diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index e6ecaa4..513cba1 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,36 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## Changes 11/10/2025 (v1.9.2)
+
+release(v1.9.2): Upload modal + DnD relay from file list (with robust synthetic-drop fallback)
+
+- New “Upload file(s)” action in Create menu:
+  - Adds `<li id="uploadOption">` to the dropdown.
+  - Opens a reusable Upload modal that *moves* the existing #uploadCard into the modal (no cloning = no lost listeners).
+  - ESC / backdrop / “×” close support; focus jumps to “Choose Files” for fast keyboard flow.
+
+- Drag & Drop from file list → Upload:
+  - Drag-over on #fileListContainer shows drop-hover and auto-opens the Upload modal after a short hover.
+  - On drop, waits until the modal’s #uploadDropArea exists, then relays the drop to it.
+  - Uses a resilient relay: attempts to attach DataTransfer to a synthetic event; falls back to a stash.
+
+- Synthetic drop fallback:
+  - Introduces window.__pendingDropData (cleared after use).
+  - upload.js now reads e.dataTransfer || window.__pendingDropData to accept relayed drops across browsers.
+
+- Implementation details:
+  - fileActions.js: adds openUploadModal()/closeUploadModal() with a hidden sentinel to return #uploadCard to its original place on close.
+  - appCore.js: imports openUploadModal, adds waitFor() helper, and wires dragover/leave/drop logic for the relay.
+  - index.html: adds Upload option to the Create menu and the #uploadModal scaffold.
+
+- UX/Safety:
+  - Defensive checks if modal/card isn’t present.
+  - No backend/API changes; CSRF/auth unchanged.
+
+Files touched: public/js/upload.js, public/js/fileActions.js, public/js/appCore.js, public/index.html
+
+---
+
 ## Changes 11/9/2025 (v1.9.1)
 
 release(v1.9.1): customizable folder colors + live preview; improved tree persistence; accent button; manual sync script
diff --git a/public/index.html b/public/index.html
index 738522b..7eb5a79 100644
--- a/public/index.html
+++ b/public/index.html
@@ -355,6 +355,10 @@
                   <li id="createFolderOption" class="dropdown-item" style="padding:8px 12px; cursor:pointer;">
                     <span data-i18n-key="create_folder">Create folder</span>
                   </li>
+                  <li id="uploadOption" class="dropdown-item" style="padding:8px 12px; cursor:pointer;">
+                    <span data-i18n-key="upload">Upload file(s)</span>
+                  </li>
+                  
                 </ul>
               </div>
             <!-- Create File Modal -->
@@ -494,6 +498,19 @@
       </div>
     </div>
   </div>
+  <!-- Upload Modal -->
+<div id="uploadModal" class="modal" style="display:none;">
+  <div class="modal-content" style="max-width:900px;width:92vw;">
+    <div class="modal-header" style="display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;">
+      <h3 style="margin:0;">Upload</h3>
+      <span id="closeUploadModal" class="editor-close-btn" role="button" aria-label="Close">&times;</span>
+    </div>
+    <div class="modal-body">
+      <!-- we will MOVE #uploadCard into here while open -->
+      <div id="uploadModalBody"></div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+</div>
 </div>
 </body>
 </html>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/public/js/appCore.js b/public/js/appCore.js
index 3332f34..744fc6d 100644
--- a/public/js/appCore.js
+++ b/public/js/appCore.js
@@ -5,10 +5,24 @@ import { loadFolderTree } from './folderManager.js?v={{APP_QVER}}';
 import { setupTrashRestoreDelete } from './trashRestoreDelete.js?v={{APP_QVER}}';
 import { initDragAndDrop, loadSidebarOrder, loadHeaderOrder } from './dragAndDrop.js?v={{APP_QVER}}';
 import { initTagSearch } from './fileTags.js?v={{APP_QVER}}';
-import { initFileActions } from './fileActions.js?v={{APP_QVER}}';
+import { initFileActions, openUploadModal } from './fileActions.js?v={{APP_QVER}}';
 import { initUpload } from './upload.js?v={{APP_QVER}}';
 import { loadAdminConfigFunc } from './auth.js?v={{APP_QVER}}';
 
