diff --git a/bitchat/App/ConversationStore.swift b/bitchat/App/ConversationStore.swift
index 76e71813..3b55e86e 100644
--- a/bitchat/App/ConversationStore.swift
+++ b/bitchat/App/ConversationStore.swift
@@ -821,6 +821,29 @@ extension ConversationID {
 }
 
 extension ConversationStore {
+    /// Routing peer IDs for direct conversations with at least one message,
+    /// newest activity first. Caps at `limit` so the people sheet stays short.
+    func recentDirectRoutingPeerIDs(limit: Int = 8) -> [PeerID] {
+        var scored: [(peerID: PeerID, last: Date)] = []
+        scored.reserveCapacity(conversationsByID.count)
+        for (id, conversation) in conversationsByID {
+            guard case .direct(let handle) = id else { continue }
+            guard let last = conversation.messages.last else { continue }
+            scored.append((handle.routingPeerID, last.timestamp))
+        }
+        scored.sort { $0.last > $1.last }
+
+        var seen = Set<PeerID>()
+        var result: [PeerID] = []
+        result.reserveCapacity(min(limit, scored.count))
+        for entry in scored {
+            guard seen.insert(entry.peerID).inserted else { continue }
+            result.append(entry.peerID)
+            if result.count == limit { break }
+        }
+        return result
+    }
+
     /// All direct conversations' messages keyed by routing peer ID — the
     /// shape `ChatViewModel.privateChats` exposes to the coordinators.
     /// Values are the conversations' backing arrays (COW), so building this
diff --git a/bitchat/App/PeerListModel.swift b/bitchat/App/PeerListModel.swift
index b365d09d..0bb74966 100644
--- a/bitchat/App/PeerListModel.swift
+++ b/bitchat/App/PeerListModel.swift
@@ -39,10 +39,20 @@ struct GroupChatRow: Identifiable, Equatable {
     var id: String { peerID.id }
 }
 
+struct RecentDirectRow: Identifiable, Equatable {
+    let peerID: PeerID
+    let displayName: String
+    let hasUnread: Bool
+    let preview: String
+
+    var id: String { peerID.id }
+}
+
 @MainActor
 final class PeerListModel: ObservableObject {
     @Published private(set) var allPeers: [BitchatPeer] = []
     @Published private(set) var meshRows: [MeshPeerRow] = []
+    @Published private(set) var recentDirectRows: [RecentDirectRow] = []
     @Published private(set) var geohashPeople: [GeohashPersonRow] = []
     @Published private(set) var groupRows: [GroupChatRow] = []
     @Published private(set) var reachableMeshPeerCount = 0
@@ -143,6 +153,30 @@ final class PeerListModel: ObservableObject {
             }
             .store(in: &cancellables)
 
+        conversations.$conversationIDs
+            .receive(on: DispatchQueue.main)
+            .sink { [weak self] _ in
+                self?.refresh()
+            }
+            .store(in: &cancellables)
+
+        conversations.$selectedPrivatePeerID
+            .receive(on: DispatchQueue.main)
+            .sink { [weak self] _ in
+                self?.refresh()
+            }
+            .store(in: &cancellables)
+
+        // New/updated messages in an existing thread must refresh ordering and
+        // preview while the people sheet is open — conversationIDs alone does
+        // not change for those mutations.
+        conversations.changes
+            .debounce(for: .milliseconds(120), scheduler: DispatchQueue.main)
+            .sink { [weak self] _ in
+                self?.refresh()
+            }
+            .store(in: &cancellables)
+
         chatViewModel.groupStore.$groups
             .receive(on: DispatchQueue.main)
             .sink { [weak self] _ in
@@ -239,14 +273,21 @@ final class PeerListModel: ObservableObject {
 
         let geohashPeople = buildGeohashPeople()
         let groupRows = buildGroupRows()
+        let recentDirectRows = buildRecentDirectRows(excluding: myPeerID)
 
         self.meshRows = meshRows
+        self.recentDirectRows = recentDirectRows
         reachableMeshPeerCount = meshCounts.reachable
         connectedMeshPeerCount = meshCounts.connected
         self.geohashPeople = geohashPeople
         visibleGeohashPeerCount = geohashPeople.count
         self.groupRows = groupRows
         renderID = (
+            recentDirectRows.map {
+                // Hash the preview so a `|` inside message text cannot collide
+                // with the render-id separator and skip a re-render.
