diff --git a/web/src/components/PageBack.test.tsx b/web/src/components/PageBack.test.tsx
index 149391e1..c6c8108c 100644
--- a/web/src/components/PageBack.test.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/PageBack.test.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { render, screen } from "@testing-library/react";
 import userEvent from "@testing-library/user-event";
 import { MemoryRouter } from "react-router";
-import { describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
 
 const mocks = vi.hoisted(() => ({
   navigate: vi.fn(),
@@ -18,6 +18,11 @@ vi.mock("react-router", async () => {
 import PageBack from "./PageBack";
 
 describe("PageBack", () => {
+  afterEach(() => {
+    mocks.navigate.mockClear();
+    window.history.replaceState(null, "");
+  });
+
   it("renders a button with the default 'Go back' aria-label", () => {
     render(
       <MemoryRouter>
@@ -38,8 +43,21 @@ describe("PageBack", () => {
     expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Return to library" })).toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 
-  it("calls navigate(-1) on click", async () => {
-    mocks.navigate.mockClear();
+  it("falls back to the default route when there is no router history", async () => {
+    render(
+      <MemoryRouter>
+        <PageBack />
+      </MemoryRouter>,
+    );
+
+    await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Go back" }));
+
+    expect(mocks.navigate).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(mocks.navigate).toHaveBeenCalledWith("/");
+  });
+
+  it("uses browser history when a router history entry is available", async () => {
+    window.history.replaceState({ idx: 1 }, "");
     render(
       <MemoryRouter>
         <PageBack />
@@ -52,6 +70,20 @@ describe("PageBack", () => {
     expect(mocks.navigate).toHaveBeenCalledWith(-1);
   });
 
+  it("uses the explicit target when history preference is disabled", async () => {
+    window.history.replaceState({ idx: 1 }, "");
+    render(
+      <MemoryRouter>
+        <PageBack to="/collections" preferHistory={false} />
+      </MemoryRouter>,
+    );
+
+    await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Go back" }));
+
+    expect(mocks.navigate).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(mocks.navigate).toHaveBeenCalledWith("/collections");
+  });
+
   it("applies the documented positioning and glass styling", () => {
     render(
       <MemoryRouter>
diff --git a/web/src/components/PageBack.tsx b/web/src/components/PageBack.tsx
index 345091ce..a2814fd3 100644
--- a/web/src/components/PageBack.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/PageBack.tsx
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 import { ChevronLeft } from "lucide-react";
-import { useNavigate } from "react-router";
+import { type To, useNavigate } from "react-router";
 
 interface PageBackProps {
   label?: string;
+  to?: To;
+  preferHistory?: boolean;
   /**
    * When true, pins the button to the viewport on lg+ so it stays visible
    * while scrolling. The offset matches the app sidebar (260px) so the
@@ -11,16 +13,33 @@ interface PageBackProps {
   floating?: boolean;
 }
 
