diff --git a/frontend/src/App.tsx b/frontend/src/App.tsx
index de5001850..2943dd83a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/App.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/App.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 import React from 'react';
 import { RainbowThemeProvider } from './components/shared/RainbowThemeProvider';
 import { FileContextProvider } from './contexts/FileContext';
+import { FilesModalProvider } from './contexts/FilesModalContext';
+import FileUploadModal from './components/shared/FileUploadModal';
 import HomePage from './pages/HomePage';
 
 // Import global styles
@@ -11,7 +13,10 @@ export default function App() {
   return (
     <RainbowThemeProvider>
       <FileContextProvider enableUrlSync={true} enablePersistence={true}>
-        <HomePage />
+        <FilesModalProvider>
+          <HomePage />
+          <FileUploadModal />
+        </FilesModalProvider>
       </FileContextProvider>
     </RainbowThemeProvider>
   );
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/shared/FileUploadModal.tsx b/frontend/src/components/shared/FileUploadModal.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7d94a18c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/shared/FileUploadModal.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+import React from 'react';
+import { Modal } from '@mantine/core';
+import FileUploadSelector from './FileUploadSelector';
+import { useFilesModalContext } from '../../contexts/FilesModalContext';
+
+const FileUploadModal: React.FC = () => {
+  const { isFilesModalOpen, closeFilesModal, onFileSelect, onFilesSelect } = useFilesModalContext();
+
+  return (
+    <Modal
+      opened={isFilesModalOpen}
+      onClose={closeFilesModal}
+      title="Upload Files"
+      size="xl"
+      centered
+    >
+      <FileUploadSelector
+        title="Upload Files"
+        subtitle="Choose files from storage or upload new files"
+        onFileSelect={onFileSelect}
+        onFilesSelect={onFilesSelect}
+        accept={["application/pdf"]}
+        supportedExtensions={["pdf"]}
+      />
+    </Modal>
+  );
+};
+
+export default FileUploadModal;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/shared/LandingPage.tsx b/frontend/src/components/shared/LandingPage.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..977f1f280
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/shared/LandingPage.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+import React from 'react';
+import { Container, Stack, Text, Button } from '@mantine/core';
+import FolderIcon from '@mui/icons-material/FolderRounded';
+import { useFilesModalContext } from '../../contexts/FilesModalContext';
+
+interface LandingPageProps {
+  title: string;
+}
+
+const LandingPage = ({ title }: LandingPageProps) => {
+  const { openFilesModal } = useFilesModalContext();
+  return (
+    <Container size="lg" p="xl" h="100%" style={{ display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', justifyContent: 'center' }}>
+      <Stack align="center" gap="lg">
+        <Text size="xl" fw={500} c="dimmed">
+          {title}
+        </Text>
+        <Button
+          leftSection={<FolderIcon />}
+          size="lg"
+          onClick={openFilesModal}
+        >
+          Open Files
+        </Button>
+      </Stack>
+    </Container>
+  );
+};
+
+export default LandingPage;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/shared/QuickAccessBar.tsx b/frontend/src/components/shared/QuickAccessBar.tsx
index 22a49617e..3d861db90 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/shared/QuickAccessBar.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/shared/QuickAccessBar.tsx
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import { useRainbowThemeContext } from "./RainbowThemeProvider";
 import rainbowStyles from '../../styles/rainbow.module.css';
 import AppConfigModal from './AppConfigModal';
 import { useIsOverflowing } from '../../hooks/useIsOverflowing';
+import { useFilesModalContext } from '../../contexts/FilesModalContext';
 import './QuickAccessBar.css';
 
 interface QuickAccessBarProps {
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ interface ButtonConfig {
   isRound?: boolean;
   size?: 'sm' | 'md' | 'lg' | 'xl';
   onClick: () => void;
+  type?: 'navigation' | 'modal' | 'action'; // navigation = main nav, modal = triggers modal, action = other actions
 }
 
 function NavHeader({ 
@@ -111,11 +113,16 @@ const QuickAccessBar = ({
   readerMode,
 }: QuickAccessBarProps) => {
   const { isRainbowMode } = useRainbowThemeContext();
+  const { openFilesModal, isFilesModalOpen } = useFilesModalContext();
   const [configModalOpen, setConfigModalOpen] = useState(false);
   const [activeButton, setActiveButton] = useState<string>('tools');
   const scrollableRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
   const isOverflow = useIsOverflowing(scrollableRef);
 
