diff --git a/mobile/src/session/MobileSessionMarkdownReader.tsx b/mobile/src/session/MobileSessionMarkdownReader.tsx
index 4e1d380c9a3..134dc34b87a 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/MobileSessionMarkdownReader.tsx
+++ b/mobile/src/session/MobileSessionMarkdownReader.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { View, Text, Pressable, ActivityIndicator } from 'react-native'
 import { RefreshCw } from 'lucide-react-native'
 import { MobileRichMarkdownEditor } from '../components/MobileRichMarkdownEditor'
 import { resolveMarkdownFloatingActionsBottom } from './markdown-floating-actions-layout'
+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'
@@ -48,13 +49,7 @@ export function MarkdownReader({
     )
   }
 
-  const statusText = doc.saveError
-    ? doc.saveError
-    : doc.readOnlyReason
-      ? 'Read only'
-      : doc.stale
-        ? 'Changed on desktop'
-        : null
+  const statusText = markdownReaderStatusText(doc)
   const showRefresh = (doc.stale && !doc.isDirty) || !doc.editable
   const showCopy = doc.saveError || !doc.editable
   const showSave = doc.isDirty || doc.saving
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/mobile-markdown-disk-fallback.test.ts b/mobile/src/session/mobile-markdown-disk-fallback.test.ts
index 04de6c7f14f..fb172e1a425 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/mobile-markdown-disk-fallback.test.ts
+++ b/mobile/src/session/mobile-markdown-disk-fallback.test.ts
@@ -75,17 +75,20 @@ describe('buildMarkdownDiskFallbackDoc', () => {
     })
   })
 
-  it('warns when the disk read is truncated', () => {
+  it('marks a truncated disk read so the status line names it', () => {
     expect(
       buildMarkdownDiskFallbackDoc({
         content: '# Partial',
         truncated: true,
+        byteLength: 700_000,
         tabIsDirty: true
       })
     ).toMatchObject({
       editable: false,
       stale: true,
-      readOnlyReason: 'File too large for mobile preview'
+      readOnlyReason: 'Desktop has unsaved changes. Showing disk content.',
+      truncated: true,
+      byteLength: 700_000
     })
   })
 })
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/mobile-markdown-disk-fallback.ts b/mobile/src/session/mobile-markdown-disk-fallback.ts
index 910fb072564..81fa55e14cd 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/mobile-markdown-disk-fallback.ts
+++ b/mobile/src/session/mobile-markdown-disk-fallback.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import type { RpcFailure } from '../transport/types'
+import type { MarkdownDocState } from './mobile-session-route-types'
 
 const RENDERER_UNAVAILABLE = 'renderer_unavailable'
 
@@ -9,26 +10,24 @@ export function shouldReadMarkdownFromDiskAfterReadTabFailure(response: RpcFailu
   )
 }
 
