diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/plugins/hermes-bots/plugin.js b/apps/desktop/src/plugins/hermes-bots/plugin.js
index f8b8a1d58a..02e0aa4417 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/plugins/hermes-bots/plugin.js
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/plugins/hermes-bots/plugin.js
@@ -2151,8 +2151,10 @@ function PetTab({ image, onImage }) {
 let serverInjectsProtocol = false
 
 function useRoster() {
+  const activeConnectionId = useValue(host.state.connectionId)
+
   return useQuery({
-    queryKey: ROSTER_KEY,
+    queryKey: [...ROSTER_KEY, activeConnectionId],
     queryFn: async () => {
       // Rich rows (last_session, ui_meta, has_avatar) come from the ACTIVE
       // gateway's profiles.list — unchanged single-source behavior.
@@ -2170,7 +2172,7 @@ function useRoster() {
       if (typeof host.agents === 'function') {
         try {
           const union = await host.agents()
-          return mergeMultiSourceRoster(local, union, liveActiveConnectionId())
+          return mergeMultiSourceRoster(local, union, activeConnectionId)
         } catch {
           /* older build or roster failure — single-source list stands */
         }
@@ -2187,53 +2189,42 @@ function useRoster() {
   })
 }
 
-/** Registry connection id of the LIVE active gateway (feature-detected;
- *  null on older desktops or the local/legacy primary path). Live beats the
- *  roster's primaryConnectionId when the user has activated a non-primary
- *  source's agent — profiles.list answers from THAT source, so the merge
- *  must classify against it, not the registry's primary. */
-function liveActiveConnectionId() {
-  if (typeof host.activeConnectionId !== 'function') {
-    return null
-  }
-
-  try {
-    return host.activeConnectionId()
-  } catch {
-    return null
-  }
-}
-
 /** Merge the union agent roster (host.agents) over the active gateway's
- *  profiles.list. Rows from the ACTIVE gateway are matched by connection id
- *  and only ANNOTATED (handle, connectionId) — their rich fields stay
- *  authoritative and they are NOT duplicated. The active id prefers the LIVE
- *  host.activeConnectionId() (the gateway may be a non-primary source after
- *  the user opens another connection's agent), falls back to the roster's
- *  primaryConnectionId, then to the legacy kind==='local' rule on older
- *  desktops. Rows from other sources become new roster entries tagged with
- *  their source label so BotRow can badge them and route open/warm through
+ *  profiles.list. Active-source rows — matched by the LIVE connection id,
+ *  falling back to the roster's primaryConnectionId, then the legacy
+ *  kind==='local' rule on older desktops — are the agents profiles.list
+ *  already returned: they only ANNOTATE the rich rows (handle, connection
+ *  fields); rich fields stay authoritative and they are NOT duplicated.
+ *  Rows from other sources become new roster entries tagged with their
+ *  source label so BotRow can badge them and route open/warm through
  *  ensureAgent/warmAgent. Pure — exercised directly by the tests. */
-function mergeMultiSourceRoster(local, union, liveActiveId = null) {
-  // Keep the first rich local row for every profile. profiles.list is normally
-  // unique, but a duplicated backend response must not turn one agent into an
-  // unbounded list of visually identical Bots rows.
-  const profiles = []
-  const localByName = new Map()
+function mergeMultiSourceRoster(local, union, activeConnectionId = null) {
+  const localProfiles = Array.isArray(local?.profiles) ? local.profiles : []
+  const agents = Array.isArray(union?.agents) ? union.agents : []
+  const activeId = String(activeConnectionId || union?.primaryConnectionId || '').trim()
+  const activeByName = new Map()
 
-  for (const profile of Array.isArray(local?.profiles) ? local.profiles : []) {
+  // Treat the rich list as one row per active-source profile. Clone every
+  // row: some gateway clients reuse response objects, and annotating those in
+  // place made each five-second refresh feed the previous union back into the
+  // next merge, growing duplicate source rows indefinitely.
+  for (const profile of localProfiles) {
     const name = String(profile?.name || '').trim()
 
-    if (!name || localByName.has(name)) {
+    if (!name || profile?.remoteSource) {
       continue
     }
 
-    localByName.set(name, profile)
-    profiles.push(profile)
+    if (profile?.sourceScoped && activeId && profile.connectionId !== activeId) {
+      continue
+    }
+
+    if (!activeByName.has(name)) {
+      activeByName.set(name, { ...profile, name })
+    }
   }
 
-  const agents = Array.isArray(union?.agents) ? union.agents : []
-  const primaryId = String(liveActiveId || union?.primaryConnectionId || '').trim()
+  const profiles = [...activeByName.values()]
 
   if (!agents.length) {
     return { ...local, profiles }
@@ -2242,39 +2233,42 @@ function mergeMultiSourceRoster(local, union, liveActiveId = null) {
   // host.agents is an Electron/main-process capability. Defend the plugin
   // boundary too: older shells or reconnect races can still hand us repeated
   // identities even after the core roster deduplicates them.
-  const seenAgentIdentities = new Set()
+  const seenSources = new Set()
 
   for (const agent of agents) {
     const profile = String(agent?.profile || '').trim()
     const connectionId = String(agent?.connectionId || '').trim()
-    const identity = `${connectionId}\0${profile}`
+    const sourceKey = `${connectionId}::${profile || 'default'}`
 
-    if (!profile || seenAgentIdentities.has(identity)) {
+    if (!profile || seenSources.has(sourceKey)) {
       continue
     }
 
