diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Channels.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Channels.tsx
index e520b459..7bdf3749 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Channels.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Channels.tsx
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import {
 } from "react";
 import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
 import { useMutation, useQuery, useQueryClient } from "@tanstack/react-query";
+import { createStore, type Store } from "../lib/store";
 import { qk } from "../lib/queryKeys";
 import { Ban, Eye, EyeOff, History, LayoutGrid, Pencil, RefreshCw, Table, X } from "lucide-react";
 import ExcludedChannelList from "./ExcludedChannelList";
@@ -91,24 +92,8 @@ const channelKey = (c: ManagedChannel) => c.id;
 // Which channel's row menu is open, for its "…" (`aria-expanded`, and staying shown while open). A
 // tiny store rather than a context: a context change walks the whole table to find its readers (~20
 // ms on 400 rows, each open and close), while a store calls its subscribers and re-renders only the
-// two buttons whose answer changed.
-function createOpenRowStore() {
-  let open: string | null = null;
-  const listeners = new Set<() => void>();
-  return {
-    get: () => open,
-    set: (next: string | null) => {
-      if (next === open) return;
-      open = next;
-      listeners.forEach((l) => l());
-    },
-    subscribe: (l: () => void) => {
-      listeners.add(l);
-      return () => void listeners.delete(l);
-    },
-  };
-}
-type OpenRowStore = ReturnType<typeof createOpenRowStore>;
+// two buttons whose answer changed (each reads a boolean, so a change elsewhere renders nothing).
+type OpenRowStore = Store<string | null>;
 
 function RowMoreButton({
   id,
@@ -349,7 +334,7 @@ export default function Channels() {
   // stays one line and the trailing "…" actions can't wrap.
   const tagChips = tagFilterChips({
     userTags,
-    allTags,
+    tags: tagsQuery,
     picked: tagFilter,
     noTagOn,
     toggle: toggleTagFilter,
@@ -397,7 +382,7 @@ export default function Channels() {
   // reposition, and so re-rendered the whole table — ~0.8 s to open the menu on 400 rows.
   const { buttonProps: rowButtonProps, triggerProps: rowTriggerProps } = rowMenu;
   const openRowId = rowMenu.open ? (rowMenu.target?.id ?? null) : null;
-  const [openRow] = useState(createOpenRowStore);
+  const [openRow] = useState(() => createStore<string | null>(null));
   useEffect(() => openRow.set(openRowId), [openRow, openRowId]);
   const channelActions = useChannelActions({
     onView,
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/PlexSidebar.tsx b/frontend/src/components/PlexSidebar.tsx
index a0702107..f42824e1 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/PlexSidebar.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/PlexSidebar.tsx
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ function CollectionPicker({
   // …but a selection restored from a LINK has ids and no titles, and the list above is only fetched
   // once the picker is opened — so the token rendered the raw rating_key until then. Resolve just the
   // selected ids (see usePlexCollectionTitles).
-  const resolved = usePlexCollectionTitles(values, titles);
+  const { titles: resolved, pending } = usePlexCollectionTitles(values, titles);
   const options: ComboboxOption[] = (q.data?.collections ?? []).map((c) => ({
     value: c.id,
     label: c.title,
@@ -459,6 +459,7 @@ function CollectionPicker({
         options={options}
         selected={values}
         selectedLabels={resolved}
+        labelsPending={pending}
         query={search}
         onQueryChange={setSearch}
         onOpenChange={setOpen}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/TagFilterChips.tsx b/frontend/src/components/TagFilterChips.tsx
index b3650553..50ed62ff 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/TagFilterChips.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/TagFilterChips.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { chipClass } from "./ui/chipStyles";
 import { PopoverSurface } from "./ui/AnchoredPopover";
 import { useAnchoredPopover } from "./ui/anchoredPopoverHooks";
 import { SURFACE } from "./ui/surfaces";
+import { ChipLabelPending } from "./ui/Skeleton";
 
 // A single-line row of toggle filter chips that collapses its overflow into a trailing "+N" pill whose
 // popover holds the rest (still toggleable) — the same compression the feed's applied-filter row uses
@@ -18,14 +19,22 @@ import { SURFACE } from "./ui/surfaces";
 export interface FilterChip {
   key: string;
   label: string;
+  /** The name is still on its way: the chip draws a placeholder, not `label` (a raw id). */
+  pending?: boolean;
   active: boolean;
   onToggle: () => void;
 }
 
