diff --git a/.jules/palette.md b/.jules/palette.md
index ea004e2d..57459b54 100644
--- a/.jules/palette.md
+++ b/.jules/palette.md
@@ -81,3 +81,7 @@
 ## 2026-08-12 - Skip to Content Accessibility
 **Learning:** Screen reader and keyboard-only users experience significant friction when forced to navigate through repetitive header controls on every page load.
 **Action:** Keep a visible-on-focus skip link as the first interactive element, target a programmatically focusable main container, and give the focused link a high-contrast outline.
+
+## 2026-08-20 - Header File Upload Proxy Button
+**Learning:** Native `<input type="file">` elements have inconsistent, unstylable UI across browsers that disrupts header layouts. Directly hiding them and proxying clicks via a standard `<button>` ensures visual consistency and allows for proper accessible naming without duplication.
+**Action:** Visually hide native file inputs with `.sr-only` and `aria-hidden="true"`, moving `aria-label` to the proxy `<button>` to maintain an accessible, harmonious UI.
diff --git a/scanner/dashboard/index.html b/scanner/dashboard/index.html
index 132bc31b..3728bec4 100644
--- a/scanner/dashboard/index.html
+++ b/scanner/dashboard/index.html
@@ -93,7 +93,8 @@
   <span class="logo"></span><span class="brand">AppGuardrail</span>
   <span class="spacer"></span>
   <span class="meta" id="src">no findings loaded</span>
-  <input type="file" id="file" accept="application/json,.json" aria-label="Upload findings file" style="margin-left:12px">
+  <button type="button" id="header-browse" class="primary-action" aria-label="Upload findings file" style="margin-left:12px; min-height:32px; padding:6px 12px; font-size:13px;">Upload findings</button>
+  <input type="file" id="file" accept="application/json,.json" class="sr-only" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true">
 </header>
 <p id="findings-summary" class="sr-only" role="status" aria-live="polite" aria-atomic="true"></p>
 <main id="app" tabindex="-1"></main>
@@ -325,6 +326,8 @@ <h1>Dashboard</h1>
 }
 
 const fileInput = document.getElementById('file');
+const headerBrowse = document.getElementById('header-browse');
+if (headerBrowse) headerBrowse.addEventListener('click', () => fileInput.click());
 fileInput.addEventListener('change', () => {
   const selectedFile = fileInput.files?.[0];
   fileInput.value = '';