diff --git a/app/core/src/main/resources/messages_en_GB.properties b/app/core/src/main/resources/messages_en_GB.properties
index d63b1c6c4..405643877 100644
--- a/app/core/src/main/resources/messages_en_GB.properties
+++ b/app/core/src/main/resources/messages_en_GB.properties
@@ -1916,6 +1916,7 @@ fileManager.storageError=Storage error occurred
 fileManager.storageLow=Storage is running low. Consider removing old files.
 fileManager.uploadError=Failed to upload some files.
 fileManager.supportMessage=Powered by browser database storage for unlimited capacity
+fileManager.loadingFiles=Loading files...
 
 # Page Editor
 pageEditor.title=Page Editor
diff --git a/frontend/public/locales/en-GB/translation.json b/frontend/public/locales/en-GB/translation.json
index 826c48960..b1646e76f 100644
--- a/frontend/public/locales/en-GB/translation.json
+++ b/frontend/public/locales/en-GB/translation.json
@@ -3153,6 +3153,9 @@
     "addFiles": "Add Files",
     "dragFilesInOrClick": "Drag files in or click \"Add Files\" to browse"
   },
+  "fileEditor": {
+    "addFiles": "Add Files"
+  },
   "fileManager": {
     "title": "Upload PDF Files",
     "subtitle": "Add files to your storage for easy access across tools",
@@ -3188,7 +3191,6 @@
     "googleDriveShort": "Drive",
     "myFiles": "My Files",
     "noRecentFiles": "No recent files found",
-    "dropFilesHint": "Drop files here to upload",
     "googleDriveNotAvailable": "Google Drive integration not available",
     "openFiles": "Open Files",
     "openFile": "Open File",
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/FileManager.tsx b/frontend/src/components/FileManager.tsx
index e75b95e28..fb26a3a3a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/FileManager.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/FileManager.tsx
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ const FileManager: React.FC<FileManagerProps> = ({ selectedTool }) => {
   const [isDragging, setIsDragging] = useState(false);
   const [isMobile, setIsMobile] = useState(false);
 
-  const { loadRecentFiles, handleRemoveFile } = useFileManager();
+  const { loadRecentFiles, handleRemoveFile, loading } = useFileManager();
 
