diff --git a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/CanvasContextMenu.test.tsx b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/CanvasContextMenu.test.tsx
index 903986321..10b9c23e6 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/CanvasContextMenu.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/CanvasContextMenu.test.tsx
@@ -3,7 +3,11 @@ import React, { act } from "react";
 import { createRoot, type Root } from "react-dom/client";
 import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
 import { installReactActEnvironment, makeSelection } from "../../hooks/domSelectionTestHarness";
+import { resolveZIndexEntries } from "../nle/PreviewOverlays";
+import { useElementLifecycleOps } from "../../hooks/useElementLifecycleOps";
+import type { DomEditPatchBatch } from "../../hooks/domEditCommitTypes";
 import { CanvasContextMenu } from "./CanvasContextMenu";
+import type { ZOrderAction, ZOrderPatch } from "./canvasContextMenuZOrder";
 import type { DomEditSelection } from "./domEditing";
 
 installReactActEnvironment();
@@ -24,7 +28,7 @@ afterEach(() => {
 
 function renderMenu(props: {
   selection: DomEditSelection;
-  onApplyZIndex?: () => void;
+  onApplyZIndex?: (patches: ZOrderPatch[], action: ZOrderAction) => void;
   onDelete?: (selection: DomEditSelection) => void;
 }) {
   root = createRoot(host);
@@ -113,3 +117,110 @@ describe("CanvasContextMenu — handler gating", () => {
     expect(document.body.querySelector(".border-t")).toBeNull();
   });
 });
+
+// ── Menu z-action → commit path (wired the way PreviewOverlays wires the app) ──
+
+function pressMenuItem(label: string) {
+  const button = zOrderButtons().find((b) => b.textContent === label);
+  expect(button).toBeDefined();
+  act(() => {
+    button!.dispatchEvent(
+      new PointerEvent("pointerdown", { bubbles: true, cancelable: true, button: 0 }),
+    );
+  });
+}
+
+/** Target (static, earlier in DOM) below an equal-z sibling — z action must renumber. */
+function makeStaticFamily() {
+  const parent = document.createElement("div");
+  const target = document.createElement("div");
+  target.id = "target";
+  // In happy-dom an unset computed position is "" (not "static"), which would
+  // skip the commit hook's static-position injection; declare it explicitly so
+  // the test exercises the browser default.
+  target.style.position = "static";
+  const other = document.createElement("div");
+  other.id = "other";
+  parent.append(target, other);
+  document.body.append(parent);
+  return { parent, target, other };
+}
+
+interface CapturedBatchCall {
+  batches: DomEditPatchBatch[];
+  options: { label: string; coalesceKey: string };
+}
+
+/** Mount the REAL commit hook (persist layer mocked at commitDomEditPatchBatches). */
+function renderCommitHook(captured: CapturedBatchCall[]) {
+  type Commit = ReturnType<typeof useElementLifecycleOps>["handleDomZIndexReorderCommit"];
+  let commit: Commit | undefined;
+  function Harness() {
+    ({ handleDomZIndexReorderCommit: commit } = useElementLifecycleOps({
+      activeCompPath: "index.html",
+      showToast: vi.fn(),
+      writeProjectFile: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+      domEditSaveTimestampRef: { current: 0 },
+      editHistory: { recordEdit: vi.fn(async () => {}) },
+      projectIdRef: { current: null },
+      reloadPreview: vi.fn(),
+      clearDomSelection: vi.fn(),
+      commitDomEditPatchBatches: async (batches, options) => {
+        captured.push({ batches, options });
+      },
+    }));
+    return null;
+  }
+  const hookHost = document.createElement("div");
+  document.body.append(hookHost);
+  const hookRoot = createRoot(hookHost);
+  act(() => hookRoot.render(<Harness />));
+  return { commit: commit!, cleanup: () => act(() => hookRoot.unmount()) };
+}
+
+describe("CanvasContextMenu — z-action commit path", () => {
+  it("never mutates live styles itself and persists the position patch for a static element", async () => {
+    const { target } = makeStaticFamily();
+    const selection = makeSelection("Target", target);
+    const captured: CapturedBatchCall[] = [];
+    const { commit, cleanup } = renderCommitHook(captured);
+
+    // Wire onApplyZIndex the way the app does (PreviewOverlays → the commit
+    // hook), asserting the menu has NOT touched the DOM when it fires — the
+    // hook must capture true pre-change styles for its rollback.
+    const stylesAtApply: Array<{ zIndex: string; position: string }> = [];
+    renderMenu({
+      selection,
+      onApplyZIndex: (patches, action) => {
+        stylesAtApply.push({ zIndex: target.style.zIndex, position: target.style.position });
+        const { entries } = resolveZIndexEntries(selection, patches);
+        void commit(entries, undefined, action);
+      },
+    });
+
+    await act(async () => pressMenuItem("Bring forward"));
+
+    // The menu left the element pristine; only the commit hook wrote styles.
+    expect(stylesAtApply).toEqual([{ zIndex: "", position: "static" }]);
+    expect(target.style.zIndex).toBe("1");
+    expect(target.style.position).toBe("relative");
+
+    // The persisted payload carries BOTH the z-index and the injected position,
+    // so the reorder survives the post-commit reloadPreview().
+    expect(captured).toHaveLength(1);
+    const targetPatch = captured[0]?.batches
+      .flatMap((batch) => batch.patches)
+      .find((patch) => patch.target.id === "target");
+    expect(targetPatch?.operations).toEqual(
+      expect.arrayContaining([
+        { type: "inline-style", property: "z-index", value: "1" },
+        { type: "inline-style", property: "position", value: "relative" },
+      ]),
+    );
+    // F7: the action kind is part of the default undo coalesce key, so two
+    // different menu actions never merge into one undo step.
+    expect(captured[0]?.options.coalesceKey).toContain("bring-forward");
+
+    cleanup();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/CanvasContextMenu.tsx b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/CanvasContextMenu.tsx
index a7a124128..2d1e87db2 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/CanvasContextMenu.tsx
+++ b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/CanvasContextMenu.tsx
@@ -7,10 +7,13 @@
  * useContextMenuDismiss.
  *
  * ── Wiring (z-order persistence) ─────────────────────────────────────────────
- * Z-index changes are applied optimistically to the live iframe element(s) via
+ * Z-index changes are resolved against the live iframe DOM via
  * `resolveZOrderChange`, which returns a MULTI-element patch list (tie-aware:
  * moving a target past an equal-z sibling can require renumbering the affected
- * set). The patches are surfaced through the `onApplyZIndex` prop.
+ * set). The patches are surfaced through the `onApplyZIndex` prop; the menu
+ * itself never mutates element styles — handleDomZIndexReorderCommit applies
+ * the live z-index (and injects position when needed) in the same synchronous
+ * flow, and captures the TRUE prior styles for its failure rollback.
  *
  * The prop MUST be wired at the call site to route through the full persist
  * path. PreviewOverlays.tsx builds the per-patch PatchTargets (the selected
@@ -27,6 +30,7 @@ import { useContextMenuDismiss } from "../../hooks/useContextMenuDismiss";
 import {
   isZOrderActionEnabled,
   resolveZOrderChange,
+  type ZOrderAction,
   type ZOrderPatch,
 } from "./canvasContextMenuZOrder";
 
