Persist non-issue inbox dismissals

packages/db/src/migrations/0053_sharp_wild_child.sql

@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS "inbox_dismissals" (
+	"id" uuid PRIMARY KEY DEFAULT gen_random_uuid() NOT NULL,
+	"company_id" uuid NOT NULL,
+	"user_id" text NOT NULL,
+	"item_key" text NOT NULL,
+	"dismissed_at" timestamp with time zone DEFAULT now() NOT NULL,
+	"created_at" timestamp with time zone DEFAULT now() NOT NULL,
+	"updated_at" timestamp with time zone DEFAULT now() NOT NULL
+);
+--> statement-breakpoint
+DO $$ BEGIN
+ ALTER TABLE "inbox_dismissals" ADD CONSTRAINT "inbox_dismissals_company_id_companies_id_fk" FOREIGN KEY ("company_id") REFERENCES "public"."companies"("id") ON DELETE no action ON UPDATE no action;
+EXCEPTION
+ WHEN duplicate_object THEN null;
+END $$;--> statement-breakpoint
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS "inbox_dismissals_company_user_idx" ON "inbox_dismissals" USING btree ("company_id","user_id");--> statement-breakpoint
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS "inbox_dismissals_company_item_idx" ON "inbox_dismissals" USING btree ("company_id","item_key");--> statement-breakpoint
+CREATE UNIQUE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS "inbox_dismissals_company_user_item_idx" ON "inbox_dismissals" USING btree ("company_id","user_id","item_key");

packages/db/src/migrations/meta/_journal.json

@@ -372,6 +372,13 @@
       "when": 1775571715162,
       "tag": "0052_mushy_trauma",
       "breakpoints": true
+    },
+    {
+      "idx": 53,
+      "version": "7",
+      "when": 1775604018515,
+      "tag": "0053_sharp_wild_child",
+      "breakpoints": true
     }
   ]
 }

packages/db/src/schema/inbox_dismissals.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+import { pgTable, uuid, text, timestamp, index, uniqueIndex } from "drizzle-orm/pg-core";
+import { companies } from "./companies.js";
+
+export const inboxDismissals = pgTable(
+  "inbox_dismissals",
+  {
+    id: uuid("id").primaryKey().defaultRandom(),
+    companyId: uuid("company_id").notNull().references(() => companies.id),
+    userId: text("user_id").notNull(),
+    itemKey: text("item_key").notNull(),
+    dismissedAt: timestamp("dismissed_at", { withTimezone: true }).notNull().defaultNow(),
+    createdAt: timestamp("created_at", { withTimezone: true }).notNull().defaultNow(),
+    updatedAt: timestamp("updated_at", { withTimezone: true }).notNull().defaultNow(),
+  },
+  (table) => ({
+    companyUserIdx: index("inbox_dismissals_company_user_idx").on(table.companyId, table.userId),
+    companyItemIdx: index("inbox_dismissals_company_item_idx").on(table.companyId, table.itemKey),
+    companyUserItemUnique: uniqueIndex("inbox_dismissals_company_user_item_idx").on(
+      table.companyId,
+      table.userId,
+      table.itemKey,
+    ),
+  }),
+);

packages/db/src/schema/index.ts

@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ export { issueApprovals } from "./issue_approvals.js";
 export { issueComments } from "./issue_comments.js";
 export { issueExecutionDecisions } from "./issue_execution_decisions.js";
 export { issueInboxArchives } from "./issue_inbox_archives.js";
+export { inboxDismissals } from "./inbox_dismissals.js";
 export { feedbackVotes } from "./feedback_votes.js";
 export { feedbackExports } from "./feedback_exports.js";
 export { issueReadStates } from "./issue_read_states.js";

packages/shared/src/index.ts

@@ -288,6 +288,7 @@ export type {
   DashboardSummary,
   ActivityEvent,
   SidebarBadges,
+  InboxDismissal,
   CompanyMembership,
   PrincipalPermissionGrant,
   Invite,

packages/shared/src/types/inbox-dismissal.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+export interface InboxDismissal {
+  id: string;
+  companyId: string;
+  userId: string;
+  itemKey: string;
+  dismissedAt: Date;
+  createdAt: Date;
+  updatedAt: Date;
+}

packages/shared/src/types/index.ts

@@ -164,6 +164,7 @@ export type { LiveEvent } from "./live.js";
 export type { DashboardSummary } from "./dashboard.js";
 export type { ActivityEvent } from "./activity.js";
 export type { SidebarBadges } from "./sidebar-badges.js";
+export type { InboxDismissal } from "./inbox-dismissal.js";
 export type {
   CompanyMembership,
   PrincipalPermissionGrant,

