diff --git a/modules/rbooks/local-first-client.ts b/modules/rbooks/local-first-client.ts
index 23b9249..7af78ac 100644
--- a/modules/rbooks/local-first-client.ts
+++ b/modules/rbooks/local-first-client.ts
@@ -38,10 +38,11 @@ export class BooksLocalFirstClient {
 		if (this.#initialized) return;
 		await this.#store.open();
 		const cachedIds = await this.#store.listByModule('books', 'catalog');
-		for (const docId of cachedIds) {
-			const binary = await this.#store.load(docId);
-			if (binary) this.#documents.open<BooksCatalogDoc>(docId, booksCatalogSchema, binary);
+		const cached = await this.#store.loadMany(cachedIds);
+		for (const [docId, binary] of cached) {
+			this.#documents.open<BooksCatalogDoc>(docId, booksCatalogSchema, binary);
 		}
+		await this.#sync.preloadSyncStates(cachedIds);
 		const proto = location.protocol === 'https:' ? 'wss:' : 'ws:';
 		const wsUrl = `${proto}//${location.host}/ws/${this.#space}`;
 		try { await this.#sync.connect(wsUrl, this.#space); } catch { console.warn('[BooksClient] Working offline'); }
diff --git a/modules/rcal/local-first-client.ts b/modules/rcal/local-first-client.ts
index 12e0bec..d45f74b 100644
--- a/modules/rcal/local-first-client.ts
+++ b/modules/rcal/local-first-client.ts
@@ -38,10 +38,11 @@ export class CalLocalFirstClient {
 		if (this.#initialized) return;
 		await this.#store.open();
 		const cachedIds = await this.#store.listByModule('cal', 'events');
-		for (const docId of cachedIds) {
-			const binary = await this.#store.load(docId);
-			if (binary) this.#documents.open<CalendarDoc>(docId, calendarSchema, binary);
+		const cached = await this.#store.loadMany(cachedIds);
+		for (const [docId, binary] of cached) {
+			this.#documents.open<CalendarDoc>(docId, calendarSchema, binary);
 		}
+		await this.#sync.preloadSyncStates(cachedIds);
 		const proto = location.protocol === 'https:' ? 'wss:' : 'ws:';
 		const wsUrl = `${proto}//${location.host}/ws/${this.#space}`;
 		try { await this.#sync.connect(wsUrl, this.#space); } catch { console.warn('[CalClient] Working offline'); }
diff --git a/modules/rcart/local-first-client.ts b/modules/rcart/local-first-client.ts
index d0ea566..e80d17e 100644
--- a/modules/rcart/local-first-client.ts
+++ b/modules/rcart/local-first-client.ts
@@ -38,16 +38,20 @@ export class CartLocalFirstClient {
 	async init(): Promise<void> {
 		if (this.#initialized) return;
 		await this.#store.open();
-		const catalogIds = await this.#store.listByModule('cart', 'catalog');
-		for (const docId of catalogIds) {
-			const binary = await this.#store.load(docId);
-			if (binary) this.#documents.open<CatalogDoc>(docId, catalogSchema, binary);
-		}
-		const orderIds = await this.#store.listByModule('cart', 'orders');
-		for (const docId of orderIds) {
-			const binary = await this.#store.load(docId);
-			if (binary) this.#documents.open<OrderDoc>(docId, orderSchema, binary);
+		const [catalogIds, orderIds] = await Promise.all([
+			this.#store.listByModule('cart', 'catalog'),
+			this.#store.listByModule('cart', 'orders'),
+		]);
+		const allIds = [...catalogIds, ...orderIds];
+		const cached = await this.#store.loadMany(allIds);
+		for (const [docId, binary] of cached) {
+			if (catalogIds.includes(docId)) {
+				this.#documents.open<CatalogDoc>(docId, catalogSchema, binary);
+			} else {
+				this.#documents.open<OrderDoc>(docId, orderSchema, binary);
+			}
 		}
+		await this.#sync.preloadSyncStates(allIds);
 		const proto = location.protocol === 'https:' ? 'wss:' : 'ws:';
