diff --git a/lib/main.dart b/lib/main.dart
index cec9509..1700c4d 100644
--- a/lib/main.dart
+++ b/lib/main.dart
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import 'package:todo/data/note_repository.dart';
 import 'package:todo/data/repository_factory.dart';
 import 'package:todo/frame_stats.dart';
 import 'package:todo/ui/capture_screen.dart';
+import 'package:todo/ui/text_free_localizations.dart';
 
 Future<void> main() async {
   WidgetsFlutterBinding.ensureInitialized();
@@ -69,6 +70,7 @@ class TodoApp extends StatelessWidget {
       store: imageStore,
       child: MaterialApp(
         title: 'todo',
+        localizationsDelegates: kTextFreeLocalizations,
         theme: buildLightTheme(),
         darkTheme: buildDarkTheme(),
         home: CaptureScreen(
diff --git a/lib/ui/capture_screen.dart b/lib/ui/capture_screen.dart
index 0416c34..45acab1 100644
--- a/lib/ui/capture_screen.dart
+++ b/lib/ui/capture_screen.dart
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import 'dart:async';
 
 import 'package:crdt_sync/crdt_sync.dart';
-import 'package:design_system/design_system.dart';
 import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
 import 'package:flutter/services.dart';
 import 'package:http/http.dart' as http;
@@ -22,6 +21,7 @@ import 'package:todo/ui/capture_draft.dart';
 import 'package:todo/ui/capture_status.dart';
 import 'package:todo/ui/capture_status_footer.dart';
 import 'package:todo/ui/capture_sync_runner.dart';
+import 'package:todo/ui/cue_snack.dart';
 import 'package:todo/ui/image_attach.dart';
 import 'package:todo/ui/image_input.dart';
 import 'package:todo/ui/note_form.dart';
@@ -194,7 +194,14 @@ class _CaptureScreenState extends State<CaptureScreen>
   Future<void> _sync() async {
     final settings = _settings ?? await SyncSettings.load();
     if (!settings.isConfigured && await openFirebase() == null) {
-      _showSnack('Connect Firebase (or add a GitHub token) in settings');
+      // The cue plus the settings screen opening is the whole message.
+      if (mounted) {
+        showCue(
+          context,
+          Icons.cloud_off,
+          'Connect Firebase (or add a GitHub token) in settings',
+        );
+      }
       await _openSettings();
       return;
     }
@@ -215,12 +222,7 @@ class _CaptureScreenState extends State<CaptureScreen>
           if (outcome.ok) 'detail': outcome.detail,
         },
       );
-      _showSnack(
-        outcome.ok
-            ? 'Synced: ${outcome.detail}'
-            : 'Sync failed: ${outcome.detail}',
-        isError: !outcome.ok,
-      );
+      _showSyncCue(outcome);
     } finally {
       if (mounted) setState(() => _syncing = false);
     }
diff --git a/lib/ui/capture_screen_sync.dart b/lib/ui/capture_screen_sync.dart
index bfe8c1e..2d25507 100644
--- a/lib/ui/capture_screen_sync.dart
+++ b/lib/ui/capture_screen_sync.dart
@@ -104,13 +104,20 @@ extension _CaptureSyncBehaviour on _CaptureScreenState {
   /// replace-don't-queue behaviour match every other app; [isError] picks
   /// the danger hue and the longer duration, because an error the user
   /// missed is an error they will hit again.
-  void _showSnack(String message, {bool isError = false}) {
+  /// A manual sync's result as a glyph: done, done-but-degraded (Firebase
+  /// off or a peer unreadable, in the danger hue), or failed. The summary
+  /// sentence is spoken only; the status line keeps the failure time.
+  void _showSyncCue(CaptureSyncOutcome outcome) {
     if (!mounted) return;
-    if (isError) {
-      showError(context, message);
-    } else {
-      showToast(context, message);
-    }
+    final spoken = outcome.ok
+        ? 'Synced: ${outcome.detail}'
+        : 'Sync failed: ${outcome.detail}';
+    final (icon, error) = !outcome.ok
+        ? (Icons.sync_problem, true)
+        : outcome.degraded
+        ? (Icons.cloud_off, true)
+        : (Icons.cloud_done, false);
+    showCue(context, icon, spoken, error: error);
   }
 
   /// Reloads the persisted last-sync outcome so the status line survives a
diff --git a/lib/ui/capture_status_footer.dart b/lib/ui/capture_status_footer.dart
index 6008b36..52755b1 100644
--- a/lib/ui/capture_status_footer.dart
+++ b/lib/ui/capture_status_footer.dart
@@ -44,16 +44,16 @@ class CaptureStatusFooter extends StatelessWidget {
             if (status == null || status.ok) {
               return const SizedBox.shrink();
             }
+            // Glyph + time in the danger hue; the error itself is spoken.
             return Padding(
               padding: const EdgeInsets.only(top: 8),
-              child: Text(
+              child: _cueLine(
+                Icons.sync_problem,
+                formatSyncTime(status.time),
                 'Sync failed at ${formatSyncTime(status.time)} · '
                 '${status.detail}',
-                style: theme.textTheme.bodySmall?.copyWith(
-                  color: theme.colorScheme.error,
-                ),
-                maxLines: 1,
-                overflow: TextOverflow.ellipsis,
+                theme.textTheme.bodySmall,
+                theme.colorScheme.error,
               ),
             );
           },
@@ -63,15 +63,45 @@ class CaptureStatusFooter extends StatelessWidget {
             padding: const EdgeInsets.only(top: 4),
             child: ValueListenableBuilder<DateTime?>(
               valueListenable: lastSavedAt,
-              builder: (context, savedAt, _) => Text(
-                savedAt == null
-                    ? 'Autosaves as you type'
-                    : 'Saved locally at ${formatSyncTime(savedAt)}',
-                style: theme.textTheme.bodySmall,
-              ),
+              // Before the first save: the save glyph alone, muted.
+              builder: (context, savedAt, _) => savedAt == null
+                  ? _cueLine(
+                      Icons.save_outlined,
+                      '',
+                      'Autosaves as you type',
+                      theme.textTheme.bodySmall,
+                      theme.colorScheme.outline,
+                    )
+                  : _cueLine(
+                      Icons.save,
+                      formatSyncTime(savedAt),
+                      'Saved locally at ${formatSyncTime(savedAt)}',
+                      theme.textTheme.bodySmall,
+                      null,
+                    ),
             ),
           ),
       ],
     );
   }
+
+  /// One status line: a small glyph and a time, spoken as [spoken].
+  Widget _cueLine(
+    IconData icon,
+    String time,
+    String spoken,
+    TextStyle? style,
+    Color? color,
+  ) => Semantics(
+    label: spoken,
+    excludeSemantics: true,
+    container: true,
+    child: Row(
+      children: [
+        Icon(icon, size: 16, color: color),
+        const SizedBox(width: 4),
+        Text(time, style: style?.copyWith(color: color)),
+      ],
+    ),
+  );
 }
diff --git a/lib/ui/capture_sync_runner.dart b/lib/ui/capture_sync_runner.dart
index 284cf82..e8d27d5 100644
--- a/lib/ui/capture_sync_runner.dart
+++ b/lib/ui/capture_sync_runner.dart
@@ -26,11 +26,16 @@ class CaptureSyncOutcome {
     required this.ok,
     required this.detail,
     this.reconciled,
+    this.degraded = false,
   });
 
   /// Whether the pass completed without throwing.
   final bool ok;
 
+  /// A pass that completed but not fully: Firebase was not connected, or a
+  /// peer's file could not be read. Shown as a warning, not a plain success.
+  final bool degraded;
+
   /// One-line summary: merged/skipped counts on success, the error otherwise.
   final String detail;
 
@@ -90,10 +95,12 @@ class CaptureSyncRunner {
       );
       final detail = describeSyncResult(result.syncResult);
       await status.record(ok: true, detail: detail, live: live());
+      final synced = result.syncResult;
       return CaptureSyncOutcome(
         ok: true,
         detail: detail,
         reconciled: result.appSettings,
+        degraded: !synced.firebaseConnected || synced.skippedFiles.isNotEmpty,
       );
     } on Exception catch (e) {
       await status.record(ok: false, detail: '$e', live: live());
diff --git a/lib/ui/cloud_images_settings.dart b/lib/ui/cloud_images_settings.dart
index 2527fd3..962b4cf 100644
--- a/lib/ui/cloud_images_settings.dart
+++ b/lib/ui/cloud_images_settings.dart
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import 'dart:async';
 
 import 'package:flutter/foundation.dart';
 import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
+import 'package:flutter/services.dart';
 import 'package:http/http.dart' as http;
 
 import 'package:todo/attachments/image_password_store.dart';
@@ -18,6 +19,7 @@ import 'package:todo/attachments/image_store_api.dart';
 import 'package:todo/attachments/image_store_scope.dart';
 import 'package:todo/images/dufs_image_client.dart';
 import 'package:todo/ui/app_route.dart';
+import 'package:todo/ui/status_cue.dart';
 
 /// The command that creates the login, shown wherever it is missing.
 const kAddLoginCommand =
@@ -68,7 +70,7 @@ class CloudImagesScreen extends StatefulWidget {
 class _CloudImagesScreenState extends State<CloudImagesScreen> {
   final _password = TextEditingController();
   ImageStoreStatus? _status;
-  String? _checkResult;
+  StatusCue? _checkResult;
   bool _checking = false;
 
