diff --git a/web/src/components/PageBack.test.tsx b/web/src/components/PageBack.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..27077150
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/components/PageBack.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+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";
+
+const mocks = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+  navigate: vi.fn(),
+}));
+
+vi.mock("react-router", async () => {
+  const actual = await vi.importActual<typeof import("react-router")>("react-router");
+  return {
+    ...actual,
+    useNavigate: () => mocks.navigate,
+  };
+});
+
+import PageBack from "./PageBack";
+
+describe("PageBack", () => {
+  it("renders a button with the default 'Go back' aria-label", () => {
+    render(
+      <MemoryRouter>
+        <PageBack />
+      </MemoryRouter>,
+    );
+
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Go back" })).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it("uses a custom label when provided", () => {
+    render(
+      <MemoryRouter>
+        <PageBack label="Return to library" />
+      </MemoryRouter>,
+    );
+
+    expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Return to library" })).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it("calls navigate(-1) on click", async () => {
+    mocks.navigate.mockClear();
+    render(
+      <MemoryRouter>
+        <PageBack />
+      </MemoryRouter>,
+    );
+
+    await userEvent.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Go back" }));
+
+    expect(mocks.navigate).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    expect(mocks.navigate).toHaveBeenCalledWith(-1);
+  });
+
+  it("applies the documented positioning and glass-subtle styling", () => {
+    render(
+      <MemoryRouter>
+        <PageBack />
+      </MemoryRouter>,
+    );
+
+    const button = screen.getByRole("button", { name: "Go back" });
+    expect(button).toHaveClass(
+      "glass-subtle",
+      "absolute",
+      "top-4",
+      "left-4",
+      "z-20",
+      "rounded-full",
+      "p-1.5",
+    );
+  });
+});
diff --git a/web/src/components/PageBack.tsx b/web/src/components/PageBack.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d6b87565
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/components/PageBack.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+import { ChevronLeft } from "lucide-react";
+import { useNavigate } from "react-router";
+
+interface PageBackProps {
+  label?: string;
+}
+
+export default function PageBack({ label = "Go back" }: PageBackProps) {
+  const navigate = useNavigate();
+  return (
+    <button
+      type="button"
+      aria-label={label}
+      onClick={() => navigate(-1)}
+      className="glass-subtle text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground absolute top-4 left-4 z-20 flex items-center justify-center rounded-full p-1.5 transition-colors sm:top-6 sm:left-6"
+    >
+      <ChevronLeft className="size-5" />
+    </button>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/web/src/pages/CollectionEditor.tsx b/web/src/pages/CollectionEditor.tsx
index df6343f4..6b0b8769 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/CollectionEditor.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/CollectionEditor.tsx
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
-import { Link, useNavigate, useParams } from "react-router";
-import { ArrowLeft } from "lucide-react";
+import { useNavigate, useParams } from "react-router";
 
 import type { Collection, UserCollectionType } from "@/api/types";
-import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
+import PageBack from "@/components/PageBack";
 import { Card, CardHeader, CardDescription, CardTitle } from "@/components/ui/card";
 import { useCollections } from "@/hooks/queries/collections";
 
@@ -32,13 +31,8 @@ export default function CollectionEditor() {
 
   if (id && !collection && !isLoading) {
     return (
-      <div className="page-shell space-y-4 py-4 sm:py-6">
-        <Button asChild variant="ghost" className="w-fit px-0">
-          <Link to="/collections">
-            <ArrowLeft className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />
-            Back to Collections
-          </Link>
-        </Button>
+      <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">
           <CardHeader>
             <CardTitle>Collection not found</CardTitle>
@@ -51,21 +45,14 @@ export default function CollectionEditor() {
 
