diff --git a/apps/mobile/src/features/settings/SettingsEnvironmentDetailRouteScreen.tsx b/apps/mobile/src/features/settings/SettingsEnvironmentDetailRouteScreen.tsx
index 13c9619768f4e..9b830d7e45f52 100644
--- a/apps/mobile/src/features/settings/SettingsEnvironmentDetailRouteScreen.tsx
+++ b/apps/mobile/src/features/settings/SettingsEnvironmentDetailRouteScreen.tsx
@@ -343,9 +343,11 @@ function EnvironmentDetail({ environmentId }: { readonly environmentId: Environm
                             </Text>
                           </View>
                           <Text className="text-sm text-foreground-muted">
-                            {provider.installed
-                              ? (provider.version ?? "Version unknown")
-                              : "Not installed"}
+                            {provider.status === "checking"
+                              ? "Checking provider status"
+                              : provider.installed
+                                ? (provider.version ?? "Version unknown")
+                                : "Not installed"}
                             {provider.versionAdvisory?.latestVersion
                               ? ` · Latest ${provider.versionAdvisory.latestVersion}`
                               : ""}
diff --git a/apps/mobile/src/features/settings/SettingsProviderAccountsRouteScreen.tsx b/apps/mobile/src/features/settings/SettingsProviderAccountsRouteScreen.tsx
index a3b698dd9aff8..4af971d54728b 100644
--- a/apps/mobile/src/features/settings/SettingsProviderAccountsRouteScreen.tsx
+++ b/apps/mobile/src/features/settings/SettingsProviderAccountsRouteScreen.tsx
@@ -248,17 +248,19 @@ function ProviderAccount({
       ? state.message
       : !provider.enabled
         ? "Turned off"
-        : signedIn
-          ? "Signed in"
-          : isDiscovering
-            ? "Discovering sign-in methods…"
-            : needsExternalSetup
-              ? "No in-app sign-in advertised. Follow the provider's docs to finish setup."
-              : !provider.installed
-                ? "Not installed"
-                : usesCredentials
-                  ? "Connect to load models"
-                  : "Not signed in";
+        : provider.status === "checking"
+          ? "Checking provider status"
+          : signedIn
+            ? "Signed in"
+            : isDiscovering
+              ? "Discovering sign-in methods…"
+              : needsExternalSetup
+                ? "No in-app sign-in advertised. Follow the provider's docs to finish setup."
+                : !provider.installed
+                  ? "Not installed"
+                  : usesCredentials
+                    ? "Connect to load models"
+                    : "Not signed in";
   // A provider with several sign-in methods picks one from a menu on the same control.
   const methodActions: MenuAction[] = methods.map((method) => ({
     id: `method:${method.id}`,
diff --git a/apps/server/src/provider/ClaudeProvider.ts b/apps/server/src/provider/ClaudeProvider.ts
index 72221ff3187b4..f5cc389fcc9eb 100644
--- a/apps/server/src/provider/ClaudeProvider.ts
+++ b/apps/server/src/provider/ClaudeProvider.ts
@@ -790,7 +790,7 @@ export const makePendingClaudeProvider = Effect.fn("ClaudeProvider.makePendingCl
       probe: {
         installed: false,
         version: null,
-        status: "warning",
+        status: "checking",
         auth: { status: "unknown" },
         message: "Claude provider status has not been checked in this session yet.",
       },
diff --git a/apps/server/src/provider/CodexProvider.ts b/apps/server/src/provider/CodexProvider.ts
index 2e56eede84cd6..7db5cacce8fbc 100644
--- a/apps/server/src/provider/CodexProvider.ts
+++ b/apps/server/src/provider/CodexProvider.ts
@@ -694,7 +694,7 @@ const makePendingCodexProvider = Effect.fn("CodexProvider.makePendingCodexProvid
     probe: {
       installed: false,
       version: null,
-      status: "warning",
+      status: "checking",
       auth: { status: "unknown" },
       message: "Codex provider status has not been checked in this session yet.",
     },
diff --git a/apps/server/src/provider/Drivers/CodexDriver.test.ts b/apps/server/src/provider/Drivers/CodexDriver.test.ts
index 868dc9c0af03b..292750a49bb84 100644
--- a/apps/server/src/provider/Drivers/CodexDriver.test.ts
+++ b/apps/server/src/provider/Drivers/CodexDriver.test.ts
@@ -292,6 +292,7 @@ it.layer(layerTest)("CodexDriver", (it) => {
         yield* instance.auth!.logout(Effect.void);
         const after = Option.getOrThrow(yield* Fiber.join(disconnected));
         expect(after.auth.status).toBe("unauthenticated");
+        expect(after.status).toBe("warning");
         expect(after.auth.email).toBeUndefined();
         expect(after.installed).toBe(true);
         expect(after.models).toEqual([]);
diff --git a/apps/server/src/provider/Drivers/CodexManagedProvider.ts b/apps/server/src/provider/Drivers/CodexManagedProvider.ts
index ab5e7add556a9..ea95c86a17264 100644
--- a/apps/server/src/provider/Drivers/CodexManagedProvider.ts
+++ b/apps/server/src/provider/Drivers/CodexManagedProvider.ts
@@ -73,10 +73,11 @@ export const makeManagedCodexProvider = Effect.fn("makeManagedCodexProvider")(fu
   const check = Effect.gen(function* () {
     const base = yield* pending;
     if (!enabled) return base;
+    const checkedBase = { ...base, status: "warning" as const };
     const executable = yield* runtime.installation.resolve().pipe(Effect.option);
     if (Option.isNone(executable))
       return {
-        ...base,
+        ...checkedBase,
         installed: false,
         models: [],
         message: "Set up Codex to get started.",
@@ -85,7 +86,7 @@ export const makeManagedCodexProvider = Effect.fn("makeManagedCodexProvider")(fu
     const saved = yield* runtime.auth.read.pipe(Effect.orElseSucceed(() => Option.none()));
     if (Option.isSome(saved) && !saved.value.scopes.includes("chatgpt.tokens.use.direct"))
       return {
-        ...base,
+        ...checkedBase,
         installed: true,
         version: executable.value.version,
         models: [],
@@ -99,7 +100,7 @@ export const makeManagedCodexProvider = Effect.fn("makeManagedCodexProvider")(fu
       };
     if (Option.isNone(saved))
       return {
-        ...base,
+        ...checkedBase,
         installed: true,
         version: executable.value.version,
         models: [],
@@ -183,7 +184,7 @@ export const makeManagedCodexProvider = Effect.fn("makeManagedCodexProvider")(fu
         runtime.auth.read.pipe(
           Effect.orElseSucceed(() => Option.none()),
           Effect.map((current) => ({
-            ...base,
+            ...checkedBase,
             installed: true,
             version: executable.value.version,
             models: [],
diff --git a/apps/server/src/provider/ProviderRegistry.test.ts b/apps/server/src/provider/ProviderRegistry.test.ts
index 5c53f76237b6a..f4e990b0e807b 100644
--- a/apps/server/src/provider/ProviderRegistry.test.ts
+++ b/apps/server/src/provider/ProviderRegistry.test.ts
@@ -1189,7 +1189,7 @@ it.layer(
       } satisfies ServerProvider;
       const pendingProvider = {
         ...cachedProvider,
-        status: "warning",
+        status: "checking",
         installed: false,
         auth: { status: "unknown" },
         models: [customModel],
@@ -2908,7 +2908,7 @@ it.layer(
 
