diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 80e840d7..01dc8444 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -39,6 +39,13 @@ Format follows [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/). Haven uses [Sema
 - **Forum topic cards show the protection shield (#5622).** A protected topic
   now carries the shield on its card, and its right-click menu offers Unprotect
   instead of Protect a second time. Reported by @quakeman00.
+- **The DM PiP shows the partner's avatar and live status (#5574, #5600).**
+  The PiP header only knew about people in whatever channel was on screen, so
+  a partner who was not in that channel showed as a grey dot with an initial
+  until the DM was opened full screen. The DM now carries its partner's avatar,
+  and presence for a DM is refreshed whenever either side connects, disconnects
+  or changes status, with the DM not on screen. Reported by @birdcrazy and
+  @TianLaiEric.
 
 ## [4.6.0] - 2026-09-09
 
diff --git a/public/js/modules/app-socket.js b/public/js/modules/app-socket.js
index fdcd4a81..e8cd391a 100644
--- a/public/js/modules/app-socket.js
+++ b/public/js/modules/app-socket.js
@@ -1335,6 +1335,12 @@ _setupSocketListeners() {
   });
 
   this.socket.on('online-users', (data) => {
+    // Every list is kept by channel (the socket sits in every room it
+    // belongs to), so a DM PiP can read its own partner's presence instead
+    // of the list for whatever channel is on screen (#5574).
+    if (!this._onlineByChannel) this._onlineByChannel = new Map();
+    this._onlineByChannel.set(data.channelCode, data.users || []);
+    if (this._activeDMPip && data.channelCode === this._activeDMPip) this._refreshDMPipHeader?.();
     if (data.channelCode === this.currentChannel) {
       // In 'all' mode the list includes offline members too; only count truly online users
       const trueOnlineCount = data.visibilityMode === 'all'
diff --git a/public/js/modules/app-utilities.js b/public/js/modules/app-utilities.js
index 49e94260..c0ca3925 100644
--- a/public/js/modules/app-utilities.js
+++ b/public/js/modules/app-utilities.js
@@ -3208,6 +3208,9 @@ _openDMPiP(code) {
   if (titleEl) titleEl.textContent = ch.is_self_dm ? `📝 ${t('dm_runtime.self_title', { name: partnerName })}` : `@ ${partnerName}`;
 
   this._refreshDMPipHeader(ch, partnerName);
+  // Ask for the DM's own online list so the header is right straight away,
+  // not only after the next presence change (#5574).
+  this.socket.emit('request-online-users', { code });
 
   // Banner background: use server banner as a subtle backdrop
   const bannerEl = document.getElementById('dm-pip-banner');
@@ -3239,8 +3242,13 @@ _refreshDMPipHeader(ch, partnerName) {
   const avatarWrap = document.getElementById('dm-pip-avatar-wrap');
   if (avatarWrap) {
     const partnerId = ch.dm_target && ch.dm_target.id;
-    const onlinePartner = partnerId && this._lastOnlineUsers
-      ? this._lastOnlineUsers.find(u => u.id === partnerId)
+    // The DM's own list first: the list for the channel on screen only has
+    // the partner in it when they happen to share that channel (#5574).
+    const dmList = this._onlineByChannel && this._onlineByChannel.get(ch.code);
+    const onlinePartner = partnerId
+      ? ((dmList && dmList.find(u => u.id === partnerId))
+        || (this._lastOnlineUsers ? this._lastOnlineUsers.find(u => u.id === partnerId) : null)
+        || null)
       : null;
     const avatarUrl = (onlinePartner && onlinePartner.avatar) || (ch.dm_target && ch.dm_target.avatar);
     const shape = (onlinePartner && onlinePartner.avatarShape)
diff --git a/src/socketHandlers/channels.js b/src/socketHandlers/channels.js
index ca55f703..34ebb69b 100644
--- a/src/socketHandlers/channels.js
+++ b/src/socketHandlers/channels.js
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ const { clearChannelRuntimeState } = require('../channelRotation');
 module.exports = function register(socket, ctx) {
   const {
     io, db, state, userHasPermission, getUserEffectiveLevel,
-    broadcastChannelLists, getEnrichedChannels, emitOnlineUsers,
+    broadcastChannelLists, getEnrichedChannels, emitOnlineUsers, emitDmPresence,
     handleVoiceLeave, broadcastVoiceUsers, generateUniqueSharedCode,
     applyRoleChannelAccess, logAudit, fireWebhookEvent, enforceAutomod,
     rotateChannelCode, botAudioManager
@@ -118,6 +118,8 @@ module.exports = function register(socket, ctx) {
       (room) => socket.join(room)
     );
     socket.emit('channels-list', channels);
+    // Now in every DM room: let partners know this user is here (#5574).
+    if (emitDmPresence) emitDmPresence(socket.user.id);
   });
 
