diff --git a/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkClient/ContentView.swift b/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkClient/ContentView.swift
index 1b0c8c23..849b7b72 100644
--- a/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkClient/ContentView.swift
+++ b/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkClient/ContentView.swift
@@ -327,12 +327,25 @@ struct ContentView: View {
         }()
         return ZStack {
             stream(captureEnabled: pendingFingerprint == nil)
-                .blur(radius: pendingFingerprint != nil ? 32 : 0)
+                // Blur the live stream during the trust prompt (heavy) and during a resize (lighter
+                // — the deliberate "hold on" while the host rebuilds its pipeline and the decoder
+                // re-inits on the new-mode IDR). Only the resize blur animates; the trust blur snaps
+                // as before (its own overlay handles the transition).
+                .blur(radius: pendingFingerprint != nil ? 32 : (model.resizing ? 16 : 0))
+                .animation(.easeInOut(duration: 0.22), value: model.resizing)
                 .overlay {
                     if pendingFingerprint != nil {
                         Color.black.opacity(0.45)
                     }
                 }
+                // The resize spinner rides over the (blurred) stream; suppressed under the trust
+                // prompt, which owns the screen. It never hit-tests, so window-drag resizes keep
+                // steering and the next click still reaches the stream.
+                .overlay {
+                    if pendingFingerprint == nil {
+                        ResizeIndicatorView(active: model.resizing)
+                    }
+                }
             if let fp = pendingFingerprint {
                 TrustCardView(
                     fingerprint: fp,
@@ -410,6 +423,16 @@ struct ContentView: View {
                     onSessionEnd: { [weak model] in
                         Task { @MainActor in model?.sessionEnded() }
                     },
+                    // Resize overlay START — the follower is main-actor, so this drives the blur
+                    // + spinner synchronously the instant the window differs from the live mode.
+                    onResizeTarget: { [weak model] w, h in
+                        model?.resizeTargeted(width: w, height: h)
+                    },
+                    // Resize overlay END — the coded dims of each new-mode IDR, reported from the
+                    // decode pump thread; hop to the main actor to clear the overlay.
+                    onDecodedSize: { [weak model] w, h in
+                        Task { @MainActor in model?.resizeDecoded(width: w, height: h) }
+                    },
                     endToEndMeter: model.endToEnd,
                     decodeMeter: model.decodeStage,
                     displayMeter: model.displayStage
diff --git a/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkClient/Session/ResizeIndicatorView.swift b/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkClient/Session/ResizeIndicatorView.swift
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..373a4150
--- /dev/null
+++ b/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkClient/Session/ResizeIndicatorView.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+// The resize overlay (design/midstream-resolution-resize.md — client resize UX). A Match-window
+// resize renegotiates the host's virtual display + encoder and re-inits the local VideoToolbox
+// decoder on the first new-mode IDR — an unavoidable sub-second gap where the last frame lingers,
+// briefly freezes, or the picture pops to the new geometry. Rather than let that read as a stutter,
+// we make it DELIBERATE: the caller blurs the live stream and this centered spinner + caption
+// acknowledges the transition. It clears the instant a frame at the requested size decodes (the
+// `onDecodedSize` END signal) or on the follower's safety timeout — see `SessionModel.resizing`.
+//
+// Floating overlay, never a hit-test target: input keeps flowing to the stream underneath so a
+// resize the user triggers by dragging the window never swallows their next click.
+
+import PunktfunkKit
+import SwiftUI
+
+struct ResizeIndicatorView: View {
+    /// Mirrors `SessionModel.resizing`; the fade in/out is driven off this.
+    let active: Bool
+
+    var body: some View {
+        ZStack {
+            if active {
+                VStack(spacing: 12) {
+                    ProgressView().controlSize(.large).tint(.white)
+                    Text("Resizing…")
+                        .font(.geist(15, .medium, relativeTo: .callout))
+                        .foregroundStyle(.white.opacity(0.85))
+                }
+                .padding(.horizontal, 30)
+                .padding(.vertical, 24)
+                .glassBackground(RoundedRectangle(cornerRadius: 20, style: .continuous))
+                .overlay(
+                    RoundedRectangle(cornerRadius: 20, style: .continuous)
+                        .strokeBorder(.white.opacity(0.12), lineWidth: 1))
+                .transition(.opacity.combined(with: .scale(scale: 0.92)))
+            }
+        }
+        .environment(\.colorScheme, .dark) // the spinner + glass read over any frame
+        .animation(.easeInOut(duration: 0.22), value: active)
+        .allowsHitTesting(false) // the stream keeps receiving input the whole time
+    }
+}
diff --git a/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkClient/Session/SessionModel.swift b/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkClient/Session/SessionModel.swift
index 9e0df31e..4c524714 100644
--- a/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkClient/Session/SessionModel.swift
+++ b/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkClient/Session/SessionModel.swift
@@ -109,6 +109,16 @@ final class SessionModel: ObservableObject {
     /// Mirrors StreamView's capture state (it owns the input capture; this drives the
     /// HUD's "click to capture" / "⌘⎋ releases" hint).
     @Published var mouseCaptured = false
+    /// Resize overlay (design/midstream-resolution-resize.md — client resize UX): true from the
+    /// instant a Match-window resize starts steering toward a new size until a frame at that size
+    /// decodes (or a safety timeout). Drives the blur+spinner so the unavoidable host-rebuild delay
+    /// reads as a deliberate, acknowledged transition instead of a stutter. Pure state lives in
+    /// `ResizeIndicator`; this mirrors its `active` for SwiftUI.
+    @Published private(set) var resizing = false
+    /// START = follower steering (main actor), END = a new-mode IDR's coded dims (decode pump,
+    /// hopped to main), TIMEOUT = safety net for a rejected/capped switch that never yields a
+    /// differently-sized frame. Ticked from the 1 Hz stats timer.
+    private var resizeIndicator = ResizeIndicator()
 
     let meter = FrameMeter()
     /// Capture→received (the host+network stage), fed per AU at receipt by the stream view's
@@ -364,6 +374,8 @@ final class SessionModel: ObservableObject {
         lostFrames = 0
         lostPct = 0
         mouseCaptured = false
+        resizing = false
+        resizeIndicator = ResizeIndicator() // no stale target/timer into the next session
     }
 
     /// Called (via the main actor) when the pump hits end-of-session.
@@ -374,6 +386,23 @@ final class SessionModel: ObservableObject {
         errorMessage = "Session ended by \(name)."
     }
 
