diff --git a/lib/client/plex_client.dart b/lib/client/plex_client.dart
index e5a1cd27..c6773d3e 100644
--- a/lib/client/plex_client.dart
+++ b/lib/client/plex_client.dart
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ class PlexClient {
         connectTimeout: const Duration(seconds: 10),
         receiveTimeout: const Duration(seconds: 30),
         validateStatus: (status) => status != null && status < 500,
+        responseType: ResponseType.json,
+        contentType: 'application/json; charset=utf-8',
       ),
     );
 
@@ -77,6 +79,8 @@ class PlexClient {
           connectTimeout: timeout,
           receiveTimeout: timeout,
           validateStatus: (status) => status != null && status < 500,
+          responseType: ResponseType.json,
+          contentType: 'application/json; charset=utf-8',
         ),
       );
 
diff --git a/lib/config/plex_config.dart b/lib/config/plex_config.dart
index 9ad50c69..08675587 100644
--- a/lib/config/plex_config.dart
+++ b/lib/config/plex_config.dart
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ class PlexConfig {
       'X-Plex-Platform': platform,
       if (device != null) 'X-Plex-Device': device!,
       if (acceptJson) 'Accept': 'application/json',
+      'Accept-Charset': 'utf-8',
     };
 
     if (token != null) {
diff --git a/lib/screens/libraries_screen.dart b/lib/screens/libraries_screen.dart
index aa202bf8..11ee88ae 100644
--- a/lib/screens/libraries_screen.dart
+++ b/lib/screens/libraries_screen.dart
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
 import 'package:provider/provider.dart';
+import 'package:dio/dio.dart';
 import '../client/plex_client.dart';
 import '../models/plex_library.dart';
 import '../models/plex_metadata.dart';
@@ -9,10 +10,10 @@ import '../providers/plex_client_provider.dart';
 import '../providers/settings_provider.dart';
 import '../providers/hidden_libraries_provider.dart';
 import '../utils/provider_extensions.dart';
+import '../utils/app_logger.dart';
 import '../widgets/media_card.dart';
 import '../widgets/desktop_app_bar.dart';
 import '../widgets/app_bar_back_button.dart';
-import '../widgets/context_menu_wrapper.dart';
 import '../services/storage_service.dart';
 import '../services/settings_service.dart';
 import '../mixins/refreshable.dart';
@@ -50,6 +51,27 @@ class _LibrariesScreenState extends State<LibrariesScreen>
     _loadLibraries();
   }
 
+  /// Helper method to get user-friendly error message from exception
+  String _getErrorMessage(dynamic error, String context) {
+    if (error is DioException) {
+      // Other Dio errors
+      switch (error.type) {
+        case DioExceptionType.connectionTimeout:
+        case DioExceptionType.receiveTimeout:
+          return 'Connection timeout while loading $context';
+        case DioExceptionType.connectionError:
+          return 'Unable to connect to Plex server';
+        default:
+          appLogger.e('Error loading $context', error: error);
+          return 'Failed to load $context: ${error.message}';
+      }
+    }
+
+    // Generic error
+    appLogger.e('Unexpected error in $context', error: error);
+    return 'Failed to load $context: $error';
+  }
+
   Future<void> _loadLibraries() async {
     // Extract context dependencies before async gap
     final clientProvider = Provider.of<PlexClientProvider>(
@@ -122,7 +144,7 @@ class _LibrariesScreenState extends State<LibrariesScreen>
       }
     } catch (e) {
       setState(() {
-        _errorMessage = 'Failed to load libraries: $e';
+        _errorMessage = _getErrorMessage(e, 'libraries');
         _isLoadingLibraries = false;
       });
     }
@@ -255,7 +277,7 @@ class _LibrariesScreenState extends State<LibrariesScreen>
       });
     } catch (e) {
       setState(() {
-        _errorMessage = 'Failed to load library content: $e';
+        _errorMessage = _getErrorMessage(e, 'library content');
         _isLoadingItems = false;
       });
     }
@@ -277,6 +299,7 @@ class _LibrariesScreenState extends State<LibrariesScreen>
         _filters = filters;
       });
     } catch (e) {
+      appLogger.w('Failed to load filters', error: e);
       setState(() {
         _filters = [];
       });