diff --git a/e2e/USER_STORIES.md b/e2e/USER_STORIES.md
index 6bc9f7f8..efd70061 100644
--- a/e2e/USER_STORIES.md
+++ b/e2e/USER_STORIES.md
@@ -48,12 +48,16 @@ key in the app, so that I can start participating without an external tool.
 
 Acceptance:
 
-- Entering a display name advances to a key-backup step whose "Continue" button
-  stays disabled until a key file has been downloaded.
-- Choosing the encrypted download requires a password of at least 12 characters
-  and produces a file containing an ncryptsec rather than a plain nsec.
+- Entering a display name advances directly to the completion step without showing
+  the key-backup modal.
 - Finishing the flow logs the new user in, dismisses the dialog, and lands on
   the dashboard with the platform's default space visible.
+- The dashboard shows a pending "Back Up Your Key" health check until the existing
+  backup flow completes successfully; leaving the modal keeps the check pending.
+- Reloading preserves both the pending reminder and a completed backup.
+- Applying all recommendations opens the backup flow alongside the automatic relay fixes.
+- Choosing the encrypted download requires a password of at least 12 characters
+  and produces a file containing an ncryptsec rather than a plain nsec.
 - The display name entered during signup appears on the new user's own profile.
 
 ### US-003 — Log in with an existing private key
@@ -68,6 +72,7 @@ Acceptance:
 - Pasting an ncryptsec reveals a password field: the correct password logs in, a
   wrong one shows an error and stays logged out.
 - Text that is not a valid key leaves the submit button disabled.
+- Logging in with an existing private key does not enable the "Back Up Your Key" health check.
 - bob logging in with his own key in a separate context sees his own identity,
   not alice's.
 
diff --git a/e2e/specs/onboarding.spec.ts b/e2e/specs/onboarding.spec.ts
index 1ac3ab7a..bb8ace0f 100644
--- a/e2e/specs/onboarding.spec.ts
+++ b/e2e/specs/onboarding.spec.ts
@@ -100,36 +100,7 @@ test("US-002 sign up by generating a new key", async ({seed, visit}) => {
   await page.locator('input[type="text"]').fill("Nova Tester")
   await page.getByRole("button", {name: "Create Account"}).click()
 
-  await expect(page.getByRole("heading", {name: "Your Keys are Ready!"})).toBeVisible()
-
-  const continueButton = page.getByRole("button", {name: "Continue"})
-  const password = page.locator('input[type="password"]')
-
-  await expect(continueButton).toBeDisabled()
-
-  await page.getByRole("button", {name: "I want to download an encrypted version"}).click()
-  await password.fill("hunter2")
-  await page.getByRole("button", {name: "Download my key"}).click()
-
-  await expect(page.getByRole("alert")).toContainText(
-    "Your password must be at least 12 characters long.",
-  )
-  await expect(continueButton).toBeDisabled()
-
-  await password.fill("correct horse battery staple")
-
-  const download = page.waitForEvent("download")
-
-  await page.getByRole("button", {name: "Download my key"}).click()
-
-  const contents = await readFile(await (await download).path(), "utf8")
-
-  expect(contents).toContain("ncryptsec1")
-  expect(contents).not.toContain("nsec1")
-
-  await expect(continueButton).toBeEnabled()
-  await continueButton.click()
-
+  await expect(page.getByRole("heading", {name: "Backup your Key"})).toHaveCount(0)
   await expect(page.getByRole("heading", {name: "You're all set!"})).toBeVisible()
 
   await page.getByRole("button", {name: "Go to Dashboard"}).click()
@@ -138,6 +109,7 @@ test("US-002 sign up by generating a new key", async ({seed, visit}) => {
   await expect(page.locator(".primary-nav")).toBeVisible()
   await expect(page.getByRole("heading", {name: "You're all set!"})).toHaveCount(0)
   await expect(gate(page)).toHaveCount(0)
+  await expect(page.getByText("Back Up Your Key")).toBeVisible()
 
