diff --git a/desktop/src/app/AppShell.tsx b/desktop/src/app/AppShell.tsx
index 4eb0a42bbe..77a311629e 100644
--- a/desktop/src/app/AppShell.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/app/AppShell.tsx
@@ -342,6 +342,7 @@ export function AppShell() {
     mutedRootIds,
     muteThread,
     unmuteThread,
+    getProjection,
   } = useUnreadChannels(sidebarChannels, activeChannel, {
     pubkey: identityQuery.data?.pubkey,
     relayClient,
@@ -404,8 +405,6 @@ export function AppShell() {
     mutedRootIds,
     channels,
   );
-
-  // Badge count consumes the shared NIP-RS read-state from useUnreadChannels.
   const { homeBadgeCount, homeBadgeCountExcludingHighPriority } =
     useHomeFeedNotificationState(
       homeFeedQuery.data,
@@ -733,6 +732,7 @@ export function AppShell() {
             threadActivityFeedItems,
             feedItemState,
             onOpenSettings: handleOpenSettings,
+            getProjection,
           }}
         >
           <HuddleProvider>
diff --git a/desktop/src/app/AppShellContext.tsx b/desktop/src/app/AppShellContext.tsx
index 533ba16fb3..dde4d8c947 100644
--- a/desktop/src/app/AppShellContext.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/app/AppShellContext.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import * as React from "react";
 import type { ContextParentResolver } from "@/features/channels/readState/readStateManager";
+import type { ReadStateProjection } from "@/features/channels/readState/readStateManager";
 import type { ThreadActivityItem } from "@/features/channels/useUnreadChannels";
 import type { FeedItemState } from "@/features/home/useFeedItemState";
 import type { FeedItem } from "@/shared/api/types";
@@ -51,6 +52,9 @@ type AppShellContextValue = {
   // that render under AppShell (channel, home, projects, pulse, agents).
   // Used by config-nudge cards to deep-link to Settings → Agents.
   onOpenSettings: ((section: SettingsSection) => void) | null;
+  // Manager projection accessor for community rail polls — re-read per poll,
+  // never cached across notification boundaries.
+  getProjection: () => ReadStateProjection | null;
 };
 
 const AppShellContext = React.createContext<AppShellContextValue>({
@@ -83,6 +87,7 @@ const AppShellContext = React.createContext<AppShellContextValue>({
     unreadSet: EMPTY_SET,
   },
   onOpenSettings: null,
+  getProjection: () => null,
 });
 
 export function AppShellProvider({
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/channels/nip-rs-unread-ui.test.mjs b/desktop/src/features/channels/nip-rs-unread-ui.test.mjs
index 3262e29c32..7162b6d895 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/channels/nip-rs-unread-ui.test.mjs
+++ b/desktop/src/features/channels/nip-rs-unread-ui.test.mjs
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import assert from "node:assert/strict";
 import test from "node:test";
 
 import {
+  applyMarkAllReadTransition,
   applyOverrideRead,
   applyOverrideUnread,
   overrideErrorMessage,
@@ -544,15 +545,15 @@ test("adversarial-3: incomplete_load_null_liveness_not_known_absent_overrideStil
   );
 });
 
-test("adversarial-4: markAllChannelsRead_confirmed_active_refusal_keeps_evidence", () => {
-  // IMPORTANT: markAllChannelsRead must NOT clear latestByChannelRef or
-  // observedUnreadEventsByChannelRef when the override read is refused and
-  // liveness remains active. Evidence must be preserved so the UI can still
-  // represent the failed channel's unread state.
+test("adversarial-4: applyMarkAllReadTransition_both_branches", () => {
+  // IMPORTANT: applyMarkAllReadTransition is the extracted production transition
+  // used inside markAllChannelsRead. Testing it directly (not a simulation)
+  // ensures production regressions to unconditional deletion are caught.
   //
-  // This test uses applyOverrideRead directly to simulate the per-channel loop
-  // in markAllChannelsRead and verifies that refused channels keep their evidence
-  // while cleared channels discard theirs.
+  // ch-cleared: applyOverrideRead succeeds (liveness goes inactive) →
+  //   forcedUnread, latestByChannel, observedUnreadEvents all removed.
+  // ch-refused: applyOverrideRead refused (liveness stays active) →
+  //   all three maps preserved intact.
   const livenessMap = {
     "ch-cleared": { active: true, frontier: 100 },
     "ch-refused": { active: true, frontier: 100 }, // uint32_overflow refusal
@@ -566,13 +567,11 @@ test("adversarial-4: markAllChannelsRead_confirmed_active_refusal_keeps_evidence
         livenessMap["ch-cleared"] = { active: false, frontier: 101 };
         return { success: true };
       }
-      // ch-refused: refuse; liveness stays active
       return { success: false, reason: "uint32_overflow" };
     },
     getOverrideLiveness: (id) => livenessMap[id] ?? null,
   };
 
