diff --git a/crates/ide-host/src/plugins/api.rs b/crates/ide-host/src/plugins/api.rs
index ad05517be..5da41db08 100644
--- a/crates/ide-host/src/plugins/api.rs
+++ b/crates/ide-host/src/plugins/api.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 //! [`HostApi`] for one plugin's code: what its imports reach in the IDE.
 //! Capabilities were checked by the runtime before any of this runs.
 
-use super::{PluginEvent, PluginEventSink};
+use super::{PluginContextKey, PluginEvent, PluginEventSink};
 use ide_core::ipc_path::to_ipc;
 use ide_core::{CancellationToken, TextEdit};
 use ide_extension::Package;
@@ -22,6 +22,10 @@ const MAX_STORAGE: usize = 1 << 20;
 const MAX_KEY: usize = 256;
 /// Most status bar items per plugin.
 const MAX_STATUS_ITEMS: usize = 8;
+const MAX_CONTEXT_KEYS: usize = 100;
+
+/// (window or `None` for every window, plugin, key).
+type ContextKey = (Option<String>, String, String);
 
 /// What plugins see of the open projects; provided by the app
 /// ([`super::PluginHost::set_workspace`]), over [`crate::Host`] on the desktop.
@@ -156,6 +160,9 @@ pub(super) struct Shared {
     next_task: AtomicU64,
     /// (plugin, item id) → item, for windows opened later.
     status: Mutex<BTreeMap<(String, String), StatusItem>>,
+    /// (scope, plugin, key) → JSON value.
+    contexts: Mutex<BTreeMap<ContextKey, String>>,
+    closed_clients: Mutex<BTreeSet<String>>,
     /// plugin → kinds subscribed at run time (kept across idle reclaim).
     pub subscriptions: Mutex<HashMap<String, BTreeSet<EventKind>>>,
     /// plugin → files it shows problems for, withdrawn when it stops.
@@ -184,6 +191,8 @@ impl Shared {
             tasks: Mutex::default(),
             next_task: AtomicU64::new(1),
             status: Mutex::default(),
+            contexts: Mutex::default(),
+            closed_clients: Mutex::default(),
             subscriptions: Mutex::default(),
             diagnostics: Mutex::default(),
         })
@@ -226,6 +235,34 @@ impl Shared {
         self.status.lock().iter().map(|((p, id), item)| (p.clone(), id.clone(), item.clone())).collect()
     }
 
+    pub fn context_keys(&self, client: Option<&str>) -> Vec<PluginContextKey> {
+        let contexts = self.contexts.lock();
+        let mut keys: BTreeMap<(&str, &str), &str> = BTreeMap::new();
+        for ((_, plugin, key), value) in contexts.iter().filter(|((s, ..), _)| s.is_none()) {
+            keys.insert((plugin, key), value);
+        }
+        if let Some(client) = client {
+            for ((_, plugin, key), value) in contexts.iter().filter(|((s, ..), _)| s.as_deref() == Some(client)) {
+                keys.insert((plugin, key), value);
+            }
+        }
+        keys.into_iter()
+            .map(|((p, k), v)| PluginContextKey { plugin_id: p.to_owned(), key: k.to_owned(), value: v.to_owned() })
+            .collect()
+    }
+
+    /// Drops the context keys scoped to window `client` (it closed), without events, and
+    /// refuses further writes for it (late commands) until [`Self::reopen_client`].
+    pub fn forget_client(&self, client: &str) {
+        self.closed_clients.lock().insert(client.to_owned());
+        self.contexts.lock().retain(|(scope, ..), _| scope.as_deref() != Some(client));
+    }
+
+    /// A window labelled `client` is being created (labels are reused after a close).
+    pub fn reopen_client(&self, client: &str) {
+        self.closed_clients.lock().remove(client);
+    }
+
     /// Withdraws a plugin's run-time state (it stopped or failed). Its
     /// subscriptions go only with `subscriptions`, as they survive restarts.
     pub fn clear_plugin(&self, plugin: &str, subscriptions: bool) {
@@ -240,6 +277,18 @@ impl Shared {
         for id in removed {
             self.sink.emit(None, PluginEvent::StatusItemChanged { plugin_id: plugin.to_owned(), id, item: None });
         }
+        let removed: Vec<(Option<String>, String)> = {
+            let mut contexts = self.contexts.lock();
+            let keys: Vec<_> = contexts.keys().filter(|(_, p, _)| p == plugin).cloned().collect();
+            for key in &keys {
+                contexts.remove(key);
+            }
+            keys.into_iter().map(|(scope, _, key)| (scope, key)).collect()
+        };
+        for (scope, key) in removed {
+            self.sink
+                .emit(scope.as_deref(), PluginEvent::ContextChanged { plugin_id: plugin.to_owned(), key, value: None });
+        }
         let tasks: Vec<u64> = self.tasks.lock().iter().filter(|(_, t)| t.plugin == plugin).map(|(id, _)| *id).collect();
         for id in tasks {
             self.end_task(id);
@@ -371,6 +420,37 @@ impl HostApi for PluginApi {
             .emit(None, PluginEvent::StatusItemChanged { plugin_id: self.id().to_owned(), id: id.to_owned(), item });
     }
 
+    fn set_context(&self, client: Option<&str>, key: &str, value: Option<String>) -> Result<(), HostError> {
+        let map_key = (client.map(str::to_owned), self.id().to_owned(), key.to_owned());
+        {
+            let mut contexts = self.shared.contexts.lock();
+            if client.is_some_and(|c| self.shared.closed_clients.lock().contains(c)) {
+                return Ok(());
+            }
+            match &value {
+                Some(value) => {
+                    if contexts.get(&map_key) == Some(value) {
+                        return Ok(());
+                    }
+                    let count = contexts.keys().filter(|(_, p, _)| p == self.id()).count();
+                    if !contexts.contains_key(&map_key) && count >= MAX_CONTEXT_KEYS {
+                        return Err(HostError::Invalid(format!("more than {MAX_CONTEXT_KEYS} context keys")));
+                    }
+                    contexts.insert(map_key, value.clone());
+                }
+                None => {
+                    if contexts.remove(&map_key).is_none() {
+                        return Ok(());
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        self.shared
+            .sink
+            .emit(client, PluginEvent::ContextChanged { plugin_id: self.id().to_owned(), key: key.to_owned(), value });
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     fn projects(&self) -> Vec<PathBuf> {
         self.shared.workspace().map(|w| w.projects()).unwrap_or_default()
     }
diff --git a/crates/ide-host/src/plugins/mod.rs b/crates/ide-host/src/plugins/mod.rs
index cfb7de9e3..7756a8bbb 100644
--- a/crates/ide-host/src/plugins/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/ide-host/src/plugins/mod.rs
@@ -1260,6 +1260,23 @@ impl PluginHost {
         self.shared.status_items()
     }
 