   if (collection && isImportedCollection(collection)) {
     return (
-      <div className="page-shell space-y-6 py-4 sm:py-6">
-        <div className="space-y-3">
-          <Button asChild variant="ghost" className="w-fit px-0">
-            <Link to="/collections">
-              <ArrowLeft className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />
-              Back to Collections
-            </Link>
-          </Button>
-          <div>
-            <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,
-              item ordering) are locked.
-            </p>
-          </div>
+      <div className="page-shell relative space-y-6 py-4 sm:py-6">
+        <PageBack />
+        <div>
+          <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,
+            item ordering) are locked.
+          </p>
         </div>
         <ImportedCollectionEditor
           key={collection.id}
@@ -80,20 +67,13 @@ export default function CollectionEditor() {
   // the wizard so users can see the live card preview while tuning filters.
   if (collection && collection.collection_type === "manual") {
     return (
-      <div className="page-shell space-y-6 py-4 sm:py-6">
-        <div className="space-y-3">
-          <Button asChild variant="ghost" className="w-fit px-0">
-            <Link to="/collections">
-              <ArrowLeft className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />
-              Back to Collections
-            </Link>
-          </Button>
-          <div>
-            <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.
-            </p>
-          </div>
+      <div className="page-shell relative space-y-6 py-4 sm:py-6">
+        <PageBack />
+        <div>
+          <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.
+          </p>
         </div>
         <UserCollectionForm collection={collection} onClose={() => navigate("/collections")} />
         <section className="space-y-3">
diff --git a/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/DetailHero.tsx b/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/DetailHero.tsx
index 01cc0934..52169f41 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/DetailHero.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/DetailHero.tsx
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ interface DetailHeroProps {
   scoreRow?: ReactNode;
   crewLine?: ReactNode;
   variant?: "full" | "compact";
+  topNav?: ReactNode;
 }
 
 export default function DetailHero({
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@ export default function DetailHero({
   scoreRow,
   crewLine,
   variant = "full",
+  topNav,
 }: DetailHeroProps) {
   const [backdropLoaded, setBackdropLoaded] = useState(false);
   const [posterLoaded, setPosterLoaded] = useState(false);
@@ -65,6 +67,7 @@ export default function DetailHero({
 
   return (
     <section className="item-detail-hero border-border/10 relative isolate overflow-hidden border-b">
+      {topNav}
       {(backdropUrl || backdropPlaceholder) && (
         <div
           className="absolute inset-0 h-full w-full"
diff --git a/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/EpisodeContent.test.tsx b/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/EpisodeContent.test.tsx
index 844acfc5..2cafb608 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/EpisodeContent.test.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/EpisodeContent.test.tsx
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ describe("EpisodeContent", () => {
     mocks.useRating.mockReturnValue({ data: { rating: 3, rated_at: "2026-03-22T00:00:00Z" } });
   });
 
-  it("links the season breadcrumb and back button to the resolved season page", () => {
+  it("links the season breadcrumb segment to the resolved season page", () => {
     const markup = renderToStaticMarkup(
       <MemoryRouter initialEntries={["/item/episode-1"]}>
         <EpisodeContent item={makeEpisodeItem()} />
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ describe("EpisodeContent", () => {
     );
 
     expect(countOccurrences(markup, 'href="/item/series-1"')).toBe(1);
-    expect(countOccurrences(markup, 'href="/item/season-1"')).toBe(2);
+    expect(countOccurrences(markup, 'href="/item/season-1"')).toBe(1);
     expect(markup).toContain(">Season 1<");
   });
 
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ describe("EpisodeContent", () => {
       </MemoryRouter>,
     );
 
-    expect(countOccurrences(markup, 'href="/item/season-99"')).toBe(2);
+    expect(countOccurrences(markup, 'href="/item/season-99"')).toBe(1);
     expect(markup).toContain(">Season 99<");
   });
 