+    /// Resize overlay START (main actor — from the Match-window follower's `onResizeTarget`): the
+    /// window began differing from the live mode, so a `Reconfigure` toward `(width, height)` is
+    /// imminent. Show the blur+spinner immediately, before the debounced request even leaves.
+    func resizeTargeted(width: UInt32, height: UInt32) {
+        resizeIndicator.steering(
+            width: width, height: height, now: Date().timeIntervalSinceReferenceDate)
+        resizing = resizeIndicator.active
+    }
+
+    /// Resize overlay END (main actor — hopped from the decode pump's `onDecodedSize`): a new-mode
+    /// IDR decoded at `(width, height)`. Clears the overlay only when that matches the size we're
+    /// steering to (a same-size loss-recovery IDR, or the initial connect IDR, is a no-op).
+    func resizeDecoded(width: Int, height: Int) {
+        resizeIndicator.decoded(width: UInt32(max(width, 0)), height: UInt32(max(height, 0)))
+        resizing = resizeIndicator.active
+    }
+
     private func beginStreaming() {
         guard let conn = connection else { return }
         // Input capture itself is owned by StreamView (engaged by the captureEnabled
@@ -417,6 +446,11 @@ final class SessionModel: ObservableObject {
         let timer = Timer(timeInterval: 1.0, repeats: true) { [weak self] _ in
             guard let self else { return }
             Task { @MainActor in
+                // Resize-overlay safety net: clear a stuck overlay when a targeted size never
+                // decodes (a rejected/capped switch). The decoded-frame END clears it promptly on
+                // success; this only fires after the timeout.
+                self.resizeIndicator.tick(now: Date().timeIntervalSinceReferenceDate)
+                self.resizing = self.resizeIndicator.active
                 let (frames, bytes, total) = self.meter.drain()
                 self.fps = frames
                 self.mbps = Double(bytes) * 8 / 1_000_000
diff --git a/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkClient/Settings/SettingsView+Sections.swift b/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkClient/Settings/SettingsView+Sections.swift
index c9c9e089..a4cf536e 100644
--- a/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkClient/Settings/SettingsView+Sections.swift
+++ b/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkClient/Settings/SettingsView+Sections.swift
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@ extension SettingsView {
     // failed exactly one slice: the iOS archive (macOS/tvOS never compile that branch).
     @ViewBuilder var streamModeSection: some View {
         Section {
+            #if os(iOS) || os(macOS)
+            // Match-window (design/midstream-resolution-resize.md D1): follow the session
+            // window/scene, renegotiating the host mode on a resize. Off → the explicit mode below.
+            Toggle("Match window", isOn: $matchWindow)
+            #endif
             #if os(iOS)
             iosResolutionWheel
             iosRefreshRows
@@ -35,8 +40,11 @@ extension SettingsView {
         } header: {
             Text("Stream mode")
         } footer: {
-            Text("The host creates a virtual output at exactly this mode — "
-                + "native resolution, no scaling. \(Self.bitrateFooter)")
+            Text(matchWindow
+                ? "The stream follows this window — the host resizes its virtual output to match "
+                    + "as you resize, no scaling. \(Self.bitrateFooter)"
+                : "The host creates a virtual output at exactly this mode — "
+                    + "native resolution, no scaling. \(Self.bitrateFooter)")
                 .font(.geist(12, relativeTo: .caption))
                 .foregroundStyle(.secondary)
         }
diff --git a/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkClient/Settings/SettingsView.swift b/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkClient/Settings/SettingsView.swift
index 8e346289..f53e1694 100644
--- a/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkClient/Settings/SettingsView.swift
+++ b/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkClient/Settings/SettingsView.swift
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ struct SettingsView: View {
     @AppStorage(DefaultsKey.streamWidth) var width = 1920
     @AppStorage(DefaultsKey.streamHeight) var height = 1080
     @AppStorage(DefaultsKey.streamHz) var hz = 60
+    @AppStorage(DefaultsKey.matchWindow) var matchWindow = false
     @AppStorage(DefaultsKey.compositor) var compositor = 0
     @AppStorage(DefaultsKey.gamepadType) var gamepadType = 0
     @AppStorage(DefaultsKey.bitrateKbps) var bitrateKbps = 0
diff --git a/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Support/DefaultsKeys.swift b/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Support/DefaultsKeys.swift
index 428c3bc9..33955d4d 100644
--- a/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Support/DefaultsKeys.swift
+++ b/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Support/DefaultsKeys.swift
@@ -11,6 +11,15 @@ public enum DefaultsKey {
     public static let streamWidth = "punktfunk.width"
     public static let streamHeight = "punktfunk.height"
     public static let streamHz = "punktfunk.hz"
+    /// Match-window resolution policy (design/midstream-resolution-resize.md D1/D2): when on, the
+    /// stream mode FOLLOWS the session view — the connect asks for the view's pixel size and a
+    /// mid-session resize (a windowed macOS window, an iPad Stage Manager / Split View scene)
+    /// renegotiates the host's virtual display + encoder (`PunktfunkConnection.requestMode`), so a
+    /// windowed session streams native-resolution pixels instead of scaling. Off (default): the
+    /// explicit `streamWidth`/`streamHeight` are used and never auto-resized (a fullscreen session
+    /// is native either way, so this degenerates to Auto-native there). Read per session by the
+    /// stream views' `MatchWindowFollower`.
+    public static let matchWindow = "punktfunk.matchWindow"
     public static let compositor = "punktfunk.compositor"
     public static let gamepadType = "punktfunk.gamepadType"
     public static let gamepadID = "punktfunk.gamepadID"
diff --git a/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Video/MatchWindowFollower.swift b/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Video/MatchWindowFollower.swift
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6907af56
--- /dev/null
+++ b/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Video/MatchWindowFollower.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,153 @@
+// Match-window resize follower (design/midstream-resolution-resize.md D1/D2, client C3).
+//
+// The presenting view feeds this its PHYSICAL-PIXEL size on every layout; it debounces to
+// resize-end, spaces requests ≥ 1 s apart, and asks the connection to switch the host's virtual
+// display + encoder to match (`PunktfunkConnection.requestMode`) — so a windowed macOS session or
+// an iPad Stage Manager / Split View scene streams native-resolution pixels instead of scaling.
+// The decode/present side needs nothing: VideoToolbox recreates its session on the keyframe-derived
+// format-description change (the first new-mode AU is an IDR with fresh parameter sets).
+//
+// The trigger discipline is the shared cross-client one (mirrors the session binary's
+// `resize_decision`): physical pixels rounded DOWN to even (the host rejects odd dimensions) and
+// clamped ≥ 320×200; debounce to resize-end; ≥ 1 s between requests; skip a size equal to the live
+// mode; and request each distinct size at most once — which both stops re-asking a rejected size
+// and keeps a host-side rollback (accepted, rebuild failed, corrective ack restored the old mode)
+// from looping request → rollback → request.
+
+import Foundation
+
+/// The pure, side-effect-free core of the Match-window trigger — so the normalize/skip discipline
+/// is unit-tested without a live connection or a UI (`MatchWindowTests`).
+public enum MatchWindow {
+    /// Even-floor + clamp a physical-pixel size to a host-valid mode dimension: the host's
+    /// `validate_dimensions` rejects odd sizes, and we never ask below 320×200.
+    public static func normalize(widthPx: Int, heightPx: Int) -> (width: UInt32, height: UInt32) {
+        let evenClamp: (Int, UInt32) -> UInt32 = { px, minimum in
+            let even = UInt32(max(px, 0)) / 2 * 2
+            return max(even, minimum)
+        }
+        return (evenClamp(widthPx, 320), evenClamp(heightPx, 200))
+    }
+
+    /// Whether to request `target` now (the debounce has already settled; spacing is the caller's
+    /// timer): `nil` to skip — equal to the live mode, or already requested once (a rejected size /
+    /// a host rollback must not loop). `target` is expected already-[normalize]d.
+    public static func request(
+        target: (width: UInt32, height: UInt32),
+        current: (width: UInt32, height: UInt32),
+        lastRequested: (width: UInt32, height: UInt32)?
+    ) -> (width: UInt32, height: UInt32)? {
+        if target.width == current.width, target.height == current.height { return nil }
+        if let lr = lastRequested, lr.width == target.width, lr.height == target.height { return nil }
+        return target
+    }
+}
+
+/// Owns the debounce timer + serialization state and drives `PunktfunkConnection.requestMode` from
+/// the stream view's layout callbacks. Main-actor: the views feed it on the main thread and it reads
+/// the connection's live mode there. Enabled per session from the `matchWindow` setting.
+@MainActor
+public final class MatchWindowFollower {
+    private weak var connection: PunktfunkConnection?
+    private let debounce: TimeInterval
+    private let minSpacing: TimeInterval
+    private var enabled: Bool
+
+    private var work: DispatchWorkItem?
+    private var pendingSize: (width: Int, height: Int)?
+    private var lastRequested: (width: UInt32, height: UInt32)?
+    private var lastRequestAt: Date?
+    /// The last size we reported via [`onResizeTarget`] — dedups the per-layout stream of a drag so
+    /// the UI is notified once per distinct target, and reset to `nil` when the window is back in
+    /// sync with the live mode (so a later resize re-reports).
+    private var lastSteered: (width: UInt32, height: UInt32)?
+
+    /// Fired (on the main actor) the instant the window starts differing from the live mode — i.e.
+    /// a resize is under way and a `Reconfigure` for `(width, height)` is imminent. Drives the
+    /// resize overlay's INSTANT feedback (blur + spinner) BEFORE the debounced request leaves; the
+    /// overlay clears when a decoded frame reaches this size (or on a timeout). Deduped per target.
+    public var onResizeTarget: ((_ width: UInt32, _ height: UInt32) -> Void)?
+
+    /// `debounce` = quiet time after the last size event before requesting (Win32 gets
+    /// `WM_EXITSIZEMOVE` for free; we debounce). `minSpacing` = floor between accepted requests
+    /// (a full host pipeline rebuild each). Defaults match the other clients.
+    public init(
+        connection: PunktfunkConnection,
+        enabled: Bool,
+        debounce: TimeInterval = 0.4,
+        minSpacing: TimeInterval = 1.0
+    ) {
+        self.connection = connection
+        self.enabled = enabled
+        self.debounce = debounce
+        self.minSpacing = minSpacing
+    }
+
+    /// Turn following on/off live (a mid-session settings change; off cancels a pending request).
+    public func setEnabled(_ on: Bool) {
+        enabled = on
+        if !on {
+            work?.cancel()
+            work = nil
+            pendingSize = nil
+            lastSteered = nil
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Feed the presenting view's current PHYSICAL-PIXEL size (its `bounds` × the backing/display
+    /// scale). Called from every layout pass; coalesced by the debounce so a drag-resize sends one
+    /// request at its end, never one per frame.
+    public func noteSize(widthPx: Int, heightPx: Int) {
+        guard enabled else { return }
+        pendingSize = (widthPx, heightPx)
+        schedule()
+        reportSteering(widthPx: widthPx, heightPx: heightPx)
+    }
+
+    /// Report the resize overlay's START signal (deduped): the moment the normalized window size
+    /// differs from the live mode we're steering toward a new size. No connection / no negotiated
+    /// mode yet → nothing to compare against, skip.
+    private func reportSteering(widthPx: Int, heightPx: Int) {
+        guard let connection else { return }
+        let target = MatchWindow.normalize(widthPx: widthPx, heightPx: heightPx)
+        let mode = connection.currentMode()
+        guard mode.width > 0, mode.height > 0 else { return }
+        if target.width == mode.width, target.height == mode.height {
+            lastSteered = nil // back in sync — a later change re-reports
+            return
+        }
+        if lastSteered?.width == target.width, lastSteered?.height == target.height { return }
+        lastSteered = target
+        onResizeTarget?(target.width, target.height)
+    }
+
+    private func schedule() {
+        work?.cancel()
+        let item = DispatchWorkItem { [weak self] in self?.fire() }
+        work = item
+        DispatchQueue.main.asyncAfter(deadline: .now() + debounce, execute: item)
+    }
+
+    private func fire() {
+        guard enabled, let connection, let size = pendingSize else { return }
+        // ≥ 1 s spacing: a request went out recently → re-arm the debounce and retry later rather
+        // than fire early (keeps at most ~one request outstanding — the accept ack round-trips in
+        // milliseconds, ahead of the host's rebuild).
+        if let last = lastRequestAt, Date().timeIntervalSince(last) < minSpacing {
+            schedule()
+            return
+        }
+        let target = MatchWindow.normalize(widthPx: size.width, heightPx: size.height)
+        let mode = connection.currentMode()
+        pendingSize = nil
+        guard let req = MatchWindow.request(
+            target: target,
+            current: (mode.width, mode.height),
+            lastRequested: lastRequested
+        ) else { return }
+        // Keep the current refresh — Match-window follows SIZE, not rate.
+        connection.requestMode(width: req.width, height: req.height, refreshHz: mode.refreshHz)
+        lastRequested = req
+        lastRequestAt = Date()
+    }
+}
diff --git a/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Video/ResizeIndicator.swift b/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Video/ResizeIndicator.swift
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..985ceeae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Video/ResizeIndicator.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+// Resize-in-progress indicator state (design/midstream-resolution-resize.md — client UX).
+//
+// A mid-stream resize takes the host 0.3–2 s to rebuild its virtual display + encoder, and the
+// first new-mode frame is an IDR that the decoder re-inits on. Rather than let the stream scale
+// (stretch/blur) to the changing window during that gap, the client EMBRACES the delay: it shows a
+// deliberate blur + spinner the instant a resize starts and clears it the instant the sharp
+// new-resolution frame is on screen — so the wait reads as intentional, not as lag.
+//
+// This is driven ENTIRELY by signals the client already has (no new protocol):
+//   * START — the Match-window follower reports the size it is steering toward (instant, on the
+//     first resize layout, before the debounced request even leaves).
+//   * END — the decode pipeline reports each new-mode IDR's dimensions; when they reach the target
+//     the new picture is here.
+//   * TIMEOUT — the safety net for a switch that never delivers the exact target: the host rejected
+//     it (gamescope), capped it to an advertised mode, or a corrective ack landed a different size.
+//
+// Pure + side-effect-free so the transition logic is unit-tested without a live session or UI
+// (`ResizeIndicatorTests`); `SessionModel` owns an instance and mirrors `active` into a @Published.
+
+import Foundation
+
+/// The pure state of the resize overlay. `now` is a monotonic time in seconds (the caller passes
+/// `ProcessInfo.processInfo.systemUptime` or a test clock).
+public struct ResizeIndicator {
+    /// Whether the blur + spinner should be shown.
+    public private(set) var active = false
+    /// The size the follower is steering toward — cleared once a decoded frame reaches it.
+    private var target: (width: UInt32, height: UInt32)?
+    /// When the current `active` span began — the timeout is measured from here.
+    private var since: TimeInterval?
+    /// How long to keep the overlay up if the target frame never arrives (rejected / capped switch).
+    public var timeout: TimeInterval
+
+    public init(timeout: TimeInterval = 2.5) { self.timeout = timeout }
+
+    /// The follower is steering toward `width`×`height` — a resize is under way. Show the overlay now
+    /// (instant feedback). Called only for a genuine change (the follower skips a target equal to the
+    /// live mode), possibly many times as a drag moves through sizes; the timeout re-arms whenever the
+    /// target actually changes so a slow drag never trips it mid-gesture.
+    public mutating func steering(width: UInt32, height: UInt32, now: TimeInterval) {
+        if !active || target?.width != width || target?.height != height {
+            since = now
+        }
+        target = (width, height)
+        active = true
+    }
+
+    /// A decoded frame arrived at `width`×`height` (a new-mode IDR). Clears the overlay once it
+    /// matches the steered target — the sharp new-resolution picture is on glass.
+    public mutating func decoded(width: UInt32, height: UInt32) {
+        guard active, let t = target, t.width == width, t.height == height else { return }
+        active = false
+        since = nil
+    }
+
+    /// Timeout safety net: stop showing the overlay once `timeout` has elapsed with no matching frame
+    /// (a rejected or host-capped switch never delivers the exact target).
+    public mutating func tick(now: TimeInterval) {
+        guard active, let s = since, now - s >= timeout else { return }
+        active = false
+        since = nil
+    }
+}
diff --git a/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Video/SessionPresenter.swift b/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Video/SessionPresenter.swift
index 19bd8502..e11db891 100644
--- a/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Video/SessionPresenter.swift
+++ b/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Video/SessionPresenter.swift
@@ -85,7 +85,8 @@ final class SessionPresenter {
         displayMeter: LatencyMeter? = nil,
         makeDisplayLink: (AnyObject, Selector) -> CADisplayLink,
         onFrame: (@Sendable (AccessUnit) -> Void)?,
-        onSessionEnd: (@Sendable () -> Void)?
+        onSessionEnd: (@Sendable () -> Void)?,
+        onDecodedSize: (@Sendable (Int, Int) -> Void)? = nil
     ) {
         stop()
         self.connection = connection
@@ -128,12 +129,14 @@ final class SessionPresenter {
             link.add(to: .main, forMode: .common)
             stage2Link = link
             syncFrameRate(hz: connection.currentMode().refreshHz)
-            pipeline.start(connection: connection, onFrame: onFrame, onSessionEnd: onSessionEnd)
+            pipeline.start(
+                connection: connection, onFrame: onFrame, onSessionEnd: onSessionEnd,
+                onDecodedSize: onDecodedSize)
         } else {
             let pump = StreamPump()
             pump.start(
                 connection: connection, layer: baseLayer,
-                onFrame: onFrame, onSessionEnd: onSessionEnd)
+                onFrame: onFrame, onSessionEnd: onSessionEnd, onDecodedSize: onDecodedSize)
             self.pump = pump
         }
     }
diff --git a/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Video/Stage2Pipeline.swift b/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Video/Stage2Pipeline.swift
index f21fcc02..68d20084 100644
--- a/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Video/Stage2Pipeline.swift
+++ b/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Video/Stage2Pipeline.swift
@@ -329,7 +329,8 @@ public final class Stage2Pipeline {
     public func start(
         connection: PunktfunkConnection,
         onFrame: (@Sendable (AccessUnit) -> Void)?,
-        onSessionEnd: (@Sendable () -> Void)?
+        onSessionEnd: (@Sendable () -> Void)?,
+        onDecodedSize: (@Sendable (Int, Int) -> Void)? = nil
     ) {
         offsetNs = connection.clockOffsetNs
         recovery.bind(connection) // arm host-keyframe recovery for this session
@@ -350,6 +351,9 @@ public final class Stage2Pipeline {
         let thread = Thread {
             defer { pumpStopped.signal() } // let stop() join the pump (bounded) before decoder.reset()
             var format: CMVideoFormatDescription?
+            // Report coded dims to the resize overlay only on a CHANGE (new-mode IDR), not per
+            // loss-recovery IDR at the same size (see StreamPump).
+            var lastDecodedDims: CMVideoDimensions?
             var lastFramesDropped = connection.framesDropped()
             // Persistent recovery WANT, not a one-shot edge (see StreamPump for the full rationale):
             // keep asking until an IDR lands so a request swallowed by the throttle is re-sent.
@@ -387,6 +391,11 @@ public final class Stage2Pipeline {
                     onFrame?(au)
                     if let f = connection.videoCodec.formatDescription(fromKeyframe: au.data) {
                         format = f          // refreshed on every IDR (mode changes included)
+                        let dims = CMVideoFormatDescriptionGetDimensions(f)
+                        if lastDecodedDims?.width != dims.width || lastDecodedDims?.height != dims.height {
+                            lastDecodedDims = dims
+                            onDecodedSize?(Int(dims.width), Int(dims.height))
+                        }
                         awaitingIDR = false // a fresh IDR re-anchored decode — recovery complete
                     }
                     guard let f = format, !token.isStopped else { return true }
diff --git a/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Video/StreamPump.swift b/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Video/StreamPump.swift
index 8d193aa7..c19ebb7e 100644
--- a/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Video/StreamPump.swift
+++ b/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Video/StreamPump.swift
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ final class StreamPump {
         connection: PunktfunkConnection,
         layer: AVSampleBufferDisplayLayer,
         onFrame: (@Sendable (AccessUnit) -> Void)?,
-        onSessionEnd: (@Sendable () -> Void)?
+        onSessionEnd: (@Sendable () -> Void)?,
+        onDecodedSize: (@Sendable (Int, Int) -> Void)? = nil
     ) {
         let token = token
         // Coalesced host keyframe requests (100 ms throttle — see KeyframeRecovery).
@@ -35,6 +36,9 @@ final class StreamPump {
 
         let thread = Thread {
             var format: CMVideoFormatDescription?
+            // Report the coded dims to the resize overlay only when they CHANGE (a new-mode IDR),
+            // not on every loss-recovery IDR at the same size — so it fires once per real switch.
+            var lastDecodedDims: CMVideoDimensions?
             var lastFramesDropped = connection.framesDropped()
             // Recovery is a persistent WANT, not a one-shot edge: set it on detected loss (or a
             // decoder reset), retry the throttled request EVERY iteration, and clear it only when a
@@ -79,6 +83,11 @@ final class StreamPump {
                     let idrFormat = connection.videoCodec.formatDescription(fromKeyframe: au.data)
                     if let f = idrFormat {
                         format = f          // refreshed on every IDR (mode changes included)
+                        let dims = CMVideoFormatDescriptionGetDimensions(f)
+                        if lastDecodedDims?.width != dims.width || lastDecodedDims?.height != dims.height {
+                            lastDecodedDims = dims
+                            onDecodedSize?(Int(dims.width), Int(dims.height))
+                        }
                         if awaitingIDR {
                             let ms = Int(Date().timeIntervalSince(awaitingSince) * 1000)
                             pumpLog.notice("video: recovery IDR received — resumed after \(ms, privacy: .public) ms")
diff --git a/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Views/StreamView.swift b/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Views/StreamView.swift
index 9dede3c3..2d0f7db1 100644
--- a/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Views/StreamView.swift
+++ b/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Views/StreamView.swift
@@ -87,6 +87,8 @@ public struct StreamView: NSViewRepresentable {
     private let onDisconnectRequest: (() -> Void)?
     private let onFrame: (@Sendable (AccessUnit) -> Void)?
     private let onSessionEnd: (@Sendable () -> Void)?
+    private let onResizeTarget: ((UInt32, UInt32) -> Void)?
+    private let onDecodedSize: (@Sendable (Int, Int) -> Void)?
     private let endToEndMeter: LatencyMeter?
     private let decodeMeter: LatencyMeter?
     private let displayMeter: LatencyMeter?
@@ -108,6 +110,8 @@ public struct StreamView: NSViewRepresentable {
         onDisconnectRequest: (() -> Void)? = nil,
         onFrame: (@Sendable (AccessUnit) -> Void)? = nil,
         onSessionEnd: (@Sendable () -> Void)? = nil,
+        onResizeTarget: ((UInt32, UInt32) -> Void)? = nil,
+        onDecodedSize: (@Sendable (Int, Int) -> Void)? = nil,
         endToEndMeter: LatencyMeter? = nil,
         decodeMeter: LatencyMeter? = nil,
         displayMeter: LatencyMeter? = nil
@@ -118,6 +122,8 @@ public struct StreamView: NSViewRepresentable {
         self.onDisconnectRequest = onDisconnectRequest
         self.onFrame = onFrame
         self.onSessionEnd = onSessionEnd
+        self.onResizeTarget = onResizeTarget
+        self.onDecodedSize = onDecodedSize
         self.endToEndMeter = endToEndMeter
         self.decodeMeter = decodeMeter
         self.displayMeter = displayMeter
@@ -131,6 +137,8 @@ public struct StreamView: NSViewRepresentable {
         view.endToEndMeter = endToEndMeter
         view.decodeMeter = decodeMeter
         view.displayMeter = displayMeter
+        view.onResizeTarget = onResizeTarget
+        view.onDecodedSize = onDecodedSize
         view.start(connection: connection, onFrame: onFrame, onSessionEnd: onSessionEnd)
         return view
     }
@@ -142,6 +150,8 @@ public struct StreamView: NSViewRepresentable {
         view.endToEndMeter = endToEndMeter
         view.decodeMeter = decodeMeter
         view.displayMeter = displayMeter
+        view.onResizeTarget = onResizeTarget
+        view.onDecodedSize = onDecodedSize
         // SwiftUI reuses the NSView across state changes — repoint the pump only when the
         // connection identity actually changed.
         if view.connection !== connection {
@@ -165,6 +175,9 @@ public final class StreamLayerView: NSView {
     /// stage-1 StreamPump → displayLayer path as the Metal-unavailable / DEBUG fallback.
     private let presenter = SessionPresenter()
     public private(set) var connection: PunktfunkConnection?
+    /// Match-window resize follower (C3) — non-nil while a session is active AND the `matchWindow`
+    /// setting is on; fed the view's physical-pixel size on every relayout.
+    private var matchFollower: MatchWindowFollower?
     private let cursorCapture = CursorCapture()
     private var inputCapture: InputCapture?
     private var appObservers: [NSObjectProtocol] = []
@@ -201,6 +214,13 @@ public final class StreamLayerView: NSView {
     /// view can't do that itself (the connection's owner disconnects).
     public var onDisconnectRequest: (() -> Void)?
 
