diff --git a/apps/lightcraft-cli/src/main.rs b/apps/lightcraft-cli/src/main.rs
index 77fb2fc2d..617aa071c 100644
--- a/apps/lightcraft-cli/src/main.rs
+++ b/apps/lightcraft-cli/src/main.rs
@@ -587,6 +587,12 @@ fn snapshot(args: &[String]) -> Result<(), String> {
         eprintln!("lightcraft-cli snapshot: imported {n} files in {:.0} ms", ti.elapsed().as_secs_f64() * 1e3);
     }
     let services = lightcraft_ui_egui::Services {
+        write_shared: Some(std::sync::Arc::new(|p: &str, b: &[u8]| {
+            if let Some(dir) = Path::new(p).parent().filter(|d| !d.as_os_str().is_empty()) {
+                std::fs::create_dir_all(dir).map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+            }
+            std::fs::write(p, b).map_err(|e| format!("{p}: {e}"))
+        })),
         write: Some(Box::new(|p: &str, b: &[u8]| {
             if let Some(dir) = Path::new(p).parent().filter(|d| !d.as_os_str().is_empty()) {
                 std::fs::create_dir_all(dir).map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
@@ -672,6 +678,15 @@ fn snapshot(args: &[String]) -> Result<(), String> {
         }
         eprintln!("lightcraft-cli snapshot: wrote {path} ({}×{})", r["result"]["width"], r["result"]["height"]);
     }
+    // a background export started by the script finishes before we exit (its files would be cut off)
+    if h.app.export.is_some() {
+        eprintln!("lightcraft-cli snapshot: waiting for the background export");
+        let te = std::time::Instant::now();
+        while h.app.export.is_some() && te.elapsed() < std::time::Duration::from_secs(3600) {
+            h.step();
+            std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(20));
+        }
+    }
     eprintln!("lightcraft-cli snapshot: done in {:.2} s ({} frames)", t0.elapsed().as_secs_f64(), h.frames());
     Ok(())
 }
diff --git a/apps/lightcraft-web/src/web.rs b/apps/lightcraft-web/src/web.rs
index d99998402..54cd703e8 100644
--- a/apps/lightcraft-web/src/web.rs
+++ b/apps/lightcraft-web/src/web.rs
@@ -155,6 +155,8 @@ fn services(originals: Originals, backend: Option<Backend>, ctx: egui::Context)
         pick_preset_files: None,
         save_preset_file: None,
         write: Some(Box::new(download)),
+        // downloads happen on the main thread: exports run in the foreground on the web
+        write_shared: None,
         png: Some(Box::new(|img: &lightcraft_raster::Rgba8| {
             lightcraft_codecs::encode_png(&lightcraft_codecs::EncodeImage::rgba8(img), &lightcraft_codecs::EncodeMeta::default()).unwrap_or_default()
         })),
diff --git a/apps/lightcraft/src/main.rs b/apps/lightcraft/src/main.rs
index 2ba700e09..dc8e7e0cb 100644
--- a/apps/lightcraft/src/main.rs
+++ b/apps/lightcraft/src/main.rs
@@ -141,6 +141,12 @@ fn services() -> Services {
                 .save_file()
                 .map(|p| p.to_string_lossy().to_string())
         })),
+        write_shared: Some(std::sync::Arc::new(|p: &str, b: &[u8]| {
+            if let Some(dir) = std::path::Path::new(p).parent().filter(|d| !d.as_os_str().is_empty()) {
+                std::fs::create_dir_all(dir).map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+            }
+            std::fs::write(p, b).map_err(|e| e.to_string())
+        })),
         write: Some(Box::new(|p: &str, b: &[u8]| {
             if let Some(dir) = std::path::Path::new(p).parent().filter(|d| !d.as_os_str().is_empty()) {
                 std::fs::create_dir_all(dir).map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/export.rs b/crates/engine/src/export.rs
index fadb64cd2..c673ee161 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/export.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/export.rs
@@ -820,57 +820,108 @@ pub fn output_size(p: &lightcraft_catalog::Photo, o: &ExportOptions) -> (usize,
 /// Render photo `id` at the requested size and encode it (or copy / convert its original for
 /// [`ExportFormat::Original`] / [`ExportFormat::Dng`]).
 pub fn export_photo(session: &mut crate::Session, id: lightcraft_catalog::PhotoId, o: &ExportOptions, seq: usize) -> Result<Exported, String> {
-    let p = session.catalog.photo(id).ok_or("no such photo")?;
-    let file_name = o.file_name_for_dated(&p.file_name, seq, p.captured.as_deref());
-    if !o.format.is_rendered() {
-        return export_file(session, id, o, file_name);
-    }
-    let (w, h) = output_size(p, o);
-    let meta = export_metadata(p, o);
-    let r = session.render_export(id, w, h, o.effective_space(), o.effective_depth())?;
-    let bytes = encode_rendered(&r, o, meta.as_ref())?;
-    Ok(Exported { file_name, bytes, width: r.image.width, height: r.image.height, sidecars: Vec::new() })
+    prepare_export(session, id, o, seq)?.run()
 }
 
-/// [`ExportFormat::Original`] (the file's bytes + an XMP sidecar) or [`ExportFormat::Dng`] (the raw
-/// data re-encoded as a lossless DNG with the edits in its XMP).
