diff --git a/src/app.py b/src/app.py
index 02c2151..2c6218c 100644
--- a/src/app.py
+++ b/src/app.py
@@ -951,19 +951,45 @@ def setup_ground_skill_frame(self):
 
     def setup_splash(self, frame: QFrame):
         """
-        Creates Splash screen.
+        Creates Splash screen with progress bar and file counter.
+
+        Layout:
+          row 1 — loading image (centred)
+          row 2 — status label (phase text + ETA)
+          row 3 — progress bar (hidden until splash_progress() is called)
+          row 4 — file counter label (hidden until progress is reported)
+          rows 0 and 5 — vertical stretch spacers
         """
-        layout = GridLayout(margins=0, spacing=0)
+        from PySide6.QtWidgets import QProgressBar
+        layout = GridLayout(margins=0, spacing=4)
         layout.setRowStretch(0, 1)
-        layout.setRowStretch(3, 1)
+        layout.setRowStretch(5, 1)
         layout.setColumnStretch(0, 3)
         layout.setColumnStretch(1, 2)
         layout.setColumnStretch(2, 3)
+
         loading_image = ImageLabel(get_asset_path('sets_loading.png', self.app_dir), (1, 1))
         layout.addWidget(loading_image, 1, 1)
+
         loading_label = self.create_label('Loading: ...', 'label_subhead')
         self.widgets.loading_label = loading_label
         layout.addWidget(loading_label, 2, 0, 1, 3, alignment=AHCENTER)
+
+        progress_bar = QProgressBar()
+        progress_bar.setRange(0, 100)
+        progress_bar.setValue(0)
+        progress_bar.setTextVisible(True)
+        progress_bar.setFormat('%p%')
+        progress_bar.setFixedHeight(16)
+        progress_bar.hide()
+        self.widgets.progress_bar = progress_bar
+        layout.addWidget(progress_bar, 3, 0, 1, 3)
+
+        progress_detail = self.create_label('', 'label_subhead')
+        progress_detail.hide()
+        self.widgets.progress_detail = progress_detail
+        layout.addWidget(progress_detail, 4, 0, 1, 3, alignment=AHCENTER)
+
         frame.setLayout(layout)
 
