diff --git a/static/css/app.css b/static/css/app.css
index bbf8d38..3eb712e 100644
--- a/static/css/app.css
+++ b/static/css/app.css
@@ -1486,6 +1486,20 @@ body.dnd-mode .timer-display {
   padding: 4px 0 8px;
 }
 
+.offline-banner {
+  position: fixed;
+  top: var(--nav-h);
+  left: 0;
+  right: 0;
+  background: var(--accent);
+  color: #fff;
+  text-align: center;
+  font-size: 12px;
+  padding: 4px 8px;
+  z-index: 250;
+  pointer-events: none;
+}
+
 .book-key-bar {
   display: flex;
   align-items: center;
diff --git a/static/js/app.js b/static/js/app.js
index 5068fff..48909d3 100644
--- a/static/js/app.js
+++ b/static/js/app.js
@@ -1039,6 +1039,25 @@ function editNotes(pk, current) {
 const TOP_TABS = ['radio', 'focus', 'podcasts', 'books'];
 const RADIO_SUB_TABS = ['search', 'saved', 'history'];
 
+function showOfflineBanner(offline) {
+  let banner = $('offline-banner');
+  if (offline) {
+    if (!banner) {
+      banner = document.createElement('div');
+      banner.id = 'offline-banner';
+      banner.className = 'offline-banner';
+      banner.textContent = 'Offline — nur gecachte Bücher verfügbar';
+      document.body.prepend(banner);
+    }
+    const uploadArea = $('book-upload-area');
+    if (uploadArea) uploadArea.style.display = 'none';
+  } else {
+    if (banner) banner.remove();
+    const uploadArea = $('book-upload-area');
+    if (uploadArea) uploadArea.style.display = '';
+  }
+}
+
 function showTab(name) {
   TOP_TABS.forEach(p => {
     const panel = $(`tab-${p}`);
@@ -3380,7 +3399,19 @@ async function openBook(bookId) {
     if (cached) {
       ({data_ct, data_iv} = cached);
     } else {
-      const res = await fetch(`/books/${bookId}/data/`);
+      let res;
+      try {
+        res = await fetch(`/books/${bookId}/data/`);
+      } catch {
+        // offline and book not cached yet
+        overlay.style.display = 'none';
+        const toast = document.createElement('div');
+        toast.className = 'reader-toast';
+        toast.textContent = 'Buch nicht offline verfügbar — einmal online öffnen zum Cachen.';
+        document.body.appendChild(toast);
+        setTimeout(() => toast.remove(), 3500);
+        return;
+      }
       ({data_ct, data_iv} = await res.json());
       _setCachedBook(bookId, data_ct, data_iv); // fire-and-forget
     }
@@ -5053,12 +5084,25 @@ function openRadioSidebar() {
   // Init book drop zone
   initBookDropZone();
 
-  // Restore last active tab
+  // Restore last active tab — when offline, always go to books (most useful)
   const savedTab = localStorage.getItem('diora_active_tab') || 'radio';
   const savedRadioTab = localStorage.getItem('diora_active_radio_tab') || 'saved';
-  showTab(savedTab);
+  showTab(!navigator.onLine && IS_AUTHENTICATED ? 'books' : savedTab);
   showRadioTab(savedRadioTab);
 
+  // React to connectivity changes
+  window.addEventListener('offline', () => {
+    showOfflineBanner(true);
+    if (IS_AUTHENTICATED) showTab('books');
+  });
+  window.addEventListener('online', () => {
+    showOfflineBanner(false);
+    loadBookList(); // sync any queued changes
+  });
+
+  // Show banner immediately if already offline at startup
+  if (!navigator.onLine) showOfflineBanner(true);
+
   // Hourly background feed refresh (only when authenticated)
   if (IS_AUTHENTICATED) {
     setInterval(refreshAllFeeds, 60 * 60 * 1000);