diff --git a/src/app/(tabs)/_layout.tsx b/src/app/(tabs)/_layout.tsx
index 5294d60..5ea365f 100644
--- a/src/app/(tabs)/_layout.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(tabs)/_layout.tsx
@@ -5,17 +5,21 @@ import { Easing } from 'react-native';
 import { TabBar, type TabItem } from '@/components/TabBar';
 import { colors } from '@/theme';
 
+const TAB_TRANSITION_MS = 160;
+
 export default function TabsLayout() {
   return (
     <Tabs
+      detachInactiveScreens
       screenOptions={{
         headerShown: false,
+        freezeOnBlur: true,
         sceneStyle: { backgroundColor: colors.bgPrimary },
         // Directional slide + cross-fade between tabs, following tab order.
         animation: 'shift',
         transitionSpec: {
           animation: 'timing',
-          config: { duration: 200, easing: Easing.out(Easing.cubic) },
+          config: { duration: TAB_TRANSITION_MS, easing: Easing.out(Easing.cubic) },
         },
       }}
       tabBar={({ state, navigation }) => {
diff --git a/src/app/(tabs)/eq.tsx b/src/app/(tabs)/eq.tsx
index 7739bce..048e02b 100644
--- a/src/app/(tabs)/eq.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(tabs)/eq.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { useCallback, useState } from 'react';
-import { Pressable, StyleSheet, View, useWindowDimensions } from 'react-native';
+import { InteractionManager, Pressable, StyleSheet, View, useWindowDimensions } from 'react-native';
 import { Ionicons } from '@expo/vector-icons';
 import { useFocusEffect } from 'expo-router';
 import { useSafeAreaInsets } from 'react-native-safe-area-context';
@@ -56,9 +56,12 @@ export default function EQScreen() {
   // Gate the post-EQ tap to while this screen is visible.
   useFocusEffect(
     useCallback(() => {
-      setFocused(true);
-      setActivePostEqNative(true);
+      const task = InteractionManager.runAfterInteractions(() => {
+        setFocused(true);
+        setActivePostEqNative(true);
+      });
       return () => {
+        task.cancel();
         setFocused(false);
         setActivePostEqNative(false);
       };
diff --git a/src/app/(tabs)/index.tsx b/src/app/(tabs)/index.tsx
index a1d762a..9589125 100644
--- a/src/app/(tabs)/index.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(tabs)/index.tsx
@@ -358,16 +358,7 @@ export default function HomeScreen() {
   const [randomAlbumKey, setRandomAlbumKey] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [randomSeed] = useState(() => Math.random());
   const scrollTop = useScrollTopGate();
-
-  const tracksByAlbum = useMemo(() => {
-    const map = new Map<string, DbTrack[]>();
-    for (const track of tracks) {
-      const list = map.get(track.album_identity_key) ?? [];
-      list.push(track);
-      map.set(track.album_identity_key, list);
-    }
-    return map;
-  }, [tracks]);
+  const hasLibrary = tracks.length > 0;
 
   const recentlyAddedAlbums = useMemo(
     () => [...albums].sort((a, b) => b.latest_added_at - a.latest_added_at).slice(0, RECENT_ALBUM_LIMIT),
@@ -394,10 +385,21 @@ export default function HomeScreen() {
     if (selected) return selected;
     return albums[Math.floor(randomSeed * albums.length) % albums.length];
   }, [albums, randomAlbumKey, randomSeed]);
-  const randomTracks = randomAlbum ? (tracksByAlbum.get(randomAlbum.identity_key) ?? []) : [];
+  const randomAlbumNeedsTracks = hasLibrary && !currentTrack && randomAlbum != null;
+  const tracksByAlbum = useMemo(() => {
+    if (!randomAlbumNeedsTracks) return null;
+    const map = new Map<string, DbTrack[]>();
+    for (const track of tracks) {
+      const list = map.get(track.album_identity_key) ?? [];
+      list.push(track);
+      map.set(track.album_identity_key, list);
+    }
+    return map;
+  }, [randomAlbumNeedsTracks, tracks]);
+  const randomTracks =
+    randomAlbum && tracksByAlbum ? (tracksByAlbum.get(randomAlbum.identity_key) ?? []) : [];
   const recentTracks = recentlyPlayedTracks.slice(0, RECENT_TRACK_LIMIT);
   const canExpandRecentTracks = recentlyPlayedTracks.length > RECENT_TRACK_LIMIT;
-  const hasLibrary = tracks.length > 0;
 
