diff --git a/desktop/src/features/agents/AGENTS.md b/desktop/src/features/agents/AGENTS.md
index e78fb43b26..5f67eedbaa 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/agents/AGENTS.md
+++ b/desktop/src/features/agents/AGENTS.md
@@ -309,9 +309,13 @@ 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. 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.
+stage without exposing raw transport/IPC exceptions. Transient initialization
+failures and transient CLOSED states recover through a bounded receiver-owner
+budget; each attempt uses a fresh live-only subscription and repeats
+projection-only sync before admission. Terminal closure or exhausted recovery
+stays in the scope-owned notification, whose deliberate retry resets the receiver
+budget. Recovery must discard queued callbacks from the retired receiver, not
+retry an operation, and must respect the relay rate-limit gate.
 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.
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/agents/desktopLifecycle.ts b/desktop/src/features/agents/desktopLifecycle.ts
index b81e482605..c5f00cafe2 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/agents/desktopLifecycle.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/features/agents/desktopLifecycle.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { invoke } from "@tauri-apps/api/core";
 import { relayClient } from "@/shared/api/relayClient";
+import type { LiveSubscriptionClosedRecovery } from "@/shared/api/relayClientShared";
 import type { RelayEvent } from "@/shared/api/types";
 import type { DesktopScope } from "./desktopList";
 import {
@@ -270,8 +271,10 @@ export async function receiveLifecycle(
   ipc = invoke,
   relay = relayClient,
   onReady: () => void = () => {},
+  onClosed?: (recovery: LiveSubscriptionClosedRecovery) => void,
 ) {
   let stopped = false;
+  let released = false;
   let stopSubscription = () => {};
   let synced = false;
   let subscriptionReady = false;
@@ -339,15 +342,20 @@ export async function receiveLifecycle(
       5000,
       {
         closedRecovery: "explicit",
-        onState: (readiness) => {
+        onState: (readiness, closed) => {
           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.",
-            );
+            if (onClosed)
+              onClosed(
+                closed ?? { classification: "terminal", retryAfterMs: 0 },
+              );
+            else
+              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.",
@@ -358,6 +366,8 @@ export async function receiveLifecycle(
     ),
   );
   const close = () => {
+    if (released) return;
+    released = true;
     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.
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/agents/desktopLifecycleReceiver.test.mjs b/desktop/src/features/agents/desktopLifecycleReceiver.test.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..70b9689005
--- /dev/null
+++ b/desktop/src/features/agents/desktopLifecycleReceiver.test.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,443 @@
+import assert from "node:assert/strict";
+import test from "node:test";
+import { receiveLifecycle } from "./desktopLifecycle.ts";
+import {
+  ownLifecycleReceiver,
+  RECEIVER_RECOVERY_DELAYS_MS,
+} from "./desktopLifecycleReceiver.ts";
+
+const scope = { owner: "owner", community: "wss://one.example" };
+
+async function flushUntil(predicate, attempts = 40) {
+  for (let attempt = 0; attempt < attempts; attempt++) {
+    if (predicate()) return;
+    await Promise.resolve();
+  }
+  assert.fail("condition did not become true before the microtask limit");
+}
+
+function timers() {
+  let nextId = 1;
+  const pending = new Map();
+  return {
+    setTimer(callback, delayMs) {
+      const id = nextId++;
+      pending.set(id, { callback, delayMs });
+      return id;
+    },
+    clearTimer(id) {
+      pending.delete(id);
+    },
+    fireNext() {
+      const entry = pending.entries().next().value;
+      assert.ok(entry, "expected a pending recovery timer");
+      pending.delete(entry[0]);
+      entry[1].callback();
+    },
+    pending,
+  };
+}
+
+test("first subscribe failure recovers without a reconnect callback and syncs before admission", async () => {
+  const clock = timers();
+  let subscribeCalls = 0;
+  let liveEvent;
+  let activeSubscriptions = 0;
+  let closed = 0;
+  let ready = 0;
+  const calls = [];
+  const relay = {
+    getSessionEpoch: () => 1,
+    getConnectionGeneration: () => 1,
+    subscribeLive: async (filter, onEvent, _onReady, _timeout, options) => {
+      assert.deepEqual(filter, {
+        kinds: [50182, 50180],
+        authors: [scope.owner],
+        limit: 0,
+      });
+      subscribeCalls++;
+      if (subscribeCalls === 1)
+        throw new Error("fixture first connection rejected");
+      activeSubscriptions++;
+      liveEvent = onEvent;
+      onEvent({ id: "during-sync", kind: 50182, created_at: 1 });
+      options.onState("eose");
+      return () => {
+        activeSubscriptions--;
+        closed++;
+      };
+    },
+    fetchEvents: async () => {
+      calls.push("history");
+      return [];
+    },
+    publishEvent: async () => {},
+  };
+  const ipc = async (command, args) => {
+    if (command === "observe_desktop_placement") {
+      calls.push(args.reconcile ? `projection:${args.events.length}` : "page");
+      return;
+    }
+    if (command === "receive_desktop_lifecycle") {
+      calls.push("admission");
+      return null;
+    }
+    throw new Error(command);
+  };
+  const errors = [];
+  const stop = ownLifecycleReceiver(
+    scope,
+    (error) => errors.push(error),
+    () => ready++,
+    {
+      ...clock,
+      waitForRateLimit: async () => {},
+      startReceiver: (receiverScope, active, onError, onReady, onClosed) =>
+        receiveLifecycle(
+          receiverScope,
+          active,
+          onError,
+          ipc,
+          relay,
+          onReady,
+          onClosed,
+        ),
+    },
+  );
+
+  await flushUntil(() => clock.pending.size === 1);
+  assert.equal(subscribeCalls, 1);
+  assert.deepEqual(errors, []);
+  assert.equal(clock.pending.values().next().value.delayMs, 1_000);
+
+  clock.fireNext();
+  await flushUntil(() => calls.includes("admission"));
+  assert.equal(subscribeCalls, 2);
+  assert.equal(activeSubscriptions, 1);
+  assert.equal(ready, 1);
+  assert.deepEqual(calls, [
+    "history",
+    "page",
+    "projection:0",
+    "projection:1",
+    "admission",
+  ]);
+
+  liveEvent({ id: "ordinary-live", kind: 50182, created_at: 2 });
+  await flushUntil(
+    () => calls.filter((call) => call === "admission").length === 2,
+  );
+  stop();
+  await flushUntil(() => activeSubscriptions === 0);
+  assert.equal(activeSubscriptions, 0);
+  assert.equal(closed, 1);
+});
+
+test("transient CLOSED before readiness retires and replaces the whole receiver", async () => {