-    seenAgentIdentities.add(identity)
+    seenSources.add(sourceKey)
 
     // The union enumerates EVERY registered connection, including the active
     // gateway that already answered profiles.list. Without this the active
     // gateway's own agents (connectionKind 'remote' on a remote-primary
     // desktop) would be appended as phantom duplicates — every bot listed
-    // twice. Older Electron builds predate primaryConnectionId; fall back to
+    // twice. Older Electron builds predate the connection ids; fall back to
     // the legacy local-source rule so single-source behavior stays intact.
-    const isPrimarySource = primaryId ? connectionId === primaryId : agent.connectionKind === 'local'
-    const row = isPrimarySource ? localByName.get(profile) : null
+    const isActiveSource = activeId ? connectionId === activeId : agent.connectionKind === 'local'
+    const row = isActiveSource ? activeByName.get(profile) : null
 
     if (row) {
       // Annotate in place: the @name-device handle only differs from the
       // bare name when the profile exists on several sources.
       row.handle = agent.handle
       row.connectionId = agent.connectionId
+      row.connectionKind = agent.connectionKind
+      row.connectionLabel = agent.connectionLabel
+      row.sourceScoped = true
       continue
     }
 
-    if (isPrimarySource) {
-      // Union saw a primary-source profile profiles.list didn't return
-      // (older backend mid-refresh) — skip rather than invent a thin row.
+    if (isActiveSource) {
+      // Union saw an active-source profile profiles.list didn't return (older
+      // backend mid-refresh) — skip rather than invent a thin row.
       continue
     }
 
@@ -2284,22 +2278,14 @@ function mergeMultiSourceRoster(local, union, liveActiveId = null) {
       connectionId,
       connectionKind: agent.connectionKind,
       connectionLabel: agent.connectionLabel,
-      remoteSource: true
+      remoteSource: true,
+      sourceScoped: true
     })
   }
 
   return { ...local, profiles }
 }
 
-/** React list key for a roster row. Names alone are NOT unique in a
- *  multi-source roster (two connections can both expose 'default'); duplicate
- *  keys make React reconciliation repeat whole blocks of the list on every
- *  poll repaint. Annotated ACTIVE-source rows keep the plain-name key so
- *  existing rows don't remount when a desktop gains the union roster. */
-function botRowKey(bot) {
-  return `${bot.remoteSource ? bot.connectionId ?? '' : ''}:${bot.name}`
-}
-
 /** The @handle users tag a bot with. Multi-source rosters precompute the
  *  handle (bare name, or name-device when the profile exists on several
  *  registered sources) — prefer it when present. The primary profile's
@@ -2313,6 +2299,23 @@ function botHandle(name, bot) {
   return (name || '').trim().toLowerCase() === 'default' ? 'hermes' : name
 }
 
+/** Source-qualified identity for a roster row — the React list key AND the
+ *  cross-surface roster identity. Names alone are NOT unique in a
+ *  multi-source roster (two connections can both expose 'default');
+ *  duplicate keys make React reconciliation repeat whole blocks of the list
+ *  on every poll repaint (the Aug 2026 dupe-bots smear). */
+function botRosterKey(bot) {
+  return `${bot?.connectionId || 'legacy'}::${bot?.name || 'default'}`
+}
+
+// Bot metadata is scoped to the active gateway until the server exposes a
+// union of rich profile rows. Never paint that metadata onto a thin row from
+// another source: two `default` agents must not borrow each other's title,
+// pin, avatar, group, unread state, or canonical-chat pointer.
+function botRosterMeta(bot, metaByName) {
+  return bot?.remoteSource ? null : metaByName?.[bot?.name]
+}
+
 function showsHandle(name, meta, bot) {
   const display = displayName({ name }, meta)
   return Boolean(name && display.toLowerCase() !== botHandle(name, bot).toLowerCase())
@@ -2448,7 +2451,40 @@ async function openBotCanonicalChat(name, pinned) {
   }
 }
 
+async function prepareBotSource(bot, pinnedChat) {
+  if (!bot.sourceScoped) {
+    return pinnedChat
+  }
+
+  if (typeof host.ensureAgent !== 'function') {
+    throw new Error('Update Hermes Desktop to chat with agents on other connections.')
+  }
+
+  await host.ensureAgent(bot.connectionId, bot.name)
+
+  if (!bot.remoteSource) {
+    return pinnedChat
+  }
+
+  // Thin rows deliberately omit metadata from the active source. Once their
+  // owner is active, recover that source's canonical-chat pointer so
+  // same-named agents never reuse or overwrite each other's pin.
+  try {
+    const refreshed = await host.request('profiles.list', {})
+    const owner = refreshed?.profiles?.find(profile => profile.name === bot.name)
+
+    return owner?.ui_meta?.['hermes-bots']?.chat || null
+  } catch {
+    // Metadata refresh is best-effort; canonical creation remains the fallback.
+    return null
+  }
+}
+
 function displayName(bot, meta) {
+  if (bot?.sourceScoped && (bot.name || '').trim().toLowerCase() === 'default' && bot.connectionLabel) {
+    return bot.connectionLabel
+  }
+
   if (meta?.title?.trim()) {
     return meta.title.trim()
   }
@@ -2475,7 +2511,7 @@ function filterBots(roster, metaByName, query) {
   }
 
