diff --git a/desktop/src/features/agents/AGENTS.md b/desktop/src/features/agents/AGENTS.md
index 020be23976..e78fb43b26 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/agents/AGENTS.md
+++ b/desktop/src/features/agents/AGENTS.md
@@ -308,7 +308,12 @@ with a TypeScript lookup table or an id comparison in a component.
 
 Known Desktops exposes an owner-private, explicitly selected agent+Desktop Stop,
 not inferred agent location. The app-scoped receiver subscribes live only;
-reopening never replays commands. An explicit retry republishes the exact request;
+reopening never replays commands. Receiver initialization reports a safe failure
+stage without exposing raw transport/IPC exceptions. Its scope-owned notification
+can explicitly retry the **receiver** with a fresh live-only subscription; that
+must discard queued callbacks from the retired receiver, not retry an operation.
+A readiness timeout is unconfirmed delivery, not a failed initialization; late
+EOSE clears that warning after successful projection. An explicit operation retry republishes the exact request;
 the relay redelivers stored Stop duplicates without repeating relay side effects.
 The receiver returns saved results or Unknown, never repeats a consumed Stop.
 Native owner-delegation and community checks
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/agents/desktopLifecycle.test.mjs b/desktop/src/features/agents/desktopLifecycle.test.mjs
index b15daccfcf..33de28d85b 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/agents/desktopLifecycle.test.mjs
+++ b/desktop/src/features/agents/desktopLifecycle.test.mjs
@@ -238,3 +238,139 @@ test("receiver projects history without executing it and invalidates live work o
   assert.equal(f.errors.length, 1);
   close();
 });
+
+for (const stage of [
+  "subscription",
+  "history",
+  "projection",
+  "reconciliation",
+]) {
+  test(`receiver reports safe ${stage} failure and never admits queued work`, async () => {
+    const f = fixture();
+    const secret = "private key /home/private bearer secret";
+    if (stage === "subscription")
+      f.relay.subscribeLive = async () => {
+        throw Error(secret);
+      };
+    if (stage === "history")
+      f.relay.fetchEvents = async () => {
+        throw Error(secret);
+      };
+    const ipc = async (command, args) => {
+      if (
+        command === "observe_desktop_placement" &&
+        ((stage === "projection" && !args.reconcile) ||
+          (stage === "reconciliation" && args.reconcile))
+      )
+        throw Error(secret);
+      return f.ipc(command, args);
+    };
+    const started = receiveLifecycle(
+      scope,
+      () => true,
+      (e) => f.errors.push(e),
+      ipc,
+      f.relay,
+    );
+    f.deliver({ id: "queued", kind: 50182 });
+    await assert.rejects(started, (error) => {
+      assert.match(error.message, new RegExp(`${stage}: request failed`));
+      assert.doesNotMatch(error.message, /private|bearer|secret/);
+      return true;
+    });
+    await tick();
+    assert.equal(
+      f.calls.filter(([c]) => c === "receive_desktop_lifecycle").length,
+      0,
+    );
+    assert.deepEqual(
+      f.errors,
+      [],
+      "discarded callbacks cannot replace the startup diagnosis",
+    );
+  });
+}
+
+test("explicit receiver recovery discards old queued work and projects history without replay", async () => {
+  const f = fixture();
+  let rejectHistory;