@@ -38,12 +42,15 @@ interface CanvasContextMenuProps {
   selection: DomEditSelection;
   onClose: () => void;
   /**
-   * Called with the resolved z-order patch list after an optimistic DOM update.
-   * Each patch is an { element, zIndex } pair (the target and, when a renumber
-   * is needed, affected siblings). Wire to handleDomZIndexReorderCommit (see
-   * module-level wiring comment).
+   * Called with the resolved z-order patch list and the menu action that
+   * produced it (the action feeds the undo coalesce key, so two DIFFERENT
+   * actions never merge into one undo step). Each patch is an
+   * { element, zIndex } pair (the target and, when a renumber is needed,
+   * affected siblings). The menu does NOT touch the live DOM — wire to
+   * handleDomZIndexReorderCommit, which applies the live styles itself
+   * (see module-level wiring comment).
    */
-  onApplyZIndex?: (patches: ZOrderPatch[]) => void;
+  onApplyZIndex?: (patches: ZOrderPatch[], action: ZOrderAction) => void;
   /**
    * Delete the selected element. Wire to handleDomEditElementDelete from
    * useDomEditActionsContext — same path as the Delete/Backspace hotkey.
@@ -93,20 +100,15 @@ export const CanvasContextMenu = memo(function CanvasContextMenu({
   const el = selection.element;
 
   function handleZAction(action: ZAction) {
-    // No persist handler → do NOT touch the live iframe DOM. An optimistic
-    // write with nothing to persist just reverts on the next reload.
     if (!onApplyZIndex) return;
     const patches = resolveZOrderChange(el, action);
     if (patches === null) return;
-    // Optimistic update — visible immediately even before persist completes.
-    for (const patch of patches) {
-      patch.element.style.zIndex = String(patch.zIndex);
-      const view = patch.element.ownerDocument?.defaultView;
-      if (view && view.getComputedStyle(patch.element).position === "static") {
-        patch.element.style.position = "relative";
-      }
-    }
-    onApplyZIndex(patches);
+    // Do NOT pre-apply styles here: handleDomZIndexReorderCommit writes the
+    // live z-index (and injects position:relative for static elements) in the
+    // same synchronous flow, so feedback is still instant — and it must read
+    // the PRE-change styles itself, both to capture true rollback values and
+    // to detect a static position that needs persisting.
+    onApplyZIndex(patches, action);
     onClose();
   }
 
