diff --git a/.changeset/inbox-replied-priority.md b/.changeset/inbox-replied-priority.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6bc41f19472
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/inbox-replied-priority.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+'@audius/sdk': minor
+'@audius/harmony': minor
+---
+
+Add `has_replied` to user chats and `uncategorized_unreplied` to the unread-by-category counts. Add an `endAdornment` slot to `SelectablePill`.
diff --git a/packages/common/src/store/pages/chat/category.test.ts b/packages/common/src/store/pages/chat/category.test.ts
index c383757279d..0d5345034bd 100644
--- a/packages/common/src/store/pages/chat/category.test.ts
+++ b/packages/common/src/store/pages/chat/category.test.ts
@@ -60,7 +60,12 @@ const seed = (chats: UserChat[]) =>
 
 const withServerCounts = (
   state: ReturnType<typeof chatReducer>,
-  counts: { priority: number; general: number; uncategorized: number }
+  counts: {
+    priority: number
+    general: number
+    uncategorized: number
+    uncategorized_unreplied?: number
+  }
 ) =>
   chatReducer(
     state,
@@ -85,7 +90,37 @@ const getUserChatEntity = (
 
 describe('chat categories', () => {
   describe('getInboxTabForChat', () => {
-    it('puts uncategorized and priority chats in Priority, general in General', () => {
+    it('puts uncategorized chats in Priority once the user has replied', () => {
+      expect(getInboxTabForChat(makeChat('a', { has_replied: true }))).toBe(
+        InboxTab.PRIORITY
+      )
+      expect(getInboxTabForChat(makeChat('a', { has_replied: false }))).toBe(
+        InboxTab.GENERAL
+      )
+    })
+
+    it('lets an explicit category override replies', () => {
+      expect(
+        getInboxTabForChat(
+          makeChat('a', { category: ChatCategory.PRIORITY, has_replied: false })
+        )
+      ).toBe(InboxTab.PRIORITY)
+      expect(
+        getInboxTabForChat(
+          makeChat('a', { category: ChatCategory.GENERAL, has_replied: true })
+        )
+      ).toBe(InboxTab.GENERAL)
+    })
+
+    it('keeps sent blasts in Priority', () => {
+      const blast = {
+        chat_id: 'follower_audience',
+        is_blast: true
+      } as unknown as UserChat
+      expect(getInboxTabForChat(blast)).toBe(InboxTab.PRIORITY)
+    })
+
+    it('treats chats from an api without has_replied as Priority', () => {
       expect(getInboxTabForChat(makeChat('a'))).toBe(InboxTab.PRIORITY)
       expect(getInboxTabForChat(makeChat('a', { category: null }))).toBe(
         InboxTab.PRIORITY
@@ -305,13 +340,15 @@ describe('chat categories', () => {
       expect(getUnreadMessagesCountByCategory(asCommonState(next))).toEqual({
         priority: 0,
         general: 0,
-        uncategorized: 0
+        uncategorized: 0,
+        uncategorized_unreplied: 0
       })
       const confirmed = chatReducer(next, actions.markAllChatsAsReadSucceeded())
       expect(confirmed.unreadMessagesCountByCategory).toEqual({
         priority: 0,
         general: 0,
-        uncategorized: 0
+        uncategorized: 0,
+        uncategorized_unreplied: 0
       })
     })
 
@@ -382,6 +419,154 @@ describe('chat categories', () => {
     })
   })
 
