diff --git a/static/icon.png b/static/icon.png
index 726ba0c..b656d71 100644
Binary files a/static/icon.png and b/static/icon.png differ
diff --git a/static/index.js b/static/index.js
index b56a01d..85199e3 100644
--- a/static/index.js
+++ b/static/index.js
@@ -109,9 +109,41 @@
   let detectTimer  = null;
   let justPasted   = false;
 
+  // CodeMirror ships every language mode in one ~190 KB bundle. The editor
+  // opens in plain-text mode, so that bundle is dead weight until a language is
+  // actually detected or picked — and on mobile it was competing for bandwidth
+  // with the element that decides LCP. Fetch it on first use instead.
+  //
+  // No nonce needed: script-src allows 'self' and carries no 'strict-dynamic',
+  // so a same-origin <script src> injected at runtime is permitted.
+  let modesPromise = null;
+  function loadCmModes() {
+    if (!modesPromise) {
+      modesPromise = new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+        const s = document.createElement('script');
+        s.src = META.cm_modes_url;
+        // Same SRI guarantee the paste page gives this bundle: a tampered file
+        // in /static/ fails to load rather than executing silently.
+        s.integrity = META.cm_modes_sri;
+        s.crossOrigin = 'anonymous';
+        s.onload = resolve;
+        s.onerror = reject;
+        document.head.appendChild(s);
+      });
+    }
+    return modesPromise;
+  }
+
   function setCmMode(lang) {
     const mode = CM_MODE[lang] ?? null;
-    cm.setOption('mode', mode);
+    // Plain text needs no mode file — never pay for the bundle just to clear.
+    if (!mode) {
+      cm.setOption('mode', null);
+      return;
+    }
+    // On failure the editor stays in plain text: highlighting is cosmetic and
+    // must never block writing or submitting a paste.
+    loadCmModes().then(() => cm.setOption('mode', mode)).catch(() => {});
   }
 
   function runDetect() {
diff --git a/static/logo.png b/static/logo.png
index 70b8771..12498e8 100644
Binary files a/static/logo.png and b/static/logo.png differ
diff --git a/templates/index.html b/templates/index.html
index 8d4a5f7..6191740 100644
--- a/templates/index.html
+++ b/templates/index.html
@@ -160,9 +160,12 @@ <h1 class="terminal-hero">
 
 {% block scripts %}
 <link rel="stylesheet" href="/static/cm/codemirror.min.css?v={{ v }}">
-<script src="/static/cm/codemirror-core.min.js?v={{ v }}"></script>
-<script src="/static/cm/codemirror-modes.min.js?v={{ v }}"></script>
-<script src="/static/e2e.js?v={{ v }}"></script>
+<script src="/static/cm/codemirror-core.min.js?v={{ v }}" defer></script>
+<script src="/static/e2e.js?v={{ v }}" defer></script>
+<!-- codemirror-modes.min.js is NOT loaded here. It bundles every language mode
+     (~190 KB) but the editor opens in plain-text mode, so it is only needed
+     once a language is detected or picked. static/index.js injects it on first
+     use; keeping it off the critical path is what unblocks LCP. -->
 <!-- Argon2id WASM lib — only used when the user picks Argon2id in the
      KDF picker on a password paste. Loaded on every visit so the choice
      is immediately available; 29 KB minified, defer so it never blocks
@@ -173,7 +176,9 @@ <h1 class="terminal-hero">
 {
   "max_paste_size": {{ max_paste_size | tojson }},
   "cm_mode_map":    {{ cm_mode_map | tojson }},
-  "extension_map":  {{ extension_map | tojson }}
+  "extension_map":  {{ extension_map | tojson }},
+  "cm_modes_url":   "/static/cm/codemirror-modes.min.js?v={{ v }}",
+  "cm_modes_sri":   "{{ sri('/static/cm/codemirror-modes.min.js') }}"
 }
 </script>
 <script src="/static/index.js?v={{ v }}" defer></script>
diff --git a/tests/test_api.py b/tests/test_api.py
index 1fc9020..4433d46 100644
--- a/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/tests/test_api.py
@@ -197,6 +197,23 @@ async def test_homepage_ships_argon2_lib_with_sri(client):
     assert m, "Argon2 WASM lib should be loaded on the homepage with SRI"
 
 
+async def test_homepage_does_not_ship_codemirror_modes_eagerly(client):
+    """The ~190 KB mode bundle must stay off the critical path. The editor opens
+    in plain text and static/index.js injects it on first language pick; loading
+    it with a <script> tag again would put LCP back over 6 s on mobile."""
+    import re
+
+    html = (await client.get("/")).text
+    assert not re.search(r"<script[^>]+codemirror-modes\.min\.js", html), (
+        "codemirror-modes must not be loaded via a script tag on the homepage"
+    )
+    # It still has to be reachable, with the SRI hash the injector applies.
+    assert "codemirror-modes.min.js" in html, "the lazy-load URL should be in index-meta"
+    assert re.search(r'"cm_modes_sri":\s*"sha384-[A-Za-z0-9+/=]+"', html), (
+        "the injected mode bundle must carry an SRI hash like every other vendored lib"
+    )
+
+
 async def test_password_paste_includes_argon2_lib(client):
     """A password-protected paste page must ship the Argon2 lib unconditionally
     — the viewer doesn't know yet which KDF the paste used."""