diff --git a/autogpt_platform/backend/backend/copilot/tools/decompose_goal_test.py b/autogpt_platform/backend/backend/copilot/tools/decompose_goal_test.py
index 50984bc58f..e72b10ceb6 100644
--- a/autogpt_platform/backend/backend/copilot/tools/decompose_goal_test.py
+++ b/autogpt_platform/backend/backend/copilot/tools/decompose_goal_test.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 """Unit tests for DecomposeGoalTool."""
 
 import asyncio
+from datetime import UTC, datetime
 from unittest.mock import AsyncMock, patch
 
 import pytest
@@ -301,6 +302,25 @@ async def test_response_includes_auto_approve_seconds(tool: DecomposeGoalTool, s
     assert result.auto_approve_seconds == AUTO_APPROVE_CLIENT_SECONDS
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_response_includes_created_at(tool: DecomposeGoalTool, session):
+    """created_at must be stamped at execution time so the client can
+    compute remaining countdown when the user reopens the session."""
+    before = datetime.now(UTC)
+    result = await tool._execute(
+        user_id=_USER_ID,
+        session=session,
+        goal="Build agent",
+        steps=_VALID_STEPS,
+    )
+    after = datetime.now(UTC)
+
+    assert isinstance(result, TaskDecompositionResponse)
+    assert isinstance(result.created_at, datetime)
+    # Stamped during the call.
+    assert before <= result.created_at <= after
+
+
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Predicate: _no_user_action_since
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/autogpt_platform/backend/backend/copilot/tools/models.py b/autogpt_platform/backend/backend/copilot/tools/models.py
index e9eb7ca4ed..dcad0819ad 100644
--- a/autogpt_platform/backend/backend/copilot/tools/models.py
+++ b/autogpt_platform/backend/backend/copilot/tools/models.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """Pydantic models for tool responses."""
 
-from datetime import datetime
+from datetime import UTC, datetime
 from enum import Enum
 from typing import Any, Literal
 
@@ -737,6 +737,15 @@ class TaskDecompositionResponse(ToolResponseBase):
             "grace period longer to absorb network latency."
         ),
     )
+    created_at: datetime = Field(
+        default_factory=lambda: datetime.now(UTC),
+        description=(
+            "UTC timestamp when the tool returned. The client uses this with "
+            "auto_approve_seconds to compute the correct remaining countdown "
+            "when the user reopens the session — so the timer reflects real "
+            "elapsed time instead of restarting from zero."
+        ),
+    )
 
     @model_validator(mode="after")
     def sync_step_count(self) -> "TaskDecompositionResponse":
diff --git a/autogpt_platform/frontend/src/app/(platform)/copilot/tools/DecomposeGoal/DecomposeGoal.tsx b/autogpt_platform/frontend/src/app/(platform)/copilot/tools/DecomposeGoal/DecomposeGoal.tsx
index f257a16023..53992d9e13 100644
--- a/autogpt_platform/frontend/src/app/(platform)/copilot/tools/DecomposeGoal/DecomposeGoal.tsx
+++ b/autogpt_platform/frontend/src/app/(platform)/copilot/tools/DecomposeGoal/DecomposeGoal.tsx
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import {
   isDecompositionOutput,
   isErrorOutput,
   ToolIcon,
+  type DecomposeGoalOutput,
 } from "./helpers";
 
 // Fallback used only if the backend response omits auto_approve_seconds
@@ -33,6 +34,29 @@ const FALLBACK_COUNTDOWN_SECONDS = 60;
 const RADIUS = 15;
 const CIRCUMFERENCE = 2 * Math.PI * RADIUS;
 
+/**
+ * Compute remaining countdown seconds, deriving elapsed time from the
+ * backend-stamped ``created_at`` so the timer reflects real elapsed time
+ * when the user reopens the session — instead of restarting from full.
+ *
+ * Falls back to the full countdown when ``created_at`` is missing (older
+ * sessions stored before this field existed) or unparseable. Clamps to
+ * ``[0, total]`` to defend against client clock skew producing future
+ * timestamps.
+ */
+function computeRemainingSeconds(
+  output: DecomposeGoalOutput | null,
+  fallback: number,
+): number {
+  if (!output || !isDecompositionOutput(output)) return fallback;
+  const total = output.auto_approve_seconds ?? fallback;
+  if (!output.created_at) return total;
+  const createdAtMs = new Date(output.created_at).getTime();
+  if (Number.isNaN(createdAtMs)) return total;
+  const elapsedSec = (Date.now() - createdAtMs) / 1000;
+  return Math.max(0, Math.min(total, Math.round(total - elapsedSec)));
+}
+
 interface EditableStep {
   step_id: string;
   description: string;
@@ -70,7 +94,12 @@ export function DecomposeGoalTool({ part, isLastMessage }: Props) {
     (output && isDecompositionOutput(output) && output.auto_approve_seconds) ||
     FALLBACK_COUNTDOWN_SECONDS;
 
-  const [secondsLeft, setSecondsLeft] = useState(countdownSeconds);
+  // Lazy initializer: runs once on mount and seeds remaining time from the
+  // backend ``created_at`` so reopening a session resumes the countdown
+  // instead of restarting it.
+  const [secondsLeft, setSecondsLeft] = useState(() =>
+    computeRemainingSeconds(output, FALLBACK_COUNTDOWN_SECONDS),
+  );
   // timerActive becomes false when the user clicks Modify — stops countdown and auto-approve.
   const [timerActive, setTimerActive] = useState(true);
   const [isEditing, setIsEditing] = useState(false);
diff --git a/autogpt_platform/frontend/src/app/(platform)/copilot/tools/DecomposeGoal/helpers.tsx b/autogpt_platform/frontend/src/app/(platform)/copilot/tools/DecomposeGoal/helpers.tsx
index 43c3118c78..8df68fe755 100644
--- a/autogpt_platform/frontend/src/app/(platform)/copilot/tools/DecomposeGoal/helpers.tsx
+++ b/autogpt_platform/frontend/src/app/(platform)/copilot/tools/DecomposeGoal/helpers.tsx
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@ export interface TaskDecompositionOutput {
   step_count: number;
   requires_approval: boolean;
   auto_approve_seconds?: number;
+  // ISO 8601 UTC timestamp stamped by the backend when the tool returned.
+  // Used to compute the actual remaining countdown when the user reopens
+  // the session, so the timer doesn't restart from full each time.
+  created_at?: string;
 }
 
 export interface DecomposeErrorOutput {