+  describe('unreplied chats', () => {
+    const unreadMessage = (chatId: string, id: string) =>
+      ({
+        message_id: id,
+        chat_id: chatId,
+        sender_user_id: '7',
+        created_at: '2026-01-03T00:00:00.000Z',
+        message: 'hi',
+        is_plaintext: false,
+        reactions: []
+      }) as any
+
+    it('lights the General dot for unread chats the user never replied to', () => {
+      const seeded = withServerCounts(
+        seed([
+          makeChat('new-1', { has_replied: false, unread_message_count: 2 })
+        ]),
+        {
+          priority: 0,
+          general: 0,
+          uncategorized: 2,
+          uncategorized_unreplied: 2
+        }
+      )
+      const state = asCommonState(seeded)
+      expect(getHasUnreadGeneralMessages(state)).toBe(true)
+      expect(getHasUnreadPriorityMessages(state)).toBe(false)
+      expect(getGeneralInboxChats(state).map((c) => c.chat_id)).toEqual([
+        'new-1'
+      ])
+    })
+
+    it('counts unreplied uncategorized unreads as Priority on an older api', () => {
+      const seeded = withServerCounts(
+        seed([makeChat('new-1', { unread_message_count: 1 })]),
+        { priority: 0, general: 0, uncategorized: 1 }
+      )
+      const state = asCommonState(seeded)
+      expect(getHasUnreadPriorityMessages(state)).toBe(true)
+      expect(getHasUnreadGeneralMessages(state)).toBe(false)
+    })
+
+    it('bumps both uncategorized buckets when a message arrives', () => {
+      const seeded = withServerCounts(
+        seed([makeChat('new-1', { has_replied: false })]),
+        {
+          priority: 0,
+          general: 0,
+          uncategorized: 0,
+          uncategorized_unreplied: 0
+        }
+      )
+      const next = chatReducer(
+        seeded,
+        actions.addMessage({
+          chatId: 'new-1',
+          isSelfMessage: false,
+          message: unreadMessage('new-1', 'm1')
+        })
+      )
+      expect(getUnreadMessagesCountByCategory(asCommonState(next))).toEqual({
+        priority: 0,
+        general: 0,
+        uncategorized: 1,
+        uncategorized_unreplied: 1
+      })
+      expect(getHasUnreadGeneralMessages(asCommonState(next))).toBe(true)
+    })
+
+    it('moves the chat to Priority when the user replies', () => {
+      const seeded = withServerCounts(
+        seed([
+          makeChat('new-1', { has_replied: false, unread_message_count: 1 })
+        ]),
+        {
+          priority: 0,
+          general: 0,
+          uncategorized: 1,
+          uncategorized_unreplied: 1
+        }
+      )
+      const replied = chatReducer(
+        seeded,
+        actions.addMessage({
+          chatId: 'new-1',
+          isSelfMessage: true,
+          message: { ...unreadMessage('new-1', 'm2'), sender_user_id: '1' }
+        })
+      )
+      expect(getUserChatEntity(replied, 'new-1')?.has_replied).toBe(true)
+      const state = asCommonState(replied)
+      expect(getPriorityInboxChats(state).map((c) => c.chat_id)).toEqual([
+        'new-1'
+      ])
+      expect(getUnreadMessagesCountByCategory(state)).toEqual({
+        priority: 0,
+        general: 0,
+        uncategorized: 0,
+        uncategorized_unreplied: 0
+      })
+    })
+
+    it('does not count a blast copy as a reply', () => {
+      const seeded = seed([makeChat('new-1', { has_replied: false })])
+      const next = chatReducer(
+        seeded,
+        actions.addMessage({
+          chatId: 'new-1',
+          isSelfMessage: true,
+          message: {
+            ...unreadMessage('new-1', 'm3'),
+            sender_user_id: '1',
+            is_plaintext: true
+          }
+        })
+      )
+      expect(getUserChatEntity(next, 'new-1')?.has_replied).toBe(false)
+    })
+
+    it('moves unreads out of both uncategorized buckets when filed', () => {
+      const seeded = withServerCounts(
+        seed([
+          makeChat('new-1', { has_replied: false, unread_message_count: 3 })
+        ]),
+        {
+          priority: 0,
+          general: 0,
+          uncategorized: 3,
+          uncategorized_unreplied: 3
+        }
+      )
+      const moved = chatReducer(
+        seeded,
+        actions.setChatCategory({
+          chatId: 'new-1',
+          category: ChatCategory.PRIORITY
+        })
+      )
+      expect(getUnreadMessagesCountByCategory(asCommonState(moved))).toEqual({
+        priority: 3,
+        general: 0,
+        uncategorized: 0,
+        uncategorized_unreplied: 0
+      })
+      expect(getHasUnreadGeneralMessages(asCommonState(moved))).toBe(false)
+    })
+  })
+
   describe('inbox tab selectors', () => {
     it('splits chats between the Priority and General tabs', () => {
       const state = asCommonState(
diff --git a/packages/common/src/store/pages/chat/index.ts b/packages/common/src/store/pages/chat/index.ts
index caf8a7e80d2..8fb55165842 100644
--- a/packages/common/src/store/pages/chat/index.ts
+++ b/packages/common/src/store/pages/chat/index.ts
@@ -3,4 +3,9 @@ export * as chatSelectors from './selectors'
 export { sagas as chatSagas } from './sagas'
 export { chatMiddleware } from './middleware'
 export * from './types'
-export { makeChatId, getInboxTabForChat, MAX_GROUP_CHAT_MEMBERS } from './utils'
+export {
+  makeChatId,
+  getInboxTabForChat,
+  getEffectiveChatCategory,
+  MAX_GROUP_CHAT_MEMBERS
+} from './utils'
diff --git a/packages/common/src/store/pages/chat/selectors.ts b/packages/common/src/store/pages/chat/selectors.ts
index 537c7047224..4d95d2f238f 100644
--- a/packages/common/src/store/pages/chat/selectors.ts
+++ b/packages/common/src/store/pages/chat/selectors.ts
@@ -149,10 +149,10 @@ const makeGetChatsForInboxTab = (tab: InboxTab) =>
     chats.filter((chat) => getInboxTabForChat(chat) === tab)
   )
 
