diff --git a/components/profile-modal.html b/components/profile-modal.html
index b9f4cee5..d68a86f5 100644
--- a/components/profile-modal.html
+++ b/components/profile-modal.html
@@ -148,11 +148,16 @@
               <button
                 id="profileNavMessages"
                 type="button"
-                class="btn-ghost focus-ring w-full justify-start gap-2 px-3 py-2 text-xs font-medium"
+                class="btn-ghost focus-ring relative w-full justify-start gap-2 px-3 py-2 text-xs font-medium"
                 aria-controls="profilePaneMessages"
                 aria-selected="false"
               >
                 Messages
+                <span
+                  id="profileMessagesUnreadDot"
+                  class="profile-nav__unread-dot"
+                  aria-hidden="true"
+                ></span>
               </button>
               <button
                 id="profileNavHistory"
diff --git a/css/tailwind.source.css b/css/tailwind.source.css
index e5b4a7df..95f480ac 100644
--- a/css/tailwind.source.css
+++ b/css/tailwind.source.css
@@ -235,6 +235,23 @@
     display: block;
   }
 
+  #profileUnreadDot {
+    position: absolute;
+    top: var(--space-2xs);
+    right: var(--space-2xs);
+    width: var(--space-sm);
+    height: var(--space-sm);
+    border-radius: 999px;
+    border: var(--border-width-hairline) solid var(--color-page);
+    background-color: var(--status-danger);
+    display: none;
+    pointer-events: none;
+  }
+
+  #profileUnreadDot.is-visible {
+    display: block;
+  }
+
   .header-icon-toggle[data-theme-state="light"]:hover,
   .header-icon-toggle[data-theme-state="light"]:focus-visible {
     color: var(--color-text);
@@ -2803,6 +2820,7 @@
     min-block-size: 100%;
     max-block-size: none;
     overflow: hidden;
+    --modal-sheet-inline-max: var(--profile-modal-inline-max);
     --profile-modal-scale: 0.9;
     --profile-modal-gap: calc(
       (var(--space-md) - var(--space-3xs)) * var(--profile-modal-scale)
@@ -2991,6 +3009,23 @@
     overflow-x: hidden;
   }
 
+  .profile-nav__unread-dot {
+    position: absolute;
+    top: var(--space-3xs);
+    right: var(--space-3xs);
+    width: var(--space-sm);
+    height: var(--space-sm);
+    border-radius: 999px;
+    border: var(--border-width-hairline) solid var(--surface-panel);
+    background-color: var(--status-danger);
+    display: none;
+    pointer-events: none;
+  }
+
+  .profile-nav__unread-dot.is-visible {
+    display: block;
+  }
+
   .profile-modal__panes {
     display: flex;
     flex: 1 1 auto;
@@ -4989,6 +5024,12 @@
     min-height: 100vh;
   }
 
+  .profile-modal .dm-app-shell {
+    min-height: 0;
+    height: auto;
+    padding: var(--space-md);
+  }
+
   .dm-app-shell__sidebar,
   .dm-app-shell__main {
     border-radius: var(--radius-lg);
@@ -4997,6 +5038,12 @@
     box-shadow: var(--shadow-soft);
   }
 
+  .profile-modal .dm-app-shell__sidebar,
+  .profile-modal .dm-app-shell__main {
+    height: auto;
+    min-height: 0;
+  }
+
   .dm-app-shell__sidebar {
     display: flex;
     flex-direction: column;
@@ -5018,6 +5065,11 @@
     background: var(--surface-raised);
   }
 
+  .profile-modal .dm-app-shell__main,
+  .profile-modal .dm-app-shell__sidebar {
+    min-width: 0;
+  }
+
   .dm-conversation-list {
     display: flex;
     flex-direction: column;
@@ -5669,8 +5721,8 @@
     }
 
