diff --git a/src/app/convert/page.tsx b/src/app/convert/page.tsx
index 52baf8a..382fb7b 100644
--- a/src/app/convert/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/convert/page.tsx
@@ -4,13 +4,16 @@ import { useState } from 'react';
 import { AnimatePresence, motion } from 'framer-motion';
 import Link from 'next/link';
 import { DropZone } from '@/components/DropZone';
-import { FileCard } from '@/components/FileCard';
+import { FileRow } from '@/components/FileRow';
 import { PreviewModal } from '@/components/PreviewModal';
 import { useFileUpload } from '@/hooks/useFileUpload';
 import { useConversion } from '@/hooks/useConversion';
 import { formatFileSize } from '@/lib/utils';
 import { UploadedFile } from '@/types';
 
+/* Number of ghost rows to show below real files */
+const MIN_VISIBLE_ROWS = 8;
+
 export default function ConvertPage() {
   const {
     files,
@@ -43,6 +46,7 @@ export default function ConvertPage() {
   ).length;
   const completedCount = files.filter((f) => f.status === 'done').length;
   const totalSize = files.reduce((acc, f) => acc + f.size, 0);
+  const ghostRowCount = Math.max(0, MIN_VISIBLE_ROWS - files.length);
 
   return (
     <div className="min-h-screen relative bg-bg-cream">
@@ -50,126 +54,288 @@ export default function ConvertPage() {
       <div className="fixed inset-0 pointer-events-none z-0 bg-pastel-mesh" />
       <div className="fixed inset-0 pointer-events-none z-0 opacity-30 bg-dots" />
 
-      {/* Header */}
-      <header className="sticky top-0 z-50 flex items-center justify-between px-6 py-4 bg-bg-cream/80 backdrop-blur-xl border-b border-border-soft">
-        <Link href="/" className="flex items-center gap-2.5 no-underline">
-          <img src="/logo.png" alt="Transmute" className="w-8 h-8 rounded-[10px]" />
-          <span className="font-serif font-extrabold text-xl tracking-tight text-text-dark">Transmute</span>
-        </Link>
-        <span className="font-mono text-[11px] text-text-light px-2.5 py-1 border border-border-soft rounded-full tracking-wide">
-          v1.0 / client-side
-        </span>
-      </header>
-
-      {/* Drop Zone */}
-      <DropZone
-        isDragging={isDragging}
-        hasFiles={hasFiles}
-        inputRef={inputRef}
-        onDragEnter={handleDragEnter}
-        onDragLeave={handleDragLeave}
-        onDragOver={handleDragOver}
-        onDrop={handleDrop}
-        onFileInput={handleFileInput}
-        onBrowse={openFilePicker}
+      {/* Hidden file input — lives at top level so the ref is always stable */}
+      <input
+        ref={inputRef}
+        type="file"
+        multiple
+        onChange={handleFileInput}
+        className="hidden"
       />
 
-      {/* File Grid */}
-      {hasFiles && (
+      {/* Finder Window — the entire converter lives inside this */}
+      <div className="relative z-10 max-w-[960px] mx-auto px-4 sm:px-6 py-6 sm:py-10">
         <motion.div
-          className="grid grid-cols-1 sm:grid-cols-[repeat(auto-fill,minmax(220px,1fr))] gap-6 px-4 sm:px-6 pt-2 pb-44 sm:pb-36 relative z-10"
-          initial={{ opacity: 0 }}
-          animate={{ opacity: 1 }}
-          transition={{ duration: 0.3 }}
+          className="flex flex-col max-h-[calc(100vh-80px)] rounded-xl overflow-hidden shadow-[0_12px_60px_rgba(45,31,20,0.12)] border border-border-soft bg-white"
+          initial={{ opacity: 0, y: 16, scale: 0.98 }}
+          animate={{ opacity: 1, y: 0, scale: 1 }}
+          transition={{ duration: 0.5, ease: [0.16, 1, 0.3, 1] as const }}
         >
-          <AnimatePresence mode="popLayout">
-            {files.map((file, index) => (
-              <FileCard
-                key={file.id}
-                file={file}
-                index={index}
-                onSetFormat={setTargetFormat}
-                onRemove={removeFile}
-                onDownload={downloadFile}
-                onPreview={setPreviewFile}
-              />
-            ))}
-          </AnimatePresence>
-        </motion.div>
-      )}
+          {/* ─ Title bar ─ */}
+          <div className="flex-shrink-0 flex items-center gap-3 px-4 py-2.5 bg-[#f6f6f6] border-b border-border-soft select-none">
+            {/* Traffic lights */}
+            <Link href="/" className="flex items-center gap-[6px] no-underline group/dots">
+              <div className="w-[11px] h-[11px] rounded-full bg-[#ff5f57] border border-[#e0443e]/40 group-hover/dots:bg-[#ff3b30] transition-colors" />
+              <div className="w-[11px] h-[11px] rounded-full bg-[#febc2e] border border-[#dea123]/40 group-hover/dots:bg-[#ff9500] transition-colors" />
+              <div className="w-[11px] h-[11px] rounded-full bg-[#28c840] border border-[#1aab29]/40 group-hover/dots:bg-[#28cd41] transition-colors" />
+            </Link>
 
-      {/* Action Bar */}
-      {hasFiles && (
-        <motion.div
-          className="fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 z-40 flex flex-col sm:flex-row items-center justify-between gap-3 px-4 sm:px-6 py-3 sm:py-4 bg-bg-cream/85 backdrop-blur-xl border-t border-border-soft shadow-[0_-4px_20px_rgba(160,120,80,0.06)]"
-          initial={{ y: 80, opacity: 0 }}
-          animate={{ y: 0, opacity: 1 }}
-          transition={{ duration: 0.4, ease: [0.16, 1, 0.3, 1] as const }}
-        >
-          <div className="flex items-center gap-4">
-            <span className="font-mono text-xs text-text-mid flex items-center gap-1.5">
-              <strong className="text-text-dark font-semibold">{files.length}</strong> file{files.length !== 1 ? 's' : ''}
-            </span>
-            <div className="w-px h-4 bg-border-soft" />
-            <span className="font-mono text-xs text-text-mid">
-              <strong className="text-text-dark font-semibold">{formatFileSize(totalSize)}</strong>
-            </span>
-            {completedCount > 0 && (
-              <>
-                <div className="w-px h-4 bg-border-soft" />
-                <span className="font-mono text-xs text-text-mid">
-                  <strong className="text-mint font-semibold">{completedCount}</strong> converted
-                </span>
-              </>
-            )}
-          </div>
+            {/* Navigation arrows */}
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-1 ml-1">
+              <Link href="/" className="text-text-light/40 hover:text-text-mid transition-colors no-underline">
+                <svg width="14" height="14" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2"><path d="M15 18l-6-6 6-6" /></svg>
+              </Link>
+              <div className="text-text-light/25">
+                <svg width="14" height="14" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2"><path d="M9 18l6-6-6-6" /></svg>
+              </div>
+            </div>
 
-          <div className="flex items-center gap-2 sm:gap-2.5 flex-wrap justify-center sm:justify-end">
-            <button
-              className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 px-4 py-2 text-[13px] font-semibold text-text-mid bg-white border border-border-soft rounded-xl cursor-pointer hover:text-text-dark hover:border-border-med hover:shadow-[0_1px_3px_rgba(160,120,80,0.06)] transition-all"
-              onClick={clearAll}
-            >
-              Clear all
-            </button>
+            {/* Breadcrumb — centered */}
+            <div className="flex-1 flex items-center justify-center gap-1.5">
+              {/* eslint-disable-next-line @next/next/no-img-element */}
+              <img src="/logo.png" alt="" className="w-4 h-4 rounded-[4px]" />
+              <span className="text-[12px] font-medium text-text-mid">Transmute</span>
+              <span className="text-[12px] text-text-light/40">{'\u203A'}</span>
+              <span className="text-[12px] font-medium text-text-dark">Converter</span>
+            </div>
 
