diff --git a/docs/components/active-agents.md b/docs/components/active-agents.md
index 542cdf38a..ae9a9217f 100644
--- a/docs/components/active-agents.md
+++ b/docs/components/active-agents.md
@@ -55,7 +55,8 @@ A row whose pane is bound to an active workflow run replaces its subtitle with
 ## Interactions
 
 - **Click a row** → focuses that worktree + tab + pane and brings Prowl forward. A
-  **Done** row downgrades to **Idle** once focused.
+  **Done** row downgrades to **Idle** once viewed in the active, visible Prowl window.
+  Internal focus changes while the window is inactive do not clear the completion.
 - **Right-click a row** for the context menu:
   - **Hand Off…** — opens the Hand Off HUD for that agent's pane
     (selecting and focusing it first), regardless of which pane currently has
diff --git a/docs/components/agent-detection.md b/docs/components/agent-detection.md
index 82ca7329e..bea419a8a 100644
--- a/docs/components/agent-detection.md
+++ b/docs/components/agent-detection.md
@@ -115,7 +115,10 @@ frames keep the last trusted state instead of forcing Idle.
 | **Done**    | raw `idle` + **unseen** | just finished; you haven't looked yet |
 | **Idle**    | raw `idle` + **seen**   | nothing running                       |
 
-A **Done** pane becomes **Idle** the moment you focus it.
+A **Done** pane becomes **Idle** when it is actually viewed: its worktree and tab are selected,
+its pane is focused, and the Prowl window is key and visible. Keeping a pane selected while
+Prowl is inactive, hidden, or minimized does not mark its completion as read. Unknown window
+state is conservatively treated as not viewed. See [Canvas](canvas.md) for Canvas-specific behavior.
 
 ## Cooperative signal bus
 
diff --git a/docs/components/agent-island.md b/docs/components/agent-island.md
index d944e6b2f..fc82692f6 100644
--- a/docs/components/agent-island.md
+++ b/docs/components/agent-island.md
@@ -61,7 +61,10 @@ badge takes the subtitle position, as in the sidebar. The displayed priority ord
 first, then unviewed Done, newest first within each state. Cells
 cannot be dismissed from the island. A
 Blocked cell clears when the agent leaves that state, a Done cell clears once the entry is viewed,
-and a removed entry disappears with the roster.
+and a removed entry disappears with the roster. A selected pane is not considered viewed while
+Prowl's window is inactive, hidden, or minimized, so its Done reminder remains. Unknown window
+state also retains reminders rather than automatically marking them read. See [Canvas](canvas.md)
+for Canvas-specific behavior.
 
 ## Interactions
 
diff --git a/docs/concepts.md b/docs/concepts.md
index 85cbeb373..511a7a762 100644
--- a/docs/concepts.md
+++ b/docs/concepts.md
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ user-visible states:
 - **Blocked** — waiting for you (a confirmation/permission prompt). This is the
   one that needs your attention.
 - **Done** — finished and you haven't looked yet (an unseen completion). Becomes
-  **Idle** once you focus it.
+  **Idle** once you view the focused pane in the active, visible Prowl window.
 - **Idle** — nothing running / seen.
 
 How this is detected (process inspection + on-screen heuristics) and the full
diff --git a/supacode/Features/Terminal/Models/WorktreeTerminalState+AgentDetection.swift b/supacode/Features/Terminal/Models/WorktreeTerminalState+AgentDetection.swift
index 33995c37a..e5b9aa3e6 100644
--- a/supacode/Features/Terminal/Models/WorktreeTerminalState+AgentDetection.swift
+++ b/supacode/Features/Terminal/Models/WorktreeTerminalState+AgentDetection.swift
@@ -110,11 +110,6 @@ extension WorktreeTerminalState {
       raw: raw
     )
 
-    let seen = Self.resolvedSeen(
-      previous: previous,
-      stabilized: stabilized,
-      isForeground: isSelected() && isFocusedSurface(surfaceID)
-    )
     let iconLookupToken = identified?.iconLookupToken ?? previous.iconLookupToken ?? agent.iconLookupToken
     let workingDirectory = activeAgentWorkingDirectory(surfaceID: surfaceID)
     let (session, sessionMissStreak) = await resolveRetainedSession(
@@ -141,7 +136,7 @@ extension WorktreeTerminalState {
       iconLookupToken: iconLookupToken,
       fallbackState: raw,
       state: stabilized,
-      seen: seen,
+      seen: resolvedSeen(previous: previous, stabilized: stabilized, surfaceID: surfaceID),
       lastChangedAt: lastChangedAt
     )
     next.sessionMissStreak = sessionMissStreak
@@ -209,12 +204,12 @@ extension WorktreeTerminalState {
     return detection
   }
 
