diff --git a/api/js/framework/fw_base.js b/api/js/framework/fw_base.js
index a9349bdaae..1d7d746fde 100644
--- a/api/js/framework/fw_base.js
+++ b/api/js/framework/fw_base.js
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ var fw_base = (function(){ "use strict"; return Class.extend(
 		this.applications = new Object();
 		this.activeApp = null;
 
+		// keeps the firstload animation gauge in sync
+		this.firstload_animation_gauge = 0;
+
 		this.apps = null;
 
 		this.tabApps = JSON.parse(egw.getSessionItem('api', 'fw_tab_apps')||null) || {};
@@ -520,6 +523,7 @@ var fw_base = (function(){ "use strict"; return Class.extend(
 			if (_status == 5 && !_app.isFrameworkTab) _app.tab.hideTabHeader(true);
 
 		}
+		if (this.activeApp && this.activeApp.appName != _app.appName) this.firstload_animation(_app.appName);
 	},
 
 	/**
@@ -1347,5 +1351,25 @@ var fw_base = (function(){ "use strict"; return Class.extend(
 		})
 		egw.setSessionItem('api', 'darkmode',state);
 		egw.json('EGroupware\\Api\\Framework\\Ajax::ajax_set_darkmode_flag',[state]).sendRequest();
+	},
+
+	/**
+	 * firstload animation
+	 * @param string _app app name
+	 * @param int _gauge 0 - 100
+	 */
+	firstload_animation: function(_app, _gauge)
+	{
+		if (_app)
+		{
+			jQuery('.fl_app.'+_app).css({
+				opacity: 1
+			});
+		}
+		let progress = jQuery('.fl_progress');
+		let gauge = progress.children();
+
+		this.firstload_animation_gauge = _gauge ? _gauge : (this.firstload_animation_gauge == 0 ? 10 : (this.firstload_animation_gauge+5));
+		gauge.width(this.firstload_animation_gauge+"%");
 	}
 });}).call(this);
diff --git a/api/js/framework/fw_browser.js b/api/js/framework/fw_browser.js
index f1a90c55b5..adbd53c02d 100644
--- a/api/js/framework/fw_browser.js
+++ b/api/js/framework/fw_browser.js
@@ -165,6 +165,7 @@ var fw_browser = (function(){ "use strict"; return Class.extend(
 		},5000);
 
 		this.loadingDeferred.always(function() {
+			framework.firstload_animation(self.app.appName);
 			if(self.ajaxLoaderDiv)
 			{
 