   const openAlbum = (album: Album) => {
     router.push({
@@ -412,6 +414,7 @@ export default function HomeScreen() {
   };
 
   const playAlbum = (album: Album, shuffled = false) => {
+    if (!tracksByAlbum) return;
     const albumTracks = tracksByAlbum.get(album.identity_key) ?? [];
     if (albumTracks.length === 0) return;
     if (shuffled) {
diff --git a/src/app/(tabs)/library/index.tsx b/src/app/(tabs)/library/index.tsx
index 37e7c25..7cfb884 100644
--- a/src/app/(tabs)/library/index.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(tabs)/library/index.tsx
@@ -52,7 +52,10 @@ export default function LibraryScreen() {
 
   const isEmpty = tracks.length === 0 && folders.length === 0 && !isScanning;
 
-  const sortedTracks = useMemo(() => sortTracks(tracks, trackSort), [tracks, trackSort]);
+  const sortedTracks = useMemo(
+    () => (viewMode === 'tracks' ? sortTracks(tracks, trackSort) : []),
+    [trackSort, tracks, viewMode]
+  );
 
   // Tap index is within sortedTracks so the tapped row is the track that plays.
   const playAllFrom = (index: number) => {
diff --git a/src/app/(tabs)/settings.tsx b/src/app/(tabs)/settings.tsx
index 1f49f67..26e66fc 100644
--- a/src/app/(tabs)/settings.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(tabs)/settings.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,13 @@
 import { useEffect } from 'react';
-import { Alert, View, Pressable, ScrollView, StyleSheet, Switch } from 'react-native';
+import {
+  Alert,
+  InteractionManager,
+  View,
+  Pressable,
+  ScrollView,
+  StyleSheet,
+  Switch,
+} from 'react-native';
 import { Ionicons } from '@expo/vector-icons';
 import { useRouter } from 'expo-router';
 import { Screen } from '@/components/Screen';
@@ -237,7 +245,10 @@ export default function SettingsScreen() {
   const setReplayGainMode = useAudioSettingsStore((s) => s.setReplayGainMode);
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    void initDesktopRemote();
+    const task = InteractionManager.runAfterInteractions(() => {
+      void initDesktopRemote();
+    });
+    return () => task.cancel();
   }, [initDesktopRemote]);
 
   const desktopRemoteSubtitle = desktopRemoteConnection
diff --git a/src/components/MiniPlayer.tsx b/src/components/MiniPlayer.tsx
index 9a9be01..303b712 100644
--- a/src/components/MiniPlayer.tsx
+++ b/src/components/MiniPlayer.tsx
@@ -15,12 +15,16 @@ const PILL_HEIGHT = 56;
 const ART = 42;
 const CURVE_POINTS = 64;
 
+interface MiniPlayerProps {
+  visible?: boolean;
+}
+
 /**
  * Persistent floating mini-player (M3 redesign): a rounded pill above the tab
  * bar with the live filled-line spectrum drifting behind the metadata. Tapping
  * opens the full now-playing screen.
  */
-export function MiniPlayer() {
+export function MiniPlayer({ visible = true }: MiniPlayerProps) {
   const router = useRouter();
   const track = usePlayerStore((s) => s.currentTrack);
   const playbackState = usePlayerStore((s) => s.playbackState);
@@ -35,15 +39,21 @@ export function MiniPlayer() {
   const isPlaying = playbackState === 'playing';
   const isLoading = playbackState === 'loading';
   const progress = duration > 0 ? Math.min(1, currentTime / duration) : 0;
+  const liveScopeActive = visible && scopeActive;
 
   const onLayout = (e: LayoutChangeEvent) => setPillWidth(e.nativeEvent.layout.width);
 
