diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 8e8dc72..b9730ce 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -62,7 +62,21 @@ endif()
 option(DINGOSDK_BUILD_MULTIPLAYER_TESTS "Build multiplayer protocol regression tests" OFF)
 if(DINGOSDK_BUILD_MULTIPLAYER_TESTS)
     enable_testing()
+    add_executable(dingosdk_map_fetch_policy_tests Extension/Multiplayer/Test/map_fetch_policy_tests.cpp)
+    target_include_directories(dingosdk_map_fetch_policy_tests PRIVATE "${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}")
+    add_test(NAME map_fetch_policy COMMAND dingosdk_map_fetch_policy_tests)
     if(WIN32)
+        add_executable(dingosdk_https_download_timeout_tests Engine/Vfs/Test/https_download_timeout_tests.cpp)
+        target_include_directories(dingosdk_https_download_timeout_tests PRIVATE "${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}")
+        target_link_libraries(dingosdk_https_download_timeout_tests PRIVATE winhttp)
+        add_test(NAME https_download_timeout COMMAND dingosdk_https_download_timeout_tests
+            "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/https-download-fixtures")
+        add_executable(dingosdk_map_download_timeout_tests Extension/Assets/Test/map_download_timeout_tests.cpp
+            Engine/Vfs/thunderstore_package.cpp)
+        target_include_directories(dingosdk_map_download_timeout_tests PRIVATE "${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}")
+        target_link_libraries(dingosdk_map_download_timeout_tests PRIVATE dingosdk_json)
+        add_test(NAME map_download_timeout COMMAND dingosdk_map_download_timeout_tests
+            "${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/map-download-fixtures")
         add_executable(dingosdk_voice_tests Extension/Multiplayer/Test/voice_chat_tests.cpp Extension/Multiplayer/Net/protocol.cpp
             Extension/Multiplayer/Net/delta_codec.cpp Extension/Multiplayer/Net/wire_codec.cpp)
         target_link_libraries(dingosdk_voice_tests PRIVATE dingosdk_lz4 dingosdk_zstd)
diff --git a/Engine/Vfs/Test/https_download_timeout_tests.cpp b/Engine/Vfs/Test/https_download_timeout_tests.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..81acd50
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Engine/Vfs/Test/https_download_timeout_tests.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,334 @@
+#include <Windows.h>
+#include <winhttp.h>
+#include "../https_download.h"
+#include <array>
+#include <atomic>
+#include <chrono>
+#include <condition_variable>
+#include <cstring>
+#include <filesystem>
+#include <fstream>
+#include <iostream>
+#include <iterator>
+#include <mutex>
+#include <string>
+#include <utility>
+
+namespace fake_http {
+enum class Stage { none, send, receive, read, eof, close };
+struct Handle {
+    DWORD_PTR context{};
+    WINHTTP_STATUS_CALLBACK callback{};
+    DWORD notifications{};
+    bool closed{};
+};
+struct State {
+    dingosdk::https::Watch* watch{};
+    Stage stop_at{Stage::none}, fail_at{Stage::none};
+    bool timeout{}, callback_error{}, content_length{true}, downgrade{};
+    unsigned opens{}, reads{}, closing_callbacks{}, pending_buffer_closes{};
+    DWORD redirect{}, request_flags{}, session_flags{};
+    void* pending_buffer{};
+    Handle session, connection, request;
+    std::string body{"payload"};
+};
+State state;
+
+void stop() {
+    if (state.timeout) state.watch->deadline_us.store(1);
+    else state.watch->cancel.store(true);
+}
+void notify(DWORD status, void* info = nullptr, DWORD size = 0) {
+    state.request.callback(&state.request, state.request.context, status, info, size);
+}
+bool pending(Stage stage) {
+    if (state.stop_at != stage) return false;
+    stop();
+    return true;
+}
+bool failure(Stage stage) {
+    if (state.fail_at != stage) return false;
+    if (state.callback_error) {
+        WINHTTP_ASYNC_RESULT error{};
+        error.dwError = ERROR_WINHTTP_CONNECTION_ERROR;
+        notify(WINHTTP_CALLBACK_STATUS_REQUEST_ERROR, &error, sizeof(error));
+    } else {
+        SetLastError(ERROR_WINHTTP_CONNECTION_ERROR);
+    }
+    return true;
+}
+HINTERNET WINAPI open(LPCWSTR, DWORD, LPCWSTR, LPCWSTR, DWORD flags) {
+    ++state.opens;
+    state.session_flags = flags;
+    return &state.session;
+}
+HINTERNET WINAPI connect(HINTERNET, LPCWSTR, INTERNET_PORT, DWORD) {
+    return &state.connection;
+}
+HINTERNET WINAPI open_request(HINTERNET, LPCWSTR, LPCWSTR, LPCWSTR, LPCWSTR, LPCWSTR*, DWORD flags) {
+    state.request_flags = flags;
+    return &state.request;
+}
+BOOL WINAPI set_timeouts(HINTERNET, int, int, int, int) { return TRUE; }
+BOOL WINAPI set_option(HINTERNET handle, DWORD option, LPVOID value, DWORD) {
+    if (option == WINHTTP_OPTION_CONTEXT_VALUE)
+        static_cast<Handle*>(handle)->context = *static_cast<DWORD_PTR*>(value);
+    if (option == WINHTTP_OPTION_REDIRECT_POLICY) state.redirect = *static_cast<DWORD*>(value);
+    return TRUE;
+}
+WINHTTP_STATUS_CALLBACK WINAPI set_callback(HINTERNET handle, WINHTTP_STATUS_CALLBACK callback,
+                                           DWORD notifications, DWORD_PTR) {
+    auto& request = *static_cast<Handle*>(handle);
+    const auto previous = request.callback;
+    request.callback = callback;
+    request.notifications = notifications;
+    return previous;
+}
+BOOL WINAPI send(HINTERNET, LPCWSTR, DWORD, LPVOID, DWORD, DWORD, DWORD_PTR context) {
+    state.request.context = context;
+    if (pending(Stage::send)) return TRUE;
+    if (failure(Stage::send)) return state.callback_error ? TRUE : FALSE;
+    notify(WINHTTP_CALLBACK_STATUS_SENDREQUEST_COMPLETE);
+    return TRUE;
+}
+BOOL WINAPI receive(HINTERNET, LPVOID) {
+    if (pending(Stage::receive)) return TRUE;
+    if (failure(Stage::receive)) return state.callback_error ? TRUE : FALSE;
+    if (state.downgrade && state.redirect == WINHTTP_OPTION_REDIRECT_POLICY_DISALLOW_HTTPS_TO_HTTP) {
+        SetLastError(ERROR_WINHTTP_REDIRECT_FAILED);
+        return FALSE;
+    }
+    notify(WINHTTP_CALLBACK_STATUS_HEADERS_AVAILABLE);
+    return TRUE;
+}
+BOOL WINAPI query(HINTERNET, DWORD query, LPCWSTR, LPVOID value, LPDWORD size, LPDWORD) {
+    if (query == (WINHTTP_QUERY_STATUS_CODE | WINHTTP_QUERY_FLAG_NUMBER)) {
+        *static_cast<DWORD*>(value) = 200;
+    } else if (query == (WINHTTP_QUERY_CONTENT_LENGTH | WINHTTP_QUERY_FLAG_NUMBER) && state.content_length) {
+        *static_cast<DWORD*>(value) = static_cast<DWORD>(state.body.size());
+    } else {
+        SetLastError(ERROR_WINHTTP_HEADER_NOT_FOUND);
+        return FALSE;
+    }
+    *size = sizeof(DWORD);
+    return TRUE;
+}
+BOOL WINAPI read(HINTERNET, LPVOID buffer, DWORD capacity, LPDWORD count) {
+    // The production async path must receive the count through its callback.
+    if (count || capacity < state.body.size()) {
+        SetLastError(ERROR_INVALID_PARAMETER);
+        return FALSE;
+    }
+    if (++state.reads == 1) {
+        std::memcpy(buffer, state.body.data(), state.body.size());
+        notify(WINHTTP_CALLBACK_STATUS_READ_COMPLETE, buffer, static_cast<DWORD>(state.body.size()));
+    } else {
+        if (state.stop_at == Stage::read) {
+            state.pending_buffer = buffer;
+            stop();
+            return TRUE;
+        }
+        if (failure(Stage::read)) return state.callback_error ? TRUE : FALSE;
+        if (state.stop_at == Stage::eof) stop();
+        notify(WINHTTP_CALLBACK_STATUS_READ_COMPLETE, buffer, 0);
+    }
+    return TRUE;
+}
+BOOL WINAPI close(HINTERNET handle) {
+    auto& object = *static_cast<Handle*>(handle);
+    if (object.closed) {
+        SetLastError(ERROR_INVALID_HANDLE);
+        return FALSE;
+    }
+    object.closed = true;
+    if (handle == &state.request && object.callback) {
+        if (state.pending_buffer) {
+            // Pending I/O can still touch the caller's buffer during closure.
+            *static_cast<char*>(state.pending_buffer) = 'x';
+            ++state.pending_buffer_closes;
+            state.pending_buffer = nullptr;
+        }
+        if (state.stop_at == Stage::close) stop();
+        if (object.context && (object.notifications & WINHTTP_CALLBACK_FLAG_HANDLES)) {
+            ++state.closing_callbacks;
+            notify(WINHTTP_CALLBACK_STATUS_HANDLE_CLOSING);
+        }
+    }
+    return TRUE;
+}
+}
+
+#define WinHttpOpen fake_http::open
+#define WinHttpConnect fake_http::connect
+#define WinHttpOpenRequest fake_http::open_request
+#define WinHttpSetTimeouts fake_http::set_timeouts
+#define WinHttpSetOption fake_http::set_option
+#define WinHttpSetStatusCallback fake_http::set_callback
+#define WinHttpSendRequest fake_http::send
+#define WinHttpReceiveResponse fake_http::receive
+#define WinHttpQueryHeaders fake_http::query
+#define WinHttpReadData fake_http::read
+#define WinHttpCloseHandle fake_http::close
+#include "../https_download.cpp"
+#undef WinHttpOpen
+#undef WinHttpConnect
+#undef WinHttpOpenRequest
+#undef WinHttpSetTimeouts
+#undef WinHttpSetOption
+#undef WinHttpSetStatusCallback
+#undef WinHttpSendRequest
+#undef WinHttpReceiveResponse
+#undef WinHttpQueryHeaders
+#undef WinHttpReadData
+#undef WinHttpCloseHandle
+
+namespace {
+int failures{};
+void check(bool condition, const char* what) {
+    if (condition) return;
+    std::cerr << "FAIL: " << what << '\n';
+    ++failures;
+}
+std::string contents(const std::filesystem::path& path) {
+    std::ifstream input(path, std::ios::binary);
+    return {std::istreambuf_iterator<char>(input), std::istreambuf_iterator<char>()};
+}
+struct Fixtures {
+    std::filesystem::path root;
+    bool created;
+    explicit Fixtures(std::filesystem::path path) : root(std::move(path)),
+        created(std::filesystem::create_directory(root)) {}
+    ~Fixtures() {
+        if (created) {
+            std::error_code error;
+            std::filesystem::remove_all(root, error);
+        }
+    }
+};
+void reset(dingosdk::https::Watch& watch) {
+    fake_http::state = {};
+    fake_http::state.watch = &watch;
+    watch.cancel.store(false);
+    watch.deadline_us.store(0);
+    watch.received.store(0);
+    watch.total.store(0);
+}
+}
+
+int main(int argc, char** argv) {
+    using namespace dingosdk::https;
+    using fake_http::Stage;
+    Fixtures fixtures(argc > 1 ? std::filesystem::path(argv[1]) : std::filesystem::current_path() /
+        ("https-download-timeout-fixtures-" + std::to_string(GetCurrentProcessId())));
+    if (!fixtures.created) {
+        std::cerr << "Fixture directory already exists; refusing to overwrite it\n";
+        return 1;
+    }
+    const auto path = fixtures.root / "download.bin";
+    Watch watch;
+    const auto get = [&](std::uint64_t limit = 1024, std::uint32_t seconds = 5) {
+        return dingosdk::https::get(L"https://example.invalid/file", path, limit, seconds, L"test", &watch);
+    };
+    const auto removed = [&] { return !std::filesystem::exists(path); };
+    const auto closed = [&] {
+        return fake_http::state.closing_callbacks == 1 && fake_http::state.request.closed &&
+            fake_http::state.connection.closed && fake_http::state.session.closed;
+    };
+
+    reset(watch);
+    auto result = get();
+    check(result.ok && result.http_status == 200 && result.error == 0, "actual GET succeeds");
+    check(contents(path) == "payload" && watch.received.load() == 7 && watch.total.load() == 7,
+          "successful bytes and progress are retained");
+    check(closed(), "successful request receives final closing callback");
+    check(fake_http::state.session_flags & WINHTTP_FLAG_ASYNC, "session uses asynchronous WinHTTP");
+    check(fake_http::state.request_flags & WINHTTP_FLAG_SECURE, "request stays HTTPS");
+    check(fake_http::state.redirect == WINHTTP_OPTION_REDIRECT_POLICY_DISALLOW_HTTPS_TO_HTTP,
+          "HTTPS downgrade redirect policy is configured");
+    std::filesystem::remove(path);
+
+    for (const auto stage : {Stage::send, Stage::receive, Stage::read, Stage::eof, Stage::close}) {
+        for (const bool timeout : {false, true}) {
+            reset(watch);
+            fake_http::state.stop_at = stage;
+            fake_http::state.timeout = timeout;
+            result = get();
+            check(!result.ok && result.error == (timeout ? ERROR_TIMEOUT : ERROR_CANCELLED),
+                  "pending operation or final completion reports the authoritative stop reason");
+            check(removed(), "stopped GET removes only its created output, including partial bytes");
+            check(closed(), "stopped request completes handle-closing lifetime handshake");
+            if (stage == Stage::read)
+                check(watch.received.load() == 7 && fake_http::state.pending_buffer_closes == 1,
+                      "partial output is cleaned while pending read buffer survives close");
+        }
+    }
+
+    for (const auto stage : {Stage::send, Stage::receive, Stage::read}) {
+        for (const bool callback_error : {false, true}) {
+            reset(watch);
+            fake_http::state.fail_at = stage;
+            fake_http::state.callback_error = callback_error;
+            result = get();
+            check(!result.ok && result.error == ERROR_WINHTTP_CONNECTION_ERROR,
+                  "immediate and callback API errors are reported");
+            check(removed() && closed(), "API errors clean up output and close registered request");
+        }
+    }
+
+    reset(watch);
+    watch.deadline_us.store(1);
+    result = get();
+    check(!result.ok && result.error == ERROR_TIMEOUT && fake_http::state.opens == 0 && removed(),
+          "already expired external deadline prevents network and output creation");
+    reset(watch);
+    watch.deadline_us.store(static_cast<std::uint64_t>(std::chrono::duration_cast<std::chrono::microseconds>(
+        std::chrono::steady_clock::now().time_since_epoch()).count()) + 60000000);
+    result = get(1024, 0);
+    check(!result.ok && result.error == ERROR_TIMEOUT && fake_http::state.opens == 0,
+          "internal timeout wins over a later external steady-clock deadline");
+    reset(watch);
+    watch.cancel.store(true);
+    watch.deadline_us.store(1);
+    result = get();
+    check(!result.ok && result.error == ERROR_CANCELLED && fake_http::state.opens == 0,
+          "explicit cancellation wins when both stop conditions hold");
+
+    reset(watch);
+    {
+        std::ofstream output(path, std::ios::binary);
+        output << "existing destination";
+    }
+    result = get();
+    check(!result.ok && contents(path) == "existing destination",
+          "CREATE_NEW failure preserves a pre-existing destination");
+    check(closed(), "existing-destination failure still closes the request");
+    std::filesystem::remove(path);
+
+    for (const bool content_length : {false, true}) {
+        reset(watch);
+        fake_http::state.content_length = content_length;
+        result = get(3);
+        check(!result.ok && result.error == ERROR_FILE_TOO_LARGE && removed() && closed(),
+              "announced and streamed oversized bodies remain rejected and cleaned up");
+    }
+    reset(watch);
+    fake_http::state.downgrade = true;
+    result = get();
+    check(!result.ok && result.error == ERROR_WINHTTP_REDIRECT_FAILED && removed() && closed(),
+          "HTTPS-to-HTTP redirects remain refused");
+    reset(watch);
+    fake_http::state.body.clear();
+    result = get();
+    check(!result.ok && result.error == ERROR_BAD_LENGTH && removed() && closed(),
+          "empty body remains rejected and its created output is removed");
+
+    reset(watch);
+    fake_http::state.stop_at = Stage::send;
+    const auto text = get_text(L"https://example.invalid/metadata", 1024, 5, L"test", &result, &watch);
+    check(!text && !result.ok && result.error == ERROR_CANCELLED && closed(),
+          "get_text forwards its Watch into the actual asynchronous GET");
+
+    if (failures) return 1;
+    std::cout << "HTTPS deadline/cancellation tests passed\n";
+    return 0;
+}
diff --git a/Engine/Vfs/https_download.cpp b/Engine/Vfs/https_download.cpp
index 4ea1975..6ccb6b2 100644
--- a/Engine/Vfs/https_download.cpp
+++ b/Engine/Vfs/https_download.cpp
@@ -3,26 +3,107 @@
 #include <winhttp.h>
 #include <array>
 #include <atomic>
+#include <chrono>
+#include <condition_variable>
 #include <fstream>
 #include <iterator>
+#include <mutex>
 #include <string>
+#include <utility>
 
