diff --git a/static/boot.js b/static/boot.js
index 70f50ebe..f0a5bc1e 100644
--- a/static/boot.js
+++ b/static/boot.js
@@ -81,13 +81,20 @@ async function cancelSessionStream(session){
 }
 
 async function _savedSessionShouldStaySidebarOnly(sid){
+  const state = await _savedSessionSidebarOnlyState(sid);
+  return !!(state&&state.sidebarOnly);
+}
+
+async function _savedSessionSidebarOnlyState(sid){
   if(!sid) return false;
   try{
     const data = await api(`/api/session?session_id=${encodeURIComponent(sid)}&messages=0&resolve_model=0`);
     const session = data&&data.session;
-    return !!(session&&(session.active_stream_id||session.pending_user_message||session.archived));
+    const archived = !!(session&&session.archived);
+    const running = !!(session&&(session.active_stream_id||session.pending_user_message));
+    return {sidebarOnly:archived||running, archived};
   }catch(e){
-    return false;
+    return null;
   }
 }
 
@@ -2708,7 +2715,13 @@ window._applyTitlebarProfileVisibility=_applyTitlebarProfileVisibility;
   const saved=urlSession||savedLocal;
   if(saved){
     try{
-      if(!urlSession&&savedLocal&&await _savedSessionShouldStaySidebarOnly(savedLocal)){
+      const savedSidebarOnlyState=(!urlSession&&savedLocal)
+        ? await _savedSessionSidebarOnlyState(savedLocal)
+        : null;
+      if(savedSidebarOnlyState&&savedSidebarOnlyState.sidebarOnly){
+        if(savedSidebarOnlyState.archived){
+          try{localStorage.removeItem('hermes-webui-session');}catch(_){}
+        }
         S.session=null; S.messages=[]; S.activeStreamId=null; S.busy=false;
         S._bootReady=true;
         syncTopbar();syncWorkspacePanelState();
diff --git a/tests/test_1694_root_saved_running_policy.py b/tests/test_1694_root_saved_running_policy.py
index 00a72234..9e1793e2 100644
--- a/tests/test_1694_root_saved_running_policy.py
+++ b/tests/test_1694_root_saved_running_policy.py
@@ -55,14 +55,14 @@ def test_root_saved_running_session_is_checked_before_load_session_projection():
         "saved running-session root guard must run before loadSession(saved), "
         "otherwise loadSession already projects the session into the active pane"
     )
-    assert "_savedSessionShouldStaySidebarOnly" in block, (
+    assert "_savedSessionSidebarOnlyState" in block, (
         "boot should delegate the saved-running metadata check to a named helper"
     )
 
 
 def test_saved_running_session_helper_uses_metadata_only_and_runtime_markers():
     """The helper should inspect metadata without loading messages or attaching SSE."""
-    helper_idx = BOOT_JS.find("async function _savedSessionShouldStaySidebarOnly")
+    helper_idx = BOOT_JS.find("async function _savedSessionSidebarOnlyState")
     assert helper_idx > 0, "saved-running root policy helper not found"
     helper = BOOT_JS[helper_idx:helper_idx + 1200]
     assert "/api/session?session_id=" in helper, (
@@ -76,6 +76,10 @@ def test_saved_running_session_helper_uses_metadata_only_and_runtime_markers():
         "helper must skip auto-opening archived localStorage sessions so root "
         "boot lands on the empty state instead of reopening archived chats"
     )
+    assert "sidebarOnly:archived||running" in helper.replace(" ", ""), (
+        "helper must report the sidebar-only decision without conflating archived "
+        "sessions with running sessions"
+    )
     assert "loadSession(" not in helper, (
         "helper must not call loadSession(), because that would already project "
         "the saved session into the active pane"
@@ -85,7 +89,7 @@ def test_saved_running_session_helper_uses_metadata_only_and_runtime_markers():
 def test_root_saved_running_sidebar_only_path_renders_empty_state_and_sidebar():
     """Skipping projection should still leave the app usable and sidebar visible."""
     block = _boot_saved_session_block()
-    helper_pos = block.find("_savedSessionShouldStaySidebarOnly")
+    helper_pos = block.find("_savedSessionSidebarOnlyState")
     render_pos = block.find("await renderSessionList()", helper_pos)
     empty_pos = block.find("$('emptyState').style.display=''", helper_pos)
     return_pos = block.find("return;", helper_pos)
@@ -93,3 +97,18 @@ def test_root_saved_running_sidebar_only_path_renders_empty_state_and_sidebar():
     assert empty_pos > helper_pos, "sidebar-only path must show the empty state"
     assert render_pos > helper_pos, "sidebar-only path must render the session list"
     assert return_pos > render_pos, "sidebar-only path should return before loadSession(saved)"
+
+
+def test_root_archived_saved_session_clears_stale_localstorage_pointer():
+    """Archived root-restore skips projection and clears stale saved-session state."""
+    block = _boot_saved_session_block()
+    helper_pos = block.find("_savedSessionSidebarOnlyState")
+    clear_guard = "if(savedSidebarOnlyState.archived)"
+    guard_pos = block.find(clear_guard, helper_pos)
+    clear_pos = block.find("localStorage.removeItem('hermes-webui-session')", guard_pos)
+    render_pos = block.find("await renderSessionList()", helper_pos)
+    load_pos = block.find("await loadSession(saved, {preserveActiveInput:true})")
+    assert guard_pos > helper_pos, "archived sidebar-only path must be distinguished"
+    assert clear_pos > guard_pos, "archived saved session must clear stale localStorage pointer"
+    assert clear_pos < render_pos, "stale pointer should be cleared before the sidebar-only return"
+    assert render_pos < load_pos, "archived saved session must return before loadSession(saved)"