diff --git a/backend/package.json b/backend/package.json
index a7e4f7a..5c80ad8 100644
--- a/backend/package.json
+++ b/backend/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "rosterchirp-backend",
-  "version": "0.12.10",
+  "version": "0.12.11",
   "description": "RosterChirp backend server",
   "main": "src/index.js",
   "scripts": {
diff --git a/build.sh b/build.sh
index 4f58bd5..230aaa9 100644
--- a/build.sh
+++ b/build.sh
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 # ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 set -euo pipefail
 
-VERSION="${1:-0.12.10}"
+VERSION="${1:-0.12.11}"
 ACTION="${2:-}"
 REGISTRY="${REGISTRY:-}"
 IMAGE_NAME="rosterchirp"
diff --git a/frontend/package.json b/frontend/package.json
index 18528db..80e3eac 100644
--- a/frontend/package.json
+++ b/frontend/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "rosterchirp-frontend",
-  "version": "0.12.10",
+  "version": "0.12.11",
   "private": true,
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "vite",
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/GlobalBar.jsx b/frontend/src/components/GlobalBar.jsx
index 9d9b75d..0d61d08 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/GlobalBar.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/GlobalBar.jsx
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
 import { useSocket } from '../contexts/SocketContext.jsx';
 import { api } from '../utils/api.js';
 
-export default function GlobalBar({ isMobile, showSidebar, onBurger }) {
+export default function GlobalBar({ isMobile, showSidebar, onBurger, hasUnread = false }) {
   const { connected } = useSocket();
   const [settings, setSettings] = useState({ app_name: 'rosterchirp', logo_url: '' });
   const [isDark, setIsDark] = useState(() => document.documentElement.getAttribute('data-theme') === 'dark');
@@ -41,11 +41,22 @@ export default function GlobalBar({ isMobile, showSidebar, onBurger }) {
           title="Menu"
           aria-label="Open menu"
         >
-          <svg width="22" height="22" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2" strokeLinecap="round">
-            <line x1="3" y1="6" x2="21" y2="6"/>
-            <line x1="3" y1="12" x2="21" y2="12"/>
-            <line x1="3" y1="18" x2="21" y2="18"/>
-          </svg>
+          <div style={{ position: 'relative', display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', justifyContent: 'center' }}>
+            <svg width="22" height="22" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2" strokeLinecap="round">
+              <line x1="3" y1="6" x2="21" y2="6"/>
+              <line x1="3" y1="12" x2="21" y2="12"/>
+              <line x1="3" y1="18" x2="21" y2="18"/>
+            </svg>
+            {hasUnread && (
+              <span style={{
+                position: 'absolute', bottom: -1, right: -1,
+                width: 9, height: 9, borderRadius: '50%',
+                background: 'var(--primary)',
+                border: '2px solid var(--surface)',
+                flexShrink: 0,
+              }} />
+            )}
+          </div>
         </button>
         <div className="global-bar-brand">
           <img src={logoUrl || '/icons/rosterchirp.png'} alt={appName} className="global-bar-logo" />
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/NavDrawer.css b/frontend/src/components/NavDrawer.css
index 9434e9b..1efb3bc 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/NavDrawer.css
+++ b/frontend/src/components/NavDrawer.css
@@ -83,3 +83,12 @@
   color: var(--primary);
 }
 .nav-drawer-item.active:hover { background: var(--primary-light); }
+
+.nav-drawer-unread-dot {
+  margin-left: auto;
+  width: 9px;
+  height: 9px;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  background: var(--primary);
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/NavDrawer.jsx b/frontend/src/components/NavDrawer.jsx
index f675b0f..f7e12ad 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/NavDrawer.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/NavDrawer.jsx
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ const NAV_ICON = {
   settings:      <svg width="18" height="18" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2"><circle cx="12" cy="12" r="3"/><path d="M19.07 4.93l-1.41 1.41M5.34 18.66l-1.41 1.41M12 2v2M12 20v2M4.93 4.93l1.41 1.41M18.66 18.66l1.41 1.41M2 12h2M20 12h2"/></svg>,
 };
 
