diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/GSheetSetup.tsx b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/GSheetSetup.tsx
index 66a846ecd..739ce9342 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/GSheetSetup.tsx
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/GSheetSetup.tsx
@@ -15,23 +15,25 @@ import Input from '../../../../../common/components/input/input/Input';
 import Tag from '../../../../../common/components/tag/Tag';
 import { openLink } from '../../../../../common/utils/linkUtils';
 import * as Panel from '../../../panel-utils/PanelUtils';
+import { extractSheetId, getPersistedSheetId, persistSheetId } from './gsheetUtils';
 
 import style from './SourcesPanel.module.scss';
 
 interface GSheetSetupProps {
   onCancel: () => void;
   onSheetLoaded: (sheetId: string, options: SpreadsheetWorksheetOptions) => void;
+  closedByUser: boolean;
 }
 
 export default function GSheetSetup(props: GSheetSetupProps) {
-  const { onCancel, onSheetLoaded } = props;
+  const { onCancel, onSheetLoaded, closedByUser } = props;
 
   const [file, setFile] = useState<File | null>(null);
-  const [sheetId, setSheetId] = useState('');
+  const [sheetId, setSheetId] = useState(getPersistedSheetId);
   const [authenticationStatus, setAuthenticationStatus] = useState<AuthenticationStatus>('not_authenticated');
   const [authKey, setAuthKey] = useState<string | null>(null);
-  const [loading, setLoading] = useState<'' | 'cancel' | 'connect' | 'authenticate' | 'load-sheet'>('');
   const [authLink, setAuthLink] = useState('');
+  const [loading, setLoading] = useState<'' | 'cancel' | 'connect' | 'authenticate' | 'load-sheet'>('');
   const [authError, setAuthError] = useState('');
   const [worksheetError, setWorksheetError] = useState('');
   const pollTimeoutRef = useRef<number | null>(null);
@@ -62,6 +64,7 @@ export default function GSheetSetup(props: GSheetSetupProps) {
   const loadWorksheetOptions = useCallback(
     async (nextSheetId: string) => {
       const worksheetOptions = await getWorksheetOptions(nextSheetId);
+      persistSheetId(nextSheetId);
       onSheetLoaded(nextSheetId, worksheetOptions);
       setWorksheetError('');
     },
@@ -71,6 +74,7 @@ export default function GSheetSetup(props: GSheetSetupProps) {
   const pollUntilAuthenticated = useCallback(
     async (attempts: number = 0) => {
       clearPollTimeout();
+      if (closedByUser) return;
 
       try {
         const result = await verifyAuthenticationStatus();
@@ -82,13 +86,16 @@ export default function GSheetSetup(props: GSheetSetupProps) {
             pollTimeoutRef.current = window.setTimeout(() => {
               pollUntilAuthenticated(attempts + 1);
             }, 2000);
-          } else {
-            setLoading('');
+            return; // Keep authKey for next poll
           }
+          // Polling timed out
+          setAuthKey(null);
+          setLoading('');
           return;
         }
 
-        if (result.authenticated === 'authenticated') {
+        if (result.authenticated === 'authenticated' && result.sheetId) {
+          setLoading('load-sheet');
           try {
             await loadWorksheetOptions(result.sheetId);
           } catch (error) {
@@ -96,13 +103,15 @@ export default function GSheetSetup(props: GSheetSetupProps) {
           }
         }
 
+        setAuthKey(null);
         setLoading('');
       } catch (error) {
         setAuthError(maybeAxiosError(error));
+        setAuthKey(null);
         setLoading('');
       }
     },
-    [clearPollTimeout, loadWorksheetOptions],
+    [clearPollTimeout, loadWorksheetOptions, closedByUser],
   );
 
   /** check if the current session has been authenticated */
@@ -150,7 +159,7 @@ export default function GSheetSetup(props: GSheetSetupProps) {
   };
 
   /**
-   * Requests connection to google auth
+   * Requests a device code from Google. The user can copy it before opening the browser.
    */
   const handleConnect = async () => {
     if (!file) return;
@@ -171,7 +180,7 @@ export default function GSheetSetup(props: GSheetSetupProps) {
   };
 