-fn export_file(session: &mut crate::Session, id: lightcraft_catalog::PhotoId, o: &ExportOptions, file_name: String) -> Result<Exported, String> {
+/// One photo's export, set up from the session ([`prepare_export`]). [`PreparedExport::run`] does
+/// the heavy part (read, decode, render, encode) without the session, so it can run on another
+/// thread.
+pub struct PreparedExport {
+    pub photo: lightcraft_catalog::PhotoId,
+    pub file_name: String,
+    work: Work,
+}
+
+struct RenderWork {
+    job: crate::media::RenderJob,
+    meta: Option<Metadata>,
+    opts: ExportOptions,
+}
+
+enum Work {
+    Render(Box<RenderWork>),
+    /// [`ExportFormat::Original`] (the file's bytes + an XMP sidecar) or [`ExportFormat::Dng`] (the
+    /// raw data re-encoded as a lossless DNG with the edits in its XMP).
+    File {
+        path: String,
+        read: Option<crate::merge::ByteReader>,
+        packet: String,
+        dng: bool,
+        label: String,
+        size: (usize, usize),
+    },
+}
+
+/// Set up the export of photo `id` at 1-based position `seq` of a batch.
+pub fn prepare_export(
+    session: &mut crate::Session,
+    id: lightcraft_catalog::PhotoId,
+    o: &ExportOptions,
+    seq: usize,
+) -> Result<PreparedExport, String> {
     let p = session.catalog.photo(id).ok_or("no such photo")?;
-    let lightcraft_catalog::Source::File { path } = &p.source else {
-        return Err(format!("{} is a generated demo photo: it has no original file to export", p.file_name));
+    let file_name = o.file_name_for_dated(&p.file_name, seq, p.captured.as_deref());
+    let work = if o.format.is_rendered() {
+        let (w, h) = output_size(p, o);
+        let meta = export_metadata(p, o);
+        let job = session.export_job(id, w, h, o.effective_space(), o.effective_depth())?;
+        Work::Render(Box::new(RenderWork { job, meta, opts: o.clone() }))
+    } else {
+        let lightcraft_catalog::Source::File { path } = &p.source else {
+            return Err(format!("{} is a generated demo photo: it has no original file to export", p.file_name));
+        };
+        Work::File {
+            path: path.clone(),
+            read: session.media.file_bytes.clone(),
+            packet: crate::sidecar::sidecar_packet(p),
+            dng: o.format == ExportFormat::Dng,
+            label: p.file_name.clone(),
+            size: (p.width as usize, p.height as usize),
+        }
     };
-    let read = session.media.file_bytes.clone();
-    let bytes = match &read {
-        Some(r) => r(path)?,
-        None => std::fs::read(path).map_err(|e| format!("{path}: {e}"))?,
-    };
-    let packet = crate::sidecar::sidecar_packet(p);
-    let (width, height) = (p.width as usize, p.height as usize);
-    match o.format {
-        ExportFormat::Dng => {
-            if lightcraft_raw::probe(&bytes).is_none() {
-                return Err(format!("{}: DNG export needs a raw photo", p.file_name));
+    Ok(PreparedExport { photo: id, file_name, work })
+}
+
+impl PreparedExport {
+    pub fn run(self) -> Result<Exported, String> {
+        let file_name = self.file_name;
+        match self.work {
+            Work::Render(w) => {
+                let RenderWork { job, meta, opts } = *w;
+                let r = job.run().rendered?;
+                let bytes = encode_rendered(&r, &opts, meta.as_ref())?;
+                Ok(Exported { file_name, bytes, width: r.image.width, height: r.image.height, sidecars: Vec::new() })
+            }
+            Work::File { path, read, packet, dng, label, size } => {
+                let bytes = match &read {
+                    Some(r) => r(&path)?,
+                    None => std::fs::read(&path).map_err(|e| format!("{path}: {e}"))?,
+                };
+                if !dng {
+                    return Ok(Exported { file_name, bytes, width: size.0, height: size.1, sidecars: vec![("xmp", packet.into_bytes())] });
+                }
+                if lightcraft_raw::probe(&bytes).is_none() {
+                    return Err(format!("{label}: DNG export needs a raw photo"));
+                }
+                let raw = lightcraft_raw::decode(&bytes).map_err(|e| format!("{label}: {e}"))?;
+                drop(bytes);
+                let dng = lightcraft_raw::write_dng(&raw, &lightcraft_raw::DngWriteOptions { xmp: Some(packet), ..Default::default() })
+                    .map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+                Ok(Exported { file_name, bytes: dng, width: raw.width, height: raw.height, sidecars: Vec::new() })
             }
-            let raw = lightcraft_raw::decode(&bytes).map_err(|e| format!("{}: {e}", p.file_name))?;
-            let dng = lightcraft_raw::write_dng(&raw, &lightcraft_raw::DngWriteOptions { xmp: Some(packet), ..Default::default() })
-                .map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
-            Ok(Exported { file_name, bytes: dng, width: raw.width, height: raw.height, sidecars: Vec::new() })
         }
-        _ => Ok(Exported { file_name, bytes, width, height, sidecars: vec![("xmp", packet.into_bytes())] }),
     }
 }
 
 /// The destination of a batch: a folder (with `ExportOptions::subfolder` and the conflict policy
 /// applied), or one exact file path (single photo; overwritten).