+// A chip's text — the visible chip and the hidden measuring mirror both draw it, so the mirror
+// measures what shows (ActiveFilterChips' ChipText, for this row's chips).
+function ChipText({ chip }: { chip: FilterChip }) {
+  return chip.pending ? <ChipLabelPending value={chip.label} /> : <>{chip.label}</>;
+}
+
 function TagChip({ chip }: { chip: FilterChip }) {
   return (
     <Chip onClick={chip.onToggle} pressed={chip.active}>
-      {chip.label}
+      <ChipText chip={chip} />
     </Chip>
   );
 }
@@ -43,7 +52,9 @@ export default function TagFilterChips({
   const pillRef = useRef<HTMLSpanElement | null>(null);
   // Re-fit when the set, the labels, OR the pressed state change (the pressed paint can change a chip's
   // width via the `.pill` recipe, so an aria-pressed flip must re-measure too).
-  const key = chips.map((c) => `${c.key}:${c.label}:${c.active ? 1 : 0}`).join("|");
+  const key = chips
+    .map((c) => `${c.key}:${c.label}:${c.active ? 1 : 0}${c.pending ? "…" : ""}`)
+    .join("|");
 
   const visible = useChipOverflowFit<number>({
     rowRef,
@@ -101,7 +112,9 @@ export default function TagFilterChips({
             }}
             className="inline-flex"
           >
-            <span className={chipClass()}>{c.label}</span>
+            <span className={chipClass()}>
+              <ChipText chip={c} />
+            </span>
           </span>
         ))}
         <span ref={pillRef} className={chipClass()}>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/channelColumns.dom.test.tsx b/frontend/src/components/channelColumns.dom.test.tsx
index 30c1f1ff..794db934 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/channelColumns.dom.test.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/channelColumns.dom.test.tsx
@@ -81,10 +81,15 @@ describe("tagsColumnTest (item B — 'No tag')", () => {
 describe("tagFilterChips — a pick whose tag is gone (E32 S2)", () => {
   const mine = { id: 1, name: "Music", system: false } as Tag;
   const t = ((k: string) => k) as unknown as TFunction;
-  const chips = (allTags: Tag[] | undefined, picked: string[]) =>
+  type State = "loaded" | "loading" | "failed";
+  const chips = (state: State, picked: string[]) =>
     tagFilterChips({
-      userTags: allTags ? [mine] : [],
-      allTags,
+      userTags: state === "loaded" ? [mine] : [],
+      tags: {
+        data: state === "loaded" ? [mine] : undefined,
+        isSuccess: state === "loaded",
+        isPending: state === "loading",
+      },
       picked,
       noTagOn: false,
       toggle: () => {},
@@ -93,15 +98,27 @@ describe("tagFilterChips — a pick whose tag is gone (E32 S2)", () => {
     });
 
   it("stays a visible, active chip instead of an empty table with no reason", () => {
-    expect(chips([mine], ["1", "77"]).map((c) => [c.key, c.label, c.active])).toEqual([
-      ["t77", "channels.tags.deleted", true], // first: the "+N" overflow must not fold it away
+    expect(chips("loaded", ["1", "77"]).map((c) => [c.key, c.label, c.active])).toEqual([
+      ["t77", "common.deletedTag", true], // first: the "+N" overflow must not fold it away
       ["t1", "Music", true],
       [NO_TAG_SENTINEL, "channels.tags.noTag", false],
     ]);
   });
 
-  it("is not called deleted before the tag list has loaded", () => {
-    expect(chips(undefined, ["77"]).map((c) => c.key)).toEqual([NO_TAG_SENTINEL]);
+  // E32 review: before, a pick had NO chip at all until the list loaded — or ever, after a failed
+  // load — while it still narrowed the table.
+  it("is a placeholder while the tag list loads, never called deleted", () => {
+    expect(chips("loading", ["77"]).map((c) => [c.key, c.label, c.pending])).toEqual([
+      ["t77", "77", true],
+      [NO_TAG_SENTINEL, "channels.tags.noTag", undefined],
+    ]);
+  });
+
+  it("shows the id after a failed load, still a visible, removable chip", () => {
+    expect(chips("failed", ["77"]).map((c) => [c.key, c.label, c.pending, c.active])).toEqual([
+      ["t77", "77", false, true],
+      [NO_TAG_SENTINEL, "channels.tags.noTag", undefined, false],
+    ]);
   });
 });
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/channelColumns.tsx b/frontend/src/components/channelColumns.tsx
index c8cd4c61..1bbd8808 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/channelColumns.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/channelColumns.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import type { ComponentProps, ReactNode } from "react";
 import type { TFunction } from "i18next";
 import { NO_TAG_SENTINEL, type ManagedChannel, type Tag } from "../lib/api";
+import { tagPickLabel, type TagList } from "../lib/tagPicks";
 import { formatCountOrDash, formatTotalHours } from "../lib/format";
 import type { Column } from "./ui/DataTable";
 import { PriorityStepper } from "./ui/PriorityStepper";
@@ -50,25 +51,28 @@ export function tagsColumnTest(c: ManagedChannel, values: string[]): boolean {
   return values.some((v) => c.tag_ids.includes(Number(v)));
 }
 
