diff --git a/web/src/lib/components/EmptyState.svelte b/web/src/lib/components/EmptyState.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4a1eba04
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/lib/components/EmptyState.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+  import type { Snippet } from 'svelte';
+
+  // Reusable empty-state card. Use the `actions` snippet to render the
+  // onramp button(s). Variant `block` is a soft card for whole-tab
+  // emptiness; `inline` is a single paragraph with link affordances
+  // for sub-sections that sit inside a populated tab.
+
+  let {
+    title,
+    hint,
+    variant = 'block',
+    actions
+  }: {
+    title: string;
+    hint?: string;
+    variant?: 'block' | 'inline';
+    actions?: Snippet;
+  } = $props();
+</script>
+
+{#if variant === 'block'}
+  <div class="rounded-md border border-border bg-surface/40 px-6 py-10 text-center">
+    <h3 class="font-display text-lg font-medium text-text-primary">{title}</h3>
+    {#if hint}
+      <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-text-secondary">{hint}</p>
+    {/if}
+    {#if actions}
+      <div class="mt-4 flex flex-wrap justify-center gap-2">
+        {@render actions()}
+      </div>
+    {/if}
+  </div>
+{:else}
+  <p class="text-sm text-text-secondary">
+    {title}
+    {#if hint} <span>{hint}</span>{/if}
+    {#if actions}
+      <span class="ml-1">{@render actions()}</span>
+    {/if}
+  </p>
+{/if}
diff --git a/web/src/routes/library/albums/+page.svelte b/web/src/routes/library/albums/+page.svelte
index 69d24981..53bdd960 100644
--- a/web/src/routes/library/albums/+page.svelte
+++ b/web/src/routes/library/albums/+page.svelte
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
   import ApiErrorBanner from '$lib/components/ApiErrorBanner.svelte';
   import InfiniteScrollSentinel from '$lib/components/InfiniteScrollSentinel.svelte';
   import QuickFilter from '$lib/components/QuickFilter.svelte';
+  import EmptyState from '$lib/components/EmptyState.svelte';
   import { useDelayed } from '$lib/utils/useDelayed.svelte';
   import type { AlbumRef } from '$lib/api/types';
 
@@ -47,7 +48,19 @@
   {:else if showSkeleton.value && albums.length === 0}
     <p class="text-text-secondary">Loading…</p>
   {:else if !query.isPending && total === 0}
-    <p class="text-text-secondary">No albums yet — scan a library folder via the server's config.</p>
+    <EmptyState
+      title="No albums yet"
+      hint="Once a library folder has been scanned, albums will appear here."
+    >
+      {#snippet actions()}
+        <a
+          href="/settings"
+          class="inline-flex items-center rounded-md bg-action-secondary px-4 py-2 text-sm text-action-fg hover:opacity-90"
+        >
+          Open settings
+        </a>
+      {/snippet}
+    </EmptyState>
   {:else if filter.trim() && filtered.length === 0}
     <p class="text-text-secondary">
       No albums in your loaded library match
diff --git a/web/src/routes/library/artists/+page.svelte b/web/src/routes/library/artists/+page.svelte
index 1a3352f0..fe36e085 100644
--- a/web/src/routes/library/artists/+page.svelte
+++ b/web/src/routes/library/artists/+page.svelte
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
   import ApiErrorBanner from '$lib/components/ApiErrorBanner.svelte';
   import InfiniteScrollSentinel from '$lib/components/InfiniteScrollSentinel.svelte';
   import QuickFilter from '$lib/components/QuickFilter.svelte';
+  import EmptyState from '$lib/components/EmptyState.svelte';
   import { useDelayed } from '$lib/utils/useDelayed.svelte';
   import type { ArtistRef } from '$lib/api/types';
 
@@ -45,7 +46,19 @@
   {:else if showSkeleton.value && artists.length === 0}
     <p class="text-text-secondary">Loading…</p>
   {:else if !query.isPending && total === 0}
-    <p class="text-text-secondary">No artists yet — scan a library folder via the server's config.</p>
+    <EmptyState
+      title="No artists yet"
+      hint="Once a library folder has been scanned, artists will appear here."
+    >
+      {#snippet actions()}
+        <a
+          href="/settings"
+          class="inline-flex items-center rounded-md bg-action-secondary px-4 py-2 text-sm text-action-fg hover:opacity-90"
+        >
+          Open settings
+        </a>
+      {/snippet}
+    </EmptyState>
   {:else if filter.trim() && filtered.length === 0}
     <p class="text-text-secondary">
       No artists in your loaded library match
diff --git a/web/src/routes/library/history/+page.svelte b/web/src/routes/library/history/+page.svelte
index 939946f9..c41a9966 100644
--- a/web/src/routes/library/history/+page.svelte
+++ b/web/src/routes/library/history/+page.svelte
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
   import LibrarySkeleton from '$lib/components/LibrarySkeleton.svelte';
   import ApiErrorBanner from '$lib/components/ApiErrorBanner.svelte';
   import QuickFilter from '$lib/components/QuickFilter.svelte';
+  import EmptyState from '$lib/components/EmptyState.svelte';
 
