diff --git a/frontend/apps/desktop/src/app-api.ts b/frontend/apps/desktop/src/app-api.ts
index 0ca9de1cf..ffb8de2fb 100644
--- a/frontend/apps/desktop/src/app-api.ts
+++ b/frontend/apps/desktop/src/app-api.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-import type {NavRoute} from '@mintter/app/utils/navigation'
 import {resolveHmIdToAppRoute} from '@mintter/app/utils/navigation'
+import {NavRoute, defaultRoute, navRouteSchema} from '@mintter/app/utils/routes'
 import type {AppWindowEvent} from '@mintter/app/utils/window-events'
 import {observable} from '@trpc/server/observable'
 import {
@@ -71,12 +71,20 @@ info('App UserData: ', userDataPath)
 
 export function openInitialWindows() {
   const windowsState = getWindowsState()
-  if (!Object.keys(windowsState).length) {
-    trpc.createAppWindow({routes: [{key: 'documents'}]})
+  const validWindowEntries = Object.entries(windowsState).filter(
+    ([windowId, window]) => {
+      if (window.routes.length === 0) return false
+      return window.routes.every((route) => {
+        return navRouteSchema.safeParse(route).success
+      })
+    },
+  )
+  if (!validWindowEntries.length) {
+    trpc.createAppWindow({routes: [defaultRoute]})
     return
   }
   try {
-    Object.entries(windowsState).forEach(([windowId, window]) => {
+    validWindowEntries.forEach(([windowId, window]) => {
       trpc.createAppWindow({
         routes: window.routes,
         routeIndex: window.routeIndex,
@@ -87,7 +95,7 @@ export function openInitialWindows() {
     })
   } catch (error) {
     info(`[MAIN]: openInitialWindows Error: ${JSON.stringify(error)}`)
-    trpc.createAppWindow({routes: [{key: 'documents'}]})
+    trpc.createAppWindow({routes: [defaultRoute]})
     return
   }
 }
diff --git a/frontend/apps/desktop/src/app-menu.ts b/frontend/apps/desktop/src/app-menu.ts
index 2d68bc790..ce66e2d96 100644
--- a/frontend/apps/desktop/src/app-menu.ts
+++ b/frontend/apps/desktop/src/app-menu.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 // this menu is visible on macOS only
 // the keyboard shortcuts apply to every platform
 
+import {defaultRoute} from '@mintter/app/utils/routes'
 import {Menu, MenuItem} from 'electron'
 import {dispatchFocusedWindowAppEvent, openRoute, trpc} from './app-api'
 
@@ -65,7 +66,7 @@ export function createAppMenu() {
           label: 'New Window',
           accelerator: 'CmdOrCtrl+Shift+n',
           click: () => {
-            trpc.createAppWindow({routes: [{key: 'documents'}]})
+            trpc.createAppWindow({routes: [defaultRoute]})
           },
         },
         {type: 'separator'},
@@ -106,7 +107,7 @@ export function createAppMenu() {
           label: 'Documents',
           accelerator: 'CmdOrCtrl+1',
           click: () => {
-            openRoute({key: 'documents'})
+            openRoute({key: 'documents', tab: 'trusted'})
           },
         },
         {
diff --git a/frontend/apps/desktop/src/app-windows.ts b/frontend/apps/desktop/src/app-windows.ts
index c369b05dc..62f3778fa 100644
--- a/frontend/apps/desktop/src/app-windows.ts
+++ b/frontend/apps/desktop/src/app-windows.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import appError from '@mintter/app/errors'
-import type {NavRoute, NavState} from '@mintter/app/utils/navigation'
+import type {NavState} from '@mintter/app/utils/navigation'
+import {NavRoute} from '@mintter/app/utils/routes'
 import type {AppWindowEvent} from '@mintter/app/utils/window-events'
 import {getRouteWindowType} from '@mintter/app/utils/window-types'
 import {BrowserWindow, app, nativeTheme} from 'electron'
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ let windowsState =
   ({} as Record<string, AppWindow>)
 
