diff --git a/frontend/src/components/AdminUsers.tsx b/frontend/src/components/AdminUsers.tsx
index 720e1c71..09bca40d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/AdminUsers.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/AdminUsers.tsx
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import { notify } from "../lib/notifications";
 import { ADMIN_USERS_TAB_KEY } from "../lib/adminUsersTab";
 import Tooltip from "./Tooltip";
 import { Section } from "./ui/form";
-import { StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
+import { LoadingState, StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import { useConfirm } from "./ConfirmProvider";
 import Tabs, { usePersistedTab } from "./Tabs";
 import { PageToolbar } from "./PageShell";
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ function UsersRoles({ me }: { me: Me }) {
           {t("common.loadError")}
         </StateMessage>
       ) : q.isLoading && !q.data ? (
-        <p className="text-sm text-muted">{t("common.loading")}</p>
+        <LoadingState />
       ) : rows.length === 0 ? (
         <p className="text-sm text-muted">{t("users.roles.empty")}</p>
       ) : (
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ function AdminInvites() {
           {t("common.loadError")}
         </StateMessage>
       ) : invites.isLoading && !invites.data ? (
-        <p className="text-sm text-muted">{t("common.loading")}</p>
+        <LoadingState />
       ) : pending.length === 0 ? (
         <p className="text-sm text-muted">{t("settings.invites.noPending")}</p>
       ) : (
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/AuditLog.tsx b/frontend/src/components/AuditLog.tsx
index c4feda96..d413e6fa 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/AuditLog.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/AuditLog.tsx
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import { LS } from "../lib/storage";
 import { Section } from "./ui/form";
 import { useConfirm } from "./ConfirmProvider";
 import DataTable from "./DataTable";
-import { StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
+import { LoadingState, StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import { auditColumns } from "./auditColumns";
 
 // Admin-only audit trail: an append-only who/what/when log of admin actions + scheduler run
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ export default function AuditLog() {
             {t("common.loadError")}
           </StateMessage>
         ) : q.isLoading ? (
-          <div className="text-muted py-8">{t("common.loading")}</div>
+          <LoadingState />
         ) : rows.length === 0 ? (
           <p className="text-sm text-muted">{t("audit.empty")}</p>
         ) : (
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ChannelDiscovery.tsx b/frontend/src/components/ChannelDiscovery.tsx
index 124368bd..46c69ad9 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ChannelDiscovery.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ChannelDiscovery.tsx
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import ChannelLink from "./ChannelLink";
 import AboutCell from "./AboutCell";
 import DataTable, { type Column } from "./DataTable";
 import ChannelLayoutGrid from "./ChannelLayoutGrid";
-import { StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
+import { LoadingState, StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import ColumnSortControl from "./ColumnSortControl";
 import Pager from "./Pager";
 import { PageToolbar } from "./PageShell";
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ export default function ChannelDiscovery({
             {t("common.loadError")}
           </StateMessage>
         ) : query.isLoading ? (
-          <div className="text-muted py-8">{t("channels.discovery.loading")}</div>
+          <LoadingState label={t("channels.discovery.loading")} />
         ) : layout === "table" ? (
           <DataTable
             rows={rows}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Channels.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Channels.tsx
index 760d6c1b..3784f5b5 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Channels.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Channels.tsx
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ import { notify } from "../lib/notifications";
 import Tooltip from "./Tooltip";
 import DataTable, { type Column } from "./DataTable";
 import ChannelLayoutGrid from "./ChannelLayoutGrid";
-import { StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
+import { LoadingState, StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import Overlay from "./Overlay";
 import ViewSwitcher, { type ViewOption } from "./ViewSwitcher";
 import ColumnSortControl from "./ColumnSortControl";
@@ -715,7 +715,7 @@ export default function Channels() {
               {t("common.loadError")}
             </StateMessage>
           ) : channelsQuery.isLoading ? (
-            <div className="text-muted py-8">{t("channels.loading")}</div>
+            <LoadingState label={t("channels.loading")} />
           ) : layout === "table" ? (
             <DataTable
               rows={visibleChannels}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ChatThread.tsx b/frontend/src/components/ChatThread.tsx
index 07c500e4..f0fdb291 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ChatThread.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ChatThread.tsx
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import { Send } from "lucide-react";
 import { api, HttpError, type Message, type MessageUser } from "../lib/api";
 import { useLiveQuery } from "../lib/useLiveQuery";
 import { useScrollFade } from "../lib/useScrollFade";
-import { StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
+import { LoadingState, StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import { relativeTime } from "../lib/format";
 import { notify } from "../lib/notifications";
 import { partnerPub, POLL_MS, useKeyState } from "../lib/messaging";
@@ -147,7 +147,9 @@ export default function ChatThread({
             </StateMessage>
           </div>
         ) : q.isPending ? (
-          <div className="m-auto text-sm text-muted">{t("common.loading")}</div>
+          <div className="m-auto">
+            <LoadingState />
+          </div>
         ) : items.length === 0 ? (
           <div className="m-auto text-sm text-muted">{t("messages.threadEmpty")}</div>
         ) : (
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ConfigPanel.tsx b/frontend/src/components/ConfigPanel.tsx
index 56f740a8..b3c3d36d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ConfigPanel.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ConfigPanel.tsx
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import { api, type ConfigItem, type PlexTestResult } from "../lib/api";
 import { notify } from "../lib/notifications";
 import Tooltip from "./Tooltip";
 import Tabs, { usePersistedTab } from "./Tabs";
-import { StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
+import { LoadingState, StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import { PageToolbar } from "./PageShell";
 import { Switch } from "./ui/form";
 import { DraftSaveBar, type SaveState } from "./ui/DraftSaveBar";
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ export default function ConfigPanel() {
     );
   }
   if (q.isLoading || !data) {
-    return <div className="p-4 max-w-3xl mx-auto text-muted">{t("config.loading")}</div>;
+    return <LoadingState label={t("config.loading")} />;
   }
 
