diff --git a/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/MainActivity.kt b/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/MainActivity.kt
index 20a7fa4..c687de1 100644
--- a/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/MainActivity.kt
+++ b/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/MainActivity.kt
@@ -219,15 +219,16 @@ private fun App(
 ) {
     val context = LocalContext.current
     val board: BoardViewModel =
-        viewModel(
-            factory =
-                BoardViewModel.factory(core, readFile = files::read) {
-                    // Any store write can have moved the next reminder. Called on
-                    // the IO dispatcher by the view model, which is where it has to
-                    // be — this reads every note carrying a reminder.
-                    Reminders.refresh(context, core)
-                },
-        )
+        viewModel {
+            BoardViewModel(
+                core,
+                // Any store write can have moved the next reminder. Called on the IO
+                // dispatcher by the view model, which is where it has to be — this
+                // reads every note carrying a reminder.
+                onRemindersChanged = { Reminders.refresh(context, core) },
+                readFile = files::read,
+            )
+        }
 
     // Consumed, not just read: without clearing it, every later recomposition
     // would reopen the same note and make the editor impossible to leave.
@@ -251,7 +252,7 @@ private fun App(
     // A pull can rewrite every note the board is holding, so a sync that changed
     // anything tells it to reload. Wired here, at the one place that owns both.
     val sync: SyncViewModel =
-        viewModel(factory = SyncViewModel.factory(core, onStoreChanged = board::refresh))
+        viewModel { SyncViewModel(core, onStoreChanged = board::refresh) }
 
     // Screen visibility is view STATE, not view-model state: it is about what is on
     // the display, and nothing in the store cares. Saveable so a rotation does not
@@ -266,14 +267,14 @@ private fun App(
     // board may be LOOKING at one that a delete or a merge just removed. Both are
     // `refreshLabels`, which also leaves a lens whose tag stopped existing.
     val tags: TagsViewModel =
-        viewModel(factory = TagsViewModel.factory(core, onStoreChanged = board::refreshLabels))
+        viewModel { TagsViewModel(core, onStoreChanged = board::refreshLabels) }
 
     // A share landing changes the note's `shared` flag, which the board's card chip
     // reads, so the board reloads after one.
     val share: ShareViewModel =
-        viewModel(factory = ShareViewModel.factory(core, onStoreChanged = board::refresh))
+        viewModel { ShareViewModel(core, onStoreChanged = board::refresh) }
 
-    val update: UpdateViewModel = viewModel(factory = UpdateViewModel.factory(core, context))
+    val update: UpdateViewModel = viewModel { UpdateViewModel(core, context.applicationContext) }
     val settings = remember(context) { SyncSettings(context) }
     var automatic by remember { mutableStateOf(settings.automatic) }
 
diff --git a/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/ui/BoardViewModel.kt b/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/ui/BoardViewModel.kt
index dd29c98..cd52c9a 100644
--- a/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/ui/BoardViewModel.kt
+++ b/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/ui/BoardViewModel.kt
@@ -5,10 +5,7 @@ import androidx.compose.runtime.getValue
 import androidx.compose.runtime.mutableStateOf
 import androidx.compose.runtime.setValue
 import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
-import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModelProvider
 import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
-import androidx.lifecycle.viewmodel.initializer
-import androidx.lifecycle.viewmodel.viewModelFactory
 import com.fabledsword.inkwell.core.Inkwell
 import com.fabledsword.inkwell.core.Label
 import com.fabledsword.inkwell.core.Note
@@ -660,13 +657,6 @@ class BoardViewModel(
 
