diff --git a/frontend/app.js b/frontend/app.js
index eef866f..b83a922 100755
--- a/frontend/app.js
+++ b/frontend/app.js
@@ -1936,6 +1936,52 @@ function renderSidebar() {
   });
   updateQueueBadge();
   updateDownloadBadge();
+  renderHomePlaylists();
+}
+
+// The empty player pane (nothing playing yet) shows the branding hero. Once
+// this device has playlists, they take that space instead — the hero stays as
+// the fallback so a first-time visitor still gets the landing.
+// Driven from renderSidebar() so every playlist mutation refreshes both.
+function renderHomePlaylists() {
+  const wrap = document.getElementById('homePlaylists');
+  const hero = document.querySelector('#playerPlaceholder .hero');
+  const grid = document.getElementById('homePlGrid');
+  if (!wrap || !hero || !grid) return;
+
+  const lists = data.playlists || [];
+  wrap.classList.toggle('hidden', !lists.length);
+  hero.classList.toggle('hidden', !!lists.length);
+  // The hero is centered art; the grid wants the full box, so the placeholder
+  // switches from centering to stretching (and tightens its padding).
+  if (els.placeholder) els.placeholder.classList.toggle('showing-playlists', !!lists.length);
+  if (!lists.length) { grid.innerHTML = ''; return; }
+
+  grid.innerHTML = '';
+  for (const pl of lists) {
+    const count = pl.videos.length;
+    const thumb = (pl.videos.find((v) => v && v.thumbnail) || {}).thumbnail || '';
+    const card = document.createElement('button');
+    card.className = 'home-pl-card';
+    card.type = 'button';
+    card.innerHTML = `
+      <span class="home-pl-thumb">
+        ${thumb ? `<img src="${escapeHtml(thumb)}" alt="" loading="lazy" />`
+                : '<span class="home-pl-thumb-fallback">🎵</span>'}
+        <span class="home-pl-play" title="Play all">▶</span>
+      </span>
+      <span class="home-pl-name"></span>
+      <span class="home-pl-count">${count} video${count === 1 ? '' : 's'}</span>`;
+    card.querySelector('.home-pl-name').textContent = pl.name;
+    card.title = pl.name;
+    card.addEventListener('click', () => { view = { type: 'playlist', id: pl.id }; render(); });
+    card.querySelector('.home-pl-play').addEventListener('click', (e) => {
+      e.stopPropagation(); // the ▶ badge plays; the rest of the card opens the list
+      if (count) playFromList(pl.videos, 0, 'playlist:' + pl.id);
+      else toast('That playlist is empty');
+    });
+    grid.appendChild(card);
+  }
 }
 
 function currentList() {
@@ -3263,6 +3309,9 @@ function wireUI() {
   $('sidebarProfileCopy').addEventListener('click', copyProfileLink);
   $('sidebarProfileShare').addEventListener('click', shareProfileLink);
 