-pub struct Destination<'a> {
-    pub dir: &'a str,
-    pub exact: Option<&'a str>,
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Default)]
+pub struct Destination {
+    pub dir: String,
+    pub exact: Option<String>,
 }
 
-/// Export `ids` in order: render/encode each ([`export_photo`]), pick its path, and hand the
-/// bytes (and sidecars) to `write`. `exists` tells whether a path is taken (conflict policy).
-/// Returns one JSON object per photo: `{path, width, height, bytes, sidecars}` or
-/// `{skipped: path}`.
+/// Export `ids` in order ([`prepare_export`] + [`run_batch`]), stopping at the first error.
 pub fn export_batch(
     session: &mut crate::Session,
     ids: &[lightcraft_catalog::PhotoId],
@@ -878,15 +929,45 @@ pub fn export_batch(
     to: &Destination,
     write: &mut dyn FnMut(&str, &[u8]) -> Result<(), String>,
     exists: &dyn Fn(&str) -> bool,
+) -> Result<Vec<serde_json::Value>, String> {
+    let items = ids.iter().enumerate().map(|(i, id)| prepare_export(session, *id, o, i + 1)).collect::<Result<Vec<_>, _>>()?;
+    run_batch(items, o, to, write, exists, true, &mut |_, _| true)
+}
+
+/// Run prepared exports in order: pick each one's path, and hand the bytes (and sidecars) to
+/// `write`. `exists` tells whether a path is taken (conflict policy). `progress(done, next file)`
+/// is called before each photo; returning false cancels the rest. Returns one JSON object per
+/// photo: `{path, width, height, bytes, sidecars}`, `{skipped: path}` or (unless
+/// `stop_on_error`) `{photo, file, error}`.
+pub fn run_batch(
+    items: Vec<PreparedExport>,
+    o: &ExportOptions,
+    to: &Destination,
+    write: &mut dyn FnMut(&str, &[u8]) -> Result<(), String>,
+    exists: &dyn Fn(&str) -> bool,
+    stop_on_error: bool,
+    progress: &mut dyn FnMut(usize, &str) -> bool,
 ) -> Result<Vec<serde_json::Value>, String> {
     use serde_json::json;
     let join = |a: &str, b: &str| if a.is_empty() { b.to_string() } else { format!("{}/{b}", a.trim_end_matches('/')) };
-    let dir = if o.subfolder.is_empty() { to.dir.to_string() } else { join(to.dir, &o.subfolder) };
+    let dir = if o.subfolder.is_empty() { to.dir.clone() } else { join(&to.dir, &o.subfolder) };
+    let single = items.len() == 1;
     let mut taken = std::collections::HashSet::new();
     let mut out = Vec::new();
-    for (i, id) in ids.iter().enumerate() {
-        let e = export_photo(session, *id, o, i + 1)?;
-        let path = match to.exact.filter(|_| ids.len() == 1) {
+    for (i, item) in items.into_iter().enumerate() {
+        if !progress(i, &item.file_name) {
+            break;
+        }
+        let (photo, name) = (item.photo, item.file_name.clone());
+        let e = match item.run() {
+            Ok(e) => e,
+            Err(err) if stop_on_error => return Err(err),
+            Err(err) => {
+                out.push(json!({"photo": photo.0, "file": name, "error": err}));
+                continue;
+            }
+        };
+        let path = match to.exact.as_deref().filter(|_| single) {
             Some(p) => p.to_string(),
             None => {
                 let mut path = join(&dir, &e.file_name);
@@ -908,15 +989,23 @@ pub fn export_batch(
                 path
             }
         };
-        write(&path, &e.bytes)?;
-        let mut sidecars = Vec::new();
-        for (ext, bytes) in &e.sidecars {
-            let sc = std::path::Path::new(&path).with_extension(ext).to_string_lossy().to_string();
-            write(&sc, bytes)?;
-            sidecars.push(sc);
+        let written = write(&path, &e.bytes).and_then(|()| {
+            let mut sidecars = Vec::new();
+            for (ext, bytes) in &e.sidecars {
+                let sc = std::path::Path::new(&path).with_extension(ext).to_string_lossy().to_string();
+                write(&sc, bytes)?;
+                sidecars.push(sc);
+            }
+            Ok(sidecars)
+        });
+        match written {
+            Ok(sidecars) => {
+                taken.insert(path.clone());
+                out.push(json!({"path": path, "width": e.width, "height": e.height, "bytes": e.bytes.len(), "sidecars": sidecars}));
+            }
+            Err(err) if stop_on_error => return Err(err),
+            Err(err) => out.push(json!({"photo": photo.0, "file": path, "error": err})),
         }
-        taken.insert(path.clone());
-        out.push(json!({"path": path, "width": e.width, "height": e.height, "bytes": e.bytes.len(), "sidecars": sidecars}));
     }
     Ok(out)
 }
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/media.rs b/crates/engine/src/media.rs
index 995fbfcf8..d85f23ec1 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/media.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/media.rs
@@ -653,13 +653,25 @@ impl crate::Session {
         space: lightcraft_pipeline::OutputSpace,
         depth: lightcraft_pipeline::OutputDepth,
     ) -> Result<Rendered, String> {
+        let r = self.export_job(id, max_w, max_h, space, depth)?.run();
+        self.accept(&r);
+        r.rendered
+    }
+
+    /// The job [`Self::render_export`] runs, to run elsewhere (e.g. a background export thread).
