diff --git a/backend/app/routers/admin.py b/backend/app/routers/admin.py
index 794c682..b559daa 100644
--- a/backend/app/routers/admin.py
+++ b/backend/app/routers/admin.py
@@ -122,3 +122,35 @@ async def manual_purge(
     db = request.app.state.db
     result = await run_purge(db, config)
     return result
+
+
+@router.put("/settings")
+async def update_settings(
+    request: Request,
+    _admin: str = Depends(require_admin),
+) -> dict:
+    """Update runtime settings (in-memory only — resets on restart).
+
+    Accepts a JSON body with optional fields:
+      - welcome_message: str
+    """
+    body = await request.json()
+
+    if not hasattr(request.app.state, "settings_overrides"):
+        request.app.state.settings_overrides = {}
+
+    updated = []
+    if "welcome_message" in body:
+        msg = body["welcome_message"]
+        if not isinstance(msg, str):
+            from fastapi.responses import JSONResponse
+
+            return JSONResponse(
+                status_code=422,
+                content={"detail": "welcome_message must be a string"},
+            )
+        request.app.state.settings_overrides["welcome_message"] = msg
+        updated.append("welcome_message")
+        logger.info("Admin updated welcome_message to: %s", msg[:80])
+
+    return {"updated": updated, "status": "ok"}
diff --git a/backend/app/routers/system.py b/backend/app/routers/system.py
index 8aa6004..d2db471 100644
--- a/backend/app/routers/system.py
+++ b/backend/app/routers/system.py
@@ -20,10 +20,16 @@ async def public_config(request: Request) -> dict:
     is fragile when new sensitive fields are added later.
     """
     config = request.app.state.config
+
+    # Runtime overrides (set via admin settings endpoint) take precedence
+    overrides = getattr(request.app.state, "settings_overrides", {})
+
     return {
         "session_mode": config.session.mode,
         "default_theme": config.ui.default_theme,
-        "welcome_message": config.ui.welcome_message,
+        "welcome_message": overrides.get(
+            "welcome_message", config.ui.welcome_message
+        ),
         "purge_enabled": config.purge.enabled,
         "max_concurrent_downloads": config.downloads.max_concurrent,
     }
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/AdminPanel.vue b/frontend/src/components/AdminPanel.vue
index b60cae9..5e9c9c1 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/AdminPanel.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/AdminPanel.vue
@@ -1,10 +1,15 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
 import { onMounted, ref } from 'vue'
 import { useAdminStore } from '@/stores/admin'
+import { api } from '@/api/client'
 import AdminLogin from './AdminLogin.vue'
 
 const store = useAdminStore()
-const activeTab = ref<'sessions' | 'storage' | 'purge'>('sessions')
+const activeTab = ref<'sessions' | 'storage' | 'purge' | 'settings'>('sessions')
+
+// Settings state
+const welcomeMessage = ref('')
+const settingsSaved = ref(false)
 
 function formatBytes(bytes: number): string {
   if (bytes < 1024) return `${bytes} B`
@@ -15,8 +20,26 @@ function formatBytes(bytes: number): string {
 
 async function switchTab(tab: typeof activeTab.value) {
   activeTab.value = tab
+  settingsSaved.value = false
   if (tab === 'sessions') await store.loadSessions()
   if (tab === 'storage') await store.loadStorage()
+  if (tab === 'settings') {
+    try {
+      const config = await api.getPublicConfig()
+      welcomeMessage.value = config.welcome_message
+    } catch {
+      // Keep current value
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+async function saveSettings() {
+  settingsSaved.value = false
+  const ok = await store.updateSettings({ welcome_message: welcomeMessage.value })
+  if (ok) {
+    settingsSaved.value = true
+    setTimeout(() => { settingsSaved.value = false }, 3000)
