diff --git a/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/screens/home_screen.dart b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/screens/home_screen.dart
index 2099050..07ea1f3 100644
--- a/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/screens/home_screen.dart
+++ b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/screens/home_screen.dart
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 library;
 
 import 'dart:async';
+import 'dart:developer';
 import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
 import 'package:workout_app/models/exercise.dart';
 import 'package:workout_app/sandbox/sandbox_log.dart';
@@ -9,6 +10,8 @@ import 'package:workout_app/screens/history_screen.dart';
 import 'package:workout_app/screens/manual_workout_screen.dart';
 import 'package:workout_app/screens/settings_screen.dart';
 import 'package:workout_app/screens/workout_screen.dart';
+import 'package:workout_app/services/done_today.dart';
+import 'package:workout_app/services/lock_mode.dart';
 import 'package:workout_app/services/storage_service.dart';
 import 'package:workout_app/services/sync_status.dart';
 import 'package:workout_app/services/workout_sync_service.dart';
@@ -16,7 +19,9 @@ import 'package:workout_app/ui/theme.dart';
 import 'package:workout_app/widgets/sync_status_card.dart';
 
 part 'home_screen_cards.dart';
+part 'home_screen_launch.dart';
 part 'home_screen_navigation.dart';
+part 'home_screen_sync.dart';
 
 /// Home screen: auto-resumes active sessions and shows done-today status.
 class HomeScreen extends StatefulWidget {
@@ -30,6 +35,7 @@ class HomeScreen extends StatefulWidget {
     this.syncService,
     this.clock,
     this.configuredProbe,
+    this.openWorkoutOnLaunch = true,
   });
 
   /// Sync service to use; defaults to a real [WorkoutSyncService].
@@ -42,6 +48,10 @@ class HomeScreen extends StatefulWidget {
   /// service itself.
   final Future<bool> Function()? configuredProbe;
 
+  /// Whether the first load may skip home and open the workout. The app
+  /// always does; tests of the home screen itself switch it off.
+  final bool openWorkoutOnLaunch;
+
   @override
   State<HomeScreen> createState() => _HomeScreenState();
 }
@@ -58,9 +68,13 @@ class _HomeScreenState extends State<HomeScreen> {
   SyncStatus? _syncStatus;
   bool _syncing = false;
 
-  /// True after the first load auto-navigated to an in-progress workout,
-  /// so returning from workout does not auto-navigate again.
-  bool _hasAutoResumed = false;
+  /// True once the first load has decided whether to open the workout, so
+  /// returning from it (or from anywhere) lands on home.
+  bool _hasAutoOpened = false;
+
+  /// A synced record (manual workout, PC run) covers today. Sticky for the
+  /// process: only the launch reads the backends for it.
+  bool _syncedToday = false;
 
   @override
   void initState() {
@@ -75,19 +89,31 @@ class _HomeScreenState extends State<HomeScreen> {
     final saved = await storage.loadActiveSession();
     final lastDate = await storage.getLastWorkoutDate();
     final today = DateTime.now();
-    final doneToday =
+    final doneLocally =
         lastDate != null &&
         lastDate.year == today.year &&
         lastDate.month == today.month &&
         lastDate.day == today.day;
+    final firstLoad = !_hasAutoOpened;
+    _hasAutoOpened = true;
+    final launch = await _decideLaunch(
+      firstLoad: firstLoad,
+      hasSaved: saved != null,
+      doneLocally: doneLocally,
+      today: today,
+    );
+    _syncedToday = _syncedToday || launch.syncedToday;
 
     if (mounted) {
       setState(() {
         _nextType = nextType;
         _exercises = exercises;
         _savedSession = saved;
-        _doneToday = doneToday;
-        _loading = false;
+        _doneToday = doneLocally || _syncedToday;
+        // An auto-open keeps the spinner up and pushes with no transition,
+        // so the home card is never drawn under the workout first. The
+        // `_load` that runs when the workout pops clears it.
+        _loading = launch.open;
       });
 
       // Sync in the background on every open. Deliberately not awaited: a
@@ -95,64 +121,27 @@ class _HomeScreenState extends State<HomeScreen> {
       // changes what the card says when it lands.
       unawaited(_refreshSyncStatus());
 
-      // Auto-resume active session on first load (app launch).
-      if (saved != null && !_hasAutoResumed) {
-        _hasAutoResumed = true;
+      if (launch.open) {
         WidgetsBinding.instance.addPostFrameCallback((_) {
-          if (mounted) unawaited(_openWorkout(resume: true));
-        });
-      }
-    }
-  }
-
-  /// Opens settings so the user can connect sync, then re-checks on return.
-  /// Runs a sync tick and folds the outcome into the status card.
-  ///
-  /// Never throws: [WorkoutSyncService.syncNow] reports failures as a
-  /// [PushResult] rather than an exception, and the card is where that
-  /// reason finally becomes visible to the user.
-  Future<void> _refreshSyncStatus() async {
-    if (_syncing) return; // a tick is already in flight
-    _syncing = true;
-    final storage = StorageService.instance;
-    final sync = widget.syncService ?? WorkoutSyncService();
-    final now = (widget.clock ?? DateTime.now)();
-    try {
-      final configured = await (widget.configuredProbe ?? sync.isConfigured)();
-      final storedAt = await storage.getLastSyncedAt();
-
-      // Show what the PERSISTED state says before the tick resolves. Without
-      // this pass the card can never say "out of date": by the time a tick
-      // has finished it has either stamped the time (so the age is zero) or
-      // failed (so the card is "Sync failed"), and a phone that has not
-      // synced for days would look healthy for the whole tick. This is also
-      // the honest reading while the network is still being waited on.
-      if (mounted) {
-        setState(() {
-          _syncStatus = computeSyncStatus(
-            configured: configured,
-            now: now,
-            lastSyncedAt: storedAt,
+          if (!mounted) return;
+          unawaited(
+            _openWorkout(
+              resume: saved != null,
+              auto: true,
+              syncNotSetUp: launch.syncNotSetUp,
+            ),
           );
         });
+      } else {
+        SandboxLog.event('home shown', {'doneToday': _doneToday});
       }
-
-      final result = configured ? await sync.syncNow() : null;
-      if (result != null && result.pushed) {
-        await storage.markSyncedNow(now);
-      }
-      final status = computeSyncStatus(
-        configured: configured,
-        now: now,
-        lastResult: result,
-        lastSyncedAt: await storage.getLastSyncedAt(),
-      );
-      if (mounted) setState(() => _syncStatus = status);
-    } finally {
-      _syncing = false;
     }
   }
 
