diff --git a/apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/modules/articles/components/ReaderView.svelte b/apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/modules/articles/components/ReaderView.svelte
index 7737a0649..4dac64edd 100644
--- a/apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/modules/articles/components/ReaderView.svelte
+++ b/apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/modules/articles/components/ReaderView.svelte
@@ -96,7 +96,11 @@
 <style>
 	.reader {
 		overflow-y: auto;
-		padding: 1.5rem clamp(1rem, 5vw, 3rem) 4rem;
+		/* Generous bottom padding — clears the floating toolbar (~4rem of  */
+		/* height + chrome) AND leaves a comfortable "you've reached the   */
+		/* end" gap so the last paragraph isn't visually attached to the   */
+		/* bar when the user hits the bottom of the scroll.                */
+		padding: 1.5rem clamp(1rem, 5vw, 3rem) 14rem;
 		font-size: var(--reader-font-size);
 		line-height: 1.65;
 		max-width: 700px;
diff --git a/apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/modules/articles/views/DetailView.svelte b/apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/modules/articles/views/DetailView.svelte
index 08d3ddbb4..220334951 100644
--- a/apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/modules/articles/views/DetailView.svelte
+++ b/apps/mana/apps/web/src/lib/modules/articles/views/DetailView.svelte
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 -->
 <script lang="ts">
 	import { goto } from '$app/navigation';
+	import { onMount } from 'svelte';
 	import { TagField } from '@mana/shared-ui';
 	import { useArticle, useArticleTagIds } from '../queries';
 	import { articlesStore } from '../stores/articles.svelte';
@@ -38,9 +39,20 @@
 	// Typography state — per-session only for now. Persisting into userSettings
 	// comes later; M2 just gets the UX loop working.
 	let fontSize = $state(1);
+	// Default reader theme follows the global app theme so opening an
+	// article from a dark-mode Mana doesn't flash a white reader. The
+	// swatch buttons still let the user override per-article (e.g. sepia
+	// for late-evening reading regardless of the app's theme).
 	let theme = $state<'light' | 'dark' | 'sepia'>('light');
 	let fontFamily = $state<'serif' | 'sans'>('serif');
 
+	onMount(() => {
+		if (typeof document === 'undefined') return;
+		if (document.documentElement.classList.contains('dark')) {
+			theme = 'dark';
+		}
+	});
+
 	// Refs handed off to HighlightLayer: `shell` is the positioning anchor
 	// for the floating menu, `readerScroller` is where text lives + where
 	// selection events fire.
@@ -94,79 +106,6 @@
 </svelte:head>
 
 <div class="detail-shell detail-{theme}" bind:this={shell}>
-	<header class="topbar">
-		<button type="button" class="topbtn" onclick={() => goto('/articles')} aria-label="Zurück">
-			← Zurück
-		</button>
-
-		{#if article}
-			<div class="type-controls">
-				<button
-					type="button"
-					class="topbtn"
-					onclick={() => (fontSize = Math.max(0.85, fontSize - 0.075))}
-					title="Kleiner"
-					aria-label="Schrift kleiner"
-				>
-					A−
-				</button>
-				<button
-					type="button"
-					class="topbtn"
-					onclick={() => (fontSize = Math.min(1.35, fontSize + 0.075))}
-					title="Größer"
-					aria-label="Schrift größer"
-				>
-					A+
-				</button>
-				<span class="divider"></span>
-				<button
-					type="button"
-					class="topbtn"
-					class:active={fontFamily === 'serif'}
-					onclick={() => (fontFamily = 'serif')}
-					title="Serif"
-				>
-					Serif
-				</button>
-				<button
-					type="button"
-					class="topbtn"
