diff --git a/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/package/async_lifecycle.rs b/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/package/async_lifecycle.rs
index 63ad037b..fe67b145 100644
--- a/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/package/async_lifecycle.rs
+++ b/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/package/async_lifecycle.rs
@@ -377,12 +377,34 @@ impl RpcHandler {
                 Err(e) => {
                     error!("package.update {} failed: {:#}", package_id_spawn, e);
                     install_log(&format!("UPDATE FAIL: {} — {:#}", package_id_spawn, e)).await;
-                    // Inner handler already ran rollback_update + cleared
-                    // update state, but be defensive: revert to pre-state
-                    // in case the inner flow died before its cleanup.
-                    if let Some(prev) = pre_state {
-                        set_package_state(&handler.state_manager, &package_id_spawn, prev).await;
-                    }
+                    // Release the transitional overlay before asking the scanner
+                    // for real state. Prior Running is not proof of successful
+                    // rollback, and a failed preflight is not proof of Stopped.
+                    handler
+                        .state_manager
+                        .mutate_data(|data| {
+                            if let Some(entry) = data.package_data.get_mut(&package_id_spawn) {
+                                finish_failed_update(entry);
+                            }
+                            data.notifications.retain(|item| {
+                                item.id != format!("update-failed-{package_id_spawn}")
+                            });
+                            data.notifications.push(crate::data_model::Notification {
+                                id: format!("update-failed-{package_id_spawn}"),
+                                level: crate::data_model::NotificationLevel::Error,
+                                title: format!("Could not update {package_id_spawn}"),
+                                message: format!(
+                                    "{e}. Runtime recovery does not roll back database changes."
+                                ),
+                                timestamp: chrono::Utc::now().to_rfc3339(),
+                                app_id: Some(package_id_spawn.clone()),
+                            });
+                            while data.notifications.len() > 20 {
+                                data.notifications.remove(0);
+                            }
+                        })
+                        .await;
+                    kick_scanner_and_wait(&handler).await;
                 }
             }
         });
@@ -585,3 +607,34 @@ async fn kick_scanner_and_wait(handler: &RpcHandler) {
     })
     .await;
 }
+
+fn finish_failed_update(entry: &mut crate::data_model::PackageDataEntry) {
+    if entry.state == PackageState::Updating {
+        entry.state = PackageState::Installed;
+    }
+    entry.install_progress = None;
+}
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod update_completion_tests {
+    use super::*;
+    #[test]
+    fn failure_releases_spinner_without_inventing_stopped_or_restored_runtime() {
+        let mut entry = super::super::progress::create_installing_entry("movie");
+        entry.state = PackageState::Updating;
+        finish_failed_update(&mut entry);
+        assert_eq!(entry.state, PackageState::Installed);
+        assert!(entry.install_progress.is_none());
+        for actual in [
+            PackageState::Running,
+            PackageState::Stopped,
+            PackageState::Exited,
+        ] {
+            entry.state = actual.clone();
+            finish_failed_update(&mut entry);
+            assert_eq!(
+                entry.state, actual,
+                "Fresh scanner evidence must win over old pre-update intent"
+            );
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/package/install.rs b/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/package/install.rs
index 05d8c92b..1609c037 100644
--- a/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/package/install.rs
+++ b/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/package/install.rs
@@ -283,6 +283,7 @@ impl RpcHandler {
         let lifecycle_guard =
             crate::container::update_transaction::Guard::acquire(&self.config.data_dir)?;
         lifecycle_guard.require_clear()?;
+        lifecycle_guard.require_unheld(&super::config::all_container_names(package_id))?;
 
         let docker_image = params
             .get("dockerImage")
diff --git a/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/package/runtime.rs b/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/package/runtime.rs
index 88b16795..edba9f64 100644
--- a/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/package/runtime.rs
+++ b/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/package/runtime.rs
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ impl RpcHandler {
         let lifecycle_guard =
             crate::container::update_transaction::Guard::acquire(&self.config.data_dir)?;
         lifecycle_guard.require_clear()?;
+        lifecycle_guard.require_unheld(&super::config::all_container_names(package_id))?;
         // A cuprate node that starts on a too-small disk fills it and takes
         // Archipelago down with it (no upstream pruning — see
         // dependencies::check_cuprate_disk_compatibility). Fail the start
@@ -174,6 +175,7 @@ impl RpcHandler {
         let lifecycle_guard =
             crate::container::update_transaction::Guard::acquire(&self.config.data_dir)?;
         lifecycle_guard.require_clear()?;
+        lifecycle_guard.require_unheld(&super::config::all_container_names(package_id))?;
 
         let single_orchestrator_app =
             self.orchestrator.is_some() && uses_single_orchestrator_app(package_id);
@@ -280,6 +282,7 @@ impl RpcHandler {
         let lifecycle_guard =
             crate::container::update_transaction::Guard::acquire(&self.config.data_dir)?;
         lifecycle_guard.require_clear()?;
+        lifecycle_guard.require_unheld(&super::config::all_container_names(package_id))?;
         // Restart is stop + recreate, so on a disk that shrank below the cuprate
         // minimum after install it resumes the doomed unprunable sync just like
         // start would — same gate, same "fail before clearing user-stopped /
@@ -389,6 +392,7 @@ impl RpcHandler {
         let lifecycle_guard =
             crate::container::update_transaction::Guard::acquire(&self.config.data_dir)?;
         lifecycle_guard.require_clear()?;
+        lifecycle_guard.require_unheld(&super::config::all_container_names(package_id))?;
         let preserve_data = params
             .get("preserve_data")
             .and_then(|v| v.as_bool())
diff --git a/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/package/update.rs b/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/package/update.rs
index 4d73e58a..037f0f93 100644
--- a/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/package/update.rs
+++ b/core/archipelago/src/api/rpc/package/update.rs
@@ -481,7 +481,9 @@ impl RpcHandler {
         if let Some(entry) = data.package_data.get_mut(package_id) {
             // Don't overwrite state from scanner — just clear if still Updating
             if entry.state == PackageState::Updating {
-                entry.state = PackageState::Stopped;
+                // Unknown is not stopped: the authoritative scanner will
+                // refresh actual retained runtime immediately in the wrapper.
