diff --git a/docs/client-api.md b/docs/client-api.md
index f343fa82..7f672f1e 100644
--- a/docs/client-api.md
+++ b/docs/client-api.md
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ An available comment target uses the existing `quoted_post` projection with `id`
 
 ## Timeline paging
 
-`GET /api/v1/posts` reads one page at a time, newest first. `author_user_id` filters by an immutable account ID without widening visibility; the CLI exposes the same filter as `post list --author-id`. The page's `meta`
+`GET /api/v1/posts` reads one public timeline page at a time, newest first, even for authenticated callers. With `author_user_id`, the page contains that account's publications and includes private posts only when the authenticated caller is their author. The CLI uses the same scopes in direct and API modes: `post list` reads the public timeline, and `post list --author-id` selects an author. The page's `meta`
 carries two opaque cursors: `next_cursor` continues *older* from the page's
 last item and `prev_cursor` continues *newer* from its first. Either goes back
 as `cursor=`; a cursor knows its own direction. Each is `null` once the read
diff --git a/internal/transport/cli/posts.go b/internal/transport/cli/posts.go
index d268878c..13d7f960 100644
--- a/internal/transport/cli/posts.go
+++ b/internal/transport/cli/posts.go
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ func registerPosts(application *Application) {
 	application.MustRegisterLeaf(LeafSpec{
 		Path:       []string{"post", "list"},
 		Short:      "List the public Moment timeline",
-		Long:       "Read one stable page, newest first, through the selected local instance or HTTP API: the head of the timeline, a cursor's continuation in the direction it names, or the end of an anchored day read back from.",
+		Long:       "Read one stable page, newest first, through the selected local instance or HTTP API: the head of the public timeline, a cursor's continuation in the direction it names, or the end of an anchored day read back from. With --author-id, read that account's publications, including private posts when reading as their author.",
 		Inputs:     "Use --cursor for continuation, --limit from 1 to 100, and optional YYYY-MM-DD boundaries: inclusive --from and exclusive --to in the configured site timezone. --anchor names a site day to read back from instead; it cannot be combined with --cursor, --from, or --to.",
 		Output:     "A canonical post array in data.items with nullable meta.next_cursor (continues older) and meta.prev_cursor (continues newer); meta.refresh_cursor is a reusable newer watermark, including an empty head. With --author-id, data.author_post_count counts that author's visible published originals across all pages and filters.",
 		Errors:     "Invalid cursors, limits, dates, or site authority return stable machine codes.",
@@ -269,7 +269,10 @@ func runPostList(ctx context.Context, invocation Invocation, input CommandInput)
 			return Result{}, postCLIError(err)
 		}
 		listInput.Timezone = settings.Timezone
-		listInput.Viewer = app.ViewerFromContext(ctx)
+		listInput.Viewer = app.PublicViewer()
+		if listInput.AuthorUserID != "" {
