diff --git a/neode-ui/src/stores/__tests__/appLauncher.test.ts b/neode-ui/src/stores/__tests__/appLauncher.test.ts
index 3745c74c..063eca8c 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/stores/__tests__/appLauncher.test.ts
+++ b/neode-ui/src/stores/__tests__/appLauncher.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,17 @@
 import { describe, it, expect, vi, beforeEach, afterEach } from 'vitest'
 import { setActivePinia, createPinia } from 'pinia'
+import { __setSignedCatalogForTests } from '@/views/discover/curatedApps'
+
+// The signed catalog's embedded manifests decide which ports the app gate
+// fronts (TLS on the same port) — prime the same shape the live catalog
+// carries for the apps these tests launch.
+const SIGNED = {
+  apps: {
+    vaultwarden: { version: '1.37.1', manifest: { app: { ports: [{ host: 8082, auth: 'gated' }] } } },
+    gitea: { version: '1.23', manifest: { app: { ports: [{ host: 3001, auth: 'open' }] } } },
+    'nginx-proxy-manager': { version: 'latest' }, // legacy: no manifest → http
+  },
+}
 
 // vi.hoisted runs before vi.mock hoisting
 const { mockPush, mockWindowOpen } = vi.hoisted(() => ({
@@ -23,6 +35,7 @@ describe('useAppLauncherStore', () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     setActivePinia(createPinia())
     vi.clearAllMocks()
+    __setSignedCatalogForTests(SIGNED as never)
     // Default to HTTP to avoid proxy rewriting
     Object.defineProperty(window, 'location', {
       value: { origin: 'http://192.0.2.10', protocol: 'http:', hostname: '192.0.2.10' },
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/stores/appLauncher.ts b/neode-ui/src/stores/appLauncher.ts
index 69ca0114..32808eec 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/stores/appLauncher.ts
+++ b/neode-ui/src/stores/appLauncher.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { recordAppLaunch } from '@/utils/appUsage'
 import { requestExternalOpen } from '@/api/remote-relay'
 import { openInAppOrNewTab, isCompanionApp, type InAppLaunchMeta } from '@/utils/openExternal'
 import { directAppUrl, HTTPS_APP_IDS, resolveAppUrl } from '@/views/appSession/appSessionConfig'
+import { portIsGateFronted } from '@/views/discover/curatedApps'
 import { useAppStore } from '@/stores/app'
 import { resolveAppIcon } from '@/views/apps/appsConfig'
 import { IS_DEMO, isDemoApp, isDemoExternal, demoAppUrl } from '@/composables/useDemoIntro'
@@ -256,20 +257,20 @@ export const useAppLauncherStore = defineStore('appLauncher', () => {
     let launchUrl = normalizeLaunchUrl(payload.url, titleHintId)
     const resolvedId = resolveAppIdFromUrl(launchUrl) || titleHintId
 
-    // Scheme discipline for everything launched on this host. App ports are
-    // owned by the app gate, which serves TLS on the same port whenever the
-    // node has a certificate — so on an HTTPS connection every same-host
-    // app URL must be https: plain http is a silent downgrade at best and
-    // mixed-content-blocked at worst (remote browsers, the companion
-    // webview). Apps that are ALWAYS https (netbird's secure-context OIDC
-    // dashboard) upgrade regardless of the page, and external hosts keep
-    // their own scheme.
+    // Scheme discipline for everything launched on this host. Ports fronted
+    // by the node's app gate (manifest auth gated/open) serve TLS on the same
+    // port — on an HTTPS connection those must open over https. Ports that
+    // are NOT gate-fronted (legacy curated installs like Nginx Proxy Manager,
+    // Tailscale; `auth: none` publishes) are plain HTTP and https would fail
+    // to connect outright, so they keep http. External hosts keep their own
+    // scheme.
     try {
       const u = new URL(launchUrl, window.location.origin)
       const sameHost = u.hostname === window.location.hostname
       const alwaysHttps = !!resolvedId && HTTPS_APP_IDS.has(resolvedId)
       const httpsPage = window.location.protocol === 'https:'
-      if (u.protocol === 'http:' && (alwaysHttps || (httpsPage && sameHost && (resolvedId || mustOpenInNewTab(launchUrl))))) {
+      const gateFronted = !!resolvedId && portIsGateFronted(resolvedId, u.port)
+      if (u.protocol === 'http:' && sameHost && (alwaysHttps || (httpsPage && gateFronted))) {
         // Pure prefix swap — never re-serialize the URL (URL.href would add
         // a trailing slash and change the string the caller handed over).
         launchUrl = launchUrl.replace(/^http:\/\//i, 'https://')
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/Marketplace.vue b/neode-ui/src/views/Marketplace.vue
index 3235ab1a..d7c820cd 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/Marketplace.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/Marketplace.vue
@@ -184,6 +184,7 @@ import {
   categorizeCommunityApp,
   getCuratedAppList,
 } from './marketplace/marketplaceData'
+import { fetchAppCatalog } from './discover/curatedApps'
 