           const pendingRebuild = yield* Stream.toPull(
             codexSnapshots.pipe(
-              Stream.filter((provider) => provider.status === "warning" && !provider.installed),
+              Stream.filter((provider) => provider.status === "checking" && !provider.installed),
             ),
           );
           yield* serverSettings.updateSettings({
diff --git a/apps/server/src/provider/ProviderRegistry.ts b/apps/server/src/provider/ProviderRegistry.ts
index a0ea5c78fbc61..35cb286f2c7bd 100644
--- a/apps/server/src/provider/ProviderRegistry.ts
+++ b/apps/server/src/provider/ProviderRegistry.ts
@@ -218,7 +218,9 @@ const shouldRetainMissingProviderModels = (provider: ServerProvider): boolean =>
   const isPendingAntigravityAuthentication =
     isAntigravity && provider.status === "warning" && provider.auth.status === "unknown";
   const isPendingInitialProbe =
-    provider.enabled && !provider.installed && provider.status === "warning";
+    provider.enabled &&
+    !provider.installed &&
+    (provider.status === "checking" || provider.status === "warning");
   const isIncompleteInstalledProbe =
     provider.installed &&
     (provider.status === "error" || (isCodex && provider.status === "warning"));
diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/chat/ProviderStatusBanner.test.ts b/apps/web/src/components/chat/ProviderStatusBanner.test.ts
index 9a2e8e7f65734..48c3a68f6c99f 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/chat/ProviderStatusBanner.test.ts
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/chat/ProviderStatusBanner.test.ts
@@ -26,7 +26,31 @@ const provider: ServerProvider = {
   },
 };
 
