diff --git a/js/src/features/layout.tsx b/js/src/features/layout.tsx
index ad9996d..942d1e8 100644
--- a/js/src/features/layout.tsx
+++ b/js/src/features/layout.tsx
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import { particlePath } from "@/lib/particle-path";
 import { useParticle } from "@/hooks/use-particle";
 import type { Particle } from "@/api/types";
 import { PropsWithChildren, useCallback } from "react";
+import { useDockBadge } from "@/hooks/use-dock-badge";
 import { toast } from "sonner";
 
 function getParticleDisplayName(particle: Particle): string {
@@ -170,6 +171,9 @@ function TopBar() {
 }
 
 export default function Layout({ children }: PropsWithChildren) {
+  const { networkId } = useParams();
+  useDockBadge(networkId);
+
   return (
     <div className="flex h-screen flex-col">
       <TopBar />
diff --git a/js/src/features/network-root.tsx b/js/src/features/network-root.tsx
index 6f51593..794a258 100644
--- a/js/src/features/network-root.tsx
+++ b/js/src/features/network-root.tsx
@@ -8,8 +8,6 @@ import { ComposeOverlay } from "./compose/compose-overlay";
 import { Tabs, TabsList, TabsTrigger } from "@/components/ui/tabs";
 import { useStreamParticles } from "@/hooks/use-stream-particles";
 import { useStreamKeyboardNav } from "@/hooks/use-stream-keyboard-nav";
-import { useDockBadge } from "@/hooks/use-dock-badge";
-import { useAuthStore } from "@/stores/auth-store";
 
 /**
  * Route-level component for /:networkId (index).
@@ -21,8 +19,6 @@ export default function NetworkRoot() {
   const path = particlePath(networkId!, []);
 
   const { streams, isLoading } = useStreamParticles(path);
-  const userId = useAuthStore((s) => s.user?.id);
-  useDockBadge(streams, userId);
   const [composeActive, setComposeActive] = useState(false);
   const [statusTab, setStatusTab] = useState<"open" | "closed">("open");
 
diff --git a/js/src/hooks/use-dock-badge.ts b/js/src/hooks/use-dock-badge.ts
index 1e03dd3..f09de64 100644
--- a/js/src/hooks/use-dock-badge.ts
+++ b/js/src/hooks/use-dock-badge.ts
@@ -1,24 +1,52 @@
 import { useEffect, useMemo } from "react";
+import { where } from "firebase/firestore";
+import { useLiveParticleChildren } from "@/hooks/use-particle";
+import { useAuthStore } from "@/stores/auth-store";
+import { particlePath } from "@/lib/particle-path";
 import type { Particle, StreamProperties } from "@/api/types";
 
 type StreamParticle = Particle & { type: "stream"; properties: StreamProperties };
 
+const openStatusFilter = where("status", "==", "open");
+
 /**
- * Syncs the macOS dock badge with the count of unseen streams.
- * Both last_child_created_at and playback_markers store the child particle's
- * created_at, so they're directly comparable.
+ * Self-contained hook that syncs the macOS dock badge with the count of
+ * unseen open streams the current user is involved in.
+ *
+ * Sets up its own Firestore listener so it works independently of
+ * whatever stream list is rendered on screen.
  */
-export function useDockBadge(streams: StreamParticle[], userId: string | undefined) {
+export function useDockBadge(networkId: string | undefined) {
+  const user = useAuthStore((s) => s.user);
+  const userId = user?.id;
+
+  const visibilityScopes = useMemo(() => {
+    const scopes: string[] = [];
+    if (userId) scopes.push(`human:${userId}`);
+    if (networkId) scopes.push(`network:${networkId}`);
+    return scopes;
+  }, [userId, networkId]);
+
+  const path = networkId ? particlePath(networkId, []) : undefined;
+
+  const { children } = useLiveParticleChildren(path, {
+    orderByField: "last_child_created_at",
+    orderDirection: "desc",
+    visibilityScopes,
+    whereFilter: openStatusFilter,
+  });
+
   const unseenCount = useMemo(() => {
     if (!userId) return 0;
-    return streams.filter((s) => {
-      const lastActivity = s.last_child_created_at?.getTime();
+    return children.filter((c): c is StreamParticle => {
+      if (c.type !== "stream") return false;
+      const lastActivity = c.last_child_created_at?.getTime();
       if (!lastActivity) return false;
-      const marker = s.playback_markers?.[userId]?.getTime();
+      const marker = c.playback_markers?.[userId]?.getTime();
       if (marker === undefined) return false;
       return lastActivity > marker;
     }).length;
-  }, [streams, userId]);
+  }, [children, userId]);
 
   useEffect(() => {
     window.electronApp.setDockBadge(unseenCount);
diff --git a/js/src/hooks/use-particle.ts b/js/src/hooks/use-particle.ts
index e989a96..6055399 100644
--- a/js/src/hooks/use-particle.ts
+++ b/js/src/hooks/use-particle.ts
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ interface UseLiveParticleChildrenParams {
 }
 
 export function useLiveParticleChildren(
-  path: ParticlePath,
+  path: ParticlePath | undefined,
   {
     orderByField = "created_at",
     orderDirection = "desc",
@@ -81,6 +81,12 @@ export function useLiveParticleChildren(
   const [error, setError] = useState<Error | null>(null);
 
   useEffect(() => {
+    if (!path) {
+      setChildren([]);
+      setIsLoading(false);
+      return;
+    }
+
     setIsLoading(true);
     setError(null);
     setChildren([]);