diff --git a/mobile/lib/services/album_home_widget_service.dart b/mobile/lib/services/album_home_widget_service.dart
index 0433e49742..62f47d495e 100644
--- a/mobile/lib/services/album_home_widget_service.dart
+++ b/mobile/lib/services/album_home_widget_service.dart
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import "dart:async";
 import 'dart:convert';
 import "dart:math";
 
@@ -50,8 +51,9 @@ class AlbumHomeWidgetService {
     return selectedAlbums?.map((id) => int.tryParse(id) ?? 0).toList();
   }
 
-  Future<void> setSelectedAlbums(List<String> selectedAlbums) async {
+  Future<void> updateSelectedAlbums(List<String> selectedAlbums) async {
     await _prefs.setStringList(SELECTED_ALBUMS_KEY, selectedAlbums);
+    unawaited(_refreshOnSelection());
   }
 
   String? getAlbumsLastHash() {
@@ -74,7 +76,7 @@ class AlbumHomeWidgetService {
       if (forceFetchNewAlbums) {
         _logger.info("Initializing albums widget: updating albums cache");
         await _updateAlbumsWidgetCache();
-        await updateAlbumsChanged(false);
+        await setSelectionChange(false);
       } else {
         _logger.info("Initializing albums widget: syncing existing albums");
         await _refreshAlbumsWidget();
@@ -84,7 +86,6 @@ class AlbumHomeWidgetService {
 
   Future<void> clearWidget() async {
     if (getAlbumsStatus() == WidgetStatus.syncedEmpty) {
-      _logger.info("Widget already empty, nothing to clear");
       return;
     }
 
@@ -93,11 +94,11 @@ class AlbumHomeWidgetService {
     await _refreshWidget(message: "AlbumsHomeWidget cleared & updated");
   }
 
-  bool? getAlbumsChanged() {
+  bool? hasSelectionChanged() {
     return _prefs.getBool(ALBUMS_CHANGED_KEY);
   }
 
-  Future<void> updateAlbumsChanged(bool value) async {
+  Future<void> setSelectionChange(bool value) async {
     _logger.info("Updating albums changed flag to $value");
     await _prefs.setBool(ALBUMS_CHANGED_KEY, value);
   }
@@ -132,18 +133,16 @@ class AlbumHomeWidgetService {
     }
   }
 
-  Future<void> albumsChanged() async {
+  Future<void> _refreshOnSelection() async {
     final lastHash = getAlbumsLastHash();
     final selectedAlbumIds = await _getEffectiveSelectedAlbumIds();
     final currentHash = _calculateHash(selectedAlbumIds);
-
     if (lastHash != null && currentHash == lastHash) {
       _logger.info("No changes detected in albums");
       return;
     }
 
-    _logger.info("Albums changed, updating widget");
-    await updateAlbumsChanged(true);
+    await setSelectionChange(true);
     await initAlbumHomeWidget();
   }
 
@@ -152,7 +151,9 @@ class AlbumHomeWidgetService {
 
     for (final albumId in albumIds) {
       final collection = CollectionsService.instance.getCollectionByID(albumId);
-      if (collection != null) {
+      if (collection != null &&
+          !collection.isDeleted &&
+          collection.isHidden()) {
         albums.add(collection);
       }
     }
@@ -232,7 +233,7 @@ class AlbumHomeWidgetService {
     final hasCompletedFirstImport =
         LocalSyncService.instance.hasCompletedFirstImport();
     if (!hasCompletedFirstImport) {
-      _logger.warning("First import not completed");
+      _logger.info("First import not completed");
       return true;
     }
 
@@ -241,7 +242,7 @@ class AlbumHomeWidgetService {
     final albums = getAlbumsByIds(selectedAlbumIds);
 
     if (albums.isEmpty) {
-      _logger.warning("Selected albums not found");
+      _logger.info("Selected albums not found");
       return true;
     }
 
@@ -256,7 +257,7 @@ class AlbumHomeWidgetService {
 
   Future<bool> _shouldUpdateWidgetCache() async {
     // Check if albums changed flag is set
-    if (getAlbumsChanged() == true) {
+    if (hasSelectionChanged() == true) {
       return true;
     }
 
@@ -273,7 +274,6 @@ class AlbumHomeWidgetService {
 
     if (currentHash == lastHash) {
       final saveStatus = getAlbumsStatus();
-
       switch (saveStatus) {
         case WidgetStatus.syncedPartially:
           return await countHomeWidgets() > 0;
diff --git a/mobile/lib/services/memories_cache_service.dart b/mobile/lib/services/memories_cache_service.dart
index b967244ad7..a7cb0eea26 100644
--- a/mobile/lib/services/memories_cache_service.dart
+++ b/mobile/lib/services/memories_cache_service.dart
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ class MemoriesCacheService {
     unawaited(_prefs.setBool(_shouldUpdateCacheKey, true));
   }
 
-  Future<List<SmartMemory>> getMemories() async {
+  Future<List<SmartMemory>> getMemories({bool onlyUseCache = false}) async {
     _logger.info("getMemories called");
     if (!showAnyMemories) {
       _logger.info('Showing memories is disabled in settings, showing none');
@@ -155,6 +155,9 @@ class MemoriesCacheService {
       if (_cachedMemories != null && _cachedMemories!.isNotEmpty) {
         _logger.info("Found memories in memory cache");
         return _cachedMemories!;
+      } else if (onlyUseCache) {
+        _logger.info("Only using cache, no memories found");
+        return [];
       }
       try {
         if (!enableSmartMemories) {
@@ -434,7 +437,7 @@ class MemoriesCacheService {
       );
       return [];
     }
-    final allMemories = await getMemories();
+    final allMemories = await getMemories(onlyUseCache: true);
     if (onThisDay && pastYears && smart) {
       return allMemories;
     }
diff --git a/mobile/lib/services/memory_home_widget_service.dart b/mobile/lib/services/memory_home_widget_service.dart
index f03ccbf634..de54a236fd 100644
--- a/mobile/lib/services/memory_home_widget_service.dart
+++ b/mobile/lib/services/memory_home_widget_service.dart
@@ -163,14 +163,12 @@ class MemoryHomeWidgetService {
     final hasCompletedFirstImport =
         LocalSyncService.instance.hasCompletedFirstImport();
     if (!hasCompletedFirstImport) {
-      _logger.warning("First import not completed");
       return true;
     }
 