+    /// Resize overlay signals (design/midstream-resolution-resize.md client UX): `onResizeTarget`
+    /// (main thread, via the follower) fires the instant the window starts steering toward a new
+    /// size; `onDecodedSize` (PUMP thread) fires when a new-mode IDR's dims land. The owner drives
+    /// the blur+spinner from these — set before `start()`.
+    public var onResizeTarget: ((UInt32, UInt32) -> Void)?
+    public var onDecodedSize: (@Sendable (Int, Int) -> Void)?
+
     /// Main-thread only. False = input capture disabled outright (UI layered over the
     /// stream); flipping to true auto-engages once.
     public var captureEnabled = true {
@@ -626,15 +646,32 @@ public final class StreamLayerView: NSView {
             displayMeter: displayMeter,
             makeDisplayLink: { displayLink(target: $0, selector: $1) },
             onFrame: onFrame,
-            onSessionEnd: onSessionEnd)
+            onSessionEnd: onSessionEnd,
+            onDecodedSize: onDecodedSize) // resize overlay END signal (new-mode IDR dims)
+        // Match-window (C3): follow the window's pixel size when the setting is on. Latched at
+        // session start (mirrors the other clients); the first real `layout()` feeds the initial
+        // size, so the stream converges to the window even if the connect used the explicit mode.
+        let follower = MatchWindowFollower(
+            connection: connection,
+            enabled: UserDefaults.standard.bool(forKey: DefaultsKey.matchWindow))
+        follower.onResizeTarget = onResizeTarget // resize overlay START signal (instant, on the follower)
+        matchFollower = follower
         layoutPresenter()
         requestAutoCapture() // entering a session is the deliberate "capture me" moment
     }
 
     /// Aspect-fit the stage-2 metal sublayer to the view; refresh contentsScale on a
-    /// retina↔non-retina move (see SessionPresenter.layout).
+    /// retina↔non-retina move (see SessionPresenter.layout). Also feeds the Match-window follower
+    /// the view's physical-pixel size (bounds → backing), so a window resize / retina move follows.
     private func layoutPresenter() {
         presenter.layout(in: bounds, contentsScale: window?.backingScaleFactor ?? 1)
+        // Feed the follower only once in a window (backing scale is real then) and with real
+        // bounds — a pre-window layout would report point-sized dimensions.
+        if window != nil, bounds.width > 0, bounds.height > 0 {
+            let px = convertToBacking(bounds).size
+            matchFollower?.noteSize(
+                widthPx: Int(px.width.rounded()), heightPx: Int(px.height.rounded()))
+        }
     }
 
     public override func viewDidChangeBackingProperties() {
@@ -650,6 +687,7 @@ public final class StreamLayerView: NSView {
         inputCapture?.stop()
         inputCapture = nil
         presenter.stop()
+        matchFollower = nil
         connection = nil
     }
 
diff --git a/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Views/StreamViewIOS.swift b/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Views/StreamViewIOS.swift
index ee247fb1..f79d002b 100644
--- a/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Views/StreamViewIOS.swift
+++ b/clients/apple/Sources/PunktfunkKit/Views/StreamViewIOS.swift
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ public struct StreamView: UIViewControllerRepresentable {
     private let onCaptureChange: ((Bool) -> Void)?
     private let onFrame: (@Sendable (AccessUnit) -> Void)?
     private let onSessionEnd: (@Sendable () -> Void)?
+    private let onResizeTarget: ((UInt32, UInt32) -> Void)?
+    private let onDecodedSize: (@Sendable (Int, Int) -> Void)?
     private let endToEndMeter: LatencyMeter?
     private let decodeMeter: LatencyMeter?
     private let displayMeter: LatencyMeter?
@@ -68,6 +70,8 @@ public struct StreamView: UIViewControllerRepresentable {
         onDisconnectRequest: (() -> Void)? = nil,
         onFrame: (@Sendable (AccessUnit) -> Void)? = nil,
         onSessionEnd: (@Sendable () -> Void)? = nil,
+        onResizeTarget: ((UInt32, UInt32) -> Void)? = nil,
+        onDecodedSize: (@Sendable (Int, Int) -> Void)? = nil,
         endToEndMeter: LatencyMeter? = nil,
         decodeMeter: LatencyMeter? = nil,
         displayMeter: LatencyMeter? = nil
@@ -77,6 +81,8 @@ public struct StreamView: UIViewControllerRepresentable {
         self.onCaptureChange = onCaptureChange
         self.onFrame = onFrame
         self.onSessionEnd = onSessionEnd
+        self.onResizeTarget = onResizeTarget
+        self.onDecodedSize = onDecodedSize
         self.endToEndMeter = endToEndMeter
         self.decodeMeter = decodeMeter
         self.displayMeter = displayMeter
@@ -89,6 +95,8 @@ public struct StreamView: UIViewControllerRepresentable {
         controller.endToEndMeter = endToEndMeter
         controller.decodeMeter = decodeMeter
         controller.displayMeter = displayMeter
+        controller.onResizeTarget = onResizeTarget
+        controller.onDecodedSize = onDecodedSize
         controller.start(connection: connection, onFrame: onFrame, onSessionEnd: onSessionEnd)
         return controller
     }
@@ -99,6 +107,8 @@ public struct StreamView: UIViewControllerRepresentable {
         controller.endToEndMeter = endToEndMeter
         controller.decodeMeter = decodeMeter
         controller.displayMeter = displayMeter
+        controller.onResizeTarget = onResizeTarget
+        controller.onDecodedSize = onDecodedSize
         if controller.connection !== connection {
             controller.start(connection: connection, onFrame: onFrame, onSessionEnd: onSessionEnd)
         }
@@ -147,6 +157,11 @@ public final class StreamViewController: StreamViewControllerBase {
     /// Capture state at the last resign, restored on the next foreground — otherwise the
     /// mouse/keyboard stay released after navigating out and nothing re-grabs them.
     private var wasCapturedOnResign = false
+    /// Match-window resize follower (C3) — non-nil while a session is active AND the `matchWindow`
+    /// setting is on; fed the view's physical-pixel size from `viewDidLayoutSubviews` so an iPad
+    /// Stage Manager / Split View scene resize renegotiates the host mode. iOS only (iPhone
+    /// naturally no-ops fullscreen; tvOS drives display modes via AVDisplayManager instead).
+    private var matchFollower: MatchWindowFollower?
     #endif
 
     /// Reads whether the scene's pointer is actually locked right now; nil = state
@@ -161,6 +176,13 @@ public final class StreamViewController: StreamViewControllerBase {
     }
 
     var onCaptureChange: ((Bool) -> Void)?
+    /// Resize-overlay START: forwarded to the Match-window follower so a scene resize drives the
+    /// blur+spinner the instant the window differs from the live mode (iOS only — tvOS has no
+    /// follower). See `MatchWindowFollower.onResizeTarget`.
+    var onResizeTarget: ((UInt32, UInt32) -> Void)?
+    /// Resize-overlay END: the presenter reports the coded dims of each new-mode IDR here, so the
+    /// overlay clears when a frame at the requested size actually decodes.
+    var onDecodedSize: (@Sendable (Int, Int) -> Void)?
 
     var captureEnabled = true {
         didSet {
@@ -327,6 +349,14 @@ public final class StreamViewController: StreamViewControllerBase {
         }
         capture.start()
         inputCapture = capture
+        // Match-window (C3): follow the scene's pixel size when the setting is on. Latched at
+        // session start (mirrors the other clients); `viewDidLayoutSubviews` feeds it — covers
+        // Stage Manager / Split View resizes and rotation. iPhone fullscreen naturally no-ops.
+        let follower = MatchWindowFollower(
+            connection: connection,
+            enabled: UserDefaults.standard.bool(forKey: DefaultsKey.matchWindow))
+        follower.onResizeTarget = onResizeTarget
+        matchFollower = follower
         #endif
 
         // Presenter choice + lifecycle live in SessionPresenter (shared with macOS): stage-2
@@ -340,7 +370,8 @@ public final class StreamViewController: StreamViewControllerBase {
             displayMeter: displayMeter,
             makeDisplayLink: { CADisplayLink(target: $0, selector: $1) },
             onFrame: onFrame,
-            onSessionEnd: onSessionEnd)
+            onSessionEnd: onSessionEnd,
+            onDecodedSize: onDecodedSize)
         layoutMetalLayer()
 
         #if os(iOS)
@@ -411,6 +442,7 @@ public final class StreamViewController: StreamViewControllerBase {
         streamView.onPointerButton = nil
         streamView.onScroll = nil
         streamView.currentHostMode = nil
+        matchFollower = nil
         #endif
         #if os(tvOS)
         // Return the TV to the user's preferred mode — the home screen must not stay in the
@@ -425,6 +457,16 @@ public final class StreamViewController: StreamViewControllerBase {
     public override func viewDidLayoutSubviews() {
         super.viewDidLayoutSubviews()
         layoutMetalLayer()
+        #if os(iOS)
+        // Match-window (C3): feed the follower the view's physical-pixel size (points × scale).
+        let b = streamView.bounds
+        if b.width > 0, b.height > 0 {
+            let scale = renderScale
+            matchFollower?.noteSize(
+                widthPx: Int((b.width * scale).rounded()),
+                heightPx: Int((b.height * scale).rounded()))
+        }
+        #endif
         #if os(tvOS)
         applyDisplayCriteriaIfNeeded()
         #endif
diff --git a/clients/apple/Tests/PunktfunkKitTests/MatchWindowTests.swift b/clients/apple/Tests/PunktfunkKitTests/MatchWindowTests.swift
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..dde0e185
--- /dev/null
+++ b/clients/apple/Tests/PunktfunkKitTests/MatchWindowTests.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+// The Match-window trigger discipline (design/midstream-resolution-resize.md D2), as pure
+// functions — the same rules the session binary's `resize_decision` unit-tests: physical pixels
+// even-floored and clamped ≥ 320×200, skip a size equal to the live mode, and request each
+// distinct size at most once (so a rejected size / a host rollback can't loop).
+
+import XCTest
+
+@testable import PunktfunkKit
+
+final class MatchWindowTests: XCTestCase {
+    func testNormalizeEvenFloorsAndClamps() {
+        // Odd pixels floor to even (the host rejects odd dimensions).
+        let a = MatchWindow.normalize(widthPx: 1001, heightPx: 601)
+        XCTAssertEqual(a.width, 1000)
+        XCTAssertEqual(a.height, 600)
+        // Already-even sizes pass through.
+        let b = MatchWindow.normalize(widthPx: 2560, heightPx: 1440)
+        XCTAssertEqual(b.width, 2560)
+        XCTAssertEqual(b.height, 1440)
+        // Tiny / zero clamp to the host floor.
+        let c = MatchWindow.normalize(widthPx: 100, heightPx: 80)
+        XCTAssertEqual(c.width, 320)
+        XCTAssertEqual(c.height, 200)
+        let z = MatchWindow.normalize(widthPx: 0, heightPx: -4)
+        XCTAssertEqual(z.width, 320)
+        XCTAssertEqual(z.height, 200)
+    }
+
+    func testRequestSkipsEqualAndAlreadyRequested() {
+        // A new size (different from the live mode, not yet requested) → request it.
+        let r = MatchWindow.request(
+            target: (1000, 600), current: (1280, 720), lastRequested: (800, 500))
+        XCTAssertEqual(r?.width, 1000)
+        XCTAssertEqual(r?.height, 600)
+        // Equal to the live mode → nothing to do.
+        XCTAssertNil(MatchWindow.request(
+            target: (1280, 720), current: (1280, 720), lastRequested: nil))
+        // Already requested once → don't re-ask (covers a rejected size AND a host rollback:
+        // accepted → rebuild failed → corrective ack restored the old mode must not loop).
+        XCTAssertNil(MatchWindow.request(
+            target: (1000, 600), current: (1280, 720), lastRequested: (1000, 600)))
+    }
+}
diff --git a/clients/apple/Tests/PunktfunkKitTests/ResizeIndicatorTests.swift b/clients/apple/Tests/PunktfunkKitTests/ResizeIndicatorTests.swift
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..98021e9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/clients/apple/Tests/PunktfunkKitTests/ResizeIndicatorTests.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+import XCTest
+
+@testable import PunktfunkKit
+
+final class ResizeIndicatorTests: XCTestCase {
+    func testInactiveUntilSteered() {
+        var r = ResizeIndicator()
+        XCTAssertFalse(r.active)
+        // A decoded frame with nothing pending is a no-op (session start / steady state).
+        r.decoded(width: 1920, height: 1080)
+        XCTAssertFalse(r.active)
+    }
+
+    func testSteeringActivatesAndDecodedTargetClears() {
+        var r = ResizeIndicator()
+        r.steering(width: 2560, height: 1440, now: 0)
+        XCTAssertTrue(r.active)
+        // A frame at a DIFFERENT size (the old mode still draining) doesn't clear it.
+        r.decoded(width: 1920, height: 1080)
+        XCTAssertTrue(r.active)
+        // The target frame lands → clear.
+        r.decoded(width: 2560, height: 1440)
+        XCTAssertFalse(r.active)
+    }
+
+    func testTimeoutClearsWhenTargetNeverArrives() {
+        var r = ResizeIndicator(timeout: 2.5)
+        r.steering(width: 2560, height: 1440, now: 10)
+        r.tick(now: 12) // 2 s < timeout — still up
+        XCTAssertTrue(r.active)
+        r.tick(now: 12.6) // 2.6 s ≥ timeout — a rejected/capped switch clears
+        XCTAssertFalse(r.active)
+    }
+
+    func testDragReArmsTimeoutOnEachNewTarget() {
+        var r = ResizeIndicator(timeout: 2.5)
+        r.steering(width: 2000, height: 1200, now: 0)
+        r.steering(width: 2200, height: 1200, now: 2) // target changed → since re-armed to 2
+        r.tick(now: 4) // only 2 s since the last change — still up (drag isn't a timeout)
+        XCTAssertTrue(r.active)
+        r.tick(now: 4.6) // 2.6 s since the last change → clears
+        XCTAssertFalse(r.active)
+    }
+
+    func testSteadyDragDoesNotResetTimeout() {
+        var r = ResizeIndicator(timeout: 2.5)
+        r.steering(width: 2560, height: 1440, now: 0)
+        r.steering(width: 2560, height: 1440, now: 1) // SAME target → since stays 0
+        r.tick(now: 2.6) // 2.6 s since the ORIGINAL steer → clears (not reset by the repeat)
+        XCTAssertFalse(r.active)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/clients/linux/src/ui_settings.rs b/clients/linux/src/ui_settings.rs
index a2d18ba2..0fbe235d 100644
--- a/clients/linux/src/ui_settings.rs
+++ b/clients/linux/src/ui_settings.rs
@@ -264,21 +264,23 @@ pub fn show(
     let page = adw::PreferencesPage::new();
 
