diff --git a/mobile/lib/features/channels/message_content/media_carousel.dart b/mobile/lib/features/channels/message_content/media_carousel.dart
index 2006e2c520..fb5dc1bda1 100644
--- a/mobile/lib/features/channels/message_content/media_carousel.dart
+++ b/mobile/lib/features/channels/message_content/media_carousel.dart
@@ -36,16 +36,21 @@ class _MessageGalleryPrecache extends HookWidget {
   }
 }
 
+// Loads that leave the window are abandoned, so scrolling past previews on a
+// slow link frees both workers instead of finishing downloads nobody needs.
 class _GalleryPrecache {
   BuildContext? _context;
   List<ImageProvider<Object>> _window = [];
   final _ready = <ImageProvider<Object>>{};
-  final _loading = <ImageProvider<Object>>{};
+  final _loading = <ImageProvider<Object>, _PrecacheLoad>{};
 
   void update(BuildContext context, List<ImageProvider<Object>> window) {
     _context = context;
     _window = window;
     _ready.removeWhere((provider) => !window.contains(provider));
+    for (final provider in _loading.keys.toList()) {
+      if (!window.contains(provider)) _loading.remove(provider)!.cancel();
+    }
     _drain();
   }
 
@@ -54,17 +59,18 @@ class _GalleryPrecache {
     if (context == null || !context.mounted) return;
     for (final provider in _window) {
       if (_loading.length >= 2) break;
-      if (_ready.contains(provider) || _loading.contains(provider)) continue;
-      _loading.add(provider);
-      unawaited(_load(context, provider));
+      if (_ready.contains(provider) || _loading.containsKey(provider)) continue;
+      final load = _loading[provider] = _PrecacheLoad(
+        provider,
+        createLocalImageConfiguration(context),
+        () => _finish(provider),
+      );
+      // A cached image settles synchronously, so start once it is tracked.
+      load.start();
     }
   }
 
-  Future<void> _load(
-    BuildContext context,
-    ImageProvider<Object> provider,
-  ) async {
-    await precacheImage(provider, context, onError: (_, _) {});
+  void _finish(ImageProvider<Object> provider) {
     _loading.remove(provider);
     if (_window.contains(provider)) _ready.add(provider);
     _drain();
@@ -74,6 +80,45 @@ class _GalleryPrecache {
     _context = null;
     _window = [];
     _ready.clear();
+    for (final load in _loading.values) {
+      load.cancel();
+    }
+    _loading.clear();
+  }
+}
+
+// Like precacheImage, but cancellable before the first frame.
+class _PrecacheLoad {
+  _PrecacheLoad(this.provider, this.config, this.onDone);
+
+  final ImageProvider<Object> provider;
+  final ImageConfiguration config;
+  final VoidCallback onDone;
+  late final _stream = provider.resolve(config);
+  late final _listener = ImageStreamListener((image, _) {
+    image.dispose();
+    _settle();
+  }, onError: (_, _) => _settle());
+  bool _settled = false;
+
+  void start() => _stream.addListener(_listener);
+
+  void _settle() {
+    if (_settled) return;
+    _settled = true;
+    // Like precacheImage, keep listening until the end of the frame so a
+    // widget can subscribe before the image cache may drop the live image.
+    WidgetsBinding.instance.addPostFrameCallback(
+      (_) => _stream.removeListener(_listener),
+    );
+    onDone();
+  }
+
+  void cancel() {
+    if (_settled) return;
+    _settled = true;
+    _stream.removeListener(_listener);
+    abandonPendingImage(_stream, provider, config);
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/mobile/lib/shared/relay/media_image.dart b/mobile/lib/shared/relay/media_image.dart
index c3ae723741..8242d4f0b1 100644
--- a/mobile/lib/shared/relay/media_image.dart
+++ b/mobile/lib/shared/relay/media_image.dart
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import 'dart:ui' as ui;
 
 import 'package:flutter/foundation.dart';
 import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
+import 'package:flutter_hooks/flutter_hooks.dart';
 import 'package:hooks_riverpod/hooks_riverpod.dart';
 import 'package:http/http.dart' as http;
 
@@ -47,9 +48,14 @@ class MediaImageProvider extends ImageProvider<MediaImageProvider> {
   /// Excluded from equality: transport, not identity.
   final http.Client client;
 
-  /// Deadline for the complete response, including a stalled response body.
-  /// Aborts the request without closing the shared client.
-  final Duration requestTimeout;
+  /// Longest wait for response headers or the next body chunk. A slow link
+  /// that keeps delivering bytes finishes; one that stops is aborted without
+  /// closing the shared client.
+  final Duration stallTimeout;
+
+  /// Longest a fetch may take even while bytes keep arriving, so a server
+  /// that trickles bytes cannot hold a connection indefinitely.
+  final Duration maxFetchDuration;
 
   const MediaImageProvider({
     required this.url,
@@ -57,7 +63,8 @@ class MediaImageProvider extends ImageProvider<MediaImageProvider> {
     required this.client,
     this.onBytesLoaded,
     this.scale = 1.0,
-    this.requestTimeout = const Duration(seconds: 30),
+    this.stallTimeout = const Duration(seconds: 20),
+    this.maxFetchDuration = const Duration(minutes: 5),
   });
 
   /// Maximum encoded image body retained before decoding (20 MiB).
@@ -66,8 +73,7 @@ class MediaImageProvider extends ImageProvider<MediaImageProvider> {
   static const _defaultCooldown = Duration(seconds: 30);
   static const _maxRetryAfter = Duration(minutes: 5);
   static final Map<String, DateTime> _cooldownUntil = {};
-  static final Map<(String, MediaGetAuthService), Future<Uint8List>> _inFlight =
-      {};
+  static final Map<(String, MediaGetAuthService), _SharedFetch> _inFlight = {};
 