 const router = useRouter()
 const route = useRoute()
@@ -238,10 +239,17 @@ watch(() => route.query.category, (category) => {
 // Community marketplace state — cached (D-09/D-06: near-static catalog, long
 // TTL) behind a shared key so Discover.vue's identical loader picks up the
 // same cache entry without its own conversion (plan 02-04). Non-sensitive
-// and small, so it persists across reloads.
+// and small, so it persists across reloads. Dynamic-catalog-first: the
+// daemon-verified signed catalog is what makes a newly published app appear
+// without a dashboard release — the static list below is only the offline
+// fallback (same fetcher contract as Discover.vue for this shared key).
 const catalogResource = useCachedResource<MarketplaceApp[]>({
   key: 'app-catalog',
-  fetcher: async () => getCuratedAppList(),
+  fetcher: async () => {
+    const catalog = await fetchAppCatalog()
+    if (catalog && catalog.apps.length) return catalog.apps
+    return getCuratedAppList()
+  },
   ttlMs: 300_000,
   persist: true,
 })
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/appSession/__tests__/appSessionConfig.test.ts b/neode-ui/src/views/appSession/__tests__/appSessionConfig.test.ts
index 47242236..5f2aa83e 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/appSession/__tests__/appSessionConfig.test.ts
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/appSession/__tests__/appSessionConfig.test.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,39 @@
-import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import { describe, expect, it, beforeEach } from 'vitest'
 import { NEW_TAB_APPS, directAppUrl, resolveAppUrl } from '../appSessionConfig'
 import { GENERATED_NEW_TAB_APPS } from '../generatedAppSessionConfig'
+import { __setSignedCatalogForTests } from '../../discover/curatedApps'
+
+// Mirror of the live signed catalog's embedded manifests (the ports[] auth
+// that decides TLS eligibility). Kept minimal — only what the scheme logic
+// consults.
+const SIGNED = {
+  apps: {
+    vaultwarden: { version: '1.37.1', manifest: { app: { ports: [{ host: 8082, auth: 'gated' }] } } },
+    gitea: { version: '1.23', manifest: { app: { ports: [{ host: 3001, auth: 'open' }, { host: 2222, auth: 'none' }] } } },
+    'btcpay-server': { version: '2.4.3', manifest: { app: { ports: [{ host: 23000, auth: 'open' }] } } },
+    mempool: { version: '3.3.1', manifest: { app: { ports: [{ host: 4080, auth: 'gated' }] } } },
+    filebrowser: { version: '2.27.0', manifest: { app: { ports: [{ host: 8083, auth: 'gated' }] } } },
+    // Legacy curated installs — in the community list, NOT in the signed
+    // catalog's manifests. Their ports publish plain HTTP: https fails.
+    'nginx-proxy-manager': { version: 'latest' },
+    tailscale: { version: 'stable' },
+    // auth:none ports are container-published too — https would fail.
+    cuprate: { version: '0.1.0-preview', manifest: { app: { ports: [{ host: 18090, auth: 'none' }] } } },
+  },
+}
+
+function stubLocation(value: { hostname: string; protocol: string }) {
+  Object.defineProperty(window, 'location', {
+    value,
+    writable: true,
+    configurable: true,
+  })
+}
 
