Recreate deleted worktrees from their branch on restore

Archiving a Paseo-owned worktree deletes its directory, so reopening its
agent previously dead-ended even after the workspace record came back —
there was no folder to return to.

Restore now recreates the worktree at its original path from the kept
branch (the branch is never deleted on archive), re-points the same
workspace record, and clears archivedAt — preserving the workspaceId so
the agent stays linked. The directory is recreated before the un-archive
so the reconciler can't re-archive it for a missing directory. A deleted
or already-checked-out branch surfaces a typed failure and leaves the
workspace archived.

Gated behind a worktreeRestore capability flag; older hosts get an
explicit "update your host" state instead of a misleading failure.

packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ar.ts

@@ -335,6 +335,7 @@ export const ar: TranslationResources = {
       cannotReachHost: "لا يمكن الوصول إلى{{hostName}}",
       hostStatus: "حالة Host:{{status}}",
       missing: "لم يتم العثور على Workspace",
+      needsHostUpgrade: "قم بتحديث مضيفك لاستعادة مساحة العمل هذه",
       manageHost: "إدارة المضيف",
     },
     hoverCard: {

packages/app/src/i18n/resources/en.ts

@@ -335,6 +335,7 @@ export const en = {
       cannotReachHost: "Cannot reach {{hostName}}",
       hostStatus: "Host status: {{status}}",
       missing: "Workspace not found",
+      needsHostUpgrade: "Update your host to restore this workspace",
       manageHost: "Manage host",
     },
     hoverCard: {

packages/app/src/i18n/resources/es.ts

@@ -339,6 +339,7 @@ export const es: TranslationResources = {
       cannotReachHost: "No se puede alcanzar{{hostName}}",
       hostStatus: "Estado deHost:{{status}}",
       missing: "Workspaceno encontrado",
+      needsHostUpgrade: "Actualiza tu host para restaurar este espacio de trabajo",
       manageHost: "Administrar host",
     },
     hoverCard: {

packages/app/src/i18n/resources/fr.ts

@@ -339,6 +339,7 @@ export const fr: TranslationResources = {
       cannotReachHost: "Impossible d'atteindre{{hostName}}",
       hostStatus: "StatutHost:{{status}}",
       missing: "Workspaceintrouvable",
+      needsHostUpgrade: "Mettez à jour votre hôte pour restaurer cet espace de travail",
       manageHost: "Gérer l'hôte",
     },
     hoverCard: {

packages/app/src/i18n/resources/ru.ts

@@ -338,6 +338,7 @@ export const ru: TranslationResources = {
       cannotReachHost: "Невозможно связаться с{{hostName}}",
       hostStatus: "Статус Host:{{status}}",
       missing: "Workspace не найден",
+      needsHostUpgrade: "Обновите хост, чтобы восстановить эту рабочую область",
       manageHost: "Управление хостом",
     },
     hoverCard: {

packages/app/src/i18n/resources/zh-CN.ts

@@ -335,6 +335,7 @@ export const zhCN: TranslationResources = {
       cannotReachHost: "无法连接 {{hostName}}",
       hostStatus: "Host 状态：{{status}}",
       missing: "Workspace 未找到",
+      needsHostUpgrade: "更新你的 Host 以恢复此 workspace",
       manageHost: "管理 Host",
     },
     hoverCard: {

packages/app/src/screens/workspace/workspace-route-state-views.tsx

@@ -23,6 +23,14 @@ export function renderWorkspaceRouteGate(input: {
       return <WorkspaceConnecting hostName={input.state.hostName} />;
     case "restoring":
       return <WorkspaceRestoring hostName={input.state.hostName} />;
+    case "needsHostUpgrade":
+      return (
+        <WorkspaceEmptyState
+          titleKey="workspace.route.needsHostUpgrade"
+          hostName={input.state.hostName}
+          onDismiss={input.actions.onDismissMissingWorkspace}
+        />
+      );
     case "unreachable":
       return (
         <WorkspaceUnreachable
@@ -33,9 +41,11 @@ export function renderWorkspaceRouteGate(input: {
       );
     case "missing":
       return (
-        <WorkspaceMissing
+        <WorkspaceEmptyState
+          titleKey={
+            input.state.restoreFailed ? "workspace.route.restoreFailed" : "workspace.route.missing"
+          }
           hostName={input.state.hostName}
-          restoreFailed={input.state.restoreFailed}
           onDismiss={input.actions.onDismissMissingWorkspace}
         />
       );
@@ -142,13 +152,16 @@ function WorkspaceUnreachable({
   );
 }
 
-function WorkspaceMissing({
+function WorkspaceEmptyState({
+  titleKey,
   hostName,
-  restoreFailed,
   onDismiss,
 }: {
+  titleKey:
+    | "workspace.route.missing"
+    | "workspace.route.restoreFailed"
+    | "workspace.route.needsHostUpgrade";
   hostName: string;
-  restoreFailed: boolean;
   onDismiss: () => void;
 }) {
   const { t } = useTranslation();
@@ -156,9 +169,7 @@ function WorkspaceMissing({
   return (
     <View style={styles.emptyState}>
       <View style={styles.textStack}>
-        <Text style={styles.title}>
-          {restoreFailed ? t("workspace.route.restoreFailed") : t("workspace.route.missing")}
-        </Text>
+        <Text style={styles.title}>{t(titleKey)}</Text>
         <Text style={styles.description}>{hostName}</Text>
       </View>
       <View style={styles.actions}>

packages/app/src/screens/workspace/workspace-route-state.test.ts

@@ -127,6 +127,19 @@ describe("resolveWorkspaceRouteState", () => {
     ).toEqual({ kind: "restoring", hostName: "Laptop" });
   });
 
