diff --git a/crates/ferese-config/locales/zh-CN.json b/crates/ferese-config/locales/zh-CN.json
index a4c63fc..27f0217 100644
--- a/crates/ferese-config/locales/zh-CN.json
+++ b/crates/ferese-config/locales/zh-CN.json
@@ -1038,5 +1038,9 @@
   "Save your work before continuing.": "请先保存工作。",
   "{action} anyway": "仍然{action}",
   "Power off": "关机",
-  "Default output": "默认输出"
+  "Default output": "默认输出",
+  "Loading configuration options…": "正在载入配置选项…",
+  "Retry": "重试",
+  "Dark only": "仅深色",
+  "Light only": "仅浅色"
 }
diff --git a/crates/ferese-theme/src/gallery.rs b/crates/ferese-theme/src/gallery.rs
index cd9504b..f6ec291 100644
--- a/crates/ferese-theme/src/gallery.rs
+++ b/crates/ferese-theme/src/gallery.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ use cosmic::{Element, Renderer, Theme};
 use ferese_theme_model::Appearance;
 use ferese_theme_model::families::{Family, Palette};
 use iced_accessibility::{A11yTree, accesskit};
+mod preview;
 
 pub struct TileOptions {
     pub variant: Option<Appearance>,
@@ -56,9 +57,9 @@ pub fn tile<M: Clone + 'static>(
         caption = caption.push(
             crate::text(
                 if family.light.is_none() {
-                    "Dark only"
+                    ferese_config::tr!("Dark only")
                 } else {
-                    "Light only"
+                    ferese_config::tr!("Light only")
                 },
                 font,
             )
@@ -66,23 +67,14 @@ pub fn tile<M: Clone + 'static>(
             .class(cosmic::theme::Text::Color(label_color)),
         );
     }
-    let family_preview = family.clone();
     let caption: Element<'static, M> = container(caption)
         .padding(8)
         .width(Length::Fill)
         .height(Length::Fill)
         .align_y(cosmic::iced::alignment::Vertical::Bottom)
         .into();
-    let image = cosmic::widget::responsive(move |size| {
-        let height = size.width * 126. / 200.;
-        // Match the button's logical radius when scaling the cached SVG artwork.
-        let radius = 10. * 200. / size.width.max(1.);
-        preview_with_radius(&family_preview, variant, active, selected, radius)
-            .height(Length::Fixed(height))
-            .into()
-    })
-    .height(Length::Shrink);
-    let content = cosmic::iced::widget::stack([image.into(), caption]);
+    let image = preview::view(family, variant, active, selected);
+    let content = cosmic::iced::widget::stack([image, caption]);
     let tile = button::custom(content)
         .id(id.clone())
         .name(format!("{}, {}", family.name, family.availability()))
diff --git a/crates/ferese-theme/src/gallery/preview.rs b/crates/ferese-theme/src/gallery/preview.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..16dedea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/ferese-theme/src/gallery/preview.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,334 @@
+//! Draw the small desktop directly. Resizing and selection never create a new
+//! SVG, parse a document, or rasterize a family-specific texture on the UI thread.
