diff --git a/surfsense_backend/app/tasks/chat/stream_new_chat.py b/surfsense_backend/app/tasks/chat/stream_new_chat.py
index 11024e513..69b75e5c4 100644
--- a/surfsense_backend/app/tasks/chat/stream_new_chat.py
+++ b/surfsense_backend/app/tasks/chat/stream_new_chat.py
@@ -590,58 +590,6 @@ async def stream_new_chat(
                     else {"input": tool_input},
                 )
 
-                # Send terminal info about the tool call
-                if tool_name == "search_knowledge_base":
-                    query = (
-                        tool_input.get("query", "")
-                        if isinstance(tool_input, dict)
-                        else str(tool_input)
-                    )
-                    yield streaming_service.format_terminal_info(
-                        f"Searching knowledge base: {query[:100]}{'...' if len(query) > 100 else ''}",
-                        "info",
-                    )
-                elif tool_name == "link_preview":
-                    url = (
-                        tool_input.get("url", "")
-                        if isinstance(tool_input, dict)
-                        else str(tool_input)
-                    )
-                    yield streaming_service.format_terminal_info(
-                        f"Fetching link preview: {url[:80]}{'...' if len(url) > 80 else ''}",
-                        "info",
-                    )
-                elif tool_name == "display_image":
-                    src = (
-                        tool_input.get("src", "")
-                        if isinstance(tool_input, dict)
-                        else str(tool_input)
-                    )
-                    yield streaming_service.format_terminal_info(
-                        f"Analyzing image: {src[:60]}{'...' if len(src) > 60 else ''}",
-                        "info",
-                    )
-                elif tool_name == "scrape_webpage":
-                    url = (
-                        tool_input.get("url", "")
-                        if isinstance(tool_input, dict)
-                        else str(tool_input)
-                    )
-                    yield streaming_service.format_terminal_info(
-                        f"Scraping webpage: {url[:70]}{'...' if len(url) > 70 else ''}",
-                        "info",
-                    )
-                elif tool_name == "generate_podcast":
-                    title = (
-                        tool_input.get("podcast_title", "SurfSense Podcast")
-                        if isinstance(tool_input, dict)
-                        else "SurfSense Podcast"
-                    )
-                    yield streaming_service.format_terminal_info(
-                        f"Generating podcast: {title}",
-                        "info",
-                    )
-
             elif event_type == "on_tool_end":
                 run_id = event.get("run_id", "")
                 tool_name = event.get("name", "unknown_tool")
diff --git a/surfsense_web/app/dashboard/[search_space_id]/documents/(manage)/page.tsx b/surfsense_web/app/dashboard/[search_space_id]/documents/(manage)/page.tsx
index edfda7dbf..482c4594d 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/app/dashboard/[search_space_id]/documents/(manage)/page.tsx
+++ b/surfsense_web/app/dashboard/[search_space_id]/documents/(manage)/page.tsx
@@ -134,8 +134,11 @@ export default function DocumentsTable() {
 		toast.success(t("refresh_success") || "Documents refreshed");
 	}, [debouncedSearch, refetchSearch, refetchDocuments, t]);
 
-	// Set up polling for active tasks
-	const { summary } = useLogsSummary(searchSpaceId, 24, { refetchInterval: 5000 });
+	// Set up smart polling for active tasks - only polls when tasks are in progress
+	const { summary } = useLogsSummary(searchSpaceId, 24, {
+		enablePolling: true,
+		refetchInterval: 5000, // Poll every 5 seconds when tasks are active
+	});
 	const activeTasksCount = summary?.active_tasks.length || 0;
 	const prevActiveTasksCount = useRef(activeTasksCount);
 
diff --git a/surfsense_web/components/sidebar/nav-notes.tsx b/surfsense_web/components/sidebar/nav-notes.tsx
index 3b03edb9c..c308e7c49 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/components/sidebar/nav-notes.tsx
+++ b/surfsense_web/components/sidebar/nav-notes.tsx
@@ -80,8 +80,10 @@ export function NavNotes({
 	const [isAllNotesSidebarOpen, setIsAllNotesSidebarOpen] = useState(false);
 
 	// Poll for active reindexing tasks to show inline loading indicators
+	// Smart polling: only polls when there are active tasks, stops when idle
 	const { summary } = useLogsSummary(searchSpaceId ? Number(searchSpaceId) : 0, 24, {
-		refetchInterval: 2000,
+		enablePolling: true,
+		refetchInterval: 5000, // Poll every 5 seconds when tasks are active
 	});
 
 	// Create a Set of document IDs that are currently being reindexed
diff --git a/surfsense_web/hooks/use-logs.ts b/surfsense_web/hooks/use-logs.ts
index 41b2660e5..bee9a1955 100644
--- a/surfsense_web/hooks/use-logs.ts
+++ b/surfsense_web/hooks/use-logs.ts
@@ -118,12 +118,15 @@ export function useLogs(searchSpaceId?: number, filters: LogFilters = {}) {
 	};
 }
 
-// Separate hook for log summary with optional polling support for document processing indicator UI
+// Separate hook for log summary with smart polling support for document processing indicator UI
+// Polling only happens when there are active tasks, otherwise it stops to save resources
 export function useLogsSummary(
 	searchSpaceId: number,
 	hours: number = 24,
-	options: { refetchInterval?: number } = {}
+	options: { refetchInterval?: number; enablePolling?: boolean } = {}
 ) {
+	const { enablePolling = false, refetchInterval = 10000 } = options;
+
 	const {
 		data: summary,
 		isLoading: loading,
@@ -138,9 +141,20 @@ export function useLogsSummary(
 			}),
 		enabled: !!searchSpaceId,
 		staleTime: 3 * 60 * 1000,
-		// Enable refetch interval for document processing indicator polling
-		refetchInterval:
-			options.refetchInterval && options.refetchInterval > 0 ? options.refetchInterval : undefined,
+		// Smart polling: only poll when there are active tasks and polling is enabled
+		// This prevents unnecessary API calls when nothing is being processed
+		refetchInterval: enablePolling
+			? (query) => {
+					const data = query.state.data;
+					// Only continue polling if there are active tasks
+					if (data?.active_tasks && data.active_tasks.length > 0) {
+						return refetchInterval;
+					}
+					// No active tasks - stop polling but check again after a longer interval
+					// to catch any newly started tasks
+					return 30000; // Check every 30 seconds when idle
+				}
+			: undefined,
 	});
 
 	return { summary, loading, error, refreshSummary: refetch };