diff --git a/bramble-api/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/api/mailbox/MailboxPairingState.java b/bramble-api/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/api/mailbox/MailboxPairingState.java
index 8e129e2fe..47c055aad 100644
--- a/bramble-api/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/api/mailbox/MailboxPairingState.java
+++ b/bramble-api/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/api/mailbox/MailboxPairingState.java
@@ -2,10 +2,27 @@ package org.briarproject.bramble.api.mailbox;
 
 public abstract class MailboxPairingState {
 
-	public static class QrCodeReceived extends MailboxPairingState {
+	public abstract static class Pending extends MailboxPairingState {
+
+		public final long timeStarted;
+
+		private Pending(long timeStarted) {
+			this.timeStarted = timeStarted;
+		}
 	}
 
-	public static class Pairing extends MailboxPairingState {
+	public static class QrCodeReceived extends Pending {
+
+		public QrCodeReceived(long timeStarted) {
+			super(timeStarted);
+		}
+	}
+
+	public static class Pairing extends Pending {
+
+		public Pairing(long timeStarted) {
+			super(timeStarted);
+		}
 	}
 
 	public static class Paired extends MailboxPairingState {
diff --git a/bramble-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/mailbox/MailboxPairingTaskImpl.java b/bramble-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/mailbox/MailboxPairingTaskImpl.java
index 544a38bf1..8ce25be9d 100644
--- a/bramble-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/mailbox/MailboxPairingTaskImpl.java
+++ b/bramble-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/mailbox/MailboxPairingTaskImpl.java
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ class MailboxPairingTaskImpl implements MailboxPairingTask {
 	private final MailboxApi api;
 	private final MailboxSettingsManager mailboxSettingsManager;
 	private final MailboxUpdateManager mailboxUpdateManager;
+	private final long timeStarted;
 
 	private final Object lock = new Object();
 	@GuardedBy("lock")
@@ -77,7 +78,8 @@ class MailboxPairingTaskImpl implements MailboxPairingTask {
 		this.api = api;
 		this.mailboxSettingsManager = mailboxSettingsManager;
 		this.mailboxUpdateManager = mailboxUpdateManager;
-		state = new MailboxPairingState.QrCodeReceived();
+		timeStarted = clock.currentTimeMillis();
+		state = new MailboxPairingState.QrCodeReceived(timeStarted);
 	}
 
 	@Override
@@ -114,7 +116,7 @@ class MailboxPairingTaskImpl implements MailboxPairingTask {
 
 	private void pairMailbox() throws IOException, ApiException, DbException {
 		MailboxProperties mailboxProperties = decodeQrCodePayload(payload);
-		setState(new MailboxPairingState.Pairing());
+		setState(new MailboxPairingState.Pairing(timeStarted));
 		MailboxProperties ownerProperties = api.setup(mailboxProperties);
 		long time = clock.currentTimeMillis();
 		db.transaction(false, txn -> {
diff --git a/bramble-core/src/test/java/org/briarproject/bramble/mailbox/MailboxPairingTaskImplTest.java b/bramble-core/src/test/java/org/briarproject/bramble/mailbox/MailboxPairingTaskImplTest.java
index fbc817d3f..86763a525 100644
--- a/bramble-core/src/test/java/org/briarproject/bramble/mailbox/MailboxPairingTaskImplTest.java
+++ b/bramble-core/src/test/java/org/briarproject/bramble/mailbox/MailboxPairingTaskImplTest.java
@@ -68,8 +68,7 @@ public class MailboxPairingTaskImplTest extends BrambleMockTestCase {
 
 	@Test
 	public void testInitialQrCodeReceivedState() {
-		MailboxPairingTask task =
-				factory.createPairingTask(getRandomString(42));
+		MailboxPairingTask task = createPairingTask(getRandomString(42));
 		task.addObserver(state ->
 				assertTrue(state instanceof MailboxPairingState.QrCodeReceived)
 		);
@@ -77,15 +76,14 @@ public class MailboxPairingTaskImplTest extends BrambleMockTestCase {
 