+                "recent:\($0.id)-\($0.hasUnread)-\($0.displayName)-\($0.preview.stableRenderHash)"
+            } +
             meshRows.map {
                 "\($0.id)-\($0.displayName)-\($0.isConnected)-\($0.isReachable)-\($0.hasUnread)-\($0.isFavorite)-\($0.isBlocked)"
             } +
@@ -259,6 +300,39 @@ final class PeerListModel: ObservableObject {
         ).joined(separator: "|")
     }
 
+    private func buildRecentDirectRows(excluding myPeerID: PeerID) -> [RecentDirectRow] {
+        let messagesByPeer = conversations.directMessagesByRoutingPeerID()
+        let selected = conversations.selectedPrivatePeerID
+        return conversations.recentDirectRoutingPeerIDs(limit: 8).compactMap { peerID in
+            guard peerID != myPeerID else { return nil }
+            // Already in that thread — no need to list it again here.
+            guard peerID != selected else { return nil }
+            // Match mesh rows: blocked people stay out of the people sheet.
+            guard !chatViewModel.isPeerBlocked(peerID) else { return nil }
+            let messages = messagesByPeer[peerID] ?? []
+            guard let last = messages.last else { return nil }
+            let preview = Self.friendlyRecentPreview(last.content)
+            return RecentDirectRow(
+                peerID: peerID,
+                displayName: chatViewModel.nicknameForPeer(peerID),
+                hasUnread: chatViewModel.hasUnreadMessages(for: peerID),
+                preview: preview
+            )
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Strip media placeholder filenames (`[image] <uuid>.jpg`) down to a
+    /// short type marker so the recent-DM preview stays readable.
+    private static func friendlyRecentPreview(_ content: String) -> String {
+        let trimmed = content.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines)
+        if trimmed.hasPrefix("[image]") { return "[image]" }
+        if trimmed.hasPrefix("[voice]") { return "[voice]" }
+        if trimmed.count > 48 {
+            return String(trimmed.prefix(45)) + "…"
+        }
+        return trimmed
+    }
+
     private func buildGroupRows() -> [GroupChatRow] {
         let myFingerprint = chatViewModel.meshService.noiseIdentityFingerprint()
         return chatViewModel.groupStore.groups.map { group in
@@ -297,3 +371,15 @@ final class PeerListModel: ObservableObject {
         return identity.publicKeyHex.lowercased()
     }
 }
+
+private extension String {
+    /// Stable within-process digest for render-id segments — avoids embedding
+    /// raw message text (and `|` separators) in the joined render token.
+    var stableRenderHash: String {
+        var hash: UInt64 = 5381
+        for byte in utf8 {
+            hash = ((hash << 5) &+ hash) &+ UInt64(byte)
+        }
+        return String(hash, radix: 16)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/bitchat/Localizable.xcstrings b/bitchat/Localizable.xcstrings
index f869ab85..3e72e23c 100644
--- a/bitchat/Localizable.xcstrings
+++ b/bitchat/Localizable.xcstrings
@@ -39028,7 +39028,192 @@
         }
       }
     },
-    "content.header.people" : {
+        "content.people.recent_messages" : {
+      "extractionState" : "manual",
+      "localizations" : {
+        "ar" : {
+          "stringUnit" : {
+            "state" : "translated",
+            "value" : "الرسائل الأخيرة"
+          }
+        },
+        "bn" : {
+          "stringUnit" : {
+            "state" : "translated",
+            "value" : "সাম্প্রতিক বার্তা"
+          }
+        },
+        "de" : {
+          "stringUnit" : {
+            "state" : "translated",
+            "value" : "letzte nachrichten"
+          }
+        },
+        "en" : {
+          "stringUnit" : {
+            "state" : "translated",
+            "value" : "recent messages"
+          }
+        },
+        "es" : {
+          "stringUnit" : {
+            "state" : "translated",
+            "value" : "mensajes recientes"
+          }
+        },
+        "fa" : {
+          "stringUnit" : {
+            "state" : "translated",
+            "value" : "پیام‌های اخیر"
+          }
+        },
+        "fil" : {
+          "stringUnit" : {
+            "state" : "translated",
+            "value" : "mga kamakailang mensahe"
+          }
+        },
+        "fr" : {
+          "stringUnit" : {
+            "state" : "translated",
+            "value" : "messages récents"
+          }
+        },
+        "he" : {
+          "stringUnit" : {
+            "state" : "translated",
+            "value" : "הודעות אחרונות"
+          }
+        },
+        "hi" : {
+          "stringUnit" : {
+            "state" : "translated",
+            "value" : "हाल के संदेश"
+          }
+        },
+        "id" : {
+          "stringUnit" : {
+            "state" : "translated",
+            "value" : "pesan terbaru"