 describe('appSessionConfig', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    __setSignedCatalogForTests(SIGNED as never)
+  })
   it('keeps manifest-owned new-tab apps marked on every viewport', () => {
     expect(NEW_TAB_APPS.has('btcpay-server')).toBe(true)
     expect(NEW_TAB_APPS.has('photoprism')).toBe(true)
@@ -56,7 +87,9 @@ describe('appSessionConfig', () => {
       configurable: true,
     })
 
-    expect(resolveAppUrl('netbird', undefined, 'http://localhost:8086')).toBe('http://192.0.2.10:8087')
+    // NetBird's dashboard needs a secure context (OIDC PKCE), so it is
+    // ALWAYS launched over https — on either page scheme.
+    expect(resolveAppUrl('netbird', undefined, 'http://localhost:8086')).toBe('https://192.0.2.10:8087')
   })
 
   it('uses backend runtime URLs for apps with dynamic launch surfaces', () => {
@@ -66,53 +99,52 @@ describe('appSessionConfig', () => {
       configurable: true,
     })
 
-    expect(resolveAppUrl('filebrowser', undefined, 'http://localhost:18083')).toBe('http://192.0.2.10:18083')
+    expect(resolveAppUrl('filebrowser', undefined, 'http://localhost:8083')).toBe('http://192.0.2.10:8083')
   })
 
   // The direct-port launch path (new-tab apps on desktop, the companion's
   // native WebView on phones) used to hardcode http:// — so a node reached
-  // over HTTPS opened Vaultwarden and friends in cleartext. These pin the
-  // scheme-following contract on both page schemes.
-  it('builds direct app URLs on the page scheme — https page, https app', () => {
-    Object.defineProperty(window, 'location', {
-      value: { hostname: '192.0.2.10', protocol: 'https:' },
-      writable: true,
-      configurable: true,
-    })
+  // over HTTPS opened Vaultwarden and friends in cleartext. It must follow
+  // the page scheme ONLY for ports the app gate fronts (TLS on the same
+  // port); legacy installs without manifests (Nginx Proxy Manager, Tailscale)
+  // and auth:none ports stay on http or https would fail to connect.
+  it('builds direct app URLs on the page scheme — https page, gate-fronted app', () => {
+    stubLocation({ hostname: '192.0.2.10', protocol: 'https:' })
 
     expect(directAppUrl('vaultwarden')).toBe('https://192.0.2.10:8082')
     expect(directAppUrl('gitea')).toBe('https://192.0.2.10:3001')
     expect(directAppUrl('btcpay-server')).toBe('https://192.0.2.10:23000')
   })
 
+  it('keeps legacy manifest-less apps on http even on an https page', () => {
+    stubLocation({ hostname: '192.0.2.10', protocol: 'https:' })
+
+    expect(directAppUrl('nginx-proxy-manager')).toBe('http://192.0.2.10:8081')
+    expect(directAppUrl('tailscale')).toBe('http://192.0.2.10:8240')
+  })
+
   it('keeps plain-http direct app URLs on a plain-http page', () => {
-    Object.defineProperty(window, 'location', {
-      value: { hostname: '192.0.2.10', protocol: 'http:' },
-      writable: true,
-      configurable: true,
-    })
+    stubLocation({ hostname: '192.0.2.10', protocol: 'http:' })
 
     expect(directAppUrl('vaultwarden')).toBe('http://192.0.2.10:8082')
+    expect(directAppUrl('nginx-proxy-manager')).toBe('http://192.0.2.10:8081')
   })
 
   it('always launches secure-context apps over https, on either page scheme', () => {
-    Object.defineProperty(window, 'location', {
-      value: { hostname: '192.0.2.10', protocol: 'http:' },
-      writable: true,
-      configurable: true,
-    })
+    stubLocation({ hostname: '192.0.2.10', protocol: 'http:' })
 
     expect(directAppUrl('netbird')).toBe('https://192.0.2.10:8087')
   })
 