   @override
@@ -97,7 +99,11 @@ class _CloudImagesScreenState extends State<CloudImagesScreen> {
     final password = _password.text.trim();
     setState(() => _checking = true);
     final saved = await widget.passwords.write(password);
-    var result = 'Could not save: the keystore is unavailable';
+    var result = const StatusCue(
+      Icons.no_encryption,
+      'Could not save: the keystore is unavailable',
+      error: true,
+    );
     if (saved) {
       final client = DufsImageClient(
         DufsLogin(user: kDufsImagesUser, password: password),
@@ -105,9 +111,17 @@ class _CloudImagesScreenState extends State<CloudImagesScreen> {
       );
       final check = await client.check();
       result = switch (check) {
-        DufsCheck.ok => 'Saved — dufs accepted the login',
-        DufsCheck.rejected => 'Saved, but dufs rejected the password',
-        DufsCheck.unreachable => 'Saved — dufs is unreachable right now',
+        DufsCheck.ok => const StatusCue.ok('Saved — dufs accepted the login'),
+        DufsCheck.rejected => const StatusCue(
+          Icons.lock,
+          'Saved, but dufs rejected the password',
+          error: true,
+        ),
+        DufsCheck.unreachable => const StatusCue(
+          Icons.cloud_off,
+          'Saved — dufs is unreachable right now',
+          error: true,
+        ),
       };
       // Upload what queued up while there was no password, now rather than
       // on the next sync. No note texts: an empty ref set only uploads, it
@@ -152,23 +166,38 @@ class _CloudImagesScreenState extends State<CloudImagesScreen> {
             ),
             if (_checkResult case final result?) ...[
               const SizedBox(height: 8),
-              Text(result),
+              StatusCueView(result),
             ],
             const SizedBox(height: 16),
           ],
           if (status != null) ...[
             // Shape + colour: a filled check, or a red error ring followed by
-            // the command (user-typed text, so it stays) that fixes it.
-            Icon(
-              status.configured ? Icons.check_circle : Icons.error_outline,
-              color: status.configured
-                  ? Theme.of(context).colorScheme.primary
-                  : Theme.of(context).colorScheme.error,
-              semanticLabel: status.configured
-                  ? 'Login: configured'
-                  : 'Login: missing — create it on the PC with',
+            // a copy button that puts the fixing command on the clipboard.
+            Row(
+              children: [
+                Icon(
+                  status.configured ? Icons.check_circle : Icons.error_outline,
+                  color: status.configured
+                      ? Theme.of(context).colorScheme.primary
+                      : Theme.of(context).colorScheme.error,
+                  semanticLabel: status.configured
+                      ? 'Login: configured'
+                      : 'Login: missing — create it on the PC with',
+                ),
+                if (!status.configured)
+                  IconButton(
+                    onPressed: () => unawaited(
+                      Clipboard.setData(
+                        const ClipboardData(text: kAddLoginCommand),
+                      ),
+                    ),
+                    icon: const Icon(
+                      Icons.content_copy,
+                      semanticLabel: 'Copy: $kAddLoginCommand',
+                    ),
+                  ),
+              ],
             ),
-            if (!status.configured) const SelectableText(kAddLoginCommand),
             const SizedBox(height: 8),
             // Icon + the count itself: the number is the information.
             Row(
diff --git a/lib/ui/cue_snack.dart b/lib/ui/cue_snack.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cf60f37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/ui/cue_snack.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+/// Transient feedback as a glyph, not a sentence (kuhy's textgate rule).
+///
+/// The design system's `showToast`/`showError` paint a message; this paints
+/// an icon (plus an optional number) and keeps the old sentence as the
+/// spoken label only. Colour is the second channel: errors use the danger
+/// hue and stay up longer, as `showError` does.
+library;
+
+import 'package:design_system/design_system.dart';
+import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
+
+const Duration _toastDuration = Duration(seconds: 3);
+const Duration _errorDuration = Duration(seconds: 5);
+
+/// Shows [icon] (and [count], if given) in a snack bar; [spoken] is what a
+/// screen reader says. Returns quietly when no `ScaffoldMessenger` is above
+/// [context] (an async callback outliving its screen).
+void showCue(
+  BuildContext context,
+  IconData icon,
+  String spoken, {
+  bool error = false,
+  int? count,
+}) {
+  final messenger = ScaffoldMessenger.maybeOf(context);
+  if (messenger == null) return;
+  final colors = context.statusColors;
+  final fg = error ? colors.onStatus : null;
+  // Replace rather than queue: a queued cue describes an action the user
+  // has already moved on from.
+  messenger
+    ..clearSnackBars()
+    ..showSnackBar(
+      SnackBar(
+        content: Semantics(
+          label: spoken,
+          excludeSemantics: true,
+          // Its own node: otherwise the label merges into the snack bar's.
+          container: true,
+          child: Row(
+            children: [
+              Icon(icon, color: fg),
+              if (count != null) ...[
+                const SizedBox(width: AppSpacing.sm),
+                Text('$count', style: TextStyle(color: fg)),
+              ],
+            ],
+          ),
+        ),
+        backgroundColor: error ? colors.danger : null,
+        duration: error ? _errorDuration : _toastDuration,
+        behavior: SnackBarBehavior.floating,
+        shape: RoundedRectangleBorder(
+          borderRadius: BorderRadius.circular(AppRadius.sm),
+        ),
+      ),
+    );
+}
diff --git a/lib/ui/empty_notes_cue.dart b/lib/ui/empty_notes_cue.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..babd913
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/ui/empty_notes_cue.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+/// The notes list's empty state as a picture, not a sentence.
+library;
+
+import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
+
+/// A large muted glyph: an empty inbox when there are no notes at all, a
+/// crossed-out filter when the current filter hides every note (the filter
+/// button's badge is the second channel saying a filter is on).
+class EmptyNotesCue extends StatelessWidget {
+  /// Creates the cue; [filtered] picks the filter variant.
+  const EmptyNotesCue({required this.filtered, super.key});
+
+  /// Whether a filter is active (notes may exist but none match).
+  final bool filtered;
+
+  @override
+  Widget build(BuildContext context) => Icon(
+    filtered ? Icons.filter_alt_off_outlined : Icons.inbox_outlined,
+    size: 64,
+    color: Theme.of(context).colorScheme.outline,
+    semanticLabel: filtered ? 'No notes match these filters' : 'No notes yet',
+  );
+}
diff --git a/lib/ui/github_mirror_screen.dart b/lib/ui/github_mirror_screen.dart
index c3fbb34..0d2f642 100644
--- a/lib/ui/github_mirror_screen.dart
+++ b/lib/ui/github_mirror_screen.dart
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import 'package:todo/data/app_settings.dart';
 import 'package:todo/data/note_repository.dart';
 import 'package:todo/sync/run_sync.dart';
 import 'package:todo/sync/sync_settings.dart';
+import 'package:todo/ui/status_cue.dart';
 
 part 'github_mirror_screen_widget.dart';
 
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ class _GitHubMirrorScreenState extends State<GitHubMirrorScreen> {
   );
 
   bool _testing = false;
-  String? _status;
+  StatusCue? _status;
 
   @override
   void dispose() {
@@ -49,8 +50,13 @@ class _GitHubMirrorScreenState extends State<GitHubMirrorScreen> {
   Future<void> _connectGitHub() async {
     final clientId = _clientId.text.trim();
     if (clientId.isEmpty) {
-      setState(() => _status = 'Enter the OAuth App client id first.');
-      return;
+      return _show(
+        const StatusCue(
+          Icons.key_off,
+          'Enter the OAuth App client id first.',
+          error: true,
+        ),
+      );
     }
     final auth = GitHubDeviceAuth(
       clientId: clientId,
@@ -67,20 +73,19 @@ class _GitHubMirrorScreenState extends State<GitHubMirrorScreen> {
       if (token != null && token.isNotEmpty) {
         setState(() {
           _token.text = token;
-          _status = 'Connected — syncing…';
+          _status = const StatusCue(Icons.sync, 'Connected — syncing…');
         });
         await _current.save();
         await _syncAfterConnect();
       }
     } on Exception catch (e) {
-      if (mounted) setState(() => _status = 'Could not start device flow: $e');
+      _show(StatusCue.failed('Could not start device flow: $e'));
     } finally {
       auth.close();
     }
   }
 
-  /// Runs a sync right after connecting so the user's notes download
-  /// immediately and they get clear confirmation it worked.
+  /// Syncs right after connecting so notes download at once, with a cue.
   Future<void> _syncAfterConnect() async {
     final s = _current;
     try {
@@ -96,19 +101,29 @@ class _GitHubMirrorScreenState extends State<GitHubMirrorScreen> {
       widget.appSettings.value = widget.appSettings.value.adopt(
         run.appSettings,
       );
-      if (mounted) {
-        setState(
-          () => _status =
-              'Connected and synced (merged '
-              '${run.syncResult.mergedDevices} device(s)). Your notes are '
-              'up to date.',
-        );
-      }
+      _show(
+        StatusCue.ok(
+          'Connected and synced (merged '
+          '${run.syncResult.mergedDevices} device(s)). Your notes are '
+          'up to date.',
+        ),
+      );
     } on Exception catch (e) {
-      if (mounted) setState(() => _status = 'Connected, but sync failed: $e');
+      _show(
+        StatusCue(
+          Icons.sync_problem,
+          'Connected, but sync failed: $e',
+          error: true,
+        ),
+      );
     }
   }
 
+  /// Shows [cue] as the screen's latest result, if still mounted.
+  void _show(StatusCue cue) {
+    if (mounted) setState(() => _status = cue);
+  }
+
   Future<void> _test() async {
     setState(() {
       _testing = true;
@@ -123,13 +138,17 @@ class _GitHubMirrorScreenState extends State<GitHubMirrorScreen> {
     );
     try {
       final ok = await client.canAccessRepo();
-      setState(
-        () => _status = ok
-            ? 'Connected — repo is reachable.'
-            : 'Could not access ${s.owner}/${s.repo}. Check token scope.',
+      _show(
+        ok
+            ? const StatusCue.ok('Connected — repo is reachable.')
+            : StatusCue(
+                Icons.lock,
+                'Could not access ${s.owner}/${s.repo}. Check token scope.',
+                error: true,
+              ),
       );
     } on Exception catch (e) {
-      setState(() => _status = 'Error: $e');
+      _show(StatusCue.failed('Error: $e'));
     } finally {
       client.close();
       if (mounted) setState(() => _testing = false);
@@ -154,12 +173,6 @@ class _GitHubMirrorScreenState extends State<GitHubMirrorScreen> {
       body: ListView(
         padding: const EdgeInsets.all(16),
         children: [
-          Text(
-            'Authorize in your browser — no token to paste. Syncs to '
-            'kuhyx/syncs by default.',
-            style: Theme.of(context).textTheme.bodySmall,
-          ),
-          const SizedBox(height: 12),
           Align(
             alignment: Alignment.centerLeft,
             child: IconButton.filled(
@@ -228,7 +241,7 @@ class _GitHubMirrorScreenState extends State<GitHubMirrorScreen> {
           ),
           if (_status != null) ...[
             const SizedBox(height: 16),
-            Text(_status!, style: Theme.of(context).textTheme.bodyMedium),
+            StatusCueView(_status!),
           ],
         ],
       ),
diff --git a/lib/ui/image_attach.dart b/lib/ui/image_attach.dart
index dcfdf18..756455a 100644
--- a/lib/ui/image_attach.dart
+++ b/lib/ui/image_attach.dart
@@ -9,12 +9,12 @@ library;
 
 import 'dart:typed_data';
 
-import 'package:design_system/design_system.dart';
-import 'package:flutter/widgets.dart';
+import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
 
 import 'package:todo/attachments/image_store_api.dart';
 import 'package:todo/attachments/image_store_scope.dart';
 import 'package:todo/images/attachment_ref.dart';
+import 'package:todo/ui/cue_snack.dart';
 
 /// Lets a screen insert lines into whichever editor is currently mounted.
 class ImageAttachController {
@@ -73,11 +73,15 @@ Future<void> attachImages(
   target.insert([for (final ref in refs) ref.imageMarkdown]);
   if (!context.mounted) return;
   if (failure != null) {
-    showError(context, failure);
+    showCue(context, Icons.cloud_off, failure, error: true);
   } else if (notImages > 0) {
-    showError(
+    // A broken-image glyph plus how many were refused.
+    showCue(
       context,
+      Icons.broken_image_outlined,
       notImages == 1 ? 'Not an image' : '$notImages files were not images',
+      error: true,
+      count: notImages,
     );
   }
 }
@@ -104,5 +108,7 @@ Future<void> attachFiles(
     }
   }
   target.insert([for (final attachment in attached) attachment.markdown]);
-  if (failure != null && context.mounted) showError(context, failure);
+  if (failure != null && context.mounted) {
+    showCue(context, Icons.cloud_off, failure, error: true);
+  }
 }
diff --git a/lib/ui/images/file_embed.dart b/lib/ui/images/file_embed.dart
index edc3a17..77d5a27 100644
--- a/lib/ui/images/file_embed.dart
+++ b/lib/ui/images/file_embed.dart
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
 import 'package:todo/attachments/image_store_api.dart';
 import 'package:todo/attachments/image_store_scope.dart';
 import 'package:todo/images/attachment_ref.dart';
+import 'package:todo/ui/cue_snack.dart';
 import 'package:todo/ui/images/file_opening.dart';
 import 'package:todo/ui/images/image_embed.dart';
 
