diff --git a/e2e/src/specs/web/photo-viewer.e2e-spec.ts b/e2e/src/specs/web/photo-viewer.e2e-spec.ts
index 3f9bb4237a..9c2c96be78 100644
--- a/e2e/src/specs/web/photo-viewer.e2e-spec.ts
+++ b/e2e/src/specs/web/photo-viewer.e2e-spec.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,7 @@
 import { AssetMediaResponseDto, LoginResponseDto } from '@immich/sdk';
-import { Page, expect, test } from '@playwright/test';
+import { expect, test } from '@playwright/test';
 import { utils } from 'src/utils';
 
-function imageLocator(page: Page) {
-  return page.getByAltText('Image taken').locator('visible=true');
-}
 test.describe('Photo Viewer', () => {
   let admin: LoginResponseDto;
   let asset: AssetMediaResponseDto;
@@ -26,31 +23,44 @@ test.describe('Photo Viewer', () => {
 
   test('loads original photo when zoomed', async ({ page }) => {
     await page.goto(`/photos/${asset.id}`);
-    await expect.poll(async () => await imageLocator(page).getAttribute('src')).toContain('thumbnail');
-    const box = await imageLocator(page).boundingBox();
+
+    const thumbnail = page.getByTestId('thumbnail').filter({ visible: true });
+    const original = page.getByTestId('original').filter({ visible: true });
+
+    await expect(thumbnail).toHaveAttribute('src', /thumbnail/);
+    const box = await thumbnail.boundingBox();
     expect(box).toBeTruthy();
     const { x, y, width, height } = box!;
     await page.mouse.move(x + width / 2, y + height / 2);
     await page.mouse.wheel(0, -1);
-    await expect.poll(async () => await imageLocator(page).getAttribute('src')).toContain('original');
+    await expect(original).toBeInViewport();
+    await expect(original).toHaveAttribute('src', /original/);
   });
 
   test('loads fullsize image when zoomed and original is web-incompatible', async ({ page }) => {
     await page.goto(`/photos/${rawAsset.id}`);
-    await expect.poll(async () => await imageLocator(page).getAttribute('src')).toContain('thumbnail');
-    const box = await imageLocator(page).boundingBox();
+
+    const thumbnail = page.getByTestId('thumbnail').filter({ visible: true });
+    const original = page.getByTestId('original').filter({ visible: true });
+
+    await expect(thumbnail).toHaveAttribute('src', /thumbnail/);
+    const box = await thumbnail.boundingBox();
     expect(box).toBeTruthy();
     const { x, y, width, height } = box!;
     await page.mouse.move(x + width / 2, y + height / 2);
     await page.mouse.wheel(0, -1);
-    await expect.poll(async () => await imageLocator(page).getAttribute('src')).toContain('fullsize');
+    await expect(original).toHaveAttribute('src', /fullsize/);
   });
 
   test('reloads photo when checksum changes', async ({ page }) => {
     await page.goto(`/photos/${asset.id}`);
-    await expect.poll(async () => await imageLocator(page).getAttribute('src')).toContain('thumbnail');
-    const initialSrc = await imageLocator(page).getAttribute('src');
+
+    const thumbnail = page.getByTestId('thumbnail').filter({ visible: true });
+    const preview = page.getByTestId('preview').filter({ visible: true });
+
+    await expect(thumbnail).toHaveAttribute('src', /thumbnail/);
+    const initialSrc = await thumbnail.getAttribute('src');
     await utils.replaceAsset(admin.accessToken, asset.id);
-    await expect.poll(async () => await imageLocator(page).getAttribute('src')).not.toBe(initialSrc);
+    await expect(preview).not.toHaveAttribute('src', initialSrc!);
   });
 });
diff --git a/e2e/src/ui/mock-network/timeline-network.ts b/e2e/src/ui/mock-network/timeline-network.ts
index 6af2ebb7c1..0f1075afd9 100644
--- a/e2e/src/ui/mock-network/timeline-network.ts
+++ b/e2e/src/ui/mock-network/timeline-network.ts
@@ -99,13 +99,13 @@ export const setupTimelineMockApiRoutes = async (
   });
 
   await context.route('**/api/assets/*/thumbnail?size=*', async (route, request) => {
-    const pattern = /\/api\/assets\/(?<assetId>[^/]+)\/thumbnail\?size=(?<size>preview|thumbnail)/;
+    const pattern = /\/api\/assets\/(?<assetId>[^/]+)\/thumbnail\?size=(?<size>preview|thumbnail|fullsize)/;
     const match = request.url().match(pattern);
     if (!match?.groups) {
       throw new Error(`Invalid URL for thumbnail endpoint: ${request.url()}`);
     }
 
-    if (match.groups.size === 'preview') {
+    if (match.groups.size === 'preview' || match.groups.size === 'fullsize') {
       if (!route.request().serviceWorker()) {
         return route.continue();
       }
diff --git a/e2e/src/ui/specs/asset-viewer/broken-asset.e2e-spec.ts b/e2e/src/ui/specs/asset-viewer/broken-asset.e2e-spec.ts
index fa010f0c1b..b2502df6fc 100644
--- a/e2e/src/ui/specs/asset-viewer/broken-asset.e2e-spec.ts
+++ b/e2e/src/ui/specs/asset-viewer/broken-asset.e2e-spec.ts
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ test.describe('broken-asset responsiveness', () => {
     await page.goto(`/photos/${fixture.primaryAsset.id}`);
     await page.waitForSelector('#immich-asset-viewer');
 
-    const viewerBrokenAsset = page.locator('#immich-asset-viewer #broken-asset [data-broken-asset]');
+    const viewerBrokenAsset = page.locator('[data-viewer-content] [data-broken-asset]');
     await expect(viewerBrokenAsset).toBeVisible();
 
     await expect(viewerBrokenAsset.locator('svg')).toBeVisible();
diff --git a/e2e/src/ui/specs/search/search-gallery.e2e-spec.ts b/e2e/src/ui/specs/search/search-gallery.e2e-spec.ts
index c3721b1c54..4aa4bede99 100644
--- a/e2e/src/ui/specs/search/search-gallery.e2e-spec.ts
+++ b/e2e/src/ui/specs/search/search-gallery.e2e-spec.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import {
   generateTimelineData,
   TimelineAssetConfig,
   TimelineData,
+  toAssetResponseDto,
 } from 'src/ui/generators/timeline';
 import { setupBaseMockApiRoutes } from 'src/ui/mock-network/base-network';
 import { setupTimelineMockApiRoutes, TimelineTestContext } from 'src/ui/mock-network/timeline-network';
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ test.describe('search gallery-viewer', () => {
             assets: {
               total: searchAssets.length,
               count: searchAssets.length,
-              items: searchAssets,
+              items: searchAssets.map((asset) => toAssetResponseDto(asset)),
               facets: [],
               nextPage: null,
             },
diff --git a/e2e/src/ui/specs/timeline/utils.ts b/e2e/src/ui/specs/timeline/utils.ts
index d3e4e5f7ec..5d6478fb5b 100644
--- a/e2e/src/ui/specs/timeline/utils.ts
+++ b/e2e/src/ui/specs/timeline/utils.ts
@@ -163,13 +163,11 @@ export const assetViewerUtils = {
     return page.locator('#immich-asset-viewer');
   },
   async waitForViewerLoad(page: Page, asset: TimelineAssetConfig) {
+    const previewUrl = `/api/assets/${asset.id}/thumbnail?size=preview&c=${asset.thumbhash}&edited=true`;
     await page
-      .locator(
-        `img[draggable="false"][src="/api/assets/${asset.id}/thumbnail?size=preview&c=${asset.thumbhash}&edited=true"]`,
-      )
-      .or(
-        page.locator(`video[poster="/api/assets/${asset.id}/thumbnail?size=preview&c=${asset.thumbhash}&edited=true"]`),
-      )
+      .getByTestId('preview')
+      .and(page.locator(`[src="${previewUrl}"]`))
+      .or(page.locator(`video[poster="${previewUrl}"]`))
       .waitFor();
   },
   async expectActiveAssetToBe(page: Page, assetId: string) {
diff --git a/web/src/lib/actions/image-loader.svelte.ts b/web/src/lib/actions/image-loader.svelte.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..49a53dac26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/lib/actions/image-loader.svelte.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+import { cancelImageUrl } from '$lib/utils/sw-messaging';
+
+export function loadImage(src: string, onLoad: () => void, onError: () => void, onStart?: () => void) {
+  let destroyed = false;
+
+  const handleLoad = () => !destroyed && onLoad();
+  const handleError = () => !destroyed && onError();
+
+  const img = document.createElement('img');
+  img.addEventListener('load', handleLoad);
+  img.addEventListener('error', handleError);
+
+  onStart?.();
+  img.src = src;
+
+  return () => {
+    destroyed = true;
+    img.removeEventListener('load', handleLoad);
+    img.removeEventListener('error', handleError);
+    cancelImageUrl(src);
+    img.remove();
+  };
+}
+
+export type LoadImageFunction = typeof loadImage;
diff --git a/web/src/lib/actions/zoom-image.ts b/web/src/lib/actions/zoom-image.ts
index 6288daa380..759074c4f0 100644
--- a/web/src/lib/actions/zoom-image.ts
+++ b/web/src/lib/actions/zoom-image.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
 import { assetViewerManager } from '$lib/managers/asset-viewer-manager.svelte';
 import { createZoomImageWheel } from '@zoom-image/core';
 
