diff --git a/src/core/exporter.py b/src/core/exporter.py
index c62cc28..a006190 100644
--- a/src/core/exporter.py
+++ b/src/core/exporter.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ class DiscordExporter:
         self.server_name = ""
         self.server_id = ""
         self.user_cache = {}
+        self.member_cache: Dict[int, Any] = {}  # Pre-fetched member objects (id -> Member)
         self.base_dir = Path(base_dir) if base_dir else Path(".")
         self.is_running = True
         self.db: Optional[BackupDatabase] = None
@@ -62,6 +63,20 @@ class DiscordExporter:
                 hash_sha256.update(chunk)
         return hash_sha256.hexdigest()
 
+    async def prefetch_members(self):
+        """Pre-fetches all guild members into a local cache for role resolution.
+        
+        msg.author is a discord.User (no roles). This cache allows us to
+        resolve roles without an API call per message during message export.
+        """
+        try:
+            members = await self.reader.get_members()
+            self.member_cache = {m.id: m for m in members}
+            logger.info(f"Pre-fetched {len(self.member_cache)} members for role resolution.")
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.warning(f"Could not pre-fetch members (roles will be empty): {e}")
+            self.member_cache = {}
+
     async def export_metadata(self):
         """Saves server metadata to the SQLite database."""
         metadata = await self.reader.get_server_metadata()
@@ -476,6 +491,10 @@ class DiscordExporter:
                 # Queue for deferred download
                 self._pending_avatars.append((user_id, avatar, av_target))
 
+        roles = []
+        if hasattr(user, "roles"):
+            roles = [str(r.id) for r in user.roles if not r.is_default()]
+
         # Determine user type
         # 0: Regular User, 1: Bot, 2: Webhook, 3: System
         u_type = 0
@@ -519,12 +538,19 @@ class DiscordExporter:
 
         # 1. Author handling
         is_webhook = bool(getattr(msg, "webhook_id", None))
-        u_data = await self._format_user(msg.author, is_webhook=is_webhook)
+        author = msg.author
+        # msg.author is discord.User (no roles). Resolve to Member for role data.
+        if not is_webhook:
+            member = self.member_cache.get(msg.author.id)
+            if member:
+                author = member
+        u_data = await self._format_user(author, is_webhook=is_webhook)
         if u_data: new_users.append(u_data)
 
         # 1.5 Mentions handling (ensure all mentioned users are saved)
         if msg.mentions:
             for mention in msg.mentions:
+                # Mentions can be Member objects already, so roles work naturally
                 u_ment = await self._format_user(mention, is_webhook=False)
                 if u_ment: new_users.append(u_ment)
 
diff --git a/src/ui/shuttle_ops.py b/src/ui/shuttle_ops.py
index d137832..021ef21 100644
--- a/src/ui/shuttle_ops.py
+++ b/src/ui/shuttle_ops.py
@@ -329,8 +329,13 @@ class OperationPane(Container):
             for pne in self.query("#op_target_pane"): pne.display = False
             
             enabled = (v.get("discord_token") and v.get("discord_server") and not d_missing)
-            for bid in ("#op_backup_msgs", "#op_backup_sync", "#op_autotest"):
-                for btn in self.query(bid): btn.disabled = not enabled
+            for btn in self.query("#op_backup_msgs"):
+                btn.disabled = not enabled
+            for btn in self.query("#op_backup_sync"):
+                btn.display = self.has_backup
+                btn.disabled = not (enabled and self.has_backup)
+            for btn in self.query("#op_autotest"):
+                btn.disabled = not enabled
                 
             for btn in self.query("#op_backup_stats"):
                 btn.display = self.has_backup
@@ -2379,6 +2384,10 @@ class OperationPane(Container):
             await self.exporter.export_roles()
             await self.exporter.export_assets()
 
+            # Pre-fetch all members once for role resolution during message export
+            modal.set_status("Pre-fetching server members...")
+            await self.exporter.prefetch_members()
+
             # 2. Channel Messages
             total_chans = len(selected_channels)
             modal.write(f"\n[bold cyan]Backing up {total_chans} channels...[/bold cyan]")