diff --git a/src/ClaudeDo.Ui/ViewModels/IslandsShellViewModel.cs b/src/ClaudeDo.Ui/ViewModels/IslandsShellViewModel.cs
index 0a13dea0..2df99684 100644
--- a/src/ClaudeDo.Ui/ViewModels/IslandsShellViewModel.cs
+++ b/src/ClaudeDo.Ui/ViewModels/IslandsShellViewModel.cs
@@ -20,14 +20,24 @@ public sealed partial class IslandsShellViewModel : ViewModelBase, IDisposable
     public ListsIslandViewModel? Lists { get; }
     public TasksIslandViewModel? Tasks { get; }
     public DetailsIslandViewModel? Details { get; }
-    public IWorkerClient? Worker { get; }
+    public IWorkerClient? Worker { get; internal set; }
     public MissionControlViewModel? MissionControl { get; }
     public UsagePillViewModel? UsagePill { get; }
     public UpdateCheckService UpdateCheck => _updateCheck;
 
+    // Stable opKey the six Lifecycle/*Recovery startup sweeps broadcast under (see
+    // OperationProgressOpKeys.StartupRecovery on the worker side — not shared across the
+    // SignalR wire, so the literal is duplicated here on purpose).
+    private const string StartupRecoveryOpKey = "startup-recovery";
+
+    // Last startup-recovery text received this connection cycle, shown in place of the generic
+    // "connecting" label. Cleared once actually connected so a later transient reconnect (not a
+    // fresh worker boot) doesn't replay stale recovery text.
+    private string? _startupRecoveryText;
+
     public string ConnectionText =>
         Worker?.IsConnected == true ? Loc.T("vm.connection.online")
-        : Worker?.IsReconnecting == true ? Loc.T("vm.connection.connecting")
+        : Worker?.IsReconnecting == true ? (_startupRecoveryText ?? Loc.T("vm.connection.connecting"))
         : Loc.T("vm.connection.offline");
 
     public bool IsOffline => Worker?.IsConnected != true && Worker?.IsReconnecting != true;
@@ -228,6 +238,18 @@ public sealed partial class IslandsShellViewModel : ViewModelBase, IDisposable
     }
     public void OnPlanningMergeCompleted(string planningTaskId) => ClearExternalMergeConflict(planningTaskId);
 
+    // Wired to Worker.OperationProgressEvent; also called directly by tests. A foreign opKey
+    // (merge phases, worktree cleanup, ...) is left untouched — this only tracks the
+    // startup-recovery channel.
+    public void OnOperationProgress(string opKey, string phase, int current, int total)
+    {
+        if (opKey != StartupRecoveryOpKey) return;
+        _startupRecoveryText = total > 0
+            ? $"{Loc.T("ops.worker.startupRecovery")} ({current}/{total})"
+            : Loc.T("ops.worker.startupRecovery");
+        OnPropertyChanged(nameof(ConnectionText));
+    }
+
     private void ClearExternalMergeConflict(string planningTaskId)
     {
         _externalMergeConflicts.Remove(planningTaskId);
@@ -358,11 +380,13 @@ public sealed partial class IslandsShellViewModel : ViewModelBase, IDisposable
         {
             if (e.PropertyName is nameof(IWorkerClient.IsConnected) or nameof(IWorkerClient.IsReconnecting))
             {
+                if (Worker.IsConnected) _startupRecoveryText = null;
                 OnPropertyChanged(nameof(ConnectionText));
                 OnPropertyChanged(nameof(IsOffline));
                 OnPropertyChanged(nameof(CanOpenWorkerConnectionHelp));
             }
         };
+        Worker.OperationProgressEvent += OnOperationProgress;
         Worker.WorkerLogReceivedEvent += OnWorkerLogReceived;
         Worker.ConnectionRestoredEvent += () => _ = RefreshStaleWorkerCheckAsync();
         Worker.PlanningMergeConflictEvent += OnPlanningMergeConflict;
@@ -410,6 +434,7 @@ public sealed partial class IslandsShellViewModel : ViewModelBase, IDisposable
 