 namespace dingosdk::https {
 namespace {
+std::uint64_t now_us() noexcept {
+    return static_cast<std::uint64_t>(std::chrono::duration_cast<std::chrono::microseconds>(
+        std::chrono::steady_clock::now().time_since_epoch()).count());
+}
+
 struct Handle {
     HANDLE value{INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE};
-    ~Handle() { if (value != INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE) CloseHandle(value); }
+    const std::filesystem::path& path;
+    bool complete{};
+    ~Handle() {
+        if (value != INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE) {
+            CloseHandle(value);
+            if (!complete) DeleteFileW(path.c_str());
+        }
+    }
 };
 struct Internet {
     HINTERNET value{};
     ~Internet() { if (value) WinHttpCloseHandle(value); }
 };
+struct AsyncRequest {
+    HINTERNET value{};
+    std::mutex mutex;
+    std::condition_variable changed;
+    DWORD expected{}, error{}, read{};
+    bool completed{}, closed{};
+
+    ~AsyncRequest() { close(); }
+
+    void close() {
+        if (!value) return;
+        // Async closure interrupts pending I/O. Keep the context and read buffer
+        // alive until WinHTTP's final callback, including on cancellation.
+        WinHttpCloseHandle(value);
+        std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(mutex);
+        changed.wait(lock, [&] { return closed; });
+        value = nullptr;
+    }
+
+    static void CALLBACK callback(HINTERNET, DWORD_PTR context, DWORD status, void* info, DWORD size) {
+        if (!context) return;
+        auto& request = *reinterpret_cast<AsyncRequest*>(context);
+        std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(request.mutex);
+        if (status == WINHTTP_CALLBACK_STATUS_HANDLE_CLOSING) {
+            request.closed = true;
+        } else if (status == WINHTTP_CALLBACK_STATUS_REQUEST_ERROR) {
+            request.error = static_cast<WINHTTP_ASYNC_RESULT*>(info)->dwError;
+            request.completed = true;
+        } else if (status == request.expected) {
+            if (status == WINHTTP_CALLBACK_STATUS_READ_COMPLETE) request.read = size;
+            request.completed = true;
+        }
+        request.changed.notify_all();
+    }
+
+    void prepare(DWORD status) {
+        std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(mutex);
+        expected = status;
+        completed = false;
+        error = read = 0;
+    }
+
+    template<class Stop>
+    DWORD wait(const Stop& stop) {
+        std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(mutex);
+        for (;;) {
+            if (const auto stopped = stop()) return stopped;
+            if (completed) return error;
+            changed.wait_for(lock, std::chrono::milliseconds(20));
+        }
+    }
+};
 }
 
 Download get(std::wstring_view url, const std::filesystem::path& destination,
     std::uint64_t max_bytes, std::uint32_t timeout_seconds, const wchar_t* agent, Watch* watch) {
     Download result;
-    const auto fail = [&](DWORD error) { result.error = error; return result; };
+    const auto started = now_us();
+    const auto timeout_deadline = started + std::uint64_t{timeout_seconds} * 1000000;
+    const auto stop = [&]() -> DWORD {
+        if (watch && watch->cancel.load()) return ERROR_CANCELLED;
+        const auto external = watch ? watch->deadline_us.load() : 0;
+        const auto deadline = external && external < timeout_deadline ? external : timeout_deadline;
+        return now_us() >= deadline ? ERROR_TIMEOUT : ERROR_SUCCESS;
+    };
+    const auto fail = [&](DWORD error) {
+        const auto stopped = stop();
+        result.error = stopped ? stopped : error;
+        return result;
+    };
+    if (const auto error = stop()) return fail(error);
     if (url.empty() || url.size() >= 4096 || url.find_first_of(L"\r\n\t #") != std::wstring_view::npos)
         return fail(ERROR_INVALID_PARAMETER);
     const std::wstring address(url);
@@ -35,7 +116,7 @@ Download get(std::wstring_view url, const std::filesystem::path& destination,
     const std::wstring host(parts.lpszHostName, parts.dwHostNameLength);
     std::wstring resource = parts.dwUrlPathLength ? std::wstring(parts.lpszUrlPath, parts.dwUrlPathLength) : L"/";
     if (parts.dwExtraInfoLength) resource.append(parts.lpszExtraInfo, parts.dwExtraInfoLength);
-    Internet session{WinHttpOpen(agent, WINHTTP_ACCESS_TYPE_AUTOMATIC_PROXY, nullptr, nullptr, 0)};
+    Internet session{WinHttpOpen(agent, WINHTTP_ACCESS_TYPE_AUTOMATIC_PROXY, nullptr, nullptr, WINHTTP_FLAG_ASYNC)};
     if (!session.value) return fail(GetLastError());
     if (!WinHttpSetTimeouts(session.value, 5000, 5000, 10000, 10000)) return fail(GetLastError());
     Internet connection{WinHttpConnect(session.value, host.c_str(), parts.nPort, 0)};
@@ -43,30 +124,56 @@ Download get(std::wstring_view url, const std::filesystem::path& destination,
     Internet request{WinHttpOpenRequest(connection.value, L"GET", resource.c_str(), nullptr, nullptr,
                                       WINHTTP_DEFAULT_ACCEPT_TYPES, WINHTTP_FLAG_SECURE)};
     if (!request.value) return fail(GetLastError());
+    // Declared before AsyncRequest so pending reads cannot outlive their buffer.
+    std::array<char, 65536> buffer{};
+    AsyncRequest async;
     DWORD redirect = WINHTTP_OPTION_REDIRECT_POLICY_DISALLOW_HTTPS_TO_HTTP;
     DWORD logon = WINHTTP_AUTOLOGON_SECURITY_LEVEL_HIGH;
     if (!WinHttpSetOption(request.value, WINHTTP_OPTION_REDIRECT_POLICY, &redirect, sizeof(redirect)) ||
         !WinHttpSetOption(request.value, WINHTTP_OPTION_AUTOLOGON_POLICY, &logon, sizeof(logon))) return fail(GetLastError());
-    const auto started = GetTickCount64();
-    if (!WinHttpSendRequest(request.value, nullptr, 0, nullptr, 0, 0, 0) || !WinHttpReceiveResponse(request.value, nullptr))
+    DWORD_PTR context = reinterpret_cast<DWORD_PTR>(&async);
+    if (!WinHttpSetOption(request.value, WINHTTP_OPTION_CONTEXT_VALUE, &context, sizeof(context)))
         return fail(GetLastError());
+    if (WinHttpSetStatusCallback(request.value, AsyncRequest::callback,
+            WINHTTP_CALLBACK_FLAG_SENDREQUEST_COMPLETE | WINHTTP_CALLBACK_FLAG_HEADERS_AVAILABLE |
+            WINHTTP_CALLBACK_FLAG_READ_COMPLETE | WINHTTP_CALLBACK_FLAG_REQUEST_ERROR |
+            WINHTTP_CALLBACK_FLAG_HANDLES, 0) == WINHTTP_INVALID_STATUS_CALLBACK)
+        return fail(GetLastError());
+    async.value = std::exchange(request.value, nullptr);
+    const auto finish = [&](BOOL accepted) -> DWORD {
+        if (!accepted) {
+            const auto error = GetLastError();
+            if (error != ERROR_IO_PENDING) return error;
+        }
+        return async.wait(stop);
+    };
+    if (const auto error = stop()) return fail(error);
+    async.prepare(WINHTTP_CALLBACK_STATUS_SENDREQUEST_COMPLETE);
+    if (const auto error = finish(WinHttpSendRequest(async.value, nullptr, 0, nullptr, 0, 0, context)))
+        return fail(error);
+    async.prepare(WINHTTP_CALLBACK_STATUS_HEADERS_AVAILABLE);
+    if (const auto error = stop()) return fail(error);
+    if (const auto error = finish(WinHttpReceiveResponse(async.value, nullptr))) return fail(error);
     DWORD size = sizeof(result.http_status);
-    if (!WinHttpQueryHeaders(request.value, WINHTTP_QUERY_STATUS_CODE | WINHTTP_QUERY_FLAG_NUMBER,
+    if (!WinHttpQueryHeaders(async.value, WINHTTP_QUERY_STATUS_CODE | WINHTTP_QUERY_FLAG_NUMBER,
                             nullptr, &result.http_status, &size, nullptr)) return fail(GetLastError());
     if (result.http_status != 200) return fail(ERROR_BAD_NET_RESP);
     DWORD length{}; size = sizeof(length);
-    if (WinHttpQueryHeaders(request.value, WINHTTP_QUERY_CONTENT_LENGTH | WINHTTP_QUERY_FLAG_NUMBER,
+    if (WinHttpQueryHeaders(async.value, WINHTTP_QUERY_CONTENT_LENGTH | WINHTTP_QUERY_FLAG_NUMBER,
                            nullptr, &length, &size, nullptr) && length > max_bytes) return fail(ERROR_FILE_TOO_LARGE);
     if (watch) watch->total.store(length), watch->received.store(0);
-    Handle output{CreateFileW(destination.c_str(), GENERIC_WRITE, 0, nullptr, CREATE_NEW, FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL, nullptr)};
+    if (const auto error = stop()) return fail(error);
+    Handle output{CreateFileW(destination.c_str(), GENERIC_WRITE, 0, nullptr, CREATE_NEW, FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL, nullptr),
+                  destination};
     if (output.value == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE) return fail(GetLastError());
-    std::array<char, 65536> buffer{};
     std::uint64_t total{};
     for (;;) {
-        if (GetTickCount64() - started >= std::uint64_t{timeout_seconds} * 1000) return fail(ERROR_TIMEOUT);
-        if (watch && watch->cancel.load()) return fail(ERROR_CANCELLED);
-        DWORD read{}, written{};
-        if (!WinHttpReadData(request.value, buffer.data(), static_cast<DWORD>(buffer.size()), &read)) return fail(GetLastError());
+        if (const auto error = stop()) return fail(error);
+        async.prepare(WINHTTP_CALLBACK_STATUS_READ_COMPLETE);
+        if (const auto error = finish(WinHttpReadData(async.value, buffer.data(), static_cast<DWORD>(buffer.size()), nullptr)))
+            return fail(error);
+        const auto read = async.read;
+        DWORD written{};
         if (!read) break;
         if (total + read > max_bytes) return fail(ERROR_FILE_TOO_LARGE);
         if (!WriteFile(output.value, buffer.data(), read, &written, nullptr) || written != read) return fail(ERROR_WRITE_FAULT);
@@ -75,27 +182,30 @@ Download get(std::wstring_view url, const std::filesystem::path& destination,
     }
     if (!total) return fail(ERROR_BAD_LENGTH);
     if (!FlushFileBuffers(output.value)) return fail(GetLastError());
+    async.close();
+    if (const auto error = stop()) return fail(error);
+    output.complete = true;
     result.ok = true;
     return result;
 }
 
