diff --git a/docs/settings-anki-template-cache-status-decisions.md b/docs/settings-anki-template-cache-status-decisions.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..92626d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/settings-anki-template-cache-status-decisions.md
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+# 设置页 Anki 模板缓存状态实现决策
+
+本文锁定本轮“设置页模板缓存状态 + 后台轻量 freshness 检测”的仓库兼容实现方案。
+
+## 1. 作用域决策
+
+- 只改设置页 card 1 的状态显示与轻量检测。
+- 不改同步主线。
+- 不新增按需字段读取。
+- 保留现有 manual full refresh 行为。
+
+## 2. 缓存状态模型决策
+
+- 在 `PluginSettingTab` 中新增实例级状态：
+  - `noteTypeCacheCheckStatus: "idle" | "checking" | "same" | "changed" | "failed"`
+  - `noteTypeCacheCheckPromise: Promise<void> | null`
+  - `detectedAnkiNoteTypeCache: string[] | null`
+- 另增：
+  - `cardTypeStatusOverride: UserFacingMessage | null`
+
+## 3. 统一状态计算决策
+
+- 不再直接渲染原来的 `cardTypeStatus` 字段。
+- 改为通过 `getCardTypeStatusMessage()` 统一计算。
+- 优先级固定为：
+  1. `ankiConfigLoading === true`
+  2. `cardTypeStatusOverride`
+  3. 缓存状态：
+     - 无缓存 -> `cacheEmpty`
+     - 缓存 + changed -> `cacheChanged`
+     - 缓存 + failed -> `cacheCheckFailed`
+     - 缓存 + idle/checking/same -> `cacheSummary`
+
+## 4. 后台检测启动决策
+
+- `renderCardTypesCard()` 每次渲染时调用 `maybeStartNoteTypeCacheCheck()`。
+- 但该方法必须短路以下情况：
+  - `ankiConfigLoading === true`
+  - `ankiNoteTypeCache.length === 0`
+  - `noteTypeCacheCheckPromise !== null`
+  - `noteTypeCacheCheckStatus !== "idle"`
+- 这样同一 settings tab 生命周期只会发起一次后台检测。
+
+## 5. 轻量检测语义决策
+
+- 后台检测只调用 `listNoteModels()`。
+- 不调用：
+  - `getModelFieldNamesByModelNames()`
+  - `getNoteModelDetails()`
+  - `modelTemplates`
+- 比较逻辑使用规范化后的名称列表：
+  - trim
+  - 过滤空字符串
+  - 去重
+  - 排序
+- 比较相等 -> `same`
+- 比较不等 -> `changed`
+- 调用失败 -> `failed`
+- 检测结果不写入 `data.json`。
+
+## 6. override 与缓存状态交互决策
+
+- 手动 full refresh 成功时：
+  - `cardTypeStatusOverride = loadedSummary`
+  - `noteTypeCacheCheckStatus = "same"`
+  - `detectedAnkiNoteTypeCache = 最新 modelNames`
+- 手动 full refresh 失败时：
+  - `cardTypeStatusOverride = failedLoad`
+  - 保留已有缓存和字段映射
+- 本地 validation/save 失败时：
+  - `cardTypeStatusOverride = failedSave` 或具体错误
+- 普通自动保存成功时：
+  - 清空 `cardTypeStatusOverride`
+
+## 7. 生命周期重置决策
+
+- `hide()` 时重置：
+  - `noteTypeCacheCheckStatus = "idle"`
+  - `noteTypeCacheCheckPromise = null`
+  - `detectedAnkiNoteTypeCache = null`
+  - `cardTypeStatusOverride = null`
+- 这样每次重新打开设置页都允许重新做一次轻量检测。
+
+## 8. manual full refresh 决策
+
+- 保持当前完整流程：
+  - `listNoteModels()`
+  - `getModelFieldNamesByModelNames()`
+  - `updateSettings({ ankiNoteTypeCache, ankiModelFieldCache })`
+  - `hydrateVisibleCardTypeCaches()`
+  - `syncQaGroupMappingFromCache()`
+- 成功后 card 1 继续局部刷新。
+- 失败后继续用缓存渲染下拉和字段。
