diff --git a/core/navigation/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/core/navigation/NavBackStackExt.kt b/core/navigation/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/core/navigation/NavBackStackExt.kt
index 5638814f8..03580fe2b 100644
--- a/core/navigation/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/core/navigation/NavBackStackExt.kt
+++ b/core/navigation/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/core/navigation/NavBackStackExt.kt
@@ -24,7 +24,9 @@ import androidx.navigation3.runtime.NavKey
  */
 fun MutableList<NavKey>.navigateTopLevel(route: NavKey) {
     if (isNotEmpty()) {
-        this[0] = route
+        if (this[0] != route) {
+            this[0] = route
+        }
         while (size > 1) {
             removeAt(lastIndex)
         }
@@ -32,3 +34,41 @@ fun MutableList<NavKey>.navigateTopLevel(route: NavKey) {
         add(route)
     }
 }
+
+/**
+ * Replaces the last entry in the back stack with the given route.
+ * If the back stack is empty, it simply adds the route.
+ */
+fun MutableList<NavKey>.replaceLast(route: NavKey) {
+    if (isNotEmpty()) {
+        if (this[lastIndex] != route) {
+            this[lastIndex] = route
+        }
+    } else {
+        add(route)
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Replaces the entire back stack with the given routes in a way that minimizes structural changes
+ * and prevents the back stack from temporarily becoming empty.
+ */
+fun MutableList<NavKey>.replaceAll(routes: List<NavKey>) {
+    if (routes.isEmpty()) {
+        clear()
+        return
+    }
+    for (i in routes.indices) {
+        if (i < size) {
+            // Only mutate if the route actually changed, protecting Nav3's internal state matching.
+            if (this[i] != routes[i]) {
+                this[i] = routes[i]
+            }
+        } else {
+            add(routes[i])
+        }
+    }
+    while (size > routes.size) {
+        removeAt(lastIndex)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/core/ui/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/core/ui/component/MeshtasticAppShell.kt b/core/ui/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/core/ui/component/MeshtasticAppShell.kt
index 164305b05..b4fd4c8d4 100644
--- a/core/ui/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/core/ui/component/MeshtasticAppShell.kt
+++ b/core/ui/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/core/ui/component/MeshtasticAppShell.kt
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import androidx.compose.ui.Modifier
 import androidx.navigation3.runtime.NavBackStack
 import androidx.navigation3.runtime.NavKey
 import org.meshtastic.core.navigation.NodeDetailRoutes
+import org.meshtastic.core.navigation.replaceAll
 import org.meshtastic.core.ui.viewmodel.UIViewModel
 
 /**
@@ -39,8 +40,7 @@ fun MeshtasticAppShell(
 ) {
     LaunchedEffect(uiViewModel) {
         uiViewModel.navigationDeepLink.collect { navKeys ->
-            backStack.clear()
-            backStack.addAll(navKeys)
+            backStack.replaceAll(navKeys)
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/feature/messaging/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/feature/messaging/navigation/ContactsNavigation.kt b/feature/messaging/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/feature/messaging/navigation/ContactsNavigation.kt
index 75bd59b8c..4db201db7 100644
--- a/feature/messaging/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/feature/messaging/navigation/ContactsNavigation.kt
+++ b/feature/messaging/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/feature/messaging/navigation/ContactsNavigation.kt
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.Flow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.MutableSharedFlow
 import org.koin.compose.viewmodel.koinViewModel
 import org.meshtastic.core.navigation.ContactsRoutes
+import org.meshtastic.core.navigation.replaceLast
 import org.meshtastic.core.ui.component.ScrollToTopEvent
 import org.meshtastic.feature.messaging.QuickChatScreen
 import org.meshtastic.feature.messaging.QuickChatViewModel
@@ -50,11 +51,20 @@ fun EntryProviderScope<NavKey>.contactsGraph(
     }
 
     entry<ContactsRoutes.Messages>(metadata = { ListDetailSceneStrategy.detailPane() }) { args ->
-        ContactsEntryContent(
-            backStack = backStack,
-            scrollToTopEvents = scrollToTopEvents,
-            initialContactKey = args.contactKey,
-            initialMessage = args.message,
+        val contactKey = args.contactKey
+        val messageViewModel: org.meshtastic.feature.messaging.MessageViewModel =
+            koinViewModel(key = "messages-$contactKey")
+        messageViewModel.setContactKey(contactKey)
+
+        org.meshtastic.feature.messaging.MessageScreen(
+            contactKey = contactKey,
+            message = args.message,
+            viewModel = messageViewModel,
+            navigateToNodeDetails = {
+                backStack.add(org.meshtastic.core.navigation.NodesRoutes.NodeDetailGraph(it))
+            },
+            navigateToQuickChatOptions = { backStack.add(org.meshtastic.core.navigation.ContactsRoutes.QuickChat) },
+            onNavigateBack = { backStack.removeLastOrNull() },
         )
     }
 