 std::optional<std::string> get_text(std::wstring_view url, std::uint64_t max_bytes,
-    std::uint32_t timeout_seconds, const wchar_t* agent, Download* result) {
+    std::uint32_t timeout_seconds, const wchar_t* agent, Download* result, Watch* watch) {
     static std::atomic<unsigned> serial{};
     wchar_t folder[MAX_PATH + 1]{};
     const auto length = GetTempPathW(MAX_PATH, folder);
     const auto path = std::filesystem::path(length ? std::wstring(folder, length) : L".") /
         (L"reskate-get-" + std::to_wstring(GetCurrentProcessId()) + L"-" + std::to_wstring(++serial) + L".tmp");
     std::error_code error;
-    std::filesystem::remove(path, error); // get needs a fresh destination
-    const auto download = get(url, path, max_bytes, timeout_seconds, agent);
+std::filesystem::remove(path, error); // discard a stale file left by an earlier process
+    const auto download = get(url, path, max_bytes, timeout_seconds, agent, watch);
     if (result) *result = download;
     std::optional<std::string> text;
     if (download.ok) {
         std::ifstream in(path, std::ios::binary);
         text.emplace(std::istreambuf_iterator<char>(in), std::istreambuf_iterator<char>());
     }
-    std::filesystem::remove(path, error);
+    if (download.ok) std::filesystem::remove(path, error);
     return text;
 }
 }
diff --git a/Engine/Vfs/https_download.h b/Engine/Vfs/https_download.h
index 1b9073f..aa71675 100644
--- a/Engine/Vfs/https_download.h
+++ b/Engine/Vfs/https_download.h
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ struct Download {
 struct Watch {
     std::atomic<std::uint64_t> received{}, total{};
     std::atomic<bool> cancel{};
+    // Absolute steady_clock epoch microseconds; zero leaves only the GET timeout.
+    std::atomic<std::uint64_t> deadline_us{};
 };
 // Streams an HTTPS GET into `destination`, which must not exist yet. Follows
 // redirects that stay on HTTPS; refuses bodies over `max_bytes` or transfers
@@ -25,5 +27,5 @@ Download get(std::wstring_view url, const std::filesystem::path& destination,
 // The body of the same GET, for an answer small enough to hold: nothing when it
 // fails, and `result`, when given, says how.
 std::optional<std::string> get_text(std::wstring_view url, std::uint64_t max_bytes,
-    std::uint32_t timeout_seconds, const wchar_t* agent, Download* result = nullptr);
+    std::uint32_t timeout_seconds, const wchar_t* agent, Download* result = nullptr, Watch* watch = nullptr);
 }
diff --git a/Extension/Assets/Test/map_download_timeout_tests.cpp b/Extension/Assets/Test/map_download_timeout_tests.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e20fbdf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Extension/Assets/Test/map_download_timeout_tests.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,650 @@
+#include "Extension/Assets/map_download.h"
+#include "Extension/Assets/live_mods.h"
+#include "Extension/Multiplayer/Session/monotonic_clock.h"
+#include "Extension/Multiplayer/Net/protocol.h"
+#include "Engine/Core/Log/logging.h"
+#include "Engine/Vfs/https_download.h"
+#include "Engine/Vfs/mod_catalog.h"
+#include "Launcher/mod_manager.h"
+#include "Extension/UI/Overlay/overlay.h"
+#include <Windows.h>
+#include <winhttp.h>
+#include <algorithm>
+#include <atomic>
+#include <chrono>
+#include <condition_variable>
+#include <cstdlib>
+#include <fstream>
+#include <iostream>
+#include <mutex>
+#include <stdexcept>
+#include <thread>
+
+namespace fixture {
+namespace fs = std::filesystem;
+namespace policy = dingosdk::multiplayer::map_fetch_policy;
+fs::path root;
+std::atomic<std::uint64_t> clock{1000000};
+constexpr auto use_download_deadline = static_cast<std::uint64_t>(-1);
+std::atomic<std::uint64_t> active_deadline{use_download_deadline};
+std::atomic<bool> downloading{}, installing{}, release_download{}, release_install{}, merging{};
+std::atomic<bool> fetching{true}, held{}, observed_cancel{}, installed_cancel{};
+std::atomic<unsigned> downloads{}, installs{}, applies{}, stops{}, rejoins{};
+std::atomic<std::uint64_t> queued_stop_deadline{};
+bool block_download{}, block_install{}, slow{}, transfer_error{}, fallback{};
+dingosdk::MultiplayerModel session;
+std::mutex messages_mutex, gate_mutex;
+std::condition_variable gate;
+std::vector<std::string> notices;
+std::vector<std::uint64_t> http_budgets;
+fs::path archive;
+
+void require(bool condition, const char* message) {
+    if (!condition) throw std::runtime_error(message);
+}
+template<class Predicate>
+void wait(Predicate predicate, const char* message) {
+    const auto end = std::chrono::steady_clock::now() + std::chrono::seconds(5);
+    while (!predicate()) {
+        if (std::chrono::steady_clock::now() >= end) throw std::runtime_error(message);
+        std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(1));
+    }
+}
+bool noticed(std::string_view text) {
+    std::lock_guard lock(messages_mutex);
+    for (const auto& notice : notices)
+        if (notice.find(text) != std::string::npos) return true;
+    return false;
+}
+}
+
+namespace dingosdk::multiplayer {
+std::uint64_t fake_now_us() noexcept { return fixture::clock.load(); }
+}
+
+// Compile the actual lifecycle, not a parallel model. Preincluded headers keep these
+// substitutions local to this translation unit; archives also stay in the test fixture.
+DWORD test_get_temp_path(DWORD capacity, LPWSTR output) {
+    const auto path = fixture::root.wstring() + L"\\";
+    if (path.size() >= capacity) return 0;
+    std::copy(path.begin(), path.end(), output);
+    output[path.size()] = L'\0';
+    return static_cast<DWORD>(path.size());
+}
+#define now_us fake_now_us
+#define GetTempPathW test_get_temp_path
+#include "../map_download.cpp"
+#undef GetTempPathW
+#undef now_us
+
+namespace dingosdk::https {
+std::optional<std::string> get_text(std::wstring_view, std::uint64_t, std::uint32_t,
+    const wchar_t*, Download* result, Watch* watch) {
+    fixture::require(watch && watch->deadline_us.load() == map_download::deadline.load(),
+        "metadata shares the session deadline");
+    if (result) *result = {true, 200, 0};
+    return R"({"namespace":"Team","name":"Map","community_listings":[{"community":"reskate","categories":["Maps"]}],
+        "latest":{"version_number":"2.0.0","description":"Test map"}})";
+}
+Download get(std::wstring_view, const std::filesystem::path& destination,
+    std::uint64_t max_bytes, std::uint32_t timeout_seconds, const wchar_t*, Watch* watch) {
+    using namespace fixture;
+    require(max_bytes == (8ull << 30), "size restriction retained");
+    require(timeout_seconds == policy::transfer_us / policy::second_us, "HTTP timeout uses transfer budget");
+    archive = destination;
+    const auto request = ++downloads;
+    http_budgets.push_back(policy::remaining(watch->deadline_us.load(), fixture::clock.load()));
+    std::ofstream(destination, std::ios::binary) << "partial archive";
+    watch->received.store(10);
+    watch->total.store(100);
+    downloading.store(true);
+    if (block_download) {
+        std::unique_lock lock(gate_mutex);
+        gate.wait(lock, [] { return release_download.load(); });
+    }
+    if (slow) {
+        // Real download progress still cannot extend either absolute deadline.
+        fixture::clock.fetch_add(10 * 60 * policy::second_us);
+        watch->received.store(90);
+    }
+    observed_cancel.store(watch->cancel.load());
+    if (watch->cancel.load()) return {false, 0, ERROR_CANCELLED};
+    if (fallback && request == 1) {
+        fixture::clock.fetch_add(60 * policy::second_us);
+        return {false, 404, 0};
+    }
+    if (transfer_error) return {false, 0, ERROR_WINHTTP_TIMEOUT};
+    watch->received.store(100);
+    return {true, 200, 0};
+}
+}
+
+namespace dingosdk::mods {
+std::filesystem::path engine_data_root() noexcept { return fixture::root; }
+ModList scan_mods(const std::filesystem::path&) noexcept { return {}; }
+void save_mod_order(const std::filesystem::path&, const std::vector<ModEntry>&) {}
+}
+namespace dingosdk::launcher_mods {
+std::string install(const std::filesystem::path& root, const std::filesystem::path& source, bool,
+    const Progress& progress, const std::atomic<bool>& cancel, const InstallOptions& options) {
+    using namespace fixture;
+    require(fs::exists(source), "installer receives completed archive");
+    ++installs;
+    installing.store(true);
+    if (block_install) {
+        std::unique_lock lock(gate_mutex);
+        gate.wait(lock, [] { return release_install.load(); });
+    }
+    progress(0.5f);
+    installed_cancel.store(cancel.load());
+    if (cancel.load()) throw std::runtime_error("cancelled");
+    fs::create_directories(root / options.folder);
+    std::ofstream(root / options.folder / "reskate-levels.json") << "{}";
+    return options.folder;
+}
+void remove(const std::filesystem::path&, const std::string&) {}
+}
+namespace dingosdk::live_mods {
+bool only_maps(const std::filesystem::path&) { return true; }
+bool busy() noexcept { return fixture::merging.load(); }
+std::string apply(bool reload) {
+    fixture::require(!reload, "map apply must not reload prematurely");
+    ++fixture::applies;
+    fixture::merging.store(true);
+    return "applying";
+}
+Progress progress() { return {1, 2, "map"}; }
+std::vector<std::string> applied_mods() { return {"Team-Map"}; }
+std::string status() { return "applied"; }
+}
+namespace dingosdk::multiplayer {
+MultiplayerModel model() { return fixture::session; }
+bool fetching_map() noexcept { return fixture::fetching.load(); }
+std::uint64_t map_fetch_deadline() noexcept {
+    const auto active = fixture::active_deadline.load();
+    return active == fixture::use_download_deadline ? map_download::deadline.load() : active;
+}
+void hold_map_load(bool hold, std::string_view package) noexcept {
+    fixture::held.store(hold);
+    if (hold && package != "Team-Map-1.0.0") std::abort();
+}
+bool queue_command(std::string_view action, std::string_view argument, std::string_view password) {
+    if (action == "stop") ++fixture::stops;
+    if (action == "stop-map-fetch") {
+        const auto expected = map_download::deadline.load();
+        fixture::require(expected && argument == std::to_string(expected) && password.empty(),
+            "map stop carries the captured originating attempt deadline");
+        fixture::queued_stop_deadline.store(expected);
+        ++fixture::stops;
+    }
+    if (action == "rejoin") ++fixture::rejoins;
+    return true;
+}
+std::string map_package_name(std::string_view folder, std::string_view version) {
+    return std::string(folder) + "-" + std::string(version);
+}
+}
+namespace dingosdk::overlay {
+void set_map_download_icon(const std::string&) noexcept {}
+void notify(NoticeLevel, std::string title, std::string text) noexcept {
+    std::lock_guard lock(fixture::messages_mutex);
+    fixture::notices.push_back(title + ": " + text);
+}
+}
+namespace dingosdk::logging {
+bool enabled(Level) noexcept { return false; }
+void write(Level, Context, Channel, std::string_view) noexcept {}
+void write(Level, Channel, std::string_view) noexcept {}
+}
+
+namespace fixture {
+namespace download = dingosdk::map_download;
+using Stage = download::Stage;
+
+void drain() {
+    release_download.store(true);
+    release_install.store(true);
+    gate.notify_all();
+    wait([] { return download::workers.load() == 0; }, "workers did not drain");
+}
+void reset() {
+    drain();
+    require(download::view().stage == Stage::idle, "previous lifecycle did not finish");
+    fs::remove_all(root / "Mods");
+    clock.store(1000000);
+    active_deadline.store(use_download_deadline);
+    downloading.store(false);
+    installing.store(false);
+    release_download.store(false);
+    release_install.store(false);
+    merging.store(false);
+    fetching.store(true);
+    held.store(false);
+    observed_cancel.store(false);
+    installed_cancel.store(false);
+    downloads.store(0);
+    installs.store(0);
+    applies.store(0);
+    stops.store(0);
+    queued_stop_deadline.store(0);
+    rejoins.store(0);
+    block_download = block_install = slow = transfer_error = fallback = false;
+    session = {};
+    session.active = true;
+    session.connected = false;
+    notices.clear();
+    http_budgets.clear();
+    archive.clear();
+    download::last_failed.clear();
+}
+void offer(std::uint64_t deadline = 0, bool update = false) {
+    dingosdk::multiplayer::MapNeed need{"Team-Map-1.0.0", "Test map", true, false,
+        update ? "0.9.0" : "", deadline};
+    download::offer(need);
+    wait([] { return download::asking(); }, "metadata did not reach confirmation");
+    wait([] { return download::workers.load() == 0; }, "metadata worker did not drain");
+}
+void start_apply() {
+    wait([] { return download::view().stage == Stage::applying; }, "did not install and reach applying");
+    drain();
+    download::tick();
+    require(applies.load() == 1 && held.load(), "apply starts once and holds session loading");
+}
+void applying() {
+    download::answer(true);
+    start_apply();
+}
+void joined() {
+    merging.store(false);
+    download::tick();
+    require(download::view().stage == Stage::joining, "completed merge advances to joining");
+    fetching.store(false);
+    session.connected = true;
+    clock.fetch_add(2500000);
+    download::tick();
+    require(download::view().stage == Stage::idle, "joined session clears lifecycle");
+    require(!held.load() && stops.load() == 0 && rejoins.load() == 0, "normal join does not leave or rejoin");
+}
+void idle(const char* reason, unsigned expected_stops = 1) {
+    require(download::view().stage == Stage::idle, reason);
+    drain();
+    require(stops.load() == expected_stops, "failure only stops its originating waiting session");
+    if (expected_stops)
+        require(queued_stop_deadline.load() == download::deadline.load(),
+            "queued map stop identifies the originating attempt for dispatch-time ownership validation");
+    download::tick();
+    require(held.load() == (merging.load() && download::apply_started.load()),
+        "failure holds map loading only while an uncancellable live merge drains");
+    require(archive.empty() || !fs::exists(archive), "partial archive removed");
+}
+
+void tests() {
+    reset();
+    offer();
+    applying();
+    require(downloads.load() == 1 && installs.load() == 1, "success downloads and installs exactly once");
+    joined();
+
+    reset();
+    merging.store(true);
+    offer();
+    download::answer(true);
+    wait([] { return download::view().stage == Stage::applying; }, "unrelated live merge blocked map offer");
+    drain();
+    download::tick();
+    require(applies.load() == 0 && held.load(), "map apply waits for unrelated live merge without rejecting offer");
+    merging.store(false);
+    download::tick();
+    require(applies.load() == 1, "map apply starts after unrelated merge drains");
+    joined();
+
+    reset();
+    block_download = true;
+    offer();
+    download::answer(true);
+    wait([] { return downloading.load(); }, "download did not start for duplicate confirmation");
+    const auto first_transfer_deadline = download::transfer_until.load();