-export default function NavDrawer({ open, onClose, onMessages, onGroupMessages, onSchedule, onScheduleManager, onBranding, onSettings, onUsers, onGroupManager, onHostPanel, features = {}, currentPage = 'chat', isMobile = false }) {
+export default function NavDrawer({ open, onClose, onMessages, onGroupMessages, onSchedule, onScheduleManager, onBranding, onSettings, onUsers, onGroupManager, onHostPanel, features = {}, currentPage = 'chat', isMobile = false, unreadMessages = false, unreadGroupMessages = false }) {
   const { user } = useAuth();
   const drawerRef = useRef(null);
   const isAdmin = user?.role === 'admin';
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ export default function NavDrawer({ open, onClose, onMessages, onGroupMessages,
   }, [open, onClose]);
 
   const item = (icon, label, onClick, opts = {}) => {
-    const { active, disabled, badge } = opts;
+    const { active, disabled, badge, dot } = opts;
     return (
       <button
         className={`nav-drawer-item${active ? ' active' : ''}${disabled ? ' disabled' : ''}`}
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ export default function NavDrawer({ open, onClose, onMessages, onGroupMessages,
         {icon}
         <span>{label}</span>
         {badge && <span className="nav-drawer-badge">{badge}</span>}
+        {dot && <span className="nav-drawer-unread-dot" />}
       </button>
     );
   };
@@ -64,8 +65,8 @@ export default function NavDrawer({ open, onClose, onMessages, onGroupMessages,
         </div>
 
         {/* User section */}
-        {item(NAV_ICON.messages,      'Messages',        onMessages,      { active: currentPage === 'chat' })}
-        {hasUserGroups && item(NAV_ICON.groupmessages, 'Group Messages', onGroupMessages, { active: currentPage === 'groupmessages' })}
+        {item(NAV_ICON.messages,      'Messages',        onMessages,      { active: currentPage === 'chat',         dot: unreadMessages })}
+        {hasUserGroups && item(NAV_ICON.groupmessages, 'Group Messages', onGroupMessages, { active: currentPage === 'groupmessages', dot: unreadGroupMessages })}
         {features.scheduleManager && item(NAV_ICON.schedules, 'Schedules', onSchedule, { active: currentPage === 'schedule' })}
 
         {/* Admin section */}
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/Chat.jsx b/frontend/src/pages/Chat.jsx
index b90fd9d..0772de0 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/Chat.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/Chat.jsx
@@ -395,10 +395,20 @@ export default function Chat() {
 
   const isToolManager = user?.role === 'admin' || (features.teamToolManagers || []).some(gid => (features.userGroupMemberships || []).includes(gid));
 