-            {completedCount > 0 && (
-              <motion.button
-                className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 px-5 py-2.5 text-[13px] font-bold text-white bg-mint border-none rounded-xl cursor-pointer shadow-[0_2px_12px_rgba(52,211,153,0.2)] hover:-translate-y-0.5 hover:shadow-[0_4px_20px_rgba(52,211,153,0.3)] transition-all"
-                onClick={() => downloadAllAsZip(files)}
-                initial={{ opacity: 0, scale: 0.9 }}
-                animate={{ opacity: 1, scale: 1 }}
-              >
-                <svg width="14" height="14" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2">
-                  <path d="M21 15v4a2 2 0 01-2 2H5a2 2 0 01-2-2v-4M7 10l5 5 5-5M12 15V3" />
-                </svg>
-                Download ZIP
-              </motion.button>
-            )}
-
-            <motion.button
-              className={`inline-flex items-center gap-2 px-7 py-2.5 text-sm font-bold text-white bg-pink border-none rounded-xl cursor-pointer shadow-[0_4px_20px_rgba(244,114,182,0.25)] hover:-translate-y-0.5 hover:shadow-[0_6px_28px_rgba(244,114,182,0.35)] transition-all disabled:opacity-50 disabled:cursor-not-allowed disabled:shadow-none disabled:transform-none ${isConverting ? 'animate-pulse-soft opacity-85' : ''}`}
-              onClick={() => convertAll(files)}
-              disabled={isConverting || convertableCount === 0}
-            >
-              {isConverting ? (
-                <>
-                  <svg width="16" height="16" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2" className="animate-spin">
-                    <path d="M12 2v4M12 18v4M4.93 4.93l2.83 2.83M16.24 16.24l2.83 2.83M2 12h4M18 12h4M4.93 19.07l2.83-2.83M16.24 7.76l2.83-2.83" />
+            {/* Right side — version + add files button */}
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+              <span className="font-mono text-[10px] text-text-light/50 tracking-wide hidden sm:block">
+                v1.0
+              </span>
+              {hasFiles && (
+                <button
+                  className="flex items-center justify-center w-6 h-6 rounded-md bg-transparent border border-border-soft/60 cursor-pointer text-text-light hover:text-pink hover:border-pink/30 transition-all"
+                  onClick={openFilePicker}
+                  title="Add files"
+                >
+                  <svg width="12" height="12" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2.5" strokeLinecap="round">
+                    <path d="M12 5v14M5 12h14" />
                   </svg>
-                  Converting...
-                </>
-              ) : (
-                <>
-                  <svg width="16" height="16" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2.5">
-                    <path d="M13 2L3 14h9l-1 8 10-12h-9l1-8z" strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" />
-                  </svg>
-                  Transmute {convertableCount > 0 ? `(${convertableCount})` : ''}
-                </>
+                </button>
               )}
-            </motion.button>
+            </div>
           </div>
+
+          {/* ─ Toolbar (only when files present) ─ */}
+          {hasFiles && (
+            <div className="flex-shrink-0 flex items-center justify-between px-4 py-2 bg-[#fafafa] border-b border-border-soft">
+              <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
+                <span className="font-mono text-[11px] text-text-mid">
+                  <strong className="text-text-dark">{files.length}</strong> file{files.length !== 1 ? 's' : ''}
+                </span>
+                <div className="w-px h-3.5 bg-border-soft" />
+                <span className="font-mono text-[11px] text-text-mid">
+                  {formatFileSize(totalSize)}
+                </span>
+                {completedCount > 0 && (
+                  <>
+                    <div className="w-px h-3.5 bg-border-soft" />
+                    <span className="font-mono text-[11px] text-text-mid flex items-center gap-1">
+                      <div className="w-1.5 h-1.5 rounded-full bg-mint" />
+                      <strong className="text-mint">{completedCount}</strong> converted
+                    </span>
+                  </>
+                )}
+              </div>
+              <button
+                className="font-mono text-[11px] text-text-light hover:text-text-dark cursor-pointer bg-transparent border-none transition-colors"
+                onClick={clearAll}
+              >
+                Clear all
+              </button>
+            </div>
+          )}
+
+          {/* ─ Column headers (only when files present) ─ */}
+          {hasFiles && (
+            <div className="flex-shrink-0 flex items-center px-4 py-1.5 bg-[#fafafa] border-b border-border-soft text-[11px] font-medium text-text-light tracking-wide uppercase select-none">
+              <div className="flex-1 pl-10">Name</div>
+              <div className="w-[72px] text-right hidden sm:block">Size</div>
+              <div className="w-[140px] text-center hidden sm:block">Convert to</div>
+              <div className="w-[130px] text-right pr-1">Status</div>
+            </div>
+          )}
+
+          {/* ─ Content area (scrollable) ─ */}
+          <div
+            className="relative flex-1 overflow-y-auto min-h-0"
+            onDragEnter={handleDragEnter}
+            onDragLeave={handleDragLeave}
+            onDragOver={handleDragOver}
+            onDrop={handleDrop}
+            style={{ minHeight: hasFiles ? undefined : '60vh' }}
+          >
+            {/* Drop zone (empty state) */}
+            {!hasFiles && (
+              <DropZone
+                isDragging={isDragging}
+                hasFiles={false}
+                inputRef={inputRef}
+                onDragEnter={handleDragEnter}
+                onDragLeave={handleDragLeave}
+                onDragOver={handleDragOver}
+                onDrop={handleDrop}
+                onFileInput={handleFileInput}
+                onBrowse={openFilePicker}
+              />
+            )}
+
+            {/* Drag overlay when files present */}
+            {hasFiles && isDragging && (
+              <motion.div
+                className="absolute inset-0 z-20 flex items-center justify-center bg-pink/[0.04] border-2 border-dashed border-pink/30 rounded-b-xl"
+                initial={{ opacity: 0 }}
+                animate={{ opacity: 1 }}
+                exit={{ opacity: 0 }}
+              >
+                <div className="flex items-center gap-2 text-pink font-semibold text-sm">
+                  <svg width="18" height="18" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2.5" strokeLinecap="round">
+                    <path d="M12 5v14M5 12h14" />
+                  </svg>
+                  Drop to add files
+                </div>
+              </motion.div>
+            )}
+
+            {/* File rows */}
+            {hasFiles && (
+              <div className="divide-y divide-border-soft/50">
+                <AnimatePresence mode="popLayout">
+                  {files.map((file, index) => (
+                    <FileRow
+                      key={file.id}
+                      file={file}
+                      index={index}
+                      onSetFormat={setTargetFormat}
+                      onRemove={removeFile}
+                      onDownload={downloadFile}
+                      onPreview={setPreviewFile}
+                    />
+                  ))}
+                </AnimatePresence>
+
+                {/* Ghost / placeholder rows */}
+                {ghostRowCount > 0 && (
+                  <>
+                    {Array.from({ length: ghostRowCount }).map((_, i) => (
+                      <div
+                        key={`ghost-${i}`}
+                        className={`flex items-center px-4 py-2.5 ${i === 0 ? 'cursor-pointer hover:bg-[#fafafa] transition-colors' : ''}`}
+                        onClick={i === 0 ? openFilePicker : undefined}
+                      >
+                        {/* Ghost icon */}
+                        <div className="w-8 h-8 rounded-lg bg-border-soft/20 flex-shrink-0" />
+                        {/* Ghost name bar */}
+                        <div className="flex-1 ml-3">
+                          {i === 0 ? (
+                            <span className="text-[12px] text-text-light/40 flex items-center gap-1.5">
+                              <svg width="12" height="12" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2" className="opacity-40">
+                                <path d="M12 5v14M5 12h14" strokeLinecap="round" />
+                              </svg>
+                              Drop files here or click to browse
+                            </span>
+                          ) : (
+                            <div className="h-2.5 w-24 rounded bg-border-soft/15" style={{ width: `${60 + ((i * 37) % 60)}px` }} />
+                          )}
+                        </div>
+                        {/* Ghost size */}
+                        <div className="w-[72px] hidden sm:block">
+                          {i < 2 && <div className="h-2 w-10 rounded bg-border-soft/10 ml-auto" />}
+                        </div>
+                        {/* Ghost convert to */}
+                        <div className="w-[140px] hidden sm:block">
+                          {i < 2 && <div className="h-2 w-12 rounded bg-border-soft/10 mx-auto" />}
+                        </div>
+                        {/* Ghost status */}
+                        <div className="w-[130px] pr-1">
+                          {i < 1 && <div className="h-2 w-8 rounded bg-border-soft/10 ml-auto" />}
+                        </div>
+                      </div>
+                    ))}
+                  </>
+                )}
+              </div>
+            )}
+          </div>
+
+          {/* ─ Bottom action bar (always visible) ─ */}
+          {hasFiles && (
+            <div className="flex-shrink-0 flex items-center justify-between px-4 py-3 bg-[#fafafa] border-t border-border-soft">
+              {/* Left — status */}
+              <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5">
+                {isConverting ? (
+                  <>
+                    <motion.div
+                      className="w-3 h-3 rounded-full border-[1.5px] border-pink border-t-transparent"
+                      animate={{ rotate: 360 }}
+                      transition={{ duration: 0.6, repeat: Infinity, ease: 'linear' }}
+                    />
+                    <span className="text-[11px] font-mono text-pink font-medium">Converting...</span>
+                  </>
+                ) : completedCount === files.length && completedCount > 0 ? (
+                  <>
+                    <div className="w-1.5 h-1.5 rounded-full bg-mint" />
+                    <span className="text-[11px] font-mono text-mint font-medium">All converted</span>
+                  </>
+                ) : (
+                  <span className="text-[11px] text-text-light font-mono">
+                    {convertableCount > 0 ? `${convertableCount} ready to convert` : 'Select target formats'}
+                  </span>
+                )}
+              </div>
+
+              {/* Right — action buttons */}
+              <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+                {completedCount > 0 && (
+                  <motion.button
+                    className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 px-3.5 py-1.5 text-[12px] font-bold text-white bg-mint border-none rounded-lg cursor-pointer shadow-[0_2px_8px_rgba(52,211,153,0.2)] hover:-translate-y-0.5 hover:shadow-[0_3px_14px_rgba(52,211,153,0.3)] transition-all"
+                    onClick={() => downloadAllAsZip(files)}
+                    initial={{ opacity: 0, scale: 0.9 }}
+                    animate={{ opacity: 1, scale: 1 }}
+                  >
+                    <svg width="12" height="12" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2">
+                      <path d="M21 15v4a2 2 0 01-2 2H5a2 2 0 01-2-2v-4M7 10l5 5 5-5M12 15V3" />
+                    </svg>
+                    ZIP
+                  </motion.button>
+                )}
+
+                <button
+                  className={`inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 px-5 py-1.5 text-[12px] font-bold text-white bg-pink border-none rounded-lg cursor-pointer shadow-[0_2px_12px_rgba(244,114,182,0.25)] hover:-translate-y-0.5 hover:shadow-[0_4px_18px_rgba(244,114,182,0.35)] transition-all disabled:opacity-40 disabled:cursor-not-allowed disabled:shadow-none disabled:transform-none ${isConverting ? 'animate-pulse-soft opacity-85' : ''}`}
+                  onClick={() => convertAll(files)}
+                  disabled={isConverting || convertableCount === 0}
+                >
+                  {isConverting ? (
+                    <>
+                      <svg width="12" height="12" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2" className="animate-spin">
+                        <path d="M12 2v4M12 18v4M4.93 4.93l2.83 2.83M16.24 16.24l2.83 2.83M2 12h4M18 12h4M4.93 19.07l2.83-2.83M16.24 7.76l2.83-2.83" />
+                      </svg>
+                      Converting...
+                    </>
+                  ) : (
+                    <>
+                      <svg width="12" height="12" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2.5">
+                        <path d="M13 2L3 14h9l-1 8 10-12h-9l1-8z" strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" />
+                      </svg>
+                      Transmute{convertableCount > 0 ? ` (${convertableCount})` : ''}
+                    </>
+                  )}
+                </button>
+              </div>
+            </div>
+          )}
         </motion.div>
-      )}
+
+        {/* Footer outside window */}
+        <div className="text-center mt-4">
+          <p className="font-mono text-[10px] text-text-light/50 tracking-wide">
+            100% client-side &mdash; files never leave your browser
+          </p>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+
       {/* Preview Modal */}
       <PreviewModal
         file={previewFile}
diff --git a/src/app/page.tsx b/src/app/page.tsx
index d89ff4f..ae85042 100644
--- a/src/app/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/page.tsx
@@ -51,19 +51,42 @@ const flowSteps = [
   { inputIcon: '\u{1F3B5}', inputLabel: '.FLAC', outputIcon: '\u{1F3A7}', outputLabel: '.MP3' },
 ];
 