+			listInput.Viewer = app.ViewerFromContext(ctx)
+		}
 		result, err := service.List(ctx, listInput)
 		if err != nil {
 			return Result{}, postCLIError(err)
diff --git a/internal/transport/cli/testdata/help-digests.json b/internal/transport/cli/testdata/help-digests.json
index 5c419cfb..247a305e 100644
--- a/internal/transport/cli/testdata/help-digests.json
+++ b/internal/transport/cli/testdata/help-digests.json
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@
   "post get": "f6b4bc71ca5e52275c27d3d2a10f1340e0759d78d17001539400674ecd459951",
   "post like": "8dc8064fe79a043eb67351fe1ae8972b4a1825c6c66fe64093deceefb60c6413",
   "post like-status": "e3a0987a8b420549ef3711ad88e8f6831f5e943b6dbd3f6e0ddb929f118db06a",
-  "post list": "deade5652cbf567b34f8b1fbd66e9ceb13501115c0222ed52c0e5e94767f1d19",
+  "post list": "327aa9f748b318634926881d7520ab4dfadce7e4516b8db1e5d2fef2b45558e0",
   "post mentions": "b13d17a5ba70840b216d7262349da0471138ea2661162a32e5bbc0a9104bf6f3",
   "post pin": "3fad21dfa00e2949b7c97458d73e13d6bc96f2d95db59b66d94357590d2b875b",
   "post reply-context": "5a53d9f974de6b099fc75a9ba3b6d27aa4951be86877f422959fc86a0e9ab082",
diff --git a/internal/transport/cli/visibility_test.go b/internal/transport/cli/visibility_test.go
index 72b82322..19e3da30 100644
--- a/internal/transport/cli/visibility_test.go
+++ b/internal/transport/cli/visibility_test.go
@@ -29,8 +29,33 @@ func TestPostVisibilityFlagDirectAPIParityAndVisitorReads(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("direct create = %#v, API get with token = %#v", created, apiGet)
 	}
 	apiList := commandData(t, execute(application, "", "--url", fixture.server.URL, "post", "list", "--json"))
-	if items := apiList["items"].([]any); len(items) != 2 {
-		t.Fatalf("owner API list = %#v", apiList)
+	directList := commandData(t, execute(application, "", "post", "list", "--data-dir", fixture.dataDir, "--as", "writer", "--json"))
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(directList, apiList) {
+		t.Fatalf("public timeline direct = %#v, API = %#v", directList, apiList)
+	}
+	if items := apiList["items"].([]any); len(items) != 1 || items[0].(map[string]any)["id"] != public["id"] {
+		t.Fatalf("public timeline = %#v", apiList)
+	}
+
+	authorID := created["author"].(map[string]any)["user_id"].(string)
+	apiProfile := commandData(t, execute(application, "", "--url", fixture.server.URL, "post", "list", "--author-id", authorID, "--json"))
+	directProfile := commandData(t, execute(application, "", "post", "list", "--data-dir", fixture.dataDir, "--as", "writer", "--author-id", authorID, "--json"))
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(directProfile, apiProfile) {
+		t.Fatalf("author timeline direct = %#v, API = %#v", directProfile, apiProfile)
+	}
+	items := apiProfile["items"].([]any)
+	if len(items) != 2 || apiProfile["author_post_count"] != float64(2) {
+		t.Fatalf("author timeline = %#v", apiProfile)
+	}
+	foundPrivate := false
+	for _, item := range items {
+		post := item.(map[string]any)
+		if post["id"] == id && post["visibility"] == "only_me" {
+			foundPrivate = true
+		}
+	}
+	if !foundPrivate {
+		t.Fatalf("author timeline omitted private post: %#v", apiProfile)
 	}
 
