diff --git a/kez-chat/web/src/App.svelte b/kez-chat/web/src/App.svelte
index 736b89a..d5c1a5b 100644
--- a/kez-chat/web/src/App.svelte
+++ b/kez-chat/web/src/App.svelte
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
   import CreateAccount from "./routes/CreateAccount.svelte";
   import Restore from "./routes/Restore.svelte";
   import Unlock from "./routes/Unlock.svelte";
+  import Welcome from "./routes/Welcome.svelte";
   import Identity from "./routes/Identity.svelte";
   import Claims from "./routes/Claims.svelte";
   import AddClaim from "./routes/AddClaim.svelte";
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@
     "/create": CreateAccount,
     "/restore": Restore,
     "/unlock": Unlock,
+    "/welcome": Welcome,
     "/chats": Messages,
     "/identity": Identity,
     "/claims": Claims,
@@ -29,7 +31,7 @@
   };
 
   // App routes show the nav chrome; everything else (auth flow) is full-bleed.
-  const APP_ROUTES = ["/chats", "/identity", "/claims", "/claims/add", "/settings"];
+  const APP_ROUTES = ["/welcome", "/chats", "/identity", "/claims", "/claims/add", "/settings"];
   const showNav = $derived(!!session.unlocked && APP_ROUTES.includes($location));
 
   onMount(async () => {
diff --git a/kez-chat/web/src/lib/onboarding.svelte.ts b/kez-chat/web/src/lib/onboarding.svelte.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4e0f551
--- /dev/null
+++ b/kez-chat/web/src/lib/onboarding.svelte.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+// First-run onboarding state. Two persisted flags:
+//   • onboarded  — user finished/skipped the Getting Started checklist
+//   • seedAcked  — user confirmed they backed up their recovery seed
+// Both in localStorage; exposed as Svelte 5 $state so the "finish setup"
+// nudge reactively disappears. Everything else in the checklist derives
+// from real app state (claims, biometric, notification permission).
+
+const ONBOARDED = "kez-chat:onboarded";
+const SEED_ACKED = "kez-chat:seed_acked";
+
+function read(key: string): boolean {
+  try {
+    return localStorage.getItem(key) === "1";
+  } catch {
+    return false;
+  }
+}
+function write(key: string, val: boolean) {
+  try {
+    if (val) localStorage.setItem(key, "1");
+    else localStorage.removeItem(key);
+  } catch {
+    /* private mode — fine */
+  }
+}
+
+class Onboarding {
+  onboarded = $state(read(ONBOARDED));
+  seedAcked = $state(read(SEED_ACKED));
+
+  finish() {
+    this.onboarded = true;
+    write(ONBOARDED, true);
+  }
+
+  ackSeed() {
+    this.seedAcked = true;
+    write(SEED_ACKED, true);
+  }
+
+  /** Re-open the checklist (e.g. from Settings → Getting started). */
+  reopen() {
+    this.onboarded = false;
+    write(ONBOARDED, false);
+  }
+}
+
+export const onboarding = new Onboarding();
diff --git a/kez-chat/web/src/routes/Messages.svelte b/kez-chat/web/src/routes/Messages.svelte
index fd0c2d3..2d80e95 100644
--- a/kez-chat/web/src/routes/Messages.svelte
+++ b/kez-chat/web/src/routes/Messages.svelte
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
   import { lookup, lookupByPrimary, ApiError } from "../lib/api.js";
   import { inboxService } from "../lib/inbox-service.svelte.js";
   import { verifySubject } from "../lib/verify.js";
+  import { onboarding } from "../lib/onboarding.svelte.js";
   import EmojiButton from "../lib/EmojiButton.svelte";
   import Avatar from "../lib/Avatar.svelte";
   import VerifiedBadge from "../lib/VerifiedBadge.svelte";
@@ -318,6 +319,13 @@
       {/if}
     </div>
 
+    <!-- Finish-setup nudge (until onboarding is completed/skipped) -->
+    {#if !onboarding.onboarded}
+      <a href="#/welcome" class="flex items-center gap-2 px-3 py-2 border-b border-border bg-accent/10 text-accent hover:bg-accent/20 no-underline text-sm">
+        <span>✦</span><span class="flex-1">Finish setting up your account</span><span>→</span>
+      </a>
+    {/if}
+
     <!-- Start a chat -->
     <div class="p-3 border-b border-border">
       <form class="flex gap-2" onsubmit={(e) => { e.preventDefault(); startConversation(); }}>
