diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index b9a67ce17..01015e9ae 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ This section applies to any agent (Claude, Codex, Cursor, opencode, ...) working
 - Keep UI and analysis engine decoupled through shared contracts.
 - Prefer minimal, test-first changes for production code.
 - Prefer practical, friendly, rehearsal-first wording over academic or authority-heavy language.
+- Customer-facing empty and error copy must enable the next action (choose local audio, paste a YouTube URL, choose another file, or start over). Do not leave those states as text-only cards.
 - Do not reduce the product to a chord analyzer when form, timing, player coordination, playable ranges, simplification, and setup cues are the real rehearsal blockers.
 - Do not frame usability as a reason to accept weak analysis quality; BandScope should aim for both easy use and high accuracy.
 
diff --git a/ARCHITECTURE.md b/ARCHITECTURE.md
index ca0df5ac4..3dc161966 100644
--- a/ARCHITECTURE.md
+++ b/ARCHITECTURE.md
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ Last updated: 2026-03-11
 
 - Product identity, UX tone, copy rules, and prioritization tie-breakers live in `docs/brand-story.md`.
 - Future PRDs, TRDs, onboarding copy, empty states, error messages, and marketing copy should use that document as the single brand source of truth.
+- Empty and failed workspace cards are actionable state cards. They must expose the next rehearsal action instead of describing the gap and stopping.
 
 ## Security source
 
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 0b6f7e784..da3e775a8 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 ### Added
 
+- Empty and failed workspace cards now expose the next rehearsal action: choose a local audio file, paste a YouTube URL, choose another file, or start over.
 - Name tonight's first playable range on the ready rehearsal map and tell the player to check that span on their instrument before the section.
 - Display the analyzed song tempo (BPM) as a badge in the rehearsal workspace.
 - 각 합주 역할(Role)별 개인 연습 진행도를 0~100% 범위로 기록 및 시각화할 수 있는 연습 진척도(`practiceProgress`) 트래커 기능 추가. UI 컨트롤(슬라이더 및 +/- 버튼)과 한/영 다국어 지원 포함.
diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index b5a34c1fa..7e06a5b0c 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ This file provides guidance to Claude Code (claude.ai/code) when working with co
 
 `AGENTS.md` is the canonical agent operating guide — read and follow it before making changes. It defines the security workflow (`Security Notes`), supply-chain workflow, cross-platform build rules, GitHub bootstrap rules, code style, and safety guardrails. This file complements it with commands and architecture; when in doubt, `AGENTS.md` and the docs it references win.
 
+Workspace empty and error cards must keep a visible next action (choose local audio, paste a YouTube URL, choose another file, or start over).
+
 Agent execution and delegation rules live in `docs/agents/README.md`. PR canonicalization rules live in `docs/workflow/pr-continuity.md`.
 
