diff --git a/backend/app/bodylimit.py b/backend/app/bodylimit.py
index 97b67eba..432c6e1c 100644
--- a/backend/app/bodylimit.py
+++ b/backend/app/bodylimit.py
@@ -72,9 +72,11 @@ DEFAULT_MAX_BODY_BYTES = 1024 * 1024
 # A route belongs here ONLY IF ITS OWN CAP IS LARGER THAN THE DEFAULT. That is why
 # `POST /api/diagnostics/events` is absent: its `capped_body` limit is 512 KiB, already below the
 # default, so listing it could only widen what it accepts.
-# A Google Takeout file (`reader.takeout`): a real watch history of 9500 views, the 18 months Google
-# keeps by default, is 3.7 MB; four times that is still well inside one request.
-TAKEOUT_MAX_BYTES = 16 * 1024 * 1024
+# A Google Takeout file (`reader.takeout`). A real watch history measured 3.7 MB for 9500 views, ~390
+# bytes a view, so 32 MiB holds ~86k views. YouTube keeps the history 36 months by default on an
+# account made since mid-2020 and for good on an older one, so a heavy viewer's can pass 16 MiB. The
+# file is read an entry at a time (`takeout._json_list`), so it costs its own size, not a tree of it.
+TAKEOUT_MAX_BYTES = 32 * 1024 * 1024
 
 ROUTE_MAX_BODY_BYTES: dict[tuple[str, str], int] = {
     # Ingesting a local file. The body IS the file now — no multipart envelope to allow for —
diff --git a/backend/app/reader/queries.py b/backend/app/reader/queries.py
index 88a6550a..9ac01add 100644
--- a/backend/app/reader/queries.py
+++ b/backend/app/reader/queries.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ length, whether a video exists); another unit asks the questions at the end of t
 than joining Reader's tables itself.
 """
 
+from collections.abc import Iterable
 from datetime import datetime
 
 from sqlalchemy import ColumnElement, and_, func, or_, select
@@ -407,11 +408,41 @@ def takeout_waiting(db: Session, user: User, kind: TakeoutKind) -> list[tuple[in
     )
 
 
+# Ids per IN list: a list is bound one parameter an id, and a statement takes at most 65,535.
+_IN_CHUNK = 5000
+
+
 def known_video_ids(db: Session, ids: list[str]) -> set[str]:
     """Which of `ids` the catalog holds."""
-    if not ids:
-        return set()
-    return set(db.execute(select(Video.id).where(Video.id.in_(ids))).scalars())
+    known: set[str] = set()
+    for start in range(0, len(ids), _IN_CHUNK):
+        chunk = ids[start : start + _IN_CHUNK]
+        known.update(db.execute(select(Video.id).where(Video.id.in_(chunk))).scalars())
+    return known
+
+
+def takeout_rows_besides(
+    db: Session, user: User, kind: TakeoutKind, video_ids: Iterable[str]
+) -> int:
+    """How many Takeout rows the user keeps other than `video_ids` of `kind`: what an upload of
+    those videos would be added to."""
+    total = (
+        db.scalar(select(func.count(TakeoutItem.id)).where(owned_by(TakeoutItem.user_id, user)))
+        or 0
+    )
+    ids = list(video_ids)
+    for start in range(0, len(ids), _IN_CHUNK):
+        total -= (
+            db.scalar(
+                select(func.count(TakeoutItem.id)).where(
+                    owned_by(TakeoutItem.user_id, user),
+                    TakeoutItem.kind == kind,
+                    TakeoutItem.video_id.in_(ids[start : start + _IN_CHUNK]),
+                )
+            )
+            or 0
+        )
+    return total
 
 
 def takeout_outcomes(db: Session, user: User) -> dict[tuple[str, str | None], int]:
@@ -449,3 +480,14 @@ def takeout_users_ready(db: Session) -> list[int]:
             .distinct()
         ).scalars()
     )
+
+
+def takeout_users_watch_later_waiting(db: Session) -> list[int]:
+    """Every user with a Watch later row a run could not put in yet."""
+    return list(
+        db.execute(
+            select(TakeoutItem.user_id)
+            .where(TakeoutItem.kind == TakeoutKind.WATCH_LATER, TakeoutItem.outcome.is_(None))
+            .distinct()
+        ).scalars()
+    )
diff --git a/backend/app/reader/service.py b/backend/app/reader/service.py
index 7113eaae..4d396aee 100644
--- a/backend/app/reader/service.py
+++ b/backend/app/reader/service.py
@@ -510,6 +510,15 @@ def detach_user_tag(db: Session, user: User, channel_id: str, tag_id: int) -> No
 # --- Google Takeout --------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 _TAKEOUT_BATCH = 1000
+# The advisory-lock namespace of one user's Takeout rows ("TO"), so a key cannot meet another lock's.
+_TAKEOUT_LOCK_NS = 0x544F
+
+
+def lock_takeout(db: Session, user: User) -> None:
+    """Hold the user's Takeout rows for the rest of the transaction. An upload's staging and an
+    import's settling each lock many of the same rows, one statement after another and in no common
+    order, so without one lock over both the two can deadlock."""
+    db.execute(select(func.pg_advisory_xact_lock(_TAKEOUT_LOCK_NS, user.id)))
 
 
 def stage_takeout(
@@ -518,6 +527,7 @@ def stage_takeout(
     """Keep the videos of one Takeout file, `{video id: (time, channel id)}`, for the import job.
     A second upload of the same export, or a newer one, adds what is new: a video already kept keeps
     the later time, and a row the import has settled keeps its outcome."""
+    lock_takeout(db, user)
     values = [
         {"user_id": user.id, "kind": kind, "video_id": vid, "at": at, "channel_id": channel}
         for vid, (at, channel) in rows.items()
@@ -551,6 +561,7 @@ def apply_takeout_watched(db: Session, user: User) -> dict[str, int]:
     past is not watching it), and a state the user set here wins: watched or hidden, or anything
     changed after the Takeout time. The upsert's own condition is that rule, so a state set while
     the import runs wins too."""
+    lock_takeout(db, user)
     short: list[int] = []
     todo: dict[str, tuple[int, datetime]] = {}
     for row_id, video_id, at, is_short in queries.takeout_watched_ready(db, user):
@@ -590,19 +601,22 @@ def apply_takeout_watched(db: Session, user: User) -> dict[str, int]:
     return {"watched": len(marked), "kept": len(kept), "shorts": len(short)}
 
 
-def apply_takeout_watch_later(db: Session, user: User) -> dict[str, int]:
-    """Put the videos of the user's YouTube Watch later list into theirs here, oldest first, after
-    what it already holds. Called once the catalog has fetched what it could: a video still unknown
-    is one YouTube no longer has."""
-    waiting = queries.takeout_waiting(db, user, TakeoutKind.WATCH_LATER)
-    if not waiting:
+def apply_takeout_watch_later(
+    db: Session, user: User, rows: list[tuple[int, str]], asked: set[str]
+) -> dict[str, int]:
+    """Put the videos of the user's waiting Watch later `rows`, (row id, video id) oldest first, into
+    their list here, after what it already holds. `asked` is the videos YouTube was just asked for: one
+    of those the catalog still lacks is gone from YouTube; any other unknown one keeps waiting."""
+    if not rows:
         return {}
-    known = queries.known_video_ids(db, [vid for _, vid in waiting])
+    lock_takeout(db, user)
+    known = queries.known_video_ids(db, [vid for _, vid in rows])
     pl = watch_later(db, user)
     done: dict[TakeoutOutcome, list[int]] = {o: [] for o in TakeoutOutcome}
-    for row_id, vid in waiting:
+    for row_id, vid in rows:
         if vid not in known:
-            done[TakeoutOutcome.MISSING].append(row_id)
+            if vid in asked:
+                done[TakeoutOutcome.MISSING].append(row_id)
         elif add_item(db, pl, vid, mark_dirty=False):
             done[TakeoutOutcome.ADDED].append(row_id)
         else:
diff --git a/backend/app/reader/takeout.py b/backend/app/reader/takeout.py
index 7a7b12b9..67231e33 100644
--- a/backend/app/reader/takeout.py
+++ b/backend/app/reader/takeout.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ from collections.abc import Iterator
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
 from datetime import datetime
+from itertools import chain
 
 from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
 
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ from app import quota
 from app.bodylimit import TAKEOUT_MAX_BYTES
 from app.db import SessionLocal
 from app.models import User
+from app.ratelimit import RateLimiter
 from app.reader import queries, service
 from app.reader.models import TakeoutKind
 from app.sync.runner import get_service_user
@@ -39,6 +41,12 @@ from app.youtube.client import YouTubeClient
 
 # The largest file the upload takes (its edge cap and the route's own are one number).
 MAX_BYTES = TAKEOUT_MAX_BYTES
+# The most videos a Watch later file may hold: YouTube's own cap on one playlist. Each unknown one is
+# looked up on the shared API budget, so a longer list is not one YouTube made.
+WATCH_LATER_MAX = 5000
+# The most Takeout videos one user keeps: twenty times the real export measured here (~9,000 videos
+# across both files), so it only stops uploads of made-up ones piling up for good.
+ROWS_MAX = 200_000
 
 _VIDEO_ID = re.compile(r"^[A-Za-z0-9_-]{11}$")
 _WATCH_URL = re.compile(
@@ -84,7 +92,7 @@ def _keep(parsed: Parsed, vid: str, at: datetime, channel: str | None) -> None:
         parsed.videos[vid] = (at, channel or (old[1] if old else None))
 
 
-def _history(data: list) -> Parsed:
+def _history(data: Iterator[object]) -> Parsed:
     parsed = Parsed(TakeoutKind.WATCHED)
     for entry in data:
         parsed.entries += 1
@@ -117,22 +125,54 @@ def _history(data: list) -> Parsed:
 
 def _watch_later(text: str) -> Parsed:
     parsed = Parsed(TakeoutKind.WATCH_LATER)
-    rows = [row for row in csv.reader(io.StringIO(text)) if any(cell.strip() for cell in row)]
-    if not rows or len(rows[0]) < 2:
+    rows = (row for row in csv.reader(io.StringIO(text)) if any(cell.strip() for cell in row))
+    first = next(rows, None)
+    if first is None or len(first) < 2:
         raise TakeoutError("not_takeout")
-    if not _VIDEO_ID.match(rows[0][0].strip()):
-        rows = rows[1:]  # the header, in the account's language
-    for row in rows:
+    # The first row is the header, in the account's language, unless it is already a video.
+    for row in chain([first], rows) if _VIDEO_ID.match(first[0].strip()) else rows:
         parsed.entries += 1
-        vid = row[0].strip() if row else ""
+        vid = row[0].strip()
         at = _time(row[1].strip()) if len(row) > 1 else None
         if not _VIDEO_ID.match(vid) or at is None:
             parsed.malformed += 1
             continue
         _keep(parsed, vid, at, None)
+        if len(parsed.videos) > WATCH_LATER_MAX:
+            raise TakeoutError("too_many")
     return parsed
 
 
+def _skip(text: str, at: int) -> int:
+    """The first index at or after `at` that is not JSON whitespace."""
+    while at < len(text) and text[at] in " \t\n\r":
+        at += 1
+    return at
+
+
+def _json_list(text: str) -> Iterator[object]:
+    """The entries of a JSON list, one at a time: the whole tree is never built, so a file of a
+    million tiny entries costs its text and one entry, not a million dicts at once."""
+    decoder = json.JSONDecoder()
+    at = _skip(text, _skip(text, 0) + 1)  # past the "[" the caller saw
+    if text.startswith("]", at):
+        at += 1
+    else:
+        while True:
+            entry, at = decoder.raw_decode(text, at)
+            yield entry
+            at = _skip(text, at)
+            if text.startswith(",", at):
+                at = _skip(text, at + 1)
+            elif text.startswith("]", at):
+                at += 1
+                break
+            else:
+                raise ValueError("not a JSON list")
+    if _skip(text, at) != len(text):
+        raise ValueError("text after the JSON list")
+
+
 def parse(body: bytes) -> Parsed:
     """Read an uploaded Takeout file: the watch history (JSON) or the Watch later list (csv), told
     apart by their content, not their name. Raises `TakeoutError` for anything else, and for a file
@@ -142,19 +182,19 @@ def parse(body: bytes) -> Parsed:
     except UnicodeDecodeError:
         raise TakeoutError("not_takeout") from None
     stripped = text.lstrip()
-    if stripped.startswith("["):
-        try:
-            data = json.loads(stripped)
-        except json.JSONDecodeError:
-            raise TakeoutError("not_takeout") from None
-        if not isinstance(data, list):
-            raise TakeoutError("not_takeout")
-        parsed = _history(data)
-    elif stripped.startswith(("{", "<")):
+    if stripped.startswith(("{", "<")):
         # Another JSON file of the export, or the history's HTML variant.
         raise TakeoutError("not_takeout")
-    else:
-        parsed = _watch_later(stripped)
+    try:
+        parsed = (
+            _history(_json_list(stripped)) if stripped.startswith("[") else _watch_later(stripped)
+        )
+    # A file the import cannot read, however it fails: bad JSON (a ValueError, as is a number too
+    # long to convert), nesting deeper than the decoder recurses, a csv field past csv's limit.
+    except (ValueError, RecursionError, csv.Error) as exc:
+        if isinstance(exc, TakeoutError):
+            raise
+        raise TakeoutError("not_takeout") from None
     if not parsed.videos:
         raise TakeoutError("no_videos")
     return parsed
@@ -181,6 +221,61 @@ def run_target(user_id: int) -> str:
     return f"user:{user_id}"
 