+  const handleFilesButtonClick = () => {
+    openFilesModal();
+  };
+
   const buttonConfigs: ButtonConfig[] = [
     {
       id: 'read',
@@ -124,6 +131,7 @@ const QuickAccessBar = ({
       tooltip: 'Read documents',
       size: 'lg',
       isRound: false,
+      type: 'navigation',
       onClick: () => {
         setActiveButton('read');
         onReaderToggle();
@@ -139,6 +147,7 @@ const QuickAccessBar = ({
       tooltip: 'Sign your document',
       size: 'lg',
       isRound: false,
+      type: 'navigation',
       onClick: () => setActiveButton('sign')
     },
     {
@@ -148,6 +157,7 @@ const QuickAccessBar = ({
       tooltip: 'Automate workflows',
       size: 'lg',
       isRound: false,
+      type: 'navigation',
       onClick: () => setActiveButton('automate')
     },
     {
@@ -157,7 +167,8 @@ const QuickAccessBar = ({
       tooltip: 'Manage files',
       isRound: true,
       size: 'lg',
-      onClick: () => setActiveButton('files')
+      type: 'modal',
+      onClick: handleFilesButtonClick
     },
     {
       id: 'activity',
@@ -169,6 +180,7 @@ const QuickAccessBar = ({
       tooltip: 'View activity and analytics',
       isRound: true,
       size: 'lg',
+      type: 'navigation',
       onClick: () => setActiveButton('activity')
     },
     {
@@ -177,6 +189,7 @@ const QuickAccessBar = ({
       icon: <SettingsIcon sx={{ fontSize: "1rem" }} />,
       tooltip: 'Configure settings',
       size: 'lg',
+      type: 'modal',
       onClick: () => {
         setConfigModalOpen(true);
       }
@@ -190,8 +203,16 @@ const QuickAccessBar = ({
     return config.isRound ? CIRCULAR_BORDER_RADIUS : ROUND_BORDER_RADIUS;
   };
 
+  const isButtonActive = (config: ButtonConfig): boolean => {
+    return (
+      (config.type === 'navigation' && activeButton === config.id) ||
+      (config.type === 'modal' && config.id === 'files' && isFilesModalOpen) ||
+      (config.type === 'modal' && config.id === 'config' && configModalOpen)
+    );
+  };
+
   const getButtonStyle = (config: ButtonConfig) => {
-    const isActive = activeButton === config.id;
+    const isActive = isButtonActive(config);
     
     if (isActive) {
       return {
@@ -202,7 +223,7 @@ const QuickAccessBar = ({
       };
     }
     
-    // Inactive state - use consistent inactive colors
+    // Inactive state for all buttons
     return {
       backgroundColor: 'var(--icon-inactive-bg)',
       color: 'var(--icon-inactive-color)',
@@ -254,13 +275,13 @@ const QuickAccessBar = ({
                       variant="subtle"
                       onClick={config.onClick}
                       style={getButtonStyle(config)}
-                      className={activeButton === config.id ? 'activeIconScale' : ''}
+                      className={isButtonActive(config) ? 'activeIconScale' : ''}
                     >
                       <span className="iconContainer">
                         {config.icon}
                       </span>
                     </ActionIcon>
-                    <span className={`button-text ${activeButton === config.id ? 'active' : 'inactive'}`}>
+                    <span className={`button-text ${isButtonActive(config) ? 'active' : 'inactive'}`}>
                       {config.name}
                     </span>
                   </div>
@@ -281,30 +302,28 @@ const QuickAccessBar = ({
           <div className="spacer" />
           
