diff --git a/backend/apps/library/tests/test_uploads.py b/backend/apps/library/tests/test_uploads.py
index b38dd27..e8a6f4d 100644
--- a/backend/apps/library/tests/test_uploads.py
+++ b/backend/apps/library/tests/test_uploads.py
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
-"""Staged uploads: complete-set listing, bulk rating and IQDB recording."""
+"""Staged uploads: listing, phases (MD5/visual/IQDB) and the bulk tool."""
 
 import base64
 import hashlib
+import io
 import json
 import shutil
 import tempfile
@@ -11,6 +12,8 @@ from django.contrib.auth import get_user_model
 from django.core.files.uploadedfile import SimpleUploadedFile
 from django.test import Client, TestCase, override_settings
 
+from PIL import Image
+
 from rest_framework.authtoken.models import Token
 
 from apps.library.models import MediaItem, TempUpload
@@ -23,6 +26,13 @@ TINY_PNG = base64.b64decode(
 )
 
 
+def similar_png(color=(200, 30, 40)):
+    """A 1x1 PNG with the same visual hashes but a different MD5."""
+    buffer = io.BytesIO()
+    Image.new("RGB", (1, 1), color).save(buffer, format="PNG")
+    return buffer.getvalue()
+
+
 def jpost(client, path, body=None):
     return client.post(path, data=json.dumps(body or {}), content_type="application/json")
 
@@ -85,7 +95,7 @@ class TempUploadListTests(TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(Client().get("/api/uploads/").status_code, 401)
 
 
-class BulkResolveTests(TestCase):
+class StagedUploadWorkflowTests(TestCase):
     @classmethod
     def setUpClass(cls):
         super().setUpClass()
@@ -196,6 +206,61 @@ class BulkResolveTests(TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(body["errors"][0]["error"], "already in the library")
         self.assertEqual(MediaItem.objects.count(), 1)
 
+    def upload_via_api(self, client, label="phase.png"):
+        return client.post(
+            "/api/uploads/",
+            {
+                "file": SimpleUploadedFile(
+                    label, similar_png(), content_type="image/png"
+                )
+            },
+        )
+
+    def seed_library_item(self, client, label):
+        seed = self.make_temp(self.uploader, label)
+        response = self.resolve_bulk(client, [seed.id], "s")
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
+        return seed
+
+    def test_upload_defers_visual_similarity_to_its_phase(self):
+        client = self.api_client(self.uploader)
+        self.seed_library_item(client, "seed-defer")
+        response = self.upload_via_api(client)
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 201)
+        body = response.json()
+        # Uploading must not run the expensive library scan.
+        self.assertEqual(body["status"], TempUpload.STATUS_PENDING)
+        self.assertFalse(body["visual_matches"])
+
+    def test_visual_match_phase_flags_similar_library_items(self):
+        client = self.api_client(self.uploader)
+        self.seed_library_item(client, "seed-visual")
+        temp = self.make_temp(self.uploader, "check-visual")
+        response = client.post(f"/api/uploads/{temp.id}/visual-match/")
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
+        body = response.json()
+        self.assertEqual(body["status"], TempUpload.STATUS_VISUAL_MATCH)
+        self.assertGreaterEqual(len(body["visual_matches"]), 1)
+        temp.refresh_from_db()
+        self.assertEqual(temp.status, TempUpload.STATUS_VISUAL_MATCH)
+
+    def test_visual_match_phase_with_empty_library_stays_pending(self):
+        client = self.api_client(self.uploader)
+        temp = self.make_temp(self.uploader, "no-matches")
+        response = client.post(f"/api/uploads/{temp.id}/visual-match/")
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200)
+        body = response.json()
+        self.assertEqual(body["visual_matches"], [])
+        self.assertEqual(body["status"], TempUpload.STATUS_PENDING)
+
+    def test_visual_match_phase_rejects_completed_uploads(self):
+        client = self.api_client(self.uploader)
+        temp = self.make_temp(
+            self.uploader, "done-visual", status=TempUpload.STATUS_COMPLETED
+        )
+        response = client.post(f"/api/uploads/{temp.id}/visual-match/")
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 400)
+
 
 class IqdbRecordingTests(TestCase):
     """The modal needs to tell "checked, no match" from "never checked"."""
diff --git a/backend/apps/library/uploads.py b/backend/apps/library/uploads.py
index 7ec5a03..6bae436 100644
--- a/backend/apps/library/uploads.py
+++ b/backend/apps/library/uploads.py
@@ -190,18 +190,37 @@ class TempUploadViewSet(
             temp.resolution = TempUpload.RESOLUTION_DUPLICATE
             temp.library_item = existing
             temp.file.delete(save=False)
-        else:
-            matches = find_library_matches(
-                temp.file.path, user=request.user, request=request
-            )
-            if matches:
-                temp.visual_matches = matches
-                temp.status = TempUpload.STATUS_VISUAL_MATCH
+        # Visual similarity is deliberately a separate phase (the
+        # /visual-match action) so a large batch uploads at full speed and
+        # the board runs MD5 -> visual -> IQDB over the whole batch.
         temp.save()
         return Response(
             self.get_serializer(temp).data, status=status.HTTP_201_CREATED
         )
 
