diff --git a/config/scripts/happy-dom-animation-cancel.ts b/config/scripts/happy-dom-animation-cancel.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..667f49e9614
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/scripts/happy-dom-animation-cancel.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+// Why: the Web Animations spec marks the `finished` promise that cancel() rejects as handled, and
+// Chromium does. happy-dom rejects it unhandled, so every cancelled animation fails the test run.
+
+const patchedPrototypes = new WeakSet<Animation>()
+
+export function installHappyDomAnimationCancel(): boolean {
+  if (globalThis.Animation === undefined) {
+    return false
+  }
+  const prototype = globalThis.Animation.prototype
+  if (patchedPrototypes.has(prototype)) {
+    return true
+  }
+  const cancel = prototype.cancel
+  prototype.cancel = function cancelWithHandledFinish(this: Animation): void {
+    this.finished.catch(() => {})
+    cancel.call(this)
+  }
+  patchedPrototypes.add(prototype)
+  return true
+}
+
+installHappyDomAnimationCancel()
diff --git a/config/scripts/vitest-dom-setup.ts b/config/scripts/vitest-dom-setup.ts
index 738a876a21a..36138db7f7d 100644
--- a/config/scripts/vitest-dom-setup.ts
+++ b/config/scripts/vitest-dom-setup.ts
@@ -4,4 +4,5 @@ export {}
 if (globalThis.document !== undefined) {
   await import('./happy-dom-offscreen-canvas')
   await import('./happy-dom-mutation-observer-retention')
+  await import('./happy-dom-animation-cancel')
 }
diff --git a/config/tsconfig.node.json b/config/tsconfig.node.json
index 6fec2a1ccf2..ef019209446 100644
--- a/config/tsconfig.node.json
+++ b/config/tsconfig.node.json
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
     "./scripts/vitest-dom-setup.ts",
     "./scripts/happy-dom-offscreen-canvas.ts",
     "./scripts/happy-dom-mutation-observer-retention.ts",
+    "./scripts/happy-dom-animation-cancel.ts",
     "./scripts/vitest-node-runtime-pool.ts",
     "../src/main/**/*",
     "../src/renderer/src/lib/skill-freshness-display-status.ts",
diff --git a/mobile/src/browser/MobileBrowserAddressField.test.tsx b/mobile/src/browser/MobileBrowserAddressField.test.tsx
index a67ee2ea6ee..8b58cb0a638 100644
--- a/mobile/src/browser/MobileBrowserAddressField.test.tsx
+++ b/mobile/src/browser/MobileBrowserAddressField.test.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ import { MobileBrowserAddressField } from './MobileBrowserAddressField'
 // Hoisted with the mock factory, which runs before every module-level const in this file.
 const platform = vi.hoisted(() => ({ OS: 'ios' }))
 
+vi.mock('./MobileBrowserLoadProgress', () => ({ MobileBrowserLoadProgress: () => null }))
+
 vi.mock('react-native', () => ({
   Platform: platform,
   StyleSheet: {
@@ -26,6 +28,8 @@ function addressInput(os: string): Record<string, unknown> {
       createElement(MobileBrowserAddressField, {
         disabled: false,
         focused: false,
+        loading: false,
+        loadFailed: false,
         onBlur: () => {},
         onChangeText: () => {},
         onFocus: () => {},
diff --git a/mobile/src/browser/MobileBrowserAddressField.tsx b/mobile/src/browser/MobileBrowserAddressField.tsx
index 0e73a8ad0ea..1e1638fe1b4 100644
--- a/mobile/src/browser/MobileBrowserAddressField.tsx
+++ b/mobile/src/browser/MobileBrowserAddressField.tsx
@@ -2,10 +2,13 @@ import { Platform, StyleSheet, Text, TextInput, View } from 'react-native'
 import { colors, radii, spacing } from '../theme/mobile-theme'
 import { browserAddressFieldStyles } from './browser-address-field-styles'
 import { compactMobileBrowserFileAddress } from './browser-url'
+import { MobileBrowserLoadProgress } from './MobileBrowserLoadProgress'
 
 type Props = {
   disabled: boolean
   focused: boolean
+  loading: boolean
+  loadFailed: boolean
   onBlur: () => void
   onChangeText: (value: string) => void
   onFocus: () => void
@@ -16,6 +19,8 @@ type Props = {
 export function MobileBrowserAddressField({
   disabled,
   focused,
+  loading,
+  loadFailed,
   onBlur,
   onChangeText,
   onFocus,
@@ -60,6 +65,7 @@ export function MobileBrowserAddressField({
           </Text>
         </View>
       ) : null}
+      <MobileBrowserLoadProgress loading={loading} failed={loadFailed} />
     </View>
   )
 }
diff --git a/mobile/src/browser/MobileBrowserLoadProgress.tsx b/mobile/src/browser/MobileBrowserLoadProgress.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..2d04c8128ee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mobile/src/browser/MobileBrowserLoadProgress.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+import { useEffect, useRef } from 'react'
+import { Animated, Easing, Platform, StyleSheet, View } from 'react-native'
+import { useReducedMotionEnabled } from '../platform/use-reduced-motion'
+import { colors, radii } from '../theme/mobile-theme'
+
+// Same curve as the desktop line (browser-load-progress.tsx): hidden for fast loads, then it eases
+// toward 90% and the real stop finishes it.
+const SHOW_DELAY_MS = 200
+const TRICKLE_STEPS: [atMs: number, scale: number][] = [
+  [300, 0.15],
+  [2_000, 0.45],
+  [6_000, 0.7],
+  [15_000, 0.85],
+  [30_000, 0.9]
+]
+// Why: web has no native driver.
+const useNativeDriver = Platform.OS !== 'web'
+
+function timing(value: Animated.Value, toValue: number, duration: number) {
+  return Animated.timing(value, {
+    toValue,
+    duration,
+    easing: Easing.out(Easing.quad),
+    isInteraction: false,
+    useNativeDriver
+  })
+}
+
+/** A thin line along the bottom edge of the address field while the desktop page loads. */
+export function MobileBrowserLoadProgress({
+  loading,
+  failed
+}: {
+  loading: boolean
+  failed: boolean
+}): React.JSX.Element {
+  const scale = useRef(new Animated.Value(0)).current
+  const opacity = useRef(new Animated.Value(0)).current
+  const runningRef = useRef<{
+    animation: Animated.CompositeAnimation
+    loading: boolean
+    reducedMotion: boolean
+  } | null>(null)
+  // Why: native stopAnimation answers asynchronously, so a newer load or unmount voids its callback.
+  const generationRef = useRef(0)
+  // Unknown counts as reduced, the same as LoadingSpinner.
+  const reducedMotion = useReducedMotionEnabled() !== false
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const running = runningRef.current
+    if (loading) {
+      // Why: a navigation that replaces one in flight keeps loading true, so the line carries on.
+      if (running?.loading && running.reducedMotion === reducedMotion) {
+        return
+      }
+      generationRef.current += 1
+      running?.animation.stop()
+      scale.setValue(reducedMotion ? 1 : 0)
+      opacity.setValue(0)
+      let previousMs = 0
+      const trickle = TRICKLE_STEPS.map(([atMs, toScale]) => {
+        const step = timing(scale, toScale, atMs - previousMs)
+        previousMs = atMs
+        return step
+      })
+      const animation = Animated.sequence([
+        // A motion-preference switch mid-load swaps the animation without hiding it again.
+        Animated.delay(running?.loading ? 0 : SHOW_DELAY_MS),
+        reducedMotion
+          ? timing(opacity, 0.5, 150)
+          : Animated.parallel([timing(opacity, 1, 150), Animated.sequence(trickle)])
+      ])
+      runningRef.current = { animation, loading: true, reducedMotion }
+      animation.start()
+      return
+    }
+    if (!running?.loading) {
+      return
+    }
+    running.animation.stop()
+    runningRef.current = null
+    const generation = ++generationRef.current
+    opacity.stopAnimation((shownOpacity) => {
+      if (generation !== generationRef.current) {
+        return
+      }
+      // Still inside the show delay: the load was fast enough to show nothing.
+      if (shownOpacity === 0) {
+        scale.setValue(0)
+        return
+      }
+      // Why: a failed load fades where it stopped instead of filling up like a success.
+      const fadeOut = timing(opacity, 0, 270)
+      const animation =
+        failed || reducedMotion ? fadeOut : Animated.sequence([timing(scale, 1, 180), fadeOut])
+      runningRef.current = { animation, loading: false, reducedMotion }
+      animation.start()
+    })
+  }, [failed, loading, opacity, reducedMotion, scale])
+
+  useEffect(
+    () => () => {
+      generationRef.current += 1
+      runningRef.current?.animation.stop()
+    },
+    []
+  )
+
+  return (
+    <View pointerEvents="none" style={styles.clip}>
+      <Animated.View
+        testID="mobile-browser-load-progress"
+        style={[styles.line, { opacity, transform: [{ scaleX: scale }] }]}
+      />
+    </View>
+  )
+}
+
+const styles = StyleSheet.create({
+  clip: {
+    ...StyleSheet.absoluteFillObject,
+    borderRadius: radii.input,
+    overflow: 'hidden'
+  },
+  line: {
+    position: 'absolute',
+    left: 0,
+    right: 0,
+    bottom: 0,
+    height: 2,
+    backgroundColor: colors.accentBlue,
+    transformOrigin: 'left'
+  }
+})
diff --git a/mobile/src/browser/MobileBrowserPane.tsx b/mobile/src/browser/MobileBrowserPane.tsx
index 3ab40f1e444..17ff815ade4 100644
--- a/mobile/src/browser/MobileBrowserPane.tsx
+++ b/mobile/src/browser/MobileBrowserPane.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 /* oxlint-disable react-doctor/no-adjust-state-on-prop-change -- Why: mobile browser state mirrors a remote desktop screencast session and CDP dialogs, which are external systems that cannot be derived during render. */
 import { useCallback, useEffect, useLayoutEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react'
 import { AppState, type View } from 'react-native'
+import type { BrowserLoadError } from '../../../src/shared/browser-workspace-types'
 import type { RpcClient } from '../transport/rpc-client'
 import type { BrowserScreencastFrameMetadata } from '../transport/browser-screencast-protocol'
 import type { MobileBrowserViewMode } from './browser-screencast-request'
@@ -38,6 +39,7 @@ export type MobileBrowserTab = {
   browserPageId: string | null
   url: string
   loading: boolean
+  loadError?: BrowserLoadError | null
   canGoBack: boolean
   canGoForward: boolean
   isActive: boolean
diff --git a/mobile/src/browser/MobileBrowserPaneView.tsx b/mobile/src/browser/MobileBrowserPaneView.tsx
index 8b0eb89da7f..bf9d17f7f01 100644
--- a/mobile/src/browser/MobileBrowserPaneView.tsx
+++ b/mobile/src/browser/MobileBrowserPaneView.tsx
@@ -150,6 +150,8 @@ export function MobileBrowserPaneView(props: MobileBrowserPaneViewProps) {
           onSubmit={() => void navigateToAddress()}
           focused={addressFocused}
           disabled={controlsDisabled}
+          loading={tab.loading}
+          loadFailed={tab.loadError != null}
         />
         <MobileBrowserViewModeSwitch
           disabled={controlsDisabled}
diff --git a/mobile/src/browser/mobile-browser-app-resume.test.tsx b/mobile/src/browser/mobile-browser-app-resume.test.tsx
index 968e32d3847..f096cc69110 100644
--- a/mobile/src/browser/mobile-browser-app-resume.test.tsx
+++ b/mobile/src/browser/mobile-browser-app-resume.test.tsx
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ vi.mock('./use-browser-binary-screencast-grant', () => ({
   useBrowserBinaryScreencastGrant: () => true
 }))
 