 export function getWindowsState() {
-  return windowsState
+  return windowsState || {}
 }
 
 function getAWindow() {
diff --git a/frontend/apps/desktop/src/main.ts b/frontend/apps/desktop/src/main.ts
index f80b15910..f74b2c338 100644
--- a/frontend/apps/desktop/src/main.ts
+++ b/frontend/apps/desktop/src/main.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import {defaultRoute} from '@mintter/app/utils/routes'
 import {IS_PROD_DESKTOP} from '@mintter/shared'
 import * as Sentry from '@sentry/electron/main'
 import {BrowserWindow, Menu, app, ipcMain, nativeTheme, shell} from 'electron'
@@ -75,7 +76,7 @@ app.on('did-become-active', () => {
   if (BrowserWindow.getAllWindows().length === 0) {
     log.debug('[MAIN]: will open the home window')
     trpc.createAppWindow({
-      routes: [{key: 'documents'}],
+      routes: [defaultRoute],
     })
   }
 })
@@ -137,7 +138,7 @@ if (!gotTheLock) {
     if (BrowserWindow.getAllWindows().length === 0) {
       log.debug('[MAIN]: will open the home window')
       trpc.createAppWindow({
-        routes: [{key: 'documents'}],
+        routes: [defaultRoute],
       })
     }
   })
diff --git a/frontend/packages/app/components/changes-list.tsx b/frontend/packages/app/components/changes-list.tsx
index 956f43a7a..7d29708fc 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/app/components/changes-list.tsx
+++ b/frontend/packages/app/components/changes-list.tsx
@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@ import {
   usePublishDocToGroup,
 } from '../models/groups'
 import {useOpenUrl} from '../open-url'
-import {NavRoute, useNavRoute} from '../utils/navigation'
+import {useNavRoute} from '../utils/navigation'
+import {NavRoute} from '../utils/routes'
 import {AccessoryContainer} from './accessory-sidebar'
 import {AccountLinkAvatar} from './account-link-avatar'
 import {useAppDialog} from './dialog'
diff --git a/frontend/packages/app/components/citations.tsx b/frontend/packages/app/components/citations.tsx
index 5e50b0862..4fbdbc453 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/app/components/citations.tsx
+++ b/frontend/packages/app/components/citations.tsx
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import {PanelCard} from '@mintter/ui'
 import {useAccount} from '../models/accounts'
 import {useEntityTimeline} from '../models/changes'
 import {useDocTextContent, usePublication} from '../models/documents'
-import {PublicationRoute} from '../utils/navigation'
+import {PublicationRoute} from '../utils/routes'
 import {AccessoryContainer} from './accessory-sidebar'
 import {AccountLinkAvatar} from './account-link-avatar'
 
diff --git a/frontend/packages/app/components/edit-doc-button.tsx b/frontend/packages/app/components/edit-doc-button.tsx
index ba420b27f..2fbb104d3 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/app/components/edit-doc-button.tsx
+++ b/frontend/packages/app/components/edit-doc-button.tsx
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 import {useGRPCClient} from '@mintter/app/app-context'
 import {useDraftList} from '@mintter/app/models/documents'
 import {usePublicationVariant} from '@mintter/app/models/publication'
-import {NavMode, NavRoute} from '@mintter/app/utils/navigation'
+import {NavMode} from '@mintter/app/utils/navigation'
 import {useNavigate} from '@mintter/app/utils/useNavigate'
 import {GroupVariant, PublicationVariant} from '@mintter/shared'
 import {Button, Tooltip, toast} from '@mintter/ui'
 import {Pencil} from '@tamagui/lucide-icons'
 import appError from '../errors'
+import {NavRoute} from '../utils/routes'
 