-export const zoomImageAction = (node: HTMLElement, options?: { disabled?: boolean }) => {
-  const zoomInstance = createZoomImageWheel(node, { maxZoom: 10, initialState: assetViewerManager.zoomState });
+export const zoomImageAction = (node: HTMLElement, options?: { disabled?: boolean; zoomTarget?: HTMLElement }) => {
+  const zoomInstance = createZoomImageWheel(node, {
+    maxZoom: 10,
+    initialState: assetViewerManager.zoomState,
+    zoomTarget: options?.zoomTarget,
+  });
 
   const unsubscribes = [
     assetViewerManager.on({ ZoomChange: (state) => zoomInstance.setState(state) }),
@@ -20,8 +24,11 @@ export const zoomImageAction = (node: HTMLElement, options?: { disabled?: boolea
 
   node.style.overflow = 'visible';
   return {
-    update(newOptions?: { disabled?: boolean }) {
+    update(newOptions?: { disabled?: boolean; zoomTarget?: HTMLElement }) {
       options = newOptions;
+      if (newOptions?.zoomTarget !== undefined) {
+        zoomInstance.setState({ zoomTarget: newOptions.zoomTarget });
+      }
     },
     destroy() {
       for (const unsubscribe of unsubscribes) {
diff --git a/web/src/lib/components/AdaptiveImage.svelte b/web/src/lib/components/AdaptiveImage.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..764e83a5e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/lib/components/AdaptiveImage.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,238 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+  import { thumbhash } from '$lib/actions/thumbhash';
+  import AlphaBackground from '$lib/components/AlphaBackground.svelte';
+  import BrokenAsset from '$lib/components/assets/broken-asset.svelte';
+  import Image from '$lib/components/Image.svelte';
+  import { assetViewerManager } from '$lib/managers/asset-viewer-manager.svelte';
+  import { AdaptiveImageLoader, ImageStatus } from '$lib/utils/adaptive-image-loader.svelte';
+  import { getDimensions } from '$lib/utils/asset-utils';
+  import { scaleToFit } from '$lib/utils/container-utils';
+  import { getAltText } from '$lib/utils/thumbnail-util';
+  import { toTimelineAsset } from '$lib/utils/timeline-util';
+  import type { AssetResponseDto, SharedLinkResponseDto } from '@immich/sdk';
+  import { LoadingSpinner } from '@immich/ui';
+  import { untrack, type Snippet } from 'svelte';
+
+  interface Props {
+    asset: AssetResponseDto;
+    sharedLink?: SharedLinkResponseDto;
+    imageClass?: string;
+    container: {
+      width: number;
+      height: number;
+    };
+    onUrlChange?: (url: string) => void;
+    onImageReady?: () => void;
+    onError?: () => void;
+    ref?: HTMLDivElement;
+    imgRef?: HTMLImageElement;
+    backdrop?: Snippet;
+    overlays?: Snippet;
+  }
+
+  let {
+    ref = $bindable(),
+    // eslint-disable-next-line no-useless-assignment
+    imgRef = $bindable(),
+    asset,
+    sharedLink,
+    imageClass = '',
+    container,
+    onUrlChange,
+    onImageReady,
+    onError,
+    backdrop,
+    overlays,
+  }: Props = $props();
+
+  const loaderKey = $derived(`${asset.id}:${asset.thumbhash}:${sharedLink?.id}`);
+
+  const adaptiveImageLoader = $derived.by(() => {
+    void loaderKey;
+
+    return untrack(
+      () =>
+        new AdaptiveImageLoader(asset, sharedLink, {
+          currentZoomFn: () => assetViewerManager.zoom,
+          onImageReady,
+          onError,
+          onUrlChange,
+        }),
+    );
+  });
+
+  $effect.pre(() => {
+    const loader = adaptiveImageLoader;
+    untrack(() => assetViewerManager.resetZoomState());
+    return () => {
+      loader.destroy();
+    };
+  });
+
+  const imageDimensions = $derived.by(() => {
+    if ((asset.width ?? 0) > 0 && (asset.height ?? 0) > 0) {
+      return { width: asset.width!, height: asset.height! };
+    }
+
+    if (asset.exifInfo?.exifImageHeight && asset.exifInfo.exifImageWidth) {
+      return getDimensions(asset.exifInfo) as { width: number; height: number };
+    }
+
+    return { width: 1, height: 1 };
+  });
+
+  const scaledDimensions = $derived(scaleToFit(imageDimensions, container));
+
+  const renderDimensions = $derived.by(() => {
+    const { width, height } = scaledDimensions;
+    return {
+      width: width + 'px',
+      height: height + 'px',
+      left: (container.width - width) / 2 + 'px',
+      top: (container.height - height) / 2 + 'px',
+    };
+  });
+
+  const loaderState = $derived(adaptiveImageLoader.state);
+  const imageAltText = $derived(loaderState.previewUrl ? $getAltText(toTimelineAsset(asset)) : '');
+
+  const showAlphaBackground = $derived(
+    !loaderState.hasError &&
+      ['thumbnail', 'loading-thumbnail', 'loading-preview', 'loading-original', 'preview', 'original'].includes(
+        loaderState.quality,
+      ),
+  );
+  const showSpinner = $derived(!asset.thumbhash && loaderState.quality === 'basic');
+  const showBrokenAsset = $derived(loaderState.hasError);
+  const showThumbhash = $derived(['basic', 'loading-thumbnail'].includes(loaderState.quality));
+  const showThumbnail = true;
+  const showPreview = true;
+  const showOriginal = true;
+
+  // Effect: Upgrade to original when user zooms in
+  $effect(() => {
+    if (assetViewerManager.zoom > 1 && loaderState.quality === 'preview') {
+      untrack(() => {
+        void adaptiveImageLoader.triggerOriginal();
+      });
+    }
+  });
+  let thumbnailElement = $state<HTMLImageElement>();
+  let previewElement = $state<HTMLImageElement>();
+  let originalElement = $state<HTMLImageElement>();
+
+  const loadedOriginalElement = $derived(
+    loaderState.originalImage === ImageStatus.Success ? originalElement : undefined,
+  );
+  const loadedPreviewElement = $derived(loaderState.previewImage === ImageStatus.Success ? previewElement : undefined);
+  const loadedThumbnailElement = $derived(
+    loaderState.thumbnailImage === ImageStatus.Success ? thumbnailElement : undefined,
+  );
+
+  $effect(() => {
+    imgRef = loadedOriginalElement ?? loadedPreviewElement ?? loadedThumbnailElement;
+  });
+</script>
+
+<div class="relative h-full w-full" bind:this={ref}>
+  {@render backdrop?.()}
+
+  <div
+    class="absolute"
+    style:left={renderDimensions.left}
+    style:top={renderDimensions.top}
+    style:width={renderDimensions.width}
+    style:height={renderDimensions.height}
+  >
+    {#if showAlphaBackground}
+      <AlphaBackground class="-z-3" />
+    {/if}
+
+    {#if showThumbhash}
+      {#if asset.thumbhash}
+        <!-- Thumbhash / spinner layer  -->
+        <canvas use:thumbhash={{ base64ThumbHash: asset.thumbhash }} class="h-full w-full absolute -z-2"></canvas>
+      {:else if showSpinner}
+        <div id="spinner" class="absolute flex h-full items-center justify-center">
+          <LoadingSpinner />
+        </div>
+      {/if}
+    {/if}
+
+    {#if showThumbnail}
+      {#key adaptiveImageLoader}
+        {@const loader = adaptiveImageLoader}
+        <div class="absolute top-0 z-1" style:width={renderDimensions.width} style:height={renderDimensions.height}>
+          <Image
+            src={loaderState.thumbnailUrl}
+            onStart={() => loader.onThumbnailStart()}
+            onLoad={() => loader.onThumbnailLoad()}
+            onError={() => loader.onThumbnailError()}
+            bind:ref={thumbnailElement}
+            class={['absolute h-full', 'w-full']}
+            alt=""
+            role="presentation"
+            data-testid="thumbnail"
+          />
+        </div>
+      {/key}
+    {/if}
+
+    {#if showBrokenAsset}
+      <BrokenAsset class="text-xl h-full w-full absolute" />
+    {/if}
+
+    {#if showPreview}
+      {#key adaptiveImageLoader}
+        {@const loader = adaptiveImageLoader}
+        <div class="absolute top-0 z-2" style:width={renderDimensions.width} style:height={renderDimensions.height}>
+          <Image
+            src={loaderState.previewUrl}
+            onStart={() => loader.onPreviewStart()}
+            onLoad={() => loader.onPreviewLoad()}
+            onError={() => loader.onPreviewError()}
+            bind:ref={previewElement}
+            class={['h-full', 'w-full', imageClass]}
+            alt={imageAltText}
+            draggable={false}
+            data-testid="preview"
+          />
+          {@render overlays?.()}
+        </div>
+      {/key}
+    {/if}
+
+    {#if showOriginal}
+      {#key adaptiveImageLoader}
+        {@const loader = adaptiveImageLoader}
+        <div class="absolute top-0 z-3" style:width={renderDimensions.width} style:height={renderDimensions.height}>
+          <Image
+            src={loaderState.originalUrl}
+            onStart={() => loader.onOriginalStart()}
+            onLoad={() => loader.onOriginalLoad()}
+            onError={() => loader.onOriginalError()}
+            bind:ref={originalElement}
+            class={['h-full', 'w-full', imageClass]}
+            alt={imageAltText}
+            draggable={false}
+            data-testid="original"
+          />
+          {@render overlays?.()}
+        </div>
+      {/key}
+    {/if}
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+<style>
+  @keyframes delayedVisibility {
+    to {
+      visibility: visible;
+    }
+  }
+
+  #spinner {
+    visibility: hidden;
+    animation: 0s linear 0.4s forwards delayedVisibility;
+  }
+</style>
diff --git a/web/src/lib/components/AlphaBackground.svelte b/web/src/lib/components/AlphaBackground.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c0d8536a2f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/lib/components/AlphaBackground.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+  import type { ClassValue } from 'svelte/elements';
+
+  interface Props {
+    class?: ClassValue;
+  }
+
+  let { class: className = '' }: Props = $props();
+</script>
+
+<div class="absolute h-full w-full bg-gray-300 dark:bg-gray-700 {className}"></div>
diff --git a/web/src/lib/components/asset-viewer/asset-viewer.svelte b/web/src/lib/components/asset-viewer/asset-viewer.svelte
index 786f9fd0ec..15c61ce08c 100644
--- a/web/src/lib/components/asset-viewer/asset-viewer.svelte
+++ b/web/src/lib/components/asset-viewer/asset-viewer.svelte
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
   import { browser } from '$app/environment';
   import { goto } from '$app/navigation';
   import { focusTrap } from '$lib/actions/focus-trap';
+  import { loadImage } from '$lib/actions/image-loader.svelte';
   import type { Action, OnAction, PreAction } from '$lib/components/asset-viewer/actions/action';
   import NextAssetAction from '$lib/components/asset-viewer/actions/next-asset-action.svelte';
   import PreviousAssetAction from '$lib/components/asset-viewer/actions/previous-asset-action.svelte';
@@ -13,16 +14,17 @@
   import { authManager } from '$lib/managers/auth-manager.svelte';
   import { editManager, EditToolType } from '$lib/managers/edit/edit-manager.svelte';
   import { eventManager } from '$lib/managers/event-manager.svelte';
-  import { imageManager } from '$lib/managers/ImageManager.svelte';
   import { Route } from '$lib/route';
   import { getAssetActions } from '$lib/services/asset.service';
   import { assetViewingStore } from '$lib/stores/asset-viewing.store';
+  import { isFaceEditMode } from '$lib/stores/face-edit.svelte';
   import { ocrManager } from '$lib/stores/ocr.svelte';
   import { alwaysLoadOriginalVideo } from '$lib/stores/preferences.store';
   import { SlideshowNavigation, SlideshowState, slideshowStore } from '$lib/stores/slideshow.store';
   import { user } from '$lib/stores/user.store';
   import { getSharedLink, handlePromiseError } from '$lib/utils';
   import type { OnUndoDelete } from '$lib/utils/actions';
+  import { AdaptiveImageLoader } from '$lib/utils/adaptive-image-loader.svelte';
   import { navigateToAsset } from '$lib/utils/asset-utils';
   import { handleError } from '$lib/utils/handle-error';
   import { InvocationTracker } from '$lib/utils/invocationTracker';
@@ -39,6 +41,7 @@
   } from '@immich/sdk';
   import { CommandPaletteDefaultProvider } from '@immich/ui';
   import { onDestroy, onMount, untrack } from 'svelte';
+  import type { SwipeCustomEvent } from 'svelte-gestures';
   import { t } from 'svelte-i18n';
   import { fly } from 'svelte/transition';
   import Thumbnail from '../assets/thumbnail/thumbnail.svelte';
@@ -95,20 +98,20 @@
     stopProgress: stopSlideshowProgress,
     slideshowNavigation,
     slideshowState,
-    slideshowTransition,
     slideshowRepeat,
   } = slideshowStore;
   const stackThumbnailSize = 60;
   const stackSelectedThumbnailSize = 65;
 
