diff --git a/src/views/FriendsLocations/FriendsLocations.vue b/src/views/FriendsLocations/FriendsLocations.vue
index 54fc5e81..269aa9af 100644
--- a/src/views/FriendsLocations/FriendsLocations.vue
+++ b/src/views/FriendsLocations/FriendsLocations.vue
@@ -58,99 +58,45 @@
         <div v-else class="friend-view__toolbar friend-view__toolbar--loading">
             <span class="friend-view__loading-text">{{ t('view.friends_locations.loading_more') }}</span>
         </div>
-        <ScrollArea v-if="settingsReady" ref="scrollbarRef" class="friend-view__scroll" @scroll="handleScroll">
-            <template v-if="isSameInstanceView">
-                <div v-if="visibleSameInstanceGroups.length" class="friend-view__instances">
-                    <section
-                        v-for="group in visibleSameInstanceGroups"
-                        :key="group.instanceId"
-                        class="friend-view__instance">
-                        <header class="friend-view__instance-header">
-                            <Location class="extra" :location="group.instanceId" style="display: inline" />
-                            <span class="friend-view__instance-count">{{ group.friends.length }}</span>
-                        </header>
-                        <div
-                            class="friend-view__grid"
-                            :style="
-                                gridStyle(group.friends.length, {
-                                    preferredColumns: sameInstanceColumnTarget,
-                                    disableAutoStretch: true,
-                                    matchMaxColumnWidth: true
-                                })
-                            ">
-                            <FriendLocationCard
-                                v-for="friend in group.friends"
-                                :key="friend.id ?? friend.userId ?? friend.displayName"
-                                :friend="friend"
-                                :card-scale="cardScale"
-                                :card-spacing="cardSpacing" />
-                        </div>
-                    </section>
+        <ScrollArea v-if="settingsReady" ref="scrollbarRef" class="friend-view__scroll">
+            <div v-if="virtualRows.length" class="friend-view__virtual" :style="virtualListStyle">
+                <div class="friend-view__virtual-spacer" :style="virtualSpacerStyle">
+                    <div
+                        v-for="vRow in virtualItems"
+                        :key="String(virtualRows[vRow.index]?.key ?? vRow.key)"
+                        class="friend-view__virtual-row"
+                        :data-index="vRow.index"
+                        :ref="(el) => onVirtualRowRef(el)"
+                        :style="virtualRowStyle(vRow.start)">
+                        <template v-if="virtualRows[vRow.index]?.type === 'header'">
+                            <header class="friend-view__instance-header">
+                                <Location
+                                    class="extra"
+                                    :location="virtualRows[vRow.index].instanceId"
+                                    style="display: inline" />
+                                <span class="friend-view__instance-count">{{ virtualRows[vRow.index].count }}</span>
+                            </header>
+                        </template>
+
+                        <template v-else-if="virtualRows[vRow.index]?.type === 'divider'">
+                            <div class="friend-view__divider"><span class="friend-view__divider-text"></span></div>
+                        </template>
+
+                        <template v-else>
+                            <div class="friend-view__row">
+                                <FriendLocationCard
+                                    v-for="item in virtualRows[vRow.index]?.items ?? []"
+                                    :key="item.key"
+                                    :friend="item.friend"
+                                    :card-scale="cardScale"
+                                    :card-spacing="cardSpacing"
+                                    :display-instance-info="item.displayInstanceInfo" />
+                            </div>
+                        </template>
+                    </div>
                 </div>
-                <div v-else class="friend-view__empty">{{ t('view.friends_locations.no_matching_friends') }}</div>
-            </template>
-            <template v-else-if="shouldMergeSameInstance">
-                <div v-if="mergedSameInstanceGroups.length" class="friend-view__instances">
-                    <section
-                        v-for="group in mergedSameInstanceGroups"
-                        :key="group.instanceId"
-                        class="friend-view__instance">
-                        <header class="friend-view__instance-header">
-                            <Location class="extra" :location="group.instanceId" style="display: inline" />
-                            <span class="friend-view__instance-count">{{ group.friends.length }}</span>
-                        </header>
-                        <div
-                            class="friend-view__grid"
-                            :style="
-                                gridStyle(group.friends.length, {
-                                    preferredColumns: sameInstanceColumnTarget,
-                                    disableAutoStretch: true,
-                                    matchMaxColumnWidth: true
-                                })
-                            ">
-                            <FriendLocationCard
-                                v-for="friend in group.friends"
-                                :key="friend.id ?? friend.userId ?? friend.displayName"
-                                :friend="friend"
-                                :card-scale="cardScale"
-                                :card-spacing="cardSpacing"
-                                :display-instance-info="false" />
-                        </div>
-                    </section>
-                </div>
-                <div v-if="mergedSameInstanceGroups.length && mergedOnlineEntries.length" class="friend-view__divider">
-                    <span class="friend-view__divider-text"></span>
-                </div>
-                <div
-                    v-if="mergedOnlineEntries.length"
-                    class="friend-view__grid"
-                    :style="gridStyle(mergedOnlineEntries.length)">
-                    <FriendLocationCard
-                        v-for="entry in mergedOnlineEntries"
-                        :key="entry.id ?? entry.friend.id ?? entry.friend.displayName"
-                        :friend="entry.friend"
-                        :card-scale="cardScale"
-                        :card-spacing="cardSpacing" />
-                </div>
-                <div v-if="!mergedSameInstanceGroups.length && !mergedOnlineEntries.length" class="friend-view__empty">
-                    {{ t('view.friends_locations.no_matching_friends') }}
-                </div>
-            </template>
-            <template v-else>
-                <div v-if="visibleFriends.length" class="friend-view__grid" :style="gridStyle(visibleFriends.length)">
-                    <FriendLocationCard
-                        v-for="entry in visibleFriends"
-                        :key="entry.id ?? entry.friend.id ?? entry.friend.displayName"
-                        :friend="entry.friend"
-                        :card-scale="cardScale"
-                        :card-spacing="cardSpacing" />
-                </div>
-                <div v-else class="friend-view__empty">{{ t('view.friends_locations.no_matching_friends') }}</div>
-            </template>
-            <div v-if="isLoadingMore" class="friend-view__loading">
-                <Loader2 class="friend-view__loading-icon" :size="18" />
-                <span>{{ t('view.friends_locations.loading_more') }}</span>
             </div>
+            <div v-else class="friend-view__empty">{{ t('view.friends_locations.no_matching_friends') }}</div>
         </ScrollArea>
         <div v-else class="friend-view__initial-loading">
             <Loader2 class="friend-view__loading-icon" :size="22" />
@@ -159,7 +105,7 @@
 </template>
 
