diff --git a/frontend/app.js b/frontend/app.js
index 62f8461..b162158 100644
--- a/frontend/app.js
+++ b/frontend/app.js
@@ -3570,10 +3570,29 @@ async function init() {
         }
     }, 2000);
 
+    // Ready button — click to go to feed
+    const readyBtn = document.getElementById('welcome-ready-btn');
+    const readyBar = document.getElementById('welcome-ready-bar');
+    if (readyBtn) {
+        readyBtn.addEventListener('click', () => {
+            if (readyBtn.disabled) return;
+            document.querySelectorAll('.tab').forEach(t => t.classList.remove('active'));
+            document.querySelectorAll('.view').forEach(v => v.classList.remove('active'));
+            const feedTab = document.querySelector('.tab[data-tab="feed"]');
+            if (feedTab) feedTab.classList.add('active');
+            document.getElementById('view-feed').classList.add('active');
+            currentTab = 'feed';
+            _lastFeedViewMs = Date.now();
+            updateTabBadge('feed', 0);
+        });
+    }
+
     // Wait for backend in the background, then load node info
     (async () => {
         for (let attempt = 0; attempt < 30; attempt++) {
             try {
+                // Animate progress bar toward 90% during readiness checks
+                if (readyBar) readyBar.style.width = Math.min(90, (attempt + 1) * 3) + '%';
                 await invoke('get_node_info');
                 break;
             } catch (e) {
@@ -3586,9 +3605,19 @@ async function init() {
             setupOverlay.classList.remove('hidden');
             setupName.focus();
         }
-        // Reload feed now that backend is ready
-        loadFeed(true).catch(() => {});
+        // Pre-load feed + messages from local DB (instant — no network needed)
+        await loadFeed(true).catch(() => {});
         loadMessages(true).catch(() => {});
+        // Mark ready button as clickable
+        if (readyBar) readyBar.style.width = '100%';
+        if (readyBtn) {
+            readyBtn.disabled = false;
+            readyBtn.textContent = 'Ready — Go to Feed';
+            readyBtn.style.opacity = '1';
+            readyBtn.style.color = '#7fdbca';
+            readyBtn.style.borderColor = '#7fdbca';
+            readyBtn.style.cursor = 'pointer';
+        }
     })();
 
     // Mark notif ready after first welcome fetch succeeds (skip first 2 ticks to avoid spam)
diff --git a/frontend/index.html b/frontend/index.html
index 3a8e927..c8bef81 100644
--- a/frontend/index.html
+++ b/frontend/index.html
@@ -49,6 +49,12 @@
           <div><span id="welcome-reacts" style="font-size:1.4rem;font-weight:700;color:#5b8def;display:block">-</span>Reacts</div>
           <div><span id="welcome-comments" style="font-size:1.4rem;font-weight:700;color:#5b8def;display:block">-</span>Comments</div>
         </div>
+        <div style="margin-top:2rem;max-width:280px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto">
+          <div style="background:#1a1a2e;border-radius:6px;height:6px;overflow:hidden;margin-bottom:0.75rem">
+            <div id="welcome-ready-bar" style="height:100%;background:#7fdbca;width:0%;transition:width 0.5s ease;border-radius:6px"></div>
+          </div>
+          <button id="welcome-ready-btn" disabled style="width:100%;padding:0.75rem 1.5rem;border:1px solid #333;border-radius:8px;background:#1a1a2e;color:#666;font-size:0.95rem;cursor:not-allowed;opacity:0.5;transition:all 0.3s ease">Loading...</button>
+        </div>
       </div>
     </section>