+
+## 9. 受控偏离
+
+- 偏离 1：当前仓库的“保存失败”有两类。
+  - 设置页内可见的 validate 失败，仍会进入 `cardTypeStatusOverride`
+  - `plugin.updateSettings()` 内部持久化失败只通过 NoticeService 通知，当前设置页拿不到错误回传
+- 因此本轮只能稳定覆盖“校验失败”和“手动刷新失败”的 override，不额外改 plugin 层错误合同。
+
+- 偏离 2：后台检测中的 `checking` 不单独显示 loading 文案。
+  - 仍显示 `cacheSummary`
+  - 原因：计划要求检测不阻塞 UI，且 checking 与 same 的用户文案相同
+
+- 偏离 3：`detectedAnkiNoteTypeCache` 仅作为实例内调试/状态记录，不参与渲染计数。
+  - 渲染中的数量仍来自持久缓存 `ankiNoteTypeCache`
+  - 原因：目标文案强调“当前使用缓存的 x 个模板”
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/settings-anki-template-cache-status-gap-report.md b/docs/settings-anki-template-cache-status-gap-report.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5725331
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/settings-anki-template-cache-status-gap-report.md
@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+# 设置页 Anki 模板缓存状态差距审计
+
+本文基于当前仓库真实实现，审计“设置页模板缓存状态显示 + 后台轻量 freshness 检测”的落地差距。
+
+## 1. 当前设置页已是 cache-first 下拉，但不是 cache-first 状态
+
+- 入口在 [src/presentation/settings/PluginSettingTab.ts](src/presentation/settings/PluginSettingTab.ts)。
+- `renderCardTypesCard()` 打开时会先执行 `hydrateVisibleCardTypeCaches()`。
+- note type 下拉来自：
+  - `availableNoteModels`，若为空则退回 `settings.ankiNoteTypeCache`
+- 字段下拉来自：
+  - `settings.ankiModelFieldCache` 水合出的 `loadedModelDetails`
+  - 再经 `getCurrentMappingForConfig()` 生成 draft mapping
+
+这说明缓存实际上已经参与首屏渲染，当前问题不是“缓存没被用”，而是“状态文案没有反映缓存可用性”。
+
+## 2. 当前首屏状态文本仍固定为 idle
+
+- 当前类内状态是：
+  - `cardTypeStatus: UserFacingMessage = NOTE_TYPE_STATUS_IDLE`
+- `NOTE_TYPE_STATUS_IDLE` 指向 `settings.mapping.status.idle`。
+- `renderCardTypesCard()` 直接渲染 `renderUserFacingMessage(this.cardTypeStatus)`。
+- `cardTypeStatus` 只会在以下情况变化：
+  - `saveCardTypeConfig()` 校验失败
+  - `loadAnkiCardTypeConfig()` 开始 / 成功 / 失败
+
+结果：即使已有 `ankiNoteTypeCache` 和 `ankiModelFieldCache`，首次打开设置页仍显示“请先从 Anki 刷新”语义，而不是缓存摘要。
+
+## 3. 当前设置页打开时不会做任何后台 freshness 检测
+
+- `display()` -> `renderCard("card-types")` -> `renderCardTypesCard()` 的当前路径里没有自动调用：
+  - `listNoteModels()`
+  - `getModelFieldNamesByModelNames()`
+  - `getNoteModelDetails()`
+- 唯一主动访问 Anki 的入口仍是点击“手动读取 Anki 里的模板配置”。
+
+这与目标方案的差距是：当前没有“只跑一次 modelNames 的轻量后台检测”。
+
+## 4. 当前完整刷新流程已经符合“手动触发全量字段读取”约束
+
+- `loadAnkiCardTypeConfig()` 当前真实流程是：
+  - `listNoteModels()` 一次
+  - `getModelFieldNamesByModelNames()` 一次
+  - `updateSettings({ ankiNoteTypeCache, ankiModelFieldCache })`
+  - `hydrateVisibleCardTypeCaches()`
+  - `syncQaGroupMappingFromCache()`
+  - `renderCard("card-types")`
+- 当前不会在设置页打开时读取所有字段。
+
+这意味着本轮应保留该完整刷新流程，只新增轻量 `listNoteModels()` 检测，不改 full refresh 语义。
+
+## 5. 当前 card 1 已具备局部刷新壳层，可直接复用
+
+- `display()` 只在首次进入时 `containerEl.empty()` 和初始化 card shells。
