diff --git a/frontend/src/screens/Inbox.jsx b/frontend/src/screens/Inbox.jsx
index 39d63b3..9ac144e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/screens/Inbox.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/screens/Inbox.jsx
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ import { qk } from '../lib/queryKeys'
 import { friendlyAuthError } from '../lib/errors'
 import * as inboxApi from '../api/inbox'
 import {
-  atsRecommendationClass, avatarColor, fmtDate, fmtShort, initials as initialsOf,
-  inboxSources, relTime, sourceMeta,
+  atsRecommendationClass, avatarColor, fmtDate, initials as initialsOf,
+  inboxSources, sourceMeta,
 } from '../data/seed'
 
 const TABS = ['All Applications', 'Unread', 'Processed', 'Rejected', 'Duplicates', 'Email']
@@ -57,9 +57,6 @@ const TAB_FILTERS = {
  */
 const SERVER_SCOPED_TABS = new Set(['All Applications', 'Unread'])
 
-/** The prototype computed "time ago" against a fixed 2026-07-09T20:00. */
-const NOW = new Date('2026-07-09T20:00')
-
 /**
  * message_received_time / message_sent_time are plain string columns
  * (backend/inbox/models.py:54-56), not timestamps. An unparseable value yields
@@ -72,6 +69,33 @@ function parseDate(value) {
   return Number.isNaN(d.getTime()) ? null : d
 }
 
+function startOfDay(d) {
+  return new Date(d.getFullYear(), d.getMonth(), d.getDate())
+}
+
+/**
+ * Outlook-style list timestamps in the client's local timezone.
+ * Within 7 days: weekday + AM/PM time. Older: dd/mm/yyyy + AM/PM time.
+ */
+function outlookListTime(value) {
+  if (!value) return '—'
+  const d = value instanceof Date ? value : new Date(value)
+  if (Number.isNaN(d.getTime())) return '—'
+  const time = d.toLocaleTimeString(undefined, {
+    hour: 'numeric',
+    minute: '2-digit',
+    hour12: true,
+  })
+  const daysAgo = Math.round((startOfDay(new Date()) - startOfDay(d)) / 86400000)
+  if (daysAgo < 7) {
+    const weekday = d.toLocaleDateString(undefined, { weekday: 'short' })
+    return `${weekday} ${time}`
+  }
+  const dd = String(d.getDate()).padStart(2, '0')
+  const mm = String(d.getMonth() + 1).padStart(2, '0')
+  return `${dd}/${mm}/${d.getFullYear()} ${time}`
+}
+
 /**
  * `source` arrives as the raw To address, because that is where the board tag
  * lands — careers-rozee@, employee-referral@, mustakbil@ and so on. Strip
@@ -487,7 +511,7 @@ function BulkReadBar({ rows, selection, onSetRead, onSetAllRead, busy, canEdit,
               onClick={() => flashRead('selected', () => onSetRead(true))}
             >
               {ticked === 'selected' && <Icon name="check" />}
-              Read
+              Mark as Read
             </button>
             <button
               className="btn btn-secondary btn-sm"
@@ -495,7 +519,7 @@ function BulkReadBar({ rows, selection, onSetRead, onSetAllRead, busy, canEdit,
               title={readCount === 0 ? nothingTo('unread') : tip || 'Mark selected unread'}
               onClick={() => onSetRead(false)}
             >
-              Unread
+              Mark as Unread
             </button>
             <button className="btn btn-ghost btn-sm" onClick={clear}>Clear</button>
           </>
@@ -508,7 +532,7 @@ function BulkReadBar({ rows, selection, onSetRead, onSetAllRead, busy, canEdit,
               onClick={() => flashRead('all', () => onSetAllRead(true))}
             >
               {ticked === 'all' && <Icon name="check" />}
-              Read
+              Mark all Read
             </button>
             <button
               className="btn btn-secondary btn-sm"
@@ -516,7 +540,7 @@ function BulkReadBar({ rows, selection, onSetRead, onSetAllRead, busy, canEdit,
               title={readCount === 0 ? nothingTo('unread') : scopeTip}
               onClick={() => onSetAllRead(false)}
             >
-              Unread
+              Mark all Unread
             </button>
           </>
         )}
@@ -816,7 +840,7 @@ export default function Inbox() {
                       </div>
                       <div style={{ textAlign: 'right', flexShrink: 0 }}>
                         <div className="ii-time">
-                          {i.received ? relTime(Math.round((NOW - i.received) / 60000)) : '—'}
+                          {outlookListTime(i.received)}
                         </div>
                         {/* No ATS score exists server-side — the agent returns a
                             verdict, not a number. The chip stays off rather than
@@ -1473,7 +1497,7 @@ function EmailTab({ query, toast }) {
                   {isImported(e) && <Badge className="b-green">Imported</Badge>}
                 </div>
               </div>
-              <div className="ii-time">{e.when ? fmtShort(e.when) : '—'}</div>
+              <div className="ii-time">{outlookListTime(e.when)}</div>
             </div>
           ))}
         </div>