-  // latestByChannel and observedEvents are the evidence maps.
   const latestByChannel = new Map([
     ["ch-cleared", 200],
     ["ch-refused", 200],
@@ -582,49 +581,54 @@ test("adversarial-4: markAllChannelsRead_confirmed_active_refusal_keeps_evidence
     ["ch-refused", new Map([["ev2", { kind: 9, createdAt: 200 }]])],
   ]);
   const forcedMap = { "ch-cleared": 99, "ch-refused": 99 };
+  const maps = {
+    forcedUnread: forcedMap,
+    latestByChannel,
+    observedUnreadEvents: observedEvents,
+  };
 
-  // Simulate the production per-channel loop in markAllChannelsRead.
-  for (const channelId of ["ch-cleared", "ch-refused"]) {
-    const outcome = applyOverrideRead(channelId, apis);
-    if (outcome === "overrideCleared") {
-      delete forcedMap[channelId];
-      latestByChannel.delete(channelId);
-      observedEvents.delete(channelId);
-    }
-    // On overrideStillActive: do NOT touch latestByChannel or observedEvents.
-  }
+  // Drive the production transition directly (not a reimplementation).
+  const clearedOutcome = applyMarkAllReadTransition("ch-cleared", apis, maps);
+  const refusedOutcome = applyMarkAllReadTransition("ch-refused", apis, maps);
 
-  // ch-cleared: override confirmed inactive → evidence discarded.
+  assert.equal(clearedOutcome, "overrideCleared", "cleared channel: outcome");
+  assert.equal(
+    refusedOutcome,
+    "overrideStillActive",
+    "refused channel: outcome",
+  );
+
+  // ch-cleared: override confirmed inactive → all three maps purged.
   assert.equal(
     latestByChannel.has("ch-cleared"),
     false,
-    "cleared channel: latestByChannel removed",
+    "cleared: latestByChannel removed",
   );
   assert.equal(
     observedEvents.has("ch-cleared"),
     false,
-    "cleared channel: observedEvents removed",
+    "cleared: observedEvents removed",
   );
   assert.equal(
     Object.hasOwn(forcedMap, "ch-cleared"),
     false,
-    "cleared channel: forcedMap entry removed",
+    "cleared: forcedMap removed",
   );
 
-  // ch-refused: override still active → evidence preserved.
+  // ch-refused: override still active → all three maps preserved.
   assert.equal(
     latestByChannel.has("ch-refused"),
     true,
-    "refused channel: latestByChannel preserved",
+    "refused: latestByChannel preserved",
   );
   assert.equal(
     observedEvents.has("ch-refused"),
     true,
-    "refused channel: observedEvents preserved",
+    "refused: observedEvents preserved",
   );
   assert.equal(
     Object.hasOwn(forcedMap, "ch-refused"),
     true,
-    "refused channel: forcedMap entry preserved",
+    "refused: forcedMap preserved",
   );
 });
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/channels/readStateOverride.ts b/desktop/src/features/channels/readStateOverride.ts
index 1bec1708c4..f93ea4744a 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/channels/readStateOverride.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/features/channels/readStateOverride.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import {
   forcedUnreadStore,
   type ForcedUnreadMap,
 } from "@/features/channels/forcedUnreadStore";
+import type { ObservedUnreadEvent } from "@/features/channels/unreadChannelCounts";
 
 export type { MarkResult, OverrideLiveness };
 