 export function useEditDraft(
   docId: string,
diff --git a/frontend/packages/app/components/first-publish-dialog.tsx b/frontend/packages/app/components/first-publish-dialog.tsx
index 51b0e1871..ff68e2253 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/app/components/first-publish-dialog.tsx
+++ b/frontend/packages/app/components/first-publish-dialog.tsx
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import {
 import {useAppContext} from '../app-context'
 import {useGatewayUrl} from '../models/gateway-settings'
 import {useIsHMUrlReady} from '../models/networking'
-import {PublicationRoute} from '../utils/navigation'
+import {PublicationRoute} from '../utils/routes'
 
 export function FirstPublishDialog({
   input,
diff --git a/frontend/packages/app/components/pin-entity.tsx b/frontend/packages/app/components/pin-entity.tsx
index bd5184e82..04f05b921 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/app/components/pin-entity.tsx
+++ b/frontend/packages/app/components/pin-entity.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import {useHover} from '@mintter/shared'
 import {Button, ButtonProps, Tooltip} from '@mintter/ui'
 import {Pin, PinOff} from '@tamagui/lucide-icons'
 import {usePinAccount, usePinDocument, usePinGroup} from '../models/pins'
-import {PublicationRoute} from '../utils/navigation'
+import {PublicationRoute} from '../utils/routes'
 
 export function PinAccountButton({accountId}: {accountId: string}) {
   const {isPinned, togglePin} = usePinAccount(accountId)
diff --git a/frontend/packages/app/components/publication-list-item.tsx b/frontend/packages/app/components/publication-list-item.tsx
index 076013706..f7d72a241 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/app/components/publication-list-item.tsx
+++ b/frontend/packages/app/components/publication-list-item.tsx
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import {
   XStack,
   copyTextToClipboard,
 } from '@mintter/ui'
-import {NavRoute} from '../utils/navigation'
+import {NavRoute} from '../utils/routes'
 import {useNavigate} from '../utils/useNavigate'
 import {BaseAccountLinkAvatar} from './account-link-avatar'
 import {ListItem, TimeAccessory} from './list-item'
diff --git a/frontend/packages/app/components/quick-switcher.tsx b/frontend/packages/app/components/quick-switcher.tsx
index 4a7adb0f7..ad5648720 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/app/components/quick-switcher.tsx
+++ b/frontend/packages/app/components/quick-switcher.tsx
@@ -21,11 +21,11 @@ import {useGroups} from '../models/groups'
 import {importWebCapture} from '../models/web-importer'
 import {AppQueryClient} from '../query-client'
 import {
-  NavRoute,
   isHttpUrl,
   resolveHmIdToAppRoute,
   useHmIdToAppRouteResolver,
 } from '../utils/navigation'
+import {NavRoute} from '../utils/routes'
 import {useListenAppEvent} from '../utils/window-events'
 import './quick-switcher.css'
 