     .dm-app-shell__sidebar {
-    flex: 0 0 var(--size-18rem);
-    max-width: var(--size-20rem);
+      flex: 0 0 var(--size-18rem);
+      max-width: var(--size-20rem);
       height: calc(100vh - var(--space-lg) * 2);
     }
 
@@ -5684,6 +5736,24 @@
     }
   }
 
+  @media (min-width: theme("screens.md")) {
+    .profile-modal .dm-app-shell {
+      flex-direction: row;
+      align-items: stretch;
+    }
+
+    .profile-modal .dm-app-shell__sidebar {
+      flex: 0 0 var(--size-18rem);
+      max-width: var(--size-20rem);
+      height: auto;
+    }
+
+    .profile-modal .dm-app-shell__main {
+      flex: 1 1 auto;
+      height: auto;
+    }
+  }
+
   @media (min-width: theme("screens.lg")) {
     .dm-app-shell__sidebar {
       flex-basis: var(--size-20rem);
diff --git a/css/tokens.css b/css/tokens.css
index a9db6f89..e2020f53 100644
--- a/css/tokens.css
+++ b/css/tokens.css
@@ -322,6 +322,7 @@
   --size-28rem: 28rem;
   --size-34rem: 34rem;
   --size-45rem: 45rem;
+  --size-70rem: 70rem;
 
   /* Border radii */
   --radius-sm: 0.25rem;
@@ -343,6 +344,7 @@
   --modal-shell-max-height: 90vh;
   --modal-sheet-max-height: 92vh;
   --modal-body-max-height: calc(92vh - 4rem);
+  --profile-modal-inline-max: var(--size-70rem);
   --player-modal-module-scroll-min-height: var(--size-14rem);
   --player-modal-module-scroll-max-height: var(--size-28rem);
   --modal-pane-max-height: 48vh;
diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index 6b0f8402..b145f4b2 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@
             <!-- Profile Button (hidden by default) -->
             <button
               id="profileButton"
-              class="btn-ghost focus-ring hidden h-12 w-12 rounded-full p-0"
+              class="btn-ghost focus-ring relative hidden h-12 w-12 rounded-full p-0"
             >
               <div class="h-10 w-10 overflow-hidden rounded-full">
                 <img
@@ -300,6 +300,7 @@
                   class="h-full w-full object-cover"
                 />
               </div>
+              <span id="profileUnreadDot" aria-hidden="true"></span>
             </button>
           </div>
         </div>
diff --git a/js/app.js b/js/app.js
index 271ddac0..170d03d5 100644
--- a/js/app.js
+++ b/js/app.js
@@ -4429,6 +4429,9 @@ class Application {
 
     this.applyAuthenticatedUiState();
     this.commentController?.refreshAuthState?.();
+    if (typeof this.refreshUnreadDmIndicator === "function") {
+      void this.refreshUnreadDmIndicator({ reason: "auth-login" });
+    }
 
     const currentView = getHashViewName();
     const normalizedView =
@@ -4681,6 +4684,11 @@ class Application {
     }
 
     this.applyLoggedOutUiState();
+    if (typeof this.refreshUnreadDmIndicator === "function") {
+      void this.refreshUnreadDmIndicator({ reason: "auth-logout" });
+    } else if (this.appChromeController?.setUnreadDmIndicator) {
+      this.appChromeController.setUnreadDmIndicator(false);
+    }
 
     const logoutView = getHashViewName();
     if (
diff --git a/js/services/nostrService.js b/js/services/nostrService.js
index 80a4ee79..f1f1f3e0 100644
--- a/js/services/nostrService.js
+++ b/js/services/nostrService.js
@@ -763,10 +763,16 @@ export class NostrService {
   }
 
   async acknowledgeRenderedDirectMessages(conversationId, renderedUntil) {
-    return this.dmNotificationManager.acknowledgeRenderedMessages({
+    const conversation = await this.dmNotificationManager.acknowledgeRenderedMessages({
       conversationId,
       renderedUntil,
     });
+    if (conversation) {
+      this.emit("directMessages:conversationUpdated", {
+        conversation,
+      });
+    }
+    return conversation;
   }
 