+  f.relay.fetchEvents = () =>
+    new Promise((_, reject) => {
+      rejectHistory = reject;
+    });
+  const failed = receiveLifecycle(
+    scope,
+    () => true,
+    () => {},
+    f.ipc,
+    f.relay,
+  );
+  await tick();
+  f.deliver({ id: "old-live", kind: 50182 });
+  rejectHistory(Error("Timed out while loading channel history."));
+  await assert.rejects(failed, /history: history timed out/);
+  f.relay.fetchEvents = async () => [{ id: "old-live", kind: 50182 }];
+  const close = await receiveLifecycle(
+    scope,
+    () => true,
+    () => {},
+    f.ipc,
+    f.relay,
+  );
+  await tick();
+  assert.equal(
+    f.calls.filter(([c]) => c === "receive_desktop_lifecycle").length,
+    0,
+  );
+  f.deliver({ id: "new-live", kind: 50182 });
+  await tick();
+  assert.equal(
+    f.calls.filter(([c]) => c === "receive_desktop_lifecycle").length,
+    1,
+  );
+  f.deliver({ id: "closed-queue", kind: 50182 });
+  close();
+  await tick();
+  assert.equal(
+    f.calls.filter(([c]) => c === "receive_desktop_lifecycle").length,
+    1,
+  );
+});
+
+test("readiness timeout is distinct, late EOSE recovers, CLOSED retires old callbacks", async () => {
+  const f = fixture();
+  let notify, deliver;
+  let closed = 0,
+    ready = 0;
+  f.relay.subscribeLive = async (_filter, event, onReady, timeout) => {
+    assert.equal(timeout, 5000);
+    deliver = event;
+    notify = onReady;
+    notify("timeout");
+    return () => {
+      closed++;
+    };
+  };
+  const close = await receiveLifecycle(
+    scope,
+    () => true,
+    (e) => f.errors.push(e),
+    f.ipc,
+    f.relay,
+    () => ready++,
+  );
+  assert.match(f.errors[0], /readiness timed out/);
+  assert.equal(ready, 0);
+  notify("eose");
+  assert.equal(ready, 1);
+  notify("closed");
+  deliver({ id: "late", kind: 50182 });
+  await tick();
+  assert.equal(closed, 1);
+  assert.equal(
+    f.calls.filter(([c]) => c === "receive_desktop_lifecycle").length,
+    0,
+  );
+  assert.match(f.errors.at(-1), /subscription closed/);
+  close();
+});
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/agents/desktopLifecycle.ts b/desktop/src/features/agents/desktopLifecycle.ts
index 7af772aa18..1fb321c67a 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/agents/desktopLifecycle.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/features/agents/desktopLifecycle.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,11 @@ import {
   sendStop,
 } from "./desktopStop";
 
+import {
+  LifecycleReceiverError,
+  receiverStep,
+} from "./desktopLifecycleDiagnostics";
+
 export const DESKTOP_LIFECYCLE = 50182;
 export const DESKTOP_LIFECYCLE_RESULT = 50183;
 export type LifecycleAction = "start" | "restart" | "status";
@@ -99,27 +104,33 @@ export function lifecycleClient(
     let before_id: string | undefined;
     for (let page = 0; page < 64; page++) {
       check();
-      const events = await relay.fetchEvents({
-        kinds: [DESKTOP_STOP, DESKTOP_LIFECYCLE],
-        authors: [scope.owner],
-        limit: 256,
-        until,
-        before_id,
-      });
+      const events = await receiverStep("history", () =>
+        relay.fetchEvents({
+          kinds: [DESKTOP_STOP, DESKTOP_LIFECYCLE],
+          authors: [scope.owner],
+          limit: 256,
+          until,
+          before_id,
+        }),
+      );
       check();
       // No effects while a partial page could still hide a dominating Start.
