diff --git a/lib/core/providers/app_providers.dart b/lib/core/providers/app_providers.dart
index e76437c..c965527 100644
--- a/lib/core/providers/app_providers.dart
+++ b/lib/core/providers/app_providers.dart
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
+import 'package:flutter/widgets.dart';
 import 'package:flutter_riverpod/flutter_riverpod.dart';
 import 'package:flutter_secure_storage/flutter_secure_storage.dart';
 import 'package:shared_preferences/shared_preferences.dart';
@@ -207,9 +208,12 @@ final socketServiceProvider = Provider<SocketService?>((ref) {
         authToken: token,
         websocketOnly: transportMode == 'ws',
       );
-      // best-effort connect; errors handled internally
-      // ignore unawaited_futures
-      s.connect();
+      // best-effort connect, but defer to post-frame with a small delay
+      WidgetsBinding.instance.addPostFrameCallback((_) async {
+        await Future.delayed(const Duration(milliseconds: 150));
+        // ignore: discarded_futures
+        s.connect();
+      });
       // Keep socket token up-to-date without reconstructing the service
       ref.listen<String?>(authTokenProvider3, (prev, next) {
         s.updateAuthToken(next);
@@ -881,24 +885,28 @@ final backgroundModelLoadProvider = Provider<void>((ref) {
   // Ensure API token updater is initialized
   ref.watch(apiTokenUpdaterProvider);
 
-  // Schedule background loading without blocking
-  Future.microtask(() async {
-    // Wait a bit to ensure auth is complete
-    await Future.delayed(const Duration(milliseconds: 200));
+  // Only run when authenticated, and defer until after first frame
+  final navState = ref.read(authNavigationStateProvider);
+  if (navState != AuthNavigationState.authenticated) {
+    return;
+  }
 
-    DebugLogger.log('bg-start', scope: 'models/background');
+  WidgetsBinding.instance.addPostFrameCallback((_) {
+    // Schedule background loading without blocking startup frame
+    Future.microtask(() async {
+      // Small delay to allow initial build/layout to settle
+      await Future.delayed(const Duration(milliseconds: 250));
 
-    // Load default model in background
-    try {
-      await ref.read(defaultModelProvider.future);
-      DebugLogger.log('bg-complete', scope: 'models/background');
-    } catch (e) {
-      // Ignore errors in background loading
-      DebugLogger.error('bg-failed', scope: 'models/background', error: e);
-    }
+      DebugLogger.log('bg-start', scope: 'models/background');
+      try {
+        await ref.read(defaultModelProvider.future);
+        DebugLogger.log('bg-complete', scope: 'models/background');
+      } catch (e) {
+        DebugLogger.error('bg-failed', scope: 'models/background', error: e);
+      }
+    });
   });
 
-  // Return immediately, don't block the UI
   return;
 });
 
diff --git a/lib/core/providers/app_startup_providers.dart b/lib/core/providers/app_startup_providers.dart
index 9cd7328..e1949a3 100644
--- a/lib/core/providers/app_startup_providers.dart
+++ b/lib/core/providers/app_startup_providers.dart
@@ -149,11 +149,15 @@ final appStartupFlowProvider = Provider<void>((ref) {
   Future.microtask(() async {
     final online = ref.read(isOnlineProvider);
     if (!online) return;
+    // Slightly increase jitter to reduce contention on startup
     final jitter = Duration(
-      milliseconds: 50 + (DateTime.now().millisecond % 100),
+      milliseconds: 150 + (DateTime.now().millisecond % 200),
     );
-    await Future.delayed(jitter);
-    _scheduleConversationWarmup(ref);
+    // Defer until after first frame to keep first paint smooth
+    WidgetsBinding.instance.addPostFrameCallback((_) async {
+      await Future.delayed(jitter);
+      _scheduleConversationWarmup(ref);
+    });
   });
 
   // One-time, post-frame system UI polish: set status bar icon brightness to
diff --git a/lib/core/services/connectivity_service.dart b/lib/core/services/connectivity_service.dart
index 976f2b3..40910d0 100644
--- a/lib/core/services/connectivity_service.dart
+++ b/lib/core/services/connectivity_service.dart
@@ -33,13 +33,14 @@ class ConnectivityService {
   bool get isCurrentlyConnected => _lastStatus == ConnectivityStatus.online;
 
   void _startConnectivityMonitoring() {
-    // Initial check after a slightly longer delay to avoid competing with
-    // first-frame work. Start periodic checks only after the first probe.
-    Timer(const Duration(milliseconds: 1200), () async {
-      await _checkConnectivity();
-      _connectivityTimer = Timer.periodic(_interval, (_) {
-        _checkConnectivity();
-      });
+    // Initial check after a brief delay to avoid showing offline during startup
+    Timer(const Duration(milliseconds: 800), () {
+      _checkConnectivity();
+    });
+
+    // Check periodically; interval adapts to recent failures
+    _connectivityTimer = Timer.periodic(_interval, (_) {
+      _checkConnectivity();
     });
   }
 