 <script setup>
-    import { computed, nextTick, onBeforeMount, onBeforeUnmount, onMounted, ref, watch } from 'vue';
+    import { computed, nextTick, onBeforeMount, onBeforeUnmount, onMounted, ref, shallowRef, watch } from 'vue';
     import { Tabs, TabsList, TabsTrigger } from '@/components/ui/tabs';
     import { Loader2, Settings } from 'lucide-vue-next';
     import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
@@ -167,6 +113,7 @@
     import { ScrollArea } from '@/components/ui/scroll-area';
     import { storeToRefs } from 'pinia';
     import { useI18n } from 'vue-i18n';
+    import { useVirtualizer } from '@tanstack/vue-virtual';
 
     import { Popover, PopoverContent, PopoverTrigger } from '../../components/ui/popover';
     import { Slider } from '../../components/ui/slider';
@@ -249,21 +196,17 @@
 
     const settingsReady = ref(false);
 
-    const PAGE_SIZE = 18;
-    const VIEWPORT_BUFFER = 32;
-
     const activeSegment = ref('online');
     const searchTerm = ref('');
 
-    const itemsToShow = ref(PAGE_SIZE);
-    const isLoadingMore = ref(false);
     const scrollbarRef = ref();
+    const scrollViewportRef = shallowRef(null);
     const gridWidth = ref(0);
     let resizeObserver;
     let cleanupResize;
 
     const updateGridWidth = () => {
-        const wrap = scrollbarRef.value?.viewportEl?.value;
+        const wrap = scrollViewportRef.value;
         if (!wrap) {
             return;
         }
@@ -277,7 +220,7 @@
             cleanupResize = undefined;
         }
 
-        const wrap = scrollbarRef.value?.viewportEl?.value;
+        const wrap = scrollViewportRef.value;
         if (!wrap) {
             return;
         }
@@ -418,8 +361,6 @@
         }
     });
 
