diff --git a/src/main.tsx b/src/main.tsx
index 2ebeab8b1..eaef68621 100644
--- a/src/main.tsx
+++ b/src/main.tsx
@@ -24,7 +24,15 @@ import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
 import { UiPreferencesProvider } from "@/contexts/UiPreferencesContext";
 import { ConnectionDefaultsProvider } from "@/contexts/ConnectionDefaultsContext";
 import { BrandingProvider } from "@/contexts/BrandingContext";
-import { fetchGuestViews, startPluginRuntime } from "@/plugin-host/loader";
+import {
+  fetchGuestViews,
+  startPluginRuntime,
+  stopPluginRuntime,
+} from "@/plugin-host/loader";
+import { settledPromise } from "@/plugin-host/plugin-store";
+import { resetShellBridge } from "@/plugin-host/shell-bridge";
+import { preloadPermissions } from "@/hooks/use-permissions";
+import { getUserPreferences } from "@/api/open-tabs-api";
 import { standaloneViewFor } from "@/shell/tab-registry";
 import { PluginViewPlaceholder } from "@/plugin-host/PluginViewPlaceholder";
 
@@ -39,7 +47,12 @@ const ElectronVersionCheck = lazy(() =>
 );
 
 type Phase =
-  "verifying" | "idle-auth" | "fading-in" | "idle-app" | "fading-out";
+  | "verifying"
+  | "idle-auth"
+  | "loading-app"
+  | "fading-in"
+  | "idle-app"
+  | "fading-out";
 
 type LogoutOptions = {
   manual?: boolean;
@@ -180,6 +193,14 @@ function App() {
           }
         }
         fadingInFromLoginRef.current = false;
+        setPhase("loading-app");
+        await Promise.all([
+          startPluginRuntime()
+            .catch(() => {})
+            .then(() => settledPromise()),
+          preloadPermissions(),
+          getUserPreferences().catch(() => undefined),
+        ]);
         setPhase("fading-in");
         timerRef.current = setTimeout(() => setPhase("idle-app"), 450);
       })
@@ -238,8 +259,18 @@ function App() {
     clearDesktopManualLogout();
     setAuthUsername(u);
     fadingInFromLoginRef.current = true;
-    setPhase("fading-in");
-    timerRef.current = setTimeout(() => setPhase("idle-app"), 450);
+    setPhase("loading-app");
+    void (async () => {
+      await Promise.all([
+        startPluginRuntime()
+          .catch(() => {})
+          .then(() => settledPromise()),
+        preloadPermissions(),
+        getUserPreferences().catch(() => undefined),
+      ]);
+      setPhase("fading-in");
+      timerRef.current = setTimeout(() => setPhase("idle-app"), 450);
+    })();
     if (isElectron()) {
       window.electronAPI?.startC2SAutoStartTunnels?.().catch(() => {});
       const localJwt = localStorage.getItem("jwt");
@@ -264,6 +295,10 @@ function App() {
     // isn't subject to batching, so it correctly dedupes within one tick.
     if (loggingOutRef.current) return;
     loggingOutRef.current = true;
+    // The next user may see different plugins, so nothing they registered
+    // should survive into the next session.
+    void stopPluginRuntime();
+    resetShellBridge();
     clearStoredAuth();
     localStorage.removeItem("jwt");
     if (isElectron() && options?.manual) {
@@ -297,7 +332,7 @@ function App() {
   const { t } = useTranslation();
   const isTransitioning = phase === "fading-in" || phase === "fading-out";
 