+    /// Plugin context keys in effect for window `client`: global keys overlaid with its own.
+    pub fn context_keys(&self, client: Option<&str>) -> Vec<PluginContextKey> {
+        self.shared.context_keys(client)
+    }
+
+    /// A window labelled `label` is about to exist again (labels are reused).
+    pub fn reopen_client(&self, label: &str) {
+        self.shared.reopen_client(label);
+    }
+
+    /// Window `label` closed: drops its context keys and queued events, and ignores
+    /// context writes of commands still running for it.
+    pub fn forget_client(&self, label: &str) {
+        self.queues.lock().retain(|(_, client), _| client.as_deref() != Some(label));
+        self.shared.forget_client(label);
+    }
+
     /// The user cancelled a plugin task (`task_id` from `TaskStarted`).
     pub fn cancel_task(&self, task_id: &str) -> bool {
         task_id.parse().is_ok_and(|id| self.shared.cancel_task(id))
diff --git a/crates/ide-host/src/plugins/remote_host.rs b/crates/ide-host/src/plugins/remote_host.rs
index 166021f74..558ed2369 100644
--- a/crates/ide-host/src/plugins/remote_host.rs
+++ b/crates/ide-host/src/plugins/remote_host.rs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 //!
 //! The commands a window needs at run time (`plugin_run_command`,
 //! `plugin_post_events`, `plugin_event_kinds`, `plugin_status_items`,
-//! `plugin_cancel_task`, `plugin_set_active_file`, `plugin_line_markers`,
+//! `plugin_context_keys`, `plugin_cancel_task`, `plugin_set_active_file`, `plugin_line_markers`,
 //! `plugin_view_render`, `plugin_view_event`)
 //! carry the desktop commands' names and arguments, so a remote window's UI
 //! routes them here unchanged. Plugin results come back as `plugin`
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ pub fn forwarded(event: &PluginEvent) -> bool {
         event,
         PluginEvent::Notification { .. }
             | PluginEvent::StatusItemChanged { .. }
+            | PluginEvent::ContextChanged { .. }
             | PluginEvent::TaskStarted { .. }
             | PluginEvent::TaskProgress { .. }
             | PluginEvent::TaskEnded { .. }
@@ -402,6 +403,11 @@ impl RemotePlugins {
             }
         });
         let h = host.clone();
+        d.add("plugin_context_keys", move |c| {
+            let h = h.clone();
+            async move { Ok(alive(&h)?.context_keys(Some(&c.window))) }
+        });
+        let h = host.clone();
         d.add("plugin_cancel_task", move |c| {
             let h = h.clone();
             async move { Ok(alive(&h)?.cancel_task(&c.arg::<String>("taskId")?)) }
diff --git a/crates/ide-host/src/plugins/types.rs b/crates/ide-host/src/plugins/types.rs
index 63bb778f9..a944fb3e8 100644
--- a/crates/ide-host/src/plugins/types.rs
+++ b/crates/ide-host/src/plugins/types.rs
@@ -166,6 +166,10 @@ pub enum PluginEvent {
     /// A plugin's status bar item was set (`item`) or removed.
     #[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
     StatusItemChanged { plugin_id: String, id: String, item: Option<StatusItem> },
+    /// A plugin's context key was set (`value`: JSON text) or removed, in the
+    /// emitted window (every window when the client is `None`).
+    #[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
+    ContextChanged { plugin_id: String, key: String, value: Option<String> },
     /// A plugin began a task: show it with the background tasks.
     #[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
     TaskStarted { plugin_id: String, task_id: String, title: String, cancellable: bool },
@@ -254,6 +258,15 @@ pub struct PluginStatusItem {
     pub item: StatusItem,
 }
 
+/// A plugin's context key for `when` clauses (`value` is JSON text).
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize, Type)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
+pub struct PluginContextKey {
+    pub plugin_id: String,
+    pub key: String,
+    pub value: String,
+}
+
 /// A gutter marker from a plugin's `line-markers` provider.
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize, Type)]
 #[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
diff --git a/crates/ide-host/tests/plugins.rs b/crates/ide-host/tests/plugins.rs
index ff160d73a..64a37a562 100644
--- a/crates/ide-host/tests/plugins.rs
+++ b/crates/ide-host/tests/plugins.rs
@@ -2691,6 +2691,131 @@ fn completion_quick_fixes_problems_and_event_kinds_of_api_1() {
     assert_eq!((d[0].unnecessary, d[0].deprecated, d[0].source.as_deref()), (true, false, Some("lint")));
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn plugins_set_their_own_context_keys() {
+    let f = fixture(Limits::default());
+    f.install(&sample("jobs"));
+    f.take_events();
+    f.run("jobs", "context", Some("connected=true")).unwrap();
+    let changed: Vec<_> = f
+        .take_events()
+        .into_iter()
+        .filter_map(|(client, e)| match e {
+            PluginEvent::ContextChanged { plugin_id, key, value } => Some((client, plugin_id, key, value)),
+            _ => None,
+        })
+        .collect();
+    assert_eq!(changed, [(Some("main".into()), "jobs".into(), "connected".into(), Some("true".into()))]);
+    assert_eq!(f.host.context_keys(Some("main")).len(), 1);
+    assert!(f.host.context_keys(Some("other")).is_empty(), "window-scoped");
+
+    for bad in ["bad key=true", "a.b=true", "x=NaN"] {
+        assert!(f.run("jobs", "context", Some(bad)).unwrap_err().contains("invalid"), "{bad}");
+    }
+
+    f.run("jobs", "context", Some("connected=")).unwrap();
+    assert!(f.host.context_keys(Some("main")).is_empty());
+
+    f.run("jobs", "context", Some("connected=true")).unwrap();
+    f.host.set_enabled("jobs", false).unwrap();
+    assert!(f.host.context_keys(Some("main")).is_empty(), "cleared when the plugin stops");
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn context_keys_are_capped_and_windows_overlay_global_ones() {
+    let f = fixture(Limits::default());
+    f.install(&sample("jobs"));
+    for i in 0..100 {
+        f.run("jobs", "context", Some(&format!("k{i}=1"))).unwrap();
+    }
+    assert!(f.run("jobs", "context", Some("k100=1")).unwrap_err().contains("invalid"));
+    f.run("jobs", "context", Some("k0=2")).unwrap();
+    for i in 1..4 {
+        f.run("jobs", "context", Some(&format!("k{i}="))).unwrap();
+    }
+
+    let global = Invocation { client: None, ..f.inv() };
+    f.host.run_command("jobs", "context", Some("g=1"), global.clone()).unwrap();
+    f.host.run_command("jobs", "context", Some("w=global"), global).unwrap();
+    f.run("jobs", "context", Some("w=window")).unwrap();
+    let w = |client| f.host.context_keys(Some(client)).into_iter().find(|k| k.key == "w").map(|k| k.value);
+    assert_eq!(w("main").as_deref(), Some("\"window\""));
+    assert_eq!(w("other").as_deref(), Some("\"global\""));
+
+    f.run("jobs", "context", Some("w=")).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(w("main").as_deref(), Some("\"global\""), "removing the window key reveals the global one");
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn context_values_are_stored_as_json_and_bounded() {
+    let f = fixture(Limits::default());
+    f.install(&sample("jobs"));
+    let value = |arg: &str| {
+        f.run("jobs", "context", Some(arg)).unwrap();
+        f.host.context_keys(Some("main")).into_iter().find(|k| k.key == "x").unwrap().value
+    };
+    assert_eq!(value("x=true"), "true");
+    assert_eq!(value("x=2.5"), "2.5");
+    assert_eq!(value("x=say \"hi\""), "\"say \\\"hi\\\"\"");
+    assert_eq!(value("x=1"), "1");
+    f.take_events();
+    f.run("jobs", "context", Some("x=1.0")).unwrap();
+    assert!(f.take_events().is_empty(), "the same value emits nothing");
+    let long = format!("x={}", "a".repeat(1025));
+    assert!(f.run("jobs", "context", Some(&long)).unwrap_err().contains("invalid"));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn forgetting_a_window_drops_its_context_keys_silently() {
+    let f = fixture(Limits::default());
+    f.install(&sample("jobs"));
+    f.run("jobs", "context", Some("w=1")).unwrap();
+    f.take_events();
+    f.host.forget_client("main");
+    assert!(f.host.context_keys(Some("main")).is_empty());
+    assert!(f.take_events().is_empty());
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn a_closed_window_ignores_late_context_writes_until_its_label_is_reused() {
+    let f = fixture(Limits::default());
+    f.install(&sample("jobs"));
+    f.host.forget_client("main");
+    f.take_events();
+    f.run("jobs", "context", Some("late=1")).unwrap();
+    assert!(f.host.context_keys(Some("main")).is_empty());
+    let events = f.take_events();
+    assert!(
+        !events.iter().any(|(_, e)| matches!(e, PluginEvent::ContextChanged { .. })),
+        "no context event: {events:?}"
+    );
+
+    f.host.reopen_client("main");
+    f.run("jobs", "context", Some("fresh=1")).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(f.host.context_keys(Some("main"))[0].key, "fresh");
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn stopping_a_plugin_withdraws_each_context_key_in_its_own_scope() {
+    let f = fixture(Limits::default());
+    f.install(&sample("jobs"));
+    let global = Invocation { client: None, ..f.inv() };
+    f.host.run_command("jobs", "context", Some("g=1"), global).unwrap();
+    f.run("jobs", "context", Some("w=1")).unwrap();
+    f.take_events();
+    f.host.set_enabled("jobs", false).unwrap();
+    let mut removed: Vec<_> = f
+        .take_events()
+        .into_iter()
+        .filter_map(|(client, e)| match e {
+            PluginEvent::ContextChanged { key, value: None, .. } => Some((client, key)),
+            _ => None,
+        })
+        .collect();
+    removed.sort();
+    assert_eq!(removed, [(None, "g".to_owned()), (Some("main".to_owned()), "w".to_owned())]);
+}
+
 /// A data-only package `id` in `dir` whose manifest ends with `extra`, plus `files`.
 fn icon_package(dir: &Path, id: &str, extra: &str, files: &[(&str, &str)]) -> PathBuf {
     let pkg = dir.join(id);
diff --git a/crates/ide-host/tests/remote_plugins.rs b/crates/ide-host/tests/remote_plugins.rs
index cf0959b50..9153b8ccf 100644
--- a/crates/ide-host/tests/remote_plugins.rs
+++ b/crates/ide-host/tests/remote_plugins.rs
@@ -301,6 +301,23 @@ async fn remote_projects_get_plugin_views_and_custom_editors() {
     })
     .await;
 