+  it("returns needsHostUpgrade when the daemon lacks the restore capability", () => {
+    expect(
+      resolveWorkspaceRouteState({
+        hostName: "Laptop",
+        connectionStatus: "online",
+        lastError: null,
+        workspace: null,
+        hasHydratedWorkspaces: true,
+        restoreStatus: "needs-host-upgrade",
+      }),
+    ).toEqual({ kind: "needsHostUpgrade", hostName: "Laptop" });
+  });
+
   it("falls back to a restore-failed missing state once the restore times out", () => {
     expect(
       resolveWorkspaceRouteState({

packages/app/src/screens/workspace/workspace-route-state.ts

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ export type WorkspaceRouteState =
     }
   | { kind: "loading"; hostName: string }
   | { kind: "restoring"; hostName: string }
+  | { kind: "needsHostUpgrade"; hostName: string }
   | { kind: "missing"; hostName: string; restoreFailed: boolean };
 
 export function resolveWorkspaceRouteState(input: {
@@ -25,7 +26,7 @@ export function resolveWorkspaceRouteState(input: {
   lastError: string | null;
   workspace: WorkspaceDescriptor | null;
   hasHydratedWorkspaces: boolean;
-  restoreStatus: "restoring" | "failed" | null;
+  restoreStatus: "restoring" | "failed" | "needs-host-upgrade" | null;
 }): WorkspaceRouteState {
   if (input.workspace) {
     if (input.connectionStatus === "online") {
@@ -45,6 +46,10 @@ export function resolveWorkspaceRouteState(input: {
       return { kind: "restoring", hostName: input.hostName };
     }
 
+    if (input.restoreStatus === "needs-host-upgrade") {
+      return { kind: "needsHostUpgrade", hostName: input.hostName };
+    }
+
     if (input.hasHydratedWorkspaces) {
       return {
         kind: "missing",

packages/app/src/stores/session-store.ts

@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ export interface AgentTimelineCursorState {
   endSeq: number;
 }
 
-export type WorkspaceRestoreStatus = "restoring" | "failed";
+export type WorkspaceRestoreStatus = "restoring" | "failed" | "needs-host-upgrade";
 
 // Per-session state
 export interface SessionState {

packages/app/src/utils/navigate-to-agent/index.ts

@@ -7,8 +7,10 @@ import { navigateToPreparedWorkspaceTab } from "@/utils/workspace-navigation";
 export type { NavigateToAgentInput } from "./resolve";
 
 // Clears the transient restoring state if the daemon resolves refreshAgent without
-// re-emitting a workspace_update (the directory-gone case), so the gate never spins forever.
-const RESTORE_TIMEOUT_MS = 7000;
+// re-emitting a workspace_update (the directory-gone case), so the gate never spins
+// forever. Recreating a worktree can require a git fetch, so the budget is generous
+// to avoid flashing a false "failed" on a capable daemon doing slow real work.
+const RESTORE_TIMEOUT_MS = 30000;
 
 function restoreArchivedWorkspace(serverId: string, agentId: string, workspaceId: string): void {
   const snapshot = getHostRuntimeStore().getSnapshot(serverId);
@@ -33,6 +35,15 @@ function restoreArchivedWorkspace(serverId: string, agentId: string, workspaceId
     return;
   }
 
+  // COMPAT(worktreeRestore): added in v0.1.98, drop the gate when floor >= v0.1.98
+  // Single capability read for restore. An old daemon recreates nothing on
+  // refresh_agent, so a gone directory would spin then flash a misleading
+  // "couldn't restore". Surface an explicit "update your host" state instead.
+  if (session?.serverInfo?.features?.worktreeRestore !== true) {
+    store.setWorkspaceRestoreStatus(serverId, workspaceId, "needs-host-upgrade");
+    return;
+  }
+
   store.setWorkspaceRestoreStatus(serverId, workspaceId, "restoring");
   // The reducer guards "failed" so a late timeout after the descriptor lands is a no-op.
   setTimeout(

packages/app/src/utils/navigate-to-agent/restore-archived-workspace.test.ts

@@ -27,15 +27,21 @@ const SERVER_ID = "server-1";
 const AGENT_ID = "agent-1";
 const WORKSPACE_ID = "workspace-1";
 
-function status(): "restoring" | "failed" | null {
+function status(): "restoring" | "failed" | "needs-host-upgrade" | null {
   return (
     useSessionStore.getState().sessions[SERVER_ID]?.restoringWorkspaces.get(WORKSPACE_ID) ?? null
   );
 }
 
