diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 2d66b2f..97a1565 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -2077,6 +2077,7 @@ checksum = "e3e0adef53c21f888deb4fa59fc59f7eb17404926ee8a6f59f5df0fd7f9f3272"
 dependencies = [
  "bitflags 2.13.1",
  "block2",
+ "libc",
  "objc2",
  "objc2-core-foundation",
 ]
@@ -2534,6 +2535,8 @@ dependencies = [
  "serde_json",
  "tauri",
  "tauri-build",
+ "tauri-plugin-dialog",
+ "walkdir",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -2580,6 +2583,30 @@ dependencies = [
  "web-sys",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "rfd"
+version = "0.16.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "a15ad77d9e70a92437d8f74c35d99b4e4691128df018833e99f90bcd36152672"
+dependencies = [
+ "block2",
+ "dispatch2",
+ "glib-sys",
+ "gobject-sys",
+ "gtk-sys",
+ "js-sys",
+ "log",
+ "objc2",
+ "objc2-app-kit",
+ "objc2-core-foundation",
+ "objc2-foundation",
+ "raw-window-handle",
+ "wasm-bindgen",
+ "wasm-bindgen-futures",
+ "web-sys",
+ "windows-sys 0.60.2",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "rhai"
 version = "1.26.0"
@@ -3288,6 +3315,64 @@ dependencies = [
  "tauri-utils",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "tauri-plugin"
+version = "2.6.3"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "74be5dd4bed9afbd145e5716b5fa2ec28cbc29c34ffa61c258c9273d896c8020"
+dependencies = [
+ "anyhow",
+ "glob",
+ "plist",
+ "schemars 0.8.22",
+ "serde",
+ "serde_json",
+ "tauri-utils",
+ "walkdir",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "tauri-plugin-dialog"
+version = "2.7.2"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "b2d3c1dbe38037e7f590cdf2492594d5ceebe031e7bc7e827509b22a999d2940"
+dependencies = [
+ "log",
+ "raw-window-handle",
+ "rfd",
+ "serde",
+ "serde_json",
+ "tauri",
+ "tauri-plugin",
+ "tauri-plugin-fs",
+ "thiserror 2.0.20",
+ "url",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "tauri-plugin-fs"
+version = "2.5.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "b7ecc274121aca0c036a2b42d1cbe83d368d348f54e0bb8a735c2b1548e8f371"
+dependencies = [
+ "anyhow",
+ "dunce",
+ "glob",
+ "log",
+ "objc2-foundation",
+ "percent-encoding",
+ "schemars 0.8.22",
+ "serde",
+ "serde_json",
+ "serde_repr",
+ "tauri",
+ "tauri-plugin",
+ "tauri-utils",
+ "thiserror 2.0.20",
+ "toml 1.1.4+spec-1.1.0",
+ "url",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "tauri-runtime"
 version = "2.11.3"
@@ -4303,6 +4388,15 @@ dependencies = [
  "windows-targets 0.52.6",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "windows-sys"
+version = "0.60.2"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "f2f500e4d28234f72040990ec9d39e3a6b950f9f22d3dba18416c35882612bcb"
+dependencies = [
+ "windows-targets 0.53.5",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "windows-sys"
 version = "0.61.2"
@@ -4336,13 +4430,30 @@ dependencies = [
  "windows_aarch64_gnullvm 0.52.6",
  "windows_aarch64_msvc 0.52.6",
  "windows_i686_gnu 0.52.6",
- "windows_i686_gnullvm",
+ "windows_i686_gnullvm 0.52.6",
  "windows_i686_msvc 0.52.6",
  "windows_x86_64_gnu 0.52.6",
  "windows_x86_64_gnullvm 0.52.6",
  "windows_x86_64_msvc 0.52.6",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "windows-targets"
+version = "0.53.5"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "4945f9f551b88e0d65f3db0bc25c33b8acea4d9e41163edf90dcd0b19f9069f3"
+dependencies = [
+ "windows-link 0.2.1",
+ "windows_aarch64_gnullvm 0.53.1",
+ "windows_aarch64_msvc 0.53.1",
+ "windows_i686_gnu 0.53.1",
+ "windows_i686_gnullvm 0.53.1",
+ "windows_i686_msvc 0.53.1",
+ "windows_x86_64_gnu 0.53.1",
+ "windows_x86_64_gnullvm 0.53.1",
+ "windows_x86_64_msvc 0.53.1",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "windows-threading"
 version = "0.1.0"
@@ -4373,6 +4484,12 @@ version = "0.52.6"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "32a4622180e7a0ec044bb555404c800bc9fd9ec262ec147edd5989ccd0c02cd3"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "windows_aarch64_gnullvm"
+version = "0.53.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "a9d8416fa8b42f5c947f8482c43e7d89e73a173cead56d044f6a56104a6d1b53"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "windows_aarch64_msvc"
 version = "0.42.2"
@@ -4385,6 +4502,12 @@ version = "0.52.6"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "09ec2a7bb152e2252b53fa7803150007879548bc709c039df7627cabbd05d469"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "windows_aarch64_msvc"
+version = "0.53.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "b9d782e804c2f632e395708e99a94275910eb9100b2114651e04744e9b125006"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "windows_i686_gnu"
 version = "0.42.2"
@@ -4397,12 +4520,24 @@ version = "0.52.6"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "8e9b5ad5ab802e97eb8e295ac6720e509ee4c243f69d781394014ebfe8bbfa0b"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "windows_i686_gnu"
+version = "0.53.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "960e6da069d81e09becb0ca57a65220ddff016ff2d6af6a223cf372a506593a3"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "windows_i686_gnullvm"
 version = "0.52.6"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "0eee52d38c090b3caa76c563b86c3a4bd71ef1a819287c19d586d7334ae8ed66"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "windows_i686_gnullvm"
+version = "0.53.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "fa7359d10048f68ab8b09fa71c3daccfb0e9b559aed648a8f95469c27057180c"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "windows_i686_msvc"
 version = "0.42.2"
@@ -4415,6 +4550,12 @@ version = "0.52.6"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "240948bc05c5e7c6dabba28bf89d89ffce3e303022809e73deaefe4f6ec56c66"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "windows_i686_msvc"
+version = "0.53.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "1e7ac75179f18232fe9c285163565a57ef8d3c89254a30685b57d83a38d326c2"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "windows_x86_64_gnu"
 version = "0.42.2"
@@ -4427,6 +4568,12 @@ version = "0.52.6"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "147a5c80aabfbf0c7d901cb5895d1de30ef2907eb21fbbab29ca94c5b08b1a78"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "windows_x86_64_gnu"
+version = "0.53.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "9c3842cdd74a865a8066ab39c8a7a473c0778a3f29370b5fd6b4b9aa7df4a499"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "windows_x86_64_gnullvm"
 version = "0.42.2"
