diff --git a/packages/ui/src/components/desktop/DesktopHostSwitcher.tsx b/packages/ui/src/components/desktop/DesktopHostSwitcher.tsx
index 85025688..226bba8a 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/components/desktop/DesktopHostSwitcher.tsx
+++ b/packages/ui/src/components/desktop/DesktopHostSwitcher.tsx
@@ -405,6 +405,10 @@ export function DesktopHostSwitcherDialog({
     };
     void run();
     const interval = window.setInterval(() => {
+      // Skip polling when tab is hidden to reduce background work
+      if (typeof document !== 'undefined' && document.visibilityState !== 'visible') {
+        return;
+      }
       void run();
     }, 1_500);
 
@@ -1255,6 +1259,10 @@ export function DesktopHostSwitcherButton({ headerIconButtonClass }: DesktopHost
 
     void run();
     const interval = window.setInterval(() => {
+      // Skip polling when tab is hidden to reduce background work
+      if (typeof document !== 'undefined' && document.visibilityState !== 'visible') {
+        return;
+      }
       void run();
     }, 10_000);
     return () => {
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/components/sections/openchamber/OpenChamberVisualSettings.tsx b/packages/ui/src/components/sections/openchamber/OpenChamberVisualSettings.tsx
index d8d7175c..d4ebdbae 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/components/sections/openchamber/OpenChamberVisualSettings.tsx
+++ b/packages/ui/src/components/sections/openchamber/OpenChamberVisualSettings.tsx
@@ -250,12 +250,41 @@ export const OpenChamberVisualSettings: React.FC<OpenChamberVisualSettingsProps>
             return;
         }
 
-        const intervalId = setInterval(() => {
-            setChatRenderPreviewTick((prev) => (prev + 1) % 24);
-        }, 420);
+        // Use requestAnimationFrame for smoother animation without setInterval overhead
+        let rafId: number | null = null;
+        let lastTime = Date.now();
+        
+        const tick = () => {
+            const now = Date.now();
+            // Update every ~420ms
+            if (now - lastTime >= 420) {
+                setChatRenderPreviewTick((prev) => (prev + 1) % 24);
+                lastTime = now;
+            }
+            rafId = requestAnimationFrame(tick);
+        };
+        
+        // Only run when visible
+        if (typeof document === 'undefined' || document.visibilityState === 'visible') {
+            rafId = requestAnimationFrame(tick);
+        }
+        
+        const onVisibility = () => {
+            if (document.visibilityState === 'visible' && rafId === null) {
+                rafId = requestAnimationFrame(tick);
+            } else if (document.visibilityState !== 'visible' && rafId !== null) {
+                cancelAnimationFrame(rafId);
+                rafId = null;
+            }
+        };
+        
+        document.addEventListener('visibilitychange', onVisibility);
 
         return () => {
-            clearInterval(intervalId);
+            document.removeEventListener('visibilitychange', onVisibility);
+            if (rafId !== null) {
+                cancelAnimationFrame(rafId);
+            }
         };
     }, [shouldAnimateChatPreview]);
 
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/components/sections/openchamber/TunnelSettings.tsx b/packages/ui/src/components/sections/openchamber/TunnelSettings.tsx
index e3702240..323fa3b0 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/components/sections/openchamber/TunnelSettings.tsx
+++ b/packages/ui/src/components/sections/openchamber/TunnelSettings.tsx
@@ -486,6 +486,9 @@ export const TunnelSettings: React.FC = () => {
       return;
     }
 
+    let rafId: number | null = null;
+    let lastTime = Date.now();
+    
     const updateRemaining = () => {
       const remaining = tunnelInfo.bootstrapExpiresAt ? tunnelInfo.bootstrapExpiresAt - Date.now() : 0;
       if (remaining <= 0) {
@@ -495,14 +498,79 @@ export const TunnelSettings: React.FC = () => {
       }
     };
 
+    const tick = () => {
+      const now = Date.now();
+      // Update only once per second
+      if (now - lastTime >= 1_000) {
+        updateRemaining();
+        lastTime = now;
+      }
+      rafId = requestAnimationFrame(tick);
+    };
+
     updateRemaining();
-    const timer = window.setInterval(updateRemaining, 1000);
-    return () => window.clearInterval(timer);
+    
+    // Only run when visible
+    if (typeof document === 'undefined' || document.visibilityState === 'visible') {
+      rafId = requestAnimationFrame(tick);
+    }
+    
+    const onVisibility = () => {
+      if (document.visibilityState === 'visible' && rafId === null) {
+        rafId = requestAnimationFrame(tick);
+      } else if (document.visibilityState !== 'visible' && rafId !== null) {
+        cancelAnimationFrame(rafId);
+        rafId = null;
+      }
+    };
+    
+    document.addEventListener('visibilitychange', onVisibility);
+
+    return () => {
+      document.removeEventListener('visibilitychange', onVisibility);
+      if (rafId !== null) {
+        cancelAnimationFrame(rafId);
+      }
+    };
   }, [tunnelInfo?.bootstrapExpiresAt]);
 
