diff --git a/DOCS-morning-session-pc.md b/DOCS-morning-session-pc.md
index 68bac57..a670ae7 100644
--- a/DOCS-morning-session-pc.md
+++ b/DOCS-morning-session-pc.md
@@ -82,8 +82,18 @@ cutoffs, neither imports `crdt_sync`, neither talks to Firebase:
 **A PC booted mid-morning** has a missing or yesterday's file until the
 timer's `Persistent=true` catch-up lands, and that needs the network. Only
 the enforce path, only inside 05:00–11:00, and only when the file is not
-today's, both consumers retry for ≤ 30 s (5 s steps) and then proceed as
+today's, both consumers retry for ≤ 180 s (5 s steps) and then proceed as
 normal with a WARNING. Status paths never wait; tests pin the retry to 0.
+The refresher itself retries an unreadable backend every 5 s for 150 s
+(`REFRESH_RETRY_SECONDS`) before exiting 1 with a WARNING: a PC booted at
+07:48 had no DNS for its first seconds, and the old single try left the next
+chance at the 07:50 tick (2026-11-07).
+
+**`next_step`** (signed with the rest): while the session is `in_progress`,
+the label of the first leg not in the phone's `passed` map, else `null`.
+Names and labels live in `_session_legs.py` and are pinned to the phone's
+`SessionLeg` by `wake_alarm/tests/fixtures/session_legs.json`, asserted by a
+Python and a Dart test.
 
 ## Known limits (v1, deliberate)
 
diff --git a/phone_app/test/services/session_legs_fixture_test.dart b/phone_app/test/services/session_legs_fixture_test.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3187990
--- /dev/null
+++ b/phone_app/test/services/session_legs_fixture_test.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+import 'dart:convert';
+import 'dart:io';
+
+import 'package:flutter_test/flutter_test.dart';
+import 'package:wake_alarm_sync/services/morning_session.dart';
+
+/// The PC reads leg names (the keys of the published `passed` map) and labels
+/// (its `next_step`) from the same literal: the Python half asserts it in
+/// `wake_alarm/tests/test_session_legs.py`. Neither side's own round-trip can
+/// catch a rename on the other.
+void main() {
+  test('SessionLeg names and labels equal the shared fixture', () {
+    final raw = File(
+      '../wake_alarm/tests/fixtures/session_legs.json',
+    ).readAsStringSync();
+    final legs = (jsonDecode(raw) as Map<String, Object?>)['legs']! as List;
+    expect(
+      <(String, String)>[for (final l in SessionLeg.values) (l.name, l.label)],
+      <(String, String)>[
+        for (final l in legs) (l['name'] as String, l['label'] as String),
+      ],
+    );
+  });
+}
diff --git a/wake-alarm-session.timer b/wake-alarm-session.timer
index f8bc171..7dee402 100644
--- a/wake-alarm-session.timer
+++ b/wake-alarm-session.timer
@@ -11,8 +11,9 @@ OnCalendar=*-*-* 05..06:00/10:00
 OnCalendar=*-*-* 07..10:00/2:00
 OnCalendar=*-*-* 11:00:00
 AccuracySec=1s
-# A PC booted mid-morning refreshes at once; the consumers wait up to 30 s
-# for exactly this catch-up before treating the file as stale.
+# A PC booted mid-morning refreshes at once, retrying in-process every 5 s
+# for 150 s (no DNS yet at boot); the consumers wait up to 180 s for exactly
+# this catch-up before treating the file as stale.
 Persistent=true
 
 [Install]
diff --git a/wake_alarm/_constants.py b/wake_alarm/_constants.py
index 9d75d61..484878b 100644
--- a/wake_alarm/_constants.py
+++ b/wake_alarm/_constants.py
@@ -156,6 +156,13 @@ SESSION_COMPLETED_UNTIL: tuple[int, int] = (11, 0)
 # PC). A phone switched off at the alarm locks this long after it.
 SESSION_NONE_GRACE: timedelta = timedelta(minutes=15)
 
