diff --git a/src/main.capacitor.ts b/src/main.capacitor.ts
index d25347ce..e6e45702 100644
--- a/src/main.capacitor.ts
+++ b/src/main.capacitor.ts
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ import {
   configureNativeFetcherIfReady,
   initializeNativePushAndFirebaseMessaging,
   onNotificationAuthMayBeReady,
+  runLegacyApiNotificationsCleanupOnce,
 } from "@/services/notifications";
 
 logger.log("[Capacitor] 🚀 Starting initialization");
@@ -361,6 +362,8 @@ setTimeout(async () => {
     );
     await registerDeepLinkListener();
     logger.info(`[Main] 🎉 Deep link system fully initialized!`);
+    // One-time: remove persisted legacy api_* schedules from pre-retirement installs
+    await runLegacyApiNotificationsCleanupOnce();
     // Firebase Messaging (JS) + Capacitor PushNotifications (FCM/APNs token, delivery listeners)
     await initializeNativePushAndFirebaseMessaging();
     // Configure native fetcher for API-driven daily notifications (activeDid + JWT)
diff --git a/src/services/notifications/index.ts b/src/services/notifications/index.ts
index df73cdfe..7f3d141a 100644
--- a/src/services/notifications/index.ts
+++ b/src/services/notifications/index.ts
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ export { uploadAlertSearchAuthorization } from "./alertAuthorization";
 export type { AlertAuthorizationUploadResult } from "./alertAuthorization";
 
 export { configureNativeFetcherIfReady } from "./nativeFetcherConfig";
+export { runLegacyApiNotificationsCleanupOnce } from "./legacyApiNotificationsCleanup";
 export {
   deferFcmRegistration,
   flushDeferredFcmRegistration,
diff --git a/src/services/notifications/legacyApiNotificationsCleanup.test.ts b/src/services/notifications/legacyApiNotificationsCleanup.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..90cb0f04
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/services/notifications/legacyApiNotificationsCleanup.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+import { Capacitor } from "@capacitor/core";
+import { Preferences } from "@capacitor/preferences";
+import { DailyNotification } from "@/plugins/DailyNotificationPlugin";
+import {
+  LEGACY_API_NOTIFICATIONS_CLEANUP_KEY,
+  runLegacyApiNotificationsCleanupOnce,
+} from "./legacyApiNotificationsCleanup";
+
+jest.mock("@capacitor/core", () => ({
+  Capacitor: {
+    isNativePlatform: jest.fn(),
+  },
+}));
+
+jest.mock("@capacitor/preferences", () => ({
+  Preferences: {
+    get: jest.fn(),
+    set: jest.fn(),
+  },
+}));
+
+jest.mock("@/plugins/DailyNotificationPlugin", () => ({
+  DailyNotification: {
+    clearApiNotifications: jest.fn(),
+  },
+}));
+
+jest.mock("@/utils/logger", () => ({
+  logger: {
+    info: jest.fn(),
+    warn: jest.fn(),
+    error: jest.fn(),
+    debug: jest.fn(),
+    log: jest.fn(),
+  },
+}));
+
+const isNativePlatform = Capacitor.isNativePlatform as jest.Mock;
+const preferencesGet = Preferences.get as jest.Mock;
+const preferencesSet = Preferences.set as jest.Mock;
+const clearApiNotifications =
+  DailyNotification.clearApiNotifications as jest.Mock;
+
+describe("runLegacyApiNotificationsCleanupOnce", () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    jest.clearAllMocks();
+    isNativePlatform.mockReturnValue(true);
+    preferencesGet.mockResolvedValue({ value: null });
+    preferencesSet.mockResolvedValue(undefined);
+    clearApiNotifications.mockResolvedValue(undefined);
+  });
+
+  it("no-ops on non-native platforms", async () => {
+    isNativePlatform.mockReturnValue(false);
+
+    await runLegacyApiNotificationsCleanupOnce();
+
+    expect(preferencesGet).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(clearApiNotifications).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(preferencesSet).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("skips cleanup when the migration marker is already set", async () => {
+    preferencesGet.mockResolvedValue({ value: "1" });
+
+    await runLegacyApiNotificationsCleanupOnce();
+
+    expect(clearApiNotifications).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(preferencesSet).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("clears api_* state and writes the marker only after success", async () => {
