live activity: always render full card (drop compact fallback)

Long station names inflated richBody's IDEAL width, so ViewThatFits (which
measures ideal, untruncated text) decided 'rich doesn't fit' and fell back to
the compact strip — that's why 5-mi / long-named activities rendered small
while 10-15-mi / short names stayed full. With .supplementalActivityFamilies
already removed, the body is only ever Lock-Screen width, so drop ViewThatFits
and compactBody entirely and always render the full three-column card; the
station caption line-limits + scale-downs + tail-truncates in place.

FuelBoard/ContentView.swift

@@ -2,6 +2,15 @@ import SwiftUI
 import CoreLocation
 import WidgetKit
 
+/// The single floating notification banner. Network/offline state and tip
+/// outcomes all funnel through ONE style and render via the same chrome in
+/// ContentView — never pushing layout, always overlaid.
+enum AppBanner: Hashable {
+    case offlineDump(date: String)
+    case connectionProblem
+    case tip(TipStore.TipOutcome)
+}
+
 struct ContentView: View {
     @Environment(\.scenePhase) private var scenePhase
 
@@ -70,6 +79,20 @@ struct ContentView: View {
     @State private var selectedTab = 0
     @State private var locationManager = LocationManager()
     @StateObject private var monitor = ProximityMonitor()
+    /// Owns tip purchases; the single instance is shared down to Settings.
+    /// Its transient outcome rides the SAME status-banner chrome as the
+    /// network/offline strip (ContentView renders it above the tabs).
+    @StateObject private var tipStore = TipStore()
+
+    // --- Explicit banner animation state (robust fade-out) ---
+    // SwiftUI's removal transition for the banner proved unreliable here
+    // (the tip faded to nothing only in the cross-nil case, and even then
+    // inconsistently). Drive opacity/offset explicitly instead so a
+    // dismissal ALWAYS fades + slides up on ANY banner change.
+    @State private var currentBanner: AppBanner?
+    @State private var bannerOpacity: Double = 0
+    @State private var bannerOffset: CGFloat = 0
+    @State private var bannerClearTask: Task<Void, Never>?
 
     /// The pool the list draws from. In Cheapest mode the chosen miles radius
     /// bounds it ("best price within X miles"); in Closest mode the radius is
@@ -455,38 +478,91 @@ struct ContentView: View {
         )
     }
 
-    private var mainContent: some View {
-        VStack(spacing: 0) {
-            statusBannerView
-            rootTabView
+    /// The one banner to show right now. Network/offline and tip outcomes all
+    /// funnel here and render through the SAME floating chrome. A transient
+    /// tip (auto-dismissed by TipStore) takes precedence over the persistent
+    /// network state for its ~3.5 s.
+    private var activeBanner: AppBanner? {
+        if let outcome = tipStore.outcome { return .tip(outcome) }
+        switch dataStatus {
+        case .live: return nil
+        case .offlineDump(let date): return .offlineDump(date: date)
+        case .connectionProblem: return .connectionProblem
         }
-        .animation(.spring(response: 0.3, dampingFraction: 0.8), value: dataStatus)
     }
 
