diff --git a/docs/expo-router.md b/docs/expo-router.md
index 4ccdc14d39..6ff9d14c9c 100644
--- a/docs/expo-router.md
+++ b/docs/expo-router.md
@@ -47,6 +47,15 @@ state.
 This split is deliberate. The host layout must mount first so native local
 dynamic params exist before any nested workspace leaf is selected.
 
+## Error Recovery
+
+The root error boundary lives above `ExpoRoot` in `src/root-app.tsx`. Reload
+remounts the router at `/open-project`, preserving saved workspace layouts and
+the remembered selection. Do not move the boundary inside the root layout:
+catching a render error there unmounts the navigator, so the recovery button
+cannot reliably dispatch a navigation reset. Starting recovery at `/` would
+restore the same workspace and could repeat the crash.
+
 ## App-Wide Route Hops
 
 When app-wide routes such as `/new`, `/settings`, or `/sessions` navigate back
diff --git a/packages/app/e2e/browser/root-error-recovery.spec.ts b/packages/app/e2e/browser/root-error-recovery.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..26fc70c4bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/app/e2e/browser/root-error-recovery.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+import { createServer, type Server } from "node:http";
+import { expect, test, type Page, type TestInfo } from "@playwright/test";
+
+let server: Server;
+let appUrl: string;
+test.beforeAll(async () => {
+  const metroPort = process.env.E2E_METRO_PORT;
+  if (!metroPort) throw new Error("E2E_METRO_PORT is required");
+  const bundle = `http://localhost:${metroPort}/packages/app/e2e/support/recovery-app.bundle?platform=web&dev=true&minify=false&hot=false&lazy=true&transform.engine=hermes&transform.routerRoot=src%2Fapp`;
+  server = createServer((_request, response) => {
+    response.setHeader("Content-Type", "text/html");
+    response.end(
+      `<!doctype html><html><head><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><style>html,body,#root{height:100%;margin:0}#root{display:flex}</style></head><body><div id="root"></div><script src="${bundle}"></script></body></html>`,
+    );
+  });
+  await new Promise<void>((resolve) => server.listen(0, "127.0.0.1", resolve));
+  const address = server.address();
+  if (!address || typeof address === "string") throw new Error("Fixture server did not start");
+  appUrl = `http://127.0.0.1:${address.port}`;
+});
+
+test.afterAll(async () => {
+  await new Promise<void>((resolve, reject) =>
+    server.close((error) => {
+      if (error) {
+        reject(error);
+        return;
+      }
+      resolve();
+    }),
+  );
+});
+
+async function openBrokenStartup(page: Page) {
+  await page.addInitScript(() => {
+    localStorage.setItem(
+      "workspace-layout-state",
+      JSON.stringify({ state: { layoutByWorkspace: {} }, version: 1 }),
+    );
+    localStorage.setItem(
+      "paseo:last-workspace-route-selection",
+      JSON.stringify({ serverId: "fixture-host", workspaceId: "broken" }),
+    );
+  });
+  await page.goto(appUrl);
+  await expect(page.getByText("Paseo ran into a problem.", { exact: true })).toBeVisible();
+}
+async function readSavedWorkspaceState(page: Page) {
+  return page.evaluate(() => ({
+    layout: localStorage.getItem("workspace-layout-state"),
+    selection: localStorage.getItem("paseo:last-workspace-route-selection"),
+  }));
+}
+async function reloadToPicker(page: Page) {
+  await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Reload", exact: true }).click();
+  await expect(page).toHaveURL(`${appUrl}/open-project`);
+  await expect(page.getByText("Project picker", { exact: true })).toBeVisible();
+  await expect(page.getByText("Paseo ran into a problem.", { exact: true })).toHaveCount(0);
+}
+async function openHealthyWorkspace(page: Page) {
+  await page.getByRole("link", { name: "Open healthy workspace" }).click();
+  await expect(page.getByText("Healthy workspace", { exact: true })).toBeVisible();
+}
+async function breakCurrentWorkspace(page: Page) {
+  await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Break this workspace" }).click();
+  await expect(page.getByText("Paseo ran into a problem.", { exact: true })).toBeVisible();
+}
+async function captureRecoveryScreen(page: Page, testInfo: TestInfo, name: string) {
+  const path = testInfo.outputPath(`${name}.png`);
+  await page.screenshot({ path });
+  await testInfo.attach(name, { path, contentType: "image/png" });
+}
+
+test("Reload escapes a startup redirect and supports another recovery", async ({
+  page,
+}, testInfo) => {
+  await openBrokenStartup(page);
+  const saved = await readSavedWorkspaceState(page);
+  await captureRecoveryScreen(page, testInfo, "error-screen");
+  await reloadToPicker(page);
+  expect(await readSavedWorkspaceState(page)).toEqual(saved);
+  await captureRecoveryScreen(page, testInfo, "recovered-picker");
+  await openHealthyWorkspace(page);
+  await breakCurrentWorkspace(page);
+  await reloadToPicker(page);
+});
+
+test.describe("compact error recovery", () => {
+  test.use({ viewport: { width: 390, height: 844 } });
+  test("Reload remains reachable and returns to the picker", async ({ page }, testInfo) => {
+    await openBrokenStartup(page);
+    await captureRecoveryScreen(page, testInfo, "compact-error-screen");
+    await reloadToPicker(page);
+    await captureRecoveryScreen(page, testInfo, "compact-recovered-picker");
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/app/e2e/support/recovery-app.tsx b/packages/app/e2e/support/recovery-app.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4ec02edd26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/app/e2e/support/recovery-app.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+// Test-only entry: the production recovery boundary and Expo router with failing routes.
+import "../../src/styles/unistyles";
+// oxlint-disable-next-line import/no-unassigned-import -- Match the Metro web entry runtime.
+import "@expo/metro-runtime";
+import { registerRootComponent } from "expo";
+import { Link, Redirect, Stack, type Href } from "expo-router";
+import { useCallback, useState, type ComponentProps } from "react";
+import { Button, Text, View } from "react-native";
+import { RootRouter } from "../../src/root-app";
+
+const screenOptions = { headerShown: false };
+function Layout() {
+  return <Stack screenOptions={screenOptions} />;
+}
+// Fixture routes are absent from Expo's generated production route types.
+function Startup() {
+  return <Redirect href={"/broken" as Href} />;
+}
+function BrokenWorkspace(): never {
+  throw new Error("Workspace recovery fixture");
+}
+function Picker() {
+  return (
+    <View>
+      <Text>Project picker</Text>
+      <Link href={"/healthy" as Href}>Open healthy workspace</Link>
+    </View>
+  );
+}
+function HealthyWorkspace() {
+  const [broken, setBroken] = useState(false);
+  const breakWorkspace = useCallback(() => setBroken(true), []);
+  if (broken) return <BrokenWorkspace />;
+  return (
+    <View>
+      <Text>Healthy workspace</Text>
+      <Button title="Break this workspace" onPress={breakWorkspace} />
+    </View>
+  );
+}
+const screens = {
+  "./_layout.tsx": { default: Layout },
+  "./index.tsx": { default: Startup },
+  "./broken.tsx": { default: BrokenWorkspace },
+  "./open-project.tsx": { default: Picker },
+  "./healthy.tsx": { default: HealthyWorkspace },
+};
+const context: ComponentProps<typeof RootRouter>["context"] = Object.assign(
+  (key: string) => screens[key as keyof typeof screens],
+  { keys: () => Object.keys(screens), resolve: (key: string) => key, id: "recovery-fixture" },
+);
+function RecoveryApp() {
+  return <RootRouter context={context} />;
+}
+registerRootComponent(RecoveryApp);
diff --git a/packages/app/index.ts b/packages/app/index.ts
index 060f848a71..03b518fd2c 100644
--- a/packages/app/index.ts
+++ b/packages/app/index.ts
@@ -8,4 +8,11 @@ polyfillScreenOrientation();
 
