diff --git a/libs/shared/database/src/lib/connection.ts b/libs/shared/database/src/lib/connection.ts
index 451781cc4..213571181 100644
--- a/libs/shared/database/src/lib/connection.ts
+++ b/libs/shared/database/src/lib/connection.ts
@@ -147,6 +147,13 @@ const CREATE_TABLE_STATEMENTS = [
     `CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_content_xtream ON content(xtream_id)`,
     `CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_content_type_added ON content(type, added)`,
     `CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_categories_type ON categories(type)`,
+    // Partial covering index for visible categories — supports the dashboard's
+    // getGlobalRecentlyAdded plus searchContent/globalSearch when excludeHidden
+    // is set. SQLite can satisfy the join (category_id PK lookup) plus the
+    // hidden = 0 filter directly from this index without touching the
+    // categories row, and hidden categories are absent so they're skipped
+    // before any row lookup.
+    `CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_categories_visible ON categories(id, playlist_id, type) WHERE hidden = 0`,
     `CREATE UNIQUE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS favorites_content_playlist_unique ON favorites(content_id, playlist_id)`,
     `CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS favorites_playlist_idx ON favorites(playlist_id)`,
     `CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS favorites_content_idx ON favorites(content_id)`,
diff --git a/libs/shared/database/src/lib/schema.ts b/libs/shared/database/src/lib/schema.ts
index aa9b2a3e6..c6c3c2b7e 100644
--- a/libs/shared/database/src/lib/schema.ts
+++ b/libs/shared/database/src/lib/schema.ts
@@ -72,6 +72,12 @@ export const categories = sqliteTable(
         playlistTypeXtreamUnique: uniqueIndex(
             'categories_playlist_type_xtream_unique'
         ).on(table.playlistId, table.type, table.xtreamId),
+        // Partial covering index for visible categories — see connection.ts
+        // for the full rationale. SQLite can satisfy joins + hidden filter
+        // directly from this index for the dashboard / search queries.
+        visibleIdx: index('idx_categories_visible')
+            .on(table.id, table.playlistId, table.type)
+            .where(sql`hidden = 0`),
     })
 );