   return roster.filter(bot => {
-    const display = displayName(bot, metaByName[bot.name]).toLowerCase()
+    const display = displayName(bot, botRosterMeta(bot, metaByName)).toLowerCase()
     const profile = (bot.name || '').toLowerCase()
     const handle = botHandle(bot.name, bot).toLowerCase()
     // Multi-source rows also match on their device name ("homelab" finds
@@ -2507,7 +2543,7 @@ function groupRoster(roster, metaByName) {
   const byGroup = new Map()
 
   for (const bot of roster) {
-    const group = (metaByName[bot.name]?.group || '').trim()
+    const group = (botRosterMeta(bot, metaByName)?.group || '').trim()
 
     if (!group) {
       ungrouped.push(bot)
@@ -3211,7 +3247,7 @@ const ACTIVE_WINDOW_S = 90
  *  presence never reorders or hides the normal list. */
 function activeBots(roster, activeProfile, gatewayState, now = Date.now()) {
   return (roster || []).filter(bot => {
-    const busyTurn = bot.name === activeProfile && gatewayState === 'busy'
+    const busyTurn = !bot.remoteSource && bot.name === activeProfile && gatewayState === 'busy'
     const last = bot.last_session?.last_active || 0
     const inWindow = Boolean(last && now / 1000 - last < ACTIVE_WINDOW_S)
 
@@ -3223,9 +3259,9 @@ function activeBots(roster, activeProfile, gatewayState, now = Date.now()) {
 
 function BotRow({ bot, onDelete, onEdit, onGroup }) {
   const activeProfile = useValue(host.state.profile)
-  const meta = useValue($botMeta)[bot.name]
+  const meta = botRosterMeta(bot, useValue($botMeta))
   const last = bot.last_session
-  const isActive = bot.name === activeProfile
+  const isActive = !bot.remoteSource && bot.name === activeProfile
   const { shape, color, image } = botAppearance(bot.name, meta)
   // Keep user photos/pets. Drop the 160px SVG backfill so the math face can move.
   const photo = Boolean(image && !isBackfilledFacePng(image))
@@ -3235,7 +3271,10 @@ function BotRow({ bot, onDelete, onEdit, onGroup }) {
   // profile while the gateway is busy, or a bot that wrote within the
   // liveness window. Not every bot whenever the gateway is busy.
   const botMood = (isActive && gatewayState === 'busy') || activeNow ? 'work' : 'idle'
-  const unread = Boolean(useValue($botUnread)[bot.name])
+  // Subscribe on every render. A source switch turns the same keyed row from
+  // thin to rich; conditionally calling useValue here breaks React hook order.
+  const unreadByName = useValue($botUnread)
+  const unread = !bot.remoteSource && Boolean(unreadByName[bot.name])
   // WHO sent the last message (bot-to-bot DM vs human) — the full stored
   // history lives in the Sessions workspace (context menu), not inline.
   const { fromBot } = previewKind(last?.preview)
@@ -3246,7 +3285,7 @@ function BotRow({ bot, onDelete, onEdit, onGroup }) {
 
   const warm = () => {
     // Multi-source row: pre-dial the agent's OWN source (feature-detected).
-    if (bot.remoteSource && typeof host.warmAgent === 'function') {
+    if (bot.sourceScoped && typeof host.warmAgent === 'function') {
       try {
         host.warmAgent(bot.connectionId, bot.name)
       } catch {
@@ -3270,38 +3309,26 @@ function BotRow({ bot, onDelete, onEdit, onGroup }) {
   const open = async () => {
     haptic('tap')
     $selectedBot.set(bot.name)
+    let pinnedChat = meta?.chat
 
-    if ($botUnread.get()[bot.name]) {
+    if (!bot.remoteSource && $botUnread.get()[bot.name]) {
       const next = { ...$botUnread.get() }
       delete next[bot.name]
       $botUnread.set(next)
     }
 
-    // Multi-source row: activate the agent's source gateway FIRST so the
-    // canonical-chat RPCs (session.list / session.create / openSession)
-    // land on the backend that actually owns this bot's state.db. Same
-    // canonical-chat flow after that — one forever chat per bot, per source.
-    if (bot.remoteSource) {
-      if (typeof host.ensureAgent !== 'function') {
-        host.notifyError?.(
-          new Error('Update Hermes Desktop to chat with agents on other connections.'),
-          bot.connectionLabel || 'Remote source'
-        )
+    // Activate the owner first so every canonical-chat RPC lands on the
+    // backend that owns this bot's state database.
+    try {
+      pinnedChat = await prepareBotSource(bot, pinnedChat)
+    } catch (error) {
+      host.notifyError?.(error, `Could not reach ${bot.connectionLabel || 'the remote source'}`)
 
-        return
-      }
-
-      try {
-        await host.ensureAgent(bot.connectionId, bot.name)
-      } catch (error) {
-        host.notifyError?.(error, `Could not reach ${bot.connectionLabel || 'the remote source'}`)
-
-        return
-      }
+      return
     }
 
     try {
-      const id = await openBotCanonicalChat(bot.name, meta?.chat)
+      const id = await openBotCanonicalChat(bot.name, pinnedChat)
 
       if (id) {
         return
@@ -3412,6 +3439,14 @@ function BotRow({ bot, onDelete, onEdit, onGroup }) {
     ]
   })
 
