diff --git a/src-ui/src/app/components/app-frame/app-frame.component.html b/src-ui/src/app/components/app-frame/app-frame.component.html
index 91fe83222..84b8dea3f 100644
--- a/src-ui/src/app/components/app-frame/app-frame.component.html
+++ b/src-ui/src/app/components/app-frame/app-frame.component.html
@@ -31,11 +31,18 @@
     [class.mobile-hidden]="mobileSearchHidden()">
     <div class="col-12 header-search mx-auto d-flex align-items-stretch gap-3">
       <pngx-global-search class="flex-grow-1"></pngx-global-search>
-      <button *pngxIfPermissions="{ action: PermissionAction.Add, type: PermissionType.Document }"
-        class="btn btn-sm header-upload border-0 d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center flex-shrink-0 py-0 px-2" type="button"
-        (click)="fileUpload.click()" aria-label="Upload documents" i18n-aria-label>
-        <i-bs class="d-flex" width="1.1em" height="1.1em" name="file-earmark-arrow-up"></i-bs><span class="ms-2 d-sm-none d-md-inline" i18n>Upload</span>
-      </button>
+      <div *pngxIfPermissions="{ action: PermissionAction.Add, type: PermissionType.Document }" class="btn-group header-upload-group flex-shrink-0">
+        <button class="btn btn-sm header-upload border-0 d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center py-0 px-2" type="button"
+          (click)="fileUpload.click()" aria-label="Upload documents" i18n-aria-label>
+          <i-bs class="d-flex" width="1.1em" height="1.1em" name="file-earmark-arrow-up"></i-bs><span class="ms-2 d-sm-none d-md-inline" i18n>Upload</span>
+        </button>
+        @if (uploadsInProgress > 0) {
+          <button class="btn btn-sm header-upload border-0 d-flex align-items-center py-0 px-2" type="button"
+            (click)="showUploadStatus()" aria-label="Show document processing status" i18n-aria-label>
+            <span class="spinner-border spinner-border-sm" aria-hidden="true"></span><span class="ms-2 small">{{ uploadsInProgress }}</span>
+          </button>
+        }
+      </div>
     </div>
   </div>
   <ul ngbNav class="order-sm-3">
diff --git a/src-ui/src/app/components/app-frame/app-frame.component.scss b/src-ui/src/app/components/app-frame/app-frame.component.scss
index dc66b50af..933dd9374 100644
--- a/src-ui/src/app/components/app-frame/app-frame.component.scss
+++ b/src-ui/src/app/components/app-frame/app-frame.component.scss
@@ -552,9 +552,22 @@ main {
   --bs-btn-active-bg: rgba(255, 255, 255, .3);
   color: var(--pngx-primary-text-contrast) !important; // .navbar .dropdown > .btn in styles.scss
 
-  &:not(:focus) {
-    box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, .35), 0 1px 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, .2); // leave room for the .btn:focus ring
+  & + & {
+    border-left: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, .2) !important;
   }
+
+  &:focus {
+    box-shadow: none;
+  }
+
+  &:focus-visible {
+    box-shadow: inset 0 0 0 2px rgba(255, 255, 255, .5);
+  }
+}
+
+.header-upload-group {
+  border-radius: var(--bs-border-radius-sm);
+  box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(0, 0, 0, .35), 0 1px 1px rgba(0, 0, 0, .2);
 }
 
 @media screen and (max-width: 575.98px) {
diff --git a/src-ui/src/app/components/app-frame/app-frame.component.spec.ts b/src-ui/src/app/components/app-frame/app-frame.component.spec.ts
index 60fc6b18f..971a4ceeb 100644
--- a/src-ui/src/app/components/app-frame/app-frame.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src-ui/src/app/components/app-frame/app-frame.component.spec.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import {
 } from '@angular/common/http/testing'
 import { ComponentFixture, TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing'
 import { FormsModule, ReactiveFormsModule } from '@angular/forms'
-import { BrowserModule } from '@angular/platform-browser'
+import { BrowserModule, By } from '@angular/platform-browser'
 import { ActivatedRoute, Router } from '@angular/router'
 import { RouterTestingModule } from '@angular/router/testing'
 import { NgbModal, NgbModalModule, NgbModule } from '@ng-bootstrap/ng-bootstrap'
@@ -34,8 +34,10 @@ import { SettingsService } from 'src/app/services/settings.service'
 import { TasksService } from 'src/app/services/tasks.service'
 import { ToastService } from 'src/app/services/toast.service'
 import { UploadDocumentsService } from 'src/app/services/upload-documents.service'
+import { WebsocketStatusService } from 'src/app/services/websocket-status.service'
 import { environment } from 'src/environments/environment'
 import { ProfileEditDialogComponent } from '../common/profile-edit-dialog/profile-edit-dialog.component'
+import { UploadStatusTrayComponent } from '../common/upload-status-tray/upload-status-tray.component'
 import { DocumentDetailComponent } from '../document-detail/document-detail.component'
 import { AppFrameComponent } from './app-frame.component'
 import { GlobalSearchComponent } from './global-search/global-search.component'
@@ -474,10 +476,26 @@ describe('AppFrameComponent', () => {
     jest.spyOn(input, 'files', 'get').mockReturnValue([file] as any)
 
