Phantom "Unread" number

Forum Feedback
1

Platform: iNatForum Website

Browser, if a website issue:
Chrome Version 148.0.7778.181 (Official Build) (arm64) (on Mac Sequoia 15.7.7)

URLs (aka web addresses) of any relevant observations or pages:
https://forum.inaturalist.org/
Screenshots of what you are seeing:

Screenshot 2026-05-28 at 3.23.07 PM
Screenshot 2026-05-28 at 3.23.07 PM1174×582 54.4 KB

Screenshot 2026-05-28 at 3.23.24 PM
Screenshot 2026-05-28 at 3.23.24 PM1276×972 37.1 KB

Description of problem: I’m seeing a phantom “(1)” Unread message count when I first come to the iNatForum. But there are no unread topics.

Step 1: Navigate to https://forum.inaturalist.org/

Step 2: Count of Unread posts reads “(1)”

Step 3: Click on “Unread”. The list is empty and the screen shows, “Nothing left unread…impressive!”

At this moment, I have one Feature Request which is currently pending; I’m suspicious that the pending FR may somehow be triggering the one Unread post, but the two issues may be totally unrelated.

Update: The abovementioned Feature Request is now active but the phantom “(1)” Unread posts continues to be displayed upon initial arrival at the Forum.

2

Moved to Forum Feedback as it’s about the forum and not iNat.

3

This phantom “unread” number just happened to me too!!

4

Me too - I thought someone had blocked me ? But if I cannot see it, cannot read it - then I do NOT have one Unread.

https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/bug-unread-keeps-showing-1/51771/5 happened in May 2024 too.

5

Yes this used to happen before (maybe slightly differently), but it went away. Then I noticed it showing up again this week.

6

I’m now experiencing it too.

7

That has happened to me once or twice. If I log out, or close the app, or simply come back later, it has resolved itself. I chalked it up to my device (ipad) somehow being laggy. Or my being so zealous a reader, it was merely wishful thinking, that there was more :laughing:

8

On the website, not the app. I log out once or twice every day.
That Phantom post lurks …

The Phantom is vanquished …

9

Log out, log in…nothing “vanquishes” the phantom Unread for me recently. It is still there this morning to greet me when I arrive at the Forum. It is “shy”; after I click on any other Forum page and return to my Forum home page, it is gone…for the moment.

10

But it does for some reason, seem to count ‘this post which we are reading’ as = 1 unread.

Go to topics - Latest - and the phantom melts away.