   // File management handlers
   const isFileSupported = useCallback((fileName: string) => {
@@ -123,7 +123,6 @@ const FileManager: React.FC<FileManagerProps> = ({ selectedTool }) => {
           onDrop={handleNewFileUpload}
           onDragEnter={() => setIsDragging(true)}
           onDragLeave={() => setIsDragging(false)}
-          accept={{}}
           multiple={true}
           activateOnClick={false}
           style={{
@@ -147,6 +146,7 @@ const FileManager: React.FC<FileManagerProps> = ({ selectedTool }) => {
             onFileRemove={handleRemoveFileByIndex}
             modalHeight={modalHeight}
             refreshRecentFiles={refreshRecentFiles}
+            isLoading={loading}
           >
             {isMobile ? <MobileLayout /> : <DesktopLayout />}
           </FileManagerProvider>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/fileEditor/AddFileCard.tsx b/frontend/src/components/fileEditor/AddFileCard.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..dbc319c68
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/fileEditor/AddFileCard.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,177 @@
+import React, { useRef, useState } from 'react';
+import { Button, Group, useMantineColorScheme } from '@mantine/core';
+import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
+import AddIcon from '@mui/icons-material/Add';
+import { useFilesModalContext } from '../../contexts/FilesModalContext';
+import LocalIcon from '../shared/LocalIcon';
+import { BASE_PATH } from '../../constants/app';
+import styles from './FileEditor.module.css';
+
+interface AddFileCardProps {
+  onFileSelect: (files: File[]) => void;
+  accept?: string;
+  multiple?: boolean;
+}
+
+const AddFileCard = ({
+  onFileSelect,
+  accept = "*/*",
+  multiple = true
+}: AddFileCardProps) => {
+  const { t } = useTranslation();
+  const fileInputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
+  const { openFilesModal } = useFilesModalContext();
+  const { colorScheme } = useMantineColorScheme();
+  const [isUploadHover, setIsUploadHover] = useState(false);
+
+  const handleCardClick = () => {
+    openFilesModal();
+  };
+
+  const handleNativeUploadClick = (e: React.MouseEvent) => {
+    e.stopPropagation();
+    fileInputRef.current?.click();
+  };
+
+  const handleOpenFilesModal = (e: React.MouseEvent) => {
+    e.stopPropagation();
+    openFilesModal();
+  };
+
+  const handleFileChange = (event: React.ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>) => {
+    const files = Array.from(event.target.files || []);
+    if (files.length > 0) {
+      onFileSelect(files);
+    }
+    // Reset input so same files can be selected again
+    event.target.value = '';
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <>
+      <input
+        ref={fileInputRef}
+        type="file"
+        accept={accept}
+        multiple={multiple}
+        onChange={handleFileChange}
+        style={{ display: 'none' }}
+      />
+
+      <div
+        className={`${styles.addFileCard} w-[18rem] h-[22rem] select-none flex flex-col shadow-sm transition-all relative cursor-pointer`}
+        tabIndex={0}
+        role="button"
+        aria-label={t('fileEditor.addFiles', 'Add files')}
+        onClick={handleCardClick}
+        onKeyDown={(e) => {
+          if (e.key === 'Enter' || e.key === ' ') {
+            e.preventDefault();
+            handleCardClick();
+          }
+        }}
+      >
+        {/* Header bar - matches FileEditorThumbnail structure */}
+        <div className={`${styles.header} ${styles.addFileHeader}`}>
+          <div className={styles.logoMark}>
+            <AddIcon sx={{ color: 'inherit', fontSize: '1.5rem' }} />
+          </div>
+          <div className={styles.headerIndex}>
+            {t('fileEditor.addFiles', 'Add Files')}
+          </div>
+          <div className={styles.kebab} />
+        </div>
+
+        {/* Main content area */}
+        <div className={styles.addFileContent}>
+          {/* Stirling PDF Branding */}
+          <Group gap="xs" align="center">
+            <img
+              src={colorScheme === 'dark' ? `${BASE_PATH}/branding/StirlingPDFLogoWhiteText.svg` : `${BASE_PATH}/branding/StirlingPDFLogoGreyText.svg`}
+              alt="Stirling PDF"
+              style={{ height: '2.2rem', width: 'auto' }}
+            />
+          </Group>
+
+          {/* Add Files + Native Upload Buttons - styled like LandingPage */}
+          <div
+            style={{
+              display: 'flex',
+              alignItems: 'center',
+              justifyContent: 'center',
+              gap: '0.6rem',
+              width: '100%',
+              marginTop: '0.8rem',
+              marginBottom: '0.8rem'
+            }}
+            onMouseLeave={() => setIsUploadHover(false)}
+          >
+            <Button
+              style={{
+                backgroundColor: 'var(--landing-button-bg)',
+                color: 'var(--landing-button-color)',
+                border: '1px solid var(--landing-button-border)',
+                borderRadius: '2rem',
+                height: '38px',
+                paddingLeft: isUploadHover ? 0 : '1rem',
+                paddingRight: isUploadHover ? 0 : '1rem',
+                width: isUploadHover ? '58px' : 'calc(100% - 58px - 0.6rem)',