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/DomEditOverlay.tsx b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/DomEditOverlay.tsx
index e410f2c9d..75cc29818 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/DomEditOverlay.tsx
+++ b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/DomEditOverlay.tsx
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import { useDomEditCompositionRect } from "./useDomEditCompositionRect";
 import { useMountEffect } from "../../hooks/useMountEffect";
 import { startOffCanvasIndicatorRefresh } from "./offCanvasIndicatorRefresh";
 import { CanvasContextMenu } from "./CanvasContextMenu";
-import type { ZOrderPatch } from "./canvasContextMenuZOrder";
+import type { ZOrderAction, ZOrderPatch } from "./canvasContextMenuZOrder";
 import { getPreviewTargetFromPointer } from "../../utils/studioPreviewHelpers";
 
 // Re-exports for external consumers — preserving existing import paths.
@@ -91,12 +91,17 @@ interface DomEditOverlayProps {
    */
   onDeleteSelection?: (selection: DomEditSelection) => void;
   /**
-   * Called with the resolved z-order patch list after an optimistic DOM update.
-   * The patch list is tie-aware and may include sibling elements (see
-   * canvasContextMenuZOrder). Wire to handleDomZIndexReorderCommit from
+   * Called with the resolved z-order patch list and the menu action that
+   * produced it (feeds the undo coalesce key). The patch list is tie-aware and
+   * may include sibling elements (see canvasContextMenuZOrder); the live DOM is
+   * NOT yet mutated. Wire to handleDomZIndexReorderCommit from
    * useDomEditActionsContext. See CanvasContextMenu.tsx module comment.
    */
-  onApplyZIndex?: (selection: DomEditSelection, patches: ZOrderPatch[]) => void;
+  onApplyZIndex?: (
+    selection: DomEditSelection,
+    patches: ZOrderPatch[],
+    action: ZOrderAction,
+  ) => void;
 }
 
 // fallow-ignore-next-line complexity
@@ -562,8 +567,8 @@ export const DomEditOverlay = memo(function DomEditOverlay({
           }
           onApplyZIndex={
             onApplyZIndex
-              ? (patches) => {
-                  onApplyZIndex(contextMenu.sel, patches);
+              ? (patches, action) => {
+                  onApplyZIndex(contextMenu.sel, patches, action);
                 }
               : undefined
           }
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/LayersPanel.tsx b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/LayersPanel.tsx
index b84bb47f6..2c2ae25cd 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/LayersPanel.tsx
+++ b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/LayersPanel.tsx
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import {
 import { Layers } from "../../icons/SystemIcons";
 import { useLayerDrag, isLayerDraggable, type LayerReorderEvent } from "./useLayerDrag";
 import { computeReorderZValues, getElementZIndex } from "../../player/lib/layerOrdering";
+import { deriveTimelineStoreKey } from "../../player/lib/timelineElementHelpers";
 
 const TAG_ICONS: Record<string, string> = {
   video: "Vi",
@@ -280,9 +281,17 @@ export const LayersPanel = memo(function LayersPanel() {
         selector: layer.selector,
         selectorIndex: layer.selectorIndex,
         sourceFile: layer.sourceFile,
+        key: deriveTimelineStoreKey({
+          domId: layer.id,
+          selector: layer.selector,
+          selectorIndex: layer.selectorIndex,
+          sourceFile: layer.sourceFile,
+        }),
       }));
 
-      handleDomZIndexReorderCommit(entries);
+      // "layer-drag" keeps consecutive drops of the same sibling set coalescing
+      // into one undo step, without merging with a context-menu z action.
+      handleDomZIndexReorderCommit(entries, undefined, "layer-drag");
     },
     [handleDomZIndexReorderCommit],
   );
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/canvasContextMenuZOrder.test.ts b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/canvasContextMenuZOrder.test.ts
index a0ae6b4f7..c188da517 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/canvasContextMenuZOrder.test.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/canvasContextMenuZOrder.test.ts
@@ -375,6 +375,27 @@ describe("resolveZOrderChange – excludes non-painting siblings", () => {
     expect(order.indexOf("target")).toBeLessThan(order.indexOf("a"));
   });
 