+use cosmic::iced::advanced::{Layout, Widget, layout, mouse, renderer, svg, widget::Tree};
+use cosmic::iced::{Border, Color, Length, Rectangle, Size};
+use cosmic::{Element, Renderer, Theme};
+use ferese_theme_model::{
+    Appearance,
+    families::{Family, Palette},
+};
+
+const CHECK_SVG: &str = concat!(
+    r#"<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 12 12">"#,
+    r#"<path d="M1 6l3 3 6-6" fill="none" stroke="white" stroke-width="2" "#,
+    r#"stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round"/></svg>"#,
+);
+
+#[derive(Clone, Copy)]
+struct Colors {
+    background: Color,
+    bar: Color,
+    muted: Color,
+    surface: Color,
+    text: Color,
+    accent: Color,
+}
+impl From<&Palette> for Colors {
+    fn from(p: &Palette) -> Self {
+        let color = |s: &str| crate::parse_color(s).expect("validated theme preview color");
+        Self {
+            background: color(&p.background),
+            bar: color(&p.bar),
+            muted: color(&p.muted),
+            surface: color(&p.surface),
+            text: color(&p.text),
+            accent: color(&p.accent),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+pub(super) fn view<M: 'static>(
+    family: &Family,
+    variant: Option<Appearance>,
+    active: Option<Appearance>,
+    selected: bool,
+) -> Element<'static, M> {
+    Element::new(Preview {
+        light: family.light.as_ref().map(Colors::from),
+        dark: family.dark.as_ref().map(Colors::from),
+        variant,
+        active,
+        selected,
+    })
+}
+
+struct Preview {
+    light: Option<Colors>,
+    dark: Option<Colors>,
+    variant: Option<Appearance>,
+    active: Option<Appearance>,
+    selected: bool,
+}
+
+fn rect(renderer: &mut Renderer, bounds: Rectangle, color: Color, radius: f32) {
+    use renderer::Renderer as _;
+    renderer.fill_quad(
+        renderer::Quad {
+            bounds,
+            border: Border {
+                radius: radius.into(),
+                ..Default::default()
+            },
+            ..Default::default()
+        },
+        color,
+    );
+}
+
+impl Preview {
+    fn desktop(
+        &self,
+        renderer: &mut Renderer,
+        bounds: Rectangle,
+        colors: Option<Colors>,
+        appearance: Appearance,
+    ) {
+        let scale = bounds.width / 200.;
+        let at = |x, y, width, height| Rectangle {
+            x: bounds.x + x * scale,
+            y: bounds.y + y * scale,
+            width: width * scale,
+            height: height * scale,
+        };
+        let background = colors.map_or(Color::from_rgb8(217, 221, 226), |p| p.background);
+        use renderer::Renderer as _;
+        renderer.fill_quad(
+            renderer::Quad {
+                bounds,
+                border: Border {
+                    radius: 10.into(),
+                    shape: cosmic::iced::border::Shape::Continuous,
+                    ..Default::default()
+                },
+                ..Default::default()
+            },
+            background,
+        );
+        let Some(p) = colors else {
+            // The surrounding caption identifies the unavailable appearance.
+            // Inset the pattern so the outer corners remain transparent.
+            for y in (8..120).step_by(8) {
+                for x in (8..192).step_by(8) {
+                    if (x + y) % 16 == 0 {
+                        rect(
+                            renderer,
+                            at(x as f32, y as f32, 8., 8.),
+                            Color::from_rgb8(196, 201, 209),
+                            0.,
+                        );
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            return;
+        };
+        renderer.fill_quad(
+            renderer::Quad {
+                bounds: at(8., 8., 184., 14.),
+                border: Border {
+                    radius: (4. * scale).into(),
+                    width: scale,
+                    color: p.muted.scale_alpha(0.18),
+                    ..Default::default()
+                },
+                ..Default::default()
+            },
+            p.bar,
+        );
+        for (x, y, width) in [(15., 15., 10.), (170., 15., 15.)] {
+            rect(renderer, at(x, y - 1., width, 2.), p.muted, scale);
+        }
+        rect(renderer, at(24., 35., 152., 77.), p.surface, 7. * scale);
+        rect(
+            renderer,
+            at(24., 50.5, 152., 1.),
+            p.muted.scale_alpha(0.22),
+            0.,
+        );
+        for (x, y, width) in [
+            (35., 44., 34.),
+            (36., 63., 105.),
+            (36., 73., 90.),
+            (36., 83., 115.),
+        ] {
+            rect(renderer, at(x, y - 1., width, 2.), p.text, scale);
+        }
+        rect(renderer, at(76., 92., 48., 10.), p.accent, 3. * scale);
+        if self.active == Some(appearance) {
+            let (x, width) = if self.variant.is_some() {
+                (8., 184.)