           {/* Config button at the bottom */}
-          <Tooltip label="Configure settings" position="right">
-            <div className="flex flex-col items-center gap-1">
-              <ActionIcon
-                size="lg"
-                variant="subtle"
-                onClick={() => {
-                  setConfigModalOpen(true);
-                }}
-                style={{
-                  backgroundColor: 'var(--icon-inactive-bg)',
-                  color: 'var(--icon-inactive-color)',
-                  border: 'none',
-                  borderRadius: '8px',
-                }}
-              >
-                <span className="iconContainer">
-                  <SettingsIcon sx={{ fontSize: "1rem" }} />
-                </span>
-              </ActionIcon>
-              <span className="config-button-text">
-                Config
-              </span>
-            </div>
-          </Tooltip>
+          {buttonConfigs
+            .filter(config => config.id === 'config')
+            .map(config => (
+              <Tooltip key={config.id} label={config.tooltip} position="right">
+                <div className="flex flex-col items-center gap-1">
+                  <ActionIcon
+                    size={config.size || 'lg'}
+                    variant="subtle"
+                    onClick={config.onClick}
+                    style={getButtonStyle(config)}
+                    className={isButtonActive(config) ? 'activeIconScale' : ''}
+                  >
+                    <span className="iconContainer">
+                      {config.icon}
+                    </span>
+                  </ActionIcon>
+                  <span className={`button-text ${isButtonActive(config) ? 'active' : 'inactive'}`}>
+                    {config.name}
+                  </span>
+                </div>
+              </Tooltip>
+            ))}
         </div>
       </div>
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/contexts/FilesModalContext.tsx b/frontend/src/contexts/FilesModalContext.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6940ab9e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/contexts/FilesModalContext.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+import React, { createContext, useContext } from 'react';
+import { useFilesModal, UseFilesModalReturn } from '../hooks/useFilesModal';
+import { useFileHandler } from '../hooks/useFileHandler';
+
+interface FilesModalContextType extends UseFilesModalReturn {}
+
+const FilesModalContext = createContext<FilesModalContextType | null>(null);
+
+export const FilesModalProvider: React.FC<{ children: React.ReactNode }> = ({ children }) => {
+  const { addToActiveFiles, addMultipleFiles } = useFileHandler();
+  
+  const filesModal = useFilesModal({
+    onFileSelect: addToActiveFiles,
+    onFilesSelect: addMultipleFiles,
+  });
+
+  return (
+    <FilesModalContext.Provider value={filesModal}>
+      {children}
+    </FilesModalContext.Provider>
+  );
+};
+
+export const useFilesModalContext = () => {
+  const context = useContext(FilesModalContext);
+  if (!context) {
+    throw new Error('useFilesModalContext must be used within FilesModalProvider');
+  }
+  return context;
+};
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/frontend/src/hooks/useFileHandler.ts b/frontend/src/hooks/useFileHandler.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..efd988906
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/hooks/useFileHandler.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+import { useCallback } from 'react';
+import { useFileContext } from '../contexts/FileContext';
+
+export const useFileHandler = () => {
+  const { activeFiles, addFiles } = useFileContext();
+
+  const addToActiveFiles = useCallback(async (file: File) => {
+    const exists = activeFiles.some(f => f.name === file.name && f.size === file.size);
+    if (!exists) {
+      await addFiles([file]);
+    }
+  }, [activeFiles, addFiles]);
+
+  const addMultipleFiles = useCallback(async (files: File[]) => {
+    const newFiles = files.filter(file => 
+      !activeFiles.some(f => f.name === file.name && f.size === file.size)
+    );
+    if (newFiles.length > 0) {
+      await addFiles(newFiles);
+    }
+  }, [activeFiles, addFiles]);
+
+  return {
+    addToActiveFiles,
+    addMultipleFiles,
+  };
+};
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/frontend/src/hooks/useFilesModal.ts b/frontend/src/hooks/useFilesModal.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..49e9f2c5e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/hooks/useFilesModal.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+import { useState, useCallback } from 'react';
+
+export interface UseFilesModalReturn {
+  isFilesModalOpen: boolean;
+  openFilesModal: () => void;
+  closeFilesModal: () => void;
+  onFileSelect?: (file: File) => void;
+  onFilesSelect?: (files: File[]) => void;
+  onModalClose?: () => void;
+  setOnModalClose: (callback: () => void) => void;
+}
+
+interface UseFilesModalProps {
+  onFileSelect?: (file: File) => void;
+  onFilesSelect?: (files: File[]) => void;
+}
+
+export const useFilesModal = ({ 
+  onFileSelect, 
+  onFilesSelect 
+}: UseFilesModalProps = {}): UseFilesModalReturn => {
+  const [isFilesModalOpen, setIsFilesModalOpen] = useState(false);
+  const [onModalClose, setOnModalClose] = useState<(() => void) | undefined>();
+
+  const openFilesModal = useCallback(() => {
+    setIsFilesModalOpen(true);
+  }, []);
+
+  const closeFilesModal = useCallback(() => {
+    setIsFilesModalOpen(false);
+    onModalClose?.();
+  }, [onModalClose]);
+
+  const handleFileSelect = useCallback((file: File) => {
+    onFileSelect?.(file);
+    closeFilesModal();
+  }, [onFileSelect, closeFilesModal]);
+
+  const handleFilesSelect = useCallback((files: File[]) => {
+    onFilesSelect?.(files);
+    closeFilesModal();
+  }, [onFilesSelect, closeFilesModal]);
+
+  const setModalCloseCallback = useCallback((callback: () => void) => {
+    setOnModalClose(() => callback);
+  }, []);
+
+  return {
+    isFilesModalOpen,
+    openFilesModal,
+    closeFilesModal,
+    onFileSelect: handleFileSelect,
+    onFilesSelect: handleFilesSelect,
+    onModalClose,
+    setOnModalClose: setModalCloseCallback,
+  };
+};
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/HomePage.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/HomePage.tsx
index d24c58b44..4cc706845 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/HomePage.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/HomePage.tsx
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
-import React, { useState, useCallback, useEffect} from "react";
+import React, { useState, useCallback, useEffect, useRef } from "react";
 import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
 import { useFileContext } from "../contexts/FileContext";
 import { FileSelectionProvider, useFileSelection } from "../contexts/FileSelectionContext";
 import { useToolManagement } from "../hooks/useToolManagement";
-import { Group, Box, Button, Container } from "@mantine/core";
+import { useFileHandler } from "../hooks/useFileHandler";
+import { Group, Box, Button } from "@mantine/core";
 import { useRainbowThemeContext } from "../components/shared/RainbowThemeProvider";
 import { PageEditorFunctions } from "../types/pageEditor";
 import rainbowStyles from '../styles/rainbow.module.css';
@@ -14,17 +15,18 @@ import FileEditor from "../components/fileEditor/FileEditor";
 import PageEditor from "../components/pageEditor/PageEditor";
 import PageEditorControls from "../components/pageEditor/PageEditorControls";
 import Viewer from "../components/viewer/Viewer";
-import FileUploadSelector from "../components/shared/FileUploadSelector";
 import ToolRenderer from "../components/tools/ToolRenderer";
 import QuickAccessBar from "../components/shared/QuickAccessBar";
+import LandingPage from "../components/shared/LandingPage";
 