diff --git a/frontend/packages/app/components/sidebar.tsx b/frontend/packages/app/components/sidebar.tsx
index 77b961780..8b091f66c 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/app/components/sidebar.tsx
+++ b/frontend/packages/app/components/sidebar.tsx
@@ -47,12 +47,9 @@ import {
 import {getAccountName} from '../pages/account-page'
 import {SidebarWidth, useSidebarContext} from '../src/sidebar-context'
 import {getAvatarUrl} from '../utils/account-url'
-import {
-  NavRoute,
-  useHmIdToAppRouteResolver,
-  useNavRoute,
-} from '../utils/navigation'
+import {useHmIdToAppRouteResolver, useNavRoute} from '../utils/navigation'
 import {useOpenDraft} from '../utils/open-draft'
+import {NavRoute} from '../utils/routes'
 import {useNavigate} from '../utils/useNavigate'
 import {useTriggerWindowEvent} from '../utils/window-events'
 import {Avatar} from './avatar'
@@ -166,7 +163,7 @@ function FullAppSidebar() {
               active={route.key == 'documents'}
               data-testid="menu-item-global"
               onPress={() => {
-                navigate({key: 'documents'})
+                navigate({key: 'documents', tab: 'trusted'})
               }}
               title="Documents"
               bold
diff --git a/frontend/packages/app/components/titlebar-common.tsx b/frontend/packages/app/components/titlebar-common.tsx
index 6f0860cdf..cc832f93c 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/app/components/titlebar-common.tsx
+++ b/frontend/packages/app/components/titlebar-common.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ import {ContactsPrompt} from '@mintter/app/components/contacts-prompt'
 import {useMyAccount} from '@mintter/app/models/accounts'
 import {usePublicationVariant} from '@mintter/app/models/publication'
 import {
-  NavRoute,
   useNavRoute,
   useNavigationDispatch,
   useNavigationState,
@@ -50,6 +49,7 @@ import {
 import {usePinAccount, usePinDocument, usePinGroup} from '../models/pins'
 import {SidebarWidth, useSidebarContext} from '../src/sidebar-context'
 import {useOpenDraft} from '../utils/open-draft'
+import {NavRoute} from '../utils/routes'
 import {CloneGroupDialog} from './clone-group'
 import {useCopyGatewayReference} from './copy-gateway-reference'
 import {useAppDialog} from './dialog'
diff --git a/frontend/packages/app/components/titlebar-title.tsx b/frontend/packages/app/components/titlebar-title.tsx
index a1732afc5..9921d06b1 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/app/components/titlebar-title.tsx
+++ b/frontend/packages/app/components/titlebar-title.tsx
@@ -1,10 +1,6 @@
 import {useDraftTitle} from '@mintter/app/models/documents'
 import {usePublicationVariant} from '@mintter/app/models/publication'
-import {
-  DraftRoute,
-  PublicationRoute,
-  useNavRoute,
-} from '@mintter/app/utils/navigation'
+import {useNavRoute} from '@mintter/app/utils/navigation'
 import {
   ErrorIcon,
   FontSizeTokens,
@@ -17,7 +13,13 @@ import {Book, Contact, FileText, Library} from '@tamagui/lucide-icons'
 import {useEffect} from 'react'
 import {useAccount} from '../models/accounts'
 import {useGroup} from '../models/groups'
-import {AccountRoute, GroupRoute, NavRoute} from '../utils/navigation'
+import {
+  AccountRoute,
+  DraftRoute,
+  GroupRoute,
+  NavRoute,
+  PublicationRoute,
+} from '../utils/routes'
 import {getDocumentTitle} from './publication-list-item'
 
 export function TitleContent({size = '$4'}: {size?: FontSizeTokens}) {
diff --git a/frontend/packages/app/components/variants.tsx b/frontend/packages/app/components/variants.tsx
index 4d84d24cf..4acd16211 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/app/components/variants.tsx
+++ b/frontend/packages/app/components/variants.tsx
@@ -10,8 +10,6 @@ import {usePublicationVariant} from '@mintter/app/models/publication'
 import {usePopoverState} from '@mintter/app/use-popover-state'
 import {
   NavContextProvider,
-  NavRoute,
-  PublicationRoute,
   useNavRoute,
   useNavigation,
 } from '@mintter/app/utils/navigation'
@@ -77,6 +75,7 @@ import {useGatewayUrl} from '../models/gateway-settings'
 import {useCurrentDocumentGroups} from '../models/groups'
 import {getAccountName} from '../pages/account-page'
 import {RenamePubDialog} from '../src/rename-publication-dialog'
+import {NavRoute, PublicationRoute} from '../utils/routes'
 import CommitDraftButton from './commit-draft-button'
 import {useAppDialog} from './dialog'
 import DiscardDraftButton from './discard-draft-button'
diff --git a/frontend/packages/app/components/version-changes-info.tsx b/frontend/packages/app/components/version-changes-info.tsx
index 398df4579..6bf54747c 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/app/components/version-changes-info.tsx
+++ b/frontend/packages/app/components/version-changes-info.tsx
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 import {Timestamp} from '@bufbuild/protobuf'
-import {NavRoute, useNavRoute} from '../utils/navigation'
-import {useNavigate} from '../utils/useNavigate'
-import {ButtonText, Tooltip, XStack} from '@mintter/ui'
 import {formattedDateLong, formattedDateMedium} from '@mintter/shared'
-import {useChange} from '../models/changes'
+import {ButtonText, Tooltip, XStack} from '@mintter/ui'
 import {useAccount} from '../models/accounts'
+import {useChange} from '../models/changes'
+import {useNavRoute} from '../utils/navigation'
+import {NavRoute} from '../utils/routes'
+import {useNavigate} from '../utils/useNavigate'
 import {AccountLinkAvatar} from './account-link-avatar'
 