-// `truncated` is optional because the preview reader salvages it: an absent flag reads as not
-// truncated here, which is the branch main took for a reply that omitted it.
 export function buildMarkdownDiskFallbackDoc(args: {
   content: string
-  truncated: boolean | undefined
+  truncated?: boolean
+  byteLength?: number
   tabIsDirty: boolean
-}) {
-  const readOnlyReason = args.truncated
-    ? 'File too large for mobile preview'
-    : args.tabIsDirty
-      ? 'Desktop has unsaved changes. Showing disk content.'
-      : 'Editing needs Orca desktop running.'
+}): Extract<MarkdownDocState, { status: 'ready' }> {
+  const readOnlyReason = args.tabIsDirty
+    ? 'Desktop has unsaved changes. Showing disk content.'
+    : 'Editing needs Orca desktop running.'
   return {
-    status: 'ready' as const,
+    status: 'ready',
     content: args.content,
     localContent: args.content,
     baseVersion: '',
     isDirty: false,
     editable: false,
     stale: args.tabIsDirty,
-    readOnlyReason
+    readOnlyReason,
+    ...(args.truncated ? { truncated: true, byteLength: args.byteLength } : {})
   }
 }
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/mobile-markdown-reader-status.test.ts b/mobile/src/session/mobile-markdown-reader-status.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8bee01b44d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mobile/src/session/mobile-markdown-reader-status.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import { markdownReaderStatusText } from './mobile-markdown-reader-status'
+
+const readOnlyDoc = {
+  status: 'ready' as const,
+  content: '# head',
+  localContent: '# head',
+  baseVersion: 'v1',
+  isDirty: false,
+  editable: false,
+  readOnlyReason: 'file_too_large'
+}
+
+describe('markdownReaderStatusText', () => {
+  it('names a truncated preview and the full file size the way file tabs do', () => {
+    expect(
+      markdownReaderStatusText({ ...readOnlyDoc, truncated: true, byteLength: 3_000_000 })
+    ).toBe('Preview truncated. File size: 2.9 MB.')
+  })
+
+  it('keeps read-only, stale, and save-error states as before', () => {
+    expect(markdownReaderStatusText(readOnlyDoc)).toBe('Read only')
+    expect(
+      markdownReaderStatusText({ ...readOnlyDoc, readOnlyReason: undefined, stale: true })
+    ).toBe('Changed on desktop')
+    expect(markdownReaderStatusText({ ...readOnlyDoc, saveError: 'Save failed' })).toBe(
+      'Save failed'
+    )
+  })
+})
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/mobile-markdown-reader-status.ts b/mobile/src/session/mobile-markdown-reader-status.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..060b73beffb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mobile/src/session/mobile-markdown-reader-status.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+import { formatPreviewByteLength } from '../files/mobile-file-preview-response'
+import type { MarkdownDocState } from './mobile-session-route-types'
+
+/** The markdown floating bar's status line; a truncated preview reads like a file tab's note. */
+export function markdownReaderStatusText(
+  doc: Extract<MarkdownDocState, { status: 'ready' }>
+): string | null {
+  if (doc.saveError) {
+    return doc.saveError
+  }
+  if (doc.truncated) {
+    return doc.byteLength === undefined
+      ? 'Preview truncated.'
+      : `Preview truncated. File size: ${formatPreviewByteLength(doc.byteLength)}.`
+  }
+  if (doc.readOnlyReason) {
+    return 'Read only'
+  }
+  return doc.stale ? 'Changed on desktop' : null
+}
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/mobile-session-route-parity.test.ts b/mobile/src/session/mobile-session-route-parity.test.ts
index 6083ecbcd68..7c0ac36e453 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/mobile-session-route-parity.test.ts
+++ b/mobile/src/session/mobile-session-route-parity.test.ts
@@ -137,7 +137,8 @@ const HEAD_CALLBACK_IDENTITY_SHA256 =
 // Again when an init took one options object.
 // Again when the frame's layout became one `notifyTerminalFrame`.
 // Again when the init option took the message's name, `initialData`.
-const HEAD_CALLBACK_BODY_SHA256 = '4848e925f478f1656f26031c1bdebbb9f2da60811c7e91cfd732fc9da9764079'
+// Again when the document readers mapped refusal codes through one function and kept truncation.
+const HEAD_CALLBACK_BODY_SHA256 = 'ff818790399c8532ead38d047d072caf715070b21311538932da2dc811312b06'
 // Refreshed for the startup effect: both `worktree.activate` sends became `worktreeActivate`, and
 // the sleeping-agent check reads that operation's verdict instead of the reply envelope. Refreshed
 // again when the reporter took the reply and interpreted it itself, retiring the hand-built
@@ -203,8 +204,9 @@ const HEAD_TIMER_CLEANUP_SHA256 = 'c73f1d1c2cc89642f3d727d6f3b6b81860a9d6f342345
 // 530 -> 532, and the host-JSX hash: the tab bar and the accessory bar take a ref that gives the
 // page `keyboardShouldPersistTaps` ('handled', 'always'), which react-native-web ignores. Natively
 // the ref is undefined. 532 -> 531: the live input's reopen flag reads the host OS, not an 'android' literal.
+// 531 -> 529: the markdown status line moved to `markdownReaderStatusText`.
 const HEAD_RUNTIME_STRING_SHA256 =
-  'ab8cc43940d3a3e0fdb8df3bdc178b9b61e51c7ccd55a944933862a3c290e8e3'
+  '4ab2f316f60c234480615136c02273675543f24d653eb76a62b76f6bc986d985'
 // Moved by both of the dock's fields: their refs, and the live one's submit handler, are the seam's now;
 // their keyboard type and remount key read the host OS.
 // Moved again when the terminal frame kept its laid-out width unrounded, for every fit.
@@ -654,7 +656,7 @@ describe('mobile session route extraction parity', () => {
 
