diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/apps/AppIconGrid.vue b/neode-ui/src/views/apps/AppIconGrid.vue
index 659ccae4..4302e28c 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/apps/AppIconGrid.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/apps/AppIconGrid.vue
@@ -58,6 +58,13 @@
                 <path class="opacity-75" fill="currentColor" d="M4 12a8 8 0 018-8V0C5.373 0 0 5.373 0 12h4zm2 5.291A7.962 7.962 0 014 12H0c0 3.042 1.135 5.824 3 7.938l3-2.647z"></path>
               </svg>
             </div>
+            <!-- Launching overlay — instant tap feedback while the app opens -->
+            <div v-if="launchingId === id" class="app-icon-installing">
+              <svg class="animate-spin h-5 w-5 text-white" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+                <circle class="opacity-25" cx="12" cy="12" r="10" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="4"></circle>
+                <path class="opacity-75" fill="currentColor" d="M4 12a8 8 0 018-8V0C5.373 0 0 5.373 0 12h4zm2 5.291A7.962 7.962 0 014 12H0c0 3.042 1.135 5.824 3 7.938l3-2.647z"></path>
+              </svg>
+            </div>
           </div>
           <!-- Label -->
           <span class="app-icon-label">{{ getTitle(id, pkg) }}</span>
@@ -114,7 +121,7 @@
 </template>
 
 <script setup lang="ts">
-import { computed, ref } from 'vue'
+import { computed, ref, watch } from 'vue'
 import { useServerStore } from '@/stores/server'
 import { useAppLauncherStore } from '@/stores/appLauncher'
 import type { AppCredential, AppCredentialsResponse, PackageDataEntry } from '@/types/api'
@@ -152,6 +159,28 @@ const activePage = ref(0)
 const longPressTriggered = ref(false)
 let longPressTimer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null
 
+// Per-icon "launching" spinner so a tap is acknowledged instantly even while
+// the app session/iframe is still spinning up. Cleared when the launcher
+// overlay opens, with a fallback timeout for the open-in-new-tab path.
+const launchingId = ref<string | null>(null)
+let launchClearTimer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null
+
+function markLaunching(id: string) {
+  launchingId.value = id
+  if (launchClearTimer) clearTimeout(launchClearTimer)
+  launchClearTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+    if (launchingId.value === id) launchingId.value = null
+  }, 4000)
+}
+
+// Clear the spinner as soon as the app overlay actually opens.
+watch(() => appLauncher.isOpen, (open) => {
+  if (open) {
+    launchingId.value = null
+    if (launchClearTimer) { clearTimeout(launchClearTimer); launchClearTimer = null }
+  }
+})
+
 const pages = computed(() => {
   const result: [string, PackageDataEntry][][] = []
   for (let i = 0; i < props.apps.length; i += ITEMS_PER_PAGE) {
@@ -216,6 +245,7 @@ function openAppOptions(id: string) {
 }
 
 function launchNow(id: string, pkg: PackageDataEntry) {
+  markLaunching(id)
   const isMobile = typeof window !== 'undefined' && window.innerWidth < 768
   const webOnlyUrl = WEB_ONLY_APP_URLS[id]
   if (webOnlyUrl) {
@@ -305,6 +335,15 @@ function scrollToPage(index: number) {
 </script>
 
 <style scoped>
+/* Instant press feedback: the icon scales down the moment it's touched, so the
+   tap is acknowledged even before the app finishes launching. */
+.app-icon-frame {
+  transition: transform 0.12s ease;
+}
+.app-icon-item:active .app-icon-frame {
+  transform: scale(0.88);
+}
+
 .sideload-modal {
   display: flex;
   flex-direction: column;