diff --git a/frontend/src/App.tsx b/frontend/src/App.tsx
index 4c4c06d..804c01d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/App.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/App.tsx
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ import PageShell from "./components/PageShell";
 import GlassTuner from "./components/GlassTuner";
 import ChatDock from "./components/ChatDock";
 import Toaster from "./components/Toaster";
+import { StateMessage } from "./components/QueryState";
 import ErrorDialog from "./components/ErrorDialog";
 import VersionBanner from "./components/VersionBanner";
 import DemoBanner from "./components/DemoBanner";
@@ -294,8 +295,10 @@ export default function App() {
   // network/5xx failure, and no data means "not signed in" → the public landing.
   if (meQuery.error)
     return (
-      <div className="min-h-screen grid place-items-center text-muted">
-        {t("common.somethingWrong")}
+      <div className="min-h-screen grid place-items-center">
+        <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => meQuery.refetch()}>
+          {t("common.somethingWrong")}
+        </StateMessage>
       </div>
     );
   if (!meQuery.data) return <Welcome />;
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/AdminUsers.tsx b/frontend/src/components/AdminUsers.tsx
index 92a1f94..09bca40 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/AdminUsers.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/AdminUsers.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { notify } from "../lib/notifications";
 import { ADMIN_USERS_TAB_KEY } from "../lib/adminUsersTab";
 import Tooltip from "./Tooltip";
 import { Section } from "./ui/form";
+import { LoadingState, StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import { useConfirm } from "./ConfirmProvider";
 import Tabs, { usePersistedTab } from "./Tabs";
 import { PageToolbar } from "./PageShell";
@@ -159,7 +160,13 @@ function UsersRoles({ me }: { me: Me }) {
   return (
     <Section card title={t("users.roles.title")}>
       <p className="text-xs text-muted leading-relaxed mb-3">{t("users.roles.intro")}</p>
-      {rows.length === 0 ? (
+      {q.isError && !q.data ? (
+        <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => q.refetch()}>
+          {t("common.loadError")}
+        </StateMessage>
+      ) : q.isLoading && !q.data ? (
+        <LoadingState />
+      ) : rows.length === 0 ? (
         <p className="text-sm text-muted">{t("users.roles.empty")}</p>
       ) : (
         <div className="space-y-1.5">
@@ -307,7 +314,13 @@ function AdminInvites() {
 
   return (
     <Section card title={t("settings.invites.title")}>
-      {pending.length === 0 ? (
+      {invites.isError && !invites.data ? (
+        <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => invites.refetch()}>
+          {t("common.loadError")}
+        </StateMessage>
+      ) : invites.isLoading && !invites.data ? (
+        <LoadingState />
+      ) : pending.length === 0 ? (
         <p className="text-sm text-muted">{t("settings.invites.noPending")}</p>
       ) : (
         <div className="space-y-1.5">
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/AuditLog.tsx b/frontend/src/components/AuditLog.tsx
index 12fb281..d413e6f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/AuditLog.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/AuditLog.tsx
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { LS } from "../lib/storage";
 import { Section } from "./ui/form";
 import { useConfirm } from "./ConfirmProvider";
 import DataTable from "./DataTable";
+import { LoadingState, StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import { auditColumns } from "./auditColumns";
 
