diff --git a/components/profile-modal.html b/components/profile-modal.html
index 317d2ebe..c4bf86fd 100644
--- a/components/profile-modal.html
+++ b/components/profile-modal.html
@@ -1049,6 +1049,12 @@
               <p class="text-sm text-muted">
                 These are the creators you’ve subscribed to directly in bitvid.
               </p>
+              <p
+                id="subscriptionsStatus"
+                class="text-sm text-muted"
+                role="status"
+                aria-live="polite"
+              ></p>
               <div class="flex items-center justify-between gap-3">
                 <h3 class="text-base font-semibold text-text">Subscriptions</h3>
                 <button
diff --git a/js/app.js b/js/app.js
index bf0e4e49..db9e51a8 100644
--- a/js/app.js
+++ b/js/app.js
@@ -2389,7 +2389,7 @@ class Application {
     this.tagPreferenceMenuController.refreshActiveMenus();
   }
 
-  async loadHashtagPreferencesForPubkey(pubkey) {
+  async loadHashtagPreferencesForPubkey(pubkey, options = {}) {
     if (
       !this.hashtagPreferences ||
       typeof this.hashtagPreferences.load !== "function"
@@ -2398,7 +2398,7 @@ class Application {
     }
 
     try {
-      await this.hashtagPreferences.load(pubkey);
+      await this.hashtagPreferences.load(pubkey, options);
       return true;
     } catch (error) {
       devLogger.error(
@@ -4189,7 +4189,9 @@ class Application {
     }
 
     const hashtagPreferencesPromise = Promise.resolve(
-      this.loadHashtagPreferencesForPubkey(loginContext.pubkey),
+      this.loadHashtagPreferencesForPubkey(loginContext.pubkey, {
+        allowPermissionPrompt: false,
+      }),
     ).catch((error) => {
       devLogger.warn(
         "[Application] Background hashtag preferences load failed:",
@@ -4343,7 +4345,9 @@ class Application {
         });
 
       // Load subscriptions in the background to avoid blocking the main feed.
-      subscriptions.ensureLoaded(activePubkey).catch((error) => {
+      subscriptions
+        .ensureLoaded(activePubkey, { allowPermissionPrompt: false })
+        .catch((error) => {
         devLogger.warn(
           "[Application] Failed to load subscriptions during login:",
           error
diff --git a/js/services/hashtagPreferencesService.js b/js/services/hashtagPreferencesService.js
index 2e4ce5c2..0fdcef64 100644
--- a/js/services/hashtagPreferencesService.js
+++ b/js/services/hashtagPreferencesService.js
@@ -238,6 +238,7 @@ class HashtagPreferencesService {
     this.eventId = null;
     this.eventCreatedAt = null;
     this.loaded = false;
+    this.backgroundLoading = false;
     this.preferencesVersion = DEFAULT_VERSION;
     this.decryptRetryTimeoutId = null;
 
@@ -245,12 +246,12 @@ class HashtagPreferencesService {
       if (event === "profileChanged") {
         this.reset();
         if (detail.pubkey) {
-          this.load(detail.pubkey);
+          this.load(detail.pubkey, { allowPermissionPrompt: false });
         }
       } else if (event === "runtimeCleared" && detail.pubkey === this.activePubkey) {
         this.reset();
         if (this.activePubkey) {
-          this.load(this.activePubkey);
+          this.load(this.activePubkey, { allowPermissionPrompt: false });
         }
       }
     });
@@ -266,6 +267,7 @@ class HashtagPreferencesService {
     this.eventId = null;
     this.eventCreatedAt = null;
     this.loaded = false;
+    this.backgroundLoading = false;
     this.preferencesVersion = DEFAULT_VERSION;
     if (this.decryptRetryTimeoutId) {
       clearTimeout(this.decryptRetryTimeoutId);
@@ -425,7 +427,7 @@ class HashtagPreferencesService {
     }
   }
 
