diff --git a/src-tauri/src/audio.rs b/src-tauri/src/audio.rs
index fedfc28b..dad76b17 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/audio.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/audio.rs
@@ -1200,11 +1200,15 @@ impl SizedDecoder {
         })
     }
 
-    /// Build a decoder from any `MediaSource` (e.g. `RadioBuffer`).
+    /// Build a decoder from any `MediaSource` (e.g. track-stream or radio).
     /// Uses `enable_gapless: false` — live streams are not seekable; gapless
     /// trimming requires seeking to read the LAME/iTunSMPB end-padding info.
-    fn new_streaming(media: Box<dyn MediaSource>, format_hint: Option<&str>) -> Result<Self, String> {
-        // Larger read-ahead buffer for the live radio SPSC consumer — reduces
+    fn new_streaming(
+        media: Box<dyn MediaSource>,
+        format_hint: Option<&str>,
+        source_tag: &str,
+    ) -> Result<Self, String> {
+        // Larger read-ahead buffer for the live streaming SPSC consumer — reduces
         // read() call frequency into the ring buffer, easing I/O spikes.
         let mss = MediaSourceStream::new(media, MediaSourceStreamOptions { buffer_len: 512 * 1024 });
         let mut hint = Hint::new();
@@ -1212,16 +1216,16 @@ impl SizedDecoder {
         let format_opts = FormatOptions { enable_gapless: false, ..Default::default() };
         let probed = symphonia::default::get_probe()
             .format(&hint, mss, &format_opts, &MetadataOptions::default())
-            .map_err(|e| format!("radio: format probe failed: {e}"))?;
+            .map_err(|e| format!("{source_tag}: format probe failed: {e}"))?;
 
         let track = probed.format.tracks().iter()
             .find(|t| t.codec_params.codec != CODEC_TYPE_NULL)
-            .ok_or_else(|| "radio: no audio track found".to_string())?;
+            .ok_or_else(|| format!("{source_tag}: no audio track found"))?;
         let track_id = track.id;
         // Live streams have no known total frame count → total_duration = None.
         let total_duration = None;
         let mut decoder = try_make_radio_decoder(&track.codec_params, &DecoderOptions::default())
-            .map_err(|e| format!("radio: codec init failed: {e}"))?;
+            .map_err(|e| format!("{source_tag}: codec init failed: {e}"))?;
         let mut format = probed.format;
 
         let mut errors = 0usize;
@@ -1235,12 +1239,12 @@ impl SizedDecoder {
                 Ok(d) => break d,
                 Err(symphonia::core::errors::Error::DecodeError(ref msg)) => {
                     errors += 1;
-                    eprintln!("[psysonic] radio init: dropped corrupt frame #{errors}: {msg}");
+                    eprintln!("[psysonic] {source_tag} init: dropped corrupt frame #{errors}: {msg}");
                     if errors >= MAX_CONSECUTIVE_DECODE_ERRORS {
-                        return Err("radio: too many consecutive decode errors".into());
+                        return Err(format!("{source_tag}: too many consecutive decode errors"));
                     }
                 }
-                Err(e) => return Err(format!("radio: decode error: {e}")),
+                Err(e) => return Err(format!("{source_tag}: decode error: {e}")),
             }
         };
         let spec = decoded.spec().to_owned();
@@ -2349,7 +2353,7 @@ pub async fn audio_play(
         ),
         PlayInput::Streaming { reader, format_hint } => {
             let decoder = tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || {
-                SizedDecoder::new_streaming(Box::new(reader), format_hint.as_deref())
+                SizedDecoder::new_streaming(Box::new(reader), format_hint.as_deref(), "track-stream")
             })
             .await
             .map_err(|e| e.to_string())??;
@@ -3076,11 +3080,13 @@ pub fn audio_set_eq(gains: [f32; 10], enabled: bool, pre_gain: f32, state: State
 pub async fn audio_preload(
     url: String,
     duration_hint: f64,
+    app: AppHandle,
     state: State<'_, AudioEngine>,
 ) -> Result<(), String> {
     {
         let preloaded = state.preloaded.lock().unwrap();
         if preloaded.as_ref().is_some_and(|p| same_playback_target(&p.url, &url)) {
+            let _ = app.emit("audio:preload-ready", url.clone());
             return Ok(());
         }
     }
@@ -3102,7 +3108,9 @@ pub async fn audio_preload(
         response.bytes().await.map_err(|e| e.to_string())?.into()
     };
     let _ = duration_hint; // kept in API for compatibility
+    let url_for_emit = url.clone();
     *state.preloaded.lock().unwrap() = Some(PreloadedTrack { url, data });
+    let _ = app.emit("audio:preload-ready", url_for_emit);
     Ok(())
 }
 