-/* ─── Terminal Simulation Data ─── */
+/* ─── Finder Window Data ─── */
 
-const terminalCommands = [
-  { cmd: 'transmute photo.heic --to webp', output: '  \u2713 photo.webp (2.4 MB \u2192 680 KB)', color: '#f472b6', time: 1800 },
-  { cmd: 'transmute report.docx --to pdf', output: '  \u2713 report.pdf (formatting preserved)', color: '#60a5fa', time: 2200 },
-  { cmd: 'transmute song.flac --to mp3 --quality 320k', output: '  \u2713 song.mp3 (48 MB \u2192 9.2 MB)', color: '#a78bfa', time: 2800 },
-  { cmd: 'transmute data.csv --to json', output: '  \u2713 data.json (2,847 rows parsed)', color: '#34d399', time: 1400 },
-  { cmd: 'transmute clip.mov --to mp4', output: '  \u2713 clip.mp4 (H.264, browser-native)', color: '#fb923c', time: 3200 },
-  { cmd: 'transmute design.psd --to png', output: '  \u2713 design.png (composite layer)', color: '#f472b6', time: 1600 },
-  { cmd: 'transmute book.epub --to pdf', output: '  \u2713 book.pdf (chapters preserved)', color: '#60a5fa', time: 2000 },
-  { cmd: 'transmute font.ttf --to woff2', output: '  \u2713 font.woff2 (compressed 62%)', color: '#34d399', time: 1200 },
-  { cmd: 'transmute slides.pptx --to html', output: '  \u2713 slides.html (12 slides)', color: '#a78bfa', time: 2400 },
-  { cmd: 'transmute sheet.xlsx --to csv', output: '  \u2713 sheet.csv (3 sheets merged)', color: '#34d399', time: 1500 },
+interface FinderFile {
+  icon: string;
+  name: string;
+  size: string;
+  targetFormat: string;
+  category: 'image' | 'document' | 'media' | 'data';
+  color: string;
+}
+
+const finderBatches: FinderFile[][] = [
+  [
+    { icon: '\u{1F5BC}', name: 'vacation-photo.heic', size: '2.4 MB', targetFormat: 'WebP', category: 'image', color: '#f472b6' },
+    { icon: '\u{1F4C4}', name: 'quarterly-report.docx', size: '1.8 MB', targetFormat: 'PDF', category: 'document', color: '#60a5fa' },
+    { icon: '\u{1F3B5}', name: 'podcast-episode.flac', size: '48 MB', targetFormat: 'MP3', category: 'media', color: '#a78bfa' },
+    { icon: '\u{1F4CA}', name: 'user-analytics.csv', size: '340 KB', targetFormat: 'JSON', category: 'data', color: '#34d399' },
+    { icon: '\u{1F3AC}', name: 'screen-recording.mov', size: '126 MB', targetFormat: 'MP4', category: 'media', color: '#fb923c' },
+    { icon: '\u{1F3A8}', name: 'hero-banner.psd', size: '18.4 MB', targetFormat: 'PNG', category: 'image', color: '#f472b6' },
+  ],
+  [
+    { icon: '\u{1F4D6}', name: 'sci-fi-novel.epub', size: '3.2 MB', targetFormat: 'PDF', category: 'document', color: '#60a5fa' },
+    { icon: '\u{1F524}', name: 'brand-font.ttf', size: '420 KB', targetFormat: 'WOFF2', category: 'data', color: '#34d399' },
+    { icon: '\u{1F4CA}', name: 'sales-figures.xlsx', size: '2.1 MB', targetFormat: 'CSV', category: 'data', color: '#34d399' },
+    { icon: '\u{1F39E}', name: 'product-demo.mkv', size: '340 MB', targetFormat: 'MP4', category: 'media', color: '#fb923c' },
+    { icon: '\u{1F4DD}', name: 'meeting-notes.md', size: '12 KB', targetFormat: 'HTML', category: 'document', color: '#60a5fa' },
+    { icon: '\u{1F5BC}', name: 'app-icon.svg', size: '8 KB', targetFormat: 'PNG', category: 'image', color: '#f472b6' },
+  ],
+  [
+    { icon: '\u{2699}', name: 'api-config.yaml', size: '24 KB', targetFormat: 'JSON', category: 'data', color: '#34d399' },
+    { icon: '\u{1F3B5}', name: 'voice-memo.wav', size: '32 MB', targetFormat: 'OGG', category: 'media', color: '#a78bfa' },
+    { icon: '\u{1F4C4}', name: 'thesis-draft.pdf', size: '5.6 MB', targetFormat: 'DOCX', category: 'document', color: '#60a5fa' },
+    { icon: '\u{1F5BC}', name: 'team-photo.png', size: '4.8 MB', targetFormat: 'WebP', category: 'image', color: '#f472b6' },
+    { icon: '\u{1F4CA}', name: 'inventory.json', size: '180 KB', targetFormat: 'CSV', category: 'data', color: '#34d399' },
+    { icon: '\u{1F3AC}', name: 'tutorial-clip.webm', size: '68 MB', targetFormat: 'GIF', category: 'media', color: '#fb923c' },
+  ],
 ];
 
 /* ─── Animation Variants ─── */
@@ -310,153 +333,239 @@ function ConversionFlow() {
   );
 }
 
-/* ─── Terminal Simulation Component ─── */
+/* ─── Finder Window Component ─── */
 
-interface TerminalLine {
-  type: 'prompt' | 'output' | 'blank';
-  text: string;
-  color?: string;
-}
+type FileStatus = 'idle' | 'converting' | 'done';
 
-function TerminalSimulation() {
-  const [lines, setLines] = useState<TerminalLine[]>([]);
-  const [currentTyping, setCurrentTyping] = useState('');
-  const [isTyping, setIsTyping] = useState(false);
-  const termRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
-  const cmdIndexRef = useRef(0);
+function FinderWindow() {
+  const [batchIndex, setBatchIndex] = useState(0);
+  const [fileStatuses, setFileStatuses] = useState<FileStatus[]>(
+    Array(6).fill('idle')
+  );
   const runningRef = useRef(true);
+  const timeoutRef = useRef<ReturnType<typeof setTimeout>[]>([]);
 
-  const scrollToBottom = useCallback(() => {
-    if (termRef.current) {
-      termRef.current.scrollTop = termRef.current.scrollHeight;
-    }
+  const clearTimeouts = useCallback(() => {
+    timeoutRef.current.forEach(clearTimeout);
+    timeoutRef.current = [];
   }, []);
 
   useEffect(() => {
     runningRef.current = true;
 
-    const typeCommand = async (cmdObj: typeof terminalCommands[0]) => {
+    const runBatch = () => {
       if (!runningRef.current) return;
 
-      // Type the command character by character
-      setIsTyping(true);
-      for (let i = 0; i <= cmdObj.cmd.length; i++) {
-        if (!runningRef.current) return;
-        setCurrentTyping(cmdObj.cmd.slice(0, i));
-        await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 30 + Math.random() * 40));
-      }
+      // Reset all to idle
+      setFileStatuses(Array(6).fill('idle'));
 
-      // Brief pause after typing
-      await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 300));
-      if (!runningRef.current) return;
+      const batch = finderBatches[batchIndex % finderBatches.length];
 
-      // "Execute" — move command to lines, show output
-      setIsTyping(false);
-      setCurrentTyping('');
-      setLines((prev) => [
-        ...prev,
-        { type: 'prompt', text: cmdObj.cmd },
-        { type: 'output', text: cmdObj.output, color: cmdObj.color },
-      ]);
-      scrollToBottom();
-
-      // Pause before next command
-      await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 1200));
-    };
-
-    const runLoop = async () => {
-      // Small initial delay
-      await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 800));
-
-      while (runningRef.current) {
-        const cmd = terminalCommands[cmdIndexRef.current % terminalCommands.length];
-        await typeCommand(cmd);
-        cmdIndexRef.current++;
-
-        // After showing 6 commands, clear and start fresh to prevent infinite growth
-        if (cmdIndexRef.current % 6 === 0) {
-          await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 600));
+      // Stagger: each file starts converting 600ms apart
+      batch.forEach((_, i) => {
+        // Start converting
+        const convertTimer = setTimeout(() => {
           if (!runningRef.current) return;
-          setLines([]);
-        }
-      }
+          setFileStatuses((prev) => {
+            const next = [...prev];
+            next[i] = 'converting';
+            return next;
+          });
+        }, 800 + i * 600);
+        timeoutRef.current.push(convertTimer);
+
+        // Finish converting (700-1200ms after start)
+        const doneTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+          if (!runningRef.current) return;
+          setFileStatuses((prev) => {
+            const next = [...prev];
+            next[i] = 'done';
+            return next;
+          });
+        }, 800 + i * 600 + 700 + Math.random() * 500);
+        timeoutRef.current.push(doneTimer);
+      });
+
+      // After all done, wait then move to next batch
+      const nextBatchTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+        if (!runningRef.current) return;
+        setBatchIndex((prev) => prev + 1);
+      }, 800 + batch.length * 600 + 1800);
+      timeoutRef.current.push(nextBatchTimer);
     };
 
-    runLoop();
+    runBatch();
 
     return () => {
       runningRef.current = false;
+      clearTimeouts();
     };
-  }, [scrollToBottom]);
+  }, [batchIndex, clearTimeouts]);
 
