diff --git a/App/BlurtiOS/BlurtiOS/Sources/BlurtiOSApp.swift b/App/BlurtiOS/BlurtiOS/Sources/BlurtiOSApp.swift
index a1035458..3d65085b 100644
--- a/App/BlurtiOS/BlurtiOS/Sources/BlurtiOSApp.swift
+++ b/App/BlurtiOS/BlurtiOS/Sources/BlurtiOSApp.swift
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ struct BlurtiOSApp: App {
     // touches neither the Keychain nor the App Group (the Mac's UITestSupport
     // does the same for its harness), and `start()` below never runs.
     let coordinator =
-      Self.isTestHost
+      Self.isTestHost || Self.isKeyless
       ? DictationCoordinator(apiKey: APIKeyModel(keyStore: InMemoryAPIKeyStore())) : DictationCoordinator()
     _coordinator = State(initialValue: coordinator)
   }
@@ -35,6 +35,17 @@ struct BlurtiOSApp: App {
     ProcessInfo.processInfo.environment["XCTestConfigurationFilePath"] != nil
   }
 
+  /// `-BlurtNoKey`: a fresh install's view of the key, in memory, so the
+  /// first-run screen can be screenshotted without touching the Keychain's;
+  /// debug builds only.
+  private static var isKeyless: Bool {
+    #if DEBUG
+      CommandLine.arguments.contains("-BlurtNoKey")
+    #else
+      false
+    #endif
+  }
+
   var body: some Scene {
     WindowGroup {
       #if DEBUG
@@ -63,7 +74,7 @@ struct BlurtiOSApp: App {
   }
 
   private var home: some View {
-    MainView(coordinator: coordinator)
+    RootView(coordinator: coordinator)
       .task { await start() }
   }
 
diff --git a/App/BlurtiOS/BlurtiOS/Sources/HomeView.swift b/App/BlurtiOS/BlurtiOS/Sources/HomeView.swift
index 59f2477f..55cb1ccf 100644
--- a/App/BlurtiOS/BlurtiOS/Sources/HomeView.swift
+++ b/App/BlurtiOS/BlurtiOS/Sources/HomeView.swift
@@ -7,8 +7,9 @@ import SwiftUI
 /// The Dictate tab: the Blurt landing page on a phone. The wordmark and
 /// the gear across the top; the lifetime stats; the status as an eyebrow, a serif headline and a
 /// line of body text over the voice element; the one green button; then the
-/// styles and the recent dictations under their eyebrows. Setup sits on top
-/// while anything is missing; everything adjustable lives behind the gear.
+/// styles and the recent dictations under their eyebrows. Setup comes before
+/// the tabs (`SetupView`) and lives in Settings after; everything adjustable
+/// is behind the gear.
 struct HomeView: View {
   var coordinator: DictationCoordinator
   /// Opens Settings, which `MainView` presents over either tab.
@@ -16,7 +17,6 @@ struct HomeView: View {
   @Environment(\.scenePhase) private var scenePhase
   @State private var microphoneGranted = AVAudioApplication.shared.recordPermission == .granted
   @State private var keyboardSeen = SharedStore.keyboardEverSeen
-  @State private var showsKeyEntry = false
   /// When the last dictation's words landed — the hero's glint.
   @State private var landedAt: Date?
   /// TEMPORARY: the mic concept from Settings, so the hero shows the one
@@ -35,11 +35,6 @@ struct HomeView: View {
       ScrollView {
         VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: DesignTokens.Metrics.appSectionGap) {
           header
-          if !status.isSetUp {
-            SetupCard(
-              hasKey: coordinator.apiKey.hasAPIKey, microphoneGranted: microphoneGranted, keyboardSeen: keyboardSeen,
-              enterKey: { showsKeyEntry = true }, refresh: refreshStatus)
-          }
           StatsCard()
           HomeHero(coordinator: coordinator, status: status, landedAt: landedAt)
           StyleChips()
@@ -53,7 +48,6 @@ struct HomeView: View {
       .page()
       .environment(\.voiceElementKind, VoiceElementKind(rawValue: voiceRaw) ?? .shipped)
       .toolbar(.hidden, for: .navigationBar)
-      .sheet(isPresented: $showsKeyEntry) { KeyEntryView(apiKey: coordinator.apiKey) }
       .onChange(of: scenePhase) { _, phase in
         if phase == .active { refreshStatus() }
       }
diff --git a/App/BlurtiOS/BlurtiOS/Sources/MainView.swift b/App/BlurtiOS/BlurtiOS/Sources/MainView.swift
index ac615bf4..cdb4c0c3 100644
--- a/App/BlurtiOS/BlurtiOS/Sources/MainView.swift
+++ b/App/BlurtiOS/BlurtiOS/Sources/MainView.swift
@@ -1,7 +1,30 @@
+import AVFoundation
 import BlurtDesign
 import BlurtiOSCore
 import SwiftUI
 
