diff --git a/scripts/generate-preload-manifest.ts b/scripts/generate-preload-manifest.ts
index 8a0f9e8..3944de9 100644
--- a/scripts/generate-preload-manifest.ts
+++ b/scripts/generate-preload-manifest.ts
@@ -48,6 +48,21 @@ function calendarFiles(lang: string): string[] {
     if (exists(f)) files.push(`/data${f}`);
   }
 
+  // Shared fallback lives/commands — normally served per-language, but the
+  // runtime chain ends with a 'shared' attempt; keep those copies offline too.
+  for (const sub of ['lives', 'commands']) {
+    const subDir = path.join(DATA_DIR, 'shared', sub);
+    if (!fs.existsSync(subDir)) continue;
+    const walkShared = (d: string, rel: string): void => {
+      for (const e of fs.readdirSync(d, { withFileTypes: true })) {
+        const p = path.join(d, e.name);
+        if (e.isDirectory()) walkShared(p, `${rel}/${e.name}`);
+        else if (e.name.endsWith('.json')) files.push(`/data/shared/${sub}${rel}/${e.name}`);
+      }
+    };
+    walkShared(subDir, '');
+  }
+
   // Menaion bundle
   const mb = `/${lang}/menaion-bundle.json`;
   if (exists(mb)) files.push(`/data${mb}`);
diff --git a/src/core/data-cache.ts b/src/core/data-cache.ts
index 675368a..eaacdb2 100644
--- a/src/core/data-cache.ts
+++ b/src/core/data-cache.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@
  *   const estimate = await DataCache.estimate();
  */
 
+import { diagLog } from './diag-log';
+
 const DB_NAME = 'ponomar-cache';
 const DB_VERSION = 1;
 const STORE_NAME = 'data';
@@ -220,7 +222,11 @@ export class DataCache {
       const ct = resp.headers.get('content-type');
       if (resp.ok && !(ct && ct.includes('text/html'))) {
         const data: unknown = type === 'text' ? await resp.text() : await resp.json();
-        await DataCache.set(`url:${url}`, data);
+        const stored = await DataCache.set(`url:${url}`, data);
+        if (!stored) {
+          // Online view still gets its data; the offline copy is missing.
+          diagLog('idb-write-fail', { url });
+        }
         return data as T;
       }
     } catch { /* offline or invalid response — fall through to IDB */ }
@@ -261,7 +267,8 @@ export class DataCache {
       }
 
       // Cache the fetched data
-      await DataCache.set(cacheKey, data, options?.ttl);
+      const stored = await DataCache.set(cacheKey, data, options?.ttl);
+      if (!stored) diagLog('idb-write-fail', { url });
       return data as T;
     } catch {
       return null;
diff --git a/src/core/i18n.ts b/src/core/i18n.ts
index 21339a8..a046c90 100644
--- a/src/core/i18n.ts
+++ b/src/core/i18n.ts
@@ -524,6 +524,8 @@ export interface Translations {
     offlineCalculating: string;
     offlineDone: string;
     offlineFailed: string;
+    offlineDegraded: string;
+    offlineMissing: string;
     offlineSelectLang: string;
     offlineSelectAll: string;
     offlineCleared: string;
@@ -1097,6 +1099,8 @@ const translations: Record<LanguageCode, Translations> = {
       offlineCalculating: 'Calculating storage...',
       offlineDone: 'Done! Data cached for offline use.',
       offlineFailed: 'files failed to load (retry to attempt again)',
+      offlineDegraded: 'Preload could not read the full file list — a reduced set was cached. Check your connection and try again.',
+      offlineMissing: 'Note: {0} files were not found on the server.',
       offlineSelectLang: 'Please select at least one language.',
       offlineSelectAll: 'Select all',
       offlineCleared: 'Cache cleared.',
@@ -1668,6 +1672,8 @@ const translations: Record<LanguageCode, Translations> = {
       offlineCalculating: 'Расчёт размера...',
       offlineDone: 'Готово! Данные закэшированы для офлайн-использования.',
       offlineFailed: 'файлов не загружено (повторите для повторной попытки)',
+      offlineDegraded: 'Не удалось загрузить полный список файлов — закэширован сокращённый набор. Проверьте соединение и повторите.',
+      offlineMissing: 'Примечание: {0} файлов не найдено на сервере.',
       offlineSelectLang: 'Пожалуйста, выберите хотя бы один язык.',
       offlineSelectAll: 'Выбрать все',
       offlineCleared: 'Кэш очищен.',
@@ -2239,6 +2245,8 @@ const translations: Record<LanguageCode, Translations> = {
       offlineCalculating: 'Расчётъ размѣра...',
       offlineDone: 'Готово! Данныя закешированы для офлайн-потребленїя.',
       offlineFailed: 'фа́йловъ не загружено (повтори́те для повторной попытки)',
+      offlineDegraded: 'Не возмо́жно бѣ̀ прочестѝ по́лный спи́сокъ фа́йловъ — закеши́рованъ сокраще́нный набо́ръ. Провѣ́рьте соедине́нїе и҆ повтори́те.',
+      offlineMissing: 'Примѣча́нїе: {0} фа́йловъ не ѡ҆брѣте́но на се́рверѣ.',
       offlineSelectLang: 'Пожалуйста, изберите хотя бы единъ языкъ.',
       offlineSelectAll: 'И҆збра́ти всѧ̑',
       offlineCleared: 'Кешъ очищенъ.',
diff --git a/src/core/offline-manager.ts b/src/core/offline-manager.ts
index be8cd44..0c4019c 100644
--- a/src/core/offline-manager.ts
+++ b/src/core/offline-manager.ts
@@ -30,6 +30,10 @@ export interface PreloadProgress {
   done: boolean;
   failed: number;
   failedFiles?: string[];
+  /** Files the server answered 404 for (deployment drift). */
+  missing?: number;
+  /** True when the manifest was unavailable and a reduced fallback set ran. */
+  manifestMissing?: boolean;
   aborted?: boolean;
 }
 