+    pub fn export_job(
+        &mut self,
+        id: PhotoId,
+        max_w: usize,
+        max_h: usize,
+        space: lightcraft_pipeline::OutputSpace,
+        depth: lightcraft_pipeline::OutputDepth,
+    ) -> Result<RenderJob, String> {
         let mut job = self.render_job(id, max_w, max_h, false, true).ok_or("no such photo")?;
         job.request.space = space;
         job.request.depth = depth;
         job.key ^= (space as u64 + 1).wrapping_mul(0xa076_1d64_78bd_642f) ^ (depth as u64 + 1).wrapping_mul(0xe703_7ed1_a0b4_28db);
-        let r = job.run();
-        self.accept(&r);
-        r.rendered
+        Ok(job)
     }
 
     /// The source proxy for pixel-statistics commands (auto tone/WB), loading synchronously.
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/tests_export.rs b/crates/engine/src/tests_export.rs
index 923a3ad8f..331005752 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/tests_export.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/tests_export.rs
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ fn presets_conflicts_and_subfolders() {
 
     // a fake file system: what exists, what was written
     let existing = ["out/Sub/LC01347.png".to_string()];
-    let to = Destination { dir: "out", exact: None };
+    let to = Destination { dir: "out".into(), exact: None };
     let batch = |s: &mut Session, ids: &[_], o: &ExportOptions| {
         let mut written: Vec<String> = Vec::new();
         let mut write = |p: &str, _: &[u8]| {
@@ -143,3 +143,34 @@ fn presets_conflicts_and_subfolders() {
     let (_, written) = batch(&mut s, &ids[..1], &ExportOptions { conflict: crate::export::Conflict::Overwrite, ..o });
     assert_eq!(written, ["out/Sub/LC01347.png"]);
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn prepared_exports_run_on_another_thread() {
+    fn send<T: Send>(_: &T) {}
+    let mut s = Session::with_demo();
+    let id = s.active().unwrap();
+    let o = ExportOptions::from_json(&json!({"format": "png", "width": 48}));
+    let items: Vec<_> = (1..=2).map(|seq| crate::export::prepare_export(&mut s, id, &o, seq).unwrap()).collect();
+    send(&items);
+    let to = crate::export::Destination::default();
+    let seen = std::sync::Arc::new(std::sync::Mutex::new(Vec::new()));
+    let seen2 = seen.clone();
+    let files = std::thread::spawn(move || {
+        let mut written = Vec::new();
+        let mut write = |p: &str, b: &[u8]| {
+            written.push((p.to_string(), b.len()));
+            Ok(())
+        };
+        // cancel after the first photo
+        crate::export::run_batch(items, &o, &to, &mut write, &|_| false, false, &mut |done, name| {
+            seen2.lock().unwrap().push((done, name.to_string()));
+            done < 1
+        })
+        .unwrap()
+    })
+    .join()
+    .unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(files.len(), 1, "cancelled before the second: {files:?}");
+    assert_eq!(files[0]["width"], 48);
+    assert_eq!(seen.lock().unwrap().len(), 2);
+}
diff --git a/crates/mcp/src/headless.rs b/crates/mcp/src/headless.rs
index 643753146..58553529f 100644
--- a/crates/mcp/src/headless.rs
+++ b/crates/mcp/src/headless.rs
@@ -79,7 +79,10 @@ impl Headless {
             }
             std::fs::write(path, bytes).map_err(|err| format!("{path}: {err}"))
         };
-        let files = export_batch(&mut self.session, &ids, &opts, &Destination { dir, exact }, write, &|path| Path::new(path).exists())?;
+        let files =
+            export_batch(&mut self.session, &ids, &opts, &Destination { dir: dir.to_string(), exact: exact.map(str::to_string) }, write, &|path| {
+                Path::new(path).exists()
+            })?;
         // Single-photo exports also report path/width/height at the top level (back-compat).
         let mut out = files.first().cloned().unwrap_or_else(|| json!({}));
         out["files"] = json!(files);
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/control.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/control.rs
index 68858d6f8..e8075de24 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/control.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/control.rs
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ pub fn inspect(app: &LightcraftApp, ctx: &egui::Context) -> Value {
         "loupe": app.loupe_shown.map(|(p, src)| json!({"photo": p.0, "source": src, "pending": app.renderer.is_pending(crate::render::Slot::Main)})),
         "hoverPreview": app.hover_preview.as_ref().map(|h| h.label.clone()),
         "status": app.ui.status,
+        "export": {"running": app.export.as_ref().map(crate::export_task::ExportTask::status), "last": app.last_export_result},
         "memory": memory(app),
     })
 }
@@ -342,9 +343,19 @@ pub fn export_active(app: &mut LightcraftApp, p: &Value) -> Result<Value, String
     // no folder given (e.g. File → Export with Preset): the last export's, else the default
     let last_dir = app.session.last_export.as_ref().and_then(|l| l.get("dir")).and_then(Value::as_str).map(str::to_string);
     let dir = p.get("dir").and_then(Value::as_str).map(str::to_string).or(last_dir).filter(|d| !d.is_empty()).unwrap_or_else(default_export_dir);
-    let to = Destination { dir: &dir, exact: p.get("path").and_then(Value::as_str) };
-    let w = app.services.write.as_mut().ok_or("no writer")?;
-    let out = export_batch(&mut app.session, &ids, &opts, &to, &mut |path, bytes| w(path, bytes), &|path| std::path::Path::new(path).exists())?;
+    let to = Destination { dir: dir.clone(), exact: p.get("path").and_then(Value::as_str).map(str::to_string) };
+    let background = p.get("background").and_then(Value::as_bool).unwrap_or(false) && app.services.write_shared.is_some();
+    let out = if background {
+        let items = ids
+            .iter()
+            .enumerate()
+            .map(|(i, id)| lightcraft_engine::export::prepare_export(&mut app.session, *id, &opts, i + 1))
+            .collect::<Result<Vec<_>, _>>()?;
+        crate::export_task::start(app, items, opts, to)?