-					class:active={fontFamily === 'sans'}
-					onclick={() => (fontFamily = 'sans')}
-					title="Sans"
-				>
-					Sans
-				</button>
-				<span class="divider"></span>
-				<button
-					type="button"
-					class="topbtn swatch swatch-light"
-					class:active={theme === 'light'}
-					onclick={() => (theme = 'light')}
-					aria-label="Heller Modus"
-					title="Hell"
-				></button>
-				<button
-					type="button"
-					class="topbtn swatch swatch-sepia"
-					class:active={theme === 'sepia'}
-					onclick={() => (theme = 'sepia')}
-					aria-label="Sepia-Modus"
-					title="Sepia"
-				></button>
-				<button
-					type="button"
-					class="topbtn swatch swatch-dark"
-					class:active={theme === 'dark'}
-					onclick={() => (theme = 'dark')}
-					aria-label="Dunkler Modus"
-					title="Dunkel"
-				></button>
-			</div>
-		{/if}
-	</header>
-
 	{#if article$.loading}
 		<p class="placeholder">Lädt…</p>
 	{:else if !article}
@@ -214,36 +153,160 @@
 			htmlVersion={article.htmlContent}
 		/>
 
-		<footer class="actionbar">
-			<button
-				type="button"
-				class="actionbtn"
-				class:active={article.status === 'finished'}
-				onclick={toggleRead}
-			>
-				{article.status === 'finished' ? '✓ Gelesen' : 'Als gelesen markieren'}
-			</button>
-			<button
-				type="button"
-				class="actionbtn"
-				class:active={article.isFavorite}
-				onclick={toggleFavorite}
-				aria-label="Favorit umschalten"
-			>
-				{article.isFavorite ? '★ Favorit' : '☆ Favorit'}
-			</button>
-			<button type="button" class="actionbtn" onclick={archive}>Archivieren</button>
-			<a class="actionbtn" href={article.originalUrl} target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">
-				Original ↗
-			</a>
-			<span class="spacer"></span>
-			<button type="button" class="actionbtn danger" onclick={deleteArticle}>Löschen</button>
+		<footer class="floating-bar" aria-label="Lese-Werkzeuge">
+			<div class="bar-group nav-group">
+				<button
+					type="button"
+					class="bar-btn"
+					onclick={() => goto('/articles')}
+					aria-label="Zurück zur Liste"
+					data-tip="Zurück zur Leseliste"
+				>
+					←
+				</button>
+			</div>
+
+			<span class="bar-divider" aria-hidden="true"></span>
+
+			<div class="bar-group type-group">
+				<button
+					type="button"
+					class="bar-btn"
+					onclick={() => (fontSize = Math.max(0.85, fontSize - 0.075))}
+					aria-label="Schrift kleiner"
+					data-tip="Schrift kleiner"
+				>
+					A−
+				</button>
+				<button
+					type="button"
+					class="bar-btn"
+					onclick={() => (fontSize = Math.min(1.35, fontSize + 0.075))}
+					aria-label="Schrift größer"
+					data-tip="Schrift größer"
+				>
+					A+
+				</button>
+				<button
+					type="button"
+					class="bar-btn"
+					class:active={fontFamily === 'serif'}
+					onclick={() => (fontFamily = 'serif')}
+					data-tip="Serif-Schrift"
+				>
+					Serif
+				</button>
+				<button
+					type="button"
+					class="bar-btn"
+					class:active={fontFamily === 'sans'}
+					onclick={() => (fontFamily = 'sans')}
+					data-tip="Sans-Serif-Schrift"
+				>
+					Sans
+				</button>
+				<button
+					type="button"
+					class="bar-btn swatch swatch-light"
+					class:active={theme === 'light'}
+					onclick={() => (theme = 'light')}
+					aria-label="Heller Modus"
+					data-tip="Heller Modus"
+				></button>
+				<button
+					type="button"
+					class="bar-btn swatch swatch-sepia"
+					class:active={theme === 'sepia'}
+					onclick={() => (theme = 'sepia')}
+					aria-label="Sepia-Modus"
+					data-tip="Sepia-Modus"
+				></button>
+				<button
+					type="button"
