diff --git a/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/app.tsx/01M4YT6XB7NQ89E6F4P375REE7-all-projects-and-project-vie.md b/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/app.tsx/01M4YT6XB7NQ89E6F4P375REE7-all-projects-and-project-vie.md
index 3adf223a..e70e40bb 100644
--- a/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/app.tsx/01M4YT6XB7NQ89E6F4P375REE7-all-projects-and-project-vie.md
+++ b/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/app.tsx/01M4YT6XB7NQ89E6F4P375REE7-all-projects-and-project-vie.md
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@ anchor: function App
 created: 2026-10-15T03:38:04Z
 norm: '1'
 sig: 063d0f00fea02511
-body_hash: c729811995ffcaa0
-raw_hash: 9fd83c4d176cf4c6
-vouched: 2026-10-22T20:47:29Z
+body_hash: bcbd8e0b666b1d3c
+raw_hash: 33b2e33890f7fef6
+vouched: 2026-10-22T20:54:01Z
 lines: 235-824
 ---
 
diff --git a/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/app.tsx/01M5JMVG9G87F31FGVV571Y6BJ-the-project-list-is-built-on.md b/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/app.tsx/01M5JMVG9G87F31FGVV571Y6BJ-the-project-list-is-built-on.md
index b2e608ee..b69e1f72 100644
--- a/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/app.tsx/01M5JMVG9G87F31FGVV571Y6BJ-the-project-list-is-built-on.md
+++ b/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/app.tsx/01M5JMVG9G87F31FGVV571Y6BJ-the-project-list-is-built-on.md
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@ anchor: function App
 created: 2026-10-22T20:29:16Z
 norm: '1'
 sig: 063d0f00fea02511
-body_hash: c729811995ffcaa0
-raw_hash: 9fd83c4d176cf4c6
-vouched: 2026-10-22T20:47:29Z
+body_hash: bcbd8e0b666b1d3c
+raw_hash: 33b2e33890f7fef6
+vouched: 2026-10-22T20:54:01Z
 lines: 330-1237
 ---
 
diff --git a/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/dashboard.tsx/01M5AYX7CX6GW2PYNTV3BS5F91-with-no-usable-model-on-this.md b/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/dashboard.tsx/01M5AYX7CX6GW2PYNTV3BS5F91-with-no-usable-model-on-this.md
index 95cba7ae..319c8f41 100644
--- a/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/dashboard.tsx/01M5AYX7CX6GW2PYNTV3BS5F91-with-no-usable-model-on-this.md
+++ b/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/dashboard.tsx/01M5AYX7CX6GW2PYNTV3BS5F91-with-no-usable-model-on-this.md
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@ anchor: function Dashboard
 created: 2026-10-19T20:51:03Z
 norm: '1'
 sig: 4bfb45497157c0e0
-body_hash: 97a54ddcbd872f30
-raw_hash: 758dbb3d2b2fb407
-vouched: 2026-10-22T15:14:58Z
+body_hash: 7bc89e0d12e7b984
+raw_hash: cc8a4b9d6c396b11
+vouched: 2026-10-22T20:44:27Z
 lines: 256-606
 ---
 
diff --git a/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/open-project.tsx/01M5JNQ72H3WS44JG82D60Q37M-a-folder-without-a-commit-is.md b/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/open-project.tsx/01M5JNQ72H3WS44JG82D60Q37M-a-folder-without-a-commit-is.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ef9e2203
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/open-project.tsx/01M5JNQ72H3WS44JG82D60Q37M-a-folder-without-a-commit-is.md
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+---
+id: 01M5JNQ72H3WS44JG82D60Q37M
+anchor: function InitGit
+created: 2026-10-22T20:44:24Z
+norm: '1'
+sig: e05f5c81094473f3
+body_hash: faffdcfc736d2780
+raw_hash: e2bf3f4586e0df5c
+lines: 52-111
+---
+
+a folder without a commit is re-read only by a listing that opening triggers; the card re-opens its folder on mount and focus so outside commits show
diff --git a/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/setup-project.tsx/01M5AYXJQNG05XSJ4MD06CY2TF-a-picked-folder-is-the-clone.md b/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/setup-project.tsx/01M5AYXJQNG05XSJ4MD06CY2TF-a-picked-folder-is-the-clone.md
index 686b0bed..a0364cb7 100644
--- a/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/setup-project.tsx/01M5AYXJQNG05XSJ4MD06CY2TF-a-picked-folder-is-the-clone.md
+++ b/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/setup-project.tsx/01M5AYXJQNG05XSJ4MD06CY2TF-a-picked-folder-is-the-clone.md
@@ -3,9 +3,10 @@ id: 01M5AYXJQNG05XSJ4MD06CY2TF
 anchor: function SetupProject
 created: 2026-10-19T20:51:15Z
 norm: '1'
-sig: 5fe4de63348584e9
-body_hash: 7f0b00583c29c9fd
-raw_hash: 0faa3040f0175372
+sig: c2572cc83b5ddf2c
+body_hash: f7b40f021d23c63c
+raw_hash: 617255c5382e68e6
+vouched: 2026-10-22T20:44:27Z
 lines: 24-163
 ---
 