 // Admin-only audit trail: an append-only who/what/when log of admin actions + scheduler run
@@ -53,8 +54,12 @@ export default function AuditLog() {
     <div className="p-4 max-w-5xl w-full mx-auto">
       <Section card title={t("audit.title")}>
         <p className="text-xs text-muted leading-relaxed mb-3">{t("audit.intro")}</p>
-        {q.isLoading ? (
-          <div className="text-muted py-8">{t("common.loading")}</div>
+        {q.isError && !q.data ? (
+          <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => q.refetch()}>
+            {t("common.loadError")}
+          </StateMessage>
+        ) : q.isLoading ? (
+          <LoadingState />
         ) : rows.length === 0 ? (
           <p className="text-sm text-muted">{t("audit.empty")}</p>
         ) : (
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ChannelDiscovery.tsx b/frontend/src/components/ChannelDiscovery.tsx
index 7e9acf1..46c69ad 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ChannelDiscovery.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ChannelDiscovery.tsx
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import ChannelLink from "./ChannelLink";
 import AboutCell from "./AboutCell";
 import DataTable, { type Column } from "./DataTable";
 import ChannelLayoutGrid from "./ChannelLayoutGrid";
+import { LoadingState, StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import ColumnSortControl from "./ColumnSortControl";
 import Pager from "./Pager";
 import { PageToolbar } from "./PageShell";
@@ -223,8 +224,12 @@ export default function ChannelDiscovery({
         </div>
       </PageToolbar>
       <div className="px-4 pb-4 max-w-[96rem] mx-auto">
-        {query.isLoading ? (
-          <div className="text-muted py-8">{t("channels.discovery.loading")}</div>
+        {query.isError && !query.data ? (
+          <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => query.refetch()}>
+            {t("common.loadError")}
+          </StateMessage>
+        ) : query.isLoading ? (
+          <LoadingState label={t("channels.discovery.loading")} />
         ) : layout === "table" ? (
           <DataTable
             rows={rows}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Channels.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Channels.tsx
index c71bb4f..3784f5b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Channels.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Channels.tsx
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import { notify } from "../lib/notifications";
 import Tooltip from "./Tooltip";
 import DataTable, { type Column } from "./DataTable";
 import ChannelLayoutGrid from "./ChannelLayoutGrid";
+import { LoadingState, StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import Overlay from "./Overlay";
 import ViewSwitcher, { type ViewOption } from "./ViewSwitcher";
 import ColumnSortControl from "./ColumnSortControl";
@@ -709,8 +710,12 @@ export default function Channels() {
             (status chips + pager) rides in the fixed band right above it (controlsInBand). The
             card layout swaps the table for a virtualized grid over the same rows (its pager and
             status chips ride in the fixed band above instead). */}
-          {channelsQuery.isLoading ? (
-            <div className="text-muted py-8">{t("channels.loading")}</div>
+          {channelsQuery.isError && !channelsQuery.data ? (
+            <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => channelsQuery.refetch()}>
+              {t("common.loadError")}
+            </StateMessage>
+          ) : channelsQuery.isLoading ? (
+            <LoadingState label={t("channels.loading")} />
           ) : layout === "table" ? (
             <DataTable
               rows={visibleChannels}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ChatThread.tsx b/frontend/src/components/ChatThread.tsx
index dd3552e..f0fdb29 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ChatThread.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ChatThread.tsx
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { Send } from "lucide-react";
 import { api, HttpError, type Message, type MessageUser } from "../lib/api";
 import { useLiveQuery } from "../lib/useLiveQuery";
 import { useScrollFade } from "../lib/useScrollFade";
+import { LoadingState, StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import { relativeTime } from "../lib/format";
 import { notify } from "../lib/notifications";
 import { partnerPub, POLL_MS, useKeyState } from "../lib/messaging";
@@ -139,7 +140,17 @@ export default function ChatThread({
         style={fade.style}
         className="flex-1 overflow-y-auto no-scrollbar p-3 flex flex-col gap-2"
       >
-        {items.length === 0 ? (
+        {q.isError && !q.data ? (
+          <div className="m-auto">
+            <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => q.refetch()}>
+              {t("common.loadError")}
+            </StateMessage>
+          </div>
+        ) : q.isPending ? (
+          <div className="m-auto">
+            <LoadingState />
+          </div>
+        ) : items.length === 0 ? (
           <div className="m-auto text-sm text-muted">{t("messages.threadEmpty")}</div>
         ) : (
           items.map((m) => {
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ConfigPanel.tsx b/frontend/src/components/ConfigPanel.tsx
index 74c5b32..b3c3d36 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ConfigPanel.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ConfigPanel.tsx
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { api, type ConfigItem, type PlexTestResult } from "../lib/api";
 import { notify } from "../lib/notifications";
 import Tooltip from "./Tooltip";
 import Tabs, { usePersistedTab } from "./Tabs";
+import { LoadingState, StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import { PageToolbar } from "./PageShell";
 import { Switch } from "./ui/form";
 import { DraftSaveBar, type SaveState } from "./ui/DraftSaveBar";
@@ -148,8 +149,15 @@ export default function ConfigPanel() {
     setDraft((d) => ({ ...d, plex_libraries: next.join(",") }));
   };
 