-    const visibleFriends = computed(() => filteredFriends.value.slice(0, itemsToShow.value));
-
     const isSameInstanceView = computed(
         () => showSameInstance.value && activeSegment.value === 'same-instance' && !normalizedSearchTerm.value
     );
@@ -454,56 +395,34 @@
             }));
     };
 
-    const visibleSameInstanceGroups = computed(() => {
+    const sameInstanceGroupsForVirtual = computed(() => {
         if (!isSameInstanceView.value) {
             return [];
         }
-
-        return buildSameInstanceGroups(visibleFriends.value);
+        return buildSameInstanceGroups(filteredFriends.value);
     });
 
     const mergedSameInstanceEntries = computed(() => {
         if (!shouldMergeSameInstance.value) {
             return [];
         }
-
-        return visibleFriends.value.filter((entry) => entry.section === 'same-instance');
+        return filteredFriends.value.filter((entry) => entry.section === 'same-instance');
     });
 
     const mergedOnlineEntries = computed(() => {
         if (!shouldMergeSameInstance.value) {
             return [];
         }
-
-        return visibleFriends.value.filter((entry) => entry.section !== 'same-instance');
+        return filteredFriends.value.filter((entry) => entry.section !== 'same-instance');
     });
 
     const mergedSameInstanceGroups = computed(() => {
         if (!shouldMergeSameInstance.value) {
             return [];
         }
-
         return buildSameInstanceGroups(mergedSameInstanceEntries.value);
     });
 
-    const sameInstanceColumnTarget = computed(() => {
-        const groups = isSameInstanceView.value
-            ? visibleSameInstanceGroups.value
-            : shouldMergeSameInstance.value
-              ? mergedSameInstanceGroups.value
-              : [];
-
-        let maxCount = 0;
-        for (const group of groups) {
-            const size = Array.isArray(group?.friends) ? group.friends.length : 0;
-            if (size > maxCount) {
-                maxCount = size;
-            }
-        }
-
-        return maxCount > 0 ? maxCount : null;
-    });
-
     const gridStyle = computed(() => {
         const baseWidth = 220;
         const baseGap = 14;
@@ -551,92 +470,191 @@
         };
     });
 
-    const handleScroll = () => {
-        if (
-            isLoadingMore.value ||
-            filteredFriends.value.length === 0 ||
-            itemsToShow.value >= filteredFriends.value.length
-        ) {
+    function resolveScrollViewport() {
+        const rootEl = scrollbarRef.value?.$el ?? null;
+        if (!rootEl) {
+            scrollViewportRef.value = null;
             return;
         }
-
-        const wrap = scrollbarRef.value?.viewportEl?.value;
-
-        if (!wrap) {
-            return;
-        }
-
-        const { scrollHeight, scrollTop, clientHeight } = wrap;
-
-        if (scrollTop + clientHeight >= scrollHeight - 120) {
-            loadMoreFriends();
-        }
-    };
-
-    function loadMoreFriends() {
-        if (isLoadingMore.value || itemsToShow.value >= filteredFriends.value.length) {
-            return;
-        }
-
-        isLoadingMore.value = true;
-
-        window.setTimeout(() => {
-            if (itemsToShow.value < filteredFriends.value.length) {
-                itemsToShow.value = Math.min(itemsToShow.value + PAGE_SIZE, filteredFriends.value.length);
-            }
-            isLoadingMore.value = false;
-            maybeFillViewport();
-        }, 350);
+        scrollViewportRef.value = rootEl.querySelector('[data-slot="scroll-area-viewport"]');
     }
 
-    function maybeFillViewport() {
-        nextTick(() => {
-            const wrap = scrollbarRef.value?.viewportEl?.value;
-            if (!wrap) {
-                return;
-            }
+    const maxColumns = computed(() => {
+        const styleFn = gridStyle.value;
+        if (typeof styleFn !== 'function') {
+            return 1;
+        }
 
-            const { scrollHeight, clientHeight } = wrap;
-            const hasSpace = scrollHeight <= clientHeight + VIEWPORT_BUFFER;
+        const containerWidth = Math.max(gridWidth.value ?? 0, 0);
 
-            if (!hasSpace || isLoadingMore.value) {
-                return;
-            }
+        const baseWidth = 220;
+        const baseGap = 14;
+        const scale = cardScale.value;
+        const spacing = cardSpacing.value;
+        const minWidth = baseWidth * scale;
+        const gap = Math.max(6, (baseGap + (scale - 1) * 10) * spacing);
 
