diff --git a/backend/app/services/download_service.py b/backend/app/services/download_service.py
index 7139134..47cd4c0 100644
--- a/backend/app/services/download_service.py
+++ b/backend/app/services/download_service.py
@@ -515,6 +515,13 @@ class DownloadService:
         new_overrides = dict(src.config_overrides or {})
         chunks = int(new_overrides.get("_backfill_chunks", 0)) + 1
         new_overrides["_backfill_chunks"] = chunks
+        # plan #704 (#5): accumulate posts-processed across chunks so the badge
+        # shows live walk progress, not just the chunk count. Cleared on
+        # (re)start. (Slight over-count: each chunk re-walks the resumed page —
+        # fine for a progress indicator.)
+        new_overrides["_backfill_posts"] = int(
+            new_overrides.get("_backfill_posts", 0)
+        ) + int(getattr(dl_result, "posts_processed", 0) or 0)
 
         completed = (
             dl_result.success
diff --git a/backend/app/services/source_service.py b/backend/app/services/source_service.py
index 67b2cf2..073b4d8 100644
--- a/backend/app/services/source_service.py
+++ b/backend/app/services/source_service.py
@@ -70,6 +70,9 @@ class SourceRecord:
     # plan #697: a running deep-walk that bypasses the Patreon seen-ledger
     # (recovery) vs. a normal backfill. Lets the badge label it "Recovering".
     backfill_bypass_seen: bool
+    # plan #704: cumulative posts processed across the walk's chunks — live
+    # progress for the badge.
+    backfill_posts: int
 
     def to_dict(self) -> dict:
         return {
@@ -91,6 +94,7 @@ class SourceRecord:
             "backfill_state": self.backfill_state,
             "backfill_chunks": self.backfill_chunks,
             "backfill_bypass_seen": self.backfill_bypass_seen,
+            "backfill_posts": self.backfill_posts,
         }
 
 
@@ -167,6 +171,7 @@ class SourceService:
             backfill_state=co.get("_backfill_state"),
             backfill_chunks=int(co.get("_backfill_chunks", 0)),
             backfill_bypass_seen=bool(co.get("_backfill_bypass_seen")),
+            backfill_posts=int(co.get("_backfill_posts", 0)),
         )
 