@@ -158,3 +159,36 @@ export function persistForcedUnread(
   if (pubkey) forcedUnreadStore.write(pubkey, forcedMap);
   return true;
 }
+
+/**
+ * Per-channel evidence maps that `markAllChannelsRead` mutates.
+ * Extracted so the per-channel transition can be tested without the full hook.
+ */
+export type MarkAllEvidenceMaps = {
+  forcedUnread: ForcedUnreadMap;
+  latestByChannel: Map<string, number>;
+  observedUnreadEvents: Map<string, Map<string, ObservedUnreadEvent>>;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Apply the per-channel mark-all-read transition for a single channel ID.
+ *
+ * Calls `applyOverrideRead` to attempt the NIP-RS C-bump. On `overrideCleared`,
+ * removes the channel's entry from all three evidence maps. On
+ * `overrideStillActive` (refused or load incomplete), all maps are left
+ * intact — the caller must NOT wipe evidence for channels whose clear was
+ * refused. Returns the outcome for caller use.
+ */
+export function applyMarkAllReadTransition(
+  channelId: string,
+  apis: OverrideAPIs,
+  maps: MarkAllEvidenceMaps,
+): OverrideReadOutcome {
+  const outcome = applyOverrideRead(channelId, apis);
+  if (outcome === "overrideCleared") {
+    delete maps.forcedUnread[channelId];
+    maps.latestByChannel.delete(channelId);
+    maps.observedUnreadEvents.delete(channelId);
+  }
+  return outcome;
+}
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/channels/useUnreadChannels.ts b/desktop/src/features/channels/useUnreadChannels.ts
index ee1c91aee7..c2bf1b426d 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/channels/useUnreadChannels.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/features/channels/useUnreadChannels.ts
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import {
   type ForcedUnreadMap,
 } from "@/features/channels/forcedUnreadStore";
 import {
+  applyMarkAllReadTransition,
   applyOverrideRead,
   applyOverrideUnread,
   persistForcedUnread,
@@ -172,6 +173,7 @@ export function useUnreadChannels(
     markChannelUnread: markChannelOverrideUnread,
     markChannelRead: markChannelOverrideRead,
     getOverrideLiveness,
+    getProjection,
   } = useReadState(pubkey, relayClient);
   const overrideApis = React.useMemo<OverrideAPIs>(
     () => ({
@@ -952,7 +954,6 @@ export function useUnreadChannels(
 
   const markAllChannelsRead = React.useCallback(() => {
     for (const channelId of unreadChannelIdsRef.current) {
-      // Frontier advance first, then C-bump; gate local clear on confirmed liveness.
       const unixSeconds =
         latestByChannelRef.current.get(channelId) ??
         getEffectiveTimestamp(channelId) ??
@@ -960,11 +961,11 @@ export function useUnreadChannels(
       if (unixSeconds !== null) {
         markContextRead(channelId, unixSeconds);
       }
-      if (applyOverrideRead(channelId, overrideApis) === "overrideCleared") {
-        delete forcedUnreadRef.current[channelId];
-        latestByChannelRef.current.delete(channelId);
-        observedUnreadEventsByChannelRef.current.delete(channelId);
-      }
+      applyMarkAllReadTransition(channelId, overrideApis, {
+        forcedUnread: forcedUnreadRef.current,
+        latestByChannel: latestByChannelRef.current,
+        observedUnreadEvents: observedUnreadEventsByChannelRef.current,
+      });
     }
     if (pubkey) {
       forcedUnreadStore.write(pubkey, forcedUnreadRef.current);
@@ -998,10 +999,8 @@ export function useUnreadChannels(
     markAllChannelsRead,
     markChannelRead,
     markChannelUnread,
-    // Exposed so other surfaces (e.g. Home) can project per-item read state
-    // off the same NIP-RS read marker without instantiating a second
-    // ReadStateManager. readStateVersion is the invalidation signal callers
-    // should include in memo deps.
+    // Exposed for surfaces projecting per-item read state (Home) off the shared
+    // NIP-RS marker without a second ReadStateManager; readStateVersion = invalidation signal.
     getEffectiveTimestamp,
     getOwnTimestamp,
     readStateVersion,
@@ -1017,5 +1016,6 @@ export function useUnreadChannels(
     mutedRootIds: mutedRootIdsRef.current as ReadonlySet<string>,
     muteThread,
     unmuteThread,
+    getProjection,
   };
 }
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/communities/communityUnreadObserver.test.mjs b/desktop/src/features/communities/communityUnreadObserver.test.mjs
index 69534d67c7..29481aa7f6 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/communities/communityUnreadObserver.test.mjs
+++ b/desktop/src/features/communities/communityUnreadObserver.test.mjs
@@ -1060,3 +1060,86 @@ test("fetchCommunityUnread adversarial-2: projection with frontier deactivates r
 
