diff --git a/go/characters/appEventListener.go b/go/characters/appEventListener.go
index 8685ad97..2ea4fec7 100644
--- a/go/characters/appEventListener.go
+++ b/go/characters/appEventListener.go
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ func AppEventListener(gcd *gothings.GrandCentralDispatcher, subscribed chan bool
 			contacts := the.Peer.GetContacts()
 			for i := range contacts {
 				contact, _ := the.Peer.GetProfile().GetContact(contacts[i])
-				displayName, _ := contact.GetAttribute("nick")
+				displayName, _ := contact.GetAttribute(constants.Nick)
 
 				gcd.UIState.AddContact(&gobjects.Contact{
 					Handle:      contacts[i],
@@ -102,10 +102,11 @@ func AppEventListener(gcd *gothings.GrandCentralDispatcher, subscribed chan bool
 			groups := the.Peer.GetGroups()
 			for i := range groups {
 				group := the.Peer.GetGroup(groups[i])
-				nick, exists := group.GetAttribute("nick")
+				nick, exists := group.GetAttribute(constants.Nick)
 				if !exists {
 					nick = group.GroupID[:12]
 				}
+
 				// Only join servers for active and explicitly accepted groups.
 				gcd.UIState.AddContact(&gobjects.Contact{
 					Handle:      group.GroupID,
diff --git a/go/characters/incominglistener.go b/go/characters/incominglistener.go
index 55ada538..0a639075 100644
--- a/go/characters/incominglistener.go
+++ b/go/characters/incominglistener.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package characters
 import (
 	"cwtch.im/cwtch/event"
 	"cwtch.im/cwtch/protocol/connections"
+	"cwtch.im/ui/go/constants"
 	"cwtch.im/ui/go/cwutil"
 	"cwtch.im/ui/go/gobjects"
 	"cwtch.im/ui/go/gothings"
@@ -48,7 +49,7 @@ func IncomingListener(uiState *gothings.InterfaceState, subscribed chan bool) {
 			var exists bool
 			ctc := the.Peer.GetContact(e.Data[event.RemotePeer])
 			if ctc != nil {
-				name, exists = ctc.GetAttribute("nick")
+				name, exists = ctc.GetAttribute(constants.Nick)
 				if !exists || name == "" {
 					name = e.Data[event.RemotePeer]
 				}
@@ -114,7 +115,6 @@ func IncomingListener(uiState *gothings.InterfaceState, subscribed chan bool) {
 						e.Data[event.RemotePeer],
 						cwutil.RandomProfileImage(e.Data[event.RemotePeer]),
 						"",
-						0,
 						int(cxnState),
 						false,
 						false,
diff --git a/go/gobjects/contact.go b/go/gobjects/contact.go
index 933ca39b..75807d56 100644
--- a/go/gobjects/contact.go
+++ b/go/gobjects/contact.go
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ type Contact struct {
 	DisplayName string
 	Image       string
 	Server      string
-	Badge       int // # of unread
 	Status      int
 	Trusted     bool
 	Blocked     bool
diff --git a/go/gothings/gcd.go b/go/gothings/gcd.go
index a06bfc56..22802c1d 100644
--- a/go/gothings/gcd.go
+++ b/go/gothings/gcd.go
@@ -31,7 +31,8 @@ type GrandCentralDispatcher struct {
 
 	// contact list stuff
 	_ func(handle, displayName, image, server string, badge, status int, trusted bool, blocked bool, loading bool) `signal:"AddContact"`
-	_ func(handle, displayName, image, server string, badge, status int, trusted bool, blocked bool, loading bool) `signal:"UpdateContact"`
+	_ func(handle, displayName, image, server string, status int, trusted bool, blocked bool, loading bool)        `signal:"UpdateContact"`
+	_ func(handle string)                                                                                          `signal:"IncContactUnreadCount"`
 	_ func(handle string)                                                                                          `signal:"RemoveContact"`
 	_ func(handle, key, value string)                                                                              `signal:"UpdateContactAttribute"`
 