     let stream = adw::PreferencesGroup::builder().title("Stream").build();
-    let res_names: Vec<String> = RESOLUTIONS
-        .iter()
-        .map(|&(w, h)| {
-            if w == 0 {
-                "Native display".to_string()
-            } else {
-                format!("{w} × {h}")
-            }
-        })
+    // The D1 tri-state: Native, Match window (a virtual index 1, stored as the
+    // `match_window` flag), then the explicit sizes.
+    let res_names: Vec<String> = std::iter::once("Native display".to_string())
+        .chain(std::iter::once("Match window".to_string()))
+        .chain(
+            RESOLUTIONS
+                .iter()
+                .skip(1)
+                .map(|&(w, h)| format!("{w} × {h}")),
+        )
         .collect();
     let res_row = ChoiceRow::new(
         &dialog,
         inline,
         "Resolution",
-        "The host creates a virtual output at exactly this size",
+        "The host creates a virtual output at exactly this size — Match window follows \
+         the stream window, including mid-stream resizes",
         &res_names.iter().map(String::as_str).collect::<Vec<_>>(),
     );
     let hz_names: Vec<String> = REFRESH
@@ -470,10 +472,15 @@ pub fn show(
     // Seed from the current settings.
     {
         let s = settings.borrow();
-        let res_i = RESOLUTIONS
-            .iter()
-            .position(|&(w, h)| w == s.width && h == s.height)
-            .unwrap_or(0);
+        let res_i = if s.match_window {
+            1
+        } else {
+            RESOLUTIONS
+                .iter()
+                .position(|&(w, h)| w == s.width && h == s.height)
+                .map(|i| if i == 0 { 0 } else { i + 1 })
+                .unwrap_or(0)
+        };
         res_row.set_selected(res_i as u32);
         let hz_i = REFRESH.iter().position(|&r| r == s.refresh_hz).unwrap_or(0);
         hz_row.set_selected(hz_i as u32);
@@ -508,8 +515,14 @@ pub fn show(
     dialog.add(&page);
     dialog.connect_closed(move |_| {
         let mut s = settings.borrow_mut();
-        let (w, h) = RESOLUTIONS[(res_row.selected() as usize).min(RESOLUTIONS.len() - 1)];
-        (s.width, s.height) = (w, h);
+        // Index 1 is the virtual "Match window" option; 0 = Native, 2.. = explicit.
+        let res_i = (res_row.selected() as usize).min(RESOLUTIONS.len());
+        s.match_window = res_i == 1;
+        (s.width, s.height) = if res_i <= 1 {
+            (0, 0)
+        } else {
+            RESOLUTIONS[res_i - 1]
+        };
         s.refresh_hz = REFRESH[(hz_row.selected() as usize).min(REFRESH.len() - 1)];
         s.bitrate_kbps = (bitrate_row.value() * 1000.0) as u32;
         s.gamepad = GAMEPADS[(pad_row.selected() as usize).min(GAMEPADS.len() - 1)].to_string();
diff --git a/clients/session/src/console.rs b/clients/session/src/console.rs
index 4118286d..6201bf05 100644
--- a/clients/session/src/console.rs
+++ b/clients/session/src/console.rs
@@ -145,6 +145,10 @@ pub fn run(target: Option<&str>) -> u8 {
             trust::touch_last_used(&trust::hex(&fingerprint));
         })),
         overlay: Some(Box::new(overlay)),
+        window_size: crate::session_main::window_size(&settings_at_start),
+        // Latched at console start (like the stats tier above): toggling Match window in
+        // the console's settings screen applies from the next console launch.
+        match_window: crate::session_main::match_window(&settings_at_start),
     };
 
     let result =
diff --git a/clients/session/src/main.rs b/clients/session/src/main.rs
index 972b8859..e4ba52b5 100644
--- a/clients/session/src/main.rs
+++ b/clients/session/src/main.rs
@@ -164,6 +164,34 @@ mod session_main {
         }
     }
 
+    /// The window's starting size under Match-window: the persisted last size, so the
+    /// first connect's mode already matches the glass; `None` (policy off / never
+    /// stored) = the 1280×720 default.
+    pub(crate) fn window_size(settings: &trust::Settings) -> Option<(u32, u32)> {
+        (settings.match_window && settings.last_window_w > 0 && settings.last_window_h > 0)
+            .then_some((settings.last_window_w, settings.last_window_h))
+    }
+
+    /// The Match-window policy hook for the presenter loop
+    /// (design/midstream-resolution-resize.md D1/D2): `Some(persist)` turns the
+    /// debounced resize→`Reconfigure` machinery on; the callback stores each resize-end's
+    /// logical window size (load-modify-save, like the console settings screen) so the
+    /// next launch opens at it.
+    pub(crate) fn match_window(
+        settings: &trust::Settings,
+    ) -> Option<Box<dyn FnMut(u32, u32)>> {
+        settings.match_window.then(|| {
+            Box::new(|w: u32, h: u32| {
+                let mut s = trust::Settings::load();
+                if (s.last_window_w, s.last_window_h) != (w, h) {
+                    s.last_window_w = w;
+                    s.last_window_h = h;
+                    s.save();
+                }
+            }) as Box<dyn FnMut(u32, u32)>
+        })
+    }
+
     /// One JSON status line on stdout (the shell parses these; strings hand-escaped via
     /// the minimal rules a reason string can need). `pub(crate)`: browse mode emits its
     /// failure through the same contract when spawned with `--json-status`.
@@ -343,6 +371,8 @@ mod session_main {
             overlay: Some(Box::new(pf_console_ui::SkiaOverlay::new())),
             #[cfg(not(feature = "ui"))]
             overlay: None,
+            window_size: window_size(&settings),
+            match_window: match_window(&settings),
         };
 
         let outcome =
diff --git a/clients/windows/src/app/settings.rs b/clients/windows/src/app/settings.rs
index 11e131a7..8cde457d 100644
--- a/clients/windows/src/app/settings.rs
+++ b/clients/windows/src/app/settings.rs
@@ -136,29 +136,37 @@ pub(crate) fn settings_page(
     let s = ctx.settings.lock().unwrap().clone();
 
     // --- Display ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // The D1 tri-state: Native, Match window (a virtual index 1, stored as the
+    // `match_window` flag), then the explicit sizes.
     let (res_names, res_i) = {
-        let names: Vec<String> = RESOLUTIONS
-            .iter()
-            .map(|&(w, h)| {
-                if w == 0 {
-                    "Native display".into()
-                } else {
-                    format!("{w} \u{00D7} {h}")
-                }
-            })
+        let names: Vec<String> = std::iter::once("Native display".to_string())
+            .chain(std::iter::once("Match window".to_string()))
+            .chain(
+                RESOLUTIONS
+                    .iter()
+                    .skip(1)
+                    .map(|&(w, h)| format!("{w} \u{00D7} {h}")),
+            )
             .collect();
-        let i = RESOLUTIONS
-            .iter()
-            .position(|&(w, h)| w == s.width && h == s.height)
-            .unwrap_or(0);
+        let i = if s.match_window {
+            1
+        } else {
+            RESOLUTIONS
+                .iter()
+                .position(|&(w, h)| w == s.width && h == s.height)
+                .map(|i| if i == 0 { 0 } else { i + 1 })
+                .unwrap_or(0)
+        };
         (names, i)
     };
     let res_combo = setting_combo(ctx, "Resolution", res_names, res_i, |s, i| {
-        (s.width, s.height) = RESOLUTIONS[i];
+        s.match_window = i == 1;
+        (s.width, s.height) = if i <= 1 { (0, 0) } else { RESOLUTIONS[i - 1] };
     })
     .tooltip(
         "The host creates a virtual display at exactly this size. \u{201C}Native display\u{201D} \
-         resolves to the monitor this window is on at connect.",
+         resolves to the monitor this window is on at connect; \u{201C}Match window\u{201D} \
+         follows the stream window, including mid-stream resizes.",
     );
     let (hz_names, hz_i) = {
         let names: Vec<String> = REFRESH
diff --git a/crates/pf-client-core/src/trust.rs b/crates/pf-client-core/src/trust.rs
index f25e0993..ef52c3df 100644
--- a/crates/pf-client-core/src/trust.rs
+++ b/crates/pf-client-core/src/trust.rs
@@ -406,6 +406,19 @@ pub struct Settings {
     /// Experimental: the game-library browser ("Browse library…" on saved cards) —
     /// mirrors the Apple client's "Show game library" toggle, default off.
     pub library_enabled: bool,
+    /// Match-window resolution policy (design/midstream-resolution-resize.md D1): the
+    /// stream mode follows the session window — the connect asks for the window's pixel
+    /// size and a mid-session resize renegotiates the host's virtual display + encoder
+    /// (`Reconfigure`), so windowed sessions stream native-resolution pixels instead of
+    /// scaling. Overrides `width`/`height` while on; on fullscreen it degenerates to the
+    /// display's native mode. Default off (Auto-native stays the shipped default until
+    /// the per-backend validation matrix is green).
+    pub match_window: bool,
+    /// The session window's last logical size under `match_window`: the next launch
+    /// opens its window at this size, so the first connect's mode already matches what
+    /// the user will be looking at. `0` = never stored → the 1280×720 default.
+    pub last_window_w: u32,
+    pub last_window_h: u32,
 }
 
 fn default_codec() -> String {
@@ -466,6 +479,9 @@ impl Default for Settings {
             stats_verbosity: None,
             fullscreen_on_stream: true,
             library_enabled: false,
+            match_window: false,
+            last_window_w: 0,
+            last_window_h: 0,
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/pf-console-ui/src/screens/settings.rs b/crates/pf-console-ui/src/screens/settings.rs
index ca7b9865..2f60d867 100644
--- a/crates/pf-console-ui/src/screens/settings.rs
+++ b/crates/pf-console-ui/src/screens/settings.rs
@@ -176,7 +176,9 @@ fn row_spec(id: RowId, ctx: &Ctx) -> RowSpec {
         RowId::Resolution => (
             Some("Stream"),
             "Resolution",
-            if s.width == 0 {
+            if s.match_window {
+                "Match window".into()
+            } else if s.width == 0 {
                 "Native".into()
             } else {
                 format!("{} × {}", s.width, s.height)
@@ -259,7 +261,8 @@ fn row_spec(id: RowId, ctx: &Ctx) -> RowSpec {
 fn detail(id: RowId) -> &'static str {
     match id {
         RowId::Resolution => {
-            "The host creates a virtual display at exactly this size — no scaling."
+            "The host creates a virtual display at exactly this size — no scaling. \
+             Match window follows this window, including mid-stream resizes."
         }
         RowId::Refresh => "Native follows the display this window is on.",
         RowId::Bitrate => "Automatic uses the host's default (20 Mbps).",
@@ -303,11 +306,20 @@ fn adjust(id: RowId, delta: i32, wrap: bool, ctx: &mut Ctx) -> bool {
     let s = &mut *ctx.settings;
     match id {
         RowId::Resolution => {
-            let cur = RESOLUTIONS
-                .iter()
-                .position(|(w, h)| (*w, *h) == (s.width, s.height));
-            step_option(cur, RESOLUTIONS.len(), delta, wrap).map(|i| {
-                (s.width, s.height) = RESOLUTIONS[i];
+            // The D1 tri-state as one picker: Native, Match window, then the explicit
+            // sizes (RESOLUTIONS keeps its (0,0) = Native head; Match window is the
+            // virtual index 1, stored as the `match_window` flag with w/h cleared).
+            let cur = if s.match_window {
+                Some(1)
+            } else {
+                RESOLUTIONS
+                    .iter()
+                    .position(|(w, h)| (*w, *h) == (s.width, s.height))
+                    .map(|i| if i == 0 { 0 } else { i + 1 })
+            };
+            step_option(cur, RESOLUTIONS.len() + 1, delta, wrap).map(|i| {
+                s.match_window = i == 1;
+                (s.width, s.height) = if i <= 1 { (0, 0) } else { RESOLUTIONS[i - 1] };
             })
         }
         RowId::Refresh => {
@@ -401,14 +413,26 @@ mod tests {
             device_name: "t",
             t: 0.0,
         };
-        // Resolution starts at Native (index 0): left refuses, right steps.
+        // Resolution starts at Native (index 0): left refuses, right steps — first onto
+        // Match window (the D1 tri-state's middle option), then the explicit sizes.
         assert!(!adjust(RowId::Resolution, -1, false, &mut ctx));
         assert!(adjust(RowId::Resolution, 1, false, &mut ctx));
+        assert!(ctx.settings.match_window, "Native → Match window");
+        assert_eq!((ctx.settings.width, ctx.settings.height), (0, 0));
+        assert!(adjust(RowId::Resolution, 1, false, &mut ctx));
+        assert!(!ctx.settings.match_window, "explicit size clears the policy");
         assert_eq!((ctx.settings.width, ctx.settings.height), (1280, 720));
+        // Stepping back from an explicit size returns to Match window, then Native.
+        assert!(adjust(RowId::Resolution, -1, false, &mut ctx));
+        assert!(ctx.settings.match_window);
+        assert!(adjust(RowId::Resolution, -1, false, &mut ctx));
+        assert!(!ctx.settings.match_window);
+        assert_eq!(ctx.settings.width, 0, "back to Native");
         // Cycle from the last option wraps to the first.
         (ctx.settings.width, ctx.settings.height) = (3840, 2160);
         assert!(adjust(RowId::Resolution, 1, true, &mut ctx));
         assert_eq!(ctx.settings.width, 0, "wrapped to Native");
+        assert!(!ctx.settings.match_window);
     }
 
     #[test]
diff --git a/crates/pf-presenter/src/run.rs b/crates/pf-presenter/src/run.rs
index d39f741a..d2113ba8 100644
--- a/crates/pf-presenter/src/run.rs
+++ b/crates/pf-presenter/src/run.rs
@@ -52,6 +52,18 @@ pub struct SessionOpts {
     /// stay stdout-only). An overlay whose `init` fails degrades to `None` with a
     /// warning rather than killing the session. Browse mode requires one.
     pub overlay: Option<Box<dyn Overlay>>,
+    /// The window's starting logical size; `None` = the 1280×720 default. The binary
+    /// passes the persisted last-window size under the Match-window policy so the first
+    /// connect's mode already matches what the user will be looking at.
+    pub window_size: Option<(u32, u32)>,
+    /// Match-window resolution policy (design/midstream-resolution-resize.md D1/D2):
+    /// `Some` = the stream mode follows the window. At session start the params' mode
+    /// w/h are replaced by the window's physical pixel size; a mid-session resize sends
+    /// a debounced `Reconfigure` so the host's virtual display + encoder follow. The
+    /// callback receives the window's logical size at each resize-end — the binary
+    /// persists it for the next launch. `None` = never auto-resize (Auto-native /
+    /// Explicit keep today's behavior).
+    pub match_window: Option<Box<dyn FnMut(u32, u32)>>,
 }
 
 pub enum Outcome {
@@ -173,6 +185,22 @@ struct StreamState {
     /// The last pump window, kept so a Ctrl+Alt+Shift+S tier cycle can re-render the
     /// OSD immediately instead of waiting up to 1 s for the next Stats event.
     last_stats: Option<Stats>,
+    /// Match-window (D2) debounce state: the last resize event's stamp. `Some` = a
+    /// resize is pending; the tick fires the request once ~400 ms pass with no further
+    /// size events (never per drag-frame — each accepted switch is a full host rebuild).
+    resize_pending: Option<Instant>,
+    /// When the last `Reconfigure` was sent — the ≥ 1 s spacing between requests (D2).
+    /// The accept ack round-trips in milliseconds (it precedes the host's rebuild), so
+    /// this spacing also serializes: at most ~one request is ever outstanding.
+    resize_sent_at: Option<Instant>,
+    /// The last size actually requested. Each distinct size is requested at most once:
+    /// this both implements "don't re-request a rejected size until it changes" (D2) and
+    /// keeps a host-side rollback (accept ack, rebuild failed, corrective ack restored
+    /// the old mode) from looping request → rollback → request forever.
+    resize_requested: Option<(u32, u32)>,
+    /// The connector mode last shown in the HUD/title — a change (an accepted switch's
+    /// ack, or a corrective rollback) refreshes both.
+    shown_mode: Option<Mode>,
 }
 
 impl StreamState {
@@ -217,6 +245,10 @@ impl StreamState {
             hw_fails: 0,
             osd_text: String::new(),
             last_stats: None,
+            resize_pending: None,
+            resize_sent_at: None,
+            resize_requested: None,
+            shown_mode: None,
         }
     }
 