+                minWidth: isUploadHover ? '58px' : undefined,
+                display: 'flex',
+                alignItems: 'center',
+                justifyContent: 'center',
+                transition: 'width .5s ease, padding .5s ease'
+              }}
+              onClick={handleOpenFilesModal}
+              onMouseEnter={() => setIsUploadHover(false)}
+            >
+              <LocalIcon icon="add" width="1.5rem" height="1.5rem" className="text-[var(--accent-interactive)]" />
+              {!isUploadHover && (
+                <span>
+                  {t('landing.addFiles', 'Add Files')}
+                </span>
+              )}
+            </Button>
+            <Button
+              aria-label="Upload"
+              style={{
+                backgroundColor: 'var(--landing-button-bg)',
+                color: 'var(--landing-button-color)',
+                border: '1px solid var(--landing-button-border)',
+                borderRadius: '1rem',
+                height: '38px',
+                width: isUploadHover ? 'calc(100% - 58px - 0.6rem)' : '58px',
+                minWidth: '58px',
+                paddingLeft: isUploadHover ? '1rem' : 0,
+                paddingRight: isUploadHover ? '1rem' : 0,
+                display: 'flex',
+                alignItems: 'center',
+                justifyContent: 'center',
+                transition: 'width .5s ease, padding .5s ease'
+              }}
+              onClick={handleNativeUploadClick}
+              onMouseEnter={() => setIsUploadHover(true)}
+            >
+              <LocalIcon icon="upload" width="1.25rem" height="1.25rem" style={{ color: 'var(--accent-interactive)' }} />
+              {isUploadHover && (
+                <span style={{ marginLeft: '.5rem' }}>
+                  {t('landing.uploadFromComputer', 'Upload from computer')}
+                </span>
+              )}
+            </Button>
+          </div>
+
+          {/* Instruction Text */}
+          <span
+            className="text-[var(--accent-interactive)]"
+            style={{ fontSize: '.8rem', textAlign: 'center', marginTop: '0.5rem' }}
+          >
+            {t('fileUpload.dropFilesHere', 'Drop files here or click the upload button')}
+          </span>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    </>
+  );
+};
+
+export default AddFileCard;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/fileEditor/FileEditor.module.css b/frontend/src/components/fileEditor/FileEditor.module.css
index ccabc2fa7..173738c29 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/fileEditor/FileEditor.module.css
+++ b/frontend/src/components/fileEditor/FileEditor.module.css
@@ -304,4 +304,84 @@
 /* Light mode selected header stroke override */
 :global([data-mantine-color-scheme="light"]) .card[data-selected="true"] {
   outline-color: #3B4B6E;
+}
+
+/* =========================
+   Add File Card Styles
+   ========================= */
+
+.addFileCard {
+  background: var(--file-card-bg);
+  border: 2px dashed var(--border-default);
+  border-radius: 0.0625rem;
+  cursor: pointer;
+  transition: all 0.18s ease;
+  max-width: 100%;
+  max-height: 100%;
+  overflow: hidden;
+  margin-left: 0.5rem;
+  margin-right: 0.5rem;
+  opacity: 0.7;
+}
+
+.addFileCard:hover {
+  opacity: 1;
+  border-color: var(--color-blue-500);
+  box-shadow: var(--shadow-md);
+  transform: translateY(-2px);
+}
+
+.addFileCard:focus {
+  outline: 2px solid var(--color-blue-500);
+  outline-offset: 2px;
+}
+
+.addFileHeader {
+  background: var(--bg-subtle);
+  color: var(--text-secondary);
+  border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border-default);
+}
+
+.addFileCard:hover .addFileHeader {
+  background: var(--color-blue-500);
+  color: white;
+}
+
+.addFileContent {
+  flex: 1;
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  padding: 1.5rem 1rem;
+  gap: 0.5rem;
+}
+
+.addFileIcon {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  width: 5rem;
+  height: 5rem;
+  border-radius: 50%;
+  background: var(--bg-subtle);
+  transition: background-color 0.18s ease;
+}
+
+.addFileCard:hover .addFileIcon {
+  background: var(--color-blue-50);
+}
+
+.addFileText {
+  font-weight: 500;
+  transition: color 0.18s ease;
+}
+
+.addFileCard:hover .addFileText {
+  color: var(--text-primary);
+}
+
+.addFileSubtext {
+  font-size: 0.875rem;
+  opacity: 0.8;
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/fileEditor/FileEditor.tsx b/frontend/src/components/fileEditor/FileEditor.tsx
index 8dbd83480..00bf22480 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/fileEditor/FileEditor.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/fileEditor/FileEditor.tsx
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { useNavigationActions } from '../../contexts/NavigationContext';
 import { zipFileService } from '../../services/zipFileService';
 import { detectFileExtension } from '../../utils/fileUtils';
 import FileEditorThumbnail from './FileEditorThumbnail';
+import AddFileCard from './AddFileCard';
 import FilePickerModal from '../shared/FilePickerModal';
 import SkeletonLoader from '../shared/SkeletonLoader';
 import { FileId, StirlingFile } from '../../types/fileContext';
@@ -171,8 +172,8 @@ const FileEditor = ({
 