 ## Common commands
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/App.recovery.test.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/App.recovery.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..849e02b0b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/App.recovery.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,163 @@
+import { fireEvent, render, screen, waitFor } from "@testing-library/react";
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { App } from "./App";
+
+vi.mock("./features/score/pdfjs", () => ({
+  configureScorePdfWorker: vi.fn(),
+  loadScorePdf: vi.fn(() => ({
+    promise: Promise.resolve({ numPages: 1, getPage: vi.fn() }),
+    destroy: vi.fn(() => Promise.resolve())
+  }))
+}));
+
+const mockLoadProject = vi.fn();
+const mockSelectLocalAudioSource = vi.fn();
+const mockStartAnalysisJob = vi.fn();
+
+vi.mock("./lib/analysis", async (importActual) => {
+  const actual = await importActual<typeof import("./lib/analysis")>();
+
+  return {
+    ...actual,
+    loadProject: () => mockLoadProject(),
+    selectLocalAudioSource: () => mockSelectLocalAudioSource(),
+    startAnalysisJob: (request: unknown) => mockStartAnalysisJob(request)
+  };
+});
+
+describe("App workspace recovery actions", () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    mockLoadProject.mockReset();
+    mockSelectLocalAudioSource.mockReset();
+    mockStartAnalysisJob.mockReset();
+  });
+
+  it("focuses the existing YouTube field from the empty workspace card", () => {
+    render(<App />);
+    const youtubeInput = screen.getByRole("textbox", { name: /YouTube URL/i });
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Paste a YouTube URL" }));
+
+    expect(document.activeElement).toBe(youtubeInput);
+  });
+
+  it("returns a failed workspace to the empty state when starting over", async () => {
+    mockLoadProject.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error("project load failed"));
+    render(<App />);
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /open project/i }));
+    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByRole("alert")).toBeTruthy());
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Start over" }));
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.queryByRole("alert")).toBeNull());
+    expect(screen.getByRole("heading", { name: "Ready to Analyze" })).toBeTruthy();
+  });
+
+  it("clears a failed analysis source selection when starting over", async () => {
+    mockSelectLocalAudioSource.mockResolvedValueOnce({
+      ok: true,
+      bootstrap: {
+        projectId: "proj-recovery",
+        source: {
+          sourceKind: "local-audio",
+          sourceMode: "reference",
+          fileName: "recovery-take.wav",
+          format: "wav"
+        }
+      }
+    });
+    mockStartAnalysisJob.mockResolvedValueOnce({
+      jobId: "job-recovery",
+      state: "failed",
+      requestedAt: "2026-08-17T00:00:00.000Z",
+      updatedAt: "2026-08-17T00:00:01.000Z",
+      error: {
+        code: "engine_unavailable",
+        message: "Analysis failed"
+      }
+    });
+    render(<App />);
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Choose a local audio file" }));
+    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByTitle("recovery-take.wav")).toBeTruthy());
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /start analysis/i }));
+    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByRole("alert")).toHaveTextContent("Analysis failed"));
+    expect(screen.getByRole("heading", { name: "Analysis engine unavailable" })).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(screen.getByTitle("recovery-take.wav")).toBeTruthy();
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Start over" }));
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.queryByRole("alert")).toBeNull());
+    expect(screen.queryByTitle("recovery-take.wav")).toBeNull();
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /start analysis/i })).toBeDisabled();
+    expect(mockStartAnalysisJob).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  });
+
+  it.each([
+    ["decode", "Couldn’t decode this audio"],
+    ["separate", "Couldn’t separate this track"]
+  ] as const)("names a %s-stage analysis failure before offering recovery", async (progressStage, expectedTitle) => {
+    mockSelectLocalAudioSource.mockResolvedValueOnce({
+      ok: true,
+      bootstrap: {
+        projectId: `proj-${progressStage}`,
+        source: {
+          sourceKind: "local-audio",
+          sourceMode: "reference",
+          fileName: `${progressStage}-take.wav`,
+          format: "wav"
+        }
+      }
+    });
+    mockStartAnalysisJob.mockResolvedValueOnce({
+      jobId: `job-${progressStage}`,
+      state: "failed",
+      requestedAt: "2026-08-17T00:00:00.000Z",
+      updatedAt: "2026-08-17T00:00:01.000Z",
+      progressStage,
+      error: {
+        code: "engine_unavailable",
+        message: `Safe ${progressStage} failure detail`
+      }
+    });
+    render(<App />);
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Choose a local audio file" }));
+    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByTitle(`${progressStage}-take.wav`)).toBeTruthy());
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /start analysis/i }));
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByRole("heading", { name: expectedTitle })).toBeTruthy());
+    expect(screen.getByRole("alert")).toHaveTextContent(`Safe ${progressStage} failure detail`);
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Choose another file" })).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Start over" })).toBeTruthy();
+  });
+
+  it("clears a failed workspace before accepting another local audio file", async () => {
+    mockLoadProject.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error("project load failed"));
+    mockSelectLocalAudioSource.mockResolvedValueOnce({
+      ok: true,
+      bootstrap: {
+        projectId: "proj-recovery",
+        source: {
+          sourceKind: "local-audio",
+          sourceMode: "reference",
+          fileName: "recovery-take.wav",
+          format: "wav"
+        }
+      }
+    });
+    render(<App />);
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /open project/i }));
+    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByRole("alert")).toBeTruthy());
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Choose another file" }));
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(screen.queryByRole("alert")).toBeNull());
+    expect(screen.getByTitle("recovery-take.wav")).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(mockSelectLocalAudioSource).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/App.test.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/App.test.tsx
index 3eed386f8..478d7651c 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/App.test.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/App.test.tsx
@@ -280,6 +280,28 @@ describe("App", () => {
     expect(sourceControls).toHaveTextContent(/Import YouTube/i);
   });
 