+    invoke(
+        &peer,
+        "plugin_run_command",
+        json!({ "pluginId": "jobs", "commandId": "context", "arg": "mode=true", "editor": null }),
+    )
+    .await
+    .unwrap();
+    until("the context key's event", 5, || {
+        client.plugin_events.lock().iter().any(|m| {
+            m.window.as_deref() == Some("main")
+                && matches!(&m.event, PluginEvent::ContextChanged { key, value, .. } if key == "mode" && value.as_deref() == Some("true"))
+        })
+    })
+    .await;
+    let keys = invoke(&peer, "plugin_context_keys", json!({})).await.unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(keys, json!([{ "pluginId": "jobs", "key": "mode", "value": "true" }]), "{keys}");
+
     let selected = invoke(
         &peer,
         "plugin_run_command",
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/src/runtime.rs b/crates/ide-plugin/src/runtime.rs
index ff442ab02..f9c09f894 100644
--- a/crates/ide-plugin/src/runtime.rs
+++ b/crates/ide-plugin/src/runtime.rs
@@ -57,6 +57,12 @@ pub trait HostApi: Send + Sync {
     }
     /// Sets (`Some`) or removes the plugin's status bar item `id`.
     fn status_item(&self, id: &str, item: Option<StatusItem>);
+    /// Sets (`Some`, validated JSON text) or removes the plugin's context key,
+    /// for window `client` (every window if `None`).
+    fn set_context(&self, client: Option<&str>, key: &str, value: Option<String>) -> Result<(), HostError> {
+        let _ = (client, key, value);
+        Ok(())
+    }
     /// Roots of the open projects.
     fn projects(&self) -> Vec<std::path::PathBuf>;
     /// Unsaved text of an open editor's file.
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/src/wit_host.rs b/crates/ide-plugin/src/wit_host.rs
index ed4fc02d3..ab03ef032 100644
--- a/crates/ide-plugin/src/wit_host.rs
+++ b/crates/ide-plugin/src/wit_host.rs
@@ -244,6 +244,36 @@ impl ui::Host for StoreData {
         Ok(())
     }
 
+    fn set_context(&mut self, key: String, value: ui::ContextValue) -> Fallible<()> {
+        let valid_key =
+            (1..=64).contains(&key.len()) && key.bytes().all(|b| b.is_ascii_alphanumeric() || matches!(b, b'_' | b'-'));
+        if !valid_key {
+            return Ok(Err(wit::Error::Invalid(format!("context key {key:?}: expected 1-64 of A-Za-z0-9_-"))));
+        }
+        // Kept as JSON text, which the windows parse into their context.
+        let json = match value {
+            ui::ContextValue::Flag(b) => b.to_string(),
+            ui::ContextValue::Number(n) if n.fract() == 0.0 && n.abs() < 9e15 => (n as i64).to_string(),
+            ui::ContextValue::Number(n) => match serde_json::Number::from_f64(n) {
+                Some(n) => n.to_string(),
+                None => return Ok(Err(wit::Error::Invalid("context value: not a finite number".into()))),
+            },
+            ui::ContextValue::Text(t) if t.len() <= 1024 => serde_json::Value::String(t).to_string(),
+            ui::ContextValue::Text(_) => {
+                return Ok(Err(wit::Error::Invalid("context value: text longer than 1024 bytes".into())));
+            }
+        };
+        let client = self.invocation.client.clone();
+        Ok(self.host.set_context(client.as_deref(), &key, Some(json)).map_err(to_wit))
+    }
+
+    fn remove_context(&mut self, key: String) -> wasmtime::Result<()> {
+        let client = self.invocation.client.clone();
+        // Nothing to remove under an invalid key.
+        let _ = self.host.set_context(client.as_deref(), &key, None);
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     fn copy_to_clipboard(&mut self, text: String) -> Fallible<()> {
         if let Err(e) = self.require(Capability::Clipboard) {
             return Ok(Err(e));
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/hello/dist/plugin.wasm b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/hello/dist/plugin.wasm
index b818841e3..76da2d123 100644
Binary files a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/hello/dist/plugin.wasm and b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/hello/dist/plugin.wasm differ
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/hello/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/hello/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index de090043a..2eb61bbe5 100644
--- a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/hello/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/hello/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-7a84aaf2ad8fcb0bf2f9fc0eeff6ad8664512a3fa6d9c4c205c19eff9a3e1315
+406afd6a36f1cf2ff59da5826c155b84516daef6f1709fbd7f7618e0eaad852b
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/indexer/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/indexer/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index 489e534c1..b15e63de5 100644
--- a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/indexer/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/indexer/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-92aece4d9f24c4429f2dcfc64e65a53219103267130731af49b65c7c581048d4
+060b79a6fb25455d67dffd3623984f1d22836b908570a0537142f83d11cd5522
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/jobs/dist/plugin.wasm b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/jobs/dist/plugin.wasm
index 3121b3a5a..47daa6a00 100644
Binary files a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/jobs/dist/plugin.wasm and b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/jobs/dist/plugin.wasm differ
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/jobs/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/jobs/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index 706af4df6..5805ea8ef 100644
--- a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/jobs/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/jobs/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-17136d5359a8f5153ca2650e4c4b2c8f86eb31d0b99ef17974e0217c04f9a6e5
+cadf7d5b651792b502e51587c43d49cc0f87477439291d93858ceaf3692b1879
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/jobs/plugin.toml b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/jobs/plugin.toml
index 3bd3396e8..6da670a06 100644
--- a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/jobs/plugin.toml
+++ b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/jobs/plugin.toml
@@ -25,6 +25,11 @@ id = "follow"
 title = "Jobs: Follow Selected Job"
 category = "Jobs"
 