+  // Thin rows from another source are navigation targets only. Their profile
+  // metadata is not loaded yet, so edit/delete/pin/group actions would mutate
+  // whichever backend happens to be active. A normal click activates the
+  // owner; the refreshed rich row then exposes the full context menu.
+  if (bot.remoteSource) {
+    return row
+  }
+
   return jsxs(ContextMenu, {
     children: [
       jsx(ContextMenuTrigger, { asChild: true, children: row }),
@@ -3441,7 +3476,7 @@ function BotRow({ bot, onDelete, onEdit, onGroup }) {
           jsx(ContextMenuItem, {
             onSelect: () => {
               host.notify({ kind: 'info', message: `Duplicating ${displayName(bot, meta)}…` })
-              duplicateBot(bot, $lastRoster.get())
+              duplicateBot(bot, $lastRoster.get().filter(candidate => !candidate.remoteSource))
                 .then(name => {
                   queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ROSTER_KEY })
                   host.notify({ kind: 'success', message: `Created ${name} — full copy of ${bot.name}` })
@@ -6124,7 +6159,7 @@ function ActiveNowStrip({ roster, activeProfile, gatewayState, metaByName, onOpe
               children: label
             })
           ]
-        }, botRowKey(bot))
+        }, botRosterKey(bot))
       })
     ]
   })
@@ -6296,7 +6331,7 @@ function CreateGroupChatDialog({ open, roster, onClose, onCreated }) {
                   title: 'Remove from selection',
                   onClick: () => setChecked(prev => ({ ...prev, [bot.name]: false })),
                   children: [displayName(bot, allMeta[bot.name]), jsx(Codicon, { name: 'close', className: 'text-[0.6rem]' })]
-                }, botRowKey(bot))
+                }, botRosterKey(bot))
               )
             })
           : null,
@@ -6341,7 +6376,7 @@ function CreateGroupChatDialog({ open, roster, onClose, onCreated }) {
                         onCheckedChange: value => setChecked(prev => ({ ...prev, [bot.name]: Boolean(value) }))
                       })
                     ]
-                  }, botRowKey(bot))
+                  }, botRosterKey(bot))
                 })
               : jsx('div', {
                   className: 'px-1.5 py-3 text-center text-xs text-(--ui-text-tertiary)',
@@ -6530,7 +6565,7 @@ function BotsPane() {
   // freshly created bot tops the list until another bot gets a message.
   // No special slot for the primary bot — it competes on recency too.
   const activityOf = bot => {
-    const created = allMeta[bot.name]?.created || bot.ui_meta?.['hermes-bots']?.created || 0
+    const created = botRosterMeta(bot, allMeta)?.created || bot.ui_meta?.['hermes-bots']?.created || 0
     const lastMsg = (bot.last_session?.last_active || 0) * 1000
 
     return Math.max(created, lastMsg)
@@ -6538,7 +6573,7 @@ function BotsPane() {
   // Pinned bots (right-click → Pin) float to the top as a group; within the
   // pinned group and within the unpinned group, recency still rules. A
   // plain boolean flag in bot-meta (rides ui_meta to every machine).
-  const isPinned = bot => Boolean(allMeta[bot.name]?.pinned)
+  const isPinned = bot => Boolean(botRosterMeta(bot, allMeta)?.pinned)
   // Resilience (@wesleysimplicio, #13): a failed refresh must not erase a
   // roster the user already had — mixed local+cloud gateways and remotes
   // waking from sleep fail transiently. Render the last good snapshot with
@@ -6555,14 +6590,15 @@ function BotsPane() {
 
     return activityOf(b) - activityOf(a)
   })
+  const activeSourceRoster = roster.filter(bot => !bot.remoteSource)
   const filteredRoster = filterBots(roster, allMeta, query)
 
   if (live) {
     $lastRoster.set(roster)
-    mergeServerMeta(live)
-    pullServerAvatars(live)
-    trackInboundActivity(live)
-    backfillMessagingProtocol(live)
+    mergeServerMeta(activeSourceRoster)
+    pullServerAvatars(activeSourceRoster)
+    trackInboundActivity(activeSourceRoster)
+    backfillMessagingProtocol(activeSourceRoster)
   }
 
   const staleNotice = error && !live && roster.length
@@ -6575,7 +6611,7 @@ function BotsPane() {
   }
 
   const groupChatMembers = groupChatName
-    ? roster.filter(bot => (allMeta[bot.name]?.group || '').trim() === groupChatName)
+    ? activeSourceRoster.filter(bot => (botRosterMeta(bot, allMeta)?.group || '').trim() === groupChatName)
     : []
 
   if (groupChatName && groupChatMembers.length) {
@@ -6638,7 +6674,7 @@ function BotsPane() {
                         children: [jsx(Codicon, { name: 'hubot', className: 'mr-1.5' }), 'New Agent']
                       }),
                       jsxs(DropdownMenuItem, {
-                        disabled: roster.length < 2,
+                        disabled: activeSourceRoster.length < 2,
                         onSelect: () => setGroupCreateOpen(true),
                         children: [jsx(Codicon, { name: 'organization', className: 'mr-1.5' }), 'New Group Chat']
                       })
@@ -6665,11 +6701,33 @@ function BotsPane() {
             $botUnread.set(next)
           }
 
