diff --git a/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/TagViews.kt b/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/TagViews.kt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..051d2ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/TagViews.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+package com.fabledsword.inkwell
+
+import android.content.Context
+
+/**
+ * When each tag's lens was last opened on this phone, for the drawer's recent tags
+ * (#5931). Opening a tag counts as using it, alongside the notes that carry it.
+ *
+ * Kept on the device rather than synced: it is a convenience about where this
+ * person's thumb goes on this screen, and losing it costs one tap.
+ */
+class TagViews(
+    context: Context,
+) {
+    // applicationContext, as in SyncSettings: this must not hold an Activity.
+    private val prefs =
+        context.applicationContext.getSharedPreferences(FILE, Context.MODE_PRIVATE)
+
+    fun all(): Map<String, Long> = prefs.all.mapNotNull { (id, at) -> (at as? Long)?.let { id to it } }.toMap()
+
+    /** Records a view now and returns every view, this one included. */
+    fun record(tagId: String): Map<String, Long> {
+        val now = System.currentTimeMillis()
+        prefs.edit().putLong(tagId, now).apply()
+        return all() + (tagId to now)
+    }
+
+    private companion object {
+        const val FILE = "inkwell-tag-views"
+    }
+}
diff --git a/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/ui/BoardScreen.kt b/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/ui/BoardScreen.kt
index 238e92a..3ac40fe 100644
--- a/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/ui/BoardScreen.kt
+++ b/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/ui/BoardScreen.kt
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ import androidx.compose.runtime.getValue
 import androidx.compose.runtime.mutableStateOf
 import androidx.compose.runtime.remember
 import androidx.compose.runtime.rememberCoroutineScope
+import androidx.compose.runtime.saveable.rememberSaveable
 import androidx.compose.runtime.rememberUpdatedState
 import androidx.compose.runtime.setValue
 import androidx.compose.ui.Alignment
@@ -68,11 +69,13 @@ import androidx.compose.ui.graphics.graphicsLayer
 import androidx.compose.ui.layout.boundsInRoot
 import androidx.compose.ui.layout.onGloballyPositioned
 import androidx.compose.ui.platform.LocalConfiguration
+import androidx.compose.ui.platform.LocalContext
 import androidx.compose.ui.res.stringResource
 import androidx.compose.ui.text.input.ImeAction
 import androidx.compose.ui.unit.dp
 import androidx.compose.ui.zIndex
 import com.fabledsword.inkwell.R
+import com.fabledsword.inkwell.TagViews
 import com.fabledsword.inkwell.core.Label
 import com.fabledsword.inkwell.core.Note
 import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
@@ -96,6 +99,15 @@ fun BoardScreen(
 ) {
     val drawerState = rememberDrawerState(DrawerValue.Closed)
     val scope = rememberCoroutineScope()
+
+    // Opening a tag's lens counts as using it, however it was opened: from the
+    // drawer, or a tag on a card (#5931).
+    val context = LocalContext.current
+    val tagViews = remember(context) { TagViews(context) }
+    var views by remember { mutableStateOf(tagViews.all()) }
+    LaunchedEffect(state.destination) {
+        (state.destination as? Destination.WithLabel)?.let { views = tagViews.record(it.id) }
+    }
     val snackbars = remember { SnackbarHostState() }
 
     // Held HERE rather than on the card. A card lives in a lazy grid and is disposed
@@ -143,6 +155,7 @@ fun BoardScreen(
             NavigationDrawer(
                 current = state.destination,
                 labels = state.labels,
+                recency = tagRecency(state.labels, state.notes, views),
                 syncSummary = sync.summary,
                 onOpen = {
                     onOpen(it)
@@ -401,11 +414,16 @@ private fun SearchBar(
 private fun NavigationDrawer(
     current: Destination,
     labels: List<Label>,
+    recency: Map<String, Long>,
     syncSummary: String?,
     onOpen: (Destination) -> Unit,
     onOpenSync: () -> Unit,
     onManageTags: () -> Unit,
 ) {
+    // Every tag, once asked for; until then the few in use (#5931).
+    var allTags by rememberSaveable { mutableStateOf(false) }
+    val shown = if (allTags) labels else recentTags(labels, { recency[it.id] ?: 0L }, { it.name })
+
     ModalDrawerSheet {
         Column(modifier = Modifier.verticalScroll(rememberScrollState())) {
             Text(
@@ -418,6 +436,27 @@ private fun NavigationDrawer(
                 DrawerRow(destination, current, onOpen)
             }
 
