diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/session-row.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/session-row.tsx
index ff4cafa361dc..99bd7c509b73 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/session-row.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/app/chat/sidebar/session-row.tsx
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import { triggerHaptic } from '@/lib/haptics'
 import { handoffOriginSource, sessionSourceLabel } from '@/lib/session-source'
 import { coarseElapsed } from '@/lib/time'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
-import { $attentionSessionIds } from '@/store/session'
+import { $attentionSessionIds, $unreadFinishedSessionIds } from '@/store/session'
 import { openSessionTile } from '@/store/session-states'
 import { canOpenSessionWindow, openSessionInNewWindow } from '@/store/windows'
 
@@ -75,10 +75,11 @@ export function SidebarSessionRow({
   // Telegram thread continued here still reads as Telegram.
   const handoffSource = handoffOriginSource(session.handoff_state, session.handoff_platform)
   const handoffLabel = handoffSource ? (sessionSourceLabel(handoffSource) ?? handoffSource) : null
-  // Subscribe per-row (the leaf) instead of drilling a set through the list —
-  // the atom is tiny and rarely non-empty. True when a clarify prompt in this
-  // session is waiting on the user.
+  // True when a clarify prompt in this session is waiting on the user.
   const needsInput = useStore($attentionSessionIds).includes(session.id)
+  // True when the session's most recent turn finished in the background (while
+  // the user was viewing a different session) and hasn't been opened since.
+  const isUnread = useStore($unreadFinishedSessionIds).includes(session.id)
 
   return (
     <SessionContextMenu
@@ -211,11 +212,12 @@ export function SidebarSessionRow({
                 className="transition-opacity group-hover/handle:opacity-0 group-focus-within/handle:opacity-0"
                 isWorking={isWorking}
                 needsInput={needsInput}
+                isUnread={isUnread}
               />
             </SidebarRowGrab>
           ) : (
             <SidebarRowLead className={needsInput ? 'overflow-visible' : 'overflow-hidden'}>
-              <SessionRowLeadDot branchStem={branchStem} isWorking={isWorking} needsInput={needsInput} />
+              <SessionRowLeadDot branchStem={branchStem} isWorking={isWorking} needsInput={needsInput} isUnread={isUnread} />
             </SidebarRowLead>
           )}
           {handoffSource && handoffLabel ? (
@@ -240,11 +242,13 @@ function SessionRowLeadDot({
   branchStem,
   isWorking,
   needsInput = false,
+  isUnread = false,
   className
 }: {
   branchStem?: string
   isWorking: boolean
   needsInput?: boolean
+  isUnread?: boolean
   className?: string
 }) {
   return (
@@ -254,7 +258,7 @@ function SessionRowLeadDot({
           {branchStem}
         </span>
       ) : null}
-      <SidebarRowDot isWorking={isWorking} needsInput={needsInput} />
+      <SidebarRowDot isWorking={isWorking} needsInput={needsInput} isUnread={isUnread} />
     </span>
   )
 }
@@ -262,10 +266,12 @@ function SessionRowLeadDot({
 function SidebarRowDot({
   isWorking,
   needsInput = false,
+  isUnread = false,
   className
 }: {
   isWorking: boolean
   needsInput?: boolean
+  isUnread?: boolean
   className?: string
 }) {
   const { t } = useI18n()
@@ -286,6 +292,21 @@ function SidebarRowDot({
     )
   }
 
+  // "Unread finished" wins over the default gray dot: a background session's
+  // turn completed and the user hasn't opened it since. Steady green (no pulse)
+  // reads as "something new here, go look" — distinct from the live accent
+  // pulse of a running turn.
+  if (isUnread) {
+    return (
+      <span
+        aria-label={r.finishedUnread}
+        className={cn('size-1.5 rounded-full bg-emerald-500', className)}
+        role="status"
+        title={r.finishedUnread}
+      />
+    )
+  }
+
   return (
     <span
       aria-label={isWorking ? r.sessionRunning : undefined}
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/app/session-switcher.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/app/session-switcher.tsx
index 21bd6b801855..53926209cef9 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/app/session-switcher.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/app/session-switcher.tsx
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import { useNavigate } from 'react-router-dom'
 
 import { sessionTitle } from '@/lib/chat-runtime'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
-import { $attentionSessionIds, $workingSessionIds } from '@/store/session'
+import { $attentionSessionIds, $unreadFinishedSessionIds, $workingSessionIds } from '@/store/session'
 import { $switcherIndex, $switcherOpen, $switcherSessions, closeSwitcher } from '@/store/session-switcher'
 
 import { HUD_ITEM, HUD_POSITION, HUD_SURFACE, HUD_TEXT } from './floating-hud'
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ export function SessionSwitcher() {
   const index = useStore($switcherIndex)
   const working = useStore($workingSessionIds)
   const attention = useStore($attentionSessionIds)
+  const unread = useStore($unreadFinishedSessionIds)
   const navigate = useNavigate()
 
   const activeRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null)
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@ export function SessionSwitcher() {
 
