diff --git a/src/frontend/src/api/hooks/useAdhocDownload.ts b/src/frontend/src/api/hooks/useAdhocDownload.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e4ef821
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/frontend/src/api/hooks/useAdhocDownload.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+import { useMutation } from '@tanstack/react-query';
+import { apiClient } from '../client';
+import type { ContentType } from '@shared/types/index';
+
+// ── Types ──
+
+export interface UrlPreviewResponse {
+  title: string;
+  thumbnail: string | null;
+  duration: number | null;
+  platform: string;
+  channelName: string | null;
+  contentType: ContentType;
+  platformContentId: string;
+  url: string;
+}
+
+interface ConfirmRequest {
+  url: string;
+  title: string;
+  platform: string;
+  platformContentId: string;
+  contentType: string;
+  channelName?: string;
+  duration?: number | null;
+  thumbnailUrl?: string | null;
+  formatProfileId?: number;
+}
+
+interface ConfirmResponse {
+  contentItemId: number;
+  queueItemId: number;
+  status: string;
+}
+
+// ── Mutations ──
+
+/** Resolve URL metadata via yt-dlp (preview step). */
+export function useUrlPreview() {
+  return useMutation({
+    mutationFn: (url: string) =>
+      apiClient.post<UrlPreviewResponse>('/api/v1/download/url/preview', { url }),
+  });
+}
+
+/** Confirm ad-hoc download — creates content item and enqueues. */
+export function useUrlConfirm() {
+  return useMutation({
+    mutationFn: (data: ConfirmRequest) =>
+      apiClient.post<ConfirmResponse>('/api/v1/download/url/confirm', data),
+  });
+}
diff --git a/src/frontend/src/components/AddUrlModal.tsx b/src/frontend/src/components/AddUrlModal.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8dd56b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/frontend/src/components/AddUrlModal.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,425 @@
+import { useState, useCallback } from 'react';
+import { Modal } from './Modal';
+import { useUrlPreview, useUrlConfirm } from '../api/hooks/useAdhocDownload';
+import { useFormatProfiles } from '../api/hooks/useFormatProfiles';
+import { useToast } from './Toast';
+import { Loader, Download, Clock, Film, Music, Radio } from 'lucide-react';
+import type { UrlPreviewResponse } from '../api/hooks/useAdhocDownload';
+
+// ── Helpers ──
+
+function formatDuration(seconds: number | null): string {
+  if (seconds === null || seconds <= 0) return '—';
+  const h = Math.floor(seconds / 3600);
+  const m = Math.floor((seconds % 3600) / 60);
+  const s = seconds % 60;
+  if (h > 0) return `${h}:${String(m).padStart(2, '0')}:${String(s).padStart(2, '0')}`;
+  return `${m}:${String(s).padStart(2, '0')}`;
+}
+
+const PLATFORM_LABELS: Record<string, string> = {
+  youtube: 'YouTube',
+  soundcloud: 'SoundCloud',
+  generic: 'Generic',
+};
+
+function ContentTypeIcon({ type }: { type: string }) {
+  switch (type) {
+    case 'video':
+      return <Film size={14} aria-hidden="true" />;
+    case 'audio':
+      return <Music size={14} aria-hidden="true" />;
+    case 'livestream':
+      return <Radio size={14} aria-hidden="true" />;
+    default:
+      return <Film size={14} aria-hidden="true" />;
+  }
+}
+
+// ── Component ──
+
+interface AddUrlModalProps {
+  open: boolean;
+  onClose: () => void;
+}
+
+export function AddUrlModal({ open, onClose }: AddUrlModalProps) {
+  const [url, setUrl] = useState('');
+  const [formatProfileId, setFormatProfileId] = useState<number | undefined>(undefined);
+  const [preview, setPreview] = useState<UrlPreviewResponse | null>(null);
+
+  const urlPreview = useUrlPreview();
+  const urlConfirm = useUrlConfirm();
+  const { data: formatProfiles } = useFormatProfiles();
+  const { toast } = useToast();
+
+  const resetForm = useCallback(() => {
+    setUrl('');
+    setFormatProfileId(undefined);
+    setPreview(null);
+    urlPreview.reset();
+    urlConfirm.reset();
+  }, [urlPreview, urlConfirm]);
+
+  const handleClose = useCallback(() => {
+    if (!urlPreview.isPending && !urlConfirm.isPending) {
+      resetForm();
+      onClose();
+    }
+  }, [urlPreview.isPending, urlConfirm.isPending, resetForm, onClose]);
+
+  const handlePreview = useCallback(
+    (e: React.FormEvent) => {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      if (!url.trim()) return;
+
+      urlConfirm.reset();
+      urlPreview.mutate(url.trim(), {
+        onSuccess: (data) => {
+          setPreview(data);
+        },
+      });
+    },
+    [url, urlPreview, urlConfirm],
+  );
+
+  const handleConfirm = useCallback(() => {
+    if (!preview) return;
+
+    urlConfirm.mutate(