+    } else {
+        let w = app.services.write.as_mut().ok_or("no writer")?;
+        json!({"files": export_batch(&mut app.session, &ids, &opts, &to, &mut |path, bytes| w(path, bytes), &|path| std::path::Path::new(path).exists())?})
+    };
     // remember for Export with Previous (and to prefill the dialog)
     let mut last = p.clone();
     if let Some(o) = last.as_object_mut() {
@@ -354,7 +365,7 @@ pub fn export_active(app: &mut LightcraftApp, p: &Value) -> Result<Value, String
     }
     app.session.last_export = Some(last);
     let _ = app.session.save_prefs();
-    Ok(json!({"files": out}))
+    Ok(out)
 }
 
 pub fn save_screenshot(app: &mut LightcraftApp, image: &egui::ColorImage, path: Option<&str>) -> Value {
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/export_task.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/export_task.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6726c5f59
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/export_task.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+//! Background export: the Export dialog, File → Export with Preset and Export with Previous hand
+//! their batch to a worker thread so the window stays responsive. Photos are prepared on the UI
+//! thread ([`lightcraft_engine::export::prepare_export`]: cheap, needs the session) and rendered,
+//! encoded and written on the worker; a progress panel shows the count and a Cancel button.
+//!
+//! Needs [`crate::Services::write_shared`] (a thread-safe writer); without it (web) the batch runs
+//! synchronously as before.
+
+use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, Ordering};
+use std::sync::mpsc::{Receiver, channel};
+use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
+
+use egui::Align2;
+use lightcraft_engine::export::{Destination, ExportOptions, PreparedExport, run_batch};
+use serde_json::{Value, json};
+
+use crate::LightcraftApp;
+use crate::theme::Tokens;
+
+pub struct ExportTask {
+    pub total: usize,
+    /// Photos started so far and the file in progress.
+    pub progress: Arc<Mutex<(usize, String)>>,
+    pub cancel: Arc<AtomicBool>,
+    rx: Receiver<Result<Vec<Value>, String>>,
+}
+
+impl ExportTask {
+    /// `{total, done, current}` for `ui.inspect`.
+    pub fn status(&self) -> Value {
+        let (done, current) = self.progress.lock().map(|g| g.clone()).unwrap_or_default();
+        json!({"total": self.total, "done": done, "current": current})
+    }
+}
+
+/// Start exporting `items` in the background. Errors per photo are collected, not fatal.
+pub fn start(app: &mut LightcraftApp, items: Vec<PreparedExport>, opts: ExportOptions, to: Destination) -> Result<Value, String> {
+    if app.export.is_some() {
+        return Err("an export is already running".into());
+    }
+    let write = app.services.write_shared.clone().ok_or("no background writer")?;
+    let total = items.len();
+    let progress = Arc::new(Mutex::new((0, String::new())));
+    let cancel = Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(false));
+    let (tx, rx) = channel();
+    let (p, c) = (progress.clone(), cancel.clone());
+    let work = move || {
+        let mut w = |path: &str, bytes: &[u8]| write(path, bytes);
+        let r = run_batch(items, &opts, &to, &mut w, &|path| std::path::Path::new(path).exists(), false, &mut |done, name| {
+            if let Ok(mut g) = p.lock() {
+                *g = (done, name.to_string());
+            }
+            !c.load(Ordering::Relaxed)
+        });
+        let _ = tx.send(r);
+    };
+    #[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
+    std::thread::Builder::new().name("export".into()).spawn(work).map_err(|e| e.to_string())?;
+    #[cfg(target_arch = "wasm32")]
+    work();
+    app.export = Some(ExportTask { total, progress, cancel, rx });
+    Ok(json!({"background": true, "total": total}))
+}
+
+/// Per frame: draw the progress panel; when the batch finishes, report it.
