diff --git a/js/app.js b/js/app.js
index 76439de1..1ada49cf 100644
--- a/js/app.js
+++ b/js/app.js
@@ -1488,7 +1488,7 @@ class Application {
       this.videoModal.setViewCountPointer(pointerKey);
     }
     try {
-      const token = subscribeToVideoViewCount(pointer, ({ total, status }) => {
+      const token = subscribeToVideoViewCount(pointer, ({ total, status, partial }) => {
         const latestViewEl = this.videoModal?.getViewCountElement() || null;
         if (!latestViewEl) {
           return;
@@ -1497,10 +1497,12 @@ class Application {
         if (Number.isFinite(total)) {
           const numeric = Number(total);
           if (this.videoModal) {
+            const label = this.formatViewCountLabel(numeric);
             this.videoModal.updateViewCountLabel(
-              this.formatViewCountLabel(numeric)
+              partial ? `${label} (partial)` : label
             );
           }
+          latestViewEl.dataset.viewCountState = partial ? "partial" : "ready";
           return;
         }
 
@@ -1508,10 +1510,12 @@ class Application {
           if (this.videoModal) {
             this.videoModal.updateViewCountLabel("Loading views…");
           }
+          latestViewEl.dataset.viewCountState = "hydrating";
         } else {
           if (this.videoModal) {
             this.videoModal.updateViewCountLabel("– views");
           }
+          latestViewEl.dataset.viewCountState = status;
         }
       });
 
diff --git a/js/nostr/client.js b/js/nostr/client.js
index 88125a54..039d6e17 100644
--- a/js/nostr/client.js
+++ b/js/nostr/client.js
@@ -1261,6 +1261,8 @@ export class NostrClient {
     this.sessionActorCipherClosuresPrivateKey = null;
     this.countUnsupportedRelays = new Set();
     this.unreachableRelays = new Set();
+    this.relayBackoff = new Map();
+    this.relayFailureCounts = new Map();
     this.isInitialized = false;
     this.nip46Client = null;
     this.pendingHandshakeCancel = null;
@@ -4303,8 +4305,9 @@ export class NostrClient {
   // `unsub` to avoid leaking subscriptions. Note: any future change must still
   // provide a lightweight readiness check with similar timeout semantics.
   async connectToRelays() {
+    const relayTargets = this.getHealthyRelays(this.relays);
     const results = await Promise.all(
-      this.relays.map(
+      relayTargets.map(
         (url) =>
           new Promise((resolve) => {
             const sub = this.pool.sub([url], [{ kinds: [0], limit: 1 }]);
@@ -4326,9 +4329,11 @@ export class NostrClient {
 
     for (const result of results) {
       if (result.success) {
-        this.unreachableRelays.delete(result.url);
+        this.clearRelayBackoff(result.url);
       } else {
-        this.unreachableRelays.add(result.url);
+        this.markRelayUnreachable(result.url, 60000, {
+          reason: "connect-timeout",
+        });
         if (isDevMode) {
           devLogger.warn(`[nostr] Marked relay as unreachable: ${result.url}`);
         }
@@ -4338,7 +4343,21 @@ export class NostrClient {
     return results;
   }
 