+  const clock = timers();
+  let subscribeCalls = 0;
+  let closeCount = 0;
+  let ready = 0;
+  const relay = {
+    getSessionEpoch: () => 1,
+    getConnectionGeneration: () => 1,
+    subscribeLive: async (_filter, _onEvent, _onReady, _timeout, options) => {
+      subscribeCalls++;
+      if (subscribeCalls === 1)
+        options.onState("closed", {
+          classification: "retryable",
+          retryAfterMs: 0,
+        });
+      else options.onState("eose");
+      return () => closeCount++;
+    },
+    fetchEvents: async () => [],
+    publishEvent: async () => {},
+  };
+  const stop = ownLifecycleReceiver(
+    scope,
+    () => {},
+    () => ready++,
+    {
+      ...clock,
+      waitForRateLimit: async () => {},
+      startReceiver: (receiverScope, active, onError, onReady, onClosed) =>
+        receiveLifecycle(
+          receiverScope,
+          active,
+          onError,
+          async () => {},
+          relay,
+          onReady,
+          onClosed,
+        ),
+    },
+  );
+
+  await flushUntil(() => clock.pending.size === 1);
+  await flushUntil(() => closeCount === 1);
+  assert.equal(subscribeCalls, 1);
+  assert.equal(closeCount, 1);
+  clock.fireNext();
+  await flushUntil(() => ready === 1);
+  assert.equal(subscribeCalls, 2);
+  stop();
+  await flushUntil(() => closeCount === 2);
+});
+
+test("scope cancellation clears recovery timers and closes a late subscription", async () => {
+  const timerClock = timers();
+  let starts = 0;
+  const stopTimerOwner = ownLifecycleReceiver(
+    scope,
+    () => {},
+    () => {},
+    {
+      ...timerClock,
+      waitForRateLimit: async () => {},
+      startReceiver: async () => {
+        starts++;
+        throw new Error("transient");
+      },
+    },
+  );
+  await flushUntil(() => timerClock.pending.size === 1);
+  stopTimerOwner();
+  assert.equal(timerClock.pending.size, 0);
+  assert.equal(starts, 1);
+
+  let finishSubscribe;
+  let lateCloseCount = 0;
+  let historyCalls = 0;
+  const relay = {
+    getSessionEpoch: () => 1,
+    getConnectionGeneration: () => 1,
+    subscribeLive: () =>
+      new Promise((resolve) => {
+        finishSubscribe = () => resolve(() => lateCloseCount++);
+      }),
+    fetchEvents: async () => {
+      historyCalls++;
+      return [];
+    },
+    publishEvent: async () => {},
+  };
+  const stopLateOwner = ownLifecycleReceiver(
+    scope,
+    () => {},
+    () => {},
+    {
+      ...timers(),
+      waitForRateLimit: async () => {},
+      startReceiver: (receiverScope, active, onError, onReady, onClosed) =>
+        receiveLifecycle(
+          receiverScope,
+          active,
+          onError,
+          async () => {},
+          relay,
+          onReady,
+          onClosed,
+        ),
+    },
+  );
+  await flushUntil(() => typeof finishSubscribe === "function");
+  stopLateOwner();
+  finishSubscribe();
+  await flushUntil(() => lateCloseCount === 1);
+  assert.equal(historyCalls, 0, "cancelled receiver must not begin sync");
+});
+
+test("scope cancellation during sync fences reconciliation, admission, readiness, and errors", async () => {
+  let resolveHistory;
+  let deliver;
+  let closeCount = 0;
+  let ready = 0;
+  const errors = [];
+  const calls = [];
+  const relay = {
+    getSessionEpoch: () => 1,
+    getConnectionGeneration: () => 1,
+    subscribeLive: async (_filter, onEvent, _onReady, _timeout, options) => {
+      deliver = onEvent;
+      options.onState("eose");
+      return () => closeCount++;
+    },
+    fetchEvents: () =>
+      new Promise((resolve) => {
+        resolveHistory = resolve;
+      }),
+    publishEvent: async () => {},
+  };
+  const stop = ownLifecycleReceiver(
+    scope,
+    (error) => errors.push(error),
+    () => ready++,
+    {
+      ...timers(),
+      waitForRateLimit: async () => {},
+      startReceiver: (receiverScope, active, onError, onReady, onClosed) =>
+        receiveLifecycle(
+          receiverScope,
+          active,
+          onError,
+          async (command) => {
+            calls.push(command);
+            return null;
+          },
+          relay,
+          onReady,
+          onClosed,
+        ),
+    },
+  );
+  await flushUntil(() => resolveHistory !== undefined);
+  deliver({ id: "queued", kind: 50182, created_at: 1 });
+  stop();
+  resolveHistory([]);
+  await flushUntil(() => closeCount === 1);
+
+  assert.deepEqual(calls, []);
+  assert.deepEqual(errors, []);
+  assert.equal(ready, 0);
+});
+
+test("initializer recovery exhausts the bounded budget and preserves its safe terminal outcome", async () => {
+  const clock = timers();
+  let starts = 0;
+  const errors = [];
+  ownLifecycleReceiver(
+    scope,
+    (error) => errors.push(error),
+    () => {},
+    {
+      ...clock,
+      waitForRateLimit: async () => {},
+      startReceiver: async () => {
+        starts++;
+        throw new Error("raw private initializer detail");
+      },
+    },
+  );
+
+  for (
+    let attempt = 0;
+    attempt < RECEIVER_RECOVERY_DELAYS_MS.length;
+    attempt++
+  ) {
+    await flushUntil(() => clock.pending.size === 1);
+    assert.equal(
+      clock.pending.values().next().value.delayMs,
+      RECEIVER_RECOVERY_DELAYS_MS[attempt],
+    );
+    clock.fireNext();
+  }
+  await flushUntil(() => errors.length === 1);
+  assert.equal(starts, 4);
+  assert.equal(clock.pending.size, 0);
+  assert.equal(
+    errors[0],
+    "Desktop lifecycle receiver is unavailable (initialization failed).",
+  );
+  assert.doesNotMatch(errors[0], /private|detail/);
+});
+
+test("transient CLOSED recovery is bounded across successful receivers; terminal stays manual", async () => {
+  const clock = timers();
+  const closures = [];
+  let starts = 0;
+  let closes = 0;
+  const errors = [];
+  const stop = ownLifecycleReceiver(
+    scope,
+    (error) => errors.push(error),
+    () => {},
+    {
+      ...clock,
+      waitForRateLimit: async () => {},
+      startReceiver: async (_scope, _active, _onError, onReady, onClosed) => {
+        starts++;
+        onReady();
+        closures.push(onClosed);
+        return () => closes++;
+      },
+    },
+  );
+  await flushUntil(() => closures.length === 1);
+
+  for (
+    let attempt = 0;
+    attempt < RECEIVER_RECOVERY_DELAYS_MS.length;
+    attempt++
+  ) {
+    closures.at(-1)({ classification: "retryable", retryAfterMs: 0 });
+    assert.equal(
+      clock.pending.values().next().value.delayMs,
+      RECEIVER_RECOVERY_DELAYS_MS[attempt],
+    );
+    clock.fireNext();
+    await flushUntil(() => closures.length === attempt + 2);
+  }
+  closures.at(-1)({ classification: "retryable", retryAfterMs: 0 });
+  assert.equal(clock.pending.size, 0);
+  assert.equal(starts, 4);
+  assert.equal(closes, 4);
+  assert.equal(errors.length, 1);