@@ -3201,7 +3209,7 @@ pub async fn audio_play_radio(
 
     let hint_clone = fmt_hint.clone();
     let decoder = tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || {
-        SizedDecoder::new_streaming(Box::new(reader), hint_clone.as_deref())
+        SizedDecoder::new_streaming(Box::new(reader), hint_clone.as_deref(), "radio")
     })
     .await
     .map_err(|e| e.to_string())??;
diff --git a/src/components/QueuePanel.tsx b/src/components/QueuePanel.tsx
index af6d9380..0675319a 100644
--- a/src/components/QueuePanel.tsx
+++ b/src/components/QueuePanel.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import React, { useState, useRef, useMemo } from 'react';
 import { Track, usePlayerStore, songToTrack } from '../store/playerStore';
-import { Play, Music, Star, X, Trash2, Save, FolderOpen, Shuffle, Infinity, Waves, MicVocal, ListMusic, Check, ListPlus, ArrowUpToLine, Radio } from 'lucide-react';
+import { Play, Music, Star, X, Trash2, Save, FolderOpen, Shuffle, Infinity, Waves, MicVocal, ListMusic, Check, ListPlus, ArrowUpToLine, Radio, HardDrive } from 'lucide-react';
 import { buildCoverArtUrl, coverArtCacheKey, getAlbum, getPlaylists, getPlaylist, updatePlaylist, deletePlaylist, SubsonicPlaylist } from '../api/subsonic';
 import { usePlaylistStore } from '../store/playlistStore';
 import { useCachedUrl } from './CachedImage';
@@ -251,6 +251,8 @@ export default function QueuePanel() {
   const enqueueAt = usePlayerStore(s => s.enqueueAt);
   const contextMenu = usePlayerStore(s => s.contextMenu);
 
