diff --git a/ios-runner/AgentDeviceRunner/AgentDeviceRunnerUITests/RunnerTests+CommandExecution.swift b/ios-runner/AgentDeviceRunner/AgentDeviceRunnerUITests/RunnerTests+CommandExecution.swift
index ebe461aee..29b926a34 100644
--- a/ios-runner/AgentDeviceRunner/AgentDeviceRunnerUITests/RunnerTests+CommandExecution.swift
+++ b/ios-runner/AgentDeviceRunner/AgentDeviceRunnerUITests/RunnerTests+CommandExecution.swift
@@ -244,6 +244,8 @@ extension RunnerTests {
   }
 
   func executeUptime() -> Response {
+    // Placeholder value: the transport layer (jsonResponse) overwrites currentUptimeMs with a
+    // fresher send-time stamp on every ok response; kept so direct callers still get a value.
     Response(
       ok: true,
       data: DataPayload(currentUptimeMs: currentUptimeMs())
diff --git a/ios-runner/AgentDeviceRunner/AgentDeviceRunnerUITests/RunnerTests+CommandJournal.swift b/ios-runner/AgentDeviceRunner/AgentDeviceRunnerUITests/RunnerTests+CommandJournal.swift
index dee4606fd..0eb2bf4c4 100644
--- a/ios-runner/AgentDeviceRunner/AgentDeviceRunnerUITests/RunnerTests+CommandJournal.swift
+++ b/ios-runner/AgentDeviceRunner/AgentDeviceRunnerUITests/RunnerTests+CommandJournal.swift
@@ -165,6 +165,46 @@ extension RunnerTests {
     XCTAssertEqual(status.lifecycleState, RunnerCommandLifecycleState.notAccepted.rawValue)
   }
 
+  func testStampingCurrentUptimePreservesPayload() {
+    let stamped = Response(ok: true, data: DataPayload(message: "recording started"))
+      .stampingCurrentUptimeMs(123.5)
+
+    XCTAssertEqual(stamped.ok, true)
+    XCTAssertEqual(stamped.data?.message, "recording started")
+    XCTAssertEqual(stamped.data?.currentUptimeMs, 123.5)
+  }
+
+  func testStampingCurrentUptimeCreatesPayloadWhenNil() {
+    let stamped = Response(ok: true).stampingCurrentUptimeMs(456.0)
+
+    XCTAssertEqual(stamped.ok, true)
+    XCTAssertEqual(stamped.data?.currentUptimeMs, 456.0)
+  }
+
+  func testStampingCurrentUptimeSkipsErrorResponses() {
+    let response = Response(ok: false, error: ErrorPayload(message: "boom"))
+    let stamped = response.stampingCurrentUptimeMs(789.0)
+
+    XCTAssertEqual(stamped.ok, false)
+    XCTAssertNil(stamped.data)
+    XCTAssertEqual(stamped.error?.message, "boom")
+  }
+
+  func testJournalStoredResponseStaysUnstamped() throws {
+    let journal = RunnerCommandJournal()
+    let recordStart = runnerJournalCommand("recordStart", id: "record-start-anchor")
+
+    journal.accept(command: recordStart)
+    journal.finish(
+      command: recordStart,
+      response: Response(ok: true, data: DataPayload(message: "recording started"))
+    )
+
+    let status = journal.status(commandId: "record-start-anchor")
+    let responseJson = try XCTUnwrap(status.lifecycleResponseJson)
+    XCTAssertFalse(responseJson.contains("currentUptimeMs"))
+  }
+
   func testCommandJournalRetentionPolicy() throws {
     let journal = RunnerCommandJournal()
 
diff --git a/ios-runner/AgentDeviceRunner/AgentDeviceRunnerUITests/RunnerTests+Models.swift b/ios-runner/AgentDeviceRunner/AgentDeviceRunnerUITests/RunnerTests+Models.swift
index e1ecdcf9b..06ef2b480 100644
--- a/ios-runner/AgentDeviceRunner/AgentDeviceRunnerUITests/RunnerTests+Models.swift
+++ b/ios-runner/AgentDeviceRunner/AgentDeviceRunnerUITests/RunnerTests+Models.swift
@@ -162,6 +162,18 @@ struct Response: Codable {
   }
 }
 
