diff --git a/web_server.py b/web_server.py
index 15036cfc..b3063966 100644
--- a/web_server.py
+++ b/web_server.py
@@ -7152,6 +7152,55 @@ def enhanced_search_source(source_name):
         return jsonify({"artists": [], "albums": [], "tracks": [], "available": False})
 
 
+@app.route('/api/enhanced-search/library-check', methods=['POST'])
+def enhanced_search_library_check():
+    """Batch check which albums/tracks from search results exist in the library.
+    Called async after search results render — doesn't block the search."""
+    try:
+        data = request.get_json() or {}
+        albums = data.get('albums', [])
+        tracks = data.get('tracks', [])
+
+        database = get_database()
+        conn = database._get_connection()
+        try:
+            cursor = conn.cursor()
+
+            # Build lookup sets from library — two fast queries
+            cursor.execute("SELECT LOWER(al.title) || '|||' || LOWER(ar.name) FROM albums al JOIN artists ar ON ar.id = al.artist_id")
+            owned_albums = {r[0] for r in cursor.fetchall()}
+
+            cursor.execute("""
+                SELECT LOWER(t.title) || '|||' || LOWER(a.name), t.id, t.file_path, t.title, a.name, al.title
+                FROM tracks t JOIN artists a ON a.id = t.artist_id JOIN albums al ON al.id = t.album_id
+            """)
+            owned_tracks = {}
+            for r in cursor.fetchall():
+                if r[0] not in owned_tracks:  # Keep first match only
+                    owned_tracks[r[0]] = {'track_id': r[1], 'file_path': r[2], 'title': r[3], 'artist_name': r[4], 'album_title': r[5]}
+
+            # O(1) lookups per item
+            album_results = []
+            for a in albums:
+                key = (a.get('name', '').lower() + '|||' + a.get('artist', '').split(',')[0].strip().lower())
+                album_results.append(key in owned_albums)
+
+            track_results = []
+            for t in tracks:
+                key = (t.get('name', '').lower() + '|||' + t.get('artist', '').split(',')[0].strip().lower())
+                match = owned_tracks.get(key)
+                if match:
+                    track_results.append({'in_library': True, **match})
+                else:
+                    track_results.append({'in_library': False})
+        finally:
+            conn.close()
+
+        return jsonify({'albums': album_results, 'tracks': track_results})
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.debug(f"Library check error: {e}")
+        return jsonify({'albums': [], 'tracks': []})
+
 @app.route('/api/enhanced-search/stream-track', methods=['POST'])
 def stream_enhanced_search_track():
     """
diff --git a/webui/index.html b/webui/index.html
index eff1ec99..c9906448 100644
--- a/webui/index.html
+++ b/webui/index.html
@@ -1939,7 +1939,7 @@
                 This top-level container replicates the QSplitter from downloads.py,
                 creating the two-panel layout for the page.
                 -->
-                <div class="downloads-content">
+                <div class="downloads-content manager-hidden">
 
                     <!-- ======================================================= -->
                     <!-- == LEFT PANEL: Search, Filters, and Results          == -->
diff --git a/webui/static/script.js b/webui/static/script.js
index b6d1d2e4..b6953b4a 100644
--- a/webui/static/script.js
+++ b/webui/static/script.js
@@ -2477,8 +2477,8 @@ function initializeDownloadManagerToggle() {
         return;
     }
 
-    // Load saved state from localStorage
-    const isHidden = localStorage.getItem('downloadManagerHidden') === 'true';
+    // Load saved state from localStorage (hidden by default for more search space)
+    const isHidden = localStorage.getItem('downloadManagerHidden') !== 'false';
     if (isHidden) {
         downloadsContent.classList.add('manager-hidden');
     }
@@ -7856,6 +7856,81 @@ function initializeSearchModeToggle() {
 
         // Lazy load artist images that are missing
         lazyLoadEnhancedSearchArtistImages();
+
+        // Async library ownership check — doesn't block rendering
+        _checkSearchResultsLibraryOwnership(data);
+    }
+
+    async function _checkSearchResultsLibraryOwnership(data) {
+        try {
+            const allAlbums = data.spotify_albums || [];
+            const allTracks = data.spotify_tracks || [];
+            if (!allAlbums.length && !allTracks.length) return;
+
+            const resp = await fetch('/api/enhanced-search/library-check', {
+                method: 'POST',
+                headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+                body: JSON.stringify({
+                    albums: allAlbums.map(a => ({ name: a.name, artist: a.artist })),
+                    tracks: allTracks.map(t => ({ name: t.name, artist: t.artist })),
+                }),
+            });
+            const result = await resp.json();
+
+            // Tag album cards with staggered animation
+            const albumCards = document.querySelectorAll('#enh-albums-list .enh-compact-item, #enh-singles-list .enh-compact-item');
+            const albumResults = result.albums || [];
+            let delay = 0;
+            albumCards.forEach((card, i) => {
+                if (albumResults[i]) {
+                    setTimeout(() => {
+                        const badge = document.createElement('div');
+                        badge.className = 'enh-item-lib-badge';
+                        badge.textContent = 'In Library';
+                        card.appendChild(badge);
+                    }, delay);
+                    delay += 30;
+                }
+            });
+
+            // Tag track rows + wire up library playback
+            const trackCards = document.querySelectorAll('#enh-tracks-list .enh-compact-item');
+            const trackResults = result.tracks || [];
+            trackCards.forEach((card, i) => {
+                const tr = trackResults[i];
+                if (tr && tr.in_library) {
+                    setTimeout(() => {
+                        const badge = document.createElement('div');
+                        badge.className = 'enh-item-lib-badge';
+                        badge.textContent = 'In Library';
+                        card.appendChild(badge);
+
+                        // Replace stream button to play from library instead of searching
+                        if (tr.file_path) {
+                            const playBtn = card.querySelector('.enh-item-play-btn');
+                            if (playBtn) {
+                                const newBtn = playBtn.cloneNode(true);
+                                newBtn.title = 'Play from library';
+                                newBtn.textContent = '▶';
+                                const trackInfo = tr;
+                                newBtn.addEventListener('click', (e) => {
+                                    e.stopPropagation();
+                                    playLibraryTrack(
+                                        { id: trackInfo.track_id, title: trackInfo.title, file_path: trackInfo.file_path },
+                                        trackInfo.album_title || '',
+                                        trackInfo.artist_name || ''
+                                    );
+                                });
+                                playBtn.replaceWith(newBtn);
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }, delay);
+                    delay += 30;
+                }
+            });
+        } catch (e) {
+            console.debug('Library check failed:', e);
+        }
     }
 