 export function VersionChangesInfo({version}: {version: string}) {
diff --git a/frontend/packages/app/components/windows-linux-titlebar.tsx b/frontend/packages/app/components/windows-linux-titlebar.tsx
index 90f71c352..433b7eefd 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/app/components/windows-linux-titlebar.tsx
+++ b/frontend/packages/app/components/windows-linux-titlebar.tsx
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import {Contact, FileText, Library} from '@tamagui/lucide-icons'
 import {useMemo} from 'react'
 import {useNavRoute, useNavigationDispatch} from '../utils/navigation'
 import {useOpenDraft} from '../utils/open-draft'
+import {defaultRoute} from '../utils/routes'
 import {useTriggerWindowEvent} from '../utils/window-events'
 import {WindowsLinuxWindowControls} from './window-controls'
 
@@ -150,7 +151,7 @@ export function SystemMenu() {
             id: 'newwindow',
             title: 'New Window',
             accelerator: 'Ctrl+Shift+N',
-            onSelect: () => spawn({key: 'documents'}),
+            onSelect: () => spawn(defaultRoute),
             icon: AddSquare,
           },
           {
diff --git a/frontend/packages/app/models/documents.ts b/frontend/packages/app/models/documents.ts
index b4f033082..323ccae76 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/app/models/documents.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/app/models/documents.ts
@@ -42,8 +42,9 @@ import _ from 'lodash'
 import {useEffect, useMemo, useRef} from 'react'
 import {ContextFrom, fromPromise} from 'xstate'
 import {useGRPCClient} from '../app-context'
-import {NavRoute, useNavRoute} from '../utils/navigation'
+import {useNavRoute} from '../utils/navigation'
 import {pathNameify} from '../utils/path'
+import {NavRoute} from '../utils/routes'
 import {useNavigate} from '../utils/useNavigate'
 import {useAllAccounts} from './accounts'
 import {DraftStatusContext, draftMachine} from './draft-machine'
diff --git a/frontend/packages/app/models/pins.ts b/frontend/packages/app/models/pins.ts
index fbdf98297..1b309baa2 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/app/models/pins.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/app/models/pins.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import {
 } from '@mintter/shared'
 import {useMemo} from 'react'
 import {useQueryInvalidator} from '../app-context'
-import {PublicationRoute} from '../utils/navigation'
+import {PublicationRoute} from '../utils/routes'
 import {useGroupsContent} from './groups'
 
 export function usePinAccount(accountId: string) {
diff --git a/frontend/packages/app/pages/main.tsx b/frontend/packages/app/pages/main.tsx
index 78d5ed7d6..8ce402232 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/app/pages/main.tsx
+++ b/frontend/packages/app/pages/main.tsx
@@ -2,15 +2,16 @@ import {useListen} from '@mintter/app/app-context'
 