+            HorizontalDivider(modifier = Modifier.padding(horizontal = 16.dp, vertical = 8.dp))
+            listOf(Destination.Archive, Destination.Trash).forEach { destination ->
+                DrawerRow(destination, current, onOpen)
+            }
+
+            // Sync sits below the divider with the destinations rather than behind
+            // a settings gear: it is not a preference, it is where you go to find
+            // out whether this phone and your desktop are actually in step. The
+            // subtitle answers that without opening it.
+            HorizontalDivider(modifier = Modifier.padding(horizontal = 16.dp, vertical = 8.dp))
+            NavigationDrawerItem(
+                label = { Text(stringResource(R.string.sync_title)) },
+                badge = syncSummary?.let { { Text(it, style = MaterialTheme.typography.labelSmall) } },
+                selected = false,
+                onClick = onOpenSync,
+                modifier = Modifier.padding(horizontal = 12.dp),
+            )
+
+            // Tags last, as on the web (#5915): it is the one list here that grows
+            // without limit, so everything with a fixed place sits above it.
+            //
             // The header renders even with no tags, unlike the rows below it: the
             // manage screen is where you go to MAKE the first one, and hiding the
             // way in until one exists would be a door that appears only once you
@@ -445,27 +484,28 @@ private fun NavigationDrawer(
                     )
                 }
             }
-            labels.forEach { label ->
+            shown.forEach { label ->
                 DrawerRow(Destination.WithLabel(label.id, label.name), current, onOpen)
             }
-
-            HorizontalDivider(modifier = Modifier.padding(horizontal = 16.dp, vertical = 8.dp))
-            listOf(Destination.Archive, Destination.Trash).forEach { destination ->
-                DrawerRow(destination, current, onOpen)
+            if (labels.size > RECENT_TAG_COUNT) {
+                NavigationDrawerItem(
+                    label = {
+                        Text(
+                            text =
+                                if (allTags) {
+                                    stringResource(R.string.tags_show_fewer)
+                                } else {
+                                    stringResource(R.string.tags_show_all, labels.size)
+                                },
+                            style = MaterialTheme.typography.labelLarge,
+                            color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onSurfaceVariant,
+                        )
+                    },
+                    selected = false,
+                    onClick = { allTags = !allTags },
+                    modifier = Modifier.padding(horizontal = 12.dp),
+                )
             }
-
-            // Sync sits below the divider with the destinations rather than behind
-            // a settings gear: it is not a preference, it is where you go to find
-            // out whether this phone and your desktop are actually in step. The
-            // subtitle answers that without opening it.
-            HorizontalDivider(modifier = Modifier.padding(horizontal = 16.dp, vertical = 8.dp))
-            NavigationDrawerItem(
-                label = { Text(stringResource(R.string.sync_title)) },
-                badge = syncSummary?.let { { Text(it, style = MaterialTheme.typography.labelSmall) } },
-                selected = false,
-                onClick = onOpenSync,
-                modifier = Modifier.padding(horizontal = 12.dp),
-            )
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/ui/RecentTags.kt b/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/ui/RecentTags.kt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3caa935
--- /dev/null
+++ b/android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/ui/RecentTags.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+package com.fabledsword.inkwell.ui
+
+import com.fabledsword.inkwell.core.Label
+import com.fabledsword.inkwell.core.Note
+import java.time.OffsetDateTime
+
+/**
+ * The drawer lists the few tags in use rather than every tag (#5931), so a long
+ * list never pushes Archive, Trash and Sync out of reach. Mirrors
+ * `frontend/src/notes/recentTags.ts`.
+ */
+const val RECENT_TAG_COUNT = 5
+
+/**
+ * The [count] most recent of [tags], listed by name so a row does not move under
+ * the thumb that tapped it. Every tag while there are no more than [count].
+ */
+fun <T> recentTags(
+    tags: List<T>,
+    latest: (T) -> Long,
+    name: (T) -> String,
+    count: Int = RECENT_TAG_COUNT,
+): List<T> {
+    if (tags.size <= count) return tags
+    return tags
+        .sortedWith(compareByDescending(latest).thenBy(String.CASE_INSENSITIVE_ORDER, name))
+        .take(count)
+        .sortedWith(compareBy(String.CASE_INSENSITIVE_ORDER, name))
+}
+
+/**
+ * How recently each tag was used or viewed, in epoch milliseconds: the later of its
+ * newest note in the store ([Label.lastUsed]), its newest note on the board now —
+ * so a tag applied a moment ago counts before the labels are next listed — and the
+ * last time its lens was opened here ([views]).
+ */
+fun tagRecency(
+    labels: List<Label>,
+    notes: List<Note>,
+    views: Map<String, Long>,
+): Map<String, Long> {
+    val latest = labels.associate { it.id to maxOf(epochMillis(it.lastUsed), views[it.id] ?: 0L) }.toMutableMap()
+    for (note in notes) {
+        val at = epochMillis(note.updatedAt)
+        for (label in note.labels) latest.computeIfPresent(label.id) { _, was -> maxOf(was, at) }
+    }
+    return latest
+}
+
+/** 0 for a missing or unreadable stamp: such a tag simply ranks last. */
+fun epochMillis(stamp: String?): Long =
+    stamp?.let { runCatching { OffsetDateTime.parse(it).toInstant().toEpochMilli() }.getOrNull() } ?: 0L
diff --git a/android/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml b/android/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
index 0f7d5f2..543a6ea 100644
--- a/android/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/android/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -133,6 +133,8 @@
     <!-- Tag management. The whole vocabulary is "tag" (see Scribe #2966); the
          schema still says Label, and no string here needs to know that. -->
     <string name="tags_manage">Manage tags</string>
+    <string name="tags_show_all">All tags (%1$d)</string>
+    <string name="tags_show_fewer">Fewer tags</string>
     <string name="tags_title">Tags</string>
     <string name="tags_back">Back</string>
     <string name="tags_new_hint">New tag</string>
diff --git a/android/app/src/test/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/ui/RecentTagsTest.kt b/android/app/src/test/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/ui/RecentTagsTest.kt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8e18036
--- /dev/null
+++ b/android/app/src/test/java/com/fabledsword/inkwell/ui/RecentTagsTest.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+package com.fabledsword.inkwell.ui
+
+import org.junit.Assert.assertEquals
+import org.junit.Assert.assertSame
+import org.junit.Test
+
+/** The same cases as `frontend/src/notes/recentTags.test.ts`. */
+class RecentTagsTest {
+    private data class Tag(
+        val name: String,
+        val at: Long,
+    )
+
+    private fun recent(tags: List<Tag>) = recentTags(tags, { it.at }, { it.name }).map { it.name }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `shows every tag while there are no more than five`() {
+        val tags = listOf(Tag("c", 0), Tag("a", 0), Tag("b", 0))
+        assertSame(tags, recentTags(tags, { it.at }, { it.name }))
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `keeps the five used most recently, listed by name`() {
+        val tags = listOf("a", "b", "c", "d", "e", "f", "g").mapIndexed { i, n -> Tag(n, i.toLong()) }
+        assertEquals(listOf("c", "d", "e", "f", "g"), recent(tags))
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `fills with tags never used, by name, when fewer than five have been`() {
+        val tags = listOf(Tag("f", 10), Tag("e", 0), Tag("d", 0), Tag("c", 0), Tag("B", 0), Tag("a", 0))
+        assertEquals(listOf("a", "B", "c", "d", "f"), recent(tags))
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `reads both stamp forms the store holds`() {
+        assertEquals(1_760_000_000_000L, epochMillis("2025-10-09T08:53:20.000Z"))
+        assertEquals(1_760_000_000_000L, epochMillis("2025-10-09T08:53:20+00:00"))
+        assertEquals(0L, epochMillis(null))
+        assertEquals(0L, epochMillis("not a time"))
+    }
+}
diff --git a/android/ffi/src/models.rs b/android/ffi/src/models.rs
index a59446a..488f681 100644
--- a/android/ffi/src/models.rs
+++ b/android/ffi/src/models.rs
@@ -334,6 +334,9 @@ pub struct Label {
     /// How many notes carry it. Only populated in listings — `None` elsewhere,
     /// matching the REST single-label responses.
     pub count: Option<i64>,
+    /// The newest edit among the untrashed notes carrying it, as the store writes
+    /// timestamps; None when nothing does. Ranks the drawer's recent tags (#5931).
+    pub last_used: Option<String>,
 }
 
