diff --git a/android/app/build.gradle b/android/app/build.gradle
index caaa291c..51589afd 100644
--- a/android/app/build.gradle
+++ b/android/app/build.gradle
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ android {
         applicationId "com.compassconnections.app"
         minSdkVersion rootProject.ext.minSdkVersion
         targetSdkVersion rootProject.ext.targetSdkVersion
-        versionCode 122
+        versionCode 123
         versionName "1.29.1"
         testInstrumentationRunner "androidx.test.runner.AndroidJUnitRunner"
         aaptOptions {
diff --git a/common/messages/de.json b/common/messages/de.json
index cdad43a4..6b9210c3 100644
--- a/common/messages/de.json
+++ b/common/messages/de.json
@@ -1205,6 +1205,9 @@
   "profiles.sort_differently": "Anders sortieren",
   "profiles.loading_dashboard": "Dashboard wird geladen…",
   "profiles.loading_dashboard_desc": "Der Server startet gerade, bitte warten.",
+  "profiles.loading_warming": "Der Kompass wird ausgerichtet…",
+  "profiles.loading_finding": "Wir suchen deine Leute…",
+  "profiles.loading_almost": "Fast geschafft…",
   "profiles.loading_slow": "Noch am Starten — gleich geht's los…",
   "profiles.title": "Personen",
   "profiles.try_keyword_search": "Schlüsselwortsuche versuchen",
diff --git a/common/messages/fr.json b/common/messages/fr.json
index 0585ace6..6ae4f132 100644
--- a/common/messages/fr.json
+++ b/common/messages/fr.json
@@ -1204,6 +1204,9 @@
   "profiles.sort_differently": "Trier différemment",
   "profiles.loading_dashboard": "Chargement du tableau de bord…",
   "profiles.loading_dashboard_desc": "Le serveur démarre, patientez un instant.",
+  "profiles.loading_warming": "Calibrage de la boussole…",
+  "profiles.loading_finding": "Nous cherchons vos personnes…",
+  "profiles.loading_almost": "Presque terminé…",
   "profiles.loading_slow": "Démarrage en cours — encore quelques secondes…",
   "profiles.title": "Personnes",
   "profiles.try_keyword_search": "Essayer une recherche par mot-clé",
diff --git a/web/components/home/home-loading-animation.tsx b/web/components/home/home-loading-animation.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5f69e100
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/components/home/home-loading-animation.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,270 @@
+import clsx from 'clsx'
+import {useT} from 'web/lib/locale'
+
+// Full-bleed compass "app loading" splash shown on the home page while the
+// user is still resolving. Ported from the Compass App Loading design: an
+// igniting compass rose with a beating heart, radar sweep, sonar rings and a
+// filling progress ring, over a warm radial backdrop. All colors are driven by
+// the `--cl-*` custom properties below so the piece themes automatically:
+// the design's dark palette in dark mode, a warm-cream variant in light mode.