-  scheduleDecryptRetry(pubkey, error) {
+  scheduleDecryptRetry(pubkey, error, options = {}) {
     const normalized = normalizeHexPubkey(pubkey);
     if (!normalized) {
       return;
@@ -438,7 +440,7 @@ class HashtagPreferencesService {
       if (this.activePubkey && this.activePubkey !== normalized) {
         return;
       }
-      this.load(normalized).catch((retryError) => {
+      this.load(normalized, options).catch((retryError) => {
         userLogger.warn(`${LOG_PREFIX} Decryption retry failed`, retryError);
       });
     }, DECRYPT_RETRY_DELAY_MS);
@@ -448,14 +450,18 @@ class HashtagPreferencesService {
     );
   }
 
-  async load(pubkey) {
+  async load(pubkey, options = {}) {
     const normalized = normalizeHexPubkey(pubkey);
+    const allowPermissionPrompt = options?.allowPermissionPrompt !== false;
     let wasLoadedForUser =
       this.activePubkey &&
       this.activePubkey === normalized &&
       (this.interests.size > 0 || this.disinterests.size > 0 || this.loaded);
 
     this.activePubkey = normalized;
+    if (allowPermissionPrompt) {
+      this.backgroundLoading = false;
+    }
 
     if (!normalized) {
       this.reset();
@@ -466,7 +472,12 @@ class HashtagPreferencesService {
     // Try cache first
     if (this.loadFromCache(normalized)) {
       wasLoadedForUser = true;
+      if (!allowPermissionPrompt && !this.backgroundLoading) {
+        this.backgroundLoading = true;
+        this.emitChange("background-loading", { background: true });
+      }
     }
+    const wasBackgroundLoading = this.backgroundLoading;
 
     if (
       !nostrClient ||
@@ -481,10 +492,18 @@ class HashtagPreferencesService {
         userLogger.warn(
           `${LOG_PREFIX} Keeping existing preferences despite client unavailability.`,
         );
+        if (wasBackgroundLoading) {
+          this.backgroundLoading = false;
+          this.emitChange("background-loaded", { background: false });
+        }
         return;
       }
       this.reset();
       this.loaded = true;
+      if (wasBackgroundLoading) {
+        this.backgroundLoading = false;
+        this.emitChange("background-loaded", { background: false });
+      }
       return;
     }
 
@@ -495,10 +514,18 @@ class HashtagPreferencesService {
         userLogger.warn(
           `${LOG_PREFIX} Keeping existing preferences; no relays available for refresh.`,
         );
+        if (wasBackgroundLoading) {
+          this.backgroundLoading = false;
+          this.emitChange("background-loaded", { background: false });
+        }
         return;
       }
       this.reset();
       this.loaded = true;
+      if (wasBackgroundLoading) {
+        this.backgroundLoading = false;
+        this.emitChange("background-loaded", { background: false });
+      }
       return;
     }
 
@@ -553,6 +580,10 @@ class HashtagPreferencesService {
           `${LOG_PREFIX} Failed to load hashtag preferences (keeping local state if any).`,
           fetchError,
         );
+        if (wasBackgroundLoading) {
+          this.backgroundLoading = false;
+          this.emitChange("background-loaded", { background: false });
+        }
         return;
       }
 
@@ -563,11 +594,19 @@ class HashtagPreferencesService {
         userLogger.warn(
           `${LOG_PREFIX} Keeping existing preferences despite empty relay response.`,
         );
+        if (wasBackgroundLoading) {
+          this.backgroundLoading = false;
+          this.emitChange("background-loaded", { background: false });
+        }
         return;
       }
 
       this.reset();
       this.loaded = true;
+      if (wasBackgroundLoading) {
+        this.backgroundLoading = false;
+        this.emitChange("background-loaded", { background: false });
+      }
       return;
     }
 
@@ -600,10 +639,18 @@ class HashtagPreferencesService {
 
     if (!latest) {
       if (wasLoadedForUser) {
+        if (wasBackgroundLoading) {
+          this.backgroundLoading = false;
+          this.emitChange("background-loaded", { background: false });
+        }
         return;
       }
       this.reset();
       this.loaded = true;
+      if (wasBackgroundLoading) {
+        this.backgroundLoading = false;
+        this.emitChange("background-loaded", { background: false });
+      }
       return;
     }
 