-/** Chats shown in the Priority tab: those marked Priority plus uncategorized. */
+/** Chats shown in the Priority tab: marked Priority, or uncategorized and replied to. */
 export const getPriorityInboxChats = makeGetChatsForInboxTab(InboxTab.PRIORITY)
 
-/** Chats shown in the General tab: only those the user marked General. */
+/** Chats shown in the General tab: marked General, or never replied to. */
 export const getGeneralInboxChats = makeGetChatsForInboxTab(InboxTab.GENERAL)
 
 export const getChatsForInboxTab = (state: CommonState, tab: InboxTab) =>
@@ -171,10 +171,13 @@ export const getHasUnreadMessagesForInboxTab = (
 ) => {
   const counts = getUnreadMessagesCountByCategory(state)
   if (counts) {
+    // Older api versions don't report the unreplied split; their
+    // uncategorized chats all show in Priority.
+    const unreplied = counts.uncategorized_unreplied ?? 0
     const tabCount =
       tab === InboxTab.GENERAL
-        ? counts.general
-        : counts.priority + counts.uncategorized
+        ? counts.general + unreplied
+        : counts.priority + counts.uncategorized - unreplied
     if (tabCount > 0) return true
   }
   return getChatsForInboxTab(state, tab).some(
diff --git a/packages/common/src/store/pages/chat/slice.ts b/packages/common/src/store/pages/chat/slice.ts
index 9a01ba4badd..8ceb15c3051 100644
--- a/packages/common/src/store/pages/chat/slice.ts
+++ b/packages/common/src/store/pages/chat/slice.ts
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ import { hasTail } from '~/utils/chatUtils'
 import dayjs from '~/utils/dayjs'
 
 import { ChatWebsocketError } from './types'
-import { getChatCategoryKey } from './utils'
+import { getChatCategoryKeys } from './utils'
 
 export type Chat = UserChat | ChatBlast
 
@@ -116,18 +116,33 @@ const { selectById: getChat } = chatsAdapter.getSelectors(
  */
 const adjustUnreadCountForChatCategory = (
   state: ChatState,
-  chat: { category?: ChatCategory | null },
+  chat: { category?: ChatCategory | null; has_replied?: boolean },
   delta: number
 ) => {
   if (!state.unreadMessagesCountByCategory || delta === 0) return
   const counts = state.optimisticUnreadMessagesCountByCategory ?? {
     ...state.unreadMessagesCountByCategory
   }
-  const key = getChatCategoryKey(chat)
-  counts[key] = Math.max(0, counts[key] + delta)
+  applyUnreadCountDelta(counts, chat, delta)
   state.optimisticUnreadMessagesCountByCategory = counts
 }
 
+/**
+ * Adds `delta` to every bucket `chat` counts towards. Buckets the server did
+ * not report (older api versions) are left absent.
+ */
+const applyUnreadCountDelta = (
+  counts: ChatUnreadCountByCategory,
+  chat: { category?: ChatCategory | null; has_replied?: boolean },
+  delta: number
+) => {
+  for (const key of getChatCategoryKeys(chat)) {
+    const current = counts[key]
+    if (current === undefined) continue
+    counts[key] = Math.max(0, current + delta)
+  }
+}
+
 /** The unread count currently shown for a chat, honoring optimistic reads. */
 const getDisplayedUnreadCount = (state: ChatState, chatId: ChatID) => {
   const optimisticRead = state.optimisticChatRead[chatId]
@@ -526,11 +541,10 @@ const slice = createSlice({
       if (!existingChat || existingChat.is_blast) return
       state.unreadMessagesCount -= existingChat?.unread_message_count ?? 0
       if (state.unreadMessagesCountByCategory) {
-        const key = getChatCategoryKey(existingChat)
-        state.unreadMessagesCountByCategory[key] = Math.max(
-          0,
-          state.unreadMessagesCountByCategory[key] -
-            existingChat.unread_message_count
+        applyUnreadCountDelta(
+          state.unreadMessagesCountByCategory,
+          existingChat,
+          -existingChat.unread_message_count
         )
       }
       chatsAdapter.updateOne(state.chats, {
@@ -571,7 +585,8 @@ const slice = createSlice({
         state.optimisticUnreadMessagesCountByCategory = {
           priority: 0,
           general: 0,
-          uncategorized: 0
+          uncategorized: 0,
+          uncategorized_unreplied: 0
         }
       }
     },
@@ -598,7 +613,8 @@ const slice = createSlice({
         state.unreadMessagesCountByCategory = {
           priority: 0,
           general: 0,
-          uncategorized: 0
+          uncategorized: 0,
+          uncategorized_unreplied: 0
         }
       }
       delete state.optimisticUnreadMessagesCountByCategory
@@ -729,6 +745,14 @@ const slice = createSlice({
           existingChat,
           -existingUnreadCount
         )
+        // Replying moves an uncategorized chat into Priority. Blast copies
+        // (plaintext) are not replies.
+        if (!message.is_plaintext && existingChat.has_replied === false) {
+          chatsAdapter.updateOne(state.chats, {
+            id: chatId,
+            changes: { has_replied: true }
+          })
+        }
       }
     },
     /**
@@ -864,7 +888,11 @@ const slice = createSlice({
       }
       const unreadCount = getDisplayedUnreadCount(state, chatId)
       adjustUnreadCountForChatCategory(state, existingChat, -unreadCount)
-      adjustUnreadCountForChatCategory(state, { category }, unreadCount)
+      adjustUnreadCountForChatCategory(
+        state,
+        { category, has_replied: existingChat.has_replied },
+        unreadCount
+      )
       chatsAdapter.updateOne(state.chats, {
         id: chatId,
         changes: { category }
@@ -901,7 +929,7 @@ const slice = createSlice({
       adjustUnreadCountForChatCategory(state, existingChat, -unreadCount)
       adjustUnreadCountForChatCategory(
         state,
-        { category: previousCategory },
+        { category: previousCategory, has_replied: existingChat.has_replied },
         unreadCount
       )
       chatsAdapter.updateOne(state.chats, {
diff --git a/packages/common/src/store/pages/chat/types.ts b/packages/common/src/store/pages/chat/types.ts
index ff5bb89e813..e70e1922161 100644
--- a/packages/common/src/store/pages/chat/types.ts
+++ b/packages/common/src/store/pages/chat/types.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 import { ChatPermission, type ChatUnreadCountByCategory } from '@audius/sdk'
 