     component.onFileSelected({ target: input } as unknown as Event)
-    expect(toastSpy).toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(toastSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
     expect(uploadSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith([file])
   })
 
+  it('should show in-progress uploads and expand the status tray', () => {
+    const websocketStatusService = TestBed.inject(WebsocketStatusService)
+    expect(component.uploadsInProgress).toEqual(0)
+    websocketStatusService.newFileUpload('file.pdf')
+    expect(component.uploadsInProgress).toEqual(1)
+
+    fixture.detectChanges()
+    const tray = fixture.debugElement.query(
+      By.directive(UploadStatusTrayComponent)
+    ).componentInstance as UploadStatusTrayComponent
+    tray.toggleCollapsed()
+    expect(tray.collapsed()).toBe(true)
+    component.showUploadStatus()
+    expect(tray.collapsed()).toBe(false)
+  })
+
   it('should not upload when no files are selected from the navbar', () => {
     const uploadDocumentsService = TestBed.inject(UploadDocumentsService)
     const uploadSpy = jest.spyOn(uploadDocumentsService, 'uploadFiles')
diff --git a/src-ui/src/app/components/app-frame/app-frame.component.ts b/src-ui/src/app/components/app-frame/app-frame.component.ts
index f7fcc37f0..4f9a02f6e 100644
--- a/src-ui/src/app/components/app-frame/app-frame.component.ts
+++ b/src-ui/src/app/components/app-frame/app-frame.component.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,14 @@ import {
   moveItemInArray,
 } from '@angular/cdk/drag-drop'
 import { NgClass } from '@angular/common'
-import { Component, HostListener, inject, OnInit, signal } from '@angular/core'
+import {
+  Component,
+  HostListener,
+  inject,
+  OnInit,
+  signal,
+  viewChild,
+} from '@angular/core'
 import { FormsModule } from '@angular/forms'
 import { ActivatedRoute, Router, RouterModule } from '@angular/router'
 import {
@@ -49,6 +56,7 @@ import { SettingsService } from 'src/app/services/settings.service'
 import { TasksService } from 'src/app/services/tasks.service'
 import { ToastService } from 'src/app/services/toast.service'
 import { UploadDocumentsService } from 'src/app/services/upload-documents.service'
+import { WebsocketStatusService } from 'src/app/services/websocket-status.service'
 import { environment } from 'src/environments/environment'
 import { ChatComponent } from '../chat/chat/chat.component'
 import { SwitchComponent } from '../common/input/switch/switch.component'
@@ -105,6 +113,9 @@ export class AppFrameComponent
   permissionsService = inject(PermissionsService)
   private djangoMessagesService = inject(DjangoMessagesService)
   private uploadDocumentsService = inject(UploadDocumentsService)
+  private websocketStatusService = inject(WebsocketStatusService)
+
+  private readonly uploadStatusTray = viewChild(UploadStatusTrayComponent)
 
   readonly appRemoteVersion = signal<AppRemoteVersion>(null)
   readonly isMenuCollapsed = signal(true)
@@ -522,10 +533,17 @@ export class AppFrameComponent
     const files = Array.from(input.files ?? [])
     input.value = ''
     if (!files.length) return
-    this.toastService.showInfo($localize`Initiating upload...`, 3000)
     this.uploadDocumentsService.uploadFiles(files)
   }
 