@@ -51,7 +52,9 @@ class _FileEmbedState extends State<FileEmbed> {
 
   Future<void> _open(ImageSource source) async {
     final failure = await widget.opening(source, widget.attachment.name);
-    if (failure != null && mounted) showError(context, failure);
+    if (failure != null && mounted) {
+      showCue(context, Icons.block, failure, error: true);
+    }
   }
 
   @override
@@ -73,9 +76,10 @@ class _FileEmbedState extends State<FileEmbed> {
           style: widget.compact ? theme.textTheme.bodySmall : null,
         );
         final pending = store.isPending(attachment.ref)
-            ? const Tooltip(
-                message: kImageWaitingToUpload,
-                child: Icon(Icons.cloud_upload_outlined, size: 18),
+            ? const Icon(
+                Icons.cloud_upload_outlined,
+                size: 18,
+                semanticLabel: kImageWaitingToUpload,
               )
             : null;
         final content = widget.compact
@@ -104,7 +108,11 @@ class _FileEmbedState extends State<FileEmbed> {
                       crossAxisAlignment: CrossAxisAlignment.start,
                       children: [
                         name,
-                        Text(detail, style: theme.textTheme.bodySmall),
+                        // Not downloaded: a download glyph; else the size.
+                        if (size == null)
+                          const Icon(Icons.cloud_download_outlined, size: 16)
+                        else
+                          Text(detail, style: theme.textTheme.bodySmall),
                       ],
                     ),
                   ),
diff --git a/lib/ui/images/image_embed.dart b/lib/ui/images/image_embed.dart
index dc075a2..630969b 100644
--- a/lib/ui/images/image_embed.dart
+++ b/lib/ui/images/image_embed.dart
@@ -54,9 +54,10 @@ class ImageEmbed extends StatelessWidget {
                 const Positioned(
                   right: 4,
                   top: 4,
-                  child: Tooltip(
-                    message: kImageWaitingToUpload,
-                    child: Icon(Icons.cloud_upload_outlined, size: 18),
+                  child: Icon(
+                    Icons.cloud_upload_outlined,
+                    size: 18,
+                    semanticLabel: kImageWaitingToUpload,
                   ),
                 ),
             ],
@@ -87,7 +88,7 @@ Widget imageFor(ImageSource source, {required BoxFit fit}) {
   };
 }
 
-/// Grey box with [kImageNotDownloaded].
+/// Grey box with a download glyph, spoken as [kImageNotDownloaded].
 class ImagePlaceholder extends StatelessWidget {
   /// Creates the placeholder.
   const ImagePlaceholder({super.key});
@@ -100,10 +101,10 @@ class ImagePlaceholder extends StatelessWidget {
       child: Center(
         child: Padding(
           padding: const EdgeInsets.all(8),
-          child: Text(
-            kImageNotDownloaded,
-            textAlign: TextAlign.center,
-            style: theme.textTheme.bodySmall,
+          child: Icon(
+            Icons.cloud_download_outlined,
+            color: theme.colorScheme.outline,
+            semanticLabel: kImageNotDownloaded,
           ),
         ),
       ),
diff --git a/lib/ui/note_date_range_field.dart b/lib/ui/note_date_range_field.dart
index b0e27c1..31a26c8 100644
--- a/lib/ui/note_date_range_field.dart
+++ b/lib/ui/note_date_range_field.dart
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ class DateRangeField extends StatelessWidget {
       onSelected: (p) => _select(context, p),
       itemBuilder: (_) => [
         for (final p in _Preset.values)
-          PopupMenuItem(value: p, child: Text(p.label)),
+          PopupMenuItem(value: p, child: p.glyph()),
       ],
       child: InputDecorator(
         decoration: InputDecoration(
@@ -114,10 +114,9 @@ class DateRangeField extends StatelessWidget {
           ),
           suffixIcon: const Icon(Icons.arrow_drop_down),
         ),
-        child: Text(
-          current == _Preset.custom ? _rangeLabel() : current.label,
-          style: theme.textTheme.bodyMedium,
-        ),
+        child: current == _Preset.custom
+            ? Text(_rangeLabel(), style: theme.textTheme.bodyMedium)
+            : current.glyph(),
       ),
     );
   }
@@ -142,8 +141,26 @@ enum _Preset {
 
   const _Preset(this.label, this.days);
 
+  /// Spoken name only; what is painted is [glyph].
   final String label;
   final int? days;
 
+  /// "Any" is an infinity sign, "today" the today-calendar, a span its day
+  /// count beside a range-calendar, "custom" the edit-calendar.
+  Widget glyph() => Semantics(
+    label: label,
+    excludeSemantics: true,
+    container: true,
+    child: switch (this) {
+      any => const Icon(Icons.all_inclusive),
+      today => const Icon(Icons.today),
+      custom => const Icon(Icons.edit_calendar),
+      week || month => Row(
+        mainAxisSize: MainAxisSize.min,
+        children: [const Icon(Icons.date_range), Text(' $days')],
+      ),
+    },
+  );
+
   static const List<_Preset> dayPresets = [today, week, month];
 }
diff --git a/lib/ui/note_editor.dart b/lib/ui/note_editor.dart
index e9ecb45..581313a 100644
--- a/lib/ui/note_editor.dart
+++ b/lib/ui/note_editor.dart
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-import 'package:design_system/design_system.dart';
 import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
 
 import 'package:todo/data/note.dart';
 import 'package:todo/data/note_template.dart';
+import 'package:todo/ui/cue_snack.dart';
 import 'package:todo/ui/image_attach.dart';
 import 'package:todo/ui/markdown_view.dart';
 import 'package:todo/ui/note_editor_chrome.dart';
@@ -127,9 +127,12 @@ class _NoteEditorState extends State<NoteEditor> {
         case NoteEditorMode.guided:
           // raw -> guided: only if the edited text still fits the template.
           if (!_doc.tryAdoptGuided()) {
-            showError(
+            // The mode toggle staying on raw is the second channel.
+            showCue(
               context,
+              Icons.rule,
               "Text doesn't match the template — staying in raw",
+              error: true,
             );
             return;
           }
diff --git a/lib/ui/note_editor_chrome.dart b/lib/ui/note_editor_chrome.dart
index 2c36dd6..32cad6e 100644
--- a/lib/ui/note_editor_chrome.dart
+++ b/lib/ui/note_editor_chrome.dart
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
 
 import 'package:todo/data/note_template.dart';
 import 'package:todo/ui/note_editor_mode.dart';
+import 'package:todo/ui/template_glyphs.dart';
 
 /// Template dropdown above a segmented View / Guided / Raw selector.
 class NoteEditorChrome extends StatelessWidget {
@@ -50,7 +51,7 @@ class NoteEditorChrome extends StatelessWidget {
           ),
           items: [
             for (final t in NoteTemplate.all)
-              DropdownMenuItem(value: t.id, child: Text(t.label)),
+              DropdownMenuItem(value: t.id, child: templateGlyph(t)),
           ],
           onChanged: (id) {
             if (id == null) return;
diff --git a/lib/ui/note_editor_step_page.dart b/lib/ui/note_editor_step_page.dart
index b170f3d..7365f75 100644
--- a/lib/ui/note_editor_step_page.dart
+++ b/lib/ui/note_editor_step_page.dart
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
 
 import 'package:todo/data/note_template.dart';
 import 'package:todo/ui/motion.dart';
+import 'package:todo/ui/template_glyphs.dart';
 
 /// One step of the guided editor: label, guidance, input, and navigation.
 class NoteEditorStepPage extends StatelessWidget {
@@ -95,18 +96,14 @@ class NoteEditorStepPage extends StatelessWidget {
           child: Column(
             crossAxisAlignment: CrossAxisAlignment.start,
             children: [
-              // Section labels are template content (they land in the note);
-              // the title step has none, so it gets a glyph, not a word.
-              if (section.isTitle)
-                const Icon(Icons.title, semanticLabel: 'title')
-              else
-                Text(section.label, style: theme.textTheme.titleMedium),
-              const SizedBox(height: 4),
-              Text(
-                section.helper,
-                style: theme.textTheme.bodySmall?.copyWith(
-                  color: theme.colorScheme.onSurfaceVariant,
-                ),
+              // A glyph per section; its label (the note's `## heading`) and
+              // the helper sentence are spoken only.
+              Icon(
+                sectionIcon(section),
+                color: theme.colorScheme.primary,
+                semanticLabel: section.isTitle
+                    ? section.helper
+                    : '${section.label}: ${section.helper}',
               ),
               const SizedBox(height: 12),
             ],
@@ -124,9 +121,10 @@ class NoteEditorStepPage extends StatelessWidget {
               maxLines: null,
               keyboardType: TextInputType.multiline,
               textAlignVertical: TextAlignVertical.top,
-              decoration: InputDecoration(
-                hintText: section.hint,
-                border: const OutlineInputBorder(),
+              // No hintText: a hint is painted text. The section glyph
+              // above already names the field.
+              decoration: const InputDecoration(
+                border: OutlineInputBorder(),
                 isDense: true,
               ),
               onChanged: (_) => onChanged(),
diff --git a/lib/ui/note_editor_wizard.dart b/lib/ui/note_editor_wizard.dart
index b86aebc..108e309 100644
--- a/lib/ui/note_editor_wizard.dart
+++ b/lib/ui/note_editor_wizard.dart
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
 import 'package:todo/data/note.dart';
 import 'package:todo/data/note_template.dart';
 import 'package:todo/ui/enum_glyphs.dart';
+import 'package:todo/ui/template_glyphs.dart';
 
 /// Asks for a priority, then a template, then hands both back via [onStart].
 class NoteEditorWizard extends StatefulWidget {
@@ -125,7 +126,7 @@ class _NoteEditorWizardState extends State<NoteEditorWizard> {
         ),
         items: [
           for (final t in templates)
-            DropdownMenuItem(value: t.id, child: Text(t.label)),
+            DropdownMenuItem(value: t.id, child: templateGlyph(t)),
         ],
         onChanged: (id) {
           if (id == null) return;
diff --git a/lib/ui/note_grid_tile.dart b/lib/ui/note_grid_tile.dart
index ecb0d3b..029c8c3 100644
--- a/lib/ui/note_grid_tile.dart
+++ b/lib/ui/note_grid_tile.dart
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
 
 import 'package:todo/data/note.dart';
 import 'package:todo/data/note_template.dart';
+import 'package:todo/ui/enum_glyphs.dart';
 
 /// Danger for high, the accent for medium, muted for low.
 Color priorityColor(Priority p, ColorScheme scheme) => switch (p) {
@@ -14,6 +15,9 @@ Color priorityColor(Priority p, ColorScheme scheme) => switch (p) {
   Priority.low => scheme.outline,
 };
 
