diff --git a/src/js/components/Fields/OutputControl.js b/src/js/components/Fields/OutputControl.js
index 0c4d334d9..f531aa12c 100755
--- a/src/js/components/Fields/OutputControl.js
+++ b/src/js/components/Fields/OutputControl.js
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ const OutputControl = ({ force_expanded }) => {
   if (expanded) {
     return (
       <span className="output-control">
-        {!force_expanded && <div className="click-outside" onClick={() => setExpanded(false)} />}
+        <div className="click-outside" onClick={() => setExpanded(false)} />
         <button
           className="control speakers active"
           onClick={() => setExpanded(false)}
diff --git a/src/js/locale/en.yaml b/src/js/locale/en.yaml
index 214ddef59..fe54163c7 100755
--- a/src/js/locale/en.yaml
+++ b/src/js/locale/en.yaml
@@ -18,6 +18,22 @@ errors:
   cannot_reorder:
     title: Cannot reorder items
     description: Remove sort/filters and try again
+  invalid_response: The server returned an empty or invalid response. This usually means the request failed partway through, your session expired, or the connection was interrupted.
+  network_unreachable: Could not reach the server. Check your network connection.
+  authorization_expired: Your authorization for this service has expired or been revoked. Try reconnecting it in Settings.
+  request_timeout: The request took too long and timed out.
+  http_status:
+    0: Could not reach the server. Check your network connection, or that the server is running.
+    400: The request was invalid or rejected by the server.
+    401: You are not authenticated, or your session has expired.
+    403: You do not have permission to do that.
+    404: The requested resource could not be found. It may have been removed or renamed.
+    408: The request timed out.
+    429: Too many requests were sent in a short period. Wait a moment and try again.
+    500: The server encountered an internal error.
+    502: The server is temporarily unavailable (bad gateway).
+    503: The server is temporarily unavailable.
+    504: The server took too long to respond (gateway timeout).
 actions:
   play: Play
   play_all: Play all
diff --git a/src/js/services/core/actions.js b/src/js/services/core/actions.js
index ff9e80369..9c35f55c3 100755
--- a/src/js/services/core/actions.js
+++ b/src/js/services/core/actions.js
@@ -8,17 +8,20 @@ export function handleException(message = '', data = {}, description = null, sho
   if (!message) {
     if (data.message) {
       message = data.message;
-    } else if (data.error.message) {
+    } else if (data.error?.message) {
       message = data.error.message;
     }
   }
   if (!description) {
     if (data.description) {
       description = data.description;
-    } else if (data.error && data.error.message) {
+    } else if (data.error?.message) {
       description = data.error.message;
-    } else if (data.error && data.error.description) {
+    } else if (data.error?.description) {
       description = data.error.description;
+    } else if (data.message && data.message !== message) {
+      // Covers plain Error/SyntaxError objects passed straight through as `data`
+      description = data.message;
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/src/js/services/core/middleware.js b/src/js/services/core/middleware.js
index 358f5516a..ad64d2df7 100755
--- a/src/js/services/core/middleware.js
+++ b/src/js/services/core/middleware.js
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import {
   titleCase,
 } from '../../util/helpers';
 import { ensureLoaded } from '../../util/library';
+import { humanizeError } from '../../util/errors';
 import {
   formatTracks,
   formatTrack,
@@ -70,15 +71,26 @@ const CoreMiddleware = (function () {
         // Construct meaningful message and description
         if (!description) {
           if (action.data.xhr && action.data.xhr.responseText) {
-            const xhr_response = JSON.parse(action.data.xhr.responseText);
-            if (xhr_response.error && xhr_response.error.message) {
-              description = xhr_response.error.message;
+            try {
+              const xhr_response = JSON.parse(action.data.xhr.responseText);
+              if (xhr_response.error?.message) {
+                description = xhr_response.error.message;
+              }
+            } catch (e) {
+              // Response wasn't JSON; fall through to the status line below
+            }
+            if (!description) {
+              description = `${action.data.xhr.status} ${action.data.xhr.statusText}`;
             }
           } else if (action.data.xhr) {
             description = `${action.data.xhr.status} ${action.data.xhr.statusText}`;
           }
         }
 