-  const asset = $derived(cursor.current);
+  let stack: StackResponseDto | undefined = $state();
+  let selectedStackAsset = $derived(stack?.assets.find(({ id }) => id === stack?.primaryAssetId));
+  let previewStackedAsset: AssetResponseDto | undefined = $state();
+
+  const asset = $derived(previewStackedAsset ?? selectedStackAsset ?? cursor.current);
   const nextAsset = $derived(cursor.nextAsset);
   const previousAsset = $derived(cursor.previousAsset);
   let sharedLink = getSharedLink();
-  let previewStackedAsset: AssetResponseDto | undefined = $state();
   let fullscreenElement = $state<Element>();
-  let unsubscribes: (() => void)[] = [];
-  let stack: StackResponseDto | null = $state(null);
 
   let playOriginalVideo = $state($alwaysLoadOriginalVideo);
   let slideshowStartAssetId = $state<string>();
@@ -118,62 +121,61 @@
   };
 
   const refreshStack = async () => {
-    if (authManager.isSharedLink) {
+    if (authManager.isSharedLink || !withStacked) {
       return;
     }
 
-    if (asset.stack) {
-      stack = await getStack({ id: asset.stack.id });
+    if (!cursor.current.stack) {
+      stack = undefined;
+      return;
     }
 
-    if (!stack?.assets.some(({ id }) => id === asset.id)) {
-      stack = null;
-    }
-
-    untrack(() => {
-      imageManager.preload(stack?.assets[1]);
-    });
+    stack = await getStack({ id: cursor.current.stack.id });
   };
 
   const handleFavorite = async () => {
-    if (album && album.isActivityEnabled) {
-      try {
-        await activityManager.toggleLike();
-      } catch (error) {
-        handleError(error, $t('errors.unable_to_change_favorite'));
-      }
+    if (!album || !album.isActivityEnabled) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    try {
+      await activityManager.toggleLike();
+    } catch (error) {
+      handleError(error, $t('errors.unable_to_change_favorite'));
     }
   };
 
   onMount(() => {
     syncAssetViewerOpenClass(true);
-    unsubscribes.push(
-      slideshowState.subscribe((value) => {
-        if (value === SlideshowState.PlaySlideshow) {
-          slideshowHistory.reset();
-          slideshowHistory.queue(toTimelineAsset(asset));
-          handlePromiseError(handlePlaySlideshow());
-        } else if (value === SlideshowState.StopSlideshow) {
-          handlePromiseError(handleStopSlideshow());
-        }
-      }),
-      slideshowNavigation.subscribe((value) => {
-        if (value === SlideshowNavigation.Shuffle) {
-          slideshowHistory.reset();
-          slideshowHistory.queue(toTimelineAsset(asset));
-        }
-      }),
-    );
+    const slideshowStateUnsubscribe = slideshowState.subscribe((value) => {
+      if (value === SlideshowState.PlaySlideshow) {
+        slideshowHistory.reset();
+        slideshowHistory.queue(toTimelineAsset(asset));
+        handlePromiseError(handlePlaySlideshow());
+      } else if (value === SlideshowState.StopSlideshow) {
+        handlePromiseError(handleStopSlideshow());
+      }
+    });
+
+    const slideshowNavigationUnsubscribe = slideshowNavigation.subscribe((value) => {
+      if (value === SlideshowNavigation.Shuffle) {
+        slideshowHistory.reset();
+        slideshowHistory.queue(toTimelineAsset(asset));
+      }
+    });
+
+    return () => {
+      slideshowStateUnsubscribe();
+      slideshowNavigationUnsubscribe();
+    };
   });
 
   onDestroy(() => {
-    for (const unsubscribe of unsubscribes) {
-      unsubscribe();
-    }
-
     activityManager.reset();
     assetViewerManager.closeEditor();
     syncAssetViewerOpenClass(false);
+    destroyNextPreloader();
+    destroyPreviousPreloader();
   });
 
   const closeViewer = () => {
@@ -189,9 +191,64 @@
     assetViewerManager.closeEditor();
   };
 