-function seedArchivedAgent(): void {
+function seedArchivedAgent(options?: { worktreeRestore?: boolean }): void {
   const store = useSessionStore.getState();
   store.initializeSession(SERVER_ID, null as unknown as DaemonClient);
+  store.updateSessionServerInfo(SERVER_ID, {
+    serverId: SERVER_ID,
+    hostname: "host",
+    version: "0.1.98",
+    features: { worktreeRestore: options?.worktreeRestore ?? true },
+  } as unknown as Parameters<typeof store.updateSessionServerInfo>[1]);
   store.setAgents(SERVER_ID, (prev) => {
     const next = new Map(prev);
     next.set(AGENT_ID, {
@@ -133,10 +139,21 @@ describe("restoreArchivedWorkspace via navigateToAgent", () => {
     await Promise.resolve();
     expect(status()).toBe("restoring");
 
-    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(7000);
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(30000);
     expect(status()).toBe("failed");
   });
 
+  it("marks the workspace needs-host-upgrade without refreshing when the daemon lacks worktreeRestore", () => {
+    useSessionStore.getState().clearSession(SERVER_ID);
+    seedArchivedAgent({ worktreeRestore: false });
+    refreshAgent.mockImplementation(() => new Promise(() => {}));
+
+    trigger();
+
+    expect(refreshAgent).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(status()).toBe("needs-host-upgrade");
+  });
+
   it("is a no-op when the workspace descriptor is already present", () => {
     refreshAgent.mockImplementation(() => new Promise(() => {}));
     useSessionStore.getState().mergeWorkspaces(SERVER_ID, [

packages/protocol/src/messages.ts

@@ -2256,6 +2256,8 @@ export const ServerInfoStatusPayloadSchema = z
         checkoutRefresh: z.boolean().optional(),
         // COMPAT(workspaceMultiplicity): added in v0.1.97, drop the gate when floor >= v0.1.97
         workspaceMultiplicity: z.boolean().optional(),
+        // COMPAT(worktreeRestore): added in v0.1.98, drop the gate when floor >= v0.1.98
+        worktreeRestore: z.boolean().optional(),
       })
       .optional(),
   })

packages/server/src/server/paseo-worktree-service.test.ts

@@ -18,7 +18,9 @@ import {
   type CreatePaseoWorktreeDeps,
 } from "./paseo-worktree-service.js";
 import { readPaseoWorktreeMetadata } from "../utils/worktree-metadata.js";
+import { createWorktree } from "../utils/worktree.js";
 import { isPlatform } from "../test-utils/platform.js";
+import { existsSync } from "node:fs";
 
 const cleanupPaths: string[] = [];
 
@@ -503,6 +505,109 @@ test("does not mutate registries or broadcast when core worktree creation fails"
   expect(deps.workspaces.size).toBe(0);
 });
 
+// Worktree restore (Unit 3): recreate a deleted Paseo-owned worktree from its
+// kept branch via createWorktree's checkout-branch source.
+test.skipIf(isPlatform("win32"))(
+  "recreates a deleted worktree on the same kept branch without creating a suffixed branch",
+  async () => {
+    const { repoDir, tempDir } = createGitRepo();
+    cleanupPaths.push(tempDir);
+    const paseoHome = path.join(tempDir, ".paseo");
+
+    execFileSync("git", ["branch", "restore-me"], { cwd: repoDir, stdio: "pipe" });
+
+    const created = await createWorktree({
+      cwd: repoDir,
+      worktreeSlug: "restore-me",
+      source: { kind: "checkout-branch", branchName: "restore-me" },
+      runSetup: false,
+      paseoHome,
+    });
+    expect(existsSync(created.worktreePath)).toBe(true);
+
+    execFileSync("git", ["worktree", "remove", created.worktreePath, "--force"], {
+      cwd: repoDir,
+      stdio: "pipe",
+    });
+    expect(existsSync(created.worktreePath)).toBe(false);
+
+    const recreated = await createWorktree({
+      cwd: repoDir,
+      worktreeSlug: "restore-me",
+      source: { kind: "checkout-branch", branchName: "restore-me" },
+      runSetup: false,
+      paseoHome,
+    });
+
+    expect(recreated.worktreePath).toBe(created.worktreePath);
+    expect(existsSync(recreated.worktreePath)).toBe(true);
+    expect(
+      execFileSync("git", ["branch", "--show-current"], {
+        cwd: recreated.worktreePath,
+        stdio: "pipe",
+      })
+        .toString()
+        .trim(),
+    ).toBe("restore-me");
+    const branches = execFileSync("git", ["branch", "--list", "restore-me*"], {
+      cwd: repoDir,
+      stdio: "pipe",
+    })
+      .toString()
+      .split("\n")
+      .map((line) => line.replace(/^[*+ ]+/, "").trim())
+      .filter(Boolean);
+    expect(branches).toEqual(["restore-me"]);
+  },
+);
+
+test.skipIf(isPlatform("win32"))(
+  "rejects with UnknownBranchError when the kept branch no longer exists",
+  async () => {
+    const { repoDir, tempDir } = createGitRepo();
+    cleanupPaths.push(tempDir);
+
+    await expect(
+      createWorktree({
+        cwd: repoDir,
+        worktreeSlug: "gone-branch",
+        source: { kind: "checkout-branch", branchName: "gone-branch" },
+        runSetup: false,
+        paseoHome: path.join(tempDir, ".paseo"),
+      }),
+    ).rejects.toMatchObject({ name: "UnknownBranchError" });
+  },
+);
+
+test.skipIf(isPlatform("win32"))(
+  "rejects with BranchAlreadyCheckedOutError when the kept branch is checked out elsewhere",
+  async () => {
+    const { repoDir, tempDir } = createGitRepo();
+    cleanupPaths.push(tempDir);
+    const paseoHome = path.join(tempDir, ".paseo");
+
+    execFileSync("git", ["branch", "busy-branch"], { cwd: repoDir, stdio: "pipe" });
+    const first = await createWorktree({
+      cwd: repoDir,
+      worktreeSlug: "busy-branch",
+      source: { kind: "checkout-branch", branchName: "busy-branch" },
+      runSetup: false,
+      paseoHome,
+    });
+    expect(existsSync(first.worktreePath)).toBe(true);
+
+    await expect(
+      createWorktree({
+        cwd: repoDir,
+        worktreeSlug: "busy-branch-again",
+        source: { kind: "checkout-branch", branchName: "busy-branch" },
+        runSetup: false,
+        paseoHome,
+      }),
+    ).rejects.toMatchObject({ name: "BranchAlreadyCheckedOutError" });
+  },
+);
+
 interface TestDeps extends CreatePaseoWorktreeDeps {
   projectRegistry: Pick<ProjectRegistry, "get" | "list" | "upsert">;
   projects: Map<string, PersistedProjectRecord>;

