diff --git a/src/services/database/gameLog.js b/src/services/database/gameLog.js
index c03dc88e..b5420333 100644
--- a/src/services/database/gameLog.js
+++ b/src/services/database/gameLog.js
@@ -473,6 +473,9 @@ const gameLog = {
     },
 
     async getAllUserStats(userIds, displayNames) {
+        if (!userIds.length && !displayNames.length) {
+            return [];
+        }
         var data = [];
         // this makes me most sad
         var userIdsString = '';
@@ -485,6 +488,13 @@ const gameLog = {
             displayNamesString += `'${displayName.replaceAll("'", "''")}', `;
         }
         displayNamesString = displayNamesString.slice(0, -2);
+        var whereClauses = [];
+        if (userIdsString) {
+            whereClauses.push(`g.user_id IN (${userIdsString})`);
+        }
+        if (displayNamesString) {
+            whereClauses.push(`g.display_name IN (${displayNamesString})`);
+        }
 
         await sqliteService.execute(
             (dbRow) => {
@@ -507,8 +517,7 @@ const gameLog = {
             FROM
                 gamelog_join_leave g
             WHERE
-                g.user_id IN (${userIdsString})
-                OR g.display_name IN (${displayNamesString})
+                ${whereClauses.join('\n                OR ')}
             GROUP BY
                 g.user_id,
                 g.display_name
diff --git a/src/stores/friend.js b/src/stores/friend.js
index a6056451..006c6097 100644
--- a/src/stores/friend.js
+++ b/src/stores/friend.js
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@ export const useFriendStore = defineStore('Friend', () => {
     const sortedFriends = shallowRef([]);
     let sortedFriendsBatchDepth = 0;
     let pendingSortedFriendsRebuild = false;
+    let allUserStatsRequestId = 0;
+    let allUserMutualCountRequestId = 0;
 
     const derivedDebugCounters = reactive({
         allFavoriteFriendIds: 0,
@@ -820,8 +822,16 @@ export const useFriendStore = defineStore('Friend', () => {
                 displayNames.push(ctx.ref.displayName);
             }
         }
+        if (!userIds.length) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        const requestId = ++allUserStatsRequestId;
 
         const data = await database.getAllUserStats(userIds, displayNames);
+        if (requestId !== allUserStatsRequestId) {
+            return;
+        }
 
         const dataByDisplayName = new Map();
         const friendsByDisplayName = new Map();
@@ -885,7 +895,14 @@ export const useFriendStore = defineStore('Friend', () => {
      *
      */
     async function getAllUserMutualCount() {
+        if (!friends.size) {
+            return;
+        }
+        const requestId = ++allUserMutualCountRequestId;
         const mutualCountMap = await database.getMutualCountForAllUsers();
+        if (requestId !== allUserMutualCountRequestId) {
+            return;
+        }
         runInSortedFriendsBatch(() => {
             for (const [userId, mutualCount] of mutualCountMap.entries()) {
                 const ref = friends.get(userId);
diff --git a/src/views/FriendList/FriendList.vue b/src/views/FriendList/FriendList.vue
index b44765f7..4aeee6ee 100644
--- a/src/views/FriendList/FriendList.vue
+++ b/src/views/FriendList/FriendList.vue
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@
                                 :placeholder="t('view.friend_list.search_placeholder')"
                                 clearable
                                 class="w-[250px]"
+                                @input="scheduleFriendsListSearchChange"
                                 @change="friendsListSearchChange" />
                         </div>
                         <div class="flex items-center">
@@ -120,7 +121,7 @@
 <script setup>
     import { Select, SelectContent, SelectGroup, SelectItem, SelectTrigger, SelectValue } from '@/components/ui/select';
     import { Dialog, DialogContent, DialogFooter, DialogHeader, DialogTitle } from '@/components/ui/dialog';
-    import { computed, nextTick, ref, watch } from 'vue';
+    import { computed, nextTick, onBeforeUnmount, ref, watch } from 'vue';
     import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
     import { InputGroupField } from '@/components/ui/input-group';
     import { Progress } from '@/components/ui/progress';
@@ -185,6 +186,13 @@
     });
 