-export default function PageBack({ label = "Go back", floating = false }: PageBackProps) {
+export default function PageBack({
+  label = "Go back",
+  to = "/",
+  preferHistory = true,
+  floating = false,
+}: PageBackProps) {
   const navigate = useNavigate();
   const position = floating
     ? "absolute top-4 left-2 sm:top-6 lg:fixed lg:left-[268px]"
     : "absolute top-4 left-2 sm:top-6";
+
+  function goBack() {
+    const historyIndex = window.history.state?.idx;
+
+    if (preferHistory && typeof historyIndex === "number" && historyIndex > 0) {
+      navigate(-1);
+      return;
+    }
+
+    navigate(to);
+  }
+
   return (
     <button
       type="button"
       aria-label={label}
-      onClick={() => navigate(-1)}
+      onClick={goBack}
       className={`glass text-foreground hover:bg-accent ${position} z-20 flex items-center justify-center rounded-full p-1.5 shadow-md transition-colors`}
     >
       <ChevronLeft className="size-5" />
diff --git a/web/src/pages/CollectionEditor.tsx b/web/src/pages/CollectionEditor.tsx
index 6b0b8769..b35194fc 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/CollectionEditor.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/CollectionEditor.tsx
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ export default function CollectionEditor() {
   if (id && !collection && !isLoading) {
     return (
       <div className="page-shell relative space-y-4 py-4 sm:py-6">
-        <PageBack />
-        <Card className="surface-panel rounded-[1.7rem] border-0 shadow-none">
+        <PageBack to="/collections" preferHistory={false} />
+        <Card className="surface-panel mt-10 rounded-[1.7rem] border-0 shadow-none sm:mt-12">
           <CardHeader>
             <CardTitle>Collection not found</CardTitle>
             <CardDescription>The selected collection could not be loaded.</CardDescription>
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ export default function CollectionEditor() {
   if (collection && isImportedCollection(collection)) {
     return (
       <div className="page-shell relative space-y-6 py-4 sm:py-6">
-        <PageBack />
-        <div>
+        <PageBack to="/collections" preferHistory={false} />
+        <div className="mt-10 sm:mt-12">
           <h1 className="page-title text-[clamp(2rem,4vw,3rem)]">{collection.name}</h1>
           <p className="page-subtitle mt-1 text-sm sm:text-base">
             Edit what's local — name, libraries, sharing. Source-managed details (URL, schedule,
@@ -68,8 +68,8 @@ export default function CollectionEditor() {
   if (collection && collection.collection_type === "manual") {
     return (
       <div className="page-shell relative space-y-6 py-4 sm:py-6">
-        <PageBack />
-        <div>
+        <PageBack to="/collections" preferHistory={false} />
+        <div className="mt-10 sm:mt-12">
           <h1 className="page-title text-[clamp(2rem,4vw,3rem)]">Edit {collection.name}</h1>
           <p className="page-subtitle mt-1 text-sm sm:text-base">
             Manual collections are curated by adding titles directly.
diff --git a/web/src/pages/PersonDetail.tsx b/web/src/pages/PersonDetail.tsx
index 60719075..b0d583a8 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/PersonDetail.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/PersonDetail.tsx
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ export default function PersonDetail() {
       {/* Person Header */}
       <section className="page-shell relative pt-8 pb-6 sm:pt-10 sm:pb-8">
         <PageBack />
-        <div className="flex flex-col gap-6 lg:flex-row lg:gap-8">
+        <div className="mt-10 flex flex-col gap-6 sm:mt-12 lg:flex-row lg:gap-8">
           {/* Photo */}
           <div className="shrink-0 self-start">
             <div className="media-card-image aspect-[2/3] w-[140px] overflow-hidden rounded-lg sm:w-[180px]">
diff --git a/web/src/pages/ProfileCustomizeHome.tsx b/web/src/pages/ProfileCustomizeHome.tsx
index 2f47694e..cd39182b 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/ProfileCustomizeHome.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/ProfileCustomizeHome.tsx
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ export default function ProfileCustomizeHome() {
   return (
     <div className="relative mx-auto max-w-3xl p-6">
       <PageBack />
-      <div className="flex items-center justify-between border-b border-white/10 pb-3">
+      <div className="mt-10 flex items-center justify-between border-b border-white/10 pb-3 sm:mt-12">
         <h1 className="text-base font-semibold">Customize home</h1>
         <div className="flex gap-2">
           <button
diff --git a/web/src/pages/RecommendationsSection.tsx b/web/src/pages/RecommendationsSection.tsx
index f0fa428d..41a26771 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/RecommendationsSection.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/RecommendationsSection.tsx
@@ -77,8 +77,8 @@ export default function RecommendationsSection() {
 
   return (
     <div className="relative space-y-6 px-4 pt-6 pb-12 sm:px-6 lg:px-10 xl:px-12">
-      <PageBack />
-      <div className="flex flex-col gap-1.5">
+      <PageBack to="/recommendations" preferHistory={false} />
+      <div className="mt-10 flex flex-col gap-1.5 sm:mt-12">
         <h1 className="text-foreground text-2xl font-bold tracking-tight sm:text-3xl">{title}</h1>
         {data && data.items.length > 0 && (
           <p className="text-muted-foreground text-sm">
diff --git a/web/src/pages/RequestBrowse.tsx b/web/src/pages/RequestBrowse.tsx
index 448447d8..3e62f4c6 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/RequestBrowse.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/RequestBrowse.tsx
@@ -84,8 +84,8 @@ export default function RequestBrowse({ kind }: RequestBrowseProps) {
   if (browse.isError && (browse.error as { status?: number }).status === 404) {
     return (
       <div className="relative space-y-4 py-10 text-center">
-        <PageBack />
-        <p className="text-foreground text-lg font-semibold">
+        <PageBack to="/requests" preferHistory={false} />
+        <p className="text-foreground mt-10 text-lg font-semibold sm:mt-12">
           {kind === "studio" ? "Studio" : kind === "network" ? "Network" : "Genre"} not found.
         </p>
       </div>
@@ -94,8 +94,8 @@ export default function RequestBrowse({ kind }: RequestBrowseProps) {
 