+  /// Runs [fn] inside `setState` on behalf of this library's extensions,
+  /// which cannot call the `@protected` original.
+  void _applyState(VoidCallback fn) => setState(fn);
+
   @override
   Widget build(BuildContext context) {
     final colorScheme = Theme.of(context).colorScheme;
diff --git a/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/screens/home_screen_launch.dart b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/screens/home_screen_launch.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..636f1fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/screens/home_screen_launch.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+// The launch-time decision: open the workout straight away, or show home.
+//
+// A `part` for the same reason as home_screen_navigation.dart: it reaches the
+// private `_HomeScreenState` members, and stays setState-free so `_load` keeps
+// the one `setState` that applies the answer.
+part of 'home_screen.dart';
+
+/// How long a cold launch waits for the synced records before opening the
+/// workout anyway. Fail-open on purpose: a wrong auto-open costs one back
+/// press (the break service only starts on the first tap), while a dead
+/// network must never hold the workout hostage.
+const Duration _kSyncedTodayTimeout = Duration(seconds: 4);
+
+/// What the first load of this process decided.
+typedef _LaunchDecision = ({
+  /// Push the workout (resuming if a session is saved) without showing home.
+  bool open,
+
+  /// A synced record already covers today.
+  bool syncedToday,
+
+  /// This device has no sync credentials; the workout screen must say so.
+  bool syncNotSetUp,
+});
+
+/// Opening the workout on launch, the way todo opens the editor.
+extension _HomeScreenLaunch on _HomeScreenState {
+  /// Decides whether this load skips the home screen.
+  ///
+  /// Only the first load of the process decides anything: coming back from a
+  /// workout, settings or the background must land on home. A saved session
+  /// always resumes (as it always has). A fresh workout opens only when
+  /// nothing counts for today yet -- and never in PC lock mode, where the
+  /// workout route cannot be popped and the manual-log button on home would
+  /// become unreachable.
+  Future<_LaunchDecision> _decideLaunch({
+    required bool firstLoad,
+    required bool hasSaved,
+    required bool doneLocally,
+    required DateTime today,
+  }) async {
+    const stay = (open: false, syncedToday: false, syncNotSetUp: false);
+    if (!firstLoad || !widget.openWorkoutOnLaunch) return stay;
+    final wantsFresh = !hasSaved && !doneLocally && !lockModeEnabled;
+    if (!hasSaved && !wantsFresh) return stay;
+
+    final sync = widget.syncService ?? WorkoutSyncService();
+    final configured = await (widget.configuredProbe ?? sync.isConfigured)();
+    final syncedToday =
+        wantsFresh && configured && await _syncedWorkoutToday(sync, today);
+    return (
+      open: hasSaved || !syncedToday,
+      syncedToday: syncedToday,
+      syncNotSetUp: !configured,
+    );
+  }
+
+  /// Whether a synced record -- a manual workout, the PC's verified run, a
+  /// session from another device -- is dated [today].
+  ///
+  /// Never throws: an unreadable backend answers "no", loudly, so the
+  /// workout still opens.
+  Future<bool> _syncedWorkoutToday(
+    WorkoutSyncService sync,
+    DateTime today,
+  ) async {
+    try {
+      final payloads = await sync.readMergedWorkoutPayloads().timeout(
+        _kSyncedTodayTimeout,
+      );
+      return anyWorkoutOn(payloads, today);
+    } on Object catch (error) {
+      log(
+        'HomeScreen: could not read synced workouts to check for one logged '
+        'today ($error) — opening the workout anyway; back out if you '
+        'already trained.',
+        level: 900,
+      );
+      return false;
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/screens/home_screen_navigation.dart b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/screens/home_screen_navigation.dart
index c0b9161..75eb694 100644
--- a/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/screens/home_screen_navigation.dart
+++ b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/screens/home_screen_navigation.dart
@@ -14,7 +14,16 @@ extension _HomeScreenNavigation on _HomeScreenState {
     unawaited(_load());
   }
 
-  Future<void> _openWorkout({bool resume = false}) async {
+  /// Pushes the workout, resuming the saved session when [resume].
+  ///
+  /// [auto] is the launch-time open: it replaces home without a transition,
+  /// so the first screen after loading is the workout itself. [syncNotSetUp]
+  /// carries the sync warning the skipped home card would have shown.
+  Future<void> _openWorkout({
+    bool resume = false,
+    bool auto = false,
+    bool syncNotSetUp = false,
+  }) async {
     final storage = StorageService.instance;
     Map<String, dynamic>? savedState;
     var type = _nextType;
@@ -28,15 +37,25 @@ extension _HomeScreenNavigation on _HomeScreenState {
     }
 