 // Configure Unistyles before Expo Router pulls in any components using StyleSheet.
 import "./src/styles/unistyles";
-import "expo-router/entry";
+// oxlint-disable-next-line import/no-unassigned-import -- Preserve Expo's entry side effects.
+import "@expo/metro-runtime";
+// oxlint-disable-next-line import/no-unassigned-import -- Preserve Expo's entry side effects.
+import "expo-router/build/fast-refresh";
+import { renderRootComponent } from "expo-router/build/renderRootComponent";
+import { RootApp } from "./src/root-app";
+
+renderRootComponent(RootApp);
diff --git a/packages/app/src/app/_layout.tsx b/packages/app/src/app/_layout.tsx
index eebd8ee675..f35c533633 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/app/_layout.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/app/_layout.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import "@/styles/unistyles";
 import { BottomSheetModalProvider } from "@gorhom/bottom-sheet";
 import { PortalProvider } from "@gorhom/portal";
-import { QueryClientProvider } from "@tanstack/react-query";
 import * as Linking from "expo-linking";
 import * as Notifications from "expo-notifications";
 import { Stack, useNavigationContainerRef, usePathname, useRouter } from "expo-router";
@@ -19,7 +18,6 @@ import {
 import { AppState, useWindowDimensions, View } from "react-native";
 import { GestureDetector, GestureHandlerRootView } from "react-native-gesture-handler";
 import { KeyboardProvider } from "react-native-keyboard-controller";
-import { SafeAreaProvider } from "react-native-safe-area-context";
 import { StyleSheet, useUnistyles } from "react-native-unistyles";
 import { AppearanceProvider } from "@/appearance/provider";
 import { CommandCenter } from "@/command-center/command-center";
@@ -43,7 +41,6 @@ import { WorkspacePinShortcutHandler } from "@/components/workspace-pin-shortcut
 import { WorkspaceRenameHost } from "@/components/workspace-rename-host";
 import { CompactExplorerSidebarHost } from "@/components/compact-explorer-sidebar-host";
 import { ProviderSettingsHost } from "@/components/provider-settings-host";
-import { RootErrorBoundary } from "@/components/root-error-boundary";
 import { WorkspaceSetupDialog } from "@/components/workspace-setup-dialog";
 import { WorkspaceShortcutTargetsSubscriber } from "@/components/workspace-shortcut-targets-subscriber";
 import { FloatingPanelPortalHost } from "@/components/ui/floating-panel-portal";
@@ -98,14 +95,12 @@ import { useAppSettings } from "@/hooks/use-settings";
 import { useStableEvent } from "@/hooks/use-stable-event";
 import { useOpenAgentListGesture } from "@/mobile-panels/gestures";
 import { MobilePanelsProvider, useIsMobilePanelActive } from "@/mobile-panels/provider";
-import { I18nProvider } from "@/i18n/provider";
 import {
   KeyboardActionDispatcherProvider,
   useKeyboardActionDispatcher,
 } from "@/keyboard/keyboard-action-dispatcher-context";
 import { polyfillCrypto } from "@/polyfills/crypto";
 import { polyfillNavigator } from "@/polyfills/navigator";
-import { queryClient } from "@/data/query-client";
 import {
   getHostRuntimeStore,
   hasConfiguredLocalDaemonOverride,
@@ -451,10 +446,6 @@ export function useHostRuntimeBootstrapState(): HostRuntimeBootstrapState {
   return useContext(HostRuntimeBootstrapContext);
 }
 