+# A PC booted mid-morning often has no DNS for its first seconds (2026-11-07:
+# one try at 07:48:43, exit 1, next timer tick at 07:50). ``--refresh`` keeps
+# trying in-process this long, every REFRESH_POLL_SECONDS, before giving up.
+# Consumers (gatelock.morning_session) wait up to 180 s, so this stays under.
+REFRESH_RETRY_SECONDS: int = 150
+REFRESH_POLL_SECONDS: int = 5
+
 
 # Workday stick (a Tue/Wed/Thu miss -> tomorrow loses its leniency). The days
 # themselves are freedays.WORKDAYS, the one set every gate app reads.
diff --git a/wake_alarm/_session.py b/wake_alarm/_session.py
index 6120cc8..8d7941c 100644
--- a/wake_alarm/_session.py
+++ b/wake_alarm/_session.py
@@ -31,10 +31,17 @@ from datetime import datetime
 import json
 import logging
 import sys
+import time
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 from gatelock.log_integrity import compute_entry_hmac, verify_entry_hmac
 
-from wake_alarm._constants import FALLBACK_ALARM_HOUR, MORNING_SESSION_FILE
+from wake_alarm._constants import (
+    FALLBACK_ALARM_HOUR,
+    MORNING_SESSION_FILE,
+    REFRESH_POLL_SECONDS,
+    REFRESH_RETRY_SECONDS,
+)
 from wake_alarm._enforcement_payload import enforcement_view
 from wake_alarm._escapes import note_escapes
 from wake_alarm._logging_setup import configure_logging
@@ -45,6 +52,9 @@ from wake_alarm._sync_transport import fetch_firebase_logs
 from wake_alarm._workday_penalty import cancel_for_sick_day as _cancel_for_sick_day
 from wake_alarm._workday_penalty import maybe_apply as _maybe_apply_workday_penalty
 
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from collections.abc import Callable
+
 _logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
@@ -81,18 +91,49 @@ def read_entry() -> dict[str, object] | None:
     return entry
 
 
-def refresh(now: datetime) -> dict[str, object] | None:
+def _fetch_with_retry(
+    sleep: Callable[[float], None], clock: Callable[[], float]
+) -> list[tuple[str, str]] | None:
+    """``fetch_firebase_logs`` retried every poll interval within the budget.
+
+    A PC booted mid-morning usually has no DNS for its first seconds, and the
+    next timer tick is minutes away while consumers are already waiting on the
+    file. None only once ``REFRESH_RETRY_SECONDS`` have passed.
+    """
+    started = clock()
+    while True:
+        published = fetch_firebase_logs()
+        if published is not None:
+            return published
+        waited = clock() - started
+        if waited + REFRESH_POLL_SECONDS > REFRESH_RETRY_SECONDS:
+            _logger.warning(
+                "Morning session not refreshed: backend unreadable for %d s "
+                "(retried every %d s)",
+                REFRESH_RETRY_SECONDS,
+                REFRESH_POLL_SECONDS,
+            )
+            return None
+        sleep(REFRESH_POLL_SECONDS)
+
+
+def refresh(
+    now: datetime,
+    *,
+    sleep: Callable[[float], None] = time.sleep,
+    clock: Callable[[], float] = time.monotonic,
+) -> dict[str, object] | None:
     """Fetch, select, and rewrite the file; None when the backend was unreadable.
 