+  if (q.isError && !data) {
+    return (
+      <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => q.refetch()}>
+        {t("common.loadError")}
+      </StateMessage>
+    );
+  }
   if (q.isLoading || !data) {
-    return <div className="p-4 max-w-3xl mx-auto text-muted">{t("config.loading")}</div>;
+    return <LoadingState label={t("config.loading")} />;
   }
 
   const groupKeys = Object.keys(data.groups).sort(
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/DownloadCenter.tsx b/frontend/src/components/DownloadCenter.tsx
index 408e7b8..92dd99f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/DownloadCenter.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/DownloadCenter.tsx
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import {
 import clsx from "clsx";
 import Tabs, { usePersistedTab } from "./Tabs";
 import { PageToolbar } from "./PageShell";
+import { LoadingState, StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import Modal from "./Modal";
 // Lazy: these dialogs/editors open on demand, so they stay out of the Downloads page chunk until
 // used (the video editor in particular is heavy — filmstrip + scrubber).
@@ -803,11 +804,18 @@ export default function DownloadCenter() {
                   </IconBtn>
                 </DownloadRow>
               ))}
-              {queue.length === 0 && (
-                <div className="text-sm text-muted py-10 text-center">
-                  {t("downloads.empty.queue")}
-                </div>
-              )}
+              {queue.length === 0 &&
+                (jobsQ.isError && !jobsQ.data ? (
+                  <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => jobsQ.refetch()}>
+                    {t("common.loadError")}
+                  </StateMessage>
+                ) : jobsQ.isLoading ? (
+                  <LoadingState />
+                ) : (
+                  <div className="text-sm text-muted py-10 text-center">
+                    {t("downloads.empty.queue")}
+                  </div>
+                ))}
             </div>
           </>
         )}
@@ -860,11 +868,18 @@ export default function DownloadCenter() {
                   </IconBtn>
                 </DownloadRow>
               ))}
-              {library.length === 0 && (
-                <div className="text-sm text-muted py-10 text-center">
-                  {t("downloads.empty.done")}
-                </div>
-              )}
+              {library.length === 0 &&
+                (jobsQ.isError && !jobsQ.data ? (
+                  <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => jobsQ.refetch()}>
+                    {t("common.loadError")}
+                  </StateMessage>
+                ) : jobsQ.isLoading ? (
+                  <LoadingState />
+                ) : (
+                  <div className="text-sm text-muted py-10 text-center">
+                    {t("downloads.empty.done")}
+                  </div>
+                ))}
             </div>
           </>
         )}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Feed.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Feed.tsx
index ad46558..0da24e0 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Feed.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Feed.tsx
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ import {
 import { FEED_VIEWS, type FeedView } from "../lib/feedView";
 import { clearedFilters, useActiveFilters } from "../lib/useActiveFilters";
 import ActiveFilterChips from "./ActiveFilterChips";
+import { LoadingState, StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import { PageToolbar } from "./PageShell";
 import { useWizard } from "./WizardProvider";
 import ViewSwitcher from "./ViewSwitcher";
@@ -492,8 +493,13 @@ export default function Feed({
     );
   }
 