-  it('resolves session app URLs on the page scheme too (https page)', () => {
-    Object.defineProperty(window, 'location', {
-      value: { hostname: '192.0.2.10', protocol: 'https:' },
-      writable: true,
-      configurable: true,
-    })
+  it('resolves session app URLs on the page scheme for gate-fronted ports only (https page)', () => {
+    stubLocation({ hostname: '192.0.2.10', protocol: 'https:' })
 
     expect(resolveAppUrl('mempool')).toBe('https://192.0.2.10:4080')
-    expect(resolveAppUrl('filebrowser', undefined, 'http://localhost:18083')).toBe('https://192.0.2.10:18083')
+    expect(resolveAppUrl('filebrowser', undefined, 'http://localhost:8083')).toBe('https://192.0.2.10:8083')
+    // A runtime port the gate does NOT front keeps plain http (https would
+    // fail to connect outright).
+    expect(resolveAppUrl('filebrowser', undefined, 'http://localhost:18083')).toBe('http://192.0.2.10:18083')
+    // Cuprate's UI port is auth:none — plain HTTP stays plain.
+    expect(resolveAppUrl('cuprate', undefined, 'http://localhost:18090')).toBe('http://192.0.2.10:18090')
   })
 })
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/appSession/appSessionConfig.ts b/neode-ui/src/views/appSession/appSessionConfig.ts
index f4592c77..6a64e2a0 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/appSession/appSessionConfig.ts
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/appSession/appSessionConfig.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 /** Static configuration maps for app session routing and display */
 
+import { portIsGateFronted } from '../discover/curatedApps'
 import { GENERATED_APP_PORTS, GENERATED_APP_TITLES, GENERATED_NEW_TAB_APPS } from './generatedAppSessionConfig'
 import { IS_DEMO, demoAppUrl } from '@/composables/useDemoIntro'
 
@@ -107,15 +108,20 @@ export function resolveAppUrl(id: string, routeQueryPath?: string, runtimeUrl?:
   // shell when proxied under a path prefix on some nodes.
   if (id === 'bitcoin-knots' || id === 'bitcoin-core' || id === 'bitcoin-ui') {
     if (import.meta.env.DEV) return '/app/bitcoin-ui/'
-    return appOrigin(8334)
+    return appOrigin(8334, id)
   }
 
   if (runtimeUrl && id !== 'netbird') {
     let base = runtimeUrl.replace(/localhost/i, window.location.hostname)
     // The backend reports runtime URLs as http:// because that is how the app
-    // binds locally. Sent to a browser on an HTTPS dashboard that is mixed
-    // content and the frame is blocked outright, so follow the page instead.
-    base = matchPageScheme(base)
+    // binds locally. On an HTTPS dashboard that is mixed content and the
+    // frame is blocked outright — but ONLY upgrade when the gate fronts the
+    // port (it serves TLS there); a container-published plain-HTTP port
+    // would fail to connect over https at all.
+    try {
+      const port = new URL(base).port
+      if (portIsGateFronted(id, port)) base = matchPageScheme(base)
+    } catch { /* keep as-is */ }
     if (routeQueryPath) base += routeQueryPath
     return base
   }
@@ -124,13 +130,14 @@ export function resolveAppUrl(id: string, routeQueryPath?: string, runtimeUrl?:
   const port = APP_PORTS[id]
   if (!port) return ''
 
-  let base = appOrigin(port)
+  let base = appOrigin(port, id)
   if (routeQueryPath) base += routeQueryPath
   return base
 }
 