+  assert.match(errors[0], /Retry the receiver/);
+  stop();
+
+  const terminalClock = timers();
+  let terminalClosed;
+  const terminalErrors = [];
+  ownLifecycleReceiver(
+    scope,
+    (error) => terminalErrors.push(error),
+    () => {},
+    {
+      ...terminalClock,
+      startReceiver: async (_scope, _active, _onError, _onReady, onClosed) => {
+        terminalClosed = onClosed;
+        return () => {};
+      },
+    },
+  );
+  await flushUntil(() => terminalClosed !== undefined);
+  terminalClosed({ classification: "terminal", retryAfterMs: 0 });
+  assert.equal(terminalClock.pending.size, 0);
+  assert.equal(terminalErrors.length, 1);
+});
+
+test("rate-limited recovery honors both the delay and shared gate, and cancellation fences it", async () => {
+  const clock = timers();
+  let releaseGate;
+  const gate = new Promise((resolve) => {
+    releaseGate = resolve;
+  });
+  const closures = [];
+  let starts = 0;
+  const stop = ownLifecycleReceiver(
+    scope,
+    () => {},
+    () => {},
+    {
+      ...clock,
+      waitForRateLimit: () => gate,
+      startReceiver: async (_scope, _active, _onError, _onReady, onClosed) => {
+        starts++;
+        closures.push(onClosed);
+        return () => {};
+      },
+    },
+  );
+  await flushUntil(() => closures.length === 1);
+  closures[0]({ classification: "rate-limited", retryAfterMs: 8_000 });
+  assert.equal(clock.pending.values().next().value.delayMs, 8_000);
+  clock.fireNext();
+  await Promise.resolve();
+  assert.equal(starts, 1, "fresh subscription must wait for the active gate");
+  stop();
+  releaseGate();
+  await Promise.resolve();
+  await Promise.resolve();
+  assert.equal(starts, 1, "scope cancellation must fence the late gate result");
+});
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/agents/desktopLifecycleReceiver.ts b/desktop/src/features/agents/desktopLifecycleReceiver.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..12a2a81ff2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/desktop/src/features/agents/desktopLifecycleReceiver.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,142 @@
+import type { LiveSubscriptionClosedRecovery } from "@/shared/api/relayClientShared";
+import { waitForRateLimit } from "@/shared/api/relayRateLimitGate";
+import type { DesktopScope } from "./desktopList";
+import { receiveLifecycle } from "./desktopLifecycle";
+import { receiverErrorMessage } from "./desktopLifecycleDiagnostics";
+
+export const RECEIVER_RECOVERY_DELAYS_MS = [1_000, 2_000, 4_000] as const;
+
+const CLOSED_MESSAGE =
+  "Desktop lifecycle receiver subscription closed. Retry the receiver to accept new requests.";
+
+type StartReceiver = (
+  scope: DesktopScope,
+  active: () => boolean,
+  onError: (message: string) => void,
+  onReady: () => void,
+  onClosed: (recovery: LiveSubscriptionClosedRecovery) => void,
+) => Promise<() => void>;
+
+type ReceiverOwnerDependencies = {
+  startReceiver?: StartReceiver;
+  waitForRateLimit?: () => Promise<void>;
+  setTimer?: (callback: () => void, delayMs: number) => number;
+  clearTimer?: (timer: number) => void;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Owns one lifecycle receiver scope. Recovery always creates a fresh live-only
+ * subscription and lets receiveLifecycle repeat projection sync before it
+ * admits events. The attempt budget belongs to this owner and is intentionally
+ * not reset by a successful EOSE/sync followed by another CLOSED.
+ */
+export function ownLifecycleReceiver(
+  scope: DesktopScope,
+  onError: (message: string) => void,
+  onReady: () => void,
+  dependencies: ReceiverOwnerDependencies = {},
+) {
+  const startReceiver: StartReceiver =
+    dependencies.startReceiver ??
+    ((receiverScope, active, reportError, ready, closed) =>
+      receiveLifecycle(
+        receiverScope,
+        active,
+        reportError,
+        undefined,
+        undefined,
+        ready,
+        closed,
+      ));
+  const waitForGate = dependencies.waitForRateLimit ?? waitForRateLimit;
+  const setTimer =
+    dependencies.setTimer ??
+    ((callback, delayMs) => window.setTimeout(callback, delayMs));
+  const clearTimer =
+    dependencies.clearTimer ?? ((timer) => window.clearTimeout(timer));
+
+  let stopped = false;
+  let generation = 0;
+  let recoveryAttempt = 0;
+  let timer: number | undefined;
+  let closeCurrent: (() => void) | undefined;
+
+  const current = (token: number) => !stopped && generation === token;
+
+  const retireCurrent = () => {
+    const close = closeCurrent;
+    closeCurrent = undefined;
+    close?.();
+  };
+
+  const recover = (
+    token: number,
+    terminalMessage: string,
+    recovery: LiveSubscriptionClosedRecovery,
+  ) => {
+    if (!current(token)) return;
+    generation++;
+    retireCurrent();
+
+    if (
+      recovery.classification === "terminal" ||
+      recoveryAttempt >= RECEIVER_RECOVERY_DELAYS_MS.length
+    ) {
+      onError(terminalMessage);
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const delayMs = Math.max(
+      RECEIVER_RECOVERY_DELAYS_MS[recoveryAttempt],
+      recovery.retryAfterMs,
+    );
+    recoveryAttempt++;
+    const waitingGeneration = generation;
+    timer = setTimer(() => {
+      timer = undefined;
+      if (stopped || generation !== waitingGeneration) return;
+      void waitForGate().then(() => {
+        if (!stopped && generation === waitingGeneration) start();
+      });
+    }, delayMs);
+  };
+
+  const start = () => {
+    const token = ++generation;
+    void startReceiver(
+      scope,
+      () => current(token),
+      (message) => {
+        if (current(token)) onError(message);
+      },
+      () => {
+        if (current(token)) onReady();
+      },
+      (recovery) => recover(token, CLOSED_MESSAGE, recovery),
+    )
+      .then((close) => {
+        if (current(token)) closeCurrent = close;
+        else close();
+      })
+      .catch((error) => {
+        if (current(token))
+          recover(token, receiverErrorMessage(error), {
+            classification: "retryable",
+            retryAfterMs: 0,
+          });
+      });
+  };
+
+  start();
+
+  return () => {
+    if (stopped) return;
+    stopped = true;
+    generation++;
+    if (timer !== undefined) {
+      clearTimer(timer);
+      timer = undefined;
+    }
+    retireCurrent();
+  };
+}
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/agents/ui/DesktopLifecycleControl.test.mjs b/desktop/src/features/agents/ui/DesktopLifecycleControl.test.mjs
index 35e52f7aab..17aff55e75 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/agents/ui/DesktopLifecycleControl.test.mjs
+++ b/desktop/src/features/agents/ui/DesktopLifecycleControl.test.mjs
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ test("mounted Start exposes unavailable provisioning and exact retry; Restart re
   }
 });
 