@@ -4439,6 +4586,12 @@ version = "0.52.6"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "24d5b23dc417412679681396f2b49f3de8c1473deb516bd34410872eff51ed0d"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "windows_x86_64_gnullvm"
+version = "0.53.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "0ffa179e2d07eee8ad8f57493436566c7cc30ac536a3379fdf008f47f6bb7ae1"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "windows_x86_64_msvc"
 version = "0.42.2"
@@ -4451,6 +4604,12 @@ version = "0.52.6"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "589f6da84c646204747d1270a2a5661ea66ed1cced2631d546fdfb155959f9ec"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "windows_x86_64_msvc"
+version = "0.53.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "d6bbff5f0aada427a1e5a6da5f1f98158182f26556f345ac9e04d36d0ebed650"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "winnow"
 version = "0.5.40"
diff --git a/src-tauri/Cargo.toml b/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
index d3c2627..cf1c6cf 100644
--- a/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
+++ b/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
@@ -14,5 +14,7 @@ tauri-build = { version = "2", features = [] }
 [dependencies]
 renamr-core = { path = "../crates/renamr-core" }
 tauri = { version = "2", features = [] }
+tauri-plugin-dialog = "2"
 serde = { version = "1", features = ["derive"] }
 serde_json = "1"
+walkdir = "2"
diff --git a/src-tauri/capabilities/default.json b/src-tauri/capabilities/default.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a373edd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src-tauri/capabilities/default.json
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+{
+  "$schema": "../gen/schemas/desktop-schema.json",
+  "identifier": "default",
+  "description": "Default permissions for Renamr's main window.",
+  "windows": ["main"],
+  "permissions": ["core:default", "dialog:default"]
+}
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/files.rs b/src-tauri/src/files.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..981f37c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src-tauri/src/files.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+use serde::Serialize;
+use std::path::Path;
+use tauri::AppHandle;
+use tauri_plugin_dialog::DialogExt;
+use walkdir::WalkDir;
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize)]
+pub struct FileEntry {
+    pub path: String,
+    pub name: String,
+    pub ext: String,
+}
+
+fn is_hidden(path: &Path) -> bool {
+    path.file_name()
+        .and_then(|n| n.to_str())
+        .map(|n| n.starts_with('.'))
+        .unwrap_or(false)
+}
+
+fn to_file_entry(path: &Path) -> FileEntry {
+    let name = path
+        .file_stem()
+        .map(|s| s.to_string_lossy().to_string())
+        .unwrap_or_else(|| path.to_string_lossy().to_string());
+    let ext = path
+        .extension()
+        .map(|s| s.to_string_lossy().to_lowercase())
+        .unwrap_or_default();
+
+    FileEntry {
+        path: path.to_string_lossy().to_string(),
+        name,
+        ext,
+    }
+}
+
+/// Expands a list of dropped/selected paths into the individual files they contain.
+/// Directories are walked recursively (this is how a user dropping a whole show/season
+/// folder ends up with every episode file listed); hidden files/dirs are skipped.
+fn expand(paths: &[String]) -> Vec<FileEntry> {
+    let mut out = Vec::new();
+    let mut seen = std::collections::HashSet::new();
+
+    for raw in paths {
+        let path = Path::new(raw);
+
+        if path.is_dir() {
+            for entry in WalkDir::new(path)
+                .into_iter()
+                .filter_entry(|e| !is_hidden(e.path()) || e.path() == path)
+                .filter_map(|e| e.ok())
+            {
+                if entry.file_type().is_file() {
+                    let full = entry.path().to_string_lossy().to_string();
+                    if seen.insert(full) {
+                        out.push(to_file_entry(entry.path()));
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        } else if path.is_file() {
+            let full = path.to_string_lossy().to_string();
+            if seen.insert(full) {
+                out.push(to_file_entry(path));
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    out.sort_by(|a, b| a.name.to_lowercase().cmp(&b.name.to_lowercase()));
+    out
+}
+
+/// Native "Select Files" dialog, mirroring the original's Load Files button.
+#[tauri::command]
+pub fn pick_files(app: AppHandle) -> Vec<FileEntry> {
+    let selection = app.dialog().file().blocking_pick_files();
+    let paths: Vec<String> = selection
+        .into_iter()
+        .flatten()
+        .filter_map(|f| f.into_path().ok())
+        .map(|p| p.to_string_lossy().to_string())
+        .collect();
+    expand(&paths)
+}
+
+/// Native "Select Folders" dialog; the folder's contents are expanded recursively.
+#[tauri::command]
+pub fn pick_folder(app: AppHandle) -> Vec<FileEntry> {
+    let selection = app.dialog().file().blocking_pick_folder();
+    let paths: Vec<String> = selection
+        .into_iter()
+        .filter_map(|f| f.into_path().ok())
+        .map(|p| p.to_string_lossy().to_string())
+        .collect();
+    expand(&paths)
+}
+
+/// Expands paths dropped onto the window (files and/or folders) into their files.
+#[tauri::command]
+pub fn expand_dropped_paths(paths: Vec<String>) -> Vec<FileEntry> {
+    expand(&paths)
+}
diff --git a/src-tauri/src/lib.rs b/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
index a49b4a3..84e9d49 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+mod files;
+
 use renamr_core::format::ExpressionFormat;
 use renamr_core::string_bindings;
 use std::collections::HashMap;
@@ -16,7 +18,13 @@ fn render_expression(expression: String, bindings: HashMap<String, String>) -> R
 #[cfg_attr(mobile, tauri::mobile_entry_point)]
 pub fn run() {
     tauri::Builder::default()
-        .invoke_handler(tauri::generate_handler![render_expression])
+        .plugin(tauri_plugin_dialog::init())
+        .invoke_handler(tauri::generate_handler![
+            render_expression,
+            files::pick_files,
+            files::pick_folder,
+            files::expand_dropped_paths,
+        ])
         .run(tauri::generate_context!())
         .expect("error while running Renamr");
 }
diff --git a/src/components/RenamePanel.css b/src/components/RenamePanel.css
index 69be025..ea4e22f 100644
--- a/src/components/RenamePanel.css
+++ b/src/components/RenamePanel.css
@@ -120,6 +120,52 @@
   background: #28515a;
 }
 