 impl From<core_models::Label> for Label {
@@ -343,12 +346,14 @@ impl From<core_models::Label> for Label {
             name,
             color,
             count,
+            last_used,
         } = value;
         Label {
             id,
             name,
             color,
             count,
+            last_used,
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/core/src/local/models.rs b/core/src/local/models.rs
index 6b85420..dd42400 100644
--- a/core/src/local/models.rs
+++ b/core/src/local/models.rs
@@ -118,6 +118,9 @@ pub struct Label {
     // preserves the count it already holds (matches the REST single-label responses).
     #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
     pub count: Option<i64>,
+    /// The newest `updated_at` among the untrashed notes carrying it, or None when
+    /// nothing does. The drawer keeps the few most recent tags in reach (#5931).
+    pub last_used: Option<String>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Serialize)]
diff --git a/core/src/local/store.rs b/core/src/local/store.rs
index 02f3aa8..153dc0f 100644
--- a/core/src/local/store.rs
+++ b/core/src/local/store.rs
@@ -992,6 +992,8 @@ pub fn restore_revision(conn: &Connection, id: &str, rev_id: &str) -> rusqlite::
 /// A label with how many live notes carry it; `label_row` reads it.
 const LABEL_SELECT: &str = "SELECT l.id, l.name, l.color,
         (SELECT COUNT(*) FROM note_labels nl JOIN notes n ON n.id = nl.note_id
+         WHERE nl.label_id = l.id AND n.trashed = 0),
+        (SELECT MAX(n.updated_at) FROM note_labels nl JOIN notes n ON n.id = nl.note_id
          WHERE nl.label_id = l.id AND n.trashed = 0)
      FROM labels l";
 