+export function HomeLoadingAnimation(props: {className?: string}) {
+  const {className} = props
+  const t = useT()
+
+  const messages = [
+    t('profiles.loading_dashboard_desc', 'The server is waking up, hang tight.'),
+    t('profiles.loading_warming', 'Warming up the compass…'),
+    t('profiles.loading_finding', 'Finding your people…'),
+    t('profiles.loading_almost', 'Almost there…'),
+  ]
+
+  return (
+    <div
+      className={clsx('compass-load', className)}
+      role="status"
+      aria-live="polite"
+      aria-label={t('profiles.loading_dashboard', 'Loading dashboard…')}
+    >
+      <style>{styles}</style>
+      <div className="cl-screen">
+        <div className="cl-vignette" />
+        <div className="cl-stage">
+          <div className="cl-glow" />
+
+          <div className="cl-loadfx">
+            {/* rotating radar sweep */}
+            <div className="cl-lay cl-radar" />
+            {/* expanding sonar rings */}
+            <div className="cl-ring70 cl-sonar" style={{animationDelay: '2.1s'}} />
+            <div className="cl-ring70 cl-sonar" style={{animationDelay: '2.65s'}} />
+            <div className="cl-ring70 cl-sonar" style={{animationDelay: '3.2s'}} />
+            <div className="cl-ring70 cl-sonar" style={{animationDelay: '3.75s'}} />
+            {/* radar blips */}
+            <svg viewBox="0 0 200 200" className="cl-lay">
+              <circle
+                cx="150"
+                cy="72"
+                r="2.5"
+                className="cl-blip"
+                style={{animationDelay: '2.4s'}}
+              />
+              <circle
+                cx="62"
+                cy="150"
+                r="2.5"
+                className="cl-blip"
+                style={{animationDelay: '3.5s'}}
+              />
+              <circle
+                cx="160"
+                cy="140"
+                r="2"
+                className="cl-blip"
+                style={{animationDelay: '3.8s'}}
+              />
+              <circle cx="70" cy="64" r="2" className="cl-blip" style={{animationDelay: '2.9s'}} />
+              <circle
+                cx="120"
+                cy="160"
+                r="2.5"
+                className="cl-blip"
+                style={{animationDelay: '3.2s'}}
+              />
+              <circle cx="44" cy="100" r="2" className="cl-blip" style={{animationDelay: '2.6s'}} />
+            </svg>
+            {/* progress ring */}
+            <svg viewBox="0 0 200 200" className="cl-lay">
+              <circle
+                cx="100"
+                cy="100"
+                r="94"
+                fill="none"
+                className="cl-ringtrack"
+                strokeWidth="2"
+              />
+              <circle
+                cx="100"
+                cy="100"
+                r="94"
+                fill="none"
+                className="cl-prog"
+                strokeWidth="2.6"
+                strokeLinecap="round"
+                pathLength={1}
+                strokeDasharray="1"
+                transform="rotate(-90 100 100)"
+              />
+            </svg>
+          </div>
+
+          <div className="cl-dot" />
+          <div className="cl-shock" />
+
+          {/* compass rose + heart */}
+          <svg viewBox="0 0 200 200" className="cl-lay">
+            <g className="cl-rays">
+              <polygon points="100,54 97,100 103,100" className="cl-ray-major" />
+              <polygon
+                points="100,54 97,100 103,100"
+                className="cl-ray-major"
+                transform="rotate(90 100 100)"
+              />
+              <polygon
+                points="100,54 97,100 103,100"
+                className="cl-ray-major"
+                transform="rotate(180 100 100)"
+              />
+              <polygon