     public void Dispose()
     {
+        if (Worker is not null) Worker.OperationProgressEvent -= OnOperationProgress;
         _clearTimer.Stop();
         _clearTimer.Dispose();
         _connectTimer.Stop();
diff --git a/src/ClaudeDo.Worker/Hub/OperationProgressOpKeys.cs b/src/ClaudeDo.Worker/Hub/OperationProgressOpKeys.cs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f183ab41
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ClaudeDo.Worker/Hub/OperationProgressOpKeys.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+namespace ClaudeDo.Worker.Hub;
+
+/// <summary>Stable, non-task-bound opKeys for <see cref="HubBroadcaster.OperationProgress"/>.</summary>
+public static class OperationProgressOpKeys
+{
+    /// <summary>The six startup-only <c>Lifecycle/*Recovery</c> hosted services.</summary>
+    public const string StartupRecovery = "startup-recovery";
+}
diff --git a/src/ClaudeDo.Worker/Lifecycle/AttachmentOrphanRecovery.cs b/src/ClaudeDo.Worker/Lifecycle/AttachmentOrphanRecovery.cs
index 596076c4..508419cb 100644
--- a/src/ClaudeDo.Worker/Lifecycle/AttachmentOrphanRecovery.cs
+++ b/src/ClaudeDo.Worker/Lifecycle/AttachmentOrphanRecovery.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 using ClaudeDo.Data;
+using ClaudeDo.Worker.Hub;
 using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore;
 
 namespace ClaudeDo.Worker.Lifecycle;
@@ -8,17 +9,22 @@ namespace ClaudeDo.Worker.Lifecycle;
 /// </summary>
 public sealed class AttachmentOrphanRecovery : IHostedService
 {
+    public const string Phase = "attachments";
+
     private readonly IDbContextFactory<ClaudeDoDbContext> _dbFactory;
     private readonly AttachmentStore _store;
+    private readonly HubBroadcaster _broadcaster;
     private readonly ILogger<AttachmentOrphanRecovery> _logger;
 
     public AttachmentOrphanRecovery(
         IDbContextFactory<ClaudeDoDbContext> dbFactory,
         AttachmentStore store,
+        HubBroadcaster broadcaster,
         ILogger<AttachmentOrphanRecovery> logger)
     {
         _dbFactory = dbFactory;
         _store = store;
+        _broadcaster = broadcaster;
         _logger = logger;
     }
 
@@ -28,6 +34,7 @@ public sealed class AttachmentOrphanRecovery : IHostedService
         if (taskIds.Count == 0)
         {
             _logger.LogInformation("Attachment orphan recovery: no attachment directories found");
+            await _broadcaster.OperationProgress(OperationProgressOpKeys.StartupRecovery, Phase, 0, 0);
             return;
         }
 
@@ -45,6 +52,8 @@ public sealed class AttachmentOrphanRecovery : IHostedService
             _logger.LogWarning("Attachment orphan recovery: removed {Count} orphaned attachment director(ies)", orphans.Count);
         else
             _logger.LogInformation("Attachment orphan recovery: no orphaned attachment directories found");
+
+        await _broadcaster.OperationProgress(OperationProgressOpKeys.StartupRecovery, Phase, taskIds.Count, taskIds.Count);
     }
 
     public Task StopAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken) => Task.CompletedTask;
diff --git a/src/ClaudeDo.Worker/Lifecycle/LegacyWorktreeFolderRecovery.cs b/src/ClaudeDo.Worker/Lifecycle/LegacyWorktreeFolderRecovery.cs
index 6b685f3f..6a91aa34 100644
--- a/src/ClaudeDo.Worker/Lifecycle/LegacyWorktreeFolderRecovery.cs
+++ b/src/ClaudeDo.Worker/Lifecycle/LegacyWorktreeFolderRecovery.cs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 using ClaudeDo.Data;
 using ClaudeDo.Data.Models;
 using ClaudeDo.Data.Repositories;
+using ClaudeDo.Worker.Hub;
 using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore;
 