+.load-menu {
+  position: relative;
+  display: inline-flex;
+}
+
+.load-menu-popup {
+  position: absolute;
+  bottom: calc(100% + 6px);
+  left: 0;
+  z-index: 10;
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  min-width: 150px;
+  padding: 4px;
+  background: #16262d;
+  border: 1px solid var(--surface-deep);
+  border-radius: 10px;
+  box-shadow: 0 8px 24px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.35);
+}
+
+.load-menu-popup button {
+  all: unset;
+  box-sizing: border-box;
+  padding: 8px 10px;
+  border-radius: 6px;
+  font-size: 12px;
+  color: var(--text);
+  cursor: pointer;
+  white-space: nowrap;
+}
+
+.load-menu-popup button:hover {
+  background: var(--surface-deep);
+}
+
+.list-empty-hint {
+  flex: 1;
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  text-align: center;
+  padding: 24px;
+  color: var(--muted-text);
+  font-size: 12px;
+}
+
 .rename-actions {
   display: flex;
   flex-direction: column;
diff --git a/src/components/RenamePanel.tsx b/src/components/RenamePanel.tsx
index 20629f9..0c32f0c 100644
--- a/src/components/RenamePanel.tsx
+++ b/src/components/RenamePanel.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useEffect, useMemo, useState, type ReactNode } from "react";
+import { useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState, type ReactNode } from "react";
 import { invoke } from "@tauri-apps/api/core";
 import {
   ClearIcon,
@@ -12,44 +12,71 @@ import {
   UpIcon,
 } from "./Icons";
 