+- 后续都是 `renderCard(cardId)` 的局部刷新。
+- `loadAnkiCardTypeConfig()`、`saveCardTypeConfig()`、`saveFieldMapping()` 等都只刷新 `card-types` 卡片。
+
+这与目标方案一致：后台检测完成后只需 `renderCard("card-types")`，不需要整页重建。
+
+## 6. 当前没有“一次性检测状态”或“override 状态”的分层模型
+
+- 当前只有一个 `cardTypeStatus` 字段，同时承载：
+  - idle
+  - manual refresh loading
+  - manual refresh success
+  - manual refresh failure
+  - validation failure
+- 没有单独的：
+  - cache freshness check 状态
+  - status override
+  - detected live note type list
+  - one-shot lifecycle promise
+
+结果：如果直接把后台检测结果写回 `cardTypeStatus`，会和手动刷新成功/失败状态互相覆盖。
+
+## 7. 当前没有防重入机制来保证“一次生命周期只检测一次”
+
+- 现在 `renderCard("card-types")` 会在很多交互后被反复调用：
+  - display 初始渲染
+  - toggle/heading/note type 变更
+  - QA Group warning acceptance
+  - manual refresh 前后
+- 但类内没有任何 `Promise` 或 `status` 标记来阻止重复启动 live 检测。
+
+因此如果要加后台检测，必须把“是否已检测过/是否检测中”挂在 settings tab 实例上，而不是放在 render 逻辑里临时判断。
+
+## 8. 当前测试已证明缓存渲染存在，但未覆盖状态与后台检测
+
+- [src/presentation/settings/PluginSettingTab.test.ts](src/presentation/settings/PluginSettingTab.test.ts) 当前已经覆盖：
+  - `ankiNoteTypeCache` 渲染 note type 下拉
+  - `ankiModelFieldCache` 渲染字段下拉
+  - 手动完整刷新只触发 `listNoteModels()` + `getModelFieldNamesByModelNames()`
+  - `getNoteModelDetails()` 在设置页刷新路径中不应被调用
+- 但未覆盖：
+  - 有缓存时首屏状态摘要
+  - 首屏后台 `listNoteModels()` 轻量检测
+  - 检测 changed / failed 分支
+  - 无缓存时不启动后台检测
+  - 手动 refresh 成功后清除 changed 提示
+
+## 9. 当前 i18n 里缺少缓存状态分层文案
+
+- 当前 card types 相关文案已有：
+  - `loadedSummary`
+  - `failedLoad`
+  - `failedSave`
+  - `loadAnki.loading`
+- 但没有：
+  - `cacheEmpty`
+  - `cacheSummary`
+  - `cacheChanged`
+  - `cacheCheckFailed`
+
+结果：即使实现了 cache-aware status，也没有现成 i18n key 可用。
+
+## 10. 结论
+
+当前仓库与目标方案的差距主要集中在状态模型，不在缓存渲染主链：
+
+1. 缓存已经用于下拉和字段渲染，但状态文本仍是固定 idle。
+2. 设置页打开时没有任何轻量 `modelNames` freshness check。
+3. 当前缺少 cache status 与 manual refresh status 的分层模型。
+4. 当前缺少防止重复后台检测的实例级状态。
+5. 当前测试和 i18n 都还不知道这套缓存状态语义。
+
+因此最安全的仓库兼容路径是：
+
+1. 保留现有缓存渲染和 manual full refresh 流程。
+2. 新增实例级的一次性 `listNoteModels()` 后台检测状态。
+3. 用统一的 `getCardTypeStatusMessage()` 计算首屏状态与 override 状态。
+4. 让后台检测只影响 card 1 的状态提示，不触碰 `data.json` 和字段缓存。
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/presentation/i18n/messages/en.ts b/src/presentation/i18n/messages/en.ts
index 6e4688d..d0e1d5b 100644
--- a/src/presentation/i18n/messages/en.ts
+++ b/src/presentation/i18n/messages/en.ts
@@ -223,6 +223,10 @@ export const en = {
         autoComposedAnswer: "Auto composed",
         qaGroupManagedNoteType: "{{modelName}} (managed automatically)",
         statusLabel: "Status: ",
+        cacheEmpty: "There are no cached Anki note templates yet. Read the Anki template config manually.",