+  // Unread indicators for burger icon and nav drawer
+  const allGroupsFlat = [...(groups.publicGroups || []), ...(groups.privateGroups || [])];
+  const hasUnreadChat = allGroupsFlat.some(g =>
+    (g.type === 'public' || !g.is_managed) && (unreadGroups.get(g.id) || 0) > 0
+  );
+  const hasUnreadGroupMessages = (groups.privateGroups || []).some(g =>
+    g.is_managed && (unreadGroups.get(g.id) || 0) > 0
+  );
+  const hasAnyUnread = hasUnreadChat || hasUnreadGroupMessages;
+
   if (page === 'users') {
     return (
       <div className="chat-layout">
-        <GlobalBar isMobile={isMobile} showSidebar={true} onBurger={() => setDrawerOpen(true)} />
+        <GlobalBar isMobile={isMobile} showSidebar={true} onBurger={() => setDrawerOpen(true)} hasUnread={hasAnyUnread} />
         <div className="chat-body" style={{ overflow: 'hidden' }}>
           <UserManagerPage isMobile={isMobile} onProfile={() => setModal('profile')} onHelp={() => setModal('help')} onAbout={() => setModal('about')} />
         </div>
@@ -412,7 +422,8 @@ export default function Chat() {
           onSettings={() => { setDrawerOpen(false); setModal('settings'); }}
           onUsers={() => { setDrawerOpen(false); setActiveGroupId(null); setChatHasText(false); setPage('users'); }}
           onHostPanel={() => { setDrawerOpen(false); setActiveGroupId(null); setChatHasText(false); setPage('hostpanel'); }}
-          features={features} currentPage={page} isMobile={isMobile} />
+          features={features} currentPage={page} isMobile={isMobile}
+          unreadMessages={hasUnreadChat} unreadGroupMessages={hasUnreadGroupMessages} />
         {modal === 'profile'  && <ProfileModal onClose={() => setModal(null)} />}
         {modal === 'settings' && <SettingsModal onClose={() => setModal(null)} onFeaturesChanged={setFeatures} />}
         {modal === 'branding' && <BrandingModal onClose={() => setModal(null)} />}
@@ -425,20 +436,10 @@ export default function Chat() {
   if (page === 'groups') {
     return (
       <div className="chat-layout">
-        <GlobalBar isMobile={isMobile} showSidebar={true} onBurger={() => setDrawerOpen(true)} />
+        <GlobalBar isMobile={isMobile} showSidebar={true} onBurger={() => setDrawerOpen(true)} hasUnread={hasAnyUnread} />
         <div className="chat-body" style={{ overflow: 'hidden' }}>
           <GroupManagerPage isMobile={isMobile} onProfile={() => setModal('profile')} onHelp={() => setModal('help')} onAbout={() => setModal('about')} />
         </div>
-        <NavDrawer
-          open={drawerOpen} onClose={() => setDrawerOpen(false)}
-          onMessages={() => { setDrawerOpen(false); setActiveGroupId(null); setChatHasText(false); setPage('chat'); }}
-          onSchedule={() => { setDrawerOpen(false); setActiveGroupId(null); setChatHasText(false); setPage('schedule'); }}
-          onGroupManager={() => { setDrawerOpen(false); setActiveGroupId(null); setChatHasText(false); setPage('groups'); }}
-          onBranding={() => { setDrawerOpen(false); setModal('branding'); }}
-          onSettings={() => { setDrawerOpen(false); setModal('settings'); }}
-          onUsers={() => { setDrawerOpen(false); setActiveGroupId(null); setChatHasText(false); setPage('users'); }}
-          onHostPanel={() => { setDrawerOpen(false); setActiveGroupId(null); setChatHasText(false); setPage('hostpanel'); }}
-          features={features} currentPage={page} isMobile={isMobile} />
         <NavDrawer
           open={drawerOpen} onClose={() => setDrawerOpen(false)}
           onMessages={() => { setDrawerOpen(false); setActiveGroupId(null); setChatHasText(false); setPage('chat'); }}
@@ -449,7 +450,8 @@ export default function Chat() {
           onSettings={() => { setDrawerOpen(false); setModal('settings'); }}
           onUsers={() => { setDrawerOpen(false); setActiveGroupId(null); setChatHasText(false); setPage('users'); }}
           onHostPanel={() => { setDrawerOpen(false); setActiveGroupId(null); setChatHasText(false); setPage('hostpanel'); }}
-          features={features} currentPage={page} isMobile={isMobile} />
+          features={features} currentPage={page} isMobile={isMobile}
+          unreadMessages={hasUnreadChat} unreadGroupMessages={hasUnreadGroupMessages} />
         {modal === 'profile'  && <ProfileModal onClose={() => setModal(null)} />}
         {modal === 'settings' && <SettingsModal onClose={() => setModal(null)} onFeaturesChanged={setFeatures} />}
         {modal === 'branding' && <BrandingModal onClose={() => setModal(null)} />}
@@ -462,7 +464,7 @@ export default function Chat() {
   if (page === 'groupmessages') {
     return (
       <div className="chat-layout">
-        <GlobalBar isMobile={isMobile} showSidebar={showSidebar} onBurger={() => setDrawerOpen(true)} />