+extension Response {
+  // The daemon pairs this gesture-clock anchor with its own receipt time to map
+  // gesture uptimes onto wall-clock for the recording touch overlay. Error responses
+  // carry no anchor so the daemon falls back instead of pairing a stale value.
+  func stampingCurrentUptimeMs(_ value: Double) -> Response {
+    guard ok else { return self }
+    var payload = data ?? DataPayload()
+    payload.currentUptimeMs = value
+    return Response(ok: ok, data: payload, error: error)
+  }
+}
+
 struct DataPayload: Codable {
   let message: String?
   let text: String?
@@ -177,7 +189,7 @@ struct DataPayload: Codable {
   let y2: Double?
   let referenceWidth: Double?
   let referenceHeight: Double?
-  let currentUptimeMs: Double?
+  var currentUptimeMs: Double?
   let commandId: String?
   let lifecycleState: String?
   let lifecycleCommand: String?
diff --git a/ios-runner/AgentDeviceRunner/AgentDeviceRunnerUITests/RunnerTests+Transport.swift b/ios-runner/AgentDeviceRunner/AgentDeviceRunnerUITests/RunnerTests+Transport.swift
index 99e54ec98..c7d74684a 100644
--- a/ios-runner/AgentDeviceRunner/AgentDeviceRunnerUITests/RunnerTests+Transport.swift
+++ b/ios-runner/AgentDeviceRunner/AgentDeviceRunnerUITests/RunnerTests+Transport.swift
@@ -170,8 +170,17 @@ extension RunnerTests {
   // MARK: - Response Encoding
 
   private func jsonResponse(status: Int, response: Response) -> Data {
+    // Stamp the gesture-clock uptime at the END of command handling, just before the HTTP
+    // write, so the warm snapshot and recordStart responses carry the anchor for free. This
+    // runs AFTER commandJournal.finish, so journal-stored lifecycleResponseJson stays
+    // unstamped — recovered/status-replayed results carry no anchor and the daemon falls back
+    // rather than pairing a stale uptime with a much-later receipt time.
+    let stamped =
+      response.ok
+      ? response.stampingCurrentUptimeMs(ProcessInfo.processInfo.systemUptime * 1000)
+      : response
     let encoder = JSONEncoder()
-    let body = (try? encoder.encode(response)).flatMap { String(data: $0, encoding: .utf8) } ?? "{}"
+    let body = (try? encoder.encode(stamped)).flatMap { String(data: $0, encoding: .utf8) } ?? "{}"
     return httpResponse(status: status, body: body)
   }
 
diff --git a/src/daemon/handlers/__tests__/record-trace.test.ts b/src/daemon/handlers/__tests__/record-trace.test.ts
index 267e0302e..98ab5e877 100644
--- a/src/daemon/handlers/__tests__/record-trace.test.ts
+++ b/src/daemon/handlers/__tests__/record-trace.test.ts
@@ -1144,8 +1144,13 @@ test('record start does not fail when iOS simulator runner warm-up fails', async
       wait: Promise.resolve({ stdout: '', stderr: '', exitCode: 0 }),
     };
   });
-  mockRunIosRunnerCommand.mockImplementation(async () => {
-    throw new Error('runner warm-up unavailable');
+  const runnerCalls: RunnerCall[] = [];
+  mockRunIosRunnerCommand.mockImplementation(async (_device, command) => {
+    runnerCalls.push({ command: command.command });
+    if (command.command === 'snapshot') {
+      throw new Error('runner warm-up unavailable');
+    }
+    return { currentUptimeMs: 30_000 };
   });
 
