diff --git a/src/application/desktop/DesktopApplicationState.test.ts b/src/application/desktop/DesktopApplicationState.test.ts
index 33c4474d58..c652dcb2ec 100644
--- a/src/application/desktop/DesktopApplicationState.test.ts
+++ b/src/application/desktop/DesktopApplicationState.test.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,11 @@ import type {
   DesktopCheckpoint,
 } from "../../domain/desktop/desktopCapture.js";
 import { desktopApplicationStateSchema } from "../../domain/desktop/desktopState.js";
-import { inspectDesktopApplicationState } from "./DesktopApplicationState.js";
+import {
+  inspectDesktopApplicationState,
+  type DesktopStateReaders,
+} from "./DesktopApplicationState.js";
+import { draftDesktopApplicationTask } from "./DesktopTaskDraft.js";
 import {
   DATABASE,
   HOME,
@@ -215,6 +219,82 @@ describe("inspectDesktopApplicationState", () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe("nullable SQLite row identity through desktop capture consumers", () => {
+  it("carries the changed row into the task draft without losing its check", async () => {
+    const source = capture();
+    const folder = await writeCaptureFolder({
+      ...source,
+      state: {
+        ...source.state,
+        checkpoints: source.state.checkpoints.map((entry) => ({
+          ...entry,
+          changes: entry.changes.filter((change) => change.path === DATABASE),
+          retained: entry.retained.filter((file) => file.path === DATABASE),
+        })),
+      },
+    });
+    const sqlite: DesktopStateReaders["sqlite"] = async (database) => ({
+      ok: true,
+      view: {
+        tables: {
+          items: {
+            columns: ["id", "body"],
+            primary_key: ["id"],
+            rows: (await readFile(database, "latin1")).endsWith("v1")
+              ? [
+                  [null, "alpha"],
+                  [null, "beta"],
+                ]
+              : [
+                  [null, "gamma"],
+                  [null, "beta"],
+                ],
+            truncated: false,
+          },
+        },
+        tables_truncated: false,
+      },
+    });
+    const using = { ...readers, sqlite };
+    const state = await inspectDesktopApplicationState(folder, using);
+    if (!("normalized_result" in state)) throw state;
+    expect(
+      desktopApplicationStateSchema.parse(state.normalized_result).paths,
+    ).toEqual(
+      expect.arrayContaining([
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          home_path: ".local/share/notes/notes.db",
+          changes: [
+            expect.objectContaining({
+              kind: "rows",
+              added_count: 1,
+              removed_count: 1,
+            }),
+          ],
+        }),
+      ]),
+    );
+    const task = await draftDesktopApplicationTask(folder, using);
+    if (!("normalized_result" in task)) throw task;
+    expect(task.normalized_result).toMatchObject({
+      task: {
+        checks: [
+          {
+            kind: "row_present",
+            table: "items",
+            where: { id: null, body: "gamma" },
+          },
+          {
+            kind: "row_absent",
+            table: "items",
+            where: { id: null, body: "alpha" },
+          },
+        ],
+      },
+    });
+  });
+});
+
 describe("inspectDesktopApplicationState database sidecars", () => {
   it("refuses a database whose write-ahead log was left out at the baseline", async () => {
     const base = capture();
diff --git a/src/domain/desktop/appTaskChecks.ts b/src/domain/desktop/appTaskChecks.ts
index bed05c4dc1..c423923a0d 100644
--- a/src/domain/desktop/appTaskChecks.ts
+++ b/src/domain/desktop/appTaskChecks.ts
@@ -287,6 +287,26 @@ const tableOf = (
   };
 };
 
+/** Count every row satisfying a task predicate, including overlapping predicates. */
+export const countTaskRows = (
+  columns: readonly JsonValue[],
+  rows: readonly (readonly JsonValue[])[],
