diff --git a/apps/desktop/lib/src/shell/app_shell.dart b/apps/desktop/lib/src/shell/app_shell.dart
index 989703e..0482dc0 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/lib/src/shell/app_shell.dart
+++ b/apps/desktop/lib/src/shell/app_shell.dart
@@ -641,6 +641,13 @@ class AppShellState extends State<AppShell> with SingleTickerProviderStateMixin
     );
   }
 
+  /// No Jellyfin account, no server joined or hosted yet, band not
+  /// dismissed: the welcome band explains the three ways in.
+  bool get _newcomer =>
+      !AppSettings.instance.welcomeDismissed.value &&
+      _jellyfin.isEmpty &&
+      SessionState.instance.recents.value.isEmpty;
+
   Widget _body(bool online, bool alone) {
     final coord = SessionState.instance.coordinator;
     final tabBody = switch (_tab) {
@@ -651,12 +658,14 @@ class AppShellState extends State<AppShell> with SingleTickerProviderStateMixin
           solo: alone,
           // Offline, a put-up starts a solo session, which hosts.
           isHost: !online || coord.hostFile != null,
-          banner: online
+          // Only for newcomers: the strip has Join and Host for everyone else.
+          banner: online || !_newcomer
               ? null
               : WelcomeBand(
                   onJoin: () => _connect(ConnectMode.join),
                   onHost: () => _connect(ConnectMode.host),
                   onSolo: _watchSolo,
+                  onDismiss: () => setState(AppSettings.instance.dismissWelcome),
                 ),
           jellyfinStart: _libraryStart,
           onPutUp: _putUp,
diff --git a/apps/desktop/lib/src/shell/welcome.dart b/apps/desktop/lib/src/shell/welcome.dart
index ffef960..e5d9c35 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/lib/src/shell/welcome.dart
+++ b/apps/desktop/lib/src/shell/welcome.dart
@@ -19,7 +19,8 @@ class WelcomeBand extends StatelessWidget {
   final VoidCallback onJoin;
   final VoidCallback onHost;
   final VoidCallback onSolo;
-  const WelcomeBand({super.key, required this.onJoin, required this.onHost, required this.onSolo});
+  final VoidCallback? onDismiss;
+  const WelcomeBand({super.key, required this.onJoin, required this.onHost, required this.onSolo, this.onDismiss});
 
   @override
   Widget build(BuildContext context) {
@@ -40,6 +41,19 @@ class WelcomeBand extends StatelessWidget {
             Text(appName, style: t.titleLarge?.copyWith(fontWeight: FontWeight.w700, height: 1.1)),
             const SizedBox(height: 2),
             Text(appTagline, style: TextStyle(color: scheme.onSurfaceVariant)),
+            if (onDismiss != null)
+              TextButton(
+                key: const ValueKey('welcome-dismiss'),
+                onPressed: onDismiss,
+                style: TextButton.styleFrom(
+                  padding: EdgeInsets.zero,
+                  minimumSize: const Size(0, 24),
+                  tapTargetSize: MaterialTapTargetSize.shrinkWrap,
+                  foregroundColor: scheme.onSurfaceVariant,
+                  textStyle: const TextStyle(fontSize: 12),
+                ),
+                child: const Text("Don't show again"),
+              ),
           ],
         ),
       ],
@@ -76,7 +90,7 @@ class WelcomeBand extends StatelessWidget {
             ],
           ),
         );
-    return Container(
+    final band = Container(
       key: const ValueKey('welcome-band'),
       margin: const EdgeInsets.fromLTRB(20, 16, 20, 0),
       padding: const EdgeInsets.all(14),
@@ -110,6 +124,7 @@ class WelcomeBand extends StatelessWidget {
         );
       }),
     );
+    return band;
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/apps/desktop/lib/src/state/settings.dart b/apps/desktop/lib/src/state/settings.dart
index 726d026..d9f2b7e 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/lib/src/state/settings.dart
+++ b/apps/desktop/lib/src/state/settings.dart
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ const _keyProgressLine = 'progressLine';
 const _keySoundVolume = 'soundVolume';
 const _keySoundsOff = 'soundsOff';
 const _keySoundPreset = 'soundPreset';
+const _keyWelcomeDismissed = 'welcomeDismissed';
 const _keySoundPresetFor = 'soundPresetFor';
 const _keyUnreadyOnSwap = 'unreadyOnSwap';
 const _keyIdleSitsOut = 'idleSitsOut';
@@ -58,6 +59,8 @@ class AppSettings {
   /// The sound set (`SoundPreset` name) every sound uses unless
   /// [soundPresetFor] picks another one for it.
   final soundPreset = signal('cosmic');
+  /// The offline welcome band's × was pressed: never show it again.
+  final welcomeDismissed = signal(false);
   /// `SfxKind` name -> `SoundPreset` name, per-sound overrides.
   final soundPresetFor = signal<Map<String, String>>(const {});
 
@@ -110,6 +113,8 @@ class AppSettings {
       if (vol is num) soundVolume.value = vol.toDouble().clamp(0, 1);
       final off = box.get(_keySoundsOff);
       if (off is List) soundsOff.value = Set.unmodifiable(off.whereType<String>());
+      final welcomeOff = box.get(_keyWelcomeDismissed);
+      if (welcomeOff is bool) welcomeDismissed.value = welcomeOff;
       final soundSet = box.get(_keySoundPreset);
       if (soundSet is String) soundPreset.value = soundSet;
       final per = box.get(_keySoundPresetFor);
@@ -186,6 +191,11 @@ class AppSettings {
     _put(_keySoundsOff, soundsOff.value.toList());
   }
 
+  void dismissWelcome() {
+    welcomeDismissed.value = true;
+    _put(_keyWelcomeDismissed, true);
+  }
+
   void setSoundPreset(String preset) {
     soundPreset.value = preset;
     _put(_keySoundPreset, preset);
diff --git a/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md b/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md
index 682fbb5..e369b7f 100644
--- a/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md
+++ b/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md
@@ -733,7 +733,9 @@ always scrolls the page). Space never presses a focused button
   bytes). Online, a name change (once typing settles) or picture change
   goes out through `Profile.push` (`coordinator.updateProfile`).
 - **Welcome** (`welcome.dart`): offline the Library opens with
-  `WelcomeBand` over the source switch (sizes away when online): the app
+  `WelcomeBand` over the source switch, only for newcomers (no Jellyfin
+  account, no recent server, not dismissed with "Don't show again";
+  sizes away when online): the app
   icon, Starsync and "Watch together, in sync", then three `WayCard`s,
   Join a friend first (filled), Host, Watch solo (opens Files, or
   Jellyfin when linked); beside the name from 940 px, under it below,