diff --git a/src/index.html b/src/index.html
index b017a0e..f1c85b7 100644
--- a/src/index.html
+++ b/src/index.html
@@ -493,6 +493,10 @@
                                 <input type="checkbox" id="persistQueueToggle" checked>
                                 <span id="persistQueueLabel">Queue zwischen App-Starts speichern</span>
                             </label>
+                            <label style="display:flex; align-items:center; gap:8px; margin-top: 8px;">
+                                <input type="checkbox" id="autoResumeQueueToggle">
+                                <span id="autoResumeQueueLabel">Queue beim Start automatisch fortsetzen</span>
+                            </label>
                         </div>
                         <div class="form-group">
                             <label id="metadataCacheMinutesLabel">Metadata-Cache (Minuten)</label>
diff --git a/src/main.ts b/src/main.ts
index 3a9ad54..15cadd6 100644
--- a/src/main.ts
+++ b/src/main.ts
@@ -203,6 +203,8 @@ interface Config {
     persist_queue_on_restart: boolean;
     metadata_cache_minutes: number;
     parallel_downloads: number;
+    auto_resume_queue_on_startup: boolean;
+    downloaded_vod_ids: string[];
 }
 
 interface RuntimeMetrics {
@@ -314,7 +316,9 @@ const defaultConfig: Config = {
     prevent_duplicate_downloads: true,
     persist_queue_on_restart: true,
     metadata_cache_minutes: DEFAULT_METADATA_CACHE_MINUTES,
-    parallel_downloads: 1
+    parallel_downloads: 1,
+    auto_resume_queue_on_startup: false,
+    downloaded_vod_ids: []
 };
 
 function normalizeFilenameTemplate(template: string | undefined, fallback: string): string {
@@ -340,6 +344,15 @@ function normalizePerformanceMode(mode: unknown): PerformanceMode {
 }
 
 function normalizeConfigTemplates(input: Config): Config {
+    // downloaded_vod_ids is bounded so a long-running app doesn't accumulate
+    // an unbounded list across years of downloads. Latest entries kept.
+    const DOWNLOADED_IDS_MAX = 4096;
+    const rawIds = Array.isArray(input.downloaded_vod_ids) ? input.downloaded_vod_ids : [];
+    const cleanIds = rawIds.filter((id): id is string => typeof id === 'string' && id.length > 0);
+    const trimmedIds = cleanIds.length > DOWNLOADED_IDS_MAX
+        ? cleanIds.slice(cleanIds.length - DOWNLOADED_IDS_MAX)
+        : cleanIds;
+
     return {
         ...input,
         filename_template_vod: normalizeFilenameTemplate(input.filename_template_vod, DEFAULT_FILENAME_TEMPLATE_VOD),
@@ -349,10 +362,27 @@ function normalizeConfigTemplates(input: Config): Config {
         performance_mode: normalizePerformanceMode(input.performance_mode),
         prevent_duplicate_downloads: input.prevent_duplicate_downloads !== false,
         persist_queue_on_restart: input.persist_queue_on_restart !== false,
-        metadata_cache_minutes: normalizeMetadataCacheMinutes(input.metadata_cache_minutes)
+        metadata_cache_minutes: normalizeMetadataCacheMinutes(input.metadata_cache_minutes),
+        auto_resume_queue_on_startup: input.auto_resume_queue_on_startup === true,
+        downloaded_vod_ids: trimmedIds
     };
 }
 