+      {
+        url: preview.url,
+        title: preview.title,
+        platform: preview.platform,
+        platformContentId: preview.platformContentId,
+        contentType: preview.contentType,
+        channelName: preview.channelName ?? undefined,
+        duration: preview.duration,
+        thumbnailUrl: preview.thumbnail,
+        formatProfileId,
+      },
+      {
+        onSuccess: () => {
+          toast('Download queued', 'success');
+          resetForm();
+          onClose();
+        },
+      },
+    );
+  }, [preview, formatProfileId, urlConfirm, toast, resetForm, onClose]);
+
+  const handleBack = useCallback(() => {
+    setPreview(null);
+    urlPreview.reset();
+    urlConfirm.reset();
+  }, [urlPreview, urlConfirm]);
+
+  const isPending = urlPreview.isPending || urlConfirm.isPending;
+
+  return (
+    <Modal title="Download URL" open={open} onClose={handleClose} width={520}>
+      {!preview ? (
+        /* ── Step 1: URL input ── */
+        <form onSubmit={handlePreview}>
+          <div style={{ marginBottom: 'var(--space-4)' }}>
+            <label
+              htmlFor="adhoc-url"
+              style={{
+                display: 'block',
+                marginBottom: 'var(--space-1)',
+                fontSize: 'var(--font-size-sm)',
+                fontWeight: 500,
+                color: 'var(--text-secondary)',
+              }}
+            >
+              Paste a video or audio URL
+            </label>
+            <input
+              id="adhoc-url"
+              type="url"
+              value={url}
+              onChange={(e) => setUrl(e.target.value)}
+              placeholder="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=..."
+              required
+              disabled={isPending}
+              style={{ width: '100%' }}
+              autoFocus
+            />
+          </div>
+
+          {/* Error display */}
+          {urlPreview.isError && (
+            <div
+              role="alert"
+              style={{
+                padding: 'var(--space-3)',
+                marginBottom: 'var(--space-4)',
+                backgroundColor: 'var(--danger-bg)',
+                border: '1px solid var(--danger)',
+                borderRadius: 'var(--radius-md)',
+                fontSize: 'var(--font-size-sm)',
+                color: 'var(--danger)',
+              }}
+            >
+              {urlPreview.error instanceof Error
+                ? urlPreview.error.message
+                : 'Failed to resolve URL'}
+            </div>
+          )}
+
+          {/* Actions */}
+          <div style={{ display: 'flex', justifyContent: 'flex-end', gap: 'var(--space-3)' }}>
+            <button
+              type="button"
+              onClick={handleClose}
+              disabled={isPending}
+              style={{
+                padding: 'var(--space-2) var(--space-4)',
+                borderRadius: 'var(--radius-md)',
+                backgroundColor: 'var(--bg-hover)',
+                color: 'var(--text-secondary)',
+                fontSize: 'var(--font-size-sm)',
+                fontWeight: 500,
+              }}
+            >
+              Cancel
+            </button>
+            <button
+              type="submit"
+              disabled={!url.trim() || isPending}
+              style={{
+                display: 'inline-flex',
+                alignItems: 'center',
+                gap: 'var(--space-2)',
+                padding: 'var(--space-2) var(--space-4)',
+                borderRadius: 'var(--radius-md)',
+                backgroundColor: 'var(--accent)',
+                color: 'var(--text-inverse)',
+                fontSize: 'var(--font-size-sm)',
+                fontWeight: 600,
+                opacity: !url.trim() || isPending ? 0.6 : 1,
+              }}
+            >
+              {urlPreview.isPending && (
+                <Loader size={14} style={{ animation: 'spin 1s linear infinite' }} aria-hidden="true" />
+              )}
+              {urlPreview.isPending ? 'Resolving…' : 'Preview'}
+            </button>
+          </div>
+        </form>
+      ) : (
+        /* ── Step 2: Preview & confirm ── */
+        <div>
+          {/* Preview card */}
+          <div
+            style={{
+              display: 'flex',
+              gap: 'var(--space-4)',
+              padding: 'var(--space-4)',
+              backgroundColor: 'var(--bg-hover)',
+              borderRadius: 'var(--radius-md)',
+              marginBottom: 'var(--space-4)',
+            }}
+          >
+            {/* Thumbnail */}
+            {preview.thumbnail ? (
+              <img
