diff --git a/packages/app-shell/src/console/ai/AiChatPage.tsx b/packages/app-shell/src/console/ai/AiChatPage.tsx
index 7063fecfc..6a6e265b0 100644
--- a/packages/app-shell/src/console/ai/AiChatPage.tsx
+++ b/packages/app-shell/src/console/ai/AiChatPage.tsx
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ function ChatPane({
   // drafted app rendered as-if-published (`?preview=draft`) beside the chat.
   // Per-artifact signals coalesce (800 ms) into one pane refresh so a
   // whole-app build doesn't trigger an invalidation storm.
-  const [canvasApp, setCanvasApp] = useState<string | null>(null);
+  const [canvasApp, setCanvasApp] = useState<{ name: string; materialized: boolean } | null>(null);
   const [canvasRefreshKey, setCanvasRefreshKey] = useState(0);
   const canvasTimerRef = useRef<number | null>(null);
   useEffect(() => () => {
@@ -433,10 +433,20 @@ function ChatPane({
   }, []);
   const handleDraftArtifacts = useCallback((artifacts: Array<{ type: string; name: string }>) => {
     const app = artifacts.find((a) => a.type === 'app');
-    if (app) setCanvasApp((prev) => prev ?? app.name);
+    if (app) setCanvasApp((prev) => prev ?? { name: app.name, materialized: false });
     if (canvasTimerRef.current) window.clearTimeout(canvasTimerRef.current);
     canvasTimerRef.current = window.setTimeout(() => setCanvasRefreshKey((k) => k + 1), 800);
   }, []);
+  // ADR-0045: the build finished and was materialized (real tables + data,
+  // app unlisted). Switch the open canvas from the draft overlay to the REAL
+  // app URL — the reload that follows shows live rows in every list.
+  const handleBuildMaterialized = useCallback((appName: string) => {
+    setCanvasApp((prev) =>
+      prev && prev.name === appName && !prev.materialized
+        ? { name: appName, materialized: true }
+        : prev ?? { name: appName, materialized: true },
+    );
+  }, []);
   // A different conversation is a different build session — close the pane.
   useEffect(() => {
     setCanvasApp(null);
@@ -678,14 +688,19 @@ function ChatPane({
         // ADR-0037 Live Canvas: open/refresh the draft-preview pane as the
         // agent's artifacts land; Preview buttons deep-link the same route.
         onDraftArtifacts={handleDraftArtifacts}
-        onPreviewDraftApp={(appName) => setCanvasApp(appName)}
+        onPreviewDraftApp={(appName, opts) =>
+          setCanvasApp({ name: appName, materialized: opts?.materialized === true })}
+        // ADR-0045: build materialized → canvas leaves the draft overlay for
+        // the real (unlisted) app; the reload shows live seed rows.
+        onBuildMaterialized={handleBuildMaterialized}
         previewDraftLabel={t('console.ai.previewDraft', { defaultValue: 'Preview' })}
         data-testid="ai-chat-panel"
       />
       </div>
       {canvasApp ? (
         <LiveCanvas
-          appName={canvasApp}
+          appName={canvasApp.name}
+          materialized={canvasApp.materialized}
           refreshKey={canvasRefreshKey}
           onClose={() => setCanvasApp(null)}
         />
diff --git a/packages/app-shell/src/console/ai/LiveCanvas.tsx b/packages/app-shell/src/console/ai/LiveCanvas.tsx
index fe4eaab04..e2a3c3909 100644
--- a/packages/app-shell/src/console/ai/LiveCanvas.tsx
+++ b/packages/app-shell/src/console/ai/LiveCanvas.tsx
@@ -27,6 +27,13 @@ import { useObjectTranslation } from '@object-ui/i18n';
 export interface LiveCanvasProps {
   /** The drafted app to render (its `app` metadata name). */
   appName: string;
+  /**
+   * ADR-0045: the build was materialized — the app is live (real tables and
+   * seed rows) but unlisted. The canvas then renders the REAL app URL: full
+   * data, full interaction; the in-app UnpublishedAppBar narrates the state.