 namespace ClaudeDo.Worker.Lifecycle;
@@ -13,16 +14,21 @@ namespace ClaudeDo.Worker.Lifecycle;
 /// </summary>
 public sealed class LegacyWorktreeFolderRecovery : IHostedService
 {
+    public const string Phase = "legacy-worktrees";
+
     private const string LegacyFolderName = ".claudedo-worktrees";
 
     private readonly IDbContextFactory<ClaudeDoDbContext> _dbFactory;
+    private readonly HubBroadcaster _broadcaster;
     private readonly ILogger<LegacyWorktreeFolderRecovery> _logger;
 
     public LegacyWorktreeFolderRecovery(
         IDbContextFactory<ClaudeDoDbContext> dbFactory,
+        HubBroadcaster broadcaster,
         ILogger<LegacyWorktreeFolderRecovery> logger)
     {
         _dbFactory = dbFactory;
+        _broadcaster = broadcaster;
         _logger = logger;
     }
 
@@ -40,6 +46,8 @@ public sealed class LegacyWorktreeFolderRecovery : IHostedService
                 LegacyFolderName, affected.Count, string.Join(", ", affected));
         else
             _logger.LogInformation("Legacy worktree folder recovery: no lists affected");
+
+        await _broadcaster.OperationProgress(OperationProgressOpKeys.StartupRecovery, Phase, lists.Count, lists.Count);
     }
 
     public Task StopAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken) => Task.CompletedTask;
diff --git a/src/ClaudeDo.Worker/Lifecycle/OrphanRecovery.cs b/src/ClaudeDo.Worker/Lifecycle/OrphanRecovery.cs
index fd67c02b..7c543975 100644
--- a/src/ClaudeDo.Worker/Lifecycle/OrphanRecovery.cs
+++ b/src/ClaudeDo.Worker/Lifecycle/OrphanRecovery.cs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 using ClaudeDo.Data;
 using ClaudeDo.Data.Repositories;
+using ClaudeDo.Worker.Hub;
 using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore;
 
 namespace ClaudeDo.Worker.Lifecycle;
@@ -12,14 +13,19 @@ namespace ClaudeDo.Worker.Lifecycle;
 /// </summary>
 public sealed class OrphanRecovery : IHostedService
 {
+    public const string Phase = "orphaned-children";
+
     private readonly IDbContextFactory<ClaudeDoDbContext> _dbFactory;
+    private readonly HubBroadcaster _broadcaster;
     private readonly ILogger<OrphanRecovery> _logger;
 
     public OrphanRecovery(
         IDbContextFactory<ClaudeDoDbContext> dbFactory,
+        HubBroadcaster broadcaster,
         ILogger<OrphanRecovery> logger)
     {
         _dbFactory = dbFactory;
+        _broadcaster = broadcaster;
         _logger = logger;
     }
 
@@ -32,6 +38,8 @@ public sealed class OrphanRecovery : IHostedService
             _logger.LogWarning("Orphan recovery: dequeued {Count} stuck child task(s)", dequeued);
         else
             _logger.LogInformation("Orphan recovery: no stuck child tasks found");
+
+        await _broadcaster.OperationProgress(OperationProgressOpKeys.StartupRecovery, Phase, 0, 0);
     }
 
     public Task StopAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken) => Task.CompletedTask;
diff --git a/src/ClaudeDo.Worker/Lifecycle/PlanningLineageRecovery.cs b/src/ClaudeDo.Worker/Lifecycle/PlanningLineageRecovery.cs
index 33d88c02..a100f135 100644
--- a/src/ClaudeDo.Worker/Lifecycle/PlanningLineageRecovery.cs
+++ b/src/ClaudeDo.Worker/Lifecycle/PlanningLineageRecovery.cs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 using ClaudeDo.Data;
 using ClaudeDo.Data.Repositories;
+using ClaudeDo.Worker.Hub;
 using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore;
 
 namespace ClaudeDo.Worker.Lifecycle;
@@ -13,17 +14,22 @@ namespace ClaudeDo.Worker.Lifecycle;
 /// </summary>
 public sealed class PlanningLineageRecovery : IHostedService
 {
+    public const string Phase = "planning-lineage";
+
     private readonly IDbContextFactory<ClaudeDoDbContext> _dbFactory;
     private readonly string _sessionsRoot;
+    private readonly HubBroadcaster _broadcaster;
     private readonly ILogger<PlanningLineageRecovery> _logger;
 