-  markRelayUnreachable(url, ttlMs = 60000) {
+  resolveRelayBackoffMs(failureCount, ttlOverride) {
+    const baseMs = 15000;
+    const maxMs = 5 * 60 * 1000;
+    const computed = Math.min(
+      maxMs,
+      baseMs * Math.pow(2, Math.max(0, failureCount - 1))
+    );
+    const override = Number(ttlOverride);
+    if (Number.isFinite(override) && override > 0) {
+      return Math.max(computed, Math.floor(override));
+    }
+    return computed;
+  }
+
+  clearRelayBackoff(url) {
     if (!url || typeof url !== "string") {
       return;
     }
@@ -4346,14 +4365,34 @@ export class NostrClient {
     if (!normalized) {
       return;
     }
+    this.relayBackoff.delete(normalized);
+    this.relayFailureCounts.delete(normalized);
+    this.unreachableRelays.delete(normalized);
+  }
+
+  markRelayUnreachable(url, ttlMs = 60000, { reason = null } = {}) {
+    if (!url || typeof url !== "string") {
+      return;
+    }
+    const normalized = url.trim();
+    if (!normalized) {
+      return;
+    }
+    const nextFailureCount = (this.relayFailureCounts.get(normalized) || 0) + 1;
+    this.relayFailureCounts.set(normalized, nextFailureCount);
+    const backoffMs = this.resolveRelayBackoffMs(nextFailureCount, ttlMs);
+    const retryAt = Date.now() + backoffMs;
+    this.relayBackoff.set(normalized, {
+      retryAt,
+      backoffMs,
+      failureCount: nextFailureCount,
+      reason,
+    });
     this.unreachableRelays.add(normalized);
-    if (ttlMs > 0) {
-      setTimeout(() => {
-        this.unreachableRelays.delete(normalized);
-        if (isDevMode) {
-          devLogger.debug(`[nostr] Cleared temporary failure mark for ${normalized}`);
-        }
-      }, ttlMs);
+    if (isDevMode) {
+      devLogger.debug(
+        `[nostr] Relay backoff set for ${normalized} (${backoffMs}ms).`,
+      );
     }
   }
 
@@ -4362,7 +4401,26 @@ export class NostrClient {
     if (!this.unreachableRelays.size) {
       return source;
     }
-    return source.filter((url) => !this.unreachableRelays.has(url));
+    const now = Date.now();
+    return source.filter((url) => {
+      if (!this.unreachableRelays.has(url)) {
+        return true;
+      }
+      const entry = this.relayBackoff.get(url);
+      if (!entry) {
+        return false;
+      }
+      if (Number.isFinite(entry.retryAt) && entry.retryAt > now) {
+        return false;
+      }
+      this.relayBackoff.delete(url);
+      this.relayFailureCounts.delete(url);
+      this.unreachableRelays.delete(url);
+      if (isDevMode) {
+        devLogger.debug(`[nostr] Relay backoff expired for ${url}.`);
+      }
+      return true;
+    });
   }
 
   /**
@@ -7764,13 +7822,25 @@ export class NostrClient {
     try {
       relay = await this.pool.ensureRelay(normalizedUrl);
     } catch (error) {
-      throw new Error(`Failed to connect to relay ${normalizedUrl}`);
+      const connectError = new Error(
+        `Failed to connect to relay ${normalizedUrl}`
+      );
+      connectError.code = "relay-connect-failed";
+      this.markRelayUnreachable(normalizedUrl, 60000, {
+        reason: "connect-failed",
+      });
+      throw connectError;
     }
 
     if (!relay) {
-      throw new Error(
+      const relayError = new Error(
         `Relay ${normalizedUrl} is unavailable for COUNT requests.`
       );
+      relayError.code = "relay-unavailable";
+      this.markRelayUnreachable(normalizedUrl, 60000, {
+        reason: "relay-unavailable",
+      });
+      throw relayError;
     }
 
     const frame = ["COUNT", requestId, ...normalizedFilters];
@@ -7822,16 +7892,27 @@ export class NostrClient {
     }
 
     const timeoutMs = this.getRequestTimeoutMs(options.timeoutMs);
-    const rawResult = await withRequestTimeout(
-      countPromise,
-      timeoutMs,
-      () => {
-        if (relay?.openCountRequests instanceof Map) {
-          relay.openCountRequests.delete(requestId);
-        }
-      },
-      `COUNT request timed out after ${timeoutMs}ms`
-    );
+    let rawResult;
+    try {
+      rawResult = await withRequestTimeout(
+        countPromise,
+        timeoutMs,
+        () => {
+          if (relay?.openCountRequests instanceof Map) {
+            relay.openCountRequests.delete(requestId);
+          }
+        },
+        `COUNT request timed out after ${timeoutMs}ms`
+      );
+    } catch (error) {
+      if (
+        error instanceof Error &&
+        error.message.includes("COUNT request timed out")
+      ) {
+        error.code = "count-timeout";
+      }
+      throw error;
+    }
 
     const countValue = this.extractCountValue(rawResult);
     return ["COUNT", requestId, { count: countValue }];
@@ -7840,7 +7921,7 @@ export class NostrClient {
   async countEventsAcrossRelays(filters, options = {}) {
     const normalizedFilters = this.normalizeCountFilters(filters);
     if (!normalizedFilters.length) {
-      return { total: 0, best: null, perRelay: [] };
+      return { total: 0, best: null, perRelay: [], partial: false };
     }
 
     const relayList =
@@ -7854,6 +7935,8 @@ export class NostrClient {
       .map((url) => (typeof url === "string" ? url.trim() : ""))
       .filter(Boolean);
 