+                points="100,54 97,100 103,100"
+                className="cl-ray-major"
+                transform="rotate(270 100 100)"
+              />
+              <polygon
+                points="100,66 98,100 102,100"
+                className="cl-ray-minor"
+                transform="rotate(45 100 100)"
+              />
+              <polygon
+                points="100,66 98,100 102,100"
+                className="cl-ray-minor"
+                transform="rotate(135 100 100)"
+              />
+              <polygon
+                points="100,66 98,100 102,100"
+                className="cl-ray-minor"
+                transform="rotate(225 100 100)"
+              />
+              <polygon
+                points="100,66 98,100 102,100"
+                className="cl-ray-minor"
+                transform="rotate(315 100 100)"
+              />
+            </g>
+            <circle
+              cx="100"
+              cy="100"
+              r="30"
+              fill="none"
+              className="cl-innerring"
+              strokeWidth="1.5"
+              pathLength={1}
+              strokeDasharray="1"
+            />
+            <g className="cl-heart">
+              <path
+                d="M100 115 C89 105 79 99 79 90.5 C79 84.5 84 81 89.5 82 C94 82.8 98 86.5 100 90 C102 86.5 106 82.8 110.5 82 C116 81 121 84.5 121 90.5 C121 99 111 105 100 115 Z"
+                className="cl-heart-path"
+              />
+            </g>
+          </svg>
+        </div>
+
+        <div className="cl-textblock">
+          <div className="cl-head">{t('profiles.loading_dashboard', 'Loading dashboard…')}</div>
+          <div className="cl-subwrap">
+            {messages.map((msg, i) => (
+              <div key={i} className="cl-sub" style={{animationDelay: `${2.1 + i * 3}s`}}>
+                {msg}
+              </div>
+            ))}
+          </div>
+        </div>
+
+        <div className="cl-flash" />
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  )
+}
+
+const styles = `
+.compass-load{
+  /* fill the <main> content area rather than the whole viewport, so the
+     app chrome (left sidebar / bottom nav) stays visible around it. */
+  position:relative;flex:1 1 auto;align-self:stretch;min-height:24rem;
+  /* light (default) — warm cream variant */
+  --cl-bg1:#F7F4EF; --cl-bg2:#EDE8E0;
+  --cl-vignette:rgba(0,0,0,.10);
+  --cl-struct:30 26 20;   /* rays / rings — dark ink on cream */
+  --cl-heading:#1E1A14;
+  --cl-sub:#8C8070;
+  --cl-amber:193 127 62;  /* primary-500 */
+  --cl-gold:193 127 62;   /* heart — deeper amber for contrast on cream */
+  --cl-ignite:208 147 82; /* ignition highlights — primary-400 */
+  --cl-blip:166 104 46;   /* radar blips — primary-600 */
+}
+.dark .compass-load{
+  /* dark — faithful to the original design palette */
+  --cl-bg1:#241E15; --cl-bg2:#1E1A14;
+  --cl-vignette:rgba(0,0,0,.42);
+  --cl-struct:247 244 239;
+  --cl-heading:#F7F4EF;
+  --cl-sub:#8C8070;
+  --cl-amber:193 127 62;
+  --cl-gold:222 180 121;
+  --cl-ignite:240 222 185;
+  --cl-blip:232 201 157;
+}
+.cl-screen{position:absolute;inset:0;z-index:0;overflow:hidden;
+  background:radial-gradient(130% 100% at 50% 44%,var(--cl-bg1) 0%,var(--cl-bg2) 58%);
+  display:flex;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;justify-content:center}
+.cl-vignette{position:absolute;inset:0;pointer-events:none;
+  background:radial-gradient(120% 90% at 50% 46%,transparent 46%,var(--cl-vignette))}
+.cl-stage{position:relative;width:220px;height:220px;transform:translateY(-8px)}
+.cl-lay{position:absolute;inset:0;width:100%;height:100%;overflow:visible}
+.cl-glow{position:absolute;inset:-46px;border-radius:50%;
+  background:radial-gradient(circle,rgb(var(--cl-amber)/.24),rgb(var(--cl-amber)/0) 62%);
+  opacity:0;animation:cl-glowBloom 1.2s ease .85s both,cl-c1Glow 1.8s ease-in-out 2.1s infinite}
