diff --git a/web/src/lib/actions/gridKeyNav.ts b/web/src/lib/actions/gridKeyNav.ts
index 09438c9..c31454b 100644
--- a/web/src/lib/actions/gridKeyNav.ts
+++ b/web/src/lib/actions/gridKeyNav.ts
@@ -34,8 +34,7 @@ import {
 	removedBulk,
 	failBulk,
 	setDetail,
-	markRemoved,
-	clearRemoved
+	markRemoved
 } from '$lib/stores/bulkAction.svelte';
 import { openPreview, toggleLeftSidebar, toggleRightSidebar, view } from '$lib/stores/view.svelte';
 
@@ -207,17 +206,19 @@ export function gridKeyNav(node: HTMLElement, params: GridKeyNavParams = {}) {
 		if (target) {
 			// Destructive removal: flash a red cross, then pull the tiles out of
 			// the grid immediately (markRemoved) rather than waiting on the slow
-			// server-reconcile refetch. clearRemoved once the refetch settles so
-			// the archived-filtered page replaces the optimistic hide.
+			// server-reconcile refetch. The grid reconciles `removedIds` against
+			// the cache and drops each id once the archived-filtered page has
+			// actually replaced it (see +page.svelte), so we don't clear here —
+			// clearing on this action's own settle raced other in-flight archives
+			// and flashed photos back in.
 			removedBulk(doneLabel, ids);
 			focusAfter(ids);
 			clearSelection();
 			await delay(500);
 			markRemoved(ids);
 			invalidatePhotos(ids);
-			const settled = queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['photos'] });
+			void queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['photos'] });
 			void queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['marks'] });
-			void settled.then(() => clearRemoved(ids));
 		} else {
 			doneBulk(doneLabel, ids);
 			focusAfter(ids);
@@ -267,9 +268,10 @@ export function gridKeyNav(node: HTMLElement, params: GridKeyNavParams = {}) {
 		await delay(500);
 		markRemoved(ids);
 		invalidatePhotos(ids);
-		const settled = queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['photos'] });
+		// removedIds is reconciled against the cache in +page.svelte; no
+		// settle-driven clear here (see toggleArchive note above).
+		void queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['photos'] });
 		void queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['marks'] });
-		void settled.then(() => clearRemoved(ids));
 		toast.success(`Deleted ${ids.length}`, { id: tid });
 	}
 
diff --git a/web/src/lib/components/layout/FolderTree.svelte b/web/src/lib/components/layout/FolderTree.svelte
index dae9b86..2bd2306 100644
--- a/web/src/lib/components/layout/FolderTree.svelte
+++ b/web/src/lib/components/layout/FolderTree.svelte
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@
 	import { filters } from '$lib/stores/filters.svelte';
 	import { browser } from '$app/environment';
 	import { untrack } from 'svelte';
-	import { FolderInput, FolderPlus, Pencil, Trash2 } from 'lucide-svelte';
+	import { ChevronRight, FolderInput, FolderPlus, Pencil, Trash2 } from 'lucide-svelte';
 	import Self from './FolderTree.svelte';
 	import KebabMenu, { Item, Separator } from './KebabMenu.svelte';
 