server/src/__tests__/inbox-dismissals.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,212 @@
+import { randomUUID } from "node:crypto";
+import { afterAll, afterEach, beforeAll, describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import {
+  agents,
+  approvals,
+  companies,
+  createDb,
+  heartbeatRuns,
+  inboxDismissals,
+  invites,
+  joinRequests,
+} from "@paperclipai/db";
+import {
+  getEmbeddedPostgresTestSupport,
+  startEmbeddedPostgresTestDatabase,
+} from "./helpers/embedded-postgres.js";
+import { inboxDismissalService } from "../services/inbox-dismissals.ts";
+import { sidebarBadgeService } from "../services/sidebar-badges.ts";
+
+const embeddedPostgresSupport = await getEmbeddedPostgresTestSupport();
+const describeEmbeddedPostgres = embeddedPostgresSupport.supported ? describe : describe.skip;
+
+if (!embeddedPostgresSupport.supported) {
+  console.warn(
+    `Skipping embedded Postgres inbox dismissal tests on this host: ${embeddedPostgresSupport.reason ?? "unsupported environment"}`,
+  );
+}
+
+describeEmbeddedPostgres("inbox dismissals", () => {
+  let db!: ReturnType<typeof createDb>;
+  let dismissalsSvc!: ReturnType<typeof inboxDismissalService>;
+  let badgesSvc!: ReturnType<typeof sidebarBadgeService>;
+  let tempDb: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof startEmbeddedPostgresTestDatabase>> | null = null;
+
+  beforeAll(async () => {
+    tempDb = await startEmbeddedPostgresTestDatabase("paperclip-inbox-dismissals-");
+    db = createDb(tempDb.connectionString);
+    dismissalsSvc = inboxDismissalService(db);
+    badgesSvc = sidebarBadgeService(db);
+  }, 20_000);
+
+  afterEach(async () => {
+    await db.delete(inboxDismissals);
+    await db.delete(joinRequests);
+    await db.delete(invites);
+    await db.delete(heartbeatRuns);
+    await db.delete(approvals);
+    await db.delete(agents);
+    await db.delete(companies);
+  });
+
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    await tempDb?.cleanup();
+  });
+
+  it("upserts a single dismissal record per user and inbox item key", async () => {
+    const companyId = randomUUID();
+    const userId = "board-user";
+    const firstDismissedAt = new Date("2026-03-11T01:00:00.000Z");
+    const secondDismissedAt = new Date("2026-03-11T02:00:00.000Z");
+
+    await db.insert(companies).values({
+      id: companyId,
+      name: "Paperclip",
+      issuePrefix: "PAP",
+      requireBoardApprovalForNewAgents: false,
+    });
+
+    await dismissalsSvc.dismiss(companyId, userId, "approval:approval-1", firstDismissedAt);
+    await dismissalsSvc.dismiss(companyId, userId, "approval:approval-1", secondDismissedAt);
+
+    const dismissals = await dismissalsSvc.list(companyId, userId);
+
+    expect(dismissals).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(dismissals[0]?.itemKey).toBe("approval:approval-1");
+    expect(new Date(dismissals[0]?.dismissedAt ?? 0).toISOString()).toBe(secondDismissedAt.toISOString());
+  });
+
+  it("honors dismissal timestamps and resurfaces approvals with newer activity", async () => {
+    const companyId = randomUUID();
+    const userId = "board-user";
+    const primaryAgentId = randomUUID();
+    const secondaryAgentId = randomUUID();
+    const hiddenApprovalId = randomUUID();
+    const resurfacedApprovalId = randomUUID();
+    const inviteId = randomUUID();
+    const hiddenJoinRequestId = randomUUID();
+    const hiddenRunId = randomUUID();
+    const visibleRunId = randomUUID();
+
+    await db.insert(companies).values({
+      id: companyId,
+      name: "Paperclip",
+      issuePrefix: "PAP",
+      requireBoardApprovalForNewAgents: false,
+    });
+
+    await db.insert(agents).values([
+      {
+        id: primaryAgentId,
+        companyId,
+        name: "Primary",
+        role: "engineer",
+        status: "active",
+        adapterType: "codex_local",
+        adapterConfig: {},
+        runtimeConfig: {},
+        permissions: {},
+      },
+      {
+        id: secondaryAgentId,
+        companyId,
+        name: "Secondary",
+        role: "engineer",
+        status: "active",
+        adapterType: "codex_local",
+        adapterConfig: {},
+        runtimeConfig: {},
+        permissions: {},
+      },
+    ]);
+
+    await db.insert(approvals).values([
+      {
+        id: hiddenApprovalId,
+        companyId,
+        type: "hire_agent",
+        status: "pending",
+        payload: {},
+        updatedAt: new Date("2026-03-11T01:00:00.000Z"),
+      },
+      {
+        id: resurfacedApprovalId,
+        companyId,
+        type: "hire_agent",
+        status: "revision_requested",
+        payload: {},
+        updatedAt: new Date("2026-03-11T03:00:00.000Z"),
+      },
+    ]);
+
+    await db.insert(invites).values({
+      id: inviteId,
+      companyId,
+      inviteType: "company_join",
+      tokenHash: "hash-1",
+      allowedJoinTypes: "both",
+      expiresAt: new Date("2026-03-12T00:00:00.000Z"),
+    });
+
+    await db.insert(joinRequests).values({
+      id: hiddenJoinRequestId,
+      inviteId,
+      companyId,
+      requestType: "human",
+      status: "pending_approval",
+      requestIp: "127.0.0.1",
+      createdAt: new Date("2026-03-11T01:00:00.000Z"),
+      updatedAt: new Date("2026-03-11T01:00:00.000Z"),
+    });
+
+    await db.insert(heartbeatRuns).values([
+      {
+        id: hiddenRunId,
+        companyId,
+        agentId: primaryAgentId,
+        invocationSource: "assignment",
+        status: "failed",
+        createdAt: new Date("2026-03-11T01:00:00.000Z"),
+        updatedAt: new Date("2026-03-11T01:00:00.000Z"),
+      },
+      {
+        id: visibleRunId,
+        companyId,
+        agentId: secondaryAgentId,
+        invocationSource: "assignment",
+        status: "timed_out",
+        createdAt: new Date("2026-03-11T04:00:00.000Z"),
+        updatedAt: new Date("2026-03-11T04:00:00.000Z"),
+      },
+    ]);
+
+    await dismissalsSvc.dismiss(companyId, userId, `approval:${hiddenApprovalId}`, new Date("2026-03-11T02:00:00.000Z"));
+    await dismissalsSvc.dismiss(companyId, userId, `approval:${resurfacedApprovalId}`, new Date("2026-03-11T02:00:00.000Z"));
+    await dismissalsSvc.dismiss(companyId, userId, `join:${hiddenJoinRequestId}`, new Date("2026-03-11T02:00:00.000Z"));
+    await dismissalsSvc.dismiss(companyId, userId, `run:${hiddenRunId}`, new Date("2026-03-11T02:00:00.000Z"));
+
+    const dismissedAtByKey = new Map(
+      (await dismissalsSvc.list(companyId, userId)).map((dismissal) => [
+        dismissal.itemKey,
+        new Date(dismissal.dismissedAt).getTime(),
+      ]),
+    );
+
+    const badges = await badgesSvc.get(companyId, {
+      dismissals: dismissedAtByKey,
+      joinRequests: [{
+        id: hiddenJoinRequestId,
+        createdAt: new Date("2026-03-11T01:00:00.000Z"),
+        updatedAt: new Date("2026-03-11T01:00:00.000Z"),
+      }],
+      unreadTouchedIssues: 1,
+    });
+
+    expect(badges).toEqual({
+      inbox: 3,
+      approvals: 1,
+      failedRuns: 1,
+      joinRequests: 0,
+    });
+  });
+});