@@ -63,10 +73,8 @@ fun EntryProviderScope<NavKey>.contactsGraph(
         val viewModel = koinViewModel<ContactsViewModel>()
         ShareScreen(
             viewModel = viewModel,
-            onConfirm = {
-                // Navigation 3 - replace Top with Messages manually, but for now we just pop and add
-                backStack.removeLastOrNull()
-                backStack.add(ContactsRoutes.Messages(it, message))
+            onConfirm = { contactKey ->
+                backStack.replaceLast(ContactsRoutes.Messages(contactKey, message))
             },
             onNavigateUp = { backStack.removeLastOrNull() },
         )
@@ -82,8 +90,6 @@ fun EntryProviderScope<NavKey>.contactsGraph(
 fun ContactsEntryContent(
     backStack: NavBackStack<NavKey>,
     scrollToTopEvents: Flow<ScrollToTopEvent>,
-    initialContactKey: String? = null,
-    initialMessage: String = "",
 ) {
     val uiViewModel: org.meshtastic.core.ui.viewmodel.UIViewModel = koinViewModel()
     val sharedContactRequested by uiViewModel.sharedContactRequested.collectAsStateWithLifecycle()
@@ -93,30 +99,11 @@ fun ContactsEntryContent(
     AdaptiveContactsScreen(
         backStack = backStack,
         contactsViewModel = contactsViewModel,
-        messageViewModel = koinViewModel(), // Ignored by custom detail pane below
         scrollToTopEvents = scrollToTopEvents,
         sharedContactRequested = sharedContactRequested,
         requestChannelSet = requestChannelSet,
         onHandleDeepLink = uiViewModel::handleDeepLink,
         onClearSharedContactRequested = uiViewModel::clearSharedContactRequested,
         onClearRequestChannelUrl = uiViewModel::clearRequestChannelUrl,
-        initialContactKey = initialContactKey,
-        initialMessage = initialMessage,
-        detailPaneCustom = { contactKey ->
-            val messageViewModel: org.meshtastic.feature.messaging.MessageViewModel =
-                koinViewModel(key = "messages-$contactKey")
-            messageViewModel.setContactKey(contactKey)
-
-            org.meshtastic.feature.messaging.MessageScreen(
-                contactKey = contactKey,
-                message = if (contactKey == initialContactKey) initialMessage else "",
-                viewModel = messageViewModel,
-                navigateToNodeDetails = {
-                    backStack.add(org.meshtastic.core.navigation.NodesRoutes.NodeDetailGraph(it))
-                },
-                navigateToQuickChatOptions = { backStack.add(org.meshtastic.core.navigation.ContactsRoutes.QuickChat) },
-                onNavigateBack = { backStack.removeLastOrNull() },
-            )
-        },
     )
 }
diff --git a/feature/messaging/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/feature/messaging/ui/contact/AdaptiveContactsScreen.kt b/feature/messaging/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/feature/messaging/ui/contact/AdaptiveContactsScreen.kt
index cddf92498..441042e66 100644
--- a/feature/messaging/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/feature/messaging/ui/contact/AdaptiveContactsScreen.kt
+++ b/feature/messaging/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/feature/messaging/ui/contact/AdaptiveContactsScreen.kt
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ import org.meshtastic.core.navigation.ChannelsRoutes
 import org.meshtastic.core.navigation.ContactsRoutes
 import org.meshtastic.core.navigation.NodesRoutes
 import org.meshtastic.core.ui.component.ScrollToTopEvent
-import org.meshtastic.feature.messaging.MessageViewModel
 import org.meshtastic.proto.ChannelSet
 import org.meshtastic.proto.SharedContact
 