+   * False (default) keeps the ADR-0037 draft-overlay preview for mutations.
+   */
+  materialized?: boolean;
   /** Bump to reload the pane (the host coalesces invalidation storms). */
   refreshKey: number;
   onClose: () => void;
@@ -42,9 +49,26 @@ function spaBase(): string {
   return window.location.pathname.startsWith('/_console') ? '/_console' : '';
 }
 
-export function LiveCanvas({ appName, refreshKey, onClose }: LiveCanvasProps) {
+/** Canvas iframe target: the REAL app once materialized, the draft overlay otherwise. */
+function canvasSrc(appName: string, materialized: boolean): string {
+  const base = `${spaBase()}/apps/${encodeURIComponent(appName)}`;
+  return materialized ? base : `${base}?preview=draft`;
+}
+
+export function LiveCanvas({ appName, materialized = false, refreshKey, onClose }: LiveCanvasProps) {
   const { t } = useObjectTranslation();
   const iframeRef = useRef<HTMLIFrameElement | null>(null);
+  // Materialized world swap: changing src on the SAME iframe element
+  // navigates it in place (no white-flash remount).
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!iframeRef.current) return;
+    const next = canvasSrc(appName, materialized);
+    try {
+      if (iframeRef.current.getAttribute('src') !== next) iframeRef.current.setAttribute('src', next);
+    } catch {
+      /* not ready — the mount src covers it */
+    }
+  }, [appName, materialized]);
 
   // Refresh in place (src reload) instead of remounting the iframe — keeps
   // the pane from flashing white on every invalidation.
@@ -63,10 +87,15 @@ export function LiveCanvas({ appName, refreshKey, onClose }: LiveCanvasProps) {
       <div className="flex shrink-0 items-center gap-2 border-b bg-muted/30 px-3 py-1.5 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
         <Eye className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
         <span className="min-w-0 flex-1 truncate">
-          {t('console.ai.liveCanvas', {
-            app: appName,
-            defaultValue: 'Live preview — {{app}} (draft)',
-          })}
+          {materialized
+            ? t('console.ai.liveCanvasUnlisted', {
+                app: appName,
+                defaultValue: 'Live app — {{app}} (unlisted until published)',
+              })
+            : t('console.ai.liveCanvas', {
+                app: appName,
+                defaultValue: 'Live preview — {{app}} (draft)',
+              })}
         </span>
         <Button size="sm" variant="ghost" onClick={onClose} data-testid="live-canvas-close">
           <X className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
@@ -75,7 +104,7 @@ export function LiveCanvas({ appName, refreshKey, onClose }: LiveCanvasProps) {
       <iframe
         ref={iframeRef}
         title={`Draft preview: ${appName}`}
-        src={`${spaBase()}/apps/${encodeURIComponent(appName)}?preview=draft`}
+        src={canvasSrc(appName, materialized)}
         className="h-full w-full flex-1 border-0 bg-background"
         data-testid="live-canvas-frame"
       />
diff --git a/packages/app-shell/src/layout/ConsoleFloatingChatbot.tsx b/packages/app-shell/src/layout/ConsoleFloatingChatbot.tsx
index 44f526cfc..c1913a22c 100644
--- a/packages/app-shell/src/layout/ConsoleFloatingChatbot.tsx
+++ b/packages/app-shell/src/layout/ConsoleFloatingChatbot.tsx
@@ -512,7 +512,14 @@ function ChatbotInner({
         openBuiltAppLabel={locale.openBuiltApp}
         // ADR-0037: see the drafted app as-if-published before Publish — same
         // route, draft overlay, watermark bar on top.
-        onPreviewDraftApp={(appName) => navigate(`/apps/${encodeURIComponent(appName)}?preview=draft`)}
+        onPreviewDraftApp={(appName, opts) =>
+          navigate(
+            // ADR-0045: a materialized build is a REAL (unlisted) app — open it
+            // directly; the UnpublishedAppBar narrates. Drafts keep the overlay.
