diff --git a/solitaire_engine/src/safe_area.rs b/solitaire_engine/src/safe_area.rs
index 6544bd5..9c0c48b 100644
--- a/solitaire_engine/src/safe_area.rs
+++ b/solitaire_engine/src/safe_area.rs
@@ -191,10 +191,12 @@ fn apply_safe_area_to_modal_scrims(
 /// whatever `SafeAreaInsets` are current at that moment.
 ///
 /// On Android the `android::rearm_on_resumed` system runs in the same frame
-/// and resets both `SafeAreaPollTries` and `SafeAreaInsets` to zero, causing
-/// `refresh_insets` to re-poll JNI over the next few frames.  When it resolves
-/// the correct values, `on_safe_area_changed` in `table_plugin` emits a second
-/// synthetic `WindowResized` and the layout converges to the right position.
+/// and resets `SafeAreaPollTries` (the cached `SafeAreaInsets` keep their
+/// last-known values), causing `refresh_insets` to re-poll JNI over the next
+/// few frames.  If the insets changed while backgrounded, `on_safe_area_changed`
+/// in `table_plugin` emits a second synthetic `WindowResized` and the layout
+/// converges to the right position; if they didn't, nothing is rewritten and
+/// the layout stays put.
 ///
 /// On non-Android targets this handler still fires — it ensures that a resume
 /// event always refreshes the layout (e.g., after a minimise/restore on
@@ -232,9 +234,14 @@ mod android {
     pub(super) struct SafeAreaPollTries(pub u32);
 
     /// Polls Android for safe-area insets until we get a non-zero
-    /// reading, then stops. `getRootWindowInsets()` returns `null` (or
-    /// all-zero `Insets`) until the decor view has been laid out, which
-    /// is typically frame 1–3 of a fresh launch.
+    /// reading, then settles until [`rearm_on_resumed`] re-arms it on the
+    /// next foreground resume — insets can change while backgrounded
+    /// (rotation, fold/unfold, gesture ↔ 3-button nav). The poll counter
+    /// (not `insets.is_populated()`) gates the loop, so a re-armed cycle
+    /// re-queries JNI even though cached values are already populated.
+    /// `getRootWindowInsets()` returns `null` (or all-zero `Insets`)
+    /// until the decor view has been laid out, which is typically frame
+    /// 1–3 of a fresh launch.
     pub(super) fn refresh_insets(
         mut insets: ResMut<SafeAreaInsets>,
         mut poll: ResMut<SafeAreaPollTries>,
@@ -243,18 +250,25 @@ mod android {
         // devices that genuinely report zero insets.
         const MAX_TRIES: u32 = 120; // ~2 seconds @ 60 fps
 
-        if poll.0 >= MAX_TRIES || insets.is_populated() {
+        if poll.0 >= MAX_TRIES {
             return;
         }
         poll.0 += 1;
 
         match query_insets() {
             Ok(v) if v.is_populated() => {
-                info!(
-                    "safe_area: insets resolved top={} bottom={} left={} right={} (after {} frames)",
-                    v.top, v.bottom, v.left, v.right, poll.0
-                );
-                *insets = v;
+                if *insets != v {
+                    info!(
+                        "safe_area: insets resolved top={} bottom={} left={} right={} (after {} frames)",
+                        v.top, v.bottom, v.left, v.right, poll.0
+                    );
+                    *insets = v;
+                }
+                // Settled for this poll cycle; `rearm_on_resumed` re-arms on
+                // the next resume. Writing `insets` only on an actual change
+                // keeps resource change detection (and the relayout it
+                // triggers) quiet on resumes where nothing moved.
+                poll.0 = MAX_TRIES;
             }
             Ok(_) => {
                 // Layout not ready yet; try again next frame.