server/src/app.ts

@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import { costRoutes } from "./routes/costs.js";
 import { activityRoutes } from "./routes/activity.js";
 import { dashboardRoutes } from "./routes/dashboard.js";
 import { sidebarBadgeRoutes } from "./routes/sidebar-badges.js";
+import { inboxDismissalRoutes } from "./routes/inbox-dismissals.js";
 import { instanceSettingsRoutes } from "./routes/instance-settings.js";
 import { llmRoutes } from "./routes/llms.js";
 import { assetRoutes } from "./routes/assets.js";
@@ -166,6 +167,7 @@ export async function createApp(
   api.use(activityRoutes(db));
   api.use(dashboardRoutes(db));
   api.use(sidebarBadgeRoutes(db));
+  api.use(inboxDismissalRoutes(db));
   api.use(instanceSettingsRoutes(db));
   const hostServicesDisposers = new Map<string, () => void>();
   const workerManager = createPluginWorkerManager();

server/src/routes/inbox-dismissals.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+import { Router } from "express";
+import { z } from "zod";
+import type { Db } from "@paperclipai/db";
+import { validate } from "../middleware/validate.js";
+import { assertCompanyAccess, getActorInfo } from "./authz.js";
+import { inboxDismissalService, logActivity } from "../services/index.js";
+
+const inboxDismissalSchema = z.object({
+  itemKey: z.string().trim().min(1).regex(/^(approval|join|run):.+$/, "Unsupported inbox item key"),
+});
+
+export function inboxDismissalRoutes(db: Db) {
+  const router = Router();
+  const svc = inboxDismissalService(db);
+
+  router.get("/companies/:companyId/inbox-dismissals", async (req, res) => {
+    const companyId = req.params.companyId as string;
+    assertCompanyAccess(req, companyId);
+    if (req.actor.type !== "board") {
+      res.status(403).json({ error: "Board authentication required" });
+      return;
+    }
+    if (!req.actor.userId) {
+      res.status(403).json({ error: "Board user context required" });
+      return;
+    }
+    const dismissals = await svc.list(companyId, req.actor.userId);
+    res.json(dismissals);
+  });
+
+  router.post(
+    "/companies/:companyId/inbox-dismissals",
+    validate(inboxDismissalSchema),
+    async (req, res) => {
+      const companyId = req.params.companyId as string;
+      assertCompanyAccess(req, companyId);
+      if (req.actor.type !== "board") {
+        res.status(403).json({ error: "Board authentication required" });
+        return;
+      }
+      if (!req.actor.userId) {
+        res.status(403).json({ error: "Board user context required" });
+        return;
+      }
+
+      const dismissal = await svc.dismiss(companyId, req.actor.userId, req.body.itemKey, new Date());
+      const actor = getActorInfo(req);
+      await logActivity(db, {
+        companyId,
+        actorType: actor.actorType,
+        actorId: actor.actorId,
+        agentId: actor.agentId,
+        runId: actor.runId,
+        action: "inbox.dismissed",
+        entityType: "company",
+        entityId: companyId,
+        details: {
+          userId: req.actor.userId,
+          itemKey: dismissal.itemKey,
+          dismissedAt: dismissal.dismissedAt,
+        },
+      });
+
+      res.status(201).json(dismissal);
+    },
+  );
+
+  return router;
+}

server/src/routes/index.ts

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ export { costRoutes } from "./costs.js";
 export { activityRoutes } from "./activity.js";
 export { dashboardRoutes } from "./dashboard.js";
 export { sidebarBadgeRoutes } from "./sidebar-badges.js";
+export { inboxDismissalRoutes } from "./inbox-dismissals.js";
 export { llmRoutes } from "./llms.js";
 export { accessRoutes } from "./access.js";
 export { instanceSettingsRoutes } from "./instance-settings.js";

server/src/routes/sidebar-badges.ts

@@ -1,12 +1,20 @@
 import { Router } from "express";
 import type { Db } from "@paperclipai/db";
-import { and, eq, sql } from "drizzle-orm";
+import { and, eq } from "drizzle-orm";
-import { joinRequests } from "@paperclipai/db";
+import { inboxDismissals, joinRequests } from "@paperclipai/db";
 import { sidebarBadgeService } from "../services/sidebar-badges.js";
 import { accessService } from "../services/access.js";
 import { dashboardService } from "../services/dashboard.js";
 import { assertCompanyAccess } from "./authz.js";
 
+function buildDismissedAtByKey(
+  dismissals: Array<{ itemKey: string; dismissedAt: Date | string }>,
+): Map<string, number> {
+  return new Map(
+    dismissals.map((dismissal) => [dismissal.itemKey, new Date(dismissal.dismissedAt).getTime()]),
+  );
+}
+
 export function sidebarBadgeRoutes(db: Db) {
   const router = Router();
   const svc = sidebarBadgeService(db);
@@ -26,23 +34,36 @@ export function sidebarBadgeRoutes(db: Db) {
       canApproveJoins = await access.hasPermission(companyId, "agent", req.actor.agentId, "joins:approve");
     }
 