     public PlanningLineageRecovery(
         IDbContextFactory<ClaudeDoDbContext> dbFactory,
         string sessionsRoot,
+        HubBroadcaster broadcaster,
         ILogger<PlanningLineageRecovery> logger)
     {
         _dbFactory = dbFactory;
         _sessionsRoot = sessionsRoot;
+        _broadcaster = broadcaster;
         _logger = logger;
     }
 
@@ -32,6 +38,7 @@ public sealed class PlanningLineageRecovery : IHostedService
         if (!Directory.Exists(_sessionsRoot))
         {
             _logger.LogInformation("Planning lineage recovery: sessions directory missing, nothing to scan");
+            await _broadcaster.OperationProgress(OperationProgressOpKeys.StartupRecovery, Phase, 0, 0);
             return;
         }
 
@@ -39,6 +46,7 @@ public sealed class PlanningLineageRecovery : IHostedService
         if (folders.Length == 0)
         {
             _logger.LogInformation("Planning lineage recovery: no session folders");
+            await _broadcaster.OperationProgress(OperationProgressOpKeys.StartupRecovery, Phase, 0, 0);
             return;
         }
 
@@ -63,6 +71,8 @@ public sealed class PlanningLineageRecovery : IHostedService
 
         if (restored == 0)
             _logger.LogInformation("Planning lineage recovery: no candidates");
+
+        await _broadcaster.OperationProgress(OperationProgressOpKeys.StartupRecovery, Phase, folders.Length, folders.Length);
     }
 
     public Task StopAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken) => Task.CompletedTask;
diff --git a/src/ClaudeDo.Worker/Lifecycle/PromptFileRecovery.cs b/src/ClaudeDo.Worker/Lifecycle/PromptFileRecovery.cs
index 5dae6917..33c84b78 100644
--- a/src/ClaudeDo.Worker/Lifecycle/PromptFileRecovery.cs
+++ b/src/ClaudeDo.Worker/Lifecycle/PromptFileRecovery.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 using ClaudeDo.Data;
+using ClaudeDo.Worker.Hub;
 
 namespace ClaudeDo.Worker.Lifecycle;
 
@@ -10,16 +11,20 @@ namespace ClaudeDo.Worker.Lifecycle;
 /// </summary>
 public sealed class PromptFileRecovery : IHostedService
 {
+    public const string Phase = "prompt-files";
+
     private readonly ILogger<PromptFileRecovery> _logger;
+    private readonly HubBroadcaster _broadcaster;
     private readonly string? _root;
 
-    public PromptFileRecovery(ILogger<PromptFileRecovery> logger, string? root = null)
+    public PromptFileRecovery(ILogger<PromptFileRecovery> logger, HubBroadcaster broadcaster, string? root = null)
     {
         _logger = logger;
+        _broadcaster = broadcaster;
         _root = root;
     }
 
-    public Task StartAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
+    public async Task StartAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken)
     {
         PromptFiles.ReconcileStaleDefaults(_root);
 
@@ -27,7 +32,8 @@ public sealed class PromptFileRecovery : IHostedService
         if (orphans.Count == 0)
         {
             _logger.LogInformation("Prompt file recovery: no orphaned prompt files found");
-            return Task.CompletedTask;
+            await _broadcaster.OperationProgress(OperationProgressOpKeys.StartupRecovery, Phase, 0, 0);
+            return;
         }
 
         foreach (var orphan_path in orphans)
@@ -40,7 +46,7 @@ public sealed class PromptFileRecovery : IHostedService
                     orphan_path);
         }
 