   // A space's nav item is a button rather than a link — PrimaryNavItemSpace passes an onclick, and
   // PrimaryNavItem renders a Button whenever it has one — so it is addressed by the tooltip it
@@ -151,6 +123,58 @@ test("US-002 sign up by generating a new key", async ({seed, visit}) => {
   await openSettings(page)
 
   await expect(page.getByText("Nova Tester")).toBeVisible()
+
+  await page.goto("/home")
+  await expect(page.getByText("Back Up Your Key")).toBeVisible()
+
+  await page.reload()
+
+  await expect(page.getByText("Back Up Your Key")).toBeVisible()
+
+  const backupCheck = page.getByRole("group", {name: "Back Up Your Key"})
+
+  await page.getByRole("button", {name: "Apply all recommendations"}).click()
+  await expect(page.getByRole("heading", {name: "Backup your Key"})).toBeVisible()
+  await page.getByRole("button", {name: "Go back"}).click()
+  await expect(backupCheck).toBeVisible()
+
+  await backupCheck.getByRole("button", {name: "Back Up"}).click()
+  await expect(page.getByRole("heading", {name: "Backup your Key"})).toBeVisible()
+  await page.getByRole("button", {name: "Go back"}).click()
+  await expect(page.getByText("Back Up Your Key")).toBeVisible()
+
+  await backupCheck.getByRole("button", {name: "Back Up"}).click()
+
+  const doneButton = page.getByRole("button", {name: "Done"})
+  const password = page.locator('input[type="password"]')
+
+  await page.getByRole("button", {name: "I want to download an encrypted version"}).click()
+  await password.fill("hunter2")
+  await page.getByRole("button", {name: "Download my key"}).click()
+
+  await expect(page.getByRole("alert")).toContainText(
+    "Your password must be at least 12 characters long.",
+  )
+  await expect(doneButton).toBeDisabled()
+
+  await password.fill("correct horse battery staple")
+
+  const download = page.waitForEvent("download")
+
+  await page.getByRole("button", {name: "Download my key"}).click()
+
+  const contents = await readFile(await (await download).path(), "utf8")
+
+  expect(contents).toContain("ncryptsec1")
+  expect(contents).not.toContain("nsec1")
+
+  await expect(doneButton).toBeEnabled()
+  await doneButton.click()
+
+  await expect(page.getByText("Back Up Your Key")).toHaveCount(0)
+  await page.reload()
+  await expect(page.locator(".primary-nav")).toBeVisible()
+  await expect(page.getByText("Back Up Your Key")).toHaveCount(0)
 })
 
 test("US-003 log in with an existing private key", async ({seed, visit}) => {
@@ -166,6 +190,7 @@ test("US-003 log in with an existing private key", async ({seed, visit}) => {
 
   await logInWithKey(withNsec, nsecFor(users.alice))
   await expect(withNsec.locator(".primary-nav")).toBeVisible()
+  await expect(withNsec.getByText("Back Up Your Key")).toHaveCount(0)
   await openSettings(withNsec)
   await expect(npubField(withNsec)).toHaveValue(aliceNpub)
 
@@ -173,6 +198,7 @@ test("US-003 log in with an existing private key", async ({seed, visit}) => {
 
   await logInWithKey(withHex, users.alice.secret)
   await expect(withHex.locator(".primary-nav")).toBeVisible()
+  await expect(withHex.getByText("Back Up Your Key")).toHaveCount(0)
   await openSettings(withHex)
   await expect(npubField(withHex)).toHaveValue(aliceNpub)
 
@@ -201,6 +227,7 @@ test("US-003 log in with an existing private key", async ({seed, visit}) => {
   await submit.click()
 
   await expect(withNcryptsec.locator(".primary-nav")).toBeVisible()
+  await expect(withNcryptsec.getByText("Back Up Your Key")).toHaveCount(0)
   await openSettings(withNcryptsec)
   await expect(npubField(withNcryptsec)).toHaveValue(aliceNpub)
 
diff --git a/src/app/components/HealthCheckItem.svelte b/src/app/components/HealthCheckItem.svelte
index c1956444..01f3fa26 100644
--- a/src/app/components/HealthCheckItem.svelte
+++ b/src/app/components/HealthCheckItem.svelte
@@ -14,7 +14,10 @@
   const apply = () => $healthChecks.apply(healthCheck)
 </script>
 