+                entry.state = PackageState::Installed;
             }
         }
         self.state_manager.update_data(data).await;
diff --git a/core/archipelago/src/container/mod.rs b/core/archipelago/src/container/mod.rs
index 056e21da..98db75e1 100644
--- a/core/archipelago/src/container/mod.rs
+++ b/core/archipelago/src/container/mod.rs
@@ -33,3 +33,5 @@ pub use traits::ContainerOrchestrator;
 mod staged_update;
 
 pub(crate) mod update_transaction;
+
+pub(crate) mod supervised_update;
diff --git a/core/archipelago/src/container/prod_orchestrator.rs b/core/archipelago/src/container/prod_orchestrator.rs
index a5c0d696..fbb9478d 100644
--- a/core/archipelago/src/container/prod_orchestrator.rs
+++ b/core/archipelago/src/container/prod_orchestrator.rs
@@ -1994,6 +1994,16 @@ impl ProdContainerOrchestrator {
                 return report;
             }
         };
+        let held_names = match _update_guard.held_names() {
+            Ok(names) => names,
+            Err(error) => {
+                let mut report = ReconcileReport::default();
+                report
+                    .failures
+                    .push(("update-recovery".into(), format!("{error:#}")));
+                return report;
+            }
+        };
         let user_stopped = crate::crash_recovery::load_user_stopped(&self.data_dir).await;
         // Durable desired-state signal: the container names that were running at
         // the last periodic snapshot. Used below to recreate a previously-running
@@ -2015,6 +2025,7 @@ impl ProdContainerOrchestrator {
             let filtered = state
                 .manifests
                 .iter()
+                .filter(|(_, lm)| !held_names.contains(&compute_container_name(&lm.manifest)))
                 .filter(|(app_id, _)| !state.disabled.contains(*app_id))
                 .filter(|(app_id, lm)| {
                     dependency_required.contains(*app_id)
@@ -3442,6 +3453,9 @@ impl ProdContainerOrchestrator {
     /// changes restart the service and retain a durable pending marker until
     /// that succeeds, including across daemon restarts and failed reloads.
     async fn sync_quadlet_unit(&self, lm: &LoadedManifest, name: &str) -> Result<()> {
+        if super::update_transaction::is_held(&self.data_dir, name)? {
+            return Ok(()); // Preserve the recovered unit instead of current catalog drift.
+        }
         // Companions: same reasoning as migrate_to_quadlet_if_needed —
         // companion.rs renders these units with a different shape, syncing
         // here would clobber them.
diff --git a/core/archipelago/src/container/supervised_update.rs b/core/archipelago/src/container/supervised_update.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..37fe6a94
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/archipelago/src/container/supervised_update.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,809 @@
+//! Quadlet recovery preserves exact original launch configuration and image, not
+//! ephemeral --rm container IDs. Persistent application data is never rolled back.
+use super::update_transaction::{Guard, Observed, Target};
+use anyhow::{Context, Result};
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use std::{
+    future::Future,
+    io::Write,
+    os::unix::fs::{DirBuilderExt, OpenOptionsExt},
+    path::{Path, PathBuf},
+};
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub(crate) struct Unit {
+    pub name: String,
+    pub body: String,
+    pub image: String,
+    pub container_id: String,
+    pub running: bool,
+    pub config_sha256: String,
+}
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub(crate) struct PreparedTarget {
+    pub body: String,
+    pub manifest: archipelago_container::AppManifest,
+}
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub(crate) struct RecoveryImage {
+    pub image: String,
+    pub source_container_id: String,
+    pub operation_id: String,
+}
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+struct Member {
+    original: Unit,
+    target: Target,
+    target_body: String,
+    target_manifest: archipelago_container::AppManifest,
+    pinned_original_body: String,
+    original_tag: String,
+    recovery_image: Option<RecoveryImage>,
+}
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq, Eq)]
+enum Phase {
+    Prepared,
+    Aborted,
+    Editing,
+    Starting,
+    Committed,
+    Restored,
+}
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(deny_unknown_fields)]
+struct Journal {
+    schema: u8,
+    id: String,
+    package: String,
+    phase: Phase,
+    members: Vec<Member>,
+}
+
+pub(crate) trait Supervisor: Sync {
+    /// Only an internal reviewed signed-manifest planner may supply this value;
+    /// browser parameters must never become a unit body or hook recipe.
+    fn prepare_target(
+        &self,
+        target: &Target,
+        original: &Unit,
+    ) -> impl Future<Output = Result<PreparedTarget>> + Send;
+    fn target_hooks(
+        &self,
+        name: &str,
+        manifest: &archipelago_container::AppManifest,
+    ) -> impl Future<Output = Result<()>> + Send;
+
+    /// Commit the exact original writable layer to a local-only operation-owned
+    /// image, explicitly pausing and excluding mounted volumes. A retry must
+    /// recover its matching image rather than overwrite an unrelated tag.
+    /// This does not establish application-level write quiescence or DB backup.