+  get uploadsInProgress(): number {
+    return this.websocketStatusService.getConsumerStatusNotCompleted().length
+  }
+
+  showUploadStatus() {
+    this.uploadStatusTray()?.expand()
+  }
+
   onLogout() {
     this.openDocumentsService.closeAll()
   }
diff --git a/src-ui/src/app/components/common/upload-status-tray/upload-status-tray.component.spec.ts b/src-ui/src/app/components/common/upload-status-tray/upload-status-tray.component.spec.ts
index 3482df1e4..6780b154b 100644
--- a/src-ui/src/app/components/common/upload-status-tray/upload-status-tray.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src-ui/src/app/components/common/upload-status-tray/upload-status-tray.component.spec.ts
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 import { provideHttpClient, withInterceptorsFromDi } from '@angular/common/http'
 import { provideHttpClientTesting } from '@angular/common/http/testing'
 import { ComponentFixture, TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing'
-import { By } from '@angular/platform-browser'
 import { RouterTestingModule } from '@angular/router/testing'
 import { NgxBootstrapIconsModule, allIcons } from 'ngx-bootstrap-icons'
 import { routes } from 'src/app/app-routing.module'
 import { PermissionsGuard } from 'src/app/guards/permissions.guard'
 import { PermissionsService } from 'src/app/services/permissions.service'
+import { UploadDocumentsService } from 'src/app/services/upload-documents.service'
 import {
   FileStatus,
   FileStatusPhase,
@@ -105,6 +105,26 @@ describe('UploadStatusTrayComponent', () => {
     expect(component.collapsed()).toBe(false)
   })
 
+  it('should expand on request', () => {
+    component.toggleCollapsed()
+    expect(component.collapsed()).toBe(true)
+    component.expand()
+    expect(component.collapsed()).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('should expand when new uploads start', () => {
+    const uploadDocumentsService = TestBed.inject(UploadDocumentsService)
+    jest
+      .spyOn(uploadDocumentsService, 'uploadFile')
+      .mockImplementation(() => {})
+    websocketStatusService.newFileUpload('invoice.pdf')
+    fixture.detectChanges()
+    component.toggleCollapsed()
+    expect(component.collapsed()).toBe(true)
+    uploadDocumentsService.uploadFiles([new File(['one'], 'one.pdf')])
+    expect(component.collapsed()).toBe(false)
+  })
+
   it('should generate stats summary', () => {
     mockConsumerStatuses(websocketStatusService)
     expect(component.getStatusSummary()).toEqual(
diff --git a/src-ui/src/app/components/common/upload-status-tray/upload-status-tray.component.ts b/src-ui/src/app/components/common/upload-status-tray/upload-status-tray.component.ts
index 95549c7cf..c87cc31c8 100644
--- a/src-ui/src/app/components/common/upload-status-tray/upload-status-tray.component.ts
+++ b/src-ui/src/app/components/common/upload-status-tray/upload-status-tray.component.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { NgClass, NgTemplateOutlet } from '@angular/common'
 import { Component, effect, inject, signal } from '@angular/core'
+import { takeUntilDestroyed } from '@angular/core/rxjs-interop'
 import { RouterModule } from '@angular/router'
 import {
   NgbAlertModule,
@@ -15,6 +16,7 @@ import {
   PermissionType,
 } from 'src/app/services/permissions.service'
 import { SettingsService } from 'src/app/services/settings.service'
+import { UploadDocumentsService } from 'src/app/services/upload-documents.service'
 import {
   FileStatus,
   FileStatusPhase,
@@ -40,6 +42,7 @@ export class UploadStatusTrayComponent extends ComponentWithPermissions {
   private websocketStatusService = inject(WebsocketStatusService)
   private settingsService = inject(SettingsService)
   private permissionsService = inject(PermissionsService)
+  private uploadDocumentsService = inject(UploadDocumentsService)
 
   readonly collapsed = signal(false)
 
@@ -49,6 +52,10 @@ export class UploadStatusTrayComponent extends ComponentWithPermissions {
     effect(() => {
       if (this.getStatus().length === 0) this.collapsed.set(false)
     })
+    this.uploadDocumentsService
+      .onUploadsStarted()
+      .pipe(takeUntilDestroyed())
+      .subscribe(() => this.expand())
   }
 
   get canAddDocuments(): boolean {
@@ -138,6 +145,10 @@ export class UploadStatusTrayComponent extends ComponentWithPermissions {
     this.collapsed.update((collapsed) => !collapsed)
   }
 