+    clock.fetch_add(policy::second_us);
+    download::answer(true);
+    require(download::transfer_until.load() == first_transfer_deadline && downloads.load() == 1 &&
+            download::workers.load() == 1,
+        "only winning confirmation claims a worker and publishes the transfer deadline");
+    release_download.store(true);
+    gate.notify_all();
+    start_apply();
+    joined();
+
+    reset();
+    block_download = true;
+    slow = true;
+    offer();
+    download::answer(true);
+    wait([] { return downloading.load(); }, "slow download did not start");
+    clock.fetch_add(10 * 60 * policy::second_us);
+    download::watch.received.store(50);
+    download::tick();
+    require(download::view().stage == Stage::downloading && download::view().received == 50 && held.load(),
+        "progressing transfer remains active beyond old five minute deadline");
+    release_download.store(true);
+    gate.notify_all();
+    start_apply();
+    require(clock.load() > 5 * 60 * policy::second_us, "slow progressing transfer exceeds former five minute limit");
+    joined();
+
+    reset();
+    transfer_error = true;
+    offer();
+    download::answer(true);
+    wait([] { return download::view().stage == Stage::idle; }, "HTTP timeout did not fail");
+    idle("transfer timeout");
+    require(installs.load() == 0 && noticed("timed out"), "HTTP timeout cannot install");
+    transfer_error = false;
+    stops.store(0);
+    offer();
+    applying();
+    require(downloads.load() == 2, "timeout allows same package retry");
+    joined();
+
+    reset();
+    block_download = true;
+    offer();
+    download::answer(true);
+    wait([] { return downloading.load(); }, "download did not start");
+    clock.store(download::deadline.load());
+    download::tick();
+    idle("active session deadline");
+    require(observed_cancel.load() && installs.load() == 0, "session expiry cancels active HTTP");
+
+    reset();
+    block_install = true;
+    offer();
+    download::answer(true);
+    wait([] { return installing.load(); }, "install did not start");
+    clock.store(download::deadline.load());
+    download::tick();
+    idle("install timeout");
+    require(installed_cancel.load() && applies.load() == 0 && noticed("could not be installed"), "installer observes cancellation");
+
+    reset();
+    block_install = true;
+    offer();
+    download::answer(true);
+    wait([] { return installing.load(); }, "install did not start for progress timeout");
+    clock.store(download::deadline.load());
+    drain();
+    idle("installer progress deadline");
+    require(installed_cancel.load() && applies.load() == 0,
+        "installer progress callback enforces session deadline without client tick");
+
+    reset();
+    offer();
+    applying();
+    clock.store(download::deadline.load());
+    download::tick();
+    idle("apply timeout");
+    require(merging.load() && rejoins.load() == 0, "late atomic merge must not join");
+    download::offer({"Team-Map-1.0.0", "Test map", true});
+    require(download::view().stage == Stage::idle && noticed("still finishing"), "busy live merge blocks retry");
+    merging.store(false);
+    download::tick();
+    require(rejoins.load() == 0 && !held.load(), "finished cancelled apply cannot rejoin and releases load hold");
+
+    reset();
+    offer();
+    download::answer(false);
+    idle("decline");
+    require(downloads.load() == 0 && noticed("cancelled"), "decline never downloads");
+
+    reset();
+    offer();
+    clock.store(download::ask_until.load() - 1);
+    download::tick();
+    require(download::asking(), "confirmation remains open one microsecond before deadline");
+    clock.fetch_add(1);
+    download::answer(true);
+    idle("confirmation exact boundary");
+    require(downloads.load() == 0 && noticed("two minutes"), "late click cannot bypass confirmation timeout");
+
+    reset();
+    offer();
+    clock.store(download::ask_until.load());
+    download::tick();
+    idle("confirmation tick timeout");
+    require(downloads.load() == 0 && noticed("two minutes"), "tick expires unanswered prompt");
+
+    reset();
+    const auto short_session = clock.load() + policy::confirmation_us / 2;
+    offer(short_session);
+    require(download::ask_until.load() == short_session, "confirmation is capped by existing session deadline");
+    clock.store(short_session);
+    download::answer(true);
+    idle("shorter session confirmation boundary");
+    require(downloads.load() == 0 && noticed("timed out"), "confirmation never extends existing session budget");
+
+    reset();
+    offer(clock.load() + policy::completion_reserve_us);
+    download::answer(true);
+    idle("completion reserve boundary");
+    require(downloads.load() == 0, "no transfer starts when only completion reserve remains");
+
+    reset();
+    block_download = true;
+    offer(clock.load() + policy::completion_reserve_us + 1);
+    download::answer(true);
+    wait([] { return downloading.load(); }, "last microsecond transfer did not start");
+    require(download::transfer_until.load() == clock.load() + 1, "near-boundary transfer keeps reserve");
+    clock.fetch_add(1);
+    download::tick();
+    idle("last transfer microsecond");
+    require(observed_cancel.load() && installs.load() == 0, "transfer exact boundary cancels without install");
+
+    reset();
+    block_download = true;
+    offer();
+    download::answer(true);
+    wait([] { return downloading.load(); }, "HTTP did not start for cancel race");
+    download::answer(false);
+    require(download::watch.cancel.load(), "cancel flag is immediate");
+    download::tick();
+    require(held.load(), "cancelled HTTP keeps map loading held until worker drains");
+    download::offer({"Team-Map-1.0.0", "Test map", true});
+    require(downloads.load() == 1 && noticed("still finishing"), "retry cannot reuse a draining HTTP worker");
+    drain();
+    require(observed_cancel.load() && !fs::exists(archive) && installs.load() == 0, "cancel cleans archive without install");
+    // The same package is retriable after a user cancellation.
+    block_download = false;
+    offer();
+    applying();
+    require(downloads.load() == 2, "retry fetches same package again");
+    // The original user cancellation stopped its waiting attempt.
+    stops.store(0);
+    joined();
+
+    reset();
+    block_download = true;
+    offer();
+    download::answer(true);
+    wait([] { return downloading.load(); }, "HTTP did not start for completion race");
+    clock.store(download::transfer_until.load());
+    // Return a successful HTTP response before tick notices its expired deadline.
+    drain();
+    download::tick();
+    require(download::view().stage == Stage::idle && installs.load() == 0,
+        "success racing the transfer deadline cannot reach installation");
+    idle("transfer completion race");
+
+    reset();
+    fallback = true;
+    offer();
+    applying();
+    require(downloads.load() == 2 && http_budgets.size() == 2, "404 selects newest fallback");
+    require(http_budgets[0] == policy::transfer_us, "initial request gets at most 27 minutes");
+    require(http_budgets[1] == policy::transfer_us - 60 * policy::second_us, "fallback loses first request's minute");
+    joined();
+
+    reset();
+    fallback = true;
+    offer(0, true);
+    download::answer(true);
+    wait([] { return download::view().stage == Stage::idle; }, "missing host version did not fail");
+    idle("host version consistency");
+    require(downloads.load() == 1 && installs.load() == 0, "version mismatch never falls back to another host version");
+
+    reset();
+    offer();
+    const auto original_deadline = download::deadline.load();
+    download::offer({"Team-Other-1.0.0", "Other map", true});
+    require(download::asking() && download::deadline.load() == original_deadline && stops.load() == 1,
+        "host changing maps does not replace in-flight request or extend its deadline");
+    stops.store(0);
+    download::answer(false);
+    idle("host map change");
+
+    reset();
+    block_download = true;
+    offer();
+    download::answer(true);
+    wait([] { return downloading.load(); }, "download did not start for session replacement");
+    active_deadline.store(0);
+    download::tick();
+    idle("session identity changed", 0);
+    require(observed_cancel.load() && installs.load() == 0,
+        "download cancels when the active session no longer owns its deadline");
+
+    reset();
+    offer();
+    active_deadline.store(0);
+    fetching.store(false);
+    session.connected = true;
+    download::tick();
+    require(download::view().stage == Stage::idle && !held.load() && downloads.load() == 0 &&
+            stops.load() == 0 && rejoins.load() == 0,
+        "abandoned confirmation cancels without holding or stopping a fresh unrelated ordinary join");
+    download::answer(true);
+    require(downloads.load() == 0, "late confirmation cannot start download for abandoned session");
+
+    reset();
+    offer();
+    const auto abandoned_deadline = download::deadline.load();
+    clock.fetch_add(policy::second_us);
+    const auto fresh_deadline = clock.load() + policy::session_us;
+    active_deadline.store(fresh_deadline);
+    download::offer({"Team-Map-1.0.0", "Test map", true, false, "", fresh_deadline});
+    wait([] { return download::asking(); }, "fresh same-package need was not retaken");
+    drain();
+    require(download::deadline.load() == fresh_deadline && fresh_deadline != abandoned_deadline &&
+            download::transfer_until.load() == 0 && stops.load() == 0,
+        "fresh same-package attempt replaces stale confirmation without stopping its new session");
+    applying();
+    joined();
+
+    reset();
+    block_download = true;
+    offer();
+    download::answer(true);
+    wait([] { return downloading.load(); }, "old download did not start for queued replacement");
+    clock.fetch_add(policy::second_us);
+    const auto queued_deadline = clock.load() + policy::session_us;
+    active_deadline.store(queued_deadline);
+    download::offer({"Team-Map-1.0.0", "Test map", true, false, "", queued_deadline});
+    download::tick();
+    require(download::view().stage == Stage::idle && download::watch.cancel.load() &&
+            downloads.load() == 1 && stops.load() == 0 && download::pending &&
+            download::pending->deadline_us == queued_deadline,
+        "fresh offer queues while cancelled worker drains without stopping replacement session");
+    drain();
+    require(observed_cancel.load() && installs.load() == 0 && !fs::exists(archive),
+        "old worker cleans partial archive before queued replacement can use its globals");
+    block_download = false;
+    download::tick();
+    wait([] { return download::asking(); }, "queued same-package need was not offered after drain");
+    drain();
+    require(download::deadline.load() == queued_deadline && download::transfer_until.load() == 0 &&
+            !download::pending && stops.load() == 0,
+        "queued attempt keeps fresh deadline and resets previous transfer budget");
+    applying();
+    require(downloads.load() == 2, "queued fresh attempt starts exactly one new transfer");
+    joined();
+
+    reset();
+    block_download = true;
+    offer();
+    download::answer(true);
+    wait([] { return downloading.load(); }, "old download did not start for stale pending need");
+    clock.fetch_add(policy::second_us);
+    const auto superseded_deadline = clock.load() + policy::session_us;
+    active_deadline.store(superseded_deadline);
+    download::offer({"Team-Map-1.0.0", "Test map", true, false, "", superseded_deadline});
+    active_deadline.store(0);
+    drain();
+    download::tick();
+    require(download::view().stage == Stage::idle && !download::pending && downloads.load() == 1 &&
+            stops.load() == 0 && !held.load(),
+        "queued need is discarded when its replacement session also ends before worker drain");
+
+    reset();
+    offer();
+    applying();
+    merging.store(false);
+    download::tick();
+    clock.store(download::join_at.load() + policy::installed_load_us - 1);
+    download::tick();
+    require(download::view().stage == Stage::joining, "installed map load retains its last microsecond");
+    clock.fetch_add(1);
+    download::tick();
+    idle("installed map load timeout");
+    require(noticed("still cannot load"), "installed map reports load failure at 30 seconds");
+
+    reset();
+    offer();
+    applying();
+    merging.store(false);
+    download::tick();
+    fetching.store(false);
+    session.active = false;
+    clock.fetch_add(2500000);
+    download::tick();
+    require(download::view().stage == Stage::idle && rejoins.load() == 1 && stops.load() == 0,
+        "successful install rejoins when the original session ended independently");
+
+    reset();
+    offer();
+    applying();
+    clock.store(download::deadline.load() - 2);
+    merging.store(false);
+    download::tick();
+    require(download::view().stage == Stage::joining, "near-deadline apply reaches joining");
+    clock.fetch_add(1);
+    session.connected = true;
+    fetching.store(false);
+    active_deadline.store(0);
+    clock.fetch_add(2);
+    download::tick();
+    require(download::view().stage == Stage::idle && !held.load() && stops.load() == 0 &&
+            rejoins.load() == 0 && !noticed("timed out"),
+        "join completed within session budget retires successfully even when next tick is after deadline");
+
+    reset();
+    download::tick();
+    require(!held.load() && downloads.load() == 0 && stops.load() == 0 && rejoins.load() == 0,
+        "ordinary join without download is untouched");
+}
+}
+
+int main(int argc, char** argv) {
+    try {
+        fixture::require(argc == 2, "pass a fixture directory");
+        fixture::root = std::filesystem::absolute(argv[1]);
+        std::filesystem::create_directories(fixture::root);
+        fixture::tests();
+        fixture::drain();
+        std::filesystem::remove_all(fixture::root);
+        std::cout << "Production map download timeout lifecycle tests passed\n";
+        return 0;
+    } catch (const std::exception& error) {
+        std::cerr << error.what() << '\n';
+        // A bounded wait failure can leave detached production workers alive. Do not
+        // destroy their fixture globals while they may still be using them.
+        std::_Exit(1);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Extension/Assets/map_download.cpp b/Extension/Assets/map_download.cpp
index ade729e..2d37f8b 100644
--- a/Extension/Assets/map_download.cpp
+++ b/Extension/Assets/map_download.cpp
@@ -6,15 +6,18 @@
 #include "Engine/Vfs/mod_list.h"
 #include "Engine/Vfs/thunderstore_package.h"
 #include "Extension/Multiplayer/Net/protocol.h"
+#include "Extension/Multiplayer/Session/monotonic_clock.h"
 #include "Extension/UI/Overlay/overlay.h"
 #include "Launcher/mod_manager.h"
 #include <Windows.h>
+#include <winhttp.h>
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <atomic>
 #include <fstream>
 #include <map>
 #include <mutex>
 #include <thread>
+#include <utility>
 
