diff --git a/app/src/full/kotlin/io/homeassistant/companion/android/thread/ThreadManagerImpl.kt b/app/src/full/kotlin/io/homeassistant/companion/android/thread/ThreadManagerImpl.kt
index 6c2c5e70ce0..4f5a0abb5bf 100644
--- a/app/src/full/kotlin/io/homeassistant/companion/android/thread/ThreadManagerImpl.kt
+++ b/app/src/full/kotlin/io/homeassistant/companion/android/thread/ThreadManagerImpl.kt
@@ -295,19 +295,53 @@ class ThreadManagerImpl @Inject constructor(
                 .addOnFailureListener { cont.resumeWithException(it) }
         }
 
-    override suspend fun sendThreadDatasetExportResult(result: ActivityResult, serverId: Int): String? {
-        if (result.resultCode == Activity.RESULT_OK && coreSupportsThread(serverId)) {
-            val threadNetworkCredentials = ThreadNetworkCredentials.fromIntentSenderResultData(result.data!!)
-            try {
-                val added = serverManager.webSocketRepository(
-                    serverId,
-                ).addThreadDataset(threadNetworkCredentials.activeOperationalDataset)
-                if (added) return threadNetworkCredentials.networkName
-            } catch (e: Exception) {
-                Timber.e(e, "Error while executing server new Thread credentials request")
+    @OptIn(ExperimentalStdlibApi::class)
+    override suspend fun sendThreadDatasetExportResult(
+        result: ActivityResult,
+        serverId: Int,
+    ): ThreadManager.ExportResult {
+        if (result.resultCode != Activity.RESULT_OK || !coreSupportsThread(serverId)) {
+            return ThreadManager.ExportResult.NotSent
+        }
+        val credentials = ThreadNetworkCredentials.fromIntentSenderResultData(result.data!!)
+        val webSocket = serverManager.webSocketRepository(serverId)
+        val added = try {
+            webSocket.addThreadDataset(credentials.activeOperationalDataset)
+        } catch (e: Exception) {
+            Timber.e(e, "Error while executing server new Thread credentials request")
+            return ThreadManager.ExportResult.Failed
+        }
+        if (!added) return ThreadManager.ExportResult.Failed
+
+        // thread/add_dataset_tlv never promotes a dataset to preferred on the server side. To
+        // surface an honest result we re-query and compare extended PAN IDs. If the server has
+        // no preferred dataset at all (e.g. no border router announcing one), promote the
+        // just-exported dataset; we never override an existing server preference.
+        val deviceExtPan = credentials.extendedPanId.toHexString(HexFormat.UpperCase)
+        val serverPrefersExported = try {
+            val datasets = webSocket.getThreadDatasets()
+            val preferred = datasets?.firstOrNull { it.preferred }
+            when {
+                preferred == null -> {
+                    val ours = datasets?.firstOrNull { it.extendedPanId.equals(deviceExtPan, ignoreCase = true) }
+                    if (ours != null && webSocket.setThreadPreferredDataset(ours.datasetId)) {
+                        Timber.d("Thread: promoted exported dataset to preferred on the server")
+                        true
+                    } else {
+                        false
+                    }
+                }
+                preferred.extendedPanId.equals(deviceExtPan, ignoreCase = true) -> true
+                else -> false
             }
+        } catch (e: Exception) {
+            Timber.w(e, "Unable to verify Thread preferred dataset after export")
+            null
         }
-        return null
+        return ThreadManager.ExportResult.Sent(
+            networkName = credentials.networkName,
+            serverPrefersExported = serverPrefersExported,
+        )
     }
 