     if (!mounted) return;
-    SandboxLog.event('open workout', {'type': type, 'resume': resume});
+    SandboxLog.event('open workout', {
+      'type': type,
+      'resume': resume,
+      'auto': auto,
+    });
+    final screen = WorkoutScreen(
+      workoutType: type,
+      exercises: exercises,
+      savedState: savedState,
+      syncNotSetUp: syncNotSetUp,
+    );
     await Navigator.of(context).push(
-      MaterialPageRoute<void>(
-        builder: (_) => WorkoutScreen(
-          workoutType: type,
-          exercises: exercises,
-          savedState: savedState,
-        ),
-      ),
+      auto
+          ? PageRouteBuilder<void>(
+              pageBuilder: (_, _, _) => screen,
+              transitionDuration: Duration.zero,
+              reverseTransitionDuration: Duration.zero,
+            )
+          : MaterialPageRoute<void>(builder: (_) => screen),
     );
     unawaited(_load());
   }
diff --git a/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/screens/home_screen_sync.dart b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/screens/home_screen_sync.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8db84fb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/screens/home_screen_sync.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+// The home screen's sync tick: what the status card says, and when.
+//
+// A `part` so the extension keeps reaching the private `_HomeScreenState`
+// fields; it mutates them through the `_applyState` shim because `setState`
+// is `@protected` and cannot be called from an extension.
+part of 'home_screen.dart';
+
+/// Keeps the sync status card honest.
+extension _HomeScreenSync on _HomeScreenState {
+  /// Runs a sync tick and folds the outcome into the status card.
+  ///
+  /// Never throws: [WorkoutSyncService.syncNow] reports failures as a
+  /// [PushResult] rather than an exception, and the card is where that
+  /// reason finally becomes visible to the user.
+  Future<void> _refreshSyncStatus() async {
+    if (_syncing) return; // a tick is already in flight
+    _syncing = true;
+    final storage = StorageService.instance;
+    final sync = widget.syncService ?? WorkoutSyncService();
+    final now = (widget.clock ?? DateTime.now)();
+    try {
+      final configured = await (widget.configuredProbe ?? sync.isConfigured)();
+      final storedAt = await storage.getLastSyncedAt();
+
+      // Show what the PERSISTED state says before the tick resolves. Without
+      // this pass the card can never say "out of date": by the time a tick
+      // has finished it has either stamped the time (so the age is zero) or
+      // failed (so the card is "Sync failed"), and a phone that has not
+      // synced for days would look healthy for the whole tick. This is also
+      // the honest reading while the network is still being waited on.
+      if (mounted) {
+        _applyState(() {
+          _syncStatus = computeSyncStatus(
+            configured: configured,
+            now: now,
+            lastSyncedAt: storedAt,
+          );
+        });
+      }
+
+      final result = configured ? await sync.syncNow() : null;
+      if (result != null && result.pushed) {
+        await storage.markSyncedNow(now);
+      }
+      final status = computeSyncStatus(
+        configured: configured,
+        now: now,
+        lastResult: result,
+        lastSyncedAt: await storage.getLastSyncedAt(),
+      );
+      if (mounted) _applyState(() => _syncStatus = status);
+    } finally {
+      _syncing = false;
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/screens/workout_screen.dart b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/screens/workout_screen.dart
index c54ed55..4efac65 100644
--- a/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/screens/workout_screen.dart
+++ b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/screens/workout_screen.dart
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import 'package:workout_app/services/workout_sync_service.dart';
 import 'package:workout_app/ui/theme.dart';
 import 'package:workout_app/widgets/break_banner.dart';
 import 'package:workout_app/widgets/exercise_tile.dart';
+import 'package:workout_app/widgets/sync_setup_banner.dart';
 import 'package:workout_app/widgets/workout_summary_dialog.dart';
 
 part 'workout_screen_body.dart';
@@ -48,6 +49,7 @@ class WorkoutScreen extends StatefulWidget {
     super.key,
     this.savedState,
     this.breakClient,
+    this.syncNotSetUp = false,
   });
 
   /// 'A' or 'B' — used for history and progression.
@@ -64,6 +66,9 @@ class WorkoutScreen extends StatefulWidget {
   @visibleForTesting
   final ForegroundBreakClient? breakClient;
 
+  /// Shows the "sync not set up" strip; the home card that says it is skipped.
+  final bool syncNotSetUp;
+
   @override
   State<WorkoutScreen> createState() => _WorkoutScreenState();
 }
@@ -96,6 +101,9 @@ class _WorkoutScreenState extends State<WorkoutScreen> {
 
   late final AppLifecycleListener _lifecycle;
   late final BreakServiceController _breaks;
+
+  /// The one in-flight start of [_breaks]; see `_ensureBreakService`.
+  Future<void>? _breakServiceStart;
   final _audio = AudioPlayer();
   final _sync = SyncService();
   bool _finished = false;
@@ -120,7 +128,8 @@ class _WorkoutScreenState extends State<WorkoutScreen> {
     unawaited(_loadExerciseStates());
     WidgetsBinding.instance.addPostFrameCallback((_) {
       unawaited(_settleExpiredBreak());
-      unawaited(_startBreakService());
+      // A fresh workout waits for its first tap; see `_ensureBreakService`.
+      if (saved != null) _ensureBreakService();
     });
   }
 
@@ -221,6 +230,7 @@ class _WorkoutScreenState extends State<WorkoutScreen> {
             inBreak: _inBreak,
             breakRemaining: _breakRemaining,
             finished: _finished,
+            syncNotSetUp: widget.syncNotSetUp,
             allSetsCompleted: _allSetsCompleted,
             onSkipBreak: _skipBreak,
             onReset: () => unawaited(_confirmReset()),
diff --git a/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/screens/workout_screen_body.dart b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/screens/workout_screen_body.dart
index b7acaf9..7064798 100644
--- a/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/screens/workout_screen_body.dart
+++ b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/screens/workout_screen_body.dart
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ class _WorkoutBody extends StatelessWidget {
     required this.inBreak,
     required this.breakRemaining,
     required this.finished,
+    required this.syncNotSetUp,
     required this.allSetsCompleted,
     required this.onSkipBreak,
     required this.onReset,
@@ -58,6 +59,9 @@ class _WorkoutBody extends StatelessWidget {
   /// Whether the workout is over; hides Reset and Finish.
   final bool finished;
 
