diff --git a/android/app/src/main/java/io/narl/protonstream/ui/LibraryScreen.kt b/android/app/src/main/java/io/narl/protonstream/ui/LibraryScreen.kt
index d41c63c..9450621 100644
--- a/android/app/src/main/java/io/narl/protonstream/ui/LibraryScreen.kt
+++ b/android/app/src/main/java/io/narl/protonstream/ui/LibraryScreen.kt
@@ -188,6 +188,12 @@ internal fun LibraryScreen(
                     "Nothing matches",
                     "No title in the library is called “${state.query.trim()}”.",
                 )
+                // A share just added: say it is being looked through, rather
+                // than offer to add the one that is already filling the page.
+                state.titles.isEmpty() && state.activity != null -> EmptyState(
+                    "Looking through the share",
+                    "${state.activity} Its titles appear here once it has been listed.",
+                )
                 state.titles.isEmpty() -> EmptyState(
                     "Your library is empty",
                     "Add a Proton Drive share link, and everything playable behind it shows up here.",
diff --git a/android/app/src/main/java/io/narl/protonstream/ui/ProtonStreamApp.kt b/android/app/src/main/java/io/narl/protonstream/ui/ProtonStreamApp.kt
index b47d925..e19ea8b 100644
--- a/android/app/src/main/java/io/narl/protonstream/ui/ProtonStreamApp.kt
+++ b/android/app/src/main/java/io/narl/protonstream/ui/ProtonStreamApp.kt
@@ -279,7 +279,14 @@ fun ProtonStreamApp(
                     }
                     Destination.Shares -> SharesScreen(
                         state.shares,
-                        model::addShare,
+                        { name, url, password ->
+                            // The first share is the library: watch it fill
+                            // rather than stay on a form that has done its job.
+                            val first = state.titles.isEmpty()
+                            model.addShare(name, url, password).also { refusal ->
+                                if (refusal == null && first) destination = Destination.Library
+                            }
+                        },
                         model::repairShare,
                         model::refreshShare,
                         model::removeShare,
diff --git a/crates/pstr-app/src/app.rs b/crates/pstr-app/src/app.rs
index 489e82d..d046f41 100644
--- a/crates/pstr-app/src/app.rs
+++ b/crates/pstr-app/src/app.rs
@@ -144,6 +144,8 @@ pub enum Action {
     PasteShare(String),
     /// Go to the add form, caret in the link field.
     OpenShareForm,
+    /// Stop offering posters and synopses on the library page.
+    DismissMetadataOffer,
     /// Store a new link, and password, for a share already in the library.
     RepairShare {
         id: String,
@@ -813,12 +815,25 @@ impl App {
                 Event::ShareAdded(name) => {
                     self.form = ShareForm::default();
                     self.note(ctx, format!("added {name}"), false);
+                    // The first share is the library: watch it fill rather than
+                    // stay on a form that has done its job. A second one is
+                    // more likely one of several being added in a row.
+                    if self.library.is_empty() && self.page == Page::Shares {
+                        self.page = Page::Library;
+                    }
                 }
-                Event::ShareRejected(error) => {
+                Event::ShareRejected {
+                    error,
+                    needs_password,
+                } => {
                     // Nothing was crawled, so nothing will say it finished.
                     self.crawling = false;
                     self.form.sending = false;
                     self.form.error = Some(error);
+                    // The field the refusal asks for, opened and ready.
+                    if needs_password {
+                        self.form.has_password = true;
+                    }
                 }
                 Event::Connected { failures } => {
                     self.connecting = false;
@@ -1645,6 +1660,11 @@ impl App {
                 self.page = Page::Shares;
                 self.form.focus = true;
             }
+            Action::DismissMetadataOffer => {
+                let mut prefs = self.engine.desktop_prefs();
+                prefs.metadata_offer_dismissed = true;
+                self.engine.set_desktop_prefs(prefs);
+            }
             Action::AddShare {
                 name,
                 url,
@@ -2221,6 +2241,7 @@ impl eframe::App for App {
                 },
             );
 