   /// Injectable clock for cooldown tests.
   @visibleForTesting
@@ -89,33 +95,67 @@ class MediaImageProvider extends ImageProvider<MediaImageProvider> {
     MediaImageProvider key,
     ImageDecoderCallback decode,
   ) {
-    return MultiFrameImageStreamCompleter(
-      codec: _loadAsync(key, decode),
+    final abandoned = Completer<void>();
+    // The image cache listens to a pending load, so this fires mid-download
+    // only once a consumer evicts the entry and stops listening (see
+    // [abandonPendingImage]), as [MediaImage] does when it stops showing an
+    // image before its first frame. Abort the download then.
+    return _MediaImageStreamCompleter(
+      codec: _loadAsync(key, decode, abandoned.future),
       scale: key.scale,
       debugLabel: url,
-    );
+    )..addOnLastListenerRemovedCallback(() {
+      if (!abandoned.isCompleted) abandoned.complete();
+    });
   }
 
   Future<ui.Codec> _loadAsync(
     MediaImageProvider key,
     ImageDecoderCallback decode,
+    Future<void> abandoned,
   ) async {
+    var wasAbandoned = false;
     try {
       // Each decode size is its own cache entry (see [ResizeImage]), so one
       // URL shown at two sizes resolves twice. Share the download instead of
       // fetching the same bytes once per size.
       final fetchKey = (url, auth);
-      // whenComplete awaits a returned Future, so the callback must not
-      // return the removed entry (this same future) or it never completes.
-      final bytes = await (_inFlight[fetchKey] ??= _fetchBytes().whenComplete(
-        () {
-          _inFlight.remove(fetchKey);
+      final fetch = _inFlight[fetchKey] ??= _SharedFetch(
+        _fetchBytes,
+        onFinished: (fetch) {
+          if (_inFlight[fetchKey] == fetch) _inFlight.remove(fetchKey);
         },
-      ));
+      );
+      fetch.join();
+      var left = false;
+      void leave() {
+        if (left) return;
+        left = true;
+        fetch.leave();
+      }
+
+      unawaited(
+        abandoned.then((_) {
+          wasAbandoned = true;
+          leave();
+        }),
+      );
+      final Uint8List bytes;
+      try {
+        bytes = await fetch.bytes;
+      } finally {
+        leave();
+      }
+      // Another size kept the download going, but this load's consumer left.
+      if (wasAbandoned) throw StateError('Image load abandoned');
       onBytesLoaded?.call(bytes);
       final buffer = await ui.ImmutableBuffer.fromUint8List(bytes);
       return await decode(buffer);
     } catch (_) {
+      // An abandoned load has no listener left to report to, and an error
+      // would surface as an unhandled image error. The consumer already
+      // evicted it; leave the codec unresolved.
+      if (wasAbandoned) return Completer<ui.Codec>().future;
       // Match NetworkImage: make sure an errored key is not retained in the
       // cache. The cooldown map (not the cache) throttles retries.
       scheduleMicrotask(() {
@@ -125,7 +165,9 @@ class MediaImageProvider extends ImageProvider<MediaImageProvider> {
     }
   }
 
-  Future<Uint8List> _fetchBytes() async {
+  /// Downloads [url]. Completing [abort] means every load waiting for this
+  /// download was abandoned, so the URL is not put on cooldown.
+  Future<Uint8List> _fetchBytes(Future<void> abort) async {
     final until = _cooldownUntil[url];
     if (until != null) {
       if (debugNow().isBefore(until)) {
@@ -136,20 +178,44 @@ class MediaImageProvider extends ImageProvider<MediaImageProvider> {
 
     final uri = Uri.parse(url);
     final http.Response response;
+    var wasAbandoned = false;
     try {
-      final abort = Completer<void>();
-      final deadline = Timer(requestTimeout, abort.complete);
+      final stop = Completer<void>();
+      Timer? stall;
+      void restartStallTimer() {
+        stall?.cancel();
+        stall = Timer(stallTimeout, () {
+          if (!stop.isCompleted) stop.complete();
+        });
+      }
+
+      restartStallTimer();
+      final deadline = Timer(maxFetchDuration, () {
+        if (!stop.isCompleted) stop.complete();
+      });
+      unawaited(
+        abort.then((_) {
+          if (stop.isCompleted) return;
+          wasAbandoned = true;
+          stop.complete();
+        }),
+      );
       StreamIterator<List<int>>? body;
       try {
         final request = http.AbortableRequest(
           'GET',
           uri,
-          abortTrigger: abort.future,
+          abortTrigger: stop.future,
         )..headers.addAll(auth.headersFor(url));
         final streamed = await client.send(request);
+        restartStallTimer();
         final iterator = body = StreamIterator(streamed.stream);
         final bytes = BytesBuilder(copy: false);
-        while (await iterator.moveNext()) {
+        // An error body is never shown, and reading a slow one could hold
+        // this load for the whole fetch cap before the fallback or
+        // Retry-After applies. Leave it unread; finally cancels the stream.
+        while (streamed.statusCode == 200 && await iterator.moveNext()) {
+          restartStallTimer();
           final chunk = iterator.current;
           if (chunk.length > maxResponseBytes - bytes.length) {
             throw const FormatException('Image response too large');
@@ -162,12 +228,16 @@ class MediaImageProvider extends ImageProvider<MediaImageProvider> {
           headers: streamed.headers,
         );
       } finally {
+        stall?.cancel();
         deadline.cancel();
-        if (!abort.isCompleted) abort.complete();
+        if (!stop.isCompleted) stop.complete();
         unawaited(body?.cancel());
       }
     } catch (_) {
-      _cooldownUntil[url] = debugNow().add(_defaultCooldown);
+      // Nobody wanted the image any more; the URL itself did not fail.
+      if (!wasAbandoned) {
+        _cooldownUntil[url] = debugNow().add(_defaultCooldown);
+      }
       rethrow;
     }
     if (response.statusCode != 200) {
@@ -211,6 +281,95 @@ class MediaImageProvider extends ImageProvider<MediaImageProvider> {
       'MediaImageProvider("$url", scale: ${scale.toStringAsFixed(1)})';
 }
 