diff --git a/api/src/Framework.php b/api/src/Framework.php
index 68ff8556eb..eadebfe4f9 100644
--- a/api/src/Framework.php
+++ b/api/src/Framework.php
@@ -841,7 +841,7 @@ abstract class Framework extends Framework\Extra
 	 */
 	protected static function _get_navbar_apps()
 	{
-		$first = key($GLOBALS['egw_info']['user']['apps']);
+		$first = key((array)$GLOBALS['egw_info']['user']['apps']);
 		if(is_array($GLOBALS['egw_info']['user']['apps']['admin']) && $first != 'admin')
 		{
 			$newarray['admin'] = $GLOBALS['egw_info']['user']['apps']['admin'];
diff --git a/api/src/Framework/Ajax.php b/api/src/Framework/Ajax.php
index c990407a36..c9c55243ec 100755
--- a/api/src/Framework/Ajax.php
+++ b/api/src/Framework/Ajax.php
@@ -252,6 +252,11 @@ abstract class Ajax extends Api\Framework
 				$extra['check-framework'] = $_GET['cd'] !== 'no' && $GLOBALS['egw_info']['flags']['nonavbar'] !== 'popup';
 			}
 		}
+
+		//add loader animation
+		$this->tpl->set_var('firstload_animation', $this->_get_firstload_animation());
+		$this->tpl->set_var('firstload_animation_style', $this->_get_firstload_animation_style());
+
 		// allow apps to load JavaScript or CSS files, knowing we're loading the framework or not
 		Api\Hooks::process(array(
 			'location' => 'framework_header',
@@ -367,6 +372,72 @@ abstract class Ajax extends Api\Framework
 		$this->topmenu_items[] = '<a id="topmenu_' . $id . '" href="'.htmlspecialchars($app_data['url']).'" title="'.$app_data['title'].'">'.$title.'</a>';
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * set style for firstload animation
+	 * @return string
+	 */
+	private function _get_firstload_animation_style()
+	{
+		return '
+		#egw_fw_firstload .fl_app {
+			opacity:0.3;
+			width: 50px;
+			height:50px;
+			background-repeat: no-repeat;
+			clip-path: polygon(100% 9%, 73% 4%, 67% 3%, 63% 2%, 56% 1%, 48% 0, 41% 1%, 33% 3%, 26% 6%, 21% 9%, 16% 13%,
+			 11% 19%, 7% 24%, 4% 30%, 1% 38%, 0 46%, 0 53%, 1% 61%, 3% 67%, 5% 72%, 8% 77%, 12% 83%, 16% 87%, 21% 91%,
+			  27% 95%, 32% 97%, 39% 99%, 46% 100%, 53% 100%, 60% 99%, 67% 97%, 74% 94%, 79% 91%, 85% 86%, 90% 81%,
+			   94% 74%, 97% 67%, 98% 58%);
+			background-color: #b0dccc;
+			transition: opacity 1s  cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 1, 1);
+		}
+		#egw_fw_firstload .fl_apps {
+			width: 100%;
+			max-width: 400px;
+			display: block;
+			background: transparent;
+			margin: 35% auto 20px;
+		}
+		#egw_fw_firstload .fl_wrapper {
+			margin:auto;
+			width:40%;
+		}
+		#egw_fw_firstload .fl_progress {
+			width: 100%;
+			height: 5px;
+			border: 1px solid #b1dccc;
+   			border-radius: 5px;
+		}
+		#egw_fw_firstload .fl_progress div{
+			width: 0%;
+			height: 5px;
+    		background-color: #005d8b;
+    		transition: width 0.2s linear;
+		}
+		';
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * get firstload animation content
+	 * @return string
+	 */
+	private function _get_firstload_animation()
+	{
+		$content = $appsDiv = '';
+		$apps = array_filter($this->navbar_apps(), static function($a){
+			if (!in_array($a['name'], ['about', 'wiki', 'devtools', 'preferences'])) return $a;
+		});
+		foreach ($apps as $app)
+		{
+			$appsDiv .= '<div class="fl_app '.htmlspecialchars($app['name']).'"'.
+				' style="background-image:url('.htmlspecialchars($app['icon']).');'.
+				'background-position:center;background-size:32px;display:inline-block;margin:1px;"></div>';
+		}
+		$content .= '<div class="fl_wrapper" style="margin:auto;width:40%;"><div class="fl_apps">'.$appsDiv.
+			'</div><div class="fl_progress"><div></div></div></div></div>';
+		return $content;
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Add info items to the topmenu template class to be displayed
 	 *
diff --git a/pixelegg/css/mobile.css b/pixelegg/css/mobile.css
index f19660d51d..047ee488d6 100644
--- a/pixelegg/css/mobile.css
+++ b/pixelegg/css/mobile.css
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@
   }
   html[data-darkmode='1'] #mail_sidebox_header.egw_fw_ui_sidemenu_entry_header_active,
   html[data-darkmode='1'] #mail_sidebox_header {
-    border-color: #5db9ec!important;
+    border-color: #5db9ec !important;
   }
   html[data-darkmode='1'] #egw_fw_main #egw_fw_tabs .egw_fw_ui_tabs_header #mail-egw_fw_ui_tab_header.egw_fw_ui_tab_header_active {
     border-top-color: #5db9ec !important;
@@ -1515,20 +1515,20 @@ span.ui-icon-search {
   box-shadow: -2px 1px 9px 3px #B4B4B4;
 }
 .ui-dialog .ui-dialog-buttonpane {
-  padding-left: .8em;
-  padding-right: .8em;
+  padding-left: 0.8em;
+  padding-right: 0.8em;
   padding-top: 0.7em;
 }
 .ui-dialog .ui-dialog-titlebar {
-  padding-left: .8em;
-  padding-right: .8em;
+  padding-left: 0.8em;
+  padding-right: 0.8em;
   font-size: 12pt;
   border: none;
   font-weight: normal;
   background: white;
 }
 .ui-dialog .ui-dialog-titlebar-close {
-  right: .8em;
+  right: 0.8em;
 }
 .ui-widget-content {
   border: 1px solid #B4B4B4;
