diff --git a/src/lib/app/auth.svelte.ts b/src/lib/app/auth.svelte.ts
index 28e96a6d..29ffe176 100644
--- a/src/lib/app/auth.svelte.ts
+++ b/src/lib/app/auth.svelte.ts
@@ -1,12 +1,10 @@
 import { browser } from '$app/environment'
 import { env } from '$env/dynamic/public'
 import { DEFAULT_CLIENT_TYPE, type ClientType } from '$lib/api/base'
-import { client, getClient, site } from '$lib/api/client.svelte'
+import { client, site } from '$lib/api/client.svelte'
 import type { Community, GetSiteResponse, MyUserInfo } from '$lib/api/types'
 import { publishedToDate } from '$lib/ui/util/date'
 import { toast } from 'mono-svelte'
-import { writable } from 'svelte/store'
-import { errorMessage } from './error'
 import { t } from './i18n'
 import { DEFAULT_INSTANCE_URL } from './instance.svelte'
 import { instanceToURL, moveItem } from './util.svelte'
@@ -62,6 +60,9 @@ const getCookie = (key: string): string | undefined => {
 }
 
 class Profile {
+  private static readonly DONATION_CHECK_TIMEOUT = 3 * 1000
+  private static readonly DONATION_REMINDER_INTERVAL = 375 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000
+
   meta = $state<ProfileData>(
     getFromStorage<ProfileData>('profileData') ?? {
       profiles: [
@@ -80,6 +81,7 @@ class Profile {
     this.meta.profiles.find((i) => i.id == this.meta.profile) ??
       this.getDefaultProfile(),
   )
+  inbox: InboxService = $state(new InboxService(this))
 
   getDefaultProfile(): ProfileInfo {
     return {
@@ -90,41 +92,47 @@ class Profile {
   }
 
   constructor() {
-    // cookie migration code
-    if (
-      env.PUBLIC_MIGRATE_COOKIE &&
-      this.meta.profiles.length == 0 &&
-      env.PUBLIC_INSTANCE_URL
-    ) {
-      const jwt = getCookie('jwt')
-      if (jwt) {
-        ;(async () => {
-          const result = await this.add(
-            jwt,
-            env.PUBLIC_INSTANCE_URL ?? '',
-            DEFAULT_CLIENT_TYPE,
-          )
+    this.initCookieMigrate()
+    this.donationPoll(Profile.DONATION_CHECK_TIMEOUT)
+  }
 
-          if (result)
-            toast({
-              content:
-                'Your instance migrated to Photon, and your account was transferred.',
-              type: 'success',
-            })
-        })()
-      }
-    }
+  get current() {
+    return this.#current
+  }
+  set current(value) {
+    if (!value) return
+    const index = this.meta.profiles.findLastIndex((i) => i.id === value.id)
+    if (index != -1) this.meta.profiles[index] = value
+  }
 
-    setInterval(
-      () => {
-        if (profile.current.jwt)
-          this.checkInbox().then((res) => notifications.update(() => res))
-      },
-      4 * 60 * 1000,
+  private async initCookieMigrate() {
+    if (
+      !(
+        env.PUBLIC_MIGRATE_COOKIE &&
+        this.meta.profiles.length == 0 &&
+        env.PUBLIC_INSTANCE_URL
+      )
     )
+      return
+
+    const jwt = getCookie('jwt')
+    if (!jwt) return
+    const result = await this.add(
+      jwt,
+      env.PUBLIC_INSTANCE_URL ?? '',
+      DEFAULT_CLIENT_TYPE,
+    )
+
+    if (result)
+      toast({
+        content:
+          'Your instance migrated frontends, and your account was transferred.',
+        type: 'success',
+      })
+  }
 