diff --git a/.lane/memory/apps/host/src/projects.ts/01M5J0F003CDDGXJ61TYSB9NQ1-open-accepts-only-absolute-o.md b/.lane/memory/apps/host/src/projects.ts/01M5J0F003CDDGXJ61TYSB9NQ1-open-accepts-only-absolute-o.md
index 578a82f0..346eae01 100644
--- a/.lane/memory/apps/host/src/projects.ts/01M5J0F003CDDGXJ61TYSB9NQ1-open-accepts-only-absolute-o.md
+++ b/.lane/memory/apps/host/src/projects.ts/01M5J0F003CDDGXJ61TYSB9NQ1-open-accepts-only-absolute-o.md
@@ -3,9 +3,10 @@ id: 01M5J0F003CDDGXJ61TYSB9NQ1
 anchor: function open
 created: 2026-10-22T14:32:55Z
 norm: '1'
-sig: 69741dfdfc216b17
-body_hash: 70f23e213716ef8e
-raw_hash: ee7a4de150371af3
+sig: 2a6b090bac83313c
+body_hash: 9b3ecf598f795095
+raw_hash: b861580496c0d206
+vouched: 2026-10-22T20:44:27Z
 lines: 131-142
 ---
 
diff --git a/apps/app/src/app.tsx b/apps/app/src/app.tsx
index 7cda2f17..937b67a9 100644
--- a/apps/app/src/app.tsx
+++ b/apps/app/src/app.tsx
@@ -604,8 +604,24 @@ export function App() {
 	}
 
 	async function open(path: string) {
-		const value = await host.request<Project>({ op: "project-open", path });
-		chooseProject(projectId(hello.host, value.path, value.repo));
+		const value = await host.request<Project & { from?: string }>({ op: "project-open", path });
+		const id = projectId(hello.host, value.path, value.repo);
+		// A GitHub project is one project on this host however many checkouts of it are opened.
+		const other = value.repo
+			&& opened?.find((checkout) =>
+				checkout.path !== value.path && projectId(hello.host, checkout.path, checkout.repo) === id
+			);
+		chooseProject(id);
+		if (other) {
+			toast(`${value.name} is already a project at ${other.path}`, {
+				description: "Channels in it keep starting from that checkout.",
+			});
+		} else if (value.from) {
+			toast(`Opened ${value.name}`, {
+				description:
+					`${value.from} is inside the Git repository at ${value.path}, so Ace opened that.`,
+			});
+		}
 	}
 
 	// Declared, not a const: the All Projects groups above call it during render.
@@ -1096,6 +1112,7 @@ export function App() {
 												name={current.label}
 												ignored={current.ignored}
 												disabled={!connected}
+												path={current.path}
 												onInit={() => init(current.path)}
 											/>
 										</div>
@@ -1142,6 +1159,7 @@ export function App() {
 				{setup && (
 					<SetupProject
 						project={setup.project}
+						opened={opened || []}
 						starting={!!setup.start}
 						onSetup={finishSetup}
 						onClose={() => setSetup(undefined)}
diff --git a/apps/app/src/dashboard.tsx b/apps/app/src/dashboard.tsx
index 2ffb2045..19d21ff6 100644
--- a/apps/app/src/dashboard.tsx
+++ b/apps/app/src/dashboard.tsx
@@ -439,6 +439,7 @@ export function Dashboard(
 			{needsGit && (
 				<div className="mx-auto mt-9 max-w-[39rem]">
 					<InitGit
+						path={project.path}
 						name={project.label}
 						ignored={project.ignored}
 						disabled={!connected}
diff --git a/apps/app/src/open-project.tsx b/apps/app/src/open-project.tsx
index 507778fb..e1586a03 100644
--- a/apps/app/src/open-project.tsx
+++ b/apps/app/src/open-project.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useId, useState } from "react";
+import { useEffect, useId, useState } from "react";
 
 import {
 	Button,
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import {
 import { IconArrowDownToLine, IconBranch, IconFolderSearch } from "@ace/ui/icons";
 
 import { desktop } from "./desktop";
+import { host } from "./host";
 
 export function EmptyProjects({ onOpen, onClone, disabled }: {
 	onOpen: () => void;
@@ -48,7 +49,8 @@ export function EmptyProjects({ onOpen, onClone, disabled }: {
 }
 