+  const playbackSource = usePlayerStore(s => s.currentPlaybackSource);
+
   const crossfadeEnabled = useAuthStore(s => s.crossfadeEnabled);
   const crossfadeSecs = useAuthStore(s => s.crossfadeSecs);
   const gaplessEnabled = useAuthStore(s => s.gaplessEnabled);
@@ -450,8 +452,29 @@ export default function QueuePanel() {
             ].filter(Boolean) as string[];
             const rgParts = formatQueueReplayGainParts(currentTrack, t);
             const techLine = [...baseParts, ...rgParts].join(' · ');
-            if (!techLine) return null;
-            return <div className="queue-current-tech">{techLine}</div>;
+            if (!techLine && !playbackSource) return null;
+            return (
+              <div className="queue-current-tech">
+                {playbackSource && (
+                  <span
+                    className="queue-current-tech-source"
+                    data-tooltip={
+                      playbackSource === 'offline'
+                        ? t('queue.sourceOffline')
+                        : playbackSource === 'hot'
+                          ? t('queue.sourceHot')
+                          : t('queue.sourceStream')
+                    }
+                    aria-hidden
+                  >
+                    {playbackSource === 'offline' && <FolderOpen size={11} strokeWidth={2.25} />}
+                    {playbackSource === 'hot' && <HardDrive size={11} strokeWidth={2.25} />}
+                    {playbackSource === 'stream' && <Waves size={11} strokeWidth={2.25} />}
+                  </span>
+                )}
+                <span className="queue-current-tech-main">{techLine}</span>
+              </div>
+            );
           })()}
           <div className="queue-current-track-body">
             <div className="queue-current-cover">
diff --git a/src/locales/de.ts b/src/locales/de.ts
index ee7e855c..e274cba3 100644
--- a/src/locales/de.ts
+++ b/src/locales/de.ts
@@ -858,6 +858,9 @@ export const deTranslation = {
     rgTrack: 'T {{db}} dB',
     rgAlbum: 'A {{db}} dB',
     rgPeak: 'Peak {{pk}}',
+    sourceOffline: 'Wiedergabe aus der Offline-Bibliothek',
+    sourceHot: 'Wiedergabe aus dem Cache',
+    sourceStream: 'Wiedergabe aus dem Netzwerkstream',
   },
   statistics: {
     title: 'Statistiken',
diff --git a/src/locales/en.ts b/src/locales/en.ts
index 968dccd7..2106c428 100644
--- a/src/locales/en.ts
+++ b/src/locales/en.ts
@@ -860,6 +860,9 @@ export const enTranslation = {
     rgTrack: 'T {{db}} dB',
     rgAlbum: 'A {{db}} dB',
     rgPeak: 'Peak {{pk}}',
+    sourceOffline: 'Playing from offline library',
+    sourceHot: 'Playing from cache',
+    sourceStream: 'Playing from network stream',
   },
   statistics: {
     title: 'Statistics',
diff --git a/src/locales/es.ts b/src/locales/es.ts
index febb771d..b1470f12 100644
--- a/src/locales/es.ts
+++ b/src/locales/es.ts
@@ -861,6 +861,9 @@ export const esTranslation = {
     rgTrack: 'T {{db}} dB',
     rgAlbum: 'A {{db}} dB',
     rgPeak: 'Pico {{pk}}',
+    sourceOffline: 'Reproducción desde la biblioteca sin conexión',
+    sourceHot: 'Reproducción desde la caché',
+    sourceStream: 'Reproducción desde la transmisión en red',
   },
   statistics: {
     title: 'Estadísticas',
diff --git a/src/locales/fr.ts b/src/locales/fr.ts
index ea8983a1..da5c5af2 100644
--- a/src/locales/fr.ts
+++ b/src/locales/fr.ts
@@ -856,6 +856,9 @@ export const frTranslation = {
     rgTrack: 'T {{db}} dB',
     rgAlbum: 'A {{db}} dB',
     rgPeak: 'Pic {{pk}}',
+    sourceOffline: 'Lecture depuis la bibliothèque hors ligne',
+    sourceHot: 'Lecture depuis le cache',
+    sourceStream: 'Lecture depuis le flux réseau',
   },
   statistics: {
     title: 'Statistiques',
diff --git a/src/locales/nb.ts b/src/locales/nb.ts
index a614cd2c..8040c2ef 100644
--- a/src/locales/nb.ts
+++ b/src/locales/nb.ts
@@ -855,6 +855,9 @@ export const nbTranslation = {
     rgTrack: 'T {{db}} dB',
