diff --git a/web/src/lib/components/OnboardingLaunchpad.svelte b/web/src/lib/components/OnboardingLaunchpad.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1ecdf9ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/lib/components/OnboardingLaunchpad.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,260 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+	/**
+	 * Setup launchpad — the render-mode the workspace dashboard switches to
+	 * while `needs_onboarding` is true (PLAN-1847, Phase 2 / TASK-1852).
+	 *
+	 * A brand-new workspace has no user items, so the normal dashboard would
+	 * render as an empty board that reads as "broken" rather than "new". This
+	 * component replaces that board with a three-step bridge that routes the
+	 * user into the agent-driven onboard flow:
+	 *   ① connect an agent  ② tell it (in natural language) to set up
+	 *   ③ watch the result appear here live (via the page's SSE feed).
+	 *
+	 * The flag flips to false the moment any real item exists, at which point
+	 * the parent swaps back to the normal dashboard — so this view is
+	 * inherently transient.
+	 */
+	interface Props {
+		workspaceName: string;
+		/** Opens the workspace's ConnectWorkspaceModal (mounted by the parent). */
+		onconnect: () => void;
+		/** Skip setup for now — parent falls back to the normal (empty) board. */
+		ondismiss: () => void;
+	}
+
+	let { workspaceName, onconnect, ondismiss }: Props = $props();
+
+	// Per-surface shortcuts for step ②. Natural language is the canonical
+	// trigger (works on every surface, matches TASK-1849/1851); these are
+	// secondary conveniences shown for whichever agent the user connects.
+	const shortcuts = [
+		{ tool: 'Claude Code', cmd: '/pad onboard' },
+		{ tool: 'Codex', cmd: '$pad onboard' },
+		{ tool: 'Claude Desktop / MCP', cmd: 'the pad_onboard prompt' }
+	];
+</script>
+
+<div class="launchpad">
+	<header class="lp-header">
+		<span class="lp-icon" aria-hidden="true">✨</span>
+		<h1 class="lp-title">Let's set up {workspaceName}</h1>
+		<p class="lp-subtitle">
+			Pad works best when your AI agent sets it up for you — it'll ask a few
+			questions and adapt this workspace to your project.
+		</p>
+	</header>
+
+	<ol class="lp-steps">
+		<li class="lp-step">
+			<span class="lp-step-num" aria-hidden="true">1</span>
+			<div class="lp-step-body">
+				<h2 class="lp-step-title">Connect your agent</h2>
+				<p class="lp-step-text">
+					Add Pad to Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, or Claude Desktop — it takes a
+					few seconds.
+				</p>
+				<button class="lp-connect-btn" type="button" onclick={onconnect}>
+					Connect agent &rarr;
+				</button>
+			</div>
+		</li>
+
+		<li class="lp-step">
+			<span class="lp-step-num" aria-hidden="true">2</span>
+			<div class="lp-step-body">
+				<h2 class="lp-step-title">Tell it to set up</h2>
+				<p class="lp-step-text">Once connected, just say:</p>
+				<code class="lp-nl">set up my workspace</code>
+				<p class="lp-shortcuts">
+					Or use the shortcut for your agent:
+					{#each shortcuts as s, i (s.tool)}<span class="lp-shortcut"
+							><span class="lp-shortcut-tool">{s.tool}</span>
+							<code>{s.cmd}</code></span
+						>{#if i < shortcuts.length - 1}<span class="lp-sep"> · </span>{/if}{/each}
+				</p>
+			</div>
+		</li>
+
+		<li class="lp-step">
+			<span class="lp-step-num" aria-hidden="true">3</span>
+			<div class="lp-step-body">
+				<h2 class="lp-step-title">Watch it happen</h2>
+				<p class="lp-step-text">
+					Your collections and first items will appear right here as your agent
+					works — no need to refresh.