+            } else if appearance == Appearance::Light {
+                (8., 84.)
+            } else {
+                (108., 84.)
+            };
+            rect(renderer, at(x, 120., width, 3.), p.accent, 1.5 * scale);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl<M> Widget<M, Theme, Renderer> for Preview {
+    fn size(&self) -> Size<Length> {
+        Size::new(Length::Fill, Length::Shrink)
+    }
+    fn layout(&mut self, _: &mut Tree, _: &Renderer, limits: &layout::Limits) -> layout::Node {
+        let width = limits.max().width;
+        let width = if width.is_finite() { width } else { 200. };
+        layout::Node::new(limits.resolve(
+            Length::Fill,
+            Length::Shrink,
+            Size::new(width, width * 126. / 200.),
+        ))
+    }
+    fn draw(
+        &self,
+        _: &Tree,
+        renderer: &mut Renderer,
+        _: &Theme,
+        _: &renderer::Style,
+        layout: Layout<'_>,
+        _: mouse::Cursor,
+        viewport: &Rectangle,
+    ) {
+        use renderer::Renderer as _;
+        let bounds = layout.bounds();
+        let Some(clip) = bounds.intersection(viewport) else {
+            return;
+        };
+        for (appearance, colors) in [
+            (Appearance::Light, self.light),
+            (Appearance::Dark, self.dark),
+        ] {
+            if self.variant.is_some_and(|variant| variant != appearance) {
+                continue;
+            }
+            let half = if self.variant.is_some() {
+                bounds
+            } else {
+                Rectangle {
+                    x: bounds.x
+                        + if appearance == Appearance::Dark {
+                            bounds.width / 2.
+                        } else {
+                            0.
+                        },
+                    width: bounds.width / 2.,
+                    ..bounds
+                }
+            };
+            if let Some(clip) = half.intersection(&clip) {
+                renderer.with_layer(clip, |renderer| {
+                    self.desktop(renderer, bounds, colors, appearance)
+                });
+            }
+        }
+        if self.selected {
+            // A new layer preserves painter order after the two clipped halves;
+            // root-layer quads would otherwise be batched behind those layers.
+            renderer.with_layer(clip, |renderer| {
+                let p = match self.active.unwrap_or(Appearance::Dark) {
+                    Appearance::Light => self.light,
+                    Appearance::Dark => self.dark,
+                }
+                .or(self.dark)
+                .or(self.light)
+                .expect("theme family has an appearance");
+                let scale = bounds.width / 200.;
+                let badge = Rectangle {
+                    x: bounds.x + 173. * scale,
+                    y: bounds.y + 6. * scale,
+                    width: 20. * scale,
+                    height: 20. * scale,
+                };
+                rect(renderer, badge, p.accent, 10. * scale);
+                static CHECK: std::sync::OnceLock<svg::Handle> = std::sync::OnceLock::new();
+                let check = CHECK.get_or_init(|| svg::Handle::from_memory(CHECK_SVG.as_bytes()));
+                let fg = crate::foreground(p.accent, Color::WHITE);
