diff --git a/src/components/layout/AppHeader.tsx b/src/components/layout/AppHeader.tsx
index 381d12d..986b78a 100644
--- a/src/components/layout/AppHeader.tsx
+++ b/src/components/layout/AppHeader.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useEffect, useState } from 'react'
+import { useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react'
 import { NavLink, useLocation, useNavigate } from 'react-router-dom'
 
 import { motion, AnimatePresence } from 'framer-motion'
@@ -12,9 +12,11 @@ import {
   RestoreDown,
   X,
   Bell,
+  Film,
+  Tv,
 } from '../../lib/icons'
 import { isTauri } from '../../lib/tauri'
-import { jellyfinClient, getActivityLogApi } from '../../api/jellyfin'
+import { jellyfinClient, getItemsApi } from '../../api/jellyfin'
 
 /**
  * The single chrome bar at the top of the in-app shell. Replaces the
@@ -62,14 +64,28 @@ export default function AppHeader({ pinned, onTogglePin }: Props) {
   const [maximized, setMaximized] = useState(false)
   const [notifsOpen, setNotifsOpen] = useState(false)
   const [notifs, setNotifs] = useState<any[]>([])
+  const [lastOpenedAt, setLastOpenedAt] = useState<string | null>(() => {
+    try { return localStorage.getItem('jf_bell_opened') } catch { return null }
+  })
+  const notifsRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null)
 
-  // Poll activity log for the notification bell
+  // Poll recently-added items for the notification bell
   useEffect(() => {
     const api = jellyfinClient.getApi()
     if (!api) return
     async function poll() {
       try {
-        const res = await getActivityLogApi(api!).getLogEntries({ limit: 8 })
+        const auth = jellyfinClient.getAuthState()
+        if (!auth?.userId) return
+        const res = await getItemsApi(api!).getItems({
+          userId: auth.userId,
+          sortBy: ['DateCreated'],
+          sortOrder: ['Descending'],
+          limit: 15,
+          recursive: true,
+          includeItemTypes: ['Movie', 'Series', 'Episode'],
+          fields: ['DateCreated', 'PrimaryImageAspectRatio'],
+        } as any)
         setNotifs(res.data.Items || [])
       } catch { /* ignore */ }
     }
@@ -78,6 +94,25 @@ export default function AppHeader({ pinned, onTogglePin }: Props) {
     return () => clearInterval(id)
   }, [])
 
+  // Click outside to close
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!notifsOpen) return
+    function onDocClick(e: MouseEvent) {
+      if (!notifsRef.current?.contains(e.target as Node)) {
+        setNotifsOpen(false)
+      }
+    }
+    document.addEventListener('mousedown', onDocClick)
+    return () => document.removeEventListener('mousedown', onDocClick)
+  }, [notifsOpen])
+
+  const hasUnread = notifs.some(n => {
+    const created = n.DateCreated
+    if (!created) return false
+    if (!lastOpenedAt) return true
+    return created > lastOpenedAt
+  })
+
   // Subtle background fade in when the main pane is scrolled - same UX
   // affordance the old TopBar had, just on the unified header.
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -247,15 +282,25 @@ export default function AppHeader({ pinned, onTogglePin }: Props) {
           </kbd>
         </button>
 