+  /// Whether to show the "sync not set up" strip above the rest strip.
+  final bool syncNotSetUp;
+
   /// Whether every set is recorded; enables Finish.
   final bool allSetsCompleted;
 
@@ -86,6 +90,7 @@ class _WorkoutBody extends StatelessWidget {
   Widget build(BuildContext context) {
     return Column(
       children: [
+        if (syncNotSetUp) const SyncSetupBanner(),
         BreakBanner(
           active: inBreak,
           breakRemaining: breakRemaining,
diff --git a/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/screens/workout_screen_intents.dart b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/screens/workout_screen_intents.dart
index 681335d..f2686c8 100644
--- a/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/screens/workout_screen_intents.dart
+++ b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/screens/workout_screen_intents.dart
@@ -91,6 +91,19 @@ extension _WorkoutScreenIntents on _WorkoutScreenState {
     return count;
   }
 
+  /// Starts the foreground service once per screen, on the first event that
+  /// makes the workout real.
+  ///
+  /// A resumed session starts it on open. A fresh one waits for its first
+  /// set or warmup: launch now opens the workout by itself, and merely
+  /// opening the app must not leave a notification (or a session) behind.
+  ///
+  /// No `_finished` check: every save path already returns once the workout
+  /// is finished, and Finish stops the service itself.
+  void _ensureBreakService() {
+    _breakServiceStart ??= _startBreakService();
+  }
+
   /// Hands the workout to the foreground service, then applies anything the
   /// user already pressed on a notification from a previous run of the app.
   ///
@@ -102,6 +115,10 @@ extension _WorkoutScreenIntents on _WorkoutScreenState {
       _buildSnapshot(),
       onDrainNudge: () => unawaited(_drainIntents()),
     );
+    // `push` is a no-op until `start` returns, and `start` can sit on the
+    // notification-permission dialog while the user keeps tapping sets.
+    // Re-send the current state so none of those taps is lost.
+    await _breaks.push(_buildSnapshot());
     if (result.needsPermissionWarning && mounted) {
       ScaffoldMessenger.of(context).showSnackBar(
         const SnackBar(
diff --git a/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/screens/workout_screen_session.dart b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/screens/workout_screen_session.dart
index be0b36e..f1ab5b8 100644
--- a/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/screens/workout_screen_session.dart
+++ b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/screens/workout_screen_session.dart
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ extension _WorkoutScreenSession on _WorkoutScreenState {
     SandboxLog.event('session save', {'toFirebase': toFirebase});
     final data = _activeSessionData();
     await StorageService.instance.saveActiveSession(data);
+    _ensureBreakService();
     // The one seam the notification is fed from. Every event that moves the
     // workout on -- a set, a warmup, a rep decrement, a skip, a reset, a
     // drained press -- already comes through here, so hanging the push on it
diff --git a/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/services/done_today.dart b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/services/done_today.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0e2845d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/services/done_today.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+/// Whether a synced workout already covers a given day.
+///
+/// The home screen opens a fresh workout by itself on launch unless one
+/// already counts for today -- and "counts" is wider than this phone's own
+/// history: a manual workout, the PC's verified RunnerUp run, or a session
+/// logged on another device all mean there is nothing left to push for.
+library;
+
+/// The `YYYY-MM-DD` key a workout record is dated with.
+///
+/// The PC dates every synced record by its `log.json` day key, which is a
+/// local calendar day -- the same calendar [DateTime.now] reads on the phone.
+String dayKey(DateTime day) =>
+    '${day.year.toString().padLeft(4, '0')}-'
+    '${day.month.toString().padLeft(2, '0')}-'
+    '${day.day.toString().padLeft(2, '0')}';
+
+/// Whether any of [payloads] (merged cross-device workout records) is dated
+/// [day].
+///
+/// A prefix match, so both a bare `2026-09-28` and a full ISO timestamp from
+/// a StrongLifts session read as the same day.
+bool anyWorkoutOn(Iterable<Map<String, dynamic>> payloads, DateTime day) {
+  final key = dayKey(day);
+  return payloads.any((p) => '${p['date']}'.startsWith(key));
+}
diff --git a/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/widgets/sync_setup_banner.dart b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/widgets/sync_setup_banner.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b4e75a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/lib/widgets/sync_setup_banner.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+/// A one-line "sync is not set up" strip for the top of the workout screen.
+///
+/// The home screen's `SyncStatusCard` used to be the only place this was
+/// said, and it deliberately sat *before* the workout. Now that a launch
+/// can jump straight into the workout, the warning has to travel with it or
+/// a workout gets logged into a void again.
+library;
+
+import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
+import 'package:workout_app/ui/theme.dart';
+
+/// Tells the user this workout will not reach the PC until sync is set up.
+class SyncSetupBanner extends StatelessWidget {
+  /// Creates the banner.
+  const SyncSetupBanner({super.key});
+
+  @override
+  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
+    final colorScheme = Theme.of(context).colorScheme;
+    return Padding(
+      padding: const EdgeInsets.symmetric(
+        horizontal: AppSpacing.md,
+        vertical: AppSpacing.xs,
+      ),
+      child: Row(
+        children: [
+          Icon(Icons.cloud_off, size: 16, color: colorScheme.error),
+          const SizedBox(width: AppSpacing.sm),
+          Expanded(
+            child: Text(
+              'Sync not set up — this workout will NOT count. '
+              'Set it up in Settings.',
+              style: Theme.of(
+                context,
+              ).textTheme.bodySmall?.copyWith(color: colorScheme.error),
+            ),
+          ),
+        ],
+      ),
+    );
+  }
+}
diff --git a/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/_home_test_fixtures.dart b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/_home_test_fixtures.dart
index 4372060..20431d7 100644
--- a/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/_home_test_fixtures.dart
+++ b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/_home_test_fixtures.dart
@@ -26,11 +26,19 @@ Future<void> pumpHome(WidgetTester tester, Widget w) async {
 // `flutter test`, so every test here would fail on a MissingPluginException
 // that has nothing to do with what it is asserting. Report "not
 // configured" instead: no credentials means no sync tick is attempted.
-Widget wrapHome({Future<bool> Function()? configuredProbe}) => MaterialApp(
+//
+// The launch-time auto-open is off by default here: these files test the
+// home screen itself, and a fresh database would otherwise skip straight
+// past it into the workout. home_launch_test.dart covers the auto-open.
+Widget wrapHome({
+  Future<bool> Function()? configuredProbe,
+  bool openWorkoutOnLaunch = false,
+}) => MaterialApp(
   theme: buildAppTheme(),
   home: HomeScreen(
     configuredProbe: configuredProbe ?? () async => false,
     clock: () => DateTime(2026, 8, 15, 18),
+    openWorkoutOnLaunch: openWorkoutOnLaunch,
   ),
 );
 
