diff --git a/components/ProgressBar.qml b/components/ProgressBar.qml
index 33f2c585..ec53ec61 100644
--- a/components/ProgressBar.qml
+++ b/components/ProgressBar.qml
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ Item {
             var progressLevel = ((currentBlock/targetBlock) * 100).toFixed(0);
             fillLevel = progressLevel
             progressText.text = qsTr("Synchronizing blocks %1/%2").arg(currentBlock.toFixed(0)).arg(targetBlock.toFixed(0));
-            item.visible = (currentWallet.connected !== Wallet.ConnectionStatus_Disconnected) && (currentBlock < targetBlock)
+            progressBar.visible = currentBlock < targetBlock
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/main.qml b/main.qml
index d7f76b91..520b1397 100644
--- a/main.qml
+++ b/main.qml
@@ -55,7 +55,6 @@ ApplicationWindow {
     property var transaction;
     property var transactionDescription;
     property alias password : passwordDialog.password
-    property int splashCounter: 0
     property bool isNewWallet: false
     property int restoreHeight:0
     property bool daemonSynced: false
@@ -265,10 +264,12 @@ ApplicationWindow {
         return path.replace(/.*[\/\\]/, '').replace(/\.keys$/, '')
     }
 
-    function onWalletConnectionStatusChanged(){
+    function onWalletConnectionStatusChanged(status){
         console.log("Wallet connection status changed")
         middlePanel.updateStatus();
-    }
+        leftPanel.networkStatus.connected = status
+        leftPanel.progressBar.visible = (status === Wallet.ConnectionStatus_Connected) && !daemonSynced
+     }
 
     function onWalletOpened(wallet) {
         walletName = usefulName(wallet.path)
@@ -310,7 +311,6 @@ ApplicationWindow {
         console.log(">>> wallet updated")
         middlePanel.unlockedBalanceText = leftPanel.unlockedBalanceText =  walletManager.displayAmount(currentWallet.unlockedBalance);
         middlePanel.balanceText = leftPanel.balanceText = walletManager.displayAmount(currentWallet.balance);
-        console.log("time to unlock: ", currentWallet.history.minutesToUnlock);
         // Update history if new block found since last update and balance is locked.
         if(foundNewBlock && currentWallet.history.locked) {
             foundNewBlock = false;
@@ -336,11 +336,16 @@ ApplicationWindow {
 
         // Daemon fully synced
         // TODO: implement onDaemonSynced or similar in wallet API and don't start refresh thread before daemon is synced
-        daemonSynced = (currentWallet.connected != Wallet.ConnectionStatus_Disconnected && dCurrentBlock >= dTargetBlock)
+        daemonSynced = dCurrentBlock >= dTargetBlock
+        // Update daemon sync progress
         leftPanel.progressBar.updateProgress(dCurrentBlock,dTargetBlock);
-        updateSyncing((currentWallet.connected !== Wallet.ConnectionStatus_Disconnected) && (dCurrentBlock < dTargetBlock))
+        leftPanel.progressBar.visible =  !daemonSynced && currentWallet.connected !== Wallet.ConnectionStatus_Disconnected
+        // Update wallet sync progress
+        updateSyncing((currentWallet.connected !== Wallet.ConnectionStatus_Disconnected) && !daemonSynced)
+        // Update transfer page status
         middlePanel.updateStatus();
 
+
         // If wallet isnt connected and no daemon is running - Ask
         if(currentWallet.connected === Wallet.ConnectionStatus_Disconnected && !daemonManager.running() && !walletInitialized){
             daemonManagerDialog.open();
@@ -392,17 +397,10 @@ ApplicationWindow {
         daemonRunning = false;
     }
 