     private suspend fun deleteOrphanedThreadCredentials(context: Context, serverId: Int) {
diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/io/homeassistant/companion/android/settings/developer/DeveloperSettingsPresenterImpl.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/io/homeassistant/companion/android/settings/developer/DeveloperSettingsPresenterImpl.kt
index 47edcd6ddd9..264db9e2b4f 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/io/homeassistant/companion/android/settings/developer/DeveloperSettingsPresenterImpl.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/io/homeassistant/companion/android/settings/developer/DeveloperSettingsPresenterImpl.kt
@@ -133,19 +133,39 @@ class DeveloperSettingsPresenterImpl @Inject constructor(
     ) {
         mainScope.launch {
             try {
-                val submitted = threadManager.sendThreadDatasetExportResult(result, serverId)
-                if (submitted != null) {
-                    if (isDeviceOnly) {
-                        view.onThreadDebugResult(context.getString(commonR.string.thread_debug_result_exported), true)
-                    } else {
-                        // If we got permission while both had a dataset, the device prefers a different network
-                        val out = "${context.getString(
-                            commonR.string.thread_debug_result_mismatch,
-                        )} ${context.getString(commonR.string.thread_debug_result_mismatch_detail, submitted)}"
-                        view.onThreadDebugResult(out, null)
+                when (val sent = threadManager.sendThreadDatasetExportResult(result, serverId)) {
+                    is ThreadManager.ExportResult.Sent -> {
+                        if (isDeviceOnly) {
+                            view.onThreadDebugResult(
+                                context.getString(commonR.string.thread_debug_result_exported),
+                                true,
+                            )
+                        } else if (sent.serverPrefersExported == true) {
+                            view.onThreadDebugResult(context.getString(commonR.string.thread_debug_result_match), true)
+                        } else if (sent.serverPrefersExported == false) {
+                            // The dataset was added on the server but a different one is still
+                            // preferred (typically a server-managed border router announces it).
+                            val out = "${context.getString(
+                                commonR.string.thread_debug_result_exported_not_preferred,
+                            )} ${context.getString(
+                                commonR.string.thread_debug_result_mismatch_detail,
+                                sent.networkName,
+                            )}"
+                            view.onThreadDebugResult(out, null)
+                        } else {
+                            val out = "${context.getString(
+                                commonR.string.thread_debug_result_mismatch,
+                            )} ${context.getString(
+                                commonR.string.thread_debug_result_mismatch_detail,
+                                sent.networkName,
+                            )}"
+                            view.onThreadDebugResult(out, null)
+                        }
                     }
-                } else {
-                    view.onThreadDebugResult(context.getString(commonR.string.thread_debug_result_error), false)
+                    ThreadManager.ExportResult.NotSent,
+                    ThreadManager.ExportResult.Failed,
+                    ->
+                        view.onThreadDebugResult(context.getString(commonR.string.thread_debug_result_error), false)
                 }
             } catch (e: Exception) {
                 view.onThreadDebugResult(context.getString(commonR.string.thread_debug_result_error), false)
diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/io/homeassistant/companion/android/thread/ThreadManager.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/io/homeassistant/companion/android/thread/ThreadManager.kt
index 3af998d53ff..04f02d363a7 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/io/homeassistant/companion/android/thread/ThreadManager.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/io/homeassistant/companion/android/thread/ThreadManager.kt
@@ -23,6 +23,27 @@ interface ThreadManager {
         object NoneHaveCredentials : SyncResult()
     }
 
+    sealed class ExportResult {
+        /**
+         * The activity result was not OK, the server doesn't support Thread, or there was no
+         * dataset to send.
+         */
+        object NotSent : ExportResult()
+
+        /** Sending the dataset to the server failed. */
+        object Failed : ExportResult()
+
+        /**
+         * The dataset was added on the server.
+         * @param networkName Network name of the dataset that was sent
+         * @param serverPrefersExported `true` if the server now reports the exported dataset as
+         * its preferred one, `false` if the server still prefers a different dataset (typically
+         * because a Thread border router managed by the server is announcing one), or `null` if
+         * the post-export state could not be determined.
+         */
+        data class Sent(val networkName: String, val serverPrefersExported: Boolean?) : ExportResult()
+    }
+
     /**
      * Indicates if the app on this device supports Thread credential management.
      */
@@ -82,7 +103,15 @@ interface ThreadManager {
     /**
      * Process the result from [syncPreferredDataset] or [getPreferredDatasetFromDevice]'s intent
      * and add the Thread dataset, if any, to the server.
-     * @return Network name that was sent and accepted, or `null` if not sent or accepted
+     *
+     * The `thread/add_dataset_tlv` server command never promotes a dataset to preferred. After a
+     * successful add the server is queried again to determine the post-export state: if the
+     * server has no preferred dataset, the just-exported one is promoted; if it has another
+     * preferred dataset (typically because a server-managed border router announces it), no
+     * override is performed.
+     *
+     * @return [ExportResult] describing whether the dataset was sent and, if so, whether the
+     * server now prefers it
      */
-    suspend fun sendThreadDatasetExportResult(result: ActivityResult, serverId: Int): String?
+    suspend fun sendThreadDatasetExportResult(result: ActivityResult, serverId: Int): ExportResult
 }
diff --git a/app/src/main/kotlin/io/homeassistant/companion/android/webview/WebViewPresenterImpl.kt b/app/src/main/kotlin/io/homeassistant/companion/android/webview/WebViewPresenterImpl.kt
index f6c05491366..73e8b2e1cd6 100644
--- a/app/src/main/kotlin/io/homeassistant/companion/android/webview/WebViewPresenterImpl.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/kotlin/io/homeassistant/companion/android/webview/WebViewPresenterImpl.kt
@@ -603,12 +603,16 @@ class WebViewPresenterImpl @Inject constructor(
                 mainScope.launch {
                     val sent = threadUseCase.sendThreadDatasetExportResult(result, serverId)
                     Timber.d(
-                        "Thread ${if (!sent.isNullOrBlank()) "sent credential for $sent" else "did not send credential"}",
+                        "Thread ${if (sent is ThreadManager.ExportResult.Sent) {
+                            "sent credential for ${sent.networkName} (server prefers exported: ${sent.serverPrefersExported})"
+                        } else {
+                            "did not send credential"
+                        }}",
                     )
-                    if (sent.isNullOrBlank()) {
-                        mutableMatterThreadStep.tryEmit(MatterThreadStep.THREAD_NONE)
-                    } else {
+                    if (sent is ThreadManager.ExportResult.Sent) {
                         mutableMatterThreadStep.tryEmit(MatterThreadStep.THREAD_SENT)
+                    } else {
+                        mutableMatterThreadStep.tryEmit(MatterThreadStep.THREAD_NONE)
                     }
                 }
             }
diff --git a/app/src/minimal/kotlin/io/homeassistant/companion/android/thread/ThreadManagerImpl.kt b/app/src/minimal/kotlin/io/homeassistant/companion/android/thread/ThreadManagerImpl.kt
index 1676bf3479f..43be15d14e4 100644
--- a/app/src/minimal/kotlin/io/homeassistant/companion/android/thread/ThreadManagerImpl.kt
+++ b/app/src/minimal/kotlin/io/homeassistant/companion/android/thread/ThreadManagerImpl.kt
@@ -36,5 +36,8 @@ class ThreadManagerImpl @Inject constructor() : ThreadManager {
         throw IllegalStateException("Thread is not supported with the minimal flavor")
     }
 
