diff --git a/lib/core/providers/app_startup_providers.dart b/lib/core/providers/app_startup_providers.dart
index a64f852..f12a39c 100644
--- a/lib/core/providers/app_startup_providers.dart
+++ b/lib/core/providers/app_startup_providers.dart
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import 'dart:async';
 
 import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
 import 'package:flutter/services.dart';
+import 'package:flutter/scheduler.dart';
 import 'package:flutter_riverpod/flutter_riverpod.dart';
 import 'package:riverpod_annotation/riverpod_annotation.dart';
 
@@ -11,6 +12,7 @@ import '../services/navigation_service.dart';
 import '../models/conversation.dart';
 import '../services/background_streaming_handler.dart';
 import '../services/persistent_streaming_service.dart';
+import '../services/socket_service.dart';
 import '../../features/onboarding/views/onboarding_sheet.dart';
 import '../../shared/theme/theme_extensions.dart';
 import '../services/connectivity_service.dart';
@@ -125,6 +127,7 @@ void _scheduleConversationWarmup(Ref ref, {bool force = false}) {
 @Riverpod(keepAlive: true)
 class AppStartupFlow extends _$AppStartupFlow {
   bool _started = false;
+  ProviderSubscription<SocketService?>? _socketSubscription;
 
   @override
   FutureOr<void> build() {}
@@ -133,36 +136,61 @@ class AppStartupFlow extends _$AppStartupFlow {
     if (_started) return;
     _started = true;
     state = const AsyncValue<void>.data(null);
-    _activate();
+    SchedulerBinding.instance.addPostFrameCallback((_) {
+      if (!ref.mounted) return;
+      _activate();
+    });
   }
 
   void _activate() {
     final ref = this.ref;
 
+    ref.onDispose(() {
+      _socketSubscription?.close();
+      _socketSubscription = null;
+    });
+
+    void keepAlive<T>(ProviderListenable<T> provider) {
+      ref.listen<T>(provider, (previous, value) {});
+    }
+
     // Ensure token integration listeners are active
-    ref.watch(authApiIntegrationProvider);
-    ref.watch(apiTokenUpdaterProvider);
-    ref.watch(silentLoginCoordinatorProvider);
+    keepAlive(authApiIntegrationProvider);
+    keepAlive(apiTokenUpdaterProvider);
+    keepAlive(silentLoginCoordinatorProvider);
 
     // Kick background model loading flow (non-blocking)
-    ref.watch(backgroundModelLoadProvider);
+    Future<void>.delayed(const Duration(milliseconds: 120), () {
+      if (!ref.mounted) return;
+      ref.read(backgroundModelLoadProvider);
+    });
 
     // If authenticated, keep socket service alive and connected
-    final navState = ref.watch(authNavigationStateProvider);
+    final navState = ref.read(authNavigationStateProvider);
     if (navState == AuthNavigationState.authenticated) {
-      ref.watch(socketServiceProvider);
+      _ensureSocketAttached();
     }
 
     // Ensure resume-triggered foreground refresh is active
-    ref.watch(foregroundRefreshProvider);
+    Future<void>.delayed(const Duration(milliseconds: 48), () {
+      if (!ref.mounted) return;
+      keepAlive(foregroundRefreshProvider);
+    });
 
     // Keep Socket.IO connection alive in background within platform limits
-    ref.watch(socketPersistenceProvider);
-    ref.watch(socketConnectionStreamProvider);
+    Future<void>.delayed(const Duration(milliseconds: 96), () {
+      if (!ref.mounted) return;
+      keepAlive(socketPersistenceProvider);
+    });
 
     // Ensure persistent streaming uses the shared connectivity service
-    final connectivityService = ref.watch(connectivityServiceProvider);
-    PersistentStreamingService().attachConnectivityService(connectivityService);
+    final connectivityService = ref.read(connectivityServiceProvider);
+    Future<void>.delayed(const Duration(milliseconds: 160), () {
+      if (!ref.mounted) return;
+      PersistentStreamingService().attachConnectivityService(
+        connectivityService,
+      );
+    });
 
     // Warm the conversations list in the background as soon as possible,
     // but avoid doing so on poor connectivity to reduce startup load.
@@ -217,6 +245,8 @@ class AppStartupFlow extends _$AppStartupFlow {
               return;
             }
 