@@ -616,12 +663,18 @@ class HashtagPreferencesService {
       devLogger.log(
         `${LOG_PREFIX} Ignoring stale/concurrent preferences event (remote: ${latestCreatedAt}, local: ${currentCreatedAt}).`,
       );
+      if (wasBackgroundLoading) {
+        this.backgroundLoading = false;
+        this.emitChange("background-loaded", { background: false });
+      }
       return;
     }
 
     let decryptResult;
     try {
-      const decryptPromise = this.decryptEvent(latest, normalized);
+      const decryptPromise = this.decryptEvent(latest, normalized, {
+        allowPermissionPrompt,
+      });
       const timeoutPromise = new Promise((_, reject) =>
         setTimeout(
           () => {
@@ -649,7 +702,15 @@ class HashtagPreferencesService {
         if (!wasLoadedForUser && !this.loaded) {
           this.loaded = true;
         }
-        this.scheduleDecryptRetry(normalized, decryptResult.error);
+        this.scheduleDecryptRetry(normalized, decryptResult.error, {
+          allowPermissionPrompt,
+        });
+        return;
+      }
+      if (
+        !allowPermissionPrompt &&
+        decryptResult.error?.code === "hashtag-preferences-permission-required"
+      ) {
         return;
       }
 
@@ -659,11 +720,19 @@ class HashtagPreferencesService {
         userLogger.warn(
           `${LOG_PREFIX} Preserving cached preferences despite decryption failure.`,
         );
+        if (wasBackgroundLoading) {
+          this.backgroundLoading = false;
+          this.emitChange("background-loaded", { background: false });
+        }
         return;
       }
 
       this.reset();
       this.loaded = true;
+      if (wasBackgroundLoading) {
+        this.backgroundLoading = false;
+        this.emitChange("background-loaded", { background: false });
+      }
       return;
     }
 
@@ -681,6 +750,9 @@ class HashtagPreferencesService {
         ? latest.created_at
         : null;
       this.loaded = true;
+      if (this.backgroundLoading) {
+        this.backgroundLoading = false;
+      }
       this.saveToCache();
       this.emitChange("sync", { scheme: decryptResult.scheme });
     } catch (error) {
@@ -693,7 +765,7 @@ class HashtagPreferencesService {
     }
   }
 
-  async decryptEvent(event, userPubkey) {
+  async decryptEvent(event, userPubkey, options = {}) {
     const ciphertext = typeof event?.content === "string" ? event.content : "";
     if (!ciphertext) {
       const error = new Error("Preference event missing ciphertext content.");
@@ -701,8 +773,13 @@ class HashtagPreferencesService {
       return { ok: false, error };
     }
 
+    const allowPermissionPrompt = options?.allowPermissionPrompt !== false;
     let signer = getActiveSigner();
-    if (!signer && typeof nostrClient?.ensureActiveSignerForPubkey === "function") {
+    if (
+      !signer &&
+      typeof nostrClient?.ensureActiveSignerForPubkey === "function" &&
+      allowPermissionPrompt
+    ) {
       signer = await nostrClient.ensureActiveSignerForPubkey(userPubkey);
     }
     const signerHasNip04 = typeof signer?.nip04Decrypt === "function";
@@ -716,6 +793,13 @@ class HashtagPreferencesService {
       (!signerHasNip44 && requiresNip44) ||
       (!signerHasNip04 && requiresNip04)
     ) {
+      if (!allowPermissionPrompt) {
+        const error = new Error(
+          "Decrypt permissions are required to read hashtag preferences.",
+        );
+        error.code = "hashtag-preferences-permission-required";
+        return { ok: false, error };
+      }
       try {
         await requestDefaultExtensionPermissions();
       } catch (error) {
@@ -766,7 +850,11 @@ class HashtagPreferencesService {
       );
     }
 