-        return Task.CompletedTask;
+        await _broadcaster.OperationProgress(OperationProgressOpKeys.StartupRecovery, Phase, orphans.Count, orphans.Count);
     }
 
     public Task StopAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken) => Task.CompletedTask;
diff --git a/src/ClaudeDo.Worker/Lifecycle/StaleTaskRecovery.cs b/src/ClaudeDo.Worker/Lifecycle/StaleTaskRecovery.cs
index d39af7a1..d8d84aeb 100644
--- a/src/ClaudeDo.Worker/Lifecycle/StaleTaskRecovery.cs
+++ b/src/ClaudeDo.Worker/Lifecycle/StaleTaskRecovery.cs
@@ -1,15 +1,20 @@
+using ClaudeDo.Worker.Hub;
 using ClaudeDo.Worker.State;
 
 namespace ClaudeDo.Worker.Lifecycle;
 
 public sealed class StaleTaskRecovery : IHostedService
 {
+    public const string Phase = "stale-tasks";
+
     private readonly ITaskStateService _state;
+    private readonly HubBroadcaster _broadcaster;
     private readonly ILogger<StaleTaskRecovery> _logger;
 
-    public StaleTaskRecovery(ITaskStateService state, ILogger<StaleTaskRecovery> logger)
+    public StaleTaskRecovery(ITaskStateService state, HubBroadcaster broadcaster, ILogger<StaleTaskRecovery> logger)
     {
         _state = state;
+        _broadcaster = broadcaster;
         _logger = logger;
     }
 
@@ -20,6 +25,8 @@ public sealed class StaleTaskRecovery : IHostedService
             _logger.LogWarning("Stale task recovery: flipped {Count} running task(s) to failed", flipped);
         else
             _logger.LogInformation("Stale task recovery: no stale tasks found");
+
+        await _broadcaster.OperationProgress(OperationProgressOpKeys.StartupRecovery, Phase, 0, 0);
     }
 
     public Task StopAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken) => Task.CompletedTask;
diff --git a/src/ClaudeDo.Worker/Program.cs b/src/ClaudeDo.Worker/Program.cs
index ff7f7c8a..2ec1916d 100644
--- a/src/ClaudeDo.Worker/Program.cs
+++ b/src/ClaudeDo.Worker/Program.cs
@@ -174,6 +174,7 @@ builder.Services.AddSingleton(sp =>
 builder.Services.AddHostedService(sp => new PlanningLineageRecovery(
     sp.GetRequiredService<IDbContextFactory<ClaudeDoDbContext>>(),
     planningSessionsDir,
+    sp.GetRequiredService<HubBroadcaster>(),
     sp.GetRequiredService<ILogger<PlanningLineageRecovery>>()));
 builder.Services.AddSingleton<ITerminalLauncher>(sp =>
     new WindowsTerminalLauncher("wt.exe", cfg.ClaudeBin));
diff --git a/tests/ClaudeDo.Ui.Tests/IslandsShellViewModelStartupRecoveryTests.cs b/tests/ClaudeDo.Ui.Tests/IslandsShellViewModelStartupRecoveryTests.cs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cbbc1940
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/ClaudeDo.Ui.Tests/IslandsShellViewModelStartupRecoveryTests.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+using ClaudeDo.Ui.ViewModels;
+using Xunit;
+
+namespace ClaudeDo.Ui.Tests;
+
+// Covers C2: the six Lifecycle/*Recovery startup sweeps broadcast OperationProgress under the
+// stable "startup-recovery" opKey; the shell replaces the generic "connecting" text with it
+// while the worker is reconnecting.
+public class IslandsShellViewModelStartupRecoveryTests
+{
+    private sealed class ReconnectingWorkerClient : StubWorkerClient
+    {
+        public override bool IsReconnecting => true;
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void StartupRecoveryProgress_ReplacesConnectingText()
+    {
+        var vm = new IslandsShellViewModel();
+        var worker = new ReconnectingWorkerClient();
+        vm.Worker = worker;
+        worker.OperationProgressEvent += vm.OnOperationProgress;
+
+        worker.RaiseOperationProgress("startup-recovery", "attachments", 3, 6);
+
+        Assert.Contains("3/6", vm.ConnectionText);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void StartupRecoveryProgress_WithoutTotal_ShowsLabelOnly()
+    {
+        var vm = new IslandsShellViewModel();
+        var worker = new ReconnectingWorkerClient();
+        vm.Worker = worker;
+        worker.OperationProgressEvent += vm.OnOperationProgress;
+
+        worker.RaiseOperationProgress("startup-recovery", "stale-tasks", 0, 0);
+
+        Assert.DoesNotContain("/", vm.ConnectionText);
+        Assert.NotEqual(string.Empty, vm.ConnectionText);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void ForeignOpKey_DoesNotChangeConnectionText()
+    {
+        var vm = new IslandsShellViewModel();
+        var worker = new ReconnectingWorkerClient();
+        vm.Worker = worker;
+        worker.OperationProgressEvent += vm.OnOperationProgress;
+        var before = vm.ConnectionText;
+
+        worker.RaiseOperationProgress("merge:task-123", "merging", 0, 0);
+
+        Assert.Equal(before, vm.ConnectionText);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tests/ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests/Lifecycle/AttachmentOrphanRecoveryTests.cs b/tests/ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests/Lifecycle/AttachmentOrphanRecoveryTests.cs
index 4480d47e..baeff322 100644
--- a/tests/ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests/Lifecycle/AttachmentOrphanRecoveryTests.cs
+++ b/tests/ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests/Lifecycle/AttachmentOrphanRecoveryTests.cs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 using ClaudeDo.Data;
 using ClaudeDo.Data.Models;
+using ClaudeDo.Worker.Hub;
 using ClaudeDo.Worker.Lifecycle;
 using ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests.Infrastructure;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging.Abstractions;
@@ -49,14 +50,18 @@ public sealed class AttachmentOrphanRecoveryTests : IDisposable
         Directory.CreateDirectory(liveDir);
         Directory.CreateDirectory(orphanDir);
 