+pub fn poll(app: &mut LightcraftApp, ctx: &egui::Context) {
+    let Some(task) = &app.export else { return };
+    match task.rx.try_recv() {
+        Ok(r) => {
+            let cancelled = task.cancel.load(Ordering::Relaxed);
+            let total = task.total;
+            app.export = None;
+            let msg = match r {
+                Ok(files) => {
+                    let ok = files.iter().filter(|f| f.get("path").is_some()).count();
+                    let failed: Vec<&Value> = files.iter().filter(|f| f.get("error").is_some()).collect();
+                    let skipped = files.iter().filter(|f| f.get("skipped").is_some()).count();
+                    let mut m = format!("Exported {ok} of {total} photo{}", if total == 1 { "" } else { "s" });
+                    if skipped > 0 {
+                        m += &format!(" · {skipped} skipped (file exists)");
+                    }
+                    if let Some(first) = failed.first() {
+                        m += &format!(" · {} failed: {}", failed.len(), first["error"].as_str().unwrap_or("error"));
+                    }
+                    if cancelled {
+                        m += " · cancelled";
+                    }
+                    app.last_export_result = Some(json!({"files": files, "cancelled": cancelled}));
+                    m
+                }
+                Err(e) => e,
+            };
+            app.toast(ctx, msg);
+        }
+        Err(std::sync::mpsc::TryRecvError::Empty) => {
+            let (done, current) = task.progress.lock().map(|g| g.clone()).unwrap_or_default();
+            let (total, cancel) = (task.total, task.cancel.clone());
+            let t = Tokens::get(ctx);
+            egui::Window::new("Exporting")
+                .title_bar(false)
+                .resizable(false)
+                .anchor(Align2::LEFT_BOTTOM, [16.0, -56.0])
+                .fixed_size([300.0, 64.0])
+                .show(ctx, |ui| {
+                    ui.horizontal(|ui| {
+                        ui.label(egui::RichText::new(format!("Exporting {} of {total}", (done + 1).min(total))).color(t.text));
+                        ui.with_layout(egui::Layout::right_to_left(egui::Align::Center), |ui| {
+                            let stopping = cancel.load(Ordering::Relaxed);
+                            if crate::widgets::text_button(ui, "exportCancel", if stopping { "Stopping…" } else { "Cancel" }, false).clicked() {
+                                cancel.store(true, Ordering::Relaxed);
+                            }
+                        });
+                    });
+                    ui.add(egui::ProgressBar::new(done as f32 / total.max(1) as f32).desired_width(280.0));
+                    ui.label(egui::RichText::new(current).size(11.0).color(t.text_dim));
+                });
+            ctx.request_repaint_after(std::time::Duration::from_millis(100));
+        }
+        Err(std::sync::mpsc::TryRecvError::Disconnected) => {
+            app.export = None;
+            app.toast(ctx, "Export stopped unexpectedly");
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/headless.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/headless.rs
index aeed7dc16..8d9c94fba 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/headless.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/headless.rs
@@ -174,6 +174,7 @@ impl Headless {
         self.app.renderer.in_flight() > 0
             || self.app.merge.busy()
             || self.app.import.is_some()
+            || self.app.export.is_some()
             || !self.app.synthetic.is_empty()
             || !self.events.is_empty()
     }
@@ -550,6 +551,46 @@ mod tests {
         h.settle(SETTLE);
     }
 
+    /// The Export dialog hands its batch to a worker thread: the UI keeps drawing frames, shows
+    /// progress, and reports the result when the files are written.
+    #[test]
+    fn export_dialog_runs_in_the_background() {
+        let mut h = demo([1200.0, 900.0]);
+        let t = Duration::from_secs(10);
+        let written = std::sync::Arc::new(std::sync::Mutex::new(Vec::<String>::new()));
+        let w = written.clone();
+        h.app.services.write_shared = Some(std::sync::Arc::new(move |p: &str, _: &[u8]| {
+            std::thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(150)); // a slow disk: the UI must not wait for it
+            w.lock().unwrap().push(p.to_string());
+            Ok(())
+        }));
+        let ids: Vec<u64> = h.app.session.visible_cloned().iter().take(3).map(|p| p.0).collect();
+        h.request("engine.execute", json!({"command": "library.select", "params": {"ids": ids}}), t);
+        h.request("engine.execute", json!({"command": "dialog.export", "params": {}}), t);
+        h.settle(SETTLE);
+        if let Some(crate::state::Dialog::Export { full_size, resize, dir, .. }) = &mut h.app.ui.dialog {
+            *full_size = false;
+            *resize = lightcraft_engine::export::Resize::long_edge(64);
+            *dir = "/lc-test-out".into();
+        }
+        let r = h.request("ui.dialog.confirm", json!({}), t);
+        assert_eq!(r["ok"], true, "{r}");
+        assert!(h.app.export.is_some(), "running in the background");
+        let running = h.request("ui.inspect", json!({}), t);
+        assert_eq!(running["result"]["export"]["running"]["total"], 3, "{}", running["result"]["export"]);
+        let t0 = Instant::now();
+        while h.app.export.is_some() && t0.elapsed() < Duration::from_secs(60) {
+            h.step();
+        }
+        assert!(h.app.export.is_none(), "finished");
+        let w = written.lock().unwrap().clone();
+        assert_eq!(w.len(), 3, "{w:?}");
+        assert!(w.iter().all(|p| p.starts_with("/lc-test-out/")));
+        let last = h.request("ui.inspect", json!({}), t)["result"]["export"]["last"].clone();
+        assert_eq!(last["files"].as_array().map(Vec::len), Some(3), "{last}");
+        assert!(last["files"][0]["width"].as_u64().is_some_and(|w| w <= 64));
+    }
+
     /// ⇧⌘V opens Paste Selected Settings (prefilled with the copied groups); unchecking a group
     /// leaves it alone. ⌘F puts typing into the search field.