-test("receiver failure is a scope-owned notification, not pre-shell layout", async () => {
+test("terminal receiver failure is a scope-owned notification, not pre-shell layout", async () => {
   const originalRaf = globalThis.requestAnimationFrame;
   globalThis.requestAnimationFrame = (fn) => setTimeout(fn, 0);
   const dom = new JSDOM("<div id='root'></div>", {
@@ -157,7 +157,6 @@ 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)
@@ -181,10 +180,7 @@ test("receiver failure is a scope-owned notification, not pre-shell layout", asy
     };
   };
   window.__TAURI_INTERNALS__ = {
-    invoke: async () => {
-      if (storageAvailable) return;
-      throw new Error("fixture: storage unavailable");
-    },
+    invoke: async () => {},
   };
   const root = createRoot(document.getElementById("root"));
   const scope = { owner: "owner", community: "wss://one.example" };
@@ -201,14 +197,18 @@ test("receiver failure is a scope-owned notification, not pre-shell layout", asy
       0,
       "startup must not render in-flow failure UI",
     );
+    assert.equal(warnings().length, 0);
+    await React.act(async () =>
+      readiness("closed", { classification: "terminal", retryAfterMs: 0 }),
+    );
     assert.equal(warnings().length, 1);
     assert.equal(
       warnings()[0].title,
-      "Desktop lifecycle receiver is unavailable (projection: request failed).",
+      "Desktop lifecycle receiver subscription closed. Retry the receiver to accept new requests.",
     );
     assert.equal(warnings()[0].duration, Infinity);
     assert.equal(warnings()[0].closeButton, true);
-    readiness("closed");
+    readiness("closed", { classification: "terminal", retryAfterMs: 0 });
     assert.equal(
       warnings().length,
       1,
@@ -216,7 +216,6 @@ test("receiver failure is a scope-owned notification, not pre-shell layout", asy
     );
     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(
@@ -230,7 +229,7 @@ test("receiver failure is a scope-owned notification, not pre-shell layout", asy
       ),
     );
     assert.equal(warnings().length, 0, "leaving the scope removes its warning");
-    readiness("closed");
+    readiness("closed", { classification: "terminal", retryAfterMs: 0 });
     assert.equal(
       warnings().length,
       0,
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/agents/ui/DesktopLifecycleControl.tsx b/desktop/src/features/agents/ui/DesktopLifecycleControl.tsx
index 0b6b63d67b..8212eb7258 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/agents/ui/DesktopLifecycleControl.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/agents/ui/DesktopLifecycleControl.tsx
@@ -3,13 +3,9 @@ import { toast } from "sonner";
 import { Button } from "@/shared/ui/button";
 import type { RelayEvent } from "@/shared/api/types";
 import type { DesktopRow, DesktopScope } from "../desktopList";
-import {
-  lifecycleClient,
-  receiveLifecycle,
-  type LifecycleOutcome,
-} from "../desktopLifecycle";
+import { lifecycleClient, type LifecycleOutcome } from "../desktopLifecycle";
+import { ownLifecycleReceiver } from "../desktopLifecycleReceiver";
 import { useRelayAgentsQuery } from "../hooks";
-import { receiverErrorMessage } from "../desktopLifecycleDiagnostics";
 
