diff --git a/Mergin/data_item.py b/Mergin/data_item.py
index 21a06c26..13403d8f 100644
--- a/Mergin/data_item.py
+++ b/Mergin/data_item.py
@@ -141,8 +141,19 @@ def __init__(self, parent, project, project_manager, plugin):
         self.project_name = posixpath.join(project["namespace"], project["name"])  # posix path for server API calls
         self.path = mergin_project_local_path(self.project_name)
         display_name = project["name"]
+        open_project_path = mergin_project_local_path()
+        self.is_open = (
+            self.path is not None and open_project_path is not None and same_dir(self.path, open_project_path)
+        )
+        if self.is_open:
+            display_name = f"{project['name']} • open"
         QgsDirectoryItem.__init__(self, parent, display_name, self.path, "/Mergin/" + self.project_name)
-        self.setSortKey(f"0 {self.name()}")
+        # put the opened project at the beginning of local entries.
+        self.setSortKey(f" 0 {project['name']}" if self.is_open else f"0 {self.name()}")
+        # QgsDirectoryItem.icon() ignores setIcon(), so cache the override and serve it from icon() instead.
+        self._open_icon = (
+            QIcon(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "images", "folder-open.svg")) if self.is_open else None
+        )
         self.project = project
         self.project_manager = project_manager
         if self.project_manager is not None:
@@ -150,6 +161,18 @@ def __init__(self, parent, project, project_manager, plugin):
         else:
             self.mc = None
 
+    def icon(self):
+        """Provide the custom icon for the currently-open project; fall back to the default folder otherwise."""
+        if self.is_open and self._open_icon is not None:
+            return self._open_icon
+        return super().icon()
+
+    def equal(self, other):
+        """Called when the browser tree refreshes; also compare is_open so the diff detects open/close transitions."""
+        if not super().equal(other):
+            return False
+        return getattr(other, "is_open", False) == self.is_open
+
     def open_project(self):
         self.project_manager.open_project(self.path)
 
@@ -507,6 +530,11 @@ def fetch_more(self):
         self.fetch_projects(page=page_to_get)
         self.refresh()
 
+    def reload_local(self):
+        """Re-read local projects from settings and refresh the tree."""
+        self.local_projects = []
+        self.refresh()
+
     def reload(self):
         if not self.plugin.current_workspace:
             self.plugin.choose_active_workspace()
diff --git a/Mergin/images/folder-open.svg b/Mergin/images/folder-open.svg
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2a8d04b0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Mergin/images/folder-open.svg
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="#73D19C">
+  <path d="M3 2h6l3 3h9a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v12a2 2 0 0 1 -2 2h-18a2 2 0 0 1 -2 -2v-15a2 2 0 0 1 2 -2z" />
+</svg>
diff --git a/Mergin/plugin.py b/Mergin/plugin.py
index 88614910..3b473f84 100644
--- a/Mergin/plugin.py
+++ b/Mergin/plugin.py
@@ -540,6 +540,9 @@ def on_qgis_project_changed(self):
         if self.mergin_proj_dir is not None:
             self.enable_toolbar_actions()
             set_qgis_project_mergin_variables(self.mergin_proj_dir)
+        # re-render Browser items so the opened-project indicator follows the active QGIS project.
+        if self.has_browser_item():
+            self.data_item_provider.root_item.reload_local()
 
     def add_context_menu_actions(self, layers):
         provider_names = "vectortile"