@@ -164,19 +164,21 @@
 			>
 				{#if hasChildren}
 					<button
-						class="flex h-[18px] w-4 items-center justify-center text-[10px]"
+						class="flex h-[18px] w-5 items-center justify-center rounded hover:text-foreground"
 						class:text-muted-foreground={!active}
 						onclick={() => toggle(node.path)}
 						title={open ? 'Collapse' : 'Expand'}
 						aria-label={open ? 'Collapse' : 'Expand'}
 					>
-						{open ? '▾' : '▸'}
+						<ChevronRight
+							class="h-4 w-4 transition-transform duration-150 {open ? 'rotate-90' : ''}"
+						/>
 					</button>
 				{:else}
 					<!-- Spacer keeps childless siblings aligned with their chevroned
 					     peers at every depth, so labels share a common left edge
 					     across the sidebar (folders, heaps, views, manage). -->
-					<span class="inline-block h-[18px] w-4" aria-hidden="true"></span>
+					<span class="inline-block h-[18px] w-5" aria-hidden="true"></span>
 				{/if}
 				<!--
 					Count badge lives INSIDE the button so the entire row (label
diff --git a/web/src/lib/components/layout/LeftSidebar.svelte b/web/src/lib/components/layout/LeftSidebar.svelte
index 7649558..c53eae3 100644
--- a/web/src/lib/components/layout/LeftSidebar.svelte
+++ b/web/src/lib/components/layout/LeftSidebar.svelte
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 		renameFolder,
 		renameHeap,
 		scanCrossFolderDuplicates,
+		startIndex,
 		triggerDownload,
 		type CrossFolderScanResult,
 		type PpAlbum,
@@ -44,12 +45,14 @@
 	} from '$lib/stores/filters.svelte';
 	import { isAuthenticated, session, userBasePath } from '$lib/stores/session.svelte';
 	import { openMove } from '$lib/stores/moveDialog.svelte';
+	import { indexer } from '$lib/stores/indexer.svelte';
 	import FolderTree, { buildTree } from './FolderTree.svelte';
 	import GeneralSettingsDialog from './GeneralSettingsDialog.svelte';
 	import KebabMenu, { Item, Separator } from './KebabMenu.svelte';
 	import SettingsDialog from './SettingsDialog.svelte';
 	import UsersDialog from './UsersDialog.svelte';
 	import {
+		ChevronRight,
 		Copy,
 		Download,
 		FolderInput,
@@ -59,6 +62,7 @@
 		LogOut,
 		Moon,
 		Pencil,
+		RefreshCw,
 		Settings,
 		Sun,
 		Trash2,
@@ -322,6 +326,22 @@
 			toast.error(err instanceof Error ? err.message : 'Delete failed')
 	}));
 