@@ -6336,7 +6336,7 @@ a.textSidebox {
   }
 }
 .egw-loading-prompt-container::before {
-  opacity: .3;
+  opacity: 0.3;
   content: "";
   background-color: #aaaaaa;
   width: 100%;
@@ -6415,7 +6415,7 @@ a.textSidebox {
   z-index: 999;
   width: 100px;
   border-radius: 5px;
-  border: solid 10px  #679FD2;
+  border: solid 10px #679FD2;
   transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
 }
 /**
@@ -6782,19 +6782,6 @@ table.egwGridView_grid img.et2_appicon {
   height: 100%;
   width: 100%;
 }
-#egw_fw_firstload:before {
-  content: "";
-  display: inline-block;
-  position: absolute;
-  width: 100%;
-  height: 100%;
-  background-image: url(../../pixelegg/images/loading.svg);
-  background-position: center;
-  background-repeat: no-repeat;
-  -webkit-animation: fw-firstload 2s infinite;
-  animation: fw-firstload 2s infinite;
-  -moz-animation: fw-firstload 2s infinite;
-}
 #egw_fw_sidebar #egw_fw_sidemenu #addressbook_sidebox_content .egw_fw_ui_category_active {
   background-color: #003366 !important;
 }
diff --git a/pixelegg/css/pixelegg.css b/pixelegg/css/pixelegg.css
index cc21ea926a..6bd4f40ea4 100644
--- a/pixelegg/css/pixelegg.css
+++ b/pixelegg/css/pixelegg.css
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@
   }
   html[data-darkmode='1'] #mail_sidebox_header.egw_fw_ui_sidemenu_entry_header_active,
   html[data-darkmode='1'] #mail_sidebox_header {
-    border-color: #5db9ec!important;
+    border-color: #5db9ec !important;
   }
   html[data-darkmode='1'] #egw_fw_main #egw_fw_tabs .egw_fw_ui_tabs_header #mail-egw_fw_ui_tab_header.egw_fw_ui_tab_header_active {
     border-top-color: #5db9ec !important;
@@ -1505,20 +1505,20 @@ span.ui-icon-search {
   box-shadow: -2px 1px 9px 3px #B4B4B4;
 }
 .ui-dialog .ui-dialog-buttonpane {
-  padding-left: .8em;
-  padding-right: .8em;
+  padding-left: 0.8em;
+  padding-right: 0.8em;
   padding-top: 0.7em;
 }
 .ui-dialog .ui-dialog-titlebar {
-  padding-left: .8em;
-  padding-right: .8em;
+  padding-left: 0.8em;
+  padding-right: 0.8em;
   font-size: 12pt;
   border: none;
   font-weight: normal;
   background: white;
 }
 .ui-dialog .ui-dialog-titlebar-close {
-  right: .8em;
+  right: 0.8em;
 }
 .ui-widget-content {
   border: 1px solid #B4B4B4;
@@ -6326,7 +6326,7 @@ a.textSidebox {
   }
 }
 .egw-loading-prompt-container::before {
-  opacity: .3;
+  opacity: 0.3;
   content: "";
   background-color: #aaaaaa;
   width: 100%;
@@ -6405,7 +6405,7 @@ a.textSidebox {
   z-index: 999;
   width: 100px;
   border-radius: 5px;
-  border: solid 10px  #679FD2;
+  border: solid 10px #679FD2;
   transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
 }
 /**
@@ -6772,19 +6772,6 @@ table.egwGridView_grid img.et2_appicon {
   height: 100%;
   width: 100%;
 }
-#egw_fw_firstload:before {
-  content: "";
-  display: inline-block;
-  position: absolute;
-  width: 100%;
-  height: 100%;
-  background-image: url(../../pixelegg/images/loading.svg);
-  background-position: center;
-  background-repeat: no-repeat;
-  -webkit-animation: fw-firstload 2s infinite;
-  animation: fw-firstload 2s infinite;
-  -moz-animation: fw-firstload 2s infinite;
-}
 #egw_fw_sidebar #egw_fw_sidemenu #addressbook_sidebox_content .egw_fw_ui_category_active {
   background-color: #003366 !important;
 }
diff --git a/pixelegg/css/pixelegg.less b/pixelegg/css/pixelegg.less
index 47c63c833b..aa52836f8f 100644
--- a/pixelegg/css/pixelegg.less
+++ b/pixelegg/css/pixelegg.less
@@ -24,19 +24,6 @@
 	background: white;
 	height: 100%;
 	width: 100%;
-	&:before{
-		content:"";
-		display: inline-block;
-		position: absolute;
-		width: 100%;
-		height: 100%;
-		background-image: url(../../pixelegg/images/loading.svg);
-		background-position: center;
-		background-repeat: no-repeat;
-		-webkit-animation: fw-firstload 2s infinite;
-		animation: fw-firstload 2s infinite;
-		-moz-animation: fw-firstload 2s infinite;
-	}
 }
 #egw_fw_sidebar {
 	#egw_fw_sidemenu {
diff --git a/pixelegg/head.tpl b/pixelegg/head.tpl
index 05e21fc9dd..d9ee5d7a76 100644
--- a/pixelegg/head.tpl
+++ b/pixelegg/head.tpl
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@
 		<style type="text/css">
 			{app_css}
 		</style>
+		<style type="text/css">
+			{firstload_animation_style}
+		</style>
 		{java_script}
 	</head>
 	<body {body_tags}>
@@ -55,5 +58,7 @@
 			</div>
 			<div id="egw_fw_sidebar_r"></div>
 		</div>
-		<div id="egw_fw_firstload"></div>
+		<div id="egw_fw_firstload">
+			{firstload_animation}
+		</div>
 <!-- END framework -->
diff --git a/pixelegg/js/fw_pixelegg.js b/pixelegg/js/fw_pixelegg.js
index d61dd53f05..430f2c1c63 100644
--- a/pixelegg/js/fw_pixelegg.js
+++ b/pixelegg/js/fw_pixelegg.js
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@
 		 */
 		et2_loadingFinished: function() {
 			this._super.apply(this, arguments);
+			framework.firstload_animation('', 100);
 			setTimeout(function(){jQuery('#egw_fw_firstload').remove();}, 1000);
 		},
 