+/// The first-run setup screen until Blurt is set up, then the tabs
+/// (`SetupProgress`). Whoever was already set up when this arrived goes
+/// straight to the tabs: the check is taken once, at launch, so finishing the
+/// last step on the setup screen doesn't yank it away mid-read.
+struct RootView: View {
+  var coordinator: DictationCoordinator
+  @AppStorage(SetupProgress.finishedKey) private var finished = false
+  @State private var wasSetUpAtLaunch =
+    AVAudioApplication.shared.recordPermission == .granted && SharedStore.keyboardEverSeen
+
+  var body: some View {
+    if SetupProgress.needsSetup(
+      hasKey: coordinator.apiKey.hasAPIKey, isSetUp: wasSetUpAtLaunch, finished: finished)
+    {
+      SetupView(coordinator: coordinator)
+        .onOpenURL { coordinator.handle($0) }
+    } else {
+      MainView(coordinator: coordinator)
+    }
+  }
+}
+
 /// The app: the Dictate and Words tabs under the brand tab bar, plus what has
 /// to work whichever tab is showing — Settings from either tab's gear, the
 /// consent prompt the keyboard's `blurt://start` can raise, and a shared
diff --git a/App/BlurtiOS/BlurtiOS/Sources/SettingsView.swift b/App/BlurtiOS/BlurtiOS/Sources/SettingsView.swift
index 78c9ff40..a4b89913 100644
--- a/App/BlurtiOS/BlurtiOS/Sources/SettingsView.swift
+++ b/App/BlurtiOS/BlurtiOS/Sources/SettingsView.swift
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import AVFoundation
 import BlurtDesign
 import BlurtEngine
 import BlurtiOSCore
@@ -21,6 +22,10 @@ struct SettingsView: View {
   @State private var showsKeyEntry = false
   @State private var confirmsStatsReset = false
   @State private var showsTypingTest = false
+  @State private var showsSetupSteps = false
+  @State private var microphoneGranted = AVAudioApplication.shared.recordPermission == .granted
+  @State private var keyboardSeen = SharedStore.keyboardEverSeen
+  @Environment(\.scenePhase) private var scenePhase
   @AppStorage(TypingSpeed.defaultsKey) private var typingSpeed: Double = 0
   @AppStorage(EnhancedTranscriptsStore.defaultsKey) private var enhancedTranscripts =
     EnhancedTranscriptsStore.defaultValue
@@ -28,6 +33,7 @@ struct SettingsView: View {
   var body: some View {
     NavigationStack {
       Form {
+        setupSection
         keyboardSection
         listeningSection
         transcriptionSection
@@ -45,6 +51,9 @@ struct SettingsView: View {
       // On the form, not on a section: a section's modifiers apply to each of
       // its rows, so a cover there was presented once per row at the same time.
       .fullScreenCover(isPresented: $showsTypingTest) { TypingTestView() }
+      .onChange(of: scenePhase) { _, phase in
+        if phase == .active { refreshSetup() }
+      }
       .confirmationDialog("Reset statistics?", isPresented: $confirmsStatsReset, titleVisibility: .visible) {
         Button("Reset", role: .destructive) { DictationStats.reset() }
       } message: {
@@ -54,6 +63,43 @@ struct SettingsView: View {
     .tint(BlurtBrand.accent)
   }
 