-  if (phase === "verifying") {
+  if (phase === "verifying" || phase === "loading-app") {
     return (
       <div className="fixed inset-0 flex items-center justify-center bg-background">
         <div className="flex flex-col items-center gap-4">
diff --git a/src/ui/AppShell.tsx b/src/ui/AppShell.tsx
index b7dd36e8e..66731f9a5 100644
--- a/src/ui/AppShell.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/AppShell.tsx
@@ -175,12 +175,10 @@ import {
 } from "@/shell/tab-registry";
 import { getPanel, usePanels } from "@/shell/panel-registry";
 import { invokeAction } from "@/shell/action-registry";
-import { startPluginRuntime, stopPluginRuntime } from "@/plugin-host/loader";
 import { usePluginStore } from "@/plugin-host/plugin-store";
 import {
   notifyShellReady,
   notifyTabsChanged,
-  resetShellBridge,
   setShellCallbacks,
   setShellHosts,
   setShellLayoutProvider,
@@ -401,17 +399,6 @@ export function AppShell({
       .catch(() => setIsAdmin(false));
   }, []);
 
-  // Plugin frontends register the tabs, panels and actions that a saved
-  // session may need, so they load before tabs are restored. On logout every
-  // plugin is deactivated, since the next user may see different ones.
-  useEffect(() => {
-    startPluginRuntime().catch(() => {});
-    return () => {
-      void stopPluginRuntime();
-      resetShellBridge();
-    };
-  }, []);
-
   const handleDismissDonationModal = useCallback(() => {
     setShowDonationModal(false);
     dismissDonationModal().catch(() => {});
@@ -2661,6 +2648,7 @@ export function AppShell({
               splitMode={splitMode}
               username={username}
               isAdmin={showAdminUI}
+              pluginsSettled={pluginsSettled}
               onRailClick={handleRailClick}
               onOpenTab={openSingletonTab}
               onOpenInRightDock={openInRightDock}
diff --git a/src/ui/api/open-tabs-api.ts b/src/ui/api/open-tabs-api.ts
index 565a6ca97..78c92c049 100644
--- a/src/ui/api/open-tabs-api.ts
+++ b/src/ui/api/open-tabs-api.ts
@@ -169,9 +169,19 @@ export function parseCustomKeybindings(
   }
 }
 
+const userPreferencesCache = createTtlRequestCache<UserPreferences>(10_000);
+
+/**
+ * Cached briefly so the loading gate's prefetch and the shell's own read on
+ * mount share one request instead of two, which is what let stale
+ * localStorage flags (hiddenRailTabs, pinAppRail) flash before the real
+ * values landed a moment after the shell first rendered.
+ */
 export async function getUserPreferences(): Promise<UserPreferences> {
-  const response = await authApi.get("/user-preferences");
-  return response.data;
+  return userPreferencesCache.get(async () => {
+    const response = await authApi.get("/user-preferences");
+    return response.data;
+  });
 }
 
 export async function saveUserPreferences(
diff --git a/src/ui/dashboard/DashboardTab.tsx b/src/ui/dashboard/DashboardTab.tsx
index c9ec91c3e..e1133897b 100644
--- a/src/ui/dashboard/DashboardTab.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/dashboard/DashboardTab.tsx
@@ -3,9 +3,11 @@ import { enabledHostProtocols, protocolPort } from "@/sidebar/host-protocols";
 import { ComponentSlot } from "@/shell/ActionSlot";
 import { useActionSlot } from "@/hooks/use-action-slot";
 import { useIsMobile } from "@/hooks/use-mobile";
+import { usePluginStore } from "@/plugin-host/plugin-store";
 import { Button } from "@/components/button";
 import { Card } from "@/components/card";
 import { Separator } from "@/components/separator";
+import { Skeleton } from "@/components/skeleton";
 import {
   Activity,
   Database,
@@ -1049,6 +1051,7 @@ export function DashboardTab({
   // canvas preview. Only one is offered today; "dashboard" always exists.
   const secondaryViews = useActionSlot("dashboard.secondaryView");
   const secondaryView = secondaryViews[0];
+  const { settled: pluginsSettled } = usePluginStore();
 