-/** The manager's tag-filter chip row (the Tags column filter's values): any picked id whose tag no
- *  longer exists, then each user tag, then the "No tag" sentinel. A stored pick can outlive its tag
- *  (deleted here or on another device) and still narrows the table to nothing, so it stays a visible,
- *  removable chip — FIRST, so the row's "+N" overflow never folds the reason away (E32 S2). */
+/** The manager's tag-filter chip row (the Tags column filter's values): any picked id that is not one
+ *  of the user's tags, then each user tag, then the "No tag" sentinel. A stored pick can outlive its
+ *  tag (deleted here or on another device) and still narrows the table to nothing, so it stays a
+ *  visible, removable chip — FIRST, so the row's "+N" overflow never folds the reason away (E32 S2) —
+ *  and so does every pick while the tag list loads or after it failed, named by lib/tagPicks' rule
+ *  (a placeholder, then the name, "Deleted tag" or the id), not hidden (E32 review). */
 export function tagFilterChips(o: {
   userTags: Tag[];
-  allTags: Tag[] | undefined;
+  tags: TagList;
   picked: string[];
   noTagOn: boolean;
   toggle: (tagId: number) => void;
   toggleNoTag: () => void;
   t: TFunction;
 }): FilterChip[] {
-  const known = new Set((o.allTags ?? []).map((tg) => String(tg.id)));
-  const gone = o.allTags ? o.picked.filter((id) => id !== NO_TAG_SENTINEL && !known.has(id)) : [];
+  const mine = new Set(o.userTags.map((tg) => String(tg.id)));
+  const others = o.picked.filter((id) => id !== NO_TAG_SENTINEL && !mine.has(id));
   return [
-    ...gone.map((id) => ({
+    ...others.map((id) => ({
       key: `t${id}`,
-      label: o.t("channels.tags.deleted"),
+      label: tagPickLabel(Number(id), o.tags, o.t),
+      pending: o.tags.isPending,
       active: true,
       onToggle: () => o.toggle(Number(id)),
     })),
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/tagChipNames.dom.test.tsx b/frontend/src/components/tagChipNames.dom.test.tsx
index 75dceb13..b6aa34fa 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/tagChipNames.dom.test.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/tagChipNames.dom.test.tsx
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ describe("a tag filter's chip names", () => {
     const chip = (id: number) => result.current.find((f) => f.key === `tag:${id}`)!;
     expect(chip(99).pending).toBe(true);
     await waitFor(() => expect(chip(1)).toMatchObject({ label: "Music", pending: false }));
-    expect(chip(99)).toMatchObject({ label: "feed.chips.deletedTag", pending: false });
+    expect(chip(99)).toMatchObject({ label: "common.deletedTag", pending: false });
   });
 
   it("fall back to the id when the tag list fails, never claiming the tag was deleted", async () => {
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ui/Carousel.tsx b/frontend/src/components/ui/Carousel.tsx
index c8bcd30c..d638ccc2 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ui/Carousel.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ui/Carousel.tsx
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { useScrollEdges } from "../../lib/useScrollEdges";
 import { useListNav } from "../../lib/listNav";
 import { Button } from "./Button";
 import { IconButton } from "./IconButton";
+import { REDUCED_MOTION } from "../../lib/useMediaQuery";
 
 // Shared horizontal rail — the one place the app's "row of cards you scroll sideways" lives, replacing
 // the hand-rolled `flex gap overflow-x-auto` strips (Cast / Related / collections) and the future
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ function scrollBehavior(): ScrollBehavior {
   const reduce =
     typeof window !== "undefined" &&
     typeof window.matchMedia === "function" &&
-    window.matchMedia("(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)").matches;
+    window.matchMedia(REDUCED_MOTION).matches;
   return reduce ? "auto" : "smooth";
 }
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/usePlexActiveFilters.dom.test.tsx b/frontend/src/components/usePlexActiveFilters.dom.test.tsx
index d036e19f..b5ca2b93 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/usePlexActiveFilters.dom.test.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/usePlexActiveFilters.dom.test.tsx
@@ -85,6 +85,15 @@ describe("usePlexActiveFilters", () => {
     expect(byKey["collection:A"]).toBe("Marvel");
   });
 
+  it("marks a link-supplied collection chip pending while its title loads, not the known one", () => {
+    qc.removeQueries({ queryKey: qk.plexCollections("titles", "B") });
+    vi.spyOn(api, "plexCollections").mockReturnValue(new Promise(() => {}) as never);
+    const { result } = renderHook(() => usePlexActiveFilters(), { wrapper });
+    const pending = Object.fromEntries(result.current.map((c) => [c.key, c.pending]));
+    expect(pending["collection:B"]).toBe(true);
+    expect(pending["collection:A"]).toBe(false);
+  });
+
   it("removing the last collection chip prunes its title and collapses collectionTitles to undefined", () => {
     setFilters.mockClear();
     const { result } = renderHook(() => usePlexActiveFilters(), { wrapper });
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/usePlexActiveFilters.ts b/frontend/src/components/usePlexActiveFilters.ts
index 9dcc3b78..a9716b9e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/usePlexActiveFilters.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/components/usePlexActiveFilters.ts
@@ -23,8 +23,16 @@ export function usePlexActiveFilters(): ActiveFilter[] {
   const patch = (p: Partial<PlexFilters>) => setFilters({ ...filters, ...p });
   // A link opened cold knows the collection ids but not their names — resolve the missing ones for
   // display (see usePlexCollectionTitles for why they are NOT written back into the filter state).
-  const collectionTitles = usePlexCollectionTitles(filters.collections, filters.collectionTitles);
-  return buildPlexActiveFilters(filters, show, patch, setShow, t, collectionTitles);
+  const collections = usePlexCollectionTitles(filters.collections, filters.collectionTitles);
+  return buildPlexActiveFilters(
+    filters,
+    show,
+    patch,
+    setShow,
+    t,
+    collections.titles,
+    collections.pending,
+  );
 }
 
