>()
+      h.holdListing(listing.promise)
+      h.queue.enqueue({ repoId: 'repo', executionHostId: 'runtime:env-1' })
+      h.queue.enqueue({
+        repoId: 'repo',
+        executionHostId: 'runtime:env-1',
+        sortOrderOnly: true,
+        sortOrders: [{ worktreeId: h.worktree.id, sortOrder: 99 }]
+      })
+      if (gap === 'reconnect') {
+        advanceRuntimeEnvironmentConnectionGeneration('env-1')
+      } else {
+        sshStateGeneration.value += 1
+      }
+      h.setOrder(200)
+      listing.resolve()
+      await vi.waitFor(() => expect(store.getState().worktreesByRepo.repo[0].sortOrder).toBe(200))
+      await flushPromises()
+      expect(store.getState().worktreesByRepo.repo[0].sortOrder).toBe(200)
+    }
+  )
+
+  it('leaves a same-id row owned by another host untouched', async () => {
+    const h = createActualActionFixture()
+    const local = makeWorktree({ id: h.worktree.id, repoId: 'repo', hostId: 'local', sortOrder: 5 })
+    store.setState({ worktreesByRepo: { repo: [h.worktree, local] } })
+    h.queue.enqueue({
+      repoId: 'repo',
+      executionHostId: 'runtime:env-1',
+      sortOrderOnly: true,
+      sortOrders: [{ worktreeId: h.worktree.id, sortOrder: 99 }]
+    })
+    await flushPromises()
+    expect(store.getState().worktreesByRepo.repo.map((row) => row.sortOrder)).toEqual([99, 5])
+  })
+
+  it('still bumps sortEpoch when a refetch changes more than sortOrder', async () => {
+    const h = createActualActionFixture()
+    const beforeEpoch = store.getState().sortEpoch
+    runtimeEnvironmentCall.mockImplementation(async () => ({
+      id: 'rpc',
+      ok: true,
+      result: makeDetectedResult('repo', [{ ...h.worktree, sortOrder: 30, isUnread: true }]),
+      _meta: { runtimeId: 'remote-runtime' }
+    }))
+    await store.getState().fetchWorktrees('repo', { executionHostId: 'runtime:env-1' })
+    expect(store.getState().worktreesByRepo.repo[0].isUnread).toBe(true)
+    expect(store.getState().sortEpoch).toBe(beforeEpoch + 1)
+  })
+
   it('retries failed ordinary and best-effort reads on the next order-only event', async () => {
     vi.spyOn(console, 'error').mockImplementation(() => {})
     const h = createActualActionFixture()
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/hooks/ipc-events/worktree-event-runtime.ts b/src/renderer/src/hooks/ipc-events/worktree-event-runtime.ts
index e094964b9d2..44a923fcb28 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/hooks/ipc-events/worktree-event-runtime.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/hooks/ipc-events/worktree-event-runtime.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,12 @@ import {
 } from '../../../../shared/execution-host'
 import type { RuntimeClientEvent } from '../../../../shared/runtime-client-events'
 import type { AppState } from '../../store/types'
+import type { WorktreeSortOrderUpdate } from '../../../../shared/worktree/sort-order-update'
+import {
+  hasHostRowsForSortOrders,
+  patchWorktreeSortOrders
+} from '../../store/slices/worktrees/listing/worktree-sort-order-patch'
+import { buildRuntimeClientEventEnvironmentKey } from './runtime-environment-subscription-selection'
 import { useAppStore } from '../../store'
 import {
   invalidateRemoteWorktreeLineage,
@@ -17,6 +23,11 @@ import {
 } from '../worktree-change-refresh-queue'
 
 const WORKTREE_RENAME_PURGE_GRACE_MS = 20_000
+
+// Why the subscription key: it changes on reconnect, re-pair and event-stream replay invalidation.
+function runtimeSortOrderFence(environmentId: string): string {
+  return buildRuntimeClientEventEnvironmentKey([environmentId])
+}
 const recentlyRenamedWorktreeIdExpiry = new Map<string, number>()
 