diff --git a/kez-chat/web/src/routes/Settings.svelte b/kez-chat/web/src/routes/Settings.svelte
index 893b7be..17222ef 100644
--- a/kez-chat/web/src/routes/Settings.svelte
+++ b/kez-chat/web/src/routes/Settings.svelte
@@ -17,6 +17,12 @@
     fireTestNotification,
   } from "../lib/inbox-service.svelte.js";
   import { theme, type ThemeChoice } from "../lib/theme.svelte.js";
+  import { onboarding } from "../lib/onboarding.svelte.js";
+
+  function openGettingStarted() {
+    onboarding.reopen();
+    push("/welcome");
+  }
 
   const themeOptions: { value: ThemeChoice; label: string }[] = [
     { value: "light", label: "Light" },
@@ -199,6 +205,9 @@
     <!-- Account / About -->
     <section class="bg-surface border border-border rounded-xl p-6 space-y-4">
       <h2 class="text-sm font-semibold text-text uppercase tracking-wider">Account</h2>
+      <button class="px-3 py-2 text-sm border border-border rounded-md text-text-secondary hover:bg-elevated hover:text-text" onclick={openGettingStarted}>
+        Getting started
+      </button>
       <button class="px-3 py-2 text-sm border border-border rounded-md text-text-secondary hover:text-danger hover:border-danger" onclick={lock}>
         Lock
       </button>
diff --git a/kez-chat/web/src/routes/Welcome.svelte b/kez-chat/web/src/routes/Welcome.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..43829eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/kez-chat/web/src/routes/Welcome.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,201 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+  import { onMount } from "svelte";
+  import { push } from "svelte-spa-router";
+  import { bytesToHex } from "@noble/hashes/utils";
+  import { session } from "../lib/store.svelte.js";
+  import { onboarding } from "../lib/onboarding.svelte.js";
+  import { listClaims } from "../lib/claims-store.js";
+  import {
+    hasStoredBiometric,
+    setupBiometricUnlock,
+    isPlatformAuthenticatorAvailable,
+  } from "../lib/webauthn.js";
+  import {
+    notificationsSupported,
+    notificationsPermission,
+    requestNotificationsPermission,
+  } from "../lib/inbox-service.svelte.js";
+  import Avatar from "../lib/Avatar.svelte";
+  import Wordmark from "../lib/Wordmark.svelte";
+
+  let hasVerifiedProof = $state(false);
+  let biometricEnrolled = $state(false);
+  let biometricAvailable = $state(false);
+  let notifPerm = $state<NotificationPermission | "unsupported">("default");
+
+  let seedRevealed = $state(false);
+  let seedHex = $state("");
+  let seedCopied = $state(false);
+  let busy = $state(false);
+
+  onMount(async () => {
+    if (!session.unlocked) {
+      push("/unlock");
+      return;
+    }
+    const claims = await listClaims();
+    hasVerifiedProof = claims.some((c) => c.last_verify?.status === "ok");
+    biometricEnrolled = await hasStoredBiometric();
+    biometricAvailable = await isPlatformAuthenticatorAvailable();
+    notifPerm = notificationsSupported() ? notificationsPermission() : "unsupported";
+  });
+
+  function revealSeed() {
+    if (!session.unlocked) return;
+    seedHex = bytesToHex(session.unlocked.seed);
+    seedRevealed = true;
+  }
+  async function copySeed() {
+    await navigator.clipboard.writeText(seedHex);
+    seedCopied = true;
+    setTimeout(() => (seedCopied = false), 1500);
+  }
+
+  async function enableBiometric() {
+    if (!session.unlocked) return;
+    busy = true;
+    try {
+      await setupBiometricUnlock({
+        handle: session.unlocked.handle,
+        primary: session.unlocked.primary,
+        seed: session.unlocked.seed,
+      });
+      biometricEnrolled = true;
+    } catch (e) {
+      alert(`Couldn't enable app lock: ${(e as Error).message}`);
+    } finally {
+      busy = false;
+    }
+  }
+
+  async function enableNotifications() {
+    notifPerm = await requestNotificationsPermission();
+  }
+
+  function enterApp() {
+    onboarding.finish();
+    push("/chats");
+  }
+
+  // Progress = required steps done (seed + proof). Optional ones don't gate.
