diff --git a/qt/aqt/package.py b/qt/aqt/package.py
index a0642fca0..f1834b594 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/package.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/package.py
@@ -23,47 +23,45 @@ def first_run_setup() -> None:
     if not is_mac:
         return
 
-    def _dot():
-        print(".", flush=True, end="")
-
-    _dot()
-    import anki.collection
-
-    _dot()
-    import PyQt6.sip
-
-    _dot()
-    import PyQt6.QtCore
-
-    _dot()
-    import PyQt6.QtGui
-
-    _dot()
-    import PyQt6.QtNetwork
-
-    _dot()
-    import PyQt6.QtQuick
-
-    _dot()
-    import PyQt6.QtWebChannel
-
-    _dot()
-    import PyQt6.QtWebEngineCore
-
-    _dot()
-    import PyQt6.QtWebEngineWidgets
-
-    _dot()
+    # Import anki_audio first and spawn commands
     import anki_audio
-    import PyQt6.QtWidgets
 
     audio_pkg_path = Path(anki_audio.__file__).parent
 
-    # Invoke mpv and lame
-    cmd = [Path(""), "--version"]
+    # Start mpv and lame commands concurrently
+    processes = []
     for cmd_name in ["mpv", "lame"]:
-        _dot()
-        cmd[0] = audio_pkg_path / cmd_name
-        subprocess.run([str(cmd[0]), str(cmd[1])], check=True, capture_output=True)
+        cmd_path = audio_pkg_path / cmd_name
+        proc = subprocess.Popen(
+            [str(cmd_path), "--version"],
+            stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+            stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+        )
+        processes.append(proc)
 
-    print()
+    # Continue with other imports while commands run
+    import concurrent.futures
+
+    import bs4
+    import flask
+    import flask_cors
+    import markdown
+    import PyQt6.QtCore
+    import PyQt6.QtGui
+    import PyQt6.QtNetwork
+    import PyQt6.QtQuick
+    import PyQt6.QtWebChannel
+    import PyQt6.QtWebEngineCore
+    import PyQt6.QtWebEngineWidgets
+    import PyQt6.QtWidgets
+    import PyQt6.sip
+    import requests
+    import waitress
+
+    import anki.collection
+
+    from . import _macos_helper
+
+    # Wait for both commands to complete
+    for proc in processes:
+        proc.wait()
diff --git a/qt/launcher/mac/build.sh b/qt/launcher/mac/build.sh
index eb4483488..0ec39ad8f 100755
--- a/qt/launcher/mac/build.sh
+++ b/qt/launcher/mac/build.sh
@@ -47,8 +47,8 @@ done
 codesign -vvv "$APP_LAUNCHER"
 spctl -a "$APP_LAUNCHER"
 
-# Notarize
-./notarize.sh "$OUTPUT_DIR"
-
-# Bundle
-./dmg/build.sh "$OUTPUT_DIR"
\ No newline at end of file
+# Notarize and bundle (skip if NODMG is set)
+if [ -z "$NODMG" ]; then
+    ./notarize.sh "$OUTPUT_DIR"
+    ./dmg/build.sh "$OUTPUT_DIR"
+fi
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/qt/launcher/src/main.rs b/qt/launcher/src/main.rs
index 40896caa9..2ad3ac00c 100644
--- a/qt/launcher/src/main.rs
+++ b/qt/launcher/src/main.rs
@@ -172,6 +172,8 @@ fn run() -> Result<()> {
                     command.env("UV_PRERELEASE", "allow");
                 }
 
+                println!("\x1B[1mUpdating Anki...\x1B[0m\n");
+
                 match command.ensure_success() {
                     Ok(_) => {
                         // Sync succeeded, break out of loop
diff --git a/qt/launcher/src/platform/mac.rs b/qt/launcher/src/platform/mac.rs
index 1e7e4a695..57d6bcc73 100644
--- a/qt/launcher/src/platform/mac.rs
+++ b/qt/launcher/src/platform/mac.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,11 @@
 
 use std::os::unix::process::CommandExt;
 use std::process::Command;
+use std::sync::atomic::AtomicBool;
+use std::sync::atomic::Ordering;
+use std::sync::Arc;
+use std::thread;
+use std::time::Duration;
 
 use anki_process::CommandExt as AnkiCommandExt;
 use anyhow::Context;
@@ -25,6 +30,9 @@ pub fn launch_anki_detached(anki_bin: &std::path::Path, _config: &crate::Config)
         .process_group(0)
         .ensure_spawn()?;
     std::mem::forget(child);
+
+    println!("Anki will start shortly.");
+    println!("\x1B[1mYou can close this window.\x1B[0m\n");
     Ok(())
 }
 
@@ -34,6 +42,10 @@ pub fn ensure_terminal_shown() -> Result<()> {
         // If launched from GUI, relaunch in Terminal.app
         relaunch_in_terminal()?;
     }
+
+    // Set terminal title to "Anki Launcher"
+    print!("\x1b]0;Anki Launcher\x07");
+
     Ok(())
 }
 
@@ -47,12 +59,37 @@ fn relaunch_in_terminal() -> Result<()> {
 }
 
 pub fn handle_first_launch(anki_bin: &std::path::Path) -> Result<()> {
+    use std::io::Write;
+    use std::io::{
+        self,
+    };
+
     // Pre-validate by running --version to trigger any Gatekeeper checks
-    println!("\n\x1B[1mThis may take a few minutes. Please wait...\x1B[0m");
+    print!("\n\x1B[1mThis may take a few minutes. Please wait\x1B[0m");
+    io::stdout().flush().unwrap();
+
+    // Start progress indicator
+    let running = Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(true));
+    let running_clone = running.clone();
+    let progress_thread = thread::spawn(move || {
+        while running_clone.load(Ordering::Relaxed) {
+            print!(".");
+            io::stdout().flush().unwrap();
+            thread::sleep(Duration::from_secs(1));
+        }
+    });
+
     let _ = Command::new(anki_bin)
         .env("ANKI_FIRST_RUN", "1")
         .arg("--version")
+        .stdout(std::process::Stdio::null())
+        .stderr(std::process::Stdio::null())
         .ensure_success();
+
+    // Stop progress indicator
+    running.store(false, Ordering::Relaxed);
+    progress_thread.join().unwrap();
+    println!(); // New line after dots
     Ok(())
 }