diff --git a/desktop/src/features/home/ui/HomeLoadingState.tsx b/desktop/src/features/home/ui/HomeLoadingState.tsx
index 24977c7cb5..4d289e5944 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/home/ui/HomeLoadingState.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/home/ui/HomeLoadingState.tsx
@@ -1,8 +1,15 @@
+import type { Ref } from "react";
 import { Skeleton } from "@/shared/ui/skeleton";
+import { Spinner } from "@/shared/ui/spinner";
+import { LoadingInboxComposer } from "@/features/home/ui/LoadingInboxComposer";
 
-export function HomeLoadingState() {
+export function HomeLoadingState({
+  containerRef,
+}: {
+  containerRef?: Ref<HTMLDivElement>;
+}) {
   return (
-    <div className="min-h-0 flex-1 overflow-hidden">
+    <div className="min-h-0 flex-1 overflow-hidden" ref={containerRef}>
       <div className="grid h-full min-h-0 w-full lg:grid-cols-[320px_minmax(0,1fr)]">
         <div className="relative overflow-hidden bg-background/60 after:absolute after:bottom-0 after:right-0 after:top-10 after:w-px after:bg-border/70 after:content-['']">
           <div className="px-5 py-2">
@@ -100,11 +107,15 @@ export function HomeLoadingState() {
           <div className="pointer-events-none absolute inset-x-0 bottom-0 z-10">
             <div className="pointer-events-auto px-4 pb-4 sm:px-4">
               <div className="relative isolate rounded-2xl border border-border/50 bg-background/80 px-3 pb-2 pt-3 shadow-none backdrop-blur-md sm:px-4">
-                <Skeleton className="h-5 w-48" />
+                <LoadingInboxComposer />
                 <div className="mt-4 flex items-center gap-2">
                   <Skeleton className="h-8 w-8 rounded-lg" />
                   <Skeleton className="h-8 w-8 rounded-lg" />
-                  <Skeleton className="ml-auto h-8 w-20 rounded-full" />
+                  <Spinner
+                    aria-label="Loading Inbox"
+                    className="ml-auto h-5 w-5 border-2 text-muted-foreground"
+                    data-testid="home-loading-inbox-spinner"
+                  />
                 </div>
               </div>
             </div>
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/home/ui/HomeView.tsx b/desktop/src/features/home/ui/HomeView.tsx
index 4ffbbaddc5..51332d41f3 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/home/ui/HomeView.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/home/ui/HomeView.tsx
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import { resolveInboxFilterSelection } from "@/features/home/lib/inboxSelection"
 import { useHomeInboxReadState } from "@/features/home/useHomeInboxReadState";
 import { useHomeInboxAutoSelection } from "@/features/home/useHomeInboxAutoSelection";
 import { useHomeInboxContextMessages } from "@/features/home/useHomeInboxContextMessages";
+import { useInboxLoadingDraftHandoff } from "@/features/home/useInboxLoadingDraftHandoff";
 import { useHomePersonalInbox } from "@/features/home/useHomePersonalInbox";
 import { useInboxThreadContext } from "@/features/home/useInboxThreadContext";
 import {
@@ -456,6 +457,13 @@ export function HomeView({
     }
     return null;
   }, [filteredItems, selectedConversationId, selectedEventId]);
+  const isInboxDraftHandoffPending = useInboxLoadingDraftHandoff({
+    feedReady: Boolean(feed),
+    hasVisibleItems: filteredItems.length > 0,
+    isMessagesMode,
+    isNarrowViewport: isNarrowHomeViewport,
+    selectedItem,
+  });
   const deleteInboxMessage = React.useCallback(
     async (eventId: string) => {
       const channelId = selectedItem?.item.channelId;
@@ -573,8 +581,8 @@ export function HomeView({
     ],
   );
 
-  if (isLoading && !feed) {
-    return <HomeLoadingState />;
+  if ((isLoading && !feed) || isInboxDraftHandoffPending) {
+    return <HomeLoadingState containerRef={homeInboxRef} />;
   }
 