     const friendsListRef = ref(null);
+    const friendSearchCache = new Map();
+    const FRIEND_LIST_SEARCH_DEBOUNCE_MS = 150;
+    const FRIEND_STATS_REFRESH_INTERVAL_MS = 30000;
+    let friendsListSearchTimer = 0;
+    let friendStatsRefreshInFlight = null;
+    let lastFriendStatsRefreshAt = 0;
+    let lastFriendStatsRefreshKey = '';
 
     const friendsListColumns = computed(() =>
         createColumns({
@@ -257,7 +265,7 @@
         () => route.path,
         () => {
             refreshFriendStats();
-            nextTick(() => friendsListSearchChange());
+            nextTick(() => applyFriendsListSearchChange());
         },
         { immediate: true }
     );
@@ -265,23 +273,116 @@
     watch(
         () => friends.value.size,
         () => {
-            refreshFriendStats();
-            friendsListSearchChange();
+            friendSearchCache.clear();
+            refreshFriendStats({ force: true });
+            applyFriendsListSearchChange();
         }
     );
 
-    function refreshFriendStats() {
-        getAllUserStats();
-        getAllUserMutualCount();
+    onBeforeUnmount(() => {
+        if (friendsListSearchTimer) {
+            clearTimeout(friendsListSearchTimer);
+        }
+    });
+
+    function getFriendStatsRefreshKey() {
+        return Array.from(friends.value.keys()).sort().join('\u0000');
+    }
+
+    async function refreshFriendStats({ force = false } = {}) {
+        const friendStatsRefreshKey = getFriendStatsRefreshKey();
+        if (!friendStatsRefreshKey) {
+            return;
+        }
+        const now = Date.now();
+        const isStillFresh =
+            friendStatsRefreshKey === lastFriendStatsRefreshKey &&
+            now - lastFriendStatsRefreshAt < FRIEND_STATS_REFRESH_INTERVAL_MS;
+        if (!force && (friendStatsRefreshInFlight || isStillFresh)) {
+            return friendStatsRefreshInFlight;
+        }
+        friendStatsRefreshInFlight = Promise.allSettled([
+            getAllUserStats(),
+            getAllUserMutualCount()
+        ]).then((results) => {
+            if (results.every((result) => result.status === 'fulfilled')) {
+                lastFriendStatsRefreshAt = Date.now();
+                lastFriendStatsRefreshKey = friendStatsRefreshKey;
+            }
+            return results;
+        }).finally(() => {
+            friendStatsRefreshInFlight = null;
+        });
+        return friendStatsRefreshInFlight;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     *
+     */
+    function scheduleFriendsListSearchChange() {
+        if (friendsListSearchTimer) {
+            clearTimeout(friendsListSearchTimer);
+        }
+        friendsListSearchTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+            friendsListSearchTimer = 0;
+            applyFriendsListSearchChange();
+        }, FRIEND_LIST_SEARCH_DEBOUNCE_MS);
     }
 