@@ -171,20 +172,18 @@ func (this *GrandCentralDispatcher) loadMessagesPaneHelper(handle string) {
 			cwutil.RandomProfileImage(handle),
 			"",
 			0,
-			0,
 			false,
 			false,
 			false,
 		})
 	} else {
-		c.Badge = 0
 		this.UIState.UpdateContact(handle)
 	}
 
 	if len(handle) == 32 { // LOAD GROUP
 		group := the.Peer.GetGroup(handle)
 		tl := group.GetTimeline()
-		nick, _ := group.GetAttribute("nick")
+		nick, _ := group.GetAttribute(constants.Nick)
 		if nick == "" {
 			this.SetToolbarTitle(handle)
 		} else {
@@ -201,7 +200,7 @@ func (this *GrandCentralDispatcher) loadMessagesPaneHelper(handle string) {
 			var exists bool
 			ctc := the.Peer.GetContact(tl[i].PeerID)
 			if ctc != nil {
-				name, exists = ctc.GetAttribute("nick")
+				name, exists = ctc.GetAttribute(constants.Nick)
 				if !exists || name == "" {
 					name = tl[i].PeerID
 				}
@@ -228,7 +227,7 @@ func (this *GrandCentralDispatcher) loadMessagesPaneHelper(handle string) {
 	contact, _ := the.Peer.GetProfile().GetContact(handle)
 	var nick string
 	if contact != nil {
-		nick, _ = contact.GetAttribute("nick")
+		nick, _ = contact.GetAttribute(constants.Nick)
 		if nick == "" {
 			nick = handle
 		}
@@ -248,7 +247,7 @@ func (this *GrandCentralDispatcher) loadMessagesPaneHelper(handle string) {
 		ctc := the.Peer.GetContact(messages[i].PeerID)
 		if ctc != nil {
 			var exists bool
-			displayname, exists = ctc.GetAttribute("nick")
+			displayname, exists = ctc.GetAttribute(constants.Nick)
 			if !exists || displayname == "" {
 				displayname = messages[i].PeerID
 			}
@@ -300,7 +299,7 @@ func (this *GrandCentralDispatcher) requestPeerSettings() {
 		return
 	}
 
-	name, exists := contact.GetAttribute("nick")
+	name, exists := contact.GetAttribute(constants.Nick)
 	if !exists {
 		log.Errorf("error: couldn't find contact %v", this.CurrentOpenConversation())
 		this.SupplyPeerSettings(this.CurrentOpenConversation(), this.CurrentOpenConversation(), contact.Blocked)
@@ -317,10 +316,10 @@ func (this *GrandCentralDispatcher) savePeerSettings(onion, nick string) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	contact.SetAttribute("nick", nick)
+	contact.SetAttribute(constants.Nick, nick)
 	the.EventBus.Publish(event.NewEvent(event.SetPeerAttribute, map[event.Field]string{
 		event.RemotePeer: onion,
-		event.Key:        "nick",
+		event.Key:        constants.Nick,
 		event.Data:       nick,
 	}))
 
@@ -338,13 +337,13 @@ func (this *GrandCentralDispatcher) requestGroupSettings(groupID string) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	nick, _ := group.GetAttribute("nick")
+	nick, _ := group.GetAttribute(constants.Nick)
 	invite, _ := the.Peer.ExportGroup(groupID)
 
 	contactaddrs := the.Peer.GetContacts()
 	contactnames := make([]string, len(contactaddrs))
 	for i, contact := range contactaddrs {
-		name, hasname := the.Peer.GetContact(contact).GetAttribute("nick")
+		name, hasname := the.Peer.GetContact(contact).GetAttribute(constants.Nick)
 		if hasname {
 			contactnames[i] = name
 		} else {
@@ -363,10 +362,10 @@ func (this *GrandCentralDispatcher) saveGroupSettings(groupID, nick string) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	group.SetAttribute("nick", nick)
+	group.SetAttribute(constants.Nick, nick)
 	the.EventBus.Publish(event.NewEvent(event.SetGroupAttribute, map[event.Field]string{
 		event.GroupID: groupID,
-		event.Key:     "nick",
+		event.Key:     constants.Nick,
 		event.Data:    nick,
 	}))
 
@@ -480,10 +479,10 @@ func (this *GrandCentralDispatcher) createGroup(server, groupName string) {
 	})
 
 	group := the.Peer.GetGroup(groupID)
-	group.SetAttribute("nick", groupName)
+	group.SetAttribute(constants.Nick, groupName)
 	the.EventBus.Publish(event.NewEvent(event.SetGroupAttribute, map[event.Field]string{
 		event.GroupID: groupID,
-		event.Key:     "nick",
+		event.Key:     constants.Nick,
 		event.Data:    groupName,
 	}))
 
diff --git a/go/gothings/uistate.go b/go/gothings/uistate.go
index 30d284a0..2bac7a83 100644
--- a/go/gothings/uistate.go
+++ b/go/gothings/uistate.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package gothings
 
 import (
+	"cwtch.im/cwtch/model"
 	"cwtch.im/ui/go/constants"
 	"cwtch.im/ui/go/cwutil"
 	"cwtch.im/ui/go/gobjects"
@@ -11,6 +12,39 @@ import (
 	"time"
 )
 