 		const wsUrl = `${proto}//${location.host}/ws/${this.#space}`;
 		try { await this.#sync.connect(wsUrl, this.#space); } catch { console.warn('[CartClient] Working offline'); }
diff --git a/modules/rfiles/local-first-client.ts b/modules/rfiles/local-first-client.ts
index 785dece..370a62c 100644
--- a/modules/rfiles/local-first-client.ts
+++ b/modules/rfiles/local-first-client.ts
@@ -38,10 +38,11 @@ export class FilesLocalFirstClient {
 		if (this.#initialized) return;
 		await this.#store.open();
 		const cachedIds = await this.#store.listByModule('files', 'cards');
-		for (const docId of cachedIds) {
-			const binary = await this.#store.load(docId);
-			if (binary) this.#documents.open<FilesDoc>(docId, filesSchema, binary);
+		const cached = await this.#store.loadMany(cachedIds);
+		for (const [docId, binary] of cached) {
+			this.#documents.open<FilesDoc>(docId, filesSchema, binary);
 		}
+		await this.#sync.preloadSyncStates(cachedIds);
 		const proto = location.protocol === 'https:' ? 'wss:' : 'ws:';
 		const wsUrl = `${proto}//${location.host}/ws/${this.#space}`;
 		try { await this.#sync.connect(wsUrl, this.#space); } catch { console.warn('[FilesClient] Working offline'); }
diff --git a/modules/rfunds/local-first-client.ts b/modules/rfunds/local-first-client.ts
index d17384c..ed1ece3 100644
--- a/modules/rfunds/local-first-client.ts
+++ b/modules/rfunds/local-first-client.ts
@@ -38,10 +38,11 @@ export class FundsLocalFirstClient {
 		if (this.#initialized) return;
 		await this.#store.open();
 		const cachedIds = await this.#store.listByModule('funds', 'flows');
-		for (const docId of cachedIds) {
-			const binary = await this.#store.load(docId);
-			if (binary) this.#documents.open<FundsDoc>(docId, fundsSchema, binary);
+		const cached = await this.#store.loadMany(cachedIds);
+		for (const [docId, binary] of cached) {
+			this.#documents.open<FundsDoc>(docId, fundsSchema, binary);
 		}
+		await this.#sync.preloadSyncStates(cachedIds);
 		const proto = location.protocol === 'https:' ? 'wss:' : 'ws:';
 		const wsUrl = `${proto}//${location.host}/ws/${this.#space}`;
 		try { await this.#sync.connect(wsUrl, this.#space); } catch { console.warn('[FundsClient] Working offline'); }
diff --git a/modules/rinbox/local-first-client.ts b/modules/rinbox/local-first-client.ts
index 3bffed4..28247d8 100644
--- a/modules/rinbox/local-first-client.ts
+++ b/modules/rinbox/local-first-client.ts
@@ -38,10 +38,11 @@ export class InboxLocalFirstClient {
 		if (this.#initialized) return;
 		await this.#store.open();
 		const cachedIds = await this.#store.listByModule('inbox', 'mailboxes');
-		for (const docId of cachedIds) {
-			const binary = await this.#store.load(docId);
-			if (binary) this.#documents.open<MailboxDoc>(docId, mailboxSchema, binary);
+		const cached = await this.#store.loadMany(cachedIds);
+		for (const [docId, binary] of cached) {
+			this.#documents.open<MailboxDoc>(docId, mailboxSchema, binary);
 		}
+		await this.#sync.preloadSyncStates(cachedIds);
 		const proto = location.protocol === 'https:' ? 'wss:' : 'ws:';
 		const wsUrl = `${proto}//${location.host}/ws/${this.#space}`;
 		try { await this.#sync.connect(wsUrl, this.#space); } catch { console.warn('[InboxClient] Working offline'); }
diff --git a/modules/rnotes/local-first-client.ts b/modules/rnotes/local-first-client.ts
index 412e76a..e016f55 100644
--- a/modules/rnotes/local-first-client.ts
+++ b/modules/rnotes/local-first-client.ts
@@ -54,15 +54,16 @@ export class NotesLocalFirstClient {
 		// Open IndexedDB store
 		await this.#store.open();
 