+  it("ignores <template>/<noscript> siblings in the family", () => {
+    // A renumber fallback once wrote z-index/position into <template> source
+    // markup because templates entered the sibling family. They never paint —
+    // exclude them like audio/script/style.
+    const parent = document.createElement("div");
+    const a = makeEl("a", "0");
+    const template = document.createElement("template");
+    template.style.zIndex = "2";
+    const noscript = document.createElement("noscript");
+    const target = makeEl("target", "0");
+    parent.append(a, template, noscript, target);
+
+    const patches = resolveZOrderPatches(target, "send-to-back");
+    for (const p of patches) {
+      expect(p.element).not.toBe(template);
+      expect(p.element).not.toBe(noscript);
+    }
+    const order = renderOrderIds(parent, { a, target }, patches);
+    expect(order.indexOf("target")).toBeLessThan(order.indexOf("a"));
+  });
+
   it("a lone painting element beside only non-painting siblings has no family → null", () => {
     const parent = document.createElement("div");
     const target = makeEl("target", "1");
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/canvasContextMenuZOrder.ts b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/canvasContextMenuZOrder.ts
index 13fba8481..67ce6d6b2 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/components/editor/canvasContextMenuZOrder.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/components/editor/canvasContextMenuZOrder.ts
@@ -81,8 +81,18 @@ function isElementNode(node: Node): node is HTMLElement {
  * z-index onto the qa-clean audio element, and counting it as a sibling skews the
  * renumber for the visible elements. `<script>/<style>/<link>/<meta>` are also
  * non-painting and could otherwise pad the family / eat a z slot.
+ * `<template>/<noscript>` never paint either — letting them in meant renumber
+ * fallbacks wrote z-index/position into template source markup.
  */
-const NON_PAINTING_TAGS = new Set(["AUDIO", "SCRIPT", "STYLE", "LINK", "META"]);
+const NON_PAINTING_TAGS = new Set([
+  "AUDIO",
+  "SCRIPT",
+  "STYLE",
+  "LINK",
+  "META",
+  "TEMPLATE",
+  "NOSCRIPT",
+]);
 
 /** A painting element: an element node whose tag actually renders pixels. */
 function isPaintingElement(node: Node): node is HTMLElement {
@@ -112,7 +122,7 @@ function getFamily(target: HTMLElement): { entries: RenderEntry[]; targetIndex:
   return { entries, targetIndex };
 }
 
-/** True if two DOM bounding rects intersect (even if touching). */
+/** True if two DOM bounding rects strictly overlap (rects that merely touch do NOT intersect). */
 function rectsIntersect(
   a: { left: number; top: number; right: number; bottom: number },
   b: { left: number; top: number; right: number; bottom: number },
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/components/nle/PreviewOverlays.tsx b/packages/studio/src/components/nle/PreviewOverlays.tsx
index 36b67748a..19c9a234f 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/components/nle/PreviewOverlays.tsx
+++ b/packages/studio/src/components/nle/PreviewOverlays.tsx
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import {
 import { readStudioUiPreferences } from "../../utils/studioUiPreferences";
 import { readHfId, type DomEditSelection } from "../editor/domEditing";
 import { buildStableSelector } from "../editor/domEditingDom";
+import { deriveTimelineStoreKey } from "../../player/lib/timelineElementHelpers";
 import type { BlockPreviewInfo } from "../sidebar/BlocksTab";
 import type { GestureRecordingState } from "../editor/GestureRecordControl";
 import type { ReactNode } from "react";
@@ -38,6 +39,8 @@ type ZIndexReorderEntry = {
   selector?: string;
   selectorIndex?: number;
   sourceFile: string;
+  /** Timeline store key — lets the commit update the store zIndex synchronously. */
+  key?: string;
 };
 
 /** Can this element be robustly re-targeted for a persisted z change? */
@@ -58,6 +61,12 @@ function selectedZIndexEntry(sel: DomEditSelection, zIndex: number): ZIndexReord
     selector: sel.selector,
     selectorIndex: sel.selectorIndex,
     sourceFile: sel.sourceFile,
+    key: deriveTimelineStoreKey({
+      domId: sel.id ?? undefined,
+      selector: sel.selector,
+      selectorIndex: sel.selectorIndex,
+      sourceFile: sel.sourceFile,
+    }),
   };
 }
 
@@ -75,7 +84,15 @@ function siblingZIndexEntry(
   const id = element.id || undefined;
   const selector = buildStableSelector(element);
   if (!canTargetZIndexElement(element, id, selector)) return null;
-  return { element, zIndex, id, selector, selectorIndex: undefined, sourceFile };
+  return {
+    element,
+    zIndex,
+    id,
+    selector,
+    selectorIndex: undefined,
+    sourceFile,
+    key: deriveTimelineStoreKey({ domId: id, selector, sourceFile }),
+  };
 }
 
 /** Short human-readable label for a dropped sibling, for the console warning below. */
@@ -88,14 +105,16 @@ function describeZIndexElement(element: HTMLElement): string {
 }
 