-            if (filteredFriends.value.length > visibleFriends.value.length) {
-                loadMoreFriends();
-            }
-        });
-    }
-
-    watch([searchTerm, activeSegment], () => {
-        itemsToShow.value = PAGE_SIZE;
-        nextTick(() => {
-            updateGridWidth();
-            maybeFillViewport();
-        });
+        return Math.max(1, Math.floor((containerWidth + gap) / (minWidth + gap)) || 1);
     });
 
-    watch(
-        () => filteredFriends.value.length,
-        (length) => {
-            if (itemsToShow.value > length) {
-                itemsToShow.value = length;
+    const chunk = (items = [], size = 1) => {
+        const out = [];
+        const n = Math.max(1, Math.floor(size) || 1);
+        for (let i = 0; i < items.length; i += n) {
+            out.push(items.slice(i, i + n));
+        }
+        return out;
+    };
+
+    const virtualRows = computed(() => {
+        const rows = [];
+        const columns = maxColumns.value;
+
+        if (isSameInstanceView.value) {
+            for (const group of sameInstanceGroupsForVirtual.value) {
+                rows.push({
+                    type: 'header',
+                    key: `h:${group.instanceId}`,
+                    instanceId: group.instanceId,
+                    count: Array.isArray(group.friends) ? group.friends.length : 0
+                });
+
+                const friends = Array.isArray(group.friends) ? group.friends : [];
+                for (const rowFriends of chunk(friends, Math.min(columns, friends.length || 1))) {
+                    rows.push({
+                        type: 'cards',
+                        key: `g:${group.instanceId}:${rowFriends
+                            .map((f) => f?.id ?? f?.userId ?? f?.displayName ?? '')
+                            .join('|')}`,
+                        items: rowFriends.map((friend) => ({
+                            key: `f:${friend?.id ?? friend?.userId ?? friend?.displayName ?? Math.random()}`,
+                            friend,
+                            displayInstanceInfo: true
+                        }))
+                    });
+                }
             }
-            nextTick(() => {
-                updateGridWidth();
-                maybeFillViewport();
+
+            return rows;
+        }
+
+        if (shouldMergeSameInstance.value) {
+            for (const group of mergedSameInstanceGroups.value) {
+                rows.push({
+                    type: 'header',
+                    key: `h:${group.instanceId}`,
+                    instanceId: group.instanceId,
+                    count: Array.isArray(group.friends) ? group.friends.length : 0
+                });
+
+                const friends = Array.isArray(group.friends) ? group.friends : [];
+                for (const rowFriends of chunk(friends, Math.min(columns, friends.length || 1))) {
+                    rows.push({
+                        type: 'cards',
+                        key: `mg:${group.instanceId}:${rowFriends
+                            .map((f) => f?.id ?? f?.userId ?? f?.displayName ?? '')
+                            .join('|')}`,
+                        items: rowFriends.map((friend) => ({
+                            key: `f:${friend?.id ?? friend?.userId ?? friend?.displayName ?? Math.random()}`,
+                            friend,
+                            displayInstanceInfo: false
+                        }))
+                    });
+                }
+            }
+
+            if (mergedSameInstanceGroups.value.length && mergedOnlineEntries.value.length) {
+                rows.push({ type: 'divider', key: 'divider:merged' });
+            }
+
+            const online = mergedOnlineEntries.value;
+            for (const rowEntries of chunk(online, Math.min(columns, online.length || 1))) {
+                rows.push({
+                    type: 'cards',
+                    key: `o:${rowEntries.map((e) => e?.id ?? '').join('|')}`,
+                    items: rowEntries.map((entry) => ({
+                        key: `e:${entry?.id ?? entry?.friend?.id ?? entry?.friend?.displayName ?? Math.random()}`,
+                        friend: entry.friend,
+                        displayInstanceInfo: true
+                    }))
+                });
+            }
+
+            return rows;
+        }
+
+        const entries = filteredFriends.value;
+        for (const rowEntries of chunk(entries, Math.min(columns, entries.length || 1))) {
+            rows.push({
+                type: 'cards',
+                key: `r:${rowEntries.map((e) => e?.id ?? '').join('|')}`,
+                items: rowEntries.map((entry) => ({
+                    key: `e:${entry?.id ?? entry?.friend?.id ?? entry?.friend?.displayName ?? Math.random()}`,
+                    friend: entry.friend,
+                    displayInstanceInfo: true
+                }))
             });
         }
+        return rows;
+    });
+
+    const estimatedRowHeight = computed(() => {
+        const base = 148;
+        return Math.max(64, Math.round(base * cardScale.value * cardSpacing.value));
+    });
+
+    const virtualizerRef = useVirtualizer(
+        computed(() => ({
+            count: virtualRows.value.length,
+            getScrollElement: () => scrollViewportRef.value,
+            estimateSize: (index) => {
+                const row = virtualRows.value[index];
+                if (row?.type === 'header') return 34;
+                if (row?.type === 'divider') return 18;
+                return estimatedRowHeight.value;
+            },
+            overscan: 10
+        }))
     );
 