-    const joinRequestCount = canApproveJoins
+    const visibleJoinRequests = canApproveJoins
       ? await db
-        .select({ count: sql<number>`count(*)` })
+        .select({
+          id: joinRequests.id,
+          updatedAt: joinRequests.updatedAt,
+          createdAt: joinRequests.createdAt,
+        })
         .from(joinRequests)
         .where(and(eq(joinRequests.companyId, companyId), eq(joinRequests.status, "pending_approval")))
-        .then((rows) => Number(rows[0]?.count ?? 0))
+      : [];
-      : 0;
+
+    const dismissedAtByKey =
+      req.actor.type === "board" && req.actor.userId
+        ? await db
+          .select({ itemKey: inboxDismissals.itemKey, dismissedAt: inboxDismissals.dismissedAt })
+          .from(inboxDismissals)
+          .where(and(eq(inboxDismissals.companyId, companyId), eq(inboxDismissals.userId, req.actor.userId)))
+          .then(buildDismissedAtByKey)
+        : new Map<string, number>();
 
     const badges = await svc.get(companyId, {
-      joinRequests: joinRequestCount,
+      dismissals: dismissedAtByKey,
+      joinRequests: visibleJoinRequests,
     });
     const summary = await dashboard.summary(companyId);
     const hasFailedRuns = badges.failedRuns > 0;
     const alertsCount =
       (summary.agents.error > 0 && !hasFailedRuns ? 1 : 0) +
       (summary.costs.monthBudgetCents > 0 && summary.costs.monthUtilizationPercent >= 80 ? 1 : 0);
-    badges.inbox = badges.failedRuns + alertsCount + joinRequestCount + badges.approvals;
+    badges.inbox = badges.failedRuns + alertsCount + badges.joinRequests + badges.approvals;
 
     res.json(badges);
   });

server/src/services/inbox-dismissals.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+import { and, desc, eq } from "drizzle-orm";
+import type { Db } from "@paperclipai/db";
+import { inboxDismissals } from "@paperclipai/db";
+
+export function inboxDismissalService(db: Db) {
+  return {
+    list: async (companyId: string, userId: string) =>
+      db
+        .select()
+        .from(inboxDismissals)
+        .where(and(eq(inboxDismissals.companyId, companyId), eq(inboxDismissals.userId, userId)))
+        .orderBy(desc(inboxDismissals.updatedAt)),
+
+    dismiss: async (
+      companyId: string,
+      userId: string,
+      itemKey: string,
+      dismissedAt: Date = new Date(),
+    ) => {
+      const now = new Date();
+      const [row] = await db
+        .insert(inboxDismissals)
+        .values({
+          companyId,
+          userId,
+          itemKey,
+          dismissedAt,
+          updatedAt: now,
+        })
+        .onConflictDoUpdate({
+          target: [inboxDismissals.companyId, inboxDismissals.userId, inboxDismissals.itemKey],
+          set: {
+            dismissedAt,
+            updatedAt: now,
+          },
+        })
+        .returning();
+      return row;
+    },
+  };
+}

server/src/services/index.ts

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ export { financeService } from "./finance.js";
 export { heartbeatService } from "./heartbeat.js";
 export { dashboardService } from "./dashboard.js";
 export { sidebarBadgeService } from "./sidebar-badges.js";
+export { inboxDismissalService } from "./inbox-dismissals.js";
 export { accessService } from "./access.js";
 export { boardAuthService } from "./board-auth.js";
 export { instanceSettingsService } from "./instance-settings.js";

server/src/services/sidebar-badges.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { and, desc, eq, inArray, not, sql } from "drizzle-orm";
+import { and, desc, eq, inArray, not } from "drizzle-orm";
 import type { Db } from "@paperclipai/db";
 import { agents, approvals, heartbeatRuns } from "@paperclipai/db";
 import type { SidebarBadges } from "@paperclipai/shared";
@@ -6,14 +6,34 @@ import type { SidebarBadges } from "@paperclipai/shared";
 const ACTIONABLE_APPROVAL_STATUSES = ["pending", "revision_requested"];
 const FAILED_HEARTBEAT_STATUSES = ["failed", "timed_out"];
 
+function normalizeTimestamp(value: Date | string | null | undefined): number {
+  if (!value) return 0;
+  const timestamp = new Date(value).getTime();
+  return Number.isFinite(timestamp) ? timestamp : 0;
+}
+
+function isDismissed(
+  dismissedAtByKey: ReadonlyMap<string, number>,
+  itemKey: string,
+  activityAt: Date | string | null | undefined,
+) {
+  const dismissedAt = dismissedAtByKey.get(itemKey);
+  if (dismissedAt == null) return false;
+  return dismissedAt >= normalizeTimestamp(activityAt);
+}
+
 export function sidebarBadgeService(db: Db) {
   return {
     get: async (
       companyId: string,
-      extra?: { joinRequests?: number; unreadTouchedIssues?: number },
+      extra?: {
+        dismissals?: ReadonlyMap<string, number>;
+        joinRequests?: Array<{ id: string; updatedAt: Date | string | null; createdAt: Date | string }>;
+        unreadTouchedIssues?: number;
+      },
     ): Promise<SidebarBadges> => {
       const actionableApprovals = await db
-        .select({ count: sql<number>`count(*)` })
+        .select({ id: approvals.id, updatedAt: approvals.updatedAt })
         .from(approvals)
         .where(
           and(
@@ -21,11 +41,15 @@ export function sidebarBadgeService(db: Db) {
             inArray(approvals.status, ACTIONABLE_APPROVAL_STATUSES),
           ),
         )
-        .then((rows) => Number(rows[0]?.count ?? 0));
+        .then((rows) =>
+          rows.filter((row) => !isDismissed(extra?.dismissals ?? new Map(), `approval:${row.id}`, row.updatedAt)).length
+        );
 