 
+def target_title(db: Session, target: str) -> str | None:
+    """Who an import run's target is, for the admin's run lists: the user's name, else their email."""
+    _, _, raw = target.partition("user:")
+    user = db.get(User, int(raw)) if raw.isdigit() else None
+    return (user.display_name or user.email) if user is not None else None
+
+
+class TooMany(Exception):
+    """The upload would take the user past `ROWS_MAX` kept videos."""
+
+
+def stage(db: Session, user: User, parsed: Parsed) -> None:
+    """Keep an uploaded file's videos for the import, unless that would take the user past
+    `ROWS_MAX` (`TooMany`). The caller commits."""
+    service.lock_takeout(db, user)  # the count and the insert are one user's, not two uploads' each
+    if (
+        queries.takeout_rows_besides(db, user, parsed.kind, parsed.videos) + len(parsed.videos)
+        > ROWS_MAX
+    ):
+        raise TooMany
+    service.stage_takeout(db, user, parsed.kind, parsed.videos)
+
+
+# How many unknown Watch later videos one user may have looked up on the shared API budget in a day:
+# two full Watch later lists (two units a hundred ids). The rest wait for the next day's runs.
+_lookups = RateLimiter(max_events=2 * WATCH_LATER_MAX, window_seconds=24 * 3600)
+
+
+def _put_in_watch_later(db: Session, user: User) -> dict:
+    """Put the user's waiting Watch later videos into theirs here: the ones the catalog knows at once,
+    the others once YouTube was asked for them — when a YouTube-connected account can ask, today's
+    budget is above the backfill reserve, and the user's own daily share of lookups allows it. A video
+    not asked about yet waits for a later run. The lookup commits what it fetched; the caller commits
+    the rest."""
+    waiting = queries.takeout_waiting(db, user, TakeoutKind.WATCH_LATER)
+    if not waiting:
+        return {}
+    ids = [vid for _, vid in waiting]
+    known = queries.known_video_ids(db, ids)
+    ask = [vid for vid in ids if vid not in known][:WATCH_LATER_MAX]
+    asked: set[str] = set()
+    fetcher = get_service_user(db) if ask else None
+    if (
+        fetcher is not None
+        and not quota.backfill_reserve_reached()
+        and _lookups.allow(str(user.id), cost=len(ask))
+    ):
+        with quota.attribute(user.id, quota.QuotaAction.VIDEOS_LOOKUP):
+            with YouTubeClient(db, fetcher) as yt:
+                ensure_videos(db, yt, ask)
+        asked = set(ask)
+    # Only the rows read above: one a second upload staged meanwhile was never asked about.
+    return service.apply_takeout_watch_later(db, user, waiting, asked)
+
+
 def run_import(user_id: int) -> dict:
     """The import job: apply what the user's kept Takeout rows can say now, as one recorded run.
     The watched part commits before the Watch later part asks YouTube for the videos the catalog
@@ -191,15 +286,8 @@ def run_import(user_id: int) -> dict:
             return {"skipped": "no user"}
         result = service.apply_takeout_watched(db, user)
         db.commit()
-        waiting = queries.takeout_waiting(db, user, TakeoutKind.WATCH_LATER)
-        if waiting:
-            fetcher = get_service_user(db)
-            if fetcher is not None:
-                with quota.attribute(user_id, quota.QuotaAction.VIDEOS_LOOKUP):
-                    with YouTubeClient(db, fetcher) as yt:
-                        ensure_videos(db, yt, [vid for _, vid in waiting])
-                result |= service.apply_takeout_watch_later(db, user)
-                db.commit()
+        result |= _put_in_watch_later(db, user)
+        db.commit()
         outcomes = queries.takeout_outcomes(db, user)
         result["waiting"] = outcomes.get((TakeoutKind.WATCHED, None), 0)
         if outcomes.get((TakeoutKind.WATCH_LATER, None)):
@@ -208,17 +296,28 @@ def run_import(user_id: int) -> dict:
 
 
 def apply_waiting(db: Session) -> dict:
-    """Mark watched the waiting Takeout rows whose video the catalog has come to know and the Shorts
-    probe has cleared since the import — every user's, one commit each. Run after each Shorts probe
-    (the scheduler's `shorts` job), the only place a video's Short-ness becomes known. Returns its
-    counts, or an empty dict when nothing was waiting on a probed video."""
-    users = queries.takeout_users_ready(db)
-    marked = 0
-    for user_id in users:
+    """Settle what every user's import left waiting and can be settled now, one commit each: a
+    watched video the catalog has come to know and the Shorts probe has cleared (by its job or a
+    search's), and the Watch later videos a run could not put in yet. Run after each run of the
+    `shorts` job, which is what clears the most of them. Returns its counts, or an empty dict when
+    nothing was waiting that could move."""
+    marked = added = 0
+    ready = set(queries.takeout_users_ready(db))
+    later = set(queries.takeout_users_watch_later_waiting(db))
+    for user_id in sorted(ready | later):
         user = db.get(User, user_id)
         if user is None:
             continue
         with _one_import(user_id):
-            marked += service.apply_takeout_watched(db, user)["watched"]
-            db.commit()
-    return {"takeout_watched": marked} if users else {}
+            if user_id in ready:
+                marked += service.apply_takeout_watched(db, user)["watched"]
+                db.commit()
+            if user_id in later:
+                added += _put_in_watch_later(db, user).get("watch_later_added", 0)
+                db.commit()
+    out = {}
+    if ready:
+        out["takeout_watched"] = marked
+    if added:
+        out["takeout_watch_later_added"] = added
+    return out
diff --git a/backend/app/routes/_common.py b/backend/app/routes/_common.py
index 32e75e53..6f904dad 100644
--- a/backend/app/routes/_common.py
+++ b/backend/app/routes/_common.py
@@ -124,6 +124,14 @@ async def capped_body(request: Request, limit: int) -> bytes:
     return bytes(body)
 
 
+async def drain_body(request: Request) -> None:
+    """Read the rest of the body to nowhere, before a refusal is raised: answered mid-upload, the
+    client reports a network failure, not the refusal (`capped_stream_to` says why). `bodylimit`
+    bounds how much there can be."""
+    async for _ in request.stream():
+        pass
+
+
 class ByteSink(Protocol):
     """Where `capped_stream_to` writes: a file, or anything that takes the bytes on their way to one."""
 
diff --git a/backend/app/routes/feed.py b/backend/app/routes/feed.py
index d6a41e24..db16714e 100644
--- a/backend/app/routes/feed.py
+++ b/backend/app/routes/feed.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import threading
+from collections.abc import AsyncIterator
 from datetime import date
 from functools import partial
 
@@ -10,12 +12,14 @@ from app import jobruns, quota, scheduler
 from app.auth import current_user
 from app.db import get_db, release_read_connection
 from app.mailtext import lang_for_user
+from app.ratelimit import RateLimiter
 from app.feedquery import BadCursor, facet_counts, feed_count, feed_page, feed_summary, feed_years
 from app.models import User
 from app.reader import queries, service, takeout
 from app.routes._common import (
     ProgressIn,
     capped_body,
+    drain_body,
     kept_position,
     not_found,
     youtube_refusal,
@@ -305,17 +309,44 @@ def get_video_detail(
 # --- Google Takeout ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
-async def _takeout_body(request: Request, db: Session = Depends(get_db)) -> bytes:
+# One upload at a time per user, and ten an hour: a file is held whole while it is read, so these
+# bound what one account can make the process hold. The section uploads its files one after another.
+_takeout_limiter = RateLimiter(max_events=10, window_seconds=3600)
+_takeout_uploading: set[int] = set()
+_takeout_uploading_guard = threading.Lock()
+
+
+async def _takeout_body(
+    request: Request, user: User = Depends(current_user), db: Session = Depends(get_db)
+) -> AsyncIterator[bytes]:
     # The sign-in check has run, and it was a SELECT: hand the connection back before a file of
     # megabytes arrives, so a slow upload does not hold one `idle in transaction`.
     release_read_connection(db)
-    return await capped_body(request, takeout.MAX_BYTES)
+    with _takeout_uploading_guard:
+        busy = user.id in _takeout_uploading
+        if not busy:
+            _takeout_uploading.add(user.id)
+    if busy or not _takeout_limiter.allow(str(user.id)):
+        if not busy:
+            with _takeout_uploading_guard:
+                _takeout_uploading.discard(user.id)
+        # Read to the end before answering: refused mid-upload, the browser reports a network
+        # failure instead of the refusal (capped_stream_to says why).
+        await drain_body(request)
+        if busy:
+            raise refused(429, "takeout_busy")
+        raise refused(429, "takeout_cooldown")
+    try:
+        yield await capped_body(request, takeout.MAX_BYTES)
+    finally:
+        with _takeout_uploading_guard:
+            _takeout_uploading.discard(user.id)
 
 
 @router.post("/takeout")
 def upload_takeout(
-    # The sign-in check FIRST: dependencies resolve in order, so a stranger's file is refused before
-    # a byte of it is read.
+    # The sign-in check FIRST: the body's own dependency needs the signed-in user, so a stranger's
+    # file is refused before a byte of it is read.
     user: User = Depends(current_user),
     body: bytes = Depends(_takeout_body),
     db: Session = Depends(get_db),
@@ -327,8 +358,14 @@ def upload_takeout(
     except takeout.TakeoutError as exc:
         if exc.reason == "no_videos":
             raise refused(422, "takeout_no_videos") from None
+        if exc.reason == "too_many":
+            raise refused(422, "takeout_list_too_long", limit=takeout.WATCH_LATER_MAX) from None
         raise refused(422, "takeout_unreadable") from None
-    service.stage_takeout(db, user, parsed.kind, parsed.videos)
+    try:
+        takeout.stage(db, user, parsed)
+    except takeout.TooMany:
+        db.rollback()
+        raise refused(422, "takeout_too_many", limit=takeout.ROWS_MAX) from None
     db.commit()
     scheduler.run_ad_hoc(
         scheduler.TAKEOUT_IMPORT,
@@ -353,8 +390,13 @@ def takeout_status(user: User = Depends(current_user), db: Session = Depends(get
     """What the user's Takeout import has done: its last run (none before the first upload), and
     every video kept from the export, by kind and outcome — a video the catalog did not know yet
     counts as "waiting" until it does, and is marked then."""
-    run = jobruns.last_run(db, scheduler.TAKEOUT_IMPORT, takeout.run_target(user.id))
+    target = takeout.run_target(user.id)
+    run = jobruns.last_run(db, scheduler.TAKEOUT_IMPORT, target)
     return {
+        # Queued and not started: its run row is not written yet, and the last run is still the
+        # previous one, so the page waits for it rather than taking that one for this upload's.
+        "queued": scheduler.ad_hoc_queued(scheduler.TAKEOUT_IMPORT, target),
+        "max_bytes": takeout.MAX_BYTES,
         "run": None
         if run is None
         else {
diff --git a/backend/app/routes/runs.py b/backend/app/routes/runs.py
index 2672d802..7f882b27 100644
--- a/backend/app/routes/runs.py
+++ b/backend/app/routes/runs.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 Admin-only and read-only — rows leave the table through the retention job
 (`job_run_retention_days`). Filtered on the server and paged by `_keyset`, like the server log and
 the audit log beside it on the activity page. A row names what a reader needs without a second
-request: the channel a user's ad-hoc run worked on, and how many log lines the run left (only
+request: what a user's ad-hoc run worked on (the channel, the importing user), and how many log lines the run left (only
 WARNING and up are stored, so most runs have none — the count says so before the click).
 """
 