 // The pure builder behind the hook: turns a Plex filter set + watch-state into the source-agnostic
@@ -39,6 +47,8 @@ export function buildPlexActiveFilters(
   /** Collection titles for the chip labels, resolved beyond what the filter state carries. Omitted by
    *  the saved-views manager, which describes a stored view and has only the captured titles. */
   collectionTitles?: Record<string, string>,
+  /** The missing titles are still loading: their chips show a placeholder, not the generic word. */
+  collectionsPending = false,
 ): ActiveFilter[] {
   const out: ActiveFilter[] = [];
 
@@ -134,23 +144,7 @@ export function buildPlexActiveFilters(
       remove: () => patch({ keywords: filters.keywords.filter((x) => x !== k) }),
     });
   }
-  for (const c of filters.collections) {
-    out.push({
-      key: `collection:${c}`,
-      label: collectionTitles?.[c] ?? filters.collectionTitles?.[c] ?? t("plex.filter.collection"),
-      // Prune the title too — collectionTitles is hashed into the plex query keys, so a stale entry
-      // splits the cache from the logically-identical no-collection state (mirrors CollectionPicker).
-      // Collapse an empty map back to undefined so the last-removed state key-matches the pristine
-      // one (an empty `{}` still hashes differently from an absent key).
-      remove: () => {
-        const { [c]: _drop, ...restTitles } = filters.collectionTitles ?? {};
-        patch({
-          collections: filters.collections.filter((x) => x !== c),
-          collectionTitles: Object.keys(restTitles).length ? restTitles : undefined,
-        });
-      },
-    });
-  }
+  out.push(...collectionChips(filters, patch, t, collectionTitles, collectionsPending));
   if (show !== "all") {
     out.push({
       key: "show",
@@ -171,3 +165,30 @@ export function usePlexClearFilters(): () => void {
     setSort(PLEX_SORT_FALLBACK);
   };
 }
+
+// One chip per selected collection, named by the resolved titles (a placeholder while a link's titles
+// load), else by the ones the state carries, else the generic word.
+function collectionChips(
+  filters: PlexFilters,
+  patch: (p: Partial<PlexFilters>) => void,
+  t: TFn,
+  collectionTitles: Record<string, string> | undefined,
+  pending: boolean,
+): ActiveFilter[] {
+  return filters.collections.map((c) => ({
+    key: `collection:${c}`,
+    label: collectionTitles?.[c] ?? filters.collectionTitles?.[c] ?? t("plex.filter.collection"),
+    pending: pending && collectionTitles?.[c] === undefined,
+    // Prune the title too — collectionTitles is hashed into the plex query keys, so a stale entry
+    // splits the cache from the logically-identical no-collection state (mirrors CollectionPicker).
+    // Collapse an empty map back to undefined so the last-removed state key-matches the pristine
+    // one (an empty `{}` still hashes differently from an absent key).
+    remove: () => {
+      const { [c]: _drop, ...restTitles } = filters.collectionTitles ?? {};
+      patch({
+        collections: filters.collections.filter((x) => x !== c),
+        collectionTitles: Object.keys(restTitles).length ? restTitles : undefined,
+      });
+    },
+  }));
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/backendIds.contract.test.ts b/frontend/src/i18n/backendIds.contract.test.ts
index 96a69fad..f5f173e4 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/backendIds.contract.test.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/backendIds.contract.test.ts
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ describe("backend ids have their names in both languages", () => {
     expect(failDetails).toEqual(expect.arrayContaining(["facebook.login_wall"]));
     expect(goneWhats).toEqual(expect.arrayContaining(["playlist", "download", "job"]));
     expect(opaqueWhats).toEqual([]);
-    expect(youtubeReasons).toEqual(["quota", "reconnect", "unavailable"]);
+    expect(youtubeReasons).toEqual(["quota", "reconnect", "unavailable", "gone"]);
     expect(crewJobs).toEqual(
       expect.arrayContaining(["Director", "Creator", "Director of Photography"]),
     );
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/channels.json b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/channels.json
index 13ab3c9c..3d9b956b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/channels.json
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/channels.json
@@ -57,7 +57,6 @@
     "createFailed": "Couldn't create the tag",
     "updateFailed": "Couldn't update the tag",
     "noTag": "No tag",
-    "deleted": "Deleted tag",
     "moreCount_one": "{{count}} more tag",
     "moreCount_other": "{{count}} more tags",
     "suggestedHint": "Suggested from your tagging pattern ({{pct}}% match) — click to add",
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/common.json b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/common.json
index 50212267..10017eef 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/common.json
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/common.json
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
   "retry": "Retry",
   "retryWithEnter": "Press Enter to try again.",
   "loadError": "Couldn't load this — check your connection and try again",
+  "deletedTag": "Deleted tag",
   "seeAll": "See all",
   "scrollLeft": "Scroll left",
   "scrollRight": "Scroll right",
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/feed.json b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/feed.json
index 638037b5..80f14326 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/feed.json
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/en/feed.json
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
     "remove": "Remove filter: {{name}}",
     "contentNone": "No content types",
     "untagged": "Untagged",
-    "deletedTag": "Deleted tag",
     "count_one": "{{count}} filter",
