diff --git a/src/gui/src/UI/Dashboard/TabApps.js b/src/gui/src/UI/Dashboard/TabApps.js
index d739182d9..f82c993d3 100644
--- a/src/gui/src/UI/Dashboard/TabApps.js
+++ b/src/gui/src/UI/Dashboard/TabApps.js
@@ -491,6 +491,32 @@ const TabApps = {
     async loadApps ($el_window) {
         const $container = $el_window.find('.myapps-container');
 
+        // Subtle centered spinner, but only if the fetch is slow (>1.5s) so
+        // fast loads never flash it; once visible it stays for at least 1.5s
+        // so it doesn't blink out. Skipped on background refreshes — the
+        // current apps stay on screen while new data loads.
+        const SPINNER_DELAY = 1500;
+        const SPINNER_MIN_VISIBLE = 1500;
+        let spinnerShownAt = null;
+        const spinnerTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+            // Only cover an empty container; if tiles (or any state) are
+            // already on screen this is a background refresh — keep them.
+            if ( $container.children().length > 0 ) return;
+            spinnerShownAt = Date.now();
+            $container.html('<div class="myapps-loading"><div class="myapps-spinner"></div></div>');
+        }, SPINNER_DELAY);
+
+        const finish = async (render) => {
+            clearTimeout(spinnerTimer);
+            if ( spinnerShownAt !== null ) {
+                const remaining = SPINNER_MIN_VISIBLE - (Date.now() - spinnerShownAt);
+                if ( remaining > 0 ) {
+                    await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, remaining));
+                }
+            }
+            render();
+        };
+
         try {
             // Fetch both APIs in parallel
             const [installedRes, launchRes] = await Promise.all([
@@ -544,10 +570,12 @@ const TabApps = {
             }
 
             this._apps = merged;
-            this.renderApps($el_window);
+            await finish(() => this.renderApps($el_window));
         } catch (e) {
             console.error('Failed to load installed apps:', e);
-            $container.html('<div class="myapps-empty"><p>Failed to load apps</p></div>');
+            await finish(() => {
+                $container.html('<div class="myapps-empty"><p>Failed to load apps</p></div>');
+            });
         }
     },
 
diff --git a/src/gui/src/css/dashboard.css b/src/gui/src/css/dashboard.css
index 26e4868b3..47ccda89a 100644
--- a/src/gui/src/css/dashboard.css
+++ b/src/gui/src/css/dashboard.css
@@ -747,6 +747,31 @@ input.myapps-search::-webkit-search-decoration {
     margin: 0;
 }
 
+.myapps-loading {
+    flex: 1;
+    display: flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    justify-content: center;
+}
+
+.myapps-spinner {
+    width: 28px;
+    height: 28px;
+    border: 3px solid var(--dashboard-border);
+    border-top-color: var(--dashboard-text-tertiary);
+    border-radius: 50%;
+    animation: myapps-spin 0.8s linear infinite, myapps-spinner-fade-in 0.3s ease-out;
+}
+
+@keyframes myapps-spin {
+    to { transform: rotate(360deg); }
+}
+
+@keyframes myapps-spinner-fade-in {
+    from { opacity: 0; }
+    to { opacity: 1; }
+}
+
 /* iOS-style pager: pages snap horizontally, dots below, hover arrows */
 
 .myapps-pager {