+        var hubContext = new CapturingHubContext();
         var sut = new AttachmentOrphanRecovery(
             _db.CreateFactory(), store,
+            new HubBroadcaster(hubContext),
             NullLogger<AttachmentOrphanRecovery>.Instance);
 
         await sut.StartAsync(CancellationToken.None);
 
         Assert.True(Directory.Exists(liveDir), "Live task dir should be kept");
         Assert.False(Directory.Exists(orphanDir), "Orphan dir should be deleted");
+        Assert.Contains(hubContext.Proxy.Calls, c =>
+            c.Method == "OperationProgress" && (string)c.Args[0]! == "startup-recovery");
     }
 
     [Fact]
@@ -66,10 +71,15 @@ public sealed class AttachmentOrphanRecoveryTests : IDisposable
         var missingRoot = Path.Combine(Path.GetTempPath(), $"claudedo_missing_{Guid.NewGuid():N}");
         var store = new AttachmentStore(missingRoot);
 
+        var hubContext = new CapturingHubContext();
         var sut = new AttachmentOrphanRecovery(
             _db.CreateFactory(), store,
+            new HubBroadcaster(hubContext),
             NullLogger<AttachmentOrphanRecovery>.Instance);
 
         await sut.StartAsync(CancellationToken.None); // must not throw
+
+        Assert.Contains(hubContext.Proxy.Calls, c =>
+            c.Method == "OperationProgress" && (string)c.Args[0]! == "startup-recovery");
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests/Lifecycle/LegacyWorktreeFolderRecoveryTests.cs b/tests/ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests/Lifecycle/LegacyWorktreeFolderRecoveryTests.cs
index 1248dd1c..9c560bd9 100644
--- a/tests/ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests/Lifecycle/LegacyWorktreeFolderRecoveryTests.cs
+++ b/tests/ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests/Lifecycle/LegacyWorktreeFolderRecoveryTests.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 using ClaudeDo.Data.Models;
+using ClaudeDo.Worker.Hub;
 using ClaudeDo.Worker.Lifecycle;
 using ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests.Infrastructure;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging.Abstractions;
@@ -63,9 +64,14 @@ public sealed class LegacyWorktreeFolderRecoveryTests : IDisposable
     [Fact]
     public async Task StartAsync_NoLists_DoesNotThrow()
     {
-        var sut = new LegacyWorktreeFolderRecovery(_db.CreateFactory(), NullLogger<LegacyWorktreeFolderRecovery>.Instance);
+        var hubContext = new CapturingHubContext();
+        var sut = new LegacyWorktreeFolderRecovery(
+            _db.CreateFactory(), new HubBroadcaster(hubContext), NullLogger<LegacyWorktreeFolderRecovery>.Instance);
 
