diff --git a/src/app/features/settings/notifications/UnifiedPushNotifications.test.ts b/src/app/features/settings/notifications/UnifiedPushNotifications.test.ts
index c1d284cf33..8ef2e7a019 100644
--- a/src/app/features/settings/notifications/UnifiedPushNotifications.test.ts
+++ b/src/app/features/settings/notifications/UnifiedPushNotifications.test.ts
@@ -53,6 +53,9 @@ const matrixClient = vi.hoisted(() => ({
   fetchRoomEvent: vi.fn<() => Promise<unknown>>(),
 }));
 
+const requestPushDrain = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn<() => void>());
+const getSlidingSyncManager = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn<() => unknown>());
+
 const invoke = vi.hoisted(() =>
   vi.fn<(cmd: string, args?: Record<string, unknown>) => Promise<unknown>>()
 );
@@ -78,6 +81,8 @@ const addPluginListener = vi.hoisted(() =>
 
 vi.mock('./UnifiedPushTransport', () => unifiedPushTransport);
 
+vi.mock('$client/initMatrix', () => ({ getSlidingSyncManager }));
+
 vi.mock('./TauriNotificationsApiClient', () => ({
   getTauriNotificationsApi,
   isMobileTauri: () => false,
@@ -151,6 +156,7 @@ describe('UnifiedPushNotifications', () => {
       }
     });
     matrixClient.getRoom.mockReturnValue(undefined);
+    getSlidingSyncManager.mockReturnValue({ requestPushDrain });
     invoke.mockResolvedValue(undefined);
     addPluginListener.mockImplementation(
       async (_plugin: string, _event: string, handler: (data: unknown) => void) => {
@@ -568,7 +574,8 @@ describe('UnifiedPushNotifications', () => {
       await listenAndPush(encryptedPush('$expired:example.com'));
       await vi.waitFor(() => expect(notificationsApi.sendNotification).toHaveBeenCalledOnce());
 
-      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(5 * 60_000);
+      // The window, plus the grace for the attempt made as it lapses.
+      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(5 * 60_000 + 10_000);
       resolveDecryption({
         clearEvent: {
           type: 'm.room.message',
@@ -583,6 +590,61 @@ describe('UnifiedPushNotifications', () => {
     }
   });
 
+  it('enriches from the decryption attempt made as the retry window lapses', async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers();
+    try {
+      matrixClient.getRoom.mockReturnValue(makeRoom());
+      const keyArrivesAt = Date.now() + 5 * 60_000;
+      matrixClient.getCrypto.mockReturnValue({
+        decryptEvent: vi
+          .fn<() => Promise<Record<string, unknown>>>()
+          .mockImplementation(async () => {
+            if (Date.now() < keyArrivesAt) throw new Error('MissingRoomKey');
+            return {
+              clearEvent: { type: 'm.room.message', content: { body: 'key arrived' } },
+            };
+          }),
+      });
+
+      await listenAndPush(encryptedPush('$suspended:example.com'));
+      await vi.waitFor(() => expect(notificationsApi.sendNotification).toHaveBeenCalledOnce());
+
+      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(5 * 60_000);
+
+      await vi.waitFor(() => expect(notificationsApi.sendNotification).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2));
+      expect(notificationsApi.sendNotification.mock.calls[1]?.[0]).toMatchObject({
+        body: 'You: key arrived',
+        silent: true,
+      });
+    } finally {
+      vi.useRealTimers();
+    }
+  });
+
+  it('keeps the to-device drain alive while an encrypted preview is still pending', async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers();
+    try {
+      matrixClient.getRoom.mockReturnValue(makeRoom());
+      matrixClient.getCrypto.mockReturnValue({
+        decryptEvent: vi
+          .fn<() => Promise<Record<string, unknown>>>()
+          .mockRejectedValue(new Error('MissingRoomKey')),
+      });
+
+      await listenAndPush(encryptedPush('$pending-drain:example.com'));
+      await vi.waitFor(() => expect(notificationsApi.sendNotification).toHaveBeenCalledOnce());
+      // Only the drain the incoming push itself asked for.
+      expect(requestPushDrain).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+
+      // Past the two-minute drain window.
+      await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(3 * 60_000);
+
+      expect(requestPushDrain.mock.calls.length).toBeGreaterThan(1);
+    } finally {
+      vi.useRealTimers();
+    }
+  });
+
   it('retries a duplicate rich event after its initial native post fails', async () => {
     matrixClient.getRoom.mockReturnValue(makeRoom());
     let attempts = 0;
diff --git a/src/app/features/settings/notifications/UnifiedPushNotifications.ts b/src/app/features/settings/notifications/UnifiedPushNotifications.ts
index 270bad6269..0b4336bde8 100644
--- a/src/app/features/settings/notifications/UnifiedPushNotifications.ts
+++ b/src/app/features/settings/notifications/UnifiedPushNotifications.ts
@@ -475,6 +475,8 @@ function holdsPlaintext(event: MatrixEvent): boolean {
 
 const DECRYPT_RETRY_DELAYS_MS = [1000, 2000, 5000, 10_000, 30_000, 60_000] as const;
 
+const FINAL_DECRYPT_ATTEMPT_TIMEOUT_MS = 10_000;
+
 const supportsEventDecryption = (crypto: CryptoApi | undefined): crypto is CryptoBackend =>
   !!crypto && 'decryptEvent' in crypto && typeof crypto.decryptEvent === 'function';
 
@@ -501,21 +503,41 @@ function whenDecrypted(event: MatrixEvent, apply: () => Promise<void>, mx: Matri
   };
 
   event.on(MatrixEventEvent.Decrypted, onDecrypted);
+  const giveUp = () => {
+    if (finished) return;
+    finish();
+    unifiedPushLog.warn('notification', 'Encrypted preview never decrypted within retry window', {
+      roomId: event.getRoomId(),
+      sessionId: event.getWireContent().session_id,
+      attempts: retryIndex,
+    });
+  };
   const retry = () => {
     if (finished) return;
+    const crypto = mx.getCrypto();
+    const attempt = supportsEventDecryption(crypto)
+      ? event.attemptDecryption(crypto, { isRetry: true }).catch(() => undefined)
+      : undefined;
+
     const remaining = retryDeadline - Date.now();
     if (remaining > 0) {
-      const crypto = mx.getCrypto();
-      if (supportsEventDecryption(crypto)) {
-        void event.attemptDecryption(crypto, { isRetry: true }).catch(() => undefined);
-      }
+      // Sync is what carries the room key, and a backgrounded client only keeps
+      // it running while a push drain is outstanding.
+      getSlidingSyncManager(mx)?.requestPushDrain();
       const delay = DECRYPT_RETRY_DELAYS_MS[retryIndex] ?? 60_000;
       retryTimer = setTimeout(retry, Math.min(delay, remaining));
       retryIndex += 1;
       return;
     }
-    finish();
-    unifiedPushLog.warn('notification', 'Encrypted preview never decrypted within retry window');
+
+    // The window can lapse on a tick that runs long after the key landed, so
+    // settle on this last attempt rather than on the clock.
+    if (!attempt) {
+      giveUp();
+      return;
+    }
+    retryTimer = setTimeout(giveUp, FINAL_DECRYPT_ATTEMPT_TIMEOUT_MS);
+    void attempt.then(giveUp);
   };
   retryTimer = setTimeout(retry, DECRYPT_RETRY_DELAYS_MS[0]);
   retryIndex += 1;