+vi.mock('./MobileBrowserLoadProgress', () => ({ MobileBrowserLoadProgress: () => null }))
+
 vi.mock('react-native', () => ({
   ActivityIndicator: 'ActivityIndicator',
   AppState: {
diff --git a/mobile/src/browser/mobile-browser-dialog-through-the-bridge.test.tsx b/mobile/src/browser/mobile-browser-dialog-through-the-bridge.test.tsx
index 19e3baff989..eac0d098635 100644
--- a/mobile/src/browser/mobile-browser-dialog-through-the-bridge.test.tsx
+++ b/mobile/src/browser/mobile-browser-dialog-through-the-bridge.test.tsx
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ vi.mock('./use-browser-binary-screencast-grant', () => ({
   useBrowserBinaryScreencastGrant: vi.fn(() => true)
 }))
 
+vi.mock('./MobileBrowserLoadProgress', () => ({ MobileBrowserLoadProgress: () => null }))
+
 vi.mock('react-native', () => ({
   ActivityIndicator: 'ActivityIndicator',
   AppState: { currentState: 'active', addEventListener: () => ({ remove: () => {} }) },
diff --git a/mobile/src/browser/mobile-browser-frameless-stream.test.tsx b/mobile/src/browser/mobile-browser-frameless-stream.test.tsx
index 170450bae81..92ec614fc4c 100644
--- a/mobile/src/browser/mobile-browser-frameless-stream.test.tsx
+++ b/mobile/src/browser/mobile-browser-frameless-stream.test.tsx
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ vi.mock('./use-browser-binary-screencast-grant', () => ({
   useBrowserBinaryScreencastGrant: vi.fn(() => true)
 }))
 
+vi.mock('./MobileBrowserLoadProgress', () => ({ MobileBrowserLoadProgress: () => null }))
+
 vi.mock('react-native', () => ({
   ActivityIndicator: 'ActivityIndicator',
   AppState: { currentState: 'active', addEventListener: () => ({ remove: () => {} }) },
diff --git a/mobile/src/browser/mobile-browser-pane-frame-layers.test.tsx b/mobile/src/browser/mobile-browser-pane-frame-layers.test.tsx
index 367ec820ffa..e3f38f2ef2e 100644
--- a/mobile/src/browser/mobile-browser-pane-frame-layers.test.tsx
+++ b/mobile/src/browser/mobile-browser-pane-frame-layers.test.tsx
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ const appState = vi.hoisted(() => {
   return holder
 })
 
+vi.mock('./MobileBrowserLoadProgress', () => ({ MobileBrowserLoadProgress: () => null }))
+
 vi.mock('react-native', () => ({
   ActivityIndicator: 'ActivityIndicator',
   AppState: {
diff --git a/mobile/src/browser/mobile-browser-pane-in-page-unmount.test.tsx b/mobile/src/browser/mobile-browser-pane-in-page-unmount.test.tsx
index 03f3e27d587..39dd217274e 100644
--- a/mobile/src/browser/mobile-browser-pane-in-page-unmount.test.tsx
+++ b/mobile/src/browser/mobile-browser-pane-in-page-unmount.test.tsx
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ vi.mock('./use-browser-binary-screencast-grant', () => ({
   useBrowserBinaryScreencastGrant: vi.fn(() => true)
 }))
 
+vi.mock('./MobileBrowserLoadProgress', () => ({ MobileBrowserLoadProgress: () => null }))
+
 vi.mock('react-native', () => ({
   ActivityIndicator: 'ActivityIndicator',
   AppState: { currentState: 'active', addEventListener: () => ({ remove: () => {} }) },
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/ClientHostedBrowserPagePane.dead-guest.test.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/ClientHostedBrowserPagePane.dead-guest.test.tsx
index f2fd2ad533b..a955c33c3f4 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/ClientHostedBrowserPagePane.dead-guest.test.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/ClientHostedBrowserPagePane.dead-guest.test.tsx
@@ -40,6 +40,14 @@ function nullContentWindowFocus(): TypeError {
   return new TypeError("Cannot read properties of null (reading 'focus')")
 }
 
+function pageNavigationStart(): Event {
+  return Object.assign(new Event('did-start-navigation'), {
+    isMainFrame: true,
+    isInPlace: false,
+    url: 'https://example.com/next'
+  })
+}
+
 function page(overrides?: Partial<BrowserPage>): BrowserPage {
   return {
     id: 'page-a',
@@ -223,11 +231,11 @@ describe('client-hosted browser pane over a dead guest', () => {
     })
 
     act(() => {
-      webview.dispatchEvent(new Event('did-start-loading'))
+      webview.dispatchEvent(pageNavigationStart())
     })
 
     expect(screen.getByText('Client-hosted browser unavailable')).toBeTruthy()
-    // did-start-loading writes loading:true first; the loss must be the last word.
+    // The navigation start writes loading:true first; the loss must be the last word.
     expect(onUpdatePageState.mock.calls.at(-1)).toEqual(['page-a', { loading: false }])
   })
 
@@ -237,7 +245,7 @@ describe('client-hosted browser pane over a dead guest', () => {
     act(() => webview.dispatchEvent(new Event('destroyed')))
     onUpdatePageState.mockClear()
 
-    act(() => webview.dispatchEvent(new Event('did-start-loading')))
+    act(() => webview.dispatchEvent(pageNavigationStart()))
 
     expect(onUpdatePageState).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
     expect(screen.getByText('Client-hosted browser unavailable')).toBeTruthy()
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/ClientHostedBrowserPagePane.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/ClientHostedBrowserPagePane.tsx
index bb37b21fa20..144dc82117f 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/ClientHostedBrowserPagePane.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/ClientHostedBrowserPagePane.tsx
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ import { getBrowserPageZoomIndicatorState } from './host-guest/browser-page-zoom
 import { useBrowserPageWebviewShortcuts } from './host-guest/use-browser-page-webview-shortcuts'
 import { useClientHostedGuestActivationFocus } from './host-guest/use-client-hosted-guest-activation-focus'
 import { useBrowserPageZoomFeedback } from './host-guest/use-browser-page-zoom-feedback'
+import { isPageDocumentNavigationStart } from './host-guest/browser-page-webview-navigation-handlers'
 import { BrowserLoadFailureOverlay } from './navigate/browser-load-failure-overlay'
 import { useClientHostedPageUrlSubmission } from './navigate/use-client-hosted-page-url-submission'
 import { convertBrowserPageToWorkspaceDoc } from '@/lib/file-preview'
@@ -256,7 +257,10 @@ export function ClientHostedBrowserPagePane({
       recordHistoryFromGuest(metadata.url, getBrowserDisplayTitle(metadata.title, metadata.url))
       setAddressBarValueFromPage(toDisplayUrl(metadata.url))
     }
-    const onStart = (): void => {
+    const onStart = (event: Electron.DidStartNavigationEvent): void => {
+      if (!isPageDocumentNavigationStart(event)) {
+        return
+      }
       activeLoadFailureRef.current = null
       updatePageStateFromGuest(browserTab.id, { loading: true, loadError: null })
       const startMetadata = readBrowserClientPageGuestMetadataIfLive(webview, undefined, true)
@@ -275,7 +279,7 @@ export function ClientHostedBrowserPagePane({
       }
     )
     const cleanupGuest = (): void => {
-      webview.removeEventListener('did-start-loading', onStart)
+      webview.removeEventListener('did-start-navigation', onStart)
       webview.removeEventListener('did-stop-loading', syncNavigation)
       webview.removeEventListener('did-navigate', syncNavigation)
       webview.removeEventListener('did-navigate-in-page', syncNavigation)
@@ -287,7 +291,7 @@ export function ClientHostedBrowserPagePane({
       attachment.detach()
     }
     releaseGuest = cleanupGuest
-    webview.addEventListener('did-start-loading', onStart)
+    webview.addEventListener('did-start-navigation', onStart)
     webview.addEventListener('did-stop-loading', syncNavigation)
     webview.addEventListener('did-navigate', syncNavigation)
     webview.addEventListener('did-navigate-in-page', syncNavigation)
@@ -330,6 +334,10 @@ export function ClientHostedBrowserPagePane({
     showFailureOverlay
   })
 