+    @action(detail=True, methods=["post"], url_path="visual-match")
+    def visual_match(self, request, pk=None):
+        """Run the local visual-similarity pass for one staged upload."""
+        temp = self.get_object()
+        if temp.status == TempUpload.STATUS_COMPLETED:
+            return Response(
+                {"detail": "This upload is already in the library."},
+                status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST,
+            )
+        if not temp.file:
+            return Response(
+                {"detail": "The staged file is missing."},
+                status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST,
+            )
+        matches = find_library_matches(
+            temp.file.path, user=request.user, request=request
+        )
+        temp.visual_matches = matches
+        if matches and temp.status == TempUpload.STATUS_PENDING:
+            temp.status = TempUpload.STATUS_VISUAL_MATCH
+        temp.save(update_fields=["visual_matches", "status", "updated_at"])
+        return Response(self.get_serializer(temp).data)
+
     @action(detail=True, methods=["get", "head"], permission_classes=[AllowAny])
     def file(self, request, pk=None):
         """Serve the staged file; accepts a signed URL for media tags."""
diff --git a/frontend/src/features/upload/UploadPage.tsx b/frontend/src/features/upload/UploadPage.tsx
index 86ee394..9ad34b6 100644
--- a/frontend/src/features/upload/UploadPage.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/features/upload/UploadPage.tsx
@@ -127,6 +127,32 @@ function isFatalIqdbError(error: unknown): boolean {
   return error instanceof TypeError || error instanceof DOMException;
 }
 
+/** Small labeled progress bar for one upload-pipeline phase. */
+function PhaseBar({
+  label,
+  percent,
+  tone,
+}: {
+  label: string;
+  percent: number;
+  tone: string;
+}) {
+  return (
+    <div className="flex w-64 flex-col gap-1.5">
+      <p className="flex items-center gap-2 text-xs text-ctp-overlay0">
+        <Spinner className="h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0" />
+        <span className="truncate">{label}</span>
+      </p>
+      <div className="h-1 overflow-hidden rounded-full bg-ctp-surface0">
+        <div
+          className={cn("h-full transition-[width]", tone)}
+          style={{ width: `${Math.min(100, Math.max(0, percent))}%` }}
+        />
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
 function TempCard({
   temp,
   checking,
@@ -708,6 +734,11 @@ export default function UploadPage() {
   const [dragging, setDragging] = useState(false);
   const [entries, setEntries] = useState<UploadEntry[]>([]);
   const [batch, setBatch] = useState({ total: 0, done: 0, failed: 0 });
+  const [pipeline, setPipeline] = useState<{
+    phase: "md5" | "visual";
+    done: number;
+    total: number;
+  } | null>(null);
   const [busy, setBusy] = useState(false);
   const [processing, setProcessing] = useState(false);
   const [checkingIds, setCheckingIds] = useState<string[]>([]);
@@ -931,48 +962,83 @@ export default function UploadPage() {
     }
   }
 
-  async function autoMatchAndCheck(created: TempUpload[]) {
+  /**
+   * Phased processing for one finished upload batch: every file goes through
+   * the e621 MD5 lookup (batched), then local visual similarity, then IQDB.
+   * Phases never interleave per file, and each step lands on the board as it
+   * finishes.
+   */
+  async function runUploadPipeline(created: TempUpload[]) {
     const creds = effectiveCredentials(credentials);
-    const unresolved = created.filter((temp) => temp.status === "pending");
+    const targets = created.filter((temp) => temp.status === "pending");
+    if (targets.length === 0) {
+      invalidateUploads();
+      return;
+    }
+    const targetIds = new Set(targets.map((temp) => temp.temp_id));
 
-    // 1) Auto-complete files whose MD5 matches an e621 post. The original app
-    // sent 75 md5: metatags per posts.json query.
-    if (unresolved.length > 0) {
-      try {
-        for (
-          let index = 0;
-          index < unresolved.length;
-          index += MD5_BATCH_SIZE
-        ) {
-          const md5Batch = unresolved.slice(index, index + MD5_BATCH_SIZE);
-          const posts = await fetchPostsByMd5(
-            creds,
-            md5Batch.map((temp) => temp.md5),
-          );
-          for (const post of posts) {
-            const match = md5Batch.find((temp) => temp.md5 === post.file.md5);
-            if (!match) continue;
-            try {
-              const updated = await api<TempUpload>(
-                `/api/uploads/${match.temp_id}/resolve/`,
-                { method: "POST", json: { mode: "link", post, auto: true } },
-              );
-              upsertUpload(updated);
-            } catch {
-              // Leave it pending.
-            }
+    // Phase 1: e621 MD5 lookup, 75 md5: metatags per query.
+    setPipeline({ phase: "md5", done: 0, total: targets.length });
+    try {
+      for (let index = 0; index < targets.length; index += MD5_BATCH_SIZE) {
+        const md5Batch = targets.slice(index, index + MD5_BATCH_SIZE);
+        const posts = await fetchPostsByMd5(
+          creds,
+          md5Batch.map((temp) => temp.md5),
+        );
+        for (const post of posts) {
+          const match = md5Batch.find((temp) => temp.md5 === post.file.md5);
+          if (!match) continue;
+          try {
+            const updated = await api<TempUpload>(
+              `/api/uploads/${match.temp_id}/resolve/`,
+              { method: "POST", json: { mode: "link", post, auto: true } },
+            );
+            upsertUpload(updated);
+          } catch {
+            // Leave it pending.
           }
         }
-      } catch {
-        // e621 unavailable; leave everything pending.
+        setPipeline((current) =>
+          current
+            ? {
+                ...current,
+                done: Math.min(index + MD5_BATCH_SIZE, targets.length),
+              }
+            : current,
+        );
       }
-      invalidateUploads();
+    } catch {
+      // e621 unavailable; those files stay pending.
     }
+    setPipeline(null);
 