@@ -33,16 +32,12 @@ import org.meshtastic.proto.SharedContact
 fun AdaptiveContactsScreen(
     backStack: NavBackStack<NavKey>,
     contactsViewModel: ContactsViewModel,
-    messageViewModel: MessageViewModel,
     scrollToTopEvents: Flow<ScrollToTopEvent>,
     sharedContactRequested: SharedContact?,
     requestChannelSet: ChannelSet?,
     onHandleDeepLink: (MeshtasticUri, onInvalid: () -> Unit) -> Unit,
     onClearSharedContactRequested: () -> Unit,
     onClearRequestChannelUrl: () -> Unit,
-    initialContactKey: String? = null,
-    initialMessage: String = "",
-    detailPaneCustom: @Composable ((contactKey: String) -> Unit)? = null,
 ) {
     ContactsScreen(
         onNavigateToShare = { backStack.add(ChannelsRoutes.ChannelsGraph) },
diff --git a/feature/node/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/feature/node/navigation/AdaptiveNodeListScreen.kt b/feature/node/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/feature/node/navigation/AdaptiveNodeListScreen.kt
index 09ec48b63..ce8bd665e 100644
--- a/feature/node/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/feature/node/navigation/AdaptiveNodeListScreen.kt
+++ b/feature/node/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/feature/node/navigation/AdaptiveNodeListScreen.kt
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.Flow
 import org.koin.compose.viewmodel.koinViewModel
 import org.meshtastic.core.navigation.ChannelsRoutes
 import org.meshtastic.core.navigation.NodesRoutes
-import org.meshtastic.core.navigation.Route
 import org.meshtastic.core.ui.component.ScrollToTopEvent
 import org.meshtastic.feature.node.list.NodeListScreen
 import org.meshtastic.feature.node.list.NodeListViewModel
@@ -32,9 +31,6 @@ import org.meshtastic.feature.node.list.NodeListViewModel
 fun AdaptiveNodeListScreen(
     backStack: NavBackStack<NavKey>,
     scrollToTopEvents: Flow<ScrollToTopEvent>,
-    initialNodeId: Int? = null,
-    onNavigate: (Route) -> Unit = {},
-    onNavigateToMessages: (String) -> Unit = {},
     onHandleDeepLink: (org.meshtastic.core.common.util.MeshtasticUri, onInvalid: () -> Unit) -> Unit = { _, _ -> },
 ) {
     val nodeListViewModel: NodeListViewModel = koinViewModel()
diff --git a/feature/node/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/feature/node/navigation/NodesNavigation.kt b/feature/node/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/feature/node/navigation/NodesNavigation.kt
index 8cfb72881..d68f064a8 100644
--- a/feature/node/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/feature/node/navigation/NodesNavigation.kt
+++ b/feature/node/src/commonMain/kotlin/org/meshtastic/feature/node/navigation/NodesNavigation.kt
@@ -53,6 +53,9 @@ import org.meshtastic.core.resources.power
 import org.meshtastic.core.resources.signal
 import org.meshtastic.core.resources.traceroute
 import org.meshtastic.core.ui.component.ScrollToTopEvent
+import org.meshtastic.feature.node.compass.CompassViewModel
+import org.meshtastic.feature.node.detail.NodeDetailScreen
+import org.meshtastic.feature.node.detail.NodeDetailViewModel
 import org.meshtastic.feature.node.metrics.DeviceMetricsScreen
 import org.meshtastic.feature.node.metrics.EnvironmentMetricsScreen
 import org.meshtastic.feature.node.metrics.HostMetricsLogScreen
@@ -76,8 +79,6 @@ fun EntryProviderScope<NavKey>.nodesGraph(
         AdaptiveNodeListScreen(
             backStack = backStack,
             scrollToTopEvents = scrollToTopEvents,
-            onNavigate = { backStack.add(it) },
-            onNavigateToMessages = { backStack.add(ContactsRoutes.Messages(it)) },
             onHandleDeepLink = onHandleDeepLink,
         )
     }
@@ -86,8 +87,6 @@ fun EntryProviderScope<NavKey>.nodesGraph(
         AdaptiveNodeListScreen(
             backStack = backStack,
             scrollToTopEvents = scrollToTopEvents,
-            onNavigate = { backStack.add(it) },
-            onNavigateToMessages = { backStack.add(ContactsRoutes.Messages(it)) },
             onHandleDeepLink = onHandleDeepLink,
         )
     }
@@ -106,21 +105,21 @@ fun EntryProviderScope<NavKey>.nodeDetailGraph(
         AdaptiveNodeListScreen(
             backStack = backStack,
             scrollToTopEvents = scrollToTopEvents,
-            initialNodeId = args.destNum,
-            onNavigate = { backStack.add(it) },
-            onNavigateToMessages = { backStack.add(ContactsRoutes.Messages(it)) },
             onHandleDeepLink = onHandleDeepLink,
         )
     }
 
     entry<NodesRoutes.NodeDetail>(metadata = { ListDetailSceneStrategy.detailPane() }) { args ->
-        AdaptiveNodeListScreen(
-            backStack = backStack,
-            scrollToTopEvents = scrollToTopEvents,
-            initialNodeId = args.destNum,
+        val nodeDetailViewModel: NodeDetailViewModel = koinViewModel()
+        val compassViewModel: CompassViewModel = koinViewModel()
+        val destNum = args.destNum ?: 0 // Handle nullable destNum if needed
+        NodeDetailScreen(
+            nodeId = destNum,
+            viewModel = nodeDetailViewModel,
+            compassViewModel = compassViewModel,
+            navigateToMessages = { backStack.add(ContactsRoutes.Messages(it)) },
             onNavigate = { backStack.add(it) },
-            onNavigateToMessages = { backStack.add(ContactsRoutes.Messages(it)) },
-            onHandleDeepLink = onHandleDeepLink,
+            onNavigateUp = { backStack.removeLastOrNull() },
         )
     }