Merge pull request 'Home updating-veil rework: change-triggered, settle-driven, with refresh feedback' (#114) from dev into main

The veil raised eagerly: any trigger over a warm cache put it up before
knowing whether the refresh would change anything. So every launch cost
~1-2s of opaque panel even when the pull returned exactly what was already
cached — which, now that the section swap is atomic and the index flow dedups
on ids, produces no visible churn to hide at all. The veil was covering
nothing and only delaying first paint.

The raise is now reactive: it fires when the content key actually differs from
what was already on screen, and never for a no-op refresh. The baseline is the
first state that HAS content, not the first state at all — over a warm cache
the cached rows paint a moment after the session starts, and counting that
first paint as "a change" would veil every launch, which is the thing being
fixed. Cost of reacting rather than anticipating: the veil arrives one emission
after the change, so a single atomic swap shows through. Everything messier
that follows it — tile hydration, then artwork — still lands behind it.

That leaves a hole this closes too: a manual pull where nothing changed would
now produce no veil, no movement, nothing whatsoever, which reads as broken. So
sessions report an outcome — CHANGED / UNCHANGED / FAILED — and Home surfaces
it as "Already up to date" or "Couldn't check for updates".

Only for refreshes a person actually asked for. "Already up to date" on every
launch, every 03:00 rebuild and every reconnect would be worse than silence, so
VeilSessionResult carries a userInitiated bit and background sessions stay
quiet. The bit is tracked separately from the request token because the request
channel is CONFLATED: coalescing drops the older token, and a user's pull must
not be swallowed by a background trigger arriving on its heels.

The surfaced failure is a deliberate narrowing of the earlier "silent on give
up" call, which is now read as being about background refreshes: for a pull the
user deliberately triggered, silence looks broken, and staying silent while the
success case speaks would be incoherent. Recovery is unaffected either way.

Pull-to-refresh now waits for whichever successor actually arrives — the veil,
or the snackbar — via finishedSessions, instead of only ever waiting on the
veil and timing out for 2s on an unchanged pull.

The Error-state Retry goes through the controller as well, so it gets the
retries and reports its outcome; over an empty cache there's no content to
protect, so no veil appears. HomeViewModel.refresh() is gone, replaced by
retry() and refreshFromPull() — the two things that actually exist.

Tests: two changed meaning and are rewritten rather than patched. A failed pull
writes nothing, so the veil no longer stands over the retries — it goes up when
a retry finally lands. And "waits for content to paint" became "cached content
painting is not mistaken for a change", which is the baseline subtlety above.
Added coverage for UNCHANGED, FAILED, the cold-load CHANGED case, and the
conflation of a user request with a background one.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

.gitea/workflows/android.yml

@@ -80,10 +80,16 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Upload debug APK
         if: github.event_name == 'push' && github.ref == 'refs/heads/main'
-        # Gitea Actions runs in GHES-emulation mode; @actions/artifact v2+
-        # (i.e. upload-artifact@v4+) errors with "GHESNotSupportedError".
-        # Pin to @v3 until act_runner or the artifact backend catches up.
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
+        # Mirrored action, never actions/upload-artifact. @v4+ throws
+        # GHESNotSupportedError client-side on the hostname (no server setting
+        # reaches that check), and @v3 is worse — it reports success while Gitea
+        # serves artifacts back only through the v4 API, so the upload is stored
+        # and invisible to every retrieval path. @v3 is what left 72 unreachable
+        # artifacts on this repo. Pinned by SHA because the mirror auto-syncs;
+        # full URL because DEFAULT_ACTIONS_URL sends bare owner/repo to github.com.
+        # See Scribe issues 2255 / 2270.
+        uses: https://git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/upload-artifact@cb8afe72b42edc798abfb8fcb556cf660d894245
         with:
           name: minstrel-android-debug-${{ github.sha }}
           path: android/app/build/outputs/apk/debug/app-debug.apk
+          if-no-files-found: error

.gitea/workflows/release.yml

@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ name: release
 
 # Builds and pushes the minstrel container image to the Gitea registry.
 #
-#   push to main             → :main and :latest (no APK bundled)
-#   push tag vYYYY.MM.DD     → :vYYYY.MM.DD and :latest (APK bundled)
+#   push to main             → :main and :latest (latest-release APK bundled)
+#   push tag vYYYY.MM.DD     → :vYYYY.MM.DD and :latest (freshly-built APK bundled)
 #   workflow_dispatch        → manual trigger (same rules based on the ref)
 #
 # Release model: per-day CalVer tags (no trailing patch digit). The day's
@@ -20,6 +20,14 @@ name: release
 # happens in the same android-release job, so the Release-page download
 # link and the in-image bundled APK are both populated atomically.
 #
+# :latest always carries an APK. Because every main push also moves
+# :latest (not just tags), a main build with no APK would silently strip
+# the in-app update channel off :latest until the next release. So on
+# non-tag builds image-release pulls the MOST RECENT release's signed APK
+# and reconstructs its exact versionName (tag + commit-count, the same
+# formula android-release bakes in) for the version sidecar — no rebuild,
+# just rebundle. Tag builds keep bundling their own freshly-built APK.
+#
 # Android testing (lint + detekt + unit tests, debug APK upload on main)
 # lives in android.yml and runs independently on every push.
 
@@ -123,12 +131,19 @@ jobs:
             -PMINSTREL_VERSION_CODE=${{ steps.ver.outputs.code }}
 
       - name: Upload APK as workflow artifact
-        # @v3 because Gitea Actions emulates GHES and the v2 artifact
-        # backend used by upload-artifact@v4 errors with GHESNotSupportedError.
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
+        # Mirrored action, never actions/upload-artifact — @v4+ refuses on the
+        # hostname, @v3 uploads something Gitea will never serve back. This is
+        # the producing half of a pair: image-release downloads `minstrel-apk`
+        # below with the matching download-artifact mirror. Both must stay on
+        # the v4 protocol — mixing a v3 upload with a v4 download (or the
+        # reverse) yields an empty listing, not an error. See Scribe 2255 / 2270.
+        uses: https://git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/upload-artifact@cb8afe72b42edc798abfb8fcb556cf660d894245
         with:
           name: minstrel-apk
           path: android/app/build/outputs/apk/release/app-release.apk
+          # error, not the default warn: image-release hard-depends on this
+          # artifact existing, so an empty upload must fail here, not there.
+          if-no-files-found: error
 
       - name: Attach APK to gitea Release
         shell: bash
@@ -181,6 +196,12 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          # Full history + tags so non-tag :latest builds can resolve the
+          # latest release tag's commit count and reconstruct the bundled
+          # APK's exact versionName (see "Bundle latest release APK" below).
+          fetch-depth: 0
+          fetch-tags: true
 
       - name: Detect buildable project
         id: guard
@@ -221,11 +242,23 @@ jobs:
             | docker login git.fabledsword.com -u "${{ github.actor }}" --password-stdin
 
       - name: Download signed APK artifact
-        # Tag pushes only — android-release just produced this. Main
-        # pushes skip and the image ships with empty client/ (the
-        # /api/client/version endpoint then returns 404 by design).
+        # Tag pushes only — android-release just produced this. Non-tag
+        # builds take the "Bundle latest release APK" path below instead.
         if: steps.guard.outputs.ready == 'true' && startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/v')
-        uses: actions/download-artifact@v3
+        # Consuming half of the pair — never actions/download-artifact. Same fork,
+        # same reason: upstream's client-side GHES check rejects this hostname
+        # before it connects. bvandeusen/download-artifact mirrors
+        # code.forgejo.org/forgejo/download-artifact.
+        #
+        # SHA below is that fork's `v6` tag. Match on @actions/artifact, NOT on
+        # the action's own version number — the two actions release on unrelated
+        # cadences, and download v5 would pair a ^2.3.2 client with this file's
+        # ^4.0.0 uploader. v6 is the tag whose bundled library major (^4.0.0) is
+        # the same one proven against this instance by the upload side.
+        # Deliberately NOT v7: it moves to node24 and upstream requires runner
+        # >= 2.327.1 for it, which act_runner does not claim to satisfy.
+        # Pinned, not tagged — the mirror auto-syncs every 8h.
+        uses: https://git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/download-artifact@8d4e9521a5f7e5f8b6351f341f719f9f45a92a3a
         with:
           name: minstrel-apk
           path: client/
@@ -247,6 +280,42 @@ jobs:
           echo "${APK_VERSION_NAME}" > client/minstrel.apk.version
           ls -lh client/
 
+      - name: Bundle latest release APK (non-tag :latest builds)
+        # Main pushes don't build an APK, but they DO move :latest — so
+        # without this the in-app update channel would vanish from :latest
+        # until the next tag. Pull the most-recent release's signed APK and
+        # reconstruct its exact versionName (${TAG#v}.$(git rev-list --count
+        # TAG) — identical to android-release's formula) so the version
+        # sidecar the server hands clients matches the installed build.
+        # Degrades to an empty client/ (404 update channel) — never a wrong
+        # version — if no release / APK asset / tag-count can be resolved.
+        if: steps.guard.outputs.ready == 'true' && !startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/v')
+        shell: bash
+        env:
+          CI_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CI_TOKEN }}
+        run: |
+          set -eu
+          REPO="${GITHUB_REPOSITORY}"
+          REL_JSON="$(curl -fsSL -H "Authorization: token ${CI_TOKEN}" \
+            "https://git.fabledsword.com/api/v1/repos/${REPO}/releases/latest" || true)"
+          if [ -z "${REL_JSON}" ]; then
+            echo "::notice::no published release — image ships without bundled APK"; exit 0
+          fi
+          TAG="$(printf '%s' "${REL_JSON}" | grep -oP '"tag_name":\s*"\K[^"]+' | head -1)"
+          APK_URL="$(printf '%s' "${REL_JSON}" | grep -oP '"browser_download_url":\s*"\K[^"]+' | grep -E '\.apk$' | head -1)"
+          if [ -z "${TAG}" ] || [ -z "${APK_URL}" ]; then
+            echo "::notice::latest release '${TAG:-?}' has no APK asset — image ships without bundled APK"; exit 0
+          fi
+          COUNT="$(git rev-list --count "${TAG}" 2>/dev/null || true)"
+          if [ -z "${COUNT}" ]; then
+            echo "::notice::could not resolve commit count for ${TAG} (tag not fetched?) — skipping APK bundle"; exit 0
+          fi
+          VERSION_NAME="${TAG#v}.${COUNT}"
+          curl -fsSL -H "Authorization: token ${CI_TOKEN}" -o client/minstrel.apk "${APK_URL}"
+          echo "${VERSION_NAME}" > client/minstrel.apk.version
+          echo "::notice::bundled release APK ${TAG} as version ${VERSION_NAME}"
+          ls -lh client/
+
       - name: Build and push
         if: steps.guard.outputs.ready == 'true'
         run: |

README.md

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ A self-hosted music server that thinks for you. Smart shuffle, contextual likes,
 
 > State and intelligence belong on the server, not the client.
 
-<!-- TODO: screenshot of the home page -->
+<a href="docs/screenshots/home.png"><img src="docs/screenshots/home.png" width="820" alt="Minstrel home — your library at a glance"></a>
 
 ## Highlights
 
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ A self-hosted music server that thinks for you. Smart shuffle, contextual likes,
 - **ListenBrainz radio.** Session-aware "more like this" pulls from ListenBrainz similarity data, not a static genre tag.
 - **Lidarr integration.** Triggered scans, request-driven album imports, and a quarantine flow when something doesn't fit.
 - **Built-in web SPA.** Full-feature library, search, queue, playlists, and admin — no separate frontend container to deploy.
-- **Flutter mobile client in flight.** Tracking issue [#356](https://git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/issues/356).
+- **Native Android client, shipped with the server.** The signed APK is bundled into every image and attached to each [release](https://git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel/releases) — sideload it once, then the app self-updates straight from your own server (no app store, no separate download to track).
 
 ## Quickstart
 
@@ -24,10 +24,18 @@ services:
     image: git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel:latest
     ports: ['4533:4533']
     volumes:
+      # Your music library. Point ./music at wherever your audio files
+      # live. Mounted read-only — Minstrel never writes to your library.
       - ./music:/music:ro
-      - minstrel-data:/data
+      # Generated data: playlist cover collages, artist art, caches.
+      # The path must match MINSTREL_STORAGE_DATA_DIR, which the image
+      # sets to /app/data — keep this mount on /app/data or your cache
+      # won't survive a container recreate.
+      - minstrel-data:/app/data
     environment:
       MINSTREL_DATABASE_URL: postgres://minstrel:minstrel@db:5432/minstrel?sslmode=disable
+      # Colon-separated library roots to scan; must match the container
+      # path of the read-only music mount above (/music here).
       MINSTREL_LIBRARY_SCAN_PATHS: /music
     depends_on: [db]
 
@@ -37,6 +45,8 @@ services:
       POSTGRES_USER: minstrel
       POSTGRES_PASSWORD: minstrel
       POSTGRES_DB: minstrel
+    # Postgres data dir — users, likes, play history, sessions, settings.
+    # The one volume you must never lose; back it up with pg_dump.
     volumes: [pgdata:/var/lib/postgresql/data]
 