+        // Add plain-language context to descriptions that are otherwise just
+        // a bare exception message or HTTP status line
+        description = humanizeError(description, action.data);
+
         // Strip out non-essential store info
         delete exported_state.core.albums;
         delete exported_state.core.artists;
diff --git a/src/js/services/spotify/actions.js b/src/js/services/spotify/actions.js
index 0d47a00ed..7d1696c4e 100755
--- a/src/js/services/spotify/actions.js
+++ b/src/js/services/spotify/actions.js
@@ -122,7 +122,9 @@ const request = ({
         },
         (error) => {
           dispatch(coreActions.handleException(
-            error.error,
+            'Could not refresh your Spotify authorization',
+            error,
+            'This usually means your Spotify authorization has expired or been revoked. Try reconnecting Spotify in Settings.',
           ));
 
           reject(error);
@@ -329,8 +331,9 @@ export function getMe() {
         },
         (error) => {
           dispatch(coreActions.handleException(
-            'Could not load your profile',
+            'Could not load your Spotify profile',
             error,
+            'This usually means your Spotify authorization has expired or is invalid. Try reconnecting Spotify in Settings.',
           ));
         },
       );
@@ -467,6 +470,10 @@ export function getLibraryMoods(forceRefetch) {
             items_uris: arrayOf('uri', libraryItems),
           }));
         }
+      })
+      .catch((error) => {
+        dispatch(uiActions.processFinished(processKey));
+        dispatch(coreActions.handleException('Could not load library moods', error));
       });
 
     let endpoint = `browse/categories?limit=50&country=${country}&locale=${locale}`;
@@ -641,6 +648,12 @@ export function getSearchResults(query, limit = 50, offset = 0) {
     request({ dispatch, getState, endpoint })
       .then(
         (response) => {
+          const processor = getState().ui.processes[processKey];
+          if (processor && processor.status === 'cancelling') {
+            dispatch(uiActions.processCancelled(processKey));
+            return;
+          }
+
           if (response.tracks !== undefined) {
             dispatch(coreActions.searchResultsLoaded(
               getSearchResultKey({ provider: 'spotify', type: 'tracks', term }),
@@ -676,6 +689,7 @@ export function getSearchResults(query, limit = 50, offset = 0) {
           dispatch(uiActions.processFinished(processKey));
         },
         (error) => {
+          dispatch(uiActions.processFinished(processKey));
           dispatch(coreActions.handleException(
             'Could not load search results',
             error,
@@ -1730,6 +1744,10 @@ export function getLibraryPlaylists(forceRefetch) {
             items_uris: arrayOf('uri', libraryItems),
           }));
         }
+      })
+      .catch((error) => {
+        dispatch(uiActions.processFinished(processKey));
+        dispatch(coreActions.handleException('Could not load library playlists', error));
       });
 
     fetch(`me/playlists?limit=50${forceRefetch ? `&refetch=${Date.now()}` : ''}`);
@@ -1775,6 +1793,10 @@ export function getLibraryAlbums(forceRefetch) {
             items_uris: arrayOf('uri', libraryItems),
           }));
         }
+      })
+      .catch((error) => {
+        dispatch(uiActions.processFinished(processKey));
+        dispatch(coreActions.handleException('Could not load library albums', error));
       });
 
     fetch(`me/albums?limit=50${forceRefetch ? `&refetch=${Date.now()}` : ''}`);
@@ -1822,6 +1844,10 @@ export function getLibraryArtists(forceRefetch) {
             items_uris: arrayOf('uri', libraryItems),
           }));
         }
+      })
+      .catch((error) => {
+        dispatch(uiActions.processFinished(processKey));
+        dispatch(coreActions.handleException('Could not load library artists', error));
       });
 
     fetch(`me/following?type=artist&limit=50${forceRefetch ? `&refetch=${Date.now()}` : ''}`);
@@ -1866,6 +1892,10 @@ export function getLibraryTracks(forceRefetch) {
             items_uris: arrayOf('uri', libraryItems),
           }));
         }
+      })
+      .catch((error) => {
+        dispatch(uiActions.processFinished(processKey));
+        dispatch(coreActions.handleException('Could not load library tracks', error));
       });
 