+                use svg::Renderer as _;
+                renderer.draw_svg(
+                    svg::Svg::new(check.clone()).color(fg),
+                    Rectangle {
+                        x: badge.x + 4. * scale,
+                        y: badge.y + 4. * scale,
+                        width: 12. * scale,
+                        height: 12. * scale,
+                    },
+                    clip,
+                );
+            });
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+    use cosmic::iced::advanced::renderer::{Headless, Renderer as _};
+    use cosmic::iced::{Font, Pixels};
+
+    #[test]
+    fn paired_native_preview_preserves_palettes_and_transparent_corners() {
+        let runtime = tokio::runtime::Builder::new_current_thread()
+            .build()
+            .unwrap();
+        let mut renderer = runtime
+            .block_on(Renderer::new(
+                Font::default(),
+                Pixels(14.),
+                Some("tiny-skia"),
+            ))
+            .unwrap();
+        let family = ferese_config::families::builtins().remove(1);
+        for variant in [None, Some(Appearance::Light), Some(Appearance::Dark)] {
+            let mut view: Element<'_, ()> = view(&family, variant, Some(Appearance::Dark), true);
+            let mut tree = Tree::new(&view);
+            let node = view.as_widget_mut().layout(
+                &mut tree,
+                &renderer,
+                &layout::Limits::new(Size::ZERO, Size::new(400., 252.)),
+            );
+            let bounds = node.bounds();
+            renderer.reset(bounds);
+            view.as_widget().draw(
+                &tree,
+                &mut renderer,
+                &Theme::default(),
+                &renderer::Style {
+                    text_color: Color::WHITE,
+                    icon_color: Color::WHITE,
+                    scale_factor: 1.,
+                },
+                Layout::new(&node),
+                mouse::Cursor::Unavailable,
+                &bounds,
+            );
+            let pixels =
+                Headless::screenshot(&mut renderer, Size::new(400, 252), 1., Color::TRANSPARENT);
+            assert_eq!(pixels[3], 0, "outer corner must remain transparent");
+            let accent = crate::parse_color(&family.dark.as_ref().unwrap().accent).unwrap();
+            let badge = &pixels[(32 * 400 + 350) * 4..(32 * 400 + 350) * 4 + 4];
+            for (actual, expected) in badge.iter().zip([accent.r, accent.g, accent.b, accent.a]) {
+                assert!(
+                    (f32::from(*actual) - expected * 255.).abs() < 2.,
+                    "selected badge must remain above both preview halves: {variant:?} {badge:?}"
+                );
+            }
+            for (x, appearance) in [
+                (20, variant.unwrap_or(Appearance::Light)),
+                (380, variant.unwrap_or(Appearance::Dark)),
+            ] {
+                let expected =
+                    crate::parse_color(&family.palette(appearance).unwrap().background).unwrap();
+                let actual = &pixels[(60 * 400 + x) * 4..(60 * 400 + x) * 4 + 4];
+                for (actual, expected) in actual
+                    .iter()
+                    .zip([expected.r, expected.g, expected.b, expected.a])
