diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/AppShell.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/AppShell.svelte
index 0abff3e4..fc2c335a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/AppShell.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/AppShell.svelte
@@ -872,7 +872,10 @@
 		top: calc(100% + 4px);
 		left: 0;
 		right: 0;
-		z-index: 50;
+		/* Search suggestions render above `.page-sticky-header` — otherwise the
+		   dropdown clips under the action bar on the content pages. Design-token
+		   `--z-dropdown` (1000) sits above `--z-sticky` (100) by construction. */
+		z-index: var(--z-dropdown);
 		list-style: none;
 		margin: 0;
 		padding: 0.25rem;
@@ -1117,7 +1120,8 @@
 		position: absolute;
 		bottom: calc(100% + 4px);
 		right: 0;
-		z-index: 60;
+		/* Sits above `--z-sticky` for the same reason as `.suggest` above. */
+		z-index: var(--z-dropdown);
 		min-width: 12rem;
 		max-height: 18rem;
 		overflow: auto;
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/ResourceList.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/ResourceList.svelte
index ba645ee7..e7a003e0 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/ResourceList.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/ResourceList.svelte
@@ -902,28 +902,44 @@
 	// breadcrumb) are handled by the existing `onitemdrop` hooks and use
 	// a private `application/x-oxi-item` MIME so the `Files` type check
 	// below never matches them.
-	let systemDropOver = $state(false);
+	// Drag-enter/leave chatter is unavoidable when the drag pointer moves
+	// between the wrapper and its descendants — the browser fires
+	// `dragleave` on the parent BEFORE firing `dragenter` on the child,
+	// so a naive `systemDropOver = false` in the leave handler produces
+	// a false→true flash on every row hover during the drag. Counter
+	// approach: increment on every dragenter, decrement on every
+	// dragleave; the overlay is visible when the count is positive. The
+	// count zeroes only when the drag has truly left the wrapper (or
+	// hit `drop`/`dragend`), so the overlay stays stable throughout.
+	let systemDragDepth = $state(0);
+	const systemDropOver = $derived(systemDragDepth > 0);
 	function isSystemDrag(e: DragEvent): boolean {
 		return !!e.dataTransfer?.types?.includes('Files');
 	}
 	function onSystemDragEnter(e: DragEvent) {
 		if (!isSystemDrag(e)) return;
 		e.preventDefault();
-		systemDropOver = true;
+		systemDragDepth++;
 	}
 	function onSystemDragOver(e: DragEvent) {
 		if (!isSystemDrag(e)) return;
+		// preventDefault on `dragover` is what tells the browser this
+		// element accepts drops — without it, `drop` never fires and
+		// the pointer shows the OS "no-drop" cursor.
 		e.preventDefault();
 		if (e.dataTransfer) e.dataTransfer.dropEffect = enableSystemDrop ? 'copy' : 'none';
 	}
 	function onSystemDragLeave(e: DragEvent) {
 		if (!isSystemDrag(e)) return;
-		systemDropOver = false;
+		if (systemDragDepth > 0) systemDragDepth--;
 	}
 	function onSystemDrop(e: DragEvent) {
 		if (!isSystemDrag(e)) return;
 		e.preventDefault();
-		systemDropOver = false;
+		// Drop ends the drag; force-clear regardless of counter state
+		// (a stray unbalanced dragenter would otherwise leave the
+		// overlay stuck on).