         /** The board and the Archive together — everything not in Trash. */
         private const val VIEW_ALL = "all"
-
-        fun factory(
-            core: Inkwell,
-            readFile: (Uri) -> PickedFile,
-            onRemindersChanged: () -> Unit,
-        ): ViewModelProvider.Factory =
-            viewModelFactory { initializer { BoardViewModel(core, onRemindersChanged, readFile) } }
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/ui/ShareViewModel.kt b/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/ui/ShareViewModel.kt
index cc7fcac..b0276cc 100644
--- a/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/ui/ShareViewModel.kt
+++ b/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/ui/ShareViewModel.kt
@@ -4,10 +4,7 @@ import androidx.compose.runtime.getValue
 import androidx.compose.runtime.mutableStateOf
 import androidx.compose.runtime.setValue
 import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
-import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModelProvider
 import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
-import androidx.lifecycle.viewmodel.initializer
-import androidx.lifecycle.viewmodel.viewModelFactory
 import com.fabledsword.inkwell.core.CoreException
 import com.fabledsword.inkwell.core.Inkwell
 import com.fabledsword.inkwell.core.Member
@@ -132,11 +129,4 @@ class ShareViewModel(
                 }
         }
     }
-
-    companion object {
-        fun factory(
-            core: Inkwell,
-            onStoreChanged: () -> Unit,
-        ): ViewModelProvider.Factory = viewModelFactory { initializer { ShareViewModel(core, onStoreChanged) } }
-    }
 }
diff --git a/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/ui/SyncViewModel.kt b/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/ui/SyncViewModel.kt
index 6ea9421..8d918b1 100644
--- a/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/ui/SyncViewModel.kt
+++ b/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/ui/SyncViewModel.kt
@@ -4,10 +4,7 @@ import androidx.compose.runtime.getValue
 import androidx.compose.runtime.mutableStateOf
 import androidx.compose.runtime.setValue
 import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
-import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModelProvider
 import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
-import androidx.lifecycle.viewmodel.initializer
-import androidx.lifecycle.viewmodel.viewModelFactory
 import com.fabledsword.inkwell.core.Compatibility
 import com.fabledsword.inkwell.core.Inkwell
 import com.fabledsword.inkwell.core.ProbeResult
@@ -315,13 +312,6 @@ class SyncViewModel(
     fun dismissSyncError() {
         state = state.copy(syncError = null)
     }
-
-    companion object {
-        fun factory(
-            core: Inkwell,
-            onStoreChanged: () -> Unit,
-        ): ViewModelProvider.Factory = viewModelFactory { initializer { SyncViewModel(core, onStoreChanged) } }
-    }
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/ui/TagsViewModel.kt b/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/ui/TagsViewModel.kt
index 70e04d4..a850424 100644
--- a/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/ui/TagsViewModel.kt
+++ b/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/ui/TagsViewModel.kt
@@ -4,10 +4,7 @@ import androidx.compose.runtime.getValue
 import androidx.compose.runtime.mutableStateOf
 import androidx.compose.runtime.setValue
 import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
-import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModelProvider
 import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
-import androidx.lifecycle.viewmodel.initializer
-import androidx.lifecycle.viewmodel.viewModelFactory
 import com.fabledsword.inkwell.core.Inkwell
 import com.fabledsword.inkwell.core.Label
 import kotlinx.coroutines.Dispatchers
@@ -163,11 +160,4 @@ class TagsViewModel(
             onStoreChanged()
         }
     }
-
-    companion object {
-        fun factory(
-            core: Inkwell,
-            onStoreChanged: () -> Unit,
-        ): ViewModelProvider.Factory = viewModelFactory { initializer { TagsViewModel(core, onStoreChanged) } }
-    }
 }
diff --git a/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/ui/UpdateViewModel.kt b/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/ui/UpdateViewModel.kt
index f2aa08f..f6fd6b7 100644
--- a/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/ui/UpdateViewModel.kt
+++ b/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/ui/UpdateViewModel.kt
@@ -5,10 +5,7 @@ import androidx.compose.runtime.getValue
 import androidx.compose.runtime.mutableStateOf
 import androidx.compose.runtime.setValue
 import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
-import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModelProvider
 import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
-import androidx.lifecycle.viewmodel.initializer
-import androidx.lifecycle.viewmodel.viewModelFactory
 import com.fabledsword.inkwell.AppUpdate
 import com.fabledsword.inkwell.UpdateOutcome
 import com.fabledsword.inkwell.core.ClientUpdate
@@ -214,14 +211,6 @@ class UpdateViewModel(
     fun dismissError() {
         state = state.copy(error = null)
     }
-
-    companion object {
-        fun factory(
-            core: Inkwell,
-            context: Context,
-        ): ViewModelProvider.Factory =
-            viewModelFactory { initializer { UpdateViewModel(core, context.applicationContext) } }
-    }
 }
 