diff --git a/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/EpisodeContent.tsx b/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/EpisodeContent.tsx
index aaa380f1..1aa799a9 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/EpisodeContent.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/EpisodeContent.tsx
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import CrewList from "@/components/CrewList";
 import DownloadVersionPicker from "@/components/DownloadVersionPicker";
 import EditMetadataDialog from "@/components/EditMetadataDialog";
 import MediaLocations from "@/components/MediaLocations";
+import PageBack from "@/components/PageBack";
 import EpisodeCarousel from "./components/EpisodeCarousel";
 import DetailHero from "./DetailHero";
 import MetadataBadges from "./components/MetadataBadges";
@@ -221,6 +222,7 @@ export default function EpisodeContent({ item }: { item: ItemDetail & { type: "e
     <div>
       <DetailHero
         title={title}
+        topNav={<PageBack />}
         context={
           <div className="space-y-3">
             <DetailBreadcrumb segments={breadcrumbSegments} />
diff --git a/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/MovieContent.tsx b/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/MovieContent.tsx
index e78ea0d5..e83acc4d 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/MovieContent.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/MovieContent.tsx
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import DownloadVersionPicker from "@/components/DownloadVersionPicker";
 import EditMetadataDialog from "@/components/EditMetadataDialog";
 import MediaLocations from "@/components/MediaLocations";
 import MatchItemDialog from "@/components/MatchItemDialog";
+import PageBack from "@/components/PageBack";
 import RecommendationGrid from "@/components/RecommendationGrid";
 import DetailHero from "./DetailHero";
 import MetadataBadges from "./components/MetadataBadges";
@@ -179,6 +180,7 @@ export default function MovieContent({ item }: { item: ItemDetail & { type: "mov
     <div>
       <DetailHero
         title={title}
+        topNav={<PageBack />}
         context="Movie"
         studioLabel={firstStudio}
         backdropUrl={item.backdrop_url}
diff --git a/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/SeasonContent.tsx b/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/SeasonContent.tsx
index 06910754..6a5c2347 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/SeasonContent.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/SeasonContent.tsx
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { useAuth } from "@/hooks/useAuth";
 import CastCarousel from "@/components/CastCarousel";
 import CrewList from "@/components/CrewList";
 import EditMetadataDialog from "@/components/EditMetadataDialog";
+import PageBack from "@/components/PageBack";
 import DetailHero from "./DetailHero";
 import MetadataBadges from "./components/MetadataBadges";
 import ActionBar from "./components/ActionBar";
@@ -82,6 +83,7 @@ export default function SeasonContent({ item }: { item: ItemDetail & { type: "se
       <DetailHero
         variant="compact"
         title={displayTitle}
+        topNav={<PageBack />}
         context={breadcrumb}
         backdropUrl={item.backdrop_url}
         backdropThumbhash={item.backdrop_thumbhash}
diff --git a/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/SeriesContent.tsx b/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/SeriesContent.tsx
index de46882a..dbe0683f 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/SeriesContent.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/SeriesContent.tsx
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import CastCarousel from "@/components/CastCarousel";
 import CrewList from "@/components/CrewList";
 import EditMetadataDialog from "@/components/EditMetadataDialog";
 import MatchItemDialog from "@/components/MatchItemDialog";
+import PageBack from "@/components/PageBack";
 import RecommendationGrid from "@/components/RecommendationGrid";
 import DetailHero from "./DetailHero";
 import SeasonCarousel from "./SeasonCarousel";
@@ -116,6 +117,7 @@ export default function SeriesContent({ item }: { item: ItemDetail & { type: "se
     <div>
       <DetailHero
         title={title}
+        topNav={<PageBack />}
         context="Series"
         studioLabel={firstNetwork}
         backdropUrl={item.backdrop_url}
diff --git a/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/components/DetailBreadcrumb.tsx b/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/components/DetailBreadcrumb.tsx
index 259c9fc5..95eb7627 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/components/DetailBreadcrumb.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/ItemDetail/components/DetailBreadcrumb.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { Link } from "react-router";
-import { ChevronLeft, ChevronRight } from "lucide-react";
+import { ChevronRight } from "lucide-react";
 
 interface BreadcrumbSegment {
   label: string;
@@ -13,44 +13,32 @@ interface DetailBreadcrumbProps {
 export default function DetailBreadcrumb({ segments }: DetailBreadcrumbProps) {
   if (segments.length === 0) return null;
 