@@ -116,8 +116,12 @@ def list_runs(
         limit,
         lambda r: r.started_at,
     )
-    channels = {r.target for r in runs if r.job in scheduler.AD_HOC_JOBS and r.target}
+    channels = {r.target for r in runs if r.job == scheduler.CHANNEL_BACKFILL and r.target}
     titles = catalog_queries.channel_titles(db, channels)
+    for target in {r.target for r in runs if r.job == scheduler.TAKEOUT_IMPORT and r.target}:
+        title = scheduler.ad_hoc_target_title(db, scheduler.TAKEOUT_IMPORT, target)
+        if title is not None:
+            titles[target] = title
     lines: dict[int, int] = {}
     if runs:
         counted = db.execute(
diff --git a/backend/app/scheduler.py b/backend/app/scheduler.py
index 44d395ac..39dd3797 100644
--- a/backend/app/scheduler.py
+++ b/backend/app/scheduler.py
@@ -274,7 +274,6 @@ def scheduler_snapshot(db) -> dict:
     open_runs = _open_run_ids()
     recent = jobruns.recent_runs(db, [*JOB_INTERVALS, *AD_HOC_JOBS], RECENT_RUNS)
     open_runs |= _open_run_ids()
-    going_id = max((r for r, j in open_runs.items() if j == CHANNEL_BACKFILL), default=None)
     jobs = []
     for job_id, default_interval in JOB_INTERVALS.items():
         a = acts.get(job_id, {})
@@ -290,30 +289,11 @@ def scheduler_snapshot(db) -> dict:
         )
     # Work a user starts on one target: no interval, no "run now" (it needs its target), but its
     # runs are shown beside the jobs' — it spends the same quota. Its one in-memory guard is the
-    # target's own (sync/runner), so "running" is the runs this process has open: two channels can
-    # backfill at once, so a run still going counts even when a newer one already ended. That run then
-    # leads the row, so its channel, its "no outcome yet" and its dot are one run's, never the
-    # newer run's outcome under the older one's channel.
-    backfills = recent.get(CHANNEL_BACKFILL, [])
-    going = db.get(JobRun, going_id) if going_id is not None else None
-    if going is not None and going.status != RunStatus.RUNNING:
-        going = None  # its outcome is written; only the bookkeeping has not caught up
-    if going is not None:
-        backfills = [going, *(r for r in backfills if r.id != going.id)][:RECENT_RUNS]
-    shown = backfills[0] if backfills else None
-    ad_hoc = [
-        {
-            "id": CHANNEL_BACKFILL,
-            "running": going is not None,
-            "target": shown.target if shown else None,
-            "target_title": (
-                catalog_queries.channel_title(db, shown.target)
-                if shown is not None and shown.target
-                else None
-            ),
-            **_last_runs(backfills, open_runs),
-        }
-    ]
+    # target's own (sync/runner, the import's per-user lock), so "running" is the runs this process
+    # has open: two targets can run at once, so a run still going counts even when a newer one already
+    # ended. That run then leads the row, so its target, its "no outcome yet" and its dot are one
+    # run's, never the newer run's outcome under the older one's target.
+    ad_hoc = [_ad_hoc_row(db, job, recent.get(job, []), open_runs) for job in AD_HOC_JOBS]
     return {
         "running_here": running_here,
         "enabled": settings.scheduler_enabled,
@@ -335,6 +315,27 @@ def _seen(run, open_runs: dict[int, str]) -> RunStatus:
     return RunStatus(run.status)
 
 
+def _ad_hoc_row(db, job: str, runs: list[JobRun], open_runs: dict[int, str]) -> dict:
+    going_id = max((r for r, j in open_runs.items() if j == job), default=None)
+    going = db.get(JobRun, going_id) if going_id is not None else None
+    if going is not None and going.status != RunStatus.RUNNING:
+        going = None  # its outcome is written; only the bookkeeping has not caught up
+    if going is not None:
+        runs = [going, *(r for r in runs if r.id != going.id)][:RECENT_RUNS]
+    shown = runs[0] if runs else None
+    return {
+        "id": job,
+        "running": going is not None,
+        "target": shown.target if shown else None,
+        "target_title": (
+            ad_hoc_target_title(db, job, shown.target)
+            if shown is not None and shown.target
+            else None
+        ),
+        **_last_runs(runs, open_runs),
+    }
+
+
 def _last_runs(runs: list, open_runs: dict[int, str]) -> dict:
     """A row's run fields from its newest runs (newest first): how the last one went, and the few
     before it for the history dots."""
@@ -619,6 +620,29 @@ CHANNEL_BACKFILL = "channel_backfill"
 TAKEOUT_IMPORT = "takeout_import"
 # Every ad-hoc job id: the page names each one (a frontend contract test reads this tuple).
 AD_HOC_JOBS = (CHANNEL_BACKFILL, TAKEOUT_IMPORT)
+# What each one's target is called on the admin's pages: a channel's title, an importing user's name.
+_TARGET_TITLES: dict[str, Callable[..., str | None]] = {
+    CHANNEL_BACKFILL: catalog_queries.channel_title,
+    TAKEOUT_IMPORT: takeout.target_title,
+}
+
+
+def ad_hoc_target_title(db, job: str, target: str) -> str | None:
+    """The name of an ad-hoc run's target (None for a job with none, or a target since gone)."""
+    title = _TARGET_TITLES.get(job)
+    return title(db, target) if title is not None else None
+
+
+# The ad-hoc runs added and not yet recorded, `job@target`: between the two the target's newest
+# run row is still the previous run's, so a page watching it asks `ad_hoc_queued` too.
+_queued: set[str] = set()
+_queued_guard = threading.Lock()
+
+
+def ad_hoc_queued(job: str, target: str) -> bool:
+    """Whether a run of `job` on `target` is queued and its run row not written yet."""
+    with _queued_guard:
+        return f"{job}@{target}" in _queued
 
 
 def run_ad_hoc(
@@ -634,17 +658,24 @@ def run_ad_hoc(
     if sched is None:
         # Only between shutdown and exit: start_scheduler runs at every API startup.
         raise RuntimeError("the scheduler is not running")
+    key = f"{job}@{target}"
+    with _queued_guard:
+        _queued.add(key)
     try:
         sched.add_job(
             _ad_hoc,
             "date",
             args=(job, fn, actor_id, target, notify),
-            id=f"{job}@{target}",
+            id=key,
             misfire_grace_time=None,
         )
     # silent-ok: not a failure — the run for this target is already queued, and it does this work.
     except ConflictingIdError:
         log.info("ad-hoc %s for %s already queued", job, target)
+    except Exception:
+        with _queued_guard:
+            _queued.discard(key)
+        raise
 
 
 def _ad_hoc(
@@ -656,6 +687,10 @@ def _ad_hoc(
         # No row to tell it in: the database is what failed. The log is the record.
         log.exception("ad-hoc %s for %s not started: its run could not be recorded", job, target)
         return
+    finally:
+        # Recorded (or never will be): the run row now speaks for it.
+        with _queued_guard:
+            _queued.discard(f"{job}@{target}")
     _opened(run_id, job)
     try:
         _ad_hoc_work(job, fn, run_id, actor_id if notify else None)
@@ -672,7 +707,11 @@ def _ad_hoc_work(job: str, fn: Callable[[], dict], run_id: int, notify_id: int |
             log.exception("job %s failed", job, extra=logs.event("scheduler.job.failed", job=job))
             err, failure = _failure(exc)
             _close(run_id, RunStatus.ERROR, error=err, failure=failure)
-            _notify_ad_hoc(notify_id, job, RunStatus.ERROR, err, failure)
+            # The user's notice names the failure, never the upstream's own text: that is an English
+            # diagnostic, for the admin's run row and the log, not a user's inbox.
+            _notify_ad_hoc(
+                notify_id, job, RunStatus.ERROR, None, failure or {"failure": "unexpected"}
+            )
             return
         summary, data = _finish_ok(job, run_id, result)
         _notify_ad_hoc(notify_id, job, RunStatus.OK, summary, data)
@@ -725,3 +764,5 @@ def shutdown_scheduler() -> None:
     if _scheduler is not None:
         _scheduler.shutdown(wait=False)
         _scheduler = None
+    with _queued_guard:
+        _queued.clear()  # what it held will not run
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_activity_reads.py b/backend/tests/test_activity_reads.py
index c4df1b02..59efed36 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_activity_reads.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_activity_reads.py
@@ -159,6 +159,15 @@ def test_the_run_list_filters_pages_and_names_the_channel_and_the_log_lines(db,
     assert facets["total"] == 4
 
 
+def test_the_run_list_names_the_user_a_takeout_import_ran_for(db, make_user, as_user):
+    admin = make_user(role="admin")
+    importer = make_user("importer@example.com")
+    imported = _run(db, "takeout_import", "ok", importer.id, T0, f"user:{importer.id}", "ad_hoc")
+    db.commit()
+    (row,) = as_user(admin).get("/api/admin/runs").json()["items"]
+    assert (row["id"], row["target_title"]) == (imported, "importer@example.com")
+
+
 def test_the_quota_breakdown_covers_its_range_and_one_account(db, make_user, as_user):
     admin = make_user(role="admin")
     now = datetime.now(timezone.utc)
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_body_limit.py b/backend/tests/test_body_limit.py
index ad1f72c2..f2239d2a 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_body_limit.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_body_limit.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ from app import bodylimit, debugsession, sysconfig
 from app.config import settings
 from app.models import SystemConfig
 from app.bodylimit import DEFAULT_MAX_BODY_BYTES, BodyLimitMiddleware
+from app.reader import takeout
 from app.routes import diagnostics as diagnostics_routes
 
 SMALL = b"x" * 16
@@ -369,6 +370,9 @@ def test_every_body_reading_site_is_known_and_fits_under_its_ceiling():
     # The upload site's limit is the sysconfig knob, which is bounded BY the edge ceiling rather
     # than being a constant to compare against — that pairing is its own test below.
     assert ("POST", "/api/files/upload") in bodylimit.ROUTE_MAX_BODY_BYTES
+    # A Takeout file is larger than the default: without its ceiling every real history is a 413.
+    assert takeout.MAX_BYTES > DEFAULT_MAX_BODY_BYTES
+    assert bodylimit.ROUTE_MAX_BODY_BYTES[("POST", "/api/takeout")] == takeout.MAX_BYTES
 
 
 def test_release_read_connection_ends_the_transaction_it_was_called_for(db):
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_scheduler.py b/backend/tests/test_scheduler.py
index 8f795b46..d3fa418e 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_scheduler.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_scheduler.py
@@ -342,6 +342,29 @@ def test_an_ad_hoc_run_is_the_users_run_of_its_target_with_its_spend_and_failure
     assert (failed.status, failed.error) == ("error", "quota exceeded")
 
 
+def _ad_hoc_row(db, job: str) -> dict:
+    rows = scheduler.scheduler_snapshot(db)["ad_hoc"]
+    assert [r["id"] for r in rows] == list(scheduler.AD_HOC_JOBS)  # every one has its row
+    return next(r for r in rows if r["id"] == job)
+
+
+def test_a_takeout_import_has_its_row_named_by_the_importing_user(db, make_user):
+    user = make_user("importer@example.com")
+    user.display_name = "Ida Importer"
+    db.commit()
+    assert _ad_hoc_row(db, "takeout_import")["recent"] == []
+    scheduler._ad_hoc("takeout_import", lambda: {"watched": 2}, user.id, f"user:{user.id}")
+
+    row = _ad_hoc_row(db, "takeout_import")
+    assert (row["running"], row["target"], row["target_title"], row["status"]) == (
+        False,
+        f"user:{user.id}",
+        "Ida Importer",
+        "ok",
+    )
+    assert _ad_hoc_row(db, "channel_backfill")["recent"] == []
+
+
 def test_the_page_shows_the_ad_hoc_runs_beside_the_jobs_with_their_channel(db, make_user):
     user = make_user("shown@example.com")
     db.add(Channel(id="UC_shown", title="BBC Earth"))
@@ -349,7 +372,7 @@ def test_the_page_shows_the_ad_hoc_runs_beside_the_jobs_with_their_channel(db, m
     scheduler._ad_hoc("channel_backfill", lambda: {"skipped": "at capacity"}, user.id, "UC_none")
     scheduler._ad_hoc("channel_backfill", lambda: {"videos_added": 69}, user.id, "UC_shown")
 
-    (row,) = scheduler.scheduler_snapshot(db)["ad_hoc"]
+    row = _ad_hoc_row(db, "channel_backfill")
     assert (row["id"], row["running"], row["target"], row["target_title"]) == (
         "channel_backfill",
         False,
@@ -367,12 +390,12 @@ def test_the_page_shows_the_ad_hoc_runs_beside_the_jobs_with_their_channel(db, m
     seen = []
     scheduler._ad_hoc(
         "channel_backfill",
-        lambda: seen.append(scheduler.scheduler_snapshot(db)["ad_hoc"][0]["running"]) or {},
+        lambda: seen.append(_ad_hoc_row(db, "channel_backfill")["running"]) or {},
         user.id,
         "UC_shown",
     )
     assert seen == [True]
-    assert scheduler.scheduler_snapshot(db)["ad_hoc"][0]["running"] is False
+    assert _ad_hoc_row(db, "channel_backfill")["running"] is False
 
 
 def _finished(db, job) -> list[JobRun]:
@@ -397,6 +420,9 @@ def test_a_second_ad_hoc_request_before_the_first_starts_is_that_same_run(
         "channel_backfill@UC_x",
         "channel_backfill@UC_y",
     ]
+    # Queued, so its target's newest run row is not this run's yet: a page watching it can tell.
+    assert scheduler.ad_hoc_queued(scheduler.CHANNEL_BACKFILL, "UC_x")
+    assert not scheduler.ad_hoc_queued(scheduler.CHANNEL_BACKFILL, "UC_z")
     live_scheduler.remove_all_jobs()  # never run: a run finishing after the test would land in the next
 