       const latestRunByAgent = await db
         .selectDistinctOn([heartbeatRuns.agentId], {
+          id: heartbeatRuns.id,
           runStatus: heartbeatRuns.status,
+          createdAt: heartbeatRuns.createdAt,
         })
         .from(heartbeatRuns)
         .innerJoin(agents, eq(heartbeatRuns.agentId, agents.id))
@@ -39,10 +63,17 @@ export function sidebarBadgeService(db: Db) {
         .orderBy(heartbeatRuns.agentId, desc(heartbeatRuns.createdAt));
 
       const failedRuns = latestRunByAgent.filter((row) =>
-        FAILED_HEARTBEAT_STATUSES.includes(row.runStatus),
+        FAILED_HEARTBEAT_STATUSES.includes(row.runStatus)
+        && !isDismissed(extra?.dismissals ?? new Map(), `run:${row.id}`, row.createdAt),
       ).length;
 
-      const joinRequests = extra?.joinRequests ?? 0;
+      const joinRequests = (extra?.joinRequests ?? []).filter((row) =>
+        !isDismissed(
+          extra?.dismissals ?? new Map(),
+          `join:${row.id}`,
+          row.updatedAt ?? row.createdAt,
+        )
+      ).length;
       const unreadTouchedIssues = extra?.unreadTouchedIssues ?? 0;
       return {
         inbox: actionableApprovals + failedRuns + joinRequests + unreadTouchedIssues,

ui/src/api/inboxDismissals.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+import type { InboxDismissal } from "@paperclipai/shared";
+import { api } from "./client";
+
+export const inboxDismissalsApi = {
+  list: (companyId: string) => api.get<InboxDismissal[]>(`/companies/${companyId}/inbox-dismissals`),
+  dismiss: (companyId: string, itemKey: string) =>
+    api.post<InboxDismissal>(`/companies/${companyId}/inbox-dismissals`, { itemKey }),
+};

ui/src/api/index.ts

@@ -15,4 +15,5 @@ export { dashboardApi } from "./dashboard";
 export { heartbeatsApi } from "./heartbeats";
 export { instanceSettingsApi } from "./instanceSettings";
 export { sidebarBadgesApi } from "./sidebarBadges";
+export { inboxDismissalsApi } from "./inboxDismissals";
 export { companySkillsApi } from "./companySkills";

ui/src/hooks/useInboxBadge.ts

@@ -1,17 +1,19 @@
 import { useEffect, useMemo, useState } from "react";
-import { useQuery } from "@tanstack/react-query";
+import { useMutation, useQuery, useQueryClient } from "@tanstack/react-query";
 import { accessApi } from "../api/access";
 import { ApiError } from "../api/client";
+import { inboxDismissalsApi } from "../api/inboxDismissals";
 import { approvalsApi } from "../api/approvals";
 import { dashboardApi } from "../api/dashboard";
 import { heartbeatsApi } from "../api/heartbeats";
 import { issuesApi } from "../api/issues";
 import { queryKeys } from "../lib/queryKeys";
 import {
+  buildInboxDismissedAtByKey,
   computeInboxBadgeData,
   getRecentTouchedIssues,
-  loadDismissedInboxItems,
+  loadDismissedInboxAlerts,
-  saveDismissedInboxItems,
+  saveDismissedInboxAlerts,
   loadReadInboxItems,
   saveReadInboxItems,
   READ_ITEMS_KEY,
@@ -19,13 +21,13 @@ import {
 
 const INBOX_ISSUE_STATUSES = "backlog,todo,in_progress,in_review,blocked,done";
 
-export function useDismissedInboxItems() {
+export function useDismissedInboxAlerts() {
-  const [dismissed, setDismissed] = useState<Set<string>>(loadDismissedInboxItems);
+  const [dismissed, setDismissed] = useState<Set<string>>(loadDismissedInboxAlerts);
 
   useEffect(() => {
     const handleStorage = (event: StorageEvent) => {
       if (event.key !== "paperclip:inbox:dismissed") return;
-      setDismissed(loadDismissedInboxItems());
+      setDismissed(loadDismissedInboxAlerts());
     };
     window.addEventListener("storage", handleStorage);
     return () => window.removeEventListener("storage", handleStorage);
@@ -35,7 +37,7 @@ export function useDismissedInboxItems() {
     setDismissed((prev) => {
       const next = new Set(prev);
       next.add(id);
-      saveDismissedInboxItems(next);
+      saveDismissedInboxAlerts(next);
       return next;
     });
   };
@@ -43,6 +45,63 @@ export function useDismissedInboxItems() {
   return { dismissed, dismiss };
 }
 
+export function useInboxDismissals(companyId: string | null | undefined) {
+  const queryClient = useQueryClient();
+  const queryKey = companyId
+    ? queryKeys.inboxDismissals(companyId)
+    : ["inbox-dismissals", "__disabled__"] as const;
+
+  const { data: dismissals = [] } = useQuery({
+    queryKey,
+    queryFn: () => inboxDismissalsApi.list(companyId!),
+    enabled: !!companyId,
+  });
+
+  const dismissMutation = useMutation({
+    mutationFn: ({ itemKey }: { itemKey: string }) => inboxDismissalsApi.dismiss(companyId!, itemKey),
+    onMutate: async ({ itemKey }) => {
+      if (!companyId) return { previous: [] as typeof dismissals };
+      await queryClient.cancelQueries({ queryKey });
+      const previous = queryClient.getQueryData<typeof dismissals>(queryKey) ?? [];
+      const now = new Date();
+      queryClient.setQueryData(queryKey, [
+        {
+          id: `optimistic:${itemKey}`,
+          companyId,
+          userId: "me",
+          itemKey,
+          dismissedAt: now,
+          createdAt: now,
+          updatedAt: now,
+        },
+        ...previous.filter((dismissal) => dismissal.itemKey !== itemKey),
+      ]);
+      return { previous };
+    },
+    onError: (_error, _variables, context) => {
+      if (!context) return;
+      queryClient.setQueryData(queryKey, context.previous);
+    },
+    onSettled: () => {
+      if (!companyId) return;
+      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey });
+      queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: queryKeys.sidebarBadges(companyId) });
+    },
+  });
+
+  const dismissedAtByKey = useMemo(
+    () => buildInboxDismissedAtByKey(dismissals),
+    [dismissals],
+  );
+
+  return {
+    dismissals,
+    dismissedAtByKey,
+    dismiss: (itemKey: string) => dismissMutation.mutate({ itemKey }),
+    isPending: dismissMutation.isPending,
+  };
+}
+
 export function useReadInboxItems() {
   const [readItems, setReadItems] = useState<Set<string>>(loadReadInboxItems);
 
