diff --git a/apps/android/app/src/main/java/ai/openclaw/app/NodeRuntime.kt b/apps/android/app/src/main/java/ai/openclaw/app/NodeRuntime.kt
index 84dceee9ac46..16230d76dd40 100644
--- a/apps/android/app/src/main/java/ai/openclaw/app/NodeRuntime.kt
+++ b/apps/android/app/src/main/java/ai/openclaw/app/NodeRuntime.kt
@@ -184,6 +184,8 @@ private const val CRON_JOBS_PAGE_SIZE = 200
 private const val CRON_JOBS_MAX_PAGES = 100
 private const val CRON_JOBS_MAX_COUNT = CRON_JOBS_PAGE_SIZE * CRON_JOBS_MAX_PAGES
 private const val CRON_JOBS_SNAPSHOT_MAX_ATTEMPTS = 3
+private const val USAGE_INCOMPLETE_RETRY_DELAY_MS = 5_000L
+private const val USAGE_INCOMPLETE_RETRY_LIMIT = 3
 private const val OperatorAdminScope = "operator.admin"
 private const val OperatorPairingScope = "operator.pairing"
 
@@ -1282,6 +1284,8 @@ class NodeRuntime private constructor(
   val usageRefreshing: StateFlow<Boolean> = _usageRefreshing.asStateFlow()
   private val _usageErrorText = MutableStateFlow<NativeText?>(null)
   val usageErrorText: StateFlow<String?> = _usageErrorText.resolveOptionalNativeText()
+  private val usageRefreshGuard = LatestGatewayRefreshGuard()
+  private var usageIncompleteRetryJob: Job? = null
   private val _skillsSummary = MutableStateFlow(GatewaySkillsSummary(skills = emptyList()))
   val skillsSummary: StateFlow<GatewaySkillsSummary> = _skillsSummary.asStateFlow()
   private val _skillsRefreshing = MutableStateFlow(false)
@@ -1361,6 +1365,9 @@ class NodeRuntime private constructor(
   @Volatile internal var gatewayDataRequestTimeoutObserverForTests: ((method: String, timeoutMs: Long) -> Unit)? = null
 
   @Volatile internal var clawHubSkillInstallBeforeClaimObserverForTests: (() -> Unit)? = null
+
+  @Volatile internal var usageIncompleteRetryDelayMsForTests: Long? = null
+
   private val _channelsSummary = MutableStateFlow(GatewayChannelsSummary(channels = emptyList()))
   val channelsSummary: StateFlow<GatewayChannelsSummary> = _channelsSummary.asStateFlow()
   private val _channelsRefreshing = MutableStateFlow(false)
@@ -1732,6 +1739,8 @@ class NodeRuntime private constructor(
     if (retirePendingCronRuns) {
       pendingCronRunRegistry.clear { _pendingCronRunJobIds.value = it }
     }
+    usageIncompleteRetryJob?.cancel()
+    usageRefreshGuard.invalidate()
     _usageSummary.value = GatewayUsageSummary(updatedAtMs = null, providers = emptyList())
     _usageRefreshing.value = false
     _usageErrorText.value = null
@@ -6331,20 +6340,85 @@ class NodeRuntime private constructor(
     }
   }
 
-  private suspend fun refreshUsageFromGateway() =
-    refreshGatewaySummary(
-      summary = _usageSummary,
-      refreshing = _usageRefreshing,
-      errorText = _usageErrorText,
-      disconnectedSummary = GatewayUsageSummary(updatedAtMs = null, providers = emptyList()),
-      failureText = nativeText("Could not load usage."),
-    ) { gatewayScope ->
-      val root = json.parseToJsonElement(requestGatewayData(gatewayScope, "usage.status", "{}")).asObjectOrNull()
-      GatewayUsageSummary(
-        updatedAtMs = root.long("updatedAt"),
-        providers = parseUsageProviders(root?.get("providers") as? JsonArray),
-      )
+  private suspend fun refreshUsageFromGateway() {
+    usageIncompleteRetryJob?.cancel()
+    val gatewayScope = captureGatewayDataScope() ?: return
+    val refreshGeneration = usageRefreshGuard.begin()
+    if (refreshUsageOnceFromGateway(gatewayScope, refreshGeneration) && _usageSummary.value.refreshing) {
+      scheduleIncompleteUsageRetry(gatewayScope, refreshGeneration)
     }
+  }
+
+  private fun publishUsageRefresh(
+    gatewayScope: GatewayDataScope,
+    refreshGeneration: Long,
+    publish: () -> Unit,
+  ): Boolean {
+    var refreshCurrent = false
+    val scopeCurrent =
+      publishGatewayData(gatewayScope) {
+        refreshCurrent = usageRefreshGuard.publishIfCurrent(refreshGeneration, publish)
+      }
+    return scopeCurrent && refreshCurrent
+  }
+
+  private suspend fun refreshUsageOnceFromGateway(
+    gatewayScope: GatewayDataScope,
+    refreshGeneration: Long,
+  ): Boolean {
+    publishUsageRefresh(gatewayScope, refreshGeneration) {
+      _usageRefreshing.value = true
+      _usageErrorText.value = null
+    }
+    if (!operatorConnected) {
+      return publishUsageRefresh(gatewayScope, refreshGeneration) {
+        _usageSummary.value = GatewayUsageSummary(updatedAtMs = null, providers = emptyList())
+        _usageRefreshing.value = false
+      }
+    }
+    return try {
+      val root = json.parseToJsonElement(requestGatewayData(gatewayScope, "usage.status", "{}")).asObjectOrNull()
+      val nextSummary =
+        GatewayUsageSummary(
+          updatedAtMs = root.long("updatedAt"),
+          providers = parseUsageProviders(root?.get("providers") as? JsonArray),
+          refreshing = root.boolean("refreshing"),
+        )
+      publishUsageRefresh(gatewayScope, refreshGeneration) { _usageSummary.value = nextSummary }
+    } catch (_: Throwable) {
+      publishUsageRefresh(gatewayScope, refreshGeneration) {
+        // Preserve same-identity provider rows across a transient refresh failure.
+        _usageSummary.value = _usageSummary.value.copy(refreshing = false)
+        _usageErrorText.value = nativeText("Could not load usage.")
+      }
+    } finally {
+      publishUsageRefresh(gatewayScope, refreshGeneration) { _usageRefreshing.value = false }
+    }
+  }
+
+  private fun scheduleIncompleteUsageRetry(
+    gatewayScope: GatewayDataScope,
+    refreshGeneration: Long,
+  ) {
+    // Mirrors the shared clients: three delayed retries, cancelled by a new cycle or gateway.
+    usageIncompleteRetryJob?.cancel()
+    usageIncompleteRetryJob =
+      scope.launch {
+        repeat(USAGE_INCOMPLETE_RETRY_LIMIT) {
+          delay(usageIncompleteRetryDelayMsForTests ?: USAGE_INCOMPLETE_RETRY_DELAY_MS)
+          if (!isGatewayDataScopeCurrent(gatewayScope)) return@launch
+          if (!refreshUsageOnceFromGateway(gatewayScope, refreshGeneration)) return@launch
+          if (!_usageSummary.value.refreshing) return@launch
+        }
+        publishUsageRefresh(gatewayScope, refreshGeneration) {
+          // Clearing the marker alone renders as "No usage data yet.", which claims
+          // the operator has no providers. Reuse the transient-failure text so a
+          // spent retry budget reads as the load failure it is.
+          _usageSummary.value = _usageSummary.value.copy(refreshing = false)
+          _usageErrorText.value = nativeText("Could not load usage.")
+        }
+      }
+  }
 
   private suspend fun refreshSkillsFromGateway(): Boolean =
     refreshGatewaySummary(
@@ -8776,6 +8850,7 @@ data class GatewayCronJobSummary(
 data class GatewayUsageSummary(
   val updatedAtMs: Long?,
   val providers: List<GatewayUsageProviderSummary>,
+  val refreshing: Boolean = false,
 )
 
 data class GatewayUsageProviderSummary(
diff --git a/apps/android/app/src/main/java/ai/openclaw/app/node/ConnectionManager.kt b/apps/android/app/src/main/java/ai/openclaw/app/node/ConnectionManager.kt
index 2e2ee1f3247d..b49e65c34a09 100644
--- a/apps/android/app/src/main/java/ai/openclaw/app/node/ConnectionManager.kt
+++ b/apps/android/app/src/main/java/ai/openclaw/app/node/ConnectionManager.kt
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ class ConnectionManager internal constructor(
 
     internal const val AGENT_KIND_CLIENT_CAPABILITY = "agent-kind"
     internal const val INLINE_WIDGETS_CLIENT_CAPABILITY = "inline-widgets"
+    internal const val USAGE_REFRESHING_CLIENT_CAPABILITY = "usage-refreshing"
 
     internal fun operatorScopesForStoredDeviceToken(storedScopes: List<String>): List<String> {
       val normalized =
@@ -233,6 +234,7 @@ class ConnectionManager internal constructor(
         buildList {
           add(AGENT_KIND_CLIENT_CAPABILITY)
           if (inlineWidgetsAvailable()) add(INLINE_WIDGETS_CLIENT_CAPABILITY)
+          add(USAGE_REFRESHING_CLIENT_CAPABILITY)
         },
       commands = emptyList(),
       permissions = emptyMap(),
diff --git a/apps/android/app/src/main/java/ai/openclaw/app/ui/SettingsScreens.kt b/apps/android/app/src/main/java/ai/openclaw/app/ui/SettingsScreens.kt
index 29f799732225..d3acefe95371 100644
--- a/apps/android/app/src/main/java/ai/openclaw/app/ui/SettingsScreens.kt
+++ b/apps/android/app/src/main/java/ai/openclaw/app/ui/SettingsScreens.kt
@@ -247,6 +247,7 @@ private fun UsageSettingsScreen(
   val isConnected by viewModel.isConnected.collectAsState()
   val providerCount = usageSummary.providers.size
   val issueCount = usageSummary.providers.count { it.error != null }
+  val usageConverging = usageRefreshVisible(usageRefreshing, usageSummary.refreshing)
 
   LaunchedEffect(isConnected) {
     if (isConnected) {
@@ -264,7 +265,7 @@ private fun UsageSettingsScreen(
         ),
     )
     Row(modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth(), horizontalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(8.dp)) {
-      ClawSecondaryButton(text = if (usageRefreshing) nativeString("Refreshing") else nativeString("Refresh"), onClick = viewModel::refreshUsage, enabled = isConnected && !usageRefreshing, modifier = Modifier.weight(1f))
+      ClawSecondaryButton(text = if (usageConverging) nativeString("Refreshing") else nativeString("Refresh"), onClick = viewModel::refreshUsage, enabled = isConnected && !usageConverging, modifier = Modifier.weight(1f))
     }
     usageErrorText?.let { errorText ->
       ClawPanel {
@@ -276,14 +277,17 @@ private fun UsageSettingsScreen(
         ClawPanel {
           Text(text = nativeString("Connect the gateway to load usage."), style = ClawTheme.type.body, color = ClawTheme.colors.textMuted)
         }
-      usageSummary.providers.isEmpty() ->
+      usageSummary.providers.isNotEmpty() -> UsageProvidersPanel(providers = usageSummary.providers)
+      // The warning panel above already reports a failed load; adding
+      // "No usage data yet." beside it claims the operator has no providers.
+      usageErrorText != null -> Unit
+      else ->
         ClawPanel {
           Column(verticalArrangement = Arrangement.spacedBy(3.dp)) {
-            Text(text = nativeString("No usage data yet."), style = ClawTheme.type.section, color = ClawTheme.colors.text)
+            Text(text = if (usageConverging) nativeString("Refreshing") else nativeString("No usage data yet."), style = ClawTheme.type.section, color = ClawTheme.colors.text)
             Text(text = nativeString("Provider limits will appear here when your gateway reports them."), style = ClawTheme.type.body, color = ClawTheme.colors.textMuted)
           }
         }
-      else -> UsageProvidersPanel(providers = usageSummary.providers)
     }
   }
 }
@@ -2553,6 +2557,11 @@ private fun UsageProvidersPanel(providers: List<GatewayUsageProviderSummary>) {
   }
 }
 
