diff --git a/assistant/src/calls/guardian-dispatch.ts b/assistant/src/calls/guardian-dispatch.ts
index f81132d44a3..6cd1ac31e61 100644
--- a/assistant/src/calls/guardian-dispatch.ts
+++ b/assistant/src/calls/guardian-dispatch.ts
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@ export async function dispatchGuardianQuestion(params: GuardianDispatchParams):
             requestId: request.id,
             callSessionId,
             title: guardianCopy.threadTitle,
+            questionText: request.questionText,
           } as ServerMessage);
         }
         updateDeliveryStatus(delivery.id, 'sent');
diff --git a/assistant/src/daemon/ipc-contract/work-items.ts b/assistant/src/daemon/ipc-contract/work-items.ts
index d5151e5aaa8..96dc12c01d8 100644
--- a/assistant/src/daemon/ipc-contract/work-items.ts
+++ b/assistant/src/daemon/ipc-contract/work-items.ts
@@ -221,4 +221,5 @@ export interface GuardianRequestThreadCreated {
   requestId: string;
   callSessionId: string;
   title: string;
+  questionText: string;
 }
diff --git a/clients/macos/vellum-assistant/App/AppDelegate+Notifications.swift b/clients/macos/vellum-assistant/App/AppDelegate+Notifications.swift
index f3e0e7b2bc2..bcb2e482b49 100644
--- a/clients/macos/vellum-assistant/App/AppDelegate+Notifications.swift
+++ b/clients/macos/vellum-assistant/App/AppDelegate+Notifications.swift
@@ -84,7 +84,19 @@ extension AppDelegate {
             options: []
         )
 
-        center.setNotificationCategories([activityCategory, toolConfirmationCategory, rideShotgunCategory, voiceResponseCategory, quickChatCategory])
+        let viewGuardianAction = UNNotificationAction(
+            identifier: "VIEW_GUARDIAN",
+            title: "View",
+            options: [.foreground]
+        )
+        let guardianRequestCategory = UNNotificationCategory(
+            identifier: "GUARDIAN_REQUEST",
+            actions: [viewGuardianAction],
+            intentIdentifiers: [],
+            options: []
+        )
+
+        center.setNotificationCategories([activityCategory, toolConfirmationCategory, rideShotgunCategory, voiceResponseCategory, quickChatCategory, guardianRequestCategory])
     }
 
     func registerBundledFonts() {
@@ -165,7 +177,17 @@ extension AppDelegate: UNUserNotificationCenterDelegate {
             let conversationId = response.notification.request.content.userInfo["conversationId"] as? String
             await MainActor.run {
                 guard !self.isAwaitingFirstLaunchReady else { return }
-                self.openQuickChatThread(conversationId: conversationId)
+                self.openConversationThread(conversationId: conversationId)
+            }
+            return
+        }
+
+        // Handle guardian request notifications — open the guardian thread in the main window
+        if categoryId == "GUARDIAN_REQUEST" {
+            let conversationId = response.notification.request.content.userInfo["conversationId"] as? String
+            await MainActor.run {
+                guard !self.isAwaitingFirstLaunchReady else { return }
+                self.openConversationThread(conversationId: conversationId)
             }
             return
         }
diff --git a/clients/macos/vellum-assistant/App/AppDelegate+Sessions.swift b/clients/macos/vellum-assistant/App/AppDelegate+Sessions.swift
index 6cb6f416762..195b95f24be 100644
--- a/clients/macos/vellum-assistant/App/AppDelegate+Sessions.swift
+++ b/clients/macos/vellum-assistant/App/AppDelegate+Sessions.swift
@@ -402,9 +402,30 @@ extension AppDelegate {
         }
     }
 
+    func deliverGuardianRequestNotification(title: String, questionText: String, conversationId: String) {
+        let content = UNMutableNotificationContent()
+        content.title = title
+        content.body = String(questionText.prefix(200))
+        content.sound = .default
+        content.categoryIdentifier = "GUARDIAN_REQUEST"
+        content.userInfo = ["conversationId": conversationId]
+
+        let request = UNNotificationRequest(
+            identifier: "guardian-request-\(conversationId)",
+            content: content,
+            trigger: nil
+        )
+        UNUserNotificationCenter.current().add(request) { error in
+            if let error {
+                log.error("Failed to post guardian request notification: \(error.localizedDescription)")
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Opens the main window and navigates to the thread for the given conversation ID.
     /// Retries if the thread isn't populated yet (e.g., ThreadManager hasn't loaded it).
-    func openQuickChatThread(conversationId: String?) {
+    /// Used by Quick Chat, Guardian Request, and other notification deep links.
+    func openConversationThread(conversationId: String?) {
         showMainWindow()
         guard let conversationId else { return }
 
diff --git a/clients/macos/vellum-assistant/App/AppDelegate.swift b/clients/macos/vellum-assistant/App/AppDelegate.swift
index 3c3a15a6030..703d4ec3542 100644
--- a/clients/macos/vellum-assistant/App/AppDelegate.swift
+++ b/clients/macos/vellum-assistant/App/AppDelegate.swift
@@ -685,10 +685,20 @@ public final class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate {
                 callSessionId: msg.callSessionId,
                 title: msg.title
             )
-            if let thread = self.mainWindow?.threadManager.threads.first(where: { $0.sessionId == msg.conversationId }) {
-                self.mainWindow?.threadManager.activeThreadId = thread.id
+            if NSApp.isActive {
+                // App is in foreground — select thread and show window immediately
+                if let thread = self.mainWindow?.threadManager.threads.first(where: { $0.sessionId == msg.conversationId }) {
+                    self.mainWindow?.threadManager.activeThreadId = thread.id
+                }
+                self.showMainWindow()
+            } else {
+                // App is backgrounded — post native notification
+                self.deliverGuardianRequestNotification(
+                    title: msg.title,
+                    questionText: msg.questionText,
+                    conversationId: msg.conversationId
+                )
             }
-            self.showMainWindow()
         }
 
         // Handle escalation: text_qa -> computer_use via computer_use_request_control
diff --git a/clients/shared/IPC/Generated/IPCContractGenerated.swift b/clients/shared/IPC/Generated/IPCContractGenerated.swift
index e598c74ab0d..62374838bdc 100644
--- a/clients/shared/IPC/Generated/IPCContractGenerated.swift
+++ b/clients/shared/IPC/Generated/IPCContractGenerated.swift
@@ -1853,13 +1853,15 @@ public struct IPCGuardianRequestThreadCreated: Codable, Sendable {
     public let requestId: String
     public let callSessionId: String
     public let title: String
+    public let questionText: String
 
-    public init(type: String, conversationId: String, requestId: String, callSessionId: String, title: String) {
+    public init(type: String, conversationId: String, requestId: String, callSessionId: String, title: String, questionText: String) {
         self.type = type
         self.conversationId = conversationId
         self.requestId = requestId
         self.callSessionId = callSessionId
         self.title = title
+        self.questionText = questionText
     }
 }