   const groupKeys = Object.keys(data.groups).sort(
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/DownloadCenter.tsx b/frontend/src/components/DownloadCenter.tsx
index a2f53c79..92dd99fe 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/DownloadCenter.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/DownloadCenter.tsx
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import {
 import clsx from "clsx";
 import Tabs, { usePersistedTab } from "./Tabs";
 import { PageToolbar } from "./PageShell";
-import { StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
+import { LoadingState, StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import Modal from "./Modal";
 // Lazy: these dialogs/editors open on demand, so they stay out of the Downloads page chunk until
 // used (the video editor in particular is heavy — filmstrip + scrubber).
@@ -810,7 +810,7 @@ export default function DownloadCenter() {
                     {t("common.loadError")}
                   </StateMessage>
                 ) : jobsQ.isLoading ? (
-                  <div className="text-sm text-muted py-10 text-center">{t("common.loading")}</div>
+                  <LoadingState />
                 ) : (
                   <div className="text-sm text-muted py-10 text-center">
                     {t("downloads.empty.queue")}
@@ -874,7 +874,7 @@ export default function DownloadCenter() {
                     {t("common.loadError")}
                   </StateMessage>
                 ) : jobsQ.isLoading ? (
-                  <div className="text-sm text-muted py-10 text-center">{t("common.loading")}</div>
+                  <LoadingState />
                 ) : (
                   <div className="text-sm text-muted py-10 text-center">
                     {t("downloads.empty.done")}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Feed.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Feed.tsx
index 22c02484..0da24e0b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Feed.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Feed.tsx
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ import {
 import { FEED_VIEWS, type FeedView } from "../lib/feedView";
 import { clearedFilters, useActiveFilters } from "../lib/useActiveFilters";
 import ActiveFilterChips from "./ActiveFilterChips";
-import { StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
+import { LoadingState, StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import { PageToolbar } from "./PageShell";
 import { useWizard } from "./WizardProvider";
 import ViewSwitcher from "./ViewSwitcher";
@@ -493,7 +493,7 @@ export default function Feed({
     );
   }
 