+  // Why the unrecovered case reads not-loading: nothing is coming, and a loading cue nobody
+  // will ever stop is the one state this pane must not sit in.
+  const loading = !restoredPageUnrecovered && (placement === null || browserTab.loading)
+
   return (
     <div className="relative flex h-full min-h-0 flex-1 flex-col bg-background">
       {/* IPC-driven context menu in a Portal so position:fixed escapes ancestor transform/backdrop-filter containing blocks. */}
@@ -346,9 +354,6 @@ export function ClientHostedBrowserPagePane({
           controls={{
             canGoBack: browserTab.canGoBack,
             canGoForward: browserTab.canGoForward,
-            // Why the unrecovered case reads not-loading: nothing is coming, and a spinner nobody
-            // will ever stop is the one state this pane must not sit in.
-            loading: !restoredPageUnrecovered && (placement === null || browserTab.loading),
             goBack: () => webviewRef.current?.goBack(),
             goForward: () => webviewRef.current?.goForward(),
             reload: () => reload.runReloadTrigger('button'),
@@ -372,9 +377,12 @@ export function ClientHostedBrowserPagePane({
                   presentation="client-hosted"
                 />
               }
+              loading={loading}
+              loadFailed={browserTab.loadError !== null}
             />
           }
           reloadLabel={reload.reloadButtonLabel}
+          reloadShowsStop={reload.reloadButtonLabelKind === 'stop'}
         >
           {markup.drawButton}
         </BrowserNavigationControlRow>
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/BrowserAddressBar.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/BrowserAddressBar.tsx
index 29c500d68ee..be2a1b5b717 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/BrowserAddressBar.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/BrowserAddressBar.tsx
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import { useBrowserAddressBarClickSelect } from './use-browser-address-bar-click
 import { useBrowserAddressBarDismissal } from './use-browser-address-bar-dismissal'
 import type { BrowserAddressBarEditSessionBinding } from './use-browser-address-bar-edit-session'
 import BrowserAddressBarSuggestionList from './BrowserAddressBarSuggestionList'
+import { BrowserLoadProgress } from './browser-load-progress'
 
 type BrowserAddressBarProps = {
   /** The page this bar edits; its worktree's other open pages are offered as "Switch to tab". */
@@ -35,6 +36,8 @@ type BrowserAddressBarProps = {
   editSession?: BrowserAddressBarEditSessionBinding | null
   /** Replaces the leading globe (e.g. the SSH egress indicator). */
   leadingIcon?: React.ReactNode
+  loading?: boolean
+  loadFailed?: boolean
 }
 
