perf(workers): strict priority pipeline across background workers

Workers now form a priority pipeline (thumbnails -> metadata ->
embeddings -> tagging): a worker only claims jobs when no
higher-priority tier has claimable work, so stages drain one at a time
at full speed instead of all workers contending for CPU (shared rayon
pool), disk, and the DB writer simultaneously.

Each tier gate is a single read-only EXISTS query per idle tick using
the same exclusion set the corresponding claim would (that worker''s
paused folders plus actively-indexing folders), so paused or mid-scan
work never blocks lower tiers, and failed jobs stop gating once they
leave pending. Deferred workers wake within one backoff interval
(250-750ms) of the higher tier draining.

A watcher-driven trickle of new files briefly pauses lower tiers by
design. A user-initiated tag run during a large embedding backlog
waits for it; pausing embeddings per folder overrides if tags are
wanted first.

CLAUDE.md

@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ Database: SQLite with WAL mode, stored in the Tauri app data directory as `galle
 | `media-updated` | `ThumbnailBatch` |
 | `caption-model-progress` | `CaptionModelProgress` |
 | `tagger-model-progress` | `TaggerModelProgress` |
-| `duplicate_scan_progress` | `[scanned, total]` |
+| `duplicate_scan_progress` | `{ phase, processed, total, skipped }` |
 
 ### Key types
 

package.json

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
   "scripts": {
     "build:app": "tauri build",
     "build:vite": "tsc && vite build",
+    "clean:app": "cd src-tauri && cargo clean",
     "dev:app": "tauri dev",
     "dev:vite": "vite",
     "preview": "vite preview",

src-tauri/Cargo.lock

@@ -143,6 +143,12 @@ dependencies = [
  "derive_arbitrary",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "arrayvec"
+version = "0.7.6"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "7c02d123df017efcdfbd739ef81735b36c5ba83ec3c59c80a9d7ecc718f92e50"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "async-broadcast"
 version = "0.7.2"
@@ -635,6 +641,8 @@ source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "b7a4d3ec6524d28a329fc53654bbadc9bdd7b0431f5d65f1a56ffb28a1ee5283"
 dependencies = [
  "find-msvc-tools",
+ "jobserver",
+ "libc",
  "shlex",
 ]
 
@@ -3108,6 +3116,16 @@ dependencies = [
  "syn 2.0.117",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "jobserver"
+version = "0.1.34"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "9afb3de4395d6b3e67a780b6de64b51c978ecf11cb9a462c66be7d4ca9039d33"
+dependencies = [
+ "getrandom 0.3.4",
+ "libc",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "js-sys"
 version = "0.3.94"
@@ -3559,6 +3577,31 @@ dependencies = [
  "pxfm",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "mozjpeg"
+version = "0.10.13"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "b7891b80aaa86097d38d276eb98b3805d6280708c4e0a1e6f6aed9380c51fec9"
+dependencies = [
+ "arrayvec",
+ "bytemuck",
+ "libc",
+ "mozjpeg-sys",
+ "rgb",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "mozjpeg-sys"
+version = "2.2.3"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "7f0dc668bf9bf888c88e2fb1ab16a406d2c380f1d082b20d51dd540ab2aa70c1"
+dependencies = [
+ "cc",
+ "dunce",
+ "libc",
+ "nasm-rs",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "muda"
 version = "0.17.2"
@@ -3586,6 +3629,16 @@ version = "0.1.2"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "13d2233c9842d08cfe13f9eac96e207ca6a2ea10b80259ebe8ad0268be27d2af"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "nasm-rs"
+version = "0.3.2"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "706bf8a5e8c8ddb99128c3291d31bd21f4bcde17f0f4c20ec678d85c74faa149"
+dependencies = [
+ "jobserver",
+ "log",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "native-tls"
 version = "0.2.18"
@@ -4388,6 +4441,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "kamadak-exif",
  "log",
  "memmap2",
+ "mozjpeg",
  "notify",
  "ort",
  "r2d2",
@@ -5102,6 +5156,15 @@ dependencies = [
  "windows-sys 0.60.2",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "rgb"
+version = "0.8.53"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "47b34b781b31e5d73e9fbc8689c70551fd1ade9a19e3e28cfec8580a79290cc4"
+dependencies = [
+ "bytemuck",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "ring"
 version = "0.17.14"

src-tauri/Cargo.toml

@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ csv = "1"
 kamadak-exif = "0.5"
 notify = "6"
 tauri-plugin-notification = "2"
+mozjpeg = "0.10.13"
 
 # ── Dev-mode performance ────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 # opt-level=1 on the main crate keeps incremental compile short.
@@ -81,6 +82,10 @@ opt-level = 3
 opt-level = 3
 [profile.dev.package.fast_image_resize]
 opt-level = 3
+[profile.dev.package.mozjpeg]
+opt-level = 3
+[profile.dev.package.mozjpeg-sys]
+opt-level = 3
 
 # Parallel work scheduler
 [profile.dev.package.rayon]

src-tauri/src/commands.rs

@@ -182,6 +182,22 @@ pub struct DuplicateGroup {
     pub images: Vec<ImageRecord>,
 }
 
+#[derive(Clone, Serialize)]
+pub struct DuplicateScanProgress {
+    pub phase: String,
+    pub processed: usize,
+    pub total: usize,
+    pub skipped: usize,
+}
+
+#[derive(Serialize)]
+pub struct DuplicateScanResult {
+    pub groups: Vec<DuplicateGroup>,
+    pub scanned_files: usize,
+    pub candidate_files: usize,
+    pub skipped_files: usize,
+}
+
 #[derive(Serialize)]
 pub struct DuplicateScanCache {
     pub groups: Vec<DuplicateGroup>,
@@ -962,14 +978,19 @@ pub async fn find_duplicates(
     app: AppHandle,
     db: State<'_, DbState>,
     folder_id: Option<i64>,
-) -> Result<Vec<DuplicateGroup>, String> {
+) -> Result<DuplicateScanResult, String> {
     let records = {
         let conn = db.get().map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
         db::get_all_image_paths(&conn, folder_id).map_err(|e| e.to_string())?
     };
 
     let total = records.len();
-    let _ = app.emit("duplicate_scan_progress", (0usize, total));
+    let _ = app.emit("duplicate_scan_progress", DuplicateScanProgress {
+        phase: "checking".to_string(),
+        processed: 0,
+        total,
+        skipped: 0,
+    });
 