+        cacheSummary: "Currently using {{noteTypeCount}} cached note templates with {{configuredCount}} selected card modes configured.",
+        cacheChanged: "Anki currently reports {{liveCount}} note templates, which differs from the {{cachedCount}} cached templates on this page. The UI is still using the cache with {{configuredCount}} selected card modes configured; read the Anki template config manually to refresh.",
+        cacheCheckFailed: "Still using {{noteTypeCount}} cached note templates with {{configuredCount}} selected card modes configured. The background check for the latest template list failed; read the Anki template config manually if you need a refresh.",
         loadedSummary: "Loaded {{noteTypeCount}} note templates and configured {{configuredCount}} selected card modes.",
         loadedFieldsStatus: "Refreshed fields for {{count}} selected note types.",
         failedLoad: "Failed to load note types or fields from Anki.",
diff --git a/src/presentation/i18n/messages/zh.ts b/src/presentation/i18n/messages/zh.ts
index 3e781ce..269619e 100644
--- a/src/presentation/i18n/messages/zh.ts
+++ b/src/presentation/i18n/messages/zh.ts
@@ -221,6 +221,10 @@ export const zh = {
         autoComposedAnswer: "自动拼接",
         qaGroupManagedNoteType: "{{modelName}}（自动维护）",
         statusLabel: "状态：",
+        cacheEmpty: "当前没有已缓存的 Anki 笔记模板。请手动读取 Anki 里的模板配置。",
+        cacheSummary: "当前使用缓存的 {{noteTypeCount}} 个笔记模板，已选择并配置 {{configuredCount}} 个卡片模式。",
+        cacheChanged: "检测到 Anki 当前有 {{liveCount}} 个笔记模板，和本页缓存的 {{cachedCount}} 个模板不一致。当前仍在使用缓存，已选择并配置 {{configuredCount}} 个卡片模式；如需更新请手动读取 Anki 里的模板配置。",
+        cacheCheckFailed: "当前继续使用缓存的 {{noteTypeCount}} 个笔记模板，已选择并配置 {{configuredCount}} 个卡片模式；后台检查最新模板列表失败，如需更新请手动读取 Anki 里的模板配置。",
         loadedSummary: "已获取 {{noteTypeCount}} 个笔记模板，已选择并配置 {{configuredCount}} 个卡片模式。",
         loadedFieldsStatus: "已刷新 {{count}} 个当前所选模板的字段。",
         failedLoad: "从 Anki 读取模板或字段失败。",
diff --git a/src/presentation/settings/PluginSettingTab.test.ts b/src/presentation/settings/PluginSettingTab.test.ts
index 0ca5a02..c99ab6c 100644
--- a/src/presentation/settings/PluginSettingTab.test.ts
+++ b/src/presentation/settings/PluginSettingTab.test.ts
@@ -289,6 +289,8 @@ class FakePlugin {
   public getNoteModelDetailsCalls = 0;
   public listFolderTreeCalls = 0;
   public insertDeckTemplateCalls = 0;
+  public listNoteModelsError: Error | null = null;
+  public noteModels = ["Basic", "Custom Basic", "Cloze", "Custom Cloze", "Semantic QA", QA_GROUP_USER_MODEL_NAME];
   public settings = normalizePluginSettings({
     ...DEFAULT_SETTINGS,
     qaNoteType: "Custom Basic",
@@ -337,7 +339,11 @@ class FakePlugin {
 