-    // hacky way to check donation status
-    setTimeout(() => {
+  private donationPoll(delay: number) {
+    return setTimeout(() => {
       if (
         profile.current.user?.local_user_view.local_user
           .last_donation_notification
@@ -133,7 +141,10 @@ class Profile {
           profile.current.user?.local_user_view.local_user
             .last_donation_notification,
         )
-        if (Date.now() - donationDate.getTime() > 365 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000) {
+        if (
+          Date.now() - donationDate.getTime() >
+          Profile.DONATION_REMINDER_INTERVAL
+        ) {
           toast({
             content: t.get('toast.lemmyDonate'),
             duration: 3600 * 1000,
@@ -152,23 +163,13 @@ class Profile {
           )
         }
       }
-    }, 3 * 1000)
-  }
-
-  get current() {
-    return this.#current
-  }
-  set current(value) {
-    if (!value) return
-    const index = this.meta.profiles.findIndex((i) => i.id == value?.id)
-    this.meta.profiles[index] = value
+    }, delay)
   }
 
   async fetchUserData() {
     const startId = this.#current.id
     if (this.#current.jwt) {
       site.data = undefined
-      notifications.set({ applications: 0, inbox: 0, reports: 0 })
 
       const res = await userFromJwt(this.#current.jwt, this.#current.instance)
       if (!res?.user)
@@ -190,6 +191,7 @@ class Profile {
         this.#current.avatar = res?.user?.local_user_view.person.avatar
         this.#current.username = res?.user?.local_user_view.person.name
       }
+      this.inbox.init()
     } else {
       if (browser) {
         site.data = undefined
@@ -202,44 +204,31 @@ class Profile {
     return this
   }
 
-  async checkInbox() {
-    const { user, jwt } = profile.current
-    if (!user || !jwt) throw new Error('checkInbox() called with invalid user')
-
-    const notifs = await getNotificationCount(jwt, this.isMod(), this.isAdmin)
-
-    return {
-      inbox: notifs.unreads,
-      applications: notifs.applications,
-      reports: notifs.reports,
-    }
-  }
-
   async add(jwt: string, instance: string, type: ClientType) {
-    const user = await userFromJwt(jwt, instance)
-      .then((u) => u)
-      .catch((err) => {
-        toast({ content: errorMessage(err as string), type: 'error' })
+    try {
+      const user = await userFromJwt(jwt, instance)
+      if (!user?.user) {
+        throw new Error('No user data received')
+      }
+
+      const id = Math.max(...this.meta.profiles.map((p) => p.id), 0) + 1
+      this.meta.profiles.unshift({
+        id,
+        instance,
+        jwt,
+        username: user.user.local_user_view.person.name,
+        avatar: user.user.local_user_view.person.avatar,
+        client: type,
       })
-    if (!user?.user) {
+      this.meta.profile = id
+      return user
+    } catch (err) {
       toast({
-        content: "Your instance's API did not return your user data.",
+        content: err as string,
         type: 'error',
       })
+      return null
     }
-
-    const id = Math.max(...this.meta.profiles.map((p) => p.id)) + 1
-    this.meta.profile = id
-    this.meta.profiles.unshift({
-      id: id,
-      instance: instance,
-      jwt: jwt,
-      username: user?.user?.local_user_view.person.name,
-      avatar: user?.user?.local_user_view.person.avatar,
-      client: type,
-    })
-
-    return user
   }
 
   remove(id: number) {
@@ -263,7 +252,7 @@ class Profile {
     }
   }
 
-  isMod(community?: Community) {
+  isMod(community?: Community): boolean {
     if (community)
       return (
         (this.#current.user?.moderates.some(
@@ -275,7 +264,7 @@ class Profile {
     else return (this.#current.user?.moderates.length ?? 0) > 0
   }
 
-  get isAdmin() {
+  get isAdmin(): boolean {
     return (
       site.data?.admins.some(
         (i) => i.person.id == this.#current.user?.local_user_view.person.id,
@@ -283,6 +272,10 @@ class Profile {
     )
   }
 
+  get isDefaultProfile(): boolean {
+    return !this.#current.jwt && this.#current.instance == DEFAULT_INSTANCE_URL
+  }
+
   mainEffect = $effect.root(() => {
     // Sync with localStorage
     $effect(() => {
@@ -301,22 +294,97 @@ class Profile {
     })
 