+          }
+        },
+        "it" : {
+          "stringUnit" : {
+            "state" : "translated",
+            "value" : "messaggi recenti"
+          }
+        },
+        "ja" : {
+          "stringUnit" : {
+            "state" : "translated",
+            "value" : "最近のメッセージ"
+          }
+        },
+        "ko" : {
+          "stringUnit" : {
+            "state" : "translated",
+            "value" : "최근 메시지"
+          }
+        },
+        "ms" : {
+          "stringUnit" : {
+            "state" : "translated",
+            "value" : "mesej terbaru"
+          }
+        },
+        "ne" : {
+          "stringUnit" : {
+            "state" : "translated",
+            "value" : "हालका सन्देशहरू"
+          }
+        },
+        "nl" : {
+          "stringUnit" : {
+            "state" : "translated",
+            "value" : "recente berichten"
+          }
+        },
+        "pl" : {
+          "stringUnit" : {
+            "state" : "translated",
+            "value" : "ostatnie wiadomości"
+          }
+        },
+        "pt" : {
+          "stringUnit" : {
+            "state" : "translated",
+            "value" : "mensagens recentes"
+          }
+        },
+        "pt-BR" : {
+          "stringUnit" : {
+            "state" : "translated",
+            "value" : "mensagens recentes"
+          }
+        },
+        "ru" : {
+          "stringUnit" : {
+            "state" : "translated",
+            "value" : "недавние сообщения"
+          }
+        },
+        "sv" : {
+          "stringUnit" : {
+            "state" : "translated",
+            "value" : "senaste meddelanden"
+          }
+        },
+        "ta" : {
+          "stringUnit" : {
+            "state" : "translated",
+            "value" : "சமீபத்திய செய்திகள்"
+          }
+        },
+        "th" : {
+          "stringUnit" : {
+            "state" : "translated",
+            "value" : "ข้อความล่าสุด"
+          }
+        },
+        "tr" : {
+          "stringUnit" : {
+            "state" : "translated",
+            "value" : "son mesajlar"
+          }
+        },
+        "uk" : {
+          "stringUnit" : {
+            "state" : "translated",
+            "value" : "нещодавні повідомлення"
+          }
+        },
+        "ur" : {
+          "stringUnit" : {
+            "state" : "translated",
+            "value" : "حالیہ پیغامات"
+          }
+        },
+        "vi" : {
+          "stringUnit" : {
+            "state" : "translated",
+            "value" : "tin nhắn gần đây"
+          }
+        },
+        "zh-Hans" : {
+          "stringUnit" : {
+            "state" : "translated",
+            "value" : "最近的消息"
+          }
+        },
+        "zh-Hant" : {
+          "stringUnit" : {
+            "state" : "translated",
+            "value" : "最近的訊息"
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    },
+"content.header.people" : {
       "extractionState" : "manual",
       "localizations" : {
         "ar" : {
diff --git a/bitchat/Views/ContentSheetViews.swift b/bitchat/Views/ContentSheetViews.swift
index a4092b43..dac45329 100644
--- a/bitchat/Views/ContentSheetViews.swift
+++ b/bitchat/Views/ContentSheetViews.swift
@@ -366,6 +366,19 @@ private struct ContentPeopleListView: View {
                             }
                         )
                     } else {
+                        if !peerListModel.recentDirectRows.isEmpty {
+                            PeopleSectionHeader(
+                                icon: "bubble.left.and.bubble.right",
+                                iconColor: palette.accentBlue,
+                                title: String(localized: "content.people.recent_messages", defaultValue: "recent messages", comment: "People sheet section header for recent private message threads")
+                            )
+                            RecentDirectMessagesList(
+                                onTapPeer: { peerID in
+                                    peerListModel.startConversation(with: peerID)
+                                    showSidebar = true
+                                }
+                            )
+                        }
                         PeopleSectionHeader(
                             icon: "antenna.radiowaves.left.and.right",
                             iconColor: palette.accentBlue,
diff --git a/bitchat/Views/RecentDirectMessagesList.swift b/bitchat/Views/RecentDirectMessagesList.swift
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e1dd275c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bitchat/Views/RecentDirectMessagesList.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+import SwiftUI
+import BitFoundation
+
+/// Compact recent-DM rows for the people sheet — reopen past private threads
+/// without hunting through the full mesh / favorites lists (#615).