+    const eligibleRelays = this.getHealthyRelays(normalizedRelayList);
+    const eligibleRelaySet = new Set(eligibleRelays);
     const activeRelays = [];
     const precomputedEntries = [];
 
@@ -7868,6 +7951,15 @@ export class NostrClient {
         });
         continue;
       }
+      if (!eligibleRelaySet.has(url)) {
+        precomputedEntries.push({
+          url,
+          ok: false,
+          skipped: true,
+          reason: "backoff",
+        });
+        continue;
+      }
       activeRelays.push(url);
     }
 
@@ -7878,15 +7970,28 @@ export class NostrClient {
             timeoutMs: options.timeoutMs,
           });
           const count = this.extractCountValue(frame?.[2]);
+          this.clearRelayBackoff(url);
           return { url, ok: true, frame, count };
         } catch (error) {
           const isUnsupported = error?.code === "count-unsupported";
+          const isTimeout =
+            error?.code === "count-timeout" || error?.code === "timeout";
           if (isUnsupported) {
             this.countUnsupportedRelays.add(url);
           } else {
             logRelayCountFailure(url, error);
+            this.markRelayUnreachable(url, 60000, {
+              reason: isTimeout ? "count-timeout" : "count-error",
+            });
           }
-          return { url, ok: false, error, unsupported: isUnsupported };
+          return {
+            url,
+            ok: false,
+            error,
+            unsupported: isUnsupported,
+            timedOut: isTimeout,
+            errorCode: error?.code || null,
+          };
         }
       })
     );
@@ -7940,11 +8045,15 @@ export class NostrClient {
     });
 
     const total = bestEstimate ? bestEstimate.count : 0;
+    const partial = perRelayResults.some(
+      (entry) => entry?.timedOut || entry?.skipped
+    );
 
     return {
       total,
       best: bestEstimate,
       perRelay,
+      partial,
     };
   }
 
diff --git a/js/nostr/commentEvents.js b/js/nostr/commentEvents.js
index 8d930ed3..76f96a4b 100644
--- a/js/nostr/commentEvents.js
+++ b/js/nostr/commentEvents.js
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import { CACHE_POLICIES } from "./cachePolicies.js";
 import { isSessionActor } from "./sessionActor.js";
 import { queueSignEvent } from "./signRequestQueue.js";
 import { getActiveSigner } from "../nostrClientRegistry.js";
+import { sanitizeRelayList as sanitizeRelayUrls } from "./nip46Client.js";
 
 const COMMENT_EVENT_SCHEMA = getNostrEventSchema(NOTE_TYPES.VIDEO_COMMENT);
 const CACHE_POLICY = CACHE_POLICIES[NOTE_TYPES.VIDEO_COMMENT];
@@ -32,13 +33,15 @@ function getAllowedCommentKinds() {
   return ALLOWED_COMMENT_KINDS.slice();
 }
 function sanitizeRelayList(primary, fallback) {
-  if (Array.isArray(primary) && primary.length) {
-    return primary;
+  const primaryList = sanitizeRelayUrls(Array.isArray(primary) ? primary : []);
+  if (primaryList.length) {
+    return primaryList;
   }
-  if (Array.isArray(fallback) && fallback.length) {
-    return fallback;
+  const fallbackList = sanitizeRelayUrls(Array.isArray(fallback) ? fallback : []);
+  if (fallbackList.length) {
+    return fallbackList;
   }
-  return RELAY_URLS;
+  return sanitizeRelayUrls(RELAY_URLS);
 }
 