   if (!feed) {
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/home/ui/LoadingInboxComposer.tsx b/desktop/src/features/home/ui/LoadingInboxComposer.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..527b0191c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/desktop/src/features/home/ui/LoadingInboxComposer.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+import * as React from "react";
+
+import {
+  INBOX_LOADING_DRAFT_KEY,
+  loadDraftEntry,
+  persistDraftEntry,
+} from "@/features/messages/lib/useDrafts";
+
+const PLACEHOLDER = "Write a reply…";
+
+/** Draft-backed input shown while Inbox resolves the conversation to reply to. */
+export function LoadingInboxComposer() {
+  const initialDraftRef = React.useRef(loadDraftEntry(INBOX_LOADING_DRAFT_KEY));
+  const [content, setContent] = React.useState(
+    () => initialDraftRef.current?.content ?? "",
+  );
+
+  const persistContent = React.useCallback((nextContent: string) => {
+    const initialDraft = initialDraftRef.current;
+    persistDraftEntry(
+      INBOX_LOADING_DRAFT_KEY,
+      nextContent,
+      "",
+      initialDraft?.pendingImeta ?? [],
+      initialDraft?.spoileredAttachmentUrls ?? [],
+      initialDraft?.mentionRefs ?? [],
+    );
+  }, []);
+
+  return (
+    <textarea
+      aria-label={PLACEHOLDER}
+      className="block min-h-5 w-full resize-none overflow-hidden border-0 bg-transparent p-0 text-sm leading-5 text-foreground outline-hidden placeholder:text-muted-foreground"
+      data-testid="home-loading-inbox-composer"
+      onChange={(event) => {
+        const nextContent = event.currentTarget.value;
+        setContent(nextContent);
+        persistContent(nextContent);
+      }}
+      placeholder={PLACEHOLDER}
+      rows={1}
+      spellCheck="true"
+      value={content}
+    />
+  );
+}
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/home/useInboxLoadingDraftHandoff.ts b/desktop/src/features/home/useInboxLoadingDraftHandoff.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ed1058f716
--- /dev/null
+++ b/desktop/src/features/home/useInboxLoadingDraftHandoff.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+import * as React from "react";
+
+import type { InboxItem } from "@/features/home/lib/inbox";
+import {
+  handoffInboxLoadingDraft,
+  INBOX_LOADING_DRAFT_KEY,
+  loadDraftEntry,
+  useDraftsSnapshot,
+} from "@/features/messages/lib/useDrafts";
+
+type InboxLoadingDraftHandoffOptions = {
+  feedReady: boolean;
+  hasVisibleItems: boolean;
+  isMessagesMode: boolean;
+  isNarrowViewport: boolean;
+  selectedItem: InboxItem | null;
+};
+
+/** Moves the provisional loading draft once desktop Inbox resolves a target. */
+export function useInboxLoadingDraftHandoff({
+  feedReady,
+  hasVisibleItems,
+  isMessagesMode,
+  isNarrowViewport,
+  selectedItem,
+}: InboxLoadingDraftHandoffOptions): boolean {
+  useDraftsSnapshot();
+  const provisionalDraft = loadDraftEntry(INBOX_LOADING_DRAFT_KEY);
+  const channelId = selectedItem?.item.channelId ?? null;
+  const destinationKey = selectedItem
+    ? selectedItem.item.channelType === "dm"
+      ? (channelId ?? selectedItem.conversationId)
+      : `thread:${selectedItem.conversationId}`
+    : null;
+
+  React.useEffect(() => {
+    if (!feedReady || !provisionalDraft || !channelId || !destinationKey) {
+      return;
+    }
+    handoffInboxLoadingDraft(destinationKey, channelId);
+  }, [channelId, destinationKey, feedReady, provisionalDraft]);
+
+  return Boolean(
+    feedReady &&
+      provisionalDraft &&
+      isMessagesMode &&
+      (selectedItem || (!isNarrowViewport && hasVisibleItems)),
+  );
+}
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/messages/lib/useDrafts.test.mjs b/desktop/src/features/messages/lib/useDrafts.test.mjs
index e4741baa8b..eb28685511 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/messages/lib/useDrafts.test.mjs
+++ b/desktop/src/features/messages/lib/useDrafts.test.mjs
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@ import {
   getActiveDraftEntries,
   getAllDraftEntries,
   getSentDraftEntries,
+  handoffInboxLoadingDraft,
+  INBOX_LOADING_DRAFT_KEY,
   initDraftStore,
   loadDraftEntry,
   markDraftSentEntry,
@@ -334,6 +336,56 @@ test("getAllDraftEntries_returns_empty_array_when_no_drafts", () => {
   assert.deepEqual(getAllDraftEntries(), []);
 });
 