 export default function BrowserAddressBar({
@@ -47,7 +50,9 @@ export default function BrowserAddressBar({
   inputRef,
   dismissSuggestionsRef,
   editSession,
-  leadingIcon
+  leadingIcon,
+  loading = false,
+  loadFailed = false
 }: BrowserAddressBarProps): React.ReactElement {
   const [open, setOpen] = useState(false)
   const [selectedValueOverride, setSelectedValueOverride] = useState<string | null>(null)
@@ -393,7 +398,7 @@ export default function BrowserAddressBar({
               // pixels the squeezed slot has left.
               overlay
                 ? 'absolute inset-x-3 top-1/2 z-30 -translate-y-1/2 shadow-[0_10px_24px_rgba(0,0,0,0.18)]'
-                : 'min-w-0 flex-1'
+                : 'relative min-w-0 flex-1'
             )}
             // Why: when squeezed the input is zero-width, so clicks land on the
             // form padding — forward them to the input so it expands and edits.
@@ -444,6 +449,7 @@ export default function BrowserAddressBar({
               aria-controls="browser-history-listbox"
               aria-autocomplete="list"
             />
+            <BrowserLoadProgress loading={loading} failed={loadFailed} />
           </form>
         </PopoverTrigger>
         {suggestions.length > 0 && (
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-load-progress.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-load-progress.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..5604847facd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-load-progress.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+import { useEffect, useRef } from 'react'
+import { usePrefersReducedMotion } from '@/hooks/usePrefersReducedMotion'
+
+// Why a delay: loads that finish sooner (most local dev servers) should show nothing at all.
+const SHOW_DELAY_MS = 200
+const TRICKLE_MS = 30_000
+const TRICKLE_ID = 'browser-load-trickle'
+const STILL_ID = 'browser-load-still'
+
+// Electron reports no load percentage, so the line eases toward 90% and the real stop finishes it.
+const TRICKLE_STEPS: [atMs: number, scale: number][] = [
+  [0, 0],
+  [300, 0.15],
+  [2_000, 0.45],
+  [6_000, 0.7],
+  [15_000, 0.85],
+  [TRICKLE_MS, 0.9]
+]
+const TRICKLE_KEYFRAMES: Keyframe[] = TRICKLE_STEPS.map(([atMs, scale]) => ({
+  offset: atMs / TRICKLE_MS,
+  transform: `scaleX(${scale})`,
+  opacity: atMs === 0 ? 0 : 1,
+  easing: 'ease-out'
+}))
+// Reduced motion: a still, dimmed full-width line that still reads as "working".
+const STILL_KEYFRAMES: Keyframe[] = [
+  { transform: 'scaleX(1)', opacity: 0 },
+  { transform: 'scaleX(1)', opacity: 0.5 }
+]
+
+/** A thin line along the bottom edge of the address bar while the page loads. */
+export function BrowserLoadProgress({
+  loading,
+  failed
+}: {
+  loading: boolean
+  failed: boolean
+}): React.JSX.Element {
+  const barRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null)
+  const reducedMotion = usePrefersReducedMotion()
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const bar = barRef.current
+    if (!bar) {
+      return
+    }
+    const animations = bar.getAnimations()
+    const running = animations.find(({ id }) => id === TRICKLE_ID || id === STILL_ID)
+    if (loading) {
+      const id = reducedMotion ? STILL_ID : TRICKLE_ID
+      // Why: a navigation that replaces one in flight keeps loading true, so the line carries on.
+      if (running?.id === id) {
+        return
+      }
+      animations.forEach((animation) => animation.cancel())
+      // Why fill forwards: a slow page holds at its last frame, and a finished animation costs
+      // nothing per frame, even in a hidden tab.
+      bar.animate(reducedMotion ? STILL_KEYFRAMES : TRICKLE_KEYFRAMES, {
+        id,
+        duration: reducedMotion ? 150 : TRICKLE_MS,
+        // A motion-preference switch mid-load swaps the animation without hiding it again.
+        delay: running ? 0 : SHOW_DELAY_MS,
+        fill: 'forwards'
+      })
+      return
+    }
+    if (!running) {
+      return
+    }
+    const { transform, opacity } = getComputedStyle(bar)
+    running.cancel()
+    // Still inside the show delay: the load was fast enough to show nothing.
+    if (Number(opacity) === 0) {
+      return
+    }
+    // Why: a failed load fades where it stopped instead of filling up like a success.
+    const end = failed || reducedMotion ? transform : 'scaleX(1)'
+    bar.animate(
+      [
+        { transform, opacity },
+        { transform: end, opacity, offset: 0.4 },
+        { transform: end, opacity: 0 }
+      ],
+      { duration: 450, easing: 'ease-out' }
+    )
+  }, [failed, loading, reducedMotion])
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const bar = barRef.current
+    // Why: an animation outlives its removed element and keeps ticking until cancelled.
+    return () => bar?.getAnimations().forEach((animation) => animation.cancel())
+  }, [])
+
+  return (
+    // Why -inset-px: the line sits on the bar's bottom border instead of a pixel above it.
+    <div
+      aria-hidden
+      className="pointer-events-none absolute -inset-px overflow-hidden rounded-[inherit]"
+    >
+      <div
+        ref={barRef}
+        data-browser-load-progress={loading ? 'loading' : 'idle'}
+        className="absolute inset-x-0 bottom-0 h-0.5 origin-left bg-callout-note opacity-0"
+      />
+    </div>
+  )
+}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-navigation-control-row.test.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-navigation-control-row.test.tsx
index 593dfd837d0..265c3f79185 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-navigation-control-row.test.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-navigation-control-row.test.tsx
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ function renderRow(overrides: Partial<BrowserNavigationControls> = {}): BrowserN
   const controls: BrowserNavigationControls = {
     canGoBack: true,
     canGoForward: true,
-    loading: false,
     goBack: vi.fn(),
     goForward: vi.fn(),
     reload: vi.fn(),
@@ -66,7 +65,6 @@ function renderWithIdentityChip(): void {
       controls={{
         canGoBack: false,
         canGoForward: false,
-        loading: false,
         goBack: vi.fn(),
         goForward: vi.fn(),
         reload: vi.fn(),
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-navigation-control-row.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-navigation-control-row.tsx
index 999f890a37f..1d20a4ddb0c 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-navigation-control-row.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-navigation-control-row.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { ArrowLeft, ArrowRight, Loader2, RefreshCw } from 'lucide-react'
+import { ArrowLeft, ArrowRight, RefreshCw, X } from 'lucide-react'
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
 import { translate } from '@/i18n/i18n'
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ import {
 export type BrowserNavigationControls = {
   canGoBack: boolean
   canGoForward: boolean
-  loading: boolean
   goBack: () => void
   goForward: () => void
   reload: () => void
@@ -35,6 +34,7 @@ export function BrowserNavigationControlRow({
   addressSlot,
   reloadControl,
   reloadLabel,
+  reloadShowsStop = false,
   showTourAnchors = true,
   rowRef,
   children
@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@ export function BrowserNavigationControlRow({
   reloadControl?: React.ReactNode
   /** Accessible name for the default reload button, which doubles as Stop and Retry. */
   reloadLabel?: string
+  /** Only when the default button's click stops the load, matching its Stop label. */
+  reloadShowsStop?: boolean
   /** Off for surfaces the browsing tour does not cover — a second anchor would steal its steps. */
   showTourAnchors?: boolean
   rowRef?: React.Ref<HTMLDivElement>
@@ -84,11 +86,7 @@ export function BrowserNavigationControlRow({
           onClick={controls.reload}
           aria-label={reloadLabel ?? translate('browser.navigation.reload', 'Reload')}
         >
-          {controls.loading ? (
-            <Loader2 className="size-4 animate-spin" />
-          ) : (
-            <RefreshCw className="size-4" />
-          )}
+          {reloadShowsStop ? <X className="size-4" /> : <RefreshCw className="size-4" />}
         </Button>
       )}
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-page-chrome-header.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-page-chrome-header.tsx
index b162a2ba34b..258d2ac9adb 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-page-chrome-header.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-page-chrome-header.tsx
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ export function BrowserPageChromeHeader({
         convertedFrom={browserTab.convertedFrom ?? null}
         convertedTo={browserTab.convertedTo ?? null}
         loading={browserTab.loading}
+        loadFailed={browserTab.loadError !== null}
         webviewRef={webviewRef}
         reloadMenuOpen={reload.reloadMenuOpen}
         setReloadMenuOpen={reload.setReloadMenuOpen}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-page-pane.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-page-pane.tsx
index 523d1d28556..d564b12d389 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-page-pane.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-page-pane.tsx
@@ -119,7 +119,6 @@ export function BrowserPagePane({
   const browserTabUrlRef = useRef(browserTab.url)
   // Most-recent observed webview URL; URL sync checks it to avoid force-navigating to an intermediate redirect (which would loop the redirect chain).
   const lastKnownWebviewUrlRef = useRef<string | null>(null)
-  const trackNextLoadingEventRef = useRef(false)
   const recoveryNavigationValidationRef = useRef<{
     committed: boolean
     started: boolean
@@ -189,7 +188,6 @@ export function BrowserPagePane({
     webviewRef,
     activeLoadFailureRef,
     lastKnownWebviewUrlRef,
-    trackNextLoadingEventRef,
     recoveryNavigationValidationRef,
     onSetUrlRef,
     onUpdatePageStateRef,
@@ -235,7 +233,6 @@ export function BrowserPagePane({
     faviconUrl: browserTab.faviconUrl,
     webviewRef,
     lastKnownWebviewUrlRef,
-    trackNextLoadingEventRef,
     recoveryNavigationValidationRef,
     activeLoadFailureRef,
     retryGuestRecoveryRef,
@@ -252,7 +249,6 @@ export function BrowserPagePane({
     webviewRef,
     chromeHeaderRef,
     lastKnownWebviewUrlRef,
-    trackNextLoadingEventRef,
     keepAddressBarFocusRef,
     addressBarInputRef,
     browserTabUrlRef,
@@ -263,7 +259,6 @@ export function BrowserPagePane({
   const reload = useBrowserPageReloadActions({
     browserTab,
     webviewRef,
-    trackNextLoadingEventRef,
     retryGuestRecoveryRef,
     onUpdatePageStateRef
   })
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-page-toolbar.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-page-toolbar.tsx
index a62d3506f72..b12aff9eb14 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-page-toolbar.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-page-toolbar.tsx
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ export function BrowserPageToolbar({
   convertedFrom,
   convertedTo,
   loading,
+  loadFailed,
   webviewRef,
   reloadMenuOpen,
   setReloadMenuOpen,
@@ -84,6 +85,7 @@ export function BrowserPageToolbar({
   /** Set on a page Back returned to; Forward re-crosses it once guest history runs out. */
   convertedTo?: BrowserPageConversionOrigin | null
   loading: boolean
+  loadFailed: boolean
   webviewRef: RefObject<Electron.WebviewTag | null>
   reloadMenuOpen: boolean
   setReloadMenuOpen: Dispatch<SetStateAction<boolean>>
@@ -138,7 +140,6 @@ export function BrowserPageToolbar({
       controls={{
         canGoBack: canGoBack || Boolean(convertedFrom),
         canGoForward: canGoForward || Boolean(convertedTo),
-        loading,
         // Why the fallbacks: guest history cannot survive a conversion (the guest was replaced),
         // so once it runs out Back returns across the conversion — and Forward re-crosses it —
         // instead of going dead.
@@ -176,6 +177,8 @@ export function BrowserPageToolbar({
           inputRef={addressBarInputRef}
           dismissSuggestionsRef={dismissAddressBarSuggestionsRef}
           leadingIcon={<SshEgressIndicator worktreeId={worktreeId} />}
+          loading={loading}
+          loadFailed={loadFailed}
         />
       }
       reloadControl={
@@ -183,7 +186,7 @@ export function BrowserPageToolbar({
           menuOpen={reloadMenuOpen}
           onMenuOpenChange={setReloadMenuOpen}
           label={reloadButtonLabel}
-          loading={loading}
+          showStop={reloadButtonLabelKind === 'stop'}
           showShortcutHint={reloadButtonLabelKind === 'reload'}
           reloadShortcut={reloadShortcut}
           hardReloadShortcut={hardReloadShortcut}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-reload-control.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-reload-control.tsx
index 32cf8ad50e0..c6b2f6bd5de 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-reload-control.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/assemble-chrome/browser-reload-control.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import type { Dispatch, SetStateAction } from 'react'
-import { Loader2, RefreshCw } from 'lucide-react'
+import { RefreshCw, X } from 'lucide-react'
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
 import {
   DropdownMenu,
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ export function BrowserReloadControl({
   menuOpen,
   onMenuOpenChange,
   label,
-  loading,
+  showStop = false,
   showShortcutHint,
   reloadShortcut,
   hardReloadShortcut,
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ export function BrowserReloadControl({
   menuOpen: boolean
   onMenuOpenChange: Dispatch<SetStateAction<boolean>>
   label: string
-  loading: boolean
+  /** Only when the primary click stops the load; a reload-only caller keeps the reload icon. */
+  showStop?: boolean
   /** The chord maps to plain reload, which is not what Stop or Retry do — hint only when they match. */
   showShortcutHint: boolean
   reloadShortcut: string
@@ -71,11 +72,7 @@ export function BrowserReloadControl({
                 onMenuOpenChange(true)
               }}
             >
-              {loading ? (
-                <Loader2 className="size-4 animate-spin" />
-              ) : (
-                <RefreshCw className="size-4" />
-              )}
+              {showStop ? <X className="size-4" /> : <RefreshCw className="size-4" />}
             </Button>
           </DropdownMenuTrigger>
         </TooltipTrigger>
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/browser-client-page-guest-metadata.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/browser-client-page-guest-metadata.ts
index 93e62de4dd7..03c99cebc0d 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/browser-client-page-guest-metadata.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/browser-client-page-guest-metadata.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import type { BrowserClientPageMetadataSnapshot } from './browser-client-page-me
  * can no longer reach its guest.
  *
  * `eventUrl` wins when a navigation event carries one: the tag's own getURL() can still report the
- * previous page while the event is being delivered. `loading` is forced for did-start-loading,
+ * previous page while the event is being delivered. `loading` is forced for a navigation start,
  * which fires before isLoading() flips.
  *
  * Why total rather than throwing: a guest destroyed in main leaves the tag holding its id, so
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/attach-browser-page-webview.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/attach-browser-page-webview.ts
index dd880308b26..351cfa94af3 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/attach-browser-page-webview.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/attach-browser-page-webview.ts
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@ export type AttachBrowserPageWebviewArgs = {
   faviconUrlRef: MutableRefObject<string | null>
   addressBarInputRef: RefObject<HTMLInputElement | null>
   lastKnownWebviewUrlRef: MutableRefObject<string | null>
-  trackNextLoadingEventRef: MutableRefObject<boolean>
   invalidateBrowserAnnotationDocumentRef: MutableRefObject<() => void>
   onSetUrlRef: MutableRefObject<BrowserPageUrlSetter>
   setBrowserOverlayViewport: Dispatch<SetStateAction<BrowserOverlayViewport>>
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/bind-browser-page-webview-listeners.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/bind-browser-page-webview-listeners.ts
index a7d786e12d3..d3659e58f73 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/bind-browser-page-webview-listeners.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/bind-browser-page-webview-listeners.ts
@@ -53,7 +53,6 @@ export function bindBrowserPageWebviewListeners({
     faviconUrlRef,
     addressBarInputRef,
     lastKnownWebviewUrlRef,
-    trackNextLoadingEventRef,
     invalidateBrowserAnnotationDocumentRef,
     onSetUrlRef,
     setBrowserOverlayViewport,
@@ -101,7 +100,6 @@ export function bindBrowserPageWebviewListeners({
       addressBarInputRef,
       activeLoadFailureRef,
       lastKnownWebviewUrlRef,
-      trackNextLoadingEventRef,
       keepAddressBarFocusRef,
       recoveryNavigationValidationRef,
       invalidateBrowserAnnotationDocumentRef,
@@ -165,10 +163,9 @@ export function bindBrowserPageWebviewListeners({
   webview.addEventListener('console-message', handleAnnotationViewportMessage)
 