 /** Lanes are Git worktrees, so a folder needs a commit before it can start channels. */
-export function InitGit({ name, ignored, disabled, onInit }: {
+export function InitGit({ path, name, ignored, disabled, onInit }: {
+	path: string;
 	name: string;
 	/** Ace won't commit under a folder's own `.gitignore`, so the person commits it themselves. */
 	ignored?: boolean;
@@ -56,6 +58,15 @@ export function InitGit({ name, ignored, disabled, onInit }: {
 	onInit: () => Promise<void>;
 }) {
 	const [busy, setBusy] = useState(false);
+	// A commit made outside Ace, say in a terminal, shows once the host reads the folder again, as
+	// opening it does; listings alone don't.
+	useEffect(() => {
+		if (disabled) return;
+		const check = () => void host.request({ op: "project-open", path }).catch(() => {});
+		check();
+		addEventListener("focus", check);
+		return () => removeEventListener("focus", check);
+	}, [path, disabled]);
 
 	async function init() {
 		setBusy(true);
@@ -148,9 +159,14 @@ export function OpenProject({ onOpen, onClose }: {
 						placeholder="~/code/project"
 						value={path}
 						disabled={busy}
-						onChange={(event) => setPath(event.target.value)}
+						onChange={(event) => {
+							setPath(event.target.value);
+							setError("");
+						}}
 					/>
-					{error && <p role="alert" className="mt-2 text-xs text-destructive">{error}</p>}
+					{error && (
+						<p role="alert" className="mt-2 text-xs text-destructive wrap-anywhere">{error}</p>
+					)}
 				</form>
 				<DialogFooter>
 					<Button variant="outline" disabled={busy} onClick={onClose}>Cancel</Button>
diff --git a/apps/app/src/setup-project.tsx b/apps/app/src/setup-project.tsx
index 381ee810..938e8f1e 100644
--- a/apps/app/src/setup-project.tsx
+++ b/apps/app/src/setup-project.tsx
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import {
 	DialogTitle,
 	Input,
 } from "@ace/ui";
-import { githubRepo } from "@ace/host/protocol";
+import { githubRepo, NOT_GITHUB, type Project } from "@ace/host/protocol";
 
 import { desktop, here } from "./desktop";
 import { useFolder } from "./folder";
@@ -21,8 +21,10 @@ import type { AppProject } from "./projects";
  * project, or opens the matching checkout already at the chosen folder. Nothing is cloned until
  * the person confirms the destination.
  */
-export function SetupProject({ project, starting, onSetup, onClose }: {
+export function SetupProject({ project, opened, starting, onSetup, onClose }: {
 	project?: AppProject & { repo: string };
+	/** This host's projects, to say when a cloned repository already is one. */
+	opened: Project[];
 	starting: boolean;
 	onSetup: (repo: string, path: string) => Promise<void>;
 	onClose: () => void;
@@ -37,7 +39,10 @@ export function SetupProject({ project, starting, onSetup, onClose }: {
 	const [busy, setBusy] = useState(false);
 	const [error, setError] = useState("");
 	const repo = project?.repo || url.trim();
-	const name = githubRepo(repo)?.split("/")[1];
+	const full = githubRepo(repo);
+	const name = full?.split("/")[1];
+	const existing = !project && full
+		&& opened.find((value) => value.repo?.toLowerCase() === full.toLowerCase());
 	// The host expands `~`, so the app never assumes where this machine's home folder is.
 	const base = (parent ?? folder)?.replace(/\/$/, "");
 	const path = edited ?? (base && name ? `${base}/${name}` : "");
@@ -62,6 +67,7 @@ export function SetupProject({ project, starting, onSetup, onClose }: {
 			if (!chosen) return;
 			setParent(chosen);
 			setEdited(undefined);
+			setError("");
 		} catch (error) {
 			setError((error as Error).message);
 		}
@@ -94,7 +100,7 @@ export function SetupProject({ project, starting, onSetup, onClose }: {
 						event.preventDefault();
 						void setup();
 					}}
-					className="flex flex-col gap-3"
+					className="flex min-w-0 flex-col gap-3"
 				>
 					{!project && (
 						<div>
@@ -108,8 +114,20 @@ export function SetupProject({ project, starting, onSetup, onClose }: {
 								disabled={busy}
 								spellCheck={false}
 								placeholder="https://github.com/owner/name"
-								onChange={(event) => setUrl(event.target.value)}
+								onChange={(event) => {
+									setUrl(event.target.value);
+									setError("");
+								}}
 							/>
+							{url.trim() && !full && (
+								<p className="mt-1.5 text-xs text-muted-foreground">{NOT_GITHUB}</p>
+							)}
+							{existing && (
+								<p className="mt-1.5 text-xs text-muted-foreground wrap-anywhere">
+									{full} is already a project at{" "}
+									{existing.path}. Another copy won't add a second project.
+								</p>
+							)}
 						</div>
 					)}
 					<div>
@@ -123,7 +141,10 @@ export function SetupProject({ project, starting, onSetup, onClose }: {
 								disabled={busy}
 								spellCheck={false}
 								placeholder={base && `${base}/name`}
-								onChange={(event) => setEdited(event.target.value)}
+								onChange={(event) => {
+									setEdited(event.target.value);
+									setError("");
+								}}
 							/>
 							{desktop && (
 								<Button
@@ -138,12 +159,12 @@ export function SetupProject({ project, starting, onSetup, onClose }: {
 						</div>
 					</div>
 					{error && (
-						<p role="alert" className="whitespace-pre-wrap text-xs text-destructive">
+						<p role="alert" className="whitespace-pre-wrap text-xs text-destructive wrap-anywhere">
 							{error}
 						</p>
 					)}
 				</form>
-				<DialogFooter>
+				<DialogFooter className="min-w-0">
 					<Button variant="outline" disabled={busy} onClick={onClose}>Cancel</Button>
 					<Button
 						type="submit"
diff --git a/apps/host/src/github.ts b/apps/host/src/github.ts
index 298642d9..f1818666 100644
--- a/apps/host/src/github.ts
+++ b/apps/host/src/github.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import type {
 } from "@ace/channel/protocol";
 