+function recordDownloadedVodId(vodId: string): void {
+    if (!vodId) return;
+    if (!Array.isArray(config.downloaded_vod_ids)) config.downloaded_vod_ids = [];
+    if (config.downloaded_vod_ids.includes(vodId)) return;
+    config.downloaded_vod_ids.push(vodId);
+    // Cap to keep config size bounded — drop oldest first.
+    const DOWNLOADED_IDS_MAX = 4096;
+    if (config.downloaded_vod_ids.length > DOWNLOADED_IDS_MAX) {
+        config.downloaded_vod_ids = config.downloaded_vod_ids.slice(
+            config.downloaded_vod_ids.length - DOWNLOADED_IDS_MAX
+        );
+    }
+    saveConfig(config);
+}
+
 function isPlainObject(value: unknown): value is Record<string, unknown> {
     return typeof value === 'object' && value !== null && !Array.isArray(value);
 }
@@ -3229,6 +3259,22 @@ async function processOneQueueItem(item: QueueItem): Promise<void> {
             item.outputFiles = [...finalResult.outputFiles];
         }
 
+        if (finalResult.success) {
+            // Record the VOD ID so the renderer can mark this VOD as
+            // already-downloaded the next time the user browses the
+            // streamer's archive. Merge groups don't have a single VOD
+            // ID — record each component instead.
+            if (item.mergeGroup?.items?.length) {
+                for (const m of item.mergeGroup.items) {
+                    const id = parseVodId(m.url);
+                    if (id) recordDownloadedVodId(id);
+                }
+            } else {
+                const id = parseVodId(item.url);
+                if (id) recordDownloadedVodId(id);
+            }
+        }
+
         if (finalResult.success) {
             runtimeMetrics.downloadsCompleted += 1;
         } else if (!wasPaused) {
@@ -3378,6 +3424,22 @@ function createWindow(): void {
         if (autoUpdateReadyToInstall && downloadedUpdateVersion) {
             mainWindow?.webContents.send('update-downloaded', buildUpdateInfoPayload(downloadedUpdateVersion));
         }
+
+        // Auto-resume: if the user opted in AND the persisted queue has
+        // pending entries, kick off processing after a short delay so the
+        // UI has time to render and the user can still pause if they want.
+        if (config.auto_resume_queue_on_startup && !isDownloading) {
+            const hasPending = downloadQueue.some((it) => it.status === 'pending');
+            if (hasPending) {
+                appendDebugLog('auto-resume-queue-scheduled', { pending: downloadQueue.filter((it) => it.status === 'pending').length });
+                setTimeout(() => {
+                    if (config.auto_resume_queue_on_startup && !isDownloading
+                        && downloadQueue.some((it) => it.status === 'pending')) {
+                        void processQueue();
+                    }
+                }, 5000);
+            }
+        }
     });
 
