diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-health-identity.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-health-identity.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..44a1c02978e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-health-identity.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+/** What a `ptySpawnHealth` reply proves about this daemon; every field is optional on the wire. */
+export function readDaemonHealthIdentity(): {
+  coverage: 'pty-spawn' | 'handshake'
+  runtimeKind: 'node'
+  runtimeVersion: string
+} {
+  return {
+    // Why handshake on Windows: preflightPtySpawnHealth skips the spawn probe there.
+    coverage: process.platform === 'win32' ? 'handshake' : 'pty-spawn',
+    runtimeKind: 'node',
+    runtimeVersion: process.version
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-health.test.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-health.test.ts
index c499fadd551..5b00b7c91e5 100644
--- a/src/main/daemon/daemon-health.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-health.test.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import { getDaemonPidPath, serializeDaemonPidFile } from './daemon-spawner'
 import type { SocketProbeOutcome } from './daemon-endpoint-probe'
 import {
   checkDaemonHealth,
+  checkDaemonHealthWithCoverage,
   E2E_FORCE_DAEMON_HEALTH_UNREACHABLE_ENV,
   healthCheckDaemon
 } from './daemon-health'
@@ -105,12 +106,63 @@ describe('daemon health', () => {
     try {
       await expect(checkDaemonHealth(socketPath, tokenPath)).resolves.toBe('healthy')
       await expect(healthCheckDaemon(socketPath, tokenPath)).resolves.toBe(true)
-      expect(ptySpawnHealthCheck).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
+      await expect(checkDaemonHealthWithCoverage(socketPath, tokenPath)).resolves.toMatchObject({
+        verdict: 'healthy',
+        coverage: process.platform === 'win32' ? 'handshake' : 'pty-spawn',
+        runtimeKind: 'node',
+        runtimeVersion: process.version
+      })
+      expect(ptySpawnHealthCheck).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(3)
     } finally {
       await server.shutdown()
     }
   })
 
+  it('treats missing coverage from a legacy Windows daemon as handshake-only', async () => {
+    writeFileSync(tokenPath, 'legacy-token')
+    const server = createServer((socket) => {
+      let pending = ''
+      socket.on('data', (chunk) => {
+        pending += chunk.toString()
+        for (;;) {
+          const newline = pending.indexOf('\n')
+          if (newline === -1) {
+            return
+          }
+          const message: unknown = JSON.parse(pending.slice(0, newline))
+          const type =
+            typeof message === 'object' && message !== null && 'type' in message
+              ? message.type
+              : undefined
+          pending = pending.slice(newline + 1)
+          if (type === 'hello') {
+            socket.write(`${JSON.stringify({ type: 'hello', ok: true })}\n`)
+          } else if (type === 'ptySpawnHealth') {
+            socket.write(
+              `${JSON.stringify({ id: 'health-1', ok: true, payload: { healthy: true } })}\n`
+            )
+          }
+        }
+      })
+    })
+    await new Promise<void>((resolve, reject) => {
+      server.once('error', reject)
+      server.listen(socketPath, resolve)
+    })
+
+    const platform = Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(process, 'platform')!
+    Object.defineProperty(process, 'platform', { configurable: true, value: 'win32' })
+    try {
+      await expect(checkDaemonHealthWithCoverage(socketPath, tokenPath)).resolves.toEqual({
+        verdict: 'healthy',
+        coverage: 'handshake'
+      })
+    } finally {
+      Object.defineProperty(process, 'platform', platform)
+      await closeServer(server)
+    }
+  })
+
   it('fails when a protocol-healthy daemon cannot spawn PTYs', async () => {
     const server = new DaemonServer({
       socketPath,
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-health.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-health.ts
index d3a2c8a91a9..cc035c26a08 100644
--- a/src/main/daemon/daemon-health.ts
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-health.ts
@@ -21,15 +21,57 @@ export const E2E_FORCE_DAEMON_HEALTH_UNREACHABLE_ENV = 'ORCA_E2E_FORCE_DAEMON_HE
 // also covers a live-but-wedged daemon that simply missed the RPC budget.
 export type DaemonHealth = 'healthy' | 'unreachable' | 'rejected' | 'pty-spawn-unhealthy'
 
-export function checkDaemonHealth(socketPath: string, tokenPath: string): Promise<DaemonHealth> {
+export type DaemonHealthCheck = {
+  verdict: DaemonHealth
+  coverage: 'pty-spawn' | 'handshake'
+  /** Optional runtime proof from newer daemons; absent on mixed-version peers. */
+  runtimeKind?: 'node'
+  runtimeVersion?: string
+}
+
+function readRuntimeIdentity(
+  payload: unknown
+): Pick<DaemonHealthCheck, 'runtimeKind' | 'runtimeVersion'> {
+  if (typeof payload !== 'object' || payload === null) {
+    return {}
+  }
+  const runtimeKind = 'runtimeKind' in payload ? payload.runtimeKind : undefined
+  const runtimeVersion = 'runtimeVersion' in payload ? payload.runtimeVersion : undefined
+  // Why drop other kinds: only a Node daemon reports here; anything else is an unknown peer.
+  return {
+    ...(runtimeKind === 'node' ? { runtimeKind } : {}),
+    ...(typeof runtimeVersion === 'string' && runtimeVersion.length > 0 ? { runtimeVersion } : {})
+  }
+}
+
+function readPtySpawnHealthCoverage(
+  payload: unknown,
+  fallback: DaemonHealthCheck['coverage']
+): DaemonHealthCheck['coverage'] {
+  if (typeof payload !== 'object' || payload === null) {
+    return fallback
+  }
+  const coverage = 'coverage' in payload ? payload.coverage : undefined
+  return coverage === 'pty-spawn' || coverage === 'handshake' ? coverage : fallback
+}
+
+export function checkDaemonHealthWithCoverage(
+  socketPath: string,
+  tokenPath: string
+): Promise<DaemonHealthCheck> {
   return new Promise((resolve) => {
+    // Older Windows daemons answered this RPC without spawning; an absent optional coverage
+    // field must preserve that weaker meaning during adoption.
+    const fallbackCoverage = process.platform === 'win32' ? 'handshake' : 'pty-spawn'
+    const resolveVerdict = (verdict: DaemonHealth): void =>
+      resolve({ verdict, coverage: fallbackCoverage })
     if (process.env[E2E_FORCE_DAEMON_HEALTH_UNREACHABLE_ENV] === '1') {
-      resolve('unreachable')
+      resolveVerdict('unreachable')
       return
     }
 
     if (process.platform !== 'win32' && !existsSync(socketPath)) {
-      resolve('unreachable')
+      resolveVerdict('unreachable')
       return
     }
 
@@ -37,13 +79,13 @@ export function checkDaemonHealth(socketPath: string, tokenPath: string): Promis
     try {
       token = readFileSync(tokenPath, 'utf8').trim()
     } catch {
-      resolve('unreachable')
+      resolveVerdict('unreachable')
       return
     }
 
     let settled = false
     let sock: Socket | null = null
-    const settle = (result: DaemonHealth): void => {
+    const settle = (result: DaemonHealthCheck): void => {
       if (settled) {
         return
       }
@@ -58,7 +100,7 @@ export function checkDaemonHealth(socketPath: string, tokenPath: string): Promis
       sock?.off('connect', onConnect)
       sock?.off('data', onData)
     }
-    const onError = (): void => settle('unreachable')
+    const onError = (): void => settle({ verdict: 'unreachable', coverage: fallbackCoverage })
     const onConnect = (): void => {
       const hello: HelloMessage = {
         type: 'hello',
@@ -89,13 +131,13 @@ export function checkDaemonHealth(socketPath: string, tokenPath: string): Promis
         try {
           message = JSON.parse(line) as Record<string, unknown>
         } catch {
-          settle('rejected')
+          settle({ verdict: 'rejected', coverage: fallbackCoverage })
           return
         }
 
         if (message.type === 'hello') {
           if (!(message as HelloResponse).ok) {
-            settle('rejected')
+            settle({ verdict: 'rejected', coverage: fallbackCoverage })
             return
           }
           // Why: a protocol-live daemon with a stale cwd or node-pty helper
@@ -106,12 +148,20 @@ export function checkDaemonHealth(socketPath: string, tokenPath: string): Promis
         }
 
         if (message.id === 'health-1') {
-          settle(message.ok === true ? 'healthy' : 'pty-spawn-unhealthy')
+          const identity = readRuntimeIdentity(message.payload)
+          settle({
+            verdict: message.ok === true ? 'healthy' : 'pty-spawn-unhealthy',
+            coverage: readPtySpawnHealthCoverage(message.payload, fallbackCoverage),
+            ...identity
+          })
           return
         }
       }
     }
-    const timer = setTimeout(() => settle('unreachable'), HEALTH_CHECK_TIMEOUT_MS)
+    const timer = setTimeout(
+      () => settle({ verdict: 'unreachable', coverage: fallbackCoverage }),
+      HEALTH_CHECK_TIMEOUT_MS
+    )
 
     sock = connect({ path: socketPath })
     sock.on('error', onError)
@@ -122,6 +172,13 @@ export function checkDaemonHealth(socketPath: string, tokenPath: string): Promis
   })
 }
 