+  expand() {
+    this.collapsed.set(false)
+  }
+
   dismiss(status: FileStatus) {
     this.websocketStatusService.dismiss(status)
   }
diff --git a/src-ui/src/app/components/file-drop/file-drop.component.spec.ts b/src-ui/src/app/components/file-drop/file-drop.component.spec.ts
index f6ea9572a..e64057643 100644
--- a/src-ui/src/app/components/file-drop/file-drop.component.spec.ts
+++ b/src-ui/src/app/components/file-drop/file-drop.component.spec.ts
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ describe('FileDropComponent', () => {
     }
     component.onDrop(dragEvent as DragEvent)
     advanceTimers(3000)
-    expect(toastSpy).toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(toastSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
     expect(uploadSpy).toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
 
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ describe('FileDropComponent', () => {
     component.onDrop(dragEvent as DragEvent)
     await flushPromises()
     advanceTimers(3000)
-    expect(toastSpy).toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(toastSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
     expect(uploadSpy).toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
 
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ describe('FileDropComponent', () => {
     }
     component.onDrop(dragEvent as DragEvent)
     advanceTimers(3000)
-    expect(toastSpy).toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(toastSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
     expect(uploadSpy).toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
 
diff --git a/src-ui/src/app/components/file-drop/file-drop.component.ts b/src-ui/src/app/components/file-drop/file-drop.component.ts
index a1f1432d0..fdc035f23 100644
--- a/src-ui/src/app/components/file-drop/file-drop.component.ts
+++ b/src-ui/src/app/components/file-drop/file-drop.component.ts
@@ -134,7 +134,6 @@ export class FileDropComponent {
       Promise.all(promises)
         .then((results) => {
           files.push(...[].concat(...results))
-          this.toastService.showInfo($localize`Initiating upload...`, 3000)
           this.uploadDocumentsService.uploadFiles(files)
         })
         .catch((e) => {
@@ -143,7 +142,6 @@ export class FileDropComponent {
           )
         })
     } else if (files.length) {
-      this.toastService.showInfo($localize`Initiating upload...`, 3000)
       this.uploadDocumentsService.uploadFiles(files)
     }
 
diff --git a/src-ui/src/app/services/upload-documents.service.spec.ts b/src-ui/src/app/services/upload-documents.service.spec.ts
index fbc6b8db6..3431d202d 100644
--- a/src-ui/src/app/services/upload-documents.service.spec.ts
+++ b/src-ui/src/app/services/upload-documents.service.spec.ts
@@ -66,6 +66,19 @@ describe('UploadDocumentsService', () => {
       .forEach((req) => req.flush('123-456'))
   })
 
+  it('emits when uploads start', () => {
+    const startedSpy = jest.fn()
+    uploadDocumentsService.onUploadsStarted().subscribe(startedSpy)
+    uploadDocumentsService.uploadFiles([])
+    expect(startedSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    const file = new File(['one'], 'one.pdf')
+    uploadDocumentsService.uploadFiles([file])
+    expect(startedSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith([file])
+    httpTestingController
+      .match(`${environment.apiBaseUrl}documents/post_document/`)
+      .forEach((req) => req.flush('123-456'))
+  })
+
   it('updates progress during upload and failure', () => {
     const file = new File(
       [new Blob(['testing'], { type: 'application/pdf' })],
diff --git a/src-ui/src/app/services/upload-documents.service.ts b/src-ui/src/app/services/upload-documents.service.ts
index 1eb309846..d5c2bf52c 100644
--- a/src-ui/src/app/services/upload-documents.service.ts
+++ b/src-ui/src/app/services/upload-documents.service.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { HttpEventType } from '@angular/common/http'
 import { Injectable, inject } from '@angular/core'
-import { Subscription } from 'rxjs'
+import { Subject, Subscription } from 'rxjs'
 import { DocumentService } from './rest/document.service'
 import {
   FileStatusPhase,
@@ -16,10 +16,19 @@ export class UploadDocumentsService {
 
   private uploadSubscriptions: Array<Subscription> = []
 
+  private readonly uploadsStartedSubject = new Subject<File[]>()
+
   public uploadFiles(files: Iterable<File>) {
+    const started: File[] = []
     for (const file of files) {
       this.uploadFile(file)
+      started.push(file)
     }
+    if (started.length) this.uploadsStartedSubject.next(started)
+  }
+
+  public onUploadsStarted() {
+    return this.uploadsStartedSubject.asObservable()
   }
 
   public uploadFile(file: File) {