     mainWindow.on('closed', () => {
diff --git a/src/renderer-globals.d.ts b/src/renderer-globals.d.ts
index c6aef4c..ef2655b 100644
--- a/src/renderer-globals.d.ts
+++ b/src/renderer-globals.d.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ interface AppConfig {
     persist_queue_on_restart?: boolean;
     metadata_cache_minutes?: number;
     parallel_downloads?: number;
+    auto_resume_queue_on_startup?: boolean;
+    downloaded_vod_ids?: string[];
     [key: string]: unknown;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/renderer-locale-de.ts b/src/renderer-locale-de.ts
index 9df250a..4d4e4fb 100644
--- a/src/renderer-locale-de.ts
+++ b/src/renderer-locale-de.ts
@@ -56,6 +56,8 @@ const UI_TEXT_DE = {
         openDebugLogFile: 'Log-Datei oeffnen',
         duplicatePreventionLabel: 'Duplikate in Queue verhindern',
         persistQueueLabel: 'Queue zwischen App-Starts speichern',
+        autoResumeQueueLabel: 'Queue beim Start automatisch fortsetzen',
+        autoResumeQueueHint: 'Wenn aktiv und die gespeicherte Queue noch ausstehende Eintraege hat, starten Downloads ~5 Sekunden nach dem Fensteroeffnen. Deaktivieren = Start-Klick noetig.',
         metadataCacheMinutesLabel: 'Metadata-Cache (Minuten)',
         filenameTemplatesTitle: 'Dateinamen-Templates',
         vodTemplateLabel: 'VOD-Template',
@@ -191,7 +193,8 @@ const UI_TEXT_DE = {
         bulkAdding: 'Fuege hinzu...',
         bulkClear: 'Loeschen',
         bulkAddedToQueue: '{count} VODs zur Warteschlange hinzugefuegt.',
-        bulkAddSkipped: 'Keine VODs hinzugefuegt (bereits in Queue oder ungueltig).'
+        bulkAddSkipped: 'Keine VODs hinzugefuegt (bereits in Queue oder ungueltig).',
+        alreadyDownloaded: 'Bereits heruntergeladen'
     },
     clips: {
         dialogTitle: 'VOD zuschneiden',
diff --git a/src/renderer-locale-en.ts b/src/renderer-locale-en.ts
index d39e0a6..b1d954d 100644
--- a/src/renderer-locale-en.ts
+++ b/src/renderer-locale-en.ts
@@ -56,6 +56,8 @@ const UI_TEXT_EN = {
         openDebugLogFile: 'Open log file',
         duplicatePreventionLabel: 'Prevent duplicate queue entries',
         persistQueueLabel: 'Keep queue between app restarts',
+        autoResumeQueueLabel: 'Auto-resume the queue on startup',
+        autoResumeQueueHint: 'When enabled and the persisted queue has pending entries, downloads kick off ~5 seconds after the window opens. Disable to require an explicit Start click.',
         metadataCacheMinutesLabel: 'Metadata Cache (Minutes)',
         filenameTemplatesTitle: 'Filename Templates',
         vodTemplateLabel: 'VOD Template',
@@ -191,7 +193,8 @@ const UI_TEXT_EN = {
         bulkAdding: 'Adding...',
         bulkClear: 'Clear',
         bulkAddedToQueue: 'Added {count} VODs to the queue.',
-        bulkAddSkipped: 'No VODs were added (already in queue or invalid).'
+        bulkAddSkipped: 'No VODs were added (already in queue or invalid).',
+        alreadyDownloaded: 'Already downloaded'
     },
     clips: {
         dialogTitle: 'Trim VOD',
diff --git a/src/renderer-settings.ts b/src/renderer-settings.ts
index 78360d3..5de39b1 100644
--- a/src/renderer-settings.ts
+++ b/src/renderer-settings.ts
@@ -332,6 +332,7 @@ function collectDownloadSettingsPayload(): Partial<AppConfig> {
         smart_queue_scheduler: byId<HTMLInputElement>('smartSchedulerToggle').checked,
         prevent_duplicate_downloads: byId<HTMLInputElement>('duplicatePreventionToggle').checked,
         persist_queue_on_restart: byId<HTMLInputElement>('persistQueueToggle').checked,
+        auto_resume_queue_on_startup: byId<HTMLInputElement>('autoResumeQueueToggle').checked,
         metadata_cache_minutes: parseInt(byId<HTMLInputElement>('metadataCacheMinutes').value, 10) || 10
     };
 }
@@ -374,6 +375,7 @@ function getSettingsFingerprint(payload: Partial<AppConfig>): string {
         effective.smart_queue_scheduler !== false,
         effective.prevent_duplicate_downloads !== false,
         effective.persist_queue_on_restart !== false,
+        effective.auto_resume_queue_on_startup === true,
         effective.metadata_cache_minutes ?? 10,
         effective.filename_template_vod ?? '{title}.mp4',
         effective.filename_template_parts ?? '{date}_Part{part_padded}.mp4',
@@ -391,6 +393,7 @@ function syncSettingsFormFromConfig(): void {
     byId<HTMLInputElement>('smartSchedulerToggle').checked = (config.smart_queue_scheduler as boolean) !== false;
     byId<HTMLInputElement>('duplicatePreventionToggle').checked = (config.prevent_duplicate_downloads as boolean) !== false;
     byId<HTMLInputElement>('persistQueueToggle').checked = (config.persist_queue_on_restart as boolean) !== false;
+    byId<HTMLInputElement>('autoResumeQueueToggle').checked = (config.auto_resume_queue_on_startup as boolean) === true;
     byId<HTMLInputElement>('metadataCacheMinutes').value = String((config.metadata_cache_minutes as number) || 10);
     byId<HTMLInputElement>('vodFilenameTemplate').value = (config.filename_template_vod as string) || '{title}.mp4';
     byId<HTMLInputElement>('partsFilenameTemplate').value = (config.filename_template_parts as string) || '{date}_Part{part_padded}.mp4';
@@ -501,7 +504,8 @@ function initSettingsAutoSave(): void {
         'performanceMode',
         'smartSchedulerToggle',
         'duplicatePreventionToggle',
-        'persistQueueToggle'
+        'persistQueueToggle',
+        'autoResumeQueueToggle'
     ] as const;
 
