diff --git a/apps/web/src/app/(main)/files/page.tsx b/apps/web/src/app/(main)/files/page.tsx
index fb86ab0..6cb560d 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/app/(main)/files/page.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/app/(main)/files/page.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 "use client";
 
 import { useCallback, useEffect, useState } from "react";
+import Link from "next/link";
 import { Button, Input } from "../../../components/ui/primitives";
 import { OfflineBadge } from "../../../components/ui/offline-badge";
 import { EmptyState } from "../../../components/brand/empty-state";
@@ -262,7 +263,24 @@ export default function FilesPage(): React.ReactElement {
       {actionError !== null && <p role="alert" className="mb-3 text-sm text-danger">{actionError}</p>}
       {notice !== null && <p role="status" className="mb-3 text-sm text-live">{notice}</p>}
 
-      <UploadDropzone groupId={groupId} live={live} onUploaded={handleUploaded} />
+      {groupId === "" ? (
+        <div className="mb-4 rounded-lg border border-border-subtle bg-surface p-4">
+          <p className="mb-3 text-sm text-text-dim">
+            {t({
+              en: "Uploads live inside a collective. Create one first — then this becomes your upload and library space.",
+              es: "Las subidas viven dentro de un colectivo. Crea uno primero y este espacio será tu zona de subidas y biblioteca.",
+            })}
+          </p>
+          <Link
+            href="/more"
+            className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 rounded-md bg-accent px-3 py-1.5 text-xs font-medium text-white hover:bg-accent-hover"
+          >
+            {t({ en: "Create a collective", es: "Crear un colectivo" })} ›
+          </Link>
+        </div>
+      ) : (
+        <UploadDropzone groupId={groupId} live={live} onUploaded={handleUploaded} />
+      )}
 
       <div className="mb-4 flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2">
         <Input
diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/files/upload-dropzone.tsx b/apps/web/src/components/files/upload-dropzone.tsx
index b3eb79c..1150d1b 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/files/upload-dropzone.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/files/upload-dropzone.tsx
@@ -132,13 +132,12 @@ export function UploadDropzone({ groupId, live, onUploaded }: {
             {!disabled && (
               <Button
                 size="sm"
-                variant="outline"
                 onClick={(e) => {
                   e.stopPropagation();
                   inputRef.current?.click();
                 }}
               >
-                {t({ en: "Browse files", es: "Buscar archivos" })}
+                ＋ {t({ en: "Upload a file", es: "Subir un archivo" })}
               </Button>
             )}
           </>