   async listNoteModels(): Promise<string[]> {
     this.listNoteModelsCalls += 1;
-    return ["Basic", "Custom Basic", "Cloze", "Custom Cloze", "Semantic QA", QA_GROUP_USER_MODEL_NAME];
+    if (this.listNoteModelsError) {
+      throw this.listNoteModelsError;
+    }
+
+    return [...this.noteModels];
   }
 
   async getModelFieldNamesByModelNames(modelNames: string[]): Promise<Record<string, string[]>> {
@@ -703,9 +709,11 @@ describe("PluginSettingTab", () => {
         },
       },
     });
+    cachedPlugin.noteModels = ["Basic", "Cached Basic", "Cached Cloze"];
     const cachedTab = new AnkiHeadingSyncSettingTab(cachedPlugin as never);
 
     cachedTab.display();
+    await flushPromises();
 
     const basicNoteTypeSelect = queryByDataset(cachedTab.containerEl, "cardTypeNoteType", "basic");
     expect(collectOptionValues(basicNoteTypeSelect)).toEqual(["Basic", "Cached Basic", "Cached Cloze"]);
@@ -713,7 +721,118 @@ describe("PluginSettingTab", () => {
     const basicAnswerFieldSelect = queryByDataset(cachedTab.containerEl, "cardTypeAnswerField", "basic");
     expect(collectOptionValues(basicQuestionFieldSelect)).toEqual(["", "Front", "Back", "Hint"]);
     expect(collectOptionValues(basicAnswerFieldSelect)).toEqual(["", "Front", "Back", "Hint"]);
-    expect(cachedPlugin.listNoteModelsCalls).toBe(0);
+    expect(cachedPlugin.listNoteModelsCalls).toBe(1);
+    expect(cachedPlugin.getModelFieldNamesByModelNamesCalls).toBe(0);
+    expect(cachedPlugin.getNoteModelDetailsCalls).toBe(0);
+    expect(collectTexts(cachedTab.containerEl).some((text) => text.includes("当前使用缓存的 3 个笔记模板，已选择并配置 1 个卡片模式。"))).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("shows cache-empty status and skips background checking when there is no cached note type", () => {
+    const plugin = new FakePlugin();
+    const tab = new AnkiHeadingSyncSettingTab(plugin as never);
+
+    tab.display();
+
+    expect(plugin.listNoteModelsCalls).toBe(0);
+    expect(plugin.getModelFieldNamesByModelNamesCalls).toBe(0);
+    expect(collectTexts(tab.containerEl).some((text) => text.includes("当前没有已缓存的 Anki 笔记模板"))).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("warns when the live note type list differs from the cached list without loading fields", async () => {
+    const plugin = new FakePlugin();
+    plugin.settings = normalizePluginSettings({
+      ...plugin.settings,
+      ankiNoteTypeCache: ["Basic", "Cached Basic", "Cached Cloze"],
+      ankiModelFieldCache: {
+        "Cached Basic": {
+          fieldNames: ["Front", "Back", "Hint"],
+          loadedAt: 123,
+        },
+      },
+      cardTypeConfigs: {
+        ...plugin.settings.cardTypeConfigs,
+        basic: {
+          ...plugin.settings.cardTypeConfigs.basic,
+          noteType: "Cached Basic",
+        },
+      },
+    });
+    plugin.noteModels = ["Basic", "Cached Basic", "Cached Cloze", "Live Only"];
+    const tab = new AnkiHeadingSyncSettingTab(plugin as never);
+
+    tab.display();
+    await flushPromises();
+
+    expect(plugin.listNoteModelsCalls).toBe(1);
+    expect(plugin.getModelFieldNamesByModelNamesCalls).toBe(0);
+    expect(plugin.getNoteModelDetailsCalls).toBe(0);
+    expect(collectTexts(tab.containerEl).some((text) => text.includes("和本页缓存的 3 个模板不一致"))).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("shows cache-check failure while keeping cached dropdowns when the lightweight check fails", async () => {
+    const plugin = new FakePlugin();
+    plugin.settings = normalizePluginSettings({
+      ...plugin.settings,
+      ankiNoteTypeCache: ["Basic", "Cached Basic"],
+      ankiModelFieldCache: {
+        "Cached Basic": {
+          fieldNames: ["Front", "Back", "Hint"],
+          loadedAt: 123,
+        },
+      },
+      cardTypeConfigs: {
+        ...plugin.settings.cardTypeConfigs,
+        basic: {
+          ...plugin.settings.cardTypeConfigs.basic,
+          noteType: "Cached Basic",
+        },
+      },
+    });
+    plugin.listNoteModelsError = new Error("offline");
+    const tab = new AnkiHeadingSyncSettingTab(plugin as never);
+
+    tab.display();
+    await flushPromises();
+
+    expect(plugin.listNoteModelsCalls).toBe(1);
+    expect(plugin.getModelFieldNamesByModelNamesCalls).toBe(0);
+    expect(collectTexts(tab.containerEl).some((text) => text.includes("后台检查最新模板列表失败"))).toBe(true);
+    expect(collectOptionValues(queryByDataset(tab.containerEl, "cardTypeNoteType", "basic"))).toEqual(["Basic", "Cached Basic"]);
+  });
+
+  it("manual refresh overrides the stale-cache warning with the latest loaded summary", async () => {
+    const plugin = new FakePlugin();
+    plugin.settings = normalizePluginSettings({
+      ...plugin.settings,
+      ankiNoteTypeCache: ["Basic", "Cached Basic"],
+      ankiModelFieldCache: {
+        "Cached Basic": {
+          fieldNames: ["Front", "Back", "Hint"],
+          loadedAt: 123,
+        },
+      },
+      cardTypeConfigs: {
+        ...plugin.settings.cardTypeConfigs,
+        basic: {
+          ...plugin.settings.cardTypeConfigs.basic,
+          noteType: "Cached Basic",
+        },
+      },
+    });
+    plugin.noteModels = ["Basic", "Cached Basic", "Custom Cloze"];
+    const tab = new AnkiHeadingSyncSettingTab(plugin as never);
+
+    tab.display();
+    await flushPromises();
+    expect(collectTexts(tab.containerEl).some((text) => text.includes("和本页缓存的 2 个模板不一致"))).toBe(true);
+
+    await queryByDataset(tab.containerEl, "cardTypesRefresh", "true").trigger("click");
+    await flushPromises();
+
+    expect(plugin.listNoteModelsCalls).toBe(2);
+    expect(plugin.getModelFieldNamesByModelNamesCalls).toBe(1);
+    expect(collectTexts(tab.containerEl).some((text) => text.includes("已获取 3 个笔记模板，已选择并配置 2 个卡片模式。"))).toBe(true);
+    expect(collectTexts(tab.containerEl).some((text) => text.includes("和本页缓存的 2 个模板不一致"))).toBe(false);
   });
 