     $effect(() => {
-      this.fetchUserData().then(() => {
-        if (this.current.jwt)
-          this.checkInbox().then((res) => notifications.update(() => res))
-      })
+      this.fetchUserData()
     })
   })
 }
 
-export const profile = new Profile()
+class InboxService {
+  private readonly POLL_INTERVAL = 4 * 60 * 1000
+  #pollInterval: NodeJS.Timeout | null = null
+
+  #profile: Profile
+
+  notifications = $state<Notifications>({
+    applications: 0,
+    inbox: 0,
+    reports: 0,
+  })
 
-export const notifications = writable<Notifications>({
-  applications: 0,
-  inbox: 0,
-  reports: 0,
-})
+  constructor(profile: Profile) {
+    this.#profile = profile
+  }
+
+  async init(): Promise<void> {
+    this.cleanup()
+
+    this.notifications = await this.checkInbox()
+
+    this.#pollInterval = setInterval(async () => {
+      this.notifications = await this.checkInbox()
+    }, this.POLL_INTERVAL)
+  }
 
+  cleanup(): void {
+    if (this.#pollInterval) clearInterval(this.#pollInterval)
+
+    this.#pollInterval = null
+  }
+
+  clear(): Notifications {
+    this.notifications = {
+      applications: 0,
+      inbox: 0,
+      reports: 0,
+    }
+    return this.notifications
+  }
+
+  async checkInbox(): Promise<Notifications> {
+    if (!this.#profile.current.user || !this.#profile.current.jwt)
+      return this.clear()
+
+    const unreadsPromise = client()
+      .getUnreadCount()
+      .then((res) => res.mentions + res.private_messages + res.replies)
+      .catch(() => 0)
+
+    const reportsPromise = this.#profile.isMod()
+      ? client()
+          .getReportCount({})
+          .then(
+            (res) =>
+              res.comment_reports +
+              res.post_reports +
+              (res.private_message_reports ?? 0),
+          )
+          .catch(() => 0)
+      : new Promise<number>((res) => res(0))
+
+    const applicationsPromise = this.#profile.isAdmin
+      ? client()
+          .getUnreadRegistrationApplicationCount()
+          .then((res) => res.registration_applications)
+          .catch(() => 0)
+      : new Promise<number>((res) => res(0))
+
+    const [unreads, reports, applications] = await Promise.all([
+      unreadsPromise,
+      reportsPromise,
+      applicationsPromise,
+    ])
+
+    return {
+      inbox: unreads,
+      reports: reports,
+      applications: applications,
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+export const profile = new Profile()
+
+// this is all garbage legacy code, remove later
 async function userFromJwt(
   jwt: string,
   instance: string,
@@ -358,41 +426,3 @@ function serializeUser(user: ProfileInfo): ProfileInfo {
     user: undefined,
   }
 }
-
-async function getNotificationCount(jwt: string, mod: boolean, admin: boolean) {
-  const unreadsPromise = getClient()
-    .getUnreadCount()
-    .then((res) => res.mentions + res.private_messages + res.replies)
-    .catch(() => 0)
-
-  const reportsPromise = mod
-    ? getClient()
-        .getReportCount({})
-        .then(
-          (res) =>
-            res.comment_reports +
-            res.post_reports +
-            (res.private_message_reports ?? 0),
-        )
-        .catch(() => 0)
-    : new Promise<number>((res) => res(0))
-
-  const applicationsPromise = admin
-    ? getClient()
-        .getUnreadRegistrationApplicationCount()
-        .then((res) => res.registration_applications)
-        .catch(() => 0)
-    : new Promise<number>((res) => res(0))
-
-  const [unreads, reports, applications] = await Promise.all([
-    unreadsPromise,
-    reportsPromise,
-    applicationsPromise,
-  ])
-
-  return {
-    unreads: unreads,
-    reports: reports,
-    applications: applications,
-  }
-}
diff --git a/src/lib/app/i18n/en.json b/src/lib/app/i18n/en.json
index bf37e690..a89a5b5e 100644
--- a/src/lib/app/i18n/en.json
+++ b/src/lib/app/i18n/en.json
@@ -315,12 +315,16 @@
             "loadComments": "Load comments"
         },
         "postRedirect": {
-            "title": "Mismatching server",
-            "description": "That link resolves to a post not on your account's server, {{homeInstance}}.",
+            "title": "Cross-server content",
+            "description": "That content does not originate from {{homeInstance}}. You can load it on your instance here.",
             "actions": {
                 "back": "Go back",
                 "fetch": "Locate post on {{homeInstance}}",
                 "switch": "Switch to an account on {{destInstance}}"
+            },
+            "automatic": {
+                "title": "Locating post",
+                "description": "That content does not originate on your account's server."
             }
         },
         "inbox": {
diff --git a/src/lib/ui/layout/EndPlaceholder.svelte b/src/lib/ui/layout/EndPlaceholder.svelte
index bf1deaaf..2de5f84f 100644
--- a/src/lib/ui/layout/EndPlaceholder.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/ui/layout/EndPlaceholder.svelte
@@ -23,17 +23,12 @@
     none: '',
   }
 