   it('preserves runtime strings, styles, and the expanded JSX tree', () => {
     const strings = readRuntimeStrings()
-    expect(strings).toHaveLength(531)
+    expect(strings).toHaveLength(529)
     expect(hash(strings)).toBe(HEAD_RUNTIME_STRING_SHA256)
     const jsx = readJsxFacts(readDefinitions())
     expect(jsx.host).toHaveLength(125)
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/mobile-session-route-types.ts b/mobile/src/session/mobile-session-route-types.ts
index a584049360a..b28583bd037 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/mobile-session-route-types.ts
+++ b/mobile/src/session/mobile-session-route-types.ts
@@ -91,6 +91,8 @@ export type MarkdownDocState =
       saving?: boolean
       saveError?: string
       readOnlyReason?: string
+      truncated?: true
+      byteLength?: number
     }
   | { status: 'error'; message: string }
 
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/session-read-reply-schema.ts b/mobile/src/session/session-read-reply-schema.ts
index 2a2417c6673..14d163360a0 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/session-read-reply-schema.ts
+++ b/mobile/src/session/session-read-reply-schema.ts
@@ -106,17 +106,20 @@ export const sessionWorktreeRecordSchema = z
 /**
  * A markdown tab's document, read the same way on load and on save.
  *
- * `content`, `version` and `isDirty` are required: use-mobile-session-document-readers.ts:38-45
- * publishes all three into the tab's ready state with no guard, so a reply missing one rendered
- * `undefined` in the editor and saved against an undefined base version.
- * `editable` and `readOnlyReason` are guarded on the same lines and stay optional.
+ * `content`, `version` and `isDirty` are required: `readMarkdownTab` in
+ * `useMobileSessionDocumentReaders` publishes all three into the tab's ready state with no guard,
+ * so a reply missing one rendered `undefined` in the editor and saved against an undefined base
+ * version. `editable` and `readOnlyReason` are guarded there and stay optional, as are
+ * `truncated` and `byteLength`, which only a host that truncates oversize documents sends.
  */
 export const markdownTabDocumentSchema = z.looseObject({
   content: z.string(),
   version: z.string(),
   isDirty: z.boolean(),
   editable: salvagedOptional('editable', z.boolean()),
-  readOnlyReason: salvagedOptional('readOnlyReason', z.string())
+  readOnlyReason: salvagedOptional('readOnlyReason', z.string()),
+  truncated: salvagedOptional('truncated', z.boolean()),
+  byteLength: salvagedOptional('byteLength', z.number())
 })
 