+					class="bar-btn swatch swatch-dark"
+					class:active={theme === 'dark'}
+					onclick={() => (theme = 'dark')}
+					aria-label="Dunkler Modus"
+					data-tip="Dunkler Modus"
+				></button>
+			</div>
+
+			<span class="bar-divider" aria-hidden="true"></span>
+
+			<div class="bar-group action-group">
+				<button
+					type="button"
+					class="bar-btn"
+					class:active={article.status === 'finished'}
+					onclick={toggleRead}
+					aria-label={article.status === 'finished'
+						? 'Als ungelesen markieren'
+						: 'Als gelesen markieren'}
+					data-tip={article.status === 'finished'
+						? 'Als ungelesen markieren'
+						: 'Als gelesen markieren'}
+				>
+					{article.status === 'finished' ? '✓' : '○'}
+				</button>
+				<button
+					type="button"
+					class="bar-btn"
+					class:active={article.isFavorite}
+					onclick={toggleFavorite}
+					aria-label={article.isFavorite ? 'Favorit entfernen' : 'Als Favorit markieren'}
+					data-tip={article.isFavorite ? 'Favorit entfernen' : 'Als Favorit markieren'}
+				>
+					{article.isFavorite ? '★' : '☆'}
+				</button>
+				<button
+					type="button"
+					class="bar-btn"
+					onclick={archive}
+					aria-label="Artikel archivieren"
+					data-tip="Artikel archivieren"
+				>
+					⤓
+				</button>
+				<a
+					class="bar-btn"
+					href={article.originalUrl}
+					target="_blank"
+					rel="noopener noreferrer"
+					aria-label="Original-Seite öffnen"
+					data-tip="Original-Seite öffnen"
+				>
+					↗
+				</a>
+				<button
+					type="button"
+					class="bar-btn danger"
+					onclick={deleteArticle}
+					aria-label="Artikel löschen"
+					data-tip="Artikel löschen"
+				>
+					🗑
+				</button>
+			</div>
 		</footer>
 	{/if}
 </div>
 
 <style>
 	.detail-shell {
+		/* Break out of the (app) layout's padded container so the reader    */
+		/* fills the whole viewport edge-to-edge. The horizontal escape is   */
+		/* the `100vw` + negative-margin-X trick that cancels the centered   */
+		/* `max-w-7xl mx-auto px-3 sm:px-6 lg:px-8` wrapper. The vertical    */
+		/* escape uses equally-negative margins to consume <main>'s pt-2    */
+		/* AND its dynamic padding-bottom (which was reserving space for the */
+		/* bottom chrome). The reader theme then paints behind the floating  */
+		/* PillNav too — far better than a theme-background island floating  */
+		/* in a page-background sea.                                          */
+		width: 100vw;
+		margin-left: calc(50% - 50vw);
+		margin-right: calc(50% - 50vw);
+		margin-top: calc(-1 * (0.5rem + 0.5rem)); /* <main pt-2> + inner py-2 */
+		margin-bottom: calc(-1 * (var(--bottom-chrome-height, 0px) + 8px + 0.5rem));
 		min-height: 100dvh;
 		display: flex;
 		flex-direction: column;
@@ -263,68 +326,9 @@
 		background: #0f172a;
 		color: #e2e8f0;
 	}
-	.topbar {
-		position: sticky;
-		top: 0;
-		z-index: 10;
-		display: flex;
-		align-items: center;
-		gap: 0.4rem;
-		padding: 0.55rem 0.9rem;
-		border-bottom: 1px solid color-mix(in srgb, currentColor 12%, transparent);
-		background: inherit;
-	}
-	.type-controls {
-		display: flex;
-		gap: 0.3rem;
-		margin-left: auto;
-		flex-wrap: wrap;
-	}
-	.divider {
-		width: 1px;
-		height: 1.2em;
-		background: color-mix(in srgb, currentColor 25%, transparent);
-		align-self: center;
-		margin: 0 0.2rem;
-	}
-	.topbtn {
-		font: inherit;
-		font-size: 0.82rem;
-		padding: 0.3rem 0.65rem;
-		background: transparent;
-		color: inherit;
-		border: 1px solid color-mix(in srgb, currentColor 18%, transparent);
-		border-radius: 0.45rem;
-		cursor: pointer;
-		text-decoration: none;
-		line-height: 1.1;
-	}
-	.topbtn:hover {