-  const alignments = {
-    default: '',
-    center: '',
-  }
-
   interface Props {
     class?: ClassValue
     size?: keyof typeof sizes
     color?: keyof typeof colors
     margin?: keyof typeof margins
-    alignment?: keyof typeof alignments
+    alignment?: 'default' | 'center'
     border?: boolean
     children?: import('svelte').Snippet
     action?: import('svelte').Snippet
diff --git a/src/lib/ui/navbar/Navbar.svelte b/src/lib/ui/navbar/Navbar.svelte
index ecb41419..0766d400 100644
--- a/src/lib/ui/navbar/Navbar.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/ui/navbar/Navbar.svelte
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <script lang="ts">
   import { site } from '$lib/api/client.svelte'
-  import { notifications, profile } from '$lib/app/auth.svelte'
+  import { profile } from '$lib/app/auth.svelte'
   import { t } from '$lib/app/i18n'
   import { LINKED_INSTANCE_URL } from '$lib/app/instance.svelte'
   import { Menu, Spinner } from 'mono-svelte'
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@
             <Icon src={Bars3} micro size="18" />
           </div>
         {/if}
-        {#if Math.max(...Object.values($notifications)) > 0}
+        {#if Math.max(...Object.values(profile.inbox.notifications)) > 0}
           <div
             class="w-2 h-2 absolute top-0.5 right-0.5 bg-red-500 rounded-full"
           ></div>
diff --git a/src/lib/ui/navbar/Profile.svelte b/src/lib/ui/navbar/Profile.svelte
index f2f62937..ea914a3c 100644
--- a/src/lib/ui/navbar/Profile.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/ui/navbar/Profile.svelte
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <script lang="ts">
   import { env } from '$env/dynamic/public'
   import { site } from '$lib/api/client.svelte'
-  import { notifications, profile } from '$lib/app/auth.svelte'
+  import { profile } from '$lib/app/auth.svelte'
   import { t } from '$lib/app/i18n'
   import { settings } from '$lib/app/settings.svelte'
   import { theme } from '$lib/app/theme/theme.svelte'
@@ -61,11 +61,12 @@
 {/snippet}
 