 	t.Setenv("MOMENT_TOKEN", "")
@@ -42,6 +67,10 @@ func TestPostVisibilityFlagDirectAPIParityAndVisitorReads(t *testing.T) {
 	if items := visitorList["items"].([]any); len(items) != 1 || items[0].(map[string]any)["id"] != public["id"] {
 		t.Fatalf("visitor list = %#v", visitorList)
 	}
+	visitorProfile := commandData(t, execute(application, "", "--url", fixture.server.URL, "post", "list", "--author-id", authorID, "--json"))
+	if items := visitorProfile["items"].([]any); len(items) != 1 || items[0].(map[string]any)["id"] != public["id"] || visitorProfile["author_post_count"] != float64(1) {
+		t.Fatalf("visitor author timeline = %#v", visitorProfile)
+	}
 
 	t.Setenv("MOMENT_TOKEN", fixture.token)
 	revealed := commandData(t, execute(application, "", "--url", fixture.server.URL, "post", "update", id, "--visibility", "everyone", "--json"))
diff --git a/internal/transport/http/gin/posts.go b/internal/transport/http/gin/posts.go
index 8e97efb3..f1fc9e2e 100644
--- a/internal/transport/http/gin/posts.go
+++ b/internal/transport/http/gin/posts.go
@@ -112,6 +112,9 @@ func listPosts(posts *app.PostService, site *app.SiteService, gate *Gate, ownArc
 		}
 		input.Timezone = settings.Timezone
 		input.Viewer = gate.Viewer(ctx)
+		if input.AuthorUserID == "" {
+			input.Viewer = app.PublicViewer()
+		}
 		if len(ownArchive) > 0 && ownArchive[0] {
 			input.Viewer = app.AccountViewer(input.AuthorUserID)
 		}
diff --git a/internal/transport/http/gin/session_renewal_security_test.go b/internal/transport/http/gin/session_renewal_security_test.go
index 51ccce84..3c07a1a3 100644
--- a/internal/transport/http/gin/session_renewal_security_test.go
+++ b/internal/transport/http/gin/session_renewal_security_test.go
@@ -85,7 +85,11 @@ func TestRenewedSessionsKeepPostAndMediaAuthority(t *testing.T) {
 			for _, path := range []string{"/api/v1/posts?limit=10", "/api/v1/search?q=auditsentinel"} {
 				r := call("GET", path, "", viewer.cookie, "")
 				raw := r.Body.String()
-				if r.Code != 200 || len(decodeDataMap(t, r)["items"].([]any)) != viewer.count || strings.Contains(raw, viewer.hiddenID) {
+				wantCount := viewer.count
+				if path == "/api/v1/posts?limit=10" {
+					wantCount = 1
+				}
+				if r.Code != 200 || len(decodeDataMap(t, r)["items"].([]any)) != wantCount || strings.Contains(raw, viewer.hiddenID) {
 					t.Fatalf("%s leaked private content: %d %s", path, r.Code, r.Body)
 				}
 				if r.Header().Get("Cache-Control") != "no-store" {
diff --git a/internal/transport/http/gin/visibility_test.go b/internal/transport/http/gin/visibility_test.go
index ac18e8ab..415cfabc 100644
--- a/internal/transport/http/gin/visibility_test.go
+++ b/internal/transport/http/gin/visibility_test.go
@@ -66,8 +66,14 @@ func TestHiddenPostsAndTheirMediaAnswerOnlyToTheAuthorOverHTTP(t *testing.T) {
 	if detail.Code != http.StatusOK || decodeDataMap(t, detail)["visibility"] != "only_me" {
 		t.Fatalf("owner detail = %d %s", detail.Code, detail.Body.String())
 	}
-	if items := decodeDataMap(t, performRequest(fixture.engine, asAuthor(jsonRequest(http.MethodGet, "/api/v1/posts?limit=10", ""))))["items"].([]any); len(items) != 2 {
-		t.Fatalf("owner timeline = %#v", items)
+	if items := decodeDataMap(t, performRequest(fixture.engine, asAuthor(jsonRequest(http.MethodGet, "/api/v1/posts?limit=10", ""))))["items"].([]any); len(items) != 1 || items[0].(map[string]any)["visibility"] != "everyone" {
+		t.Fatalf("owner home timeline = %#v", items)
+	}
+	for _, path := range []string{"/api/v1/archive/posts?limit=10", "/api/v1/posts?author_user_id=" + createdData["author"].(map[string]any)["user_id"].(string)} {
+		response := performRequest(fixture.engine, asAuthor(jsonRequest(http.MethodGet, path, "")))
+		if response.Code != http.StatusOK || len(decodeDataMap(t, response)["items"].([]any)) != 2 {
+			t.Fatalf("author private list %s = %d %s", path, response.Code, response.Body.String())
+		}
 	}
 	authorSearch := decodeDataMap(t, performRequest(fixture.engine, asAuthor(jsonRequest(http.MethodGet, "/api/v1/search?q=shoreline", ""))))
 	if items := authorSearch["items"].([]any); len(items) != 2 || authorSearch["year_counts"].([]any)[0].(map[string]any)["count"].(float64) != 2 {
diff --git a/web/src/features/timeline/TimelinePage.test.tsx b/web/src/features/timeline/TimelinePage.test.tsx
index c2ebde17..6ea745ef 100644
--- a/web/src/features/timeline/TimelinePage.test.tsx
+++ b/web/src/features/timeline/TimelinePage.test.tsx
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import { NavigationProvider } from "../../app/navigation";
 import { FeedbackProvider } from "../../components/Feedback";
 import { SessionProvider } from "../auth/SessionProvider";
 import { TimelinePage } from "./TimelinePage";
+import { announcePostChanged } from "../posts/postEvents";
 
 const site: SiteIdentity = {
   profileUserId: "00000000000000000000000000000000",
@@ -104,6 +105,7 @@ function renderTimeline(
   api: PublicApi,
   initialSearch = "",
   canPublish = false,
+  emptyContext: "timeline" | "archive" = "timeline",
 ) {
   return render(
     <FeedbackProvider>
@@ -112,6 +114,7 @@ function renderTimeline(
           api={api}
           initialSearch={initialSearch}
           canPublish={canPublish}
+          emptyContext={emptyContext}
           site={site}
         />
       </NavigationProvider>
@@ -154,6 +157,35 @@ describe("public timeline", () => {
     vi.unstubAllGlobals();
   });
 