-    An unreadable backend leaves the file alone: whatever it says is still
-    the newest thing known, and a consumer judges freshness by its date. A
-    penalty issued on a day since marked sick is retracted first, from the
-    local pool alone, so it does not wait on Firebase.
+    An unreadable backend is retried for ``REFRESH_RETRY_SECONDS``, then
+    leaves the file alone: whatever it says is still the newest thing known,
+    and a consumer judges freshness by its date. A penalty issued on a day
+    since marked sick is retracted first, once, from the local pool alone, so
+    it does not wait on Firebase. ``sleep`` and ``clock`` are seams for tests.
     """
     _cancel_for_sick_day()
-    published = fetch_firebase_logs()
+    published = _fetch_with_retry(sleep, clock)
     if published is None:
-        _logger.info("Morning session not refreshed: backend unreadable")
         return None
     today = now.date().isoformat()
     record = newest_session(published)
diff --git a/wake_alarm/_session_legs.py b/wake_alarm/_session_legs.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a3b2669
--- /dev/null
+++ b/wake_alarm/_session_legs.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+"""The morning session's legs, in order, as the phone names and labels them.
+
+Mirrors ``SessionLeg`` and ``SessionLegSlot.label`` in
+``phone_app/lib/services/morning_session.dart``. A leg's *name* is the key of
+the phone's ``passed`` map; its *label* is what the PC's ``next_step`` shows.
+``tests/fixtures/session_legs.json`` is asserted by a Python and a Dart test,
+so a rename on one side fails the other's build.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from collections.abc import Collection
+
+LEGS: tuple[tuple[str, str], ...] = (
+    ("bathroomIn", "Tap the bathroom tag"),
+    ("showerDone", "Shower, then tap the bathroom tag again"),
+    ("dressed", "Get dressed — tap the wardrobe tag"),
+    ("atDesk", "Sit down — tap the desk tag"),
+)
+
+
+def next_step(passed: Collection[str]) -> str | None:
+    """Label of the first leg (in order) not in ``passed``; None when all are."""
+    for name, label in LEGS:
+        if name not in passed:
+            return label
+    return None
diff --git a/wake_alarm/_session_payload.py b/wake_alarm/_session_payload.py
index 0d0d8a9..9460048 100644
--- a/wake_alarm/_session_payload.py
+++ b/wake_alarm/_session_payload.py
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@ class SessionRecord:
     re_rings: int
     device_id: str
     published_at: float | None
+    # Names (``_session_legs.LEGS``) of the legs the phone has passed.
+    passed_legs: tuple[str, ...] = ()
 
     @property
     def finished(self) -> bool:
@@ -73,6 +75,19 @@ def _float_or_none(value: object) -> float | None:
     return float(value)
 
 
+def _passed_legs(value: object) -> tuple[str, ...]:
+    """Leg names in the phone's ``passed`` map that carry a pass timestamp."""
+    if not isinstance(value, dict):
+        return ()
+    return tuple(
+        name
+        for name, entry in value.items()
+        if isinstance(name, str)
+        and isinstance(entry, dict)
+        and isinstance(entry.get("at"), str)
+    )
+
+
 def record_from_json(
     value: object,
     *,
@@ -106,6 +121,7 @@ def record_from_json(
         re_rings=_int_or_none(value.get("re_rings")) or 0,
         device_id=device_id,
         published_at=published_at,
+        passed_legs=_passed_legs(value.get("passed")),
     )
 
 
diff --git a/wake_alarm/_session_policy.py b/wake_alarm/_session_policy.py
index e9e6899..d5edd0a 100644
--- a/wake_alarm/_session_policy.py
+++ b/wake_alarm/_session_policy.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ from wake_alarm._constants import (
     SESSION_PROVISIONAL_CAP,
     SESSION_PROVISIONAL_GRACE,
 )
+from wake_alarm._session_legs import next_step
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     from wake_alarm._session_payload import SessionRecord
@@ -113,6 +114,7 @@ def to_entry(
             "device_id": "",
             "published_at": None,
             "refreshed_at": refreshed_at,
+            "next_step": None,
         }
         if alarm is not None:
             entry["exempt_until"] = (_at(today, alarm) + SESSION_NONE_GRACE).isoformat()
@@ -128,6 +130,10 @@ def to_entry(
         "device_id": record.device_id,
         "published_at": record.published_at,
         "refreshed_at": refreshed_at,
+        # Signed with the rest: the HMAC covers every key of the entry.
+        "next_step": (
+            next_step(record.passed_legs) if record.outcome == "in_progress" else None
+        ),
     }
     until = exempt_until(record)
     if until is not None:
diff --git a/wake_alarm/tests/conftest.py b/wake_alarm/tests/conftest.py
index 30ea4cb..e6aa964 100644
--- a/wake_alarm/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/wake_alarm/tests/conftest.py
@@ -49,6 +49,33 @@ def _no_process(cmd: list[str]) -> object:
     raise AssertionError(msg)
 
