diff --git a/scripts/integration-progress-model.ts b/scripts/integration-progress-model.ts
index ceb16e1f2a..db43d773b5 100644
--- a/scripts/integration-progress-model.ts
+++ b/scripts/integration-progress-model.ts
@@ -317,6 +317,7 @@ function summarizeProviderScenarioFlagExclusions() {
         'stepsFile',
         'proxyHost',
         'proxyPort',
+        'stale',
       ],
     },
     {
diff --git a/src/__tests__/cli-device-status.test.ts b/src/__tests__/cli-device-status.test.ts
index 4ae4e9c67c..32599f211b 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/cli-device-status.test.ts
+++ b/src/__tests__/cli-device-status.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+import fs from 'node:fs';
+import os from 'node:os';
+import path from 'node:path';
 import { test } from 'vitest';
+import { readCurrentOwnerIdentity } from '../utils/owner-identity.ts';
 import { runCliCapture } from './cli-capture.ts';
 
 test('device status is daemonless and does not send a daemon request', async () => {
@@ -7,5 +11,124 @@ test('device status is daemonless and does not send a daemon request', async ()
   assert.equal(result.code, null);
   assert.equal(result.calls.length, 0);
   const payload = JSON.parse(result.stdout);
-  assert.deepEqual(payload, { success: true, data: { claims: [] } });
+  assert.deepEqual(payload, { success: true, data: { claims: [], hiddenStaleClaims: 0 } });
+});
+
+test('keeps normal status compact while retaining proven-stale claims for explicit inspection', async () => {
+  const claimsDir = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'agent-device-cli-claims-'));
+  const owner = readCurrentOwnerIdentity();
+  try {
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(claimsDir, 'live.json'),
+      JSON.stringify({
+        schemaVersion: 1,
+        deviceKey: 'local:android:none:live',
+        device: { platform: 'android', id: 'live', name: 'Live Pixel', kind: 'emulator' },
+        session: 'live-session',
+        workspace: '/worktrees/live',
+        stateDir: process.cwd(),
+        ownerPid: owner.pid,
+        ownerStartTime: owner.startTime,
+        ownerToken: 'live-token',
+        createdAtMs: 1,
+        updatedAtMs: 1,
+      }),
+    );
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(claimsDir, 'stale.json'),
+      JSON.stringify({
+        schemaVersion: 1,
+        deviceKey: 'local:android:none:stale',
+        device: {
+          platform: 'android',
+          id: 'stale',
+          name: 'Stale Pixel; echo no',
+          kind: 'emulator',
+        },
+        session: 'stale-session',
+        workspace: '/worktrees/stale',
+        stateDir: process.cwd(),
+        ownerPid: 999_999_999,
+        ownerStartTime: 'old-start-time',
+        ownerToken: 'stale-token',
+        createdAtMs: 1,
+        updatedAtMs: 1,
+      }),
+    );
+
+    const normal = await runCliCapture(['device', 'status'], {
+      env: { AGENT_DEVICE_CLAIMS_DIR: claimsDir },
+    });
+    assert.equal(normal.code, null);
+    assert.equal(normal.calls.length, 0);
+    assert.match(normal.stdout, /Live Pixel: live/);
+    assert.match(
+      normal.stdout,
+      /1 stale claim hidden; inspect with: agent-device device status --stale/,
+    );
+    assert.doesNotMatch(normal.stdout, /Stale Pixel/);
+
+    const stale = await runCliCapture(['device', 'status', '--stale', '--json'], {
+      env: { AGENT_DEVICE_CLAIMS_DIR: claimsDir },
+    });
+    assert.equal(stale.code, null);
+    assert.equal(stale.calls.length, 0);
+    const payload = JSON.parse(stale.stdout);
+    assert.equal(payload.data.claims.length, 1);
+    assert.equal(payload.data.claims[0].device.name, 'Stale Pixel; echo no');
+    assert.equal(payload.data.claims[0].recovery, undefined);
+
+    const scoped = await runCliCapture(['device', 'status', '--device', 'Stale Pixel; echo no'], {
+      env: { AGENT_DEVICE_CLAIMS_DIR: claimsDir },
+    });
+    assert.match(
+      scoped.stdout,
+      /inspect with: agent-device device status --device 'Stale Pixel; echo no' --stale/,
+    );
+  } finally {
+    fs.rmSync(claimsDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  }
+});
+
+test('keeps corrupt and state-dir-gone claims visible in normal status', async () => {