-  const backSegment = [...segments].reverse().find((segment) => segment.href);
-
   return (
     <nav aria-label="Breadcrumb">
-      <div className="flex items-center gap-2.5">
-        {backSegment?.href && (
-          <Link
-            to={backSegment.href}
-            className="glass-subtle text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground flex items-center justify-center rounded-full p-1.5 transition-colors"
-          >
-            <ChevronLeft className="size-5" />
-          </Link>
-        )}
-        <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5">
-          {segments.map((segment, i) => {
-            const isLast = i === segments.length - 1;
-            return (
-              <span key={i} className="flex items-center gap-1.5">
-                {i > 0 && <ChevronRight className="text-muted-foreground/40 size-4" />}
-                {segment.href && !isLast ? (
-                  <Link
-                    to={segment.href}
-                    className="text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground text-[13px] transition-colors"
-                  >
-                    {segment.label}
-                  </Link>
-                ) : (
-                  <span
-                    className="text-muted-foreground/60 text-[13px]"
-                    {...(isLast ? { "aria-current": "page" as const } : {})}
-                  >
-                    {segment.label}
-                  </span>
-                )}
-              </span>
-            );
-          })}
-        </div>
+      <div className="flex items-center gap-1.5">
+        {segments.map((segment, i) => {
+          const isLast = i === segments.length - 1;
+          return (
+            <span key={i} className="flex items-center gap-1.5">
+              {i > 0 && <ChevronRight className="text-muted-foreground/40 size-4" />}
+              {segment.href && !isLast ? (
+                <Link
+                  to={segment.href}
+                  className="text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground text-[13px] transition-colors"
+                >
+                  {segment.label}
+                </Link>
+              ) : (
+                <span
+                  className="text-muted-foreground/60 text-[13px]"
+                  {...(isLast ? { "aria-current": "page" as const } : {})}
+                >
+                  {segment.label}
+                </span>
+              )}
+            </span>
+          );
+        })}
       </div>
     </nav>
   );
diff --git a/web/src/pages/PersonDetail.tsx b/web/src/pages/PersonDetail.tsx
index 44905f94..60719075 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/PersonDetail.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/PersonDetail.tsx
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { createEmptyQueryDefinition } from "@/api/types";
 import type { CatalogSearchState } from "@/pages/catalogSearchParams";
 import EditPersonDialog from "@/components/EditPersonDialog";
 import ItemGrid from "@/components/ItemGrid";
+import PageBack from "@/components/PageBack";
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
 import { useCatalogWindow } from "@/hooks/queries/catalog";
 import { personKeys } from "@/hooks/queries/keys";
@@ -76,7 +77,8 @@ export default function PersonDetail() {
   return (
     <div>
       {/* Person Header */}
-      <section className="page-shell pt-8 pb-6 sm:pt-10 sm:pb-8">
+      <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">
           {/* Photo */}
           <div className="shrink-0 self-start">
diff --git a/web/src/pages/ProfileCustomizeHome.tsx b/web/src/pages/ProfileCustomizeHome.tsx
index 460d01af..2f47694e 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/ProfileCustomizeHome.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/ProfileCustomizeHome.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
+import PageBack from "@/components/PageBack";
 import ProfileSectionRow from "@/components/ProfileSectionRow";
 import RecipeGalleryModal from "@/components/RecipeGallery/RecipeGalleryModal";
 import RecipeConfigDrawer from "@/components/RecipeGallery/RecipeConfigDrawer";
@@ -207,7 +208,8 @@ export default function ProfileCustomizeHome() {
   }
 
   return (
-    <div className="mx-auto max-w-3xl p-6">
+    <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">
         <h1 className="text-base font-semibold">Customize home</h1>
         <div className="flex gap-2">
diff --git a/web/src/pages/RecommendationsSection.tsx b/web/src/pages/RecommendationsSection.tsx
index 1f26d3a4..f0fa428d 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/RecommendationsSection.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/RecommendationsSection.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
-import { Link, useParams } from "react-router";
-import { ArrowLeft, RefreshCw, Sparkles } from "lucide-react";
+import { useParams } from "react-router";
+import { RefreshCw, Sparkles } from "lucide-react";
 