-    function onWalletNewBlock(blockHeight) {
-            // Update progress bar
-            var currHeight = blockHeight
-            //fast refresh until restoreHeight is reached
-            var increment = ((restoreHeight == 0) || currHeight < restoreHeight)? 1000 : 10
-
-            if(currHeight > splashCounter + increment){
-              splashCounter = currHeight
-              leftPanel.progressBar.updateProgress(currHeight,currentWallet.daemonBlockChainTargetHeight());
-            }
-            foundNewBlock = true;
+    function onWalletNewBlock(blockHeight, targetHeight) {
+        // Update progress bar
+        leftPanel.progressBar.updateProgress(blockHeight,targetHeight);
+        foundNewBlock = true;
     }
 
     function onWalletMoneyReceived(txId, amount) {
@@ -712,7 +710,6 @@ ApplicationWindow {
     // close wallet and show wizard
     function showWizard(){
         walletInitialized = false;
-        splashCounter = 0;
         closeWallet();
         currentWallet = undefined;
         wizard.restart();
diff --git a/pages/Settings.qml b/pages/Settings.qml
index e6088722..9bbb0ee3 100644
--- a/pages/Settings.qml
+++ b/pages/Settings.qml
@@ -324,8 +324,8 @@ Rectangle {
                     var newDaemon = daemonAddr.text + ":" + daemonPort.text
                     if(persistentSettings.daemon_address != newDaemon) {
                         persistentSettings.daemon_address = newDaemon
-                        //reconnect wallet
-                        appWindow.initialize();
+                        //Reinit wallet
+                        currentWallet.initAsync(newDaemon)
                     }
                 }
             }
diff --git a/pages/Transfer.qml b/pages/Transfer.qml
index 28eebc22..79efc28d 100644
--- a/pages/Transfer.qml
+++ b/pages/Transfer.qml
@@ -682,7 +682,6 @@ Rectangle {
     //TODO: enable send page when we're connected and daemon is synced
 
     function updateStatus() {
-        console.log("updated transfer page status")
         if(typeof currentWallet === "undefined") {
             statusText.text = qsTr("Wallet is not connected to daemon.") + "<br>" + root.startLinkText
             return;
diff --git a/src/libwalletqt/Wallet.cpp b/src/libwalletqt/Wallet.cpp
index 2ade69bb..56121370 100644
--- a/src/libwalletqt/Wallet.cpp
+++ b/src/libwalletqt/Wallet.cpp
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
 #include <QtConcurrent/QtConcurrent>
 #include <QList>
 #include <QVector>
+#include <QMutex>
+#include <QMutexLocker>
 
 namespace {
     static const int DAEMON_BLOCKCHAIN_HEIGHT_CACHE_TTL_SECONDS = 10;
@@ -54,7 +56,7 @@ public:
     virtual void newBlock(uint64_t height)
     {
         // qDebug() << __FUNCTION__;
-        emit m_wallet->newBlock(height);
+        emit m_wallet->newBlock(height, m_wallet->daemonBlockChainTargetHeight());
     }
 
     virtual void updated()
@@ -103,17 +105,35 @@ bool Wallet::testnet() const
     return m_walletImpl->testnet();
 }
 