+  it("lets the empty workspace card start a local-audio pick", async () => {
+    mockLocalAudioSelectionResult = {
+      ok: true,
+      bootstrap: {
+        projectId: "proj-empty-next",
+        source: {
+          sourceKind: "local-audio",
+          sourceMode: "reference",
+          fileName: "rehearsal-take.wav",
+          format: "wav"
+        }
+      }
+    };
+    render(<App />);
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Choose a local audio file" }));
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(screen.getByTitle("rehearsal-take.wav")).toBeTruthy();
+    });
+  });
+
   it("caps the YouTube URL input before import-path validation", () => {
     render(<App />);
 
@@ -400,7 +422,7 @@ describe("App", () => {
 
     render(<App />);
 
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /choose local audio/i }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /^Choose local audio$/i }));
 
     await waitFor(() => {
       expect(screen.getByText(/late-night-set\.wav/i)).toBeTruthy();
@@ -425,7 +447,7 @@ describe("App", () => {
 
     render(<App />);
 
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /choose local audio/i }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /^Choose local audio$/i }));
 
     await waitFor(() => {
       expect(screen.getByText(/choose a wav, mp3, flac, or m4a file/i)).toBeTruthy();
@@ -445,7 +467,7 @@ describe("App", () => {
 
     render(<App />);
 
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /choose local audio/i }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /^Choose local audio$/i }));
 
     await waitFor(() => {
       expect(screen.getByText(/choose a wav, mp3, flac, or m4a file/i)).toBeTruthy();
@@ -458,7 +480,7 @@ describe("App", () => {
 
     render(<App />);
 
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /choose local audio/i }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /^Choose local audio$/i }));
 
     await waitFor(() => {
       expect(screen.getByText(/could not read the selected audio file/i)).toBeTruthy();
@@ -478,7 +500,7 @@ describe("App", () => {
 
     render(<App />);
 
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /choose local audio/i }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /^Choose local audio$/i }));
     await waitFor(() => {
       expect(screen.getByText(/late-night-set\.wav/i)).toBeTruthy();
     });
@@ -518,7 +540,7 @@ describe("App", () => {
 
     render(<App />);
 
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /choose local audio/i }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /^Choose local audio$/i }));
     await waitFor(() => {
       expect(screen.getByText(/late-night-set\.wav/i)).toBeTruthy();
     });
@@ -552,7 +574,7 @@ describe("App", () => {
 
     render(<App />);
 
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /choose local audio/i }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /^Choose local audio$/i }));
     await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByText(/late-night-set\.wav/i)).toBeTruthy());
 
     fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /start analysis/i }));
@@ -585,7 +607,7 @@ describe("App", () => {
 
     render(<App />);
 
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /choose local audio/i }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /^Choose local audio$/i }));
     await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByText(/late-night-set\.wav/i)).toBeTruthy());
 
     fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /start analysis/i }));
@@ -622,7 +644,7 @@ describe("App", () => {
 
     render(<App />);
 
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /choose local audio/i }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /^Choose local audio$/i }));
     await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByText(/late-night-set\.wav/i)).toBeTruthy());
 
     fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /start analysis/i }));
@@ -659,7 +681,7 @@ describe("App", () => {
 
     render(<App />);
 
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /choose local audio/i }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /^Choose local audio$/i }));
     await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByText(/late-night-set\.wav/i)).toBeTruthy());
 
     fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /start analysis/i }));
@@ -714,7 +736,7 @@ describe("App", () => {
 
     const { unmount } = render(<App />);
 
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /choose local audio/i }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /^Choose local audio$/i }));
     await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByText(/late-night-set\.wav/i)).toBeTruthy());
 
     fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /start analysis/i }));
@@ -749,7 +771,7 @@ describe("App", () => {
 
     render(<App />);
 