+internal fun usageRefreshVisible(
+  requestRefreshing: Boolean,
+  summaryRefreshing: Boolean,
+): Boolean = requestRefreshing || summaryRefreshing
+
 @Composable
 private fun UsageProviderListRow(provider: GatewayUsageProviderSummary) {
   val hasIssue = provider.error != null
diff --git a/apps/android/app/src/test/java/ai/openclaw/app/UsageStatusRuntimeTest.kt b/apps/android/app/src/test/java/ai/openclaw/app/UsageStatusRuntimeTest.kt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..b575a7f665e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/android/app/src/test/java/ai/openclaw/app/UsageStatusRuntimeTest.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+package ai.openclaw.app
+
+import ai.openclaw.app.gateway.GatewayEndpoint
+import ai.openclaw.app.ui.usageRefreshVisible
+import org.junit.Assert.assertEquals
+import org.junit.Assert.assertFalse
+import org.junit.Assert.assertNotNull
+import org.junit.Test
+import org.junit.runner.RunWith
+import org.robolectric.RobolectricTestRunner
+import org.robolectric.RuntimeEnvironment
+import org.robolectric.annotation.Config
+import java.lang.reflect.Field
+import java.util.UUID
+import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicInteger
+
+@RunWith(RobolectricTestRunner::class)
+@Config(sdk = [34])
+class UsageStatusRuntimeTest {
+  @Test
+  fun incompleteUsageConvergesOnACompletedPayload() {
+    val runtime = createRuntime()
+    connect(runtime)
+    runtime.usageIncompleteRetryDelayMsForTests = 10L
+    val calls = AtomicInteger()
+    runtime.gatewayDataRequestOverrideForTests = { _, method, _ ->
+      check(method == "usage.status")
+      if (calls.incrementAndGet() == 1) {
+        """{"updatedAt":1,"providers":[],"refreshing":true}"""
+      } else {
+        """{"updatedAt":2,"providers":[{"displayName":"Claude","plan":"Pro","windows":[]}]}"""
+      }
+    }
+
+    runtime.refreshUsage()
+    waitUntil {
+      runtime.usageSummary.value.providers
+        .isNotEmpty()
+    }
+    assertEquals(2, calls.get())
+    assertFalse(runtime.usageSummary.value.refreshing)
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  fun incompleteUsageRetriesStayBounded() {
+    val runtime = createRuntime()
+    connect(runtime)
+    runtime.usageIncompleteRetryDelayMsForTests = 10L
+    val calls = AtomicInteger()
+    runtime.gatewayDataRequestOverrideForTests = { _, _, _ ->
+      calls.incrementAndGet()
+      """{"updatedAt":1,"providers":[],"refreshing":true}"""
+    }
+
+    runtime.refreshUsage()
+    waitUntil { calls.get() == 4 }
+    Thread.sleep(100)
+    assertEquals(4, calls.get())
+    assertFalse(runtime.usageSummary.value.refreshing)
+    assertFalse(
+      usageRefreshVisible(
+        requestRefreshing = runtime.usageRefreshing.value,
+        summaryRefreshing = runtime.usageSummary.value.refreshing,
+      ),
+    )
+    // Clearing the marker without this would render "No usage data yet.",
+    // claiming the operator has no providers instead of a failed load.
+    assertNotNull(runtime.usageErrorText.value)
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  fun aTransientFailurePreservesRowsAndStopsTheRetryChain() {
+    val runtime = createRuntime()
+    connect(runtime)
+    runtime.usageIncompleteRetryDelayMsForTests = 10L
+    val calls = AtomicInteger()
+    runtime.gatewayDataRequestOverrideForTests = { _, _, _ ->
+      if (calls.incrementAndGet() == 1) {
+        """{"updatedAt":1,"providers":[{"displayName":"Claude","plan":"Pro","windows":[]}],"refreshing":true}"""
+      } else {
+        error("usage unavailable")
+      }
+    }
+
+    runtime.refreshUsage()
+    waitUntil {
+      runtime.usageErrorText.value != null
+    }
+    Thread.sleep(100)
+    assertEquals(2, calls.get())
+    assertEquals(
+      "Claude",
+      runtime.usageSummary.value.providers
+        .single()
+        .displayName,
+    )
+    assertFalse(runtime.usageSummary.value.refreshing)
+  }
+
+  private fun createRuntime(): NodeRuntime {
+    val app = RuntimeEnvironment.getApplication()
+    val prefs =
+      app.getSharedPreferences(
+        "usage.${UUID.randomUUID()}",
+        android.content.Context.MODE_PRIVATE,
+      )
+    return NodeRuntime(app, SecurePrefs(app, securePrefsOverride = prefs))
+  }
+
+  private fun connect(runtime: NodeRuntime) {
+    field(runtime, "connectedEndpoint").set(runtime, GatewayEndpoint.manual("127.0.0.1", 18789))
+    field(runtime, "operatorConnected").set(runtime, true)
+  }
+
+  private fun waitUntil(condition: () -> Boolean) {
+    repeat(200) {
+      if (condition()) return
+      Thread.sleep(10)
+    }
+    error("condition did not become true")
+  }
+
+  private fun field(
+    target: Any,
+    name: String,
+  ): Field {
+    var type: Class<*>? = target.javaClass
+    while (type != null) {
+      try {
+        return type.getDeclaredField(name).apply { isAccessible = true }
+      } catch (_: NoSuchFieldException) {
+        type = type.superclass
+      }
+    }
+    error("field $name not found")
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apps/android/app/src/test/java/ai/openclaw/app/node/ConnectionManagerTest.kt b/apps/android/app/src/test/java/ai/openclaw/app/node/ConnectionManagerTest.kt
index 0077eaea9fd1..65899a4d2066 100644
--- a/apps/android/app/src/test/java/ai/openclaw/app/node/ConnectionManagerTest.kt
+++ b/apps/android/app/src/test/java/ai/openclaw/app/node/ConnectionManagerTest.kt
@@ -139,6 +139,7 @@ class ConnectionManagerTest {
       listOf(
         ConnectionManager.AGENT_KIND_CLIENT_CAPABILITY,
         ConnectionManager.INLINE_WIDGETS_CLIENT_CAPABILITY,
+        ConnectionManager.USAGE_REFRESHING_CLIENT_CAPABILITY,
       ),
       options.caps,
     )
@@ -148,7 +149,13 @@ class ConnectionManagerTest {
   fun buildOperatorConnectOptions_omitsInlineWidgetsWithoutIsolatedWebViews() {
     val options = newManager(inlineWidgetsAvailable = false).buildOperatorConnectOptions()
 
-    assertEquals(listOf(ConnectionManager.AGENT_KIND_CLIENT_CAPABILITY), options.caps)
+    assertEquals(
+      listOf(
+        ConnectionManager.AGENT_KIND_CLIENT_CAPABILITY,
+        ConnectionManager.USAGE_REFRESHING_CLIENT_CAPABILITY,
+      ),
+      options.caps,
+    )
   }
 
   @Test
diff --git a/apps/android/app/src/test/java/ai/openclaw/app/ui/SettingsScreensTest.kt b/apps/android/app/src/test/java/ai/openclaw/app/ui/SettingsScreensTest.kt
index 32581ba95e51..3ca451c8ad35 100644
--- a/apps/android/app/src/test/java/ai/openclaw/app/ui/SettingsScreensTest.kt
+++ b/apps/android/app/src/test/java/ai/openclaw/app/ui/SettingsScreensTest.kt
@@ -349,6 +349,13 @@ class SettingsScreensTest {
     assertEquals("None", formatCronTimestamp(null))
   }
 
+  @Test
+  fun usageRefreshStaysVisibleBetweenIncompleteRetries() {
+    assertTrue(usageRefreshVisible(requestRefreshing = true, summaryRefreshing = false))
+    assertTrue(usageRefreshVisible(requestRefreshing = false, summaryRefreshing = true))
+    assertFalse(usageRefreshVisible(requestRefreshing = false, summaryRefreshing = false))
+  }
+
   @Test
   fun approvalCardShowsTheWholeMonospacedCommandBeforeStackedActions() {
     val source = settingsScreensSource()
diff --git a/apps/macos/Sources/OpenClaw/GatewayConnection.swift b/apps/macos/Sources/OpenClaw/GatewayConnection.swift
index 5ce2882797e7..300b671056e5 100644
--- a/apps/macos/Sources/OpenClaw/GatewayConnection.swift
+++ b/apps/macos/Sources/OpenClaw/GatewayConnection.swift
@@ -14,8 +14,11 @@ private let gatewayConnectionLogger = Logger(subsystem: "ai.openclaw", category:
 actor GatewayConnection {
     static let shared = GatewayConnection(
         endpointProvider: GatewayConnection.defaultEndpointProvider)
-    nonisolated static let operatorClientCaps =
-        [OpenClawGatewayClientCapability.agentKind, OpenClawGatewayClientCapability.inlineWidgets]
+    nonisolated static let operatorClientCaps = [
+        OpenClawGatewayClientCapability.agentKind,
+        OpenClawGatewayClientCapability.inlineWidgets,
+        OpenClawGatewayClientCapability.usageRefreshing,
+    ]
 
     typealias Config = (url: URL, token: String?, password: String?)
 
diff --git a/apps/macos/Sources/OpenClaw/MenuSessionsInjector.swift b/apps/macos/Sources/OpenClaw/MenuSessionsInjector.swift
index b2ad15d9e418..e5d47d9caa62 100644
--- a/apps/macos/Sources/OpenClaw/MenuSessionsInjector.swift
+++ b/apps/macos/Sources/OpenClaw/MenuSessionsInjector.swift
@@ -29,6 +29,11 @@ final class MenuSessionsInjector: NSObject, NSMenuDelegate {
     private var cachedUsageSummary: GatewayUsageSummary?
     private var usageCacheUpdatedAt: Date?
     private let usageRefreshIntervalSeconds: TimeInterval = 30
+    private var usageRetryTask: Task<Void, Never>?
+    private var usageRetryAttempts = 0
+    private var usageLoadGeneration = 0
+    private var usageRetryIntervalSeconds: TimeInterval = 5
+    private let usageRetryLimit = 3
     private var cachedCostSummary: GatewayCostUsageSummary?
     private var cachedCostErrorText: String?
     private var costCacheUpdatedAt: Date?
@@ -36,6 +41,9 @@ final class MenuSessionsInjector: NSObject, NSMenuDelegate {
     private let nodesStore = NodesStore.shared
     #if DEBUG
     private var testControlChannelConnected: Bool?
+    private var testUsageLoad: (() async throws -> GatewayUsageSummary)?
+    private var testUsageLoadDidFinish: (@MainActor () -> Void)?
+    private var testUsageRetryDidExhaust: (@MainActor () -> Void)?
     #endif
 
     func install(into statusItem: NSStatusItem) {
@@ -420,7 +428,8 @@ extension MenuSessionsInjector {
 
     private func insertUsageSection(into menu: NSMenu, at cursor: Int, width: CGFloat) -> Int {
         let rows = self.usageRows
-        if rows.isEmpty {
+        let stalled = self.isUsageStalled
+        if rows.isEmpty, !stalled {
             return cursor
         }
 
@@ -444,6 +453,16 @@ extension MenuSessionsInjector {
         menu.insertItem(headerItem, at: cursor)
         cursor += 1
 
+        if rows.isEmpty {
+            menu.insertItem(
+                self.makeMessageItem(
+                    text: "Usage did not finish loading",
+                    symbolName: "exclamationmark.triangle",
+                    width: width),
+                at: cursor)
+            return cursor + 1
+        }
+
         if let selectedProvider = self.selectedUsageProviderId,
            let primary = rows.first(where: { $0.providerId.lowercased() == selectedProvider }),
            rows.count > 1
@@ -516,6 +535,17 @@ extension MenuSessionsInjector {
         return summary.primaryRows()
     }
 