-Wallet::ConnectionStatus Wallet::connected() const
+
+void Wallet::updateConnectionStatusAsync()
 {
-    // cache connection status
-    if (!m_initialized || m_connectionStatusTime.elapsed() / 1000 > m_connectionStatusTtl) {
-        m_initialized = true;
-        ConnectionStatus newStatus = static_cast<ConnectionStatus>(m_walletImpl->connected());
+    QFuture<Monero::Wallet::ConnectionStatus> future = QtConcurrent::run(m_walletImpl, &Monero::Wallet::connected);
+    QFutureWatcher<Monero::Wallet::ConnectionStatus> *connectionWatcher = new QFutureWatcher<Monero::Wallet::ConnectionStatus>();
+
+    connect(connectionWatcher, &QFutureWatcher<Monero::Wallet::ConnectionStatus>::finished, [=]() {
+        QFuture<Monero::Wallet::ConnectionStatus> future = connectionWatcher->future();
+        connectionWatcher->deleteLater();
+        ConnectionStatus newStatus = static_cast<ConnectionStatus>(future.result());
         if (newStatus != m_connectionStatus) {
             m_connectionStatus = newStatus;
-            emit connectionStatusChanged();
+            emit connectionStatusChanged(newStatus);
         }
+        // Release lock
+        m_connectionStatusRunning = false;
+    });
+    connectionWatcher->setFuture(future);
+}
+
+Wallet::ConnectionStatus Wallet::connected(bool forceCheck)
+{
+    // cache connection status
+    if (forceCheck || !m_initialized || (m_connectionStatusTime.elapsed() / 1000 > m_connectionStatusTtl && !m_connectionStatusRunning) || m_connectionStatusTime.elapsed() > 30000) {
+        qDebug() << "Checking connection status";
+        m_connectionStatusRunning = true;
+        m_initialized = true;
         m_connectionStatusTime.restart();
+        updateConnectionStatusAsync();
     }
 
     return m_connectionStatus;
@@ -151,17 +171,38 @@ bool Wallet::store(const QString &path)
 
 bool Wallet::init(const QString &daemonAddress, quint64 upperTransactionLimit, bool isRecovering, quint64 restoreHeight)
 {
-    return m_walletImpl->init(daemonAddress.toStdString(), upperTransactionLimit);
-}
-
-void Wallet::initAsync(const QString &daemonAddress, quint64 upperTransactionLimit, bool isRecovering, quint64 restoreHeight)
-{
+    qDebug() << "init non async";
     if (isRecovering){
         qDebug() << "RESTORING";
         m_walletImpl->setRecoveringFromSeed(true);
         m_walletImpl->setRefreshFromBlockHeight(restoreHeight);
     }
-    m_walletImpl->initAsync(daemonAddress.toStdString(), upperTransactionLimit);
+    m_walletImpl->init(daemonAddress.toStdString(), upperTransactionLimit);
+    return true;
+}
+
+void Wallet::initAsync(const QString &daemonAddress, quint64 upperTransactionLimit, bool isRecovering, quint64 restoreHeight)
+{
+    qDebug() << "initAsync: " + daemonAddress;
+    m_connectionStatus = Wallet::ConnectionStatus_Disconnected;
+    emit connectionStatusChanged(m_connectionStatus);
+
+    QFuture<bool> future = QtConcurrent::run(this, &Wallet::init,
+                                  daemonAddress, upperTransactionLimit, isRecovering, restoreHeight);
+    QFutureWatcher<bool> * watcher = new QFutureWatcher<bool>();
+
+    connect(watcher, &QFutureWatcher<bool>::finished,
+            this, [this, watcher, daemonAddress, upperTransactionLimit, isRecovering, restoreHeight]() {
+        QFuture<bool> future = watcher->future();
+        watcher->deleteLater();
+        if(future.result()){
+            qDebug() << "init async finished - starting refresh";
+            connected(true);
+            m_walletImpl->startRefresh();
+
+        }
+    });
+    watcher->setFuture(future);
 }
 
 //! create a view only wallet
@@ -220,6 +261,7 @@ quint64 Wallet::daemonBlockChainTargetHeight() const
     if (m_daemonBlockChainTargetHeight == 0
             || m_daemonBlockChainTargetHeightTime.elapsed() / 1000 > m_daemonBlockChainTargetHeightTtl) {
         m_daemonBlockChainTargetHeight = m_walletImpl->daemonBlockChainTargetHeight();
+
         // Target height is set to 0 if daemon is synced.
         // Use current height from daemon when target height < current height
         if (m_daemonBlockChainTargetHeight < m_daemonBlockChainHeight){
@@ -242,6 +284,7 @@ bool Wallet::refresh()
 
 void Wallet::refreshAsync()
 {
+    qDebug() << "refresh async";
     m_walletImpl->refreshAsync();
 }
 