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /choose local audio/i }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /^Choose local audio$/i }));
     await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByText(/late-night-set\.wav/i)).toBeTruthy());
 
     fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /start analysis/i }));
@@ -774,7 +796,7 @@ describe("App", () => {
 
     render(<App />);
 
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /choose local audio/i }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /^Choose local audio$/i }));
     await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByText(/late-night-set\.wav/i)).toBeTruthy());
 
     fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /start analysis/i }));
@@ -809,7 +831,7 @@ describe("App", () => {
 
     render(<App />);
 
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /choose local audio/i }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /^Choose local audio$/i }));
     await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByText(/late-night-set\.wav/i)).toBeTruthy());
 
     fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /start analysis/i }));
@@ -838,7 +860,7 @@ describe("App", () => {
 
     render(<App />);
 
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /choose local audio/i }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /^Choose local audio$/i }));
     await waitFor(() => {
       expect(screen.getByText(/late-night-set\.wav/i)).toBeTruthy();
     });
@@ -912,7 +934,7 @@ describe("App", () => {
     try {
       render(<App />);
 
-      fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /choose local audio/i }));
+      fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /^Choose local audio$/i }));
       await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByText(/late-night-set\.wav/i)).toBeTruthy());
 
       fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /start analysis/i }));
@@ -920,7 +942,7 @@ describe("App", () => {
         expect(screen.getByRole("heading", { name: /Late Night Set/i })).toBeTruthy();
       });
 
-      fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /choose local audio/i }));
+      fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /^Choose local audio$/i }));
       await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByText(/next-song\.wav/i)).toBeTruthy());
 
       fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /export handoff/i }));
@@ -956,7 +978,7 @@ describe("App", () => {
 
     render(<App />);
 
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /choose local audio/i }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /^Choose local audio$/i }));
     await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByText(/late-night-set\.wav/i)).toBeTruthy());
 
     fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /start analysis/i }));
@@ -983,7 +1005,7 @@ describe("App", () => {
 
     render(<App />);
 
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /choose local audio/i }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /^Choose local audio$/i }));
     await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByText(/late-night-set\.wav/i)).toBeTruthy());
 
     fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /start analysis/i }));
@@ -1006,7 +1028,7 @@ describe("App", () => {
 
     render(<App />);
 
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /choose local audio/i }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /^Choose local audio$/i }));
     await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByText(/late-night-set\.wav/i)).toBeTruthy());
 
     fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /start analysis/i }));
@@ -1029,7 +1051,7 @@ describe("App", () => {
 
     render(<App />);
 
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /choose local audio/i }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /^Choose local audio$/i }));
     await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByText(/late-night-set\.wav/i)).toBeTruthy());
 
     fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /start analysis/i }));
@@ -1046,7 +1068,7 @@ describe("App", () => {
 
     render(<App />);
 
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /choose local audio/i }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /^Choose local audio$/i }));
     await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByText(/late-night-set\.wav/i)).toBeTruthy());
 
     fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /start analysis/i }));
@@ -1066,7 +1088,7 @@ describe("App", () => {
 
     render(<App />);
 
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /choose local audio/i }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /^Choose local audio$/i }));
     await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByText(/late-night-set\.wav/i)).toBeTruthy());
 
     fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /start analysis/i }));
@@ -1083,7 +1105,7 @@ describe("App", () => {
 
     render(<App />);
 
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /choose local audio/i }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /^Choose local audio$/i }));
     await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByText(/late-night-set\.wav/i)).toBeTruthy());
 
     fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /start analysis/i }));
@@ -1130,7 +1152,7 @@ describe("App", () => {
 
     render(<App />);
 