 function getAuthoritativeDetectedWorktreeIds(state: AppState, repoId: string): Set<string> | null {
@@ -54,8 +65,35 @@ export function createWorktreeEventRuntime(
       forceLocalOwner?: boolean
       executionHostId?: ExecutionHostId
       sortOrderOnly?: boolean
+      sortOrders?: WorktreeSortOrderUpdate[]
+      sortOrderFence?: string
     }
   ): Promise<void> => {
+    const sortOrderOwner = parseExecutionHostId(options?.executionHostId)
+    if (
+      options?.sortOrderOnly === true &&
+      options.sortOrders &&
+      options.executionHostId &&
+      sortOrderOwner?.kind === 'runtime' &&
+      options.sortOrderFence === runtimeSortOrderFence(sortOrderOwner.environmentId) &&
+      !renamed &&
+      !options.forceLocalOwner &&
+      hasHostRowsForSortOrders(
+        useAppStore.getState(),
+        repoId,
+        options.executionHostId,
+        options.sortOrders
+      )
+    ) {
+      // Why: the host published the saved values, so refetching the repo would only re-download them (#27268).
+      const { executionHostId, sortOrders } = options
+      useAppStore.setState((s) => patchWorktreeSortOrders(s, repoId, executionHostId, sortOrders))
+      // Keep the existing retry for a host whose lineage snapshot is not fresh.
+      if (!isRemoteWorktreeLineageFresh(useAppStore.getState, sortOrderOwner.environmentId)) {
+        await useAppStore.getState().fetchWorktreeLineage({ executionHostId })
+      }
+      return
+    }
     const localRefreshStartedWithRuntime =
       options?.forceLocalOwner === true && isRuntimeEnvironmentActive()
     // Why: capture active-ness before migration moves the pointer; re-key maps before the diff so a rename isn't a deletion.
@@ -171,7 +209,11 @@ export function createWorktreeEventRuntime(
       if (owner?.kind === 'runtime' && (event.sortOrderOnly !== true || event.renamed)) {
         invalidateRemoteWorktreeLineage(useAppStore.getState, owner.environmentId)
       }
-      refreshQueue.enqueue(event)
+      refreshQueue.enqueue(
+        event.sortOrders && owner?.kind === 'runtime'
+          ? { ...event, sortOrderFence: runtimeSortOrderFence(owner.environmentId) }
+          : event
+      )
     }
   }
   unsubs.push(worktreeChangeRefreshQueue.dispose)
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/hooks/worktree-change-refresh-queue.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/hooks/worktree-change-refresh-queue.test.ts
index 6ccb6e0f228..8169ea26efd 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/hooks/worktree-change-refresh-queue.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/hooks/worktree-change-refresh-queue.test.ts
@@ -246,4 +246,44 @@ describe('createWorktreeChangeRefreshQueue', () => {
       })
     }
   )
+
+  it('merges queued published order saves and drops the values once any refresh needs a refetch', async () => {
+    const firstRefresh = Promise.withResolvers<void>()
+    const handler = vi.fn().mockReturnValueOnce(firstRefresh.promise).mockResolvedValue(undefined)
+    const queue = createWorktreeChangeRefreshQueue(handler)
+    const owner = { repoId: 'repo', executionHostId: 'runtime:env-1' as const, sortOrderOnly: true }
+    queue.enqueue({ repoId: 'repo', executionHostId: 'runtime:env-1' })
+    queue.enqueue({
+      ...owner,
+      sortOrders: [
+        { worktreeId: 'a', sortOrder: 1 },
+        { worktreeId: 'b', sortOrder: 2 }
+      ]
+    })
+    queue.enqueue({ ...owner, sortOrders: [{ worktreeId: 'b', sortOrder: 3 }] })
+    firstRefresh.resolve()
+    await flushPromises()
+    expect(handler).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith('repo', undefined, {
+      forceLocalOwner: undefined,
+      executionHostId: 'runtime:env-1',
+      sortOrderOnly: true,
+      sortOrders: [
+        { worktreeId: 'a', sortOrder: 1 },
+        { worktreeId: 'b', sortOrder: 3 }
+      ]
+    })
+
+    const held = Promise.withResolvers<void>()
+    handler.mockReturnValueOnce(held.promise)
+    queue.enqueue({ repoId: 'repo', executionHostId: 'runtime:env-1' })
+    queue.enqueue({ ...owner, sortOrders: [{ worktreeId: 'a', sortOrder: 4 }] })
+    queue.enqueue(owner)
+    held.resolve()
+    await flushPromises()
+    expect(handler).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith('repo', undefined, {
+      forceLocalOwner: undefined,
+      executionHostId: 'runtime:env-1',
+      sortOrderOnly: true
+    })
+  })
 })
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/hooks/worktree-change-refresh-queue.ts b/src/renderer/src/hooks/worktree-change-refresh-queue.ts
index 95783035e6c..6632aa8b225 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/hooks/worktree-change-refresh-queue.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/hooks/worktree-change-refresh-queue.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import type { ExecutionHostId } from '../../../shared/execution-host'
+import type { WorktreeSortOrderUpdate } from '../../../shared/worktree/sort-order-update'
 