   if (needsInitialNavigation) {
-    // Why: set src only after listeners attach so a fast localhost failure isn't missed; only non-blank tabs show the loading indicator.
+    // Why: set src only after listeners attach so a fast localhost failure isn't missed.
     const initialUrl =
       normalizeBrowserNavigationUrl(initialBrowserUrlRef.current) ?? ORCA_BROWSER_BLANK_URL
-    trackNextLoadingEventRef.current = initialUrl !== ORCA_BROWSER_BLANK_URL
     lastKnownWebviewUrlRef.current = initialUrl
     webview.src = initialUrl
   } else if (isPaintableRef.current) {
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-page-annotation-document.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-page-annotation-document.test.ts
index e0a65879f9c..db1d09f809a 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-page-annotation-document.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-page-annotation-document.test.ts
@@ -71,7 +71,6 @@ function createHarness() {
     ...common,
     browserTabUrlRef: ref('https://example.com/'),
     addressBarValueRef: ref('https://example.com/'),
-    trackNextLoadingEventRef: ref(false),
     keepAddressBarFocusRef: ref(false),
     focusAddressBarNow: () => false
   })
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-page-favicon-navigation.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-page-favicon-navigation.test.ts
index 40b0e122a1f..3b91cb486cd 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-page-favicon-navigation.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-page-favicon-navigation.test.ts
@@ -51,7 +51,6 @@ function createHarness(startUrl: string) {
     addressBarInputRef: ref(null),
     activeLoadFailureRef: ref(null),
     lastKnownWebviewUrlRef: ref<string | null>(startUrl),
-    trackNextLoadingEventRef: ref(true),
     keepAddressBarFocusRef: ref(false),
     recoveryNavigationValidationRef: ref(null),
     invalidateBrowserAnnotationDocumentRef: ref(vi.fn()),
@@ -72,7 +71,7 @@ function createHarness(startUrl: string) {
     committedUrl.current = url
   }
 
-  return { faviconUrlRef, updates, navigation, navigateTo, committedUrl }
+  return { faviconUrlRef, updates, navigation, loading, navigateTo, committedUrl }
 }
 
 describe('favicon retention across navigations', () => {
@@ -126,7 +125,7 @@ describe('favicon retention across navigations', () => {
     expect(harness.faviconUrlRef.current).toBe(GITHUB_ICON)
   })
 
-  it('reports loading without touching the icon on did-start-loading', () => {
+  it('reports loading without touching the icon when a page navigation starts', () => {
     const harness = createHarness('https://github.com/nodejs/node')
     harness.navigation.handleFaviconUpdate({ favicons: [GITHUB_ICON] })
     harness.updates.length = 0
@@ -136,6 +135,28 @@ describe('favicon retention across navigations', () => {
     expect(harness.updates).toEqual([{ loading: true }])
   })
 
+  it('does not report loading for iframe loads or same-document navigations', () => {
+    const harness = createHarness('https://github.com/nodejs/node')
+
+    const startNavigation = (url: string, isMainFrame: boolean, isInPlace: boolean) =>
+      Object.assign(new Event('did-start-navigation'), {
+        url,
+        isMainFrame,
+        isInPlace,
+        frameProcessId: 1,
+        frameRoutingId: 1
+      })
+    harness.loading.handleDidStartLoading()
+    harness.navigation.handleDidStartNavigation(
+      startNavigation('https://ads.example.com/frame', false, false)
+    )
+    harness.navigation.handleDidStartNavigation(
+      startNavigation('https://github.com/nodejs/node#readme', true, true)
+    )
+
+    expect(harness.updates.some((update) => update.loading)).toBe(false)
+  })
+
   it('takes the first renderable icon rather than the first declared one', () => {
     const harness = createHarness('https://example.com/')
     harness.navigation.handleFaviconUpdate({
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-page-mount-admission.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-page-mount-admission.test.ts
index 1c74f886e2e..ba50aa6e778 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-page-mount-admission.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-page-mount-admission.test.ts
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ function createLoadingHandlers(currentUrl: string) {
     addressBarInputRef: ref(null),
     activeLoadFailureRef: ref(null),
     lastKnownWebviewUrlRef: ref<string | null>(null),
-    trackNextLoadingEventRef: ref(true),
     keepAddressBarFocusRef: ref(false),
     recoveryNavigationValidationRef: ref(null),
     invalidateBrowserAnnotationDocumentRef: ref(vi.fn()),
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-page-webview-loading-handlers.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-page-webview-loading-handlers.ts
index 6757290f34c..59a1429db90 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-page-webview-loading-handlers.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-page-webview-loading-handlers.ts
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ export type BrowserPageWebviewLoadingHandlersArgs = {
   addressBarInputRef: RefObject<HTMLInputElement | null>
   activeLoadFailureRef: MutableRefObject<BrowserLoadError | null>
   lastKnownWebviewUrlRef: MutableRefObject<string | null>
-  trackNextLoadingEventRef: MutableRefObject<boolean>
   keepAddressBarFocusRef: MutableRefObject<boolean>
   recoveryNavigationValidationRef: MutableRefObject<BrowserPageRecoveryNavigationValidation | null>
   invalidateBrowserAnnotationDocumentRef: MutableRefObject<() => void>
@@ -58,7 +57,6 @@ export function createBrowserPageWebviewLoadingHandlers({
   addressBarInputRef,
   activeLoadFailureRef,
   lastKnownWebviewUrlRef,
-  trackNextLoadingEventRef,
   keepAddressBarFocusRef,
   recoveryNavigationValidationRef,
   invalidateBrowserAnnotationDocumentRef,
@@ -72,14 +70,6 @@ export function createBrowserPageWebviewLoadingHandlers({
     // A reload replaces geometry even when the URL stays the same.
     invalidateBrowserAnnotationDocumentRef.current()
     setBrowserOverlayViewport({ scrollX: 0, scrollY: 0, version: 0 })
-    if (!trackNextLoadingEventRef.current) {
-      return
-    }
-    // Why the favicon isn't cleared here: it is dropped on the cross-origin did-start-navigation
-    // instead, because Chromium won't re-announce an unchanged icon for a same-origin load.
-    onUpdatePageStateRef.current(browserTabId, {
-      loading: true
-    })
   }
 
   const handleDidStopLoading = (): void => {
@@ -90,7 +80,6 @@ export function createBrowserPageWebviewLoadingHandlers({
     const browserModelUrl = redactKagiSessionToken(currentUrl)
     const activeLoadFailure = activeLoadFailureRef.current
     if (isChromiumErrorPage(currentUrl)) {
-      trackNextLoadingEventRef.current = false
       const synthesizedFailure = {
         code: -1,
         description: translate(
@@ -109,7 +98,6 @@ export function createBrowserPageWebviewLoadingHandlers({
       return
     }
     if (activeLoadFailure?.code === BROWSER_GUEST_RECOVERY_ERROR_CODE) {
-      trackNextLoadingEventRef.current = false
       onUpdatePageStateRef.current(browserTabId, {
         loading: false,
         title: getBrowserDisplayTitle(webview.getTitle(), browserModelUrl),
@@ -125,7 +113,6 @@ export function createBrowserPageWebviewLoadingHandlers({
         activeLoadFailure.validatedUrl
       const normalizedCurrentUrl = normalizeBrowserNavigationUrl(browserModelUrl) ?? browserModelUrl
       if (normalizedAttemptedUrl === normalizedCurrentUrl) {
-        trackNextLoadingEventRef.current = false
         // Why: some failures still emit did-stop-loading on the original URL; keep loadError so the known-failed load isn't cleared to a blank surface.
         onUpdatePageStateRef.current(browserTabId, {
           loading: false,
@@ -138,7 +125,6 @@ export function createBrowserPageWebviewLoadingHandlers({
         return
       }
     }
-    trackNextLoadingEventRef.current = false
     activeLoadFailureRef.current = null
     lastKnownWebviewUrlRef.current =
       normalizeBrowserNavigationUrl(browserModelUrl) ?? browserModelUrl
@@ -168,7 +154,6 @@ export function createBrowserPageWebviewLoadingHandlers({
     if (!loadError) {
       return
     }
-    trackNextLoadingEventRef.current = false
     const pendingRecoveryNavigation = recoveryNavigationValidationRef.current
     if (pendingRecoveryNavigation?.started) {
       recoveryNavigationValidationRef.current = null
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-page-webview-navigation-handlers.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-page-webview-navigation-handlers.ts
index 7af4659a1d0..d7b9278885d 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-page-webview-navigation-handlers.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/browser-page-webview-navigation-handlers.ts
@@ -54,6 +54,17 @@ export type BrowserPageWebviewNavigationHandlers = {
   handleAnnotationViewportMessage: (event: { message?: string }) => void
 }
 