+[[contributes.commands]]
+id = "context"
+title = "Jobs: Set Context"
+category = "Jobs"
+
 [[contributes.commands]]
 id = "selection"
 title = "Jobs: Show Selected Paths"
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/jobs/src/lib.rs b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/jobs/src/lib.rs
index 7e4e0070f..a775686d8 100644
--- a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/jobs/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/jobs/src/lib.rs
@@ -40,6 +40,19 @@ impl Plugin for Jobs {
                 let remotes = project.vcs_remotes()?;
                 Ok(Some(remotes.into_iter().map(|(n, u)| format!("{n}={u}")).collect::<Vec<_>>().join("\n")))
             }
+            "context" => {
+                // `key=` removes; `true` / `false`, numbers and other text set.
+                let (key, value) = arg.unwrap_or_default().split_once('=').ok_or("expected key=value")?;
+                match value {
+                    "" => host::remove_context(key),
+                    "true" | "false" => host::set_context(key, value == "true")?,
+                    _ => match value.parse::<f64>() {
+                        Ok(n) => host::set_context(key, n)?,
+                        Err(_) => host::set_context(key, value)?,
+                    },
+                }
+                Ok(None)
+            }
             "copy" => {
                 host::copy_to_clipboard(arg.unwrap_or_default())?;
                 Ok(None)
diff --git a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/misbehave/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/misbehave/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index 4310ad831..05b7bdc8a 100644
--- a/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/misbehave/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/crates/ide-plugin/tests/fixtures/misbehave/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-b697a2aa34b0de05db3e89bb8449ab6619119fa003b19fabe36b0932246a26fe
+f9b1d2af61bac2bac97ad11b629ecaa062d53aeba730e3fcb686ecaa514bc1b6
diff --git a/plugins/README.md b/plugins/README.md
index 43131745d..9ff4e991d 100644
--- a/plugins/README.md
+++ b/plugins/README.md
@@ -187,6 +187,10 @@ The path is exact (no globs) and relative to the project root; in a workspace th
 key is true when any of its projects contains the path. It updates when
 files change. An IDE that doesn't know the key treats it as
 false: the plugin still installs and the key reads as false there.
+Plugins can set their own keys, `plugin.<id>.<key>`, with `host::set_context`:
+a key set from a command or event applies to that window, one set outside any
+applies to every window, and a window's value wins over the global one. Keys are
+kept across a window reload and idle reclaim, and dropped when the plugin stops.
 
 ### Background associations
 
@@ -349,6 +353,7 @@ then run `openidea-plugin check`.
 | `host::begin_task(title, cancellable)` → `Task`                          | `tasks.begin`                    | Shown with the background tasks; `report`, `is_cancelled`; the call may run 60 s instead of 5 s while it is open; dropping it ends it.                                                                               |
 | `host::storage::{get, set, delete, keys}`                                | `storage`                        | Survives restarts; the instance's memory does not. Deleted on uninstall.                                                                                                                                             |
 | `host::set_status_item(id, item)`, `remove_status_item`                  | `ui`                             | `text`, `tooltip`, `command` (one of yours, run on click); at most 8; kept while the plugin is idle.                                                                                                                 |
+| `host::set_context(key, value)`, `remove_context`                        | `ui.{set,remove}-context`        | Sets `plugin.<id>.<key>` for `when` clauses in the window the call came from (`true`, `3.5`, `"text"`; `ContextValue`). Key 1–64 of `A-Za-z0-9_-`, 100 per plugin; gone when the plugin stops.                       |
 | `host::notify(level, title, body)`                                       | `ui.show-notification`           | Balloon in the window the command or events came from (every window otherwise).                                                                                                                                      |
 | `host::copy_to_clipboard(text)`                                          | `ui.copy-to-clipboard`           | Copies `text` to the system clipboard. Needs `clipboard`.                                                                                                                                                            |
 | `host::open_url(url)`                                                    | `ui.open-url`                    | Opens an `http://` or `https://` URL in the user's default browser.                                                                                                                                                  |
diff --git a/plugins/official/ai-completion/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/plugins/official/ai-completion/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index 50d9693cc..779c9984b 100644
--- a/plugins/official/ai-completion/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/plugins/official/ai-completion/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-f63e6547849ce8f5a0de4384eb44a903583135dea7e5a82829daf3a395e98465
+b143041299679ec90d16a35c6eaae4c2525648bc33f06c40d72fba7f63fb1ab2
diff --git a/plugins/official/checkstyle/dist/plugin.wasm b/plugins/official/checkstyle/dist/plugin.wasm
index c7944b662..afb7fd661 100644
Binary files a/plugins/official/checkstyle/dist/plugin.wasm and b/plugins/official/checkstyle/dist/plugin.wasm differ
diff --git a/plugins/official/checkstyle/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/plugins/official/checkstyle/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index 5d43c4829..a021644d0 100644
--- a/plugins/official/checkstyle/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/plugins/official/checkstyle/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-af6dbfa8c34e5cb62851f02479f86350ee915c18028993331b4372a739074b80
+f87528deb3a497c841456b158d46f22fbc05909dfe4b886ed222c2e86dc824ba
diff --git a/plugins/official/csv-editor/dist/plugin.wasm b/plugins/official/csv-editor/dist/plugin.wasm
index 788f3fc2f..e5df94c31 100644
Binary files a/plugins/official/csv-editor/dist/plugin.wasm and b/plugins/official/csv-editor/dist/plugin.wasm differ
diff --git a/plugins/official/csv-editor/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/plugins/official/csv-editor/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index f0f217a64..70dadd99e 100644
--- a/plugins/official/csv-editor/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/plugins/official/csv-editor/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-920da064d50f59aa34825f5dc8c59442b7185891bbded8f7f1c87c8192c093ce
+ec737f2490193fb319e28ec7d44f49cb64e6c75fdea67b44288899f7a6385e95
diff --git a/plugins/official/git-toolbox/dist/plugin.wasm b/plugins/official/git-toolbox/dist/plugin.wasm
index 0121a070d..e3a195a6a 100644
Binary files a/plugins/official/git-toolbox/dist/plugin.wasm and b/plugins/official/git-toolbox/dist/plugin.wasm differ
diff --git a/plugins/official/git-toolbox/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/plugins/official/git-toolbox/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index 61ca0e559..dc2ce64ab 100644
--- a/plugins/official/git-toolbox/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/plugins/official/git-toolbox/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-7c9279246766fd92f854fe8dc33f0165236f616a448782dfa59ea9c05463cf8a
+130a82376feeb0a3879d110b4ec2417b0ae6839088b6a8ba42b101869c6248d8
diff --git a/plugins/official/graphviz/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/plugins/official/graphviz/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index dc541c60e..87792c863 100644
--- a/plugins/official/graphviz/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/plugins/official/graphviz/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-55cc148dc0eddf924e97074a46707736e563b0fe6d348a09610b1822ed085d6b
+9d7d6995e4f6eb96a669a11f9c75e2c77f2663eb905275346e77d20c6dd5d929
diff --git a/plugins/official/key-promoter/dist/plugin.wasm b/plugins/official/key-promoter/dist/plugin.wasm
index 76b901d4a..44d817b6c 100644
Binary files a/plugins/official/key-promoter/dist/plugin.wasm and b/plugins/official/key-promoter/dist/plugin.wasm differ
diff --git a/plugins/official/key-promoter/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/plugins/official/key-promoter/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index a47653ca4..8a28f41d7 100644
--- a/plugins/official/key-promoter/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/plugins/official/key-promoter/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-eda75943217c5273773ef0f2934c20d6bda50411670d99145b50e45d104509cc
+8225d25b08f9ec36b36a850d1a99a43643a3c06a3e9d6c835e75fb269eeac61a
diff --git a/plugins/official/license-header/dist/plugin.wasm b/plugins/official/license-header/dist/plugin.wasm
index 8659340b2..c33b356c2 100644
Binary files a/plugins/official/license-header/dist/plugin.wasm and b/plugins/official/license-header/dist/plugin.wasm differ
diff --git a/plugins/official/license-header/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/plugins/official/license-header/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index a0c7e5687..92703d8bd 100644
--- a/plugins/official/license-header/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/plugins/official/license-header/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-5a83f6c626f01c80910e1e74e6452bc2bbef8de3fe402d5540f506dc6dd02ed0
+8de2b1598c2b9f8438a901c70197ba90ef6e85c3f510125e8bb72b002d25d7f6
diff --git a/plugins/official/mybatis/dist/plugin.wasm b/plugins/official/mybatis/dist/plugin.wasm
index 4ebdb24f6..0966aff50 100644
Binary files a/plugins/official/mybatis/dist/plugin.wasm and b/plugins/official/mybatis/dist/plugin.wasm differ
diff --git a/plugins/official/mybatis/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/plugins/official/mybatis/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index 8ba5cafe9..015a005dd 100644
--- a/plugins/official/mybatis/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/plugins/official/mybatis/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-3984d6b51bea7212bbabadc2a5a632c4cba7a2a988033fa7918e33c203fcfa23
+e9cd442b032d0521e0b3c733a3a9866a203ddf5bacb381396f5a0a6c508de5ca
diff --git a/plugins/official/regex-tester/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/plugins/official/regex-tester/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index 6b356d89a..f3ae578f2 100644
--- a/plugins/official/regex-tester/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/plugins/official/regex-tester/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-2a70078e8edf29c9a4b590d661a1a67cb605dca3781a89ffcf6dc8acb0d183b0
+3e4bd05682cf1b748ab7189b17b8937eaeb332641804da59ee684db9ad848579
diff --git a/plugins/official/solidity/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/plugins/official/solidity/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index 0cf74655f..6e16a9e06 100644
--- a/plugins/official/solidity/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/plugins/official/solidity/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-4449ee6a1ccee1a71ebed1073bb4e30df1686ebd0a2812bdd579ad876d0a43cf
+3b2892a7629ed255add98ebd88e4a1fc454720ee9cae9bf4ffa74fa9b570adff
diff --git a/plugins/official/string-tools/dist/plugin.wasm b/plugins/official/string-tools/dist/plugin.wasm
index 8ad1974a6..f283f1601 100644
Binary files a/plugins/official/string-tools/dist/plugin.wasm and b/plugins/official/string-tools/dist/plugin.wasm differ
diff --git a/plugins/official/string-tools/dist/plugin.wasm.sources b/plugins/official/string-tools/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
index eb256aec5..89999ffdc 100644
--- a/plugins/official/string-tools/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
+++ b/plugins/official/string-tools/dist/plugin.wasm.sources
@@ -1 +1 @@
-adf2ab3e93e0147350b6db899ec2e44e07862e99f49609aecbc2b866e5282c3d
+6183df09a561bc715ec353223b6ae76d0280c179191621e2d0ef809b7b3b2d32
diff --git a/sdk/rust/openidea-plugin/src/host.rs b/sdk/rust/openidea-plugin/src/host.rs
index 8c796e51a..1741f1397 100644
--- a/sdk/rust/openidea-plugin/src/host.rs
+++ b/sdk/rust/openidea-plugin/src/host.rs
@@ -73,6 +73,19 @@ mod imp {
         wit::ui::remove_status_item(id)
     }
 