 /**
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/use-mobile-session-document-readers.test.ts b/mobile/src/session/use-mobile-session-document-readers.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..70de6de02a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mobile/src/session/use-mobile-session-document-readers.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { hookMount, performHookAction } from '../test-support/rpc-recording/hook-mount'
+import { mountFixture } from '../test-support/rpc-recording/recorder-fixture-shape'
+import type { RpcResponse } from '../transport/types'
+import type { MarkdownDocState } from './mobile-session-route-types'
+import { useMobileSessionDocumentReaders } from './use-mobile-session-document-readers'
+
+const META = { runtimeId: 'runtime-1' }
+
+async function readMarkdown(reply: RpcResponse): Promise<MarkdownDocState | undefined> {
+  let docs = new Map<string, MarkdownDocState>()
+  let readers: ReturnType<typeof useMobileSessionDocumentReaders> | undefined
+  const hook = hookMount(() => {
+    readers = useMobileSessionDocumentReaders(
+      mountFixture<Parameters<typeof useMobileSessionDocumentReaders>[0]>({
+        worktreeId: 'wt-1',
+        client: { sendRequest: vi.fn(async (): Promise<RpcResponse> => reply) },
+        setMarkdownDocs: (update) => {
+          docs = typeof update === 'function' ? update(docs) : update
+        },
+        setFileDocs: () => {}
+      })
+    )
+  })
+  hook.mount()
+  await performHookAction(() =>
+    readers?.readMarkdownTab(
+      mountFixture<Parameters<typeof readers.readMarkdownTab>[0]>({
+        type: 'markdown',
+        id: 'tab-md',
+        relativePath: 'README.md',
+        isDirty: false
+      })
+    )
+  )
+  hook.unmount()
+  return docs.get('tab-md')
+}
+
+function readTabResult(extra: Record<string, unknown> = {}): RpcResponse {
+  return {
+    id: 'frame-1',
+    ok: true,
+    result: {
+      tabId: 'tab-md',
+      content: '# head',
+      version: 'content:6:0',
+      isDirty: false,
+      editable: false,
+      readOnlyReason: 'file_too_large',
+      ...extra
+    },
+    _meta: META
+  }
+}
+
+describe('useMobileSessionDocumentReaders markdown reads', () => {
+  it('shows an older desktop refusing an oversize file as too large', async () => {
+    const doc = await readMarkdown({
+      id: 'frame-1',
+      ok: false,
+      error: { code: 'runtime_error', message: 'file_too_large' },
+      _meta: META
+    })
+    expect(doc).toEqual({ status: 'error', message: 'File too large for mobile preview' })
+  })
+
+  it('keeps the generic message for an unknown refusal', async () => {
+    const doc = await readMarkdown({
+      id: 'frame-1',
+      ok: false,
+      error: { code: 'tab_not_found', message: 'No such tab' },
+      _meta: META
+    })
+    expect(doc).toEqual({ status: 'error', message: "Couldn't load markdown" })
+  })
+
+  it('carries a truncated prefix and the full size into the document', async () => {
+    const doc = await readMarkdown(readTabResult({ truncated: true, byteLength: 3_000_000 }))
+    expect(doc).toMatchObject({
+      status: 'ready',
+      content: '# head',
+      editable: false,
+      truncated: true,
+      byteLength: 3_000_000
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('adds no truncation fields for a whole document', async () => {
+    const doc = await readMarkdown(readTabResult())
+    expect(doc).toMatchObject({ status: 'ready', content: '# head' })
+    expect(doc).not.toHaveProperty('truncated')
+    expect(doc).not.toHaveProperty('byteLength')
+  })
+})
diff --git a/mobile/src/session/use-mobile-session-document-readers.ts b/mobile/src/session/use-mobile-session-document-readers.ts
index 857d1981570..bc2e3d69e8e 100644
--- a/mobile/src/session/use-mobile-session-document-readers.ts
+++ b/mobile/src/session/use-mobile-session-document-readers.ts
@@ -34,7 +34,10 @@ export function useMobileSessionDocumentReaders(scope: MobileSessionTabApplicati
               isDirty: false,
               editable: result.editable === true,
               stale: result.isDirty,
-              readOnlyReason: result.readOnlyReason
+              readOnlyReason: result.readOnlyReason,
+              ...(result.truncated === true
+                ? { truncated: true, byteLength: result.byteLength }
+                : {})
             })
           )
           return
@@ -59,15 +62,16 @@ export function useMobileSessionDocumentReaders(scope: MobileSessionTabApplicati
             buildMarkdownDiskFallbackDoc({
               content: fileResult.content,
               truncated: fileResult.truncated,
+              byteLength: fileResult.byteLength,
               tabIsDirty: tab.isDirty
             })
           )
         )
-      } catch {
+      } catch (err) {
         setMarkdownDocs((prev) =>
           new Map(prev).set(tab.id, {
             status: 'error',
-            message: "Couldn't load markdown"
+            message: documentReadErrorMessage(err, "Couldn't load markdown")
           })
         )
       }
@@ -89,15 +93,12 @@ export function useMobileSessionDocumentReaders(scope: MobileSessionTabApplicati
         })
         setFileDocs((prev) => new Map(prev).set(tab.id, doc))
       } catch (err) {
-        const message = err instanceof Error ? err.message : ''
-        const previewMessage =
-          message === 'binary_file'
-            ? 'Binary preview unavailable'
-            : message === 'file_too_large'
-              ? 'File too large for mobile preview'
-              : tab.diffSource === 'staged' || tab.diffSource === 'unstaged'
-                ? "Couldn't load diff preview"
-                : "Couldn't load file preview"
+        const previewMessage = documentReadErrorMessage(
+          err,
+          tab.diffSource === 'staged' || tab.diffSource === 'unstaged'
+            ? "Couldn't load diff preview"
+            : "Couldn't load file preview"
+        )
         setFileDocs((prev) =>
           new Map(prev).set(tab.id, {
             status: 'error',
@@ -114,5 +115,17 @@ export function useMobileSessionDocumentReaders(scope: MobileSessionTabApplicati
   }
 }
 