 function HomePageContent() {
   const { t } = useTranslation();
   const { isRainbowMode } = useRainbowThemeContext();
 
   const fileContext = useFileContext();
-  const { activeFiles, currentView, currentMode, setCurrentView, addFiles } = fileContext;
+  const { activeFiles, currentView, setCurrentView } = fileContext;
   const { setMaxFiles, setIsToolMode, setSelectedFiles } = useFileSelection();
+  const { addToActiveFiles } = useFileHandler();
 
   const {
     selectedToolKey,
@@ -77,12 +79,6 @@ function HomePageContent() {
     setCurrentView(view as any);
   }, [setCurrentView]);
 
-  const addToActiveFiles = useCallback(async (file: File) => {
-    const exists = activeFiles.some(f => f.name === file.name && f.size === file.size);
-    if (!exists) {
-      await addFiles([file]);
-    }
-  }, [activeFiles, addFiles]);
 
 
 
@@ -183,25 +179,12 @@ function HomePageContent() {
             }}
           >
             {!activeFiles[0] ? (
-              <Container size="lg" p="xl" h="100%" style={{ display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', justifyContent: 'center' }}>
-                <FileUploadSelector
-                  title={currentView === "viewer"
-                    ? t("fileUpload.selectPdfToView", "Select a PDF to view")
-                    : t("fileUpload.selectPdfToEdit", "Select a PDF to edit")
-                  }
-                  subtitle={t("fileUpload.chooseFromStorage", "Choose a file from storage or upload a new PDF")}
-                  onFileSelect={(file) => {
-                    addToActiveFiles(file);
-                  }}
-                  onFilesSelect={(files) => {
-                    files.forEach(addToActiveFiles);
-                  }}
-                  accept={["application/pdf"]}
-                  loading={false}
-                  showRecentFiles={true}
-                  maxRecentFiles={8}
-                />
-              </Container>
+              <LandingPage
+                title={currentView === "viewer"
+                  ? t("fileUpload.selectPdfToView", "Select a PDF to view")
+                  : t("fileUpload.selectPdfToEdit", "Select a PDF to edit")
+                }
+              />
             ) : currentView === "fileEditor" ? (
               <FileEditor
                 toolMode={!!selectedToolKey}
@@ -271,22 +254,9 @@ function HomePageContent() {
                 selectedToolKey={selectedToolKey}
               />
             ) : (
-              <Container size="lg" p="xl" h="100%" style={{ display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', justifyContent: 'center' }}>
-                <FileUploadSelector
-                  title="File Management"
-                  subtitle="Choose files from storage or upload new PDFs"
-                  onFileSelect={(file) => {
-                    addToActiveFiles(file);
-                  }}
-                  onFilesSelect={(files) => {
-                    files.forEach(addToActiveFiles);
-                  }}
-                  accept={["application/pdf"]}
-                  loading={false}
-                  showRecentFiles={true}
-                  maxRecentFiles={8}
-                />
-              </Container>
+              <LandingPage 
+                title="File Management" 
+              />
             )}
           </Box>
       </Box>