     // Three-phase detection.
     //
@@ -986,7 +1007,8 @@ pub async fn find_duplicates(
     //   For sample-hash groups that contain files > 64 KB, compute a full-file
     //   hash to confirm the match before presenting them as deletable duplicates.
     let app_hash = app.clone();
-    let pairs: Vec<(u64, u64, i64, String)> = tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || {
+    let (pairs, skipped_before_confirm, candidate_total):
+        (Vec<(u64, u64, i64, String)>, usize, usize) = tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || {
         use memmap2::Mmap;
         use rayon::prelude::*;
         use std::collections::HashMap;
@@ -1012,14 +1034,31 @@ pub async fn find_duplicates(
         }
 
         // ── Phase 1: stat ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
+        let stat_counter = AtomicUsize::new(0);
+        let stat_skipped = AtomicUsize::new(0);
         let sized: Vec<(i64, String, u64)> = records
             .par_iter()
             .filter_map(|r| {
-                let size = std::fs::metadata(&r.path).ok()?.len();
+                let result = match std::fs::metadata(&r.path) {
-                if size == 0 { return None; }
+                    Ok(metadata) => Some((r.id, r.path.clone(), metadata.len())),
-                Some((r.id, r.path.clone(), size))
+                    Err(_) => {
+                        stat_skipped.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed);
+                        None
+                    }
+                };
+                let done = stat_counter.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed) + 1;
+                if done % 100 == 0 || done == total {
+                    let _ = app_hash.emit("duplicate_scan_progress", DuplicateScanProgress {
+                        phase: "checking".to_string(),
+                        processed: done,
+                        total,
+                        skipped: stat_skipped.load(Ordering::Relaxed),
+                    });
+                }
+                result
             })
             .collect();
+        let stat_skipped = stat_skipped.load(Ordering::Relaxed);
 
         let mut by_size: HashMap<u64, Vec<usize>> = HashMap::new();
         for (i, (_, _, size)) in sized.iter().enumerate() {
@@ -1032,29 +1071,53 @@ pub async fn find_duplicates(
             .collect();
 
         if candidates.is_empty() {
-            return vec![];
+            return (vec![], stat_skipped, 0);
         }
 
         // ── Phase 2: sample hash ──────────────────────────────────────────
         let c_total = candidates.len();
-        let _ = app_hash.emit("duplicate_scan_progress", (0usize, c_total));
+        let _ = app_hash.emit("duplicate_scan_progress", DuplicateScanProgress {
+            phase: "hashing".to_string(),
+            processed: 0,
+            total: c_total,
+            skipped: stat_skipped,
+        });
         let counter = AtomicUsize::new(0);
+        let hash_skipped = AtomicUsize::new(0);
 
-        candidates
+        let pairs = candidates
             .par_iter()
             .filter_map(|&idx| {
                 let (id, path, size) = &sized[idx];
-                let file = std::fs::File::open(path).ok()?;
+                let result = if *size == 0 {
-                // SAFETY: read-only; no external truncation expected during scan.
+                    Some((xxh3_64(&[]), *size, *id, path.clone()))
-                let mmap = unsafe { Mmap::map(&file).ok()? };
+                } else {
-                let hash = sample(&mmap);
+                    std::fs::File::open(path)
+                        .ok()
+                        // SAFETY: read-only; no external truncation expected during scan.
+                        .and_then(|file| unsafe { Mmap::map(&file).ok() })
+                        .map(|mmap| (sample(&mmap), *size, *id, path.clone()))
+                };
+                if result.is_none() {
+                    hash_skipped.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed);
+                }
                 let done = counter.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed) + 1;
                 if done % 100 == 0 || done == c_total {
-                    let _ = app_hash.emit("duplicate_scan_progress", (done, c_total));
+                    let _ = app_hash.emit("duplicate_scan_progress", DuplicateScanProgress {
+                        phase: "hashing".to_string(),
+                        processed: done,
+                        total: c_total,
+                        skipped: stat_skipped + hash_skipped.load(Ordering::Relaxed),
+                    });
                 }
-                Some((hash, *size, *id, path.clone()))
+                result
             })
-            .collect()
+            .collect();
+        (
+            pairs,
+            stat_skipped + hash_skipped.load(Ordering::Relaxed),
+            c_total,
+        )
     })
     .await
     .map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
@@ -1071,13 +1134,30 @@ pub async fn find_duplicates(
     // hash becomes its own DuplicateGroup so disjoint sets (A,A vs B,B that
     // happened to share size and sample hash) are never merged.
     const COVERED: u64 = (16 * 1024 * 4) as u64;
-    let confirmed: Vec<(u64, u64, Vec<i64>)> =
+    let confirming_total: usize = size_hash_map
+        .iter()
+        .filter(|((_, file_size), entries)| *file_size > COVERED && entries.len() > 1)
+        .map(|(_, entries)| entries.len())
+        .sum();
+    if confirming_total > 0 {
+        let _ = app.emit("duplicate_scan_progress", DuplicateScanProgress {
+            phase: "confirming".to_string(),
+            processed: 0,
+            total: confirming_total,
+            skipped: skipped_before_confirm,
+        });
+    }
+    let app_confirm = app.clone();
+    let (confirmed, skipped_files): (Vec<(u64, u64, Vec<i64>)>, usize) =
         tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || {
             use memmap2::Mmap;
             use rayon::prelude::*;
+            use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicUsize, Ordering};
             use xxhash_rust::xxh3::xxh3_64;
 
-            size_hash_map
+            let counter = AtomicUsize::new(0);
+            let confirm_skipped = AtomicUsize::new(0);
+            let confirmed = size_hash_map
                 .into_iter()
                 .filter(|(_, entries)| entries.len() > 1)
                 .flat_map(|((sample_hash, file_size), entries)| {
@@ -1094,6 +1174,19 @@ pub async fn find_duplicates(
                                 .ok()
                                 .and_then(|f| unsafe { Mmap::map(&f).ok() })
                                 .map(|mmap| xxh3_64(&mmap));
+                            if hash.is_none() {
+                                confirm_skipped.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed);
+                            }
+                            let done = counter.fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed) + 1;
+                            if done % 100 == 0 || done == confirming_total {
+                                let _ = app_confirm.emit("duplicate_scan_progress", DuplicateScanProgress {
+                                    phase: "confirming".to_string(),
+                                    processed: done,
+                                    total: confirming_total,
+                                    skipped: skipped_before_confirm
+                                        + confirm_skipped.load(Ordering::Relaxed),
+                                });
+                            }
                             (*id, hash)
                         })
                         .collect();
@@ -1111,7 +1204,11 @@ pub async fn find_duplicates(
                         .map(|(full_hash, ids)| (full_hash, file_size, ids))
                         .collect()
                 })
-                .collect()
+                .collect();
+            (
+                confirmed,
+                skipped_before_confirm + confirm_skipped.load(Ordering::Relaxed),
+            )
         })
         .await
         .map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
@@ -1142,7 +1239,12 @@ pub async fn find_duplicates(
         let _ = db::set_duplicate_scan_cache(&conn, &folder_scope, &json);
     }
 