@@ -1001,6 +1003,7 @@ fn label_row(r: &rusqlite::Row<'_>) -> rusqlite::Result<Label> {
         name: r.get(1)?,
         color: r.get(2)?,
         count: Some(r.get(3)?),
+        last_used: r.get(4)?,
     })
 }
 
@@ -1799,6 +1802,38 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(list_labels(&conn).expect("labels")[0].count, Some(1));
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn a_label_is_as_recent_as_its_newest_untrashed_note() {
+        let conn = db();
+        let used = create_label(&conn, "errands").expect("label");
+        create_label(&conn, "someday").expect("label");
+        let old = create_label(&conn, "old").expect("label");
+        let kept = note(&conn, "milk");
+        let binned = note(&conn, "stale");
+        set_labels(&conn, &kept.id, std::slice::from_ref(&used.id)).expect("labels");
+        set_labels(&conn, &binned.id, std::slice::from_ref(&old.id)).expect("labels");
+        trash(&conn, &binned.id).expect("trash");
+
+        let kept = get_note(&conn, &kept.id).expect("get");
+        let by_name = |name: &str| {
+            list_labels(&conn)
+                .expect("labels")
+                .into_iter()
+                .find(|l| l.name == name)
+                .expect("listed")
+        };
+        assert_eq!(
+            by_name("errands").last_used.as_deref(),
+            kept.updated_at.as_deref()
+        );
+        assert_eq!(by_name("someday").last_used, None, "carried by nothing");
+        assert_eq!(
+            by_name("old").last_used,
+            None,
+            "a trashed note does not count"
+        );
+    }
+
     fn tombstones(conn: &Connection) -> Vec<(String, String)> {
         let mut stmt = conn
             .prepare("SELECT entity, id FROM pending_deletes ORDER BY entity, id")
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/AppShell.vue b/frontend/src/components/AppShell.vue
index 8fa5bca..7b10058 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/AppShell.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/AppShell.vue
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { useRoute, useRouter, type LocationQueryRaw } from "vue-router";
 import { useSessionStore } from "../stores/session";
 import { useConfigStore } from "../stores/config";
 import { useLabelsStore } from "../stores/labels";
+import { useNotesStore } from "../stores/notes";
 import { useReminderStore } from "../stores/reminders";
 import { useUiStore } from "../stores/ui";
 import BaseModal from "./BaseModal.vue";
@@ -16,12 +17,20 @@ import ShareDialog from "./ShareDialog.vue";
 import { isDesktop } from "../desktop/bridge";
 import { useLensName } from "../composables/useLensName";
 import { labelDotClasses } from "../notes/colors";
+import {
+  RECENT_TAG_COUNT,
+  loadTagViews,
+  recentTags,
+  recordTagView,
+  type TagViews,
+} from "../notes/recentTags";
 