-<div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-3 px-4 py-3">
+<div
+  role="group"
+  aria-label={healthCheck.title}
+  class="flex items-start justify-between gap-3 px-4 py-3">
   <div class="flex min-w-0 flex-col gap-1">
     <strong class="text-sm">{healthCheck.title}</strong>
     <p class="text-sm opacity-75">{healthCheck.description}</p>
diff --git a/src/app/components/HomeHealthChecks.svelte b/src/app/components/HomeHealthChecks.svelte
index f138a3a1..653f7c4b 100644
--- a/src/app/components/HomeHealthChecks.svelte
+++ b/src/app/components/HomeHealthChecks.svelte
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
     </p>
   {:else}
     <div class="flex flex-col divide-y divide-line border-t border-line">
-      {#each $pending as healthCheck (healthCheck.title)}
+      {#each $pending as healthCheck (healthCheck.id)}
         <HealthCheckItem {healthCheck} />
       {/each}
       {#if $pending.length > 1}
diff --git a/src/app/components/KeyDownload.svelte b/src/app/components/KeyDownload.svelte
index b30c0ea5..340daff8 100644
--- a/src/app/components/KeyDownload.svelte
+++ b/src/app/components/KeyDownload.svelte
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@
       const ncryptsec = encrypt(hexToBytes(secret), password)
       instructions = `
       This file contains a backup of your Nostr secret key, downloaded from ${PLATFORM_NAME} and encrypted using
-      a password you chose when you signed up.
+      a password you chose when you backed up your key.
 
       ${sharedCopy}
 
@@ -95,15 +95,15 @@
 
     try {
       await downloadText("Nostr Secret Key.txt", cleanupCopy(instructions))
+      didDownload = true
     } catch (e) {
       // Dismissing the native share sheet rejects with "Share canceled" — leave
       // the flow gated so the user can try again rather than showing an error.
       if (!errorMessage(e).toLowerCase().includes("cancel")) {
+        console.error(e)
         pushToast({theme: "error", message: "We couldn't save your key. Please try again."})
       }
     }
-
-    didDownload = true
   }
 
   const onPasswordChange = () => {
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@
 <Modal tag="form" onsubmit={preventDefault(next)}>
   <ModalBody>
     <ModalHeader>
-      <ModalTitle>Your Keys are Ready!</ModalTitle>
+      <ModalTitle>Backup your Key</ModalTitle>
     </ModalHeader>
     <p>
       A cryptographic key pair has two parts: your <strong>public key</strong> identifies your
diff --git a/src/app/components/SignUp.svelte b/src/app/components/SignUp.svelte
index 5676c640..e66a7832 100644
--- a/src/app/components/SignUp.svelte
+++ b/src/app/components/SignUp.svelte
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 <script lang="ts">
   import cx from "classnames"
   import type {ClientOptions} from "@pomade/core"
+  import {assoc} from "@welshman/lib"
   import {makeSecret, RELAYS, MESSAGING_RELAYS, makeEvent} from "@welshman/util"
   import {Profile} from "@welshman/domain"
   import {Thunks, nip01, publish, toSession} from "@welshman/app"
@@ -13,7 +14,6 @@
   import ModalBody from "@lib/components/ModalBody.svelte"
   import ModalTitle from "@lib/components/ModalTitle.svelte"
   import LogIn from "@app/components/LogIn.svelte"
-  import SignUpKey from "@app/components/SignUpKey.svelte"
   import SignUpEmail from "@app/components/SignUpEmail.svelte"
   import SignUpProfile from "@app/components/SignUpProfile.svelte"
   import type {ProfileValues} from "@app/components/ProfileEditForm.svelte"
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
     DEFAULT_SPACES,
   } from "@app/env"
   import {setChecked} from "@app/notifications"
+  import {forceHealthChecks} from "@app/healthChecks"
   import {loginWithPomade} from "@app/pomade"
   import {pushModal, clearModals} from "@app/modal"
   import {app, domain, login, roomLists} from "@app/core"
@@ -89,14 +90,14 @@
       },
     },
     nostr: {
-      start: () => pushModal(SignUpProfile, {next: flows.nostr.key, step: 1, totalSteps: 3}),
-      key: () => pushModal(SignUpKey, {next: flows.nostr.complete, step: 2, totalSteps: 3}),
+      start: () => pushModal(SignUpProfile, {next: flows.nostr.complete, step: 1, totalSteps: 2}),
       complete: () =>
-        pushModal(SignUpComplete, {next: flows.nostr.finalize, step: 3, totalSteps: 3}),
+        pushModal(SignUpComplete, {next: flows.nostr.finalize, step: 2, totalSteps: 2}),
       finalize: async () => {
         const secret = getKey<string>("signup.secret")!
 