   const response = await runRecordCommand({
@@ -1156,6 +1161,181 @@ test('record start does not fail when iOS simulator runner warm-up fails', async
 
   expect(response?.ok).toBe(true);
   expect(started).toBe(true);
+  // Warm-up failure falls back to the standalone uptime command for the anchor.
+  expect(runnerCalls.map((call) => call.command)).toEqual(['snapshot', 'uptime']);
+  const recording = sessionStore.get(sessionName)?.recording;
+  expect(recording?.platform).toBe('ios');
+  if (recording?.platform === 'ios') {
+    expect(recording.gestureClockOriginUptimeMs).toBe(30_000);
+  }
+});
+
+test('record start anchors gesture clock from simulator warm-up and skips standalone uptime', async () => {
+  const sessionStore = makeSessionStore();
+  const sessionName = 'ios-sim-warm-anchor';
+  const session = makeSession(sessionName, {
+    platform: 'ios',
+    id: 'sim-1',
+    name: 'Simulator',
+    kind: 'simulator',
+    booted: true,
+  });
+  session.appBundleId = 'com.apple.Preferences';
+  sessionStore.set(sessionName, session);
+
+  mockRunCmdBackground.mockImplementation(() => ({
+    child: { kill: () => {} } as any,
+    wait: Promise.resolve({ stdout: '', stderr: '', exitCode: 0 }),
+  }));
+  const runnerCalls: RunnerCall[] = [];
+  mockRunIosRunnerCommand.mockImplementation(async (_device, command) => {
+    runnerCalls.push({ command: command.command });
+    if (command.command === 'snapshot') {
+      return { currentUptimeMs: 20_000 };
+    }
+    return {};
+  });
+
+  const beforeMs = Date.now();
+  const response = await runRecordCommand({
+    sessionStore,
+    sessionName,
+    positionals: ['start', './sim-warm-anchor.mp4'],
+  });
+  const afterMs = Date.now();
+
+  expect(response?.ok).toBe(true);
+  expect(runnerCalls.map((call) => call.command)).toEqual(['snapshot']);
+  const recording = sessionStore.get(sessionName)?.recording;
+  expect(recording?.platform).toBe('ios');
+  if (recording?.platform === 'ios') {
+    expect(recording.gestureClockOriginUptimeMs).toBe(20_000);
+    expect(recording.gestureClockOriginAtMs).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(beforeMs);
+    expect(recording.gestureClockOriginAtMs).toBeLessThanOrEqual(afterMs);
+  }
+});
+
+test('record start falls back to standalone uptime when warm response lacks currentUptimeMs', async () => {
+  const sessionStore = makeSessionStore();
+  const sessionName = 'ios-sim-warm-missing';
+  const session = makeSession(sessionName, {
+    platform: 'ios',
+    id: 'sim-1',
+    name: 'Simulator',
+    kind: 'simulator',
+    booted: true,
+  });
+  session.appBundleId = 'com.apple.Preferences';
+  sessionStore.set(sessionName, session);
+
+  mockRunCmdBackground.mockImplementation(() => ({
+    child: { kill: () => {} } as any,
+    wait: Promise.resolve({ stdout: '', stderr: '', exitCode: 0 }),
+  }));
+  const runnerCalls: RunnerCall[] = [];
+  mockRunIosRunnerCommand.mockImplementation(async (_device, command) => {
+    runnerCalls.push({ command: command.command });
+    if (command.command === 'uptime') {
+      return { currentUptimeMs: 30_000 };
+    }
+    return {};
+  });
+
+  const response = await runRecordCommand({
+    sessionStore,
+    sessionName,