+window.__pendingDropData = null;
+
+function waitFor(selector, timeout = 1200) {
+  return new Promise(resolve => {
+    const t0 = performance.now();
+    (function tick() {
+      const el = document.querySelector(selector);
+      if (el) return resolve(el);
+      if (performance.now() - t0 >= timeout) return resolve(null);
+      requestAnimationFrame(tick);
+    })();
+  });
+}
+
 // Keep a bound handle to the native fetch so wrappers elsewhere never recurse
 const _nativeFetch = window.fetch.bind(window);
 
@@ -84,25 +98,53 @@ export function initializeApp() {
   // Enable tag search UI; initial file list load is controlled elsewhere
   initTagSearch();
 
+
   // Hook DnD relay from fileList area into upload area
   const fileListArea = document.getElementById('fileListContainer');
-  const uploadArea = document.getElementById('uploadDropArea');
-  if (fileListArea && uploadArea) {
+
+  if (fileListArea) {
+    let hoverTimer = null;
+
     fileListArea.addEventListener('dragover', e => {
       e.preventDefault();
       fileListArea.classList.add('drop-hover');
+      // (optional) auto-open after brief hover so users see the drop target
+      if (!hoverTimer) {
+        hoverTimer = setTimeout(() => {
+          if (typeof window.openUploadModal === 'function') window.openUploadModal();
+        }, 400);
+      }
     });
+
     fileListArea.addEventListener('dragleave', () => {
       fileListArea.classList.remove('drop-hover');
+      if (hoverTimer) { clearTimeout(hoverTimer); hoverTimer = null; }
     });
-    fileListArea.addEventListener('drop', e => {
+
+    fileListArea.addEventListener('drop', async e => {
       e.preventDefault();
       fileListArea.classList.remove('drop-hover');
-      uploadArea.dispatchEvent(new DragEvent('drop', {
-        dataTransfer: e.dataTransfer,
-        bubbles: true,
-        cancelable: true
-      }));
+      if (hoverTimer) { clearTimeout(hoverTimer); hoverTimer = null; }
+
+      // 1) open the same modal that the Create menu uses
+      openUploadModal();
+      // 2) wait until the upload area exists *in the modal*, then relay the drop
+      //    Prefer a scoped selector first to avoid duplicate IDs.
+      const uploadArea =
+        (await waitFor('#uploadModal #uploadDropArea')) ||
+        (await waitFor('#uploadDropArea'));
+      if (!uploadArea) return;
+
+      try {
+        // Many browsers make dataTransfer read-only; we try the direct attach first
+        const relay = new DragEvent('drop', { bubbles: true, cancelable: true });
+        Object.defineProperty(relay, 'dataTransfer', { value: e.dataTransfer });
+        uploadArea.dispatchEvent(relay);
+      } catch {
+        // Fallback: stash DataTransfer and fire a plain event; handler will read the stash
+        window.__pendingDropData = e.dataTransfer || null;
+        uploadArea.dispatchEvent(new Event('drop', { bubbles: true, cancelable: true }));
+      }
     });
   }
 
diff --git a/public/js/fileActions.js b/public/js/fileActions.js
index df4bf93..0332b63 100644
--- a/public/js/fileActions.js
+++ b/public/js/fileActions.js
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ export function handleDeleteSelected(e) {
     showToast("no_files_selected");
     return;
   }
-
   window.filesToDelete = Array.from(checkboxes).map(chk => chk.value);
   const count = window.filesToDelete.length;
   document.getElementById("deleteFilesMessage").textContent = t("confirm_delete_files", { count: count });
@@ -21,6 +20,52 @@ export function handleDeleteSelected(e) {
   attachEnterKeyListener("deleteFilesModal", "confirmDeleteFiles");
 }
 