@@ -77,7 +136,8 @@ export function useReadInboxItems() {
 }
 
 export function useInboxBadge(companyId: string | null | undefined) {
-  const { dismissed } = useDismissedInboxItems();
+  const { dismissed: dismissedAlerts } = useDismissedInboxAlerts();
+  const { dismissedAtByKey } = useInboxDismissals(companyId);
 
   const { data: approvals = [] } = useQuery({
     queryKey: queryKeys.approvals.list(companyId!),
@@ -134,8 +194,9 @@ export function useInboxBadge(companyId: string | null | undefined) {
         dashboard,
         heartbeatRuns,
         mineIssues,
-        dismissed,
+        dismissedAlerts,
+        dismissedAtByKey,
       }),
-    [approvals, joinRequests, dashboard, heartbeatRuns, mineIssues, dismissed],
+    [approvals, joinRequests, dashboard, heartbeatRuns, mineIssues, dismissedAlerts, dismissedAtByKey],
   );
 }

ui/src/lib/inbox.test.ts

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import type {
 } from "@paperclipai/shared";
 import {
   DEFAULT_INBOX_ISSUE_COLUMNS,
+  buildInboxDismissedAtByKey,
   computeInboxBadgeData,
   getAvailableInboxIssueColumns,
   getApprovalsForTab,
@@ -19,6 +20,7 @@ import {
   getInboxKeyboardSelectionIndex,
   getRecentTouchedIssues,
   getUnreadTouchedIssues,
+  isInboxEntityDismissed,
   isMineInboxTab,
   loadInboxIssueColumns,
   loadLastInboxTab,
@@ -286,7 +288,8 @@ describe("inbox helpers", () => {
         makeRun("run-other-agent", "failed", "2026-03-11T02:00:00.000Z", "agent-2"),
       ],
       mineIssues: [makeIssue("1", true)],
-      dismissed: new Set<string>(),
+      dismissedAlerts: new Set<string>(),
+      dismissedAtByKey: new Map<string, number>(),
     });
 
     expect(result).toEqual({
@@ -306,7 +309,8 @@ describe("inbox helpers", () => {
       dashboard,
       heartbeatRuns: [makeRun("run-1", "failed", "2026-03-11T00:00:00.000Z")],
       mineIssues: [],
-      dismissed: new Set<string>(["run:run-1", "alert:budget", "alert:agent-errors"]),
+      dismissedAlerts: new Set<string>(["alert:budget", "alert:agent-errors"]),
+      dismissedAtByKey: new Map<string, number>([["run:run-1", new Date("2026-03-11T00:00:00.000Z").getTime()]]),
     });
 
     expect(result).toEqual({
@@ -326,7 +330,7 @@ describe("inbox helpers", () => {
       dashboard,
       heartbeatRuns: [],
       mineIssues: [makeIssue("1", false), makeIssue("2", false), makeIssue("3", true)],
-      dismissed: new Set<string>(),
+      dismissedAtByKey: new Map(),
     });
 
     expect(result.mineIssues).toBe(1);
@@ -334,6 +338,35 @@ describe("inbox helpers", () => {
     expect(result.inbox).toBe(3);
   });
 
+  it("resurfaces non-issue items when they change after dismissal", () => {
+    const dismissedAtByKey = buildInboxDismissedAtByKey([
+      {
+        id: "dismissal-1",
+        companyId: "company-1",
+        userId: "user-1",
+        itemKey: "approval:approval-1",
+        dismissedAt: new Date("2026-03-11T01:00:00.000Z"),
+        createdAt: new Date("2026-03-11T01:00:00.000Z"),
+        updatedAt: new Date("2026-03-11T01:00:00.000Z"),
+      },
+    ]);
+
+    expect(
+      isInboxEntityDismissed(
+        dismissedAtByKey,
+        "approval:approval-1",
+        new Date("2026-03-11T00:30:00.000Z"),
+      ),
+    ).toBe(true);
+    expect(
+      isInboxEntityDismissed(
+        dismissedAtByKey,
+        "approval:approval-1",
+        new Date("2026-03-11T01:30:00.000Z"),
+      ),
+    ).toBe(false);
+  });
+
   it("keeps read issues in the touched list but excludes them from unread counts", () => {
     const issues = [makeIssue("1", true), makeIssue("2", false)];
 

ui/src/lib/inbox.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,11 @@
-import type { Approval, DashboardSummary, HeartbeatRun, Issue, JoinRequest } from "@paperclipai/shared";
+import type {
+  Approval,
+  DashboardSummary,
+  HeartbeatRun,
+  InboxDismissal,
+  Issue,
+  JoinRequest,
+} from "@paperclipai/shared";
 
 export const RECENT_ISSUES_LIMIT = 100;
 export const FAILED_RUN_STATUSES = new Set(["failed", "timed_out"]);
@@ -43,16 +50,19 @@ export interface InboxBadgeData {
   alerts: number;
 }
 