   return (
     <div className="relative space-y-6 py-6 sm:py-8">
-      <PageBack />
-      <div className="space-y-4 px-4 sm:px-6 lg:px-10 xl:px-12">
+      <PageBack to="/requests" preferHistory={false} />
+      <div className="mt-10 space-y-4 px-4 sm:mt-12 sm:px-6 lg:px-10 xl:px-12">
         <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center justify-between gap-4">
           <div className="flex min-w-0 items-center gap-4">
             <BrowseHeaderTile browse={browse.data} kind={kind} fallback={title} />
diff --git a/web/src/pages/RequestDetail.tsx b/web/src/pages/RequestDetail.tsx
index 2585cc2a..97ed0e26 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/RequestDetail.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/RequestDetail.tsx
@@ -40,8 +40,10 @@ export default function RequestDetail() {
   if (detail.isError || !detail.data) {
     return (
       <div className="page-shell relative space-y-3 py-12 text-center">
-        <PageBack />
-        <p className="text-foreground text-base font-semibold">Couldn't load this title.</p>
+        <PageBack to="/requests" />
+        <p className="text-foreground mt-10 text-base font-semibold sm:mt-12">
+          Couldn't load this title.
+        </p>
         <p className="text-muted-foreground text-sm">
           The TMDB record may be temporarily unavailable.
         </p>
@@ -58,7 +60,7 @@ export default function RequestDetail() {
     <div>
       <DetailHero
         title={item.title}
-        topNav={<PageBack />}
+        topNav={<PageBack to="/requests" />}
         context={<RequestContext mediaType={mediaType} />}
         studioLabel={studioLabel}
         backdropUrl={backdropUrl}
diff --git a/web/src/pages/SettingsLayout.tsx b/web/src/pages/SettingsLayout.tsx
index f31f683a..f2774817 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/SettingsLayout.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/SettingsLayout.tsx
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ export default function SettingsLayout() {
   return (
     <div className="min-h-[100dvh]">
       <main className="page-shell-wide relative flex min-h-[100dvh] flex-col py-4 sm:py-6">
-        <PageBack floating />
+        <PageBack to="/" preferHistory={false} floating />
         <div className="page-header mt-10 gap-5 sm:mt-12">
           <div className="min-w-0 space-y-3">
             <h1 className="page-title text-[clamp(2rem,4vw,3rem)]">Settings</h1>
diff --git a/web/src/pages/SmartCollectionWizard.tsx b/web/src/pages/SmartCollectionWizard.tsx
index 32aaba6a..b89c1a64 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/SmartCollectionWizard.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/SmartCollectionWizard.tsx
@@ -118,11 +118,12 @@ export default function SmartCollectionWizard(wizard: SmartCollectionWizardProps
   }, []);
 
   const headerTitle = isEdit ? draft.title || "Edit Collection" : "New Collection";
+  const backTarget = wizard.mode === "user" ? "/collections" : adminBackHref(wizard);
   const adminLibraries = wizard.mode === "admin" ? wizard.libraries : [];
 
   return (
     <div className="page-shell-wide relative space-y-6 py-4 sm:py-6">
-      <PageBack />
+      <PageBack to={backTarget} preferHistory={false} />
       <WizardHeader title={headerTitle} step={step} isEdit={isEdit} />
 
       {step === 1 ? (
@@ -171,6 +172,12 @@ function smartUserDraft(collection: Collection | null): CollectionBuilderValue {
     : createCollectionBuilderValue({ ...value, collection_type: "smart" });
 }
 
+function adminBackHref(props: AdminModeProps): string {
+  return props.initialLibraryId
+    ? `/admin/collections?libraryId=${props.initialLibraryId}`
+    : "/admin/collections";
+}
+
 function WizardHeader({
   title,
   step,
@@ -181,7 +188,7 @@ function WizardHeader({
   isEdit: boolean;
 }) {
   return (
-    <div className="flex flex-wrap items-end justify-between gap-4">
+    <div className="mt-10 flex flex-wrap items-end justify-between gap-4 sm:mt-12">
       <div>
         <h1 className="page-title text-[clamp(1.75rem,3vw,2.5rem)]">{title}</h1>
         <p className="page-subtitle mt-1 text-sm">