diff --git a/src/main.ts b/src/main.ts
index 5ebf254..7ebaf6e 100644
--- a/src/main.ts
+++ b/src/main.ts
@@ -3694,6 +3694,108 @@ async function runAutoVodPoll(): Promise<number> {
     return queuedCount;
 }
 
+// ==========================================
+// LIVE STATUS BATCH POLLER — for the sidebar live indicators
+// ==========================================
+// Background poller that asks "which of these streamers are live right
+// now?" for every streamer in the user's list, in a single GQL roundtrip
+// (per chunk of 50). Results are stamped into liveStatusByLogin and
+// pushed to the renderer so the sidebar gets a red pulsing dot next to
+// anyone currently broadcasting. Independent from the auto-record
+// poller — that one only watches a small subset and needs title/game,
+// this one just needs the boolean and covers everyone.
+const liveStatusByLogin = new Map<string, boolean>();
+let liveStatusPollTimer: NodeJS.Timeout | null = null;
+let liveStatusPollInFlight = false;
+const LIVE_STATUS_POLL_INTERVAL_MS = 60_000;
+const LIVE_STATUS_BATCH_CHUNK_SIZE = 50;
+
+async function fetchLiveStatusBatch(logins: string[]): Promise<Map<string, boolean>> {
+    const result = new Map<string, boolean>();
+    if (logins.length === 0) return result;
+
+    for (let i = 0; i < logins.length; i += LIVE_STATUS_BATCH_CHUNK_SIZE) {
+        const chunk = logins.slice(i, i + LIVE_STATUS_BATCH_CHUNK_SIZE);
+        const vars: Record<string, string> = {};
+        const varDecls: string[] = [];
+        const aliases: string[] = [];
+        chunk.forEach((login, idx) => {
+            const varName = `l${idx}`;
+            vars[varName] = login;
+            varDecls.push(`$${varName}:String!`);
+            aliases.push(`u${idx}:user(login:$${varName}){login stream{type}}`);
+        });
+        const query = `query(${varDecls.join(',')}){${aliases.join(' ')}}`;
+        try {
+            const data = await fetchPublicTwitchGql<Record<string, { login: string; stream: { type: string } | null } | null>>(
+                query, vars
+            );
+            if (!data) continue;
+            for (const key of Object.keys(data)) {
+                const user = data[key];
+                if (!user || !user.login) continue;
+                result.set(normalizeLogin(user.login), user.stream?.type === 'live');
+            }
+        } catch (e) {
+            appendDebugLog('live-status-batch-failed', { chunkStart: i, error: String(e) });
+        }
+    }
+    return result;
+}
+
+async function runLiveStatusBatchPoll(): Promise<void> {
+    if (liveStatusPollInFlight) return;
+    liveStatusPollInFlight = true;
+    try {
+        const logins = ((config.streamers as string[]) || [])
+            .map((s) => normalizeLogin(s))
+            .filter((s): s is string => Boolean(s));
+        if (logins.length === 0) return;
+
+        const fresh = await fetchLiveStatusBatch(logins);
+        const changes: Array<{ login: string; isLive: boolean }> = [];
+        const seen = new Set(fresh.keys());
+        for (const [login, isLive] of fresh.entries()) {
+            const prev = liveStatusByLogin.get(login);
+            if (prev !== isLive) changes.push({ login, isLive });
+            liveStatusByLogin.set(login, isLive);
+        }
+        // Streamers that vanished from the watch list (or that GQL didn't
+        // return for) get evicted so a removed streamer doesn't leave a
+        // ghost-live dot behind.
+        for (const oldLogin of Array.from(liveStatusByLogin.keys())) {
+            if (!seen.has(oldLogin)) {
+                liveStatusByLogin.delete(oldLogin);
+                changes.push({ login: oldLogin, isLive: false });
+            }
+        }
+
+        if (mainWindow) {
+            const snapshot: Record<string, boolean> = {};
+            for (const [k, v] of liveStatusByLogin.entries()) snapshot[k] = v;
+            mainWindow.webContents.send('live-status-batch-update', { changes, snapshot });
+        }
+    } catch (e) {
+        appendDebugLog('live-status-poll-failed', String(e));
+    } finally {
+        liveStatusPollInFlight = false;
+    }
+}
+
+function stopLiveStatusPoller(): void {
+    if (liveStatusPollTimer) {
+        clearInterval(liveStatusPollTimer);
+        liveStatusPollTimer = null;
+    }
+}
+
+function restartLiveStatusPoller(): void {
+    stopLiveStatusPoller();
+    liveStatusPollTimer = setInterval(() => { void runLiveStatusBatchPoll(); }, LIVE_STATUS_POLL_INTERVAL_MS);
+    liveStatusPollTimer.unref?.();
+    setTimeout(() => { void runLiveStatusBatchPoll(); }, 1500);
+}
+
 // ==========================================
 // CHAT REPLAY DOWNLOAD
 // ==========================================
@@ -6408,6 +6510,7 @@ ipcMain.handle('save-config', (_, newConfig: Partial<Config>) => {
     const previousAutoRecordSeconds = config.auto_record_poll_seconds;
     const previousAutoVodList = JSON.stringify(config.auto_vod_download_streamers || []);
     const previousAutoVodMinutes = config.auto_vod_download_poll_minutes;
+    const previousStreamerList = JSON.stringify(config.streamers || []);
 