 type WorktreeRename = {
   oldWorktreeId: string
@@ -9,6 +10,9 @@ type WorktreeChangeOwner = {
   forceLocalOwner?: boolean
   executionHostId?: ExecutionHostId
   sortOrderOnly?: boolean
+  sortOrders?: WorktreeSortOrderUpdate[]
+  // Connection the values were published on; a patch from another connection refetches instead.
+  sortOrderFence?: string
 }
 
 type WorktreeChangeEvent = {
@@ -19,6 +23,8 @@ type WorktreeChangeEvent = {
   forceLocalOwner?: boolean
   executionHostId?: ExecutionHostId
   sortOrderOnly?: boolean
+  sortOrders?: WorktreeSortOrderUpdate[]
+  sortOrderFence?: string
 }
 
 type WorktreeChangeRefreshHandler = (
@@ -39,6 +45,17 @@ export type WorktreeChangeRefreshQueue = {
   enqueue: (event: WorktreeChangeEvent) => void
 }
 
+function mergeSortOrders(
+  earlier: readonly WorktreeSortOrderUpdate[],
+  later: readonly WorktreeSortOrderUpdate[]
+): WorktreeSortOrderUpdate[] {
+  const byId = new Map(earlier.map((entry) => [entry.worktreeId, entry]))
+  for (const entry of later) {
+    byId.set(entry.worktreeId, entry)
+  }
+  return [...byId.values()]
+}
+
 export function createWorktreeChangeRefreshQueue(
   handler: WorktreeChangeRefreshHandler
 ): WorktreeChangeRefreshQueue {
@@ -54,7 +71,10 @@ export function createWorktreeChangeRefreshQueue(
           await handler(repoId, next?.renamed, {
             forceLocalOwner: next?.forceLocalOwner,
             ...(next?.executionHostId ? { executionHostId: next.executionHostId } : {}),
-            ...(next?.sortOrderOnly === true ? { sortOrderOnly: true } : {})
+            ...(next?.sortOrderOnly === true ? { sortOrderOnly: true } : {}),
+            ...(next?.sortOrderOnly === true && next.sortOrders
+              ? { sortOrders: next.sortOrders, sortOrderFence: next.sortOrderFence }
+              : {})
           })
         } catch (error) {
           console.error('Failed to refresh changed worktrees:', error)
@@ -107,11 +127,24 @@ export function createWorktreeChangeRefreshQueue(
           state.queue.push({
             forceLocalOwner: event.forceLocalOwner,
             executionHostId: event.executionHostId,
-            ...(event.sortOrderOnly === true ? { sortOrderOnly: true } : {})
+            ...(event.sortOrderOnly === true ? { sortOrderOnly: true } : {}),
+            ...(event.sortOrderOnly === true && event.sortOrders
+              ? { sortOrders: event.sortOrders, sortOrderFence: event.sortOrderFence }
+              : {})
           })
         } else if (event.sortOrderOnly !== true) {
           // An order save cannot erase an adjacent structural refresh.
           delete lastQueued.sortOrderOnly
+          delete lastQueued.sortOrders
+          delete lastQueued.sortOrderFence
+        } else if (lastQueued.sortOrders) {
+          if (event.sortOrders && event.sortOrderFence === lastQueued.sortOrderFence) {
+            lastQueued.sortOrders = mergeSortOrders(lastQueued.sortOrders, event.sortOrders)
+          } else {
+            // Values missing or from another connection: the refetch reads current ones.
+            delete lastQueued.sortOrders
+            delete lastQueued.sortOrderFence
+          }
         }
       }
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/store/adopt-from-endpoint.ts b/src/renderer/src/store/adopt-from-endpoint.ts
index 2bdb56874c4..71471ffa61e 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/store/adopt-from-endpoint.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/store/adopt-from-endpoint.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import {
   adoptEndpointRepo
 } from '../../../shared/endpoint-catalog-adoption'
 import type { RuntimeClientTarget } from '../../../shared/runtime-client-target'
+import type { WorktreeSortOrderUpdate } from '../../../shared/worktree/sort-order-update'
 import { getRuntimeTargetHostId } from '../runtime/runtime-client-target'
 