packages/server/src/server/session.ts

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { v4 as uuidv4 } from "uuid";
 import { realpathSync } from "node:fs";
 import type { FSWatcher } from "node:fs";
 import { stat } from "node:fs/promises";
-import { resolve, sep } from "path";
+import { basename, normalize, resolve, sep } from "path";
 import { homedir } from "node:os";
 import { z } from "zod";
 import type { ToolSet } from "ai";
@@ -271,7 +271,12 @@ import {
   handleWorkspaceSetupStatusRequest as handleWorkspaceSetupStatusRequestMessage,
 } from "./worktree-session.js";
 import { archiveByScope, type ActiveWorkspaceRef } from "./workspace-archive-service.js";
-import { toWorktreeWireError } from "./worktree-errors.js";
+import {
+  WorktreeRequestError,
+  toWorktreeRequestError,
+  toWorktreeWireError,
+} from "./worktree-errors.js";
+import { type WorktreeConfig, createWorktree } from "../utils/worktree.js";
 import { CreateAgentLifecycleDispatch } from "./agent/create-agent-lifecycle-dispatch.js";
 
 const WORKSPACE_GIT_WATCH_REMOVED_STATE_KEY = "__removed__";
@@ -3555,7 +3560,7 @@ export class Session {
             requestId,
             requestType: msg.type,
             error: message,
-            code: "agent_refresh_failed",
+            code: error instanceof WorktreeRequestError ? error.code : "agent_refresh_failed",
           },
         });
       }
@@ -7072,18 +7077,69 @@ export class Session {
     if (!record?.workspaceId) {
       return;
     }
-    const directoryExists = await this.filesystem.isDirectory(record.cwd).catch(() => false);
-    if (!directoryExists) {
-      return;
-    }
     const workspace = await this.workspaceRegistry.get(record.workspaceId);
     if (!workspace?.archivedAt) {
       return;
     }
+
+    const directoryExists = await this.filesystem.isDirectory(record.cwd).catch(() => false);
+    if (!directoryExists) {
+      if (workspace.kind !== "worktree" || !workspace.branch) {
+        return;
+      }
+      // Recreate the worktree directory from its kept branch BEFORE clearing
+      // archivedAt — the reconciler re-archives workspaces whose directory is
+      // missing, so the record must point at a real directory first.
+      await this.recreateOwningWorktreeForRestore(workspace, workspace.branch);
+    }
+
     await this.ensureWorkspaceRecordUnarchived(workspace);
     await this.emitWorkspaceUpdatesForWorkspaceIds([workspace.workspaceId]);
   }
 
+  private async recreateOwningWorktreeForRestore(
+    workspace: PersistedWorkspaceRecord,
+    branch: string,
+  ): Promise<void> {
+    const project = await this.projectRegistry.get(workspace.projectId);
+    if (!project) {
+      throw new WorktreeRequestError({
+        code: "unknown",
+        message: `Project ${workspace.projectId} not found for workspace ${workspace.workspaceId}`,
+      });
+    }
+    const projectRootExists = await this.filesystem
+      .isDirectory(project.rootPath)
+      .catch(() => false);
+    if (!projectRootExists) {
+      throw new WorktreeRequestError({
+        code: "unknown",
+        message: `Project root is missing for ${workspace.projectId}: ${project.rootPath}`,
+      });
+    }
+
+    let result: WorktreeConfig;
+    try {
+      result = await createWorktree({
+        cwd: project.rootPath,
+        worktreeSlug: basename(workspace.cwd),
+        source: { kind: "checkout-branch", branchName: branch },
+        runSetup: false,
+        paseoHome: this.paseoHome,
+        worktreesRoot: this.worktreesRoot,
+      });
+    } catch (error) {
+      throw toWorktreeRequestError(error);
+    }
+
+    if (normalize(result.worktreePath) !== normalize(workspace.cwd)) {
+      throw new WorktreeRequestError({
+        code: "unknown",
+        message: `Recreated worktree diverged from ${workspace.cwd}: ${result.worktreePath}`,
+      });
+    }
+  }
+
   private async ensureWorkspaceRecordUnarchived(
     workspace: PersistedWorkspaceRecord,
   ): Promise<PersistedWorkspaceRecord> {