 namespace dingosdk::map_download {
 namespace {
@@ -23,14 +26,16 @@ namespace package = thunderstore_package;
 
 constexpr wchar_t agent[] = L"ReSkate";
 constexpr char community[] = "reskate";
-// A map is at most a few gigabytes (an archive of one holds four); the download may take as
-// long as a slow line needs for that.
+// Keep the existing package size restriction; time is bounded by the session policy.
 constexpr std::uint64_t largest_download = 8ull << 30;
-constexpr std::uint32_t download_seconds = 4 * 60 * 60;
+namespace policy = multiplayer::map_fetch_policy;
 
 std::mutex mutex;
 std::atomic<Stage> stage{Stage::idle};
+std::atomic<unsigned> workers{};
+std::atomic<std::uint64_t> deadline{}, ask_until{}, transfer_until{};
 multiplayer::MapNeed need;       // under mutex, while not idle
+std::optional<multiplayer::MapNeed> pending; // a fresh attempt waiting for cancelled work to drain
 package::Name wanted;            // under mutex
 std::string version;             // under mutex: the one to download
 std::string newest;              // under mutex
@@ -65,27 +70,56 @@ bool need_server() {
 }
 
 // The session that is waiting on the map is left: there is no map to wait for.
-void leave_session() {
-    if (multiplayer::fetching_map()) multiplayer::queue_command("stop", "", "");
+void leave_session(std::uint64_t expected = 0) {
+    const auto owned = expected ? expected : multiplayer::map_fetch_deadline();
+    if (multiplayer::fetching_map() && owned)
+        multiplayer::queue_command("stop-map-fetch", std::to_string(owned), "");
 }
 
 // Back to idle with the reason said, as the plain "map not installed" notice is.
-void fail(std::string reason) {
+void fail(std::string reason, bool retry = false) {
     std::string text;
     bool update{};
+    std::uint64_t failed_deadline{};
     {
         std::lock_guard lock(mutex);
+        if (stage.exchange(Stage::idle) == Stage::idle) return;
+        failed_deadline = deadline.load();
+        watch.cancel.store(true);
+        stop_install.store(true);
+        apply_wanted.store(false);
         update = !need.have.empty();
         text = "The " + host_word(need.server) + (need.moved ? " changed to " : " is on ") + need.map +
                (update ? ", at another version (" + std::string(multiplayer::map_package_version(need.package)) + ") than the one installed on this PC (" + need.have + "). "
                        : ", which is not installed on this PC. ") + reason;
-        last_failed = need.package;
+        if (!retry) last_failed = need.package;
     }
-    stage.store(Stage::idle);
-    leave_session();
+    if (multiplayer::map_fetch_deadline() == failed_deadline) leave_session(failed_deadline);
     logging::log(logging::Level::warning, logging::Channel::assets, "Map download: {}", text);
     overlay::notify(overlay::NoticeLevel::warning, update ? "Map version differs" : "Map not installed", std::move(text));
 }
+
+bool continuing() {
+    if (stage.load() == Stage::idle) return false;
+    if (policy::expired(deadline.load(), multiplayer::now_us())) {
+        const auto now = stage.load();
+        fail(now == Stage::installing || now == Stage::applying
+            ? "The map could not be installed before the session timeout."
+            : "Map download timed out. Please try joining the server again.", true);
+        return false;
+    }
+    return !watch.cancel.load();
+}
+
+bool advance(Stage from, Stage to) {
+    if (!continuing()) return false;
+    return stage.compare_exchange_strong(from, to);
+}
+
+void ask() {
+    ask_until.store(std::min(deadline.load(), multiplayer::now_us() + policy::confirmation_us));
+    advance(Stage::checking, Stage::asking);
+}
 // The packages of the maps installed here, by level (package_of): forgotten when one is installed.
 struct Known {
     std::string package;
@@ -130,11 +164,12 @@ void check() {
                 const auto bytes = read_bytes(mods_root() / name.folder() / L"icon.png", 4 * 1024 * 1024);
                 overlay::set_map_download_icon(bytes);
             } catch (const std::exception&) {}
-            stage.store(Stage::asking);
+            ask();
             return;
         }
         https::Download result;
-        const auto answer = https::get_text(package::details_url(name), 512 * 1024, 20, agent, &result);
+        const auto answer = https::get_text(package::details_url(name), 512 * 1024, 20, agent, &result, &watch);
+        if (!continuing()) return;
         if (!answer)
             return fail(result.http_status == 404 ? "Its mod is not on Thunderstore. Install its map mod yourself and join again."
                                                   : "Thunderstore could not be reached to look for it.");
@@ -151,9 +186,9 @@ void check() {
         }
         // Its icon for the card: small, and not worth holding the question up for long.
         if (!choice.icon.empty())
-            if (const auto png = https::get_text(std::wstring(choice.icon.begin(), choice.icon.end()), 2 * 1024 * 1024, 8, agent))
+            if (const auto png = https::get_text(std::wstring(choice.icon.begin(), choice.icon.end()), 2 * 1024 * 1024, 8, agent, nullptr, &watch))
                 overlay::set_map_download_icon(*png);
-        stage.store(Stage::asking);
+        ask();
     } catch (const std::exception& failure) {
         fail(std::string("Looking for it failed: ") + failure.what());
     }
@@ -175,6 +210,7 @@ void fetch() {
     const auto root = mods_root();
     const auto folder = name.folder();
     try {
+        if (!continuing()) return;
         if (!off) {
             wchar_t temp[MAX_PATH + 1]{};
             const auto length = GetTempPathW(MAX_PATH, temp);
@@ -184,41 +220,61 @@ void fetch() {
             fs::remove(archive, error);
             watch.received.store(0);
             watch.total.store(0);
-            auto result = https::get(package::download_url(name, get), archive, largest_download, download_seconds, agent, &watch);
+            // One transfer budget across fallback requests; leave time for installation and joining.
+            const auto transfer = transfer_until.load();
+            const auto download = [&](const std::string& selected) {
+                watch.deadline_us.store(transfer);
+                return https::get(package::download_url(name, selected), archive, largest_download,
+                    static_cast<std::uint32_t>(policy::transfer_us / policy::second_us), agent, &watch);
+            };
+            auto result = download(get);
             // The host's version can be gone from Thunderstore: the newest is the same map.
             if (!update && !result.ok && result.http_status == 404 && get != fallback && !watch.cancel.load()) {
                 fs::remove(archive, error);
                 logging::log(logging::Level::info, logging::Channel::assets,
                     "Map download: {} {} is not on Thunderstore any more; getting {}.", folder, get, fallback);
-                result = https::get(package::download_url(name, fallback), archive, largest_download, download_seconds, agent, &watch);
+                result = download(fallback);
             }
             if (!result.ok) {
                 fs::remove(archive, error);
-                if (watch.cancel.load()) { stage.store(Stage::idle); leave_session(); return; }
+                if (!continuing()) return;
+                if (result.error == ERROR_TIMEOUT || result.error == ERROR_WINHTTP_TIMEOUT ||
+                    policy::expired(transfer, multiplayer::now_us()))
+                    return fail("Map download timed out. Please try joining the server again.", true);
                 return fail(result.http_status && result.http_status != 200
                     ? "The download failed (Thunderstore answered " + std::to_string(result.http_status) + ")."
                     : "The download failed (Windows error " + std::to_string(result.error) + ").");
             }
-            stage.store(Stage::installing);
+            if (policy::expired(transfer, multiplayer::now_us())) {
+                fs::remove(archive, error);
+                return fail("Map download timed out. Please try joining the server again.", true);
+            }
+            if (!advance(Stage::downloading, Stage::installing)) {
+                fs::remove(archive, error);
+                return;
+            }
             try {
                 // (In the installed one's place when it is the same map at another version. The
                 // game may hold the old one's files open when it was skated this run: then it
                 // cannot be replaced until the game is closed.)
-                launcher_mods::install(root, archive, update, [](float) {}, stop_install, {folder, name.owner, true});
+                launcher_mods::install(root, archive, update, [](float) { continuing(); }, stop_install, {folder, name.owner, true});
             } catch (const std::exception& failure) {
                 fs::remove(archive, error);
+                if (!continuing()) return;
                 return fail(update ? std::string("It could not be replaced while the game runs (") + failure.what() +
                                          "). Close the game, update it from the launcher and join again."
                                    : std::string("It could not be installed: ") + failure.what());
             }
             fs::remove(archive, error);
+            if (!continuing()) return;
             {
                 std::lock_guard known(known_mutex);
                 known_packages.clear();
             }
         } else {
-            stage.store(Stage::installing);
+            if (!advance(Stage::downloading, Stage::installing)) return;
         }
+        if (!continuing()) return;
         // A map and nothing else: this way in is for maps.
         std::error_code error;
         if (!fs::exists(root / folder / L"reskate-levels.json", error) || !live_mods::only_maps(root / folder)) {
@@ -228,16 +284,18 @@ void fetch() {
             return fail("Its package holds more than a map, so it is not installed from here. Install it from the launcher if you trust it.");
         }
         if (off || update) { // (a map at another version may have been switched off: it is wanted now)
+            if (!continuing()) return;
             auto list = mods::scan_mods(mods::engine_data_root());
             if (!list.issue.empty()) return fail("mods.json could not be read: " + list.issue);
             for (auto& entry : list.entries)
                 if (same(entry.mod.name, folder)) entry.enabled = true;
             mods::save_mod_order(list.root, list.entries);
         }
+        if (!continuing()) return;
         logging::log(logging::Level::info, logging::Channel::assets, "Map download: {} is in Mods; applying it.", folder);
         apply_started.store(false);
         apply_wanted.store(true);
-        stage.store(Stage::applying);
+        if (!advance(Stage::installing, Stage::applying)) apply_wanted.store(false);
     } catch (const std::exception& failure) {
         fail(std::string("It could not be installed: ") + failure.what());
     }
@@ -245,10 +303,35 @@ void fetch() {
 
 // One piece of work at a time, which the stage sees to: each is started by the move into its
 // stage. Detached, as the live merge's thread is: the game may close while a map downloads.
-void start(void (*work)()) { std::thread(work).detach(); }
+void start(void (*work)()) {
+    ++workers;
+    try {
+        std::thread([work] {
+            struct Finished { ~Finished() { --workers; } } finished;
+            work();
+        }).detach();
+    } catch (...) {
+        --workers;
+        throw;
+    }
+}
 } // namespace
 
 void offer(const multiplayer::MapNeed& asked) {
+    std::unique_lock lock(mutex);
+    if (stage.load() != Stage::idle && asked.deadline_us && asked.deadline_us != deadline.load()) {
+        lock.unlock();
+        fail("Map download cancelled.", true);
+        lock.lock();
+    }
+    // A cancelled worker/atomic live merge must drain before its globals or files are reused.
+    if (stage.load() == Stage::idle && (workers.load() || (apply_started.load() && live_mods::busy()))) {
+        pending = asked;
+        overlay::notify(overlay::NoticeLevel::warning, "Map download",
+            "The previous map operation is still finishing. Waiting before starting this map.");
+        return;
+    }
+    pending.reset();
     auto idle = Stage::idle;
     const auto name = package::parse_name(asked.package);
     // (Taken before anything is set up, so a second need while this one is in hand is dropped.)
@@ -256,10 +339,7 @@ void offer(const multiplayer::MapNeed& asked) {
         // Another map is in hand (the session moved on while it came). One at a time: the one
         // being fetched is finished, and the session, which now waits on this other one, is left.
         bool other{};
-        {
-            std::lock_guard lock(mutex);
-            other = asked.package != need.package;
-        }
+        other = asked.package != need.package;
         if (other) {
             overlay::notify(overlay::NoticeLevel::warning, "Map changed again",
                 "The " + host_word(asked.server) + " moved on to " + asked.map + " while another map was downloading. Join again when it is done.");
@@ -268,7 +348,6 @@ void offer(const multiplayer::MapNeed& asked) {
         return;
     }
     {
-        std::lock_guard lock(mutex);
         need = asked;
         if (!name || asked.package == last_failed) {
             // (Said once already, or nothing this can fetch: the plain notice.)
@@ -287,23 +366,52 @@ void offer(const multiplayer::MapNeed& asked) {
     }
     overlay::set_map_download_icon({});
     watch.cancel.store(false);
+    const auto now = multiplayer::now_us();
+    deadline.store(asked.deadline_us ? asked.deadline_us : now + policy::session_us);
+    ask_until.store(0);
+    transfer_until.store(0);
+    watch.deadline_us.store(deadline.load());
     stop_install.store(false);
+    apply_wanted.store(false);
+    apply_started.store(false);
     pick_download.store(true);
-    start(check);
+    try {
+        start(check);
+    } catch (...) {
+        lock.unlock();
+        fail("The map download could not be started. Please try joining again.", true);
+    }
 }
 
 void answer(bool download) noexcept {
     try {
         // (A click and a key can answer in the same moment: only the first does.)
-        auto asked = Stage::asking;
-        if (stage.compare_exchange_strong(asked, download ? Stage::downloading : Stage::idle)) {
-            if (download) start(fetch);
-            else leave_session();
-        } else if (asked == Stage::downloading && !download) {
-            watch.cancel.store(true);
+        if (!continuing()) return;
+        const auto now = multiplayer::now_us();
+        if (stage.load() == Stage::asking && policy::expired(ask_until.load(), now)) {
+            fail("The map download was not confirmed within two minutes. Please try joining again.", true);
+            return;
+        }
+        if (!download) {
+            if (stage.load() == Stage::asking || stage.load() == Stage::downloading)
+                fail("Map download cancelled.", true);
+        } else {
+            bool no_time{};
+            {
+                // Publish the stage and claim its worker together. Cancellation cannot allow
+                // a fresh offer to reuse the globals before this thread starts its worker.
+                std::lock_guard lock(mutex);
+                auto asked = Stage::asking;
+                if (!watch.cancel.load() && stage.compare_exchange_strong(asked, Stage::downloading)) {
+                    transfer_until.store(policy::transfer_deadline(deadline.load(), now));
+                    no_time = policy::expired(transfer_until.load(), now) && !installed_off;
+                    if (!no_time) start(fetch);
+                }
+            }
+            if (no_time) fail("Map download timed out. Please try joining the server again.", true);
         }
     } catch (...) {
-        stage.store(Stage::idle);
+        fail("The map download could not be started. Please try joining again.", true);
     }
 }
 