 import {AppErrorPage} from '@mintter/app//components/app-error'
 import {TitleBar} from '@mintter/app/components/titlebar'
-import {getRouteKey, NavRoute, useNavRoute} from '@mintter/app/utils/navigation'
+import {getRouteKey, useNavRoute} from '@mintter/app/utils/navigation'
 import {useNavigate} from '@mintter/app/utils/useNavigate'
 import {Spinner, YStack} from '@mintter/ui'
-import {lazy, ReactElement, useMemo} from 'react'
+import {ReactElement, lazy, useMemo} from 'react'
 import {ErrorBoundary} from 'react-error-boundary'
 import {QuickSwitcher} from '../components/quick-switcher'
 import {AppSidebar} from '../components/sidebar'
 import {DraftStatusContext} from '../models/draft-machine'
 import {SidebarContextProvider} from '../src/sidebar-context'
+import {NavRoute} from '../utils/routes'
 import {getWindowType} from '../utils/window-types'
 import {NotFoundPage} from './base'
 import {DocumentPlaceholder} from './document-placeholder'
diff --git a/frontend/packages/app/utils/navigation-container.tsx b/frontend/packages/app/utils/navigation-container.tsx
index 59fb3f993..c4e43cc32 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/app/utils/navigation-container.tsx
+++ b/frontend/packages/app/utils/navigation-container.tsx
@@ -3,22 +3,20 @@ import {ReactNode, useEffect, useMemo} from 'react'
 import {useIPC} from '../app-context'
 import {useConfirmConnection} from '../components/contacts-prompt'
 import {
-  DocumentsRoute,
   NavAction,
   NavContextProvider,
   NavState,
   navStateReducer,
   setAppNavDispatch,
 } from './navigation'
+import {defaultRoute} from './routes'
 import {AppWindowEvent} from './window-events'
 
-const homeRoute: DocumentsRoute = {key: 'documents'}
-
 export function NavigationContainer({
   children,
   initialNav = {
     sidebarLocked: false,
-    routes: [homeRoute],
+    routes: [defaultRoute],
     routeIndex: 0,
     lastAction: 'replace',
   },
diff --git a/frontend/packages/app/utils/navigation.tsx b/frontend/packages/app/utils/navigation.tsx
index b1e7c7d0e..ea4d72fd5 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/app/utils/navigation.tsx
+++ b/frontend/packages/app/utils/navigation.tsx
@@ -1,10 +1,4 @@
-import {
-  GRPCClient,
-  GroupVariant,
-  PublicationVariant,
-  StateStream,
-  unpackDocId,
-} from '@mintter/shared'
+import {GRPCClient, StateStream, unpackDocId} from '@mintter/shared'
 import {
   UnpackedHypermediaId,
   createHmId,
@@ -14,71 +8,10 @@ import {useStream, useStreamSelector} from '@mintter/ui'
 import {Buffer} from 'buffer'
 import {createContext, useContext} from 'react'
 import {useGRPCClient} from '../app-context'
+import {NavRoute, defaultRoute} from './routes'
 
 global.Buffer = global.Buffer || Buffer
 
-export type DocumentsRoute = {
-  key: 'documents'
-  tab?: null | 'all' | 'trusted' | 'drafts'
-}
-export type ContactsRoute = {key: 'contacts'}
-export type AccountRoute = {key: 'account'; accountId: string}
-
-export type EntityVersionsAccessory = {key: 'versions'}
-export type PublicationCitationsAccessory = {key: 'citations'}
-export type PublicationCommentsAccessory = {key: 'comments'}
-
-export type CommentRoute = {
-  key: 'comment'
-  commentId?: string
-  showThread?: boolean
-}
-export type CommentDraftRoute = {
-  key: 'comment-draft'
-  commentId?: string
-  showThread?: boolean
-}
-
-export type PublicationRoute = {
-  key: 'publication'
-  documentId: string
-  versionId?: string
-  variants?: PublicationVariant[]
-  blockId?: string
-  accessory?:
-    | null
-    | EntityVersionsAccessory
-    | PublicationCitationsAccessory
-    | PublicationCommentsAccessory
-  showFirstPublicationMessage?: boolean
-  immediatelyPromptPush?: boolean
-}
-export type DraftRoute = {
-  key: 'draft'
-  draftId?: string
-  variant?: GroupVariant | null
-  contextRoute?: NavRoute
-}
-export type SettingsRoute = {key: 'settings'}
-export type GroupsRoute = {key: 'groups'}
-export type GroupRoute = {
-  key: 'group'
-  groupId: string
-  version?: string
-  accessory?: null | EntityVersionsAccessory
-}
-export type NavRoute =
-  | ContactsRoute
-  | AccountRoute
-  | SettingsRoute
-  | GroupsRoute
-  | GroupRoute
-  | PublicationRoute
-  | DraftRoute
-  | DocumentsRoute
-  | CommentRoute
-  | CommentDraftRoute
-
 export type PushAction = {type: 'push'; route: NavRoute}
 export type ReplaceAction = {type: 'replace'; route: NavRoute}
 export type BackplaceAction = {type: 'backplace'; route: NavRoute}
@@ -218,7 +151,7 @@ export function useNavRoute() {
     throw new Error('useNavRoute must be used within a NavigationProvider')
   return useStreamSelector(
     nav.state,
-    (state) => state.routes[state.routeIndex] || {key: 'documents'},
+    (state) => state.routes[state.routeIndex] || defaultRoute,
   )
 }
 