+    pub fn set_context(key: &str, value: ContextValue) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        let value = match value {
+            ContextValue::Flag(b) => wit::ui::ContextValue::Flag(b),
+            ContextValue::Number(n) => wit::ui::ContextValue::Number(n),
+            ContextValue::Text(t) => wit::ui::ContextValue::Text(t),
+        };
+        wit::ui::set_context(key, &value).map_err(error)
+    }
+
+    pub fn remove_context(key: &str) {
+        wit::ui::remove_context(key)
+    }
+
     pub fn copy_to_clipboard(text: &str) -> Result<(), Error> {
         wit::ui::copy_to_clipboard(text).map_err(error)
     }
@@ -555,6 +568,19 @@ pub fn remove_status_item(id: &str) {
     imp::remove_status_item(id)
 }
 
+/// Sets the plugin's context key that `when` clauses test as `plugin.<id>.<key>`, in
+/// the window the current command or event came from (every window when there is
+/// none): `set_context("connected", true)`. A window's value takes precedence over
+/// the global one. The key is 1-64 of `A-Za-z0-9_-`; at most 100 keys.
+pub fn set_context(key: &str, value: impl Into<ContextValue>) -> Result<(), Error> {
+    imp::set_context(key, value.into())
+}
+
+/// Removes the key [`set_context`] set in the same scope.
+pub fn remove_context(key: &str) {
+    imp::remove_context(key)
+}
+
 /// Copies `text` to the system clipboard. Needs `clipboard`.
 pub fn copy_to_clipboard(text: &str) -> Result<(), Error> {
     imp::copy_to_clipboard(text)
diff --git a/sdk/rust/openidea-plugin/src/mock.rs b/sdk/rust/openidea-plugin/src/mock.rs
index 28332df01..ec7784b98 100644
--- a/sdk/rust/openidea-plugin/src/mock.rs
+++ b/sdk/rust/openidea-plugin/src/mock.rs
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ struct State {
     notifications: Vec<Notification>,
     logs: Vec<(LogLevel, String)>,
     status: BTreeMap<String, StatusItem>,
+    context: BTreeMap<String, ContextValue>,
     storage: BTreeMap<String, String>,
     subscriptions: BTreeSet<EventKind>,
     tasks: Vec<MockTask>,
@@ -191,6 +192,10 @@ impl MockHost {
         self.state.borrow().status.clone()
     }
 
+    pub fn context_keys(&self) -> BTreeMap<String, ContextValue> {
+        self.state.borrow().context.clone()
+    }
+
     pub fn storage(&self) -> BTreeMap<String, String> {
         self.state.borrow().storage.clone()
     }
@@ -383,6 +388,15 @@ pub mod current {
         with(|s| s.status.remove(id));
     }
 
+    pub fn set_context(key: &str, value: ContextValue) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        with(|s| s.context.insert(key.to_owned(), value));
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    pub fn remove_context(key: &str) {
+        with(|s| s.context.remove(key));
+    }
+
     pub fn copy_to_clipboard(text: &str) -> Result<(), Error> {
         with(|s| {
             require(s, "clipboard")?;
@@ -751,6 +765,13 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(host::storage::keys("").unwrap(), ["k"]);
         host::set_status_item("s", &StatusItem { text: "x".into(), tooltip: None, command: None });
         assert_eq!(mock.status_items()["s"].text, "x");
+        host::set_context("a", 1.0).unwrap();
+        host::set_context("b", "x").unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(mock.context_keys()["a"], ContextValue::Number(1.0));
+        assert_eq!(mock.context_keys()["b"], ContextValue::Text("x".into()));
+        host::remove_context("a");
+        host::remove_context("b");
+        assert!(mock.context_keys().is_empty());
         mock.set_vcs_remotes(&[("origin", "git@github.com:o/r.git")]);
         assert_eq!(project.vcs_remotes().unwrap(), [("origin".into(), "git@github.com:o/r.git".into())]);
         host::copy_to_clipboard("copied").unwrap();
diff --git a/sdk/rust/openidea-plugin/src/types.rs b/sdk/rust/openidea-plugin/src/types.rs
index 6a6fbd7a5..03a41256f 100644
--- a/sdk/rust/openidea-plugin/src/types.rs
+++ b/sdk/rust/openidea-plugin/src/types.rs
@@ -143,6 +143,40 @@ pub struct StatusItem {
     pub command: Option<String>,
 }
 