+export async function checkDaemonHealth(
+  socketPath: string,
+  tokenPath: string
+): Promise<DaemonHealth> {
+  return (await checkDaemonHealthWithCoverage(socketPath, tokenPath)).verdict
+}
+
 export async function healthCheckDaemon(socketPath: string, tokenPath: string): Promise<boolean> {
   return (await checkDaemonHealth(socketPath, tokenPath)) === 'healthy'
 }
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-idle-shutdown.test.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-idle-shutdown.test.ts
index 1500718e98f..43a82df72bb 100644
--- a/src/main/daemon/daemon-idle-shutdown.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-idle-shutdown.test.ts
@@ -442,6 +442,35 @@ describe('current daemon lifecycle retirement', () => {
     adopted.dispose()
   })
 
+  it('atomically retires an idle daemon and permanently fences adapter spawns', async () => {
+    await startServer()
+    const adapter = new DaemonPtyAdapter({ socketPath, tokenPath })
+
+    await expect(adapter.requestIdleRetirement()).resolves.toEqual({ state: 'retiring' })
+    await expect(
+      adapter.spawn({ sessionId: 'late-after-decommission', cols: 80, rows: 24 })
+    ).rejects.toThrow('Terminal daemon is decommissioning')
+    await waitFor(() => onIdleShutdown.mock.calls.length === 1)
+    adapter.dispose()
+  })
+
+  it('reopens adapter admission when the daemon refuses retirement for a live session', async () => {
+    await startServer()
+    const adapter = new DaemonPtyAdapter({ socketPath, tokenPath })
+    await adapter.spawn({ sessionId: 'already-live', cols: 80, rows: 24 })
+
+    await expect(adapter.requestIdleRetirement()).resolves.toEqual({
+      state: 'busy',
+      liveSessions: 1,
+      admissionReopened: true
+    })
+    await expect(
+      adapter.spawn({ sessionId: 'allowed-after-refusal', cols: 80, rows: 24 })
+    ).resolves.toMatchObject({ id: 'allowed-after-refusal' })
+    expect(onIdleShutdown).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    adapter.dispose()
+  })
+
   it('does not let repeated authenticated control probes extend the startup deadline', async () => {
     await startServer()
     const healthControl = connect(socketPath)
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-init.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-init.ts
index 918547d8b79..52e6b2654b0 100644
--- a/src/main/daemon/daemon-init.ts
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-init.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ export {
   getDaemonEndpointFacts,
   getDaemonProvider,
   listLiveDaemonPtyIds,
+  listLiveDaemonSessions,
+  requestIdleDaemonRetirement,
   readDaemonPidRecord,
   replaceDaemonProvider,
   shutdownDaemon,
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-provider-census.test.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-provider-census.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..2b0d6f88ac8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-provider-census.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+import { afterEach, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+
+vi.mock('../ipc/pty', () => ({ setLocalPtyProvider: vi.fn() }))
+
+import { DaemonPtyRouter } from './daemon-pty-router'
+import { createAdapter } from './daemon-pty-router-test-fixture'
+import {
+  disconnectDaemon,
+  listLiveDaemonSessions,
+  replaceDaemonProvider,
+  requestIdleDaemonRetirement
+} from './daemon-provider-state'
+import { PROTOCOL_VERSION } from './types'
+
+afterEach(async () => {
+  await disconnectDaemon()
+})
+
+it('reads a census without an installed daemon as unverifiable, never as empty', async () => {
+  await expect(listLiveDaemonSessions()).resolves.toBeNull()
+  await expect(requestIdleDaemonRetirement()).resolves.toEqual({ state: 'unverifiable' })
+})
+
+it('reads a census with an unanswered generation as unverifiable', async () => {
+  const current = createAdapter('current', ['live-1'], undefined, PROTOCOL_VERSION)
+  const legacy = createAdapter('legacy', [], undefined, PROTOCOL_VERSION)
+  vi.mocked(legacy.listSessions).mockRejectedValue(new Error('daemon unreachable'))
+  replaceDaemonProvider(new DaemonPtyRouter({ current, legacy: [legacy] }))
+
+  await expect(listLiveDaemonSessions()).resolves.toBeNull()
+})
+
+it('lists every generation when each one answers', async () => {
+  const current = createAdapter('current', ['live-1'], undefined, PROTOCOL_VERSION)
+  const legacy = createAdapter('legacy', ['live-2'], undefined, PROTOCOL_VERSION)
+  replaceDaemonProvider(new DaemonPtyRouter({ current, legacy: [legacy] }))
+
+  await expect(listLiveDaemonSessions()).resolves.toEqual([
+    { sessionId: 'live-1', isAlive: true },
+    { sessionId: 'live-2', isAlive: true }
+  ])
+})
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-provider-state.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-provider-state.ts
index 412dda3af83..d981e4f7774 100644
--- a/src/main/daemon/daemon-provider-state.ts
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-provider-state.ts
@@ -11,12 +11,16 @@ import {
   getMacDaemonTccAttributionHealth,
   type MacDaemonTccAttributionHealth
 } from './daemon-tcc-attribution'
-import { PROTOCOL_VERSION } from './types'
+import { PROTOCOL_VERSION, type SessionInfo } from './types'
+import type { DaemonIdleRetirementResult } from './daemon-pty-runtime-state'
 
 let spawner: DaemonSpawner | null = null
 let adapter: DaemonProvider | null = null
 
-export function installDaemonProvider(newSpawner: DaemonSpawner, newAdapter: DaemonProvider): void {
+export function installDaemonProvider(
+  newSpawner: DaemonSpawner | null,
+  newAdapter: DaemonProvider
+): void {
   spawner = newSpawner
   replaceDaemonProvider(newAdapter)
 }
@@ -35,7 +39,12 @@ export function getDaemonSpawner(): DaemonSpawner | null {
  * from that state would be advertising recovery for terminals that cannot be recovered.
  */
 export function daemonOwnsFreshPersistentPtys(): boolean {
-  return adapter !== null && !(adapter instanceof DegradedDaemonPtyProvider)
+  if (!adapter || adapter instanceof DegradedDaemonPtyProvider) {
+    return false
+  }
+  return adapter instanceof DaemonPtyRouter
+    ? !adapter.getAllAdapters().some((entry) => entry.recoveryOnly)
+    : !adapter.recoveryOnly
 }
 
 /** Endpoint coordinates of the daemon this process installed, for out-of-band health probes. */
@@ -95,26 +104,6 @@ export async function getCurrentDaemonMacTccAttributionHealth(): Promise<MacDaem
   )
 }
 
-/** Returns null unless every daemon generation supplied an authoritative inventory. */
-export async function listLiveDaemonPtyIds(): Promise<string[] | null> {
-  if (!adapter) {
-    return null
-  }
-  const adapters =
-    adapter instanceof DaemonPtyRouter || adapter instanceof DegradedDaemonPtyProvider
-      ? adapter.getAllAdapters()
-      : [adapter]
-  const inventories = await Promise.allSettled(
-    adapters.map((daemonAdapter) => daemonAdapter.listProcesses())
-  )
-  if (inventories.some((inventory) => inventory.status === 'rejected')) {
-    return null
-  }
-  return inventories.flatMap((inventory) =>
-    inventory.status === 'fulfilled' ? inventory.value.map((process) => process.id) : []
-  )
-}
-
 // Why: keep the module-level adapter and ipc/pty.ts's localProvider in sync so app-quit can't dispose a stale reference.
 export function replaceDaemonProvider(newAdapter: DaemonProvider): void {
   adapter = newAdapter
@@ -135,3 +124,57 @@ export async function shutdownDaemon(): Promise<void> {
   await spawner?.shutdown()
   spawner = null
 }
+
+/** Returns null unless every daemon generation supplied an authoritative inventory. */
+export async function listLiveDaemonPtyIds(): Promise<string[] | null> {
+  if (!adapter) {
+    return null
+  }
+  const adapters =
+    adapter instanceof DaemonPtyRouter || adapter instanceof DegradedDaemonPtyProvider
+      ? adapter.getAllAdapters()
+      : [adapter]
+  const inventories = await Promise.allSettled(
+    adapters.map((daemonAdapter) => daemonAdapter.listProcesses())
+  )
+  if (inventories.some((inventory) => inventory.status === 'rejected')) {
+    return null
+  }
+  return inventories.flatMap((inventory) =>
+    inventory.status === 'fulfilled' ? inventory.value.map((process) => process.id) : []
+  )
+}
+
+/** Returns null unless every daemon generation supplied an authoritative session inventory. */
+export async function listLiveDaemonSessions(): Promise<SessionInfo[] | null> {
+  if (!adapter) {
+    return null
+  }
+  const adapters =
+    adapter instanceof DaemonPtyRouter || adapter instanceof DegradedDaemonPtyProvider
+      ? adapter.getAllAdapters()
+      : [adapter]
+  const inventories = await Promise.allSettled(
+    adapters.map((daemonAdapter) => daemonAdapter.listSessions())
+  )
+  if (inventories.some((inventory) => inventory.status === 'rejected')) {
+    return null
+  }
+  return inventories.flatMap((inventory) =>
+    inventory.status === 'fulfilled' ? inventory.value : []
+  )
+}
+
+/** Atomically fence new daemon terminals and retire only an idle, single-generation daemon. */
+export async function requestIdleDaemonRetirement(): Promise<DaemonIdleRetirementResult> {
+  if (!adapter) {
+    return { state: 'unverifiable' }
+  }
+  if (adapter instanceof DegradedDaemonPtyProvider) {
+    return { state: 'unverifiable' }
+  }
+  if (adapter instanceof DaemonPtyRouter) {
+    return adapter.requestIdleRetirement()
+  }
+  return adapter.requestIdleRetirement()
+}
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-event-subscriptions.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-event-subscriptions.ts
index 6d95e2de1c7..a1b1e1acfc4 100644
--- a/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-event-subscriptions.ts
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-event-subscriptions.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,12 @@ import { removeDaemonListener } from './daemon-listener-registry'
 import { emitPtyListeners } from './daemon-pty-listener-emission'
 import type { PtyIncarnationId } from '../../shared/pty-incarnation'
 import { DaemonPtySessionInventory } from './daemon-pty-session-inventory'
-import { CLEAN_DISCONNECT_PROTOCOL_VERSION } from './types'
+import {
+  CLEAN_DISCONNECT_PROTOCOL_VERSION,
+  type ListSessionsResult,
+  type ShutdownIfIdleResult
+} from './types'
+import type { DaemonIdleRetirementResult } from './daemon-pty-runtime-state'
 import type { PtyBackgroundStreamEvent } from '../providers/types'
 