-  if (query.isLoading) return <div className="p-8 text-muted">{t("feed.loading")}</div>;
-  if (query.isError) return <div className="p-8 text-muted">{t("feed.loadError")}</div>;
+  if (query.isLoading) return <LoadingState label={t("feed.loading")} />;
+  if (query.isError && !query.data)
+    return (
+      <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => query.refetch()}>
+        {t("feed.loadError")}
+      </StateMessage>
+    );
   // Empty "my" feed with no YouTube access. The shared demo account can never connect
   // YouTube, so it gets a gentle nudge into the shared library instead of the connect
   // wizard; real users get the onboarding prompt. No toolbar (sort/type are meaningless).
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Messages.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Messages.tsx
index f4d65df..399f2d0 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Messages.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Messages.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { useQuery } from "@tanstack/react-query";
 import { ArrowLeft, ShieldCheck, SquarePen, ExternalLink } from "lucide-react";
 import { api, type Conversation, type MessageUser } from "../lib/api";
 import { useLiveQuery } from "../lib/useLiveQuery";
+import { LoadingState, StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import { relativeTime } from "../lib/format";
 import { partnerPub, POLL_MS, SYSTEM_ID, useKeyState } from "../lib/messaging";
 import { useHistorySubview } from "../lib/history";
@@ -130,8 +131,12 @@ function ConversationList({
         )}
       </div>
       {(keyState === "setup" || keyState === "unlock") && <KeyGate meId={meId} />}
-      {q.isLoading && !q.data ? (
-        <div className="p-8 text-muted text-center">{t("common.loading")}</div>
+      {q.isError && !q.data ? (
+        <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => q.refetch()}>
+          {t("common.loadError")}
+        </StateMessage>
+      ) : q.isLoading && !q.data ? (
+        <LoadingState />
       ) : items.length === 0 ? (
         <div className="glass rounded-2xl p-10 text-center text-muted">{t("messages.empty")}</div>
       ) : (
@@ -220,8 +225,12 @@ function Directory({ onPick, onBack }: { onPick: (u: MessageUser) => void; onBac
         placeholder={t("messages.searchPeople")}
         className="w-full bg-card border border-border rounded-xl px-3 py-2 text-sm outline-none focus:border-accent"
       />
-      {q.isLoading ? (
-        <div className="p-8 text-muted text-center">{t("common.loading")}</div>
+      {q.isError && !q.data ? (
+        <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => q.refetch()}>
+          {t("common.loadError")}
+        </StateMessage>
+      ) : q.isLoading ? (
+        <LoadingState />
       ) : users.length === 0 ? (
         <div className="glass rounded-2xl p-10 text-center text-muted">
           {t("messages.noPeople")}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/NotificationsPanel.tsx b/frontend/src/components/NotificationsPanel.tsx
index a2d018a..3661ef0 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/NotificationsPanel.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/NotificationsPanel.tsx
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ import {
 import { channelYouTubeUrl, relativeFromMs, relativeTime } from "../lib/format";
 import { LEVEL_STYLE } from "./Toaster";
 import { PageToolbar } from "./PageShell";
+import { LoadingState, StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import { useNavigationActions } from "./NavigationProvider";
 import { useChannelsActions } from "./ChannelsProvider";
 import { useFeedFilters, useFeedFiltersActions } from "./FeedFiltersProvider";
@@ -150,8 +151,12 @@ export default function NotificationsPanel() {
       </PageToolbar>
 
       <div className="px-4 pb-4 pt-3 max-w-3xl w-full mx-auto space-y-4">
-        {q.isLoading && !q.data && clientItems.length === 0 ? (
-          <div className="p-8 text-muted text-center">{t("common.loading")}</div>
+        {q.isError && !hasAny ? (
+          <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => q.refetch()}>
+            {t("common.loadError")}
+          </StateMessage>
+        ) : q.isLoading && !q.data && clientItems.length === 0 ? (
+          <LoadingState />
         ) : !hasAny ? (
           <div className="glass rounded-2xl p-10 text-center text-muted">
             <Bell className="w-8 h-8 mx-auto mb-3 opacity-40" />
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Playlists.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Playlists.tsx
index 1483dc9..2d7ee7f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Playlists.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Playlists.tsx
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ import {
   Upload,
   Youtube,
 } from "lucide-react";
-import { api, type Video } from "../lib/api";
+import { api, HttpError, type Video } from "../lib/api";
 import { notify } from "../lib/notifications";
 import { notifyYouTubeActionError } from "../lib/youtubeErrors";
 import { playlistName } from "../lib/playlistName";
@@ -489,10 +489,14 @@ export default function Playlists() {
     setSelectedId(remaining[0]?.id ?? null);
     try {
       await api.deletePlaylist(deletedId, onYoutube);
-    } catch {
+    } catch (err) {
+      // Prefer the server's specific reason (e.g. a local vs YouTube-side failure) over a blanket
+      // "couldn't delete on YouTube" that misleads when the failure wasn't the YouTube side.
       notify({
         level: "warning",
-        message: onYoutube ? t("playlists.deleteYtFailed") : t("playlists.deleteFailed"),
+        message:
+          (err instanceof HttpError && err.detail) ||
+          (onYoutube ? t("playlists.deleteYtFailed") : t("playlists.deleteFailed")),
       });
     }
     qc.removeQueries({ queryKey: ["playlist", deletedId] });
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/PlaylistsRail.tsx b/frontend/src/components/PlaylistsRail.tsx
index d705d2f..01fbdb7 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/PlaylistsRail.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/PlaylistsRail.tsx
@@ -210,9 +210,20 @@ export default function PlaylistsRail({
       title: t("playlists.listGroup"),
       body: (
         <>
-          {playlists.length === 0 && !listQuery.isLoading && (
-            <div className="text-xs text-muted px-1 py-1">{t("playlists.noneYet")}</div>
-          )}
+          {playlists.length === 0 &&
+            (listQuery.isError && !listQuery.data ? (
+              <button
+                type="button"
+                onClick={() => listQuery.refetch()}
+                className="text-xs text-red-400 px-1 py-1 text-left hover:underline"
+              >
+                {t("common.loadError")} — {t("common.retry")}
+              </button>
+            ) : listQuery.isLoading ? (
+              <div className="text-xs text-muted px-1 py-1">{t("common.loading")}</div>
+            ) : (
+              <div className="text-xs text-muted px-1 py-1">{t("playlists.noneYet")}</div>
+            ))}
           {playlists.length > 0 && visiblePlaylists.length === 0 && (
             <div className="text-xs text-muted px-1 py-1">{t("playlists.noMatches")}</div>
           )}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/PlexBrowse.tsx b/frontend/src/components/PlexBrowse.tsx
index 8b46ff1..6678fd2 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/PlexBrowse.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/PlexBrowse.tsx
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ import {
 } from "../lib/plexDetailUi";
 import PlexPlaylistAdd, { type PlexAddTarget } from "./PlexPlaylistAdd";
 import PlexCollectionEditor from "./PlexCollectionEditor";
+import { LoadingState, StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import { PageToolbar } from "./PageShell";
 import { usePlex, usePlexActions } from "./PlexProvider";
 
