diff --git a/Sources/Core/Devices/InstalledApps.swift b/Sources/Core/Devices/InstalledApps.swift
index 6261f3d..cb069a5 100644
--- a/Sources/Core/Devices/InstalledApps.swift
+++ b/Sources/Core/Devices/InstalledApps.swift
@@ -37,6 +37,12 @@ enum InstalledApps {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Last good list for a device, read synchronously, so UI can show it instantly
+    /// while `list(for:)` refreshes. Empty for non-iOS-device or no cache yet.
+    static func cached(for device: Device) -> [AppEntry] {
+        device.platform == .iosDevice ? IOSAppCache.load(device.id) : []
+    }
+
     // MARK: Android
 
     private static func android(adbURL: URL?, serial: String) async -> [AppEntry] {
@@ -63,23 +69,31 @@ enum InstalledApps {
 
     private static func iosDevice(udid: String) async -> [AppEntry] {
         guard AppleToolchain.hasFullXcode else { return IOSAppCache.load(udid) }
+        // devicectl's first call after a cold start often stalls while it warms the device
+        // tunnel, then a retry returns fast — so try twice before giving up. On any
+        // slow/empty/failed result, fall back to the last good list so the picker never
+        // blanks to "No apps found".
+        for attempt in 0..<2 {
+            if let fresh = await queryIOSApps(udid: udid), !fresh.isEmpty {
+                IOSAppCache.save(fresh, udid: udid)
+                return fresh
+            }
+            if attempt == 0 { try? await Task.sleep(for: .seconds(1)) }
+        }
+        return IOSAppCache.load(udid)
+    }
+
+    private static func queryIOSApps(udid: String) async -> [AppEntry]? {
         let tmp = FileManager.default.temporaryDirectory
             .appendingPathComponent("jaca-devicectl-apps-\(UUID().uuidString).json")
         defer { try? FileManager.default.removeItem(at: tmp) }
-        var fresh: [AppEntry] = []
-        if (try? await CommandRunner.run(
+        guard (try? await CommandRunner.run(
             AppleToolchain.xcrun,
             ["devicectl", "device", "info", "apps", "--device", udid, "--json-output", tmp.path],
             environment: AppleToolchain.environment(),
-            timeout: 25
-        )) != nil, let data = try? Data(contentsOf: tmp) {
-            fresh = IOSAppsParser.parse(data)
-        }
-        // devicectl is flaky (CoreDevice stalls): on a slow/empty/failed query, fall back to
-        // the last good list so the picker never blanks to "No apps found".
-        guard !fresh.isEmpty else { return IOSAppCache.load(udid) }
-        IOSAppCache.save(fresh, udid: udid)
-        return fresh
+            timeout: 20
+        )) != nil, let data = try? Data(contentsOf: tmp) else { return nil }
+        return IOSAppsParser.parse(data)
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/Sources/Features/LogView/LogSessionView.swift b/Sources/Features/LogView/LogSessionView.swift
index aa97385..d9595ad 100644
--- a/Sources/Features/LogView/LogSessionView.swift
+++ b/Sources/Features/LogView/LogSessionView.swift
@@ -314,7 +314,9 @@ private struct PackagePicker: View {
     @State private var query = ""
 
     var body: some View {
-        Button(action: { show = true; if !loaded { load() } }) {
+        // Re-fetch when we have nothing to show (first open, or a previous attempt came
+        // back empty) so a flaky devicectl gets another shot just by reopening.
+        Button(action: { show = true; if !loaded || apps.isEmpty { load() } }) {
             Image(systemName: "chevron.down")
                 .font(.system(size: 11, weight: .semibold))
                 .foregroundStyle(LemonadeTheme.colors.content.contentSecondary)
@@ -350,11 +352,16 @@ private struct PackagePicker: View {
                 ProgressView().padding(LemonadeTheme.spaces.spacing400)
                     .frame(maxWidth: .infinity)
             } else if apps.isEmpty {
-                LemonadeUi.Text("No apps found on this device.",
-                                textStyle: LemonadeTypography.shared.bodySmallRegular,
-                                color: LemonadeTheme.colors.content.contentTertiary)
-                    .padding(LemonadeTheme.spaces.spacing400)
-                    .frame(maxWidth: .infinity)
+                VStack(spacing: LemonadeTheme.spaces.spacing200) {
+                    LemonadeUi.Text("No apps found on this device.",
+                                    textStyle: LemonadeTypography.shared.bodySmallRegular,
+                                    color: LemonadeTheme.colors.content.contentTertiary)
+                    LemonadeUi.Button(label: "Retry", onClick: { load() },
+                                      variant: .neutral, type: .subtle, size: .small)
+                        .fixedSize()
+                }
+                .padding(LemonadeTheme.spaces.spacing400)
+                .frame(maxWidth: .infinity)
             } else {
                 ScrollView {
                     LazyVStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 0) {
@@ -400,12 +407,14 @@ private struct PackagePicker: View {
     }
 
     private func load() {
-        loading = true
+        // Show the last-known list instantly (iOS cache); only spin if we have nothing yet.
+        if apps.isEmpty { apps = session.cachedApps() }
+        loading = apps.isEmpty
         // @MainActor so the @State mutations below never happen off the main thread.
         Task { @MainActor in
             let result = await session.installedApps()
-            apps = result
-            loaded = true
+            if !result.isEmpty { apps = result }   // keep the cache shown if a refresh fails
+            loaded = !apps.isEmpty                  // stay un-loaded while empty so reopen retries
             loading = false
         }
     }
diff --git a/Sources/Model/LogSession.swift b/Sources/Model/LogSession.swift
index d3b9190..94e2599 100644
--- a/Sources/Model/LogSession.swift
+++ b/Sources/Model/LogSession.swift
@@ -572,6 +572,12 @@ final class LogSession: WorkspaceTab {
         await InstalledApps.list(for: device, adbURL: adbURL)
     }
 
+    /// Last good app list (synchronous), so the picker shows something instantly while
+    /// `installedApps()` refreshes — never a blank "No apps found" when we have a cache.
+    func cachedApps() -> [AppEntry] {
+        InstalledApps.cached(for: device)
+    }
+
     // MARK: - Export
 
     func exportText() -> String {