+/// Stops waiting for [provider]'s image before its first frame arrives.
+///
+/// Call after removing your own listener from [stream]. Until the first frame
+/// the image cache holds its own listener on the load, so removing a caller's
+/// listener alone leaves the download running. When no other consumer is
+/// listening, evicting the pending entry drops that last listener and a
+/// [MediaImageProvider] load aborts its download. When another consumer still
+/// listens, the entry stays so the finished image is still cached.
+void abandonPendingImage(
+  ImageStream stream,
+  ImageProvider<Object> provider,
+  ImageConfiguration config,
+) {
+  final completer = stream.completer;
+  if (completer is _MediaImageStreamCompleter &&
+      completer._listeners.length != 1) {
+    // Someone besides the cache still wants it, or it already finished.
+    return;
+  }
+  unawaited(
+    provider
+        .obtainKey(config)
+        .then(
+          (key) => PaintingBinding.instance.imageCache.evict(
+            key,
+            includeLive: false,
+          ),
+        ),
+  );
+}
+
+/// Tracks its listeners so [abandonPendingImage] can tell whether anyone
+/// besides the image cache is still waiting for the load.
+class _MediaImageStreamCompleter extends MultiFrameImageStreamCompleter {
+  _MediaImageStreamCompleter({
+    required super.codec,
+    required super.scale,
+    super.debugLabel,
+  });
+
+  final _listeners = <ImageStreamListener>[];
+
+  @override
+  void addListener(ImageStreamListener listener) {
+    _listeners.add(listener);
+    super.addListener(listener);
+  }
+
+  @override
+  void removeListener(ImageStreamListener listener) {
+    _listeners.remove(listener);
+    super.removeListener(listener);
+  }
+}
+
+/// One download shared by every load of the same URL and auth scope. It is
+/// aborted once every load waiting for it has been abandoned, and a load that
+/// arrives after that starts a new download.
+class _SharedFetch {
+  _SharedFetch(
+    Future<Uint8List> Function(Future<void> abort) fetch, {
+    required this.onFinished,
+  }) {
+    bytes = fetch(_abort.future).whenComplete(() {
+      _done = true;
+      onFinished(this);
+    });
+    // Waiting loads handle errors; an abandoned download has none left.
+    bytes.ignore();
+  }
+
+  final void Function(_SharedFetch) onFinished;
+  final _abort = Completer<void>();
+  late final Future<Uint8List> bytes;
+  var _waiting = 0;
+  var _done = false;
+
+  void join() => _waiting++;
+
+  /// Called once per joined load, when it is abandoned or has its result.
+  void leave() {
+    _waiting--;
+    if (_waiting == 0 && !_done && !_abort.isCompleted) {
+      _abort.complete();
+      onFinished(this);
+    }
+  }
+}
+
 /// Thrown when a fetch is suppressed because the URL recently failed.
 class MediaImageCooldownException implements Exception {
   final String url;
@@ -399,16 +558,55 @@ class MediaImage extends ConsumerWidget {
     int? cacheWidth, {
     ImageErrorWidgetBuilder? errorBuilder,
   }) {
-    return Image(
-      image: ResizeImage.resizeIfNeeded(cacheWidth, null, provider),
-      fit: fit,
-      width: width,
-      height: height,
-      semanticLabel: semanticLabel,
-      errorBuilder: errorBuilder ?? this.errorBuilder,
-      frameBuilder: frameBuilder,
-      filterQuality: filterQuality,
-      gaplessPlayback: true,
+    final image = ResizeImage.resizeIfNeeded(cacheWidth, null, provider);
+    return _AbandonWhenGone(
+      image: image,
+      child: Image(
+        image: image,
+        fit: fit,
+        width: width,
+        height: height,
+        semanticLabel: semanticLabel,
+        errorBuilder: errorBuilder ?? this.errorBuilder,
+        frameBuilder: frameBuilder,
+        filterQuality: filterQuality,
+        gaplessPlayback: true,
+      ),
     );
   }
 }
+
+/// Abandons [image]'s download if [child] stops showing it before it loads,
+/// for example when a chat image scrolls away. Otherwise the image cache's
+/// own listener would keep the download, and its share of a slow link, going
+/// until the fetch cap. Another widget still showing the image keeps it.
+class _AbandonWhenGone extends HookWidget {
+  const _AbandonWhenGone({required this.image, required this.child});
+
+  final ImageProvider<Object> image;
+  final Widget child;
+
+  @override
+  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
+    final config = createLocalImageConfiguration(context);
+    // Resolve only once the child is gone, and only a still-pending load:
+    // resolving earlier would start the download ahead of the child's
+    // [ScrollAwareImageProvider], defeating its deferral during a fast fling.
+    // The microtask runs after this frame, so the child has stopped
+    // listening and a widget showing the same image elsewhere has started.
+    useEffect(
+      () =>
+          () => scheduleMicrotask(() {
+            final cache = PaintingBinding.instance.imageCache;
+            unawaited(
+              image.obtainKey(config).then((key) {
+                if (!cache.statusForKey(key).pending) return;
+                abandonPendingImage(image.resolve(config), image, config);
+              }),
+            );
+          }),
+      [image],
+    );
+    return child;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/mobile/lib/shared/widgets/ios_media_carousel.dart b/mobile/lib/shared/widgets/ios_media_carousel.dart
index 19f125a364..1770c6de4d 100644
--- a/mobile/lib/shared/widgets/ios_media_carousel.dart
+++ b/mobile/lib/shared/widgets/ios_media_carousel.dart
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
 import 'package:flutter/services.dart';
 import 'package:flutter_hooks/flutter_hooks.dart';
 