@@ -357,7 +358,11 @@ export default function PlexBrowse() {
         </div>
       )}
 
-      {browseQ.isLoading ? (
+      {browseQ.isError && !browseQ.data ? (
+        <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => browseQ.refetch()}>
+          {t("common.loadError")}
+        </StateMessage>
+      ) : browseQ.isLoading ? (
         <p className="text-muted text-sm">{t("plex.loading")}</p>
       ) : items.length === 0 && episodes.length === 0 ? (
         dq && plexFilterCount(filters) > 0 ? (
@@ -594,8 +599,12 @@ function PlexInfoView({
           {t("plex.backToLibrary")}
         </button>
       </div>
-      {q.isLoading || !q.data ? (
-        <p className="p-8 text-muted text-sm">{t("plex.loading")}</p>
+      {q.isError && !q.data ? (
+        <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => q.refetch()}>
+          {t("common.loadError")}
+        </StateMessage>
+      ) : q.isLoading || !q.data ? (
+        <LoadingState label={t("plex.loading")} />
       ) : (
         <Suspense fallback={<p className="p-8 text-muted text-sm">{t("plex.loading")}</p>}>
           <PlexInfo
@@ -1013,8 +1022,12 @@ function PlexShowView({
     <div className="p-4 max-w-[1200px] mx-auto glass-media">
       <BackBtn onBack={onBack} label={t("plex.backToLibrary")} />
 
-      {q.isLoading || !d || !show ? (
-        <p className="text-muted text-sm">{t("plex.loading")}</p>
+      {q.isError && !q.data ? (
+        <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => q.refetch()}>
+          {t("common.loadError")}
+        </StateMessage>
+      ) : q.isLoading || !d || !show ? (
+        <LoadingState label={t("plex.loading")} />
       ) : (
         <>
           {/* Hero */}
@@ -1245,8 +1258,12 @@ function PlexSeasonView({
     <div className="p-4 max-w-[1200px] mx-auto glass-media">
       <BackBtn onBack={onBack} label={t("plex.series.backToShow")} />
 
-      {q.isLoading || !d || !se ? (
-        <p className="text-muted text-sm">{t("plex.loading")}</p>
+      {q.isError && !q.data ? (
+        <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => q.refetch()}>
+          {t("common.loadError")}
+        </StateMessage>
+      ) : q.isLoading || !d || !se ? (
+        <LoadingState label={t("plex.loading")} />
       ) : (
         <>
           <div className="glass relative rounded-2xl p-4 sm:p-5 mb-8 flex gap-4 sm:gap-5">
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/PlexPlaylistView.tsx b/frontend/src/components/PlexPlaylistView.tsx
index 1b525b5..d9d9448 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/PlexPlaylistView.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/PlexPlaylistView.tsx
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import {
 import { api, type PlexCard } from "../lib/api";
 import { getAccountRaw, LS, setAccountRaw } from "../lib/storage";
 import { useConfirm } from "./ConfirmProvider";
+import { LoadingState, StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 
 // A playlist's items, grouped for readability: movies stay standalone, while a run of episodes from the
 // same show collapses into a season/show group so a whole series doesn't sprawl into an endless flat
@@ -576,8 +577,12 @@ export default function PlexPlaylistView({
           </button>
         </div>
 