 
@@ -475,7 +501,7 @@ def test_a_run_whose_outcome_cannot_be_written_is_not_called_failed(db, make_use
     scheduler._ad_hoc("channel_backfill", lambda: {"videos_added": 1}, user.id, "UC_blip")
     assert calls == ["ok"]
     # Its row is still `running`, but nothing here is: the page does not call it going.
-    (row,) = scheduler.scheduler_snapshot(db)["ad_hoc"]
+    row = _ad_hoc_row(db, "channel_backfill")
     assert (row["running"], row["status"], row["recent"][0]["status"]) == (
         False,
         "interrupted",
@@ -529,7 +555,7 @@ def test_an_ad_hoc_run_still_going_shows_although_a_newer_one_ended(db, make_use
         return {}
 
     scheduler._ad_hoc("channel_backfill", long_one, user.id, "UC_long")
-    (row,) = rows
+    (row,) = [r for r in rows if r["id"] == "channel_backfill"]
     assert (row["running"], row["target"], row["target_title"]) == (True, "UC_long", "Long one")
     # The outcome beside it is the long one's (none yet), never the short one's skip.
     assert (row["status"], row["result"], row["last_error"]) == (None, None, None)
diff --git a/backend/tests/test_takeout.py b/backend/tests/test_takeout.py
index f603c306..823b5d3e 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_takeout.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_takeout.py
@@ -3,16 +3,20 @@ import job makes of them — watched here (never a Short, never over a state the
 a video the catalog does not know yet, and the Watch later list joined to the user's own."""
 
 import json
+import tracemalloc
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta, timezone
 
 import pytest
-from sqlalchemy import select
+from sqlalchemy import select, text
+from sqlalchemy.exc import OperationalError
 
-from app import jobruns, scheduler
+from app import jobruns, quota, scheduler
+from app.db import SessionLocal
 from app.catalog.models import Channel, Video
-from app.models import JobRun, Notification
+from app.models import JobRun, Notification, User
 from app.runstatus import RunStatus, RunTrigger
-from app.reader import service, takeout
+from app.reader import queries, service, takeout
+from app.routes import feed as feed_routes
 from app.reader.models import (
     Playlist,
     PlaylistItem,
@@ -107,6 +111,18 @@ def test_the_watch_later_csv_is_read_with_a_header_in_any_language_or_none():
             json.dumps([_view("aaaaaaaaaaa", details=[{"name": "From Google Ads"}])]).encode(),
             "no_videos",
         ),
+        # Read an entry at a time, the list must still be one: nothing after it, nothing missing.
+        (_history(_view("aaaaaaaaaaa")) + b" []", "not_takeout"),
+        (_history(_view("aaaaaaaaaaa"))[:-1], "not_takeout"),
+        (b"[" + json.dumps(_view("aaaaaaaaaaa")).encode() + b" x]", "not_takeout"),
+        # However a hostile file fails, it is one the import cannot read, not a server error.
+        (b"[" * 100_000, "not_takeout"),
+        (b"[" + b"1" * 5000 + b"]", "not_takeout"),
+        (b"Ngb04xUK8uU," + b"x" * 200_000 + b"\n", "not_takeout"),
+        (
+            "".join(f"v{n:010d},2019-02-07T15:23:30Z\n" for n in range(5001)).encode(),
+            "too_many",
+        ),
     ],
 )
 def test_a_file_the_import_cannot_use_is_refused_with_its_reason(body, reason):
@@ -115,6 +131,42 @@ def test_a_file_the_import_cannot_use_is_refused_with_its_reason(body, reason):
     assert caught.value.reason == reason
 
 
+def test_the_history_is_read_an_entry_at_a_time_not_as_one_tree():
+    """A file of a million tiny entries must cost about its own size, not a million dicts at once:
+    the whole tree built first measured ~25 times the file."""
+    body = b"[" + b",".join([b"{}"] * 1_000_000) + b"]"  # 3 MB
+    tracemalloc.start()
+    try:
+        with pytest.raises(takeout.TakeoutError):
+            takeout.parse(body)
+        _, peak = tracemalloc.get_traced_memory()
+    finally:
+        tracemalloc.stop()
+    assert peak < 5 * len(body), f"parsing held {peak / len(body):.1f} times the file"
+
+
+def test_the_id_lists_are_asked_in_chunks(db, make_user, monkeypatch):
+    user = make_user("chunks@example.com")
+    ids = [f"chunk{n:06d}" for n in range(5)]
+    for vid in ids[:3]:
+        _video(db, vid)
+    db.commit()
+    service.stage_takeout(db, user, TakeoutKind.WATCHED, {vid: (T0, None) for vid in ids[:4]})
+    db.commit()
+    monkeypatch.setattr(queries, "_IN_CHUNK", 2)
+    assert queries.known_video_ids(db, ids) == set(ids[:3])
+    assert queries.takeout_rows_besides(db, user, TakeoutKind.WATCHED, ids) == 0
+    assert queries.takeout_rows_besides(db, user, TakeoutKind.WATCHED, ids[:1]) == 3
+
+
+def test_the_history_is_read_whatever_its_whitespace():
+    body = b" \n[ \n" + json.dumps(_view("aaaaaaaaaaa")).encode() + b" ,\n\t"
+    body += json.dumps(_view("bbbbbbbbbbb")).encode() + b"\n] \n"
+    assert sorted(takeout.parse(body).videos) == ["aaaaaaaaaaa", "bbbbbbbbbbb"]
+    full = "".join(f"v{n:010d},2019-02-07T15:23:30Z\n" for n in range(5000))
+    assert len(takeout.parse(full.encode()).videos) == 5000  # YouTube's own cap still fits
+
+
 # --- keeping and applying ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
@@ -234,10 +286,15 @@ def test_the_watch_later_list_joins_the_users_own_oldest_first_after_what_it_hol
         },
     )
 
-    counts = service.apply_takeout_watch_later(db, user)
+    service.stage_takeout(db, user, TakeoutKind.WATCH_LATER, {"unasked0000": (T0, None)})
+    rows = queries.takeout_waiting(db, user, TakeoutKind.WATCH_LATER)
+
+    counts = service.apply_takeout_watch_later(db, user, rows, asked={"gone0000000"})
     db.commit()
 
     assert counts == {"watch_later_added": 2, "watch_later_present": 1, "watch_later_missing": 1}
+    # Unknown and not asked about: it waits, it is not called gone.
+    assert _rows(db, user)["WL:unasked0000"].outcome is None
     items = db.execute(
         select(PlaylistItem.video_id)
         .where(PlaylistItem.playlist_id == pl.id)
@@ -265,16 +322,17 @@ def test_the_job_fetches_the_unknown_watch_later_videos_and_says_what_waits(
     asked = []
 
     def fake_ensure(session, yt, ids):
-        asked.append(ids)
+        # The lookup is the importing user's spend, on the import's own action.
+        asked.append((ids, quota._actor_id.get(), quota._action.get()))
         _video(session, "fetched0000")
-        session.commit()
+        session.flush()
 
     monkeypatch.setattr(takeout, "ensure_videos", fake_ensure)
     monkeypatch.setattr(takeout, "get_service_user", lambda session: user)
 
     result = takeout.run_import(user.id)
 
-    assert asked == [["fetched0000"]]
+    assert asked == [(["fetched0000"], user.id, quota.QuotaAction.VIDEOS_LOOKUP)]
     assert result == {
         "watched": 1,
         "kept": 0,
@@ -286,13 +344,152 @@ def test_the_job_fetches_the_unknown_watch_later_videos_and_says_what_waits(
     }
 
 
+def _wl_job(db, make_user, monkeypatch, email, *, fetcher=True, reserve=False):
+    user = make_user(email)
+    _video(db, "known000000")
+    db.commit()
+    service.stage_takeout(
+        db,
+        user,
+        TakeoutKind.WATCH_LATER,
+        {"known000000": (T0, None), "unknown0000": (T0 + timedelta(minutes=1), None)},
+    )
+    db.commit()
+    asked = []
+    monkeypatch.setattr(takeout, "ensure_videos", lambda session, yt, ids: asked.append(ids))
+    monkeypatch.setattr(takeout, "get_service_user", lambda session: user if fetcher else None)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(takeout.quota, "backfill_reserve_reached", lambda: reserve)
+    return user, asked
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "why", ["no account to ask with", "the budget's reserve", "the user's share"]
+)
+def test_a_watch_later_video_not_asked_about_waits_and_the_known_ones_go_in(
+    db, make_user, monkeypatch, why
+):
+    user, asked = _wl_job(
+        db,
+        make_user,
+        monkeypatch,
+        "wait@example.com",
+        fetcher=why != "no account to ask with",
+        reserve=why == "the budget's reserve",
+    )
+    if why == "the user's share":
+        monkeypatch.setattr(takeout, "_lookups", takeout.RateLimiter(0, 3600))
+
+    result = takeout.run_import(user.id)
+
+    assert asked == []
+    assert (result["watch_later_added"], result["watch_later_missing"]) == (1, 0)
+    assert result["watch_later_waiting"] == 1
+    assert _rows(db, user)["WL:unknown0000"].outcome is None
+
+
+def test_the_shorts_job_puts_in_the_watch_later_videos_a_run_could_not(db, make_user, monkeypatch):
+    user, asked = _wl_job(db, make_user, monkeypatch, "retry@example.com", fetcher=False)
+    takeout.run_import(user.id)
+    assert asked == []
+
+    # A YouTube-connected account exists now; the next probe run asks for what waits.
+    monkeypatch.setattr(takeout, "get_service_user", lambda session: user)
+
+    def fetched(session, yt, ids):
+        asked.append(ids)
+        _video(session, "unknown0000")
+        session.flush()
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(takeout, "ensure_videos", fetched)
+    assert takeout.apply_waiting(db) == {"takeout_watch_later_added": 1}
+    assert asked == [["unknown0000"]]
+    assert _rows(db, user)["WL:unknown0000"].outcome == "added"
+    assert takeout.apply_waiting(db) == {}
+
+
+def test_a_watch_later_row_staged_while_youtube_is_asked_is_left_for_the_next_run(
+    db, make_user, monkeypatch
+):
+    user, _ = _wl_job(db, make_user, monkeypatch, "race@example.com")
+
+    def meanwhile(session, yt, ids):
+        # A second upload lands while the lookup runs: its video was never asked about.
+        with SessionLocal() as other:
+            service.stage_takeout(
+                other,
+                other.get(User, user.id),
+                TakeoutKind.WATCH_LATER,
+                {"second00000": (T0, None)},
+            )
+            other.commit()
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(takeout, "ensure_videos", meanwhile)
+    takeout.run_import(user.id)
+
+    rows = _rows(db, user)
+    assert rows["WL:unknown0000"].outcome == "missing"  # asked, and YouTube has it no longer
+    assert rows["WL:second00000"].outcome is None
+
+
+def test_a_youtube_failure_keeps_what_the_watched_part_already_marked(db, make_user, monkeypatch):
+    user = make_user("fails@example.com")
+    _video(db, "plain000000")
+    db.commit()
+    service.stage_takeout(db, user, TakeoutKind.WATCHED, {"plain000000": (T0, CHANNEL)})
+    service.stage_takeout(db, user, TakeoutKind.WATCH_LATER, {"unknown0000": (T0, None)})
+    db.commit()
+
+    def refused(session, yt, ids):
+        raise RuntimeError("quota exceeded")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(takeout, "ensure_videos", refused)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(takeout, "get_service_user", lambda session: user)
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError):
+        takeout.run_import(user.id)
+
+    with SessionLocal() as fresh:
+        state = fresh.execute(select(VideoState).where(VideoState.user_id == user.id)).scalar_one()
+        assert (state.video_id, state.status) == ("plain000000", "watched")
+        outcome = fresh.execute(
+            select(TakeoutItem.outcome).where(TakeoutItem.video_id == "plain000000")
+        ).scalar_one()
+        assert outcome == "watched"
+
+
+def test_staging_and_settling_take_the_users_one_lock(db, make_user):
+    """An upload's staging and an import's settling lock the same rows in no common order: one lock
+    over both is what keeps the two from deadlocking."""
+    user = make_user("lock@example.com")
+    db.commit()
+    steps = {
+        "stage": lambda s, u: service.stage_takeout(
+            s, u, TakeoutKind.WATCHED, {"aaaaaaaaaaa": (T0, None)}
+        ),
+        "watched": lambda s, u: service.apply_takeout_watched(s, u),
+        "watch later": lambda s, u: service.apply_takeout_watch_later(
+            s, u, [(1, "aaaaaaaaaaa")], set()
+        ),
+    }
+    with SessionLocal() as holder:
+        service.lock_takeout(holder, holder.get(User, user.id))
+        for name, step in steps.items():
+            with SessionLocal() as other:
+                other.execute(text("SET lock_timeout = '200ms'"))
+                with pytest.raises(OperationalError, match="lock timeout"):
+                    step(other, other.get(User, user.id))
+                    pytest.fail(f"{name} did not wait for the user's lock")
+        holder.rollback()
+
+
 # --- the upload --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
 def queued(monkeypatch):
     runs = []
-    monkeypatch.setattr(scheduler, "run_ad_hoc", lambda job, fn, **kw: runs.append((job, kw)))
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        scheduler, "run_ad_hoc", lambda job, fn, **kw: runs.append((job, fn.func, fn.args, kw))
+    )
     return runs
 
