diff --git a/App.tsx b/App.tsx
index 4fe3dc6..da0ca8d 100644
--- a/App.tsx
+++ b/App.tsx
@@ -144,37 +144,29 @@ const ThemedApp = () => {
   const shouldShowApp = isAppReady && hasCompletedOnboarding !== null;
   const initialRouteName = hasCompletedOnboarding ? 'MainTabs' : 'Onboarding';
   
-  const NavigationWithRef = () => {
-    const { navigationRef } = useAccount() as any;
-    return (
-      <NavigationContainer 
-        ref={navigationRef as any}
-        theme={customNavigationTheme}
-        linking={undefined}
-      >
-        <View style={[styles.container, { backgroundColor: currentTheme.colors.darkBackground }]}>
-          <StatusBar style="light" />
-          {!isAppReady && <SplashScreen onFinish={handleSplashComplete} />}
-          {shouldShowApp && <AppNavigator initialRouteName={initialRouteName} />}
-          {Platform.OS === 'ios' && (
-            <UpdatePopup
-              visible={showUpdatePopup}
-              updateInfo={updateInfo}
-              onUpdateNow={handleUpdateNow}
-              onUpdateLater={handleUpdateLater}
-              onDismiss={handleDismiss}
-              isInstalling={isInstalling}
-            />
-          )}
-        </View>
-      </NavigationContainer>
-    );
-  };
-
   return (
     <AccountProvider>
       <PaperProvider theme={customDarkTheme}>
-        <NavigationWithRef />
+        <NavigationContainer 
+          theme={customNavigationTheme}
+          linking={undefined}
+        >
+          <View style={[styles.container, { backgroundColor: currentTheme.colors.darkBackground }]}>
+            <StatusBar style="light" />
+            {!isAppReady && <SplashScreen onFinish={handleSplashComplete} />}
+            {shouldShowApp && <AppNavigator initialRouteName={initialRouteName} />}
+            {Platform.OS === 'ios' && (
+              <UpdatePopup
+                visible={showUpdatePopup}
+                updateInfo={updateInfo}
+                onUpdateNow={handleUpdateNow}
+                onUpdateLater={handleUpdateLater}
+                onDismiss={handleDismiss}
+                isInstalling={isInstalling}
+              />
+            )}
+          </View>
+        </NavigationContainer>
       </PaperProvider>
     </AccountProvider>
   );
diff --git a/src/components/home/CatalogSection.tsx b/src/components/home/CatalogSection.tsx
index 88560cf..f09d544 100644
--- a/src/components/home/CatalogSection.tsx
+++ b/src/components/home/CatalogSection.tsx
@@ -56,49 +56,32 @@ const POSTER_WIDTH = posterLayout.posterWidth;
 const CatalogSection = ({ catalog }: CatalogSectionProps) => {
   const navigation = useNavigation<NavigationProp<RootStackParamList>>();
   const { currentTheme } = useTheme();
-  // Simplified visibility tracking to reduce state updates and re-renders
-  const [visibleIndexSet, setVisibleIndexSet] = useState<Set<number>>(new Set([0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]));
-  const viewabilityConfig = useMemo(() => ({
-    itemVisiblePercentThreshold: 15,
-    minimumViewTime: 100,
-  }), []);
+  // Simplified visibility tracking - just load all images immediately for better performance
+  const [hasLoaded, setHasLoaded] = useState(false);
   
-  const onViewableItemsChanged = useRef(({ viewableItems }: { viewableItems: Array<{ index?: number | null }> }) => {
-    const next = new Set<number>();
-    viewableItems.forEach(v => { if (typeof v.index === 'number') next.add(v.index); });
-    // Only pre-warm immediate neighbors to reduce overhead
-    const neighbors: number[] = [];
-    next.forEach(i => {
-      neighbors.push(i - 1, i + 1);
-    });
-    neighbors.forEach(i => { if (i >= 0) next.add(i); });
-    setVisibleIndexSet(next);
-  });
-
-  const [minVisible, maxVisible] = useMemo(() => {
-    if (visibleIndexSet.size === 0) return [0, 7];
-    let min = Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY;
-    let max = 0;
-    visibleIndexSet.forEach(i => { if (i < min) min = i; if (i > max) max = i; });
-    return [min, max];
-  }, [visibleIndexSet]);
+  // Load all images after a short delay to prevent blocking initial render
+  React.useEffect(() => {
+    const timer = setTimeout(() => {
+      setHasLoaded(true);
+    }, 100);
+    return () => clearTimeout(timer);
+  }, []);
 
   const handleContentPress = useCallback((id: string, type: string) => {
     navigation.navigate('Metadata', { id, type, addonId: catalog.addon });
   }, [navigation, catalog.addon]);
 
   const renderContentItem = useCallback(({ item, index }: { item: StreamingContent, index: number }) => {
-    // Simplify visibility logic to reduce re-renders
-    const isVisible = visibleIndexSet.has(index) || index < 8;
+    // Load images immediately for better scrolling performance
     return (
       <ContentItem 
         item={item} 
         onPress={handleContentPress}
-        shouldLoadImage={isVisible}
-        deferMs={0}
+        shouldLoadImage={hasLoaded}
+        deferMs={index * 10} // Small stagger to prevent blocking
       />
     );
-  }, [handleContentPress, visibleIndexSet]);
+  }, [handleContentPress, hasLoaded]);
 