+/// Painted in place of an empty note's title: a mark, not a word.
+const String kEmptyTitle = '…';
+
 /// The glyph standing for [s] wherever a status is shown without words.
 IconData statusIcon(Status s) => switch (s) {
   Status.todo => Icons.radio_button_unchecked,
@@ -85,7 +89,7 @@ class NoteGridTile extends StatelessWidget {
                   children: [
                     Expanded(
                       child: Text(
-                        title.isEmpty ? '(empty)' : title,
+                        title.isEmpty ? kEmptyTitle : title,
                         maxLines: 3,
                         overflow: TextOverflow.ellipsis,
                         style: theme.textTheme.bodyMedium?.copyWith(
@@ -115,25 +119,20 @@ class NoteGridTile extends StatelessWidget {
                 ),
               Row(
                 children: [
+                  // Shape + the tile's accent border carry status/priority;
+                  // the enum words survive only as spoken labels.
                   Icon(
                     statusIcon(note.status),
                     size: 14,
                     color: scheme.onSurfaceVariant,
-                  ),
-                  const SizedBox(width: AppSpacing.xs),
-                  Flexible(
-                    child: Text(
-                      note.status.label,
-                      maxLines: 1,
-                      overflow: TextOverflow.ellipsis,
-                      style: cue,
-                    ),
+                    semanticLabel: note.status.label,
                   ),
                   const Spacer(),
-                  Text(
-                    note.priority.label,
-                    maxLines: 1,
-                    style: cue?.copyWith(color: accentFor(scheme)),
+                  Icon(
+                    priorityIcon(note.priority),
+                    size: 14,
+                    color: accentFor(scheme),
+                    semanticLabel: note.priority.label,
                   ),
                 ],
               ),
diff --git a/lib/ui/note_sheet_details.dart b/lib/ui/note_sheet_details.dart
index 5494a4d..c2862f3 100644
--- a/lib/ui/note_sheet_details.dart
+++ b/lib/ui/note_sheet_details.dart
@@ -39,12 +39,25 @@ class NoteSheetDetails extends StatelessWidget {
           Text(body, style: theme.bodyMedium),
         ],
         const SizedBox(height: 12),
-        Text(
-          'Edited ${_stamp(note.updatedAt)}'
-          ' · Created ${_stamp(note.createdAt)}',
-          style: theme.bodySmall,
+        Wrap(
+          spacing: 12,
+          children: [
+            _dated(Icons.history, 'Edited', note.updatedAt, theme.bodySmall),
+            _dated(Icons.add, 'Created', note.createdAt, theme.bodySmall),
+          ],
         ),
       ],
     );
   }
+
+  /// A glyph (edited = history, created = plus) before its timestamp.
+  Widget _dated(IconData icon, String spoken, DateTime t, TextStyle? style) =>
+      Row(
+        mainAxisSize: MainAxisSize.min,
+        children: [
+          Icon(icon, size: 16, semanticLabel: spoken),
+          const SizedBox(width: 4),
+          Text(_stamp(t), style: style),
+        ],
+      );
 }
diff --git a/lib/ui/note_task_details.dart b/lib/ui/note_task_details.dart
index 148536f..30d83b0 100644
--- a/lib/ui/note_task_details.dart
+++ b/lib/ui/note_task_details.dart
@@ -12,20 +12,27 @@ class NoteTaskDetails extends StatelessWidget {
   @override
   Widget build(BuildContext context) {
     final theme = Theme.of(context).textTheme;
+    // A glyph per field in place of its written name (kept spoken only);
+    // the values are content and stay as typed.
     final rows = [
-      ('Repo', note.repo),
-      ('Done check', note.doneCheck),
-      ('By', note.by),
-      ('Evidence', note.evidence),
-    ].where((row) => row.$2 != null);
+      (Icons.folder_outlined, 'Repo', note.repo),
+      (Icons.fact_check_outlined, 'Done check', note.doneCheck),
+      (Icons.person_outline, 'By', note.by),
+      (Icons.verified_outlined, 'Evidence', note.evidence),
+    ].where((row) => row.$3 != null);
     return Column(
       crossAxisAlignment: CrossAxisAlignment.start,
       children: [
-        for (final (label, value) in rows) ...[
+        for (final (icon, label, value) in rows) ...[
           const SizedBox(height: 12),
-          Text(label, style: theme.labelLarge),
-          const SizedBox(height: 4),
-          Text(value!, style: theme.bodyMedium),
+          Row(
+            crossAxisAlignment: CrossAxisAlignment.start,
+            children: [
+              Icon(icon, size: 20, semanticLabel: label),
+              const SizedBox(width: 8),
+              Expanded(child: Text(value!, style: theme.bodyMedium)),
+            ],
+          ),
         ],
       ],
     );
diff --git a/lib/ui/note_tile.dart b/lib/ui/note_tile.dart
index 9f514f8..b2c34e7 100644
--- a/lib/ui/note_tile.dart
+++ b/lib/ui/note_tile.dart
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
 
 import 'package:todo/data/note.dart';
 import 'package:todo/data/note_template.dart';
+import 'package:todo/ui/enum_glyphs.dart';
+import 'package:todo/ui/note_grid_tile.dart';
 
 /// One row in the notes list: title, metadata line, and an actions button.
 class NoteTile extends StatelessWidget {
@@ -37,24 +39,17 @@ class NoteTile extends StatelessWidget {
   @override
   Widget build(BuildContext context) {
     final firstLine = noteTitle(note.text);
-    // Every note has a status and a priority now, so both are always shown.
-    final meta = <String>[
-      note.status.label,
-      note.priority.label,
-      'edited ${_relative(note.updatedAt)}',
-      ?note.repoName,
-    ].join(' · ');
     return ListTile(
       selected: selected,
       leading: selected
           ? const Icon(Icons.check_circle, semanticLabel: 'Selected')
           : null,
       title: Text(
-        firstLine.isEmpty ? '(empty)' : firstLine,
+        firstLine.isEmpty ? kEmptyTitle : firstLine,
         maxLines: 2,
         overflow: TextOverflow.ellipsis,
       ),
-      subtitle: Text(meta),
+      subtitle: _meta(context),
       trailing: IconButton(
         icon: const Icon(Icons.more_vert, semanticLabel: 'Quick actions'),
         onPressed: onActions,
@@ -64,14 +59,28 @@ class NoteTile extends StatelessWidget {
     );
   }
 
-  /// Compact relative time like "2m ago" for the list subtitle.
-  String _relative(DateTime t) {
-    final d = DateTime.now().difference(t);
-    if (d.inMinutes < 1) return 'just now';
-    if (d.inHours < 1) return '${d.inMinutes}m ago';
-    if (d.inDays < 1) return '${d.inHours}h ago';
-    return '${d.inDays}d ago';
-  }
+  /// Status and priority glyphs, the edit age, and the repo (content).
+  /// Every note has a status and a priority, so both are always shown.
+  Widget _meta(BuildContext context) => Row(
+    children: [
+      statusGlyph(note.status, size: 16),
+      const SizedBox(width: 6),
+      priorityGlyph(context, note.priority, size: 16),
+      const SizedBox(width: 6),
+      const Icon(Icons.history, size: 16, semanticLabel: 'Edited'),
+      Text(relativeAge(note.updatedAt)),
+      if (note.repoName case final repo?) ...[
+        const SizedBox(width: 6),
+        Flexible(child: Text(repo, overflow: TextOverflow.ellipsis)),
+      ],
+    ],
+  );
 }
 
-/// Bottom sheet for editing one note's priority/status or deleting it.
+/// Compact age like "2m" / "3h" / "4d": a number plus a unit symbol.
+String relativeAge(DateTime t) {
+  final d = DateTime.now().difference(t);
+  if (d.inHours < 1) return '${d.inMinutes}m';
+  if (d.inDays < 1) return '${d.inHours}h';
+  return '${d.inDays}d';
+}
diff --git a/lib/ui/notes_list_screen.dart b/lib/ui/notes_list_screen.dart
index be5b8eb..f48be14 100644
--- a/lib/ui/notes_list_screen.dart
+++ b/lib/ui/notes_list_screen.dart
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
 import 'package:todo/data/app_settings.dart';
 import 'package:todo/data/note.dart';
 import 'package:todo/data/note_repository.dart';
+import 'package:todo/ui/empty_notes_cue.dart';
 import 'package:todo/ui/note_selection.dart';
 import 'package:todo/ui/notes_assign_flow.dart';
 import 'package:todo/ui/notes_filter_sheet.dart';
@@ -224,11 +225,7 @@ class _NotesListScreenState extends State<NotesListScreen> {
                 final notes = snapshot.data ?? const <Note>[];
                 if (notes.isEmpty) {
                   return Center(
-                    child: Text(
-                      _filter.isEmpty
-                          ? 'No notes yet'
-                          : 'No notes match these filters',
-                    ),
+                    child: EmptyNotesCue(filtered: !_filter.isEmpty),
                   );
                 }
                 return NotesListBody(
diff --git a/lib/ui/status_cue.dart b/lib/ui/status_cue.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..de0f342
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/ui/status_cue.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+/// A screen's latest result as a glyph in place of a status sentence.
+library;
+
+import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
+
+/// One result: what to paint, whether it is a failure, and the old
+/// sentence, kept as the spoken label only.
+class StatusCue {
+  /// Creates a cue.
+  const StatusCue(this.icon, this.spoken, {this.error = false});
+
+  /// A success: a check glyph in the accent colour.
+  const StatusCue.ok(this.spoken) : icon = Icons.check_circle, error = false;
+
+  /// A failure: an error glyph in the danger hue.
+  const StatusCue.failed(this.spoken) : icon = Icons.error, error = true;
+
+  /// The glyph painted.
+  final IconData icon;
+
+  /// What a screen reader says.
+  final String spoken;
+
+  /// Whether this is a failure (danger hue) rather than a success.
+  final bool error;
+}
+
+/// Paints [cue] as a large glyph; colour is the second channel.
+class StatusCueView extends StatelessWidget {
+  /// Creates the view.
+  const StatusCueView(this.cue, {super.key});
+
+  /// The result shown.
+  final StatusCue cue;
+
+  @override
+  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
+    final scheme = Theme.of(context).colorScheme;
+    return Align(
+      alignment: Alignment.centerLeft,
+      child: Icon(
+        cue.icon,
+        size: 32,
+        color: cue.error ? scheme.error : scheme.primary,
+        semanticLabel: cue.spoken,
+      ),
+    );
+  }
+}
diff --git a/lib/ui/template_glyphs.dart b/lib/ui/template_glyphs.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5c391ba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/ui/template_glyphs.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+/// Glyphs standing for note templates and their sections in the editor.
+///
+/// The section labels stay in `note_template.dart`: they are the note's own
+/// `## heading` format, read by `parse()`, BACKLOG.md and the CLI. Only what
+/// the editor paints around them is a glyph; the label and helper are spoken.
+library;
+
+import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
+
+import 'package:todo/data/note_template.dart';
+
+/// The glyph for template [t]: a structured form, or a blank page.
+IconData templateIcon(NoteTemplate t) =>
+    t.isFreeform ? Icons.note_outlined : Icons.assignment_outlined;
+
+/// [t] as its glyph, spoken as its label.
+Widget templateGlyph(NoteTemplate t) =>
+    Icon(templateIcon(t), semanticLabel: t.label);
+
+/// The glyph heading a guided step, keyed by the section's stable `key`.
+IconData sectionIcon(TemplateSection s) => switch (s.key) {
+  'title' => Icons.title,
+  'what' => Icons.lightbulb_outline,
+  'where' => Icons.place_outlined,
+  'must' => Icons.rule,
+  'done' => Icons.emoji_events_outlined,
+  'verify' => Icons.devices,
+  'refs' => Icons.menu_book_outlined,
+  _ => Icons.notes,
+};
diff --git a/lib/ui/text_free_localizations.dart b/lib/ui/text_free_localizations.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1da01e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/ui/text_free_localizations.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+/// Framework strings the app paints without asking for them.
+///
+/// Material's own buttons (the app bar back arrow, a dialog's close, the
+/// drawer, the overflow menu) carry tooltips from [MaterialLocalizations],
+/// and a tooltip is painted on long-press and hover. kuhy's textgate rule
+/// says nothing he sees has words he did not ask for, so these tooltips are
+/// blanked: an empty tooltip is not built at all. Screen readers still get
+/// the button's semantics from the icon itself.
+library;
+
+import 'package:flutter/foundation.dart';
+import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
+
+/// English Material strings with every button tooltip blanked.
+class TextFreeMaterialLocalizations extends DefaultMaterialLocalizations {
+  /// Creates the localizations.
+  const TextFreeMaterialLocalizations();
+
+  @override
+  String get backButtonTooltip => '';
+
+  @override
+  String get closeButtonTooltip => '';
+
+  @override
+  String get openAppDrawerTooltip => '';
+
+  @override
+  String get showMenuTooltip => '';
+
+  @override
+  String get moreButtonTooltip => '';
+
+  @override
+  String get deleteButtonTooltip => '';
+}
+
+class _Delegate extends LocalizationsDelegate<MaterialLocalizations> {
+  const _Delegate();
+
+  @override
+  bool isSupported(Locale locale) => locale.languageCode == 'en';
+
+  @override
+  Future<MaterialLocalizations> load(Locale locale) =>
+      SynchronousFuture(const TextFreeMaterialLocalizations());
+
+  @override
+  bool shouldReload(_Delegate old) => false;
+}
+
+/// Pass as `MaterialApp.localizationsDelegates`.
+const List<LocalizationsDelegate<dynamic>> kTextFreeLocalizations = [
+  _Delegate(),
+];
diff --git a/pubspec.yaml b/pubspec.yaml
index fdeee76..d70564a 100644
--- a/pubspec.yaml
+++ b/pubspec.yaml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ publish_to: 'none' # Remove this line if you wish to publish to pub.dev
 # https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/General/Reference/InfoPlistKeyReference/Articles/CoreFoundationKeys.html
 # In Windows, build-name is used as the major, minor, and patch parts
 # of the product and file versions while build-number is used as the build suffix.
-version: 1.0.73+1
+version: 1.0.75+1
 