+				</p>
+			</div>
+		</li>
+	</ol>
+
+	<footer class="lp-footer">
+		<button class="lp-skip-btn" type="button" onclick={ondismiss}>
+			Prefer to look around first? Skip setup
+		</button>
+	</footer>
+</div>
+
+<style>
+	/* Mirrors OnboardingNudgeBanner / ConnectBanner visual language (same
+	   tokens) so the setup surfaces feel like one system. */
+	.launchpad {
+		display: flex;
+		flex-direction: column;
+		gap: var(--space-5);
+		max-width: 640px;
+		margin: var(--space-5) auto;
+		padding: var(--space-5) var(--space-4);
+	}
+
+	.lp-header {
+		display: flex;
+		flex-direction: column;
+		align-items: center;
+		text-align: center;
+		gap: var(--space-2);
+	}
+	.lp-icon {
+		font-size: 2em;
+		line-height: 1;
+		color: var(--accent-blue);
+	}
+	.lp-title {
+		margin: 0;
+		font-size: 1.5em;
+		font-weight: 700;
+		color: var(--text-primary);
+	}
+	.lp-subtitle {
+		margin: 0;
+		max-width: 460px;
+		font-size: 0.95em;
+		line-height: 1.5;
+		color: var(--text-secondary);
+	}
+
+	.lp-steps {
+		list-style: none;
+		margin: 0;
+		padding: 0;
+		display: flex;
+		flex-direction: column;
+		gap: var(--space-3);
+	}
+	.lp-step {
+		display: flex;
+		align-items: flex-start;
+		gap: var(--space-3);
+		padding: var(--space-4);
+		background: var(--bg-secondary);
+		border: 1px solid var(--border);
+		border-radius: var(--radius);
+	}
+	.lp-step-num {
+		display: inline-flex;
+		align-items: center;
+		justify-content: center;
+		flex-shrink: 0;
+		width: 26px;
+		height: 26px;
+		border-radius: 50%;
+		background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent-blue) 15%, transparent);
+		color: var(--accent-blue);
+		font-weight: 700;
+		font-size: 0.85em;
+	}
+	.lp-step-body {
+		flex: 1;
+		min-width: 0;
+		display: flex;
+		flex-direction: column;
+		gap: var(--space-2);
+	}
+	.lp-step-title {
+		margin: 0;
+		font-size: 1em;
+		font-weight: 600;
+		color: var(--text-primary);
+	}
+	.lp-step-text {
+		margin: 0;
+		font-size: 0.88em;
+		line-height: 1.45;
+		color: var(--text-secondary);
+	}
+
+	.lp-connect-btn {
+		align-self: flex-start;
+		margin-top: var(--space-1);
+		padding: var(--space-2) var(--space-4);
+		background: var(--accent-blue);
+		color: #fff;
+		border: none;
+		border-radius: var(--radius);
+		font-weight: 600;
+		font-size: 0.88em;
+		cursor: pointer;
+		transition: filter 0.15s;
+	}
+	.lp-connect-btn:hover {
+		filter: brightness(1.08);
+	}
+	.lp-connect-btn:focus-visible {
+		outline: 2px solid var(--accent-blue);
+		outline-offset: 2px;
+	}
+
+	.lp-nl {
+		align-self: flex-start;
+		padding: var(--space-2) var(--space-3);
+		background: var(--bg-tertiary);
+		border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
+		font-size: 0.95em;
+		color: var(--text-primary);
+	}
+	.lp-shortcuts {
+		margin: var(--space-1) 0 0;
+		font-size: 0.8em;
+		line-height: 1.6;
+		color: var(--text-muted);
+	}
+	.lp-shortcut-tool {
+		color: var(--text-secondary);
+	}
+	.lp-shortcuts code {
+		background: var(--bg-tertiary);
+		padding: 1px 5px;
+		border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
+		font-size: 0.95em;
+		color: var(--text-secondary);
+	}
+	.lp-sep {
+		color: var(--text-muted);
+	}
+
+	.lp-footer {
+		display: flex;
+		justify-content: center;
+	}
+	.lp-skip-btn {
+		background: transparent;
+		border: none;
+		color: var(--text-muted);
+		font-size: 0.85em;
+		cursor: pointer;
+		text-decoration: underline;
+		text-underline-offset: 2px;
+	}
+	.lp-skip-btn:hover {
+		color: var(--text-secondary);
+	}
+
+	@media (max-width: 480px) {
+		.launchpad {
+			gap: var(--space-4);
+			margin: var(--space-3) auto;
+		}
+		.lp-step {
+			padding: var(--space-3);
+		}
+	}
+</style>
diff --git a/web/src/lib/components/OnboardingNudgeBanner.svelte b/web/src/lib/components/OnboardingNudgeBanner.svelte
deleted file mode 100644
index e680e2c4..00000000
--- a/web/src/lib/components/OnboardingNudgeBanner.svelte
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,183 +0,0 @@
-<script lang="ts">
-	import { browser } from '$app/environment';
-
-	interface Props {
-		wsSlug: string;
-		/**
-		 * Click handler that opens the workspace's ConnectWorkspaceModal.