 function normalizeRelay(candidate) {
diff --git a/js/nostr/dmSignalEvents.js b/js/nostr/dmSignalEvents.js
index b138d497..1deca098 100644
--- a/js/nostr/dmSignalEvents.js
+++ b/js/nostr/dmSignalEvents.js
@@ -9,17 +9,20 @@ import { devLogger, userLogger } from "../utils/logger.js";
 import { queueSignEvent } from "./signRequestQueue.js";
 import { getActiveSigner } from "../nostrClientRegistry.js";
 import { isSessionActor } from "./sessionActor.js";
+import { sanitizeRelayList as sanitizeRelayUrls } from "./nip46Client.js";
 
 const DEFAULT_TYPING_EXPIRY_SECONDS = 15;
 
 function sanitizeRelayList(primary, fallback) {
-  if (Array.isArray(primary) && primary.length) {
-    return primary;
+  const primaryList = sanitizeRelayUrls(Array.isArray(primary) ? primary : []);
+  if (primaryList.length) {
+    return primaryList;
   }
-  if (Array.isArray(fallback) && fallback.length) {
-    return fallback;
+  const fallbackList = sanitizeRelayUrls(Array.isArray(fallback) ? fallback : []);
+  if (fallbackList.length) {
+    return fallbackList;
   }
-  return RELAY_URLS;
+  return sanitizeRelayUrls(RELAY_URLS);
 }
 
 function normalizeString(value) {
diff --git a/js/nostr/nip46Client.js b/js/nostr/nip46Client.js
index e0832b57..9f31f957 100644
--- a/js/nostr/nip46Client.js
+++ b/js/nostr/nip46Client.js
@@ -43,6 +43,28 @@ export const NIP46_ENCRYPTION_ALGORITHMS = Object.freeze([
   "nip04",
 ]);
 
+function isSecureRelayContext() {
+  if (typeof window === "undefined") {
+    return false;
+  }
+  const protocol = window?.location?.protocol;
+  return protocol === "https:";
+}
+
+function resolveRelayProtocol(protocol, { enforceTls = false } = {}) {
+  if (!protocol) {
+    return null;
+  }
+  const normalized = protocol.toLowerCase();
+  if (normalized === "wss:") {
+    return "wss:";
+  }
+  if (normalized === "ws:") {
+    return enforceTls ? "wss:" : "ws:";
+  }
+  return null;
+}
+
 /**
  * resolves the appropriate storage mechanism (localStorage or polyfill) for NIP-46 sessions.
  * @returns {Storage|null} The storage interface or null if unavailable.
@@ -72,6 +94,7 @@ export function sanitizeRelayList(list) {
   if (!Array.isArray(list)) {
     return sanitized;
   }
+  const enforceTls = isSecureRelayContext();
 
   list.forEach((value) => {
     if (typeof value !== "string") {
@@ -90,16 +113,29 @@ export function sanitizeRelayList(list) {
 
     let normalized = trimmed.replace(/\/+$/, "");
     try {
-      const parsed = new URL(trimmed);
+      const parsed = new URL(normalized);
       if (!parsed.hostname) {
         return;
       }
+      const resolvedProtocol = resolveRelayProtocol(parsed.protocol, {
+        enforceTls,
+      });
+      if (!resolvedProtocol) {
+        return;
+      }
+      if (parsed.protocol !== resolvedProtocol) {
+        parsed.protocol = resolvedProtocol;
+      }
       const pathname = parsed.pathname.replace(/\/+$/, "");
       normalized = `${parsed.protocol}//${parsed.host}${pathname}${parsed.search || ""}`;
     } catch (error) {
       // Ignore URL parsing failures and fall back to the trimmed string.
     }
 
+    if (enforceTls && normalized.startsWith("ws://")) {
+      return;
+    }
+
     if (seen.has(normalized)) {
       return;
     }
diff --git a/js/nostr/reactionEvents.js b/js/nostr/reactionEvents.js
index d059f2cc..3311f9b3 100644
--- a/js/nostr/reactionEvents.js
+++ b/js/nostr/reactionEvents.js
@@ -7,18 +7,21 @@ import { LRUCache } from "../utils/lruCache.js";
 import { CACHE_POLICIES } from "./cachePolicies.js";
 import { NOTE_TYPES } from "../nostrEventSchemas.js";
 import { queueSignEvent } from "./signRequestQueue.js";
+import { sanitizeRelayList as sanitizeRelayUrls } from "./nip46Client.js";
 