+                src={preview.thumbnail}
+                alt=""
+                style={{
+                  width: 160,
+                  height: 90,
+                  objectFit: 'cover',
+                  borderRadius: 'var(--radius-sm)',
+                  flexShrink: 0,
+                  backgroundColor: 'var(--bg-card)',
+                }}
+              />
+            ) : (
+              <div
+                style={{
+                  width: 160,
+                  height: 90,
+                  borderRadius: 'var(--radius-sm)',
+                  flexShrink: 0,
+                  backgroundColor: 'var(--bg-card)',
+                  display: 'flex',
+                  alignItems: 'center',
+                  justifyContent: 'center',
+                }}
+              >
+                <ContentTypeIcon type={preview.contentType} />
+              </div>
+            )}
+
+            {/* Metadata */}
+            <div style={{ flex: 1, minWidth: 0 }}>
+              <h3
+                style={{
+                  margin: 0,
+                  fontSize: 'var(--font-size-base)',
+                  fontWeight: 600,
+                  color: 'var(--text-primary)',
+                  lineHeight: 1.3,
+                  overflow: 'hidden',
+                  textOverflow: 'ellipsis',
+                  display: '-webkit-box',
+                  WebkitLineClamp: 2,
+                  WebkitBoxOrient: 'vertical',
+                }}
+              >
+                {preview.title}
+              </h3>
+
+              {preview.channelName && (
+                <div
+                  style={{
+                    marginTop: 'var(--space-1)',
+                    fontSize: 'var(--font-size-sm)',
+                    color: 'var(--text-muted)',
+                  }}
+                >
+                  {preview.channelName}
+                </div>
+              )}
+
+              <div
+                style={{
+                  display: 'flex',
+                  alignItems: 'center',
+                  gap: 'var(--space-3)',
+                  marginTop: 'var(--space-2)',
+                  fontSize: 'var(--font-size-sm)',
+                  color: 'var(--text-muted)',
+                }}
+              >
+                <span
+                  style={{
+                    display: 'inline-flex',
+                    alignItems: 'center',
+                    gap: 'var(--space-1)',
+                  }}
+                >
+                  <ContentTypeIcon type={preview.contentType} />
+                  {preview.contentType}
+                </span>
+
+                {preview.duration !== null && (
+                  <span
+                    style={{
+                      display: 'inline-flex',
+                      alignItems: 'center',
+                      gap: 'var(--space-1)',
+                    }}
+                  >
+                    <Clock size={14} aria-hidden="true" />
+                    {formatDuration(preview.duration)}
+                  </span>
+                )}
+
+                <span>{PLATFORM_LABELS[preview.platform] ?? preview.platform}</span>
+              </div>
+            </div>
+          </div>
+
+          {/* Format profile selector */}
+          {formatProfiles && formatProfiles.length > 0 && (
+            <div style={{ marginBottom: 'var(--space-4)' }}>
+              <label
+                htmlFor="adhoc-format-profile"
+                style={{
+                  display: 'block',
+                  marginBottom: 'var(--space-1)',
+                  fontSize: 'var(--font-size-sm)',
+                  fontWeight: 500,
+                  color: 'var(--text-secondary)',
+                }}
+              >
+                Format Profile
+              </label>
+              <select
+                id="adhoc-format-profile"
+                value={formatProfileId ?? ''}
+                onChange={(e) =>
+                  setFormatProfileId(e.target.value ? Number(e.target.value) : undefined)
+                }
+                disabled={isPending}
+                style={{ width: '100%' }}
+              >
+                <option value="">None (use default)</option>
+                {formatProfiles.map((fp) => (
+                  <option key={fp.id} value={fp.id}>
+                    {fp.name}
+                  </option>
+                ))}
+              </select>
+            </div>
+          )}
+
+          {/* Error display */}
+          {urlConfirm.isError && (
+            <div
+              role="alert"
+              style={{
+                padding: 'var(--space-3)',
+                marginBottom: 'var(--space-4)',