+  const claimsDir = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'agent-device-cli-claims-'));
+  const owner = readCurrentOwnerIdentity();
+  try {
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(claimsDir, 'corrupt.json'), '{bad json');
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      path.join(claimsDir, 'state-dir-gone.json'),
+      JSON.stringify({
+        schemaVersion: 1,
+        deviceKey: 'local:android:none:state-dir-gone',
+        device: {
+          platform: 'android',
+          id: 'state-dir-gone',
+          name: 'State-dir-gone Pixel',
+          kind: 'emulator',
+        },
+        session: 'state-dir-gone-session',
+        workspace: '/worktrees/state-dir-gone',
+        stateDir: path.join(claimsDir, 'missing-state-dir'),
+        ownerPid: owner.pid,
+        ownerStartTime: owner.startTime,
+        ownerToken: 'state-dir-gone-token',
+        createdAtMs: 1,
+        updatedAtMs: 1,
+      }),
+    );
+
+    const normal = await runCliCapture(['device', 'status'], {
+      env: { AGENT_DEVICE_CLAIMS_DIR: claimsDir },
+    });
+    assert.match(normal.stdout, /corrupt.json: inconsistent/);
+    assert.doesNotMatch(normal.stdout, /State-dir-gone Pixel/);
+    assert.match(normal.stdout, /1 stale claim hidden/);
+
+    const stale = await runCliCapture(['device', 'status', '--stale'], {
+      env: { AGENT_DEVICE_CLAIMS_DIR: claimsDir },
+    });
+    assert.match(stale.stdout, /State-dir-gone Pixel: owner-state-dir-gone/);
+  } finally {
+    fs.rmSync(claimsDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  }
 });
diff --git a/src/cli-schema/command-overrides.ts b/src/cli-schema/command-overrides.ts
index 0ad0f999d1..77e59cd994 100644
--- a/src/cli-schema/command-overrides.ts
+++ b/src/cli-schema/command-overrides.ts
@@ -40,12 +40,14 @@ const SCHEMA_ONLY_CLI_COMMAND_SCHEMAS = {
     supportedFlags: ['stateDir'],
   },
   device: {
-    usageOverride: 'device status [--platform <platform>] [--udid <udid>] [--serial <serial>]',
+    usageOverride:
+      'device status [--platform <platform>] [--udid <udid>] [--serial <serial>] [--stale]',
     listUsageOverride: 'device status',
     helpDescription:
-      'Inspect advisory host-local device ownership claims without starting or contacting a daemon.',
+      'Inspect advisory host-local device ownership claims without starting or contacting a daemon. --stale only inspects proven-stale claims; it does not reclaim claims or clean platform resources.',
     summary: 'Inspect local advisory device ownership without daemon side effects',
     positionalArgs: ['status'],
+    allowedFlags: ['stale'],
     supportedFlags: ['platform', 'device', 'udid', 'serial'],
   },
   connect: {
diff --git a/src/cli/commands/device.ts b/src/cli/commands/device.ts
index 82378c5c81..b1c6580d02 100644
--- a/src/cli/commands/device.ts
+++ b/src/cli/commands/device.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import {
   inspectDeviceClaims,
   type InspectedDeviceClaim,
 } from '../../daemon/device-claim-inspection.ts';
+import { shellQuoteIfNeeded } from '../../utils/shell-quote.ts';
 import { writeCommandOutput } from './shared.ts';
 import type { ClientCommandHandler } from './router-types.ts';
 
@@ -10,21 +11,41 @@ export const deviceCommand: ClientCommandHandler = async ({ positionals, flags }
   if (positionals[0] !== 'status' || positionals.length !== 1) {
     throw new AppError('INVALID_ARGS', 'device accepts only: status');
   }
-  const claims = inspectDeviceClaims({
+  const inspectedClaims = inspectDeviceClaims({
     platform: flags.platform,
     device: flags.device,
     udid: flags.udid,
     serial: flags.serial,
-  }).map(serializeClaim);
-  const data = { claims };
-  writeCommandOutput(flags, data, () => renderDeviceStatus(claims));
+  });
+  const staleClaims = inspectedClaims.filter(isStaleClaim);
+  const claims = (
+    flags.stale ? staleClaims : inspectedClaims.filter((claim) => !isStaleClaim(claim))
+  ).map(serializeClaim);
+  const data = {
+    claims,
+    ...(flags.stale ? {} : { hiddenStaleClaims: staleClaims.length }),
+  };
+  writeCommandOutput(flags, data, () =>
+    renderDeviceStatus(claims, {