packages/server/src/server/session.workspaces.test.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,13 @@
 import { execFileSync } from "node:child_process";
-import { existsSync, mkdirSync, mkdtempSync, realpathSync, rmSync, writeFileSync } from "node:fs";
+import {
+  existsSync,
+  mkdirSync,
+  mkdtempSync,
+  realpathSync,
+  rmSync,
+  statSync,
+  writeFileSync,
+} from "node:fs";
 import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
 import path from "node:path";
 import { afterEach, expect, test, vi } from "vitest";
@@ -22,7 +30,8 @@ import type {
   AgentSessionConfig,
   AgentStreamEvent,
 } from "./agent/agent-sdk-types.js";
-import { createWorktree } from "../utils/worktree.js";
+import { createWorktree, UnknownBranchError } from "../utils/worktree.js";
+import { WorktreeRequestError, toWorktreeRequestError } from "./worktree-errors.js";
 import type { WorkspaceGitRuntimeSnapshot } from "./workspace-git-service.js";
 import type { GeneratedWorkspaceName } from "./worktree-branch-name-generator.js";
 import type { GitHubService } from "../services/github-service.js";
@@ -106,6 +115,10 @@ interface SessionTestAccess {
   agentUpdatesSubscription: unknown;
   workspaceUpdatesSubscription: unknown;
   interruptAgentIfRunning(agentId: string): unknown;
+  recreateOwningWorktreeForRestore(
+    workspace: PersistedWorkspaceRecord,
+    branch: string,
+  ): Promise<void>;
   reconcileActiveWorkspaceRecords(...args: unknown[]): Promise<Set<string>>;
   reconcileWorkspaceRecord(workspaceId: string): Promise<{
     changed: boolean;
@@ -4232,6 +4245,411 @@ test("refresh_agent_request leaves the owning workspace archived when its direct
   expect(projects.get(cwd)?.archivedAt).toBe("2026-03-10T00:00:00.000Z");
 });
 
