diff --git a/misc/alpine-install.func b/misc/alpine-install.func
index 28b6ce8d4..a870b8650 100644
--- a/misc/alpine-install.func
+++ b/misc/alpine-install.func
@@ -148,6 +148,7 @@ motd_ssh() {
     # Start the sshd service
     $STD /etc/init.d/sshd start
   fi
+  post_progress_to_api
 }
 
 # Validate Timezone for some LXC's
@@ -184,5 +185,5 @@ EOF
 
   echo "bash -c \"\$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/community-scripts/ProxmoxVE/main/ct/${app}.sh)\"" >/usr/bin/update
   chmod +x /usr/bin/update
-
+  post_progress_to_api
 }
diff --git a/misc/api.func b/misc/api.func
index 0ae647ca2..aedbf93ae 100644
--- a/misc/api.func
+++ b/misc/api.func
@@ -688,6 +688,29 @@ EOF
   POST_TO_API_DONE=true
 }
 
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# post_progress_to_api()
+#
+# - Lightweight progress ping from host or container
+# - Updates the existing telemetry record status to "configuring"
+# - Signals that the installation is actively progressing (not stuck)
+# - Fire-and-forget: never blocks or fails the script
+# - Only executes if DIAGNOSTICS=yes and RANDOM_UUID is set
+# - Can be called multiple times safely
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+post_progress_to_api() {
+  command -v curl &>/dev/null || return 0
+  [[ "${DIAGNOSTICS:-no}" == "no" ]] && return 0
+  [[ -z "${RANDOM_UUID:-}" ]] && return 0
+
+  local app_name="${NSAPP:-${app:-unknown}}"
+  local telemetry_type="${TELEMETRY_TYPE:-lxc}"
+
+  curl -fsS -m 5 -X POST "${TELEMETRY_URL:-https://telemetry.community-scripts.org/telemetry}" \
+    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+    -d "{\"random_id\":\"${RANDOM_UUID}\",\"execution_id\":\"${EXECUTION_ID:-${RANDOM_UUID}}\",\"type\":\"${telemetry_type}\",\"nsapp\":\"${app_name}\",\"status\":\"configuring\"}" &>/dev/null || true
+}
+
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # post_update_to_api()
 #
diff --git a/misc/build.func b/misc/build.func
index f39e37f61..8bfae32ef 100644
--- a/misc/build.func
+++ b/misc/build.func
@@ -3660,9 +3660,6 @@ $PCT_OPTIONS_STRING"
       exit 214
     fi
     msg_ok "Storage space validated"
-
-    # Report installation start to API (early - captures failed installs too)
-    post_to_api
   fi
 
   create_lxc_container || exit $?
@@ -3908,6 +3905,7 @@ EOF
   for i in {1..10}; do
     if pct status "$CTID" | grep -q "status: running"; then
       msg_ok "Started LXC Container"
+      post_progress_to_api # Signal container is running
       break
     fi
     sleep 1
@@ -3962,6 +3960,7 @@ EOF
       echo -e "${YW}Container may have limited internet access. Installation will continue...${CL}"
     else
       msg_ok "Network in LXC is reachable (ping)"
+      post_progress_to_api # Signal network is ready
     fi
   fi
   # Function to get correct GID inside container
@@ -4033,6 +4032,7 @@ EOF'
   fi
 
   msg_ok "Customized LXC Container"
+  post_progress_to_api # Signal ready for app installation
 
   # Optional DNS override for retry scenarios (inside LXC, never on host)
   if [[ "${DNS_RETRY_OVERRIDE:-false}" == "true" ]]; then
@@ -4888,6 +4888,9 @@ create_lxc_container() {
     exit 206
   fi
 
+  # Report installation start to API early - captures failures in storage/template/create
+  post_to_api
+
   # Storage capability check
   check_storage_support "rootdir" || {
     msg_error "No valid storage found for 'rootdir' [Container]"
@@ -5417,9 +5420,7 @@ create_lxc_container() {
   }
 
   msg_ok "LXC Container ${BL}$CTID${CL} ${GN}was successfully created."
-
-  # Report container creation to API
-  post_to_api
+  post_progress_to_api # Signal container creation complete
 }
 
 # ==============================================================================
diff --git a/misc/core.func b/misc/core.func
index 838ebdd85..0b6b14846 100644
--- a/misc/core.func
+++ b/misc/core.func
@@ -1496,6 +1496,11 @@ cleanup_lxc() {
   fi
 
   msg_ok "Cleaned"
+  
+  # Send progress ping if available (defined in install.func)
+  if declare -f post_progress_to_api &>/dev/null; then
+    post_progress_to_api
+  fi
 }
 
 # ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/misc/error_handler.func b/misc/error_handler.func
index a6e7b49c3..380b52c85 100644
--- a/misc/error_handler.func
+++ b/misc/error_handler.func
@@ -204,6 +204,12 @@ error_handler() {
 
   printf "\e[?25h"
 
+  # ALWAYS report failure to API immediately - don't wait for container checks
+  # This ensures we capture failures that occur before/after container exists
+  if declare -f post_update_to_api &>/dev/null; then
+    post_update_to_api "failed" "$exit_code" 2>/dev/null || true
+  fi
+
   # Use msg_error if available, fallback to echo
   if declare -f msg_error >/dev/null 2>&1; then
     msg_error "in line ${line_number}: exit code ${exit_code} (${explanation}): while executing command ${command}"
@@ -254,11 +260,6 @@ error_handler() {
 
       # Offer to remove container if it exists (build errors after container creation)
       if [[ -n "${CTID:-}" ]] && command -v pct &>/dev/null && pct status "$CTID" &>/dev/null; then
-        # Report failure to API before container cleanup
-        if declare -f post_update_to_api &>/dev/null; then
-          post_update_to_api "failed" "$exit_code"
-        fi
-
         echo ""
         if declare -f msg_custom >/dev/null 2>&1; then
           echo -en "${TAB}❓${TAB}${YW}Remove broken container ${CTID}? (Y/n) [auto-remove in 60s]: ${CL}"
diff --git a/misc/install.func b/misc/install.func
index 8253c4272..69b1498ec 100644
--- a/misc/install.func
+++ b/misc/install.func
@@ -285,6 +285,7 @@ motd_ssh() {
     sed -i "s/#PermitRootLogin prohibit-password/PermitRootLogin yes/g" /etc/ssh/sshd_config
     systemctl restart sshd
   fi
+  post_progress_to_api
 }
 
 # ==============================================================================
@@ -323,4 +324,5 @@ EOF
     chmod 700 /root/.ssh
     chmod 600 /root/.ssh/authorized_keys
   fi
+  post_progress_to_api
 }