-		border-color: color-mix(in srgb, currentColor 35%, transparent);
-	}
-	.topbtn.active {
-		background: color-mix(in srgb, currentColor 10%, transparent);
-		border-color: color-mix(in srgb, currentColor 35%, transparent);
-	}
-	.swatch {
-		width: 1.7rem;
-		height: 1.7rem;
-		padding: 0;
-		border-radius: 50%;
-		overflow: hidden;
-	}
-	.swatch-light {
-		background: #ffffff;
-	}
-	.swatch-sepia {
-		background: #f4ecd8;
-	}
-	.swatch-dark {
-		background: #0f172a;
-	}
 	.meta-bar {
 		max-width: 700px;
-		margin: 1.2rem auto 0;
+		margin: 4rem auto 0;
 		padding: 0 clamp(1rem, 5vw, 3rem);
 		width: 100%;
 	}
@@ -343,49 +347,184 @@
 	.tags-row {
 		margin-top: 0.75rem;
 	}
-	.actionbar {
-		position: sticky;
-		bottom: 0;
-		display: flex;
-		gap: 0.4rem;
-		padding: 0.55rem 0.9rem;
-		border-top: 1px solid color-mix(in srgb, currentColor 12%, transparent);
-		background: inherit;
-		flex-wrap: wrap;
-		align-items: center;
-	}
-	.actionbtn {
-		font: inherit;
-		font-size: 0.85rem;
-		padding: 0.4rem 0.75rem;
-		background: transparent;
-		color: inherit;
-		border: 1px solid color-mix(in srgb, currentColor 18%, transparent);
-		border-radius: 0.45rem;
-		cursor: pointer;
-		text-decoration: none;
-	}
-	.actionbtn:hover {
-		border-color: color-mix(in srgb, currentColor 35%, transparent);
-	}
-	.actionbtn.active {
-		background: color-mix(in srgb, #f97316 85%, transparent);
-		color: white;
-		border-color: #f97316;
-	}
-	.actionbtn.danger {
-		color: #ef4444;
-		border-color: color-mix(in srgb, #ef4444 30%, transparent);
-	}
-	.actionbtn.danger:hover {
-		background: color-mix(in srgb, #ef4444 10%, transparent);
-	}
-	.spacer {
-		flex: 1;
-	}
 	.placeholder {
 		text-align: center;
 		margin: 3rem auto;
 		opacity: 0.7;
 	}
+
+	/* ─── Floating unified toolbar ────────────────────────────
+	 *
+	 * One bar at the bottom replaces what used to be a top bar (back +
+	 * typography) and a bottom bar (article actions). Three groups
+	 * divided by vertical rules: nav | typography | actions.
+	 *
+	 * `position: fixed` + center-X transform produces the floating-pill
+	 * look; it stays put while the reader scrolls. `bottom: 1rem` leaves
+	 * enough gap from the viewport edge to feel like a pill, not a docked
+	 * toolbar. On narrow screens the groups wrap onto multiple rows via
+	 * flex-wrap — still readable, just taller.
+	 */
+	.floating-bar {
+		position: fixed;
+		/* Clear Mana's own bottom-stack (PillNavigation + QuickInputBar +   */
+		/* TagStrip). The layout publishes its total height as               */
+		/* `--bottom-chrome-height` on <main>, which cascades down into our  */
+		/* detail-shell even though we're position: fixed (inheritance is    */
+		/* DOM-based, not layout-based). Fallback 0 keeps the bar sensible   */
+		/* if this page ever renders outside the app shell (e.g. a test).    */
+		bottom: calc(var(--bottom-chrome-height, 0px) + 1rem);
+		left: 50%;
+		transform: translateX(-50%);
+		z-index: 20;
+		display: flex;
+		align-items: center;
+		gap: 0.35rem;
+		padding: 0.45rem 0.65rem;
+		border-radius: 999px;
+		background: color-mix(in srgb, currentColor 3%, Canvas);
+		border: 1px solid color-mix(in srgb, currentColor 15%, transparent);
+		box-shadow:
+			0 8px 24px -8px color-mix(in srgb, currentColor 35%, transparent),
+			0 2px 6px -2px color-mix(in srgb, currentColor 20%, transparent);
+		backdrop-filter: blur(10px);
+		max-width: calc(100vw - 2rem);
+		flex-wrap: wrap;
+		justify-content: center;
+	}
+	/* Reader-theme surface overrides — Canvas above is the browser-neutral
+	 * default; each theme pins a proper opaque backdrop so text on/around