+struct RecentDirectMessagesList: View {
+    @EnvironmentObject private var peerListModel: PeerListModel
+    @ThemedPalette private var palette
+    let onTapPeer: (PeerID) -> Void
+
+    private enum Strings {
+        static let unread = String(localized: "mesh_peers.state.unread", comment: "State label for a peer with unread private messages")
+        static let openDMHint = String(localized: "mesh_peers.accessibility.open_dm_hint", comment: "Accessibility hint on a peer row explaining activation opens a private chat")
+    }
+
+    var body: some View {
+        VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 0) {
+            ForEach(peerListModel.recentDirectRows) { row in
+                Button {
+                    onTapPeer(row.peerID)
+                } label: {
+                    HStack(spacing: 8) {
+                        Image(systemName: "person.fill")
+                            .font(.bitchatSystem(size: 10))
+                            .foregroundColor(palette.secondary)
+                        VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 2) {
+                            HStack(spacing: 4) {
+                                Text(row.displayName)
+                                    .bitchatFont(size: 14)
+                                    .foregroundColor(palette.primary)
+                                    .lineLimit(1)
+                                if row.hasUnread {
+                                    Image(systemName: "envelope.fill")
+                                        .font(.bitchatSystem(size: 9))
+                                        .foregroundColor(palette.accentBlue)
+                                        .help(Strings.unread)
+                                }
+                            }
+                            if !row.preview.isEmpty {
+                                Text(row.preview)
+                                    .bitchatFont(size: 11)
+                                    .foregroundColor(palette.secondary)
+                                    .lineLimit(1)
+                            }
+                        }
+                        Spacer(minLength: 0)
+                    }
+                    .padding(.horizontal)
+                    .padding(.vertical, 4)
+                    .contentShape(Rectangle())
+                }
+                .buttonStyle(.plain)
+                .accessibilityLabel(
+                    row.hasUnread
+                        ? "\(row.displayName), \(Strings.unread)"
+                        : row.displayName
+                )
+                .accessibilityHint(Strings.openDMHint)
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/bitchatTests/ConversationStoreTests.swift b/bitchatTests/ConversationStoreTests.swift
index cc1e6e09..c3a924cd 100644
--- a/bitchatTests/ConversationStoreTests.swift
+++ b/bitchatTests/ConversationStoreTests.swift
@@ -1419,4 +1419,25 @@ struct ConversationStoreTests {
         store.removeMessage(withID: "dm-1", from: destination)
         #expect(store.appendCount == 4)
     }
+
+    @Test("recentDirectRoutingPeerIDs orders by latest message and skips empty threads")
+    @MainActor
+    func recentDirectRoutingPeerIDsOrdersByActivity() {
+        let store = ConversationStore()
+        let older = makeDirectConversationID("older")
+        let newer = makeDirectConversationID("newer")
+        let empty = makeDirectConversationID("empty")
+
+        store.append(makeMessage(id: "dm-old", timestamp: 10, isPrivate: true), to: older)
+        store.append(makeMessage(id: "dm-new", timestamp: 50, isPrivate: true), to: newer)
+        _ = store.conversation(for: empty) // create empty direct conversation
+
+        let recent = store.recentDirectRoutingPeerIDs(limit: 8)
+        #expect(recent == [
+            PeerID(str: "peer-newer"),
+            PeerID(str: "peer-older"),
+        ])
+        #expect(!recent.contains(PeerID(str: "peer-empty")))
+        #expect(store.recentDirectRoutingPeerIDs(limit: 1) == [PeerID(str: "peer-newer")])
+    }
 }