+    /// Retry budget spent with the cold marker still set. The empty row list is
+    /// the Gateway saying "not loaded", so the menu must not hide the section
+    /// the way it does for an operator who genuinely has no usage providers.
+    /// Requires a live control channel: while disconnected the honest answer is
+    /// the disconnected state, not a usage-specific warning.
+    private var isUsageStalled: Bool {
+        self.isControlChannelConnected
+            && self.cachedUsageSummary?.refreshing == true
+            && self.usageRetryAttempts >= self.usageRetryLimit
+    }
+
     private func buildUsageOverflowMenu(rows: [UsageRow], width: CGFloat) -> NSMenu {
         let menu = NSMenu()
         // Keep submenu delegate nil: reusing the status-menu delegate here causes
@@ -776,19 +806,73 @@ extension MenuSessionsInjector {
             return
         }
 
+        self.usageLoadGeneration += 1
+        let generation = self.usageLoadGeneration
+
         guard self.isControlChannelConnected else {
             self.usageCacheUpdatedAt = Date()
             return
         }
 
+        self.usageRetryTask?.cancel()
+        self.usageRetryTask = nil
+        self.usageRetryAttempts = 0
+        await self.loadUsageSummaryOnce(generation: generation)
+    }
+
+    private func loadUsageSummaryOnce(generation: Int) async {
+        #if DEBUG
+        defer { self.testUsageLoadDidFinish?() }
+        #endif
         do {
-            self.cachedUsageSummary = try await UsageLoader.loadSummary()
+            let summary = try await self.loadUsageSummary()
+            guard generation == self.usageLoadGeneration else { return }
+            self.cachedUsageSummary = summary
+            if summary.refreshing == true {
+                // A cold Gateway marker is not a cacheable answer; converge with bounded retries.
+                self.usageCacheUpdatedAt = nil
+                self.scheduleUsageRetry(generation: generation)
+                return
+            }
         } catch {
+            guard generation == self.usageLoadGeneration else { return }
             self.cachedUsageSummary = nil
         }
         self.usageCacheUpdatedAt = Date()
     }
 
+    private func scheduleUsageRetry(generation: Int) {
+        guard self.usageRetryAttempts < self.usageRetryLimit else {
+            #if DEBUG
+            self.testUsageRetryDidExhaust?()
+            #endif
+            return
+        }
+        self.usageRetryAttempts += 1
+        let interval = self.usageRetryIntervalSeconds
+        self.usageRetryTask = Task { [weak self] in
+            try? await Task.sleep(nanoseconds: UInt64(interval * 1_000_000_000))
+            guard let self,
+                  !Task.isCancelled,
+                  self.isControlChannelConnected,
+                  generation == self.usageLoadGeneration
+            else { return }
+            await self.loadUsageSummaryOnce(generation: generation)
+            // The final attempt leaves the marker set, so repaint on exhaustion
+            // too or an operator watching the open menu never sees the outcome.
+            if self.cachedUsageSummary?.refreshing != true || self.isUsageStalled {
+                await self.repaintOpenMenu(self.statusItem?.menu)
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private func loadUsageSummary() async throws -> GatewayUsageSummary {
+        #if DEBUG
+        if let load = self.testUsageLoad { return try await load() }
+        #endif
+        return try await UsageLoader.loadSummary()
+    }
+
     private func refreshCostUsageCache(force: Bool) async {
         if !force,
            let updated = self.costCacheUpdatedAt,
@@ -1295,6 +1379,34 @@ extension MenuSessionsInjector {
         self.usageCacheUpdatedAt = Date()
     }
 
+    func setTestingUsageLoader(_ load: (() async throws -> GatewayUsageSummary)?) {
+        self.testUsageLoad = load
+    }
+
+    func setTestingUsageLoadDidFinish(_ didFinish: (@MainActor () -> Void)?) {
+        self.testUsageLoadDidFinish = didFinish
+    }
+
+    func setTestingUsageRetryDidExhaust(_ didExhaust: (@MainActor () -> Void)?) {
+        self.testUsageRetryDidExhaust = didExhaust
+    }
+
+    func setTestingUsageRetryInterval(_ seconds: TimeInterval) {
+        self.usageRetryIntervalSeconds = seconds
+    }
+
+    func refreshUsageCacheForTesting(force: Bool) async {
+        await self.refreshUsageCache(force: force)
+    }
+
+    var testingCachedUsageSummary: GatewayUsageSummary? {
+        self.cachedUsageSummary
+    }
+
+    var testingUsageCacheUpdatedAt: Date? {
+        self.usageCacheUpdatedAt
+    }
+
     func setTestingCostUsageSummary(_ summary: GatewayCostUsageSummary?, errorText: String? = nil) {
         self.cachedCostSummary = summary
         self.cachedCostErrorText = errorText
diff --git a/apps/macos/Sources/OpenClaw/UsageData.swift b/apps/macos/Sources/OpenClaw/UsageData.swift
index f97d0bd3d49a..e2a238230582 100644
--- a/apps/macos/Sources/OpenClaw/UsageData.swift
+++ b/apps/macos/Sources/OpenClaw/UsageData.swift
@@ -16,6 +16,13 @@ struct GatewayUsageProvider: Codable {
 struct GatewayUsageSummary: Codable {
     let updatedAt: Double
     let providers: [GatewayUsageProvider]
+    let refreshing: Bool?
+
+    init(updatedAt: Double, providers: [GatewayUsageProvider], refreshing: Bool? = nil) {
+        self.updatedAt = updatedAt
+        self.providers = providers
+        self.refreshing = refreshing
+    }
 }
 
 struct UsageRow: Identifiable {
diff --git a/apps/macos/Tests/OpenClawIPCTests/MacGatewayChatTransportMappingTests.swift b/apps/macos/Tests/OpenClawIPCTests/MacGatewayChatTransportMappingTests.swift
index 5737d3fa72d8..3eced12e03e3 100644
--- a/apps/macos/Tests/OpenClawIPCTests/MacGatewayChatTransportMappingTests.swift
+++ b/apps/macos/Tests/OpenClawIPCTests/MacGatewayChatTransportMappingTests.swift
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ struct MacGatewayChatTransportMappingTests {
         #expect(GatewayConnection.operatorClientCaps == [
             OpenClawGatewayClientCapability.agentKind,
             OpenClawGatewayClientCapability.inlineWidgets,
+            OpenClawGatewayClientCapability.usageRefreshing,
         ])
     }
 
diff --git a/apps/macos/Tests/OpenClawIPCTests/MenuSessionsInjectorTests.swift b/apps/macos/Tests/OpenClawIPCTests/MenuSessionsInjectorTests.swift
index 9739e78b024e..beac3da19fe3 100644
--- a/apps/macos/Tests/OpenClawIPCTests/MenuSessionsInjectorTests.swift
+++ b/apps/macos/Tests/OpenClawIPCTests/MenuSessionsInjectorTests.swift
@@ -175,6 +175,125 @@ struct MenuSessionsInjectorTests {
         #expect(usageCostItem?.submenu?.delegate == nil)
     }
 
+    @Test func `cold incomplete usage converges without starting the cache ttl`() async {
+        let injector = MenuSessionsInjector()
+        injector.setTestingControlChannelConnected(true)
+        injector.setTestingUsageRetryInterval(0)
+        let events = UsageLoadEvents()
+        injector.setTestingUsageLoadDidFinish { events.finished() }
+        var calls = 0
+        injector.setTestingUsageLoader {
+            calls += 1
+            if calls == 1 {
+                return GatewayUsageSummary(updatedAt: 1, providers: [], refreshing: true)
+            }
+            return GatewayUsageSummary(updatedAt: 2, providers: [], refreshing: false)
+        }
+
+        await injector.refreshUsageCacheForTesting(force: true)
+        #expect(injector.testingUsageCacheUpdatedAt == nil)
+        #expect(await events.waitFor(count: 2))
+        #expect(calls == 2)
+        #expect(injector.testingUsageCacheUpdatedAt != nil)
+    }
+
+    @Test func `incomplete usage retry is bounded`() async {
+        let injector = MenuSessionsInjector()
+        injector.setTestingControlChannelConnected(true)
+        injector.setTestingUsageRetryInterval(0)
+        let events = UsageLoadEvents()
+        injector.setTestingUsageLoadDidFinish { events.finished() }
+        injector.setTestingUsageRetryDidExhaust { events.exhausted() }
+        injector.setTestingUsageLoader {
+            GatewayUsageSummary(updatedAt: 1, providers: [], refreshing: true)
+        }
+
+        await injector.refreshUsageCacheForTesting(force: true)
+        #expect(await events.waitFor(count: 4))
+        #expect(await events.waitForExhaustion())
+        #expect(injector.testingUsageCacheUpdatedAt == nil)
+    }
+
+    @Test func `stalled usage keeps a visible menu section`() async {
+        let injector = MenuSessionsInjector()
+        injector.setTestingControlChannelConnected(true)
+        injector.setTestingUsageRetryInterval(0)
+        let events = UsageLoadEvents()
+        injector.setTestingUsageLoadDidFinish { events.finished() }
+        injector.setTestingUsageRetryDidExhaust { events.exhausted() }
+
+        // An operator with no usage providers still gets no usage section.
+        injector.setTestingUsageSummary(
+            GatewayUsageSummary(updatedAt: 1, providers: [], refreshing: false))
+        let quiet = Self.makeMenuShell()
+        injector.injectForTesting(into: quiet)
+        let quietItems = quiet.items.count(where: { $0.tag == 9_415_557 })
+
+        injector.setTestingUsageLoader {
+            GatewayUsageSummary(updatedAt: 1, providers: [], refreshing: true)
+        }
+        await injector.refreshUsageCacheForTesting(force: true)
+        #expect(await events.waitForExhaustion())
+
+        // Spent budget with the marker still set: separator, header, and the
+        // stalled row, never the silent menu an empty provider list produces.
+        let stalled = Self.makeMenuShell()
+        injector.injectForTesting(into: stalled)
+        #expect(stalled.items.count(where: { $0.tag == 9_415_557 }) == quietItems + 3)
+    }
+
+    private static func makeMenuShell() -> NSMenu {
+        let menu = NSMenu()
+        menu.addItem(NSMenuItem(title: "Header", action: nil, keyEquivalent: ""))
+        menu.addItem(.separator())
+        menu.addItem(NSMenuItem(title: "Send Heartbeats", action: nil, keyEquivalent: ""))
+        menu.addItem(.separator())
+        menu.addItem(NSMenuItem(title: "Settings…", action: nil, keyEquivalent: ""))
+        return menu
+    }
+
+    @Test func `late usage result from a replaced gateway is ignored`() async {
+        let injector = MenuSessionsInjector()
+        injector.setTestingControlChannelConnected(true)
+        let loads = DeferredUsageLoads()
+        injector.setTestingUsageLoader { try await loads.load() }
+
+        let first = Task { await injector.refreshUsageCacheForTesting(force: true) }
+        #expect(await loads.waitForRequests(count: 1))
+        let second = Task { await injector.refreshUsageCacheForTesting(force: true) }
+        #expect(await loads.waitForRequests(count: 2))
+
+        loads.complete(
+            at: 1,
+            with: GatewayUsageSummary(updatedAt: 2, providers: [], refreshing: false))
+        await second.value
+        loads.complete(
+            at: 0,
+            with: GatewayUsageSummary(updatedAt: 1, providers: [], refreshing: false))
+        await first.value
+
+        #expect(injector.testingCachedUsageSummary?.updatedAt == 2)
+    }
+
+    @Test func `fresh no-op does not invalidate a forced usage load`() async {
+        let injector = MenuSessionsInjector()
+        injector.setTestingControlChannelConnected(true)
+        injector.setTestingUsageSummary(
+            GatewayUsageSummary(updatedAt: 1, providers: [], refreshing: false))
+        let loads = DeferredUsageLoads()
+        injector.setTestingUsageLoader { try await loads.load() }
+
+        let forced = Task { await injector.refreshUsageCacheForTesting(force: true) }
+        #expect(await loads.waitForRequests(count: 1))
+        await injector.refreshUsageCacheForTesting(force: false)
+        loads.complete(
+            at: 0,
+            with: GatewayUsageSummary(updatedAt: 2, providers: [], refreshing: false))
+        await forced.value
+
+        #expect(injector.testingCachedUsageSummary?.updatedAt == 2)
+    }
+
     @Test func `status text keeps useful error detail`() {
         let injector = MenuSessionsInjector()
         let longError = """
@@ -237,3 +356,85 @@ struct MenuSessionsInjectorTests {
             connected: connected)
     }
 }
+
+@MainActor
+private final class UsageLoadEvents {
+    private struct Snapshot: Sendable {
+        let completed: Int
+        let exhausted: Bool
+    }
+
+    private var completed = 0
+    private var didExhaust = false
+    private let stream: AsyncStream<Snapshot>
+    private let continuation: AsyncStream<Snapshot>.Continuation
+
+    init() {
+        (self.stream, self.continuation) = AsyncStream.makeStream(
+            of: Snapshot.self,
+            bufferingPolicy: .bufferingNewest(1))
+    }
+
+    func finished() {
+        self.completed += 1
+        self.publish()
+    }
+
+    func exhausted() {
+        self.didExhaust = true
+        self.publish()
+    }
+
+    func waitFor(count: Int) async -> Bool {
+        if self.completed >= count { return true }
+        return await self.wait { $0.completed >= count }
+    }
+
+    func waitForExhaustion() async -> Bool {
+        if self.didExhaust { return true }
+        return await self.wait { $0.exhausted }
+    }
+
+    private func publish() {
+        self.continuation.yield(Snapshot(completed: self.completed, exhausted: self.didExhaust))
+    }
+
+    private func wait(_ predicate: @escaping @Sendable (Snapshot) -> Bool) async -> Bool {
+        let stream = self.stream
+        return await withTaskGroup(of: Bool.self) { group in
+            group.addTask {
+                for await snapshot in stream where predicate(snapshot) { return true }
+                return false
+            }
+            group.addTask {
+                try? await Task.sleep(nanoseconds: 5_000_000_000)
+                return false
+            }
+            let result = await group.next() ?? false
+            group.cancelAll()
+            return result
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+@MainActor
+private final class DeferredUsageLoads {
+    private var continuations: [CheckedContinuation<GatewayUsageSummary, Never>] = []
+
+    func load() async throws -> GatewayUsageSummary {
+        await withCheckedContinuation { continuation in
+            self.continuations.append(continuation)
+        }
+    }
+
+    func waitForRequests(count: Int) async -> Bool {
+        for _ in 0..<100 where self.continuations.count < count {
+            await Task.yield()
+        }
+        return self.continuations.count >= count
+    }
+
+    func complete(at index: Int, with summary: GatewayUsageSummary) {
+        self.continuations[index].resume(returning: summary)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/apps/shared/OpenClawKit/Sources/OpenClawKit/GatewayConnectOptions.swift b/apps/shared/OpenClawKit/Sources/OpenClawKit/GatewayConnectOptions.swift
index 599e3a409023..db4a6e396094 100644
--- a/apps/shared/OpenClawKit/Sources/OpenClawKit/GatewayConnectOptions.swift
+++ b/apps/shared/OpenClawKit/Sources/OpenClawKit/GatewayConnectOptions.swift
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import OpenClawProtocol
 public enum OpenClawGatewayClientCapability {
     public static let agentKind = "agent-kind"
     public static let inlineWidgets = "inline-widgets"
+    public static let usageRefreshing = "usage-refreshing"
 }
 