@@ -345,10 +453,42 @@ View view() {
 }
 
 void tick() {
-    const auto now = stage.load();
+    std::optional<multiplayer::MapNeed> next;
+    {
+        std::lock_guard lock(mutex);
+        if (pending && pending->deadline_us != multiplayer::map_fetch_deadline()) pending.reset();
+        if (pending && stage.load() == Stage::idle && !workers.load() &&
+            !(apply_started.load() && live_mods::busy()))
+            next = std::exchange(pending, std::nullopt);
+    }
+    if (next) offer(*next);
+    auto now = stage.load();
+    if (now != Stage::idle) {
+        const auto session = multiplayer::model();
+        // Admission (or completed travel) retires the session deadline. Do not turn an
+        // already successful join into a timeout while waiting out the UI's settling delay.
+        if (now == Stage::joining && session.active && session.connected &&
+            !multiplayer::fetching_map() && !multiplayer::map_fetch_deadline()) {
+            std::lock_guard lock(mutex);
+            if (stage.compare_exchange_strong(now, Stage::idle)) last_failed.clear();
+            now = stage.load();
+        }
+        if (session.active && now != Stage::joining && multiplayer::map_fetch_deadline() != deadline.load())
+            fail("Map download cancelled.", true);
+        if (!session.active && session.status.find("stopped waiting for the map download") != std::string::npos)
+            fail("The server stopped waiting for the map download.", true);
+        if (continuing() && now == Stage::asking &&
+            policy::expired(ask_until.load(), multiplayer::now_us()))
+            fail("The map download was not confirmed within two minutes. Please try joining again.", true);
+        if (continuing() && now == Stage::downloading &&
+            policy::expired(transfer_until.load(), multiplayer::now_us()))
+            fail("Map download timed out. Please try joining the server again.", true);
+        now = stage.load();
+    }
     // The session leaves the map alone until it has been applied (an update's level is one the
     // game already has, and would load from files that are being replaced).
-    multiplayer::hold_map_load(now == Stage::downloading || now == Stage::installing || now == Stage::applying);
+    multiplayer::hold_map_load((now != Stage::idle && now != Stage::joining) ||
+        workers.load() || (apply_started.load() && live_mods::busy()), need_package());
     if (now == Stage::applying) {
         if (apply_wanted.load()) {
             // (A merge of the player's own may be running: wait for it and start this one.)
@@ -371,24 +511,25 @@ void tick() {
             return fail("It is installed, but was left out when the mods were applied (" + live_mods::status() + ").");
         // The level list takes the new map on the next ticks, and the session, which has been
         // trying the map all along, loads it then.
-        join_at.store(GetTickCount64());
-        stage.store(Stage::joining);
+        join_at.store(multiplayer::now_us());
+        advance(Stage::applying, Stage::joining);
         return;
     }
     if (now == Stage::joining) {
-        const auto waited = GetTickCount64() - join_at.load();
-        if (waited < 2500) return;
+        const auto waited = multiplayer::now_us() - join_at.load();
+        if (waited < 2500000) return;
         // Still waiting on it: the game has the mod and cannot find the map in it.
-        if (multiplayer::fetching_map()) {
-            if (waited > 30000) fail("It is installed, but the game still cannot load the map. Restart the game and join again.");
+        const auto session = multiplayer::model();
+        if (multiplayer::fetching_map() || (session.active && !session.connected)) {
+            if (waited >= policy::installed_load_us) fail("It is installed, but the game still cannot load the map. Restart the game and join again.");
             return;
         }
         {
             // Should it not load after all, it is said and not offered round and round.
             std::lock_guard lock(mutex);
-            last_failed = need.package;
+            last_failed.clear();
         }
-        stage.store(Stage::idle);
+        if (!continuing() || !stage.compare_exchange_strong(now, Stage::idle)) return;
         // The session ended while the map came (the host left, the connection dropped): back to it.
         if (!multiplayer::model().active && !multiplayer::queue_command("rejoin", "", ""))
             overlay::notify(overlay::NoticeLevel::warning, "Map installed", "Join the session again from the server browser.");
diff --git a/Extension/Assets/map_download.h b/Extension/Assets/map_download.h
index 68f30ac..4cf7525 100644
--- a/Extension/Assets/map_download.h
+++ b/Extension/Assets/map_download.h
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@
 // player is asked; on yes the package is downloaded, installed into Mods and applied as a live
 // mod (live_mods.h). The session stays connected meanwhile and loads the map once it is there;
 // on no, or when the map cannot be had, the session is left.
+// Checking, confirmation, transfer, installation, applying and joining share the session's
+// local monotonic 30-minute deadline. Confirmation gets two minutes; transfers at most 27,
+// leaving three for completion. A cancelled worker drains before another attempt can begin.
 //
 // Only maps come in this way. The package has to be listed as a map in ReSkate's Thunderstore
 // community, not deprecated and not rejected by its moderators; what is installed has to be a
diff --git a/Extension/Multiplayer/Net/map_fetch_policy.h b/Extension/Multiplayer/Net/map_fetch_policy.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5139b1e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Extension/Multiplayer/Net/map_fetch_policy.h
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+#pragma once
+#include <algorithm>
+#include <cstdint>
+
+namespace dingosdk::multiplayer::map_fetch_policy {
+inline constexpr std::uint64_t second_us = 1000000;
+inline constexpr std::uint64_t session_us = 30ull * 60 * second_us;
+inline constexpr std::uint64_t transfer_us = 27ull * 60 * second_us;
+inline constexpr std::uint64_t completion_reserve_us = 3ull * 60 * second_us;
+inline constexpr std::uint64_t confirmation_us = 2ull * 60 * second_us;
+inline constexpr std::uint64_t installed_load_us = 30ull * second_us;
+
+// All timestamps belong to one process's monotonic clock; none go on the wire.
+constexpr bool expired(std::uint64_t deadline, std::uint64_t now) noexcept {
+    return deadline && now >= deadline;
+}
+constexpr std::uint64_t remaining(std::uint64_t deadline, std::uint64_t now) noexcept {
+    return now < deadline ? deadline - now : 0;
+}
+constexpr std::uint64_t transfer_deadline(std::uint64_t overall, std::uint64_t now) noexcept {
+    const auto available = remaining(overall, now);
+    return now + std::min(transfer_us, available > completion_reserve_us ? available - completion_reserve_us : 0);
+}
+constexpr bool host_expired(std::uint64_t started, std::uint64_t now) noexcept {
+    return started && now >= started && now - started >= session_us;
+}
+}
diff --git a/Extension/Multiplayer/Net/protocol.h b/Extension/Multiplayer/Net/protocol.h
index daf0fa2..2a74fa9 100644
--- a/Extension/Multiplayer/Net/protocol.h
+++ b/Extension/Multiplayer/Net/protocol.h
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #pragma once
+#include "map_fetch_policy.h"
 #include "Extension/Multiplayer/Remote/cosmetics.h"
 #include "Extension/Multiplayer/Session/peer_slots.h"
 #include "Extension/Multiplayer/Session/object_state.h"
@@ -226,9 +227,9 @@ bool valid_map_asset(std::string_view asset) noexcept;
 bool valid_map_pool(std::span<const std::uint16_t> pool, std::size_t maps) noexcept; // distinct indices below `maps`
 bool valid_map_label(std::string_view label) noexcept; // empty, or a name like a member's
 // How long a host goes on waiting for a player who says they are fetching the map
-// (Packet::map_fetching), from the first time they say so: a large map on a slow line. Past
-// it they are held to the time a load takes again.
-inline constexpr std::uint64_t map_fetch_limit_us = 45ull * 60 * 1000000;
+// (Packet::map_fetching), from the first time they say so, including installation and joining.
+// Repeated requests never extend this limit. Each host uses its own monotonic clock.
+inline constexpr std::uint64_t map_fetch_limit_us = map_fetch_policy::session_us;
 // The Thunderstore package a map comes from, so a player without it can be offered it:
 // "Owner-Name", or "Owner-Name-1.2.3" when the host knows its version. Empty for the game's own
 // maps and for a map mod that is not from Thunderstore.
diff --git a/Extension/Multiplayer/Session/session.cpp b/Extension/Multiplayer/Session/session.cpp
index d166bf4..1ad2a03 100644
--- a/Extension/Multiplayer/Session/session.cpp
+++ b/Extension/Multiplayer/Session/session.cpp
@@ -158,6 +158,8 @@ void stop(Session &s, std::string reason) {
     s.map_label.clear();
     s.map_package.clear();
     s.fetching_since = 0;
+    s.map_fetch_deadline = 0;
+    map_fetch_deadline_flag.store(0);
     fetching_map_flag.store(false, std::memory_order_relaxed);
     s.world = 1;
     s.travelling = false;
@@ -734,7 +736,10 @@ std::string take_removed_notice() { return std::exchange(session().removed_notic
 std::optional<MapNeed> take_map_need() { return std::exchange(session().map_need, std::nullopt); }
 void set_map_package_lookup(MapPackageLookup lookup) noexcept { map_package_lookup.store(lookup, std::memory_order_relaxed); }
 bool fetching_map() noexcept { return fetching_map_flag.load(std::memory_order_relaxed); }
-void hold_map_load(bool hold) noexcept { map_load_held.store(hold, std::memory_order_relaxed); }
+std::uint64_t map_fetch_deadline() noexcept { return map_fetch_deadline_flag.load(); }
+void hold_map_load(bool hold, std::string_view package) noexcept {
+    map_load_held.store(hold && !package.empty() ? map_hash(package) : 0);
+}
 MultiplayerChat chat() {
     auto &s = session();
     std::lock_guard lock(s.mutex);
@@ -773,6 +778,8 @@ bool observe_local_world(Session &s, const NativeFrame &local, std::string_view
     } else if (s.travelling) {
         if (local.ready && !s.awaiting_map && s.host_world_ready) {
             s.travelling = false;
+            s.map_fetch_deadline = 0;
+            map_fetch_deadline_flag.store(0);
             s.last_world_ready = 0;
             for (auto &peer : active_peers(s)) {
                 peer.last_packet = now;
@@ -801,6 +808,10 @@ bool observe_local_world(Session &s, const NativeFrame &local, std::string_view
 // Native loading can unload every local actor. Keep the connection in preflight
 // until the selected map and a controllable skater are available.
 bool prepare_join_map(Session &s, bool ready, std::string_view current, MapLoader loader, std::uint64_t now) {
+    if (map_fetch_policy::expired(s.map_fetch_deadline, now)) {
+        stop(s, "Map download timed out. Please try joining the server again.");
+        return false;
+    }
     if (!s.awaiting_map)
         return true;
     // (While the map is being fetched the clock is held: see below.)
@@ -836,7 +847,7 @@ bool prepare_join_map(Session &s, bool ready, std::string_view current, MapLoade
         // installed one's place), and loads when the two agree.
         const auto have = std::string(other_map_version(s.map_package, host_map_package(s.join_destination)));
         // (Nor while its files are being put in place and applied: hold_map_load.)
-        const bool held = map_load_held.load(std::memory_order_relaxed);
+        const bool held = !s.map_package.empty() && map_load_held.load() == map_hash(s.map_package);
         const auto result = have.empty() && !held ? loader(s.join_destination, s.map_load_submitted, detail) : MapLoadResult::missing;
         if (result == MapLoadResult::missing) {
             const auto name = s.map_label.empty() ? world_level_name(world_destination_asset(s.join_destination)) : s.map_label;
@@ -849,16 +860,13 @@ bool prepare_join_map(Session &s, bool ready, std::string_view current, MapLoade
             if (!s.map_package.empty()) {
                 if (!s.fetching_since) {
                     s.fetching_since = now;
+                    if (!s.map_fetch_deadline) s.map_fetch_deadline = now + map_fetch_limit_us;
+                    map_fetch_deadline_flag.store(s.map_fetch_deadline);
                     fetching_map_flag.store(true, std::memory_order_relaxed);
-                    s.map_need = MapNeed{s.map_package, name, dedicated_host(s), s.travelling, have};
-                    s.rejoin = Session::Rejoin{{s.host_id, s.secret}, s.password};
+                    s.map_need = MapNeed{s.map_package, name, dedicated_host(s), s.travelling, have, s.map_fetch_deadline};
+                    s.rejoin = Session::Rejoin{{s.host_id, s.secret}, s.password, s.map_fetch_deadline};
                     s.last_map_request = s.last_world_ready = 0;   // say so at once
                 }
-                if (now - s.fetching_since > map_fetch_limit_us) {
-                    s.leave_notice = where + ", which did not finish downloading in time. Install its map mod and join again.";
-                    stop(s, s.leave_notice);
-                    return false;
-                }
                 // The time a load gets starts when the map is here.
                 s.join_started = now;
                 if (s.travelling) s.travel_started = now;
diff --git a/Extension/Multiplayer/Session/session.h b/Extension/Multiplayer/Session/session.h
index bc0eeaa..21e00cd 100644
--- a/Extension/Multiplayer/Session/session.h
+++ b/Extension/Multiplayer/Session/session.h
@@ -31,7 +31,8 @@ std::string take_removed_notice();
 // for download instead (Extension/Assets/map_download.h): the session does not end. It tells
 // the host the map is being fetched, which is given much longer than a load, and goes on
 // trying the map, so it loads as soon as it is installed. Once per map; client thread.
-// The downloader ends the session (queue_command "stop") when the player says no or the map
+// The downloader ends its own attempt (queue_command "stop-map-fetch", with its deadline)
+// when the player says no or the map
 // cannot be had. Should the session end meanwhile for another reason,
 // queue_command("rejoin", "", "") goes back to it, with the password it was joined with.
 struct MapNeed {
@@ -42,15 +43,18 @@ struct MapNeed {
     // The version of it installed here, when that is another than the host's: the host's is
     // fetched in its place. Empty: the map is not installed.
     std::string have;
+    // Local steady-clock deadline, shared with the downloader, never transmitted.
+    std::uint64_t deadline_us{};
 };
 std::optional<MapNeed> take_map_need();
 // Whether a session is waiting on a map being fetched right now. Thread-safe.
 bool fetching_map() noexcept;
-// Held while a map is being downloaded, installed or applied: the session does not load the
-// host's map meanwhile, and waits as it does for one that is missing. A map that is being
+std::uint64_t map_fetch_deadline() noexcept;
+// Held for the named package while it is being downloaded, installed or applied: unrelated
+// joins are not held. The session waits as it does for a missing map. A map that is being
 // replaced by another version is one the game already knows, so without this it would load as
 // soon as the new files are in place, before the mods are applied again. Thread-safe.
-void hold_map_load(bool hold) noexcept;
+void hold_map_load(bool hold, std::string_view package) noexcept;
 // How a host learns the package of the map it is on, to tell its guests: the level's asset in,
 // the package (or nothing) out. Called on the client thread, often; it should be quick.
 using MapPackageLookup = std::string (*)(std::string_view asset);
diff --git a/Extension/Multiplayer/Session/session_commands.cpp b/Extension/Multiplayer/Session/session_commands.cpp
index 14f887d..c16b45c 100644
--- a/Extension/Multiplayer/Session/session_commands.cpp
+++ b/Extension/Multiplayer/Session/session_commands.cpp
@@ -622,7 +622,7 @@ bool own_mark_command(std::string_view action) {
 } // namespace
 bool queue_command(std::string_view action, std::string_view argument, std::string_view password) {
     if (launcher::offline_mode() && !own_mark_command(action)) return false;
-    if ((action != "host" && action != "host-config" && action != "join" && action != "rejoin" && action != "join-lobby" && action != "join-friend-lobby" && action != "stop" &&
+    if ((action != "host" && action != "host-config" && action != "join" && action != "rejoin" && action != "join-lobby" && action != "join-friend-lobby" && action != "stop" && action != "stop-map-fetch" &&
          action != "distances" && action != "object-placement" && action != "object-limit" && action != "kick" && action != "clear-objects" &&
          action != "nametags" && action != "chat-visible" && action != "chat-filter" &&
          action != "nametag-distance" && action != "nametag-dots" && action != "nametags-friends" && action != "player-distance" && action != "direct-connections" && action != "pose-dump" && action != "vote" && action != "voice-chat" &&
@@ -875,7 +875,15 @@ std::string command(std::string_view action, std::string_view argument, std::str
         if (action == "status")
             return s.status + " | Players " + std::to_string(player_count(s)) + "/" +
                    std::to_string(s.capacity);
-        if (action == "stop") {
+        if (action == "stop-map-fetch") {
+            std::uint64_t expected{};
+            const auto parsed = std::from_chars(argument.data(), argument.data() + argument.size(), expected);
+            // A worker's queued cancellation may execute after a fresh join command.
+            if (parsed.ec != std::errc{} || parsed.ptr != argument.data() + argument.size() ||
+                !expected || expected != s.map_fetch_deadline)
+                return s.status;
+        }
+        if (action == "stop" || action == "stop-map-fetch") {
             stop(s, "Multiplayer stopped.");
             publish(s);
             return s.status;
@@ -968,6 +976,8 @@ std::string command(std::string_view action, std::string_view argument, std::str
         if (action == "rejoin") {
             rejoin = std::exchange(s.rejoin, std::nullopt);
             if (!rejoin) return "There is no session to go back to.";
+            if (map_fetch_policy::expired(rejoin->deadline_us, now_us()))
+                return "Map download timed out. Please try joining the server again.";
         }
         if (action != "host" && action != "join" && action != "echo" && !rejoin)
             return "Unknown multiplayer action.";
@@ -1113,6 +1123,8 @@ std::string command(std::string_view action, std::string_view argument, std::str
             s.host_id = invitation->steam_id;
             s.awaiting_map = true;
             s.join_started = now_us();
+            s.map_fetch_deadline = rejoin ? rejoin->deadline_us : 0;
+            map_fetch_deadline_flag.store(s.map_fetch_deadline);
             s.status = "Connecting and checking the host's map...";
         }
         set_lobby_park_mode(s.mode == Mode::host || s.mode == Mode::join, s.mode == Mode::join);
diff --git a/Extension/Multiplayer/Session/session_internal.h b/Extension/Multiplayer/Session/session_internal.h
index 58a2e80..d22b61c 100644
--- a/Extension/Multiplayer/Session/session_internal.h