+import '../relay/media_image.dart';
+
 /// UIKit's horizontally scrolling photo strip, using the app's image providers.
 /// Authentication and image-cache isolation remain owned by Flutter.
 class IosMediaCarousel extends HookWidget {
@@ -129,9 +131,9 @@ class IosMediaCarousel extends HookWidget {
 }
 
 // Keep native subscriptions and unresolved provider loads bounded together.
-// A cancelled load keeps its slot until its first frame/error. MediaImageProvider
-// aborts stalled HTTP requests at its deadline, allowing queued cells to progress
-// without releasing slots while their transports are still running.
+// A load cancelled or disposed before its first frame evicts its pending cache
+// entry and stops listening; with no listener left, MediaImageProvider aborts its
+// download, so the slot is released at once.
 class _CarouselImages {
   _CarouselImages(this.channel);
   final MethodChannel channel;
@@ -159,10 +161,15 @@ class _CarouselImages {
     image.cancelled = true;
     image.nextFrame?.dispose();
     image.nextFrame = null;
-    if (image.receivedFrame) {
-      image.detach();
-      if (!image.encoding) _finish(image);
-    }
+    image.detach();
+    _releasePending(image);
+    if (!image.encoding) _finish(image);
+  }
+
+  void _releasePending(_CarouselImage image) {
+    final stream = image.stream;
+    if (stream == null || image.receivedFrame) return;
+    abandonPendingImage(stream, image.provider, image.config);
   }
 
   void _drain() {
@@ -254,6 +261,8 @@ class _CarouselImages {
     _queued.clear();
     for (final image in _running.values.toList()) {
       image.cancelled = true;
+      image.detach();
+      _releasePending(image);
       _finish(image);
     }
   }
diff --git a/mobile/test/features/channels/message_carousel_preview_cases.dart b/mobile/test/features/channels/message_carousel_preview_cases.dart
index 9ab476de19..d7ff26a374 100644
--- a/mobile/test/features/channels/message_carousel_preview_cases.dart
+++ b/mobile/test/features/channels/message_carousel_preview_cases.dart
@@ -29,12 +29,26 @@ void carouselPreviewTests() {
         }
         return null;
       });
-      final client = MockClient((request) {
+      final aborted = <String>{};
+      final client = MockClient.streaming((request, _) async {
         final url = request.url.toString();
         started.add(url);
         final response = responses[url] = Completer<http.Response>();
-
-        return response.future;
+        if (request case http.Abortable(:final abortTrigger?)) {
+          unawaited(
+            abortTrigger.then((_) {
+              // The provider also fires the trigger after a finished load.
+              if (response.isCompleted) return;
+              aborted.add(url);
+              response.completeError(http.RequestAbortedException(request.url));
+            }),
+          );
+        }
+        final body = await response.future;
+        return http.StreamedResponse(
+          Stream.value(body.bodyBytes),
+          body.statusCode,
+        );
       });
       Future<void> waitForCount(int count) async {
         for (
@@ -98,7 +112,59 @@ void carouselPreviewTests() {
       }
       await tester.pumpAndSettle();
       expect(started.toSet(), urls.take(5).toSet());
-      // No native subscribeImage or page callback was sent by this harness.
+      Future<void> page(int index) async {
+        await messenger.handlePlatformMessage(
+          channels.single.name,
+          channels.single.codec.encodeMethodCall(MethodCall('page', index)),
+          (_) {},
+        );
+        await tester.pump();
+        await tester.pump();
+      }
+
+      // Jumping to the end prefetches around the new page.
+      await page(9);
+      await waitForCount(7);
+      expect(started.skip(5), [urls[9], urls[8]]);
+      Future<void> native(String method, Object argument) async {
+        await tester.runAsync(
+          () => messenger.handlePlatformMessage(
+            channels.single.name,
+            channels.single.codec.encodeMethodCall(
+              MethodCall(method, argument),
+            ),
+            (_) {},
+          ),
+        );
+        await tester.pump();
+      }
+
+      // A native cell that cancels and comes back while the prefetch is still
+      // loading joins that download instead of starting another.
+      await native('subscribeImage', {'id': 'a', 'index': 9});
+      await native('cancelImage', 'a');
+      await native('subscribeImage', {'id': 'b', 'index': 9});
+      for (var attempt = 0; attempt < 10; attempt++) {
+        await tester.pump();
+        await tester.runAsync(
+          () => Future<void>.delayed(const Duration(milliseconds: 10)),
+        );
+      }
+      expect(started, hasLength(7));
+      expect(aborted, isEmpty);
+      await native('cancelImage', 'b');
+      // Leaving before they finish abandons both downloads and frees the
+      // workers for the new window.
+      await page(0);
+      for (var attempt = 0; attempt < 100 && aborted.length < 2; attempt++) {
+        await tester.pump();
+        await tester.runAsync(
+          () => Future<void>.delayed(const Duration(milliseconds: 10)),
+        );
+      }
+      expect(aborted, {urls[9], urls[8]});
+      await waitForCount(9);
+      expect(started.skip(7), [urls[0], urls[1]]);
       await tester.pumpWidget(const SizedBox());
       expect(tester.takeException(), isNull);
     },
diff --git a/mobile/test/shared/relay/media_image_test.dart b/mobile/test/shared/relay/media_image_test.dart
index b5a7253086..291139f844 100644
--- a/mobile/test/shared/relay/media_image_test.dart
+++ b/mobile/test/shared/relay/media_image_test.dart
@@ -4,8 +4,9 @@ import 'dart:typed_data';
 