     rgAlbum: 'A {{db}} dB',
     rgPeak: 'Topp {{pk}}',
+    sourceOffline: 'Spiller fra offlinebibliotek',
+    sourceHot: 'Spiller fra cache',
+    sourceStream: 'Spiller fra nettverksstrøm',
   },
   statistics: {
     title: 'Statistikk',
diff --git a/src/locales/nl.ts b/src/locales/nl.ts
index d8c5ab85..d7fd2f00 100644
--- a/src/locales/nl.ts
+++ b/src/locales/nl.ts
@@ -855,6 +855,9 @@ export const nlTranslation = {
     rgTrack: 'T {{db}} dB',
     rgAlbum: 'A {{db}} dB',
     rgPeak: 'Piek {{pk}}',
+    sourceOffline: 'Afspelen vanuit offlinebibliotheek',
+    sourceHot: 'Afspelen vanuit cache',
+    sourceStream: 'Afspelen vanuit netwerkstream',
   },
   statistics: {
     title: 'Statistieken',
diff --git a/src/locales/ru.ts b/src/locales/ru.ts
index 33ae4ffb..15dfa8a1 100644
--- a/src/locales/ru.ts
+++ b/src/locales/ru.ts
@@ -906,6 +906,9 @@ export const ruTranslation = {
     rgTrack: 'Т {{db}} дБ',
     rgAlbum: 'А {{db}} дБ',
     rgPeak: 'Пик {{pk}}',
+    sourceOffline: 'Играет из офлайн-библиотеки',
+    sourceHot: 'Играет из кэша',
+    sourceStream: 'Играет из сетевого потока',
   },
   statistics: {
     title: 'Статистика',
diff --git a/src/locales/zh.ts b/src/locales/zh.ts
index 8de63763..3ef52103 100644
--- a/src/locales/zh.ts
+++ b/src/locales/zh.ts
@@ -851,6 +851,9 @@ export const zhTranslation = {
     rgTrack: '曲目 {{db}} dB',
     rgAlbum: '专辑 {{db}} dB',
     rgPeak: '峰值 {{pk}}',
+    sourceOffline: '正在从离线库播放',
+    sourceHot: '正在从缓存播放',
+    sourceStream: '正在从网络流播放',
   },
   statistics: {
     title: '统计',
diff --git a/src/store/playerStore.ts b/src/store/playerStore.ts
index db564b59..268331be 100644
--- a/src/store/playerStore.ts
+++ b/src/store/playerStore.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { invoke } from '@tauri-apps/api/core';
 import { listen } from '@tauri-apps/api/event';
 import { showToast } from '../utils/toast';
 import { buildCoverArtUrl, buildStreamUrl, getPlayQueue, savePlayQueue, reportNowPlaying, scrobbleSong, SubsonicSong, getSong, getRandomSongs, getSimilarSongs2, getTopSongs, InternetRadioStation, setRating } from '../api/subsonic';
-import { resolvePlaybackUrl } from '../utils/resolvePlaybackUrl';
+import { resolvePlaybackUrl, streamUrlTrackId, getPlaybackSourceKind, type PlaybackSourceKind } from '../utils/resolvePlaybackUrl';
 import { setDeferHotCachePrefetch } from '../utils/hotCacheGate';
 import { lastfmScrobble, lastfmUpdateNowPlaying, lastfmLoveTrack, lastfmUnloveTrack, lastfmGetTrackLoved, lastfmGetAllLovedTracks } from '../api/lastfm';
 import { useAuthStore } from './authStore';
@@ -113,6 +113,13 @@ async function buildInfiniteQueueCandidates(
 interface PlayerState {
   currentTrack: Track | null;
   currentRadio: InternetRadioStation | null;
+  /** Latches the source used to start the currently playing track. */
+  currentPlaybackSource: PlaybackSourceKind | null;
+  /**
+   * Subsonic track id for which `audio_preload` finished into the engine RAM slot (see `audio:preload-ready`).
+   * Cleared after a successful `audio_play` consumed that preload, or when starting another track.
+   */
+  enginePreloadedTrackId: string | null;
   queue: Track[];
   queueIndex: number;
   isPlaying: boolean;
@@ -465,6 +472,16 @@ function handleAudioProgress(current_time: number, duration: number) {
     // Byte pre-download — runs early so bytes are cached by chain time.
     if ((shouldBytePreload || shouldBytePreloadForGaplessBackup) && nextTrack.id !== bytePreloadingId) {
       bytePreloadingId = nextTrack.id;
+      if (import.meta.env.DEV) {
+        console.info('[psysonic][preload-request]', {
+          nextTrackId: nextTrack.id,
+          nextUrl,
+          shouldBytePreload,
+          shouldBytePreloadForGaplessBackup,
+          remaining,
+          gaplessEnabled,
+        });
+      }
       invoke('audio_preload', { url: nextUrl, durationHint: nextTrack.duration }).catch(() => {});
     }
 