+.cl-loadfx{position:absolute;inset:0;opacity:0;animation:cl-fxReveal .6s ease 2.1s both}
+.cl-radar{border-radius:50%;margin:6px;
+  background:conic-gradient(from 0deg,rgb(var(--cl-gold)/.16),rgb(var(--cl-gold)/.02) 55deg,transparent 90deg);
+  animation:cl-c1Radar 4s linear 2.1s infinite}
+.cl-ring70{position:absolute;left:50%;top:50%;width:70px;height:70px;margin:-35px 0 0 -35px;
+  border-radius:50%;border:1.5px solid rgb(var(--cl-gold)/.55)}
+.cl-sonar{animation:cl-c1Sonar 2.4s ease-out infinite}
+.cl-blip{fill:rgb(var(--cl-blip));transform-box:fill-box;transform-origin:center;
+  animation:cl-c1Blip 2.4s ease-in-out infinite}
+.cl-ringtrack{stroke:rgb(var(--cl-struct)/.07)}
+.cl-prog{stroke:rgb(var(--cl-amber));stroke-dashoffset:1;animation:cl-progFill 10s ease-in-out 2.1s infinite}
+.cl-dot{position:absolute;left:50%;top:50%;width:11px;height:11px;margin:-5.5px 0 0 -5.5px;border-radius:50%;
+  background:rgb(var(--cl-ignite));box-shadow:0 0 16px 3px rgb(var(--cl-ignite)/.9);
+  opacity:0;animation:cl-dotIgnite 1s ease .05s both}
+.cl-shock{position:absolute;left:50%;top:50%;width:64px;height:64px;margin:-32px 0 0 -32px;border-radius:50%;
+  border:1.6px solid rgb(var(--cl-ignite)/.7);opacity:0;animation:cl-shockwave .85s cubic-bezier(.2,.7,.3,1) 1s both}
+.cl-rays{transform-box:fill-box;transform-origin:center;animation:cl-raysIn .95s cubic-bezier(.2,.8,.2,1) .3s both}
+.cl-ray-major{fill:rgb(var(--cl-struct)/.42)}
+.cl-ray-minor{fill:rgb(var(--cl-struct)/.28)}
+.cl-innerring{stroke:rgb(var(--cl-struct)/.4);stroke-dashoffset:1;animation:cl-ringDraw .8s ease .2s both}
+.cl-heart{transform-box:fill-box;transform-origin:center;
+  animation:cl-heartPop .7s cubic-bezier(.2,.8,.2,1) .95s both,cl-c1Beat 1.8s ease-in-out 2.1s infinite}
+.cl-heart-path{fill:rgb(var(--cl-gold));filter:drop-shadow(0 0 6px rgb(var(--cl-gold)/.9))}
+.cl-textblock{position:relative;z-index:3;display:flex;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;margin-top:8px}
+.cl-head{margin:0;font-family:'Cormorant Garamond',Georgia,serif;font-weight:500;font-size:28px;
+  letter-spacing:.3px;color:var(--cl-heading);opacity:0;animation:cl-headIn .7s cubic-bezier(.2,.8,.2,1) 1.45s both}
+.cl-subwrap{position:relative;height:22px;width:min(340px,90vw);margin-top:12px}
+.cl-sub{position:absolute;inset:0;text-align:center;white-space:nowrap;font-size:14.5px;letter-spacing:.2px;
+  color:var(--cl-sub);opacity:0;animation:cl-msgFade 12s ease-in-out infinite}
+.cl-flash{position:absolute;inset:0;pointer-events:none;z-index:4;
+  background:radial-gradient(circle at 50% 47%,rgb(var(--cl-ignite)/.5),rgb(var(--cl-ignite)/0) 55%);
+  opacity:0;animation:cl-flash .7s ease .95s both}
+@keyframes cl-glowBloom{0%{opacity:0;transform:scale(.4)}55%{opacity:.95;transform:scale(1.16)}100%{opacity:.5;transform:scale(1)}}
+@keyframes cl-c1Glow{0%{opacity:.5;transform:scale(1)}8%{opacity:.95;transform:scale(1.14)}40%{opacity:.5;transform:scale(1)}100%{opacity:.5;transform:scale(1)}}
+@keyframes cl-dotIgnite{0%{transform:scale(0);opacity:0}28%{transform:scale(1);opacity:1}72%{opacity:.9}100%{transform:scale(2.6);opacity:0}}
+@keyframes cl-ringDraw{0%{stroke-dashoffset:1;opacity:0}18%{opacity:1}100%{stroke-dashoffset:0;opacity:1}}
+@keyframes cl-raysIn{0%{transform:scale(0) rotate(-75deg);opacity:0}70%{opacity:1}100%{transform:scale(1) rotate(0);opacity:1}}
+@keyframes cl-heartPop{0%{transform:scale(0);opacity:0}55%{transform:scale(1.3);opacity:1}78%{transform:scale(.93)}100%{transform:scale(1)}}
+@keyframes cl-shockwave{0%{transform:scale(.35);opacity:0}18%{opacity:.85}100%{transform:scale(3.3);opacity:0}}
+@keyframes cl-flash{0%{opacity:0}42%{opacity:.24}100%{opacity:0}}
+@keyframes cl-headIn{0%{opacity:0;transform:translateY(11px)}100%{opacity:1;transform:translateY(0)}}
+@keyframes cl-fxReveal{0%{opacity:0}100%{opacity:1}}