+            opts?.materialized
+              ? `/apps/${encodeURIComponent(appName)}`
+              : `/apps/${encodeURIComponent(appName)}?preview=draft`,
+          )}
         // ADR-0037 P2.5: announce drafted artifacts so an open ?preview=draft
         // page (same document) drops its cache and refetches the new draft.
         onDraftArtifacts={(artifacts) => {
diff --git a/packages/app-shell/src/layout/ConsoleLayout.tsx b/packages/app-shell/src/layout/ConsoleLayout.tsx
index df73fb5f6..48a79070c 100644
--- a/packages/app-shell/src/layout/ConsoleLayout.tsx
+++ b/packages/app-shell/src/layout/ConsoleLayout.tsx
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import { useDiscovery } from '@object-ui/react';
 // hover/click. See ConsoleChatbotFab.tsx.
 import { ConsoleChatbotFab } from './ConsoleChatbotFab';
 import { DraftPreviewBar } from '../preview/DraftPreviewBar';
+import { UnpublishedAppBar } from '../preview/UnpublishedAppBar';
 import { UnifiedSidebar } from './UnifiedSidebar';
 import { AppHeader } from './AppHeader';
 import { MobileViewSwitcherProvider } from './MobileViewSwitcherContext';
@@ -125,6 +126,9 @@ export function ConsoleLayout({
         {/* ADR-0037: unmistakable watermark while rendering the draft overlay
             (?preview=draft) — with one-click exit and one-click Publish. */}
         <DraftPreviewBar />
+        {/* ADR-0045: materialized-but-unlisted app — real and interactive,
+            invisible to end users until the Publish visibility flip. */}
+        <UnpublishedAppBar />
         {children}
       </ConsoleLayoutInner>
 
diff --git a/packages/app-shell/src/preview/UnpublishedAppBar.tsx b/packages/app-shell/src/preview/UnpublishedAppBar.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8524c3e97
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/app-shell/src/preview/UnpublishedAppBar.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+/**
+ * ObjectUI
+ * Copyright (c) 2024-present ObjectStack Inc.
+ *
+ * This source code is licensed under the MIT license found in the
+ * LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
+ */
+
+/**
+ * ADR-0045 — the "unpublished app" banner. Renders while the CURRENT app is
+ * materialized-but-unlisted (`app.hidden === true`): the app is fully real —
+ * tables, data, interactions — but end users can't see it (launchers exclude
+ * it; the REST gate strips it for non-builders). The banner narrates that
+ * state and offers the one action that matters: Publish, which simply flips
+ * visibility (`hidden: false`) — instant and reversible, per ADR-0045.
+ *
+ * Sibling of DraftPreviewBar (the ADR-0037 draft-overlay watermark): that bar
+ * owns mutation preview (`?preview=draft`); this one owns the materialize
+ * regime. In preview mode this bar yields — the draft bar already narrates.
+ */
+
+import { useState } from 'react';
+import { useLocation, useParams } from 'react-router-dom';
+import { EyeOff, Rocket } from 'lucide-react';
+import { toast } from 'sonner';
+import { Button } from '@object-ui/components';
+import { useObjectTranslation } from '@object-ui/i18n';
+import { useMetadata } from '../providers/MetadataProvider';
+import { usePreviewDrafts } from './PreviewModeContext';
+
+export function UnpublishedAppBar() {
+  const preview = usePreviewDrafts();
+  const { appName } = useParams();
+  const location = useLocation();
+  const { apps, refresh } = useMetadata();
+  const { t } = useObjectTranslation();
+  const [publishing, setPublishing] = useState(false);
+
+  // The draft-preview watermark owns the preview tree; never stack both bars.
+  if (preview) return null;
+  const routeApp = appName ?? location.pathname.match(/\/apps\/([^/?#]+)/)?.[1];
+  if (!routeApp) return null;
+  const app = (apps ?? []).find((a: any) => a?.name === routeApp);
+  if (!app || (app as any).hidden !== true) return null;
+
+  const publish = async () => {
+    setPublishing(true);
+    try {
+      // Publish = the ADR-0045 visibility flip: one metadata write, no
+      // lifecycle machinery. Body is the full current app with hidden:false
+      // (the meta save endpoint replaces the overlay row).