 environment:
   sdk: ^3.12.2
diff --git a/test/capture_screen_advanced_test.dart b/test/capture_screen_advanced_test.dart
index ab154a7..ac11670 100644
--- a/test/capture_screen_advanced_test.dart
+++ b/test/capture_screen_advanced_test.dart
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import 'fake_note_repository.dart';
 import 'fake_secure_storage.dart';
 
 import 'capture_screen_harness.dart';
+import 'text_free_guard.dart';
 
 void main() {
   testWidgets(
@@ -140,7 +141,7 @@ void main() {
     // Capture must never be interrupted by a snackbar…
     expect(find.byType(SnackBar), findsNothing);
     // …but the failure is no longer swallowed: the status line shows it.
-    expect(find.textContaining('Sync failed at'), findsOneWidget);
-    expect(find.textContaining('offline'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(spoken('Sync failed at'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(spoken('offline'), findsOneWidget);
   });
 }
diff --git a/test/capture_screen_editing_test.dart b/test/capture_screen_editing_test.dart
index 149eb2b..827ea9a 100644
--- a/test/capture_screen_editing_test.dart
+++ b/test/capture_screen_editing_test.dart
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import 'fake_note_repository.dart';
 import 'fake_secure_storage.dart';
 
 import 'capture_screen_harness.dart';
+import 'text_free_guard.dart';
 
 void main() {
   testWidgets('defaults to Raw, with Guided available via the entry wizard', (
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ void main() {
       find.text('1 / ${NoteTemplate.llmDesignSpec.sections.length}'),
       findsOneWidget,
     );
-    expect(find.textContaining('imperative'), findsOneWidget); // title helper
+    expect(spoken('imperative'), findsOneWidget); // title helper
   });
 
   testWidgets('saving the untouched template creates no note', (tester) async {
@@ -101,12 +102,13 @@ void main() {
     await tester.tap(find.bySemanticsLabel('Sync'));
     await tester.pump(); // settings load + snackbar
     await tester.pump();
+    await tester.pump(const Duration(milliseconds: 500)); // snack fades in
 
     // The behaviour that matters is the routing, not the wording: an
     // unconfigured device is sent to settings to connect a backend. Asserting
     // on the snackbar text tied this to one phrasing, and the snackbar is
     // gone by the time settings has pushed anyway.
-    expect(find.textContaining('Connect Firebase'), findsWidgets);
+    expect(spoken('Connect Firebase'), findsWidgets);
   });
 
   testWidgets('the notes-list button navigates to the list screen', (
diff --git a/test/capture_screen_harness.dart b/test/capture_screen_harness.dart
index 74faf71..490cbfb 100644
--- a/test/capture_screen_harness.dart
+++ b/test/capture_screen_harness.dart
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import 'package:todo/ui/attachment_picking.dart';
 import 'package:todo/ui/capture_screen.dart';
 import 'package:todo/ui/github_mirror_screen.dart';
 import 'package:todo/ui/settings_screen.dart';
+import 'package:todo/ui/text_free_localizations.dart';
 
 import 'fake_note_repository.dart';
 import 'fake_secure_storage.dart';
@@ -73,6 +74,8 @@ Future<FakeNoteRepository> pumpCapture(
         debounce: Duration.zero,
       );
   final app = MaterialApp(
+    // As in main.dart: Material's own button tooltips are blanked.
+    localizationsDelegates: kTextFreeLocalizations,
     home: CaptureScreen(
       repository: repo,
       appSettings:
diff --git a/test/capture_screen_lifecycle_test.dart b/test/capture_screen_lifecycle_test.dart
index 0408985..c2b30c4 100644
--- a/test/capture_screen_lifecycle_test.dart
+++ b/test/capture_screen_lifecycle_test.dart
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import 'fake_note_repository.dart';
 import 'fake_secure_storage.dart';
 
 import 'capture_screen_harness.dart';
+import 'text_free_guard.dart';
 
 void main() {
   testWidgets(
@@ -35,8 +36,8 @@ void main() {
       await tester.pump();
 
       // Only a failure is worth surfacing; a routine success is silent.
-      expect(find.textContaining('Synced at'), findsNothing);
-      expect(find.textContaining('merged 0 device(s)'), findsNothing);
+      expect(spoken('Synced at'), findsNothing);
+      expect(spoken('merged 0 device(s)'), findsNothing);
     },
   );
 
@@ -53,8 +54,8 @@ void main() {
     );
     await tester.pump();
 
-    expect(find.textContaining('Sync failed at 12:00:00'), findsOneWidget);
-    expect(find.textContaining('rate limited'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(spoken('Sync failed at 12:00:00'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(spoken('rate limited'), findsOneWidget);
   });
 
   testWidgets('losing focus triggers a debounced auto-sync', (tester) async {
diff --git a/test/capture_screen_sync_test.dart b/test/capture_screen_sync_test.dart
index 7562db6..c5d24f6 100644
--- a/test/capture_screen_sync_test.dart
+++ b/test/capture_screen_sync_test.dart
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import 'fake_note_repository.dart';
 import 'fake_secure_storage.dart';
 
 import 'capture_screen_harness.dart';
+import 'text_free_guard.dart';
 
 void main() {
   testWidgets('Sync with a configured token runs the sync service', (
@@ -39,14 +40,13 @@ void main() {
     await tester.pump(); // setState(_syncing = true)
     await tester.pump(); // service runs, snackbar scheduled
     await tester.pump(); // snackbar builds
+    await tester.pump(const Duration(milliseconds: 500)); // snack fades in
 
     // No firebaseFactory was injected, so this runs over GitHub alone --
     // the status line must say so rather than reading identically to a
     // Firebase-connected sync.
     expect(
-      find.textContaining(
-        'Synced: GitHub-only (Firebase not connected) — merged 0 device',
-      ),
+      spoken('Synced: GitHub-only (Firebase not connected) — merged 0 device'),
       findsOneWidget,
     );
   });
@@ -59,10 +59,11 @@ void main() {
     await tester.pump();
     await tester.pump();
     await tester.pump();
+    await tester.pump(const Duration(milliseconds: 500)); // snack fades in
 
     // 'Sync failed:' is the snackbar; the status line says 'Sync failed at'.
-    expect(find.textContaining('Sync failed:'), findsOneWidget);
-    expect(find.textContaining('Sync failed at'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(spoken('Sync failed:'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(spoken('Sync failed at'), findsOneWidget);
   });
 
   testWidgets('manual sync reports peer files it could not decode', (
@@ -89,9 +90,10 @@ void main() {
     await tester.pump();
     await tester.pump();
     await tester.pump();
+    await tester.pump(const Duration(milliseconds: 500)); // snack fades in
 
     expect(
-      find.textContaining('skipped 1 unreadable file(s)'),
+      spoken('skipped 1 unreadable file(s)'),
       findsWidgets, // snackbar and status line both call it out
     );
   });
@@ -120,7 +122,7 @@ void main() {
     await tester.pumpAndSettle(); // save + pop transition back to Settings
     expect(find.byType(SettingsScreen), findsOneWidget);
 
-    await tester.pageBack();
+    await tester.tap(find.byType(BackButton)); // no 'Back' tooltip to find
     await tester.pumpAndSettle(); // pop transition back to capture
 
     expect(find.byType(SettingsScreen), findsNothing); // back on capture
@@ -154,7 +156,7 @@ void main() {
       expect(find.bySemanticsLabel('Priority'), findsNothing);
       expect(find.bySemanticsLabel('Status'), findsNothing);
       // Routine status chatter is gone; only a badge count remains.
-      expect(find.textContaining('Autosaves as you type'), findsNothing);
+      expect(spoken('Autosaves as you type'), findsNothing);
       expect(find.text('1'), findsOneWidget);
       // The note still persisted normally underneath the simplified UI.
       expect(find.text('A plain idea'), findsOneWidget);
diff --git a/test/github_mirror_device_flow_test.dart b/test/github_mirror_device_flow_test.dart
index b788066..b997a87 100644
--- a/test/github_mirror_device_flow_test.dart
+++ b/test/github_mirror_device_flow_test.dart
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import 'fake_note_repository.dart';
 import 'fake_secure_storage.dart';
 
 import 'github_mirror_harness.dart';
+import 'text_free_guard.dart';
 
 /// Stub launcher that records the URL instead of opening it, so `_openPage`
 /// can be exercised without a real platform channel.
@@ -80,7 +81,7 @@ void main() {
       await tester.pump();
     }
 
-    expect(find.textContaining('sync failed'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(spoken('sync failed'), findsOneWidget);
   });
 
   testWidgets('Save persists the settings and closes the screen', (
diff --git a/test/github_mirror_screen_test.dart b/test/github_mirror_screen_test.dart
index 751913b..06c7f8d 100644
--- a/test/github_mirror_screen_test.dart
+++ b/test/github_mirror_screen_test.dart
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import 'fake_note_repository.dart';
 import 'fake_secure_storage.dart';
 
 import 'github_mirror_harness.dart';
+import 'text_free_guard.dart';
 
 /// Stub launcher that records the URL instead of opening it, so `_openPage`
 /// can be exercised without a real platform channel.
@@ -45,10 +46,7 @@ void main() {
     await pumpMirror(tester);
     await tester.tap(find.bySemanticsLabel('Connect GitHub'));
     await tester.pump();
-    expect(
-      find.textContaining('Enter the OAuth App client id'),
-      findsOneWidget,
-    );
+    expect(spoken('Enter the OAuth App client id'), findsOneWidget);
   });
 
   testWidgets('Test connection reports a reachable repo', (tester) async {
@@ -59,7 +57,7 @@ void main() {
     await tester.pump(); // start
     await tester.pump(); // resolve future + rebuild
 