+    fn snapshot(
+        &self,
+        original: &Unit,
+        operation_id: &str,
+        tag: &str,
+    ) -> impl Future<Output = Result<RecoveryImage>> + Send;
+    fn capture(&self, name: &str) -> impl Future<Output = Result<Unit>> + Send;
+    fn read(&self, name: &str) -> impl Future<Output = Result<String>> + Send;
+    fn write(
+        &self,
+        name: &str,
+        expected: &[String],
+        body: &str,
+    ) -> impl Future<Output = Result<()>> + Send;
+    fn pin(&self, image: &str, tag: &str) -> impl Future<Output = Result<()>> + Send;
+    fn stop(&self, name: &str) -> impl Future<Output = Result<()>> + Send;
+    fn reload(&self) -> impl Future<Output = Result<()>> + Send;
+    fn start(&self, name: &str) -> impl Future<Output = Result<()>> + Send;
+    fn observed(&self, name: &str) -> impl Future<Output = Result<Option<Observed>>> + Send;
+    fn healthy(&self, name: &str) -> impl Future<Output = Result<bool>> + Send;
+}
+fn simple(value: &str) -> bool {
+    !value.is_empty()
+        && value.len() <= 128
+        && value
+            .bytes()
+            .all(|b| b.is_ascii_alphanumeric() || matches!(b, b'-' | b'_'))
+}
+fn digest(value: &str) -> bool {
+    value.len() == 64 && value.bytes().all(|b| b.is_ascii_hexdigit())
+}
+/// Parse only the renderer-owned unit shape. Ambiguous images, includes and
+/// external environment files cannot become a guessed recovery recipe.
+pub(crate) fn pin_body(body: &str, name: &str, image: &str) -> Result<String> {
+    anyhow::ensure!(
+        body.len() <= 1024 * 1024 && simple(name),
+        "Invalid original unit"
+    );
+    let mut section = "";
+    let mut images = 0;
+    let mut names = 0;
+    let mut output = String::new();
+    for line in body.lines() {
+        let trimmed = line.trim();
+        anyhow::ensure!(
+            !trimmed.ends_with('\\')
+                && !trimmed.starts_with(".include")
+                && !trimmed.starts_with("EnvironmentFile=")
+                && !trimmed.starts_with("EnvFile="),
+            "Unit has external/continued configuration; exact recovery is not supported yet"
+        );
+        if trimmed.starts_with('[') {
+            section = trimmed;
+        }
+        if section == "[Container]" && trimmed.starts_with("Image=") {
+            images += 1;
+            output.push_str(&format!("Image={image}\n"));
+        } else {
+            if section == "[Container]" && trimmed.starts_with("ContainerName=") {
+                names += 1;
+                anyhow::ensure!(
+                    trimmed == format!("ContainerName={name}"),
+                    "Unit container ownership mismatch"
+                );
+            }
+            output.push_str(line);
+            output.push('\n');
+        }
+    }
+    anyhow::ensure!(
+        images == 1 && names == 1,
+        "Original Quadlet must bind one container and image"
+    );
+    Ok(output)
+}
+fn root(guard: &Guard) -> Result<PathBuf> {
+    let path = guard.directory().join("supervised");
+    match std::fs::DirBuilder::new().mode(0o700).create(&path) {
+        Ok(()) => {}
+        Err(e) if e.kind() == std::io::ErrorKind::AlreadyExists => {}
+        Err(e) => return Err(e.into()),
+    }
+    anyhow::ensure!(
+        !std::fs::symlink_metadata(&path)?.file_type().is_symlink(),
+        "Invalid supervised journal directory"
+    );
+    Ok(path)
+}
+fn validate(record: &Journal) -> Result<()> {
+    anyhow::ensure!(
+        record.schema == 1
+            && simple(&record.package)
+            && uuid::Uuid::parse_str(&record.id)?.to_string() == record.id
+            && !record.members.is_empty()
+            && record.members.len() <= 32,
+        "Invalid supervised update journal"
+    );
+    let mut names = std::collections::HashSet::new();
+    for (index, member) in record.members.iter().enumerate() {
+        anyhow::ensure!(
+            simple(&member.original.name)
+                && names.insert(&member.original.name)
+                && member.target.name == member.original.name
+                && digest(&member.target.image)
+                && digest(&member.original.image)
+                && digest(&member.original.container_id)
+                && digest(&member.original.config_sha256),
+            "Invalid original supervised identity"
+        );
+        anyhow::ensure!(
+            member.original_tag == format!("localhost/archy-update-recovery:{}-{index}", record.id),
+            "Recovery image pin changed"
+        );
+        if let Some(image) = &member.recovery_image {
+            anyhow::ensure!(
+                digest(&image.image)
+                    && image.source_container_id == member.original.container_id
+                    && image.operation_id == record.id,
+                "Recovery image ownership changed"
+            );
+        }
+        anyhow::ensure!(
+            matches!(record.phase, Phase::Prepared | Phase::Aborted)
+                || member.recovery_image.is_some(),
+            "Destructive update lacks a durable writable-layer recovery image"
+        );
+        let restore_image = member
+            .recovery_image
+            .as_ref()
+            .map(|value| value.image.as_str())
+            .unwrap_or(&member.original.image);
+        anyhow::ensure!(
+            member.pinned_original_body
+                == pin_body(
+                    &member.original.body,
+                    &member.original.name,
+                    &format!("sha256:{restore_image}")
+                )?
+                && member.target_body
+                    == pin_body(
+                        &member.target_body,
+                        &member.original.name,
+                        &member.target.reference
+                    )?