 volumes:
@@ -48,7 +58,29 @@ volumes:
 docker compose up -d
 ```
 
-After the stack is up, visit `http://localhost:4533/register` and create your admin account. The first user to register on a fresh instance is automatically marked as the administrator; subsequent users can register through the same form (or via invite tokens generated from the admin Users panel, depending on how you configure registration).
+## First run
+
+With the stack up, a handful of in-app steps get you to a working library. Use your own host in place of `localhost` if you're reaching the server over a LAN/VPN address (plain `http://` is fine — no TLS required).
+
+**1. Create your admin account.** Visit `http://localhost:4533/register`. The first account on a fresh instance is automatically the administrator; later users join through the same form or an invite token (step 5).
+
+<a href="docs/screenshots/register.png"><img src="docs/screenshots/register.png" width="320" alt="Creating the first (admin) account on a fresh instance"></a>
+
+**2. Let the first library scan finish.** `scan_on_startup` is on by default, so Minstrel walks your mounted library on boot and imports artists, albums, and tracks — no button to press. Watch progress (and re-scan any time) on the **Admin** page (`/admin`); the scan runs in stages and is incremental, so later restarts only pick up what changed.
+
+<a href="docs/screenshots/library-scan.png"><img src="docs/screenshots/library-scan.png" width="820" alt="The Admin page, where the library scan runs and reports progress"></a>
+
+**3. (Optional) Name the instance and wire up integrations.** In admin **Settings → Integrations** (`/admin/integrations`), add a ListenBrainz token (scrobbling + similarity radio) and/or a Lidarr URL + API key (the request flow). These live in the UI and apply without a restart; the display name can also be set via `MINSTREL_BRANDING_APP_NAME`.
+
+<a href="docs/screenshots/integrations.png"><img src="docs/screenshots/integrations.png" width="820" alt="ListenBrainz and Lidarr integration cards in admin Settings"></a>
+
+**4. Install the Android app.** Open **Settings** (`/settings`) and use the *Install the Android app* card to download the APK that ships inside this server image, then sign in with the same account. From then on the app self-updates straight from your server.
+
+<a href="docs/screenshots/android-download.png"><img src="docs/screenshots/android-download.png" width="820" alt="The &quot;Install the Android app&quot; download card in Settings"></a>
+
+**5. Invite the rest of the household.** From admin **Users** (`/admin/users`), generate an invite token (or enable open registration). Each person gets their own account, so likes, play history, and recommendations stay per-user.
+
+<a href="docs/screenshots/invite-users.png"><img src="docs/screenshots/invite-users.png" width="820" alt="Generating an invite token in admin Users"></a>
 
 For the full configuration surface, see [`config.example.yaml`](./config.example.yaml).
 
@@ -57,7 +89,7 @@ For the full configuration surface, see [`config.example.yaml`](./config.example
 Most operators only need the env vars in the quickstart above. A few extras worth knowing:
 
 - `MINSTREL_BRANDING_APP_NAME` — rename the instance ("Family Jukebox", "Office Music"). Surfaces in the header, browser tab, and OG share previews.
-- `MINSTREL_STORAGE_DATA_DIR` — defaults to `./data`. Holds playlist cover collages and other generated artefacts.
+- `MINSTREL_STORAGE_DATA_DIR` — where generated artefacts (playlist cover collages, artist art, caches) are written. The container image sets this to `/app/data`, which is why the quickstart mounts the `minstrel-data` volume there.
 - `MINSTREL_LIBRARY_SCAN_PATHS` — colon-separated list of music library roots to scan. Supports multiple roots (`/music:/podcasts`).
 
 ListenBrainz integration (per-user scrobble + similarity tokens) and Lidarr integration (URL + API key) are configured through the admin Settings UI rather than env vars or yaml — per Minstrel's "config in UI" rule, integration settings live where operators can edit them without restarting.
@@ -66,8 +98,13 @@ Most operational keys have a `MINSTREL_<SECTION>_<FIELD>` env override. Recommen
 
 ## Updating
 
-- `:main` — rolling, follows the dev branch's tested tip. Recommended only for the operator who's running an upstream-watching deployment.
-- `:v1.0.x` — pinned releases. Recommended default. Database migrations run automatically at startup; rollbacks require restoring a Postgres dump.
+Image tags (`git.fabledsword.com/bvandeusen/minstrel:<tag>`):
+
+- `:latest` — the newest blessed image. Moves on every `main` push **and** every release. Recommended for most operators.
+- `:vYYYY.MM.DD` — immutable per-day release tags. Pin one of these for a deployment you don't want moving under you. (Per-day CalVer — no trailing patch digit; a same-day re-cut moves the tag forward.)
+- `:main` — the rolling post-merge tip. Same image as `:latest` at push time; choose it if you want to track `main` explicitly rather than the release line.
+
+Every `:latest` and every `:vYYYY.MM.DD` bundles the current signed Android APK, so the in-app update channel is always live. Database migrations run automatically at startup; rollbacks require restoring a Postgres dump.
 
 ## Specs
 

android/.idea/caches/deviceStreaming.xml

@@ -1754,6 +1754,19 @@
           <option name="screenX" value="1600" />
           <option name="screenY" value="2560" />
         </PersistentDeviceSelectionData>
+        <PersistentDeviceSelectionData>
+          <option name="api" value="36" />
+          <option name="brand" value="google" />
+          <option name="codename" value="tangorpro" />
+          <option name="formFactor" value="Tablet" />
+          <option name="id" value="tangorpro" />
+          <option name="labId" value="google" />
+          <option name="manufacturer" value="Google" />
+          <option name="name" value="Pixel Tablet" />
+          <option name="screenDensity" value="320" />
+          <option name="screenX" value="1600" />
+          <option name="screenY" value="2560" />
+        </PersistentDeviceSelectionData>
         <PersistentDeviceSelectionData>
           <option name="api" value="35" />
           <option name="brand" value="google" />

android/.idea/misc.xml

@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
 <project version="4">
   <component name="ExternalStorageConfigurationManager" enabled="true" />
   <component name="ProjectRootManager" version="2" languageLevel="JDK_21" default="true" project-jdk-name="jbr-21" project-jdk-type="JavaSDK">

android/app/build.gradle.kts

@@ -210,4 +210,17 @@ dependencies {
     debugImplementation(libs.compose.ui.test.manifest)
 }
 
-tasks.withType<Test> { useJUnitPlatform() }
+tasks.withType<Test> {
+    useJUnitPlatform()
+    // Print the assertion message + full stack trace for failures. The
+    // default console output gives only "AssertionError at Foo.kt:12", and
+    // for a failure inside a `runTest { }` lambda even that line collapses
+    // to the test function's own line (the assertion frames live in the
+    // suspend-lambda class, which Gradle filters out) — leaving nothing to
+    // debug from when the HTML report isn't reachable, as in CI.
+    testLogging {
+        events("failed")
+        exceptionFormat = org.gradle.api.tasks.testing.logging.TestExceptionFormat.FULL
+        showStackTraces = true
+    }
+}

android/app/schemas/com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.AppDatabase/6.json

@@ -0,0 +1,690 @@
+{
+  "formatVersion": 1,
+  "database": {
+    "version": 6,
+    "identityHash": "fb73ed8674efb1d82a586551baba5ef0",
+    "entities": [
+      {
+        "tableName": "sync_metadata",
+        "createSql": "CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `${TABLE_NAME}` (`id` INTEGER NOT NULL, `cursor` INTEGER NOT NULL, `lastSyncAt` INTEGER, PRIMARY KEY(`id`))",
+        "fields": [
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "id",
+            "columnName": "id",
+            "affinity": "INTEGER",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "cursor",
+            "columnName": "cursor",
+            "affinity": "INTEGER",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "lastSyncAt",
+            "columnName": "lastSyncAt",
+            "affinity": "INTEGER"
+          }
+        ],
+        "primaryKey": {
+          "autoGenerate": false,
+          "columnNames": [
+            "id"
+          ]
+        }
+      },
+      {
+        "tableName": "cached_artists",
+        "createSql": "CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `${TABLE_NAME}` (`id` TEXT NOT NULL, `name` TEXT NOT NULL, `sortName` TEXT NOT NULL, `mbid` TEXT, `artistThumbPath` TEXT, `artistFanartPath` TEXT, `fetchedAt` INTEGER NOT NULL, PRIMARY KEY(`id`))",
+        "fields": [
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "id",
+            "columnName": "id",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "name",
+            "columnName": "name",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "sortName",
+            "columnName": "sortName",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "mbid",
+            "columnName": "mbid",
+            "affinity": "TEXT"
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "artistThumbPath",
+            "columnName": "artistThumbPath",
+            "affinity": "TEXT"
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "artistFanartPath",
+            "columnName": "artistFanartPath",
+            "affinity": "TEXT"
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "fetchedAt",
+            "columnName": "fetchedAt",
+            "affinity": "INTEGER",
+            "notNull": true
+          }
+        ],
+        "primaryKey": {
+          "autoGenerate": false,
+          "columnNames": [
+            "id"
+          ]
+        }
+      },
+      {
+        "tableName": "cached_albums",
+        "createSql": "CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `${TABLE_NAME}` (`id` TEXT NOT NULL, `artistId` TEXT NOT NULL, `title` TEXT NOT NULL, `sortTitle` TEXT NOT NULL, `releaseDate` TEXT, `coverPath` TEXT, `mbid` TEXT, `fetchedAt` INTEGER NOT NULL, PRIMARY KEY(`id`))",
+        "fields": [
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "id",
+            "columnName": "id",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "artistId",
+            "columnName": "artistId",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "title",
+            "columnName": "title",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "sortTitle",
+            "columnName": "sortTitle",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "releaseDate",
+            "columnName": "releaseDate",
+            "affinity": "TEXT"
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "coverPath",
+            "columnName": "coverPath",
+            "affinity": "TEXT"
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "mbid",
+            "columnName": "mbid",
+            "affinity": "TEXT"
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "fetchedAt",
+            "columnName": "fetchedAt",
+            "affinity": "INTEGER",
+            "notNull": true
+          }
+        ],
+        "primaryKey": {
+          "autoGenerate": false,
+          "columnNames": [
+            "id"
+          ]
+        }
+      },
+      {
+        "tableName": "cached_tracks",
+        "createSql": "CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `${TABLE_NAME}` (`id` TEXT NOT NULL, `albumId` TEXT NOT NULL, `artistId` TEXT NOT NULL, `title` TEXT NOT NULL, `durationMs` INTEGER NOT NULL, `trackNumber` INTEGER, `discNumber` INTEGER, `filePath` TEXT, `fileFormat` TEXT, `genre` TEXT, `fetchedAt` INTEGER NOT NULL, PRIMARY KEY(`id`))",
+        "fields": [
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "id",
+            "columnName": "id",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "albumId",
+            "columnName": "albumId",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "artistId",
+            "columnName": "artistId",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "title",
+            "columnName": "title",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "durationMs",
+            "columnName": "durationMs",
+            "affinity": "INTEGER",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "trackNumber",
+            "columnName": "trackNumber",
+            "affinity": "INTEGER"
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "discNumber",
+            "columnName": "discNumber",
+            "affinity": "INTEGER"
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "filePath",
+            "columnName": "filePath",
+            "affinity": "TEXT"
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "fileFormat",
+            "columnName": "fileFormat",
+            "affinity": "TEXT"
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "genre",
+            "columnName": "genre",
+            "affinity": "TEXT"
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "fetchedAt",
+            "columnName": "fetchedAt",
+            "affinity": "INTEGER",
+            "notNull": true
+          }
+        ],
+        "primaryKey": {
+          "autoGenerate": false,
+          "columnNames": [
+            "id"
+          ]
+        }
+      },
+      {
+        "tableName": "cached_likes",
+        "createSql": "CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `${TABLE_NAME}` (`userId` TEXT NOT NULL, `entityType` TEXT NOT NULL, `entityId` TEXT NOT NULL, `likedAt` INTEGER NOT NULL, PRIMARY KEY(`userId`, `entityType`, `entityId`))",
+        "fields": [
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "userId",
+            "columnName": "userId",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "entityType",
+            "columnName": "entityType",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "entityId",
+            "columnName": "entityId",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "likedAt",
+            "columnName": "likedAt",
+            "affinity": "INTEGER",
+            "notNull": true
+          }
+        ],
+        "primaryKey": {
+          "autoGenerate": false,
+          "columnNames": [
+            "userId",
+            "entityType",
+            "entityId"
+          ]
+        }
+      },
+      {
+        "tableName": "cached_playlists",
+        "createSql": "CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `${TABLE_NAME}` (`id` TEXT NOT NULL, `userId` TEXT NOT NULL, `name` TEXT NOT NULL, `description` TEXT NOT NULL, `isPublic` INTEGER NOT NULL, `coverPath` TEXT, `trackCount` INTEGER NOT NULL, `durationSec` INTEGER NOT NULL, `systemVariant` TEXT, `fetchedAt` INTEGER NOT NULL, PRIMARY KEY(`id`))",
+        "fields": [
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "id",
+            "columnName": "id",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "userId",
+            "columnName": "userId",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "name",
+            "columnName": "name",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "description",
+            "columnName": "description",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "isPublic",
+            "columnName": "isPublic",
+            "affinity": "INTEGER",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "coverPath",
+            "columnName": "coverPath",
+            "affinity": "TEXT"
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "trackCount",
+            "columnName": "trackCount",
+            "affinity": "INTEGER",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "durationSec",
+            "columnName": "durationSec",
+            "affinity": "INTEGER",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "systemVariant",
+            "columnName": "systemVariant",
+            "affinity": "TEXT"
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "fetchedAt",
+            "columnName": "fetchedAt",
+            "affinity": "INTEGER",
+            "notNull": true
+          }
+        ],
+        "primaryKey": {
+          "autoGenerate": false,
+          "columnNames": [
+            "id"
+          ]
+        }
+      },
+      {
+        "tableName": "cached_playlist_tracks",
+        "createSql": "CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `${TABLE_NAME}` (`playlistId` TEXT NOT NULL, `trackId` TEXT NOT NULL, `position` INTEGER NOT NULL, PRIMARY KEY(`playlistId`, `trackId`))",
+        "fields": [
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "playlistId",
+            "columnName": "playlistId",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "trackId",
+            "columnName": "trackId",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "position",
+            "columnName": "position",
+            "affinity": "INTEGER",
+            "notNull": true
+          }
+        ],
+        "primaryKey": {
+          "autoGenerate": false,
+          "columnNames": [
+            "playlistId",
+            "trackId"
+          ]
+        }
+      },
+      {
+        "tableName": "cached_quarantine_mine",
+        "createSql": "CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `${TABLE_NAME}` (`trackId` TEXT NOT NULL, `reason` TEXT NOT NULL, `notes` TEXT, `createdAt` TEXT NOT NULL, `trackTitle` TEXT NOT NULL, `trackDurationMs` INTEGER NOT NULL, `albumId` TEXT NOT NULL, `albumTitle` TEXT NOT NULL, `albumCoverArtPath` TEXT, `artistId` TEXT NOT NULL, `artistName` TEXT NOT NULL, `fetchedAt` INTEGER NOT NULL, PRIMARY KEY(`trackId`))",
+        "fields": [
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "trackId",
+            "columnName": "trackId",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "reason",
+            "columnName": "reason",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "notes",
+            "columnName": "notes",
+            "affinity": "TEXT"
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "createdAt",
+            "columnName": "createdAt",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "trackTitle",
+            "columnName": "trackTitle",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "trackDurationMs",
+            "columnName": "trackDurationMs",
+            "affinity": "INTEGER",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "albumId",
+            "columnName": "albumId",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "albumTitle",
+            "columnName": "albumTitle",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "albumCoverArtPath",
+            "columnName": "albumCoverArtPath",
+            "affinity": "TEXT"
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "artistId",
+            "columnName": "artistId",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "artistName",
+            "columnName": "artistName",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "fetchedAt",
+            "columnName": "fetchedAt",
+            "affinity": "INTEGER",
+            "notNull": true
+          }
+        ],
+        "primaryKey": {
+          "autoGenerate": false,
+          "columnNames": [
+            "trackId"
+          ]
+        }
+      },
+      {
+        "tableName": "audio_cache_index",
+        "createSql": "CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `${TABLE_NAME}` (`trackId` TEXT NOT NULL, `path` TEXT NOT NULL, `sizeBytes` INTEGER NOT NULL, `cachedAt` INTEGER NOT NULL, `lastPlayedAt` INTEGER, `source` TEXT NOT NULL, PRIMARY KEY(`trackId`))",
+        "fields": [
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "trackId",
+            "columnName": "trackId",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "path",
+            "columnName": "path",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "sizeBytes",
+            "columnName": "sizeBytes",
+            "affinity": "INTEGER",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "cachedAt",
+            "columnName": "cachedAt",
+            "affinity": "INTEGER",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "lastPlayedAt",
+            "columnName": "lastPlayedAt",
+            "affinity": "INTEGER"
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "source",
+            "columnName": "source",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          }
+        ],
+        "primaryKey": {
+          "autoGenerate": false,
+          "columnNames": [
+            "trackId"
+          ]
+        }
+      },
+      {
+        "tableName": "cached_mutations",
+        "createSql": "CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `${TABLE_NAME}` (`id` INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT NOT NULL, `kind` TEXT NOT NULL, `payload` TEXT NOT NULL, `createdAt` INTEGER NOT NULL, `lastAttemptAt` INTEGER, `attempts` INTEGER NOT NULL)",
+        "fields": [
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "id",
+            "columnName": "id",
+            "affinity": "INTEGER",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "kind",
+            "columnName": "kind",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "payload",
+            "columnName": "payload",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "createdAt",
+            "columnName": "createdAt",
+            "affinity": "INTEGER",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "lastAttemptAt",
+            "columnName": "lastAttemptAt",
+            "affinity": "INTEGER"
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "attempts",
+            "columnName": "attempts",
+            "affinity": "INTEGER",
+            "notNull": true
+          }
+        ],
+        "primaryKey": {
+          "autoGenerate": true,
+          "columnNames": [
+            "id"
+          ]
+        }
+      },
+      {
+        "tableName": "cached_resume_state",
+        "createSql": "CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `${TABLE_NAME}` (`id` INTEGER NOT NULL, `json` TEXT NOT NULL, `updatedAt` INTEGER NOT NULL, PRIMARY KEY(`id`))",
+        "fields": [
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "id",
+            "columnName": "id",
+            "affinity": "INTEGER",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "json",
+            "columnName": "json",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "updatedAt",
+            "columnName": "updatedAt",
+            "affinity": "INTEGER",
+            "notNull": true
+          }
+        ],
+        "primaryKey": {
+          "autoGenerate": false,
+          "columnNames": [
+            "id"
+          ]
+        }
+      },
+      {
+        "tableName": "cached_home_index",
+        "createSql": "CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `${TABLE_NAME}` (`section` TEXT NOT NULL, `position` INTEGER NOT NULL, `entityType` TEXT NOT NULL, `entityId` TEXT NOT NULL, `fetchedAt` INTEGER NOT NULL, PRIMARY KEY(`section`, `position`))",
+        "fields": [
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "section",
+            "columnName": "section",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "position",
+            "columnName": "position",
+            "affinity": "INTEGER",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "entityType",
+            "columnName": "entityType",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "entityId",
+            "columnName": "entityId",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "fetchedAt",
+            "columnName": "fetchedAt",
+            "affinity": "INTEGER",
+            "notNull": true
+          }
+        ],
+        "primaryKey": {
+          "autoGenerate": false,
+          "columnNames": [
+            "section",
+            "position"
+          ]
+        }
+      },
+      {
+        "tableName": "cached_history_snapshot",
+        "createSql": "CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `${TABLE_NAME}` (`id` INTEGER NOT NULL, `json` TEXT NOT NULL, `updatedAt` INTEGER NOT NULL, PRIMARY KEY(`id`))",
+        "fields": [
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "id",
+            "columnName": "id",
+            "affinity": "INTEGER",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "json",
+            "columnName": "json",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "updatedAt",
+            "columnName": "updatedAt",
+            "affinity": "INTEGER",
+            "notNull": true
+          }
+        ],
+        "primaryKey": {
+          "autoGenerate": false,
+          "columnNames": [
+            "id"
+          ]
+        }
+      },
+      {
+        "tableName": "auth_session",
+        "createSql": "CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `${TABLE_NAME}` (`id` INTEGER NOT NULL, `sessionCookie` TEXT, `baseUrl` TEXT NOT NULL, `userJson` TEXT, `themeMode` TEXT, `clientId` TEXT, `cacheSettingsJson` TEXT, PRIMARY KEY(`id`))",
+        "fields": [
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "id",
+            "columnName": "id",
+            "affinity": "INTEGER",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "sessionCookie",
+            "columnName": "sessionCookie",
+            "affinity": "TEXT"
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "baseUrl",
+            "columnName": "baseUrl",
+            "affinity": "TEXT",
+            "notNull": true
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "userJson",
+            "columnName": "userJson",
+            "affinity": "TEXT"
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "themeMode",
+            "columnName": "themeMode",
+            "affinity": "TEXT"
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "clientId",
+            "columnName": "clientId",
+            "affinity": "TEXT"
+          },
+          {
+            "fieldPath": "cacheSettingsJson",
+            "columnName": "cacheSettingsJson",
+            "affinity": "TEXT"
+          }
+        ],
+        "primaryKey": {
+          "autoGenerate": false,
+          "columnNames": [
+            "id"
+          ]
+        }
+      }
+    ],
+    "setupQueries": [
+      "CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS room_master_table (id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,identity_hash TEXT)",
+      "INSERT OR REPLACE INTO room_master_table (id,identity_hash) VALUES(42, 'fb73ed8674efb1d82a586551baba5ef0')"
+    ]
+  }
+}

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/MainActivity.kt

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.auth.ui.AuthGateViewModel
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.CachedTrackIds
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.LocalServerHealth
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.ServerHealth
-import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.ServerHealthController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.DetailSeedCache
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.LocalDetailSeedCache
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.MinstrelNavGraph
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ import javax.inject.Inject
 class MainActivity : ComponentActivity() {
     @Inject lateinit var seedCache: DetailSeedCache
     @Inject lateinit var cachedTrackIds: CachedTrackIds
-    @Inject lateinit var serverHealth: ServerHealthController
+    @Inject lateinit var serverHealth: NetworkStatusController
 
     // Flipped to true when the user taps the media notification (or
     // any other entry point that asks for the full player). The App
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ class MainActivity : ComponentActivity() {
 private fun App(
     seedCache: DetailSeedCache,
     cachedTrackIds: CachedTrackIds,
-    serverHealth: ServerHealthController,
+    serverHealth: NetworkStatusController,
     pendingOpenNowPlaying: StateFlow<Boolean>,
     onOpenedNowPlaying: () -> Unit,
     themeVm: ThemePreferenceViewModel = hiltViewModel(),

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/MinstrelApplication.kt

@@ -6,10 +6,13 @@ import androidx.work.Configuration
 import coil3.ImageLoader
 import coil3.SingletonImageLoader
 import coil3.network.okhttp.OkHttpNetworkFetcherFactory
+import coil3.request.crossfade
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.CacheIndexer
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.mutations.MutationReplayer
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.sync.SyncController
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.di.ApplicationScope
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.diagnostics.DiagnosticsReporter
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.diagnostics.DiagnosticsUploader
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.events.EventsStream
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.events.LiveEventsDispatcher
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.metadata.FreshnessSweeper
@@ -19,8 +22,7 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.PlayEventsReporter
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.PlaybackErrorReporter
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.ResumeController
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.update.data.UpdateBannerController
-import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.ServerHealthController
-import com.fabledsword.minstrel.update.data.VersionCheckController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
 import dagger.hilt.android.HiltAndroidApp
 import kotlinx.coroutines.CoroutineScope
 import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
@@ -28,6 +30,10 @@ import okhttp3.OkHttpClient
 import timber.log.Timber
 import javax.inject.Inject
 
+// Cover-art fade-in. Coil skips the transition for memory-cache hits, so
+// already-loaded art still appears instantly — only a genuine fetch fades.
+private const val ART_CROSSFADE_MS = 220
+
 @HiltAndroidApp
 class MinstrelApplication :
     Application(),
@@ -115,21 +121,13 @@ class MinstrelApplication :
     @Suppress("unused") @Inject lateinit var audioPrefetcher: AudioPrefetcher
 
     /**
-     * Same construct-the-singleton trick — VersionCheckController's
-     * init block starts a 5-min poll loop against /healthz so the
-     * shell-level VersionTooOldBanner can surface min_client_version
-     * mismatches without waiting for the next user-driven request.
+     * Same construct-the-singleton trick — NetworkStatusController owns the
+     * /healthz poll loop + the device-link collector + the reachability state
+     * machine, and is the single authority on the tri-state ServerHealth
+     * signal (plus the VersionTooOld byproduct). It must exist from launch so
+     * the poll loop runs and the StateFlow stays warm for every consumer.
      */
-    @Suppress("unused") @Inject lateinit var versionCheckController: VersionCheckController
-
-    /**
-     * Same construct-the-singleton trick — ServerHealthController combines
-     * ConnectivityObserver + VersionCheckController.reachable into the
-     * tri-state ServerHealth signal. Its stateIn is `SharingStarted.Eagerly`
-     * so the StateFlow needs an active subscriber from launch onward; the
-     * @Inject keeps the singleton alive and the flow collecting.
-     */
-    @Suppress("unused") @Inject lateinit var serverHealthController: ServerHealthController
+    @Suppress("unused") @Inject lateinit var networkStatusController: NetworkStatusController
 
     /**
      * Same construct-the-singleton trick — UpdateBannerController polls
@@ -164,6 +162,11 @@ class MinstrelApplication :
      */
     @Suppress("unused") @Inject lateinit var liveEventsDispatcher: LiveEventsDispatcher
 
+    // Device diagnostics (M9). The reporter gates itself on the account's
+    // debug flag; the uploader drains its buffer on a tick / recovery.
+    @Suppress("unused") @Inject lateinit var diagnosticsReporter: DiagnosticsReporter
+    @Suppress("unused") @Inject lateinit var diagnosticsUploader: DiagnosticsUploader
+
     @Inject @ApplicationScope lateinit var appScope: CoroutineScope
 
     override fun onCreate() {
@@ -215,11 +218,18 @@ class MinstrelApplication :
      * OkHttp client as the network fetcher. The `callFactory` lambda
      * is invoked lazily so Hilt has time to inject `okHttpClient`
      * before Coil makes its first request.
+     *
+     * Crossfade is set here rather than per-call so every cover surface
+     * in the app fades its artwork in instead of snapping it. Art
+     * landing a beat after its tile was the most visible pop-in on Home
+     * (issue #2327); `ServerImage` fades its placeholder out over the
+     * same window so the two read as one cross-dissolve.
      */
     override fun newImageLoader(context: android.content.Context): ImageLoader =
         ImageLoader.Builder(context)
             .components {
                 add(OkHttpNetworkFetcherFactory(callFactory = { okHttpClient }))
             }
+            .crossfade(ART_CROSSFADE_MS)
             .build()
 }

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/admin/data/AdminTagSourcesRepository.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+package com.fabledsword.minstrel.admin.data
+
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.endpoints.AdminTagSourcesApi
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.endpoints.UpdateTagSourceBody
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.AdminTagSourceRef
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.TagSourceTestResult
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.wire.AdminTagSourceWire
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.wire.TestTagSourceWire
+import retrofit2.Retrofit
+import retrofit2.create
+import javax.inject.Inject
+import javax.inject.Singleton
+
+/**
+ * Read-through accessor for the tag-enrichment provider settings (#1521).
+ * No Room caching — admin settings are infrequent point-and-shoot edits;
+ * mutations fire direct REST and the ViewModel reconciles on failure.
+ * Exceptions propagate to the ViewModel (which maps them via ErrorCopy).
+ */
+@Singleton
+class AdminTagSourcesRepository @Inject constructor(
+    retrofit: Retrofit,
+) {
+    private val api: AdminTagSourcesApi = retrofit.create()
+
+    suspend fun list(): List<AdminTagSourceRef> = api.list().providers.map { it.toDomain() }
+
+    suspend fun setEnabled(id: String, enabled: Boolean): AdminTagSourceRef =
+        api.update(id, UpdateTagSourceBody(enabled = enabled)).toDomain()
+
+    suspend fun setApiKey(id: String, apiKey: String): AdminTagSourceRef =
+        api.update(id, UpdateTagSourceBody(apiKey = apiKey)).toDomain()
+
+    suspend fun test(id: String): TagSourceTestResult = api.test(id).toResult()
+}
+
+private fun AdminTagSourceWire.toDomain(): AdminTagSourceRef = AdminTagSourceRef(
+    id = id,
+    displayName = displayName,
+    requiresApiKey = requiresApiKey,
+    supports = supports,
+    enabled = enabled,
+    apiKeySet = apiKeySet,
+    testable = testable,
+)
+
+private fun TestTagSourceWire.toResult(): TagSourceTestResult =
+    TagSourceTestResult(ok = ok, durationMs = durationMs, error = error)

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/admin/ui/AdminInvitesViewModel.kt

@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
 import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.admin.data.AdminInvitesRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.recoveries
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.Invite
 import dagger.hilt.android.lifecycle.HiltViewModel
 import kotlinx.coroutines.channels.Channel
@@ -25,6 +27,7 @@ data class AdminInvitesUiState(
 @HiltViewModel
 class AdminInvitesViewModel @Inject constructor(
     private val repository: AdminInvitesRepository,
+    networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
 ) : ViewModel() {
 
     private val internal = MutableStateFlow(AdminInvitesUiState())
@@ -36,6 +39,13 @@ class AdminInvitesViewModel @Inject constructor(
 
     init {
         refresh()
+        // Screen-level auto-recovery (issue #1245): reload a failed list
+        // when server health returns instead of waiting for a manual pull.
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            networkStatus.recoveries().collect {
+                if (internal.value.message != null) refresh()
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     fun refresh() {

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/admin/ui/AdminLandingScreen.kt

@@ -28,15 +28,18 @@ import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
 import androidx.navigation.NavHostController
 import com.composables.icons.lucide.Inbox
 import com.composables.icons.lucide.Lucide
+import com.composables.icons.lucide.Music
 import com.composables.icons.lucide.TriangleAlert
 import com.composables.icons.lucide.Users
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.admin.data.AdminQuarantineRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.admin.data.AdminRequestsRepository
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.admin.data.AdminTagSourcesRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.admin.data.AdminUsersRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.Admin
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.AdminQuarantine
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.AdminRequests
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.AdminTagSources
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.AdminUsers
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.EmptyState
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.LoadingCentered
@@ -54,7 +57,7 @@ import javax.inject.Inject
 
 // ─── State ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-data class AdminCounts(val requests: Int, val quarantine: Int, val users: Int)
+data class AdminCounts(val requests: Int, val quarantine: Int, val users: Int, val tagSources: Int)
 
 sealed interface AdminLandingUiState {
     data object Loading : AdminLandingUiState
@@ -69,6 +72,7 @@ class AdminLandingViewModel @Inject constructor(
     private val requestsRepo: AdminRequestsRepository,
     private val quarantineRepo: AdminQuarantineRepository,
     private val usersRepo: AdminUsersRepository,
+    private val tagSourcesRepo: AdminTagSourcesRepository,
 ) : ViewModel() {
 
     private val internal = MutableStateFlow<AdminLandingUiState>(AdminLandingUiState.Loading)
@@ -85,7 +89,8 @@ class AdminLandingViewModel @Inject constructor(
                 val req = async { requestsRepo.list().size }
                 val qua = async { quarantineRepo.list().size }
                 val usr = async { usersRepo.list().size }
-                AdminCounts(req.await(), qua.await(), usr.await())
+                val tag = async { tagSourcesRepo.list().count { it.enabled } }
+                AdminCounts(req.await(), qua.await(), usr.await(), tag.await())
             }
             internal.value = AdminLandingUiState.Success(counts)
         } catch (
@@ -170,6 +175,15 @@ private fun SectionList(counts: AdminCounts, navController: NavHostController) {
                 onClick = { navController.navigate(AdminUsers) },
             )
         }
+        item {
+            SectionCard(
+                icon = Lucide.Music,
+                title = "Tag sources",
+                subtitle = "Metadata enrichment providers",
+                count = counts.tagSources,
+                onClick = { navController.navigate(AdminTagSources) },
+            )
+        }
     }
 }
 

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/admin/ui/AdminQuarantineScreen.kt

@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import androidx.navigation.NavHostController
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.AdminQuarantineItemRef
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.AdminQuarantine
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.EmptyState
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.ErrorRetry
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.LoadingCentered
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.MinstrelTopAppBar
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.PullToRefreshScaffold
@@ -62,9 +63,10 @@ fun AdminQuarantineScreen(
                     body = "When users flag tracks as bad rips, wrong tags, or " +
                         "duplicates, their reports get aggregated and surfaced here.",
                 )
-                is AdminQuarantineUiState.Error -> EmptyState(
+                is AdminQuarantineUiState.Error -> ErrorRetry(
                     title = "Couldn't load queue",
-                    body = s.message,
+                    message = s.message,
+                    onRetry = { viewModel.refresh() },
                 )
                 is AdminQuarantineUiState.Success -> QueueList(
                     rows = s.rows,

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/admin/ui/AdminQuarantineViewModel.kt

@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
 import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.admin.data.AdminQuarantineRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.recoveries
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.events.EventsStream
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.AdminQuarantineItemRef
 import dagger.hilt.android.lifecycle.HiltViewModel
@@ -26,6 +28,7 @@ sealed interface AdminQuarantineUiState {
 class AdminQuarantineViewModel @Inject constructor(
     private val repository: AdminQuarantineRepository,
     private val eventsStream: EventsStream,
+    networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
 ) : ViewModel() {
 
     private val internal = MutableStateFlow<AdminQuarantineUiState>(AdminQuarantineUiState.Loading)
@@ -38,6 +41,13 @@ class AdminQuarantineViewModel @Inject constructor(
                 .filter { it.kind.startsWith("quarantine.") }
                 .collect { refresh() }
         }
+        // Screen-level auto-recovery (issue #1245): reload a failed list
+        // when server health returns instead of waiting for a manual pull.
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            networkStatus.recoveries().collect {
+                if (internal.value is AdminQuarantineUiState.Error) refresh()
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     fun refresh(): Job = viewModelScope.launch {

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/admin/ui/AdminRequestsScreen.kt

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import androidx.navigation.NavHostController
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.RequestRef
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.AdminRequests
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.EmptyState
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.ErrorRetry
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.LoadingCentered
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.MinstrelTopAppBar
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.PullToRefreshScaffold
@@ -61,9 +62,10 @@ fun AdminRequestsScreen(
                     body = "When users ask Lidarr for new music, their pending " +
                         "requests show up here for approval.",
                 )
-                is AdminRequestsUiState.Error -> EmptyState(
+                is AdminRequestsUiState.Error -> ErrorRetry(
                     title = "Couldn't load requests",
-                    body = s.message,
+                    message = s.message,
+                    onRetry = { viewModel.refresh() },
                 )
                 is AdminRequestsUiState.Success -> RequestList(
                     rows = s.rows,

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/admin/ui/AdminRequestsViewModel.kt

@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.admin.data.AdminRequestsRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.admin.data.AdminUsersRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.recoveries
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.events.EventsStream
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.RequestRef
 import dagger.hilt.android.lifecycle.HiltViewModel
@@ -35,6 +37,7 @@ class AdminRequestsViewModel @Inject constructor(
     private val repository: AdminRequestsRepository,
     private val usersRepository: AdminUsersRepository,
     private val eventsStream: EventsStream,
+    networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
 ) : ViewModel() {
 
     private val internal = MutableStateFlow<AdminRequestsUiState>(AdminRequestsUiState.Loading)
@@ -47,6 +50,13 @@ class AdminRequestsViewModel @Inject constructor(
                 .filter { it.kind in RELEVANT_EVENT_KINDS }
                 .collect { refresh() }
         }
+        // Screen-level auto-recovery (issue #1245): reload a failed list
+        // when server health returns instead of waiting for a manual pull.
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            networkStatus.recoveries().collect {
+                if (internal.value is AdminRequestsUiState.Error) refresh()
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     fun refresh(): Job = viewModelScope.launch {

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/admin/ui/AdminTagSourcesScreen.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,220 @@
+package com.fabledsword.minstrel.admin.ui
+
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Arrangement
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Column
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.PaddingValues
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Row
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.fillMaxSize
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.fillMaxWidth
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.padding
+import androidx.compose.foundation.lazy.LazyColumn
+import androidx.compose.foundation.lazy.items
+import androidx.compose.foundation.text.KeyboardOptions
+import androidx.compose.material3.Button
+import androidx.compose.material3.ElevatedCard
+import androidx.compose.material3.ExperimentalMaterial3Api
+import androidx.compose.material3.MaterialTheme
+import androidx.compose.material3.OutlinedButton
+import androidx.compose.material3.OutlinedTextField
+import androidx.compose.material3.Scaffold
+import androidx.compose.material3.Switch
+import androidx.compose.material3.Text
+import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
+import androidx.compose.runtime.getValue
+import androidx.compose.runtime.mutableStateOf
+import androidx.compose.runtime.remember
+import androidx.compose.runtime.setValue
+import androidx.compose.ui.Alignment
+import androidx.compose.ui.Modifier
+import androidx.compose.ui.text.input.KeyboardType
+import androidx.compose.ui.text.input.PasswordVisualTransformation
+import androidx.compose.ui.unit.dp
+import androidx.hilt.navigation.compose.hiltViewModel
+import androidx.lifecycle.compose.collectAsStateWithLifecycle
+import androidx.navigation.NavHostController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.AdminTagSourceRef
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.TagSourceTestResult
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.AdminTagSources
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.EmptyState
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.ErrorRetry
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.LoadingCentered
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.MinstrelTopAppBar
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.PullToRefreshScaffold
+
+@OptIn(ExperimentalMaterial3Api::class)
+@Composable
+fun AdminTagSourcesScreen(
+    navController: NavHostController,
+    viewModel: AdminTagSourcesViewModel = hiltViewModel(),
+) {
+    val state by viewModel.uiState.collectAsStateWithLifecycle()
+    Scaffold(
+        modifier = Modifier.fillMaxSize(),
+        topBar = {
+            MinstrelTopAppBar(
+                title = "Admin · Tag sources",
+                navController = navController,
+                currentRouteName = AdminTagSources::class.qualifiedName,
+                onBack = { navController.popBackStack() },
+            )
+        },
+    ) { inner ->
+        PullToRefreshScaffold(
+            onRefresh = { viewModel.refresh().join() },
+            modifier = Modifier.fillMaxSize().padding(inner),
+        ) {
+            when (val s = state) {
+                AdminTagSourcesUiState.Loading -> LoadingCentered()
+                AdminTagSourcesUiState.Empty -> EmptyState(
+                    title = "No tag sources",
+                    body = "Tag-enrichment providers register on the server; none are available.",
+                )
+                is AdminTagSourcesUiState.Error -> ErrorRetry(
+                    title = "Couldn't load tag sources",
+                    message = s.message,
+                    onRetry = { viewModel.refresh() },
+                )
+                is AdminTagSourcesUiState.Success -> TagSourceList(
+                    providers = s.providers,
+                    testResults = s.testResults,
+                    onToggle = viewModel::setEnabled,
+                    onSaveKey = viewModel::saveApiKey,
+                    onTest = viewModel::test,
+                )
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+@Composable
+private fun TagSourceList(
+    providers: List<AdminTagSourceRef>,
+    testResults: Map<String, TagSourceTestResult>,
+    onToggle: (String, Boolean) -> Unit,
+    onSaveKey: (String, String) -> Unit,
+    onTest: (String) -> Unit,
+) {
+    LazyColumn(
+        modifier = Modifier.fillMaxSize(),
+        contentPadding = PaddingValues(16.dp),
+        verticalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(12.dp),
+    ) {
+        items(items = providers, key = { it.id }) { provider ->
+            TagSourceCard(
+                provider = provider,
+                testResult = testResults[provider.id],
+                onToggle = onToggle,
+                onSaveKey = onSaveKey,
+                onTest = onTest,
+            )
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+@Composable
+private fun TagSourceCard(
+    provider: AdminTagSourceRef,
+    testResult: TagSourceTestResult?,
+    onToggle: (String, Boolean) -> Unit,
+    onSaveKey: (String, String) -> Unit,
+    onTest: (String) -> Unit,
+) {
+    ElevatedCard(modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth()) {
+        Column(
+            modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth().padding(16.dp),
+            verticalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(10.dp),
+        ) {
+            Row(
+                modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth(),
+                verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically,
+                horizontalArrangement = Arrangement.SpaceBetween,
+            ) {
+                Column(modifier = Modifier.weight(1f)) {
+                    Text(provider.displayName, style = MaterialTheme.typography.titleMedium)
+                    Text(
+                        text = provider.supports.joinToString(", ") { it.replace('_', ' ') },
+                        style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodySmall,
+                        color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onSurfaceVariant,
+                    )
+                }
+                Switch(
+                    checked = provider.enabled,
+                    onCheckedChange = { onToggle(provider.id, it) },
+                )
+            }
+            if (provider.requiresApiKey) {
+                ApiKeyRow(provider = provider, onSaveKey = onSaveKey)
+            }
+            if (provider.testable) {
+                TestRow(provider = provider, testResult = testResult, onTest = onTest)
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+@Composable
+private fun ApiKeyRow(provider: AdminTagSourceRef, onSaveKey: (String, String) -> Unit) {
+    var key by remember(provider.id) { mutableStateOf("") }
+    OutlinedTextField(
+        value = key,
+        onValueChange = { key = it },
+        modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth(),
+        label = { Text("API key") },
+        placeholder = {
+            Text(
+                if (provider.apiKeySet) {
+                    "••• saved — leave blank to keep"
+                } else {
+                    "Paste your API key to enable this source"
+                },
+            )
+        },
+        singleLine = true,
+        visualTransformation = PasswordVisualTransformation(),
+        keyboardOptions = KeyboardOptions(keyboardType = KeyboardType.Password),
+    )
+    Row(
+        horizontalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(8.dp),
+        verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically,
+    ) {
+        Button(
+            onClick = {
+                onSaveKey(provider.id, key)
+                key = ""
+            },
+            enabled = key.isNotBlank(),
+        ) { Text("Save key") }
+        if (provider.apiKeySet) {
+            Text("✓ Set", style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodySmall)
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+@Composable
+private fun TestRow(
+    provider: AdminTagSourceRef,
+    testResult: TagSourceTestResult?,
+    onTest: (String) -> Unit,
+) {
+    Row(
+        horizontalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(8.dp),
+        verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically,
+    ) {
+        OutlinedButton(onClick = { onTest(provider.id) }) { Text("Test connection") }
+        testResult?.let { result ->
+            if (result.ok) {
+                Text(
+                    text = "OK (${result.durationMs}ms)",
+                    style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodySmall,
+                    color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.primary,
+                )
+            } else {
+                Text(
+                    text = "Failed — ${result.error}",
+                    style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodySmall,
+                    color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.error,
+                )
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/admin/ui/AdminTagSourcesViewModel.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+package com.fabledsword.minstrel.admin.ui
+
+import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
+import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.admin.data.AdminTagSourcesRepository
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.recoveries
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.AdminTagSourceRef
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.TagSourceTestResult
+import dagger.hilt.android.lifecycle.HiltViewModel
+import kotlinx.coroutines.Job
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.MutableStateFlow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.StateFlow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.asStateFlow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
+import javax.inject.Inject
+
+sealed interface AdminTagSourcesUiState {
+    data object Loading : AdminTagSourcesUiState
+    data object Empty : AdminTagSourcesUiState
+    data class Success(
+        val providers: List<AdminTagSourceRef>,
+        val testResults: Map<String, TagSourceTestResult>,
+    ) : AdminTagSourcesUiState
+    data class Error(val message: String) : AdminTagSourcesUiState
+}
+
+@HiltViewModel
+class AdminTagSourcesViewModel @Inject constructor(
+    private val repository: AdminTagSourcesRepository,
+    networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
+) : ViewModel() {
+
+    private val internal = MutableStateFlow<AdminTagSourcesUiState>(AdminTagSourcesUiState.Loading)
+    val uiState: StateFlow<AdminTagSourcesUiState> = internal.asStateFlow()
+
+    init {
+        refresh()
+        // Screen-level auto-recovery: reload a failed list when server
+        // health returns instead of waiting for a manual pull (issue #1245).
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            networkStatus.recoveries().collect {
+                if (internal.value is AdminTagSourcesUiState.Error) refresh()
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    fun refresh(): Job = viewModelScope.launch {
+        internal.value = AdminTagSourcesUiState.Loading
+        try {
+            val providers = repository.list()
+            internal.value = if (providers.isEmpty()) {
+                AdminTagSourcesUiState.Empty
+            } else {
+                AdminTagSourcesUiState.Success(providers, emptyMap())
+            }
+        } catch (
+            @Suppress("TooGenericExceptionCaught") e: Throwable,
+        ) {
+            internal.value = AdminTagSourcesUiState.Error(ErrorCopy.fromThrowable(e))
+        }
+    }
+
+    fun setEnabled(id: String, enabled: Boolean) {
+        val before = internal.value as? AdminTagSourcesUiState.Success ?: return
+        // Optimistic toggle; reconcile via refresh() if the server rejects.
+        internal.value = before.copy(
+            providers = before.providers.map {
+                if (it.id == id) it.copy(enabled = enabled) else it
+            },
+        )
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            try {
+                repository.setEnabled(id, enabled)
+            } catch (
+                @Suppress("TooGenericExceptionCaught", "SwallowedException") e: Throwable,
+            ) {
+                refresh()
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    fun saveApiKey(id: String, apiKey: String) {
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            try {
+                replaceProvider(repository.setApiKey(id, apiKey))
+            } catch (
+                @Suppress("TooGenericExceptionCaught", "SwallowedException") e: Throwable,
+            ) {
+                refresh()
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    fun test(id: String) {