     async def _row_to_record(self, source: Source) -> SourceRecord:
@@ -317,7 +322,8 @@ class SourceService:
             raise LookupError(f"source id={source_id} not found")
         co = dict(source.config_overrides or {})
         co["_backfill_state"] = "running"
-        for k in ("_backfill_cursor", "_backfill_cursor_stalls", "_backfill_chunks"):
+        for k in ("_backfill_cursor", "_backfill_cursor_stalls", "_backfill_chunks",
+                  "_backfill_posts"):
             co.pop(k, None)
         source.config_overrides = co
         source.backfill_runs_remaining = BACKFILL_MAX_CHUNKS
@@ -345,7 +351,8 @@ class SourceService:
         co = dict(source.config_overrides or {})
         co["_backfill_state"] = "running"
         co["_backfill_bypass_seen"] = True
-        for k in ("_backfill_cursor", "_backfill_cursor_stalls", "_backfill_chunks"):
+        for k in ("_backfill_cursor", "_backfill_cursor_stalls", "_backfill_chunks",
+                  "_backfill_posts"):
             co.pop(k, None)
         source.config_overrides = co
         source.backfill_runs_remaining = BACKFILL_MAX_CHUNKS
@@ -362,7 +369,7 @@ class SourceService:
             raise LookupError(f"source id={source_id} not found")
         co = dict(source.config_overrides or {})
         for k in ("_backfill_state", "_backfill_cursor", "_backfill_cursor_stalls",
-                  "_backfill_chunks", "_backfill_bypass_seen"):
+                  "_backfill_chunks", "_backfill_bypass_seen", "_backfill_posts"):
             co.pop(k, None)
         source.config_overrides = co
         source.backfill_runs_remaining = 0
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/subscriptions/SourceCard.vue b/frontend/src/components/subscriptions/SourceCard.vue
index 4312d8f..c0c092f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/subscriptions/SourceCard.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/subscriptions/SourceCard.vue
@@ -28,7 +28,9 @@
         v-else-if="source.backfill_state === 'running'"
         size="x-small" color="info" variant="tonal" label
       >{{ source.backfill_bypass_seen ? 'Recovering' : 'Backfilling'
-        }}{{ source.backfill_chunks ? ` (${source.backfill_chunks})` : '' }}</v-chip>
+        }}{{ source.backfill_posts
+              ? ` · ${source.backfill_posts} posts`
+              : (source.backfill_chunks ? ` (${source.backfill_chunks})` : '') }}</v-chip>
       <v-chip
         v-else-if="source.backfill_state === 'complete'"
         size="x-small" color="success" variant="tonal" label
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/subscriptions/SourceRow.vue b/frontend/src/components/subscriptions/SourceRow.vue
index d74caaf..f6eace4 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/subscriptions/SourceRow.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/subscriptions/SourceRow.vue
@@ -35,7 +35,9 @@
         v-else-if="source.backfill_state === 'running'"
         size="x-small" color="info" variant="tonal" label
       >{{ source.backfill_bypass_seen ? 'Recovering' : 'Backfilling'
-        }}{{ source.backfill_chunks ? ` (${source.backfill_chunks})` : '' }}</v-chip>
+        }}{{ source.backfill_posts
+              ? ` · ${source.backfill_posts} posts`
+              : (source.backfill_chunks ? ` (${source.backfill_chunks})` : '') }}</v-chip>
       <v-chip
         v-else-if="source.backfill_state === 'complete'"
         size="x-small" color="success" variant="tonal" label
diff --git a/tests/test_download_service.py b/tests/test_download_service.py
index 4d59fbb..253c29e 100644
--- a/tests/test_download_service.py
+++ b/tests/test_download_service.py
@@ -648,6 +648,40 @@ async def test_backfill_stuck_guard_stalls_after_two_no_advance(
     assert "_backfill_cursor" not in co2
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_backfill_accumulates_posts_processed(
+    db, db_sync, tmp_path, seed_artist_and_source,
+):
+    """plan #704 (#5): the lifecycle accumulates DownloadResult.posts_processed
+    into _backfill_posts across chunks for the live progress badge."""
+    from unittest.mock import MagicMock
+
+    from backend.app.services.download_service import DownloadService
+
+    _artist, source = seed_artist_and_source
+    source.config_overrides = {"_backfill_state": "running", "_backfill_posts": 5}
+    source.backfill_runs_remaining = 5
+    await db.commit()
+
+    svc = DownloadService(
+        async_session=db, sync_session=db_sync,
+        gdl=MagicMock(), importer=MagicMock(), cred_service=MagicMock(),
+    )
+    ctx = {
+        "source_id": source.id, "platform": "patreon",
+        "config_overrides": {"_backfill_state": "running", "_backfill_posts": 5},
+        "backfill_runs_remaining": 5,
+    }
+    await svc._apply_backfill_lifecycle(
+        ctx, _make_fake_dl_result(success=False, cursor="C1", posts_processed=10),
+    )
+    await db.commit()
+    co = (await db.execute(
+        select(Source.config_overrides).where(Source.id == source.id)
+    )).scalar_one()
+    assert co.get("_backfill_posts") == 15  # 5 (prior) + 10 (this chunk)
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_backfill_timeout_chunk_reclassified_to_ok(
     db, db_sync, tmp_path, seed_artist_and_source,
diff --git a/tests/test_source_service.py b/tests/test_source_service.py
index ce75349..7bceea8 100644
--- a/tests/test_source_service.py
+++ b/tests/test_source_service.py
@@ -238,15 +238,25 @@ async def test_start_recovery_arms_bypass_flag(db):
         artist_id=artist.id, platform="patreon",
         url="https://patreon.com/alice",
     )
+    # Simulate a prior walk's posts counter — start must clear it (plan #704).
+    await db.execute(
+        Source.__table__.update().where(Source.id == rec.id).values(
+            config_overrides={"_backfill_posts": 42},
+        )
+    )
+    await db.commit()
+
     updated = await svc.start_recovery(rec.id)
     assert updated.backfill_state == "running"
     assert updated.backfill_bypass_seen is True
+    assert updated.backfill_posts == 0  # cleared for a fresh walk
     assert updated.backfill_runs_remaining == BACKFILL_MAX_CHUNKS
 
     co = (await db.execute(
         select(Source.config_overrides).where(Source.id == rec.id)
     )).scalar_one()
     assert co.get("_backfill_bypass_seen") is True
+    assert "_backfill_posts" not in co
 
     # Stop clears the bypass flag too (shared lifecycle).
     stopped = await svc.stop_backfill(rec.id)