+  }
 }
 </script>
 
@@ -32,7 +55,7 @@ async function switchTab(tab: typeof activeTab.value) {
 
       <div class="admin-tabs">
         <button
-          v-for="tab in (['sessions', 'storage', 'purge'] as const)"
+          v-for="tab in (['sessions', 'storage', 'purge', 'settings'] as const)"
           :key="tab"
           :class="{ active: activeTab === tab }"
           @click="switchTab(tab)"
@@ -103,6 +126,34 @@ async function switchTab(tab: typeof activeTab.value) {
           <p>Active jobs skipped: {{ store.purgeResult.active_skipped }}</p>
         </div>
       </div>
+
+      <!-- Settings tab -->
+      <div v-if="activeTab === 'settings'" class="tab-content">
+        <div class="settings-field">
+          <label for="welcome-msg">Welcome Message</label>
+          <p class="field-hint">Displayed above the URL input on the main page. Leave empty to hide.</p>
+          <textarea
+            id="welcome-msg"
+            v-model="welcomeMessage"
+            rows="3"
+            class="settings-textarea"
+            placeholder="Enter a welcome message…"
+          ></textarea>
+        </div>
+        <div class="settings-actions">
+          <button
+            @click="saveSettings"
+            :disabled="store.isLoading"
+            class="btn-save"
+          >
+            {{ store.isLoading ? 'Saving…' : 'Save Settings' }}
+          </button>
+          <span v-if="settingsSaved" class="save-confirm">✓ Saved</span>
+        </div>
+        <p class="field-hint" style="margin-top: var(--space-md);">
+          Changes are applied immediately but reset on server restart.
+        </p>
+      </div>
     </template>
   </div>
 </template>
@@ -239,4 +290,62 @@ h3 {
   color: var(--color-text-muted);
   text-align: center;
 }
+
+.settings-field {
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: var(--space-xs);
+}
+
+.settings-field label {
+  font-weight: 600;
+  color: var(--color-text);
+}
+
+.field-hint {
+  font-size: var(--font-size-sm);
+  color: var(--color-text-muted);
+  margin: 0;
+}
+
+.settings-textarea {
+  width: 100%;
+  padding: var(--space-sm);
+  background: var(--color-bg);
+  color: var(--color-text);
+  border: 1px solid var(--color-border);
+  border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
+  font-family: var(--font-ui);
+  font-size: var(--font-size-base);
+  resize: vertical;
+}
+
+.settings-textarea:focus {
+  outline: none;
+  border-color: var(--color-accent);
+}
+
+.settings-actions {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: var(--space-md);
+  margin-top: var(--space-md);
+}
+
+.btn-save {
+  background: var(--color-accent);
+  color: var(--color-bg);
+  font-weight: 600;
+  padding: var(--space-sm) var(--space-lg);
+}
+
+.btn-save:hover:not(:disabled) {
+  background: var(--color-accent-hover);
+}
+
+.save-confirm {
+  color: var(--color-success);
+  font-weight: 500;
+  font-size: var(--font-size-sm);
+}
 </style>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/DownloadItem.vue b/frontend/src/components/DownloadItem.vue
deleted file mode 100644
index 3ff9c0b..0000000
--- a/frontend/src/components/DownloadItem.vue
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,179 +0,0 @@
-<script setup lang="ts">
-import { computed, ref } from 'vue'
-import { useDownloadsStore } from '@/stores/downloads'
-import ProgressBar from './ProgressBar.vue'
-import type { Job, JobStatus } from '@/api/types'
-
-const props = defineProps<{
-  job: Job
-}>()
-
-const store = useDownloadsStore()
-
-const isActive = computed(() => !store.isTerminal(props.job.status))
-
-const statusClass = computed(() => {
-  const map: Record<string, string> = {
-    queued: 'status-queued',
-    extracting: 'status-extracting',
-    downloading: 'status-downloading',
-    completed: 'status-completed',
-    failed: 'status-failed',
