diff --git a/NucleicRemote/NucleicRemote/Models/RemoteStore.swift b/NucleicRemote/NucleicRemote/Models/RemoteStore.swift
index 50b4c47..6decb92 100644
--- a/NucleicRemote/NucleicRemote/Models/RemoteStore.swift
+++ b/NucleicRemote/NucleicRemote/Models/RemoteStore.swift
@@ -320,12 +320,48 @@ final class RemoteStore: ObservableObject {
     }
 
     /// Returning to the foreground: the network may have changed while the app was suspended (and
-    /// path/keepalive callbacks were frozen). Re-read the path and re-dial anything not live so the
-    /// transport is correct by the time the UI is on screen, rather than after a backoff.
+    /// path/keepalive callbacks were frozen). Re-read the path, re-dial anything not live, then
+    /// actively revalidate the connections that still *look* live — a socket the OS killed while we
+    /// were suspended wakes marked `.connected`, and trusting that would stall the reconnect until
+    /// the 55s keepalive deadline. `revalidate` pings each such link and re-dials the instant it
+    /// fails to answer, so the transport is correct (and fast) by the time the UI is on screen.
     func onForeground() {
+        endBackgroundHold()
         guard !demoMode, isPaired else { return }
         pathMonitor.refresh()
+        // Ensure a connection exists for every paired host (and drop unpaired); this re-dials the
+        // ones already known to be offline.
         reconnect()
+        // The zombies from suspension still read `.connected` — probe and re-dial the dead ones.
+        for conn in connections.values where conn.connectivity.isLive { conn.revalidate() }
+    }
+
+    #if canImport(UIKit)
+    /// Held while backgrounded so iOS keeps the process (and thus the live sockets + 20s keepalive)
+    /// running for its short grant, instead of suspending us the moment we background.
+    private var backgroundTask: UIBackgroundTaskIdentifier = .invalid
+    #endif
+
+    /// Entering the background: ask iOS to keep us running briefly so a quick app-switch (glance at
+    /// another app, tap a Live Activity, answer a banner) doesn't tear the connection down and force
+    /// a cold reconnect on return. The grant is short (~30s) and best-effort; once it lapses the OS
+    /// suspends us and the socket dies, which the next `onForeground` revalidation reconnects fast.
+    func onBackground() {
+        guard !demoMode else { return }
+        #if canImport(UIKit)
+        endBackgroundHold()
+        backgroundTask = UIApplication.shared.beginBackgroundTask(withName: "nucleic.sync.hold") {
+            [weak self] in self?.endBackgroundHold()
+        }
+        #endif
+    }
+
+    private func endBackgroundHold() {
+        #if canImport(UIKit)
+        guard backgroundTask != .invalid else { return }
+        UIApplication.shared.endBackgroundTask(backgroundTask)
+        backgroundTask = .invalid
+        #endif
     }
 
     private func seedDemo() {