+  where: Readonly<Record<string, JsonValue>>,
+): number => {
+  const conditions = Object.entries(where).map(
+    ([column, value]) => [columns.indexOf(column), value] as const,
+  );
+  let count = 0;
+  for (const row of rows)
+    if (
+      conditions.every(
+        ([index, value]) => index >= 0 && sameJson(row[index], value),
+      )
+    )
+      count += 1;
+  return count;
+};
+
 const rowVerdict = (
   check: Check<"row_present" | "row_absent" | "row_count">,
   entry: TaskFileView | undefined,
@@ -297,13 +317,11 @@ const rowVerdict = (
   if ("passed" in table) return table;
   const { columns, rows } = table;
   const name = `${check.file} table ${check.table}`;
-  const matches = (row: JsonValue) =>
-    Array.isArray(row) &&
-    Object.entries(check.where ?? {}).every(([column, value]) => {
-      const index = columns.indexOf(column);
-      return index >= 0 && sameJson(row[index], value);
-    });
-  const n = rows.filter(matches).length;
+  const n = countTaskRows(
+    columns,
+    rows.filter(Array.isArray),
+    check.where ?? {},
+  );
   if (check.kind === "row_present")
     return n > 0
       ? pass(`${name} has a row with ${shown(check.where)}`)
diff --git a/src/domain/desktop/appTaskDraft.test.ts b/src/domain/desktop/appTaskDraft.test.ts
index c44d5b4918..56d461129c 100644
--- a/src/domain/desktop/appTaskDraft.test.ts
+++ b/src/domain/desktop/appTaskDraft.test.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 
 import type { JsonValue } from "../jsonValue.js";
 import { draftTaskFiles } from "./appTaskDraft.js";
+import { evaluateTaskChecks } from "./appTaskChecks.js";
 import type { DesktopStatePath } from "./desktopState.js";
 
 type Format = DesktopStatePath["format"];
@@ -310,6 +311,208 @@ describe("draftTaskFiles for XML that uses namespaces", () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe("draftTaskFiles with nullable SQLite keys", () => {
+  it("suggests checks for distinct NULL-key rows and ignores a reorder", () => {
+    const file = ".local/share/app/items.db";
+    const table = (rows: (string | null)[][]) => ({
+      tables: {
+        items: {
+          columns: ["id", "body"],
+          primary_key: ["id"],
+          rows,
+          truncated: false,
+        },
+      },
+      tables_truncated: false,
+    });
+    expect(
+      draft({
+        [file]: path(
+          "application_state",
+          "sqlite",
+          table([
+            [null, "alpha"],
+            [null, "beta"],
+          ]),
+          table([
+            [null, "beta"],
+            [null, "alpha"],
+          ]),
+        ),
+      }),
+    ).toEqual([]);
+    const [database] = draft({
+      [file]: path(
+        "application_state",
+        "sqlite",
+        table([
+          [null, "alpha"],
+          [null, "beta"],
+        ]),
+        table([
+          [null, "gamma"],
+          [null, "beta"],
+        ]),
+      ),
+    });
+    expect(database?.suggested).toEqual([
+      {
+        kind: "row_present",
+        file,
+        table: "items",
+        where: { id: null, body: "gamma" },
+      },
+      {
+        kind: "row_absent",
+        file,
+        table: "items",
+        where: { id: null, body: "alpha" },
+      },
+    ]);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("draftTaskFiles with unkeyed row conditions", () => {
+  const file = "Documents/items.db";
+  const table = (rows: JsonValue[][]) => ({
+    tables: {
+      items: {
+        columns: ["id", "body", "at"],
+        primary_key: ["id"],
+        rows,
+        truncated: false,
+      },
+    },
+    tables_truncated: false,
+  });
+
+  it("does not contradict itself when only a NULL-key row timestamp changes", () => {
+    const [database] = draft({
+      [file]: path(
+        "document",
+        "sqlite",
+        table([[null, "alpha", "2026-11-04 09:00:00"]]),
+        table([[null, "alpha", "2026-11-04 10:00:00"]]),
+      ),
+    });