-    Ok(groups)
+    Ok(DuplicateScanResult {
+        groups,
+        scanned_files: total,
+        candidate_files: candidate_total,
+        skipped_files,
+    })
 }
 
 #[tauri::command]

src-tauri/src/db.rs

@@ -1152,6 +1152,57 @@ fn get_pending_thumbnail_jobs_excluding(
     Ok(rows.collect::<rusqlite::Result<Vec<_>>>()?)
 }
 
+/// True if any claimable (pending, non-excluded) jobs exist in `job_table`.
+/// Used by lower-priority workers to defer to higher-priority queues.
+/// `extra_predicate` narrows the image join (e.g. videos only for metadata).
+fn has_claimable_jobs(
+    conn: &Connection,
+    job_table: &str,
+    extra_predicate: &str,
+    excluded_folder_ids: &std::collections::HashSet<i64>,
+) -> Result<bool> {
+    let sql = format!(
+        "SELECT EXISTS(
+             SELECT 1
+             FROM {} j
+             JOIN images i ON i.id = j.image_id
+             WHERE j.status = 'pending'
+               {}
+               {}
+         )",
+        job_table,
+        extra_predicate,
+        folder_exclusion_clause("i", excluded_folder_ids)
+    );
+    Ok(conn.query_row(&sql, [], |row| row.get::<_, i64>(0))? != 0)
+}
+
+pub fn has_claimable_thumbnail_jobs(
+    conn: &Connection,
+    excluded_folder_ids: &std::collections::HashSet<i64>,
+) -> Result<bool> {
+    has_claimable_jobs(conn, "thumbnail_jobs", "", excluded_folder_ids)
+}
+
+pub fn has_claimable_metadata_jobs(
+    conn: &Connection,
+    excluded_folder_ids: &std::collections::HashSet<i64>,
+) -> Result<bool> {
+    has_claimable_jobs(
+        conn,
+        "metadata_jobs",
+        "AND i.media_kind = 'video'",
+        excluded_folder_ids,
+    )
+}
+
+pub fn has_claimable_embedding_jobs(
+    conn: &Connection,
+    excluded_folder_ids: &std::collections::HashSet<i64>,
+) -> Result<bool> {
+    has_claimable_jobs(conn, "embedding_jobs", "", excluded_folder_ids)
+}
+
 pub fn claim_thumbnail_jobs(
     conn: &mut Connection,
     active_folder_ids: &std::collections::HashSet<i64>,

src-tauri/src/embedder.rs

@@ -191,9 +191,11 @@ fn resolve_device() -> Result<Device> {
 }
 
 fn load_image(path: &Path, image_size: usize) -> Result<Tensor> {
-    let image = image::ImageReader::open(path)?
+    // Scaled decode: CLIP only needs image_size² pixels, so decoding a large
-        .with_guessed_format()?
+    // JPEG at full resolution is wasted work. Cover mode keeps the shortest
-        .decode()?;
+    // side at or above image_size for the fill-crop below. Also applies EXIF
+    // orientation, so rotated photos embed the way they are displayed.
+    let image = crate::thumbnail::decode_image_scaled(path, image_size as u32, true)?;
     let image = image.resize_to_fill(
         image_size as u32,
         image_size as u32,
@@ -208,10 +210,11 @@ fn load_image(path: &Path, image_size: usize) -> Result<Tensor> {
 }
 
 fn load_images(paths: &[PathBuf], image_size: usize) -> Result<Tensor> {
-    let mut images = Vec::with_capacity(paths.len());
+    use rayon::prelude::*;
-    for path in paths {
+    let images = paths
-        images.push(load_image(path, image_size)?);
+        .par_iter()
-    }
+        .map(|path| load_image(path, image_size))
+        .collect::<Result<Vec<_>>>()?;
     Ok(Tensor::stack(&images, 0)?)
 }
 

src-tauri/src/indexer.rs

@@ -121,6 +121,50 @@ static FOLDER_STORAGE_PROFILES: OnceLock<Mutex<HashMap<i64, RuntimeAdaptiveProfi
 static DB_WRITE_LOCK: OnceLock<Mutex<()>> = OnceLock::new();
 const EMBEDDING_BATCH_SIZE: usize = 8;
 
+/// Background workers form a strict priority pipeline: a worker only claims
+/// jobs when no higher-priority claimable work exists, so stages drain one
+/// at a time (thumbnails → metadata → embeddings → tagging) instead of all
+/// workers contending for CPU, disk, and the DB writer at once.
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, PartialEq, PartialOrd)]
+enum WorkerTier {
+    Thumbnail = 0,
+    Metadata = 1,
+    Embedding = 2,
+    Tagging = 3,
+}
+
+/// True if any tier above `own_tier` still has claimable work. Each check
+/// uses the same exclusion set the corresponding claim would (that worker's
+/// paused folders plus actively-indexing folders), so paused or mid-scan
+/// work never gates lower tiers.
+fn higher_priority_work_pending(pool: &DbPool, own_tier: WorkerTier) -> Result<bool> {
+    let conn = pool.get()?;
+    let active_folders = active_indexing_folders();
+
+    if own_tier > WorkerTier::Thumbnail {
+        let mut excluded = paused_folder_ids("thumbnail");
+        excluded.extend(active_folders.iter().copied());
+        if db::has_claimable_thumbnail_jobs(&conn, &excluded)? {
+            return Ok(true);
+        }
+    }
+    if own_tier > WorkerTier::Metadata {
+        let mut excluded = paused_folder_ids("metadata");
+        excluded.extend(active_folders.iter().copied());
+        if db::has_claimable_metadata_jobs(&conn, &excluded)? {
+            return Ok(true);
+        }
+    }
+    if own_tier > WorkerTier::Embedding {
+        let mut excluded = paused_folder_ids("embedding");
+        excluded.extend(active_folders.iter().copied());
+        if db::has_claimable_embedding_jobs(&conn, &excluded)? {
+            return Ok(true);
+        }
+    }
+    Ok(false)
+}
+
 #[derive(Clone, Serialize)]
 pub struct IndexProgress {
     pub folder_id: i64,
@@ -204,19 +248,31 @@ pub fn start_thumbnail_worker(
     cache_dir: PathBuf,
 ) {
     std::thread::spawn(move || loop {
-        if let Err(error) = process_thumbnail_batch(&app, &pool, &media_tools, &cache_dir) {
+        // Only back off when the queue is empty (or errored); while jobs are
-            eprintln!("Thumbnail worker error: {}", error);
+        // pending, claim the next batch immediately.
+        match process_thumbnail_batch(&app, &pool, &media_tools, &cache_dir) {
+            Ok(true) => {}
+            Ok(false) => std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(250)),
+            Err(error) => {
+                eprintln!("Thumbnail worker error: {}", error);
+                std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(250));
+            }
         }
-        std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(250));
     });
 }
 
 pub fn start_metadata_worker(app: AppHandle, pool: DbPool, media_tools: MediaTools) {
     std::thread::spawn(move || loop {
-        if let Err(error) = process_metadata_batch(&app, &pool, &media_tools) {
+        // Only back off when the queue is empty (or errored); while jobs are
-            eprintln!("Metadata worker error: {}", error);
+        // pending, claim the next batch immediately.
+        match process_metadata_batch(&app, &pool, &media_tools) {
+            Ok(true) => {}
+            Ok(false) => std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(250)),
+            Err(error) => {
+                eprintln!("Metadata worker error: {}", error);
+                std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(250));
+            }
         }
-        std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(250));
     });
 }
 