-  // Auto-scroll on new lines
-  useEffect(() => {
-    scrollToBottom();
-  }, [lines, currentTyping, scrollToBottom]);
+  const batch = finderBatches[batchIndex % finderBatches.length];
 
   return (
-    <div className="w-full max-w-[700px] mx-auto">
-      {/* Terminal window */}
-      <div className="rounded-xl overflow-hidden shadow-[0_8px_60px_rgba(0,0,0,0.25)] border border-white/[0.06]">
-        {/* Title bar */}
-        <div className="flex items-center gap-2 px-4 py-3 bg-[#1a1a2e]">
-          <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5">
-            <div className="w-3 h-3 rounded-full bg-[#ff5f57]" />
-            <div className="w-3 h-3 rounded-full bg-[#febc2e]" />
-            <div className="w-3 h-3 rounded-full bg-[#28c840]" />
+    <div className="w-full max-w-[720px] mx-auto">
+      {/* Finder window */}
+      <div className="rounded-xl overflow-hidden shadow-[0_8px_48px_rgba(45,31,20,0.1)] border border-border-soft bg-white">
+
+        {/* ─ Title bar ─ */}
+        <div className="flex items-center gap-3 px-4 py-2.5 bg-[#f6f6f6] border-b border-border-soft">
+          {/* Traffic lights */}
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-[6px]">
+            <div className="w-[11px] h-[11px] rounded-full bg-[#ff5f57] border border-[#e0443e]/40" />
+            <div className="w-[11px] h-[11px] rounded-full bg-[#febc2e] border border-[#dea123]/40" />
+            <div className="w-[11px] h-[11px] rounded-full bg-[#28c840] border border-[#1aab29]/40" />
+          </div>
+
+          {/* Navigation arrows */}
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-1 ml-1">
+            <div className="text-text-light/40">
+              <svg width="14" height="14" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2"><path d="M15 18l-6-6 6-6" /></svg>
+            </div>
+            <div className="text-text-light/40">
+              <svg width="14" height="14" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2"><path d="M9 18l6-6-6-6" /></svg>
+            </div>
+          </div>
+
+          {/* Breadcrumb */}
+          <div className="flex-1 flex items-center justify-center gap-1.5">
+            <svg width="14" height="14" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" className="text-text-light/50">
+              <path d="M3 7v10a2 2 0 002 2h14a2 2 0 002-2V9a2 2 0 00-2-2h-6l-2-2H5a2 2 0 00-2 2z" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="1.5" />
+            </svg>
+            <span className="text-[12px] font-medium text-text-mid">Transmute</span>
+            <span className="text-[12px] text-text-light/40">{'\u203A'}</span>
+            <span className="text-[12px] font-medium text-text-dark">Converting</span>
+          </div>
+
+          {/* View/search icons */}
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+            <svg width="14" height="14" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" className="text-text-light/40">
+              <path d="M3 6h18M3 12h18M3 18h18" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="1.5" strokeLinecap="round" />
+            </svg>
+            <svg width="14" height="14" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" className="text-text-light/40">
+              <circle cx="11" cy="11" r="8" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="1.5" />
+              <path d="M21 21l-4.35-4.35" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="1.5" strokeLinecap="round" />
+            </svg>
           </div>
-          <span className="flex-1 text-center font-mono text-[11px] text-white/30 tracking-wider">
-            transmute
-          </span>
         </div>
 
-        {/* Terminal body */}
-        <div
-          ref={termRef}
-          className="bg-[#0f0f1a] px-5 py-4 h-[320px] overflow-y-auto font-mono text-[13px] leading-[1.8] scroll-smooth"
-          style={{ scrollbarWidth: 'none' }}
-        >
-          {/* Welcome message */}
-          <div className="text-white/20 mb-2 select-none">
-            Transmute v1.0 {'\u2014'} 70+ formats, zero uploads
+        {/* ─ Column headers ─ */}
+        <div className="flex items-center px-4 py-1.5 bg-[#fafafa] border-b border-border-soft text-[11px] font-medium text-text-light tracking-wide uppercase select-none">
+          <div className="flex-1 pl-9">Name</div>
+          <div className="w-[70px] text-right">Size</div>
+          <div className="w-[120px] text-right pr-1">Status</div>
+        </div>
+
+        {/* ─ File rows ─ */}
+        <div className="divide-y divide-border-soft/50">
+          {batch.map((file, i) => {
+            const status = fileStatuses[i];
+            return (
+              <motion.div
+                key={`${batchIndex}-${i}`}
+                className="flex items-center px-4 py-2.5 hover:bg-[#fafafa] transition-colors"
+                initial={{ opacity: 0, x: -8 }}
+                animate={{ opacity: 1, x: 0 }}
+                transition={{ duration: 0.3, delay: i * 0.05, ease: [0.16, 1, 0.3, 1] as const }}
+              >
+                {/* Icon + filename */}
+                <div className="flex-1 flex items-center gap-3 min-w-0">
+                  <div
+                    className="w-7 h-7 rounded-lg flex items-center justify-center text-[14px] flex-shrink-0"
+                    style={{ background: `${file.color}12` }}
+                  >
+                    {file.icon}
+                  </div>
+                  <span className="text-[13px] font-medium text-text-dark truncate">
+                    {file.name}
+                  </span>
+                </div>
+
+                {/* Size */}
+                <div className="w-[70px] text-right font-mono text-[11px] text-text-light flex-shrink-0">
+                  {file.size}
+                </div>
+
+                {/* Status */}
+                <div className="w-[120px] flex items-center justify-end gap-2 flex-shrink-0 pr-1">
+                  <AnimatePresence mode="wait">
+                    {status === 'idle' && (
+                      <motion.span
+                        key="idle"
+                        className="text-[11px] text-text-light/50 font-mono"
+                        initial={{ opacity: 0 }}
+                        animate={{ opacity: 1 }}
+                        exit={{ opacity: 0 }}
+                        transition={{ duration: 0.15 }}
+                      >
+                        queued
+                      </motion.span>
+                    )}
+                    {status === 'converting' && (
+                      <motion.div
+                        key="converting"
+                        className="flex items-center gap-1.5"
+                        initial={{ opacity: 0, scale: 0.9 }}
+                        animate={{ opacity: 1, scale: 1 }}
+                        exit={{ opacity: 0, scale: 0.9 }}
+                        transition={{ duration: 0.15 }}
+                      >
+                        <motion.div
+                          className="w-3.5 h-3.5 rounded-full border-[1.5px] border-t-transparent"
+                          style={{ borderColor: file.color, borderTopColor: 'transparent' }}
+                          animate={{ rotate: 360 }}
+                          transition={{ duration: 0.6, repeat: Infinity, ease: 'linear' }}
+                        />
+                        <span className="text-[11px] font-mono font-medium" style={{ color: file.color }}>
+                          converting
+                        </span>
+                      </motion.div>
+                    )}
+                    {status === 'done' && (
+                      <motion.div
+                        key="done"
+                        className="flex items-center gap-1.5"
+                        initial={{ opacity: 0, scale: 0.8 }}
+                        animate={{ opacity: 1, scale: 1 }}
+                        transition={{ duration: 0.25, ease: [0.16, 1, 0.3, 1] as const }}
+                      >
+                        {/* Checkmark */}
+                        <svg width="14" height="14" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" className="text-mint flex-shrink-0">
+                          <circle cx="12" cy="12" r="10" fill="rgba(52,211,153,0.12)" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="1.5" />
+                          <path d="M8 12l3 3 5-5" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2" strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" />
+                        </svg>
+                        {/* Target format badge */}
+                        <span
+                          className="text-[10px] font-mono font-bold px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded-md"
+                          style={{ background: `${file.color}12`, color: file.color }}
+                        >
+                          .{file.targetFormat.toLowerCase()}
+                        </span>
+                      </motion.div>
+                    )}
+                  </AnimatePresence>
+                </div>
+              </motion.div>
+            );
+          })}
+        </div>
+
+        {/* ─ Bottom bar ─ */}
+        <div className="flex items-center justify-between px-4 py-2 bg-[#fafafa] border-t border-border-soft">
+          <span className="text-[11px] text-text-light">
+            {batch.length} items
+          </span>
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-1">
+            <div className="w-1.5 h-1.5 rounded-full bg-mint" />
+            <span className="text-[11px] text-text-light">
+              {fileStatuses.filter((s) => s === 'done').length} of {batch.length} converted
+            </span>
           </div>
-
-          {/* Completed lines */}
-          {lines.map((line, i) => (
-            <div key={i}>
-              {line.type === 'prompt' ? (
-                <div className="flex items-start gap-0">
-                  <span className="text-[#34d399] select-none">{'>'}</span>
-                  <span className="text-white/80 ml-2">{line.text}</span>
-                </div>
-              ) : line.type === 'output' ? (
-                <div style={{ color: line.color }} className="opacity-90">
-                  {line.text}
-                </div>
-              ) : null}
-            </div>
-          ))}
-
-          {/* Currently typing line */}
-          {(isTyping || currentTyping) && (
-            <div className="flex items-start gap-0">
-              <span className="text-[#34d399] select-none">{'>'}</span>
-              <span className="text-white/80 ml-2">{currentTyping}</span>
-              <span className="inline-block w-[2px] h-[16px] bg-[#34d399] ml-[1px] translate-y-[2px] animate-pulse" />
-            </div>
-          )}
-
-          {/* Idle cursor */}
-          {!isTyping && !currentTyping && (
-            <div className="flex items-start gap-0">
-              <span className="text-[#34d399] select-none">{'>'}</span>
-              <span className="inline-block w-[2px] h-[16px] bg-[#34d399] ml-2 translate-y-[2px] animate-pulse" />
-            </div>
-          )}
         </div>
       </div>
 
-      {/* Format count below terminal */}
+      {/* Category format counts below window */}
       <div className="flex items-center justify-center gap-4 mt-6 flex-wrap">
         {[
           { label: 'Images', count: 11, color: '#f472b6' },
@@ -584,7 +693,7 @@ export default function LandingPage() {
         <ConversionFlow />
       </section>
 
-      {/* ──── FEATURES — TERMINAL SIMULATION ──── */}
+      {/* ──── FEATURES — FINDER WINDOW ──── */}
       <section
         id="features"
         className="relative z-10 flex flex-col items-center gap-10 px-6 py-20"
@@ -608,13 +717,13 @@ export default function LandingPage() {
         </motion.div>
 
         <motion.div
-          className="w-full max-w-[700px]"
+          className="w-full max-w-[720px]"
           initial={{ opacity: 0, y: 24 }}
           whileInView={{ opacity: 1, y: 0 }}
           viewport={{ once: true, margin: '-60px' }}
           transition={{ duration: 0.6, delay: 0.15, ease: [0.16, 1, 0.3, 1] as const }}
         >
-          <TerminalSimulation />
+          <FinderWindow />
         </motion.div>
 