-          void openBotCanonicalChat(bot.name, allMeta[bot.name]?.chat).catch(() => {
+          void (async () => {
+            let pinnedChat = botRosterMeta(bot, allMeta)?.chat
+
+            try {
+              pinnedChat = await prepareBotSource(bot, pinnedChat)
+            } catch (error) {
+              host.notifyError?.(error, `Could not reach ${bot.connectionLabel || 'the remote source'}`)
+
+              return
+            }
+
+            try {
+              const id = await openBotCanonicalChat(bot.name, pinnedChat)
+
+              if (id) {
+                return
+              }
+            } catch {
+              // Fall through to the older-gateway draft below.
+            }
+
             if (typeof host.newChat === 'function') {
               host.newChat(bot.name)
+            } else {
+              host.navigate('/')
             }
-          })
+          })()
         }
       }),
       roster.length
@@ -6768,7 +6826,11 @@ function BotsPane() {
                           }, `group:${section.group}`)
                         : null,
                       ...section.bots.map(bot =>
-                        jsx(BotRow, { bot, onDelete: setDeleting, onEdit: setEditing, onGroup: setGrouping }, botRowKey(bot))
+                        jsx(
+                          BotRow,
+                          { bot, onDelete: setDeleting, onEdit: setEditing, onGroup: setGrouping },
+                          botRosterKey(bot)
+                        )
                       )
                     ])
                   })
@@ -6788,11 +6850,11 @@ function BotsPane() {
           setCreateOpen(false)
           void refetch()
         },
-        roster
+        roster: activeSourceRoster
       }),
       jsx(CreateGroupChatDialog, {
         open: groupCreateOpen,
-        roster,
+        roster: activeSourceRoster,
         onClose: () => setGroupCreateOpen(false),
         onCreated: groupName => $groupChatWorkspace.set(groupName)
       }),
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/plugins/hermes-bots/tests/active-now-strip.test.mjs b/apps/desktop/src/plugins/hermes-bots/tests/active-now-strip.test.mjs
index 243554af6a..ae8a816ca1 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/plugins/hermes-bots/tests/active-now-strip.test.mjs
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/plugins/hermes-bots/tests/active-now-strip.test.mjs
@@ -90,7 +90,9 @@ test('ActiveNowStrip renders above the roster, is a live region, and is click-ac
   assert.match(source, /jsx\('button', \{\s*type: 'button',\s*title: `Open \$\{label\}'s chat`/)
   // The key rides as jsx()'s third argument — the ONLY form React treats as
   // a list key; a `key:` prop leaves chips unkeyed (index identity).
-  assert.match(source, /\}, botRowKey\(bot\)\)\s*\}\)\s*\]\s*\}\)\s*\}\s*\/\*\* Assign a bot to a group/s)
+  assert.match(source, /\}, botRosterKey\(bot\)\)\s*\}\)\s*\]\s*\}\)\s*\}\s*\/\*\* Assign a bot to a group/s)
   assert.match(source, /jsx\(BotFace,\s*\{[\s\S]*?mood: 'work'/)
-  assert.match(source, /openBotCanonicalChat\(bot\.name, allMeta\[bot\.name\]\?\.chat\)/)
+  assert.match(source, /let pinnedChat = botRosterMeta\(bot, allMeta\)\?\.chat/)
+  assert.match(source, /await prepareBotSource\(bot, pinnedChat\)/)
+  assert.match(source, /openBotCanonicalChat\(bot\.name, pinnedChat\)/)
 })
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/plugins/hermes-bots/tests/multi-source-roster.test.mjs b/apps/desktop/src/plugins/hermes-bots/tests/multi-source-roster.test.mjs
index 6e80aee52d..643df47633 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/plugins/hermes-bots/tests/multi-source-roster.test.mjs
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/plugins/hermes-bots/tests/multi-source-roster.test.mjs
@@ -16,7 +16,13 @@ function runtime() {
     useValue: value => (value?.get ? value.get() : value),
     useState: value => [value, () => undefined],
     document: { getElementById: () => null, createElement: () => ({}), head: { appendChild: () => undefined } },
-    host: { state: { profile: { get: () => 'ops', listen: () => undefined } }, request: () => undefined },
+    host: {
+      state: {
+        connectionId: { get: () => 'local', listen: () => undefined },
+        profile: { get: () => 'ops', listen: () => undefined }
+      },
+      request: () => undefined
+    },
     sdk: new Proxy({}, { get: () => undefined })
   }
   const code = source
@@ -26,7 +32,7 @@ function runtime() {
     .replace(/^import .* from 'react\/jsx-runtime'\r?\n/m, '')
     .replace('export default {', 'globalThis.plugin = {')
     .concat(
-      '\nglobalThis.__mergeMultiSourceRoster = mergeMultiSourceRoster;\nglobalThis.__botHandle = botHandle;\nglobalThis.__filterBots = filterBots;\nglobalThis.__botRowKey = botRowKey;'
+      '\nglobalThis.__mergeMultiSourceRoster = mergeMultiSourceRoster;\nglobalThis.__botHandle = botHandle;\nglobalThis.__botRosterKey = botRosterKey;\nglobalThis.__botRosterMeta = botRosterMeta;\nglobalThis.__displayName = displayName;\nglobalThis.__filterBots = filterBots;'
     )
   vm.runInNewContext(code, context)
   return context
@@ -71,13 +77,14 @@ test('merge: local rows are annotated, remote rows appended with source tags', (
     ]
   }
 