 // Resolve z-index patches into commit entries; a sibling with no stable
-// id/selector can't be written to source, so it is collected as a label for the
-// revert-on-reload warning instead.
-function resolveZIndexEntries(
+// id/selector can't be written to source, so it is returned as `dropped` for
+// the revert-on-reload warning (and a live-only style write, so the resolved
+// stacking order still renders coherently). Exported so tests can drive the
+// menu → commit path through the same wiring the app uses.
+export function resolveZIndexEntries(
   sel: DomEditSelection,
   patches: ReadonlyArray<{ element: HTMLElement; zIndex: number }>,
-): { entries: ZIndexReorderEntry[]; droppedLabels: string[] } {
+): { entries: ZIndexReorderEntry[]; dropped: Array<{ element: HTMLElement; zIndex: number }> } {
   const entries: ZIndexReorderEntry[] = [];
-  const droppedLabels: string[] = [];
+  const dropped: Array<{ element: HTMLElement; zIndex: number }> = [];
   for (const patch of patches) {
     if (patch.element === sel.element) {
       entries.push(selectedZIndexEntry(sel, patch.zIndex));
@@ -103,9 +122,9 @@ function resolveZIndexEntries(
     }
     const entry = siblingZIndexEntry(patch.element, patch.zIndex, sel.sourceFile);
     if (entry) entries.push(entry);
-    else droppedLabels.push(describeZIndexElement(patch.element));
+    else dropped.push(patch);
   }
-  return { entries, droppedLabels };
+  return { entries, dropped };
 }
 
 // fallow-ignore-next-line complexity
@@ -205,19 +224,20 @@ export function PreviewOverlays({
         onRotationCommit={handleDomRotationCommit}
         onStyleCommit={handleDomStyleCommit}
         onDeleteSelection={handleDomEditElementDelete}
-        onApplyZIndex={(sel, patches) => {
-          const { entries, droppedLabels } = resolveZIndexEntries(sel, patches);
-          if (droppedLabels.length > 0) {
-            // The optimistic z-index has already been applied live at this point —
-            // these siblings just won't be written to source, so they'll revert to
-            // their prior stacking order on the next reload with no other signal.
+        onApplyZIndex={(sel, patches, action) => {
+          const { entries, dropped } = resolveZIndexEntries(sel, patches);
+          if (dropped.length > 0) {
+            // These siblings can't be written to source. Apply their live z
+            // anyway so the resolved stacking order renders coherently — it
+            // just reverts to the prior order on the next reload.
+            for (const patch of dropped) patch.element.style.zIndex = String(patch.zIndex);
             console.warn(
               "[studio] z-index reorder: dropping sibling(s) with no stable id/selector " +
                 "(will revert on reload):",
-              droppedLabels.join(", "),
+              dropped.map((patch) => describeZIndexElement(patch.element)).join(", "),
             );
           }
-          if (entries.length > 0) handleDomZIndexReorderCommit(entries);
+          if (entries.length > 0) handleDomZIndexReorderCommit(entries, undefined, action);
         }}
         gridVisible={snapPrefs.gridVisible}
         gridSpacing={snapPrefs.gridSpacing}
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/hooks/useDomEditCommits.test.tsx b/packages/studio/src/hooks/useDomEditCommits.test.tsx
index 410d3700c..18ab3618e 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/hooks/useDomEditCommits.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/studio/src/hooks/useDomEditCommits.test.tsx
@@ -344,6 +344,60 @@ describe("useDomEditCommits z-index reorder persistence", () => {
     }
   });
 