-    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /choose local audio/i }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /^Choose local audio$/i }));
     await waitFor(() => {
       expect(screen.getByRole("alert")).toHaveTextContent(/choose a wav, mp3, flac, or m4a file/i);
     });
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/App.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/App.tsx
index f3d678454..0d5fcf61b 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/App.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/App.tsx
@@ -46,7 +46,12 @@ import {
 import { createTranslator, detectPreferredLocale, type TranslationKey } from "./i18n";
 import { ScoreView } from "./features/score/ScoreView";
 import { Workspace } from "./features/workspace/Workspace";
-import { EmptyState, ErrorState, LoadingState } from "./features/workspace/WorkspaceStates";
+import {
+  EmptyState,
+  ErrorState,
+  LoadingState,
+  type WorkspaceFailureKind
+} from "./features/workspace/WorkspaceStates";
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
 import { Input } from "@/components/ui/input";
 import { Progress } from "@/components/ui/progress";
@@ -145,6 +150,23 @@ function safeErrorDetail(error: unknown, fallback: string): string {
     : redacted;
 }
 
+/** Map validated engine status to a stable buyer-visible failure category. */
+function workspaceFailureKind(status: AnalysisJobStatus | null): WorkspaceFailureKind {
+  if (status?.state !== "failed") {
+    return "generic";
+  }
+  if (status.progressStage === "decode") {
+    return "decode";
+  }
+  if (status.progressStage === "separate") {
+    return "separate";
+  }
+  if (status.error?.code === "engine_unavailable") {
+    return "engine";
+  }
+  return "generic";
+}
+
 /** Documented. */
 function BandScopeMark({ ariaLabel }: { ariaLabel: string }) {
   return (
@@ -219,7 +241,7 @@ function ConfidenceMetric({ song, t }: { song: RehearsalSong | null; t: ReturnTy
       if (!lowestConfidence || confidenceOrder[section.confidence.level] < confidenceOrder[lowestConfidence]) {
         lowestConfidence = section.confidence.level;
         if (lowestConfidence === "low") {
-          break; // Short-circuit early since "low" is the lowest possible confidence bound
+          break;
         }
       }
     }
@@ -464,6 +486,21 @@ export function App() {
     }
   };
 
+  /** Documented. */
+  const handleFocusYoutubeUrl = () => {
+    youtubeInputRef.current?.focus();
+  };
+
+  /** Documented. */
+  const handleStartOverAfterError = () => {
+    setJobError(null);
+    setJobStatus(null);
+    setSelectedBootstrap(null);
+    setActiveAnalysisBootstrap(null);
+    setSelectionError(null);
+    setSelectionErrorSource(null);
+  };
+
   /** Documented. */
   const handleClearYoutubeUrl = () => {
     youtubeInputRef.current?.focus();
@@ -506,7 +543,16 @@ export function App() {
   /** Documented. */
   const renderWorkspaceState = () => {
     if (jobError) {
-      return <ErrorState error={jobError} />;
+      return (
+        <ErrorState
+          error={jobError}
+          kind={workspaceFailureKind(jobStatus)}
+          onChooseLocalAudio={() => {
+            void handleChooseLocalAudio();
+          }}
+          onStartOver={handleStartOverAfterError}
+        />
+      );
     }
     if (analysisInFlight || isStarting) {
       return <LoadingState />;
@@ -514,7 +560,14 @@ export function App() {
     if (jobResult) {
       return <Workspace song={jobResult} sourceBootstrap={jobResultBootstrap} onSongUpdate={handleSongUpdate} />;
     }
-    return <EmptyState />;
+    return (
+      <EmptyState
+        onChooseLocalAudio={() => {
+          void handleChooseLocalAudio();
+        }}
+        onFocusYoutube={handleFocusYoutubeUrl}
+      />
+    );
   };
 
