Reinvigoration of exhausted CD8+ T (Tex) cells by checkpoint immunotherapy depends on the activation of precursors of exhausted T (Tpex) cells, but the local anatomical context of their maintenance, differentiation, and interplay with other cells is not well understood. Here, we identified transcriptionally distinct Tpex subpopulations, mapped their differentiation trajectories via transitory cellular states toward Tex cells, and localized these cell states to specific splenic niches. Conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) were critical for successful αPD-L1 therapy and were required to mediate viral control. cDC1s were dispensable for Tpex cell expansion but provided an essential niche to promote Tpex cell maintenance, preventing their overactivation and T-cell-mediated immunopathology. Mechanistically, cDC1s insulated Tpex cells via MHC-I-dependent interactions to prevent their activation within other inflammatory environments that further aggravated their exhaustion. Our findings reveal that cDC1s maintain and safeguard Tpex cells within distinct anatomical niches to balance viral control, exhaustion, and immunopathology. Display omitted •Determined differentiation trajectory and location of Tex cells and their precursors•cDC1s are essential for viral control but not for Tpex cell expansion•cDC1s maintain Tpex cell niches in an MHC-I-dependent manner•cDC1s limit activation-driven T cell exhaustion and immunopathology Dähling et al. establish the role of cDCs for immunotherapy and find that cDC1s are required to mediate viral control. cDC1s provide a niche to maintain the precursors of exhausted T (Tpex) cell population and prevent their overactivation and subsequent immunopathology. These findings reveal the importance of cDC1s in maintaining Tpex cells to balance viral control, exhaustion, and immunopathology.