+    await runLegacyApiNotificationsCleanupOnce();
+
+    expect(clearApiNotifications).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(preferencesSet).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      key: LEGACY_API_NOTIFICATIONS_CLEANUP_KEY,
+      value: "1",
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("does not write the marker when clearApiNotifications fails", async () => {
+    clearApiNotifications.mockRejectedValue(new Error("native failure"));
+
+    await runLegacyApiNotificationsCleanupOnce();
+
+    expect(clearApiNotifications).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(preferencesSet).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("does not write the marker when clearApiNotifications is missing", async () => {
+    const original = DailyNotification.clearApiNotifications;
+    // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
+    delete (DailyNotification as any).clearApiNotifications;
+
+    await runLegacyApiNotificationsCleanupOnce();
+
+    expect(preferencesSet).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    DailyNotification.clearApiNotifications = original;
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/services/notifications/legacyApiNotificationsCleanup.ts b/src/services/notifications/legacyApiNotificationsCleanup.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..52f14e58
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/services/notifications/legacyApiNotificationsCleanup.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+/**
+ * One-time upgrade cleanup for legacy API-managed notification schedules
+ * (`api_*`) left behind by the retired WAKEUP_PING → /notifications/refresh path.
+ *
+ * Uses DailyNotification.clearApiNotifications(), which cancels only `api_*`
+ * pending/delivered state (and Android persisted api_* schedule rows). It does
+ * not touch daily reminders, dual/New Activity schedules, AlertSearch, or FCM.
+ */
+
+import { Capacitor } from "@capacitor/core";
+import { Preferences } from "@capacitor/preferences";
+import { DailyNotification } from "@/plugins/DailyNotificationPlugin";
+import { logger } from "@/utils/logger";
+
+/** Preferences key; written only after a successful native cleanup. */
+export const LEGACY_API_NOTIFICATIONS_CLEANUP_KEY =
+  "legacy_api_notifications_cleanup_v1";
+
+const DONE_VALUE = "1";
+
+let inFlight: Promise<void> | null = null;
+
+/**
+ * Idempotent startup hook. Safe when zero `api_*` schedules exist.
+ * On failure, leaves the marker unset so a later launch can retry.
+ */
+export async function runLegacyApiNotificationsCleanupOnce(): Promise<void> {
+  if (inFlight) {
+    return inFlight;
+  }
+  inFlight = runCleanup().finally(() => {
+    inFlight = null;
+  });
+  return inFlight;
+}
+
+async function runCleanup(): Promise<void> {
+  if (!Capacitor.isNativePlatform()) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  try {
+    const existing = await Preferences.get({
+      key: LEGACY_API_NOTIFICATIONS_CLEANUP_KEY,
+    });
+    if (existing.value === DONE_VALUE) {
+      return;
+    }
+  } catch (error) {
+    logger.warn(
+      "[legacyApiNotificationsCleanup] Could not read migration marker; skipping this launch",
+      error,
+    );
+    return;
+  }
+
+  const clearApiNotifications = (
+    DailyNotification as {
+      clearApiNotifications?: () => Promise<void>;
+    }
+  ).clearApiNotifications;
+
+  if (typeof clearApiNotifications !== "function") {
+    logger.warn(
+      "[legacyApiNotificationsCleanup] clearApiNotifications unavailable; will retry on a later launch",
+    );
+    return;
+  }
+
+  try {
+    await clearApiNotifications.call(DailyNotification);
+    await Preferences.set({
+      key: LEGACY_API_NOTIFICATIONS_CLEANUP_KEY,
+      value: DONE_VALUE,
+    });
+    logger.info(
+      "[legacyApiNotificationsCleanup] Cleared legacy api_* notification state",
+    );
+  } catch (error) {
+    logger.warn(
+      "[legacyApiNotificationsCleanup] Cleanup failed; will retry on next startup",
+      error,
+    );
+  }
+}