         <motion.p
diff --git a/src/components/DropZone.tsx b/src/components/DropZone.tsx
index 154d1e0..63936c0 100644
--- a/src/components/DropZone.tsx
+++ b/src/components/DropZone.tsx
@@ -6,161 +6,96 @@ import React from 'react';
 interface DropZoneProps {
   isDragging: boolean;
   hasFiles: boolean;
-  inputRef: React.RefObject<HTMLInputElement | null>;
+  inputRef?: React.RefObject<HTMLInputElement | null>;
   onDragEnter: (e: React.DragEvent) => void;
   onDragLeave: (e: React.DragEvent) => void;
   onDragOver: (e: React.DragEvent) => void;
   onDrop: (e: React.DragEvent) => void;
-  onFileInput: (e: React.ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>) => void;
+  onFileInput?: (e: React.ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>) => void;
   onBrowse: () => void;
 }
 
 export function DropZone({
   isDragging,
-  hasFiles,
-  inputRef,
   onDragEnter,
   onDragLeave,
   onDragOver,
   onDrop,
-  onFileInput,
   onBrowse,
 }: DropZoneProps) {
-  // Compact mode — thin bar when files are present
-  if (hasFiles) {
-    return (
-      <div
-        className="px-6 py-3 relative z-10"
-        onDragEnter={onDragEnter}
-        onDragLeave={onDragLeave}
-        onDragOver={onDragOver}
-        onDrop={onDrop}
-      >
-        <input
-          ref={inputRef}
-          type="file"
-          multiple
-          onChange={onFileInput}
-          className="hidden"
-        />
-        <div
-          className={`flex items-center justify-center gap-2.5 px-5 py-3 rounded-2xl border-2 border-dashed cursor-pointer transition-all duration-200 select-none ${
-            isDragging
-              ? 'border-pink bg-pink/5 text-pink scale-[1.01]'
-              : 'border-border-soft bg-white/60 text-text-light hover:border-pink/40 hover:text-pink/70 hover:bg-white/80'
-          }`}
-          onClick={onBrowse}
-        >
-          <svg width="18" height="18" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2.5" strokeLinecap="round">
-            <path d="M12 5v14M5 12h14" />
-          </svg>
-          <span className="text-sm font-semibold">
-            {isDragging ? 'Release to add files' : 'Drop more files or click to browse'}
-          </span>
-        </div>
-      </div>
-    );
-  }
-
-  // Hero mode — full drop zone when no files
+  // Empty state inside Finder window
   return (
     <div
-      className="flex items-center justify-center min-h-[70vh] px-6 py-16 relative z-10"
+      className="flex items-center justify-center px-6 py-16"
+      style={{ minHeight: '60vh' }}
       onDragEnter={onDragEnter}
       onDragLeave={onDragLeave}
       onDragOver={onDragOver}
       onDrop={onDrop}
     >
-      <input
-        ref={inputRef}
-        type="file"
-        multiple
-        onChange={onFileInput}
-        className="hidden"
-      />
-
       <motion.div
-        className={`relative w-full max-w-xl rounded-3xl border-2 border-dashed p-12 text-center transition-colors duration-300 ${
-          isDragging
-            ? 'border-pink bg-pink/[0.04] shadow-[0_8px_40px_rgba(244,114,182,0.12)]'
-            : 'border-border-med bg-white/50 shadow-[0_4px_24px_rgba(180,140,100,0.06)]'
-        }`}
-        initial={{ opacity: 0, scale: 0.95 }}
-        animate={{
-          opacity: 1,
-          scale: isDragging ? 1.02 : 1,
-        }}
-        transition={{ duration: 0.4, ease: [0.16, 1, 0.3, 1] as const }}
+        className="flex flex-col items-center gap-4 text-center"
+        initial={{ opacity: 0, y: 16 }}
+        animate={{ opacity: 1, y: 0 }}
+        transition={{ duration: 0.5, ease: [0.16, 1, 0.3, 1] as const }}
       >
-        {/* Corner accents */}
-        <div className="absolute top-3 left-3 w-5 h-5 border-t-2 border-l-2 border-pink/30 rounded-tl-lg" />
-        <div className="absolute top-3 right-3 w-5 h-5 border-t-2 border-r-2 border-purple/30 rounded-tr-lg" />
-        <div className="absolute bottom-3 left-3 w-5 h-5 border-b-2 border-l-2 border-blue/30 rounded-bl-lg" />
-        <div className="absolute bottom-3 right-3 w-5 h-5 border-b-2 border-r-2 border-mint/30 rounded-br-lg" />
-
+        {/* Upload icon */}
         <motion.div
-          className="flex flex-col items-center gap-5"
-          initial={{ opacity: 0, y: 20 }}
-          animate={{ opacity: 1, y: 0 }}
-          transition={{ delay: 0.2, duration: 0.6 }}
+          className={`flex items-center justify-center w-20 h-20 rounded-2xl transition-all duration-300 ${
+            isDragging
+              ? 'bg-pink/12 text-pink scale-110'
+              : 'bg-[#f6f6f6] text-text-light'
+          }`}
+          animate={{
+            y: isDragging ? -8 : 0,
+            rotate: isDragging ? -3 : 0,
+          }}
+          transition={{ type: 'spring', stiffness: 300, damping: 20 }}
         >
-          {/* Upload icon */}
-          <motion.div
-            className={`flex items-center justify-center w-20 h-20 rounded-2xl transition-colors duration-300 ${
-              isDragging
-                ? 'bg-pink/15 text-pink'
-                : 'bg-pink/8 text-pink/70'
-            }`}
-            animate={{
-              y: isDragging ? -10 : 0,
-              scale: isDragging ? 1.15 : 1,
-              rotate: isDragging ? -5 : 0,
-            }}
-            transition={{ type: 'spring', stiffness: 300, damping: 20 }}
-          >
-            <svg width="40" height="40" viewBox="0 0 48 48" fill="none">
-              <path
-                d="M24 32V8M24 8L16 16M24 8L32 16"
-                stroke="currentColor"
-                strokeWidth="2.5"
-                strokeLinecap="round"
-                strokeLinejoin="round"
-              />
-              <path
-                d="M8 28v8a4 4 0 004 4h24a4 4 0 004-4v-8"
-                stroke="currentColor"
-                strokeWidth="2.5"
-                strokeLinecap="round"
-                strokeLinejoin="round"
-              />
-            </svg>
-          </motion.div>
+          <svg width="36" height="36" viewBox="0 0 48 48" fill="none">
+            <path
+              d="M24 32V12M24 12L16 20M24 12L32 20"
+              stroke="currentColor"
+              strokeWidth="2.5"
+              strokeLinecap="round"
+              strokeLinejoin="round"
+            />
+            <path
+              d="M8 28v8a4 4 0 004 4h24a4 4 0 004-4v-8"
+              stroke="currentColor"
+              strokeWidth="2.5"
+              strokeLinecap="round"
+              strokeLinejoin="round"
+            />
+          </svg>
+        </motion.div>
 
-          <h2 className="font-serif text-3xl font-extrabold text-text-dark tracking-tight">
-            {isDragging ? 'Release to transmute' : 'Drop anything.'}
+        <div>
+          <h2 className="font-serif text-2xl font-extrabold text-text-dark tracking-tight mb-1">
+            {isDragging ? 'Release to add' : 'Drop files here'}
           </h2>
-          <p className="text-text-mid text-[15px] max-w-xs leading-relaxed">
+          <p className="text-text-mid text-[14px] max-w-xs leading-relaxed">
             {isDragging
               ? 'Your files are ready for transformation'
               : 'Images, documents, audio, video, data \u2014 all formats welcome'}
           </p>
+        </div>
 
-          <motion.button
-            className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 mt-2 px-7 py-3 text-sm font-bold text-white bg-pink rounded-2xl cursor-pointer shadow-[0_4px_20px_rgba(244,114,182,0.25)] hover:-translate-y-0.5 hover:shadow-[0_6px_28px_rgba(244,114,182,0.35)] transition-all border-none"
-            onClick={onBrowse}
-            whileHover={{ scale: 1.04 }}
-            whileTap={{ scale: 0.97 }}
-          >
-            <svg width="16" height="16" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2">
-              <path d="M21 15v4a2 2 0 01-2 2H5a2 2 0 01-2-2v-4M7 10l5 5 5-5M12 15V3" />
-            </svg>
-            Browse files
-          </motion.button>
+        <motion.button
+          className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 mt-1 px-6 py-2.5 text-[13px] font-bold text-white bg-pink rounded-xl cursor-pointer shadow-[0_3px_16px_rgba(244,114,182,0.25)] hover:-translate-y-0.5 hover:shadow-[0_5px_22px_rgba(244,114,182,0.35)] transition-all border-none"
+          onClick={onBrowse}
+          whileHover={{ scale: 1.03 }}
+          whileTap={{ scale: 0.97 }}
+        >
+          <svg width="14" height="14" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2">
+            <path d="M3 7v10a2 2 0 002 2h14a2 2 0 002-2V9a2 2 0 00-2-2h-6l-2-2H5a2 2 0 00-2 2z" />
+          </svg>
+          Browse files
+        </motion.button>
 