-    @ViewBuilder
-    private var statusBannerView: some View {
-        switch dataStatus {
-        case .offlineDump(let date):
-            let title = offlineTitle(date: date)
-            statusBanner(
-                icon: "wifi.slash",
-                tint: .orange,
-                title: title,
-                subtitle: NSLocalizedString("Pull to refresh on the Stations tab", comment: ""),
-                accessibilityLabel: date.isEmpty
-                    ? NSLocalizedString("Offline data. Pull to refresh on the Stations tab", comment: "")
-                    : String(format: NSLocalizedString("Offline data from %@. Pull to refresh on the Stations tab", comment: ""), date)
-            )
-        case .connectionProblem:
-            statusBanner(
-                icon: "wifi.exclamationmark",
-                tint: .red,
-                title: NSLocalizedString("Check your internet connection", comment: ""),
-                subtitle: NSLocalizedString("Tap to try again", comment: ""),
-                accessibilityLabel: NSLocalizedString("Check your internet connection. Tap to try again", comment: "")
-            )
-        case .live:
-            EmptyView()
+    private var mainContent: some View {
+        GeometryReader { geo in
+            ZStack(alignment: .top) {
+                rootTabView
+                if let banner = currentBanner {
+                    // Floating near the top of the screen, over the nav area —
+                    // overlays content (never pushes it) and sits above the
+                    // main content so it doesn't cover or block the list/pill
+                    // beneath it. Opacity/offset are driven explicitly by
+                    // reflectBanner so the fade-out reliably animates.
+                    floatingBanner(banner)
+                        .padding(.top, geo.safeAreaInsets.top + 10)
+                        .opacity(bannerOpacity)
+                        .offset(y: bannerOffset)
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        .task(id: activeBanner) {
+            // Fires on launch with the current banner AND whenever it changes —
+            // unlike onChange(computed) which can miss the first non-nil value
+            // when dataStatus is set slightly after the view appears.
+            reflectBanner(activeBanner)
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Explicitly animates the banner in/out — a robust replacement for the
+    /// SwiftUI removal transition (which was silently not firing). Handles:
+    ///  - first appearance → fade + settle down from slightly above
+    ///  - any content change (tip→network, new tip) → fade the old out, then
+    ///    fade the new in — so a tip ALWAYS visibly fades away
+    ///  - dismissal → fade out + slide up, then clear after the fade
+    private func reflectBanner(_ newBanner: AppBanner?) {
+        guard newBanner != currentBanner else { return }
+        bannerClearTask?.cancel()
+        if let newBanner {
+            if currentBanner == nil {
+                present(newBanner)
+            } else {
+                // Crossfade: slide+fade the current out, then present the new.
+                withAnimation(.easeOut(duration: 0.2)) {
+                    bannerOpacity = 0
+                    bannerOffset = -28
+                }
+                bannerClearTask = Task { @MainActor in
+                    try? await Task.sleep(nanoseconds: 250_000_000)
+                    guard !Task.isCancelled else { return }
+                    present(newBanner)
+                }
+            }
+        } else {
+            withAnimation(.easeOut(duration: 0.35)) {
+                bannerOpacity = 0
+                bannerOffset = -28
+            }
+            bannerClearTask = Task { @MainActor in
+                try? await Task.sleep(nanoseconds: 350_000_000)
+                guard !Task.isCancelled else { return }
+                currentBanner = nil
+                bannerOpacity = 0
+                bannerOffset = 0
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Fade a banner in from slightly above and settle it into place.
+    private func present(_ banner: AppBanner) {
+        currentBanner = banner
+        bannerOpacity = 0
+        bannerOffset = -16
+        withAnimation(.easeOut(duration: 0.3)) {
+            bannerOpacity = 1
+            bannerOffset = 0
         }
     }
 
@@ -517,13 +593,51 @@ struct ContentView: View {
             : String(format: NSLocalizedString("Offline data from %@", comment: ""), date)
     }
 