-    expect(find.textContaining('reachable'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(spoken('reachable'), findsOneWidget);
   });
 
   testWidgets('Test connection reports an inaccessible repo', (tester) async {
@@ -70,7 +68,7 @@ void main() {
     await tester.pump();
     await tester.pump();
 
-    expect(find.textContaining('Could not access'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(spoken('Could not access'), findsOneWidget);
   });
 
   testWidgets('Test connection surfaces a network error', (tester) async {
@@ -81,7 +79,7 @@ void main() {
     await tester.pump();
     await tester.pump();
 
-    expect(find.textContaining('Error:'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(spoken('Error:'), findsOneWidget);
   });
 
   testWidgets('device flow failure to start shows a message', (tester) async {
@@ -101,7 +99,7 @@ void main() {
     await tester.pump();
     await tester.pump();
 
-    expect(find.textContaining('Could not start device flow'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(spoken('Could not start device flow'), findsOneWidget);
   });
 
   testWidgets('device flow happy path saves the token', (tester) async {
@@ -145,6 +143,6 @@ void main() {
       await tester.pump();
     }
 
-    expect(find.textContaining('Connected and synced'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(spoken('Connected and synced'), findsOneWidget);
   });
 }
diff --git a/test/note_editor_guided_test.dart b/test/note_editor_guided_test.dart
index 14c0ae1..def6726 100644
--- a/test/note_editor_guided_test.dart
+++ b/test/note_editor_guided_test.dart
@@ -4,8 +4,10 @@ import 'package:todo/data/note.dart';
 import 'package:todo/data/note_template.dart';
 import 'package:todo/ui/markdown_view.dart';
 import 'package:todo/ui/note_editor.dart';
+import 'package:todo/ui/template_glyphs.dart';
 
 import 'note_editor_harness.dart';
+import 'text_free_guard.dart';
 
 void main() {
   testWidgets('guided: typing the title emits an assembled # heading', (
@@ -49,14 +51,13 @@ void main() {
     for (var i = 0; i < spec.sections.length; i++) {
       final section = spec.sections[i];
       expect(find.text('${i + 1} / ${spec.sections.length}'), findsOneWidget);
+      // Each step paints its section glyph; label + helper are spoken.
       expect(
-        section.isTitle
-            ? find.bySemanticsLabel('title')
-            : find.text(section.label),
-        findsWidgets,
+        find.byIcon(sectionIcon(section)),
+        findsOneWidget,
         reason: 'step ${i + 1} should show "${section.label}"',
       );
-      expect(find.text(section.helper), findsOneWidget);
+      expect(spoken(section.helper), findsOneWidget);
       if (i < spec.sections.length - 1) {
         await tester.tap(find.bySemanticsLabel('Next'));
         await tester.pump();
@@ -76,7 +77,7 @@ void main() {
       initialTemplate: spec,
       initialMode: NoteEditorMode.raw,
     );
-    expect(find.text('LLM design spec'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.byIcon(Icons.assignment_outlined), findsOneWidget);
 
     await tester.enterText(
       find.byType(TextField).first,
@@ -85,7 +86,7 @@ void main() {
     await tester.pump();
 
     // Freeform now, so there is no seven-step stepper to walk for a link.
-    expect(find.text('Blank'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.byIcon(Icons.note_outlined), findsOneWidget);
     expect(find.bySemanticsLabel('Guided'), findsNothing);
 
     // Adding prose puts the spec template back — lossless in both directions.
@@ -94,7 +95,7 @@ void main() {
       'https://example.com/x — port this to Dart',
     );
     await tester.pump();
-    expect(find.text('LLM design spec'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.byIcon(Icons.assignment_outlined), findsOneWidget);
     expect(find.bySemanticsLabel('Guided'), findsOneWidget);
   });
 
@@ -107,16 +108,16 @@ void main() {
       initialMode: NoteEditorMode.raw,
     );
 
-    await tester.tap(find.text('LLM design spec'));
+    await tester.tap(find.byIcon(Icons.assignment_outlined));
     await tester.pumpAndSettle();
-    await tester.tap(find.text('Blank').last);
+    await tester.tap(find.byIcon(Icons.note_outlined).last);
     await tester.pumpAndSettle();
-    expect(find.text('Blank'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.byIcon(Icons.note_outlined), findsOneWidget);
 
     // Prose would normally re-select the spec template; an explicit pick wins.
     await tester.enterText(find.byType(TextField).first, 'build a thing');
     await tester.pump();
-    expect(find.text('Blank'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.byIcon(Icons.note_outlined), findsOneWidget);
   });
 
   testWidgets('switching to View renders the note as Markdown', (tester) async {
diff --git a/test/note_editor_modes_test.dart b/test/note_editor_modes_test.dart
index b173dc8..b80110f 100644
--- a/test/note_editor_modes_test.dart
+++ b/test/note_editor_modes_test.dart
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import 'package:todo/ui/markdown_view.dart';
 import 'package:todo/ui/note_editor.dart';
 
 import 'note_editor_harness.dart';
+import 'text_free_guard.dart';
 
 void main() {
   testWidgets(
@@ -40,8 +41,9 @@ void main() {
     // Structured template + non-conforming raw text → switching is refused.
     await tester.tap(find.bySemanticsLabel('Guided'));
     await tester.pump();
+    await tester.pump(const Duration(milliseconds: 500)); // snack fades in
 
-    expect(find.textContaining("doesn't match the template"), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(spoken("doesn't match the template"), findsOneWidget);
     expect(find.byType(LinearProgressIndicator), findsNothing); // still raw
   });
 
@@ -97,9 +99,11 @@ void main() {
       findsOneWidget,
     ); // structured: Guided offered
 
-    await tester.tap(find.text('LLM design spec').first); // open the menu
+    await tester.tap(
+      find.byIcon(Icons.assignment_outlined).first,
+    ); // open the menu
     await tester.pumpAndSettle();
-    await tester.tap(find.text('Blank').last);
+    await tester.tap(find.byIcon(Icons.note_outlined).last);
     await tester.pumpAndSettle();
 
     // Freeform now: Guided is no longer offered.
diff --git a/test/note_editor_wizard_test.dart b/test/note_editor_wizard_test.dart
index 9542dda..6d8573d 100644
--- a/test/note_editor_wizard_test.dart
+++ b/test/note_editor_wizard_test.dart
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import 'package:todo/ui/markdown_view.dart';
 import 'package:todo/ui/note_editor.dart';
 
 import 'note_editor_harness.dart';
+import 'text_free_guard.dart';
 
 void main() {
   testWidgets(
@@ -61,12 +62,14 @@ void main() {
     await tester.tap(find.bySemanticsLabel('Next'));
     await tester.pump();
 
-    await tester.tap(find.text('LLM design spec').first); // open the menu
+    await tester.tap(
+      find.byIcon(Icons.assignment_outlined).first,
+    ); // open the menu
     await tester.pumpAndSettle();
-    expect(find.text('Blank'), findsNothing);
+    expect(find.byIcon(Icons.note_outlined), findsNothing);
 
     // Select the (only) offered template, exercising the dropdown's onChanged.
-    await tester.tap(find.text('LLM design spec').last);
+    await tester.tap(find.byIcon(Icons.assignment_outlined).last);
     await tester.pumpAndSettle();
     expect(find.bySemanticsLabel('Step 2 of 2'), findsOneWidget);
   });
diff --git a/test/notes_grid_test.dart b/test/notes_grid_test.dart
index b0234b3..0b88431 100644
--- a/test/notes_grid_test.dart
+++ b/test/notes_grid_test.dart
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ import 'package:todo/data/note.dart';
 import 'package:todo/ui/note_grid_tile.dart';
 
 import 'notes_list_harness.dart';
+import 'package:todo/ui/enum_glyphs.dart';
+import 'package:todo/ui/empty_notes_cue.dart';
 
 void _phone(WidgetTester t) {
   t.view
@@ -53,10 +55,10 @@ void main() {
     );
 
     expect(find.text('Buy milk'), findsOneWidget);
-    expect(find.text('High'), findsOneWidget);
-    expect(find.text('In progress'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.byIcon(priorityIcon(Priority.high)), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.byIcon(statusIcon(Status.inProgress)), findsOneWidget);
     expect(find.textContaining('Two litres'), findsNothing);
-    expect(find.textContaining('edited'), findsNothing);
+    expect(find.byIcon(Icons.history), findsNothing);
     expect(find.byTooltip('Quick actions'), findsNothing);
   });
 
@@ -93,7 +95,7 @@ void main() {
   testWidgets('an empty note reads (empty)', (t) async {
     _phone(t);
     await pumpList(t, seed: [note('a', '')]);
-    expect(find.text('(empty)'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.text(kEmptyTitle), findsOneWidget);
   });
 
   testWidgets('tap opens the note', (t) async {
@@ -119,8 +121,14 @@ void main() {
     await _openSheet(t, 'Buy milk');
 
     expect(find.textContaining('Two litres of oat'), findsOneWidget);
-    expect(find.textContaining('Edited'), findsOneWidget);
-    expect(find.textContaining('Created'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.byIcon(Icons.history), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(
+      find.descendant(
+        of: find.byType(BottomSheet),
+        matching: find.byIcon(Icons.add),
+      ),
+      findsOneWidget,
+    );
     await t.tap(find.bySemanticsLabel('In progress'));
     await t.pump();
     expect((await repo.listNotes()).single.status, Status.inProgress);
@@ -134,7 +142,7 @@ void main() {
     await _openSheet(t, 'Just a title');
 
     expect(find.text('Just a title'), findsNWidgets(2));
-    expect(find.textContaining('Edited'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.byIcon(Icons.history), findsOneWidget);
   });
 
   testWidgets('the sheet can delete a grid note', (t) async {
@@ -154,7 +162,7 @@ void main() {
     _phone(t);
     final repo = await pumpList(t);
 
-    expect(find.textContaining('No notes'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.byType(EmptyNotesCue), findsOneWidget);
     expect(repo.lastFilter!.statuses, {Status.todo, Status.inProgress});
     expect(t.widget<Badge>(find.byType(Badge)).isLabelVisible, isFalse);
   });
diff --git a/test/notes_list_filter_test.dart b/test/notes_list_filter_test.dart
index f3fd2a4..4a5455f 100644
--- a/test/notes_list_filter_test.dart
+++ b/test/notes_list_filter_test.dart
@@ -7,13 +7,14 @@ import 'package:todo/ui/notes_list_screen.dart';
 import 'fake_note_repository.dart';
 
 import 'notes_list_harness.dart';
+import 'text_free_guard.dart';
 
 /// Opens a date field's menu and picks [entry].
 Future<void> pickRange(WidgetTester tester, String field, String entry) async {
   await tester.tap(find.bySemanticsLabel(field));
   await tester.pump();
   await tester.pump(const Duration(milliseconds: 300));
-  await tester.tap(find.text(entry).last);
+  await tester.tap(spoken(entry).last);
   await tester.pump();
 }
 
@@ -68,10 +69,10 @@ void main() {
       ],
     );
 
-    expect(find.textContaining('just now'), findsOneWidget);
-    expect(find.textContaining('5m ago'), findsOneWidget);
-    expect(find.textContaining('2h ago'), findsOneWidget);
-    expect(find.textContaining('3d ago'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.text('0m'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.text('5m'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.text('2h'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.text('3d'), findsOneWidget);
   });
 
   testWidgets('Clear all resets the filter sheet to the default', (
diff --git a/test/notes_list_harness.dart b/test/notes_list_harness.dart
index 75e4e3a..d535e06 100644
--- a/test/notes_list_harness.dart
+++ b/test/notes_list_harness.dart
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import 'package:flutter_test/flutter_test.dart';
 import 'package:todo/data/app_settings.dart';
 import 'package:todo/data/note.dart';
 import 'package:todo/ui/notes_list_screen.dart';
+import 'package:todo/ui/text_free_localizations.dart';
 
 import 'fake_note_repository.dart';
 