diff --git a/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/_workout_screen_test_fixtures.dart b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/_workout_screen_test_fixtures.dart
index dfe7411..76f80ea 100644
--- a/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/_workout_screen_test_fixtures.dart
+++ b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/_workout_screen_test_fixtures.dart
@@ -56,6 +56,20 @@ Map<String, dynamic> savedWithBreak(
       .millisecondsSinceEpoch,
 };
 
+/// A saved session with nothing recorded yet, for [exercises].
+///
+/// The notification tests start from this rather than a fresh screen: a
+/// fresh workout no longer starts the break service until its first set, so
+/// only a restored session has the service (and its queued presses) live
+/// from the moment the screen opens.
+Map<String, dynamic> blankSaved([List<Exercise> exercises = testExercises]) => {
+  'workoutType': 'A',
+  'startTimeMs': DateTime.now().millisecondsSinceEpoch,
+  'tapped': [for (final e in exercises) List<bool>.filled(e.sets, false)],
+  'doneReps': [for (final e in exercises) List<int>.filled(e.sets, e.reps)],
+  'warmupTapped': List<bool>.filled(exercises.length, false),
+};
+
 const testExercises = [
   Exercise(name: 'Squat', sets: 3, reps: 5, weight: 20.0),
   Exercise(name: 'Press', sets: 3, reps: 5, weight: 15.0),
diff --git a/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/home_launch_test.dart b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/home_launch_test.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2ed2188
--- /dev/null
+++ b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/home_launch_test.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,160 @@
+// The launch-time auto-open: a cold start with nothing done today skips the
+// home screen and lands on the workout, the way todo lands on the editor.
+import 'dart:async';
+
+import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
+import 'package:flutter_test/flutter_test.dart';
+import 'package:sqflite_common_ffi/sqflite_ffi.dart';
+import 'package:workout_app/screens/home_screen.dart';
+import 'package:workout_app/screens/workout_screen.dart';
+import 'package:workout_app/services/done_today.dart';
+import 'package:workout_app/services/lock_mode.dart';
+import 'package:workout_app/services/storage_service.dart';
+import 'package:workout_app/services/workout_sync_service.dart';
+import 'package:workout_app/ui/theme.dart';
+import 'package:workout_app/widgets/sync_setup_banner.dart';
+
+import '_home_test_fixtures.dart';
+
+/// A configured backend whose merged records are [payloads] -- or which
+/// throws [error] instead, as an unreachable repo would.
+class _RecordsSyncService extends WorkoutSyncService {
+  _RecordsSyncService({this.payloads = const [], this.error});
+
+  final List<Map<String, dynamic>> payloads;
+  final Object? error;
+
+  @override
+  Future<PushResult> syncNow() async =>
+      const PushResult(pushed: false, reason: 'sync failed: offline');
+
+  @override
+  Future<List<Map<String, dynamic>>> readMergedWorkoutPayloads() async {
+    if (error case final e?) throw e;
+    return payloads;
+  }
+}
+
+Widget _app({WorkoutSyncService? sync, bool configured = false}) => MaterialApp(
+  theme: buildAppTheme(),
+  home: HomeScreen(syncService: sync, configuredProbe: () async => configured),
+);
+
+/// Drives the first load and the post-frame push on the real loop: the load
+/// awaits sqflite, which hangs under the widget test's fake async.
+Future<void> _launch(WidgetTester tester, Widget app) async {
+  await tester.runAsync(() async {
+    await tester.pumpWidget(app);
+    await Future<void>.delayed(const Duration(milliseconds: 300));
+    await tester.pump(); // fire the post-frame auto-open
+    await Future<void>.delayed(const Duration(milliseconds: 300));
+  });
+  await tester.pump();
+}
+
+void main() {
+  setUpAll(() {
+    sqfliteFfiInit();
+    databaseFactory = databaseFactoryFfi;
+  });
+
+  setUp(() async {
+    StorageService.resetForTesting();
+    await StorageService.init();
+  });
+
+  testWidgets('nothing done today: the workout opens without showing home', (
+    tester,
+  ) async {
+    await _launch(tester, _app());
+    expect(find.byType(WorkoutScreen), findsOneWidget);
+    // No transition: the home card was never built underneath.
+    expect(find.text('Start Workout A'), findsNothing);
+    // Sync is not set up, and the card that says so was skipped.
+    expect(find.byType(SyncSetupBanner), findsOneWidget);
+  });
+
+  testWidgets('a workout already in local history keeps home', (tester) async {
+    await tester.runAsync(
+      () => StorageService.instance.saveSession(