 import 'package:buzz/shared/relay/media_auth.dart';
 import 'package:buzz/shared/relay/media_image.dart';
-import 'package:flutter/painting.dart';
+import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
 import 'package:flutter_test/flutter_test.dart';
+import 'package:hooks_riverpod/hooks_riverpod.dart';
 import 'package:http/http.dart' as http;
 import 'package:http/testing.dart' as http_testing;
 import 'package:nostr/nostr.dart' as nostr;
@@ -213,6 +214,80 @@ void main() {
       expect(fetches, 1);
     });
 
+    test(
+      'abandoning a load another consumer still waits for keeps it cached',
+      () async {
+        var fetches = 0;
+        var aborted = false;
+        final response = Completer<void>();
+        final client = _StreamingClient((request) async {
+          fetches += 1;
+          (request as http.AbortableRequest).abortTrigger!.then((_) {
+            if (!response.isCompleted) aborted = true;
+          });
+          await response.future;
+          return http.StreamedResponse(Stream.value(_pngBytes), 200);
+        });
+        final provider = MediaImageProvider(
+          url: _mediaUrl,
+          auth: _auth(),
+          client: client,
+        );
+        const config = ImageConfiguration.empty;
+        final cell = provider.resolve(config);
+        final cellListener = ImageStreamListener((_, _) {});
+        cell.addListener(cellListener);
+        final prefetch = provider.resolve(config);
+        final loaded = Completer<void>();
+        final prefetchListener = ImageStreamListener((image, _) {
+          image.dispose();
+          if (!loaded.isCompleted) loaded.complete();
+        });
+        prefetch.addListener(prefetchListener);
+
+        // The cell scrolls away while the prefetch still wants the image.
+        cell.removeListener(cellListener);
+        abandonPendingImage(cell, provider, config);
+        response.complete();
+        await loaded.future.timeout(const Duration(seconds: 2));
+        prefetch.removeListener(prefetchListener);
+
+        expect(aborted, isFalse);
+        expect(
+          PaintingBinding.instance.imageCache.containsKey(provider),
+          isTrue,
+        );
+        await _wait(provider.resolve(config));
+        expect(fetches, 1);
+      },
+    );
+
+    test('abandoning a load nobody else waits for aborts it', () async {
+      final aborted = Completer<void>();
+      final client = _StreamingClient((request) async {
+        (request as http.AbortableRequest).abortTrigger!.then((_) {
+          if (!aborted.isCompleted) aborted.complete();
+        });
+        await aborted.future;
+        throw http.RequestAbortedException(request.url);
+      });
+      final provider = MediaImageProvider(
+        url: _mediaUrl,
+        auth: _auth(),
+        client: client,
+      );
+      final stream = provider.resolve(ImageConfiguration.empty);
+      final listener = ImageStreamListener((_, _) {});
+      stream.addListener(listener);
+      stream.removeListener(listener);
+      abandonPendingImage(stream, provider, ImageConfiguration.empty);
+      await aborted.future.timeout(const Duration(seconds: 2));
+      expect(
+        PaintingBinding.instance.imageCache.containsKey(provider),
+        isFalse,
+      );
+    });
+
     test('one URL shown at two decode sizes downloads once', () async {
       var fetches = 0;
       final response = Completer<void>();
@@ -236,6 +311,53 @@ void main() {
       expect(fetches, 1);
     });
 
+    test(
+      'a download shared by two sizes outlives one abandoned size',
+      () async {
+        var fetches = 0;
+        var aborts = 0;
+        final response = Completer<void>();
+        final client = _StreamingClient((request) async {
+          fetches += 1;
+          final trigger = (request as http.AbortableRequest).abortTrigger!;
+          unawaited(
+            trigger.then((_) {
+              if (!response.isCompleted) aborts += 1;
+            }),
+          );
+          await Future.any([response.future, trigger]);
+          if (!response.isCompleted) {
+            throw http.RequestAbortedException(request.url);
+          }
+          return http.StreamedResponse(Stream.value(_pngBytes), 200);
+        });
+        final auth = _auth(nsec: nostr.Keys.generate().nsec);
+        final base = MediaImageProvider(
+          url: _mediaUrl,
+          auth: auth,
+          client: client,
+        );
+        const config = ImageConfiguration.empty;
+        final smallProvider = ResizeImage(base, width: 40);
+        final largeProvider = ResizeImage(base, width: 120);
+        final small = smallProvider.resolve(config);
+        final smallListener = ImageStreamListener((_, _) {});
+        small.addListener(smallListener);
+        final largeDone = _wait(largeProvider.resolve(config));
+        await pumpEventQueue();
+
+        small.removeListener(smallListener);
+        abandonPendingImage(small, smallProvider, config);
+        await pumpEventQueue();
+        expect(aborts, 0);
+        response.complete();
+        await largeDone.timeout(const Duration(seconds: 2));
+        expect(fetches, 1);
+        expect(aborts, 0);
+        expect(MediaImageProvider.debugCooldownUrls, isEmpty);
+      },
+    );
+
     test('sends auth headers with the fetch', () async {
       Map<String, String>? seen;
       final client = http_testing.MockClient((request) async {
@@ -252,6 +374,68 @@ void main() {
       expect(seen?['Authorization'], startsWith('Nostr '));
     });
 