   // ── Create channel (permission-based) ─────────────────
diff --git a/src/socketHandlers/index.js b/src/socketHandlers/index.js
index 7d48968e..b68cda9c 100644
--- a/src/socketHandlers/index.js
+++ b/src/socketHandlers/index.js
@@ -558,7 +558,9 @@ function setupSocketHandlers(io, db, opts = {}) {
 
         if (ch.is_dm) {
           const otherUser = db.prepare(`
-            SELECT u.id, COALESCE(u.display_name, u.username) as username FROM users u
+            SELECT u.id, COALESCE(u.display_name, u.username) as username,
+                   u.avatar, u.avatar_shape AS avatarShape
+            FROM users u
             JOIN channel_members cm ON u.id = cm.user_id
             WHERE cm.channel_id = ? AND u.id != ?
           `).get(ch.id, userId);
@@ -567,7 +569,7 @@ function setupSocketHandlers(io, db, opts = {}) {
           } else {
             // Self-DM: only one channel_members row, no "other" user. Use self as the partner.
             const self = db.prepare(
-              'SELECT id, COALESCE(display_name, username) as username FROM users WHERE id = ?'
+              'SELECT id, COALESCE(display_name, username) as username, avatar, avatar_shape AS avatarShape FROM users WHERE id = ?'
             ).get(userId);
             ch.dm_target = self || null;
             ch.is_self_dm = 1;
@@ -790,6 +792,21 @@ function setupSocketHandlers(io, db, opts = {}) {
   }
 
   // ── emitOnlineUsers ─────────────────────────────────────
+  // A DM room only got a fresh online list while somebody was looking at it,
+  // so a DM PiP opened from another channel showed its partner as away and
+  // never caught them coming online (#5574). Every presence change now also
+  // refreshes the user's DM rooms. A DM has two members, so each list is tiny.
+  function emitDmPresence(userId) {
+    try {
+      const rows = db.prepare(`
+        SELECT c.code FROM channels c
+        JOIN channel_members cm ON cm.channel_id = c.id
+        WHERE c.is_dm = 1 AND cm.user_id = ?
+      `).all(userId);
+      for (const r of rows) emitOnlineUsers(r.code);
+    } catch { /* presence is best-effort */ }
+  }
+
   function emitOnlineUsers(code) {
     const room = channelUsers.get(code);
 
@@ -2188,7 +2205,7 @@ function setupSocketHandlers(io, db, opts = {}) {
       getChannelRoleChain, getUserEffectiveLevel, getPermissionThresholds,
       userHasPermission, getUserPermissions, getUserGlobalPermissions, getUserRoles, getUserHighestRole, getUserAllRoles, getAdminRoleDisplay,
       // Broadcast helpers
-      broadcastChannelLists, broadcastVoiceUsers, emitOnlineUsers,
+      broadcastChannelLists, broadcastVoiceUsers, emitOnlineUsers, emitDmPresence,
       getEnrichedChannels, handleVoiceLeave, pruneStaleVoiceUsers,
       broadcastStreamInfo, touchVoiceActivity, rotateChannelCode,
       // Push / webhooks
@@ -2318,6 +2335,14 @@ function setupSocketHandlers(io, db, opts = {}) {
         emitOnlineUsers(code);
       }
 
+      // Gone for good (no other tab or device still connected): tell DM
+      // partners, whether or not either side was looking at the DM (#5574).
+      let stillConnected = false;
+      for (const [, s] of io.of('/').sockets) {
+        if (s.user && s.user.id === socket.user.id && s.id !== socket.id) { stillConnected = true; break; }
+      }
+      if (!stillConnected) emitDmPresence(socket.user.id);
+
       for (const code of Array.from(voiceUsers.keys())) {
         const room = voiceUsers.get(code);
         if (!room) continue;
diff --git a/src/socketHandlers/users.js b/src/socketHandlers/users.js
index 221dc66d..3b77f398 100644
--- a/src/socketHandlers/users.js
+++ b/src/socketHandlers/users.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ const { setEnvValue, clearEnvValue, isWritableKey } = require('../envStore');
 
 module.exports = function register(socket, ctx) {
   const { io, db, state, getChannelRoleChain, userHasPermission, getUserEffectiveLevel,
-          emitOnlineUsers, broadcastVoiceUsers, generateToken,
+          emitOnlineUsers, emitDmPresence, broadcastVoiceUsers, generateToken,
           touchVoiceActivity, enforceAutomod, DATA_DIR, logAudit, getAdminRoleDisplay } = ctx;
   const { channelUsers, voiceUsers } = state;
   const _audit = (typeof logAudit === 'function') ? logAudit : () => {};
@@ -245,6 +245,8 @@ module.exports = function register(socket, ctx) {
         emitOnlineUsers(code);
       }
     }
+    // DM partners see the new status too, with the DM not on screen (#5574).
+    if (emitDmPresence) emitDmPresence(socket.user.id);
 
     socket.emit('status-updated', { status, statusText });
   });