     #[test]
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
index 4419a490e..1136526cb 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #![forbid(unsafe_code)]
 
 pub mod control;
+pub mod export_task;
 pub mod headless;
 pub mod icons;
 pub mod import;
@@ -36,6 +37,8 @@ pub type PickFiles = Box<dyn FnMut() -> Vec<String>>;
 /// A save dialog: suggested file name → chosen path (`None` = cancelled).
 pub type SaveFile = Box<dyn FnMut(&str) -> Option<String>>;
 pub type WriteFn = Box<dyn FnMut(&str, &[u8]) -> Result<(), String>>;
+/// A writer other threads can use (background export).
+pub type SharedWrite = std::sync::Arc<dyn Fn(&str, &[u8]) -> Result<(), String> + Send + Sync>;
 pub type PngEncode = Box<dyn Fn(&lightcraft_raster::Rgba8) -> Vec<u8>>;
 /// A folder chooser (`None` = cancelled).
 pub type PickFolder = Box<dyn FnMut() -> Option<String>>;
@@ -54,6 +57,8 @@ pub struct Services {
     /// Save dialog for an exported `.lcpreset` file.
     pub save_preset_file: Option<SaveFile>,
     pub write: Option<WriteFn>,
+    /// Thread-safe writer: with it, UI-started exports run in the background (desktop only).
+    pub write_shared: Option<SharedWrite>,
     /// PNG encoder (the host links an image encoder; the UI crate stays codec-free).
     pub png: Option<PngEncode>,
     /// Show a file in the system file manager (desktop only).
@@ -109,6 +114,10 @@ pub struct LightcraftApp {
     pub merge: merge::MergeState,
     /// An import in progress (the import review dialog's batches).
     pub import: Option<import::ImportTask>,
+    /// A background export in progress.
+    pub export: Option<export_task::ExportTask>,
+    /// The files of the last finished background export (`ui.inspect` → `export.last`).
+    pub last_export_result: Option<Value>,
     /// The look the loupe shows while the pointer rests on a preset or profile (set by the
     /// panels each frame; nothing is committed, no history entry).
     pub hover_preview: Option<HoverPreview>,
@@ -149,6 +158,8 @@ impl LightcraftApp {
             loupe_shown: None,
             merge: merge::MergeState::default(),
             import: None,
+            export: None,
+            last_export_result: None,
             hover_preview: None,
             window_is_fullscreen: false,
             gpu_applied: None,
@@ -429,6 +440,7 @@ impl LightcraftApp {
         });
         panels::dialogs::show(self, &ctx);
         import::progress(self, &ctx);
+        export_task::poll(self, &ctx);
         panels::toast(self, &ctx);
         self.widgets = widgets::take_registry(&ctx);
         self.perf.frame_ms = now_ms() - t0;
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/menubar.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/menubar.rs
index 14936f988..d54e99a84 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/menubar.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/menubar.rs
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ fn expanded(app: &LightcraftApp, name: &str) -> Option<Vec<MenuNode>> {
                     v.push(MenuNode::Separator);
                 }
                 builtin = b;
-                v.push(item("app.export", json!({"preset": p.name}), p.name, None, sel, None));
+                v.push(item("app.export", json!({"preset": p.name, "background": true}), p.name, None, sel, None));
             }
             v.push(MenuNode::Separator);
             v.push(item("dialog.export", Value::Null, "Custom…", None, sel, None));
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/dialogs.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/dialogs.rs
index d48d6dd9d..62bbdb852 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/dialogs.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/dialogs.rs
@@ -602,6 +602,7 @@ pub fn confirm_dialog(app: &mut LightcraftApp, dlg: &Dialog) -> Result<serde_jso
         Dialog::Export { opts, full_size, resize, limit_kb, dir, .. } => {
             let mut p = export_dialog_params(opts, *full_size, resize, *limit_kb);
             p["dir"] = json!(dir);
+            p["background"] = json!(true);
             app.run("app.export", p)
         }
         Dialog::Merge { opts } => crate::merge::start_final(app, opts),
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/grid.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/grid.rs
index 9008515db..3558d8d04 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/grid.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/grid.rs
@@ -540,7 +540,8 @@ pub fn context_menu(app: &mut LightcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, id: PhotoId) {
     ui.menu_button("Export with Preset", |ui| {
         for (p, _) in app.session.all_export_presets() {
             if ui.button(&p.name).clicked() {
-                match app.run("app.export", json!({"preset": p.name})) {
+                match app.run("app.export", json!({"preset": p.name, "background": true})) {
+                    Ok(r) if r.get("background").is_some() => {}
                     Ok(r) => {
                         let n = r["files"].as_array().map_or(0, Vec::len);
                         app.toast(ui.ctx(), format!("Exported {n} photo{}", if n == 1 { "" } else { "s" }));