@@ -627,6 +644,20 @@ export function initAudioListeners(): () => void {
     listen<void>('audio:ended', () => handleAudioEnded()),
     listen<string>('audio:error', ({ payload }) => handleAudioError(payload)),
     listen<number>('audio:track_switched', ({ payload }) => handleAudioTrackSwitched(payload)),
+    listen<string>('audio:preload-ready', ({ payload }) => {
+      const tid = streamUrlTrackId(payload);
+      if (import.meta.env.DEV) {
+        console.info('[psysonic][preload-ready]', {
+          payload,
+          parsedTrackId: tid,
+          prevEnginePreloadedTrackId: usePlayerStore.getState().enginePreloadedTrackId,
+        });
+      }
+      if (tid) usePlayerStore.setState({ enginePreloadedTrackId: tid });
+      else if (import.meta.env.DEV) {
+        console.warn('[psysonic][preload-ready] could not parse track id from payload URL');
+      }
+    }),
   ];
 
   // Sync Last.fm loved tracks cache on startup.
@@ -823,6 +854,8 @@ export const usePlayerStore = create<PlayerState>()(
     (set, get) => ({
       currentTrack: null,
       currentRadio: null,
+      currentPlaybackSource: null,
+      enginePreloadedTrackId: null,
       queue: [],
       queueIndex: 0,
       isPlaying: false,
@@ -934,7 +967,15 @@ export const usePlayerStore = create<PlayerState>()(
         }
         isAudioPaused = false;
         if (seekDebounce) { clearTimeout(seekDebounce); seekDebounce = null; } seekTarget = null;
-        set({ isPlaying: false, progress: 0, buffered: 0, currentTime: 0, currentRadio: null });
+        set({
+          isPlaying: false,
+          progress: 0,
+          buffered: 0,
+          currentTime: 0,
+          currentRadio: null,
+          currentPlaybackSource: null,
+          enginePreloadedTrackId: null,
+        });
       },
 
       // ── playRadio ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -965,6 +1006,7 @@ export const usePlayerStore = create<PlayerState>()(
         set({
           currentRadio: station,
           currentTrack: null,
+          currentPlaybackSource: null,
           queue: [],
           queueIndex: 0,
           isPlaying: true,
@@ -1005,6 +1047,25 @@ export const usePlayerStore = create<PlayerState>()(
         const newQueue = queue ?? state.queue;
         const idx = newQueue.findIndex(t => t.id === track.id);
 
+        const authState = useAuthStore.getState();
+        const url = resolvePlaybackUrl(track.id, authState.activeServerId ?? '');
+        const preloadedTrackId = get().enginePreloadedTrackId;
+        const keepPreloadHint = preloadedTrackId === track.id;
+        const playbackSourceHint = getPlaybackSourceKind(
+          track.id,
+          authState.activeServerId ?? '',
+          keepPreloadHint ? track.id : null,
+        );
+        if (import.meta.env.DEV) {
+          console.info('[psysonic][playTrack-source]', {
+            trackId: track.id,
+            resolvedUrl: url,
+            preloadedTrackId,
+            keepPreloadHint,
+            playbackSourceHint,
+          });
+        }
+
         // Set state immediately so the UI updates before the download completes.
         // currentRadio: null ensures the PlayerBar switches out of radio mode right away.
         set({
@@ -1018,9 +1079,10 @@ export const usePlayerStore = create<PlayerState>()(
           scrobbled: false,
           lastfmLoved: false,
           isPlaying: true, // optimistic — reverted on error
+          currentPlaybackSource: playbackSourceHint,
+          enginePreloadedTrackId: keepPreloadHint ? track.id : null,
         });
 
-        const authState = useAuthStore.getState();
         if (
           prevTrack
           && prevTrack.id !== track.id
@@ -1034,7 +1096,6 @@ export const usePlayerStore = create<PlayerState>()(
           );
         }
         setDeferHotCachePrefetch(true);
-        const url = resolvePlaybackUrl(track.id, authState.activeServerId ?? '');
         const replayGainDb = authState.replayGainEnabled
           ? (authState.replayGainMode === 'album' ? (track.replayGainAlbumDb ?? track.replayGainTrackDb) : track.replayGainTrackDb) ?? null
           : null;
@@ -1049,16 +1110,23 @@ export const usePlayerStore = create<PlayerState>()(
           fallbackDb: authState.replayGainFallbackDb,
           manual,
           hiResEnabled: authState.enableHiRes,
-        }).catch((err: unknown) => {
-          if (playGeneration !== gen) return;
-          setDeferHotCachePrefetch(false);
-          console.error('[psysonic] audio_play failed:', err);
-          set({ isPlaying: false });
-          setTimeout(() => {
+        })
+          .then(() => {
             if (playGeneration !== gen) return;
-            get().next(false);
-          }, 500);
-        });
+            if (keepPreloadHint) {
+              usePlayerStore.setState({ enginePreloadedTrackId: null });
+            }
+          })
+          .catch((err: unknown) => {
+            if (playGeneration !== gen) return;
+            setDeferHotCachePrefetch(false);
+            console.error('[psysonic] audio_play failed:', err);
+            set({ isPlaying: false });
+            setTimeout(() => {
+              if (playGeneration !== gen) return;
+              get().next(false);
+            }, 500);
+          });
 