     const debouncedSaveIds = [
diff --git a/src/renderer-streamers.ts b/src/renderer-streamers.ts
index 4112e77..aa37346 100644
--- a/src/renderer-streamers.ts
+++ b/src/renderer-streamers.ts
@@ -170,17 +170,22 @@ function focusVodFilter(): void {
     }
 }
 
-function buildVodCardHtml(vod: VOD, streamer: string): string {
+function buildVodCardHtml(vod: VOD, streamer: string, downloadedIds?: Set<string>): string {
     const thumb = vod.thumbnail_url.replace('%{width}', '320').replace('%{height}', '180');
     const date = formatUiDate(vod.created_at);
     const escapedTitle = vod.title.replace(/'/g, "\\'").replace(/\"/g, '&quot;');
     const safeDisplayTitle = escapeHtml(vod.title || UI_TEXT.vods.untitled);
     const safeUrlAttr = escapeHtml(vod.url);
     const isChecked = selectedVodUrls.has(vod.url);
+    const isAlreadyDownloaded = downloadedIds ? downloadedIds.has(vod.id) : false;
+    const downloadedBadge = isAlreadyDownloaded
+        ? `<div class="vod-downloaded-badge" title="${escapeHtml(UI_TEXT.vods.alreadyDownloaded)}">&#10003;</div>`
+        : '';
 
     return `
-        <div class="vod-card${isChecked ? ' selected' : ''}">
+        <div class="vod-card${isChecked ? ' selected' : ''}${isAlreadyDownloaded ? ' already-downloaded' : ''}">
             <input type="checkbox" class="vod-select-checkbox" data-vod-url="${safeUrlAttr}" ${isChecked ? 'checked' : ''} title="Select for bulk action" style="position:absolute; top:8px; left:8px; width:18px; height:18px; accent-color:#9146FF; cursor:pointer; z-index:2;">
+            ${downloadedBadge}
             <img class="vod-thumbnail" loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="${thumb}" alt="" onerror="this.src='data:image/svg+xml,<svg xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22 viewBox=%220 0 320 180%22><rect fill=%22%23333%22 width=%22320%22 height=%22180%22/></svg>'">
             <div class="vod-info">
                 <div class="vod-title">${safeDisplayTitle}</div>
@@ -509,6 +514,14 @@ function renderVodGridFromCurrentState(): void {
     grid.replaceChildren();
     updateVodFilterCount(filtered.length, total);
 
+    // Build the downloaded-ids lookup once per render — Set.has is O(1) vs
+    // Array.includes which would be O(n*m) across all cards.
+    const downloadedIds = new Set(
+        Array.isArray(config.downloaded_vod_ids)
+            ? (config.downloaded_vod_ids as string[]).filter((id) => typeof id === 'string')
+            : []
+    );
+
     const scheduleNextChunk = (nextStartIndex: number): void => {
         const delayMs = document.hidden ? 16 : 0;
         window.setTimeout(() => {
@@ -526,7 +539,7 @@ function renderVodGridFromCurrentState(): void {
             return;
         }
 