+                && member.target_manifest.app.container.image.as_deref()
+                    == Some(member.target.reference.as_str()),
+            "Saved unit recipe changed"
+        );
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+fn save(guard: &Guard, record: &Journal) -> Result<()> {
+    validate(record)?;
+    let dir = root(guard)?;
+    let bytes = serde_json::to_vec(record)?;
+    anyhow::ensure!(
+        bytes.len() <= 4 * 1024 * 1024,
+        "Supervised recovery journal too large"
+    );
+    let temporary = dir.join(format!(".{}.tmp", uuid::Uuid::new_v4()));
+    let result = (|| -> Result<()> {
+        let mut file = std::fs::OpenOptions::new()
+            .create_new(true)
+            .write(true)
+            .mode(0o600)
+            .open(&temporary)?;
+        file.write_all(&bytes)?;
+        file.sync_all()?;
+        std::fs::rename(&temporary, dir.join(format!("{}.json", record.id)))?;
+        std::fs::File::open(&dir)?.sync_all()?;
+        std::fs::File::open(guard.directory())?.sync_all()?;
+        Ok(())
+    })();
+    if result.is_err() {
+        let _ = std::fs::remove_file(temporary);
+    }
+    result
+}
+fn records(guard: &Guard) -> Result<Vec<Journal>> {
+    let dir = root(guard)?;
+    let mut records = Vec::new();
+    for entry in std::fs::read_dir(dir)? {
+        let entry = entry?;
+        if entry.path().extension().and_then(|v| v.to_str()) != Some("json") {
+            continue;
+        }
+        anyhow::ensure!(
+            records.len() < 128
+                && entry.file_type()?.is_file()
+                && entry.metadata()?.len() <= 4 * 1024 * 1024,
+            "Invalid supervised recovery inventory"
+        );
+        let record: Journal = serde_json::from_slice(&std::fs::read(entry.path())?)?;
+        validate(&record)?;
+        anyhow::ensure!(
+            entry.file_name() == format!("{}.json", record.id).as_str(),
+            "Supervised journal name changed"
+        );
+        records.push(record);
+    }
+    Ok(records)
+}
+pub(crate) fn require_clear(guard: &Guard) -> Result<()> {
+    anyhow::ensure!(
+        records(guard)?
+            .iter()
+            .all(|r| matches!(r.phase, Phase::Committed | Phase::Restored | Phase::Aborted)),
+        "A supervised update needs recovery first"
+    );
+    Ok(())
+}
+pub(crate) async fn execute(
+    guard: &Guard,
+    package: &str,
+    targets: &[Target],
+    supervisor: &impl Supervisor,
+) -> Result<()> {
+    guard.require_clear()?;
+    anyhow::ensure!(
+        !targets.is_empty() && targets.len() <= 32,
+        "Invalid supervised stack"
+    );
+    let id = uuid::Uuid::new_v4().to_string();
+    let mut members = Vec::new();
+    for (index, target) in targets.iter().enumerate() {
+        let original = supervisor.capture(&target.name).await?;
+        // Inactive units require a durable explicit-start staging path; never
+        // implement this by starting and then stopping a user's stopped member.
+        anyhow::ensure!(original.running,"Stopped supervised member requires staged update; all original services remain unchanged");
+        let prepared = supervisor.prepare_target(target, &original).await?;
+        anyhow::ensure!(
+            prepared.manifest.app.container.image.as_deref() == Some(target.reference.as_str()),
+            "Reviewed target manifest image changed"
+        );
+        let target_body = pin_body(&prepared.body, &original.name, &target.reference)?;
+        anyhow::ensure!(
+            target_body == prepared.body,
+            "Reviewed target unit image changed"
+        );
+        let pinned_original_body = pin_body(
+            &original.body,
+            &original.name,
+            &format!("sha256:{}", original.image),
+        )?;
+        members.push(Member {
+            original,
+            target: target.clone(),
+            target_body,
+            target_manifest: prepared.manifest,
+            pinned_original_body,
+            original_tag: format!("localhost/archy-update-recovery:{id}-{index}"),
+            recovery_image: None,
+        });
+    }
+    let mut record = Journal {
+        schema: 1,
+        id,
+        package: package.into(),
+        phase: Phase::Prepared,
+        members,
+    };
+    save(guard, &record)?;
+    for member in &record.members {
+        guard.hold(&member.original.name, &record.id)?;
+    }
+    let result = apply(guard, &mut record, supervisor).await;
+    if let Err(error) = result {
+        return match restore(guard,&mut record,supervisor).await {
+            Ok(())=>Err(error.context("Original supervised image/configuration and running intent restored; container IDs may change and data was not rolled back")),
+            Err(recovery)=>Err(error.context(format!("Supervised runtime recovery remains unresolved: {recovery:#}"))),
+        };
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+async fn apply(guard: &Guard, record: &mut Journal, supervisor: &impl Supervisor) -> Result<()> {
+    for index in 0..record.members.len() {
+        let member = &record.members[index];
+        anyhow::ensure!(
+            supervisor.read(&member.original.name).await? == member.original.body,
+            "Unit edited before update; originals retained"
+        );
+        let image = supervisor
+            .snapshot(&member.original, &record.id, &member.original_tag)
+            .await?;
+        anyhow::ensure!(
+            digest(&image.image)
+                && image.source_container_id == member.original.container_id
+                && image.operation_id == record.id,
+            "Writable-layer recovery ownership mismatch"
+        );
+        let member = &mut record.members[index];
+        member.pinned_original_body = pin_body(
+            &member.original.body,
+            &member.original.name,
+            &format!("sha256:{}", image.image),
+        )?;
+        member.recovery_image = Some(image);
+        // The image acknowledgement becomes durable before any original stop.
+        save(guard, record)?;
+    }
+    record.phase = Phase::Editing;
+    save(guard, record)?;
+    for member in record.members.iter().rev() {
+        supervisor.stop(&member.original.name).await?;
+    }
+    for member in &record.members {
+        supervisor
+            .write(
+                &member.original.name,
+                &[member.original.body.clone()],
+                &member.target_body,
+            )
+            .await?;
+    }
+    supervisor.reload().await?;
+    record.phase = Phase::Starting;
+    save(guard, record)?;
+    for member in &record.members {
+        supervisor.start(&member.original.name).await?;
+        supervisor
+            .target_hooks(&member.original.name, &member.target_manifest)
+            .await?;
+        let observed = supervisor
+            .observed(&member.original.name)
+            .await?