-interface SampleItem {
+interface Item {
   id: string;
   originalName: string;
   ext: string;
-  bindings: Record<string, string> | null; // null = no match (rendered muted, like the original)
+  bindings: Record<string, string> | null; // null = no data to preview with (rendered muted)
+  isSample: boolean;
 }
 
-// Placeholder sample batch standing in for a real folder scan + online match, which
-// aren't ported yet (see the porting roadmap). This is enough to show the two-list
-// layout, selection sync, and live naming-scheme preview working end-to-end.
-const SAMPLE_ITEMS: SampleItem[] = [
+interface FileEntry {
+  path: string;
+  name: string; // filename without extension
+  ext: string;
+}
+
+// Shown until the user loads real files, so the two-pane layout and live naming-scheme
+// preview are visible immediately. Item 4 demonstrates the "no data" muted row style.
+// This is what full metadata-matched renaming will look like once the matching engine
+// (see the porting roadmap) is ported — real loaded files use their own filename fields
+// instead (see realFileBindings below) since there's no online identification yet.
+const SAMPLE_ITEMS: Item[] = [
   {
-    id: "1",
+    id: "sample-1",
     originalName: "Breaking.Bad.S05E14.720p.HDTV.x264-KILLERS.mkv",
     ext: "mkv",
     bindings: { n: "Breaking Bad", s00e00: "S05E14", t: "Ozymandias" },
+    isSample: true,
   },
   {
-    id: "2",
+    id: "sample-2",
     originalName: "Breaking.Bad.S05E15.720p.HDTV.x264-KILLERS.mkv",
     ext: "mkv",
     bindings: { n: "Breaking Bad", s00e00: "S05E15", t: "Granite State" },
+    isSample: true,
   },
   {
-    id: "3",
+    id: "sample-3",
     originalName: "The.Office.US.S03E01.DVDRip.XviD-SAiNTS.avi",
     ext: "avi",
     bindings: { n: "The Office (US)", s00e00: "S03E01", t: "Gay Witch Hunt" },
+    isSample: true,
   },
   {
-    id: "4",
+    id: "sample-4",
     originalName: "random_video_file.mp4",
     ext: "mp4",
     bindings: null,
+    isSample: true,
   },
 ];
 