         await login(toSession(nip01, {secret}))
+        forceHealthChecks.update(assoc("backup-key", true))
         await completeSignup()
       },
     },
diff --git a/src/app/components/SignUpComplete.svelte b/src/app/components/SignUpComplete.svelte
index a57e2f98..041905eb 100644
--- a/src/app/components/SignUpComplete.svelte
+++ b/src/app/components/SignUpComplete.svelte
@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@
       <ModalTitle>You're all set!</ModalTitle>
     </ModalHeader>
     <p>
-      You've created your profile, saved your keys, and now you're ready to start chatting — all
-      without asking permission!
+      You've created your profile, and now you're ready to start chatting — all without asking
+      permission!
     </p>
     <p>
       From your dashboard, you can use invite links, discover community spaces, and keep up-to-date
diff --git a/src/app/components/SignUpKey.svelte b/src/app/components/SignUpKey.svelte
deleted file mode 100644
index f94302bf..00000000
--- a/src/app/components/SignUpKey.svelte
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
-<script lang="ts">
-  import {getKey} from "@lib/implicit"
-  import KeyDownload from "@app/components/KeyDownload.svelte"
-
-  type Props = {
-    next: () => void
-    step?: number
-    totalSteps?: number
-  }
-
-  const {next, step, totalSteps}: Props = $props()
-
-  const secret = getKey<string>("signup.secret")!
-</script>
-
-<KeyDownload {secret} {next} {step} {totalSteps} />
diff --git a/src/app/healthChecks.ts b/src/app/healthChecks.ts
index 40f97cbf..8a131b4d 100644
--- a/src/app/healthChecks.ts
+++ b/src/app/healthChecks.ts
@@ -1,17 +1,18 @@
-import {derived} from "svelte/store"
-import {sample} from "@welshman/lib"
+import {derived, get, writable} from "svelte/store"
+import {assoc, sample} from "@welshman/lib"
 import {
   MessagingRelayLists,
   RelayLists,
   Relays,
   SearchRelayLists,
-  projectFrom,
   projection,
   publish,
 } from "@welshman/app"
 import type {IApp, Projection} from "@welshman/app"
-import {usePlugin} from "@app/core"
+import KeyDownload from "@app/components/KeyDownload.svelte"
+import {session, usePlugin} from "@app/core"
 import {DEFAULT_RELAYS, DEFAULT_MESSAGING_RELAYS} from "@app/env"
+import {pushModal} from "@app/modal"
 
 export type HealthCheckContext = {
   readRelays: string[]
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ export type HealthCheckContext = {
 }
 
 export type HealthCheck = {
+  id: string
   title: string
   description: string
   action: string
@@ -28,6 +30,8 @@ export type HealthCheck = {
   apply: (context: HealthCheckContext) => unknown
 }
 
+export const forceHealthChecks = writable<Record<string, boolean>>({})
+
 export class HealthChecks {
   context: Projection<HealthCheckContext>
   pending: Projection<HealthCheck[]>
@@ -55,8 +59,10 @@ export class HealthChecks {
       ),
     )
 
-    this.pending = projectFrom(this.context, $context =>
-      this.checks.filter(check => check.isPending($context)),
+    this.pending = projection(
+      derived([this.context.$, forceHealthChecks], ([$context, $forceHealthChecks]) =>
+        this.checks.filter(check => $forceHealthChecks[check.id] ?? check.isPending($context)),
+      ),
     )
   }
 