-		// Load any cached notebook docs from IndexedDB
+		// Load all cached notebook docs from IndexedDB in parallel
 		const cachedIds = await this.#store.listByModule('notes', 'notebooks');
-		for (const docId of cachedIds) {
-			const binary = await this.#store.load(docId);
-			if (binary) {
-				this.#documents.open<NotebookDoc>(docId, notebookSchema, binary);
-			}
+		const cached = await this.#store.loadMany(cachedIds);
+		for (const [docId, binary] of cached) {
+			this.#documents.open<NotebookDoc>(docId, notebookSchema, binary);
 		}
 
+		// Preload sync states in parallel before connecting
+		await this.#sync.preloadSyncStates(cachedIds);
+
 		// Connect to sync server
 		const proto = location.protocol === 'https:' ? 'wss:' : 'ws:';
 		const wsUrl = `${proto}//${location.host}/ws/${this.#space}`;
diff --git a/modules/rsplat/local-first-client.ts b/modules/rsplat/local-first-client.ts
index b3ae570..6d6ecfd 100644
--- a/modules/rsplat/local-first-client.ts
+++ b/modules/rsplat/local-first-client.ts
@@ -38,10 +38,11 @@ export class SplatLocalFirstClient {
 		if (this.#initialized) return;
 		await this.#store.open();
 		const cachedIds = await this.#store.listByModule('splat', 'scenes');
-		for (const docId of cachedIds) {
-			const binary = await this.#store.load(docId);
-			if (binary) this.#documents.open<SplatScenesDoc>(docId, splatScenesSchema, binary);
+		const cached = await this.#store.loadMany(cachedIds);
+		for (const [docId, binary] of cached) {
+			this.#documents.open<SplatScenesDoc>(docId, splatScenesSchema, binary);
 		}
+		await this.#sync.preloadSyncStates(cachedIds);
 		const proto = location.protocol === 'https:' ? 'wss:' : 'ws:';
 		const wsUrl = `${proto}//${location.host}/ws/${this.#space}`;
 		try { await this.#sync.connect(wsUrl, this.#space); } catch { console.warn('[SplatClient] Working offline'); }
diff --git a/modules/rtrips/local-first-client.ts b/modules/rtrips/local-first-client.ts
index e89efa4..fb0eb29 100644
--- a/modules/rtrips/local-first-client.ts
+++ b/modules/rtrips/local-first-client.ts
@@ -37,10 +37,11 @@ export class TripsLocalFirstClient {
 		if (this.#initialized) return;
 		await this.#store.open();
 		const cachedIds = await this.#store.listByModule('trips', 'trips');
-		for (const docId of cachedIds) {
-			const binary = await this.#store.load(docId);
-			if (binary) this.#documents.open<TripDoc>(docId, tripSchema, binary);
+		const cached = await this.#store.loadMany(cachedIds);
+		for (const [docId, binary] of cached) {
+			this.#documents.open<TripDoc>(docId, tripSchema, binary);
 		}
+		await this.#sync.preloadSyncStates(cachedIds);
 		const proto = location.protocol === 'https:' ? 'wss:' : 'ws:';