+  // ---- Empty-home playlist grid ----
+  $('homePlNewBtn').addEventListener('click', () => newPlaylist(null));
+
   els.searchForm.addEventListener('submit', async (e) => {
     e.preventDefault();
     const q = els.searchInput.value.trim();
diff --git a/frontend/index.html b/frontend/index.html
index 3e39a74..9a59c21 100755
--- a/frontend/index.html
+++ b/frontend/index.html
@@ -121,6 +121,14 @@
                     <button class="chip" data-q="podcast highlights">podcasts</button>
                   </div>
                 </div>
+                <!-- Replaces the hero once this device has playlists (renderHomePlaylists) -->
+                <div id="homePlaylists" class="home-pl hidden">
+                  <div class="home-pl-head">
+                    <span class="home-pl-title">Your playlists</span>
+                    <button id="homePlNewBtn" class="home-pl-new" type="button">＋ New</button>
+                  </div>
+                  <div id="homePlGrid" class="home-pl-grid"></div>
+                </div>
               </div>
               <div id="bufferSpinner" class="spinner hidden"></div>
             </div>
diff --git a/frontend/styles.css b/frontend/styles.css
index 45ea28d..30356db 100755
--- a/frontend/styles.css
+++ b/frontend/styles.css
@@ -363,6 +363,61 @@ body::after {
   animation: heroIn 0.6s var(--ease) both;
 }
 @keyframes heroIn { from { opacity: 0; transform: translateY(14px); } to { opacity: 1; transform: none; } }
+
+/* Empty home: the playlist grid takes the hero's place once playlists exist */
+.player-placeholder.showing-playlists { padding: 16px; align-items: stretch; }
+.home-pl {
+  flex: 1 1 auto; align-self: stretch; min-width: 0; max-height: 100%;
+  display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 10px;
+  text-align: left; overflow: hidden;
+  animation: heroIn 0.5s var(--ease) both;
+}
+.home-pl-head { display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: space-between; gap: 12px; flex-shrink: 0; }
+.home-pl-title { font-family: var(--display); font-size: 17px; font-weight: 700; color: var(--text); }
+.home-pl-new {
+  padding: 5px 10px; font-size: 12px; cursor: pointer;
+  color: var(--text-2); background: var(--bg-2);
+  border: 1px solid var(--line); border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
+  transition: background 0.16s, color 0.16s, border-color 0.16s;
+}
+.home-pl-new:hover { background: var(--accent); border-color: var(--accent); color: #fff; }
+.home-pl-grid {
+  display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(122px, 1fr));
+  gap: 12px; align-content: start;
+  overflow-y: auto; scrollbar-gutter: stable; padding-right: 4px;
+}
+.home-pl-card {
+  display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 6px;
+  padding: 0; border: 0; background: none; color: inherit;
+  text-align: left; cursor: pointer; min-width: 0;
+}
+.home-pl-thumb {
+  position: relative; display: block; aspect-ratio: 16 / 9;
+  border-radius: var(--radius-sm); overflow: hidden;
+  background: var(--bg-3); border: 1px solid var(--line-soft);
+  transition: border-color 0.16s, transform 0.16s var(--ease);
+}
+.home-pl-card:hover .home-pl-thumb { border-color: var(--accent); transform: translateY(-2px); }
+.home-pl-thumb img { width: 100%; height: 100%; object-fit: cover; display: block; }
+.home-pl-thumb-fallback { position: absolute; inset: 0; display: grid; place-items: center; font-size: 22px; }
+.home-pl-play {
+  position: absolute; right: 6px; bottom: 6px;
+  width: 26px; height: 26px; display: grid; place-items: center;
+  font-size: 11px; color: #fff; border-radius: 50%;
+  background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.62); backdrop-filter: blur(4px);
+  opacity: 0; transition: opacity 0.16s, background 0.16s;
+}
+.home-pl-card:hover .home-pl-play, .home-pl-play:focus-visible { opacity: 1; }
+.home-pl-play:hover { background: var(--accent); }
+.home-pl-name {
+  font-size: 13px; font-weight: 600; color: var(--text);
+  overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;
+}
+.home-pl-count { font-size: 11px; color: var(--text-dim); }
+/* Touch devices have no hover — keep the play badge permanently visible */
+@media (hover: none) {
+  .home-pl-play { opacity: 1; }
+}
 .ph-logo {
   font-size: 32px;
   width: 88px; height: 88px;
@@ -1366,6 +1421,13 @@ input[type="range"]::-webkit-slider-thumb:hover { transform: scale(1.25); }
   .app.sidebar-open .sidebar { transform: translateX(0); }
 
   .app.sidebar-open .sidebar-backdrop { display: block; opacity: 1; }
+
+  /* Empty-home playlist grid: the player stage is short on phones, so pack in
+     more, smaller cards rather than one oversized full-width column. */
+  .player-placeholder.showing-playlists { padding: 12px; }
+  .home-pl-grid { grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(92px, 1fr)); gap: 10px; }
+  .home-pl-title { font-size: 15px; }
+  .home-pl-name { font-size: 12px; }
 }
 
 /* Very narrow screens (e.g. 320px) — keep the topbar usable and the drawer