 
@@ -318,6 +515,8 @@ def test_an_upload_keeps_its_videos_and_queues_the_users_import_with_a_notice(
     assert queued == [
         (
             "takeout_import",
+            takeout.run_import,
+            (user.id,),
             {"actor_id": user.id, "target": f"user:{user.id}", "notify": True},
         )
     ]
@@ -345,8 +544,87 @@ def test_an_upload_over_the_cap_is_refused_while_it_arrives(db, make_user, as_us
     assert _rows(db, user) == {}
 
 
-def test_an_anonymous_upload_is_refused(client):
-    assert client.post("/api/takeout", content=_history(_view("aaaaaaaaaaa"))).status_code == 401
+def _counting_body(chunks: int = 4, size: int = 1024):
+    """A body that records how much of itself the server pulled (test_upload.py's probe)."""
+    pulled: list[int] = []
+
+    def body():
+        for _ in range(chunks):
+            pulled.append(size)
+            yield b"x" * size
+
+    return body(), pulled
+
+
+def test_an_anonymous_upload_is_refused_before_a_byte_of_it_is_read(client):
+    body, pulled = _counting_body()
+    assert client.post("/api/takeout", content=body).status_code == 401
+    assert pulled == [], f"the server read {sum(pulled)} bytes from an anonymous caller"
+
+
+def test_a_signed_in_upload_has_its_body_read(db, make_user, as_user, queued):
+    """The mutation check for the test above: a route reading nobody's body would pass it too."""
+    body, pulled = _counting_body()
+    c = as_user(make_user("read@example.com"))
+    assert c.post("/api/takeout", content=body).status_code == 422
+    assert len(pulled) == 4
+
+
+def test_uploads_past_the_hourly_limit_are_refused_after_their_body_arrived(
+    db, make_user, as_user, queued
+):
+    c = as_user(make_user("many@example.com"))
+    for _ in range(10):
+        assert c.post("/api/takeout", content=_history(_view("aaaaaaaaaaa"))).status_code == 200
+    body, pulled = _counting_body()
+    resp = c.post("/api/takeout", content=body)
+    assert resp.status_code == 429
+    assert resp.json()["detail"] == {"code": "refused", "reason": "takeout_cooldown"}
+    # Read to the end first: refused mid-upload, the browser would say "network error" instead.
+    assert len(pulled) == 4
+    assert len(queued) == 10
+
+
+def test_a_second_upload_while_one_of_the_users_is_still_arriving_is_refused(
+    db, make_user, as_user, queued, monkeypatch
+):
+    user = make_user("busy@example.com")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(feed_routes, "_takeout_uploading", {user.id})
+    resp = as_user(user).post("/api/takeout", content=_history(_view("aaaaaaaaaaa")))
+    assert resp.status_code == 429
+    assert resp.json()["detail"]["reason"] == "takeout_busy"
+    assert queued == []
+    # Another user's upload is not held up by it, and lets go of its own place when it is done.
+    other = as_user(make_user("free@example.com"))
+    assert other.post("/api/takeout", content=_history(_view("aaaaaaaaaaa"))).status_code == 200
+    assert feed_routes._takeout_uploading == {user.id}
+
+
+def test_an_upload_that_would_keep_too_many_videos_is_refused(
+    db, make_user, as_user, queued, monkeypatch
+):
+    user = make_user("cap@example.com")
+    c = as_user(user)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(takeout, "ROWS_MAX", 3)
+    two = _history(_view("aaaaaaaaaaa"), _view("bbbbbbbbbbb"))
+    assert c.post("/api/takeout", content=two).status_code == 200
+    assert c.post("/api/takeout", content=two).status_code == 200  # the same videos again: no more
+    resp = c.post("/api/takeout", content=_history(_view("ccccccccccc"), _view("ddddddddddd")))
+    assert resp.status_code == 422
+    assert resp.json()["detail"] == {"code": "refused", "reason": "takeout_too_many", "limit": 3}
+    assert sorted(_rows(db, user)) == ["aaaaaaaaaaa", "bbbbbbbbbbb"]
+    assert len(queued) == 2
+
+
+def test_a_watch_later_file_longer_than_youtube_allows_is_refused(db, make_user, as_user, queued):
+    body = "".join(f"v{n:010d},2019-02-07T15:23:30Z\n" for n in range(5001)).encode()
+    resp = as_user(make_user("long@example.com")).post("/api/takeout", content=body)
+    assert resp.status_code == 422
+    assert resp.json()["detail"] == {
+        "code": "refused",
+        "reason": "takeout_list_too_long",
+        "limit": 5000,
+    }
 
 
 # --- the notice --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -363,6 +641,50 @@ def test_an_ad_hoc_run_that_asks_for_it_tells_its_user_how_it_went(db, make_user
     ]
 
 
+def test_a_failed_run_tells_its_user_the_failure_never_the_upstreams_text(db, make_user):
+    user = make_user("failnotice@example.com")
+
+    def fails():
+        raise RuntimeError("(psycopg.errors.Something) [SQL: SELECT secret]")
+
+    scheduler._ad_hoc("takeout_import", fails, user.id, "user:1", True)
+    scheduler._ad_hoc("channel_backfill", fails, user.id, "UC_x")
+    db.expire_all()
+    (notice,) = db.execute(select(Notification).where(Notification.user_id == user.id)).scalars()
+    assert notice.body is None
+    assert notice.data == {
+        "job_id": "takeout_import",
+        "status": "error",
+        "summary": None,
+        "result": {"failure": "unexpected"},
+    }
+    # The admin's run row keeps the diagnostic.
+    run = db.execute(select(JobRun).where(JobRun.job == "takeout_import")).scalar_one()
+    assert "SELECT secret" in run.error
+
+
+def test_a_queued_import_is_told_apart_from_the_last_one_until_its_run_is_recorded(
+    db, make_user, as_user, monkeypatch
+):
+    user = make_user("queued@example.com")
+    added = []
+
+    class Held:
+        def add_job(self, *args, **kwargs):
+            added.append(kwargs["id"])
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(scheduler, "_scheduler", Held())
+    target = takeout.run_target(user.id)
+    scheduler.run_ad_hoc("takeout_import", dict, actor_id=user.id, target=target)
+    assert scheduler.ad_hoc_queued("takeout_import", target)
+    assert as_user(user).get("/api/takeout").json()["queued"] is True
+
+    scheduler._ad_hoc("takeout_import", dict, user.id, target)
+    assert not scheduler.ad_hoc_queued("takeout_import", target)
+    assert as_user(user).get("/api/takeout").json()["queued"] is False
+    assert added == [f"takeout_import@{target}"]
+
+
 # --- the videos that wait ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
@@ -410,6 +732,8 @@ def test_the_shorts_job_settles_the_waiting_rows_its_probe_made_ready(db, make_u
 def test_the_status_is_the_users_own_last_run_and_counts(db, make_user, as_user):
     user, other = make_user("status@example.com"), make_user("other@example.com")
     assert as_user(user).get("/api/takeout").json() == {
+        "queued": False,
+        "max_bytes": takeout.MAX_BYTES,
         "run": None,
         "watched": {},
         "watch_later": {},
diff --git a/frontend/e2e/global.setup.ts b/frontend/e2e/global.setup.ts
index a7942a82..2c68e31a 100644
--- a/frontend/e2e/global.setup.ts
+++ b/frontend/e2e/global.setup.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 import { test as setup, expect, type Page } from "@playwright/test";
 import { execFileSync } from "node:child_process";
-import { mkdirSync, readFileSync } from "node:fs";
+import { mkdirSync, readFileSync, writeFileSync } from "node:fs";
 import { dirname, resolve } from "node:path";
 import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";
-import { MEMBER_STORAGE } from "./helpers";
+import { MEMBER_STORAGE, SEED_FILE } from "./helpers";
 import { retryConnect } from "./retryConnect";
 
 /**
@@ -99,6 +99,8 @@ setup("seed + authenticate", async ({ page, browser }) => {
         { input: readFileSync(SEED_SCRIPT) },
       );
       console.log(`[e2e seed] ${out.toString().trim()}`);
+      // What the seed chose, for the specs that need one of its videos (helpers.seeded).
+      writeFileSync(SEED_FILE, out);
     } catch (err: unknown) {
       const e = err as { stderr?: Buffer; message?: string };
       throw new Error(`E2E seed failed: ${e.stderr?.toString() || e.message}`);
diff --git a/frontend/e2e/helpers.ts b/frontend/e2e/helpers.ts
index 8abc629c..e4ddef32 100644
--- a/frontend/e2e/helpers.ts
+++ b/frontend/e2e/helpers.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,18 @@
+import { readFileSync } from "node:fs";
 import { expect, type Page } from "@playwright/test";
 
 /** The plain member's saved session (global.setup.ts signs it in); `member.spec.ts` and
  *  `devices.spec.ts` run from it. */
 export const MEMBER_STORAGE = "e2e/.auth/member.json";
+// The seed's own answer (scripts/e2e_seed.py), written by global.setup: the videos it chose.
+export const SEED_FILE = "e2e/.auth/seed.json";
+
+/** The videos the seed chose for the main account under `key` in its answer. */
+export function seeded(key: string): string[] {
+  const ids = (JSON.parse(readFileSync(SEED_FILE, "utf-8")) as Record<string, unknown>)[key];
+  if (!Array.isArray(ids) || !ids.length) throw new Error(`the seed chose no ${key} videos`);
+  return ids as string[];
+}
 
 /** Open the app and wait for the authenticated shell (the nav rail) to be ready. */
 export async function openApp(page: Page, path = "/"): Promise<void> {
diff --git a/frontend/e2e/takeout.spec.ts b/frontend/e2e/takeout.spec.ts
index 1794f171..a42c0d25 100644
--- a/frontend/e2e/takeout.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/e2e/takeout.spec.ts
@@ -1,20 +1,16 @@
 import { test, expect } from "@playwright/test";
-import { openApp, gotoPage } from "./helpers";
+import { openApp, gotoPage, seeded } from "./helpers";
 
 // Settings › Account › YouTube history: a Google Takeout watch history, uploaded through the real
 // picker, is read, imported in the background, and the section says what it did — a video the
 // catalog knows is marked watched, one it does not know is remembered for later. The seed clears
 // the account's kept Takeout videos each run, but the projects share one account: a later one's
-// feed no longer holds the video an earlier one marked, so what it adds is counted against what was
-// there before it.
+// import of the same video adds nothing new, so what each adds is counted against what was there
+// before it.
 test("a Takeout watch history uploads, imports, and the section says what it did", async ({
   page,
 }) => {
   await openApp(page);
-  // A video the catalog knows: one on the account's feed (not a Short — the feed leaves them out).
-  const known = await page.getByTestId("video-card").first().getAttribute("data-video-id");
-  expect(known).toBeTruthy();
-
   await gotoPage(page, "settings");
   await page.getByRole("tab", { name: "Account" }).click();
   await expect(page.getByRole("heading", { name: "YouTube history" })).toBeVisible();
@@ -28,6 +24,10 @@ test("a Takeout watch history uploads, imports, and the section says what it did
     watched?: Record<string, number>;
   };
   const watchedBefore = before.watched?.watched ?? 0;
+  // A video the catalog knows and the Shorts probe has cleared, chosen by the seed (one not probed
+  // yet would wait for the probe): the next one no earlier project of this run has imported.
+  const known = seeded("takeout_known")[watchedBefore];
+  expect(known, "the seed chose too few videos for every project").toBeTruthy();
 
   // Watched now: later than any state the seed set, which the import would otherwise leave alone.
   const now = new Date().toISOString();
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ui/DropZone.tsx b/frontend/src/components/ui/DropZone.tsx
index ada39182..65a6130c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ui/DropZone.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ui/DropZone.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useRef, useState, type ReactNode } from "react";
+import { useRef, useState, type ReactNode, type Ref } from "react";
 import clsx from "clsx";
 import { Pressable } from "./Pressable";
 
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { Pressable } from "./Pressable";
 // children (an icon, a line of text), so a plain boolean flickers — enter and leave are counted
 // and the highlight clears at depth 0. The caller draws the inside, told whether a drag is over it.
 export function DropZone({
+  ref,
   onFiles,
   multiple = false,
   accept,
@@ -17,6 +18,8 @@ export function DropZone({
   className,
   children,
 }: {
+  /** The zone's button, for a caller that moves the focus to it. */
+  ref?: Ref<HTMLButtonElement>;
   /** The files dropped or picked, never empty. One unless `multiple`. */
   onFiles: (files: [File, ...File[]]) => void;
   multiple?: boolean;
@@ -40,6 +43,7 @@ export function DropZone({
   return (
     <>
       <Pressable
+        ref={ref}
         align="center"
         onClick={() => inputRef.current?.click()}
         onDragEnter={(e) => {
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/backendIds.contract.test.ts b/frontend/src/i18n/backendIds.contract.test.ts
index 9b2496ed..9b08e934 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/backendIds.contract.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/backendIds.contract.test.ts
@@ -313,6 +313,29 @@ describe("backend ids have their names in both languages", () => {
     expect(/^TAKEOUT_IMPORT = "(\w+)"$/m.exec(schedulerPy)?.[1]).toBe(ours);
   });
 
