diff --git a/frontend-v2/src/lib/components/layout/AppShell.svelte b/frontend-v2/src/lib/components/layout/AppShell.svelte
index f4c44b7..d034b21 100644
--- a/frontend-v2/src/lib/components/layout/AppShell.svelte
+++ b/frontend-v2/src/lib/components/layout/AppShell.svelte
@@ -79,6 +79,21 @@
 		if (file) handleUpload(file);
 	}
 
+	function onPasteBox(e: ClipboardEvent) {
+		const items = e.clipboardData?.items;
+		if (!items) return;
+		for (const item of items) {
+			if (item.type.startsWith('image/')) {
+				const file = item.getAsFile();
+				if (file) {
+					e.preventDefault();
+					handleUpload(file);
+				}
+				break;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
 	// Brain sidebar sub-items
 	interface BrainFolder { id: string; name: string; item_count: number; }
 	interface BrainTag { id: string; name: string; item_count: number; }
@@ -144,10 +159,15 @@
 
 		<!-- svelte-ignore a11y_no_static_element_interactions -->
 		<div class="rail-bottom" ondragover={(e) => e.preventDefault()} ondrop={onRailDrop}>
-			<button class="rail-upload" onclick={() => uploadInput?.click()}>
-				<Upload size={14} strokeWidth={1.8} />
-				<span>{uploadStatus === 'uploading' ? 'Uploading...' : uploadStatus === 'done' ? 'Saved!' : 'Upload screenshot'}</span>
-			</button>
+			<div class="rail-upload-row">
+				<!-- svelte-ignore a11y_no_static_element_interactions -->
+				<div class="paste-box" contenteditable="true" onpaste={onPasteBox} role="textbox" tabindex="0">
+					{#if uploadStatus === 'uploading'}Uploading...{:else if uploadStatus === 'done'}Saved!{:else}Paste screenshot{/if}
+				</div>
+				<button class="upload-icon-btn" onclick={() => uploadInput?.click()} title="Browse files">
+					<Upload size={13} strokeWidth={2} />
+				</button>
+			</div>
 			<input bind:this={uploadInput} type="file" accept="image/*,.pdf" onchange={onUploadInput} hidden />
 			<div class="rail-date">
 				<CalendarDays size={14} strokeWidth={1.8} />
@@ -415,24 +435,49 @@
 		border-top: 1px solid var(--shell-line);
 	}
 
-	.rail-upload {
+	.rail-upload-row {
 		display: flex;
-		align-items: center;
-		gap: 8px;
-		padding: 9px 12px;
-		border-radius: 999px;
+		gap: 4px;
+		align-items: stretch;
+	}
+	.paste-box {
+		flex: 1;
+		padding: 7px 10px;
+		border-radius: 10px;
 		border: 1px dashed var(--shell-line);
 		background: none;
 		color: var(--shell-muted);
-		font-size: 0.78rem;
+		font-size: 0.72rem;
 		font-family: inherit;
+		cursor: text;
+		transition: all 160ms;
+		outline: none;
+		min-height: 0;
+		overflow: hidden;
+		white-space: nowrap;
+	}
+	.paste-box:focus {
+		border-color: var(--shell-ink);
+		border-style: solid;
+		color: var(--shell-ink);
+		background: rgba(255,255,255,0.2);
+	}
+	.upload-icon-btn {
+		width: 32px;
+		flex-shrink: 0;
+		border-radius: 10px;
+		border: 1px solid var(--shell-line);
+		background: none;
+		color: var(--shell-muted);
+		display: flex;
+		align-items: center;
+		justify-content: center;
 		cursor: pointer;
 		transition: all 160ms;
 	}
-	.rail-upload:hover {
-		border-color: var(--shell-ink);
-		color: var(--shell-ink);
+	.upload-icon-btn:hover {
 		background: rgba(255,255,255,0.3);
+		color: var(--shell-ink);
 	}
 
 	.rail-date {