diff --git a/docs/core-checklist-status.md b/docs/core-checklist-status.md
index 364ae8e..186ed55 100644
--- a/docs/core-checklist-status.md
+++ b/docs/core-checklist-status.md
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ Legend:
 
 1. Account - `DONE` (email auth, JWT, refresh, logout, reset, sessions; web handles `/verify-email?token=...` links with auth-page feedback; integration tests cover resend-verification replacement, password-reset login flow, and `check-email` status transitions)
 2. User Profile - `DONE` (username, name, avatar, bio, update)
-3. User Status - `PARTIAL` (online/last seen/offline; web now formats `just now/today/yesterday/recently`, backend-side presence heuristics still limited)
+3. User Status - `PARTIAL` (online/last seen/offline; web now formats `just now/today/yesterday/recently` and uses Telegram-like fallback `last seen recently` when precise last-seen is unavailable; backend-side presence heuristics still limited)
 4. Contacts - `PARTIAL` (list/search/add/remove/block/unblock; `add by email` flow covered by integration tests including `success/not found/blocked conflict`; web now surfaces specific add-by-email errors (`not found` vs `blocked`); UX moved to menu; Contacts panel now includes inline `Block/Unblock` actions per user)
 5. Chat List - `DONE` (all/pinned/archive/sort/unread; saved-messages delete behavior covered: clear history without deleting chat; regression test covers `GET /chats/{saved_id}` detail response)
 6. Chat Types - `DONE` (private/group/channel)
diff --git a/web/src/components/ChatInfoPanel.tsx b/web/src/components/ChatInfoPanel.tsx
index e7c5cf0..aebb4a9 100644
--- a/web/src/components/ChatInfoPanel.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/ChatInfoPanel.tsx
@@ -645,7 +645,7 @@ export function ChatInfoPanel({ chatId, open, onClose }: Props) {
                       ? "User is online"
                       : chat.counterpart_last_seen_at
                         ? `Last seen ${formatLastSeen(chat.counterpart_last_seen_at)}`
-                        : "User is offline"}
+                        : "Last seen recently"}
                   </p>
                 ) : (
                   <p className="text-sm text-slate-300">No extra information.</p>
@@ -1304,7 +1304,7 @@ function privateChatStatusLabel(chat: { counterpart_is_online?: boolean | null;
   if (chat.counterpart_last_seen_at) {
     return `last seen ${formatLastSeen(chat.counterpart_last_seen_at)}`;
   }
-  return "offline";
+  return "last seen recently";
 }
 
 function initialsFromName(value: string): string {
diff --git a/web/src/components/ChatList.tsx b/web/src/components/ChatList.tsx
index 4752e83..c54ccf8 100644
--- a/web/src/components/ChatList.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/ChatList.tsx
@@ -873,7 +873,7 @@ function chatMetaLabel(chat: {
     if (chat.counterpart_last_seen_at) {
       return `last seen ${formatLastSeen(chat.counterpart_last_seen_at)}`;
     }
-    return "offline";
+    return "last seen recently";
   }
   if (chat.type === "group") {
     const members = chat.members_count ?? 0;
diff --git a/web/src/pages/ChatsPage.tsx b/web/src/pages/ChatsPage.tsx
index a269b15..da5fbd7 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/ChatsPage.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/ChatsPage.tsx
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ function headerMetaLabel(chat: {
     if (chat.counterpart_last_seen_at) {
       return `last seen ${formatLastSeen(chat.counterpart_last_seen_at)}`;
     }
-    return "offline";
+    return "last seen recently";
   }
   if (chat.type === "group") {
     const members = chat.members_count ?? 0;