 const CACHE_POLICY = CACHE_POLICIES[NOTE_TYPES.VIDEO_REACTION];
 const reactionCache = new LRUCache({ maxSize: 100 });
 
 function sanitizeRelayList(primary, fallback) {
-  if (Array.isArray(primary) && primary.length) {
-    return primary;
+  const primaryList = sanitizeRelayUrls(Array.isArray(primary) ? primary : []);
+  if (primaryList.length) {
+    return primaryList;
   }
-  if (Array.isArray(fallback) && fallback.length) {
-    return fallback;
+  const fallbackList = sanitizeRelayUrls(Array.isArray(fallback) ? fallback : []);
+  if (fallbackList.length) {
+    return fallbackList;
   }
-  return RELAY_URLS;
+  return sanitizeRelayUrls(RELAY_URLS);
 }
 
 function normalizeString(value) {
diff --git a/js/nostr/viewEvents.js b/js/nostr/viewEvents.js
index 284e5d92..fc93c988 100644
--- a/js/nostr/viewEvents.js
+++ b/js/nostr/viewEvents.js
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import { normalizePointerInput } from "./watchHistory.js";
 import { devLogger, userLogger } from "../utils/logger.js";
 import { logViewCountFailure } from "./countDiagnostics.js";
 import { queueSignEvent } from "./signRequestQueue.js";
+import { sanitizeRelayList as sanitizeRelayUrls } from "./nip46Client.js";
 
 const VIEW_EVENT_GUARD_PREFIX = "bitvid:viewed";
 
@@ -340,13 +341,15 @@ function flattenListResults(input) {
 }
 
 function sanitizeRelayList(primary, fallback) {
-  if (Array.isArray(primary) && primary.length) {
-    return primary;
+  const primaryList = sanitizeRelayUrls(Array.isArray(primary) ? primary : []);
+  if (primaryList.length) {
+    return primaryList;
   }
-  if (Array.isArray(fallback) && fallback.length) {
-    return fallback;
+  const fallbackList = sanitizeRelayUrls(Array.isArray(fallback) ? fallback : []);
+  if (fallbackList.length) {
+    return fallbackList;
   }
-  return RELAY_URLS;
+  return sanitizeRelayUrls(RELAY_URLS);
 }
 
 export async function listVideoViewEvents(client, pointer, options = {}) {
@@ -563,6 +566,7 @@ export async function countVideoViewEvents(client, pointer, options = {}) {
       perRelay: [],
       best: null,
       fallback: true,
+      partial: false,
     };
   }
 
@@ -588,19 +592,26 @@ export async function countVideoViewEvents(client, pointer, options = {}) {
     throw normalizeAbortError();
   }
 
+  let countAttemptPartial = false;
+
   try {
     const result = await client.countEventsAcrossRelays([pointerFilter], {
       relays: sanitizeRelayList(relayList, client.relays),
       timeoutMs: options?.timeoutMs,
     });
 
+    countAttemptPartial = Boolean(result?.partial);
+
     if (result?.perRelay?.some((entry) => entry && entry.ok)) {
-      return { ...result, fallback: false };
+      return { ...result, fallback: false, partial: countAttemptPartial };
     }
   } catch (error) {
     if (error?.code !== "count-unsupported") {
       logViewCountFailure(error);
     }
+    if (error?.code === "count-timeout" || error?.code === "timeout") {
+      countAttemptPartial = true;
+    }
   }
 
   if (signal?.aborted) {
@@ -647,6 +658,7 @@ export async function countVideoViewEvents(client, pointer, options = {}) {
     perRelay: [],
     best: null,
     fallback: true,
+    partial: countAttemptPartial,
   };
 }
 
diff --git a/js/relayManager.js b/js/relayManager.js
index aa809074..a7d20bfe 100644
--- a/js/relayManager.js
+++ b/js/relayManager.js
@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@ function normalizeRelayUrl(input) {
     return null;
   }
 
+  const enforceTls =
+    typeof window !== "undefined" &&
+    window?.location?.protocol === "https:";
+
   let candidate = input.trim();
   if (!candidate) {
     return null;
@@ -59,6 +63,18 @@ function normalizeRelayUrl(input) {
     return null;
   }
 