diff --git a/frontend/packages/app/utils/open-draft.ts b/frontend/packages/app/utils/open-draft.ts
index f3310d584..465c57c84 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/app/utils/open-draft.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/app/utils/open-draft.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@ import {queryKeys} from '@mintter/app/models/query-keys'
 import {DocumentChange, GRPCClient, GroupVariant} from '@mintter/shared'
 import {useGRPCClient} from '../app-context'
 import appError from '../errors'
-import {DraftRoute, NavMode, useNavRoute} from './navigation'
+import {NavMode, useNavRoute} from './navigation'
+import {DraftRoute} from './routes'
 import {useNavigate} from './useNavigate'
 
 async function createDraft(
diff --git a/frontend/packages/app/utils/route-encoding.ts b/frontend/packages/app/utils/route-encoding.ts
index a61c87445..3397c17c0 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/app/utils/route-encoding.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/app/utils/route-encoding.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-import type {NavRoute} from './navigation'
 import {Buffer} from 'buffer'
+import {NavRoute} from './routes'
 
 export function encodeRouteToPath(route: NavRoute): string {
   return `/${Buffer.from(JSON.stringify(route))
diff --git a/frontend/packages/app/utils/routes.tsx b/frontend/packages/app/utils/routes.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0c9c67ced
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/packages/app/utils/routes.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+import {groupVariantSchema, publicationVariantSchema} from '@mintter/shared'
+import {z} from 'zod'
+
+export const defaultRoute: NavRoute = {key: 'documents', tab: 'trusted'}
+
+export const documentsRouteSchema = z.object({
+  key: z.literal('documents'),
+  tab: z.union([z.literal('all'), z.literal('trusted'), z.literal('drafts')]),
+})
+export type DocumentsRoute = z.infer<typeof documentsRouteSchema>
+
+export const contactsRouteSchema = z.object({key: z.literal('contacts')})
+export type ContactsRoute = z.infer<typeof contactsRouteSchema>
+
+export const accountRouteSchema = z.object({
+  key: z.literal('account'),
+  accountId: z.string(),
+})
+export type AccountRoute = z.infer<typeof accountRouteSchema>
+
+export const entityVersionsAccessorySchema = z.object({
+  key: z.literal('versions'),
+})
+export type EntityVersionsAccessory = z.infer<
+  typeof entityVersionsAccessorySchema
+>
+
+export const publicationCitationsAccessorySchema = z.object({
+  key: z.literal('citations'),
+})
+export type PublicationCitationsAccessory = z.infer<
+  typeof publicationCitationsAccessorySchema
+>
+
+export const publicationCommentsAccessorySchema = z.object({
+  key: z.literal('comments'),
+})
+export type PublicationCommentsAccessory = z.infer<
+  typeof publicationCommentsAccessorySchema
+>
+
+export const commentRouteSchema = z.object({
+  key: z.literal('comment'),
+  commentId: z.string().optional(),
+  showThread: z.boolean().optional(),
+})
+export type CommentRoute = z.infer<typeof commentRouteSchema>
+
+export const commentDraftRouteSchema = z.object({
+  key: z.literal('comment-draft'),