+      const res = await fetch(`/api/v1/meta/app/${encodeURIComponent(routeApp)}`, {
+        method: 'PUT',
+        credentials: 'include',
+        headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json', Accept: 'application/json' },
+        body: JSON.stringify({ ...(app as Record<string, unknown>), hidden: false }),
+      });
+      if (!res.ok) {
+        const payload = await res.json().catch(() => null);
+        throw new Error((payload as any)?.error?.message ?? (payload as any)?.error ?? `HTTP ${res.status}`);
+      }
+      toast.success(
+        t('preview.unpublishedBar.published', {
+          defaultValue: 'Published! The app is now visible to your users.',
+        }),
+      );
+      refresh?.();
+    } catch (e) {
+      toast.error(
+        `${t('preview.unpublishedBar.publishFailed', { defaultValue: 'Publish failed' })}: ${(e as Error).message}`,
+      );
+    } finally {
+      setPublishing(false);
+    }
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <div
+      className="sticky top-0 z-40 flex items-center gap-3 border-b border-amber-300/70 bg-amber-50 px-4 py-2 text-sm text-amber-900 dark:border-amber-700/60 dark:bg-amber-950/40 dark:text-amber-200"
+      data-testid="unpublished-app-bar"
+    >
+      <EyeOff className="h-4 w-4 shrink-0" />
+      <p className="min-w-0 flex-1 truncate">
+        {t('preview.unpublishedBar.message', {
+          defaultValue:
+            'Unpublished app — fully functional, but only builders can see it. Publish to make it visible to your users.',
+        })}
+      </p>
+      <Button size="sm" onClick={publish} disabled={publishing} data-testid="unpublished-app-publish">
+        <Rocket className="mr-1 h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+        {publishing
+          ? t('preview.unpublishedBar.publishing', { defaultValue: 'Publishing…' })
+          : t('preview.unpublishedBar.publish', { defaultValue: 'Publish' })}
+      </Button>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/packages/plugin-chatbot/src/ChatbotEnhanced.tsx b/packages/plugin-chatbot/src/ChatbotEnhanced.tsx
index bfd3aeea9..6e2ae48aa 100644
--- a/packages/plugin-chatbot/src/ChatbotEnhanced.tsx
+++ b/packages/plugin-chatbot/src/ChatbotEnhanced.tsx
@@ -166,6 +166,12 @@ export interface ChatToolInvocation {
     autoPublishable?: boolean;
     /** Count of artifacts that failed in a partial build, surfaced not hidden. */
     failedCount?: number;
+    /**
+     * ADR-0045: the build was MATERIALIZED in-turn — real tables and seed
+     * rows exist; the app is live but `hidden` (unlisted). Preview should
+     * open the REAL app URL, not the draft overlay.
+     */
+    materialized?: boolean;
   };
 }
 
@@ -363,8 +369,11 @@ export interface ChatbotEnhancedProps extends React.HTMLAttributes<HTMLDivElemen
    * Rendered next to the build tree's Open-app action and on draft chips
    * whose items include an `app`. The host wires this to its router with the
    * preview flag (e.g. `navigate('/apps/<name>?preview=draft')`).
+   * ADR-0045: when the build reports `materialized`, `opts.materialized` is
+   * true and the host should open the REAL app URL (no preview flag) — the
+   * app is live-but-unlisted, with actual tables and seed data.
    */
-  onPreviewDraftApp?: (appName: string) => void;
+  onPreviewDraftApp?: (appName: string, opts?: { materialized?: boolean }) => void;
   /** Label for the preview-draft action (default "Preview"). */
   previewDraftLabel?: string;
   /**
@@ -374,6 +383,12 @@ export interface ChatbotEnhancedProps extends React.HTMLAttributes<HTMLDivElemen
    * refresh the live draft-preview pane while the agent builds.