+  it("warns and reports telemetry for unmatched batch patches without throwing", async () => {
+    // The server reports per-patch matched[]: #b was not found in the source.
+    // The matched subset persisted, so the commit must complete (no rollback of
+    // applied state) while surfacing the partial failure.
+    const original = '<div id="a" style="z-index: 1"></div>';
+    const after = '<div id="a" style="z-index: 2"></div>';
+    const fetchMock = vi.fn(async (input: Parameters<typeof fetch>[0]): Promise<Response> => {
+      const url = requestUrl(input);
+      if (url.includes("/api/projects/p1/files/")) return jsonResponse({ content: original });
+      if (url.includes("/file-mutations/patch-elements-batch/")) {
+        return jsonResponse({ ok: true, changed: true, matched: [true, false], content: after });
+      }
+      throw new Error(`Unexpected fetch: ${url}`);
+    });
+    vi.stubGlobal("fetch", fetchMock);
+    const warnSpy = vi.spyOn(console, "warn").mockImplementation(() => {});
+    const { iframe, element } = createPreviewElement(
+      '<div data-hf-id="hf-card"></div><div id="b"></div>',
+    );
+    element.id = "a";
+    const second = iframe.contentDocument!.getElementById("b")!;
+    const rendered = renderDomEditCommits(createSelection(element), iframe);
+
+    try {
+      await act(async () => {
+        await rendered.hook.handleDomZIndexReorderCommit([
+          { element, zIndex: 2, id: "a", sourceFile: "index.html" },
+          { element: second, zIndex: 1, id: "b", sourceFile: "index.html" },
+        ]);
+      });
+
+      // No throw: the applied live state stays, the matched subset is recorded.
+      expect(element.style.zIndex).toBe("2");
+      expect(second.style.zIndex).toBe("1");
+      expect(rendered.recordEdit).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+      expect(rendered.reloadPreview).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+      expect(warnSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        expect.stringContaining("could not match 1 patch target(s) in index.html"),
+        "b",
+      );
+      expect(trackStudioEvent).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+        "save_failure",
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          mutation_type: "z-reorder-unmatched",
+          file_path: "index.html",
+          error_message: expect.stringContaining("b"),
+        }),
+      );
+    } finally {
+      warnSpy.mockRestore();
+      rendered.cleanup();
+    }
+  });
+
   it("rolls back live state after a failed batch POST without a disk write-back", async () => {
     const original = '<div id="a" style="z-index: 7"></div><div id="b"></div>';
     const fetchMock = vi.fn(async (input: Parameters<typeof fetch>[0]): Promise<Response> => {
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/hooks/useDomEditCommits.ts b/packages/studio/src/hooks/useDomEditCommits.ts
index 349d1889b..a64ee5152 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/hooks/useDomEditCommits.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/hooks/useDomEditCommits.ts
@@ -61,6 +61,34 @@ interface RecordEditInput {
   files: Record<string, { before: string; after: string }>;
 }
 
+/** Human-readable identifier for a batch patch target (for the unmatched warning). */
+function describeBatchPatchTarget(patch: DomEditPatchBatch["patches"][number]): string {
+  return patch.target.id ?? patch.target.hfId ?? patch.target.selector ?? "(unaddressed)";
+}
+
+/**
+ * Surface server-reported unmatched patches. The matched subset already
+ * persisted, so this must NOT throw (a throw would roll back applied state) —
+ * warn and emit save-failure telemetry with a distinct reason instead.
+ */
+function reportUnmatchedBatchPatches(batch: DomEditPatchBatch, matched: boolean[]): void {
+  const unmatchedIds = batch.patches
+    .filter((_, index) => matched[index] === false)
+    .map(describeBatchPatchTarget);
+  if (unmatchedIds.length === 0) return;
+  console.warn(
+    `[studio] z-index reorder: server could not match ${unmatchedIds.length} patch target(s) in ` +
+      `${batch.sourceFile} (their z-order will revert on reload):`,
+    unmatchedIds.join(", "),
+  );
+  trackStudioSaveFailure({
+    source: "dom_edit",
+    error: new Error(`Batch patch target(s) unmatched: ${unmatchedIds.join(", ")}`),
+    filePath: batch.sourceFile,
+    mutationType: "z-reorder-unmatched",
+  });
+}
+
 async function patchElementBatch(projectId: string, batch: DomEditPatchBatch) {
   const before = await readProjectFileContent(projectId, batch.sourceFile);
   const response = await fetch(
@@ -77,8 +105,10 @@ async function patchElementBatch(projectId: string, batch: DomEditPatchBatch) {
   }
   const result = (await response.json()) as {
     changed?: boolean;
+    matched?: boolean[];
     content?: string;
   };
+  if (Array.isArray(result.matched)) reportUnmatchedBatchPatches(batch, result.matched);
   return {
     sourceFile: batch.sourceFile,
     changed: result.changed === true,
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/hooks/useElementLifecycleOps.test.tsx b/packages/studio/src/hooks/useElementLifecycleOps.test.tsx
index 18468ab56..207ad9e6d 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/hooks/useElementLifecycleOps.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/studio/src/hooks/useElementLifecycleOps.test.tsx
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ type ReorderCommit = (
     key?: string;
   }>,
   coalesceKeyOverride?: string,
+  actionKind?: string,
 ) => Promise<void>;
 
 function renderReorderHook(
@@ -176,6 +177,150 @@ describe("useElementLifecycleOps — z-index reorder payload", () => {
     act(() => root.unmount());
   });
 