@@ -273,13 +316,14 @@ void Wallet::createTransactionAsync(const QString &dst_addr, const QString &paym
     QFuture<PendingTransaction*> future = QtConcurrent::run(this, &Wallet::createTransaction,
                                   dst_addr, payment_id,amount, mixin_count, priority);
     QFutureWatcher<PendingTransaction*> * watcher = new QFutureWatcher<PendingTransaction*>();
-    watcher->setFuture(future);
+
     connect(watcher, &QFutureWatcher<PendingTransaction*>::finished,
             this, [this, watcher,dst_addr,payment_id,mixin_count]() {
         QFuture<PendingTransaction*> future = watcher->future();
         watcher->deleteLater();
         emit transactionCreated(future.result(),dst_addr,payment_id,mixin_count);
     });
+    watcher->setFuture(future);
 }
 
 PendingTransaction *Wallet::createTransactionAll(const QString &dst_addr, const QString &payment_id,
@@ -299,13 +343,14 @@ void Wallet::createTransactionAllAsync(const QString &dst_addr, const QString &p
     QFuture<PendingTransaction*> future = QtConcurrent::run(this, &Wallet::createTransactionAll,
                                   dst_addr, payment_id, mixin_count, priority);
     QFutureWatcher<PendingTransaction*> * watcher = new QFutureWatcher<PendingTransaction*>();
-    watcher->setFuture(future);
+
     connect(watcher, &QFutureWatcher<PendingTransaction*>::finished,
             this, [this, watcher,dst_addr,payment_id,mixin_count]() {
         QFuture<PendingTransaction*> future = watcher->future();
         watcher->deleteLater();
         emit transactionCreated(future.result(),dst_addr,payment_id,mixin_count);
     });
+    watcher->setFuture(future);
 }
 
 PendingTransaction *Wallet::createSweepUnmixableTransaction()
@@ -319,13 +364,14 @@ void Wallet::createSweepUnmixableTransactionAsync()
 {
     QFuture<PendingTransaction*> future = QtConcurrent::run(this, &Wallet::createSweepUnmixableTransaction);
     QFutureWatcher<PendingTransaction*> * watcher = new QFutureWatcher<PendingTransaction*>();
-    watcher->setFuture(future);
+
     connect(watcher, &QFutureWatcher<PendingTransaction*>::finished,
             this, [this, watcher]() {
         QFuture<PendingTransaction*> future = watcher->future();
         watcher->deleteLater();
         emit transactionCreated(future.result(),"","",0);
     });
+    watcher->setFuture(future);
 }
 
 UnsignedTransaction * Wallet::loadTxFile(const QString &fileName)
@@ -542,6 +588,7 @@ Wallet::Wallet(Monero::Wallet *w, QObject *parent)
     m_daemonBlockChainHeightTime.restart();
     m_daemonBlockChainTargetHeightTime.restart();
     m_initialized = false;
+    m_connectionStatusRunning = false;
 }
 
 Wallet::~Wallet()
diff --git a/src/libwalletqt/Wallet.h b/src/libwalletqt/Wallet.h
index 9aec45fc..7e9651e4 100644
--- a/src/libwalletqt/Wallet.h
+++ b/src/libwalletqt/Wallet.h
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 
 #include <QObject>
 #include <QTime>
+#include <QMutex>
+#include <QtConcurrent/QtConcurrent>
 
 #include "wallet/wallet2_api.h" // we need to have an access to the Monero::Wallet::Status enum here;
 #include "PendingTransaction.h" // we need to have an access to the PendingTransaction::Priority enum here;
@@ -75,7 +77,8 @@ public:
     bool testnet() const;
 
     //! returns whether the wallet is connected, and version status
-    ConnectionStatus connected() const;
+    ConnectionStatus connected(bool forceCheck = false);
+    void updateConnectionStatusAsync();
 