-function QueryProvider({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
-  return <QueryClientProvider client={queryClient}>{children}</QueryClientProvider>;
-}
-
 const rowStyle = { flex: 1, flexDirection: "row" } as const;
 const flexStyle = { flex: 1 } as const;
 const MOBILE_WEB_GESTURE_TOUCH_ACTION = isWeb ? "auto" : "pan-y";
@@ -1010,17 +1001,7 @@ export default function RootLayout() {
     return () => subscription.remove();
   }, []);
 
-  return (
-    <QueryProvider>
-      <I18nProvider>
-        <SafeAreaProvider>
-          <RootErrorBoundary>
-            <RootAppTree />
-          </RootErrorBoundary>
-        </SafeAreaProvider>
-      </I18nProvider>
-    </QueryProvider>
-  );
+  return <RootAppTree />;
 }
 
 const layoutStyles = StyleSheet.create((theme) => ({
diff --git a/packages/app/src/components/root-error-boundary.test.tsx b/packages/app/src/components/root-error-boundary.test.tsx
index de1a8225e8..12bf05ee43 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/components/root-error-boundary.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/components/root-error-boundary.test.tsx
@@ -71,25 +71,26 @@ afterEach(() => {
 
 describe("RootErrorFallback", () => {
   for (const breakpoint of ["xs", "lg"]) {
-    it(`keeps the safe-area header and retry action outside the scrollable details on ${breakpoint}`, () => {
+    it(`keeps the safe-area header and reload action outside the scrollable details on ${breakpoint}`, () => {
       runtime.breakpoint = breakpoint;
       act(() => {
-        root?.render(<RootErrorFallback error={"failure\n".repeat(200)} onRetry={vi.fn()} />);
+        root?.render(<RootErrorFallback error={"failure\n".repeat(200)} onReload={vi.fn()} />);
       });
 
       const screen = document.querySelector('[data-testid="root-error-boundary"]');
       const header = document.querySelector('[data-testid="root-error-boundary-header"]');
       const details = document.querySelector('[data-testid="root-error-boundary-details"]');
-      const retry = document.querySelector('[data-testid="root-error-boundary-retry"]');
+      const reload = document.querySelector('[data-testid="root-error-boundary-reload"]');
 