+    expect(database?.suggested).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  it("counts repeated row conditions even when the total row count stays equal", () => {
+    const before = table([
+      [null, "alpha", null],
+      [null, "alpha", null],
+      [null, "beta", null],
+    ]);
+    const after = table([
+      [null, "alpha", null],
+      [null, "beta", null],
+      [null, "beta", null],
+    ]);
+    const [database] = draft({
+      [file]: path("document", "sqlite", before, after),
+    });
+    expect(database?.suggested).toEqual([
+      {
+        kind: "row_count",
+        file,
+        table: "items",
+        where: { id: null, body: "alpha", at: null },
+        equals: 1,
+      },
+      {
+        kind: "row_count",
+        file,
+        table: "items",
+        where: { id: null, body: "beta", at: null },
+        equals: 2,
+      },
+    ]);
+    const checks = (database?.suggested ?? []).map((check, index) => ({
+      ...check,
+      id: String(index),
+    }));
+    expect(
+      evaluateTaskChecks(
+        checks,
+        new Map([[file, { format: "sqlite", view: after }]]),
+      ).map((outcome) => outcome.passed),
+    ).toEqual([true, true]);
+    expect(
+      evaluateTaskChecks(
+        checks,
+        new Map([[file, { format: "sqlite", view: before }]]),
+      ).map((outcome) => outcome.passed),
+    ).toEqual([false, false]);
+  });
+
+  it.each([
+    {
+      name: "counts all rows matching an overlapping predicate",
+      before: [
+        [null, "alpha", "2026-11-04 09:00:00"],
+        [null, "alpha", null],
+      ],
+      after: [
+        [null, "alpha", "2026-11-04 09:00:00"],
+        [null, "alpha", null],
+        [null, "alpha", "2026-11-04 10:00:00"],
+      ],
+      expected: [
+        { kind: "row_count", where: { id: null, body: "alpha" }, equals: 3 },
+        { kind: "row_count", equals: 3 },
+      ],
+    },
+    {
+      name: "does not suggest absence when a broader predicate still matches",
+      before: [
+        [null, "alpha", "2026-11-04 09:00:00"],
+        [null, "alpha", null],
+      ],
+      after: [[null, "alpha", null]],
+      expected: [
+        { kind: "row_count", where: { id: null, body: "alpha" }, equals: 1 },
+        { kind: "row_count", equals: 1 },
+      ],
+    },
+    {
+      name: "keeps the surviving broad predicate when a timestamp becomes NULL",
+      before: [[null, "alpha", "2026-11-04 09:00:00"]],
+      after: [[null, "alpha", null]],
+      expected: [
+        { kind: "row_present", where: { id: null, body: "alpha", at: null } },
+      ],
+    },
+  ])("$name", ({ before, after, expected }) => {
+    for (const key of [["id"], []]) {
+      const baseline = table(before);
+      const final = table(after);
+      baseline.tables.items.primary_key = key;
+      final.tables.items.primary_key = key;
+      const [database] = draft({
+        [file]: path("document", "sqlite", baseline, final),
+      });
+      expect(database?.suggested).toEqual(
+        expected.map((check) => ({ ...check, file, table: "items" })),
+      );
+      const checks = (database?.suggested ?? []).map((check, index) => ({
+        ...check,
+        id: String(index),
+      }));
+      for (const [view, passed] of [
+        [final, true],
+        [baseline, false],
+      ] as const)
+        expect(
+          evaluateTaskChecks(
+            checks,
+            new Map([[file, { format: "sqlite", view }]]),
+          ).map((outcome) => outcome.passed),
+        ).toEqual(checks.map(() => passed));
+    }
+  });
+});
+
 describe("draftTaskFiles with partial evidence", () => {
   const notes = (...rows: JsonValue[][]) => ({
     tables: {
diff --git a/src/domain/desktop/appTaskDraft.ts b/src/domain/desktop/appTaskDraft.ts
index d0c3b1c9b9..9c5ec865fa 100644
--- a/src/domain/desktop/appTaskDraft.ts
+++ b/src/domain/desktop/appTaskDraft.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,12 @@ import {
