diff --git a/apps/ios/Sources/Bridge/BridgeConnectionController.swift b/apps/ios/Sources/Bridge/BridgeConnectionController.swift
index 6361093de..390ae41fa 100644
--- a/apps/ios/Sources/Bridge/BridgeConnectionController.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/Sources/Bridge/BridgeConnectionController.swift
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ final class BridgeConnectionController: ObservableObject {
     private weak var appModel: NodeAppModel?
     private var cancellables = Set<AnyCancellable>()
     private var didAutoConnect = false
+    private var seenStableIDs = Set<String>()
 
     init(appModel: NodeAppModel) {
         self.appModel = appModel
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ final class BridgeConnectionController: ObservableObject {
             .sink { [weak self] newValue in
                 guard let self else { return }
                 self.bridges = newValue
+                self.updateLastDiscoveredBridge(from: newValue)
                 self.maybeAutoConnect()
             }
             .store(in: &self.cancellables)
@@ -50,9 +52,9 @@ final class BridgeConnectionController: ObservableObject {
         guard appModel.bridgeServerName == nil else { return }
 
         let defaults = UserDefaults.standard
-        let preferredStableID = defaults.string(forKey: "bridge.preferredStableID")?
+        let targetStableID = defaults.string(forKey: "bridge.lastDiscoveredStableID")?
             .trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines) ?? ""
-        guard !preferredStableID.isEmpty else { return }
+        guard !targetStableID.isEmpty else { return }
 
         let instanceId = defaults.string(forKey: "node.instanceId")?
             .trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines) ?? ""
@@ -64,12 +66,20 @@ final class BridgeConnectionController: ObservableObject {
             .trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines) ?? ""
         guard !token.isEmpty else { return }
 
-        guard let target = self.bridges.first(where: { $0.stableID == preferredStableID }) else { return }
+        guard let target = self.bridges.first(where: { $0.stableID == targetStableID }) else { return }
 
         self.didAutoConnect = true
         appModel.connectToBridge(endpoint: target.endpoint, hello: self.makeHello(token: token))
     }
 
+    private func updateLastDiscoveredBridge(from bridges: [BridgeDiscoveryModel.DiscoveredBridge]) {
+        let newlyDiscovered = bridges.filter { self.seenStableIDs.insert($0.stableID).inserted }
+        guard let last = newlyDiscovered.last else { return }
+
+        UserDefaults.standard.set(last.stableID, forKey: "bridge.lastDiscoveredStableID")
+        BridgeSettingsStore.saveLastDiscoveredBridgeStableID(last.stableID)
+    }
+
     private func makeHello(token: String) -> BridgeHello {
         let defaults = UserDefaults.standard
         let nodeId = defaults.string(forKey: "node.instanceId") ?? "ios-node"
diff --git a/apps/ios/Sources/Bridge/BridgeSettingsStore.swift b/apps/ios/Sources/Bridge/BridgeSettingsStore.swift
index 653d56280..f73a02637 100644
--- a/apps/ios/Sources/Bridge/BridgeSettingsStore.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/Sources/Bridge/BridgeSettingsStore.swift
@@ -6,13 +6,16 @@ enum BridgeSettingsStore {
 
     private static let instanceIdDefaultsKey = "node.instanceId"
     private static let preferredBridgeStableIDDefaultsKey = "bridge.preferredStableID"
+    private static let lastDiscoveredBridgeStableIDDefaultsKey = "bridge.lastDiscoveredStableID"
 
     private static let instanceIdAccount = "instanceId"
     private static let preferredBridgeStableIDAccount = "preferredStableID"
+    private static let lastDiscoveredBridgeStableIDAccount = "lastDiscoveredStableID"
 
     static func bootstrapPersistence() {
         self.ensureStableInstanceID()
         self.ensurePreferredBridgeStableID()
+        self.ensureLastDiscoveredBridgeStableID()
     }
 
     static func loadStableInstanceID() -> String? {
@@ -36,6 +39,18 @@ enum BridgeSettingsStore {
             account: self.preferredBridgeStableIDAccount)
     }
 