 	@Test
 	public void testInvalidQrCode() {
-		MailboxPairingTask task1 =
-				factory.createPairingTask(getRandomString(42));
+		MailboxPairingTask task1 = createPairingTask(getRandomString(42));
 		task1.run();
 		task1.addObserver(state ->
 				assertTrue(state instanceof MailboxPairingState.InvalidQrCode)
 		);
 
 		String goodLength = "00" + getRandomString(63);
-		MailboxPairingTask task2 = factory.createPairingTask(goodLength);
+		MailboxPairingTask task2 = createPairingTask(goodLength);
 		task2.run();
 		task2.addObserver(state ->
 				assertTrue(state instanceof MailboxPairingState.InvalidQrCode)
@@ -121,7 +119,7 @@ public class MailboxPairingTaskImplTest extends BrambleMockTestCase {
 		}});
 
 		AtomicInteger i = new AtomicInteger(0);
-		MailboxPairingTask task = factory.createPairingTask(validPayload);
+		MailboxPairingTask task = createPairingTask(validPayload);
 		task.addObserver(state -> {
 			if (i.get() == 0) {
 				assertEquals(MailboxPairingState.QrCodeReceived.class,
@@ -165,7 +163,7 @@ public class MailboxPairingTaskImplTest extends BrambleMockTestCase {
 			will(throwException(e));
 		}});
 
-		MailboxPairingTask task = factory.createPairingTask(validPayload);
+		MailboxPairingTask task = createPairingTask(validPayload);
 		task.run();
 		task.addObserver(state -> assertEquals(state.getClass(), s));
 	}
@@ -188,7 +186,7 @@ public class MailboxPairingTaskImplTest extends BrambleMockTestCase {
 			will(throwException(new DbException()));
 		}});
 
-		MailboxPairingTask task = factory.createPairingTask(validPayload);
+		MailboxPairingTask task = createPairingTask(validPayload);
 		task.run();
 		task.addObserver(state -> assertEquals(state.getClass(),
 				MailboxPairingState.UnexpectedError.class));
@@ -202,4 +200,12 @@ public class MailboxPairingTaskImplTest extends BrambleMockTestCase {
 						p1.getServerSupports().equals(p2.getServerSupports()));
 	}
 
+	private MailboxPairingTask createPairingTask(String qrCodePayload) {
+		context.checking(new Expectations() {{
+			oneOf(clock).currentTimeMillis();
+			will(returnValue(time));
+		}});
+
+		return factory.createPairingTask(qrCodePayload);
+	}
 }
diff --git a/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/mailbox/MailboxActivity.java b/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/mailbox/MailboxActivity.java
index c72993776..64aaeacd7 100644
--- a/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/mailbox/MailboxActivity.java
+++ b/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/mailbox/MailboxActivity.java
@@ -158,11 +158,9 @@ public class MailboxActivity extends BriarActivity {
 		}
 		Fragment f;
 		String tag;
-		if (s instanceof MailboxPairingState.QrCodeReceived) {
-			f = new MailboxConnectingFragment();
-			tag = MailboxConnectingFragment.TAG;
-		} else if (s instanceof MailboxPairingState.Pairing) {
-			f = new MailboxConnectingFragment();
+		if (s instanceof MailboxPairingState.Pending) {
+			long timeStarted = ((MailboxPairingState.Pending) s).timeStarted;
+			f = MailboxConnectingFragment.newInstance(timeStarted);
 			tag = MailboxConnectingFragment.TAG;
 		} else if (s instanceof MailboxPairingState.InvalidQrCode) {
 			f = ErrorFragment.newInstance(
diff --git a/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/mailbox/MailboxConnectingFragment.java b/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/mailbox/MailboxConnectingFragment.java
index 3da20a80e..b7d5c11b3 100644
--- a/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/mailbox/MailboxConnectingFragment.java
+++ b/briar-android/src/main/java/org/briarproject/briar/android/mailbox/MailboxConnectingFragment.java
@@ -1,10 +1,15 @@
 package org.briarproject.briar.android.mailbox;
 
 import android.os.Bundle;
+import android.os.Handler;
+import android.os.Looper;
 import android.view.LayoutInflater;
 import android.view.View;
 import android.view.ViewGroup;
+import android.widget.ProgressBar;
+import android.widget.TextView;
 