-  const out = merge(local, union)
+  const out = merge(local, union, 'local')
   assert.equal(out.profiles.length, 3)
 
   const localRow = out.profiles.find(p => p.name === 'research' && !p.remoteSource)
   // Annotated in place — rich fields survive, handle attached.
   assert.equal(localRow.last_session.id, 's1')
   assert.equal(localRow.handle, 'research-this-device')
+  assert.equal(localRow.sourceScoped, true)
   assert.equal(localRow.remoteSource, undefined)
 
   const remoteRow = out.profiles.find(p => p.name === 'research' && p.remoteSource)
@@ -90,7 +97,7 @@ test('merge: local rows are annotated, remote rows appended with source tags', (
   assert.equal(coder.handle, 'coder')
 })
 
-test('merge: union-only local profiles are NOT invented as thin rows', () => {
+test('merge: union-only active profiles are NOT invented as thin rows', () => {
   const { __mergeMultiSourceRoster: merge } = runtime()
   const local = { profiles: [{ name: 'default' }] }
   const union = {
@@ -105,7 +112,7 @@ test('merge: union-only local profiles are NOT invented as thin rows', () => {
     ]
   }
 
-  const out = merge(local, union)
+  const out = merge(local, union, 'local')
   assert.equal(out.profiles.length, 1)
   assert.equal(out.profiles[0].name, 'default')
 })
@@ -139,7 +146,7 @@ test('merge: duplicate source and local identities render once', () => {
     ]
   }
 
-  const out = merge(local, union)
+  const out = merge(local, union, 'local')
 
   assert.equal(out.profiles.length, 2)
   assert.equal(out.profiles[0].last_session.id, 'newest')
@@ -147,6 +154,96 @@ test('merge: duplicate source and local identities render once', () => {
   assert.equal(out.profiles[1].connectionId, 'homelab')
 })
 
+test('merge: rich rows follow the active remote source, not the local source', () => {
+  const { __mergeMultiSourceRoster: merge } = runtime()
+  const active = { profiles: [{ name: 'default', last_session: { id: 'remote-session' } }] }
+  const union = {
+    agents: [
+      {
+        connectionId: 'local',
+        connectionKind: 'local',
+        connectionLabel: 'This device',
+        profile: 'default',
+        handle: 'default-this-device'
+      },
+      {
+        connectionId: 'work',
+        connectionKind: 'remote',
+        connectionLabel: 'Work',
+        profile: 'default',
+        handle: 'default-work'
+      }
+    ]
+  }
+
+  const out = merge(active, union, 'work')
+  const remote = out.profiles.find(p => p.connectionId === 'work')
+  const local = out.profiles.find(p => p.connectionId === 'local')
+
+  assert.equal(remote.last_session.id, 'remote-session')
+  assert.equal(remote.sourceScoped, true)
+  assert.equal(remote.remoteSource, undefined)
+  assert.equal(local.remoteSource, true)
+  assert.equal(local.sourceScoped, true)
+})
+
+test('merge: repeated refreshes stay idempotent and do not mutate gateway rows', () => {
+  const { __mergeMultiSourceRoster: merge } = runtime()
+  const rich = { name: 'default', last_session: { id: 'remote-session' } }
+  const local = { profiles: [rich, rich] }
+  const union = {
+    agents: [
+      {
+        connectionId: 'local',
+        connectionKind: 'local',
+        connectionLabel: 'This device',
+        profile: 'default',
+        handle: 'default-this-device'
+      },
+      {
+        connectionId: 'work',
+        connectionKind: 'remote',
+        connectionLabel: 'Work',
+        profile: 'default',
+        handle: 'default-work'
+      },
+      {
+        connectionId: 'work',
+        connectionKind: 'remote',
+        connectionLabel: 'Work',
+        profile: 'default',
+        handle: 'default-work'
+      }
+    ]
+  }
+
+  const once = merge(local, union, 'work')
+  const twice = merge(once, union, 'work')
+  const identities = twice.profiles.map(row => `${row.connectionId}:${row.name}`)
+
+  assert.equal(identities.join(','), 'work:default,local:default')
+  assert.equal(new Set(identities).size, identities.length)
+  assert.equal(rich.connectionId, undefined)
+})
+
+test('default rows use source identity without borrowing another source title', () => {
+  const { __botRosterKey: key, __botRosterMeta: metaFor, __displayName: name } = runtime()
+  const remote = {
+    name: 'default',
+    connectionId: 'personal',
+    connectionLabel: 'Personal',
+    remoteSource: true,
+    sourceScoped: true
+  }
+  const active = { ...remote, remoteSource: undefined }
+  const metadata = { default: { title: 'Active workspace' } }
+
+  assert.equal(metaFor(remote, metadata), null)
+  assert.equal(name(remote, metaFor(remote, metadata)), 'Personal')
+  assert.equal(name(active, metadata.default), 'Personal')
+  assert.equal(key(remote), 'personal::default')
+})
+
 test('botHandle: precomputed multi-source handle wins; default stays hermes', () => {
   const { __botHandle: botHandle } = runtime()
 
@@ -261,15 +358,15 @@ test('merge: live active id beats primaryConnectionId for active-source matching
   assert.equal(out.profiles.find(p => p.remoteSource).connectionId, 'local')
 })
 
-test('botRowKey: same name on two sources yields distinct keys; local rows stay stable', () => {
-  const { __botRowKey: botRowKey } = runtime()
+test('botRosterKey: same name on two sources yields distinct React keys', () => {
+  const { __botRosterKey: botRosterKey } = runtime()
 