@@ -119,8 +120,8 @@
 		}
 
 		jQuery(document).ready(function() {
-			//Stop the loading animation after 3sec if for whatever reason it didn't end
-			setTimeout(function(){jQuery('#egw_fw_firstload').remove();}, 3000);
+			//Stop the loading animation after 5sec if for whatever reason it didn't end
+			setTimeout(function(){jQuery('#egw_fw_firstload').remove();}, 5000);
 			window.framework = new fw_pixelegg("egw_fw_sidemenu", "egw_fw_tabs",
 					window.egw_webserverUrl, egw_setSideboxSize,"egw_fw_splitter", 255, 245);	// should be identical to jdots_framework::(DEFAULT|MIN)_SIDEBAR_WIDTH
 			window.callManual = window.framework.callManual;
diff --git a/pixelegg/mobile/fw_mobile.css b/pixelegg/mobile/fw_mobile.css
index 7168d4624b..b29fa280af 100644
--- a/pixelegg/mobile/fw_mobile.css
+++ b/pixelegg/mobile/fw_mobile.css
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@
   }
   html[data-darkmode='1'] #mail_sidebox_header.egw_fw_ui_sidemenu_entry_header_active,
   html[data-darkmode='1'] #mail_sidebox_header {
-    border-color: #5db9ec!important;
+    border-color: #5db9ec !important;
   }
   html[data-darkmode='1'] #egw_fw_main #egw_fw_tabs .egw_fw_ui_tabs_header #mail-egw_fw_ui_tab_header.egw_fw_ui_tab_header_active {
     border-top-color: #5db9ec !important;
@@ -1526,20 +1526,20 @@ span.ui-icon-search {
   box-shadow: -2px 1px 9px 3px #B4B4B4;
 }
 .ui-dialog .ui-dialog-buttonpane {
-  padding-left: .8em;
-  padding-right: .8em;
+  padding-left: 0.8em;
+  padding-right: 0.8em;
   padding-top: 0.7em;
 }
 .ui-dialog .ui-dialog-titlebar {
-  padding-left: .8em;
-  padding-right: .8em;
+  padding-left: 0.8em;
+  padding-right: 0.8em;
   font-size: 12pt;
   border: none;
   font-weight: normal;
   background: white;
 }
 .ui-dialog .ui-dialog-titlebar-close {
-  right: .8em;
+  right: 0.8em;
 }
 .ui-widget-content {
   border: 1px solid #B4B4B4;
@@ -6347,7 +6347,7 @@ a.textSidebox {
   }
 }
 .egw-loading-prompt-container::before {
-  opacity: .3;
+  opacity: 0.3;
   content: "";
   background-color: #aaaaaa;
   width: 100%;
@@ -6426,7 +6426,7 @@ a.textSidebox {
   z-index: 999;
   width: 100px;
   border-radius: 5px;
-  border: solid 10px  #679FD2;
+  border: solid 10px #679FD2;
   transform: translate(-50%, -50%);
 }
 /**
@@ -6590,19 +6590,6 @@ span.egw_tutorial_title {
   height: 100%;
   width: 100%;
 }
-#egw_fw_firstload:before {
-  content: "";
-  display: inline-block;
-  position: absolute;
-  width: 100%;
-  height: 100%;
-  background-image: url(../../pixelegg/images/loading.svg);
-  background-position: center;
-  background-repeat: no-repeat;
-  -webkit-animation: fw-firstload 2s infinite;
-  animation: fw-firstload 2s infinite;
-  -moz-animation: fw-firstload 2s infinite;
-}
 #egw_fw_sidebar #egw_fw_sidemenu #addressbook_sidebox_content .egw_fw_ui_category_active {
   background-color: #003366 !important;
 }