@@ -42,6 +43,8 @@ Future<FakeNoteRepository> pumpList(
   addTearDown(settings.dispose);
   await tester.pumpWidget(
     MaterialApp(
+      // As in main.dart: Material's own button tooltips are blanked.
+      localizationsDelegates: kTextFreeLocalizations,
       home: NotesListScreen(repository: repo, appSettings: settings),
     ),
   );
diff --git a/test/notes_list_repo_filter_test.dart b/test/notes_list_repo_filter_test.dart
index 056b094..e9cea46 100644
--- a/test/notes_list_repo_filter_test.dart
+++ b/test/notes_list_repo_filter_test.dart
@@ -53,15 +53,15 @@ void main() {
     expect(find.text('make check'), findsOneWidget);
     expect(find.text('claude'), findsOneWidget);
     expect(find.text('abc 0'), findsOneWidget);
-    expect(find.text('Done check'), findsOneWidget);
-    expect(find.text('Evidence'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.byIcon(Icons.fact_check_outlined), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.byIcon(Icons.verified_outlined), findsOneWidget);
     expect(find.byType(TextField), findsNothing);
   });
 
   testWidgets('a plain idea shows no task fields', (tester) async {
     await pumpActions(tester, note('i', 'An idea'));
-    expect(find.text('Repo'), findsNothing);
-    expect(find.text('Done check'), findsNothing);
-    expect(find.text('Evidence'), findsNothing);
+    expect(find.byIcon(Icons.folder_outlined), findsNothing);
+    expect(find.byIcon(Icons.fact_check_outlined), findsNothing);
+    expect(find.byIcon(Icons.verified_outlined), findsNothing);
   });
 }
diff --git a/test/notes_list_screen_test.dart b/test/notes_list_screen_test.dart
index f16cd23..e7a6b65 100644
--- a/test/notes_list_screen_test.dart
+++ b/test/notes_list_screen_test.dart
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@ import 'package:todo/ui/notes_list_screen.dart';
 import 'fake_note_repository.dart';
 
 import 'notes_list_harness.dart';
+import 'package:todo/ui/enum_glyphs.dart';
+import 'package:todo/ui/note_grid_tile.dart';
+import 'package:todo/ui/empty_notes_cue.dart';
 
 void main() {
   testWidgets('renders notes with a status · priority · time subtitle', (
@@ -18,8 +21,8 @@ void main() {
     );
 
     expect(find.text('First note'), findsOneWidget);
-    expect(find.textContaining('To do'), findsOneWidget);
-    expect(find.textContaining('High'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.byIcon(statusIcon(Status.todo)), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.byIcon(priorityIcon(Priority.high)), findsOneWidget);
   });
 
   testWidgets('defaults to hiding Done/Abandoned with no filter badge', (
@@ -122,6 +125,6 @@ void main() {
     await pumpList(tester); // no seed
     // The default filter hides Done/Abandoned, so it's the "no match"
     // variant rather than "No notes yet" — either way, an empty message.
-    expect(find.textContaining('No notes'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.byType(EmptyNotesCue), findsOneWidget);
   });
 }
diff --git a/test/text_free_guard.dart b/test/text_free_guard.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fcaa170
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/text_free_guard.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+/// The "no words" guard: kuhy's textgate rule says nothing he sees carries
+/// app-written text. This walks every painted string in the widget tree and
+/// fails on any run of two letters that is not note content.
+///
+/// Deliberately NOT named `*_test.dart`: it is a helper with no `main()`.
+library;
+
+import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
+import 'package:flutter_test/flutter_test.dart';
+
+final RegExp _word = RegExp('[A-Za-z]{2,}');
+
+/// Finds a node whose spoken (semantics) label contains [part] literally.
+/// The old visible sentences live on as spoken labels, so tests that used
+/// `find.textContaining` now look here.
+Finder spoken(String part) =>
+    find.bySemanticsLabel(RegExp(RegExp.escape(part)));
+
+/// Every string the tree paints: each [RichText] (which is what [Text] builds)
+/// and every non-empty [Tooltip] message, since a tooltip is shown on
+/// long-press. Text being typed lives in an [EditableText] and is the user's,
+/// so it is never painted through a [RichText] and is not collected.
+List<String> paintedStrings(WidgetTester tester) => [
+  for (final w in tester.widgetList<RichText>(find.byType(RichText)))
+    w.text.toPlainText(),
+  for (final t in tester.widgetList<Tooltip>(find.byType(Tooltip)))
+    if ((t.message ?? '').isNotEmpty) t.message!,
+];
+
+/// Fails if any painted string still holds a word once every [content]
+/// string (note text, typed values: things kuhy wrote) is removed from it.
+///
+/// An empty tree is a failure too: a guard that saw nothing proves nothing.
+void expectNoChromeWords(
+  WidgetTester tester, {
+  List<String> content = const [],
+}) {
+  final painted = paintedStrings(tester);
+  expect(painted, isNotEmpty, reason: 'guard saw no painted strings');
+  final offenders = <String>[];
+  for (final s in painted) {
+    var rest = s;
+    for (final c in content) {
+      rest = rest.replaceAll(c, '');
+    }
+    if (_word.hasMatch(rest)) offenders.add(s);
+  }
+  expect(offenders, isEmpty, reason: 'app-written words are painted');
+}
diff --git a/test/text_free_list_test.dart b/test/text_free_list_test.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e5a8154
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/text_free_list_test.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+/// Textgate guard for the notes list and the sheets it opens: nothing
+/// app-written is painted, only note content, numbers and glyphs.
+library;
+
+import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
+import 'package:flutter_test/flutter_test.dart';
+import 'package:todo/data/note.dart';
+
+import 'notes_list_harness.dart';
+import 'text_free_guard.dart';
+
+const _content = [
+  'Buy milk',
+  'Fix sync',
+  'kuhyx/todo-app',
+  'flutter test',
+  'claude',
+  'green run',
+  'todo-app',
+];
+
+final _task = Note(
+  id: 't',
+  text: 'Fix sync',
+  priority: Priority.high,
+  status: Status.inProgress,
+  createdAt: DateTime(2026, 6, 15, 9),
+  updatedAt: DateTime(2026, 6, 15, 9),
+  repo: 'kuhyx/todo-app',
+  doneCheck: 'flutter test',
+  by: 'claude',
+  evidence: 'green run',
+);
+
+void _size(WidgetTester t, Size s, double dpr) {
+  t.view
+    ..physicalSize = s
+    ..devicePixelRatio = dpr;
+  addTearDown(t.view.reset);
+}
+
+void _desktop(WidgetTester t) => _size(t, const Size(1600, 1000), 1);
+
+void _phone(WidgetTester t) => _size(t, const Size(1080, 2400), 2.625);
+
+Future<void> _settle(WidgetTester t) async {
+  await t.pump();
+  await t.pump(const Duration(milliseconds: 300));
+}
+
+void main() {
+  testWidgets('the empty list paints no words', (t) async {
+    _desktop(t);
+    await pumpList(t);
+    expectNoChromeWords(t);
+  });
+
+  testWidgets('the filtered-empty list paints no words', (t) async {
+    _desktop(t);
+    await pumpList(
+      t,
+      seed: [note('a', 'Buy milk', status: Status.done)],
+      applyFilter: true,
+    );
+    expectNoChromeWords(t);
+  });
+
+  testWidgets('the desktop list paints only note content', (t) async {
+    _desktop(t);
+    await pumpList(t, seed: [note('a', 'Buy milk'), note('e', ''), _task]);
+    expectNoChromeWords(t, content: _content);
+  });
+
+  testWidgets('the phone grid paints only note content', (t) async {
+    _phone(t);
+    await pumpList(t, seed: [note('a', 'Buy milk'), note('e', ''), _task]);
+    expectNoChromeWords(t, content: _content);
+  });
+
+  testWidgets('the filter sheet paints no words', (t) async {
+    _phone(t);
+    await pumpList(t, seed: [note('a', 'Buy milk')], applyFilter: true);
+    await t.tap(find.byIcon(Icons.filter_list));
+    await _settle(t);
+    expectNoChromeWords(t, content: _content);
+  });
+
+  testWidgets('an opened note paints only its content', (t) async {
+    _desktop(t);
+    await pumpList(t, seed: [_task]);
+    await t.tap(find.text('Fix sync'));
+    await _settle(t);
+    expectNoChromeWords(t, content: _content);
+  });
+
+  for (final (name, title) in [
+    ('plain note', 'Buy milk'),
+    ('task', 'Fix sync'),
+  ]) {
+    testWidgets('the $name sheet paints only note content', (t) async {
+      _phone(t);
+      await pumpList(t, seed: [note('a', 'Buy milk'), _task]);
+      await t.longPress(find.text(title));
+      await _settle(t);
+      expectNoChromeWords(t, content: _content);
+    });
+  }
+}
diff --git a/test/text_free_screens_test.dart b/test/text_free_screens_test.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9d6c98c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/text_free_screens_test.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+/// Textgate guard for the capture screen, the editor and the settings
+/// screens: nothing app-written is painted, only typed content and numbers.
+library;
+
+import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
+import 'package:flutter_test/flutter_test.dart';
+import 'package:http/http.dart' as http;
+import 'package:http/testing.dart';
+import 'package:todo/data/note_template.dart';
+import 'package:todo/ui/cloud_images_settings.dart';
+import 'package:todo/ui/note_editor_mode.dart';
+
+import 'capture_screen_harness.dart';
+import 'github_mirror_harness.dart';
+import 'note_editor_harness.dart';
+import 'settings_screen_harness.dart';
+import 'text_free_guard.dart';
+
+Future<void> _frames(WidgetTester t) async {
+  await t.pump();
+  await t.pump(const Duration(milliseconds: 300));
+}
+
+void main() {
+  testWidgets('the capture screen paints no words', (t) async {
+    await pumpCapture(t);
+    expectNoChromeWords(t);
+  });
+
+  testWidgets('a saved draft paints no words', (t) async {
+    await pumpCapture(t);
+    await t.enterText(find.byType(TextField), 'Buy milk');
+    await _frames(t);
+    expectNoChromeWords(t);
+  });
+
+  testWidgets('sync with nothing configured paints no words', (t) async {
+    await pumpCapture(t);
+    await t.tap(find.bySemanticsLabel('Sync'));
+    await _frames(t);
+    expectNoChromeWords(t);
+  });
+
+  testWidgets('a failed sync paints no words', (t) async {
+    await pumpCapture(
+      t,
+      prefs: configuredPrefs,
+      httpClient: MockClient((_) async => http.Response('boom', 500)),
+    );
+    await t.tap(find.bySemanticsLabel('Sync'));
+    await _frames(t);
+    expectNoChromeWords(t, content: const ['boom']);
+  });
+
+  testWidgets('the guided wizard and its steps paint no words', (t) async {
+    await pumpCapture(t);
+    await t.tap(find.bySemanticsLabel('Guided'));
+    await t.pump();
+    expectNoChromeWords(t);
+    await t.tap(find.bySemanticsLabel('Next'));
+    await t.pump();
+    expectNoChromeWords(t);
+    await t.tap(find.bySemanticsLabel('Start'));
+    await t.pump();
+    expectNoChromeWords(t);
+    await t.tap(find.bySemanticsLabel('Next'));
+    await _frames(t);
+    expectNoChromeWords(t);
+  });
+
+  testWidgets('a guided step paints no words', (t) async {
+    await pumpEditor(t, initialTemplate: NoteTemplate.llmDesignSpec);
+    expectNoChromeWords(t);
+  });
+
+  testWidgets('the raw editor paints no words', (t) async {
+    await pumpEditor(t, initialMode: NoteEditorMode.raw);
+    expectNoChromeWords(t);
+  });
+
+  testWidgets('settings paint no words', (t) async {
+    await pumpSettings(t);
+    expectNoChromeWords(t);
+  });
+
+  testWidgets('GitHub sync and its test result paint no words', (t) async {
+    await pumpMirror(
+      t,
+      httpClient: MockClient((_) async => http.Response('{}', 404)),
+    );
+    expectNoChromeWords(t, content: const ['kuhyx', 'syncs']);
+    await t.tap(find.bySemanticsLabel('Test connection'));
+    await _frames(t);
+    expectNoChromeWords(t, content: const ['kuhyx', 'syncs']);
+  });
+
+  for (final field in [true, false]) {
+    testWidgets('cloud images (field: $field) paint no words', (t) async {
+      await t.pumpWidget(
+        MaterialApp(home: CloudImagesScreen(showPasswordField: field)),
+      );
+      await t.pump();
+      expectNoChromeWords(t);
+    });
+  }
+}
diff --git a/test/ui_images/attach_files_test.dart b/test/ui_images/attach_files_test.dart
index bddbab9..bf9c8bf 100644
--- a/test/ui_images/attach_files_test.dart
+++ b/test/ui_images/attach_files_test.dart
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import 'package:todo/attachments/image_store_scope.dart';
 import 'package:todo/ui/image_attach.dart';
 