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            val result = try {
+                repository.test(id)
+            } catch (
+                @Suppress("TooGenericExceptionCaught") e: Throwable,
+            ) {
+                TagSourceTestResult(ok = false, error = ErrorCopy.fromThrowable(e))
+            }
+            val current = internal.value as? AdminTagSourcesUiState.Success ?: return@launch
+            internal.value = current.copy(testResults = current.testResults + (id to result))
+        }
+    }
+
+    private fun replaceProvider(updated: AdminTagSourceRef) {
+        val current = internal.value as? AdminTagSourcesUiState.Success ?: return
+        internal.value = current.copy(
+            providers = current.providers.map { if (it.id == updated.id) updated else it },
+        )
+    }
+}

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/admin/ui/AdminUsersViewModel.kt

@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
 import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.admin.data.AdminUsersRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.recoveries
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.AdminUserRef
 import dagger.hilt.android.lifecycle.HiltViewModel
 import kotlinx.coroutines.Job
@@ -23,6 +25,7 @@ sealed interface AdminUsersUiState {
 @HiltViewModel
 class AdminUsersViewModel @Inject constructor(
     private val repository: AdminUsersRepository,
+    networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
 ) : ViewModel() {
 
     private val internal = MutableStateFlow<AdminUsersUiState>(AdminUsersUiState.Loading)
@@ -30,6 +33,13 @@ class AdminUsersViewModel @Inject constructor(
 
     init {
         refresh()
+        // Screen-level auto-recovery (issue #1245): reload a failed list
+        // when server health returns instead of waiting for a manual pull.
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            networkStatus.recoveries().collect {
+                if (internal.value is AdminUsersUiState.Error) refresh()
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     fun refresh(): Job = viewModelScope.launch {

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/api/NetworkModule.kt

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package com.fabledsword.minstrel.api
 
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.BuildConfig
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.ReachabilityReportingInterceptor
 import com.jakewharton.retrofit2.converter.kotlinx.serialization.asConverterFactory
 import dagger.Module
 import dagger.Provides
@@ -45,9 +46,15 @@ object NetworkModule {
     fun provideOkHttp(
         baseUrl: BaseUrlInterceptor,
         auth: AuthCookieInterceptor,
+        reachability: ReachabilityReportingInterceptor,
         logging: HttpLoggingInterceptor,
     ): OkHttpClient =
         OkHttpClient.Builder()
+            // ReachabilityReportingInterceptor MUST run first: it identifies
+            // Minstrel-bound requests by the still-unrewritten PLACEHOLDER_HOST
+            // (so external artwork fetches don't read as server reachability)
+            // and observes the final transport outcome by wrapping the chain.
+            .addInterceptor(reachability)
             // AuthCookieInterceptor MUST run before BaseUrlInterceptor.
             // Both scope on `host == PLACEHOLDER_HOST` to distinguish
             // Minstrel-server requests from external image fetches

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/api/endpoints/AdminTagSourcesApi.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+package com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.endpoints
+
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.wire.AdminTagSourceWire
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.wire.AdminTagSourcesListWire
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.wire.TestTagSourceWire
+import kotlinx.serialization.SerialName
+import kotlinx.serialization.Serializable
+import retrofit2.http.Body
+import retrofit2.http.GET
+import retrofit2.http.PATCH
+import retrofit2.http.POST
+import retrofit2.http.Path
+
+/**
+ * Retrofit interface for `/api/admin/tag-sources` (#1521) — the admin
+ * surface for the tag-enrichment provider settings (#1490). Mirrors the
+ * web integrations "Tag enrichment sources" card. Same shape as the
+ * cover-sources admin surface; kept independent so a new tag source is
+ * added without touching art settings.
+ */
+interface AdminTagSourcesApi {
+    @GET("api/admin/tag-sources")
+    suspend fun list(): AdminTagSourcesListWire
+
+    @PATCH("api/admin/tag-sources/{id}")
+    suspend fun update(@Path("id") id: String, @Body body: UpdateTagSourceBody): AdminTagSourceWire
+
+    @POST("api/admin/tag-sources/{id}/test")
+    suspend fun test(@Path("id") id: String): TestTagSourceWire
+}
+
+/**
+ * PATCH body. Both fields are nullable + default-null so kotlinx omits the
+ * untouched one (the server reads a missing/null field as "leave
+ * unchanged"): send only `enabled` to toggle, only `apiKey` to set a key.
+ */
+@Serializable
+data class UpdateTagSourceBody(
+    val enabled: Boolean? = null,
+    @SerialName("api_key") val apiKey: String? = null,
+)

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/api/endpoints/DiagnosticsApi.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+package com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.endpoints
+
+import kotlinx.serialization.SerialName
+import kotlinx.serialization.Serializable
+import kotlinx.serialization.json.JsonElement
+import retrofit2.http.Body
+import retrofit2.http.POST
+
+/**
+ * Retrofit interface for device diagnostics ingest (M9). One call
+ * uploads a batch of buffered events. The server stores them only when
+ * the account's debug_mode_enabled flag is on (it returns 204 otherwise,
+ * which the uploader treats as success so it can drop the batch).
+ */
+interface DiagnosticsApi {
+    @POST("api/diagnostics")
+    suspend fun report(@Body body: DiagnosticsReportRequest)
+}
+
+@Serializable
+data class DiagnosticsReportRequest(
+    @SerialName("client_id") val clientId: String,
+    @SerialName("app_version") val appVersion: String? = null,
+    @SerialName("os_version") val osVersion: String? = null,
+    val events: List<DiagnosticEventWire>,
+)
+
+@Serializable
+data class DiagnosticEventWire(
+    val kind: String,
+    // Device-clock epoch milliseconds. The server stamps its own
+    // received_at; both are stored so a skewed device clock is visible.
+    @SerialName("occurred_at") val occurredAt: Long,
+    // Opaque structured payload carrying the event sub-type + fields.
+    val payload: JsonElement,
+)

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/api/endpoints/LibraryApi.kt

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.endpoints
 
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.wire.AlbumDetailWire
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.wire.ArtistDetailWire
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.wire.ArtistWire
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.wire.TrackWire
 import retrofit2.http.GET
 import retrofit2.http.Path
@@ -35,9 +36,26 @@ interface LibraryApi {
     @GET("api/artists/{id}/tracks")
     suspend fun getArtistTracks(@Path("id") id: String): List<TrackWire>
 
+    @GET("api/artists/{id}/similar")
+    suspend fun getSimilarArtists(
+        @Path("id") id: String,
+        @Query("limit") limit: Int = SIMILAR_ARTISTS_LIMIT,
+    ): List<ArtistWire>
+
+    @GET("api/artists/{id}/top-tracks")
+    suspend fun getArtistTopTracks(
+        @Path("id") id: String,
+        @Query("limit") limit: Int = TOP_TRACKS_LIMIT,
+    ): List<TrackWire>
+
     @GET("api/albums/{id}")
     suspend fun getAlbumDetail(@Path("id") id: String): AlbumDetailWire
 
     @GET("api/library/shuffle")
     suspend fun shuffleLibrary(@Query("limit") limit: Int = 100): List<TrackWire>
+
+    private companion object {
+        const val SIMILAR_ARTISTS_LIMIT = 12
+        const val TOP_TRACKS_LIMIT = 5
+    }
 }

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/auth/AuthController.kt

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package com.fabledsword.minstrel.auth
 
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.endpoints.AuthApi
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.endpoints.MeApi
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.di.ApplicationScope
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.UserRef
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.wire.LoginRequestBody
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ class AuthController @Inject constructor(
     retrofit: Retrofit,
 ) {
     private val api: AuthApi = retrofit.create()
+    private val meApi: MeApi = retrofit.create()
 
     private val currentUserState = MutableStateFlow<UserRef?>(null)
     val currentUser: StateFlow<UserRef?> = currentUserState.asStateFlow()
@@ -55,6 +57,10 @@ class AuthController @Inject constructor(
                 currentUserState.value = raw?.let { decodeUser(it) }
             }
         }
+        // Refresh from /api/me on startup so a remotely-changed account
+        // flag (e.g. admin enabling debug mode, M9) reaches the device
+        // without a re-login. Best-effort; failures keep the cached value.
+        scope.launch { refreshProfile() }
     }
 
     /**
@@ -72,9 +78,32 @@ class AuthController @Inject constructor(
         )
         currentUserState.value = user
         authStore.setUserJson(json.encodeToString(UserRef.serializer(), user))
+        // Pull the fuller /me shape (carries debug_mode_enabled) right
+        // after login so the diagnostics gate is correct without waiting
+        // for the next startup refresh.
+        scope.launch { refreshProfile() }
         return user
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Re-fetch the caller's profile from /api/me and update currentUser
+     * + persisted userJson. Carries account-level flags (debug mode)
+     * that aren't in the login response. Best-effort: a network failure
+     * leaves the cached identity untouched. No-op when signed out.
+     */
+    suspend fun refreshProfile() {
+        if (!isSignedIn) return
+        val p = runCatching { meApi.getProfile() }.getOrNull() ?: return
+        val user = UserRef(
+            id = p.id,
+            username = p.username,
+            isAdmin = p.isAdmin,
+            debugModeEnabled = p.debugModeEnabled,
+        )
+        currentUserState.value = user
+        authStore.setUserJson(json.encodeToString(UserRef.serializer(), user))
+    }
+
     /**
      * Clears the local session immediately and best-effort hits
      * `/api/auth/logout` so the server can drop its session row.

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/auth/AuthStore.kt

@@ -59,6 +59,9 @@ class AuthStore @Inject constructor(
     private val cacheSettingsState = MutableStateFlow(CacheSettings.DEFAULT)
     val cacheSettings: StateFlow<CacheSettings> = cacheSettingsState.asStateFlow()
 
+    private val diagnosticsOptOutState = MutableStateFlow(false)
+    val diagnosticsOptOut: StateFlow<Boolean> = diagnosticsOptOutState.asStateFlow()
+
     private val json = Json { ignoreUnknownKeys = true }
 
     init {
@@ -70,6 +73,7 @@ class AuthStore @Inject constructor(
                 themeModeState.value = row?.themeMode
                 clientIdState.value = row?.clientId
                 cacheSettingsState.value = decodeCacheSettings(row?.cacheSettingsJson)
+                diagnosticsOptOutState.value = row?.diagnosticsOptOut ?: false
             }
         }
     }
@@ -112,6 +116,11 @@ class AuthStore @Inject constructor(
         scope.launch { persistCacheSettings(encoded) }
     }
 
+    fun setDiagnosticsOptOut(value: Boolean) {
+        diagnosticsOptOutState.value = value
+        scope.launch { persistDiagnosticsOptOut(value) }
+    }
+
     private suspend fun persistCookie(value: String?) {
         if (dao.get() == null) {
             dao.upsert(currentEntity().copy(sessionCookie = value))
@@ -160,6 +169,14 @@ class AuthStore @Inject constructor(
         }
     }
 
+    private suspend fun persistDiagnosticsOptOut(value: Boolean) {
+        if (dao.get() == null) {
+            dao.upsert(currentEntity().copy(diagnosticsOptOut = value))
+        } else {
+            dao.setDiagnosticsOptOut(value)
+        }
+    }
+
     private fun currentEntity(): AuthSessionEntity = AuthSessionEntity(
         id = ROW_ID,
         sessionCookie = sessionCookieState.value,
@@ -171,6 +188,7 @@ class AuthStore @Inject constructor(
             CacheSettings.serializer(),
             cacheSettingsState.value,
         ),
+        diagnosticsOptOut = diagnosticsOptOutState.value,
     )
 
     companion object {

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/cache/db/AppDatabase.kt

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.CachedResumeStateDao
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.CachedPlaylistTrackDao
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.CachedQuarantineDao
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.CachedTrackDao
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.DiagnosticEventDao
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.SyncMetadataDao
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.entities.AudioCacheIndexEntity
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.entities.AuthSessionEntity
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.entities.CachedResumeStateEntity
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.entities.CachedPlaylistTrackEntity
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.entities.CachedQuarantineEntity
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.entities.CachedTrackEntity
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.entities.DiagnosticEventEntity
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.entities.SyncMetadataEntity
 
 /**
@@ -61,8 +63,11 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.entities.SyncMetadataEntity
         CachedHomeIndexEntity::class,
         CachedHistorySnapshotEntity::class,
         AuthSessionEntity::class,
+        DiagnosticEventEntity::class,
     ],
-    version = 6,
+    // v7: + diagnostic_events table (M9) and the diagnosticsOptOut column
+    // on auth_session. Pre-v1 destructive fallback rebuilds on mismatch.
+    version = 7,
     exportSchema = true,
 )
 @TypeConverters(MinstrelTypeConverters::class)
@@ -81,4 +86,5 @@ abstract class AppDatabase : RoomDatabase() {
     abstract fun cachedHomeIndexDao(): CachedHomeIndexDao
     abstract fun cachedHistorySnapshotDao(): CachedHistorySnapshotDao
     abstract fun authSessionDao(): AuthSessionDao
+    abstract fun diagnosticEventDao(): DiagnosticEventDao
 }

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/cache/db/DatabaseModule.kt

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.CachedHistorySnapshotDao
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.CachedHomeIndexDao
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.CachedLikeDao
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.CachedMutationDao
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.DiagnosticEventDao
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.CachedPlaylistDao
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.CachedPlaylistTrackDao
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.CachedQuarantineDao
@@ -105,5 +106,10 @@ object DatabaseModule {
     fun provideAudioCacheIndexDao(db: AppDatabase): AudioCacheIndexDao =
         db.audioCacheIndexDao()
 
+    @Provides
+    @Singleton
+    fun provideDiagnosticEventDao(db: AppDatabase): DiagnosticEventDao =
+        db.diagnosticEventDao()
+
     private const val DATABASE_NAME = "minstrel.db"
 }

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/cache/db/dao/AuthSessionDao.kt

@@ -42,4 +42,8 @@ interface AuthSessionDao {
     /** Partial update: change only the serialized cache settings. */
     @Query("UPDATE auth_session SET cacheSettingsJson = :json WHERE id = 0")
     suspend fun setCacheSettingsJson(json: String?)
+
+    /** Partial update: change only the per-device diagnostics opt-out. */
+    @Query("UPDATE auth_session SET diagnosticsOptOut = :optOut WHERE id = 0")
+    suspend fun setDiagnosticsOptOut(optOut: Boolean)
 }

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/cache/db/dao/CachedHomeIndexDao.kt

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import androidx.room.Dao
 import androidx.room.Insert
 import androidx.room.OnConflictStrategy
 import androidx.room.Query
+import androidx.room.Transaction
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.entities.CachedHomeIndexEntity
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.Flow
 
@@ -21,12 +22,32 @@ interface CachedHomeIndexDao {
     )
     suspend fun getBySection(section: String): List<CachedHomeIndexEntity>
 
+    /** True when Home has any cached section rows to render. */
+    @Query("SELECT EXISTS(SELECT 1 FROM cached_home_index)")
+    suspend fun hasAny(): Boolean
+
     @Insert(onConflict = OnConflictStrategy.REPLACE)
     suspend fun upsertAll(rows: List<CachedHomeIndexEntity>)
 
-    /** Replace-all pattern; sync wipes a section then re-inserts. */
-    @Query("DELETE FROM cached_home_index WHERE section = :section")
-    suspend fun deleteBySection(section: String)
+    @Query("DELETE FROM cached_home_index WHERE section IN (:sections)")
+    suspend fun deleteSections(sections: List<String>)
+
+    /**
+     * Swaps every listed section's rows in ONE transaction.
+     *
+     * Atomicity is the point, not just tidiness: Room's
+     * InvalidationTracker only notifies observers after the transaction
+     * commits, so [observeBySection] never sees the empty gap between the
+     * delete and the re-insert. Replacing sections one at a time (and
+     * un-transacted) made each Home row emit `emptyList()` — visibly
+     * collapsing — before refilling, and made the seven sections do it in
+     * sequence rather than as a single content swap.
+     */
+    @Transaction
+    suspend fun replaceSections(sections: List<String>, rows: List<CachedHomeIndexEntity>) {
+        deleteSections(sections)
+        if (rows.isNotEmpty()) upsertAll(rows)
+    }
 
     @Query("DELETE FROM cached_home_index")
     suspend fun clear()

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/cache/db/dao/CachedPlaylistDao.kt

@@ -31,6 +31,20 @@ interface CachedPlaylistDao {
     @Query("SELECT * FROM cached_playlists WHERE id = :id")
     suspend fun getById(id: String): CachedPlaylistEntity?
 
+    /**
+     * Per-playlist count of member tracks resident in the audio cache index.
+     * LEFT JOINs so playlists with zero cached tracks still appear
+     * (cachedCount = 0). Drives the offline "fully cached" greying.
+     */
+    @Query(
+        "SELECT p.id AS playlistId, COUNT(a.trackId) AS cachedCount " +
+            "FROM cached_playlists p " +
+            "LEFT JOIN cached_playlist_tracks t ON t.playlistId = p.id " +
+            "LEFT JOIN audio_cache_index a ON a.trackId = t.trackId " +
+            "GROUP BY p.id",
+    )
+    fun observeCachedCounts(): Flow<List<PlaylistCachedCount>>
+
     @Insert(onConflict = OnConflictStrategy.REPLACE)
     suspend fun upsertAll(rows: List<CachedPlaylistEntity>)
 

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/cache/db/dao/DiagnosticEventDao.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+package com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao
+
+import androidx.room.Dao
+import androidx.room.Insert
+import androidx.room.Query
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.entities.DiagnosticEventEntity
+
+@Dao
+interface DiagnosticEventDao {
+    @Insert
+    suspend fun insert(row: DiagnosticEventEntity): Long
+
+    /** FIFO drain order so the uploader sends oldest-first. */
+    @Query("SELECT * FROM diagnostic_events ORDER BY id ASC LIMIT :limit")
+    suspend fun takeBatch(limit: Int): List<DiagnosticEventEntity>
+
+    @Query("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM diagnostic_events")
+    suspend fun count(): Int
+
+    @Query("DELETE FROM diagnostic_events WHERE id IN (:ids)")
+    suspend fun deleteByIds(ids: List<Long>)
+
+    /**
+     * Ring-buffer trim: drop the oldest rows beyond [keep]. Called after
+     * insert so a long offline stretch can't grow the buffer unbounded.
+     */
+    @Query(
+        "DELETE FROM diagnostic_events WHERE id NOT IN " +
+            "(SELECT id FROM diagnostic_events ORDER BY id DESC LIMIT :keep)",
+    )
+    suspend fun trimToNewest(keep: Int)
+
+    @Query("DELETE FROM diagnostic_events")
+    suspend fun clear()
+}

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/cache/db/dao/PlaylistCachedCount.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+package com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao
+
+/**
+ * Projection: how many of a playlist's member tracks are resident in the audio
+ * cache index. Backs the offline "fully cached" greying — a playlist is fully
+ * available offline when [cachedCount] reaches its `trackCount`.
+ */
+data class PlaylistCachedCount(
+    val playlistId: String,
+    val cachedCount: Int,
+)

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/cache/db/entities/AuthSessionEntity.kt

@@ -36,4 +36,11 @@ data class AuthSessionEntity(
      * CacheSettings shape evolves.
      */
     val cacheSettingsJson: String? = null,
+    /**
+     * Per-device opt-out of diagnostics reporting (M9). When the
+     * account's debug mode is enabled by an admin, the user can still
+     * turn reporting OFF on this device (battery/privacy) — that local
+     * choice lives here. Default false = honor the account flag.
+     */
+    val diagnosticsOptOut: Boolean = false,
 )

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/cache/db/entities/CachedHomeIndexEntity.kt

@@ -14,6 +14,11 @@ import kotlinx.datetime.Instant
  *   - "rediscover_artists"
  *   - "most_played_tracks"
  *   - "last_played_artists"
+ *   - "you_might_like_albums"
+ *   - "you_might_like_artists"
+ *
+ * New `section` values need no schema change — the column stores the
+ * string verbatim and the DAO keys on it.
  *
  * `entityType` is "album" | "artist" | "track" — dispatches hydration
  * to the right per-entity endpoint when a tile is rendered.

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/cache/db/entities/DiagnosticEventEntity.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+package com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.entities
+
+import androidx.room.Entity
+import androidx.room.PrimaryKey
+
+/**
+ * One buffered device-diagnostics event (M9). The DiagnosticsReporter
+ * writes rows here when the account's debug mode is on; the
+ * DiagnosticsUploader drains them to POST /api/diagnostics and deletes
+ * on success.
+ *
+ * This is a deliberate ring buffer that is NOT routed through the offline
+ * MutationQueue: diagnostics are high-volume, best-effort telemetry, and
+ * the bug we're chasing (roaming / dead-zone recovery) happens WHILE
+ * offline — so events must persist locally through the dead zone and
+ * upload on recovery, without clogging the user-data mutation replay.
+ *
+ * `occurredAtMillis` is the device-clock epoch-ms when the event happened
+ * (the server also stamps its own received_at). `payloadJson` is an
+ * opaque JSON object carrying the event sub-type + fields.
+ */
+@Entity(tableName = "diagnostic_events")
+data class DiagnosticEventEntity(
+    @PrimaryKey(autoGenerate = true) val id: Long = 0,
+    val kind: String,
+    val occurredAtMillis: Long,
+    val payloadJson: String,
+)

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/cache/mutations/MutationQueue.kt

@@ -28,6 +28,13 @@ object MutationKind {
     const val PLAY_OFFLINE: String = "play_offline"
     const val REQUEST_CANCEL: String = "request_cancel"
     const val PLAYBACK_ERROR_REPORT: String = "playback_error_report"
+
+    // Durable close-by-id for a play whose server row is already open
+    // (play_started succeeded). Distinct from PLAY_OFFLINE, which records
+    // a *whole* play when no server row exists. Using close-by-id on
+    // background avoids the duplicate + orphan row the old offline-on-stop
+    // path produced (see 2026-06-11 contract audit).
+    const val PLAY_ENDED: String = "play_ended"
 }
 
 /**
@@ -167,6 +174,17 @@ class MutationQueue @Inject constructor(
         ),
     )
 
+    /**
+     * Durable close-by-id for an already-open server play row. Background
+     * path only (no user hint) — same as [enqueuePlayOffline].
+     */
+    suspend fun enqueuePlayEnded(payload: PlayEndedPayload): Long = dao.insert(
+        CachedMutationEntity(
+            kind = MutationKind.PLAY_ENDED,
+            payload = json.encodeToString(PlayEndedPayload.serializer(), payload),
+        ),
+    )
+
     private suspend fun insertUserDriven(kind: String, payload: String): Long {
         val id = dao.insert(CachedMutationEntity(kind = kind, payload = payload))
         _userEnqueueHints.tryEmit(QUEUED_MESSAGE)
@@ -221,6 +239,22 @@ data class PlayOfflinePayload(
     val atIso: String,
     val durationPlayedMs: Long,
     val source: String? = null,
+    // #1551: device class for context conditioning; null on payloads queued
+    // before this field existed (decodes to null → server stores NULL).
+    val deviceClass: String? = null,
+)
+
+/**
+ * Persisted payload for `MutationKind.PLAY_ENDED`. The replayer re-fires
+ * `POST /api/events` with type=play_ended, closing the already-open server
+ * row [playEventId] at [durationPlayedMs]. Server-side close-by-id is
+ * idempotent (re-ending updates the same row and skips a duplicate
+ * skip_events insert), so a lost-response retry can't duplicate history.
+ */
+@Serializable
+data class PlayEndedPayload(
+    val playEventId: String,
+    val durationPlayedMs: Long,
 )
 
 /**

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/cache/mutations/MutationReplayer.kt

@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+@file:Suppress("TooManyFunctions") // one dispatcher per mutation kind + replay helpers
+
 package com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.mutations
 
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.endpoints.AppendTracksRequest
@@ -10,6 +12,9 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.endpoints.PlaybackErrorsApi
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.endpoints.PlaylistsApi
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.endpoints.QuarantineApi
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.endpoints.RequestsApi
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.ServerHealth
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.wire.PlayEndedRequest
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.wire.PlayOfflineRequest
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.auth.AuthStore
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.CachedMutationDao
@@ -19,12 +24,16 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.likes.data.LikesRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.wire.CreateRequestBody
 import kotlinx.coroutines.CoroutineScope
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.distinctUntilChanged
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.filter
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.filterNotNull
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.map
 import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
 import kotlinx.coroutines.sync.Mutex
 import kotlinx.coroutines.sync.withLock
 import kotlinx.datetime.Clock
+import kotlinx.serialization.SerializationException
 import kotlinx.serialization.json.Json
+import retrofit2.HttpException
 import retrofit2.Retrofit
 import retrofit2.create
 import javax.inject.Inject
@@ -34,25 +43,24 @@ import javax.inject.Singleton
  * Drains the offline MutationQueue. Reads pending rows in FIFO order,
  * re-fires each call against the raw Retrofit API (NOT the high-level
  * Repository, which would re-enqueue on failure → infinite loop), and
- * deletes the row on 2xx success.
+ * resolves each to an [Outcome]:
+ *  - SENT  — server accepted (2xx) → delete the row.
+ *  - DROP  — permanently un-sendable (4xx, unknown kind/variant, corrupt
+ *            payload) → delete the row so it can't wedge the queue forever.
+ *  - RETRY — transient (transport, 5xx, 408, 429) → leave queued, bump
+ *            attempts, retry on the next trigger.
  *
  * Triggered by:
- *   - app start (MinstrelApplication @Inject forces the singleton's
- *     init block to subscribe)
- *   - every time AuthStore.sessionCookie transitions to a non-null
- *     value (sign-in, app launch with persisted cookie)
+ *   - app start (MinstrelApplication @Inject forces the singleton's init)
+ *   - AuthStore.sessionCookie transitioning to non-null (sign-in / cold
+ *     start with a persisted cookie)
+ *   - NetworkStatusController recovering to Healthy (server reachable again
+ *     mid-session — covers offline→online without needing a cold start)
  *
- * Single in-flight via the `mutex` — back-to-back triggers collapse
- * into one drain pass. A proper connectivity-listener / WorkManager
- * job that re-tries on Wi-Fi-came-back is a follow-up; for MVP the
- * sign-in + app-open triggers cover the common offline → online
- * transition (operator unlocks phone, opens app).
- *
- * Failed rows stay in the queue with their `attempts` and
- * `lastAttemptAt` updated. They get another chance on the next
- * trigger; no exponential backoff or max-attempts yet — the rows are
- * small (low single-digit count for typical use) so retry-forever is
- * cheap.
+ * Single in-flight via the [mutex]; back-to-back triggers collapse into one
+ * drain pass. No exponential backoff / max-attempts: the rows are few for
+ * typical use, and permanent failures are now dropped rather than retried
+ * forever.
  */
 @Singleton
 class MutationReplayer @Inject constructor(
@@ -60,6 +68,7 @@ class MutationReplayer @Inject constructor(
     private val authStore: AuthStore,
     private val json: Json,
     @ApplicationScope private val scope: CoroutineScope,
+    networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
     retrofit: Retrofit,
 ) {
     private val likesApi: LikesApi = retrofit.create()
@@ -72,6 +81,8 @@ class MutationReplayer @Inject constructor(
 
     private val mutex = Mutex()
 
+    private enum class Outcome { SENT, DROP, RETRY }
+
     init {
         scope.launch {
             authStore.sessionCookie
@@ -79,6 +90,16 @@ class MutationReplayer @Inject constructor(
                 .distinctUntilChanged()
                 .collect { drainSafe() }
         }
+        // Server-reachable-again: replay queued writes the moment the
+        // health signal recovers, so an offline→online transition mid-
+        // session doesn't wait for the next cold start / re-auth.
+        scope.launch {
+            networkStatus.state
+                .map { it == ServerHealth.Healthy }
+                .distinctUntilChanged()
+                .filter { it }
+                .collect { drainSafe() }
+        }
     }
 
     /** Public entry-point; coalesces concurrent triggers via a Mutex. */
@@ -93,193 +114,186 @@ class MutationReplayer @Inject constructor(
 
     private suspend fun drain() {
         val rows = dao.getAll()
+        // Collapse superseded like-toggles: only the latest desired state per
+        // (entity) is replayed; older toggles for the same entity are dropped
+        // unsent. Without this, partial-failure + differential retry could
+        // replay an older toggle last and invert the final like state.
+        val superseded = supersededLikeToggleIds(rows)
         for (row in rows) {
-            val sent = runCatching { dispatch(row) }.getOrDefault(false)
-            if (sent) {
+            if (row.id in superseded) {
                 dao.delete(row.id)
-            } else {
-                dao.recordAttempt(row.id, Clock.System.now())
+                continue
+            }
+            when (outcomeFor(row)) {
+                Outcome.SENT, Outcome.DROP -> dao.delete(row.id)
+                Outcome.RETRY -> dao.recordAttempt(row.id, Clock.System.now())
             }
         }
     }
 
+    /** Row ids of like-toggles superseded by a later toggle for the same entity. */
+    private fun supersededLikeToggleIds(rows: List<CachedMutationEntity>): Set<Long> {
+        val latestByEntity = HashMap<String, Long>()
+        val superseded = HashSet<Long>()
+        rows.asSequence()
+            .filter { it.kind == MutationKind.LIKE_TOGGLE }
+            .forEach { row ->
+                val decoded = runCatching {
+                    json.decodeFromString(LikeTogglePayload.serializer(), row.payload)
+                }.getOrNull()
+                if (decoded != null) {
+                    val key = "${decoded.entityType}:${decoded.entityId}"
+                    // `rows` is ascending by id, so a prior entry is always older.
+                    latestByEntity.put(key, row.id)?.let(superseded::add)
+                }
+            }
+        return superseded
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun outcomeFor(row: CachedMutationEntity): Outcome = try {
+        dispatch(row)
+    } catch (e: HttpException) {
+        if (isPermanent(e.code())) Outcome.DROP else Outcome.RETRY
+    } catch (@Suppress("SwallowedException") e: SerializationException) {
+        // Corrupt / schema-incompatible payload — permanent, drop it.
+        Outcome.DROP
+    } catch (@Suppress("TooGenericExceptionCaught", "SwallowedException") e: Throwable) {
+        // Transport / unknown — leave queued for the next pass.
+        Outcome.RETRY
+    }
+
+    /** 4xx are permanent except the two "retry me" statuses. */
+    private fun isPermanent(code: Int): Boolean =
+        code in HTTP_CLIENT_ERR_MIN..HTTP_CLIENT_ERR_MAX &&
+            code != HTTP_TIMEOUT && code != HTTP_TOO_MANY
+
     /**
-     * Returns true if the server accepted the call, false on any
-     * failure (transport, server error, decode). The replayer treats
-     * false as "leave the row for next pass" — it doesn't try to
-     * distinguish permanent rejections from transient ones; a row
-     * that consistently fails will accumulate attempt count and
-     * lastAttemptAt for diagnostics.
+     * Returns the outcome of replaying one row. SENT on a 2xx; DROP for an
+     * unknown kind/variant. Network / HTTP failures THROW and are classified
+     * by [outcomeFor] — dispatchers no longer swallow.
      */
-    private suspend fun dispatch(row: CachedMutationEntity): Boolean = when (row.kind) {
+    private suspend fun dispatch(row: CachedMutationEntity): Outcome = when (row.kind) {
         MutationKind.LIKE_TOGGLE -> dispatchLikeToggle(row.payload)
         MutationKind.REQUEST_CREATE -> dispatchRequestCreate(row.payload)
         MutationKind.QUARANTINE_UNFLAG -> dispatchQuarantineUnflag(row.payload)
         MutationKind.PLAYLIST_APPEND -> dispatchPlaylistAppend(row.payload)
         MutationKind.QUARANTINE_FLAG -> dispatchQuarantineFlag(row.payload)
         MutationKind.PLAY_OFFLINE -> dispatchPlayOffline(row.payload)
+        MutationKind.PLAY_ENDED -> dispatchPlayEnded(row.payload)
         MutationKind.REQUEST_CANCEL -> dispatchRequestCancel(row.payload)
         MutationKind.PLAYBACK_ERROR_REPORT -> dispatchPlaybackErrorReport(row.payload)
-        else -> {
-            // Unknown kind — drop the row by claiming success so a
-            // stale schema entry can't wedge the queue forever.
-            true
-        }
+        // Unknown kind — drop so a stale schema entry can't wedge the queue.
+        else -> Outcome.DROP
     }
 
-    private suspend fun dispatchLikeToggle(payload: String): Boolean {
+    private suspend fun dispatchLikeToggle(payload: String): Outcome {
         val decoded = json.decodeFromString(LikeTogglePayload.serializer(), payload)
         val kindPath = when (decoded.entityType) {
             LikesRepository.ENTITY_ARTIST -> "artists"
             LikesRepository.ENTITY_ALBUM -> "albums"
             LikesRepository.ENTITY_TRACK -> "tracks"
-            else -> return true  // unknown variant — drop.
+            else -> return Outcome.DROP
         }
-        return try {
-            if (decoded.desiredState) {
-                likesApi.like(kindPath, decoded.entityId)
-            } else {
-                likesApi.unlike(kindPath, decoded.entityId)
-            }
-            true
-        } catch (
-            @Suppress("TooGenericExceptionCaught", "SwallowedException") e: Throwable,
-        ) {
-            // Intentional swallow: the row stays in the queue with
-            // attempts + lastAttemptAt incremented; next drain pass
-            // retries. Per-attempt diagnostic logging lands when we
-            // wire up Timber at the replayer level.
-            false
+        if (decoded.desiredState) {
+            likesApi.like(kindPath, decoded.entityId)
+        } else {
+            likesApi.unlike(kindPath, decoded.entityId)
         }
+        return Outcome.SENT
     }
 
-    private suspend fun dispatchRequestCreate(payload: String): Boolean {
+    private suspend fun dispatchRequestCreate(payload: String): Outcome {
         val decoded = json.decodeFromString(RequestCreatePayload.serializer(), payload)
-        val body = CreateRequestBody(
-            kind = decoded.kind,
-            artistMbid = decoded.artistMbid,
-            artistName = decoded.artistName,
-            albumMbid = decoded.albumMbid,
-            albumTitle = decoded.albumTitle,
-            trackMbid = decoded.trackMbid,
-            trackTitle = decoded.trackTitle,
+        discoverApi.createRequest(
+            CreateRequestBody(
+                kind = decoded.kind,
+                artistMbid = decoded.artistMbid,
+                artistName = decoded.artistName,
+                albumMbid = decoded.albumMbid,
+                albumTitle = decoded.albumTitle,
+                trackMbid = decoded.trackMbid,
+                trackTitle = decoded.trackTitle,
+            ),
         )
-        return try {
-            discoverApi.createRequest(body)
-            true
-        } catch (
-            @Suppress("TooGenericExceptionCaught", "SwallowedException") e: Throwable,
-        ) {
-            // Intentional swallow: the row stays in the queue with
-            // attempts + lastAttemptAt incremented; next drain pass
-            // retries. Per-attempt diagnostic logging lands when we
-            // wire up Timber at the replayer level.
-            false
-        }
+        return Outcome.SENT
     }
 
-    private suspend fun dispatchQuarantineUnflag(payload: String): Boolean {
+    private suspend fun dispatchQuarantineUnflag(payload: String): Outcome {
         val decoded = json.decodeFromString(QuarantineUnflagPayload.serializer(), payload)
-        return try {
-            quarantineApi.unflag(decoded.trackId)
-            true
-        } catch (
-            @Suppress("TooGenericExceptionCaught", "SwallowedException") e: Throwable,
-        ) {
-            // Intentional swallow: the row stays in the queue with
-            // attempts + lastAttemptAt incremented; next drain pass
-            // retries. Per-attempt diagnostic logging lands when we
-            // wire up Timber at the replayer level.
-            false
-        }
+        quarantineApi.unflag(decoded.trackId)
+        return Outcome.SENT
     }
 
-    private suspend fun dispatchPlaylistAppend(payload: String): Boolean {
+    private suspend fun dispatchPlaylistAppend(payload: String): Outcome {
         val decoded = json.decodeFromString(PlaylistAppendPayload.serializer(), payload)
-        return try {
-            playlistsApi.appendTracks(
-                playlistId = decoded.playlistId,
-                body = AppendTracksRequest(trackIds = decoded.trackIds),
-            )
-            true
-        } catch (
-            @Suppress("TooGenericExceptionCaught", "SwallowedException") e: Throwable,
-        ) {
-            // Intentional swallow: row stays queued; next drain pass retries.
-            false
-        }
+        playlistsApi.appendTracks(
+            playlistId = decoded.playlistId,
+            body = AppendTracksRequest(trackIds = decoded.trackIds),
+        )
+        return Outcome.SENT
     }
 
-    private suspend fun dispatchQuarantineFlag(payload: String): Boolean {
+    private suspend fun dispatchQuarantineFlag(payload: String): Outcome {
         val decoded = json.decodeFromString(QuarantineFlagPayload.serializer(), payload)
-        return try {
-            quarantineApi.flag(
-                FlagRequest(
-                    trackId = decoded.trackId,
-                    reason = decoded.reason,
-                    notes = decoded.notes,
-                ),
-            )
-            true
-        } catch (
-            @Suppress("TooGenericExceptionCaught", "SwallowedException") e: Throwable,
-        ) {
-            // Intentional swallow: row stays queued; next drain pass retries.
-            false
-        }
+        quarantineApi.flag(
+            FlagRequest(
+                trackId = decoded.trackId,
+                reason = decoded.reason,
+                notes = decoded.notes,
+            ),
+        )
+        return Outcome.SENT
     }
 
-    private suspend fun dispatchPlayOffline(payload: String): Boolean {
+    private suspend fun dispatchPlayOffline(payload: String): Outcome {
         val decoded = json.decodeFromString(PlayOfflinePayload.serializer(), payload)
-        return try {
-            eventsApi.playOffline(
-                PlayOfflineRequest(
-                    trackId = decoded.trackId,
-                    clientId = decoded.clientId,
-                    at = decoded.atIso,
-                    durationPlayedMs = decoded.durationPlayedMs,
-                    source = decoded.source,
-                ),
-            )
-            true
-        } catch (
-            @Suppress("TooGenericExceptionCaught", "SwallowedException") e: Throwable,
-        ) {
-            // Intentional swallow: row stays queued; next drain pass retries.
-            false
-        }
+        eventsApi.playOffline(
+            PlayOfflineRequest(
+                trackId = decoded.trackId,
+                clientId = decoded.clientId,
+                at = decoded.atIso,
+                durationPlayedMs = decoded.durationPlayedMs,
+                source = decoded.source,
+                deviceClass = decoded.deviceClass,
+            ),
+        )
+        return Outcome.SENT
     }
 
-    private suspend fun dispatchRequestCancel(payload: String): Boolean {
+    private suspend fun dispatchPlayEnded(payload: String): Outcome {
+        val decoded = json.decodeFromString(PlayEndedPayload.serializer(), payload)
+        eventsApi.playEnded(
+            PlayEndedRequest(
+                playEventId = decoded.playEventId,
+                durationPlayedMs = decoded.durationPlayedMs,
+            ),
+        )
+        return Outcome.SENT
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun dispatchRequestCancel(payload: String): Outcome {
         val decoded = json.decodeFromString(RequestCancelPayload.serializer(), payload)
-        return try {
-            requestsApi.cancel(decoded.requestId)
-            true
-        } catch (
-            @Suppress("TooGenericExceptionCaught", "SwallowedException") e: Throwable,
-        ) {
-            // Intentional swallow: row stays queued; next drain pass retries.
-            false
-        }
+        requestsApi.cancel(decoded.requestId)
+        return Outcome.SENT
     }
 
-    private suspend fun dispatchPlaybackErrorReport(payload: String): Boolean {
+    private suspend fun dispatchPlaybackErrorReport(payload: String): Outcome {
         val decoded = json.decodeFromString(PlaybackErrorReportPayload.serializer(), payload)
-        return try {
-            playbackErrorsApi.report(
-                PlaybackErrorReportRequest(
-                    trackId = decoded.trackId,
-                    kind = decoded.kind,
-                    detail = decoded.detail,
-                    clientId = decoded.clientId,
-                ),
-            )
-            true
-        } catch (
-            @Suppress("TooGenericExceptionCaught", "SwallowedException") e: Throwable,
-        ) {
-            // Intentional swallow: row stays queued; next drain pass retries.
-            false
-        }
+        playbackErrorsApi.report(
+            PlaybackErrorReportRequest(
+                trackId = decoded.trackId,
+                kind = decoded.kind,
+                detail = decoded.detail,
+                clientId = decoded.clientId,
+            ),
+        )
+        return Outcome.SENT
+    }
+
+    private companion object {
+        const val HTTP_CLIENT_ERR_MIN = 400
+        const val HTTP_CLIENT_ERR_MAX = 499
+        const val HTTP_TIMEOUT = 408
+        const val HTTP_TOO_MANY = 429
     }
 }

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/cache/sync/SyncController.kt

@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 package com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.sync
 
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.endpoints.SyncApi
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.auth.AuthStore
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.ServerHealth
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.CachedAlbumDao
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.CachedArtistDao
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.CachedTrackDao
@@ -15,9 +18,15 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.wire.SyncAlbumWire
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.wire.SyncArtistWire
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.wire.SyncTrackWire
 import kotlinx.coroutines.CoroutineScope
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.MutableStateFlow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.StateFlow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.asStateFlow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.distinctUntilChanged
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.filter
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.filterNotNull
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.map
 import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
+import kotlinx.coroutines.sync.Mutex
 import kotlinx.datetime.Clock
 import retrofit2.Retrofit
 import retrofit2.create
@@ -50,10 +59,26 @@ class SyncController @Inject constructor(
     private val trackDao: CachedTrackDao,
     private val authStore: AuthStore,
     @ApplicationScope private val scope: CoroutineScope,
+    networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
     retrofit: Retrofit,
 ) {
     private val api: SyncApi = retrofit.create()
 
+    // Single in-flight guard: the cookie + health-recovery triggers (and a
+    // pull-to-refresh) can fire concurrently; coalesce them into one pass.
+    private val mutex = Mutex()
+
+    private val lastSyncErrorInternal = MutableStateFlow<String?>(null)
+
+    /**
+     * Human copy for the most recent sync failure; null after any clean
+     * pass. Lets the Library screen distinguish "empty because the first
+     * sync failed" (show error + retry) from "genuinely empty library"
+     * (show welcome copy) — a failed sync over a populated cache stays
+     * silent, since the cached content is still the better surface.
+     */
+    val lastSyncError: StateFlow<String?> = lastSyncErrorInternal.asStateFlow()
+
     init {
         scope.launch {
             authStore.sessionCookie
@@ -61,11 +86,27 @@ class SyncController @Inject constructor(
                 .distinctUntilChanged()
                 .collect { syncSafe() }
         }
+        // Re-sync when the server becomes reachable again mid-session, so a
+        // delta missed while offline lands without waiting for a cold start.
+        scope.launch {
+            networkStatus.state
+                .map { it == ServerHealth.Healthy }
+                .distinctUntilChanged()
+                .filter { it }
+                .collect { syncSafe() }
+        }
     }
 
-    /** Public entry-point for "Sync now" affordances. Swallows errors. */
+    /** Public entry-point for "Sync now" affordances. Swallows errors into [lastSyncError]. */
     suspend fun syncSafe() {
-        runCatching { sync() }
+        if (!mutex.tryLock()) return
+        try {
+            runCatching { sync() }
+                .onSuccess { lastSyncErrorInternal.value = null }
+                .onFailure { lastSyncErrorInternal.value = ErrorCopy.fromThrowable(it) }
+        } finally {
+            mutex.unlock()
+        }
     }
 
     private suspend fun sync() {

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/connectivity/ConnectivityObserver.kt

@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ import javax.inject.Singleton
  * the app to Offline with no debounce and fast-failed in-flight playback
  * via [com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.OfflineGatedDataSource]. The
  * authority on whether *Minstrel* is reachable is the `/healthz` poll
- * ([com.fabledsword.minstrel.update.data.VersionCheckController], which
+ * ([com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController], which
  * has its own failure hysteresis), not this coarse device-link signal.
  *
  * Used by the shell-level ConnectionErrorBanner; downstream

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/connectivity/NetworkStatusController.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,176 @@
+package com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity
+
+import androidx.compose.runtime.staticCompositionLocalOf
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.BuildConfig
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.auth.AuthStore
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.di.ApplicationScope
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.update.api.HealthzApi
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.update.api.HealthzResponse
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.update.data.VersionResult
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.update.data.isVersionNewer
+import kotlinx.coroutines.CoroutineScope
+import kotlinx.coroutines.channels.Channel
+import kotlinx.coroutines.delay
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.MutableStateFlow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.StateFlow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.asStateFlow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
+import retrofit2.Retrofit
+import timber.log.Timber
+import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicLong
+import javax.inject.Inject
+import javax.inject.Singleton
+
+private const val POLL_HEALTHY_MS = 5 * 60 * 1000L
+private const val POLL_DEGRADED_MS = 20_000L
+private const val ARBITRATE_MIN_GAP_MS = 2_000L
+
+/**
+ * THE single authority on network/server reachability. Absorbs the former
+ * VersionCheckController (the /healthz poll + version parsing) and
+ * ServerHealthController (the tri-state derive) into one signal-driven unit so
+ * the app has one place that answers "can we reach Minstrel?" — not three
+ * half-systems reporting differently.
+ *
+ * Inputs (all funnel through a single-consumer intent channel for thread
+ * safety — [reportSuccess]/[reportFailure] are called from the audio read path
+ * and OkHttp threads):
+ *  - device link transitions ([ConnectivityObserver]); link-return triggers an
+ *    immediate probe so recovery is near-instant (fixes the sticky banner).
+ *  - periodic /healthz probe, adaptive cadence (calm when Healthy, fast when down).
+ *  - reportSuccess / reportFailure from the API interceptor, the audio data
+ *    source, and the playback-error reporter.
+ *  - recheck() from pull-to-refresh and the banner.
+ *
+ * Version compatibility is a byproduct of the same /healthz response.
+ *
+ * Constructed at launch via the construct-the-singleton trick in
+ * [com.fabledsword.minstrel.MinstrelApplication].
+ */
+@Singleton
+class NetworkStatusController @Inject constructor(
+    @ApplicationScope private val scope: CoroutineScope,
+    connectivity: ConnectivityObserver,
+    private val authStore: AuthStore,
+    retrofit: Retrofit,
+) {
+    private val api: HealthzApi = retrofit.create(HealthzApi::class.java)
+    private val machine = ReachabilityMachine()
+    private val lastProbeAtMs = AtomicLong(0)
+
+    private val stateInternal = MutableStateFlow(ServerHealth.Healthy)
+    val state: StateFlow<ServerHealth> = stateInternal.asStateFlow()
+
+    private val versionInternal = MutableStateFlow(VersionResult.SKIPPED)
+    val versionResult: StateFlow<VersionResult> = versionInternal.asStateFlow()
+
+    private sealed interface Intent {
+        data class Link(val up: Boolean) : Intent
+        data class Probe(val resp: HealthzResponse?) : Intent
+        object OpSuccess : Intent
+        object OpFailure : Intent
+    }
+
+    private val intents = Channel<Intent>(Channel.UNLIMITED)
+
+    init {
+        scope.launch { reduceLoop() }
+        scope.launch {
+            connectivity.online.collect { up ->
+                intents.trySend(Intent.Link(up))
+                if (up) probeOnce()
+            }
+        }
+        scope.launch { pollLoop() }
+    }
+
+    /** A real server op verifiably succeeded — self-proving recovery. Cheap; safe on hot paths. */
+    fun reportSuccess() {
+        if (stateInternal.value != ServerHealth.Healthy) intents.trySend(Intent.OpSuccess)
+    }
+
+    /** A real network op failed — triggers /healthz arbitration. No-op when already Offline. */
+    fun reportFailure() {
+        if (stateInternal.value == ServerHealth.Offline) return
+        intents.trySend(Intent.OpFailure)
+    }
+
+    /** One-shot recheck for pull-to-refresh and the banner. */
+    fun recheck() {
+        scope.launch { probeOnce(force = true) }
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun reduceLoop() {
+        for (intent in intents) {
+            val now = System.currentTimeMillis()
+            when (intent) {
+                is Intent.Link -> machine.onLinkChange(intent.up)
+                is Intent.Probe -> applyProbe(intent.resp, now)
+                Intent.OpSuccess -> machine.onSuccess()
+                Intent.OpFailure -> {
+                    machine.onOpFailure(now)
+                    // Arbitrate off the reducer thread: awaiting a stalled
+                    // /healthz here would block a concurrent self-proving
+                    // success from snapping us straight back to Healthy.
+                    scope.launch { probeOnce() }
+                }
+            }
+            emit(machine.health())
+        }
+    }
+
+    private fun applyProbe(resp: HealthzResponse?, now: Long) {
+        if (resp == null) {
+            machine.onProbeFailure(now)
+        } else {
+            machine.onSuccess()
+            versionInternal.value = versionResultFor(resp)
+        }
+    }
+
+    private fun emit(next: ServerHealth) {
+        if (stateInternal.value != next) {
+            Timber.w("NetworkStatus -> %s", next)
+            stateInternal.value = next
+        }
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun pollLoop() {
+        probeOnce()
+        while (true) {
+            val interval =
+                if (stateInternal.value == ServerHealth.Healthy) POLL_HEALTHY_MS
+                else POLL_DEGRADED_MS
+            delay(interval)
+            probeOnce()
+        }
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun probeOnce(force: Boolean = false) {
+        // Startup guard: don't poll the localhost placeholder before AuthStore
+        // hydrates the real base URL — that false failure used to flash the banner.
+        if (authStore.baseUrl.value == AuthStore.DEFAULT_BASE_URL) return
+        val now = System.currentTimeMillis()
+        if (!force && now - lastProbeAtMs.get() < ARBITRATE_MIN_GAP_MS) return
+        lastProbeAtMs.set(now)
+        val resp = runCatching { api.check() }.getOrNull()
+        intents.trySend(Intent.Probe(resp))
+    }
+
+    private fun versionResultFor(resp: HealthzResponse): VersionResult {
+        val min = resp.minClientVersion
+        return when {
+            min.isEmpty() -> VersionResult.SKIPPED
+            isVersionNewer(min, BuildConfig.VERSION_NAME) -> VersionResult.TOO_OLD
+            else -> VersionResult.OK
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Reactive [ServerHealth] snapshot provided once at the app root. Lets leaf
+ * composables (TrackRow gating, write-affordance disabling) branch on health
+ * without re-injecting the controller. Defaults to Healthy so previews/tests
+ * don't crash.
+ */
+val LocalServerHealth = staticCompositionLocalOf { ServerHealth.Healthy }

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/connectivity/ReachabilityMachine.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+package com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity
+
+internal const val ESCALATE_AFTER_MS = 120_000L
+internal const val CORROBORATION_WINDOW_MS = 30_000L
+internal const val CORROBORATION_OP_THRESHOLD = 2
+
+/**
+ * Pure reachability state machine. No Android, no coroutines, no real clock —
+ * every entry point takes `nowMs`, so it is fully deterministic and unit-
+ * testable. [NetworkStatusController] wires real time + signals around it.
+ *
+ * Reachability (independent of the device link):
+ *  - Reachable   last evidence says the server answered.
+ *  - Unstable    a probe failed; arbitration/escalation pending.
+ *  - Unreachable corroborated or sustained failure.
+ *
+ * [health] folds the device link over that: no link → Offline; otherwise the
+ * reachability maps Reachable→Healthy, Unstable→Unstable, Unreachable→ServerDown.
+ *
+ * Principle: **success is self-proving, failure is ambiguous.** [onSuccess]