         // Report Now Playing to Navidrome (for Live/getNowPlaying) + Last.fm
         const { nowPlayingEnabled: npEnabled, scrobblingEnabled: lfmEnabled, lastfmSessionKey: lfmKey } = useAuthStore.getState();
diff --git a/src/styles/layout.css b/src/styles/layout.css
index 7515f2f8..2fef2745 100644
--- a/src/styles/layout.css
+++ b/src/styles/layout.css
@@ -1593,6 +1593,24 @@
   text-overflow: ellipsis;
   text-align: center;
   backdrop-filter: blur(8px);
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  gap: 6px;
+}
+
+.queue-current-tech-source {
+  flex-shrink: 0;
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  line-height: 0;
+  opacity: 0.92;
+}
+
+.queue-current-tech-main {
+  min-width: 0;
+  overflow: hidden;
+  text-overflow: ellipsis;
 }
 
 .queue-divider {
diff --git a/src/utils/resolvePlaybackUrl.ts b/src/utils/resolvePlaybackUrl.ts
index 4f3be81b..bb36dbb5 100644
--- a/src/utils/resolvePlaybackUrl.ts
+++ b/src/utils/resolvePlaybackUrl.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,57 @@ import { buildStreamUrl } from '../api/subsonic';
 import { useOfflineStore } from '../store/offlineStore';
 import { useHotCacheStore } from '../store/hotCacheStore';
 
+/** Same resolution order as {@link resolvePlaybackUrl} — for UI hints only. */
+export type PlaybackSourceKind = 'offline' | 'hot' | 'stream';
+
+/**
+ * Subsonic `buildStreamUrl()` rotates `t`/`s` on every call; Rust matches by `id` (see `playback_identity`).
+ */
+export function streamUrlTrackId(url: string): string | null {
+  if (!url.includes('stream.view')) return null;
+  try {
+    const fromUrl = new URL(url).searchParams.get('id');
+    if (fromUrl) return fromUrl;
+  } catch {
+    // Fallback for non-standard/relative URLs: parse query manually.
+  }
+  const q = url.split('?')[1];
+  if (!q) return null;
+  for (const part of q.split('&')) {
+    const [k, v = ''] = part.split('=');
+    if (k === 'id') {
+      try {
+        return decodeURIComponent(v);
+      } catch {
+        return v;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  return null;
+}
+
+/**
+ * @param enginePreloadedTrackId — song id for which `audio_preload` finished into the engine RAM slot
+ *   (parsed from `audio:preload-ready` payload URL).
+ */
+export function getPlaybackSourceKind(
+  trackId: string,
+  serverId: string,
+  enginePreloadedTrackId: string | null = null,
+): PlaybackSourceKind {
+  if (useOfflineStore.getState().getLocalUrl(trackId, serverId)) return 'offline';
+  if (useHotCacheStore.getState().getLocalUrl(trackId, serverId)) return 'hot';
+  const resolved = resolvePlaybackUrl(trackId, serverId);
+  if (
+    !resolved.startsWith('psysonic-local://')
+    && enginePreloadedTrackId
+    && trackId === enginePreloadedTrackId
+  ) {
+    return 'hot';
+  }
+  return 'stream';
+}
+
 /** Offline library → hot playback cache → HTTP stream. */
 export function resolvePlaybackUrl(trackId: string, serverId: string): string {
   const offline = useOfflineStore.getState().getLocalUrl(trackId, serverId);