@@ -225,10 +281,16 @@ pub fn start_embedding_worker(app: AppHandle, pool: DbPool) {
         let mut embedder: Option<ClipImageEmbedder> = None;
         println!("Embedding worker started.");
         loop {
-            if let Err(error) = process_embedding_batch(&app, &pool, &mut embedder) {
+            // Only back off when the queue is empty (or errored); while jobs
-                eprintln!("Embedding worker error: {}", error);
+            // are pending, claim the next batch immediately.
+            match process_embedding_batch(&app, &pool, &mut embedder) {
+                Ok(true) => {}
+                Ok(false) => std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(500)),
+                Err(error) => {
+                    eprintln!("Embedding worker error: {}", error);
+                    std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(500));
+                }
             }
-            std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(500));
         }
     });
 }
@@ -264,13 +326,17 @@ pub fn start_tagging_worker(app: AppHandle, pool: DbPool, app_data_dir: PathBuf)
                 println!("Tagging worker: acceleration setting changed — resetting session.");
                 tagger_instance = None;
             }
-            if let Err(error) =
+            // Only back off when the queue is empty (or errored); while jobs
-                process_tagging_batch(&app, &pool, &app_data_dir, &mut tagger_instance)
+            // are pending, claim the next batch immediately.
-            {
+            match process_tagging_batch(&app, &pool, &app_data_dir, &mut tagger_instance) {
-                eprintln!("Tagging worker error: {}", error);
+                Ok(true) => {}
-                tagger_instance = None;
+                Ok(false) => std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(750)),
+                Err(error) => {
+                    eprintln!("Tagging worker error: {}", error);
+                    tagger_instance = None;
+                    std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(750));
+                }
             }
-            std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(750));
         }
     });
 }
@@ -554,12 +620,14 @@ fn commit_batch(pool: &DbPool, records: &[ImageRecord]) -> Result<Vec<ImageRecor
     Ok(committed)
 }
 
+/// Returns `Ok(true)` if a batch was claimed and processed, `Ok(false)` if
+/// the queue was empty.
 fn process_thumbnail_batch(
     app: &AppHandle,
     pool: &DbPool,
     media_tools: &MediaTools,
     cache_dir: &Path,
-) -> Result<()> {
+) -> Result<bool> {
     let jobs = {
         with_db_write_lock(|| {
             let mut conn = pool.get()?;
@@ -578,7 +646,7 @@ fn process_thumbnail_batch(
     };
 
     if jobs.is_empty() {
-        return Ok(());
+        return Ok(false);
     }
 
     println!("Thumbnail batch claimed: {} items", jobs.len());
@@ -586,33 +654,39 @@ fn process_thumbnail_batch(
     let (image_jobs, video_jobs): (Vec<_>, Vec<_>) =
         jobs.into_iter().partition(|job| job.media_kind == "image");
 
-    let mut results = image_jobs
+    // Images: parallel decode, committed as one batch.
-        .par_iter()
+    if !image_jobs.is_empty() {
-        .map(|job| {
+        let results = image_jobs
-            (
+            .par_iter()
-                job.image_id,
+            .map(|job| {
-                if job.media_kind == "image" {
+                (
-                    thumbnail::generate_image_thumbnail(Path::new(&job.path), cache_dir).map(Some)
+                    job.image_id,
-                } else {
+                    thumbnail::generate_image_thumbnail(Path::new(&job.path), cache_dir).map(Some),
-                    thumbnail::generate_video_thumbnail(
+                )
-                        media_tools,
+            })
-                        Path::new(&job.path),
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>();
-                        cache_dir,
+        persist_thumbnail_results(app, pool, results)?;
-                    )
-                    .map(Some)
-                },
-            )
-        })
-        .collect::<Vec<_>>();
-
-    for job in video_jobs {
-        results.push((
-            job.image_id,
-            thumbnail::generate_video_thumbnail(media_tools, Path::new(&job.path), cache_dir)
-                .map(Some),
-        ));
     }
 
+    // Videos: sequential, off the rayon pool — each ffmpeg call blocks its
+    // thread, and a video-heavy batch on the shared pool would starve image
+    // decoding across all workers. Committed per item so progress keeps
+    // moving through slow stretches.
+    for job in &video_jobs {
+        let result =
+            thumbnail::generate_video_thumbnail(media_tools, Path::new(&job.path), cache_dir)
+                .map(Some);
+        persist_thumbnail_results(app, pool, vec![(job.image_id, result)])?;
+    }
+
+    Ok(true)
+}
+
+fn persist_thumbnail_results(
+    app: &AppHandle,
+    pool: &DbPool,
+    results: Vec<(i64, anyhow::Result<Option<thumbnail::GeneratedThumbnail>>)>,
+) -> Result<()> {
     let updated_images = {
         with_db_write_lock(|| {
             let mut conn = pool.get()?;
@@ -665,7 +739,17 @@ fn process_thumbnail_batch(
     Ok(())
 }
 
-fn process_metadata_batch(app: &AppHandle, pool: &DbPool, media_tools: &MediaTools) -> Result<()> {
+/// Returns `Ok(true)` if a batch was claimed and processed, `Ok(false)` if
+/// the queue was empty.
+fn process_metadata_batch(
+    app: &AppHandle,
+    pool: &DbPool,
+    media_tools: &MediaTools,
+) -> Result<bool> {
+    if higher_priority_work_pending(pool, WorkerTier::Metadata)? {
+        return Ok(false);
+    }
+
     let jobs = {
         with_db_write_lock(|| {
             let mut conn = pool.get()?;
@@ -684,83 +768,78 @@ fn process_metadata_batch(app: &AppHandle, pool: &DbPool, media_tools: &MediaToo
     };
 
     if jobs.is_empty() {
-        return Ok(());
+        return Ok(false);
     }
 
-    let results = jobs
+    // Probes run sequentially (each ffprobe blocks on its process); results
-        .into_iter()
+    // are committed per item so progress keeps moving through slow stretches.
-        .map(|job| {
+    for job in jobs {
-            (
+        let metadata_result = probe_video_metadata(media_tools, Path::new(&job.path));
-                job.image_id,
-                probe_video_metadata(media_tools, Path::new(&job.path)),
-            )
-        })
-        .collect::<Vec<_>>();
 