   /**
-   * Open google auth
+   * Opens the Google verification page and starts polling for completion.
    */
   const handleAuthenticate = () => {
     setLoading('authenticate');
@@ -180,7 +189,6 @@ export default function GSheetSetup(props: GSheetSetupProps) {
     clearPollTimeout();
     clearAuthFallbackTimeout();
 
-    // open link and schedule a check for when the user focuses again
     openLink(authLink);
     authFallbackTimeoutRef.current = window.setTimeout(() => {
       if (document.hasFocus()) {
@@ -269,18 +277,19 @@ export default function GSheetSetup(props: GSheetSetupProps) {
         </Panel.ListGroup>
       )}
       <Panel.ListGroup className={style.setupBlock}>
-        <Panel.Description>Enter ID of sheet to synchronise</Panel.Description>
+        <Panel.Description>Enter ID of sheet to synchronize</Panel.Description>
         <Panel.Error>{worksheetError}</Panel.Error>
         <Input
           fluid
           value={sheetId}
-          placeholder='Sheet ID'
+          placeholder='Sheet ID or Google Sheets URL'
           onChange={(event) => {
             setWorksheetError('');
-            setSheetId(event.target.value);
+            setSheetId(extractSheetId(event.target.value));
           }}
           disabled={isLoading || canAuthenticate}
         />
+        <div className={style.setupHint}>Paste a Google Sheets URL or the sheet ID from the URL bar.</div>
       </Panel.ListGroup>
       {isAuthenticated ? (
         <Panel.ListGroup className={style.setupBlock}>
@@ -304,18 +313,16 @@ export default function GSheetSetup(props: GSheetSetupProps) {
         </Panel.ListGroup>
       ) : (
         <Panel.ListGroup className={style.setupBlock}>
-          <Panel.Description>Authenticate this Ontime session with Google</Panel.Description>
+          <Panel.Description>Copy the device code, then authenticate with Google</Panel.Description>
           <Panel.InlineElements wrap='wrap' className={style.setupActions}>
             {isAuthenticating && <span>Authenticating...</span>}
-            <CopyTag copyValue={authKey ?? ''} disabled={!canAuthenticate}>
-              {authKey ? authKey : 'Upload files to generate Auth Key'}
-            </CopyTag>
-            <Button onClick={handleAuthenticate} disabled={!canAuthenticate}>
+            <CopyTag copyValue={authKey ?? ''}>{authKey}</CopyTag>
+            <Button onClick={handleAuthenticate} disabled={isLoading} loading={loading === 'authenticate'}>
               <IoShieldCheckmarkOutline />
               Authenticate
             </Button>
           </Panel.InlineElements>
-          <div className={style.setupHint}>Open the browser prompt, complete the code flow, then come back here.</div>
+          <div className={style.setupHint}>Copy the code, then open the browser prompt to complete the flow.</div>
         </Panel.ListGroup>
       )}
     </Panel.Section>
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/SourcesPanel.tsx b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/SourcesPanel.tsx
index 53a0ab3d5..9a05388a5 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/SourcesPanel.tsx
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/SourcesPanel.tsx
@@ -37,12 +37,15 @@ type ActiveSource =
       kind: 'excel';
       worksheetNames: string[];
       initialWorksheetMetadata: SpreadsheetWorksheetMetadata | null;
+      closedByUser: boolean;
     }
   | {
       kind: 'gsheet';
       sheetId: string;
       worksheetNames: string[];
       initialWorksheetMetadata: SpreadsheetWorksheetMetadata | null;
+      title: string;
+      closedByUser: boolean;
     };
 
 export default function SourcesPanel() {
@@ -73,6 +76,7 @@ export default function SourcesPanel() {
         kind: 'excel',
         worksheetNames: worksheetOptions.worksheets,
         initialWorksheetMetadata: worksheetOptions.metadata,
+        closedByUser: false,
       });
       setImportFlow('excel');
       setHasFile('done');
@@ -106,7 +110,13 @@ export default function SourcesPanel() {
   };
 