   type DesktopStatePath,
   type StateEnds,
 } from "./desktopState.js";
-import { diffStateViews, diffZipMembers } from "./stateChanges.js";
+import { countTaskRows } from "./appTaskChecks.js";
+import {
+  diffStateViews,
+  diffZipMembers,
+  sqliteRowIdentity,
+} from "./stateChanges.js";
 import { locatePointer, pairMembers, resolvePointer } from "./viewPointer.js";
 import { entryWithoutView, zipArrayLeavesOut, zipEntryAt } from "./zipView.js";
 
@@ -330,6 +335,58 @@ const rowWhere = (
     }),
   );
 
+/** Match uniquely keyed rows separately from multiset row conditions. */
+const keyedRows = (table: TableView) =>
+  new Map(
+    table.rows.flatMap((row) => {
+      const identity = sqliteRowIdentity(table.columns, table.key, row);
+      return identity.keyed ? [[identity.value, row] as const] : [];
+    }),
+  );
+
+/** The predicates a task can express after volatile values are omitted. */
+const rowConditions = (table: TableView) => {
+  const conditions = new Map<string, Record<string, JsonValue>>();
+  for (const row of table.rows) {
+    if (sqliteRowIdentity(table.columns, table.key, row).keyed) continue;
+    const where = rowWhere(table, row, () => true);
+    if (Object.keys(where).length === 0) continue;
+    conditions.set(JSON.stringify(where), where);
+  }
+  return conditions;
+};
+
+const unkeyedRowSuggestions = (
+  file: string,
+  table: string,
+  baseline: TableView,
+  final: TableView,
+): Suggestion[] => {
+  const conditions = new Map([
+    ...rowConditions(final),
+    ...rowConditions(baseline),
+  ]);
+  const suggestions: Suggestion[] = [];
+  for (const where of conditions.values()) {
+    const previous = countTaskRows(baseline.columns, baseline.rows, where);
+    const count = countTaskRows(final.columns, final.rows, where);
+    if (previous === count) continue;
+    if (count === 0)
+      suggestions.push({ kind: "row_absent", file, table, where });
+    else if (previous === 0)
+      suggestions.push({ kind: "row_present", file, table, where });
+    else
+      suggestions.push({
+        kind: "row_count",
+        file,
+        table,
+        where,
+        equals: count,
+      });
+  }
+  return suggestions;
+};
+
 const rowSuggestions = (
   file: string,
   baseline: Version,
@@ -347,28 +404,15 @@ const rowSuggestions = (
   };
   for (const [name, table] of tableViews(final)) {
     const old = before.get(name) ?? { ...table, rows: [] };
-    const identity = (view: TableView, row: readonly JsonValue[]) =>
-      JSON.stringify(
-        view.key.length === 0
-          ? row
-          : view.key.map((column) => row[view.columns.indexOf(column)] ?? null),
-      );
-    const oldRows = new Map(old.rows.map((row) => [identity(old, row), row]));
-    const newRows = new Map(
-      table.rows.map((row) => [identity(table, row), row]),
-    );
-    const keyed = (column: string) => table.key.includes(column);
+    const oldRows = keyedRows(old);
+    const newRows = keyedRows(table);
     for (const [id, row] of newRows) {
       const previous = oldRows.get(id);
       if (previous === undefined)
         push(
           "row_present",
           name,
-          rowWhere(
-            table,
-            row,
-            (column) => table.key.length === 0 || !keyed(column),
-          ),
+          rowWhere(table, row, (column) => !table.key.includes(column)),
         );
       else if (JSON.stringify(previous) !== JSON.stringify(row))
         push(
@@ -378,7 +422,7 @@ const rowSuggestions = (
             table,
             row,
             (column) =>
-              keyed(column) ||
+              table.key.includes(column) ||
               JSON.stringify(row[table.columns.indexOf(column)]) !==
                 JSON.stringify(previous[old.columns.indexOf(column)]),
           ),
@@ -389,12 +433,9 @@ const rowSuggestions = (
         push(
           "row_absent",
           name,