 {#if profile.current?.jwt}
+  {@const notifications = profile.inbox.notifications}
   <MenuButton href="/inbox" icon={Inbox}>
     {$t('profile.inbox')}
-    {#if $notifications.inbox > 0}
+    {#if notifications.inbox > 0}
       <Badge color="red-subtle" class="text-xs ml-auto font-bold py-0.5!">
-        {$notifications.inbox > 99 ? '∞' : $notifications.inbox}
+        {notifications.inbox > 99 ? '∞' : notifications.inbox}
       </Badge>
     {/if}
   </MenuButton>
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@
     <MenuButton href="/moderation" icon={ShieldCheck}>
       {$t('routes.moderation.feed')}
       {#snippet suffix()}
-        {@render notifBadge($notifications.reports)}
+        {@render notifBadge(notifications.reports)}
       {/snippet}
     </MenuButton>
   {/if}
@@ -81,7 +82,7 @@
     <MenuButton href="/admin/applications" icon={ServerStack}>
       {$t('routes.admin.applications.title')}
       {#snippet suffix()}
-        {@render notifBadge($notifications.applications)}
+        {@render notifBadge(notifications.applications)}
       {/snippet}
     </MenuButton>
   {/if}
diff --git a/src/lib/ui/sidebar/Sidebar.svelte b/src/lib/ui/sidebar/Sidebar.svelte
index 11579bff..e2659f77 100644
--- a/src/lib/ui/sidebar/Sidebar.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/ui/sidebar/Sidebar.svelte
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <script lang="ts">
   import { env } from '$env/dynamic/public'
-  import { notifications, profile } from '$lib/app/auth.svelte'
+  import { profile } from '$lib/app/auth.svelte'
   import { t } from '$lib/app/i18n'
   import { LINKED_INSTANCE_URL } from '$lib/app/instance.svelte'
   import { settings } from '$lib/app/settings.svelte'
@@ -52,18 +52,19 @@
   />
   <EndPlaceholder margin="sm" size="xs">{$t('profile.profile')}</EndPlaceholder>
   {#if profile.current?.jwt}
+    {@const notifications = profile.inbox.notifications}
     <SidebarButton
       icon={UserCircle}
       href="/profile"
       label={$t('profile.profile')}
     />
     <SidebarButton icon={Inbox} href="/inbox" label={$t('profile.inbox')}>
-      {#if $notifications.inbox}
+      {#if notifications.inbox}
         <Badge
           class="min-w-5 h-5 p-0! px-0.5 grid place-items-center ml-auto"
           color="red-subtle"
         >
-          {$notifications.inbox > 99 ? '∞' : $notifications.inbox}
+          {notifications.inbox > 99 ? '∞' : notifications.inbox}
         </Badge>
       {/if}
     </SidebarButton>
diff --git a/src/routes/admin/+layout.svelte b/src/routes/admin/+layout.svelte
index 47a1a918..c23683e4 100644
--- a/src/routes/admin/+layout.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/admin/+layout.svelte
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <script>
-  import { notifications } from '$lib/app/auth.svelte'
+  import { profile } from '$lib/app/auth.svelte'
   import { t } from '$lib/app/i18n'
   import { Tabs } from '$lib/ui/layout'
   import { Badge } from 'mono-svelte'
@@ -7,13 +7,16 @@
   let { children } = $props()
 </script>
 
-{#if $notifications.applications > 0}
-  <span class="flex flex-row text-red-500 gap-2">
-    <Badge color="red-subtle" class="w-max">
-      {$notifications.applications > 99 ? '∞' : $notifications.applications}
-    </Badge> unread applications
-  </span>
-{/if}
+<svelte:boundary>
+  {@const notifications = profile.inbox.notifications}
+  {#if notifications.applications > 0}
+    <span class="flex flex-row text-red-500 gap-2">
+      <Badge color="red-subtle" class="w-max">
+        {notifications.applications > 99 ? '∞' : notifications.applications}
+      </Badge> unread applications
+    </span>
+  {/if}
+</svelte:boundary>
 
 <Tabs
   routes={[
diff --git a/src/routes/admin/applications/Application.svelte b/src/routes/admin/applications/Application.svelte
index ac526187..e6015101 100644
--- a/src/routes/admin/applications/Application.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/admin/applications/Application.svelte
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
     ApproveRegistrationApplication,
     RegistrationApplicationView,
   } from '$lib/api/types'
-  import { notifications, profile } from '$lib/app/auth.svelte'
+  import { profile } from '$lib/app/auth.svelte'
   import { errorMessage } from '$lib/app/error'
   import { t } from '$lib/app/i18n'
   import ApplicationDenyModal from '$lib/feature/moderation/ApplicationDenyModal.svelte'
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@
       application.admin = profile.current.user!.local_user_view.person
       application.registration_application.deny_reason = denyReason
 