-    watch([cardScale, cardSpacing], () => {
-        if (!settingsReady.value) {
+    const virtualizer = computed(() => virtualizerRef.value);
+    const virtualItems = computed(() => virtualizer.value?.getVirtualItems?.() ?? []);
+
+    const virtualSpacerStyle = computed(() => {
+        const height = `${virtualizer.value?.getTotalSize?.() ?? 0}px`;
+        return `height:${height};position:relative;width:100%;`;
+    });
+
+    function virtualRowStyle(start) {
+        const y = Number(start) || 0;
+        return `transform:translateY(${y}px);position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;`;
+    }
+
+    function onVirtualRowRef(el) {
+        const target = el?.$el ?? el;
+        if (!target) {
             return;
         }
+        virtualizer.value?.measureElement?.(/** @type {Element} */ (target));
+    }
+
+    const virtualListStyle = computed(() => {
+        const styleFn = gridStyle.value;
+        const total = filteredFriends.value.length;
+
+        // Use matchMaxColumnWidth so rows don't collapse to minWidth on short rows.
+        const vars = typeof styleFn === 'function' ? styleFn(total, { matchMaxColumnWidth: true }) : {};
+        return {
+            ...vars
+        };
+    });
+
+    watch([searchTerm, activeSegment], () => {
+        virtualizer.value?.scrollToOffset?.(0);
         nextTick(() => {
+            resolveScrollViewport();
             updateGridWidth();
-            maybeFillViewport();
+            virtualizer.value?.measure?.();
         });
     });
 
@@ -648,18 +666,41 @@
             activeSegment.value = 'online';
         }
 
-        itemsToShow.value = PAGE_SIZE;
+        virtualizer.value?.scrollToOffset?.(0);
+        nextTick(() => {
+            resolveScrollViewport();
+            updateGridWidth();
+            virtualizer.value?.measure?.();
+        });
+    });
 
+    watch(
+        () => filteredFriends.value.length,
+        () => {
+            nextTick(() => {
+                resolveScrollViewport();
+                updateGridWidth();
+                virtualizer.value?.measure?.();
+            });
+        }
+    );
+
+    watch([cardScale, cardSpacing], () => {
+        if (!settingsReady.value) {
+            return;
+        }
         nextTick(() => {
             updateGridWidth();
-            maybeFillViewport();
+            virtualizer.value?.measure?.();
         });
     });
 
     onMounted(() => {
         nextTick(() => {
+            resolveScrollViewport();
             setupResizeHandling();
-            maybeFillViewport();
+            updateGridWidth();
+            virtualizer.value?.measure?.();
         });
     });
 
@@ -696,9 +737,10 @@
         } finally {
             settingsReady.value = true;
             nextTick(() => {
+                resolveScrollViewport();
                 setupResizeHandling();
                 updateGridWidth();
-                maybeFillViewport();
+                virtualizer.value?.measure?.();
             });
         }
     }
@@ -747,6 +789,30 @@
         color: var(--el-text-color-regular);
     }
 
+    .friend-view__virtual {
+        width: 100%;
+        padding: 2px;
+        box-sizing: border-box;
+    }
+
+    .friend-view__virtual-spacer {
+        width: 100%;
+    }
+
+    .friend-view__virtual-row {
+        width: 100%;
+        box-sizing: border-box;
+    }
+
+    .friend-view__row {
+        display: flex;
+        flex-wrap: nowrap;
+        gap: var(--friend-card-gap, 14px);
+        align-items: stretch;
+        padding: 2px;
+        box-sizing: border-box;
+    }
+
     .friend-view__settings-label {
         font-size: 13px;
         font-weight: 500;