-        grid.insertAdjacentHTML('beforeend', chunk.map((vod) => buildVodCardHtml(vod, lastLoadedStreamer || '')).join(''));
+        grid.insertAdjacentHTML('beforeend', chunk.map((vod) => buildVodCardHtml(vod, lastLoadedStreamer || '', downloadedIds)).join(''));
 
         if (startIndex + chunk.length < filtered.length) {
             scheduleNextChunk(startIndex + chunk.length);
diff --git a/src/renderer-texts.ts b/src/renderer-texts.ts
index c5b31c4..3958974 100644
--- a/src/renderer-texts.ts
+++ b/src/renderer-texts.ts
@@ -114,6 +114,9 @@ function applyLanguageToStaticUI(): void {
     setTitle('smartSchedulerToggle', UI_TEXT.static.smartSchedulerHint);
     setText('duplicatePreventionLabel', UI_TEXT.static.duplicatePreventionLabel);
     setText('persistQueueLabel', UI_TEXT.static.persistQueueLabel);
+    setText('autoResumeQueueLabel', UI_TEXT.static.autoResumeQueueLabel);
+    setTitle('autoResumeQueueLabel', UI_TEXT.static.autoResumeQueueHint);
+    setTitle('autoResumeQueueToggle', UI_TEXT.static.autoResumeQueueHint);
     setText('metadataCacheMinutesLabel', UI_TEXT.static.metadataCacheMinutesLabel);
     setText('filenameTemplatesTitle', UI_TEXT.static.filenameTemplatesTitle);
     setText('vodTemplateLabel', UI_TEXT.static.vodTemplateLabel);
diff --git a/src/renderer.ts b/src/renderer.ts
index 242a7a6..2853998 100644
--- a/src/renderer.ts
+++ b/src/renderer.ts
@@ -63,8 +63,25 @@ async function init(): Promise<void> {
     // Restore last active tab from previous session (default 'vods')
     showTab(loadPersistedActiveTab());
 
-    window.api.onQueueUpdated((q: QueueItem[]) => {
-        queue = mergeQueueState(Array.isArray(q) ? q : []);
+    window.api.onQueueUpdated(async (q: QueueItem[]) => {
+        const previouslyCompleted = new Set(queue.filter((i) => i.status === 'completed').map((i) => i.id));
+        const next = Array.isArray(q) ? q : [];
+        const newlyCompletedItem = next.some((i) => i.status === 'completed' && !previouslyCompleted.has(i.id));
+        queue = mergeQueueState(next);
+
+        // When an item flips to 'completed' the main process appends its
+        // VOD ID to config.downloaded_vod_ids. Refresh our local config
+        // copy so the "already downloaded" badge on the VOD grid updates
+        // live without waiting for a settings save.
+        if (newlyCompletedItem) {
+            try {
+                config = await window.api.getConfig();
+            } catch { /* network blip — next sync will refresh */ }
+            if (typeof renderVodGridFromCurrentState === 'function' && lastLoadedStreamer) {
+                renderVodGridFromCurrentState();
+            }
+        }
+
         renderQueue();
         updateStatusBarQueueSummary();
         markQueueActivity();
diff --git a/src/styles.css b/src/styles.css
index 8d4b010..b8a4093 100644
--- a/src/styles.css
+++ b/src/styles.css
@@ -592,6 +592,29 @@ body {
     box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px #9146FF, 0 8px 25px rgba(145, 70, 255, 0.25);
 }
 
+.vod-downloaded-badge {
+    position: absolute;
+    top: 8px;
+    right: 8px;
+    background: rgba(0, 200, 83, 0.92);
+    color: white;
+    border-radius: 50%;
+    width: 22px;
+    height: 22px;
+    display: flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    justify-content: center;
+    font-size: 12px;
+    font-weight: 700;
+    z-index: 2;
+    pointer-events: none;
+    box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3);
+}
+
+.vod-card.already-downloaded .vod-thumbnail {
+    opacity: 0.6;
+}
+
 .streamer-item.dragging {
     opacity: 0.4;
 }