 public struct GatewayConnectOptions: Sendable {
diff --git a/docs/gateway/clients.md b/docs/gateway/clients.md
index 8d5295494e40..7b45638f965b 100644
--- a/docs/gateway/clients.md
+++ b/docs/gateway/clients.md
@@ -97,9 +97,15 @@ const caps = [GATEWAY_CLIENT_CAPS.TOOL_EVENTS];
 
 The current registry contains `approvals`, `exec-approvals`, `inline-widgets`,
 `run-tool-bindings`, `session-scoped-events`, `plugin-approvals`,
-`task-suggestions`, `terminal-offset-seq`, `tool-events`, and `ui-commands`.
+`task-suggestions`, `terminal-offset-seq`, `tool-events`, `ui-commands`, and
+`usage-refreshing`.
 Advertise only capabilities the client actually implements.
 
+`usage-refreshing` allows a cold `usage.status` request to return immediately
+with `refreshing: true` and an empty provider list. A client advertising it must
+keep that payload cache-cold and refetch on a short bounded schedule. Other
+clients retain the blocking cold read.
+
 <Warning>
 `tool-events` gates live tool-execution streaming. The Gateway registers only
 connections that advertise this capability as recipients for a run's structured
diff --git a/docs/gateway/protocol.md b/docs/gateway/protocol.md
index 5357ac4d4a15..a7e6d37b0820 100644
--- a/docs/gateway/protocol.md
+++ b/docs/gateway/protocol.md
@@ -535,7 +535,7 @@ methods. Treat this as feature discovery, not a full enumeration of
 
   <Accordion title="Models and usage">
     - `models.list` returns the runtime-allowed model catalog. See "`models.list` views" below.
-    - `usage.status` returns provider usage windows/remaining quota summaries.
+    - `usage.status` returns provider usage windows/remaining quota summaries. Clients advertising `usage-refreshing` receive an immediate `refreshing: true` placeholder on a cold cache and must refetch on a bounded schedule; other callers block for the cold provider read.
     - `usage.cost` returns aggregated cost usage summaries for a date range. Pass `agentId` for one agent, or `agentScope: "all"` to aggregate configured agents.
     - `doctor.memory.status` returns vector-memory / cached embedding readiness for the active default agent workspace. Pass `{ "probe": true }` or `{ "deep": true }` only for an explicit live embedding provider ping. Pass `{ "agentId": "agent-id" }` to scope Dreaming store stats to one agent workspace; omitting it aggregates configured Dreaming workspaces.
     - `doctor.memory.dreamDiary`, `doctor.memory.backfillDreamDiary`, `doctor.memory.resetDreamDiary`, `doctor.memory.resetGroundedShortTerm`, `doctor.memory.repairDreamingArtifacts`, and `doctor.memory.dedupeDreamDiary` accept optional `{ "agentId": "agent-id" }`; omitted, they operate on the configured default agent workspace.
diff --git a/packages/gateway-protocol/src/client-info.ts b/packages/gateway-protocol/src/client-info.ts
index c803ce129923..a2ba6f8f37eb 100644
--- a/packages/gateway-protocol/src/client-info.ts
+++ b/packages/gateway-protocol/src/client-info.ts
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ export const GATEWAY_CLIENT_CAPS = {
   TERMINAL_OFFSET_SEQ: "terminal-offset-seq",
   TOOL_EVENTS: "tool-events",
   UI_COMMANDS: "ui-commands",
+  USAGE_REFRESHING: "usage-refreshing",
 } as const;
 
 /** Optional capability advertised by clients during gateway handshake. */
diff --git a/src/gateway/board-host-tools.ts b/src/gateway/board-host-tools.ts
index bfbccb41f8ef..9253ca907f8b 100644
--- a/src/gateway/board-host-tools.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/board-host-tools.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@ type GatewayHandlerInvocation = Parameters<GatewayRequestHandlers[string]>[0];
 
 const BOARD_DATA_HANDLERS: Record<BoardDataBindingId, GatewayRequestHandlers[string]> = {
   "sessions.list": sessionReadHandlers["sessions.list"]!,
-  "usage.status": usageHandlers["usage.status"]!,
+  // Board reads are one-shot and cannot converge an incomplete marker.
+  "usage.status": (invocation) => usageHandlers["usage.status"]!({ ...invocation, client: null }),
   "usage.cost": usageHandlers["usage.cost"]!,
   "cron.list": cronHandlers["cron.list"]!,
   "cron.status": cronHandlers["cron.status"]!,
diff --git a/src/gateway/server-methods/models-auth-status-usage-cache.ts b/src/gateway/server-methods/models-auth-status-usage-cache.ts
index 2d8c8eefd897..a6f188291175 100644
--- a/src/gateway/server-methods/models-auth-status-usage-cache.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/server-methods/models-auth-status-usage-cache.ts
@@ -197,8 +197,9 @@ function scheduleProviderUsageRefresh(params: {
       return usage;
     })
     .catch((err: unknown) => {
-      // Usage is auxiliary and stale data remains valid. Keep failures visible
-      // without delaying fresh auth-health responses.
+      // Usage is auxiliary and stale data remains valid. A failed refresh
+      // publishes nothing, so a capable client keeps seeing the incomplete
+      // marker and reports it once its retry budget is spent.
       log.debug(
         `usage refresh failed: providers=${params.providerIds.join(",")} error=${formatForLog(err)}`,
       );
@@ -225,26 +226,48 @@ type ProviderUsageCacheParams = {
   agentDir: string;
   configRef: OpenClawConfig;
   credentialKey: string;
+  coldRead?: "refresh-marker";
   forceRefresh?: boolean;
   providerIds: UsageProviderId[];
   now: number;
 };
 
+/**
+ * Credential identity without the selection bookkeeping. `usageStats` is stamped
+ * by every successful run (`markAuthProfileSuccess`), so treating it as an
+ * identity change discards a good snapshot several times a minute on a busy
+ * gateway — and a capable client would then receive a cold marker on every poll.
+ * It still belongs in the refresh trigger because it can reorder profiles.
+ */
+function providerUsageCredentialIdentity(credentialKey: string): string {
+  try {
+    const { usageStats: _selectionBookkeeping, ...identity } = JSON.parse(credentialKey) as Record<
+      string,
+      unknown
+    >;
+    return JSON.stringify(identity);
+  } catch {
+    return credentialKey;
+  }
+}
+
 function resolveProviderUsageCacheRead(params: ProviderUsageCacheParams) {
   const providerIds = params.providerIds.toSorted();
   const providerKey = providerUsageCacheKey(providerIds);
   const credentialKey = scopeProviderUsageCredentialKey(params.credentialKey, providerIds);
+  const credentialIdentity = providerUsageCredentialIdentity(credentialKey);
   const cached = usageCacheByAgentId.get(params.agentId);
   const matching =
     cached?.agentDir === params.agentDir &&
     cached.configRef === params.configRef &&
-    cached.credentialKey === credentialKey &&
+    providerUsageCredentialIdentity(cached.credentialKey) === credentialIdentity &&
     cached.providerKey === providerKey
       ? cached
       : undefined;
   const needsRefresh =
     params.forceRefresh === true ||
     !matching ||
+    matching.credentialKey !== credentialKey ||
     params.now - matching.refreshedAt >= USAGE_CACHE_TTL_MS;
   return { credentialKey, matching, needsRefresh, providerIds, providerKey };
 }
@@ -273,7 +296,7 @@ export function readProviderUsageStaleWhileRevalidate(
   return matching?.usageByProvider ?? new Map();
 }
 
-/** Returns cached provider usage, awaiting only a cold miss and refreshing stale data in place. */
+/** Returns cached provider usage while network refreshes run in the background for capable clients. */
 async function loadProviderUsageSummaryStaleWhileRevalidate(
   params: ProviderUsageCacheParams,
 ): Promise<UsageSummary> {
@@ -298,12 +321,17 @@ async function loadProviderUsageSummaryStaleWhileRevalidate(
     void refresh.catch(() => {});
     return matching.summary;
   }
-  return await refresh;
+  if (params.coldRead !== "refresh-marker") {
+    return await refresh;
+  }
+  void refresh.catch(() => {});
+  return { updatedAt: params.now, providers: [], refreshing: true };
 }
 
