diff --git a/frontend/src/components/AuditLog.tsx b/frontend/src/components/AuditLog.tsx
index 12fb281b..106ccff1 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/AuditLog.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/AuditLog.tsx
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { LS } from "../lib/storage";
 import { Section } from "./ui/form";
 import { useConfirm } from "./ConfirmProvider";
 import DataTable from "./DataTable";
+import { StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import { auditColumns } from "./auditColumns";
 
 // Admin-only audit trail: an append-only who/what/when log of admin actions + scheduler run
@@ -53,7 +54,11 @@ export default function AuditLog() {
     <div className="p-4 max-w-5xl w-full mx-auto">
       <Section card title={t("audit.title")}>
         <p className="text-xs text-muted leading-relaxed mb-3">{t("audit.intro")}</p>
-        {q.isLoading ? (
+        {q.isError ? (
+          <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => q.refetch()}>
+            {t("common.loadError")}
+          </StateMessage>
+        ) : q.isLoading ? (
           <div className="text-muted py-8">{t("common.loading")}</div>
         ) : 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 7e9acf1c..74c58945 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ChannelDiscovery.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ChannelDiscovery.tsx
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import ChannelLink from "./ChannelLink";
 import AboutCell from "./AboutCell";
 import DataTable, { type Column } from "./DataTable";
 import ChannelLayoutGrid from "./ChannelLayoutGrid";
+import { StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import ColumnSortControl from "./ColumnSortControl";
 import Pager from "./Pager";
 import { PageToolbar } from "./PageShell";
@@ -223,7 +224,11 @@ export default function ChannelDiscovery({
         </div>
       </PageToolbar>
       <div className="px-4 pb-4 max-w-[96rem] mx-auto">
-        {query.isLoading ? (
+        {query.isError ? (
+          <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => query.refetch()}>
+            {t("common.loadError")}
+          </StateMessage>
+        ) : query.isLoading ? (
           <div className="text-muted py-8">{t("channels.discovery.loading")}</div>
         ) : layout === "table" ? (
           <DataTable
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Channels.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Channels.tsx
index c71bb4f1..439f8dd0 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Channels.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Channels.tsx
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import { notify } from "../lib/notifications";
 import Tooltip from "./Tooltip";
 import DataTable, { type Column } from "./DataTable";
 import ChannelLayoutGrid from "./ChannelLayoutGrid";
+import { StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import Overlay from "./Overlay";
 import ViewSwitcher, { type ViewOption } from "./ViewSwitcher";
 import ColumnSortControl from "./ColumnSortControl";
@@ -709,7 +710,11 @@ export default function Channels() {
             (status chips + pager) rides in the fixed band right above it (controlsInBand). The
             card layout swaps the table for a virtualized grid over the same rows (its pager and
             status chips ride in the fixed band above instead). */}
-          {channelsQuery.isLoading ? (
+          {channelsQuery.isError ? (
+            <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => channelsQuery.refetch()}>
+              {t("common.loadError")}
+            </StateMessage>
+          ) : channelsQuery.isLoading ? (
             <div className="text-muted py-8">{t("channels.loading")}</div>
           ) : layout === "table" ? (
             <DataTable
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/DataTable.tsx b/frontend/src/components/DataTable.tsx
index a1750074..9620dd4f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/DataTable.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/DataTable.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { sortRows, cycleSort, type SortState } from "../lib/columnSort";
 import Pager, { hasPagerContent } from "./Pager";
 import { PageToolbar } from "./PageShell";
 import { ColumnHead, alignClass, filterRows, type Column, type FilterMap } from "./tableHeader";
+import { StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 
 // A reusable, client-side data table: per-column sort + filter (in the header) + pagination,
 // with its sort/filter/page state optionally persisted to localStorage so a reload (F5) keeps
@@ -44,6 +45,9 @@ export default function DataTable<T>({
   pageSizeOptions = [10, 25, 50, 100],
   persistKey,
   emptyText,
+  loading = false,
+  error = false,
+  onRetry,
   rowClassName,
   controlsPosition = "bottom",
   controlsLeading,
@@ -61,6 +65,12 @@ export default function DataTable<T>({
   pageSizeOptions?: number[];
   persistKey?: string;
   emptyText?: string;
+  // Honest states (R3): when the caller's query is loading or errored, pass these so the table
+  // shows a loading / error(+retry) message instead of an "empty" list that lies about a failed
+  // fetch. `error` suppresses the empty-text; `onRetry` wires the retry button.
+  loading?: boolean;
+  error?: boolean;
+  onRetry?: () => void;
   rowClassName?: (row: T) => string;
   controlsPosition?: "top" | "bottom" | "both";
   controlsLeading?: ReactNode;
@@ -246,11 +256,17 @@ export default function DataTable<T>({
         ))}
       </div>
 