   it("switching note type immediately reuses cached field names", async () => {
diff --git a/src/presentation/settings/PluginSettingTab.ts b/src/presentation/settings/PluginSettingTab.ts
index 5f30278..818a399 100644
--- a/src/presentation/settings/PluginSettingTab.ts
+++ b/src/presentation/settings/PluginSettingTab.ts
@@ -32,13 +32,13 @@ import type AnkiHeadingSyncPlugin from "@/presentation/AnkiHeadingSyncPlugin";
 
 import { buildFolderTreeSelection, toggleFolderTreeSelection, type FolderTreeSelectionNode } from "./FolderScopeTree";
 
-const NOTE_TYPE_STATUS_IDLE: UserFacingMessage = { key: "settings.mapping.status.idle" };
 const FOLDER_TREE_STATUS_LOADING: UserFacingMessage = { key: "settings.scope.loading" };
 const TEXT_SAVE_DEBOUNCE_MS = 500;
 const SETTINGS_CARD_ORDER = ["card-types", "sync-content", "scope", "deck", "commands"] as const;
 const VISIBLE_CARD_TYPE_CONFIG_IDS = ["basic", "qa-group", "cloze"] as const;
 
 type SettingsCardId = (typeof SETTINGS_CARD_ORDER)[number];
+type NoteTypeCacheCheckStatus = "idle" | "checking" | "same" | "changed" | "failed";
 
 interface SettingsCardShell {
   cardEl: HTMLElement;
@@ -63,8 +63,12 @@ export class AnkiHeadingSyncSettingTab extends PluginSettingTab {
   private folderTreeLoadPromise: Promise<void> | null = null;
   private hasLoadedFolderTree = false;
   private displayInitialized = false;
-  private cardTypeStatus: UserFacingMessage = NOTE_TYPE_STATUS_IDLE;
   private ankiConfigLoading = false;
+  private cardTypeStatusOverride: UserFacingMessage | null = null;
+  private noteTypeCacheCheckStatus: NoteTypeCacheCheckStatus = "idle";
+  private noteTypeCacheCheckPromise: Promise<void> | null = null;
+  private detectedAnkiNoteTypeCache: string[] | null = null;
+  private noteTypeCacheCheckToken = 0;
 
   constructor(plugin: AnkiHeadingSyncPlugin) {
     super(plugin.app, plugin);
@@ -78,6 +82,11 @@ export class AnkiHeadingSyncSettingTab extends PluginSettingTab {
     this.displayInitialized = false;
     this.cardShells.clear();
     this.clearDebouncedTextSaves();
+    this.cardTypeStatusOverride = null;
+    this.noteTypeCacheCheckStatus = "idle";
+    this.noteTypeCacheCheckPromise = null;
+    this.detectedAnkiNoteTypeCache = null;
+    this.noteTypeCacheCheckToken += 1;
   }
 
   display(): void {
@@ -174,6 +183,7 @@ export class AnkiHeadingSyncSettingTab extends PluginSettingTab {
 
   private renderCardTypesCard(containerEl: HTMLElement): void {
     this.hydrateVisibleCardTypeCaches();
+    this.maybeStartNoteTypeCacheCheck();
     containerEl.createEl("p", { text: t("settings.cards.cardTypes.desc") });
 
     const actionRow = containerEl.createDiv();
@@ -191,7 +201,7 @@ export class AnkiHeadingSyncSettingTab extends PluginSettingTab {
     loadButton.disabled = this.ankiConfigLoading;
     loadButton.addEventListener("click", () => this.loadAnkiCardTypeConfig());
     actionRow.createEl("span", {
-      text: `${t("settings.cards.cardTypes.statusLabel")}${renderUserFacingMessage(this.cardTypeStatus)}`,
+      text: `${t("settings.cards.cardTypes.statusLabel")}${renderUserFacingMessage(this.getCardTypeStatusMessage())}`,
     });
 