+  it("the Takeout import's files and outcomes are the server's", () => {
+    const feedTs = readFileSync(new URL("../lib/api/feed.ts", import.meta.url), "utf8");
+    const ours = (name: string) =>
+      [
+        ...(
+          new RegExp(`^export const ${name} = \\[([^\\]]*)\\]`, "m").exec(feedTs)?.[1] ?? ""
+        ).matchAll(/"(\w+)"/g),
+      ].map((m) => m[1]);
+    const models = backend("reader/models.py");
+    const theirs = (cls: string) =>
+      [
+        ...(
+          new RegExp(`^class ${cls}\\(StrEnum\\):\\n([\\s\\S]*?)(?=\\n\\S)`, "m").exec(
+            models,
+          )?.[1] ?? ""
+        ).matchAll(/^\s+[A-Z_]+ = "(\w+)"/gm),
+      ].map((m) => m[1]);
+    expect(theirs("TakeoutKind").length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+    expect(ours("TAKEOUT_KINDS")).toEqual(theirs("TakeoutKind"));
+    expect(theirs("TakeoutOutcome").length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+    expect(ours("TAKEOUT_OUTCOMES")).toEqual(theirs("TakeoutOutcome"));
+  });
+
   for (const lang of ["en", "hu"]) {
     const keys = keysOf(lang);
     const missing = (wanted: string[]) => wanted.filter((k) => !keys.has(k));
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/errors.json b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/errors.json
index be7692c4..c9066502 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/errors.json
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/errors.json
@@ -252,6 +252,10 @@
     "api_token_name_required": "Give the token a name",
     "api_token_limit": "You already have {{limit}} tokens — revoke one first",
     "takeout_unreadable": "This isn't a Takeout file the import reads. Upload watch-history.json (JSON format) or Watch later-videos.csv.",
-    "takeout_no_videos": "This file has no videos to import"
+    "takeout_no_videos": "This file has no videos to import",
+    "takeout_busy": "Another of your files is still being uploaded — wait for it to finish",
+    "takeout_cooldown": "You have uploaded many files in the last hour — try again later",
+    "takeout_too_many": "That would keep more than {{limit, number}} videos from your export — more than a real one holds",
+    "takeout_list_too_long": "This list holds more than {{limit, number}} videos — more than a YouTube list can"
   }
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/scheduler.json b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/scheduler.json
index fbd6410b..1eafde92 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/scheduler.json
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/scheduler.json
@@ -187,7 +187,8 @@
     "watch_later_present": "already in Watch later",
     "watch_later_missing": "no longer on YouTube",
     "watch_later_waiting": "Watch later waiting",
-    "takeout_watched": "marked watched from Takeout"
+    "takeout_watched": "marked watched from Takeout",
+    "takeout_watch_later_added": "put into Watch later from Takeout"
   },
   "skip": {
     "disabled": "disabled",
@@ -205,7 +206,8 @@
   },
   "failure": {
     "rss_all_failed_one": "The RSS feed did not answer for the one channel, {{channel}}: {{cause}}. Read through the API instead: {{read}}.",
-    "rss_all_failed_other": "The RSS feed answered for none of the {{total}} channels — the first: {{channel}}, {{cause}}. Read through the API instead: {{read}}."
+    "rss_all_failed_other": "The RSS feed answered for none of the {{total}} channels — the first: {{channel}}, {{cause}}. Read through the API instead: {{read}}.",
+    "unexpected": "The run ran into an unexpected error."
   },
   "rssCause": {
     "http": "HTTP {{status}}",
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/settings.json b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/settings.json
index 6126ebbf..3bf5f3d3 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/settings.json
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/settings.json
@@ -52,7 +52,8 @@
       "missing_other": "{{n}} no longer on YouTube",
       "laterWaiting_one": "{{n}} waiting for Watch later",
       "laterWaiting_other": "{{n}} waiting for Watch later"
-    }
+    },
+    "tooLarge": "{{name}} is larger than {{limit}} — the import takes files up to that size"
   },
   "save": {
     "saving": "Saving…",
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/errors.json b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/errors.json
index cf797edc..6063a8e4 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/errors.json
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/errors.json
@@ -252,6 +252,10 @@
     "api_token_name_required": "Adj nevet a tokennek",
     "api_token_limit": "Már {{limit}} tokened van — előbb vonj vissza egyet",
     "takeout_unreadable": "Ez nem olyan Takeout-fájl, amit az import olvas. A watch-history.json (JSON formátum) vagy a Watch later-videos.csv fájlt töltsd fel.",
-    "takeout_no_videos": "Ebben a fájlban nincs importálható videó"
+    "takeout_no_videos": "Ebben a fájlban nincs importálható videó",
+    "takeout_busy": "Egy másik fájlod feltöltése még folyik — várd meg, amíg befejeződik",
+    "takeout_cooldown": "Az elmúlt órában sok fájlt töltöttél fel — próbáld újra később",
+    "takeout_too_many": "Így több mint {{limit, number}} videót őriznénk meg az exportodból — többet, mint amennyi egy valódiban van",
+    "takeout_list_too_long": "Ez a lista több mint {{limit, number}} videót tartalmaz — többet, mint amennyi egy YouTube-listán lehet"
   }
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/scheduler.json b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/scheduler.json
index 029ad15b..2506ca42 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/scheduler.json
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/scheduler.json
@@ -187,7 +187,8 @@
     "watch_later_present": "már a „Megnézem később” listán",
     "watch_later_missing": "már nincs a YouTube-on",
     "watch_later_waiting": "a „Megnézem később” listára vár",
-    "takeout_watched": "Takeoutból megnézettre jelölve"
+    "takeout_watched": "Takeoutból megnézettre jelölve",
+    "takeout_watch_later_added": "Takeoutból a „Megnézem később” listába téve"
   },
   "skip": {
     "disabled": "kikapcsolva",
@@ -205,7 +206,8 @@
   },
   "failure": {
     "rss_all_failed_one": "Az RSS-hírcsatorna az egyetlen csatornánál sem válaszolt ({{channel}}): {{cause}}. Az API-n át beolvasva helyette: {{read}}.",
-    "rss_all_failed_other": "Az RSS-hírcsatorna egyik csatornánál sem válaszolt ({{total}}) — az első: {{channel}}, {{cause}}. Az API-n át beolvasva helyette: {{read}}."
+    "rss_all_failed_other": "Az RSS-hírcsatorna egyik csatornánál sem válaszolt ({{total}}) — az első: {{channel}}, {{cause}}. Az API-n át beolvasva helyette: {{read}}.",
+    "unexpected": "A futás váratlan hibába ütközött."
   },
   "rssCause": {
     "http": "HTTP {{status}}",
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/settings.json b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/settings.json
index be0c1039..44498e47 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/settings.json
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/settings.json
@@ -44,15 +44,16 @@
       "short_other": "{{n}} Short kihagyva",
       "kept_one": "{{n}} úgy maradt, ahogy itt beállítottad",
       "kept_other": "{{n}} úgy maradt, ahogy itt beállítottad",
-      "added_one": "{{n}} a „Megnézem később” listába",
-      "added_other": "{{n}} a „Megnézem később” listába",
+      "added_one": "{{n}} a „Megnézem később” listába téve",
+      "added_other": "{{n}} a „Megnézem később” listába téve",
       "present_one": "{{n}} már a „Megnézem később” listán",
       "present_other": "{{n}} már a „Megnézem később” listán",
       "missing_one": "{{n}} már nincs fent a YouTube-on",
       "missing_other": "{{n}} már nincs fent a YouTube-on",
       "laterWaiting_one": "{{n}} vár a „Megnézem később” listára",
       "laterWaiting_other": "{{n}} vár a „Megnézem később” listára"
-    }
+    },
+    "tooLarge": "{{name}}: nagyobb, mint {{limit}} — az import legfeljebb ekkora fájlt fogad"
   },
   "save": {
     "saving": "Mentés…",
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/api/feed.ts b/frontend/src/lib/api/feed.ts
index 0ffbfe83..41a89376 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/api/feed.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/api/feed.ts
@@ -164,12 +164,26 @@ export interface TakeoutUpload {
   other: number;
   malformed: number;
 }
-export type TakeoutKind = "watched" | "watch_later";
-// A kept video's outcome (`reader.models.TakeoutOutcome`), or "waiting" while the catalog does not
-// know it yet: watched / kept (the user's own state here stood) / short for the history; added /
-// present / missing for Watch later.
-export type TakeoutCounts = Partial<Record<string, number>>;
+// The two files (`reader.models.TakeoutKind`) and a kept video's outcome (`TakeoutOutcome`): watched
+// / kept (the user's own state here stood) / short for the history; added / present / missing for
+// Watch later. backendIds.contract.test holds both lists to the backend's enums.
+export const TAKEOUT_KINDS = ["watched", "watch_later"] as const;
+export const TAKEOUT_OUTCOMES = [
+  "watched",
+  "kept",
+  "short",
+  "added",
+  "present",
+  "missing",
+] as const;
+export type TakeoutKind = (typeof TAKEOUT_KINDS)[number];
+// Each outcome's count, and "waiting" for the videos the import could not settle yet.
+export type TakeoutCounts = Partial<Record<(typeof TAKEOUT_OUTCOMES)[number] | "waiting", number>>;
 export interface TakeoutStatus {
+  /** An import is queued and its run not started: `run` is still the one before it. */
+  queued: boolean;
+  /** The largest file the upload takes. */
+  max_bytes: number;
   run: {
     status: RunStatus;
     started_at: string | null;
diff --git a/frontend/src/modules/settings/TakeoutImport.dom.test.tsx b/frontend/src/modules/settings/TakeoutImport.dom.test.tsx
index 0675226a..88701b94 100644
--- a/frontend/src/modules/settings/TakeoutImport.dom.test.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/modules/settings/TakeoutImport.dom.test.tsx
@@ -56,6 +56,14 @@ const uploaded = (videos: number): TakeoutUpload => ({
   malformed: 0,
 });
 
+// A whole status: nothing queued and room for any file, unless the test says otherwise.
+const st = (s: Partial<TakeoutStatus>): TakeoutStatus => ({
+  queued: false,
+  max_bytes: 1_000_000,
+  run: null,
+  ...s,
+});
+
 function mount(status: TakeoutStatus | Error | Promise<never>) {
   const spy = vi.spyOn(api, "takeoutStatus");
   if (status instanceof Error) spy.mockRejectedValue(status);
@@ -77,11 +85,13 @@ const drop = (files: File[]) =>
   act(async () => {
     fireEvent.drop(zone()!, { dataTransfer: { files } });
   });
-const file = (name: string) => new File(["[]"], name);
+const file = (name: string, size = 2) => new File(["x".repeat(size)], name);
+const unavailable = (el: HTMLElement | null) =>
+  !!el && ((el as HTMLButtonElement).disabled || el.getAttribute("aria-disabled") === "true");
 
 describe("YouTube history import · what it says", () => {
   it("before the first import: the drop zone, and no line about an import", async () => {
-    mount({ run: null, watched: {}, watch_later: {} });
+    mount(st({ run: null, watched: {}, watch_later: {} }));
     await waitFor(() => expect(zone()).toBeTruthy());
     expect(screen.queryByTestId("takeout-last")).toBeNull();
   });
@@ -92,11 +102,13 @@ describe("YouTube history import · what it says", () => {
   });
 
   it("after one: when, then only the counts it produced, the history's first", async () => {
-    mount({
-      run: run("ok"),
-      watched: { watched: 1020, waiting: 6785, short: 0, kept: 81 },
-      watch_later: { added: 41, waiting: 2 },
-    });
+    mount(
+      st({
+        run: run("ok"),
+        watched: { watched: 1020, waiting: 6785, short: 0, kept: 81 },
+        watch_later: { added: 41, waiting: 2 },
+      }),
+    );
     await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByTestId("takeout-last")).toBeTruthy());
     expect(line()).toBe(
       [
@@ -114,20 +126,20 @@ describe("YouTube history import · what it says", () => {
   });
 
   it("a failed run and one a restart cut off say so, not counts", async () => {
-    mount({ run: run("error"), watched: { watched: 3 } });
+    mount(st({ run: run("error"), watched: { watched: 3 } }));
     await waitFor(() => expect(line()).toBe("settings.takeout.failed(at F)"));
     cleanup();
-    mount({ run: run("interrupted"), watched: { watched: 3 } });
+    mount(st({ run: run("interrupted"), watched: { watched: 3 } }));
     await waitFor(() => expect(line()).toBe("settings.takeout.interrupted(at S)"));
   });
 