-        {q.isLoading ? (
-          <p className="py-6 text-center text-sm text-muted">{t("plex.loading")}</p>
+        {q.isError && !q.data ? (
+          <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => q.refetch()}>
+            {t("common.loadError")}
+          </StateMessage>
+        ) : q.isLoading ? (
+          <LoadingState label={t("plex.loading")} />
         ) : items.length === 0 ? (
           <p className="py-6 text-center text-sm text-muted">{t("plex.playlist.empty")}</p>
         ) : (
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/QueryState.tsx b/frontend/src/components/QueryState.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..374413e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/QueryState.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+import type { ReactNode } from "react";
+import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
+import { AlertTriangle, Loader2 } from "lucide-react";
+
+// Centered loading state: a spinning accent ring + an optional label. The single shared loading
+// visual for a page/section's first load, so all of them read the same (and can be swapped for
+// skeletons later in one place). `role=status`/`aria-live` announces it to screen readers.
+export function LoadingState({ label, className = "" }: { label?: ReactNode; className?: string }) {
+  const { t } = useTranslation();
+  return (
+    <div
+      className={`flex flex-col items-center gap-3 py-10 text-sm text-muted ${className}`}
+      role="status"
+      aria-live="polite"
+    >
+      <Loader2 className="w-6 h-6 animate-spin text-accent" aria-hidden />
+      <span>{label ?? t("common.loading")}</span>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+// Centered inline status line for a page/section's loading and error(+retry) states, in the house
+// style (mirrors Playlists' error block). Text-only by design — R3's goal is to stop pages
+// rendering an error or a still-loading fetch AS an "empty" state, not to add skeletons. The
+// `role=status`/`aria-live` also gives screen readers the state change (the app had zero live
+// regions before).
+export function StateMessage({
+  children,
+  onRetry,
+  tone = "muted",
+  className = "",
+}: {
+  children: ReactNode;
+  onRetry?: () => void;
+  tone?: "muted" | "error";
+  className?: string;
+}) {
+  const { t } = useTranslation();
+  return (
+    <div
+      className={`flex flex-col items-center gap-3 py-10 text-sm text-muted ${className}`}
+      // An error is announced promptly (assertive); a plain loading line is polite.
+      role={tone === "error" ? "alert" : "status"}
+      aria-live={tone === "error" ? "assertive" : "polite"}
+    >
+      <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 text-center">
+        {tone === "error" && <AlertTriangle className="w-4 h-4 shrink-0 text-red-400" />}
+        {children}
+      </span>
+      {onRetry && (
+        <button
+          type="button"
+          onClick={onRetry}
+          className="px-3 py-1.5 rounded-lg border border-border text-xs text-muted hover:text-fg hover:border-accent transition"
+        >
+          {t("common.retry")}
+        </button>
+      )}
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+// The honest-state convention every page now follows: check `isError && <no data>` BEFORE the empty
+// branch, so a failed fetch renders this message (with Retry) instead of the page's "empty" text
+// — the R3 bug where a backend restart read as "No channels". The `&& <no data>` guard matters: a
+// transient refetch error while data is already on screen keeps the data rather than blanking it to
+// an error. `StateMessage` is the shared building block pages wire into their loading/empty ternary.
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Scheduler.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Scheduler.tsx
index bdfdecb..ddd4839 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Scheduler.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Scheduler.tsx
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import {
 } from "lucide-react";
 import { api, type SchedulerJob, type SchedulerStatus } from "../lib/api";
 import { useLiveQuery } from "../lib/useLiveQuery";
+import { LoadingState, StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import { useConfirm } from "./ConfirmProvider";
 import { relativeTime } from "../lib/format";
 import { notify } from "../lib/notifications";
@@ -422,7 +423,13 @@ export default function Scheduler() {
     },
   });
 