   const [dashboardView, setDashboardView] = useState<string>(() => {
     try {
@@ -1057,11 +1060,14 @@ export function DashboardTab({
       return "dashboard";
     }
   });
+  // Until plugins settle, a plugin view saved from last session hasn't had a
+  // chance to register yet, so its absence doesn't mean it's really gone.
+  const viewPending = !pluginsSettled && dashboardView !== "dashboard";
   // Falls back to the dashboard when the view a plugin contributed is off.
   const isDashboardView =
     dashboardView === "dashboard" ||
-    !secondaryView ||
-    dashboardView !== secondaryView.actionId;
+    (!viewPending && !secondaryView) ||
+    (!!secondaryView && dashboardView !== secondaryView.actionId);
 
   useEffect(() => {
     try {
@@ -1482,23 +1488,27 @@ export function DashboardTab({
     <div className="flex flex-col w-full h-full min-h-0 overflow-hidden">
       <Card className="flex-row items-center justify-between px-5 py-3 shrink-0 mx-5 mt-5 gap-0">
         <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
-          <div className="flex items-center gap-0 bg-muted/40 border border-border p-0.5">
-            <button
-              onClick={() => setDashboardView("dashboard")}
-              className={`px-3 py-1 text-sm font-medium transition-colors ${isDashboardView ? "bg-background text-foreground shadow-sm" : "text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground"}`}
-            >
-              {t("dashboard.title")}
-            </button>
-            {secondaryView && (
+          {viewPending ? (
+            <Skeleton className="h-7 w-40" />
+          ) : (
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-0 bg-muted/40 border border-border p-0.5">
               <button
-                onClick={() => setDashboardView(secondaryView.actionId)}
-                className={`px-3 py-1 text-sm font-medium transition-colors ${!isDashboardView ? "bg-background text-foreground shadow-sm" : "text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground"}`}
+                onClick={() => setDashboardView("dashboard")}
+                className={`px-3 py-1 text-sm font-medium transition-colors ${isDashboardView ? "bg-background text-foreground shadow-sm" : "text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground"}`}
               >
-                {t(secondaryView.titleKey)}
+                {t("dashboard.title")}
               </button>
-            )}
-          </div>
-          {isDashboardView && (
+              {secondaryView && (
+                <button
+                  onClick={() => setDashboardView(secondaryView.actionId)}
+                  className={`px-3 py-1 text-sm font-medium transition-colors ${!isDashboardView ? "bg-background text-foreground shadow-sm" : "text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground"}`}
+                >
+                  {t(secondaryView.titleKey)}
+                </button>
+              )}
+            </div>
+          )}
+          {isDashboardView && !viewPending && (
             <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground hidden sm:block">
               {todayLabel}
             </p>
@@ -1621,7 +1631,13 @@ export function DashboardTab({
         </div>
       </Card>
 
-      {!isDashboardView && secondaryView?.component ? (
+      {viewPending ? (
+        <div className="flex-1 min-h-0 overflow-hidden mx-5 mb-5 mt-4 border border-border flex flex-col p-5 gap-3">
+          <Skeleton className="h-24 w-full" />
+          <Skeleton className="h-24 w-full" />
+          <Skeleton className="h-24 w-full flex-1" />
+        </div>
+      ) : !isDashboardView && secondaryView?.component ? (
         <div className="flex-1 min-h-0 overflow-hidden mx-5 mb-5 mt-4 border border-border flex flex-col">
           <secondaryView.component onOpenSingletonTab={onOpenSingletonTab} />
         </div>
diff --git a/src/ui/hooks/use-permissions.ts b/src/ui/hooks/use-permissions.ts
index 07a4c9694..f8df68e19 100644
--- a/src/ui/hooks/use-permissions.ts
+++ b/src/ui/hooks/use-permissions.ts
@@ -56,6 +56,15 @@ export async function hasPermission(permission: string): Promise<boolean> {
   return matchesPermission(permissions, isAdmin, permission);
 }
 