     config = normalizeConfigTemplates({ ...config, ...newConfig });
 
@@ -6457,6 +6560,14 @@ ipcMain.handle('save-config', (_, newConfig: Partial<Config>) => {
         restartAutoVodPoller();
     }
 
+    // Live-status batch poller — fire an immediate refresh when the
+    // streamer list itself changes (added/removed) so the sidebar dots
+    // update instantly instead of waiting for the next 60s tick.
+    const newStreamerList = JSON.stringify(config.streamers || []);
+    if (newStreamerList !== previousStreamerList) {
+        restartLiveStatusPoller();
+    }
+
     // Restart cleanup timer when the toggle flips; harmless to call when
     // unchanged because restartAutoCleanupTimer just resets the interval.
     restartAutoCleanupTimer();
@@ -6980,6 +7091,12 @@ ipcMain.handle('get-vod-storyboard', async (_, vodId: string): Promise<VodStoryb
     return await getVodStoryboard(vodId);
 });
 
+ipcMain.handle('get-live-status-snapshot', (): Record<string, boolean> => {
+    const snap: Record<string, boolean> = {};
+    for (const [k, v] of liveStatusByLogin.entries()) snap[k] = v;
+    return snap;
+});
+
 ipcMain.handle('search-archive', (_, filter: Partial<ArchiveSearchFilter>): ArchiveSearchResult => {
     const normalized: ArchiveSearchFilter = {
         query: typeof filter?.query === 'string' ? filter.query.trim() : '',
@@ -7250,6 +7367,7 @@ app.whenReady().then(() => {
     startDebugLogFlushTimer();
     restartAutoRecordPoller();
     restartAutoVodPoller();
+    restartLiveStatusPoller();
     restartAutoCleanupTimer();
     createWindow();
     appendDebugLog('startup-tools-check-skipped', 'Deferred to first use');
@@ -7279,6 +7397,7 @@ function shutdownCleanup(reason: 'window-all-closed' | 'before-quit'): void {
     stopAutoUpdatePolling();
     stopAutoRecordPoller();
     stopAutoVodPoller();
+    stopLiveStatusPoller();
     stopAutoCleanupTimer();
 