-  const localRow = botRowKey({ name: 'default' })
-  const remoteRow = botRowKey({ name: 'default', remoteSource: true, connectionId: 'homelab' })
+  const legacyRow = botRosterKey({ name: 'default' })
+  const remoteRow = botRosterKey({ name: 'default', remoteSource: true, connectionId: 'homelab' })
+  const activeRow = botRosterKey({ name: 'default', connectionId: 'vps' })
 
-  assert.notEqual(localRow, remoteRow)
-  // Annotated ACTIVE-source rows (connectionId set, no remoteSource) keep the
-  // plain key — annotation must not remount every row on desktops that gain
-  // the union roster mid-session.
-  assert.equal(botRowKey({ name: 'default', connectionId: 'vps' }), localRow)
+  assert.notEqual(legacyRow, remoteRow)
+  assert.notEqual(activeRow, remoteRow)
+  // Single-source desktops (no connection ids anywhere) keep a stable key.
+  assert.equal(legacyRow, 'legacy::default')
 })
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/plugins/hermes-bots/tests/profile-prewarm.test.mjs b/apps/desktop/src/plugins/hermes-bots/tests/profile-prewarm.test.mjs
index 0311240c8b..1185358eb2 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/plugins/hermes-bots/tests/profile-prewarm.test.mjs
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/plugins/hermes-bots/tests/profile-prewarm.test.mjs
@@ -15,8 +15,13 @@ function sourceBetween(start, end) {
   return source.slice(from, to)
 }
 
-function renderBotRow(name = 'alpha') {
+function renderBotRow(input = 'alpha') {
+  const bot = typeof input === 'string' ? { name: input } : input
+  const name = bot.name
+  const prepareSource = sourceBetween('async function prepareBotSource(', 'function displayName(')
   const botRowSource = sourceBetween('function BotRow(', '// ── model picker')
+  const ensured = []
+  const opened = []
   const warmed = []
   const atom = value => ({
     get: () => value,
@@ -39,6 +44,7 @@ function renderBotRow(name = 'alpha') {
     $selectedBot: atom('default'),
     botAppearance: () => ({ shape: 'round', color: '#000', image: null }),
     botHandle: value => value,
+    botRosterMeta: (_bot, metaByName) => metaByName?.[_bot.name] ?? null,
     cn: (...values) => values.filter(Boolean).join(' '),
     createCanonicalChat: async () => null,
     displayName: bot => bot.name,
@@ -47,14 +53,23 @@ function renderBotRow(name = 'alpha') {
     // #49 session-aware-row helpers referenced inside BotRow.
     previewKind: () => ({ fromBot: false, sender: null }),
     generatedSessionTitle: () => null,
+    openBotCanonicalChat: async (...args) => {
+      opened.push(args)
+      return 'stored-chat'
+    },
     ACTIVE_WINDOW_S: 90,
     A2A_PREFIX_RE: /^$/,
     useEffect: () => undefined,
     useState: initial => [typeof initial === 'function' ? initial() : initial, () => undefined],
     host: {
       state: { gateway: atom('open'), profile: atom('default') },
+      ensureAgent: async (connectionId, profile) => ensured.push([connectionId, profile]),
+      warmAgent: (connectionId, profile) => warmed.push([connectionId, profile]),
       warmProfile: profile => warmed.push(profile),
-      request: async () => ({ sessions: [] }),
+      request: async method =>
+        method === 'profiles.list'
+          ? { profiles: [{ name, ui_meta: { 'hermes-bots': { chat: 'owner-chat' } } }] }
+          : { sessions: [] },
       notify: () => undefined,
       notifyError: () => undefined
     },
@@ -68,12 +83,12 @@ function renderBotRow(name = 'alpha') {
     useValue: store => store.get()
   }
 
-  vm.runInNewContext(`${botRowSource}\nglobalThis.BotRow = BotRow`, context)
+  vm.runInNewContext(`${prepareSource}\n${botRowSource}\nglobalThis.BotRow = BotRow`, context)
 
-  const tree = context.BotRow({ bot: { name }, onEdit: context.onEdit })
-  const row = tree.props.children[0].props.children
+  const tree = context.BotRow({ bot, onEdit: context.onEdit })
+  const row = tree.type === 'button' ? tree : tree.props.children[0].props.children
 
-  return { row, warmed }
+  return { ensured, opened, row, warmed }
 }
 
 test('regression: rendering BotsPane does not prewarm the entire roster', () => {
@@ -82,6 +97,13 @@ test('regression: rendering BotsPane does not prewarm the entire roster', () =>
   assert.doesNotMatch(botsPaneSource, /host\.warmProfile/)
 })
 
+test('regression: source transitions keep BotRow hook order stable', () => {
+  const botRowSource = sourceBetween('function BotRow(', '// ── model picker')
+
+  assert.match(botRowSource, /const unreadByName = useValue\(\$botUnread\)/)
+  assert.doesNotMatch(botRowSource, /remoteSource && Boolean\(useValue/)
+})
+
 test('behavior: pointer entry prewarms only the hovered bot', () => {
   const { row, warmed } = renderBotRow('alpha')
 