   const workingIds = new Set(working)
   const attentionIds = new Set(attention)
+  const unreadIds = new Set(unread)
 
   const pick = (sessionId: string) => {
     closeSwitcher()
@@ -74,7 +76,7 @@ export function SessionSwitcher() {
               }}
               ref={selected ? activeRef : undefined}
             >
-              <SwitcherDot attention={attentionIds.has(session.id)} working={workingIds.has(session.id)} />
+              <SwitcherDot attention={attentionIds.has(session.id)} working={workingIds.has(session.id)} unread={unreadIds.has(session.id)} />
               <span className="min-w-0 flex-1 truncate">{sessionTitle(session)}</span>
               {i < 9 && (
                 <span
@@ -95,12 +97,18 @@ export function SessionSwitcher() {
   )
 }
 
-function SwitcherDot({ attention, working }: { attention: boolean; working: boolean }) {
+function SwitcherDot({ attention, working, unread }: { attention: boolean; working: boolean; unread: boolean }) {
   return (
     <span
       className={cn(
         'size-1 shrink-0 rounded-full',
-        attention ? 'bg-amber-400' : working ? 'animate-pulse bg-(--ui-accent)' : 'bg-(--ui-text-quaternary)/50'
+        attention
+          ? 'bg-amber-400'
+          : working
+            ? 'animate-pulse bg-(--ui-accent)'
+            : unread
+              ? 'bg-emerald-500'
+              : 'bg-(--ui-text-quaternary)/50'
       )}
     />
   )
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/en.ts b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/en.ts
index 078364e7ec01..00a799e31023 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/en.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/en.ts
@@ -1655,6 +1655,7 @@ export const en: Translations = {
       sessionRunning: 'Session running',
       needsInput: 'Needs your input',
       waitingForAnswer: 'Waiting for your answer',
+      finishedUnread: 'Finished — unread',
       handoffOrigin: platform => `Handed off from ${platform}`,
       renamed: 'Renamed',
       renameFailed: 'Rename failed',
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/ja.ts b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/ja.ts
index 24b09aa1a2ef..1cb2f86e1655 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/ja.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/ja.ts
@@ -1573,6 +1573,7 @@ export const ja = defineLocale({
       sessionRunning: 'セッション実行中',
       needsInput: '入力が必要です',
       waitingForAnswer: '回答を待っています',
+      finishedUnread: '完了 — 未読',
       handoffOrigin: platform => `${platform} から引き継ぎ`,
       renamed: '名前を変更しました',
       renameFailed: '名前の変更に失敗しました',
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/types.ts b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/types.ts
index 8c1ac74b5cb6..35a30da7579e 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/types.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/types.ts
@@ -1378,6 +1378,7 @@ export interface Translations {
       sessionRunning: string
       needsInput: string
       waitingForAnswer: string
+      finishedUnread: string
       handoffOrigin: (platform: string) => string
       renamed: string
       renameFailed: string
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/zh-hant.ts b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/zh-hant.ts
index 1897d225bc38..31a72122e84e 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/zh-hant.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/zh-hant.ts
@@ -1523,6 +1523,7 @@ export const zhHant = defineLocale({
       sessionRunning: '工作階段執行中',
       needsInput: '需要您的輸入',
       waitingForAnswer: '等待您的回答',
+      finishedUnread: '已完成 — 未讀',
       handoffOrigin: platform => `從 ${platform} 轉接`,
       renamed: '已重新命名',
       renameFailed: '重新命名失敗',
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/zh.ts b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/zh.ts
index aefcaf47ef77..f97cd27a5036 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/i18n/zh.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/i18n/zh.ts
@@ -1831,6 +1831,7 @@ export const zh: Translations = {
       sessionRunning: '会话运行中',
       needsInput: '需要你输入',
       waitingForAnswer: '正在等待你的回答',
+      finishedUnread: '已完成 — 未读',
       handoffOrigin: platform => `从 ${platform} 转接`,
       renamed: '已重命名',
       renameFailed: '重命名失败',
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/store/gateway-switch.ts b/apps/desktop/src/store/gateway-switch.ts
index 27f9f952f67c..e728d57d46f0 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/store/gateway-switch.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/store/gateway-switch.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import {
   setSessions,
   setSessionsLoading,
   setSessionsTotal,
+  setUnreadFinishedSessionIds,
   setWorkingSessionIds
 } from '@/store/session'
 
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@ export function wipeSessionListsForGatewaySwitch(): void {
   setMessagingTruncated(false)
   setWorkingSessionIds([])
   setAttentionSessionIds([])
+  setUnreadFinishedSessionIds([])
   setSessionsLoading(true)
   resetSessionsLimit()
 
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/store/session.test.ts b/apps/desktop/src/store/session.test.ts
index 013ad0efd480..7ff12111e70d 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/store/session.test.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/store/session.test.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
 
 import type { SessionInfo } from '@/types/hermes'
 
