diff --git a/CURRENT.md b/CURRENT.md
index 2eff397..a78b94f 100644
--- a/CURRENT.md
+++ b/CURRENT.md
@@ -40,6 +40,14 @@ mobile draft at 390px.
   - [x] C11 preview caching: Discord-hosted image/GIF previews (WebP 320px, hash-addressed, 5 MiB
     cap, one attempt) run after every walk in both modes. Live run `...-20260916090722`:
     `previewed: 2`; thumbs served over `/api/media/<scrape>/<item>/thumb` (200).
+  - [x] C45 Streaming media grid. The grid rebuilt every card on each appended page, which made
+    filtered browsing flash, and the `Load more` trigger only worked once the grid could already
+    scroll, so short filtered pages dead-stopped at ~11 cards. Now pages append incrementally
+    (existing images are never rebuilt), a stream buffer capped at 1.5 viewport heights keeps the
+    scroll alive while the next page loads, auto-fill cascades while the buffer is on screen, the
+    buffer note reads `Loading more…` / `Scroll for more` / `End of results`, and an elastic nudge
+    replaces the hard stop at the bottom. Smoke test: first load reaches 120 cards via auto-fill,
+    scrolling appends 120 → 440 with no broken images.
   - [x] C44 One traffic pipeline and split ETAs. Walks and backfill batches now share a
     media-traffic lock: a walk holds it for its whole run, a batch for one batch, so the pacing
     settings bound total traffic instead of each action. Starting then immediately stopping a
diff --git a/docs/media.md b/docs/media.md
index bbb3a6c..2f73a39 100644
--- a/docs/media.md
+++ b/docs/media.md
@@ -175,9 +175,14 @@ that deletion is irreversible. The delete button is disabled for a 5 second coun
   can take its place while the hidden one stays resumable. The strip text turns red and reads
   `API limited, retry in Ns` while Discord throttles media traffic, and a translucent
   `N scrapes completed` line appears when scrapes finish — it lives until the tab is reloaded. Each
-  row shows `X/Yp (~Z%)` when the search total is known. The grid scrolls infinitely
-  (a **Load more** button appears as a fallback). Media whose source answers `403` shows a
-  **PRIVATE** tile and `404`/`410` shows **GONE**, with the reason in the tooltip. Some channels deny the bot the search endpoint (`Missing Access`) even though history
+  row shows `X/Yp (~Z%)` when the search total is known. The grid streams: appending a page inserts
+  only the new cards, so loaded images never rebuild or flash, and a stream **buffer** below the last
+  row keeps the scroll alive while the next page is in flight. The buffer is capped at 1.5 viewport
+  heights, shrinks as the filtered results run out, and says `Loading more…` / `Scroll for more` /
+  `End of results`; auto-fill cascades pages while the buffer is still in view, so a filter that
+  returns few items does not dead-stop at one page. At the very bottom while a page loads, an
+  elastic nudge replaces the hard stop. Media whose source answers `403` shows a **PRIVATE** tile
+  and `404`/`410` shows **GONE**, with the reason in the tooltip. Some channels deny the bot the search endpoint (`Missing Access`) even though history
   reads work, so the total is optional.
   **New scrape…** (rightmost) opens a popup with Server and Group chat trees (servers expand to
   channels; each row has Links and Download). Every scrape button asks for confirmation; the
diff --git a/docs/webui.md b/docs/webui.md
index d525df0..ba0f374 100644
--- a/docs/webui.md
+++ b/docs/webui.md
@@ -135,8 +135,12 @@ box live in Chat, not Call, and the connection stats are not chips yet.
   apply until **Apply filters** is pressed; **Reset** clears every filter and the zoom, unloads the
   grid, and brings back the initial Load media prompt.
 - A **Card size** slider scales tiles from two-thirds of the old size up to one image per row; the
-  page size follows the layout — full rows about 1.5 screens tall — and the grid infinite-scrolls,
-  preloading the next page's JSON and preview images just before they are needed.
+  page size follows the layout — full rows about 1.5 screens tall — and the grid streams: each page
+  appends only its new cards (no image flash) and a buffer below the last row, capped at 1.5
+  viewport heights, keeps the scroll alive while the next page loads. Auto-fill runs while the
+  buffer is on screen, so short filtered pages never dead-stop; the note reads `Loading more…`,
+  `Scroll for more`, or `End of results`, and an elastic nudge replaces the hard stop at the bottom
+  while loading. The next page's JSON and previews are preloaded just before they are needed.
   **New scrape…** opens a popup with **Server** and **Group chat**
   tabs: servers expand into their text channels, each channel (and each group chat) has
   **Links** and **Download** buttons, and group chats always use the puppet. **History** lists
diff --git a/poc/public/media.css b/poc/public/media.css
index 0011819..5d62a14 100644
--- a/poc/public/media.css
+++ b/poc/public/media.css
@@ -750,3 +750,21 @@
     cursor: help;
     text-decoration: underline dotted color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-neutral-400) 60%, transparent);
 }
+
+/* Stream buffer: scrollable room while the next page loads. */
+.vk-media-buffer {
+    grid-column: 1 / -1;
+    display: flex;
+    flex-direction: column;
+    align-items: center;
+    justify-content: flex-start;
+    gap: 8px;
+    overflow: hidden;
+    transition: height 160ms ease-out;
+}
+
+.vk-media-buffer-note {
+    padding: 10px 0;
+    font: 400 11px/1.5 ui-monospace, Menlo, monospace;
+    color: var(--color-neutral-500);
+}
diff --git a/poc/public/media.js b/poc/public/media.js
index 14c276a..b253ff2 100644
--- a/poc/public/media.js
+++ b/poc/public/media.js
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@
         zoom: Number(localStorage.getItem("vk-media-zoom") ?? 50),
         draft: null,
         prefetched: null,
+        prefetchPromise: null,
+        itemKeys: new Set(),
+        loadError: false,
         pageSize: 60,
         backfill: null,
         preferences: null,
@@ -101,6 +104,14 @@
     const tunablesHost = overlay.querySelector("#bot-tunables");
     const botErrors = overlay.querySelector("#bot-errors");
 