         await sut.StartAsync(CancellationToken.None);
         await sut.StopAsync(CancellationToken.None);
+
+        Assert.Contains(hubContext.Proxy.Calls, c =>
+            c.Method == "OperationProgress" && (string)c.Args[0]! == "startup-recovery");
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests/Lifecycle/OrphanRecoveryTests.cs b/tests/ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests/Lifecycle/OrphanRecoveryTests.cs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2b0a3705
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests/Lifecycle/OrphanRecoveryTests.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+using ClaudeDo.Worker.Hub;
+using ClaudeDo.Worker.Lifecycle;
+using ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests.Infrastructure;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging.Abstractions;
+
+namespace ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests.Lifecycle;
+
+public sealed class OrphanRecoveryTests : IDisposable
+{
+    private readonly DbFixture _db = new();
+
+    public void Dispose() => _db.Dispose();
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task StartAsync_NoOrphans_BroadcastsStartupRecoveryProgress()
+    {
+        var hubContext = new CapturingHubContext();
+        var sut = new OrphanRecovery(
+            _db.CreateFactory(), new HubBroadcaster(hubContext), NullLogger<OrphanRecovery>.Instance);
+
+        await sut.StartAsync(CancellationToken.None);
+        await sut.StopAsync(CancellationToken.None);
+
+        Assert.Contains(hubContext.Proxy.Calls, c =>
+            c.Method == "OperationProgress" && (string)c.Args[0]! == "startup-recovery");
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tests/ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests/Lifecycle/PlanningLineageRecoveryTests.cs b/tests/ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests/Lifecycle/PlanningLineageRecoveryTests.cs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..01e73866
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests/Lifecycle/PlanningLineageRecoveryTests.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+using ClaudeDo.Worker.Hub;
+using ClaudeDo.Worker.Lifecycle;
+using ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests.Infrastructure;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging.Abstractions;
+
+namespace ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests.Lifecycle;
+
+public sealed class PlanningLineageRecoveryTests : IDisposable
+{
+    private readonly DbFixture _db = new();
+
+    public void Dispose() => _db.Dispose();
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task StartAsync_SessionsDirMissing_BroadcastsStartupRecoveryProgress()
+    {
+        var missingRoot = Path.Combine(Path.GetTempPath(), $"claudedo_planning_sessions_{Guid.NewGuid():N}");
+        var hubContext = new CapturingHubContext();
+        var sut = new PlanningLineageRecovery(
+            _db.CreateFactory(), missingRoot, new HubBroadcaster(hubContext),
+            NullLogger<PlanningLineageRecovery>.Instance);
+
+        await sut.StartAsync(CancellationToken.None);
+        await sut.StopAsync(CancellationToken.None);
+
+        Assert.Contains(hubContext.Proxy.Calls, c =>
+            c.Method == "OperationProgress" && (string)c.Args[0]! == "startup-recovery");
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task StartAsync_NoSessionFolders_BroadcastsStartupRecoveryProgress()
+    {
+        var root = Path.Combine(Path.GetTempPath(), $"claudedo_planning_sessions_{Guid.NewGuid():N}");
+        Directory.CreateDirectory(root);
+        try
+        {
+            var hubContext = new CapturingHubContext();
+            var sut = new PlanningLineageRecovery(
+                _db.CreateFactory(), root, new HubBroadcaster(hubContext),
+                NullLogger<PlanningLineageRecovery>.Instance);
+
+            await sut.StartAsync(CancellationToken.None);
+
+            Assert.Contains(hubContext.Proxy.Calls, c =>
+                c.Method == "OperationProgress" && (string)c.Args[0]! == "startup-recovery");
+        }
+        finally
+        {
+            if (Directory.Exists(root)) Directory.Delete(root, recursive: true);
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tests/ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests/Lifecycle/PromptFileRecoveryTests.cs b/tests/ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests/Lifecycle/PromptFileRecoveryTests.cs
index 636b7376..3da5f811 100644
--- a/tests/ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests/Lifecycle/PromptFileRecoveryTests.cs
+++ b/tests/ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests/Lifecycle/PromptFileRecoveryTests.cs
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 using System.Text.Json;
 using ClaudeDo.Data;
+using ClaudeDo.Worker.Hub;
 using ClaudeDo.Worker.Lifecycle;
+using ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests.Infrastructure;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging.Abstractions;
 