-    /// Shared status-strip chrome: a tappable card pinned above the tabs.
-    /// Tapping retries the live fetch from ANY screen — no pull gesture
-    /// needed, so the offline banner isn't trapped on the Stations tab.
-    private func statusBanner(icon: String, tint: Color, title: String, subtitle: String, accessibilityLabel: String) -> some View {
-        Button {
+    /// ONE floating banner style for all notifications. Network/offline and
+    /// tip outcomes share the same chrome; only the tap action differs —
+    /// network → retry the fetch, tip → dismiss (TipStore auto-dismisses too).
+    @ViewBuilder
+    private func floatingBanner(_ banner: AppBanner) -> some View {
+        switch banner {
+        case .offlineDump(let date):
+            let title = offlineTitle(date: date)
+            statusBannerCard(
+                icon: "wifi.slash", tint: .orange, title: title,
+                subtitle: NSLocalizedString("Pull to refresh on the Stations tab", comment: ""),
+                trailingIcon: "arrow.clockwise",
+                accessibilityLabel: date.isEmpty
+                    ? NSLocalizedString("Offline data. Pull to refresh on the Stations tab", comment: "")
+                    : String(format: NSLocalizedString("Offline data from %@. Pull to refresh on the Stations tab", comment: ""), date)
+            ) {
                 Task { await refresh(force: true) }
-        } label: {
+            }
+        case .connectionProblem:
+            statusBannerCard(
+                icon: "wifi.exclamationmark", tint: .red,
+                title: NSLocalizedString("Check your internet connection", comment: ""),
+                subtitle: NSLocalizedString("Tap to try again", comment: ""),
+                trailingIcon: "arrow.clockwise",
+                accessibilityLabel: NSLocalizedString("Check your internet connection. Tap to try again", comment: "")
+            ) {
+                Task { await refresh(force: true) }
+            }
+        case .tip(let outcome):
+            statusBannerCard(
+                icon: outcome.icon, tint: outcome.tint, title: outcome.message, subtitle: nil,
+                trailingIcon: "xmark", accessibilityLabel: outcome.message
+            ) {
+                withAnimation(.easeOut(duration: 0.2)) { tipStore.dismissOutcome() }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// The single floating-banner chrome shared by every notification
+    /// (network/offline + tip). Overlaid — never in flow — so it never moves
+    /// the content beneath it.
+    private func statusBannerCard(icon: String, tint: Color, title: String, subtitle: String?,
+                                  trailingIcon: String, accessibilityLabel: String,
+                                  action: @escaping () -> Void) -> some View {
+        Button(action: action) {
             HStack(spacing: 10) {
                 Image(systemName: icon)
                     .font(.system(size: 17, weight: .semibold))
@@ -533,12 +647,14 @@ struct ContentView: View {
                     Text(title)
                         .font(.subheadline.weight(.semibold))
                         .foregroundStyle(.primary)
+                    if let subtitle {
                         Text(subtitle)
                             .font(.caption)
                             .foregroundStyle(.secondary)
                     }
+                }
                 Spacer()
-                Image(systemName: "arrow.clockwise")
+                Image(systemName: trailingIcon)
                     .font(.system(size: 14, weight: .semibold))
                     .foregroundStyle(tint)
             }
@@ -551,13 +667,13 @@ struct ContentView: View {
                         RoundedRectangle(cornerRadius: 12, style: .continuous)
                             .stroke(tint.opacity(0.35), lineWidth: 1)
                     )
+                    .shadow(color: .black.opacity(0.08), radius: 8, y: 3)
             )
             .padding(.horizontal, 12)
-            .padding(.bottom, 6)
         }
+        .contentShape(Rectangle())
         .buttonStyle(.plain)
         .accessibilityLabel(accessibilityLabel)
-        .transition(.move(edge: .top).combined(with: .opacity))
     }
 
     /// Pushes the current best-in-radius station into the Live Activity.
@@ -645,6 +761,7 @@ struct ContentView: View {
     /// within the compiler's type-check budget.
     private var settingsTab: some View {
         SettingsView(
+            tipStore: tipStore,
             distanceUnit: $distanceUnit,
             priceDisplayStyle: $priceDisplayStyle,
             alertsFuel: alertsFuel,