+test("Inbox loading draft stays internal and migrates to the resolved thread", () => {
+  setup("pubkey-inbox-loading");
+  persistDraftEntry(
+    INBOX_LOADING_DRAFT_KEY,
+    "Typed while Inbox loads",
+    "",
+    [],
+    [],
+  );
+
+  assert.deepEqual(getAllDraftEntries(), []);
+  assert.equal(
+    handoffInboxLoadingDraft("thread:root-1", "channel-1"),
+    "migrated",
+  );
+  assert.equal(loadDraftEntry(INBOX_LOADING_DRAFT_KEY), undefined);
+  const migrated = loadDraftEntry("thread:root-1");
+  assert.ok(migrated);
+  assert.equal(migrated.channelId, "channel-1");
+  assert.equal(migrated.content, "Typed while Inbox loads");
+});
+
+test("Inbox loading handoff merges with an existing local thread draft", () => {
+  setup("pubkey-inbox-loading-merge");
+  persistDraftEntry(
+    "thread:root-2",
+    "Existing local draft",
+    "channel-2",
+    [IMG_A],
+    [],
+  );
+  persistDraftEntry(
+    INBOX_LOADING_DRAFT_KEY,
+    "Typed during loading",
+    "",
+    [],
+    [],
+  );
+
+  assert.equal(
+    handoffInboxLoadingDraft("thread:root-2", "channel-2"),
+    "merged",
+  );
+  const merged = loadDraftEntry("thread:root-2");
+  assert.ok(merged);
+  assert.equal(merged.content, "Existing local draft\n\nTyped during loading");
+  assert.deepEqual(merged.pendingImeta, [IMG_A]);
+  assert.equal(loadDraftEntry(INBOX_LOADING_DRAFT_KEY), undefined);
+});
+
 // ── channelId correctness on key switch ──────────────────────────────────────
 // Regression: composer effect body was re-persisting prevKey with the incoming
 // channel's id, corrupting the outgoing draft's channelId metadata.
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/messages/lib/useDrafts.ts b/desktop/src/features/messages/lib/useDrafts.ts
index 2a78e88132..ebb9da15e9 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/messages/lib/useDrafts.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/features/messages/lib/useDrafts.ts
@@ -84,6 +84,9 @@ const DRAFT_STORE_KEY_PREFIX = "buzz-drafts.v2";
 const LEGACY_DRAFT_STORE_KEY_PREFIX = "buzz-drafts.v1";
 const MAX_DRAFTS = 100;
 
+/** Internal draft used while Inbox is still resolving its selected thread. */
+export const INBOX_LOADING_DRAFT_KEY = "__buzz-internal__:inbox-loading";
+
 /**
  * Canonicalize a relay URL for use as a storage key scope.
  * Unlike the shared `normalizeRelayUrl` (which lowercases the entire URL),
@@ -423,6 +426,79 @@ export function renameDraftEntry(
   return "migrated";
 }
 