+      staleOnly: flags.stale === true,
+      hiddenStaleClaims: staleClaims.length,
+      staleCommand: buildStaleInspectionCommand(flags),
+    }),
+  );
   return true;
 };
 
+function isStaleClaim(claim: InspectedDeviceClaim): boolean {
+  return (
+    claim.classification === 'owner-process-dead' || claim.classification === 'owner-state-dir-gone'
+  );
+}
+
 function serializeClaim(entry: InspectedDeviceClaim): Record<string, unknown> {
   const claim = entry.claim;
   return {
     ...(entry.deviceKey ? { deviceKey: entry.deviceKey } : {}),
+    ...(!claim ? { fileName: entry.fileName } : {}),
     classification: entry.classification,
     ...(claim
       ? {
@@ -36,37 +57,58 @@ function serializeClaim(entry: InspectedDeviceClaim): Record<string, unknown> {
             pid: claim.ownerPid,
             startTime: claim.ownerStartTime,
           },
-          recovery: {
-            command: futureRecoveryCommand(claim.device.platform, claim.device.id),
-          },
         }
       : {}),
     ...(entry.error ? { error: entry.error } : {}),
   };
 }
 
-function futureRecoveryCommand(platform: string, id: string): string | undefined {
-  if (platform === 'ios' || platform === 'macos') {
-    return `agent-device device release --platform ${platform} --udid ${id} --stale`;
+function renderDeviceStatus(
+  claims: Record<string, unknown>[],
+  options: { staleOnly: boolean; hiddenStaleClaims: number; staleCommand: string },
+): string {
+  const claimLines = claims.map(renderClaimLine);
+  if (claimLines.length === 0) {
+    if (options.staleOnly) return 'No stale local advisory device claims found.';
+    if (options.hiddenStaleClaims === 0) return 'No local advisory device claims found.';
   }
-  if (platform === 'android') {
-    return `agent-device device release --platform android --serial ${id} --stale`;
-  }
-  return undefined;
+  return [
+    ...claimLines,
+    !options.staleOnly && options.hiddenStaleClaims > 0
+      ? `${options.hiddenStaleClaims} stale ${options.hiddenStaleClaims === 1 ? 'claim' : 'claims'} hidden; inspect with: ${options.staleCommand}`
+      : null,
+  ]
+    .filter((line): line is string => Boolean(line))
+    .join('\n');
 }
 
-function renderDeviceStatus(claims: Record<string, unknown>[]): string {
-  if (claims.length === 0) return 'No local advisory device claims found.';
-  return claims
-    .map((claim) => {
-      const device = claim.device as { platform?: string; id?: string; name?: string } | undefined;
-      const owner = claim.owner as { session?: string; workspace?: string } | undefined;
-      return [
-        `${device?.platform ?? 'unknown'} ${device?.name ?? device?.id ?? claim.deviceKey ?? 'claim'}: ${claim.classification}`,
-        owner ? `session=${owner.session} workspace=${owner.workspace}` : null,
-      ]
-        .filter((part): part is string => Boolean(part))
-        .join(' ');
-    })
-    .join('\n');
+function renderClaimLine(claim: Record<string, unknown>): string {
+  return `${renderClaimLabel(claim)}: ${claim.classification}${renderClaimOwner(claim.owner)}`;
+}
+
+function renderClaimLabel(claim: Record<string, unknown>): string {
+  const device = claim.device as { platform?: string; id?: string; name?: string } | undefined;
+  if (!device) return String(claim.deviceKey ?? claim.fileName ?? 'claim');
+  return `${device.platform ?? 'unknown'} ${device.name ?? device.id ?? 'claim'}`;
+}
+
+function renderClaimOwner(value: unknown): string {
+  if (!value || typeof value !== 'object') return '';
+  const owner = value as { session?: string; workspace?: string };
+  return ` session=${owner.session} workspace=${owner.workspace}`;
+}
+
+function buildStaleInspectionCommand(flags: {
+  platform?: string;
+  device?: string;
+  udid?: string;
+  serial?: string;
+}): string {
+  const selectors = [
+    flags.platform ? `--platform ${shellQuoteIfNeeded(flags.platform)}` : null,
+    flags.device ? `--device ${shellQuoteIfNeeded(flags.device)}` : null,
+    flags.udid ? `--udid ${shellQuoteIfNeeded(flags.udid)}` : null,
+    flags.serial ? `--serial ${shellQuoteIfNeeded(flags.serial)}` : null,
+  ].filter((part): part is string => Boolean(part));
+  return ['agent-device device status', ...selectors, '--stale'].join(' ');