   getDirectMessageUnseenCount(conversationId) {
diff --git a/js/ui/appChromeController.js b/js/ui/appChromeController.js
index 1960bd20..a4e73e9c 100644
--- a/js/ui/appChromeController.js
+++ b/js/ui/appChromeController.js
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ export default class AppChromeController {
     this.elements = {
       logoutButton: this.normalizeElement(elements.logoutButton),
       profileButton: this.normalizeElement(elements.profileButton),
+      profileUnreadDot: this.normalizeElement(elements.profileUnreadDot),
       uploadButton: this.normalizeElement(elements.uploadButton),
       loginButton: this.normalizeElement(elements.loginButton),
       closeLoginModalButton: this.normalizeElement(
@@ -206,6 +207,21 @@ export default class AppChromeController {
     }
   }
 
+  setUnreadDmIndicator(visible) {
+    const dot = this.normalizeElement(this.elements.profileUnreadDot);
+    if (!dot) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const profileButton = this.normalizeElement(this.elements.profileButton);
+    const isProfileVisible =
+      profileButton &&
+      !profileButton.classList.contains("hidden") &&
+      !profileButton.hasAttribute("hidden");
+
+    dot.classList.toggle("is-visible", Boolean(visible) && isProfileVisible);
+  }
+
   bindUploadButton() {
     const button = this.normalizeElement(this.elements.uploadButton);
     if (this.boundElements.uploadButton === button) {
diff --git a/js/ui/applicationBootstrap.js b/js/ui/applicationBootstrap.js
index 9d21d8f3..1a00c3b6 100644
--- a/js/ui/applicationBootstrap.js
+++ b/js/ui/applicationBootstrap.js
@@ -409,6 +409,7 @@ export default class ApplicationBootstrap {
 
     app.profileButton = doc?.getElementById("profileButton") || null;
     app.profileAvatar = doc?.getElementById("profileAvatar") || null;
+    app.profileUnreadDot = doc?.getElementById("profileUnreadDot") || null;
 
     const modalManager = new ModalManager({
       app,
@@ -685,12 +686,88 @@ export default class ApplicationBootstrap {
     };
 