     "count_other": "{{count}} filters",
     "moreCount_one": "{{count}} more filter",
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/channels.json b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/channels.json
index db3f6bf8..f73a6dd6 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/channels.json
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/channels.json
@@ -57,7 +57,6 @@
     "createFailed": "Nem sikerült létrehozni a címkét",
     "updateFailed": "Nem sikerült frissíteni a címkét",
     "noTag": "Nincs címke",
-    "deleted": "Törölt címke",
     "moreCount_one": "még {{count}} címke",
     "moreCount_other": "még {{count}} címke",
     "suggestedHint": "A címkézési mintád alapján javasolt ({{pct}}% egyezés) — kattints a hozzáadáshoz",
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/common.json b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/common.json
index e50e5c1d..0e0c00f3 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/common.json
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/common.json
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
   "retry": "Újra",
   "retryWithEnter": "Újrapróbáláshoz nyomd meg az Entert.",
   "loadError": "Nem sikerült betölteni — ellenőrizd a kapcsolatot, és próbáld újra",
+  "deletedTag": "Törölt címke",
   "seeAll": "Összes",
   "scrollLeft": "Görgetés balra",
   "scrollRight": "Görgetés jobbra",
diff --git a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/feed.json b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/feed.json
index 7b970023..38a7c63d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/feed.json
+++ b/frontend/src/i18n/locales/hu/feed.json
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
     "remove": "Szűrő eltávolítása: {{name}}",
     "contentNone": "Nincs tartalomtípus",
     "untagged": "Címkézetlen",
-    "deletedTag": "Törölt címke",
     "count_one": "{{count}} szűrő",
     "count_other": "{{count}} szűrő",
     "moreCount_one": "még {{count}} szűrő",
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/chatDock.dom.test.ts b/frontend/src/lib/chatDock.dom.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..adaf4e7f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/chatDock.dom.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+// @vitest-environment jsdom
+//
+// The floating chat dock's store (E32 review: moved onto lib/store's createStore). It restores the
+// signed-in user's windows, keeps at most three, flashes a window a message arrives for, and
+// persists everything but the transient flash counter.
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { act, renderHook } from "@testing-library/react";
+import {
+  closeChat,
+  initDock,
+  notifyIncoming,
+  openChat,
+  toggleMinimize,
+  useDockChats,
+} from "./chatDock";
+import { LS } from "./storage";
+
+const partner = (id: number) => ({ id, name: `P${id}`, avatar_url: null });
+
+describe("the chat dock", () => {
+  it("restores, caps, flashes and persists the user's windows", () => {
+    localStorage.setItem(
+      LS.chatDock(7),
+      JSON.stringify([{ partnerId: 1, name: "P1", avatar: null, minimized: true }]),
+    );
+    const { result } = renderHook(() => useDockChats());
+    act(() => initDock(7));
+    expect(result.current).toEqual([
+      { partnerId: 1, name: "P1", avatar: null, minimized: true, flash: 0 },
+    ]);
+
+    act(() => notifyIncoming(partner(1))); // already open: flash it, keep it minimised
+    expect(result.current[0]).toMatchObject({ partnerId: 1, minimized: true, flash: 1 });
+
+    act(() => {
+      for (const id of [2, 3, 4]) openChat(partner(id));
+    });
+    expect(result.current.map((c) => c.partnerId)).toEqual([4, 3, 2]); // newest first, three at most
+
+    act(() => toggleMinimize(3));
+    act(() => closeChat(2));
+    expect(result.current.map((c) => [c.partnerId, c.minimized])).toEqual([
+      [4, false],
+      [3, true],
+    ]);
+    const stored = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem(LS.chatDock(7))!) as object[];
+    expect(stored).toEqual([
+      { partnerId: 4, name: "P4", avatar: null, minimized: false },
+      { partnerId: 3, name: "P3", avatar: null, minimized: true },
+    ]);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/chatDock.ts b/frontend/src/lib/chatDock.ts
index 43558904..2f8216c6 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/chatDock.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/chatDock.ts
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 // A window can be opened from anywhere (a conversation's "pop out" button, or automatically
 // when a message arrives) and stays open across page navigation. The dock state (which chats
 // are open + their minimised state) is persisted per user so it survives a reload.
-import { useSyncExternalStore } from "react";
 import { LS } from "./storage";
+import { createStore } from "./store";
 
 export interface DockChat {
   partnerId: number;
@@ -16,9 +16,8 @@ export interface DockChat {
 type PartnerLike = { id: number; name: string; avatar_url: string | null };
 
 const MAX_OPEN = 3; // keep the dock from overflowing the corner
-let chats: DockChat[] = [];
+const dock = createStore<DockChat[]>([]);
 let userId: number | null = null;
-const subs = new Set<() => void>();
 
 function storageKey(): string | null {
   return userId != null ? LS.chatDock(userId) : null;
@@ -29,16 +28,15 @@ function persist(): void {
   if (!k) return;
   try {
     // Don't persist the transient flash counter.
-    localStorage.setItem(k, JSON.stringify(chats.map(({ flash, ...c }) => c)));
+    localStorage.setItem(k, JSON.stringify(dock.get().map(({ flash, ...c }) => c)));
   } catch {
     /* ignore quota/serialization errors */
   }
 }
 
 function emit(next: DockChat[]): void {
-  chats = next;
+  dock.set(next);
   persist();
-  for (const s of subs) s();
 }
 