+ * (a real server byte-read or API 2xx, or a successful /healthz) snaps straight
+ * back to Reachable. A failure only escalates when a /healthz probe corroborates
+ * it ([onProbeFailure]) — either via fresh op-failure corroboration or the
+ * sustained-time backstop.
+ */
+class ReachabilityMachine {
+
+    private enum class Reachability { Reachable, Unstable, Unreachable }
+
+    private var linkUp = true
+    private var reachability = Reachability.Reachable
+    private var failureStreakStartMs: Long? = null
+    private val recentOpFailures = ArrayDeque<Long>()
+
+    fun onLinkChange(up: Boolean) {
+        linkUp = up
+        // Link transitions don't reset reachability — a restored link keeps the
+        // last-known server reachability until a fresh probe/op result arrives.
+        if (!up) recentOpFailures.clear()
+    }
+
+    /** A real successful server op (stream read, API 2xx) or a successful /healthz. */
+    fun onSuccess() {
+        reachability = Reachability.Reachable
+        failureStreakStartMs = null
+        recentOpFailures.clear()
+    }
+
+    /** A real network op failed. Ambiguous on its own — records corroboration. */
+    fun onOpFailure(nowMs: Long) {
+        pruneOpFailures(nowMs)
+        recentOpFailures.addLast(nowMs)
+    }
+
+    /** A /healthz probe failed — the arbiter. Escalates per corroboration/backstop. */
+    fun onProbeFailure(nowMs: Long) {
+        pruneOpFailures(nowMs)
+        if (reachability == Reachability.Reachable) {
+            reachability = Reachability.Unstable
+            failureStreakStartMs = nowMs
+        }
+        if (reachability == Reachability.Unstable && shouldEscalate(nowMs)) {
+            reachability = Reachability.Unreachable
+        }
+    }
+
+    fun health(): ServerHealth = when {
+        !linkUp -> ServerHealth.Offline
+        reachability == Reachability.Reachable -> ServerHealth.Healthy
+        reachability == Reachability.Unstable -> ServerHealth.Unstable
+        else -> ServerHealth.ServerDown
+    }
+
+    private fun shouldEscalate(nowMs: Long): Boolean {
+        val corroborated = recentOpFailures.size >= CORROBORATION_OP_THRESHOLD
+        val sustained =
+            failureStreakStartMs?.let { nowMs - it >= ESCALATE_AFTER_MS } ?: false
+        return corroborated || sustained
+    }
+
+    private fun pruneOpFailures(nowMs: Long) {
+        while (recentOpFailures.isNotEmpty() &&
+            nowMs - recentOpFailures.first() > CORROBORATION_WINDOW_MS
+        ) {
+            recentOpFailures.removeFirst()
+        }
+    }
+}

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/connectivity/ReachabilityReportingInterceptor.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+package com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity
+
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.BaseUrlInterceptor.Companion.PLACEHOLDER_HOST
+import dagger.Lazy
+import okhttp3.Interceptor
+import okhttp3.Response
+import java.io.IOException
+import javax.inject.Inject
+import javax.inject.Singleton
+
+private const val HEALTHZ_PATH = "/healthz"
+
+/**
+ * Feeds real Minstrel API outcomes into [NetworkStatusController]. A 2xx is
+ * self-proving proof the server is reachable → reportSuccess(); a transport
+ * [IOException] (no response at all) → reportFailure(), which triggers /healthz
+ * arbitration.
+ *
+ * MUST run first in the OkHttp chain (before [BaseUrlInterceptor]) so the host
+ * is still the [PLACEHOLDER_HOST] sentinel: this shared client also fetches
+ * EXTERNAL artwork (musicbrainz / coverartarchive), and an external image
+ * loading must NOT be read as "our server is reachable" — only sentinel-host
+ * requests are Minstrel-bound. 5xx is deliberately NOT a failure (the server
+ * answered), and /healthz is skipped to avoid a feedback loop with the poll.
+ *
+ * [NetworkStatusController] is injected as a [Lazy] to break the Hilt cycle:
+ * the controller needs `Retrofit`, which needs `OkHttpClient`, which needs this
+ * interceptor. By the time a request flows through, the controller singleton is
+ * already constructed (construct-the-singleton trick in MinstrelApplication).
+ */
+@Singleton
+class ReachabilityReportingInterceptor @Inject constructor(
+    private val networkStatus: Lazy<NetworkStatusController>,
+) : Interceptor {
+    override fun intercept(chain: Interceptor.Chain): Response {
+        val request = chain.request()
+        val isMinstrel = request.url.host == PLACEHOLDER_HOST
+        val isHealthz = request.url.encodedPath.endsWith(HEALTHZ_PATH)
+        if (!isMinstrel || isHealthz) return chain.proceed(request)
+        return try {
+            val response = chain.proceed(request)
+            if (response.isSuccessful) networkStatus.get().reportSuccess()
+            response
+        } catch (e: IOException) {
+            networkStatus.get().reportFailure()
+            throw e
+        }
+    }
+}

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/connectivity/Recovery.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+package com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity
+
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.Flow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.distinctUntilChanged
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.drop
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.filter
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.map
+
+/**
+ * Emits once each time server health RETURNS to [ServerHealth.Healthy]
+ * after the collector subscribed — the StateFlow's replayed current value
+ * is dropped, so only genuine down→up transitions fire (a screen that
+ * subscribes while already Healthy doesn't double-load).
+ *
+ * This is the screen-level half of the recovery idiom the app-lifetime
+ * singletons (SyncController / MutationReplayer / DiagnosticsUploader)
+ * already use: a ViewModel collects this in its viewModelScope and re-runs
+ * its load, so a surface that failed while the server was unreachable
+ * heals itself the moment connectivity returns instead of sitting in the
+ * failed state until a manual pull-to-refresh.
+ */
+fun NetworkStatusController.recoveries(): Flow<Unit> = state
+    .map { it == ServerHealth.Healthy }
+    .distinctUntilChanged()
+    .drop(1)
+    .filter { it }
+    .map { }

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/connectivity/ServerHealth.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+package com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity
+
+/**
+ * The single reachability signal every consumer branches on.
+ *
+ *  - [Healthy]    link up, /healthz ok — normal network behavior.
+ *  - [Unstable]   link up, a recent failure with arbitration pending —
+ *                 INFORMATIONAL ONLY. Does NOT gate playback; preserves the
+ *                 anti-flicker intent of commit 5c0db429 while still warning
+ *                 the user that something is flaky.
+ *  - [ServerDown] link up but /healthz failing, corroborated or sustained —
+ *                 gate to cache-only.
+ *  - [Offline]    no device link at all — gate to cache-only.
+ */
+enum class ServerHealth { Healthy, Unstable, ServerDown, Offline }

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/connectivity/ServerHealthController.kt

@@ -1,75 +0,0 @@
-package com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity
-
-import androidx.compose.runtime.staticCompositionLocalOf
-import com.fabledsword.minstrel.di.ApplicationScope
-import com.fabledsword.minstrel.update.data.VersionCheckController
-import kotlinx.coroutines.CoroutineScope
-import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.SharingStarted
-import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.StateFlow
-import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.combine
-import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.distinctUntilChanged
-import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.onEach
-import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.stateIn
-import timber.log.Timber
-import javax.inject.Inject
-import javax.inject.Singleton
-
-/**
- * Tri-state server-reachability signal that downstream consumers can branch
- * on to decide whether to hit the network, gate writes, or fall back to
- * cache-only behavior.
- *
- * Composed from two existing signals -- this controller doesn't poll its own
- * endpoint:
- *
- *  - [ConnectivityObserver.online] -- system-level NetworkCallback that
- *    answers only "is there an active INTERNET-capable network link" (NOT
- *    VALIDATED -- a WAN-validation flicker must not read as offline when
- *    the LAN server is reachable).
- *  - [VersionCheckController.reachable] -- did the last `/healthz` poll
- *    succeed. This is the authority on whether *Minstrel* is reachable;
- *    it has its own failure hysteresis. Distinguishes "device has a link
- *    but our server is down" from "no network at all."
- *
- * `version too old` is intentionally *not* folded in here -- it's a separate
- * UX (the VersionTooOldBanner) and conflating it with offline would mask the
- * real cause.
- */
-enum class ServerHealth { Healthy, Offline, ServerDown }
-
-@Singleton
-class ServerHealthController @Inject constructor(
-    @ApplicationScope scope: CoroutineScope,
-    connectivity: ConnectivityObserver,
-    versionCheck: VersionCheckController,
-) {
-    val state: StateFlow<ServerHealth> = combine(
-        connectivity.online,
-        versionCheck.reachable,
-    ) { online, serverReachable ->
-        when {
-            !online -> ServerHealth.Offline
-            !serverReachable -> ServerHealth.ServerDown
-            else -> ServerHealth.Healthy
-        }
-    }
-        // Transition log -- the signal had no instrumentation, which is why a
-        // false-offline (WAN flicker flipping playback to "Source error") was
-        // hard to diagnose from logcat. WARN-tier so ReleaseTree surfaces it.
-        .distinctUntilChanged()
-        .onEach { Timber.w("ServerHealth -> %s", it) }
-        .stateIn(
-            scope = scope,
-            started = SharingStarted.Eagerly,
-            initialValue = ServerHealth.Healthy,
-        )
-}
-
-/**
- * Reactive [ServerHealth] snapshot provided once at the app root from the
- * controller's StateFlow. Lets leaf composables (TrackRow gating, write-
- * affordance disabling) branch on health without each ViewModel re-
- * injecting the controller. Defaults to Healthy so unwrapped previews
- * and tests don't crash.
- */
-val LocalServerHealth = staticCompositionLocalOf { ServerHealth.Healthy }

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/connectivity/ui/ConnectionErrorBanner.kt

@@ -14,83 +14,121 @@ import androidx.compose.material3.Icon
 import androidx.compose.material3.MaterialTheme
 import androidx.compose.material3.Text
 import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
+import androidx.compose.runtime.LaunchedEffect
 import androidx.compose.runtime.getValue
+import androidx.compose.runtime.mutableStateOf
+import androidx.compose.runtime.remember
+import androidx.compose.runtime.setValue
 import androidx.compose.ui.Alignment
 import androidx.compose.ui.Modifier
+import androidx.compose.ui.graphics.Color
 import androidx.compose.ui.unit.dp
 import androidx.hilt.navigation.compose.hiltViewModel
 import androidx.lifecycle.SavedStateHandle
 import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
 import androidx.lifecycle.compose.collectAsStateWithLifecycle
-import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
 import com.composables.icons.lucide.CloudOff
 import com.composables.icons.lucide.Lucide
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.ServerHealth
-import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.ServerHealthController
 import dagger.hilt.android.lifecycle.HiltViewModel
-import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.SharingStarted
+import kotlinx.coroutines.delay
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.StateFlow
-import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.stateIn
 import javax.inject.Inject
 
-private const val HEALTH_SHARE_STOP_TIMEOUT_MS = 5_000L
+private const val BACK_ONLINE_FLASH_MS = 2_000L
 
 /**
- * Lifts [ServerHealthController]'s tri-state into a StateFlow for the banner
- * composable. Keeps the banner pure-presentation.
+ * Exposes [NetworkStatusController]'s tri-state directly to the banner. No
+ * re-wrapping StateFlow — the controller's is already app-scoped and warm.
  */
 @HiltViewModel
 class ConnectivityBannerViewModel @Inject constructor(
-    health: ServerHealthController,
+    networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
     @Suppress("UnusedPrivateProperty") savedStateHandle: SavedStateHandle,
 ) : ViewModel() {
-    val health: StateFlow<ServerHealth> = health.state.stateIn(
-        scope = viewModelScope,
-        started = SharingStarted.WhileSubscribed(HEALTH_SHARE_STOP_TIMEOUT_MS),
-        initialValue = ServerHealth.Healthy,
-    )
+    val health: StateFlow<ServerHealth> = networkStatus.state
 }
 
 /**
- * Banner shown at the top of the shell when the user can't reach the server.
- * Tri-state so we tell the user *why*: no device network vs server-down.
- * Copy choices match the Flutter analogues. Auto-hides via slide+fade when
- * health returns to [ServerHealth.Healthy].
+ * Shell banner. Tells the user *why* they're degraded — no link vs server-down
+ * — plus a non-alarming "Reconnecting…" for the transient [ServerHealth.Unstable]
+ * window, and a brief "Back online" confirmation when health recovers so
+ * recovery is unmistakable. Sentence case, understated voice (design system).
  */
 @Composable
 fun ConnectionErrorBanner(
     viewModel: ConnectivityBannerViewModel = hiltViewModel(),
 ) {
     val health by viewModel.health.collectAsStateWithLifecycle()
+    var showBackOnline by remember { mutableStateOf(false) }
+    var wasDown by remember { mutableStateOf(false) }
+
+    LaunchedEffect(health) {
+        val down = health == ServerHealth.Offline || health == ServerHealth.ServerDown
+        if (health == ServerHealth.Healthy && wasDown) {
+            // try/finally so a mid-delay cancellation (health flips again) can't
+            // orphan the flag and leave "Back online" stuck on screen.
+            try {
+                showBackOnline = true
+                delay(BACK_ONLINE_FLASH_MS)
+            } finally {
+                showBackOnline = false
+            }
+        }
+        wasDown = down
+    }
+
     AnimatedVisibility(
-        visible = health != ServerHealth.Healthy,
+        visible = health != ServerHealth.Healthy || showBackOnline,
         enter = expandVertically() + fadeIn(),
         exit = shrinkVertically() + fadeOut(),
     ) {
-        Row(
-            modifier = Modifier
-                .fillMaxWidth()
-                .background(MaterialTheme.colorScheme.errorContainer)
-                .padding(horizontal = 16.dp, vertical = 10.dp),
-            verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically,
-            horizontalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(12.dp),
-        ) {
-            Icon(
-                imageVector = Lucide.CloudOff,
-                contentDescription = null,
-                tint = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onErrorContainer,
-            )
-            Text(
-                text = when (health) {
-                    ServerHealth.Offline ->
-                        "No connection — check Wi-Fi or mobile data."
-                    ServerHealth.ServerDown ->
-                        "Server unreachable — your cached content is still available."
-                    ServerHealth.Healthy -> ""
-                },
-                style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodyMedium,
-                color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onErrorContainer,
-            )
-        }
+        BannerContent(health = health, backOnline = showBackOnline)
     }
 }
+
+@Composable
+private fun BannerContent(health: ServerHealth, backOnline: Boolean) {
+    val scheme = MaterialTheme.colorScheme
+    val background: Color
+    val foreground: Color
+    when {
+        backOnline -> {
+            background = scheme.secondaryContainer
+            foreground = scheme.onSecondaryContainer
+        }
+        health == ServerHealth.Unstable -> {
+            background = scheme.surfaceVariant
+            foreground = scheme.onSurfaceVariant
+        }
+        else -> {
+            background = scheme.errorContainer
+            foreground = scheme.onErrorContainer
+        }
+    }
+    Row(
+        modifier = Modifier
+            .fillMaxWidth()
+            .background(background)
+            .padding(horizontal = 16.dp, vertical = 10.dp),
+        verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically,
+        horizontalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(12.dp),
+    ) {
+        Icon(imageVector = Lucide.CloudOff, contentDescription = null, tint = foreground)
+        Text(
+            text = bannerText(health, backOnline),
+            style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodyMedium,
+            color = foreground,
+        )
+    }
+}
+
+private fun bannerText(health: ServerHealth, backOnline: Boolean): String = when {
+    backOnline -> "Back online."
+    health == ServerHealth.Offline -> "No connection — check Wi-Fi or mobile data."
+    health == ServerHealth.ServerDown ->
+        "Server unreachable — your cached content is still available."
+    health == ServerHealth.Unstable -> "Reconnecting…"
+    else -> ""
+}

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/diagnostics/DiagnosticsReporter.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,328 @@
+package com.fabledsword.minstrel.diagnostics
+
+import android.content.BroadcastReceiver
+import android.content.Context
+import android.content.Intent
+import android.content.IntentFilter
+import android.os.PowerManager
+import androidx.lifecycle.DefaultLifecycleObserver
+import androidx.lifecycle.LifecycleOwner
+import androidx.core.content.ContextCompat
+import androidx.lifecycle.ProcessLifecycleOwner
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.auth.AuthController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.auth.AuthStore
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.DiagnosticEventDao
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.entities.DiagnosticEventEntity
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.ConnectivityObserver
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.di.ApplicationScope
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.PlayerController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.RemotePlayerState
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.output.OutputPickerController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.output.OutputRoute
+import dagger.hilt.android.qualifiers.ApplicationContext
+import kotlinx.coroutines.CoroutineScope
+import kotlinx.coroutines.Dispatchers
+import kotlinx.coroutines.Job
+import kotlinx.coroutines.delay
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.combine
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.distinctUntilChanged
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.map
+import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
+import kotlinx.serialization.json.Json
+import kotlinx.serialization.json.JsonObject
+import kotlinx.serialization.json.buildJsonObject
+import kotlinx.serialization.json.put
+import javax.inject.Inject
+import javax.inject.Singleton
+
+/**
+ * On-device diagnostics collector (M9). Active only while the account's
+ * debug mode is enabled (server flag, read via AuthController.currentUser)
+ * AND the user hasn't opted out locally. When active it taps existing
+ * connectivity / player / UPnP / power seams READ-ONLY and writes a
+ * timeseries of events into the [DiagnosticEventDao] ring buffer; the
+ * [DiagnosticsUploader] drains that buffer to the server.
+ *
+ * The aim is to explain two failure classes after the fact: roaming /
+ * poor-data recovery (connectivity + server-health transitions) and
+ * locked-phone UPnP desync (power/Doze transitions correlated with the
+ * Sonos-vs-local position deltas captured in the heartbeat).
+ */
+@Suppress("TooManyFunctions") // one collector + one (un)register pair per signal; cohesive
+@Singleton
+class DiagnosticsReporter @Inject constructor(
+    @ApplicationContext private val context: Context,
+    @ApplicationScope private val scope: CoroutineScope,
+    private val dao: DiagnosticEventDao,
+    private val authController: AuthController,
+    private val authStore: AuthStore,
+    private val connectivity: ConnectivityObserver,
+    private val networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
+    private val playerController: PlayerController,
+    private val outputPicker: OutputPickerController,
+    private val remoteState: RemotePlayerState,
+    private val json: Json,
+) {
+    @Volatile private var enabled = false
+    private var collectorJob: Job? = null
+    private var powerReceiver: BroadcastReceiver? = null
+    private var lifecycleObserver: DefaultLifecycleObserver? = null
+
+    init {
+        // Gate = account flag (currentUser.debugModeEnabled) AND not the
+        // per-device local opt-out.
+        scope.launch {
+            combine(authController.currentUser, authStore.diagnosticsOptOut) { user, optOut ->
+                (user?.debugModeEnabled == true) && !optOut
+            }.distinctUntilChanged().collect { setEnabled(it) }
+        }
+        // Periodically re-pull /me so a remote admin flip propagates
+        // without a re-login or app restart.
+        scope.launch {
+            while (true) {
+                delay(GATE_REFRESH_MS)
+                authController.refreshProfile()
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private fun setEnabled(value: Boolean) {
+        if (value == enabled) return
+        enabled = value
+        if (value) start() else stop()
+    }
+
+    private fun start() {
+        registerPowerReceiver()
+        registerLifecycleObserver()
+        collectorJob = scope.launch {
+            record("lifecycle", buildJsonObject { put("event", "reporting_started") })
+            launch { collectConnectivity() }
+            launch { collectServerHealth() }
+            launch { collectUpnpDrops() }
+            launch { collectPlayerState() }
+            launch { collectTrackChanges() }
+            launch { collectRoutes() }
+            launch { heartbeatLoop() }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private fun stop() {
+        collectorJob?.cancel()
+        collectorJob = null
+        unregisterPowerReceiver()
+        unregisterLifecycleObserver()
+        // Off means off: drop any unsent buffer (honors the user OFF
+        // intent and avoids leaking data captured before disable).
+        scope.launch { runCatching { dao.clear() } }
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun collectConnectivity() {
+        connectivity.online.distinctUntilChanged().collect { online ->
+            record("connectivity", buildJsonObject {
+                put("event", "online_changed")
+                put("online", online)
+            })
+        }
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun collectServerHealth() {
+        // state is a StateFlow — already conflated/distinct, so no
+        // distinctUntilChanged (it's a deprecation warning = build error).
+        networkStatus.state.collect { s ->
+            record("connectivity", buildJsonObject {
+                put("event", "server_health")
+                put("state", s.name)
+            })
+        }
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun collectUpnpDrops() {
+        playerController.dropEvents.collect { msg ->
+            record("upnp_sync", buildJsonObject {
+                put("event", "drop")
+                put("message", msg)
+            })
+        }
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun collectPlayerState() {
+        // 'playback', not 'upnp_sync' — player state applies to every output
+        // route (phone speaker, Bluetooth, UPnP), not just casting.
+        playerController.uiState
+            .map { Triple(it.currentSource, it.isUpnpLoading, it.playbackError) }
+            .distinctUntilChanged()
+            .collect { (source, upnpLoading, err) ->
+                record("playback", buildJsonObject {
+                    put("event", "player_state")
+                    put("source", source ?: "")
+                    put("upnp_loading", upnpLoading)
+                    if (err != null) put("error", err)
+                })
+            }
+    }
+
+    // Emit a snapshot at each track/queue-index change — captures a
+    // skip-induced local↔Sonos desync at the INSTANT it happens, which the
+    // 45s heartbeat misses. Note: uiState is a conflated StateFlow, so a
+    // very rapid skip burst may coalesce intermediate indices (we still get
+    // the boundaries + the local-vs-Sonos snapshot).
+    private suspend fun collectTrackChanges() {
+        playerController.uiState
+            .map { it.queueIndex to it.currentTrack?.id }
+            .distinctUntilChanged()
+            .collect { (index, _) ->
+                val ui = playerController.uiState.value
+                val casting = outputPicker.routesState.value.current.protocol !=
+                    OutputRoute.Protocol.SYSTEM
+                record("playback", buildJsonObject {
+                    put("event", "track_change")
+                    put("local_index", index)
+                    // Track IDENTITY, not just index — indices wobble across
+                    // re-casts, so the id + Sonos URI make a desync unambiguous.
+                    put("local_track_id", ui.currentTrack?.id ?: "")
+                    put("local_pos_ms", ui.positionMs)
+                    putSonos(this, casting)
+                    put("upnp_loading", ui.isUpnpLoading)
+                    put("server_health", networkStatus.state.value.name)
+                    put("route", outputPicker.routesState.value.current.name)
+                })
+            }
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun collectRoutes() {
+        // 'playback' — route changes happen for all outputs. This only ever
+        // logs the ACTIVE route (routesState.current), so no "connected" flag.
+        outputPicker.routesState.map { it.current }.distinctUntilChanged().collect { r ->
+            record("playback", buildJsonObject {
+                put("event", "route")
+                put("id", r.id)
+                put("name", r.name)
+                put("kind", r.kind.name)
+                put("protocol", r.protocol.name)
+            })
+        }
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun heartbeatLoop() {
+        while (true) {
+            delay(HEARTBEAT_MS)
+            val ui = playerController.uiState.value
+            val route = outputPicker.routesState.value.current
+            val routeActive = route.protocol != OutputRoute.Protocol.SYSTEM
+            // Idle = nothing worth sampling. Skip to keep the buffer lean.
+            if (!ui.isPlaying && !routeActive) continue
+            record("heartbeat", buildJsonObject {
+                put("server_health", networkStatus.state.value.name)
+                put("is_playing", ui.isPlaying)
+                put("source", ui.currentSource ?: "")
+                put("local_index", ui.queueIndex)
+                put("local_track_id", ui.currentTrack?.id ?: "")
+                put("local_pos_ms", ui.positionMs)
+                put("route", route.name)
+                put("route_protocol", route.protocol.name)
+                putSonos(this, routeActive)
+                addPowerFields(this)
+            })
+        }
+    }
+
+    // --- power + lifecycle taps -------------------------------------------
+
+    private fun registerPowerReceiver() {
+        if (powerReceiver != null) return
+        val receiver = object : BroadcastReceiver() {
+            override fun onReceive(c: Context?, intent: Intent?) {
+                val action = intent?.action ?: return
+                if (!enabled) return
+                scope.launch { record("power", powerEvent(action)) }
+            }
+        }
+        val filter = IntentFilter().apply {
+            addAction(Intent.ACTION_SCREEN_ON)
+            addAction(Intent.ACTION_SCREEN_OFF)
+            addAction(PowerManager.ACTION_DEVICE_IDLE_MODE_CHANGED)
+        }
+        // System-protected broadcasts, but pass NOT_EXPORTED explicitly so
+        // the API 34+ registerReceiver flag requirement is satisfied.
+        ContextCompat.registerReceiver(
+            context, receiver, filter, ContextCompat.RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED,
+        )
+        powerReceiver = receiver
+    }
+
+    private fun unregisterPowerReceiver() {
+        powerReceiver?.let { runCatching { context.unregisterReceiver(it) } }
+        powerReceiver = null
+    }
+
+    private fun registerLifecycleObserver() {
+        if (lifecycleObserver != null) return
+        val obs = object : DefaultLifecycleObserver {
+            override fun onStart(owner: LifecycleOwner) = logLifecycle("app_foreground")
+            override fun onStop(owner: LifecycleOwner) = logLifecycle("app_background")
+        }
+        lifecycleObserver = obs
+        scope.launch(Dispatchers.Main) {
+            ProcessLifecycleOwner.get().lifecycle.addObserver(obs)
+        }
+    }
+
+    private fun unregisterLifecycleObserver() {
+        val obs = lifecycleObserver ?: return
+        lifecycleObserver = null
+        scope.launch(Dispatchers.Main) {
+            ProcessLifecycleOwner.get().lifecycle.removeObserver(obs)
+        }
+    }
+
+    private fun logLifecycle(event: String) {
+        if (!enabled) return
+        scope.launch { record("lifecycle", buildJsonObject { put("event", event) }) }
+    }
+
+    private fun powerEvent(action: String): JsonObject = buildJsonObject {
+        put("event", action.substringAfterLast('.'))
+        addPowerFields(this)
+    }
+
+    // Sonos/UPnP remote-vs-local desync fields. Only meaningful while a
+    // remote route is active; zeroed otherwise so a stale RemotePlayerState
+    // from a just-ended cast can't masquerade as live Sonos data (the
+    // cast→phone handoff artifact). currentTrackUri is the desync ground
+    // truth — it carries the track the speaker is actually streaming.
+    private fun putSonos(builder: kotlinx.serialization.json.JsonObjectBuilder, casting: Boolean) {
+        builder.put("sonos_track", if (casting) remoteState.trackNumber else 0)
+        builder.put("sonos_pos_ms", if (casting) remoteState.positionMs else 0)
+        builder.put("sonos_playing", casting && remoteState.isPlaying)
+        if (casting) builder.put("sonos_uri", remoteState.currentTrackUri)
+    }
+
+    private fun addPowerFields(builder: kotlinx.serialization.json.JsonObjectBuilder) {
+        val pm = context.getSystemService(Context.POWER_SERVICE) as PowerManager
+        builder.put("doze", pm.isDeviceIdleMode)
+        builder.put("screen_on", pm.isInteractive)
+        builder.put("battery_opt_ignored", pm.isIgnoringBatteryOptimizations(context.packageName))
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun record(kind: String, payload: JsonObject) {
+        runCatching {
+            val id = dao.insert(
+                DiagnosticEventEntity(
+                    kind = kind,
+                    occurredAtMillis = System.currentTimeMillis(),
+                    payloadJson = json.encodeToString(JsonObject.serializer(), payload),
+                ),
+            )
+            if (id % TRIM_INTERVAL == 0L) dao.trimToNewest(MAX_BUFFER)
+        }
+    }
+
+    private companion object {
+        const val HEARTBEAT_MS = 45_000L
+        const val GATE_REFRESH_MS = 300_000L // re-pull /me every 5 min
+        const val MAX_BUFFER = 5_000 // ring-buffer ceiling, oldest dropped
+        const val TRIM_INTERVAL = 50L // trim every N inserts, not every one
+    }
+}

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/diagnostics/DiagnosticsUploader.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+package com.fabledsword.minstrel.diagnostics
+
+import android.os.Build
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.BuildConfig
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.endpoints.DiagnosticEventWire
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.endpoints.DiagnosticsApi
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.endpoints.DiagnosticsReportRequest
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.auth.AuthStore
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.DiagnosticEventDao
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.entities.DiagnosticEventEntity
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.ServerHealth
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.di.ApplicationScope
+import kotlinx.coroutines.CoroutineScope
+import kotlinx.coroutines.delay
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.distinctUntilChanged
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.filter
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.filterNotNull
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.map
+import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
+import kotlinx.coroutines.sync.Mutex
+import kotlinx.serialization.json.Json
+import retrofit2.Retrofit
+import retrofit2.create
+import javax.inject.Inject
+import javax.inject.Singleton
+
+/**
+ * Drains the [DiagnosticEventDao] ring buffer to POST /api/diagnostics
+ * (M9). Triggers mirror [com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.mutations.MutationReplayer]:
+ * a periodic tick, a sign-in (sessionCookie non-null), and a server-health
+ * recovery to [ServerHealth.Healthy] — so a dead-zone's buffered events
+ * upload the moment the link comes back.
+ *
+ * Deliberately NOT the MutationQueue: diagnostics are high-volume,
+ * best-effort telemetry. A failed upload just retries on the next tick;
+ * the server no-ops (204) when the account's debug flag is off, which the
+ * uploader treats as success so the buffer drains either way.
+ */
+@Singleton
+class DiagnosticsUploader @Inject constructor(
+    private val dao: DiagnosticEventDao,
+    private val authStore: AuthStore,
+    private val json: Json,
+    @ApplicationScope private val scope: CoroutineScope,
+    networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
+    retrofit: Retrofit,
+) {
+    private val api: DiagnosticsApi = retrofit.create()
+    private val mutex = Mutex()
+
+    init {
+        scope.launch {
+            while (true) {
+                delay(UPLOAD_INTERVAL_MS)
+                drainSafe()
+            }
+        }
+        scope.launch {
+            authStore.sessionCookie.filterNotNull().distinctUntilChanged().collect { drainSafe() }
+        }
+        scope.launch {
+            networkStatus.state
+                .map { it == ServerHealth.Healthy }
+                .distinctUntilChanged()
+                .filter { it }
+                .collect { drainSafe() }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /** Coalesces concurrent triggers via tryLock — a drain in flight wins. */
+    private suspend fun drainSafe() {
+        val clientId = authStore.clientId.value
+        // Signed out / no client id yet → nothing to do. Single guard keeps
+        // the return count within the detekt gate.
+        if (authStore.sessionCookie.value.isNullOrEmpty() || clientId == null) return
+        if (!mutex.tryLock()) return
+        try {
+            drain(clientId)
+        } finally {
+            mutex.unlock()
+        }
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun drain(clientId: String) {
+        var more = true
+        while (more) {
+            val batch = runCatching { dao.takeBatch(BATCH_SIZE) }.getOrNull().orEmpty()
+            val sent = batch.isNotEmpty() && runCatching { upload(clientId, batch) }.isSuccess
+            if (sent) runCatching { dao.deleteByIds(batch.map { it.id }) }
+            // Keep going only while a full batch sent cleanly; otherwise stop
+            // (empty buffer, or a failure to retry on the next trigger).
+            more = sent && batch.size >= BATCH_SIZE
+        }
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun upload(clientId: String, batch: List<DiagnosticEventEntity>) {
+        api.report(
+            DiagnosticsReportRequest(
+                clientId = clientId,
+                appVersion = BuildConfig.VERSION_NAME,
+                osVersion = "Android ${Build.VERSION.RELEASE} (${Build.MODEL})",
+                events = batch.map { row ->
+                    DiagnosticEventWire(
+                        kind = row.kind,
+                        occurredAt = row.occurredAtMillis,
+                        payload = json.parseToJsonElement(row.payloadJson),
+                    )
+                },
+            ),
+        )
+    }
+
+    private companion object {
+        const val UPLOAD_INTERVAL_MS = 60_000L
+        const val BATCH_SIZE = 100
+    }
+}

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/discover/ui/DiscoverScreen.kt

@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.ArtistSuggestionRef
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.LidarrRequestKind
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.LidarrSearchResultRef
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.Discover
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.ErrorRetry
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.LoadingCentered
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.MinstrelTopAppBar
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.PullToRefreshScaffold
@@ -109,6 +110,7 @@ private fun DiscoverBody(
                             snackbar.showSnackbar(snackbarFor(outcome, s.name))
                         }
                     },
+                    onRetry = { viewModel.loadSuggestions() },
                 )
                 ResultsState.Loading -> LoadingCentered()
                 is ResultsState.Loaded -> ResultsList(
@@ -121,7 +123,11 @@ private fun DiscoverBody(
                         }
                     },
                 )
-                is ResultsState.Error -> CenteredMessage("Search failed: ${r.message}")
+                is ResultsState.Error -> ErrorRetry(
+                    title = "Search failed",
+                    message = r.message,
+                    onRetry = viewModel::runSearch,
+                )
             }
         }
     }
@@ -177,10 +183,15 @@ private fun SuggestionsPane(
     state: SuggestionState,
     locallyRequestedMbids: Set<String>,
     onRequest: (ArtistSuggestionRef) -> Unit,
+    onRetry: () -> Unit,
 ) {
     when (state) {
         SuggestionState.Loading -> LoadingCentered()
-        is SuggestionState.Error -> CenteredMessage("Couldn't load suggestions.")
+        is SuggestionState.Error -> ErrorRetry(
+            title = "Couldn't load suggestions",
+            message = state.message,
+            onRetry = onRetry,
+        )
         is SuggestionState.Loaded -> SuggestionsList(
             items = state.items.filter { it.mbid !in locallyRequestedMbids },
             onRequest = onRequest,

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/discover/ui/DiscoverViewModel.kt

@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ package com.fabledsword.minstrel.discover.ui
 import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
 import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.recoveries
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.discover.data.DiscoverRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.discover.data.RequestOutcome
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.ArtistSuggestionRef
@@ -46,6 +48,7 @@ sealed interface ResultsState {
 @HiltViewModel
 class DiscoverViewModel @Inject constructor(
     private val repository: DiscoverRepository,
+    networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
 ) : ViewModel() {
 
     private val internal = MutableStateFlow(DiscoverState())
@@ -53,6 +56,15 @@ class DiscoverViewModel @Inject constructor(
 
     init {
         loadSuggestions()
+        // Screen-level auto-recovery (issue #1245): re-run whichever pane
+        // failed while the server was unreachable once health returns.
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            networkStatus.recoveries().collect {
+                val s = internal.value
+                if (s.suggestions is SuggestionState.Error) loadSuggestions()
+                if (s.results is ResultsState.Error) runSearch()
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     fun setQuery(value: String) {

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/history/ui/HistoryTab.kt

@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
 import androidx.lifecycle.compose.collectAsStateWithLifecycle
 import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.recoveries
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.history.data.HistoryEntry
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.history.data.HistoryRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.TrackRef
@@ -26,6 +28,7 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.PlayerController
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.UiState
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.TrackRow
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.EmptyState
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.ErrorRetry
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.LoadingCentered
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.PullToRefreshScaffold
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.TrackCoverThumb
@@ -56,6 +59,7 @@ private const val SHARE_STOP_TIMEOUT_MS = 5_000L
 class HistoryTabViewModel @Inject constructor(
     private val repository: HistoryRepository,
     private val player: PlayerController,
+    networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
 ) : ViewModel() {
 
     private val refreshError = MutableStateFlow<String?>(null)
@@ -82,6 +86,11 @@ class HistoryTabViewModel @Inject constructor(
 
     init {
         refresh()
+        // Screen-level auto-recovery (issue #1245): re-pull when server
+        // health returns, so a load that failed offline heals unprompted.
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            networkStatus.recoveries().collect { refresh() }
+        }
     }
 
     fun refresh(): Job = viewModelScope.launch {
@@ -116,9 +125,10 @@ fun HistoryTab(
                 title = "No listening history yet",
                 body = "Play something — your recent plays will show up here.",
             )
-            is UiState.Error -> EmptyState(
+            is UiState.Error -> ErrorRetry(
                 title = "Couldn't load history",
-                body = s.message,
+                message = s.message,
+                onRetry = { viewModel.refresh() },
             )
             is UiState.Success -> HistoryList(
                 entries = s.data,

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/home/data/HomeRepository.kt

@@ -14,8 +14,10 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.TrackRef
 import kotlinx.coroutines.ExperimentalCoroutinesApi
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.Flow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.combine
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.distinctUntilChanged
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.flatMapLatest
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.flowOf
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.map
 import retrofit2.Retrofit
 import retrofit2.create
 import javax.inject.Inject
@@ -34,11 +36,15 @@ import javax.inject.Singleton
  * reveals when the fetch lands and Room re-emits. Mirrors Flutter's
  * per-item tile providers.
  *
- * `refreshIndex()` pulls `GET /api/home/index`, replaces each section
- * in-place (delete-then-insert, so the section Flows re-fire), and
- * pre-warms the top artists via [HomeArtistPrewarmer].
+ * `refreshIndex()` pulls `GET /api/home/index`, swaps all sections in
+ * one transaction (so the rows update together in a single emission
+ * rather than collapsing and refilling), and pre-warms the top artists
+ * via [HomeArtistPrewarmer].
  */
 @Singleton
+// Per-section observe accessors (one per Home row) inflate the function
+// count past detekt's 11 default — accessor density, not complexity.
+@Suppress("TooManyFunctions")
 class HomeRepository @Inject constructor(
     private val homeIndexDao: CachedHomeIndexDao,
     private val metadataProvider: MetadataProvider,
@@ -76,68 +82,104 @@ class HomeRepository @Inject constructor(
     fun observeLastPlayedArtists(): Flow<List<HomeTile<ArtistRef>>> =
         observeArtistSection(SECTION_LAST_PLAYED_ARTISTS)
 
+    fun observeYouMightLikeAlbums(): Flow<List<HomeTile<AlbumRef>>> =
+        observeAlbumSection(SECTION_YOU_MIGHT_LIKE_ALBUMS)
+
+    fun observeYouMightLikeArtists(): Flow<List<HomeTile<ArtistRef>>> =
+        observeArtistSection(SECTION_YOU_MIGHT_LIKE_ARTISTS)
+
+    /** True when the index cache already has content on screen to protect. */
+    suspend fun hasCachedIndex(): Boolean = homeIndexDao.hasAny()
+
     /**
-     * Pulls /api/home/index, replaces each cached_home_index section,
-     * and pre-warms the top artists. The section Flows re-fire on the
-     * index change; missing entity rows hydrate via the on-miss path.
+     * Pulls /api/home/index and swaps every cached_home_index section in
+     * a single transaction, then pre-warms the top artists. Missing
+     * entity rows hydrate via the on-miss path.
+     *
+     * One transaction for all seven sections is deliberate: Room notifies
+     * observers once, on commit, so Home swaps from the old content to
+     * the new in a single emission. Per-section, un-transacted writes
+     * made every row visibly collapse to empty and refill, one after
+     * another (issue #2327).
      */
     suspend fun refreshIndex() {
         val wire = api.getHomeIndex()
-        replaceSection(SECTION_RECENTLY_ADDED_ALBUMS, "album", wire.recentlyAddedAlbums)
-        replaceSection(SECTION_REDISCOVER_ALBUMS, "album", wire.rediscoverAlbums)
-        replaceSection(SECTION_REDISCOVER_ARTISTS, "artist", wire.rediscoverArtists)
-        replaceSection(SECTION_MOST_PLAYED_TRACKS, "track", wire.mostPlayedTracks)
-        replaceSection(SECTION_LAST_PLAYED_ARTISTS, "artist", wire.lastPlayedArtists)
-        prewarmer.warm(wire.rediscoverArtists + wire.lastPlayedArtists)
-    }
-
-    private suspend fun replaceSection(section: String, entityType: String, ids: List<String>) {
-        homeIndexDao.deleteBySection(section)
-        if (ids.isEmpty()) return
-        homeIndexDao.upsertAll(
-            ids.mapIndexed { index, id ->
-                CachedHomeIndexEntity(
-                    section = section,
-                    position = index,
-                    entityType = entityType,
-                    entityId = id,
-                )
-            },
+        homeIndexDao.replaceSections(
+            sections = ALL_SECTIONS,
+            rows = rowsFor(SECTION_RECENTLY_ADDED_ALBUMS, "album", wire.recentlyAddedAlbums) +
+                rowsFor(SECTION_REDISCOVER_ALBUMS, "album", wire.rediscoverAlbums) +
+                rowsFor(SECTION_REDISCOVER_ARTISTS, "artist", wire.rediscoverArtists) +
+                rowsFor(SECTION_MOST_PLAYED_TRACKS, "track", wire.mostPlayedTracks) +
+                rowsFor(SECTION_LAST_PLAYED_ARTISTS, "artist", wire.lastPlayedArtists) +
+                rowsFor(SECTION_YOU_MIGHT_LIKE_ALBUMS, "album", wire.youMightLikeAlbums) +
+                rowsFor(SECTION_YOU_MIGHT_LIKE_ARTISTS, "artist", wire.youMightLikeArtists),
+        )
+        prewarmer.warm(
+            wire.rediscoverArtists + wire.lastPlayedArtists + wire.youMightLikeArtists,
         )
     }
 
+    private fun rowsFor(
+        section: String,
+        entityType: String,
+        ids: List<String>,
+    ): List<CachedHomeIndexEntity> = ids.mapIndexed { index, id ->
+        CachedHomeIndexEntity(
+            section = section,
+            position = index,
+            entityType = entityType,
+            entityId = id,
+        )
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * The section's ordered entity ids, deduplicated.
+     *
+     * Room re-runs the query on every write to `cached_home_index` — and
+     * `CachedHomeIndexEntity.fetchedAt` is stamped fresh each time — so
+     * comparing whole rows would call every rewrite a change. Comparing
+     * the id list instead means a section whose contents didn't actually
+     * move never restarts the `flatMapLatest` below, which would
+     * otherwise tear down and rebuild all of its tiles' hydration flows
+     * and flicker unchanged tiles (issue #2327).
+     */
+    private fun observeSectionIds(section: String): Flow<List<String>> =
+        homeIndexDao.observeBySection(section)
+            .map { rows -> rows.map { it.entityId } }
+            .distinctUntilChanged()
+
     @OptIn(ExperimentalCoroutinesApi::class)
     private fun observeAlbumSection(section: String): Flow<List<HomeTile<AlbumRef>>> =
-        homeIndexDao.observeBySection(section).flatMapLatest { rows ->
-            if (rows.isEmpty()) {
+        observeSectionIds(section).flatMapLatest { ids ->
+            if (ids.isEmpty()) {
                 flowOf(emptyList())
             } else {
-                combine(rows.map { metadataProvider.observeAlbum(it.entityId) }) { refs ->
-                    rows.mapIndexed { i, r -> HomeTile(r.entityId, refs[i]) }
+                combine(ids.map { metadataProvider.observeAlbum(it) }) { refs ->
+                    ids.mapIndexed { i, id -> HomeTile(id, refs[i]) }
                 }
             }
         }
 
     @OptIn(ExperimentalCoroutinesApi::class)
     private fun observeArtistSection(section: String): Flow<List<HomeTile<ArtistRef>>> =
-        homeIndexDao.observeBySection(section).flatMapLatest { rows ->
-            if (rows.isEmpty()) {
+        observeSectionIds(section).flatMapLatest { ids ->
+            if (ids.isEmpty()) {
                 flowOf(emptyList())
             } else {
-                combine(rows.map { metadataProvider.observeArtist(it.entityId) }) { refs ->
-                    rows.mapIndexed { i, r -> HomeTile(r.entityId, refs[i]) }
+                combine(ids.map { metadataProvider.observeArtist(it) }) { refs ->
+                    ids.mapIndexed { i, id -> HomeTile(id, refs[i]) }
                 }
             }
         }
 
     @OptIn(ExperimentalCoroutinesApi::class)
     private fun observeTrackSection(section: String): Flow<List<HomeTile<TrackRef>>> =
-        homeIndexDao.observeBySection(section).flatMapLatest { rows ->
-            if (rows.isEmpty()) {
+        observeSectionIds(section).flatMapLatest { ids ->
+            if (ids.isEmpty()) {
                 flowOf(emptyList())
             } else {
-                combine(rows.map { metadataProvider.observeTrack(it.entityId) }) { refs ->
-                    rows.mapIndexed { i, r -> HomeTile(r.entityId, refs[i]) }
+                combine(ids.map { metadataProvider.observeTrack(it) }) { refs ->
+                    ids.mapIndexed { i, id -> HomeTile(id, refs[i]) }
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -148,5 +190,18 @@ class HomeRepository @Inject constructor(
         const val SECTION_REDISCOVER_ARTISTS = "rediscover_artists"
         const val SECTION_MOST_PLAYED_TRACKS = "most_played_tracks"
         const val SECTION_LAST_PLAYED_ARTISTS = "last_played_artists"
+        const val SECTION_YOU_MIGHT_LIKE_ALBUMS = "you_might_like_albums"
+        const val SECTION_YOU_MIGHT_LIKE_ARTISTS = "you_might_like_artists"
+
+        /** Every section [refreshIndex] owns — the unit of one atomic swap. */
+        val ALL_SECTIONS = listOf(
+            SECTION_RECENTLY_ADDED_ALBUMS,
+            SECTION_REDISCOVER_ALBUMS,
+            SECTION_REDISCOVER_ARTISTS,
+            SECTION_MOST_PLAYED_TRACKS,
+            SECTION_LAST_PLAYED_ARTISTS,
+            SECTION_YOU_MIGHT_LIKE_ALBUMS,
+            SECTION_YOU_MIGHT_LIKE_ARTISTS,
+        )
     }
 }

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/home/ui/HomeScreen.kt

@@ -2,11 +2,19 @@
 
 package com.fabledsword.minstrel.home.ui
 
+import androidx.compose.animation.AnimatedVisibility
 import androidx.compose.animation.Crossfade
+import androidx.compose.animation.core.tween
+import androidx.compose.animation.fadeIn
+import androidx.compose.animation.fadeOut
+import androidx.compose.animation.slideInHorizontally
+import androidx.compose.animation.slideOutHorizontally
 import androidx.compose.foundation.background
 import androidx.compose.foundation.clickable
+import androidx.compose.foundation.interaction.MutableInteractionSource
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Arrangement
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Box
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.BoxScope
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Column
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.PaddingValues
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Row
@@ -27,6 +35,7 @@ import androidx.compose.foundation.lazy.grid.items as gridItems
 import androidx.compose.foundation.lazy.items
 import androidx.compose.foundation.lazy.itemsIndexed
 import androidx.compose.foundation.shape.RoundedCornerShape
+import androidx.compose.material3.CircularProgressIndicator
 import androidx.compose.material3.Icon
 import androidx.compose.material3.MaterialTheme
 import androidx.compose.material3.Scaffold
@@ -34,6 +43,7 @@ import androidx.compose.material3.SnackbarHost
 import androidx.compose.material3.SnackbarHostState
 import androidx.compose.material3.Text
 import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
+import androidx.compose.runtime.CompositionLocalProvider
 import androidx.compose.runtime.LaunchedEffect
 import androidx.compose.runtime.getValue
 import androidx.compose.runtime.remember
@@ -54,6 +64,8 @@ import com.composables.icons.lucide.History
 import com.composables.icons.lucide.Lucide
 import com.composables.icons.lucide.Music
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.ServerHealth
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.recoveries
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.home.data.HomeRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.library.data.LibraryRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.library.widgets.AlbumCard
@@ -74,27 +86,38 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.playlists.widgets.OfflinePoolCard
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.playlists.widgets.PlaylistCard
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.playlists.widgets.PlaylistPlaceholderCard
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.UiState
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.UpdateVeilController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.VeilOutcome
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.VeilSessionResult
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.VeilSettleState
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.asCacheFirstStateFlow
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.ArtSettleTracker
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.EmptyState
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.ErrorRetry
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.HorizontalScrollRow
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.LocalArtSettleTracker
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.MinstrelTopAppBar
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.PullToRefreshScaffold
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.SkeletonAlbumTile
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.SkeletonArtistTile
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.SkeletonSectionHeader
 import dagger.hilt.android.lifecycle.HiltViewModel
-import kotlinx.coroutines.Job
+import kotlinx.coroutines.async
 import kotlinx.coroutines.channels.Channel
+import kotlinx.coroutines.coroutineScope
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.Flow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.MutableStateFlow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.SharingStarted
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.StateFlow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.asStateFlow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.combine
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.first
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.map
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.receiveAsFlow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.stateIn
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.filter
 import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
+import kotlinx.coroutines.withTimeoutOrNull
 import javax.inject.Inject
 
 private const val SHARE_STOP_TIMEOUT_MS = 5_000L
@@ -106,6 +129,22 @@ private const val BOTTOM_PADDING_FOR_MINIPLAYER_DP = 140
 private const val RECENTLY_ADDED_GRID_ROWS = 2
 private const val RECENTLY_ADDED_GRID_HEIGHT_DP = 440
 
+// "Updating your mixes…" veil. UpdateVeilController decides both whether it
+// appears at all — only when a refresh actually changes something — and how
+// long it stays, by watching the screen settle rather than by a fixed delay,
+// which lowered it while tiles and artwork were still landing (#2327).
+// Near-opaque (VEIL_ALPHA) so the section churn never bleeds through.
+private const val VEIL_WIPE_MS = 280
+private const val VEIL_ALPHA = 0.96f
+private const val VEIL_SPINNER_DP = 22
+private const val VEIL_SPINNER_STROKE_DP = 2
+private const val VEIL_LABEL_GAP_DP = 12
+