-const DEFAULT_EXPRESSION = "{n} - {s00e00} - {t}";
+const SAMPLE_EXPRESSION = "{n} - {s00e00} - {t}";
+// The matching engine isn't ported yet, so real loaded files only have their own
+// filename-derived fields to preview with (mirrors the original's plain FileNameFormatter,
+// used whenever a file has no online match).
+const REAL_FILE_EXPRESSION = "{name}";
+
+function realFileToItem(entry: FileEntry): Item {
+  return {
+    id: entry.path,
+    originalName: entry.ext ? `${entry.name}.${entry.ext}` : entry.name,
+    ext: entry.ext,
+    bindings: { name: entry.name, ext: entry.ext },
+    isSample: false,
+  };
+}
 
 function ListButton({
   icon,
@@ -67,29 +94,73 @@ function ListButton({
   );
 }
 
+function LoadMenuButton({ onFiles, onFolder }: { onFiles: () => void; onFolder: () => void }) {
+  const [open, setOpen] = useState(false);
+  const ref = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!open) return;
+    const onOutside = (e: MouseEvent) => {
+      if (ref.current && !ref.current.contains(e.target as Node)) setOpen(false);
+    };
+    document.addEventListener("mousedown", onOutside);
+    return () => document.removeEventListener("mousedown", onOutside);
+  }, [open]);
+
+  return (
+    <div className="load-menu" ref={ref}>
+      <ListButton icon={<LoadIcon />} label="Load Files" onClick={() => setOpen((v) => !v)} />
+      {open && (
+        <div className="load-menu-popup">
+          <button
+            onClick={() => {
+              setOpen(false);
+              onFiles();
+            }}
+          >
+            Select Files…
+          </button>
+          <button
+            onClick={() => {
+              setOpen(false);
+              onFolder();
+            }}
+          >
+            Select Folder…
+          </button>
+        </div>
+      )}
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
 export default function RenamePanel() {
-  const [expression, setExpression] = useState(DEFAULT_EXPRESSION);
+  const [expression, setExpression] = useState(SAMPLE_EXPRESSION);
   const [editingFormat, setEditingFormat] = useState(false);
+  const [items, setItems] = useState<Item[]>(SAMPLE_ITEMS);
   const [selected, setSelected] = useState<string | null>(SAMPLE_ITEMS[0].id);
   const [computedNames, setComputedNames] = useState<Record<string, string>>({});
   const [computeError, setComputeError] = useState<string | null>(null);
   const [status, setStatus] = useState<string | null>(null);
 
+  // Refs so the drag-and-drop listener (registered once on mount) always sees the
+  // latest expression/items instead of the stale values from its first render.
+  const expressionRef = useRef(expression);
+  useEffect(() => {
+    expressionRef.current = expression;
+  }, [expression]);
+
   useEffect(() => {
     let cancelled = false;
 
     Promise.all(
-      SAMPLE_ITEMS.map(async (item) => {
+      items.map(async (item) => {
         if (!item.bindings) return [item.id, null] as const;
-        try {
-          const rendered = await invoke<string>("render_expression", {
-            expression,
-            bindings: item.bindings,
-          });
-          return [item.id, `${rendered}.${item.ext}`] as const;
-        } catch (err) {
-          throw err;
-        }
+        const rendered = await invoke<string>("render_expression", {
+          expression,
+          bindings: item.bindings,
+        });
+        return [item.id, `${rendered}${item.ext ? `.${item.ext}` : ""}`] as const;
       })
     )
       .then((entries) => {
@@ -109,7 +180,7 @@ export default function RenamePanel() {
     return () => {
       cancelled = true;
     };
-  }, [expression]);
+  }, [expression, items]);
 
   const notImplemented = (feature: string) => {
     setStatus(`${feature} isn't implemented yet — see the porting roadmap in the README.`);
@@ -117,31 +188,128 @@ export default function RenamePanel() {
     (notImplemented as any)._t = window.setTimeout(() => setStatus(null), 3200);
   };
 