 export type FetchedRepo = { kind: 'repo'; row: Repo }
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ type WorktreeEventRow = {
   repoId: string
   renamed?: { oldWorktreeId: string; newWorktreeId: string }
   sortOrderOnly?: boolean
+  sortOrders?: WorktreeSortOrderUpdate[]
 }
 /** A worktree change or activation an endpoint pushed; the endpoint is its only owner fact. */
 export type EndpointWorktreeEvent = { kind: 'worktreeEvent'; row: WorktreeEventRow }
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/worktrees/listing/fetched-worktree-merge.ts b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/worktrees/listing/fetched-worktree-merge.ts
index 55efb22ff04..0d3055c970f 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/worktrees/listing/fetched-worktree-merge.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/worktrees/listing/fetched-worktree-merge.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,11 @@ import type { AppState } from '../../../types'
 import type { WorktreeSlice } from '../../worktree-helpers'
 import type { Worktree } from '../../../../../../shared/worktree/types'
 import { routeListingBranchSwitchesThroughGitIdentity } from '../../worktree-listing-branch-switch'
-import { areDetectedWorktreeResultsEqual, areWorktreesEqual } from './worktree-catalog-visibility'
+import {
+  areDetectedWorktreeResultsEqual,
+  areWorktreesEqual,
+  worktreesDifferOnlyInSortOrder
+} from './worktree-catalog-visibility'
 import { mergeDetectedWorktreesForHost } from './detected-worktree-host-merge'
 import {
   getRemovedWorktreeIdsAfterAuthoritativeScan,
@@ -250,7 +254,10 @@ export function mergeFetchedWorktrees(
               ...s.worktreesByRepo,
               [args.repoId]: mergedWorktrees
             },
-            sortEpoch: s.sortEpoch + 1
+            // Why: an order save re-reads as a sortOrder-only change; re-sorting on it would schedule the next save (#27268).
+            ...(worktreesDifferOnlyInSortOrder(s.worktreesByRepo[args.repoId], mergedWorktrees)
+              ? {}
+              : { sortEpoch: s.sortEpoch + 1 })
           }
         : {}),
       ...(detectedChanged
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/worktrees/listing/worktree-catalog-visibility.ts b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/worktrees/listing/worktree-catalog-visibility.ts
index 2fcf8d51d28..a3fb2ef3ac2 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/worktrees/listing/worktree-catalog-visibility.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/worktrees/listing/worktree-catalog-visibility.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import { structuralValuesEqualIgnoringUndefined } from '../../../../../../shared/structural-value-equality'
 import { catalogRowsEqual } from '../../worktree-catalog-reconciliation'
 import type { DetectedWorktreeListResult, Worktree } from '../../../../../../shared/worktree/types'
 
@@ -5,6 +6,27 @@ export function areWorktreesEqual(current: Worktree[] | undefined, next: Worktre
   return catalogRowsEqual(current, next)
 }
 