-          <p className="font-mono text-[11px] text-text-light tracking-wide mt-1">
-            100% client-side &mdash; your files never leave your browser
-          </p>
-        </motion.div>
+        <p className="font-mono text-[10px] text-text-light/60 tracking-wide mt-1">
+          70+ formats &mdash; 100% client-side
+        </p>
       </motion.div>
     </div>
   );
diff --git a/src/components/FileCard.tsx b/src/components/FileCard.tsx
deleted file mode 100644
index 1ef86c3..0000000
--- a/src/components/FileCard.tsx
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,274 +0,0 @@
-'use client';
-
-import { useMemo } from 'react';
-import { motion } from 'framer-motion';
-import { UploadedFile, CATEGORY_COLORS, CATEGORY_LABELS } from '@/types';
-import { formatFileSize, truncateFilename } from '@/lib/utils';
-import { ProgressRing } from './ProgressRing';
-
-interface FileCardProps {
-  file: UploadedFile;
-  index: number;
-  onSetFormat: (id: string, format: string) => void;
-  onRemove: (id: string) => void;
-  onDownload: (file: UploadedFile) => void;
-  onPreview: (file: UploadedFile) => void;
-}
-
-/* Seeded random for consistent per-card rotation */
-function seededRandom(seed: string) {
-  let h = 0;
-  for (let i = 0; i < seed.length; i++) {
-    h = Math.imul(31, h) + seed.charCodeAt(i) | 0;
-  }
-  return ((h >>> 0) % 1000) / 1000;
-}
-
-export function FileCard({
-  file,
-  index,
-  onSetFormat,
-  onRemove,
-  onDownload,
-  onPreview,
-}: FileCardProps) {
-  const categoryColor = CATEGORY_COLORS[file.category];
-  const categoryLabel = CATEGORY_LABELS[file.category];
-
-  // Stable random rotation per card (-2.5 to 2.5 degrees)
-  const rotation = useMemo(() => {
-    const r = seededRandom(file.id);
-    return (r - 0.5) * 5;
-  }, [file.id]);
-
-  // Slight random tape offset
-  const tapeOffset = useMemo(() => {
-    const r = seededRandom(file.id + 'tape');
-    return (r - 0.5) * 20; // -10 to 10px
-  }, [file.id]);
-
-  return (
-    <motion.div
-      className="relative group"
-      style={{
-        transform: `rotate(${rotation}deg)`,
-      }}
-      initial={{ opacity: 0, y: 24, rotate: rotation }}
-      animate={{ opacity: 1, y: 0, rotate: rotation }}
-      exit={{ opacity: 0, scale: 0.9, rotate: rotation + 5 }}
-      transition={{
-        duration: 0.45,
-        delay: index * 0.04,
-        ease: [0.16, 1, 0.3, 1] as const,
-      }}
-      whileHover={{
-        rotate: 0,
-        scale: 1.03,
-        y: -4,
-        transition: { duration: 0.25, ease: [0.16, 1, 0.3, 1] as const },
-      }}
-      layout
-    >
-      {/* Paper shadow — slightly offset for depth */}
-      <div
-        className="absolute inset-0 rounded-sm bg-text-dark/[0.03] translate-y-1 translate-x-0.5"
-        style={{ filter: 'blur(4px)' }}
-      />
-
-      {/* Main paper */}
-      <div className="relative bg-[#fffef9] rounded-sm overflow-visible shadow-[0_1px_2px_rgba(120,100,70,0.08)]">
-        {/* Tape strip across top */}
-        <div
-          className="absolute -top-2.5 z-10 w-16 h-6 rounded-[2px] opacity-70"
-          style={{
-            left: `calc(50% + ${tapeOffset}px - 32px)`,
-            background: `${categoryColor}40`,
-            transform: `rotate(${-rotation * 0.5}deg)`,
-            boxShadow: `0 1px 3px ${categoryColor}15`,
-          }}
-        />
-
-        {/* Faint ruled lines */}
-        <div
-          className="absolute inset-0 pointer-events-none opacity-[0.04]"
-          style={{
-            backgroundImage: 'repeating-linear-gradient(to bottom, transparent, transparent 27px, #8b7355 27px, #8b7355 28px)',
-            backgroundPosition: '0 16px',
-          }}
-        />
-
-        {/* Left margin line */}
-        <div
-          className="absolute top-0 bottom-0 left-10 w-px opacity-[0.06]"
-          style={{ background: '#e8766a' }}
-        />
-
-        {/* Content */}
-        <div className="relative p-4 pt-5">
-          {/* Header: category + remove */}
-          <div className="flex items-center justify-between mb-3">
-            <span
-              className="font-mono text-[10px] font-bold uppercase tracking-[0.08em] px-2 py-0.5 rounded-sm"
-              style={{
-                color: categoryColor,
-                background: `${categoryColor}10`,
-              }}
-            >
-              {categoryLabel}
-            </span>
-
-            {file.status !== 'converting' && (
-              <button
-                className="flex items-center justify-center w-6 h-6 rounded-sm bg-transparent border-none cursor-pointer text-text-light/50 hover:text-text-dark hover:bg-text-dark/5 transition-all opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100"
-                onClick={() => onRemove(file.id)}
-                aria-label="Remove file"
-              >
-                <svg width="12" height="12" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2.5">
-                  <path d="M18 6L6 18M6 6l12 12" />
-                </svg>
-              </button>
-            )}
-          </div>
-
-          {/* Extension — big typewriter style */}
-          <div className="relative flex items-center justify-center py-5 mb-3">
-            {file.preview ? (
-              <div className="relative w-full h-28 rounded-sm overflow-hidden border border-border-soft/50">
-                {/* eslint-disable-next-line @next/next/no-img-element */}
-                <img
-                  src={file.preview}
-                  alt={file.name}
-                  className="w-full h-full object-cover"
-                />
-              </div>
-            ) : (
-              <span
-                className="font-mono text-[32px] font-black tracking-tight leading-none select-none"
-                style={{ color: `${categoryColor}90` }}
-              >
-                .{file.extension}
-              </span>
-            )}
-
-            {/* Progress overlay */}
-            {file.status === 'converting' && (
-              <div className="absolute inset-0 flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1.5 bg-[#fffef9]/85 backdrop-blur-[2px] rounded-sm">
-                <ProgressRing progress={file.progress} color={categoryColor} />
-                <span className="font-mono text-[11px] font-bold text-text-dark">
-                  {Math.round(file.progress)}%
-                </span>
-              </div>
-            )}
-
-            {/* Done overlay */}
-            {file.status === 'done' && (
-              <motion.div
-                className="absolute inset-0 flex items-center justify-center bg-mint/[0.07] rounded-sm"
-                initial={{ opacity: 0, scale: 0.5 }}
-                animate={{ opacity: 1, scale: 1 }}
-                transition={{ type: 'spring', stiffness: 400, damping: 15 }}
-              >
-                <div className="flex items-center justify-center w-11 h-11 rounded-full bg-[#fffef9] shadow-[0_2px_10px_rgba(52,211,153,0.15)] border border-mint/20">
-                  <svg width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="#34d399" strokeWidth="2.5">
-                    <path d="M20 6L9 17l-5-5" strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" />
-                  </svg>
-                </div>
-              </motion.div>
-            )}
-
-            {/* Error overlay */}
-            {file.status === 'error' && (
-              <div className="absolute inset-0 flex items-center justify-center bg-red-50/70 backdrop-blur-[2px] rounded-sm">
-                <div className="flex items-center justify-center w-11 h-11 rounded-full bg-[#fffef9] shadow-[0_2px_10px_rgba(244,63,94,0.12)] border border-red-200/40">
-                  <svg width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="#f43f5e" strokeWidth="2">
-                    <circle cx="12" cy="12" r="10" />
-                    <path d="M12 8v4M12 16h.01" />
-                  </svg>
-                </div>
-              </div>
-            )}
-          </div>
-
-          {/* Filename + size — handwritten feel area */}
-          <div className="mb-2.5">
-            <p className="text-[13px] font-semibold text-text-dark truncate leading-snug" title={file.name}>
-              {truncateFilename(file.name)}
-            </p>
-            <p className="font-mono text-[10px] text-text-light mt-0.5 tracking-wide">
-              {formatFileSize(file.size)}
-            </p>
-          </div>
-
-          {/* Error message */}
-          {file.status === 'error' && file.error && (
-            <p className="pb-1 text-[11px] text-red-400 leading-snug">
-              {file.error}
-            </p>
-          )}
-
-          {/* Format selector — styled like a form field on paper */}
-          {file.availableFormats.length > 0 && file.status !== 'done' && (
-            <div className="flex items-center gap-2 pt-2.5 mt-1 border-t border-dashed border-text-dark/[0.06]">
-              <span className="font-mono text-[11px] font-bold text-text-mid">
-                .{file.extension}
-              </span>
-              <svg width="12" height="12" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2" className="text-text-light/50 flex-shrink-0">
-                <path d="M5 12h14M12 5l7 7-7 7" />
-              </svg>
-              <select
-                value={file.targetFormat || ''}
-                onChange={(e) => onSetFormat(file.id, e.target.value)}
-                className="flex-1 min-w-0 font-mono text-[11px] font-bold text-text-dark bg-transparent px-2 py-1 rounded-sm border border-dashed cursor-pointer hover:border-text-dark/20 focus:outline-none focus:border-pink/40 transition-all appearance-none"
-                style={{ borderColor: `${categoryColor}30` }}
-              >
-                {file.availableFormats.map((fmt) => (
-                  <option key={fmt} value={fmt}>
-                    .{fmt}
-                  </option>
-                ))}
-              </select>
-            </div>
-          )}
-
-          {/* Action buttons — done state */}
-          {file.status === 'done' && (
-            <div className="flex items-center gap-2 pt-2.5 mt-1 border-t border-dashed border-text-dark/[0.06]">
-              <motion.button
-                className="flex-1 inline-flex items-center justify-center gap-1.5 px-2.5 py-2 text-[11px] font-bold text-text-dark bg-transparent border border-dashed border-text-dark/10 rounded-sm cursor-pointer hover:bg-text-dark/[0.03] hover:border-text-dark/20 transition-all"
-                onClick={() => onPreview(file)}
-                initial={{ opacity: 0, y: 4 }}
-                animate={{ opacity: 1, y: 0 }}
-                whileTap={{ scale: 0.97 }}
-              >
-                <svg width="12" height="12" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2">
-                  <path d="M1 12s4-8 11-8 11 8 11 8-4 8-11 8-11-8-11-8z" />
-                  <circle cx="12" cy="12" r="3" />
-                </svg>
-                Preview
-              </motion.button>
-              <motion.button
-                className="flex-1 inline-flex items-center justify-center gap-1.5 px-2.5 py-2 text-[11px] font-bold text-white bg-mint border-none rounded-sm cursor-pointer shadow-[0_1px_6px_rgba(52,211,153,0.2)] hover:shadow-[0_2px_12px_rgba(52,211,153,0.3)] transition-all"
-                onClick={() => onDownload(file)}
-                initial={{ opacity: 0, y: 4 }}
-                animate={{ opacity: 1, y: 0 }}
-                whileTap={{ scale: 0.97 }}
-              >
-                <svg width="12" height="12" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2">