FuelBoard/OnboardingView.swift

@@ -245,19 +245,27 @@ struct OnboardingView: View {
             ) {
                 if prompter.locationDenied {
                     openSettings()
+                } else if prompter.locationGranted {
+                    page = 2  // already decided — just move on
                 } else {
-                    // The prompt fires on LEAVING this page (onChange(of:
-                    // page), forward advance only) — the description is on
-                    // screen until the user moves on.
-                    page = 2
+                    // Fire the system prompt NOW, while this page is still on
+                    // screen (after it's been read) and BEFORE advancing — so
+                    // the prompt never covers the next page's animation. Auto-
+                    // advance on grant moves us on once the user responds;
+                    // denying leaves the page's "Open Settings" path.
+                    prompter.requestLocation()
                 }
             }
         case 2:
             primaryButton(
                 prompter.notificationsDenied ? "Continue without alerts" : (prompter.notificationsGranted ? "Continue" : "Allow Notifications")
             ) {
-                // Prompt fires on leaving this page (same rule as Location).
-                page = 3
+                if prompter.notificationsDenied || prompter.notificationsGranted {
+                    page = 3  // decided either way — move on
+                } else {
+                    // Same rule as Location: prompt now, before advancing.
+                    prompter.requestNotifications()
+                }
             }
         case 3:
             // No permission on this page — prices need none. Straight on.

FuelBoard/SettingsView.swift

@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@ import WidgetKit
 /// freshness) is debug-only too — moved here so release builds don't expose
 /// relay plumbing.
 struct SettingsView: View {
+    /// Shared tip-purchase store — owned by ContentView so its outcome can
+    /// ride the app-wide status banner (above the tabs), not a local card.
+    @ObservedObject var tipStore: TipStore
     @Binding var distanceUnit: DistanceUnit
     @Binding var priceDisplayStyle: PriceDisplayStyle
     /// The fuel + radius currently configured for alerts (mirrors the Alerts
@@ -53,9 +56,6 @@ struct SettingsView: View {
     /// Clears the armed fence (monitor.clearDebugFence).
     var onClearDebugFence: () -> Void = {}
 
-    @StateObject private var tipStore = TipStore()
-    @State private var showTipAlert = false
-    @State private var tipAlertMessage = ""
     @State private var testAlertMessage: String?
     /// Hidden developer flag — the Debug section only appears when on. Toggled
     /// by tapping the About → Version row five times (NOT a user-facing switch).
@@ -359,13 +359,6 @@ struct SettingsView: View {
                     Text("About")
                 }
 
-                if let message = tipStore.message {
-                    Section {
-                        Text(message)
-                            .font(.footnote)
-                            .foregroundStyle(.secondary)
-                    }
-                }
             }
             .navigationTitle("Settings")
             .onAppear {
@@ -610,9 +603,19 @@ final class TipStore: ObservableObject {
                 accent: Color(red: 1.0, green: 0.84, blue: 0.04)),    // #FFD60A
     ]
 
+    /// A banner outcome: the exact copy to show plus its icon + tint.
+    struct TipOutcome: Hashable {
+        let message: String
+        let icon: String
+        let tint: Color
+    }
+
     @Published private(set) var products: [String: Product] = [:]
     @Published private(set) var purchaseInProgress = false
-    @Published private(set) var message: String?
+    @Published private(set) var outcome: TipOutcome?
+
+    /// Auto-dismiss timer for the outcome banner (replaced on each new outcome).
+    private var dismissTask: Task<Void, Never>?
 
     /// Listens for transactions that complete OUTSIDE the direct purchase()
     /// call — Ask to Buy approvals, payments finished on another device
@@ -630,6 +633,7 @@ final class TipStore: ObservableObject {
 
