diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 78a8ae8..78b56fd 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 0.45.17 - 2026-06-07
+
+- Added a lightweight `/api/watchlist/homepage` endpoint for Homepage's Custom API widget, returning simple watchlist category counts for `watchlist`, `planned`, `finished`, `dropped`, and `total`.
+
 ## 0.45.16 - 2026-06-02
 
 - Show the first English AniDB alternative title beneath each Search result when one exists, reusing the watchlist-backed alternative-title extraction path instead of duplicating title matching in the browser.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 301ce7d..ad0462f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,13 +2,14 @@
 
 Local web UI for a system-wide `ani-cli` install.
 
-Current version: `0.45.16`
+Current version: `0.45.17`
 
 ## What it does
 
 - Search anime in `sub` or `dub`, with poster-style results shown below the selection panel and the first English alternate title when available
 - Queue downloads with folder, quality, media type, season, and episode controls
 - Track shows in a watchlist with `Watching`, `Planned`, `Finished`, and `Dropped` categories
+- Expose a small JSON summary endpoint for Homepage dashboard widgets
 - Refresh watchlist episode counts manually or on a schedule
 - Auto-download missing episodes for `Watching` entries after later refreshes
 - Move fully completed libraries into Jellyfin TV or movie folders
@@ -105,6 +106,28 @@ Docker notes:
 - Movie libraries move after download completion
 - Manual `Run now` scans the watchlist and moves anything already eligible
 
+## Homepage widget API
+
+For Homepage's Custom API widget, use:
+
+```text
+http://127.0.0.1:8421/api/watchlist/homepage
+```
+
+Example response:
+
+```json
+{
+  "watchlist": 12,
+  "planned": 4,
+  "finished": 31,
+  "dropped": 2,
+  "total": 49
+}
+```
+
+This endpoint is intentionally small so Homepage can map the returned values directly into its widget fields.
+
 ## Runtime info
 
 The Config page runtime panel shows:
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index eaae82d..ae90b2b 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-0.45.16
+0.45.17