diff --git a/packages/web/src/components/Dashboard.tsx b/packages/web/src/components/Dashboard.tsx
index b66f7dc00..f9dd25245 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/components/Dashboard.tsx
+++ b/packages/web/src/components/Dashboard.tsx
@@ -197,13 +197,12 @@ function DashboardInner({
   const showDebugBundleButton =
     !isMobile &&
     (process.env.NODE_ENV === "development" || debugParam === "1" || debugParam === "true");
-  const showSidebar = projects.length >= 1;
   const { showToast } = useToast();
   const [doneExpanded, setDoneExpanded] = useState(false);
   const sessionsRef = useRef(sessions);
 
   sessionsRef.current = sessions;
-  const allProjectsView = projects.length > 1 && showSidebar && projectId === undefined;
+  const allProjectsView = projects.length > 1 && projectId === undefined;
   const currentProjectOrchestrator = useMemo(
     () =>
       projectId
@@ -495,41 +494,39 @@ function DashboardInner({
         <ConnectionBar status={connectionStatus} />
         <div className="dashboard-app-shell">
           <header className="dashboard-app-header">
-            {showSidebar ? (
-              <button
-                type="button"
-                className="dashboard-app-sidebar-toggle"
-                onClick={handleToggleSidebar}
-                aria-label="Toggle sidebar"
-              >
-                {isMobile ? (
-                  <svg
-                    width="16"
-                    height="16"
-                    fill="none"
-                    stroke="currentColor"
-                    strokeWidth="2"
-                    viewBox="0 0 24 24"
-                    aria-hidden="true"
-                  >
-                    <path d="M4 6h16M4 12h16M4 18h16" />
-                  </svg>
-                ) : (
-                  <svg
-                    width="14"
-                    height="14"
-                    fill="none"
-                    stroke="currentColor"
-                    strokeWidth="1.75"
-                    viewBox="0 0 24 24"
-                    aria-hidden="true"
-                  >
-                    <rect x="3" y="3" width="18" height="18" rx="2" />
-                    <path d="M9 3v18" />
-                  </svg>
-                )}
-              </button>
-            ) : null}
+            <button
+              type="button"
+              className="dashboard-app-sidebar-toggle"
+              onClick={handleToggleSidebar}
+              aria-label="Toggle sidebar"
+            >
+              {isMobile ? (
+                <svg
+                  width="16"
+                  height="16"
+                  fill="none"
+                  stroke="currentColor"
+                  strokeWidth="2"
+                  viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+                  aria-hidden="true"
+                >
+                  <path d="M4 6h16M4 12h16M4 18h16" />
+                </svg>
+              ) : (
+                <svg
+                  width="14"
+                  height="14"
+                  fill="none"
+                  stroke="currentColor"
+                  strokeWidth="1.75"
+                  viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+                  aria-hidden="true"
+                >
+                  <rect x="3" y="3" width="18" height="18" rx="2" />
+                  <path d="M9 3v18" />
+                </svg>
+              )}
+            </button>
             <div className="dashboard-app-header__brand">
               <span className="dashboard-app-header__brand-dot" aria-hidden="true" />
               <span>Agent Orchestrator</span>
@@ -598,22 +595,20 @@ function DashboardInner({
           <div
             className={`dashboard-shell dashboard-shell--desktop${sidebarCollapsed ? " dashboard-shell--sidebar-collapsed" : ""}`}
           >
-            {showSidebar && (
-              <div
-                className={`sidebar-wrapper${mobileMenuOpen ? " sidebar-wrapper--mobile-open" : ""}`}
-              >
-                <ProjectSidebar
-                  projects={projects}
-                  sessions={sessions}
-                  orchestrators={activeOrchestrators}
-                  activeProjectId={projectId}
-                  activeSessionId={activeSessionId}
-                  collapsed={sidebarCollapsed}
-                  onToggleCollapsed={() => setSidebarCollapsed((current) => !current)}
-                  onMobileClose={() => setMobileMenuOpen(false)}
-                />
-              </div>
-            )}
+            <div
+              className={`sidebar-wrapper${mobileMenuOpen ? " sidebar-wrapper--mobile-open" : ""}`}
+            >
+              <ProjectSidebar
+                projects={projects}
+                sessions={sessions}
+                orchestrators={activeOrchestrators}
+                activeProjectId={projectId}
+                activeSessionId={activeSessionId}
+                collapsed={sidebarCollapsed}
+                onToggleCollapsed={() => setSidebarCollapsed((current) => !current)}
+                onMobileClose={() => setMobileMenuOpen(false)}
+              />
+            </div>
             {mobileMenuOpen && (
               <div className="sidebar-mobile-backdrop" onClick={() => setMobileMenuOpen(false)} />
             )}
diff --git a/packages/web/src/components/ProjectSidebar.tsx b/packages/web/src/components/ProjectSidebar.tsx
index 93e45349b..85c66bd89 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/components/ProjectSidebar.tsx
+++ b/packages/web/src/components/ProjectSidebar.tsx
@@ -82,11 +82,72 @@ const LEVEL_LABELS: Record<AttentionLevel, string> = {
 
 export function ProjectSidebar(props: ProjectSidebarProps) {
   if (props.projects.length === 0) {
-    return null;
+    return <ProjectSidebarEmpty collapsed={props.collapsed} />;
   }
   return <ProjectSidebarInner {...props} />;
 }
 