+// Backstop on how long a manual pull keeps its own indicator while waiting
+// for its successor — the veil, or the "already up to date" snackbar — so the
+// two never both vanish for a frame mid-handoff.
+private const val PULL_HANDOFF_TIMEOUT_MS = 2_000L
+
 // ─── State ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 data class HomeSections(
@@ -115,6 +154,8 @@ data class HomeSections(
     val rediscoverArtists: List<HomeTile<ArtistRef>> = emptyList(),
     val mostPlayedTracks: List<HomeTile<TrackRef>> = emptyList(),
     val lastPlayedArtists: List<HomeTile<ArtistRef>> = emptyList(),
+    val youMightLikeAlbums: List<HomeTile<AlbumRef>> = emptyList(),
+    val youMightLikeArtists: List<HomeTile<ArtistRef>> = emptyList(),
 ) {
     val isAllEmpty: Boolean
         get() = playlists.isEmpty() &&
@@ -122,7 +163,9 @@ data class HomeSections(
             rediscoverAlbums.isEmpty() &&
             rediscoverArtists.isEmpty() &&
             mostPlayedTracks.isEmpty() &&
-            lastPlayedArtists.isEmpty()
+            lastPlayedArtists.isEmpty() &&
+            youMightLikeAlbums.isEmpty() &&
+            youMightLikeArtists.isEmpty()
 }
 
 // ─── ViewModel ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -134,7 +177,8 @@ class HomeViewModel @Inject constructor(
     private val libraryRepository: LibraryRepository,
     private val player: com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.PlayerController,
     private val shuffleSource: com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.ShuffleSource,
-    connectivity: com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.ConnectivityObserver,
+    private val eventsStream: com.fabledsword.minstrel.events.EventsStream,
+    networkStatus: com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController,
 ) : ViewModel() {
 
     private val systemStatusInternal = MutableStateFlow(SystemPlaylistsStatus())
@@ -142,23 +186,42 @@ class HomeViewModel @Inject constructor(
     /** System-playlist build status for the Home placeholder cards. */
     val systemStatus: StateFlow<SystemPlaylistsStatus> = systemStatusInternal.asStateFlow()
 
-    /** True when the device has no usable internet — gates the offline-pool cards. */
-    val offline: StateFlow<Boolean> = connectivity.online
-        .map { !it }
+    /**
+     * Cache-only when there's no link OR the server is unreachable. Reads the
+     * unified [NetworkStatusController] (not the raw device link) so Home reacts
+     * to ServerDown too; the transient Unstable state stays calm (not offline).
+     */
+    val offline: StateFlow<Boolean> = networkStatus.state
+        .map { it == ServerHealth.Offline || it == ServerHealth.ServerDown }
         .stateIn(
             scope = viewModelScope,
             started = SharingStarted.WhileSubscribed(SHARE_STOP_TIMEOUT_MS),
             initialValue = false,
         )
 
-    private val poolMessages = Channel<String>(Channel.BUFFERED)
+    private val snackbarMessages = Channel<String>(Channel.BUFFERED)
 
-    /** Transient snackbar messages from offline-pool taps. */
-    val transientMessages: Flow<String> = poolMessages.receiveAsFlow()
+    /**
+     * Transient snackbar messages: offline-pool taps, playback failures, and
+     * the outcome of a refresh the user explicitly asked for.
+     */
+    val transientMessages: Flow<String> = snackbarMessages.receiveAsFlow()
 
-    init {
-        refresh()
-    }
+    /**
+     * Copy for the most recent /home/index refresh failure; null once a
+     * refresh succeeds. Folded into [uiState] so an empty cache + failed
+     * refresh renders as Error (with retry) instead of masquerading as
+     * the "Welcome to Minstrel" empty state.
+     */
+    private val refreshError = MutableStateFlow<String?>(null)
+
+    /**
+     * Cover-art loads in flight on Home, reported by every [ServerImage]
+     * under [LocalArtSettleTracker]. The veil waits on this so artwork
+     * arriving a beat after its tile lands behind the veil rather than
+     * popping in on screen.
+     */
+    val artTracker = ArtSettleTracker()
 
     /**
      * Tap an offline pool: shuffle + play its cached tracks. Empty
@@ -171,7 +234,7 @@ class HomeViewModel @Inject constructor(
                 OfflinePoolKind.LIKED -> shuffleSource.liked()
             }.shuffled()
             if (tracks.isEmpty()) {
-                poolMessages.trySend("No cached ${kind.label} tracks yet")
+                snackbarMessages.trySend("No cached ${kind.label} tracks yet")
             } else {
                 player.setQueue(tracks, initialIndex = 0, source = "offline:${kind.name}")
             }
@@ -208,14 +271,14 @@ class HomeViewModel @Inject constructor(
             try {
                 val detail = libraryRepository.refreshAlbumDetail(albumId)
                 if (detail.tracks.isEmpty()) {
-                    poolMessages.trySend("This album has no tracks to play.")
+                    snackbarMessages.trySend("This album has no tracks to play.")
                 } else {
                     player.setQueue(detail.tracks, initialIndex = 0, source = "album:$albumId")
                 }
             } catch (
                 @Suppress("TooGenericExceptionCaught") e: Throwable,
             ) {
-                poolMessages.trySend(
+                snackbarMessages.trySend(
                     "Couldn't start playback: ${ErrorCopy.fromThrowable(e)}",
                 )
             }
@@ -233,14 +296,14 @@ class HomeViewModel @Inject constructor(
             try {
                 val tracks = libraryRepository.fetchArtistTracks(artistId).shuffled()
                 if (tracks.isEmpty()) {
-                    poolMessages.trySend("This artist has no tracks to play.")
+                    snackbarMessages.trySend("This artist has no tracks to play.")
                 } else {
                     player.setQueue(tracks, initialIndex = 0, source = "artist:$artistId")
                 }
             } catch (
                 @Suppress("TooGenericExceptionCaught") e: Throwable,
             ) {
-                poolMessages.trySend(
+                snackbarMessages.trySend(
                     "Couldn't start playback: ${ErrorCopy.fromThrowable(e)}",
                 )
             }
@@ -258,39 +321,81 @@ class HomeViewModel @Inject constructor(
     suspend fun playPlaylist(playlist: PlaylistRef) {
         viewModelScope.launch {
             playPlaylistShuffled(playlist, playlistsRepository, player) {
-                poolMessages.trySend(it)
+                snackbarMessages.trySend(it)
             }
         }.join()
     }
 
     /**
-     * Pulls both /home/index and the playlists list. Returns the Job
-     * for the combined refresh so a pull-to-refresh wrapper can await
-     * actual completion before hiding the indicator.
+     * Pulls /home/index, the playlists list and the system-playlist
+     * status. Returns true when the load-bearing /home/index pull
+     * succeeded — the veil controller retries on false and reports the
+     * outcome, so this must report failure rather than swallow it.
      */
-    fun refresh(): Job = viewModelScope.launch {
-        val home = launch { runCatching { homeRepository.refreshIndex() } }
+    private suspend fun runRefresh(): Boolean = coroutineScope {
+        // /home/index is the load-bearing pull: its failure drives the
+        // empty-cache Error state. A failure over a populated cache
+        // stays silent — cached sections beat a full-screen error.
+        //
+        // Cleared on success, NOT at the start of each attempt: with the
+        // veil's retries, clearing up front made a failing cold start
+        // flash the "Welcome to Minstrel" empty state (empty cache + no
+        // error reads as Empty) between one attempt and the next.
+        val home = async {
+            runCatching { homeRepository.refreshIndex() }
+                .onSuccess { refreshError.value = null }
+                .onFailure { refreshError.value = ErrorCopy.fromThrowable(it) }
+                .isSuccess
+        }
         val lists = launch { runCatching { playlistsRepository.refreshList() } }
         val status = launch {
             runCatching { homeRepository.getSystemPlaylistsStatus() }
                 .onSuccess { systemStatusInternal.value = it }
         }
-        home.join()
         lists.join()
         status.join()
+        home.await()
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * The Error state's explicit Retry button. User-initiated, so it gets
+     * the controller's retries and reports its outcome; over an empty cache
+     * there's no content to protect, so no veil goes up.
+     */
+    fun retry() = veil.request(userInitiated = true)
+
+    /**
+     * Manual pull-to-refresh. Goes behind the veil like every other refresh
+     * (operator call, 2026-07-31: the churn a pull causes is identical to
+     * the automatic paths, and a small spinner didn't hide it).
+     *
+     * Suspends until the veil has taken over OR the session has finished,
+     * so the pull indicator hands off to exactly one successor: the veil if
+     * content changed, the "Already up to date" snackbar if it didn't. The
+     * timeout is only a backstop against a session that outlives it.
+     */
+    suspend fun refreshFromPull() {
+        val before = veil.finishedSessions.value
+        veil.request(userInitiated = true)
+        withTimeoutOrNull(PULL_HANDOFF_TIMEOUT_MS) {
+            combine(veil.visible, veil.finishedSessions) { veiled, finished ->
+                veiled || finished != before
+            }.first { it }
+        }
     }
 
     val uiState: StateFlow<UiState<HomeSections>> =
         combineHomeFlows().asCacheFirstStateFlow(viewModelScope)
 
     /**
-     * Five home-section flows merged into the sections struct without
-     * playlists; then merged with the playlists flow in [combineHomeFlows].
-     * Splitting it like this keeps each combine call inside the
-     * coroutines built-in arity limit (5) and avoids the typed-vararg
-     * acrobatics needed for a 6-flow combine across heterogeneous types.
+     * The core five section flows merged into the sections struct. Split
+     * out so each combine call stays inside the coroutines built-in arity
+     * limit (5) and avoids the typed-vararg acrobatics a wider combine
+     * across heterogeneous types would need. [observeHomeSections] then
+     * folds in the two you-might-like flows, and [combineHomeFlows] the
+     * playlists flow.
      */
-    private fun observeHomeSections() = combine(
+    private fun observeCoreSections() = combine(
         homeRepository.observeRecentlyAddedAlbums(),
         homeRepository.observeRediscoverAlbums(),
         homeRepository.observeRediscoverArtists(),
@@ -306,11 +411,145 @@ class HomeViewModel @Inject constructor(
         )
     }
 
+    private fun observeHomeSections() = combine(
+        observeCoreSections(),
+        homeRepository.observeYouMightLikeAlbums(),
+        homeRepository.observeYouMightLikeArtists(),
+    ) { core, ymlAlbums, ymlArtists ->
+        core.copy(youMightLikeAlbums = ymlAlbums, youMightLikeArtists = ymlArtists)
+    }
+
     private fun combineHomeFlows() =
-        observeHomeSections().combine(playlistsRepository.observeAll()) { sections, playlists ->
+        combine(
+            observeHomeSections(),
+            playlistsRepository.observeAll(),
+            refreshError,
+        ) { sections, playlists, err ->
             val merged = sections.copy(playlists = playlists)
-            if (merged.isAllEmpty) UiState.Empty else UiState.Success(merged)
+            when {
+                !merged.isAllEmpty -> UiState.Success(merged)
+                err != null -> UiState.Error(err)
+                else -> UiState.Empty
+            }
         }
+
+    // ─── Updating veil ───────────────────────────────────────────────
+    // Declared after uiState: these initialisers read it, and Kotlin runs
+    // property initialisers and init blocks in declaration order.
+
+    /**
+     * What the veil watches to decide Home has stopped moving: the whole
+     * rendered state, plus how many covers are still loading.
+     *
+     * [UiState.Success] wraps a [HomeSections] data class, so any visible
+     * change — a section swapping ids, one tile hydrating from skeleton to
+     * album — changes this value and re-arms the veil's quiet window.
+     *
+     * Unhydrated tiles deliberately do NOT gate `quiescent`. A tile whose
+     * on-miss fetch soft-fails keeps a null value indefinitely
+     * ([MetadataProvider] swallows those errors), so treating "no
+     * skeletons left" as the settle condition would pin the veil to its
+     * hard ceiling on every refresh. They're covered by the content key
+     * instead: each tile that lands re-arms the window, and once they stop
+     * landing the screen is genuinely still.
+     */
+    private val settleSignal: Flow<VeilSettleState> =
+        combine(uiState, artTracker.inFlight) { state, artInFlight ->
+            VeilSettleState(
+                contentKey = state,
+                hasContent = state is UiState.Success,
+                quiescent = artInFlight == 0,
+            )
+        }
+
+    private val veil = UpdateVeilController(
+        scope = viewModelScope,
+        settleSignal = settleSignal,
+        shouldVeil = {
+            // Only worth hiding churn when there's already content to
+            // hide. A cold load over an empty cache keeps its skeleton —
+            // veiling that would replace a useful affordance with an
+            // opaque panel. `hasCachedIndex` is the honest check: uiState
+            // still reads Loading until the screen subscribes, so on a
+            // process restore over a warm cache it would say "no content"
+            // right before the cache emits.
+            uiState.value is UiState.Success || homeRepository.hasCachedIndex()
+        },
+        onSessionEnd = ::reportRefreshOutcome,
+        work = ::runRefresh,
+    )
+
+    /**
+     * Tells the user how a refresh *they asked for* went, in the one case
+     * the veil can't: when nothing changed there's no veil to see, and a
+     * pull that produces no visible response at all reads as broken.
+     *
+     * Only user-initiated sessions say anything. The same outcome from a
+     * background check — the initial load, the 03:00 rebuild, a reconnect —
+     * is noise, and "Already up to date" on every launch would be worse
+     * than silence (operator's call, 2026-07-31).
+     */
+    private fun reportRefreshOutcome(result: VeilSessionResult) {
+        if (!result.userInitiated) return
+        when (result.outcome) {
+            // The veil was the feedback.
+            VeilOutcome.CHANGED -> return
+            VeilOutcome.UNCHANGED -> snackbarMessages.trySend("Already up to date")
+            VeilOutcome.FAILED -> snackbarMessages.trySend("Couldn't check for updates")
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * True while the "Updating your mixes…" veil should be raised.
+     *
+     * Raised only when a refresh actually changes what's on screen, and then
+     * held until Home settles — tiles hydrated, artwork loaded — instead of
+     * for a fixed delay after the network pull returns (issue #2327). A
+     * refresh that returns what's already cached shows no veil at all;
+     * [reportRefreshOutcome] tells the user instead, if they asked.
+     */
+    val isUpdating: StateFlow<Boolean> = veil.visible
+
+    init {
+        // Every refresh path goes through the controller, which decides
+        // per session whether to raise the veil. That includes the initial
+        // load: over a warm cache it's a full re-pull that churns every
+        // section, and it used to run completely unveiled.
+        veil.request()
+        // Screen-level auto-recovery (issue #1245): a Home that failed to
+        // load while the server was unreachable re-pulls itself the moment
+        // health returns — same idiom as SyncController, one layer up.
+        // This is also the recovery that keeps trying after the veil has
+        // given up and lowered; the controller sets no latch against it.
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            networkStatus.recoveries().collect { veil.request() }
+        }
+        // Server-side changes that rewrite what Home renders (#968 and
+        // the 2026-07-31 widening) re-pull behind the veil. Mirrors the
+        // web SSE consumer.
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            eventsStream.events
+                .filter { it.kind in VEILED_EVENT_KINDS }
+                .collect { veil.request() }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private companion object {
+        /**
+         * Events that change what Home shows. `playlist.system_rebuilt`
+         * is the 03:00 daily rebuild; the other `playlist.*` kinds move
+         * the Playlists and Songs-like rows; `scan.run_finished` changes
+         * Recently added (and Home never reacted to it at all before).
+         */
+        private val VEILED_EVENT_KINDS = setOf(
+            "playlist.system_rebuilt",
+            "playlist.created",
+            "playlist.updated",
+            "playlist.deleted",
+            "playlist.tracks_changed",
+            "scan.run_finished",
+        )
+    }
 }
 
 // ─── Screen ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -338,46 +577,114 @@ fun HomeScreen(
         val state by viewModel.uiState.collectAsStateWithLifecycle()
         val systemStatus by viewModel.systemStatus.collectAsStateWithLifecycle()
         val offline by viewModel.offline.collectAsStateWithLifecycle()
+        val updating by viewModel.isUpdating.collectAsStateWithLifecycle()
         PullToRefreshScaffold(
-            onRefresh = { viewModel.refresh().join() },
+            onRefresh = { viewModel.refreshFromPull() },
             modifier = Modifier.fillMaxSize().padding(inner),
         ) {
-            // Key Crossfade on the state CLASS, not the instance. Each
-            // section emission produces a new UiState.Success(data); if
-            // we keyed on `state` directly, every per-section
-            // hydration tick would re-run the 300ms crossfade, and
-            // first-sign-in (six sections cascading in) reads as
-            // continuous flicker. Keying on the class restricts the
-            // animation to Loading↔Success↔Empty↔Error transitions and
-            // lets normal Success→Success recompositions update the
-            // LazyColumn without a fade.
-            Crossfade(targetState = state::class, label = "home-state") { _ ->
-                when (val s = state) {
-                    UiState.Loading -> HomeSkeletonContent()
-                    UiState.Empty -> EmptyState(
-                        title = "Welcome to Minstrel",
-                        body = "Nothing to show yet — scan a folder in your server " +
-                            "settings, then come back here for system playlists " +
-                            "and recommendations.",
-                    )
-                    is UiState.Error -> EmptyState(
-                        title = "Couldn't load home",
-                        body = s.message,
-                    )
-                    is UiState.Success -> HomeSuccessContent(
-                        sections = s.data,
-                        systemStatus = systemStatus,
-                        offline = offline,
-                        onAlbumClick = { id -> navController.navigate(AlbumDetail(id)) },
-                        onArtistClick = { id -> navController.navigate(ArtistDetail(id)) },
-                        onPlaylistClick = { id -> navController.navigate(PlaylistDetail(id)) },
-                        onMostPlayedTap = viewModel::playMostPlayed,
-                        onPlayPool = viewModel::playPool,
-                        onPlayAlbum = viewModel::playAlbum,
-                        onPlayArtist = viewModel::playArtistShuffled,
-                        onPlayPlaylist = viewModel::playPlaylist,
-                    )
+            Box(Modifier.fillMaxSize()) {
+                // Every cover below reports its load state to the tracker,
+                // so the veil can wait for artwork instead of guessing.
+                CompositionLocalProvider(
+                    LocalArtSettleTracker provides viewModel.artTracker,
+                ) {
+                    HomeStateCrossfade(state, systemStatus, offline, navController, viewModel)
                 }
+                // Refresh veil: rebuild / reconnect / pull / event churn all
+                // hide behind an "Updating your mixes…" wipe that stays up
+                // until the screen has actually stopped moving.
+                UpdatingVeil(visible = updating)
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ * The Loading/Empty/Error/Success switch for Home, crossfaded on state.
+ *
+ * Key the Crossfade on the state CLASS, not the instance. Each section
+ * emission produces a new UiState.Success(data); if we keyed on `state`
+ * directly, every per-section hydration tick would re-run the 300ms
+ * crossfade, and first-sign-in (six sections cascading in) reads as
+ * continuous flicker. Keying on the class restricts the animation to
+ * Loading↔Success↔Empty↔Error transitions and lets normal Success→Success
+ * recompositions update the LazyColumn without a fade.
+ */
+@Composable
+private fun HomeStateCrossfade(
+    state: UiState<HomeSections>,
+    systemStatus: SystemPlaylistsStatus,
+    offline: Boolean,
+    navController: NavHostController,
+    viewModel: HomeViewModel,
+) {
+    Crossfade(targetState = state::class, label = "home-state") { _ ->
+        when (val s = state) {
+            UiState.Loading -> HomeSkeletonContent()
+            UiState.Empty -> EmptyState(
+                title = "Welcome to Minstrel",
+                body = "Nothing to show yet — scan a folder in your server " +
+                    "settings, then come back here for system playlists " +
+                    "and recommendations.",
+            )
+            is UiState.Error -> ErrorRetry(
+                title = "Couldn't load home",
+                message = s.message,
+                onRetry = { viewModel.retry() },
+            )
+            is UiState.Success -> HomeSuccessContent(
+                sections = s.data,
+                systemStatus = systemStatus,
+                offline = offline,
+                onAlbumClick = { id -> navController.navigate(AlbumDetail(id)) },
+                onArtistClick = { id -> navController.navigate(ArtistDetail(id)) },
+                onPlaylistClick = { id -> navController.navigate(PlaylistDetail(id)) },
+                onMostPlayedTap = viewModel::playMostPlayed,
+                onPlayPool = viewModel::playPool,
+                onPlayAlbum = viewModel::playAlbum,
+                onPlayArtist = viewModel::playArtistShuffled,
+                onPlayPlaylist = viewModel::playPlaylist,
+            )
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Full-bleed "Updating your mixes…" veil that wipes in from the left,
+ * holds while an automatic refresh repopulates Home, then wipes off.
+ * Near-opaque so the section churn underneath never shows; swallows taps
+ * while raised so a mid-hydration tile can't be hit.
+ */
+@Composable
+private fun BoxScope.UpdatingVeil(visible: Boolean) {
+    AnimatedVisibility(
+        visible = visible,
+        enter = slideInHorizontally(tween(VEIL_WIPE_MS)) { -it } + fadeIn(tween(VEIL_WIPE_MS)),
+        exit = slideOutHorizontally(tween(VEIL_WIPE_MS)) { it } + fadeOut(tween(VEIL_WIPE_MS)),
+        modifier = Modifier.matchParentSize(),
+    ) {
+        Box(
+            modifier = Modifier
+                .fillMaxSize()
+                .background(MaterialTheme.colorScheme.background.copy(alpha = VEIL_ALPHA))
+                .clickable(
+                    interactionSource = remember { MutableInteractionSource() },
+                    indication = null,
+                ) {},
+            contentAlignment = Alignment.Center,
+        ) {
+            Row(verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically) {
+                CircularProgressIndicator(
+                    modifier = Modifier.size(VEIL_SPINNER_DP.dp),
+                    strokeWidth = VEIL_SPINNER_STROKE_DP.dp,
+                    color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.primary,
+                )
+                Spacer(Modifier.width(VEIL_LABEL_GAP_DP.dp))
+                Text(
+                    text = "Updating your mixes…",
+                    style = MaterialTheme.typography.titleMedium,
+                    color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onBackground,
+                )
             }
         }
     }
@@ -447,10 +754,12 @@ private fun HomeSuccessContent(
     ) {
         item {
             // Always rendered: real system/user playlists, with
-            // placeholder cards filling the For You / Discover /
-            // 3× Songs-like slots that haven't generated yet. When
-            // offline, the cache-backed pool cards lead the row.
+            // placeholder cards filling the For You / Discover slots
+            // that haven't generated yet. When offline, the cache-backed
+            // pool cards lead the row. Songs-like now lives in its own
+            // dedicated row below (#1491), no longer inside this carousel.
             PlaylistsRow(
+                title = "Playlists",
                 rowItems = buildPlaylistsRow(sections.playlists, systemStatus, offline),
                 offline = offline,
                 onPlaylistClick = onPlaylistClick,
@@ -458,6 +767,26 @@ private fun HomeSuccessContent(
                 onPlayPlaylist = onPlayPlaylist,
             )
         }
+        // Songs-like is the best-performing surface (#1491) — promoted out
+        // of the Playlists carousel into its own row so it shows a wider
+        // spread of "Songs like {artist}" mixes. Hidden when there's
+        // nothing to show (offline with none cached).
+        songsLikeSection(
+            playlists = sections.playlists,
+            status = systemStatus,
+            offline = offline,
+            onPlaylistClick = onPlaylistClick,
+            onPlayPool = onPlayPool,
+            onPlayPlaylist = onPlayPlaylist,
+        )
+        youMightLikeSection(
+            albums = sections.youMightLikeAlbums,
+            artists = sections.youMightLikeArtists,
+            onAlbumClick = onAlbumClick,
+            onArtistClick = onArtistClick,
+            onPlayAlbum = onPlayAlbum,
+            onPlayArtist = onPlayArtist,
+        )
         recentlyAddedSection(sections.recentlyAddedAlbums, onAlbumClick, onPlayAlbum)
         rediscoverSection(
             albums = sections.rediscoverAlbums,
@@ -473,6 +802,35 @@ private fun HomeSuccessContent(
     }
 }
 
+/**
+ * The dedicated "Songs like…" row (#1491). Reuses [PlaylistsRow]'s card
+ * rendering with a distinct title; hidden entirely when there's nothing
+ * to show (offline with no cached mixes). Online with none generated yet
+ * still shows a few placeholders so the building / seed-needed state is
+ * visible, matching the pre-promotion carousel behavior.
+ */
+private fun LazyListScope.songsLikeSection(
+    playlists: List<PlaylistRef>,
+    status: SystemPlaylistsStatus,
+    offline: Boolean,
+    onPlaylistClick: (String) -> Unit,
+    onPlayPool: (OfflinePoolKind) -> Unit,
+    onPlayPlaylist: suspend (PlaylistRef) -> Unit,
+) {
+    val rowItems = buildSongsLikeRow(playlists, status, offline)
+    if (rowItems.isEmpty()) return
+    item {
+        PlaylistsRow(
+            title = "Songs like…",
+            rowItems = rowItems,
+            offline = offline,
+            onPlaylistClick = onPlaylistClick,
+            onPlayPool = onPlayPool,
+            onPlayPlaylist = onPlayPlaylist,
+        )
+    }
+}
+
 private fun LazyListScope.recentlyAddedSection(
     albums: List<HomeTile<AlbumRef>>,
     onAlbumClick: (String) -> Unit,
@@ -662,6 +1020,61 @@ private fun RediscoverBlock(
     }
 }
 
+/**
+ * "You might like" — in-library albums/artists predicted from the user's
+ * taste that they don't actively spin (server section, daily-built, cold-
+ * start gated). Sits directly under the system-playlists row. Same
+ * albums-then-artists block shape as Rediscover; the artist sub-row drops
+ * its title when an album sub-row precedes it so the two read as one section.
+ */
+private fun LazyListScope.youMightLikeSection(
+    albums: List<HomeTile<AlbumRef>>,
+    artists: List<HomeTile<ArtistRef>>,
+    onAlbumClick: (String) -> Unit,
+    onArtistClick: (String) -> Unit,
+    onPlayAlbum: suspend (String) -> Unit,
+    onPlayArtist: suspend (String) -> Unit,
+) {
+    item {
+        if (albums.isNotEmpty() || artists.isNotEmpty()) {
+            YouMightLikeBlock(
+                albums = albums,
+                artists = artists,
+                onAlbumClick = onAlbumClick,
+                onArtistClick = onArtistClick,
+                onPlayAlbum = onPlayAlbum,
+                onPlayArtist = onPlayArtist,
+            )
+        } else {
+            EmptySection(
+                title = "You might like",
+                body = "We're still learning your taste — keep listening and " +
+                    "picks you might like will show up here.",
+            )
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+@Composable
+private fun YouMightLikeBlock(
+    albums: List<HomeTile<AlbumRef>>,
+    artists: List<HomeTile<ArtistRef>>,
+    onAlbumClick: (String) -> Unit,
+    onArtistClick: (String) -> Unit,
+    onPlayAlbum: suspend (String) -> Unit,
+    onPlayArtist: suspend (String) -> Unit,
+) {
+    Column {
+        if (albums.isNotEmpty()) {
+            AlbumsRow("You might like", albums, onAlbumClick, onPlayAlbum)
+        }
+        if (artists.isNotEmpty()) {
+            val title = if (albums.isEmpty()) "You might like" else ""
+            ArtistsRow(title, artists, onArtistClick, onPlayArtist)
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 @Composable
 private fun AlbumsRow(
     title: String,
@@ -687,13 +1100,14 @@ private fun AlbumsRow(
 
 @Composable
 private fun PlaylistsRow(
+    title: String,
     rowItems: List<PlaylistRowItem>,
     offline: Boolean,
     onPlaylistClick: (String) -> Unit,
     onPlayPool: (OfflinePoolKind) -> Unit,
     onPlayPlaylist: suspend (PlaylistRef) -> Unit,
 ) {
-    HorizontalScrollRow(title = "Playlists") {
+    HorizontalScrollRow(title = title) {
         itemsIndexed(items = rowItems) { _, item ->
             when (item) {
                 is PlaylistRowItem.OfflinePool -> OfflinePoolCard(
@@ -701,18 +1115,19 @@ private fun PlaylistsRow(
                     icon = iconForPool(item.kind),
                     onClick = { onPlayPool(item.kind) },
                 )
-                is PlaylistRowItem.Real -> PlaylistCard(
-                    playlist = item.playlist,
-                    onClick = { onPlaylistClick(item.playlist.id) },
-                    onPlay = { onPlayPlaylist(item.playlist) },
-                    // Match Flutter: refreshable system playlists need
-                    // the live server endpoints, so disable their play
-                    // overlay when offline (user can still tap into the
-                    // detail and shuffle all from cache). User playlists
-                    // play from cache + survive offline.
-                    playEnabled = item.playlist.trackCount > 0 &&
-                        !(offline && item.playlist.refreshable),
-                )
+                is PlaylistRowItem.Real -> {
+                    // Greyed offline when the tile needs the live server or
+                    // isn't fully cached — dimmed but still tappable into the
+                    // detail to shuffle whatever subset is cached.
+                    val greyed = offline && item.playlist.unavailableOffline
+                    PlaylistCard(
+                        playlist = item.playlist,
+                        onClick = { onPlaylistClick(item.playlist.id) },
+                        onPlay = { onPlayPlaylist(item.playlist) },
+                        playEnabled = item.playlist.trackCount > 0 && !greyed,
+                        greyed = greyed,
+                    )
+                }
                 is PlaylistRowItem.Placeholder -> PlaylistPlaceholderCard(
                     label = item.label,
                     variant = item.variant,
@@ -728,7 +1143,7 @@ private fun iconForPool(kind: OfflinePoolKind) = when (kind) {
 }
 
 /** A cache-backed offline pool, a real playlist tile, or a not-yet-generated slot. */
-private sealed interface PlaylistRowItem {
+internal sealed interface PlaylistRowItem {
     data class OfflinePool(val kind: OfflinePoolKind) : PlaylistRowItem
     data class Real(val playlist: PlaylistRef) : PlaylistRowItem
     data class Placeholder(val label: String, val variant: String) : PlaylistRowItem
@@ -741,55 +1156,105 @@ enum class OfflinePoolKind(val label: String) {
 }
 
 /**
- * Builds the Home Playlists row. When [offline], the two cache-backed
- * pool cards (Recently played, Liked) lead the row. Then For You +
- * Discover + 3× Songs-like fixed slots (real card when generated,
+ * Builds the Home Playlists row.
+ *
+ * Online: For You + Discover fixed slots (real card when generated,
  * placeholder otherwise), then the secondary system kinds (deep cuts /
- * rediscover / new for you / on this day / first listens) when they
- * exist — no placeholders for these since they're conditional on
- * library shape, not guaranteed singletons. Finally user-owned
- * playlists.
+ * rediscover / new for you / on this day / first listens) when they exist —
+ * no placeholders for these since they're conditional on library shape — then
+ * user-owned playlists. Songs-like has its own dedicated row (#1491) via
+ * [buildSongsLikeRow] and no longer appears in this carousel.
+ *
+ * Offline: the two cache-backed pools (Recently played, Liked) lead, then the
+ * same real playlists in curated order but stably partitioned fully-cached
+ * first / greyed after, and the "building/pending" placeholders are dropped
+ * (they need the server to generate, so they're meaningless offline).
  *
  * Diverges from Flutter (`flutter_client/lib/library/home_screen.dart`
  * `_buildPlaylistsRow`) which only shows the 5 fixed slots and never
  * surfaces the secondary kinds on Home. Operator authorized the
  * divergence on 2026-06-01; web UI catch-up tracked as task #53.
  */
-private fun buildPlaylistsRow(
+internal fun buildPlaylistsRow(
     owned: List<PlaylistRef>,
     status: SystemPlaylistsStatus,
     offline: Boolean,
+): List<PlaylistRowItem> {
+    if (!offline) return buildOnlineRow(owned, status)
+    val out = mutableListOf<PlaylistRowItem>(
+        PlaylistRowItem.OfflinePool(OfflinePoolKind.RECENTLY_PLAYED),
+        PlaylistRowItem.OfflinePool(OfflinePoolKind.LIKED),
+    )
+    val (available, greyed) = orderedRealPlaylists(owned).partition { !it.unavailableOffline }
+    (available + greyed).forEach { out += PlaylistRowItem.Real(it) }
+    return out
+}
+
+/** The online layout: For You + Discover slots (with placeholders), secondary, user. */
+private fun buildOnlineRow(
+    owned: List<PlaylistRef>,
+    status: SystemPlaylistsStatus,
 ): List<PlaylistRowItem> {
     val out = mutableListOf<PlaylistRowItem>()
-    if (offline) {
-        out += PlaylistRowItem.OfflinePool(OfflinePoolKind.RECENTLY_PLAYED)
-        out += PlaylistRowItem.OfflinePool(OfflinePoolKind.LIKED)
-    }
     out += owned.firstOrNull { it.systemVariant == "for_you" }
         ?.let { PlaylistRowItem.Real(it) }
         ?: PlaylistRowItem.Placeholder("For You", variantFor("for-you", status))
     out += owned.firstOrNull { it.systemVariant == "discover" }
         ?.let { PlaylistRowItem.Real(it) }
         ?: PlaylistRowItem.Placeholder("Discover", variantFor("discover", status))
-    val songsLike = owned.filter { it.systemVariant == "songs_like_artist" }.take(3)
-    for (i in 0 until SONGS_LIKE_SLOTS) {
-        out += songsLike.getOrNull(i)
-            ?.let { PlaylistRowItem.Real(it) }
-            ?: PlaylistRowItem.Placeholder("Songs like…", variantFor("songs-like", status))
-    }
-    // Secondary system kinds in server-registry order. Only included
-    // when actually generated — these depend on library shape (Deep
-    // cuts needs deep albums, On this day needs prior history, etc.)
-    // so a missing one means "not enough data" rather than "still
-    // building".
+    // Songs-like is no longer here — it has its own dedicated row (#1491).
     for (variant in SECONDARY_SYSTEM_VARIANTS) {
-        owned.firstOrNull { it.systemVariant == variant }
-            ?.let { out += PlaylistRowItem.Real(it) }
+        owned.firstOrNull { it.systemVariant == variant }?.let { out += PlaylistRowItem.Real(it) }
     }
     owned.filter { it.systemVariant == null }.forEach { out += PlaylistRowItem.Real(it) }
     return out
 }
 
+/**
+ * Builds the dedicated Songs-like row (#1491): all "Songs like {artist}"
+ * mixes the server generated, no longer capped to the 3 carousel slots.
+ *
+ * Online: every generated mix as a real card; when none exist yet, a few
+ * placeholders so the building / seed-needed state stays visible.
+ * Offline: the cached mixes only (fully-cached first, greyed after), and
+ * an empty list — hiding the whole section — when nothing is cached.
+ */
+internal fun buildSongsLikeRow(
+    owned: List<PlaylistRef>,
+    status: SystemPlaylistsStatus,
+    offline: Boolean,
+): List<PlaylistRowItem> {
+    val mixes = owned.filter { it.systemVariant == "songs_like_artist" }
+    return when {
+        offline -> {
+            val (available, greyed) = mixes.partition { !it.unavailableOffline }
+            (available + greyed).map { PlaylistRowItem.Real(it) }
+        }
+        mixes.isNotEmpty() -> mixes.map { PlaylistRowItem.Real(it) }
+        else -> List(SONGS_LIKE_PLACEHOLDER_SLOTS) {
+            PlaylistRowItem.Placeholder("Songs like…", variantFor("songs-like", status))
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Curated real-playlist order (system primaries, then secondary, then user).
+ * Must mirror [buildOnlineRow]'s slot order — the offline row reuses this and
+ * only differs by dropping placeholders + partitioning available-first.
+ * Songs-like is excluded here too — it renders in its own row via
+ * [buildSongsLikeRow] in both online and offline modes (#1491).
+ */
+private fun orderedRealPlaylists(owned: List<PlaylistRef>): List<PlaylistRef> {
+    val out = mutableListOf<PlaylistRef>()
+    owned.firstOrNull { it.systemVariant == "for_you" }?.let { out += it }
+    owned.firstOrNull { it.systemVariant == "discover" }?.let { out += it }
+    for (variant in SECONDARY_SYSTEM_VARIANTS) {
+        owned.firstOrNull { it.systemVariant == variant }?.let { out += it }
+    }
+    owned.filter { it.systemVariant == null }.forEach { out += it }
+    return out
+}
+
 private fun variantFor(slot: String, s: SystemPlaylistsStatus): String = when {
     s.inFlight -> "building"
     s.lastError != null -> "failed"
@@ -797,7 +1262,10 @@ private fun variantFor(slot: String, s: SystemPlaylistsStatus): String = when {
     else -> "pending"
 }
 
-private const val SONGS_LIKE_SLOTS = 3
+// How many "Songs like…" placeholder cards the dedicated row shows while
+// the mixes haven't generated yet (building / seed-needed). Real mixes,
+// once generated, are shown in full and no longer capped by this (#1491).
+private const val SONGS_LIKE_PLACEHOLDER_SLOTS = 3
 
 /**
  * The 5 system playlist kinds the server generates that aren't pinned

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/library/data/LibraryRepository.kt

@@ -105,6 +105,22 @@ class LibraryRepository @Inject constructor(
     suspend fun fetchArtistTracks(id: String): List<TrackRef> =
         api.getArtistTracks(id).map { it.toDomain() }
 
+    /**
+     * Pulls related artists for the ArtistDetail "Similar artists"
+     * strip. Network-only — non-critical UI, callers swallow failures
+     * and render nothing rather than blocking the screen.
+     */
+    suspend fun fetchSimilarArtists(id: String): List<ArtistRef> =
+        api.getSimilarArtists(id).map { it.toDomain() }
+
+    /**
+     * Pulls the artist's top tracks for the ArtistDetail "Top tracks"
+     * panel. Network-only; tapping a row plays this exact list as a
+     * queue, so no persistence is needed.
+     */
+    suspend fun fetchArtistTopTracks(id: String): List<TrackRef> =
+        api.getArtistTopTracks(id).map { it.toDomain() }
+
     /**
      * Pulls the album detail (AlbumRef + tracks), persists both, and
      * returns the in-memory snapshot. Lets the AlbumDetail screen

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/library/ui/AlbumDetailScreen.kt

@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.AlbumDetail
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.ArtistDetail
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.formatDuration
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.TrackRow
-import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.EmptyState
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.ErrorRetry
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.LikeButton
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.PullToRefreshScaffold
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.ServerImage
@@ -116,9 +116,10 @@ private fun AlbumDetailStateContent(
         when (val s = state) {
             is AlbumDetailUiState.Loading ->
                 if (s.seed != null) SeededAlbumLoading(s.seed) else SkeletonTrackList()
-            is AlbumDetailUiState.Error -> EmptyState(
+            is AlbumDetailUiState.Error -> ErrorRetry(
                 title = "Couldn't load album",
-                body = s.message,
+                message = s.message,
+                onRetry = { viewModel.refresh() },
             )
             is AlbumDetailUiState.Success -> {
                 val albumLiked by viewModel.albumLiked.collectAsStateWithLifecycle()

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/library/ui/AlbumDetailViewModel.kt

@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
 import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
 import androidx.navigation.toRoute
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.recoveries
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.library.data.LibraryRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.likes.data.LikesRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.AlbumDetailRef
@@ -36,6 +38,7 @@ class AlbumDetailViewModel @Inject constructor(
     private val likes: LikesRepository,
     private val player: PlayerController,
     private val seedCache: DetailSeedCache,
+    networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
     savedStateHandle: SavedStateHandle,
 ) : ViewModel() {
 
@@ -64,6 +67,14 @@ class AlbumDetailViewModel @Inject constructor(
 
     init {
         refresh()
+        // Screen-level auto-recovery (issue #1245): a detail that failed to
+        // load while the server was unreachable re-fetches when health
+        // returns, so coming back to the screen shows content, not an error.
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            networkStatus.recoveries().collect {
+                if (internal.value is AlbumDetailUiState.Error) refresh()
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     fun refresh(): Job = viewModelScope.launch {

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/library/ui/ArtistDetailScreen.kt

@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+@file:Suppress("TooManyFunctions") // Compose screen + private helper composables
+
 package com.fabledsword.minstrel.library.ui
 
 import androidx.compose.animation.Crossfade
@@ -18,6 +20,7 @@ import androidx.compose.foundation.lazy.grid.GridCells
 import androidx.compose.foundation.lazy.grid.GridItemSpan
 import androidx.compose.foundation.lazy.grid.LazyVerticalGrid
 import androidx.compose.foundation.lazy.grid.items
+import androidx.compose.foundation.lazy.items as lazyItems
 import androidx.compose.foundation.shape.CircleShape
 import androidx.compose.material3.Button
 import androidx.compose.material3.ExperimentalMaterial3Api
@@ -46,21 +49,27 @@ import com.composables.icons.lucide.Lucide
 import com.composables.icons.lucide.Play
 import com.composables.icons.lucide.User
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.library.widgets.AlbumCard
-import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.ArtistDetailRef
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.library.widgets.ArtistCard
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.ArtistRef
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.TrackRef
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.albumCoverPath
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.AlbumDetail
-import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.EmptyState
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.ArtistDetail
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.formatDuration
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.ErrorRetry
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.HorizontalScrollRow
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.LikeButton
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.PullToRefreshScaffold
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.ServerImage
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.SkeletonAlbumTile
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.TrackRow
 
 @OptIn(ExperimentalMaterial3Api::class)
 @Composable
 fun ArtistDetailScreen(
     navController: NavHostController,
     viewModel: ArtistDetailViewModel = hiltViewModel(),
+    playerViewModel: com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.ui.PlayerViewModel = hiltViewModel(),
 ) {
     val state by viewModel.uiState.collectAsStateWithLifecycle()
     val snackbarHostState = remember { SnackbarHostState() }
@@ -98,27 +107,40 @@ fun ArtistDetailScreen(
                         } else {
                             SkeletonArtistAlbumsGrid()
                         }
-                    is ArtistDetailUiState.Error -> EmptyState(
+                    is ArtistDetailUiState.Error -> ErrorRetry(
                         title = "Couldn't load artist",
-                        body = s.message,
+                        message = s.message,
+                        onRetry = { viewModel.refresh() },
                     )
-                    is ArtistDetailUiState.Success -> {
-                        val artistLiked by viewModel.artistLiked
-                            .collectAsStateWithLifecycle()
-                        ArtistBody(
-                            detail = s.detail,
-                            artistLiked = artistLiked,
-                            onPlay = viewModel::playArtist,
-                            onToggleLike = viewModel::toggleLikeArtist,
-                            onAlbumClick = { id -> navController.navigate(AlbumDetail(id)) },
-                        )
-                    }
+                    is ArtistDetailUiState.Success ->
+                        ArtistSuccessBody(s, viewModel, playerViewModel, navController)
                 }
             }
         }
     }
 }
 
+@Composable
+private fun ArtistSuccessBody(
+    state: ArtistDetailUiState.Success,
+    viewModel: ArtistDetailViewModel,
+    playerViewModel: com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.ui.PlayerViewModel,
+    navController: NavHostController,
+) {
+    val artistLiked by viewModel.artistLiked.collectAsStateWithLifecycle()
+    val playerState by playerViewModel.uiState.collectAsStateWithLifecycle()
+    ArtistBody(
+        state = state,
+        artistLiked = artistLiked,
+        playingTrackId = playerState.currentTrack?.id,
+        onPlay = viewModel::playArtist,
+        onToggleLike = viewModel::toggleLikeArtist,
+        onAlbumClick = { id -> navController.navigate(AlbumDetail(id)) },
+        onTopTrackClick = viewModel::playTopTracks,
+        onSimilarArtistClick = { id -> navController.navigate(ArtistDetail(id)) },
+    )
+}
+
 private fun titleFor(state: ArtistDetailUiState): String = when (state) {
     is ArtistDetailUiState.Success -> state.detail.artist.name
     is ArtistDetailUiState.Loading -> state.seed?.name ?: "Artist"
@@ -127,12 +149,16 @@ private fun titleFor(state: ArtistDetailUiState): String = when (state) {
 
 @Composable
 private fun ArtistBody(
-    detail: ArtistDetailRef,
+    state: ArtistDetailUiState.Success,
     artistLiked: Boolean,
+    playingTrackId: String?,
     onPlay: () -> Unit,
     onToggleLike: () -> Unit,
     onAlbumClick: (String) -> Unit,
+    onTopTrackClick: (Int) -> Unit,
+    onSimilarArtistClick: (String) -> Unit,
 ) {
+    val detail = state.detail
     LazyVerticalGrid(
         columns = GridCells.Adaptive(minSize = 176.dp),
         modifier = Modifier.fillMaxSize(),
@@ -149,6 +175,23 @@ private fun ArtistBody(
                 onToggleLike = onToggleLike,
             )
         }
+        if (state.topTracks.isNotEmpty()) {
+            item(span = { GridItemSpan(maxLineSpan) }) {
+                TopTracksPanel(
+                    tracks = state.topTracks,
+                    playingTrackId = playingTrackId,
+                    onTrackClick = onTopTrackClick,
+                )
+            }
+        }
+        if (state.similarArtists.isNotEmpty()) {
+            item(span = { GridItemSpan(maxLineSpan) }) {
+                SimilarArtistsStrip(
+                    artists = state.similarArtists,
+                    onArtistClick = onSimilarArtistClick,
+                )
+            }
+        }
         if (detail.albums.isEmpty()) {
             item(span = { GridItemSpan(maxLineSpan) }) {
                 EmptyAlbumsHint()
@@ -161,6 +204,67 @@ private fun ArtistBody(
     }
 }
 
+@Composable
+private fun TopTracksPanel(
+    tracks: List<TrackRef>,
+    playingTrackId: String?,
+    onTrackClick: (Int) -> Unit,
+) {
+    Column(modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth()) {
+        Text(
+            text = "Top tracks",
+            style = MaterialTheme.typography.titleLarge,
+            color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onBackground,
+            modifier = Modifier.padding(horizontal = 16.dp, vertical = 8.dp),
+        )
+        tracks.forEachIndexed { index, track ->
+            TopTrackRow(
+                track = track,
+                nowPlaying = track.id == playingTrackId,
+                onClick = { onTrackClick(index) },
+            )
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+@Composable
+private fun TopTrackRow(
+    track: TrackRef,
+    nowPlaying: Boolean,
+    onClick: () -> Unit,
+) {
+    TrackRow(
+        title = track.title,
+        artist = track.artistName,
+        trackId = track.id,
+        onClick = onClick,
+        nowPlaying = nowPlaying,
+        trailing = {
+            Text(
+                text = formatDuration(track.durationSec, zero = "--:--"),
+                style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodySmall,
+                color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onSurfaceVariant,
+                modifier = Modifier.padding(start = 12.dp),
+            )
+        },
+    )
+}
+
+@Composable
+private fun SimilarArtistsStrip(
+    artists: List<ArtistRef>,
+    onArtistClick: (String) -> Unit,
+) {
+    HorizontalScrollRow(title = "Similar artists") {
+        lazyItems(items = artists, key = { it.id }) { artist ->
+            ArtistCard(
+                artist = artist,
+                onClick = { onArtistClick(artist.id) },
+            )
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 @Composable
 private fun ArtistHeader(
     artist: ArtistRef,

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/library/ui/ArtistDetailViewModel.kt

@@ -5,10 +5,13 @@ import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
 import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
 import androidx.navigation.toRoute
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.recoveries
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.library.data.LibraryRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.likes.data.LikesRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.ArtistDetailRef
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.ArtistRef
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.TrackRef
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.ArtistDetail
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.DetailSeedCache
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.PlayerController
@@ -23,13 +26,18 @@ import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.asStateFlow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.receiveAsFlow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.stateIn
 import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
+import timber.log.Timber
 import javax.inject.Inject
 
 private const val SHARE_STOP_TIMEOUT_MS = 5_000L
 
 sealed interface ArtistDetailUiState {
     data class Loading(val seed: ArtistRef? = null) : ArtistDetailUiState
-    data class Success(val detail: ArtistDetailRef) : ArtistDetailUiState
+    data class Success(
+        val detail: ArtistDetailRef,
+        val similarArtists: List<ArtistRef> = emptyList(),
+        val topTracks: List<TrackRef> = emptyList(),
+    ) : ArtistDetailUiState
     data class Error(val message: String) : ArtistDetailUiState
 }
 
@@ -39,6 +47,7 @@ class ArtistDetailViewModel @Inject constructor(
     private val likes: LikesRepository,
     private val player: PlayerController,
     private val seedCache: DetailSeedCache,
+    networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
     savedStateHandle: SavedStateHandle,
 ) : ViewModel() {
 
@@ -63,6 +72,19 @@ class ArtistDetailViewModel @Inject constructor(
 
     init {
         refresh()
+        // Screen-level auto-recovery (issue #1245). From Error, redo the
+        // whole load; from Success, re-pull just the secondary sections —
+        // their fetch failures are swallowed to emptyList, so a dead zone
+        // during the first load leaves them permanently absent otherwise.
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            networkStatus.recoveries().collect {
+                when (internal.value) {
+                    is ArtistDetailUiState.Error -> refresh()
+                    is ArtistDetailUiState.Success -> loadSecondarySections()
+                    is ArtistDetailUiState.Loading -> Unit
+                }
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     fun toggleLikeArtist() {
@@ -82,6 +104,7 @@ class ArtistDetailViewModel @Inject constructor(
         try {
             val detail = repository.refreshArtistDetail(artistId)
             internal.value = ArtistDetailUiState.Success(detail)
+            loadSecondarySections()
         } catch (
             @Suppress("TooGenericExceptionCaught") e: Throwable,
         ) {
@@ -89,6 +112,31 @@ class ArtistDetailViewModel @Inject constructor(
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Pulls the non-critical "Similar artists" + "Top tracks" sections
+     * and folds them into the live Success state. Each failure is
+     * swallowed (logged only) — these sections render absent rather than
+     * blocking, so the core artist view never depends on them.
+     */
+    private suspend fun loadSecondarySections() {
+        val similar = sectionOrEmpty { repository.fetchSimilarArtists(artistId) }
+        val top = sectionOrEmpty { repository.fetchArtistTopTracks(artistId) }
+        val current = internal.value
+        if (current is ArtistDetailUiState.Success) {
+            internal.value = current.copy(similarArtists = similar, topTracks = top)
+        }
+    }
+
+    private inline fun <T> sectionOrEmpty(block: () -> List<T>): List<T> =
+        try {
+            block()
+        } catch (
+            @Suppress("TooGenericExceptionCaught") e: Throwable,
+        ) {
+            Timber.w(e, "Artist secondary section fetch failed for %s", artistId)
+            emptyList()
+        }
+
     /**
      * Pull every track across the artist's albums, shuffle, and start
      * playing. Mirrors Flutter's artist Play button — pressing Play on
@@ -118,4 +166,20 @@ class ArtistDetailViewModel @Inject constructor(
             }
         }
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Plays the loaded "Top tracks" list starting at [index] — the top
+     * tracks are themselves the playable queue (mirrors the web client's
+     * sectionTracks = top-tracks behaviour). No network round-trip; the
+     * list is already in the Success state.
+     */
+    fun playTopTracks(index: Int) {
+        val tracks = (internal.value as? ArtistDetailUiState.Success)?.topTracks.orEmpty()
+        if (tracks.isEmpty()) return
+        player.setQueue(
+            tracks = tracks,
+            initialIndex = index.coerceIn(0, tracks.lastIndex),
+            source = "artist-top:$artistId",
+        )
+    }
 }

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/library/ui/LibraryViewModel.kt

@@ -24,11 +24,17 @@ class LibraryViewModel @Inject constructor(
         combine(
             repository.observeArtists(),
             repository.observeAlbums(),
-        ) { artists, albums ->
-            if (artists.isEmpty() && albums.isEmpty()) {
-                UiState.Empty
-            } else {
-                UiState.Success(LibraryData(artists, albums))
+            syncController.lastSyncError,
+        ) { artists, albums, syncError ->
+            when {
+                artists.isNotEmpty() || albums.isNotEmpty() ->
+                    UiState.Success(LibraryData(artists, albums))
+                // Empty cache + failed sync is a load failure, not an empty