     fetch(`me/tracks?limit=50${forceRefetch ? `&refetch=${Date.now()}` : ''}`);
diff --git a/src/js/util/errors.js b/src/js/util/errors.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3ad65b659
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/js/util/errors.js
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+import { i18n } from '../locale';
+
+// Common failure signatures that are technically accurate but meaningless to
+// a non-technical reader, mapped to the translation key holding a
+// plain-language explanation of what likely happened.
+const PATTERN_EXPLANATIONS = [
+  {
+    pattern: /unexpected end of (json )?input|json\.parse|unexpected token/i,
+    key: 'errors.invalid_response',
+  },
+  {
+    pattern: /failed to fetch|networkerror|network request failed|load failed|err_internet_disconnected|err_connection|err_name_not_resolved/i,
+    key: 'errors.network_unreachable',
+  },
+  {
+    pattern: /invalid_grant|refresh token expired|grant has been revoked/i,
+    key: 'errors.authorization_expired',
+  },
+  {
+    pattern: /timed? ?out/i,
+    key: 'errors.request_timeout',
+  },
+];
+
+const extractStatus = (data = {}) => {
+  if (data.xhr && typeof data.xhr.status === 'number') return data.xhr.status;
+  if (typeof data.status === 'number') return data.status;
+  return null;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Takes a raw error description (often a bare exception message or HTTP
+ * status line) and, where we recognise the shape of the problem, prefixes it
+ * with a plain-language explanation of the likely cause. Falls back to the
+ * original description untouched when nothing is recognised, so this is
+ * always safe to apply.
+ */
+export function humanizeError(description, data = {}) {
+  if (!description || typeof description !== 'string') return description;
+
+  const matchedPattern = PATTERN_EXPLANATIONS.find(({ pattern }) => pattern.test(description));
+  if (matchedPattern) {
+    const explanation = i18n(matchedPattern.key);
+    if (explanation) return `${explanation} (${description})`;
+  }
+
+  const status = extractStatus(data);
+  if (status !== null) {
+    const explanation = i18n(`errors.http_status.${status}`);
+    if (explanation) return `${explanation} (${description})`;
+  }
+
+  return description;
+}
+
+export default humanizeError;
diff --git a/src/scss/components/_output-control.scss b/src/scss/components/_output-control.scss
index 01b973137..6be0f9d98 100755
--- a/src/scss/components/_output-control.scss
+++ b/src/scss/components/_output-control.scss
@@ -284,7 +284,9 @@
 			padding: 0;
 			border-radius: 0;
 			max-height: calc(100vh - 140px);
-			overflow-y: visible;
+			max-height: calc(100dvh - 140px);
+			overflow-y: auto;
+			-webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch;
 
 			@include theme('dark') {
 				box-shadow: 0 -5px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.6);
diff --git a/src/service-worker.js b/src/service-worker.js
index ec3f2fa4d..de41ab379 100755
--- a/src/service-worker.js
+++ b/src/service-worker.js
@@ -26,41 +26,39 @@ self.addEventListener('fetch', (event) => {
   const { request } = event;
 
   event.respondWith(
+    caches.open('iris').then((cache) => fetch(request)
+      // Network-first: always prefer a live response so app updates (new
+      // JS/CSS bundles, fresh API data) are visible immediately, rather
+      // than being masked by a stale cache indefinitely. This cache is
+      // now purely an offline fallback, not a source of truth.
+      .then((liveResponse) => {
+        const isBlacklisted = inBlacklist(request.url);
 
-    // Opens Cache objects that start with 'font'.
-    caches.open('iris').then((cache) => cache.match(request)
-      .then((response) => {
-        if (response) {
-          return response;
-        }
-
-        // Not cached, so we make the request, return that and also save response in cache
-        return fetch(request)
-          .then((liveResponse) => {
-            const isBlacklisted = inBlacklist(request.url);
-
-            // Only cache successful GET requests
-            if (
-              !isBlacklisted
-                && request.method === 'GET'
-                && liveResponse.status >= 200
-                && liveResponse.status < 400
-            ) {
-              // Fixes Edge browser "'chrome-extension' is unsupported" issue
-              // See https://stackoverflow.com/questions/49157622/service-worker-typeerror-when-opening-chrome-extension
-              if (!/^https?:$/i.test(new URL(request.url).protocol)) return;
+        // Only cache successful GET requests
+        if (
+          !isBlacklisted
+            && request.method === 'GET'
+            && liveResponse.status >= 200
+            && liveResponse.status < 400
+        ) {
+          // Fixes Edge browser "'chrome-extension' is unsupported" issue
+          // See https://stackoverflow.com/questions/49157622/service-worker-typeerror-when-opening-chrome-extension
+          if (!/^https?:$/i.test(new URL(request.url).protocol)) return liveResponse;
 
-              cache.put(request, liveResponse.clone());
-            } else {
-              console.info(`Not caching ${isBlacklisted ? '(blacklisted) ' : ''}${request.method} ${request.url}`);
-            }
+          cache.put(request, liveResponse.clone());
+        } else {
+          console.info(`Not caching ${isBlacklisted ? '(blacklisted) ' : ''}${request.method} ${request.url}`);
+        }
 
-            return liveResponse;
-          });
+        return liveResponse;
+      })
+      // Network unavailable (offline): fall back to whatever we have cached.
+      .catch(() => cache.match(request).then((cachedResponse) => {
+        if (cachedResponse) {
+          return cachedResponse;
+        }
 
-        // Exceptions from match() or fetch()
-      }).catch((error) => {
-        throw error;
-      })),
+        throw new Error(`Network request failed and no cached response is available for ${request.url}`);
+      }))),
   );
 });