diff --git a/documentation/TODO__Agents.md b/documentation/TODO__Agents.md
index 6b7b5e6c..62d2a05f 100644
--- a/documentation/TODO__Agents.md
+++ b/documentation/TODO__Agents.md
@@ -7,6 +7,15 @@
 
 ## 🚧 Upcoming High Priority
 
+### [Stores] Refactor — ae_stores.ts and ae_events_stores.ts cleanup
+Both files have grown organically and are messy. Refactor goals:
+- Split into focused files per domain (core, user/auth, files, module-specific)
+- Remove dead/commented-out code and stale `ver`/`ver_idb` constants from data structs (replaced by `__version` in store_versions.ts)
+- Standardize field naming conventions
+- Move sponsorships/stripe Stripe button IDs out of session store and into config
+- Keep `ae_stores.ts` and `ae_events_stores.ts` as barrel re-exports for backwards compatibility
+Related: `src/lib/stores/store_versions.ts` is the new home for version constants.
+
 ### [Launcher] Active features (identified 2026-03-06)
 
 - [x] **Font size cycler (Launcher sidebar):** Font size cycler and light/dark toggle added to new `menu_launcher_controls.svelte` component; wired into `launcher_menu.svelte`. Visibility toggles (All Files / All Sessions) moved to same component and restyled to `preset-tonal-tertiary`. (2026-03-11)
diff --git a/src/lib/stores/ae_events_stores.ts b/src/lib/stores/ae_events_stores.ts
index a1b61ae2..8d4a7f16 100644
--- a/src/lib/stores/ae_events_stores.ts
+++ b/src/lib/stores/ae_events_stores.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+// store_versions MUST be first import — its side-effect wipes stale localStorage
+// before svelte-persisted-store hydrates from it.
+import { AE_EVENTS_LOC_VERSION } from '$lib/stores/store_versions';
+
 import { persisted } from 'svelte-persisted-store';
 import { writable } from 'svelte/store';
 import type { Writable } from 'svelte/store';
@@ -12,6 +16,7 @@ const ver_idb = '2025-10-16_2139';
 // Longer-term app data. This should be stored to *local* storage.
 // Updated 2024-03-06
 const events_local_data_struct: key_val = {
+    __version: AE_EVENTS_LOC_VERSION, // Schema version gate — see store_versions.ts
     ver: ver,
     ver_idb: ver_idb,
 
diff --git a/src/lib/stores/ae_stores.ts b/src/lib/stores/ae_stores.ts
index 51e45c8a..8f100460 100644
--- a/src/lib/stores/ae_stores.ts
+++ b/src/lib/stores/ae_stores.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+// store_versions MUST be first import — its side-effect wipes stale localStorage
+// before svelte-persisted-store hydrates from it.
+import { AE_LOC_VERSION } from '$lib/stores/store_versions';
+
 import { persisted } from 'svelte-persisted-store';
 
 import { readable, writable } from 'svelte/store';
@@ -62,6 +66,7 @@ const ver_idb = '2025-05-01_1445'; // Not currently used
 
 // *** BEGIN *** Longer-term app data. This should be stored to local storage.
 const ae_app_local_data_defaults: key_val = {
+    __version: AE_LOC_VERSION, // Schema version gate — see store_versions.ts
     last_page_reload: null,
     // last_idb_reload: null,
     // last_cache_refresh: null, // Date.now()
diff --git a/src/lib/stores/store_versions.ts b/src/lib/stores/store_versions.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..081f5500
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/stores/store_versions.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+/**
+ * store_versions.ts
+ *
+ * Single source of truth for persisted store schema versions.
+ *
+ * HOW IT WORKS:
+ * This file is imported at the top of ae_stores.ts and ae_events_stores.ts.
+ * ES modules resolve imports before running the importing module's body,
+ * so the version check + localStorage wipe here runs BEFORE persisted() is
+ * called — meaning stale data is cleared before svelte-persisted-store
+ * can hydrate from it.
+ *
+ * HOW TO USE:
+ * When a store schema changes in a breaking way (type change, required
+ * restructure, field rename that code depends on), bump the relevant version
+ * by 1. Any client with an older version will have that store silently wiped
+ * on next page load. They re-initialize from the new defaults.
+ *
+ * WHAT COUNTS AS BREAKING:
+ *   - Changing a field's type (e.g. string → object, or null → required object)
+ *   - Renaming a field that code reads directly (not just a display label)
+ *   - Restructuring a nested object that breaks existing property access
+ *   DOES NOT require a bump:
+ *   - Adding a new optional field (svelte-persisted-store deep-merges defaults)
+ *   - Removing a field (old value is ignored, no error)
+ *   - Changing a default value when the stored value being stale is acceptable
+ *
+ * localStorage keys:
+ *   'ae_loc'        → AE_LOC_VERSION
+ *   'ae_events_loc' → AE_EVENTS_LOC_VERSION
+ */
+
+export const AE_LOC_VERSION = 1;
+export const AE_EVENTS_LOC_VERSION = 1;
+
+// Version check side-effect: runs on import, before any persisted() call.
+// Guards typeof localStorage for safety (SSR environments, test runners).
+if (typeof localStorage !== 'undefined') {
+    _check_and_wipe('ae_loc', AE_LOC_VERSION);
+    _check_and_wipe('ae_events_loc', AE_EVENTS_LOC_VERSION);
+}
+
+function _check_and_wipe(key: string, expected_version: number): void {
+    try {
+        const raw = localStorage.getItem(key);
+        if (!raw) return; // No stored value — nothing to wipe.
+
+        const parsed = JSON.parse(raw);
+        if (parsed?.__version !== expected_version) {
+            localStorage.removeItem(key);
+            console.info(
+                `[store_versions] '${key}' wiped — schema v${parsed?.__version ?? 'none'} → v${expected_version}`
+            );
+        }
+    } catch {
+        // Corrupt JSON — wipe unconditionally.
+        localStorage.removeItem(key);
+        console.warn(`[store_versions] '${key}' wiped — corrupt JSON in localStorage`);
+    }
+}