+            .context("Updated supervised member missing")?;
+        anyhow::ensure!(
+            observed.running
+                && observed.image == member.target.image
+                && supervisor.healthy(&member.original.name).await?,
+            "Updated supervised member failed verification"
+        );
+    }
+    record.phase = Phase::Committed;
+    save(guard, record)?;
+    for member in &record.members {
+        guard.release_hold(&member.original.name, &record.id)?;
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+async fn restore(guard: &Guard, record: &mut Journal, supervisor: &impl Supervisor) -> Result<()> {
+    if record.phase == Phase::Prepared {
+        // Only image snapshots may have happened. Never stop/recreate an intact
+        // app just because preflight or snapshotting failed on another member.
+        for member in &record.members {
+            let original = supervisor
+                .observed(&member.original.name)
+                .await?
+                .context("Original service disappeared during preparation")?;
+            anyhow::ensure!(
+                supervisor.read(&member.original.name).await? == member.original.body
+                    && original.id == member.original.container_id
+                    && original.image == member.original.image
+                    && original.running == member.original.running
+                    && original.config_sha256 == member.original.config_sha256,
+                "Original service changed during preparation; recovery requires inspection"
+            );
+        }
+        record.phase = Phase::Aborted;
+        save(guard, record)?;
+        for member in &record.members {
+            guard.release_hold(&member.original.name, &record.id)?;
+        }
+        return Ok(());
+    }
+    // Refuse to overwrite a foreign edit before stopping any surviving member.
+    for member in &record.members {
+        let body = supervisor.read(&member.original.name).await?;
+        anyhow::ensure!(
+            [
+                &member.original.body,
+                &member.target_body,
+                &member.pinned_original_body
+            ]
+            .contains(&&body),
+            "Foreign unit edit requires explicit recovery"
+        );
+        supervisor
+            .pin(
+                &member
+                    .recovery_image
+                    .as_ref()
+                    .context("Missing recovery image")?
+                    .image,
+                &member.original_tag,
+            )
+            .await?;
+    }
+    for member in record.members.iter().rev() {
+        supervisor.stop(&member.original.name).await?;
+    }
+    for member in &record.members {
+        supervisor
+            .write(
+                &member.original.name,
+                &[
+                    member.original.body.clone(),
+                    member.target_body.clone(),
+                    member.pinned_original_body.clone(),
+                ],
+                &member.pinned_original_body,
+            )
+            .await?;
+    }
+    supervisor.reload().await?;
+    for member in &record.members {
+        if member.original.running {
+            supervisor.start(&member.original.name).await?;
+        }
+        let observed = supervisor.observed(&member.original.name).await?;
+        if member.original.running {
+            let current = observed.context("Original supervised service did not return")?;
+            anyhow::ensure!(
+                current.running
+                    && current.image
+                        == member
+                            .recovery_image
+                            .as_ref()
+                            .context("Missing recovery image")?
+                            .image
+                    && current.config_sha256 == member.original.config_sha256,
+                "Original launch configuration did not recover"
+            );
+        } else {
+            anyhow::ensure!(
+                observed.is_none_or(|v| !v.running),
+                "Originally stopped service unexpectedly running"
+            );
+        }
+    }
+    for member in &record.members {
+        guard.hold(&member.original.name, &record.id)?;
+    }
+    record.phase = Phase::Restored;
+    save(guard, record)
+}
+pub(crate) async fn recover(guard: &Guard, supervisor: &impl Supervisor) -> Result<()> {
+    for mut record in records(guard)? {
+        match record.phase {
+            Phase::Committed | Phase::Aborted => {
+                for member in &record.members {
+                    guard.release_hold(&member.original.name, &record.id)?;
+                }
+            }
+            Phase::Restored => {} // A later retry may own the current hold.
+            _ => restore(guard, &mut record, supervisor).await?,
+        }
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+    use std::sync::{
+        atomic::{AtomicBool, AtomicUsize, Ordering},
+        Mutex,
+    };
+    struct Mock {
+        original: Unit,
+        body: Mutex<String>,
+        running: AtomicBool,
+        calls: Mutex<Vec<String>>,
+        fail_new_hooks: AtomicBool,
+        fail_snapshot: AtomicBool,
+        generation: AtomicUsize,
+    }
+    impl Mock {
+        fn new() -> Self {
+            let body=format!("[Container]\nContainerName=movie\nImage=sha256:{}\nEnvironment=OPERATOR_VALUE=retained\nPull=never\n[Service]\nRestart=always\n", "a".repeat(64));
+            Self {
+                original: Unit {
+                    name: "movie".into(),
+                    body: body.clone(),
+                    image: "a".repeat(64),
+                    container_id: format!("{:064x}", 1),
+                    running: true,
+                    config_sha256: "c".repeat(64),
+                },
+                body: Mutex::new(body),
+                running: AtomicBool::new(true),
+                calls: Default::default(),
+                fail_new_hooks: AtomicBool::new(false),
+                fail_snapshot: AtomicBool::new(false),
+                generation: AtomicUsize::new(1),
+            }
+        }
+        fn target() -> Target {
+            Target {
+                name: "movie".into(),
+                reference: format!("localhost/new@sha256:{}", "b".repeat(64)),
+                image: "b".repeat(64),
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    impl Supervisor for Mock {
+        async fn prepare_target(
+            &self,
+            target: &Target,
+            _original: &Unit,
+        ) -> Result<PreparedTarget> {
+            let manifest = archipelago_container::AppManifest::parse(&format!(
+                "app:\n  id: movie\n  name: Movie\n  version: 2.0.0\n  container:\n    image: {}\n",
+                target.reference
+            ))?;
+            let body = pin_body(&self.original.body, "movie", &target.reference)?.replace(
+                "Pull=never",
+                "Environment=NEW_FEATURE=enabled\nVolume=/identity:/run/identity:ro\nPull=never",