+	// One-click "reindex new files": kicks off a scan of the whole library
+	// with rescan off, so PhotoPrism only picks up files it hasn't indexed
+	// yet. Progress streams in via the WebSocket indexer pill, and the grid
+	// auto-refreshes as new tiles land (see indexer store). Guarded against
+	// double-trigger while a scan is already running.
+	async function onReindex() {
+		if (indexer.active) return;
+		const tid = toast.loading('Starting reindex…');
+		try {
+			await startIndex({ path: '/', rescan: false, cleanup: false });
+			toast.success('Reindex started — new files will appear as they’re found', { id: tid });
+		} catch (err) {
+			toast.error(err instanceof Error ? err.message : 'Reindex failed', { id: tid });
+		}
+	}
+
 	function onCreateFolder(parent: string | null = null) {
 		const name = prompt(parent ? `New subfolder under "${parent}"` : 'New folder name')?.trim();
 		if (!name) return;
@@ -484,6 +504,17 @@
 			<span class="flex-1 text-[10px] font-semibold uppercase tracking-[0.14em] text-muted-foreground">
 				Library
 			</span>
+			<button
+				class="rounded p-0.5 text-muted-foreground hover:bg-accent hover:text-foreground group-hover/header:opacity-100"
+				class:opacity-0={!indexer.active}
+				class:opacity-100={indexer.active}
+				onclick={onReindex}
+				disabled={indexer.active}
+				title="Reindex new files"
+				aria-label="Reindex new files"
+			>
+				<RefreshCw class="h-3 w-3 {indexer.active ? 'animate-spin' : ''}" />
+			</button>
 			<button
 				class="rounded p-0.5 text-muted-foreground opacity-0 hover:bg-accent hover:text-foreground group-hover/header:opacity-100"
 				onclick={() => (settingsOpen = true)}
@@ -518,18 +549,20 @@
 			{#if hasSubfolders}
 				<button
 					type="button"
-					class="flex h-[18px] w-4 items-center justify-center text-[10px]"
+					class="flex h-[18px] w-5 items-center justify-center rounded hover:text-foreground"
 					class:text-muted-foreground={!rootActive}
 					onclick={toggleRoot}
 					title={rootExpanded ? 'Collapse' : 'Expand'}
 					aria-label={rootExpanded ? 'Collapse root' : 'Expand root'}
 				>
-					{rootExpanded ? '▾' : '▸'}
+					<ChevronRight
+						class="h-4 w-4 transition-transform duration-150 {rootExpanded ? 'rotate-90' : ''}"
+					/>
 				</button>
 			{:else}
 				<!-- Spacer keeps chevronless rows aligned with their chevroned
 				     peers, so labels share a common left edge across the sidebar. -->
-				<span class="inline-block h-[18px] w-4" aria-hidden="true"></span>
+				<span class="inline-block h-[18px] w-5" aria-hidden="true"></span>
 			{/if}
 			<button
 				type="button"
@@ -698,9 +731,11 @@
 			aria-expanded={tagsExpanded}
 		>
 			<span
-				class="flex h-[18px] w-4 items-center justify-center text-[10px] text-muted-foreground"
+				class="flex h-[18px] w-5 items-center justify-center text-muted-foreground"
 			>
-				{tagsExpanded ? '▾' : '▸'}
+				<ChevronRight
+					class="h-4 w-4 transition-transform duration-150 {tagsExpanded ? 'rotate-90' : ''}"
+				/>
 			</span>
 			<span class="flex min-w-0 flex-1 items-center pl-1">
 				<span class="truncate">Tags</span>
@@ -766,9 +801,11 @@
 			aria-expanded={reviewExpanded}
 		>
 			<span
-				class="flex h-[18px] w-4 items-center justify-center text-[10px] text-muted-foreground"
+				class="flex h-[18px] w-5 items-center justify-center text-muted-foreground"
 			>
-				{reviewExpanded ? '▾' : '▸'}
+				<ChevronRight
+					class="h-4 w-4 transition-transform duration-150 {reviewExpanded ? 'rotate-90' : ''}"
+				/>
 			</span>
 			<span class="flex min-w-0 flex-1 items-center pl-1">
 				<span class="truncate">Review</span>
diff --git a/web/src/lib/components/timeline/BulkActionBar.svelte b/web/src/lib/components/timeline/BulkActionBar.svelte
index d758c2e..58f0602 100644
--- a/web/src/lib/components/timeline/BulkActionBar.svelte
+++ b/web/src/lib/components/timeline/BulkActionBar.svelte
@@ -33,8 +33,7 @@
 		doneBulk,
 		removedBulk,
 		failBulk,
-		markRemoved,
-		clearRemoved
+		markRemoved
 	} from '$lib/stores/bulkAction.svelte';
 	import { EmptyState, InlineLoader } from '$lib/components/feedback';
 	import { Layers } from 'lucide-svelte';
@@ -156,15 +155,14 @@
 			throw e;
 		} finally {
 			busy = false;
-			const settled = Promise.all([
-				qc.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['photos'] }),
-				qc.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['marks'] }),
-				qc.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['review-groups'] })
-			]);
-			// Clear the optimistic-removal overlay only once the refetch has
-			// landed, so tiles never flash back in before the fresh (archived-
-			// filtered) page replaces the old one.
-			if (bulk) void settled.then(() => clearRemoved(bulk.ids));
+			void qc.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['photos'] });
+			void qc.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['marks'] });
+			void qc.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['review-groups'] });
+			// The optimistic-removal overlay (removedIds) is reconciled against
+			// the cache in +page.svelte — each id drops once the fresh, archived-
+			// filtered page has actually replaced it. Clearing here off this
+			// action's own settle raced other in-flight removals and flashed
+			// tiles back in.
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/web/src/lib/stores/indexer.svelte.ts b/web/src/lib/stores/indexer.svelte.ts
index 4657941..b0ead25 100644
--- a/web/src/lib/stores/indexer.svelte.ts
+++ b/web/src/lib/stores/indexer.svelte.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { browser } from '$app/environment';
+import { queryClient } from '$lib/queryClient';
 import { isAuthenticated, session } from './session.svelte';
 