-        {/* Notification bell */}
-        <div className="relative self-center mr-2">
+        {/* Notification bell — new releases only */}
+        <div ref={notifsRef} className="relative self-center mr-2">
           <button
-            onClick={() => setNotifsOpen(o => !o)}
+            onClick={() => {
+              setNotifsOpen(o => {
+                const next = !o
+                if (next) {
+                  const now = new Date().toISOString()
+                  setLastOpenedAt(now)
+                  try { localStorage.setItem('jf_bell_opened', now) } catch { /* noop */ }
+                }
+                return next
+              })
+            }}
             className="relative w-7 h-7 grid place-items-center rounded-md text-text-3 hover:text-text-1 hover:bg-elevated transition-colors focus-ring"
-            aria-label="Notifications"
+            aria-label="New releases"
           >
             <Bell size={13} stroke={2} />
-            {notifs.length > 0 && (
+            {hasUnread && (
               <span className="absolute top-0.5 right-0.5 w-1.5 h-1.5 rounded-full bg-accent" />
             )}
           </button>
@@ -266,26 +311,49 @@ export default function AppHeader({ pinned, onTogglePin }: Props) {
                 animate={{ opacity: 1, y: 0, scale: 1 }}
                 exit={{ opacity: 0, y: 6, scale: 0.98 }}
                 transition={{ duration: 0.18 }}
-                className="absolute right-0 top-9 w-72 rounded-xl bg-glass-strong backdrop-blur-2xl border border-white/10 shadow-[0_20px_60px_-15px_rgba(0,0,0,0.85)] z-modal overflow-hidden"
+                className="absolute right-0 top-9 w-80 rounded-xl bg-glass-strong backdrop-blur-2xl border border-white/10 shadow-[0_20px_60px_-15px_rgba(0,0,0,0.85)] z-modal overflow-hidden"
               >
-                <div className="px-3 py-2.5 border-b border-white/8">
-                  <p className="text-[11px] font-semibold text-text-1 tracking-tight">Recent activity</p>
+                <div className="px-3 py-2.5 border-b border-white/8 flex items-center justify-between">
+                  <p className="text-[11px] font-semibold text-text-1 tracking-tight">New releases</p>
+                  {notifs.length > 0 && (
+                    <span className="text-[10px] text-text-4 tabular-nums">{notifs.length} new</span>
+                  )}
                 </div>
-                <div className="max-h-64 overflow-y-auto content-scroll">
+                <div className="max-h-72 overflow-y-auto content-scroll">
                   {notifs.length === 0 ? (
-                    <p className="px-3 py-4 text-[11.5px] text-text-3 text-center">No recent activity</p>
+                    <p className="px-3 py-4 text-[11.5px] text-text-3 text-center">Nothing new yet</p>
                   ) : (
-                    notifs.map((entry: any, i: number) => (
-                      <div
-                        key={entry.Id || i}
-                        className="px-3 py-2 text-[11.5px] border-b border-white/5 last:border-0 hover:bg-white/4 transition-colors"
-                      >
-                        <p className="text-text-2 truncate">{entry.Name}</p>
-                        <p className="text-text-4 tabular-nums mt-0.5">
-                          {entry.DateCreated ? new Date(entry.DateCreated).toLocaleString(undefined, { month: 'short', day: 'numeric', hour: 'numeric', minute: '2-digit' }) : ''}
-                        </p>
-                      </div>
-                    ))
+                    notifs.map((entry: any) => {
+                      const isUnread = !lastOpenedAt || (entry.DateCreated && entry.DateCreated > lastOpenedAt)
+                      return (
+                        <button
+                          key={entry.Id}
+                          onClick={() => {
+                            if (entry.Id) {
+                              navigate(`/item/${entry.Id}`)
+                              setNotifsOpen(false)
+                            }
+                          }}
+                          className={`w-full text-left px-3 py-2.5 text-[11.5px] border-b border-white/5 last:border-0 hover:bg-white/4 transition-colors flex items-center gap-2.5 ${isUnread ? 'bg-white/[0.03]' : ''}`}
+                        >
+                          {entry.Type === 'Series' || entry.Type === 'Episode' ? (
+                            <Tv size={13} className="text-accent shrink-0" />
+                          ) : (
+                            <Film size={13} className="text-accent shrink-0" />
+                          )}
+                          <div className="min-w-0 flex-1">
+                            <p className="text-text-2 truncate font-medium">{entry.Name}</p>
+                            <p className="text-text-4 tabular-nums mt-0.5">
+                              {entry.DateCreated ? new Date(entry.DateCreated).toLocaleString(undefined, { month: 'short', day: 'numeric', hour: 'numeric', minute: '2-digit' }) : ''}
+                              {entry.ProductionYear ? ` · ${entry.ProductionYear}` : ''}
+                            </p>
+                          </div>
+                          {isUnread && (
+                            <span className="w-1.5 h-1.5 rounded-full bg-accent shrink-0" />
+                          )}
+                        </button>
+                      )
+                    })
                   )}
                 </div>
               </motion.div>