+		systemDragDepth = 0;
 		if (enableSystemDrop && onsystemdrop) {
 			onsystemdrop(e);
 		} else if (!enableSystemDrop) {
@@ -1138,7 +1154,6 @@
 <!-- svelte-ignore a11y_no_static_element_interactions -->
 <div
 	class="rl-root"
-	class:rl-root--drop-over={systemDropOver && enableSystemDrop}
 	class:rl-root--rubberbanding={rubberband !== null}
 	bind:this={rlRoot}
 	onpointerdown={onRootPointerDown}
@@ -1330,6 +1345,24 @@
 			aria-hidden="true"
 		></div>
 	{/if}
+
+	<!-- System-drop overlay. Renders on top of the list ONLY while the
+	     user is dragging OS files over the wrapper AND this surface
+	     accepts them (`enableSystemDrop`). Filled tint + centred
+	     icon+message so the drop target is unmistakable — the dashed
+	     border alone read as decoration on busy folders. `pointer-events:
+	     none` on the container keeps it inert (drag events still hit
+	     `.rl-root` underneath so `dragleave`/`drop` fire correctly). -->
+	{#if systemDropOver && enableSystemDrop}
+		<div class="rl-drop-overlay" aria-hidden="true">
+			<div class="rl-drop-overlay__inner">
+				<Icon name="cloud-arrow-up" class="rl-drop-overlay__icon" />
+				<span class="rl-drop-overlay__label">
+					{t('files.drop_to_upload', 'Drop files here to upload')}
+				</span>
+			</div>
+		</div>
+	{/if}
 </div>
 <!-- /.rl-root -->
 
@@ -1419,13 +1452,50 @@
 		position: relative;
 	}
 
-	.rl-root--drop-over::after {
-		content: '';
-		position: absolute;
+	/* Viewport-fixed drop overlay. `position: fixed` (not absolute) so
+	   it covers the whole visible browser window regardless of the
+	   user's scroll position — an absolute-inset-0 inside `.rl-root`
+	   would center the card at the middle of the FULL list height,
+	   which sits above the fold on a scrolled folder. The dashed border
+	   also gets painted at the true viewport edge, so the sticky
+	   action-bar + breadcrumb are covered rather than clipping the
+	   border. `pointer-events: none` so drag events still fall through
+	   to `.rl-root`'s handlers underneath.
+	   `--z-overlay` beats `--z-sticky` (page chrome) + `--z-dropdown`
+	   (search suggestions); stays below `--z-modal` so a modal opened
+	   concurrently still wins. */
+	.rl-drop-overlay {
+		position: fixed;
 		inset: 0;
+		display: flex;
+		align-items: center;
+		justify-content: center;
+		background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-accent) 12%, transparent);
 		border: 2px dashed var(--color-accent);
 		border-radius: var(--radius-md);
 		pointer-events: none;
+		z-index: var(--z-overlay);
+	}
+
+	.rl-drop-overlay__inner {
+		display: flex;
+		flex-direction: column;
+		align-items: center;
+		gap: var(--space-3);
+		padding: var(--space-6) var(--space-8);
+		color: var(--color-accent);
+		background: var(--color-bg-surface);
+		border-radius: var(--radius-lg);
+		box-shadow: var(--shadow-lg);
+	}
+
+	.rl-drop-overlay :global(.rl-drop-overlay__icon) {
+		font-size: 3rem;
+	}
+
+	.rl-drop-overlay__label {
+		font-weight: var(--weight-semibold);
+		font-size: var(--text-lg);
 	}
 
 	/* ── Rubberband (marquee) selection ────────────────────────────
diff --git a/frontend/static/locales/ar.json b/frontend/static/locales/ar.json
index 00fcd333..5aec9991 100644
--- a/frontend/static/locales/ar.json
+++ b/frontend/static/locales/ar.json
@@ -339,6 +339,7 @@
     "modified": "تاريخ التعديل",
     "no_files": "لا توجد ملفات في هذا المجلد",
     "empty_hint": "ارفع ملفات أو أنشئ مجلدات للبدء",
+    "drop_to_upload": "أفلت الملفات هنا للرفع",
     "loading": "جارٍ تحميل الملفات…",
     "view_grid": "عرض شبكي",
     "view_list": "عرض قائمة",
diff --git a/frontend/static/locales/de.json b/frontend/static/locales/de.json
index 5b3b6915..a0ec447d 100644