+        date: dayKey(DateTime.now()),
+        workoutType: 'A',
+        durationSeconds: 1800,
+        succeeded: true,
+        json: '{"exercises":[]}',
+      ),
+    );
+    await _launch(tester, _app());
+    expect(find.byType(WorkoutScreen), findsNothing);
+    expect(find.text('Done for today!'), findsOneWidget);
+  });
+
+  testWidgets('a synced record dated today (a run, a manual log) keeps home', (
+    tester,
+  ) async {
+    final sync = _RecordsSyncService(
+      payloads: [
+        {'kind': 'runnerup_verified', 'date': dayKey(DateTime.now())},
+      ],
+    );
+    await _launch(tester, _app(sync: sync, configured: true));
+    expect(find.byType(WorkoutScreen), findsNothing);
+    expect(find.text('Done for today!'), findsOneWidget);
+  });
+
+  testWidgets('synced records from other days still open, without banner', (
+    tester,
+  ) async {
+    final sync = _RecordsSyncService(
+      payloads: [
+        {'kind': 'runnerup_verified', 'date': '2020-01-01'},
+      ],
+    );
+    await _launch(tester, _app(sync: sync, configured: true));
+    expect(find.byType(WorkoutScreen), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.byType(SyncSetupBanner), findsNothing);
+  });
+
+  testWidgets('an unreadable backend fails open into the workout', (
+    tester,
+  ) async {
+    final sync = _RecordsSyncService(error: TimeoutException('slow repo'));
+    await _launch(tester, _app(sync: sync, configured: true));
+    expect(find.byType(WorkoutScreen), findsOneWidget);
+  });
+
+  testWidgets('PC lock mode keeps home, where manual logging lives', (
+    tester,
+  ) async {
+    lockModeEnabled = true;
+    addTearDown(() => lockModeEnabled = false);
+    await _launch(tester, _app());
+    expect(find.byType(WorkoutScreen), findsNothing);
+    expect(find.text('Start Workout A'), findsOneWidget);
+  });
+
+  testWidgets('backing out lands on home, with no session left behind', (
+    tester,
+  ) async {
+    await _launch(tester, _app());
+    expect(find.byType(WorkoutScreen), findsOneWidget);
+
+    await tester.runAsync(() async {
+      tester.state<NavigatorState>(find.byType(Navigator).last).pop();
+      await Future<void>.delayed(const Duration(milliseconds: 300));
+    });
+    await tester.pump();
+    expect(find.byType(WorkoutScreen), findsNothing);
+    // Only the first load decides: the reload after the pop stays on home.
+    expect(find.text('Start Workout A'), findsOneWidget);
+    final saved = await tester.runAsync(
+      () => StorageService.instance.loadActiveSession(),
+    );
+    expect(saved, isNull);
+  });
+
+  testWidgets('the fixtures switch the auto-open off', (tester) async {
+    await pumpHome(tester, wrapHome());
+    expect(find.byType(WorkoutScreen), findsNothing);
+  });
+}
diff --git a/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/home_screen_test.dart b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/home_screen_test.dart
index 45926ed..b8c9319 100644
--- a/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/home_screen_test.dart
+++ b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/home_screen_test.dart
@@ -105,14 +105,27 @@ void main() {
     await tester.runAsync(
       () => StorageService.instance.saveActiveSession({
         'workoutType': 'A',
-        'startTime': DateTime.now().toIso8601String(),
-        'exercises': <dynamic>[],
+        'startTimeMs': DateTime.now().millisecondsSinceEpoch,
+        'tapped': [for (final e in workoutA) List<bool>.filled(e.sets, false)],
+        'doneReps': [
+          for (final e in workoutA) List<int>.filled(e.sets, e.reps),
+        ],
+        'warmupTapped': List<bool>.filled(workoutA.length, false),
       }),
     );
-    await pumpHome(tester, wrapHome());
+    // The launch decision awaits the sync probe before the post-frame push,
+    // so both run on the real loop (sqflite hangs under fake async).
+    await tester.runAsync(() async {
+      await tester.pumpWidget(wrapHome(openWorkoutOnLaunch: true));
+      await Future<void>.delayed(const Duration(milliseconds: 300));
+      await tester.pump(); // fire the post-frame auto-resume callback
+      await Future<void>.delayed(const Duration(milliseconds: 300));
+    });
     await tester.pump(const Duration(milliseconds: 300));
-    // The post-frame auto-resume pushed the workout screen.
-    expect(find.textContaining('Workout A'), findsWidgets);
+    // The post-frame auto-resume pushed the workout screen. Asserted by
+    // type: the screen has no app bar, and the home card that used to supply
+    // a matching "Workout A" underneath is no longer drawn.
+    expect(find.byType(WorkoutScreen), findsOneWidget);
   });
 