     // Check if memories are enabled
     final areMemoriesShown = memoriesCacheService.showAnyMemories;
     if (!areMemoriesShown) {
-      _logger.warning("Memories not enabled");
       return true;
     }
 
@@ -262,13 +260,14 @@ class MemoryHomeWidgetService {
     _logger.info("Home Widget updated: ${message ?? "standard update"}");
   }
 
-  Future<void> _updateMemoriesWidgetCache() async {
+  // _updateMemoriesWidgetCache will return false if no memories were cached
+  Future<bool> _updateMemoriesWidgetCache() async {
     // TODO: Can update the method to fetch directly max limit random memories
     final memoriesWithFiles = await _getMemoriesWithFiles();
     if (memoriesWithFiles.isEmpty) {
       _logger.warning("No memories found, clearing widget");
       await clearWidget();
-      return;
+      return false;
     }
 
     final bool isWidgetPresent = await countHomeWidgets() > 0;
@@ -311,7 +310,7 @@ class MemoryHomeWidgetService {
         // Check for blockers again before continuing
         if (await _hasAnyBlockers()) {
           await clearWidget();
-          return;
+          return true;
         }
 
         // Show update toast after first item is rendered
@@ -335,7 +334,7 @@ class MemoryHomeWidgetService {
     }
 
     if (renderedCount == 0) {
-      return;
+      return true;
     }
 
     if (isWidgetPresent) {
@@ -345,5 +344,6 @@ class MemoryHomeWidgetService {
     await _refreshWidget(
       message: "Switched to next memory set, total: $renderedCount",
     );
+    return true;
   }
 }
diff --git a/mobile/lib/services/people_home_widget_service.dart b/mobile/lib/services/people_home_widget_service.dart
index c958988bf2..a2b6636a82 100644
--- a/mobile/lib/services/people_home_widget_service.dart
+++ b/mobile/lib/services/people_home_widget_service.dart
@@ -212,7 +212,6 @@ class PeopleHomeWidgetService {
     final hasCompletedFirstImport =
         LocalSyncService.instance.hasCompletedFirstImport();
     if (!hasCompletedFirstImport) {
-      _logger.warning("First import not completed");
       return true;
     }
 
@@ -278,11 +277,11 @@ class PeopleHomeWidgetService {
     return peopleIds ?? [];
   }
 
-  Future<Map<String, (String, Iterable<EnteFile>)>> _getPeople() async {
-    final peopleIds = await _getEffectiveSelectedPeopleIds();
+  Future<Map<String, (String, Iterable<EnteFile>)>> _getPeople(
+    List<String> personIds,
+  ) async {
     final Map<String, (String, Iterable<EnteFile>)> peopleFiles = {};
-
-    final persons = await PersonService.instance.getCertainPersons(peopleIds);
+    final persons = await PersonService.instance.getCertainPersons(personIds);
     for (final person in persons) {
       final clusterFiles = await SearchService.instance
           .getClusterFilesForPersonID(person.remoteID);
@@ -321,7 +320,7 @@ class PeopleHomeWidgetService {
   Future<void> _updatePeopleWidgetCache() async {
     final peopleIds = await _getEffectiveSelectedPeopleIds();
     // TODO: Add logic to directly get random people files from database
-    final peopleWithFiles = await _getPeople();
+    final peopleWithFiles = await _getPeople(peopleIds);
 
     if (peopleWithFiles.isEmpty) {
       _logger.warning("No files found for any people, clearing widget");
diff --git a/mobile/lib/ui/settings/widgets/albums_widget_settings.dart b/mobile/lib/ui/settings/widgets/albums_widget_settings.dart
index 03ec9e9b42..de1e0270a4 100644
--- a/mobile/lib/ui/settings/widgets/albums_widget_settings.dart
+++ b/mobile/lib/ui/settings/widgets/albums_widget_settings.dart
@@ -101,10 +101,9 @@ class _AlbumsWidgetSettingsState extends State<AlbumsWidgetSettings> {
                                 .map((e) => e.id.toString())
                                 .toList();
                             await AlbumHomeWidgetService.instance
-                                .setSelectedAlbums(albums);
+                                .updateSelectedAlbums(albums);
                             Navigator.pop(context);
-                            await AlbumHomeWidgetService.instance
-                                .albumsChanged();
+                            
                           }
                         : null,
                     isDisabled: _selectedAlbums.albums.isEmpty,
diff --git a/mobile/lib/ui/tabs/home_widget.dart b/mobile/lib/ui/tabs/home_widget.dart
index de554f0ed1..6c187e0359 100644
--- a/mobile/lib/ui/tabs/home_widget.dart
+++ b/mobile/lib/ui/tabs/home_widget.dart
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ class _HomeWidgetState extends State<HomeWidget> {
     super.initState();
 
     if (LocalSyncService.instance.hasCompletedFirstImport()) {
-      syncWidget();
+       syncWidget();
     }
     _tabChangedEventSubscription =
         Bus.instance.on<TabChangedEvent>().listen((event) {