diff --git a/app/templates/index.html b/app/templates/index.html
index 568a464..717b775 100644
--- a/app/templates/index.html
+++ b/app/templates/index.html
@@ -193,9 +193,36 @@
                 }
             });
 
-            // Reload page when DM modal is closed to update unread badges
-            dmModal.addEventListener('hidden.bs.modal', function () {
-                window.location.reload();
+            // Update DM badges when modal is closed (without full page reload)
+            dmModal.addEventListener('hidden.bs.modal', async function () {
+                try {
+                    // Fetch latest DM unread counts
+                    const response = await fetch('/api/dm/updates?last_seen={}');
+                    if (response.ok) {
+                        const data = await response.json();
+                        const totalUnread = data.total_unread || 0;
+
+                        // Update the green DM badge on notification bell
+                        const bellContainer = document.getElementById('notificationBell');
+                        if (bellContainer) {
+                            let dmBadge = bellContainer.querySelector('.notification-badge-dm');
+
+                            if (totalUnread > 0) {
+                                if (!dmBadge) {
+                                    dmBadge = document.createElement('span');
+                                    dmBadge.className = 'notification-badge-dm';
+                                    bellContainer.appendChild(dmBadge);
+                                }
+                                dmBadge.textContent = totalUnread > 99 ? '99+' : totalUnread;
+                                dmBadge.style.display = 'inline-block';
+                            } else if (dmBadge) {
+                                dmBadge.style.display = 'none';
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                } catch (error) {
+                    console.error('Error updating DM badges:', error);
+                }
             });
         }