@@ -270,7 +302,10 @@ fn run_inner(mut opts: SessionOpts, mut mode: ModeCtl) -> Result<Option<Outcome>
         .register_custom_event::<FrameWake>()
         .map_err(|e| anyhow::anyhow!("register FrameWake event: {e}"))?;
     let mut window = {
-        let mut b = video.window(&opts.window_title, 1280, 720);
+        // Match-window (D1): open at the persisted last size, so the first connect's
+        // mode already matches the glass. 1280×720 stays the fallback/default.
+        let (ww, wh) = opts.window_size.unwrap_or((1280, 720));
+        let mut b = video.window(&opts.window_title, ww.max(320), wh.max(200));
         match opts.window_pos {
             Some((x, y)) => b.position(x, y),
             None => b.position_centered(),
@@ -340,12 +375,15 @@ fn run_inner(mut opts: SessionOpts, mut mode: ModeCtl) -> Result<Option<Outcome>
     let mut stream: Option<StreamState> = match &mut mode {
         ModeCtl::Single(build) => {
             let force_software = Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(false));
-            let params = build(
+            let mut params = build(
                 &gamepad,
                 native,
                 force_software.clone(),
                 presenter.vulkan_decode(),
             );
+            if opts.match_window.is_some() {
+                apply_match_window(&mut params, &window);
+            }
             Some(StreamState::new(
                 params,
                 force_software,
@@ -423,6 +461,14 @@ fn run_inner(mut opts: SessionOpts, mut mode: ModeCtl) -> Result<Option<Outcome>
                     WindowEvent::PixelSizeChanged(..) | WindowEvent::Resized(..) => {
                         presenter.recreate_swapchain(&window)?;
                         presenter.present(&window, FrameInput::Redraw, overlay_frame.as_ref())?;
+                        // Match-window (D2): (re)stamp the debounce — the request fires
+                        // once ~400 ms pass with no further size events, never per
+                        // drag-frame (each accepted switch is a full host rebuild).
+                        if opts.match_window.is_some() {
+                            if let Some(st) = stream.as_mut() {
+                                st.resize_pending = Some(Instant::now());
+                            }
+                        }
                     }
                     WindowEvent::Exposed => {
                         presenter.present(&window, FrameInput::Redraw, overlay_frame.as_ref())?;
@@ -616,7 +662,10 @@ fn run_inner(mut opts: SessionOpts, mut mode: ModeCtl) -> Result<Option<Outcome>
                             presenter.vulkan_decode(),
                         ) {
                             ActionOutcome::Handled => {}
-                            ActionOutcome::Start(params) => {
+                            ActionOutcome::Start(mut params) => {
+                                if opts.match_window.is_some() {
+                                    apply_match_window(&mut params, &window);
+                                }
                                 stream = Some(StreamState::new(
                                     *params,
                                     force_software,
@@ -753,6 +802,13 @@ fn run_inner(mut opts: SessionOpts, mut mode: ModeCtl) -> Result<Option<Outcome>
             }
         }
 
+        // --- Match-window (D2): debounced mode-follow + HUD/title refresh on a switch ----
+        if let Some(persist) = opts.match_window.as_mut() {
+            if let Some(st) = stream.as_mut() {
+                resize_tick(st, &mut window, &opts.window_title, persist.as_mut());
+            }
+        }
+
         // --- Console UI: damage-driven overlay re-render for this iteration --------------
         if let Some(o) = overlay.as_mut() {
             let (pw, ph) = window.size_in_pixels();
@@ -1013,6 +1069,125 @@ fn run_inner(mut opts: SessionOpts, mut mode: ModeCtl) -> Result<Option<Outcome>
     Ok(outcome)
 }
 
+/// Match-window (D1): replace the params' requested w/h with the window's physical pixel
+/// size — even-floored (the host's `validate_dimensions` rejects odd) and clamped to a
+/// sane minimum — keeping the resolved refresh. Under `--fullscreen` the window IS the
+/// display, so this degenerates to the display's native mode.
+fn apply_match_window(params: &mut SessionParams, window: &sdl3::video::Window) {
+    let (pw, ph) = window.size_in_pixels();
+    params.mode.width = (pw & !1).max(320);
+    params.mode.height = (ph & !1).max(200);
+    tracing::info!(
+        w = params.mode.width,
+        h = params.mode.height,
+        "match-window: requesting the window's pixel size"
+    );
+}
+
+/// Match-window (D2) per-iteration tick: refresh the HUD line + window title when the
+/// live mode moves (an accepted switch's ack, or a corrective rollback), then fire the
+/// debounced `Reconfigure` once ~400 ms pass with no further resize events. The shared
+/// trigger discipline:
+///   * physical pixels, even-floored, clamped ≥ 320×200; the current refresh is kept;
+///   * ≥ 1 s between requests (the accept ack round-trips in milliseconds — it precedes
+///     the host's rebuild — so the spacing also keeps at most ~one request outstanding);
+///   * each distinct size is requested at most ONCE (`resize_requested`): a rejected
+///     size isn't re-asked until the window changes, and a host-side rollback (accepted,
+///     rebuild failed, corrective ack restored the old mode) can't loop.
+fn resize_tick(
+    st: &mut StreamState,
+    window: &mut sdl3::video::Window,
+    title_base: &str,
+    persist: &mut dyn FnMut(u32, u32),
+) {
+    let Some(c) = &st.connector else {
+        return; // not connected yet — the pending stamp survives until we are
+    };
+    // HUD/title follow the live mode slot (updated by any accepted ack).
+    let m = c.mode();
+    if st.shown_mode.is_some_and(|prev| prev != m) {
+        st.mode_line = format!("{}×{}@{}", m.width, m.height, m.refresh_hz);
+        tracing::info!(mode = %st.mode_line, "stream mode switched");
+        let _ = window.set_title(&format!("{title_base} · {}", st.mode_line));
+    }
+    st.shown_mode = Some(m);
+
+    match resize_decision(
+        Instant::now(),
+        &mut st.resize_pending,
+        st.resize_sent_at,
+        st.resize_requested,
+        (m.width, m.height),
+        window.size_in_pixels(),
+    ) {
+        ResizeAction::Wait => {}
+        ResizeAction::Settled(target) => {
+            // The debounce settled: persist the window's LOGICAL size for the next
+            // launch (its window is created in logical units) even when no request goes
+            // out (e.g. resized back to the streamed size).
+            let (lw, lh) = window.size();
+            persist(lw, lh);
+            let Some((w, h)) = target else { return };
+            tracing::info!(w, h, "window resized — requesting mode switch");
+            if c
+                .request_mode(Mode {
+                    width: w,
+                    height: h,
+                    refresh_hz: m.refresh_hz,
+                })
+                .is_err()
+            {
+                tracing::warn!("mode-switch request dropped — control channel closed");
+            }
+            st.resize_requested = Some((w, h));
+            st.resize_sent_at = Some(Instant::now());
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// What one [`resize_decision`] tick decided.
+#[derive(Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+enum ResizeAction {
+    /// Nothing to do yet (no resize pending, still debouncing, or spacing defers — the
+    /// pending stamp is kept so a later tick retries).
+    Wait,
+    /// The debounce settled (pending cleared, the caller persists the window size), with
+    /// the mode to request — `None` when the size needs no switch (equal to the streamed
+    /// mode, or this exact size was already requested once).
+    Settled(Option<(u32, u32)>),
+}
+
+/// The D2 trigger discipline as a pure decision (unit-tested — CI can't open windows):
+/// debounce to resize-end, ≥ 1 s between requests, physical pixels even-floored and
+/// clamped ≥ 320×200, skip when equal to the streamed mode, and each distinct size
+/// requested at most once (covers rejected sizes AND host-side rollbacks).
+fn resize_decision(
+    now: Instant,
+    pending: &mut Option<Instant>,
+    sent_at: Option<Instant>,
+    requested: Option<(u32, u32)>,
+    current: (u32, u32),
+    pixel_size: (u32, u32),
+) -> ResizeAction {
+    const DEBOUNCE: Duration = Duration::from_millis(400);
+    const SPACING: Duration = Duration::from_secs(1);
+    let Some(since) = *pending else {
+        return ResizeAction::Wait;
+    };
+    if now.duration_since(since) < DEBOUNCE {
+        return ResizeAction::Wait;
+    }
+    if sent_at.is_some_and(|at| now.duration_since(at) < SPACING) {
+        return ResizeAction::Wait; // keep the pending stamp — a later tick retries
+    }
+    *pending = None;
+    let target = ((pixel_size.0 & !1).max(320), (pixel_size.1 & !1).max(200));
+    if current == target || requested == Some(target) {
+        return ResizeAction::Settled(None);
+    }
+    ResizeAction::Settled(Some(target))
+}
+
 /// Apply the capture state to the window: pointer lock (relative mouse + hidden cursor)
 /// and — on Windows — a keyboard grab, so system chords (Alt+Tab, the Windows key) reach
 /// the host while captured instead of the local shell. SDL implements the grab there
@@ -1115,6 +1290,105 @@ fn stats_text(
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
 
+    #[test]
+    fn resize_decision_follows_the_d2_discipline() {
+        let t0 = Instant::now();
+        let ms = Duration::from_millis;
+
+        // No resize pending → nothing to do.
+        let mut pending = None;
+        assert_eq!(
+            resize_decision(t0, &mut pending, None, None, (1280, 720), (1000, 600)),
+            ResizeAction::Wait
+        );
+
+        // Still debouncing (a drag in progress) → wait, pending kept.
+        let mut pending = Some(t0);
+        assert_eq!(
+            resize_decision(
+                t0 + ms(399),
+                &mut pending,
+                None,
+                None,
+                (1280, 720),
+                (1000, 600)
+            ),
+            ResizeAction::Wait
+        );
+        assert!(pending.is_some(), "pending survives the wait");
+
+        // Debounce settled → request the even-floored, clamped pixel size.
+        assert_eq!(
+            resize_decision(
+                t0 + ms(400),
+                &mut pending,
+                None,
+                None,
+                (1280, 720),
+                (1001, 601)
+            ),
+            ResizeAction::Settled(Some((1000, 600))),
+            "odd pixels floor to even"
+        );
+        assert!(pending.is_none(), "pending consumed");
+
+        // Spacing: a request went out < 1 s ago → wait WITHOUT dropping the pending
+        // stamp, so a later tick retries.
+        let mut pending = Some(t0);
+        assert_eq!(
+            resize_decision(
+                t0 + ms(900),
+                &mut pending,
+                Some(t0),
+                Some((1000, 600)),
+                (1280, 720),
+                (800, 500)
+            ),
+            ResizeAction::Wait
+        );
+        assert!(pending.is_some());
+        assert_eq!(
+            resize_decision(
+                t0 + ms(1000),
+                &mut pending,
+                Some(t0),
+                Some((1000, 600)),
+                (1280, 720),
+                (800, 500)
+            ),
+            ResizeAction::Settled(Some((800, 500)))
+        );
+
+        // Equal to the streamed mode → settle (persist) but no request.
+        let mut pending = Some(t0);
+        assert_eq!(
+            resize_decision(t0 + ms(400), &mut pending, None, None, (1280, 720), (1280, 720)),
+            ResizeAction::Settled(None)
+        );
+
+        // A size already requested once (rejected, or rolled back host-side) is never
+        // re-asked — no request → rollback → request loop.
+        let mut pending = Some(t0);
+        assert_eq!(
+            resize_decision(
+                t0 + ms(400),
+                &mut pending,
+                None,
+                Some((1000, 600)),
+                (1280, 720),
+                (1000, 600)
+            ),
+            ResizeAction::Settled(None)
+        );
+
+        // Tiny windows clamp to the host's floor.
+        let mut pending = Some(t0);
+        assert_eq!(
+            resize_decision(t0 + ms(400), &mut pending, None, None, (1280, 720), (100, 80)),
+            ResizeAction::Settled(Some((320, 200)))
+        );
+    }
+
     fn sample() -> (Stats, PresentedWindow) {
         (
             Stats {
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/punktfunk1.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/punktfunk1.rs
index 48972d45..21a362d3 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/punktfunk1.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/punktfunk1.rs
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ use punktfunk_core::quic::{
 use punktfunk_core::transport::UdpTransport;
 use punktfunk_core::Session;
 use rand::RngCore;
-use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, AtomicU32, AtomicU8, Ordering};
+use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, AtomicU32, AtomicU64, AtomicU8, Ordering};
 use std::sync::Arc;
 