 export function DesktopLifecycleReceiver({
   scope,
@@ -21,7 +17,7 @@ export function DesktopLifecycleReceiver({
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!owner || !community) return;
     let active = true;
-    let close: (() => void) | undefined;
+    let stop = () => {};
     let notification: string | number | undefined;
     const reportError = (message: string) => {
       if (!active) return;
@@ -37,32 +33,18 @@ export function DesktopLifecycleReceiver({
           onClick: () => {
             if (!active) return;
             active = false;
-            close?.();
+            stop();
             retry(attempt + 1);
           },
         },
       });
     };
-    void receiveLifecycle(
-      { owner, community },
-      () => active,
-      reportError,
-      undefined,
-      undefined,
-      () => {
-        if (active && notification !== undefined) toast.dismiss(notification);
-      },
-    )
-      .then((fn) => {
-        if (active) close = fn;
-        else fn();
-      })
-      .catch((error) => {
-        reportError(receiverErrorMessage(error));
-      });
+    stop = ownLifecycleReceiver({ owner, community }, reportError, () => {
+      if (active && notification !== undefined) toast.dismiss(notification);
+    });
     return () => {
       active = false;
-      close?.();
+      stop();
       if (notification !== undefined) toast.dismiss(notification);
     };
   }, [owner, community, attempt]);
diff --git a/desktop/src/shared/api/relayClientSession.ts b/desktop/src/shared/api/relayClientSession.ts
index a7c0bded02..5ba009e647 100644
--- a/desktop/src/shared/api/relayClientSession.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/shared/api/relayClientSession.ts
@@ -164,6 +164,12 @@ export class RelayClient {
         sub.reject(error);
       } else {
         clearClosedRetry(sub);
+        sub.resolveReady?.("closed");
+        sub.onState?.("closed", {
+          classification: "terminal",
+          retryAfterMs: 0,
+        });
+        sub.resolveReady = undefined;
       }
       this.subscriptions.delete(subId);
     }
@@ -635,19 +641,23 @@ export class RelayClient {
       resolveReady("timeout");
     }, readinessTimeoutMs);
 