+/// A context key's value, as `when` clauses compare it ([`crate::host::set_context`]).
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq)]
+pub enum ContextValue {
+    Flag(bool),
+    /// A finite number.
+    Number(f64),
+    /// At most 1024 bytes.
+    Text(String),
+}
+
+impl From<bool> for ContextValue {
+    fn from(value: bool) -> Self {
+        Self::Flag(value)
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<f64> for ContextValue {
+    fn from(value: f64) -> Self {
+        Self::Number(value)
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<&str> for ContextValue {
+    fn from(value: &str) -> Self {
+        Self::Text(value.to_owned())
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<String> for ContextValue {
+    fn from(value: String) -> Self {
+        Self::Text(value)
+    }
+}
+
 /// Kinds of workbench events; later SDKs add more.
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Hash)]
 #[non_exhaustive]
diff --git a/sdk/rust/openidea-plugin/wit/host.wit b/sdk/rust/openidea-plugin/wit/host.wit
index 484e6c309..ccf14224c 100644
--- a/sdk/rust/openidea-plugin/wit/host.wit
+++ b/sdk/rust/openidea-plugin/wit/host.wit
@@ -17,12 +17,29 @@ interface ui {
         command: option<string>,
     }
 
+    /// A context key's value, as `when` clauses compare it.
+    variant context-value {
+        flag(bool),
+        /// A finite number.
+        number(f64),
+        /// At most 1024 bytes.
+        text(string),
+    }
+
     /// Shows a notification balloon in the window the current command or
     /// event came from (every window when there is none).
     show-notification: func(level: notification-level, title: string, body: string);
     /// Shows or updates the plugin's status bar item `id` in every window.
     set-status-item: func(id: string, item: status-item);
     remove-status-item: func(id: string);
+    /// Sets the plugin's context key `key`, which `when` clauses test as
+    /// `plugin.<id>.<key>`, in the window the current command or event came
+    /// from (every window when there is none). A window's value takes
+    /// precedence over the global one. `key` is 1-64 of `A-Za-z0-9_-`; at most
+    /// 100 keys; they go away when the plugin stops.
+    set-context: func(key: string, value: context-value) -> result<_, error>;
+    /// Removes the key `set-context` set in the same scope.
+    remove-context: func(key: string);
     /// Copies `text` to the system clipboard. Requires `clipboard`.
     copy-to-clipboard: func(text: string) -> result<_, error>;
     /// Opens an `http://` or `https://` URL in the user's default browser.
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/commands/mod.rs b/src-tauri/src/commands/mod.rs
index 39b86e93b..e0d14aa8e 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/commands/mod.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/commands/mod.rs
@@ -480,6 +480,7 @@ pub fn builder() -> tauri_specta::Builder<tauri::Wry> {
         plugin::plugin_post_events,
         plugin::plugin_event_kinds,
         plugin::plugin_status_items,
+        plugin::plugin_context_keys,
         plugin::plugin_cancel_task,
         plugin::plugin_view_render,
         plugin::plugin_view_event,
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/commands/plugin.rs b/src-tauri/src/commands/plugin.rs
index 5c38e419a..0b8e1ece0 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/commands/plugin.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/commands/plugin.rs
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@ use ide_core::{IdeError, IdeResult};
 use ide_extension::ActivationEvent;
 use ide_host::plugins::intellij::{self, InstalledIntellijTheme, IntellijThemeSource};
 use ide_host::plugins::{
-    ActiveTheme, CatalogPlugin, Consent, EventKind, HostWorkspace, InstallPreview, PackageFile, PluginEditor,
-    PluginEvent, PluginHost, PluginInfo, PluginStatusItem, PluginsSnapshot, WorkbenchEvent,
+    ActiveTheme, CatalogPlugin, Consent, EventKind, HostWorkspace, InstallPreview, PackageFile, PluginContextKey,
+    PluginEditor, PluginEvent, PluginHost, PluginInfo, PluginStatusItem, PluginsSnapshot, WorkbenchEvent,
 };
 use ide_plugin::{Invocation, Limits};
 use parking_lot::Mutex;
@@ -371,6 +371,13 @@ pub fn plugin_status_items(state: State<'_, AppState>) -> Vec<PluginStatusItem>
         .collect()
 }
 
+/// Plugin context keys in effect for this window (later changes arrive as `contextChanged`).
+#[tauri::command]
+#[specta::specta]
+pub fn plugin_context_keys(window: Window, state: State<'_, AppState>) -> Vec<PluginContextKey> {
+    state.plugins.context_keys(Some(window.label()))
+}
+
 /// Cancels a plugin task (`taskStarted` with `cancellable`).
 #[tauri::command]
 #[specta::specta]
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/lib.rs b/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
index ca91034e6..303627713 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
@@ -209,6 +209,7 @@ pub fn run() {
                 windows::close_auxiliary_windows(window.app_handle(), window.label());
                 if let Some(state) = window.try_state::<AppState>() {
                     state.close_project(window.label());
+                    state.plugins.forget_client(window.label());
                 }
             }
             if let Some(w) = window.try_state::<WindowsState>() {
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/windows.rs b/src-tauri/src/windows.rs
index 6a0690ba4..f7bbfa289 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/windows.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/windows.rs
@@ -482,6 +482,9 @@ fn build_project_window(app: &AppHandle, mut config: WindowConfig) -> IdeResult<
         config.visible = false;
     }
     let state = app.try_state::<AppState>();
+    if let Some(state) = &state {
+        state.plugins.reopen_client(&config.label);
+    }
     let appearance = state.as_ref().map(|s| s.global_settings.effective().appearance);
     // A plugin theme replaces the built-in one in either OS mode; the UI records its resolved frame.
     let plugin_frame = state.as_ref().and_then(|s| s.plugins.startup_frame()).and_then(|c| hex_color(&c));
diff --git a/src/bindings.ts b/src/bindings.ts
index 17e583d0c..8496a1418 100644
--- a/src/bindings.ts
+++ b/src/bindings.ts
@@ -1030,6 +1030,8 @@ export const commands = {
 	pluginEventKinds: () => __TAURI_INVOKE<EventKind[]>("plugin_event_kinds"),
 	/**  Every plugin status bar item (later changes arrive as `statusItemChanged`). */
 	pluginStatusItems: () => __TAURI_INVOKE<PluginStatusItem[]>("plugin_status_items"),
+	/**  Plugin context keys in effect for this window (later changes arrive as `contextChanged`). */
+	pluginContextKeys: () => __TAURI_INVOKE<PluginContextKey[]>("plugin_context_keys"),
 	/**  Cancels a plugin task (`taskStarted` with `cancellable`). */
 	pluginCancelTask: (taskId: string) => __TAURI_INVOKE<boolean>("plugin_cancel_task", { taskId }),
 	/**
@@ -5659,6 +5661,13 @@ export type PhpSettings = {
 	phpstanConfig?: string,
 };
 