-  const tracker = new InvocationTracker();
+  let nextPreloader: AdaptiveImageLoader | undefined;
+  let previousPreloader: AdaptiveImageLoader | undefined;
 
-  const navigateAsset = (order?: 'previous' | 'next', e?: Event) => {
+  const startPreloader = (asset: AssetResponseDto | undefined) => {
+    if (!asset) {
+      return;
+    }
+    const loader = new AdaptiveImageLoader(asset, undefined, undefined, loadImage);
+    loader.start();
+    return loader;
+  };
+
+  const destroyPreviousPreloader = () => {
+    previousPreloader?.destroy();
+    previousPreloader = undefined;
+  };
+
+  const destroyNextPreloader = () => {
+    nextPreloader?.destroy();
+    nextPreloader = undefined;
+  };
+
+  const cancelPreloadsBeforeNavigation = (direction: 'previous' | 'next') => {
+    if (direction === 'next') {
+      destroyPreviousPreloader();
+      return;
+    }
+    destroyNextPreloader();
+  };
+
+  const updatePreloadsAfterNavigation = (oldCursor: AssetCursor, newCursor: AssetCursor) => {
+    const movedForward = newCursor.current.id === oldCursor.nextAsset?.id;
+    const movedBackward = newCursor.current.id === oldCursor.previousAsset?.id;
+
+    const shouldDestroyPrevious = !movedBackward;
+    const shouldDestroyNext = !movedForward;
+
+    if (shouldDestroyPrevious) {
+      destroyPreviousPreloader();
+    }
+
+    if (shouldDestroyNext) {
+      destroyNextPreloader();
+    }
+
+    if (movedForward) {
+      nextPreloader = startPreloader(newCursor.nextAsset);
+    } else if (movedBackward) {
+      previousPreloader = startPreloader(newCursor.previousAsset);
+    } else {
+      // Non-adjacent navigation (e.g., slideshow random)
+      previousPreloader = startPreloader(newCursor.previousAsset);
+      nextPreloader = startPreloader(newCursor.nextAsset);
+    }
+  };
+
+  const tracker = new InvocationTracker();
+  const navigateAsset = (order?: 'previous' | 'next') => {
     if (!order) {
       if ($slideshowState === SlideshowState.PlaySlideshow) {
         order = $slideshowNavigation === SlideshowNavigation.AscendingOrder ? 'previous' : 'next';
@@ -200,8 +257,8 @@
       }
     }
 
-    e?.stopPropagation();
-    imageManager.cancel(asset);
+    cancelPreloadsBeforeNavigation(order);
+
     if (tracker.isActive()) {
       return;
     }
@@ -223,16 +280,18 @@
           order === 'previous' ? await navigateToAsset(cursor.previousAsset) : await navigateToAsset(cursor.nextAsset);
       }
 
-      if ($slideshowState === SlideshowState.PlaySlideshow) {
-        if (hasNext) {
-          $restartSlideshowProgress = true;
-        } else if ($slideshowRepeat && slideshowStartAssetId) {
-          // Loop back to starting asset
-          await setAssetId(slideshowStartAssetId);
-          $restartSlideshowProgress = true;
-        } else {
-          await handleStopSlideshow();
-        }
+      if ($slideshowState !== SlideshowState.PlaySlideshow) {
+        return;
+      }
+
+      if (hasNext) {
+        $restartSlideshowProgress = true;
+      } else if ($slideshowRepeat && slideshowStartAssetId) {
+        // Loop back to starting asset
+        await setAssetId(slideshowStartAssetId);
+        $restartSlideshowProgress = true;
+      } else {
+        await handleStopSlideshow();
       }
     }, $t('error_while_navigating'));
   };
@@ -277,12 +336,20 @@
     }
   };
 
-  const handleStackedAssetMouseEvent = (isMouseOver: boolean, asset: AssetResponseDto) => {
-    previewStackedAsset = isMouseOver ? asset : undefined;
+  const handleStackedAssetMouseEvent = (isMouseOver: boolean, stackedAsset: AssetResponseDto) => {
+    if (isMouseOver) {
+      previewStackedAsset = stackedAsset;
+    }
   };
+
+  const handleStackedAssetsMouseLeave = () => {
+    previewStackedAsset = undefined;
+  };
+
   const handlePreAction = (action: Action) => {
     preAction?.(action);
   };
+
   const handleAction = async (action: Action) => {
     switch (action.type) {
       case AssetAction.DELETE:
@@ -291,7 +358,7 @@
         break;
       }
       case AssetAction.REMOVE_ASSET_FROM_STACK: {
-        stack = action.stack;
+        stack = action.stack ?? undefined;
         if (stack) {
           cursor.current = stack.assets[0];
         }
@@ -348,19 +415,43 @@
   const refresh = async () => {
     await refreshStack();
     ocrManager.clear();
-    if (!sharedLink) {
-      if (previewStackedAsset) {
-        await ocrManager.getAssetOcr(previewStackedAsset.id);
-      }
-      await ocrManager.getAssetOcr(asset.id);
+    if (sharedLink) {
+      return;
     }
+
+    if (previewStackedAsset) {
+      await ocrManager.getAssetOcr(previewStackedAsset.id);
+    }
+    await ocrManager.getAssetOcr(asset.id);
   };
   $effect(() => {
     // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-unused-expressions
-    asset;
+    cursor.current;
     untrack(() => handlePromiseError(refresh()));
-    imageManager.preload(cursor.nextAsset);
-    imageManager.preload(cursor.previousAsset);
+  });
+
+  let lastCursor = $state<AssetCursor>();
+
+  $effect(() => {
+    if (cursor.current.id === lastCursor?.current.id) {
+      return;
+    }
+    if (lastCursor) {
+      selectedStackAsset = undefined;
+      previewStackedAsset = undefined;
+      // After navigation completes, reconcile preloads with full state information
+      updatePreloadsAfterNavigation(lastCursor, cursor);
+    }
+    if (!lastCursor) {
+      // "first time" load, start preloads
+      if (cursor.nextAsset) {
+        nextPreloader = startPreloader(cursor.nextAsset);
+      }
+      if (cursor.previousAsset) {
+        previousPreloader = startPreloader(cursor.previousAsset);
+      }
+    }
+    lastCursor = cursor;
   });
 
   const onAssetReplace = async ({ oldAssetId, newAssetId }: { oldAssetId: string; newAssetId: string }) => {
@@ -380,7 +471,7 @@
 
   const viewerKind = $derived.by(() => {
     if (previewStackedAsset) {
-      return asset.type === AssetTypeEnum.Image ? 'StackPhotoViewer' : 'StackVideoViewer';
+      return asset.type === AssetTypeEnum.Image ? 'PhotoViewer' : 'StackVideoViewer';
     }
     if (asset.type === AssetTypeEnum.Video) {
       return 'VideoViewer';
@@ -421,6 +512,24 @@
       assetViewerManager.isShowDetailPanel &&
       !assetViewerManager.isShowEditor,
   );
+
+  const onSwipe = (event: SwipeCustomEvent) => {
+    if (assetViewerManager.zoom > 1) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (ocrManager.showOverlay) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (event.detail.direction === 'left') {
+      navigateAsset('next');
+    }
+
+    if (event.detail.direction === 'right') {
+      navigateAsset('previous');
+    }
+  };
 </script>
 
 <CommandPaletteDefaultProvider name={$t('assets')} actions={[Tag]} />
@@ -467,23 +576,15 @@
     </div>
   {/if}
 
-  {#if $slideshowState === SlideshowState.None && showNavigation && !assetViewerManager.isShowEditor && previousAsset}
+  {#if $slideshowState === SlideshowState.None && showNavigation && !assetViewerManager.isShowEditor && !isFaceEditMode.value && previousAsset}
     <div class="my-auto col-span-1 col-start-1 row-span-full row-start-1 justify-self-start">
       <PreviousAssetAction onPreviousAsset={() => navigateAsset('previous')} />
     </div>
   {/if}
 