 const route = useRoute();
 const router = useRouter();
 const session = useSessionStore();
 const config = useConfigStore();
 const labels = useLabelsStore();
+const notes = useNotesStore();
 const reminders = useReminderStore();
 const ui = useUiStore();
 // Sync is a desktop-app concern: the web build already IS the server's UI.
@@ -45,6 +54,23 @@ const buildLabel = computed(
 );
 
 const managing = ref(false);
+
+// The rail lists the few tags in use, not all of them (#5931); "All tags" opens the
+// rest in place, below everything else, so nothing is pushed out of view.
+const viewer = computed(() => session.user?.id ?? "local");
+const tagViews = ref<TagViews>({});
+const allTags = ref(false);
+watch(viewer, (id) => (tagViews.value = loadTagViews(id)), { immediate: true });
+watch(
+  () => (route.name === "label" ? String(route.params.id) : null),
+  (id) => {
+    if (id) tagViews.value = recordTagView(viewer.value, tagViews.value, id);
+  },
+  { immediate: true },
+);
+const railTags = computed(() =>
+  allTags.value ? labels.items : recentTags(labels.items, notes.items, tagViews.value),
+);
 const showShortcuts = ref(false);
 const paletteOpen = ref(false);
 const drawer = ref(false);
@@ -419,7 +445,8 @@ async function signOut() {
           <ImportNotes />
 
           <!-- Tags last: it is the one list here that grows without limit, so
-               everything with a fixed place sits above it and stays put. -->
+               everything with a fixed place sits above it and stays put. And it
+               shows only the few tags in use (#5931), the rest one press away. -->
           <div class="mt-3 flex items-center justify-between px-3 pb-1">
             <span class="section-label">Tags</span>
             <button
@@ -434,7 +461,7 @@ async function signOut() {
           </div>
           <p v-if="!labels.items.length" class="px-3 py-1 text-xs text-neutral-400">No tags yet</p>
           <RouterLink
-            v-for="lb in labels.items"
+            v-for="lb in railTags"
             :key="lb.id"
             :to="`/label/${lb.id}`"
             class="nav-link"
@@ -446,6 +473,15 @@ async function signOut() {
             ></span>
             <span class="truncate">{{ lb.name }}</span>
           </RouterLink>
+          <button
+            v-if="labels.items.length > RECENT_TAG_COUNT"
+            type="button"
+            class="nav-link text-xs text-neutral-500 dark:text-neutral-400"
+            :aria-expanded="allTags"
+            @click.stop="allTags = !allTags"
+          >
+            {{ allTags ? "Fewer tags" : `All tags (${labels.items.length})` }}
+          </button>
 