+    test(
+      'a slow body that keeps arriving outlives the stall timeout',
+      () async {
+        const gap = Duration(milliseconds: 60);
+        final client = _StreamingClient((request) async {
+          // Honor the abort trigger the way the real IO client does.
+          var aborted = false;
+          (request as http.AbortableRequest).abortTrigger!.then((_) {
+            aborted = true;
+          });
+          Stream<List<int>> trickle() async* {
+            for (var i = 0; i < _pngBytes.length; i += 12) {
+              await Future<void>.delayed(gap);
+              if (aborted) throw http.RequestAbortedException(request.url);
+              yield _pngBytes.sublist(i, (i + 12).clamp(0, _pngBytes.length));
+            }
+          }
+
+          return http.StreamedResponse(trickle(), 200);
+        });
+        final stopwatch = Stopwatch()..start();
+        await _wait(
+          MediaImageProvider(
+            url: _mediaUrl,
+            auth: _auth(),
+            client: client,
+            stallTimeout: gap * 2.5,
+          ).resolve(ImageConfiguration.empty),
+        ).timeout(const Duration(seconds: 5));
+        // The whole body took several stall windows; only gaps are bounded.
+        expect(stopwatch.elapsed, greaterThan(gap * 5));
+      },
+    );
+
+    test('a body that never ends is aborted at the fetch cap', () async {
+      final client = _StreamingClient((request) async {
+        var aborted = false;
+        (request as http.AbortableRequest).abortTrigger!.then((_) {
+          aborted = true;
+        });
+        Stream<List<int>> endless() async* {
+          while (true) {
+            await Future<void>.delayed(const Duration(milliseconds: 20));
+            if (aborted) throw http.RequestAbortedException(request.url);
+            yield const [0];
+          }
+        }
+
+        return http.StreamedResponse(endless(), 200);
+      });
+      final error = await _waitError(
+        MediaImageProvider(
+          url: _mediaUrl,
+          auth: _auth(),
+          client: client,
+          stallTimeout: const Duration(seconds: 5),
+          maxFetchDuration: const Duration(milliseconds: 200),
+        ).resolve(ImageConfiguration.empty),
+      ).timeout(const Duration(seconds: 3));
+      expect(error, isA<http.RequestAbortedException>());
+    });
+
     test('failed URL is not refetched until cooldown elapses', () async {
       var fetches = 0;
       final client = http_testing.MockClient((request) async {
@@ -284,40 +468,179 @@ void main() {
       expect(fetches, 2);
     });
 
-    test('honors Retry-After on 429 (capped)', () async {
-      var fetches = 0;
-      final client = http_testing.MockClient((request) async {
-        fetches += 1;
-        return http.Response(
-          'rate limited',
-          429,
-          headers: {'retry-after': '120'},
+    test(
+      'honors Retry-After on 429 (capped) without reading the body',
+      () async {
+        var fetches = 0;
+        // A body that never ends: the error must not wait for it.
+        Stream<List<int>> endless() async* {
+          while (true) {
+            await Future<void>.delayed(const Duration(milliseconds: 20));
+            yield const [0];
+          }
+        }
+
+        final client = _StreamingClient((request) async {
+          fetches += 1;
+          return http.StreamedResponse(
+            endless(),
+            429,
+            headers: {'retry-after': '120'},
+          );
+        });
+        final auth = _auth(nsec: nostr.Keys.generate().nsec);
+        var current = DateTime.utc(2026, 7, 21, 12);
+        MediaImageProvider.debugNow = () => current;
+
+        Future<Object?> attempt() async {
+          final provider = MediaImageProvider(
+            url: _mediaUrl,
+            auth: auth,
+            client: client,
+          );
+          return _waitError(provider.resolve(ImageConfiguration.empty));
+        }
+
+        final error = await attempt().timeout(const Duration(seconds: 3));
+        expect(error, isA<NetworkImageLoadException>());
+        expect(fetches, 1);
+
+        current = current.add(const Duration(seconds: 60));
+        expect(await attempt(), isA<MediaImageCooldownException>());
+        expect(fetches, 1);
+
+        current = current.add(const Duration(seconds: 61));
+        await attempt();
+        expect(fetches, 2);
+      },
+    );
+  });
+
+  group('stalls', () {
+    // Each row stalls at a different point; both must abort at the stall
+    // timeout, well before the fetch cap, and put the URL on cooldown.
+    final rows =
+        <
+          String,
+          Future<http.StreamedResponse> Function(
+            http.BaseRequest request,
+            Future<void> aborted,
+          )
+        >{
+          'headers never arrive': (request, aborted) async {
+            await aborted;
+            throw http.RequestAbortedException(request.url);
+          },
+          'the body stops partway': (request, aborted) async {
+            Stream<List<int>> body() async* {
+              yield _pngBytes.sublist(0, 8);
+              await aborted;
+              throw http.RequestAbortedException(request.url);
+            }
+
+            return http.StreamedResponse(body(), 200);
+          },
+        };
+    for (final MapEntry(key: name, value: respond) in rows.entries) {
+      test('a silent connection is aborted when $name', () async {
+        final client = _StreamingClient(
+          (request) => respond(
+            request,
+            (request as http.AbortableRequest).abortTrigger!,
+          ),
         );
+        final stopwatch = Stopwatch()..start();
+        final error = await _waitError(
+          MediaImageProvider(
+            url: _mediaUrl,
+            auth: _auth(),
+            client: client,
+            stallTimeout: const Duration(milliseconds: 150),
+            maxFetchDuration: const Duration(seconds: 30),
+          ).resolve(ImageConfiguration.empty),
+        ).timeout(const Duration(seconds: 5));
+        expect(error, isA<http.RequestAbortedException>());
+        expect(stopwatch.elapsed, lessThan(const Duration(seconds: 5)));
+        expect(MediaImageProvider.debugCooldownUrls, [_mediaUrl]);
       });
-      final auth = _auth(nsec: nostr.Keys.generate().nsec);
-      var current = DateTime.utc(2026, 7, 21, 12);
-      MediaImageProvider.debugNow = () => current;
+    }
+  });
 