+  const done = $derived(
+    [onboarding.seedAcked, hasVerifiedProof].filter(Boolean).length,
+  );
+  const total = 2;
+</script>
+
+{#if session.unlocked}
+  <div class="max-w-xl mx-auto py-6 space-y-6">
+    <div class="text-center space-y-2">
+      <div class="flex justify-center"><Wordmark size={28} /></div>
+      <h1 class="text-xl font-semibold text-text">Welcome — let's get you set up</h1>
+      <p class="text-sm text-text-secondary">
+        A couple of quick steps. You can skip and come back anytime from Settings.
+      </p>
+      <div class="flex items-center justify-center gap-3 pt-1">
+        <Avatar seed={session.unlocked.primary} size={44} ring />
+        <span class="font-mono text-sm text-accent">{session.unlocked.handle}@{session.unlocked.server}</span>
+      </div>
+      <p class="text-xs text-text-muted">{done} of {total} essentials done</p>
+    </div>
+
+    <ol class="space-y-3">
+      <!-- 1. Account created (auto) -->
+      <li class="flex items-start gap-3 bg-surface border border-border rounded-xl p-4">
+        <span class="shrink-0 mt-0.5" style="color:var(--color-verified)">✓</span>
+        <div class="min-w-0">
+          <p class="text-sm font-semibold text-text">Account created</p>
+          <p class="text-xs text-text-secondary">Your identity is an Ed25519 keypair — no email, no password reset.</p>
+        </div>
+      </li>
+
+      <!-- 2. Back up seed (critical, skippable) -->
+      <li class={`bg-surface border rounded-xl p-4 ${onboarding.seedAcked ? "border-border" : "border-warning/50"}`}>
+        <div class="flex items-start gap-3">
+          <span class="shrink-0 mt-0.5">{onboarding.seedAcked ? "✓" : "🔑"}</span>
+          <div class="min-w-0 flex-1">
+            <p class="text-sm font-semibold text-text">Back up your recovery seed</p>
+            <p class="text-xs text-text-secondary">
+              This 32-byte seed is the <strong>only</strong> way to recover your
+              account. Lose it and it's gone forever — there's no reset. Write it
+              down offline.
+            </p>
+            {#if !seedRevealed && !onboarding.seedAcked}
+              <button class="mt-2 px-3 py-1.5 text-sm border border-border rounded-md text-text-secondary hover:bg-elevated hover:text-text" onclick={revealSeed}>Reveal seed</button>
+            {/if}
+            {#if seedRevealed}
+              <div class="mt-2 p-3 bg-elevated border border-border rounded-md">
+                <p class="font-mono text-xs text-text break-all select-all">{seedHex}</p>
+                <div class="mt-2 flex gap-2">
+                  <button class="px-2.5 py-1 text-xs border border-border rounded text-text-secondary hover:bg-surface" onclick={copySeed}>{seedCopied ? "✓ copied" : "Copy"}</button>
+                  {#if !onboarding.seedAcked}
+                    <button class="px-2.5 py-1 text-xs bg-accent text-accent-contrast font-semibold rounded" onclick={() => onboarding.ackSeed()}>I've saved it safely</button>
+                  {/if}
+                </div>
+              </div>
+            {/if}
+            {#if onboarding.seedAcked}
+              <p class="mt-1 text-xs" style="color:var(--color-verified)">✓ Backed up</p>
+            {/if}
+          </div>
+        </div>
+      </li>
+
+      <!-- 3. Add first proof -->
+      <li class="flex items-start gap-3 bg-surface border border-border rounded-xl p-4">
+        <span class="shrink-0 mt-0.5">{hasVerifiedProof ? "✓" : "✦"}</span>
+        <div class="min-w-0 flex-1">
+          <p class="text-sm font-semibold text-text">Add your first proof</p>
+          <p class="text-xs text-text-secondary">
+            Link a GitHub, a domain, or your nostr key to earn your verified
+            badge — so people know it's really you.
