diff --git a/src/client/features/search-performance/SearchPerformanceLoadingState.tsx b/src/client/features/search-performance/SearchPerformanceLoadingState.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..df42e75
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/client/features/search-performance/SearchPerformanceLoadingState.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+// Skeleton loading state for the Search Performance (GSC) page. Mirrors the
+// loaded layout — four totals cards over a tabbed table panel — so the shell
+// stays put and only the data fills in, matching the other pages' loaders
+// (e.g. DomainOverviewLoadingState, KeywordResearchLoadingState).
+export function SearchPerformanceLoadingState() {
+  return (
+    <div className="space-y-4" aria-busy>
+      <div className="grid grid-cols-2 gap-3 lg:grid-cols-4">
+        {Array.from({ length: 4 }).map((_, index) => (
+          <div
+            key={index}
+            className="rounded-lg border border-base-300 bg-base-100 p-4 space-y-2"
+          >
+            <div className="skeleton h-3 w-20" />
+            <div className="skeleton h-7 w-24" />
+          </div>
+        ))}
+      </div>
+
+      <div className="overflow-hidden rounded-xl border border-base-300 bg-base-100">
+        <div className="flex flex-col gap-3 border-b border-base-300 px-4 py-3 lg:flex-row lg:items-center lg:justify-between">
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-4">
+            <div className="skeleton h-8 w-40" />
+            <div className="skeleton h-8 w-20" />
+            <div className="skeleton h-8 w-16" />
+          </div>
+          <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2">
+            <div className="skeleton h-8 w-36" />
+            <div className="skeleton h-8 w-36" />
+            <div className="skeleton h-8 w-36" />
+          </div>
+        </div>
+
+        <div className="space-y-3 p-4">
+          {Array.from({ length: 8 }).map((_, index) => (
+            <div key={index} className="grid grid-cols-5 gap-3">
+              <div className="skeleton col-span-2 h-4" />
+              <div className="skeleton h-4" />
+              <div className="skeleton h-4" />
+              <div className="skeleton h-4" />
+            </div>
+          ))}
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/src/client/features/search-performance/SearchPerformancePage.tsx b/src/client/features/search-performance/SearchPerformancePage.tsx
index 0535fac..d082789 100644
--- a/src/client/features/search-performance/SearchPerformancePage.tsx
+++ b/src/client/features/search-performance/SearchPerformancePage.tsx
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import { toast } from "sonner";
 import { TableExportMenu } from "@/client/components/table/TableBulkActionBar";
 import { TablePagination } from "@/client/components/table/TablePagination";
 import { SearchConsoleConnectionCard } from "@/client/features/gsc/SearchConsoleConnectionCard";
+import { SearchPerformanceLoadingState } from "@/client/features/search-performance/SearchPerformanceLoadingState";
 import {
   DimensionTable,
   exportDimensionRows,
@@ -198,10 +199,7 @@ export function SearchPerformancePage({ projectId }: { projectId: string }) {
         </div>
 
         {reportQuery.isPending ? (
-          <div className="flex items-center gap-2 p-8 text-sm text-base-content/60">
-            <Loader2 className="size-4 animate-spin" /> Loading Search Console
-            data…
-          </div>
+          <SearchPerformanceLoadingState />
         ) : reportQuery.isError ? (
           <div className="alert alert-error">
             <span className="text-sm">
diff --git a/src/client/layout/AppShell.tsx b/src/client/layout/AppShell.tsx
index a6e1736..f4231f9 100644
--- a/src/client/layout/AppShell.tsx
+++ b/src/client/layout/AppShell.tsx
@@ -32,25 +32,30 @@ export function AuthenticatedAppLayout({
     React.useState(false);
   // On non-project pages (e.g. /settings) there's no projectId in the URL, so
   // derive one for the nav/switcher: prefer the last-visited project, else the
-  // most recent. Reading localStorage in an effect keeps SSR/first render stable.
+  // most recent. The whole app tree is client-only (see root ClientOnly), so we
+  // can read localStorage synchronously during the first render — this lets the
+  // sidebar show the full project nav on the very first paint instead of briefly
+  // flashing only the always-visible Connect group while projects load.
   const projectsQuery = useQuery({
     queryKey: ["projects"],
     queryFn: () => getProjects(),
     enabled: !projectId,
   });
-  const [rememberedProjectId, setRememberedProjectId] = React.useState<
-    string | null
-  >(null);
-  React.useEffect(() => {
-    setRememberedProjectId(getLastProjectId());
-  }, []);
+  const [rememberedProjectId] = React.useState<string | null>(() =>
+    getLastProjectId(),
+  );
   const fallbackProjects = projectsQuery.data ?? [];
   const fallbackProjectId =
     fallbackProjects.find((project) => project.id === rememberedProjectId)
       ?.id ??
     fallbackProjects[0]?.id ??
     null;
-  const sidebarProjectId = projectId ?? fallbackProjectId;
+  // Once the projects list loads, fallbackProjectId is the validated choice
+  // (remembered-if-valid, else most recent). Before it loads, fall back to the
+  // remembered id so the project nav renders immediately; a stale id here only
+  // builds links that self-correct via the route guard once data arrives.
+  const sidebarProjectId =
+    projectId ?? fallbackProjectId ?? rememberedProjectId;
   const shouldCheckSeoApiKeyStatus = location.pathname !== BILLING_ROUTE;
   const seoApiKeyStatusQuery = useQuery({
     queryKey: ["seoApiKeyStatus"],