-describe("compatibility banners", () => {
+describe("provider status banners", () => {
+  it("keeps initial checks quiet without hiding completed probe failures", () => {
+    const { compatibilityAdvisory: _compatibilityAdvisory, ...base } = provider;
+    const checking: ServerProvider = {
+      ...base,
+      installed: false,
+      version: null,
+      status: "checking",
+      auth: { status: "unknown" },
+      message: "Codex provider status has not been checked in this session yet.",
+    };
+    expect(shouldShowProviderStatusBanner(checking, null)).toBe(false);
+    expect(shouldShowProviderStatusBanner({ ...checking, status: "warning" }, null)).toBe(true);
+    expect(shouldShowProviderStatusBanner({ ...checking, status: "error" }, null)).toBe(true);
+    expect(
+      shouldShowProviderStatusBanner(
+        {
+          ...checking,
+          compatibilityAdvisory: { ...provider.compatibilityAdvisory!, status: "broken" },
+        },
+        null,
+      ),
+    ).toBe(true);
+  });
+
   it("shows and dismisses a warning on a healthy provider, then clears it after policy relaxation", () => {
     expect(shouldShowProviderStatusBanner(provider, null)).toBe(true);
     expect(shouldShowProviderStatusBanner(provider, getProviderStatusBannerKey(provider))).toBe(
diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/chat/ProviderStatusBanner.tsx b/apps/web/src/components/chat/ProviderStatusBanner.tsx
index 64afa55ed0d78..f02f00581ed15 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/chat/ProviderStatusBanner.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/chat/ProviderStatusBanner.tsx
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ export function getProviderStatusBannerKey(status: ServerProvider | null): strin
       incompatible.message ?? "",
     ].join("\u0000");
   }
-  if (status.status === "ready") return null;
+  if (status.status === "ready" || status.status === "checking") return null;
   // Antigravity validates credentials at session start; unknown restart auth is not failure.
   if (
     status.driver === "antigravity" &&
diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/settings/providerStatus.test.ts b/apps/web/src/components/settings/providerStatus.test.ts
index bc4b9674b674f..18f1292f94a19 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/settings/providerStatus.test.ts
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/settings/providerStatus.test.ts
@@ -22,6 +22,19 @@ const provider: ServerProvider = {
 };
 
 describe("getProviderSummary", () => {
+  it("presents an initial check neutrally before installation is known", () => {
+    const checking: ServerProvider = {
+      ...provider,
+      installed: false,
+      status: "checking",
+      auth: { status: "unknown" },
+    };
+    expect(getProviderStatusKey(checking)).toBe("neutral");
+    expect(getProviderSummary(checking).headline).toBe("Checking provider status");
+    expect(getProviderSummary({ ...checking, status: "error" }).headline).toBe("Not found");
+    expect(getProviderSummary({ ...checking, enabled: false }).headline).toBe("Disabled");
+  });
+
   it("does not hide a provider error behind a previous authenticated state", () => {
     expect(
       getProviderSummary({
diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/settings/providerStatus.ts b/apps/web/src/components/settings/providerStatus.ts
index a4db548906549..04ac2f31521dd 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/settings/providerStatus.ts
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/settings/providerStatus.ts
@@ -40,12 +40,13 @@ function isAntigravitySignInUnchecked(provider: ServerProvider): boolean {
 