+  it("keeps distinct actions in distinct default coalesce keys", async () => {
+    const el = document.createElement("div");
+    el.id = "clip-a";
+    document.body.appendChild(el);
+    const captured: CapturedBatchCall[] = [];
+    let commit: ReorderCommit | undefined;
+    const root = renderReorderHook(captured, (fn) => (commit = fn));
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      await commit!(
+        [{ element: el, zIndex: 1, id: "clip-a", sourceFile: "index.html" }],
+        undefined,
+        "bring-forward",
+      );
+      await commit!(
+        [{ element: el, zIndex: 0, id: "clip-a", sourceFile: "index.html" }],
+        undefined,
+        "send-backward",
+      );
+    });
+
+    // Same element set, different actions — the keys must differ so the two
+    // edits never coalesce into one undo step within the coalesce window.
+    expect(captured).toHaveLength(2);
+    expect(captured[0]?.options.coalesceKey).toBe("z-reorder:bring-forward:clip-a");
+    expect(captured[1]?.options.coalesceKey).toBe("z-reorder:send-backward:clip-a");
+    act(() => root.unmount());
+  });
+
+  it("updates the store zIndex synchronously for entries that carry a store key", async () => {
+    const el = document.createElement("div");
+    el.id = "clip-a";
+    document.body.appendChild(el);
+    usePlayerStore.getState().setElements([
+      {
+        id: "clip-a",
+        key: "index.html#clip-a",
+        tag: "div",
+        start: 0,
+        duration: 1,
+        track: 0,
+        zIndex: 0,
+        hasExplicitZIndex: false,
+      },
+    ]);
+
+    let commit: ReorderCommit | undefined;
+    let resolveBatch: (() => void) | undefined;
+    function Harness() {
+      const { handleDomZIndexReorderCommit } = useElementLifecycleOps({
+        activeCompPath: "index.html",
+        showToast: vi.fn(),
+        writeProjectFile: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+        domEditSaveTimestampRef: { current: 0 },
+        editHistory: { recordEdit: vi.fn(async () => {}) },
+        projectIdRef: { current: null },
+        reloadPreview: vi.fn(),
+        clearDomSelection: vi.fn(),
+        // Persist stays pending so the assertion below can only be satisfied
+        // by the SYNCHRONOUS store update (the lane-sync path's requirement).
+        commitDomEditPatchBatches: () => new Promise((resolve) => (resolveBatch = resolve)),
+      });
+      commit = handleDomZIndexReorderCommit;
+      return null;
+    }
+    const root = mountReactHarness(<Harness />);
+
+    let pending: Promise<void> | undefined;
+    act(() => {
+      pending = commit!([
+        {
+          element: el,
+          zIndex: 5,
+          id: "clip-a",
+          sourceFile: "index.html",
+          key: "index.html#clip-a",
+        },
+      ]);
+    });
+
+    expect(usePlayerStore.getState().elements[0]).toMatchObject({
+      zIndex: 5,
+      hasExplicitZIndex: true,
+    });
+
+    resolveBatch?.();
+    await act(async () => pending);
+    act(() => root.unmount());
+  });
+
+  // The canvas context-menu path: the menu no longer pre-applies styles, so the
+  // hook sees the PRISTINE element — prior styles are captured before any
+  // mutation and a failed persist restores them exactly (previously the menu's
+  // optimistic write made the "rollback" restore the already-mutated values,
+  // and the never-persisted position patch silently reverted on reload).
+  it("rolls back a static, inline-style-free element to pristine styles on failure", async () => {
+    const el = document.createElement("div");
+    el.id = "clip-a";
+    el.style.position = "static"; // happy-dom computes "" for unset position
+    document.body.appendChild(el);
+    const failure = new Error("persist failed");
+
+    let commit: ReorderCommit | undefined;
+    function Harness() {
+      const { handleDomZIndexReorderCommit } = useElementLifecycleOps({
+        activeCompPath: "index.html",
+        showToast: vi.fn(),
+        writeProjectFile: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+        domEditSaveTimestampRef: { current: 0 },
+        editHistory: { recordEdit: vi.fn(async () => {}) },
+        projectIdRef: { current: null },
+        reloadPreview: vi.fn(),
+        clearDomSelection: vi.fn(),
+        commitDomEditPatchBatches: vi.fn(async () => {
+          // The live styles were applied by the hook before persist ran.
+          expect(el.style.zIndex).toBe("2");
+          expect(el.style.position).toBe("relative");
+          throw failure;
+        }),
+      });
+      commit = handleDomZIndexReorderCommit;
+      return null;
+    }
+    const root = mountReactHarness(<Harness />);
+
+    let rejection: unknown;
+    await act(async () => {
+      try {
+        await commit!(
+          [{ element: el, zIndex: 2, id: "clip-a", sourceFile: "index.html" }],
+          undefined,
+          "bring-forward",
+        );
+      } catch (error) {
+        rejection = error;
+      }
+    });
+
+    expect(rejection).toBe(failure);
+    expect(el.style.zIndex).toBe("");
+    expect(el.style.position).toBe("static");
+    act(() => root.unmount());
+  });
+
   it("rolls back only live and store state after an atomic reorder failure", async () => {
     const writeProjectFile = vi.fn(async () => {});
     const recordEdit = vi.fn(async () => {});
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/hooks/useElementLifecycleOps.ts b/packages/studio/src/hooks/useElementLifecycleOps.ts
index eb5b8e077..a57cd6ad8 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/hooks/useElementLifecycleOps.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/hooks/useElementLifecycleOps.ts
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@ export function useElementLifecycleOps({
         key?: string;
       }>,
       gestureCoalesceKey?: string,
+      actionKind?: string,
     ) => {
       if (entries.length === 0) return Promise.resolve();
       // Resolver shadow (telemetry-only, decoupled from cutover): record whether
@@ -153,9 +154,13 @@ export function useElementLifecycleOps({
       onReorderShadow?.(
         entries.map((e) => readHfId(e.element)).filter((id): id is string => id != null),
       );
+      // The default key carries the action kind so two DIFFERENT actions on the
+      // same element set (e.g. "bring-forward" then "send-backward" within the
+      // coalesce window) never merge into one undo step. Callers that share a
+      // gesture (lane moves) pass an explicit gestureCoalesceKey instead.
       const coalesceKey =
         gestureCoalesceKey ??
-        `z-reorder:${entries.map((e) => e.id ?? e.selector ?? e.element.getAttribute("data-hf-id") ?? "el").join(":")}`;
+        `z-reorder:${actionKind ?? "reorder"}:${entries.map((e) => e.id ?? e.selector ?? e.element.getAttribute("data-hf-id") ?? "el").join(":")}`;
       const patchesBySourceFile = new Map<string, DomEditPatchBatch["patches"]>();
       const rollbacks: Array<() => void> = [];
       for (const entry of entries) {
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/player/components/useTimelineStackingSync.test.tsx b/packages/studio/src/player/components/useTimelineStackingSync.test.tsx
index 7428ebef7..7d0c89fef 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/player/components/useTimelineStackingSync.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/studio/src/player/components/useTimelineStackingSync.test.tsx
@@ -57,7 +57,17 @@ describe("useTimelineStackingSync", () => {
     });
 
