diff --git a/src/components/dialogs/StarterPackDialog.tsx b/src/components/dialogs/StarterPackDialog.tsx
index 871b34da57..06aea1bec7 100644
--- a/src/components/dialogs/StarterPackDialog.tsx
+++ b/src/components/dialogs/StarterPackDialog.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import {useCallback, useState} from 'react'
+import {useCallback} from 'react'
 import {View} from 'react-native'
 import {
   type AppBskyGraphGetStarterPacksWithMembership,
@@ -7,20 +7,18 @@ import {
 import {msg, Plural, Trans} from '@lingui/macro'
 import {useLingui} from '@lingui/react'
 import {useNavigation} from '@react-navigation/native'
-import {useQueryClient} from '@tanstack/react-query'
 
 import {useRequireEmailVerification} from '#/lib/hooks/useRequireEmailVerification'
 import {type NavigationProp} from '#/lib/routes/types'
-import {
-  invalidateActorStarterPacksWithMembershipQuery,
-  useActorStarterPacksWithMembershipsQuery,
-} from '#/state/queries/actor-starter-packs'
+import {isNetworkError} from '#/lib/strings/errors'
+import {logger} from '#/logger'
+import {useActorStarterPacksWithMembershipsQuery} from '#/state/queries/actor-starter-packs'
 import {
   useListMembershipAddMutation,
   useListMembershipRemoveMutation,
 } from '#/state/queries/list-memberships'
-import * as Toast from '#/view/com/util/Toast'
-import {atoms as a, useTheme} from '#/alf'
+import {useProfileQuery} from '#/state/queries/profile'
+import {atoms as a, native, platform, useTheme} from '#/alf'
 import {AvatarStack} from '#/components/AvatarStack'
 import {Button, ButtonIcon, ButtonText} from '#/components/Button'
 import * as Dialog from '#/components/Dialog'
@@ -29,6 +27,7 @@ import {PlusLarge_Stroke2_Corner0_Rounded as PlusIcon} from '#/components/icons/
 import {StarterPack} from '#/components/icons/StarterPack'
 import {TimesLarge_Stroke2_Corner0_Rounded as XIcon} from '#/components/icons/Times'
 import {Loader} from '#/components/Loader'
+import * as Toast from '#/components/Toast'
 import {Text} from '#/components/Typography'
 import {useAnalytics} from '#/analytics'
 import {IS_WEB} from '#/env'
@@ -131,6 +130,7 @@ function StarterPackList({
 }) {
   const control = Dialog.useDialogContext()
   const {_} = useLingui()
+  const {data: subject} = useProfileQuery({did: targetDid})
 
   const {
     data,
@@ -155,9 +155,13 @@ function StarterPackList({
 
   const renderItem = useCallback(
     ({item}: {item: StarterPackWithMembership}) => (
-      <StarterPackItem starterPackWithMembership={item} targetDid={targetDid} />
+      <StarterPackItem
+        starterPackWithMembership={item}
+        targetDid={targetDid}
+        subject={subject}
+      />
     ),
-    [targetDid],
+    [targetDid, subject],
   )
 
   const onClose = useCallback(() => {
@@ -168,9 +172,11 @@ function StarterPackList({
     <>
       <View
         style={[
-          {justifyContent: 'space-between', flexDirection: 'row'},
-          IS_WEB ? a.mb_2xl : a.my_lg,
+          a.justify_between,
           a.align_center,
+          a.flex_row,
+          a.pb_lg,
+          native(a.pt_lg),
         ]}>
         <Text style={[a.text_lg, a.font_semi_bold]}>
           <Trans>Add to starter packs</Trans>
@@ -181,7 +187,8 @@ function StarterPackList({
           variant="ghost"
           color="secondary"
           size="small"
-          shape="round">
+          shape="round"
+          style={{margin: -8}}>
           <ButtonIcon icon={XIcon} />
         </Button>
       </View>
@@ -232,7 +239,10 @@ function StarterPackList({
       onEndReachedThreshold={0.1}
       ListHeaderComponent={listHeader}
       ListEmptyComponent={<Empty onStartWizard={onStartWizard} />}
-      style={IS_WEB ? [a.px_md, {minHeight: 500}] : [a.px_2xl, a.pt_lg]}
+      style={platform({
+        web: [a.px_2xl, {minHeight: 500}],
+        native: [a.px_2xl, a.pt_lg],
+      })}
     />
   )
 }
@@ -240,66 +250,54 @@ function StarterPackList({
 function StarterPackItem({
   starterPackWithMembership,
   targetDid,
+  subject,
 }: {
   starterPackWithMembership: StarterPackWithMembership
   targetDid: string
+  subject?: bsky.profile.AnyProfileView
 }) {
   const t = useTheme()
   const ax = useAnalytics()
   const {_} = useLingui()
-  const queryClient = useQueryClient()
 
   const starterPack = starterPackWithMembership.starterPack
   const isInPack = !!starterPackWithMembership.listItem
 