 
+class FakeClock:
+    """A monotonic clock that only moves when ``sleep`` is called.
+
+    Pass ``clock.sleep`` and ``clock.now`` to ``_session.refresh`` so a dead
+    backend burns its 150 s retry budget instantly instead of for real.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        self.elapsed = 0.0
+        self.sleeps: list[float] = []
+
+    def now(self) -> float:
+        """Seconds elapsed on the fake clock."""
+        return self.elapsed
+
+    def sleep(self, seconds: float) -> None:
+        """Advance the clock without waiting."""
+        self.sleeps.append(seconds)
+        self.elapsed += seconds
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def fake_clock() -> FakeClock:
+    """A fresh :class:`FakeClock`."""
+    return FakeClock()
+
+
 @pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
 def _hermetic(tmp_path: Path) -> Generator[None]:
     """Keep signing keys, state writes and processes inside ``tmp_path``."""
diff --git a/wake_alarm/tests/fixtures/session_legs.json b/wake_alarm/tests/fixtures/session_legs.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0365178
--- /dev/null
+++ b/wake_alarm/tests/fixtures/session_legs.json
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+  "legs": [
+    {"name": "bathroomIn", "label": "Tap the bathroom tag"},
+    {"name": "showerDone", "label": "Shower, then tap the bathroom tag again"},
+    {"name": "dressed", "label": "Get dressed — tap the wardrobe tag"},
+    {"name": "atDesk", "label": "Sit down — tap the desk tag"}
+  ]
+}
diff --git a/wake_alarm/tests/test_session.py b/wake_alarm/tests/test_session.py
index 2a630d2..f66b2c9 100644
--- a/wake_alarm/tests/test_session.py
+++ b/wake_alarm/tests/test_session.py
@@ -172,12 +172,6 @@ class TestRefresh:
         assert entry is not None
         assert entry["exempt_until"] == _local("2026-09-19T06:45:00").isoformat()
 
-    def test_unreadable_backend_leaves_the_file_alone(self) -> None:
-        write_entry(to_entry(_record(), today="2026-09-19", refreshed_at=5.0))
-        with patch("wake_alarm._session.fetch_firebase_logs", return_value=None):
-            assert refresh(NOW) is None
-        assert read_entry() is not None
-
     def test_write_failure_is_none(self) -> None:
         with (
             patch("wake_alarm._session.fetch_firebase_logs", return_value=[]),
diff --git a/wake_alarm/tests/test_session_legs.py b/wake_alarm/tests/test_session_legs.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..60cf54f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/wake_alarm/tests/test_session_legs.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+"""The leg names and labels the PC reads must equal the phone's enum.
+
+``fixtures/session_legs.json`` is one literal both sides assert: this test
+against ``_session_legs.LEGS`` and ``phone_app/test/services/
+session_legs_fixture_test.dart`` against ``SessionLeg``. Each side's own
+round-trip cannot catch a naming drift with its sibling.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import json
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from wake_alarm._session_legs import LEGS, next_step
+
+FIXTURE = Path(__file__).parent / "fixtures" / "session_legs.json"
+
+
+def test_legs_equal_the_shared_fixture() -> None:
+    legs = json.loads(FIXTURE.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))["legs"]
+    assert [(leg["name"], leg["label"]) for leg in legs] == list(LEGS)
+
+
+def test_next_step_is_the_first_leg_not_passed() -> None:
+    assert next_step(()) == "Tap the bathroom tag"
+    assert next_step(("bathroomIn",)) == "Shower, then tap the bathroom tag again"
+    # Order of the legs decides, not the order they were passed in.
+    assert next_step(("showerDone",)) == "Tap the bathroom tag"
+    assert next_step(("atDesk", "bathroomIn", "showerDone", "dressed")) is None
+    assert next_step(("unknownLeg",)) == "Tap the bathroom tag"
diff --git a/wake_alarm/tests/test_session_payload.py b/wake_alarm/tests/test_session_payload.py
index 5dabc19..9eaf1ce 100644
--- a/wake_alarm/tests/test_session_payload.py
+++ b/wake_alarm/tests/test_session_payload.py
@@ -64,6 +64,26 @@ class TestRecordFromJson:
         assert record.finished_at is None
         assert not record.finished
 