+import PageBack from "@/components/PageBack";
 import SectionItemCard from "@/components/SectionItemCard";
 import { Skeleton } from "@/components/ui/skeleton";
 import { useRecommendationSection } from "@/hooks/queries/recommendations";
@@ -75,23 +76,15 @@ export default function RecommendationsSection() {
   useDocumentTitle(title);
 
   return (
-    <div className="space-y-6 px-4 pt-6 pb-12 sm:px-6 lg:px-10 xl:px-12">
-      <div className="space-y-3">
-        <Link
-          to="/recommendations"
-          className="text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-xs font-medium tracking-[0.16em] uppercase transition-colors"
-        >
-          <ArrowLeft className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
-          Recommendations
-        </Link>
-        <div className="flex flex-col gap-1.5">
-          <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">
-              {data.items.length} {data.items.length === 1 ? "title" : "titles"}
-            </p>
-          )}
-        </div>
+    <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">
+        <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">
+            {data.items.length} {data.items.length === 1 ? "title" : "titles"}
+          </p>
+        )}
       </div>
 
       {isLoading ? (
diff --git a/web/src/pages/RequestBrowse.tsx b/web/src/pages/RequestBrowse.tsx
index a85b967f..448447d8 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/RequestBrowse.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/RequestBrowse.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-import { Link, useParams, useSearchParams } from "react-router";
-import { ArrowLeft } from "lucide-react";
+import { useParams, useSearchParams } from "react-router";
+import PageBack from "@/components/PageBack";
 import RequestPosterCard from "@/components/RequestPosterCard";
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
 import {
@@ -83,29 +83,19 @@ export default function RequestBrowse({ kind }: RequestBrowseProps) {
 
   if (browse.isError && (browse.error as { status?: number }).status === 404) {
     return (
-      <div className="space-y-4 py-10 text-center">
+      <div className="relative space-y-4 py-10 text-center">
+        <PageBack />
         <p className="text-foreground text-lg font-semibold">
           {kind === "studio" ? "Studio" : kind === "network" ? "Network" : "Genre"} not found.
         </p>
-        <Link
-          to="/requests"
-          className="text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground text-sm underline"
-        >
-          Back to Requests
-        </Link>
       </div>
     );
   }
 
   return (
-    <div className="space-y-6 py-6 sm:py-8">
+    <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">
-        <Link
-          to="/requests"
-          className="text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground inline-flex items-center gap-1 text-sm"
-        >
-          <ArrowLeft className="h-4 w-4" /> Back to Requests
-        </Link>
         <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 304dee77..2585cc2a 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/RequestDetail.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/RequestDetail.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
-import { useNavigate, useParams } from "react-router";
-import { ArrowLeft, Check, Clock, Loader2, Plus, Star } from "lucide-react";
+import { useParams } from "react-router";
+import { Check, Clock, Loader2, Plus, Star } from "lucide-react";
 import CastCarousel from "@/components/CastCarousel";
 import MediaCarousel from "@/components/MediaCarousel";
+import PageBack from "@/components/PageBack";
 import RequestPosterCard from "@/components/RequestPosterCard";
 import DetailHero from "@/pages/ItemDetail/DetailHero";
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
@@ -23,7 +24,6 @@ import {
 } from "@/lib/mediaRequests";
 
 export default function RequestDetail() {
-  const navigate = useNavigate();
   const params = useParams<{ mediaType: string; tmdbId: string }>();
   const mediaType = (params.mediaType === "series" ? "series" : "movie") as "movie" | "series";
   const tmdbID = Number(params.tmdbId) || 0;
@@ -39,17 +39,12 @@ export default function RequestDetail() {
 