+        <GlobalBar isMobile={isMobile} showSidebar={showSidebar} onBurger={() => setDrawerOpen(true)} hasUnread={hasAnyUnread} />
         <div className="chat-body">
           {(!isMobile || showSidebar) && (
             <Sidebar
@@ -506,7 +508,8 @@ export default function Chat() {
           onSettings={() => { setDrawerOpen(false); setModal('settings'); }}
           onUsers={() => { setDrawerOpen(false); setActiveGroupId(null); setChatHasText(false); setPage('users'); }}
           onHostPanel={() => { setDrawerOpen(false); setActiveGroupId(null); setChatHasText(false); setPage('hostpanel'); }}
-          features={features} currentPage={page} isMobile={isMobile} />
+          features={features} currentPage={page} isMobile={isMobile}
+          unreadMessages={hasUnreadChat} unreadGroupMessages={hasUnreadGroupMessages} />
         {modal === 'profile'  && <ProfileModal onClose={() => setModal(null)} />}
         {modal === 'settings' && <SettingsModal onClose={() => setModal(null)} onFeaturesChanged={setFeatures} />}
         {modal === 'branding' && <BrandingModal onClose={() => setModal(null)} />}
@@ -520,7 +523,7 @@ export default function Chat() {
   if (page === 'hostpanel') {
     return (
       <div className="chat-layout">
-        <GlobalBar isMobile={isMobile} showSidebar={true} onBurger={() => setDrawerOpen(true)} />
+        <GlobalBar isMobile={isMobile} showSidebar={true} onBurger={() => setDrawerOpen(true)} hasUnread={hasAnyUnread} />
         <div className="chat-body" style={{ overflow: 'hidden' }}>
           <HostPanel onProfile={() => setModal('profile')} onHelp={() => setModal('help')} onAbout={() => setModal('about')} />
         </div>
@@ -538,7 +541,8 @@ export default function Chat() {
           onHostPanel={() => { setDrawerOpen(false); setActiveGroupId(null); setChatHasText(false); setPage('hostpanel'); }}
           features={features}
           currentPage={page}
-          isMobile={isMobile} />
+          isMobile={isMobile}
+          unreadMessages={hasUnreadChat} unreadGroupMessages={hasUnreadGroupMessages} />
         {modal === 'profile'  && <ProfileModal onClose={() => setModal(null)} />}
         {modal === 'settings' && <SettingsModal onClose={() => setModal(null)} onFeaturesChanged={setFeatures} />}
         {modal === 'branding' && <BrandingModal onClose={() => setModal(null)} />}
@@ -551,7 +555,7 @@ export default function Chat() {
   if (page === 'schedule') {
     return (
       <div className="chat-layout">
-        <GlobalBar isMobile={isMobile} showSidebar={true} onBurger={() => setDrawerOpen(true)} />
+        <GlobalBar isMobile={isMobile} showSidebar={true} onBurger={() => setDrawerOpen(true)} hasUnread={hasAnyUnread} />
         <div className="chat-body" style={{ overflow: 'hidden' }}>
           <SchedulePage
             isToolManager={isToolManager}
@@ -575,7 +579,8 @@ export default function Chat() {
           onHostPanel={() => { setDrawerOpen(false); setActiveGroupId(null); setChatHasText(false); setPage('hostpanel'); }}
           features={features}
           currentPage={page}
-          isMobile={isMobile} />
+          isMobile={isMobile}
+          unreadMessages={hasUnreadChat} unreadGroupMessages={hasUnreadGroupMessages} />
         {modal === 'profile'      && <ProfileModal onClose={() => setModal(null)} />}
         {modal === 'settings'     && <SettingsModal onClose={() => setModal(null)} onFeaturesChanged={setFeatures} />}
         {modal === 'branding'     && <BrandingModal onClose={() => setModal(null)} />}
@@ -594,7 +599,7 @@ export default function Chat() {
   return (
     <div className="chat-layout">
       {/* Global top bar — spans full width on desktop, visible on mobile sidebar view */}
-      <GlobalBar isMobile={isMobile} showSidebar={showSidebar} onBurger={() => setDrawerOpen(true)} />
+      <GlobalBar isMobile={isMobile} showSidebar={showSidebar} onBurger={() => setDrawerOpen(true)} hasUnread={hasAnyUnread} />
 
       <div className="chat-body">
         {(!isMobile || showSidebar) && (
@@ -645,7 +650,8 @@ export default function Chat() {
         onHostPanel={() => { setDrawerOpen(false); setActiveGroupId(null); setChatHasText(false); setPage('hostpanel'); }}
         features={features}
         currentPage={page}
-        isMobile={isMobile} />
+        isMobile={isMobile}
+        unreadMessages={hasUnreadChat} unreadGroupMessages={hasUnreadGroupMessages} />
       {modal === 'profile' && <ProfileModal onClose={() => setModal(null)} />}
       {modal === 'settings' && <SettingsModal onClose={() => setModal(null)} onFeaturesChanged={setFeatures} />}
       {modal === 'branding' && <BrandingModal onClose={() => setModal(null)} />}