 /**
@@ -44,6 +45,27 @@ let lastFileUpdateAt = 0;
 let pendingFileTimer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null;
 let pendingFileName: string | undefined;
 
+// Newly indexed photos sort newest-first, so they land at the top of the
+// timeline. Refetch the photos query as files stream in so the user watches
+// new tiles arrive without a manual reload — but on a much coarser cadence
+// than the per-file pill throttle, since a timeline refetch is far heavier
+// than a label swap. Tracked independently of `lastFileUpdateAt` so the two
+// throttles don't interfere.
+const PHOTOS_REFETCH_THROTTLE_MS = 2000;
+let lastPhotosInvalidateAt = 0;
+
+function invalidatePhotosGrid(): void {
+	if (!browser || !isAuthenticated()) return;
+	void queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: ['photos'] });
+}
+
+function invalidatePhotosGridThrottled(): void {
+	const now = Date.now();
+	if (now - lastPhotosInvalidateAt < PHOTOS_REFETCH_THROTTLE_MS) return;
+	lastPhotosInvalidateAt = now;
+	invalidatePhotosGrid();
+}
+
 function url(): string {
 	const proto = location.protocol === 'https:' ? 'wss:' : 'ws:';
 	return `${proto}//${location.host}/api/v1/ws`;
@@ -134,6 +156,8 @@ function handleMessage(raw: string): void {
 			const fileName =
 				(data.fileName as string | undefined) ?? (data.baseName as string | undefined);
 			setActiveThrottled('Indexing', fileName);
+			// Stream newly indexed files into the grid as the scan runs.
+			invalidatePhotosGridThrottled();
 			return;
 		}
 		case 'index.updating': {
@@ -148,6 +172,8 @@ function handleMessage(raw: string): void {
 		case 'index.completed': {
 			const seconds = typeof data.seconds === 'number' ? data.seconds : undefined;
 			setCompleted(seconds !== undefined ? `Indexed in ${seconds}s` : 'Index complete');
+			// Final refetch so the grid lands on the fully-indexed result.
+			invalidatePhotosGrid();
 			return;
 		}
 		default:
diff --git a/web/src/routes/+page.svelte b/web/src/routes/+page.svelte
index b20b4d4..31c2370 100644
--- a/web/src/routes/+page.svelte
+++ b/web/src/routes/+page.svelte
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
     setFocused,
     setOrder,
   } from "$lib/stores/selection.svelte";
-  import { removedIds } from "$lib/stores/bulkAction.svelte";
+  import { removedIds, clearRemoved } from "$lib/stores/bulkAction.svelte";
   import {
     openPreview,
     setRightSidebarWidth,
@@ -283,6 +283,20 @@
   }
   const pageCount = $derived(photosQuery.data?.pages.length ?? 0);
 
+  // Reconcile the optimistic-removal overlay against the actual cache.
+  // `removedIds` hides a tile while its photo is still present in a loaded
+  // page; we drop an id from the set only once it has genuinely left the
+  // freshly-deduped cache (i.e. every page that held it has refetched
+  // without it). Driving the clear from the data — rather than from each
+  // archive action's invalidation promise — removes the race where settling
+  // one action's refetch un-hid a photo that other, still-stale pages
+  // continued to carry, making archived tiles flash back into the grid.
+  $effect(() => {
+    const present = new Set(dedupedAll.map((p) => p.UID));
+    const gone = [...removedIds].filter((id) => !present.has(id));
+    if (gone.length) clearRemoved(gone);
+  });
+
   $effect(() => {
     setOrder(photos.map((p) => p.UID));
   });