+            );
+            Ok(PreparedTarget { body, manifest })
+        }
+        async fn target_hooks(
+            &self,
+            _name: &str,
+            _manifest: &archipelago_container::AppManifest,
+        ) -> Result<()> {
+            self.calls.lock().unwrap().push("new-hooks".into());
+            anyhow::ensure!(
+                !self.fail_new_hooks.load(Ordering::SeqCst),
+                "New provider hook failed"
+            );
+            Ok(())
+        }
+        async fn snapshot(
+            &self,
+            original: &Unit,
+            operation_id: &str,
+            _tag: &str,
+        ) -> Result<RecoveryImage> {
+            self.calls.lock().unwrap().push("snapshot-original".into());
+            anyhow::ensure!(
+                !self.fail_snapshot.load(Ordering::SeqCst),
+                "Snapshot failed"
+            );
+            Ok(RecoveryImage {
+                image: "e".repeat(64),
+                source_container_id: original.container_id.clone(),
+                operation_id: operation_id.into(),
+            })
+        }
+        async fn capture(&self, _name: &str) -> Result<Unit> {
+            Ok(self.original.clone())
+        }
+        async fn read(&self, _name: &str) -> Result<String> {
+            Ok(self.body.lock().unwrap().clone())
+        }
+        async fn write(&self, _name: &str, expected: &[String], body: &str) -> Result<()> {
+            let mut current = self.body.lock().unwrap();
+            anyhow::ensure!(expected.contains(&*current), "Foreign unit edit");
+            *current = body.into();
+            self.calls.lock().unwrap().push("write".into());
+            Ok(())
+        }
+        async fn pin(&self, _image: &str, _tag: &str) -> Result<()> {
+            self.calls.lock().unwrap().push("pin-original".into());
+            Ok(())
+        }
+        async fn stop(&self, _name: &str) -> Result<()> {
+            self.calls.lock().unwrap().push("stop-unit".into());
+            self.running.store(false, Ordering::SeqCst);
+            Ok(())
+        }
+        async fn reload(&self) -> Result<()> {
+            self.calls.lock().unwrap().push("reload".into());
+            Ok(())
+        }
+        async fn start(&self, _name: &str) -> Result<()> {
+            self.calls.lock().unwrap().push("start-unit".into());
+            self.running.store(true, Ordering::SeqCst);
+            self.generation.fetch_add(1, Ordering::SeqCst);
+            Ok(())
+        }
+        async fn observed(&self, _name: &str) -> Result<Option<Observed>> {
+            if !self.running.load(Ordering::SeqCst) {
+                return Ok(None);
+            }
+            let new = self.body.lock().unwrap().contains("NEW_FEATURE=enabled");
+            Ok(Some(Observed {
+                id: format!("{:064x}", self.generation.load(Ordering::SeqCst)),
+                name: "movie".into(),
+                image: if new {
+                    "b".repeat(64)
+                } else if self.body.lock().unwrap().contains(&"e".repeat(64)) {
+                    "e".repeat(64)
+                } else {
+                    "a".repeat(64)
+                },
+                running: true,
+                retainable: false,
+                config_sha256: if new { "d".repeat(64) } else { "c".repeat(64) },
+            }))
+        }
+        async fn healthy(&self, _name: &str) -> Result<bool> {
+            Ok(true)
+        }
+    }
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn snapshot_failure_never_stops_or_recreates_original_runtime() {
+        let root = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let guard = Guard::acquire(root.path()).unwrap();
+        let runtime = Mock::new();
+        runtime.fail_snapshot.store(true, Ordering::SeqCst);
+        assert!(execute(&guard, "movie", &[Mock::target()], &runtime)
+            .await
+            .is_err());
+        assert_eq!(*runtime.calls.lock().unwrap(), ["snapshot-original"]);
+        let original = runtime.observed("movie").await.unwrap().unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(original.id, runtime.original.container_id);
+        assert_eq!(original.image, runtime.original.image);
+        assert_eq!(*runtime.body.lock().unwrap(), runtime.original.body);
+        assert_eq!(records(&guard).unwrap()[0].phase, Phase::Aborted);
+        assert!(!super::super::update_transaction::is_held(root.path(), "movie").unwrap());
+        recover(&guard, &runtime).await.unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(*runtime.calls.lock().unwrap(), ["snapshot-original"]);
+    }
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn committed_restart_releases_only_its_own_hold_without_runtime_mutation() {
+        let root = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let guard = Guard::acquire(root.path()).unwrap();
+        let runtime = Mock::new();
+        execute(&guard, "movie", &[Mock::target()], &runtime)
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        let record = records(&guard).unwrap().pop().unwrap();
+        guard.hold("movie", &record.id).unwrap();
+        runtime.calls.lock().unwrap().clear();
+        recover(&guard, &runtime).await.unwrap();
+        assert!(runtime.calls.lock().unwrap().is_empty());
+        assert!(!super::super::update_transaction::is_held(root.path(), "movie").unwrap());
+        let next = uuid::Uuid::new_v4().to_string();
+        guard.hold("movie", &next).unwrap();
+        recover(&guard, &runtime).await.unwrap();
+        assert!(super::super::update_transaction::is_held(root.path(), "movie").unwrap());
+    }
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn forward_applies_reviewed_new_configuration_and_hooks_not_only_image() {
+        let root = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let guard = Guard::acquire(root.path()).unwrap();
+        let runtime = Mock::new();
+        execute(&guard, "movie", &[Mock::target()], &runtime)
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        let body = runtime.body.lock().unwrap();
+        assert!(body.contains("OPERATOR_VALUE=retained"));
+        assert!(body.contains("NEW_FEATURE=enabled"));
+        assert!(body.contains("Volume=/identity:/run/identity:ro"));
+        assert!(runtime.calls.lock().unwrap().contains(&"new-hooks".into()));
+        assert_eq!(records(&guard).unwrap()[0].phase, Phase::Committed);
+        assert!(!super::super::update_transaction::is_held(root.path(), "movie").unwrap());
+    }
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn auto_remove_recovery_restores_old_configuration_without_claiming_original_id() {
+        let root = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let guard = Guard::acquire(root.path()).unwrap();
+        let runtime = Mock::new();
+        runtime.fail_new_hooks.store(true, Ordering::SeqCst);
+        let error = execute(&guard, "movie", &[Mock::target()], &runtime)
+            .await
+            .unwrap_err();
+        assert!(error.to_string().contains("container IDs may change"));