-          rowWhere(
-            old,
-            row,
-            (column) => old.key.length === 0 || old.key.includes(column),
-          ),
+          rowWhere(old, row, (column) => old.key.includes(column)),
         );
+    suggestions.push(...unkeyedRowSuggestions(file, name, old, table));
     if (old.rows.length !== table.rows.length)
       suggestions.push({
         kind: "row_count",
diff --git a/src/domain/desktop/stateChanges.test.ts b/src/domain/desktop/stateChanges.test.ts
index 1321c3b28c..822db56f16 100644
--- a/src/domain/desktop/stateChanges.test.ts
+++ b/src/domain/desktop/stateChanges.test.ts
@@ -82,6 +82,49 @@ describe("diffStateViews", () => {
       changed: ["notes:[1]"],
     });
   });
+
+  it("compares NULL primary-key rows as a multiset while retaining keyed matches", () => {
+    const table = (rows: (string | null)[][]) => ({
+      tables: {
+        items: { columns: ["id", "body"], primary_key: ["id"], rows },
+      },
+    });
+    const before = table([
+      [null, "alpha"],
+      [null, "beta"],
+      ["fixed", "old"],
+    ]);
+    expect(
+      diffStateViews(
+        "sqlite",
+        before,
+        table([
+          ["fixed", "old"],
+          [null, "beta"],
+          [null, "alpha"],
+        ]),
+      ),
+    ).toMatchObject({
+      added_count: 0,
+      removed_count: 0,
+      changed_count: 0,
+    });
+    expect(
+      diffStateViews(
+        "sqlite",
+        before,
+        table([
+          [null, "gamma"],
+          [null, "beta"],
+          ["fixed", "new"],
+        ]),
+      ),
+    ).toMatchObject({
+      added: ['items:[null,"gamma"]'],
+      removed: ['items:[null,"alpha"]'],
+      changed: ['items:["fixed"]'],
+    });
+  });
 });
 
 describe("diffStateViews fidelity", () => {
diff --git a/src/domain/desktop/stateChanges.ts b/src/domain/desktop/stateChanges.ts
index c7e78a7e27..7885d70abe 100644
--- a/src/domain/desktop/stateChanges.ts
+++ b/src/domain/desktop/stateChanges.ts
@@ -245,6 +245,24 @@ const unreadTables = (view: JsonValue): string[] =>
     .filter(([, table]) => isRecord(table) && typeof table.error === "string")
     .map(([name]) => name);
 
+/** A nullable SQLite primary key cannot identify a row on its own. */
+export const sqliteRowIdentity = (
+  columns: readonly JsonValue[],
+  key: readonly JsonValue[],
+  row: readonly JsonValue[],
+): { value: string; keyed: boolean } => {
+  const indexes = key.map((column) => columns.indexOf(column));
+  const keyed =
+    indexes.length > 0 &&
+    indexes.every(
+      (index) => index >= 0 && row[index] !== null && row[index] !== undefined,
+    );
+  return {
+    value: JSON.stringify(keyed ? indexes.map((index) => row[index]) : row),
+    keyed,
+  };
+};
+
 /**
  * `table:key` → row for SQLite views, keyed by primary key when there is one.
  * Tables unread in either version are skipped, so their rows are not misreported.
@@ -258,18 +276,13 @@ const rowEntries = (
     if (skipped.has(name) || !isRecord(table) || !Array.isArray(table.rows))
       continue;
     const columns = Array.isArray(table.columns) ? table.columns : [];
-    const keyColumns = (
-      Array.isArray(table.primary_key) ? table.primary_key : []
-    )
-      .map((column) => columns.indexOf(column))
-      .filter((index) => index >= 0);
+    const keyColumns = Array.isArray(table.primary_key)
+      ? table.primary_key
+      : [];
     const seen = new Map<string, number>();
     for (const row of table.rows) {
       if (!Array.isArray(row)) continue;
-      const identity =
-        keyColumns.length > 0
-          ? JSON.stringify(keyColumns.map((index) => row[index] ?? null))
-          : JSON.stringify(row);
+      const identity = sqliteRowIdentity(columns, keyColumns, row).value;
       // Rows without a key are compared as a multiset of whole rows.
       const occurrence = seen.get(identity) ?? 0;
       seen.set(identity, occurrence + 1);