diff --git a/packages/vue/src/i18n/messages/dialogs.ts b/packages/vue/src/i18n/messages/dialogs.ts
index 58ba6b6a7..de0761902 100644
--- a/packages/vue/src/i18n/messages/dialogs.ts
+++ b/packages/vue/src/i18n/messages/dialogs.ts
@@ -165,6 +165,7 @@ export const dialogMessageDefaults = {
   settingsStorage: 'Cloud storage',
   storageWorkspace: 'Storage workspace',
   openStorageWorkspace: 'Open workspace',
+  backToStorageWorkspace: 'Back to workspace',
   newStoredDocument: 'New document',
   emptyStorageWorkspace: 'No stored documents yet.',
   loadingDocuments: 'Loading documents…',
diff --git a/src/components/Shell/AppMenu.vue b/src/components/Shell/AppMenu.vue
index b7ceacd1f..af4b1a6dc 100644
--- a/src/components/Shell/AppMenu.vue
+++ b/src/components/Shell/AppMenu.vue
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
 import { watch } from 'vue'
+import { useRouter } from 'vue-router'
 import { templateRef } from '@vueuse/core'
 
 import {
@@ -17,6 +18,7 @@ import {
   MenubarTrigger
 } from 'reka-ui'
 
+import IconArrowLeft from '~icons/lucide/arrow-left'
 import IconChevronRight from '~icons/lucide/chevron-right'
 
 import { vTestId, useI18n } from '@open-pencil/vue'
@@ -42,6 +44,15 @@ import { useEditorStore } from '@/app/editor/active-store'
 import { openSettingsDialog } from '@/app/settings/dialog'
 
 const store = useEditorStore()
+const router = useRouter()
+
+// The workspace is the app's top level. Browser back is history-dependent (and
+// absent in the desktop shell), so the way back has to be an explicit
+// destination, present on both platforms. Shown unconditionally: StorageView
+// prompts for setup itself when storage isn't configured yet.
+async function backToWorkspace(): Promise<void> {
+  await router.push('/storage')
+}
 
 const { rename, editingName, startRename, commitRename } = useDocumentNameRename(store)
 const nameInput = templateRef<HTMLInputElement>('nameInput')
@@ -60,6 +71,15 @@ const subMenuCls = useMenuUI({ content: 'min-w-44' })
 
 <template>
   <div class="shrink-0 border-b border-border">
+    <button
+      type="button"
+      data-test-id="app-back-to-workspace"
+      class="flex w-full cursor-pointer items-center gap-1.5 border-b border-border px-2 py-1.5 text-xs text-muted transition-colors hover:bg-hover hover:text-surface"
+      @click="backToWorkspace"
+    >
+      <IconArrowLeft class="size-3.5 shrink-0" />
+      <span class="truncate">{{ dialogs.backToStorageWorkspace }}</span>
+    </button>
     <div class="flex items-center gap-2 px-2 py-1.5">
       <img data-test-id="app-logo" src="/favicon-32.png" class="size-4" alt="OpenPencil" />
       <input