diff --git a/desktop/src/app/AppShell.tsx b/desktop/src/app/AppShell.tsx
index 4bf8a0221..4e579cee6 100644
--- a/desktop/src/app/AppShell.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/app/AppShell.tsx
@@ -137,6 +137,10 @@ export function AppShell() {
     () => channels.filter((channel) => channel.isMember),
     [channels],
   );
+  const sidebarChannels = React.useMemo(
+    () => memberChannels.filter((channel) => channel.archivedAt === null),
+    [memberChannels],
+  );
   const activeChannel = React.useMemo(
     () =>
       selectedChannelId
@@ -379,7 +383,7 @@ export function AppShell() {
             </Button>
           </div>
           <AppSidebar
-            channels={memberChannels}
+            channels={sidebarChannels}
             currentPubkey={identityQuery.data?.pubkey}
             errorMessage={
               channelsQuery.error instanceof Error
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/channels/hooks.ts b/desktop/src/features/channels/hooks.ts
index 12aea3d87..fe118304f 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/channels/hooks.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/features/channels/hooks.ts
@@ -86,6 +86,25 @@ async function invalidateChannelState(
   ]);
 }
 
+function setChannelArchivedState(
+  queryClient: ReturnType<typeof useQueryClient>,
+  channelId: string,
+  archivedAt: string | null,
+) {
+  queryClient.setQueryData<Channel[]>(channelsQueryKey, (current = []) =>
+    sortChannels(
+      current.map((channel) =>
+        channel.id === channelId ? { ...channel, archivedAt } : channel,
+      ),
+    ),
+  );
+
+  queryClient.setQueryData<ChannelDetail | undefined>(
+    channelDetailQueryKey(channelId),
+    (current) => (current ? { ...current, archivedAt } : current),
+  );
+}
+
 export function useChannelsQuery() {
   return useQuery({
     queryKey: channelsQueryKey,
@@ -273,6 +292,13 @@ export function useArchiveChannelMutation(channelId: string | null) {
 
       await archiveChannel(channelId);
     },
+    onSuccess: () => {
+      if (!channelId) {
+        return;
+      }
+
+      setChannelArchivedState(queryClient, channelId, new Date().toISOString());
+    },
     onSettled: async () => {
       await invalidateChannelState(queryClient, channelId);
     },
@@ -290,6 +316,13 @@ export function useUnarchiveChannelMutation(channelId: string | null) {
 
       await unarchiveChannel(channelId);
     },
+    onSuccess: () => {
+      if (!channelId) {
+        return;
+      }
+
+      setChannelArchivedState(queryClient, channelId, null);
+    },
     onSettled: async () => {
       await invalidateChannelState(queryClient, channelId);
     },
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/channels/ui/ChannelBrowserDialog.tsx b/desktop/src/features/channels/ui/ChannelBrowserDialog.tsx
index 10f99063e..a9e261c3c 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/channels/ui/ChannelBrowserDialog.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/channels/ui/ChannelBrowserDialog.tsx
@@ -108,8 +108,9 @@ export function ChannelBrowserDialog({
     const filtered = channels.filter(
       (channel) =>
         channel.channelType !== "dm" &&
-        channel.visibility === "open" &&
-        !channel.archivedAt &&
+        (channel.archivedAt
+          ? channel.isMember
+          : channel.visibility === "open") &&
         (channelTypeFilter ? channel.channelType === channelTypeFilter : true),
     );
 
@@ -133,6 +134,10 @@ export function ChannelBrowserDialog({
     () => browsableChannels.filter((channel) => channel.isMember),
     [browsableChannels],
   );
+  const hasArchivedJoinedChannels = React.useMemo(
+    () => joined.some((channel) => channel.archivedAt !== null),
+    [joined],
+  );
 
   // Flat list for keyboard navigation: not-joined first, then joined
   const allItems = React.useMemo(
@@ -324,7 +329,9 @@ export function ChannelBrowserDialog({
         </div>
 