+                {
+                    assert!(
+                        (f32::from(*actual) - expected * 255.).abs() < 2.,
+                        "{variant:?}: {actual:?} {expected:?}"
+                    );
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/docs/development/visual-direction.md b/docs/development/visual-direction.md
index 833b0ad..5a756b0 100644
--- a/docs/development/visual-direction.md
+++ b/docs/development/visual-direction.md
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 # Ferese Graphite 视觉方案
 
-- 文档版本：1.3
+- 文档版本：1.4
 - 整理日期：2026-10-28
-- 视觉基线：`1e34ec4`、`9908dde`；本版补充导航滚动、本地化、时间控制面板、活动窗口与可编辑祝日函数。
+- 视觉基线：`1e34ec4`、`9908dde`、`3264659`；本版补充主题预览原生绘制与配置选项的后台载入。
 - 适用范围：Ferese 设置、Shell 共享控件、锁屏与原生 Rime 候选界面的主题协同。
 
 ## 1. 视觉目标
@@ -240,6 +240,13 @@ Appearance 作为全部设置的入口，内容按实际功能分组：
 
 来源：[内阁府祝日资料](https://www8.cao.go.jp/chosei/shukujitsu/gaiyou.html)、[国立天文台春秋分日说明](https://www.nao.ac.jp/faq/a0301.html)、[Rhai 运算限制](https://rhai.rs/book/safety/max-operations.html)。官方快照作为回归校验资料，日历运行时使用可编辑函数。
 
+### 7.7 内容载入与绘制
+
+- 主题预览由原生矩形、圆角和线条绘制，保留浅深配对、当前外观指示和选中标记；布局阶段不再生成与窗口尺寸相关的 SVG。主题与快捷键列表继续按可见行挂载。
+- “全部配置”在首次进入或搜索时异步查询 schema，同一请求在完成前只执行一次。成功结果以不可变快照缓存；失败可重试；查询返回时使用最新配置并保留搜索内容。
+- 显示器、连接、托盘应用与壁纸继续使用各自的后台读取或缩略图任务。新增页面应先显示内容结构和载入状态，将耗时采集放到后台，避免在视图构建、布局或绘制回调里执行子进程和文件解析。
+- 设置控件保留稳定 ID，使异步数据刷新、可见行挂载和页面切换保持键盘焦点与未提交输入。
+
 ## 8. 动效原则
 
 保留现有动画与“减少动画”配置。动效服务于状态变化与空间关系，悬停和按下反馈保持简洁。
@@ -292,10 +299,10 @@ status {
 
 | 验证项 | 结果 |
 | --- | --- |
-| 设置测试 | 120 项通过，9 项可选检查默认跳过 |
+| 设置测试 | 122 项通过，9 项可选检查默认跳过 |
 | 滚动渲染专项 | 额外运行 1 项通过，覆盖 WGPU / tiny-skia 与两种主题配置 |
 | 配置测试 | 51 项单元测试及 11 项集成测试通过 |
-| 共享主题 / 面板 / Shell | 33 / 69 / 253 项通过 |
+| 共享主题 / 面板 / Shell | 34 / 69 / 253 项通过 |
 | 布局检查 | 覆盖 480–1800 px 窗口宽度 |
 | 原生预览 | 已检查深浅外观及 631 px 窄窗口 |
 | 导航居中 | 全部 16 项；包含独立滚动条通道检查 |
@@ -306,9 +313,25 @@ status {
 | 活动窗口区 | 位于右侧托盘左边；三个窗口点击、相邻图标切换、跨工作区激活、关闭移除与重新打开均通过 |
 | 祝日函数 | 原生编辑并应用函数可改变日历；无限循环被拒绝且保存配置不变，恢复内置函数后配置校验通过 |
 | 通知标记 | 独立预览中创建并移除测试通知，检查白色与透明状态，点击区域宽度保持不变 |
+| 原生主题预览 | 检查配对颜色、透明外角和选中标记图层顺序；保留比例与键盘导航 |
+| 后台 schema | 将查询人为延迟 2 秒，窗口提前显示载入状态；结果完成后显示选项，查询只执行一次；覆盖失败重试与最新配置接续 |
 
 滚动渲染专项、边缘双击与窄窗口抽屉的记录沿用前版 `9908dde`。本版原生检查使用独立嵌套预览，保留原预览中的应用；没有重新执行关机、挂起或切换实际桌面会话。主机显示器、默认应用关联和 GNOME 输入源配置与开始时一致。
 
+### 性能采样
+
+2026-10-28 在本机同一隔离嵌套会话对比 `3264659` 与本次修订，均为调试构建。原生设置窗口为 1272 × 760 逻辑像素、2 倍缩放；每个程序首次进入主题页一次，再切换三次。原生指标为页面切换至首个重绘回调的时间，不等同于显示器扫描呈现延迟。
+
+| 指标 | 原实现 | 优化后 |
+| --- | ---: | ---: |
+| 原生主题页首次重绘 | 243.3 ms | 15.1 ms |
+| 原生主题页后续切换中位数 | 14.0 ms | 10.8 ms |
+| WGPU 主题滚动绘制与读回 P95 | 163.9 ms | 3.75 ms |
+
+滚动采样使用相同的 1000 × 780 逻辑视口、1.25 倍缩放及 48 帧往返滚动，跳过最初 8 帧。软件回退的主题绘制 P95 仍约 304 ms，本轮未进一步调整其共有绘制成本。把 schema 查询人为延迟 2 秒时，约 765 ms 已显示载入界面，随后补齐选项；请求仅执行一次。
+
+性能、原生界面与后台载入记录位于 `.artifacts/settings-performance-20261028/`，与此前验收资料分开保存。另保留主题键盘选取、配置写入与恢复检查，以及配对颜色、透明外角和选中标记的像素回归。
+
 ### 实现位置
 
 | 内容 | 文件 |
@@ -321,6 +344,8 @@ status {
 | 行内说明与标题字重 | `shell/ferese-settings/src/form_controls.rs` |
 | 日历设置与代码编辑器 | `shell/ferese-settings/src/calendar_controls.rs` |
 | 日历日期和星期显示 | `crates/ferese-theme/src/calendar.rs` |
+| 原生主题预览绘制 | `crates/ferese-theme/src/gallery/preview.rs` |
+| 按需 schema 载入与缓存 | `shell/ferese-settings/src/all_options.rs` |
 | 祝日函数执行与校验 | `crates/ferese-config/src/calendar_rules.rs` |
 | 时间弹层与控制中心 | `shell/ferese-shell/src/status_ui/` |