-    this.subscriptions.set(subId, {
+    const subscription: Extract<RelaySubscription, { mode: "live" }> = {
       mode: "live",
       filter,
       onEvent,
       resolveReady,
       onState: options.onState,
       closedRecovery: options.closedRecovery ?? "shared",
-    });
+    };
+    this.subscriptions.set(subId, subscription);
 
     try {
       await this.sendRawWithReconnectRetry(
         ["REQ", subId, filter],
         "Failed to restore relay subscription.",
+        () =>
+          subscription.closedRecovery !== "explicit" ||
+          this.subscriptions.get(subId) === subscription,
       );
     } catch (error) {
       window.clearTimeout(fallbackTimeout);
@@ -709,6 +719,7 @@ export class RelayClient {
   private async sendRawWithReconnectRetry(
     payload: unknown[],
     fallbackMessage: string,
+    retryStillOwned: () => boolean = () => true,
   ) {
     try {
       await this.sendRaw(payload);
@@ -717,8 +728,13 @@ export class RelayClient {
         error,
         fallbackMessage,
       );
+      // resetConnection may retire an explicit subscription synchronously.
+      // Never put its now-ownerless REQ onto the replacement connection;
+      // shared subscriptions retain their existing reconnect retry behavior.
+      if (!retryStillOwned()) throw normalizedError;
       try {
         await this.ensureConnected();
+        if (!retryStillOwned()) throw normalizedError;
         await this.sendRaw(payload);
       } catch (retryError) {
         throw this.recoverFromSocketFailure(
@@ -1077,7 +1093,10 @@ export class RelayClient {
         continue;
       }
       subscription.resolveReady?.("closed");
-      subscription.onState?.("closed");
+      subscription.onState?.("closed", {
+        classification: options?.reconnect === false ? "terminal" : "retryable",
+        retryAfterMs: 0,
+      });
       subscription.resolveReady = undefined;
       clearClosedRetry(subscription);
       if (subscription.closedRecovery === "explicit") {
diff --git a/desktop/src/shared/api/relayClientShared.ts b/desktop/src/shared/api/relayClientShared.ts
index 925c74b573..09064dc627 100644
--- a/desktop/src/shared/api/relayClientShared.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/shared/api/relayClientShared.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import type { RelayEvent } from "@/shared/api/types";
+import type { RelayClosedClass } from "@/shared/api/relayClosedPolicy";
 