+/**
+ * Warms the permissions cache before the shell mounts, so permission-gated
+ * rail items are already known on first paint instead of popping in once
+ * usePermissions' own fetch resolves.
+ */
+export function preloadPermissions(): Promise<void> {
+  return load().then(() => undefined);
+}
+
 export function notifyPermissionsChanged(): void {
   cache = null;
   window.dispatchEvent(new Event(PERMISSIONS_CHANGED_EVENT));
diff --git a/src/ui/plugin-host/loader.ts b/src/ui/plugin-host/loader.ts
index ebd49da4a..628f011ee 100644
--- a/src/ui/plugin-host/loader.ts
+++ b/src/ui/plugin-host/loader.ts
@@ -300,22 +300,53 @@ async function reconcile(summaries: PluginSummary[]): Promise<void> {
     if (!wanted.has(id)) failedVersions.delete(id);
   }
 
-  for (const summary of order) {
-    if (active.has(summary.id)) continue;
-    // Do not retry a bundle that already failed until it changes.
-    if (
-      failedVersions.has(summary.id) &&
-      failedVersions.get(summary.id) === (summary.assetVersion ?? null)
-    ) {
-      setFrontendState(
-        summary.id,
-        "failed",
-        getPluginRecord(summary.id)?.error,
+  await activateConcurrently(order);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Activates every plugin in `order`, running independent plugins in
+ * parallel instead of one at a time. Each plugin still waits for its own
+ * hard dependencies to finish activating first (success or failure - a
+ * blocked or failed dependency must not hang its dependents forever).
+ */
+async function activateConcurrently(order: PluginSummary[]): Promise<void> {
+  const byId = new Map(order.map((summary) => [summary.id, summary]));
+  const started = new Map<string, Promise<void>>();
+
+  const run = (summary: PluginSummary): Promise<void> => {
+    const existing = started.get(summary.id);
+    if (existing) return existing;
+
+    const task = (async () => {
+      const dependencyIds = Object.keys(summary.dependencies ?? {});
+      await Promise.all(
+        dependencyIds.map((id) => {
+          const dependency = byId.get(id);
+          return dependency ? run(dependency) : Promise.resolve();
+        }),
       );
-      continue;
-    }
-    await activate(summary);
-  }
+
+      if (active.has(summary.id)) return;
+      // Do not retry a bundle that already failed until it changes.
+      if (
+        failedVersions.has(summary.id) &&
+        failedVersions.get(summary.id) === (summary.assetVersion ?? null)
+      ) {
+        setFrontendState(
+          summary.id,
+          "failed",
+          getPluginRecord(summary.id)?.error,
+        );
+        return;
+      }
+      await activate(summary);
+    })();
+
+    started.set(summary.id, task);
+    return task;
+  };
+
+  await Promise.all(order.map(run));
 }
 
 function enqueue(task: () => Promise<void>): Promise<void> {
diff --git a/src/ui/sidebar/AppRail.tsx b/src/ui/sidebar/AppRail.tsx
index edd3d2d64..1d095f79e 100644
--- a/src/ui/sidebar/AppRail.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/sidebar/AppRail.tsx
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import {
   User,
 } from "lucide-react";
 import type { SplitMode, TabType, ToolsTab } from "@/types/ui-types";
+import { Skeleton } from "@/components/skeleton";
 import { readRailPreference, setRailPreference } from "./rail-preferences";
 import { useRailItems, type RailItemDef } from "./rail-items";
 