-                  <path d="M21 15v4a2 2 0 01-2 2H5a2 2 0 01-2-2v-4M7 10l5 5 5-5M12 15V3" />
-                </svg>
-                .{file.targetFormat}
-              </motion.button>
-            </div>
-          )}
-
-          {/* Unsupported message */}
-          {file.availableFormats.length === 0 && (
-            <p className="pt-2.5 mt-1 text-[11px] text-text-light italic text-center border-t border-dashed border-text-dark/[0.06]">
-              Format not supported for conversion
-            </p>
-          )}
-        </div>
-      </div>
-    </motion.div>
-  );
-}
diff --git a/src/components/FileRow.tsx b/src/components/FileRow.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dbbd0d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/FileRow.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,238 @@
+'use client';
+
+import { motion, AnimatePresence } from 'framer-motion';
+import { UploadedFile, CATEGORY_COLORS, CATEGORY_ICONS } from '@/types';
+import { formatFileSize, truncateFilename } from '@/lib/utils';
+import { ProgressRing } from './ProgressRing';
+
+interface FileRowProps {
+  file: UploadedFile;
+  index: number;
+  onSetFormat: (id: string, format: string) => void;
+  onRemove: (id: string) => void;
+  onDownload: (file: UploadedFile) => void;
+  onPreview: (file: UploadedFile) => void;
+}
+
+export function FileRow({
+  file,
+  index,
+  onSetFormat,
+  onRemove,
+  onDownload,
+  onPreview,
+}: FileRowProps) {
+  const color = CATEGORY_COLORS[file.category];
+  const icon = CATEGORY_ICONS[file.category];
+
+  return (
+    <motion.div
+      className="group flex items-center px-4 py-2.5 hover:bg-[#fafafa] transition-colors"
+      initial={{ opacity: 0, x: -8 }}
+      animate={{ opacity: 1, x: 0 }}
+      exit={{ opacity: 0, x: -8, height: 0, paddingTop: 0, paddingBottom: 0, overflow: 'hidden' }}
+      transition={{ duration: 0.3, delay: index * 0.03, ease: [0.16, 1, 0.3, 1] as const }}
+      layout
+    >
+      {/* Icon */}
+      <div
+        className="w-8 h-8 rounded-lg flex items-center justify-center text-[15px] flex-shrink-0"
+        style={{ background: `${color}12` }}
+      >
+        {file.preview ? (
+          // eslint-disable-next-line @next/next/no-img-element
+          <img
+            src={file.preview}
+            alt=""
+            className="w-8 h-8 rounded-lg object-cover"
+          />
+        ) : (
+          icon
+        )}
+      </div>
+
+      {/* Name + extension */}
+      <div className="flex-1 min-w-0 ml-3">
+        <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+          <span className="text-[13px] font-medium text-text-dark truncate" title={file.name}>
+            {truncateFilename(file.name, 36)}
+          </span>
+          <span
+            className="font-mono text-[10px] font-bold px-1.5 py-0.5 rounded flex-shrink-0"
+            style={{ background: `${color}10`, color }}
+          >
+            .{file.extension}
+          </span>
+        </div>
+        {/* Error message inline */}
+        {file.status === 'error' && file.error && (
+          <p className="text-[10px] text-red-400 truncate mt-0.5">{file.error}</p>
+        )}
+      </div>
+
+      {/* Size — hidden on small screens */}
+      <div className="w-[72px] text-right font-mono text-[11px] text-text-light flex-shrink-0 hidden sm:block">
+        {formatFileSize(file.size)}
+      </div>
+
+      {/* Format selector — hidden on small screens, shown inline */}
+      <div className="w-[140px] flex items-center justify-center flex-shrink-0 hidden sm:flex">
+        {file.availableFormats.length > 0 && file.status !== 'done' ? (
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5">
+            <svg width="10" height="10" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2" className="text-text-light/40 flex-shrink-0">
+              <path d="M5 12h14M12 5l7 7-7 7" />
+            </svg>
+            <select
+              value={file.targetFormat || ''}
+              onChange={(e) => onSetFormat(file.id, e.target.value)}
+              className="font-mono text-[11px] font-bold text-text-dark bg-transparent px-1.5 py-1 rounded-md border border-border-soft/60 cursor-pointer hover:border-pink/30 focus:outline-none focus:border-pink/40 transition-all appearance-none select-arrow-warm w-[72px]"
+            >
+              {file.availableFormats.map((fmt) => (
+                <option key={fmt} value={fmt}>
+                  .{fmt}
+                </option>
+              ))}
+            </select>
+          </div>
+        ) : file.status === 'done' ? (
+          <span
+            className="font-mono text-[11px] font-bold px-2 py-0.5 rounded-md"
+            style={{ background: `${color}10`, color }}
+          >
+            .{file.targetFormat}
+          </span>
+        ) : (
+          <span className="text-[10px] text-text-light/40 italic">unsupported</span>
+        )}
+      </div>
+
+      {/* Status / actions column */}
+      <div className="w-[130px] flex items-center justify-end gap-1.5 flex-shrink-0 pr-1">
+        <AnimatePresence mode="wait">
+          {/* Idle — just format selector on mobile, or nothing */}
+          {file.status === 'idle' && (
+            <motion.div
+              key="idle"
+              className="flex items-center gap-1.5"
+              initial={{ opacity: 0 }}
+              animate={{ opacity: 1 }}
+              exit={{ opacity: 0 }}
+              transition={{ duration: 0.15 }}
+            >
+              {/* Mobile format selector */}
+              {file.availableFormats.length > 0 && (
+                <select
+                  value={file.targetFormat || ''}
+                  onChange={(e) => onSetFormat(file.id, e.target.value)}
+                  className="sm:hidden font-mono text-[10px] font-bold text-text-dark bg-transparent px-1 py-0.5 rounded border border-border-soft/60 cursor-pointer appearance-none select-arrow-warm"
+                  style={{ paddingRight: '18px', maxWidth: '70px' }}
+                >
+                  {file.availableFormats.map((fmt) => (
+                    <option key={fmt} value={fmt}>
+                      .{fmt}
+                    </option>
+                  ))}
+                </select>
+              )}
+              {/* Remove button */}
+              <button
+                className="flex items-center justify-center w-6 h-6 rounded-md bg-transparent border-none cursor-pointer text-text-light/30 hover:text-red-400 hover:bg-red-50 transition-all opacity-0 group-hover:opacity-100"
+                onClick={() => onRemove(file.id)}
+                aria-label="Remove file"
+              >
+                <svg width="12" height="12" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2">
+                  <path d="M18 6L6 18M6 6l12 12" />
+                </svg>
+              </button>
+            </motion.div>
+          )}
+
+          {/* Converting — spinner + progress */}
+          {file.status === 'converting' && (
+            <motion.div
+              key="converting"
+              className="flex items-center gap-2"
+              initial={{ opacity: 0, scale: 0.9 }}
+              animate={{ opacity: 1, scale: 1 }}
+              exit={{ opacity: 0, scale: 0.9 }}
+              transition={{ duration: 0.15 }}
+            >
+              <ProgressRing progress={file.progress} size={20} strokeWidth={2} color={color} />
+              <span className="font-mono text-[11px] font-medium" style={{ color }}>
+                {Math.round(file.progress)}%
+              </span>
+            </motion.div>
+          )}
+
+          {/* Done — checkmark + preview + download */}
+          {file.status === 'done' && (
+            <motion.div
+              key="done"
+              className="flex items-center gap-1"
+              initial={{ opacity: 0, scale: 0.8 }}
+              animate={{ opacity: 1, scale: 1 }}
+              transition={{ duration: 0.25, ease: [0.16, 1, 0.3, 1] as const }}
+            >
+              {/* Checkmark */}
+              <svg width="14" height="14" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" className="text-mint flex-shrink-0">
+                <circle cx="12" cy="12" r="10" fill="rgba(52,211,153,0.12)" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="1.5" />
+                <path d="M8 12l3 3 5-5" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2" strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" />
+              </svg>
+
+              {/* Preview button */}
+              <button
+                className="flex items-center justify-center w-6 h-6 rounded-md bg-transparent border-none cursor-pointer text-text-light/50 hover:text-purple hover:bg-purple/8 transition-all"
+                onClick={() => onPreview(file)}
+                title="Preview"
+              >
+                <svg width="12" height="12" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2">
+                  <path d="M1 12s4-8 11-8 11 8 11 8-4 8-11 8-11-8-11-8z" />
+                  <circle cx="12" cy="12" r="3" />
+                </svg>
+              </button>
+
+              {/* Download button */}
+              <button
+                className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 px-2 py-1 text-[10px] font-bold text-white bg-mint border-none rounded-md cursor-pointer shadow-[0_1px_4px_rgba(52,211,153,0.2)] hover:shadow-[0_2px_8px_rgba(52,211,153,0.3)] transition-all"
+                onClick={() => onDownload(file)}
+                title="Download"
+              >
+                <svg width="10" height="10" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2.5">
+                  <path d="M21 15v4a2 2 0 01-2 2H5a2 2 0 01-2-2v-4M7 10l5 5 5-5M12 15V3" />
+                </svg>
+                .{file.targetFormat}
+              </button>
+            </motion.div>
+          )}
+
+          {/* Error — icon + remove */}
+          {file.status === 'error' && (
+            <motion.div
+              key="error"
+              className="flex items-center gap-1.5"
+              initial={{ opacity: 0, scale: 0.9 }}
+              animate={{ opacity: 1, scale: 1 }}
+              exit={{ opacity: 0 }}
+              transition={{ duration: 0.15 }}
+            >
+              <svg width="14" height="14" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" className="text-red-400 flex-shrink-0">
+                <circle cx="12" cy="12" r="10" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="1.5" fill="rgba(244,63,94,0.08)" />
+                <path d="M12 8v4M12 16h.01" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2" strokeLinecap="round" />
+              </svg>
+              <span className="text-[10px] text-red-400 font-mono font-medium">Failed</span>
+              <button
+                className="flex items-center justify-center w-5 h-5 rounded bg-transparent border-none cursor-pointer text-text-light/40 hover:text-red-400 transition-all"
+                onClick={() => onRemove(file.id)}
+                aria-label="Remove"
+              >
+                <svg width="10" height="10" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2.5">
+                  <path d="M18 6L6 18M6 6l12 12" />
+                </svg>
+              </button>
+            </motion.div>
+          )}
+        </AnimatePresence>
+      </div>
+    </motion.div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/src/hooks/useFileUpload.ts b/src/hooks/useFileUpload.ts
index 7d55441..21b3959 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useFileUpload.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useFileUpload.ts
@@ -1,16 +1,64 @@
 'use client';
 