   const cancelImportFlow = () => {
-    resetFlow();
+    if (activeSource && activeSource.kind === 'gsheet') {
+      // Return to GSheetSetup so the user can change the sheet ID or revoke auth
+      setActiveSource({ ...activeSource, closedByUser: true });
+      setError('');
+    } else {
+      resetFlow();
+    }
   };
 
   const handleFinished = () => {
@@ -177,15 +187,22 @@ export default function SourcesPanel() {
       sheetId,
       worksheetNames: worksheetOptions.worksheets,
       initialWorksheetMetadata: worksheetOptions.metadata,
+      title: worksheetOptions.title ?? '',
+      closedByUser: false,
     });
   }, []);
 
+  const closedByUser = activeSource?.closedByUser ?? false;
   const isGSheetFlow = importFlow === 'gsheet';
   const showInput = importFlow === 'none';
   const showCompleted = importFlow === 'finished';
-  const showAuth = isGSheetFlow && activeSource === null;
-  const showImportWorkspace = activeSource !== null;
-  const importModalTitle = activeSource?.kind === 'excel' ? 'Import spreadsheet' : 'Synchronise with Google Sheet';
+
+  const showImportWorkspace = activeSource !== null && !closedByUser;
+  const importModalTitle = (() => {
+    if (!activeSource) return '';
+    if (activeSource.kind === 'excel') return 'Import spreadsheet';
+    return activeSource.title ? `Sync: ${activeSource.title}` : 'Synchronize with Google Sheet';
+  })();
   const sourceKey = (() => {
     if (!activeSource) return null;
     if (activeSource.kind === 'excel') return 'excel';
@@ -195,7 +212,7 @@ export default function SourcesPanel() {
   return (
     <Panel.Section>
       <Panel.Card>
-        <Panel.SubHeader>Synchronise your rundown with an external source</Panel.SubHeader>
+        <Panel.SubHeader>Synchronize your rundown with an external source</Panel.SubHeader>
         {error && <Panel.Error>{error}</Panel.Error>}
         {showInput && (
           <div className={style.introStack}>
@@ -233,7 +250,7 @@ export default function SourcesPanel() {
               </section>
               <section className={style.sourceCard}>
                 <div className={style.sourceHeader}>
-                  <h4 className={style.sourceTitle}>Synchronise with Google</h4>
+                  <h4 className={style.sourceTitle}>Synchronize with Google</h4>
                 </div>
                 <p className={style.sourceDescription}>
                   Connect a Google account once, then load any sheet by ID and keep the import flow inside Ontime.
@@ -241,7 +258,7 @@ export default function SourcesPanel() {
                 <div className={style.sourceMeta}>Requires Google OAuth client credentials</div>
                 <Button variant='primary' size='large' fluid onClick={openGSheetFlow} disabled={hasFile !== 'none'}>
                   <IoCloudOutline />
-                  Synchronise with Google
+                  Synchronize with Google
                 </Button>
               </section>
             </div>
@@ -257,7 +274,9 @@ export default function SourcesPanel() {
             </Button>
           </div>
         )}
-        {showAuth && <GSheetSetup onCancel={cancelGSheetFlow} onSheetLoaded={handleSheetLoaded} />}
+        {isGSheetFlow && (
+          <GSheetSetup onCancel={cancelGSheetFlow} onSheetLoaded={handleSheetLoaded} closedByUser={closedByUser} />
+        )}
         <Modal
           isOpen={showImportWorkspace}
           title={importModalTitle}
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/__tests__/gsheetUtils.test.ts b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/__tests__/gsheetUtils.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1ad610321
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/__tests__/gsheetUtils.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+
+import { extractSheetId } from '../gsheetUtils';
+
+describe('extractSheetId()', () => {
+  it('extracts the ID from a full Google Sheets URL', () => {
+    const url = 'https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1aBcDeFgHiJkLmNoPqRsTuVwXyZ/edit#gid=0';
+    expect(extractSheetId(url)).toBe('1aBcDeFgHiJkLmNoPqRsTuVwXyZ');
+  });
+
+  it('extracts the ID when the URL has no trailing path', () => {
+    expect(extractSheetId('https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/abc123')).toBe('abc123');
+  });
+
+  it('handles IDs with hyphens and underscores', () => {
+    const url = 'https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1a-B_c2/edit';
+    expect(extractSheetId(url)).toBe('1a-B_c2');
+  });
+
+  it('returns a raw sheet ID unchanged', () => {
+    expect(extractSheetId('1aBcDeFgHiJkLmNoPqRsTuVwXyZ')).toBe('1aBcDeFgHiJkLmNoPqRsTuVwXyZ');