 /**
- * The tab a chat is shown under in the inbox. Chats the user has not
- * categorized yet ("uncategorized") always surface in the Priority tab so
- * that new conversations are never buried without an explicit action.
+ * The tab a chat is shown under in the inbox. Priority holds chats the user
+ * filed there or has replied in; General holds the rest. See
+ * getInboxTabForChat.
  */
 export enum InboxTab {
   PRIORITY = 'priority',
diff --git a/packages/common/src/store/pages/chat/utils.ts b/packages/common/src/store/pages/chat/utils.ts
index 3b973079d2a..8b29637ba59 100644
--- a/packages/common/src/store/pages/chat/utils.ts
+++ b/packages/common/src/store/pages/chat/utils.ts
@@ -6,18 +6,41 @@ import { type ChatCategoryKey, InboxTab } from './types'
 
 // `is_blast` is included so blast chats (which carry no category) satisfy the
 // structural check without a cast.
-type Categorizable = { category?: ChatCategory | null; is_blast?: boolean }
+type Categorizable = {
+  category?: ChatCategory | null
+  has_replied?: boolean
+  is_blast?: boolean
+}
 
-/** The unread-count bucket a chat belongs to. */
-export const getChatCategoryKey = (chat: Categorizable): ChatCategoryKey =>
-  chat.category ?? 'uncategorized'
+/**
+ * The unread-count buckets a chat belongs to. An uncategorized chat the user
+ * never replied to also counts towards `uncategorized_unreplied`.
+ */
+export const getChatCategoryKeys = (chat: Categorizable): ChatCategoryKey[] => {
+  if (chat.category) return [chat.category]
+  return chat.has_replied === false
+    ? ['uncategorized', 'uncategorized_unreplied']
+    : ['uncategorized']
+}
 
 /**
- * The inbox tab a chat is displayed under. Only chats explicitly marked
- * General leave the Priority tab; uncategorized chats stay in Priority.
+ * The inbox tab a chat is displayed under. An explicit category wins.
+ * Otherwise chats the user has replied in are Priority and the rest (new
+ * inbound chats, blast threads) are General. Blasts the user sent, and chats
+ * from an api that doesn't report `has_replied`, stay in Priority.
  */
-export const getInboxTabForChat = (chat: Categorizable): InboxTab =>
-  chat.category === ChatCategory.GENERAL ? InboxTab.GENERAL : InboxTab.PRIORITY
+export const getInboxTabForChat = (chat: Categorizable): InboxTab => {
+  if (chat.category === ChatCategory.GENERAL) return InboxTab.GENERAL
+  if (chat.category === ChatCategory.PRIORITY) return InboxTab.PRIORITY
+  if (chat.is_blast) return InboxTab.PRIORITY
+  return chat.has_replied === false ? InboxTab.GENERAL : InboxTab.PRIORITY
+}
+
+/** The category matching the tab a chat is shown in. */
+export const getEffectiveChatCategory = (chat: Categorizable): ChatCategory =>
+  getInboxTabForChat(chat) === InboxTab.GENERAL
+    ? ChatCategory.GENERAL
+    : ChatCategory.PRIORITY
 