-      $notifications.applications -= 1
+      profile.inbox.notifications.applications -= 1
     } catch (err) {
       toast({
         content: errorMessage(err as string),
diff --git a/src/routes/inbox/+page.svelte b/src/routes/inbox/+page.svelte
index d3044c09..ec1f803e 100644
--- a/src/routes/inbox/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/inbox/+page.svelte
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   import { goto } from '$app/navigation'
   import { page } from '$app/state'
   import { getClient } from '$lib/api/client.svelte'
-  import { notifications, profile } from '$lib/app/auth.svelte'
+  import { profile } from '$lib/app/auth.svelte'
   import { t } from '$lib/app/i18n'
   import { searchParam } from '$lib/app/util.svelte'
   import Fixate from '$lib/ui/generic/Fixate.svelte'
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 
     const response = await getClient().markAllAsRead()
 
-    $notifications.inbox = 0
+    profile.inbox.notifications.inbox = 0
 
     goto(page.url, {
       invalidateAll: true,
diff --git a/src/routes/inbox/+page.ts b/src/routes/inbox/+page.ts
index 1105ebae..a1916f08 100644
--- a/src/routes/inbox/+page.ts
+++ b/src/routes/inbox/+page.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { getClient } from '$lib/api/client.svelte'
-import { notifications, profile } from '$lib/app/auth.svelte'
+import { profile } from '$lib/app/auth.svelte'
 import { ReactiveState } from '$lib/app/util.svelte'
 import {
   generalizeCommentReply,
@@ -64,11 +64,7 @@ export async function load({ url, fetch }) {
       ? data.filter((i) => i.type != 'private_message' && !i.read).length
       : 0
 
-  notifications.update((i) => ({
-    applications: i.applications,
-    reports: i.reports,
-    inbox: totalNotifs,
-  }))
+  profile.inbox.notifications.inbox = totalNotifs
 
   return {
     unreadOnly: new ReactiveState(unreadOnly),
diff --git a/src/routes/inbox/InboxItem.svelte b/src/routes/inbox/InboxItem.svelte
index 1ab25b5b..422bd502 100644
--- a/src/routes/inbox/InboxItem.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/inbox/InboxItem.svelte
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <script lang="ts">
   import { getClient } from '$lib/api/client.svelte'
-  import { notifications, profile } from '$lib/app/auth.svelte'
+  import { profile } from '$lib/app/auth.svelte'
   import { t } from '$lib/app/i18n'
   import Markdown from '$lib/app/markdown/Markdown.svelte'
   import { escapeHtml } from '$lib/app/util.svelte'
@@ -50,7 +50,8 @@
     }
 
     item.read = isRead
-    if (profile.current.user) $notifications.inbox += isRead ? -1 : 1
+    if (profile.current.user)
+      profile.inbox.notifications.inbox += isRead ? -1 : 1
 
     loading = false
   }
diff --git a/src/routes/moderation/Report.svelte b/src/routes/moderation/Report.svelte
index d60a42bb..edd194c1 100644
--- a/src/routes/moderation/Report.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/moderation/Report.svelte
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <script lang="ts">
   import { getClient } from '$lib/api/client.svelte'
-  import { notifications, profile } from '$lib/app/auth.svelte'
+  import { profile } from '$lib/app/auth.svelte'
   import { errorMessage } from '$lib/app/error'
   import { t } from '$lib/app/i18n'
   import CommentItem from '$lib/feature/comment/CommentItem.svelte'
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
                 .then((res) => {
                   i.resolved = res.comment_report_view.comment_report.resolved
                   i.resolver = res.comment_report_view.resolver
-                  $notifications.reports += i.resolved ? -1 : 1
+                  profile.inbox.notifications.reports += i.resolved ? -1 : 1
                 }),
             ),
           )
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@
 
                   i.resolver = res.post_report_view.resolver
 
-                  $notifications.reports += i.resolved ? -1 : 1
+                  profile.inbox.notifications.reports += i.resolved ? -1 : 1
                 }),
             ),
           )
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@
 
                   i.resolver = res.private_message_report_view.resolver
 
-                  $notifications.reports += i.resolved ? -1 : 1
+                  profile.inbox.notifications.reports += i.resolved ? -1 : 1
                 }),
             ),
           )