 /**
- * An app's origin on this host, on the SAME scheme as the page.
+ * An app's origin on this host, on the SAME scheme as the page when the
+ * app gate fronts the port (TLS on the same port), plain http otherwise.
  *
  * An HTTPS dashboard cannot embed an HTTP frame at all — browsers block it as
  * mixed content before any cookie question arises — and it is also what makes
@@ -143,8 +150,11 @@ export function resolveAppUrl(id: string, routeQueryPath?: string, runtimeUrl?:
  * Node certificate. A certificate warning cannot be accepted inside an iframe,
  * so an untrusted app port renders nothing rather than prompting.
  */
-export function appOrigin(port: number): string {
-  return `${pageScheme()}//${window.location.hostname}:${port}`
+export function appOrigin(port: number, appId?: string): string {
+  const https = appId
+    ? HTTPS_APP_IDS.has(appId) || (portIsGateFronted(appId, port) && pageScheme() === 'https:')
+    : pageScheme() === 'https:'
+  return `${https ? 'https' : 'http'}://${window.location.hostname}:${port}`
 }
 
 /** Rewrite a URL's scheme to the page's, leaving everything else alone. */
@@ -202,10 +212,25 @@ export const DIRECT_APP_PORTS: Record<string, string> = {
  *  DIRECT_APP_PORTS is served by the app gate with TLS on the same port
  *  (see appgate/tls.rs), so following the page scheme is always answerable.
  *  Plain-HTTP dashboards keep today's behaviour exactly. */
+/** Whether an app's direct port should follow the page's scheme (https on
+ *  an https connection). True only when the node's app gate fronts the port
+ *  (manifest auth gated/open — TLS served on the same port) or the app is
+ *  unconditionally https (netbird). Legacy curated installs without a
+ *  manifest (Nginx Proxy Manager, Tailscale) and `auth: none` ports (Cuprate's
+ *  RPC) publish plain HTTP and must NOT be upgraded — https would fail to
+ *  connect outright. */
+function shouldFollowPageScheme(appId: string, port: number | string): boolean {
+  if (HTTPS_APP_IDS.has(appId)) return true
+  return portIsGateFronted(appId, port)
+}
+
 export function directAppUrl(appId: string): string | null {
   const port = DIRECT_APP_PORTS[appId]
   if (!port || typeof window === 'undefined') return null
-  const scheme = HTTPS_APP_IDS.has(appId) || pageScheme() === 'https:' ? 'https' : 'http'
+  const scheme = HTTPS_APP_IDS.has(appId)
+    || (portIsGateFronted(appId, port) && pageScheme() === 'https:')
+    ? 'https'
+    : 'http'
   return `${scheme}://${window.location.hostname}:${port}`
 }
 
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/apps/appsConfig.ts b/neode-ui/src/views/apps/appsConfig.ts
index 35e46ec3..d0e1e385 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/apps/appsConfig.ts
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/apps/appsConfig.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import type { Ref } from 'vue'
 import { computed } from 'vue'
 import { PackageState, type PackageDataEntry } from '@/types/api'
 import { matchPageScheme, resolveAppUrl } from '../appSession/appSessionConfig'
+import { portIsGateFronted } from '../discover/curatedApps'
 import { isAutoTabApp } from '@/utils/autoTabApps'
 
 export type AppsTab = 'apps' | 'websites' | 'services'
@@ -301,10 +302,13 @@ export function resolveRuntimeLaunchUrl(pkg: PackageDataEntry): string {
   if (!addr || typeof window === 'undefined') return addr
   const local = addr.replace(/^http:\/\/(localhost|127\.0\.0\.1)(?=[:/]|$)/, `http://${window.location.hostname}`)
   // The backend reports runtime URLs as http:// because that is how the app
-  // binds locally — on an HTTPS connection that is a cleartext downgrade
-  // (and mixed-content-blocked when opened from the dashboard). The gate
-  // serves TLS on every app port, so follow the page's scheme, exactly like
-  // resolveAppUrl() does for the same runtime URLs.
+  // binds locally — on an HTTPS connection that is a cleartext downgrade.
+  // Upgrade only when the app gate fronts the port (it serves TLS there);
+  // a container-published plain-HTTP port would fail over https outright.
+  try {
+    const port = new URL(local).port
+    if (!portIsGateFronted(pkg.manifest.id, port)) return local
+  } catch { /* keep as-is */ }
   return matchPageScheme(local)
 }
 