   assert.deepEqual(result, { hasUnread: false, mentionCount: 0 });
 });
+
+test("fetchCommunityUnread adversarial-5: stale_complete_projection_yieldsTo_fresher_fetched_tombstone", async () => {
+  // CRITICAL 2 ordering fix: `loadComplete` establishes enumeration completeness,
+  // NOT temporal ordering. A complete projection with a live register
+  // (S=5,C=0,B=100,F=50) must yield to a fresher fetched tombstone (S=0,C=4,B=0)
+  // for the same channel. Without the fetchedTombstoneChannels guard, the projection
+  // overrides authoritative map (S=5,C=0,B=100) would produce hasUnread:true;
+  // with the guard, the fetched tombstone wins and the rail stays dark.
+  //
+  // Wire: fetched event has ov_c:CHANNEL_ID=4 but no ov_s: → decoded as {s:0,c:4,b:0}.
+  // fetchedTombstoneChannels includes CHANNEL_ID (s===0). Override liveness check is
+  // skipped for that channel even though authoritative (projection) has s=5.
+  const SLOT = "a".repeat(32); // valid 32-hex slot
+  const relay = relayFor([
+    // 1. member events
+    () => [
+      event({
+        tags: [
+          ["d", CHANNEL_ID],
+          ["p", PUBKEY],
+        ],
+      }),
+    ],
+    // 2. metadata events
+    () => [
+      event({
+        tags: [
+          ["d", CHANNEL_ID],
+          ["t", "stream"],
+        ],
+      }),
+    ],
+    // 3. visibility events
+    () => [],
+    // 4. read-state: tombstone wire format (ov_c present, ov_s absent → s=0,c=4,b=0)
+    //    Frontier F=50 is also present so the projection frontier is not strictly
+    //    newer — only the tombstone vs live-register ordering is under test.
+    () => [
+      event({
+        pubkey: PUBKEY,
+        created_at: 400,
+        tags: [
+          ["d", `read-state:${SLOT}`],
+          ["t", "read-state"],
+        ],
+        content: JSON.stringify({
+          v: 1,
+          client_id: "client",
+          contexts: {
+            [CHANNEL_ID]: 50,
+            [`ov_c:${CHANNEL_ID}`]: 4,
+            // ov_s: intentionally absent → tombstone (s=0)
+          },
+        }),
+      }),
+    ],
+    // 5. mutes
+    () => [],
+    // 6. unread events — none
+    () => [],
+    // 7. mention events — none
+    () => [],
+  ]);
+
+  // Complete projection: live register S=5,C=0,B=100 and frontier F=50.
+  // F=50 ≤ B=100, S=5 > C=0 → isOverrideActive would return true WITHOUT the guard.
+  const overrides = new Map([[CHANNEL_ID, { s: 5, c: 0, b: 100 }]]);
+  const frontiers = new Map([[CHANNEL_ID, 50]]);
+
+  const result = await fetchCommunityUnread({
+    client: relay,
+    pubkey: PUBKEY,
+    nowSeconds: 500,
+    decryptReadState: async (v) => v,
+    decryptMutes: async (v) => v,
+    readThreadRelationships: readRelationships(),
+    getProjection: () => ({ loadComplete: true, frontiers, overrides }),
+  });
+
+  // Fetched tombstone (s=0) is authoritative; projection's stale live register must not
+  // resurrect unread when the relay has confirmed a clear.
+  assert.deepEqual(result, { hasUnread: false, mentionCount: 0 });
+});
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/communities/communityUnreadObserver.ts b/desktop/src/features/communities/communityUnreadObserver.ts
index 7fcb31cf05..0947d41c70 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/communities/communityUnreadObserver.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/features/communities/communityUnreadObserver.ts
@@ -145,9 +145,10 @@ export async function fetchObservedChannels(
 export async function pollCommunityUnread(
   community: Community,
   pubkey: string,
+  getProjection?: () => ReadStateProjection | null,
 ): Promise<CommunityUnreadObserverResult> {
   return withReadOnlyRelayClient(community.relayUrl, (client) =>
-    fetchCommunityUnread({ client, pubkey }),
+    fetchCommunityUnread({ client, pubkey, getProjection }),
   );
 }
 