+@keyframes cl-msgFade{0%{opacity:0;transform:translateY(5px)}4%{opacity:1;transform:translateY(0)}21%{opacity:1;transform:translateY(0)}25%{opacity:0;transform:translateY(-5px)}100%{opacity:0;transform:translateY(-5px)}}
+@keyframes cl-progFill{0%{stroke-dashoffset:1}86%{stroke-dashoffset:0}100%{stroke-dashoffset:0}}
+@keyframes cl-c1Beat{0%{transform:scale(1)}8%{transform:scale(1.17)}16%{transform:scale(1.02)}26%{transform:scale(1.12)}40%{transform:scale(1)}100%{transform:scale(1)}}
+@keyframes cl-c1Sonar{0%{transform:scale(.5);opacity:0}12%{opacity:.7}100%{transform:scale(3.4);opacity:0}}
+@keyframes cl-c1Radar{to{transform:rotate(360deg)}}
+@keyframes cl-c1Blip{0%,44%{opacity:.1;transform:scale(.5)}54%{opacity:1;transform:scale(1.4)}64%{opacity:.15;transform:scale(.9)}100%{opacity:.1;transform:scale(.5)}}
+@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce){
+  .compass-load *{animation-duration:.001s!important;animation-iteration-count:1!important;
+    animation-delay:0s!important;transition:none!important}
+  .cl-sub:not(:first-child){display:none}
+}
+`
diff --git a/web/pages/index.tsx b/web/pages/index.tsx
index 38a54d74..00b7c84a 100644
--- a/web/pages/index.tsx
+++ b/web/pages/index.tsx
@@ -1,12 +1,10 @@
 import {debug} from 'common/logger'
-import {useEffect, useState} from 'react'
 import {LoggedOutHome} from 'web/components/home/home'
+import {HomeLoadingAnimation} from 'web/components/home/home-loading-animation'
 import {Col} from 'web/components/layout/col'
 import {PageBase} from 'web/components/page-base'
 import {ProfilesHome} from 'web/components/profiles/profiles-home'
-import {CompassLoadingIndicator} from 'web/components/widgets/loading-indicator'
 import {useUser} from 'web/hooks/use-user'
-import {useT} from 'web/lib/locale'
 
 // To simulate downtime, you need the error to happen at runtime, not at build time.
 // That means the page must be server-rendered, not statically generated.
@@ -16,31 +14,11 @@ import {useT} from 'web/lib/locale'
 
 export default function ProfilesPage() {
   const user = useUser()
-  const t = useT()
-  const [slowLoad, setSlowLoad] = useState(false)
-
-  useEffect(() => {
-    if (user !== undefined) return
-    const timer = setTimeout(() => setSlowLoad(true), 5000)
-    return () => clearTimeout(timer)
-  }, [user])
 
   if (user === undefined) {
     return (
-      <PageBase trackPageView={'loading'}>
-        <Col className="items-center gap-8 px-4 py-8">
-          <Col className="items-center gap-3 text-center pt-8">
-            <CompassLoadingIndicator />
-            <h2 className="text-2xl font-semibold">
-              {t('profiles.loading_dashboard', 'Loading dashboard…')}
-            </h2>
-            <p className="text-ink-500 max-w-sm text-sm">
-              {slowLoad
-                ? t('profiles.loading_slow', 'Still starting up — almost there…')
-                : t('profiles.loading_dashboard_desc', 'The server is waking up, hang tight.')}
-            </p>
-          </Col>
-        </Col>
+      <PageBase trackPageView={'loading'} className={'col-span-10 lg:!mt-0 xl:!px-0'}>
+        <HomeLoadingAnimation />
       </PageBase>
     )
   }
diff --git a/web/pages/loading.tsx b/web/pages/loading.tsx
index 1ad418da..37539717 100644
--- a/web/pages/loading.tsx
+++ b/web/pages/loading.tsx
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 'use client'
 
+import {HomeLoadingAnimation} from 'web/components/home/home-loading-animation'
 import {PageBase} from 'web/components/page-base'
-import {CompassLoadingIndicator} from 'web/components/widgets/loading-indicator'
 
 export default function Loading() {
   return (
-    <PageBase trackPageView={'loading'}>
-      <CompassLoadingIndicator />
+    <PageBase trackPageView={'loading'} className={'col-span-10 lg:!mt-0 xl:!px-0'}>
+      <HomeLoadingAnimation />
     </PageBase>
   )
 }