+    // The stream buffer: extra scrollable room so hitting the bottom is never a dead stop.
+    const buffer = el("div", "vk-media-buffer");
+    const bufferNote = el("div", "vk-media-buffer-note", "");
+    const bufferRetry = button("Retry", () => void loadNextPage());
+    bufferRetry.classList.add("vk-media-buffer-retry");
+    bufferRetry.hidden = true;
+    buffer.append(bufferNote, bufferRetry);
+
     const filterDrawer = el("div", "vk-media-drawer");
     filterDrawer.hidden = true;
     toolbar.after(filterDrawer);
@@ -297,58 +308,177 @@
         renderStatus();
     }
 
+    /** Append only the cards that are new, so existing images never get rebuilt. */
+    function appendPage(items) {
+        const fresh = [];
+        for (const item of items) {
+            const key = `${item.scrapeId}:${item.itemId}`;
+            if (state.itemKeys.has(key)) continue;
+            state.itemKeys.add(key);
+            fresh.push(item);
+        }
+
+        state.items = state.items.concat(fresh);
+        state.offset += items.length;
+        state.more = items.length >= state.pageSize;
+        state.loadError = false;
+
+        for (const item of fresh) grid.insertBefore(renderCard(item), buffer);
+        layoutBuffer();
+        renderStatus();
+    }
+
+    /** Reset the list and render everything from scratch. */
+    function renderCards() {
+        grid.replaceChildren();
+        for (const item of state.items) grid.append(renderCard(item));
+        if (!state.items.length) grid.append(el("div", "vk-media-status", "No media matches the filters."));
+        grid.append(buffer);
+        layoutBuffer();
+    }
+
     async function loadMedia(reset) {
         if (!state.loaded || state.loading) return;
 