+
+  // --- Upload modal "portal" support ---
+  let _uploadCardSentinel = null;
+
+  export function openUploadModal() {
+    const modal = document.getElementById('uploadModal');
+    const body  = document.getElementById('uploadModalBody');
+    const card  = document.getElementById('uploadCard'); // <-- your existing card
+    window.openUploadModal = openUploadModal;
+    window.__pendingDropData = null;
+    if (!modal || !body || !card) {
+      console.warn('Upload modal or upload card not found');
+      return;
+    }
+  
+    // Create a hidden sentinel so we can put the card back in place later
+    if (!_uploadCardSentinel) {
+      _uploadCardSentinel = document.createElement('div');
+      _uploadCardSentinel.id = 'uploadCardSentinel';
+      _uploadCardSentinel.style.display = 'none';
+      card.parentNode.insertBefore(_uploadCardSentinel, card);
+    }
+  
+    // Move the actual card node into the modal (keeps all existing listeners)
+    body.appendChild(card);
+  
+    // Show modal
+    modal.style.display = 'block';
+  
+    // Focus the chooser for quick keyboard flow
+    setTimeout(() => {
+      const chooseBtn = document.getElementById('customChooseBtn');
+      if (chooseBtn) chooseBtn.focus();
+    }, 50);
+  }
+  
+  export function closeUploadModal() {
+    const modal = document.getElementById('uploadModal');
+    const card  = document.getElementById('uploadCard');
+  
+    if (_uploadCardSentinel && _uploadCardSentinel.parentNode && card) {
+      _uploadCardSentinel.parentNode.insertBefore(card, _uploadCardSentinel);
+    }
+    if (modal) modal.style.display = 'none';
+  }
+
 document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function () {
   const cancelDelete = document.getElementById("cancelDeleteFiles");
   if (cancelDelete) {
@@ -829,6 +874,7 @@ document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', () => {
   const menu = document.getElementById('createMenu');
   const fileOpt = document.getElementById('createFileOption');
   const folderOpt = document.getElementById('createFolderOption');
+  const uploadOpt = document.getElementById('uploadOption'); // NEW
 
   // Toggle dropdown on click
   btn.addEventListener('click', (e) => {
@@ -853,6 +899,32 @@ document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', () => {
   document.addEventListener('click', () => {
     menu.style.display = 'none';
   });
+  if (uploadOpt) {
+    uploadOpt.addEventListener('click', () => {
+      if (menu) menu.style.display = 'none';
+      openUploadModal();
+    });
+  }
+
+  // Close buttons / backdrop
+  const upModal = document.getElementById('uploadModal');
+  const closeX  = document.getElementById('closeUploadModal');
+
+  if (closeX) closeX.addEventListener('click', closeUploadModal);
+
+  // click outside content to close
+  if (upModal) {
+    upModal.addEventListener('click', (e) => {
+      if (e.target === upModal) closeUploadModal();
+    });
+  }
+
+  // ESC to close
+  document.addEventListener('keydown', (e) => {
+    if (e.key === 'Escape' && upModal && upModal.style.display === 'block') {
+      closeUploadModal();
+    }
+  });
 });
 
 window.renameFile = renameFile;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/public/js/upload.js b/public/js/upload.js
index 6f0edf8..dd6bec6 100644
--- a/public/js/upload.js
+++ b/public/js/upload.js
@@ -896,7 +896,8 @@ function initUpload() {
     dropArea.addEventListener("drop", function (e) {
       e.preventDefault();
       dropArea.style.backgroundColor = "";
-      const dt = e.dataTransfer;
+      const dt = e.dataTransfer || window.__pendingDropData || null;
+       window.__pendingDropData = null;
       if (dt.items && dt.items.length > 0) {
         getFilesFromDataTransferItems(dt.items).then(files => {
           if (files.length > 0) {