-    const nostrApi = typeof window !== "undefined" ? window?.nostr : null;
+    const nostrApi = allowPermissionPrompt
+      ? typeof window !== "undefined"
+        ? window?.nostr
+        : null
+      : null;
     if (nostrApi) {
       if (typeof nostrApi.nip04?.decrypt === "function") {
         registerDecryptor(
diff --git a/js/subscriptions.js b/js/subscriptions.js
index 4c2bfc21..64fc3659 100644
--- a/js/subscriptions.js
+++ b/js/subscriptions.js
@@ -329,6 +329,7 @@ class SubscriptionsManager {
     this.currentUserPubkey = null;
     this.loaded = false;
     this.loadingPromise = null;
+    this.backgroundLoading = false;
     this.subscriptionListView = null;
     this.lastRunOptions = null;
     this.lastResult = null;
@@ -350,7 +351,9 @@ class SubscriptionsManager {
       } else if (event === "runtimeCleared" && detail.pubkey === this.currentUserPubkey) {
         this.reset();
         if (this.currentUserPubkey) {
-          this.loadSubscriptions(this.currentUserPubkey);
+          this.loadSubscriptions(this.currentUserPubkey, {
+            allowPermissionPrompt: false,
+          });
         }
       }
     });
@@ -359,12 +362,13 @@ class SubscriptionsManager {
   /**
    * Decrypt the subscription list from kind=30000 (d="subscriptions").
    */
-  async loadSubscriptions(userPubkey) {
+  async loadSubscriptions(userPubkey, options = {}) {
     if (!userPubkey) {
       userLogger.warn("[SubscriptionsManager] No pubkey => cannot load subs.");
       return;
     }
 
+    const allowPermissionPrompt = options?.allowPermissionPrompt !== false;
     const normalizedUserPubkey = normalizeHexPubkey(userPubkey) || userPubkey;
 
     // 1. Attempt to load from cache first
@@ -379,14 +383,25 @@ class SubscriptionsManager {
       this.loaded = true;
 
       // Trigger background update
-      this.updateFromRelays(userPubkey).catch((err) => {
+      if (!allowPermissionPrompt && !this.backgroundLoading) {
+        this.backgroundLoading = true;
+        this.emitter.emit("change", {
+          action: "background-loading",
+          subscribedPubkeys: Array.from(this.subscribedPubkeys),
+          background: true,
+        });
+      } else if (allowPermissionPrompt) {
+        this.backgroundLoading = false;
+      }
+
+      this.updateFromRelays(userPubkey, { allowPermissionPrompt }).catch((err) => {
         devLogger.warn("[SubscriptionsManager] Background update failed:", err);
       });
       return;
     }
 
     // 2. If no cache, must wait for relays
-    await this.updateFromRelays(userPubkey);
+    await this.updateFromRelays(userPubkey, { allowPermissionPrompt });
   }
 
   saveToCache(userPubkey) {
@@ -402,7 +417,7 @@ class SubscriptionsManager {
     return this.emitter.on(eventName, handler);
   }
 
-  scheduleDecryptRetry(userPubkey, error) {
+  scheduleDecryptRetry(userPubkey, error, options = {}) {
     const normalized = normalizeHexPubkey(userPubkey) || userPubkey;
     if (!normalized) {
       return;
@@ -415,7 +430,7 @@ class SubscriptionsManager {
       if (this.currentUserPubkey && this.currentUserPubkey !== normalized) {
         return;
       }
-      this.updateFromRelays(normalized).catch((retryError) => {
+      this.updateFromRelays(normalized, options).catch((retryError) => {
         userLogger.warn("[SubscriptionsManager] Decryption retry failed:", retryError);
       });
     }, DECRYPT_RETRY_DELAY_MS);
@@ -425,10 +440,12 @@ class SubscriptionsManager {
     );
   }
 
-  async updateFromRelays(userPubkey) {
+  async updateFromRelays(userPubkey, options = {}) {
     if (!userPubkey) return;
 
     try {
+      const allowPermissionPrompt = options?.allowPermissionPrompt !== false;
+      const wasBackgroundLoading = this.backgroundLoading;
       const normalizedUserPubkey = normalizeHexPubkey(userPubkey) || userPubkey;
 
       const readRelays = relayManager.getReadRelayUrls();
@@ -437,6 +454,13 @@ class SubscriptionsManager {
         devLogger.warn(
           "[SubscriptionsManager] No relay URLs available while loading subscriptions.",
         );
+        if (wasBackgroundLoading) {
+          this.backgroundLoading = false;
+          this.emitter.emit("change", {
+            action: "background-loaded",
+            subscribedPubkeys: Array.from(this.subscribedPubkeys),
+          });
+        }
         return;
       }
 