--- a/frontend/static/locales/de.json
+++ b/frontend/static/locales/de.json
@@ -339,6 +339,7 @@
     "modified": "Geändert",
     "no_files": "Keine Dateien in diesem Ordner",
     "empty_hint": "Laden Sie Dateien hoch oder erstellen Sie Ordner, um loszulegen",
+    "drop_to_upload": "Dateien zum Hochladen hier ablegen",
     "loading": "Dateien werden geladen…",
     "view_grid": "Rasteransicht",
     "view_list": "Listenansicht",
diff --git a/frontend/static/locales/en.json b/frontend/static/locales/en.json
index 3438c366..628bde40 100644
--- a/frontend/static/locales/en.json
+++ b/frontend/static/locales/en.json
@@ -444,6 +444,7 @@
     "modified": "Modified",
     "no_files": "No files in this folder",
     "empty_hint": "Upload files or create folders to get started",
+    "drop_to_upload": "Drop files here to upload",
     "loading": "Loading files…",
     "view_grid": "Grid view",
     "view_list": "List view",
diff --git a/frontend/static/locales/es.json b/frontend/static/locales/es.json
index 5e959f44..19d0ddbd 100644
--- a/frontend/static/locales/es.json
+++ b/frontend/static/locales/es.json
@@ -339,6 +339,7 @@
     "modified": "Modificado",
     "no_files": "No hay archivos en esta carpeta",
     "empty_hint": "Sube archivos o crea carpetas para comenzar",
+    "drop_to_upload": "Arrastra archivos aquí para subirlos",
     "loading": "Cargando archivos…",
     "view_grid": "Vista de cuadrícula",
     "view_list": "Vista de lista",
diff --git a/frontend/static/locales/fa.json b/frontend/static/locales/fa.json
index 8a4f90d1..10db53d5 100644
--- a/frontend/static/locales/fa.json
+++ b/frontend/static/locales/fa.json
@@ -339,6 +339,7 @@
     "modified": "تاریخ تغییر",
     "no_files": "هنوز هیچ پرونده‌ای در این پوشه وجود ندارد",
     "empty_hint": "برای شروع، فایل‌ها را آپلود کنید یا پوشه بسازید",
+    "drop_to_upload": "برای بارگذاری، فایل‌ها را اینجا رها کنید",
     "loading": "در حال بارگذاری فایل‌ها…",
     "view_grid": "نمای شبکه‌ای",
     "view_list": "نمای فهرستی",
diff --git a/frontend/static/locales/fr.json b/frontend/static/locales/fr.json
index c285f539..b2cfc6c9 100644
--- a/frontend/static/locales/fr.json
+++ b/frontend/static/locales/fr.json
@@ -339,6 +339,7 @@
     "modified": "Modifié",
     "no_files": "Aucun fichier dans ce dossier",
     "empty_hint": "Téléversez des fichiers ou créez des dossiers pour commencer",
+    "drop_to_upload": "Déposez les fichiers ici pour les téléverser",
     "loading": "Chargement des fichiers…",
     "view_grid": "Vue en grille",
     "view_list": "Vue en liste",
diff --git a/frontend/static/locales/hi.json b/frontend/static/locales/hi.json
index e63f537e..31a152ed 100644
--- a/frontend/static/locales/hi.json
+++ b/frontend/static/locales/hi.json
@@ -339,6 +339,7 @@
     "modified": "संशोधित",
     "no_files": "इस फ़ोल्डर में कोई फ़ाइल नहीं",
     "empty_hint": "शुरू करने के लिए ह़ैलें अपलोड करें या होल्डर बनाएँ",
+    "drop_to_upload": "अपलोड करने के लिए फ़ाइलें यहाँ छोड़ें",
     "loading": "फ़ाइलें लोड हो रही हैं…",
     "view_grid": "ग्रिड दृश्य",
     "view_list": "सूची दृश्य",
diff --git a/frontend/static/locales/it.json b/frontend/static/locales/it.json
index 6a8a0335..1ddd3942 100644
--- a/frontend/static/locales/it.json
+++ b/frontend/static/locales/it.json
@@ -339,6 +339,7 @@
     "modified": "Modificato",
     "no_files": "Nessun file in questa cartella",
     "empty_hint": "Carica file o crea cartelle per iniziare",
+    "drop_to_upload": "Trascina i file qui per caricarli",
     "loading": "Caricamento file…",
     "view_grid": "Visualizzazione griglia",
     "view_list": "Visualizzazione elenco",
diff --git a/frontend/static/locales/ja.json b/frontend/static/locales/ja.json