-    let updated_images = {
+        let updated_image = with_db_write_lock(|| {
-        with_db_write_lock(|| {
             let mut conn = pool.get()?;
             let tx = conn.transaction()?;
-            let mut updated_images = Vec::new();
+            let updated = match metadata_result {
-
+                Ok(metadata) => Some(db::mark_metadata_ready(
-            for (image_id, metadata_result) in results {
-                let metadata = match metadata_result {
-                    Ok(metadata) => metadata,
-                    Err(error) => {
-                        db::mark_metadata_failed(&tx, image_id, &error.to_string())?;
-                        continue;
-                    }
-                };
-
-                updated_images.push(db::mark_metadata_ready(
                     &tx,
-                    image_id,
+                    job.image_id,
                     metadata.duration_ms,
                     metadata.width,
                     metadata.height,
                     metadata.video_codec.as_deref(),
                     metadata.audio_codec.as_deref(),
-                )?);
+                )?),
-            }
+                Err(error) => {
-
+                    db::mark_metadata_failed(&tx, job.image_id, &error.to_string())?;
+                    None
+                }
+            };
             tx.commit()?;
-            Ok(updated_images)
+            Ok(updated)
-        })?
+        })?;
-    };
 
-    if !updated_images.is_empty() {
+        if let Some(image) = updated_image {
-        let folder_ids = updated_images
+            let folder_id = image.folder_id;
-            .iter()
+            emit_media_updates(
-            .map(|image| image.folder_id)
+                app,
-            .collect::<HashSet<_>>();
+                &MediaUpdateBatch {
-        emit_media_updates(
+                    images: vec![image],
-            app,
+                },
-            &MediaUpdateBatch {
+            );
-                images: updated_images,
+            emit_folder_job_progress(app, pool, &[folder_id], false);
-            },
+        }
-        );
-        emit_folder_job_progress(app, pool, &folder_ids.into_iter().collect::<Vec<_>>(), true);
     }
 
-    Ok(())
+    Ok(true)
 }
 
+/// Returns `Ok(true)` if a batch was claimed and processed, `Ok(false)` if
+/// the queue was empty.
 fn process_embedding_batch(
     app: &AppHandle,
     pool: &DbPool,
     embedder: &mut Option<ClipImageEmbedder>,
-) -> Result<()> {
+) -> Result<bool> {
+    if higher_priority_work_pending(pool, WorkerTier::Embedding)? {
+        return Ok(false);
+    }
+
     let batch_started_at = Instant::now();
     let claim_started_at = Instant::now();
-    let paused_folders = paused_folder_ids("embedding");
+    // Exclude folders that are actively indexing (matching the thumbnail and
+    // metadata workers): embedding mid-scan competes with the scanner for
+    // CPU, disk, and the DB writer, and video jobs would fail-fast anyway
+    // because their thumbnails are deferred until indexing completes.
+    let mut excluded_folders = paused_folder_ids("embedding");
+    excluded_folders.extend(active_indexing_folders());
     let jobs = with_db_write_lock(|| {
         let mut conn = pool.get()?;
-        db::claim_embedding_jobs(&mut conn, &paused_folders, EMBEDDING_BATCH_SIZE)
+        db::claim_embedding_jobs(&mut conn, &excluded_folders, EMBEDDING_BATCH_SIZE)
     })?;
     let claim_elapsed = claim_started_at.elapsed();
 
     if jobs.is_empty() {
-        return Ok(());
+        return Ok(false);
     }
 
     if embedder.is_none() {
@@ -888,7 +967,7 @@ fn process_embedding_batch(
         EMBEDDING_BATCH_SIZE, claim_elapsed, infer_elapsed, write_elapsed, batch_elapsed
     );
 
-    Ok(())
+    Ok(true)
 }
 
 fn process_caption_batch(
@@ -993,25 +1072,34 @@ fn process_caption_batch(
     Ok(())
 }
 
+/// Returns `Ok(true)` if a batch was claimed and processed, `Ok(false)` if
+/// the queue was empty or the model is not ready.
 fn process_tagging_batch(
     app: &AppHandle,
     pool: &DbPool,
     app_data_dir: &Path,
     tagger_instance: &mut Option<WdTagger>,
-) -> Result<()> {
+) -> Result<bool> {
     if !tagger::tagger_model_status(app_data_dir).ready {
-        return Ok(());
+        return Ok(false);
     }
 
-    let paused_folders = paused_folder_ids("tagging");
+    if higher_priority_work_pending(pool, WorkerTier::Tagging)? {
+        return Ok(false);
+    }
+
+    // Exclude actively-indexing folders for the same reason as the other
+    // workers: don't compete with a running scan.
+    let mut excluded_folders = paused_folder_ids("tagging");
+    excluded_folders.extend(active_indexing_folders());
     let batch_size = crate::tagger::tagger_batch_size(app_data_dir);
     let jobs = with_db_write_lock(|| {
         let mut conn = pool.get()?;
-        db::claim_tagging_jobs(&mut conn, &paused_folders, batch_size)
+        db::claim_tagging_jobs(&mut conn, &excluded_folders, batch_size)
     })?;
 
     if jobs.is_empty() {
-        return Ok(());
+        return Ok(false);
     }
 
     if tagger_instance.is_none() {
@@ -1119,7 +1207,7 @@ fn process_tagging_batch(
         emit_folder_job_progress(app, pool, &folder_ids.into_iter().collect::<Vec<_>>(), true);
     }
 
-    Ok(())
+    Ok(true)
 }
 
 fn active_indexing_folders() -> HashSet<i64> {

src-tauri/src/thumbnail.rs

@@ -31,29 +31,26 @@ pub fn generate_image_thumbnail(image_path: &Path, cache_dir: &Path) -> Result<G
         });
     }
 
-    let reader = image::ImageReader::open(image_path)?.with_guessed_format()?;
+    let img = decode_for_thumbnail(image_path)?;
-    let mut decoder = reader.into_decoder()?;
-    let orientation = decoder.orientation()?;
-    let mut img = image::DynamicImage::from_decoder(decoder)?;
-    img.apply_orientation(orientation);
 