+  commentId: z.string().optional(),
+  showThread: z.boolean().optional(),
+})
+export type CommentDraftRoute = z.infer<typeof commentDraftRouteSchema>
+
+export const publicationRouteSchema = z.object({
+  key: z.literal('publication'),
+  documentId: z.string(),
+  versionId: z.string().optional(),
+  variants: z.array(publicationVariantSchema).optional(),
+  blockId: z.string().optional(),
+  accessory: z
+    .discriminatedUnion('key', [
+      entityVersionsAccessorySchema,
+      publicationCitationsAccessorySchema,
+      publicationCommentsAccessorySchema,
+    ])
+    .nullable()
+    .optional(),
+  showFirstPublicationMessage: z.boolean().optional(),
+  immediatelyPromptPush: z.boolean().optional(),
+})
+export type PublicationRoute = z.infer<typeof publicationRouteSchema>
+
+export const draftRouteSchema = z.object({
+  key: z.literal('draft'),
+  draftId: z.string().optional(),
+  variant: groupVariantSchema.nullable(),
+  contextRoute: z
+    .discriminatedUnion('key', [documentsRouteSchema, publicationRouteSchema])
+    .optional(),
+})
+export type DraftRoute = z.infer<typeof draftRouteSchema>
+
+export const settingsRouteSchema = z.object({key: z.literal('settings')})
+export type SettingsRoute = z.infer<typeof settingsRouteSchema>
+
+export const groupsRouteSchema = z.object({key: z.literal('groups')})
+export type GroupsRoute = z.infer<typeof groupsRouteSchema>
+
+export const groupRouteSchema = z.object({
+  key: z.literal('group'),
+  groupId: z.string(),
+  version: z.string().optional(),
+  accessory: z
+    .discriminatedUnion('key', [entityVersionsAccessorySchema])
+    .nullable()
+    .optional(),
+})
+export type GroupRoute = z.infer<typeof groupRouteSchema>
+
+export const navRouteSchema = z.discriminatedUnion('key', [
+  contactsRouteSchema,
+  accountRouteSchema,
+  settingsRouteSchema,
+  groupsRouteSchema,
+  groupRouteSchema,
+  publicationRouteSchema,
+  draftRouteSchema,
+  documentsRouteSchema,
+  commentRouteSchema,
+  commentDraftRouteSchema,
+])
+export type NavRoute = z.infer<typeof navRouteSchema>
diff --git a/frontend/packages/app/utils/useNavigate.tsx b/frontend/packages/app/utils/useNavigate.tsx
index 96dcd812a..630981928 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/app/utils/useNavigate.tsx
+++ b/frontend/packages/app/utils/useNavigate.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 import {startTransition, useCallback} from 'react'
 import {useIPC} from '../app-context'
-import {NavMode, NavRoute, useNavigationDispatch} from './navigation'
+import {NavMode, useNavigationDispatch} from './navigation'
 import {encodeRouteToPath} from './route-encoding'
+import {NavRoute} from './routes'
 import {getRouteWindowType, getWindowType} from './window-types'
 
 export function useNavigate(requestedMode: NavMode = 'push') {
diff --git a/frontend/packages/app/utils/window-types.ts b/frontend/packages/app/utils/window-types.ts
index ae9e788da..f009e9dd0 100644
--- a/frontend/packages/app/utils/window-types.ts
+++ b/frontend/packages/app/utils/window-types.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import {NavRoute} from './navigation'
+import {NavRoute} from './routes'
 
 export type WindowTypeInfo = {
   key: 'settings' | 'comment' | 'main'