+                // library — surface it so the user gets a Retry instead of
+                // the welcome copy. Heals automatically: SyncController
+                // re-syncs on health recovery, clearing lastSyncError.
+                syncError != null -> UiState.Error(syncError)
+                else -> UiState.Empty
             }
         }
             .asCacheFirstStateFlow(viewModelScope)

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/likes/ui/LikedTab.kt

@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
 import androidx.lifecycle.compose.collectAsStateWithLifecycle
 import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
 import androidx.navigation.NavHostController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.recoveries
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.likes.data.LikesRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.library.widgets.AlbumCard
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.library.widgets.ArtistCard
@@ -38,6 +41,7 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.UiState
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.asCacheFirstStateFlow
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.TrackRow
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.EmptyState
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.ErrorRetry
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.HorizontalScrollRow
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.LikeButton
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.LoadingCentered
@@ -46,6 +50,7 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.TrackCoverThumb
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.trackactions.TrackActionsButton
 import dagger.hilt.android.lifecycle.HiltViewModel
 import kotlinx.coroutines.Job
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.MutableStateFlow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.StateFlow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.combine
 import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
@@ -68,14 +73,25 @@ data class LikedSections(
 class LikedTabViewModel @Inject constructor(
     private val repository: LikesRepository,
     private val player: PlayerController,
+    networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
 ) : ViewModel() {
 
+    /** Copy for the most recent refresh failure; null once one succeeds. */
+    private val refreshError = MutableStateFlow<String?>(null)
+
     init {
         refresh()
+        // Screen-level auto-recovery (issue #1245): re-pull when server
+        // health returns, so a load that failed offline heals unprompted.
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            networkStatus.recoveries().collect { refresh() }
+        }
     }
 
     fun refresh(): Job = viewModelScope.launch {
+        refreshError.value = null
         runCatching { repository.refreshIds() }
+            .onFailure { refreshError.value = ErrorCopy.fromThrowable(it) }
     }
 
     /**
@@ -92,9 +108,16 @@ class LikedTabViewModel @Inject constructor(
         repository.observeLikedArtists(),
         repository.observeLikedAlbums(),
         repository.observeLikedTracks(),
-    ) { artists, albums, tracks ->
+        refreshError,
+    ) { artists, albums, tracks, err ->
         val sections = LikedSections(artists, albums, tracks)
-        if (sections.isAllEmpty) UiState.Empty else UiState.Success(sections)
+        when {
+            !sections.isAllEmpty -> UiState.Success(sections)
+            // Empty cache + failed refresh is a load failure, not "no
+            // likes yet" — surface Error so the user gets a Retry.
+            err != null -> UiState.Error(err)
+            else -> UiState.Empty
+        }
     }.asCacheFirstStateFlow(viewModelScope)
 
     /**
@@ -130,9 +153,10 @@ fun LikedTab(
                 body = "Tap the heart on an artist, album, or track to start " +
                     "building your liked collection.",
             )
-            is UiState.Error -> EmptyState(
+            is UiState.Error -> ErrorRetry(
                 title = "Couldn't load likes",
-                body = s.message,
+                message = s.message,
+                onRetry = { viewModel.refresh() },
             )
             is UiState.Success -> LikedContent(
                 sections = s.data,

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/models/AdminTagSourceRef.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+package com.fabledsword.minstrel.models
+
+/** Domain model for one tag-enrichment provider in the admin surface (#1521). */
+data class AdminTagSourceRef(
+    val id: String,
+    val displayName: String,
+    val requiresApiKey: Boolean,
+    val supports: List<String>,
+    val enabled: Boolean,
+    val apiKeySet: Boolean,
+    val testable: Boolean,
+)
+
+/** Result of a provider "test connection" call. */
+data class TagSourceTestResult(
+    val ok: Boolean,
+    val durationMs: Long = 0,
+    val error: String = "",
+)

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/models/Playlist.kt

@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ data class PlaylistRef(
     val trackCount: Int = 0,
     val coverUrl: String = "",
     val ownerUsername: String = "",
+    /** All member tracks resident in the audio cache — playable fully offline. */
+    val fullyCached: Boolean = false,
 ) {
     val isSystem: Boolean get() = systemVariant != null
 
@@ -30,6 +32,13 @@ data class PlaylistRef(
      * expose a refresh trigger; rebuilds are scheduler-driven).
      */
     val refreshable: Boolean get() = isSystem && systemVariant != "songs_like_artist"
+
+    /**
+     * Can't be relied on while offline — either it needs the live server to
+     * (re)generate (a refreshable system mix) or not all its tracks are cached.
+     * Callers combine this with the current offline state to grey the tile.
+     */
+    val unavailableOffline: Boolean get() = refreshable || !fullyCached
 }
 
 /**

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/models/UserRef.kt

@@ -16,4 +16,11 @@ data class UserRef(
     val id: String,
     val username: String,
     val isAdmin: Boolean = false,
+    /**
+     * Account-level diagnostics opt-in (M9). NOT present in the login
+     * response (that's the narrow UserView) — populated by the /api/me
+     * refresh in AuthController so a remote admin flip reaches the
+     * device. Default false until the first refresh.
+     */
+    val debugModeEnabled: Boolean = false,
 )

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/models/wire/AdminTagSourceWire.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+package com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.wire
+
+import kotlinx.serialization.SerialName
+import kotlinx.serialization.Serializable
+
+/**
+ * Wire DTOs for the `/api/admin/tag-sources` admin surface (#1521).
+ * Every field defaults defensively so a missing JSON key never crashes
+ * deserialization. `versionBumped` is present only on the PATCH response.
+ */
+@Serializable
+data class AdminTagSourceWire(
+    val id: String = "",
+    @SerialName("display_name") val displayName: String = "",
+    @SerialName("requires_api_key") val requiresApiKey: Boolean = false,
+    val supports: List<String> = emptyList(),
+    val enabled: Boolean = false,
+    @SerialName("api_key_set") val apiKeySet: Boolean = false,
+    @SerialName("display_order") val displayOrder: Int = 0,
+    val testable: Boolean = false,
+    @SerialName("version_bumped") val versionBumped: Boolean = false,
+)
+
+@Serializable
+data class AdminTagSourcesListWire(
+    val providers: List<AdminTagSourceWire> = emptyList(),
+    @SerialName("sources_version") val sourcesVersion: Int = 0,
+)
+
+@Serializable
+data class TestTagSourceWire(
+    val ok: Boolean = false,
+    @SerialName("duration_ms") val durationMs: Long = 0,
+    val error: String = "",
+)

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/models/wire/EventsWire.kt

@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
+@file:OptIn(ExperimentalSerializationApi::class)
+
 package com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.wire
 
+import kotlinx.serialization.EncodeDefault
+import kotlinx.serialization.ExperimentalSerializationApi
 import kotlinx.serialization.SerialName
 import kotlinx.serialization.Serializable
 
@@ -15,10 +19,16 @@ import kotlinx.serialization.Serializable
 
 @Serializable
 data class PlayStartedRequest(
-    val type: String = "play_started",
+    // Discriminator MUST stay on the wire. The app's Json has
+    // encodeDefaults=false, so without this a `type` left at its
+    // default is omitted entirely and the server 400s the event as
+    // "unknown event type" — silently dropping every native play.
+    @EncodeDefault(EncodeDefault.Mode.ALWAYS) val type: String = "play_started",
     @SerialName("track_id") val trackId: String,
     @SerialName("client_id") val clientId: String,
     val source: String? = null,
+    // #1551: device class for context conditioning (server normalizes).
+    @SerialName("device_class") val deviceClass: String? = null,
 )
 
 @Serializable
@@ -28,24 +38,26 @@ data class PlayStartedResponse(
 
 @Serializable
 data class PlayEndedRequest(
-    val type: String = "play_ended",
+    @EncodeDefault(EncodeDefault.Mode.ALWAYS) val type: String = "play_ended",
     @SerialName("play_event_id") val playEventId: String,
     @SerialName("duration_played_ms") val durationPlayedMs: Long,
 )
 
 @Serializable
 data class PlaySkippedRequest(
-    val type: String = "play_skipped",
+    @EncodeDefault(EncodeDefault.Mode.ALWAYS) val type: String = "play_skipped",
     @SerialName("play_event_id") val playEventId: String,
     @SerialName("position_ms") val positionMs: Long,
 )
 
 @Serializable
 data class PlayOfflineRequest(
-    val type: String = "play_offline",
+    @EncodeDefault(EncodeDefault.Mode.ALWAYS) val type: String = "play_offline",
     @SerialName("track_id") val trackId: String,
     @SerialName("client_id") val clientId: String,
     val at: String,
     @SerialName("duration_played_ms") val durationPlayedMs: Long,
     val source: String? = null,
+    // #1551: device class for context conditioning (server normalizes).
+    @SerialName("device_class") val deviceClass: String? = null,
 )

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/models/wire/HomeIndexWire.kt

@@ -10,13 +10,17 @@ import kotlinx.serialization.Serializable
  * `internal/api/types.go HomeIndexPayload`).
  *
  * Section name implies entity type; no per-entry type tag is needed:
- *   - recentlyAddedAlbums → album
- *   - rediscoverAlbums    → album
- *   - rediscoverArtists   → artist
- *   - mostPlayedTracks    → track
- *   - lastPlayedArtists   → artist
+ *   - recentlyAddedAlbums  → album
+ *   - rediscoverAlbums     → album
+ *   - rediscoverArtists    → artist
+ *   - mostPlayedTracks     → track
+ *   - lastPlayedArtists    → artist
+ *   - youMightLikeAlbums   → album
+ *   - youMightLikeArtists  → artist
  *
- * All slices default to empty so missing keys don't throw on decode.
+ * All slices default to empty so missing keys don't throw on decode —
+ * which also keeps the client safe against older servers that don't
+ * emit the you-might-like sections yet.
  */
 @Serializable
 data class HomeIndexWire(
@@ -25,4 +29,6 @@ data class HomeIndexWire(
     @SerialName("rediscover_artists") val rediscoverArtists: List<String> = emptyList(),
     @SerialName("most_played_tracks") val mostPlayedTracks: List<String> = emptyList(),
     @SerialName("last_played_artists") val lastPlayedArtists: List<String> = emptyList(),
+    @SerialName("you_might_like_albums") val youMightLikeAlbums: List<String> = emptyList(),
+    @SerialName("you_might_like_artists") val youMightLikeArtists: List<String> = emptyList(),
 )

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/models/wire/MyProfileWire.kt

@@ -18,4 +18,5 @@ data class MyProfileWire(
     @SerialName("display_name") val displayName: String? = null,
     val email: String? = null,
     @SerialName("is_admin") val isAdmin: Boolean = false,
+    @SerialName("debug_mode_enabled") val debugModeEnabled: Boolean = false,
 )

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/nav/MinstrelNavGraph.kt

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import androidx.navigation.compose.composable
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.admin.ui.AdminLandingScreen
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.admin.ui.AdminQuarantineScreen
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.admin.ui.AdminRequestsScreen
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.admin.ui.AdminTagSourcesScreen
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.admin.ui.AdminUsersScreen
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.auth.ui.LoginScreen
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.auth.ui.ServerUrlScreen
@@ -190,6 +191,13 @@ private fun NavGraphBuilder.inShellDetail(
             }
         }
     }
+    composable<AdminTagSources> {
+        WithAnimatedScope {
+            ShellScaffold(onExpandPlayer = expandPlayer) {
+                AdminTagSourcesScreen(navController = navController)
+            }
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 private fun NavGraphBuilder.outsideShell(navController: NavHostController) {

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/nav/Routes.kt

@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import kotlinx.serialization.Serializable
 @Serializable data object AdminRequests
 @Serializable data object AdminQuarantine
 @Serializable data object AdminUsers
+@Serializable data object AdminTagSources
 
 // ── Outside-shell full-screen routes ──────────────────────────────────
 

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/player/CastNetworkLock.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+package com.fabledsword.minstrel.player
+
+import android.content.Context
+import android.net.wifi.WifiManager
+import android.os.Build
+import android.os.PowerManager
+import timber.log.Timber
+
+/**
+ * Holds a WiFi + CPU wake lock for the lifetime of an active UPnP cast.
+ *
+ * While casting, the wrapped ExoPlayer is paused, so its automatic
+ * `WAKE_MODE_NETWORK` locks are released and nothing keeps the phone's radio
+ * awake. On a locked, on-battery phone the WiFi enters power-save within
+ * seconds and the CPU dozes; that stalls the 1 Hz liveness poll to the
+ * renderer and the queue-extend calls to the server. The poll then trips the
+ * drop threshold and playback falls back to a phone that *also* has no
+ * network — silence, while the renderer was streaming fine the whole time.
+ *
+ * A high-performance / low-latency [WifiManager.WifiLock] keeps the radio out
+ * of power-save, and a partial [PowerManager.WakeLock] keeps the poll
+ * coroutine scheduled. Both are acquired when a route goes active and released
+ * the moment it drops or the user switches back to the phone.
+ *
+ * All methods are idempotent (`setReferenceCounted(false)` + held-checks) and
+ * synchronized, so they are safe to call from any thread.
+ */
+class CastNetworkLock(context: Context) {
+
+    private val appContext = context.applicationContext
+
+    private val wifiLock: WifiManager.WifiLock? =
+        (appContext.getSystemService(Context.WIFI_SERVICE) as? WifiManager)
+            ?.createWifiLock(wifiLockMode(), LOCK_TAG)
+            ?.apply { setReferenceCounted(false) }
+
+    private val wakeLock: PowerManager.WakeLock? =
+        (appContext.getSystemService(Context.POWER_SERVICE) as? PowerManager)
+            ?.newWakeLock(PowerManager.PARTIAL_WAKE_LOCK, LOCK_TAG)
+            ?.apply { setReferenceCounted(false) }
+
+    @Synchronized
+    fun acquire() {
+        runCatching { wifiLock?.takeUnless { it.isHeld }?.acquire() }
+            .onFailure { Timber.w(it, "CastNetworkLock: wifi acquire failed") }
+        runCatching { wakeLock?.takeUnless { it.isHeld }?.acquire() }
+            .onFailure { Timber.w(it, "CastNetworkLock: wake acquire failed") }
+        Timber.w(
+            "CastNetworkLock acquired (wifi=%s wake=%s)",
+            wifiLock?.isHeld, wakeLock?.isHeld,
+        )
+    }
+
+    @Synchronized
+    fun release() {
+        runCatching { wifiLock?.takeIf { it.isHeld }?.release() }
+            .onFailure { Timber.w(it, "CastNetworkLock: wifi release failed") }
+        runCatching { wakeLock?.takeIf { it.isHeld }?.release() }
+            .onFailure { Timber.w(it, "CastNetworkLock: wake release failed") }
+        Timber.w("CastNetworkLock released")
+    }
+
+    private companion object {
+        const val LOCK_TAG = "minstrel:upnp-cast"
+
+        // WIFI_MODE_FULL_LOW_LATENCY (API 29+) both disables power-save and
+        // lowers latency; FULL_HIGH_PERF is the pre-Q equivalent for keeping
+        // the radio fully awake.
+        fun wifiLockMode(): Int =
+            if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.Q) {
+                WifiManager.WIFI_MODE_FULL_LOW_LATENCY
+            } else {
+                @Suppress("DEPRECATION")
+                WifiManager.WIFI_MODE_FULL_HIGH_PERF
+            }
+    }
+}

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/player/MinstrelForwardingPlayer.kt

@@ -10,14 +10,20 @@ import androidx.lifecycle.ProcessLifecycleOwner
 import androidx.media3.common.ForwardingPlayer
 import androidx.media3.common.MediaItem
 import androidx.media3.common.Player
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.ServerHealth
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.output.ActiveUpnp
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.output.ActiveUpnpHolder
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.output.upnp.SoapFaultException
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.output.upnp.TransportState
+import java.io.IOException
+import kotlin.math.abs
 import kotlinx.coroutines.CoroutineScope
 import kotlinx.coroutines.Dispatchers
 import kotlinx.coroutines.Job
 import kotlinx.coroutines.SupervisorJob
 import kotlinx.coroutines.cancel
+import kotlinx.coroutines.delay
 import kotlinx.coroutines.channels.Channel
 import kotlinx.coroutines.ExperimentalCoroutinesApi
 import kotlinx.coroutines.isActive
@@ -39,21 +45,31 @@ import timber.log.Timber
  * wrapped ExoPlayer stays paused at the position it had when the
  * route was selected.
  *
- * Drop heuristic: 3 consecutive poll failures fire [onDrop]. The
- * factory wraps that callback into a SharedFlow consumed by the
- * NowPlaying surface as a snackbar.
+ * Drop heuristic: the 1 Hz poll loop is the *sole* arbiter of route
+ * liveness -- [RemotePlayerState.recordPollFailure]'s rolling threshold
+ * (DROP_THRESHOLD consecutive failures) fires [onDrop]. A failed transport
+ * command (play/pause/seek/next) does NOT drop on its own: a locked phone's
+ * WiFi power-save can stall a single command's socket I/O for a second or
+ * two while the renderer is perfectly reachable, so commands retry on
+ * transient IO failure and otherwise defer to the poll loop. The factory
+ * wraps the [onDrop] callback into a SharedFlow consumed by the NowPlaying
+ * surface as a snackbar.
  *
  * Queue mode: OutputPickerController loads the full queue into Sonos's
  * native queue via ClearQueue + AddURIToQueue, then points the
  * transport at x-rincon-queue:<udn>#0. Skip/prev/seekTo delegate to
  * AVTransport Next/Previous/SeekToTrack so Sonos manages gap-free
- * advance natively. PollLoop syncs the local cursor by comparing the
- * 1-based Track index from GetPositionInfo.
+ * advance natively. PollLoop keeps the local cursor aligned to the
+ * track the renderer is actually playing, matched by track identity
+ * (the id in GetPositionInfo's TrackURI) so it survives queue-reload
+ * index drift -- see [syncLocalCursorToRemote].
  */
 class MinstrelForwardingPlayer(
     private val delegate: Player,
     private val holder: ActiveUpnpHolder,
     private val remoteState: RemotePlayerState,
+    private val castNetworkLock: CastNetworkLock,
+    private val networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
     private val onDrop: (routeName: String) -> Unit,
 ) : ForwardingPlayer(delegate) {
 
@@ -107,6 +123,20 @@ class MinstrelForwardingPlayer(
         scope.launch {
             holder.active.collect { active -> onActiveChanged(active) }
         }
+        scope.launch {
+            // When the phone's own network recovers, reconcile a held cast
+            // session immediately instead of waiting up to POLL_INTERVAL_MS:
+            // the renderer kept playing, so one round-trip re-confirms it and
+            // resyncs the cursor/position. Only a transition *into* Healthy
+            // while a route is active matters.
+            var prev = networkStatus.state.value
+            networkStatus.state.collect { next ->
+                if (next == ServerHealth.Healthy && prev != ServerHealth.Healthy && isRemote()) {
+                    pollTrigger.trySend(Unit)
+                }
+                prev = next
+            }
+        }
         // Process lifecycle is observed on the main thread; ProcessLifecycleOwner's
         // addObserver requires it. The observer just trySend's to the channel.
         handler.post {
@@ -172,13 +202,14 @@ class MinstrelForwardingPlayer(
         if (active == null) {
             super.play()
         } else {
+            remoteState.setPlayIntent(true)
             scope.launch {
-                runCatching { active.avTransport.play() }
+                runCatching { retryTransport { active.avTransport.play() } }
                     .onSuccess {
                         remoteState.applyTransportPlaying()
                         notifyRemoteStateChanged()
                     }
-                    .onFailure { handleSoapFailure(active, it) }
+                    .onFailure { handleTransportFailure(active, it) }
             }
         }
     }
@@ -193,13 +224,14 @@ class MinstrelForwardingPlayer(
         if (active == null) {
             super.pause()
         } else {
+            remoteState.setPlayIntent(false)
             scope.launch {
-                runCatching { active.avTransport.pause() }
+                runCatching { retryTransport { active.avTransport.pause() } }
                     .onSuccess {
                         remoteState.applyTransportPaused()
                         notifyRemoteStateChanged()
                     }
-                    .onFailure { handleSoapFailure(active, it) }
+                    .onFailure { handleTransportFailure(active, it) }
             }
         }
     }
@@ -222,8 +254,8 @@ class MinstrelForwardingPlayer(
                 trackNumber = remoteState.trackNumber,
             )
             scope.launch {
-                runCatching { active.avTransport.seek(positionMs) }
-                    .onFailure { handleSoapFailure(active, it) }
+                runCatching { retryTransport { active.avTransport.seek(positionMs) } }
+                    .onFailure { handleTransportFailure(active, it) }
             }
         }
     }
@@ -253,11 +285,13 @@ class MinstrelForwardingPlayer(
         )
         scope.launch {
             runCatching {
-                active.avTransport.seekToTrack(mediaItemIndex + 1)
-                if (positionMs > 0L) {
-                    active.avTransport.seek(positionMs)
+                retryTransport {
+                    active.avTransport.seekToTrack(mediaItemIndex + 1)
+                    if (positionMs > 0L) {
+                        active.avTransport.seek(positionMs)
+                    }
                 }
-            }.onFailure { handleSoapFailure(active, it) }
+            }.onFailure { handleTransportFailure(active, it) }
         }
     }
 
@@ -280,8 +314,8 @@ class MinstrelForwardingPlayer(
             SystemClock.elapsedRealtime() + PENDING_TRANSPORT_SAFETY_TIMEOUT_MS,
         )
         scope.launch {
-            runCatching { active.avTransport.next() }
-                .onFailure { handleSoapFailure(active, it) }
+            runCatching { retryTransport { active.avTransport.next() } }
+                .onFailure { handleTransportFailure(active, it) }
         }
     }
 
@@ -303,11 +337,28 @@ class MinstrelForwardingPlayer(
             SystemClock.elapsedRealtime() + PENDING_TRANSPORT_SAFETY_TIMEOUT_MS,
         )
         scope.launch {
-            runCatching { active.avTransport.previous() }
-                .onFailure { handleSoapFailure(active, it) }
+            runCatching { retryTransport { active.avTransport.previous() } }
+                .onFailure { handleTransportFailure(active, it) }
         }
     }
 
+    // The system media notification / lock-screen / Android Auto / Wear 'next'
+    // and 'previous' buttons issue COMMAND_SEEK_TO_NEXT / COMMAND_SEEK_TO_PREVIOUS
+    // -> Player.seekToNext() / seekToPrevious(), which are DISTINCT from the
+    // *MediaItem variants the in-app transport buttons call. Un-overridden, the
+    // base ForwardingPlayer forwards these to the paused local delegate -- so
+    // the notification next/prev only nudged the local cursor (which the poll
+    // then re-synced back to Sonos), reading as dead buttons while casting.
+    // Route them through the same Sonos path as the media-item variants when a
+    // UPnP route is engaged; plain local playback keeps the default behaviour.
+    override fun seekToNext() {
+        if (isRemote() || isLoadingUpnp()) seekToNextMediaItem() else super.seekToNext()
+    }
+
+    override fun seekToPrevious() {
+        if (isRemote() || isLoadingUpnp()) seekToPreviousMediaItem() else super.seekToPrevious()
+    }
+
     override fun getCurrentPosition(): Long =
         if (isRemote()) remoteState.positionMs else super.getCurrentPosition()
 
@@ -385,11 +436,34 @@ class MinstrelForwardingPlayer(
         super.release()
     }
 
-    private fun handleSoapFailure(active: ActiveUpnp, t: Throwable) {
-        pollJob?.cancel()
-        Timber.w(t, "UPnP transport call failed on %s", active.routeName)
-        remoteState.applyError(t)
-        handler.post { onDrop(active.routeName) }
+    /**
+     * Run a transport SOAP block, retrying transport-level (IO) failures a
+     * few times with backoff. A locked phone's WiFi power-save can stall the
+     * first socket I/O for a second or two; a retry lets the command land once
+     * WiFi wakes instead of being abandoned. A [SoapFaultException] (the
+     * renderer answered and rejected the action) is NOT retried -- the device
+     * is alive and retrying won't change its verdict.
+     */
+    private suspend fun <T> retryTransport(block: suspend () -> T): T =
+        retryTransientIo(TRANSPORT_RETRY_ATTEMPTS, TRANSPORT_RETRY_BACKOFF_MS, block)
+
+    /**
+     * A transport SOAP command failed even after retries. Deliberately does
+     * NOT declare the route dropped: the 1 Hz poll loop is the single arbiter
+     * of liveness (DROP_THRESHOLD consecutive poll failures). A locked phone's
+     * WiFi power-save can fail one command while the renderer is perfectly
+     * reachable; dropping on a single command falsely kicked playback back to
+     * the phone. We log, leave the poll loop running, and nudge an immediate
+     * poll so the UI reconciles to Sonos's actual state -- if the renderer is
+     * truly gone, the poll loop trips the drop on its own.
+     */
+    private fun handleTransportFailure(active: ActiveUpnp, t: Throwable) {
+        if (t is SoapFaultException) {
+            Timber.w(t, "UPnP transport rejected by %s -- device alive, no drop", active.routeName)
+        } else {
+            Timber.w(t, "UPnP transport failed on %s -- poll loop arbitrates", active.routeName)
+        }
+        pollTrigger.trySend(Unit)
     }
 
     private fun onActiveChanged(active: ActiveUpnp?) {
@@ -402,6 +476,11 @@ class MinstrelForwardingPlayer(
         lastNotifiedTrackIdx = -1
         if (active != null) {
             Timber.w("UPnP active: %s -- pollLoop starting", active.routeName)
+            // Hold the WiFi + CPU awake for the cast: the wrapped ExoPlayer is
+            // about to be paused (releasing its WAKE_MODE_NETWORK locks), so
+            // without this the radio power-saves on a locked screen and the
+            // poll below starves -- see [CastNetworkLock].
+            castNetworkLock.acquire()
             // Pause the wrapped ExoPlayer so we are not playing local audio
             // simultaneously with the remote renderer. handler.post targets the
             // application looper, so this runs on the same thread that processes
@@ -411,20 +490,26 @@ class MinstrelForwardingPlayer(
             handler.post { delegate.pause() }
             pollJob = scope.launch { pollLoop(active) }
         } else {
+            castNetworkLock.release()
             remoteState.reset()
         }
     }
 
     @OptIn(ExperimentalCoroutinesApi::class) // onTimeout / select.onReceive
     private suspend fun pollLoop(active: ActiveUpnp) {
+        var networkDropSuppressed = false
         while (scope.isActive && holder.active.value?.routeId == active.routeId) {
             val outcome = runCatching { pollOnce(active) }
             if (outcome.isSuccess) {
                 remoteState.recordPollSuccess()
+                networkDropSuppressed = false
             } else if (remoteState.recordPollFailure()) {
-                Timber.w("UPnP drop threshold tripped for %s", active.routeName)
-                handler.post { onDrop(active.routeName) }
-                return
+                if (networkStatus.state.value == ServerHealth.Healthy) {
+                    Timber.w("UPnP drop threshold tripped for %s", active.routeName)
+                    handler.post { onDrop(active.routeName) }
+                    return
+                }
+                networkDropSuppressed = suppressDropForNetwork(active, networkDropSuppressed)
             }
             // Race the normal cadence against any external wake (activity
             // resume). Whichever wins continues to the next pollOnce.
@@ -435,20 +520,34 @@ class MinstrelForwardingPlayer(
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * The poll-failure threshold tripped, but the phone's *own* network is down
+     * (state is not [ServerHealth.Healthy]) -- so this is "we can't see the
+     * renderer right now," not "the renderer died." A UPnP renderer streams
+     * autonomously and is almost certainly still playing; meanwhile a local
+     * fallback couldn't reach the server either, so dropping would only blast
+     * local audio out of a pocketed phone while the speaker keeps going. Hold
+     * the route and keep polling -- a successful poll once the network returns
+     * reconciles to the renderer's real state. Clear the failure streak so
+     * recovery re-evaluates the renderer from scratch instead of re-dropping on
+     * the first post-recovery hiccup. Returns the (latched) suppression flag so
+     * the rationale logs once per outage, not every tick.
+     */
+    private fun suppressDropForNetwork(active: ActiveUpnp, alreadySuppressed: Boolean): Boolean {
+        if (!alreadySuppressed) {
+            Timber.w(
+                "UPnP drop suppressed for %s -- phone network %s, holding route",
+                active.routeName, networkStatus.state.value,
+            )
+        }
+        remoteState.recordPollSuccess() // clear streak; not a renderer failure
+        return true
+    }
+
     /**
      * One poll tick: read position + transport state from Sonos, apply to
-     * [remoteState], and forward-sync the local cursor to Sonos's Track
-     * index when not in queue load.
-     *
-     * Cursor sync is gated on `holder.target == null` (= not loading)
-     * because during load Sonos reports Track=1 while we're still
-     * appending, and syncing would race the SetAV+Seek that lands
-     * after. Outside load, forward sync catches Sonos auto-advances
-     * (queue end-of-track), Sonos-app driven Next presses, and any
-     * drift after a brief poll-failure burst that didn't trip the
-     * drop threshold. Forward-only because a Next override we just
-     * issued can race with a poll still reporting the prior Track --
-     * the next poll catches up safely.
+     * [remoteState], and sync the local cursor to the track the renderer is
+     * actually playing (see [syncLocalCursorToRemote]).
      */
     private suspend fun pollOnce(active: ActiveUpnp) {
         val info = active.avTransport.getPositionInfo()
@@ -464,7 +563,7 @@ class MinstrelForwardingPlayer(
             trackUri = info.trackUri,
             trackNumber = info.track,
         )
-        maybeSyncLocalCursor(info.track)
+        syncLocalCursorToRemote(sonosTrack = info.track, trackUri = info.trackUri)
         val transport = active.avTransport.getTransportInfo()
         when (transport.state) {
             TransportState.PLAYING -> {
@@ -488,23 +587,95 @@ class MinstrelForwardingPlayer(
         notifyRemoteStateChanged()
     }
 
-    private fun maybeSyncLocalCursor(sonosTrack: Int) {
-        if (holder.target.value != null) return
-        if (sonosTrack <= 0) return
-        val sonosIdx = sonosTrack - 1
+    /**
+     * Align the paused local delegate cursor to the track the renderer is
+     * actually playing, so the un-overridden current-item getters
+     * (getCurrentMediaItem/Index -- what both the in-app player UI via
+     * PlayerController.onEvents AND the MediaSession notification read) always
+     * resolve to that track. This is THE single source of truth for "what's
+     * playing" during a cast.
+     *
+     * Identity-first: match the track-id embedded in the renderer's current URI
+     * against the delegate's MediaItem.mediaId (PlayerController sets mediaId =
+     * TrackRef.id), so the index-offset wobble across queue reloads / re-casts
+     * can never park the cursor on a stale (pre-cast) track. Falls back to the
+     * 1-based Sonos Track index only when the URI can't be resolved to a queue
+     * item. Unlike the old forward-only sync this moves the cursor in BOTH
+     * directions -- a renderer Previous / re-cast to a lower track pulls it back
+     * too. Runs on the application looper (delegate access contract).
+     *
+     * Suppressed while:
+     *  - loading ([isLoadingUpnp]) -- the native Sonos queue is still being
+     *    (re)uploaded, so its Track index is meaningless; and
+     *  - a user transport (next/prev/seekTo idx) is pending Sonos's ack --
+     *    the override already advanced the delegate optimistically, and Sonos
+     *    still reports the OLD track for a beat, so syncing now would undo the
+     *    user's press. The pending deadline is honoured directly so a missed
+     *    clear can't wedge the sync.
+     */
+    private fun syncLocalCursorToRemote(sonosTrack: Int, trackUri: String) {
+        if (isLoadingUpnp()) return
+        val pendingDeadline = remoteState.pendingTransportDeadlineMs
+        if (pendingDeadline > 0L && SystemClock.elapsedRealtime() < pendingDeadline) return
         handler.post {
-            val localIdx = delegate.currentMediaItemIndex
-            if (sonosIdx > localIdx && sonosIdx < delegate.mediaItemCount) {
+            val target = resolveRemoteCursorIndex(sonosTrack, trackUri) ?: return@post
+            if (target != delegate.currentMediaItemIndex) {
                 Timber.w(
-                    "UPnP cursor catch-up: local=%d -> sonos=%d",
-                    localIdx, sonosIdx,
+                    "UPnP cursor sync: local=%d -> %d",
+                    delegate.currentMediaItemIndex, target,
                 )
-                delegate.seekTo(sonosIdx, 0L)
+                delegate.seekTo(target, 0L)
             }
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Most-authoritative -> most-degraded (project rule #48): the track-id
+     * parsed from the renderer's current URI wins; else the 1-based Sonos Track
+     * index; else null (leave the cursor put rather than surface a wrong track).
+     * Must run on the application looper -- reads the delegate timeline.
+     */
+    private fun resolveRemoteCursorIndex(sonosTrack: Int, trackUri: String): Int? {
+        val byId = trackIdFromStreamUri(trackUri)?.let { id ->
+            nearestIndexWithMediaId(id, preferNear = sonosTrack - 1)
+        }
+        return byId ?: (sonosTrack - 1).takeIf { it in 0 until delegate.mediaItemCount }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Index of the delegate MediaItem whose mediaId == [mediaId], preferring the
+     * occurrence nearest [preferNear] so a track that appears twice in the queue
+     * doesn't snap the cursor across the queue. null if the id isn't present.
+     */
+    private fun nearestIndexWithMediaId(mediaId: String, preferNear: Int): Int? {
+        var best: Int? = null
+        var bestDist = Int.MAX_VALUE
+        for (i in 0 until delegate.mediaItemCount) {
+            if (delegate.getMediaItemAt(i).mediaId == mediaId) {
+                val dist = abs(i - preferNear)
+                if (dist < bestDist) {
+                    best = i
+                    bestDist = dist
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        return best
+    }
+
+    /** Extract `{id}` from a `.../api/tracks/{id}/stream...` stream URI. */
+    private fun trackIdFromStreamUri(uri: String): String? {
+        val start = uri.indexOf(TRACKS_PATH_MARKER)
+        if (start < 0) return null
+        val idStart = start + TRACKS_PATH_MARKER.length
+        val idEnd = uri.indexOf('/', idStart)
+        return if (idEnd > idStart) uri.substring(idStart, idEnd) else null
+    }
+
     private companion object {
+        // Path segment that precedes the track-id in a stream URI
+        // (…/api/tracks/{id}/stream…) — used to map the renderer's current URI
+        // back to a delegate MediaItem by identity.
+        const val TRACKS_PATH_MARKER = "/api/tracks/"
         const val POLL_INTERVAL_MS = 1_000L
         const val NON_PLAYING_CONFIRM = 2
         const val SEEK_ACK_WINDOW_MS = 2_000L
@@ -513,5 +684,39 @@ class MinstrelForwardingPlayer(
         // when Sonos's reported Track matches the wrapped player; this only
         // kicks in if SOAP fails or Sonos drops the ack entirely.
         const val PENDING_TRANSPORT_SAFETY_TIMEOUT_MS = 5_000L
+        // Transport commands retry transient IO failures so a single WiFi
+        // power-save stall (locked phone) doesn't abandon the command. 3
+        // attempts x the SoapClient's 2s connect timeout + backoff bounds the
+        // worst case at ~7s; a still-failing command then defers to the poll.
+        const val TRANSPORT_RETRY_ATTEMPTS = 3
+        const val TRANSPORT_RETRY_BACKOFF_MS = 400L
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Retry [block] on transient transport-level ([IOException]) failures, with
+ * [backoffMs] between attempts, up to [attempts] total. Anything that is not
+ * an [IOException] -- notably [SoapFaultException], where the renderer
+ * answered and rejected the action -- propagates immediately: the device is
+ * alive, so retrying won't change its verdict. Extracted from
+ * [MinstrelForwardingPlayer] so a locked phone's WiFi power-save stall doesn't
+ * abandon a single transport command (the bug that falsely reverted Sonos
+ * playback to local audio).
+ */
+internal suspend fun <T> retryTransientIo(
+    attempts: Int,
+    backoffMs: Long,
+    block: suspend () -> T,
+): T {
+    var attempt = 0
+    while (true) {
+        try {
+            return block()
+        } catch (io: IOException) {
+            attempt += 1
+            if (attempt >= attempts) throw io
+            Timber.w(io, "transient transport failure (attempt %d) -- retrying", attempt)
+            delay(backoffMs)
+        }
     }
 }

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/player/OfflineGatedDataSource.kt

@@ -3,14 +3,14 @@ package com.fabledsword.minstrel.player
 import androidx.media3.datasource.DataSource
 import androidx.media3.datasource.DataSpec
 import androidx.media3.datasource.TransferListener
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.ServerHealth
-import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.ServerHealthController
 import java.io.IOException
 import java.io.InterruptedIOException
 
 /**
  * DataSource wrapper that fails the network read immediately when
- * [ServerHealthController] reports a non-Healthy state. CacheDataSource only
+ * [NetworkStatusController] reports a gating state. CacheDataSource only
  * calls this upstream factory on cache misses, so playback of cached audio is
  * unaffected -- only "tap a non-cached track while offline" hits this branch
  * and gets a fast, meaningful error instead of a multi-second network timeout
@@ -22,10 +22,23 @@ import java.io.InterruptedIOException
  */
 class OfflineGatedDataSource(
     private val delegate: DataSource,
-    private val health: ServerHealthController,
+    private val health: NetworkStatusController,
 ) : DataSource {
 
     override fun open(dataSpec: DataSpec): Long {
+        gateOnHealth()
+        return try {
+            val opened = delegate.open(dataSpec)
+            health.reportSuccess() // bytes flowing from the server == reachable
+            opened
+        } catch (e: IOException) {
+            health.reportFailure() // real network read failed → arbitrate via /healthz
+            throw e
+        }
+    }
+
+    /** Fast-fail before touching the network when the server can't be reached. */
+    private fun gateOnHealth() {
         when (health.state.value) {
             ServerHealth.Offline -> throw OfflineException(
                 "Track not in the on-device cache and the device is offline.",
@@ -33,9 +46,9 @@ class OfflineGatedDataSource(
             ServerHealth.ServerDown -> throw OfflineException(
                 "Track not in the on-device cache and the Minstrel server is unreachable.",
             )
-            ServerHealth.Healthy -> Unit
+            // Unstable is non-gating: still try the network. Healthy too.
+            ServerHealth.Unstable, ServerHealth.Healthy -> Unit
         }
-        return delegate.open(dataSpec)
     }
 
     override fun close() = delegate.close()
@@ -49,7 +62,7 @@ class OfflineGatedDataSource(
 
 class OfflineGatedDataSourceFactory(
     private val upstream: DataSource.Factory,
-    private val health: ServerHealthController,
+    private val health: NetworkStatusController,
 ) : DataSource.Factory {
     override fun createDataSource(): DataSource =
         OfflineGatedDataSource(upstream.createDataSource(), health)

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/player/PlayEventsReporter.kt

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import androidx.lifecycle.ProcessLifecycleOwner
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.endpoints.EventsApi
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.auth.AuthStore
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.mutations.MutationQueue
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.mutations.PlayEndedPayload
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.mutations.PlayOfflinePayload
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.di.ApplicationScope
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.wire.PlayEndedRequest
@@ -64,11 +65,24 @@ class PlayEventsReporter @Inject constructor(
     private var curLastPositionMs: Long = 0
     private var curDurationMs: Long = 0
 
+    // Whether the currently-tracked play is actively playing (vs paused).
+    // onStop reads this: a backgrounded play that's still playing is left
+    // to the live path (the foreground service keeps us alive), while a
+    // paused one is durably closed so a kill can't orphan its open row.
+    private var curPlaying: Boolean = false
+
     // Server play_event_id when the live play_started succeeded;
     // null if start failed/offline — then the close is captured into
     // the offline mutation queue instead of a live ended/skipped.
     private var openPlayEventId: String? = null
 
+    // True from beginTrack until startLive's play_started resolves. When a
+    // close races an in-flight start (id still null), the server row is
+    // being created but we've lost its id — we must NOT also enqueue an
+    // offline play (that would duplicate); the server auto-closes the
+    // orphan on the next play_started instead.
+    private var startInFlight: Boolean = false
+
     private var prevTrackId: String? = null
 
     init {
@@ -95,7 +109,7 @@ class PlayEventsReporter @Inject constructor(
     ) {
         // Track-change → close the prior tracked play.
         if (trackId != prevTrackId && curTrackId != null) {
-            closeCurrent(viaOffline = false)
+            closeCurrent()
         }
 
         // Entered playing for a new track → begin tracking it.
@@ -110,6 +124,7 @@ class PlayEventsReporter @Inject constructor(
         if (curTrackId != null && trackId == curTrackId) {
             curLastPositionMs = positionMs
             if (durationMs > 0) curDurationMs = durationMs
+            curPlaying = playing
         }
 
         prevTrackId = trackId
@@ -121,12 +136,18 @@ class PlayEventsReporter @Inject constructor(
         curSource = source
         curLastPositionMs = 0
         curDurationMs = durationMs
+        curPlaying = true
         openPlayEventId = null
+        startInFlight = true
         startLive(trackId = trackId, source = source)
     }
 
     private fun startLive(trackId: String, source: String?) {
-        val cid = resolveClientId() ?: return
+        val cid = resolveClientId()
+        if (cid == null) {
+            startInFlight = false
+            return
+        }
         scope.launch {
             try {
                 val response = api.playStarted(
@@ -134,6 +155,7 @@ class PlayEventsReporter @Inject constructor(
                         trackId = trackId,
                         clientId = cid,
                         source = source.takeIf { !it.isNullOrEmpty() },
+                        deviceClass = DEVICE_CLASS,
                     ),
                 )
                 if (curTrackId == trackId) {
@@ -144,56 +166,72 @@ class PlayEventsReporter @Inject constructor(
             ) {
                 // Offline / flaky — openPlayEventId stays null; close
                 // path will enqueue the completed play for replay.
+            } finally {
+                startInFlight = false
             }
         }
     }
 
-    private fun closeCurrent(viaOffline: Boolean) {
+    /**
+     * Closes the tracked play. Routes by whether the server already has an
+     * open row, NOT by caller context — this is what keeps background /
+     * track-change / failure paths from each minting a second row:
+     *  - open server row (id) → close it by id; on failure enqueue a durable
+     *    close-by-id (never an offline play).
+     *  - start in flight (no id yet) → leave it; the server auto-closes the
+     *    orphan on the next play_started. Enqueuing offline here would
+     *    duplicate the in-flight row.
+     *  - no server row at all → record the whole play offline.
+     *
+     * Always uses the actual position played; the server's skip rule
+     * (50%/30s defaults) classifies was_skipped from it.
+     */
+    private fun closeCurrent() {
         val trackId = curTrackId
         val startedAt = curStartedAt
         if (trackId == null || startedAt == null) {
             resetCurrent()
             return
         }
-        // Always send the actual position played to; the server's
-        // skip rule (50%/30s defaults, configurable) classifies
-        // was_skipped from this. If the track ran to completion the
-        // last observed position is ~= duration, which gives ratio ~1
-        // and the server records a non-skip. The COMPLETION_TOLERANCE
-        // rounding the prior shape did is no longer needed — the
-        // server's threshold is the source of truth.
         val durationMs = curLastPositionMs
         val source = curSource
         val id = openPlayEventId
-
-        if (!viaOffline && id != null) {
-            scope.launch {
-                try {
-                    api.playEnded(
-                        PlayEndedRequest(
-                            playEventId = id,
-                            durationPlayedMs = durationMs,
-                        ),
-                    )
-                } catch (
-                    @Suppress("TooGenericExceptionCaught", "SwallowedException") e: Throwable,
-                ) {
-                    enqueueOffline(trackId, startedAt, source, durationMs)
-                }
-            }
-        } else {
-            enqueueOffline(trackId, startedAt, source, durationMs)
+        val inFlight = startInFlight
+        when {
+            id != null -> closeById(id, durationMs)
+            inFlight -> Unit
+            else -> enqueueOffline(trackId, startedAt, source, durationMs)
         }
         resetCurrent()
     }
 
+    private fun closeById(id: String, durationMs: Long) {
+        scope.launch {
+            try {
+                api.playEnded(
+                    PlayEndedRequest(playEventId = id, durationPlayedMs = durationMs),
+                )
+            } catch (
+                @Suppress("TooGenericExceptionCaught", "SwallowedException") e: Throwable,
+            ) {
+                // Durable close-by-id (idempotent server-side) — survives a
+                // process kill without orphaning the open row or duplicating.
+                mutationQueue.enqueuePlayEnded(
+                    PlayEndedPayload(playEventId = id, durationPlayedMs = durationMs),
+                )
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
     private fun resetCurrent() {
         curTrackId = null
         curStartedAt = null
         curSource = null
         curLastPositionMs = 0
         curDurationMs = 0
+        curPlaying = false
         openPlayEventId = null
+        startInFlight = false
     }
 
     private fun enqueueOffline(
@@ -211,6 +249,7 @@ class PlayEventsReporter @Inject constructor(
                     atIso = startedAt.toString(),
                     durationPlayedMs = durationPlayedMs,
                     source = source.takeIf { !it.isNullOrEmpty() },
+                    deviceClass = DEVICE_CLASS,
                 ),
             )
         }
@@ -231,9 +270,24 @@ class PlayEventsReporter @Inject constructor(
 
     // ── Lifecycle: durable-close on app background / detach ────────
 
+    companion object {
+        // #1551: Android is a mobile client. Refine to tablet/tv via device
+        // configuration later if the metrics trend view shows it matters.
+        private const val DEVICE_CLASS = "mobile"
+    }
+
     override fun onStop(owner: LifecycleOwner) {
-        if (curTrackId != null) {
-            closeCurrent(viaOffline = true)
+        // App backgrounded. If the tracked play is still PLAYING, leave it
+        // alone: the foreground media service keeps the process — and this
+        // app-scope uiState collector — alive, so the live state machine
+        // closes the play accurately on the next real track change. Closing
+        // here (the old always-offline behavior) raced the collector's
+        // re-begin and minted a duplicate, skip-misclassified row on every
+        // screen-lock. Only durably close a PAUSED play, where no further
+        // progress will happen and a process kill would otherwise orphan the
+        // open server row. See docs/superpowers/2026-06-11 contract audit.
+        if (curTrackId != null && !curPlaying) {
+            closeCurrent()
         }
     }
 }

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/player/PlaybackErrorReporter.kt

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package com.fabledsword.minstrel.player
 
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.di.ApplicationScope
 import kotlinx.coroutines.CoroutineScope
 import kotlinx.coroutines.channels.Channel
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@ private const val DEBOUNCE_MS = 2_000L
 class PlaybackErrorReporter @Inject constructor(
     private val playerController: PlayerController,
     private val repository: PlaybackErrorRepository,
+    private val networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
     @ApplicationScope private val scope: CoroutineScope,
 ) {
     private val outChannel = Channel<String>(Channel.BUFFERED)
@@ -52,6 +54,10 @@ class PlaybackErrorReporter @Inject constructor(
             val buffer = mutableListOf<String>()
             var debounceJob: kotlinx.coroutines.Job? = null
             playerController.playbackErrorEvents.collect { event ->
+                // A track failing to play is ambiguous (dead server vs. one bad
+                // file) — let the controller arbitrate via /healthz. No-op when
+                // already Offline; cheap otherwise.
+                networkStatus.reportFailure()
                 // Fire-and-forget the server report — repository handles
                 // success/queue branching so callers don't see throws.
                 scope.launch { repository.report(event) }

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/player/PlayerController.kt

@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ import androidx.media3.session.MediaController
 import androidx.media3.session.SessionToken
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.di.ApplicationScope
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.TrackRef
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.playlists.data.PlaylistsRepository
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.playlists.data.toPlayableTrackRefs
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.resolveServerUrl
 import dagger.hilt.android.qualifiers.ApplicationContext
 import kotlinx.coroutines.CoroutineScope
@@ -63,6 +65,7 @@ class PlayerController @Inject constructor(
     @ApplicationContext private val context: Context,
     @ApplicationScope private val scope: CoroutineScope,
     private val radio: RadioController,
+    private val playlists: PlaylistsRepository,
     private val playerFactory: PlayerFactory,
     private val activeUpnpHolder: com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.output.ActiveUpnpHolder,
     private val remoteState: RemotePlayerState,
@@ -111,6 +114,13 @@ class PlayerController @Inject constructor(
      */
     private var lastEvaluatedItemIndex: Int = -1
 
+    /**
+     * #968: self-heal budget — re-pulls of a stale refreshable queue since
+     * the last successful play. Capped so a still-broken refresh can't loop;
+     * reset when any track loads with real audio.
+     */
+    private var selfHealAttempts = 0
+
     /**
      * Stable queue snapshot kept in sync with the player's MediaItems —
      * the player's own getMediaItem(index) returns Media3 types; we keep
@@ -192,6 +202,20 @@ class PlayerController @Inject constructor(
         controller.play()
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Align the local cursor to [index] + [positionMs] WITHOUT auto-playing.
+     * Used by the UPnP adopt path: when attaching to a renderer that's already
+     * playing our queue, we sync the local cursor to the renderer's current
+     * track/position so skip/seek and the UI map onto its live session — the
+     * renderer keeps the audio, the local player stays paused. Unlike
+     * [seekToIndex] this issues no play().
+     */
+    fun moveCursorTo(index: Int, positionMs: Long) {
+        val controller = mediaController ?: return
+        if (index !in queueRefs.indices) return
+        runOnControllerThread(controller) { controller.seekTo(index, positionMs) }
+    }
+
     /**
      * Replace the queue with [tracks] starting at [initialIndex].
      * [source] tags the queue with its origin (e.g. "for_you") so the
@@ -264,6 +288,37 @@ class PlayerController @Inject constructor(
         controller.addMediaItem(track.toMediaItem(source = null))
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Reorder the queue: move the item at [from] to [to], keeping the domain
+     * snapshot in lock-step with the player's MediaItem timeline. Media3 emits
+     * onEvents → uiState reflects the new order (and the still-playing item's
+     * index). No-op on bad indices or a no-move.
+     */
+    fun moveInQueue(from: Int, to: Int) {
+        val controller = mediaController ?: return
+        if (from !in queueRefs.indices || to !in queueRefs.indices || from == to) return
+        queueRefs = queueRefs.toMutableList().apply { add(to, removeAt(from)) }
+        controller.moveMediaItem(from, to)
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Remove the queue item at [index]. When it's the currently-playing item
+     * Media3 advances to the next automatically. No-op on a bad index.
+     */
+    fun removeFromQueue(index: Int) {
+        val controller = mediaController ?: return
+        if (index !in queueRefs.indices) return
+        queueRefs = queueRefs.toMutableList().apply { removeAt(index) }
+        controller.removeMediaItem(index)
+    }
+
+    /** Empty the queue and stop playback. */
+    fun clearQueue() {
+        val controller = mediaController ?: return
+        queueRefs = emptyList()
+        controller.clearMediaItems()
+    }
+
     /**
      * Seed a fresh radio queue from [trackId]. The `source` tag is
      * "radio:<id>" so the server-side rotation reporter can
@@ -337,7 +392,12 @@ class PlayerController @Inject constructor(
         if (current == null || upnpEngaged) return
         val duration = controller.duration
         val isZeroDuration = duration <= 0L || duration == androidx.media3.common.C.TIME_UNSET
-        if (!isZeroDuration) return
+        if (!isZeroDuration) {
+            // A track loaded with real audio — clear the self-heal budget so
+            // a later stale queue can recover again.
+            selfHealAttempts = 0
+            return
+        }
         playbackErrorEventsChannel.trySend(
             PlaybackErrorEvent(
                 trackId = current.id,