 /** Max members in a group chat, creator included. Matches the api. */
 export const MAX_GROUP_CHAT_MEMBERS = 10
diff --git a/packages/harmony/src/components/input/SelectablePill/SelectablePill.tsx b/packages/harmony/src/components/input/SelectablePill/SelectablePill.tsx
index 83d2294dd53..525eeb2b52d 100644
--- a/packages/harmony/src/components/input/SelectablePill/SelectablePill.tsx
+++ b/packages/harmony/src/components/input/SelectablePill/SelectablePill.tsx
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ export const SelectablePill = (props: SelectablePillProps) => {
     size = 'small',
     _isHovered,
     icon: Icon,
+    endAdornment,
     className,
     ...other
   } = props
@@ -113,6 +114,7 @@ export const SelectablePill = (props: SelectablePillProps) => {
           {other.label}
         </Text>
       ) : null}
+      {endAdornment}
     </>
   )
 
diff --git a/packages/harmony/src/components/input/SelectablePill/types.ts b/packages/harmony/src/components/input/SelectablePill/types.ts
index 98f60ccbffe..9e3d11c1cb2 100644
--- a/packages/harmony/src/components/input/SelectablePill/types.ts
+++ b/packages/harmony/src/components/input/SelectablePill/types.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import type { ComponentPropsWithoutRef } from 'react'
+import type { ComponentPropsWithoutRef, ReactNode } from 'react'
 
 import type { IconComponent } from '../../icon'
 
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ type BaseProps = {
   isSelected?: boolean
   disabled?: boolean
   icon?: IconComponent
+  /** Rendered inside the pill after the label, e.g. an unread dot. */
+  endAdornment?: ReactNode
 }
 
 type LabelProps =
diff --git a/packages/mobile/src/components/chat-actions-drawer/ChatActionsDrawer.tsx b/packages/mobile/src/components/chat-actions-drawer/ChatActionsDrawer.tsx
index b35e1f2cb3a..078bdbbd6ed 100644
--- a/packages/mobile/src/components/chat-actions-drawer/ChatActionsDrawer.tsx
+++ b/packages/mobile/src/components/chat-actions-drawer/ChatActionsDrawer.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
 import { useCallback } from 'react'
 
 import { useIsGroupChat } from '@audius/common/hooks'
-import { chatActions, chatSelectors } from '@audius/common/store'
+import {
+  chatActions,
+  chatSelectors,
+  getEffectiveChatCategory
+} from '@audius/common/store'
 import { ChatCategory } from '@audius/sdk'
 import { useDispatch, useSelector } from 'react-redux'
 
@@ -38,7 +42,8 @@ export const ChatActionsDrawer = () => {
     getDoesBlockUser(state, userId)
   )
   const chat = useSelector((state: AppState) => getChat(state, chatId))
-  const category = chat && !chat.is_blast ? (chat.category ?? null) : null
+  const category =
+    chat && !chat.is_blast ? getEffectiveChatCategory(chat) : null
   const isGroup = useIsGroupChat(chatId)
 
   const closeDrawer = useCallback(() => {
diff --git a/packages/mobile/src/harmony-native/components/input/SelectablePill/SelectablePill.tsx b/packages/mobile/src/harmony-native/components/input/SelectablePill/SelectablePill.tsx
index 567e6b02a7a..c88defa88e1 100644
--- a/packages/mobile/src/harmony-native/components/input/SelectablePill/SelectablePill.tsx
+++ b/packages/mobile/src/harmony-native/components/input/SelectablePill/SelectablePill.tsx
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ export const SelectablePill = (props: SelectablePillProps) => {
   const {
     type,
     icon: Icon,
+    endAdornment,
     size = 'small',
     isSelected: isSelectedProp,
     isControlled,
@@ -223,6 +224,7 @@ export const SelectablePill = (props: SelectablePillProps) => {
             {displayLabel}
           </AnimatedText>
         ) : null}
+        {endAdornment}
       </AnimatedFlex>
     </Pressable>
   )
diff --git a/packages/mobile/src/harmony-native/components/input/SelectablePill/types.ts b/packages/mobile/src/harmony-native/components/input/SelectablePill/types.ts
index 28241135510..0312626cab2 100644
--- a/packages/mobile/src/harmony-native/components/input/SelectablePill/types.ts
+++ b/packages/mobile/src/harmony-native/components/input/SelectablePill/types.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import type { ReactNode } from 'react'
+
 import type { PressableProps, ViewProps } from 'react-native'
 