 private const val FALLBACK = "The update couldn't be checked."
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 79144c4..1454b0b 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import pytest
 
+from inkwell.app import create_app
 from inkwell.config import Config
 
 
@@ -10,3 +11,9 @@ def _isolated_data_dir(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
     signing key from env-or-random, not a file), but this stays defensive."""
     monkeypatch.setattr(Config, "DATA_DIR", str(tmp_path / "data"))
     yield
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def app():
+    """A fresh app for a test that drives routes through `app.test_client()`."""
+    return create_app()
diff --git a/tests/test_admin.py b/tests/test_admin.py
index 3c53f77..e6de841 100644
--- a/tests/test_admin.py
+++ b/tests/test_admin.py
@@ -1,13 +1,3 @@
-import pytest
-
-from inkwell.app import create_app
-
-
-@pytest.fixture
-def app():
-    return create_app()
-
-
 async def test_settings_requires_auth(app):
     # require_admin returns 401 before any DB access when unauthenticated.
     client = app.test_client()
diff --git a/tests/test_app.py b/tests/test_app.py
index bf30e95..175077a 100644
--- a/tests/test_app.py
+++ b/tests/test_app.py
@@ -1,13 +1,6 @@
-import pytest
-
 from inkwell.app import create_app
 
 
-@pytest.fixture
-def app():
-    return create_app()
-
-
 async def test_health_ok(app):
     client = app.test_client()
     resp = await client.get("/api/health")
diff --git a/tests/test_client_dist.py b/tests/test_client_dist.py
index 90a67ef..a76adf2 100644
--- a/tests/test_client_dist.py
+++ b/tests/test_client_dist.py
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ from pathlib import Path
 import pytest
 
 from inkwell import client_dist
-from inkwell.app import create_app
 from inkwell.client_dist import (
     BY_ID,
     PLATFORMS,
@@ -54,11 +53,6 @@ def _empty_baked_client(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
     yield
 
 
-@pytest.fixture
-def app():
-    return create_app()
-
-
 def place(
     platform_id: str = "android",
     payload: bytes = PAYLOAD,
diff --git a/tests/test_devices.py b/tests/test_devices.py
index 5b5062a..eadc489 100644
--- a/tests/test_devices.py
+++ b/tests/test_devices.py
@@ -1,13 +1,3 @@
-import pytest
-
-from inkwell.app import create_app
-
-
-@pytest.fixture
-def app():
-    return create_app()
-
-
 async def test_create_device_requires_auth(app):
     # No session cookie and no bearer header → 401 before any DB access.
     client = app.test_client()
diff --git a/tests/test_installer.py b/tests/test_installer.py
index f7abf06..796db2f 100644
--- a/tests/test_installer.py
+++ b/tests/test_installer.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import pytest
 
 from inkwell import installer, settings
-from inkwell.app import create_app
 from inkwell.installer import PLACEHOLDER, SOURCE_SCRIPT, render, server_address
 
 # DB-free, like test_client_dist: the route reads `public_url` from the live cache
@@ -17,11 +16,6 @@ def _defaults():
     settings.reset_live()
 
 
-@pytest.fixture
-def app():
-    return create_app()
-
-
 def test_the_published_script_carries_the_line_the_server_rewrites_exactly_once():
     """The forge-served script and the server-served one are the same file; this is
     the one line that differs. Edit it and the server stops serving rather than
diff --git a/tests/test_labels.py b/tests/test_labels.py
index 10e0085..cb3d7bb 100644
--- a/tests/test_labels.py
+++ b/tests/test_labels.py
@@ -1,17 +1,9 @@
 import uuid
 