       // Process all extracted files
       if (allExtractedFiles.length > 0) {
-        // Add files to context (they will be processed automatically)
-        await addFiles(allExtractedFiles);
+        // Add files to context and select them automatically
+        await addFiles(allExtractedFiles, { selectFiles: true });
         showStatus(`Added ${allExtractedFiles.length} files`, 'success');
       }
     } catch (err) {
@@ -405,6 +406,14 @@ const FileEditor = ({
               pointerEvents: 'auto'
             }}
           >
+            {/* Add File Card - only show when files exist */}
+            {activeStirlingFileStubs.length > 0 && (
+              <AddFileCard
+                key="add-file-card"
+                onFileSelect={handleFileUpload}
+              />
+            )}
+
             {activeStirlingFileStubs.map((record, index) => {
               return (
                 <FileEditorThumbnail
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/fileManager/EmptyFilesState.tsx b/frontend/src/components/fileManager/EmptyFilesState.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..55a3766b9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/fileManager/EmptyFilesState.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+import React, { useState } from 'react';
+import { Button, Group, Text, Stack, useMantineColorScheme } from '@mantine/core';
+import HistoryIcon from '@mui/icons-material/History';
+import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
+import { useFileManagerContext } from '../../contexts/FileManagerContext';
+import LocalIcon from '../shared/LocalIcon';
+import { BASE_PATH } from '../../constants/app';
+
+const EmptyFilesState: React.FC = () => {
+  const { t } = useTranslation();
+  const { colorScheme } = useMantineColorScheme();
+  const { onLocalFileClick } = useFileManagerContext();
+  const [isUploadHover, setIsUploadHover] = useState(false);
+
+  const handleUploadClick = () => {
+    onLocalFileClick();
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <div
+      style={{
+        height: '100%',
+        width: '100%',
+        display: 'flex',
+        alignItems: 'center',
+        justifyContent: 'center',
+        padding: '2rem'
+      }}
+    >
+      {/* Container */}
+      <div
+        style={{
+          backgroundColor: 'transparent',
+          padding: '3rem 2rem',
+          display: 'flex',
+          flexDirection: 'column',
+          alignItems: 'center',
+          justifyContent: 'center',
+          gap: '1.5rem',
+          minWidth: '20rem',
+          maxWidth: '28rem',
+          width: '100%'
+        }}
+      >
+        {/* No Recent Files Message */}
+        <Stack align="center" gap="sm">
+          <HistoryIcon style={{ fontSize: '3rem', color: 'var(--mantine-color-gray-5)' }} />
+          <Text c="dimmed" ta="center" size="lg">
+            {t('fileManager.noRecentFiles', 'No recent files')}
+          </Text>
+        </Stack>
+
+        {/* Stirling PDF Logo */}
+        <Group gap="xs" align="center">
+          <img
+            src={colorScheme === 'dark' ? `${BASE_PATH}/branding/StirlingPDFLogoWhiteText.svg` : `${BASE_PATH}/branding/StirlingPDFLogoGreyText.svg`}
+            alt="Stirling PDF"
+            style={{ height: '2.2rem', width: 'auto' }}
+          />
+        </Group>
+
+        {/* Upload Button */}
+        <div
+          style={{
+            display: 'flex',
+            alignItems: 'center',
+            justifyContent: 'center',
+            width: '100%',
+            marginTop: '0.5rem',
+            marginBottom: '0.5rem'
+          }}
+          onMouseLeave={() => setIsUploadHover(false)}
+        >
+          <Button
+            aria-label="Upload"
+            style={{
+              backgroundColor: 'var(--bg-file-manager)',
+              color: 'var(--landing-button-color)',
+              border: '1px solid var(--landing-button-border)',
+              borderRadius: isUploadHover ? '2rem' : '1rem',
+              height: '38px',
+              width: isUploadHover ? '100%' : '58px',
+              minWidth: '58px',
+              paddingLeft: isUploadHover ? '1rem' : 0,
+              paddingRight: isUploadHover ? '1rem' : 0,
+              display: 'flex',
+              alignItems: 'center',
+              justifyContent: 'center',
+              transition: 'width .5s ease, padding .5s ease, border-radius .5s ease'
+            }}
+            onClick={handleUploadClick}
+            onMouseEnter={() => setIsUploadHover(true)}
+          >
+            <LocalIcon icon="upload" width="1.25rem" height="1.25rem" style={{ color: 'var(--accent-interactive)' }} />
+            {isUploadHover && (
+              <span style={{ marginLeft: '.5rem' }}>
+                {t('landing.uploadFromComputer', 'Upload from computer')}
+              </span>
+            )}
+          </Button>
+        </div>
+
+        {/* Instruction Text */}
+        <span
+          className="text-[var(--accent-interactive)]"
+          style={{ fontSize: '.8rem', textAlign: 'center' }}
+        >
+          {t('fileUpload.dropFilesHere', 'Drop files here or click the upload button')}
+        </span>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+};
+
+export default EmptyFilesState;
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/fileManager/FileListArea.tsx b/frontend/src/components/fileManager/FileListArea.tsx
index 842d0bf0e..556ecc4f1 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/fileManager/FileListArea.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/fileManager/FileListArea.tsx
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 import React from 'react';
 import { Center, ScrollArea, Text, Stack } from '@mantine/core';
 import CloudIcon from '@mui/icons-material/Cloud';
-import HistoryIcon from '@mui/icons-material/History';
 import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
 import FileListItem from './FileListItem';
 import FileHistoryGroup from './FileHistoryGroup';
+import EmptyFilesState from './EmptyFilesState';
 import { useFileManagerContext } from '../../contexts/FileManagerContext';
 