+  });
+
+  it('trims whitespace from the input', () => {
+    expect(extractSheetId('  1aBcDeFg  ')).toBe('1aBcDeFg');
+  });
+
+  it('trims whitespace from a pasted URL', () => {
+    const url = '  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1aBcDeFg/edit  ';
+    expect(extractSheetId(url)).toBe('1aBcDeFg');
+  });
+
+  it('strips query params from a raw ID', () => {
+    expect(extractSheetId('1aBcDeFgHiJkLmNoPqRsTuVwXyZ?edit=1')).toBe('1aBcDeFgHiJkLmNoPqRsTuVwXyZ');
+  });
+
+  it('strips fragment from a raw ID', () => {
+    expect(extractSheetId('1aBcDeFg#gid=0')).toBe('1aBcDeFg');
+  });
+
+  it('returns empty string for empty input', () => {
+    expect(extractSheetId('')).toBe('');
+    expect(extractSheetId('   ')).toBe('');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/gsheetUtils.ts b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/gsheetUtils.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..af042538e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/gsheetUtils.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+import { makeStageKey } from '../../../../../common/utils/localStorage';
+
+// Matches the document ID segment from a Google Sheets URL:
+// https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/{ID}/edit#gid=0
+//                                         ^^^^ captured group
+// IDs consist of alphanumeric chars, hyphens, and underscores.
+const sheetIdPattern = /\/spreadsheets\/d\/([a-zA-Z0-9_-]+)/;
+const lastSheetIdKey = makeStageKey('gsheet:lastSheetId');
+
+/**
+ * Extracts a Google Sheet ID from a full URL, or returns the raw input if it doesn't match.
+ */
+export function extractSheetId(input: string): string {
+  const trimmed = input.trim();
+  const match = trimmed.match(sheetIdPattern);
+  if (match) return match[1];
+
+  // Strip query params (?...) and fragments (#...) in case the user
+  // pasted a partial URL or an ID with trailing junk like "abc123?edit=1"
+  return trimmed.split(/[?#]/)[0];
+}
+
+export function getPersistedSheetId(): string {
+  return localStorage.getItem(lastSheetIdKey) ?? '';
+}
+
+export function persistSheetId(sheetId: string) {
+  localStorage.setItem(lastSheetIdKey, sheetId);
+}
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/sheet-import/MappingFieldRow.tsx b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/sheet-import/MappingFieldRow.tsx
index a2a110219..9ed5db005 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/sheet-import/MappingFieldRow.tsx
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/sheet-import/MappingFieldRow.tsx
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ export function getWarningText(warning: MappingWarning): string {
     case 'invalid-name':
       return 'Column cannot be converted into an Ontime field name';
     case 'name-collision':
-      return 'Column name resolves to a duplicate column';
+      return 'Column name resolves to a duplicate Ontime field';
     default:
       return '';
   }
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/sheet-import/SheetImportMappingPane.tsx b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/sheet-import/SheetImportMappingPane.tsx
index b48831774..c43306abc 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/sheet-import/SheetImportMappingPane.tsx
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/sheet-import/SheetImportMappingPane.tsx
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ export default function SheetImportMappingPane({
   return (
     <section className={style.mappingPane}>
       <Panel.InlineElements align='apart' className={style.mappingPaneHeader}>
-        <span className={style.mappingPaneTitle}>Fields</span>
+        <span className={style.mappingPaneTitle}>Column mapping</span>
         <Panel.InlineElements relation='inner' className={style.mappingPaneActions}>
           <Button className={style.addColumnTrigger} onClick={handleAddCustomField} disabled={isBusy}>
             <IoAdd />
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/sheet-import/__tests__/importMapUtils.test.ts b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/sheet-import/__tests__/importMapUtils.test.ts
index 615a0423f..2c4b7021a 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/sheet-import/__tests__/importMapUtils.test.ts
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/sheet-import/__tests__/importMapUtils.test.ts
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ describe('getImportWarnings()', () => {
     expect(warnings['custom.0.importName']).toStrictEqual({ kind: 'invalid-name' });
   });
 