+  if (enforceTls && parsed.protocol === "ws:") {
+    try {
+      parsed = new URL(candidate.replace(/^ws:/i, "wss:"));
+    } catch (error) {
+      return null;
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (enforceTls && parsed.protocol !== "wss:") {
+    return null;
+  }
+
   const hostname = parsed.hostname.toLowerCase();
   const port = parsed.port ? `:${parsed.port}` : "";
   let pathname = parsed.pathname || "";
diff --git a/js/services/discussionCountService.js b/js/services/discussionCountService.js
index a47e3020..a519a7e0 100644
--- a/js/services/discussionCountService.js
+++ b/js/services/discussionCountService.js
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import { COMMENT_EVENT_KIND } from "../nostr/commentEvents.js";
 
 const DEFAULT_MAX_DISCUSSION_COUNT_VIDEOS = 24;
 const COUNT_UNSUPPORTED_TITLE = "Relay does not support NIP-45 COUNT queries.";
+const COUNT_PARTIAL_TITLE =
+  "Some relays timed out. Comment counts may be partial.";
 
 function toPositiveInteger(value, fallback) {
   const numeric = Number(value);
@@ -99,10 +101,11 @@ export default class DiscussionCountService {
           }
 
           const total = Number(result?.total);
+          const isPartial = Boolean(result?.partial);
           const normalized =
             Number.isFinite(total) && total >= 0 ? Math.floor(total) : 0;
           this.videoDiscussionCountCache.set(video.id, normalized);
-          this.updateDiscussionCountElement(container, normalized);
+          this.updateDiscussionCountElement(container, normalized, { partial: isPartial });
           return result;
         })
         .catch((error) => {
@@ -204,7 +207,7 @@ export default class DiscussionCountService {
     element.removeAttribute("title");
   }
 
-  updateDiscussionCountElement(element, count) {
+  updateDiscussionCountElement(element, count, { partial = false } = {}) {
     if (!element) {
       return;
     }
@@ -217,9 +220,13 @@ export default class DiscussionCountService {
     const numeric = Number(count);
     const safeValue =
       Number.isFinite(numeric) && numeric >= 0 ? Math.floor(numeric) : 0;
-    element.dataset.countState = "ready";
+    element.dataset.countState = partial ? "partial" : "ready";
     valueEl.textContent = safeValue.toLocaleString();
-    element.removeAttribute("title");
+    if (partial) {
+      element.title = COUNT_PARTIAL_TITLE;
+    } else {
+      element.removeAttribute("title");
+    }
   }
 
   markDiscussionCountError(element, { unsupported = false } = {}) {
diff --git a/js/ui/components/VideoModal.js b/js/ui/components/VideoModal.js
index 8bf412dd..722e535f 100644
--- a/js/ui/components/VideoModal.js
+++ b/js/ui/components/VideoModal.js
@@ -6201,11 +6201,16 @@ export class VideoModal {
     try {
       const token = subscribeToVideoViewCount(
         pointerInfo.pointer,
-        ({ total, status }) => {
+        ({ total, status, partial }) => {
           if (!viewEl || !viewEl.isConnected) {
             return;
           }
-          viewEl.textContent = this.getViewCountLabel(total, status);
+          viewEl.textContent = this.getViewCountLabel(total, status, partial);
+          if (partial) {
+            viewEl.dataset.viewCountState = "partial";
+          } else {
+            viewEl.dataset.viewCountState = status;
+          }
         }
       );
       return { pointer: pointerInfo.pointer, token };
@@ -6216,9 +6221,10 @@ export class VideoModal {
     }
   }
 