+  it.each(["timeline", "archive"] as const)(
+    "keeps private post events scoped to the %s surface",
+    async (context) => {
+      const api = new PublicApi(async () =>
+        page([post("01K2ABCDEF0123456789ABCDE0", "Visible record")], null),
+      );
+      const visible = (await api.timeline()).items[0];
+      renderTimeline(api, "", false, context);
+      await screen.findByText("Visible record");
+      const privatePost = {
+        ...visible,
+        visibility: "only_me" as const,
+        contentMd: "Private record",
+        contentHtml: "<p>Private record</p>",
+      };
+      act(() => announcePostChanged({ kind: "updated", post: privatePost }));
+      expect(screen.queryByText("Private record") !== null).toBe(
+        context === "archive",
+      );
+      expect(screen.queryByText("Visible record")).toBeNull();
+      act(() => announcePostChanged({ kind: "created", post: privatePost }));
+      expect(screen.queryByText("Private record") !== null).toBe(
+        context === "archive",
+      );
+      act(() => announcePostChanged({ kind: "created", post: visible }));
+      expect(await screen.findByText("Visible record")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    },
+  );
+
   it("adds a linked repost at the top, keeps the original, and removes the projection on undo", async () => {
     const id = "01K2ABCDEF0123456789ABCDE0";
     const original = post(id, "一条会被转发的 Moment");
diff --git a/web/src/features/timeline/TimelinePage.tsx b/web/src/features/timeline/TimelinePage.tsx
index d5dd2fd0..d86c696a 100644
--- a/web/src/features/timeline/TimelinePage.tsx
+++ b/web/src/features/timeline/TimelinePage.tsx
@@ -176,24 +176,38 @@ export function TimelinePage({
   /** The top row and where it was, measured just before a page is prepended. */
   const compensation = useRef<{ key: string; top: number } | null>(null);
 
-  const reconcilePostChanges = useCallback((items: PublicPost[]) => {
-    let reconciled = items;
-    for (const event of postChanges.current.values()) {
-      reconciled = reconcileTimelineEvent(reconciled, event);
-    }
-    return reconciled;
-  }, []);
-
-  const handlePostChange = useCallback((event: PostChangeEvent) => {
-    postChanges.current.set(event.post.id, event);
-    setPosts((current) => {
-      if (event.kind === "created") {
-        setFreshId(event.post.id);
-        window.setTimeout(() => setFreshId(null), 700);
+  const reconcilePostChanges = useCallback(
+    (items: PublicPost[]) => {
+      let reconciled = items;
+      for (const event of postChanges.current.values()) {
+        reconciled = reconcileTimelineEvent(
+          reconciled,
+          event,
+          emptyContext === "timeline",
+        );
       }
-      return reconcileTimelineEvent(current, event);
-    });
-  }, []);
+      return reconciled;
+    },
+    [emptyContext],
+  );
+
+  const handlePostChange = useCallback(
+    (event: PostChangeEvent) => {
+      postChanges.current.set(event.post.id, event);
+      setPosts((current) => {
+        if (event.kind === "created") {
+          setFreshId(event.post.id);
+          window.setTimeout(() => setFreshId(null), 700);
+        }
+        return reconcileTimelineEvent(
+          current,
+          event,
+          emptyContext === "timeline",
+        );
+      });
+    },
+    [emptyContext],
+  );
 
   const handleReposted = useCallback(
     (post: PublicPost) => handlePostChange({ kind: "reordered", post }),
diff --git a/web/src/features/timeline/timelineItems.ts b/web/src/features/timeline/timelineItems.ts
index dee27127..b044ac21 100644
--- a/web/src/features/timeline/timelineItems.ts
+++ b/web/src/features/timeline/timelineItems.ts
@@ -44,11 +44,16 @@ function asTimelineItem(
 export function reconcileTimelineEvent(
   current: PublicPost[],
   event: PostChangeEvent,
+  publicOnly = false,
 ): PublicPost[] {
   const matching = current.filter((post) => post.id === event.post.id);
   const others = current.filter((post) => post.id !== event.post.id);
 
-  if (event.kind === "deleted") return others;
+  if (
+    event.kind === "deleted" ||
+    (publicOnly && event.post.visibility === "only_me")
+  )
+    return others;
   if (event.kind === "created") {
     return [asTimelineItem(event.post, "original"), ...others].sort(
       compareTimelineItems,