     /**
      *
      */
     function friendsListSearchChange() {
+        if (friendsListSearchTimer) {
+            clearTimeout(friendsListSearchTimer);
+            friendsListSearchTimer = 0;
+        }
+        applyFriendsListSearchChange();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     *
+     * @param {object} ctx
+     * @returns {object | null}
+     */
+    function getFriendSearchEntry(ctx) {
+        if (!ctx?.ref?.id) {
+            return null;
+        }
+        const signature = [
+            ctx.memo ?? '',
+            ctx.ref.displayName ?? '',
+            ctx.ref.note ?? '',
+            ctx.ref.bio ?? '',
+            ctx.ref.statusDescription ?? '',
+            ctx.ref.$trustLevel ?? ''
+        ].join('\u0000');
+        const cached = friendSearchCache.get(ctx.id);
+        if (cached?.signature === signature) {
+            return cached;
+        }
+        const entry = {
+            signature,
+            bio: ctx.ref.bio ?? '',
+            displayName: ctx.ref.displayName ?? '',
+            memo: ctx.memo ?? '',
+            normalizedDisplayName: removeConfusables(ctx.ref.displayName ?? ''),
+            note: ctx.ref.note ?? '',
+            rank: String(ctx.ref.$trustLevel ?? '').toUpperCase(),
+            status: ctx.ref.statusDescription ?? ''
+        };
+        friendSearchCache.set(ctx.id, entry);
+        return entry;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     *
+     */
+    function applyFriendsListSearchChange() {
         friendsListLoading.value = true;
         let query = '';
         let cleanedQuery = '';
+        let upperQuery = '';
         friendsListDisplayData.value = [];
         let filters = friendsListSearchFilters.value.length
             ? [...friendsListSearchFilters.value]
@@ -290,31 +391,34 @@
         if (friendsListSearch.value) {
             query = friendsListSearch.value;
             cleanedQuery = removeWhitespace(query);
+            upperQuery = query.toUpperCase();
         }
         for (const ctx of friends.value.values()) {
             if (!ctx.ref) continue;
             if (friendsListSearchFilterVIP.value && !allFavoriteFriendIds.value.has(ctx.id)) continue;
             if (query) {
                 let match = false;
-                if (!match && filters.includes('Display Name') && ctx.ref.displayName) {
+                const searchEntry = getFriendSearchEntry(ctx);
+                if (!searchEntry) continue;
+                if (!match && filters.includes('Display Name') && searchEntry.displayName) {
                     match =
-                        localeIncludes(ctx.ref.displayName, cleanedQuery, stringComparer.value) ||
-                        localeIncludes(removeConfusables(ctx.ref.displayName), cleanedQuery, stringComparer.value);
+                        localeIncludes(searchEntry.displayName, cleanedQuery, stringComparer.value) ||
+                        localeIncludes(searchEntry.normalizedDisplayName, cleanedQuery, stringComparer.value);
                 }
-                if (!match && filters.includes('Memo') && ctx.memo) {
-                    match = localeIncludes(ctx.memo, query, stringComparer.value);
+                if (!match && filters.includes('Memo') && searchEntry.memo) {
+                    match = localeIncludes(searchEntry.memo, query, stringComparer.value);
                 }
-                if (!match && filters.includes('Note') && ctx.ref.note) {
-                    match = localeIncludes(ctx.ref.note, query, stringComparer.value);
+                if (!match && filters.includes('Note') && searchEntry.note) {
+                    match = localeIncludes(searchEntry.note, query, stringComparer.value);
                 }
-                if (!match && filters.includes('Bio') && ctx.ref.bio) {
-                    match = localeIncludes(ctx.ref.bio, query, stringComparer.value);
+                if (!match && filters.includes('Bio') && searchEntry.bio) {
+                    match = localeIncludes(searchEntry.bio, query, stringComparer.value);
                 }
-                if (!match && filters.includes('Status') && ctx.ref.statusDescription) {
-                    match = localeIncludes(ctx.ref.statusDescription, query, stringComparer.value);
+                if (!match && filters.includes('Status') && searchEntry.status) {
+                    match = localeIncludes(searchEntry.status, query, stringComparer.value);
                 }
                 if (!match && filters.includes('Rank')) {
-                    match = String(ctx.ref.$trustLevel).toUpperCase().includes(query.toUpperCase());
+                    match = searchEntry.rank.includes(upperQuery);
                 }
                 if (!match) continue;
             }
diff --git a/src/views/FriendList/__tests__/FriendList.test.js b/src/views/FriendList/__tests__/FriendList.test.js
index c4979197..41a04107 100644
--- a/src/views/FriendList/__tests__/FriendList.test.js
+++ b/src/views/FriendList/__tests__/FriendList.test.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { beforeEach, describe, expect, test, vi } from 'vitest';
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, test, vi } from 'vitest';
 import { mount } from '@vue/test-utils';
 import { nextTick } from 'vue';
 