 /**
  * Observable connection state for the relay singleton.
@@ -70,16 +71,26 @@ type FirstEventSubscription = {
 
 export type LiveSubscriptionReadiness = "eose" | "closed" | "timeout";
 
+export type LiveSubscriptionClosedRecovery = {
+  classification: RelayClosedClass;
+  /** Minimum delay before the owner creates a fresh subscription. */
+  retryAfterMs: number;
+};
+
 /**
  * Optional lifecycle policy for a live subscription.
  *
  * Most subscriptions keep the shared reconnect/CLOSED recovery behavior. A
  * command receiver can instead request explicit recovery: every CLOSED retires
- * that subscription and `onState` remains observable after initial EOSE so the
- * owning UI can offer a deliberate fresh subscription.
+ * that subscription and `onState` remains observable after initial EOSE. The
+ * owner receives only a safe recovery class/delay and decides whether to create
+ * a fresh subscription or require deliberate retry.
  */
 export type LiveSubscriptionOptions = {
-  onState?: (state: LiveSubscriptionReadiness) => void;
+  onState?: (
+    state: LiveSubscriptionReadiness,
+    closed?: LiveSubscriptionClosedRecovery,
+  ) => void;
   closedRecovery?: "shared" | "explicit";
 };
 
@@ -88,7 +99,10 @@ type LiveSubscription = {
   filter: RelaySubscriptionFilter;
   onEvent: (event: RelayEvent) => void;
   resolveReady?: (readiness: LiveSubscriptionReadiness) => void;
-  onState?: (state: LiveSubscriptionReadiness) => void;
+  onState?: (
+    state: LiveSubscriptionReadiness,
+    closed?: LiveSubscriptionClosedRecovery,
+  ) => void;
   closedRecovery: "shared" | "explicit";
   lastSeenCreatedAt?: number;
   /**
diff --git a/desktop/src/shared/api/relayClosedRecovery.ts b/desktop/src/shared/api/relayClosedRecovery.ts
index 8f1a68287d..d249bf2406 100644
--- a/desktop/src/shared/api/relayClosedRecovery.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/shared/api/relayClosedRecovery.ts
@@ -123,10 +123,6 @@ function recoverLiveSubscriptionFromClosed({
   message: string;
   sendReq: (subId: string, filter: RelaySubscriptionFilter) => Promise<void>;
 }) {
-  subscription.resolveReady?.("closed");
-  subscription.onState?.("closed");
-  subscription.resolveReady = undefined;
-
   const closedClass = classifyRelayClosed(message);
 
   if (closedClass === "rate-limited") {
@@ -134,6 +130,13 @@ function recoverLiveSubscriptionFromClosed({
     activateRateLimit(hintSeconds);
   }
 
+  subscription.resolveReady?.("closed");
+  subscription.onState?.("closed", {
+    classification: closedClass,
+    retryAfterMs: closedClass === "rate-limited" ? rateLimitRemainingMs() : 0,
+  });
+  subscription.resolveReady = undefined;
+
   if (subscription.closedRecovery === "explicit") {
     // Command receivers must not survive CLOSED into shared re-subscription.
     // Their owner presents an explicit fresh-receiver action instead.
diff --git a/desktop/src/shared/api/relayLiveSubscriptionState.test.mjs b/desktop/src/shared/api/relayLiveSubscriptionState.test.mjs
index 587bfae1f2..a52d408bec 100644
--- a/desktop/src/shared/api/relayLiveSubscriptionState.test.mjs
+++ b/desktop/src/shared/api/relayLiveSubscriptionState.test.mjs
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ let fakeNow = 0;
 let nextTimerId = 1;
 const pendingTimers = new Map();
 const sentFrames = [];
+const sendAttempts = [];
+let failNextSend = false;
 
 globalThis.window = {
   setTimeout: (fn, ms) => {
@@ -15,7 +17,14 @@ globalThis.window = {
   clearTimeout: (id) => pendingTimers.delete(id),
   __TAURI_INTERNALS__: {
     invoke: async (command, args) => {
-      if (command === "plugin:websocket|send") sentFrames.push(args);
+      if (command === "plugin:websocket|send") {
+        sendAttempts.push(args);
+        if (failNextSend) {
+          failNextSend = false;
+          throw new Error("fixture first send failed");
+        }
+        sentFrames.push(args);
+      }
     },
   },
 };
@@ -30,6 +39,8 @@ function resetHarness() {
   nextTimerId = 1;
   pendingTimers.clear();
   sentFrames.length = 0;
+  sendAttempts.length = 0;
+  failNextSend = false;
   resetRateLimitGate();
 }
 
@@ -117,17 +128,21 @@ test("persistent state reports timeout, late EOSE, then CLOSED through RelayClie
   await close();
 });
 
-for (const [label, message] of [
-  ["terminal", "restricted: access revoked"],
-  ["retryable", "error: storage temporarily unavailable"],
+for (const [label, message, classification] of [
+  ["terminal", "restricted: access revoked", "terminal"],
+  ["retryable", "error: storage temporarily unavailable", "retryable"],
 ]) {
   test(`explicit recovery retires an EOSE-ready ${label} CLOSED without re-REQ`, async () => {
     resetHarness();
     const client = connectedClient();
     const states = [];
+    const recoveries = [];
     const { opened, subId } = await openLive(client, {
       closedRecovery: "explicit",
-      onState: (state) => states.push(state),
+      onState: (state, recovery) => {
+        states.push(state);
+        if (recovery) recoveries.push(recovery);
+      },
     });
     await deliver(client, ["EOSE", subId]);
     const close = await opened;
@@ -137,6 +152,7 @@ for (const [label, message] of [
     await Promise.resolve();
 
     assert.deepEqual(states, ["eose", "closed"]);
+    assert.deepEqual(recoveries, [{ classification, retryAfterMs: 0 }]);
     assert.equal(client.subscriptions.has(subId), false);
     assert.equal(sentProtocolFrames("REQ").length, 1);
     await close();
@@ -173,6 +189,112 @@ test("connection reset reports CLOSED and retires only explicit-recovery subscri
   client.disconnect();
 });
 