@@ -220,6 +221,21 @@ export async function fetchCommunityUnread(args: {
   const projection = args.getProjection?.() ?? null;
   const completeProjection = projection?.loadComplete ? projection : null;
 
+  // Override liveness resolution: projection wins when complete, BUT a fetched
+  // wire tombstone (s===0, c>0) for the same coordinate is treated as
+  // authoritative — it proves the relay consensus has a clear with no
+  // countering mark-unread, and the projection's live S counter may be from
+  // an uncommitted/unpublished local action that the relay hasn't confirmed.
+  //
+  // fetchedTombstoneChannels is the set of channel IDs whose fetched register
+  // has s===0 (tombstone wire format). We skip projection liveness for those.
+  const fetchedTombstoneChannels = new Set<string>();
+  if (completeProjection !== null) {
+    for (const [ctx, reg] of readState.overrides) {
+      if (reg.s === 0) fetchedTombstoneChannels.add(ctx);
+    }
+  }
+
   const authoritative: ReadonlyMap<string, OverrideRegister> =
     completeProjection !== null
       ? completeProjection.overrides
@@ -279,9 +295,15 @@ export async function fetchCommunityUnread(args: {
     // Override liveness: evaluate the authoritative register against the
     // effective frontier. Uses projection.overrides when complete (no
     // per-field max with fetched); fetched-deduped otherwise.
+    // Skip projection liveness when fetched relay has a wire tombstone (s=0)
+    // for this channel — a fresher relay tombstone is authoritative.
     if (!hasUnread) {
       const reg = authoritative.get(channel.id);
-      if (reg !== undefined && isOverrideActive(reg, readAt ?? 0)) {
+      if (
+        reg !== undefined &&
+        !fetchedTombstoneChannels.has(channel.id) &&
+        isOverrideActive(reg, readAt ?? 0)
+      ) {
         hasUnread = true;
       }
     }
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/communities/useCommunityUnread.ts b/desktop/src/features/communities/useCommunityUnread.ts
index 851c77c955..9985e1e887 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/communities/useCommunityUnread.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/features/communities/useCommunityUnread.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import * as React from "react";
 import { getIdentity } from "@/shared/api/tauriIdentity";
 import { markCommunityRead } from "@/features/communities/communityMarkRead";
 import { pollCommunityUnread } from "@/features/communities/communityUnreadObserver";
+import { useAppShell } from "@/app/AppShellContext";
 
 import type { Community } from "./types";
 
@@ -54,6 +55,7 @@ export function useCommunityUnread(
   unreadByCommunity: Record<string, CommunityUnreadState>;
   markCommunityRead: (communityId: string) => Promise<void>;
 } {
+  const { getProjection } = useAppShell();
   const [unreadByCommunity, setUnreadByCommunity] = React.useState<
     Record<string, CommunityUnreadState>
   >(() => seedCommunityStates(communities, {}));
@@ -131,7 +133,11 @@ export function useCommunityUnread(
         if (cancelled) return;
         markLoading(community.id);
         try {
-          const result = await pollCommunityUnread(community, pubkey);
+          const result = await pollCommunityUnread(
+            community,
+            pubkey,
+            getProjection,
+          );
           if (cancelled) return;
           markReady(community.id, result);
         } catch (error) {
@@ -155,7 +161,7 @@ export function useCommunityUnread(
         window.clearTimeout(pollTimer);
       }
     };
-  }, [activeCommunityId, communities]);
+  }, [activeCommunityId, communities, getProjection]);
 
   const communitiesRef = React.useRef(communities);
   communitiesRef.current = communities;