diff --git a/mobile/lib/app.dart b/mobile/lib/app.dart
index 855aa4dda2..c80d9e772d 100644
--- a/mobile/lib/app.dart
+++ b/mobile/lib/app.dart
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ import 'features/channels/agent_activity/observer_subscription.dart';
 import 'features/channels/channel_detail_page.dart';
 import 'shared/widgets/app_route_observer.dart';
 import 'shared/widgets/root_page_route.dart';
+import 'features/profile/profile_provider.dart';
 import 'features/profile/user_status_cache_provider.dart';
 import 'features/profile/settings_profile_header.dart';
 import 'features/profile/set_status_sheet.dart';
@@ -392,6 +393,8 @@ class App extends HookConsumerWidget {
       ref.listen(observerRelayProvider, (_, _) {});
       ref.watch(appLifecycleProvider);
       ref.listen(userStatusCacheProvider, (_, _) {});
+      // Presence heartbeats run only while something holds this provider.
+      ref.listen(presenceProvider, (_, _) {});
       // Activity owns hidden-DM recovery even when Inbox is never opened.
       ref.listen(activityProvider, (_, _) {});
       // Preserve initial read seeding even while Solo is hidden.
diff --git a/mobile/test/features/profile/presence_shell_test.dart b/mobile/test/features/profile/presence_shell_test.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d52d2fecbe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mobile/test/features/profile/presence_shell_test.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+import 'package:buzz/app.dart';
+import 'package:buzz/features/age_gate/age_signal_provider.dart';
+import 'package:buzz/features/channels/channel.dart';
+import 'package:buzz/features/channels/channels_provider.dart';
+import 'package:buzz/shared/auth/auth.dart';
+import 'package:buzz/shared/relay/relay.dart';
+import 'package:buzz/shared/theme/theme_provider.dart';
+import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
+import 'package:flutter_test/flutter_test.dart';
+import 'package:hooks_riverpod/hooks_riverpod.dart';
+import 'package:nostr/nostr.dart' as nostr;
+import 'package:shared_preferences/shared_preferences.dart';
+
+void main() {
+  testWidgets('signed-in shell publishes presence without opening Settings', (
+    tester,
+  ) async {
+    final keys = nostr.Keys.generate();
+    final session = _PublishingSession();
+    SharedPreferences.setMockInitialValues({});
+    final prefs = await SharedPreferences.getInstance();
+    final container = ProviderContainer(
+      overrides: [
+        savedPrefsProvider.overrideWithValue(prefs),
+        authProvider.overrideWith(_SignedIn.new),
+        ageSignalProvider.overrideWith(_Allowed.new),
+        relayConfigProvider.overrideWith(() => _Config(keys.nsec)),
+        myPubkeyProvider.overrideWithValue(keys.public),
+        appLifecycleProvider.overrideWith(_Resumed.new),
+        relaySessionProvider.overrideWith(() => session),
+        channelsProvider.overrideWith(_NoChannels.new),
+      ],
+    );
+    addTearDown(container.dispose);
+
+    await tester.pumpWidget(
+      UncontrolledProviderScope(container: container, child: const App()),
+    );
+    for (var i = 0; i < 20 && session.presence.isEmpty; i++) {
+      await tester.pump();
+    }
+
+    expect(session.presence, ['online']);
+    await tester.pumpWidget(const SizedBox.shrink());
+    container.dispose();
+  });
+}
+
+class _PublishingSession extends RelaySessionNotifier {
+  final presence = <String>[];
+
+  @override
+  SessionState build() => const SessionState(status: SessionStatus.connected);
+
+  @override
+  Future<List<NostrEvent>> fetchHistory(
+    NostrFilter filter, {
+    Duration timeout = const Duration(seconds: 8),
+  }) async => const [];
+
+  @override
+  Future<List<NostrEvent>> queryRelay(
+    List<NostrFilter> filters, {
+    Duration timeout = const Duration(seconds: 8),
+  }) async => const [];
+
+  @override
+  Future<void Function()> subscribe(
+    NostrFilter filter,
+    void Function(NostrEvent) onEvent, {
+    void Function(String message)? onClosed,
+  }) async => () {};
+
+  @override
+  Future<NostrEvent> publish(
+    NostrEvent event, {
+    Duration timeout = const Duration(seconds: 8),
+  }) async {
+    if (event.kind == EventKind.presenceUpdate) presence.add(event.content);
+    return event;
+  }
+}
+
+class _SignedIn extends AuthNotifier {
+  @override
+  Future<AuthState> build() async =>
+      const AuthState(status: AuthStatus.authenticated);
+}
+
+class _Allowed extends AgeSignalNotifier {
+  @override
+  AgeSignalState build() => AgeSignalState.allowed;
+  @override
+  Future<void> request() async {}
+}
+
+class _Config extends RelayConfigNotifier {
+  _Config(this.nsec);
+
+  final String nsec;
+
+  @override
+  RelayConfig build() =>
+      RelayConfig(baseUrl: 'https://relay.example', nsec: nsec);
+}
+
+class _Resumed extends AppLifecycleNotifier {
+  @override
+  AppLifecycleState build() => AppLifecycleState.resumed;
+}
+
+class _NoChannels extends ChannelsNotifier {
+  @override
+  bool get hasLoaded => true;
+
+  @override
+  Future<List<Channel>> build() async => const [];
+}