-    let src = image::DynamicImage::ImageRgba8(img.into_rgba8());
+    // RGB8 throughout: JPEG output has no alpha, so decoding/resizing RGBA
+    // only to flatten at encode time wastes a third of the bandwidth.
+    let src = image::DynamicImage::ImageRgb8(img.into_rgb8());
     let (dst_width, dst_height) = fit_dimensions(src.width(), src.height(), THUMB_SIZE);
 
     let mut dst = fir::images::Image::new(dst_width, dst_height, src.pixel_type().unwrap());
     let mut resizer = fir::Resizer::new();
     let options = fir::ResizeOptions::new()
-        .resize_alg(fir::ResizeAlg::Convolution(fir::FilterType::Lanczos3));
+        .resize_alg(fir::ResizeAlg::Convolution(fir::FilterType::CatmullRom));
     resizer.resize(&src, &mut dst, Some(&options))?;
 
-    let thumb = image::RgbaImage::from_raw(dst_width, dst_height, dst.buffer().to_vec())
+    let thumb = image::RgbImage::from_raw(dst_width, dst_height, dst.buffer().to_vec())
         .ok_or_else(|| anyhow!("failed to construct resized thumbnail buffer"))?;
 
     if let Some(parent) = out_path.parent() {
         std::fs::create_dir_all(parent)?;
     }
 
-    let thumb = image::DynamicImage::ImageRgba8(thumb).into_rgb8();
     let mut output_file = std::fs::File::create(&out_path)?;
     let mut encoder = JpegEncoder::new_with_quality(&mut output_file, 82);
     encoder.encode_image(&thumb)?;
@@ -64,6 +61,98 @@ pub fn generate_image_thumbnail(image_path: &Path, cache_dir: &Path) -> Result<G
     })
 }
 
+/// Decodes an image for thumbnailing, with EXIF orientation already applied.
+fn decode_for_thumbnail(image_path: &Path) -> Result<image::DynamicImage> {
+    decode_image_scaled(image_path, THUMB_SIZE, false)
+}
+
+/// Decodes an image at reduced resolution, with EXIF orientation applied.
+///
+/// JPEGs take a fast path that decodes at reduced resolution (DCT scaling),
+/// which skips most of the IDCT/upsampling work for large photos. Anything
+/// that path can't handle falls back to the `image` crate at full size.
+///
+/// `cover` selects which side must stay at or above `target`: `false` keeps
+/// the longest side (for aspect-fit consumers), `true` keeps the shortest
+/// side (for fill-crop consumers like the CLIP preprocessor).
+pub fn decode_image_scaled(
+    image_path: &Path,
+    target: u32,
+    cover: bool,
+) -> Result<image::DynamicImage> {
+    if is_jpeg(image_path) {
+        if let Some(img) = decode_jpeg_scaled(image_path, target, cover) {
+            return Ok(img);
+        }
+    }
+
+    let reader = image::ImageReader::open(image_path)?.with_guessed_format()?;
+    let mut decoder = reader.into_decoder()?;
+    let orientation = decoder.orientation()?;
+    let mut img = image::DynamicImage::from_decoder(decoder)?;
+    img.apply_orientation(orientation);
+    Ok(img)
+}
+
+fn is_jpeg(path: &Path) -> bool {
+    path.extension()
+        .and_then(|ext| ext.to_str())
+        .is_some_and(|ext| ext.eq_ignore_ascii_case("jpg") || ext.eq_ignore_ascii_case("jpeg"))
+}
+
+/// Decodes a JPEG at the smallest DCT scale that still covers `target`.
+/// Returns `None` on any failure (corrupt file, CMYK without conversion
+/// support, etc.) so the caller can fall back to the generic decoder.
+/// mozjpeg reports errors by panicking, hence the `catch_unwind`.
+fn decode_jpeg_scaled(image_path: &Path, target: u32, cover: bool) -> Option<image::DynamicImage> {
+    let path = image_path.to_path_buf();
+    let decoded = std::panic::catch_unwind(move || -> std::io::Result<(Vec<u8>, u32, u32)> {
+        let mut decompress = mozjpeg::Decompress::new_path(&path)?;
+        let (width, height) = decompress.size();
+        let reference = if cover {
+            width.min(height)
+        } else {
+            width.max(height)
+        };
+        decompress.scale(scale_numerator(reference, target));
+        let mut started = decompress.rgb()?;
+        let (out_width, out_height) = (started.width() as u32, started.height() as u32);
+        let pixels = started.read_scanlines::<u8>()?;
+        started.finish()?;
+        Ok((pixels, out_width, out_height))
+    })
+    .ok()?
+    .ok()?;
+
+    let (pixels, width, height) = decoded;
+    let buffer = image::RgbImage::from_raw(width, height, pixels)?;
+    let mut img = image::DynamicImage::ImageRgb8(buffer);
+    if let Some(orientation) = exif_orientation(image_path) {
+        img.apply_orientation(orientation);
+    }
+    Some(img)
+}
+
+/// Smallest numerator (of /8) that keeps `reference` at or above `target`,
+/// so the subsequent resize never upscales.
+fn scale_numerator(reference: usize, target: u32) -> u8 {
+    for numerator in 1..=8u8 {
+        if reference * numerator as usize / 8 >= target as usize {
+            return numerator;
+        }
+    }
+    8
+}
+
+fn exif_orientation(path: &Path) -> Option<image::metadata::Orientation> {
+    let file = std::fs::File::open(path).ok()?;
+    let mut reader = std::io::BufReader::new(file);
+    let exif = exif::Reader::new().read_from_container(&mut reader).ok()?;
+    let field = exif.get_field(exif::Tag::Orientation, exif::In::PRIMARY)?;
+    let value = field.value.get_uint(0)?;
+    image::metadata::Orientation::from_exif(value as u8)
+}
+
 pub fn generate_video_thumbnail(
     tools: &MediaTools,
     video_path: &Path,
@@ -88,6 +177,8 @@ pub fn generate_video_thumbnail(
     let attempts: [&[&str]; 3] = [
         &[
             "-y",
+            "-threads",
+            "2",
             "-ss",
             "00:00:00.000",
             "-i",
@@ -95,13 +186,15 @@ pub fn generate_video_thumbnail(
             "-frames:v",
             "1",
             "-vf",
-            "thumbnail,scale=320:-1:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease",
+            "scale=320:-1:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease",
             "-q:v",
             "4",
             &output_path,
         ],
         &[
             "-y",
+            "-threads",
+            "2",
             "-ss",
             "00:00:00.250",
             "-i",
@@ -109,19 +202,21 @@ pub fn generate_video_thumbnail(
             "-frames:v",
             "1",
             "-vf",
-            "thumbnail,scale=320:-1:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease",
+            "scale=320:-1:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease",
             "-q:v",
             "4",
             &output_path,
         ],
         &[
             "-y",
+            "-threads",
+            "2",
             "-i",
             path_str.as_ref(),
             "-frames:v",
             "1",
             "-vf",
-            "thumbnail,scale=320:-1:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease",
+            "scale=320:-1:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease",
             "-q:v",
             "4",
             &output_path,
@@ -165,6 +260,49 @@ fn hash_path(s: &str) -> String {
     format!("{:016x}", xxhash_rust::xxh3::xxh3_64(s.as_bytes()))
 }
 