+/**
+ * Move the provisional Inbox loading draft into a resolved conversation.
+ *
+ * The write is atomic so the full composer cannot mount between clearing the
+ * provisional key and saving the canonical key. If a canonical draft already
+ * exists, append the provisional text so neither local draft is lost.
+ */
+export function handoffInboxLoadingDraft(
+  destinationKey: string,
+  channelId: string,
+): "merged" | "migrated" | "noop" {
+  const map = readStore();
+  const provisional = map.get(INBOX_LOADING_DRAFT_KEY);
+  if (!provisional) return "noop";
+
+  const destination = map.get(destinationKey);
+  if (!destination) {
+    map.set(destinationKey, { ...provisional, channelId });
+    map.delete(INBOX_LOADING_DRAFT_KEY);
+    flushStore(map);
+    notifySubscribers();
+    return "migrated";
+  }
+
+  const provisionalContent = provisional.content.trim();
+  const destinationContent = destination.content.trim();
+  const content =
+    provisionalContent.length === 0 || provisionalContent === destinationContent
+      ? destination.content
+      : destinationContent.length === 0
+        ? provisional.content
+        : `${destination.content}\n\n${provisional.content}`;
+  const updatedAt =
+    provisional.updatedAt > destination.updatedAt
+      ? provisional.updatedAt
+      : destination.updatedAt;
+  const pendingImeta = [
+    ...destination.pendingImeta,
+    ...provisional.pendingImeta,
+  ];
+  const spoileredAttachmentUrls = [
+    ...new Set([
+      ...destination.spoileredAttachmentUrls,
+      ...provisional.spoileredAttachmentUrls,
+    ]),
+  ];
+  const mentionRefs = [
+    ...(destination.mentionRefs ?? []),
+    ...(provisional.mentionRefs ?? []).filter(
+      (candidate) =>
+        !(destination.mentionRefs ?? []).some(
+          (existing) => existing.pubkey === candidate.pubkey,
+        ),
+    ),
+  ];
+
+  map.set(destinationKey, {
+    ...destination,
+    channelId,
+    content,
+    selectionEnd: content.length,
+    selectionStart: content.length,
+    updatedAt,
+    pendingImeta,
+    mentionRefs,
+    spoileredAttachmentUrls,
+  });
+  map.delete(INBOX_LOADING_DRAFT_KEY);
+  flushStore(map);
+  notifySubscribers();
+  return "merged";
+}
+
 /**
  * Convenience: save if content or attachments are non-empty, otherwise clear.
  * Preserves existing createdAt on updates; sets it on first save.
@@ -466,6 +542,7 @@ export function getAllDraftEntries(): Array<{
   draft: DraftState;
 }> {
   return [...readStore().entries()]
+    .filter(([key]) => key !== INBOX_LOADING_DRAFT_KEY)
     .sort((a, b) => b[1].updatedAt.localeCompare(a[1].updatedAt))
     .map(([key, draft]) => ({ key, draft }));
 }
diff --git a/desktop/src/testing/e2eBridge.ts b/desktop/src/testing/e2eBridge.ts
index 46bda44ffb..d8d5bdbfa3 100644
--- a/desktop/src/testing/e2eBridge.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/testing/e2eBridge.ts
@@ -311,6 +311,7 @@ type E2eConfig = {
     channelsReadDelayMs?: number;
     /** Number of seeded rows in the deep-history fixture. Defaults to 600. */
     deepHistoryMessageCount?: number;
+    feedReadDelayMs?: number;
     feedReadError?: string;
     canvasReadError?: string;
     /** Delay (ms) for `apply_workspace` so e2e tests can observe the
@@ -7067,6 +7068,10 @@ async function handleGetFeed(
   },
   config: E2eConfig | undefined,
 ): Promise<RawHomeFeedResponse> {
+  const feedReadDelayMs = config?.mock?.feedReadDelayMs ?? 0;
+  if (feedReadDelayMs > 0) {
+    await new Promise((resolve) => window.setTimeout(resolve, feedReadDelayMs));
+  }
   const feedReadError = config?.mock?.feedReadError;
   if (feedReadError) {
     throw new Error(feedReadError);
diff --git a/desktop/tests/e2e/messaging.spec.ts b/desktop/tests/e2e/messaging.spec.ts
index adacdb6295..24e45d3b63 100644
--- a/desktop/tests/e2e/messaging.spec.ts
+++ b/desktop/tests/e2e/messaging.spec.ts
@@ -360,6 +360,29 @@ test("send a message and see it in timeline", async ({ page }) => {
   );
 });
 
+test("Inbox loading composer persists and hands off its draft", async ({
+  page,
+}) => {
+  const draft = `Inbox draft while loading ${Date.now()}`;
+  await installMockBridge(page, { feedReadDelayMs: 2_000 });
+
+  await page.goto("/");
+  const loadingInput = page.getByTestId("home-loading-inbox-composer");
+  await expect(page.getByTestId("home-loading-inbox-spinner")).toBeVisible();
+  await expect(loadingInput).toHaveAttribute("placeholder", "Write a reply…");
+  await expect(loadingInput).toBeEditable();
+  await loadingInput.fill(draft);
+  await expect(loadingInput).toHaveValue(draft);
+
+  await page.reload();
+  const restoredLoadingInput = page.getByTestId("home-loading-inbox-composer");
+  await expect(restoredLoadingInput).toHaveValue(draft);
+
+  const detail = page.getByTestId("home-inbox-detail");
+  await expect(detail.getByTestId("message-input")).toHaveText(draft);
+  await expect(restoredLoadingInput).toHaveCount(0);
+});
+
 test("long autolink wraps without widening the timeline", async ({ page }) => {
   await page.setViewportSize({ width: 800, height: 600 });
 
diff --git a/desktop/tests/helpers/bridge.ts b/desktop/tests/helpers/bridge.ts
index 50f792447c..7f979e86c7 100644
--- a/desktop/tests/helpers/bridge.ts
+++ b/desktop/tests/helpers/bridge.ts
@@ -269,6 +269,7 @@ type MockBridgeOptions = {
   joinChannelErrors?: string[];
   /** Number of seeded rows in the deep-history fixture. Defaults to 600. */
   deepHistoryMessageCount?: number;
+  feedReadDelayMs?: number;
   feedReadError?: string;
   canvasReadError?: string;
   /** Delay (ms) for `apply_workspace`; see e2eBridge mock config. */