-  private static func resolvedSeen(
+  func resolvedSeen(
     previous: PaneAgentState,
     stabilized: AgentRawState,
-    isForeground: Bool
+    surfaceID: UUID
   ) -> Bool {
-    if isForeground || stabilized == .blocked {
+    if isViewedSurface(surfaceID) {
       return true
     }
     if (previous.state == .working || previous.state == .blocked) && stabilized == .idle {
@@ -293,7 +288,8 @@ extension WorktreeTerminalState {
   }
 
   func markAgentSeen(surfaceID: UUID) {
-    guard var state = surfaceAgentStates[surfaceID], !state.seen else { return }
+    // Focus bookkeeping can run while the window is inactive or before a tab is selected.
+    guard isViewedSurface(surfaceID), var state = surfaceAgentStates[surfaceID], !state.seen else { return }
     state.seen = true
     state.lastChangedAt = Date()
     surfaceAgentStates[surfaceID] = state
diff --git a/supacodeTests/WorktreeTerminalStateViewedSurfaceTests.swift b/supacodeTests/WorktreeTerminalStateViewedSurfaceTests.swift
index 65c29d1c5..0530e4347 100644
--- a/supacodeTests/WorktreeTerminalStateViewedSurfaceTests.swift
+++ b/supacodeTests/WorktreeTerminalStateViewedSurfaceTests.swift
@@ -42,6 +42,73 @@ struct WorktreeTerminalStateViewedSurfaceTests {
     #expect(!state.isViewedSurface(UUID()))
   }
 
+  enum ViewingCondition: CaseIterable {
+    case viewed, inactive, hidden, unknown, canvas, otherWorktree, otherPane, otherTab
+  }
+
+  @Test(arguments: ViewingCondition.allCases, [AgentRawState.working, .blocked])
+  func completionReadStateRequiresViewedSurface(condition: ViewingCondition, previousState: AgentRawState) {
+    let (state, surfaceID) = makeViewedState()
+    apply(condition, to: state)
+    let previous = PaneAgentState(state: previousState, seen: true)
+
+    #expect(
+      state.resolvedSeen(previous: previous, stabilized: .idle, surfaceID: surfaceID) == (condition == .viewed))
+  }
+
+  @Test(arguments: ViewingCondition.allCases)
+  func pollingAndAutomaticFocusOnlyReadViewedCompletions(condition: ViewingCondition) {
+    let (state, surfaceID) = makeViewedState()
+    apply(condition, to: state)
+    let done = PaneAgentState(state: .idle, seen: false)
+    state.surfaceAgentStates[surfaceID] = done
+
+    #expect(state.resolvedSeen(previous: done, stabilized: .idle, surfaceID: surfaceID) == (condition == .viewed))
+    state.markAgentSeen(surfaceID: surfaceID)
+    #expect(state.surfaceAgentStates[surfaceID]?.displayState == (condition == .viewed ? .idle : .done))
+  }
+
+  @Test func returningToViewedSurfaceAcknowledgesCompletion() {
+    let (state, surfaceID) = makeViewedState()
+    state.lastWindowIsKey = false
+    state.surfaceAgentStates[surfaceID] = PaneAgentState(state: .idle, seen: false)
+    state.markAgentSeen(surfaceID: surfaceID)
+    #expect(state.surfaceAgentStates[surfaceID]?.displayState == .done)
+
+    state.lastWindowIsKey = true
+    state.markAgentSeen(surfaceID: surfaceID)
+    #expect(state.surfaceAgentStates[surfaceID]?.displayState == .idle)
+  }
+
+  @Test func unviewedPollingPreservesReadStateWithoutANewCompletion() {
+    let (state, surfaceID) = makeViewedState()
+    state.lastWindowIsKey = false
+    let idle = PaneAgentState(state: .idle, seen: true)
+    #expect(state.resolvedSeen(previous: idle, stabilized: .idle, surfaceID: surfaceID))
+    let unread = PaneAgentState(state: .idle, seen: false)
+    #expect(!state.resolvedSeen(previous: unread, stabilized: .blocked, surfaceID: surfaceID))
+  }
+
+  private func apply(_ condition: ViewingCondition, to state: WorktreeTerminalState) {
+    switch condition {
+    case .viewed: break
+    case .inactive: state.lastWindowIsKey = false
+    case .hidden: state.lastWindowIsVisible = false
+    case .unknown:
+      state.lastWindowIsKey = nil
+      state.lastWindowIsVisible = nil
+    case .canvas: state.isCanvasManaged = true
+    case .otherWorktree: state.isSelected = { false }
+    case .otherPane:
+      if let tabID = state.tabManager.selectedTabId {
+        state.focusedSurfaceIdByTab[tabID] = UUID()
+      }
+    case .otherTab:
+      let tabID = state.tabManager.createTab(title: "other", icon: nil)
+      state.tabManager.selectTab(tabID)
+    }
+  }
+
   private func makeViewedState() -> (WorktreeTerminalState, UUID) {
     let state = WorktreeTerminalState(
       runtime: GhosttyRuntime(),