-		 * Wired by the parent so this banner stays unaware of how the
-		 * modal is mounted (the workspace page already mounts a single
-		 * ConnectWorkspaceModal instance — passing a handler avoids
-		 * mounting a second one here).
-		 */
-		onconnect: () => void;
-		ondismiss?: () => void;
-	}
-
-	let { wsSlug, onconnect, ondismiss }: Props = $props();
-
-	// Dismissal persists in the existing localStorage key shape
-	// (`pad-onboarding-dismissed-{wsSlug}`) per IDEA-1516 §3 — users who
-	// dismissed the old OnboardingChecklist don't get re-prompted by the
-	// new banner. The parent (+page.svelte) owns the canonical dismiss
-	// state; this component just signals up via ondismiss.
-
-	function handleDismiss(event: MouseEvent) {
-		event.stopPropagation();
-		ondismiss?.();
-		if (browser) {
-			localStorage.setItem(`pad-onboarding-dismissed-${wsSlug}`, 'true');
-		}
-	}
-
-	function handleConnect() {
-		onconnect();
-	}
-
-	function handleKeydown(e: KeyboardEvent) {
-		// Banner-level Enter/Space activates the Connect CTA — but only
-		// when the keydown originates from the banner itself, not from a
-		// nested button (the dismiss X). Mirrors ConnectBanner.svelte's
-		// guard so dismissing via keyboard doesn't also fire connect.
-		if (e.target !== e.currentTarget) return;
-		if (e.key === 'Enter' || e.key === ' ') {
-			e.preventDefault();
-			onconnect();
-		}
-	}
-</script>
-
-<div
-	class="nudge-banner"
-	role="button"
-	tabindex="0"
-	onclick={handleConnect}
-	onkeydown={handleKeydown}
->
-	<span class="nudge-icon" aria-hidden="true">✨</span>
-	<div class="nudge-body">
-		<span class="nudge-title">Set up your workspace</span>
-		<p class="nudge-text">
-			Your workspace is ready. Connect your agent, then just say
-			<code>set up my workspace</code> &mdash; it'll walk you through setup.
-		</p>
-	</div>
-	<span class="nudge-actions">
-		<span class="nudge-cta">Connect agent &rarr;</span>
-		<button
-			class="dismiss-btn"
-			type="button"
-			aria-label="Dismiss banner"
-			onclick={handleDismiss}
-		>
-			&#10005;
-		</button>
-	</span>
-</div>
-
-<style>
-	/* Mirrors ConnectBanner.svelte's visual language — same border, hover,
-	   and focus treatment so the two banners feel like a single system. The
-	   nudge-banner is taller because it carries a heading + body, whereas
-	   ConnectBanner is a single-line nudge. */
-	.nudge-banner {
-		display: flex;
-		align-items: flex-start;
-		gap: var(--space-3);
-		width: 100%;
-		padding: var(--space-3) var(--space-4);
-		background: var(--bg-secondary);
-		border: 1px solid var(--border);
-		border-radius: var(--radius);
-		color: var(--text-secondary);
-		cursor: pointer;
-		transition: border-color 0.15s, background 0.15s;
-		box-sizing: border-box;
-		text-align: left;
-	}
-	.nudge-banner:hover {
-		border-color: var(--accent-blue);
-		background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--accent-blue) 4%, var(--bg-secondary));
-	}
-	.nudge-banner:focus-visible {
-		outline: 2px solid var(--accent-blue);
-		outline-offset: 2px;
-	}
-
-	.nudge-icon {
-		font-size: 1.2em;
-		line-height: 1.3;
-		flex-shrink: 0;
-		color: var(--accent-blue);
-	}
-
-	.nudge-body {
-		flex: 1;
-		min-width: 0;
-		display: flex;
-		flex-direction: column;
-		gap: 2px;
-	}
-	.nudge-title {
-		font-size: 0.92em;
-		font-weight: 600;
-		color: var(--text-primary);
-	}
-	.nudge-text {
-		margin: 0;
-		font-size: 0.85em;
-		color: var(--text-secondary);
-		line-height: 1.45;
-	}
-	.nudge-text code {
-		background: var(--bg-tertiary);
-		padding: 1px 5px;