@@ -64,6 +70,7 @@ export class HealthChecks {
 
   private checks: HealthCheck[] = [
     {
+      id: "missing-inbox-relays",
       title: "Missing Inbox Relays",
       description: "Other people aren't currently able to reliably tag you in public notes.",
       action: "Update",
@@ -71,6 +78,7 @@ export class HealthChecks {
       apply: () => this.app.use(RelayLists).setReadUrls(DEFAULT_RELAYS).then(publish),
     },
     {
+      id: "missing-outbox-relays",
       title: "Missing Outbox Relays",
       description: "Other people aren't currently able to reliably find your public notes.",
       action: "Update",
@@ -78,6 +86,7 @@ export class HealthChecks {
       apply: () => this.app.use(RelayLists).setWriteUrls(DEFAULT_RELAYS).then(publish),
     },
     {
+      id: "missing-dm-relays",
       title: "Missing DM Relays",
       description: "You aren't currently able to reliably send or receive direct messages.",
       action: "Update",
@@ -86,6 +95,7 @@ export class HealthChecks {
         this.app.use(MessagingRelayLists).setUrls(DEFAULT_MESSAGING_RELAYS).then(publish),
     },
     {
+      id: "too-many-inbox-relays",
       title: "Too Many Inbox Relays",
       description:
         "You have more inbox relays than is really necessary, which can affect resource usage.",
@@ -95,6 +105,7 @@ export class HealthChecks {
         this.app.use(RelayLists).setReadUrls(sample(5, context.readRelays)).then(publish),
     },
     {
+      id: "too-many-outbox-relays",
       title: "Too Many Outbox Relays",
       description:
         "You have more outbox relays than is really necessary, which can affect resource usage.",
@@ -104,6 +115,7 @@ export class HealthChecks {
         this.app.use(RelayLists).setWriteUrls(sample(5, context.writeRelays)).then(publish),
     },
     {
+      id: "too-many-dm-relays",
       title: "Too Many DM Relays",
       description:
         "You have more DM relays than is really necessary, which can affect resource usage.",
@@ -113,6 +125,7 @@ export class HealthChecks {
         this.app.use(MessagingRelayLists).setUrls(sample(5, context.messagingRelays)).then(publish),
     },
     {
+      id: "invalid-search-relays",
       title: "Invalid Search Relays",
       description: "Some of your search relays don't support search.",
       action: "Remove Invalid",
@@ -123,9 +136,29 @@ export class HealthChecks {
           .setUrls(context.searchRelays.filter(this.supportsSearch))
           .then(publish),
     },
+    {
+      id: "backup-key",
+      title: "Back Up Your Key",
+      description: "Save a backup of your private key in a secure place.",
+      action: "Back Up",
+      isPending: () => false,
+      apply: () => {
+        const {secret} = session.get()!.data as {secret: string}
+
+        pushModal(KeyDownload, {
+          secret,
+          next: () => {
+            forceHealthChecks.update(assoc("backup-key", false))
+            history.back()
+          },
+          submitText: "Done",
+        })
+      },
+    },
   ]
 
-  isPending = (healthCheck: HealthCheck) => healthCheck.isPending(this.context.get())
+  isPending = (healthCheck: HealthCheck) =>
+    get(forceHealthChecks)[healthCheck.id] ?? healthCheck.isPending(this.context.get())
 
   apply = (healthCheck: HealthCheck) => healthCheck.apply(this.context.get())
 }
diff --git a/src/routes/+layout.svelte b/src/routes/+layout.svelte
index 20af578d..2014a09b 100644
--- a/src/routes/+layout.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/+layout.svelte
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
   import {kv, ss, storage} from "@app/storage"
   import {device} from "@app/device"
   import {userSettingsValues, notificationSettings} from "@app/settings"
+  import {forceHealthChecks} from "@app/healthChecks"
   import {setupShareIntents, shareFromNative} from "@app/share"
   import {shouldUnwrap, syncApplicationData} from "@app/sync"
   import * as env from "@app/env"
@@ -194,6 +195,11 @@
         store: pushState,
         storage: kv,
       }),
+      sync({
+        key: "forceHealthChecks",
+        store: forceHealthChecks,
+        storage: kv,
+      }),
     ])
 
     // Wait for critical storage data only