   // Memoize the ItemSeparatorComponent to prevent re-creation
   const ItemSeparator = useCallback(() => <View style={{ width: 8 }} />, []);
@@ -139,8 +122,6 @@ const CatalogSection = ({ catalog }: CatalogSectionProps) => {
         onEndReachedThreshold={0.7}
         onEndReached={() => {}}
         scrollEventThrottle={64}
-        viewabilityConfig={viewabilityConfig as any}
-        onViewableItemsChanged={onViewableItemsChanged.current as any}
         removeClippedSubviews={true}
       />
     </Animated.View>
diff --git a/src/components/home/ContentItem.tsx b/src/components/home/ContentItem.tsx
index 4ad0774..dc2e839 100644
--- a/src/components/home/ContentItem.tsx
+++ b/src/components/home/ContentItem.tsx
@@ -74,7 +74,6 @@ const ContentItem = ({ item, onPress, shouldLoadImage: shouldLoadImageProp, defe
   const [isWatched, setIsWatched] = useState(false);
   const [imageLoaded, setImageLoaded] = useState(false);
   const [imageError, setImageError] = useState(false);
-  const [shouldLoadImageState, setShouldLoadImageState] = useState(false);
   const [retryCount, setRetryCount] = useState(0);
   const { currentTheme } = useTheme();
   const { settings, isLoaded } = useSettings();
@@ -126,22 +125,6 @@ const ContentItem = ({ item, onPress, shouldLoadImage: shouldLoadImageProp, defe
     setMenuVisible(false);
   }, []);
 
-  // Lazy load images - only load when asked by parent (viewability) or after small defer
-  useEffect(() => {
-    if (shouldLoadImageProp !== undefined) {
-      if (shouldLoadImageProp) {
-        const t = setTimeout(() => setShouldLoadImageState(true), deferMs);
-        return () => clearTimeout(t);
-      } else {
-        setShouldLoadImageState(false);
-      }
-      return;
-    }
-    const timer = setTimeout(() => {
-      setShouldLoadImageState(true);
-    }, 80);
-    return () => clearTimeout(timer);
-  }, [shouldLoadImageProp, deferMs]);
 
   // Memoize optimized poster URL to prevent recalculating
   const optimizedPosterUrl = React.useMemo(() => {
@@ -213,16 +196,16 @@ const ContentItem = ({ item, onPress, shouldLoadImage: shouldLoadImageProp, defe
           delayLongPress={300}
         >
           <View ref={itemRef} style={[styles.contentItemContainer, { borderRadius: posterRadius }] }>
-            {/* Only load image when shouldLoadImage is true (lazy loading) */}
-            {(shouldLoadImageProp ?? shouldLoadImageState) && item.poster ? (
+            {/* Always load image for horizontal scrolling to prevent blank posters */}
+            {item.poster ? (
               <ExpoImage
                 source={{ uri: optimizedPosterUrl }}
                 style={[styles.poster, { backgroundColor: currentTheme.colors.elevation1, borderRadius: posterRadius }]}
                 contentFit="cover"
                 cachePolicy={Platform.OS === 'android' ? 'disk' : 'memory-disk'}
-                transition={140}
+                transition={100} // Faster transition for scrolling
                 allowDownscaling
-                priority="low" // Deprioritize decode for long lists
+                priority="normal" // Normal priority for horizontal scrolling
                 onLoad={() => {
                   setImageLoaded(true);
                   setImageError(false);
@@ -241,7 +224,7 @@ const ContentItem = ({ item, onPress, shouldLoadImage: shouldLoadImageProp, defe
                 recyclingKey={item.id} // Add recycling key for better performance
               />
             ) : (
-              // Show placeholder until lazy load triggers
+              // Show placeholder for items without posters
               <View style={[styles.poster, { backgroundColor: currentTheme.colors.elevation1, justifyContent: 'center', alignItems: 'center', borderRadius: posterRadius }] }>
                 <Text style={{ color: currentTheme.colors.textMuted, fontSize: 10, textAlign: 'center' }}>
                   {item.name.substring(0, 20)}...
@@ -349,9 +332,8 @@ const styles = StyleSheet.create({
 });
 
 export default React.memo(ContentItem, (prev, next) => {
-  // Re-render when identity changes or when visibility-driven loading flips
+  // Re-render when identity changes or poster changes
   if (prev.item.id !== next.item.id) return false;
   if (prev.item.poster !== next.item.poster) return false;
-  if ((prev.shouldLoadImage ?? false) !== (next.shouldLoadImage ?? false)) return false;
   return true;
 });
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/contexts/AccountContext.tsx b/src/contexts/AccountContext.tsx
index 0359d3e..f82fff4 100644
--- a/src/contexts/AccountContext.tsx
+++ b/src/contexts/AccountContext.tsx
@@ -48,21 +48,35 @@ export const AccountProvider: React.FC<{ children: React.ReactNode }> = ({ child
     });
 