 // Bind the dock to the signed-in user and restore their persisted windows (once per user).
@@ -53,15 +51,17 @@ export function initDock(uid: number): void {
   } catch {
     restored = [];
   }
-  chats = restored.slice(0, MAX_OPEN);
-  for (const s of subs) s();
+  dock.set(restored.slice(0, MAX_OPEN));
 }
 
 export function openChat(partner: PartnerLike): void {
-  const existing = chats.find((c) => c.partnerId === partner.id);
+  const existing = dock.get().find((c) => c.partnerId === partner.id);
   if (existing) {
     // Re-opening focuses it: ensure expanded and move to the front.
-    emit([{ ...existing, minimized: false }, ...chats.filter((c) => c.partnerId !== partner.id)]);
+    emit([
+      { ...existing, minimized: false },
+      ...dock.get().filter((c) => c.partnerId !== partner.id),
+    ]);
     return;
   }
   emit(
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ export function openChat(partner: PartnerLike): void {
         minimized: false,
         flash: 0,
       },
-      ...chats,
+      ...dock.get(),
     ].slice(0, MAX_OPEN),
   );
 }
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ export function openChat(partner: PartnerLike): void {
 // An incoming message arrived from `partner`: open the window if it's closed, otherwise just
 // flash it (whether expanded or minimised — don't disturb the minimised state).
 export function notifyIncoming(partner: PartnerLike): void {
-  const existing = chats.find((c) => c.partnerId === partner.id);
+  const existing = dock.get().find((c) => c.partnerId === partner.id);
   if (!existing) {
     emit(
       [
@@ -92,29 +92,22 @@ export function notifyIncoming(partner: PartnerLike): void {
           minimized: false,
           flash: 1,
         },
-        ...chats,
+        ...dock.get(),
       ].slice(0, MAX_OPEN),
     );
     return;
   }
-  emit(chats.map((c) => (c.partnerId === partner.id ? { ...c, flash: c.flash + 1 } : c)));
+  emit(dock.get().map((c) => (c.partnerId === partner.id ? { ...c, flash: c.flash + 1 } : c)));
 }
 
 export function closeChat(partnerId: number): void {
-  emit(chats.filter((c) => c.partnerId !== partnerId));
+  emit(dock.get().filter((c) => c.partnerId !== partnerId));
 }
 
 export function toggleMinimize(partnerId: number): void {
-  emit(chats.map((c) => (c.partnerId === partnerId ? { ...c, minimized: !c.minimized } : c)));
+  emit(dock.get().map((c) => (c.partnerId === partnerId ? { ...c, minimized: !c.minimized } : c)));
 }
 
 export function useDockChats(): DockChat[] {
-  return useSyncExternalStore(
-    (cb) => {
-      subs.add(cb);
-      return () => subs.delete(cb);
-    },
-    () => chats,
-    () => chats,
-  );
+  return dock.useValue();
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/plexDetail.ts b/frontend/src/lib/plexDetail.ts
index ece8475b..f3ef8d31 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/plexDetail.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/plexDetail.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-import { useLayoutEffect, useSyncExternalStore } from "react";
+import { useLayoutEffect } from "react";
+import { REDUCED_MOTION, useMediaQuery } from "./useMediaQuery";
 import { usePref, useSavePref } from "./usePref";
 import type { TFunction } from "i18next";
 import type { PlexCard, PlexTmdb } from "./api";
@@ -7,18 +8,6 @@ import type { PlexCard, PlexTmdb } from "./api";
 // prefs, the TMDB backdrop URL, the crossfading art backdrop hook and the episode label. Split out so
 // plexDetailUi exports only components (Fast Refresh).
 