     deinit {
         updatesTask?.cancel()
+        dismissTask?.cancel()
     }
 
     private func handle(_ update: VerificationResult<StoreKit.Transaction>) async {
@@ -638,7 +642,30 @@ final class TipStore: ObservableObject {
         // Only acknowledge our own consumables (future products get their own).
         guard Self.tiers.contains(where: { $0.id == transaction.productID }) else { return }
         await transaction.finish()
-        message = NSLocalizedString("Thank you! Your tip has been received. ⛽", comment: "")
+        showOutcome(
+            NSLocalizedString("Thank you! Your tip has been received. ⛽", comment: ""),
+            icon: "checkmark.circle.fill",
+            tint: Color(red: 0.19, green: 0.82, blue: 0.35)      // #30D158
+        )
+    }
+
+    /// Sets the banner outcome and schedules its auto-dismiss (~3.5 s).
+    /// Re-triggering cancels the previous timer so rapid taps don't collide.
+    private func showOutcome(_ message: String, icon: String, tint: Color) {
+        dismissTask?.cancel()
+        outcome = TipOutcome(message: message, icon: icon, tint: tint)
+        dismissTask = Task { [weak self] in
+            try? await Task.sleep(nanoseconds: 3_500_000_000)
+            guard !Task.isCancelled else { return }
+            withAnimation(.easeOut(duration: 0.25)) { self?.outcome = nil }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Tap-to-dismiss — clears the banner and cancels the pending auto-dismiss.
+    func dismissOutcome() {
+        dismissTask?.cancel()
+        dismissTask = nil
+        withAnimation(.easeOut(duration: 0.2)) { outcome = nil }
     }
 
     func displayPrice(for tier: TipTier) -> String {
@@ -667,7 +694,11 @@ final class TipStore: ObservableObject {
         // Connect yet), still allow the attempt so the user sees a clear
         // outcome rather than a dead button.
         guard let product = products[tier.id] else {
-            message = NSLocalizedString("The tip isn't available in this build yet — check back after an App Store release.", comment: "")
+            showOutcome(
+                NSLocalizedString("The tip isn't available in this build yet — check back after an App Store release.", comment: ""),
+                icon: "info.circle.fill",
+                tint: Color(.secondaryLabel)
+            )
             return
         }
 
@@ -680,19 +711,35 @@ final class TipStore: ObservableObject {
                     // Consume the consumable — otherwise StoreKit re-delivers
                     // it through Transaction.updates on every launch.
                     await transaction.finish()
-                    message = NSLocalizedString("Thank you! Your tip has been received. ⛽", comment: "")
+                    showOutcome(
+                        NSLocalizedString("Thank you! Your tip has been received. ⛽", comment: ""),
+                        icon: "checkmark.circle.fill",
+                        tint: Color(red: 0.19, green: 0.82, blue: 0.35)      // #30D158
+                    )
                 case .unverified:
-                    message = NSLocalizedString("The purchase couldn't be verified. Please try again.", comment: "")
+                    showOutcome(
+                        NSLocalizedString("The purchase couldn't be verified. Please try again.", comment: ""),
+                        icon: "exclamationmark.triangle.fill",
+                        tint: .orange
+                    )
                 }
             case .userCancelled:
-                message = nil   // silent — the user just closed the sheet
+                dismissOutcome()   // silent — the user just closed the sheet
             case .pending:
-                message = NSLocalizedString("Your tip is pending approval. It'll finish automatically.", comment: "")
+                showOutcome(
+                    NSLocalizedString("Your tip is pending approval. It'll finish automatically.", comment: ""),
+                    icon: "hourglass",
+                    tint: Color(red: 0.39, green: 0.82, blue: 1.0)           // #64D2FF
+                )
             @unknown default:
-                message = nil
+                dismissOutcome()
             }
         } catch {
-            message = String(format: NSLocalizedString("The tip couldn't be completed: %@", comment: ""), error.localizedDescription)
+            showOutcome(
+                String(format: NSLocalizedString("The tip couldn't be completed: %@", comment: ""), error.localizedDescription),
+                icon: "xmark.circle.fill",
+                tint: .red
+            )
         }
     }
 }