@@ -54,26 +58,42 @@ let manifestPromise: Promise<Record<string, Record<string, string[]>> | null> |
 
 function loadManifest(): Promise<Record<string, Record<string, string[]>> | null> {
   if (!manifestPromise) {
-    manifestPromise = (async () => {
-      try {
-        const resp = await fetch('/data/shared/preload-manifest.json');
-        if (!resp.ok) return null;
-        return await resp.json();
-      } catch {
-        return null;
-      }
-    })().then((m) => {
-      // Don't cache a failure forever — allow retry on next call
-      if (m === null) {
-        diagLog('manifest-unavailable');
-        manifestPromise = null;
-      }
-      return m;
-    });
+    // Network-first with the IDB fallback: a copy written while online
+    // survives SW-cache eviction, so a later (possibly offline) call can
+    // still read the full file list instead of the reduced fallback set.
+    manifestPromise = DataCache
+      .fetchWithFallback<Record<string, Record<string, string[]>>>('/data/shared/preload-manifest.json')
+      .then((m) => {
+        // Don't cache a failure forever — allow retry on next call
+        if (m === null || typeof m !== 'object') {
+          diagLog('manifest-unavailable');
+          manifestPromise = null;
+          return null;
+        }
+        return m;
+      });
   }
   return manifestPromise;
 }
 
+/** versions.json loaded once per session (retried on failure). */
+let bibleVersionsPromise: Promise<any[] | null> | null = null;
+
+function loadBibleVersions(): Promise<any[] | null> {
+  if (!bibleVersionsPromise) {
+    bibleVersionsPromise = DataCache
+      .fetchWithFallback<any[]>('/data/bible/versions.json')
+      .then((v) => {
+        if (!v || !Array.isArray(v) || v.length === 0) {
+          bibleVersionsPromise = null;
+          return null;
+        }
+        return v;
+      });
+  }
+  return bibleVersionsPromise;
+}
+
 function getFallbackCalendarFiles(lang: string): string[] {
   const files = [
     `/data/${lang}/menaion-bundle.json`,
@@ -89,6 +109,7 @@ function getFallbackCalendarFiles(lang: string): string[] {
 
 export class OfflineManager {
   private static _progress: PreloadProgress | null = null;
+  private static _running: Promise<PreloadProgress> | null = null;
   private static _autoPreloadRequested = false;
 
   /** Request an automatic "preload everything" once the Settings view opens. */
@@ -110,28 +131,21 @@ export class OfflineManager {
 
   /** Resolve every Bible translation id from versions.json (single source). */
   static async getAllBibleTranslationIds(): Promise<string[]> {
-    try {
-      const resp = await fetch('/data/bible/versions.json');
-      const versions = await resp.json() as any[];
-      return versions.map((v: any) => v.id);
-    } catch {
-      return [];
-    }
+    const versions = await loadBibleVersions();
+    return versions ? versions.map((v: any) => v.id) : [];
   }
 