   if (detail.isError || !detail.data) {
     return (
-      <div className="page-shell space-y-3 py-12 text-center">
+      <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>
         <p className="text-muted-foreground text-sm">
           The TMDB record may be temporarily unavailable.
         </p>
-        <div className="pt-4">
-          <Button variant="outline" size="sm" onClick={() => navigate(-1)}>
-            <ArrowLeft className="h-4 w-4" />
-            Back
-          </Button>
-        </div>
       </div>
     );
   }
@@ -63,6 +58,7 @@ export default function RequestDetail() {
     <div>
       <DetailHero
         title={item.title}
+        topNav={<PageBack />}
         context={<RequestContext mediaType={mediaType} />}
         studioLabel={studioLabel}
         backdropUrl={backdropUrl}
@@ -79,7 +75,6 @@ export default function RequestDetail() {
               createRequest.isPending && createRequest.variables?.tmdb_id === item.tmdb_id
             }
             onRequest={() => createRequest.mutate(requestInputFromMediaResult(item))}
-            onBack={() => navigate(-1)}
           />
         }
       />
@@ -198,12 +193,10 @@ function RequestActions({
   item,
   isSubmitting,
   onRequest,
-  onBack,
 }: {
   item: RequestMediaDetail;
   isSubmitting: boolean;
   onRequest: () => void;
-  onBack: () => void;
 }) {
   const requestable = item.request.requestable;
   const statusLabel = item.request.status ? formatRequestStatus(item.request.status) : null;
@@ -213,16 +206,6 @@ function RequestActions({
 
   return (
     <div className="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2">
-      <Button
-        variant="ghost"
-        size="sm"
-        onClick={onBack}
-        className="text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground"
-      >
-        <ArrowLeft className="h-4 w-4" />
-        Back
-      </Button>
-
       {requestable ? (
         <Button
           onClick={onRequest}
diff --git a/web/src/pages/SettingsLayout.test.tsx b/web/src/pages/SettingsLayout.test.tsx
index 5d918615..99ad0896 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/SettingsLayout.test.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/SettingsLayout.test.tsx
@@ -20,15 +20,14 @@ describe("SettingsLayout", () => {
     });
   });
 
-  it("includes a back link to the main app shell", () => {
+  it("includes a PageBack control at the top of the page", () => {
     const markup = renderToStaticMarkup(
       <MemoryRouter initialEntries={["/settings/playback"]}>
         <SettingsLayout />
       </MemoryRouter>,
     );
 
-    expect(markup).toContain('href="/"');
-    expect(markup).toContain(">Back<");
+    expect(markup).toContain('aria-label="Go back"');
   });
 
   it("does not include a plugins section in personal settings", () => {
diff --git a/web/src/pages/SettingsLayout.tsx b/web/src/pages/SettingsLayout.tsx
index fad5a458..128bc3d9 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/SettingsLayout.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/SettingsLayout.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import { Link, Outlet, useLocation } from "react-router";
 import {
-  ArrowLeft,
   Play,
   Library,
   Clock,
@@ -16,6 +15,7 @@ import {
 } from "lucide-react";
 // Sparkles is used by the Personalization nav entry below.
 import type { LucideIcon } from "lucide-react";
+import PageBack from "@/components/PageBack";
 import { useDocumentTitle } from "@/hooks/useDocumentTitle";
 import { useAuth } from "@/hooks/useAuth";
 import { resolveSettingsDocumentTitle } from "@/lib/documentTitle";
@@ -155,7 +155,8 @@ export default function SettingsLayout() {
 
   return (
     <div className="min-h-[100dvh]">
-      <main className="page-shell-wide flex min-h-[100dvh] flex-col py-4 sm:py-6">
+      <main className="page-shell-wide relative flex min-h-[100dvh] flex-col py-4 sm:py-6">
+        <PageBack />
         <div className="page-header gap-5">
           <div className="min-w-0 space-y-3">
             <h1 className="page-title text-[clamp(2rem,4vw,3rem)]">Settings</h1>
@@ -163,13 +164,6 @@ export default function SettingsLayout() {
               Manage your playback preferences, libraries, and display options.
             </p>
           </div>
-          <Link
-            to="/"
-            className="surface-panel-subtle text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground inline-flex shrink-0 items-center gap-2 rounded-[1.1rem] px-3 py-2 text-sm font-medium transition-colors"
-          >
-            <ArrowLeft className="h-4 w-4" />
-            <span className="hidden sm:inline">Back</span>
-          </Link>
         </div>
 
