diff --git a/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/service/notifications/AlwaysOnNotificationServiceManager.kt b/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/service/notifications/AlwaysOnNotificationServiceManager.kt
index 58c11797f9..4af3a66589 100644
--- a/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/service/notifications/AlwaysOnNotificationServiceManager.kt
+++ b/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/service/notifications/AlwaysOnNotificationServiceManager.kt
@@ -53,8 +53,10 @@ import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
  *   this is the battery-saver "airplane mode". Persisted, so an explicit off survives
  *   restarts and crashes.
  * - The **per-account participation** flag ([com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.model.AccountSettings.alwaysOnNotificationService],
- *   "Keep this account active in the background"). While the master is on, the service
- *   runs as long as **at least one** writable account participates.
+ *   "Keep this account active in the background") **or** its NIP-46 signer toggle
+ *   ([com.vitorpamplona.amethyst.model.AccountSettings.nip46SignerEnabled]). While the master is
+ *   on, the service runs as long as **at least one** writable account has either flag on — the
+ *   background signer relies on the same foreground service to keep answering requests.
  *
  * While the master is on, every saved writable account is kept loaded in
  * [AccountCacheState] so (a) its participation flag is observable and (b) GiftWraps
@@ -83,6 +85,11 @@ class AlwaysOnNotificationServiceManager(
      * loaded writable account. The service layers run while the master is on AND at
      * least one account participates; the master overrides everything when off.
      *
+     * An account "participates" when either its always-on setting **or** its NIP-46
+     * signer toggle is on: the foreground service (and its restart layers) keep the
+     * process + shared relay client alive, which is exactly what the background signer
+     * needs to keep answering requests, so the signer toggle keeps the layers up too.
+     *
      * Idempotent: safe to call again on account switch/login — it restarts the watch.
      */
     @OptIn(ExperimentalCoroutinesApi::class)
@@ -105,11 +112,17 @@ class AlwaysOnNotificationServiceManager(
 
                     // Master on: keep every writable account loaded so its participation
                     // flag is observable and its gift wraps can decrypt, then run the
-                    // service only while at least one account is participating.
+                    // service only while at least one account is participating. An account
+                    // participates when its always-on setting OR its NIP-46 signer toggle is
+                    // on — the background signer needs the same foreground service alive.
                     startMultiAccountPreload()
                     accountsCache.accounts
                         .flatMapLatest { accounts ->
-                            val flags = accounts.values.map { it.settings.alwaysOnNotificationService }
+                            val flags =
+                                accounts.values.map { account ->
+                                    account.settings.alwaysOnNotificationService
+                                        .combine(account.settings.nip46SignerEnabled) { alwaysOn, signer -> alwaysOn || signer }
+                                }
                             if (flags.isEmpty()) {
                                 flowOf(false)
                             } else {
diff --git a/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/service/notifications/NotificationRelayService.kt b/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/service/notifications/NotificationRelayService.kt
index 2f48e5466b..c2fa2eab2d 100644
--- a/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/service/notifications/NotificationRelayService.kt
+++ b/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/service/notifications/NotificationRelayService.kt
@@ -126,9 +126,11 @@ class NotificationRelayService : Service() {
         // the service itself once a participant exists.
         fun isEnabled(context: Context): Boolean =
             try {
+                // The service also backs the NIP-46 signer, so an account with the signer on
+                // participates just like one with always-on notifications on.
                 LocalPreferences.isNotificationServiceEnabled() &&
                     Amethyst.instance.accountsCache.accounts.value.values.any {
-                        it.settings.alwaysOnNotificationService.value
+                        it.settings.alwaysOnNotificationService.value || it.settings.nip46SignerEnabled.value
                     }
             } catch (e: Exception) {
                 false
diff --git a/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/ui/screen/loggedIn/settings/nip46/Nip46SignerScreen.kt b/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/ui/screen/loggedIn/settings/nip46/Nip46SignerScreen.kt
index c15648de23..15ef1b7b98 100644
--- a/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/ui/screen/loggedIn/settings/nip46/Nip46SignerScreen.kt
+++ b/amethyst/src/main/java/com/vitorpamplona/amethyst/ui/screen/loggedIn/settings/nip46/Nip46SignerScreen.kt
@@ -198,6 +198,12 @@ fun Nip46SignerScreen(
                 count = connectedCount,
                 onClick = { nav.nav(Route.ConnectedApps) },
             )
+
+            Text(
+                stringResource(R.string.nip46_signer_background_hint),
+                style = MaterialTheme.typography.labelSmall,
+                color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onSurfaceVariant,
+            )
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/amethyst/src/main/res/values/strings.xml b/amethyst/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
index 5b43f12ee2..6b81a1e108 100644
--- a/amethyst/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/amethyst/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -926,6 +926,7 @@
     <string name="nip46_signer_connect_failed">Could not connect: %1$s</string>
     <string name="nip46_signer_readonly">This is a read-only account and cannot sign.</string>
     <string name="nip46_signer_remote_app">Remote signer app</string>
+    <string name="nip46_signer_background_hint">Amethyst keeps a background connection (shown as an ongoing notification) so it can answer signing requests while closed.</string>
     <string name="nip46_signer_hero_title">Sign for other apps</string>
     <string name="nip46_signer_turn_on">Turn on signer</string>
     <string name="nip46_signer_live">Live</string>