+            let crawl = self.crawling.then(|| crawl_label(&self.crawl_progress));
             let App {
                 engine,
                 page,
@@ -2320,6 +2341,9 @@ impl eframe::App for App {
                                 loaded: *loaded,
                                 search,
                                 tiles: engine.appearance().tiles,
+                                crawl: crawl.as_deref(),
+                                offer_metadata: !settings.enabled
+                                    && !engine.desktop_prefs().metadata_offer_dismissed,
                             },
                             &mut actions,
                         ),
diff --git a/crates/pstr-app/src/desktop_prefs.rs b/crates/pstr-app/src/desktop_prefs.rs
index 1fb2818..5f1e807 100644
--- a/crates/pstr-app/src/desktop_prefs.rs
+++ b/crates/pstr-app/src/desktop_prefs.rs
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ pub struct DesktopPrefs {
     pub filter: crate::app::Filter,
     pub sort: pstr_core::browse::Sort,
     pub grouped: bool,
+    /// The library's offer of posters and synopses was turned down.
+    pub metadata_offer_dismissed: bool,
 }
 
 impl Default for DesktopPrefs {
@@ -37,6 +39,7 @@ impl Default for DesktopPrefs {
             // On: a share holding a series and its three films is four tiles
             // of the same picture otherwise.
             grouped: true,
+            metadata_offer_dismissed: false,
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/pstr-app/src/engine.rs b/crates/pstr-app/src/engine.rs
index 9eacb33..8890a50 100644
--- a/crates/pstr-app/src/engine.rs
+++ b/crates/pstr-app/src/engine.rs
@@ -177,7 +177,11 @@ pub enum Event {
     /// The share the form asked for is stored; its crawl is starting.
     ShareAdded(String),
     /// The share the form asked for was refused, with why. Nothing was crawled.
-    ShareRejected(String),
+    ShareRejected {
+        error: String,
+        /// The link has a password of its own and none was given.
+        needs_password: bool,
+    },
     /// Shares opened; playback is possible from here.
     Connected {
         /// Shares that did not open, with why.
@@ -305,6 +309,16 @@ pub enum Event {
     BrowseFailed(String),
 }
 
+impl Event {
+    /// The add form's refusal of `error`.
+    fn rejected(error: &pstr_core::Error) -> Self {
+        Self::ShareRejected {
+            error: error.to_string(),
+            needs_password: matches!(error, pstr_core::Error::PasswordNeeded),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 /// Where the Proton account stands.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Default)]
 pub enum AccountStatus {
@@ -671,7 +685,7 @@ impl Engine {
                 .await
             {
                 Ok((share, _)) => share,
-                Err(error) => return engine.emit(Event::ShareRejected(error.to_string())),
+                Err(error) => return engine.emit(Event::rejected(&error)),
             };
             engine.emit(Event::ShareAdded(share.name.clone()));
             engine.load_shares();
@@ -720,7 +734,7 @@ impl Engine {
             };
             let share = match engine.store.add_folder(&name, folder) {
                 Ok(share) => share,
-                Err(error) => return engine.emit(Event::ShareRejected(error.to_string())),
+                Err(error) => return engine.emit(Event::rejected(&error)),
             };
             engine.emit(Event::ShareAdded(share.name.clone()));
             engine.load_shares();
diff --git a/crates/pstr-app/src/ui/library.rs b/crates/pstr-app/src/ui/library.rs
index b7bc31a..7501dd4 100644
--- a/crates/pstr-app/src/ui/library.rs
+++ b/crates/pstr-app/src/ui/library.rs
@@ -19,6 +19,11 @@ pub struct Shelves<'a> {
     pub search: &'a str,
     /// The grid's shape.
     pub tiles: Tiles,
+    /// What a crawl in progress has found, if one is.
+    pub crawl: Option<&'a str>,
+    /// Whether to offer posters and synopses: they are off, and the offer has
+    /// not been turned down.
+    pub offer_metadata: bool,
 }
 