     const cardTypeList = containerEl.createDiv();
@@ -662,12 +672,12 @@ export class AnkiHeadingSyncSettingTab extends PluginSettingTab {
         cardTypeConfigs: nextCardTypeConfigs,
       }));
     } catch (error) {
-      this.cardTypeStatus = toUserFacingMessage(error, "settings.cards.cardTypes.failedSave");
+      this.cardTypeStatusOverride = toUserFacingMessage(error, "settings.cards.cardTypes.failedSave");
       this.renderCard("card-types");
       return false;
     }
 
-    this.cardTypeStatus = NOTE_TYPE_STATUS_IDLE;
+    this.cardTypeStatusOverride = null;
     await this.plugin.updateSettings({ cardTypeConfigs: nextCardTypeConfigs });
 
     if (configId === "qa-group" && typeof partialConfig.noteType === "string") {
@@ -706,6 +716,7 @@ export class AnkiHeadingSyncSettingTab extends PluginSettingTab {
       ...partialMapping,
     } as NoteModelFieldMapping;
 
+    this.cardTypeStatusOverride = null;
     this.draftMappings[mappingKey] = nextMapping;
     await this.plugin.updateSettings({
       noteFieldMappings: {
@@ -720,13 +731,16 @@ export class AnkiHeadingSyncSettingTab extends PluginSettingTab {
   }
 
   private async loadAnkiCardTypeConfig(): Promise<void> {
+    this.noteTypeCacheCheckToken += 1;
+    this.noteTypeCacheCheckPromise = null;
+    this.cardTypeStatusOverride = null;
+    this.noteTypeCacheCheckStatus = this.resolveManualRefreshCacheStatus();
     this.ankiConfigLoading = true;
-    this.cardTypeStatus = { key: "settings.cards.cardTypes.loadAnki.loading" };
     this.renderCard("card-types");
 
     try {
       const noteModels = await this.plugin.listNoteModels();
-      const nextAvailableNoteModels = Array.from(new Set(noteModels)).sort((left, right) => left.localeCompare(right));
+      const nextAvailableNoteModels = normalizeNoteTypeNames(noteModels);
       this.availableNoteModels.splice(0, this.availableNoteModels.length, ...nextAvailableNoteModels);
 
       const fieldNamesByModelName = await this.plugin.getModelFieldNamesByModelNames(nextAvailableNoteModels);
@@ -748,7 +762,9 @@ export class AnkiHeadingSyncSettingTab extends PluginSettingTab {
       await this.syncQaGroupMappingFromCache(this.plugin.settings.cardTypeConfigs["qa-group"].noteType, ankiModelFieldCache);
       const configuredCount = this.countConfiguredCardTypes(ankiModelFieldCache);
 
-      this.cardTypeStatus = {
+      this.detectedAnkiNoteTypeCache = [...nextAvailableNoteModels];
+      this.noteTypeCacheCheckStatus = "same";
+      this.cardTypeStatusOverride = {
         key: "settings.cards.cardTypes.loadedSummary",
         params: {
           noteTypeCount: this.availableNoteModels.length,
@@ -756,13 +772,110 @@ export class AnkiHeadingSyncSettingTab extends PluginSettingTab {
         },
       };
     } catch (error) {
-      this.cardTypeStatus = toUserFacingMessage(error, "settings.cards.cardTypes.failedLoad");
+      this.cardTypeStatusOverride = toUserFacingMessage(error, "settings.cards.cardTypes.failedLoad");
     } finally {
       this.ankiConfigLoading = false;
       this.renderCard("card-types");
     }
   }
 