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@ vi.mock('../../../services/confusables', () => ({
 }));
 
 vi.mock('../../../shared/utils', () => ({
+    debounce: (fn) => fn,
     localeIncludes: (source, query) =>
         String(source ?? '')
             .toLowerCase()
@@ -174,9 +175,9 @@ vi.mock('@/components/ui/button', () => ({
 vi.mock('@/components/ui/input-group', () => ({
     InputGroupField: {
         props: ['modelValue'],
-        emits: ['update:modelValue', 'change'],
+        emits: ['update:modelValue', 'input', 'change'],
         template:
-            '<input data-testid="friend-search" :value="modelValue" @input="$emit(\'update:modelValue\', $event.target.value)" @change="$emit(\'change\')" />'
+            '<input data-testid="friend-search" :value="modelValue" @input="$emit(\'update:modelValue\', $event.target.value); $emit(\'input\', $event.target.value)" @change="$emit(\'change\')" />'
     }
 }));
 
@@ -274,6 +275,7 @@ async function flushAsync() {
 
 describe('FriendList.vue', () => {
     beforeEach(() => {
+        vi.useFakeTimers();
         mocks.route.path = '/friend-list';
         mocks.friends.value = new Map();
         mocks.allFavoriteFriendIds.value = new Set();
@@ -296,6 +298,11 @@ describe('FriendList.vue', () => {
         mocks.toggleBulkColumnVisibility.mockReset();
     });
 
+    afterEach(() => {
+        vi.runOnlyPendingTimers();
+        vi.useRealTimers();
+    });
+
     test('filters friend list by search text and VIP toggle', async () => {
         mocks.friends.value = new Map([
             ['usr_1', makeFriendCtx({ id: 'usr_1', displayName: 'Alice' })],
@@ -320,6 +327,77 @@ describe('FriendList.vue', () => {
         expect(mocks.getAllUserMutualCount).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
     });
 
+    test('debounces search input and applies immediately on change', async () => {
+        mocks.friends.value = new Map([
+            ['usr_1', makeFriendCtx({ id: 'usr_1', displayName: 'Alice' })],
+            ['usr_2', makeFriendCtx({ id: 'usr_2', displayName: 'Bob' })]
+        ]);
+
+        const wrapper = mount(FriendList);
+        await flushAsync();
+
+        const searchInput = wrapper.get('[data-testid="friend-search"]');
+        searchInput.element.value = 'bob';
+        await searchInput.trigger('input');
+        await nextTick();
+
+        expect(
+            wrapper.vm.friendsListDisplayData.map((item) => item.id)
+        ).toEqual(['usr_1', 'usr_2']);
+
+        vi.advanceTimersByTime(150);
+        await flushAsync();
+
+        expect(
+            wrapper.vm.friendsListDisplayData.map((item) => item.id)
+        ).toEqual(['usr_2']);
+
+        mocks.friendsListSearch.value = 'alice';
+        await searchInput.trigger('change');
+        await flushAsync();
+
+        expect(
+            wrapper.vm.friendsListDisplayData.map((item) => item.id)
+        ).toEqual(['usr_1']);
+    });
+
+    test('refreshFriendStats retries immediately after a failed stats request', async () => {
+        mocks.friends.value = new Map([
+            ['usr_1', makeFriendCtx({ id: 'usr_1', displayName: 'Alice' })]
+        ]);
+        mocks.getAllUserStats.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error('stats failed'));
+
+        const wrapper = mount(FriendList);
+        await flushAsync();
+
+        expect(mocks.getAllUserStats).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+
+        await wrapper.vm.refreshFriendStats();
+
+        expect(mocks.getAllUserStats).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+        expect(mocks.getAllUserMutualCount).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+    });
+
+    test('refreshFriendStats refreshes again when friend roster changes with same size', async () => {
+        mocks.friends.value = new Map([
+            ['usr_1', makeFriendCtx({ id: 'usr_1', displayName: 'Alice' })]
+        ]);
+
+        const wrapper = mount(FriendList);
+        await flushAsync();
+
+        expect(mocks.getAllUserStats).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+
+        mocks.friends.value = new Map([
+            ['usr_2', makeFriendCtx({ id: 'usr_2', displayName: 'Bob' })]
+        ]);
+
+        await wrapper.vm.refreshFriendStats();
+
+        expect(mocks.getAllUserStats).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+        expect(mocks.getAllUserMutualCount).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+    });
+
     test('opens charts tab from toolbar button', async () => {
         const wrapper = mount(FriendList);