     expect(commit).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-      [expect.objectContaining({ element: node, zIndex: 8, sourceFile: "nested.html" })],
+      [
+        expect.objectContaining({
+          element: node,
+          zIndex: 8,
+          sourceFile: "nested.html",
+          // The patch's store key rides along so the commit updates the store
+          // zIndex synchronously on the lane-sync path (and rolls it back on
+          // failure) instead of waiting for a preview reload.
+          key: "a",
+        }),
+      ],
       "clip-lane-move:7",
     );
     act(() => root.unmount());
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/player/components/useTimelineStackingSync.ts b/packages/studio/src/player/components/useTimelineStackingSync.ts
index 84e12a0ab..d21974d01 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/player/components/useTimelineStackingSync.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/player/components/useTimelineStackingSync.ts
@@ -74,6 +74,9 @@ export function useTimelineStackingSync({ expandedElementsRef }: UseTimelineStac
             selector: el.selector,
             selectorIndex: el.selectorIndex,
             sourceFile: el.sourceFile ?? zSyncActiveCompPath ?? "index.html",
+            // The store key: lets the commit update the store's zIndex
+            // synchronously (and roll it back on failure).
+            key: p.key,
           },
         ];
       });
diff --git a/packages/studio/src/player/lib/timelineElementHelpers.ts b/packages/studio/src/player/lib/timelineElementHelpers.ts
index a9eb60425..1a77589e7 100644
--- a/packages/studio/src/player/lib/timelineElementHelpers.ts
+++ b/packages/studio/src/player/lib/timelineElementHelpers.ts
@@ -298,6 +298,25 @@ export function getTimelineElementIdentity(element: { key?: string | null; id: s
   return element.key ?? element.id;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Timeline store key for a z-reorder entry built OUTSIDE the timeline
+ * expansion (canvas context menu / LayersPanel), so the reorder commit can
+ * update the store's zIndex synchronously. Matches buildTimelineElementKey's
+ * stable branches (`sourceFile#domId`, else the selector-based key). Undefined
+ * when the element has neither a DOM id nor a selector — the timeline's
+ * fallback branch needs its own fallbackIndex, which these callers don't have,
+ * so such an entry simply skips the synchronous store update.
+ */
+export function deriveTimelineStoreKey(params: {
+  domId?: string;
+  selector?: string;
+  selectorIndex?: number;
+  sourceFile?: string;
+}): string | undefined {
+  if (!params.domId && !params.selector) return undefined;
+  return buildTimelineElementKey({ id: "", fallbackIndex: 0, ...params });
+}
+
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // DOM node querying
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------