+import org.briarproject.bramble.api.plugin.TorConstants;
 import org.briarproject.briar.R;
 import org.briarproject.nullsafety.MethodsNotNullByDefault;
 import org.briarproject.nullsafety.ParametersNotNullByDefault;
@@ -12,25 +17,71 @@ import org.briarproject.nullsafety.ParametersNotNullByDefault;
 import androidx.annotation.Nullable;
 import androidx.fragment.app.Fragment;
 
+import static org.briarproject.briar.android.util.UiUtils.formatDuration;
+
 @MethodsNotNullByDefault
 @ParametersNotNullByDefault
 public class MailboxConnectingFragment extends Fragment {
 
 	static final String TAG = MailboxConnectingFragment.class.getName();
 
+	private static final String ARG_STARTED = "started";
+	private static final long TIMEOUT_MS = TorConstants.EXTRA_CONNECT_TIMEOUT;
+	private static final long REFRESH_INTERVAL_MS = 1_000;
+
+	private final Handler handler = new Handler(Looper.getMainLooper());
+	// Capture a method reference so we use the same reference for posting
+	// and removing
+	private final Runnable refresher = this::updateProgressBar;
+
+	private ProgressBar progressBar;
+	private long timeStarted;
+
+	public static MailboxConnectingFragment newInstance(long timeStarted) {
+		MailboxConnectingFragment f = new MailboxConnectingFragment();
+		Bundle args = new Bundle();
+		args.putLong(ARG_STARTED, timeStarted);
+		f.setArguments(args);
+		return f;
+	}
+
 	@Nullable
 	@Override
 	public View onCreateView(LayoutInflater inflater,
 			@Nullable ViewGroup container,
 			@Nullable Bundle savedInstanceState) {
-		return inflater.inflate(R.layout.fragment_mailbox_connecting,
+		View v = inflater.inflate(R.layout.fragment_mailbox_connecting,
 				container, false);
+
+		progressBar = v.findViewById(R.id.progressBar);
+		TextView info = v.findViewById(R.id.info);
+		String duration = formatDuration(requireContext(), TIMEOUT_MS);
+		info.setText(getString(R.string.mailbox_setup_connecting_info,
+				duration));
+
+		timeStarted = requireArguments().getLong(ARG_STARTED);
+
+		return v;
 	}
 
 	@Override
 	public void onStart() {
 		super.onStart();
 		requireActivity().setTitle(R.string.mailbox_setup_title);
+		updateProgressBar();
 	}
 
+	@Override
+	public void onStop() {
+		super.onStop();
+		handler.removeCallbacks(refresher);
+	}
+
+	private void updateProgressBar() {
+		long elapsedMs = System.currentTimeMillis() - timeStarted;
+		int percent = (int) (elapsedMs * 100 / TIMEOUT_MS);
+		percent = Math.min(Math.max(percent, 0), 100);
+		progressBar.setProgress(percent);
+		handler.postDelayed(refresher, REFRESH_INTERVAL_MS);
+	}
 }
diff --git a/briar-android/src/main/res/layout/fragment_mailbox_connecting.xml b/briar-android/src/main/res/layout/fragment_mailbox_connecting.xml
index c7cf2b242..3f285764b 100644
--- a/briar-android/src/main/res/layout/fragment_mailbox_connecting.xml
+++ b/briar-android/src/main/res/layout/fragment_mailbox_connecting.xml
@@ -1,31 +1,51 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 <androidx.constraintlayout.widget.ConstraintLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
 	xmlns:app="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res-auto"
+	xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
 	android:layout_width="match_parent"
 	android:layout_height="match_parent">
 