 export abstract class DaemonPtyEventSubscriptions extends DaemonPtySessionInventory {
@@ -85,6 +90,68 @@ export abstract class DaemonPtyEventSubscriptions extends DaemonPtySessionInvent
     this.recordAuthenticatedIdentity()
   }
 
+  async requestIdleRetirement(): Promise<DaemonIdleRetirementResult> {
+    if (this.protocolVersion < CLEAN_DISCONNECT_PROTOCOL_VERSION) {
+      return { state: 'unsupported' }
+    }
+    if (this.idleRetirementState === 'retiring') {
+      return { state: 'retiring' }
+    }
+    if (this.idleRetirementPromise) {
+      return this.idleRetirementPromise
+    }
+    if (
+      this.disconnectOnlyPromise ||
+      (this.respawnAdoptionClosed && this.idleRetirementState === 'open')
+    ) {
+      return { state: 'unverifiable' }
+    }
+    this.idleRetirementAdmissionClosed = true
+    this.respawnAdoptionClosed = true
+    this.idleRetirementState = 'checking'
+    const request = this.finishIdleRetirementRequest().finally(() => {
+      if (this.idleRetirementPromise === request) {
+        this.idleRetirementPromise = null
+      }
+    })
+    this.idleRetirementPromise = request
+    return request
+  }
+
+  private async finishIdleRetirementRequest(): Promise<DaemonIdleRetirementResult> {
+    try {
+      await this.client.ensureConnected()
+      const result = await this.client.request<ShutdownIfIdleResult>('shutdownIfIdle', undefined)
+      if (result.retiring) {
+        this.idleRetirementState = 'retiring'
+        return { state: 'retiring' }
+      }
+      let liveSessions: number | null = null
+      try {
+        const inventory = await this.client.request<ListSessionsResult>('listSessions', undefined)
+        liveSessions = inventory.sessions.filter((session) => session.isAlive).length
+      } catch {
+        liveSessions = null
+      }
+      this.reopenAfterRefusedIdleRetirement()
+      return {
+        state: 'busy',
+        liveSessions,
+        ...(!this.recoveryOnly ? { admissionReopened: true as const } : {})
+      }
+    } catch {
+      // The daemon may have accepted before contact was lost; keep admission and respawn fenced.
+      this.idleRetirementState = 'unverifiable'
+      return { state: 'unverifiable' }
+    }
+  }
+
+  private reopenAfterRefusedIdleRetirement(): void {
+    this.idleRetirementState = 'open'
+    this.idleRetirementAdmissionClosed = false
+    this.respawnAdoptionClosed = false
+  }
+
   // Why: unlike dispose(), leave history files unclean (no endedAt) so the next launch treats them as crash-recoverable,
   // but still write a final checkpoint so a daemon crash while Orca is closed has recovery data.
   async disconnectOnly(): Promise<void> {
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-process-inspection.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-process-inspection.ts
index 335c641da62..cc8f8da849a 100644
--- a/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-process-inspection.ts
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-process-inspection.ts
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ export abstract class DaemonPtyProcessInspection extends DaemonPtyBufferSnapshot
       // Why: an unminted session id (worktreeId === null) can't be tied to a live worktree, so it's treated as an orphan.
       const { worktreeId } = parsePtySessionId(session.sessionId)
 