         state.loading = true;
+        state.loadError = false;
+        layoutBuffer();
         if (reset) {
             state.items = [];
+            state.itemKeys = new Set();
             state.offset = 0;
-            state.more = false;
+            state.more = true;
             state.prefetched = null;
+            state.prefetchPromise = null;
         }
 
         try {
             const items = await window.VK.api.get(
                 `/api/media?limit=${state.pageSize}&offset=${state.offset}&${filterQuery()}`
             );
-            state.items = state.items.concat(items);
-            state.offset += items.length;
-            state.more = items.length >= state.pageSize;
+
+            if (reset) {
+                for (const item of items) state.itemKeys.add(`${item.scrapeId}:${item.itemId}`);
+                state.items = items;
+                state.offset += items.length;
+                state.more = items.length >= state.pageSize;
+                renderCards();
+            } else {
+                appendPage(items);
+            }
         } catch (error) {
+            state.loadError = true;
             setStatus(`media load failed: ${error.message}`);
         } finally {
             state.loading = false;
         }
 
-        renderGrid();
+        layoutBuffer();
         void loadStats();
         void prefetchNext();
+        void fillBuffer();
     }
 
     /** Warm the next page's JSON and preview images before the user reaches them. */
     async function prefetchNext() {
-        if (!state.loaded || !state.more || state.prefetched || state.loading) return;
+        if (!state.loaded || !state.more || state.prefetched || state.prefetchPromise || state.loading) return;
 
-        try {
-            const items = await window.VK.api.get(
-                `/api/media?limit=${state.pageSize}&offset=${state.offset}&${filterQuery()}`
-            );
-            if (!items.length) {
-                state.more = false;
-                return;
-            }
+        state.prefetchPromise = window.VK.api
+            .get(`/api/media?limit=${state.pageSize}&offset=${state.offset}&${filterQuery()}`)
+            .then(items => {
+                if (!items.length) {
+                    state.more = false;
+                    return;
+                }
 
-            state.prefetched = items;
-            for (const item of items) {
-                const src = item.thumbUrl || item.localUrl;
-                if (!src) continue;
-                const image = new Image();
-                image.src = src;
-            }
-        } catch {
-            // Preloading is best effort; the scroll handler falls back to a request.
+                state.prefetched = items;
+                for (const item of items) {
+                    const src = item.thumbUrl || item.localUrl;
+                    if (!src) continue;
+                    const image = new Image();
+                    image.src = src;
+                }
+            })
+            .catch(() => {
+                // Preloading is best effort; the scroll handler falls back to a request.
+            })
+            .finally(() => {
+                state.prefetchPromise = null;
+            });
+
+        await state.prefetchPromise;
+    }
+
+    /** Ensure the next page is on its way when the buffer is close or already in view. */
+    async function loadNextPage() {
+        if (state.loading || !state.loaded || !state.more) return;
+
+        if (state.prefetchPromise) await state.prefetchPromise;
+
+        if (state.prefetched) {
+            const items = state.prefetched;
+            state.prefetched = null;
+            appendPage(items);
+            void prefetchNext();
+            void fillBuffer();
+            return;
         }
+
+        await loadMedia(false);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * The buffer keeps scolling alive while the next page loads. Its height is capped at
+     * 1.5 viewport heights and shrinks as the end of the filtered results comes closer.
+     */
+    function layoutBuffer() {
+        if (!state.loaded) {
+            buffer.style.height = "0px";
+            bufferNote.textContent = "";
+            bufferRetry.hidden = true;
+            return;
+        }
+
+        if (!state.more && !state.loadError) {
+            buffer.style.height = "";
+            bufferNote.textContent = state.items.length ? "End of results" : "";
+            bufferRetry.hidden = true;
+            return;
+        }
+
+        const cap = Math.round((grid.clientHeight || 600) * 1.5);
+        const rowHeight = gridRowHeight();
+        const total = filteredTotal();
+        const remainingRows = total === null ? null : Math.ceil(Math.max(0, total - state.offset) / gridColumns());
+        const wanted = remainingRows === null ? cap : remainingRows * rowHeight;
+        buffer.style.height = `${Math.max(rowHeight, Math.min(cap, wanted))}px`;
+
+        bufferNote.textContent = state.loadError
+            ? "Could not load more."
+            : state.loading
+              ? "Loading more\u2026"
+              : "Scroll for more";
+        bufferRetry.hidden = !state.loadError;
+    }
+
+    /** Filtered total from the stats the status row already uses; null until known. */
+    function filteredTotal() {
+        const stats = state.stats;
+        if (!stats) return null;
+        return (
+            (stats.image?.total ?? 0) +
+            (stats.gif?.total ?? 0) +
+            (stats.video?.total ?? 0) +
+            (stats.audio?.total ?? 0)
+        );
+    }
+
+    /** Keep loading while the buffer is on screen, so short filtered pages never dead-stop. */
+    function fillBuffer() {
+        if (!state.more || state.loading || !state.loaded) return;
+        const top = buffer.getBoundingClientRect().top;
+        const bottom = grid.getBoundingClientRect().bottom;
+        if (top <= bottom + 320) void loadNextPage();
     }
 