+type Attributable interface {
+	GetAttribute(string) (string, bool)
+	SetAttribute(string, string)
+}
+
+// initLastReadTime checks and gets the Attributable's LastRead time or sets it to now
+func initLastReadTime(attr Attributable) time.Time {
+	lastRead := time.Now()
+	lastReadVal, ok := attr.GetAttribute(constants.LastRead)
+	if ok {
+		err := lastRead.UnmarshalText([]byte(lastReadVal))
+		if err != nil {
+			lastRead = time.Now()
+		}
+	} else {
+		lastReadVal, _ := lastRead.MarshalText()
+		attr.SetAttribute(constants.LastRead, string(lastReadVal))
+	}
+	return lastRead
+}
+
+func countUnread(messages []model.Message, lastRead time.Time) int {
+	count := 0
+	for i := len(messages) - 1; i >= 0; i-- {
+		if messages[i].Timestamp.After(lastRead) {
+			count++
+		} else {
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	return count
+}
+
 type InterfaceState struct {
 	parentGcd *GrandCentralDispatcher
 	contacts  sync.Map // string : *gobjects.Contact
@@ -27,8 +61,14 @@ func (this *InterfaceState) Acknowledge(mID string) {
 
 func (this *InterfaceState) AddContact(c *gobjects.Contact) {
 	if len(c.Handle) == 32 { // ADD GROUP
+		unread := 0
+		group := the.Peer.GetGroup(c.Handle)
+		if group != nil {
+			lastRead := initLastReadTime(group)
+			unread = countUnread(group.Timeline.GetMessages(), lastRead)
+		}
 		if _, found := this.contacts.Load(c.Handle); !found {
-			this.parentGcd.AddContact(c.Handle, c.DisplayName, c.Image, c.Server, c.Badge, c.Status, c.Trusted, c.Blocked, c.Loading)
+			this.parentGcd.AddContact(c.Handle, c.DisplayName, c.Image, c.Server, unread, c.Status, c.Trusted, c.Blocked, c.Loading)
 			this.contacts.Store(c.Handle, c)
 		}
 		return
@@ -38,9 +78,15 @@ func (this *InterfaceState) AddContact(c *gobjects.Contact) {
 		return
 	}
 
+	unread := 0
+	contact := the.Peer.GetContact(c.Handle)
+	if contact != nil {
+		lastRead := initLastReadTime(contact)
+		unread = countUnread(contact.Timeline.GetMessages(), lastRead)
+	}
 	if _, found := this.contacts.Load(c.Handle); !found {
 		this.contacts.Store(c.Handle, c)
-		this.parentGcd.AddContact(c.Handle, c.DisplayName, c.Image, c.Server, c.Badge, c.Status, c.Trusted, c.Blocked, false)
+		this.parentGcd.AddContact(c.Handle, c.DisplayName, c.Image, c.Server, unread, c.Status, c.Trusted, c.Blocked, false)
 		if the.Peer.GetContact(c.Handle) == nil {
 			the.Peer.AddContact(c.DisplayName, c.Handle, c.Trusted)
 			go the.Peer.PeerWithOnion(c.Handle)
@@ -57,7 +103,7 @@ func (this *InterfaceState) GetContact(handle string) *gobjects.Contact {
 		if len(handle) == 32 {
 			group := the.Peer.GetGroup(handle)
 			if group != nil {
-				nick, exists := group.GetAttribute("nick")
+				nick, exists := group.GetAttribute(constants.Nick)
 				if !exists {
 					nick = group.GroupID[:12]
 				}
@@ -67,7 +113,6 @@ func (this *InterfaceState) GetContact(handle string) *gobjects.Contact {
 					cwutil.RandomGroupImage(handle),
 					group.GroupServer,
 					0,
-					0,
 					group.Accepted,
 					false,
 					false,
@@ -88,7 +133,6 @@ func (this *InterfaceState) GetContact(handle string) *gobjects.Contact {
 					cwutil.RandomProfileImage(handle),
 					"",
 					0,
-					0,
 					false,
 					contact.Blocked,
 					false,
@@ -126,11 +170,7 @@ func (this *InterfaceState) AddMessage(m *gobjects.Message) {
 			this.parentGcd.Acknowledged(m.MessageID)
 		}
 	} else {
-		c := this.GetContact(m.Handle)
-		if c != nil {
-			c.Badge++
-			this.UpdateContact(c.Handle)
-		}
+		this.parentGcd.IncContactUnreadCount(m.Handle)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -142,7 +182,7 @@ func (this *InterfaceState) UpdateContact(handle string) {
 		if contact != nil {
 			c.Blocked = contact.Blocked
 		}
-		this.parentGcd.UpdateContact(c.Handle, c.DisplayName, c.Image, c.Server, c.Badge, c.Status, c.Trusted, c.Blocked, c.Loading)
+		this.parentGcd.UpdateContact(c.Handle, c.DisplayName, c.Image, c.Server, c.Status, c.Trusted, c.Blocked, c.Loading)
 
