diff --git a/flutter_client/lib/main.dart b/flutter_client/lib/main.dart
index dfeaa143..88d5cec9 100644
--- a/flutter_client/lib/main.dart
+++ b/flutter_client/lib/main.dart
@@ -14,6 +14,13 @@ Future<void> main() async {
       androidNotificationChannelId: 'com.fabledsword.minstrel.audio',
       androidNotificationChannelName: 'Minstrel playback',
       androidNotificationOngoing: true,
+      // 8a: hand external surfaces (notification / lock screen / Wear)
+      // a downscaled cover instead of full-res album art — smaller
+      // payload, faster paint, lower memory. 300px is ample for those
+      // targets. preloadArtwork warms it so the first paint isn't blank.
+      artDownscaleWidth: 300,
+      artDownscaleHeight: 300,
+      preloadArtwork: true,
     ),
   );
   runApp(ProviderScope(