           <!-- Account, settings and sign-out, for the screens where they are NOT in
                the header. Four icons plus a search field never fit one phone-width
diff --git a/frontend/src/notes/recentTags.test.ts b/frontend/src/notes/recentTags.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ca09a17
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/notes/recentTags.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+
+import { recentTags } from "./recentTags";
+
+const tag = (id: string, last_used: string | null = null) => ({ id, name: id, last_used });
+const names = (tags: { name: string }[]) => tags.map((t) => t.name);
+
+describe("the rail's recent tags", () => {
+  it("shows every tag while there are no more than five", () => {
+    const tags = ["c", "a", "b"].map((id) => tag(id));
+    expect(recentTags(tags, [], {})).toBe(tags);
+  });
+
+  it("keeps the five used most recently, listed by name", () => {
+    const tags = ["a", "b", "c", "d", "e", "f", "g"].map((id, i) =>
+      tag(id, `2026-10-0${i + 1}T00:00:00Z`),
+    );
+    expect(names(recentTags(tags, [], {}))).toEqual(["c", "d", "e", "f", "g"]);
+  });
+
+  it("counts opening a tag as using it", () => {
+    const tags = ["a", "b", "c", "d", "e", "f"].map((id) => tag(id, "2026-10-02T00:00:00Z"));
+    tags[0].last_used = "2026-01-01T00:00:00Z";
+    const viewed = { a: Date.parse("2026-10-10T00:00:00Z") };
+    expect(names(recentTags(tags, [], viewed))).toContain("a");
+  });
+
+  it("counts a note edited since the listing was fetched", () => {
+    const tags = ["a", "b", "c", "d", "e", "f"].map((id) => tag(id, "2026-10-02T00:00:00Z"));
+    tags[0].last_used = null;
+    const notes = [{ labels: [{ id: "a" }], updated_at: "2026-10-12T00:00:00+00:00" }];
+    expect(names(recentTags(tags, notes, {}))).toContain("a");
+  });
+
+  it("fills with tags never used, by name, when fewer than five have been", () => {
+    const tags = ["f", "e", "d", "c", "b", "a"].map((id) => tag(id));
+    tags[0].last_used = "2026-10-02T00:00:00Z";
+    expect(names(recentTags(tags, [], {}))).toEqual(["a", "b", "c", "d", "f"]);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/frontend/src/notes/recentTags.ts b/frontend/src/notes/recentTags.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..41e8215
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/notes/recentTags.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+// The rail keeps only the few tags you are using, so a long tag list never pushes
+// anything out of view (#5931). A tag is as recent as the later of:
+//   - its last use: the newest note carrying it, from the listing (`last_used`), and
+//     from the notes already loaded, so a tag applied a moment ago counts before the
+//     listing is next fetched;
+//   - its last view: opening its lens, remembered on this device for this user.
+// The few shown are listed by name, not by recency, so a row does not move under
+// the pointer when it is clicked.
+
+export const RECENT_TAG_COUNT = 5;
+
+interface Tag {
+  id: string;
+  name: string;
+  last_used?: string | null;
+}
+
+interface TaggedNote {
+  labels: { id: string }[];
+  updated_at: string | null;
+}
+
+export type TagViews = Record<string, number>;
+
+function ms(when: string | null | undefined): number {
+  const t = when ? Date.parse(when) : NaN;
+  return Number.isNaN(t) ? 0 : t;
+}
+
+export function recentTags<T extends Tag>(
+  tags: T[],
+  notes: TaggedNote[],
+  views: TagViews,
+  count = RECENT_TAG_COUNT,
+): T[] {
+  if (tags.length <= count) return tags;
+  const latest = new Map<string, number>();
+  const bump = (id: string, t: number) => latest.set(id, Math.max(latest.get(id) ?? 0, t));
+  for (const tag of tags) {
+    bump(tag.id, ms(tag.last_used));
+    bump(tag.id, views[tag.id] ?? 0);
+  }
+  for (const note of notes) {
+    const t = ms(note.updated_at);
+    for (const lb of note.labels) if (latest.has(lb.id)) bump(lb.id, t);
+  }
+  return [...tags]
+    .sort((a, b) => (latest.get(b.id) ?? 0) - (latest.get(a.id) ?? 0) || a.name.localeCompare(b.name))
+    .slice(0, count)
+    .sort((a, b) => a.name.localeCompare(b.name));
+}
+
+// Views live in this browser, one record per user so a shared machine keeps each
+// person's own. Storage can be missing or refuse (private windows); the rail then
+// ranks by use alone.
+const VIEWS_KEY = "inkwell.tag-views.";
+
+export function loadTagViews(userId: string): TagViews {
+  try {
+    const parsed: unknown = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem(VIEWS_KEY + userId) ?? "{}");
+    return parsed && typeof parsed === "object" ? (parsed as TagViews) : {};
+  } catch {
+    return {};
+  }
+}
+
+export function recordTagView(userId: string, views: TagViews, tagId: string, at = Date.now()): TagViews {
+  const next = { ...views, [tagId]: at };
+  try {
+    localStorage.setItem(VIEWS_KEY + userId, JSON.stringify(next));
+  } catch {
+    // Kept for this session only.
+  }
+  return next;
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/stores/labels.ts b/frontend/src/stores/labels.ts
index 846d40e..7e93b9b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/stores/labels.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/stores/labels.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@ export interface Label {
   color: string;
   // Number of notes carrying this label (from GET /api/labels; used in label management).
   count?: number;
+  // The newest edit among the untrashed notes carrying it, listings only. Ranks the
+  // rail's recent tags (#5931).
+  last_used?: string | null;
 }
 