         {/* Mobile: horizontal scrolling tab bar */}
diff --git a/web/src/pages/SmartCollectionWizard.tsx b/web/src/pages/SmartCollectionWizard.tsx
index 508a5556..32aaba6a 100644
--- a/web/src/pages/SmartCollectionWizard.tsx
+++ b/web/src/pages/SmartCollectionWizard.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from "react";
-import { Link } from "react-router";
 import { ArrowLeft, ArrowRight, Check } from "lucide-react";
 
 import type {
@@ -15,6 +14,7 @@ import { normalizeQueryDefinition } from "@/api/types";
 import CatalogFiltersPanel from "@/components/catalog/CatalogFiltersPanel";
 import { ImageUploadField } from "@/components/ImageUploadField";
 import ItemGrid from "@/components/ItemGrid";
+import PageBack from "@/components/PageBack";
 import { Button } from "@/components/ui/button";
 import { Input } from "@/components/ui/input";
 import { Label } from "@/components/ui/label";
@@ -118,12 +118,12 @@ export default function SmartCollectionWizard(wizard: SmartCollectionWizardProps
   }, []);
 
   const headerTitle = isEdit ? draft.title || "Edit Collection" : "New Collection";
-  const backHref = wizard.mode === "user" ? "/collections" : adminBackHref(wizard);
   const adminLibraries = wizard.mode === "admin" ? wizard.libraries : [];
 
   return (
-    <div className="page-shell-wide space-y-6 py-4 sm:py-6">
-      <WizardHeader backHref={backHref} title={headerTitle} step={step} isEdit={isEdit} />
+    <div className="page-shell-wide relative space-y-6 py-4 sm:py-6">
+      <PageBack />
+      <WizardHeader title={headerTitle} step={step} isEdit={isEdit} />
 
       {step === 1 ? (
         <Step1FiltersAndPreview
@@ -171,44 +171,28 @@ 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({
-  backHref,
   title,
   step,
   isEdit,
 }: {
-  backHref: string;
   title: string;
   step: WizardStep;
   isEdit: boolean;
 }) {
   return (
-    <div className="space-y-3">
-      <Button asChild variant="ghost" className="w-fit px-0">
-        <Link to={backHref}>
-          <ArrowLeft className="mr-2 h-4 w-4" />
-          Back to Collections
-        </Link>
-      </Button>
-      <div className="flex flex-wrap items-end justify-between gap-4">
-        <div>
-          <h1 className="page-title text-[clamp(1.75rem,3vw,2.5rem)]">{title}</h1>
-          <p className="page-subtitle mt-1 text-sm">
-            {step === 1
-              ? "Tune the filters until the cards below show the collection you want."
-              : isEdit
-                ? "Update naming, artwork, and sharing for this collection."
-                : "Give your new collection a name, artwork, and sharing rules."}
-          </p>
-        </div>
-        <StepIndicator step={step} />
+    <div className="flex flex-wrap items-end justify-between gap-4">
+      <div>
+        <h1 className="page-title text-[clamp(1.75rem,3vw,2.5rem)]">{title}</h1>
+        <p className="page-subtitle mt-1 text-sm">
+          {step === 1
+            ? "Tune the filters until the cards below show the collection you want."
+            : isEdit
+              ? "Update naming, artwork, and sharing for this collection."
+              : "Give your new collection a name, artwork, and sharing rules."}
+        </p>
       </div>
+      <StepIndicator step={step} />
     </div>
   );
 }