     // Kill all active children: queue downloads, standalone clip downloads,
diff --git a/src/preload.ts b/src/preload.ts
index be4131a..1d28b59 100644
--- a/src/preload.ts
+++ b/src/preload.ts
@@ -93,6 +93,10 @@ contextBridge.exposeInMainWorld('api', {
     getArchiveStats: () => ipcRenderer.invoke('get-archive-stats'),
     getStreamerProfile: (login: string, forceRefresh?: boolean) => ipcRenderer.invoke('get-streamer-profile', login, forceRefresh),
     getVodStoryboard: (vodId: string) => ipcRenderer.invoke('get-vod-storyboard', vodId),
+    getLiveStatusSnapshot: () => ipcRenderer.invoke('get-live-status-snapshot'),
+    onLiveStatusBatchUpdate: (callback: (info: { changes: Array<{ login: string; isLive: boolean }>; snapshot: Record<string, boolean> }) => void) => {
+        ipcRenderer.on('live-status-batch-update', (_, info) => callback(info));
+    },
     searchArchive: (filter: Record<string, unknown>) => ipcRenderer.invoke('search-archive', filter),
     runStorageCleanup: (options?: { dryRun?: boolean }) => ipcRenderer.invoke('run-storage-cleanup', options),
     readChatFile: (filePath: string) => ipcRenderer.invoke('read-chat-file', filePath),
diff --git a/src/renderer-globals.d.ts b/src/renderer-globals.d.ts
index 07164e8..d412943 100644
--- a/src/renderer-globals.d.ts
+++ b/src/renderer-globals.d.ts
@@ -346,6 +346,8 @@ interface ApiBridge {
     getArchiveStats(): Promise<ArchiveStats>;
     getStreamerProfile(login: string, forceRefresh?: boolean): Promise<StreamerProfile | null>;
     getVodStoryboard(vodId: string): Promise<VodStoryboard | null>;
+    getLiveStatusSnapshot(): Promise<Record<string, boolean>>;
+    onLiveStatusBatchUpdate(callback: (info: { changes: Array<{ login: string; isLive: boolean }>; snapshot: Record<string, boolean> }) => void): void;
     searchArchive(filter: {
         query?: string;
         type?: 'all' | 'live' | 'vod' | 'chat' | 'events';
diff --git a/src/renderer-locale-de.ts b/src/renderer-locale-de.ts
index 96cdf16..f9bbc5c 100644
--- a/src/renderer-locale-de.ts
+++ b/src/renderer-locale-de.ts
@@ -350,7 +350,8 @@ const UI_TEXT_DE = {
         autoVodScanQueued: '{count} neue VOD(s) automatisch eingereiht.',
         autoVodScanEmpty: 'Keine neuen VODs gefunden.',
         autoRecordScanTriggered: 'Manueller Scan: {count} Live-Aufnahme(n) gestartet.',
-        autoRecordScanEmpty: 'Manueller Scan: kein Streamer ist gerade live.'
+        autoRecordScanEmpty: 'Manueller Scan: kein Streamer ist gerade live.',
+        liveNowTooltip: 'Aktuell live auf Twitch'
     },
     vods: {
         noneTitle: 'Keine VODs',
diff --git a/src/renderer-locale-en.ts b/src/renderer-locale-en.ts
index 80fdaa6..34d3643 100644
--- a/src/renderer-locale-en.ts
+++ b/src/renderer-locale-en.ts
@@ -350,7 +350,8 @@ const UI_TEXT_EN = {
         autoVodScanQueued: '{count} new VOD(s) auto-queued.',
         autoVodScanEmpty: 'No new VODs found.',
         autoRecordScanTriggered: 'Manual scan: {count} live recording(s) started.',
-        autoRecordScanEmpty: 'Manual scan: no streamers currently live.'
+        autoRecordScanEmpty: 'Manual scan: no streamers currently live.',
+        liveNowTooltip: 'Currently live on Twitch'
     },
     vods: {
         noneTitle: 'No VODs',
diff --git a/src/renderer-streamers.ts b/src/renderer-streamers.ts
index e952583..6b76c4a 100644
--- a/src/renderer-streamers.ts
+++ b/src/renderer-streamers.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,36 @@ let selectStreamerRequestId = 0;
 let vodRenderTaskId = 0;
 const VOD_RENDER_CHUNK_SIZE = 64;
 
+// Live status snapshot — updated by the main process via the
+// 'live-status-batch-update' IPC event. Keys are lowercase logins so
+// the lookup is case-insensitive regardless of how the streamer's
+// name was added (display-cased vs login-cased).
+const liveStatusByLogin = new Map<string, boolean>();
+
+async function initLiveStatusSubscription(): Promise<void> {
+    try {
+        const initial = await window.api.getLiveStatusSnapshot();
+        for (const [k, v] of Object.entries(initial)) {
+            liveStatusByLogin.set(k.toLowerCase(), v === true);
+        }
+        renderStreamers();
+    } catch (_) { /* poller may not have fired yet — silent */ }
+
+    window.api.onLiveStatusBatchUpdate(({ changes }) => {
+        let touched = false;
+        for (const change of changes) {
+            const key = change.login.toLowerCase();
+            const prev = liveStatusByLogin.get(key);
+            if (prev !== change.isLive) {
+                liveStatusByLogin.set(key, change.isLive);
+                touched = true;
+            }
+        }
+        if (touched) renderStreamers();
+    });
+}
+(window as unknown as { initLiveStatusSubscription: typeof initLiveStatusSubscription }).initLiveStatusSubscription = initLiveStatusSubscription;
+
 // VOD filter state — persists across renderer reloads via localStorage so the
 // user's search query survives an app restart. Cleared explicitly via Esc /
 // the clear button. Shared across streamers (acts like a search bar).
@@ -404,7 +434,20 @@ function renderStreamers(): void {
         item.setAttribute('draggable', 'true');
         item.dataset.streamerName = streamer;
 