   /** Discover all book files for a Bible translation from versions.json. */
   static async getBibleFiles(translationPath: string): Promise<string[]> {
     const files: string[] = [];
-    try {
-      const resp = await fetch('/data/bible/versions.json');
-      const versions = await resp.json() as any[];
-      const ver = versions.find((v: any) => v.id === translationPath);
-      if (ver && ver.books) {
-        for (const book of ver.books) {
-          files.push(`/data/${translationPath}/${book.id}.text`);
-        }
+    const versions = await loadBibleVersions();
+    if (!versions) return files;
+    const ver = versions.find((v: any) => v.id === translationPath);
+    if (ver && ver.books) {
+      for (const book of ver.books) {
+        files.push(`/data/${translationPath}/${book.id}.text`);
       }
-    } catch {}
+    }
     return files;
   }
 
@@ -143,8 +157,19 @@ export class OfflineManager {
   /**
    * Preload selected data files for offline use.
    * Returns a PreloadProgress object that can be polled for progress.
+   * Re-entrant calls join the run already in flight.
    */
   static async preload(options: PreloadOptions): Promise<PreloadProgress> {
+    if (OfflineManager._running) return OfflineManager._running;
+    const run = OfflineManager._preloadImpl(options)
+      .finally(() => {
+        if (OfflineManager._running === run) OfflineManager._running = null;
+      });
+    OfflineManager._running = run;
+    return run;
+  }
+
+  private static async _preloadImpl(options: PreloadOptions): Promise<PreloadProgress> {
     const startedAt = Date.now();
     const filesToFetch: string[] = [];
     const m = await loadManifest();
@@ -184,6 +209,7 @@ export class OfflineManager {
       done: false,
       failed: 0,
     };
+    if (m === null) progress.manifestMissing = true;
     OfflineManager._progress = progress;
 
     // Best-effort: request persistent storage so the OS won't evict data
@@ -262,15 +288,21 @@ export class OfflineManager {
           break;
         }
       } else {
+        if (notFound) progress.missing = (progress.missing ?? 0) + 1;
         // Success or 404 both prove connectivity
         netFailStreak = 0;
       }
     }
 
+    if ((progress.missing ?? 0) > 0) {
+      diagLog('preload-missing', { count: progress.missing });
+    }
+
     progress.done = true;
     diagLog('preload-done', {
       total: progress.total,
       failed: progress.failed,
+      missing: progress.missing ?? 0,
       ms: Date.now() - startedAt,
       aborted: progress.aborted === true,
     });
diff --git a/src/ui/settings-view.ts b/src/ui/settings-view.ts
index c4608a7..0e72e16 100644
--- a/src/ui/settings-view.ts
+++ b/src/ui/settings-view.ts
@@ -3,11 +3,26 @@
  */
 
 import { getTranslations, type LanguageCode } from '../core/i18n';
-import { OfflineManager } from '../core/offline-manager';
+import { OfflineManager, type PreloadProgress } from '../core/offline-manager';
 import { DataCache } from '../core/data-cache';
 import { diagTail } from '../core/diag-log';
 import { isPwaInstalled } from '../core/pwa-install';
 