 interface FileListAreaProps {
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ const FileListArea: React.FC<FileListAreaProps> = ({
     onFileDoubleClick,
     onDownloadSingle,
     isFileSupported,
+    isLoading,
   } = useFileManagerContext();
   const { t } = useTranslation();
 
@@ -43,15 +44,11 @@ const FileListArea: React.FC<FileListAreaProps> = ({
         scrollbarSize={8}
       >
         <Stack gap={0}>
-          {recentFiles.length === 0 ? (
+          {recentFiles.length === 0 && !isLoading ? (
+            <EmptyFilesState />
+          ) : recentFiles.length === 0 && isLoading ? (
             <Center style={{ height: '12.5rem' }}>
-              <Stack align="center" gap="sm">
-                <HistoryIcon style={{ fontSize: '3rem', color: 'var(--mantine-color-gray-5)' }} />
-                <Text c="dimmed" ta="center">{t('fileManager.noRecentFiles', 'No recent files')}</Text>
-                <Text size="xs" c="dimmed" ta="center" style={{ opacity: 0.7 }}>
-                  {t('fileManager.dropFilesHint', 'Drop files anywhere to upload')}
-                </Text>
-              </Stack>
+              <Text c="dimmed" ta="center">{t('fileManager.loadingFiles', 'Loading files...')}</Text>
             </Center>
           ) : (
             filteredFiles.map((file, index) => {
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/fileManager/HiddenFileInput.tsx b/frontend/src/components/fileManager/HiddenFileInput.tsx
index 05f35aae1..8dee9e278 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/fileManager/HiddenFileInput.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/fileManager/HiddenFileInput.tsx
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ const HiddenFileInput: React.FC = () => {
       ref={fileInputRef}
       type="file"
       multiple={true}
-      accept={["*/*"] as any}
       onChange={onFileInputChange}
       style={{ display: 'none' }}
       data-testid="file-input"
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/shared/LandingPage.tsx b/frontend/src/components/shared/LandingPage.tsx
index 787b0e565..5f1fe8d8e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/shared/LandingPage.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/shared/LandingPage.tsx
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ const LandingPage = () => {
       {/* White PDF Page Background */}
       <Dropzone
         onDrop={handleFileDrop}
-        accept={["application/pdf", "application/zip", "application/x-zip-compressed"]}
+        accept={["*/*"]}
         multiple={true}
         className="w-4/5 flex items-center justify-center h-[95%]"
         style={{
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ const LandingPage = () => {
               ref={fileInputRef}
               type="file"
               multiple
-              accept=".pdf,.zip"
+              accept="*/*"
               onChange={handleFileSelect}
               style={{ display: 'none' }}
             />
diff --git a/frontend/src/contexts/FileManagerContext.tsx b/frontend/src/contexts/FileManagerContext.tsx
index 6f3afe21b..fb82e9071 100644
--- a/frontend/src/contexts/FileManagerContext.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/contexts/FileManagerContext.tsx
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ interface FileManagerContextValue {
   expandedFileIds: Set<FileId>;
   fileGroups: Map<FileId, StirlingFileStub[]>;
   loadedHistoryFiles: Map<FileId, StirlingFileStub[]>;
+  isLoading: boolean;
 
   // Handlers
   onSourceChange: (source: 'recent' | 'local' | 'drive') => void;
@@ -58,6 +59,7 @@ interface FileManagerProviderProps {
   onFileRemove: (index: number) => void;
   modalHeight: string;
   refreshRecentFiles: () => Promise<void>;
+  isLoading: boolean;
 }
 
 export const FileManagerProvider: React.FC<FileManagerProviderProps> = ({
@@ -71,6 +73,7 @@ export const FileManagerProvider: React.FC<FileManagerProviderProps> = ({
   onFileRemove,
   modalHeight,
   refreshRecentFiles,
+  isLoading,
 }) => {
   const [activeSource, setActiveSource] = useState<'recent' | 'local' | 'drive'>('recent');
   const [selectedFileIds, setSelectedFileIds] = useState<FileId[]>([]);
@@ -574,6 +577,7 @@ export const FileManagerProvider: React.FC<FileManagerProviderProps> = ({
     expandedFileIds,
     fileGroups,
     loadedHistoryFiles,
+    isLoading,
 
     // Handlers
     onSourceChange: handleSourceChange,
@@ -607,6 +611,7 @@ export const FileManagerProvider: React.FC<FileManagerProviderProps> = ({
     expandedFileIds,
     fileGroups,
     loadedHistoryFiles,
+    isLoading,
     handleSourceChange,
     handleLocalFileClick,
     handleFileSelect,