 pub fn show(ui: &mut egui::Ui, art: &mut Art<'_>, shelves: Shelves<'_>, actions: &mut Vec<Action>) {
@@ -28,12 +33,14 @@ pub fn show(ui: &mut egui::Ui, art: &mut Art<'_>, shelves: Shelves<'_>, actions:
         loaded,
         search,
         tiles,
+        crawl,
+        offer_metadata,
     } = shelves;
     if !loaded {
         return placeholder(ui);
     }
     if library.is_empty() {
-        return empty_state(ui, actions);
+        return empty_state(ui, crawl, actions);
     }
 
     let pick = |indices: &[usize]| -> Vec<&Title> {
@@ -48,6 +55,10 @@ pub fn show(ui: &mut egui::Ui, art: &mut Art<'_>, shelves: Shelves<'_>, actions:
     egui::ScrollArea::vertical()
         .auto_shrink([false, false])
         .show(ui, |ui| {
+            if !searching && offer_metadata {
+                metadata_offer(ui, actions);
+                ui.add_space(theme::space::XL);
+            }
             if !searching {
                 if let Some(title) = featured(library, view, art.metadata, today()) {
                     hero(ui, art, title, actions);
@@ -635,9 +646,54 @@ fn placeholder(ui: &mut egui::Ui) {
     }
 }
 
-fn empty_state(ui: &mut egui::Ui, actions: &mut Vec<Action>) {
+/// Posters and synopses, offered once there is a library to put them on and
+/// never turned on unasked: switching them on sends title names out.
+fn metadata_offer(ui: &mut egui::Ui, actions: &mut Vec<Action>) {
+    egui::Frame::new()
+        .fill(theme::card())
+        .corner_radius(egui::CornerRadius::same(theme::radius::MD))
+        .inner_margin(egui::Margin::symmetric(14, 12))
+        .show(ui, |ui| {
+            ui.set_width(ui.available_width());
+            ui.horizontal(|ui| {
+                ui.vertical(|ui| {
+                    ui.label(egui::RichText::new("Add posters and synopses?").strong());
+                    ui.label(ui::muted(
+                        "Turning it on in Settings sends the titles in your library — not your \
+                         files, and nothing about what you have watched — to AniList or TMDB.",
+                    ));
+                });
+                ui.with_layout(egui::Layout::right_to_left(egui::Align::Center), |ui| {
+                    if ui.button("Not now").clicked() {
+                        actions.push(Action::DismissMetadataOffer);
+                    }
+                    if ui::accent_button(ui, "Open settings").clicked() {
+                        actions.push(Action::Goto(Page::Settings));
+                    }
+                });
+            });
+        });
+}
+
+fn empty_state(ui: &mut egui::Ui, crawl: Option<&str>, actions: &mut Vec<Action>) {
     ui.vertical_centered(|ui| {
         ui.add_space(120.0);
+        // A share just added: say it is being looked through, rather than
+        // offer to add the one that is already filling the page.
+        if let Some(crawl) = crawl {
+            ui.add(egui::Spinner::new().size(28.0));
+            ui.add_space(theme::space::L);
+            ui.label(
+                theme::Role::Title
+                    .rich("Looking through the share")
+                    .strong(),
+            );
+            ui.add_space(theme::space::S);
+            ui.label(ui::muted(format!(
+                "Its titles appear here once it has been listed ({crawl})."
+            )));
+            return;
+        }
         ui.label(
             theme::Role::Title
                 .rich("Nothing in the library yet")
diff --git a/crates/pstr-core/src/error.rs b/crates/pstr-core/src/error.rs
index e704c3c..a643eff 100644
--- a/crates/pstr-core/src/error.rs
+++ b/crates/pstr-core/src/error.rs
@@ -46,6 +46,11 @@ pub enum Error {
     /// mailbox password.
     #[error("{0}")]
     SignIn(String),
+
+    /// A public link with a password of its own was opened without one. The
+    /// handshake refusal says nothing a viewer can act on; this does.
+    #[error("This link has a password of its own. Enter it to add the link.")]
+    PasswordNeeded,
 }
 