-      {paged.length === 0 && (
+      {error ? (
+        <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={onRetry}>
+          {t("common.loadError")}
+        </StateMessage>
+      ) : loading && paged.length === 0 ? (
+        <StateMessage>{t("common.loading")}</StateMessage>
+      ) : paged.length === 0 ? (
         <div className="text-muted py-8 text-center text-sm">
           {emptyText ?? t("datatable.empty")}
         </div>
-      )}
+      ) : null}
 
       {controlsPosition === "bottom" && controls}
       {controlsPosition === "both" && bottomControls}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Feed.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Feed.tsx
index ad465583..695e9686 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Feed.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Feed.tsx
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ import {
 import { FEED_VIEWS, type FeedView } from "../lib/feedView";
 import { clearedFilters, useActiveFilters } from "../lib/useActiveFilters";
 import ActiveFilterChips from "./ActiveFilterChips";
+import { StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import { PageToolbar } from "./PageShell";
 import { useWizard } from "./WizardProvider";
 import ViewSwitcher from "./ViewSwitcher";
@@ -493,7 +494,12 @@ export default function Feed({
   }
 
   if (query.isLoading) return <div className="p-8 text-muted">{t("feed.loading")}</div>;
-  if (query.isError) return <div className="p-8 text-muted">{t("feed.loadError")}</div>;
+  if (query.isError)
+    return (
+      <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => query.refetch()}>
+        {t("feed.loadError")}
+      </StateMessage>
+    );
   // Empty "my" feed with no YouTube access. The shared demo account can never connect
   // YouTube, so it gets a gentle nudge into the shared library instead of the connect
   // wizard; real users get the onboarding prompt. No toolbar (sort/type are meaningless).
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Messages.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Messages.tsx
index f4d65dff..44d7b4b2 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Messages.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Messages.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { useQuery } from "@tanstack/react-query";
 import { ArrowLeft, ShieldCheck, SquarePen, ExternalLink } from "lucide-react";
 import { api, type Conversation, type MessageUser } from "../lib/api";
 import { useLiveQuery } from "../lib/useLiveQuery";
+import { StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import { relativeTime } from "../lib/format";
 import { partnerPub, POLL_MS, SYSTEM_ID, useKeyState } from "../lib/messaging";
 import { useHistorySubview } from "../lib/history";
@@ -130,7 +131,11 @@ function ConversationList({
         )}
       </div>
       {(keyState === "setup" || keyState === "unlock") && <KeyGate meId={meId} />}
-      {q.isLoading && !q.data ? (
+      {q.isError && !q.data ? (
+        <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => q.refetch()}>
+          {t("common.loadError")}
+        </StateMessage>
+      ) : q.isLoading && !q.data ? (
         <div className="p-8 text-muted text-center">{t("common.loading")}</div>
       ) : items.length === 0 ? (
         <div className="glass rounded-2xl p-10 text-center text-muted">{t("messages.empty")}</div>
@@ -220,7 +225,11 @@ function Directory({ onPick, onBack }: { onPick: (u: MessageUser) => void; onBac
         placeholder={t("messages.searchPeople")}
         className="w-full bg-card border border-border rounded-xl px-3 py-2 text-sm outline-none focus:border-accent"
       />
-      {q.isLoading ? (
+      {q.isError ? (
+        <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => q.refetch()}>
+          {t("common.loadError")}
+        </StateMessage>
+      ) : q.isLoading ? (
         <div className="p-8 text-muted text-center">{t("common.loading")}</div>
       ) : users.length === 0 ? (
         <div className="glass rounded-2xl p-10 text-center text-muted">
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/NotificationsPanel.tsx b/frontend/src/components/NotificationsPanel.tsx
index a2d018a3..43d7f1c6 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/NotificationsPanel.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/NotificationsPanel.tsx
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ import {
 import { channelYouTubeUrl, relativeFromMs, relativeTime } from "../lib/format";
 import { LEVEL_STYLE } from "./Toaster";
 import { PageToolbar } from "./PageShell";
+import { StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import { useNavigationActions } from "./NavigationProvider";
 import { useChannelsActions } from "./ChannelsProvider";
 import { useFeedFilters, useFeedFiltersActions } from "./FeedFiltersProvider";
@@ -150,7 +151,11 @@ export default function NotificationsPanel() {
       </PageToolbar>
 