+++ b/Extension/Multiplayer/Session/session_internal.h
@@ -262,11 +262,13 @@ struct Session {
     // The map is not installed and is being fetched (take_map_need): since when, 0 for not.
     // The host is told with what is sent while waiting (Packet::map_fetching).
     std::uint64_t fetching_since{};
+    std::uint64_t map_fetch_deadline{};
     std::optional<MapNeed> map_need;          // take_map_need()
     // The session a missing map ended, for "rejoin": who hosted it and the password key it was joined with.
     struct Rejoin {
         Invite invite;
         std::optional<PasswordKey> password;
+        std::uint64_t deadline_us{};
     };
     std::optional<Rejoin> rejoin;
     std::string leave_notice;                 // take_leave_notice()
@@ -475,14 +477,14 @@ std::string answer_server_poll(Session &s, std::size_t answer);
 inline std::atomic<bool> server_vote_open_flag{};
 inline std::atomic<MapPackageLookup> map_package_lookup{};
 inline std::atomic<bool> fetching_map_flag{};
-inline std::atomic<bool> map_load_held{};
+inline std::atomic<std::uint64_t> map_fetch_deadline_flag{}, map_load_held{};
 // A guest without the map is downloading it: the clock they are loading against starts over
 // each time they say so, for as long as map_fetch_limit_us from the first time.
 inline void guest_fetching(Peer &peer, std::uint64_t now) {
     // (Only for a guest who is past the password.)
     if (!peer.handshaken && !peer.map_authorized) return;
     if (!peer.fetching_since) peer.fetching_since = now;
-    if (now - peer.fetching_since > map_fetch_limit_us) return;
+    if (map_fetch_policy::host_expired(peer.fetching_since, now)) return;
     if (!peer.handshaken) peer.connected_at = now;
     else if (peer.travel_since) peer.travel_since = now;
 }
diff --git a/Extension/Multiplayer/Session/session_receive.cpp b/Extension/Multiplayer/Session/session_receive.cpp
index 75300e1..a9e4ea5 100644
--- a/Extension/Multiplayer/Session/session_receive.cpp
+++ b/Extension/Multiplayer/Session/session_receive.cpp
@@ -622,6 +622,16 @@ void networking(Session &s, const NativeFrame &local, std::uint64_t now) {
             continue;
         }
         const auto &p = *decoded;
+        if (s.mode == Mode::join && map_fetch_policy::expired(s.map_fetch_deadline, now)) {
+            stop(s, "Map download timed out. Please try joining the server again.");
+            return;
+        }
+        if (s.mode == Mode::host && link->fetching_since && (!link->handshaken || link->travel_since) &&
+            map_fetch_policy::host_expired(link->fetching_since, now)) {
+            disconnect(s, message.peer, "The server stopped waiting for the map download.");
+            if (s.mode == Mode::off) return;
+            continue;
+        }
         // A dedicated server sends no poses; its roster and control traffic keep it alive.
         if (dedicated_host(s) && message.peer == s.host_id) link->last_packet = now;
         if (p.kind == PacketKind::world_state) {
@@ -636,6 +646,8 @@ void networking(Session &s, const NativeFrame &local, std::uint64_t now) {
                                      !newer_sequence(p.sequence, s.world_state_sequence)))
                 continue;
             if (p.world > s.world) {
+                // Initial authorization during an automatic rejoin keeps the original budget.
+                const auto fetch_deadline = s.world ? 0 : s.map_fetch_deadline;
                 clear_world(s, now);
                 s.world = p.world;
                 s.travelling = s.awaiting_map = s.join_map_authorized = true;
@@ -646,6 +658,8 @@ void networking(Session &s, const NativeFrame &local, std::uint64_t now) {
                 s.map_label.clear();
                 s.map_package.clear();
                 s.fetching_since = 0;
+                s.map_fetch_deadline = fetch_deadline;
+                map_fetch_deadline_flag.store(fetch_deadline);
                 fetching_map_flag.store(false, std::memory_order_relaxed);
                 s.map = 0;
                 s.map_load_submitted = false;
@@ -765,6 +779,7 @@ void networking(Session &s, const NativeFrame &local, std::uint64_t now) {
             s.map_package = p.map_package;
             s.world = p.world;
             s.join_map_authorized |= p.map_authorized;
+            link->last_packet = now;
             if (new_challenge)
                 s.last_map_request = 0;
             if (!s.join_map_authorized)
@@ -858,6 +873,10 @@ void networking(Session &s, const NativeFrame &local, std::uint64_t now) {
             link->world_ready = true;
             link->travel_since = 0;
             link->last_packet = now;
+            if (s.mode == Mode::join && message.peer == s.host_id && !s.awaiting_map) {
+                s.map_fetch_deadline = 0;
+                map_fetch_deadline_flag.store(0);
+            }
             if (joined) s.join_backoff.joined(message.peer);
             if (s.mode == Mode::host) {
                 send_required(s, message.peer, encode_wire(packet(s, PacketKind::welcome, now)));
@@ -1162,7 +1181,15 @@ void networking(Session &s, const NativeFrame &local, std::uint64_t now) {
         }
         // Authorized arrivals get time for native loading; this has an absolute
         // deadline, so requests cannot keep an unused slot reserved indefinitely.
+        if (s.mode == Mode::host && p.fetching_since && (!p.handshaken || p.travel_since) &&
+            map_fetch_policy::host_expired(p.fetching_since, now)) {
+            disconnect(s, p.member.id, "The server stopped waiting for the map download.");
+            if (s.mode == Mode::off) return;
+            continue;
+        }
         const std::uint64_t handshake_timeout = p.map_authorized ? 180000000 : 8000000;
+        const bool fetching_from_host = s.mode == Mode::join && p.member.id == s.host_id &&
+            s.map_fetch_deadline && !map_fetch_policy::expired(s.map_fetch_deadline, now);
         if (p.handshaken && (s.travelling || p.travel_since)) {
             if (p.travel_since && now - p.travel_since > 180000000) {
                 disconnect(s, p.member.id, "A player could not finish loading the new map.");
@@ -1170,7 +1197,8 @@ void networking(Session &s, const NativeFrame &local, std::uint64_t now) {
             }
             continue;
         }
-        if ((!p.handshaken && p.connected_at && now - p.connected_at > handshake_timeout) ||
+        if ((!p.handshaken && p.connected_at &&
+             (fetching_from_host ? now - p.last_packet > 10000000 : now - p.connected_at > handshake_timeout)) ||
             (p.handshaken && now - p.last_packet > 10000000)) {
             disconnect(s, p.member.id, "A player timed out while waiting for gameplay data.");
             if (s.mode == Mode::off)
diff --git a/Extension/Multiplayer/Test/map_fetch_policy_tests.cpp b/Extension/Multiplayer/Test/map_fetch_policy_tests.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a263f1d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Extension/Multiplayer/Test/map_fetch_policy_tests.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+#include "Extension/Multiplayer/Net/map_fetch_policy.h"
+#include "Extension/Multiplayer/Net/protocol.h"
+#include <array>
+#include <cstdint>
+#include <iostream>
+#include <limits>
+#include <stdexcept>
+
+namespace policy = dingosdk::multiplayer::map_fetch_policy;
+
+void require(bool condition, const char* message) {
+    if (!condition) throw std::runtime_error(message);
+}
+
+int main() {
+    try {
+        require(policy::second_us == 1000000, "microsecond units");
+        require(policy::session_us == 1800 * policy::second_us, "30 minute session");
+        require(dingosdk::multiplayer::map_fetch_limit_us == policy::session_us,
+            "host protocol and local downloader share the session budget");
+        require(policy::transfer_us == 1620 * policy::second_us, "27 minute transfer");
+        require(policy::completion_reserve_us == 180 * policy::second_us, "3 minute completion reserve");
+        require(policy::confirmation_us == 120 * policy::second_us, "2 minute confirmation");
+        require(policy::installed_load_us == 30 * policy::second_us, "30 second installed-map load");
+        require(policy::transfer_us + policy::completion_reserve_us == policy::session_us, "budgets partition session");
+        require(!policy::expired(0, 0) && !policy::expired(0, std::numeric_limits<std::uint64_t>::max()),
+            "zero means no deadline");
+        require(!policy::host_expired(0, policy::session_us), "host zero means no fetch");
+        require(policy::remaining(0, 100) == 0, "zero remaining saturates");
+
+        // Arbitrary process clock epochs must not affect durations or host/client agreement.
+        for (const auto origin : std::array<std::uint64_t, 3>{1, 500000000000ull, 800000000000000ull}) {
+            for (const auto duration : std::array{
+                     policy::session_us, policy::transfer_us, policy::completion_reserve_us,
+                     policy::confirmation_us, policy::installed_load_us}) {
+                const auto deadline = origin + duration;
+                require(!policy::expired(deadline, deadline - 1), "before boundary");
+                require(policy::expired(deadline, deadline), "exact boundary");
+                require(policy::expired(deadline, deadline + 1), "after boundary");
+                require(policy::remaining(deadline, deadline - 1) == 1, "last microsecond");
+                require(policy::remaining(deadline, deadline) == 0, "exact remaining");
+                require(policy::remaining(deadline, deadline + 1) == 0, "remaining never underflows");
+            }
+            const auto overall = origin + policy::session_us;
+            require(!policy::host_expired(origin, origin - 1), "host rejects earlier clock");
+            require(!policy::host_expired(origin, overall - 1), "host before boundary");
+            require(policy::host_expired(origin, overall), "host exact boundary");
+            require(policy::host_expired(origin, overall + 1), "host after boundary");
+            require(policy::host_expired(origin, overall) == policy::expired(overall, overall),
+                "host and downloader share duration");
+            const auto transfer = policy::transfer_deadline(overall, origin);
+            require(transfer == origin + policy::transfer_us, "full transfer budget");
+            require(overall - transfer == policy::completion_reserve_us, "completion remains reserved");
+            const auto confirmed = origin + policy::confirmation_us;
+            require(policy::transfer_deadline(overall, confirmed) == transfer,
+                "confirmation consumes session, not extra time");
+            const auto fallback = confirmed + 600 * policy::second_us;
+            require(policy::remaining(transfer, fallback) == transfer - fallback,
+                "fallback consumes original transfer budget");
+            require(policy::transfer_deadline(overall, fallback) == transfer,
+                "fallback cannot restart the budget");
+            const auto reserve_start = overall - policy::completion_reserve_us;
+            require(policy::transfer_deadline(overall, reserve_start - 1) == reserve_start,
+                "one microsecond transfer remains");
+            require(policy::transfer_deadline(overall, reserve_start) == reserve_start,
+                "exact reserve refuses transfer");
+            require(policy::transfer_deadline(overall, reserve_start + 1) == reserve_start + 1,
+                "less than reserve refuses transfer");
+            require(policy::transfer_deadline(overall, overall) == overall, "expired session refuses transfer");
+            require(policy::transfer_deadline(overall, overall + 1) == overall + 1, "past session refuses transfer");
+            require(policy::transfer_deadline(overall + policy::session_us, origin) == transfer,
+                "long external deadline still caps transfer");
+            require(policy::transfer_deadline(0, origin) == origin, "missing session budget refuses transfer");
+        }
+        constexpr auto host_clock = 90000000000000ull;
+        constexpr auto client_clock = 700000000000ull;
+        for (const auto elapsed : std::array{
+                 policy::session_us - 1, policy::session_us, policy::session_us + 1}) {
+            require(policy::host_expired(host_clock, host_clock + elapsed) ==
+                    policy::expired(client_clock + policy::session_us, client_clock + elapsed),
+                "independent host/client epochs yield the same expiration");
+        }
+        std::cout << "Map fetch policy boundary tests passed\n";
+        return 0;
+    } catch (const std::exception& error) {
+        std::cerr << error.what() << '\n';
+        return 1;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/Extension/Multiplayer/Test/mesh_tests.cpp b/Extension/Multiplayer/Test/mesh_tests.cpp
index 229c92c..09b428a 100644
--- a/Extension/Multiplayer/Test/mesh_tests.cpp
+++ b/Extension/Multiplayer/Test/mesh_tests.cpp
@@ -1460,6 +1460,85 @@ void map_checks() {
         pair.run(1);
         check(pair.guest.mode == Mode::off, "Host departure left a pending map join active");
     }
+    {
+        map_package_lookup.store(+[](std::string_view) { return std::string("Team-Map-1.0.0"); });
+        MapPair pair;
+        MapPair::missing = true;
+        pair.run(20);
+        const auto deadline = pair.guest.map_fetch_deadline;
+        check(deadline && pair.guest.map_need && pair.guest.map_need->deadline_us == deadline,
+              "Downloader did not receive the session's authoritative deadline");
+        pair.now += 180000001;
+        auto request = packet(pair.guest, PacketKind::map_request, pair.now);
+        request.map = pair.host.map;
+        request.map_fetching = true;
+        send_required(pair.guest, pair.host.host_id, encode_wire(request));
+        networking(pair.host, pair.host_frame, pair.now);
+        networking(pair.guest, NativeFrame{}, pair.now);
+        check(pair.guest.mode == Mode::join && pair.guest.map_fetch_deadline == deadline,
+              "An active download was disconnected by the ordinary host-link handshake timeout");
+        check(!prepare_join_map(pair.guest, false, pair.current, MapPair::loader, deadline - 1) &&
+                  pair.guest.mode == Mode::join,
+              "Map fetch expired before its deadline");
+        check(!prepare_join_map(pair.guest, false, pair.current, MapPair::loader, deadline) &&
+                  pair.guest.mode == Mode::off,
+              "Map fetch survived its exact deadline");
+        map_package_lookup.store(nullptr);
+    }
+    {
+        map_package_lookup.store(+[](std::string_view) { return std::string("Team-Map-1.0.0"); });
+        MapPair pair;
+        MapPair::missing = true;
+        pair.run(20);
+        const auto deadline = pair.guest.map_fetch_deadline;
+        MapPair::missing = false;
+        pair.current = pair.host.map_name;
+        const auto now = deadline - 1;
+        check(prepare_join_map(pair.guest, true, pair.current, MapPair::loader, now),
+              "Installed map could not finish loading within the deadline");
+        pair.guest.map = map_hash(pair.current);
+        pair.guest.map_name = pair.current;
+        find_peer(pair.guest, pair.host.host_id)->last_packet = now; // ongoing metadata heartbeats
+        check(pair.guest.map_fetch_deadline == deadline,
+              "Native loading completion prematurely discarded the join deadline");
+        networking(pair.guest, pair.host_frame, now);
+        networking(pair.host, pair.host_frame, now);
+        networking(pair.guest, pair.host_frame, now);
+        check(find_peer(pair.guest, pair.host.host_id)->handshaken && !pair.guest.map_fetch_deadline,
+              "Welcome did not retire a successfully completed download deadline");
+        check(prepare_join_map(pair.guest, true, pair.current, MapPair::loader, deadline + 1),
+              "A successfully joined player was disconnected by a retired deadline");
+        map_package_lookup.store(nullptr);
+    }
+    {
+        MapPair pair;
+        pair.run(20);
+        hold_map_load(true, "Team-Unrelated-1.0.0");
+        check(!prepare_join_map(pair.guest, false, pair.current, MapPair::loader, pair.now + 500000) &&
+                  pair.guest.mode == Mode::join && pair.guest.map_load_submitted,
+              "An abandoned download blocked an unrelated ordinary map load");
+        hold_map_load(false, "");
+    }
+    {
+        auto &waiting = session();
+        stop(waiting, "Map cancellation fixture");
+        waiting.mode = Mode::join;
+        waiting.map_fetch_deadline = 100;
+        check(queue_command("stop-map-fetch", "100", ""), "Map cancellation command was not queued");
+        std::unique_ptr<PrivateRequest> cancellation;
+        {
+            std::lock_guard lock(waiting.request_mutex);
+            cancellation = std::move(waiting.requests.back());
+            waiting.requests.pop_back();
+        }
+        // A fresh join executes before the old worker's cancellation is dispatched.
+        waiting.map_fetch_deadline = 200;
+        command(cancellation->action, cancellation->argument, cancellation->password);
+        check(waiting.mode == Mode::join && waiting.map_fetch_deadline == 200,
+              "A queued cancellation stopped a fresh map-fetch attempt");
+        command("stop-map-fetch", "200");
+        check(waiting.mode == Mode::off, "An owned cancellation did not stop its pending join");
+    }
     std::cout << "Automatic map joining: codec, same/different maps, password-before-load, slow loading, "
                  "skater readiness, missing maps, cancellation, timeout and host departure passed.\n";
 }
diff --git a/Launcher/Test/mod_manager_tests.cpp b/Launcher/Test/mod_manager_tests.cpp
index e16c901..6070274 100644
--- a/Launcher/Test/mod_manager_tests.cpp
+++ b/Launcher/Test/mod_manager_tests.cpp
@@ -119,6 +119,28 @@ int main() {
     make_zip(sources / L"v2.zip", {{"Cool Park/layout.toc", "toc v2"}});
     check(install(mods, sources / L"v2.zip", true) == "Cool Park" && read(mods / L"Cool Park" / L"layout.toc") == "toc v2",
           "Replacing installs the new copy");
+    {
+        std::atomic<bool> cancel{};
+        unsigned callbacks{};
+        make_zip(sources / L"cancelled.zip", {{"Cool Park/layout.toc", "must not replace"}});
+        const auto issue = error_of([&] {
+            launcher_mods::install(mods, sources / L"cancelled.zip", true,
+                [&](float) { if (++callbacks == 2) cancel.store(true); }, cancel);
+        });
+        check(issue == "Install cancelled." && callbacks == 2,
+              "Cancellation at the final safe installation boundary was ignored");
+        check(read(mods / L"Cool Park" / L"layout.toc") == "toc v2" &&
+                  !fs::exists(mods / L".reskate-install"),
+              "Cancelled replacement damaged the existing mod or left staging files");
+        write(sources / L"cancelled folder" / L"Cool Park" / L"layout.toc", "must not replace");
+        cancel.store(false);
+        callbacks = 0;
+        check(error_of([&] {
+            launcher_mods::install(mods, sources / L"cancelled folder", true,
+                [&](float) { if (++callbacks == 2) cancel.store(true); }, cancel);
+        }) == "Install cancelled." && read(mods / L"Cool Park" / L"layout.toc") == "toc v2",
+              "Cancelled folder replacement did not preserve the installed mod");
+    }
 