   const queryStore = createHistoryQuery();
   const query = $derived($queryStore);
@@ -40,7 +41,16 @@
   {:else if query.isError}
     <ApiErrorBanner error={query.error} onRetry={query.refetch} />
   {:else if flatEvents.length === 0}
-    <p class="p-8 text-center text-text-secondary">No listening history yet.</p>
+    <EmptyState
+      title="No listening history yet"
+      hint="Once you've played something, it'll show up here, grouped by day."
+    >
+      {#snippet actions()}
+        <a href="/" class="inline-flex items-center rounded-md bg-action-secondary px-4 py-2 text-sm text-action-fg hover:opacity-90">
+          Listen to something
+        </a>
+      {/snippet}
+    </EmptyState>
   {:else if filter.trim() && filteredEvents.length === 0}
     <p class="text-text-secondary">
       No history in your loaded events matches
diff --git a/web/src/routes/library/liked/+page.svelte b/web/src/routes/library/liked/+page.svelte
index 7c9185ba..6897d58c 100644
--- a/web/src/routes/library/liked/+page.svelte
+++ b/web/src/routes/library/liked/+page.svelte
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
   import AlbumCard from '$lib/components/AlbumCard.svelte';
   import TrackRow from '$lib/components/TrackRow.svelte';
   import QuickFilter from '$lib/components/QuickFilter.svelte';
+  import EmptyState from '$lib/components/EmptyState.svelte';
 
   const artistsStore = $derived(createLikedArtistsInfiniteQuery());
   const albumsStore  = $derived(createLikedAlbumsInfiniteQuery());
@@ -41,6 +42,9 @@
   const filterMatchesNothing = $derived(
     !!q && fArtists.length === 0 && fAlbums.length === 0 && fTracks.length === 0
   );
+  const allEmpty = $derived(
+    !q && artistsTotal === 0 && albumsTotal === 0 && tracksTotal === 0
+  );
 </script>
 
 <svelte:head><title>{pageTitle('Library · Liked')}</title></svelte:head>
@@ -60,11 +64,34 @@
     </p>
   {/if}
 
-  {#if !q || fArtists.length > 0}
+  {#if allEmpty}
+    <EmptyState
+      title="No likes yet"
+      hint="Tap the heart on a track, album, or artist to start your collection."
+    >
+      {#snippet actions()}
+        <a href="/" class="inline-flex items-center rounded-md bg-action-secondary px-4 py-2 text-sm text-action-fg hover:opacity-90">
+          Explore Home
+        </a>
+        <a href="/library/albums" class="inline-flex items-center rounded-md border border-border px-4 py-2 text-sm text-text-secondary hover:text-text-primary">
+          Browse albums
+        </a>
+      {/snippet}
+    </EmptyState>
+  {/if}
+
+  {#if !allEmpty && (!q || fArtists.length > 0)}
   <section>
     <h2 class="mb-2 text-lg font-semibold">Artists</h2>
     {#if artistsTotal === 0}
-      <p class="text-text-secondary">No liked artists yet.</p>
+      <EmptyState
+        variant="inline"
+        title="No liked artists yet."
+      >
+        {#snippet actions()}
+          <a href="/library/artists" class="text-accent hover:underline">Browse artists →</a>
+        {/snippet}
+      </EmptyState>
     {:else}
       <div class="grid grid-cols-2 gap-4 sm:grid-cols-3 md:grid-cols-4 lg:grid-cols-5">
         {#each fArtists as a (a.id)}
@@ -85,11 +112,18 @@
   </section>
   {/if}
 
-  {#if !q || fAlbums.length > 0}
+  {#if !allEmpty && (!q || fAlbums.length > 0)}
   <section>
     <h2 class="mb-2 text-lg font-semibold">Albums</h2>
     {#if albumsTotal === 0}
-      <p class="text-text-secondary">No liked albums yet.</p>
+      <EmptyState
+        variant="inline"
+        title="No liked albums yet."
+      >
+        {#snippet actions()}
+          <a href="/library/albums" class="text-accent hover:underline">Browse albums →</a>
+        {/snippet}
+      </EmptyState>
     {:else}
       <div class="grid grid-cols-2 gap-4 sm:grid-cols-3 md:grid-cols-4 lg:grid-cols-5">
         {#each fAlbums as al (al.id)}
@@ -110,11 +144,18 @@
   </section>
   {/if}
 
