diff --git a/app/static/js/sync.js b/app/static/js/sync.js
index 1e8374b..3b95957 100644
--- a/app/static/js/sync.js
+++ b/app/static/js/sync.js
@@ -192,12 +192,10 @@ const Sync = {
             } catch (fetchErr) {
                 clearTimeout(timeoutId);
                 if (fetchErr.name === 'AbortError') {
-                    throw new Error('Upload timed out (' + (this.UPLOAD_TIMEOUT_MS / 1000) + 's)');
+                    throw new Error('Upload timed out');
                 }
-                // Capture detailed error info for debugging
-                const errDetail = fetchErr.name + ': ' + fetchErr.message;
-                console.error('[SYNC] Fetch threw:', errDetail);
-                throw new Error('Network error: ' + errDetail);
+                console.error('[SYNC] Fetch threw:', fetchErr.name, fetchErr.message);
+                throw new Error('Connection lost - will retry');
             }
             clearTimeout(timeoutId);
 
@@ -253,13 +251,12 @@ const Sync = {
 
         } catch (error) {
             this._setUploading(false);
-            const errMsg = (error.name || 'Error') + ': ' + error.message;
-            console.error('[SYNC] Upload failed:', errMsg, '(attempt', retryCount + 1 + ')');
+            console.error('[SYNC] Upload failed:', error.message, '(attempt', retryCount + 1 + ')');
             await Storage.updatePhoto(photo.id, {
                 status: 'pending',
                 retryCount: retryCount + 1,
-                lastError: errMsg,
-                error: errMsg
+                lastError: error.message,
+                error: error.message
             });
             return false;
         }
diff --git a/app/templates/queue.html b/app/templates/queue.html
index 394448f..970d679 100644
--- a/app/templates/queue.html
+++ b/app/templates/queue.html
@@ -500,7 +500,7 @@ function createQueueItem(photo, isCompleted) {
     badge.textContent = photo.status.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + photo.status.slice(1);
     status.appendChild(badge);
 
-    if (photo.retryCount > 0 && !isCompleted) {
+    if (photo.retryCount >= 3 && !isCompleted) {
         const retry = document.createElement('span');
         retry.className = 'retry-info';
         retry.textContent = 'Retry #' + photo.retryCount;
@@ -511,8 +511,11 @@ function createQueueItem(photo, isCompleted) {
     info.appendChild(meta);
     info.appendChild(status);
 
+    // Only show error messages after 3+ retries or for failed status
+    // (first couple of retries are usually transient network blips)
     const errorMsg = photo.lastError || photo.error;
-    if (errorMsg && photo.status !== 'verified') {
+    const retries = photo.retryCount || 0;
+    if (errorMsg && photo.status !== 'verified' && (retries >= 3 || photo.status === 'failed')) {
         const error = document.createElement('div');
         error.className = 'error-message';
         error.textContent = errorMsg;