diff --git a/frontend/src/components/layout/AppLayout.tsx b/frontend/src/components/layout/AppLayout.tsx
index 01870ac..aae73f7 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/layout/AppLayout.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/layout/AppLayout.tsx
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { useState } from 'react';
 import { Outlet } from 'react-router-dom';
 import { Menu } from 'lucide-react';
 import { useTheme } from '@/hooks/useTheme';
+import { usePrefetch } from '@/hooks/usePrefetch';
 import { AlertsProvider } from '@/hooks/useAlerts';
 import { LockProvider, useLock } from '@/hooks/useLock';
 import { NotificationProvider } from '@/hooks/useNotifications';
@@ -16,6 +17,7 @@ function AppContent({ mobileOpen, setMobileOpen }: {
   setMobileOpen: (v: boolean) => void;
 }) {
   const { isLocked, isLockResolved } = useLock();
+  usePrefetch(isLockResolved && !isLocked);
   const [collapsed, setCollapsed] = useState(() => {
     try { return JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem('umbra-sidebar-collapsed') || 'false'); }
     catch { return false; }
diff --git a/frontend/src/hooks/usePrefetch.ts b/frontend/src/hooks/usePrefetch.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..96dbf60
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/hooks/usePrefetch.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+import { useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
+import { useQueryClient } from '@tanstack/react-query';
+import api from '@/lib/api';
+import { useSettings } from './useSettings';
+
+/**
+ * Prefetches main page data in the background after the app unlocks.
+ * Ensures cache is warm before the user navigates to each tab,
+ * eliminating the skeleton flash on first visit.
+ */
+export function usePrefetch(enabled: boolean) {
+  const queryClient = useQueryClient();
+  const { settings } = useSettings();
+  const hasPrefetched = useRef(false);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!enabled || hasPrefetched.current) return;
+    hasPrefetched.current = true;
+
+    const now = new Date();
+    const clientDate = `${now.getFullYear()}-${String(now.getMonth() + 1).padStart(2, '0')}-${String(now.getDate()).padStart(2, '0')}`;
+    const days = settings?.upcoming_days || 7;
+
+    // Prefetch all main page queries (no-op if already cached and fresh)
+    queryClient.prefetchQuery({
+      queryKey: ['dashboard'],
+      queryFn: () => api.get(`/dashboard?client_date=${clientDate}`).then(r => r.data),
+      staleTime: 60_000,
+    });
+
+    queryClient.prefetchQuery({
+      queryKey: ['upcoming', days],
+      queryFn: () => api.get(`/upcoming?days=${days}&client_date=${clientDate}`).then(r => r.data),
+      staleTime: 60_000,
+    });
+
+    queryClient.prefetchQuery({
+      queryKey: ['todos'],
+      queryFn: () => api.get('/todos').then(r => r.data),
+    });
+
+    queryClient.prefetchQuery({
+      queryKey: ['reminders'],
+      queryFn: () => api.get('/reminders').then(r => r.data),
+    });
+
+    queryClient.prefetchQuery({
+      queryKey: ['projects'],
+      queryFn: () => api.get('/projects').then(r => r.data),
+    });
+
+    queryClient.prefetchQuery({
+      queryKey: ['people'],
+      queryFn: () => api.get('/people').then(r => r.data),
+    });
+
+    queryClient.prefetchQuery({
+      queryKey: ['locations'],
+      queryFn: () => api.get('/locations').then(r => r.data),
+    });
+  }, [enabled, queryClient, settings?.upcoming_days]);
+}