 impl Error {
diff --git a/crates/pstr-core/src/shares.rs b/crates/pstr-core/src/shares.rs
index 96255e0..6339810 100644
--- a/crates/pstr-core/src/shares.rs
+++ b/crates/pstr-core/src/shares.rs
@@ -443,7 +443,22 @@ impl ShareStore {
             ));
         }
         let custom_password = custom_password.filter(|password| !password.is_empty());
-        let client = open_link(url, custom_password).await?;
+        let client = match open_link(url, custom_password).await {
+            Ok(client) => client,
+            // Asked only after a refusal: the link's public flags cost a round
+            // trip, and most links open without one.
+            Err(error) if custom_password.is_none() => {
+                let protected = ProtonDrivePublicLinkClient::info(client_configuration(), url)
+                    .await
+                    .is_ok_and(|info| info.is_custom_password_protected);
+                return Err(if protected {
+                    Error::PasswordNeeded
+                } else {
+                    error
+                });
+            }
+            Err(error) => return Err(error),
+        };
         // A name is the viewer's to give, not theirs to invent before they
         // can see anything: without one, the shared folder's own name.
         let name = match name.trim() {
diff --git a/ios/ProtonStream/App/ProtonStreamApp.swift b/ios/ProtonStream/App/ProtonStreamApp.swift
index ed82a1b..ef0a167 100644
--- a/ios/ProtonStream/App/ProtonStreamApp.swift
+++ b/ios/ProtonStream/App/ProtonStreamApp.swift
@@ -181,7 +181,9 @@ struct RootView: View {
                 selectedTitleKey = title.key
             })
         case .shares:
-            SharesView(incomingLink: $incomingLink)
+            // The first share is the library: watch it fill rather than stay
+            // on a form that has done its job.
+            SharesView(incomingLink: $incomingLink, onFirstShareAdded: { select(.library) })
         case .downloads:
             DownloadsView()
         case .settings:
diff --git a/ios/ProtonStream/UI/LibraryView.swift b/ios/ProtonStream/UI/LibraryView.swift
index c01a008..3807aa9 100644
--- a/ios/ProtonStream/UI/LibraryView.swift
+++ b/ios/ProtonStream/UI/LibraryView.swift
@@ -145,6 +145,10 @@ struct LibraryView: View {
             LibrarySkeleton()
         } else if model.titles.isEmpty && !model.query.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespaces).isEmpty {
             EmptyState("Nothing matches", "No title in the library is called “\(model.query.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespaces))”.")
+        } else if model.titles.isEmpty, let activity = model.activity {
+            // A share just added: say it is being looked through, rather than
+            // offer to add the one that is already filling the page.
+            EmptyState("Looking through the share", "\(activity) Its titles appear here once it has been listed.")
         } else if model.titles.isEmpty {
             ScrollView {
                 EmptyState(
diff --git a/ios/ProtonStream/UI/SharesView.swift b/ios/ProtonStream/UI/SharesView.swift
index 8e19551..0f52d5e 100644
--- a/ios/ProtonStream/UI/SharesView.swift
+++ b/ios/ProtonStream/UI/SharesView.swift
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ struct SharesView: View {
     @Environment(\.scheme) private var scheme
     /// A link opened in this app: the Add form opens with it filled in.
     @Binding var incomingLink: String?
+    var onFirstShareAdded: () -> Void = {}
 
     @State private var showAdd = false
     @State private var signingIn = false
@@ -57,7 +58,10 @@ struct SharesView: View {
         }
         .sheet(isPresented: Binding(get: { showAdd || incomingLink != nil }, set: { if !$0 { showAdd = false; incomingLink = nil } })) {
             AddShareSheet(initialUrl: incomingLink ?? "") { name, url, password in
-                await model.addShare(name: name, url: url, password: password)
+                let first = model.titles.isEmpty
+                let refusal = await model.addShare(name: name, url: url, password: password)
+                if refusal == nil && first { onFirstShareAdded() }
+                return refusal
             }
         }
         .sheet(isPresented: Binding(