diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/themes/context.test.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/themes/context.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..860bacfab084
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/themes/context.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+import { act, cleanup, render } from '@testing-library/react'
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+
+import { __resetBackendSkinSync, ingestBackendSkin } from './backend-sync'
+import { ThemeProvider } from './context'
+
+// The live-authoring loop: Hermes writes/edits one skin file and every surface
+// repaints. An in-place edit keeps the NAME — only the palette moves.
+const bloomberg = (foreground: string) => ({
+  name: 'bloomberg',
+  colors: { background: '#000000', ui_text: foreground, ui_accent: '#ff8000' }
+})
+
+const cssVar = (name: string) => window.document.documentElement.style.getPropertyValue(name)
+
+describe('ThemeProvider ← backend skin sync', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    window.localStorage.clear()
+    __resetBackendSkinSync()
+  })
+
+  afterEach(cleanup)
+
+  it('applies an activated backend skin', () => {
+    render(
+      <ThemeProvider>
+        <div />
+      </ThemeProvider>
+    )
+
+    act(() => ingestBackendSkin(bloomberg('#ff9f0a'), { apply: true }))
+
+    expect(cssVar('--theme-foreground')).toBe('#ff9f0a')
+    expect(cssVar('--theme-background-seed')).toBe('#000000')
+  })
+
+  it('repaints an in-place edit of the ACTIVE skin (same name, new palette)', () => {
+    render(
+      <ThemeProvider>
+        <div />
+      </ThemeProvider>
+    )
+
+    act(() => ingestBackendSkin(bloomberg('#ff9f0a'), { apply: true }))
+    expect(cssVar('--theme-foreground')).toBe('#ff9f0a')
+
+    // Recolor the same skin file. The same-name apply guard correctly no-ops
+    // (protects manual desktop picks), so the repaint must come from the
+    // registry update reaching the active theme derivation.
+    act(() => ingestBackendSkin(bloomberg('#ff2d95'), { apply: true }))
+    expect(cssVar('--theme-foreground')).toBe('#ff2d95')
+  })
+
+  it('does not repaint an edit to an INACTIVE skin', () => {
+    render(
+      <ThemeProvider>
+        <div />
+      </ThemeProvider>
+    )
+
+    act(() => ingestBackendSkin(bloomberg('#ff9f0a'), { apply: true }))
+
+    // A different skin registered without apply (e.g. seeded on reconnect)
+    // must not touch the painted theme.
+    act(() =>
+      ingestBackendSkin({ name: 'forest', colors: { background: '#001100', ui_text: '#66ff66' } }, { apply: false })
+    )
+    expect(cssVar('--theme-foreground')).toBe('#ff9f0a')
+  })
+})
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/themes/context.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/themes/context.tsx
index 7266d8f70fbd..e618534c3107 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/themes/context.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/themes/context.tsx
@@ -353,7 +353,15 @@ export function ThemeProvider({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
 
   const systemDark = useMediaQuery('(prefers-color-scheme: dark)')
   const resolvedMode = resolveMode(mode, systemDark)
-  const activeTheme = useMemo(() => deriveTheme(themeName, resolvedMode), [themeName, resolvedMode])
+
+  const activeTheme = useMemo(
+    () => deriveTheme(themeName, resolvedMode),
+    // deriveTheme resolves its seed through the merged registry, so the theme
+    // stores are its reactivity too — an in-place palette edit of the ACTIVE
+    // skin (live theme authoring) must repaint, not just a name switch.
+    // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
+    [themeName, resolvedMode, userThemes, backendThemes, registryVersion]
+  )
 
   // What actually gets painted (matches the `.dark` class applyTheme toggles).
   const renderedMode = useMemo(() => renderedModeFor(activeTheme.colors, resolvedMode), [activeTheme, resolvedMode])