   <!-- Asset Viewer -->
-  <div class="z-[-1] relative col-start-1 col-span-4 row-start-1 row-span-full">
-    {#if viewerKind === 'StackPhotoViewer'}
-      <PhotoViewer
-        cursor={{ ...cursor, current: previewStackedAsset! }}
-        onPreviousAsset={() => navigateAsset('previous')}
-        onNextAsset={() => navigateAsset('next')}
-        haveFadeTransition={false}
-        {sharedLink}
-      />
-    {:else if viewerKind === 'StackVideoViewer'}
+  <div data-viewer-content class="z-[-1] relative col-start-1 col-span-4 row-start-1 row-span-full">
+    {#if viewerKind === 'StackVideoViewer'}
       <VideoViewer
         asset={previewStackedAsset!}
         cacheKey={previewStackedAsset!.thumbhash}
@@ -513,13 +614,7 @@
     {:else if viewerKind === 'CropArea'}
       <CropArea {asset} />
     {:else if viewerKind === 'PhotoViewer'}
-      <PhotoViewer
-        {cursor}
-        onPreviousAsset={() => navigateAsset('previous')}
-        onNextAsset={() => navigateAsset('next')}
-        {sharedLink}
-        haveFadeTransition={$slideshowState !== SlideshowState.None && $slideshowTransition}
-      />
+      <PhotoViewer cursor={{ ...cursor, current: asset }} {sharedLink} {onSwipe} />
     {:else if viewerKind === 'VideoViewer'}
       <VideoViewer
         {asset}
@@ -554,7 +649,7 @@
     {/if}
   </div>
 
-  {#if $slideshowState === SlideshowState.None && showNavigation && !assetViewerManager.isShowEditor && nextAsset}
+  {#if $slideshowState === SlideshowState.None && showNavigation && !assetViewerManager.isShowEditor && !isFaceEditMode.value && nextAsset}
     <div class="my-auto col-span-1 col-start-4 row-span-full row-start-1 justify-self-end">
       <NextAssetAction onNextAsset={() => navigateAsset('next')} />
     </div>
@@ -582,10 +677,14 @@
   {#if stack && withStacked && !assetViewerManager.isShowEditor}
     {@const stackedAssets = stack.assets}
     <div id="stack-slideshow" class="absolute bottom-0 w-full col-span-4 col-start-1 pointer-events-none">
-      <div class="relative flex flex-row no-wrap overflow-x-auto overflow-y-hidden horizontal-scrollbar">
+      <div
+        role="presentation"
+        class="relative inline-flex flex-row no-wrap overflow-x-auto overflow-y-hidden horizontal-scrollbar pointer-events-auto"
+        onmouseleave={handleStackedAssetsMouseLeave}
+      >
         {#each stackedAssets as stackedAsset (stackedAsset.id)}
           <div
-            class={['inline-block px-1 relative transition-all pb-2 pointer-events-auto']}
+            class={['inline-block px-1 relative transition-all pb-2']}
             style:bottom={stackedAsset.id === asset.id ? '0' : '-10px'}
           >
             <Thumbnail
@@ -594,7 +693,7 @@
               dimmed={stackedAsset.id !== asset.id}
               asset={toTimelineAsset(stackedAsset)}
               onClick={() => {
-                cursor.current = stackedAsset;
+                selectedStackAsset = stackedAsset;
                 previewStackedAsset = undefined;
               }}
               onMouseEvent={({ isMouseOver }) => handleStackedAssetMouseEvent(isMouseOver, stackedAsset)}
@@ -604,11 +703,9 @@
               disableLinkMouseOver
             />
 
-            {#if stackedAsset.id === asset.id}
-              <div class="w-full flex place-items-center place-content-center">
-                <div class="w-2 h-2 bg-white rounded-full flex mt-0.5"></div>
-              </div>
-            {/if}
+            <div class="w-full flex place-items-center place-content-center">
+              <div class={['w-2 h-2 rounded-full flex mt-0.5', { 'bg-white': stackedAsset.id === asset.id }]}></div>
+            </div>
           </div>
         {/each}
       </div>
diff --git a/web/src/lib/components/asset-viewer/face-editor/face-editor.svelte b/web/src/lib/components/asset-viewer/face-editor/face-editor.svelte
index 39088b23de..e84bc9fa0c 100644
--- a/web/src/lib/components/asset-viewer/face-editor/face-editor.svelte
+++ b/web/src/lib/components/asset-viewer/face-editor/face-editor.svelte
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   import { assetViewingStore } from '$lib/stores/asset-viewing.store';
   import { isFaceEditMode } from '$lib/stores/face-edit.svelte';
   import { getPeopleThumbnailUrl } from '$lib/utils';
-  import { getContentMetrics, getNaturalSize } from '$lib/utils/container-utils';
+  import { getNaturalSize, scaleToFit } from '$lib/utils/container-utils';
   import { handleError } from '$lib/utils/handle-error';
   import { createFace, getAllPeople, type PersonResponseDto } from '@immich/sdk';
   import { Button, Input, modalManager, toastManager } from '@immich/ui';
@@ -81,15 +81,20 @@
     await getPeople();
   });
 
-  $effect(() => {
-    const metrics = getContentMetrics(htmlElement);
-
-    const imageBoundingBox = {
-      top: metrics.offsetY,
-      left: metrics.offsetX,
-      width: metrics.contentWidth,
-      height: metrics.contentHeight,
+  const imageContentMetrics = $derived.by(() => {
+    const natural = getNaturalSize(htmlElement);
+    const container = { width: containerWidth, height: containerHeight };
+    const { width: contentWidth, height: contentHeight } = scaleToFit(natural, container);
+    return {
+      contentWidth,
+      contentHeight,
+      offsetX: (containerWidth - contentWidth) / 2,
+      offsetY: (containerHeight - contentHeight) / 2,
     };
+  });
+
+  $effect(() => {
+    const { offsetX, offsetY } = imageContentMetrics;
 
     if (!canvas) {
       return;
@@ -105,8 +110,8 @@
     }
 
     faceRect.set({
-      top: imageBoundingBox.top + 200,
-      left: imageBoundingBox.left + 200,
+      top: offsetY + 200,
+      left: offsetX + 200,
     });
 
     faceRect.setCoords();
@@ -214,13 +219,13 @@
     }
 
     const { left, top, width, height } = faceRect.getBoundingRect();
-    const metrics = getContentMetrics(htmlElement);
+    const { offsetX, offsetY, contentWidth, contentHeight } = imageContentMetrics;
     const natural = getNaturalSize(htmlElement);
 
-    const scaleX = natural.width / metrics.contentWidth;
-    const scaleY = natural.height / metrics.contentHeight;
-    const imageX = (left - metrics.offsetX) * scaleX;
-    const imageY = (top - metrics.offsetY) * scaleY;
+    const scaleX = natural.width / contentWidth;
+    const scaleY = natural.height / contentHeight;
+    const imageX = (left - offsetX) * scaleX;
+    const imageY = (top - offsetY) * scaleY;
 