 /** Shares the models.authStatus cache contract with the unscoped usage.status RPC. */
 export async function loadUsageStatusStaleWhileRevalidate(params: {
   config: OpenClawConfig;
+  coldRead?: "refresh-marker";
   now?: number;
 }): Promise<UsageSummary> {
   const agentId = resolveLegacyInheritedAuthAgentId(params.config);
@@ -342,6 +370,7 @@ export async function loadUsageStatusStaleWhileRevalidate(params: {
       store,
     }),
     providerIds,
+    coldRead: params.coldRead,
     now: params.now ?? Date.now(),
   });
 }
diff --git a/src/gateway/server-methods/optional-model-catalog.test.ts b/src/gateway/server-methods/optional-model-catalog.test.ts
index 2e2232a7d994..7383388d5cda 100644
--- a/src/gateway/server-methods/optional-model-catalog.test.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/server-methods/optional-model-catalog.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 import { describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
-import { readPreparedServerMethodModelCatalog } from "./optional-model-catalog.js";
+import { registerGatewayModelCatalogPrivateAccess } from "../server-model-catalog-auth.js";
+import {
+  loadOptionalServerMethodModelCatalogSnapshot,
+  readPreparedServerMethodModelCatalog,
+} from "./optional-model-catalog.js";
 import type { GatewayRequestContext } from "./types.js";
 
 describe("readPreparedServerMethodModelCatalog", () => {
@@ -20,3 +24,38 @@ describe("readPreparedServerMethodModelCatalog", () => {
     expect(loadGatewayModelCatalog).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 });
+
+describe("loadOptionalServerMethodModelCatalogSnapshot", () => {
+  it("uses a prepared snapshot before cold discovery", async () => {
+    const snapshot = {
+      agentId: "work",
+      agentDir: "/tmp/work-agent",
+      catalogComplete: true,
+      workspaceDir: "/tmp/work",
+      config: {},
+      entries: [],
+      routeVariants: [],
+      authModes: {},
+      authStore: { version: 1, profiles: {} },
+      authMaterializations: [],
+      metadataSnapshot: { index: { plugins: [] }, plugins: [] } as never,
+    };
+    const loadGatewayModelCatalogSnapshot = vi.fn();
+    const context = {
+      loadGatewayModelCatalogSnapshot,
+      logGateway: { debug: vi.fn() },
+    } as unknown as GatewayRequestContext;
+    const readPrepared = vi.fn(async () => snapshot);
+    registerGatewayModelCatalogPrivateAccess(loadGatewayModelCatalogSnapshot, {
+      loadDeferred: vi.fn(),
+      readPrepared,
+    });
+
+    await expect(
+      loadOptionalServerMethodModelCatalogSnapshot(context, "chat.startup", {
+        loadParams: { agentId: "work" },
+      }),
+    ).resolves.toBe(snapshot);
+    expect(loadGatewayModelCatalogSnapshot).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/gateway/server-methods/optional-model-catalog.ts b/src/gateway/server-methods/optional-model-catalog.ts
index 355df2cfd2ca..bd09b57dd1b7 100644
--- a/src/gateway/server-methods/optional-model-catalog.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/server-methods/optional-model-catalog.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 // Optional model-catalog access gives session/tool methods metadata when ready
 // while keeping provider discovery out of ordinary request hot paths.
 import type { ModelCatalogEntry } from "../../agents/model-catalog.types.js";
+import { readPreparedCatalogSnapshot } from "../server-model-catalog-auth.js";
 import type { GatewayModelCatalogSnapshot } from "../server-model-catalog.types.js";
 import type { GatewayRequestContext } from "./types.js";
 
@@ -74,7 +75,11 @@ export function startOptionalServerMethodModelCatalogSnapshotLoad(
   loadParams?: Parameters<GatewayRequestContext["loadGatewayModelCatalogSnapshot"]>[0],
 ): OptionalServerMethodModelCatalogLoad<GatewayModelCatalogSnapshot> {
   return startOptionalServerMethodModelCatalogValueLoad({
-    load: () => context.loadGatewayModelCatalogSnapshot(loadParams),
+    load: async () =>
+      // Prepared startup facts avoid provider discovery. The cold loader remains
+      // the fallback because it publishes the generation used by capability checks.
+      (await readPreparedCatalogSnapshot(context, loadParams)) ??
+      (await context.loadGatewayModelCatalogSnapshot(loadParams)),
     normalize: normalizeOptionalModelCatalogSnapshot,
   });
 }
diff --git a/src/gateway/server-methods/usage.status-cache.test.ts b/src/gateway/server-methods/usage.status-cache.test.ts
index ff8c1f7c054d..4f72d484a4a0 100644
--- a/src/gateway/server-methods/usage.status-cache.test.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/server-methods/usage.status-cache.test.ts
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ const config = {
   agents: { list: [{ id: "main", default: true }] },
 } as OpenClawConfig;
 
+const refreshingCapableClient = { connect: { caps: ["usage-refreshing"] } };
+
 function createStore(access = "access-one") {
   return {
     version: 1,
@@ -61,7 +63,7 @@ function createStore(access = "access-one") {
   };
 }
 
-async function runUsageStatus() {
+async function runUsageStatus(client?: unknown, getRuntimeConfig = () => config) {
   const respond = vi.fn();
   await expectDefined(
     usageHandlers["usage.status"],
@@ -69,7 +71,8 @@ async function runUsageStatus() {
   )({
     respond,
     params: {},
-    context: { getRuntimeConfig: () => config },
+    context: { getRuntimeConfig },
+    client: client === undefined ? refreshingCapableClient : client,
   } as unknown as Parameters<(typeof usageHandlers)["usage.status"]>[0]);
   expect(respond).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
   expect(respond.mock.calls[0]?.[0]).toBe(true);
@@ -114,7 +117,7 @@ describe("usage.status provider usage cache", () => {
     vi.restoreAllMocks();
   });
 
-  it("loads the cached provider snapshot from the exact runtime config", async () => {
+  function mockExactConfigProviderUsage() {
     mocks.loadProviderUsageSummary.mockImplementation(async (options) => ({
       updatedAt: now,
       providers:
@@ -129,15 +132,108 @@ describe("usage.status provider usage cache", () => {
             ]
           : [],
     }));
+  }
 
-    const result = (await runUsageStatus()) as {
+  it("loads the cached provider snapshot from the exact runtime config", async () => {
+    mockExactConfigProviderUsage();
+
+    // Clientless internal reads stay blocking, so the first response already
+    // carries the snapshot the exact-config loader produced.
+    const result = (await runUsageStatus(null)) as {
       providers: Array<{ accountEmail?: string }>;
     };
     expect(result.providers[0]?.accountEmail).toBe("configured@example.com");
   });
 
+  it("hands the exact runtime config to the background refresh", async () => {
+    mockExactConfigProviderUsage();
+
+    await expect(runUsageStatus()).resolves.toMatchObject({ refreshing: true });
+    await vi.waitFor(async () => {
+      expect(
+        (await runUsageStatus()) as { providers: Array<{ accountEmail?: string }> },
+      ).toMatchObject({ providers: [{ accountEmail: "configured@example.com" }] });
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("returns a cold marker only to clients that can converge it", async () => {
+    let finish: ((value: { updatedAt: number; providers: never[] }) => void) | undefined;
+    mocks.loadProviderUsageSummary.mockImplementationOnce(
+      () =>
+        new Promise((resolve) => {
+          finish = resolve;
+        }),
+    );
+
+    await expect(runUsageStatus()).resolves.toEqual({
+      updatedAt: now,
+      providers: [],
+      refreshing: true,
+    });
+
+    const legacy = runUsageStatus({ connect: { caps: [] } });
+    const pending = Symbol("pending");
+    await expect(
+      Promise.race([
+        legacy,
+        new Promise((resolve) => {
+          setTimeout(() => resolve(pending), 25);
+        }),
+      ]),
+    ).resolves.toBe(pending);
+    finish?.({ updatedAt: now, providers: [] });
+    await expect(legacy).resolves.toEqual({ updatedAt: now, providers: [] });
+  });
+
+  it("keeps serving usage while run bookkeeping churns the profile store", async () => {
+    await expect(runUsageStatus()).resolves.toMatchObject({ refreshing: true });
+    await vi.waitFor(async () => {
+      expect(await runUsageStatus()).toMatchObject({ providers: [{ provider: "openai" }] });
+    });
+
+    // Every completed agent run stamps usage bookkeeping on the selected profile
+    // (markAuthProfileSuccess). That must not read as a credential change, or a
+    // busy gateway hands capable clients a cold marker on every poll and they
+    // report "did not finish loading" while every refresh is succeeding.
+    store = { ...store, usageStats: { "openai:default": { lastUsed: now } } };
+    now += 1;
+
+    await expect(runUsageStatus()).resolves.toMatchObject({
+      providers: [{ provider: "openai" }],
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("keeps clientless internal reads blocking", async () => {
+    const result = (await runUsageStatus(null)) as { refreshing?: boolean; providers: unknown[] };
+    expect(result.providers).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(result.refreshing).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+
+  it("keeps a failed refresh incomplete for capable clients and recovers", async () => {
+    mocks.loadProviderUsageSummary.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error("provider stack down"));
+    await expect(runUsageStatus()).resolves.toMatchObject({ refreshing: true });
+    await new Promise((resolve) => {
+      setTimeout(resolve, 0);
+    });
+
+    // A failed refresh publishes nothing, so the payload stays marked incomplete
+    // and the client's bounded retry owns reporting it. The next attempt recovers.
+    await expect(runUsageStatus()).resolves.toMatchObject({ refreshing: true });
+    await vi.waitFor(async () => {
+      expect((await runUsageStatus()) as { providers: unknown[] }).toMatchObject({
+        providers: [expect.any(Object)],
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
   it("reuses byte-identical results within 60s and refreshes stale data in the background", async () => {
-    const first = await runUsageStatus();
+    expect(await runUsageStatus()).toMatchObject({ refreshing: true });
+    const first = await vi.waitFor(async () => {
+      const value = (await runUsageStatus()) as { providers: unknown[]; refreshing?: boolean };
+      expect(value.providers).toHaveLength(1);
+      return value;
+    });
+    expect(first.refreshing).toBeUndefined();
     const repeated = await runUsageStatus();
 
     expect(JSON.stringify(repeated)).toBe(JSON.stringify(first));
@@ -157,10 +253,33 @@ describe("usage.status provider usage cache", () => {
     expect(mocks.loadProviderUsageSummary).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
   });
 
+  it("invalidates cached usage when the runtime config changes", async () => {
+    const configFor = (baseUrl: string) =>
+      ({ ...config, models: { providers: { openai: { baseUrl } } } }) as unknown as OpenClawConfig;
+    const first = configFor("https://one.example/v1");
+    expect(await runUsageStatus(refreshingCapableClient, () => first)).toMatchObject({
+      refreshing: true,
+    });
+    await vi.waitFor(async () => {
+      expect(
+        ((await runUsageStatus(refreshingCapableClient, () => first)) as { providers: unknown[] })
+          .providers,
+      ).toHaveLength(1);
+    });
+    expect(mocks.loadProviderUsageSummary).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+
+    const second = configFor("https://two.example/v1");
+    expect(await runUsageStatus(refreshingCapableClient, () => second)).toMatchObject({
+      refreshing: true,
+    });
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(mocks.loadProviderUsageSummary).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2));
+  });
+
   it("shares the raw snapshot with models.authStatus and invalidates on credential rotation", async () => {
-    await runUsageStatus();
+    expect(await runUsageStatus()).toMatchObject({ refreshing: true });
     const agentId = resolveDefaultAgentId(config);
     const agentDir = resolveAgentDir(config, agentId);
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(mocks.loadProviderUsageSummary).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1));
     const usage = readProviderUsageStaleWhileRevalidate({
       agentId,
       agentDir,
@@ -177,10 +296,13 @@ describe("usage.status provider usage cache", () => {
     expect(mocks.loadProviderUsageSummary).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
 
     store.profiles["openai:default"].access = "access-two";
-    const rotated = (await runUsageStatus()) as {
-      providers: Array<{ windows: Array<{ usedPercent: number }> }>;
-    };
-    expect(rotated.providers[0]?.windows[0]?.usedPercent).toBe(20);
+    expect(await runUsageStatus()).toMatchObject({ refreshing: true });
+    await vi.waitFor(async () => {
+      const rotated = (await runUsageStatus()) as {
+        providers: Array<{ windows: Array<{ usedPercent: number }> }>;
+      };
+      expect(rotated.providers[0]?.windows[0]?.usedPercent).toBe(20);
+    });
     expect(mocks.loadProviderUsageSummary).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/gateway/server-methods/usage.ts b/src/gateway/server-methods/usage.ts
index 7a1b0a8a35b8..c50468358e83 100644
--- a/src/gateway/server-methods/usage.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/server-methods/usage.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@
 import fs from "node:fs";
 import { expectDefined } from "@openclaw/normalization-core";
 import { normalizeOptionalString } from "@openclaw/normalization-core/string-coerce";
+import {
+  GATEWAY_CLIENT_CAPS,
+  hasGatewayClientCap,
+} from "../../../packages/gateway-protocol/src/client-info.js";
 import {
   ErrorCodes,
   errorShape,
@@ -1133,9 +1137,21 @@ export const testApi = {
 export type { SessionUsageEntry, SessionsUsageAggregates, SessionsUsageResult };
 