+// Why: older desktops refuse oversize markdown as a bare runtime_error whose message is the code.
+function documentReadErrorMessage(err: unknown, fallback: string): string {
+  const message = err instanceof Error ? err.message : ''
+  if (message === 'binary_file') {
+    return 'Binary preview unavailable'
+  }
+  if (message === 'file_too_large') {
+    return 'File too large for mobile preview'
+  }
+  return fallback
+}
+
 export type MobileSessionDocumentReadersModel = MobileSessionTabApplicationModel &
   ReturnType<typeof useMobileSessionDocumentReaders>
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/runtime/mobile-markdown-bridge.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/runtime/mobile-markdown-bridge.test.ts
index 2e5abd834e4..e039cc515eb 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/runtime/mobile-markdown-bridge.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/runtime/mobile-markdown-bridge.test.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
 import {
   hashMarkdownContent,
-  MOBILE_MARKDOWN_EDIT_MAX_BYTES
+  MOBILE_MARKDOWN_EDIT_MAX_BYTES,
+  MOBILE_MARKDOWN_READ_MAX_BYTES
 } from '../../../shared/mobile-markdown-document'
 import { attachEditorAutosaveController } from '../components/editor/editor-autosave-controller'
 import { registerPendingEditorFlush } from '../components/editor/editor-pending-flush'
@@ -157,4 +158,69 @@ describe('mobile markdown bridge', () => {
       detach()
     }
   })
+
+  it('reads a markdown file between the edit and read budgets whole, as read-only', async () => {
+    openMarkdownFile()
+    const content = 'a'.repeat(632 * 1024)
+    setupWindow({ readFile: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ content, isBinary: false }) })
+    const detach = attachMobileMarkdownBridge()
+
+    try {
+      const response = await sendRequest({
+        id: 'read-632k',
+        operation: 'read',
+        worktreeId: 'wt-1',
+        tabId: 'tab-md'
+      })
+
+      expect(response).toMatchObject({
+        ok: true,
+        result: { content, editable: false, readOnlyReason: 'file_too_large' }
+      })
+      expect(response).not.toHaveProperty('result.truncated')
+    } finally {
+      detach()
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('truncates a markdown file over the read budget on a UTF-8 boundary', async () => {
+    openMarkdownFile()
+    // The 3-byte euro sign straddles the budget, so the cut must drop it whole.
+    const prefix = 'a'.repeat(MOBILE_MARKDOWN_READ_MAX_BYTES - 1)
+    const content = `${prefix}\u20actail`
+    setupWindow({ readFile: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ content, isBinary: false }) })
+    const detach = attachMobileMarkdownBridge()
+
+    try {
+      const response = await sendRequest({
+        id: 'read-over-budget',
+        operation: 'read',
+        worktreeId: 'wt-1',
+        tabId: 'tab-md'
+      })
+
+      expect(response).toMatchObject({
+        ok: true,
+        result: {
+          editable: false,
+          readOnlyReason: 'file_too_large',
+          truncated: true,
+          byteLength: MOBILE_MARKDOWN_READ_MAX_BYTES - 1 + 3 + 4,
+          version: hashMarkdownContent(prefix)
+        }
+      })
+      expect(response).toHaveProperty('result.content', prefix)
+      const save = await sendRequest({
+        id: 'save-truncated',
+        operation: 'save',
+        worktreeId: 'wt-1',
+        tabId: 'tab-md',
+        baseVersion: hashMarkdownContent(prefix),
+        content: prefix
+      })
+      expect(save).toMatchObject({ ok: false, error: 'file_too_large' })
+    } finally {
+      detach()
+    }
+  })
 })
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/runtime/mobile-markdown-bridge.ts b/src/renderer/src/runtime/mobile-markdown-bridge.ts
index b605c014801..c51a7656843 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/runtime/mobile-markdown-bridge.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/runtime/mobile-markdown-bridge.ts
@@ -15,13 +15,13 @@ import {
   hashMarkdownContent,
   isMarkdownContentByteLengthOverLimit,
   MOBILE_MARKDOWN_EDIT_MAX_BYTES,
+  truncateMobileMarkdownRead,
   type RuntimeMarkdownReadTabResult,
   type RuntimeMarkdownSaveTabResult,
   type RuntimeMobileMarkdownRequest,
   type RuntimeMobileMarkdownResponse
 } from '../../../shared/mobile-markdown-document'
 