       expect(screen).not.toBeNull();
       expect(header).not.toBeNull();
       expect(details).not.toBeNull();
-      expect(retry).not.toBeNull();
+      expect(reload).not.toBeNull();
+      expect(reload?.textContent).toBe("common.actions.reload");
       expect(screen?.getAttribute("style")).toContain("padding: 47px 3px 34px 5px");
       expect(details?.contains(header)).toBe(false);
-      expect(details?.contains(retry)).toBe(false);
-      expect(screen?.contains(retry)).toBe(true);
+      expect(details?.contains(reload)).toBe(false);
+      expect(screen?.contains(reload)).toBe(true);
     });
   }
 });
diff --git a/packages/app/src/components/root-error-boundary.tsx b/packages/app/src/components/root-error-boundary.tsx
index 1ed3de6707..01e8b79563 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/components/root-error-boundary.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/components/root-error-boundary.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import React, { Component, Fragment, type ErrorInfo, type ReactNode } from "react";
+import React, { Component, type ErrorInfo, type ReactNode } from "react";
 import { Text, View } from "react-native";
 import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
 import { useSafeAreaInsets } from "react-native-safe-area-context";
@@ -10,17 +10,16 @@ import { formatCaughtValue } from "./root-error-details";
 
 interface RootErrorBoundaryProps {
   children: ReactNode;
+  onReload: () => void;
 }
 
 interface RootErrorBoundaryState {
   error: string | null;
-  resetKey: number;
 }
 
 export class RootErrorBoundary extends Component<RootErrorBoundaryProps, RootErrorBoundaryState> {
   state: RootErrorBoundaryState = {
     error: null,
-    resetKey: 0,
   };
 
   static getDerivedStateFromError(error: unknown): Partial<RootErrorBoundaryState> {
@@ -34,40 +33,33 @@ export class RootErrorBoundary extends Component<RootErrorBoundaryProps, RootErr
     });
   }
 
-  retry = () => {
-    this.setState(({ resetKey }) => ({
-      error: null,
-      resetKey: resetKey + 1,
-    }));
-  };
-
   render() {
-    const { error, resetKey } = this.state;
+    const { error } = this.state;
     if (error !== null) {
-      return <RootErrorFallback error={error} onRetry={this.retry} />;
+      return <RootErrorFallback error={error} onReload={this.props.onReload} />;
     }
 
-    return <Fragment key={resetKey}>{this.props.children}</Fragment>;
+    return this.props.children;
   }
 }
 
 // A stack trace is reference material, not the screen. Cap it so the message and
-// the retry action stay the shape of the page; the rest scrolls.
+// the reload action stay the shape of the page; the rest scrolls.
 const DETAILS_MAX_HEIGHT = 300;
 
 interface RootErrorFallbackProps {
   error: string;
-  onRetry: () => void;
+  onReload: () => void;
 }
 
-export function RootErrorFallback({ error, onRetry }: RootErrorFallbackProps) {
+export function RootErrorFallback({ error, onReload }: RootErrorFallbackProps) {
   const { t } = useTranslation();
   const insets = useSafeAreaInsets();
   const isCompact = useIsCompactFormFactor();
 
-  const retry = (
-    <Button variant="default" onPress={onRetry} testID="root-error-boundary-retry">
-      {t("common.actions.retry")}
+  const reload = (
+    <Button variant="default" onPress={onReload} testID="root-error-boundary-reload">
+      {t("common.actions.reload")}
     </Button>
   );
 
