diff --git a/app/device_manager.py b/app/device_manager.py
index 9d8f767..d2f9649 100644
--- a/app/device_manager.py
+++ b/app/device_manager.py
@@ -207,13 +207,18 @@ class DeviceManager:
 
         count = 0
         for pubkey, contact in self.mc.contacts.items():
+            # last_advert from meshcore is Unix timestamp (int) or None
+            last_adv = contact.get('last_advert')
+            last_advert_val = str(int(last_adv)) if last_adv and isinstance(last_adv, (int, float)) and last_adv > 0 else None
+
             self.db.upsert_contact(
                 public_key=pubkey,
                 name=contact.get('adv_name', ''),
-                type=contact.get('adv_type', 0),
+                type=contact.get('type', 0),
                 flags=contact.get('flags', 0),
                 out_path=contact.get('out_path', ''),
                 out_path_len=contact.get('out_path_len', 0),
+                last_advert=last_advert_val,
                 adv_lat=contact.get('adv_lat'),
                 adv_lon=contact.get('adv_lon'),
                 source='device',
@@ -420,7 +425,7 @@ class DeviceManager:
                     type=data.get('adv_type', 0),
                     adv_lat=data.get('adv_lat'),
                     adv_lon=data.get('adv_lon'),
-                    last_advert=time.strftime('%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S'),
+                    last_advert=str(int(time.time())),
                     source='advert',
                 )
 
diff --git a/app/meshcore/cli.py b/app/meshcore/cli.py
index c377bbe..6bde8c7 100644
--- a/app/meshcore/cli.py
+++ b/app/meshcore/cli.py
@@ -125,6 +125,27 @@ def get_all_contacts_detailed() -> Tuple[bool, List[Dict], int, str]:
         return False, [], 0, str(e)
 
 
+def _parse_last_advert(value) -> int:
+    """Convert last_advert from DB (Unix timestamp string or ISO string) to Unix int."""
+    if not value:
+        return 0
+    # Try as Unix timestamp first
+    try:
+        ts = int(value)
+        if ts > 0:
+            return ts
+    except (ValueError, TypeError):
+        pass
+    # Try as ISO datetime string
+    try:
+        from datetime import datetime
+        dt = datetime.fromisoformat(str(value))
+        return int(dt.timestamp())
+    except (ValueError, TypeError):
+        pass
+    return 0
+
+
 def get_contacts_with_last_seen() -> Tuple[bool, Dict[str, Dict], str]:
     """Get contacts with last_advert timestamps from DB."""
     try:
@@ -140,7 +161,7 @@ def get_contacts_with_last_seen() -> Tuple[bool, Dict[str, Dict], str]:
                 'out_path_len': c.get('out_path_len', -1),
                 'out_path': c.get('out_path', ''),
                 'adv_name': c.get('name', ''),
-                'last_advert': c.get('last_advert', ''),
+                'last_advert': _parse_last_advert(c.get('last_advert')),
                 'adv_lat': c.get('adv_lat', 0.0),
                 'adv_lon': c.get('adv_lon', 0.0),
                 'lastmod': c.get('lastmod', ''),
@@ -165,7 +186,7 @@ def get_contacts_json() -> Tuple[bool, Dict[str, Dict], str]:
                 'flags': c.get('flags', 0),
                 'out_path_len': c.get('out_path_len', -1),
                 'out_path': c.get('out_path', ''),
-                'last_advert': c.get('last_advert', ''),
+                'last_advert': _parse_last_advert(c.get('last_advert')),
                 'adv_lat': c.get('adv_lat'),
                 'adv_lon': c.get('adv_lon'),
                 'lastmod': c.get('lastmod', ''),
diff --git a/app/static/js/dm.js b/app/static/js/dm.js
index 6ddf14e..e500049 100644
--- a/app/static/js/dm.js
+++ b/app/static/js/dm.js
@@ -223,7 +223,12 @@ function populateConversationSelector() {
             const lastSeen = dmLastSeenTimestamps[conv.conversation_id] || 0;
             const isUnread = conv.last_message_timestamp > lastSeen;
 
-            let label = conv.display_name;
+            // If display_name is a full pubkey, show short prefix
+            let displayName = conv.display_name;
+            if (/^[0-9a-f]{64}$/i.test(displayName)) {
+                displayName = displayName.substring(0, 8) + '...';
+            }
+            let label = displayName;
             if (isUnread) {
                 label = `* ${label}`;
             }
@@ -286,8 +291,13 @@ async function selectConversation(conversationId) {
 
     // Find the conversation to get recipient name
     const conv = dmConversations.find(c => c.conversation_id === conversationId);
-    if (conv) {
-        currentRecipient = conv.display_name;
+    if (conv && conv.display_name) {
+        // If display_name is a full pubkey (64 hex chars), show short prefix
+        if (/^[0-9a-f]{64}$/i.test(conv.display_name)) {
+            currentRecipient = conv.display_name.substring(0, 8) + '...';
+        } else {
+            currentRecipient = conv.display_name;
+        }
     } else {
         // Extract name from conversation_id
         if (conversationId.startsWith('name_')) {