+function ProjectSidebarEmpty({ collapsed = false }: { collapsed?: boolean }) {
+  const [addProjectOpen, setAddProjectOpen] = useState(false);
+
+  if (collapsed) {
+    return (
+      <aside className="project-sidebar project-sidebar--collapsed flex h-full flex-col items-center gap-1 py-2">
+        <button
+          type="button"
+          className="project-sidebar__add-btn"
+          aria-label="New project"
+          onClick={() => setAddProjectOpen(true)}
+        >
+          <svg
+            aria-hidden="true"
+            fill="none"
+            stroke="currentColor"
+            strokeWidth="2"
+            viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+          >
+            <path d="M12 5v14M5 12h14" />
+          </svg>
+        </button>
+        <AddProjectModal open={addProjectOpen} onClose={() => setAddProjectOpen(false)} />
+      </aside>
+    );
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <aside className="project-sidebar flex h-full flex-col">
+      <div className="project-sidebar__compact-hdr">
+        <span className="project-sidebar__sect-label">Projects</span>
+        <button
+          type="button"
+          className="project-sidebar__add-btn"
+          aria-label="New project"
+          onClick={() => setAddProjectOpen(true)}
+        >
+          <svg
+            aria-hidden="true"
+            fill="none"
+            stroke="currentColor"
+            strokeWidth="2"
+            viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+          >
+            <path d="M12 5v14M5 12h14" />
+          </svg>
+        </button>
+      </div>
+      <div className="project-sidebar__empty flex-1 text-[var(--color-text-tertiary)]">
+        No projects yet. Click + to add one.
+      </div>
+      <div className="project-sidebar__footer">
+        <div className="flex items-center justify-end gap-1 border-t border-[var(--color-border-subtle)] px-2 py-2">
+          <ThemeToggle className="project-sidebar__theme-toggle" />
+        </div>
+      </div>
+      <AddProjectModal open={addProjectOpen} onClose={() => setAddProjectOpen(false)} />
+    </aside>
+  );
+}
+
 function ProjectSidebarInner({
   projects,
   sessions,
@@ -373,7 +434,13 @@ function ProjectSidebarInner({
           aria-label="New project"
           onClick={() => setAddProjectOpen(true)}
         >
-          <svg fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+          <svg
+            aria-hidden="true"
+            fill="none"
+            stroke="currentColor"
+            strokeWidth="2"
+            viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+          >
             <path d="M12 5v14M5 12h14" />
           </svg>
         </button>
diff --git a/packages/web/src/components/__tests__/Dashboard.emptyState.test.tsx b/packages/web/src/components/__tests__/Dashboard.emptyState.test.tsx
index 18aa4b742..418789a74 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/components/__tests__/Dashboard.emptyState.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/web/src/components/__tests__/Dashboard.emptyState.test.tsx
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@ vi.mock("next/navigation", () => ({
   useSearchParams: () => new URLSearchParams(),
 }));
 
+vi.mock("next-themes", () => ({
+  useTheme: () => ({ resolvedTheme: "light", setTheme: vi.fn() }),
+}));
+
 let currentMuxLastError: string | null = null;
 
 vi.mock("@/providers/MuxProvider", () => ({
@@ -161,6 +165,13 @@ describe("Dashboard empty state", () => {
     expect(screen.queryByRole("alert")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 
+  it("mounts the sidebar empty state on a fresh install with zero projects", () => {
+    render(<Dashboard initialSessions={[]} projects={[]} />);
+
+    expect(screen.getByText(/no projects yet/i)).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /new project/i })).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
   it("shows empty state when only done sessions exist", () => {
     render(
       <Dashboard
diff --git a/packages/web/src/components/__tests__/ProjectSidebar.test.tsx b/packages/web/src/components/__tests__/ProjectSidebar.test.tsx
index 846b55d20..4c5f69c20 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/components/__tests__/ProjectSidebar.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/web/src/components/__tests__/ProjectSidebar.test.tsx
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ describe("ProjectSidebar", () => {
     vi.unstubAllGlobals();
   });
 
-  it("renders nothing when there are no projects", () => {
-    const { container } = render(
+  it("renders the empty-state header with the + button when no projects are configured", () => {
+    render(
       <ProjectSidebar
         projects={[]}
         sessions={[]}
@@ -42,7 +42,67 @@ describe("ProjectSidebar", () => {
       />,
     );
 
-    expect(container.firstChild).toBeNull();
+    expect(screen.getByText("Projects")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /new project/i })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText(/no projects yet/i)).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it("opens AddProjectModal from the empty-state + button", async () => {
+    const fetchMock = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
+      ok: true,
+      json: async () => ({ entries: [] }),
+    });
+    vi.stubGlobal("fetch", fetchMock);
+
+    render(
+      <ProjectSidebar
+        projects={[]}
+        sessions={[]}
+        activeProjectId={undefined}
+        activeSessionId={undefined}
+      />,
+    );
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /new project/i }));
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(screen.getByRole("dialog", { name: /add project/i })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("renders the theme toggle in the empty-state footer", () => {
+    render(
+      <ProjectSidebar
+        projects={[]}
+        sessions={[]}
+        activeProjectId={undefined}
+        activeSessionId={undefined}
+      />,
+    );
+
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /switch to (dark|light) mode/i })).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it("renders a collapsed empty rail when collapsed with no projects", () => {
+    const { container } = render(
+      <ProjectSidebar
+        projects={[]}
+        sessions={[]}
+        activeProjectId={undefined}
+        activeSessionId={undefined}
+        collapsed
+      />,
+    );
+
+    expect(container.querySelector(".project-sidebar--collapsed")).not.toBeNull();
+    // Header label, empty-state copy, and footer are hidden in the collapsed rail
+    expect(screen.queryByText("Projects")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.queryByText(/no projects yet/i)).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(
+      screen.queryByRole("button", { name: /switch to (dark|light) mode/i }),
+    ).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    // The + button is still reachable so users can add a project from the rail
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /new project/i })).toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 
   it("renders the compact sidebar header and project rows", () => {