+/**
+ * A new document starting to load in the page itself. Not did-start-loading, which also fires for
+ * iframe loads; and this covers navigations the page starts (links, forms, redirects, history).
+ */
+export function isPageDocumentNavigationStart(event: {
+  isMainFrame: boolean
+  isInPlace: boolean
+}): boolean {
+  return event.isMainFrame && !event.isInPlace
+}
+
 export function createBrowserPageWebviewNavigationHandlers({
   webview,
   browserTabId,
@@ -97,9 +108,10 @@ export function createBrowserPageWebviewNavigationHandlers({
     if (event.isMainFrame && event.url) {
       invalidateBrowserAnnotationDocumentRef.current()
     }
-    if (!event.isMainFrame || event.isInPlace || !event.url) {
+    if (!isPageDocumentNavigationStart(event) || !event.url) {
       return
     }
+    onUpdatePageStateRef.current(browserTabId, { loading: true })
     const pendingRecoveryNavigation = recoveryNavigationValidationRef.current
     const browserStartedUrl = redactKagiSessionToken(event.url)
     const startedUrl = normalizeBrowserNavigationUrl(browserStartedUrl) ?? browserStartedUrl
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/use-browser-page-webview-lifecycle.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/use-browser-page-webview-lifecycle.ts
index 5e5a8036f80..1a35e8e88f9 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/use-browser-page-webview-lifecycle.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/host-guest/use-browser-page-webview-lifecycle.ts
@@ -66,7 +66,6 @@ export function useBrowserPageWebviewLifecycle({
   faviconUrl,
   webviewRef,
   lastKnownWebviewUrlRef,
-  trackNextLoadingEventRef,
   recoveryNavigationValidationRef,
   activeLoadFailureRef,
   retryGuestRecoveryRef,
@@ -107,7 +106,6 @@ export function useBrowserPageWebviewLifecycle({
   faviconUrl: string | null
   webviewRef: MutableRefObject<Electron.WebviewTag | null>
   lastKnownWebviewUrlRef: MutableRefObject<string | null>
-  trackNextLoadingEventRef: MutableRefObject<boolean>
   recoveryNavigationValidationRef: MutableRefObject<BrowserPageRecoveryNavigationValidation | null>
   activeLoadFailureRef: MutableRefObject<BrowserLoadError | null>
   retryGuestRecoveryRef: MutableRefObject<() => void>
@@ -267,7 +265,6 @@ export function useBrowserPageWebviewLifecycle({
       faviconUrlRef,
       addressBarInputRef,
       lastKnownWebviewUrlRef,
-      trackNextLoadingEventRef,
       invalidateBrowserAnnotationDocumentRef,
       onSetUrlRef,
       setBrowserOverlayViewport,
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/navigate/chromium-error-page-poll-visibility.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/navigate/chromium-error-page-poll-visibility.test.ts
index 2256c4171f7..582a08ff502 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/navigate/chromium-error-page-poll-visibility.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/navigate/chromium-error-page-poll-visibility.test.ts
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ function renderUrlSync(guestUrl: () => string): {
       webviewRef: { current: webview },
       chromeHeaderRef: { current: null },
       lastKnownWebviewUrlRef: { current: 'https://example.test/slow' },
-      trackNextLoadingEventRef: { current: false },
       keepAddressBarFocusRef: { current: false },
       addressBarInputRef: { current: null },
       browserTabUrlRef: { current: 'https://example.test/slow' },
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/navigate/navigate-browser-page-notebook-link.test.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/navigate/navigate-browser-page-notebook-link.test.ts
index fd42af12c7c..3b8aeced896 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/navigate/navigate-browser-page-notebook-link.test.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/navigate/navigate-browser-page-notebook-link.test.ts
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ function openNotebookUrl(url: string): void {
     worktreeId: 'wt-1',
     activeLoadFailureRef: ref(null),
     lastKnownWebviewUrlRef: ref(null),
-    trackNextLoadingEventRef: ref(false),
     recoveryNavigationValidationRef: ref(null),
     webviewRef: ref(null),
     onSetUrlRef: ref(vi.fn()),
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/navigate/navigate-browser-page-url.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/navigate/navigate-browser-page-url.ts
index 0d62edddf0d..9d36d97462d 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/navigate/navigate-browser-page-url.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/navigate/navigate-browser-page-url.ts
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ export type NavigateBrowserPageToUrlArgs = {
   worktreeId: string
   activeLoadFailureRef: MutableRefObject<BrowserLoadError | null>
   lastKnownWebviewUrlRef: MutableRefObject<string | null>
-  trackNextLoadingEventRef: MutableRefObject<boolean>
   recoveryNavigationValidationRef: MutableRefObject<BrowserPageRecoveryNavigationValidation | null>
   webviewRef: MutableRefObject<Electron.WebviewTag | null>
   onSetUrlRef: MutableRefObject<BrowserPageUrlSetter>
@@ -46,7 +45,6 @@ export function navigateBrowserPageToUrl({
   worktreeId,
   activeLoadFailureRef,
   lastKnownWebviewUrlRef,
-  trackNextLoadingEventRef,
   recoveryNavigationValidationRef,
   webviewRef,
   onSetUrlRef,
@@ -76,7 +74,6 @@ export function navigateBrowserPageToUrl({
     if (!webview) {
       return
     }
-    trackNextLoadingEventRef.current = targetUrl !== ORCA_BROWSER_BLANK_URL
     lastKnownWebviewUrlRef.current = normalizedBrowserModelUrl
     recoveryNavigationValidationRef.current = recoveryLoadError
       ? { committed: false, started: false, targetUrl: normalizedBrowserModelUrl }
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/navigate/use-browser-page-navigation-downloads.file-drop.test.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/navigate/use-browser-page-navigation-downloads.file-drop.test.tsx
index 56442889c56..506240f7c1b 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/navigate/use-browser-page-navigation-downloads.file-drop.test.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/navigate/use-browser-page-navigation-downloads.file-drop.test.tsx
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ function DropSurface() {
     webviewRef: { current: null },
     activeLoadFailureRef: { current: null },
     lastKnownWebviewUrlRef: { current: null },
-    trackNextLoadingEventRef: { current: false },
     recoveryNavigationValidationRef: { current: null },
     onSetUrlRef: { current: vi.fn() },
     onUpdatePageStateRef: { current: vi.fn() },
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/navigate/use-browser-page-navigation-downloads.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/navigate/use-browser-page-navigation-downloads.ts
index ff3f3973a05..341ac8c6aa0 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/navigate/use-browser-page-navigation-downloads.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/navigate/use-browser-page-navigation-downloads.ts
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@ export function useBrowserPageNavigationDownloads({
   webviewRef,
   activeLoadFailureRef,
   lastKnownWebviewUrlRef,
-  trackNextLoadingEventRef,
   recoveryNavigationValidationRef,
   onSetUrlRef,
   onUpdatePageStateRef,
@@ -56,7 +55,6 @@ export function useBrowserPageNavigationDownloads({
   webviewRef: MutableRefObject<Electron.WebviewTag | null>
   activeLoadFailureRef: MutableRefObject<BrowserLoadError | null>
   lastKnownWebviewUrlRef: MutableRefObject<string | null>
-  trackNextLoadingEventRef: MutableRefObject<boolean>
   recoveryNavigationValidationRef: MutableRefObject<BrowserPageRecoveryNavigationValidation | null>
   onSetUrlRef: MutableRefObject<BrowserPageUrlSetter>
   onUpdatePageStateRef: MutableRefObject<(tabId: string, updates: BrowserTabPageState) => void>
@@ -106,7 +104,6 @@ export function useBrowserPageNavigationDownloads({
         worktreeId,
         activeLoadFailureRef,
         lastKnownWebviewUrlRef,
-        trackNextLoadingEventRef,
         recoveryNavigationValidationRef,
         webviewRef,
         onSetUrlRef,
@@ -125,7 +122,6 @@ export function useBrowserPageNavigationDownloads({
       onUpdatePageStateRef,
       recoveryNavigationValidationRef,
       setResourceNotice,
-      trackNextLoadingEventRef,
       webviewRef,
       worktreeId
     ]
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/navigate/use-browser-page-reload-actions.test.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/navigate/use-browser-page-reload-actions.test.tsx
index 9db4bd34c6c..a42f3ed751f 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/navigate/use-browser-page-reload-actions.test.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/navigate/use-browser-page-reload-actions.test.tsx
@@ -32,15 +32,13 @@ function createWebview(overrides: Partial<Electron.WebviewTag> = {}): Electron.W
 }
 
 describe('useBrowserPageReloadActions', () => {
-  it('arms the lifecycle gate and exposes loading after an accepted reload', () => {
+  it('exposes loading after an accepted reload', () => {
     const webview = createWebview()
-    const trackNextLoadingEventRef = { current: false }
     const onUpdatePageStateRef = { current: vi.fn() }
     const view = renderHook(() =>
       useBrowserPageReloadActions({
         browserTab: createBrowserTab(),
         webviewRef: { current: webview },
-        trackNextLoadingEventRef,
         retryGuestRecoveryRef: { current: vi.fn() },
         onUpdatePageStateRef
       })
@@ -49,7 +47,6 @@ describe('useBrowserPageReloadActions', () => {
     act(() => view.result.current.runReloadTrigger('button'))
 
     expect(webview.reload).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
-    expect(trackNextLoadingEventRef.current).toBe(true)
     expect(onUpdatePageStateRef.current).toHaveBeenCalledWith('page-a', { loading: true })
   })
 