-export function loadDismissedInboxItems(): Set<string> {
+export function loadDismissedInboxAlerts(): Set<string> {
   try {
     const raw = localStorage.getItem(DISMISSED_KEY);
-    return raw ? new Set(JSON.parse(raw)) : new Set();
+    if (!raw) return new Set();
+    const parsed = JSON.parse(raw);
+    if (!Array.isArray(parsed)) return new Set();
+    return new Set(parsed.filter((value): value is string => typeof value === "string" && value.startsWith("alert:")));
   } catch {
     return new Set();
   }
 }
 
-export function saveDismissedInboxItems(ids: Set<string>) {
+export function saveDismissedInboxAlerts(ids: Set<string>) {
   try {
     localStorage.setItem(DISMISSED_KEY, JSON.stringify([...ids]));
   } catch {
@@ -60,6 +70,22 @@ export function saveDismissedInboxItems(ids: Set<string>) {
   }
 }
 
+export function buildInboxDismissedAtByKey(dismissals: InboxDismissal[]): Map<string, number> {
+  return new Map(
+    dismissals.map((dismissal) => [dismissal.itemKey, normalizeTimestamp(dismissal.dismissedAt)]),
+  );
+}
+
+export function isInboxEntityDismissed(
+  dismissedAtByKey: ReadonlyMap<string, number>,
+  itemKey: string,
+  activityAt: string | Date | null | undefined,
+): boolean {
+  const dismissedAt = dismissedAtByKey.get(itemKey);
+  if (dismissedAt == null) return false;
+  return dismissedAt >= normalizeTimestamp(activityAt);
+}
+
 export function loadReadInboxItems(): Set<string> {
   try {
     const raw = localStorage.getItem(READ_ITEMS_KEY);
@@ -342,25 +368,27 @@ export function computeInboxBadgeData({
   dashboard,
   heartbeatRuns,
   mineIssues,
-  dismissed,
+  dismissedAlerts,
+  dismissedAtByKey,
 }: {
   approvals: Approval[];
   joinRequests: JoinRequest[];
   dashboard: DashboardSummary | undefined;
   heartbeatRuns: HeartbeatRun[];
   mineIssues: Issue[];
-  dismissed: Set<string>;
+  dismissedAlerts: Set<string>;
+  dismissedAtByKey: ReadonlyMap<string, number>;
 }): InboxBadgeData {
   const actionableApprovals = approvals.filter(
     (approval) =>
       ACTIONABLE_APPROVAL_STATUSES.has(approval.status) &&
-      !dismissed.has(`approval:${approval.id}`),
+      !isInboxEntityDismissed(dismissedAtByKey, `approval:${approval.id}`, approval.updatedAt),
   ).length;
   const failedRuns = getLatestFailedRunsByAgent(heartbeatRuns).filter(
-    (run) => !dismissed.has(`run:${run.id}`),
+    (run) => !isInboxEntityDismissed(dismissedAtByKey, `run:${run.id}`, run.createdAt),
   ).length;
   const visibleJoinRequests = joinRequests.filter(
-    (jr) => !dismissed.has(`join:${jr.id}`),
+    (jr) => !isInboxEntityDismissed(dismissedAtByKey, `join:${jr.id}`, jr.updatedAt ?? jr.createdAt),
   ).length;
   const visibleMineIssues = mineIssues.filter((issue) => issue.isUnreadForMe).length;
   const agentErrorCount = dashboard?.agents.error ?? 0;
@@ -369,11 +397,11 @@ export function computeInboxBadgeData({
   const showAggregateAgentError =
     agentErrorCount > 0 &&
     failedRuns === 0 &&
-    !dismissed.has("alert:agent-errors");
+    !dismissedAlerts.has("alert:agent-errors");
   const showBudgetAlert =
     monthBudgetCents > 0 &&
     monthUtilizationPercent >= 80 &&
-    !dismissed.has("alert:budget");
+    !dismissedAlerts.has("alert:budget");
   const alerts = Number(showAggregateAgentError) + Number(showBudgetAlert);
 
   return {

ui/src/lib/queryKeys.ts

@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ export const queryKeys = {
   },
   dashboard: (companyId: string) => ["dashboard", companyId] as const,
   sidebarBadges: (companyId: string) => ["sidebar-badges", companyId] as const,
+  inboxDismissals: (companyId: string) => ["inbox-dismissals", companyId] as const,
   activity: (companyId: string) => ["activity", companyId] as const,
   costs: (companyId: string, from?: string, to?: string) =>
     ["costs", companyId, from, to] as const,

ui/src/pages/Inbox.tsx

@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ import {
   getInboxKeyboardSelectionIndex,
   getLatestFailedRunsByAgent,
   getRecentTouchedIssues,
+  isInboxEntityDismissed,
   isMineInboxTab,
   loadInboxIssueColumns,
   normalizeInboxIssueColumns,
@@ -99,7 +100,7 @@ import {
   type InboxTab,
   type InboxWorkItem,
 } from "../lib/inbox";
-import { useDismissedInboxItems, useReadInboxItems } from "../hooks/useInboxBadge";
+import { useDismissedInboxAlerts, useInboxDismissals, useReadInboxItems } from "../hooks/useInboxBadge";
 
 type InboxCategoryFilter =
   | "everything"
@@ -826,7 +827,8 @@ export function Inbox() {
   const [allCategoryFilter, setAllCategoryFilter] = useState<InboxCategoryFilter>("everything");
   const [allApprovalFilter, setAllApprovalFilter] = useState<InboxApprovalFilter>("all");
   const [visibleIssueColumns, setVisibleIssueColumns] = useState<InboxIssueColumn[]>(loadInboxIssueColumns);
-  const { dismissed, dismiss } = useDismissedInboxItems();
+  const { dismissed: dismissedAlerts, dismiss: dismissAlert } = useDismissedInboxAlerts();
+  const { dismissedAtByKey, dismiss: dismissInboxItem } = useInboxDismissals(selectedCompanyId);
   const { readItems, markRead: markItemRead, markUnread: markItemUnread } = useReadInboxItems();
 