@@ -100,9 +92,9 @@ export function RootErrorFallback({ error, onRetry }: RootErrorFallbackProps) {
             {error}
           </ScrollableCodeSurface>
         </View>
-        {isCompact ? null : retry}
+        {isCompact ? null : reload}
       </View>
-      {isCompact ? <View style={styles.footer}>{retry}</View> : null}
+      {isCompact ? <View style={styles.footer}>{reload}</View> : null}
     </View>
   );
 }
diff --git a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ar.ts b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ar.ts
index 1f3a5b3b02..30adccccd7 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ar.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ar.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ export const ar: TranslationResources = {
       copy: "ينسخ",
       copyLine: "نسخ السطر",
       dismiss: "رفض",
+      reload: "إعادة التحميل",
       retry: "أعد المحاولة",
       search: "يبحث",
       select: "يختار",
diff --git a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/en.ts b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/en.ts
index 831bc8eb18..e738f13e82 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/en.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/en.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ export const en = {
       copy: "Copy",
       copyLine: "Copy line",
       dismiss: "Dismiss",
+      reload: "Reload",
       retry: "Retry",
       search: "Search",
       select: "Select",
diff --git a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/es.ts b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/es.ts
index 810a29c86e..2c4abbc907 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/es.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/es.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ export const es: TranslationResources = {
       copy: "Copiar",
       copyLine: "Copiar línea",
       dismiss: "Despedir",
+      reload: "Volver a cargar",
       retry: "Rever",
       search: "Buscar",
       select: "Seleccionar",
diff --git a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/fr.ts b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/fr.ts
index 56e11702c1..6b26d97812 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/fr.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/fr.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ export const fr: TranslationResources = {
       copy: "Copie",
       copyLine: "Copier la ligne",
       dismiss: "Rejeter",
+      reload: "Recharger",
       retry: "Réessayer",
       search: "Recherche",
       select: "Sélectionner",
diff --git a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ja.ts b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ja.ts
index 7ab9c3f3a4..bcb85cd9a6 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ja.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ja.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ export const ja: TranslationResources = {
       copy: "コピー",
       copyLine: "行をコピー",
       dismiss: "閉じる",
+      reload: "再読み込み",
       retry: "再試行",
       search: "検索",
       select: "選択",
diff --git a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ko.ts b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ko.ts
index 394c8474e3..6b995ffc72 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ko.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ko.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ export const ko: TranslationResources = {
       copy: "복사",
       copyLine: "줄 복사",
       dismiss: "닫기",
+      reload: "다시 로드",
       retry: "다시 시도",
       search: "검색",
       select: "선택",
diff --git a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/pt-BR.ts b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/pt-BR.ts
index b14a5e61bc..e6b1acdb32 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/pt-BR.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/pt-BR.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ export const ptBR: TranslationResources = {
       copy: "Copiar",
       copyLine: "Copiar linha",
       dismiss: "Dispensar",
+      reload: "Recarregar",
       retry: "Tentar novamente",
       search: "Buscar",
       select: "Selecionar",
diff --git a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ru.ts b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ru.ts
index 9ebde808b0..23b29edb13 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ru.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ru.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ export const ru: TranslationResources = {
       copy: "Копировать",
       copyLine: "Копировать строку",
       dismiss: "Отклонить",
+      reload: "Перезагрузить",
       retry: "Повторить",
       search: "Поиск",
       select: "Выбрать",
diff --git a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/zh-CN.ts b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/zh-CN.ts
index 73ef534bd9..32442aba5f 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/zh-CN.ts
+++ b/packages/app/src/i18n/resources/zh-CN.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ export const zhCN: TranslationResources = {
       copy: "复制",
       copyLine: "复制行",
       dismiss: "关闭",
+      reload: "重新加载",
       retry: "重试",
       search: "搜索",
       select: "选择",
diff --git a/packages/app/src/root-app.tsx b/packages/app/src/root-app.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..cae9b169d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/app/src/root-app.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+import { useCallback, useState, type ComponentProps } from "react";
+import { ExpoRoot } from "expo-router";
+import Head from "expo-router/head";
+import { QueryClientProvider } from "@tanstack/react-query";
+import { SafeAreaProvider } from "react-native-safe-area-context";
+import { queryClient } from "@/data/query-client";
+import { I18nProvider } from "@/i18n/provider";
+import { RootErrorBoundary } from "@/components/root-error-boundary";
+
+// Keep Expo's platform filtering, route root, and lazy import configuration.
+const { ctx: context } = require("expo-router/_ctx") as {
+  ctx: ComponentProps<typeof ExpoRoot>["context"];
+};
+
+export function RootApp() {
+  return <RootRouter context={context} />;
+}
+
+export function RootRouter({ context: routes }: Pick<ComponentProps<typeof ExpoRoot>, "context">) {
+  const [generation, setGeneration] = useState(0);
+  const reload = useCallback(() => setGeneration((value) => value + 1), []);
+
+  return (
+    <QueryClientProvider client={queryClient}>
+      <I18nProvider>
+        <SafeAreaProvider>
+          <RootErrorBoundary key={generation} onReload={reload}>
+            <Head.Provider>
+              {/* Recreate the router at a safe destination before a failed route can mount. */}
+              <ExpoRoot
+                context={routes}
+                location={generation === 0 ? undefined : "/open-project"}
+              />
+            </Head.Provider>
+          </RootErrorBoundary>
+        </SafeAreaProvider>
+      </I18nProvider>
+    </QueryClientProvider>
+  );
+}