 		const wsUrl = `${proto}//${location.host}/ws/${this.#space}`;
 		try { await this.#sync.connect(wsUrl, this.#space); } catch { console.warn('[TripsClient] Working offline'); }
diff --git a/modules/rvote/local-first-client.ts b/modules/rvote/local-first-client.ts
index 22950b6..9b75696 100644
--- a/modules/rvote/local-first-client.ts
+++ b/modules/rvote/local-first-client.ts
@@ -38,10 +38,11 @@ export class VoteLocalFirstClient {
 		if (this.#initialized) return;
 		await this.#store.open();
 		const cachedIds = await this.#store.listByModule('vote', 'proposals');
-		for (const docId of cachedIds) {
-			const binary = await this.#store.load(docId);
-			if (binary) this.#documents.open<ProposalDoc>(docId, proposalSchema, binary);
+		const cached = await this.#store.loadMany(cachedIds);
+		for (const [docId, binary] of cached) {
+			this.#documents.open<ProposalDoc>(docId, proposalSchema, binary);
 		}
+		await this.#sync.preloadSyncStates(cachedIds);
 		const proto = location.protocol === 'https:' ? 'wss:' : 'ws:';
 		const wsUrl = `${proto}//${location.host}/ws/${this.#space}`;
 		try { await this.#sync.connect(wsUrl, this.#space); } catch { console.warn('[VoteClient] Working offline'); }
diff --git a/modules/rwork/local-first-client.ts b/modules/rwork/local-first-client.ts
index a7eefa8..6f26777 100644
--- a/modules/rwork/local-first-client.ts
+++ b/modules/rwork/local-first-client.ts
@@ -38,10 +38,11 @@ export class WorkLocalFirstClient {
 		if (this.#initialized) return;
 		await this.#store.open();
 		const cachedIds = await this.#store.listByModule('work', 'boards');
-		for (const docId of cachedIds) {
-			const binary = await this.#store.load(docId);
-			if (binary) this.#documents.open<BoardDoc>(docId, boardSchema, binary);
+		const cached = await this.#store.loadMany(cachedIds);
+		for (const [docId, binary] of cached) {
+			this.#documents.open<BoardDoc>(docId, boardSchema, binary);
 		}
+		await this.#sync.preloadSyncStates(cachedIds);
 		const proto = location.protocol === 'https:' ? 'wss:' : 'ws:';
 		const wsUrl = `${proto}//${location.host}/ws/${this.#space}`;
 		try { await this.#sync.connect(wsUrl, this.#space); } catch { console.warn('[WorkClient] Working offline'); }
diff --git a/shared/local-first/crypto.ts b/shared/local-first/crypto.ts
index e5625b7..210ea26 100644
--- a/shared/local-first/crypto.ts
+++ b/shared/local-first/crypto.ts
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ const encoder = new TextEncoder();
  */
 export class DocCrypto {
   #masterKeyMaterial: CryptoKey | null = null;
+  #spaceKeyCache = new Map<string, CryptoKey>();
+  #docKeyCache = new Map<string, CryptoKey>();
 