+        // Live-dot — red pulsing dot when this streamer is currently
+        // broadcasting on Twitch. Populated from the live-status batch
+        // poller's snapshot. Renders before the name so the streamer
+        // identity stays primary visually.
+        const isLive = liveStatusByLogin.get(streamer.toLowerCase()) === true;
+        if (isLive) {
+            const dot = document.createElement('span');
+            dot.className = 'streamer-live-dot';
+            dot.title = UI_TEXT.streamers.liveNowTooltip || 'Live now';
+            item.appendChild(dot);
+        }
+
         const nameSpan = document.createElement('span');
+        nameSpan.className = 'streamer-name' + (isLive ? ' is-live' : '');
         nameSpan.textContent = streamer;
 
         // AUTO toggle — when enabled, the main-process auto-record poller
diff --git a/src/renderer.ts b/src/renderer.ts
index 767672b..5ab3438 100644
--- a/src/renderer.ts
+++ b/src/renderer.ts
@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@ async function init(): Promise<void> {
     changeTheme(config.theme ?? 'twitch');
     renderStreamers();
     renderQueue();
+
+    // Kick off live-status subscription so the sidebar dots populate.
+    const liveStatusInit = (window as unknown as { initLiveStatusSubscription?: () => Promise<void> }).initLiveStatusSubscription;
+    if (typeof liveStatusInit === 'function') void liveStatusInit();
     initQueueDragDrop();
     updateDownloadButtonState();
     updateStatusBarQueueSummary();
diff --git a/src/styles.css b/src/styles.css
index 8ca9172..ced23b9 100644
--- a/src/styles.css
+++ b/src/styles.css
@@ -142,6 +142,30 @@ body {
     opacity: 1;
 }
 
+/* Live-dot — red pulsing indicator shown next to a streamer's name in
+   the sidebar when they are currently broadcasting on Twitch. */
+.streamer-live-dot {
+    display: inline-block;
+    width: 8px;
+    height: 8px;
+    border-radius: 50%;
+    background: #e91916;
+    flex-shrink: 0;
+    animation: streamer-live-pulse 1.6s ease-in-out infinite;
+    box-shadow: 0 0 0 0 rgba(233, 25, 22, 0.55);
+}
+
+@keyframes streamer-live-pulse {
+    0%   { box-shadow: 0 0 0 0   rgba(233, 25, 22, 0.55); }
+    70%  { box-shadow: 0 0 0 6px rgba(233, 25, 22, 0); }
+    100% { box-shadow: 0 0 0 0   rgba(233, 25, 22, 0); }
+}
+
+.streamer-name.is-live {
+    color: var(--text);
+    font-weight: 600;
+}
+
 .add-streamer {
     padding: 10px;
     display: flex;
@@ -578,14 +602,16 @@ body {
     background: var(--bg-card);
     border-radius: 8px;
     overflow: hidden;
-    transition: transform 0.2s, box-shadow 0.2s;
+    transition: transform 0.22s ease-out, box-shadow 0.22s ease-out, border-color 0.22s;
     cursor: pointer;
     position: relative;
+    border: 1px solid transparent;
 }
 
 .vod-card:hover {
     transform: translateY(-4px);
-    box-shadow: 0 8px 25px rgba(0,0,0,0.3);
+    box-shadow: 0 12px 30px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.45), 0 0 0 1px rgba(145, 70, 255, 0.35);
+    border-color: rgba(145, 70, 255, 0.35);
 }
 
 .vod-card.selected {
@@ -1156,15 +1182,30 @@ body {
 }
 
 .empty-state svg {
-    width: 64px;
-    height: 64px;
-    margin-bottom: 15px;
-    opacity: 0.5;
+    width: 80px;
+    height: 80px;
+    margin-bottom: 18px;
+    opacity: 0.45;
+    color: var(--accent);
+    animation: empty-state-float 4s ease-in-out infinite;
+}
+
+@keyframes empty-state-float {
+    0%, 100% { transform: translateY(0); }
+    50%      { transform: translateY(-6px); }
 }
 
 .empty-state h3 {
-    margin-bottom: 8px;
+    margin-bottom: 10px;
     color: var(--text);
+    font-size: 18px;
+    font-weight: 600;
+}
+
+.empty-state p {
+    max-width: 380px;
+    line-height: 1.5;
+    font-size: 13px;
 }
 
 /* Status Bar */