-      await ipc("observe_desktop_placement", {
-        ...scope,
-        events,
-        reconcile: false,
-      });
+      await receiverStep("projection", () =>
+        ipc("observe_desktop_placement", {
+          ...scope,
+          events,
+          reconcile: false,
+        }),
+      );
       check();
       if (events.length < 256) {
-        await ipc("observe_desktop_placement", {
-          ...scope,
-          events: [],
-          reconcile: true,
-        });
+        await receiverStep("reconciliation", () =>
+          ipc("observe_desktop_placement", {
+            ...scope,
+            events: [],
+            reconcile: true,
+          }),
+        );
         check();
         return;
       }
@@ -250,14 +261,21 @@ export function lifecycleClient(
 }
 
 /** Subscribe first, then project history; live commands wait for complete
- * initialization. Reconnect gets a new client epoch and never replays history. */
+ * initialization. Explicit receiver retry starts a fresh live-only subscription,
+ * never retries an operation or executes historical commands. */
 export async function receiveLifecycle(
   scope: DesktopScope,
   active: () => boolean,
   onError: (message: string) => void,
   ipc = invoke,
   relay = relayClient,
+  onReady: () => void = () => {},
 ) {
+  let stopped = false;
+  let stopSubscription = () => {};
+  let synced = false;
+  let subscriptionReady = false;
+  const valid = () => active() && !stopped;
   let client: ReturnType<typeof lifecycleClient>;
   let initialized: () => void = () => {};
   const ready = new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
@@ -265,70 +283,99 @@ export async function receiveLifecycle(
   });
   let chain = Promise.resolve();
   let pending = 0;
-  const close = await relay.subscribeLive(
-    {
-      kinds: [DESKTOP_LIFECYCLE, DESKTOP_STOP],
-      authors: [scope.owner],
-      limit: 0,
-    },
-    (event) => {
-      if (!active()) return;
-      if (pending >= 16) {
-        onError("Desktop lifecycle receiver is busy; outcome is unconfirmed.");
-        return;
-      }
-      pending++;
-      chain = chain
-        .then(async () => {
-          await ready;
-          client.check();
-          await ipc("observe_desktop_placement", {
-            ...scope,
-            events: [event],
-            reconcile: true,
-          });
-          client.check();
-          const result = await ipc<RelayEvent | null>(
-            event.kind === DESKTOP_STOP
-              ? "receive_desktop_stop"
-              : "receive_desktop_lifecycle",
-            { ...scope, event },
+  const unsubscribe = await receiverStep("subscription", () =>
+    relay.subscribeLive(
+      {
+        kinds: [DESKTOP_LIFECYCLE, DESKTOP_STOP],
+        authors: [scope.owner],
+        limit: 0,
+      },
+      (event) => {
+        if (!valid()) return;
+        if (pending >= 16) {
+          onError(
+            "Desktop lifecycle receiver is busy; outcome is unconfirmed.",
           );
-          client.check();
-          if (result)
-            await relay.publishEvent(
-              result,
-              "Result delivery unconfirmed",
-              "Result delivery failed",
-              client.check,
+          return;
+        }
+        pending++;
+        chain = chain
+          .then(async () => {
+            await ready;
+            if (!valid()) return;
+            client.check();
+            await ipc("observe_desktop_placement", {
+              ...scope,
+              events: [event],
+              reconcile: true,
+            });
+            client.check();
+            const result = await ipc<RelayEvent | null>(
+              event.kind === DESKTOP_STOP
+                ? "receive_desktop_stop"
+                : "receive_desktop_lifecycle",
+              { ...scope, event },
             );
-        })
-        .catch(() => {
-          if (active())
-            onError(
-              "Desktop lifecycle result is unconfirmed. No automatic operation retry.",
-            );
-        })
-        .finally(() => {
-          pending--;
-        });
-    },
-    (readiness) => {
-      if (active() && readiness !== "eose")
-        onError("Desktop lifecycle receiver is unavailable.");
-    },
+            client.check();
+            if (result)
+              await relay.publishEvent(
+                result,
+                "Result delivery unconfirmed",
+                "Result delivery failed",
+                client.check,
+              );
+          })
+          .catch(() => {
+            if (valid())
+              onError(
+                "Desktop lifecycle result is unconfirmed. No automatic operation retry.",
+              );
+          })
+          .finally(() => {
+            pending--;
+          });
+      },
+      (readiness) => {
+        if (!valid()) return;
+        subscriptionReady = readiness === "eose";
+        if (readiness === "closed") {
+          stopped = true;
+          stopSubscription();
+          onError(
+            "Desktop lifecycle receiver subscription closed. Retry the receiver to accept new requests.",
+          );
+        } else if (readiness === "timeout") {
+          onError(
+            "Desktop lifecycle subscription readiness timed out. Delivery is unconfirmed.",
+          );
+        } else if (synced) onReady();
+      },
+      5000,
+    ),
   );
-  client = lifecycleClient(scope, active, ipc, relay);
+  const close = () => {
+    stopped = true;
+    // Unsubscribe may fail on a dead socket; it must not revive this receiver
+    // or leave an unhandled promise. A retry always owns a new subscription.