-      if (worktreeId === null || !validWorktreeIds.has(worktreeId)) {
+      if (!this.recoveryOnly && (worktreeId === null || !validWorktreeIds.has(worktreeId))) {
         try {
           await this.client.request('kill', { sessionId: session.sessionId })
         } catch {
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-router-test-fixture.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-router-test-fixture.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ded57c76b14
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-router-test-fixture.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,167 @@
+import { vi } from 'vitest'
+import { settledWriteStub } from '../providers/settled-pty-write-stub'
+import type { DaemonPtyAdapter } from './daemon-pty-adapter'
+import type { PtyBackgroundStreamEvent, PtySpawnOptions, PtySpawnResult } from '../providers/types'
+import {
+  AGENT_SESSION_CLAIM_DAEMON_PROTOCOL_VERSION,
+  AGENT_SESSION_CREATE_OPERATION_DAEMON_PROTOCOL_VERSION,
+  GIT_CREDENTIAL_GUARD_HOST_PROTOCOL_VERSION
+} from './types'
+import { SNAPSHOT_SERIALIZER_FIDELITY_DAEMON_PROTOCOL_VERSION } from './daemon-protocol-version'
+
+type AdapterMock = DaemonPtyAdapter & {
+  emitData: (id: string, data: string, sequenceChars?: number) => void
+  emitBackground: (event: PtyBackgroundStreamEvent) => void
+  emitExit: (id: string, code: number, incarnationId?: string) => void
+  emitIdentityChange: () => void
+  triggerWriteUnavailable: (id: string) => void
+}
+
+export function createAdapter(
+  label: string,
+  sessions: string[] = [],
+  reconcileResult?: { alive: string[]; killed: string[] },
+  protocolVersion = GIT_CREDENTIAL_GUARD_HOST_PROTOCOL_VERSION
+): AdapterMock {
+  const writes: { id: string; data: string }[] = []
+  const dataListeners: ((payload: { id: string; data: string; sequenceChars?: number }) => void)[] =
+    []
+  const backgroundListeners: ((payload: PtyBackgroundStreamEvent) => void)[] = []
+  const writeUnavailableListeners: ((payload: { id: string }) => void)[] = []
+  const exitListeners: ((payload: { id: string; code: number; incarnationId?: string }) => void)[] =
+    []
+  const identityChangeListeners: (() => void)[] = []
+  // oxlint-disable-next-line typescript/consistent-type-assertions -- SAFETY: the router calls only the adapter members this mock defines.
+  return {
+    protocolVersion,
+    supportsGitCredentialGuardHost: () =>
+      protocolVersion >= GIT_CREDENTIAL_GUARD_HOST_PROTOCOL_VERSION,
+    supportsAgentSessionClaims: () =>
+      protocolVersion >= AGENT_SESSION_CLAIM_DAEMON_PROTOCOL_VERSION,
+    supportsAgentSessionCreateOperations: () =>
+      protocolVersion >= AGENT_SESSION_CREATE_OPERATION_DAEMON_PROTOCOL_VERSION,
+    providesAgentSessionOwnerListings: () =>
+      protocolVersion >= AGENT_SESSION_CLAIM_DAEMON_PROTOCOL_VERSION,
+    canProvideAuthoritativeBufferSnapshot: () =>
+      protocolVersion >= SNAPSHOT_SERIALIZER_FIDELITY_DAEMON_PROTOCOL_VERSION,
+    spawn: vi.fn(async (opts: PtySpawnOptions): Promise<PtySpawnResult> => {
+      const id = opts.sessionId ?? `${label}-new`
+      sessions.push(id)
+      return { id }
+    }),
+    listProcesses: vi.fn(async () =>
+      sessions.map((id) => ({
+        id,
+        cwd: '',
+        title: label
+      }))
+    ),
+    listSessions: vi.fn(async () => sessions.map((sessionId) => ({ sessionId, isAlive: true }))),
+    requestIdleRetirement: vi.fn(async () => ({ state: 'retiring' as const })),
+    hasPty: vi.fn((id: string) => sessions.includes(id)),
+    probePtyLiveness: vi.fn(async (id: string) => sessions.includes(id)),
+    write: vi.fn((id: string, data: string) => {
+      writes.push({ id, data })
+    }),
+    writeWithSettlement: vi.fn(settledWriteStub()),
+    resize: vi.fn(),
+    setPtyBackgrounded: vi.fn(),
+    getBufferSnapshot: vi.fn(async () => null),
+    shutdown: vi.fn(async (id: string) => {
+      const idx = sessions.indexOf(id)
+      if (idx !== -1) {
+        sessions.splice(idx, 1)
+      }
+    }),
+    attach: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+    sendSignal: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+    getCwd: vi.fn(async () => ''),
+    getInitialCwd: vi.fn(async () => ''),
+    clearBuffer: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+    acknowledgeDataEvent: vi.fn(),
+    hasChildProcesses: vi.fn(async () => false),
+    getForegroundProcess: vi.fn(async () => null),
+    inspectProcess: vi.fn(async () => ({ foregroundProcess: null, hasChildProcesses: false })),
+    confirmForegroundProcess: vi.fn(async () => `${label}-confirmed`),
+    serialize: vi.fn(async () => '{}'),
+    revive: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+    getDefaultShell: vi.fn(async () => '/bin/zsh'),
+    getProfiles: vi.fn(async () => []),
+    onData: vi.fn(
+      (callback: (payload: { id: string; data: string; sequenceChars?: number }) => void) => {
+        dataListeners.push(callback)
+        return () => {
+          const idx = dataListeners.indexOf(callback)
+          if (idx !== -1) {
+            dataListeners.splice(idx, 1)
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    ),
+    onBackgroundStreamEvent: vi.fn((callback: (payload: PtyBackgroundStreamEvent) => void) => {
+      backgroundListeners.push(callback)
+      return () => {
+        const idx = backgroundListeners.indexOf(callback)
+        if (idx !== -1) {
+          backgroundListeners.splice(idx, 1)
+        }
+      }
+    }),
+    onWriteUnavailable: vi.fn((callback: (payload: { id: string }) => void) => {
+      writeUnavailableListeners.push(callback)
+      return () => {
+        const idx = writeUnavailableListeners.indexOf(callback)
+        if (idx !== -1) {
+          writeUnavailableListeners.splice(idx, 1)
+        }
+      }
+    }),
+    onExit: vi.fn(
+      (callback: (payload: { id: string; code: number; incarnationId?: string }) => void) => {
+        exitListeners.push(callback)
+        return () => {
+          const idx = exitListeners.indexOf(callback)
+          if (idx !== -1) {
+            exitListeners.splice(idx, 1)
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    ),
+    onDaemonIdentityChanged: vi.fn((callback: () => void) => {
+      identityChangeListeners.push(callback)
+      return () => {
+        const idx = identityChangeListeners.indexOf(callback)
+        if (idx !== -1) {
+          identityChangeListeners.splice(idx, 1)
+        }
+      }
+    }),
+    ackColdRestore: vi.fn(),
+    clearTombstone: vi.fn(),
+    reconcileOnStartup: vi.fn(async () => reconcileResult ?? { alive: sessions, killed: [] }),
+    dispose: vi.fn(),
+    disconnectOnly: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+    emitData: (id: string, data: string, sequenceChars?: number) => {
+      for (const listener of dataListeners) {
+        listener({ id, data, ...(sequenceChars === undefined ? {} : { sequenceChars }) })
+      }
+    },
+    emitBackground: (event: PtyBackgroundStreamEvent) => {
+      for (const listener of backgroundListeners) {
+        listener(event)
+      }
+    },
+    emitExit: (id: string, code: number, incarnationId?: string) => {
+      for (const listener of exitListeners) {
+        listener({ id, code, ...(incarnationId ? { incarnationId } : {}) })
+      }
+    },
+    emitIdentityChange: () => identityChangeListeners.forEach((listener) => listener()),
+    triggerWriteUnavailable: (id: string) => {
+      for (const listener of writeUnavailableListeners) {
+        listener({ id })
+      }
+    },
+    _writes: writes
+  } as unknown as AdapterMock
+}
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-router.test.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-router.test.ts
index 61db990b21c..7e35d416b12 100644
--- a/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-router.test.ts
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-router.test.ts
@@ -1,29 +1,20 @@
+import { createAdapter } from './daemon-pty-router-test-fixture'
 import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
 import { DaemonPtyRouter } from './daemon-pty-router'
+import { stubWriteSettlement } from '../providers/settled-pty-write-stub'
 import { SessionNotFoundError, TerminalSessionOwnerUnverifiedError } from './daemon-errors'
 import type { DaemonPtyAdapter } from './daemon-pty-adapter'
-import { settledWriteStub, stubWriteSettlement } from '../providers/settled-pty-write-stub'
-import type { PtyBackgroundStreamEvent, PtySpawnOptions, PtySpawnResult } from '../providers/types'
+import type { PtySpawnResult } from '../providers/types'
 import {
   AGENT_SESSION_CLAIM_DAEMON_PROTOCOL_VERSION,
-  AGENT_SESSION_CREATE_OPERATION_DAEMON_PROTOCOL_VERSION,
-  GIT_CREDENTIAL_GUARD_HOST_PROTOCOL_VERSION
+  AGENT_SESSION_CREATE_OPERATION_DAEMON_PROTOCOL_VERSION
 } from './types'
 import {
   HISTORY_SEED_TRANSFER_PROTOCOL_VERSION,
   PROTOCOL_VERSION,
-  SNAPSHOT_SERIALIZER_FIDELITY_DAEMON_PROTOCOL_VERSION,
   STABLE_PANE_ATTACH_ONLY_DAEMON_PROTOCOL_VERSION
 } from './daemon-protocol-version'
 
-type AdapterMock = DaemonPtyAdapter & {
-  emitData: (id: string, data: string, sequenceChars?: number) => void
-  emitBackground: (event: PtyBackgroundStreamEvent) => void
-  emitExit: (id: string, code: number, incarnationId?: string) => void
-  emitIdentityChange: () => void
-  triggerWriteUnavailable: (id: string) => void
-}
-
 const LARGE_RECONCILE_SESSION_COUNT = 150_000
 
 function buildSessionIds(prefix: string, count: number): string[] {
@@ -34,152 +25,6 @@ function buildSessionIds(prefix: string, count: number): string[] {
   return ids
 }
 
-function createAdapter(
-  label: string,
-  sessions: string[] = [],
-  reconcileResult?: { alive: string[]; killed: string[] },
-  protocolVersion = GIT_CREDENTIAL_GUARD_HOST_PROTOCOL_VERSION
-): AdapterMock {
-  const writes: { id: string; data: string }[] = []
-  const dataListeners: ((payload: { id: string; data: string; sequenceChars?: number }) => void)[] =
-    []
-  const backgroundListeners: ((payload: PtyBackgroundStreamEvent) => void)[] = []
-  const writeUnavailableListeners: ((payload: { id: string }) => void)[] = []
-  const exitListeners: ((payload: { id: string; code: number; incarnationId?: string }) => void)[] =
-    []
-  const identityChangeListeners: (() => void)[] = []
-  return {
-    protocolVersion,
-    supportsGitCredentialGuardHost: () =>
-      protocolVersion >= GIT_CREDENTIAL_GUARD_HOST_PROTOCOL_VERSION,
-    supportsAgentSessionClaims: () =>
-      protocolVersion >= AGENT_SESSION_CLAIM_DAEMON_PROTOCOL_VERSION,
-    supportsAgentSessionCreateOperations: () =>
-      protocolVersion >= AGENT_SESSION_CREATE_OPERATION_DAEMON_PROTOCOL_VERSION,
-    providesAgentSessionOwnerListings: () =>
-      protocolVersion >= AGENT_SESSION_CLAIM_DAEMON_PROTOCOL_VERSION,
-    canProvideAuthoritativeBufferSnapshot: () =>
-      protocolVersion >= SNAPSHOT_SERIALIZER_FIDELITY_DAEMON_PROTOCOL_VERSION,
-    spawn: vi.fn(async (opts: PtySpawnOptions): Promise<PtySpawnResult> => {
-      const id = opts.sessionId ?? `${label}-new`
-      sessions.push(id)
-      return { id }
-    }),
-    listProcesses: vi.fn(async () =>
-      sessions.map((id) => ({
-        id,
-        cwd: '',
-        title: label
-      }))
-    ),
-    hasPty: vi.fn((id: string) => sessions.includes(id)),
-    probePtyLiveness: vi.fn(async (id: string) => sessions.includes(id)),
-    write: vi.fn((id: string, data: string) => {
-      writes.push({ id, data })
-    }),
-    writeWithSettlement: vi.fn(settledWriteStub()),
-    resize: vi.fn(),
-    setPtyBackgrounded: vi.fn(),
-    getBufferSnapshot: vi.fn(async () => null),
-    shutdown: vi.fn(async (id: string) => {
-      const idx = sessions.indexOf(id)
-      if (idx !== -1) {
-        sessions.splice(idx, 1)
-      }
-    }),
-    attach: vi.fn(async () => {}),
-    sendSignal: vi.fn(async () => {}),
-    getCwd: vi.fn(async () => ''),
-    getInitialCwd: vi.fn(async () => ''),
-    clearBuffer: vi.fn(async () => {}),
-    acknowledgeDataEvent: vi.fn(),
-    hasChildProcesses: vi.fn(async () => false),
-    getForegroundProcess: vi.fn(async () => null),
-    inspectProcess: vi.fn(async () => ({ foregroundProcess: null, hasChildProcesses: false })),
-    confirmForegroundProcess: vi.fn(async () => `${label}-confirmed`),
-    serialize: vi.fn(async () => '{}'),
-    revive: vi.fn(async () => {}),
-    getDefaultShell: vi.fn(async () => '/bin/zsh'),
-    getProfiles: vi.fn(async () => []),
-    onData: vi.fn(
-      (callback: (payload: { id: string; data: string; sequenceChars?: number }) => void) => {
-        dataListeners.push(callback)
-        return () => {
-          const idx = dataListeners.indexOf(callback)
-          if (idx !== -1) {
-            dataListeners.splice(idx, 1)
-          }
-        }
-      }
-    ),
-    onBackgroundStreamEvent: vi.fn((callback: (payload: PtyBackgroundStreamEvent) => void) => {
-      backgroundListeners.push(callback)
-      return () => {
-        const idx = backgroundListeners.indexOf(callback)
-        if (idx !== -1) {
-          backgroundListeners.splice(idx, 1)
-        }
-      }
-    }),
-    onWriteUnavailable: vi.fn((callback: (payload: { id: string }) => void) => {
-      writeUnavailableListeners.push(callback)
-      return () => {
-        const idx = writeUnavailableListeners.indexOf(callback)
-        if (idx !== -1) {
-          writeUnavailableListeners.splice(idx, 1)
-        }
-      }
-    }),
-    onExit: vi.fn(
-      (callback: (payload: { id: string; code: number; incarnationId?: string }) => void) => {
-        exitListeners.push(callback)
-        return () => {
-          const idx = exitListeners.indexOf(callback)
-          if (idx !== -1) {
-            exitListeners.splice(idx, 1)
-          }
-        }
-      }
-    ),
-    onDaemonIdentityChanged: vi.fn((callback: () => void) => {
-      identityChangeListeners.push(callback)
-      return () => {
-        const idx = identityChangeListeners.indexOf(callback)
-        if (idx !== -1) {
-          identityChangeListeners.splice(idx, 1)
-        }
-      }
-    }),
-    ackColdRestore: vi.fn(),
-    clearTombstone: vi.fn(),
-    reconcileOnStartup: vi.fn(async () => reconcileResult ?? { alive: sessions, killed: [] }),
-    dispose: vi.fn(),
-    disconnectOnly: vi.fn(async () => {}),
-    emitData: (id: string, data: string, sequenceChars?: number) => {
-      for (const listener of dataListeners) {
-        listener({ id, data, ...(sequenceChars === undefined ? {} : { sequenceChars }) })
-      }
-    },
-    emitBackground: (event: PtyBackgroundStreamEvent) => {
-      for (const listener of backgroundListeners) {
-        listener(event)
-      }
-    },
-    emitExit: (id: string, code: number, incarnationId?: string) => {
-      for (const listener of exitListeners) {
-        listener({ id, code, ...(incarnationId ? { incarnationId } : {}) })
-      }
-    },
-    emitIdentityChange: () => identityChangeListeners.forEach((listener) => listener()),
-    triggerWriteUnavailable: (id: string) => {
-      for (const listener of writeUnavailableListeners) {
-        listener({ id })
-      }
-    },
-    _writes: writes
-  } as unknown as AdapterMock
-}
-
 it('forwards dead-endpoint write-unavailable signals from every routed adapter', () => {
   // Why revert-sensitive: main subscribes on the ROUTED provider, so if the router
   // does not forward this the STA-2373 fan-out never reaches the renderer and only
@@ -247,6 +92,83 @@ it('forwards the owning legacy daemon sequence from attach', async () => {
 })
 