@@ -516,6 +540,13 @@ class SubscriptionsManager {
            // This means no updates. We keep what we have.
            devLogger.log("[SubscriptionsManager] No updates from relays.");
         }
+        if (wasBackgroundLoading) {
+          this.backgroundLoading = false;
+          this.emitter.emit("change", {
+            action: "background-loaded",
+            subscribedPubkeys: Array.from(this.subscribedPubkeys),
+          });
+        }
         return;
       }
 
@@ -534,7 +565,9 @@ class SubscriptionsManager {
 
       let decryptResult;
       try {
-        const decryptPromise = this.decryptSubscriptionEvent(newest, userPubkey);
+        const decryptPromise = this.decryptSubscriptionEvent(newest, userPubkey, {
+          allowPermissionPrompt,
+        });
         const timeoutPromise = new Promise((_, reject) =>
           setTimeout(
             () => {
@@ -557,13 +590,28 @@ class SubscriptionsManager {
           if (!this.loaded && !cachedSnapshot.hasSnapshot) {
             this.loaded = true;
           }
-          this.scheduleDecryptRetry(normalizedUserPubkey, decryptResult.error);
+          this.scheduleDecryptRetry(normalizedUserPubkey, decryptResult.error, {
+            allowPermissionPrompt,
+          });
+          return;
+        }
+        if (
+          !allowPermissionPrompt &&
+          decryptResult.error?.code === "subscriptions-permission-required"
+        ) {
           return;
         }
         userLogger.error(
           "[SubscriptionsManager] Failed to decrypt subscription list:",
           decryptResult.error,
         );
+        if (wasBackgroundLoading) {
+          this.backgroundLoading = false;
+          this.emitter.emit("change", {
+            action: "background-loaded",
+            subscribedPubkeys: Array.from(this.subscribedPubkeys),
+          });
+        }
         if (!this.loaded) {
           this.subscribedPubkeys.clear();
           this.subsEventId = null;
@@ -583,6 +631,9 @@ class SubscriptionsManager {
       this.subscribedPubkeys = newSet;
       this.currentUserPubkey = normalizedUserPubkey;
       this.loaded = true;
+      if (wasBackgroundLoading) {
+        this.backgroundLoading = false;
+      }
 
       // Update persistent cache
       this.saveToCache(normalizedUserPubkey);
@@ -610,6 +661,11 @@ class SubscriptionsManager {
             error
           );
         });
+      } else if (wasBackgroundLoading) {
+        this.emitter.emit("change", {
+          action: "background-loaded",
+          subscribedPubkeys: Array.from(this.subscribedPubkeys),
+        });
       }
 
     } catch (err) {
@@ -623,6 +679,7 @@ class SubscriptionsManager {
     this.subsEventCreatedAt = null;
     this.currentUserPubkey = null;
     this.loaded = false;
+    this.backgroundLoading = false;
     this.lastRunOptions = null;
     this.lastResult = null;
     this.hasRenderedOnce = false;
@@ -633,7 +690,7 @@ class SubscriptionsManager {
     this.emitter.emit("change", { action: "reset", subscribedPubkeys: [] });
   }
 
-  async ensureLoaded(actorHex) {
+  async ensureLoaded(actorHex, options = {}) {
     devLogger.log("[SubscriptionsManager] ensureLoaded start", actorHex);
     const normalizedActor = normalizeHexPubkey(actorHex) || actorHex;
     if (!normalizedActor) {
@@ -655,7 +712,7 @@ class SubscriptionsManager {
       return;
     }
 
-    const loader = this.loadSubscriptions(normalizedActor);
+    const loader = this.loadSubscriptions(normalizedActor, options);
     this.loadingPromise = loader;
 
     try {
@@ -709,7 +766,7 @@ class SubscriptionsManager {
     return Array.from(this.subscribedPubkeys);
   }
 