@@ -7,12 +7,14 @@ import {
   $attentionSessionIds,
   $connection,
   $currentCwd,
+  $unreadFinishedSessionIds,
   $workingSessionIds,
   applyConfiguredDefaultProjectDir,
   getRecentlySettledSessionIds,
   mergeSessionPage,
   sessionPinId,
   setCurrentCwd,
+  setSelectedStoredSessionId,
   setSessionAttention,
   setSessionWorking,
   workspaceCwdForNewSession
@@ -297,3 +299,48 @@ describe('getRecentlySettledSessionIds', () => {
     expect(getRecentlySettledSessionIds()).toEqual([])
   })
 })
+
+describe('unread finished sessions', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    $unreadFinishedSessionIds.set([])
+    $workingSessionIds.set([])
+    setSelectedStoredSessionId(() => null)
+  })
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    $workingSessionIds.set([])
+    $unreadFinishedSessionIds.set([])
+    setSelectedStoredSessionId(() => null)
+  })
+
+  it('marks a session unread when its turn finishes in the background', () => {
+    setSelectedStoredSessionId(() => 'other-session')
+    setSessionWorking('s1', true)
+    setSessionWorking('s1', false)
+    expect($unreadFinishedSessionIds.get()).toEqual(['s1'])
+  })
+
+  it('does NOT mark unread when the finishing session is the active one', () => {
+    setSelectedStoredSessionId(() => 's1')
+    setSessionWorking('s1', true)
+    setSessionWorking('s1', false)
+    expect($unreadFinishedSessionIds.get()).toEqual([])
+  })
+
+  it('does NOT mark unread on idle→idle re-asserts (no prior working state)', () => {
+    setSelectedStoredSessionId(() => 'other-session')
+    setSessionWorking('s1', false)
+    setSessionWorking('s1', false)
+    expect($unreadFinishedSessionIds.get()).toEqual([])
+  })
+
+  it('clears unread when the user opens the session', () => {
+    setSelectedStoredSessionId(() => 'other')
+    setSessionWorking('s1', true)
+    setSessionWorking('s1', false)
+    expect($unreadFinishedSessionIds.get()).toEqual(['s1'])
+
+    setSelectedStoredSessionId(() => 's1')
+    expect($unreadFinishedSessionIds.get()).toEqual([])
+  })
+})
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/store/session.ts b/apps/desktop/src/store/session.ts
index 2ac8085838ac..47e10adde8cf 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/store/session.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/store/session.ts
@@ -319,7 +319,14 @@ export const setSessionProfileTotals = (next: Updater<Record<string, number>>) =
 export const setSessionsLoading = (next: Updater<boolean>) => updateAtom($sessionsLoading, next)
 export const setWorkingSessionIds = (next: Updater<string[]>) => updateAtom($workingSessionIds, next)
 export const setActiveSessionId = (next: Updater<string | null>) => updateAtom($activeSessionId, next)
-export const setSelectedStoredSessionId = (next: Updater<string | null>) => updateAtom($selectedStoredSessionId, next)
+export const setSelectedStoredSessionId = (next: Updater<string | null>) => {
+  updateAtom($selectedStoredSessionId, next)
+  // Opening a session clears its unread state — the user is now looking at it.
+  const id = $selectedStoredSessionId.get()
+  if (id && $unreadFinishedSessionIds.get().includes(id)) {
+    toggleMembership(setUnreadFinishedSessionIds, id, false)
+  }
+}
 export const setMessages = (next: Updater<ChatMessage[]>) => updateAtom($messages, next)
 export const setFreshDraftReady = (next: Updater<boolean>) => updateAtom($freshDraftReady, next)
 export const setResumeFailedSessionId = (next: Updater<string | null>) => updateAtom($resumeFailedSessionId, next)
@@ -512,6 +519,14 @@ const toggleMembership = (set: (next: Updater<string[]>) => void, id: string, on
     return present ? current.filter(x => x !== id) : current
   })
 
+// Stored session ids whose most recent turn finished while the user was
+// looking at a different session. The sidebar renders a steady green dot for
+// these so the user can tab back and find newly-completed work. Cleared on
+// session open (setSelectedStoredSessionId) and on gateway-mode wipe.
+export const $unreadFinishedSessionIds = atom<string[]>([])
+export const setUnreadFinishedSessionIds = (next: Updater<string[]>) =>
+  updateAtom($unreadFinishedSessionIds, next)
+
 // Stored session ids with a blocking prompt (clarify) waiting on the user.
 // Separate from $workingSessionIds: a session can be "working" (turn running)
 // AND need input. The sidebar row reads this for a persistent indicator that,
@@ -548,6 +563,12 @@ export function setSessionWorking(sessionId: string | null | undefined, working:
     // aggregator to return its now-persisted row.
     if (wasWorking) {
       markSessionSettled(sessionId)
+
+      // Mark unread when a background session finishes — only if the user
+      // isn't currently viewing it. The active session's finish is seen live.
+      if (sessionId !== $selectedStoredSessionId.get()) {
+        toggleMembership(setUnreadFinishedSessionIds, sessionId, true)
+      }
     }
   }
 }