+test("refresh_agent_request recreates a deleted worktree directory and unarchives the same workspace", async () => {
+  const emitted: SessionOutboundMessage[] = [];
+  const session = createSessionForWorkspaceTests({
+    onMessage: (message) => {
+      if (isSessionOutboundMessage(message)) emitted.push(message);
+    },
+  });
+  const projects = new Map<string, ReturnType<typeof createPersistedProjectRecord>>();
+  const workspaces = new Map<string, ReturnType<typeof createPersistedWorkspaceRecord>>();
+
+  const cwd = path.resolve("/tmp/paseo-deleted-worktree-dir");
+  session.filesystem.isDirectory = async () => false;
+  const workspaceId = "ws-deleted-worktree";
+  const agentId = "agent-deleted-worktree";
+  projects.set(
+    cwd,
+    createPersistedProjectRecord({
+      projectId: cwd,
+      rootPath: cwd,
+      kind: "git",
+      displayName: "worktree-project",
+      createdAt: "2026-03-01T12:00:00.000Z",
+      updatedAt: "2026-03-10T00:00:00.000Z",
+      archivedAt: "2026-03-10T00:00:00.000Z",
+    }),
+  );
+  workspaces.set(
+    workspaceId,
+    createPersistedWorkspaceRecord({
+      workspaceId,
+      projectId: cwd,
+      cwd,
+      kind: "worktree",
+      branch: "feature/keep",
+      displayName: "feature/keep",
+      createdAt: "2026-03-01T12:00:00.000Z",
+      updatedAt: "2026-03-10T00:00:00.000Z",
+      archivedAt: "2026-03-10T00:00:00.000Z",
+    }),
+  );
+
+  const storedAgent: StoredAgentRecord = {
+    ...makeStoredAgent({ id: agentId, cwd, updatedAt: "2026-03-10T00:00:00.000Z" }),
+    workspaceId,
+    archivedAt: "2026-03-10T00:00:00.000Z",
+  };
+
+  session.projectRegistry.get = async (projectId: string) => projects.get(projectId) ?? null;
+  session.projectRegistry.upsert = async (
+    record: ReturnType<typeof createPersistedProjectRecord>,
+  ) => {
+    projects.set(record.projectId, record);
+  };
+  session.workspaceRegistry.get = async (lookupWorkspaceId: string) =>
+    workspaces.get(lookupWorkspaceId) ?? null;
+  session.workspaceRegistry.upsert = async (
+    record: ReturnType<typeof createPersistedWorkspaceRecord>,
+  ) => {
+    workspaces.set(record.workspaceId, record);
+  };
+  session.projectRegistry.list = async () => Array.from(projects.values());
+  session.workspaceRegistry.list = async () => Array.from(workspaces.values());
+
+  session.agentStorage.get = async (id: string) => (id === agentId ? storedAgent : null);
+  session.agentStorage.upsert = async () => {};
+
+  const recreateCalls: string[] = [];
+  session.recreateOwningWorktreeForRestore = async (
+    workspace: PersistedWorkspaceRecord,
+  ): Promise<void> => {
+    recreateCalls.push(workspace.workspaceId);
+  };
+
+  const managed = makeManagedAgent({
+    id: agentId,
+    cwd,
+    workspaceId,
+    lifecycle: "idle",
+    updatedAt: "2026-03-10T00:00:00.000Z",
+  });
+  session.agentManager.getAgent = () => managed;
+  session.interruptAgentIfRunning = async () => undefined;
+  session.agentManager.reloadAgentSession = async () => managed;
+  session.agentManager.hydrateTimelineFromProvider = async () => undefined;
+  session.agentManager.getTimeline = () => [];
+  session.forwardAgentUpdate = async () => undefined;
+
+  const unarchivedWorkspaceIds: string[][] = [];
+  const realEmit = session.emitWorkspaceUpdatesForWorkspaceIds.bind(session);
+  session.emitWorkspaceUpdatesForWorkspaceIds = async (ids: string[], ...rest: unknown[]) => {
+    unarchivedWorkspaceIds.push(ids);
+    return realEmit(ids, ...rest);
+  };
+
+  await session.handleMessage({
+    type: "refresh_agent_request",
+    agentId,
+    requestId: "req-refresh-recreate-worktree",
+  });
+
+  expect(recreateCalls).toEqual([workspaceId]);
+  expect(workspaces.get(workspaceId)?.archivedAt).toBeNull();
+  expect(workspaces.get(workspaceId)?.workspaceId).toBe(workspaceId);
+  expect(unarchivedWorkspaceIds).toContainEqual([workspaceId]);
+  expect(findByType(emitted, "rpc_error")).toBeUndefined();
+});
+
+test("refresh_agent_request leaves the worktree archived and surfaces a typed error when recreation fails", async () => {
+  const emitted: SessionOutboundMessage[] = [];
+  const session = createSessionForWorkspaceTests({
+    onMessage: (message) => {
+      if (isSessionOutboundMessage(message)) emitted.push(message);
+    },
+  });
+  const projects = new Map<string, ReturnType<typeof createPersistedProjectRecord>>();
+  const workspaces = new Map<string, ReturnType<typeof createPersistedWorkspaceRecord>>();
+
+  const cwd = path.resolve("/tmp/paseo-deleted-worktree-fail");
+  session.filesystem.isDirectory = async () => false;
+  const workspaceId = "ws-deleted-worktree-fail";
+  const agentId = "agent-deleted-worktree-fail";
+  projects.set(
+    cwd,
+    createPersistedProjectRecord({
+      projectId: cwd,
+      rootPath: cwd,
+      kind: "git",
+      displayName: "worktree-project",
+      createdAt: "2026-03-01T12:00:00.000Z",
+      updatedAt: "2026-03-10T00:00:00.000Z",
+      archivedAt: "2026-03-10T00:00:00.000Z",
+    }),
+  );
+  workspaces.set(
+    workspaceId,
+    createPersistedWorkspaceRecord({
+      workspaceId,
+      projectId: cwd,
+      cwd,
+      kind: "worktree",
+      branch: "feature/gone",
+      displayName: "feature/gone",
+      createdAt: "2026-03-01T12:00:00.000Z",
+      updatedAt: "2026-03-10T00:00:00.000Z",
+      archivedAt: "2026-03-10T00:00:00.000Z",
+    }),
+  );
+