         <div className="border-t border-border/80 bg-card/50 px-6 py-3 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-          Showing open {entityLabel}s. Private {entityLabel}s require an invite.
+          {hasArchivedJoinedChannels
+            ? `Showing open ${entityLabel}s and your archived ${entityLabel}s. Private ${entityLabel}s require an invite.`
+            : `Showing open ${entityLabel}s. Private ${entityLabel}s require an invite.`}
         </div>
       </DialogContent>
     </Dialog>
@@ -375,6 +382,11 @@ function ChannelCard({
             <p className="rounded-full bg-muted px-2 py-0.5 text-[10px] font-medium uppercase tracking-[0.16em] text-muted-foreground">
               {channel.channelType}
             </p>
+            {channel.archivedAt ? (
+              <p className="rounded-full bg-amber-500/15 px-2 py-0.5 text-[10px] font-medium uppercase tracking-[0.16em] text-amber-700 dark:text-amber-300">
+                archived
+              </p>
+            ) : null}
             <div className="ml-auto flex items-center gap-3">
               <span className="flex items-center gap-1 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
                 <Users className="h-3 w-3" />
diff --git a/desktop/tests/e2e/channels.spec.ts b/desktop/tests/e2e/channels.spec.ts
index 728187f9b..3227201c9 100644
--- a/desktop/tests/e2e/channels.spec.ts
+++ b/desktop/tests/e2e/channels.spec.ts
@@ -571,15 +571,26 @@ test("manage channel can archive and unarchive a stream", async ({ page }) => {
   await expect(page.getByTestId("channel-management-unarchive")).toBeVisible();
 
   await closeChannelManagement(page);
+  await expect(page.getByTestId("stream-list")).not.toContainText("general");
   await expect(page.getByTestId("message-input")).toBeDisabled();
   await expect(page.getByTestId("send-message")).toBeDisabled();
 
+  await page.getByTestId("browse-channels").click();
+  await expect(page.getByTestId("channel-browser-dialog")).toBeVisible();
+  await expect(page.getByTestId("browse-channel-general")).toContainText(
+    "archived",
+  );
+  await page.getByTestId("browse-channel-general").click();
+  await expect(page.getByTestId("channel-browser-dialog")).not.toBeVisible();
+  await expect(page.getByTestId("chat-title")).toHaveText("general");
+
   await page.getByTestId("channel-management-trigger").click();
   await expect(page.getByTestId("channel-management-sheet")).toBeVisible();
   await page.getByTestId("channel-management-unarchive").click();
   await expect(page.getByTestId("channel-management-archive")).toBeVisible();
 
   await closeChannelManagement(page);
+  await expect(page.getByTestId("stream-list")).toContainText("general");
   await expect(page.getByTestId("message-input")).toBeEnabled();
 });
 
diff --git a/desktop/tests/e2e/integration.spec.ts b/desktop/tests/e2e/integration.spec.ts
index 2956e8a8e..2c6a88434 100644
--- a/desktop/tests/e2e/integration.spec.ts
+++ b/desktop/tests/e2e/integration.spec.ts
@@ -542,12 +542,20 @@ test("manage sheet archive and unarchive survives a reload through the relay", a
   await expect(page.getByTestId("channel-management-unarchive")).toBeVisible();
   await closeChannelManagement(page);
 
+  await expect(page.getByTestId("stream-list")).not.toContainText(channelName);
   await expect(page.getByTestId("message-input")).toBeDisabled();
   await expect(page.getByTestId("send-message")).toBeDisabled();
 
   await page.reload();
 
-  await page.getByTestId(`channel-${channelName}`).click();
+  await expect(page.getByTestId("stream-list")).not.toContainText(channelName);
+  await page.getByTestId("browse-channels").click();
+  await expect(page.getByTestId("channel-browser-dialog")).toBeVisible();
+  await expect(page.getByTestId(`browse-channel-${channelName}`)).toContainText(
+    "archived",
+  );
+  await page.getByTestId(`browse-channel-${channelName}`).click();
+  await expect(page.getByTestId("channel-browser-dialog")).not.toBeVisible();
   await expect(page.getByTestId("chat-title")).toHaveText(channelName);
   await expect(page.getByTestId("message-input")).toBeDisabled();
 