+    positionals: ['start', './sim-warm-missing.mp4'],
+  });
+
+  expect(response?.ok).toBe(true);
+  expect(runnerCalls.map((call) => call.command)).toEqual(['snapshot', 'uptime']);
+  const recording = sessionStore.get(sessionName)?.recording;
+  expect(recording?.platform).toBe('ios');
+  if (recording?.platform === 'ios') {
+    expect(recording.gestureClockOriginUptimeMs).toBe(30_000);
+  }
+});
+
+test('record start rejects non-finite or non-positive warm anchors', async () => {
+  for (const badValue of [Number.NaN, -1]) {
+    const sessionStore = makeSessionStore();
+    const sessionName = `ios-sim-warm-bad-${badValue}`;
+    const session = makeSession(sessionName, {
+      platform: 'ios',
+      id: 'sim-1',
+      name: 'Simulator',
+      kind: 'simulator',
+      booted: true,
+    });
+    session.appBundleId = 'com.apple.Preferences';
+    sessionStore.set(sessionName, session);
+
+    mockRunCmdBackground.mockImplementation(() => ({
+      child: { kill: () => {} } as any,
+      wait: Promise.resolve({ stdout: '', stderr: '', exitCode: 0 }),
+    }));
+    const runnerCalls: RunnerCall[] = [];
+    mockRunIosRunnerCommand.mockImplementation(async (_device, command) => {
+      runnerCalls.push({ command: command.command });
+      if (command.command === 'snapshot') {
+        return { currentUptimeMs: badValue };
+      }
+      return { currentUptimeMs: 30_000 };
+    });
+
+    const response = await runRecordCommand({
+      sessionStore,
+      sessionName,
+      positionals: ['start', `./sim-warm-bad-${badValue}.mp4`],
+    });
+
+    expect(response?.ok).toBe(true);
+    expect(runnerCalls.map((call) => call.command)).toEqual(['snapshot', 'uptime']);
+    const recording = sessionStore.get(sessionName)?.recording;
+    expect(recording?.platform).toBe('ios');
+    if (recording?.platform === 'ios') {
+      expect(recording.gestureClockOriginUptimeMs).toBe(30_000);
+    }
+  }
+});
+
+test('record start degrades to wall-clock when warm anchor missing and uptime fails', async () => {
+  const sessionStore = makeSessionStore();
+  const sessionName = 'ios-sim-anchor-degraded';
+  const session = makeSession(sessionName, {
+    platform: 'ios',
+    id: 'sim-1',
+    name: 'Simulator',
+    kind: 'simulator',
+    booted: true,
+  });
+  session.appBundleId = 'com.apple.Preferences';
+  sessionStore.set(sessionName, session);
+
+  mockRunCmdBackground.mockImplementation(() => ({
+    child: { kill: () => {} } as any,
+    wait: Promise.resolve({ stdout: '', stderr: '', exitCode: 0 }),
+  }));
+  mockRunIosRunnerCommand.mockImplementation(async (_device, command) => {
+    if (command.command === 'uptime') {
+      throw new Error('uptime unavailable');
+    }
+    return {};
+  });
+
+  const response = await runRecordCommand({
+    sessionStore,
+    sessionName,
+    positionals: ['start', './sim-anchor-degraded.mp4'],
+  });
+
+  expect(response?.ok).toBe(true);
+  const recording = sessionStore.get(sessionName)?.recording;
+  expect(recording?.platform).toBe('ios');
+  if (recording?.platform === 'ios') {
+    expect(recording.gestureClockOriginAtMs).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(recording.gestureClockOriginUptimeMs).toBeUndefined();
+  }
 });
 