-    expired: 'status-expired',
-  }
-  return map[props.job.status] || ''
-})
-
-const displayName = computed(() => {
-  if (props.job.filename) {
-    // Show just the filename, not the full path
-    const parts = props.job.filename.replace(/\\/g, '/').split('/')
-    return parts[parts.length - 1]
-  }
-  // Truncate URL for display
-  try {
-    const u = new URL(props.job.url)
-    return `${u.hostname}${u.pathname}`.slice(0, 60)
-  } catch {
-    return props.job.url.slice(0, 60)
-  }
-})
-
-const showProgress = computed(() =>
-  props.job.status === 'downloading' || props.job.status === 'extracting',
-)
-
-const cancelling = ref(false)
-
-async function cancel(): Promise<void> {
-  if (cancelling.value) return
-  cancelling.value = true
-  try {
-    await store.cancelDownload(props.job.id)
-  } catch (err) {
-    console.error('[DownloadItem] Cancel failed:', err)
-  } finally {
-    cancelling.value = false
-  }
-}
-</script>
-
-<template>
-  <div class="download-item" :class="statusClass">
-    <div class="item-header">
-      <span class="item-name" :title="job.url">{{ displayName }}</span>
-      <span class="item-status">{{ job.status }}</span>
-    </div>
-
-    <ProgressBar
-      v-if="showProgress"
-      :percent="job.progress_percent"
-    />
-
-    <div class="item-details">
-      <span v-if="job.speed" class="detail-speed">{{ job.speed }}</span>
-      <span v-if="job.eta" class="detail-eta">ETA: {{ job.eta }}</span>
-      <span v-if="job.error_message" class="detail-error">{{ job.error_message }}</span>
-    </div>
-
-    <div class="item-actions">
-      <button
-        v-if="isActive"
-        class="btn-cancel"
-        :class="{ cancelling }"
-        :disabled="cancelling"
-        @click.stop="cancel"
-        title="Cancel download"
-      >
-        {{ cancelling ? '…' : '✕' }}
-      </button>
-    </div>
-  </div>
-</template>
-
-<style scoped>
-.download-item {
-  display: grid;
-  grid-template-columns: 1fr auto;
-  grid-template-rows: auto auto auto;
-  gap: var(--space-xs) var(--space-sm);
-  padding: var(--space-md);
-  background: var(--color-surface);
-  border: 1px solid var(--color-border);
-  border-radius: var(--radius-md);
-  border-left: 3px solid var(--color-border);
-}
-
-.download-item.status-queued { border-left-color: var(--color-text-muted); }
-.download-item.status-extracting { border-left-color: var(--color-warning); }
-.download-item.status-downloading { border-left-color: var(--color-accent); }
-.download-item.status-completed { border-left-color: var(--color-success); }
-.download-item.status-failed { border-left-color: var(--color-error); }
-.download-item.status-expired { border-left-color: var(--color-text-muted); }
-
-.item-header {
-  grid-column: 1 / -1;
-  display: flex;
-  justify-content: space-between;
-  align-items: center;
-  gap: var(--space-sm);
-}
-
-.item-name {
-  font-size: var(--font-size-base);
-  font-weight: 500;
-  overflow: hidden;
-  text-overflow: ellipsis;
-  white-space: nowrap;
-  min-width: 0;
-}
-
-.item-status {
-  font-size: var(--font-size-sm);
-  text-transform: uppercase;
-  letter-spacing: 0.05em;
-  color: var(--color-text-muted);
-  white-space: nowrap;
-}
-
-.item-details {
-  grid-column: 1;
-  display: flex;
-  gap: var(--space-md);
-  font-size: var(--font-size-sm);
-  color: var(--color-text-muted);
-  font-family: var(--font-mono);
-}
-
-.detail-error {
-  color: var(--color-error);
-  font-family: var(--font-ui);
-}
-
-.item-actions {
-  grid-column: 2;
-  grid-row: 2 / -1;
-  display: flex;
-  align-items: center;
-}
-
-.btn-cancel {
-  width: var(--touch-min);
-  height: var(--touch-min);
-  display: flex;
-  align-items: center;
-  justify-content: center;
-  background: transparent;
-  color: var(--color-text-muted);
-  border: 1px solid var(--color-border);
-  border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