 describe('DaemonPtyRouter', () => {
+  describe('idle retirement', () => {
+    it('retires every empty daemon generation and fences subsequent spawns', async () => {
+      const current = createAdapter('current', [], undefined, PROTOCOL_VERSION)
+      const legacy = createAdapter('legacy', [], undefined, PROTOCOL_VERSION)
+      const router = new DaemonPtyRouter({ current, legacy: [legacy] })
+
+      await expect(router.requestIdleRetirement()).resolves.toEqual({ state: 'retiring' })
+      expect(current.requestIdleRetirement).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+      expect(legacy.requestIdleRetirement).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+      await expect(router.spawn({ sessionId: 'late', cols: 80, rows: 24 })).rejects.toThrow(
+        'Terminal daemon is decommissioning'
+      )
+    })
+
+    it('reports live inventory before retiring any generation and reopens admission', async () => {
+      const current = createAdapter('current', [], undefined, PROTOCOL_VERSION)
+      const legacy = createAdapter('legacy', ['legacy-live'], undefined, PROTOCOL_VERSION)
+      const router = new DaemonPtyRouter({ current, legacy: [legacy] })
+
+      await expect(router.requestIdleRetirement()).resolves.toEqual({
+        state: 'busy',
+        liveSessions: 1,
+        admissionReopened: true
+      })
+      expect(current.requestIdleRetirement).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+      expect(legacy.requestIdleRetirement).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+      await expect(
+        router.spawn({ sessionId: 'after-refusal', cols: 80, rows: 24 })
+      ).resolves.toEqual({
+        id: 'after-refusal'
+      })
+    })
+
+    it('does not partially retire when a generation predates clean idle shutdown', async () => {
+      const current = createAdapter('current', [], undefined, PROTOCOL_VERSION)
+      const legacy = createAdapter('legacy', [], undefined, 23)
+      const router = new DaemonPtyRouter({ current, legacy: [legacy] })
+
+      await expect(router.requestIdleRetirement()).resolves.toEqual({ state: 'unsupported' })
+      expect(current.requestIdleRetirement).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+      expect(legacy.requestIdleRetirement).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    })
+
+    it('keeps admission fenced after a partial multi-generation retirement', async () => {
+      const current = createAdapter('current', [], undefined, PROTOCOL_VERSION)
+      const legacy = createAdapter('legacy', [], undefined, PROTOCOL_VERSION)
+      vi.mocked(legacy.requestIdleRetirement).mockResolvedValueOnce({
+        state: 'busy',
+        liveSessions: 0
+      })
+      const router = new DaemonPtyRouter({ current, legacy: [legacy] })
+
+      await expect(router.requestIdleRetirement()).resolves.toEqual({ state: 'unverifiable' })
+      await expect(router.spawn({ sessionId: 'unsafe', cols: 80, rows: 24 })).rejects.toThrow(
+        'Terminal daemon is decommissioning'
+      )
+    })
+
+    it('does not certify reopened admission when another generation retired beside live sessions', async () => {
+      const current = createAdapter('current', [], undefined, PROTOCOL_VERSION)
+      const legacy = createAdapter('legacy', [], undefined, PROTOCOL_VERSION)
+      vi.mocked(legacy.requestIdleRetirement).mockResolvedValueOnce({
+        state: 'busy',
+        liveSessions: 1,
+        admissionReopened: true
+      })
+      const router = new DaemonPtyRouter({ current, legacy: [legacy] })
+      await expect(router.requestIdleRetirement()).resolves.toEqual({
+        state: 'busy',
+        liveSessions: 1
+      })
+      await expect(
+        router.spawn({ sessionId: 'unsafe-partial', cols: 80, rows: 24 })
+      ).rejects.toThrow('Terminal daemon is decommissioning')
+    })
+  })
+
   it('reports separate conservative resume and fresh-create boundaries', () => {
     const current = createAdapter(
       'current',
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-router.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-router.ts
index 0534c9d2869..c5f242300f2 100644
--- a/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-router.ts
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-router.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import { reconcileDaemonRouterSessions } from './daemon-router-session-reconciliation'
 import type { DaemonPtyAdapter } from './daemon-pty-adapter'
 import { DaemonPtyAdapterSubscriptionFanout } from './daemon-pty-adapter-subscription-fanout'
 import type {
@@ -12,6 +13,8 @@ import type { PtyProcessInspection } from '../providers/pty-process-inspection'
 import { shouldHandoffDaemonHistory } from './daemon-history-handoff'
 import type { DaemonPtyRouterDataEvent, DaemonPtyRouterExitEvent } from './daemon-pty-router-events'
 import { DaemonSessionOwnerResolver } from './daemon-session-owner-resolution'
+import type { DaemonIdleRetirementResult } from './daemon-pty-runtime-state'
+import { DaemonRouterRetirement } from './daemon-router-retirement'
 import type { WriteSettlement } from '../../shared/pty-write-settlement'
 import type { TerminalOscColorQueryReplyColors } from '../../shared/terminal-osc-color-reply'
 