 | 活动窗口与焦点切换 | `shell/ferese-shell/src/window_tray.rs` |
diff --git a/shell/ferese-settings/src/all_options.rs b/shell/ferese-settings/src/all_options.rs
index f5f8c8e..0d1ce59 100644
--- a/shell/ferese-settings/src/all_options.rs
+++ b/shell/ferese-settings/src/all_options.rs
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ use super::{
 use ferese_config::locale::{text as t, translate as tr};
 use serde_json::{Value, json};
 use std::collections::{HashMap, HashSet};
+use std::sync::Arc;
 
 pub const GROUPS: &[(&str, &[&str])] = &[
     ("General", &["ui", "status"]),
@@ -64,7 +65,9 @@ pub enum Input {
 pub struct State {
     pub filter: String,
     pub applying: bool,
-    schema: Value,
+    schema: Arc<Value>,
+    ready: bool,
+    loading: bool,
     baseline: Value,
     value: Value,
     base_source: String,
@@ -74,31 +77,44 @@ pub struct State {
     error: Option<String>,
 }
 impl State {
-    pub fn load(snapshot: &Snapshot) -> Self {
-        static CATALOG: std::sync::OnceLock<Result<Value, String>> = std::sync::OnceLock::new();
-        let result = CATALOG.get_or_init(load_schema).clone();
-        let (schema, error) = match result {
-            Ok(v) => (v, None),
-            Err(e) => (
-                Value::Null,
-                Some(format!("{}: {e}", t("Cannot load configuration schema"))),
-            ),
-        };
+    pub fn pending(snapshot: &Snapshot) -> Self {
         let mut state = Self {
             filter: String::new(),
             applying: false,
-            schema,
+            schema: Arc::new(Value::Null),
+            ready: false,
+            loading: false,
             baseline: Value::Null,
             value: Value::Null,
             base_source: String::new(),
             expanded: HashSet::new(),
             text: HashMap::new(),
             keys: HashMap::new(),
-            error,
+            error: None,
         };
         state.reset(snapshot);
         state
     }
+
+    fn loaded(&mut self, result: Result<Arc<Value>, String>, snapshot: &Snapshot) {
+        self.loading = false;
+        match result {
+            Ok(schema) => {
+                self.schema = schema;
+                self.ready = true;
+                self.error = None;
+                // Use the current document, which may have changed while the
+                // schema worker was running. Keep the user's search filter.
+                self.reset(snapshot);
+            }
+            Err(error) => {
+                self.error = Some(format!(
+                    "{}: {error}",
+                    t("Cannot load configuration schema")
+                ))
+            }
+        }
+    }
     pub fn reset(&mut self, snapshot: &Snapshot) {
         self.applying = false;
         self.baseline = self.schema["defaults"].clone();
@@ -337,6 +353,17 @@ fn load_schema() -> Result<Value, String> {
         std::thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(10));
     }
 }
+
+fn catalog() -> Result<Arc<Value>, String> {
+    static CATALOG: std::sync::OnceLock<Arc<Value>> = std::sync::OnceLock::new();
+    if let Some(catalog) = CATALOG.get() {
+        return Ok(catalog.clone());
+    }
+    let schema = Arc::new(load_schema()?);
+    // Cache successful results only, so a missing backend can be retried.