-import pytest
-
-from inkwell.app import create_app
 from inkwell.models.label import Label
 from inkwell.serialize import serialize_label
 
 
-@pytest.fixture
-def app():
-    return create_app()
-
-
 def test_serialize_label_shape():
     # The base {id, name, color} shape the labels API and (S4) sync deltas both build on.
     lid = uuid.uuid4()
diff --git a/tests/test_notes.py b/tests/test_notes.py
index d362e5a..357efe9 100644
--- a/tests/test_notes.py
+++ b/tests/test_notes.py
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ from datetime import datetime, timezone
 
 import pytest
 
-from inkwell.app import create_app
 from inkwell.common import coerce_bool, parse_dt
 from inkwell.colors import NOTE_COLORS
 from inkwell.models.note import Note
@@ -34,11 +33,6 @@ from inkwell.notes.recurrence import next_occurrence, normalize_recurrence
 from inkwell.notes.tags import parse_tags, split_body_tags
 
 
-@pytest.fixture
-def app():
-    return create_app()
-
-
 def test_all_note_routes_registered(app):
     # Guards the notes package split: every route handler must still be attached to the
     # blueprint. A route whose module isn't imported by notes/__init__ would silently
diff --git a/tests/test_ratelimit.py b/tests/test_ratelimit.py
index 6cf79e7..9849e2f 100644
--- a/tests/test_ratelimit.py
+++ b/tests/test_ratelimit.py
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import pytest
 
 from inkwell import ratelimit
 from inkwell.settings import live
-from inkwell.app import create_app
 from inkwell.ratelimit import SlidingWindow
 
 
@@ -28,11 +27,6 @@ def _clean_counters():
     ratelimit.reset_all()
 
 
-@pytest.fixture
-def app():
-    return create_app()
-
-
 def test_under_the_limit_is_not_blocked():
     w = window(3, 60)
     for i in range(3):
diff --git a/tests/test_security_headers.py b/tests/test_security_headers.py
index 938ebcb..a44501e 100644
--- a/tests/test_security_headers.py
+++ b/tests/test_security_headers.py
@@ -4,14 +4,6 @@ Asserted on /api/health because it is the one route that needs no database and n
 session — the headers are set in an after_request hook, so any response proves the
 hook, and this suite has no Postgres.
 """
-import pytest
-
-from inkwell.app import create_app
-
-
-@pytest.fixture
-def app():
-    return create_app()
 
 
 async def test_content_security_policy_locks_scripts_to_self(app):
diff --git a/tests/test_sync.py b/tests/test_sync.py
index 0569c4b..be4d55c 100644
--- a/tests/test_sync.py
+++ b/tests/test_sync.py
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
 
-import pytest
-
-from inkwell.app import create_app
 from inkwell.sync import (
     DEFAULT_LIMIT,
     MAX_LIMIT,
@@ -17,11 +14,6 @@ from inkwell.sync import (
 )
 
 
-@pytest.fixture
-def app():
-    return create_app()
-
-
 async def test_changes_requires_auth(app):
     client = app.test_client()
     resp = await client.get("/api/sync/changes")
diff --git a/tests/test_unfurl.py b/tests/test_unfurl.py
index 0b20be2..c9e4555 100644
--- a/tests/test_unfurl.py
+++ b/tests/test_unfurl.py
@@ -2,15 +2,9 @@ import ipaddress
 
 import pytest
 
-from inkwell.app import create_app
 from inkwell.unfurl import UnfurlError, extract_preview, is_public_ip, validate_url
 
 
-@pytest.fixture
-def app():
-    return create_app()
-
-
 def test_is_public_ip_blocks_internal_ranges():
     assert is_public_ip(ipaddress.ip_address("8.8.8.8"))
     assert is_public_ip(ipaddress.ip_address("2606:4700:4700::1111"))