 import { githubEnv } from "./keys";
-import { githubRepo, type HostRequest } from "./protocol";
+import { githubRepo, type HostRequest, NOT_GITHUB } from "./protocol";
 
 const REPO = /^[a-z\d][a-z\d-]*\/[a-z\d_.-]+$/i;
 const FIELDS = "number,title,url,state,author,createdAt,updatedAt,labels";
@@ -123,11 +123,7 @@ export async function found(repo: string): Promise<boolean> {
 /** A GitHub repository URL, SSH remote, or owner/name, as a valid owner/name. */
 export function parse(value: string): string {
 	const repo = githubRepo(value);
-	if (!repo) {
-		throw new Error(
-			"Ace clones GitHub repositories. Enter one such as https://github.com/owner/name or owner/name.",
-		);
-	}
+	if (!repo) throw new Error(NOT_GITHUB);
 	return repository(repo);
 }
 
diff --git a/apps/host/src/projects.ts b/apps/host/src/projects.ts
index a19140c1..86ce51aa 100644
--- a/apps/host/src/projects.ts
+++ b/apps/host/src/projects.ts
@@ -127,18 +127,21 @@ export async function list(): Promise<Project[]> {
 const expand = (value: string) =>
 	value === "~" ? homedir() : value.startsWith("~/") ? homedir() + value.slice(1) : value;
 
-/** Opening a folder must not require model credentials or create a channel. */
-export async function open(value: string): Promise<Project> {
+/**
+ * Opening a folder must not require model credentials or create a channel. A folder inside a
+ * repository opens that repository, and `from` names the folder asked for so the app can say so.
+ */
+export async function open(value: string): Promise<Project & { from?: string }> {
 	// A relative path would resolve against Ace Helper's working directory, which no one sees.
 	const expanded = expand(value.trim());
 	if (!isAbsolute(expanded)) throw new Error("Enter a full folder path, such as ~/code/project");
 	if (!existsSync(expanded)) throw new Error(`There's no folder at ${expanded}. Check the path.`);
-	let path = realpathSync(expanded);
-	if (!statSync(path).isDirectory()) throw new Error("Choose a folder to open as a project");
-	path = realpathSync((await checkout(path)).root);
+	const folder = realpathSync(expanded);
+	if (!statSync(folder).isDirectory()) throw new Error("Choose a folder to open as a project");
+	const path = realpathSync((await checkout(folder)).root);
 	const opened = paths();
 	if (!opened.includes(path)) save([...opened, path]);
-	return project(path);
+	return { ...await project(path), ...(path === folder ? {} : { from: folder }) };
 }
 
 /** Removing a project forgets the folder; its files and lanes stay where they are. */
diff --git a/apps/host/src/protocol.ts b/apps/host/src/protocol.ts
index b9e5896d..45f5b7d9 100644
--- a/apps/host/src/protocol.ts
+++ b/apps/host/src/protocol.ts
@@ -152,6 +152,10 @@ export const projectId = (host: string, path: string, repo?: string) =>
 export const channelProject = (channel: Pick<Listing, "host" | "project" | "root" | "repo">) =>
 	projectId(channel.host, root(channel), channel.repo);
 
+/** What the host and the app say about a repository `githubRepo` doesn't recognize. */
+export const NOT_GITHUB =
+	"Ace clones GitHub repositories. Enter one such as https://github.com/owner/name or owner/name.";
+
 /**
  * The owner/name a GitHub URL, SSH remote, or owner/name names, or undefined for anything else.
  * The app reads it to suggest a clone's folder and the host to clone, so both agree on the name.