   const currentView: RehearsalView = jobResult && activeView === "score" ? "score" : "workspace";
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/features/workspace/WorkspaceStates.test.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/features/workspace/WorkspaceStates.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1919d5065
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/features/workspace/WorkspaceStates.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+import { fireEvent, render, screen } from "@testing-library/react";
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { EmptyState, ErrorState, LoadingState } from "./WorkspaceStates";
+
+const originalLanguage = window.navigator.language;
+
+function setNavigatorLanguage(language: string) {
+  Object.defineProperty(window.navigator, "language", {
+    configurable: true,
+    value: language
+  });
+}
+
+describe("WorkspaceStates", () => {
+  afterEach(() => {
+    setNavigatorLanguage(originalLanguage);
+  });
+
+  it("offers choose-audio and YouTube next actions on the empty card", () => {
+    const onChooseLocalAudio = vi.fn();
+    const onFocusYoutube = vi.fn();
+    render(<EmptyState onChooseLocalAudio={onChooseLocalAudio} onFocusYoutube={onFocusYoutube} />);
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Choose a local audio file" }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Paste a YouTube URL" }));
+
+    expect(onChooseLocalAudio).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(onFocusYoutube).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  });
+
+  it("keeps empty-state actions inert when no handlers are wired", () => {
+    render(<EmptyState />);
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Choose a local audio file" }));
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Paste a YouTube URL" }));
+    expect(screen.getByRole("heading", { name: "Ready to Analyze" })).toBeTruthy();
+  });
+
+  it("clears failed-analysis state before choosing another file", () => {
+    const onChooseLocalAudio = vi.fn();
+    const onStartOver = vi.fn();
+    render(
+      <ErrorState
+        error="Decoder rejected the file"
+        onChooseLocalAudio={onChooseLocalAudio}
+        onStartOver={onStartOver}
+      />
+    );
+
+    expect(screen.getByText("Decoder rejected the file")).toBeTruthy();
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Choose another file" }));
+
+    expect(onStartOver).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(onChooseLocalAudio).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Start over" }));
+    expect(onStartOver).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+  });
+
+  it("renders a failed analysis card without detail copy", () => {
+    render(<ErrorState />);
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Choose another file" }));
+    expect(screen.getByRole("alert")).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(screen.queryByText("Decoder rejected the file")).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it("localizes empty, loading, and error next-action copy", () => {
+    setNavigatorLanguage("ko-KR");
+    render(
+      <>
+        <EmptyState />
+        <LoadingState />
+        <ErrorState />
+      </>
+    );
+
+    expect(screen.getByRole("heading", { name: "분석 준비 완료" })).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(screen.getByRole("heading", { name: "오디오 분석 중" })).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "로컬 오디오 파일 선택" })).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "YouTube 주소 붙여넣기" })).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "다른 파일 선택" })).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "처음부터 다시" })).toBeTruthy();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/features/workspace/WorkspaceStates.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/features/workspace/WorkspaceStates.tsx
index 8f9aba1b1..03311f78f 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/features/workspace/WorkspaceStates.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/features/workspace/WorkspaceStates.tsx
@@ -1,9 +1,16 @@
 import { createTranslator, detectPreferredLocale } from "../../i18n";
+import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
 import { Card, CardContent } from "@/components/ui/card";
-import { Loader2, Music, AlertCircle } from "lucide-react";
+import { Loader2, Music, AlertCircle, Upload, Link2 } from "lucide-react";
+
+/** Next-action handlers for the empty rehearsal workspace. */
+export interface EmptyStateProps {
+  onChooseLocalAudio?: () => void;
+  onFocusYoutube?: () => void;
+}
 
 /** Documented. */
-export function EmptyState() {
+export function EmptyState({ onChooseLocalAudio, onFocusYoutube }: EmptyStateProps = {}) {
   const t = createTranslator(detectPreferredLocale());
   return (
     <Card className="border-2 border-dashed border-cyan-300/20 bg-slate-950/50 shadow-[0_18px_70px_rgba(0,0,0,0.22)] backdrop-blur-xl">
@@ -13,6 +20,27 @@ export function EmptyState() {
         </div>
         <h3 className="mb-2 text-xl font-black text-white">{t("workspaceReadyToAnalyzeTitle")}</h3>
         <p className="max-w-sm text-slate-400">{t("workspaceEmptyState")}</p>
+        <div className="mt-8 flex w-full max-w-md flex-col gap-3 sm:flex-row sm:justify-center">
+          <Button
+            type="button"
+            onClick={() => onChooseLocalAudio?.()}
+            className="min-h-11 bg-gradient-to-r from-cyan-400 to-violet-500 font-black text-slate-950 shadow-[0_14px_38px_rgba(34,211,238,0.28)] hover:from-cyan-300 hover:to-violet-400"
+            aria-label={t("workspaceEmptyChooseAudio")}
+          >
+            <Upload className="mr-2 size-4" aria-hidden="true" />
+            {t("workspaceEmptyChooseAudio")}
+          </Button>
+          <Button
+            type="button"
+            variant="outline"
+            onClick={() => onFocusYoutube?.()}
+            className="min-h-11 border-white/10 bg-white/5 font-semibold text-slate-100 hover:bg-white/10 hover:text-white"
+            aria-label={t("workspaceEmptyPasteYoutube")}
+          >
+            <Link2 className="mr-2 size-4" aria-hidden="true" />
+            {t("workspaceEmptyPasteYoutube")}
+          </Button>
+        </div>
       </CardContent>
     </Card>
   );
@@ -38,17 +66,84 @@ export function LoadingState() {
   );
 }
 