+        assert_eq!(
+            *runtime.body.lock().unwrap(),
+            pin_body(
+                &runtime.original.body,
+                "movie",
+                &format!("sha256:{}", "e".repeat(64))
+            )
+            .unwrap()
+        );
+        let restored = runtime.observed("movie").await.unwrap().unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(restored.image, "e".repeat(64));
+        assert_eq!(restored.config_sha256, runtime.original.config_sha256);
+        assert_ne!(restored.id, format!("{:064x}", 1));
+        assert!(super::super::update_transaction::is_held(root.path(), "movie").unwrap());
+        assert_eq!(records(&guard).unwrap()[0].phase, Phase::Restored);
+    }
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn interrupted_restart_uses_saved_old_unit_even_after_catalog_plan_changes() {
+        let root = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let guard = Guard::acquire(root.path()).unwrap();
+        let runtime = Mock::new();
+        execute(&guard, "movie", &[Mock::target()], &runtime)
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        let mut record = records(&guard).unwrap().pop().unwrap();
+        record.phase = Phase::Starting;
+        save(&guard, &record).unwrap();
+        runtime.calls.lock().unwrap().clear();
+        recover(&guard, &runtime).await.unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            *runtime.body.lock().unwrap(),
+            pin_body(
+                &runtime.original.body,
+                "movie",
+                &format!("sha256:{}", "e".repeat(64))
+            )
+            .unwrap()
+        );
+        assert!(!runtime.calls.lock().unwrap().contains(&"new-hooks".into()));
+    }
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn foreign_unit_edit_blocks_recovery_before_stopping_other_services() {
+        let root = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let guard = Guard::acquire(root.path()).unwrap();
+        let runtime = Mock::new();
+        execute(&guard, "movie", &[Mock::target()], &runtime)
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        let mut record = records(&guard).unwrap().pop().unwrap();
+        record.phase = Phase::Starting;
+        save(&guard, &record).unwrap();
+        *runtime.body.lock().unwrap() = "operator replaced unit".into();
+        runtime.calls.lock().unwrap().clear();
+        assert!(recover(&guard, &runtime).await.is_err());
+        assert!(runtime.calls.lock().unwrap().is_empty());
+        assert_eq!(*runtime.body.lock().unwrap(), "operator replaced unit");
+    }
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn unsupported_stopped_supervised_member_is_never_started_as_a_workaround() {
+        let root = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let guard = Guard::acquire(root.path()).unwrap();
+        let mut runtime = Mock::new();
+        runtime.original.running = false;
+        runtime.running.store(false, Ordering::SeqCst);
+        assert!(execute(&guard, "movie", &[Mock::target()], &runtime)
+            .await
+            .is_err());
+        assert!(runtime.calls.lock().unwrap().is_empty());
+        assert!(records(&guard).unwrap().is_empty());
+    }
+}
diff --git a/core/archipelago/src/container/update_transaction.rs b/core/archipelago/src/container/update_transaction.rs
index c632e9a2..429b5f86 100644
--- a/core/archipelago/src/container/update_transaction.rs
+++ b/core/archipelago/src/container/update_transaction.rs
@@ -74,6 +74,9 @@ pub(crate) struct Guard {
     root: PathBuf,
 }
 impl Guard {
+    pub(crate) fn directory(&self) -> &Path {
+        &self.root
+    }
     pub(crate) fn acquire(data: &Path) -> Result<Self> {
         let root = data.join("update-transactions");
         match std::fs::DirBuilder::new().mode(0o700).create(&root) {
@@ -153,7 +156,76 @@ impl Guard {
         }
         Ok(records)
     }
+    pub(crate) fn hold(&self, name: &str, operation: &str) -> Result<()> {
+        anyhow::ensure!(name_ok(name), "Invalid held container name");
+        uuid::Uuid::parse_str(operation)?;
+        let directory = self.root.join("holds");
+        match std::fs::DirBuilder::new().mode(0o700).create(&directory) {
+            Ok(()) => {}
+            Err(e) if e.kind() == std::io::ErrorKind::AlreadyExists => {}
+            Err(e) => return Err(e.into()),
+        }
+        let temporary = directory.join(format!(".{}.tmp", uuid::Uuid::new_v4()));
+        let mut file = std::fs::OpenOptions::new()
+            .create_new(true)
+            .write(true)
+            .mode(0o600)
+            .open(&temporary)?;
+        file.write_all(operation.as_bytes())?;
+        file.sync_all()?;
+        std::fs::rename(temporary, directory.join(name))?;
+        std::fs::File::open(&directory)?.sync_all()?;
+        std::fs::File::open(&self.root)?.sync_all()?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+    pub(crate) fn release_hold(&self, name: &str, operation: &str) -> Result<()> {
+        anyhow::ensure!(name_ok(name), "Invalid held container name");
+        let path = self.root.join("holds").join(name);
+        match std::fs::read_to_string(&path) {
+            Ok(owner) if owner == operation => {
+                std::fs::remove_file(&path)?;
+                std::fs::File::open(path.parent().unwrap())?.sync_all()?;
+            }
+            Ok(_) => {}
+            Err(e) if e.kind() == std::io::ErrorKind::NotFound => {}
+            Err(e) => return Err(e.into()),
+        }
+        Ok(())
+    }
+    pub(crate) fn held_names(&self) -> Result<HashSet<String>> {
+        let directory = self.root.join("holds");
+        let mut held = HashSet::new();
+        let entries = match std::fs::read_dir(directory) {
+            Ok(entries) => entries,
+            Err(e) if e.kind() == std::io::ErrorKind::NotFound => return Ok(held),
+            Err(e) => return Err(e.into()),
+        };
+        for entry in entries {
+            let entry = entry?;
+            let name = entry
+                .file_name()
+                .into_string()
+                .map_err(|_| anyhow::anyhow!("Invalid recovery hold name"))?;
+            if name.starts_with('.') {
+                continue;
+            }
+            anyhow::ensure!(
+                name_ok(&name) && entry.file_type()?.is_file() && entry.metadata()?.len() == 36,
+                "Damaged recovery hold"
+            );
+            uuid::Uuid::parse_str(&std::fs::read_to_string(entry.path())?)?;
+            held.insert(name);
+        }
+        Ok(held)
+    }
+    pub(crate) fn require_unheld(&self, names: &[String]) -> Result<()> {
+        let held = self.held_names()?;
+        anyhow::ensure!(!names.iter().any(|name|held.contains(name)),
+            "Original app runtime is retained after rollback; retry its update before changing lifecycle");
+        Ok(())
+    }
     pub(crate) fn require_clear(&self) -> Result<()> {
+        super::supervised_update::require_clear(self)?;
         anyhow::ensure!(
             self.records()?