     // Hostile or unrelated archives.
     make_zip(sources / L"evil.zip", {{"../evil.txt", "x"}, {"layout.toc", "toc"}});
diff --git a/Launcher/mod_manager.cpp b/Launcher/mod_manager.cpp
index 499d750..aee3c34 100644
--- a/Launcher/mod_manager.cpp
+++ b/Launcher/mod_manager.cpp
@@ -291,6 +291,7 @@ std::string install_zip(const fs::path& mods, const fs::path& source, bool repla
     std::vector<std::string> files;
     const auto count = mz_zip_reader_get_num_files(&zip.archive);
     for (mz_uint index = 0; index < count; ++index) {
+        if (cancel) fail("Install cancelled.");
         mz_zip_archive_file_stat stat{};
         if (!mz_zip_reader_file_stat(&zip.archive, index, &stat)) fail("The .zip file is damaged.");
         const auto name = safe_entry(stat.m_filename);
@@ -328,6 +329,9 @@ std::string install_zip(const fs::path& mods, const fs::path& source, bool repla
         if (!ok) fail("Could not extract " + relative + " from the .zip file.");
     }
     finish(staging.path(), *root, utf8(source.filename().wstring()), options);
+    // Cancellation is safe before replacing the installed folder, not midway through commit.
+    if (progress) progress(1.f);
+    if (cancel) fail("Install cancelled.");
     commit(mods, staging, name, replace);
     return name;
 }
@@ -337,6 +341,7 @@ std::string install_folder(const fs::path& mods, const fs::path& source, bool re
     std::vector<std::string> files;
     std::vector<fs::path> paths;
     for (auto it = fs::recursive_directory_iterator(source); it != fs::recursive_directory_iterator(); ++it) {
+        if (cancel) fail("Install cancelled.");
         if (!it->is_regular_file()) continue;
         paths.push_back(it->path());
         auto relative = utf8(fs::relative(it->path(), source).generic_wstring());
@@ -363,6 +368,8 @@ std::string install_folder(const fs::path& mods, const fs::path& source, bool re
         if (progress && total) progress(static_cast<float>(written) / static_cast<float>(total));
     }
     finish(staging.path(), *root, utf8(source.filename().wstring()), options);
+    if (progress) progress(1.f);
+    if (cancel) fail("Install cancelled.");
     commit(mods, staging, name, replace);
     return name;
 }
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ca43364..70f1b48 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -81,6 +81,21 @@ CachyOS: the launcher, the server browser, joining a public server and hosting a
 custom map and then join a server on another map, the screen can stay black
 ([#31](https://github.com/Dingo-Shenanigans/ReSkate/issues/31)): load the server's map first.
 
+### Multiplayer map downloads
+
+Missing multiplayer custom maps can be downloaded from Thunderstore after confirmation.
+The confirmation expires after two minutes. Checking, downloading, installing, applying and
+joining share one 30-minute budget; HTTP transfers get at most 27 minutes and leave three minutes
+for completion (confirmation and metadata checks reduce the available transfer time).
+Dedicated servers and player-hosted lobbies enforce the same overall limit on their own
+monotonic clocks. Ordinary map loading still gets 180 seconds; loading after a live installation
+still gets 30 seconds, capped by the remaining budget.
+
+Timeouts cancel HTTP transfers and remove incomplete temporary downloads. Installation stops
+before replacing an existing mod when cancellation is observed. A filesystem commit or live
+merge already in progress finishes safely rather than being forcibly interrupted; it cannot
+restart a timed-out join. Retry after that work has finished, without restarting ReSkate.
+
 ### Controls
 
 | Key | Opens |
diff --git a/Server/server_host.cpp b/Server/server_host.cpp
index ef5196e..d6f02fc 100644
--- a/Server/server_host.cpp
+++ b/Server/server_host.cpp
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ void Host::fetching(Guest &guest) {
         guest.fetching_since = now_;
         log_("[map] " + guest_name(guest) + " is downloading the map");
     }
-    if (now_ - guest.fetching_since > map_fetch_limit_us) return;
+    if (map_fetch_policy::host_expired(guest.fetching_since, now_)) return;
     if (!guest.handshaken) guest.connected_at = now_;
     else if (guest.travel_since) guest.travel_since = now_;
 }
@@ -1096,6 +1096,9 @@ void Host::receive(std::uint64_t peer, std::span<const std::uint8_t> bytes, std:
     if (!decoded || decoded->session != secret_ || decoded->source != peer)
         return drop(peer, "Join code, sender identity, or multiplayer protocol did not match.");
     const auto &p = *decoded;
+    if (link->fetching_since && (!link->handshaken || link->travel_since) &&
+        map_fetch_policy::host_expired(link->fetching_since, now_))
+        return drop(peer, "The server stopped waiting for the map download.");
     link->traffic.total.in[traffic_kind(p.kind)] += bytes.size();
     traffic_.total.in[traffic_kind(p.kind)] += bytes.size();
     switch (p.kind) {
@@ -1793,6 +1796,11 @@ void Host::tick(std::uint64_t now) {
         auto &g = *(it++)->second;
         // Authorized arrivals get time for loading; this deadline is absolute, so
         // requests cannot hold an unused slot indefinitely.
+        if (g.fetching_since && (!g.handshaken || g.travel_since) &&
+            map_fetch_policy::host_expired(g.fetching_since, now_)) {
+            drop(g.member.id, "The server stopped waiting for the map download.");
+            continue;
+        }
         const std::uint64_t handshake_timeout = g.map_authorized ? 180000000 : 8000000;
         if (g.handshaken && g.travel_since) {
             if (now_ - g.travel_since > 180000000) drop(g.member.id, "Could not finish loading the new map.");