 import type { IconComponent } from 'app/harmony-native/icons'
@@ -9,6 +11,8 @@ type BaseSelectablePillProps = {
   isControlled?: boolean
   value?: string
   icon?: IconComponent
+  /** Rendered inside the pill after the label, e.g. an unread dot. */
+  endAdornment?: ReactNode
   onChange?: (value: string, isSelected?: boolean) => void
   fullWidth?: boolean
   disableUnselectAnimation?: boolean
diff --git a/packages/mobile/src/screens/chat-screen/ChatListItem.tsx b/packages/mobile/src/screens/chat-screen/ChatListItem.tsx
index 855cbe6a31c..253820e9913 100644
--- a/packages/mobile/src/screens/chat-screen/ChatListItem.tsx
+++ b/packages/mobile/src/screens/chat-screen/ChatListItem.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { useCallback, useMemo, useRef } from 'react'
 
 import { useOtherChatUsers } from '@audius/common/api'
 import { useIsGroupChat, useProxySelector } from '@audius/common/hooks'
-import { chatSelectors } from '@audius/common/store'
+import { chatSelectors, getEffectiveChatCategory } from '@audius/common/store'
 import { formatGroupChatTitle } from '@audius/common/utils'
 import { css } from '@emotion/native'
 import { useTheme } from '@emotion/react'
@@ -54,7 +54,8 @@ export const ChatListItem = ({ chatId }: { chatId: string }) => {
   const lastMessage = useRemoveLeadingWhitespace(
     (!chat?.is_blast && chat?.last_message) || ''
   )
-  const category = chat && !chat.is_blast ? (chat.category ?? null) : null
+  const category =
+    chat && !chat.is_blast ? getEffectiveChatCategory(chat) : null
   const swipeableRef = useRef<SwipeableMethods>(null)
 
   const handlePress = useCallback(() => {
diff --git a/packages/mobile/src/screens/chat-screen/InboxTabs.tsx b/packages/mobile/src/screens/chat-screen/InboxTabs.tsx
index 523550cdecb..7898b766754 100644
--- a/packages/mobile/src/screens/chat-screen/InboxTabs.tsx
+++ b/packages/mobile/src/screens/chat-screen/InboxTabs.tsx
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ export const inboxTabLabels: Record<InboxTab, string> = {
 
 const tabs: InboxTab[] = [InboxTab.PRIORITY, InboxTab.GENERAL]
 
-const DOT_SIZE = 10
+const DOT_SIZE = 8
 
 type InboxTabsProps = {
   currentTab: InboxTab
@@ -26,9 +26,8 @@ type InboxTabsProps = {
 }
 
 /**
- * Priority / General inbox switcher. Each tab shows its own purple dot when
- * that tab has unread messages; uncategorized chats count towards Priority
- * since that is where they are displayed.
+ * Priority / General inbox switcher. Each tab shows its own dot, inside the
+ * pill after the label, when that tab has unread messages.
  */
 export const InboxTabs = ({ currentTab, onSelectTab }: InboxTabsProps) => {
   const { color } = useTheme()
@@ -51,37 +50,37 @@ export const InboxTabs = ({ currentTab, onSelectTab }: InboxTabsProps) => {
       accessibilityRole='tablist'
     >
       {tabs.map((tab) => (
-        <Box key={tab} style={{ position: 'relative' }}>
-          <SelectablePill
-            type='radio'
-            size='large'
-            value={tab}
-            label={inboxTabLabels[tab]}
-            isSelected={currentTab === tab}
-            onChange={(value, isSelected) => {
-              if (!isSelected) return
-              onSelectTab(value as InboxTab)
-            }}
-            disableUnselectAnimation
-          />
-          {hasUnread[tab] ? (
-            <Box
-              testID={`inbox-tab-dot-${tab}`}
-              accessibilityLabel={`${inboxTabLabels[tab]}: unread messages`}
-              style={{
-                position: 'absolute',
-                top: -2,
-                right: -2,
-                width: DOT_SIZE,
-                height: DOT_SIZE,
-                borderRadius: DOT_SIZE / 2,
-                backgroundColor: color.secondary.s300,
-                borderWidth: 1.5,
-                borderColor: color.background.white
-              }}
-            />
-          ) : null}
-        </Box>
+        <SelectablePill
+          key={tab}
+          type='radio'
+          size='large'
+          value={tab}
+          label={inboxTabLabels[tab]}
+          isSelected={currentTab === tab}
+          onChange={(value, isSelected) => {
+            if (!isSelected) return
+            onSelectTab(value as InboxTab)
+          }}
+          disableUnselectAnimation
+          endAdornment={
+            hasUnread[tab] ? (
+              <Box
+                testID={`inbox-tab-dot-${tab}`}
+                accessibilityLabel='unread messages'
+                style={{
+                  width: DOT_SIZE,
+                  height: DOT_SIZE,
+                  borderRadius: DOT_SIZE / 2,
+                  // Selected pills are purple, so the dot flips to white
+                  backgroundColor:
+                    currentTab === tab
+                      ? color.static.white
+                      : color.secondary.secondary
+                }}
+              />
+            ) : null
+          }
+        />
       ))}
     </Flex>
   )
diff --git a/packages/sdk/src/sdk/api/chats/serverTypes.ts b/packages/sdk/src/sdk/api/chats/serverTypes.ts
index 2dcfc10b4b2..c787823ca25 100644
--- a/packages/sdk/src/sdk/api/chats/serverTypes.ts
+++ b/packages/sdk/src/sdk/api/chats/serverTypes.ts
@@ -159,6 +159,11 @@ export type UserChat = {
   cleared_history_at: string
   /** Inbox category chosen by the current user. Absent/null = uncategorized. */
   category?: ChatCategory | null
+  /**
+   * Whether the current user has sent a message (not a blast) in this chat.
+   * Absent from older api versions.
+   */
+  has_replied?: boolean
 