   const pathSegment = location.pathname.split("/").pop() ?? "mine";
@@ -1033,8 +1035,11 @@ export function Inbox() {
   const currentUserId = session?.user.id ?? session?.session.userId ?? null;
 
   const failedRuns = useMemo(
-    () => getLatestFailedRunsByAgent(heartbeatRuns ?? []).filter((r) => !dismissed.has(`run:${r.id}`)),
+    () =>
-    [heartbeatRuns, dismissed],
+      getLatestFailedRunsByAgent(heartbeatRuns ?? []).filter(
+        (r) => !isInboxEntityDismissed(dismissedAtByKey, `run:${r.id}`, r.createdAt),
+      ),
+    [heartbeatRuns, dismissedAtByKey],
   );
   const liveIssueIds = useMemo(() => {
     const ids = new Set<string>();
@@ -1049,10 +1054,12 @@ export function Inbox() {
   const approvalsToRender = useMemo(() => {
     let filtered = getApprovalsForTab(approvals ?? [], tab, allApprovalFilter);
     if (tab === "mine") {
-      filtered = filtered.filter((a) => !dismissed.has(`approval:${a.id}`));
+      filtered = filtered.filter(
+        (a) => !isInboxEntityDismissed(dismissedAtByKey, `approval:${a.id}`, a.updatedAt),
+      );
     }
     return filtered;
-  }, [approvals, tab, allApprovalFilter, dismissed]);
+  }, [approvals, tab, allApprovalFilter, dismissedAtByKey]);
   const showJoinRequestsCategory =
     allCategoryFilter === "everything" || allCategoryFilter === "join_requests";
   const showTouchedCategory =
@@ -1069,9 +1076,13 @@ export function Inbox() {
 
   const joinRequestsForTab = useMemo(() => {
     if (tab === "all" && !showJoinRequestsCategory) return [];
-    if (tab === "mine") return joinRequests.filter((jr) => !dismissed.has(`join:${jr.id}`));
+    if (tab === "mine") {
+      return joinRequests.filter(
+        (jr) => !isInboxEntityDismissed(dismissedAtByKey, `join:${jr.id}`, jr.updatedAt ?? jr.createdAt),
+      );
+    }
     return joinRequests;
-  }, [joinRequests, tab, showJoinRequestsCategory, dismissed]);
+  }, [joinRequests, tab, showJoinRequestsCategory, dismissedAtByKey]);
 
   const workItemsToRender = useMemo(
     () =>
@@ -1385,14 +1396,18 @@ export function Inbox() {
   const handleArchiveNonIssue = useCallback((key: string) => {
     setArchivingNonIssueIds((prev) => new Set(prev).add(key));
     setTimeout(() => {
-      dismiss(key);
+      if (key.startsWith("alert:")) {
+        dismissAlert(key);
+      } else {
+        dismissInboxItem(key);
+      }
       setArchivingNonIssueIds((prev) => {
         const next = new Set(prev);
         next.delete(key);
         return next;
       });
     }, 200);
-  }, [dismiss]);
+  }, [dismissAlert, dismissInboxItem]);
 
   const nonIssueUnreadState = (key: string): NonIssueUnreadState => {
     if (!canArchiveFromTab) return null;
@@ -1575,12 +1590,16 @@ export function Inbox() {
   }
 
   const hasRunFailures = failedRuns.length > 0;
-  const showAggregateAgentError = !!dashboard && dashboard.agents.error > 0 && !hasRunFailures && !dismissed.has("alert:agent-errors");
+  const showAggregateAgentError =
+    !!dashboard &&
+    dashboard.agents.error > 0 &&
+    !hasRunFailures &&
+    !dismissedAlerts.has("alert:agent-errors");
   const showBudgetAlert =
     !!dashboard &&
     dashboard.costs.monthBudgetCents > 0 &&
     dashboard.costs.monthUtilizationPercent >= 80 &&
-    !dismissed.has("alert:budget");
+    !dismissedAlerts.has("alert:budget");
   const hasAlerts = showAggregateAgentError || showBudgetAlert;
   const showWorkItemsSection = filteredWorkItems.length > 0;
   const showAlertsSection = shouldShowInboxSection({
@@ -1891,7 +1910,7 @@ export function Inbox() {
                       issueById={issueById}
                       agentName={agentName(item.run.agentId)}
                       issueLinkState={issueLinkState}
-                      onDismiss={() => dismiss(runKey)}
+                      onDismiss={() => dismissInboxItem(runKey)}
                       onRetry={() => retryRunMutation.mutate(item.run)}
                       isRetrying={retryingRunIds.has(item.run.id)}
                       unreadState={nonIssueUnreadState(runKey)}
@@ -2049,7 +2068,7 @@ export function Inbox() {
                   </Link>
                   <button
                     type="button"
-                    onClick={() => dismiss("alert:agent-errors")}
+                    onClick={() => dismissAlert("alert:agent-errors")}
                     className="rounded-md p-1 text-muted-foreground opacity-0 transition-opacity hover:bg-accent hover:text-foreground group-hover/alert:opacity-100"
                     aria-label="Dismiss"
                   >
@@ -2072,7 +2091,7 @@ export function Inbox() {
                   </Link>
                   <button
                     type="button"
-                    onClick={() => dismiss("alert:budget")}
+                    onClick={() => dismissAlert("alert:budget")}
                     className="rounded-md p-1 text-muted-foreground opacity-0 transition-opacity hover:bg-accent hover:text-foreground group-hover/alert:opacity-100"
                     aria-label="Dismiss"
                   >