+/** Human message for a finished preload run (shared by manual + auto preload). */
+function preloadResultText(
+  prog: PreloadProgress,
+  s: { offlineAborted: string; offlineDone: string; offlineFailed: string; offlineDegraded: string; offlineMissing: string },
+): string {
+  if (prog.aborted) return s.offlineAborted;
+  if (prog.manifestMissing) return s.offlineDegraded;
+  if (prog.failed > 0) {
+    const failList = prog.failedFiles?.length ? `: ${prog.failedFiles.join(', ')}` : '';
+    return `${s.offlineDone} ${prog.failed} ${s.offlineFailed}${failList}`;
+  }
+  if ((prog.missing ?? 0) > 0) return s.offlineMissing.replace('{0}', String(prog.missing));
+  return s.offlineDone;
+}
+
 const LANGUAGES = [
   { code: 'en', name: 'English', local: 'English' },
   { code: 'ru', name: 'Russian', local: 'Русский' },
@@ -563,16 +578,7 @@ export class SettingsView {
         bibleTranslations: bibleTrans,
       }).then((prog) => {
         if (progressBar) progressBar.style.width = '100%';
-        if (progressText) {
-          if (prog.aborted) {
-            progressText.textContent = t.settings.offlineAborted;
-          } else if (prog.failed > 0) {
-            const failList = prog.failedFiles?.length ? `: ${prog.failedFiles.join(', ')}` : '';
-            progressText.textContent = `${t.settings.offlineDone} ${prog.failed} ${t.settings.offlineFailed}${failList}`;
-          } else {
-            progressText.textContent = t.settings.offlineDone;
-          }
-        }
+        if (progressText) progressText.textContent = preloadResultText(prog, t.settings);
         const diagEl = document.getElementById('diag-log');
         if (diagEl) diagEl.textContent = diagTail();
         OfflineManager.getStats().then(stats => {
@@ -696,16 +702,7 @@ export class SettingsView {
           bibleTranslations: 'all',
         }).then((prog) => {
           if (progressBar) progressBar.style.width = '100%';
-          if (progressText) {
-            if (prog.aborted) {
-              progressText.textContent = t.settings.offlineAborted;
-            } else if (prog.failed > 0) {
-              const failList = prog.failedFiles?.length ? `: ${prog.failedFiles.join(', ')}` : '';
-              progressText.textContent = `${t.settings.offlineDone} ${prog.failed} ${t.settings.offlineFailed}${failList}`;
-            } else {
-              progressText.textContent = t.settings.offlineDone;
-            }
-          }
+          if (progressText) progressText.textContent = preloadResultText(prog, t.settings);
           const diagEl = document.getElementById('diag-log');
           if (diagEl) diagEl.textContent = diagTail();
           OfflineManager.getStats().then(stats => {
diff --git a/static/data/shared/preload-manifest.json b/static/data/shared/preload-manifest.json
index d898f46..10ac975 100644
--- a/static/data/shared/preload-manifest.json
+++ b/static/data/shared/preload-manifest.json
@@ -26,6 +26,26 @@
       "/data/shared/fasting.json",
       "/data/shared/calendar/triodion.json",
       "/data/shared/calendar/pentecostarion.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/01.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/03.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/05.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/09.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/10.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/11.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/12.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/misc/1.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/misc/2.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/misc/3.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/misc/4.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/misc/5.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/misc/6.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/misc/7.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/misc/8.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/misc/9.json",
+      "/data/shared/commands/DivineLiturgy.json",
+      "/data/shared/commands/Fasting.json",
+      "/data/shared/commands/ScriptureTransfers.json",
+      "/data/shared/commands/ServiceRules.json",
       "/data/en/menaion-bundle.json",
       "/data/shared/services/templates/AllSaints.json",
       "/data/shared/services/templates/Ambrose.json",
@@ -1773,6 +1793,26 @@
       "/data/shared/fasting.json",
       "/data/shared/calendar/triodion.json",
       "/data/shared/calendar/pentecostarion.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/01.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/03.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/05.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/09.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/10.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/11.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/12.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/misc/1.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/misc/2.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/misc/3.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/misc/4.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/misc/5.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/misc/6.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/misc/7.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/misc/8.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/misc/9.json",
+      "/data/shared/commands/DivineLiturgy.json",
+      "/data/shared/commands/Fasting.json",
+      "/data/shared/commands/ScriptureTransfers.json",
+      "/data/shared/commands/ServiceRules.json",
       "/data/shared/services/templates/AllSaints.json",
       "/data/shared/services/templates/Ambrose.json",
       "/data/shared/services/templates/Annunciation.json",
@@ -3113,6 +3153,26 @@
       "/data/shared/fasting.json",
       "/data/shared/calendar/triodion.json",
       "/data/shared/calendar/pentecostarion.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/01.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/03.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/05.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/09.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/10.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/11.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/12.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/misc/1.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/misc/2.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/misc/3.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/misc/4.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/misc/5.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/misc/6.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/misc/7.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/misc/8.json",
+      "/data/shared/lives/misc/9.json",
+      "/data/shared/commands/DivineLiturgy.json",
+      "/data/shared/commands/Fasting.json",
+      "/data/shared/commands/ScriptureTransfers.json",
+      "/data/shared/commands/ServiceRules.json",
       "/data/cu/menaion-bundle.json",
       "/data/shared/services/templates/AllSaints.json",
       "/data/shared/services/templates/Ambrose.json",
diff --git a/vite.config.ts b/vite.config.ts
index 6f593f6..2a7b4ae 100644
--- a/vite.config.ts
+++ b/vite.config.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,16 @@ export default defineConfig({
         globIgnores: ['**/data/**'],
         maximumFileSizeToCacheInBytes: 20 * 1024 * 1024,
         runtimeCaching: [
+          {
+            // The preload file list must be fresh when online; a stale copy
+            // silently loses coverage. Offline falls back to the SW copy.
+            urlPattern: /\/data\/shared\/preload-manifest\.json$/,
+            handler: 'NetworkFirst',
+            options: {
+              cacheName: 'ponomar-manifest',
+              networkTimeoutSeconds: 3,
+            },
+          },
           {
             urlPattern: /\/data\/.*\.json$/,
             handler: 'StaleWhileRevalidate',