 export const useLabelsStore = defineStore("labels", () => {
diff --git a/src/inkwell/labels.py b/src/inkwell/labels.py
index 53ac91d..a3dbff0 100644
--- a/src/inkwell/labels.py
+++ b/src/inkwell/labels.py
@@ -6,8 +6,10 @@ from sqlalchemy import func, select
 from .auth import login_required
 from .colors import normalize_color
 from .db import session_scope
+from .common import iso
 from .labeling import live, named, tombstone_label
 from .models.label import Label, NoteLabel
+from .models.note import Note
 from .responses import json_error, not_found, parse_uuid
 from .serialize import serialize_label
 
@@ -79,7 +81,29 @@ async def list_labels():
                 )
             ).all()
         ) if labels else {}
-        return jsonify({"labels": [_serialize_label(lb, int(counts.get(lb.id, 0))) for lb in labels]})
+        # When each was last used: the newest edit among the notes carrying it, trash
+        # aside. The rail shows the few most recent (#5931), so a tag in daily use
+        # stays in reach however many others there are.
+        last_used = dict(
+            (
+                await db.execute(
+                    select(NoteLabel.label_id, func.max(Note.updated_at))
+                    .join(Note, Note.id == NoteLabel.note_id)
+                    .where(
+                        NoteLabel.label_id.in_([lb.id for lb in labels]),
+                        Note.deleted_at.is_(None),
+                        Note.purged_at.is_(None),
+                    )
+                    .group_by(NoteLabel.label_id)
+                )
+            ).all()
+        ) if labels else {}
+        return jsonify({
+            "labels": [
+                {**_serialize_label(lb, int(counts.get(lb.id, 0))), "last_used": iso(last_used.get(lb.id))}
+                for lb in labels
+            ]
+        })
 
 
 @bp.post("")
diff --git a/tests/test_integration.py b/tests/test_integration.py
index 0684cca..9e2ab44 100644
--- a/tests/test_integration.py
+++ b/tests/test_integration.py
@@ -665,6 +665,26 @@ async def _push_label(app_client, lid: str, op: str, edited_at: str, name: str =
     return (await resp.get_json())["results"][0]
 
 
+async def test_a_tag_listing_says_when_each_was_last_used(app_client, db):
+    """The rail keeps the most recent few (#5931): a tag is as recent as the newest
+    note carrying it, and a note in the trash does not count."""
+    await _signed_in(app_client, "lastused")
+    used = await (await app_client.post("/api/labels", json={"name": "errands"})).get_json()
+    idle = await (await app_client.post("/api/labels", json={"name": "someday"})).get_json()
+    binned = await (await app_client.post("/api/labels", json={"name": "old"})).get_json()
+    note = await (await app_client.post("/api/notes", json={"body": "milk"})).get_json()
+    await app_client.put(f"/api/notes/{note['id']}/labels", json={"label_ids": [used["id"]]})
+    gone = await (await app_client.post("/api/notes", json={"body": "stale"})).get_json()
+    await app_client.put(f"/api/notes/{gone['id']}/labels", json={"label_ids": [binned["id"]]})
+    assert (await app_client.post(f"/api/notes/{gone['id']}/trash")).status_code == 200
+
+    listing = {lb["id"]: lb for lb in (await (await app_client.get("/api/labels")).get_json())["labels"]}
+    current = (await (await app_client.get(f"/api/notes/{note['id']}")).get_json())["updated_at"]
+    assert listing[used["id"]]["last_used"] == current
+    assert listing[idle["id"]]["last_used"] is None
+    assert listing[binned["id"]]["last_used"] is None
+
+
 async def test_a_tag_deleted_on_the_web_reaches_devices_as_a_tombstone(app_client, db):
     await _signed_in(app_client, "webdelete")
     tag = await (await app_client.post("/api/labels", json={"name": "grocery"})).get_json()