-  if (q.isLoading && !data) return <div className="p-8 text-muted">{t("scheduler.loading")}</div>;
+  if (q.isError && !data)
+    return (
+      <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => q.refetch()}>
+        {t("common.loadError")}
+      </StateMessage>
+    );
+  if (q.isLoading && !data) return <LoadingState label={t("scheduler.loading")} />;
   if (!data) return <div className="p-8 text-muted">{t("common.somethingWrong")}</div>;
 
   const quotaPct = data.quota.daily_budget
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Stats.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Stats.tsx
index d68d386..7ef0543 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Stats.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Stats.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { formatEta, quotaActionLabel } from "../lib/format";
 import { notify } from "../lib/notifications";
 import { LS, useAccountPersistedState } from "../lib/storage";
 import Tooltip from "./Tooltip";
+import { LoadingState, StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import { Section, SettingRow } from "./ui/form";
 import { useMe } from "../lib/useMe";
 
@@ -114,8 +115,12 @@ function Overview({ me }: { me: Me }) {
               {s.quota_remaining_today.toLocaleString()}
             </SettingRow>
           </div>
+        ) : status.isError ? (
+          <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => status.refetch()}>
+            {t("common.loadError")}
+          </StateMessage>
         ) : (
-          <div className="text-muted text-sm">{t("stats.sync.loading")}</div>
+          <LoadingState label={t("stats.sync.loading")} />
         )}
       </Section>
 
@@ -150,6 +155,12 @@ function Overview({ me }: { me: Me }) {
               </div>
             )}
           </>
+        ) : usage.isError ? (
+          <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => usage.refetch()}>
+            {t("common.loadError")}
+          </StateMessage>
+        ) : usage.isLoading ? (
+          <LoadingState label={t("stats.sync.loading")} />
         ) : (
           <div className="text-muted text-sm">{t("stats.sync.noUsage")}</div>
         )}
@@ -242,8 +253,12 @@ function SystemStats() {
         {t("stats.introAfter")}
       </p>
 
-      {q.isLoading ? (
-        <div className="text-muted py-8">{t("stats.loading")}</div>
+      {q.isError && !data ? (
+        <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => q.refetch()}>
+          {t("common.loadError")}
+        </StateMessage>
+      ) : q.isLoading ? (
+        <LoadingState label={t("stats.loading")} />
       ) : !data ? (
         <div className="text-muted py-8">{t("stats.noData")}</div>
       ) : (
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/common.json b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/common.json
index 8e9eab4..deed2f7 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/common.json
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/common.json
@@ -18,5 +18,6 @@
   "demoTitle": "Demo account",
   "demoSharedNotice": "You're in the shared demo account. Everything you do here — playlists, hidden videos, settings — is communal and may be changed by other demo visitors at the same time.",
   "backToTop": "Back to top",
-  "retry": "Retry"
+  "retry": "Retry",
+  "loadError": "Couldn't load this — check your connection and try again."
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/common.json b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/common.json
index 5f0c71b..a338683 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/common.json
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/common.json
@@ -18,5 +18,6 @@
   "demoTitle": "Demo fiók",
   "demoSharedNotice": "Egy közös demo fiókban vagy. Minden, amit itt csinálsz — lejátszási listák, elrejtett videók, beállítások — közös, és más demo látogatók egyszerre módosíthatják.",
   "backToTop": "Vissza a tetejére",
-  "retry": "Újra"
+  "retry": "Újra",
+  "loadError": "Nem sikerült betölteni — ellenőrizd a kapcsolatot, és próbáld újra."
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/youtubeErrors.ts b/frontend/src/lib/youtubeErrors.ts
index 5d8440e..22d07af 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/youtubeErrors.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/youtubeErrors.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,9 @@ export function notifyYouTubeActionError(
   fallbackMessage: string,
   onConnect?: () => void,
 ): void {
-  if (err instanceof HttpError && err.status === 403) {
+  const httpErr = err instanceof HttpError ? err : null;
+  if (httpErr?.status === 403) {
+    // A 403 on a YouTube write action means the write scope isn't granted — offer to connect.
     notify({
       level: "error",
       message: i18n.t("channels.notify.needYouTube"),
@@ -19,7 +21,9 @@ export function notifyYouTubeActionError(
         ? { label: i18n.t("channels.notify.connect"), onClick: onConnect }
         : undefined,
     });
-  } else {
-    notify({ level: "error", message: fallbackMessage });
+    return;
   }
+  // Any other error: prefer the server's own reason (e.g. "Not enough quota left today") over the
+  // caller's generic fallback — the useful detail was being discarded (U-3.2.8).
+  notify({ level: "error", message: httpErr?.detail || fallbackMessage });
 }