diff --git a/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/sidebar/AllPrivateChatsSidebar.tsx b/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/sidebar/AllPrivateChatsSidebar.tsx
index ab5213db2..6bd2275fc 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/sidebar/AllPrivateChatsSidebar.tsx
+++ b/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/sidebar/AllPrivateChatsSidebar.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 "use client";
 
 import { useQuery, useQueryClient } from "@tanstack/react-query";
-import { format } from "date-fns";
+import { formatThreadTimestamp } from "@/lib/format-date";
 import { useSetAtom } from "jotai";
 import {
 	ArchiveIcon,
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ export function AllPrivateChatsSidebarContent({
 											<TooltipContent side="bottom" align="start">
 												<p>
 													{t("updated") || "Updated"}:{" "}
-													{format(new Date(thread.updatedAt), "MMM d, yyyy 'at' h:mm a")}
+													{formatThreadTimestamp(thread.updatedAt)}
 												</p>
 											</TooltipContent>
 										</Tooltip>
diff --git a/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/sidebar/AllSharedChatsSidebar.tsx b/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/sidebar/AllSharedChatsSidebar.tsx
index ab1072459..81d173f36 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/sidebar/AllSharedChatsSidebar.tsx
+++ b/surfsense_web/components/layout/ui/sidebar/AllSharedChatsSidebar.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 "use client";
 
 import { useQuery, useQueryClient } from "@tanstack/react-query";
-import { format } from "date-fns";
+import { formatThreadTimestamp } from "@/lib/format-date";
 import { useSetAtom } from "jotai";
 import {
 	ArchiveIcon,
@@ -389,7 +389,7 @@ export function AllSharedChatsSidebarContent({
 											<TooltipContent side="bottom" align="start">
 												<p>
 													{t("updated") || "Updated"}:{" "}
-													{format(new Date(thread.updatedAt), "MMM d, yyyy 'at' h:mm a")}
+													{formatThreadTimestamp(thread.updatedAt)}
 												</p>
 											</TooltipContent>
 										</Tooltip>
diff --git a/surfsense_web/lib/format-date.ts b/surfsense_web/lib/format-date.ts
index ee60d113d..9decd3402 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/lib/format-date.ts
+++ b/surfsense_web/lib/format-date.ts
@@ -22,3 +22,11 @@ export function formatRelativeDate(dateString: string): string {
 	if (daysAgo < 7) return `${daysAgo}d ago`;
 	return format(date, "MMM d, yyyy");
 }
+
+/**
+ * Format a thread's last-updated timestamp for the chats sidebars.
+ * Example: "Mar 23, 2026 at 4:30 PM"
+ */
+export function formatThreadTimestamp(dateString: string): string {
+	return format(new Date(dateString), "MMM d, yyyy 'at' h:mm a");
+}