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn scale_numerator_picks_smallest_sufficient() {
+        assert_eq!(scale_numerator(6000, THUMB_SIZE), 1);
+        assert_eq!(scale_numerator(640, THUMB_SIZE), 4);
+        assert_eq!(scale_numerator(320, THUMB_SIZE), 8);
+        assert_eq!(scale_numerator(100, THUMB_SIZE), 8);
+        // Cover mode reference: shortest side must reach 224 for CLIP.
+        assert_eq!(scale_numerator(1200, 224), 2);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn jpeg_fast_path_decodes_at_reduced_resolution() {
+        let dir = std::env::temp_dir().join("phokus-thumb-test");
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(&dir).unwrap();
+        let src_path = dir.join("large.jpg");
+        let img =
+            image::RgbImage::from_fn(1600, 1200, |x, _| image::Rgb([(x % 256) as u8, 64, 128]));
+        img.save(&src_path).unwrap();
+
+        // 1600 max dim -> numerator 2 -> 400x300 decode output
+        let decoded = decode_jpeg_scaled(&src_path, THUMB_SIZE, false)
+            .expect("fast path should handle plain JPEG");
+        assert_eq!((decoded.width(), decoded.height()), (400, 300));
+
+        // Cover mode: shortest side (1200) must stay >= 224 -> numerator 2
+        let covered = decode_jpeg_scaled(&src_path, 224, true)
+            .expect("fast path should handle plain JPEG");
+        assert_eq!((covered.width(), covered.height()), (400, 300));
+
+        let cache = dir.join("cache");
+        let _ = std::fs::remove_file(thumb_path(&cache, &src_path.to_string_lossy()));
+        let result = generate_image_thumbnail(&src_path, &cache).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(result.width, Some(1600));
+        assert_eq!(result.height, Some(1200));
+        let (thumb_w, thumb_h) = image::image_dimensions(&result.path).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!((thumb_w, thumb_h), (320, 240));
+    }
+}
+
 fn fit_dimensions(width: u32, height: u32, max_size: u32) -> (u32, u32) {
     if width <= max_size && height <= max_size {
         return (width.max(1), height.max(1));

src/components/BackgroundTasks.tsx

@@ -278,12 +278,16 @@ export function BackgroundTasks() {
     id: -1,
     name: "Duplicate Scan",
     stages: [{
-      label: "Hashing",
+      label: duplicateScanProgress?.phase === "checking"
+        ? "Checking"
+        : duplicateScanProgress?.phase === "confirming"
+          ? "Confirming"
+          : "Hashing",
       detail: duplicateScanProgress
-        ? `${duplicateScanProgress.scanned.toLocaleString()} / ${duplicateScanProgress.total.toLocaleString()}`
+        ? `${duplicateScanProgress.processed.toLocaleString()} / ${duplicateScanProgress.total.toLocaleString()}${duplicateScanProgress.skipped > 0 ? ` · ${duplicateScanProgress.skipped.toLocaleString()} skipped` : ""}`
         : "Starting…",
       progress: duplicateScanProgress && duplicateScanProgress.total > 0
-        ? (duplicateScanProgress.scanned / duplicateScanProgress.total) * 100
+        ? (duplicateScanProgress.processed / duplicateScanProgress.total) * 100
         : null,
       failed: false,
     }],
@@ -310,7 +314,8 @@ export function BackgroundTasks() {
   const embeddingStage = primary.stages.find((s) => s.label === "Embeddings");
   const taggingStage = primary.stages.find((s) => s.label === "Tags");
   const scanningStage = primary.stages.find((s) => s.label === "Scanning");
-  const barProgress = embeddingStage?.progress ?? taggingStage?.progress ?? scanningStage?.progress ?? null;
+  const duplicateStage = primary.id === -1 ? primary.stages[0] : null;
+  const barProgress = embeddingStage?.progress ?? taggingStage?.progress ?? scanningStage?.progress ?? duplicateStage?.progress ?? null;
 
   return (
     <div className="shrink-0 border-b border-white/[0.06]">
@@ -434,7 +439,8 @@ export function BackgroundTasks() {
             const taskEmbeddingStage = task.stages.find((s) => s.label === "Embeddings");
             const taskTaggingStage = task.stages.find((s) => s.label === "Tags");
             const taskScanningStage = task.stages.find((s) => s.label === "Scanning");
-            const taskBarProgress = taskEmbeddingStage?.progress ?? taskTaggingStage?.progress ?? taskScanningStage?.progress ?? null;
+            const taskDuplicateStage = task.id === -1 ? task.stages[0] : null;
+            const taskBarProgress = taskEmbeddingStage?.progress ?? taskTaggingStage?.progress ?? taskScanningStage?.progress ?? taskDuplicateStage?.progress ?? null;
             const taskHasFailed = (task.hasFailedEmbeddings || task.hasFailedTagging || task.hasFailedCaptions) && task.pendingMediaWork === 0;
 
             return (

src/components/DuplicateFinder.tsx

@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@ export function DuplicateFinder() {
   const duplicateScanning = useGalleryStore((state) => state.duplicateScanning);
   const duplicateScanProgress = useGalleryStore((state) => state.duplicateScanProgress);
   const duplicateScanError = useGalleryStore((state) => state.duplicateScanError);
+  const duplicateScanWarning = useGalleryStore((state) => state.duplicateScanWarning);
   const duplicateSelectedIds = useGalleryStore((state) => state.duplicateSelectedIds);
   const duplicateLastScanned = useGalleryStore((state) => state.duplicateLastScanned);
   const selectedFolderId = useGalleryStore((state) => state.selectedFolderId);
@@ -152,8 +153,15 @@ export function DuplicateFinder() {
 
   const progressPercent =
     duplicateScanProgress && duplicateScanProgress.total > 0
-      ? Math.round((duplicateScanProgress.scanned / duplicateScanProgress.total) * 100)
+      ? Math.round((duplicateScanProgress.processed / duplicateScanProgress.total) * 100)
       : 0;
+  const progressLabel = duplicateScanProgress
+    ? duplicateScanProgress.phase === "checking"
+      ? "Checking file sizes"
+      : duplicateScanProgress.phase === "hashing"
+        ? "Hashing duplicate candidates"
+        : "Confirming exact matches"
+    : null;
 