                 .iter()
@@ -260,6 +332,9 @@ pub(crate) async fn execute(
         members,
     };
     guard.save(&record)?;
+    for member in &record.members {
+        guard.hold(&member.original.name, &record.operation)?;
+    }
     match replace(&guard,&mut record,runtime).await {
         Ok(())=>Ok(()),
         Err(error)=>match restore(&guard,&mut record,runtime).await {
@@ -342,7 +417,11 @@ async fn replace(guard: &Guard, record: &mut Record, runtime: &impl Runtime) ->
     // Original backups are retained. Committing does not remove volumes or
     // silently discard the only recoverable original after a schema migration.
     record.phase = Phase::Committed;
-    guard.save(record)
+    guard.save(record)?;
+    for member in &record.members {
+        guard.release_hold(&member.original.name, &record.operation)?;
+    }
+    Ok(())
 }
 async fn restore(guard: &Guard, record: &mut Record, runtime: &impl Runtime) -> Result<()> {
     // Preflight every original before mutating any replacement. Never infer
@@ -401,8 +480,12 @@ async fn restore(guard: &Guard, record: &mut Record, runtime: &impl Runtime) ->
             "Original state was not restored"
         );
     }
+    for member in &record.members {
+        guard.hold(&member.original.name, &record.operation)?;
+    }
     record.phase = Phase::Restored;
-    guard.save(record)
+    guard.save(record)?;
+    Ok(())
 }
 /// Called before ordinary reconciliation. An unresolved recovery must prevent
 /// reconciliation from guessing a replacement or starting stopped originals.
@@ -411,11 +494,32 @@ pub(crate) async fn recover(data: &Path, runtime: &impl Runtime) -> Result<Guard
     for mut record in guard.records()? {
         if !matches!(record.phase, Phase::Committed | Phase::Restored) {
             restore(&guard, &mut record, runtime).await?;
+        } else if record.phase == Phase::Committed {
+            for member in &record.members {
+                guard.release_hold(&member.original.name, &record.operation)?;
+            }
         }
     }
     Ok(guard)
 }
 
+pub(crate) fn is_held(data: &Path, name: &str) -> Result<bool> {
+    anyhow::ensure!(name_ok(name), "Invalid recovery name");
+    let path = data.join("update-transactions/holds").join(name);
+    match std::fs::symlink_metadata(&path) {
+        Ok(meta) => {
+            anyhow::ensure!(
+                meta.is_file() && meta.len() == 36,
+                "Damaged update recovery hold"
+            );
+            uuid::Uuid::parse_str(&std::fs::read_to_string(path)?)?;
+            Ok(true)
+        }
+        Err(e) if e.kind() == std::io::ErrorKind::NotFound => Ok(false),
+        Err(e) => Err(e.into()),
+    }
+}
+
 pub(crate) struct Podman;
 impl Podman {
     async fn output(args: &[&str]) -> Result<std::process::Output> {
@@ -868,6 +972,27 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(recover(root.path(), &runtime).await.is_err());
         assert!(runtime.calls.lock().unwrap().is_empty());
     }
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn restored_original_remains_held_until_explicit_successful_update() {
+        let root = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let runtime = Mock::new();
+        runtime.fail_health.store(true, Ordering::SeqCst);
+        let guard = Guard::acquire(root.path()).unwrap();
+        assert!(execute(&guard, "stack", &Mock::targets(), &runtime)
+            .await
+            .is_err());
+        assert!(is_held(root.path(), "db").unwrap());
+        assert!(guard.require_unheld(&["db".into()]).is_err());
+        drop(guard);
+        let guard = recover(root.path(), &runtime).await.unwrap();
+        assert!(is_held(root.path(), "db").unwrap());
+        runtime.fail_health.store(false, Ordering::SeqCst);
+        execute(&guard, "stack", &Mock::targets(), &runtime)
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        assert!(!is_held(root.path(), "db").unwrap());
+        guard.require_unheld(&["db".into(), "web".into()]).unwrap();
+    }
     #[test]
     fn lifecycle_lock_excludes_competing_commands() {
         let root = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();