@@ -59,21 +56,17 @@ describe('useBrowserPageReloadActions', () => {
         throw new Error('The WebView must be attached to the DOM')
       })
     })
-    const trackNextLoadingEventRef = { current: false }
     const onUpdatePageStateRef = { current: vi.fn() }
     const view = renderHook(() =>
       useBrowserPageReloadActions({
         browserTab: createBrowserTab(),
         webviewRef: { current: webview },
-        trackNextLoadingEventRef,
         retryGuestRecoveryRef: { current: vi.fn() },
         onUpdatePageStateRef
       })
     )
 
     act(() => view.result.current.runReloadTrigger('button'))
-
-    expect(trackNextLoadingEventRef.current).toBe(false)
     expect(onUpdatePageStateRef.current).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
 })
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/navigate/use-browser-page-reload-actions.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/navigate/use-browser-page-reload-actions.ts
index 88a36fcad2d..7b18718a121 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/navigate/use-browser-page-reload-actions.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/navigate/use-browser-page-reload-actions.ts
@@ -14,13 +14,11 @@ import type { BrowserTabPageState } from '../describe-page/browser-page-types'
 export function useBrowserPageReloadActions({
   browserTab,
   webviewRef,
-  trackNextLoadingEventRef,
   retryGuestRecoveryRef,
   onUpdatePageStateRef
 }: {
   browserTab: BrowserPageState
   webviewRef: MutableRefObject<Electron.WebviewTag | null>
-  trackNextLoadingEventRef?: MutableRefObject<boolean>
   retryGuestRecoveryRef: MutableRefObject<() => void>
   onUpdatePageStateRef: MutableRefObject<(tabId: string, updates: BrowserTabPageState) => void>
 }): {
@@ -46,30 +44,17 @@ export function useBrowserPageReloadActions({
       if (!webview) {
         return
       }
-      if (trackNextLoadingEventRef) {
-        trackNextLoadingEventRef.current = true
-      }
       const result = reloadBrowserPageWebview(webview, { ignoreCache })
-      if (result === 'reloaded') {
-        onUpdatePageStateRef.current(browserTab.id, { loading: true })
-      } else if (result === 'guest-missing') {
-        if (trackNextLoadingEventRef) {
-          trackNextLoadingEventRef.current = false
-        }
+      if (result === 'not-ready') {
+        return
+      }
+      onUpdatePageStateRef.current(browserTab.id, { loading: true })
+      if (result === 'guest-missing') {
         // Why: reload cannot revive a destroyed guest (STA-3448) — recreate it instead.
-        onUpdatePageStateRef.current(browserTab.id, { loading: true })
         retryGuestRecoveryRef.current()
-      } else if (trackNextLoadingEventRef) {
-        trackNextLoadingEventRef.current = false
       }
     },
-    [
-      browserTab.id,
-      onUpdatePageStateRef,
-      retryGuestRecoveryRef,
-      trackNextLoadingEventRef,
-      webviewRef
-    ]
+    [browserTab.id, onUpdatePageStateRef, retryGuestRecoveryRef, webviewRef]
   )
   const runReloadTrigger = useCallback(
     (trigger: BrowserReloadTrigger) => {
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/navigate/use-browser-page-webview-url-sync.ts b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/navigate/use-browser-page-webview-url-sync.ts
index bfd93702440..d6e83b493f2 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/navigate/use-browser-page-webview-url-sync.ts
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/navigate/use-browser-page-webview-url-sync.ts
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ export function useBrowserPageWebviewUrlSync({
   webviewRef,
   chromeHeaderRef,
   lastKnownWebviewUrlRef,
-  trackNextLoadingEventRef,
   keepAddressBarFocusRef,
   addressBarInputRef,
   browserTabUrlRef,
@@ -41,7 +40,6 @@ export function useBrowserPageWebviewUrlSync({
   webviewRef: MutableRefObject<Electron.WebviewTag | null>
   chromeHeaderRef: RefObject<HTMLDivElement | null>
   lastKnownWebviewUrlRef: MutableRefObject<string | null>
-  trackNextLoadingEventRef: MutableRefObject<boolean>
   keepAddressBarFocusRef: MutableRefObject<boolean>
   addressBarInputRef: RefObject<HTMLInputElement | null>
   browserTabUrlRef: MutableRefObject<string>
@@ -98,8 +96,6 @@ export function useBrowserPageWebviewUrlSync({
       webview.src !== normalizedUrl &&
       declaredSrc !== normalizedUrl
     ) {
-      // Why: browserTab.url changes are Orca-driven navigations; gate did-start-loading so only real navigations show loading UI.
-      trackNextLoadingEventRef.current = normalizedUrl !== ORCA_BROWSER_BLANK_URL
       lastKnownWebviewUrlRef.current = normalizedUrl
       webview.src = normalizedUrl
       if (normalizedUrl !== ORCA_BROWSER_BLANK_URL) {
@@ -115,7 +111,6 @@ export function useBrowserPageWebviewUrlSync({
     focusWebviewNow,
     keepAddressBarFocusRef,
     lastKnownWebviewUrlRef,
-    trackNextLoadingEventRef,
     webviewRef
   ])
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/restored-client-hosted-recovery-window.test.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/restored-client-hosted-recovery-window.test.tsx
index 3b6937efe49..e027d488b18 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/restored-client-hosted-recovery-window.test.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/restored-client-hosted-recovery-window.test.tsx
@@ -108,12 +108,10 @@ function renderPane(): ReturnType<typeof render> {
   return render(paneElement())
 }
 
-// Scoped to the navigation row: the unavailable notice's reopen button keeps its own pending
-// spinner in the DOM at all times, hidden by class, so an unscoped query is always true.
-function spinnerShown(): boolean {
+function loadingShown(): boolean {
   return (
     document.querySelector(
-      '[data-contextual-tour-target="client-hosted-browser-controls"] .animate-spin'
+      '[data-contextual-tour-target="client-hosted-browser-controls"] [data-browser-load-progress="loading"]'
     ) !== null
   )
 }
@@ -143,7 +141,7 @@ describe('restored client-hosted recovery window', () => {
 
     act(() => vi.advanceTimersByTime(RESTORED_CLIENT_HOSTED_RECOVERY_WINDOW_MS - 1))
 
-    expect(spinnerShown()).toBe(true)
+    expect(loadingShown()).toBe(true)
     expect(noticeShown()).toBe(false)
   })
 
@@ -154,7 +152,7 @@ describe('restored client-hosted recovery window', () => {
     act(() => vi.advanceTimersByTime(RESTORED_CLIENT_HOSTED_RECOVERY_WINDOW_MS))
 
     expect(noticeShown()).toBe(true)
-    expect(spinnerShown()).toBe(false)
+    expect(loadingShown()).toBe(false)
     expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Reopen on server' })).not.toBeNull()
   })
 
@@ -175,7 +173,7 @@ describe('restored client-hosted recovery window', () => {
 
     act(() => vi.advanceTimersByTime(RESTORED_CLIENT_HOSTED_RECOVERY_WINDOW_MS * 10))
 
-    expect(spinnerShown()).toBe(true)
+    expect(loadingShown()).toBe(true)
     expect(noticeShown()).toBe(false)
   })
 
@@ -208,7 +206,7 @@ describe('restored client-hosted recovery window', () => {
 
     act(() => vi.advanceTimersByTime(RESTORED_CLIENT_HOSTED_RECOVERY_WINDOW_MS * 10))
 
-    expect(spinnerShown()).toBe(true)
+    expect(loadingShown()).toBe(true)
     expect(noticeShown()).toBe(false)
   })
 
