diff --git a/lib/app-lock/__tests__/controller.test.ts b/lib/app-lock/__tests__/controller.test.ts
index ad3bd3121..c8195bc62 100644
--- a/lib/app-lock/__tests__/controller.test.ts
+++ b/lib/app-lock/__tests__/controller.test.ts
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ function bridge(overrides: Record<string, unknown> = {}) {
     prove: vi.fn(async () => true),
     disable: vi.fn(async () => true),
     forget: vi.fn(async () => true),
+    clearOrphan: vi.fn(async () => true),
     osEnroll: vi.fn(async () => true),
     osRemove: vi.fn(async () => {}),
     osUnlock: vi.fn(async () => ({ ok: false as const, reason: 'denied' as const })),
@@ -439,6 +440,32 @@ describe('the store when a tab inherits it without the key', () => {
 });
 
 describe('the desktop app', () => {
+  const settled = () => new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 50));
+
+  it('asks main to clear a lock this profile has no PIN for', async () => {
+    const appLock = bridge({ status: vi.fn(async () => ({ locked: true, enrolled: true, os: null, osEnrolled: false })) });
+    bootAppLock();
+    await settled();
+    expect(appLock.clearOrphan).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(appLock.forget).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('leaves main alone when there is a vault, so a real lock is never questioned', async () => {
+    const raw = await createVault(PIN);
+    raw.fill(0);
+    const appLock = bridge({ status: vi.fn(async () => ({ locked: true, enrolled: true, os: null, osEnrolled: false })) });
+    bootAppLock();
+    await settled();
+    expect(appLock.clearOrphan).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('asks nothing when main has no lock', async () => {
+    const appLock = bridge({ status: vi.fn(async () => ({ locked: false, enrolled: false, os: null, osEnrolled: false })) });
+    bootAppLock();
+    await settled();
+    expect(appLock.clearOrphan).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
   it('a PIN unlock proves itself to main, and nothing can just say unlocked', async () => {
     const appLock = bridge();
     await enableAppLock(PIN);
diff --git a/lib/app-lock/controller.ts b/lib/app-lock/controller.ts
index 2922acbaf..c6f69c16b 100644
--- a/lib/app-lock/controller.ts
+++ b/lib/app-lock/controller.ts
@@ -191,6 +191,7 @@ export function bootAppLock(): void {
     return;
   }
   markDocument(false);
+  void clearOrphanedDesktopLock();
   // The look already came back empty: nothing to hold back for.
   if (headScriptFoundNoVault() && !setupNeeded()) return;
   hold = newHold();
@@ -203,6 +204,19 @@ export function bootAppLock(): void {
   void settleNoFile();
 }
 
+/**
+ * Main keeps a lock and there is no vault for it: a same-origin plugin frame enrolled one, or
+ * this profile's storage went. Nothing here could ever prove it, so tray, toasts and titles would
+ * stay blank for good. No page can lift main's lock on its word, so main asks the user.
+ */
+async function clearOrphanedDesktopLock(): Promise<void> {
+  const member = getDesktopBridge()?.appLock;
+  if (!member?.clearOrphan) return;
+  const status = await member.status().catch(() => null);
+  if (!status?.enrolled || await vaultExists() || enabling || readAppLockFile().on) return;
+  await member.clearOrphan().catch(() => false);
+}
+
 function lockedFromNow(): void {
   writeAppLockFile({ ...readAppLockFile(), on: true, locked: true });
   setLockedHere(true);
diff --git a/lib/desktop/types.ts b/lib/desktop/types.ts
index 5cb31e366..69cbd18c0 100644
--- a/lib/desktop/types.ts
+++ b/lib/desktop/types.ts
@@ -406,6 +406,8 @@ export interface DesktopAppLockBridge {
   disable: (proof: Uint8Array) => Promise<boolean>;
   /** The PIN is lost, or everyone signed out. With no proof, main asks the user natively. */
   forget: (proof?: Uint8Array) => Promise<boolean>;
+  /** Main keeps a lock and this profile has no PIN for it. Main asks the user natively, once a run. */
+  clearOrphan?: () => Promise<boolean>;
   /** Through safeStorage, for this origin only. Null where the OS has no real key store. */
   wrap: (data: Uint8Array) => Promise<Uint8Array | null>;
   unwrap: (data: Uint8Array) => Promise<Uint8Array | null>;