+    void Promise.resolve()
+      .then(unsubscribe)
+      .catch(() => {});
+  };
+  stopSubscription = close;
+  client = lifecycleClient(scope, valid, ipc, relay);
   try {
+    if (stopped) throw new LifecycleReceiverError("subscription", "closed");
     await client.sync();
     client.check();
+    synced = true;
     initialized();
+    if (subscriptionReady) onReady();
   } catch (error) {
     close();
-    // Release queued callbacks into a permanently invalidated client.
-    client = lifecycleClient(scope, () => false, ipc, relay);
     initialized();
-    throw error;
+    throw error instanceof LifecycleReceiverError
+      ? error
+      : new LifecycleReceiverError("initialization", error);
   }
   return close;
 }
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/agents/desktopLifecycleDiagnostics.ts b/desktop/src/features/agents/desktopLifecycleDiagnostics.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..aebe01c41a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/desktop/src/features/agents/desktopLifecycleDiagnostics.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+/** Safe receiver diagnostics: raw IPC/transport errors can contain private data. */
+type Stage =
+  | "initialization"
+  | "subscription"
+  | "history"
+  | "projection"
+  | "reconciliation";
+
+export class LifecycleReceiverError extends Error {
+  constructor(stage: Stage, error: unknown) {
+    const value = error instanceof Error ? error.message : error;
+    const reason =
+      value === "closed"
+        ? "subscription closed"
+        : value === "Desktop lifecycle scope changed"
+          ? "scope changed"
+          : value === "Relay session is terminal; cannot reconnect."
+            ? "relay session requires reconnection"
+            : value === "Timed out while loading channel history."
+              ? "history timed out"
+              : "request failed";
+    super(`Desktop lifecycle receiver is unavailable (${stage}: ${reason}).`);
+  }
+}
+
+export function receiverErrorMessage(error: unknown): string {
+  return error instanceof LifecycleReceiverError
+    ? error.message
+    : "Desktop lifecycle receiver is unavailable (initialization failed).";
+}
+
+export async function receiverStep<T>(
+  stage: Stage,
+  action: () => Promise<T>,
+): Promise<T> {
+  try {
+    return await action();
+  } catch (error) {
+    throw new LifecycleReceiverError(stage, error);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/agents/ui/DesktopLifecycleControl.test.mjs b/desktop/src/features/agents/ui/DesktopLifecycleControl.test.mjs
index f41068c613..3ac174ac53 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/agents/ui/DesktopLifecycleControl.test.mjs
+++ b/desktop/src/features/agents/ui/DesktopLifecycleControl.test.mjs
@@ -157,6 +157,8 @@ test("receiver failure is a scope-owned notification, not pre-shell layout", asy
   let closed = 0;
   let rejectLate;
   let delayed = false;
+  let storageAvailable = false;
+  let subscribed = 0;
   relayClient.fetchEvents = async () => {
     if (delayed)
       return new Promise((_, reject) => {
@@ -165,13 +167,16 @@ test("receiver failure is a scope-owned notification, not pre-shell layout", asy
     return [];
   };
   relayClient.subscribeLive = async (_filter, _event, onReadiness) => {
+    subscribed++;
     readiness = onReadiness;
+    onReadiness("eose");
     return () => {
       closed++;
     };
   };
   window.__TAURI_INTERNALS__ = {
     invoke: async () => {
+      if (storageAvailable) return;
       throw new Error("fixture: storage unavailable");
     },
   };
@@ -193,7 +198,7 @@ test("receiver failure is a scope-owned notification, not pre-shell layout", asy
     assert.equal(warnings().length, 1);
     assert.equal(
       warnings()[0].title,
-      "Desktop lifecycle receiver is unavailable.",
+      "Desktop lifecycle receiver is unavailable (projection: request failed).",
     );
     assert.equal(warnings()[0].duration, Infinity);
     assert.equal(warnings()[0].closeButton, true);
@@ -203,6 +208,16 @@ test("receiver failure is a scope-owned notification, not pre-shell layout", asy