+    let _ = CATALOG.set(schema.clone());
+    Ok(schema)
+}
 fn overlay(base: &mut Value, addition: &Value) {
     if let (Some(a), Some(b)) = (base.as_object_mut(), addition.as_object()) {
         for (k, v) in b {
@@ -410,6 +437,25 @@ fn label(k: &str) -> String {
 }
 
 impl App {
+    pub(super) fn load_options(&mut self) -> Task<Message> {
+        if self.options.ready || self.options.loading {
+            return Task::none();
+        }
+        self.options.loading = true;
+        self.options.error = None;
+        cosmic::task::future(async {
+            Message::OptionsLoaded(
+                tokio::task::spawn_blocking(catalog)
+                    .await
+                    .unwrap_or_else(|error| Err(error.to_string())),
+            )
+        })
+    }
+
+    pub(super) fn options_loaded(&mut self, result: Result<Arc<Value>, String>) {
+        self.options.loaded(result, &self.current);
+    }
+
     pub fn options_input(&mut self, input: Input) -> Task<Message> {
         let state = &mut self.options;
         match input {
@@ -581,6 +627,25 @@ impl App {
         .into()
     }
     pub fn all_options_view(&self) -> Element<'_, Message> {
+        if !self.options.ready {
+            let mut content = column([]).spacing(10).push(
+                self.note(
+                    self.options
+                        .error
+                        .as_deref()
+                        .unwrap_or(t("Loading configuration options…")),
+                ),
+            );
+            if !self.options.loading {
+                content = content.push(self.settings_button(
+                    t("Retry"),
+                    "M4 10a8 8 0 1 1 0 4 M4 4v6h6",
+                    Some(Message::LoadOptions),
+                    false,
+                ));
+            }
+            return content.into();
+        }
         let mut out = column([]).spacing(10).push(self.note(t(
             "Advanced changes are saved together. Press Enter to confirm text fields, then Apply.",
         )));
@@ -1033,11 +1098,34 @@ fn variant_label(s: &Value) -> String {
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
+    #[test]
+    fn delayed_schema_uses_latest_configuration_and_preserves_search() {
+        let original = Snapshot::parse("input { repeat-rate 25; }".into()).unwrap();
+        let latest = Snapshot::parse("input { repeat-rate 80; }".into()).unwrap();
+        let mut pending = State::pending(&original);
+        assert!(!pending.ready);
+        pending.filter = "keyboard".into();
+        pending.loading = true;
+        pending.loaded(
+            Ok(Arc::new(json!({"defaults":{"input":{"repeat_rate":30}}}))),
+            &latest,
+        );
+        assert_eq!(pending.value["input"]["repeat_rate"], 80);
+        assert_eq!(pending.filter, "keyboard");
+        assert!(pending.ready);
+        assert!(!pending.loading);
+        assert!(!pending.dirty());
+    }
+
     fn state(snapshot: &Snapshot) -> State {
         let mut state = State {
             filter: String::new(),
             applying: false,
-            schema: json!({"defaults":{"ui":{"language":"auto"},"input":{"repeat_rate":25,"xkb_layout":"us"},"commands":{}}}),
+            schema: Arc::new(
+                json!({"defaults":{"ui":{"language":"auto"},"input":{"repeat_rate":25,"xkb_layout":"us"},"commands":{}}}),
+            ),
+            ready: true,
+            loading: false,
             baseline: Value::Null,
             value: Value::Null,
             base_source: String::new(),
diff --git a/shell/ferese-settings/src/main.rs b/shell/ferese-settings/src/main.rs
index b016ff0..f5851f2 100644
--- a/shell/ferese-settings/src/main.rs
+++ b/shell/ferese-settings/src/main.rs
@@ -114,6 +114,8 @@ enum InitialPage {
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 enum Message {
     Options(all_options::Input),
+    LoadOptions,
+    OptionsLoaded(Result<std::sync::Arc<serde_json::Value>, String>),