       <div className="px-4 pb-4 pt-3 max-w-3xl w-full mx-auto space-y-4">
-        {q.isLoading && !q.data && clientItems.length === 0 ? (
+        {q.isError && !hasAny ? (
+          <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => q.refetch()}>
+            {t("common.loadError")}
+          </StateMessage>
+        ) : q.isLoading && !q.data && clientItems.length === 0 ? (
           <div className="p-8 text-muted text-center">{t("common.loading")}</div>
         ) : !hasAny ? (
           <div className="glass rounded-2xl p-10 text-center text-muted">
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/PlexBrowse.tsx b/frontend/src/components/PlexBrowse.tsx
index 8b46ff1d..5c7c272e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/PlexBrowse.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/PlexBrowse.tsx
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ import {
 } from "../lib/plexDetailUi";
 import PlexPlaylistAdd, { type PlexAddTarget } from "./PlexPlaylistAdd";
 import PlexCollectionEditor from "./PlexCollectionEditor";
+import { StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import { PageToolbar } from "./PageShell";
 import { usePlex, usePlexActions } from "./PlexProvider";
 
@@ -357,7 +358,11 @@ export default function PlexBrowse() {
         </div>
       )}
 
-      {browseQ.isLoading ? (
+      {browseQ.isError ? (
+        <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => browseQ.refetch()}>
+          {t("common.loadError")}
+        </StateMessage>
+      ) : browseQ.isLoading ? (
         <p className="text-muted text-sm">{t("plex.loading")}</p>
       ) : items.length === 0 && episodes.length === 0 ? (
         dq && plexFilterCount(filters) > 0 ? (
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/PlexPlaylistView.tsx b/frontend/src/components/PlexPlaylistView.tsx
index 1b525b57..e02ba77b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/PlexPlaylistView.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/PlexPlaylistView.tsx
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import {
 import { api, type PlexCard } from "../lib/api";
 import { getAccountRaw, LS, setAccountRaw } from "../lib/storage";
 import { useConfirm } from "./ConfirmProvider";
+import { StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 
 // A playlist's items, grouped for readability: movies stay standalone, while a run of episodes from the
 // same show collapses into a season/show group so a whole series doesn't sprawl into an endless flat
@@ -576,7 +577,11 @@ export default function PlexPlaylistView({
           </button>
         </div>
 