 export const usageHandlers: GatewayRequestHandlers = {
-  "usage.status": async ({ respond, context }) => {
+  "usage.status": async ({ respond, context, client }) => {
+    // Only clients with bounded retry machinery may receive an incomplete cold result.
+    // In-process dispatch reuses the originating request's client, capabilities
+    // included, so a plugin proxying this method inside a capable UI request
+    // would inherit the marker without any way to converge it. Such a caller
+    // must pass a capless client, the way board bindings force `client: null`.
+    const coldRead = hasGatewayClientCap(
+      client?.connect?.caps,
+      GATEWAY_CLIENT_CAPS.USAGE_REFRESHING,
+    )
+      ? ("refresh-marker" as const)
+      : undefined;
     const summary = await loadUsageStatusStaleWhileRevalidate({
       config: context.getRuntimeConfig(),
+      coldRead,
     });
     respond(true, summary, undefined);
   },
diff --git a/src/gateway/server-model-catalog-auth.ts b/src/gateway/server-model-catalog-auth.ts
index 9b946ca2fb55..309ff02fc366 100644
--- a/src/gateway/server-model-catalog-auth.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/server-model-catalog-auth.ts
@@ -66,5 +66,13 @@ export async function readPreparedCatalog(
   context: Pick<GatewayRequestContext, "loadGatewayModelCatalogSnapshot">,
   agentId: string,
 ): Promise<PreparedGatewayModelCatalogSnapshot | undefined> {
-  return await requirePrivateAccess(context).readPrepared({ agentId });
+  return await readPreparedCatalogSnapshot(context, { agentId });
+}
+
+/** Reads a prepared owner snapshot without exposing private auth facts on the request context. */
+export async function readPreparedCatalogSnapshot(
+  context: Pick<GatewayRequestContext, "loadGatewayModelCatalogSnapshot">,
+  params?: Omit<GatewayModelCatalogReadParams, "readOnly">,
+): Promise<PreparedGatewayModelCatalogSnapshot | undefined> {
+  return await requirePrivateAccess(context).readPrepared(params);
 }
diff --git a/src/infra/provider-usage.types.ts b/src/infra/provider-usage.types.ts
index 84080d63117f..24917de7e38b 100644
--- a/src/infra/provider-usage.types.ts
+++ b/src/infra/provider-usage.types.ts
@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@ export type ProviderUsageSnapshot = {
 export type UsageSummary = {
   updatedAt: number;
   providers: ProviderUsageSnapshot[];
+  /** A background refresh owns the real values; an empty list is incomplete. */
+  refreshing?: boolean;
 };
 
 /** Normalized provider id. Usage providers are discovered from plugin hooks at runtime. */
diff --git a/ui/src/api/gateway.node.test.ts b/ui/src/api/gateway.node.test.ts
index d182515cd457..2ebe9b5d1927 100644
--- a/ui/src/api/gateway.node.test.ts
+++ b/ui/src/api/gateway.node.test.ts
@@ -471,6 +471,7 @@ describe("GatewayBrowserClient", () => {
       GATEWAY_CLIENT_CAPS.TOOL_EVENTS,
       GATEWAY_CLIENT_CAPS.INLINE_WIDGETS,
       GATEWAY_CLIENT_CAPS.UI_COMMANDS,
+      GATEWAY_CLIENT_CAPS.USAGE_REFRESHING,
     ]);
     expect(connectFrame.params?.scopes).toEqual([...CONTROL_UI_OPERATOR_SCOPES]);
   });
diff --git a/ui/src/api/gateway.ts b/ui/src/api/gateway.ts
index 4a0f879eb5d4..acfef52110df 100644
--- a/ui/src/api/gateway.ts
+++ b/ui/src/api/gateway.ts
@@ -483,6 +483,7 @@ export class GatewayBrowserClient {
           GATEWAY_CLIENT_CAPS.TOOL_EVENTS,
           GATEWAY_CLIENT_CAPS.INLINE_WIDGETS,
           GATEWAY_CLIENT_CAPS.UI_COMMANDS,
+          GATEWAY_CLIENT_CAPS.USAGE_REFRESHING,
         ],
         auth: buildGatewayConnectAuth(selectedAuth),
         userAgent: navigator.userAgent,
diff --git a/ui/src/i18n/locales/en.ts b/ui/src/i18n/locales/en.ts
index d2101ffd2b0f..46f4f2d060bb 100644
--- a/ui/src/i18n/locales/en.ts
+++ b/ui/src/i18n/locales/en.ts
@@ -4369,6 +4369,7 @@ export const en: TranslationMap = {
     providerUsage: {
       title: "Provider plans & billing",
       subtitle: "Live plan, quota, balance, and budget data reported by configured providers.",
+      stalled: "Provider usage did not finish loading. Refresh to retry.",
       balance: "Balance",
       spend: "Usage",
       budget: "Budget",
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/incomplete-usage-retry.test.ts b/ui/src/lib/incomplete-usage-retry.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..e8b67577c8fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/lib/incomplete-usage-retry.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+// @vitest-environment jsdom
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { IncompleteUsageRetry, isUsageIncomplete } from "./incomplete-usage-retry.ts";
+
+describe("IncompleteUsageRetry", () => {
+  beforeEach(() => vi.useFakeTimers());
+  afterEach(() => vi.useRealTimers());
+
+  it("recognizes only an explicit incomplete marker", () => {
+    expect(isUsageIncomplete({ refreshing: true })).toBe(true);
+    expect(isUsageIncomplete({ refreshing: false })).toBe(false);
+    expect(isUsageIncomplete(null)).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("reports exhaustion once the three delayed attempts are spent", () => {
+    const retry = vi.fn();
+    const policy = new IncompleteUsageRetry({ retry });
+    for (let attempt = 0; attempt < 3; attempt += 1) {
+      expect(policy.observe(true)).toBe("retrying");
+      vi.advanceTimersByTime(5_000);
+    }
+    expect(retry).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(3);
+    // Nothing schedules another attempt, so the page owns the outcome from here.
+    expect(policy.observe(true)).toBe("exhausted");
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(5_000);
+    expect(retry).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(3);
+  });
+
+  it("resets on completion or connection replacement", () => {
+    const retry = vi.fn();
+    const policy = new IncompleteUsageRetry({ retry });
+    const first = {};
+    for (let attempt = 0; attempt < 4; attempt += 1) {
+      policy.observe(true, first);
+      vi.advanceTimersByTime(5_000);
+    }
+    expect(retry).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(3);
+
+    policy.observe(true, {});
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(5_000);
+    expect(retry).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(4);
+    expect(policy.observe(false)).toBe("complete");
+  });
+
+  it("cancels timers on connection replacement and disposal", () => {
+    const retry = vi.fn();
+    const policy = new IncompleteUsageRetry({ retry });
+    policy.observe(true, {});
+    policy.useConnection({});
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(5_000);
+    expect(retry).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    policy.observe(true);
+    policy.dispose();
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(5_000);
+    expect(retry).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("lets an independent cycle retry after exhaustion without poll self-rearming", () => {
+    const retry = vi.fn();
+    const policy = new IncompleteUsageRetry({ retry });
+    for (let attempt = 0; attempt < 4; attempt += 1) {
+      policy.observe(true);
+      vi.advanceTimersByTime(5_000);
+    }
+    expect(retry).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(3);
+
+    policy.startCycle();
+    expect(policy.observe(true)).toBe("retrying");
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(5_000);
+    expect(retry).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(4);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/incomplete-usage-retry.ts b/ui/src/lib/incomplete-usage-retry.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..02dd72e62004
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/lib/incomplete-usage-retry.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+const INCOMPLETE_USAGE_RETRY_MS = 5_000;
+const INCOMPLETE_USAGE_RETRY_LIMIT = 3;
+
+type IncompleteUsageRetryOptions = {
+  retry: () => void;
+  retryMs?: number;
+  limit?: number;
+};
+
+type UsageRetryHost = {
+  addController: (controller: { hostDisconnected: () => void }) => void;
+};
+
+/** Closed convergence state: an incomplete payload is never a rendered answer. */
+export type UsageRetryState = "complete" | "retrying" | "exhausted";
+
+export function isUsageIncomplete(usage: { refreshing?: boolean } | null | undefined): boolean {
+  return usage?.refreshing === true;
+}
+
+export function createUsageRetry(
+  host: UsageRetryHost,
+  retry: () => void,
+  options?: Omit<IncompleteUsageRetryOptions, "retry">,
+): IncompleteUsageRetry {
+  const controller = new IncompleteUsageRetry({ retry, ...options });
+  host.addController({ hostDisconnected: () => controller.dispose() });
+  return controller;
+}
+
+/** Keeps incomplete usage cache-cold while bounding automatic convergence attempts. */
+export class IncompleteUsageRetry {
+  private timer: number | null = null;
+  private attempts = 0;
+  private connection: unknown;
+
+  constructor(private readonly options: IncompleteUsageRetryOptions) {}
+
+  observe(incomplete: boolean, connection?: unknown): UsageRetryState {
+    this.useConnection(connection);
+    this.clear();
+    if (!incomplete) {
+      this.attempts = 0;
+      return "complete";
+    }
+    if (this.attempts >= (this.options.limit ?? INCOMPLETE_USAGE_RETRY_LIMIT)) {
+      // Nothing will converge this payload on its own, so the caller has to
+      // report it. Rendering the empty provider list as a loaded answer is the
+      // silent-failure this marker exists to avoid.
+      return "exhausted";
+    }
+    this.attempts += 1;
+    this.timer = window.setTimeout(() => {
+      this.timer = null;
+      this.options.retry();
+    }, this.options.retryMs ?? INCOMPLETE_USAGE_RETRY_MS);
+    return "retrying";
+  }
+
+  /** Starts a user/lifecycle-owned refresh cycle without letting poll callbacks rearm it. */
+  startCycle(): void {
+    this.attempts = 0;
+    this.clear();
+  }
+
+  useConnection(connection: unknown): void {
+    if (connection === this.connection) {
+      return;
+    }
+    this.connection = connection;
+    this.startCycle();
+  }
+
+  dispose(): void {
+    this.clear();
+  }
+
+  private clear(): void {
+    if (this.timer === null) {
+      return;
+    }
+    window.clearTimeout(this.timer);
+    this.timer = null;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/model-providers/model-providers-page.test.ts b/ui/src/pages/model-providers/model-providers-page.test.ts
index 7842234a81e3..8ecabbfb1b39 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/model-providers/model-providers-page.test.ts
+++ b/ui/src/pages/model-providers/model-providers-page.test.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ type ModelProvidersPageTestElement = HTMLElement & {
   probe: (cardId: string, providers: string[]) => Promise<void>;
   probeResults: Record<string, ModelsProbeResult>;
   routeData: ModelProvidersRouteData | undefined;
+  requestUpdate: () => void;
   saveDefaultModels: () => Promise<void>;
   saveKey: (provider: string, configKey: string) => Promise<void>;
   selectedAgentId: string;
@@ -53,6 +54,7 @@ function createHarness(initialScopeId: string) {
     });
     return () => releaseAuthStatus?.();
   };
+  let usageStatus: unknown = { updatedAt: 1, providers: [] };
   const request = vi.fn(async (method: string): Promise<unknown> => {
     switch (method) {
       case "models.authStatus": {
@@ -74,7 +76,7 @@ function createHarness(initialScopeId: string) {
       case "config.get":
         return { config: {}, hash: "hash" };
       case "usage.status":
-        return { updatedAt: 1, providers: [] };
+        return usageStatus;
       case "sessions.usage":
         return { aggregates: { byProvider: [] } };
       default:
@@ -170,6 +172,9 @@ function createHarness(initialScopeId: string) {
     request,
     runtimeConfig,
     snapshot,
+    setUsageStatus: (value: unknown) => {
+      usageStatus = value;
+    },
   };
 }
 