     return {
       imageWidth: natural.width,
diff --git a/web/src/lib/components/asset-viewer/ocr-bounding-box.svelte b/web/src/lib/components/asset-viewer/ocr-bounding-box.svelte
index 6f6caad0fc..029559517a 100644
--- a/web/src/lib/components/asset-viewer/ocr-bounding-box.svelte
+++ b/web/src/lib/components/asset-viewer/ocr-bounding-box.svelte
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 
 <div class="absolute left-0 top-0">
   <div
-    class="absolute flex items-center justify-center text-transparent text-sm border-2 border-blue-500 bg-blue-500/10 px-2 py-1 pointer-events-auto cursor-text whitespace-pre-wrap wrap-break-word select-text transition-all hover:text-white hover:bg-black/60 hover:border-blue-600 hover:border-3"
+    class="absolute flex items-center justify-center text-transparent text-sm border-2 border-blue-500 bg-blue-500/10 px-2 py-1 pointer-events-auto cursor-text whitespace-pre-wrap wrap-break-word select-text transition-colors hover:text-white hover:bg-black/60 hover:border-blue-600 hover:border-3"
     style="font-size: {fontSize}; width: {dimensions.width}px; height: {dimensions.height}px; transform: {transform}; transform-origin: 0 0;"
   >
     {ocrBox.text}
diff --git a/web/src/lib/components/asset-viewer/photo-viewer.svelte b/web/src/lib/components/asset-viewer/photo-viewer.svelte
index 69a6f0f103..b809d996b7 100644
--- a/web/src/lib/components/asset-viewer/photo-viewer.svelte
+++ b/web/src/lib/components/asset-viewer/photo-viewer.svelte
@@ -1,66 +1,56 @@
 <script lang="ts">
   import { shortcuts } from '$lib/actions/shortcut';
+  import { thumbhash } from '$lib/actions/thumbhash';
   import { zoomImageAction } from '$lib/actions/zoom-image';
+  import AdaptiveImage from '$lib/components/AdaptiveImage.svelte';
   import FaceEditor from '$lib/components/asset-viewer/face-editor/face-editor.svelte';
   import OcrBoundingBox from '$lib/components/asset-viewer/ocr-bounding-box.svelte';
-  import BrokenAsset from '$lib/components/assets/broken-asset.svelte';
   import AssetViewerEvents from '$lib/components/AssetViewerEvents.svelte';
-  import { assetViewerFadeDuration } from '$lib/constants';
   import { assetViewerManager } from '$lib/managers/asset-viewer-manager.svelte';
   import { castManager } from '$lib/managers/cast-manager.svelte';
-  import { imageManager } from '$lib/managers/ImageManager.svelte';
   import { isFaceEditMode } from '$lib/stores/face-edit.svelte';
   import { ocrManager } from '$lib/stores/ocr.svelte';
   import { boundingBoxesArray } from '$lib/stores/people.store';
   import { SlideshowLook, SlideshowState, slideshowLookCssMapping, slideshowStore } from '$lib/stores/slideshow.store';
-  import { getAssetUrl, targetImageSize as getTargetImageSize, handlePromiseError } from '$lib/utils';
+  import { handlePromiseError } from '$lib/utils';
   import { canCopyImageToClipboard, copyImageToClipboard } from '$lib/utils/asset-utils';
-  import { type ContentMetrics, getContentMetrics } from '$lib/utils/container-utils';
+  import { type ContentMetrics, getNaturalSize, scaleToFit } from '$lib/utils/container-utils';
   import { handleError } from '$lib/utils/handle-error';
   import { getOcrBoundingBoxes } from '$lib/utils/ocr-utils';
   import { getBoundingBox } from '$lib/utils/people-utils';
-  import { getAltText } from '$lib/utils/thumbnail-util';
-  import { toTimelineAsset } from '$lib/utils/timeline-util';
-  import { AssetMediaSize, type SharedLinkResponseDto } from '@immich/sdk';
-  import { LoadingSpinner, toastManager } from '@immich/ui';
+  import { type SharedLinkResponseDto } from '@immich/sdk';
+  import { toastManager } from '@immich/ui';
   import { onDestroy, untrack } from 'svelte';
   import { useSwipe, type SwipeCustomEvent } from 'svelte-gestures';
   import { t } from 'svelte-i18n';
-  import { fade } from 'svelte/transition';
   import type { AssetCursor } from './asset-viewer.svelte';
 
   interface Props {
     cursor: AssetCursor;
-    element?: HTMLDivElement | undefined;
-    haveFadeTransition?: boolean;
-    sharedLink?: SharedLinkResponseDto | undefined;
-    onPreviousAsset?: (() => void) | null;
-    onNextAsset?: (() => void) | null;
+    element?: HTMLDivElement;
+    sharedLink?: SharedLinkResponseDto;
+    onReady?: () => void;
+    onError?: () => void;
+    onSwipe?: (event: SwipeCustomEvent) => void;
   }
 
-  let {
-    cursor,
-    element = $bindable(),
-    haveFadeTransition = true,
-    sharedLink = undefined,
-    onPreviousAsset = null,
-    onNextAsset = null,
-  }: Props = $props();
+  let { cursor, element = $bindable(), sharedLink, onReady, onError, onSwipe }: Props = $props();
 
   const { slideshowState, slideshowLook } = slideshowStore;
   const asset = $derived(cursor.current);
 
-  let imageLoaded: boolean = $state(false);
-  let originalImageLoaded: boolean = $state(false);
-  let imageError: boolean = $state(false);
   let visibleImageReady: boolean = $state(false);
 
-  let loader = $state<HTMLImageElement>();
-
+  let previousAssetId: string | undefined;
   $effect.pre(() => {
-    void asset.id;
+    const id = asset.id;
+    if (id === previousAssetId) {
+      return;
+    }
+    previousAssetId = id;
     untrack(() => {
       assetViewerManager.resetZoomState();
+      visibleImageReady = false;
       $boundingBoxesArray = [];
     });
   });
@@ -69,25 +59,30 @@
     $boundingBoxesArray = [];
   });
 
+  let containerWidth = $state(0);
+  let containerHeight = $state(0);
+
+  const container = $derived({
+    width: containerWidth,
+    height: containerHeight,
+  });
+
   const overlayMetrics = $derived.by((): ContentMetrics => {
     if (!assetViewerManager.imgRef || !visibleImageReady) {
       return { contentWidth: 0, contentHeight: 0, offsetX: 0, offsetY: 0 };
     }
 
-    const { contentWidth, contentHeight, offsetX, offsetY } = getContentMetrics(assetViewerManager.imgRef);
-    const { currentZoom, currentPositionX, currentPositionY } = assetViewerManager.zoomState;
-
+    const natural = getNaturalSize(assetViewerManager.imgRef);
+    const scaled = scaleToFit(natural, container);
     return {
-      contentWidth: contentWidth * currentZoom,
-      contentHeight: contentHeight * currentZoom,
-      offsetX: offsetX * currentZoom + currentPositionX,
-      offsetY: offsetY * currentZoom + currentPositionY,
+      contentWidth: scaled.width,
+      contentHeight: scaled.height,
+      offsetX: 0,
+      offsetY: 0,
     };
   });
 
-  let ocrBoxes = $derived(ocrManager.showOverlay ? getOcrBoundingBoxes(ocrManager.data, overlayMetrics) : []);
-
-  let isOcrActive = $derived(ocrManager.showOverlay);
+  const ocrBoxes = $derived(ocrManager.showOverlay ? getOcrBoundingBoxes(ocrManager.data, overlayMetrics) : []);
 
   const onCopy = async () => {
     if (!canCopyImageToClipboard() || !assetViewerManager.imgRef) {
@@ -124,29 +119,15 @@
     handlePromiseError(onCopy());
   };
 
-  const onSwipe = (event: SwipeCustomEvent) => {
-    if (assetViewerManager.zoom > 1) {
-      return;
-    }
+  let currentPreviewUrl = $state<string>();
 
-    if (ocrManager.showOverlay) {
-      return;
-    }
-
-    if (onNextAsset && event.detail.direction === 'left') {
-      onNextAsset();
-    }
-
-    if (onPreviousAsset && event.detail.direction === 'right') {
-      onPreviousAsset();
-    }
+  const onUrlChange = (url: string) => {
+    currentPreviewUrl = url;
   };
 
-  const targetImageSize = $derived(getTargetImageSize(asset, originalImageLoaded || assetViewerManager.zoom > 1));
-
   $effect(() => {
-    if (imageLoaderUrl) {
-      void cast(imageLoaderUrl);
+    if (currentPreviewUrl) {
+      void cast(currentPreviewUrl);
     }
   });
 
@@ -164,37 +145,11 @@
     }
   };
 
-  const onload = () => {
-    imageLoaded = true;
-    originalImageLoaded = targetImageSize === AssetMediaSize.Fullsize || targetImageSize === 'original';
-  };
-
-  const onerror = () => {
-    imageError = imageLoaded = true;
-  };
-
-  onDestroy(() => imageManager.cancel(asset, targetImageSize));
-
-  let imageLoaderUrl = $derived(
-    getAssetUrl({ asset, sharedLink, forceOriginal: originalImageLoaded || assetViewerManager.zoom > 1 }),
+  const blurredSlideshow = $derived(
+    $slideshowState !== SlideshowState.None && $slideshowLook === SlideshowLook.BlurredBackground && !!asset.thumbhash,
   );
 
-  let containerWidth = $state(0);
-  let containerHeight = $state(0);
-
-  let lastUrl: string | undefined;
-
-  $effect(() => {
-    if (lastUrl && lastUrl !== imageLoaderUrl) {
-      untrack(() => {
-        imageLoaded = false;
-        originalImageLoaded = false;
-        imageError = false;
-        visibleImageReady = false;
-      });
-    }
-    lastUrl = imageLoaderUrl;
-  });
+  let adaptiveImage = $state<HTMLDivElement | undefined>();
 </script>
 