@@ -90,3 +112,20 @@ test('behavior: pointer entry prewarms only the hovered bot', () => {
   row.props.onPointerEnter()
   assert.deepEqual(warmed, ['alpha'])
 })
+
+test('behavior: a thin source row activates its owner and uses that owner\'s chat pin', async () => {
+  const { ensured, opened, row, warmed } = renderBotRow({
+    connectionId: 'work',
+    connectionLabel: 'Work',
+    name: 'research',
+    remoteSource: true,
+    sourceScoped: true
+  })
+
+  row.props.onPointerEnter()
+  assert.deepEqual(warmed, [['work', 'research']])
+
+  await row.props.onClick()
+  assert.deepEqual(ensured, [['work', 'research']])
+  assert.deepEqual(opened, [['research', 'owner-chat']])
+})
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/plugins/hermes-bots/tests/session-workspace.test.mjs b/apps/desktop/src/plugins/hermes-bots/tests/session-workspace.test.mjs
index 5aca6dd7f1..1cad2156a6 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/plugins/hermes-bots/tests/session-workspace.test.mjs
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/plugins/hermes-bots/tests/session-workspace.test.mjs
@@ -122,8 +122,12 @@ test('sessions workspace: an in-flight open cannot restore selection after gatew
   assert.deepEqual(plain(runtime.__sessions.$botSelectedSessions.get()), {})
 })
 
-test('source contract: the primary bot click keeps canonical chat while Sessions is secondary', () => {
-  assert.match(pluginSource, /const open = async \(\) => \{[\s\S]*openBotCanonicalChat\(bot\.name, meta\?\.chat\)/)
+test('source contract: bot rows and Active now activate the owner before canonical chat', () => {
+  assert.match(pluginSource, /async function prepareBotSource\(bot, pinnedChat\)/)
+  assert.match(pluginSource, /await host\.ensureAgent\(bot\.connectionId, bot\.name\)/)
+  assert.match(pluginSource, /host\.request\('profiles\.list', \{\}\)/)
+  assert.match(pluginSource, /const open = async \(\) => \{[\s\S]*await prepareBotSource\(bot, pinnedChat\)[\s\S]*openBotCanonicalChat\(bot\.name, pinnedChat\)/)
+  assert.match(pluginSource, /onOpen: bot => \{[\s\S]*await prepareBotSource\(bot, pinnedChat\)[\s\S]*openBotCanonicalChat\(bot\.name, pinnedChat\)/)
   assert.match(pluginSource, /openBotSessionsWorkspace\(bot\)[\s\S]*children: 'Sessions'/)
 })
 
@@ -141,4 +145,3 @@ test('source contract: session controls expose filter and selection state to ass
   assert.match(pluginSource, /'aria-label': 'Filter sessions'/)
   assert.match(pluginSource, /'aria-current': active \? 'page' : undefined/)
 })
-
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/sdk/host-state.test.ts b/apps/desktop/src/sdk/host-state.test.ts
index 00a94931aa..efa1cb9ffb 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/sdk/host-state.test.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/sdk/host-state.test.ts
@@ -58,6 +58,17 @@ describe('host.state focused-session atoms', () => {
     expect(host.state.focusedUsage.get()).toBe(focused?.usage ?? null)
   })
 
+  it('exposes the registry source that owns the active gateway', async () => {
+    const { host, session } = await setup()
+
+    session.setConnection({ connectionId: 'work', mode: 'remote' } as never)
+    expect(host.state.connectionId.get()).toBe('work')
+
+    session.setConnection({ mode: 'local' } as never)
+    expect(host.state.connectionId.get()).toBeNull()
+    session.setConnection(null)
+  })
+
   it('follows the interacted tile while the primary-only atom stays put', async () => {
     const { host, session, states } = await setup()
     const tree = await import('@/components/pane-shell/tree/store')
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/sdk/index.ts b/apps/desktop/src/sdk/index.ts
index 6e0d0c4245..25e231aee8 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/sdk/index.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/sdk/index.ts
@@ -47,7 +47,14 @@ import {
   setActiveProfile,
   setShowAllProfiles
 } from '@/store/profile'
-import { $activeSessionId, $currentCwd, $currentModel, $gatewayState, $selectedStoredSessionId } from '@/store/session'
+import {
+  $activeSessionId,
+  $connection,
+  $currentCwd,
+  $currentModel,
+  $gatewayState,
+  $selectedStoredSessionId
+} from '@/store/session'
 import {
   $focusedRuntimeId,
   $focusedSessionState,
@@ -162,6 +169,7 @@ if (typeof window !== 'undefined') {
 /** Live usage of the FOCUSED session, projected out of the streamed session
  *  state — the same readout the core statusbar's context chip paints. */
 const $focusedUsage = computed($focusedSessionState, state => state?.usage ?? null)
+const $activeConnectionId = computed($connection, connection => connection?.connectionId ?? null)
 
 export const host = {
   state: {
@@ -178,6 +186,8 @@ export const host = {
     busy: readonlyAtom<boolean>($focusedBusy),
     /** Runtime session id → mid-turn. Not socket state; see `gateway`. */
     busyBySession: readonlyAtom<Record<string, boolean>>($busyBySession),
+    /** Registry source that owns the active gateway, when source-scoped. */
+    connectionId: readonlyAtom<null | string>($activeConnectionId),
     /** Active workspace cwd ('' when detached). */
     cwd: readonlyAtom<string>($currentCwd),
     /** Runtime id of the FOCUSED chat session — the interacted tile, else the
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/sdk/profile-routing.test.ts b/apps/desktop/src/sdk/profile-routing.test.ts
index ffcace23f2..bcf21feb02 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/sdk/profile-routing.test.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/sdk/profile-routing.test.ts
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ vi.mock('@/store/session', async () => {
 
   return {
     $activeSessionId: atom(null),
+    $connection: atom(null),
     $currentCwd: atom(''),
     $currentModel: atom(''),
     $gatewayState: atom('open'),