-		border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
-		font-size: 0.95em;
-	}
-
-	.nudge-actions {
-		display: flex;
-		align-items: center;
-		gap: var(--space-3);
-		flex-shrink: 0;
-		padding-top: 2px;
-	}
-	.nudge-cta {
-		color: var(--accent-blue);
-		font-weight: 600;
-		font-size: 0.88em;
-		white-space: nowrap;
-	}
-	.dismiss-btn {
-		display: inline-flex;
-		align-items: center;
-		justify-content: center;
-		width: 22px;
-		height: 22px;
-		padding: 0;
-		background: transparent;
-		border: none;
-		border-radius: var(--radius);
-		color: var(--text-muted);
-		cursor: pointer;
-		font-size: 0.85em;
-		line-height: 1;
-		transition: background 0.15s, color 0.15s;
-	}
-	.dismiss-btn:hover {
-		background: var(--bg-tertiary);
-		color: var(--text-primary);
-	}
-
-	@media (max-width: 480px) {
-		.nudge-banner {
-			flex-wrap: wrap;
-			gap: var(--space-2);
-		}
-		.nudge-actions {
-			width: 100%;
-			justify-content: space-between;
-		}
-	}
-</style>
diff --git a/web/src/routes/[username]/[workspace]/+page.svelte b/web/src/routes/[username]/[workspace]/+page.svelte
index bfc7b141..055813ca 100644
--- a/web/src/routes/[username]/[workspace]/+page.svelte
+++ b/web/src/routes/[username]/[workspace]/+page.svelte
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 	import { uiStore } from '$lib/stores/ui.svelte';
 	import { syncService } from '$lib/services/sync.svelte';
 	import { relativeTime } from '$lib/utils/markdown';
-	import OnboardingNudgeBanner from '$lib/components/OnboardingNudgeBanner.svelte';
+	import OnboardingLaunchpad from '$lib/components/OnboardingLaunchpad.svelte';
 	import ConnectWorkspaceModal from '$lib/components/ConnectWorkspaceModal.svelte';
 	import CreateCollectionModal from '$lib/components/collections/CreateCollectionModal.svelte';
 	import { collectionStore } from '$lib/stores/collections.svelte';
@@ -254,6 +254,21 @@
 			</div>
 		</div>
 	{:else if dashboard}
+		{#if needsOnboarding && !onboardingDismissed}
+			<!--
+				Launchpad render-mode (PLAN-1847 Phase 2 / TASK-1852). While
+				needs_onboarding is true and not dismissed, the workspace renders
+				as a dedicated setup launchpad INSTEAD of the empty board (which
+				reads as broken, not new). Dismissing ("Skip setup") falls through
+				to the normal board with a reshow affordance. The flag flips to
+				false on the first real item, swapping back to the board.
+			-->
+			<OnboardingLaunchpad
+				workspaceName={workspaceStore.current?.name ?? wsSlug}
+				onconnect={() => (connectOpen = true)}
+				ondismiss={dismissOnboarding}
+			/>
+		{:else}
 		<!-- 1. Header -->
 		<header class="dash-header">
 			<div class="dash-header-left">
@@ -286,15 +301,11 @@
 			ConnectWorkspaceModal — same modal the Phase F auto-open hook
 			and ConnectBanner use.
 		-->
-		{#if needsOnboarding && !onboardingDismissed}
-			<div class="onboarding-wrapper">
-				<OnboardingNudgeBanner
-					{wsSlug}
-					onconnect={() => (connectOpen = true)}
-					ondismiss={dismissOnboarding}
-				/>
-			</div>
-		{:else if needsOnboarding && onboardingDismissed}
+		{#if needsOnboarding && onboardingDismissed}
+			<!--
+				Reshow affordance for users who skipped the launchpad. Clicking
+				restores the launchpad render-mode (clears the dismissed flag).
+			-->
 			<div class="onboarding-reshow">
 				<button class="reshow-btn" onclick={showOnboarding}>Show setup guide</button>
 			</div>
@@ -514,6 +525,7 @@
 				</div>
 			</section>
 		{/if}
+		{/if}
 	{:else}
 		<div class="loading">No dashboard data available.</div>
 	{/if}