     def create_context_menu(self) -> ContextMenu:
diff --git a/src/datafunctions.py b/src/datafunctions.py
index 1a7f0c0..75ed076 100644
--- a/src/datafunctions.py
+++ b/src/datafunctions.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
         download_images_fast, fetch_html, get_asset_path, get_cached_cargo_data, get_cargo_data,
         get_downloaded_icons, image, load_image, load_json, read_env_file, retrieve_image,
         store_json, store_to_cache)
-from .splash import enter_splash, exit_splash, splash_text
+from .splash import enter_splash, exit_splash, splash_progress, splash_text
 from .textedit import (
         create_equipment_tooltip, create_trait_tooltip, dewikify, parse_wikitext,
         sanitize_equipment_name)
diff --git a/src/splash.py b/src/splash.py
index 1cf087e..4e060aa 100644
--- a/src/splash.py
+++ b/src/splash.py
@@ -1,23 +1,167 @@
+"""
+Splash screen helpers.
+
+Progress and status text are updated via a QTimer polling a shared state dict —
+no Qt widget is ever touched from a worker thread.
+
+Layout of the splash screen (set up in app.py):
+  row 1 — loading image
+  row 2 — loading_label: phase text + ETA  e.g. "Downloading Icons (ETA: 12s)"
+  row 3 — progress_bar  (optional, hidden until progress is reported)
+  row 4 — progress_detail: file counter  e.g. "234 / 3 500"
+
+The progress_bar and progress_detail widgets are optional: if they are not
+present on self.widgets the helpers degrade gracefully to text-only updates.
+"""
+
+from time import monotonic
+from PySide6.QtCore import QTimer
+
+
+# Shared state written by worker thread (plain Python dict — GIL-safe)
+_state = {
+    'text': '',
+    'current': 0,
+    'total': 0,
+    'hidden': True,
+}
+
+# Timer that polls _state and updates widgets — runs only in MainThread
+_timer: QTimer | None = None
+
+# ETA tracking — reset each time total changes
+_eta = {
+    'start': 0.0,
+    'start_current': 0,
+    'last_total': 0,
+}
+
+
+def _format_eta(seconds: float) -> str:
+    s = int(seconds)
+    if s < 60:
+        return f'{s}s'
+    return f'{s // 60}m {s % 60:02d}s'
+
+
+def _start_poll_timer(self):
+    global _timer
+    if _timer is not None:
+        return
+    _timer = QTimer()
+    _timer.setInterval(50)
+    _timer.timeout.connect(lambda: _poll(self))
+    _timer.start()
+
+
+def _poll(self):
+    """Called every 50 ms in MainThread. Reads _state and updates widgets."""
+    text    = _state['text']
+    current = _state['current']
+    total   = _state['total']
+    hidden  = _state['hidden']
+
+    bar    = getattr(self.widgets, 'progress_bar', None)
+    detail = getattr(self.widgets, 'progress_detail', None)
+    lbl    = self.widgets.loading_label
+
+    if hidden or total <= 0:
+        if bar is not None and bar.isVisible():
+            bar.hide()
+        if detail is not None and detail.isVisible():
+            detail.hide()
+        if text and lbl.text() != text:
+            lbl.setText(text)
+        return
+
+    # ── total changed → reset ETA baseline ───────────────────────────────
+    if total != _eta['last_total']:
+        _eta['start'] = monotonic()
+        _eta['start_current'] = current
+        _eta['last_total'] = total
+
+    # ── compute ETA ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+    eta_str = ''
+    done = current - _eta['start_current']
+    remaining = total - current
+    elapsed = monotonic() - _eta['start']
+    if done > 0 and remaining > 0:
+        rate = done / elapsed
+        eta_str = f' (ETA: {_format_eta(remaining / rate)})'
+
+    label_text = f'{text}{eta_str}'
+    if lbl.text() != label_text:
+        lbl.setText(label_text)
+
+    if bar is not None:
+        bar.setRange(0, total)
+        bar.setValue(current)
+        if not bar.isVisible():
+            bar.show()
+
+    if detail is not None:
+        detail_text = f'{current:,} / {total:,}'
+        if detail.text() != detail_text:
+            detail.setText(detail_text)
+        if not detail.isVisible():
+            detail.show()
+
+
+# ── public API (MainThread) ───────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
 def enter_splash(self):
-    """
-    Shows splash screen
-    """
-    self.widgets.loading_label.setText('Loading: ...')
+    """Shows splash screen."""
+    _state['text'] = 'Loading...'
+    _state['hidden'] = True
+    _state['total'] = 0
+    _eta['last_total'] = 0
+
+    self.widgets.loading_label.setText('Loading...')
+    bar = getattr(self.widgets, 'progress_bar', None)
+    if bar is not None:
+        bar.hide()
+    detail = getattr(self.widgets, 'progress_detail', None)
+    if detail is not None:
+        detail.hide()
+
     self.widgets.splash_tabber.setCurrentIndex(1)
+    _start_poll_timer(self)
 
 
 def exit_splash(self):
-    """
-    Leaves splash screen
-    """
+    """Leaves splash screen."""
+    global _timer
+    if _timer is not None:
+        _timer.stop()
+        _timer = None
+
+    bar = getattr(self.widgets, 'progress_bar', None)
+    if bar is not None:
+        bar.hide()
+    detail = getattr(self.widgets, 'progress_detail', None)
+    if detail is not None:
+        detail.hide()
+
     self.widgets.splash_tabber.setCurrentIndex(0)
 
 
+# ── called from worker thread (write to _state only — no Qt calls) ───────────
+
 def splash_text(self, new_text: str):
-    """
-    Updates the label of the splash screen with new text
+    """Update status text. Safe to call from any thread."""
+    _state['text'] = new_text
 
-    Parameters:
-    - :param new_text: will be displayed on the splsh screen
+
+def splash_progress(self, current: int, total: int):
+    """
+    Update progress bar state. Safe to call from any thread.
+    Call with total=0 to hide the bar.
     """
-    self.widgets.loading_label.setText(new_text)
+    if total <= 0:
+        _state['hidden'] = True
+        _state['total'] = 0
+        _state['current'] = 0
+    else:
+        _state['hidden'] = False
+        _state['total'] = total
+        _state['current'] = current