   // If blast:
   is_blast: false
@@ -255,6 +260,11 @@ export type ChatUnreadCountByCategory = {
   priority: number
   general: number
   uncategorized: number
+  /**
+   * Subset of `uncategorized` the user never replied to. Absent from older
+   * api versions.
+   */
+  uncategorized_unreplied?: number
 }
 
 export enum ChatBlastAudience {
diff --git a/packages/web/src/pages/chat-page/components/InboxTabs.test.tsx b/packages/web/src/pages/chat-page/components/InboxTabs.test.tsx
index 0b2c8c97f1e..c4ec21e21f2 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/pages/chat-page/components/InboxTabs.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/web/src/pages/chat-page/components/InboxTabs.test.tsx
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ const makeChat = (
 
 const chats = [
   makeChat('new-chat'),
+  makeChat('unreplied-chat', { has_replied: false }),
   makeChat('priority-chat', { category: ChatCategory.PRIORITY }),
   makeChat('general-chat', {
     category: ChatCategory.GENERAL,
@@ -108,13 +109,16 @@ describe('Inbox tabs', () => {
     ).not.toBeInTheDocument()
   })
 
-  it('shows only general chats in the General tab', () => {
+  it('shows general and never-replied chats in the General tab', () => {
     renderWithChats(
       <ChatList currentTab={InboxTab.GENERAL} onChatClicked={vi.fn()} />
     )
     expect(
       screen.getByRole('button', { name: /user general-chat/i })
     ).toBeInTheDocument()
+    expect(
+      screen.getByRole('button', { name: /user unreplied-chat/i })
+    ).toBeInTheDocument()
     expect(
       screen.queryByRole('button', { name: /user new-chat/i })
     ).not.toBeInTheDocument()
@@ -154,7 +158,31 @@ describe('Inbox tabs', () => {
     ).not.toBeInTheDocument()
   })
 
-  it('counts uncategorized unreads towards the Priority tab dot', () => {
+  it('counts never-replied unreads towards the General tab dot', () => {
+    renderWithChats(
+      <InboxTabs currentTab={InboxTab.PRIORITY} onSelectTab={vi.fn()} />,
+      {
+        unreadMessagesCountByCategory: {
+          priority: 0,
+          general: 0,
+          uncategorized: 1,
+          uncategorized_unreplied: 1
+        },
+        optimisticChatRead: {
+          'general-chat': {
+            unread_message_count: 0,
+            last_read_at: '2026-01-02T00:00:00.000Z'
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    )
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('inbox-tab-dot-general')).toBeInTheDocument()
+    expect(
+      screen.queryByTestId('inbox-tab-dot-priority')
+    ).not.toBeInTheDocument()
+  })
+
+  it('counts replied uncategorized unreads towards the Priority tab dot', () => {
     renderWithChats(
       <InboxTabs currentTab={InboxTab.PRIORITY} onSelectTab={vi.fn()} />,
       {
@@ -195,7 +223,7 @@ describe('Inbox tabs', () => {
     renderWithChats(
       <InboxTabs currentTab={InboxTab.PRIORITY} onSelectTab={onSelectTab} />
     )
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('radio', { name: 'General' }))
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('radio', { name: /^General/ }))
     expect(onSelectTab).toHaveBeenCalledWith(InboxTab.GENERAL)
   })
 })
diff --git a/packages/web/src/pages/chat-page/components/InboxTabs.tsx b/packages/web/src/pages/chat-page/components/InboxTabs.tsx
index 6997b7c54ea..d1b915d1b8a 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/pages/chat-page/components/InboxTabs.tsx
+++ b/packages/web/src/pages/chat-page/components/InboxTabs.tsx
@@ -1,11 +1,9 @@
 import { ChangeEvent, useCallback } from 'react'
 
 import { chatSelectors, InboxTab } from '@audius/common/store'
-import { Flex, SelectablePill } from '@audius/harmony'
+import { Flex, SelectablePill, useTheme } from '@audius/harmony'
 import { useSelector } from 'react-redux'
 
