diff --git a/src/routes/settings/+page.svelte b/src/routes/settings/+page.svelte
index 658b872..4984ab9 100644
--- a/src/routes/settings/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/settings/+page.svelte
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 <script lang="ts">
 	import StatBadge from '$lib/components/StatBadge.svelte';
-	import { onMount } from 'svelte';
 
 	// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 	// Provider presets
@@ -49,38 +48,56 @@
 	let loading = $state(true);
 
 	// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-	// Load current config on mount
+	// Load current config + probe local provider on mount (Svelte 5 $effect)
 	// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-	onMount(async () => {
-		try {
-			const res = await fetch('/api/v1/settings/embedding');
-			if (res.ok) {
-				const data = await res.json();
-				provider = data.provider ?? 'none';
-				if (data.openai) {
-					baseUrl = data.openai.baseUrl ?? baseUrl;
-					model = data.openai.model ?? model;
-					dimensions = data.openai.dimensions ?? dimensions;
-					// apiKey is intentionally not returned by the server; leave blank
-				}
-			}
-		} catch {
-			// Non-fatal — fall back to defaults
-		} finally {
-			loading = false;
-		}
+	$effect(() => {
+		let cancelled = false;
 
-		// Probe whether the local provider is available
-		try {
-			const res = await fetch('/api/v1/settings/embedding/test', {
-				method: 'POST',
-				headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
-				body: JSON.stringify({ provider: 'local' })
-			});
-			localAvailable = res.ok;
-		} catch {
-			localAvailable = false;
+		(async () => {
+			try {
+				const res = await fetch('/api/v1/settings/embedding');
+				if (!cancelled && res.ok) {
+					const data = await res.json();
+					provider = data.provider ?? 'none';
+					if (data.openai) {
+						baseUrl = data.openai.baseUrl ?? baseUrl;
+						model = data.openai.model ?? model;
+						dimensions = data.openai.dimensions ?? dimensions;
+						// apiKey is intentionally not returned by the server; leave blank
+					}
+				}
+			} catch {
+				// Non-fatal — fall back to defaults
+			} finally {
+				if (!cancelled) loading = false;
+			}
+
+			// Probe whether the local provider is available
+			try {
+				const res = await fetch('/api/v1/settings/embedding/test', {
+					method: 'POST',
+					headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+					body: JSON.stringify({ provider: 'local' })
+				});
+				if (!cancelled) localAvailable = res.ok;
+			} catch {
+				if (!cancelled) localAvailable = false;
+			}
+		})();
+
+		return () => {
+			cancelled = true;
+		};
+	});
+
+	// Auto-dismiss save success banner after 3 seconds
+	$effect(() => {
+		if (saveStatus === 'ok') {
+			const timer = setTimeout(() => {
+				saveStatus = 'idle';
+			}, 3000);
+			return () => clearTimeout(timer);
 		}
 	});
 
@@ -292,14 +309,49 @@
 			</div>
 		{/if}
 
-		<!-- Save row -->
-		<div class="mt-6 flex items-center justify-end gap-3">
-			{#if saveStatus === 'ok'}
-				<span class="text-sm text-green-600">Settings saved.</span>
-			{:else if saveStatus === 'error'}
-				<span class="text-sm text-red-600">{saveError}</span>
-			{/if}
+		<!-- Save feedback banners -->
+		{#if saveStatus === 'ok'}
+			<div
+				class="mt-4 flex items-center gap-2 rounded-lg border border-green-200 bg-green-50 px-4 py-3 text-sm font-medium text-green-700"
+			>
+				<svg
+					xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
+					class="h-4 w-4 shrink-0"
+					viewBox="0 0 20 20"
+					fill="currentColor"
+					aria-hidden="true"
+				>
+					<path
+						fill-rule="evenodd"
+						d="M16.707 5.293a1 1 0 010 1.414l-8 8a1 1 0 01-1.414 0l-4-4a1 1 0 011.414-1.414L8 12.586l7.293-7.293a1 1 0 011.414 0z"
+						clip-rule="evenodd"
+					/>
+				</svg>
+				Settings saved successfully.
+			</div>
+		{:else if saveStatus === 'error'}
+			<div
+				class="mt-4 flex items-center gap-2 rounded-lg border border-red-200 bg-red-50 px-4 py-3 text-sm font-medium text-red-700"
+			>
+				<svg
+					xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
+					class="h-4 w-4 shrink-0"
+					viewBox="0 0 20 20"
+					fill="currentColor"
+					aria-hidden="true"
+				>
+					<path
+						fill-rule="evenodd"
+						d="M18 10a8 8 0 11-16 0 8 8 0 0116 0zm-7 4a1 1 0 11-2 0 1 1 0 012 0zm-1-9a1 1 0 00-1 1v4a1 1 0 102 0V6a1 1 0 00-1-1z"
+						clip-rule="evenodd"
+					/>
+				</svg>
+				{saveError}
+			</div>
+		{/if}
 
+		<!-- Save row -->
+		<div class="mt-4 flex items-center justify-end">
 			<button
 				onclick={save}
 				disabled={saving}