 export function getProviderStatusKey(provider: ServerProvider | undefined): ProviderStatusKey {
   if (provider && !provider.enabled) return "disabled";
+  if (provider?.status === "checking") return "neutral";
   if (provider && isAntigravitySignInUnchecked(provider)) return "neutral";
   return provider?.status ?? "warning";
 }
 
 export function getProviderSummary(provider: ServerProvider | undefined) {
-  if (!provider) {
+  if (!provider || (provider.enabled && provider.status === "checking")) {
     return {
       headline: "Checking provider status",
       detail: "Waiting for the server to report installation and authentication details.",
diff --git a/apps/web/src/onboarding/providerReadiness.logic.ts b/apps/web/src/onboarding/providerReadiness.logic.ts
index 43b0102d8816f..80011e96ff197 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/onboarding/providerReadiness.logic.ts
+++ b/apps/web/src/onboarding/providerReadiness.logic.ts
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ function quoteProviderBinary(
 export function getOnboardingProviderState(provider: ServerProvider | undefined) {
   if (provider === undefined) return "checking";
   if (!provider.enabled || provider.status === "disabled") return "disabled";
+  if (provider.status === "checking") return "checking";
   if (!provider.installed && provider.status === "warning" && provider.auth.status === "unknown")
     return "checking";
   if (!provider.installed) return "install";
diff --git a/packages/client-runtime/src/promptLinks.test.ts b/packages/client-runtime/src/promptLinks.test.ts
index 20e8b2b7df726..21dcaa78129ad 100644
--- a/packages/client-runtime/src/promptLinks.test.ts
+++ b/packages/client-runtime/src/promptLinks.test.ts
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ describe("resolvePromptLinkModelSelection", () => {
   const provider = (
     instanceId: string,
     driver: string,
-    status: "ready" | "warning" | "error" | "disabled" = "ready",
+    status: "checking" | "ready" | "warning" | "error" | "disabled" = "ready",
   ) => ({
     instanceId: ProviderInstanceId.make(instanceId),
     driver: ProviderDriverKind.make(driver),
@@ -168,5 +168,11 @@ describe("resolvePromptLinkModelSelection", () => {
     expect(
       resolvePromptLinkModelSelection(providers, { provider: "cursor", model: null }),
     ).toBeNull();
+    expect(
+      resolvePromptLinkModelSelection([provider("codex", "codex", "checking")], {
+        provider: "codex",
+        model: "small",
+      }),
+    ).toEqual({ selection: { instanceId: "codex", model: "small" }, exact: true });
   });
 });
diff --git a/packages/client-runtime/src/promptLinks.ts b/packages/client-runtime/src/promptLinks.ts
index edb13ce3f0243..8104a0a4018ac 100644
--- a/packages/client-runtime/src/promptLinks.ts
+++ b/packages/client-runtime/src/promptLinks.ts
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ export function resolvePromptLinkModelSelection(
   );
   const instance =
     usable.find((provider) => provider.status === "ready") ??
-    usable.find((provider) => provider.status === "warning");
+    usable.find((provider) => provider.status === "warning" || provider.status === "checking");
   if (instance === undefined) return null;
   const requested =
     request.model === null
diff --git a/packages/contracts/src/server.ts b/packages/contracts/src/server.ts
index 40a1aa8b2ca86..17df96855d525 100644
--- a/packages/contracts/src/server.ts
+++ b/packages/contracts/src/server.ts
@@ -50,7 +50,13 @@ export type ServerConfigIssue = typeof ServerConfigIssue.Type;
 
 const ServerConfigIssues = ForwardCompatibleArray(ServerConfigIssue);
 
-export const ServerProviderState = Schema.Literals(["ready", "warning", "error", "disabled"]);
+export const ServerProviderState = Schema.Literals([
+  "checking",
+  "ready",
+  "warning",
+  "error",
+  "disabled",
+]);
 export type ServerProviderState = typeof ServerProviderState.Type;
 
 export const ServerProviderAuthStatus = Schema.Literals([