-const REDUCED_MOTION = "(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)";
-const reducedMotion = () =>
-  typeof window !== "undefined" &&
-  typeof window.matchMedia === "function" &&
-  window.matchMedia(REDUCED_MOTION).matches;
-const onReducedMotionChange = (cb: () => void) => {
-  if (typeof window === "undefined" || typeof window.matchMedia !== "function") return () => {};
-  const m = window.matchMedia(REDUCED_MOTION);
-  m.addEventListener("change", cb);
-  return () => m.removeEventListener("change", cb);
-};
-
 export function useDetailPrefs() {
   // Three per-user detail-page toggles, each a server pref adopted on login (usePref). Default ON:
   // undefined → true, only an explicit false hides. The detail pages mount after `me` is cached, so
@@ -31,7 +20,7 @@ export function useDetailPrefs() {
   // Windows also reports whenever its animation effects are off). Once the reader turns it on or off
   // here, that pick wins on every device: the owner never saw the crossfade, because the system signal
   // used to switch it off whatever the toggle said (2026-10-03). The toggle shows the state in force.
-  const reduce = useSyncExternalStore(onReducedMotionChange, reducedMotion, () => false);
+  const reduce = useMediaQuery(REDUCED_MOTION, false);
   const [crossfadePick, setCrossfade] = usePref<boolean | null>("plexInfoArtCrossfade", null, {
     parse: (raw) => (typeof raw === "boolean" ? raw : null),
   });
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/tagPicks.ts b/frontend/src/lib/tagPicks.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..106eb143
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/tagPicks.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+import type { TFunction } from "i18next";
+import type { Tag } from "./api";
+
+// A saved view or a stored filter can outlive its tag (deleted here or on another device). The filter
+// then matches nothing (E32 S2), so its chip must say why instead of reading as a bare id — but only
+// once the tag list has loaded: while it loads the chip is a placeholder (`isPending`), and if the load
+// failed it shows the id, never a guessed "deleted". One rule for the feed's applied-filter row and the
+// channel manager's tag row, which had each written their own and drifted (E32 review).
+
+/** The tag list as react-query hands it over — only what the rule reads. */
+export interface TagList {
+  data?: Tag[];
+  isSuccess: boolean;
+  isPending: boolean;
+}
+
+/** A picked tag's chip label: its name, "Deleted tag" once the list says it is gone, else the id. */
+export function tagPickLabel(id: number, tags: TagList, t: TFunction): string {
+  const tag = tags.data?.find((x) => x.id === id);
+  if (tag) return tag.name;
+  return tags.isSuccess ? t("common.deletedTag") : String(id);
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/useActiveFilters.ts b/frontend/src/lib/useActiveFilters.ts
index 94b59cf6..c37fd6fd 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/useActiveFilters.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/useActiveFilters.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-import type { TFunction } from "i18next";
 import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
-import { DEFAULT_TAG_MODES, type FeedFilters, type Tag } from "./api";
+import { DEFAULT_TAG_MODES, type FeedFilters } from "./api";
+import { tagPickLabel } from "./tagPicks";
 import { useChannelNames } from "./useChannelNames";
 import { parseSort } from "./feedSort";
 import { useTags } from "./useTags";
@@ -36,15 +36,6 @@ export function clearedFilters(current: FeedFilters): FeedFilters {
   return { ...DEFAULT_SIDEBAR_FILTERS, q: current.q, scope: "my" };
 }
 
-// A tag chip's name. A saved view or the stored filter can outlive its tag: the feed then matches
-// nothing (E32 S2), and the chip says why instead of reading as a bare id — but only once the tag
-// list has loaded; while it loads (a placeholder) or if it failed, the id, never a guessed "deleted".
-function tagLabel(id: number, tags: { data?: Tag[]; isSuccess: boolean }, t: TFunction): string {
-  const tag = tags.data?.find((x) => x.id === id);
-  if (tag) return tag.name;
-  return tags.isSuccess ? t("feed.chips.deletedTag") : String(id);
-}
-
 /**
  * The single source of truth for "what is currently narrowing the feed" — it backs BOTH the side
  * panel's active-count badge and the removable chip row above the feed, so the two can never
@@ -68,7 +59,7 @@ export function useActiveFilters(
   for (const id of filters.tags) {
     out.push({
       key: `tag:${id}`,
-      label: tagLabel(id, tagsQuery, t),
+      label: tagPickLabel(id, tagsQuery, t),
       pending: tagsQuery.isPending,
       remove: () => setFilters({ ...filters, tags: filters.tags.filter((x) => x !== id) }),
     });
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/useMediaQuery.ts b/frontend/src/lib/useMediaQuery.ts
index 0b8929ed..849aeb2e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/useMediaQuery.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/useMediaQuery.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 import { useSyncExternalStore } from "react";
 