@@ -21,6 +24,7 @@ export class DaemonPtyRouter implements IPtyProvider {
   private sessionAdapters = new Map<string, DaemonPtyAdapter>()
   private readonly ownerResolver: DaemonSessionOwnerResolver<DaemonPtyAdapter>
   private readonly subscriptions: DaemonPtyAdapterSubscriptionFanout
+  private readonly retirement = new DaemonRouterRetirement(() => this.allAdapters())
 
   constructor(opts: { current: DaemonPtyAdapter; legacy: DaemonPtyAdapter[] }) {
     this.current = opts.current
@@ -40,17 +44,30 @@ export class DaemonPtyRouter implements IPtyProvider {
   }
 
   async spawn(opts: PtySpawnOptions): Promise<PtySpawnResult> {
-    if (opts.attachOnly && opts.sessionId) {
-      return await this.ownerResolver.spawnAttachOnly({ ...opts, sessionId: opts.sessionId })
+    if (this.retirement.admissionClosed) {
+      throw new Error('Terminal daemon is decommissioning')
     }
-    const adapter = opts.sessionId ? this.sessionAdapters.get(opts.sessionId) : undefined
-    const target = adapter ?? this.current
-    const result = await target.spawn(opts)
-    // Why: the adapter filters intentional recovery exits and canonical-ID races before publishing proof.
-    if (!result.exitedBeforeSpawnReply) {
-      this.ownerResolver.recordRoute(result.id, target, result.incarnationId)
+    // Why counted: an idle-retirement census must not race a spawn it cannot yet see.
+    this.retirement.spawnInFlight++
+    try {
+      if (opts.attachOnly && opts.sessionId) {
+        return await this.ownerResolver.spawnAttachOnly({ ...opts, sessionId: opts.sessionId })
+      }
+      const adapter = opts.sessionId ? this.sessionAdapters.get(opts.sessionId) : undefined
+      const target = adapter ?? this.current
+      const result = await target.spawn(opts)
+      // Why: the adapter filters intentional recovery exits and canonical-ID races before publishing proof.
+      if (!result.exitedBeforeSpawnReply) {
+        this.ownerResolver.recordRoute(result.id, target, result.incarnationId)
+      }
+      return result
+    } finally {
+      this.retirement.spawnInFlight--
     }
-    return result
+  }
+
+  requestIdleRetirement(): Promise<DaemonIdleRetirementResult> {
+    return this.retirement.requestIdleRetirement()
   }
 
   supportsGitCredentialGuardHost(sessionId?: string): boolean {
@@ -257,38 +274,10 @@ export class DaemonPtyRouter implements IPtyProvider {
     this.adapterFor(sessionId).clearTombstone(sessionId)
   }
 
-  async reconcileOnStartup(validWorktreeIds: Set<string>): Promise<{
-    alive: string[]
-    killed: string[]
-  }> {
-    const alive: string[] = []
-    const killed: string[] = []
-    const aliveProviders = new Map<string, Set<DaemonPtyAdapter>>()
-    for (const adapter of this.allAdapters()) {
-      const result = await adapter.reconcileOnStartup(validWorktreeIds)
-      // Why: daemon startup can reconcile many restored sessions; spreading
-      // those arrays into push can exceed JavaScript's argument limit.
-      for (const id of result.alive) {
-        alive.push(id)
-      }
-      for (const id of result.killed) {
-        killed.push(id)
-      }
-      for (const id of result.alive) {
-        const providers = aliveProviders.get(id) ?? new Set<DaemonPtyAdapter>()
-        providers.add(adapter)
-        aliveProviders.set(id, providers)
-      }
-    }
-    for (const id of new Set([...alive, ...killed])) {
-      const providers = aliveProviders.get(id)
-      if (providers?.size === 1) {
-        this.ownerResolver.recordRoute(id, providers.values().next().value!)
-      } else {
-        this.ownerResolver.forgetRoute(id)
-      }
-    }
-    return { alive, killed }
+  async reconcileOnStartup(
+    validWorktreeIds: Set<string>
+  ): Promise<{ alive: string[]; killed: string[] }> {
+    return reconcileDaemonRouterSessions(this.allAdapters(), this.ownerResolver, validWorktreeIds)
   }
 
   dispose(): void {
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-runtime-state.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-runtime-state.ts
index 38480af1489..2d773d21ade 100644
--- a/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-runtime-state.ts
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-runtime-state.ts
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ export type DaemonPtyAdapterOptions = {
   historyPath?: string
   runtimeDir?: string
   packagedAppVersion?: string | null
+  recoveryOnly?: boolean
   respawn?: (reason: DaemonRespawnReason) => Promise<void | (() => void)>
 }
 
@@ -71,8 +72,15 @@ export type DaemonIdentityChangeEvent = {
   current: DaemonEndpointIdentity
 }
 
+export type DaemonIdleRetirementResult =
+  | { state: 'retiring' }
+  | { state: 'busy'; liveSessions: number | null; admissionReopened?: true }
+  | { state: 'unsupported' }
+  | { state: 'unverifiable' }
+
 export abstract class DaemonPtyRuntimeState {
   readonly protocolVersion: number
+  readonly recoveryOnly: boolean
   protected socketPath: string
   protected tokenPath: string
   protected pidPath: string | null
@@ -92,6 +100,9 @@ export abstract class DaemonPtyRuntimeState {
   protected packagedAppVersion: string | null
   protected pendingRespawnAdoptionRelease: (() => void) | null = null
   protected respawnAdoptionClosed = false
+  protected idleRetirementAdmissionClosed = false
+  protected idleRetirementState: 'open' | 'checking' | 'retiring' | 'unverifiable' = 'open'
+  protected idleRetirementPromise: Promise<DaemonIdleRetirementResult> | null = null
   protected respawnPromise: Promise<void> | null = null
   protected staleBundleReplacementPromise: Promise<void> | null = null
   protected writeRecoveryPromise: Promise<void> | null = null
@@ -190,6 +201,7 @@ export abstract class DaemonPtyRuntimeState {
 
   constructor(opts: DaemonPtyAdapterOptions) {
     this.protocolVersion = opts.protocolVersion ?? PROTOCOL_VERSION
+    this.recoveryOnly = opts.recoveryOnly === true
     this.socketPath = opts.socketPath
     this.tokenPath = opts.tokenPath
     this.pidPath = opts.pidPath ?? null
@@ -209,7 +221,7 @@ export abstract class DaemonPtyRuntimeState {
     })
     this.historyManager = opts.historyPath ? new HistoryManager(opts.historyPath) : null
     this.historyReader = opts.historyPath ? new HistoryReader(opts.historyPath) : null
-    this.respawnFn = opts.respawn ?? null
+    this.respawnFn = this.recoveryOnly ? null : (opts.respawn ?? null)
     this.runtimeDir = opts.runtimeDir ?? opts.profileScope ?? null
     this.packagedAppVersion = opts.packagedAppVersion ?? null
     this.supportsCheckpoints = this.protocolVersion >= 4
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-session-spawn.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-session-spawn.ts
index 388919dd2e3..e7d04f5851e 100644
--- a/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-session-spawn.ts
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-pty-session-spawn.ts
@@ -22,10 +22,15 @@ import { resolveSafePtyDefaultCwd } from '../providers/pty-default-cwd'
 import { resolveUnixShellPath } from '../providers/local-pty-utils'
 import type { PtySpawnOptions, PtySpawnResult } from '../providers/types'
 import { injectHistoryEnv, injectWslFishHistoryEnv, logHistoryInjection } from '../terminal-history'
+import { assertDaemonRecoverySpawnAdmission } from './daemon-recovery-spawn-admission'
 import { addWslEnvKeys } from '../wsl-env'
 