-    // 2) IQDB similarity for every unresolved file that has not been checked
-    // yet (pending and local visual matches alike; IQDB is image-only).
+    // Phase 2: local visual similarity, one file at a time.
+    const cached = queryClient.getQueryData<TempUpload[]>(["uploads"]) ?? [];
+    const visualTargets = cached.filter(
+      (temp) => targetIds.has(temp.temp_id) && temp.status === "pending",
+    );
+    setPipeline({ phase: "visual", done: 0, total: visualTargets.length });
+    for (const temp of visualTargets) {
+      try {
+        const updated = await api<TempUpload>(
+          `/api/uploads/${temp.temp_id}/visual-match/`,
+          { method: "POST" },
+        );
+        upsertUpload(updated);
+      } catch {
+        // Keep it pending.
+      }
+      setPipeline((current) =>
+        current ? { ...current, done: current.done + 1 } : current,
+      );
+    }
+    setPipeline(null);
+
+    // Phase 3: IQDB for everything still unresolved (serial queue with its
+    // own progress, cooldown and fatal-error stop).
     const fresh = await refreshUploads();
-    void checkSimilarity(unresolvedIqdbIds(fresh));
+    checkSimilarity(unresolvedIqdbIds(fresh));
   }
 
   /** Mark an entry done, fade it out and drop it once it has been seen. */
@@ -1032,7 +1098,7 @@ export default function UploadPage() {
     invalidateUploads();
     if (created.length > 0) {
       setProcessing(true);
-      void autoMatchAndCheck(created).finally(() => setProcessing(false));
+      void runUploadPipeline(created).finally(() => setProcessing(false));
     }
   }
 
@@ -1133,33 +1199,38 @@ export default function UploadPage() {
               retry checks
             </button>
           </div>
-        ) : busy || processing ? (
-          <div className="flex w-64 flex-col gap-1.5">
-            <p className="flex items-center gap-2 text-xs text-ctp-overlay0">
-              <Spinner className="h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0" />
-              <span className="truncate">
-                {busy
-                  ? `Uploading ${Math.min(settledCount + 1, batch.total)}/${batch.total}…`
-                  : iqdbProgress
-                    ? `Checking IQDB — ${iqdbProgress.done}/${iqdbProgress.total}${
-                        currentCheck ? ` · ${currentCheck}` : ""
-                      }`
-                    : "Processing uploads…"}
-              </span>
-            </p>
-            {!busy && iqdbProgress ? (
-              <div className="h-1 overflow-hidden rounded-full bg-ctp-surface0">
-                <div
-                  className="h-full bg-ctp-teal transition-[width]"
-                  style={{
-                    width: `${Math.round(
-                      (iqdbProgress.done / iqdbProgress.total) * 100,
-                    )}%`,
-                  }}
-                />
-              </div>
-            ) : null}
-          </div>
+        ) : busy ? (
+          <PhaseBar
+            label={`Uploading ${Math.min(settledCount + 1, batch.total)}/${batch.total}…`}
+            percent={batchPercent}
+            tone="bg-ctp-mauve"
+          />
+        ) : pipeline ? (
+          <PhaseBar
+            label={`${
+              pipeline.phase === "md5" ? "e621 MD5" : "Visual similarity"
+            } — ${pipeline.done}/${pipeline.total}`}
+            percent={
+              pipeline.total
+                ? Math.round((pipeline.done / pipeline.total) * 100)
+                : 0
+            }
+            tone={pipeline.phase === "md5" ? "bg-ctp-peach" : "bg-ctp-lavender"}
+          />
+        ) : processing && iqdbProgress ? (
+          <PhaseBar
+            label={`Checking IQDB — ${iqdbProgress.done}/${iqdbProgress.total}${
+              currentCheck ? ` · ${currentCheck}` : ""
+            }`}
+            percent={Math.round(
+              (iqdbProgress.done / iqdbProgress.total) * 100,
+            )}
+            tone="bg-ctp-teal"
+          />
+        ) : processing ? (
+          <p className="flex items-center gap-2 text-xs text-ctp-overlay0">
+            <Spinner className="h-3.5 w-3.5" /> Processing uploads…
+          </p>
         ) : null}
       </header>