# Unread count shows Unread (14) but /unread is empty

**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/unread-count-shows-unread-14-but-unread-is-empty/403986
**Category:** Bug
**Created:** [May 28, 2026, 10:00am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/unread-count-shows-unread-14-but-unread-is-empty/403986 "2026-05-28T10:00:42Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 4

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### Author: ![Orioni](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/orioni/32/542679_2.png) [@Orioni](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Orioni)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2026, 11:35am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/unread-count-shows-unread-14-but-unread-is-empty/403986/4 "2026-05-28T11:35:18Z")

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> [@Lilly](#):
>
> have you changed any category permissions recently or moved some topics to a secure category? something has changed the tracking state.

Yes. In private our staff worked on a category similar to #Documentation, which was recently made public once it was finished.

> [@Lilly](#):
>
> wouldn’t you want to reset it for all users if others are having the same issue?

Yes, yes indeed. My idea was to test it on myself first, and then fix for everyone. Since it’s such a complicated bug to test (at least for me), I didn’t want to get everyone’s hopes up until there’s a working solution.

> [@chapoi](#):
>
> We are aware of this bug and trying to resolve it.

Thank you for the confidence. This morning I noticed the [May 2026 monthly release](https://meta.discourse.org/t/may-2026-monthly-release/403981) `v2026.05`, and thought it might fix the issue, but it still persists. I’m sure the Team is on it. Discourse is awesome.

> [@Lilly](#):
>
> ah the phantom unreads has bitten your site!

Oh, gosh. 😳 Admitedly I’ve gone through read all the realted #Contribute > Bug reports. For a hot minute, I even considered just hiding the “Unread” tab from the navigation, and just ignoring it. But that’s not going to solve anything, is it. Looks like it’s even following me around here on Meta.

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_[View the full topic](https://meta.discourse.org/t/unread-count-shows-unread-14-but-unread-is-empty/403986)._