     async function _fetchAlternateSource(sourceName, query) {
diff --git a/webui/static/style.css b/webui/static/style.css
index 2a258352..e959805f 100644
--- a/webui/static/style.css
+++ b/webui/static/style.css
@@ -18276,18 +18276,20 @@ body.helper-mode-active #dashboard-activity-feed:hover {
     position: absolute;
     inset: 0;
     background: linear-gradient(0deg,
-        rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.88) 0%,
-        rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.35) 40%,
-        transparent 65%);
+        rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.95) 0%,
+        rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7) 25%,
+        rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 50%,
+        transparent 70%);
     pointer-events: none;
     z-index: 1;
 }
 
 .album-card:hover::after {
     background: linear-gradient(0deg,
-        rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.92) 0%,
-        rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3) 45%,
-        transparent 70%);
+        rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.95) 0%,
+        rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.6) 30%,
+        rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 55%,
+        transparent 75%);
 }
 
 .album-card-image {
@@ -29802,6 +29804,38 @@ body.helper-mode-active #dashboard-activity-feed:hover {
     display: none;
 }
 
+/* In Library badge on search results */
+.enh-item-lib-badge {
+    position: absolute;
+    top: 6px;
+    left: 6px;
+    font-size: 8px;
+    font-weight: 700;
+    text-transform: uppercase;
+    letter-spacing: 0.04em;
+    background: rgba(var(--accent-rgb), 0.85);
+    color: #fff;
+    padding: 3px 7px;
+    z-index: 5;
+    animation: libBadgeFadeIn 0.3s ease;
+    border-radius: 6px;
+    backdrop-filter: blur(4px);
+    box-shadow: 0 2px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3);
+}
+
+/* Track items need relative positioning for the badge */
+@keyframes libBadgeFadeIn {
+    from { opacity: 0; transform: scale(0.8); }
+    to { opacity: 1; transform: scale(1); }
+}
+
+.enh-compact-item.track-item .enh-item-lib-badge {
+    position: static;
+    flex-shrink: 0;
+    margin-left: auto;
+    font-size: 9px;
+}
+
 /* Hydrabase badge (dev mode) */
 .enh-badge-hydrabase {
     background: linear-gradient(135deg, rgba(99, 102, 241, 0.3), rgba(139, 92, 246, 0.3));
@@ -29928,39 +29962,48 @@ body.helper-mode-active #dashboard-activity-feed:hover {
 }
 
 .enh-compact-item.album-card .enh-item-info {
+    position: absolute;
+    bottom: 0;
+    left: 0;
+    right: 0;
     padding: 10px 12px 12px;
+    z-index: 3;
+}
+
+/* Gradient overlay for text readability on enhanced search album cards */
+.enh-compact-item.album-card::after {
+    content: '';
+    position: absolute;
+    inset: 0;
+    background: linear-gradient(0deg,
+        rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9) 0%,
+        rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5) 30%,
+        transparent 60%);
+    pointer-events: none;
+    z-index: 2;
 }
 
 .enh-compact-item.album-card .enh-item-name {
     font-size: 13px;
     font-weight: 600;
     color: #fff;
-    margin: 0 0 3px 0;
+    margin: 0 0 2px 0;
     overflow: hidden;
     text-overflow: ellipsis;
     white-space: nowrap;
-    display: block;
-    -webkit-line-clamp: unset;
-    -webkit-box-orient: unset;
-    line-height: 1.4;
-    max-height: none;
-    letter-spacing: -0.1px;
-    position: relative;
-    z-index: 1;
+    line-height: 1.3;
+    text-shadow: 0 1px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7);
 }
 
 .enh-compact-item.album-card .enh-item-meta {
-    font-size: 12px;
-    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.45);
+    font-size: 11px;
+    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.6);
     overflow: hidden;
     text-overflow: ellipsis;
     white-space: nowrap;
-    display: block;
-    -webkit-line-clamp: unset;
-    -webkit-box-orient: unset;
-    line-height: 1.4;
+    line-height: 1.3;
     margin: 0;
-    position: relative;
+    text-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.6);
     z-index: 1;
 }