+          </p>
+          {#if hasVerifiedProof}
+            <p class="mt-1 text-xs" style="color:var(--color-verified)">✓ You have a verified proof</p>
+          {:else}
+            <a href="#/claims/add" class="mt-2 inline-block px-3 py-1.5 text-sm bg-accent text-accent-contrast font-semibold rounded-md hover:bg-accent-dim no-underline">Add a proof</a>
+          {/if}
+        </div>
+      </li>
+
+      <!-- 4. App lock (optional) -->
+      {#if biometricAvailable || biometricEnrolled}
+        <li class="flex items-start gap-3 bg-surface border border-border rounded-xl p-4">
+          <span class="shrink-0 mt-0.5">{biometricEnrolled ? "✓" : "🔓"}</span>
+          <div class="min-w-0 flex-1">
+            <p class="text-sm font-semibold text-text">Enable app lock <span class="text-text-muted font-normal">· optional</span></p>
+            <p class="text-xs text-text-secondary">Unlock with Touch ID / Face ID / Windows Hello instead of your passphrase.</p>
+            {#if biometricEnrolled}
+              <p class="mt-1 text-xs" style="color:var(--color-verified)">✓ Enabled</p>
+            {:else}
+              <button class="mt-2 px-3 py-1.5 text-sm border border-border rounded-md text-text-secondary hover:bg-elevated hover:text-text disabled:opacity-50" onclick={enableBiometric} disabled={busy}>{busy ? "…" : "Enable"}</button>
+            {/if}
+          </div>
+        </li>
+      {/if}
+
+      <!-- 5. Notifications (optional) -->
+      {#if notifPerm !== "unsupported"}
+        <li class="flex items-start gap-3 bg-surface border border-border rounded-xl p-4">
+          <span class="shrink-0 mt-0.5">{notifPerm === "granted" ? "✓" : "🔔"}</span>
+          <div class="min-w-0 flex-1">
+            <p class="text-sm font-semibold text-text">Turn on notifications <span class="text-text-muted font-normal">· optional</span></p>
+            <p class="text-xs text-text-secondary">Get pinged when a message arrives while you're away.</p>
+            {#if notifPerm === "granted"}
+              <p class="mt-1 text-xs" style="color:var(--color-verified)">✓ Enabled</p>
+            {:else if notifPerm === "denied"}
+              <p class="mt-1 text-xs text-warning">Blocked — re-enable in site settings.</p>
+            {:else}
+              <button class="mt-2 px-3 py-1.5 text-sm border border-border rounded-md text-text-secondary hover:bg-elevated hover:text-text" onclick={enableNotifications}>Enable</button>
+            {/if}
+          </div>
+        </li>
+      {/if}
+    </ol>
+
+    <div class="flex items-center justify-between pt-2">
+      <button class="text-sm text-text-muted hover:text-text underline" onclick={enterApp}>Skip for now</button>
+      <button class="px-5 py-2.5 text-sm bg-accent text-accent-contrast font-semibold rounded-md hover:bg-accent-dim" onclick={enterApp}>Enter kez-chat →</button>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+{/if}