 export abstract class DaemonPtySessionSpawn extends DaemonPtySpawnResult {
   async spawn(opts: PtySpawnOptions): Promise<PtySpawnResult> {
+    assertDaemonRecoverySpawnAdmission(this.recoveryOnly, this.protocolVersion, opts)
+    if (this.idleRetirementAdmissionClosed) {
+      throw new Error('Terminal daemon is decommissioning')
+    }
     const spawnOpts = this.withHistoryIsolation(opts)
     const sessionId = spawnOpts.sessionId ?? mintPtySessionId(spawnOpts.worktreeId)
     const operation: PendingDaemonSpawnOperation = {
@@ -105,6 +110,10 @@ export abstract class DaemonPtySessionSpawn extends DaemonPtySpawnResult {
     operation: PendingDaemonSpawnOperation,
     historyRecovery: HistoryRecoveryContext
   ): Promise<PtySpawnResult> {
+    assertDaemonRecoverySpawnAdmission(this.recoveryOnly, this.protocolVersion, opts)
+    if (this.idleRetirementAdmissionClosed) {
+      throw new Error('Terminal daemon is decommissioning')
+    }
     if (
       opts.agentSessionEnsure &&
       this.protocolVersion < AGENT_SESSION_CLAIM_DAEMON_PROTOCOL_VERSION
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-recovery-only-adapter.test.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-recovery-only-adapter.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ba3bf9be04d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-recovery-only-adapter.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+import { rmSync } from 'node:fs'
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { DaemonPtyAdapter } from './daemon-pty-adapter'
+import {
+  createMockSubprocess,
+  startDaemonAdapterHarness,
+  waitFor,
+  type DaemonAdapterHarness
+} from './daemon-pty-adapter-test-harness'
+import { STABLE_PANE_ATTACH_ONLY_DAEMON_PROTOCOL_VERSION } from './daemon-protocol-version'
+import { DaemonPtyRouter } from './daemon-pty-router'
+
+let harness: DaemonAdapterHarness
+let recovery: DaemonPtyAdapter
+let subprocess: ReturnType<typeof createMockSubprocess>
+const spawn = vi.fn(() => subprocess)
+const respawn = vi.fn(async () => {})
+
+beforeEach(async () => {
+  spawn.mockClear()
+  respawn.mockClear()
+  subprocess = createMockSubprocess()
+  harness = await startDaemonAdapterHarness(spawn)
+  await harness.adapter.spawn({ sessionId: 'existing', cols: 80, rows: 24 })
+  recovery = new DaemonPtyAdapter({
+    socketPath: harness.socketPath,
+    tokenPath: harness.tokenPath,
+    recoveryOnly: true,
+    respawn
+  })
+})
+
+afterEach(async () => {
+  recovery?.dispose()
+  harness.adapter.dispose()
+  await harness.server.shutdown()
+  rmSync(harness.dir, { recursive: true, force: true })
+})
+
+it('reattaches and controls existing work without admitting a new process', async () => {
+  await expect(
+    recovery.spawn({ sessionId: 'existing', attachOnly: true, cols: 80, rows: 24 })
+  ).resolves.toMatchObject({ id: 'existing', isReattach: true })
+  recovery.write('existing', 'still live\n')
+  await waitFor(() => subprocess.write.mock.calls.length > 0)
+  expect(subprocess.write).toHaveBeenCalledWith('still live\n')
+  await expect(recovery.spawn({ sessionId: 'fresh', cols: 80, rows: 24 })).rejects.toThrow(
+    'managed-stop recovery'
+  )
+  await expect(
+    recovery.spawn({ sessionId: 'missing', attachOnly: true, cols: 80, rows: 24 })
+  ).rejects.toThrow()
+  expect(spawn).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+  expect(respawn).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+})
+
+it('does not certify fresh admission after a confirmed native stop refusal', async () => {
+  await expect(recovery.requestIdleRetirement()).resolves.toEqual({
+    state: 'busy',
+    liveSessions: 1
+  })
+  await expect(
+    recovery.spawn({ sessionId: 'existing', attachOnly: true, cols: 80, rows: 24 })
+  ).resolves.toMatchObject({ isReattach: true })
+  await expect(recovery.spawn({ cols: 80, rows: 24 })).rejects.toThrow('managed-stop recovery')
+  expect(spawn).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+})
+
+it('does not invoke a supplied replacement launcher after endpoint loss', async () => {
+  await recovery.listProcesses()
+  await harness.server.shutdown()
+  await expect(
+    recovery.spawn({ sessionId: 'existing', attachOnly: true, cols: 80, rows: 24 })
+  ).rejects.toThrow()
+  expect(respawn).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+})
+
+it('keeps recovery-only admission through routed inventory refusal', async () => {
+  const router = new DaemonPtyRouter({ current: recovery, legacy: [] })
+  await expect(router.requestIdleRetirement()).resolves.toEqual({ state: 'busy', liveSessions: 1 })
+  await expect(
+    router.spawn({ sessionId: 'existing', attachOnly: true, cols: 80, rows: 24 })
+  ).resolves.toMatchObject({ isReattach: true })
+  await expect(router.spawn({ cols: 80, rows: 24 })).rejects.toThrow('managed-stop recovery')
+  expect(spawn).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+})
+
+it('rejects legacy attach emulation before contacting the daemon', async () => {
+  const legacy = new DaemonPtyAdapter({
+    socketPath: harness.socketPath,
+    tokenPath: harness.tokenPath,
+    protocolVersion: STABLE_PANE_ATTACH_ONLY_DAEMON_PROTOCOL_VERSION - 1,
+    recoveryOnly: true
+  })
+  try {
+    await expect(
+      legacy.spawn({ sessionId: 'existing', attachOnly: true, cols: 80, rows: 24 })
+    ).rejects.toThrow('managed-stop recovery')
+    expect(spawn).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+  } finally {
+    legacy.dispose()
+  }
+})
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-recovery-provider-init.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-recovery-provider-init.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..806c45efcf2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-recovery-provider-init.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+import { rebindLocalProviderListeners } from '../ipc/pty'
+import { getDaemonRuntimeDir, getDaemonHistoryDir } from './daemon-launch-paths'
+import { createDaemonRecoveryProvider } from './daemon-recovery-provider'
+import { installDaemonProvider } from './daemon-provider-state'
+
+export function initDaemonRecoveryProvider(): void {
+  const provider = createDaemonRecoveryProvider(getDaemonRuntimeDir(), getDaemonHistoryDir())
+  installDaemonProvider(null, provider)
+  rebindLocalProviderListeners()
+}
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-recovery-provider.test.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-recovery-provider.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..17a53b370ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-recovery-provider.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+import { copyFileSync, readFileSync, rmSync, writeFileSync } from 'node:fs'
+import { join } from 'node:path'
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import { createDaemonRecoveryProvider } from './daemon-recovery-provider'
+import { getDaemonPidPath, getDaemonTokenPath } from './daemon-spawner'
+import { PREVIOUS_DAEMON_PROTOCOL_VERSIONS } from './types'
+import {
+  createMockSubprocess,
+  startDaemonAdapterHarness,
+  type DaemonAdapterHarness
+} from './daemon-pty-adapter-test-harness'
+import type { DaemonPtyRouter } from './daemon-pty-router'
+
+let harness: DaemonAdapterHarness
+let provider: DaemonPtyRouter | undefined
+beforeEach(async () => {
+  harness = await startDaemonAdapterHarness(() => createMockSubprocess())
+  copyFileSync(harness.tokenPath, getDaemonTokenPath(harness.dir))
+})
+afterEach(async () => {
+  provider?.dispose()
+  provider = undefined
+  harness.adapter.dispose()
+  await harness.server.shutdown()
+  rmSync(harness.dir, { recursive: true, force: true })
+})
+
+it('recovers live terminals without pruning folder or unknown workspace sessions', async () => {
+  await harness.adapter.spawn({ sessionId: 'folder-terminal', cols: 80, rows: 24 })
+  provider = createDaemonRecoveryProvider(harness.dir, join(harness.dir, 'history'))
+  expect(provider.getAllAdapters().every((entry) => entry.recoveryOnly)).toBe(true)
+  await expect(provider.reconcileOnStartup(new Set())).resolves.toEqual({
+    alive: ['folder-terminal'],
+    killed: []
+  })
+  await expect(
+    provider.spawn({ sessionId: 'folder-terminal', attachOnly: true, cols: 80, rows: 24 })
+  ).resolves.toMatchObject({ isReattach: true })
+  await expect(provider.spawn({ cols: 80, rows: 24 })).rejects.toThrow('managed-stop recovery')
+})
+
+it('retains unreachable legacy generations and their credentials', async () => {
+  const version = PREVIOUS_DAEMON_PROTOCOL_VERSIONS[0]
+  const tokenPath = getDaemonTokenPath(harness.dir, version)
+  const pidPath = getDaemonPidPath(harness.dir, version)
+  writeFileSync(tokenPath, 'retained-secret')
+  writeFileSync(pidPath, '{unreadable pid')
+  provider = createDaemonRecoveryProvider(harness.dir, join(harness.dir, 'history'))
+  const legacy = provider.getAllAdapters().find((entry) => entry.protocolVersion === version)
+  expect(legacy?.recoveryOnly).toBe(true)
+  await expect(legacy!.listSessions()).rejects.toThrow()
+  expect(readFileSync(tokenPath, 'utf8')).toBe('retained-secret')
+  expect(readFileSync(pidPath, 'utf8')).toBe('{unreadable pid')
+})
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-recovery-provider.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-recovery-provider.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c27b24a7151
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-recovery-provider.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+import { lstatSync } from 'node:fs'
+import { DaemonPtyAdapter } from './daemon-pty-adapter'
+import { DaemonPtyRouter } from './daemon-pty-router'
+import { getDaemonPidPath, getDaemonSocketPath, getDaemonTokenPath } from './daemon-spawner'
+import { PREVIOUS_DAEMON_PROTOCOL_VERSIONS, PROTOCOL_VERSION } from './types'
+
+function hasEndpointEvidence(path: string): boolean {
+  try {
+    lstatSync(path)
+    return true
+  } catch (error) {
+    // Unreadable evidence must keep the generation represented as unverifiable.
+    return !(error instanceof Error && 'code' in error && error.code === 'ENOENT')
+  }
+}
+
+export function createDaemonRecoveryProvider(
+  runtimeDir: string,
+  historyPath: string
+): DaemonPtyRouter {
+  const create = (protocolVersion: number): DaemonPtyAdapter =>
+    new DaemonPtyAdapter({
+      socketPath: getDaemonSocketPath(runtimeDir, protocolVersion),
+      tokenPath: getDaemonTokenPath(runtimeDir, protocolVersion),
+      pidPath: getDaemonPidPath(runtimeDir, protocolVersion),
+      profileScope: runtimeDir,
+      runtimeDir,
+      historyPath,
+      protocolVersion,
+      recoveryOnly: true
+    })
+  const legacy = PREVIOUS_DAEMON_PROTOCOL_VERSIONS.filter((version) =>