@@ -184,9 +189,62 @@ function appendPage(context: ApplicationContext) {
 
 afterEach(() => {
   document.body.replaceChildren();
+  vi.useRealTimers();
   vi.restoreAllMocks();
 });
 
+describe("ModelProvidersPage usage convergence", () => {
+  it("restarts an exhausted retry cycle on same-client reconnect", async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers();
+    const harness = createHarness("main");
+    harness.setUsageStatus({ updatedAt: 1, providers: [], refreshing: true });
+    const page = appendPage(harness.context);
+    await page.updateComplete;
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(15_000);
+
+    const usageCallsBeforeReconnect = harness.request.mock.calls.filter(
+      ([method]) => method === "usage.status",
+    ).length;
+    expect(usageCallsBeforeReconnect).toBe(4);
+
+    harness.snapshot.phase = "offline";
+    page.requestUpdate();
+    await page.updateComplete;
+    harness.snapshot.phase = "connected";
+    page.requestUpdate();
+    await page.updateComplete;
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(0);
+
+    expect(harness.request.mock.calls.filter(([method]) => method === "usage.status").length).toBe(
+      5,
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("replaces a pending pre-disconnect load before it can publish", async () => {
+    const harness = createHarness("main");
+    harness.setUsageStatus({ updatedAt: 1, providers: [] });
+    const releaseOldLoad = harness.deferNextAuthStatus();
+    const page = appendPage(harness.context);
+    await page.updateComplete;
+
+    harness.snapshot.phase = "offline";
+    page.requestUpdate();
+    await page.updateComplete;
+    harness.setUsageStatus({ updatedAt: 2, providers: [] });
+    harness.snapshot.phase = "connected";
+    page.requestUpdate();
+    await page.updateComplete;
+
+    await vi.waitFor(() =>
+      expect(
+        harness.request.mock.calls.filter(([method]) => method === "usage.status").length,
+      ).toBe(2),
+    );
+    releaseOldLoad();
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(page.data?.providerUsage?.updatedAt).toBe(2));
+  });
+});
+
 describe("ModelProvidersPage agent scope", () => {
   it("switches application ownership from the concrete agent picker", async () => {
     const { agentSelection, context } = createHarness("main");
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/model-providers/model-providers-page.ts b/ui/src/pages/model-providers/model-providers-page.ts
index c47c597b3bce..71cd158f6590 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/model-providers/model-providers-page.ts
+++ b/ui/src/pages/model-providers/model-providers-page.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import { t } from "../../i18n/index.ts";
 import { normalizeAgentLabel } from "../../lib/agents/display.ts";
 import { createGatewayConnectionLifecycle } from "../../lib/gateway-connection-lifecycle.ts";
 import { isGatewayMethodAdvertised } from "../../lib/gateway-methods.ts";
+import { createUsageRetry, isUsageIncomplete } from "../../lib/incomplete-usage-retry.ts";
 import { normalizeAgentId } from "../../lib/sessions/session-key.ts";
 import { OpenClawLightDomElement } from "../../lit/openclaw-element.ts";
 import { SubscriptionsController } from "../../lit/subscriptions-controller.ts";
@@ -44,6 +45,7 @@ import {
   buildProviderApiKeyPatch,
   DEFAULT_MODELS_REPLACE_PATHS,
 } from "./mutations.ts";
+import { mergeProbeResults } from "./probe-results.ts";
 import { renderModelProviders, type ModelProviderRowMessage } from "./view.ts";
 
 const MODEL_PROVIDERS_DOCS_URL = "https://docs.openclaw.ai/concepts/model-providers";
@@ -62,39 +64,6 @@ function isMissingMethodError(error: unknown): boolean {
   );
 }
 
-const PROBE_FAILURE_PRIORITY: readonly ModelsProbeResult["status"][] = [
-  "auth",
-  "billing",
-  "rate_limit",
-  "timeout",
-  "format",
-  "no_model",
-  "unknown",
-];
-
-function mergeProbeResults(cardId: string, results: ModelsProbeResult[]): ModelsProbeResult {
-  if (results.length === 1) {
-    return results[0]!;
-  }
-  const status = results.some((result) => result.status === "ok")
-    ? "ok"
-    : (PROBE_FAILURE_PRIORITY.find((candidate) =>
-        results.some((result) => result.status === candidate),
-      ) ?? "unknown");
-  const error = results.find((result) => result.status === status)?.error;
-  return {
-    provider: cardId,
-    status,
-    ...(error ? { error } : {}),
-    results: results.flatMap((result) =>
-      result.results.map((target) => ({
-        ...target,
-        label: `${result.provider}: ${target.label}`,
-      })),
-    ),
-  };
-}
-
 export class ModelProvidersPage extends OpenClawLightDomElement {
   @consume({ context: applicationContext, subscribe: true })
   private context!: ApplicationContext;
@@ -142,11 +111,9 @@ export class ModelProvidersPage extends OpenClawLightDomElement {
             signal,
           }).then((data) => ({ client, data }))
         : initialState,
-    onComplete: ({ client, data }) => {
-      this.data = data;
-      this.dataClient = client;
-    },
+    onComplete: ({ client, data }) => this.applyLoadedData(data, client),
   });
+  private readonly usageRetry = createUsageRetry(this, () => void this.refresh({ force: false }));
   private readonly subscriptions = new SubscriptionsController(this)
     .watch(
       () => this.context?.gateway,
@@ -186,20 +153,34 @@ export class ModelProvidersPage extends OpenClawLightDomElement {
     if (changed.has("routeData") && this.routeData) {
       const selectedAgentId = this.resolveSelectedAgentId();
       this.setSelectedAgent(selectedAgentId);
-      if ((this.routeData.agentId ?? "") === selectedAgentId) {
-        this.data = this.routeData.data;
-        this.dataClient = this.routeData.client;
-      } else {
-        this.data = null;
-        this.dataClient = null;
-      }
+      const matches = (this.routeData.agentId ?? "") === selectedAgentId;
+      this.applyLoadedData(
+        matches ? this.routeData.data : null,
+        matches ? this.routeData.client : null,
+      );
     }
   }
 
+  private applyLoadedData(data: ModelProvidersData | null, client: GatewayBrowserClient | null) {
+    this.data = data;
+    this.dataClient = client;
+    // The connection epoch scopes the retry budget: a reconnect is a fresh
+    // Gateway cache generation and must not inherit the old attempt count.
+    // The "exhausted" state is deliberately dropped here: these cards render from
+    // models.authStatus and stay useful without usage, and this page's
+    // failed-usage notice is owned separately. Usage owns the visible outcome.
+    this.usageRetry.observe(
+      data !== null && isUsageIncomplete(data.providerUsage),
+      this.connectionLifecycle.epoch,
+    );
+  }
+
   override updated() {
     const snapshot = this.context.gateway.snapshot;
-    if (this.connectionLifecycle.transition(snapshot)) {
-      this.resetConnectionState(snapshot.client, snapshot.phase === "connected");
+    const connected = snapshot.phase === "connected";
+    const changed = this.connectionLifecycle.transition(snapshot);
+    if (changed) {
+      this.resetConnectionState(snapshot.client, connected);
     }
     if (
       !this.context.agents.state.agentsList &&
@@ -208,6 +189,13 @@ export class ModelProvidersPage extends OpenClawLightDomElement {
     ) {
       void this.context.agents.ensureList();
     }
+    if (changed && connected && snapshot.client) {
+      // A reconnect reuses the client object, so the staleness check below
+      // cannot recognize it as a new Gateway cache generation. Refetch here
+      // rather than relying on the reset above having nulled `data`.
+      void this.refresh({ force: false });
+      return;
+    }
     if (
       snapshot.phase !== "connected" ||
       !snapshot.client ||
@@ -222,6 +210,9 @@ export class ModelProvidersPage extends OpenClawLightDomElement {
   }
 
   private resetConnectionState(client: GatewayBrowserClient | null, connected: boolean) {
+    this.usageRetry.useConnection(this.connectionLifecycle.epoch);
+    // A null run advances Task's call id, so a late pre-transition result cannot
+    // publish even when the underlying request ignores AbortSignal.
     void this.refreshTask.run([null, this.selectedAgentId, false]);
     this.busy = {};
     this.messages = {};
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/model-providers/probe-results.ts b/ui/src/pages/model-providers/probe-results.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..00b8d8bef5f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/pages/model-providers/probe-results.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+import type { ModelsProbeResult } from "../../api/types.ts";
+
+const PROBE_FAILURE_PRIORITY: readonly ModelsProbeResult["status"][] = [
+  "auth",
+  "billing",
+  "rate_limit",
+  "timeout",
+  "format",
+  "no_model",
+  "unknown",
+];
+
+export function mergeProbeResults(cardId: string, results: ModelsProbeResult[]): ModelsProbeResult {
+  if (results.length === 1) {
+    return results[0]!;
+  }
+  const status = results.some((result) => result.status === "ok")
+    ? "ok"
+    : (PROBE_FAILURE_PRIORITY.find((candidate) =>
+        results.some((result) => result.status === candidate),
+      ) ?? "unknown");
+  const error = results.find((result) => result.status === status)?.error;
+  return {
+    provider: cardId,
+    status,
+    ...(error ? { error } : {}),
+    results: results.flatMap((result) =>
+      result.results.map((target) => ({
+        ...target,
+        label: `${result.provider}: ${target.label}`,
+      })),
+    ),
+  };
+}
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/usage/refresh-policy.test.ts b/ui/src/pages/usage/refresh-policy.test.ts
index 27ceeff23b62..af712e85e0eb 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/usage/refresh-policy.test.ts
+++ b/ui/src/pages/usage/refresh-policy.test.ts
@@ -71,4 +71,23 @@ describe("UsageRefreshPolicy", () => {
     policy.request("focus");
     expect(reload).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
   });
+
+  it("restarts an exhausted retry budget for manual and focus cycles", () => {
+    const { policy, reload } = createPolicy();
+    for (let attempt = 0; attempt < 4; attempt += 1) {
+      policy.markLoaded({ incomplete: true });
+      vi.advanceTimersByTime(5_000);
+    }
+    expect(reload).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(3);
+
+    policy.request("manual");
+    policy.markLoaded({ incomplete: true });
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(5_000);
+    expect(reload).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(5);
+
+    policy.request("focus");
+    policy.markLoaded({ incomplete: true });
+    vi.advanceTimersByTime(5_000);
+    expect(reload).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(7);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/usage/refresh-policy.ts b/ui/src/pages/usage/refresh-policy.ts
index c44fc143ad28..1155615a4081 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/usage/refresh-policy.ts
+++ b/ui/src/pages/usage/refresh-policy.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import { IncompleteUsageRetry, type UsageRetryState } from "../../lib/incomplete-usage-retry.ts";
+
 const USAGE_PAYLOAD_TTL_MS = 5 * 60_000;
 
 type UsageRefreshReason = "focus" | "manual" | "poll" | "reconnect";
@@ -39,22 +41,43 @@ export class UsageRefreshPolicy {
   private lastLoadedAtMs: number | null = null;
   private pendingAutomaticRefresh = false;
   private reloadPending = false;
+  private readonly incompleteUsageRetry = new IncompleteUsageRetry({
+    retry: () => this.request("poll"),
+  });
 
   constructor(private readonly options: UsageRefreshPolicyOptions) {}
 
-  setLastLoadedAtMs(value: number | null): void {
-    this.lastLoadedAtMs = value;
+  setLastLoadedAtMs(
+    value: number | null,
+    params?: { incomplete?: boolean; connection?: unknown },
+  ): UsageRetryState {
+    return this.applyLoadState(value, params?.incomplete === true, params?.connection);
   }
 
-  markLoaded(): void {
-    this.lastLoadedAtMs = Date.now();
+  markLoaded(params?: { incomplete?: boolean; connection?: unknown }): UsageRetryState {
+    return this.applyLoadState(Date.now(), params?.incomplete === true, params?.connection);
   }
 
   resetPayload(): void {
-    this.lastLoadedAtMs = null;
+    this.applyLoadState(null, false);
     this.reloadPending = false;
   }
 