       1,
       "repeated failures update one notification",
     );
+    const retryAction = warnings()[0].action;
+    assert.equal(retryAction.label, "Retry receiver");
+    storageAvailable = true;
+    await React.act(async () => retryAction.onClick());
+    assert.equal(subscribed, 2, "explicit recovery starts a new live receiver");
+    assert.equal(
+      warnings().length,
+      0,
+      "successful recovery removes its warning",
+    );
     await React.act(async () =>
       root.render(
         React.createElement(DesktopLifecycleReceiver, { scope: null }),
@@ -227,7 +242,11 @@ test("receiver failure is a scope-owned notification, not pre-shell layout", asy
       0,
       "late startup rejection must not recreate the warning",
     );
-    assert.equal(closed, 2, "both failed subscriptions are released");
+    assert.equal(
+      closed,
+      3,
+      "failed, recovered and retired subscriptions are released",
+    );
   } finally {
     await React.act(async () => root.unmount());
     relayClient.fetchEvents = originals.fetch;
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/agents/ui/DesktopLifecycleControl.tsx b/desktop/src/features/agents/ui/DesktopLifecycleControl.tsx
index d05efee251..0b6b63d67b 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/agents/ui/DesktopLifecycleControl.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/agents/ui/DesktopLifecycleControl.tsx
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import {
   type LifecycleOutcome,
 } from "../desktopLifecycle";
 import { useRelayAgentsQuery } from "../hooks";
+import { receiverErrorMessage } from "../desktopLifecycleDiagnostics";
 
 export function DesktopLifecycleReceiver({
   scope,
@@ -16,6 +17,7 @@ export function DesktopLifecycleReceiver({
   scope: DesktopScope | null;
 }) {
   const { owner, community } = scope ?? {};
+  const [attempt, retry] = useState(0);
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!owner || !community) return;
     let active = true;
@@ -30,22 +32,40 @@ export function DesktopLifecycleReceiver({
         id: notification,
         duration: Infinity,
         closeButton: true,
+        action: {
+          label: "Retry receiver",
+          onClick: () => {
+            if (!active) return;
+            active = false;
+            close?.();
+            retry(attempt + 1);
+          },
+        },
       });
     };
-    void receiveLifecycle({ owner, community }, () => active, reportError)
+    void receiveLifecycle(
+      { owner, community },
+      () => active,
+      reportError,
+      undefined,
+      undefined,
+      () => {
+        if (active && notification !== undefined) toast.dismiss(notification);
+      },
+    )
       .then((fn) => {
         if (active) close = fn;
         else fn();
       })
-      .catch(() => {
-        reportError("Desktop lifecycle receiver is unavailable.");
+      .catch((error) => {
+        reportError(receiverErrorMessage(error));
       });
     return () => {
       active = false;
       close?.();
       if (notification !== undefined) toast.dismiss(notification);
     };
-  }, [owner, community]);
+  }, [owner, community, attempt]);
   return null;
 }
 function message(outcome: LifecycleOutcome) {
diff --git a/desktop/tests/e2e/top-chrome-zoom-clearance.spec.ts b/desktop/tests/e2e/top-chrome-zoom-clearance.spec.ts
index 1d4d6795a7..97d6b69cb1 100644
--- a/desktop/tests/e2e/top-chrome-zoom-clearance.spec.ts
+++ b/desktop/tests/e2e/top-chrome-zoom-clearance.spec.ts
@@ -118,9 +118,7 @@ test.describe("top chrome macOS traffic-light clearance under text zoom", () =>
     // A failed global receiver must remain visible without entering the shell's
     // layout flow. This also forces the error to settle before measuring chrome.
     await expect(
-      page.getByText("Desktop lifecycle receiver is unavailable.", {
-        exact: true,
-      }),
+      page.getByText(/Desktop lifecycle receiver is unavailable/),
     ).toBeVisible();
 
     // Lock the native and webview placements together: removing this explicit