+/** The reader asked the system for less motion (Windows also reports it whenever its animation
+ *  effects are off). One spelling for the hook and for a one-off `matchMedia` read alike. */
+export const REDUCED_MOTION = "(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)";
+
 /** Whether a CSS media query matches, live. For a component that must RENDER differently at a
  *  breakpoint rather than merely hide one of two renders with CSS (`ui/DataTable` mounted its table
  *  AND its card list at every width: double the DOM, duplicate ids and keyboard targets). Where
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/usePlexCollectionTitles.dom.test.tsx b/frontend/src/lib/usePlexCollectionTitles.dom.test.tsx
index 1064a41a..32223a48 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/usePlexCollectionTitles.dom.test.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/usePlexCollectionTitles.dom.test.tsx
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ describe("usePlexCollectionTitles", () => {
       wrapper: wrap(),
     });
     await waitFor(() =>
-      expect(result.current["17045"]).toBe("Pirates of the Caribbean Collection"),
+      expect(result.current.titles["17045"]).toBe("Pirates of the Caribbean Collection"),
     );
     // Only the missing ids are asked for — nothing else.
     expect(plexCollections).toHaveBeenCalledWith(undefined, undefined, ["17045"]);
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ describe("usePlexCollectionTitles", () => {
     const { result } = renderHook(() => usePlexCollectionTitles(["17045"], known), {
       wrapper: wrap(),
     });
-    expect(result.current["17045"]).toBe("Pirates of the Caribbean Collection");
+    expect(result.current.titles["17045"]).toBe("Pirates of the Caribbean Collection");
     // Give a would-be fetch a chance to happen before asserting it did not.
     await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 20));
     expect(plexCollections).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
@@ -66,10 +66,10 @@ describe("usePlexCollectionTitles", () => {
       () => usePlexCollectionTitles(["17045", "68231"], { "17045": "Already Known" }),
       { wrapper: wrap() },
     );
-    await waitFor(() => expect(result.current["68231"]).toBe("IMDb Top 250"));
+    await waitFor(() => expect(result.current.titles["68231"]).toBe("IMDb Top 250"));
     // The known id is not in the request — and its stored title survives the merge.
     expect(plexCollections).toHaveBeenCalledWith(undefined, undefined, ["68231"]);
-    expect(result.current["17045"]).toBe("Already Known");
+    expect(result.current.titles["17045"]).toBe("Already Known");
   });
 
   it("treats the same ids in a different order as one query", async () => {
@@ -77,12 +77,12 @@ describe("usePlexCollectionTitles", () => {
     const a = renderHook(() => usePlexCollectionTitles(["68231", "17045"], undefined), {
       wrapper: w,
     });
-    await waitFor(() => expect(a.result.current["17045"]).toBeDefined());
+    await waitFor(() => expect(a.result.current.titles["17045"]).toBeDefined());
     const calls = plexCollections.mock.calls.length;
     const b = renderHook(() => usePlexCollectionTitles(["17045", "68231"], undefined), {
       wrapper: w,
     });
-    await waitFor(() => expect(b.result.current["17045"]).toBeDefined());
+    await waitFor(() => expect(b.result.current.titles["17045"]).toBeDefined());
     expect(plexCollections.mock.calls.length).toBe(calls);
   });
 
@@ -91,7 +91,21 @@ describe("usePlexCollectionTitles", () => {
     const { result } = renderHook(() => usePlexCollectionTitles(["17045"], undefined), {
       wrapper: wrap(),
     });
-    // The caller falls back to its own label; it must not be handed a half-built map.
-    expect(result.current["17045"]).toBeUndefined();
+    // The caller falls back to its own label; it must not be handed a half-built map — and it is
+    // told the names are on their way, so it draws a placeholder rather than the raw id.
+    expect(result.current.titles["17045"]).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(result.current.pending).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("is not pending when nothing is missing, nor once the lookup answered", async () => {
+    const known = renderHook(() => usePlexCollectionTitles(["17045"], { "17045": "Known" }), {
+      wrapper: wrap(),
+    });
+    expect(known.result.current.pending).toBe(false);
+    const cold = renderHook(() => usePlexCollectionTitles(["17045"], undefined), {
+      wrapper: wrap(),
+    });
+    await waitFor(() => expect(cold.result.current.pending).toBe(false));
+    expect(cold.result.current.titles["17045"]).toBe("Pirates of the Caribbean Collection");
   });
 });
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/usePlexCollectionTitles.ts b/frontend/src/lib/usePlexCollectionTitles.ts
index ec2c380c..8467b2dc 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/usePlexCollectionTitles.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/usePlexCollectionTitles.ts
@@ -10,11 +10,13 @@ import { qk } from "./queryKeys";
 // This resolves the missing ones from the server and merges them over what the filter state already
 // knows. It stays OUT of `collectionTitles`: that map is hashed into the Plex query keys, so writing a
 // resolved title back in would split the cache from the logically identical state and refetch the grid
-// for a label. Titles are display-only, so they belong in a display-only read.
+// for a label. Titles are display-only, so they belong in a display-only read. `pending` says the
+// missing ones are still on their way, so a token or chip can show a placeholder rather than the raw id
+// (Combobox `labelsPending`, ActiveFilter `pending` — the feed's channel picker does the same).
 export function usePlexCollectionTitles(
   ids: string[],
   known: Record<string, string> | undefined,
-): Record<string, string> {
+): { titles: Record<string, string>; pending: boolean } {
   // Sorted so the same set of ids in a different order is the same query.
   const missing = ids.filter((id) => !known?.[id]).sort();
   const q = useQuery({
@@ -25,7 +27,7 @@ export function usePlexCollectionTitles(
     // of the sidebar and the chip row.
     staleTime: 60 * 60_000,
   });
-  const out: Record<string, string> = { ...known };
-  for (const c of q.data?.collections ?? []) out[c.id] = c.title;
-  return out;
+  const titles: Record<string, string> = { ...known };
+  for (const c of q.data?.collections ?? []) titles[c.id] = c.title;
+  return { titles, pending: missing.length > 0 && q.isPending };
 }