-      Future<Object?> attempt() async {
-        final provider = MediaImageProvider(
-          url: _mediaUrl,
-          auth: auth,
-          client: client,
-        );
-        return _waitError(provider.resolve(ImageConfiguration.empty));
-      }
-
-      await attempt();
-      expect(fetches, 1);
-
-      current = current.add(const Duration(seconds: 60));
-      expect(await attempt(), isA<MediaImageCooldownException>());
-      expect(fetches, 1);
-
-      current = current.add(const Duration(seconds: 61));
-      await attempt();
-      expect(fetches, 2);
+  testWidgets('an image that leaves before it loads stops downloading, '
+      'unless another widget still shows it', (tester) async {
+    var aborted = false;
+    var requests = 0;
+    final client = _StreamingClient((request) async {
+      requests += 1;
+      // A slow link: the body has started but does not finish in this test.
+      final body = StreamController<List<int>>()..add(const [0]);
+      (request as http.AbortableRequest).abortTrigger!.then((_) {
+        aborted = true;
+        body
+          ..addError(http.RequestAbortedException(request.url))
+          ..close();
+      });
+      return http.StreamedResponse(body.stream, 200);
     });
+    final shown = ValueNotifier(2);
+    addTearDown(shown.dispose);
+    // A fast fling: the scrollable asks images to defer loading.
+    final flinging = ValueNotifier(true);
+    addTearDown(flinging.dispose);
+    await tester.pumpWidget(
+      ProviderScope(
+        overrides: [
+          mediaGetAuthServiceProvider.overrideWithValue(_auth()),
+          mediaHttpClientProvider.overrideWithValue(client),
+        ],
+        child: MaterialApp(
+          home: ListenableBuilder(
+            listenable: Listenable.merge([shown, flinging]),
+            builder: (_, _) => SingleChildScrollView(
+              physics: flinging.value ? const _DeferringPhysics() : null,
+              child: Column(
+                children: [
+                  for (var i = 0; i < shown.value; i++)
+                    const SizedBox.square(
+                      dimension: 40,
+                      child: MediaImage(url: _mediaUrl),
+                    ),
+                ],
+              ),
+            ),
+          ),
+        ),
+      ),
+    );
+    Future<void> settle() async {
+      for (var i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
+        await tester.runAsync(
+          () => Future<void>.delayed(const Duration(milliseconds: 50)),
+        );
+        await tester.pump();
+      }
+    }
+
+    await settle();
+    // Nothing downloads while the fling defers loading.
+    expect(requests, 0);
+
+    flinging.value = false;
+    await settle();
+    // Both copies share one download.
+    expect(requests, 1);
+
+    // One copy scrolls away; the other still shows the image.
+    shown.value = 1;
+    await settle();
+    expect(aborted, isFalse);
+
+    // The last one leaves: the download stops, and the URL itself did not
+    // fail, so it is not put on cooldown.
+    shown.value = 0;
+    await settle();
+    expect(aborted, isTrue);
+    expect(MediaImageProvider.debugCooldownUrls, isEmpty);
   });
 }
 
@@ -355,3 +678,19 @@ class _StreamingClient extends http.BaseClient {
   Future<http.StreamedResponse> send(http.BaseRequest request) =>
       respond(request);
 }
+
+/// Physics that always recommend deferring image loads, as during a fling.
+class _DeferringPhysics extends ScrollPhysics {
+  const _DeferringPhysics({super.parent});
+
+  @override
+  _DeferringPhysics applyTo(ScrollPhysics? ancestor) =>
+      _DeferringPhysics(parent: buildParent(ancestor));
+
+  @override
+  bool recommendDeferredLoading(
+    double velocity,
+    ScrollMetrics metrics,
+    BuildContext context,
+  ) => true;
+}
diff --git a/mobile/test/shared/widgets/ios_media_carousel_test.dart b/mobile/test/shared/widgets/ios_media_carousel_test.dart
index 9990c0c3b9..3184ca3a19 100644
--- a/mobile/test/shared/widgets/ios_media_carousel_test.dart
+++ b/mobile/test/shared/widgets/ios_media_carousel_test.dart
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ import 'package:flutter_test/flutter_test.dart';
 void main() {
   for (final stallBody in [false, true]) {
     testWidgets(
-      'stalled ${stallBody ? "bodies" : "headers"} abort before queued photo loads',
+      'previews scrolled past abort their downloads while ${stallBody ? "bodies" : "headers"} stall',
       (tester) async {
         final client = (await tester.runAsync(() async => _TrackingClient()))!;
         final server = await tester.runAsync(
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ void main() {
               request.response.add([0]);
               unawaited(request.response.flush());
             }
-            // The first four never finish: only client-side abort can release them.
+            // The first four never finish and never time out within the
+            // test: only the carousel's cancellation can release them.
           });
         });
         final harness = await _mount(
@@ -50,7 +51,7 @@ void main() {
               url: '$base/$index',
               auth: auth,
               client: client,
-              requestTimeout: const Duration(seconds: 1),
+              stallTimeout: const Duration(minutes: 1),
             ),
           ),
         );
@@ -62,15 +63,18 @@ void main() {
             });
             await harness.send('cancelImage', '$index');
           }
-          await harness.send('subscribeImage', {'id': 'latest', 'index': 4});
-          expect(client.started, 4);
-          await harness.waitForFrames(1);
           await client.retired.future.timeout(const Duration(seconds: 5));
+          await harness.send('subscribeImage', {'id': 'latest', 'index': 4});
+          await harness.waitForFrames(1);
+          // Scrolling back starts a fresh download: an abandoned load is not
+          // a failure, so it leaves no cooldown behind.
+          await harness.send('subscribeImage', {'id': 'back', 'index': 0});
+          for (var i = 0; i < 100 && client.started < 6; i++) {
+            await Future<void>.delayed(const Duration(milliseconds: 10));
+          }
         });
-        expect(client.started, 5);
-        expect(client.peak, 4);
         expect(client.aborted, 4);
-        expect(client.active, 0);
+        expect(client.started, 6);
         expect(harness.frames, [
           {'id': 'latest', 'bytes': null},
         ]);
@@ -80,6 +84,50 @@ void main() {
     );
   }
 