+    [
+      getDaemonPidPath(runtimeDir, version),
+      getDaemonTokenPath(runtimeDir, version),
+      ...(process.platform === 'win32' ? [] : [getDaemonSocketPath(runtimeDir, version)])
+    ].some(hasEndpointEvidence)
+  ).map(create)
+  // Represent the current endpoint even when absent; missing contact is not an empty census.
+  return new DaemonPtyRouter({ current: create(PROTOCOL_VERSION), legacy })
+}
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-recovery-spawn-admission.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-recovery-spawn-admission.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f7e83869eb2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-recovery-spawn-admission.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+import type { PtySpawnOptions } from '../providers/types'
+import { STABLE_PANE_ATTACH_ONLY_DAEMON_PROTOCOL_VERSION } from './daemon-protocol-version'
+
+export function assertDaemonRecoverySpawnAdmission(
+  recoveryOnly: boolean,
+  protocolVersion: number,
+  opts: PtySpawnOptions
+): void {
+  if (!recoveryOnly) {
+    return
+  }
+  // Legacy attach emulation can create before rejecting the result.
+  if (
+    opts.attachOnly !== true ||
+    !opts.sessionId ||
+    opts.agentSessionEnsure ||
+    protocolVersion < STABLE_PANE_ATTACH_ONLY_DAEMON_PROTOCOL_VERSION
+  ) {
+    throw new Error('Terminal daemon admission is fenced for managed-stop recovery')
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-request-router.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-request-router.ts
index d15514ea2ae..651eaf36ab6 100644
--- a/src/main/daemon/daemon-request-router.ts
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-request-router.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import type { DaemonSessionBackgroundRouting } from './daemon-session-background
 import { recordDaemonStreamBacklogEvent } from './daemon-stream-backlog-probe'
 import type { DaemonStreamDataBatcher } from './daemon-stream-data-batcher'
 import type { DaemonTerminalAdmission } from './daemon-terminal-admission'
+import { readDaemonHealthIdentity } from './daemon-health-identity'
 import type { TerminalHistorySeedTransferRegistry } from './terminal-history-seed-transfer-registry'
 import type { TerminalHost } from './terminal-host'
 import { SessionNotFoundError, type DaemonRequest } from './types'
@@ -156,7 +157,7 @@ export class DaemonRequestRouter {
         return { health: await readCurrentProcessMacSystemResolverHealth() }
       case 'ptySpawnHealth':
         await this.options.ptySpawnHealthCheck()
-        return { healthy: true }
+        return { healthy: true, ...readDaemonHealthIdentity() }
       case 'shutdown':
         return this.shutdown(clientId, request.id, request.payload.killSessions)
     }
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-router-retirement.test.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-router-retirement.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f47b4860ada
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-router-retirement.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+import { expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { DaemonRouterRetirement } from './daemon-router-retirement'
+import { createAdapter } from './daemon-pty-router-test-fixture'
+import { PROTOCOL_VERSION } from './types'
+
+it.each(['inventory', 'protocol', 'spawn', 'live'] as const)(
+  'does not reopen admission on a %s retry after partial retirement',
+  async (failure) => {
+    const current = createAdapter('current', [], undefined, PROTOCOL_VERSION)
+    const legacy = createAdapter('legacy', [], undefined, PROTOCOL_VERSION)
+    let adapters = [current, legacy]
+    const retirement = new DaemonRouterRetirement(() => adapters)
+    vi.mocked(legacy.requestIdleRetirement).mockResolvedValueOnce({
+      state: 'busy',
+      liveSessions: 0
+    })
+    await expect(retirement.requestIdleRetirement()).resolves.toEqual({ state: 'unverifiable' })
+    expect(retirement.admissionClosed).toBe(true)
+    if (failure === 'inventory') {
+      vi.mocked(current.listSessions).mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error('lost connection'))
+    } else if (failure === 'protocol') {
+      adapters = [createAdapter('old', [], undefined, 23)]
+    } else if (failure === 'spawn') {
+      retirement.spawnInFlight = 1
+    } else {
+      adapters = [createAdapter('live', ['existing'], undefined, PROTOCOL_VERSION)]
+    }
+    expect(await retirement.requestIdleRetirement()).not.toHaveProperty('admissionReopened')
+    expect(retirement.admissionClosed).toBe(true)
+  }
+)
+
+it('does not reopen when every native result is busy without reopening proof', async () => {
+  const current = createAdapter('current', [], undefined, PROTOCOL_VERSION)
+  vi.mocked(current.requestIdleRetirement).mockResolvedValue({ state: 'busy', liveSessions: 0 })
+  const retirement = new DaemonRouterRetirement(() => [current])
+  await expect(retirement.requestIdleRetirement()).resolves.toEqual({ state: 'unverifiable' })
+  expect(retirement.admissionClosed).toBe(true)
+})
+
+it('keeps the fence through a lost native reply and failed retry inventory', async () => {
+  const current = createAdapter('current', [], undefined, PROTOCOL_VERSION)
+  vi.mocked(current.requestIdleRetirement).mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error('lost stop reply'))
+  const retirement = new DaemonRouterRetirement(() => [current])
+  await expect(retirement.requestIdleRetirement()).rejects.toThrow('lost stop reply')
+  vi.mocked(current.listSessions).mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error('lost connection'))
+  await expect(retirement.requestIdleRetirement()).resolves.toEqual({ state: 'unverifiable' })
+  expect(retirement.admissionClosed).toBe(true)
+})
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-router-retirement.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-router-retirement.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..19420b036a9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-router-retirement.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+import type { DaemonPtyAdapter } from './daemon-pty-adapter'
+import type { DaemonIdleRetirementResult } from './daemon-pty-runtime-state'
+import { CLEAN_DISCONNECT_PROTOCOL_VERSION } from './types'
+
+export class DaemonRouterRetirement {
+  admissionClosed = false
+  spawnInFlight = 0
+  private retirementAttempted = false
+  private idleRetirementPromise: Promise<DaemonIdleRetirementResult> | null = null
+
+  constructor(private readonly allAdapters: () => DaemonPtyAdapter[]) {}
+
+  async requestIdleRetirement(): Promise<DaemonIdleRetirementResult> {
+    if (this.idleRetirementPromise) {
+      return this.idleRetirementPromise
+    }
+    this.admissionClosed = true
+    const request = this.finishIdleRetirementRequest().finally(() => {
+      if (this.idleRetirementPromise === request) {
+        this.idleRetirementPromise = null
+      }
+    })
+    this.idleRetirementPromise = request
+    return request
+  }
+
+  private async finishIdleRetirementRequest(): Promise<DaemonIdleRetirementResult> {
+    const adapters = this.allAdapters()
+    if (this.spawnInFlight > 0) {
+      this.admissionClosed = this.retirementAttempted
+      return { state: 'busy', liveSessions: null }
+    }
+    if (adapters.some((adapter) => adapter.protocolVersion < CLEAN_DISCONNECT_PROTOCOL_VERSION)) {
+      this.admissionClosed = this.retirementAttempted
+      return { state: 'unsupported' }
+    }
+    const inventories = await Promise.allSettled(adapters.map((adapter) => adapter.listSessions()))
+    if (inventories.some((inventory) => inventory.status === 'rejected')) {
+      this.admissionClosed = this.retirementAttempted
+      return { state: 'unverifiable' }
+    }
+    const liveSessions = inventories.reduce(
+      (count, inventory) =>
+        count +
+        (inventory.status === 'fulfilled'
+          ? inventory.value.filter((session) => session.isAlive).length
+          : 0),
+      0
+    )
+    if (liveSessions > 0) {
+      this.admissionClosed = this.retirementAttempted
+      return {
+        state: 'busy',
+        liveSessions,
+        ...(!this.retirementAttempted && !adapters.some((adapter) => adapter.recoveryOnly)
+          ? { admissionReopened: true as const }
+          : {})
+      }
+    }
+    this.retirementAttempted = true
+    const results = await Promise.all(adapters.map((adapter) => adapter.requestIdleRetirement()))
+    if (results.every((result) => result.state === 'retiring')) {
+      return { state: 'retiring' }
+    }
+    const refusedLiveSessions = results.reduce(
+      (count, result) => count + (result.state === 'busy' ? (result.liveSessions ?? 0) : 0),
+      0
+    )
+    if (refusedLiveSessions > 0) {
+      return { state: 'busy', liveSessions: refusedLiveSessions }
+    }
+    return { state: 'unverifiable' }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/main/daemon/daemon-router-session-reconciliation.ts b/src/main/daemon/daemon-router-session-reconciliation.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d58487da106
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/daemon/daemon-router-session-reconciliation.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+import type { DaemonPtyAdapter } from './daemon-pty-adapter'
+import type { DaemonSessionOwnerResolver } from './daemon-session-owner-resolution'
+
+export async function reconcileDaemonRouterSessions(
+  adapters: readonly DaemonPtyAdapter[],
+  ownerResolver: DaemonSessionOwnerResolver<DaemonPtyAdapter>,
+  validWorktreeIds: Set<string>
+): Promise<{ alive: string[]; killed: string[] }> {
+  const alive: string[] = []
+  const killed: string[] = []
+  const aliveProviders = new Map<string, Set<DaemonPtyAdapter>>()
+  for (const adapter of adapters) {
+    const result = await adapter.reconcileOnStartup(validWorktreeIds)
+    // Why: daemon startup can reconcile many restored sessions; spreading
+    // those arrays into push can exceed JavaScript's argument limit.
+    for (const id of result.alive) {
+      alive.push(id)
+    }
+    for (const id of result.killed) {
+      killed.push(id)
+    }
+    for (const id of result.alive) {
+      const providers = aliveProviders.get(id) ?? new Set<DaemonPtyAdapter>()
+      providers.add(adapter)
+      aliveProviders.set(id, providers)
+    }
+  }
+  for (const id of new Set([...alive, ...killed])) {
+    const providers = aliveProviders.get(id)
+    if (providers?.size === 1) {
+      ownerResolver.recordRoute(id, providers.values().next().value!)
+    } else {
+      ownerResolver.forgetRoute(id)
+    }
+  }
+  return { alive, killed }
+}