-  it('warns when a custom header resolves to an existing Ontime field name', () => {
+  it('warns when a custom header resolves to a built-in or duplicate imported field name', () => {
     const values = createDefaultFormValues();
     values.custom = [
       { ontimeName: '', importName: 'Artist-1' },
@@ -67,12 +67,20 @@ describe('getImportWarnings()', () => {
       { ontimeName: '', importName: 'Presenter-1' },
     ];
 
-    const warnings = getImportWarnings(values, ['Artist-1', 'Artist/1', 'Title!', 'Presenter-1'], ['Presenter 1']);
+    const warnings = getImportWarnings(values, ['Artist-1', 'Artist/1', 'Title!', 'Presenter-1']);
 
     expect(warnings['custom.0.importName']).toBeUndefined();
     expect(warnings['custom.1.importName']).toStrictEqual({ kind: 'name-collision' });
     expect(warnings['custom.2.importName']).toStrictEqual({ kind: 'name-collision' });
-    expect(warnings['custom.3.importName']).toStrictEqual({ kind: 'name-collision' });
+    expect(warnings['custom.3.importName']).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+
+  it('does not give false warnings for pre-existing custom fields', () => {
+    const values = createDefaultFormValues();
+    values.custom = [{ ontimeName: '', importName: 'Video Info' }];
+
+    const warnings = getImportWarnings(values, ['Video Info']);
+    expect(warnings['custom.0.importName']).toBeUndefined();
   });
 });
 
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/sheet-import/importMapUtils.ts b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/sheet-import/importMapUtils.ts
index 74cf3864e..cec47010d 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/sheet-import/importMapUtils.ts
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/sheet-import/importMapUtils.ts
@@ -127,26 +127,26 @@ function isPersistedFormValues(obj: unknown): obj is ImportFormValues {
   );
 }
 
-export function getPersistedImportState(sourceKey: string): ImportFormValues {
+export function getPersistedImportState(sourceKey: string): { values: ImportFormValues; isPersisted: boolean } {
   const storageKey = getImportMapKey(sourceKey);
   try {
     const raw = localStorage.getItem(storageKey);
     if (!raw) {
-      return createDefaultFormValues();
+      return { values: createDefaultFormValues(), isPersisted: false };
     }
 
     const parsed: unknown = JSON.parse(raw);
     if (isPersistedFormValues(parsed)) {
-      return parsed;
+      return { values: parsed, isPersisted: true };
     }
 
     // Invalid schema - delete malformed data
     localStorage.removeItem(storageKey);
-    return createDefaultFormValues();
+    return { values: createDefaultFormValues(), isPersisted: false };
   } catch {
     // Parse error - delete corrupted data
     localStorage.removeItem(storageKey);
-    return createDefaultFormValues();
+    return { values: createDefaultFormValues(), isPersisted: false };
   }
 }
 