@@ -556,5 +564,6 @@ test("manage sheet archive and unarchive survives a reload through the relay", a
   await expect(page.getByTestId("channel-management-archive")).toBeVisible();
   await closeChannelManagement(page);
 
+  await expect(page.getByTestId("stream-list")).toContainText(channelName);
   await expect(page.getByTestId("message-input")).toBeEnabled();
 });
diff --git a/desktop/tests/e2e/stream.spec.ts b/desktop/tests/e2e/stream.spec.ts
index f386406fb..f149b7a1c 100644
--- a/desktop/tests/e2e/stream.spec.ts
+++ b/desktop/tests/e2e/stream.spec.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,15 @@ import { expect, test, type Browser, type Page } from "@playwright/test";
 import { installRelayBridge } from "../helpers/bridge";
 import { assertRelaySeeded } from "../helpers/seed";
 
+const isCi = Boolean(process.env.CI);
+const relayDeliveryTimeoutMs = isCi ? 15_000 : 5_000;
+
+async function expectTimelineToContain(page: Page, text: string) {
+  await expect(page.getByTestId("message-timeline")).toContainText(text, {
+    timeout: relayDeliveryTimeoutMs,
+  });
+}
+
 async function getTimelineMetrics(page: Page) {
   return page.getByTestId("message-timeline").evaluate((element) => {
     const timeline = element as HTMLDivElement;
@@ -36,9 +45,7 @@ async function ensureTimelineScrollable(
     await expect(input).toBeEnabled();
     await input.fill(message);
     await sendButton.click();
-    await expect(receiverPage.getByTestId("message-timeline")).toContainText(
-      message,
-    );
+    await expectTimelineToContain(receiverPage, message);
   }
 
   const metrics = await getTimelineMetrics(receiverPage);
@@ -143,7 +150,7 @@ test("sends a message through the real relay", async ({ page }) => {
   await page.getByTestId("message-input").fill(message);
   await page.getByTestId("send-message").click();
 
-  await expect(page.getByTestId("message-timeline")).toContainText(message);
+  await expectTimelineToContain(page, message);
 });
 
 test("delivers a message to a second browser context in real time", async ({
@@ -169,9 +176,7 @@ test("delivers a message to a second browser context in real time", async ({
     await pageOne.getByTestId("message-input").fill(message);
     await pageOne.getByTestId("send-message").click();
 
-    await expect(pageTwo.getByTestId("message-timeline")).toContainText(
-      message,
-    );
+    await expectTimelineToContain(pageTwo, message);
   } finally {
     await contextOne.close();
     await contextTwo.close();
@@ -183,6 +188,8 @@ test("stays pinned to the latest message when new messages arrive at the bottom"
 }: {
   browser: Browser;
 }) => {
+  test.slow();
+
   const channelName = `pinned-bottom-${Date.now()}`;
   const contextOne = await browser.newContext();
   const contextTwo = await browser.newContext();
@@ -207,9 +214,7 @@ test("stays pinned to the latest message when new messages arrive at the bottom"
     await pageOne.getByTestId("message-input").fill(incomingMessage);
     await pageOne.getByTestId("send-message").click();
 
