diff --git a/playwright/e2e/session-rejected.spec.ts b/playwright/e2e/session-rejected.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d2ba73b972a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/playwright/e2e/session-rejected.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+/**
+ * SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2026 Nextcloud GmbH and Nextcloud contributors
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
+ */
+
+import type { Route } from '@playwright/test'
+
+import { expect, mergeTests } from '@playwright/test'
+import { test as editorTest } from '../support/fixtures/editor.ts'
+import { test as uploadFileTest } from '../support/fixtures/upload-file.ts'
+
+const test = mergeTests(editorTest, uploadFileTest)
+
+// Only sync and push are rejected. `create` stays reachable so that
+// reconnecting can open a fresh session.
+const SESSION_REQUESTS = /\/apps\/text\/session\/\d+\/(sync|push)$/
+
+// The awareness heartbeat pushes every 15 seconds.
+// Waiting longer than that proves that the client stopped pushing.
+const HEARTBEAT_TIMEOUT = 20_000
+
+test.beforeEach(async ({ open }) => {
+	await open()
+})
+
+test('stops syncing and offers to reconnect once the session is rejected', async ({
+	editor,
+	page,
+}) => {
+	test.slow()
+	await expect(editor.el).toBeVisible()
+	await expect(editor.sessionList).toBeVisible()
+
+	const status = page.locator('.document-status')
+	const content = editor.el.locator('.ProseMirror')
+	await expect(content).toHaveAttribute('contenteditable', 'true')
+
+	// Answer like SessionMiddleware does for a session it no longer knows.
+	let pushCount = 0
+	const rejectSession = async (route: Route) => {
+		if (route.request().url().endsWith('/push')) {
+			pushCount++
+		}
+		await route.fulfill({
+			status: 403,
+			contentType: 'application/json',
+			body: '[]',
+		})
+	}
+
+	await page.route(SESSION_REQUESTS, rejectSession)
+
+	// Typing triggers a push right away instead of waiting for the heartbeat.
+	await editor.type('Hello')
+
+	await expect(status).toContainText("You've been disconnected from the server.")
+	await expect(status.getByRole('button', { name: 'Reconnect' })).toBeVisible()
+	await expect(content).toHaveAttribute('contenteditable', 'false')
+
+	const pushesUntilRejected = pushCount
+	await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, HEARTBEAT_TIMEOUT))
+	expect(pushCount).toBe(pushesUntilRejected)
+
+	await page.unroute(SESSION_REQUESTS, rejectSession)
+	const createRequest = page.waitForRequest(/\/apps\/text\/session\/\d+\/create$/)
+	await status.getByRole('button', { name: 'Reconnect' }).click()
+	await createRequest
+
+	await expect(status).not.toContainText("You've been disconnected from the server.")
+	await expect(editor.sessionList).toBeVisible()
+	await expect(content).toHaveAttribute('contenteditable', 'true')
+	await expect(editor.content).toContainText('Hello')
+
+	await editor.press('Enter')
+	await editor.typeHeading('Back again')
+})
diff --git a/src/components/CollaborativeEditor.vue b/src/components/CollaborativeEditor.vue
index 3ceefab14a4..5fe10dca3fe 100644
--- a/src/components/CollaborativeEditor.vue
+++ b/src/components/CollaborativeEditor.vue
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ export default defineComponent({
 		},
 
 		displayed() {
-			return (this.connection && this.active) || this.syncError
+			return (this.active && (this.connection || this.idle)) || this.syncError
 		},
 
 		showLoadingSkeleton() {
@@ -728,13 +728,13 @@ export default defineComponent({
 			}
 
 			if (type === ERROR_TYPE.PUSH_FORBIDDEN) {
+				// Server rejected the session. Behave like an idle disconnect:
+				// read-only editor with a permanent status card offering to reconnect.
+				this.idle = true
+				this.hasConnectionIssues = false
 				this.readOnly = true
 				this.editMode = false
 				this.setEditable(this.editMode)
-				showWarning(t(
-					'text',
-					'Your editing permissions have been revoked. The document is now read-only.',
-				))
 				this.$emit('push:forbidden')
 				return
 			}
diff --git a/src/services/SyncService.ts b/src/services/SyncService.ts
index 4f91c318c39..b5d6c441073 100644
--- a/src/services/SyncService.ts
+++ b/src/services/SyncService.ts
@@ -280,8 +280,10 @@ class SyncService {
 						data: response,
 					})
 				} else if (response?.status === 403) {
-					// either the session is invalid or the document is read only.
-					logger.error('failed to write to document - not allowed')
+					// The server no longer accepts this session (expired, document reset or access revoked).
+					// Stop syncing instead of retrying with a dead session.
+					logger.error('Failed to push steps - session is no longer valid')
+					this.invalidateSession()
 					this.bus.emit('error', {
 						type: ERROR_TYPE.PUSH_FORBIDDEN,
 						data: {},
@@ -333,6 +335,11 @@ class SyncService {
 		return this.sendStepsNow().catch((err) => logger.error(err))
 	}
 
+	invalidateSession() {
+		this.backend?.disconnect()
+		this.connection.value = undefined
+	}
+
 	async close() {
 		this.backend?.disconnect()
 		if (this.hasActiveConnection()) {