diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/backstage.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/backstage.rs
index 75ff81bc2..ac07f8424 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/backstage.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/backstage.rs
@@ -358,6 +358,11 @@ fn open_list(app: &mut WordApp, ui: &mut Ui) {
     let t = Tokens::get(ui.ctx());
     ui.label(egui::RichText::new(tl!("Recent")).font(semibold(16.0)));
     ui.add_space(6.0);
+    let error = ui.ctx().data(|d| d.get_temp::<String>(open_error_id())).unwrap_or_default();
+    if !error.is_empty() {
+        ui.label(egui::RichText::new(error).color(ui.visuals().error_fg_color));
+        ui.add_space(6.0);
+    }
     if app.ui.recent.is_empty() {
         ui.label(egui::RichText::new(tl!("Documents you open will show up here.")).color(t.text_dim));
     }
@@ -371,13 +376,30 @@ fn open_list(app: &mut WordApp, ui: &mut Ui) {
         ui.painter().text(pos2(r.min.x + 40.0, r.min.y + 13.0), Align2::LEFT_CENTER, &name, medium(13.0), t.text);
         ui.painter().text(pos2(r.min.x + 40.0, r.min.y + 29.0), Align2::LEFT_CENTER, &p, regular(11.0), t.text_dim);
         if resp.clicked() {
-            let _ = app.run("file.open", json!({"path": p}));
-            app.ui.backstage = false;
-            app.canvas.want_focus = true;
+            let failed = open_recent(app, &p).err();
+            ui.ctx().data_mut(|d| d.insert_temp(open_error_id(), failed.unwrap_or_default()));
         }
     }
 }
 
+fn open_error_id() -> egui::Id {
+    egui::Id::new("backstage_open_error")
+}
+
+/// Drop the Recent list's open error once File is closed, so it doesn't come back next time.
+pub(crate) fn forget_open_error(ctx: &egui::Context) {
+    ctx.data_mut(|d| d.remove::<String>(open_error_id()));
+}
+
+/// Open a file from the Recent list. A file that can't be opened (deleted, moved, unreadable)
+/// leaves File open so the list can say why, rather than closing it on a greyed-out window.
+fn open_recent(app: &mut WordApp, path: &str) -> Result<(), String> {
+    app.run("file.open", json!({"path": path}))?;
+    app.ui.backstage = false;
+    app.canvas.want_focus = true;
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 fn open_page(app: &mut WordApp, ui: &mut Ui) {
     heading(ui, "Open");
     if ui.button(egui::RichText::new(tl!("Browse…")).font(medium(14.0))).clicked() {
@@ -529,6 +551,19 @@ mod tests {
         }
     }
 
+    /// #2938: opening a deleted file from Recent keeps File open and reports the error instead of
+    /// closing it on a greyed-out window.
+    #[test]
+    #[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
+    fn opening_a_missing_recent_file_keeps_file_open_with_the_error() {
+        let mut app = WordApp::new(wordcraft_engine::Session::new(wordcraft_doc::Document::new()), Services::default());
+        app.ui.backstage = true;
+        let missing = std::env::temp_dir().join(format!("wordcraft-missing-{}.docx", std::process::id()));
+        let err = super::open_recent(&mut app, &missing.to_string_lossy()).unwrap_err();
+        assert!(!err.is_empty());
+        assert!(app.ui.backstage, "File stays open");
+    }
+
     /// #1873: the macOS back chevron sits beside the traffic lights windowed, at the plain
     /// control inset in full screen.
     #[test]
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
index 220131df8..ed4b62366 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
@@ -2208,6 +2208,10 @@ impl WordApp {
         if self.session.view.focus_mode && self.dialog.is_none() && ctx.input_mut(|i| i.consume_key(egui::Modifiers::NONE, egui::Key::Escape)) {
             let _ = self.run("view.focus", json!({"value": false}));
         }
+        // A failed Recent open is news only until File closes (#2938).
+        if !self.ui.backstage {
+            backstage::forget_open_error(&ctx);
+        }
         if self.ui.backstage {
             backstage::show(self, ui);
         } else if !self.has_document() {