-/** Documented. */
-export function ErrorState({ error }: { error?: string }) {
+/** Stable presentation categories derived only from validated analysis status. */
+export type WorkspaceFailureKind = "generic" | "engine" | "decode" | "separate";
+
+/** Next-action handlers after a failed analysis. */
+export interface ErrorStateProps {
+  error?: string;
+  kind?: WorkspaceFailureKind;
+  onChooseLocalAudio?: () => void;
+  onStartOver?: () => void;
+}
+
+/** Resolve safe failure copy without interpreting provider or filesystem error text. */
+function failureCopy(
+  kind: WorkspaceFailureKind,
+  t: ReturnType<typeof createTranslator>
+): { title: string; guidance?: string } {
+  switch (kind) {
+    case "engine":
+      return {
+        title: t("workspaceErrorEngineTitle"),
+        guidance: t("workspaceErrorEngineGuidance")
+      };
+    case "decode":
+      return {
+        title: t("workspaceErrorDecodeTitle"),
+        guidance: t("workspaceErrorDecodeGuidance")
+      };
+    case "separate":
+      return {
+        title: t("workspaceErrorSeparateTitle"),
+        guidance: t("workspaceErrorSeparateGuidance")
+      };
+    case "generic":
+      return { title: t("workspaceErrorState") };
+  }
+}
+
+/** Render a recoverable, local-first analysis failure state. */
+export function ErrorState({
+  error,
+  kind = "generic",
+  onChooseLocalAudio,
+  onStartOver
+}: ErrorStateProps) {
   const t = createTranslator(detectPreferredLocale());
+  const copy = failureCopy(kind, t);
   return (
     <Card className="border-rose-300/30 bg-rose-950/40 shadow-[0_18px_70px_rgba(0,0,0,0.25)] backdrop-blur-xl" role="alert" aria-live="assertive" aria-atomic="true">
       <CardContent className="flex flex-col items-center justify-center py-20 text-center">
         <div className="mb-4 rounded-full border border-rose-300/30 bg-rose-300/10 p-4 text-rose-200 shadow-sm">
           <AlertCircle className="size-8" aria-hidden="true" />
         </div>
-        <h3 className="mb-2 text-lg font-black text-rose-100">{t("workspaceErrorState")}</h3>
+        <h3 className="mb-2 text-lg font-black text-rose-100">{copy.title}</h3>
+        {copy.guidance && <p className="max-w-md text-sm leading-6 text-rose-100/80">{copy.guidance}</p>}
         {error && <p className="mt-2 rounded-md bg-rose-300/10 px-4 py-2 text-sm font-medium text-rose-100">{error}</p>}
+        <div className="mt-8 flex w-full max-w-md flex-col gap-3 sm:flex-row sm:justify-center">
+          <Button
+            type="button"
+            onClick={() => {
+              onStartOver?.();
+              onChooseLocalAudio?.();
+            }}
+            className="min-h-11 bg-gradient-to-r from-cyan-400 to-violet-500 font-black text-slate-950 shadow-[0_14px_38px_rgba(34,211,238,0.28)] hover:from-cyan-300 hover:to-violet-400"
+            aria-label={t("workspaceErrorChooseAnother")}
+          >
+            <Upload className="mr-2 size-4" aria-hidden="true" />
+            {t("workspaceErrorChooseAnother")}
+          </Button>
+          <Button
+            type="button"
+            variant="outline"
+            onClick={() => onStartOver?.()}
+            className="min-h-11 border-rose-300/30 bg-rose-300/10 font-semibold text-rose-50 hover:bg-rose-300/20"