     //! returns true if wallet was ever synchronized
     bool synchronized() const;
@@ -98,10 +101,10 @@ public:
     Q_INVOKABLE bool store(const QString &path = "");
 
     //! initializes wallet
-    Q_INVOKABLE bool init(const QString &daemonAddress, quint64 upperTransactionLimit, bool isRecovering = false, quint64 restoreHeight = 0);
+    Q_INVOKABLE bool init(const QString &daemonAddress, quint64 upperTransactionLimit = 0, bool isRecovering = false, quint64 restoreHeight = 0);
 
     //! initializes wallet asynchronously
-    Q_INVOKABLE void initAsync(const QString &daemonAddress, quint64 upperTransactionLimit, bool isRecovering = false, quint64 restoreHeight = 0);
+    Q_INVOKABLE void initAsync(const QString &daemonAddress, quint64 upperTransactionLimit = 0, bool isRecovering = false, quint64 restoreHeight = 0);
 
     //! create a view only wallet
     Q_INVOKABLE bool createViewOnly(const QString &path, const QString &password) const;
@@ -231,13 +234,13 @@ signals:
     void moneySpent(const QString &txId, quint64 amount);
     void moneyReceived(const QString &txId, quint64 amount);
     void unconfirmedMoneyReceived(const QString &txId, quint64 amount);
-    void newBlock(quint64 height);
+    void newBlock(quint64 height, quint64 targetHeight);
     void historyModelChanged() const;
 
     // emitted when transaction is created async
     void transactionCreated(PendingTransaction * transaction, QString address, QString paymentId, quint32 mixinCount);
 
-    void connectionStatusChanged() const;
+    void connectionStatusChanged(ConnectionStatus status) const;
 
 private:
     Wallet(QObject * parent = nullptr);
@@ -266,6 +269,8 @@ private:
     mutable bool    m_initialized;
     AddressBook * m_addressBook;
     mutable AddressBookModel * m_addressBookModel;
+    QMutex m_connectionStatusMutex;
+    bool m_connectionStatusRunning;
 };
 
 
diff --git a/src/libwalletqt/WalletManager.cpp b/src/libwalletqt/WalletManager.cpp
index 1db216cf..df0ffdbd 100644
--- a/src/libwalletqt/WalletManager.cpp
+++ b/src/libwalletqt/WalletManager.cpp
@@ -64,13 +64,14 @@ void WalletManager::openWalletAsync(const QString &path, const QString &password
     QFuture<Wallet*> future = QtConcurrent::run(this, &WalletManager::openWallet,
                                         path, password, testnet);
     QFutureWatcher<Wallet*> * watcher = new QFutureWatcher<Wallet*>();
-    watcher->setFuture(future);
+
     connect(watcher, &QFutureWatcher<Wallet*>::finished,
             this, [this, watcher]() {
         QFuture<Wallet*> future = watcher->future();
         watcher->deleteLater();
         emit walletOpened(future.result());
     });
+    watcher->setFuture(future);
 }
 
 
@@ -121,7 +122,6 @@ void WalletManager::closeWalletAsync()
 {
     QFuture<QString> future = QtConcurrent::run(this, &WalletManager::closeWallet);
     QFutureWatcher<QString> * watcher = new QFutureWatcher<QString>();
-    watcher->setFuture(future);
 
     connect(watcher, &QFutureWatcher<QString>::finished,
             this, [this, watcher]() {
@@ -129,6 +129,7 @@ void WalletManager::closeWalletAsync()
        watcher->deleteLater();
        emit walletClosed(future.result());
     });
+    watcher->setFuture(future);
 }
 
 bool WalletManager::walletExists(const QString &path) const
@@ -256,6 +257,8 @@ double WalletManager::miningHashRate() const
 
 bool WalletManager::isMining() const
 {
+    if(!m_currentWallet->connected())
+        return false;
     return m_pimpl->isMining();
 }