index adbb1125..5feff156 100644
--- a/frontend/static/locales/ja.json
+++ b/frontend/static/locales/ja.json
@@ -339,6 +339,7 @@
     "modified": "更新日",
     "no_files": "このフォルダにファイルはありません",
     "empty_hint": "ファイルをアップロードするかフォルダを作成して始めましょう",
+    "drop_to_upload": "アップロードするファイルをここにドロップ",
     "loading": "ファイルを読み込み中…",
     "view_grid": "グリッド表示",
     "view_list": "リスト表示",
diff --git a/frontend/static/locales/ko.json b/frontend/static/locales/ko.json
index 05939621..082c323b 100644
--- a/frontend/static/locales/ko.json
+++ b/frontend/static/locales/ko.json
@@ -409,6 +409,7 @@
     "modified": "수정일",
     "no_files": "이 폴더에 파일이 없습니다",
     "empty_hint": "파일을 업로드하거나 폴더를 만들어 시작하세요",
+    "drop_to_upload": "업로드할 파일을 여기에 놓으세요",
     "loading": "파일 로딩 중…",
     "view_grid": "그리드 보기",
     "view_list": "목록 보기",
diff --git a/frontend/static/locales/nl.json b/frontend/static/locales/nl.json
index 916950f7..fc74afae 100644
--- a/frontend/static/locales/nl.json
+++ b/frontend/static/locales/nl.json
@@ -339,6 +339,7 @@
     "modified": "Gewijzigd",
     "no_files": "Geen bestanden in deze map",
     "empty_hint": "Upload bestanden of maak mappen aan om te beginnen",
+    "drop_to_upload": "Sleep bestanden hier om te uploaden",
     "loading": "Bestanden laden…",
     "view_grid": "Rasterweergave",
     "view_list": "Lijstweergave",
diff --git a/frontend/static/locales/pl.json b/frontend/static/locales/pl.json
index d8fc732d..f58b9426 100644
--- a/frontend/static/locales/pl.json
+++ b/frontend/static/locales/pl.json
@@ -339,6 +339,7 @@
     "modified": "Zmodyfikowano",
     "no_files": "Brak plików w tym folderze",
     "empty_hint": "Prześlij pliki lub utwórz foldery, aby rozpocząć",
+    "drop_to_upload": "Upuść pliki tutaj, aby wysłać",
     "loading": "Ładowanie plików…",
     "view_grid": "Widok siatki",
     "view_list": "Widok listy",
diff --git a/frontend/static/locales/pt.json b/frontend/static/locales/pt.json
index c67388a8..80dee965 100644
--- a/frontend/static/locales/pt.json
+++ b/frontend/static/locales/pt.json
@@ -339,6 +339,7 @@
     "modified": "Modificado",
     "no_files": "Nenhum arquivo nesta pasta",
     "empty_hint": "Envie arquivos ou crie pastas para começar",
+    "drop_to_upload": "Solte arquivos aqui para enviar",
     "loading": "Carregando arquivos…",
     "view_grid": "Visualização em grade",
     "view_list": "Visualização em lista",
diff --git a/frontend/static/locales/ru.json b/frontend/static/locales/ru.json
index ac182e02..71a83525 100644
--- a/frontend/static/locales/ru.json
+++ b/frontend/static/locales/ru.json
@@ -339,6 +339,7 @@
     "modified": "Изменён",
     "no_files": "В этой папке нет файлов",
     "empty_hint": "Загрузите файлы или создайте папки, чтобы начать",
+    "drop_to_upload": "Перетащите файлы сюда для загрузки",
     "loading": "Загрузка файлов…",
     "view_grid": "Сетка",
     "view_list": "Список",
diff --git a/frontend/static/locales/zh-TW.json b/frontend/static/locales/zh-TW.json
index 6e0dc07e..c08b89ba 100644
--- a/frontend/static/locales/zh-TW.json
+++ b/frontend/static/locales/zh-TW.json
@@ -339,6 +339,7 @@
     "modified": "修改日期",
     "no_files": "此資料夾中沒有檔案",
     "empty_hint": "上傳檔案或建立資料夾以開始使用",
+    "drop_to_upload": "將檔案拖放到此處上傳",
     "loading": "正在載入檔案…",
     "view_grid": "網格檢視",
     "view_list": "列表檢視",
diff --git a/frontend/static/locales/zh.json b/frontend/static/locales/zh.json
index 48f1dca7..61516be3 100644
--- a/frontend/static/locales/zh.json
+++ b/frontend/static/locales/zh.json
@@ -339,6 +339,7 @@
     "modified": "修改日期",
     "no_files": "此文件夹中没有文件",
     "empty_hint": "上传文件或创建文件夹以开始使用",
+    "drop_to_upload": "将文件拖放到此处上传",
     "loading": "正在加载文件…",
     "view_grid": "网格视图",
     "view_list": "列表视图",