diff --git a/ui/desktop/src/App.test.tsx b/ui/desktop/src/App.test.tsx
index 338c1e9a1f..a4a9049f4a 100644
--- a/ui/desktop/src/App.test.tsx
+++ b/ui/desktop/src/App.test.tsx
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ Object.defineProperty(window, 'location', {
     search: '',
     href: 'http://localhost:3000',
     origin: 'http://localhost:3000',
+    pathname: '/',
   },
   writable: true,
 });
@@ -196,6 +197,7 @@ describe('App Component - Brand New State', () => {
     vi.clearAllMocks();
     window.location.hash = '';
     window.location.search = '';
+    window.location.pathname = '/';
     window.sessionStorage.clear();
     window.localStorage.clear();
   });
diff --git a/ui/desktop/src/utils/appInitialization.ts b/ui/desktop/src/utils/appInitialization.ts
index 3313751cf8..8069352acd 100644
--- a/ui/desktop/src/utils/appInitialization.ts
+++ b/ui/desktop/src/utils/appInitialization.ts
@@ -95,8 +95,18 @@ export const initializeApp = async ({
       }
     }
   }
-  window.location.hash = '#/';
-  window.history.replaceState({}, '', '#/');
+
+  // Only redirect to home if we're still on the initial empty hash or root
+  // This prevents redirecting users who have already navigated elsewhere during initialization
+  const currentHash = window.location.hash;
+  const currentPathname = window.location.pathname;
+  const isOnRootRoute =
+    currentPathname === '/' && (!currentHash || currentHash === '#' || currentHash === '#/');
+
+  if (isOnRootRoute) {
+    window.location.hash = '#/';
+    window.history.replaceState({}, '', '#/');
+  }
 };
 
 const initializeForSessionResume = async ({