+  const storedAgent: StoredAgentRecord = {
+    ...makeStoredAgent({ id: agentId, cwd, updatedAt: "2026-03-10T00:00:00.000Z" }),
+    workspaceId,
+    archivedAt: "2026-03-10T00:00:00.000Z",
+  };
+
+  session.projectRegistry.get = async (projectId: string) => projects.get(projectId) ?? null;
+  session.projectRegistry.upsert = async (
+    record: ReturnType<typeof createPersistedProjectRecord>,
+  ) => {
+    projects.set(record.projectId, record);
+  };
+  session.workspaceRegistry.get = async (lookupWorkspaceId: string) =>
+    workspaces.get(lookupWorkspaceId) ?? null;
+  session.workspaceRegistry.upsert = async (
+    record: ReturnType<typeof createPersistedWorkspaceRecord>,
+  ) => {
+    workspaces.set(record.workspaceId, record);
+  };
+  session.projectRegistry.list = async () => Array.from(projects.values());
+  session.workspaceRegistry.list = async () => Array.from(workspaces.values());
+
+  session.agentStorage.get = async (id: string) => (id === agentId ? storedAgent : null);
+  session.agentStorage.upsert = async () => {};
+
+  session.recreateOwningWorktreeForRestore = async (): Promise<void> => {
+    throw toWorktreeRequestError(new UnknownBranchError({ branchName: "feature/gone", cwd }));
+  };
+
+  const managed = makeManagedAgent({
+    id: agentId,
+    cwd,
+    workspaceId,
+    lifecycle: "idle",
+    updatedAt: "2026-03-10T00:00:00.000Z",
+  });
+  session.agentManager.getAgent = () => managed;
+  session.interruptAgentIfRunning = async () => undefined;
+  session.agentManager.reloadAgentSession = async () => managed;
+  session.agentManager.hydrateTimelineFromProvider = async () => undefined;
+  session.agentManager.getTimeline = () => [];
+  session.forwardAgentUpdate = async () => undefined;
+
+  await session.handleMessage({
+    type: "refresh_agent_request",
+    agentId,
+    requestId: "req-refresh-recreate-fail",
+  });
+
+  expect(workspaces.get(workspaceId)?.archivedAt).toBe("2026-03-10T00:00:00.000Z");
+  const rpcError = findByType(emitted, "rpc_error");
+  expect(rpcError).toBeDefined();
+  expect((rpcError?.payload as { code?: string } | undefined)?.code).toBe("unknown_branch");
+});
+
+function createRecreateWorktreeRepo(): { tempDir: string; repoDir: string } {
+  const tempDir = realpathSync(mkdtempSync(path.join(tmpdir(), "paseo-recreate-worktree-")));
+  const repoDir = path.join(tempDir, "repo");
+  execFileSync("git", ["init", "-b", "main", repoDir], { stdio: "pipe" });
+  execFileSync("git", ["config", "user.email", "test@getpaseo.local"], {
+    cwd: repoDir,
+    stdio: "pipe",
+  });
+  execFileSync("git", ["config", "user.name", "Paseo Test"], { cwd: repoDir, stdio: "pipe" });
+  execFileSync("git", ["config", "commit.gpgsign", "false"], { cwd: repoDir, stdio: "pipe" });
+  writeFileSync(path.join(repoDir, "README.md"), "main\n");
+  execFileSync("git", ["add", "README.md"], { cwd: repoDir, stdio: "pipe" });
+  execFileSync("git", ["commit", "-m", "initial"], { cwd: repoDir, stdio: "pipe" });
+  return { tempDir, repoDir };
+}
+
+test("refresh_agent_request recreates a real deleted worktree against a temp git repo and unarchives the same workspace", async () => {
+  const { tempDir, repoDir } = createRecreateWorktreeRepo();
+  const branch = "feature/keep";
+  execFileSync("git", ["branch", branch], { cwd: repoDir, stdio: "pipe" });
+
+  const worktreesRoot = path.join(tempDir, "worktrees");
+  const paseoHome = path.join(tempDir, "paseo-home");
+  const created = await createWorktree({
+    cwd: repoDir,
+    worktreeSlug: "keep",
+    source: { kind: "checkout-branch", branchName: branch },
+    runSetup: false,
+    paseoHome,
+    worktreesRoot,
+  });
+  const worktreePath = realpathSync(created.worktreePath);
+  // Simulate archive: drop the worktree dir but keep the branch.
+  rmSync(worktreePath, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  execFileSync("git", ["worktree", "prune"], { cwd: repoDir, stdio: "pipe" });
+  expect(existsSync(worktreePath)).toBe(false);
+
+  const emitted: SessionOutboundMessage[] = [];
+  const session = createSessionForWorkspaceTests({
+    paseoHome,
+    worktreesRoot,
+    onMessage: (message) => {
+      if (isSessionOutboundMessage(message)) emitted.push(message);
+    },
+  });
+  // Real directory probe so the missing worktree reads as gone and the repo root as present.
+  session.filesystem.isDirectory = async (target: string) =>
+    existsSync(target) && statSync(target).isDirectory();
+
+  const projects = new Map<string, ReturnType<typeof createPersistedProjectRecord>>();
+  const workspaces = new Map<string, ReturnType<typeof createPersistedWorkspaceRecord>>();
+  const workspaceId = "ws-real-recreate";
+  const agentId = "agent-real-recreate";
+  const projectId = repoDir;
+  projects.set(
+    projectId,
+    createPersistedProjectRecord({
+      projectId,
+      rootPath: repoDir,
+      kind: "git",
+      displayName: "worktree-project",
+      createdAt: "2026-03-01T12:00:00.000Z",
+      updatedAt: "2026-03-10T00:00:00.000Z",
+      archivedAt: "2026-03-10T00:00:00.000Z",
+    }),
+  );
+  workspaces.set(
+    workspaceId,
+    createPersistedWorkspaceRecord({
+      workspaceId,
+      projectId,
+      cwd: worktreePath,
+      kind: "worktree",
+      branch,
+      displayName: branch,
+      createdAt: "2026-03-01T12:00:00.000Z",
+      updatedAt: "2026-03-10T00:00:00.000Z",
+      archivedAt: "2026-03-10T00:00:00.000Z",