+/**  A plugin's context key for `when` clauses (`value` is JSON text). */
+export type PluginContextKey = {
+	pluginId: string,
+	key: string,
+	value: string,
+};
+
 /**  The focused editor when a plugin command is invoked. */
 export type PluginEditor = {
 	path: string,
@@ -5679,6 +5688,11 @@ export type PluginEvent =
 { type: "updatesAvailable"; updates: PluginUpdate[] } | { type: "notification"; pluginId: string; level: NotificationLevel; title: string; body: string } | 
 /**  A plugin's status bar item was set (`item`) or removed. */
 { type: "statusItemChanged"; pluginId: string; id: string; item: StatusItem | null } | 
+/**
+ *  A plugin's context key was set (`value`: JSON text) or removed, in the
+ *  emitted window (every window when the client is `None`).
+ */
+{ type: "contextChanged"; pluginId: string; key: string; value: string | null } | 
 /**  A plugin began a task: show it with the background tasks. */
 { type: "taskStarted"; pluginId: string; taskId: string; title: string; cancellable: boolean } | { type: "taskProgress"; pluginId: string; taskId: string; done: number; total: number | null; message: string | null } | { type: "taskEnded"; pluginId: string; taskId: string } | 
 /**
diff --git a/src/features/plugins/__tests__/plugins.test.tsx b/src/features/plugins/__tests__/plugins.test.tsx
index 5606169dc..3e4c05ee8 100644
--- a/src/features/plugins/__tests__/plugins.test.tsx
+++ b/src/features/plugins/__tests__/plugins.test.tsx
@@ -26,7 +26,8 @@ import {
 import { iconResolver, selectedIconTheme, useIconThemes } from "../iconThemes";
 import { markerIcon, placeMarkers } from "../lineMarkerGutter";
 import { SecretsDetails } from "../secrets";
-import { usePluginStatusItems } from "../runtimeUi";
+import { handleRuntimeEvent, startRuntimeUi, usePluginStatusItems } from "../runtimeUi";
+import { evaluateWhen, getContext } from "@/platform/context";
 import { useTasks } from "@/workbench/tasks";
 import { defineBuiltinUiPoints } from "../points";
 import { clearUiContributions, defineUiPoint, syncUiContributions } from "../projection";
@@ -1075,3 +1076,95 @@ describe("catalog helpers", () => {
     expect(enabled()).toEqual({ a: true, b: true, d: true });
   });
 });
+
+describe("plugin context keys", () => {
+  it("applies plugin context keys from the backend", async () => {
+    let keys = [
+      { pluginId: "p", key: "isEntity", value: "true" },
+      { pluginId: "p", key: "kind", value: '"pod"' },
+    ];
+    setPluginsBackend({
+      ...createMemoryPluginsBackend(),
+      contextKeys: async () => keys,
+    });
+    const changed = {
+      type: "contextChanged",
+      pluginId: "p",
+      key: "isEntity",
+      value: "true",
+    } as const;
+    expect(handleRuntimeEvent(changed)).toBe(true);
+    await waitFor(() => expect(evaluateWhen("plugin.p.isEntity")).toBe(true));
+    expect(evaluateWhen("plugin.p.kind == pod")).toBe(true);
+    keys = keys.slice(1);
+    handleRuntimeEvent({ ...changed, value: null });
+    await waitFor(() => expect(evaluateWhen("plugin.p.isEntity")).toBe(false));
+    expect(evaluateWhen("plugin.p.kind == pod")).toBe(true);
+    keys = [];
+    handleRuntimeEvent({ ...changed, key: "kind", value: null });
+    await waitFor(() => expect(evaluateWhen("plugin.p.kind == pod")).toBe(false));
+    expect("plugin.p.kind" in getContext()).toBe(false);
+    expect("plugin.p.isEntity" in getContext()).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("refreshes the keys when another backend publishes a project with the same root", async () => {
+    let keys = [{ pluginId: "p", key: "backend", value: '"a"' }];
+    setPluginsBackend({ ...createMemoryPluginsBackend(), contextKeys: async () => keys });
+    const project = { root: "/p", trusted: true } as never;
+    act(() => useProject.setState({ project }));
+    const stop = startRuntimeUi();
+    try {
+      keys = [{ pluginId: "p", key: "backend", value: '"b"' }];
+      act(() => useProject.setState({ project: { root: "/p", trusted: true } as never }));
+      await waitFor(() => expect(evaluateWhen("plugin.p.backend == b")).toBe(true));
+    } finally {
+      stop();
+      act(() => useProject.setState({ project: null }));
+    }
+  });
+
+  it("coalesces a burst of changes into one follow-up fetch", async () => {
+    type Keys = { pluginId: string; key: string; value: string }[];
+    const pending: ((k: Keys) => void)[] = [];
+    setPluginsBackend({
+      ...createMemoryPluginsBackend(),
+      contextKeys: () => new Promise<Keys>((resolve) => pending.push(resolve)),
+    });
+    const event = { type: "contextChanged", pluginId: "p", key: "a", value: "true" } as const;
+    for (let i = 0; i < 5; i++) handleRuntimeEvent(event);
+    expect(pending).toHaveLength(1);
+    pending[0]!([{ pluginId: "q", key: "b", value: "true" }]);
+    await waitFor(() => expect(pending).toHaveLength(2));
+    pending[1]!([
+      { pluginId: "p", key: "a", value: "true" },
+      { pluginId: "q", key: "b", value: "true" },
+    ]);
+    await waitFor(() => expect(evaluateWhen("plugin.p.a")).toBe(true));
+    expect(evaluateWhen("plugin.q.b")).toBe(true);
+    await Promise.resolve();
+    expect(pending).toHaveLength(2);
+
+    handleRuntimeEvent({ ...event, value: null });
+    expect(pending).toHaveLength(3);
+    pending[2]!([{ pluginId: "q", key: "b", value: "true" }]);
+    await waitFor(() => expect(evaluateWhen("plugin.p.a")).toBe(false));
+    expect(evaluateWhen("plugin.q.b")).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("fetches again after a failed fetch when changes arrived meanwhile", async () => {
+    type Keys = { pluginId: string; key: string; value: string }[];
+    const pending: { resolve: (k: Keys) => void; reject: () => void }[] = [];
+    setPluginsBackend({
+      ...createMemoryPluginsBackend(),
+      contextKeys: () =>
+        new Promise<Keys>((resolve, reject) => pending.push({ resolve, reject: () => reject(new Error("x")) })),
+    });
+    const event = { type: "contextChanged", pluginId: "p", key: "f", value: "true" } as const;
+    handleRuntimeEvent(event);
+    handleRuntimeEvent(event);
+    pending[0]!.reject();
+    await waitFor(() => expect(pending).toHaveLength(2));
+    pending[1]!.resolve([{ pluginId: "p", key: "f", value: "true" }]);
+    await waitFor(() => expect(evaluateWhen("plugin.p.f")).toBe(true));
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/features/plugins/backend.ts b/src/features/plugins/backend.ts
index 84476bdee..d949e2068 100644
--- a/src/features/plugins/backend.ts
+++ b/src/features/plugins/backend.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import type {
   InstallPreview,
   IntellijThemeSource,
   MarketPlugin,
+  PluginContextKey,
   PluginEditor,
   PluginEvent,
   PluginInfo,
@@ -61,6 +62,7 @@ export interface PluginsBackend {
   eventKinds(): Promise<EventKind[]>;
   /** Plugin status bar items (later changes arrive as `statusItemChanged`). */
   statusItems(): Promise<PluginStatusItem[]>;
+  contextKeys(): Promise<PluginContextKey[]>;
   cancelTask(taskId: string): Promise<void>;
   /** Marketplace plugins: the index read again (`refresh`) or the last one read. */
   market(refresh: boolean): Promise<MarketPlugin[]>;
@@ -158,6 +160,7 @@ export const tauriPluginsBackend: PluginsBackend = {
   },
   eventKinds: () => commands.pluginEventKinds(),
   statusItems: () => commands.pluginStatusItems(),
+  contextKeys: () => commands.pluginContextKeys(),
   cancelTask: async (taskId) => {
     await commands.pluginCancelTask(taskId);
   },
@@ -500,6 +503,7 @@ export function createMemoryPluginsBackend(
     postEvents: async () => {},
     eventKinds: async () => [],
     statusItems: async () => [],
+    contextKeys: async () => [],
     cancelTask: async () => {},
     market: async () => [],
     marketUrl: async () => marketUrl,
diff --git a/src/features/plugins/runtimeUi.tsx b/src/features/plugins/runtimeUi.tsx
index f8de39bfa..73a4e7632 100644
--- a/src/features/plugins/runtimeUi.tsx
+++ b/src/features/plugins/runtimeUi.tsx
@@ -5,9 +5,10 @@
  * batches.
  */
 import { create } from "zustand";
-import type { EventKind, PluginEvent, StatusItem, WorkbenchEvent } from "@/bindings";
+import type { EventKind, PluginContextKey, PluginEvent, StatusItem, WorkbenchEvent } from "@/bindings";
 import { onEditorEvent } from "@/editor/api";
 import { executeAction, getAction, onActionExecuted } from "@/platform/actions";
+import { clearContext, setContext, type ContextValue } from "@/platform/context";
 import { onIdeEvent } from "@/platform/ipc";
 import { openExternalUrl } from "@/platform/openUrl";
 import { useProject } from "@/platform/project";
@@ -122,6 +123,7 @@ function projectStatusItems(): () => void {
     useDeclaredStatusItems.subscribe((s, prev) => s.items !== prev.items && sync()),
   ];
   refreshStatusItems();
+  refreshContextKeys();
   return () => {
     unsubscribe.forEach((u) => u());
     for (const r of registered.values()) r.dispose();
@@ -141,6 +143,60 @@ function refreshStatusItems() {
     .catch(() => {});
 }
 