diff --git a/lib/core/services/share_receiver_service.dart b/lib/core/services/share_receiver_service.dart
index 34f70bf..c381285 100644
--- a/lib/core/services/share_receiver_service.dart
+++ b/lib/core/services/share_receiver_service.dart
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import 'dart:async';
 import 'dart:io';
 
 import 'package:flutter/foundation.dart';
+import 'package:flutter/widgets.dart';
 import 'package:flutter_riverpod/flutter_riverpod.dart';
 import 'package:share_handler/share_handler.dart' as sh;
 
@@ -72,45 +73,49 @@ final shareReceiverInitializerProvider = Provider<void>((ref) {
     () => maybeProcessPending(),
   );
 
-  // Hook into share_handler
-  final handler = sh.ShareHandler.instance;
+  // Hook into share_handler after a short defer to avoid startup contention
+  WidgetsBinding.instance.addPostFrameCallback((_) async {
+    await Future.delayed(const Duration(milliseconds: 300));
 
-  // Handle initial share when app is cold-started via Share
-  Future.microtask(() async {
-    try {
-      final dynamic media = await handler.getInitialSharedMedia();
-      final payload = _toPayload(media);
-      if (payload.hasAnything) {
-        ref.read(pendingSharedPayloadProvider.notifier).set(payload);
-        maybeProcessPending();
+    final handler = sh.ShareHandler.instance;
+
+    // Handle initial share when app is cold-started via Share
+    Future.microtask(() async {
+      try {
+        final dynamic media = await handler.getInitialSharedMedia();
+        final payload = _toPayload(media);
+        if (payload.hasAnything) {
+          ref.read(pendingSharedPayloadProvider.notifier).set(payload);
+          maybeProcessPending();
+        }
+      } catch (e) {
+        DebugLogger.log(
+          'ShareReceiver: failed to get initial shared media: $e',
+          scope: 'share',
+        );
       }
-    } catch (e) {
-      DebugLogger.log(
-        'ShareReceiver: failed to get initial shared media: $e',
-        scope: 'share',
-      );
-    }
-  });
+    });
 
-  // Handle subsequent shares while app is alive
-  final streamSub = handler.sharedMediaStream.listen((dynamic media) {
-    try {
-      final payload = _toPayload(media);
-      if (payload.hasAnything) {
-        ref.read(pendingSharedPayloadProvider.notifier).set(payload);
-        maybeProcessPending();
+    // Handle subsequent shares while app is alive
+    final streamSub = handler.sharedMediaStream.listen((dynamic media) {
+      try {
+        final payload = _toPayload(media);
+        if (payload.hasAnything) {
+          ref.read(pendingSharedPayloadProvider.notifier).set(payload);
+          maybeProcessPending();
+        }
+      } catch (e) {
+        DebugLogger.log(
+          'ShareReceiver: failed to parse shared media: $e',
+          scope: 'share',
+        );
       }
-    } catch (e) {
-      DebugLogger.log(
-        'ShareReceiver: failed to parse shared media: $e',
-        scope: 'share',
-      );
-    }
-  });
+    });
 
-  // Ensure cleanup
-  ref.onDispose(() async {
-    await streamSub.cancel();
+    // Ensure cleanup
+    ref.onDispose(() async {
+      await streamSub.cancel();
+    });
   });
 });
 
diff --git a/lib/main.dart b/lib/main.dart
index e2489b3..5126cca 100644
--- a/lib/main.dart
+++ b/lib/main.dart
@@ -55,12 +55,12 @@ void main() {
       _startupTimeline!.start('app_startup');
       _startupTimeline!.instant('bindings_initialized');
 
-      // Enable edge-to-edge globally (back-compat on pre-Android 15)
-      // Pairs with Activity's EdgeToEdge.enable and our SafeArea usage.
-      // Do not block first frame on system UI mode; apply shortly after startup
-      // ignore: discarded_futures
-      SystemChrome.setEnabledSystemUIMode(SystemUiMode.edgeToEdge);
-      _startupTimeline!.instant('edge_to_edge_enabled');
+      // Defer edge-to-edge mode to post-frame to avoid impacting first paint
+      WidgetsBinding.instance.addPostFrameCallback((_) {
+        // ignore: discarded_futures
+        SystemChrome.setEnabledSystemUIMode(SystemUiMode.edgeToEdge);
+        _startupTimeline?.instant('edge_to_edge_enabled');
+      });
 
       final sharedPrefs = await SharedPreferences.getInstance();
       _startupTimeline!.instant('shared_prefs_ready');