diff --git a/py/routes/handlers/recipe_handlers.py b/py/routes/handlers/recipe_handlers.py
index 7d0574a0..e34b662f 100644
--- a/py/routes/handlers/recipe_handlers.py
+++ b/py/routes/handlers/recipe_handlers.py
@@ -461,7 +461,11 @@ class RecipeQueryHandler:
             if recipe_scanner is None:
                 raise RuntimeError("Recipe scanner unavailable")
 
-            self._logger.info("Manually triggering recipe cache rebuild")
+            full_rebuild = request.query.get("full_rebuild", "true").lower() == "true"
+            self._logger.info(
+                "Manually triggering recipe cache %s",
+                "full rebuild" if full_rebuild else "refresh",
+            )
             await recipe_scanner.get_cached_data(force_refresh=True)
             return web.json_response(
                 {"success": True, "message": "Recipe cache refreshed successfully"}
diff --git a/static/js/api/recipeApi.js b/static/js/api/recipeApi.js
index 5cbddc7a..5a817a12 100644
--- a/static/js/api/recipeApi.js
+++ b/static/js/api/recipeApi.js
@@ -294,47 +294,37 @@ export async function resetAndReload(updateFolders = false, options = {}) {
 }
 
 /**
- * Sync changes - quick refresh without rebuilding cache (similar to models page)
+ * Refreshes the recipe list by triggering a backend scan, then reloading.
+ * @param {boolean} fullRebuild - If true, fully rebuild the cache; if false, incremental scan
  */
-export async function syncChanges() {
+export async function refreshRecipes(fullRebuild = true) {
+    const actionLabel = fullRebuild ? 'Rebuilding recipe cache' : 'Refreshing recipes';
+    const actionToast = fullRebuild ? 'Full rebuild' : 'Refresh';
+
     try {
-        state.loadingManager.showSimpleLoading('Syncing changes...');
+        state.loadingManager.show(`${actionLabel}...`, 0);
 
-        // Simply reload the recipes without rebuilding cache
-        await resetAndReload(false);
+        const url = new URL(RECIPE_ENDPOINTS.scan, window.location.origin);
+        url.searchParams.append('full_rebuild', fullRebuild);
 
-        showToast('toast.recipes.syncComplete', {}, 'success');
-    } catch (error) {
-        console.error('Error syncing recipes:', error);
-        showToast('toast.recipes.syncFailed', { message: error.message }, 'error');
-    } finally {
-        state.loadingManager.hide();
-        state.loadingManager.restoreProgressBar();
-    }
-}
-
-/**
- * Refreshes the recipe list by first rebuilding the cache and then loading recipes
- */
-export async function refreshRecipes() {
-    try {
-        state.loadingManager.showSimpleLoading('Refreshing recipes...');
-
-        // Call the API endpoint to rebuild the recipe cache
-        const response = await fetch(RECIPE_ENDPOINTS.scan);
+        const response = await fetch(url);
 
         if (!response.ok) {
-            const data = await response.json();
-            throw new Error(data.error || 'Failed to refresh recipe cache');
+            throw new Error(`Failed to refresh recipe cache: ${response.status} ${response.statusText}`);
+        }
+
+        const data = await response.json();
+        if (data.status === 'cancelled') {
+            showToast('toast.api.operationCancelled', {}, 'info');
+            return;
         }
 
-        // After successful cache rebuild, reload the recipes
         await resetAndReload(false);
 
-        showToast('toast.recipes.refreshComplete', {}, 'success');
+        showToast('toast.api.refreshComplete', { action: actionToast }, 'success');
     } catch (error) {
         console.error('Error refreshing recipes:', error);
-        showToast('toast.recipes.refreshFailed', { message: error.message }, 'error');
+        showToast('toast.api.refreshFailed', { action: fullRebuild ? 'rebuild' : 'refresh', type: 'recipe' }, 'error');
     } finally {
         state.loadingManager.hide();
         state.loadingManager.restoreProgressBar();
diff --git a/static/js/recipes.js b/static/js/recipes.js
index 54956167..f3d03728 100644
--- a/static/js/recipes.js
+++ b/static/js/recipes.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import { getSessionItem, removeSessionItem } from './utils/storageHelpers.js';
 import { RecipeContextMenu } from './components/ContextMenu/index.js';
 import { DuplicatesManager } from './components/DuplicatesManager.js';
 import { refreshVirtualScroll } from './utils/infiniteScroll.js';
-import { refreshRecipes, syncChanges, RecipeSidebarApiClient } from './api/recipeApi.js';
+import { refreshRecipes, RecipeSidebarApiClient } from './api/recipeApi.js';
 import { sidebarManager } from './components/SidebarManager.js';
 
 class RecipePageControls {
@@ -23,12 +23,9 @@ class RecipePageControls {
     }
 
     async refreshModels(fullRebuild = false) {
-        if (fullRebuild) {
-            await refreshRecipes();
-            return;
-        }
+        await refreshRecipes(fullRebuild);
 
-        await syncChanges();
+        await sidebarManager.refresh();
     }
 
     getSidebarApiClient() {