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
@@ -1085,6 +1085,24 @@ async fn serve_session(
             .await
             .map_err(|_| anyhow!("handshake timed out after {HANDSHAKE_TIMEOUT:?}"))??;
     let (mut ctrl_send, mut ctrl_recv) = (send, recv);
+    // Can this session's backend live-reconfigure (mid-stream Reconfigure)? Gated OFF for:
+    //   * gamescope (all sub-modes): a spawn respawn restarts the game, managed restarts the box's
+    //     game-mode session, attach doesn't own the display — a resize must never relaunch the title
+    //     (design/midstream-resolution-resize.md H1/D3). The client keeps scaling client-side.
+    //   * an `identity: per-client-mode` policy: the mode is part of the display-identity slot key,
+    //     so a resize would resolve a DIFFERENT slot — on Windows a fresh monitor ADD instead of the
+    //     in-place reconfigure, on KWin a differently-named output — defeating the policy's
+    //     per-resolution identity. Honest downgrade: reject, client scales (H5).
+    // The SYNTHETIC source stays reconfigurable on purpose (nothing to rebuild — the ack round-trip
+    // is the whole effect): it is the compositor-free protocol test source, and the C-ABI roundtrip
+    // test + client harnesses exercise the Reconfigure/Reconfigured plumbing through it.
+    // Captured once at session setup; the control task answers `accepted: false` when gated.
+    let live_reconfig_ok = {
+        let per_client_mode_identity = crate::vdisplay::policy::prefs()
+            .configured_effective()
+            .is_some_and(|e| e.identity == crate::vdisplay::policy::Identity::PerClientMode);
+        reconfig_allowed(compositor, per_client_mode_identity)
+    };
     // Negotiated codec (HEVC / H.264 / AV1), derived from the Welcome. `Copy`, so the control task's
     // `async move` captures a copy and it stays usable for the data-plane SessionContext below.
     let codec = crate::encode::Codec::from_wire(welcome.codec);
@@ -1110,6 +1128,13 @@ async fn serve_session(
     let (probe_tx, probe_rx) = std::sync::mpsc::channel::<ProbeRequest>();
     let (probe_result_tx, mut probe_result_rx) =
         tokio::sync::mpsc::unbounded_channel::<ProbeResult>();
+    // Mode-switch outcome, data plane → control task (same pattern as `probe_result_tx`): the accept
+    // ack is written BEFORE the rebuild, so a failed rebuild (host stays at the old mode) or a
+    // backend that honored a different refresh must CORRECT the client's mode slot with a second
+    // `Reconfigured { accepted: true, mode: <actually live> }` — the client handler treats any
+    // accepted ack as "the active mode is now X" and fixes itself; old clients just log it.
+    let (reconfig_result_tx, mut reconfig_result_rx) =
+        tokio::sync::mpsc::unbounded_channel::<Reconfigured>();
     // Adaptive FEC: the control task maps each client LossReport to a recovery percent and publishes
     // it here; the data-plane send loop reads + applies it per frame. Disabled (pinned) when
     // PUNKTFUNK_FEC_PCT is set. Seeded with the session's starting FEC so it's a no-op until a report.
@@ -1118,23 +1143,46 @@ async fn serve_session(
     let fec_target_ctl = fec_target.clone();
     tokio::spawn(async move {
         let mut active = hello.mode;
+        // Host-side switch rate limit (a backstop against a hostile/broken client spamming
+        // Reconfigure into pipeline-rebuild churn — the drain-to-newest in the data plane already
+        // coalesces a well-behaved resize drag; compliant clients self-limit to ≥ 1 s).
+        const MIN_SWITCH_INTERVAL: std::time::Duration = std::time::Duration::from_millis(500);
+        let mut last_accepted_switch: Option<std::time::Instant> = None;
         loop {
             tokio::select! {
                 msg = io::read_msg(&mut ctrl_recv) => {
                     let Ok(msg) = msg else { break }; // stream closed
                     if let Ok(req) = Reconfigure::decode(&msg) {
-                        let ok = req.mode.refresh_hz > 0
+                        let now = std::time::Instant::now();
+                        let valid = req.mode.refresh_hz > 0
                             && crate::encode::validate_dimensions(
                                 codec,
                                 req.mode.width,
                                 req.mode.height,
                             )
                             .is_ok();
+                        let too_soon = last_accepted_switch
+                            .is_some_and(|t| now.duration_since(t) < MIN_SWITCH_INTERVAL);
+                        let ok = if !live_reconfig_ok {
+                            // Backend can't live-reconfigure (gamescope / synthetic /
+                            // per-client-mode identity — see the gate above): honest downgrade,
+                            // the client keeps scaling client-side.
+                            tracing::info!(mode = ?req.mode,
+                                "mode switch rejected (backend cannot live-reconfigure)");
+                            false
+                        } else if !valid {
+                            tracing::warn!(mode = ?req.mode, "mode switch rejected (invalid dimensions)");
+                            false
+                        } else if too_soon {
+                            tracing::warn!(mode = ?req.mode, "mode switch rejected (rate-limited)");
+                            false
+                        } else {
+                            true
+                        };
                         if ok {
                             active = req.mode;
+                            last_accepted_switch = Some(now);
                             tracing::info!(mode = ?req.mode, "mode switch accepted");
-                        } else {
-                            tracing::warn!(mode = ?req.mode, "mode switch rejected (invalid dimensions)");
                         }
                         let ack = Reconfigured { accepted: ok, mode: active };
                         if io::write_msg(&mut ctrl_send, &ack.encode()).await.is_err() {
@@ -1230,6 +1278,17 @@ async fn serve_session(
                         break;
                     }
                 }
+                correction = reconfig_result_rx.recv() => {
+                    // H2 rollback/correction ack: the data plane reports the mode ACTUALLY live
+                    // after a rebuild that failed (stayed at the old mode) or that the backend
+                    // honored at a different refresh. Track it so a later rejection's
+                    // `mode: active` echo is truthful too.
+                    let Some(ack) = correction else { break }; // data plane gone
+                    active = ack.mode;
+                    if io::write_msg(&mut ctrl_send, &ack.encode()).await.is_err() {
+                        break;
+                    }
+                }
             }
         }
     });
@@ -1539,6 +1598,7 @@ async fn serve_session(
                         codec,
                         probe_rx,
                         probe_result_tx,
+                        reconfig_result_tx,
                         fec_target: fec_target_dp,
                         conn: conn_stream,
                         timing_conn,
@@ -2927,9 +2987,10 @@ pub(crate) fn boost_thread_priority(critical: bool) {
 /// mode/codec/client to seed the capture's `CaptureMeta` on the first armed registration.
 struct SendStats {
     rec: Arc<StatsRecorder>,
-    width: u32,
-    height: u32,
-    fps: u32,
+    /// Live session mode, packed w:16|h:16|hz:16 ([`pack_mode`]) — the capture thread updates it
+    /// on an accepted mid-stream mode switch (mirroring `bitrate_kbps` below), so a stats capture
+    /// registers the mode the stream is ACTUALLY running at, not the session-start latch (H3).
+    mode: Arc<AtomicU64>,
     codec: &'static str,
     client: String,
     /// Live encoder bitrate (kbps) — the capture thread updates it on a mid-stream adaptive
@@ -2937,6 +2998,69 @@ struct SendStats {
     bitrate_kbps: Arc<AtomicU32>,
 }
 
+/// Pack a `(width, height, refresh_hz)` mode into one atomic word (w:16|h:16|hz:16) for the live
+/// stats-mode slot — one store/load instead of three racy ones. Every dimension fits: the codec
+/// max dimension caps w/h well under 2^16 (`validate_dimensions`), refresh likewise.
+fn pack_mode(width: u32, height: u32, refresh_hz: u32) -> u64 {
+    ((width as u64 & 0xffff) << 32)
+        | ((height as u64 & 0xffff) << 16)
+        | (refresh_hz as u64 & 0xffff)
+}
+
+/// Unpack a [`pack_mode`] word back into `(width, height, refresh_hz)`.
+fn unpack_mode(packed: u64) -> (u32, u32, u32) {
+    (
+        ((packed >> 32) & 0xffff) as u32,
+        ((packed >> 16) & 0xffff) as u32,
+        (packed & 0xffff) as u32,
+    )
+}
+
+/// Recover the integer refresh rate a pipeline was actually built at from its frame interval
+/// (`interval` is constructed as `1/effective_hz` in `build_pipeline`, so the round-trip is exact).
+/// This is the backend-honored rate — it differs from the requested mode when e.g. KWin caps a
+/// virtual output at 60 Hz.
+fn interval_hz(interval: std::time::Duration) -> u32 {
+    (1.0 / interval.as_secs_f64()).round() as u32
+}
+
+/// The mode a pipeline is ACTUALLY delivering, for the H2/H3 corrective ack: the captured frame's
+/// real dimensions (`build_pipeline` opens the encoder at `frame.{width,height}`, so this is exactly
+/// what the client decodes) paced at the rate the pipeline achieved ([`interval_hz`]). It diverges
+/// from the requested mode when a backend can't honor it: KWin caps a virtual output's refresh, or —
+/// the case this exists for — Windows pf-vdisplay rejects an in-place `SetMode` to a resolution not
+/// in the running monitor's advertised EDID list and the host falls back to the actual display mode
+/// (`capture::idd_push`: "sizing the ring to the display's actual mode"). Comparing this against the
+/// already-acked request decides whether a corrective `Reconfigured` ack is owed so the client
+/// doesn't believe it got a resolution it never received.
+fn delivered_mode(
+    frame_width: u32,
+    frame_height: u32,
+    interval: std::time::Duration,
+) -> punktfunk_core::Mode {
+    punktfunk_core::Mode {
+        width: frame_width,
+        height: frame_height,
+        refresh_hz: interval_hz(interval),
+    }
+}
+
+/// Whether a session on `compositor` (`None` = the synthetic source) with a `per_client_mode`
+/// identity policy may LIVE-reconfigure — accept a mid-stream `Reconfigure`
+/// (design/midstream-resolution-resize.md H1/H5). Gated OFF for:
+///   * **gamescope** (every sub-mode): a resize would respawn the nested game / restart the box's
+///     game-mode session — it must never relaunch the title, so the client keeps scaling client-side.
+///   * a **per-client-mode identity** policy: the mode is part of the display-identity slot key, so a
+///     resize resolves a DIFFERENT slot (a fresh Windows monitor / a differently-named KWin output),
+///     defeating the policy — honest downgrade is to reject and let the client scale.
+/// Every other compositor (and the synthetic protocol-test source) with the default identity accepts.
+fn reconfig_allowed(
+    compositor: Option<crate::vdisplay::Compositor>,
+    per_client_mode: bool,
+) -> bool {
+    compositor != Some(crate::vdisplay::Compositor::Gamescope) && !per_client_mode
+}
+
 #[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
 fn send_loop(
     mut session: Session,
@@ -3075,14 +3199,12 @@ fn send_loop(
             // window's pacing/goodput/loss. Loss fields are deltas vs the previous window's snapshot.
             if stats.rec.is_armed() {
                 let session_id = *sid.get_or_insert_with(|| {
-                    stats.rec.register_session(
-                        "native",
-                        stats.width,
-                        stats.height,
-                        stats.fps,
-                        stats.codec,
-                        &stats.client,
-                    )
+                    // Read the LIVE mode at registration time (H3): a capture armed after a
+                    // mid-stream mode switch gets the mode the stream actually runs at.
+                    let (w, h, hz) = unpack_mode(stats.mode.load(Ordering::Relaxed));
+                    stats
+                        .rec
+                        .register_session("native", w, h, hz, stats.codec, &stats.client)
                 });
                 let sample = crate::stats_recorder::StatsSample {
                     t_ms: 0, // stamped by push_sample from the capture's monotonic start
@@ -3293,6 +3415,10 @@ struct SessionContext {
     probe_rx: std::sync::mpsc::Receiver<ProbeRequest>,
     /// Speed-test results back to the control task.
     probe_result_tx: tokio::sync::mpsc::UnboundedSender<ProbeResult>,
+    /// Mode-switch outcomes back to the control task (H2): a corrective
+    /// `Reconfigured { accepted: true, mode: <actually live> }` when a rebuild failed (stayed at
+    /// the old mode) or the backend honored a different refresh than requested.
+    reconfig_result_tx: tokio::sync::mpsc::UnboundedSender<Reconfigured>,
     /// Adaptive-FEC target the control task updates from the client's loss reports.
     fec_target: Arc<AtomicU8>,
     /// The QUIC control connection (carries host→client 0xCE source-HDR metadata mid-stream).
@@ -3351,6 +3477,7 @@ fn virtual_stream(ctx: SessionContext) -> Result<()> {
         codec: _,
         probe_rx,
         probe_result_tx,
+        reconfig_result_tx,
         fec_target,
         conn,
         timing_conn,
@@ -3409,7 +3536,7 @@ fn virtual_stream(ctx: SessionContext) -> Result<()> {
             );
             crate::vdisplay::manager::vdm().begin_idd_setup(slot, stop.clone())
         });
-    let (mut capturer, mut enc, mut frame, mut interval, mut cur_node_id) =
+    let (mut capturer, mut enc, mut frame, mut interval, mut cur_node_id, mut cur_display_gen) =
         build_pipeline_with_retry(&mut vd, mode, bitrate_kbps, bit_depth, plan, &quit, &stop)?;
     // Setup done — release the IDD-push setup lock so the next reconnect can begin (and preempt us).
     #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
@@ -3457,13 +3584,20 @@ fn virtual_stream(ctx: SessionContext) -> Result<()> {
     // Live encoder bitrate, shared with the send thread's stats sample: a mid-stream adaptive
     // bitrate change (bitrate_rx below) updates it so the console shows the actual target.
     let live_bitrate = Arc::new(AtomicU32::new(bitrate_kbps));
+    // Live session mode, same pattern (H3): a mid-stream mode switch (reconfig below) updates it so
+    // a stats capture armed after a resize registers the real mode. Seeded with the refresh the
+    // initial build actually achieved (`interval_hz`), not the request — KWin may cap a virtual
+    // output at 60 Hz.
+    let live_mode = Arc::new(AtomicU64::new(pack_mode(
+        mode.width,
+        mode.height,
+        interval_hz(interval),
+    )));
     // The send thread emits the web-console stats sample (it owns `session.stats()`); clone the
     // recorder so the capture loop keeps its own handle for the per-frame `is_armed()` gate.
     let send_stats = SendStats {
         rec: stats.clone(),
-        width: mode.width,
-        height: mode.height,
-        fps: mode.refresh_hz,
+        mode: live_mode.clone(),
         codec: plan.codec.label(),
         client: client_label,
         bitrate_kbps: live_bitrate.clone(),
@@ -3608,7 +3742,10 @@ fn virtual_stream(ctx: SessionContext) -> Result<()> {
                         Ok((new_vd, pipe))
                     })();
                 match rebuilt {
-                    Ok((new_vd, (new_cap, new_enc, new_frame, new_interval, new_node_id))) => {
+                    Ok((
+                        new_vd,
+                        (new_cap, new_enc, new_frame, new_interval, new_node_id, new_gen),
+                    )) => {
                         // Replace the pipeline first (drops the old capturer → old PipeWire stream +
                         // virtual output), then the factory (drops e.g. the old KWin connection).
                         capturer = new_cap;
@@ -3616,6 +3753,7 @@ fn virtual_stream(ctx: SessionContext) -> Result<()> {
                         frame = new_frame;
                         interval = new_interval;
                         cur_node_id = new_node_id;
+                        cur_display_gen = new_gen;
                         vd = new_vd;
                         compositor = sw.compositor;
                         next = std::time::Instant::now();
@@ -3655,9 +3793,37 @@ fn virtual_stream(ctx: SessionContext) -> Result<()> {
             // healthy session — keep streaming the current mode and log instead.
             match build_pipeline(&mut vd, new_mode, bitrate_kbps, bit_depth, plan, &quit) {
                 Ok(next_pipe) => {
-                    (capturer, enc, frame, interval, cur_node_id) = next_pipe;
+                    let old_display_gen = cur_display_gen;
+                    // The destructuring assignment drops the OLD capturer (→ its display lease) as
+                    // each binding is replaced — the new pipeline is already up (create-before-drop).
+                    (capturer, enc, frame, interval, cur_node_id, cur_display_gen) = next_pipe;
                     cur_mode = new_mode;
                     next = std::time::Instant::now();
+                    // H4: the old display's lease drop above is indistinguishable from a disconnect
+                    // to the keep-alive machinery — under linger/forever policies every resize would
+                    // ACCUMULATE kept monitors at stale modes. Retire the superseded entry now (a
+                    // no-op when it was already torn down under `immediate`, or off Linux).
+                    if let Some(g) = old_display_gen.filter(|g| cur_display_gen != Some(*g)) {
+                        crate::vdisplay::registry::retire(g);
+                    }
+                    // H2/H3: the backend may have honored a different mode than requested — KWin
+                    // caps a virtual output's refresh, or Windows pf-vdisplay rejects an in-place
+                    // SetMode to a resolution its running monitor doesn't advertise and the host
+                    // falls back to the actual display mode. `frame` is the NEW pipeline's first
+                    // frame (just rebound above), so its dims are what the client actually decodes.
+                    // Publish that ACTUAL mode to the live stats slot, and correct the client's mode
+                    // slot when it differs from the accept ack it already got.
+                    let actual = delivered_mode(frame.width, frame.height, interval);
+                    live_mode.store(
+                        pack_mode(actual.width, actual.height, actual.refresh_hz),
+                        Ordering::Relaxed,
+                    );
+                    if actual != new_mode {
+                        let _ = reconfig_result_tx.send(Reconfigured {
+                            accepted: true,
+                            mode: actual,
+                        });
+                    }
                     // The owed AUs died with the old encoder — drop their in-flight records
                     // and restart the encode-stall clock for the fresh one.
                     inflight.clear();
@@ -3668,6 +3834,16 @@ fn virtual_stream(ctx: SessionContext) -> Result<()> {
                 Err(e) => {
                     tracing::error!(error = %format!("{e:#}"), ?new_mode,
                         "mode-switch rebuild failed — staying on the current mode");
+                    // H2 rollback: the control task acked the switch BEFORE this rebuild, so the
+                    // client's mode slot already flipped to `new_mode`. A second accepted ack
+                    // carrying the still-live mode corrects it (any accepted ack means "the active
+                    // mode is now X" client-side; old clients just log it). `frame` is untouched
+                    // here (the destructure only runs on the Ok arm), so it's still the OLD
+                    // pipeline's frame — its real dims + interval are exactly what's still on glass.
+                    let _ = reconfig_result_tx.send(Reconfigured {
+                        accepted: true,
+                        mode: delivered_mode(frame.width, frame.height, interval),
+                    });
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -3682,7 +3858,7 @@ fn virtual_stream(ctx: SessionContext) -> Result<()> {
         }
         if let Some(new_kbps) = want_kbps.filter(|&k| k != bitrate_kbps) {
             // `interval` was built as 1/effective_hz, so the round-trip recovers the integer rate.
-            let hz = (1.0 / interval.as_secs_f64()).round() as u32;
+            let hz = interval_hz(interval);
             match crate::encode::open_video(
                 plan.codec,
                 frame.format,
@@ -3840,7 +4016,7 @@ fn virtual_stream(ctx: SessionContext) -> Result<()> {
                 // appears — no reconnect.
                 const REBUILD_BUDGET: std::time::Duration = std::time::Duration::from_secs(40);
                 let rebuild_deadline = std::time::Instant::now() + REBUILD_BUDGET;
-                let (new_cap, new_enc, new_frame, new_interval, new_node_id) = loop {
+                let (new_cap, new_enc, new_frame, new_interval, new_node_id, new_display_gen) = loop {
                     // Follow the active session unless an explicit PUNKTFUNK_COMPOSITOR pin forbids
                     // retargeting (then we stick to the pinned backend and just rebuild it).
                     if crate::config::config().compositor.is_none() {
@@ -3900,6 +4076,7 @@ fn virtual_stream(ctx: SessionContext) -> Result<()> {
                 frame = new_frame;
                 interval = new_interval;
                 cur_node_id = new_node_id;
+                cur_display_gen = new_display_gen;
                 enc.request_keyframe(); // belt-and-suspenders; a fresh encoder opens on an IDR anyway
                 last_forced_idr = Some(std::time::Instant::now()); // anchor the IDR cooldown from the rebuild
                 next = std::time::Instant::now();
@@ -4174,6 +4351,11 @@ type Pipeline = (
     // session's own node (scoped), not any gamescope node. `0` for backends without a PipeWire node
     // (Windows IDD-push), which never take the dedicated-gamescope B2 path anyway.
     u32,
+    // The display's registry pool generation (Linux keep-alive pool only; `None` on Windows — the
+    // manager leases in place — and for non-poolable outputs). A mode-switch rebuild uses it to
+    // `registry::retire` the superseded old display, so linger/forever keep-alive policies don't
+    // accumulate kept monitors at stale modes (design/midstream-resolution-resize.md H4).
+    Option<u64>,
 );
 