 test('record start skips iOS simulator runner warm-up when touch overlays are hidden', async () => {
diff --git a/src/daemon/handlers/record-trace-ios.ts b/src/daemon/handlers/record-trace-ios.ts
index cfb76da6f..b75c14944 100644
--- a/src/daemon/handlers/record-trace-ios.ts
+++ b/src/daemon/handlers/record-trace-ios.ts
@@ -89,19 +89,24 @@ async function stopRunnerRecordingBestEffort(params: {
   }
 }
 
+type RunnerGestureClockAnchor = {
+  gestureClockOriginAtMs: number;
+  gestureClockOriginUptimeMs: number;
+};
+
 export async function warmIosSimulatorRunner(params: {
   req: DaemonRequest;
   activeSession: SessionState;
   device: SessionState['device'];
   logPath?: string;
   deps: RecordTraceDeps;
-}): Promise<void> {
+}): Promise<RunnerGestureClockAnchor | undefined> {
   const { req, activeSession, device, logPath, deps } = params;
   const appBundleId = normalizeAppBundleId(activeSession);
-  if (!appBundleId) return;
+  if (!appBundleId) return undefined;
 
   try {
-    await deps.runIosRunnerCommand(
+    const result = await deps.runIosRunnerCommand(
       device,
       {
         command: 'snapshot',
@@ -112,6 +117,27 @@ export async function warmIosSimulatorRunner(params: {
       },
       getIosRunnerOptions(req, logPath, activeSession),
     );
+    // Pair the runner-stamped uptime with daemon receipt time. The runner stamps
+    // currentUptimeMs just before sending the response, so receive time is the closest
+    // wall-clock pair; the request midpoint would be wrong because this warm request can
+    // include cold runner build/launch (10s+).
+    const receivedAtMs = Date.now();
+    if (
+      typeof result.currentUptimeMs === 'number' &&
+      Number.isFinite(result.currentUptimeMs) &&
+      result.currentUptimeMs > 0
+    ) {
+      emitDiagnostic({
+        level: 'debug',
+        phase: 'record_start_gesture_clock_anchor',
+        data: { source: 'warm_snapshot' },
+      });
+      return {
+        gestureClockOriginAtMs: receivedAtMs,
+        gestureClockOriginUptimeMs: result.currentUptimeMs,
+      };
+    }
+    return undefined;
   } catch (error) {
     emitDiagnostic({
       level: 'warn',
@@ -123,6 +149,7 @@ export async function warmIosSimulatorRunner(params: {
         error: formatRecordTraceError(error),
       },
     });
+    return undefined;
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/daemon/handlers/record-trace-recording.ts b/src/daemon/handlers/record-trace-recording.ts
index 846659b17..52aec14f4 100644
--- a/src/daemon/handlers/record-trace-recording.ts
+++ b/src/daemon/handlers/record-trace-recording.ts
@@ -128,20 +128,23 @@ async function startIosSimulatorRecording(params: {
 }): Promise<DaemonResponse | NonNullable<SessionState['recording']>> {
   const { req, activeSession, device, logPath, deps, recordingBase, resolvedOut } = params;
 
-  if (recordingBase.showTouches) {
-    await warmIosSimulatorRunner({
-      req,
-      activeSession,
-      device,
-      logPath,
-      deps,
-    });
-  }
+  // The warm-up carries the gesture-clock anchor on its snapshot response when the runner
+  // stamps it, letting us skip a standalone uptime command. The anchor is a pure clock pair
+  // (origin uptime + daemon receipt time), so capturing it before the recorder spawn/settle
+  // window is equivalent to capturing it after: recordingStartedAt stays readyAt below.
+  const warmAnchor = recordingBase.showTouches
+    ? await warmIosSimulatorRunner({ req, activeSession, device, logPath, deps })
+    : undefined;
   const { child, wait } = deps.startIosSimulatorRecording({ device, outPath: resolvedOut });
   const readyAt = await waitForLocalRecordingSettleWindow(resolvedOut);
   let gestureClockOriginAtMs: number | undefined;
   let gestureClockOriginUptimeMs: number | undefined;
-  if (recordingBase.showTouches) {
+  if (warmAnchor) {
+    gestureClockOriginAtMs = warmAnchor.gestureClockOriginAtMs;
+    gestureClockOriginUptimeMs = warmAnchor.gestureClockOriginUptimeMs;
+  } else if (recordingBase.showTouches) {
+    // Fallback for older runner builds (or a failed/unavailable warm anchor): issue a
+    // standalone uptime command and pair it at the request midpoint.
     try {
       const uptimeRequestStartedAtMs = Date.now();
       const uptimeResult = await deps.runIosRunnerCommand(