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/discover/curatedApps.ts b/neode-ui/src/views/discover/curatedApps.ts
index cee22849..df6be382 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/discover/curatedApps.ts
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/discover/curatedApps.ts
@@ -18,17 +18,94 @@ export interface AppCatalog {
   apps: MarketplaceApp[]
 }
 
+/** Shape of the release-signed catalog (`releases/app-catalog.json`) served
+ *  by the daemon at /api/app-catalog after release-root verification. `apps`
+ *  is keyed by app id and each entry embeds the app's full manifest — the
+ *  ports[] there (auth: gated/open/none) are what decides whether a port is
+ *  fronted by the node's app gate (and therefore serves TLS on the same
+ *  port) or published by the container as plain HTTP. */
+export interface SignedAppCatalog {
+  schema?: number
+  updated?: string
+  apps: Record<string, SignedAppEntry>
+}
+
+export interface SignedAppEntry {
+  version: string
+  image?: string
+  manifest?: {
+    app?: {
+      id?: string
+      name?: string
+      version?: string
+      description?: string
+      category?: string
+      container?: { image?: string }
+      metadata?: { icon?: string; author?: string; repo?: string }
+      ports?: { host?: number | string; container?: number | string; auth?: string }[]
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+/** Convert the signed catalog's keyed entries into store-listing apps.
+ *  Pure — unit-tested against the live catalog's shape (Cuprate). */
+export function signedCatalogToApps(catalog: SignedAppCatalog): MarketplaceApp[] {
+  const out: MarketplaceApp[] = []
+  for (const [id, entry] of Object.entries(catalog.apps || {})) {
+    const app = entry.manifest?.app
+    out.push({
+      id,
+      title: app?.name || id,
+      version: entry.version || app?.version || '',
+      description: app?.description || '',
+      icon: app?.metadata?.icon || '/assets/icon/favico-black-v2.svg',
+      author: app?.metadata?.author,
+      dockerImage: entry.image || app?.container?.image || '',
+      repoUrl: app?.metadata?.repo,
+      category: app?.category,
+      source: 'signed-catalog',
+    })
+  }
+  return out
+}
+
+/** The daemon-verified signed catalog, kept for synchronous port-auth lookups
+ *  after fetchAppCatalog() has run. Test-hookable. */
+let signedCatalogCache: SignedAppCatalog | null = null
+
+/** Port auth for an app's host port, from the signed catalog's embedded
+ *  manifest. `gated`/`open` = the node's app gate owns the port and serves
+ *  TLS on it; `none`/`local` = container-published plain HTTP; null = app
+ *  unknown to the signed catalog (legacy curated installs). */
+export function portAuth(appId: string, hostPort: number | string): string | null {
+  const ports = signedCatalogCache?.apps?.[appId]?.manifest?.app?.ports
+  if (!Array.isArray(ports)) return null
+  const hit = ports.find(p => String(p.host) === String(hostPort))
+  return hit?.auth ?? null
+}
+
+/** Whether an app's host port is fronted by the node's app gate (and so
+ *  serves TLS alongside HTTP on the same port). Unknown apps are NOT —
+ *  assuming TLS for a container-published port breaks it outright. */
+export function portIsGateFronted(appId: string, hostPort: number | string): boolean {
+  const auth = portAuth(appId, hostPort)
+  return auth === 'gated' || auth === 'open'
+}
+
+export function __setSignedCatalogForTests(catalog: SignedAppCatalog | null) {
+  signedCatalogCache = catalog
+}
+
 let cachedCatalog: AppCatalog | null = null
 let catalogFetchedAt = 0
 const CATALOG_TTL = 60 * 60 * 1000 // 1 hour cache
 