   return (
     <div className="flex min-h-0 flex-1 flex-col overflow-hidden bg-[#07080f]">
@@ -165,7 +173,7 @@ export function DuplicateFinder() {
             <p className="mt-0.5 text-[11px] text-white/30">
               {duplicateScanning
                 ? duplicateScanProgress
-                  ? `Scanning… ${duplicateScanProgress.scanned.toLocaleString()} / ${duplicateScanProgress.total.toLocaleString()}`
+                  ? `${progressLabel}… ${duplicateScanProgress.processed.toLocaleString()} / ${duplicateScanProgress.total.toLocaleString()}${duplicateScanProgress.skipped > 0 ? ` · ${duplicateScanProgress.skipped.toLocaleString()} skipped` : ""}`
                   : "Starting scan…"
                 : hasResults
                   ? `${duplicateGroups.length} group${duplicateGroups.length === 1 ? "" : "s"} · ${formatBytes(totalWasted)} reclaimable`
@@ -232,6 +240,9 @@ export function DuplicateFinder() {
         {duplicateScanError ? (
           <p className="mt-2 text-[11px] text-red-400/80">{duplicateScanError}</p>
         ) : null}
+        {duplicateScanWarning ? (
+          <p className="mt-2 text-[11px] text-amber-300/70">{duplicateScanWarning}</p>
+        ) : null}
         {deleteResult ? (
           <p className="mt-2 text-[11px] text-white/40">{deleteResult}</p>
         ) : null}
@@ -241,7 +252,7 @@ export function DuplicateFinder() {
       {duplicateScanning && !hasResults ? (
         <div className="flex flex-1 items-center justify-center gap-3 text-white/25">
           <div className="h-5 w-5 animate-spin rounded-full border-2 border-white/15 border-t-white/50" />
-          <span className="text-sm">Hashing files…</span>
+          <span className="text-sm">{progressLabel ? `${progressLabel}…` : "Preparing scan…"}</span>
         </div>
       ) : !hasScanned ? (
         <div className="flex flex-1 items-center justify-center px-8">

src/store.ts

@@ -170,6 +170,20 @@ export interface DuplicateGroup {
   images: ImageRecord[];
 }
 
+export interface DuplicateScanProgress {
+  phase: "checking" | "hashing" | "confirming";
+  processed: number;
+  total: number;
+  skipped: number;
+}
+
+interface DuplicateScanResult {
+  groups: DuplicateGroup[];
+  scanned_files: number;
+  candidate_files: number;
+  skipped_files: number;
+}
+
 export interface SimilarImagesPage {
   images: ImageRecord[];
   offset: number;
@@ -308,8 +322,9 @@ interface GalleryState {
 
   duplicateGroups: DuplicateGroup[];
   duplicateScanning: boolean;
-  duplicateScanProgress: { scanned: number; total: number } | null;
+  duplicateScanProgress: DuplicateScanProgress | null;
   duplicateScanError: string | null;
+  duplicateScanWarning: string | null;
   duplicateSelectedIds: Set<number>;
   duplicateLastScanned: number | null; // Unix timestamp (seconds)
   duplicateScanFolderId: number | null | undefined; // undefined = never scanned
@@ -663,6 +678,7 @@ export const useGalleryStore = create<GalleryState>((set, get) => ({
   duplicateScanning: false,
   duplicateScanProgress: null,
   duplicateScanError: null,
+  duplicateScanWarning: null,
   duplicateSelectedIds: new Set(),
   duplicateLastScanned: null,
   duplicateScanFolderId: undefined,
@@ -954,7 +970,13 @@ export const useGalleryStore = create<GalleryState>((set, get) => ({
     if (activeView === "duplicates") {
       const { selectedFolderId, duplicateScanFolderId } = get();
       if (duplicateScanFolderId !== selectedFolderId) {
-        set({ activeView, duplicateGroups: [], duplicateLastScanned: null, duplicateScanFolderId: undefined });
+        set({
+          activeView,
+          duplicateGroups: [],
+          duplicateLastScanned: null,
+          duplicateScanFolderId: undefined,
+          duplicateScanWarning: null,
+        });
         void get().loadDuplicateScanCache(selectedFolderId);
         return;
       }
@@ -1583,23 +1605,42 @@ export const useGalleryStore = create<GalleryState>((set, get) => ({
     interface CacheResult { groups: DuplicateGroup[]; scanned_at: number }
     const cached = await invoke<CacheResult | null>("load_duplicate_scan_cache", { folderId: folderId ?? null });
     if (cached) {
-      set({ duplicateGroups: cached.groups, duplicateLastScanned: cached.scanned_at, duplicateScanFolderId: folderId });
+      set({
+        duplicateGroups: cached.groups,
+        duplicateLastScanned: cached.scanned_at,
+        duplicateScanFolderId: folderId,
+        duplicateScanWarning: null,
+      });
     }
   },
 
   scanDuplicates: async (folderId = null) => {
     const { listen } = await import("@tauri-apps/api/event");
-    set({ duplicateScanning: true, duplicateGroups: [], duplicateScanProgress: null, duplicateScanError: null, duplicateSelectedIds: new Set() });
+    set({
-    const unlisten = await listen<[number, number]>("duplicate_scan_progress", (event) => {
+      duplicateScanning: true,
-      const [scanned, total] = event.payload;
+      duplicateGroups: [],
-      set({ duplicateScanProgress: { scanned, total } });
+      duplicateScanProgress: null,
+      duplicateScanError: null,
+      duplicateScanWarning: null,
+      duplicateSelectedIds: new Set(),
+    });
+    const unlisten = await listen<DuplicateScanProgress>("duplicate_scan_progress", (event) => {
+      set({ duplicateScanProgress: event.payload });
     });
     try {
-      const groups = await invoke<DuplicateGroup[]>("find_duplicates", { folderId: folderId ?? null });
+      const result = await invoke<DuplicateScanResult>("find_duplicates", { folderId: folderId ?? null });
-      set({ duplicateGroups: groups, duplicateLastScanned: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000), duplicateScanFolderId: folderId });
+      const warning = result.skipped_files > 0
+        ? `${result.skipped_files.toLocaleString()} file${result.skipped_files === 1 ? "" : "s"} could not be read and were skipped.`
+        : null;
+      set({
+        duplicateGroups: result.groups,
+        duplicateLastScanned: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000),
+        duplicateScanFolderId: folderId,
+        duplicateScanWarning: warning,
+      });
       void notifyTaskComplete(
         "Duplicate scan complete",
-        groups.length === 1 ? "Found 1 duplicate group." : `Found ${groups.length.toLocaleString()} duplicate groups.`,
+        `${result.groups.length === 1 ? "Found 1 duplicate group." : `Found ${result.groups.length.toLocaleString()} duplicate groups.`}${warning ? ` ${warning}` : ""}`,
       );
     } catch (e) {
       set({ duplicateScanError: String(e) });