   testWidgets('active session shows Resume, returns (98) and re-enters (153)', (
@@ -134,7 +147,7 @@ void main() {
     // Drive the whole first-load + post-frame auto-resume push on the real loop
     // (auto-resume awaits getCurrentExercises, which hangs under FakeAsync).
     await tester.runAsync(() async {
-      await tester.pumpWidget(wrapHome());
+      await tester.pumpWidget(wrapHome(openWorkoutOnLaunch: true));
       await Future<void>.delayed(const Duration(milliseconds: 300));
       await tester.pump(); // fire the post-frame auto-resume callback
       await Future<void>.delayed(const Duration(milliseconds: 300));
diff --git a/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/home_sync_card_test.dart b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/home_sync_card_test.dart
index 67bfa8b..45ad2f8 100644
--- a/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/home_sync_card_test.dart
+++ b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/home_sync_card_test.dart
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ void main() {
         MaterialApp(
           theme: buildAppTheme(),
           home: HomeScreen(
+            openWorkoutOnLaunch: false,
             configuredProbe: () async => true,
             syncService: FailingSyncService(),
             clock: () => DateTime(2026, 8, 15, 18),
@@ -85,6 +86,7 @@ void main() {
           MaterialApp(
             theme: buildAppTheme(),
             home: HomeScreen(
+              openWorkoutOnLaunch: false,
               configuredProbe: () async => true,
               syncService: HangingSyncService(),
               clock: () => now,
@@ -127,6 +129,7 @@ void main() {
         MaterialApp(
           theme: buildAppTheme(),
           home: HomeScreen(
+            openWorkoutOnLaunch: false,
             configuredProbe: () async => true,
             syncService: CountingSyncService(() => ticks++),
             clock: () => DateTime(2026, 8, 15, 18),
@@ -152,6 +155,7 @@ void main() {
         MaterialApp(
           theme: buildAppTheme(),
           home: HomeScreen(
+            openWorkoutOnLaunch: false,
             configuredProbe: () async => true,
             syncService: OkSyncService(),
             clock: () => now,
diff --git a/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/workout_lazy_service_test.dart b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/workout_lazy_service_test.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1a4b17d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/workout_lazy_service_test.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+// When the break service starts: on open for a restored session, on the
+// first tap for a fresh one -- the launch opens the workout by itself, and
+// just opening the app must not leave a notification behind.
+import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
+import 'package:flutter_test/flutter_test.dart';
+import 'package:shared_preferences_platform_interface/in_memory_shared_preferences_async.dart';
+import 'package:shared_preferences_platform_interface/shared_preferences_async_platform_interface.dart';
+import 'package:sqflite_common_ffi/sqflite_ffi.dart';
+import 'package:workout_app/screens/workout_screen.dart';
+import 'package:workout_app/services/storage_service.dart';
+import 'package:workout_app/ui/theme.dart';
+import 'package:workout_app/widgets/rep_circle.dart';
+import 'package:workout_app/widgets/sync_setup_banner.dart';
+
+import '../fake_audio_platform.dart';
+import '../fake_break_service.dart';
+import '../fake_secure_storage.dart';
+import '_workout_screen_test_fixtures.dart';
+
+void main() {
+  late FakeForegroundBreakClient client;
+
+  setUpAll(() {
+    sqfliteFfiInit();
+    databaseFactory = databaseFactoryFfi;
+  });
+
+  setUp(() async {
+    StorageService.resetForTesting();
+    await StorageService.init();
+    installFakeSecureStorage();
+    installFakeAudioPlatform();
+    SharedPreferencesAsyncPlatform.instance =
+        InMemorySharedPreferencesAsync.empty();
+    client = FakeForegroundBreakClient();
+  });
+
+  int starts() => client.calls.where((c) => c == 'start').length;
+
+  testWidgets('a fresh workout does not start the service on open', (
+    tester,
+  ) async {
+    await pumpWorkout(tester, wrapWorkout(breakClient: client));
+    expect(starts(), 0);
+    expect(client.pushed, isEmpty);
+    // Nothing recorded, so nothing saved: backing out leaves no session.
+    final saved = await tester.runAsync(
+      () => StorageService.instance.loadActiveSession(),
+    );
+    expect(saved, isNull);
+  });
+
+  testWidgets('the first set starts it, once, and re-sends the state', (
+    tester,
+  ) async {
+    await pumpWorkout(tester, wrapWorkout(breakClient: client));
+    await tapReal(tester, find.byType(RepCircle).first);
+    await tester.runAsync(
+      () => Future<void>.delayed(const Duration(milliseconds: 200)),
+    );
+
+    expect(starts(), 1);
+    // The push after start carries whatever was tapped while the
+    // permission prompt could have been up.
+    final afterStart = client.calls.sublist(client.calls.indexOf('start'));
+    expect(afterStart, contains('push'));
+    expect(client.pushed.last.setsRemaining, 5);
+
+    await tapReal(tester, find.byType(RepCircle).first); // a rep decrement
+    await tester.runAsync(
+      () => Future<void>.delayed(const Duration(milliseconds: 200)),
+    );
+    expect(starts(), 1, reason: 'one service per workout screen');
+  });
+
+  testWidgets('a warmup is enough to start it', (tester) async {
+    await pumpWorkout(tester, wrapWorkout(breakClient: client));
+    await tapReal(tester, find.bySemanticsLabel('Squat warmup'));
+    await tester.runAsync(
+      () => Future<void>.delayed(const Duration(milliseconds: 200)),
+    );
+    expect(starts(), 1);
+  });
+
+  testWidgets('a restored session starts it on open', (tester) async {
+    await pumpWorkout(
+      tester,
+      wrapWorkout(savedState: blankSaved(), breakClient: client),
+    );
+    expect(starts(), 1);
+  });
+
+  testWidgets('the sync strip shows only when asked for', (tester) async {
+    await pumpWorkout(
+      tester,
+      MaterialApp(
+        theme: buildAppTheme(),
+        home: WorkoutScreen(
+          workoutType: 'A',
+          exercises: testExercises,
+          breakClient: client,
+          syncNotSetUp: true,
+        ),
+      ),
+    );
+    expect(find.byType(SyncSetupBanner), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.textContaining('will NOT count'), findsOneWidget);
+
+    await pumpWorkout(tester, wrapWorkout(breakClient: client));
+    expect(find.byType(SyncSetupBanner), findsNothing);
+  });
+}
diff --git a/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/workout_pause_test.dart b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/workout_pause_test.dart
index 8e4e4fe..4f3df3b 100644
--- a/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/workout_pause_test.dart
+++ b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/workout_pause_test.dart
@@ -52,7 +52,11 @@ void main() {
     await tester.runAsync(() => _pause('Situp'));
     await pumpWorkout(
       tester,
-      wrapWorkout(exercises: const [_lunge, _situp], breakClient: client),
+      wrapWorkout(
+        exercises: const [_lunge, _situp],
+        savedState: blankSaved(const [_lunge, _situp]),
+        breakClient: client,
+      ),
     );
   }
 