 import '../fake_image_store.dart';
+import '../text_free_guard.dart';
 
 void main() {
   late FakeImageStore store;
@@ -71,7 +72,8 @@ void main() {
     );
     await tester.pump();
     expect(inserted.single, hasLength(1));
-    expect(find.text('full'), findsOneWidget);
+    await tester.pump(const Duration(milliseconds: 500)); // snack fades in
+    expect(spoken('full'), findsOneWidget);
   });
 
   testWidgets('nothing is shown once the screen closed mid-attach', (
@@ -92,6 +94,6 @@ void main() {
     gate.complete();
     await done;
     await tester.pump();
-    expect(find.text('full'), findsNothing);
+    expect(spoken('full'), findsNothing);
   });
 }
diff --git a/test/ui_images/capture_images_test.dart b/test/ui_images/capture_images_test.dart
index 1cf6216..9080df7 100644
--- a/test/ui_images/capture_images_test.dart
+++ b/test/ui_images/capture_images_test.dart
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import 'package:todo/ui/images/attachment_strip.dart';
 
 import '../capture_screen_harness.dart';
 import '../fake_image_store.dart';
+import '../text_free_guard.dart';
 
 void main() {
   testWidgets('📎 on an empty draft creates the note under the file id', (
@@ -132,6 +133,7 @@ void main() {
       (await repo.listNotes()).single.id,
       store.attached.keys.single.noteId,
     );
-    expect(find.text('Not an image'), findsOneWidget);
+    await tester.pump(const Duration(milliseconds: 500)); // snack fades in
+    expect(spoken('Not an image'), findsOneWidget);
   });
 }
diff --git a/test/ui_images/cloud_images_settings_test.dart b/test/ui_images/cloud_images_settings_test.dart
index 1cf403f..539a2e9 100644
--- a/test/ui_images/cloud_images_settings_test.dart
+++ b/test/ui_images/cloud_images_settings_test.dart
@@ -66,7 +66,10 @@ void main() {
     final store = FakeImageStore();
     await pump(tester, store: store, client: answer(207));
     await saveWith(tester, ' pw ');
-    expect(find.text('Saved — dufs accepted the login'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(
+      find.bySemanticsLabel('Saved — dufs accepted the login'),
+      findsOneWidget,
+    );
     expect(store.reconciles.single, isEmpty);
   });
 
@@ -77,7 +80,10 @@ void main() {
     final store = FakeImageStore();
     await pump(tester, store: store, client: answer(401));
     await saveWith(tester, 'bad');
-    expect(find.text('Saved, but dufs rejected the password'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(
+      find.bySemanticsLabel('Saved, but dufs rejected the password'),
+      findsOneWidget,
+    );
     expect(store.reconciles, isEmpty);
   });
 
@@ -89,7 +95,10 @@ void main() {
       client: MockClient((_) => throw const SocketException('down')),
     );
     await saveWith(tester, 'pw');
-    expect(find.text('Saved — dufs is unreachable right now'), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(
+      find.bySemanticsLabel('Saved — dufs is unreachable right now'),
+      findsOneWidget,
+    );
   });
 
   testWidgets('no keystore means nothing is saved', (tester) async {
@@ -97,7 +106,7 @@ void main() {
     await pump(tester, store: FakeImageStore(), client: answer(207));
     await saveWith(tester, 'pw');
     expect(
-      find.text('Could not save: the keystore is unavailable'),
+      find.bySemanticsLabel('Could not save: the keystore is unavailable'),
       findsOneWidget,
     );
   });
@@ -111,7 +120,7 @@ void main() {
       find.bySemanticsLabel('Login: missing — create it on the PC with'),
       findsOneWidget,
     );
-    expect(find.text(kAddLoginCommand), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.bySemanticsLabel('Copy: $kAddLoginCommand'), findsOneWidget);
   });
 
   testWidgets('closing the screen mid-test is harmless', (tester) async {
diff --git a/test/ui_images/file_embed_test.dart b/test/ui_images/file_embed_test.dart
index f2e8b10..9a88da1 100644
--- a/test/ui_images/file_embed_test.dart
+++ b/test/ui_images/file_embed_test.dart
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import 'package:todo/ui/images/file_embed.dart';
 import 'package:todo/ui/images/image_embed.dart';
 
 import '../fake_image_store.dart';
+import '../text_free_guard.dart';
 
 void main() {
   final pdf = AttachmentRef.forFile('n1', 'a.pdf');
@@ -57,13 +58,14 @@ void main() {
     await pump(tester, embed());
     await tester.tap(find.text('Raport.pdf'));
     await tester.pump();
-    expect(find.text(failure!), findsOneWidget);
+    await tester.pump(const Duration(milliseconds: 500)); // snack fades in
+    expect(spoken(failure!), findsOneWidget);
   });
 
   testWidgets('a file not here yet says so and does not open', (tester) async {
     store.missing.add(pdf);
     await pump(tester, embed());
-    expect(find.text(kImageNotDownloaded), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.byIcon(Icons.cloud_download_outlined), findsOneWidget);
     await tester.tap(find.text('Raport.pdf'));
     await tester.pump();
     expect(opened, isEmpty);
@@ -74,15 +76,15 @@ void main() {
   ) async {
     store.pending.add(pdf);
     await pump(tester, embed());
-    expect(find.byTooltip(kImageWaitingToUpload), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.byIcon(Icons.cloud_upload_outlined), findsOneWidget);
     await pump(tester, embed(compact: true));
-    expect(find.byTooltip(kImageWaitingToUpload), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.byIcon(Icons.cloud_upload_outlined), findsOneWidget);
   });
 
   testWidgets('the size is asked again when the store changes', (tester) async {
     store.missing.add(pdf);
     await pump(tester, embed());
-    expect(find.text(kImageNotDownloaded), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.byIcon(Icons.cloud_download_outlined), findsOneWidget);
     store
       ..missing.clear()
       ..changed();
diff --git a/test/ui_images/image_attach_test.dart b/test/ui_images/image_attach_test.dart
index c625c79..c927d0e 100644
--- a/test/ui_images/image_attach_test.dart
+++ b/test/ui_images/image_attach_test.dart
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import 'package:todo/attachments/image_store_scope.dart';
 import 'package:todo/ui/image_attach.dart';
 
 import '../fake_image_store.dart';
+import '../text_free_guard.dart';
 
 void main() {
   test('the controller inserts only while an editor is bound', () {
@@ -89,7 +90,8 @@ void main() {
       ],
     );
     await tester.pump();
-    expect(find.text('Not an image'), findsOneWidget);
+    await tester.pump(const Duration(milliseconds: 500)); // snack fades in
+    expect(spoken('Not an image'), findsOneWidget);
   });
 
   testWidgets('counts dropped non-images together', (tester) async {
@@ -105,7 +107,8 @@ void main() {
       rejected: 2,
     );
     await tester.pump();
-    expect(find.text('3 files were not images'), findsOneWidget);
+    await tester.pump(const Duration(milliseconds: 500)); // snack fades in
+    expect(spoken('3 files were not images'), findsOneWidget);
   });
 
   testWidgets('a store failure is shown and stops the batch', (tester) async {
@@ -122,7 +125,8 @@ void main() {
       ],
     );
     await tester.pump();
-    expect(find.text('helper down'), findsOneWidget);
+    await tester.pump(const Duration(milliseconds: 500)); // snack fades in
+    expect(spoken('helper down'), findsOneWidget);
   });
 
   testWidgets('nothing is shown once the screen closed mid-attach', (
diff --git a/test/ui_images/image_embed_test.dart b/test/ui_images/image_embed_test.dart
index e8fbec2..5f76dba 100644
--- a/test/ui_images/image_embed_test.dart
+++ b/test/ui_images/image_embed_test.dart
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ void main() {
   testWidgets('a local image renders and opens full screen', (tester) async {
     await pump(tester, ImageEmbed(ref: ref));
     expect(find.byType(Image), findsOneWidget);
-    expect(find.byTooltip(kImageWaitingToUpload), findsNothing);
+    expect(find.byIcon(Icons.cloud_upload_outlined), findsNothing);
     await tester.tap(find.byType(ImageEmbed));
     await tester.pumpAndSettle();
     expect(find.byType(ImageViewerScreen), findsOneWidget);
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ void main() {
   testWidgets('a queued image carries the upload badge', (tester) async {
     store.pending.add(ref);
     await pump(tester, ImageEmbed(ref: ref));
-    expect(find.byTooltip(kImageWaitingToUpload), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.byIcon(Icons.cloud_upload_outlined), findsOneWidget);
   });
 
   testWidgets('a missing image is a placeholder and not tappable', (
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ void main() {
   ) async {
     store.missing.add(ref);
     await pump(tester, ImageEmbed(ref: ref));
-    expect(find.text(kImageNotDownloaded), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.byIcon(Icons.cloud_download_outlined), findsOneWidget);
     await tester.tap(find.byType(ImageEmbed));
     await tester.pumpAndSettle();
     expect(find.byType(ImageViewerScreen), findsNothing);
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ void main() {
       () => Future<void>.delayed(const Duration(milliseconds: 50)),
     );
     await tester.pump();
-    expect(find.text(kImageNotDownloaded), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.byIcon(Icons.cloud_download_outlined), findsOneWidget);
     store.network = true;
     store.changed();
     await tester.pump();
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ void main() {
       () => Future<void>.delayed(const Duration(milliseconds: 50)),
     );
     await tester.pump();
-    expect(find.text(kImageNotDownloaded), findsOneWidget);
+    expect(find.byIcon(Icons.cloud_download_outlined), findsOneWidget);
   });
 
   testWidgets('the strip shows one thumbnail per linked image', (tester) async {