-  const [isPendingRefresh, setIsPendingRefresh] = useState(false)
+  const {mutate: addMembership, isPending: isPendingAdd} =
+    useListMembershipAddMutation({
+      subject,
+      onSuccess: () => {
+        Toast.show(_(msg`Added to starter pack`))
+      },
+      onError: err => {
+        if (!isNetworkError(err)) {
+          logger.error('Failed to add to starter pack', {safeMessage: err})
+        }
+        Toast.show(_(msg`Failed to add to starter pack`), {type: 'error'})
+      },
+    })
 
-  const {mutate: addMembership} = useListMembershipAddMutation({
-    onSuccess: () => {
-      Toast.show(_(msg`Added to starter pack`))
-      // Use a timeout to wait for the appview to update, matching the pattern
-      // in list-memberships.ts
-      setTimeout(() => {
-        invalidateActorStarterPacksWithMembershipQuery({
-          queryClient,
-          did: targetDid,
-        })
-        setIsPendingRefresh(false)
-      }, 1e3)
-    },
-    onError: () => {
-      Toast.show(_(msg`Failed to add to starter pack`), 'xmark')
-      setIsPendingRefresh(false)
-    },
-  })
+  const {mutate: removeMembership, isPending: isPendingRemove} =
+    useListMembershipRemoveMutation({
+      onSuccess: () => {
+        Toast.show(_(msg`Removed from starter pack`))
+      },
+      onError: err => {
+        if (!isNetworkError(err)) {
+          logger.error('Failed to remove from starter pack', {safeMessage: err})
+        }
+        Toast.show(_(msg`Failed to remove from starter pack`), {type: 'error'})
+      },
+    })
 
-  const {mutate: removeMembership} = useListMembershipRemoveMutation({
-    onSuccess: () => {
-      Toast.show(_(msg`Removed from starter pack`))
-      // Use a timeout to wait for the appview to update, matching the pattern
-      // in list-memberships.ts
-      setTimeout(() => {
-        invalidateActorStarterPacksWithMembershipQuery({
-          queryClient,
-          did: targetDid,
-        })
-        setIsPendingRefresh(false)
-      }, 1e3)
-    },
-    onError: () => {
-      Toast.show(_(msg`Failed to remove from starter pack`), 'xmark')
-      setIsPendingRefresh(false)
-    },
-  })
+  const isPending = isPendingAdd || isPendingRemove
 
   const handleToggleMembership = () => {
-    if (!starterPack.list?.uri || isPendingRefresh) return
+    if (!starterPack.list?.uri || isPending) return
 
     const listUri = starterPack.list.uri
     const starterPackUri = starterPack.uri
 
-    setIsPendingRefresh(true)
-
     if (!isInPack) {
       addMembership({
         listUri: listUri,
@@ -309,7 +307,6 @@ function StarterPackItem({
     } else {
       if (!starterPackWithMembership.listItem?.uri) {
         console.error('Cannot remove: missing membership URI')
-        setIsPendingRefresh(false)
         return
       }
       removeMembership({
@@ -344,7 +341,7 @@ function StarterPackItem({
             starterPack.listItemsSample.length > 0 && (
               <>
                 <AvatarStack
-                  size={32}
+                  size={24}
                   profiles={starterPack.listItemsSample
                     ?.slice(0, 4)
                     .map(p => p.subject)}
@@ -375,8 +372,9 @@ function StarterPackItem({
         label={isInPack ? _(msg`Remove`) : _(msg`Add`)}
         color={isInPack ? 'secondary' : 'primary_subtle'}
         size="tiny"
-        disabled={isPendingRefresh}
+        disabled={isPending}
         onPress={handleToggleMembership}>
+        {isPending && <ButtonIcon icon={Loader} />}
         <ButtonText>
           {isInPack ? <Trans>Remove</Trans> : <Trans>Add</Trans>}
         </ButtonText>
diff --git a/src/state/queries/actor-starter-packs.ts b/src/state/queries/actor-starter-packs.ts
index d40e054535..97cc3b5e05 100644
--- a/src/state/queries/actor-starter-packs.ts
+++ b/src/state/queries/actor-starter-packs.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,4 @@
-import {
-  type AppBskyGraphGetActorStarterPacks,
-  type AppBskyGraphGetStarterPacksWithMembership,
-} from '@atproto/api'
-import {
-  type InfiniteData,
-  type QueryClient,
-  type QueryKey,
-  useInfiniteQuery,
-} from '@tanstack/react-query'
+import {type QueryClient, useInfiniteQuery} from '@tanstack/react-query'
 