-  it("a running import: the running line, no drop zone, asked again until it ends", async () => {
-    const spy = mount({ run: run("running"), watched: {} });
+  it("a running import: the running line, the zone unavailable, asked again until it ends", async () => {
+    const spy = mount(st({ run: run("running"), watched: {} }));
     await waitFor(() =>
       expect(screen.getByTestId("takeout-running").textContent).toBe("settings.takeout.running"),
     );
-    expect(zone()).toBeNull();
-    spy.mockResolvedValue({ run: run("ok"), watched: { watched: 5 } });
+    expect(unavailable(zone())).toBe(true);
+    spy.mockResolvedValue(st({ run: run("ok"), watched: { watched: 5 } }));
     await waitFor(() => expect(line()).toContain("settings.takeout.count.watched(5,5)"), {
       timeout: 3000,
     });
@@ -143,7 +155,7 @@ describe("YouTube history import · what it says", () => {
   });
 
   it("a re-read that fails does not leave the previous answer standing under it", async () => {
-    const status = mount({ run: run("ok", { finished_at: "OLD" }), watched: {} });
+    const status = mount(st({ run: run("ok", { finished_at: "OLD" }), watched: {} }));
     await waitFor(() => expect(line()).toContain("OLD"));
     fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "settings.takeout.newImport" }));
     vi.spyOn(api, "takeoutUpload").mockResolvedValue(uploaded(1));
@@ -158,7 +170,7 @@ describe("YouTube history import · what it says", () => {
 
 describe("YouTube history import · the upload", () => {
   it("sends each dropped file on its own, says each outcome, and reads the new run", async () => {
-    const status = mount({ run: null, watched: {} });
+    const status = mount(st({ run: null, watched: {} }));
     await waitFor(() => expect(zone()).toBeTruthy());
     const refused = new HttpError(422, "refused");
     const sent: string[] = [];
@@ -167,7 +179,7 @@ describe("YouTube history import · the upload", () => {
       if (f.name === "bad.html") throw refused;
       return uploaded(f.name === "watch-history.json" ? 9034 : 56);
     });
-    status.mockResolvedValue({ run: run("ok"), watched: { watched: 7 } });
+    status.mockResolvedValue(st({ run: run("ok"), watched: { watched: 7 } }));
     await drop([file("watch-history.json"), file("bad.html"), file("Watch later-videos.csv")]);
 
     await waitFor(() => expect(line()).toContain("settings.takeout.count.watched(7,7)"));
@@ -183,7 +195,7 @@ describe("YouTube history import · the upload", () => {
   });
 
   it("names the file being sent, then never shows the previous import's line before the new one", async () => {
-    const status = mount({ run: run("ok", { finished_at: "OLD" }), watched: {} });
+    const status = mount(st({ run: run("ok", { finished_at: "OLD" }), watched: {} }));
     await waitFor(() => expect(line()).toContain("OLD"));
     fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "settings.takeout.newImport" }));
     let finish!: (v: TakeoutUpload) => void;
@@ -197,7 +209,115 @@ describe("YouTube history import · the upload", () => {
     await act(async () => finish(uploaded(1)));
     // The new run is still being read: the upload's line stays, the old import's does not return.
     expect(screen.queryByTestId("takeout-last")).toBeNull();
-    await act(async () => answer({ run: run("ok", { finished_at: "NEW" }), watched: {} }));
+    await act(async () => answer(st({ run: run("ok", { finished_at: "NEW" }), watched: {} })));
     await waitFor(() => expect(line()).toContain("NEW"));
   });
 });
+
+describe("YouTube history import · while it runs", () => {
+  it("a queued import is this upload's, not the last one: the running line until its run reads", async () => {
+    const spy = mount(st({ queued: true, run: run("ok", { finished_at: "OLD" }), watched: {} }));
+    await waitFor(() =>
+      expect(screen.getByTestId("takeout-running").textContent).toBe("settings.takeout.running"),
+    );
+    expect(screen.queryByTestId("takeout-last")).toBeNull();
+    spy.mockResolvedValue(st({ run: run("ok", { finished_at: "NEW" }), watched: {} }));
+    await waitFor(() => expect(line()).toContain("NEW"), { timeout: 3000 });
+  });
+
+  it("a re-read that fails mid-run does not leave the spinner claiming progress under it", async () => {
+    const spy = mount(st({ run: run("running"), watched: {} }));
+    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByTestId("takeout-running")).toBeTruthy());
+    spy.mockRejectedValue(new HttpError(500, "boom"));
+    await waitFor(
+      () => expect(screen.getByRole("alert").textContent).toContain("settings.takeout.loadFailed"),
+      { timeout: 3000 },
+    );
+    expect(screen.queryByTestId("takeout-running")).toBeNull();
+    spy.mockResolvedValue(st({ run: run("ok"), watched: {} }));
+    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.queryByRole("alert")).toBeNull(), { timeout: 3000 });
+  });
+
+  it("one live region says the run and then its outcome", async () => {
+    const spy = mount(st({ run: run("running"), watched: {} }));
+    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByTestId("takeout-running")).toBeTruthy());
+    const region = screen.getByRole("status");
+    spy.mockResolvedValue(st({ run: run("ok"), watched: { watched: 2 } }));
+    await waitFor(() => expect(line()).toContain("watched(2,2)"), { timeout: 3000 });
+    expect(screen.getByRole("status")).toBe(region);
+    expect(region.contains(screen.getByTestId("takeout-last"))).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("a file dropped beside the zone is kept from the browser, which would open it", async () => {
+    mount(st({ run: null, watched: {} }));
+    await waitFor(() => expect(zone()).toBeTruthy());
+    const missed = (type: string, types: string[]) => {
+      const e = new Event(type, { bubbles: true, cancelable: true });
+      Object.defineProperty(e, "dataTransfer", { value: { types, dropEffect: "copy" } });
+      document.body.dispatchEvent(e);
+      return e;
+    };
+    expect(missed("drop", ["Files"]).defaultPrevented).toBe(true);
+    expect(missed("dragover", ["Files"]).defaultPrevented).toBe(true);
+    // A drag of something else (a link, text) is the page's own business.
+    expect(missed("drop", ["text/plain"]).defaultPrevented).toBe(false);
+    cleanup();
+    expect(missed("drop", ["Files"]).defaultPrevented).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("a file larger than the import takes is refused before it is sent, naming the limit", async () => {
+    mount(st({ max_bytes: 10, run: run("ok"), watched: {} }));
+    await waitFor(() => expect(line()).toBeTruthy());
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "settings.takeout.newImport" }));
+    const send = vi.spyOn(api, "takeoutUpload").mockResolvedValue(uploaded(1));
+    await drop([file("watch-history.json", 11)]);
+    expect(send).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(mocks.notify).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      level: "error",
+      message: "settings.takeout.tooLarge(watch-history.json,10 B)",
+    });
+    // Nothing was taken: the zone stays open for the right file, and so after a refusal.
+    await waitFor(() => expect(zone()).toBeTruthy());
+    send.mockRejectedValue(new HttpError(422, "refused"));
+    await drop([file("bad.html")]);
+    await waitFor(() => expect(mocks.notifyActionError).toHaveBeenCalled());
+    expect(zone()).toBeTruthy();
+  });
+
+  it("the focus follows: New import hands it to the zone, the zone back to New import", async () => {
+    const spy = mount(st({ run: run("ok", { finished_at: "OLD" }), watched: {} }));
+    await waitFor(() => expect(line()).toContain("OLD"));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "settings.takeout.newImport" }));
+    expect(document.activeElement).toBe(zone());
+
+    vi.spyOn(api, "takeoutUpload").mockResolvedValue(uploaded(1));
+    spy.mockResolvedValue(
+      st({ queued: true, run: run("ok", { finished_at: "OLD" }), watched: {} }),
+    );
+    await drop([file("watch-history.json")]);
+    // While it runs the zone stays, unavailable, and keeps the focus.
+    expect(document.activeElement).toBe(zone());
+    expect(unavailable(zone())).toBe(true);
+    spy.mockResolvedValue(st({ run: run("ok", { finished_at: "NEW" }), watched: {} }));
+    await waitFor(() => expect(line()).toContain("NEW"), { timeout: 3000 });
+    expect(zone()).toBeNull();
+    expect(document.activeElement).toBe(
+      screen.getByRole("button", { name: "settings.takeout.newImport" }),
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("a focus the user moved elsewhere meanwhile is not taken back", async () => {
+    const spy = mount(st({ run: null, watched: {} }));
+    await waitFor(() => expect(zone()).toBeTruthy());
+    const elsewhere = document.body.appendChild(document.createElement("button"));
+    zone()!.focus();
+    vi.spyOn(api, "takeoutUpload").mockResolvedValue(uploaded(1));
+    spy.mockResolvedValue(st({ queued: true, run: null, watched: {} }));
+    await drop([file("watch-history.json")]);
+    elsewhere.focus();
+    spy.mockResolvedValue(st({ run: run("ok", { finished_at: "NEW" }), watched: {} }));
+    await waitFor(() => expect(line()).toContain("NEW"), { timeout: 3000 });
+    expect(document.activeElement).toBe(elsewhere);
+    elsewhere.remove();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/frontend/src/modules/settings/TakeoutImport.tsx b/frontend/src/modules/settings/TakeoutImport.tsx
index 2c57466a..9bab8821 100644
--- a/frontend/src/modules/settings/TakeoutImport.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/modules/settings/TakeoutImport.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
+import { useEffect, useRef, useState } from "react";
 import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
 import { useQuery, useQueryClient } from "@tanstack/react-query";
 import { RefreshCw, UploadCloud } from "lucide-react";
@@ -6,19 +6,19 @@ import { Section } from "../../components/ui/form";
 import { Button } from "../../components/ui/Button";
 import { DropZone } from "../../components/ui/DropZone";
 import { StateMessage } from "../../components/ui/QueryState";
-import { api, type TakeoutStatus } from "../../lib/api";
+import { api, type TakeoutStatus, type TakeoutUpload } from "../../lib/api";
+import type { TAKEOUT_OUTCOMES } from "../../lib/api/feed";
 import { qk } from "../../lib/queryKeys";
 import { notify } from "../../lib/notifications";
 import { notifyActionError } from "../../lib/actionErrors";
-import { formatDateTime, formatNumber } from "../../lib/format";
+import { formatBytes, formatDateTime, formatNumber } from "../../lib/format";
+import { importBusy, invalidateImported, watchTakeout } from "./takeoutWatch";
 
 // Settings › Account: the user's Google Takeout export, imported. What they watched on YouTube and
 // their YouTube Watch later list reach no API, so the export's two files are uploaded here, one
 // request each; the server tells them apart and runs the import in the background, and its outcome
 // also reaches the inbox. The import has no steps to count (the whole history is applied in one
-// go), so while it runs the section says so and asks again until it is done.
-
-const POLL_MS = 1500;
+// go), so while it runs the section says so and asks again until it is done (`takeoutWatch`).
 
 // The outcome counts, in the order they are said: the history's, then Watch later's. A count the
 // import did not produce is not said at all.
@@ -35,6 +35,12 @@ const WATCH_LATER = [
   ["waiting", "laterWaiting"],
 ] as const;
 
+// Every outcome the server can name is said by one of the two lists (feed.ts holds them to it).
+type TakeoutOutcome = (typeof TAKEOUT_OUTCOMES)[number];
+type Said = (typeof HISTORY)[number][0] | (typeof WATCH_LATER)[number][0];
+const everyOutcomeSaid: [Exclude<TakeoutOutcome, Said>] extends [never] ? true : never = true;
+void everyOutcomeSaid;
+
 function countParts(s: TakeoutStatus, say: (key: string, n: number) => string): string[] {
   const parts: string[] = [];
   for (const [outcome, key] of HISTORY) {
@@ -52,58 +58,111 @@ export default function TakeoutImport() {
   const { t, i18n } = useTranslation();
   const lang = i18n.language;
   const qc = useQueryClient();
-  const status = useQuery({
-    queryKey: qk.takeout(),
-    queryFn: api.takeoutStatus,
-    refetchInterval: (q) => (q.state.data?.run?.status === "running" ? POLL_MS : false),
-  });
+  const status = useQuery({ queryKey: qk.takeout(), queryFn: api.takeoutStatus });
   const [uploading, setUploading] = useState<string | null>(null);
   // "New import" reopens the drop zone over a finished one; before the first import it is open.
   const [reopened, setReopened] = useState(false);
   const run = status.data?.run ?? null;
-  const running = uploading !== null || run?.status === "running";
+  // Queued counts too: until its run row is written, `run` is still the import before it.
+  const busy = importBusy(status.data);
+  const running = uploading !== null || busy;
   const finishedAt = run?.finished_at ?? null;
 
-  // A run that ended has changed what the feed and Watch later show: those lists are read again
-  // when the user next opens them, not 30 s later from the cache.
+  // A run under way is watched to its end, even if the user leaves Settings meanwhile.
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (!finishedAt) return;
-    void qc.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: qk.feed() });
-    void qc.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: qk.playlist() });
+    if (busy) void watchTakeout(qc);
+  }, [busy, qc]);
+  // One that ended while nothing here watched it (a reload, another tab) has changed what the feed
+  // and Watch later show too: those lists are read again when next opened, not from the cache.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (finishedAt) invalidateImported(qc);
   }, [finishedAt, qc]);
 