 /// Build the pipeline, retrying *transient* failures with bounded exponential backoff.
@@ -4326,6 +4508,12 @@ fn build_pipeline(
     // gen BEFORE `capture_virtual_output` consumes `vout`. (Linux-only — the pool is Linux.)
     #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
     let reused_gen = vout.reused_gen;
+    // The display's pool generation (fresh AND reused), threaded out so a mode-switch rebuild can
+    // `registry::retire` the display this pipeline supersedes (H4). `None` off Linux / non-poolable.
+    #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+    let pool_gen = vout.pool_gen;
+    #[cfg(not(target_os = "linux"))]
+    let pool_gen = None;
     // The virtual output's PipeWire node id — kept for the B2 dedicated game-exit probe (scoped to
     // this session's own node). Read before `capture_virtual_output` consumes `vout`.
     let node_id = vout.node_id;
@@ -4390,13 +4578,82 @@ fn build_pipeline(
         );
     }
     let interval = std::time::Duration::from_secs_f64(1.0 / effective_hz.max(1) as f64);
-    Ok((capturer, enc, frame, interval, node_id))
+    Ok((capturer, enc, frame, interval, node_id, pool_gen))
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
 
+    #[test]
+    fn live_mode_pack_roundtrips_and_interval_recovers_hz() {
+        // The live-stats mode slot (H3): pack → unpack is exact for real modes.
+        for (w, h, hz) in [(1280u32, 720u32, 60u32), (3840, 2160, 144), (320, 200, 24)] {
+            assert_eq!(unpack_mode(pack_mode(w, h, hz)), (w, h, hz));
+        }
+        // `interval` is built as 1/effective_hz — the round-trip recovers the integer rate.
+        for hz in [24u32, 30, 60, 75, 90, 120, 144, 165, 240] {
+            let interval = std::time::Duration::from_secs_f64(1.0 / hz as f64);
+            assert_eq!(interval_hz(interval), hz);
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn delivered_mode_reports_captured_dims_and_triggers_corrective_ack() {
+        let hz60 = std::time::Duration::from_secs_f64(1.0 / 60.0);
+        let requested = punktfunk_core::Mode {
+            width: 2560,
+            height: 1440,
+            refresh_hz: 60,
+        };
+
+        // Honored: the captured frame matches the request → no corrective ack owed (`== requested`).
+        let honored = delivered_mode(2560, 1440, hz60);
+        assert_eq!(honored, requested);
+
+        // Resolution fallback (Windows pf-vdisplay rejected the out-of-list SetMode, host stayed at
+        // the actual display mode): the frame's real dims flow through, so the delivered mode differs
+        // from the acked request and a corrective ack IS owed — the exact gap this fixes.
+        let fell_back = delivered_mode(1920, 1080, hz60);
+        assert_ne!(fell_back, requested);
+        assert_eq!(
+            fell_back,
+            punktfunk_core::Mode {
+                width: 1920,
+                height: 1080,
+                refresh_hz: 60
+            }
+        );
+
+        // Refresh cap (KWin) is still caught: same dims, achieved rate recovered from the interval.
+        let capped = delivered_mode(2560, 1440, std::time::Duration::from_secs_f64(1.0 / 30.0));
+        assert_ne!(capped, requested);
+        assert_eq!(capped.refresh_hz, 30);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn reconfig_allowed_gates_gamescope_and_per_client_mode() {
+        use crate::vdisplay::Compositor::{Gamescope, Hyprland, Kwin, Mutter, Wlroots};
+        // gamescope ALWAYS rejects — a resize would respawn the nested game (H1/D3), regardless of
+        // the identity policy.
+        assert!(!reconfig_allowed(Some(Gamescope), false));
+        assert!(!reconfig_allowed(Some(Gamescope), true));
+        // A per-client-mode identity policy rejects on every backend — the resize resolves a
+        // different display-identity slot (H5).
+        assert!(!reconfig_allowed(Some(Kwin), true));
+        assert!(!reconfig_allowed(Some(Mutter), true));
+        assert!(!reconfig_allowed(None, true));
+        // Every other compositor with the default identity ACCEPTS (recreate / re-arrival / in-place).
+        for c in [Kwin, Mutter, Wlroots, Hyprland] {
+            assert!(
+                reconfig_allowed(Some(c), false),
+                "{c:?} should allow live reconfigure"
+            );
+        }
+        // The synthetic source (no compositor) is the protocol-test path — always reconfigurable.
+        assert!(reconfig_allowed(None, false));
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn pad_snapshot_replaces_state_and_seq_gates() {
         use punktfunk_core::input::{gamepad, GamepadSnapshot};
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay.rs
index b4963f40..a8a2aba1 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay.rs
@@ -79,6 +79,13 @@ pub struct VirtualOutput {
     /// keep-alive pool is Linux).
     #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
     pub reused_gen: Option<u64>,
+    /// The registry pool generation of this display (fresh AND reused — unlike `reused_gen`), so a
+    /// mid-stream mode-switch rebuild can [`registry::retire`](crate::vdisplay::registry::retire) the
+    /// display it supersedes instead of leaving it to accumulate under a linger/forever keep-alive
+    /// policy (`design/midstream-resolution-resize.md` H4). `None` for non-poolable outputs.
+    /// Linux-only (the keep-alive pool is Linux).
+    #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+    pub pool_gen: Option<u64>,
 }
 
 impl VirtualOutput {
@@ -100,6 +107,8 @@ impl VirtualOutput {
             ownership: DisplayOwnership::Owned,
             #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
             reused_gen: None,
+            #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+            pool_gen: None,
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/gamescope.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/gamescope.rs
index 583972bd..c428e043 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/gamescope.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/gamescope.rs
@@ -241,6 +241,7 @@ impl VirtualDisplay for GamescopeDisplay {
                 keepalive: Box::new(()),
                 ownership: DisplayOwnership::External,
                 reused_gen: None,
+                pool_gen: None,
             });
         }
         check_gamescope_version(); // diagnostic only — warns on known-deadlock-prone versions
@@ -366,6 +367,7 @@ fn managed_output(node_id: u32, mode: Mode) -> VirtualOutput {
         keepalive: Box::new(()),
         ownership: DisplayOwnership::SessionManaged,
         reused_gen: None,
+        pool_gen: None,
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/hyprland.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/hyprland.rs
index ed468522..f6d524e8 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/hyprland.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/hyprland.rs
@@ -198,6 +198,7 @@ impl VirtualDisplay for HyprlandDisplay {
             // `remote_fd.is_some()` — same as wlroots.
             ownership: DisplayOwnership::Owned,
             reused_gen: None,
+            pool_gen: None,
         })
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/wlroots.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/wlroots.rs
index 096cff34..a67e5709 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/wlroots.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/linux/wlroots.rs
@@ -135,6 +135,7 @@ impl VirtualDisplay for WlrootsDisplay {
             // `remote_fd.is_some()` (keep-alive stays off for wlroots until fresh-portal re-attach).
             ownership: DisplayOwnership::Owned,
             reused_gen: None,
+            pool_gen: None,
         })
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/registry.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/registry.rs
index 5ce780c9..d2232aa7 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/registry.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/registry.rs
@@ -176,6 +176,21 @@ pub fn mark_failed(gen: u64) {
     let _ = gen;
 }
 
+/// Force-release a **superseded** kept display by its generation stamp
+/// (`design/midstream-resolution-resize.md` H4): after a mid-stream mode-switch rebuild, the old
+/// display's lease drop is indistinguishable from a disconnect, so under a `linger`/`forever`
+/// keep-alive policy every resize would accumulate kept monitors at stale modes. The mode-switch
+/// arm calls this once the new pipeline is up and the old capturer is dropped. Only a KEPT
+/// (lingering/pinned) entry is released — an Active one is refused, like `/display/release` — and
+/// a gen that's already gone (immediate teardown) is a no-op. No-op off Linux (Windows
+/// reconfigures the same monitor in place — nothing is superseded).
+pub fn retire(gen: u64) {
+    #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
+    linux::retire(gen);
+    #[cfg(not(target_os = "linux"))]
+    let _ = gen;
+}
+
 /// Invalidate every kept display of `backend` — its compositor instance is gone (a Game↔Desktop switch
 /// tore it down), so `/display/state` must stop listing it and its keepalive must be reaped
 /// (`design/gamemode-and-dedicated-sessions.md` A4). Called from the session-switch watcher / a
@@ -386,6 +401,9 @@ mod linux {
         // A2: tell the pipeline builder this was a REUSED kept display, so a first-frame failure can
         // `mark_failed(gen)` (tear the corpse down) rather than re-wedge the retry loop on the same node.
         out.reused_gen = reused.then_some(gen);
+        // H4: every pooled display carries its gen, so a mode-switch rebuild can `retire` the entry
+        // this output's successor supersedes.
+        out.pool_gen = Some(gen);
         out
     }
 
@@ -819,6 +837,20 @@ mod linux {
     }
 
     pub(super) fn force_release(slot: Option<u64>) -> usize {
+        release_kept(slot, "released (mgmt /display/release)")
+    }
+
+    /// H4 — force-release a display superseded by a mid-stream mode switch. Same machinery as
+    /// [`force_release`] (kept entries only — an Active entry is refused, and a gen already torn
+    /// down under `immediate` is a no-op), distinct log line.
+    pub(super) fn retire(gen: u64) {
+        release_kept(Some(gen), "retired (superseded by a mode switch)");
+    }
+
+    /// Remove + tear down KEPT (lingering/pinned) entries — all of them, or one by gen — running /
+    /// handing off group topology restores, with keepalive drops outside the lock. The shared core
+    /// of [`force_release`] (mgmt) and [`retire`] (mode-switch supersede).
+    fn release_kept(slot: Option<u64>, why: &'static str) -> usize {
         let Some(r) = REG.get() else { return 0 };
         let (released, restores) = {
             let mut es = r.entries.lock().unwrap();
@@ -847,10 +879,7 @@ mod linux {
             restore();
         }
         for e in released {
-            tracing::info!(
-                backend = e.backend,
-                "virtual display released (mgmt /display/release)"
-            );
+            tracing::info!(backend = e.backend, "virtual display {why}");
             drop(e);
         }
         n
diff --git a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/windows/manager.rs b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/windows/manager.rs
index 8e5ac2a3..b96614c5 100644
--- a/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/windows/manager.rs
+++ b/crates/punktfunk-host/src/vdisplay/windows/manager.rs
@@ -557,31 +557,68 @@ impl VirtualDisplayManager {
 
         // This slot already has a live monitor — join it (refcount++). Covers same-client concurrent
         // sessions AND the build-then-drop overlap of a mid-stream Reconfigure (the new lease is taken
-        // while the old is still held). Reconfigure the shared monitor if the requested mode differs.
-        if let Some(SlotState::Active { mon, refs }) = inner.slots.get_mut(&slot) {
-            *refs += 1;
-            let reconfigured = mon.mode != mode;
-            if reconfigured {
-                // SAFETY: `reconfigure` only manipulates the live display topology via the CCD/GDI
-                // helpers and needs an exclusive `&mut Monitor`. `mon` is the `&mut` into this slot's
-                // `Active` state, held under the `state` lock, so nothing else reconfigures it
-                // concurrently.
-                unsafe { self.reconfigure(mon, mode) };
+        // while the old is still held).
+        if matches!(inner.slots.get(&slot), Some(SlotState::Active { .. })) {
+            // A DIFFERENT mode is a mid-stream resize (Reconfigure). The pf-vdisplay driver freezes its
+            // advertised mode list at ADD time, so we can't reach an arbitrary new mode in place — RE-
+            // ARRIVE the monitor at the exact mode instead (Fix 1). Own the slot for the swap: `re_add`
+            // needs `&mut inner` for the topology re-isolate, which the borrowed `mon` would block.
+            let cur_mode = match inner.slots.get(&slot) {
+                Some(SlotState::Active { mon, .. }) => mon.mode,
+                _ => unreachable!("just matched Active"),
+            };
+            if cur_mode != mode {
+                let Some(SlotState::Active { mon, refs }) = inner.slots.remove(&slot) else {
+                    unreachable!("just matched Active");
+                };
+                // SAFETY: `dev` is the handle `ensure_device()` returned above; `re_add` touches the
+                // live topology under the held `state` lock. `mon` is owned here (removed from the map).
+                let new_mon =
+                    match unsafe { self.re_add(dev, &mut inner, slot, &mon, mode, client_hdr) } {
+                        Ok(m) => m,
+                        Err(e) => {
+                            // The re-arrival failed — put the OLD monitor back so the session keeps
+                            // streaming its current mode (the control task already acked the switch; the
+                            // rebuild reuses the old target and Fix 2's corrective ack tells the client the
+                            // resolution didn't change). Its `gen`/`refs` are intact, so leases stay valid.
+                            inner.slots.insert(slot, SlotState::Active { mon, refs });
+                            return Err(e).context("mid-stream resize re-arrival");
+                        }
+                    };
+                // `re_add` preserved `gen`, so both the old session's lease and this new one match on
+                // release. +1 ref for the new (build-then-drop overlap) lease.
+                let out = self.output_for(slot, &new_mon, quit);
+                inner.slots.insert(
+                    slot,
+                    SlotState::Active {
+                        mon: new_mon,
+                        refs: refs + 1,
+                    },
+                );
+                // The width changed — re-arrange the group so auto-row siblings don't overlap the
+                // resized display (no-op for a single member).
+                self.apply_group_layout(&mut inner);
+                tracing::info!(
+                    slot,
+                    refs = refs + 1,
+                    backend = self.driver.name(),
+                    "virtual monitor re-arrived for a mid-stream resize"
+                );
+                return Ok(out);
             }
+            // Same mode — a plain concurrent-session JOIN (refcount++), no re-arrival.
+            let Some(SlotState::Active { mon, refs }) = inner.slots.get_mut(&slot) else {
+                unreachable!("just matched Active");
+            };
+            *refs += 1;
             tracing::info!(
                 slot,
                 refs = *refs,
                 backend = self.driver.name(),
-                "virtual monitor reused (concurrent / reconfigure session)"
+                "virtual monitor reused (concurrent session)"
             );
             warn_if_pick_moved(mon);
-            let out = self.output_for(slot, mon, quit);
-            if reconfigured {
-                // A mode change alters this member's width — re-arrange the group so auto-row
-                // siblings don't overlap the resized display (no-op for a single member).
-                self.apply_group_layout(&mut inner);
-            }
-            return Ok(out);
+            return Ok(self.output_for(slot, mon, quit));
         }
 