-  if (query.isLoading) return <div className="p-8 text-muted">{t("feed.loading")}</div>;
+  if (query.isLoading) return <LoadingState label={t("feed.loading")} />;
   if (query.isError && !query.data)
     return (
       <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => query.refetch()}>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Messages.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Messages.tsx
index b3ab6ff8..399f2d0c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Messages.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Messages.tsx
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { useQuery } from "@tanstack/react-query";
 import { ArrowLeft, ShieldCheck, SquarePen, ExternalLink } from "lucide-react";
 import { api, type Conversation, type MessageUser } from "../lib/api";
 import { useLiveQuery } from "../lib/useLiveQuery";
-import { StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
+import { LoadingState, StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import { relativeTime } from "../lib/format";
 import { partnerPub, POLL_MS, SYSTEM_ID, useKeyState } from "../lib/messaging";
 import { useHistorySubview } from "../lib/history";
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ function ConversationList({
           {t("common.loadError")}
         </StateMessage>
       ) : q.isLoading && !q.data ? (
-        <div className="p-8 text-muted text-center">{t("common.loading")}</div>
+        <LoadingState />
       ) : items.length === 0 ? (
         <div className="glass rounded-2xl p-10 text-center text-muted">{t("messages.empty")}</div>
       ) : (
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ function Directory({ onPick, onBack }: { onPick: (u: MessageUser) => void; onBac
           {t("common.loadError")}
         </StateMessage>
       ) : q.isLoading ? (
-        <div className="p-8 text-muted text-center">{t("common.loading")}</div>
+        <LoadingState />
       ) : users.length === 0 ? (
         <div className="glass rounded-2xl p-10 text-center text-muted">
           {t("messages.noPeople")}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/NotificationsPanel.tsx b/frontend/src/components/NotificationsPanel.tsx
index 43d7f1c6..3661ef01 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/NotificationsPanel.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/NotificationsPanel.tsx
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ import {
 import { channelYouTubeUrl, relativeFromMs, relativeTime } from "../lib/format";
 import { LEVEL_STYLE } from "./Toaster";
 import { PageToolbar } from "./PageShell";
-import { StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
+import { LoadingState, StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import { useNavigationActions } from "./NavigationProvider";
 import { useChannelsActions } from "./ChannelsProvider";
 import { useFeedFilters, useFeedFiltersActions } from "./FeedFiltersProvider";
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ export default function NotificationsPanel() {
             {t("common.loadError")}
           </StateMessage>
         ) : q.isLoading && !q.data && clientItems.length === 0 ? (
-          <div className="p-8 text-muted text-center">{t("common.loading")}</div>
+          <LoadingState />
         ) : !hasAny ? (
           <div className="glass rounded-2xl p-10 text-center text-muted">
             <Bell className="w-8 h-8 mx-auto mb-3 opacity-40" />
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/PlexBrowse.tsx b/frontend/src/components/PlexBrowse.tsx
index 908b8a3d..6678fd27 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/PlexBrowse.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/PlexBrowse.tsx
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ import {
 } from "../lib/plexDetailUi";
 import PlexPlaylistAdd, { type PlexAddTarget } from "./PlexPlaylistAdd";
 import PlexCollectionEditor from "./PlexCollectionEditor";
-import { StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
+import { LoadingState, StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import { PageToolbar } from "./PageShell";
 import { usePlex, usePlexActions } from "./PlexProvider";
 