 import {useAgent} from '#/state/session'
 
@@ -28,13 +19,7 @@ export function useActorStarterPacksQuery({
 }) {
   const agent = useAgent()
 
-  return useInfiniteQuery<
-    AppBskyGraphGetActorStarterPacks.OutputSchema,
-    Error,
-    InfiniteData<AppBskyGraphGetActorStarterPacks.OutputSchema>,
-    QueryKey,
-    string | undefined
-  >({
+  return useInfiniteQuery({
     queryKey: RQKEY(did),
     queryFn: async ({pageParam}: {pageParam?: string}) => {
       const res = await agent.app.bsky.graph.getActorStarterPacks({
@@ -59,13 +44,7 @@ export function useActorStarterPacksWithMembershipsQuery({
 }) {
   const agent = useAgent()
 
-  return useInfiniteQuery<
-    AppBskyGraphGetStarterPacksWithMembership.OutputSchema,
-    Error,
-    InfiniteData<AppBskyGraphGetStarterPacksWithMembership.OutputSchema>,
-    QueryKey,
-    string | undefined
-  >({
+  return useInfiniteQuery({
     queryKey: RQKEY_WITH_MEMBERSHIP(did),
     queryFn: async ({pageParam}: {pageParam?: string}) => {
       const res = await agent.app.bsky.graph.getStarterPacksWithMembership({
diff --git a/src/state/queries/list-memberships.ts b/src/state/queries/list-memberships.ts
index 410a613ada..dd7fde2482 100644
--- a/src/state/queries/list-memberships.ts
+++ b/src/state/queries/list-memberships.ts
@@ -14,12 +14,23 @@
  * -prf
  */
 
-import {AtUri} from '@atproto/api'
-import {useMutation, useQuery, useQueryClient} from '@tanstack/react-query'
+import {
+  type AppBskyActorDefs,
+  type AppBskyGraphGetStarterPacksWithMembership,
+  AtUri,
+} from '@atproto/api'
+import {
+  type InfiniteData,
+  useMutation,
+  useQuery,
+  useQueryClient,
+} from '@tanstack/react-query'
 
 import {STALE} from '#/state/queries'
 import {RQKEY as LIST_MEMBERS_RQKEY} from '#/state/queries/list-members'
 import {useAgent, useSession} from '#/state/session'
+import type * as bsky from '#/types/bsky'
+import {RQKEY_WITH_MEMBERSHIP as STARTER_PACKS_WITH_MEMBERSHIPS_RKEY} from './actor-starter-packs'
 
 // sanity limit is SANITY_PAGE_LIMIT*PAGE_SIZE total records
 const SANITY_PAGE_LIMIT = 1000
@@ -91,9 +102,14 @@ export function getMembership(
 }
 