-import { NotificationDot } from 'components/notification-dot/NotificationDot'
-
 const { getHasUnreadPriorityMessages, getHasUnreadGeneralMessages } =
   chatSelectors
 
@@ -23,17 +21,19 @@ export const inboxTabLabels: Record<InboxTab, string> = {
 
 const tabs: InboxTab[] = [InboxTab.PRIORITY, InboxTab.GENERAL]
 
+const DOT_SIZE = 8
+
 type InboxTabsProps = {
   currentTab: InboxTab
   onSelectTab: (tab: InboxTab) => void
 }
 
 /**
- * Priority / General inbox switcher. Each tab shows its own purple dot when
- * that tab has unread messages; uncategorized chats count towards Priority
- * since that is where they are displayed.
+ * Priority / General inbox switcher. Each tab shows its own dot, inside the
+ * pill after the label, when that tab has unread messages.
  */
 export const InboxTabs = ({ currentTab, onSelectTab }: InboxTabsProps) => {
+  const { color } = useTheme()
   const hasUnreadPriority = useSelector(getHasUnreadPriorityMessages)
   const hasUnreadGeneral = useSelector(getHasUnreadGeneralMessages)
   const hasUnread: Record<InboxTab, boolean> = {
@@ -56,25 +56,36 @@ export const InboxTabs = ({ currentTab, onSelectTab }: InboxTabsProps) => {
       onChange={handleChange}
     >
       {tabs.map((tab) => (
-        <Flex key={tab} css={{ position: 'relative' }}>
-          <SelectablePill
-            name='inbox-tab'
-            type='radio'
-            value={tab}
-            label={inboxTabLabels[tab]}
-            isSelected={currentTab === tab}
-            size='large'
-          />
-          {hasUnread[tab] ? (
-            <NotificationDot
-              variant='small'
-              role='img'
-              aria-label={`${inboxTabLabels[tab]}: ${messages.unread}`}
-              data-testid={`inbox-tab-dot-${tab}`}
-              css={{ position: 'absolute', top: -2, right: -2 }}
-            />
-          ) : null}
-        </Flex>
+        <SelectablePill
+          key={tab}
+          name='inbox-tab'
+          type='radio'
+          value={tab}
+          label={inboxTabLabels[tab]}
+          isSelected={currentTab === tab}
+          size='large'
+          endAdornment={
+            hasUnread[tab] ? (
+              <span
+                role='img'
+                aria-label={messages.unread}
+                data-testid={`inbox-tab-dot-${tab}`}
+                css={{
+                  width: DOT_SIZE,
+                  height: DOT_SIZE,
+                  flexShrink: 0,
+                  borderRadius: '50%',
+                  // Selected pills are purple, so the dot flips to white
+                  backgroundColor:
+                    currentTab === tab
+                      ? color.static.white
+                      : color.secondary.secondary,
+                  'label:hover &': { backgroundColor: color.static.white }
+                }}
+              />
+            ) : null
+          }
+        />
       ))}
     </Flex>
   )
diff --git a/packages/web/src/pages/chat-page/components/useChatCategoryMenuItems.tsx b/packages/web/src/pages/chat-page/components/useChatCategoryMenuItems.tsx
index 5d14e59666e..71246cb8f31 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/pages/chat-page/components/useChatCategoryMenuItems.tsx
+++ b/packages/web/src/pages/chat-page/components/useChatCategoryMenuItems.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { useMemo } from 'react'
 
-import { chatActions } from '@audius/common/store'
+import { chatActions, getEffectiveChatCategory } from '@audius/common/store'
 import { IconMessages, IconStar, type PopupMenuItem } from '@audius/harmony'
 import { ChatCategory, type ChatBlast, type UserChat } from '@audius/sdk'
 import { useDispatch } from 'react-redux'
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ const messages = {
 
 /**
  * Popup menu items for moving a chat between the Priority and General inbox
- * tabs. Only the categories the chat is not already in are offered. Blasts
+ * tabs. Only the tab the chat is not already shown in is offered. Blasts
  * (and unknown chats) get no items.
  */
 export const useChatCategoryMenuItems = (
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@ export const useChatCategoryMenuItems = (
   const dispatch = useDispatch()
   const chatId = chat?.chat_id
   const isBlast = chat?.is_blast ?? false
-  const category = chat && !chat.is_blast ? (chat.category ?? null) : null
+  const category =
+    chat && !chat.is_blast ? getEffectiveChatCategory(chat) : null
 
   return useMemo(() => {
     if (!chatId || isBlast) return []