+  private maybeStartNoteTypeCacheCheck(): void {
+    if (this.ankiConfigLoading || this.plugin.settings.ankiNoteTypeCache.length === 0) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (this.noteTypeCacheCheckStatus !== "idle" || this.noteTypeCacheCheckPromise) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    this.noteTypeCacheCheckStatus = "checking";
+    const token = ++this.noteTypeCacheCheckToken;
+    const checkPromise = this.checkNoteTypeCacheFreshness(token).finally(() => {
+      if (this.noteTypeCacheCheckPromise === checkPromise) {
+        this.noteTypeCacheCheckPromise = null;
+      }
+
+      if (token === this.noteTypeCacheCheckToken) {
+        this.renderCard("card-types");
+      }
+    });
+
+    this.noteTypeCacheCheckPromise = checkPromise;
+  }
+
+  private async checkNoteTypeCacheFreshness(token: number): Promise<void> {
+    try {
+      const liveNoteModels = normalizeNoteTypeNames(await this.plugin.listNoteModels());
+      if (token !== this.noteTypeCacheCheckToken) {
+        return;
+      }
+
+      this.detectedAnkiNoteTypeCache = liveNoteModels;
+      this.noteTypeCacheCheckStatus = areStringArraysEqual(this.plugin.settings.ankiNoteTypeCache, liveNoteModels)
+        ? "same"
+        : "changed";
+    } catch {
+      if (token !== this.noteTypeCacheCheckToken) {
+        return;
+      }
+
+      this.noteTypeCacheCheckStatus = "failed";
+    }
+  }
+
+  private getCardTypeStatusMessage(): UserFacingMessage {
+    if (this.ankiConfigLoading) {
+      return { key: "settings.cards.cardTypes.loadAnki.loading" };
+    }
+
+    if (this.cardTypeStatusOverride) {
+      return this.cardTypeStatusOverride;
+    }
+
+    const cachedNoteTypeCount = this.plugin.settings.ankiNoteTypeCache.length;
+    if (cachedNoteTypeCount === 0) {
+      return { key: "settings.cards.cardTypes.cacheEmpty" };
+    }
+
+    const configuredCount = this.countConfiguredCardTypes(this.plugin.settings.ankiModelFieldCache);
+    if (this.noteTypeCacheCheckStatus === "changed") {
+      return {
+        key: "settings.cards.cardTypes.cacheChanged",
+        params: {
+          cachedCount: cachedNoteTypeCount,
+          liveCount: this.detectedAnkiNoteTypeCache?.length ?? cachedNoteTypeCount,
+          configuredCount,
+        },
+      };
+    }
+
+    if (this.noteTypeCacheCheckStatus === "failed") {
+      return {
+        key: "settings.cards.cardTypes.cacheCheckFailed",
+        params: {
+          noteTypeCount: cachedNoteTypeCount,
+          configuredCount,
+        },
+      };
+    }
+
+    return {
+      key: "settings.cards.cardTypes.cacheSummary",
+      params: {
+        noteTypeCount: cachedNoteTypeCount,
+        configuredCount,
+      },
+    };
+  }
+
+  private resolveManualRefreshCacheStatus(): NoteTypeCacheCheckStatus {
+    if (this.noteTypeCacheCheckStatus === "changed" || this.noteTypeCacheCheckStatus === "failed") {
+      return this.noteTypeCacheCheckStatus;
+    }
+
+    return this.plugin.settings.ankiNoteTypeCache.length > 0 ? "same" : "idle";
+  }
+
   private hydrateVisibleCardTypeCaches(
     ankiModelFieldCache: AnkiHeadingSyncPlugin["settings"]["ankiModelFieldCache"] = this.plugin.settings.ankiModelFieldCache,
   ): void {
@@ -954,6 +1067,7 @@ export class AnkiHeadingSyncSettingTab extends PluginSettingTab {
       loadedFieldNames: [...mapping.loadedFieldNames],
     };
 
+    this.cardTypeStatusOverride = null;
     this.draftMappings[mappingKey] = nextMapping;
     await this.plugin.updateSettings({
       noteFieldMappings: {
@@ -1345,6 +1459,31 @@ function areMappingsEqual(left: NoteModelFieldMapping | undefined, right: NoteMo
   return JSON.stringify(left) === JSON.stringify(right);
 }
 
+function normalizeNoteTypeNames(noteModels: string[]): string[] {
+  const normalizedNoteModels = new Set<string>();
+
+  for (const noteModel of noteModels) {
+    if (typeof noteModel !== "string") {
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    const trimmedNoteModel = noteModel.trim();
+    if (trimmedNoteModel.length > 0) {
+      normalizedNoteModels.add(trimmedNoteModel);
+    }
+  }
+
+  return [...normalizedNoteModels].sort((left, right) => left.localeCompare(right));
+}
+
+function areStringArraysEqual(left: string[], right: string[]): boolean {
+  if (left.length !== right.length) {
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  return left.every((value, index) => value === right[index]);
+}
+
 function getScopeModeTreeDescription(scopeMode: ScopeMode): string {
   if (scopeMode === "include") {
     return t("settings.scope.treeDescription.include");