FuelBoardWidgets/FuelBoardLiveActivityView.swift

@@ -4,27 +4,25 @@
 // Shows the cheapest station for the pinned fuel within the app's chosen
 // radius. Tapping anywhere opens Apple Maps directions to that station.
 //
-// ADAPTIVE LAYOUT: ActivityConfiguration shares ONE content view across the
-// Lock Screen, banner, and the CarPlay small slot — there is no per-platform
-// closure. So this view provides two layouts and lets ViewThatFits pick by
-// available width:
-//   • richBody  — the full three-column design (glyph · fuel+station · price),
-//                 wins wherever there's Lock Screen width (it carries an
-//                 explicit minWidth so it can never be squeezed into the car).
-//   • compactBody — a minimal price-strip (glyph+fuel+price, station caption
-//                 below) that wins in the CarPlay/Apple Watch Smart Stack
-//                 small slot.
+// ADAPTIVE LAYOUT: the Lock Screen body provides two layouts and lets
+// ViewThatFits pick by available width, but the narrow `.small` family is NOT
+// declared (see note on the config), so iPhone/iPad always render the full
+// three-column card (`richBody`) with proper text sizes. `compactBody` is kept
+// as a safety fallback should any surface ever hand this view a narrow width.
+//
+// IMPORTANT: `.supplementalActivityFamilies([.small])` is deliberately absent —
+// it made iOS render the squeezed `.small` card on the iPhone Lock Screen.
+// CarPlay's small form comes from the Dynamic Island compact closures.
 
 import ActivityKit
 import SwiftUI
 import WidgetKit
 
 /// The Live Activity itself — registered in the widget bundle alongside the
-/// regular price widget. No CarPlay entitlement involved: this renders on the
-/// Lock Screen, Dynamic Island, and the car display (CarPlay Ultra, iOS 26+).
-/// `.supplementalActivityFamilies([.small])` makes it eligible for the car's
-/// small Live Activity slot — display-only there (FuelBoard is not a
-/// CarPlay-enabled app, so car-side taps can't launch anything).
+/// regular price widget. No CarPlay entitlement involved: renders on the
+/// Lock Screen (full-width card on iPhone/iPad) and the Dynamic Island
+/// (incl. the island's compact form used in the car, display-only — FuelBoard
+/// is not a CarPlay-enabled app, so car-side taps can't launch anything).
 struct FuelBoardLiveActivity: Widget {
     var body: some WidgetConfiguration {
         ActivityConfiguration(for: FuelBoardLiveActivityAttributes.self) { context in
@@ -51,7 +49,12 @@ struct FuelBoardLiveActivity: Widget {
                     .font(.caption2.bold().monospacedDigit())
             }
         }
-        .supplementalActivityFamilies([.small])
+        // NOTE: deliberately NO `.supplementalActivityFamilies([.small])`.
+        // That modifier makes iOS eligible to render this activity in the
+        // narrow `.small` form on the iPhone/iPad Lock Screen, which is what
+        // produced the squeezed, small-text card. Dropping it keeps the
+        // full-width Lock Screen card on iPhone/iPad; CarPlay still shows a
+        // small form via the Dynamic Island compact closures below.
     }
 }
 
@@ -61,15 +64,17 @@ private struct FuelBoardLiveActivityView: View {
 
     var body: some View {
         Link(destination: context.state.mapsURL) {
-            ViewThatFits(in: .horizontal) {
-                // rich first — wins on full-width Lock Screen / banner
+            // Always the full three-column card. The station caption is
+            // line-limited + scale-down + tail-truncated, so a LONG station
+            // name truncates in place instead of inflating this view's ideal
+            // width and tricking ViewThatFits into falling back to the compact
+            // strip (that is exactly what made 5-mi / long-named activities
+            // render small while 10-15-mi / short names stayed full).
+            //
+            // No ViewThatFits / compactBody: with `.supplementalActivityFamilies`
+            // removed, this body is only ever handed Lock-Screen width, so the
+            // compact fallback was both dead weight and the cause of the bug.
             richBody
-                    // CarPlay / Watch small slot is far narrower than this,
-                    // so ViewThatFits reliably falls through to compactBody.
-                    .frame(minWidth: 280)
-                // compact fallback — the car's small supplemental slot
-                compactBody
-            }
         }
     }
 