+	 * the bar stays legible. */
+	.detail-light .floating-bar {
+		background: color-mix(in srgb, #ffffff 92%, transparent);
+	}
+	.detail-sepia .floating-bar {
+		background: color-mix(in srgb, #f4ecd8 92%, transparent);
+	}
+	.detail-dark .floating-bar {
+		background: color-mix(in srgb, #0f172a 88%, transparent);
+	}
+	.bar-group {
+		display: flex;
+		gap: 0.25rem;
+		align-items: center;
+	}
+	.bar-divider {
+		width: 1px;
+		height: 1.3rem;
+		background: color-mix(in srgb, currentColor 20%, transparent);
+		margin: 0 0.15rem;
+	}
+	.bar-btn {
+		font: inherit;
+		font-size: 0.82rem;
+		min-width: 2rem;
+		height: 2rem;
+		padding: 0 0.55rem;
+		background: transparent;
+		color: inherit;
+		border: 1px solid transparent;
+		border-radius: 999px;
+		cursor: pointer;
+		text-decoration: none;
+		line-height: 1;
+		display: inline-flex;
+		align-items: center;
+		justify-content: center;
+		position: relative;
+	}
+	.bar-btn:hover {
+		background: color-mix(in srgb, currentColor 8%, transparent);
+	}
+	/* Custom tooltip: small label bubble above the button on hover. The
+	 * native `title` tooltip has a ~1s delay and inherits the OS style,
+	 * which feels sluggish for a reader-toolbar where the user is
+	 * scanning icons. `data-tip` is set declaratively on each button so
+	 * swapping copy per state (read / unread, favorite / unmark) stays
+	 * a Svelte attribute reactivity concern, not a CSS one. */
+	.bar-btn[data-tip]::after {
+		content: attr(data-tip);
+		position: absolute;
+		bottom: calc(100% + 0.4rem);
+		left: 50%;
+		transform: translateX(-50%);
+		padding: 0.3rem 0.55rem;
+		border-radius: 0.4rem;
+		font-size: 0.72rem;
+		font-weight: 500;
+		white-space: nowrap;
+		color: #f1f5f9;
+		background: #0f172a;
+		box-shadow: 0 4px 10px -2px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.25);
+		opacity: 0;
+		pointer-events: none;
+		transition: opacity 120ms ease;
+		/* Keep the tooltip above the bar's own backdrop. */
+		z-index: 1;
+	}
+	.bar-btn[data-tip]:hover::after,
+	.bar-btn[data-tip]:focus-visible::after {
+		opacity: 1;
+		transition-delay: 120ms;
+	}
+	/* Light-mode readers get an inverted bubble so the tooltip doesn't
+	 * look like just a darker blob — pops off the light page. */
+	.detail-light .bar-btn[data-tip]::after {
+		color: #f1f5f9;
+		background: #1e293b;
+	}
+	.detail-sepia .bar-btn[data-tip]::after {
+		color: #f4ecd8;
+		background: #433422;
+	}
+	.detail-dark .bar-btn[data-tip]::after {
+		color: #0f172a;
+		background: #e2e8f0;
+	}
+	.bar-btn.active {
+		background: color-mix(in srgb, #f97316 18%, transparent);
+		color: #ea580c;
+	}
+	.detail-dark .bar-btn.active {
+		color: #fdba74;
+	}
+	.bar-btn.danger:hover {
+		background: color-mix(in srgb, #ef4444 15%, transparent);
+		color: #ef4444;
+	}
+	.swatch {
+		width: 1.5rem;
+		height: 1.5rem;
+		min-width: 1.5rem;
+		padding: 0;
+		border: 1px solid color-mix(in srgb, currentColor 25%, transparent);
+	}
+	.swatch:hover {
+		border-color: color-mix(in srgb, currentColor 55%, transparent);
+	}
+	.swatch.active {
+		background: currentColor;
+		outline: 2px solid color-mix(in srgb, #f97316 80%, transparent);
+		outline-offset: 1px;
+	}
+	.swatch-light {
+		background: #ffffff;
+	}
+	.swatch-sepia {
+		background: #f4ecd8;
+	}
+	.swatch-dark {
+		background: #0f172a;
+	}
+	/* Override `.swatch.active { background: currentColor }` so the color
+	 * chip stays the theme-preview color even when selected. */
+	.swatch-light.active {
+		background: #ffffff;
+	}
+	.swatch-sepia.active {
+		background: #f4ecd8;
+	}
+	.swatch-dark.active {
+		background: #0f172a;
+	}
 </style>