-  async decryptSubscriptionEvent(event, userPubkey) {
+  async decryptSubscriptionEvent(event, userPubkey, options = {}) {
     const ciphertext = typeof event?.content === "string" ? event.content : "";
     if (!ciphertext) {
       const error = new Error("Subscription event is missing ciphertext content.");
@@ -717,6 +774,7 @@ class SubscriptionsManager {
       return { ok: false, error };
     }
 
+    const allowPermissionPrompt = options?.allowPermissionPrompt !== false;
     const hints = extractEncryptionHints(event);
     const requiresNip44 = hints.includes("nip44") || hints.includes("nip44_v2");
     const requiresNip04 = !hints.length || hints.includes("nip04") || !requiresNip44;
@@ -731,7 +789,8 @@ class SubscriptionsManager {
     if (
       !signer ||
       (!signerHasRequiredDecryptors(signer) &&
-        typeof nostrClient?.ensureActiveSignerForPubkey === "function")
+        typeof nostrClient?.ensureActiveSignerForPubkey === "function" &&
+        allowPermissionPrompt)
     ) {
       signer = await nostrClient.ensureActiveSignerForPubkey(userPubkey);
     }
@@ -739,7 +798,11 @@ class SubscriptionsManager {
     const signerHasNip04 = typeof signer?.nip04Decrypt === "function";
     const signerHasNip44 = typeof signer?.nip44Decrypt === "function";
 
-    const nostrApi = typeof window !== "undefined" ? window?.nostr : null;
+    const nostrApi = allowPermissionPrompt
+      ? typeof window !== "undefined"
+        ? window?.nostr
+        : null
+      : null;
     const windowHasNip04 = typeof nostrApi?.nip04?.decrypt === "function";
     const windowHasNip44 =
       (nostrApi?.nip44 && typeof nostrApi.nip44.decrypt === "function") ||
@@ -749,6 +812,13 @@ class SubscriptionsManager {
       (!signerHasNip44 && !windowHasNip44 && requiresNip44) ||
       (!signerHasNip04 && !windowHasNip04 && requiresNip04)
     ) {
+      if (!allowPermissionPrompt) {
+        const error = new Error(
+          "Decrypt permissions are required to read subscriptions."
+        );
+        error.code = "subscriptions-permission-required";
+        return { ok: false, error };
+      }
       try {
         const permissionResult = await requestDefaultExtensionPermissions();
         if (!permissionResult?.ok) {
diff --git a/js/ui/profileModalController.js b/js/ui/profileModalController.js
index 8f25b020..4c5b33ff 100644
--- a/js/ui/profileModalController.js
+++ b/js/ui/profileModalController.js
@@ -1314,6 +1314,7 @@ export class ProfileModalController {
     this.walletStatusText = null;
     this.profileWalletStatusText = null;
     this.hashtagStatusText = null;
+    this.hashtagBackgroundLoading = false;
     this.hashtagInterestList = null;
     this.hashtagInterestEmpty = null;
     this.hashtagInterestInput = null;
@@ -1324,6 +1325,8 @@ export class ProfileModalController {
     this.hashtagDisinterestInput = null;
     this.addHashtagDisinterestButton = null;
     this.profileHashtagDisinterestRefreshBtn = null;
+    this.subscriptionsStatusText = null;
+    this.subscriptionsBackgroundLoading = false;
     this.profileSubscriptionsRefreshBtn = null;
     this.profileFriendsRefreshBtn = null;
     this.profileBlockedRefreshBtn = null;
@@ -1421,8 +1424,8 @@ export class ProfileModalController {
       this.subscriptionsService &&
       typeof this.subscriptionsService.on === "function"
     ) {
-      this.subscriptionsService.on("change", () => {
-        void this.populateSubscriptionsList();
+      this.subscriptionsService.on("change", (detail) => {
+        this.handleSubscriptionsChange(detail);
       });
     }
 