@@ -90,6 +95,8 @@ private struct FuelBoardLiveActivityView: View {
                     .font(.subheadline)
                     .foregroundStyle(.secondary)
                     .lineLimit(1)
+                    .minimumScaleFactor(0.75)
+                    .truncationMode(.tail)
             }
             .frame(maxWidth: .infinity, alignment: .leading)
 
@@ -106,30 +113,7 @@ private struct FuelBoardLiveActivityView: View {
         .padding()
     }
 
-    /// Minimal strip for the small CarPlay / Watch Smart Stack slot:
-    /// glyph + fuel left, bold price right, truncated station below.
-    private var compactBody: some View {
-        VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: 3) {
-            HStack(spacing: 5) {
-                Image(systemName: "fuelpump.fill")
-                    .font(.caption2)
-                    .foregroundStyle(.green)
-                Text(context.state.fuel.displayName)
-                    .font(.caption2.weight(.semibold))
-                    .lineLimit(1)
-                Spacer(minLength: 4)
-                FuelStore.priceTextAttributed(context.state.pricePence,
-                                               style: context.state.priceDisplayStyle,
-                                               size: 15, weight: .bold)
-                    .lineLimit(1)
-            }
-            Text("\(context.state.stationName) · \(context.state.distanceText)")
-                .font(.system(size: 9))
-                .foregroundStyle(.secondary)
-                .lineLimit(1)
-        }
-        .padding(8)
-    }
+    // NOTE: `compactBody` was removed — always render `richBody` (see body).
 }
 
 /// Dynamic Island expanded regions + compact trailing — price only.

Shared/FuelHistory.swift

@@ -216,10 +216,18 @@ enum FuelHistoryStore {
     // MARK: Network
 
     /// The mirror pointer — used for the empty-state hint ("first snapshot
-    /// landed …"). Non-fatal: nil just means no hint.
-    static func fetchLatest(base: URL = mirrorBase,
+    /// landed …"). Non-fatal: nil just means no hint. Deliberately bypasses
+    /// the HTTP cache (reloadIgnoringLocalCacheData) so an OFFLINE fetch
+    /// really fails instead of silently re-serving a cached pointer as a
+    /// success — otherwise "no network" would look like fresh data and the
+    /// offline banner would never fire. A short timeout surfaces the failure
+    /// (and the banner) quickly on a connected-but-dead network.
+    static func fetchLatest(base: URL = mirrorBase, timeout: TimeInterval = 10,
                             session: URLSession = .shared) async -> MirrorLatest? {
-        guard let (data, response) = try? await session.data(from: latestFileURL(base: base)),
+        var req = URLRequest(url: latestFileURL(base: base))
+        req.cachePolicy = .reloadIgnoringLocalCacheData
+        req.timeoutInterval = timeout
+        guard let (data, response) = try? await session.data(for: req),
               (response as? HTTPURLResponse)?.statusCode == 200,
               let latest = try? JSONDecoder().decode(MirrorLatest.self, from: data) else {
             return nil

Shared/MirrorFuelProvider.swift

@@ -96,9 +96,13 @@ struct MirrorFuelProvider: FuelPriceProviding {
         if Self.canReuseCache(cachedDay: cache?.day, latestDay: day), let cached = cache?.data {
             data = cached
         } else {
-            let (fetched, response) = try await URLSession.shared.data(
-                from: FuelHistoryStore.historyFileURL(day: day, base: baseURL)
-            )
+            // Bypass the HTTP cache + short timeout: an offline refresh must
+            // FAIL (→ offline banner), never re-serve a stale cached dump as
+            // a "successful" live fetch.
+            var req = URLRequest(url: FuelHistoryStore.historyFileURL(day: day, base: baseURL))
+            req.cachePolicy = .reloadIgnoringLocalCacheData
+            req.timeoutInterval = 10
+            let (fetched, response) = try await URLSession.shared.data(for: req)
             guard (response as? HTTPURLResponse)?.statusCode == 200 else {
                 throw FuelProviderError.mirrorUnavailable
             }