+test("disconnect reports terminal CLOSED before retiring an explicit subscription", async () => {
+  resetHarness();
+  const client = connectedClient();
+  const states = [];
+  const recoveries = [];
+  const explicit = await openLive(client, {
+    closedRecovery: "explicit",
+    onState: (state, recovery) => {
+      states.push(state);
+      if (recovery) recoveries.push(recovery);
+    },
+  });
+  await deliver(client, ["EOSE", explicit.subId]);
+  await explicit.opened;
+
+  client.disconnect();
+
+  assert.deepEqual(states, ["eose", "closed"]);
+  assert.deepEqual(recoveries, [
+    { classification: "terminal", retryAfterMs: 0 },
+  ]);
+  assert.equal(client.subscriptions.has(explicit.subId), false);
+});
+
+test("explicit rate-limited CLOSED exposes only classified recovery and gate delay", async () => {
+  resetHarness();
+  const client = connectedClient();
+  let recovery;
+  const explicit = await openLive(client, {
+    closedRecovery: "explicit",
+    onState: (state, detail) => {
+      if (state === "closed") recovery = detail;
+    },
+  });
+  await deliver(client, ["EOSE", explicit.subId]);
+  await explicit.opened;
+
+  await deliver(client, [
+    "CLOSED",
+    explicit.subId,
+    "rate-limited: private relay detail; retry in 4s",
+  ]);
+
+  assert.deepEqual(recovery, {
+    classification: "rate-limited",
+    retryAfterMs: 4_000,
+  });
+  assert.equal(
+    JSON.stringify(recovery).includes("private relay detail"),
+    false,
+    "raw relay payload must not cross the recovery contract",
+  );
+});
+
+test("explicit retirement during first send failure prevents a fresh ownerless REQ", async () => {
+  resetHarness();
+  const client = connectedClient();
+  let ensureCalls = 0;
+  client.ensureConnected = async () => {
+    ensureCalls++;
+    if (ensureCalls > 1) client.wsId = 8;
+    return client.connectionGeneration;
+  };
+  failNextSend = true;
+
+  await assert.rejects(
+    client.subscribeLive(
+      { kinds: [50182], authors: ["owner"], limit: 0 },
+      () => {},
+      undefined,
+      5_000,
+      { closedRecovery: "explicit" },
+    ),
+    /fixture first send failed/,
+  );
+
+  assert.equal(
+    ensureCalls,
+    1,
+    "retired subscription must not reconnect to retry",
+  );
+  assert.equal(sendAttempts.length, 1);
+  assert.equal(sentProtocolFrames("REQ").length, 0);
+  assert.equal(client.subscriptions.size, 0);
+});
+
+test("ordinary subscription still retries its first failed send", async () => {
+  resetHarness();
+  const client = connectedClient();
+  let ensureCalls = 0;
+  client.ensureConnected = async () => {
+    ensureCalls++;
+    if (ensureCalls > 1) client.wsId = 8;
+    return client.connectionGeneration;
+  };
+  failNextSend = true;
+
+  const close = await client.subscribeLive({ kinds: [9], limit: 0 }, () => {});
+
+  assert.equal(ensureCalls, 2);
+  assert.equal(sendAttempts.length, 2);
+  assert.equal(sentProtocolFrames("REQ").length, 1);
+  await close();
+  client.disconnect();
+});
+
 test("default live subscribers retain shared retry after retryable CLOSED", async () => {
   resetHarness();
   const client = connectedClient();
diff --git a/desktop/tests/e2e/top-chrome-zoom-clearance.spec.ts b/desktop/tests/e2e/top-chrome-zoom-clearance.spec.ts
index 97d6b69cb1..5a49175d08 100644
--- a/desktop/tests/e2e/top-chrome-zoom-clearance.spec.ts
+++ b/desktop/tests/e2e/top-chrome-zoom-clearance.spec.ts
@@ -116,10 +116,11 @@ test.describe("top chrome macOS traffic-light clearance under text zoom", () =>
     });
     await page.goto("/");
     // A failed global receiver must remain visible without entering the shell's
-    // layout flow. This also forces the error to settle before measuring chrome.
+    // layout flow. Wait through its bounded 1s/2s/4s recovery budget before
+    // measuring chrome; an intermediate transient failure need not notify.
     await expect(
       page.getByText(/Desktop lifecycle receiver is unavailable/),
-    ).toBeVisible();
+    ).toBeVisible({ timeout: 15_000 });
 
     // Lock the native and webview placements together: removing this explicit
     // Tauri inset or shifting the nav row regresses the macOS chrome alignment.