+  testWidgets('closing the carousel aborts its pending downloads', (
+    tester,
+  ) async {
+    final client = (await tester.runAsync(() async => _TrackingClient()))!;
+    final server = await tester.runAsync(
+      () => HttpServer.bind(InternetAddress.loopbackIPv4, 0),
+    );
+    addTearDown(() async {
+      client.close();
+      await server!.close(force: true);
+      MediaImageProvider.debugResetCooldowns();
+    });
+    final base = 'http://127.0.0.1:${server!.port}';
+    final auth = MediaGetAuthService(baseUrl: base, nsec: null);
+    // Requests never get a response: only disposal can release them.
+    await tester.runAsync(() async => server.listen((_) {}));
+    final harness = await _mount(
+      tester,
+      List.generate(
+        4,
+        (index) => MediaImageProvider(
+          url: '$base/$index',
+          auth: auth,
+          client: client,
+          stallTimeout: const Duration(minutes: 1),
+        ),
+      ),
+    );
+    await tester.runAsync(() async {
+      for (var index = 0; index < 4; index++) {
+        await harness.send('subscribeImage', {'id': '$index', 'index': index});
+      }
+      for (var i = 0; i < 100 && client.started < 4; i++) {
+        await Future<void>.delayed(const Duration(milliseconds: 10));
+      }
+    });
+    expect(client.started, 4);
+    await tester.pumpWidget(const SizedBox());
+    await tester.runAsync(
+      () => client.retired.future.timeout(const Duration(seconds: 5)),
+    );
+    expect(client.aborted, 4);
+  }, variant: TargetPlatformVariant.only(TargetPlatform.iOS));
+
   testWidgets('native callbacks and disposal release subscribed images', (
     tester,
   ) async {
@@ -145,37 +193,32 @@ void main() {
     expect(still.completer.listeners, isEmpty);
   }, variant: TargetPlatformVariant.only(TargetPlatform.iOS));
 
-  testWidgets(
-    'rapid reuse bounds unresolved loads and drops cancelled queued requests',
-    (tester) async {
-      final providers = List.generate(20, (_) => _TestImage());
-      final harness = await _mount(tester, providers);
-      for (var index = 0; index < 20; index++) {
-        await harness.send('subscribeImage', {'id': '$index', 'index': index});
-        if (index < 19) await harness.send('cancelImage', '$index');
-      }
-      expect(providers.where((p) => p.resolutions > 0), hasLength(4));
-      expect(
-        providers.skip(4).take(15).every((p) => p.completer.listeners.isEmpty),
-        isTrue,
-      );
-      // Retired pending providers retain a bounded completion observer because
-      // transport termination must precede releasing that slot.
-      final image = await tester.runAsync(() => _frame(Colors.red));
-      providers[0].completer.emit(image!);
-      await tester.pump();
-      expect(providers[0].completer.listeners, isEmpty);
-      expect(providers[19].resolutions, 1);
-      expect(
-        harness.frames,
-        isEmpty,
-        reason: 'Cancelled loads must never reach UIKit',
-      );
-      await tester.pumpWidget(const SizedBox());
-      expect(providers.every((p) => p.completer.listeners.isEmpty), isTrue);
-    },
-    variant: TargetPlatformVariant.only(TargetPlatform.iOS),
-  );
+  testWidgets('rapid reuse releases cancelled loads at once', (tester) async {
+    final providers = List.generate(20, (_) => _TestImage());
+    final harness = await _mount(tester, providers);
+    for (var index = 0; index < 20; index++) {
+      await harness.send('subscribeImage', {'id': '$index', 'index': index});
+      if (index < 19) await harness.send('cancelImage', '$index');
+    }
+    // A cancelled load stops listening, which lets MediaImageProvider abort
+    // its download, so it never holds a slot the visible cell needs.
+    expect(providers.every((p) => p.resolutions == 1), isTrue);
+    expect(
+      providers.take(19).every((p) => p.completer.listeners.isEmpty),
+      isTrue,
+    );
+    expect(providers[19].completer.listeners, hasLength(1));
+    final image = await tester.runAsync(() => _frame(Colors.red));
+    providers[0].completer.emit(image!);
+    await tester.pump();
+    expect(
+      harness.frames,
+      isEmpty,
+      reason: 'Cancelled loads must never reach UIKit',
+    );
+    await tester.pumpWidget(const SizedBox());
+    expect(providers.every((p) => p.completer.listeners.isEmpty), isTrue);
+  }, variant: TargetPlatformVariant.only(TargetPlatform.iOS));
 }
 
 Future<ui.Image> _frame(Color color) async {