@@ -49,7 +51,8 @@ public sealed class PromptFileRecoveryTests
             var orphanPath = Path.Combine(root, "agent.md");
             File.WriteAllText(orphanPath, "leftover");
 
-            var sut = new PromptFileRecovery(NullLogger<PromptFileRecovery>.Instance, root);
+            var hubContext = new CapturingHubContext();
+            var sut = new PromptFileRecovery(NullLogger<PromptFileRecovery>.Instance, new HubBroadcaster(hubContext), root);
 
             await sut.StartAsync(CancellationToken.None);
 
@@ -57,6 +60,8 @@ public sealed class PromptFileRecoveryTests
             Assert.True(File.Exists(PromptFiles.PathFor(PromptKind.System, root)), "Real edit must survive");
             Assert.False(File.Exists(orphanPath), "Orphan must be moved out of the prompts root");
             Assert.True(File.Exists(Path.Combine(root, "_orphans", "agent.md")), "Orphan must be quarantined, not deleted");
+            Assert.Contains(hubContext.Proxy.Calls, c =>
+                c.Method == "OperationProgress" && (string)c.Args[0]! == "startup-recovery");
 
             await sut.StopAsync(CancellationToken.None); // must not throw
         }
@@ -77,7 +82,7 @@ public sealed class PromptFileRecoveryTests
             File.WriteAllText(orphanPath, "my old customized triage+wait+merge prompt");
 
             var logger = new CapturingLogger<PromptFileRecovery>();
-            var sut = new PromptFileRecovery(logger, root);
+            var sut = new PromptFileRecovery(logger, new HubBroadcaster(new CapturingHubContext()), root);
 
             await sut.StartAsync(CancellationToken.None);
 
diff --git a/tests/ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests/Services/StaleTaskRecoveryTests.cs b/tests/ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests/Services/StaleTaskRecoveryTests.cs
index 20eb7d0d..bff982b3 100644
--- a/tests/ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests/Services/StaleTaskRecoveryTests.cs
+++ b/tests/ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests/Services/StaleTaskRecoveryTests.cs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 using ClaudeDo.Data;
 using ClaudeDo.Data.Models;
 using ClaudeDo.Data.Repositories;
+using ClaudeDo.Worker.Hub;
 using ClaudeDo.Worker.Lifecycle;
 using ClaudeDo.Worker.Tests.Infrastructure;
 using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging.Abstractions;
@@ -55,7 +56,8 @@ public sealed class StaleTaskRecoveryTests : IDisposable
         await _tasks.AddAsync(queued);
 
         var built = TaskStateServiceBuilder.Build(_db.CreateFactory());
-        var recovery = new StaleTaskRecovery(built.State, NullLogger<StaleTaskRecovery>.Instance);
+        var hubContext = new CapturingHubContext();
+        var recovery = new StaleTaskRecovery(built.State, new HubBroadcaster(hubContext), NullLogger<StaleTaskRecovery>.Instance);
         await recovery.StartAsync(CancellationToken.None);
 
         var r = await _tasks.GetByIdAsync(running.Id);
@@ -64,5 +66,8 @@ public sealed class StaleTaskRecoveryTests : IDisposable
 
         var q = await _tasks.GetByIdAsync(queued.Id);
         Assert.Equal(TaskStatus.Queued, q!.Status);
+
+        Assert.Contains(hubContext.Proxy.Calls, c =>
+            c.Method == "OperationProgress" && (string)c.Args[0]! == "startup-recovery");
     }
 }