-  {#if !q || fTracks.length > 0}
+  {#if !allEmpty && (!q || fTracks.length > 0)}
   <section>
     <h2 class="mb-2 text-lg font-semibold">Tracks</h2>
     {#if tracksTotal === 0}
-      <p class="text-text-secondary">No liked tracks yet.</p>
+      <EmptyState
+        variant="inline"
+        title="No liked tracks yet."
+      >
+        {#snippet actions()}
+          <a href="/" class="text-accent hover:underline">Find something new →</a>
+        {/snippet}
+      </EmptyState>
     {:else}
       <div class="overflow-hidden rounded border border-border">
         {#each fTracks as t, i (t.id)}
diff --git a/web/src/routes/library/liked/liked.test.ts b/web/src/routes/library/liked/liked.test.ts
index 7fb0fd53..3bd48657 100644
--- a/web/src/routes/library/liked/liked.test.ts
+++ b/web/src/routes/library/liked/liked.test.ts
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ describe('liked library page', () => {
     expect(screen.getByRole('heading', { name: /tracks/i })).toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 
-  test('empty section renders "No liked X yet" hint', () => {
+  test('all three sections empty renders the whole-tab onboarding card', () => {
     (createLikedArtistsInfiniteQuery as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mockReturnValue(
       mockInfiniteQuery({ pages: [page<ArtistRef>([], 0)] })
     );
@@ -75,7 +75,28 @@ describe('liked library page', () => {
       mockInfiniteQuery({ pages: [page<TrackRef>([], 0)] })
     );
     render(LikedPage);
-    expect(screen.getAllByText(/no liked/i)).toHaveLength(3);
+    // The whole-tab EmptyState replaces the three per-section hints
+    // when every section is empty — single heading + action affordances.
+    expect(screen.getByRole('heading', { name: /no likes yet/i })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByRole('link', { name: /explore home/i })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByRole('link', { name: /browse albums/i })).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  test('one populated section + two empty subsections renders inline hints', () => {
+    (createLikedArtistsInfiniteQuery as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mockReturnValue(
+      mockInfiniteQuery({ pages: [page<ArtistRef>([{ id: 'a1', name: 'Miles' } as ArtistRef], 1)] })
+    );
+    (createLikedAlbumsInfiniteQuery as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mockReturnValue(
+      mockInfiniteQuery({ pages: [page<AlbumRef>([], 0)] })
+    );
+    (createLikedTracksInfiniteQuery as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mockReturnValue(
+      mockInfiniteQuery({ pages: [page<TrackRef>([], 0)] })
+    );
+    render(LikedPage);
+    expect(screen.getByText(/no liked albums yet/i)).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByText(/no liked tracks yet/i)).toBeInTheDocument();
+    // Inline variant uses link affordances, not the big card heading.
+    expect(screen.queryByRole('heading', { name: /no likes yet/i })).not.toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 
   test('Load more calls fetchNextPage on each section that has more', async () => {
diff --git a/web/src/routes/library/playlists/+page.svelte b/web/src/routes/library/playlists/+page.svelte
index e1d5cd70..a7af12c9 100644
--- a/web/src/routes/library/playlists/+page.svelte
+++ b/web/src/routes/library/playlists/+page.svelte
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
   import PlaylistCard from '$lib/components/PlaylistCard.svelte';
   import ApiErrorBanner from '$lib/components/ApiErrorBanner.svelte';
   import QuickFilter from '$lib/components/QuickFilter.svelte';
+  import EmptyState from '$lib/components/EmptyState.svelte';
   import { createPlaylistsQuery, createPlaylist } from '$lib/api/playlists';
   import { useQueryClient } from '@tanstack/svelte-query';
   import { qk } from '$lib/api/queries';
@@ -134,7 +135,21 @@
     <section>
       <h2 class="mb-3 text-sm font-medium uppercase tracking-wide text-text-muted">Your playlists</h2>
       {#if playlistsQuery.data.owned.length === 0}
-        <p class="text-sm text-text-muted">No playlists yet. Click "New playlist" to start one.</p>
+        <EmptyState
+          title="No playlists yet"
+          hint="Group tracks together for a road trip, a focus session, anything."
+        >
+          {#snippet actions()}
+            <button
+              type="button"
+              onclick={() => (creating = true)}
+              class="inline-flex items-center gap-1 rounded-md bg-action-secondary px-4 py-2 text-sm text-action-fg hover:opacity-90"
+            >
+              <Plus size={14} strokeWidth={1} />
+              Create a playlist
+            </button>
+          {/snippet}
+        </EmptyState>
       {:else}
         <div class="grid grid-cols-2 gap-4 md:grid-cols-3 lg:grid-cols-4 xl:grid-cols-5">
           {#each ownedFiltered as p (p.id)}