+/** True when the rows match in place except for `sortOrder`, which an order save rewrites. */
+export function worktreesDifferOnlyInSortOrder(
+  current: readonly Worktree[] | undefined,
+  next: readonly Worktree[]
+): boolean {
+  if (!current || current.length !== next.length) {
+    return false
+  }
+  return current.every((row, index) => {
+    const incoming = next[index]
+    return (
+      row === incoming ||
+      (row.id === incoming.id &&
+        structuralValuesEqualIgnoringUndefined(
+          { ...row, sortOrder: 0 },
+          { ...incoming, sortOrder: 0 }
+        ))
+    )
+  })
+}
+
 export function areDetectedWorktreeResultsEqual(
   current: DetectedWorktreeListResult | undefined,
   next: DetectedWorktreeListResult
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/worktrees/listing/worktree-sort-order-patch.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/worktrees/listing/worktree-sort-order-patch.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..621f638ac79
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/worktrees/listing/worktree-sort-order-patch.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import { readPublishedSortOrders } from './worktree-sort-order-patch'
+
+describe('readPublishedSortOrders', () => {
+  it('reads valid entries and treats an absent field as an older host', () => {
+    expect(readPublishedSortOrders([{ worktreeId: 'repo::/a', sortOrder: 5 }])).toEqual([
+      { worktreeId: 'repo::/a', sortOrder: 5 }
+    ])
+    expect(readPublishedSortOrders(undefined)).toBeNull()
+  })
+
+  it('falls back to a refetch when any entry is malformed', () => {
+    expect(
+      readPublishedSortOrders([
+        { worktreeId: 'repo::/a', sortOrder: 5 },
+        { worktreeId: 'repo::/b', sortOrder: Number.NaN }
+      ])
+    ).toBeNull()
+    expect(readPublishedSortOrders([{ worktreeId: 7, sortOrder: 5 }])).toBeNull()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/store/slices/worktrees/listing/worktree-sort-order-patch.ts b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/worktrees/listing/worktree-sort-order-patch.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..75f2ea01b55
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/store/slices/worktrees/listing/worktree-sort-order-patch.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+import type { ExecutionHostId } from '../../../../../../shared/execution-host'
+import type { WorktreeSortOrderUpdate } from '../../../../../../shared/worktree/sort-order-update'
+import type { AppState } from '../../../types'
+import { worktreeHostMatchOptions, worktreeMatchesHost } from './worktree-host-ownership'
+
+/**
+ * Applies a host's published order save to one repo's rows in place.
+ * Why no sortEpoch bump: an order save must not schedule the next Smart re-sort (#27268).
+ */
+export function patchWorktreeSortOrders(
+  state: AppState,
+  repoId: string,
+  hostId: ExecutionHostId,
+  sortOrders: readonly WorktreeSortOrderUpdate[]
+): Pick<AppState, 'worktreesByRepo'> | AppState {
+  const current = state.worktreesByRepo[repoId]
+  if (!current || sortOrders.length === 0) {
+    return state
+  }
+  const sortOrderById = new Map(sortOrders.map((entry) => [entry.worktreeId, entry.sortOrder]))
+  const matchOptions = worktreeHostMatchOptions(state, repoId, hostId)
+  let changed = false
+  const next = current.map((worktree) => {
+    const sortOrder = sortOrderById.get(worktree.id)
+    if (
+      sortOrder === undefined ||
+      !Number.isFinite(sortOrder) ||
+      worktree.sortOrder === sortOrder ||
+      !worktreeMatchesHost(worktree, hostId, matchOptions)
+    ) {
+      return worktree
+    }
+    changed = true
+    return { ...worktree, sortOrder }
+  })
+  return changed ? { worktreesByRepo: { ...state.worktreesByRepo, [repoId]: next } } : state
+}
+
+/** False when a published row is missing here, so the listing needs a refetch rather than a patch. */
+export function hasHostRowsForSortOrders(
+  state: AppState,
+  repoId: string,
+  hostId: ExecutionHostId,
+  sortOrders: readonly WorktreeSortOrderUpdate[]
+): boolean {
+  const matchOptions = worktreeHostMatchOptions(state, repoId, hostId)
+  const ids = new Set(
+    (state.worktreesByRepo[repoId] ?? [])
+      .filter((worktree) => worktreeMatchesHost(worktree, hostId, matchOptions))
+      .map((worktree) => worktree.id)
+  )
+  return sortOrders.every((entry) => ids.has(entry.worktreeId))
+}
+
+/** Valid published order entries, or null when an older or malformed host sent none. */
+export function readPublishedSortOrders(value: unknown): WorktreeSortOrderUpdate[] | null {
+  if (!Array.isArray(value)) {
+    return null
+  }
+  const entries: WorktreeSortOrderUpdate[] = []
+  for (const entry of value) {
+    if (
+      typeof entry !== 'object' ||
+      entry === null ||
+      !('worktreeId' in entry) ||
+      !('sortOrder' in entry) ||
+      typeof entry.worktreeId !== 'string' ||
+      typeof entry.sortOrder !== 'number' ||
+      !Number.isFinite(entry.sortOrder)
+    ) {
+      return null
+    }
+    entries.push({ worktreeId: entry.worktreeId, sortOrder: entry.sortOrder })
+  }
+  return entries
+}
diff --git a/src/shared/runtime-client-events.ts b/src/shared/runtime-client-events.ts
index 90c610ce8e0..af26fb90a1a 100644
--- a/src/shared/runtime-client-events.ts
+++ b/src/shared/runtime-client-events.ts
@@ -8,12 +8,19 @@ import type { SshConnectionState } from './ssh-types'
 import type { TerminalSideEffectBatch } from './terminal-side-effect-facts'
 import type { RuntimeNativeChatLaunchDraftResolution } from './runtime-types'
 import type { RuntimeNavigationTarget } from './runtime-navigation'
+import type { WorktreeSortOrderUpdate } from './worktree/sort-order-update'
 
 export type RuntimeClientEvent =
   | { type: 'reposChanged' }
   /** The Workspace options UI state changed; a mirroring phone re-reads it. */
   | { type: 'workspaceViewChanged' }
-  | { type: 'worktreesChanged'; repoId: string; sortOrderOnly?: boolean }
+  | {
+      type: 'worktreesChanged'
+      repoId: string
+      sortOrderOnly?: boolean
+      // Why: lets a client patch an order save in place instead of refetching the repo (#27268).
+      sortOrders?: WorktreeSortOrderUpdate[]
+    }
   | ({ type: 'nativeChatLaunchDraftResolved' } & RuntimeNativeChatLaunchDraftResolution)
   | { type: 'terminalSideEffects'; batch: TerminalSideEffectBatch }
   // Why: SSH connections live on the runtime host; paired clients have no IPC