     async function startScrape(channelId, guildId, mode, downloadDir, after, before) {
@@ -942,16 +1072,7 @@
             return;
         }
 
-        for (const item of state.items) grid.append(renderCard(item));
-
-        if (!state.items.length) {
-            grid.append(el("div", "vk-media-status", "No media matches the filters."));
-        } else if (state.more) {
-            const more = el("button", "btn btn-secondary vk-media-load-more", "Load more");
-            more.type = "button";
-            more.addEventListener("click", () => void loadMedia(false));
-            grid.append(more);
-        }
+        renderCards();
     }
 
     function filterSelect(options, value, onChange) {
@@ -1313,12 +1434,19 @@
         return Math.round(150 + ((zoom - 50) / 50) * Math.max(0, gridWidth - 150));
     }
 
+    function gridColumns() {
+        const width = cardWidth();
+        return Math.max(1, Math.floor(((grid.clientWidth || 900) + 8) / (width + 8)));
+    }
+
+    function gridRowHeight() {
+        return cardWidth() * 1.16 + 30;
+    }
+
     /** Items per page: full rows, about 1.5 screens tall. */
     function computePageSize() {
-        const width = cardWidth();
-        const columns = Math.max(1, Math.floor(((grid.clientWidth || 900) + 8) / (width + 8)));
-        const rowHeight = width * 1.16 + 30;
-        const rows = Math.max(1, Math.floor(((grid.clientHeight || 600) + 8) / (rowHeight + 8)));
+        const columns = gridColumns();
+        const rows = Math.max(1, Math.floor(((grid.clientHeight || 600) + 8) / (gridRowHeight() + 8)));
         return Math.max(columns, columns * Math.max(1, Math.ceil(rows * 1.5)));
     }
 
@@ -1328,6 +1456,7 @@
         grid.style.gridTemplateColumns =
             width >= gridWidth - 24 ? "1fr" : `repeat(auto-fill, minmax(${width}px, 1fr))`;
         state.pageSize = computePageSize();
+        layoutBuffer();
     }
 
     function resetMediaView() {
@@ -1414,26 +1543,67 @@
         if (state.view === "bot") void refreshBackfill();
     }, 3000);
 