-	<ProgressBar
-		android:id="@+id/progressBar"
-		style="?android:attr/progressBarStyleLarge"
-		android:layout_width="wrap_content"
+	<TextView
+		android:id="@+id/title"
+		style="@style/TextAppearance.AppCompat.Large"
+		android:layout_width="0dp"
 		android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-		android:layout_margin="16dp"
-		app:layout_constraintBottom_toTopOf="@+id/textView"
+		android:layout_marginHorizontal="@dimen/margin_xlarge"
+		android:layout_marginTop="@dimen/margin_xlarge"
+		android:gravity="center"
+		android:text="@string/mailbox_setup_connecting"
+		app:layout_constraintBottom_toTopOf="@+id/progressBar"
 		app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"
 		app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
 		app:layout_constraintTop_toTopOf="parent"
 		app:layout_constraintVertical_chainStyle="packed" />
 
-	<TextView
-		android:id="@+id/textView"
-		style="@style/TextAppearance.AppCompat.Large"
-		android:layout_width="wrap_content"
+	<ProgressBar
+		android:id="@+id/progressBar"
+		style="?android:attr/progressBarStyleHorizontal"
+		android:layout_width="0dp"
 		android:layout_height="wrap_content"
-		android:layout_margin="16dp"
-		android:text="@string/mailbox_setup_connecting"
+		android:layout_marginHorizontal="@dimen/margin_xlarge"
+		android:layout_marginTop="@dimen/margin_xlarge"
+		android:max="100"
+		app:layout_constraintBottom_toTopOf="@+id/info"
+		app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"
+		app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
+		app:layout_constraintTop_toBottomOf="@+id/title" />
+
+	<TextView
+		android:id="@+id/info"
+		android:layout_width="0dp"
+		android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+		android:layout_marginHorizontal="@dimen/margin_xlarge"
+		android:layout_marginTop="@dimen/margin_xlarge"
+		android:layout_marginBottom="@dimen/margin_xlarge"
+		android:gravity="center"
+		android:textAppearance="@style/TextAppearance.MaterialComponents.Subtitle1"
 		app:layout_constraintBottom_toBottomOf="parent"
 		app:layout_constraintEnd_toEndOf="parent"
 		app:layout_constraintStart_toStartOf="parent"
-		app:layout_constraintTop_toBottomOf="@+id/progressBar" />
+		app:layout_constraintTop_toBottomOf="@+id/progressBar"
+		tools:text="This may take up to 2 minutes" />
 
 </androidx.constraintlayout.widget.ConstraintLayout>
diff --git a/briar-android/src/main/res/values/strings.xml b/briar-android/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
index 5e00eac0a..ad57f0bc6 100644
--- a/briar-android/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/briar-android/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -633,7 +633,9 @@
 	<string name="mailbox_setup_download_link">Share Download Link</string>
 	<string name="mailbox_setup_button_scan">Scan Mailbox QR code</string>
 	<string name="permission_camera_qr_denied_body">You have denied access to the camera, but scanning a QR code requires using the camera.\n\nPlease consider granting access.</string>
-	<string name="mailbox_setup_connecting">Connecting…</string>
+	<string name="mailbox_setup_connecting">Connecting to Mailbox…</string>
+	<!-- This string is shown when connecting to a Mailbox for the first time. The placeholder will be replaced with a duration, e.g. "2 minutes". -->
+	<string name="mailbox_setup_connecting_info">This may take up to %1s</string>
 	<string name="mailbox_setup_qr_code_wrong_title">Wrong QR code</string>
 	<string name="mailbox_setup_qr_code_wrong_description">The scanned code is invalid. Please open the Briar Mailbox app on your Mailbox device and scan the QR code it presents.</string>
 	<string name="mailbox_setup_already_paired_title">Mailbox already linked</string>