-  getViewCountLabel(total, status) {
+  getViewCountLabel(total, status, partial) {
     if (Number.isFinite(total)) {
-      return this.formatViewCountLabel(Number(total));
+      const label = this.formatViewCountLabel(Number(total));
+      return partial ? `${label} (partial)` : label;
     }
     if (status === "hydrating") {
       return "Loading…";
diff --git a/js/ui/views/VideoListView.js b/js/ui/views/VideoListView.js
index b6965f95..099a0b3d 100644
--- a/js/ui/views/VideoListView.js
+++ b/js/ui/views/VideoListView.js
@@ -1134,16 +1134,20 @@ export class VideoListView {
       elements: new Set(),
       lastTotal: null,
       lastStatus: "idle",
+      lastPartial: false,
       lastText: "– views",
     };
 
     try {
-      const token = subscribeToVideoViewCount(pointerInfo.pointer, ({ total, status }) => {
+      const token = subscribeToVideoViewCount(pointerInfo.pointer, ({ total, status, partial }) => {
         let text;
         if (Number.isFinite(total)) {
           const numeric = Number(total);
           entry.lastTotal = numeric;
           text = this.formatters.formatViewCountLabel(numeric);
+          if (partial) {
+            text = `${text} (partial)`;
+          }
         } else if (status === "hydrating") {
           text = "Loading views…";
         } else {
@@ -1151,6 +1155,7 @@ export class VideoListView {
         }
 
         entry.lastStatus = status;
+        entry.lastPartial = Boolean(partial);
         entry.lastText = text;
 
         for (const el of Array.from(entry.elements)) {
@@ -1159,6 +1164,11 @@ export class VideoListView {
             continue;
           }
           el.textContent = text;
+          if (entry.lastPartial) {
+            el.dataset.viewCountState = "partial";
+          } else {
+            el.dataset.viewCountState = status;
+          }
         }
       });
       entry.token = token;
@@ -1193,6 +1203,9 @@ export class VideoListView {
     if (typeof pointerInfo.key === "string") {
       viewCountEl.dataset.viewPointer = pointerInfo.key;
     }
+    viewCountEl.dataset.viewCountState = entry.lastPartial
+      ? "partial"
+      : entry.lastStatus;
     viewCountEl.textContent = entry.lastText;
   }
 
diff --git a/js/viewCounter.js b/js/viewCounter.js
index f9bf799b..7013faa3 100644
--- a/js/viewCounter.js
+++ b/js/viewCounter.js
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ restoreCacheSnapshot();
  * @property {Map<string, number>} dedupeBuckets
  * @property {number} lastSyncedAt
  * @property {"idle"|"hydrating"|"live"|"stale"} status
+ * @property {boolean} partial
  */
 
 /**
@@ -278,6 +279,7 @@ function restoreCacheSnapshot() {
         dedupeBuckets,
         lastSyncedAt,
         status: status === "hydrating" || status === "live" ? "idle" : status,
+        partial: Boolean(state.partial),
       });
     }
   } catch (error) {
@@ -299,6 +301,7 @@ function persistCacheSnapshot() {
           dedupeBuckets: Array.from(state.dedupeBuckets.entries()),
           lastSyncedAt: state.lastSyncedAt,
           status: state.status,
+          partial: Boolean(state.partial),
         },
       ]);
     }
@@ -321,6 +324,7 @@ function ensurePointerState(key) {
       dedupeBuckets: new Map(),
       lastSyncedAt: 0,
       status: "idle",
+      partial: false,
     };
     pointerStates.set(key, state);
   } else if (!(state.dedupeBuckets instanceof Map)) {
@@ -373,6 +377,7 @@ function notifyHandlers(key) {
     total: state.total,
     lastSyncedAt: state.lastSyncedAt,
     status: state.status,
+    partial: Boolean(state.partial),
   };
   for (const handler of listeners.handlers.values()) {
     try {
@@ -494,6 +499,15 @@ async function hydratePointer(key, listeners) {
     ? Number(countResult.total)
     : null;
 
+  if (countResult && typeof countResult === "object") {
+    const state = ensurePointerState(key);
+    const nextPartial = Boolean(countResult.partial);
+    if (state.partial !== nextPartial) {
+      state.partial = nextPartial;
+      mutated = true;
+    }
+  }
+
   if (bestCount !== null) {
     const state = ensurePointerState(key);
     const shouldUpdate = bestCount > state.total || state.total === 0;
@@ -597,6 +611,7 @@ export function subscribeToVideoViewCount(pointerInput, handler, options = {}) {
       total: state.total,
       lastSyncedAt: state.lastSyncedAt,
       status: state.status,
+      partial: Boolean(state.partial),
     });
   } catch (error) {
     userLogger.warn("[viewCounter] Initial handler invocation threw:", error);