 }
diff --git a/src/commands/cli-grammar/flag-definitions-target.ts b/src/commands/cli-grammar/flag-definitions-target.ts
index 26443f4498..595a6947f7 100644
--- a/src/commands/cli-grammar/flag-definitions-target.ts
+++ b/src/commands/cli-grammar/flag-definitions-target.ts
@@ -41,6 +41,13 @@ export const TARGET_FLAG_DEFINITIONS: readonly FlagDefinition[] = [
     usageLabel: '--serial <serial>',
     usageDescription: 'Android device serial',
   },
+  {
+    key: 'stale',
+    names: ['--stale'],
+    type: 'boolean',
+    usageLabel: '--stale',
+    usageDescription: 'Device status: show only claims with a provably stale owner',
+  },
   {
     key: 'surface',
     names: ['--surface'],
diff --git a/src/contracts/cli-flags.ts b/src/contracts/cli-flags.ts
index 02e798d5c2..173e2ad08c 100644
--- a/src/contracts/cli-flags.ts
+++ b/src/contracts/cli-flags.ts
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ export type CliFlags = CloudProviderProfileFields &
     device?: string;
     udid?: string;
     serial?: string;
+    stale?: boolean;
     iosSimulatorDeviceSet?: string;
     iosXctestrunFile?: string;
     iosXctestDerivedDataPath?: string;
diff --git a/test/skillgym/suites/agent-device-smoke-suite.ts b/test/skillgym/suites/agent-device-smoke-suite.ts
index 6614a5092e..6939a1cdd4 100644
--- a/test/skillgym/suites/agent-device-smoke-suite.ts
+++ b/test/skillgym/suites/agent-device-smoke-suite.ts
@@ -1108,10 +1108,10 @@ const SKILL_GUIDANCE_CASES: Case[] = [
     contract: [
       'Another worktree may have an advisory claim on Android emulator-5554',
       'Need to inspect local ownership without starting or contacting any daemon',
-      'Stage 1 is observational only: device release and --stale are not available yet',
+      'Claims are observational only: device release is unavailable; device status --stale only inspects proven-stale records and does not clean them',
     ],
     task: 'Plan the one command that inspects this Android device claim directly. Do not use ps, daemon commands, or an unavailable release command.',
-    outputs: [plannedCommand('device status')],
+    outputs: [plannedCommand('device status --platform android --serial emulator-5554')],
     forbiddenOutputs: [/\bdaemon\b/i, /\bdevice\s+release\b/i, /\bps\b/i],
     strictFinalOutput: true,
   }),
diff --git a/website/docs/docs/commands.md b/website/docs/docs/commands.md
index c78371b196..2caea0c257 100644
--- a/website/docs/docs/commands.md
+++ b/website/docs/docs/commands.md
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ agent-device app-switcher
 - `shutdown` turns off the selected Apple simulator or Android emulator.
 - `shutdown` must not target an active session device; use `close --shutdown` to end the session and turn it off.
 - `daemon stop --state-dir <path>` verifies the daemon PID/start-time identity, requests graceful shutdown, and reports whether provider-release state is known. Use `daemon stop --clean` to also remove retained Apple runner processes and leases owned by that daemon.
-- `device status` reads host-local advisory device claims without starting or contacting a daemon. Scope it with `--platform` plus `--udid` (Apple) or `--serial` (Android) to inspect one target. Stage 1 claims are observational: a live claim is reported but does not yet block `open` or offer a release command.
+- `device status` reads host-local advisory device claims without starting or contacting a daemon. Normal output shows live and attention-needed claims, then summarizes proven-stale records in one line; use `device status --stale` to inspect the hidden records. Scope either view with `--platform` plus `--udid` (Apple) or `--serial` (Android). Claims remain observational: a live claim does not yet block `open`, and stale inspection does not delete a claim or clean platform resources.
 - `--platform apple` is an alias for the Apple automation backend (`ios`, `tvOS`, `macOS` selection).
 - Use `--target mobile|tv|desktop` with `--platform` (required) to select phone/tablet vs TV-class vs desktop-class targets.
 - `boot` is mainly needed when starting a new session and `open` fails because no booted simulator/emulator is available.