+            aria-label={t("workspaceErrorStartOver")}
+          >
+            {t("workspaceErrorStartOver")}
+          </Button>
+        </div>
       </CardContent>
     </Card>
   );
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/locales/en/common.json b/apps/desktop/src/locales/en/common.json
index d803a765e..f7511b79c 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/locales/en/common.json
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/locales/en/common.json
@@ -30,8 +30,18 @@
   "workspaceReadyToAnalyzeTitle": "Ready to Analyze",
   "workspaceAnalyzingAudioTitle": "Analyzing Audio",
   "workspaceEmptyState": "Choose an audio file to prepare for your rehearsal.",
+  "workspaceEmptyChooseAudio": "Choose a local audio file",
+  "workspaceEmptyPasteYoutube": "Paste a YouTube URL",
   "workspaceLoadingState": "Analyzing the song's form and instrument roles...",
   "workspaceErrorState": "An error occurred during analysis. Please try again.",
+  "workspaceErrorEngineTitle": "Analysis engine unavailable",
+  "workspaceErrorEngineGuidance": "Start over and try again. BandScope keeps your selected audio local and will not fabricate an analysis result.",
+  "workspaceErrorDecodeTitle": "Couldn’t decode this audio",
+  "workspaceErrorDecodeGuidance": "Choose another WAV, MP3, FLAC, or M4A file, or start over.",
+  "workspaceErrorSeparateTitle": "Couldn’t separate this track",
+  "workspaceErrorSeparateGuidance": "Choose another file or start over. BandScope will not substitute the original mix for missing stems.",
+  "workspaceErrorChooseAnother": "Choose another file",
+  "workspaceErrorStartOver": "Start over",
   "workspaceRehearsalMapLabel": "Tonight's rehearsal map",
   "workspaceRehearsalFallback": "Rehearsal Workspace",
   "workspaceTempoLabel": "Tempo",
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/locales/ko/common.json b/apps/desktop/src/locales/ko/common.json
index 0f6c6c66d..9fdd63a29 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src/locales/ko/common.json
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/locales/ko/common.json
@@ -30,8 +30,18 @@
   "workspaceReadyToAnalyzeTitle": "분석 준비 완료",
   "workspaceAnalyzingAudioTitle": "오디오 분석 중",
   "workspaceEmptyState": "합주할 곡의 오디오 파일을 선택해주세요.",
+  "workspaceEmptyChooseAudio": "로컬 오디오 파일 선택",
+  "workspaceEmptyPasteYoutube": "YouTube 주소 붙여넣기",
   "workspaceLoadingState": "곡의 폼과 악기별 역할을 분석하고 있습니다...",
   "workspaceErrorState": "분석 중 오류가 발생했습니다. 다시 시도해주세요.",
+  "workspaceErrorEngineTitle": "분석 엔진을 사용할 수 없습니다",
+  "workspaceErrorEngineGuidance": "처음부터 다시 시작해 재시도하세요. 선택한 오디오는 로컬에 유지되며 BandScope는 분석 결과를 임의로 만들어내지 않습니다.",
+  "workspaceErrorDecodeTitle": "이 오디오를 디코딩할 수 없습니다",
+  "workspaceErrorDecodeGuidance": "다른 WAV, MP3, FLAC 또는 M4A 파일을 선택하거나 처음부터 다시 시작하세요.",
+  "workspaceErrorSeparateTitle": "이 트랙을 스템으로 분리할 수 없습니다",
+  "workspaceErrorSeparateGuidance": "다른 파일을 선택하거나 처음부터 다시 시작하세요. BandScope는 분리되지 않은 원본 믹스를 스템인 것처럼 대체하지 않습니다.",
+  "workspaceErrorChooseAnother": "다른 파일 선택",
+  "workspaceErrorStartOver": "처음부터 다시",
   "workspaceRehearsalMapLabel": "오늘의 합주 지도",
   "workspaceRehearsalFallback": "합주 작업 공간",
   "workspaceTempoLabel": "템포",