-  const matchedCount = useMemo(() => SAMPLE_ITEMS.filter((i) => i.bindings).length, []);
+  const addRealFiles = (entries: FileEntry[]) => {
+    if (entries.length === 0) return;
+
+    // Only auto-switch the naming scheme the first time real files replace the demo,
+    // and only if the user hasn't already customized it.
+    if (expressionRef.current === SAMPLE_EXPRESSION) {
+      setExpression(REAL_FILE_EXPRESSION);
+    }
+
+    setItems((prev) => {
+      const real = prev.filter((i) => !i.isSample);
+      const existing = new Set(real.map((i) => i.id));
+      const added = entries.map(realFileToItem).filter((i) => !existing.has(i.id));
+      const next = [...real, ...added];
+      if (added.length > 0) setSelected(added[0].id);
+      return next;
+    });
+  };
+
+  const loadFiles = () => {
+    invoke<FileEntry[]>("pick_files")
+      .then(addRealFiles)
+      .catch((err) => setStatus(`Couldn't open the file picker: ${err}`));
+  };
+
+  const loadFolder = () => {
+    invoke<FileEntry[]>("pick_folder")
+      .then(addRealFiles)
+      .catch((err) => setStatus(`Couldn't open the folder picker: ${err}`));
+  };
+
+  // OS drag-and-drop of files/folders onto the window.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    let unlisten: (() => void) | undefined;
+    let cancelled = false;
+
+    import("@tauri-apps/api/webview")
+      .then(({ getCurrentWebview }) =>
+        getCurrentWebview().onDragDropEvent((event) => {
+          if (event.payload.type === "drop") {
+            invoke<FileEntry[]>("expand_dropped_paths", { paths: event.payload.paths })
+              .then(addRealFiles)
+              .catch((err) => setStatus(`Couldn't read dropped files: ${err}`));
+          }
+        })
+      )
+      .then((fn) => {
+        if (cancelled) fn();
+        else unlisten = fn;
+      })
+      .catch(() => {
+        // Not running inside Tauri (e.g. a plain browser preview) - drag-and-drop
+        // just won't be available there; the Load button still works via invoke.
+      });
+
+    return () => {
+      cancelled = true;
+      unlisten?.();
+    };
+    // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
+  }, []);
+
+  const removeSelected = () => {
+    if (!selected) return notImplemented("Excluding items");
+    setItems((prev) => {
+      const idx = prev.findIndex((i) => i.id === selected);
+      const next = prev.filter((i) => i.id !== selected);
+      const fallback = next[Math.min(idx, next.length - 1)];
+      setSelected(fallback ? fallback.id : null);
+      return next;
+    });
+  };
+
+  const clearAll = () => {
+    setItems([]);
+    setSelected(null);
+  };
+
+  const matchedCount = useMemo(() => items.filter((i) => i.bindings).length, [items]);
+
+  const renderOriginalRow = (item: Item) => (
+    <Row
+      key={item.id}
+      selected={selected === item.id}
+      muted={!item.bindings}
+      onClick={() => setSelected(item.id)}
+      text={item.originalName}
+      badge={item.ext}
+    />
+  );
+
+  const renderNameRow = (item: Item) => {
+    const name = computedNames[item.id];
+    const [base, ext] = name ? splitExt(name) : [null, item.ext];
+    return (
+      <Row
+        key={item.id}
+        selected={selected === item.id}
+        muted={!item.bindings}
+        onClick={() => setSelected(item.id)}
+        text={item.bindings ? base ?? "…" : "No data"}
+        badge={ext}
+      />
+    );
+  };
 
   return (
     <div className="rename-panel">
       <div className="rename-lists">
         <ListCard
           title="Original Files"
-          rows={SAMPLE_ITEMS.map((item) => (
-            <Row
-              key={item.id}
-              selected={selected === item.id}
-              muted={!item.bindings}
-              onClick={() => setSelected(item.id)}
-              text={item.originalName}
-              badge={item.ext}
-            />
-          ))}
+          items={items}
+          renderRow={renderOriginalRow}
+          emptyHint="Drop files or folders here, or click Load"
           buttonRow={
             <>
               <ListButton icon={<DownIcon />} label="Align Down" onClick={() => notImplemented("Reordering")} />
               <ListButton icon={<UpIcon />} label="Align Up" onClick={() => notImplemented("Reordering")} />
-              <ListButton icon={<LoadIcon />} label="Load Files" onClick={() => notImplemented("Loading files")} />
+              <LoadMenuButton onFiles={loadFiles} onFolder={loadFolder} />
               <span className="list-button-gap" />
-              <ListButton icon={<RemoveIcon />} label="Exclude Selected" onClick={() => notImplemented("Excluding items")} />
-              <ListButton icon={<ClearIcon />} label="Clear" onClick={() => notImplemented("Clearing the list")} />
+              <ListButton icon={<RemoveIcon />} label="Exclude Selected" onClick={removeSelected} />
+              <ListButton icon={<ClearIcon />} label="Clear" onClick={clearAll} />
               <ListButton icon={<HistoryIcon />} label="History" onClick={() => notImplemented("Rename history")} />
               <ListButton icon={<PresetsIcon />} label="Presets" onClick={() => notImplemented("Presets")} />
             </>
@@ -159,25 +327,14 @@ export default function RenamePanel() {
 