-  font-size: var(--font-size-lg);
-  padding: 0;
-}
-
-.btn-cancel:hover {
-  color: var(--color-error);
-  border-color: var(--color-error);
-  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-error) 10%, transparent);
-}
-</style>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ThemePicker.vue b/frontend/src/components/ThemePicker.vue
deleted file mode 100644
index 64778af..0000000
--- a/frontend/src/components/ThemePicker.vue
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,105 +0,0 @@
-<script setup lang="ts">
-import { useThemeStore } from '@/stores/theme'
-
-const theme = useThemeStore()
-</script>
-
-<template>
-  <div class="theme-picker">
-    <button
-      v-for="t in theme.allThemes"
-      :key="t.id"
-      :class="['theme-btn', { active: theme.currentTheme === t.id }]"
-      :title="t.description || t.name"
-      @click="theme.setTheme(t.id)"
-    >
-      <span class="theme-dot" :data-preview="t.id"></span>
-      <span class="theme-name">{{ t.name }}</span>
-    </button>
-  </div>
-</template>
-
-<style scoped>
-.theme-picker {
-  display: flex;
-  gap: var(--space-xs);
-}
-
-.theme-btn {
-  display: flex;
-  align-items: center;
-  gap: var(--space-xs);
-  padding: var(--space-xs) var(--space-sm);
-  min-height: 32px;
-  background: transparent;
-  color: var(--color-text-muted);
-  border: 1px solid transparent;
-  border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
-  font-size: var(--font-size-sm);
-  cursor: pointer;
-  transition: all var(--transition-normal);
-}
-
-.theme-btn:hover {
-  color: var(--color-text);
-  border-color: var(--color-border);
-}
-
-.theme-btn.active {
-  color: var(--color-accent);
-  border-color: var(--color-accent);
-  background: color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-accent) 8%, transparent);
-}
-
-.theme-dot {
-  width: 12px;
-  height: 12px;
-  border-radius: var(--radius-full);
-  border: 1px solid var(--color-border);
-  flex-shrink: 0;
-}
-
-/* Preview dots show the theme's accent color */
-.theme-dot[data-preview="cyberpunk"] {
-  background: #00a8ff;
-  border-color: #00a8ff;
-}
-
-.theme-dot[data-preview="dark"] {
-  background: #a78bfa;
-  border-color: #a78bfa;
-}
-
-.theme-dot[data-preview="light"] {
-  background: #2563eb;
-  border-color: #2563eb;
-}
-
-/* Custom theme dots fall back to a generic style */
-.theme-dot:not([data-preview="cyberpunk"]):not([data-preview="dark"]):not([data-preview="light"]) {
-  background: var(--color-text-muted);
-}
-
-.theme-name {
-  white-space: nowrap;
-}
-
-/* On mobile, hide theme names — show only dots */
-@media (max-width: 768px) {
-  .theme-name {
-    display: none;
-  }
-
-  .theme-btn {
-    padding: var(--space-xs);
-    min-height: var(--touch-min);
-    min-width: var(--touch-min);
-    justify-content: center;
-  }
-
-  .theme-dot {
-    width: 16px;
-    height: 16px;
-  }
-}
-</style>
diff --git a/frontend/src/stores/admin.ts b/frontend/src/stores/admin.ts
index 7ddbb30..d62cc75 100644
--- a/frontend/src/stores/admin.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/stores/admin.ts
@@ -110,6 +110,23 @@ export const useAdminStore = defineStore('admin', () => {
     }
   }
 
+  async function updateSettings(data: Record<string, string>): Promise<boolean> {
+    isLoading.value = true
+    try {
+      const res = await fetch('/api/admin/settings', {
+        method: 'PUT',
+        headers: {
+          ..._authHeaders(),
+          'Content-Type': 'application/json',
+        },
+        body: JSON.stringify(data),
+      })
+      return res.ok
+    } finally {
+      isLoading.value = false
+    }
+  }
+
   return {
     username,
     isAuthenticated,
@@ -123,5 +140,6 @@ export const useAdminStore = defineStore('admin', () => {
     loadSessions,
     loadStorage,
     triggerPurge,
+    updateSettings,
   }
 })