@@ -353,6 +413,58 @@ class PlayerController @Inject constructor(
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * #968: the queue is fully unplayable (every track failed to load). If it
+     * came from a refreshable source — a system playlist (bare-variant source)
+     * or radio ("radio:<seed>") — the snapshot is probably stale (app/tab left
+     * open across the daily rebuild); re-pull it and resume instead of stopping.
+     * Bounded by [selfHealAttempts]. Album / artist / user-playlist / offline
+     * sources have nothing to refresh — stop.
+     */
+    private fun selfHealOrStop(controller: MediaController) {
+        val source = controller.currentMediaItem
+            ?.mediaMetadata?.extras?.getString(MINSTREL_SOURCE_KEY)
+        if (source == null || selfHealAttempts >= MAX_SELF_HEAL_ATTEMPTS) {
+            controller.stop()
+            return
+        }
+        when {
+            source.startsWith("radio:") -> {
+                selfHealAttempts++
+                scope.launch { selfHealRadio(source.removePrefix("radio:")) }
+            }
+            !source.contains(':') -> { // bare variant = refreshable system playlist
+                selfHealAttempts++
+                scope.launch { selfHealSystem(source) }
+            }
+            else -> controller.stop()
+        }
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun selfHealSystem(variant: String) {
+        val refs = runCatching { playlists.systemShuffle(variant).tracks.toPlayableTrackRefs() }
+            .getOrDefault(emptyList())
+        if (refs.isEmpty()) {
+            stopOnControllerThread()
+            return
+        }
+        setQueue(refs, initialIndex = 0, source = variant)
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun selfHealRadio(seedTrackId: String) {
+        val refs = runCatching { radio.seed(seedTrackId) }.getOrDefault(emptyList())
+        if (refs.isEmpty()) {
+            stopOnControllerThread()
+            return
+        }
+        setQueue(refs, initialIndex = 0, source = "radio:$seedTrackId")
+    }
+
+    private fun stopOnControllerThread() {
+        val controller = mediaController ?: return
+        runOnControllerThread(controller) { controller.stop() }
+    }
+
     // ── Internal: async connect + Listener-driven UI state sync ──────────
 
     private suspend fun connectAndObserve() {
@@ -403,6 +515,17 @@ class PlayerController @Inject constructor(
                             detail = error.message,
                         ),
                     )
+                    // A failed load leaves the player IDLE; advance past the bad
+                    // track and re-prepare so one unplayable item doesn't strand
+                    // playback (mirrors the zero_duration skip). At the end of a
+                    // fully-unplayable queue, try to self-heal a stale refreshable
+                    // source before stopping.
+                    if (controller.hasNextMediaItem()) {
+                        controller.seekToNextMediaItem()
+                        controller.prepare()
+                    } else {
+                        selfHealOrStop(controller)
+                    }
                 }
 
                 override fun onMediaItemTransition(
@@ -506,18 +629,19 @@ class PlayerController @Inject constructor(
     }
 
     /**
-     * One position-polling tick. Owns track-change detection too: when UPnP
-     * is active and the wrapped ExoPlayer is paused, `delegate.seekTo` from
-     * `maybeSyncLocalCursor` may not fire `onMediaItemTransition`, leaving
-     * uiState.queueIndex stuck on the old track even after Sonos has
-     * advanced. So the tick reads Sonos's reported Track as the source of
-     * truth, rebuilds the index/title fields itself, and force-syncs the
-     * wrapped player as defense in depth.
+     * One position-polling tick. Patches ONLY the smoothly-changing transport
+     * fields (position / duration / play-pause / buffer) via `.copy()`. The
+     * queue index + current track are owned solely by [onEvents], which reads
+     * the authoritative delegate cursor: during a cast,
+     * [MinstrelForwardingPlayer.syncLocalCursorToRemote] keeps that cursor on
+     * the track the renderer is actually playing (matched by identity), so there
+     * is exactly one writer of "what's playing" and a stale tick can never
+     * revert it to the old track. (Previously the tick was a second index writer
+     * that fought onEvents — the flicker-to-stale-track bug.)
      */
     private fun tickPositionPoll(controller: MediaController) {
         val upnpActive = activeUpnpHolder.active.value != null
         resolvePendingTransport(controller, upnpActive)
-        val pendingTransport = upnpActive && remoteState.pendingTransportDeadlineMs > 0L
         val effectiveIsPlaying =
             if (upnpActive) remoteState.isPlaying else controller.isPlaying
         val effectivePosition = if (upnpActive) {
@@ -525,27 +649,29 @@ class PlayerController @Inject constructor(
         } else {
             controller.currentPosition
         }
-        val desiredIdx = desiredQueueIndex(controller, upnpActive)
+        val idx = controller.currentMediaItemIndex
         val current = uiStateInternal.value
         val newPos = effectivePosition.coerceAtLeast(0)
         val newDur = effectiveDuration(
             upnpActive,
             remoteState.durationMs,
             controller.duration,
-            desiredIdx = desiredIdx,
-            controllerIdx = controller.currentMediaItemIndex,
+            desiredIdx = idx,
+            controllerIdx = idx,
         )
         val newBuf = controller.bufferedPosition.coerceAtLeast(0)
-        // Track adjustments are forward-only AND suppressed while a user
-        // transport press is pending Sonos confirmation. Together those keep
-        // either direction of user input from being undone by a stale poll.
-        val trackChanged = !pendingTransport &&
-            desiredIdx > current.queueIndex &&
-            desiredIdx in queueRefs.indices
-        publishTickIfChanged(
-            current, trackChanged, desiredIdx,
-            effectiveIsPlaying, newPos, newDur, newBuf,
-        )
+        val somethingChanged = current.isPlaying != effectiveIsPlaying ||
+            current.positionMs != newPos ||
+            current.durationMs != newDur ||
+            current.bufferedPositionMs != newBuf
+        if (somethingChanged) {
+            uiStateInternal.value = current.copy(
+                isPlaying = effectiveIsPlaying,
+                positionMs = newPos,
+                durationMs = newDur,
+                bufferedPositionMs = newBuf,
+            )
+        }
     }
 
     /**
@@ -562,48 +688,6 @@ class PlayerController @Inject constructor(
         }
     }
 
-    @Suppress("LongParameterList") // assembled at one tick call site; refactor would cost clarity
-    private fun publishTickIfChanged(
-        current: PlayerUiState,
-        trackChanged: Boolean,
-        desiredIdx: Int,
-        effectiveIsPlaying: Boolean,
-        newPos: Long,
-        newDur: Long,
-        newBuf: Long,
-    ) {
-        val somethingChanged = trackChanged ||
-            current.isPlaying != effectiveIsPlaying ||
-            current.positionMs != newPos ||
-            current.durationMs != newDur
-        if (!somethingChanged) return
-        val newTrack = if (trackChanged) queueRefs[desiredIdx] else current.currentTrack
-        val newIdx = if (trackChanged) desiredIdx else current.queueIndex
-        uiStateInternal.value = current.copy(
-            currentTrack = newTrack,
-            queueIndex = newIdx,
-            isPlaying = effectiveIsPlaying,
-            positionMs = newPos,
-            durationMs = newDur,
-            bufferedPositionMs = newBuf,
-        )
-        // Intentionally do NOT call controller.seekTo here. That would route
-        // through MinstrelForwardingPlayer's seekTo override and re-issue
-        // AVTransport.SeekToTrack to Sonos -- which seeks Sonos back to the
-        // start of the same track it's already playing, restarting the song.
-        // The wrapped player's index is kept in sync by maybeSyncLocalCursor's
-        // delegate.seekTo (which bypasses the override). If it lags briefly,
-        // the next pollOnce catches up; the uiState above already reflects
-        // Sonos's truth for the user.
-    }
-
-    private fun desiredQueueIndex(controller: MediaController, upnpActive: Boolean): Int =
-        if (upnpActive) {
-            (remoteState.trackNumber - 1).coerceAtLeast(0)
-        } else {
-            controller.currentMediaItemIndex
-        }
-
     // ── Remote position interpolation state ──────────────────────────────
     // remoteState.positionMs is only refreshed by ForwardingPlayer's 1Hz
     // SOAP poll (and only when the round-trip completes -- screen-off WiFi
@@ -749,6 +833,10 @@ class PlayerController @Inject constructor(
 // they don't need this poll.
 private const val POSITION_POLL_INTERVAL_MS = 500L
 
+// #968: at most one stale-queue self-heal re-pull per exhaustion (reset on
+// the next successful play) so a still-broken refresh can't loop.
+private const val MAX_SELF_HEAL_ATTEMPTS = 1
+
 /**
  * Structured playback failure event for [PlaybackErrorReporter]. Drives
  * both the user-facing snackbar ("Couldn't play X — skipping") and the

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/player/PlayerFactory.kt

@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ class PlayerFactory @Inject constructor(
     private val cacheConfig: CacheConfig,
     private val activeUpnpHolder: ActiveUpnpHolder,
     private val remoteState: RemotePlayerState,
-    private val serverHealth: com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.ServerHealthController,
+    private val serverHealth: com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController,
 ) {
     private val cacheDir: File = File(context.cacheDir, "audio_cache").apply { mkdirs() }
 
@@ -81,6 +81,8 @@ class PlayerFactory @Inject constructor(
             delegate = exo,
             holder = activeUpnpHolder,
             remoteState = remoteState,
+            castNetworkLock = CastNetworkLock(context),
+            networkStatus = serverHealth,
             onDrop = { name -> emitDrop(name) },
         )
     }

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/player/RemotePlayerState.kt

@@ -11,11 +11,13 @@ import javax.inject.Singleton
  * Updates flow in from:
  *  - 1Hz GetPositionInfo poll -> applyPositionInfo()
  *  - Transport SOAP calls landing 200 OK -> applyTransport{Playing,Paused,Stopped}()
- *  - Error paths -> applyError() (drop fallback) or recordPollFailure()
+ *  - Poll failures -> recordPollFailure()
  *
- * The poll-failure counter implements the rolling-3 drop heuristic: 3
+ * The poll-failure counter is the sole drop arbiter: [DROP_THRESHOLD]
  * consecutive poll failures = remote considered dropped (returns true
- * from recordPollFailure for the caller to surface). Success resets it.
+ * from recordPollFailure for the caller to surface). Any success resets it.
+ * Failed transport commands no longer drop the route -- they retry and
+ * otherwise defer to this counter (see MinstrelForwardingPlayer).
  */
 @Singleton
 class RemotePlayerState @Inject constructor() {
@@ -27,6 +29,13 @@ class RemotePlayerState @Inject constructor() {
     @Volatile var lastError: Throwable? = null; private set
     @Volatile var trackNumber: Int = 0; private set
 
+    // The operator's last explicit transport intent (play=true, pause=false),
+    // distinct from the observed remote isPlaying. handleRemoteDrop resumes
+    // local playback based on THIS, not isPlaying -- so a play() that fails
+    // its SOAP (stale/dead renderer) still resumes on the phone instead of
+    // swallowing the tap. Deliberately NOT cleared by applyError.
+    @Volatile var lastPlayIntent: Boolean = false; private set
+
     // Pending-transport deadline (SystemClock.elapsedRealtime() at which we
     // give up waiting). When > 0, a user transport action (next/prev/seekTo
     // idx) is in flight: ForwardingPlayer has already moved the wrapped
@@ -63,6 +72,8 @@ class RemotePlayerState @Inject constructor() {
         positionMs = 0L
     }
 
+    fun setPlayIntent(intended: Boolean) { lastPlayIntent = intended }
+
     fun applyError(t: Throwable) {
         isPlaying = false
         lastError = t
@@ -80,6 +91,7 @@ class RemotePlayerState @Inject constructor() {
         positionMs = 0L
         durationMs = 0L
         isPlaying = false
+        lastPlayIntent = false
         currentTrackUri = ""
         lastError = null
         consecutivePollFailures = 0

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/player/output/IdleRevertAction.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+package com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.output
+
+/** Action the idle-revert collector should take on a player-state change. */
+internal enum class IdleRevertAction { ARM, CANCEL, IGNORE }
+
+/**
+ * Pure decision for the UPnP idle-revert timer. [armed] is whether the
+ * idle timer Job is currently running. We ARM only on the transition INTO
+ * "engaged + not playing" (so repeated paused emissions don't reset the
+ * countdown), CANCEL whenever playback resumes or UPnP disengages, and
+ * otherwise IGNORE.
+ */
+internal fun idleRevertAction(
+    upnpEngaged: Boolean,
+    isPlaying: Boolean,
+    armed: Boolean,
+): IdleRevertAction = when {
+    upnpEngaged && !isPlaying -> if (armed) IdleRevertAction.IGNORE else IdleRevertAction.ARM
+    armed -> IdleRevertAction.CANCEL
+    else -> IdleRevertAction.IGNORE
+}

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/player/output/OutputPickerController.kt

@@ -15,10 +15,12 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.output.upnp.AVTransportClient
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.output.upnp.RenderingControlClient
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.output.upnp.SoapClient
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.output.upnp.SoapFaultException
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.output.upnp.TransportState
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.output.upnp.UpnpDiscoveryController
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.output.upnp.bareUdn
 import dagger.hilt.android.qualifiers.ApplicationContext
 import kotlinx.coroutines.CoroutineScope
+import kotlinx.coroutines.Job
 import kotlinx.coroutines.delay
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.MutableStateFlow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.SharingStarted
@@ -28,6 +30,7 @@ import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.stateIn
 import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
 import kotlinx.coroutines.sync.Mutex
 import kotlinx.coroutines.sync.withLock
+import okhttp3.HttpUrl.Companion.toHttpUrlOrNull
 import okhttp3.OkHttpClient
 import timber.log.Timber
 import javax.inject.Inject
@@ -147,6 +150,12 @@ class OutputPickerController @Inject constructor(
     // can run the longest-common-prefix / common-suffix diff.
     private var lastSyncedQueueIds: List<String>? = null
 
+    // Idle-revert timer. Armed when playback is paused/stopped on a UPnP
+    // route; fires revertToPhoneOnIdle after IDLE_REVERT_MS of continuous
+    // non-playing. Cancelled on resume, route change, or explicit disconnect.
+    // See idleRevertAction for the arm/cancel decision.
+    private var idleRevertJob: Job? = null
+
     init {
         // Two-arg addCallback registers with no discovery flag —
         // androidx.mediarouter 1.7.0's default passive behavior:
@@ -155,7 +164,8 @@ class OutputPickerController @Inject constructor(
         // CALLBACK_FLAG_PASSIVE_DISCOVERY constant; absent flag = passive.)
         mediaRouter.addCallback(selector, callback)
         // When MinstrelForwardingPlayer reports the active UPnP route has
-        // dropped (3+ consecutive poll failures or a transport SOAP exception),
+        // dropped (the poll loop's consecutive-failure threshold tripping --
+        // the sole drop arbiter; a failed transport command no longer drops),
         // clear the UPnP selection state and fall back to local ExoPlayer at
         // the last-known remote position. This mirrors selectSystem's disconnect
         // path but skips the Stop SOAP since the device is already unreachable.
@@ -163,6 +173,79 @@ class OutputPickerController @Inject constructor(
             playerFactory.dropEvents.collect { handleRemoteDrop() }
         }
         scope.launch { observeQueueChangesForSonosResync() }
+        scope.launch { observeIdleRevertWhileUpnp() }
+        scope.launch { observeSelectedRouteDisappearance() }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Revert the UPnP selection to the phone when the selected renderer leaves
+     * discovery (powered off / off the LAN) while we are NOT actively casting
+     * to it. Without this the selection could pin to a ghost route, so a later
+     * "play" would target a speaker that's gone. An *active* cast is left alone
+     * -- its own poll loop arbitrates liveness and won't drop on a mere
+     * discovery gap. Routes leave discovery via [UpnpDiscoveryController]'s
+     * post-picker-scan prune; this reacts to the resulting routes change.
+     */
+    private suspend fun observeSelectedRouteDisappearance() {
+        upnpDiscovery.routes.collect { routes ->
+            val selected = selectedUpnpRouteIdInternal.value
+            val present = routes.any { it.id == selected }
+            val casting = activeUpnpHolder.active.value?.routeId == selected
+            if (selected != null && !present && !casting) {
+                Timber.w(
+                    "Output: selected UPnP route %s left discovery; reverting to phone",
+                    selected,
+                )
+                selectedUpnpRouteIdInternal.value = null
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Arm/cancel the idle-revert timer as playback state changes while a
+     * UPnP route is engaged. "Engaged" = active OR target set, so the brief
+     * selectUpnp/resync window (active momentarily null, target set) doesn't
+     * spuriously fire. The arm/cancel choice is the pure idleRevertAction.
+     */
+    private suspend fun observeIdleRevertWhileUpnp() {
+        playerController.uiState.collect { state ->
+            val engaged = activeUpnpHolder.active.value != null ||
+                activeUpnpHolder.target.value != null
+            val armed = idleRevertJob?.isActive == true
+            when (idleRevertAction(engaged, state.isPlaying, armed)) {
+                IdleRevertAction.ARM ->
+                    idleRevertJob = scope.launch {
+                        delay(IDLE_REVERT_MS)
+                        revertToPhoneOnIdle()
+                    }
+                IdleRevertAction.CANCEL -> {
+                    idleRevertJob?.cancel()
+                    idleRevertJob = null
+                }
+                IdleRevertAction.IGNORE -> Unit
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Timer fired: the operator paused on a UPnP route and never resumed.
+     * Stop the renderer (best-effort -- it's reachable, unlike a drop),
+     * clear the UPnP overlay so routesState falls back to the phone, and
+     * seek local ExoPlayer to the last remote position. No play(): the
+     * operator was paused, so we revert routing silently. Guarded by the
+     * selectUpnpMutex so it can't race selectUpnp/resync.
+     */
+    private suspend fun revertToPhoneOnIdle() = selectUpnpMutex.withLock {
+        if (remoteState.isPlaying) return@withLock // resumed at the boundary
+        val active = activeUpnpHolder.active.value
+        val capturedPositionMs = remoteState.positionMs
+        runCatching { active?.avTransport?.stop() }
+            .onFailure { Timber.w(it, "UPnP Stop failed during idle revert") }
+        activeUpnpHolder.set(null)
+        activeUpnpHolder.setTarget(null)
+        selectedUpnpRouteIdInternal.value = null
+        idleRevertJob = null
+        playerController.seekTo(capturedPositionMs)
     }
 
     /**
@@ -365,16 +448,19 @@ class OutputPickerController @Inject constructor(
     }
 
     /**
-     * Called when the active UPnP route drops unexpectedly (poll-failure
-     * threshold or SOAP exception). Captures the last remote position +
-     * play state, clears UPnP selection, and resumes local ExoPlayer at
+     * Called when the active UPnP route drops unexpectedly (the poll loop's
+     * consecutive-failure threshold tripping). Captures the last remote
+     * position + play state, clears UPnP selection, and resumes local ExoPlayer at
      * the same point. Skips the Stop SOAP (device already unreachable).
      * The snackbar is handled independently by the NowPlaying surface
      * collecting the same [PlayerFactory.dropEvents] via PlayerController.
      */
     private fun handleRemoteDrop() {
         val capturedPositionMs = remoteState.positionMs
-        val wasPlayingRemote = remoteState.isPlaying
+        // Resume on the operator's last play-intent, not the observed remote
+        // state: after a pause, isPlaying is false, but a failed play() that
+        // triggered this drop means the operator DID ask to play -- honor it.
+        val wasPlayingRemote = remoteState.lastPlayIntent
         activeUpnpHolder.set(null)
         activeUpnpHolder.setTarget(null)
         selectedUpnpRouteIdInternal.value = null
@@ -482,6 +568,13 @@ class OutputPickerController @Inject constructor(
         // local audio while we queue up Sonos.
         playerController.pause()
         selectedUpnpRouteIdInternal.value = effectiveRoute.id
+        // If the renderer is already playing this exact queue (a "stray"
+        // session we got disconnected from), attach to it in place instead of
+        // wiping + reloading -- no jarring restart, and skip/seek land on its
+        // live queue. Falls through to the clear+reload path when it isn't ours.
+        if (tryAdoptRunningSession(transport, rendering, effectiveRoute, uiState.queue)) {
+            return@withLock
+        }
         // Mark UPnP loading. ForwardingPlayer overrides drop transport commands
         // silently while target is set but active is null -- the user's premature
         // taps don't hit Sonos's stale state from a prior session.
@@ -497,6 +590,9 @@ class OutputPickerController @Inject constructor(
                     rendering = rendering,
                 ),
             )
+            // Selecting a route loads the queue and Plays on the renderer, so
+            // the standing intent is "play" -- a later drop should resume local.
+            remoteState.setPlayIntent(true)
         }.onFailure { e ->
             Timber.w(e, "UPnP select failed for route ${effectiveRoute.id}")
             activeUpnpHolder.set(null)
@@ -505,6 +601,102 @@ class OutputPickerController @Inject constructor(
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * The renderer's current position + transport state, validated as an
+     * adoptable continuation of our local queue: same track id at the same
+     * 1-based index. Null means "not ours / not playing" -> caller reloads.
+     */
+    private data class AdoptPlan(
+        val localIndex: Int,
+        val positionMs: Long,
+        val durationMs: Long,
+        val trackUri: String,
+        val trackNumber: Int,
+        val playing: Boolean,
+    )
+
+    /**
+     * Attach to a renderer that is *already* playing our queue (a session the
+     * phone got disconnected from but the speaker kept streaming) instead of
+     * clearing + reloading it. Probes the renderer's live state, and if it's
+     * mid-playback on the same track id at the same queue index, syncs the
+     * local cursor to match and wires [ActiveUpnpHolder] -- the speaker never
+     * skips a beat, and skip/seek now drive its live queue. Returns false (and
+     * the caller does the full clear+reload) when the renderer isn't playing
+     * our queue. The local player is already paused by the caller.
+     */
+    private suspend fun tryAdoptRunningSession(
+        transport: AVTransportClient,
+        rendering: RenderingControlClient?,
+        route: OutputRoute,
+        localQueue: List<TrackRef>,
+    ): Boolean {
+        val plan = probeAdoptable(transport, route, localQueue) ?: return false
+        Timber.w(
+            "UPnP adopt: attaching to live session on %s at track %d (%dms)",
+            route.name, plan.trackNumber, plan.positionMs,
+        )
+        // active is still null here, so this aligns the *local* cursor without
+        // emitting SOAP; the holder.set below then starts the poll loop, which
+        // reconciles to the renderer's advancing position from here.
+        playerController.moveCursorTo(plan.localIndex, plan.positionMs)
+        remoteState.applyPositionInfo(
+            positionMs = plan.positionMs,
+            durationMs = plan.durationMs,
+            trackUri = plan.trackUri,
+            trackNumber = plan.trackNumber,
+        )
+        remoteState.setPlayIntent(plan.playing)
+        activeUpnpHolder.set(
+            ActiveUpnp(
+                routeId = route.id,
+                routeName = route.name,
+                avTransport = transport,
+                rendering = rendering,
+            ),
+        )
+        return true
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun probeAdoptable(
+        transport: AVTransportClient,
+        route: OutputRoute,
+        localQueue: List<TrackRef>,
+    ): AdoptPlan? {
+        val probe = runCatching {
+            transport.getTransportInfo() to transport.getPositionInfo()
+        }.getOrElse {
+            Timber.w(it, "UPnP adopt: probe failed for %s; will reload", route.name)
+            return null
+        }
+        val (info, pos) = probe
+        val idx0 = pos.track - 1
+        val playingId = trackIdFromStreamUrl(pos.trackUri)
+        val midPlayback =
+            info.state == TransportState.PLAYING || info.state == TransportState.PAUSED
+        val aligned = midPlayback && playingId != null &&
+            idx0 in localQueue.indices && localQueue[idx0].id == playingId
+        return if (aligned) {
+            AdoptPlan(
+                localIndex = idx0,
+                positionMs = pos.relTimeMs,
+                durationMs = pos.trackDurationMs,
+                trackUri = pos.trackUri,
+                trackNumber = pos.track,
+                playing = info.state == TransportState.PLAYING,
+            )
+        } else {
+            null
+        }
+    }
+
+    /** Extract our track id from a stream URL `.../api/tracks/<id>/stream...`. */
+    private fun trackIdFromStreamUrl(url: String): String? {
+        val segments = url.toHttpUrlOrNull()?.pathSegments ?: return null
+        val i = segments.indexOf("tracks")
+        return if (i >= 0) segments.getOrNull(i + 1) else null
+    }
+
     private suspend fun loadQueueOnSonos(
         transport: AVTransportClient,
         route: OutputRoute,
@@ -640,5 +832,10 @@ class OutputPickerController @Inject constructor(
     private companion object {
         const val EXTEND_ABORT_AFTER_FAILURES = 3
         const val EXTEND_THROTTLE_MS = 50L
+
+        // 5 minutes of continuous non-playing on a UPnP route before we
+        // revert to the phone speaker, so a stale Sonos selection can't make
+        // a later "tap play" do nothing.
+        const val IDLE_REVERT_MS = 5 * 60 * 1000L
     }
 }

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/player/output/OutputPickerSheet.kt

@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ private fun RouteRow(
                     maxLines = 2,
                     overflow = TextOverflow.Ellipsis,
                 )
-                val subtitle = route.description ?: defaultSubtitle(route)
+                val subtitle = route.description ?: defaultSubtitle(route, isSelected)
                 Text(
                     text = subtitle,
                     style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodySmall,
@@ -198,10 +198,13 @@ private fun MulticastHintRow() {
     }
 }
 
-private fun defaultSubtitle(route: OutputRoute): String = when (route.kind) {
+// isSelected (route == the active/selected route) drives the Bluetooth
+// "Connected" subtitle. RouteInfo.connectionState can't — it stays
+// DISCONNECTED for local SYSTEM routes even when they're in use.
+private fun defaultSubtitle(route: OutputRoute, isSelected: Boolean): String = when (route.kind) {
     OutputRoute.Kind.BuiltIn -> "Phone speaker"
     OutputRoute.Kind.Wired -> "Wired"
-    OutputRoute.Kind.Bluetooth -> if (route.isConnected) "Connected" else "Available"
+    OutputRoute.Kind.Bluetooth -> if (isSelected) "Connected" else "Available"
     OutputRoute.Kind.Cast -> "Cast"
     OutputRoute.Kind.Other -> "Available"
 }

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/player/output/OutputRoute.kt

@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ data class OutputRoute(
     val description: String?,
     val kind: Kind,
     val protocol: Protocol,
-    val isConnected: Boolean,
 ) {
     enum class Kind { BuiltIn, Wired, Bluetooth, Cast, Other }
 
@@ -43,9 +42,11 @@ data class OutputRoute(
         /**
          * Lift a MediaRouter [route] into the domain model. Kind is
          * inferred from [MediaRouter.RouteInfo.getDeviceType]; unknown
-         * device types fall through to [Kind.Other]. The
-         * `connectionState` proxy is good enough for the chip's
-         * "Connected"/"Available" subtitle.
+         * device types fall through to [Kind.Other]. "Active" is NOT an
+         * intrinsic of the route — the caller derives it by comparing to
+         * the selected route (RouteSnapshot.current), because
+         * RouteInfo.connectionState only reflects remote-route handshakes
+         * and stays DISCONNECTED for local SYSTEM routes even when in use.
          */
         fun fromRouteInfo(route: MediaRouter.RouteInfo): OutputRoute {
             val kind = when (route.deviceType) {
@@ -58,15 +59,12 @@ data class OutputRoute(
                 MediaRouter.RouteInfo.DEVICE_TYPE_SPEAKER -> Kind.Other
                 else -> Kind.Other
             }
-            val connected =
-                route.connectionState == MediaRouter.RouteInfo.CONNECTION_STATE_CONNECTED
             return OutputRoute(
                 id = route.id,
                 name = route.name,
                 description = route.description,
                 kind = kind,
                 protocol = Protocol.SYSTEM,
-                isConnected = connected,
             )
         }
 
@@ -76,10 +74,10 @@ data class OutputRoute(
          * network speakers into the same `OutputPickerController`
          * routes stream the system routes come through.
          *
-         * `isConnected = false` because UPnP devices have no
-         * MediaRouter connection-state concept — they're always
-         * "available" on the LAN, and the picker's selected-route
-         * rendering handles the "currently playing" indicator.
+         * UPnP devices have no MediaRouter connection-state concept —
+         * they're always "available" on the LAN, and the picker's
+         * selected-route rendering handles the "currently playing"
+         * indicator.
          *
          * Subtitle is `manufacturer modelName` joined by a single
          * space, falling back to "Network speaker" when both fields
@@ -96,7 +94,6 @@ data class OutputRoute(
                 description = description,
                 kind = Kind.Other,
                 protocol = Protocol.UPNP,
-                isConnected = false,
             )
         }
     }

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/player/output/upnp/UpnpDiscoveryController.kt

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.output.upnp.sonos.ZoneGroupTopologyClient
 import dagger.hilt.android.qualifiers.ApplicationContext
 import kotlinx.coroutines.CoroutineScope
 import kotlinx.coroutines.Dispatchers
+import kotlinx.coroutines.delay
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.MutableStateFlow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.StateFlow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.asStateFlow
@@ -17,6 +18,8 @@ import okhttp3.HttpUrl.Companion.toHttpUrlOrNull
 import okhttp3.OkHttpClient
 import okhttp3.Request
 import timber.log.Timber
+import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentHashMap
+import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit
 import javax.inject.Inject
 import javax.inject.Singleton
 
@@ -45,9 +48,24 @@ class UpnpDiscoveryController @Inject constructor(
 ) {
     private val ssdp = SsdpDiscovery(context)
 
+    // Transport commands (play/pause/seek/next) and the 1 Hz poll go through
+    // this client. A dead renderer should fail fast so OutputPickerController's
+    // drop-recovery reverts to the phone in ~2 s instead of the shared client's
+    // 10 s connect timeout. Derived via newBuilder() so the connection pool +
+    // dispatcher stay shared with the app client.
+    private val controlHttp: OkHttpClient = okHttp.newBuilder()
+        .connectTimeout(CONTROL_CONNECT_TIMEOUT_SECONDS, TimeUnit.SECONDS)
+        .build()
+
     private val routesInternal = MutableStateFlow<List<UpnpRoute>>(emptyList())
     val routes: StateFlow<List<UpnpRoute>> = routesInternal.asStateFlow()
 
+    // Wall-clock of the last NOTIFY / M-SEARCH response per route id. Drives
+    // post-active-scan pruning so a powered-off renderer leaves the picker
+    // (and can't pin a stale selection) instead of lingering for the process
+    // lifetime -- upsert only ever added before.
+    private val lastSeenMs = ConcurrentHashMap<String, Long>()
+
     private val sonosTopologyInternal = MutableStateFlow<List<SonosZoneGroup>>(emptyList())
     val sonosTopology: StateFlow<List<SonosZoneGroup>> = sonosTopologyInternal.asStateFlow()
 
@@ -68,7 +86,31 @@ class UpnpDiscoveryController @Inject constructor(
      * that just opened).
      */
     fun upgradeDiscovery() {
-        appScope.launch { ssdp.requestActiveScan() }
+        appScope.launch {
+            val scanStartMs = System.currentTimeMillis()
+            ssdp.requestActiveScan()
+            // Give present devices time to answer the M-SEARCH (+ our follow-up
+            // description fetch), then drop any route that didn't re-announce.
+            // Pruning is tied to picker-open scans only -- no background timer,
+            // so route rows never flicker while the user isn't looking.
+            delay(ACTIVE_SCAN_PRUNE_DELAY_MS)
+            pruneRoutesNotSeenSince(scanStartMs)
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Drop routes whose last NOTIFY / M-SEARCH response predates [cutoffMs]
+     * -- i.e. they didn't answer the active scan that just ran, so they're
+     * gone from the LAN. Called only after [upgradeDiscovery]'s scan window.
+     */
+    private fun pruneRoutesNotSeenSince(cutoffMs: Long) {
+        val before = routesInternal.value
+        val survivors = before.filter { (lastSeenMs[it.id] ?: 0L) >= cutoffMs }
+        if (survivors.size == before.size) return
+        val removed = before.filterNot { it in survivors }.map { it.id }
+        removed.forEach { lastSeenMs.remove(it) }
+        Timber.w("UPnP discovery: pruned %d stale route(s): %s", removed.size, removed)
+        routesInternal.value = survivors
     }
 
     /**
@@ -91,7 +133,7 @@ class UpnpDiscoveryController @Inject constructor(
     fun transportFor(routeId: String): AVTransportClient? {
         val route = routesInternal.value.firstOrNull { it.id == routeId } ?: return null
         return AVTransportClient(
-            loggingSoapClient(okHttp, route.name),
+            loggingSoapClient(controlHttp, route.name),
             route.avTransportControlUrl,
         )
     }
@@ -105,6 +147,7 @@ class UpnpDiscoveryController @Inject constructor(
     }
 
     private fun upsertRoute(route: UpnpRoute) {
+        lastSeenMs[route.id] = System.currentTimeMillis()
         val current = routesInternal.value
         val idx = current.indexOfFirst { it.id == route.id }
         routesInternal.value = if (idx < 0) {
@@ -225,6 +268,16 @@ class UpnpDiscoveryController @Inject constructor(
         // devices append. Anchored to end-of-string so it never eats
         // a legitimate parenthetical inside a name.
         val IP_SUFFIX_REGEX = Regex("""\s*\(\d+\.\d+\.\d+\.\d+\)$""")
+
+        // Aggressive connect timeout for transport SOAP so a dead renderer
+        // trips the drop-recovery quickly. Conservative enough not to false-drop
+        // a slow-but-alive LAN; read timeout still inherits the shared client.
+        const val CONTROL_CONNECT_TIMEOUT_SECONDS = 2L
+
+        // Grace window after an M-SEARCH burst before pruning non-responders.
+        // Covers the SSDP round-trip plus our per-device description fetch;
+        // generous enough that a present-but-slow renderer isn't false-pruned.
+        const val ACTIVE_SCAN_PRUNE_DELAY_MS = 4_000L
     }
 }
 

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/player/ui/PlayerViewModel.kt

@@ -1,11 +1,16 @@
 package com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.ui
 
 import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
+import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.likes.data.LikesRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.PlayerController
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.PlayerUiState
 import dagger.hilt.android.lifecycle.HiltViewModel
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.SharedFlow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.SharingStarted
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.StateFlow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.stateIn
+import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
 import javax.inject.Inject
 
 /**
@@ -20,13 +25,29 @@ import javax.inject.Inject
  * stub-test for ViewModel-level logic when it grows).
  */
 @HiltViewModel
+@Suppress("TooManyFunctions") // Thin transport facade — each fun forwards to PlayerController.
 class PlayerViewModel @Inject constructor(
     private val controller: PlayerController,
+    private val likes: LikesRepository,
 ) : ViewModel() {
 
     val uiState: StateFlow<PlayerUiState> = controller.uiState
     val dropEvents: SharedFlow<String> = controller.dropEvents
 
+    /**
+     * Reactive set of liked track ids — the set-based pattern the queue
+     * (and playlist/album/artist detail) uses to color each row's
+     * [com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.LikeButton] without a
+     * per-row Flow subscription.
+     */
+    val likedTrackIds: StateFlow<Set<String>> =
+        likes.observeLikedTrackIds()
+            .stateIn(
+                scope = viewModelScope,
+                started = SharingStarted.WhileSubscribed(SHARE_STOP_TIMEOUT_MS),
+                initialValue = emptySet(),
+            )
+
     fun play() = controller.play()
     fun pause() = controller.pause()
     fun seekTo(positionMs: Long) = controller.seekTo(positionMs)
@@ -35,4 +56,16 @@ class PlayerViewModel @Inject constructor(
     fun seekToIndex(index: Int) = controller.seekToIndex(index)
     fun toggleShuffle() = controller.toggleShuffle()
     fun cycleRepeat() = controller.cycleRepeat()
+    fun moveInQueue(from: Int, to: Int) = controller.moveInQueue(from, to)
+    fun removeFromQueue(index: Int) = controller.removeFromQueue(index)
+    fun clearQueue() = controller.clearQueue()
+
+    fun toggleLikeTrack(trackId: String) {
+        val desired = trackId !in likedTrackIds.value
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            likes.toggleLike(LikesRepository.ENTITY_TRACK, trackId, desired)
+        }
+    }
 }
+
+private const val SHARE_STOP_TIMEOUT_MS = 5_000L

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/player/ui/QueueScreen.kt

@@ -1,17 +1,25 @@
 package com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.ui
 
+import androidx.compose.animation.AnimatedVisibility
 import androidx.compose.foundation.background
 import androidx.compose.foundation.clickable
+import androidx.compose.foundation.gestures.detectDragGestures
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Arrangement
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Box
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Column
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Row
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.Spacer
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.fillMaxSize
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.fillMaxWidth
 import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.padding
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.size
+import androidx.compose.foundation.layout.width
 import androidx.compose.foundation.lazy.LazyColumn
 import androidx.compose.foundation.lazy.itemsIndexed
+import androidx.compose.foundation.lazy.rememberLazyListState
+import androidx.compose.foundation.shape.RoundedCornerShape
 import androidx.compose.material3.ExperimentalMaterial3Api
+import androidx.compose.material3.FilledTonalButton
 import androidx.compose.material3.HorizontalDivider
 import androidx.compose.material3.Icon
 import androidx.compose.material3.IconButton
@@ -20,22 +28,43 @@ import androidx.compose.material3.Scaffold
 import androidx.compose.material3.Text
 import androidx.compose.material3.TopAppBar
 import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
+import androidx.compose.runtime.LaunchedEffect
+import androidx.compose.runtime.derivedStateOf
 import androidx.compose.runtime.getValue
+import androidx.compose.runtime.mutableFloatStateOf
+import androidx.compose.runtime.mutableIntStateOf
+import androidx.compose.runtime.remember
+import androidx.compose.runtime.rememberCoroutineScope
+import androidx.compose.runtime.setValue
 import androidx.compose.ui.Alignment
 import androidx.compose.ui.Modifier
+import androidx.compose.ui.draw.clip
 import androidx.compose.ui.graphics.Color
+import androidx.compose.ui.graphics.graphicsLayer
+import androidx.compose.ui.input.pointer.pointerInput
+import androidx.compose.ui.layout.onSizeChanged
 import androidx.compose.ui.text.font.FontWeight
 import androidx.compose.ui.text.style.TextOverflow
 import androidx.compose.ui.unit.dp
+import androidx.compose.ui.zIndex
 import androidx.hilt.navigation.compose.hiltViewModel
 import androidx.lifecycle.compose.collectAsStateWithLifecycle
 import androidx.navigation.NavHostController
+import com.composables.icons.lucide.ArrowDown
 import com.composables.icons.lucide.ArrowLeft
+import com.composables.icons.lucide.GripVertical
 import com.composables.icons.lucide.Lucide
+import com.composables.icons.lucide.Music
+import com.composables.icons.lucide.Trash2
 import com.composables.icons.lucide.Volume2
+import com.composables.icons.lucide.X
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.TrackRef
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.formatDuration
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.EmptyState
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.LikeButton
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.ServerImage
+import kotlin.math.roundToInt
+import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
 
 @OptIn(ExperimentalMaterial3Api::class)
 @Composable
@@ -44,16 +73,35 @@ fun QueueScreen(
     viewModel: PlayerViewModel = hiltViewModel(),
 ) {
     val state by viewModel.uiState.collectAsStateWithLifecycle()
+    val likedTrackIds by viewModel.likedTrackIds.collectAsStateWithLifecycle()
     Scaffold(
         modifier = Modifier.fillMaxSize(),
         topBar = {
             TopAppBar(
-                title = { Text("Queue") },
+                title = {
+                    Column {
+                        Text("Queue")
+                        if (state.queue.isNotEmpty()) {
+                            Text(
+                                text = queueSummary(state.queue),
+                                style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodySmall,
+                                color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onSurfaceVariant,
+                            )
+                        }
+                    }
+                },
                 navigationIcon = {
                     IconButton(onClick = { navController.popBackStack() }) {
                         Icon(Lucide.ArrowLeft, contentDescription = "Back")
                     }
                 },
+                actions = {
+                    if (state.queue.isNotEmpty()) {
+                        IconButton(onClick = viewModel::clearQueue) {
+                            Icon(Lucide.Trash2, contentDescription = "Clear queue")
+                        }
+                    }
+                },
             )
         },
     ) { inner ->
@@ -67,33 +115,109 @@ fun QueueScreen(
                 QueueList(
                     tracks = state.queue,
                     currentIndex = state.queueIndex,
+                    likedTrackIds = likedTrackIds,
                     onJumpTo = viewModel::seekToIndex,
+                    onToggleLike = viewModel::toggleLikeTrack,
+                    onMove = viewModel::moveInQueue,
+                    onRemove = viewModel::removeFromQueue,
                 )
             }
         }
     }
 }
 
+@Suppress("LongParameterList") // Compose list wiring — layout + queue callbacks, not logic.
 @Composable
 private fun QueueList(
     tracks: List<TrackRef>,
     currentIndex: Int,
+    likedTrackIds: Set<String>,
     onJumpTo: (Int) -> Unit,
+    onToggleLike: (String) -> Unit,
+    onMove: (Int, Int) -> Unit,
+    onRemove: (Int) -> Unit,
 ) {
-    LazyColumn(modifier = Modifier.fillMaxSize()) {
-        itemsIndexed(items = tracks, key = { _, track -> track.id }) { index, track ->
-            QueueRow(
-                track = track,
-                isCurrent = index == currentIndex,
-                onClick = { onJumpTo(index) },
-            )
-            HorizontalDivider()
+    val listState = rememberLazyListState(
+        initialFirstVisibleItemIndex = currentIndex.coerceIn(0, tracks.lastIndex),
+    )
+    val scope = rememberCoroutineScope()
+
+    // Follow the now-playing row as the track auto-advances, but only while it's
+    // near the visible window — if the user has scrolled away to browse, leave
+    // them there (the pill offers the way back). Parity with the web queue.
+    LaunchedEffect(currentIndex) {
+        if (currentIndex < 0) return@LaunchedEffect
+        val visible = listState.layoutInfo.visibleItemsInfo
+        val first = visible.firstOrNull()?.index ?: 0
+        val last = visible.lastOrNull()?.index ?: 0
+        if (currentIndex in (first - 1)..(last + 1)) {
+            listState.animateScrollToItem(currentIndex)
         }
     }
+
+    val currentVisible by remember {
+        derivedStateOf {
+            listState.layoutInfo.visibleItemsInfo.any { it.index == currentIndex }
+        }
+    }
+
+    Box(modifier = Modifier.fillMaxSize()) {
+        LazyColumn(state = listState, modifier = Modifier.fillMaxSize()) {
+            itemsIndexed(items = tracks, key = { _, track -> track.id }) { index, track ->
+                QueueRow(
+                    track = track,
+                    index = index,
+                    queueSize = tracks.size,
+                    isCurrent = index == currentIndex,
+                    liked = track.id in likedTrackIds,
+                    onClick = { onJumpTo(index) },
+                    onToggleLike = { onToggleLike(track.id) },
+                    onRemove = { onRemove(index) },
+                    onMove = onMove,
+                )
+                HorizontalDivider()
+            }
+        }
+        JumpToCurrentPill(
+            visible = currentIndex >= 0 && !currentVisible,
+            onClick = {
+                scope.launch { listState.animateScrollToItem(currentIndex.coerceAtLeast(0)) }
+            },
+            modifier = Modifier.align(Alignment.BottomCenter).padding(bottom = 16.dp),
+        )
+    }
 }
 
 @Composable
-private fun QueueRow(track: TrackRef, isCurrent: Boolean, onClick: () -> Unit) {
+private fun JumpToCurrentPill(
+    visible: Boolean,
+    onClick: () -> Unit,
+    modifier: Modifier = Modifier,
+) {
+    AnimatedVisibility(visible = visible, modifier = modifier) {
+        FilledTonalButton(onClick = onClick) {
+            Icon(Lucide.ArrowDown, contentDescription = null, modifier = Modifier.size(18.dp))
+            Spacer(modifier = Modifier.width(6.dp))
+            Text("Jump to current")
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+@Suppress("LongParameterList") // Compose row wiring — layout + queue callbacks, not logic.
+@Composable
+private fun QueueRow(
+    track: TrackRef,
+    index: Int,
+    queueSize: Int,
+    isCurrent: Boolean,
+    liked: Boolean,
+    onClick: () -> Unit,
+    onToggleLike: () -> Unit,
+    onRemove: () -> Unit,
+    onMove: (Int, Int) -> Unit,
+) {
+    var dragOffsetY by remember { mutableFloatStateOf(0f) }
+    var rowHeightPx by remember { mutableIntStateOf(0) }
     val highlight = if (isCurrent) {
         MaterialTheme.colorScheme.primary.copy(alpha = HIGHLIGHT_ALPHA)
     } else {
@@ -102,12 +226,23 @@ private fun QueueRow(track: TrackRef, isCurrent: Boolean, onClick: () -> Unit) {
     Row(
         modifier = Modifier
             .fillMaxWidth()
+            .onSizeChanged { rowHeightPx = it.height }
+            .zIndex(if (dragOffsetY != 0f) 1f else 0f)
+            .graphicsLayer { translationY = dragOffsetY }
             .background(highlight)
             .clickable(onClick = onClick)
             .padding(horizontal = 16.dp, vertical = 12.dp),
         verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically,
         horizontalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(12.dp),
     ) {
+        DragHandle(
+            index = index,
+            queueSize = queueSize,
+            rowHeightPx = rowHeightPx,
+            onOffsetChange = { dragOffsetY = it },
+            onMove = onMove,
+        )
+        QueueRowThumbnail(track = track)
         if (isCurrent) {
             Icon(
                 Lucide.Volume2,
@@ -115,26 +250,7 @@ private fun QueueRow(track: TrackRef, isCurrent: Boolean, onClick: () -> Unit) {
                 tint = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.primary,
             )
         }
-        Column(modifier = Modifier.weight(1f)) {
-            Text(
-                text = track.title,
-                style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodyLarge,
-                color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onSurface,
-                fontWeight = if (isCurrent) FontWeight.Medium else FontWeight.Normal,
-                maxLines = 1,
-                overflow = TextOverflow.Ellipsis,
-            )
-            val subtitle = queueSubtitle(track)
-            if (subtitle.isNotEmpty()) {
-                Text(
-                    text = subtitle,
-                    style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodySmall,
-                    color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onSurfaceVariant,
-                    maxLines = 1,
-                    overflow = TextOverflow.Ellipsis,
-                )
-            }
-        }
+        QueueRowText(track = track, isCurrent = isCurrent, modifier = Modifier.weight(1f))
         if (track.durationSec > 0) {
             Text(
                 text = formatDuration(track.durationSec),
@@ -142,6 +258,95 @@ private fun QueueRow(track: TrackRef, isCurrent: Boolean, onClick: () -> Unit) {
                 color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onSurfaceVariant,
             )
         }
+        LikeButton(liked = liked, onToggle = onToggleLike)
+        IconButton(onClick = onRemove) {
+            Icon(Lucide.X, contentDescription = "Remove from queue")
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+@Composable
+private fun DragHandle(
+    index: Int,
+    queueSize: Int,
+    rowHeightPx: Int,
+    onOffsetChange: (Float) -> Unit,
+    onMove: (Int, Int) -> Unit,
+) {
+    // Mirrors the web queue: the row follows the finger during a drag, then on
+    // release we translate the accumulated offset into a row delta and reorder.
+    var offset by remember { mutableFloatStateOf(0f) }
+    Icon(
+        Lucide.GripVertical,
+        contentDescription = "Reorder track",
+        tint = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onSurfaceVariant,
+        modifier = Modifier.pointerInput(index, queueSize, rowHeightPx) {
+            detectDragGestures(
+                onDrag = { change, dragAmount ->
+                    change.consume()
+                    offset += dragAmount.y
+                    onOffsetChange(offset)
+                },
+                onDragEnd = {
+                    val delta = if (rowHeightPx > 0) (offset / rowHeightPx).roundToInt() else 0
+                    val target = (index + delta).coerceIn(0, queueSize - 1)
+                    if (target != index) onMove(index, target)
+                    offset = 0f
+                    onOffsetChange(0f)
+                },
+                onDragCancel = {
+                    offset = 0f
+                    onOffsetChange(0f)
+                },
+            )
+        },
+    )
+}
+
+@Composable
+private fun QueueRowThumbnail(track: TrackRef) {
+    Box(
+        modifier = Modifier
+            .size(48.dp)
+            .clip(RoundedCornerShape(4.dp))
+            .background(MaterialTheme.colorScheme.surfaceVariant),
+        contentAlignment = Alignment.Center,
+    ) {
+        ServerImage(
+            url = track.coverUrl,
+            contentDescription = null,
+            modifier = Modifier.size(48.dp),
+        ) {
+            Icon(
+                Lucide.Music,
+                contentDescription = null,
+                tint = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onSurfaceVariant,
+            )
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+@Composable
+private fun QueueRowText(track: TrackRef, isCurrent: Boolean, modifier: Modifier = Modifier) {
+    Column(modifier = modifier) {
+        Text(
+            text = track.title,
+            style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodyLarge,
+            color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onSurface,
+            fontWeight = if (isCurrent) FontWeight.Medium else FontWeight.Normal,
+            maxLines = 1,
+            overflow = TextOverflow.Ellipsis,
+        )
+        val subtitle = queueSubtitle(track)
+        if (subtitle.isNotEmpty()) {
+            Text(
+                text = subtitle,
+                style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodySmall,
+                color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onSurfaceVariant,
+                maxLines = 1,
+                overflow = TextOverflow.Ellipsis,
+            )
+        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -150,4 +355,18 @@ private fun queueSubtitle(track: TrackRef): String = listOf(track.artistName, tr
     .filter { it.isNotEmpty() }
     .joinToString(" · ")
 
+/** "N tracks · 12 min" header summary. */
+private fun queueSummary(tracks: List<TrackRef>): String {
+    val minutes = tracks.sumOf { it.durationSec } / SECONDS_PER_MINUTE
+    val length = if (minutes >= MINUTES_PER_HOUR) {
+        "${minutes / MINUTES_PER_HOUR}h ${minutes % MINUTES_PER_HOUR}m"
+    } else {
+        "$minutes min"
+    }
+    val noun = if (tracks.size == 1) "track" else "tracks"
+    return "${tracks.size} $noun · $length"
+}
+
 private const val HIGHLIGHT_ALPHA = 0.12f
+private const val SECONDS_PER_MINUTE = 60
+private const val MINUTES_PER_HOUR = 60

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/playlists/data/PlaylistsRepository.kt

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import retrofit2.HttpException
 import java.net.HttpURLConnection
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.CachedPlaylistDao
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.CachedPlaylistTrackDao
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.PlaylistCachedCount
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.entities.CachedPlaylistEntity
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.entities.CachedPlaylistTrackEntity
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.mutations.MutationQueue
@@ -18,6 +19,7 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.wire.PlaylistTrackWire
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.wire.PlaylistWire
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.resolveServerUrl
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.Flow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.combine
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.map
 import retrofit2.Retrofit
 import retrofit2.create
@@ -51,9 +53,16 @@ class PlaylistsRepository @Inject constructor(
 
     // ── Reads (Flow, cache-first; the cache is the source of truth) ──
 
-    /** Owned + public; UI splits by isSystem / userId comparison. */
+    /**
+     * Owned + public; UI splits by isSystem / userId comparison. Joined with
+     * per-playlist cache counts so [PlaylistRef.fullyCached] drives the offline
+     * greying without each consumer re-querying the cache index.
+     */
     fun observeAll(): Flow<List<PlaylistRef>> =
-        playlistDao.observeAll().map { rows -> rows.map { it.toDomain() } }
+        combine(
+            playlistDao.observeAll(),
+            playlistDao.observeCachedCounts(),
+        ) { rows, counts -> mergePlaylistsWithCache(rows, counts) }
 
     /** User-owned playlists only (systemVariant IS NULL). */
     fun observeUserPlaylists(): Flow<List<PlaylistRef>> =
@@ -233,6 +242,23 @@ fun List<PlaylistTrackRef>.toPlayableTrackRefs(): List<TrackRef> =
 
