diff --git a/internal/ipc/ipc.go b/internal/ipc/ipc.go
index a3f1026..3a75ca0 100644
--- a/internal/ipc/ipc.go
+++ b/internal/ipc/ipc.go
@@ -127,6 +127,8 @@ func handleClient(conn net.Conn, mgr *netmgr.Manager) {
 
 	// Send initial state snapshot.
 	send(stateSnapshot(mgr))
+	// Send stored history for each room so the UI is populated on connect.
+	sendStoredHistory(mgr, send)
 
 	scanner := bufio.NewScanner(conn)
 	for scanner.Scan() {
@@ -462,6 +464,34 @@ func stateSnapshot(mgr *netmgr.Manager) proto.IpcMessage {
 	return msg
 }
 
+// sendStoredHistory pushes recent messages for all known rooms to a newly-connected IPC client.
+func sendStoredHistory(mgr *netmgr.Manager, send func(proto.IpcMessage)) {
+	all := mgr.All()
+	if len(all) == 0 {
+		return
+	}
+	n := all[0] // use first network; multi-network history follows same pattern
+	if n.Store == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	rooms := []string{"general"}
+	if extra, err := n.Store.Rooms(); err == nil {
+		rooms = append(rooms, extra...)
+	}
+	for _, room := range rooms {
+		msgs, err := n.Store.RecentMessagesSince(room, 0, 200)
+		if err != nil || len(msgs) == 0 {
+			continue
+		}
+		send(proto.IpcMessage{
+			Type:      proto.EvtHistoryLoaded,
+			NetworkID: n.ID,
+			Room:      room,
+			Messages:  msgs,
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func errMsg(s string) proto.IpcMessage {
 	return proto.IpcMessage{Type: proto.EvtError, ErrorMessage: s}
 }