+    def test_passed_legs_are_the_keys_with_a_timestamp(self) -> None:
+        passed = {
+            "bathroomIn": {"at": "2026-09-19T08:05:00.000", "how": "tag"},
+            "showerDone": "garbage",
+            "dressed": {"how": "tag"},
+        }
+        record = record_from_json(
+            _session("2026-09-19", "active", passed=passed),
+            device_id="p",
+            published_at=None,
+        )
+        assert record is not None
+        assert record.passed_legs == ("bathroomIn",)
+        for bad in (None, [], "x"):
+            record = record_from_json(
+                _session(passed=bad), device_id="p", published_at=None
+            )
+            assert record is not None
+            assert record.passed_legs == ()
+
     def test_rejects_every_malformed_shape(self) -> None:
         bad = [
             "text",
diff --git a/wake_alarm/tests/test_session_retry.py b/wake_alarm/tests/test_session_retry.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..91d7563
--- /dev/null
+++ b/wake_alarm/tests/test_session_retry.py
@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+"""``refresh`` retries an unreadable backend; ``next_step`` is signed."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from dataclasses import replace
+from datetime import datetime
+import json
+import logging
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+import pytest
+
+from wake_alarm import _session
+from wake_alarm._constants import REFRESH_POLL_SECONDS, REFRESH_RETRY_SECONDS
+from wake_alarm._session import read_entry, refresh, to_entry, write_entry
+from wake_alarm._session_payload import SessionRecord
+from wake_alarm._sync import Alarm
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from wake_alarm.tests.conftest import FakeClock
+
+NOW = datetime(2026, 9, 19, 8, 30).astimezone()
+TODAY = "2026-09-19"
+
+
+def _live(passed: tuple[str, ...] = ("bathroomIn",)) -> SessionRecord:
+    return SessionRecord(
+        date=TODAY,
+        outcome="in_progress",
+        started_at="2026-09-19T08:01:00.000",
+        finished_at=None,
+        energy=3,
+        weight_kg=73.8,
+        re_rings=0,
+        device_id="p",
+        published_at=1.0,
+        passed_legs=passed,
+    )
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
+def _alarm() -> object:
+    with patch("wake_alarm._session.get_alarm", return_value=Alarm(8, 0, "cache")):
+        yield
+
+
+class TestRefreshRetry:
+    """2026-11-07: booted without DNS; one try, then a 2-minute gap."""
+
+    def test_unreadable_backend_leaves_the_file_alone(
+        self, fake_clock: FakeClock
+    ) -> None:
+        write_entry(to_entry(_live(), today=TODAY, refreshed_at=5.0))
+        with patch("wake_alarm._session.fetch_firebase_logs", return_value=None):
+            assert refresh(NOW, sleep=fake_clock.sleep, clock=fake_clock.now) is None
+        assert read_entry() is not None
+
+    def test_a_backend_that_recovers_is_retried_into_todays_entry(
+        self, fake_clock: FakeClock
+    ) -> None:
+        with patch(
+            "wake_alarm._session.fetch_firebase_logs", side_effect=[None, None, []]
+        ) as fetch:
+            entry = refresh(NOW, sleep=fake_clock.sleep, clock=fake_clock.now)
+        assert entry is not None
+        assert (entry["date"], entry["outcome"]) == (TODAY, "none")
+        assert read_entry() == entry
+        assert fetch.call_count == 3
+        assert fake_clock.sleeps == [REFRESH_POLL_SECONDS, REFRESH_POLL_SECONDS]
+
+    def test_a_dead_backend_gives_up_after_the_budget_and_says_so(