     app.videosMap = app.nostrService.getVideosMap();
-    app.unsubscribeFromNostrService = app.nostrService.on(
-      "subscription:changed",
-      ({ subscription }) => {
+    app.refreshUnreadDmIndicator = async ({ reason = "" } = {}) => {
+      const applyIndicatorState = (visible) => {
+        if (
+          app.appChromeController &&
+          typeof app.appChromeController.setUnreadDmIndicator === "function"
+        ) {
+          app.appChromeController.setUnreadDmIndicator(visible);
+        }
+
+        if (
+          app.profileController &&
+          typeof app.profileController.setMessagesUnreadIndicator === "function"
+        ) {
+          app.profileController.setMessagesUnreadIndicator(visible);
+        }
+      };
+
+      if (typeof app.isUserLoggedIn === "function" && !app.isUserLoggedIn()) {
+        applyIndicatorState(false);
+        return;
+      }
+
+      if (
+        !app.nostrService ||
+        typeof app.nostrService.listDirectMessageConversationSummaries !==
+          "function"
+      ) {
+        applyIndicatorState(false);
+        return;
+      }
+
+      try {
+        const summaries =
+          await app.nostrService.listDirectMessageConversationSummaries();
+        const totalUnseen = Array.isArray(summaries)
+          ? summaries.reduce((sum, summary) => {
+              const count = Number(summary?.unseen_count);
+              return sum + (Number.isFinite(count) ? count : 0);
+            }, 0)
+          : 0;
+        applyIndicatorState(totalUnseen > 0);
+      } catch (error) {
+        devLogger.warn(
+          "[Application] Failed to refresh DM unread indicator",
+          reason,
+          error,
+        );
+        applyIndicatorState(false);
+      }
+    };
+
+    const nostrUnsubscribes = [];
+    nostrUnsubscribes.push(
+      app.nostrService.on("subscription:changed", ({ subscription }) => {
         app.videoSubscription = subscription || null;
-      },
+      }),
     );
+    nostrUnsubscribes.push(
+      app.nostrService.on("directMessages:notification", () => {
+        void app.refreshUnreadDmIndicator({ reason: "dm-notification" });
+      }),
+    );
+    nostrUnsubscribes.push(
+      app.nostrService.on("directMessages:conversationUpdated", () => {
+        void app.refreshUnreadDmIndicator({ reason: "dm-conversation-update" });
+      }),
+    );
+    nostrUnsubscribes.push(
+      app.nostrService.on("directMessages:cleared", () => {
+        if (typeof app.refreshUnreadDmIndicator === "function") {
+          void app.refreshUnreadDmIndicator({ reason: "dm-cleared" });
+        }
+      }),
+    );
+    app.unsubscribeFromNostrService = () => {
+      while (nostrUnsubscribes.length) {
+        const unsubscribe = nostrUnsubscribes.pop();
+        if (typeof unsubscribe === "function") {
+          unsubscribe();
+        }
+      }
+    };
     app.boundNwcSettingsToastHandler = null;
     Object.defineProperty(app, "savedProfiles", {
       configurable: false,
@@ -926,6 +1003,7 @@ export default class ApplicationBootstrap {
       elements: {
         logoutButton: app.logoutButton,
         profileButton: app.profileButton,
+        profileUnreadDot: app.profileUnreadDot,
         uploadButton: app.uploadButton,
         loginButton: app.loginButton,
         closeLoginModalButton: app.closeLoginModalBtn,
diff --git a/js/ui/profileModalController.js b/js/ui/profileModalController.js
index cd164bf2..e5a78276 100644
--- a/js/ui/profileModalController.js
+++ b/js/ui/profileModalController.js
@@ -1297,6 +1297,7 @@ export class ProfileModalController {
     this.profileMessagesRelayStatus = null;
     this.profileMessagesReadReceiptsToggle = null;
     this.profileMessagesTypingToggle = null;
+    this.profileMessagesUnreadDot = null;
     this.dmAppShellContainer = null;
     this.dmAppShell = null;
     this.profileLinkPreviewAutoToggle = null;
@@ -1615,6 +1616,8 @@ export class ProfileModalController {
       document.getElementById("profileMessagesReadReceiptsToggle") || null;
     this.profileMessagesTypingToggle =
       document.getElementById("profileMessagesTypingToggle") || null;
+    this.profileMessagesUnreadDot =
+      document.getElementById("profileMessagesUnreadDot") || null;
     this.dmAppShellContainer =
       document.getElementById("dmAppShellMount") || null;
     this.profileLinkPreviewAutoToggle =
@@ -2758,6 +2761,23 @@ export class ProfileModalController {
     }
   }
 
+  setMessagesUnreadIndicator(visible) {
+    if (!(this.profileMessagesUnreadDot instanceof HTMLElement)) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const button = this.navButtons.messages;
+    const isVisible =
+      button instanceof HTMLElement &&
+      !button.classList.contains("hidden") &&
+      !button.hasAttribute("hidden");
+
+    this.profileMessagesUnreadDot.classList.toggle(
+      "is-visible",
+      Boolean(visible) && isVisible,
+    );
+  }
+
   updateMessageComposerState() {
     const input = this.profileMessageInput;
     const button = this.profileMessageSendButton;
@@ -12593,6 +12613,7 @@ export class ProfileModalController {
     this.clearHashtagInputs();
     this.setHashtagStatus("", "muted");
     this.handleActiveDmIdentityChanged(null);
+    this.setMessagesUnreadIndicator(false);
     this.populateDmRelayPreferences();
     this.setDmRelayPreferencesStatus("");