     // Auth state listener
-    const { data: subscription } = supabase.auth.onAuthStateChange(async (_event, session) => {
-      setLoading(true);
+    const { data: subscription } = supabase.auth.onAuthStateChange(async (event, session) => {
+      // Only set loading for actual auth changes, not initial session
+      if (event !== 'INITIAL_SESSION') {
+        setLoading(true);
+      }
       try {
         const fullUser = session?.user ? await accountService.getCurrentUser() : null;
         setUser(fullUser);
+        // Immediately clear loading so UI can transition to MainTabs/Auth
+        setLoading(false);
         if (fullUser) {
-          await syncService.migrateLocalScopeToUser();
-          await syncService.subscribeRealtime();
-          // Pull first to hydrate local state, then push to avoid wiping server with empty local
-          await syncService.fullPull();
-          await syncService.fullPush();
+          // Run sync in background without blocking UI
+          setTimeout(async () => {
+            try {
+              await syncService.migrateLocalScopeToUser();
+              await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 0));
+              await syncService.subscribeRealtime();
+              await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 0));
+              await syncService.fullPull();
+              await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 0));
+              await syncService.fullPush();
+            } catch (error) {
+              console.warn('[AccountContext] Background sync failed:', error);
+            }
+          }, 0);
         } else {
           syncService.unsubscribeRealtime();
         }
-      } finally {
+      } catch (e) {
         setLoading(false);
       }
     });
diff --git a/src/screens/CatalogScreen.tsx b/src/screens/CatalogScreen.tsx
index b6f4771..95d7695 100644
--- a/src/screens/CatalogScreen.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/CatalogScreen.tsx
@@ -588,6 +588,20 @@ const CatalogScreen: React.FC<CatalogScreenProps> = ({ route, navigation }) => {
     return (availableWidth - totalSpacing) / effectiveNumColumns;
   }, [effectiveNumColumns, screenData.width, screenData.itemWidth]);
 
+  // Helper function to optimize poster URLs
+  const optimizePosterUrl = useCallback((poster: string | undefined) => {
+    if (!poster || poster.includes('placeholder')) {
+      return 'https://via.placeholder.com/300x450/333333/666666?text=No+Image';
+    }
+    
+    // For TMDB images, use smaller sizes for better performance
+    if (poster.includes('image.tmdb.org')) {
+      return poster.replace(/\/w\d+\//, '/w300/');
+    }
+    
+    return poster;
+  }, []);
+
   const renderItem = useCallback(({ item, index }: { item: Meta; index: number }) => {
     // Calculate if this is the last item in a row
     const isLastInRow = (index + 1) % effectiveNumColumns === 0;
@@ -607,12 +621,14 @@ const CatalogScreen: React.FC<CatalogScreenProps> = ({ route, navigation }) => {
         activeOpacity={0.7}
       >
         <Image
-          source={{ uri: item.poster || 'https://via.placeholder.com/300x450/333333/666666?text=No+Image' }}
+          source={{ uri: optimizePosterUrl(item.poster) }}
           style={styles.poster}
           contentFit="cover"
-          cachePolicy="disk"
-          transition={0}
+          cachePolicy={Platform.OS === 'android' ? 'memory-disk' : 'memory-disk'}
+          transition={100}
           allowDownscaling
+          priority="normal"
+          recyclingKey={`${item.id}-${item.type}`}
         />
 
         {type === 'movie' && nowPlayingMovies.has(item.id) && (
@@ -644,7 +660,7 @@ const CatalogScreen: React.FC<CatalogScreenProps> = ({ route, navigation }) => {
         )}
       </TouchableOpacity>
     );
-  }, [navigation, styles, effectiveNumColumns, effectiveItemWidth, type, nowPlayingMovies]);
+  }, [navigation, styles, effectiveNumColumns, effectiveItemWidth, type, nowPlayingMovies, colors.white, optimizePosterUrl]);
 
   const renderEmptyState = () => (
     <View style={styles.centered}>
@@ -754,6 +770,11 @@ const CatalogScreen: React.FC<CatalogScreenProps> = ({ route, navigation }) => {
           }
           contentContainerStyle={styles.list}
           showsVerticalScrollIndicator={false}
+          removeClippedSubviews={true}
+          maxToRenderPerBatch={effectiveNumColumns * 3}
+          windowSize={10}
+          initialNumToRender={effectiveNumColumns * 4}
+          getItemType={() => 'item'}
         />
       ) : renderEmptyState()}
     </SafeAreaView>