diff --git a/artifacts/tx-os/src/pages/home.tsx b/artifacts/tx-os/src/pages/home.tsx
index c0df9c3a..247b525f 100644
--- a/artifacts/tx-os/src/pages/home.tsx
+++ b/artifacts/tx-os/src/pages/home.tsx
@@ -521,7 +521,12 @@ export default function HomePage() {
     });
   };
 
-  const dockApps = (orderedApps ?? apps)?.filter((a) => ["services", "notifications", "admin"].includes(a.slug)) ?? [];
+  // #571: drop the Notifications tile from the bottom dock — the bell
+  // icon in the top bar (with the same unread badge) is the canonical
+  // entry point, so a second affordance for the same destination on
+  // the home screen was redundant. The bell still routes to
+  // `/notifications` (see the top-bar button below).
+  const dockApps = (orderedApps ?? apps)?.filter((a) => ["services", "admin"].includes(a.slug)) ?? [];
 
   const initials = (displayName || "?").trim().slice(0, 1).toUpperCase();
 
diff --git a/scripts/src/seed.ts b/scripts/src/seed.ts
index 3301e4fb..7b3e578c 100644
--- a/scripts/src/seed.ts
+++ b/scripts/src/seed.ts
@@ -231,7 +231,14 @@ async function main() {
       iconName: "Bell",
       route: "/notifications",
       color: "#8b5cf6",
-      isActive: true,
+      // #571: ship the Notifications app DISABLED by default so fresh
+      // installs don't surface a redundant tile alongside the bell icon
+      // already in the top bar. The bell stays the canonical entry
+      // point; admins can flip this on from app settings if they want
+      // the launcher tile too. Insert here uses onConflictDoNothing,
+      // so existing environments that already have the app enabled
+      // are NOT affected — only new inserts pick up the default.
+      isActive: false,
       isSystem: true,
       sortOrder: 3,
     },
@@ -270,7 +277,11 @@ async function main() {
       iconName: "Calendar",
       route: "/calendar",
       color: "#3b82f6",
-      isActive: true,
+      // #571: ship the Calendar app DISABLED by default. Admins can
+      // enable it from app settings when they actually want a
+      // calendar surface. Insert uses onConflictDoNothing so existing
+      // environments where calendar is already enabled stay enabled.
+      isActive: false,
       isSystem: false,
       sortOrder: 5,
     },