 export function useListMembershipAddMutation({
+  subject,
   onSuccess,
   onError,
 }: {
+  /**
+   * Needed for optimistic update of starter pack query
+   */
+  subject?: bsky.profile.AnyProfileView
   onSuccess?: (data: {uri: string; cid: string}) => void
   onError?: (error: Error) => void
 } = {}) {
@@ -151,6 +167,60 @@ export function useListMembershipAddMutation({
           queryKey: LIST_MEMBERS_RQKEY(variables.listUri),
         })
       }, 1e3)
+
+      // update WITH_MEMBERSHIPS query
+
+      if (subject) {
+        queryClient.setQueryData<
+          InfiniteData<AppBskyGraphGetStarterPacksWithMembership.OutputSchema>
+        >(STARTER_PACKS_WITH_MEMBERSHIPS_RKEY(variables.actorDid), old => {
+          if (!old) return old
+
+          return {
+            ...old,
+            pages: old.pages.map(page => ({
+              ...page,
+              starterPacksWithMembership: page.starterPacksWithMembership.map(
+                spWithMembership => {
+                  if (
+                    spWithMembership.starterPack.list &&
+                    spWithMembership.starterPack.list?.uri === variables.listUri
+                  ) {
+                    return {
+                      ...spWithMembership,
+                      starterPack: {
+                        ...spWithMembership.starterPack,
+                        listItemsSample: [
+                          {
+                            uri: data.uri,
+                            subject: subject as AppBskyActorDefs.ProfileView,
+                          },
+                          ...(spWithMembership.starterPack.listItemsSample?.filter(
+                            item => item.subject.did !== variables.actorDid,
+                          ) ?? []),
+                        ],
+                        list: {
+                          ...spWithMembership.starterPack.list,
+                          listItemCount:
+                            (spWithMembership.starterPack.list.listItemCount ??
+                              0) + 1,
+                        },
+                      },
+                      listItem: {
+                        uri: data.uri,
+                        subject: subject as AppBskyActorDefs.ProfileView,
+                      },
+                    }
+                  }
+
+                  return spWithMembership
+                },
+              ),
+            })),
+          }
+        })
+      }
+
       onSuccess?.(data)
     },
     onError,
@@ -206,6 +276,50 @@ export function useListMembershipRemoveMutation({
           queryKey: LIST_MEMBERS_RQKEY(variables.listUri),
         })
       }, 1e3)
+
+      queryClient.setQueryData<
+        InfiniteData<AppBskyGraphGetStarterPacksWithMembership.OutputSchema>
+      >(STARTER_PACKS_WITH_MEMBERSHIPS_RKEY(variables.actorDid), old => {
+        if (!old) return old
+
+        return {
+          ...old,
+          pages: old.pages.map(page => ({
+            ...page,
+            starterPacksWithMembership: page.starterPacksWithMembership.map(
+              spWithMembership => {
+                if (
+                  spWithMembership.starterPack.list &&
+                  spWithMembership.starterPack.list.uri === variables.listUri
+                ) {
+                  return {
+                    ...spWithMembership,
+                    starterPack: {
+                      ...spWithMembership.starterPack,
+                      listItemsSample:
+                        spWithMembership.starterPack.listItemsSample?.filter(
+                          item => item.subject.did !== variables.actorDid,
+                        ),
+                      list: {
+                        ...spWithMembership.starterPack.list,
+                        listItemCount: Math.max(
+                          0,
+                          (spWithMembership.starterPack.list.listItemCount ??
+                            1) - 1,
+                        ),
+                      },
+                    },
+                    listItem: undefined,
+                  }
+                }
+
+                return spWithMembership
+              },
+            ),
+          })),
+        }
+      })
+
       onSuccess?.(data)
     },
     onError,
diff --git a/src/view/com/profile/ProfileMenu.tsx b/src/view/com/profile/ProfileMenu.tsx
index 8d7846d815..684dcbf0fe 100644
--- a/src/view/com/profile/ProfileMenu.tsx
+++ b/src/view/com/profile/ProfileMenu.tsx
@@ -329,15 +329,17 @@ let ProfileMenu = ({
                     )}
                   </>
                 )}
-                <Menu.Item
-                  testID="profileHeaderDropdownStarterPackAddRemoveBtn"
-                  label={_(msg`Add to starter packs`)}
-                  onPress={onPressAddToStarterPacks}>
-                  <Menu.ItemText>
-                    <Trans>Add to starter packs</Trans>
-                  </Menu.ItemText>
-                  <Menu.ItemIcon icon={StarterPack} />
-                </Menu.Item>
+                {!isSelf && (
+                  <Menu.Item
+                    testID="profileHeaderDropdownStarterPackAddRemoveBtn"
+                    label={_(msg`Add to starter packs`)}
+                    onPress={onPressAddToStarterPacks}>
+                    <Menu.ItemText>
+                      <Trans>Add to starter packs</Trans>
+                    </Menu.ItemText>
+                    <Menu.ItemIcon icon={StarterPack} />
+                  </Menu.Item>
+                )}
                 <Menu.Item
                   testID="profileHeaderDropdownListAddRemoveBtn"
                   label={_(msg`Add to lists`)}