@@ -1718,6 +1721,8 @@ export class ProfileModalController {
       document.getElementById("profileAddHashtagDisinterestBtn") || null;
     this.profileHashtagDisinterestRefreshBtn =
       document.getElementById("profileHashtagDisinterestRefreshBtn") || null;
+    this.subscriptionsStatusText =
+      document.getElementById("subscriptionsStatus") || null;
 
     this.profileRelayList = this.relayList;
     this.profileRelayInput = this.relayInput;
@@ -5343,7 +5348,7 @@ export class ProfileModalController {
           return;
         }
         void service
-          .loadSubscriptions(activeHex)
+          .loadSubscriptions(activeHex, { allowPermissionPrompt: true })
           .then(() => {
             void this.populateSubscriptionsList();
           })
@@ -5397,7 +5402,9 @@ export class ProfileModalController {
       if (!service || typeof service.load !== "function") {
         return;
       }
-      void service.load(activeHex).catch((error) => {
+      void service
+        .load(activeHex, { allowPermissionPrompt: true })
+        .catch((error) => {
         devLogger.warn(
           "[profileModal] Failed to refresh hashtag preferences:",
           error,
@@ -7072,11 +7079,20 @@ export class ProfileModalController {
       this.populateStoragePane();
     } else if (target === "hashtags") {
       this.populateHashtagPreferences();
+      if (activeHex && this.hashtagPreferencesService) {
+        this.hashtagPreferencesService
+          .load(activeHex, { allowPermissionPrompt: true })
+          .catch(noop);
+      }
+      this.refreshHashtagBackgroundStatus();
     } else if (target === "subscriptions") {
       if (activeHex && this.subscriptionsService) {
-        this.subscriptionsService.loadSubscriptions(activeHex).catch(noop);
+        this.subscriptionsService
+          .loadSubscriptions(activeHex, { allowPermissionPrompt: true })
+          .catch(noop);
       }
       void this.populateSubscriptionsList();
+      this.refreshSubscriptionsBackgroundStatus();
     } else if (target === "blocked") {
       if (activeHex && this.services.userBlocks) {
         this.services.userBlocks.loadBlocks(activeHex).catch(noop);
@@ -7762,6 +7778,89 @@ export class ProfileModalController {
     }
   }
 
+  setSubscriptionsStatus(message = "", tone = "muted") {
+    if (!(this.subscriptionsStatusText instanceof HTMLElement)) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const classList = this.subscriptionsStatusText.classList;
+    classList.remove(
+      "text-status-success",
+      "text-status-warning",
+      "text-status-danger",
+      "text-status-info",
+      "text-muted",
+    );
+
+    const normalized =
+      typeof message === "string" && message.trim() ? message.trim() : "";
+
+    if (!normalized) {
+      this.subscriptionsStatusText.textContent = "";
+      this.subscriptionsStatusText.classList.add("text-muted", "hidden");
+      return;
+    }
+
+    this.subscriptionsStatusText.textContent = normalized;
+    this.subscriptionsStatusText.classList.remove("hidden");
+
+    switch (tone) {
+      case "success":
+        classList.add("text-status-success");
+        break;
+      case "warning":
+      case "error":
+        classList.add("text-status-warning");
+        break;
+      case "info":
+        classList.add("text-status-info");
+        break;
+      default:
+        classList.add("text-muted");
+        break;
+    }
+  }
+
+  refreshHashtagBackgroundStatus() {
+    const isBackground = this.hashtagPreferencesService?.backgroundLoading === true;
+    const statusText = this.hashtagStatusText?.textContent?.trim?.() || "";
+
+    if (isBackground && !this.hashtagBackgroundLoading) {
+      this.hashtagBackgroundLoading = true;
+      if (!statusText) {
+        this.setHashtagStatus("Loading in background…", "info");
+      }
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (!isBackground && this.hashtagBackgroundLoading) {
+      if (statusText === "Loading in background…") {
+        this.setHashtagStatus("", "muted");
+      }
+      this.hashtagBackgroundLoading = false;
+    }
+  }
+
+  refreshSubscriptionsBackgroundStatus() {
+    const isBackground = this.subscriptionsService?.backgroundLoading === true;
+    const statusText = this.subscriptionsStatusText?.textContent?.trim?.() || "";
+
+    if (isBackground && !this.subscriptionsBackgroundLoading) {
+      this.subscriptionsBackgroundLoading = true;
+      if (!statusText) {
+        this.setSubscriptionsStatus("Loading in background…", "info");
+      }
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (!isBackground && this.subscriptionsBackgroundLoading) {
+      if (statusText === "Loading in background…") {
+        this.setSubscriptionsStatus("", "muted");
+      }
+      this.subscriptionsBackgroundLoading = false;
+    }
+  }
+
   clearHashtagInputs() {
     if (this.hashtagInterestInput instanceof HTMLInputElement) {
       this.hashtagInterestInput.value = "";
@@ -7780,6 +7879,7 @@ export class ProfileModalController {
     if (!snapshot.interests.length && !snapshot.disinterests.length) {
       this.setHashtagStatus("", "muted");
     }
+    this.refreshHashtagBackgroundStatus();
   }
 