   /**
    * Initialize from a master key. Accepts either:
@@ -94,6 +96,9 @@ export class DocCrypto {
   async deriveSpaceKey(spaceId: string): Promise<CryptoKey> {
     this.#assertInit();
 
+    const cached = this.#spaceKeyCache.get(spaceId);
+    if (cached) return cached;
+
     // Derive 256 bits of key material for the space
     const bits = await crypto.subtle.deriveBits(
       {
@@ -107,13 +112,15 @@ export class DocCrypto {
     );
 
     // Re-import as HKDF for further derivation (space → doc)
-    return crypto.subtle.importKey(
+    const key = await crypto.subtle.importKey(
       'raw',
       bits,
       { name: 'HKDF' },
       false,
       ['deriveKey', 'deriveBits']
     );
+    this.#spaceKeyCache.set(spaceId, key);
+    return key;
   }
 
   /**
@@ -121,7 +128,10 @@ export class DocCrypto {
    * info = "rspace:{spaceId}:{docId}"
    */
   async deriveDocKey(spaceKey: CryptoKey, docId: string): Promise<CryptoKey> {
-    return crypto.subtle.deriveKey(
+    const cached = this.#docKeyCache.get(docId);
+    if (cached) return cached;
+
+    const key = await crypto.subtle.deriveKey(
       {
         name: 'HKDF',
         hash: 'SHA-256',
@@ -133,6 +143,8 @@ export class DocCrypto {
       false, // non-extractable
       ['encrypt', 'decrypt']
     );
+    this.#docKeyCache.set(docId, key);
+    return key;
   }
 
   /**
@@ -200,6 +212,8 @@ export class DocCrypto {
    */
   clear(): void {
     this.#masterKeyMaterial = null;
+    this.#spaceKeyCache.clear();
+    this.#docKeyCache.clear();
   }
 
   #assertInit(): void {
diff --git a/shared/local-first/storage.ts b/shared/local-first/storage.ts
index 3bc2c54..70d8cae 100644
--- a/shared/local-first/storage.ts
+++ b/shared/local-first/storage.ts
@@ -154,6 +154,20 @@ export class EncryptedDocStore {
     return stored.data;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Load multiple documents in parallel. Returns a Map of docId → decrypted bytes.
+   */
+  async loadMany(docIds: DocumentId[]): Promise<Map<DocumentId, Uint8Array>> {
+    const results = new Map<DocumentId, Uint8Array>();
+    if (!this.#db || docIds.length === 0) return results;
+
+    const entries = await Promise.all(docIds.map(id => this.load(id).then(data => [id, data] as const)));
+    for (const [id, data] of entries) {
+      if (data) results.set(id, data);
+    }
+    return results;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Load raw stored bytes for a document (without decrypting).
    * Used by the backup manager to upload already-encrypted blobs.
diff --git a/shared/local-first/sync.ts b/shared/local-first/sync.ts
index 8a305a2..8a04abc 100644
--- a/shared/local-first/sync.ts
+++ b/shared/local-first/sync.ts
@@ -202,6 +202,31 @@ export class DocSyncManager {
     });
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Preload sync states for multiple documents in parallel.
+   * Call before subscribe() to avoid sequential IDB reads during subscription.
+   */
+  async preloadSyncStates(docIds: DocumentId[]): Promise<void> {
+    if (!this.#store) return;
+
+    const toLoad = docIds.filter(id => !this.#syncStates.has(id));
+    if (toLoad.length === 0) return;
+
+    const entries = await Promise.all(
+      toLoad.map(id =>
+        this.#store!.loadSyncState(id, this.#peerId).then(saved => [id, saved] as const)
+      )
+    );
+
+    for (const [id, saved] of entries) {
+      if (saved) {
+        this.#syncStates.set(id, Automerge.decodeSyncState(saved));
+      } else {
+        this.#syncStates.set(id, Automerge.initSyncState());
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   /**
    * Subscribe to sync for one or more documents.
    */
@@ -213,16 +238,17 @@ export class DocSyncManager {
         this.#subscribedDocs.add(id);
         newIds.push(id);
 
-        // Initialize sync state from store if available
-        if (this.#store && !this.#syncStates.has(id)) {
-          const saved = await this.#store.loadSyncState(id, this.#peerId);
-          if (saved) {
-            this.#syncStates.set(id, Automerge.decodeSyncState(saved));
-          }
-        }
-
+        // Initialize sync state from store if available (skip if preloaded)
         if (!this.#syncStates.has(id)) {
-          this.#syncStates.set(id, Automerge.initSyncState());
+          if (this.#store) {
+            const saved = await this.#store.loadSyncState(id, this.#peerId);
+            if (saved) {
+              this.#syncStates.set(id, Automerge.decodeSyncState(saved));
+            }
+          }
+          if (!this.#syncStates.has(id)) {
+            this.#syncStates.set(id, Automerge.initSyncState());
+          }
         }
       }
     }