+        self, caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture, fake_clock: FakeClock
+    ) -> None:
+        with (
+            patch("wake_alarm._session.fetch_firebase_logs", return_value=None),
+            caplog.at_level(logging.WARNING),
+        ):
+            assert refresh(NOW, sleep=fake_clock.sleep, clock=fake_clock.now) is None
+        assert fake_clock.sleeps == [REFRESH_POLL_SECONDS] * (
+            REFRESH_RETRY_SECONDS // REFRESH_POLL_SECONDS
+        )
+        warnings = [r.getMessage() for r in caplog.records if r.levelno >= 30]
+        assert any(f"{REFRESH_RETRY_SECONDS} s" in w for w in warnings)
+
+    def test_sick_day_cancel_runs_once_before_the_loop(
+        self, fake_clock: FakeClock
+    ) -> None:
+        with (
+            patch("wake_alarm._session.fetch_firebase_logs", return_value=None),
+            patch("wake_alarm._session._cancel_for_sick_day") as cancel,
+        ):
+            refresh(NOW, sleep=fake_clock.sleep, clock=fake_clock.now)
+        cancel.assert_called_once()
+
+
+class TestNextStep:
+    """The entry names the next leg and signs it."""
+
+    def test_in_progress_entry_names_the_next_leg(self) -> None:
+        entry = to_entry(_live(), today=TODAY, refreshed_at=5.0)
+        assert entry["next_step"] == "Shower, then tap the bathroom tag again"
+
+    def test_next_step_is_null_unless_the_morning_is_live(self) -> None:
+        done = replace(_live(), outcome="completed", finished_at="2026-09-19T08:40")
+        assert to_entry(done, today=TODAY, refreshed_at=5.0)["next_step"] is None
+        failed = replace(_live(), outcome="failed")
+        assert to_entry(failed, today=TODAY, refreshed_at=5.0)["next_step"] is None
+        assert to_entry(None, today=TODAY, refreshed_at=5.0)["next_step"] is None
+
+    def test_tampering_next_step_breaks_verification(self) -> None:
+        write_entry(to_entry(_live(), today=TODAY, refreshed_at=5.0))
+        assert read_entry() is not None
+        path = _session.MORNING_SESSION_FILE
+        tampered = json.loads(path.read_text())
+        tampered["next_step"] = None
+        path.write_text(json.dumps(tampered))
+        assert read_entry() is None
diff --git a/wake_alarm/tests/test_sick_days_penalty.py b/wake_alarm/tests/test_sick_days_penalty.py
index c5247e9..a938ef0 100644
--- a/wake_alarm/tests/test_sick_days_penalty.py
+++ b/wake_alarm/tests/test_sick_days_penalty.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ from datetime import date, datetime
 import json
 import logging
 from pathlib import Path
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 from unittest.mock import patch
 
 import pytest
@@ -32,6 +33,9 @@ from wake_alarm._workday_penalty import (
     write_penalty,
 )
 
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from wake_alarm.tests.conftest import FakeClock
+
 TUESDAY = date(2026, 9, 22)
 AFTER_GRACE = datetime(2026, 9, 22, 9, 0).astimezone()
 MISS: dict[str, object] = {
@@ -131,10 +135,15 @@ class TestRetraction:
         )
         assert not cancel_for_sick_day()
 
-    def test_refresh_retracts_even_offline(self) -> None:
+    def test_refresh_retracts_even_offline(self, fake_clock: FakeClock) -> None:
         mark_sick(TUESDAY)
         with patch.object(_session, "fetch_firebase_logs", return_value=None):
-            assert _session.refresh(AFTER_GRACE) is None
+            assert (
+                _session.refresh(
+                    AFTER_GRACE, sleep=fake_clock.sleep, clock=fake_clock.now
+                )
+                is None
+            )
         assert issued_date() is None