-import { useState, useCallback, useRef } from 'react';
+import { useState, useCallback, useRef, useEffect } from 'react';
 import { UploadedFile } from '@/types';
 import { detectCategory, getExtension, generateId } from '@/lib/fileDetector';
 import { getAvailableFormats, getDefaultTarget } from '@/lib/conversionMap';
+import {
+  persistFile,
+  updatePersistedMeta,
+  removePersistedFile,
+  clearAllPersistedFiles,
+  loadPersistedFiles,
+} from '@/lib/filePersistence';
 
 export function useFileUpload() {
   const [files, setFiles] = useState<UploadedFile[]>([]);
   const [isDragging, setIsDragging] = useState(false);
+  const [isLoadingPersisted, setIsLoadingPersisted] = useState(true);
   const inputRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
   const dragCountRef = useRef(0);
 
+  // ─── Restore persisted files on mount ─────────────────────
+  useEffect(() => {
+    let cancelled = false;
+    (async () => {
+      try {
+        const persisted = await loadPersistedFiles();
+        if (cancelled) return;
+        if (persisted.length > 0) {
+          const restored: UploadedFile[] = persisted.map((p) => {
+            let preview: string | undefined;
+            if (p.category === 'image') {
+              preview = URL.createObjectURL(p.file);
+            }
+            return {
+              id: p.id,
+              file: p.file,
+              name: p.name,
+              size: p.size,
+              type: p.mimeType,
+              category: p.category,
+              extension: p.extension,
+              preview,
+              targetFormat: p.targetFormat,
+              availableFormats: p.availableFormats,
+              // Reset status to idle on reload (don't carry over 'converting' or 'done')
+              status: 'idle' as const,
+              progress: 0,
+            };
+          });
+          setFiles(restored);
+        }
+      } catch {
+        // Silently fail — user just gets a fresh start
+      } finally {
+        if (!cancelled) setIsLoadingPersisted(false);
+      }
+    })();
+    return () => { cancelled = true; };
+  }, []);
+
   const processFiles = useCallback((fileList: FileList | File[]) => {
     const newFiles: UploadedFile[] = Array.from(fileList).map((file) => {
       const category = detectCategory(file);
@@ -24,8 +72,22 @@ export function useFileUpload() {
         preview = URL.createObjectURL(file);
       }
 
+      const id = generateId();
+
+      // Persist to IndexedDB (fire-and-forget)
+      persistFile(id, file, {
+        name: file.name,
+        size: file.size,
+        mimeType: file.type,
+        category,
+        extension,
+        targetFormat,
+        availableFormats,
+        status: 'idle',
+      }).catch(() => {});
+
       return {
-        id: generateId(),
+        id,
         file,
         name: file.name,
         size: file.size,
@@ -97,18 +159,26 @@ export function useFileUpload() {
       if (file?.preview) URL.revokeObjectURL(file.preview);
       return prev.filter((f) => f.id !== id);
     });
+    // Remove from persistence
+    removePersistedFile(id).catch(() => {});
   }, []);
 
   const updateFile = useCallback((id: string, updates: Partial<UploadedFile>) => {
     setFiles((prev) =>
       prev.map((f) => (f.id === id ? { ...f, ...updates } : f))
     );
+    // Sync status changes to persistence
+    if (updates.status) {
+      updatePersistedMeta(id, { status: updates.status });
+    }
   }, []);
 
   const setTargetFormat = useCallback((id: string, format: string) => {
     setFiles((prev) =>
       prev.map((f) => (f.id === id ? { ...f, targetFormat: format } : f))
     );
+    // Sync to persistence
+    updatePersistedMeta(id, { targetFormat: format });
   }, []);
 
   const clearAll = useCallback(() => {
@@ -116,12 +186,16 @@ export function useFileUpload() {
       if (f.preview) URL.revokeObjectURL(f.preview);
     });
     setFiles([]);
+    // Clear all persisted data
+    clearAllPersistedFiles().catch(() => {});
   }, [files]);
 
   const clearCompleted = useCallback(() => {
     setFiles((prev) => {
-      prev.forEach((f) => {
-        if (f.status === 'done' && f.preview) URL.revokeObjectURL(f.preview);
+      const completed = prev.filter((f) => f.status === 'done');
+      completed.forEach((f) => {
+        if (f.preview) URL.revokeObjectURL(f.preview);
+        removePersistedFile(f.id).catch(() => {});
       });
       return prev.filter((f) => f.status !== 'done');
     });
@@ -130,6 +204,7 @@ export function useFileUpload() {
   return {
     files,
     isDragging,
+    isLoadingPersisted,
     inputRef,
     handleDragEnter,
     handleDragLeave,
diff --git a/src/lib/filePersistence.ts b/src/lib/filePersistence.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7824495
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/filePersistence.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,188 @@
+/**
+ * File persistence using IndexedDB for blob storage + localStorage for metadata.
+ * Files survive page reloads and auto-expire after 24 hours.
+ */
+
+import { FileCategory, ConversionStatus } from '@/types';
+
+const DB_NAME = 'transmute-files';
+const DB_VERSION = 1;
+const STORE_NAME = 'files';
+const META_KEY = 'transmute-file-meta';
+const EXPIRY_MS = 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000; // 24 hours
+
+/** Serializable metadata stored in localStorage */
+export interface PersistedFileMeta {
+  id: string;
+  name: string;
+  size: number;
+  mimeType: string;
+  category: FileCategory;
+  extension: string;
+  targetFormat: string | null;
+  availableFormats: string[];
+  status: ConversionStatus;
+  persistedAt: number; // timestamp
+}
+
+// ─── IndexedDB helpers ────────────────────────────────────────
+
+function openDB(): Promise<IDBDatabase> {
+  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    const request = indexedDB.open(DB_NAME, DB_VERSION);
+    request.onupgradeneeded = () => {
+      const db = request.result;
+      if (!db.objectStoreNames.contains(STORE_NAME)) {
+        db.createObjectStore(STORE_NAME);
+      }
+    };
+    request.onsuccess = () => resolve(request.result);
+    request.onerror = () => reject(request.error);
+  });
+}
+
+async function putBlob(id: string, blob: Blob): Promise<void> {
+  const db = await openDB();
+  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    const tx = db.transaction(STORE_NAME, 'readwrite');
+    tx.objectStore(STORE_NAME).put(blob, id);
+    tx.oncomplete = () => { db.close(); resolve(); };
+    tx.onerror = () => { db.close(); reject(tx.error); };
+  });
+}
+
+async function getBlob(id: string): Promise<Blob | undefined> {
+  const db = await openDB();
+  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    const tx = db.transaction(STORE_NAME, 'readonly');
+    const req = tx.objectStore(STORE_NAME).get(id);
+    req.onsuccess = () => { db.close(); resolve(req.result as Blob | undefined); };
+    req.onerror = () => { db.close(); reject(req.error); };
+  });
+}
+
+async function deleteBlob(id: string): Promise<void> {
+  const db = await openDB();
+  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    const tx = db.transaction(STORE_NAME, 'readwrite');
+    tx.objectStore(STORE_NAME).delete(id);
+    tx.oncomplete = () => { db.close(); resolve(); };
+    tx.onerror = () => { db.close(); reject(tx.error); };
+  });
+}
+
+async function clearAllBlobs(): Promise<void> {
+  const db = await openDB();
+  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    const tx = db.transaction(STORE_NAME, 'readwrite');
+    tx.objectStore(STORE_NAME).clear();
+    tx.oncomplete = () => { db.close(); resolve(); };
+    tx.onerror = () => { db.close(); reject(tx.error); };
+  });
+}
+
+// ─── Metadata helpers (localStorage) ──────────────────────────
+
+function getMetaList(): PersistedFileMeta[] {
+  try {
+    const raw = localStorage.getItem(META_KEY);
+    if (!raw) return [];
+    return JSON.parse(raw) as PersistedFileMeta[];
+  } catch {
+    return [];
+  }
+}
+
+function setMetaList(metas: PersistedFileMeta[]): void {
+  localStorage.setItem(META_KEY, JSON.stringify(metas));
+}
+
+// ─── Public API ───────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+/** Persist a single file (blob + metadata) */
+export async function persistFile(
+  id: string,
+  file: File,
+  meta: Omit<PersistedFileMeta, 'id' | 'persistedAt'>
+): Promise<void> {
+  await putBlob(id, file);
+  const metas = getMetaList();
+  // Remove existing entry with same id (shouldn't happen but be safe)
+  const filtered = metas.filter((m) => m.id !== id);
+  filtered.push({ ...meta, id, persistedAt: Date.now() });
+  setMetaList(filtered);
+}
+
+/** Update persisted metadata for a file (e.g. when targetFormat changes) */
+export function updatePersistedMeta(
+  id: string,
+  updates: Partial<Pick<PersistedFileMeta, 'targetFormat' | 'status'>>
+): void {
+  const metas = getMetaList();
+  const idx = metas.findIndex((m) => m.id === id);
+  if (idx !== -1) {
+    metas[idx] = { ...metas[idx], ...updates };
+    setMetaList(metas);
+  }
+}
+
+/** Remove a single persisted file */
+export async function removePersistedFile(id: string): Promise<void> {
+  await deleteBlob(id);
+  const metas = getMetaList().filter((m) => m.id !== id);
+  setMetaList(metas);
+}
+
+/** Clear ALL persisted files */
+export async function clearAllPersistedFiles(): Promise<void> {
+  await clearAllBlobs();
+  localStorage.removeItem(META_KEY);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Load persisted files, pruning any that have expired (>24h).
+ * Returns metadata + the reconstructed File objects.
+ */
+export async function loadPersistedFiles(): Promise<
+  Array<PersistedFileMeta & { file: File }>
+> {
+  const metas = getMetaList();
+  const now = Date.now();
+  const valid: PersistedFileMeta[] = [];
+  const expired: string[] = [];
+
+  for (const meta of metas) {
+    if (now - meta.persistedAt > EXPIRY_MS) {
+      expired.push(meta.id);
+    } else {
+      valid.push(meta);
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Clean up expired blobs
+  for (const id of expired) {
+    await deleteBlob(id).catch(() => {});
+  }
+
+  // Update metadata list (remove expired)
+  if (expired.length > 0) {
+    setMetaList(valid);
+  }
+
+  // Load blobs for valid entries
+  const results: Array<PersistedFileMeta & { file: File }> = [];
+  for (const meta of valid) {
+    try {
+      const blob = await getBlob(meta.id);
+      if (blob) {
+        // Reconstruct a File object from the blob
+        const file = new File([blob], meta.name, { type: meta.mimeType });
+        results.push({ ...meta, file });
+      }
+    } catch {
+      // If blob retrieval fails, skip this entry
+    }
+  }
+
+  return results;
+}