 	}
 }
diff --git a/qml/overlays/BulletinOverlay.qml b/qml/overlays/BulletinOverlay.qml
index 1e1f3cd8..c8abe9a6 100644
--- a/qml/overlays/BulletinOverlay.qml
+++ b/qml/overlays/BulletinOverlay.qml
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ ColumnLayout {
 				}
 			}
 
-            onUpdateContact: function(_handle, _displayName, _image, _server, _badge, _status, _trusted, _blocked, _loading) {
+            onUpdateContact: function(_handle, _displayName, _image, _server, _status, _trusted, _blocked, _loading) {
                 if (gcd.currentOpenConversation == _handle) {
                     if (_loading == true) {
                         newposttitle.enabled = false
diff --git a/qml/overlays/ChatOverlay.qml b/qml/overlays/ChatOverlay.qml
index 061e14b5..59dfefa4 100644
--- a/qml/overlays/ChatOverlay.qml
+++ b/qml/overlays/ChatOverlay.qml
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ ColumnLayout {
                 messagesListView.positionViewAtEnd()
             }
 
-            onUpdateContact: function(_handle, _displayName, _image, _server, _badge, _status, _trusted, _blocked, _loading) {
+            onUpdateContact: function(_handle, _displayName, _image, _server, _status, _trusted, _blocked, _loading) {
                 if (gcd.currentOpenConversation == _handle) {
                     // Group is Synced OR p2p is Authenticated
                     if (  (_handle.length == 32 && _status == 4) || _status == 3) {
diff --git a/qml/overlays/ListOverlay.qml b/qml/overlays/ListOverlay.qml
index 5304ac28..1515a4f1 100644
--- a/qml/overlays/ListOverlay.qml
+++ b/qml/overlays/ListOverlay.qml
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ ColumnLayout {
 				}
 			}
 
-            onUpdateContact: function(_handle, _displayName, _image, _server, _badge, _status, _trusted, _blocked, _loading) {
+            onUpdateContact: function(_handle, _displayName, _image, _server, _status, _trusted, _blocked, _loading) {
                 if (gcd.currentOpenConversation == _handle) {
                     if (_loading == true) {
                         newposttitle.enabled = false
diff --git a/qml/widgets/ContactRow.qml b/qml/widgets/ContactRow.qml
index 3b4f2661..a3f3f9e9 100644
--- a/qml/widgets/ContactRow.qml
+++ b/qml/widgets/ContactRow.qml
@@ -123,6 +123,7 @@ Item { // LOTS OF NESTING TO DEAL WITH QT WEIRDNESS, SORRY
 				isActive = true
 				theStack.pane = theStack.messagePane
 				gcd.loadMessagesPane(handle)
+				badge = 0
 				if (handle.length == 32) {
 					gcd.requestGroupSettings(handle)
 				}
@@ -145,17 +146,22 @@ Item { // LOTS OF NESTING TO DEAL WITH QT WEIRDNESS, SORRY
 			isActive = false
 		}
 
-        onUpdateContact: function(_handle, _displayName, _image, _server, _badge, _status, _trusted, _blocked, _loading) {
+        onUpdateContact: function(_handle, _displayName, _image, _server, _status, _trusted, _blocked, _loading) {
 			if (handle == _handle) {
 				displayName = _displayName + (_blocked == true ? " (blocked)" : "")
 				image = _image
 				server = _server
-				badge = _badge
 				status = _status
 				trusted = _trusted
 				blocked = _blocked
                 loadingProgress.visible = loadingProgress.running = loading = _loading
 			}
 		}
+
+		onIncContactUnreadCount: function(handle) {
+		    if (handle == _handle) {
+		        badge++
+		    }
+		}
 	}
 }