+  dispose(): void {
+    this.incompleteUsageRetry.dispose();
+  }
+
+  private applyLoadState(
+    loadedAtMs: number | null,
+    incomplete: boolean,
+    connection?: unknown,
+  ): UsageRetryState {
+    const state = this.incompleteUsageRetry.observe(incomplete, connection);
+    // Incomplete provider usage must not start the TTL or focus/reconnect can skip recovery.
+    this.lastLoadedAtMs = state === "complete" ? loadedAtMs : null;
+    return state;
+  }
+
   interrupt(): void {
     this.reloadPending ||= this.options.isLoading();
   }
@@ -86,6 +109,9 @@ export class UsageRefreshPolicy {
       lastLoadedAtMs: this.lastLoadedAtMs,
     });
     if (decision === "fetch") {
+      if (reason !== "poll") {
+        this.incompleteUsageRetry.startCycle();
+      }
       this.reload();
     }
   }
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/usage/types.ts b/ui/src/pages/usage/types.ts
index 7aba5974dca9..549008ba3b14 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/usage/types.ts
+++ b/ui/src/pages/usage/types.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import type { CostUsageSummary } from "../../api/types.ts";
 import type { PanelRefreshStatus } from "../../components/panel-refresh-status.ts";
 // Control UI view renders usageTypes screen content.
 import type {
@@ -14,6 +15,13 @@ export type UsageTotals = SessionsUsageTotals;
 export type CostDailyEntry = CostUsageDailyEntry;
 export type UsageAggregates = SessionsUsageResult["aggregates"];
 
+export type UsageTaskValue = {
+  epoch: object;
+  result: SessionsUsageResult;
+  costSummary: CostUsageSummary;
+  providerUsageSummary: ProviderUsageSummary | null;
+};
+
 export type UsageColumnId =
   | "channel"
   | "agent"
@@ -48,6 +56,8 @@ type UsageDataState = {
   costDaily: CostDailyEntry[];
   cacheStatus: SessionsUsageResult["cacheStatus"];
   providerUsage: ProviderUsageSummary["providers"];
+  /** The gateway never converged the refresh; the empty list is not an answer. */
+  providerUsageStalled: boolean;
 };
 
 export type UsageFilterState = {
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/usage/usage-page.test.ts b/ui/src/pages/usage/usage-page.test.ts
index 55a94095a9c8..78024bbc745d 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/usage/usage-page.test.ts
+++ b/ui/src/pages/usage/usage-page.test.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ type TestUsagePage = HTMLElement & {
   usageTimeSeriesStatus: { error: string | null; hasLoaded: boolean; stale: boolean };
   usageSessionLogs: SessionLogEntry[] | null;
   usageSessionLogsStatus: { error: string | null; hasLoaded: boolean; stale: boolean };
+  providerUsageStalled: boolean;
+  routeData?: unknown;
   loadSessionTimeSeries: (sessionKey: string) => Promise<void>;
   loadSessionLogs: (sessionKey: string) => Promise<void>;
   render: () => unknown;
@@ -78,6 +80,44 @@ afterEach(() => {
 });
 
 describe("UsagePage detail requests", () => {
+  it("marks provider usage stalled once the retry budget is spent", async () => {
+    const client = { request: vi.fn(async () => ({})) } as unknown as GatewayBrowserClient;
+    const page = await createPage(client);
+    const gateway = page.context.gateway;
+    const routeDataAt = (loadedAtMs: number) => ({
+      gateway,
+      gatewaySnapshot: gateway.snapshot,
+      client,
+      query: {
+        startDate: "2026-05-14",
+        endDate: "2026-05-14",
+        scope: "family" as const,
+        timeZone: "local" as const,
+        agentId: null,
+      },
+      result: null,
+      costSummary: null,
+      providerUsageSummary: { updatedAt: 1, providers: [], refreshing: true },
+      loadedAtMs,
+      error: null,
+    });
+
+    // Three bounded attempts, then the page owns the outcome. Without the wiring
+    // the empty provider list renders as a loaded answer.
+    for (let attempt = 0; attempt < 3; attempt += 1) {
+      page.routeData = routeDataAt(attempt);
+      await page.updateComplete;
+      expect(page.providerUsageStalled).toBe(false);
+    }
+    page.routeData = routeDataAt(3);
+    await page.updateComplete;
+    expect(page.providerUsageStalled).toBe(true);
+
+    page.routeData = { ...routeDataAt(4), providerUsageSummary: { updatedAt: 2, providers: [] } };
+    await page.updateComplete;
+    expect(page.providerUsageStalled).toBe(false);
+  });
+
   it("commits only the latest time-series selection", async () => {
     const first = deferred<SessionUsageTimeSeries>();
     const second = deferred<SessionUsageTimeSeries>();
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/usage/usage-page.ts b/ui/src/pages/usage/usage-page.ts
index d4a85d402376..d64a1365dd68 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/usage/usage-page.ts
+++ b/ui/src/pages/usage/usage-page.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import {
   formatMissingOperatorReadScopeMessage,
   isMissingOperatorReadScopeError,
 } from "../../lib/gateway-errors.ts";
+import { isUsageIncomplete } from "../../lib/incomplete-usage-retry.ts";
 import {
   requestSessionUsageLogs,
   requestSessionUsageTimeSeries,
@@ -52,6 +53,7 @@ import {
   type SessionLogEntry,
   type SessionLogRole,
   type UsageProps,
+  type UsageTaskValue,
 } from "./types.ts";
 import { renderUsage } from "./view.ts";
 
@@ -87,6 +89,7 @@ class UsagePage extends OpenClawLightDomElement {
   @state() private usageResult: SessionsUsageResult | null = null;
   @state() private usageCostSummary: CostUsageSummary | null = null;
   @state() private providerUsageSummary: ProviderUsageSummary | null = null;
+  @state() private providerUsageStalled = false;
   @state() private usageError: string | null = null;
   @state() private usageStartDate = currentLocalDate();
   @state() private usageEndDate = currentLocalDate();
@@ -129,6 +132,8 @@ class UsagePage extends OpenClawLightDomElement {
   // Invalidation runs the Task with a null client to supersede stale completions.
   // Track real gateway work separately so that no-op runs cannot block reconnect retries.
   private usageTaskActiveClient: GatewayBrowserClient | null = null;
+  // The client survives transport reconnects, so retry budgets need a separate epoch.
+  private connectionEpoch: object = {};
   private routeDataInitialized = false;
   private routeDataEnabled = true;
   private readonly refreshPolicy = new UsageRefreshPolicy({
@@ -182,8 +187,16 @@ class UsagePage extends OpenClawLightDomElement {
         return initialState;
       }
       this.refreshPolicy.beginLoad();
+      const epoch = this.connectionEpoch;
       const agentId = normalizedAgentId || undefined;
-      return requestUsageSnapshot(client, { startDate, endDate, agentId, scope, timeZone }, signal);
+      return {
+        epoch,
+        ...(await requestUsageSnapshot(
+          client,
+          { startDate, endDate, agentId, scope, timeZone },
+          signal,
+        )),
+      } satisfies UsageTaskValue;
     },
     onComplete: (value) => {
       this.usageTaskActiveClient = null;
@@ -191,7 +204,11 @@ class UsagePage extends OpenClawLightDomElement {
       this.usageCostSummary = value.costSummary;
       this.providerUsageSummary = value.providerUsageSummary;
       this.usageError = null;
-      this.refreshPolicy.markLoaded();
+      this.providerUsageStalled =
+        this.refreshPolicy.markLoaded({
+          incomplete: isUsageIncomplete(value.providerUsageSummary),
+          connection: value.epoch,
+        }) === "exhausted";
       this.refreshPolicy.flushPending();
     },
     onError: (error) => {
@@ -274,6 +291,7 @@ class UsagePage extends OpenClawLightDomElement {
     this.subscriptions.clear();
     this.clearDateDebounce();
     this.clearQueryDebounce();
+    this.refreshPolicy.dispose();
     this.usageTaskActiveClient = null;
     void this.usageTask.run(this.usageTaskArgs(null));
     void this.usageTimeSeriesTask.run([null, ""]);
@@ -312,7 +330,11 @@ class UsagePage extends OpenClawLightDomElement {
     this.usageResult = data.result;
     this.usageCostSummary = data.costSummary;
     this.providerUsageSummary = data.providerUsageSummary;
-    this.refreshPolicy.setLastLoadedAtMs(data.loadedAtMs);
+    this.providerUsageStalled =
+      this.refreshPolicy.setLastLoadedAtMs(data.loadedAtMs, {
+        incomplete: isUsageIncomplete(data.providerUsageSummary),
+        connection: this.connectionEpoch,
+      }) === "exhausted";
     this.usageError = data.error;
   }
 
@@ -339,6 +361,7 @@ class UsagePage extends OpenClawLightDomElement {
     this.usageResult = null;
     this.usageCostSummary = null;
     this.providerUsageSummary = null;
+    this.providerUsageStalled = false;
     this.refreshPolicy.resetPayload();
     this.usageError = null;
     this.usageAgentId = this.context.agentSelection.state.scopeId;
@@ -448,8 +471,11 @@ class UsagePage extends OpenClawLightDomElement {
       return;
     }
     void this.context.agents.ensureList();
-    if (this.routeDataInitialized && (change.identityChanged || change.becameConnected)) {
-      this.refreshPolicy.request("reconnect");
+    if (change.identityChanged || change.becameConnected) {
+      this.connectionEpoch = {};
+      if (this.routeDataInitialized) {
+        this.refreshPolicy.request("reconnect");
+      }
     }
   }
 
@@ -502,6 +528,7 @@ class UsagePage extends OpenClawLightDomElement {
           this.usageCostSummary?.cacheStatus,
         ),
         providerUsage: this.providerUsageSummary?.providers ?? [],
+        providerUsageStalled: this.providerUsageStalled,
       },
       filters: {
         startDate: this.usageStartDate,
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/usage/view.test.ts b/ui/src/pages/usage/view.test.ts
index 588e07918b51..77ff5a9ca4b2 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/usage/view.test.ts
+++ b/ui/src/pages/usage/view.test.ts
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ function createUsageProps(overrides: Partial<UsageProps> = {}): UsageProps {
       costDaily: [],
       cacheStatus: undefined,
       providerUsage: [],
+      providerUsageStalled: false,
     },
     filters: {
       startDate: "2026-05-14",
@@ -367,6 +368,28 @@ describe("renderUsage", () => {
     expect(onQueryDraftChange).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringContaining("provider:clear"));
   });
 
+  it("reports a stalled provider refresh instead of hiding the section", () => {
+    const container = document.createElement("div");
+
+    render(
+      renderUsage(
+        createUsageProps({
+          data: {
+            ...createUsageProps().data,
+            providerUsage: [],
+            providerUsageStalled: true,
+          },
+        }),
+      ),
+      container,
+    );
+
+    const callout = container.querySelector(".usage-callout");
+    expect(callout?.textContent?.trim()).toBe(
+      "Provider usage did not finish loading. Refresh to retry.",
+    );
+  });
+
   it("renders provider plans, quotas, and billing independently of session usage", () => {
     const container = document.createElement("div");
 
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/usage/view.ts b/ui/src/pages/usage/view.ts
index 738e39986d80..a8565a2aeebf 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/usage/view.ts
+++ b/ui/src/pages/usage/view.ts
@@ -143,7 +143,14 @@ function renderUsageEmptyState(onRefresh: () => void) {
 
 type ProviderUsageSnapshot = ProviderUsageSummary["providers"][number];
 
-function renderProviderUsage(providers: ProviderUsageSnapshot[]) {
+function renderProviderUsage(providers: ProviderUsageSnapshot[], stalled: boolean) {
+  if (stalled) {
+    // The stalled notice replaces the section: an empty grid under the normal
+    // header reads as "this operator has no providers", which is the lie.
+    return html`
+      <div class="callout warning usage-callout">${t("usage.providerUsage.stalled")}</div>
+    `;
+  }
   if (providers.length === 0) {
     return nothing;
   }
@@ -798,7 +805,7 @@ export function renderUsage(props: UsageProps) {
           </div>
         </section>
 
-        ${renderProviderUsage(data.providerUsage)}
+        ${renderProviderUsage(data.providerUsage, data.providerUsageStalled)}
         ${isEmpty
           ? renderUsageEmptyState(filterActions.onRefresh)
           : html`