 // ── Mappers (internal — keep Room + wire types out of the UI layer) ──
 
+/**
+ * Maps cached playlist rows to domain refs, stamping [PlaylistRef.fullyCached]
+ * from the cache-index counts. A playlist is fully cached when it has tracks
+ * and every member track is resident (`cachedCount >= trackCount`). Pulled out
+ * of the Flow so the predicate is unit-testable without a Room database.
+ */
+internal fun mergePlaylistsWithCache(
+    rows: List<CachedPlaylistEntity>,
+    counts: List<PlaylistCachedCount>,
+): List<PlaylistRef> {
+    val cachedById = counts.associate { it.playlistId to it.cachedCount }
+    return rows.map { row ->
+        val cached = cachedById[row.id] ?: 0
+        row.toDomain().copy(fullyCached = row.trackCount > 0 && cached >= row.trackCount)
+    }
+}
+
 private fun CachedPlaylistEntity.toDomain(): PlaylistRef =
     PlaylistRef(
         id = id,

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/playlists/ui/PlaylistDetailScreen.kt

@@ -28,15 +28,17 @@ import androidx.compose.material3.IconButton
 import androidx.compose.material3.MaterialTheme
 import androidx.compose.material3.OutlinedButton
 import androidx.compose.material3.Scaffold
+import androidx.compose.material3.SnackbarDuration
+import androidx.compose.material3.SnackbarHost
+import androidx.compose.material3.SnackbarHostState
+import androidx.compose.material3.SnackbarResult
 import androidx.compose.material3.Text
 import androidx.compose.material3.TopAppBar
 import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
 import androidx.compose.runtime.LaunchedEffect
 import androidx.compose.runtime.collectAsState
 import androidx.compose.runtime.getValue
-import androidx.compose.runtime.mutableStateOf
 import androidx.compose.runtime.remember
-import androidx.compose.runtime.setValue
 import androidx.compose.ui.Alignment
 import androidx.compose.ui.Modifier
 import androidx.compose.ui.draw.clip
@@ -56,6 +58,8 @@ import com.composables.icons.lucide.Play
 import com.composables.icons.lucide.RefreshCw
 import com.composables.icons.lucide.Shuffle
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.recoveries
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.events.EventsStream
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.events.LiveEvent
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.PlaylistRef
@@ -72,6 +76,7 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.playlists.data.PlaylistsRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.playlists.data.toPlayableTrackRefs
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.formatDuration
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.TrackRow
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.ErrorRetry
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.LikeButton
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.PullToRefreshScaffold
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.SkeletonTrackRow
@@ -113,6 +118,7 @@ class PlaylistDetailViewModel @Inject constructor(
     private val player: PlayerController,
     private val eventsStream: EventsStream,
     private val seedCache: DetailSeedCache,
+    networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
     savedStateHandle: SavedStateHandle,
 ) : ViewModel() {
 
@@ -139,6 +145,15 @@ class PlaylistDetailViewModel @Inject constructor(
     private val regeneratedChannel = Channel<String>(Channel.BUFFERED)
     val regenerated: Flow<String> = regeneratedChannel.receiveAsFlow()
 
+    /**
+     * #980: a system-playlist rebuild landed (SSE) while this screen is open —
+     * its list is now stale and the uuid has rotated. Drives a "this mix was
+     * refreshed → Refresh" snackbar rather than yanking the user; Refresh
+     * re-resolves the variant via [reloadRebuilt].
+     */
+    private val staleInternal = MutableStateFlow(false)
+    val stale: StateFlow<Boolean> = staleInternal.asStateFlow()
+
     val likedTrackIds: StateFlow<Set<String>> =
         likes.observeLikedTrackIds()
             .stateIn(
@@ -154,6 +169,14 @@ class PlaylistDetailViewModel @Inject constructor(
                 .filter { it.kind.startsWith("playlist.") }
                 .collect { handlePlaylistEvent(it) }
         }
+        // Screen-level auto-recovery (issue #1245): a detail that failed to
+        // load while the server was unreachable re-fetches when health
+        // returns, instead of waiting for the Retry tap.
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            networkStatus.recoveries().collect {
+                if (internal.value is PlaylistDetailUiState.Error) refresh()
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     /**
@@ -163,6 +186,12 @@ class PlaylistDetailViewModel @Inject constructor(
      * ignored — the playlists-list screen handles those.
      */
     private fun handlePlaylistEvent(event: LiveEvent) {
+        // #980: a system rebuild carries no playlist_id (it rebuilds all of the
+        // user's system mixes at once) — handle it before the per-id filter.
+        if (event.kind == "playlist.system_rebuilt") {
+            markStaleIfSystem()
+            return
+        }
         val eventPlaylistId = event.data["playlist_id"]?.jsonPrimitive?.contentOrNull
         if (eventPlaylistId != playlistId) return
         when (event.kind) {
@@ -171,6 +200,14 @@ class PlaylistDetailViewModel @Inject constructor(
         }
     }
 
+    private fun markStaleIfSystem() {
+        val playlist = (internal.value as? PlaylistDetailUiState.Success)
+            ?.detail?.playlist ?: return
+        if (playlist.systemVariant?.takeIf { playlist.refreshable } != null) {
+            staleInternal.value = true
+        }
+    }
+
     fun toggleLikeTrack(trackId: String) {
         val desired = trackId !in likedTrackIds.value
         viewModelScope.launch {
@@ -220,6 +257,30 @@ class PlaylistDetailViewModel @Inject constructor(
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * #980: user tapped Refresh on the stale-view snackbar. The rebuild
+     * already ran server-side (uuid rotated) — re-resolve the variant to the
+     * fresh playlist id and hand it to [regenerated] for navigate-replace.
+     * Unlike [regenerate] this does NOT trigger another rebuild.
+     */
+    fun reloadRebuilt() {
+        val playlist = (internal.value as? PlaylistDetailUiState.Success)
+            ?.detail?.playlist ?: return
+        val variant = playlist.systemVariant?.takeIf { playlist.refreshable } ?: return
+        staleInternal.value = false
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            runCatching { repository.systemShuffle(variant).playlist.id }
+                .onSuccess { newId ->
+                    if (newId.isNotEmpty()) regeneratedChannel.trySend(newId)
+                }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /** #980: user dismissed the stale-view snackbar without refreshing. */
+    fun dismissStale() {
+        staleInternal.value = false
+    }
+
     /** Play the available tracks starting at [startTrackId] (or first available). */
     fun play(tracks: List<PlaylistTrackRef>, startTrackId: String?) {
         val refs = tracks.toPlayableTrackRefs()
@@ -261,8 +322,25 @@ fun PlaylistDetailScreen(
             }
         }
     }
+    // #980: a rebuild landed while this system-playlist screen is open. Offer a
+    // non-intrusive "refreshed → Refresh" snackbar; Refresh re-resolves the
+    // rotated uuid (via the regenerated navigate-replace flow).
+    val snackbarHostState = remember { SnackbarHostState() }
+    val stale by viewModel.stale.collectAsState()
+    LaunchedEffect(stale) {
+        if (stale) {
+            val result = snackbarHostState.showSnackbar(
+                message = "This mix was refreshed",
+                actionLabel = "Refresh",
+                duration = SnackbarDuration.Indefinite,
+            )
+            if (result == SnackbarResult.ActionPerformed) viewModel.reloadRebuilt()
+            else viewModel.dismissStale()
+        }
+    }
     Scaffold(
         modifier = Modifier.fillMaxSize(),
+        snackbarHost = { SnackbarHost(snackbarHostState) },
         topBar = {
             TopAppBar(
                 title = { Text(currentTitle(state)) },
@@ -301,7 +379,11 @@ private fun PlaylistDetailContent(
     Crossfade(targetState = state::class, label = "playlist-detail") { _ -> when (val s = state) {
         is PlaylistDetailUiState.Loading ->
             s.seed?.let { SeededPlaylistLoading(it) } ?: SkeletonPlaylistTrackList()
-        is PlaylistDetailUiState.Error -> ErrorBlock(s.message, viewModel::refresh)
+        is PlaylistDetailUiState.Error -> ErrorRetry(
+            title = "Couldn't load playlist",
+            message = s.message,
+            onRetry = { viewModel.refresh() },
+        )
         is PlaylistDetailUiState.Success -> {
             val likedTrackIds by viewModel.likedTrackIds.collectAsState()
             val playerState by playerViewModel.uiState.collectAsState()
@@ -585,33 +667,6 @@ private fun SeededPlaylistLoading(seed: PlaylistRef) {
     }
 }
 
-@Composable
-private fun ErrorBlock(message: String, onRetry: () -> Unit) {
-    var retried by remember { mutableStateOf(false) }
-    Column(
-        modifier = Modifier
-            .fillMaxSize()
-            .padding(24.dp),
-        verticalArrangement = Arrangement.Center,
-        horizontalAlignment = Alignment.CenterHorizontally,
-    ) {
-        Text(
-            text = message,
-            color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.error,
-            style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodyLarge,
-        )
-        Spacer(Modifier.height(12.dp))
-        OutlinedButton(
-            onClick = {
-                if (!retried) {
-                    retried = true
-                    onRetry()
-                }
-            },
-        ) { Text("Retry") }
-    }
-}
-
 // ─── Helpers ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 private const val UNAVAILABLE_ALPHA = 0.4f

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/playlists/ui/PlaylistsListScreen.kt

@@ -27,7 +27,10 @@ import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
 import androidx.lifecycle.compose.collectAsStateWithLifecycle
 import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
 import androidx.navigation.NavHostController
-import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.ConnectivityObserver
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.ServerHealth
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.recoveries
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.events.EventsStream
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.PlaylistRef
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.PlaylistDetail
@@ -39,6 +42,7 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.UiState
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.asCacheFirstStateFlow
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.playlists.widgets.PlaylistCard
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.EmptyState
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.ErrorRetry
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.LoadingCentered
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.MinstrelTopAppBar
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.PullToRefreshScaffold
@@ -46,8 +50,10 @@ import dagger.hilt.android.lifecycle.HiltViewModel
 import kotlinx.coroutines.Job
 import kotlinx.coroutines.channels.Channel
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.Flow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.MutableStateFlow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.SharingStarted
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.StateFlow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.combine
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.filter
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.map
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.receiveAsFlow
@@ -66,7 +72,7 @@ class PlaylistsListViewModel @Inject constructor(
     private val repository: PlaylistsRepository,
     private val player: PlayerController,
     private val eventsStream: EventsStream,
-    connectivity: ConnectivityObserver,
+    networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
 ) : ViewModel() {
 
     private val poolMessages = Channel<String>(Channel.BUFFERED)
@@ -74,15 +80,18 @@ class PlaylistsListViewModel @Inject constructor(
     /** Transient snackbar messages from playlist tile play taps. */
     val transientMessages: Flow<String> = poolMessages.receiveAsFlow()
 
-    /** True when the device has no usable internet -- gates refreshable system tiles. */
-    val offline: StateFlow<Boolean> = connectivity.online
-        .map { !it }
+    /** Cache-only: no link OR server unreachable (Unstable stays calm). Greys tiles. */
+    val offline: StateFlow<Boolean> = networkStatus.state
+        .map { it == ServerHealth.Offline || it == ServerHealth.ServerDown }
         .stateIn(
             scope = viewModelScope,
             started = SharingStarted.WhileSubscribed(SHARE_STOP_TIMEOUT_MS),
             initialValue = false,
         )
 
+    /** Copy for the most recent list-refresh failure; null once one succeeds. */
+    private val refreshError = MutableStateFlow<String?>(null)
+
     init {
         refresh()
         // Live updates: a playlist created/updated/deleted from another
@@ -92,11 +101,18 @@ class PlaylistsListViewModel @Inject constructor(
                 .filter { it.kind.startsWith("playlist.") }
                 .collect { refresh() }
         }
+        // Screen-level auto-recovery (issue #1245): re-pull when server
+        // health returns, so a load that failed offline heals unprompted.
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            networkStatus.recoveries().collect { refresh() }
+        }
     }
 
     /** Re-pull the playlists list. Returns the Job for pull-to-refresh awaits. */
     fun refresh(): Job = viewModelScope.launch {
+        refreshError.value = null
         runCatching { repository.refreshList() }
+            .onFailure { refreshError.value = ErrorCopy.fromThrowable(it) }
     }
 
     /** Tile play button: shuffle the playlist's tracks and start at index 0. */
@@ -109,14 +125,15 @@ class PlaylistsListViewModel @Inject constructor(
     }
 
     val uiState: StateFlow<UiState<List<PlaylistRef>>> =
-        repository.observeAll()
-            .map { list ->
-                if (list.isEmpty()) {
-                    UiState.Empty
-                } else {
-                    UiState.Success(list)
-                }
+        combine(repository.observeAll(), refreshError) { list, err ->
+            when {
+                list.isNotEmpty() -> UiState.Success(list)
+                // Empty cache + failed refresh is a load failure, not "no
+                // playlists yet" — surface Error so the user gets a Retry.
+                err != null -> UiState.Error(err)
+                else -> UiState.Empty
             }
+        }
             .asCacheFirstStateFlow(viewModelScope)
 }
 
@@ -156,9 +173,10 @@ fun PlaylistsListScreen(
                         "appear once your library has enough plays. Create your " +
                         "own playlist from any album or track in the meantime.",
                 )
-                is UiState.Error -> EmptyState(
+                is UiState.Error -> ErrorRetry(
                     title = "Couldn't load playlists",
-                    body = s.message,
+                    message = s.message,
+                    onRetry = { viewModel.refresh() },
                 )
                 is UiState.Success -> PlaylistsGrid(
                     playlists = s.data,
@@ -191,14 +209,15 @@ private fun PlaylistsGrid(
                 SectionHeader("System playlists")
             }
             items(items = systemPlaylists, key = { it.id }) { playlist ->
+                // Greyed offline when it needs the live server or isn't fully
+                // cached — dimmed but still tappable into the detail.
+                val greyed = offline && playlist.unavailableOffline
                 PlaylistCard(
                     playlist = playlist,
                     onClick = { onPlaylistClick(playlist.id) },
                     onPlay = { onPlay(playlist) },
-                    // Refreshable system tiles need server endpoints (systemShuffle);
-                    // disable when offline. Empty mixes show a snackbar after tap.
-                    playEnabled = playlist.trackCount > 0 &&
-                        !(offline && playlist.refreshable),
+                    playEnabled = playlist.trackCount > 0 && !greyed,
+                    greyed = greyed,
                 )
             }
         }
@@ -207,11 +226,13 @@ private fun PlaylistsGrid(
                 SectionHeader("Your playlists")
             }
             items(items = userPlaylists, key = { it.id }) { playlist ->
+                val greyed = offline && playlist.unavailableOffline
                 PlaylistCard(
                     playlist = playlist,
                     onClick = { onPlaylistClick(playlist.id) },
                     onPlay = { onPlay(playlist) },
-                    playEnabled = playlist.trackCount > 0,
+                    playEnabled = playlist.trackCount > 0 && !greyed,
+                    greyed = greyed,
                 )
             }
         }

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/playlists/widgets/PlaylistCard.kt

@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import androidx.compose.material3.Text
 import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
 import androidx.compose.ui.Alignment
 import androidx.compose.ui.Modifier
+import androidx.compose.ui.draw.alpha
 import androidx.compose.ui.graphics.Color
 import androidx.compose.ui.text.style.TextOverflow
 import androidx.compose.ui.unit.dp
@@ -40,6 +41,10 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.theme.FabledSwordFlatTokens
  * [playEnabled] disables the overlay (50% alpha + ignore taps) — Home
  * uses it for system playlists in offline mode (their server-side
  * shuffle endpoint is unreachable) and for empty playlists.
+ *
+ * [greyed] dims the whole tile (it can't be reliably played offline) while
+ * keeping it tappable — the detail screen is the escape hatch for shuffling
+ * whatever subset is cached. Greyed always disables the play overlay too.
  */
 @Composable
 fun PlaylistCard(
@@ -48,11 +53,13 @@ fun PlaylistCard(
     modifier: Modifier = Modifier,
     onPlay: (suspend () -> Unit)? = null,
     playEnabled: Boolean = true,
+    greyed: Boolean = false,
 ) {
     val seedCache = LocalDetailSeedCache.current
     Surface(
         modifier = modifier
             .width(176.dp)
+            .alpha(if (greyed) GREYED_ALPHA else 1f) // dimmed, still clickable
             .clickable {
                 seedCache.stashPlaylist(playlist)
                 onClick()
@@ -63,7 +70,7 @@ fun PlaylistCard(
             PlaylistCardCover(
                 playlist = playlist,
                 onPlay = onPlay,
-                playEnabled = playEnabled,
+                playEnabled = playEnabled && !greyed,
             )
             Spacer(Modifier.height(8.dp))
             Text(
@@ -148,6 +155,7 @@ private fun VariantPill(label: String, modifier: Modifier = Modifier) {
 }
 
 private const val PILL_BG_ALPHA = 0.85f
+private const val GREYED_ALPHA = 0.45f
 
 private fun subtitleFor(playlist: PlaylistRef): String = when {
     playlist.trackCount > 0 -> "${playlist.trackCount} tracks"

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/quarantine/ui/HiddenTab.kt

@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import com.composables.icons.lucide.Lucide
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.QuarantineRef
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.UiState
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.EmptyState
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.ErrorRetry
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.LoadingCentered
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.PullToRefreshScaffold
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.TrackCoverThumb
@@ -43,9 +44,10 @@ fun HiddenTab(viewModel: HiddenTabViewModel = hiltViewModel()) {
                     "and it'll show up here. The track stays out of system " +
                     "playlists until you unhide it.",
             )
-            is UiState.Error -> EmptyState(
+            is UiState.Error -> ErrorRetry(
                 title = "Couldn't load hidden tracks",
-                body = s.message,
+                message = s.message,
+                onRetry = { viewModel.refresh() },
             )
             is UiState.Success -> HiddenList(
                 rows = s.data,

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/quarantine/ui/HiddenTabViewModel.kt

@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ package com.fabledsword.minstrel.quarantine.ui
 import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
 import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.recoveries
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.events.EventsStream
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.QuarantineRef
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.UiState
@@ -24,6 +26,7 @@ private const val SHARE_STOP_TIMEOUT_MS = 5_000L
 class HiddenTabViewModel @Inject constructor(
     private val repository: QuarantineRepository,
     private val eventsStream: EventsStream,
+    networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
 ) : ViewModel() {
 
     private val refreshError = MutableStateFlow<String?>(null)
@@ -61,6 +64,11 @@ class HiddenTabViewModel @Inject constructor(
                 .filter { it.kind.startsWith("quarantine.") }
                 .collect { refresh() }
         }
+        // Screen-level auto-recovery (issue #1245): re-pull when server
+        // health returns, so a load that failed offline heals unprompted.
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            networkStatus.recoveries().collect { refresh() }
+        }
     }
 
     fun refresh(): Job = viewModelScope.launch {

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/requests/ui/RequestsScreen.kt

@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.UiState
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.ArtistDetail
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.Requests
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.EmptyState
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.ErrorRetry
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.LoadingCentered
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.MinstrelTopAppBar
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.PullToRefreshScaffold
@@ -78,9 +79,10 @@ fun RequestsScreen(
                     body = "Use Discover to ask Lidarr for new music; your " +
                         "requests show up here.",
                 )
-                is UiState.Error -> EmptyState(
+                is UiState.Error -> ErrorRetry(
                     title = "Couldn't load requests",
-                    body = s.message,
+                    message = s.message,
+                    onRetry = { viewModel.refresh() },
                 )
                 is UiState.Success -> RequestList(
                     rows = s.data,

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/requests/ui/RequestsViewModel.kt

@@ -3,13 +3,17 @@ package com.fabledsword.minstrel.requests.ui
 import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
 import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.recoveries
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.events.EventsStream
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.RequestRef
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.RequestStatus
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.requests.data.CancelOutcome
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.requests.data.RequestsRepository
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.UiState
 import dagger.hilt.android.lifecycle.HiltViewModel
 import kotlinx.coroutines.Job
+import kotlinx.coroutines.delay
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.MutableStateFlow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.StateFlow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.asStateFlow
@@ -20,10 +24,15 @@ import javax.inject.Inject
 
 private val RELEVANT_EVENT_KINDS = setOf("request.status_changed")
 
+// Cadence for in-flight request polling — matches the web client (#369):
+// fast enough to feel live, slow enough not to hammer the server.
+private const val POLL_INTERVAL_MS = 12_000L
+
 @HiltViewModel
 class RequestsViewModel @Inject constructor(
     private val repository: RequestsRepository,
     private val eventsStream: EventsStream,
+    networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
 ) : ViewModel() {
 
     private val internal = MutableStateFlow<UiState<List<RequestRef>>>(UiState.Loading)
@@ -31,10 +40,21 @@ class RequestsViewModel @Inject constructor(
 
     init {
         refresh()
+        // SSE push: reconciler completions arrive here; reload silently so the
+        // row updates in place rather than flashing the loading spinner.
         viewModelScope.launch {
             eventsStream.events
                 .filter { it.kind in RELEVANT_EVENT_KINDS }
-                .collect { refresh() }
+                .collect { silentReload() }
+        }
+        viewModelScope.launch { pollWhileInFlight() }
+        // Screen-level auto-recovery (issue #1245): a load that failed while
+        // the server was unreachable heals the moment health returns, without
+        // waiting for the next poll tick.
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            networkStatus.recoveries().collect {
+                if (internal.value is UiState.Error) silentReload()
+            }
         }
     }
 
@@ -54,6 +74,47 @@ class RequestsViewModel @Inject constructor(
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Auto-poll while any request is mid-ingest (status APPROVED), matching the
+     * web client (#369). Reloads silently every [POLL_INTERVAL_MS] and pauses
+     * when nothing is in-flight — complements the SSE push so progress stays
+     * live even if the event stream drops.
+     */
+    private suspend fun pollWhileInFlight() {
+        while (true) {
+            // Also retry from a failed load (issue #1245): from UiState.Error
+            // the in-flight predicate can never become true, so without this
+            // the poll never self-heals the screen — e.g. after a transient
+            // 500 that health monitoring (transport-level) never saw.
+            if (hasInFlightRequest() || internal.value is UiState.Error) {
+                silentReload()
+            }
+            delay(POLL_INTERVAL_MS)
+        }
+    }
+
+    private fun hasInFlightRequest(): Boolean {
+        val state = internal.value
+        return state is UiState.Success &&
+            state.data.any { it.status == RequestStatus.APPROVED }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Reload the list in place without flipping to Loading — used by the poll
+     * loop and the SSE collector so visible rows update without a spinner
+     * flash. A transient failure keeps the current view; the next reload wins.
+     */
+    private suspend fun silentReload() {
+        try {
+            val rows = repository.listMine()
+            internal.value = if (rows.isEmpty()) UiState.Empty else UiState.Success(rows)
+        } catch (
+            @Suppress("TooGenericExceptionCaught", "SwallowedException") e: Throwable,
+        ) {
+            // Keep the current view; the next poll / SSE / pull reconciles.
+        }
+    }
+
     /**
      * Optimistically removes [id] from the success list so the row
      * disappears immediately; on server-side success the row is

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/search/data/SearchRepository.kt

@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.endpoints.SearchApi
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.CachedAlbumDao
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.CachedArtistDao
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.cache.db.dao.CachedTrackDao
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.ServerHealth
-import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.ServerHealthController
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.library.data.toDomain
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.SearchResponseRef
 import retrofit2.Retrofit
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@ import javax.inject.Singleton
 private const val LOCAL_SEARCH_LIMIT = 20
 
 /**
- * Cache-first when offline. When [ServerHealthController] is Healthy the
- * repository hits `/api/search` and returns the server's three-facet
+ * Cache-first when offline. When [NetworkStatusController] reports Healthy or
+ * Unstable the repository hits `/api/search` and returns the server's three-facet
  * paged response. When health is Offline or ServerDown it falls back to
  * Room LIKE queries against `cached_*` so the user can still find
  * something to play from what's already on the device; the outcome's
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ private const val LOCAL_SEARCH_LIMIT = 20
 @Singleton
 class SearchRepository @Inject constructor(
     retrofit: Retrofit,
-    private val serverHealth: ServerHealthController,
+    private val serverHealth: NetworkStatusController,
     private val trackDao: CachedTrackDao,
     private val albumDao: CachedAlbumDao,
     private val artistDao: CachedArtistDao,
@@ -35,7 +35,8 @@ class SearchRepository @Inject constructor(
     private val api: SearchApi = retrofit.create()
 
     suspend fun search(query: String): SearchOutcome = when (serverHealth.state.value) {
-        ServerHealth.Healthy -> SearchOutcome(remoteSearch(query), localOnly = false)
+        ServerHealth.Healthy, ServerHealth.Unstable ->
+            SearchOutcome(remoteSearch(query), localOnly = false)
         ServerHealth.Offline, ServerHealth.ServerDown ->
             SearchOutcome(localSearch(query), localOnly = true)
     }

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/search/ui/SearchScreen.kt

@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.AlbumDetail
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.ArtistDetail
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.nav.Search as SearchRoute
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.TrackRow
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.ErrorRetry
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.LoadingCentered
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.MainAppBarActions
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets.TrackCoverThumb
@@ -113,6 +114,7 @@ fun SearchScreen(
                 onTrackPlay = viewModel::playTrack,
                 onNavigateToAlbum = { id -> navController.navigate(AlbumDetail(id)) },
                 onNavigateToArtist = { id -> navController.navigate(ArtistDetail(id)) },
+                onRetry = viewModel::retry,
             )
         }
     }
@@ -151,11 +153,16 @@ private fun ResultsPane(
     onTrackPlay: (TrackRef) -> Unit,
     onNavigateToAlbum: (String) -> Unit,
     onNavigateToArtist: (String) -> Unit,
+    onRetry: () -> Unit,
 ) {
     when (state) {
         SearchResultsState.Idle -> CenteredHint("Type to search your library.")
         SearchResultsState.Loading -> LoadingCentered()
-        is SearchResultsState.Error -> CenteredHint("Search failed: ${state.message}")
+        is SearchResultsState.Error -> ErrorRetry(
+            title = "Search failed",
+            message = state.message,
+            onRetry = onRetry,
+        )
         is SearchResultsState.Loaded -> {
             if (state.response.isEmpty) {
                 CenteredHint(

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/search/ui/SearchViewModel.kt

@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ package com.fabledsword.minstrel.search.ui
 import androidx.lifecycle.ViewModel
 import androidx.lifecycle.viewModelScope
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.api.ErrorCopy
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.NetworkStatusController
+import com.fabledsword.minstrel.connectivity.recoveries
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.SearchResponseRef
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.models.TrackRef
 import com.fabledsword.minstrel.player.PlayerController
@@ -43,6 +45,7 @@ data class SearchState(
 class SearchViewModel @Inject constructor(
     private val repository: SearchRepository,
     private val player: PlayerController,
+    networkStatus: NetworkStatusController,
 ) : ViewModel() {
 
     private val queryFlow = MutableStateFlow("")
@@ -69,6 +72,14 @@ class SearchViewModel @Inject constructor(
                     runSearch(q)
                 }
         }
+        // Screen-level auto-recovery (issue #1245): a search that failed
+        // while the server was unreachable re-runs when health returns —
+        // the queryFlow pipeline can't, since the text hasn't changed.
+        viewModelScope.launch {
+            networkStatus.recoveries().collect {
+                if (internal.value.results is SearchResultsState.Error) retry()
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     fun setQuery(value: String) {
@@ -80,6 +91,18 @@ class SearchViewModel @Inject constructor(
         setQuery("")
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Re-run the current query after a failure. Bypasses the queryFlow
+     * pipeline, whose distinctUntilChanged drops a same-text resubmit —
+     * without this, a transient error pins "Search failed" until the
+     * user edits the query.
+     */
+    fun retry() {
+        val q = internal.value.query.trim()
+        if (q.isEmpty()) return
+        viewModelScope.launch { runSearch(q) }
+    }
+
     /**
      * Tapping a search result builds a queue from the full visible
      * track-results list starting at the tapped entry, matching Flutter.

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/settings/ui/SettingsScreen.kt

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import androidx.compose.material3.Scaffold
 import androidx.compose.material3.SegmentedButton
 import androidx.compose.material3.SegmentedButtonDefaults
 import androidx.compose.material3.SingleChoiceSegmentedButtonRow
+import androidx.compose.material3.Switch
 import androidx.compose.material3.Text
 import androidx.compose.material3.TextButton
 import androidx.compose.runtime.Composable
@@ -94,6 +95,7 @@ fun SettingsScreen(
             onPickTheme = themeVm::setThemeMode,
             onNavToRequests = { navController.navigate(Requests) },
             onNavToAdmin = { navController.navigate(Admin) },
+            onToggleDiagnostics = viewModel::setDiagnosticsOptOut,
             onSignOutClick = { showSignOutConfirm = true },
         )
     }
@@ -116,6 +118,7 @@ private fun SettingsList(
     onPickTheme: (ThemeMode) -> Unit,
     onNavToRequests: () -> Unit,
     onNavToAdmin: () -> Unit,
+    onToggleDiagnostics: (Boolean) -> Unit,
     onSignOutClick: () -> Unit,
 ) {
     Column(
@@ -148,6 +151,12 @@ private fun SettingsList(
         ProfileCard()
         PasswordCard()
         ListenBrainzCard()
+        if (state.diagnosticsEnabledByAdmin) {
+            DiagnosticsCard(
+                optOut = state.diagnosticsOptOut,
+                onToggle = onToggleDiagnostics,
+            )
+        }
         AppearanceCard(themeMode = themeMode, onPick = onPickTheme)
         StorageCard()
         AboutCard()
@@ -262,6 +271,46 @@ private fun AccountCard(username: String, isAdmin: Boolean, serverUrl: String) {
     }
 }
 
+// Shown only while an admin has enabled debug mode on this account. Lets
+// the user turn reporting OFF on this device (battery/privacy) without
+// touching the account flag. Checked = reporting on = NOT opted out.
+@Composable
+private fun DiagnosticsCard(optOut: Boolean, onToggle: (Boolean) -> Unit) {
+    ElevatedCard(modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth()) {
+        Column(
+            modifier = Modifier.padding(16.dp),
+            verticalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(8.dp),
+        ) {
+            Text(
+                text = "Diagnostics",
+                style = MaterialTheme.typography.titleMedium,
+                color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onSurface,
+            )
+            Row(verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically) {
+                Column(modifier = Modifier.weight(1f)) {
+                    Text(
+                        text = "Send diagnostic reports",
+                        style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodyLarge,
+                        color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onSurface,
+                    )
+                    Text(
+                        text = "Your admin enabled debug mode to investigate an " +
+                            "issue. This device streams connectivity and playback " +
+                            "diagnostics. Turn off any time.",
+                        style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodySmall,
+                        color = MaterialTheme.colorScheme.onSurfaceVariant,
+                    )
+                }
+                Spacer(Modifier.size(12.dp))
+                Switch(
+                    checked = !optOut,
+                    onCheckedChange = { checked -> onToggle(!checked) },
+                )
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 @OptIn(ExperimentalMaterial3Api::class)
 @Composable
 private fun AppearanceCard(themeMode: ThemeMode, onPick: (ThemeMode) -> Unit) {

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/settings/ui/SettingsViewModel.kt

@@ -19,12 +19,15 @@ data class SettingsState(
     val isAdmin: Boolean = false,
     val isSigningOut: Boolean = false,
     val signedOut: Boolean = false,
+    // M9: account debug flag (admin-set) + this device's local opt-out.
+    val diagnosticsEnabledByAdmin: Boolean = false,
+    val diagnosticsOptOut: Boolean = false,
 )
 
 @HiltViewModel
 class SettingsViewModel @Inject constructor(
     private val authController: AuthController,
-    authStore: AuthStore,
+    private val authStore: AuthStore,
 ) : ViewModel() {
 
     private val transient = MutableStateFlow(TransientState())
@@ -41,19 +44,27 @@ class SettingsViewModel @Inject constructor(
             combine(
                 authStore.baseUrl,
                 authController.currentUser,
+                authStore.diagnosticsOptOut,
                 transient,
-            ) { url, user, t ->
+            ) { url, user, optOut, t ->
                 SettingsState(
                     serverUrl = url,
                     username = user?.username.orEmpty(),
                     isAdmin = user?.isAdmin == true,
                     isSigningOut = t.isSigningOut,
                     signedOut = t.signedOut,
+                    diagnosticsEnabledByAdmin = user?.debugModeEnabled == true,
+                    diagnosticsOptOut = optOut,
                 )
             }.collect { internal.value = it }
         }
     }
 
+    /** Per-device opt-out of diagnostics while the account flag is on. */
+    fun setDiagnosticsOptOut(optOut: Boolean) {
+        authStore.setDiagnosticsOptOut(optOut)
+    }
+
     fun signOut() {
         if (transient.value.isSigningOut) return
         viewModelScope.launch {

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/shared/UpdateVeilController.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,315 @@
+package com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared
+
+import kotlinx.coroutines.CompletableDeferred
+import kotlinx.coroutines.CoroutineScope
+import kotlinx.coroutines.FlowPreview
+import kotlinx.coroutines.channels.Channel
+import kotlinx.coroutines.delay
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.Flow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.MutableStateFlow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.StateFlow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.asStateFlow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.debounce
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.distinctUntilChanged
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.first
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.update
+import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
+import kotlinx.coroutines.withTimeoutOrNull
+import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicBoolean
+
+// Once raised, the veil stays up at least this long. Without a floor a
+// no-op refresh wipes on and straight back off, which reads as a glitch.
+private const val DEFAULT_MIN_HOLD_MS = 900L
+
+// The screen must stop changing for this long before the veil lowers.
+// Every content change re-arms it, so a refresh that lands in stages
+// (index → tile hydration → artwork) holds the veil across all of them.
+private const val DEFAULT_QUIET_MS = 700L
+
+// Hard ceiling on visibility. A refresh that never settles must not
+// strand the user behind an opaque veil; the work itself is NOT capped.
+private const val DEFAULT_MAX_HOLD_MS = 12_000L
+
+// Attempts per session. Retrying behind the veil is the point: a pull
+// that fails on the first try gets another go before the user sees
+// anything, instead of the veil wiping off over unchanged content.
+private const val DEFAULT_ATTEMPTS = 3
+private const val DEFAULT_RETRY_BACKOFF_MS = 600L
+
+/** Tunables for [UpdateVeilController]; defaults are the Home values. */
+data class VeilTimings(
+    val minHoldMs: Long = DEFAULT_MIN_HOLD_MS,
+    val quietMs: Long = DEFAULT_QUIET_MS,
+    val maxHoldMs: Long = DEFAULT_MAX_HOLD_MS,
+    val attempts: Int = DEFAULT_ATTEMPTS,
+    val retryBackoffMs: Long = DEFAULT_RETRY_BACKOFF_MS,
+)
+
+/**
+ * A snapshot of everything that visibly moves on the veiled screen.
+ *
+ * @param contentKey any value whose equality tracks what's rendered — a
+ *   change means the screen moved, and re-arms the quiet timer.
+ * @param hasContent true when real content (not a skeleton or an empty
+ *   state) is on screen. The veil waits for this before raising: there's
+ *   nothing to hide until there's something to hide.
+ * @param quiescent false while something is still landing (artwork
+ *   loading, tiles hydrating). The veil will not lower until this is
+ *   true, up to [VeilTimings.maxHoldMs].
+ */
+data class VeilSettleState(
+    val contentKey: Any?,
+    val hasContent: Boolean,
+    val quiescent: Boolean,
+)
+
+/** What a finished session did, so callers can report it if they want. */
+enum class VeilOutcome {
+    /** Content changed, and the veil covered the churn. */
+    CHANGED,
+
+    /** The refresh worked, but nothing on screen moved — already current. */
+    UNCHANGED,
+
+    /** Every attempt failed. */
+    FAILED,
+}
+
+/**
+ * One session's result, plus whether a user explicitly asked for it.
+ *
+ * [userInitiated] is what lets a caller tell feedback from noise: a user
+ * who pulled to refresh is owed an answer even when the answer is "nothing
+ * changed", while the same outcome from a background check is noise.
+ */
+data class VeilSessionResult(
+    val outcome: VeilOutcome,
+    val userInitiated: Boolean,
+)
+
+/**
+ * Drives an "updating" overlay from *observed content change and settling*
+ * rather than from a fixed delay.
+ *
+ * The problem this replaces: a veil held for `refresh().join() + 500ms`
+ * lowers while the screen is still moving, because finishing the network
+ * pull is nowhere near the end of the visible work — the pull writes id
+ * lists, then tiles hydrate one by one, then artwork loads. And a plain
+ * `isUpdating` Boolean set in a `finally` gets cleared by whichever of
+ * two overlapping refreshes finishes first, wiping the veil off mid-update
+ * (issue #2327).
+ *
+ * So instead: run [work], raise only if the content actually changes, then
+ * hold until [settleSignal] reports the screen has stopped changing for
+ * [VeilTimings.quietMs] AND is quiescent — bounded below by
+ * [VeilTimings.minHoldMs] so it can never flash, and above by
+ * [VeilTimings.maxHoldMs] so it can never strand.
+ *
+ * The raise is deliberately *reactive*: a refresh that returns what's
+ * already on screen — the common case on a launch over a warm cache —
+ * raises nothing at all, because a veil over an unchanged screen hides
+ * nothing and only delays first paint. The cost is that the veil arrives
+ * one emission after the change, so a single atomic content swap shows
+ * through; everything messier that follows it (tile hydration, then
+ * artwork) still lands behind the veil.
+ *
+ * Overlapping triggers extend the running session instead of racing it,
+ * so the veil stays up continuously rather than lowering and re-raising.
+ *
+ * Failure is quiet at this layer: [work] gets [VeilTimings.attempts] tries
+ * behind the veil, and if they all fail the veil simply wipes off over the
+ * cached content. Giving up ends only *this* session — it sets no latch and
+ * blocks nothing, so the caller's own recovery paths (reconnect re-pull,
+ * freshness sweeps, the next event, a manual pull) keep retrying afterwards
+ * exactly as before. Callers that want to surface a failure can do it from
+ * [onSessionEnd] instead.
+ *
+ * @param work one refresh attempt; returns true when it succeeded.
+ * @param shouldVeil sampled at session start — "is there cached content
+ *   this refresh is about to overwrite?". False means a cold load, where
+ *   a skeleton is the right affordance, and the work runs unveiled.
+ * @param onSessionEnd called once per finished session, on the controller's
+ *   coroutine. Use it for user-facing feedback the veil itself can't give.
+ */
+class UpdateVeilController(
+    private val scope: CoroutineScope,
+    private val settleSignal: Flow<VeilSettleState>,
+    private val shouldVeil: suspend () -> Boolean,
+    private val timings: VeilTimings = VeilTimings(),
+    private val onSessionEnd: (VeilSessionResult) -> Unit = {},
+    private val work: suspend () -> Boolean,
+) {
+    private val visibleInternal = MutableStateFlow(false)
+
+    /** True while the veil should be drawn over the screen. */
+    val visible: StateFlow<Boolean> = visibleInternal.asStateFlow()
+
+    private val finishedInternal = MutableStateFlow(0)
+
+    /**
+     * Increments as each session ends. Lets a caller wait for "this
+     * refresh is done" without knowing whether a veil ever went up —
+     * a pull-to-refresh indicator needs exactly that, since an unchanged
+     * refresh never raises one.
+     */
+    val finishedSessions: StateFlow<Int> = finishedInternal.asStateFlow()
+
+    // Conflated: a burst of triggers (reconnect + rebuild event arriving
+    // together) collapses into one follow-up pass, not a queue of them.
+    private val requests = Channel<Unit>(Channel.CONFLATED)
+
+    // Sticky across a conflated burst: conflation drops the older token, so
+    // the "a user asked for this" bit can't ride on it. If ANY coalesced
+    // trigger was the user's, the session still owes them an answer.
+    private val userAsked = AtomicBoolean(false)
+
+    init {
+        // One consumer, so sessions are serialised by construction: two
+        // triggers can never each own a piece of the veil's state.
+        scope.launch {
+            while (true) {
+                requests.receive()
+                runSession()
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Ask for a refresh. Safe to call from any trigger at any rate —
+     * calls arriving during a session extend it rather than starting a
+     * competing one.
+     *
+     * @param userInitiated true when a person explicitly asked (pull to
+     *   refresh, a Retry button), which is what [VeilSessionResult] carries
+     *   through to [onSessionEnd].
+     */
+    fun request(userInitiated: Boolean = false) {
+        if (userInitiated) userAsked.set(true)
+        requests.trySend(Unit)
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun runSession() {
+        // Sampled at both ends of the work: a trigger folded in mid-session
+        // (see [drainWork]) may have been the user's, and they're still owed
+        // an answer for it.
+        val askedAtStart = userAsked.getAndSet(false)
+        if (!shouldVeil()) {
+            // Cold load: the skeleton is the right affordance, so no veil.
+            // Succeeding here did change the screen — from nothing to
+            // something — so it reports CHANGED, never "already up to date".
+            val ok = drainWork()
+            finish(succeeded = ok, changed = ok, userInitiated = askedAtStart)
+            return
+        }
+        val raised = CompletableDeferred<Unit>()
+        val raiser = scope.launch { raiseWhenContentChanges(raised) }
+        // Floor and ceiling are measured from the raise, not the request,
+        // so a late raise still gets its full no-flash minimum.
+        val floor = scope.launch {
+            raised.await()
+            delay(timings.minHoldMs)
+        }
+        val ceiling = scope.launch {
+            raised.await()
+            delay(timings.maxHoldMs)
+            visibleInternal.value = false
+        }
+        var succeeded = false
+        try {
+            succeeded = drainWork()
+            // Always wait for the settle, never conditionally on `visible`:
+            // work that finishes without suspending would otherwise reach
+            // here before the raiser has been dispatched, tear the session
+            // down, and leave the churn uncovered. This wait is also what
+            // makes `raised.isCompleted` below a trustworthy "did anything
+            // change?" — a change landing just after the pull returns still
+            // gets seen.
+            withTimeoutOrNull(timings.maxHoldMs) { awaitSettled() }
+            // Honour the no-flash minimum before lowering. Deliberately in
+            // the try and not the finally: on cancellation the scope is
+            // going away and nothing will render the veil, so the floor is
+            // pointless there — and a finally that suspends is a finally
+            // that can resist teardown.
+            if (raised.isCompleted) floor.join()
+        } finally {
+            raiser.cancel()
+            ceiling.cancel()
+            floor.cancel()
+            visibleInternal.value = false
+            finish(
+                succeeded = succeeded,
+                changed = raised.isCompleted,
+                userInitiated = askedAtStart,
+            )
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Raises the veil the moment the screen's content differs from what was
+     * already on it — and never, if this refresh turns out to be a no-op.
+     *
+     * The baseline is the first state that HAS content, not simply the first
+     * state: over a warm cache the cached rows paint a moment after the
+     * session starts, and treating that first paint as "a change" would veil
+     * every launch, which is the whole thing this avoids.
+     */
+    private suspend fun raiseWhenContentChanges(raised: CompletableDeferred<Unit>) {
+        val baseline = settleSignal.first { it.hasContent }
+        settleSignal.first { it.hasContent && it.contentKey != baseline.contentKey }
+        visibleInternal.value = true
+        raised.complete(Unit)
+    }
+
+    private fun finish(succeeded: Boolean, changed: Boolean, userInitiated: Boolean) {
+        val outcome = when {
+            !succeeded -> VeilOutcome.FAILED
+            changed -> VeilOutcome.CHANGED
+            else -> VeilOutcome.UNCHANGED
+        }
+        onSessionEnd(
+            VeilSessionResult(
+                outcome = outcome,
+                // Fold in a mid-session request from the user.
+                userInitiated = userInitiated || userAsked.getAndSet(false),
+            ),
+        )
+        finishedInternal.update { it + 1 }
+    }
+
+    /** True when the refresh eventually succeeded. */
+    private suspend fun drainWork(): Boolean {
+        var succeeded: Boolean
+        do {
+            succeeded = runWorkWithRetries()
+            // A trigger that arrived mid-session gets folded into this one.
+        } while (requests.tryReceive().isSuccess)
+        return succeeded
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun runWorkWithRetries(): Boolean {
+        repeat(timings.attempts) { attempt ->
+            if (work()) return true
+            if (attempt < timings.attempts - 1) {
+                delay(timings.retryBackoffMs * (attempt + 1))
+            }
+        }
+        return false
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Suspends until the screen has been unchanged for
+     * [VeilTimings.quietMs] and reports itself quiescent.
+     *
+     * `debounce` is what makes this hold across a staged update: every
+     * change restarts the window, so the veil lowers only once emissions
+     * actually stop. `first { quiescent }` then rejects a quiet-but-
+     * still-loading moment and waits for the next lull.
+     */
+    @OptIn(FlowPreview::class)
+    private suspend fun awaitSettled() {
+        settleSignal
+            .distinctUntilChanged()
+            .debounce(timings.quietMs)
+            .first { it.quiescent }
+    }
+}

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/shared/widgets/ArtSettleTracker.kt

@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+package com.fabledsword.minstrel.shared.widgets
+
+import androidx.compose.runtime.Stable
+import androidx.compose.runtime.staticCompositionLocalOf
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.MutableStateFlow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.StateFlow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.asStateFlow
+import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.update
+
+/**
+ * Counts the cover-art loads that are currently in flight, so a
+ * screen-level overlay can wait for the artwork to actually land instead
+ * of guessing with a fixed delay.
+ *
+ * Artwork is the most visible pop-in on Home: a tile can be fully
+ * hydrated (title, artist, counts all present) and still snap its cover
+ * in a second later, which is exactly the churn the "Updating your
+ * mixes…" veil exists to hide. The refresh coroutine can't see that —
+ * it finishes long before Coil does — so the composition reports it
+ * upward here instead.
+ *
+ * [ServerImage] reports into whatever tracker it finds in
+ * [LocalArtSettleTracker], which means every art surface in the app
+ * participates for free. Only *composed* images are counted, so a
+ * LazyRow's off-screen tiles are correctly ignored — the count tracks
+ * the pop-in a user can actually see.
+ *
+ * Provide one per screen that needs it (typically owned by the
+ * screen's ViewModel so its refresh logic can read [inFlight]):
+ *
+ *     CompositionLocalProvider(LocalArtSettleTracker provides vm.artTracker) { ... }
+ */
+@Stable
+class ArtSettleTracker {
+    private val inFlightInternal = MutableStateFlow(0)
+
+    /**
+     * How many on-screen images are still loading. Zero means the
+     * artwork has settled — every composed cover has either drawn or
+     * failed to a fallback.
+     */
+    val inFlight: StateFlow<Int> = inFlightInternal.asStateFlow()
+
+    fun begin() {
+        inFlightInternal.update { it + 1 }
+    }
+
+    fun end() {
+        // Floor at zero: a decrement can outlive its increment when a
+        // tile is disposed mid-load and the count must not go negative
+        // and wedge "settled" off forever.
+        inFlightInternal.update { (it - 1).coerceAtLeast(0) }
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ * The tracker [ServerImage] reports load state to, or null on screens
+ * that don't care (the default) — reporting is then a no-op.
+ */
+val LocalArtSettleTracker = staticCompositionLocalOf<ArtSettleTracker?> { null }

android/app/src/main/java/com/fabledsword/minstrel/shared/widgets/CoverTile.kt

@@ -23,8 +23,12 @@ import com.fabledsword.minstrel.theme.FabledSwordFlatTokens
  * ServerImage + fallback structure was identical at all three sites.
  *
  * [overlay] is a `BoxScope` slot for things drawn on top of the cover
- * (e.g. the `VariantPill` system-playlist label) — callers can use
- * `Modifier.align(...)` inside it.
+ * (e.g. the `VariantPill` system-playlist label, the play button) —
+ * callers can use `Modifier.align(...)` inside it. The overlay sits on
+ * an outer, UN-clipped box so corner-anchored widgets are not cut off by
+ * [shape]: a `BottomEnd` play button on a `CircleShape` avatar falls in
+ * the square's corner, outside the circle, and would otherwise be clipped
+ * away. Only the artwork + background are clipped to [shape].
  */
 @Composable
 fun CoverTile(
@@ -38,18 +42,23 @@ fun CoverTile(
     overlay: @Composable BoxScope.() -> Unit = {},
 ) {
     Box(
-        modifier = modifier
-            .size(size)
-            .clip(shape)
-            .background(background),
+        modifier = modifier.size(size),
         contentAlignment = Alignment.Center,
     ) {
-        ServerImage(
-            url = url,
-            contentDescription = contentDescription,
-            modifier = Modifier.fillMaxSize(),
+        Box(
+            modifier = Modifier
+                .fillMaxSize()
+                .clip(shape)
+                .background(background),
+            contentAlignment = Alignment.Center,
         ) {
-            fallback()
+            ServerImage(
+                url = url,
+                contentDescription = contentDescription,
+                modifier = Modifier.fillMaxSize(),
+            ) {
+                fallback()
+            }
         }
         overlay()
     }