 <AssetViewerEvents {onCopy} {onZoom} />
@@ -207,47 +162,41 @@
     { shortcut: { key: 'c', meta: true }, onShortcut: onCopyShortcut, preventDefault: false },
   ]}
 />
-{#if imageError}
-  <div id="broken-asset" class="h-full w-full">
-    <BrokenAsset class="text-xl h-full w-full" />
-  </div>
-{/if}
-<img bind:this={loader} style="display:none" src={imageLoaderUrl} alt="" aria-hidden="true" {onload} {onerror} />
+
 <div
   bind:this={element}
   class="relative h-full w-full select-none"
   bind:clientWidth={containerWidth}
   bind:clientHeight={containerHeight}
+  use:zoomImageAction={{ disabled: isFaceEditMode.value, zoomTarget: adaptiveImage }}
+  {...useSwipe((event) => onSwipe?.(event))}
 >
-  {#if !imageLoaded}
-    <div id="spinner" class="flex h-full items-center justify-center">
-      <LoadingSpinner />
-    </div>
-  {:else if !imageError}
-    <div
-      use:zoomImageAction={{ disabled: isOcrActive }}
-      {...useSwipe(onSwipe)}
-      class="h-full w-full"
-      transition:fade={{ duration: haveFadeTransition ? assetViewerFadeDuration : 0 }}
-    >
-      {#if $slideshowState !== SlideshowState.None && $slideshowLook === SlideshowLook.BlurredBackground}
-        <img
-          src={imageLoaderUrl}
-          alt=""
-          class="-z-1 absolute top-0 start-0 object-cover h-full w-full blur-lg"
-          draggable="false"
-        />
+  <AdaptiveImage
+    {asset}
+    {sharedLink}
+    {container}
+    imageClass={`${$slideshowState === SlideshowState.None ? 'object-contain' : slideshowLookCssMapping[$slideshowLook]}`}
+    {onUrlChange}
+    onImageReady={() => {
+      visibleImageReady = true;
+      onReady?.();
+    }}
+    onError={() => {
+      onError?.();
+      onReady?.();
+    }}
+    bind:imgRef={assetViewerManager.imgRef}
+    bind:ref={adaptiveImage}
+  >
+    {#snippet backdrop()}
+      {#if blurredSlideshow}
+        <canvas
+          use:thumbhash={{ base64ThumbHash: asset.thumbhash! }}
+          class="-z-1 absolute top-0 left-0 start-0 h-dvh w-dvw"
+        ></canvas>
       {/if}
-      <img
-        bind:this={assetViewerManager.imgRef}
-        src={imageLoaderUrl}
-        onload={() => (visibleImageReady = true)}
-        alt={$getAltText(toTimelineAsset(asset))}
-        class="h-full w-full {$slideshowState === SlideshowState.None
-          ? 'object-contain'
-          : slideshowLookCssMapping[$slideshowLook]}"
-        draggable="false"
-      />
+    {/snippet}
+    {#snippet overlays()}
       {#each getBoundingBox($boundingBoxesArray, overlayMetrics) as boundingbox (boundingbox.id)}
         <div
           class="absolute border-solid border-white border-3 rounded-lg"
@@ -258,23 +207,10 @@
       {#each ocrBoxes as ocrBox (ocrBox.id)}
         <OcrBoundingBox {ocrBox} />
       {/each}
-    </div>
+    {/snippet}
+  </AdaptiveImage>
 
-    {#if isFaceEditMode.value}
-      <FaceEditor htmlElement={assetViewerManager.imgRef} {containerWidth} {containerHeight} assetId={asset.id} />
-    {/if}
+  {#if isFaceEditMode.value && assetViewerManager.imgRef}
+    <FaceEditor htmlElement={assetViewerManager.imgRef} {containerWidth} {containerHeight} assetId={asset.id} />
   {/if}
 </div>
-
-<style>
-  @keyframes delayedVisibility {
-    to {
-      visibility: visible;
-    }
-  }
-  #broken-asset,
-  #spinner {
-    visibility: hidden;
-    animation: 0s linear 0.4s forwards delayedVisibility;
-  }
-</style>
diff --git a/web/src/lib/managers/ImageManager.svelte.ts b/web/src/lib/managers/ImageManager.svelte.ts
index 004974d677..491437c72d 100644
--- a/web/src/lib/managers/ImageManager.svelte.ts
+++ b/web/src/lib/managers/ImageManager.svelte.ts
@@ -4,19 +4,42 @@ import { AssetMediaSize, type AssetResponseDto } from '@immich/sdk';
 
 type AllAssetMediaSize = AssetMediaSize | 'all';
 
+type AssetLoadState = 'loading' | 'cancelled';
+
 class ImageManager {
+  private assetStates = new Map<string, AssetLoadState>();
+  private readonly MAX_TRACKED_ASSETS = 10;
+
+  private trackAction(asset: AssetResponseDto, action: AssetLoadState) {
+    this.assetStates.delete(asset.id);
+    this.assetStates.set(asset.id, action);
+
+    if (this.assetStates.size > this.MAX_TRACKED_ASSETS) {
+      const firstKey = this.assetStates.keys().next().value!;
+      this.assetStates.delete(firstKey);
+    }
+  }
+
+  isCanceled(asset: AssetResponseDto) {
+    return 'cancelled' === this.assetStates.get(asset.id);
+  }
+
+  trackLoad(asset: AssetResponseDto) {
+    this.trackAction(asset, 'loading');
+  }
+
+  trackCancelled(asset: AssetResponseDto) {
+    this.trackAction(asset, 'cancelled');
+  }
+
   preload(asset: AssetResponseDto | undefined, size: AssetMediaSize = AssetMediaSize.Preview) {
     if (!asset) {
       return;
     }
-
-    const url = getAssetMediaUrl({ id: asset.id, size, cacheKey: asset.thumbhash });
-    if (!url) {
-      return;
-    }
-
+    const src = getAssetMediaUrl({ id: asset.id, size, cacheKey: asset.thumbhash });
+    this.trackLoad(asset);
     const img = new Image();
-    img.src = url;
+    img.src = src;
   }
 
   cancel(asset: AssetResponseDto | undefined, size: AllAssetMediaSize = AssetMediaSize.Preview) {
@@ -24,6 +47,8 @@ class ImageManager {
       return;
     }
 