         // Display budget (Stage W3): a display we can't afford is DECLINED at admission
@@ -761,6 +798,53 @@ impl VirtualDisplayManager {
     }
 
     /// Create a fresh monitor at `mode` for `slot` (the client's stable identity slot, `0` = auto):
+    /// Wait for Windows to auto-activate a freshly-ADDed IDD target into its OWN display path and
+    /// return its GDI name — the capture target. Shared by the fresh CREATE and the mid-stream
+    /// re-arrival ([`re_add`](Self::re_add)).
+    ///
+    /// The IDD comes up EXTENDED alongside any existing/basic display; the caller then promotes it to
+    /// primary / isolates it. Returns `None` on a GPU-less box (target added but not WDDM-activated) —
+    /// the capture backend re-resolves once a GPU is present.
+    ///
+    /// We do NOT force a topology change FIRST: the bare `SDC_TOPOLOGY_EXTEND` preset is ACCESS_DENIED
+    /// from our Session-0 service context on a headless box and BREAKS this auto-activate (it regressed
+    /// the headless path — the IDD then never gets its own path → "not an active display path" → black).
+    /// force-EXTEND is only the FALLBACK, for an integrated-screen box (e.g. a laptop panel) where a
+    /// fresh IDD is CLONED onto the existing display, sharing its source, so it never gets its own
+    /// committed path (observed on an Intel-iGPU + NVIDIA-Optimus laptop, commit 8e87e61):
+    /// `resolve_gdi_name` stays None → the `is_none()` fallback force-EXTENDs to de-clone and the
+    /// second resolve finds the now-committed path. Headless/extended boxes resolve on the first loop
+    /// and skip it — which is the point, since force-EXTEND is ACCESS_DENIED from our service context
+    /// there.
+    ///
+    /// CAVEAT (unobserved for IddCx, untested across GPU/driver/OS): textbook CCD also lets a clone
+    /// appear as a *shared-source ACTIVE* path (resolve → Some), which the `is_none()` gate would NOT
+    /// catch. If that ever shows up, widen the gate to also fire when the IDD target's source is shared
+    /// with another active path (a `target_is_cloned` helper) — needs on-laptop validation first.
+    ///
+    /// # Safety
+    /// Runs the CCD (QueryDisplayConfig / SetDisplayConfig) FFI; call under the `state` lock.
+    unsafe fn resolve_target_gdi(&self, target_id: u32) -> Option<String> {
+        for _ in 0..15 {
+            thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(200));
+            // SAFETY: `resolve_gdi_name` is `unsafe` for its CCD FFI; it takes a plain `Copy` `u32`
+            // target id by value and returns an owned `String`, so no caller memory is borrowed.
+            if let Some(n) = unsafe { resolve_gdi_name(target_id) } {
+                return Some(n);
+            }
+        }
+        // SAFETY: `force_extend_topology` only calls `SetDisplayConfig` (CCD) with no borrowed memory.
+        unsafe { force_extend_topology() };
+        for _ in 0..15 {
+            thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(200));
+            // SAFETY: as the resolve loop above.
+            if let Some(n) = unsafe { resolve_gdi_name(target_id) } {
+                return Some(n);
+            }
+        }
+        None
+    }
+
     /// ADD via the driver (pinning the discrete render GPU under the usual conditions), ensure the
     /// device-level watchdog pinger, resolve the GDI name, force the mode + apply the GROUP topology
     /// (first member isolates and captures the restore; a later member re-issues the isolate with
@@ -796,53 +880,10 @@ impl VirtualDisplayManager {
         self.ensure_pinger();
 
         // Resolve the capture target — wait for Windows to auto-activate the freshly-ADDed IDD into its
-        // OWN display path (it comes up EXTENDED alongside any existing/basic display; `set_active_mode`
-        // below then promotes it to primary and `isolate_displays_ccd` makes it the sole composited
-        // desktop — the proven flow). May be None on a GPU-less box (target added but not WDDM-activated);
-        // the capture backend re-resolves once a GPU is present.
-        //
-        // We do NOT force a topology change FIRST: the bare `SDC_TOPOLOGY_EXTEND` preset is ACCESS_DENIED
-        // from our Session-0 service context on a headless box and BREAKS this auto-activate (it regressed
-        // the headless path — the IDD then never gets its own path → "not an active display path" → black).
-        // force-EXTEND is only the FALLBACK below, for an integrated-screen box where a fresh IDD is CLONED
-        // onto the panel (shares its source) instead of getting its own path.
-        let mut gdi_name = None;
-        for _ in 0..15 {
-            thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(200));
-            // SAFETY: `resolve_gdi_name` is `unsafe` for its CCD (QueryDisplayConfig) FFI; it takes a
-            // plain `Copy` `u32` target id by value and returns an owned `String`, so no caller memory
-            // is borrowed across the call.
-            if let Some(n) = unsafe { resolve_gdi_name(added.target_id) } {
-                gdi_name = Some(n);
-                break;
-            }
-        }
-
-        // Fallback for an integrated-screen box (e.g. a laptop panel): Windows CLONES a freshly-added
-        // IDD onto the existing display, sharing its source, so it never gets its own committed path. On
-        // the IddCx clone behaviour observed live (commit 8e87e61, an Intel-iGPU + NVIDIA-Optimus laptop)
-        // `resolve_gdi_name` then stays None — so this `is_none()` fallback fires, force-EXTENDs to
-        // de-clone, and the second resolve finds the now-committed path. Headless/extended boxes already
-        // resolved above (the IDD auto-activates with its OWN source) and skip this — which is the whole
-        // point, since force-EXTEND's bare preset is ACCESS_DENIED from our service context there.
-        //
-        // CAVEAT (unobserved for IddCx, untested across GPU/driver/OS): textbook CCD also lets a clone
-        // appear as a *shared-source ACTIVE* path (resolve → Some), which this `is_none()` gate would NOT
-        // catch. If that ever shows up, widen the gate to also fire when the IDD target's source is shared
-        // with another active path (a `target_is_cloned` helper) — needs on-laptop validation first.
-        if gdi_name.is_none() {
-            // SAFETY: as above — `force_extend_topology` only calls `SetDisplayConfig` (CCD) with no
-            // borrowed caller memory, under the `state` lock.
-            unsafe { force_extend_topology() };
-            for _ in 0..15 {
-                thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(200));
-                // SAFETY: as the resolve loop above.
-                if let Some(n) = unsafe { resolve_gdi_name(added.target_id) } {
-                    gdi_name = Some(n);
-                    break;
-                }
-            }
-        }
+        // OWN display path, with the integrated-screen clone fallback (shared by the re-arrival path).
+        // SAFETY: `resolve_target_gdi` runs the CCD FFI (a `Copy` `u32` target by value, owned return),
+        // under the `state` lock.
+        let gdi_name = unsafe { self.resolve_target_gdi(added.target_id) };
         match &gdi_name {
             Some(n) => {
                 tracing::info!(backend = self.driver.name(), "target {} -> {n}", added.target_id);
@@ -974,28 +1015,134 @@ impl VirtualDisplayManager {
         })
     }
 
-    /// Re-apply a (possibly new) mode to a reused monitor on reconnect, re-resolving its GDI name.
+    /// Mid-stream resize by monitor RE-ARRIVAL (`design/midstream-resolution-resize.md` Fix 1).
+    ///
+    /// The pf-vdisplay driver freezes a monitor's advertised mode list at `IOCTL_ADD` time (the
+    /// requested mode + `default_modes()`), so a plain `ChangeDisplaySettingsExW` can only reach a
+    /// mode the monitor advertised on arrival — an out-of-list target (e.g. a session that arrived at
+    /// 1080p resizing to 1440p) returns `DISP_CHANGE_BADMODE`. IddCx exposes no live "update modes"
+    /// DDI, so to follow the client to an ARBITRARY new mode we REMOVE the driver monitor and ADD a
+    /// fresh one at the new mode, reusing the slot's stable per-client id (EDID serial / ConnectorIndex
+    /// / ContainerId) so the OS keeps the monitor's identity + saved per-monitor DPI. The visible cost
+    /// is one monitor hotplug per switch (the design's accepted "re-arrival for everything").
+    ///
+    /// Refcount/lease continuity: the rebuilt `Monitor` PRESERVES the old `gen`, so the outstanding
+    /// session lease(s) still match on release — the linger/refcount machine is untouched. The group
+    /// restore snapshot (`group.ccd_saved` / DDC / PnP) is likewise PRESERVED (a mid-session swap, not
+    /// a first-member create): [`reisolate_after_swap`](Self::reisolate_after_swap) re-isolates the new
+    /// target without recapturing it. Caller owns the slot's `Monitor` + `refs` across this call.
     ///
     /// # Safety
-    /// Touches the live display topology via the CCD/GDI helpers.
-    unsafe fn reconfigure(&self, mon: &mut Monitor, mode: Mode) {
+    /// `dev` must be the live control handle; touches the live display topology via CCD/GDI.
+    unsafe fn re_add(
+        &'static self,
+        dev: HANDLE,
+        inner: &mut MgrInner,
+        slot: u32,
+        old: &Monitor,
+        mode: Mode,
+        client_hdr: Option<punktfunk_core::quic::HdrMeta>,
+    ) -> Result<Monitor> {
         tracing::info!(
-            old = format!(
-                "{}x{}@{}",
-                mon.mode.width, mon.mode.height, mon.mode.refresh_hz
-            ),
-            new = format!("{}x{}@{}", mode.width, mode.height, mode.refresh_hz),
-            "virtual-display: reconfiguring reused monitor to the new client mode"
+            slot,
+            old = %format!("{}x{}@{}", old.mode.width, old.mode.height, old.mode.refresh_hz),
+            new = %format!("{}x{}@{}", mode.width, mode.height, mode.refresh_hz),
+            old_target = old.target_id,
+            "virtual-display: re-arriving monitor for a mid-stream resize (exact mode)"
         );
-        // SAFETY: `resolve_gdi_name` is `unsafe` for its CCD FFI; it takes the `Copy` `u32`
-        // `mon.target_id` by value and returns an owned `String`, so nothing borrowed crosses the call.
-        if let Some(n) = unsafe { resolve_gdi_name(mon.target_id) } {
-            mon.gdi_name = Some(n);
+        // 1. Depart the OLD driver monitor — a bare REMOVE IOCTL (no topology restore, pinger stays
+        //    up): the surviving/grown-set re-isolate happens after the new ADD. Frees the preferred id
+        //    so the ADD below can reuse the same stable identity. Best-effort — a REMOVE failure still
+        //    lets the ADD proceed (the driver reaps a stale same-id monitor on the next create anyway).
+        // SAFETY: `dev` is the live control handle (this fn's contract); `&old.key` borrows the
+        // still-owned `MonitorKey`, alive across the synchronous IOCTL.
+        if let Err(e) = unsafe { self.driver.remove_monitor(dev, &old.key) } {
+            tracing::warn!(
+                old_target = old.target_id,
+                "re-arrival REMOVE failed (continuing to ADD): {e:#}"
+            );
         }
-        if let Some(n) = &mon.gdi_name {
-            set_active_mode(n, mode);
+        // Let the OS finish the ASYNC monitor departure before the ADD — a back-to-back REMOVE→ADD
+        // races the teardown and the ADD is rejected under churn (same 400 ms settle as the reconnect
+        // preempt path).
+        thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(400));
+        // 2. ADD a fresh monitor at the NEW mode, reusing the slot as the preferred (stable) id.
+        let render_pin = resolve_render_pin();
+        // SAFETY: `dev` is the live control handle; `render_pin`/`client_hdr` are owned `Copy`/`Option`
+        // values passed by value — no borrow crosses the call.
+        let added = unsafe {
+            self.driver
+                .add_monitor(dev, mode, render_pin, slot, client_hdr)
+                .context("re-arrival ADD at the new mode")?
+        };
+        self.ensure_pinger();
+        // 3. Resolve the NEW target's GDI name (target_id changes across a re-arrival).
+        // SAFETY: CCD FFI over a `Copy` target id, under the `state` lock.
+        let gdi_name = unsafe { self.resolve_target_gdi(added.target_id) };
+        match &gdi_name {
+            Some(n) => {
+                tracing::info!(backend = self.driver.name(), "re-arrival target {} -> {n}", added.target_id);
+                // ADD only advertises the mode; force it active so DXGI/IDD captures the new size.
+                set_active_mode(n, mode);
+                // 4. Re-isolate the composited set with the NEW target replacing the old — preserving
+                //    the group's first-member restore snapshot.
+                // SAFETY: CCD FFI over borrowed Copy target ids, under the `state` lock.
+                unsafe { self.reisolate_after_swap(inner, added.target_id) };
+                thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(1500)); // let the topology settle before capture reopens
+            }
+            None => tracing::warn!(
+                "re-arrival target {} not yet an active display path (needs a WDDM GPU to activate)",
+                added.target_id
+            ),
+        }
+        // 5. Rebuild the Monitor from the ADD reply, PRESERVING `gen` (lease/refcount continuity) and
+        //    the group-layout `position`. A fresh `gen` would strand the old session's lease release.
+        Ok(Monitor {
+            key: added.key,
+            target_id: added.target_id,
+            luid: added.luid,
+            render_pin,
+            wudf_pid: added.wudf_pid,
+            gdi_name,
+            mode,
+            resolved_monitor_id: added.resolved_monitor_id,
+            position: old.position,
+            gen: old.gen,
+        })
+    }
+
+    /// Re-isolate the composited display set after a mid-stream monitor re-arrival ([`re_add`]) put a
+    /// NEW target in place of the old one — WITHOUT recapturing the group restore snapshot (the first
+    /// member captured it at session start; teardown restores that, not the mid-session state). The
+    /// old slot has already been removed from the map by the caller, so `inner.target_ids()` is the
+    /// surviving siblings; the new target joins them.
+    ///
+    /// # Safety
+    /// Drives the CCD topology FFI; call under the `state` lock.
+    unsafe fn reisolate_after_swap(&self, inner: &mut MgrInner, new_target: u32) {
+        use crate::vdisplay::policy::Topology;
+        match topology_action() {
+            Topology::Exclusive => {
+                // Grown-set semantics: isolate to the surviving siblings + the new target. The returned
+                // snapshot is DISCARDED — the group keeps the first member's (design §6.1).
+                let mut keep = inner.target_ids();
+                keep.push(new_target);
+                // SAFETY: borrowed slice of Copy target ids, owned return, under the `state` lock.
+                let _ = unsafe { isolate_displays_ccd(&keep) };
+            }
+            Topology::Primary => {
+                // Make the new target primary again (its predecessor held primary), preserving the
+                // original restore snapshot: `set_virtual_primary_ccd` recaptures one, so save + restore
+                // the group's around the call.
+                let keep_saved = inner.group.ccd_saved.take();
+                // SAFETY: `Copy` target id by value, owned return, under the `state` lock.
+                let _ = unsafe { set_virtual_primary_ccd(new_target) };
+                inner.group.ccd_saved = keep_saved;
+            }
+            Topology::Extend | Topology::Auto => {
+                // The re-ADDed target auto-activates extended — nothing to isolate/promote.
+            }
         }
-        mon.mode = mode;
     }
 
     /// Tear down `mon`, which the caller has ALREADY removed from `inner.slots`: on the LAST member