diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/AbstractUITask.h b/examples/companion_radio/AbstractUITask.h
index d6d0b7a4..469b85d6 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/AbstractUITask.h
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/AbstractUITask.h
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ public:
 
   // Mark a channel as read when BLE companion app syncs a message
   virtual void markChannelReadFromBLE(uint8_t channel_idx) {}
+  virtual void markAllChannelsRead() {}  // Companion builds: zero all unread on app connect
 
   // Repeater admin callbacks (from MyMesh)
   virtual void onAdminLoginResult(bool success, uint8_t permissions, uint32_t server_time) {}
diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp b/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp
index 90ca2c2d..31bbb371 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp
@@ -1477,6 +1477,11 @@ void MyMesh::handleCmdFrame(size_t len) {
     MESH_DEBUG_PRINTLN("App %s connected", app_name);
 
     _iter_started = false; // stop any left-over ContactsIterator
+
+#if defined(BLE_PIN_CODE) || defined(MECK_WIFI_COMPANION)
+    // Companion builds: mark all channels/DMs as read on app connect
+    if (_ui) _ui->markAllChannelsRead();
+#endif
     int i = 0;
     out_frame[i++] = RESP_CODE_SELF_INFO;
     out_frame[i++] = ADV_TYPE_CHAT; // what this node Advert identifies as (maybe node's pronouns too?? :-)
diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/ChannelScreen.h b/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/ChannelScreen.h
index 125958a1..6158f652 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/ChannelScreen.h
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/ChannelScreen.h
@@ -336,6 +336,11 @@ public:
     }
   }
 
+  // Mark all channels + DMs as read (companion app connected)
+  void markAllRead() {
+    memset(_unread, 0, sizeof(_unread));
+  }
+
   // Get unread count for a specific channel
   int getUnreadForChannel(uint8_t channel_idx) const {
     int slot = (channel_idx == 0xFF) ? MAX_GROUP_CHANNELS : channel_idx;
diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.cpp b/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.cpp
index 8ca80cf6..f609a602 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.cpp
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.cpp
@@ -1451,15 +1451,17 @@ void UITask::newMsg(uint8_t path_len, const char* from_name, const char* text, i
     ((ChannelScreen *) channel_screen)->addMessage(channel_idx, path_len, from_name, text, path, snr);
   }
   
-  // If user is currently viewing this channel, mark it as read immediately
-  // (they can see the message arrive in real-time)
-  if (isOnChannelScreen() && 
-      ((ChannelScreen *) channel_screen)->getViewChannelIdx() == channel_idx) {
+  // If user is currently viewing this channel on the device, or companion
+  // app is connected (they'll see it there), mark as read immediately
+  if ((isOnChannelScreen() && 
+      ((ChannelScreen *) channel_screen)->getViewChannelIdx() == channel_idx) ||
+      hasConnection()) {
     ((ChannelScreen *) channel_screen)->markChannelRead(channel_idx);
   }
 
   // Per-contact DM unread tracking: find contact index by name
-  if (channel_idx == 0xFF && _dmUnread) {
+  // Skip increment when companion app is connected (user sees DMs there)
+  if (channel_idx == 0xFF && _dmUnread && !hasConnection()) {
     uint32_t numContacts = the_mesh.getNumContacts();
     ContactInfo contact;
     for (uint32_t ci = 0; ci < numContacts; ci++) {
@@ -2797,6 +2799,14 @@ void UITask::markChannelReadFromBLE(uint8_t channel_idx) {
   _next_refresh = millis() + 200;
 }
 
+void UITask::markAllChannelsRead() {
+  ((ChannelScreen *) channel_screen)->markAllRead();
+  if (_dmUnread) {
+    memset(_dmUnread, 0, MAX_CONTACTS * sizeof(uint8_t));
+  }
+  _next_refresh = millis() + 200;
+}
+
 bool UITask::hasDMUnread(int contactIdx) const {
   if (!_dmUnread || contactIdx < 0 || contactIdx >= MAX_CONTACTS) return false;
   return _dmUnread[contactIdx] > 0;
diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.h b/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.h
index bcb7a809..ea240436 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.h
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.h
@@ -301,6 +301,8 @@ public:
 
   // Mark channel as read when BLE companion app syncs messages
   void markChannelReadFromBLE(uint8_t channel_idx) override;
+  // Mark all channels + DMs as read (companion app connected)
+  void markAllChannelsRead() override;
 
   // Repeater admin callbacks
   void onAdminLoginResult(bool success, uint8_t permissions, uint32_t server_time) override;