diff --git a/frontend/src/modules/plex/PlexSidebar.tsx b/frontend/src/modules/plex/PlexSidebar.tsx
index a8eafbe7..e567fe2a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/modules/plex/PlexSidebar.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/modules/plex/PlexSidebar.tsx
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import { usePlex, usePlexActions } from "./plexContext";
 import { DismissibleChip } from "../../components/ui/Chip";
 import { Input } from "../../components/ui/Input";
 import YearPicker from "../../components/ui/YearPicker";
+import { StateMessage } from "../../components/ui/QueryState";
 import { useRail } from "../../lib/useRail";
 import { msg } from "../../lib/notifications";
 
@@ -85,26 +86,21 @@ export default function PlexSidebar() {
   // just lists them as removable chips. Studios now have their own picker section (below).
   const peopleActive = filters.directors.length + filters.actors.length > 0;
 
-  // A section the facets fill, shown when its facet has values. While the facets are not here, it
-  // says why it is empty: a first load or a failed one must not read as a library with no genres
-  // (honest states). The Year section announces it; these only show it, so it is read once.
-  const facetsState: FacetsState = facets
-    ? "ready"
-    : facetsQ.isError
-      ? "error"
-      : facetsQ.isLoading
-        ? "loading"
-        : "ready";
+  // A section the facets fill, shown when its facet has values.
   const facetSection = (
     id: string,
     title: string,
     has: (f: PlexFacets) => boolean,
     body: (f: PlexFacets) => ReactNode,
-  ): PanelItem[] => {
-    if (facets) return has(facets) ? [{ id, title, body: body(facets) }] : [];
-    if (facetsState === "ready") return [];
-    return [{ id, title, body: <FacetsStatus state={facetsState} /> }];
-  };
+  ): PanelItem[] => (facets && has(facets) ? [{ id, title, body: body(facets) }] : []);
+  // While the facets are not here, the rail says so ONCE — a first load or a failed one must not
+  // read as a library with no genres (honest states) — with a way to try again. In the Year section,
+  // which every library has; in the rail's foot if the reader hid it.
+  const facetsStatus =
+    facets || (!facetsQ.isError && !facetsQ.isLoading) ? null : (
+      <FacetsStatus failed={facetsQ.isError} onRetry={() => void facetsQ.refetch()} />
+    );
+  const yearHidden = !!layout.hidden.year;
 
   // Group bodies (no title — the PanelGroup card supplies it). Only available groups are pushed,
   // so facet-gated / scope-gated sections drop out cleanly; PanelGroups orders them by the saved
@@ -199,7 +195,12 @@ export default function PlexSidebar() {
       id: "year",
       title: t("plex.filter.year"),
       body: (
-        <PlexYearFilter filters={filters} facets={facets} facetsState={facetsState} patch={patch} />
+        <PlexYearFilter
+          filters={filters}
+          facets={facets}
+          status={yearHidden ? null : facetsStatus}
+          patch={patch}
+        />
       ),
     },
     ...(scope === "movie"
@@ -319,7 +320,9 @@ export default function PlexSidebar() {
         iconExpanded={<SavedViewsPopover trigger={<SlidersHorizontal className="w-4 h-4" />} />}
         onTitleClick={openModal}
         titleActionLabel={t("views.manageTitle")}
-      />
+      >
+        {yearHidden && facetsStatus}
+      </FilterRail>
       {/* The manager modal lives here (rail is always mounted on plex); Modal portals to <body>. */}
       {modalOpen && <PersonalViewsModal />}
     </SavedViewsScope>
@@ -496,18 +499,19 @@ function RemovableChip({ label, onRemove }: { label: string; onRemove: () => voi
 export function PlexYearFilter({
   filters,
   facets,
-  facetsState = "ready",
+  status,
   patch,
 }: {
   filters: PlexFilters;
   facets: PlexFacets | undefined;
-  facetsState?: FacetsState;
+  /** The rail's word on facets still loading or failed, when it shows here. */
+  status?: ReactNode;
   patch: (p: Partial<PlexFilters>) => void;
 }) {
   const { t } = useTranslation();
   return (
     <div className="flex flex-col gap-2">
-      {facetsState !== "ready" && <FacetsStatus state={facetsState} announce />}
+      {status}
       {facets && facets.years.length > 0 && (
         <YearPicker
           years={facets.years}
@@ -534,22 +538,18 @@ export function PlexYearFilter({
   );
 }
 
-type FacetsState = "ready" | "loading" | "error";
-
-/** Why a facet-filled section is empty while the facets are not here. `announce` makes it a live
- *  region: one section announces, the rest only show it. */
-function FacetsStatus({
-  state,
-  announce = false,
-}: {
-  state: Exclude<FacetsState, "ready">;
-  announce?: boolean;
-}) {
+/** The facets still loading, or failed with a way to try again — said once for the whole rail. */
+export function FacetsStatus({ failed, onRetry }: { failed: boolean; onRetry: () => void }) {
   const { t } = useTranslation();
-  const role = announce ? (state === "error" ? "alert" : "status") : undefined;
+  if (failed)
+    return (
+      <StateMessage tone="error" compact onRetry={onRetry}>
+        {t("common.loadError")}
+      </StateMessage>
+    );
   return (
-    <p className="text-muted px-1 py-1.5 text-xs" role={role}>
-      {t(state === "error" ? "common.loadError" : "common.loading")}
+    <p className="text-muted px-1 py-1.5 text-xs" role="status">
+      {t("common.loading")}
     </p>
   );
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/modules/plex/PlexSidebar.year.dom.test.tsx b/frontend/src/modules/plex/PlexSidebar.year.dom.test.tsx
index 056d4de8..7f88849e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/modules/plex/PlexSidebar.year.dom.test.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/modules/plex/PlexSidebar.year.dom.test.tsx
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ vi.mock("./plexContext", () => ({
   usePlexActions: () => ({ setPlaylistOpen: vi.fn() }),
 }));
 
-import { PlexYearFilter } from "./PlexSidebar";
+import { FacetsStatus, PlexYearFilter } from "./PlexSidebar";
 import { EMPTY_PLEX_FILTERS, type PlexFacets } from "../../lib/api";
 
 afterEach(cleanup);
@@ -64,25 +64,14 @@ describe("the Plex rail's Year section", () => {
     expect(screen.queryByRole("button", { pressed: true })).toBeNull();
   });
 
-  it("says the years are loading, or failed to load, rather than showing none", () => {
-    const { rerender } = render(
-      <PlexYearFilter
-        filters={EMPTY_PLEX_FILTERS}
-        facets={undefined}
-        facetsState="loading"
-        patch={() => {}}
-      />,
-    );
+  it("says the facets are loading, or failed with a way to try again, rather than showing none", () => {
+    const retry = vi.fn();
+    const { rerender } = render(<FacetsStatus failed={false} onRetry={retry} />);
     expect(screen.getByRole("status").textContent).toBe("common.loading");
-    rerender(
-      <PlexYearFilter
-        filters={EMPTY_PLEX_FILTERS}
-        facets={undefined}
-        facetsState="error"
-        patch={() => {}}
-      />,
-    );
-    expect(screen.getByRole("alert").textContent).toBe("common.loadError");
+    rerender(<FacetsStatus failed onRetry={retry} />);
+    expect(screen.getByRole("alert").textContent).toContain("common.loadError");
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "common.retry" }));
+    expect(retry).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
   });
 
   it("names the range fields", () => {