-    // Infinite scroll: fetch the next page before the grid bottom is reached.
+    // Infinite scroll: the buffer entering the viewport starts the next page.
+    const bufferObserver = new IntersectionObserver(
+        entries => {
+            if (entries.some(entry => entry.isIntersecting)) void loadNextPage();
+        },
+        { root: grid, rootMargin: "400px 0px" }
+    );
+    bufferObserver.observe(buffer);
+
     grid.addEventListener("scroll", () => {
-        if (state.loading || !state.loaded) return;
-        if (grid.scrollTop + grid.clientHeight < grid.scrollHeight - 240) return;
-
-        if (state.prefetched) {
-            const items = state.prefetched;
-            state.prefetched = null;
-            state.items = state.items.concat(items);
-            state.offset += items.length;
-            state.more = items.length >= state.pageSize;
-            renderGrid();
-            void loadStats();
-            void prefetchNext();
-            return;
-        }
-
-        if (state.more) void loadMedia(false);
+        if (!state.loaded) return;
+        const remaining = grid.scrollHeight - grid.scrollTop - grid.clientHeight;
+        if (remaining < 400) void loadNextPage();
     });
 
+    // Past the buffer, a small elastic nudge instead of a hard stop while more is loading.
+    let elasticOffset = 0;
+    let elasticTimer = null;
+
+    function elastic(delta) {
+        if (!state.more || !state.loading) return;
+        const atBottom = grid.scrollTop + grid.clientHeight >= grid.scrollHeight - 2;
+        if (!atBottom) return;
+
+        elasticOffset = Math.max(-18, Math.min(0, elasticOffset - delta * 0.35));
+        grid.style.transition = "none";
+        grid.style.transform = `translateY(${elasticOffset}px)`;
+
+        clearTimeout(elasticTimer);
+        elasticTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+            grid.style.transition = "transform 160ms ease-out";
+            grid.style.transform = "";
+            elasticOffset = 0;
+        }, 60);
+    }
+
+    grid.addEventListener(
+        "wheel",
+        event => {
+            if (event.deltaY > 0) elastic(event.deltaY);
+        },
+        { passive: true }
+    );
+
+    let touchStartY = 0;
+    grid.addEventListener(
+        "touchstart",
+        event => {
+            touchStartY = event.touches[0]?.clientY ?? 0;
+        },
+        { passive: true }
+    );
+    grid.addEventListener(
+        "touchmove",
+        event => {
+            const y = event.touches[0]?.clientY ?? 0;
+            if (touchStartY - y > 0) elastic((touchStartY - y) / 8);
+        },
+        { passive: true }
+    );
+
     // ---- Scrape popup: server or group-chat trees ----
 
     const scrapeModal = document.createElement("div");
diff --git a/poc/test/media-ui-smoke.mjs b/poc/test/media-ui-smoke.mjs
index 5d37908..c413ef5 100644
--- a/poc/test/media-ui-smoke.mjs
+++ b/poc/test/media-ui-smoke.mjs
@@ -84,6 +84,33 @@ try {
     );
     step("broken images", broken);
     check("no broken images", broken === 0, broken);
+    check("stream buffer present", (await page.locator(".vk-media-buffer").count()) === 1);
+    check("no load-more button", (await page.locator(".vk-media-load-more").count()) === 0);
+
+    // Infinite scroll: scrolling into the buffer appends cards without rebuilding the grid.
+    const beforeScroll = await page.locator(".vk-media-figure").count();
+    for (let attempt = 0; attempt < 3; attempt++) {
+        await page.locator("#media-grid").evaluate(node => {
+            node.scrollTop = node.scrollHeight;
+        });
+        await page.waitForTimeout(1200);
+    }
+    const afterScroll = await page.locator(".vk-media-figure").count();
+    step("infinite scroll", { before: beforeScroll, after: afterScroll });
+    check("infinite scroll appends cards", afterScroll > beforeScroll, {
+        before: beforeScroll,
+        after: afterScroll
+    });
+    check(
+        "appended cards do not corrupt loaded ones",
+        (await page.$$eval(".vk-media-figure .vk-media-media img", images =>
+            images.filter(image => image.complete && image.naturalWidth === 0).length
+        )) === 0
+    );
+    await page.locator("#media-grid").evaluate(node => {
+        node.scrollTop = 0;
+    });
+    await page.waitForTimeout(300);
 
     await page.getByRole("button", { name: /^People/ }).click();
     step("people checkboxes", await page.locator(".vk-media-people input").count());