-/** Catalog URLs tried in order. First success wins.
- *  Primary is the backend proxy (`/api/app-catalog`) — server-side fetch
- *  bypasses CORS on the upstream Gitea and CSP restrictions on the IP-port
- *  fallback. If the backend is offline (mid-restart etc.) we fall back
- *  to the static copy baked into the frontend build. */
+/** Catalog URLs for the community listing. The signed catalog is served by
+ *  the backend proxy (`/api/app-catalog`) — server-side fetch bypasses CORS
+ *  on the upstream Gitea and verifies the release-root signature. If the
+ *  backend is offline (mid-restart etc.) the static community copy baked
+ *  into the frontend build still renders the store. */
 const CATALOG_URLS = [
-  '/api/app-catalog',
   '/catalog.json',
 ]
 
@@ -38,29 +115,61 @@ export async function fetchAppCatalog(): Promise<AppCatalog | null> {
   // Return cache if fresh
   if (cachedCatalog && Date.now() - catalogFetchedAt < CATALOG_TTL) return cachedCatalog
 
+  // The daemon-verified signed catalog first (release-root signature checked
+  // server-side): it is what makes a newly published app appear without a
+  // dashboard release. The community catalog supplies the featured banner
+  // and curated copy for shared ids; signed-only ids join the listing as-is.
+  let signedApps: MarketplaceApp[] = []
+  let signedOk = false
+  try {
+    const res = await fetch('/api/app-catalog', { credentials: 'include', signal: AbortSignal.timeout(20000) })
+    if (res.ok) {
+      const data = await res.json() as SignedAppCatalog
+      if (data.apps && !Array.isArray(data.apps)) {
+        signedCatalogCache = data
+        signedApps = signedCatalogToApps(data)
+        signedOk = signedApps.length > 0
+      }
+    }
+  } catch { /* fall through to the community catalog */ }
+
+  let community: AppCatalog | null = null
   for (const url of CATALOG_URLS) {
     try {
       const res = await fetch(url, { credentials: 'include', signal: AbortSignal.timeout(20000) })
       if (!res.ok) continue
       const data = await res.json() as AppCatalog
       if (!data.apps?.length) continue
-
-      // Expand short docker image refs to full registry paths
       const registry = data.registry || R
       for (const app of data.apps) {
         if (app.dockerImage && !app.dockerImage.includes('/')) {
           app.dockerImage = `${registry}/${app.dockerImage}`
         }
       }
-      cachedCatalog = data
-      catalogFetchedAt = Date.now()
-      // Cache in localStorage for offline fallback
-      try { localStorage.setItem('archy_catalog', JSON.stringify(data)) } catch {}
-      return data
-    } catch (e) {
-      console.warn(`[catalog] fetch failed for ${url}:`, e)
-      continue
+      community = data
+      break
+    } catch { /* try the next source */ }
+  }
+
+  if (signedOk || community) {
+    // Community copy wins for shared ids (curated descriptions, webUrl-only
+    // apps); signed entries fill version/image gaps and append brand-new apps.
+    const byId = new Map<string, MarketplaceApp>()
+    for (const app of signedApps) byId.set(app.id, app)
+    for (const app of community?.apps ?? []) {
+      const existing = byId.get(app.id)
+      byId.set(app.id, existing ? { ...app, version: app.version || existing.version, dockerImage: app.dockerImage || existing.dockerImage } : app)
     }
+    const merged: AppCatalog = {
+      version: community?.version ?? 1,
+      registry: community?.registry ?? R,
+      featured: community?.featured ?? { id: 'bitcoin-knots', banner: '', headline: '', description: '', tag: '' },
+      apps: [...byId.values()],
+    }
+    cachedCatalog = merged
+    catalogFetchedAt = Date.now()
+    try { localStorage.setItem('archy_catalog', JSON.stringify(merged)) } catch {}
+    return merged
   }
 
   // Try localStorage cache as final fallback