diff --git a/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/workout_screen_intents_stale_test.dart b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/workout_screen_intents_stale_test.dart
index 90bcedd..910c2ad 100644
--- a/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/workout_screen_intents_stale_test.dart
+++ b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/workout_screen_intents_stale_test.dart
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ void main() {
     await StorageService.init();
     installFakeSecureStorage();
     installFakeAudioPlatform();
-    SharedPreferencesAsyncPlatform.instance = InMemorySharedPreferencesAsync
-        .empty();
+    SharedPreferencesAsyncPlatform.instance =
+        InMemorySharedPreferencesAsync.empty();
     client = FakeForegroundBreakClient();
   });
 
@@ -51,7 +51,10 @@ void main() {
   }
 
   Future<void> pump(WidgetTester tester, {Map<String, dynamic>? saved}) =>
-      pumpWorkout(tester, wrapWorkout(savedState: saved, breakClient: client));
+      pumpWorkout(
+        tester,
+        wrapWorkout(savedState: saved ?? blankSaved(), breakClient: client),
+      );
 
   BreakSnapshot lastPushed() => client.pushed.last;
 
@@ -75,32 +78,32 @@ void main() {
     }
 
     testWidgets('an exercise index this workout does not have', (tester) async {
-        await pump(tester);
+      await pump(tester);
       await expectNoChange(tester, [(BreakIntentKind.done, 99, 0)]);
     });
 
     testWidgets('a set index this exercise does not have', (tester) async {
-        await pump(tester);
+      await pump(tester);
       await expectNoChange(tester, [(BreakIntentKind.done, 0, 99)]);
     });
 
     testWidgets('a negative index', (tester) async {
-        await pump(tester);
+      await pump(tester);
       await expectNoChange(tester, [(BreakIntentKind.minusRep, -1, 0)]);
     });
 
     testWidgets('Done on a set that is already recorded', (tester) async {
-        await pump(tester, saved: savedWithBreak(90));
+      await pump(tester, saved: savedWithBreak(90));
       await expectNoChange(tester, [(BreakIntentKind.done, 0, 0)]);
     });
 
     testWidgets('− 1 rep on a set that was never recorded', (tester) async {
-        await pump(tester);
+      await pump(tester);
       await expectNoChange(tester, [(BreakIntentKind.minusRep, 1, 2)]);
     });
 
     testWidgets('Skip break with no rest running', (tester) async {
-        await pump(tester);
+      await pump(tester);
       await expectNoChange(tester, [(BreakIntentKind.skipBreak, 0, 0)]);
     });
   });
@@ -116,10 +119,7 @@ void main() {
       ..grantOnRequest = false;
     await pump(tester);
 
-    expect(
-      find.textContaining('Notifications are off'),
-      findsOneWidget,
-    );
+    expect(find.textContaining('Notifications are off'), findsOneWidget);
   });
 
   testWidgets('no warning when notifications were allowed', (tester) async {
diff --git a/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/workout_screen_intents_test.dart b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/workout_screen_intents_test.dart
index 6a96e72..4c7666f 100644
--- a/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/workout_screen_intents_test.dart
+++ b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/screens/workout_screen_intents_test.dart
@@ -53,7 +53,10 @@ void main() {
   }
 
   Future<void> pump(WidgetTester tester, {Map<String, dynamic>? saved}) =>
-      pumpWorkout(tester, wrapWorkout(savedState: saved, breakClient: client));
+      pumpWorkout(
+        tester,
+        wrapWorkout(savedState: saved ?? blankSaved(), breakClient: client),
+      );
 
   BreakSnapshot lastPushed() => client.pushed.last;
 
diff --git a/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/services/done_today_test.dart b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/services/done_today_test.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4dfeb66
--- /dev/null
+++ b/stronglift_replacement/workout_app/test/services/done_today_test.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+import 'package:flutter_test/flutter_test.dart';
+import 'package:workout_app/services/done_today.dart';
+
+final _day = DateTime(2026, 9, 28, 7, 30);
+
+void main() {
+  group('dayKey', () {
+    test('zero-pads month and day', () {
+      expect(dayKey(DateTime(2026, 3, 4)), '2026-03-04');
+    });
+
+    test('ignores the time of day', () {
+      expect(dayKey(_day), '2026-09-28');
+    });
+  });
+
+  group('anyWorkoutOn', () {
+    test('a bare day key from the PC log matches', () {
+      expect(
+        anyWorkoutOn([
+          {'kind': 'runnerup_verified', 'date': '2026-09-28'},
+        ], _day),
+        isTrue,
+      );
+    });
+
+    test('a full ISO timestamp from a session matches its day', () {
+      expect(
+        anyWorkoutOn([
+          {'date': '2026-09-28T06:05:44.066'},
+        ], _day),
+        isTrue,
+      );
+    });
+
+    test('another day does not count', () {
+      expect(
+        anyWorkoutOn([
+          {'date': '2026-09-27'},
+          {'date': '2026-09-29T00:01:00'},
+        ], _day),
+        isFalse,
+      );
+    });
+
+    test('a record with no date does not count', () {
+      expect(
+        anyWorkoutOn([
+          {'kind': 'manual_workout'},
+        ], _day),
+        isFalse,
+      );
+    });
+
+    test('no records at all is not done', () {
+      expect(anyWorkoutOn(const [], _day), isFalse);
+    });
+  });
+}