   renderHashtagList(type, tags) {
@@ -8097,7 +8197,45 @@ export class ProfileModalController {
       detail && typeof detail.preferences === "object"
         ? detail.preferences
         : detail;
+    const action = typeof detail?.action === "string" ? detail.action : "";
+
+    if (action === "background-loading") {
+      this.hashtagBackgroundLoading = true;
+      this.setHashtagStatus("Loading in background…", "info");
+    } else if (
+      (action === "sync" || action === "background-loaded" || action === "reset") &&
+      this.hashtagBackgroundLoading
+    ) {
+      const statusText = this.hashtagStatusText?.textContent?.trim?.() || "";
+      if (statusText === "Loading in background…") {
+        this.setHashtagStatus("", "muted");
+      }
+      this.hashtagBackgroundLoading = false;
+    }
+
     this.populateHashtagPreferences(preferences);
+    this.refreshHashtagBackgroundStatus();
+  }
+
+  handleSubscriptionsChange(detail = {}) {
+    const action = typeof detail?.action === "string" ? detail.action : "";
+
+    if (action === "background-loading") {
+      this.subscriptionsBackgroundLoading = true;
+      this.setSubscriptionsStatus("Loading in background…", "info");
+    } else if (
+      (action === "sync" || action === "background-loaded" || action === "reset") &&
+      this.subscriptionsBackgroundLoading
+    ) {
+      const statusText = this.subscriptionsStatusText?.textContent?.trim?.() || "";
+      if (statusText === "Loading in background…") {
+        this.setSubscriptionsStatus("", "muted");
+      }
+      this.subscriptionsBackgroundLoading = false;
+    }
+
+    void this.populateSubscriptionsList();
+    this.refreshSubscriptionsBackgroundStatus();
   }
 
   populateBlockedList(blocked = null) {
@@ -8291,12 +8429,14 @@ export class ProfileModalController {
     const service = this.subscriptionsService;
     if (!service) {
       this.clearSubscriptionsList();
+      this.refreshSubscriptionsBackgroundStatus();
       return;
     }
 
     const activeHex = this.normalizeHexPubkey(this.getActivePubkey());
     if (!activeHex) {
       this.clearSubscriptionsList();
+      this.refreshSubscriptionsBackgroundStatus();
       return;
     }
 
@@ -8395,6 +8535,7 @@ export class ProfileModalController {
       if (!deduped.length) {
         this.subscriptionListEmpty.classList.remove("hidden");
         this.subscriptionList.classList.add("hidden");
+        this.refreshSubscriptionsBackgroundStatus();
         return;
       }
 
@@ -8491,6 +8632,7 @@ export class ProfileModalController {
           );
         }
       }
+      this.refreshSubscriptionsBackgroundStatus();
     } catch (error) {
       devLogger.warn("[profileModal] Failed to populate subscriptions list:", error);
     }
@@ -13005,7 +13147,9 @@ export class ProfileModalController {
         this.services.userBlocks.loadBlocks(activePubkey).catch(noop);
       }
       if (this.subscriptionsService) {
-        this.subscriptionsService.loadSubscriptions(activePubkey).catch(noop);
+        this.subscriptionsService
+          .loadSubscriptions(activePubkey, { allowPermissionPrompt: false })
+          .catch(noop);
       }
     }