   return (
-    <Pressable style={styles.pill} onPress={() => router.push('/now-playing')} onLayout={onLayout}>
-      {scopeActive && pillWidth > 0 && (
+    <Pressable
+      pointerEvents={visible ? 'auto' : 'none'}
+      style={[styles.pill, !visible && styles.hidden]}
+      onPress={() => router.push('/now-playing')}
+      onLayout={onLayout}
+    >
+      {liveScopeActive && pillWidth > 0 && (
         <View pointerEvents="none" style={styles.spectrum}>
           <SpectrumCurve
-            active={scopeActive}
+            active={liveScopeActive}
             pointCount={CURVE_POINTS}
             analysisFrameMs={0}
             dbMin={-84}
@@ -58,7 +68,7 @@ export function MiniPlayer() {
           />
         </View>
       )}
-      {scopeActive && pillWidth > 0 && <View pointerEvents="none" style={styles.spectrumVeil} />}
+      {liveScopeActive && pillWidth > 0 && <View pointerEvents="none" style={styles.spectrumVeil} />}
 
       <View style={styles.row}>
         <View style={styles.art}>
@@ -110,6 +120,9 @@ const styles = StyleSheet.create({
     overflow: 'hidden',
     justifyContent: 'center',
   },
+  hidden: {
+    opacity: 0,
+  },
   spectrum: {
     position: 'absolute',
     top: 0,
diff --git a/src/components/TabBar.tsx b/src/components/TabBar.tsx
index 4146ff9..05e0ece 100644
--- a/src/components/TabBar.tsx
+++ b/src/components/TabBar.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useEffect } from 'react';
+import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
 import { View, Pressable, StyleSheet, type LayoutChangeEvent } from 'react-native';
 import { useSafeAreaInsets } from 'react-native-safe-area-context';
 import { Ionicons } from '@expo/vector-icons';
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@ import { colors, fonts, layout, spacing } from '@/theme';
 import { motion } from '@/theme/motion';
 
 type IconName = keyof typeof Ionicons.glyphMap;
+type MiniPlayerPhase = 'hidden' | 'reserved' | 'visible';
+
+const TAB_TRANSITION_MS = 160;
 
 export const TAB_META: Record<string, { label: string; icon: IconName }> = {
   index: { label: 'Home', icon: 'home' },
@@ -41,6 +44,7 @@ export function TabBar({ items, onPress }: TabBarProps) {
   const insets = useSafeAreaInsets();
   const tabs = items.filter((item) => TAB_META[item.name]);
   const homeFocused = items.some((item) => item.name === 'index' && item.focused);
+  const [settledHomeFocused, setSettledHomeFocused] = useState(homeFocused);
   const count = tabs.length;
   const activeIndex = Math.max(
     0,
@@ -56,6 +60,23 @@ export function TabBar({ items, onPress }: TabBarProps) {
     position.value = withTiming(activeIndex, motion.snap);
   }, [activeIndex, position]);
 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (settledHomeFocused === homeFocused) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const timer = setTimeout(() => setSettledHomeFocused(homeFocused), TAB_TRANSITION_MS);
+    return () => clearTimeout(timer);
+  }, [homeFocused, settledHomeFocused]);
+
+  const miniPlayerPhase: MiniPlayerPhase = homeFocused
+    ? settledHomeFocused
+      ? 'hidden'
+      : 'reserved'
+    : settledHomeFocused
+      ? 'hidden'
+      : 'visible';
+
   const indicatorStyle = useAnimatedStyle(() => {
     const segment = count > 0 ? barWidth.value / count : 0;
     return {
@@ -70,7 +91,8 @@ export function TabBar({ items, onPress }: TabBarProps) {
 
   return (
     <View style={styles.wrap}>
-      {!homeFocused ? <MiniPlayer /> : null}
+      {miniPlayerPhase === 'visible' ? <MiniPlayer /> : null}
+      {miniPlayerPhase === 'reserved' ? <MiniPlayer visible={false} /> : null}
       <View
         style={[
           styles.bar,