    */
   onDraftArtifacts?: (artifacts: Array<{ type: string; name: string }>) => void;
+  /**
+   * ADR-0045: fires once per build whose tool result reports `materialized`
+   * with an `app` in the draft set — the app is live (tables + seed data)
+   * but unlisted. Hosts switch the canvas to the real app URL.
+   */
+  onBuildMaterialized?: (appName: string) => void;
   /** Label for the publish-drafts button (default "Publish"). */
   publishDraftsLabel?: string;
   /** Label for the published-state badge that replaces the button (default "Published"). */
@@ -700,6 +715,7 @@ const ChatbotEnhanced = React.forwardRef<HTMLDivElement, ChatbotEnhancedProps>(
       onPreviewDraftApp,
       previewDraftLabel = 'Preview',
       onDraftArtifacts,
+      onBuildMaterialized,
       publishDraftsLabel = 'Publish',
       publishedLabel = 'Published',
       autoPublishDrafts = false,
@@ -871,6 +887,25 @@ const ChatbotEnhanced = React.forwardRef<HTMLDivElement, ChatbotEnhancedProps>(
       if (grew) onDraftArtifacts([...artifacts.values()]);
     }, [messages, onDraftArtifacts]);
 
+    // ADR-0045: announce materialized builds (real app live, unlisted) so the
+    // host flips its canvas from the draft overlay to the real app URL. Once
+    // per build (keyed by toolCallId), including on conversation reload —
+    // a reopened materialized build should still preview the real app.
+    const materializedKeysRef = React.useRef<Set<string>>(new Set());
+    React.useEffect(() => {
+      if (!onBuildMaterialized) return;
+      for (const message of messages) {
+        for (const tool of message.toolInvocations ?? []) {
+          const dr = tool.draftReview;
+          if (!dr?.materialized || !tool.toolCallId) continue;
+          const app = dr.items.find((i) => i.type === 'app');
+          if (!app || materializedKeysRef.current.has(tool.toolCallId)) continue;
+          materializedKeysRef.current.add(tool.toolCallId);
+          onBuildMaterialized(app.name);
+        }
+      }
+    }, [messages, onBuildMaterialized]);
+
     const handleSubmit = React.useCallback(
       (payload: PromptInputMessage) => {
         const hasText = Boolean(payload.text?.trim());
@@ -1060,7 +1095,7 @@ const ChatbotEnhanced = React.forwardRef<HTMLDivElement, ChatbotEnhancedProps>(
                         return app ? (
                           <button
                             type="button"
-                            onClick={() => onPreviewDraftApp(app.name)}
+                            onClick={() => onPreviewDraftApp(app.name, { materialized: tool.draftReview!.materialized === true })}
                             className="inline-flex h-7 items-center gap-1.5 rounded-md border px-3 text-xs font-medium hover:bg-muted"
                             data-testid="draft-preview-app"
                           >
diff --git a/packages/plugin-chatbot/src/mapMessages.ts b/packages/plugin-chatbot/src/mapMessages.ts
index 8ef2ce47c..49e2571e8 100644
--- a/packages/plugin-chatbot/src/mapMessages.ts
+++ b/packages/plugin-chatbot/src/mapMessages.ts
@@ -136,6 +136,7 @@ function detectDraftResult(
   packageId?: string;
   autoPublishable?: boolean;
   failedCount?: number;
+  materialized?: boolean;
 } | undefined {
   const obj = parseResultEnvelope(result);
   if (!obj || obj.status !== 'drafted') return undefined;
@@ -167,6 +168,9 @@ function detectDraftResult(
     ...(typeof obj.packageId === 'string' && obj.packageId ? { packageId: obj.packageId } : {}),
     ...(obj.autoPublishable === true ? { autoPublishable: true } : {}),
     ...(failedCount > 0 ? { failedCount } : {}),
+    // ADR-0045: the build was materialized in-turn (real tables + data, app
+    // hidden). The canvas then previews the REAL app URL, not the draft overlay.
+    ...(obj.materialized === true ? { materialized: true } : {}),
   };
 }