+    this.trackCancelled(asset);
+
     const sizes = size === 'all' ? Object.values(AssetMediaSize) : [size];
     for (const size of sizes) {
       const url = getAssetMediaUrl({ id: asset.id, size, cacheKey: asset.thumbhash });
diff --git a/web/src/lib/utils/adaptive-image-loader.svelte.ts b/web/src/lib/utils/adaptive-image-loader.svelte.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5c14a3f835
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/lib/utils/adaptive-image-loader.svelte.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,297 @@
+import type { LoadImageFunction } from '$lib/actions/image-loader.svelte';
+import { imageManager } from '$lib/managers/ImageManager.svelte';
+import { getAssetMediaUrl, getAssetUrl } from '$lib/utils';
+import { AssetMediaSize, type AssetResponseDto, type SharedLinkResponseDto } from '@immich/sdk';
+
+/**
+ * Quality levels for progressive image loading
+ */
+type ImageQuality =
+  | 'basic'
+  | 'loading-thumbnail'
+  | 'thumbnail'
+  | 'loading-preview'
+  | 'preview'
+  | 'loading-original'
+  | 'original';
+
+const qualityOrder: Record<ImageQuality, number> = {
+  basic: 0,
+  'loading-thumbnail': 1,
+  thumbnail: 2,
+  'loading-preview': 3,
+  preview: 4,
+  'loading-original': 5,
+  original: 6,
+};
+
+export interface ImageLoaderState {
+  previewUrl?: string;
+  thumbnailUrl?: string;
+  originalUrl?: string;
+  quality: ImageQuality;
+  hasError: boolean;
+  thumbnailImage: ImageStatus;
+  previewImage: ImageStatus;
+  originalImage: ImageStatus;
+}
+
+export enum ImageStatus {
+  Unloaded = 'Unloaded',
+  Success = 'Success',
+  Error = 'Error',
+}
+
+/**
+ * Coordinates adaptive loading of a single asset image:
+ * thumbhash → thumbnail → preview → original (on zoom)
+ *
+ */
+let nextLoaderId = 0;
+
+export class AdaptiveImageLoader {
+  readonly id = nextLoaderId++;
+
+  private internalState = $state<ImageLoaderState>({
+    quality: 'basic',
+    hasError: false,
+    thumbnailImage: ImageStatus.Unloaded,
+    previewImage: ImageStatus.Unloaded,
+    originalImage: ImageStatus.Unloaded,
+  });
+
+  private readonly currentZoomFn?: () => number;
+  private readonly imageLoader?: LoadImageFunction;
+  private readonly destroyFunctions: (() => void)[] = [];
+  readonly thumbnailUrl: string;
+  readonly previewUrl: string;
+  readonly originalUrl: string;
+  readonly asset: AssetResponseDto;
+  readonly sharedLink?: SharedLinkResponseDto;
+  readonly callbacks?: {
+    currentZoomFn: () => number;
+    onUrlChange?: (url: string) => void;
+    onImageReady?: () => void;
+    onError?: () => void;
+  };
+  destroyed = false;
+
+  constructor(
+    asset: AssetResponseDto,
+    sharedLink: SharedLinkResponseDto | undefined,
+    callbacks?: {
+      currentZoomFn: () => number;
+      onUrlChange?: (url: string) => void;
+      onImageReady?: () => void;
+      onError?: () => void;
+    },
+    imageLoader?: LoadImageFunction,
+  ) {
+    imageManager.trackLoad(asset);
+    this.asset = asset;
+    this.callbacks = callbacks;
+    this.imageLoader = imageLoader;
+    this.thumbnailUrl = getAssetMediaUrl({ id: asset.id, cacheKey: asset.thumbhash, size: AssetMediaSize.Thumbnail });
+    this.previewUrl = getAssetUrl({ asset, sharedLink })!;
+    this.originalUrl = getAssetUrl({ asset, sharedLink, forceOriginal: true })!;
+    this.internalState.thumbnailUrl = this.thumbnailUrl;
+    this.sharedLink = sharedLink;
+  }
+
+  start() {
+    if (!this.imageLoader) {
+      throw new Error('Start requires imageLoader to be specified');
+    }
+    this.destroyFunctions.push(
+      this.imageLoader(
+        this.thumbnailUrl,
+        () => this.onThumbnailLoad(),
+        () => this.onThumbnailError(),
+        () => this.onThumbnailStart(),
+      ),
+    );
+  }
+
+  get state(): ImageLoaderState {
+    return this.internalState;
+  }
+
+  private shouldUpdateQuality(newQuality: ImageQuality): boolean {
+    const currentLevel = qualityOrder[this.internalState.quality];
+    const newLevel = qualityOrder[newQuality];
+    return newLevel > currentLevel;
+  }
+
+  onThumbnailStart() {
+    if (this.destroyed) {
+      return;
+    }
+    if (!this.shouldUpdateQuality('loading-thumbnail')) {
+      return;
+    }
+    this.internalState.quality = 'loading-thumbnail';
+  }
+
+  onThumbnailLoad() {
+    if (this.destroyed) {
+      return;
+    }
+    if (!this.shouldUpdateQuality('thumbnail')) {
+      return;
+    }
+    this.internalState.quality = 'thumbnail';
+    this.internalState.thumbnailImage = ImageStatus.Success;
+    this.callbacks?.onUrlChange?.(this.thumbnailUrl);
+    this.callbacks?.onImageReady?.();
+    this.triggerMainImage();
+  }
+
+  onThumbnailError() {
+    if (this.destroyed) {
+      return;
+    }
+    this.internalState.hasError = true;
+    this.internalState.thumbnailUrl = undefined;
+    this.internalState.thumbnailImage = ImageStatus.Error;
+    this.callbacks?.onError?.();
+    this.triggerMainImage();
+  }
+
+  triggerMainImage() {
+    const wantsOriginal = (this.currentZoomFn?.() ?? 1) > 1;
+    return wantsOriginal ? this.triggerOriginal() : this.triggerPreview();
+  }
+
+  triggerPreview() {
+    if (!this.previewUrl) {
+      // no preview, try original?
+      this.triggerOriginal();
+      return false;
+    }
+    if (this.internalState.previewUrl) {
+      // Already triggered
+      return true;
+    }
+    this.internalState.hasError = false;
+    this.internalState.previewUrl = this.previewUrl;
+    if (this.imageLoader) {
+      this.destroyFunctions.push(
+        this.imageLoader(
+          this.previewUrl,
+
+          () => this.onPreviewLoad(),
+          () => this.onPreviewError(),
+          () => this.onPreviewStart(),
+        ),
+      );
+    }
+  }
+
+  onPreviewStart() {
+    if (this.destroyed) {
+      return;
+    }
+    if (!this.shouldUpdateQuality('loading-preview')) {
+      return;
+    }
+    this.internalState.quality = 'loading-preview';
+  }
+
+  onPreviewLoad() {
+    if (this.destroyed) {
+      return;
+    }
+    if (!this.internalState.previewUrl) {
+      return;
+    }
+    if (!this.shouldUpdateQuality('preview')) {
+      return;
+    }
+    this.internalState.quality = 'preview';
+    this.internalState.previewImage = ImageStatus.Success;
+    this.callbacks?.onUrlChange?.(this.previewUrl);
+    this.callbacks?.onImageReady?.();
+  }
+
+  onPreviewError() {
+    if (this.destroyed || imageManager.isCanceled(this.asset)) {
+      return;
+    }
+    this.internalState.hasError = true;
+    this.internalState.previewImage = ImageStatus.Error;
+    this.internalState.previewUrl = undefined;
+    this.callbacks?.onError?.();
+    this.triggerOriginal();
+  }
+
+  triggerOriginal() {
+    if (!this.originalUrl) {
+      return false;
+    }
+    if (this.internalState.originalUrl) {
+      // Already triggered
+      return true;
+    }
+    this.internalState.hasError = false;
+    this.internalState.originalUrl = this.originalUrl;
+
+    if (this.imageLoader) {
+      this.destroyFunctions.push(
+        this.imageLoader(
+          this.originalUrl,
+
+          () => this.onOriginalLoad(),
+          () => this.onOriginalError(),
+          () => this.onOriginalStart(),
+        ),
+      );
+    }
+  }
+
+  onOriginalStart() {
+    if (this.destroyed || imageManager.isCanceled(this.asset)) {
+      return;
+    }
+    if (!this.shouldUpdateQuality('loading-original')) {
+      return;
+    }
+    this.internalState.quality = 'loading-original';
+  }
+
+  onOriginalLoad() {
+    if (this.destroyed || imageManager.isCanceled(this.asset)) {
+      return;
+    }
+    if (!this.internalState.originalUrl) {
+      return;
+    }
+    if (!this.shouldUpdateQuality('original')) {
+      return;
+    }
+    this.internalState.quality = 'original';
+    this.internalState.originalImage = ImageStatus.Success;
+    this.callbacks?.onUrlChange?.(this.originalUrl);
+    this.callbacks?.onImageReady?.();
+  }
+
+  onOriginalError() {
+    if (this.destroyed || imageManager.isCanceled(this.asset)) {
+      return;
+    }
+    this.internalState.hasError = true;
+    this.internalState.originalImage = ImageStatus.Error;
+    this.internalState.originalUrl = undefined;
+    this.callbacks?.onError?.();
+  }
+
+  destroy(): void {
+    this.destroyed = true;
+    if (this.imageLoader) {
+      for (const destroy of this.destroyFunctions) {
+        destroy();
+      }
+      return;
+    }
+    imageManager.cancel(this.asset);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/web/src/lib/utils/layout-utils.spec.ts b/web/src/lib/utils/layout-utils.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..94f1ffb335
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/lib/utils/layout-utils.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+import { scaleToFit } from '$lib/utils/container-utils';
+
+describe('scaleToFit', () => {
+  const tests = [
+    {
+      name: 'landscape image in square container',
+      dimensions: { width: 2000, height: 1000 },
+      container: { width: 500, height: 500 },
+      expected: { width: 500, height: 250 },
+    },
+    {
+      name: 'portrait image in square container',
+      dimensions: { width: 1000, height: 2000 },
+      container: { width: 500, height: 500 },
+      expected: { width: 250, height: 500 },
+    },
+    {
+      name: 'square image in square container',
+      dimensions: { width: 1000, height: 1000 },
+      container: { width: 500, height: 500 },
+      expected: { width: 500, height: 500 },
+    },
+    {
+      name: 'landscape image in landscape container',
+      dimensions: { width: 1600, height: 900 },
+      container: { width: 800, height: 600 },
+      expected: { width: 800, height: 450 },
+    },
+    {
+      name: 'portrait image in portrait container',
+      dimensions: { width: 900, height: 1600 },
+      container: { width: 600, height: 800 },
+      expected: { width: 450, height: 800 },
+    },
+    {
+      name: 'image matches container exactly',
+      dimensions: { width: 500, height: 300 },
+      container: { width: 500, height: 300 },
+      expected: { width: 500, height: 300 },
+    },
+    {
+      name: 'image smaller than container scales up',
+      dimensions: { width: 100, height: 50 },
+      container: { width: 400, height: 400 },
+      expected: { width: 400, height: 200 },
+    },
+  ];
+
+  for (const { name, dimensions, container, expected } of tests) {
+    it(`should handle ${name}`, () => {
+      expect(scaleToFit(dimensions, container)).toEqual(expected);
+    });
+  }
+});