+function applyPluginContext(pluginId: string, key: string, value: string | null) {
+  const name = `plugin.${pluginId}.${key}`;
+  let parsed: ContextValue;
+  try {
+    parsed = value === null ? undefined : JSON.parse(value);
+  } catch {
+    parsed = undefined;
+  }
+  if (parsed === undefined) clearContext(name);
+  else setContext(name, parsed);
+}
+
+const appliedContextKeys = new Map<string, Set<string>>();
+let contextFetching = false;
+let contextDirty = false;
+
+function applyContextKeys(keys: PluginContextKey[]) {
+  const fresh = new Map<string, Set<string>>();
+  for (const k of keys) {
+    applyPluginContext(k.pluginId, k.key, k.value);
+    if (!fresh.has(k.pluginId)) fresh.set(k.pluginId, new Set());
+    fresh.get(k.pluginId)!.add(k.key);
+  }
+  for (const [id, applied] of appliedContextKeys) {
+    for (const key of applied) {
+      if (!fresh.get(id)?.has(key)) applyPluginContext(id, key, null);
+    }
+  }
+  appliedContextKeys.clear();
+  for (const [id, set] of fresh) appliedContextKeys.set(id, set);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Re-reads the effective context keys of every plugin from the backend (the event does
+ * not say whether a change was window- or global-scoped) and drops keys it no longer
+ * reports. One fetch at a time: changes that arrive meanwhile cost a single follow-up.
+ */
+function refreshContextKeys() {
+  if (contextFetching) {
+    contextDirty = true;
+    return;
+  }
+  contextFetching = true;
+  contextDirty = false;
+  pluginsBackend()
+    .contextKeys()
+    .then(applyContextKeys)
+    .catch(() => {})
+    .finally(() => {
+      contextFetching = false;
+      if (contextDirty) refreshContextKeys();
+    });
+}
+
 // --- tasks --------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 const taskId = (id: string) => `plugin:${id}`;
@@ -239,6 +295,9 @@ function trackWorkbenchEvents(): () => void {
 /** Handles the runtime UI events; returns whether `e` was one. */
 export function handleRuntimeEvent(e: PluginEvent): boolean {
   switch (e.type) {
+    case "contextChanged":
+      refreshContextKeys();
+      return true;
     case "statusItemChanged":
       setStatusItem(e.pluginId, e.id, e.item);
       return true;
@@ -277,13 +336,15 @@ export function handleRuntimeEvent(e: PluginEvent): boolean {
 /**
  * The backend refuses the event kinds and status items until this window's
  * project is open and trusted (`authorize_command`), but startup asks before
- * that: ask again when it changes.
+ * that: ask again when it changes. Any new project object counts, even with the same
+ * root and trust: connecting another backend publishes one and changes where calls go.
  */
 function refreshOnProjectChange(): () => void {
   return useProject.subscribe((s, prev) => {
-    if (s.project?.root === prev.project?.root && s.project?.trusted === prev.project?.trusted) return;
+    if (s.project === prev.project) return;
     refreshEventKinds();
     refreshStatusItems();
+    refreshContextKeys();
   });
 }
 
diff --git a/src/platform/context.test.ts b/src/platform/context.test.ts
index 3972ad86e..94de5f479 100644
--- a/src/platform/context.test.ts
+++ b/src/platform/context.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
-import { evaluateWhen } from "./context";
+import { clearContext, evaluateWhen, getContext, setContext } from "./context";
 
 describe("when clauses", () => {
   const ctx = { editorFocus: true, lang: "rust", count: 2, debug: false };
@@ -24,3 +24,20 @@ describe("when clauses", () => {
     expect(() => evaluateWhen("(a", ctx)).toThrow();
   });
 });
+
+describe("clearContext", () => {
+  it("deletes the key and keeps the others", () => {
+    setContext("a.x", 1);
+    setContext("a.y", 2);
+    clearContext("a.x");
+    expect("a.x" in getContext()).toBe(false);
+    expect(getContext()["a.y"]).toBe(2);
+    clearContext("a.y");
+  });
+
+  it("does nothing for an absent key", () => {
+    const before = getContext();
+    clearContext("a.never");
+    expect(getContext()).toBe(before);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/platform/context.ts b/src/platform/context.ts
index b89479f88..7a08fdbd8 100644
--- a/src/platform/context.ts
+++ b/src/platform/context.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,13 @@ export function setContext(key: string, value: ContextValue) {
   if (useContextKeys.getState()[key] !== value) useContextKeys.setState({ [key]: value });
 }
 
+export function clearContext(key: string) {
+  const next = { ...useContextKeys.getState() };
+  if (!(key in next)) return;
+  delete next[key];
+  useContextKeys.setState(next, true);
+}
+
 export function getContext(): ContextKeys {
   return useContextKeys.getState();
 }
diff --git a/wit/host.wit b/wit/host.wit
index 484e6c309..ccf14224c 100644
--- a/wit/host.wit
+++ b/wit/host.wit
@@ -17,12 +17,29 @@ interface ui {
         command: option<string>,
     }
 
+    /// A context key's value, as `when` clauses compare it.
+    variant context-value {
+        flag(bool),
+        /// A finite number.
+        number(f64),
+        /// At most 1024 bytes.
+        text(string),
+    }
+
     /// Shows a notification balloon in the window the current command or
     /// event came from (every window when there is none).
     show-notification: func(level: notification-level, title: string, body: string);
     /// Shows or updates the plugin's status bar item `id` in every window.
     set-status-item: func(id: string, item: status-item);
     remove-status-item: func(id: string);
+    /// Sets the plugin's context key `key`, which `when` clauses test as
+    /// `plugin.<id>.<key>`, in the window the current command or event came
+    /// from (every window when there is none). A window's value takes
+    /// precedence over the global one. `key` is 1-64 of `A-Za-z0-9_-`; at most
+    /// 100 keys; they go away when the plugin stops.
+    set-context: func(key: string, value: context-value) -> result<_, error>;
+    /// Removes the key `set-context` set in the same scope.
+    remove-context: func(key: string);
     /// Copies `text` to the system clipboard. Requires `clipboard`.
     copy-to-clipboard: func(text: string) -> result<_, error>;
     /// Opens an `http://` or `https://` URL in the user's default browser.