diff --git a/media_server/routes/browser.py b/media_server/routes/browser.py
index 8760471..dee5e63 100644
--- a/media_server/routes/browser.py
+++ b/media_server/routes/browser.py
@@ -254,8 +254,15 @@ async def browse(
         raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail=str(e))
     except FileNotFoundError as e:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail=str(e))
+    except (OSError, PermissionError) as e:
+        # Network share unavailable or access denied
+        logger.warning(f"Folder temporarily unavailable: {e}")
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=503,
+            detail=f"Folder is temporarily unavailable. It may be a network share that is not accessible at the moment."
+        )
     except Exception as e:
-        logger.error(f"Error browsing directory: {e}")
+        logger.error(f"Error browsing directory (type: {type(e).__name__}): {e}")
         raise HTTPException(status_code=500, detail="Failed to browse directory")
 
 
diff --git a/media_server/static/js/app.js b/media_server/static/js/app.js
index e0164cf..a905033 100644
--- a/media_server/static/js/app.js
+++ b/media_server/static/js/app.js
@@ -1579,7 +1579,14 @@ async function browsePath(folderId, path, offset = 0, nocache = false) {
             { headers: { 'Authorization': `Bearer ${token}` } }
         );
 
-        if (!response.ok) throw new Error('Failed to browse path');
+        if (!response.ok) {
+            let errorMsg = 'Failed to browse path';
+            if (response.status === 503) {
+                const errorData = await response.json().catch(() => ({}));
+                errorMsg = errorData.detail || 'Folder is temporarily unavailable (network share not accessible)';
+            }
+            throw new Error(errorMsg);
+        }
 
         const data = await response.json();
         currentPath = data.current_path;
@@ -1602,7 +1609,8 @@ async function browsePath(folderId, path, offset = 0, nocache = false) {
         saveLastBrowserPath(folderId, currentPath);
     } catch (error) {
         console.error('Error browsing path:', error);
-        showToast(t('browser.error_loading'), 'error');
+        const errorMsg = error.message || t('browser.error_loading');
+        showToast(errorMsg, 'error');
         clearBrowserGrid();
     }
 }