diff --git a/src/components/home/FeaturedContent.tsx b/src/components/home/FeaturedContent.tsx
index 0a64c32a..79953914 100644
--- a/src/components/home/FeaturedContent.tsx
+++ b/src/components/home/FeaturedContent.tsx
@@ -437,7 +437,7 @@ const FeaturedContent = ({ featuredContent, isSaved, handleSaveToLibrary, loadin
           easing: Easing.out(Easing.cubic)
         });
       } else {
-        // Initial load - start from 0
+        // Initial load - start from 0 but don't animate if we're just mounting
         posterOpacity.value = 0;
         posterScale.value = 1.1;
         overlayOpacity.value = 0;
@@ -449,8 +449,10 @@ const FeaturedContent = ({ featuredContent, isSaved, handleSaveToLibrary, loadin
 
     prevContentIdRef.current = contentId;
 
-    // Set poster URL for immediate display
-    if (posterUrl) setBannerUrl(posterUrl);
+    // Set poster URL for immediate display - only if it's different to prevent flash
+    if (posterUrl && posterUrl !== bannerUrl) {
+      setBannerUrl(posterUrl);
+    }
 
     // Load images with enhanced animations
     const loadImages = async () => {
@@ -486,6 +488,13 @@ const FeaturedContent = ({ featuredContent, isSaved, handleSaveToLibrary, loadin
             duration: 500,
             easing: Easing.out(Easing.cubic)
           }));
+        } else {
+          // If preload fails, still show the image but without animation
+          posterOpacity.value = 1;
+          posterScale.value = 1;
+          overlayOpacity.value = 0.15;
+          contentOpacity.value = 1;
+          buttonsOpacity.value = 1;
         }
       }
 
diff --git a/src/components/home/HeroCarousel.tsx b/src/components/home/HeroCarousel.tsx
index bad1dd44..1322d85b 100644
--- a/src/components/home/HeroCarousel.tsx
+++ b/src/components/home/HeroCarousel.tsx
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ const HeroCarousel: React.FC<HeroCarouselProps> = ({ items, loading = false }) =
     const animatedOpacity = useSharedValue(1);
     
     useEffect(() => {
-      // Start with opacity 0 and animate to 1
+      // Start with opacity 0 and animate to 1, but only if it's a new item
       animatedOpacity.value = 0;
       animatedOpacity.value = withTiming(1, { duration: 400 });
     }, [item.id]);
diff --git a/src/hooks/useFeaturedContent.ts b/src/hooks/useFeaturedContent.ts
index dfc9c9dd..ace04ec2 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useFeaturedContent.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useFeaturedContent.ts
@@ -412,14 +412,17 @@ export function useFeaturedContent() {
         const parsed = JSON.parse(json);
         if (cancelled) return;
         if (parsed?.featuredContent) {
-          persistentStore.featuredContent = parsed.featuredContent;
-          persistentStore.allFeaturedContent = Array.isArray(parsed.allFeaturedContent) ? parsed.allFeaturedContent : [];
-          persistentStore.lastFetchTime = typeof parsed.ts === 'number' ? parsed.ts : Date.now();
-          persistentStore.isFirstLoad = false;
-          setFeaturedContent(parsed.featuredContent);
-          setAllFeaturedContent(persistentStore.allFeaturedContent);
-          setLoading(false);
-          logger.info('[useFeaturedContent] hydrate:storage', { allCount: persistentStore.allFeaturedContent.length });
+          // Only hydrate if we don't already have content to prevent flash
+          if (!persistentStore.featuredContent) {
+            persistentStore.featuredContent = parsed.featuredContent;
+            persistentStore.allFeaturedContent = Array.isArray(parsed.allFeaturedContent) ? parsed.allFeaturedContent : [];
+            persistentStore.lastFetchTime = typeof parsed.ts === 'number' ? parsed.ts : Date.now();
+            persistentStore.isFirstLoad = false;
+            setFeaturedContent(parsed.featuredContent);
+            setAllFeaturedContent(persistentStore.allFeaturedContent);
+            setLoading(false);
+            logger.info('[useFeaturedContent] hydrate:storage', { allCount: persistentStore.allFeaturedContent.length });
+          }
         }
       } catch {}
     })();
@@ -445,8 +448,8 @@ export function useFeaturedContent() {
       tmdbLanguagePreference: settings.tmdbLanguagePreference
     };
     
-    // Force refresh if settings changed during app restart
-    if (settingsChanged) {
+    // Force refresh if settings changed during app restart, but only if we have content
+    if (settingsChanged && persistentStore.featuredContent) {
       logger.info('[useFeaturedContent] settings:changed', { source: settings.featuredContentSource, selectedCount: settings.selectedHeroCatalogs?.length || 0 });
       loadFeaturedContent(true);
     }
@@ -482,11 +485,13 @@ export function useFeaturedContent() {
         persistentStore.lastSettings.logoSourcePreference = nextLogoPref;
         persistentStore.lastSettings.tmdbLanguagePreference = nextTmdbLang;
 
-        // Clear current data to reflect change instantly in UI
-        setAllFeaturedContent([]);
-        setFeaturedContent(null);
-        persistentStore.allFeaturedContent = [];
-        persistentStore.featuredContent = null;
+        // Only clear current data if it's a significant change (source or catalogs)
+        if (sourceChanged || (nextSource === 'catalogs' && catalogsChanged)) {
+          setAllFeaturedContent([]);
+          setFeaturedContent(null);
+          persistentStore.allFeaturedContent = [];
+          persistentStore.featuredContent = null;
+        }
 
         // Force a fresh load
         loadFeaturedContent(true);