diff --git a/docs/control-protocol.md b/docs/control-protocol.md
index 15ee1fd87..2b4c98842 100644
--- a/docs/control-protocol.md
+++ b/docs/control-protocol.md
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ mode ([mcp.md](mcp.md)) is a thin layer over this channel. Implementation:
 | `engine.commands` | — | Engine + UI commands: id, label, menu, shortcut, params doc, enabled |
 | `ui.menu.list` | — | Menu entries (flat: id, label, menu path, shortcut, enabled) |
 | `ui.menu.tree` | — | The menu bar as shown (File … Help): items `{id, params?, label, shortcut?, enabled, checked?}`, separators, submenus — the model behind the native macOS menu bar and the in-window menus |
-| `ui.inspect` | — | UI state, window, canvas/image rects, active photo, selection, perf, status, memory (bytes per cache, see `library.memory`; plus stage caches and textures) |
+| `ui.inspect` | — | UI state, window, canvas/image rects, active photo, selection, perf, status, memory (bytes per cache, see `library.memory`; plus stage caches and textures), `export: {running: {total, done, current} \| null, last}` |
 | `ui.widgets` | `{filter?}` | On-screen widgets `{id, rect: [x, y, w, h]}` (screen points) |
 | `ui.clickWidget` / `ui.dragWidget` / `ui.hoverWidget` | `{id, count?, fx?, fy?}` / `{id, toX?, toY?, dx?, dy?, steps?}` / `{id, fx?, fy?}` | Real egui input on a widget (hover: the pointer rests on it, e.g. for preset/profile previews) |
 | `ui.move` / `ui.click` / `ui.drag` | `{x, y, count?, button?}` / `{x, y, toX, toY, steps?}` | Raw pointer input, screen points |
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ mode ([mcp.md](mcp.md)) is a thin layer over this channel. Implementation:
 | `ui.dialog.confirm` / `ui.dialog.cancel` | — | Close the open dialog |
 | `ui.resize` | `{width, height}` | Resize the window |
 | `ui.screenshot` | `{path?, headless?}` | `{path, width, height}` once the frame (with finished renders) is captured. `headless: true` draws the UI on the CPU (no compositor needed); a windowed capture that gets no frame within 2 s falls back to headless automatically |
+| `engine.execute {command: "app.export", params}` | export params (see `docs/mcp.md`), plus `preset`, `dir` / `path`, `ids`, `background` | Writes the files and returns `{files}`; with `background: true` (what the Export dialog and menus use) it returns `{background: true, total}` at once and the batch runs on a worker thread — poll `ui.inspect` → `export` |
 | `ui.render` | `{id?, size?, path?}` | Render a photo (PNG to `path`), `{width, height}` |
 | `app.quit` | — | Close the app |
 
diff --git a/docs/parity.md b/docs/parity.md
index 8a4ee7294..557525e13 100644
--- a/docs/parity.md
+++ b/docs/parity.md
@@ -44,11 +44,11 @@ and prints the summary; `cargo xtask parity --write` refreshes the summary table
 | U. Map & location (MAP) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 0/1 (0%) |
 | V. Preferences (PREF) | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1/1 (100%) | 3/4 (75%) |
 | W. Cloud & AI infrastructure (CLOUD / AI) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — |
-| X. Cross-cutting behaviours (BEHAV) | 10 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 7/8 (88%) | 3/5 (60%) |
+| X. Cross-cutting behaviours (BEHAV) | 11 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 8/8 (100%) | 3/5 (60%) |
 | Y. Menus | 56 | 16 | 13 | 8 | 41/47 (87%) | 13/23 (57%) |
 | Z. Keyboard shortcuts (desktop) | 56 | 13 | 11 | 1 | 47/52 (90%) | 9/23 (39%) |
 | Lightroom Classic extras | 4 | 20 | 55 | 9 | — | 3/21 (14%) |
-| **Total** | 264 | 80 | 156 | 37 | 182/198 (92%) | 72/144 (50%) |
+| **Total** | 265 | 79 | 156 | 37 | 183/198 (92%) | 72/144 (50%) |
 <!-- /parity:summary -->
 
 ## Top gaps
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ under the UI command that wraps it (a no-op error); the UI command now wins.
 | LR-BEHAV-BATCH | Batch apply to selection | P0 | ✅ | `cmd:photo.rate`, `cmd:develop.paste`, `cmd:preset.apply`, `cmd:app.export` | |
 | LR-BEHAV-PREVIEW-HOVER | Hover previews | P1 | 🟡 | `crates/ui-egui/src/panels/presets.rs`, `crates/ui-egui/src/panels/profiles.rs`, `crates/ui-egui/src/panels/detail.rs` | presets, profile menu and profile browser preview in the loupe; versions do not |
 | LR-BEHAV-PROGRESSIVE | Progressive rendering | P0 | ✅ | `crates/engine/src/media.rs`, `crates/preview/src/lib.rs` | |
-| LR-BEHAV-BG-TASKS | Background tasks | P0 | 🟡 | `crates/preview/src/lib.rs` (`JobPool`) | renders off the UI thread; no progress popover for import/export |
+| LR-BEHAV-BG-TASKS | Background tasks | P0 | ✅ | `crates/preview/src/lib.rs` (`JobPool`), `crates/ui-egui/src/export_task.rs`, `crates/ui-egui/src/import.rs` | renders off the UI thread; exports started from the UI run on a worker thread with a progress panel and Cancel (`ui.inspect` → `export`); imports show a progress window. No combined activity centre |
 | LR-BEHAV-OFFLINE | Offline editing | P1 | ✅ | | local-first: everything works offline |
 | LR-BEHAV-GPU | GPU acceleration | P0 | ✅ | `crates/gpu/src/render.rs`, `cmd:app.gpu`, `docs/gpu-pipeline.md` | CPU fallback |
 | LR-BEHAV-DRAGDROP | Drag and drop | P1 | 🟡 | `crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs` | files → app only; no photos → albums |