diff --git a/docs/release-control/v6/internal/subsystems/cloud-paid.md b/docs/release-control/v6/internal/subsystems/cloud-paid.md
index 3337eaa5c..d11fa5dfc 100644
--- a/docs/release-control/v6/internal/subsystems/cloud-paid.md
+++ b/docs/release-control/v6/internal/subsystems/cloud-paid.md
@@ -277,6 +277,10 @@ The self-hosted activation return notice on `/settings/system-pro` is part of
 that same boundary: the `trial` query result is a one-shot handoff outcome and
 must be consumed into owned UI state, then removed from the URL rather than
 becoming sticky page state across refresh and sharing.
+That same shared notice owner must also keep activation-result framing
+customer-facing: replayed handoffs should confirm the current entitlement state
+rather than reading like a fresh failure, while invalid and unavailable states
+should direct the operator back to the secure trial handoff on this instance.
 That same hosted owner also applies after Stripe returns to
 `/trial-signup/complete`: customer-facing completion failures must stay inside
 owned trial UX rather than dropping raw control-plane error strings, and they
diff --git a/frontend-modern/src/utils/__tests__/licensePresentation.test.ts b/frontend-modern/src/utils/__tests__/licensePresentation.test.ts
index b8f0d7463..d478657ad 100644
--- a/frontend-modern/src/utils/__tests__/licensePresentation.test.ts
+++ b/frontend-modern/src/utils/__tests__/licensePresentation.test.ts
@@ -106,6 +106,18 @@ describe('licensePresentation', () => {
       title: 'Trial activated',
       tone: expect.stringContaining('green'),
     });
+    expect(getTrialActivationNotice('replayed')).toMatchObject({
+      title: 'Trial already activated',
+      tone: expect.stringContaining('sky'),
+    });
+    expect(getTrialActivationNotice('invalid')).toMatchObject({
+      title: 'Activation link invalid',
+      body: expect.stringContaining('fresh secure trial handoff'),
+    });
+    expect(getTrialActivationNotice('unavailable')).toMatchObject({
+      title: 'Activation unavailable',
+      body: expect.stringContaining('Refresh the billing state below'),
+    });
     expect(getTrialActivationNotice('ineligible')).toMatchObject({
       title: 'Trial not available',
       tone: expect.stringContaining('red'),
diff --git a/frontend-modern/src/utils/licensePresentation.ts b/frontend-modern/src/utils/licensePresentation.ts
index eb3ea0cce..51c9d3b36 100644
--- a/frontend-modern/src/utils/licensePresentation.ts
+++ b/frontend-modern/src/utils/licensePresentation.ts
@@ -207,19 +207,19 @@ export const getTrialActivationNotice = (result?: string | null): LicenseInlineN
       return {
         tone: 'border-red-200 dark:border-red-900 bg-red-50 dark:bg-red-900 text-red-900 dark:text-red-100',
         title: 'Activation link invalid',
-        body: 'That activation handoff is invalid or expired. Start the hosted checkout flow again from this Pulse instance.',
+        body: 'That activation handoff is invalid or expired. Return to Pulse Pro settings on this instance and start a fresh secure trial handoff.',
       };
     case 'replayed':
       return {
-        tone: 'border-amber-200 dark:border-amber-900 bg-amber-50 dark:bg-amber-900 text-amber-900 dark:text-amber-100',
-        title: 'Activation link already used',
-        body: 'This checkout handoff was already redeemed. Use the current entitlement state below or start a new checkout if needed.',
+        tone: 'border-sky-200 dark:border-sky-900 bg-sky-50 dark:bg-sky-900 text-sky-900 dark:text-sky-100',
+        title: 'Trial already activated',
+        body: 'This activation handoff was already redeemed for this instance. Use the current entitlement state below as the source of truth.',
       };
     case 'unavailable':
       return {
         tone: 'border-amber-200 dark:border-amber-900 bg-amber-50 dark:bg-amber-900 text-amber-900 dark:text-amber-100',
         title: 'Activation unavailable',
-        body: 'Pulse could not finish activation right now. Retry the return link from checkout or start the flow again from this instance.',
+        body: 'Pulse could not finish activation right now. Refresh the billing state below, then retry the return link or start the secure trial handoff again from this instance if needed.',
       };
     case 'ineligible':
       return {