-const MOBILE_MARKDOWN_READ_MAX_BYTES = 512 * 1024
 const saveQueues = new Map<string, Promise<void>>()
 
 type FileContent = {
@@ -67,16 +67,18 @@ async function readMobileMarkdownTab(
   flushEditorState(target.sourceFile.id)
   const { content, source } = await readCurrentContent(target.sourceFile)
   const readOnlyReason = getReadOnlyReason(target.tab, target.sourceFile, content)
+  const preview = truncateMobileMarkdownRead(content)
   return {
     tabId,
     filePath: target.sourceFile.filePath,
     relativePath: target.sourceFile.relativePath,
-    content,
+    content: preview.content,
     isDirty: target.sourceFile.isDirty || source === 'draft',
-    version: hashMarkdownContent(content),
+    version: hashMarkdownContent(preview.content),
     source,
     editable: readOnlyReason === undefined,
-    ...(readOnlyReason ? { readOnlyReason } : {})
+    ...(readOnlyReason ? { readOnlyReason } : {}),
+    ...(preview.truncated ? { truncated: true, byteLength: preview.byteLength } : {})
   }
 }
 
@@ -252,9 +254,6 @@ async function readFileContent(file: OpenFile): Promise<string> {
   if (result.isBinary) {
     throw new Error('binary_file')
   }
-  if (isMarkdownContentByteLengthOverLimit(result.content, MOBILE_MARKDOWN_READ_MAX_BYTES)) {
-    throw new Error('file_too_large')
-  }
   return result.content
 }
 
diff --git a/src/shared/mobile-markdown-document.test.ts b/src/shared/mobile-markdown-document.test.ts
index f4d2a003261..a44191edf91 100644
--- a/src/shared/mobile-markdown-document.test.ts
+++ b/src/shared/mobile-markdown-document.test.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import {
   hashMarkdownContent,
   isMarkdownContentByteLengthOverLimit,
   MOBILE_MARKDOWN_EDIT_MAX_BYTES,
+  MOBILE_MARKDOWN_READ_MAX_BYTES,
   utf8ByteLength
 } from './mobile-markdown-document'
 
@@ -45,4 +46,9 @@ describe('mobile markdown document byte accounting', () => {
   it('keeps content hashes prefixed with exact byte length', () => {
     expect(hashMarkdownContent('😀')).toMatch(/^content:4:/)
   })
+
+  it('keeps the read budget above the edit budget', () => {
+    // Behavioural pin for truncated => not editable: the bridge's over-budget read test.
+    expect(MOBILE_MARKDOWN_READ_MAX_BYTES).toBeGreaterThan(MOBILE_MARKDOWN_EDIT_MAX_BYTES)
+  })
 })
diff --git a/src/shared/mobile-markdown-document.ts b/src/shared/mobile-markdown-document.ts
index dced4bb8c85..14a6474cf5d 100644
--- a/src/shared/mobile-markdown-document.ts
+++ b/src/shared/mobile-markdown-document.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 import { getClipboardTextByteLength, isClipboardTextByteLengthOverLimit } from './clipboard-text'
+import { clampUtf8TextPrefix } from './utf8-byte-limits'
 
 export const MOBILE_MARKDOWN_EDIT_MAX_BYTES = 256 * 1024
+/** Markdown preview budget; the file preview keeps its own. Above it a mobile read returns a
+ *  UTF-8-boundary prefix marked `truncated`, never a refusal. Sized like the 2 MiB terminal
+ *  snapshot; the relay splice frame cap is 8 MiB. */
+export const MOBILE_MARKDOWN_READ_MAX_BYTES = 2 * 1024 * 1024
 
 export type RuntimeMarkdownReadOnlyReason =
   | 'unsupported_preview'
@@ -46,6 +51,10 @@ export type RuntimeMarkdownReadTabResult = {
   source: 'draft' | 'file'
   editable: boolean
   readOnlyReason?: RuntimeMarkdownReadOnlyReason
+  /** Present only when `content` is a prefix; older phones ignore both fields. */
+  truncated?: boolean
+  /** The full document's UTF-8 size, sent with `truncated`. */
+  byteLength?: number
 }
 
 export type RuntimeMarkdownSaveTabResult = {
@@ -71,3 +80,19 @@ export function isMarkdownContentByteLengthOverLimit(content: string, maxBytes:
 export function utf8ByteLength(content: string): number {
   return getClipboardTextByteLength(content)
 }
+
+export function truncateMobileMarkdownRead(
+  content: string
+):
+  | { content: string; truncated: false }
+  | { content: string; truncated: true; byteLength: number } {
+  const byteLength = utf8ByteLength(content)
+  if (byteLength <= MOBILE_MARKDOWN_READ_MAX_BYTES) {
+    return { content, truncated: false }
+  }
+  return {
+    content: clampUtf8TextPrefix(content, MOBILE_MARKDOWN_READ_MAX_BYTES),
+    truncated: true,
+    byteLength
+  }
+}