   React.useEffect(() => {
-    const timer = window.setInterval(() => setNowTs(Date.now()), 1000);
-    return () => window.clearInterval(timer);
+    // Use requestAnimationFrame for smoother updates without setInterval overhead
+    let rafId: number | null = null;
+    let lastTime = Date.now();
+    
+    const tick = () => {
+      const now = Date.now();
+      // Update only once per second
+      if (now - lastTime >= 1_000) {
+        setNowTs(now);
+        lastTime = now;
+      }
+      rafId = requestAnimationFrame(tick);
+    };
+    
+    // Only run when visible
+    if (typeof document === 'undefined' || document.visibilityState === 'visible') {
+      rafId = requestAnimationFrame(tick);
+    }
+    
+    const onVisibility = () => {
+      if (document.visibilityState === 'visible' && rafId === null) {
+        rafId = requestAnimationFrame(tick);
+      } else if (document.visibilityState !== 'visible' && rafId !== null) {
+        cancelAnimationFrame(rafId);
+        rafId = null;
+      }
+    };
+    
+    document.addEventListener('visibilitychange', onVisibility);
+
+    return () => {
+      document.removeEventListener('visibilitychange', onVisibility);
+      if (rafId !== null) {
+        cancelAnimationFrame(rafId);
+      }
+    };
   }, []);
 
   React.useEffect(() => {
@@ -530,6 +598,10 @@ export const TunnelSettings: React.FC = () => {
     };
 
     const timer = window.setInterval(() => {
+      // Skip polling when tab is hidden
+      if (typeof document !== 'undefined' && document.visibilityState !== 'visible') {
+        return;
+      }
       void refreshSessions();
     }, 5000);
 
diff --git a/packages/ui/src/components/sections/remote-instances/RemoteInstancesPage.tsx b/packages/ui/src/components/sections/remote-instances/RemoteInstancesPage.tsx
index 36e27ec0..a12117cf 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/components/sections/remote-instances/RemoteInstancesPage.tsx
+++ b/packages/ui/src/components/sections/remote-instances/RemoteInstancesPage.tsx
@@ -305,6 +305,10 @@ export const RemoteInstancesPage: React.FC = () => {
       return;
     }
     const interval = window.setInterval(() => {
+      // Skip polling when tab is hidden to reduce background work
+      if (typeof document !== 'undefined' && document.visibilityState !== 'visible') {
+        return;
+      }
       void refreshStatuses();
     }, 2_000);
     return () => {
@@ -313,11 +317,41 @@ export const RemoteInstancesPage: React.FC = () => {
   }, [refreshStatuses, selectedId]);
 
   React.useEffect(() => {
-    const interval = window.setInterval(() => {
-      setClockMs(Date.now());
-    }, 1_000);
+    // Use requestAnimationFrame for smoother clock updates without setInterval overhead
+    let rafId: number | null = null;
+    let lastTime = Date.now();
+    
+    const tick = () => {
+      const now = Date.now();
+      // Update only once per second
+      if (now - lastTime >= 1_000) {
+        setClockMs(now);
+        lastTime = now;
+      }
+      rafId = requestAnimationFrame(tick);
+    };
+    
+    // Only run when visible
+    if (typeof document === 'undefined' || document.visibilityState === 'visible') {
+      rafId = requestAnimationFrame(tick);
+    }
+    
+    const onVisibility = () => {
+      if (document.visibilityState === 'visible' && rafId === null) {
+        rafId = requestAnimationFrame(tick);
+      } else if (document.visibilityState !== 'visible' && rafId !== null) {
+        cancelAnimationFrame(rafId);
+        rafId = null;
+      }
+    };
+    
+    document.addEventListener('visibilitychange', onVisibility);
+    
     return () => {
-      window.clearInterval(interval);
+      document.removeEventListener('visibilitychange', onVisibility);
+      if (rafId !== null) {
+        cancelAnimationFrame(rafId);
+      }
     };
   }, []);
 
@@ -525,6 +559,10 @@ export const RemoteInstancesPage: React.FC = () => {
 
     void run();
     const interval = window.setInterval(() => {
+      // Skip polling when tab is hidden
+      if (typeof document !== 'undefined' && document.visibilityState !== 'visible') {
+        return;
+      }
       void run();
     }, 1_000);