     TrayApps(Vec<tray_controls::Application>),
     RefreshTrayApps,
     ReadRenderScale(cosmic::iced::window::Id),
@@ -289,7 +291,7 @@ impl cosmic::Application for App {
         let native_palette = visuals::Palette::from_resolved(&resolved.presented);
         let family_sections = theme_controls::FamilySections::new(&resolved.families, &current);
         ferese_config::locale::set(ferese_config::locale::from_document(&current.doc));
-        let options = all_options::State::load(&current);
+        let options = all_options::State::pending(&current);
         let mut app = Self {
             tray_apps: Vec::new(),
             options,
@@ -380,7 +382,15 @@ impl cosmic::Application for App {
         } else {
             Task::none()
         };
-        (app, Task::batch([task, connections, thumbnails, displays]))
+        let options = if app.page == Page::Configuration {
+            app.load_options()
+        } else {
+            Task::none()
+        };
+        (
+            app,
+            Task::batch([task, connections, thumbnails, displays, options]),
+        )
     }
 
     fn update(&mut self, message: Message) -> Task<Message> {
@@ -388,6 +398,8 @@ impl cosmic::Application for App {
             Message::TrayApps(apps) => self.tray_apps = apps,
             Message::RefreshTrayApps => return self.load_tray_apps(),
             Message::Options(input) => return self.options_input(input),
+            Message::LoadOptions => return self.load_options(),
+            Message::OptionsLoaded(result) => self.options_loaded(result),
             Message::DragWindow => return self.core.drag(None),
             Message::ToggleMaximize => return self.core.toggle_maximize(None),
             Message::ReadRenderScale(id) => {
@@ -580,6 +592,7 @@ impl cosmic::Application for App {
                         Page::Displays | Page::Bar => self.load_displays(),
                         Page::Wallpaper => self.load_thumbnail(),
                         Page::Tray => self.load_tray_apps(),
+                        Page::Configuration => self.load_options(),
                         _ => Task::none(),
                     };
                     return Task::batch([reset, cleanup, load]);
@@ -596,6 +609,9 @@ impl cosmic::Application for App {
                 if page == Page::Wallpaper {
                     return Task::batch([reset, self.load_thumbnail()]);
                 }
+                if page == Page::Configuration {
+                    return Task::batch([reset, self.load_options()]);
+                }
 
                 return reset;
             }
@@ -643,7 +659,12 @@ impl cosmic::Application for App {
                     }
                 }
             }
-            Message::Search(query) => self.search = query,
+            Message::Search(query) => {
+                self.search = query;
+                if !self.search.is_empty() {
+                    return self.load_options();
+                }
+            }
             Message::Draft(path, value) => {
                 self.inputs.insert(path, value);
             }
@@ -1326,6 +1347,21 @@ mod tests {
         .0
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn schema_loading_is_lazy_deduplicated_and_retries_after_failure() {
+        let mut app = app();
+        assert_eq!(app.page, Page::Appearance);
+        assert_eq!(app.load_options().units(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(app.load_options().units(), 0);
+        app.options_loaded(Err("temporary backend failure".into()));
+        assert_eq!(app.load_options().units(), 1);
+        app.options_loaded(Ok(std::sync::Arc::new(serde_json::json!({
+            "schema": {"properties": {}}, "defaults": {}
+        }))));
+        assert_eq!(app.load_options().units(), 0);
+        assert!(!app.options.dirty());
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn header_drag_targets_the_main_window_and_handles_a_missing_window() {
         let mut app = app();