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/stream-remote/remote-browser-page-pane.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/stream-remote/remote-browser-page-pane.tsx
index 851def90ade..ba11d900223 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/stream-remote/remote-browser-page-pane.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/stream-remote/remote-browser-page-pane.tsx
@@ -395,6 +395,7 @@ export function RemoteBrowserPagePane({
         addressBarEditSession={addressBarEditSession}
         busy={busy}
         loading={browserTab.loading}
+        loadFailed={browserTab.loadError !== null}
         markup={markup}
         frameUrl={frameUrl}
         isActive={isActive}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/stream-remote/remote-browser-page-toolbar.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/stream-remote/remote-browser-page-toolbar.tsx
index 0e79d5e786d..0dfcce2c6b8 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/stream-remote/remote-browser-page-toolbar.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/stream-remote/remote-browser-page-toolbar.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { Loader2, MessageSquarePlus, RefreshCw } from 'lucide-react'
+import { MessageSquarePlus, RefreshCw } from 'lucide-react'
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
 import { Tooltip, TooltipContent, TooltipTrigger } from '@/components/ui/tooltip'
 import { translate } from '@/i18n/i18n'
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ export function RemoteBrowserPageToolbar({
   addressBarEditSession,
   busy,
   loading,
+  loadFailed,
   markup,
   frameUrl,
   isActive,
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ export function RemoteBrowserPageToolbar({
   addressBarEditSession: BrowserAddressBarEditSessionBinding
   busy: boolean
   loading: boolean
+  loadFailed: boolean
   markup: MarkupModeController
   frameUrl: string | null
   isActive: boolean
@@ -53,7 +55,6 @@ export function RemoteBrowserPageToolbar({
         // dead-end back/forward RPC is simply a no-op on the host.
         canGoBack: true,
         canGoForward: true,
-        loading: busy || loading,
         goBack: onBack,
         goForward: onForward,
         reload: onReload,
@@ -75,6 +76,8 @@ export function RemoteBrowserPageToolbar({
               presentation="streamed"
             />
           }
+          loading={busy || loading}
+          loadFailed={loadFailed}
         />
       }
       reloadControl={
@@ -92,11 +95,7 @@ export function RemoteBrowserPageToolbar({
               )}
               onClick={onReload}
             >
-              {busy || loading ? (
-                <Loader2 className="size-4 animate-spin" />
-              ) : (
-                <RefreshCw className="size-4" />
-              )}
+              <RefreshCw className="size-4" />
             </Button>
           </TooltipTrigger>
           <TooltipContent side="bottom" sideOffset={4}>
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/workspace-doc/HtmlDocPreview.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/workspace-doc/HtmlDocPreview.tsx
index 899285a6d38..40272ec1917 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/workspace-doc/HtmlDocPreview.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/workspace-doc/HtmlDocPreview.tsx
@@ -315,7 +315,6 @@ export function HtmlDocPreview({
         previewId={previewId}
         worktreeId={worktreeId}
         history={historyWithConversionCrossings}
-        loading={state === 'loading' && failureReason === null}
         onReload={handleReload}
         onHardReload={handleHardReload}
         onCopyPath={() => void window.api.ui.writeClipboardText(identity.absolutePath)}
diff --git a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/workspace-doc/doc-preview-toolbar.tsx b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/workspace-doc/doc-preview-toolbar.tsx
index 18fe0404289..ef7c8cd3c33 100644
--- a/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/workspace-doc/doc-preview-toolbar.tsx
+++ b/src/renderer/src/components/browser-pane/workspace-doc/doc-preview-toolbar.tsx
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ export function DocPreviewToolbar({
   previewId,
   worktreeId,
   history,
-  loading,
   onReload,
   onHardReload,
   onCopyPath,
@@ -38,7 +37,6 @@ export function DocPreviewToolbar({
   previewId: string
   worktreeId: string
   history: DocPreviewHistory
-  loading: boolean
   onReload: () => void
   /** Drops the grant and mints a new one — the preview's equivalent of ignoring every cache. */
   onHardReload: () => void
@@ -64,7 +62,6 @@ export function DocPreviewToolbar({
       controls={{
         canGoBack: history.canGoBack,
         canGoForward: history.canGoForward,
-        loading,
         goBack: history.goBack,
         goForward: history.goForward,
         reload: onReload,
@@ -79,7 +76,6 @@ export function DocPreviewToolbar({
           menuOpen={reloadMenuOpen}
           onMenuOpenChange={setReloadMenuOpen}
           label={reloadLabel}
-          loading={loading}
           showShortcutHint={false}
           reloadShortcut=""
           hardReloadShortcut=""
diff --git a/tests/e2e/browser-reload-feedback.spec.ts b/tests/e2e/browser-reload-feedback.spec.ts
index ef5ba6839a9..93917b31d33 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/browser-reload-feedback.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/e2e/browser-reload-feedback.spec.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { createServer, type Server } from 'node:http'
 import type { AddressInfo } from 'node:net'
+import type { Page } from '@stablyai/playwright-test'
 import { expect, test } from './helpers/orca-app'
 import {
   ensureTerminalVisible,
@@ -14,7 +15,19 @@ function closeServer(server: Server): Promise<void> {
   )
 }
 
-test('shows Stop and a spinner during a held reload, then returns to Reload', async ({
+function readTabLoading(page: Page, worktreeId: string, tabId: string): Promise<boolean | null> {
+  return page.evaluate(
+    ({ worktreeId, tabId }) => {
+      const tab = window.__store
+        ?.getState()
+        .browserTabsByWorktree[worktreeId]?.find((entry) => entry.id === tabId)
+      return tab?.loading ?? null
+    },
+    { worktreeId, tabId }
+  )
+}
+
+test('shows Stop and the loading line during a held reload, then returns to Reload', async ({
   orcaPage
 }, testInfo) => {
   let requestCount = 0
@@ -75,20 +88,11 @@ test('shows Stop and a spinner during a held reload, then returns to Reload', as
         timeout: 20_000
       })
       .toBe(url)
-    const getLoading = (): Promise<boolean | null> =>
-      orcaPage.evaluate(
-        ({ worktreeId, tabId }) => {
-          const tab = window.__store
-            ?.getState()
-            .browserTabsByWorktree[worktreeId]?.find((entry) => entry.id === tabId)
-          return tab?.loading ?? null
-        },
-        { worktreeId, tabId: tab.id }
-      )
+    const getLoading = (): Promise<boolean | null> => readTabLoading(orcaPage, worktreeId, tab.id)
     await expect.poll(getLoading, { timeout: 10_000 }).toBe(true)
     const stop = pane.getByRole('button', { name: 'Stop' })
     await expect(stop).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10_000 })
-    await expect(stop.locator('svg')).toHaveAttribute('class', /animate-spin/)
+    await expect(pane.locator('[data-browser-load-progress="loading"]')).toHaveCount(1)
     await orcaPage.screenshot({ path: testInfo.outputPath('reload-held.png') })
     reloadReleased = true
     reloadResolvers.splice(0).forEach((resolve) => resolve())
@@ -106,3 +110,56 @@ test('shows Stop and a spinner during a held reload, then returns to Reload', as
     await closeServer(server)
   }
 })
+
+test('shows loading while a link inside the page waits on the server', async ({ orcaPage }) => {
+  let releaseHeld: (() => void) | undefined
+  const server = createServer((request, response) => {
+    const pathname = new URL(request.url ?? '/', 'http://127.0.0.1').pathname
+    response.writeHead(200, { 'Content-Type': 'text/html; charset=utf-8' })
+    if (pathname === '/held') {
+      releaseHeld = () => response.end('<!doctype html><title>Held</title><body>held</body>')
+      return
+    }
+    response.end('<!doctype html><title>Start</title><body><a href="/held">next</a></body>')
+  })
+  await new Promise<void>((resolve) => server.listen(0, '127.0.0.1', resolve))
+  const address = server.address()
+  if (!address || typeof address === 'string') {
+    throw new Error('held-link server has no port')
+  }
+  const origin = `http://127.0.0.1:${address.port}`
+  try {
+    await waitForSessionReady(orcaPage)
+    await ensureTerminalVisible(orcaPage)
+    const worktreeId = await waitForActiveWorktree(orcaPage)
+    const tabId = await orcaPage.evaluate(
+      ({ worktreeId, url }) =>
+        window.__store?.getState().createBrowserTab(worktreeId, url, { activate: true })?.id ??
+        null,
+      { worktreeId, url: `${origin}/` }
+    )
+    if (!tabId) {
+      throw new Error('browser tab was not created')
+    }
+    const pane = orcaPage.locator(`[data-browser-overlay-tab-id="${tabId}"]`)
+    const getLoading = (): Promise<boolean | null> => readTabLoading(orcaPage, worktreeId, tabId)
+    await expect(pane.getByRole('button', { name: 'Reload' })).toBeVisible({ timeout: 20_000 })
+    await expect.poll(getLoading, { timeout: 10_000 }).toBe(false)
+
+    await pane
+      .locator('webview')
+      .evaluate((webview: Electron.WebviewTag) =>
+        webview.executeJavaScript('document.querySelector("a").click()')
+      )
+    await expect.poll(() => releaseHeld !== undefined, { timeout: 10_000 }).toBe(true)
+    await expect.poll(getLoading, { timeout: 10_000 }).toBe(true)
+    await expect(pane.locator('[data-browser-load-progress="loading"]')).toHaveCount(1)
+
+    releaseHeld?.()
+    await expect.poll(getLoading, { timeout: 10_000 }).toBe(false)
+    await expect(pane.locator('[data-browser-load-progress="loading"]')).toHaveCount(0)
+  } finally {
+    releaseHeld?.()
+    await closeServer(server)
+  }
+})