@@ -604,7 +604,7 @@ function PlexInfoView({
           {t("common.loadError")}
         </StateMessage>
       ) : q.isLoading || !q.data ? (
-        <p className="p-8 text-muted text-sm">{t("plex.loading")}</p>
+        <LoadingState label={t("plex.loading")} />
       ) : (
         <Suspense fallback={<p className="p-8 text-muted text-sm">{t("plex.loading")}</p>}>
           <PlexInfo
@@ -1027,7 +1027,7 @@ function PlexShowView({
           {t("common.loadError")}
         </StateMessage>
       ) : q.isLoading || !d || !show ? (
-        <p className="text-muted text-sm">{t("plex.loading")}</p>
+        <LoadingState label={t("plex.loading")} />
       ) : (
         <>
           {/* Hero */}
@@ -1263,7 +1263,7 @@ function PlexSeasonView({
           {t("common.loadError")}
         </StateMessage>
       ) : q.isLoading || !d || !se ? (
-        <p className="text-muted text-sm">{t("plex.loading")}</p>
+        <LoadingState label={t("plex.loading")} />
       ) : (
         <>
           <div className="glass relative rounded-2xl p-4 sm:p-5 mb-8 flex gap-4 sm:gap-5">
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/PlexPlaylistView.tsx b/frontend/src/components/PlexPlaylistView.tsx
index 0e847bd4..d9d94488 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/PlexPlaylistView.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/PlexPlaylistView.tsx
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ import {
 import { api, type PlexCard } from "../lib/api";
 import { getAccountRaw, LS, setAccountRaw } from "../lib/storage";
 import { useConfirm } from "./ConfirmProvider";
-import { StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
+import { LoadingState, StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 
 // A playlist's items, grouped for readability: movies stay standalone, while a run of episodes from the
 // same show collapses into a season/show group so a whole series doesn't sprawl into an endless flat
@@ -582,7 +582,7 @@ export default function PlexPlaylistView({
             {t("common.loadError")}
           </StateMessage>
         ) : q.isLoading ? (
-          <p className="py-6 text-center text-sm text-muted">{t("plex.loading")}</p>
+          <LoadingState label={t("plex.loading")} />
         ) : items.length === 0 ? (
           <p className="py-6 text-center text-sm text-muted">{t("plex.playlist.empty")}</p>
         ) : (
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/QueryState.tsx b/frontend/src/components/QueryState.tsx
index 57f42199..374413e1 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/QueryState.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/QueryState.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,23 @@
 import type { ReactNode } from "react";
 import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
-import { AlertTriangle } from "lucide-react";
+import { AlertTriangle, Loader2 } from "lucide-react";
+
+// Centered loading state: a spinning accent ring + an optional label. The single shared loading
+// visual for a page/section's first load, so all of them read the same (and can be swapped for
+// skeletons later in one place). `role=status`/`aria-live` announces it to screen readers.
+export function LoadingState({ label, className = "" }: { label?: ReactNode; className?: string }) {
+  const { t } = useTranslation();
+  return (
+    <div
+      className={`flex flex-col items-center gap-3 py-10 text-sm text-muted ${className}`}
+      role="status"
+      aria-live="polite"
+    >
+      <Loader2 className="w-6 h-6 animate-spin text-accent" aria-hidden />
+      <span>{label ?? t("common.loading")}</span>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
 
 // Centered inline status line for a page/section's loading and error(+retry) states, in the house
 // style (mirrors Playlists' error block). Text-only by design — R3's goal is to stop pages
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Scheduler.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Scheduler.tsx
index 05ae6635..ddd48393 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Scheduler.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Scheduler.tsx
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import {
 } from "lucide-react";
 import { api, type SchedulerJob, type SchedulerStatus } from "../lib/api";
 import { useLiveQuery } from "../lib/useLiveQuery";
-import { StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
+import { LoadingState, StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import { useConfirm } from "./ConfirmProvider";
 import { relativeTime } from "../lib/format";
 import { notify } from "../lib/notifications";
@@ -429,7 +429,7 @@ export default function Scheduler() {
         {t("common.loadError")}
       </StateMessage>
     );
-  if (q.isLoading && !data) return <div className="p-8 text-muted">{t("scheduler.loading")}</div>;
+  if (q.isLoading && !data) return <LoadingState label={t("scheduler.loading")} />;
   if (!data) return <div className="p-8 text-muted">{t("common.somethingWrong")}</div>;
 
   const quotaPct = data.quota.daily_budget
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Stats.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Stats.tsx
index 543453d0..863edc00 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Stats.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Stats.tsx
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import { formatEta, quotaActionLabel } from "../lib/format";
 import { notify } from "../lib/notifications";
 import { LS, useAccountPersistedState } from "../lib/storage";
 import Tooltip from "./Tooltip";
-import { StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
+import { LoadingState, StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import { Section, SettingRow } from "./ui/form";
 import { useMe } from "../lib/useMe";
 
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ function Overview({ me }: { me: Me }) {
             {t("common.loadError")}
           </StateMessage>
         ) : (
-          <div className="text-muted text-sm">{t("stats.sync.loading")}</div>
+          <LoadingState label={t("stats.sync.loading")} />
         )}
       </Section>
 
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ function SystemStats() {
           {t("common.loadError")}
         </StateMessage>
       ) : q.isLoading ? (
-        <div className="text-muted py-8">{t("stats.loading")}</div>
+        <LoadingState label={t("stats.loading")} />
       ) : !data ? (
         <div className="text-muted py-8">{t("stats.noData")}</div>
       ) : (