+    static func loadLastDiscoveredBridgeStableID() -> String? {
+        KeychainStore.loadString(service: self.bridgeService, account: self.lastDiscoveredBridgeStableIDAccount)?
+            .trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines)
+    }
+
+    static func saveLastDiscoveredBridgeStableID(_ stableID: String) {
+        _ = KeychainStore.saveString(
+            stableID,
+            service: self.bridgeService,
+            account: self.lastDiscoveredBridgeStableIDAccount)
+    }
+
     private static func ensureStableInstanceID() {
         let defaults = UserDefaults.standard
 
@@ -76,4 +91,22 @@ enum BridgeSettingsStore {
             defaults.set(stored, forKey: self.preferredBridgeStableIDDefaultsKey)
         }
     }
+
+    private static func ensureLastDiscoveredBridgeStableID() {
+        let defaults = UserDefaults.standard
+
+        if let existing = defaults.string(forKey: self.lastDiscoveredBridgeStableIDDefaultsKey)?
+            .trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines),
+            !existing.isEmpty
+        {
+            if self.loadLastDiscoveredBridgeStableID() == nil {
+                self.saveLastDiscoveredBridgeStableID(existing)
+            }
+            return
+        }
+
+        if let stored = self.loadLastDiscoveredBridgeStableID(), !stored.isEmpty {
+            defaults.set(stored, forKey: self.lastDiscoveredBridgeStableIDDefaultsKey)
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/apps/ios/Sources/Settings/SettingsTab.swift b/apps/ios/Sources/Settings/SettingsTab.swift
index d5304d698..de01a2548 100644
--- a/apps/ios/Sources/Settings/SettingsTab.swift
+++ b/apps/ios/Sources/Settings/SettingsTab.swift
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ struct SettingsTab: View {
     @AppStorage("voiceWake.enabled") private var voiceWakeEnabled: Bool = false
     @AppStorage("camera.enabled") private var cameraEnabled: Bool = true
     @AppStorage("bridge.preferredStableID") private var preferredBridgeStableID: String = ""
+    @AppStorage("bridge.lastDiscoveredStableID") private var lastDiscoveredBridgeStableID: String = ""
     @StateObject private var connectStatus = ConnectStatusStore()
     @State private var connectingBridgeID: String?
     @State private var localIPAddress: String?
@@ -207,6 +208,8 @@ struct SettingsTab: View {
         self.connectingBridgeID = bridge.id
         self.preferredBridgeStableID = bridge.stableID
         BridgeSettingsStore.savePreferredBridgeStableID(bridge.stableID)
+        self.lastDiscoveredBridgeStableID = bridge.stableID
+        BridgeSettingsStore.saveLastDiscoveredBridgeStableID(bridge.stableID)
         defer { self.connectingBridgeID = nil }
 
         do {
diff --git a/docs/ios/connect.md b/docs/ios/connect.md
index 8917a3b25..c4aa856a7 100644
--- a/docs/ios/connect.md
+++ b/docs/ios/connect.md
@@ -54,13 +54,13 @@ More debugging notes: `docs/bonjour.md`.
 In Iris:
 - Pick the discovered bridge (or hit refresh).
 - If not paired yet, Iris will initiate pairing automatically.
-- After the first successful pairing, Iris will auto-reconnect to the **last bridge** on launch (including after reinstall), as long as the iOS Keychain entry is still present.
+- After the first successful pairing, Iris will auto-reconnect **strictly to the last discovered gateway** on launch (including after reinstall), as long as the iOS Keychain entry is still present.
 
 ### Connection indicator (always visible)
 
 The Settings tab icon shows a small status dot:
 - **Green**: connected to the bridge
-- **Yellow**: connecting
+- **Yellow**: connecting (subtle pulse)
 - **Red**: not connected / error
 
 ## 4) Approve pairing (CLI)