-        {q.isLoading ? (
+        {q.isError ? (
+          <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => q.refetch()}>
+            {t("common.loadError")}
+          </StateMessage>
+        ) : q.isLoading ? (
           <p className="py-6 text-center text-sm text-muted">{t("plex.loading")}</p>
         ) : items.length === 0 ? (
           <p className="py-6 text-center text-sm text-muted">{t("plex.playlist.empty")}</p>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/QueryState.tsx b/frontend/src/components/QueryState.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4278bb23
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/QueryState.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+import type { ReactNode } from "react";
+import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
+import { AlertTriangle } from "lucide-react";
+
+// Centered inline status line for a page/section's loading and error(+retry) states, in the house
+// style (mirrors Playlists' error block). Text-only by design — R3's goal is to stop pages
+// rendering an error or a still-loading fetch AS an "empty" state, not to add skeletons. The
+// `role=status`/`aria-live` also gives screen readers the state change (the app had zero live
+// regions before).
+export function StateMessage({
+  children,
+  onRetry,
+  tone = "muted",
+  className = "",
+}: {
+  children: ReactNode;
+  onRetry?: () => void;
+  tone?: "muted" | "error";
+  className?: string;
+}) {
+  const { t } = useTranslation();
+  return (
+    <div
+      className={`flex flex-col items-center gap-3 py-10 text-sm text-muted ${className}`}
+      role="status"
+      aria-live="polite"
+    >
+      <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 text-center">
+        {tone === "error" && <AlertTriangle className="w-4 h-4 shrink-0 text-red-400" />}
+        {children}
+      </span>
+      {onRetry && (
+        <button
+          type="button"
+          onClick={onRetry}
+          className="px-3 py-1.5 rounded-lg border border-border text-xs text-muted hover:text-fg hover:border-accent transition"
+        >
+          {t("common.retry")}
+        </button>
+      )}
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+// The honest-state convention every page now follows: check `isError` BEFORE the empty branch so a
+// failed fetch renders this message (with Retry) instead of the page's "empty" text — the R3 bug
+// where a backend restart read as "No channels". `StateMessage` is the shared building block;
+// pages wire it into their existing loading/empty ternary (and DataTable takes loading/error props).
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Scheduler.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Scheduler.tsx
index bdfdecbe..05ae6635 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Scheduler.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Scheduler.tsx
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import {
 } from "lucide-react";
 import { api, type SchedulerJob, type SchedulerStatus } from "../lib/api";
 import { useLiveQuery } from "../lib/useLiveQuery";
+import { StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import { useConfirm } from "./ConfirmProvider";
 import { relativeTime } from "../lib/format";
 import { notify } from "../lib/notifications";
@@ -422,6 +423,12 @@ export default function Scheduler() {
     },
   });
 
+  if (q.isError && !data)
+    return (
+      <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => q.refetch()}>
+        {t("common.loadError")}
+      </StateMessage>
+    );
   if (q.isLoading && !data) return <div className="p-8 text-muted">{t("scheduler.loading")}</div>;
   if (!data) return <div className="p-8 text-muted">{t("common.somethingWrong")}</div>;
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Stats.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Stats.tsx
index d68d3866..054b1584 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Stats.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Stats.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { formatEta, quotaActionLabel } from "../lib/format";
 import { notify } from "../lib/notifications";
 import { LS, useAccountPersistedState } from "../lib/storage";
 import Tooltip from "./Tooltip";
+import { StateMessage } from "./QueryState";
 import { Section, SettingRow } from "./ui/form";
 import { useMe } from "../lib/useMe";
 
@@ -114,6 +115,10 @@ function Overview({ me }: { me: Me }) {
               {s.quota_remaining_today.toLocaleString()}
             </SettingRow>
           </div>
+        ) : status.isError ? (
+          <StateMessage tone="error" onRetry={() => status.refetch()}>
+            {t("common.loadError")}
+          </StateMessage>
         ) : (
           <div className="text-muted text-sm">{t("stats.sync.loading")}</div>
         )}
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/common.json b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/common.json
index 8e9eab48..178b878b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/common.json
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/common.json
@@ -18,5 +18,7 @@
   "demoTitle": "Demo account",
   "demoSharedNotice": "You're in the shared demo account. Everything you do here — playlists, hidden videos, settings — is communal and may be changed by other demo visitors at the same time.",
   "backToTop": "Back to top",
-  "retry": "Retry"
+  "retry": "Retry",
+  "loadError": "Couldn't load this — check your connection and try again.",
+  "empty": "Nothing here yet."
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/common.json b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/common.json
index 5f0c71ba..bb2c83a6 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/common.json
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/common.json
@@ -18,5 +18,7 @@
   "demoTitle": "Demo fiók",
   "demoSharedNotice": "Egy közös demo fiókban vagy. Minden, amit itt csinálsz — lejátszási listák, elrejtett videók, beállítások — közös, és más demo látogatók egyszerre módosíthatják.",
   "backToTop": "Vissza a tetejére",
-  "retry": "Újra"
+  "retry": "Újra",
+  "loadError": "Nem sikerült betölteni — ellenőrizd a kapcsolatot, és próbáld újra.",
+  "empty": "Itt még nincs semmi."
 }