@@ -99,6 +100,7 @@ export function AppRail({
   splitMode,
   username,
   isAdmin,
+  pluginsSettled = true,
   onRailClick,
   onOpenTab,
   onOpenInRightDock,
@@ -109,6 +111,8 @@ export function AppRail({
   splitMode: SplitMode;
   username: string;
   isAdmin: boolean;
+  /** False while plugins are still registering their rail items. */
+  pluginsSettled?: boolean;
   onRailClick: (view: RailView) => void;
   onOpenTab?: (type: TabType) => void;
   onOpenInRightDock?: (view: RailView) => void;
@@ -236,92 +240,102 @@ export function AppRail({
       }}
     >
       <div className="flex flex-col flex-1 gap-1 overflow-y-auto scrollbar-none min-h-0">
-        {railButtons.map((item, i) =>
-          item.kind === "separator" ? (
-            <div
-              key={`sep-${i}`}
-              className="mx-auto h-px bg-border my-0.5 shrink-0 transition-[width] duration-200"
-              style={{ width: railExpanded ? "calc(100% - 16px)" : 20 }}
-            />
-          ) : "tabType" in item ? (
-            <button
-              key={item.tabType}
-              onClick={() => onOpenTab?.(item.tabType)}
-              style={btnStyle}
-              className={`${btnBase} text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground hover:bg-muted/60`}
-            >
-              <span
-                className="shrink-0 flex items-center justify-center"
-                style={{ width: 16, height: 16 }}
+        {!pluginsSettled
+          ? Array.from({ length: railButtons.length || 8 }, (_, i) => (
+              <div
+                key={`rail-skeleton-${i}`}
+                style={btnStyle}
+                className="flex items-center h-7 shrink-0"
               >
-                {item.icon}
-              </span>
-              <span
-                className={`text-xs font-medium whitespace-nowrap overflow-hidden transition-[opacity,width] duration-150 ${
-                  railExpanded ? "opacity-100 delay-75" : "opacity-0 w-0"
-                }`}
-              >
-                {item.title}
-              </span>
-            </button>
-          ) : (
-            <button
-              key={item.view}
-              onClick={(e) => {
-                if (item.promotable && (e.ctrlKey || e.metaKey)) {
-                  onOpenTab?.(item.view as TabType);
-                  return;
-                }
-                onRailClick(item.view);
-              }}
-              onAuxClick={(e) => {
-                if (e.button !== 1 || !item.promotable) return;
-                e.preventDefault();
-                onOpenTab?.(item.view as TabType);
-              }}
-              onContextMenu={() => {
-                if (item.promotable || item.rightDockable)
-                  setMenuTarget({
-                    view: item.view,
-                    title: item.title,
-                    promotable: item.promotable,
-                    rightDockable: item.rightDockable,
-                  });
-              }}
-              data-rail-promotable={
-                item.promotable || item.rightDockable ? "" : undefined
-              }
-              title={
-                item.promotable
-                  ? `${item.title}\n${t("nav.openAsTabHint")}`
-                  : item.title
-              }
-              style={btnStyle}
-              className={`${btnBase} ${
-                sidebarOpen && railView === item.view
-                  ? "text-accent-brand bg-accent-brand/10"
-                  : "text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground hover:bg-muted/60"
-              }`}
-            >
-              <span
-                className="shrink-0 flex items-center justify-center"
-                style={{ width: 16, height: 16 }}
-              >
-                {item.icon}
-              </span>
-              <span
-                className={`text-xs font-medium whitespace-nowrap overflow-hidden transition-[opacity,width] duration-150 ${
-                  railExpanded ? "opacity-100 delay-75" : "opacity-0 w-0"
-                }`}
-              >
-                {item.title}
-              </span>
-              {item.dot && (
-                <span className="absolute top-0.5 right-0.5 size-1.5 rounded-full bg-accent-brand" />
-              )}
-            </button>
-          ),
-        )}
+                <Skeleton className="size-4 shrink-0" />
+              </div>
+            ))
+          : railButtons.map((item, i) =>
+              item.kind === "separator" ? (
+                <div
+                  key={`sep-${i}`}
+                  className="mx-auto h-px bg-border my-0.5 shrink-0 transition-[width] duration-200"
+                  style={{ width: railExpanded ? "calc(100% - 16px)" : 20 }}
+                />
+              ) : "tabType" in item ? (
+                <button
+                  key={item.tabType}
+                  onClick={() => onOpenTab?.(item.tabType)}
+                  style={btnStyle}
+                  className={`${btnBase} text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground hover:bg-muted/60`}
+                >
+                  <span
+                    className="shrink-0 flex items-center justify-center"
+                    style={{ width: 16, height: 16 }}
+                  >
+                    {item.icon}
+                  </span>
+                  <span
+                    className={`text-xs font-medium whitespace-nowrap overflow-hidden transition-[opacity,width] duration-150 ${
+                      railExpanded ? "opacity-100 delay-75" : "opacity-0 w-0"
+                    }`}
+                  >
+                    {item.title}
+                  </span>
+                </button>
+              ) : (
+                <button
+                  key={item.view}
+                  onClick={(e) => {
+                    if (item.promotable && (e.ctrlKey || e.metaKey)) {
+                      onOpenTab?.(item.view as TabType);
+                      return;
+                    }
+                    onRailClick(item.view);
+                  }}
+                  onAuxClick={(e) => {
+                    if (e.button !== 1 || !item.promotable) return;
+                    e.preventDefault();
+                    onOpenTab?.(item.view as TabType);
+                  }}
+                  onContextMenu={() => {
+                    if (item.promotable || item.rightDockable)
+                      setMenuTarget({
+                        view: item.view,
+                        title: item.title,
+                        promotable: item.promotable,
+                        rightDockable: item.rightDockable,
+                      });
+                  }}
+                  data-rail-promotable={
+                    item.promotable || item.rightDockable ? "" : undefined
+                  }
+                  title={
+                    item.promotable
+                      ? `${item.title}\n${t("nav.openAsTabHint")}`
+                      : item.title
+                  }
+                  style={btnStyle}
+                  className={`${btnBase} ${
+                    sidebarOpen && railView === item.view
+                      ? "text-accent-brand bg-accent-brand/10"
+                      : "text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground hover:bg-muted/60"
+                  }`}
+                >
+                  <span
+                    className="shrink-0 flex items-center justify-center"
+                    style={{ width: 16, height: 16 }}
+                  >
+                    {item.icon}
+                  </span>
+                  <span
+                    className={`text-xs font-medium whitespace-nowrap overflow-hidden transition-[opacity,width] duration-150 ${
+                      railExpanded ? "opacity-100 delay-75" : "opacity-0 w-0"
+                    }`}
+                  >
+                    {item.title}
+                  </span>
+                  {item.dot && (
+                    <span className="absolute top-0.5 right-0.5 size-1.5 rounded-full bg-accent-brand" />
+                  )}
+                </button>
+              ),
+            )}
       </div>
 