+  // A file dropped beside the zone, or while it is not there, is kept from the browser: it would
+  // open the file in the tab, unloading the app and the upload under way. The zone takes its own.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const missed = (e: DragEvent) => {
+      if (e.defaultPrevented || !e.dataTransfer?.types.includes("Files")) return;
+      e.preventDefault();
+      if (e.type === "dragover") e.dataTransfer.dropEffect = "none";
+    };
+    window.addEventListener("dragover", missed);
+    window.addEventListener("drop", missed);
+    return () => {
+      window.removeEventListener("dragover", missed);
+      window.removeEventListener("drop", missed);
+    };
+  }, []);
+
+  // Where the focus goes when what holds it leaves: "New import" hands it to the zone it opens, and
+  // the zone, gone once the import it started is done, hands it to "New import".
+  const zone = useRef<HTMLButtonElement | null>(null);
+  const focusNext = useRef<"zone" | "newImport" | null>(null);
+  const focusIfNext = (which: "zone" | "newImport", el: HTMLButtonElement | null) => {
+    if (!el || focusNext.current !== which) return;
+    focusNext.current = null;
+    // Only focus that was lost with the control that held it: never taken from where the user went.
+    if (document.activeElement === null || document.activeElement === document.body) el.focus();
+  };
+  const zoneRef = (el: HTMLButtonElement | null) => {
+    zone.current = el;
+    focusIfNext("zone", el);
+  };
+  const newImportRef = (el: HTMLButtonElement | null) => focusIfNext("newImport", el);
+
   const upload = async (files: File[]) => {
-    for (const file of files) await uploadOne(file);
+    if (document.activeElement === zone.current) focusNext.current = "newImport";
+    let taken = false;
+    for (const file of files) if (await uploadOne(file)) taken = true;
     // The new run read first, then the upload's line let go: the other way round the previous
     // import's line showed for a moment, as if this upload had done nothing.
     await qc.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: qk.takeout() });
     setUploading(null);
-    setReopened(false);
+    // Nothing taken, nothing imported: the zone stays open for the right file.
+    if (taken) setReopened(false);
+    else focusNext.current = null;
   };
-  const uploadOne = async (file: File) => {
-    setUploading(file.name);
-    try {
-      const res = await api.takeoutUpload(file);
+  /** Send one file; whether the server took it. */
+  const uploadOne = async (file: File): Promise<boolean> => {
+    const max = status.data?.max_bytes ?? Infinity;
+    if (file.size > max) {
+      // Refused here, not after minutes of upload, and with the limit named.
       notify({
-        level: "success",
-        message: t("settings.takeout.read", {
-          name: file.name,
-          count: res.videos,
-          n: formatNumber(res.videos, lang),
-        }),
+        level: "error",
+        message: t("settings.takeout.tooLarge", { name: file.name, limit: formatBytes(max, lang) }),
       });
+      return false;
+    }
+    setUploading(file.name);
+    let res: TakeoutUpload | null = null;
+    try {
+      res = await api.takeoutUpload(file);
     } catch (e) {
       // A refusal names its reason (not a Takeout file, nothing in it); the next file still goes.
       notifyActionError(e, t("errors.writeFailed.takeoutUpload"));
     }
+    if (res === null) return false;
+    notify({
+      level: "success",
+      message: t("settings.takeout.read", {
+        name: file.name,
+        count: res.videos,
+        n: formatNumber(res.videos, lang),
+      }),
+    });
+    return true;
   };
 
   const say = (key: string, n: number) =>
     t(`settings.takeout.count.${key}`, { count: n, n: formatNumber(n, lang) });
   const when = (iso: string | null) => (iso ? formatDateTime(iso, lang) : "");
   // Not while the last import is still being asked for: a zone that flashes before the line that
-  // replaces it would offer a first import to someone who has done one.
-  const showZone = status.isSuccess && !running && (run === null || reopened);
+  // replaces it would offer a first import to someone who has done one. While an import runs the
+  // zone stays, unavailable: the control that started it keeps the focus.
+  const showZone = status.isSuccess && (running || run === null || reopened);
+  // A failed re-read keeps the previous answer: it is not shown under the line saying the read
+  // failed, as if it were current — a run's spinner no more than its outcome.
+  const current = !status.isError || uploading !== null;
 
   return (
     <Section title={t("settings.takeout.title")}>
@@ -117,7 +176,14 @@ export default function TakeoutImport() {
 
       {showZone && (
         <>
-          <DropZone className="px-4 py-5" multiple accept=".json,.csv" onFiles={upload}>
+          <DropZone
+            ref={zoneRef}
+            className="px-4 py-5"
+            multiple
+            accept=".json,.csv"
+            disabled={running}
+            onFiles={upload}
+          >
             {(dragOver) => (
               <>
                 <UploadCloud className="w-6 h-6 text-muted" />
@@ -138,42 +204,49 @@ export default function TakeoutImport() {
         </>
       )}
 
-      {running ? (
-        <div
-          className="mt-2 flex items-center gap-2 text-xs text-muted"
-          role="status"
-          data-testid="takeout-running"
-        >
-          <RefreshCw className="w-3.5 h-3.5 animate-spin" />
-          {uploading !== null
-            ? t("settings.takeout.uploading", { name: uploading })
-            : t("settings.takeout.running")}
+      <div className="mt-2 flex items-center justify-between gap-3">
+        {/* One live region for the run and its outcome, mounted throughout: what replaces
+            "Processing…" is announced, which a region mounted with its text is not. */}
+        <div role="status" className="min-w-0 text-xs text-muted">
+          {running && current ? (
+            <span className="flex items-center gap-2" data-testid="takeout-running">
+              <RefreshCw className="w-3.5 h-3.5 animate-spin" />
+              {uploading !== null
+                ? t("settings.takeout.uploading", { name: uploading })
+                : t("settings.takeout.running")}
+            </span>
+          ) : (
+            !running &&
+            run &&
+            status.data &&
+            current && (
+              <p data-testid="takeout-last">
+                {run.status === "error"
+                  ? t("settings.takeout.failed", { when: when(run.finished_at) })
+                  : run.status === "interrupted"
+                    ? t("settings.takeout.interrupted", { when: when(run.started_at) })
+                    : [
+                        t("settings.takeout.last", { when: when(run.finished_at) }),
+                        ...countParts(status.data, say),
+                      ].join(" · ")}
+              </p>
+            )
+          )}
         </div>
-      ) : (
-        // A failed re-read keeps the previous answer: it is not shown under the line saying the
-        // read failed, as if it were current.
-        run &&
-        status.data &&
-        !status.isError && (
-          <div className="mt-2 flex items-center justify-between gap-3">
-            <p className="text-xs text-muted" data-testid="takeout-last">
-              {run.status === "error"
-                ? t("settings.takeout.failed", { when: when(run.finished_at) })
-                : run.status === "interrupted"
-                  ? t("settings.takeout.interrupted", { when: when(run.started_at) })
-                  : [
-                      t("settings.takeout.last", { when: when(run.finished_at) }),
-                      ...countParts(status.data, say),
-                    ].join(" · ")}
-            </p>
-            {!reopened && (
-              <Button variant="outline" size="sm" onClick={() => setReopened(true)}>
-                {t("settings.takeout.newImport")}
-              </Button>
-            )}
-          </div>
-        )
-      )}
+        {!running && run && status.data && current && !reopened && (
+          <Button
+            ref={newImportRef}
+            variant="outline"
+            size="sm"
+            onClick={() => {
+              focusNext.current = "zone";
+              setReopened(true);
+            }}
+          >
+            {t("settings.takeout.newImport")}
+          </Button>
+        )}
+      </div>
     </Section>
   );
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/modules/settings/takeoutWatch.test.ts b/frontend/src/modules/settings/takeoutWatch.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c2d435d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/modules/settings/takeoutWatch.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+// @vitest-environment jsdom
+//
+// A Takeout import is watched to its end whether or not its section is still on screen, and what it
+// changed is read afresh then: the feed and its counts, Watch later, and the playlists' sizes.
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { QueryClient } from "@tanstack/react-query";
+import { api, type TakeoutStatus } from "../../lib/api";
+import { qk } from "../../lib/queryKeys";
+import { importBusy, watchTakeout } from "./takeoutWatch";
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  vi.restoreAllMocks();
+  vi.useRealTimers();
+});
+
+const st = (s: Partial<TakeoutStatus>): TakeoutStatus => ({
+  queued: false,
+  max_bytes: 1,
+  run: null,
+  ...s,
+});
+const running = {
+  status: "running",
+  started_at: "S",
+  finished_at: null,
+  result: null,
+  failure: null,
+};
+
+describe("the Takeout import's watch", () => {
+  it("a queued import is busy as much as a running one", () => {
+    expect(importBusy(st({ queued: true }))).toBe(true);
+    expect(importBusy(st({ run: { ...running, status: "running" } as TakeoutStatus["run"] }))).toBe(
+      true,
+    );
+    expect(importBusy(st({ run: { ...running, status: "ok" } as TakeoutStatus["run"] }))).toBe(
+      false,
+    );
+    expect(importBusy(undefined)).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("asks until the import is done, then reads again everything it changed", async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers();
+    const qc = new QueryClient();
+    qc.setQueryData(qk.takeout(), st({ queued: true }));
+    const answers = [st({ run: running as TakeoutStatus["run"] }), st({})];
+    const read = vi.spyOn(api, "takeoutStatus").mockImplementation(async () => answers.shift()!);
+    const stale = vi.spyOn(qc, "invalidateQueries");
+
+    const done = watchTakeout(qc);
+    void watchTakeout(qc); // a second call while it watches is the same watch
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1500);
+    expect(read).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(stale).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1500);
+    await done;
+
+    expect(read).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+    expect(stale.mock.calls.map(([f]) => f?.queryKey)).toEqual([
+      qk.feed(),
+      qk.feedSummary(),
+      qk.feedYears(),
+      qk.playlist(),
+      qk.playlists(),
+    ]);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/frontend/src/modules/settings/takeoutWatch.ts b/frontend/src/modules/settings/takeoutWatch.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..13855b2f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/modules/settings/takeoutWatch.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+import type { QueryClient } from "@tanstack/react-query";
+import { api, type TakeoutStatus } from "../../lib/api";
+import { qk } from "../../lib/queryKeys";
+
+// A Takeout import, watched to its end: its status is asked again until no run is queued or going,
+// then the lists it changed are read afresh. It lives outside the section on purpose: the user may
+// leave Settings while the import runs, and the feed they go to must not keep showing as new what
+// the import has just marked watched.
+
+const POLL_MS = 1500;
+
+export const importBusy = (s: TakeoutStatus | undefined): boolean =>
+  !!s && (s.queued || s.run?.status === "running");
+
+let watching = false;
+
+const pause = () => new Promise<void>((done) => setTimeout(done, POLL_MS));
+
+async function read(qc: QueryClient): Promise<TakeoutStatus | undefined> {
+  try {
+    return await qc.fetchQuery({
+      queryKey: qk.takeout(),
+      queryFn: api.takeoutStatus,
+      staleTime: 0,
+    });
+  } catch {
+    // A read that failed is the section's to say (its query holds the error); the watch asks again.
+    return qc.getQueryData<TakeoutStatus>(qk.takeout());
+  }
+}
+
+/** Mark stale everything an import may have changed: the feed and its counts, Watch later, and the
+ *  playlists that show its size. */
+export function invalidateImported(qc: QueryClient): void {
+  for (const queryKey of [
+    qk.feed(),
+    qk.feedSummary(),
+    qk.feedYears(),
+    qk.playlist(),
+    qk.playlists(),
+  ])
+    void qc.invalidateQueries({ queryKey });
+}
+
+/** Watch the user's import until it is done (once: a second call while it watches is that watch),
+ *  then mark stale what it changed. */
+export async function watchTakeout(qc: QueryClient): Promise<void> {
+  if (watching) return;
+  watching = true;
+  let status = qc.getQueryData<TakeoutStatus>(qk.takeout());
+  while (importBusy(status)) {
+    await pause();
+    status = await read(qc);
+  }
+  watching = false;
+  invalidateImported(qc);
+}
diff --git a/scripts/e2e_seed.py b/scripts/e2e_seed.py
index c4a1be6c..8fa5236c 100644
--- a/scripts/e2e_seed.py
+++ b/scripts/e2e_seed.py
@@ -181,6 +181,28 @@ def _seed_account(db, email: str, role: str, display_name: str) -> dict:
             saved = svid.id
     db.commit()
 
+    # 5. Videos the Takeout import marks watched: from the subscribed channels, and already cleared by
+    #    the Shorts probe — one not yet probed would wait for it, and the import spec would count
+    #    nothing. One per browser project: they share this account, and a video imported once is not
+    #    marked again.
+    known = (
+        list(
+            db.scalars(
+                select(Video.id)
+                .where(
+                    Video.channel_id.in_(channel_ids),
+                    Video.shorts_probed.is_(True),
+                    Video.is_short.is_(False),
+                    Video.id.not_in(used | {saved} if saved else used),
+                )
+                .order_by(Video.published_at.desc())
+                .limit(5)
+            )
+        )
+        if channel_ids
+        else []
+    )
+
     return {
         "user_id": user.id,
         "email": email,
@@ -188,6 +210,7 @@ def _seed_account(db, email: str, role: str, display_name: str) -> dict:
         "in_progress": in_progress,
         "watched": watched,
         "saved": saved,
+        "takeout_known": known,
     }