+            _ensureSocketAttached();
+
             // Ensure API has the latest token immediately
             final authToken = ref.read(authTokenProvider3);
             if (authToken != null && authToken.isNotEmpty) {
@@ -286,6 +316,13 @@ class AppStartupFlow extends _$AppStartupFlow {
       }
     });
   }
+
+  void _ensureSocketAttached() {
+    _socketSubscription ??= ref.listen<SocketService?>(
+      socketServiceProvider,
+      (previous, value) {},
+    );
+  }
 }
 
 // Tracks whether we've already attempted a silent login for the current app session.
diff --git a/lib/features/chat/views/chat_page.dart b/lib/features/chat/views/chat_page.dart
index eb3d26a..a6ce323 100644
--- a/lib/features/chat/views/chat_page.dart
+++ b/lib/features/chat/views/chat_page.dart
@@ -1012,20 +1012,31 @@ class _ChatPageState extends ConsumerState<ChatPage> {
                       ),
                     )
                     .animate()
-                    .scale(duration: const Duration(milliseconds: 300))
+                    .fadeIn(
+                      duration: const Duration(milliseconds: 220),
+                      curve: Curves.easeOutCubic,
+                    )
                     .then()
                     .shimmer(duration: const Duration(milliseconds: 1200)),
 
                 const SizedBox(height: Spacing.xl),
 
-                Text(
-                  l10n.onboardStartTitle(greetingName),
-                  style: theme.textTheme.headlineSmall?.copyWith(
-                    fontWeight: FontWeight.w600,
-                    color: context.conduitTheme.textPrimary,
+                AnimatedSwitcher(
+                  duration: const Duration(milliseconds: 200),
+                  switchInCurve: Curves.easeOutCubic,
+                  switchOutCurve: Curves.easeInCubic,
+                  transitionBuilder: (child, animation) =>
+                      FadeTransition(opacity: animation, child: child),
+                  child: Text(
+                    l10n.onboardStartTitle(greetingName),
+                    key: ValueKey<String>(greetingName),
+                    style: theme.textTheme.headlineSmall?.copyWith(
+                      fontWeight: FontWeight.w600,
+                      color: context.conduitTheme.textPrimary,
+                    ),
+                    textAlign: TextAlign.center,
                   ),
-                  textAlign: TextAlign.center,
-                ).animate().fadeIn(delay: const Duration(milliseconds: 150)),
+                ),
               ],
             ),
           ),
diff --git a/lib/main.dart b/lib/main.dart
index a5c43c1..b249b74 100644
--- a/lib/main.dart
+++ b/lib/main.dart
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import 'dart:async';
 import 'dart:developer' as developer;
 import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
 import 'package:flutter/services.dart';
+import 'package:flutter/scheduler.dart';
 import 'package:flutter_riverpod/flutter_riverpod.dart';
 import 'core/widgets/error_boundary.dart';
 import 'package:flutter_secure_storage/flutter_secure_storage.dart';
@@ -126,18 +127,39 @@ class _ConduitAppState extends ConsumerState<ConduitApp> {
   @override
   void initState() {
     super.initState();
-    // Defer heavy provider initialization to after first frame to render UI sooner
+    // Delay heavy provider initialization until after the first frame so the
+    // initial paint stays responsive.
     WidgetsBinding.instance.addPostFrameCallback((_) => _initializeAppState());
   }
 
   void _initializeAppState() {
     DebugLogger.auth('init', scope: 'app');
 
-    ref.read(authStateManagerProvider);
-    ref.read(authApiIntegrationProvider);
-    ref.read(defaultModelAutoSelectionProvider);
-    ref.read(shareReceiverInitializerProvider);
-    ref.read(appStartupFlowProvider.notifier).start();
+    void queueInit(void Function() action, {Duration delay = Duration.zero}) {
+      Future<void>.delayed(delay, () {
+        if (!mounted) return;
+        action();
+      });
+    }
+
+    queueInit(() => ref.read(authStateManagerProvider));
+    queueInit(
+      () => ref.read(authApiIntegrationProvider),
+      delay: const Duration(milliseconds: 16),
+    );
+    queueInit(
+      () => ref.read(defaultModelAutoSelectionProvider),
+      delay: const Duration(milliseconds: 24),
+    );
+    queueInit(
+      () => ref.read(shareReceiverInitializerProvider),
+      delay: const Duration(milliseconds: 32),
+    );
+
+    SchedulerBinding.instance.addPostFrameCallback((_) {
+      if (!mounted) return;
+      ref.read(appStartupFlowProvider.notifier).start();
+    });
   }
 
   @override