-    await expect(pageTwo.getByTestId("message-timeline")).toContainText(
-      incomingMessage,
-    );
+    await expectTimelineToContain(pageTwo, incomingMessage);
     await expect
       .poll(async () => (await getTimelineMetrics(pageTwo)).distanceFromBottom)
       .toBeLessThan(8);
@@ -227,6 +232,8 @@ test("stays pinned after you send a message and a remote reply arrives right aft
 }: {
   browser: Browser;
 }) => {
+  test.slow();
+
   const channelName = `reply-shared-${Date.now()}`;
   const contextOne = await browser.newContext();
   const contextTwo = await browser.newContext();
@@ -251,16 +258,12 @@ test("stays pinned after you send a message and a remote reply arrives right aft
 
     await pageTwo.getByTestId("message-input").fill(localMessage);
     await pageTwo.getByTestId("send-message").click();
-    await expect(pageTwo.getByTestId("message-timeline")).toContainText(
-      localMessage,
-    );
+    await expectTimelineToContain(pageTwo, localMessage);
 
     await pageOne.getByTestId("message-input").fill(incomingMessage);
     await pageOne.getByTestId("send-message").click();
 
-    await expect(pageTwo.getByTestId("message-timeline")).toContainText(
-      incomingMessage,
-    );
+    await expectTimelineToContain(pageTwo, incomingMessage);
     await expect
       .poll(async () => (await getTimelineMetrics(pageTwo)).distanceFromBottom)
       .toBeLessThan(8);
@@ -278,6 +281,8 @@ test("keeps bottom-pinned scrolling after the composer grows", async ({
 }: {
   browser: Browser;
 }) => {
+  test.slow();
+
   const channelName = `composer-shared-${Date.now()}`;
   const contextOne = await browser.newContext();
   const contextTwo = await browser.newContext();
@@ -315,9 +320,7 @@ test("keeps bottom-pinned scrolling after the composer grows", async ({
     await pageOne.getByTestId("message-input").fill(incomingMessage);
     await pageOne.getByTestId("send-message").click();
 
-    await expect(pageTwo.getByTestId("message-timeline")).toContainText(
-      incomingMessage,
-    );
+    await expectTimelineToContain(pageTwo, incomingMessage);
     await expect
       .poll(async () => (await getTimelineMetrics(pageTwo)).distanceFromBottom)
       .toBeLessThan(8);
@@ -335,6 +338,8 @@ test("keeps scroll position when new messages arrive above the fold", async ({
 }: {
   browser: Browser;
 }) => {
+  test.slow();
+
   const channelName = `scroll-shared-${Date.now()}`;
   const contextOne = await browser.newContext();
   const contextTwo = await browser.newContext();
@@ -370,9 +375,7 @@ test("keeps scroll position when new messages arrive above the fold", async ({
 
     await pageTwo.getByTestId("message-scroll-to-latest").click();
 
-    await expect(pageTwo.getByTestId("message-timeline")).toContainText(
-      incomingMessage,
-    );
+    await expectTimelineToContain(pageTwo, incomingMessage);
     await expect
       .poll(async () => (await getTimelineMetrics(pageTwo)).distanceFromBottom)
       .toBeLessThan(8);
diff --git a/desktop/tests/helpers/seed.ts b/desktop/tests/helpers/seed.ts
index f5a2daa3a..e46456338 100644
--- a/desktop/tests/helpers/seed.ts
+++ b/desktop/tests/helpers/seed.ts
@@ -2,14 +2,15 @@ import { request } from "@playwright/test";
 
 const tylerPubkey =
   "e5ebc6cdb579be112e336cc319b5989b4bb6af11786ea90dbe52b5f08d741b34";
+const isCi = Boolean(process.env.CI);
 const relayBaseUrl =
-  process.env.SPROUT_E2E_RELAY_URL ?? "http://localhost:3000";
+  process.env.SPROUT_E2E_RELAY_URL ?? "http://127.0.0.1:3000";
 const seedTimeoutMs = Number.parseInt(
-  process.env.SPROUT_E2E_SEED_TIMEOUT_MS ?? "25000",
+  process.env.SPROUT_E2E_SEED_TIMEOUT_MS ?? (isCi ? "60000" : "25000"),
   10,
 );
 const requestTimeoutMs = Number.parseInt(
-  process.env.SPROUT_E2E_SEED_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS ?? "2000",
+  process.env.SPROUT_E2E_SEED_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS ?? (isCi ? "5000" : "2000"),
   10,
 );
 const retryDelayMs = Number.parseInt(