@@ -156,11 +156,9 @@ export function getPersistedImportState(sourceKey: string): ImportFormValues {
 export function getImportWarnings(
   values: ImportFormValues,
   detectedSpreadsheetColumns: string[],
-  existingCustomFieldLabels: string[] = [],
 ): Record<string, MappingWarning | undefined> {
   const normalisedHeaders = new Set(detectedSpreadsheetColumns.map(normaliseColumnName).filter(Boolean));
   const builtInLabels = new Set(builtInFieldDefs.map((def) => def.label.toLowerCase()));
-  const existingLabels = new Set(existingCustomFieldLabels.map((label) => label.trim().toLowerCase()).filter(Boolean));
   const seenColumns = new Set<string>();
   const seenDerivedLabels = new Set<string>();
   const warnings: Record<string, MappingWarning | undefined> = {};
@@ -200,11 +198,7 @@ export function getImportWarnings(
       warnings[key] = { kind: 'missing' };
     } else {
       const normalisedDerivedLabel = sanitisedLabel.toLowerCase();
-      if (
-        builtInLabels.has(normalisedDerivedLabel) ||
-        existingLabels.has(normalisedDerivedLabel) ||
-        seenDerivedLabels.has(normalisedDerivedLabel)
-      ) {
+      if (builtInLabels.has(normalisedDerivedLabel) || seenDerivedLabels.has(normalisedDerivedLabel)) {
         warnings[key] = { kind: 'name-collision' };
       }
     }
diff --git a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/sheet-import/useSheetImportForm.ts b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/sheet-import/useSheetImportForm.ts
index cd4a1b1c5..8f8dc4071 100644
--- a/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/sheet-import/useSheetImportForm.ts
+++ b/apps/client/src/features/app-settings/panel/manage-panel/sources-panel/sheet-import/useSheetImportForm.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useReducer, useRef } from 'react';
 import { useFieldArray, useForm } from 'react-hook-form';
 
 import { maybeAxiosError } from '../../../../../../common/api/utils';
-import useCustomFields from '../../../../../../common/hooks-query/useCustomFields';
 import { formatDuration } from '../../../../../../common/utils/time';
 import {
   type ImportFormValues,
@@ -118,10 +117,15 @@ export function useSheetImportForm({
   onApply,
   onExport,
 }: UseSheetImportFormProps) {
-  const initialFormValues = useMemo(() => {
-    const persisted = getPersistedImportState(sourceKey);
-    const worksheet = getPreferredWorksheet(worksheetNames, persisted.worksheet, initialMetadata?.worksheet ?? '');
-    return { ...persisted, worksheet };
+  const { initialFormValues, skipAutoPreview } = useMemo(() => {
+    const { values, isPersisted } = getPersistedImportState(sourceKey);
+    const worksheet = getPreferredWorksheet(worksheetNames, values.worksheet, initialMetadata?.worksheet ?? '');
+    // Skip auto-preview when restoring a persisted mapping that was saved for a different worksheet.
+    const hasWorksheetChanged = values.worksheet !== worksheet;
+    return {
+      initialFormValues: { ...values, worksheet },
+      skipAutoPreview: isPersisted && hasWorksheetChanged,
+    };
   }, [initialMetadata?.worksheet, sourceKey, worksheetNames]);
 
   const {
@@ -139,7 +143,6 @@ export function useSheetImportForm({
 
   const { fields, append, remove } = useFieldArray({ control, name: 'custom' });
   const values = watch();
-  const { data: existingCustomFields } = useCustomFields();
 
   // --- Worksheet metadata via react-query ---
   const queryClient = useQueryClient();
@@ -167,16 +170,14 @@ export function useSheetImportForm({
   const columnLabels = buildColumnLabels(values);
 
   const [state, dispatch] = useReducer(importReducer, initialImportState);
-  const existingCustomFieldLabels = useMemo(
-    () => Object.values(existingCustomFields).map((field) => field.label),
-    [existingCustomFields],
-  );
-  const warnings = getImportWarnings(values, headers, existingCustomFieldLabels);
+  const warnings = getImportWarnings(values, headers);
   const warningCount = Object.values(warnings).filter(Boolean).length;
   const previewRef = useRef<SpreadsheetPreviewResponse | null>(null);
+  const autoPreviewFiredRef = useRef(false);
 
   // Rehydrate the form from persisted/default state whenever the source context changes.
   useEffect(() => {
+    autoPreviewFiredRef.current = false;
     reset(initialFormValues);
     dispatch({ type: 'reset' });
   }, [initialFormValues, reset]);
@@ -225,6 +226,16 @@ export function useSheetImportForm({
     [previewImport],
   );
 