+    }),
+  );
+
+  const storedAgent: StoredAgentRecord = {
+    ...makeStoredAgent({ id: agentId, cwd: worktreePath, updatedAt: "2026-03-10T00:00:00.000Z" }),
+    workspaceId,
+    archivedAt: "2026-03-10T00:00:00.000Z",
+  };
+
+  session.projectRegistry.get = async (id: string) => projects.get(id) ?? null;
+  session.projectRegistry.upsert = async (
+    record: ReturnType<typeof createPersistedProjectRecord>,
+  ) => {
+    projects.set(record.projectId, record);
+  };
+  session.workspaceRegistry.get = async (id: string) => workspaces.get(id) ?? null;
+  session.workspaceRegistry.upsert = async (
+    record: ReturnType<typeof createPersistedWorkspaceRecord>,
+  ) => {
+    workspaces.set(record.workspaceId, record);
+  };
+  session.projectRegistry.list = async () => Array.from(projects.values());
+  session.workspaceRegistry.list = async () => Array.from(workspaces.values());
+  session.agentStorage.get = async (id: string) => (id === agentId ? storedAgent : null);
+  session.agentStorage.upsert = async () => {};
+
+  const managed = makeManagedAgent({
+    id: agentId,
+    cwd: worktreePath,
+    workspaceId,
+    lifecycle: "idle",
+    updatedAt: "2026-03-10T00:00:00.000Z",
+  });
+  session.agentManager.getAgent = () => managed;
+  session.interruptAgentIfRunning = async () => undefined;
+  session.agentManager.reloadAgentSession = async () => managed;
+  session.agentManager.hydrateTimelineFromProvider = async () => undefined;
+  session.agentManager.getTimeline = () => [];
+  session.forwardAgentUpdate = async () => undefined;
+
+  await session.handleMessage({
+    type: "refresh_agent_request",
+    agentId,
+    requestId: "req-refresh-real-recreate",
+  });
+
+  expect(findByType(emitted, "rpc_error")).toBeUndefined();
+  expect(existsSync(worktreePath)).toBe(true);
+  const headBranch = execFileSync("git", ["rev-parse", "--abbrev-ref", "HEAD"], {
+    cwd: worktreePath,
+    stdio: "pipe",
+  })
+    .toString()
+    .trim();
+  expect(headBranch).toBe(branch);
+  expect(workspaces.get(workspaceId)?.workspaceId).toBe(workspaceId);
+  expect(workspaces.get(workspaceId)?.cwd).toBe(worktreePath);
+  expect(workspaces.get(workspaceId)?.archivedAt).toBeNull();
+
+  rmSync(tempDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+});
+
+test("recreateOwningWorktreeForRestore throws a typed WorktreeRequestError and leaves the workspace archived when the project root is missing", async () => {
+  const { tempDir, repoDir } = createRecreateWorktreeRepo();
+  const branch = "feature/keep";
+  execFileSync("git", ["branch", branch], { cwd: repoDir, stdio: "pipe" });
+
+  const worktreesRoot = path.join(tempDir, "worktrees");
+  const paseoHome = path.join(tempDir, "paseo-home");
+  const created = await createWorktree({
+    cwd: repoDir,
+    worktreeSlug: "keep",
+    source: { kind: "checkout-branch", branchName: branch },
+    runSetup: false,
+    paseoHome,
+    worktreesRoot,
+  });
+  const worktreePath = realpathSync(created.worktreePath);
+
+  const session = createSessionForWorkspaceTests({ paseoHome, worktreesRoot });
+  const projects = new Map<string, ReturnType<typeof createPersistedProjectRecord>>();
+  const workspaces = new Map<string, ReturnType<typeof createPersistedWorkspaceRecord>>();
+  const workspaceId = "ws-missing-root";
+  const projectId = repoDir;
+  const missingRoot = path.join(tempDir, "does-not-exist");
+  projects.set(
+    projectId,
+    createPersistedProjectRecord({
+      projectId,
+      rootPath: missingRoot,
+      kind: "git",
+      displayName: "worktree-project",
+      createdAt: "2026-03-01T12:00:00.000Z",
+      updatedAt: "2026-03-10T00:00:00.000Z",
+      archivedAt: "2026-03-10T00:00:00.000Z",
+    }),
+  );
+  const workspaceRecord = createPersistedWorkspaceRecord({
+    workspaceId,
+    projectId,
+    cwd: worktreePath,
+    kind: "worktree",
+    branch,
+    displayName: branch,
+    createdAt: "2026-03-01T12:00:00.000Z",
+    updatedAt: "2026-03-10T00:00:00.000Z",
+    archivedAt: "2026-03-10T00:00:00.000Z",
+  });
+  workspaces.set(workspaceId, workspaceRecord);
+
+  session.projectRegistry.get = async (id: string) => projects.get(id) ?? null;
+  session.workspaceRegistry.get = async (id: string) => workspaces.get(id) ?? null;
+  session.filesystem.isDirectory = async (target: string) =>
+    existsSync(target) && statSync(target).isDirectory();
+
+  await expect(
+    session.recreateOwningWorktreeForRestore(workspaceRecord, branch),
+  ).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(WorktreeRequestError);
+  // Guard fires before createWorktree, so archivedAt is untouched.
+  expect(workspaces.get(workspaceId)?.archivedAt).toBe("2026-03-10T00:00:00.000Z");
+
+  rmSync(tempDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+});
+
 test.skip("open_project_request collapses a git subdirectory onto the repo root workspace", async () => {
   const emitted: SessionOutboundMessage[] = [];
   const session = createSessionForWorkspaceTests();

packages/server/src/server/websocket-server.ts

@@ -1157,6 +1157,8 @@ export class VoiceAssistantWebSocketServer {
         checkoutRefresh: true,
         // COMPAT(workspaceMultiplicity): added in v0.1.97, drop the gate when floor >= v0.1.97
         workspaceMultiplicity: true,
+        // COMPAT(worktreeRestore): added in v0.1.98, drop the gate when floor >= v0.1.98
+        worktreeRestore: true,
       },
     };
   }