       <div className="shrink-0 flex flex-col gap-1 border-t border-border pt-1 pb-1">
diff --git a/src/ui/tests/plugin-host/loader.test.tsx b/src/ui/tests/plugin-host/loader.test.tsx
index 879055e4f..1b193aebf 100644
--- a/src/ui/tests/plugin-host/loader.test.tsx
+++ b/src/ui/tests/plugin-host/loader.test.tsx
@@ -260,4 +260,43 @@ describe("activation order", () => {
     expect(order).toEqual([]);
     expect([...blocked.keys()].sort()).toEqual(["a", "b"]);
   });
+
+  it("activates independent plugins concurrently rather than one at a time", async () => {
+    modules.alpha = railPlugin("alpha");
+    modules.beta = railPlugin("beta");
+    plugins = [summary("alpha"), summary("beta")];
+
+    // Each import blocks until the other has started, which only resolves
+    // if both imports were kicked off before either finished.
+    let releaseAlpha: () => void;
+    let releaseBeta: () => void;
+    const alphaStarted = new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+      releaseAlpha = resolve;
+    });
+    const betaStarted = new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
+      releaseBeta = resolve;
+    });
+    configurePluginLoader({
+      fetchPlugins: async () => plugins,
+      importFrontend: async (entry) => {
+        if (entry.id === "alpha") {
+          releaseAlpha!();
+          await betaStarted;
+        } else if (entry.id === "beta") {
+          releaseBeta!();
+          await alphaStarted;
+        }
+        const module = modules[entry.id];
+        if (!module) throw new Error(`no module for ${entry.id}`);
+        return module;
+      },
+      loadLocale: async () => null,
+      injectCss: () => null,
+    });
+
+    await syncPlugins();
+
+    expect(railIds()).toContain("alpha-panel");
+    expect(railIds()).toContain("beta-panel");
+  });
 });