         <ListCard
           title="New Names"
-          rows={SAMPLE_ITEMS.map((item) => {
-            const name = computedNames[item.id];
-            const [base, ext] = name ? splitExt(name) : [null, item.ext];
-            return (
-              <Row
-                key={item.id}
-                selected={selected === item.id}
-                muted={!item.bindings}
-                onClick={() => setSelected(item.id)}
-                text={item.bindings ? base ?? "…" : "No match"}
-                badge={ext}
-              />
-            );
-          })}
+          items={items}
+          renderRow={renderNameRow}
+          emptyHint="Naming-scheme preview appears here"
           buttonRow={
             <>
               <ListButton icon={<DownIcon />} label="Align Down" onClick={() => notImplemented("Reordering")} />
               <ListButton icon={<UpIcon />} label="Align Up" onClick={() => notImplemented("Reordering")} />
-              <ListButton icon={<LoadIcon />} label="Load Files" onClick={() => notImplemented("Loading files")} />
+              <LoadMenuButton onFiles={loadFiles} onFolder={loadFolder} />
               <span className="list-button-gap" />
               <ListButton icon={<FetchIcon />} label="Fetch Data" onClick={() => notImplemented("Online matching")} />
               <ListButton icon={<GearIcon />} label="Naming Scheme" onClick={() => setEditingFormat((v) => !v)} />
@@ -197,9 +354,10 @@ export default function RenamePanel() {
           />
           {computeError && <p className="format-error">{computeError}</p>}
           <p className="format-hint">
-            Live preview against {matchedCount} matched sample file{matchedCount === 1 ? "" : "s"}. This runs the
-            real Rust naming-expression engine (Rhai-backed) through Tauri — the only piece of the renamer that's
-            fully implemented so far.
+            Live preview against {matchedCount} of {items.length} file{items.length === 1 ? "" : "s"}. Runs the real
+            Rust naming-expression engine (Rhai-backed) through Tauri. Loaded files only expose{" "}
+            <code>{"{name}"}</code>/<code>{"{ext}"}</code> (their own filename) since the matching engine that would
+            populate <code>{"{n}"}</code>/<code>{"{s00e00}"}</code>/etc. from online metadata isn't built yet.
           </p>
         </div>
       )}
@@ -211,17 +369,23 @@ export default function RenamePanel() {
 
 function ListCard({
   title,
-  rows,
+  items,
+  renderRow,
+  emptyHint,
   buttonRow,
 }: {
   title: string;
-  rows: ReactNode;
+  items: Item[];
+  renderRow: (item: Item) => ReactNode;
+  emptyHint: string;
   buttonRow: ReactNode;
 }) {
   return (
     <div className="list-card">
       <span className="list-card-title">{title}</span>
-      <div className="list-card-body">{rows}</div>
+      <div className="list-card-body">
+        {items.length === 0 ? <div className="list-empty-hint">{emptyHint}</div> : items.map(renderRow)}
+      </div>
       <div className="list-button-row">{buttonRow}</div>
     </div>
   );
@@ -241,10 +405,7 @@ function Row({
   onClick: () => void;
 }) {
   return (
-    <div
-      className={`list-row${selected ? " selected" : ""}${muted ? " muted" : ""}`}
-      onClick={onClick}
-    >
+    <div className={`list-row${selected ? " selected" : ""}${muted ? " muted" : ""}`} onClick={onClick}>
       <span className="list-row-text">{text}</span>
       {badge && <span className="list-row-badge">{badge}</span>}
     </div>