+  // Auto-preview on mount once metadata is ready.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (autoPreviewFiredRef.current) return;
+    if (skipAutoPreview) return;
+    if (!isValid || headers.length === 0) return;
+
+    autoPreviewFiredRef.current = true;
+    handleSubmit(handlePreview)();
+  }, [skipAutoPreview, isValid, headers, handleSubmit, handlePreview]);
+
   const handleApply = useCallback(async () => {
     if (!state.preview) return;
 
diff --git a/apps/server/src/api-data/sheets/sheets.service.ts b/apps/server/src/api-data/sheets/sheets.service.ts
index 6fdb52d26..e6d7a68de 100644
--- a/apps/server/src/api-data/sheets/sheets.service.ts
+++ b/apps/server/src/api-data/sheets/sheets.service.ts
@@ -223,10 +223,15 @@ export function hasAuth(): { authenticated: AuthenticationStatus; sheetId: strin
   return { authenticated: currentAuthClient ? 'authenticated' : 'not_authenticated', sheetId: currentSheetId };
 }
 
+type VerifySheetResult = {
+  worksheets: string[];
+  title: string;
+};
+
 /**
  * Validates that a spreadsheet exists and returns its worksheet titles without reading cell data.
  */
-async function verifySheet(sheetId = currentSheetId, authClient = currentAuthClient): Promise<string[]> {
+async function verifySheet(sheetId = currentSheetId, authClient = currentAuthClient): Promise<VerifySheetResult> {
   if (!sheetId || !authClient) {
     throw new Error('Missing sheet ID or authentication');
   }
@@ -247,7 +252,9 @@ async function verifySheet(sheetId = currentSheetId, authClient = currentAuthCli
     if (worksheets.length === 0) {
       throw new Error('No worksheets found');
     }
-    return worksheets;
+
+    const title = spreadsheets.data.properties?.title ?? '';
+    return { worksheets, title };
   } catch (error) {
     // attempt to catch errors caused by importing xlsx
     catchCommonImportXlsxError(error);
@@ -287,17 +294,18 @@ export async function handleInitialConnection(
  */
 export async function getWorksheetOptions(
   sheetId: string,
-): Promise<{ worksheets: string[]; metadata: SpreadsheetWorksheetMetadata | null }> {
+): Promise<{ worksheets: string[]; metadata: SpreadsheetWorksheetMetadata | null; title: string }> {
   if (!currentAuthClient) {
     throw new Error('Not authenticated');
   }
   currentSheetId = sheetId;
 
-  const worksheets = await verifySheet(sheetId);
+  const { worksheets, title } = await verifySheet(sheetId);
 
   return {
     worksheets,
     metadata: null,
+    title,
   };
 }
 
diff --git a/e2e/tests/features/301-spreadsheet-import.spec.ts b/e2e/tests/features/301-spreadsheet-import.spec.ts
index d3ca9bdd8..d1ad406a7 100644
--- a/e2e/tests/features/301-spreadsheet-import.spec.ts
+++ b/e2e/tests/features/301-spreadsheet-import.spec.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ test('imports spreadsheet and applies imported rundown to editor', async ({ page
   await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Toggle settings' }).click();
   await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Project settings' }).click();
   await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Import spreadsheet' }).first().click();
-  await expect(page.getByText('Synchronise your rundown with an external source')).toBeVisible();
+  await expect(page.getByText('Synchronize your rundown with an external source')).toBeVisible();
 
   // upload the spreadsheet
   const fileChooserPromise = page.waitForEvent('filechooser');
diff --git a/packages/types/src/api/spreadsheet/Spreadsheet.type.ts b/packages/types/src/api/spreadsheet/Spreadsheet.type.ts
index 7d85872fd..8667f8a00 100644
--- a/packages/types/src/api/spreadsheet/Spreadsheet.type.ts
+++ b/packages/types/src/api/spreadsheet/Spreadsheet.type.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ export type SpreadsheetWorksheetMetadata = {
 export type SpreadsheetWorksheetOptions = {
   worksheets: string[];
   metadata: SpreadsheetWorksheetMetadata | null;
+  title?: string;
 };
 
 export type SpreadsheetPreviewResponse = {