diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/util/ApkDownloader.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/util/ApkDownloader.kt
index b3f342c1..8e16620f 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/util/ApkDownloader.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/util/ApkDownloader.kt
@@ -54,6 +54,13 @@ interface ApkDownloader {
      */
     enum class DownloadPhase {
         AwaitingConnectivity,
+        /**
+         * Waiting out the backoff before another attempt. Distinct from
+         * [AwaitingConnectivity] because WorkManager parks a retry in ENQUEUED
+         * whether or not the device is online, and claiming a network wait there
+         * would be false on a connected device.
+         */
+        Retrying,
         SelectingSource,
         AwaitingNetworkRoute,
         Transferring,
@@ -74,10 +81,26 @@ interface ApkDownloader {
     }
 }
 
+/**
+ * What a queued work record is actually waiting for.
+ *
+ * WorkManager parks both cases in ENQUEUED, so the state alone cannot tell them apart. A non-zero
+ * [runAttemptCount] means the work already ran and failed, which makes this the retry backoff
+ * rather than an unmet network constraint.
+ */
+internal fun queuedPhase(runAttemptCount: Int): ApkDownloader.DownloadPhase =
+    if (runAttemptCount > 0) {
+        ApkDownloader.DownloadPhase.Retrying
+    } else {
+        ApkDownloader.DownloadPhase.AwaitingConnectivity
+    }
+
 /** Shared by the notification and the About sheet so both name a phase identically. */
 internal fun downloadPhaseLabel(phase: ApkDownloader.DownloadPhase): Int = when (phase) {
     ApkDownloader.DownloadPhase.AwaitingConnectivity ->
         com.bitchat.android.R.string.prepare_apk_phase_awaiting_connectivity
+    ApkDownloader.DownloadPhase.Retrying ->
+        com.bitchat.android.R.string.prepare_apk_phase_retrying
     ApkDownloader.DownloadPhase.SelectingSource ->
         com.bitchat.android.R.string.prepare_apk_phase_selecting_source
     ApkDownloader.DownloadPhase.AwaitingNetworkRoute ->
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/util/WorkManagerApkDownloader.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/util/WorkManagerApkDownloader.kt
index 214b8118..6d482c34 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/util/WorkManagerApkDownloader.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/bitchat/android/util/WorkManagerApkDownloader.kt
@@ -58,11 +58,13 @@ class WorkManagerApkDownloader(context: Context) : ApkDownloader {
         return when (workInfo.state) {
             WorkInfo.State.ENQUEUED,
             WorkInfo.State.BLOCKED -> {
-                // Waiting for constraints (network). Show existing partial progress if any.
+                // ENQUEUED covers two different waits. A non-zero attempt count means the work
+                // already ran and failed, so this is the retry backoff rather than a missing
+                // network — saying "waiting for network" there would be false while online.
                 val partial = apkManager.getPartialDownloadProgress()
                 ApkDownloader.DownloadState.Downloading(
                     partial ?: 0,
-                    ApkDownloader.DownloadPhase.AwaitingConnectivity
+                    queuedPhase(workInfo.runAttemptCount)
                 )
             }
             WorkInfo.State.RUNNING -> {
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml b/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
index f5fde380..074ce540 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -252,6 +252,7 @@
   <string name="prepare_apk_status_downloading">Downloading… %1$d%%</string>
   <!-- Stages of preparing the APK. Only the transfer has a meaningful percentage. -->
   <string name="prepare_apk_phase_awaiting_connectivity">Waiting for network…</string>
+  <string name="prepare_apk_phase_retrying">Retrying…</string>
   <string name="prepare_apk_phase_selecting_source">Selecting download source…</string>
   <string name="prepare_apk_phase_awaiting_route">Waiting for Tor…</string>
   <string name="prepare_apk_phase_transferring">Downloading…</string>
diff --git a/app/src/test/kotlin/com/bitchat/android/util/DownloadPhaseTest.kt b/app/src/test/kotlin/com/bitchat/android/util/DownloadPhaseTest.kt
index f08c009c..7e5c7d6e 100644
--- a/app/src/test/kotlin/com/bitchat/android/util/DownloadPhaseTest.kt
+++ b/app/src/test/kotlin/com/bitchat/android/util/DownloadPhaseTest.kt
@@ -43,6 +43,18 @@ class DownloadPhaseTest {
         )
     }
 
+    @Test
+    fun `a queued retry is not reported as a connectivity wait`() {
+        // WorkManager returns a retry to ENQUEUED for the backoff even while the device is online,
+        // so attempt count is the only thing separating the two waits.
+        assertEquals(
+            ApkDownloader.DownloadPhase.AwaitingConnectivity,
+            queuedPhase(runAttemptCount = 0)
+        )
+        assertEquals(ApkDownloader.DownloadPhase.Retrying, queuedPhase(runAttemptCount = 1))
+        assertEquals(ApkDownloader.DownloadPhase.Retrying, queuedPhase(runAttemptCount = 2))
+    }
+
     @Test
     fun `only the transfer claims measurable progress`() {
         assertTrue(ApkDownloader.DownloadPhase.Transferring.hasMeasurableProgress)