+                backgroundColor: 'var(--danger-bg)',
+                border: '1px solid var(--danger)',
+                borderRadius: 'var(--radius-md)',
+                fontSize: 'var(--font-size-sm)',
+                color: 'var(--danger)',
+              }}
+            >
+              {urlConfirm.error instanceof Error
+                ? urlConfirm.error.message
+                : 'Failed to start download'}
+            </div>
+          )}
+
+          {/* Actions */}
+          <div style={{ display: 'flex', justifyContent: 'flex-end', gap: 'var(--space-3)' }}>
+            <button
+              type="button"
+              onClick={handleBack}
+              disabled={isPending}
+              style={{
+                padding: 'var(--space-2) var(--space-4)',
+                borderRadius: 'var(--radius-md)',
+                backgroundColor: 'var(--bg-hover)',
+                color: 'var(--text-secondary)',
+                fontSize: 'var(--font-size-sm)',
+                fontWeight: 500,
+              }}
+            >
+              Back
+            </button>
+            <button
+              type="button"
+              onClick={handleConfirm}
+              disabled={isPending}
+              style={{
+                display: 'inline-flex',
+                alignItems: 'center',
+                gap: 'var(--space-2)',
+                padding: 'var(--space-2) var(--space-4)',
+                borderRadius: 'var(--radius-md)',
+                backgroundColor: 'var(--accent)',
+                color: 'var(--text-inverse)',
+                fontSize: 'var(--font-size-sm)',
+                fontWeight: 600,
+                opacity: isPending ? 0.6 : 1,
+              }}
+            >
+              {urlConfirm.isPending ? (
+                <Loader size={14} style={{ animation: 'spin 1s linear infinite' }} aria-hidden="true" />
+              ) : (
+                <Download size={14} aria-hidden="true" />
+              )}
+              {urlConfirm.isPending ? 'Queuing…' : 'Download'}
+            </button>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+      )}
+    </Modal>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/src/frontend/src/components/Sidebar.tsx b/src/frontend/src/components/Sidebar.tsx
index 3c9b06c..294bd3f 100644
--- a/src/frontend/src/components/Sidebar.tsx
+++ b/src/frontend/src/components/Sidebar.tsx
@@ -8,10 +8,12 @@ import {
   Server,
   ChevronLeft,
   ChevronRight,
+  Link2,
 } from 'lucide-react';
 import { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
 import { TubearrLogo } from './TubearrLogo';
 import { useDownloadProgressConnection } from '../contexts/DownloadProgressContext';
+import { AddUrlModal } from './AddUrlModal';
 
 const NAV_ITEMS = [
   { to: '/', icon: Radio, label: 'Channels' },
@@ -24,6 +26,7 @@ const NAV_ITEMS = [
 
 export function Sidebar() {
   const wsConnected = useDownloadProgressConnection();
+  const [showAddUrl, setShowAddUrl] = useState(false);
   const [collapsed, setCollapsed] = useState(() => {
     try {
       return localStorage.getItem('tubearr-sidebar-collapsed') === 'true';
@@ -129,6 +132,38 @@ export function Sidebar() {
         ))}
       </div>
 
+      {/* Add URL button */}
+      <div
+        style={{
+          padding: collapsed ? 'var(--space-2) var(--space-2)' : 'var(--space-2) var(--space-3)',
+          borderTop: '1px solid var(--border)',
+        }}
+      >
+        <button
+          onClick={() => setShowAddUrl(true)}
+          title={collapsed ? 'Download URL' : undefined}
+          style={{
+            display: 'flex',
+            alignItems: 'center',
+            gap: 'var(--space-2)',
+            width: '100%',
+            padding: `var(--space-2) ${collapsed ? 'var(--space-2)' : 'var(--space-3)'}`,
+            borderRadius: 'var(--radius-md)',
+            backgroundColor: 'var(--accent)',
+            color: 'var(--text-inverse)',
+            fontSize: 'var(--font-size-sm)',
+            fontWeight: 600,
+            border: 'none',
+            cursor: 'pointer',
+            justifyContent: collapsed ? 'center' : 'flex-start',
+            transition: 'opacity var(--transition-fast)',
+          }}
+        >
+          <Link2 size={16} style={{ flexShrink: 0 }} />
+          {!collapsed && <span>Add URL</span>}
+        </button>
+      </div>
+
       {/* WebSocket connection status */}
       <div
         style={{
@@ -163,6 +198,8 @@ export function Sidebar() {
           </span>
         )}
       </div>
+
+      <AddUrlModal open={showAddUrl} onClose={() => setShowAddUrl(false)} />
     </nav>
   );
 }