-    override suspend fun sendThreadDatasetExportResult(result: ActivityResult, serverId: Int): String? = null
+    override suspend fun sendThreadDatasetExportResult(
+        result: ActivityResult,
+        serverId: Int,
+    ): ThreadManager.ExportResult = ThreadManager.ExportResult.NotSent
 }
diff --git a/common/src/main/kotlin/io/homeassistant/companion/android/common/data/websocket/WebSocketRepository.kt b/common/src/main/kotlin/io/homeassistant/companion/android/common/data/websocket/WebSocketRepository.kt
index 18b7336c3ee..975f7e2b86c 100644
--- a/common/src/main/kotlin/io/homeassistant/companion/android/common/data/websocket/WebSocketRepository.kt
+++ b/common/src/main/kotlin/io/homeassistant/companion/android/common/data/websocket/WebSocketRepository.kt
@@ -83,10 +83,21 @@ interface WebSocketRepository {
 
     /**
      * Add a new set of Thread network credentials to the server.
+     *
+     * Note: this command is idempotent for an already-stored TLV and never promotes the dataset
+     * to the server's preferred one. Use [setThreadPreferredDataset] to explicitly promote.
+     *
      * @return `true` if the server indicated success
      */
     suspend fun addThreadDataset(tlv: ByteArray): Boolean
 
+    /**
+     * Set the server's preferred Thread dataset.
+     * @param datasetId The dataset ID as provided by the server
+     * @return `true` if the server indicated success
+     */
+    suspend fun setThreadPreferredDataset(datasetId: String): Boolean
+
     /**
      * Get an Assist response for the given text input. For core >= 2023.5, use [runAssistPipelineForText]
      * instead.
diff --git a/common/src/main/kotlin/io/homeassistant/companion/android/common/data/websocket/impl/WebSocketRepositoryImpl.kt b/common/src/main/kotlin/io/homeassistant/companion/android/common/data/websocket/impl/WebSocketRepositoryImpl.kt
index b3b8f4745aa..6efa1a03883 100644
--- a/common/src/main/kotlin/io/homeassistant/companion/android/common/data/websocket/impl/WebSocketRepositoryImpl.kt
+++ b/common/src/main/kotlin/io/homeassistant/companion/android/common/data/websocket/impl/WebSocketRepositoryImpl.kt
@@ -420,6 +420,16 @@ class WebSocketRepositoryImpl internal constructor(
         return response?.success == true
     }
 
+    override suspend fun setThreadPreferredDataset(datasetId: String): Boolean {
+        val response = webSocketCore.sendMessage(
+            mapOf(
+                "type" to "thread/set_preferred_dataset",
+                "dataset_id" to datasetId,
+            ),
+        )
+        return response?.success == true
+    }
+
     /**
      * Update server entry in [serverManager] with information from a [CurrentUserResponse] like user
      * name and admin status.
diff --git a/common/src/main/res/values/strings.xml b/common/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
index 8f2e214a324..b1b9d75b357 100644
--- a/common/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/common/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -1170,6 +1170,7 @@
     <string name="thread_debug_active">Syncing…</string>
     <string name="thread_debug_result_error">An unexpected error occurred while syncing</string>
     <string name="thread_debug_result_exported">Added network from this device to Home Assistant</string>
+    <string name="thread_debug_result_exported_not_preferred">Added network from this device to Home Assistant, but Home Assistant still prefers a different network</string>
     <string name="thread_debug_result_imported">Added network from Home Assistant to this device</string>
     <string name="thread_debug_result_match">Home Assistant and this device use the same network</string>
     <string name="thread_debug_result_mismatch">Home Assistant and this device prefer different networks</string>