+  /// The first-run steps, kept here once the app is set up, as in the
+  /// blurt-ios prototype: folded to a line while everything is done, open while
+  /// something (the microphone, the keyboard) is still missing.
+  private var setupSection: some View {
+    let isSetUp = coordinator.apiKey.hasAPIKey && microphoneGranted && keyboardSeen
+    return Section {
+      if isSetUp {
+        HStack {
+          Text("Blurt is set up")
+          Image(systemName: "checkmark").foregroundStyle(BlurtBrand.accent)
+          Spacer()
+          Button(showsSetupSteps ? "Hide steps" : "Show steps") { showsSetupSteps.toggle() }
+            .font(BlurtType.body(DesignTokens.Typography.sizeCaption, bold: true))
+            .foregroundStyle(BlurtBrand.accent)
+            .buttonStyle(.plain)
+        }
+      }
+      if !isSetUp || showsSetupSteps {
+        SetupSteps(
+          hasKey: coordinator.apiKey.hasAPIKey, microphoneGranted: microphoneGranted, keyboardSeen: keyboardSeen,
+          refresh: refreshSetup
+        ) {
+          Button("Add an API key") { showsKeyEntry = true }.buttonStyle(BrandButtonStyle())
+        }
+        .padding(.vertical, DesignTokens.Metrics.appRowPadY)
+      }
+    } header: {
+      Eyebrow("Setup")
+    }
+  }
+
+  private func refreshSetup() {
+    microphoneGranted = AVAudioApplication.shared.recordPermission == .granted
+    keyboardSeen = SharedStore.keyboardEverSeen
+    coordinator.apiKey.refreshStatus()
+  }
+
   private var keyboardSection: some View {
     Section {
       Picker("Layout", selection: $layout) {
diff --git a/App/BlurtiOS/BlurtiOS/Sources/SetupCard.swift b/App/BlurtiOS/BlurtiOS/Sources/SetupSteps.swift
similarity index 68%
rename from App/BlurtiOS/BlurtiOS/Sources/SetupCard.swift
rename to App/BlurtiOS/BlurtiOS/Sources/SetupSteps.swift
index f64ed81c..d53bd720 100644
--- a/App/BlurtiOS/BlurtiOS/Sources/SetupCard.swift
+++ b/App/BlurtiOS/BlurtiOS/Sources/SetupSteps.swift
@@ -1,38 +1,29 @@
 import AVFoundation
 import BlurtDesign
-import BlurtEngine
 import SwiftUI
 import UIKit
 
-/// The setup checklist, on top of the home screen while anything is missing:
-/// three numbered steps — an AssemblyAI API key, the microphone, the keyboard —
-/// each with its control until it is done.
-struct SetupCard: View {
+/// The setup steps, numbered: an AssemblyAI API key, the microphone, the
+/// keyboard, each with its control until it is done and a check after. The
+/// first-run screen shows them in a card; Settings keeps them once the app is
+/// set up, folded away until asked for.
+struct SetupSteps<KeyStep: View>: View {
   let hasKey: Bool
   let microphoneGranted: Bool
   let keyboardSeen: Bool
-  /// Every build takes an API key, as the Mac app does, until Sign in with
-  /// AssemblyAI exists.
-  let enterKey: () -> Void
   /// Re-read the permissions after one was asked for.
   let refresh: () -> Void
+  /// What the key step offers while there's no key: the inline field on the
+  /// first-run screen.
+  @ViewBuilder let keyStep: () -> KeyStep
 
   var body: some View {
     VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: DesignTokens.Metrics.appStackGap) {
-      Eyebrow("Set up Blurt")
-      SetupRow(number: "01", done: hasKey, title: "Add your AssemblyAI API key") {
-        VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: DesignTokens.Metrics.appLineGap) {
-          Text("Blurt uses your own AssemblyAI account. New accounts come with free credits.")
-            .font(BlurtType.body(DesignTokens.Typography.sizeCaption)).foregroundStyle(BlurtBrand.muted)
-          Button("Paste your key") { enterKey() }.buttonStyle(BrandButtonStyle(role: .primary))
-          Link("Get a free key", destination: APIKeyStore.dashboardURL)
-            .font(BlurtType.body(DesignTokens.Typography.sizeCaption))
-        }
-      }
+      SetupRow(number: "01", done: hasKey, title: "Add your AssemblyAI API key", action: keyStep)
       SetupRow(number: "02", done: microphoneGranted, title: "Allow the microphone") {
         if AVAudioApplication.shared.recordPermission == .denied {
           // iOS asks once; after a refusal only Settings can change it.
-          Button("Allow in Settings") { Self.openAppSettings() }.buttonStyle(BrandButtonStyle(role: .primary))
+          Button("Allow in Settings") { SystemSettings.open() }.buttonStyle(BrandButtonStyle(role: .primary))
         } else {
           Button("Allow") {
             Task {
@@ -56,16 +47,17 @@ struct SetupCard: View {
               + "Full Access is what lets the keyboard send your words to Blurt."
           )
           .font(BlurtType.body(DesignTokens.Typography.sizeCaption)).foregroundStyle(BlurtBrand.muted)
-          Button("Open Settings") { Self.openAppSettings() }.buttonStyle(BrandButtonStyle(role: .secondary))
+          Button("Open Settings") { SystemSettings.open() }.buttonStyle(BrandButtonStyle(role: .secondary))
         }
       }
     }
-    .padding(DesignTokens.Metrics.appCardPad)
-    .frame(maxWidth: .infinity, alignment: .leading)
-    .card()
   }
 
-  static func openAppSettings() {
+}
+
+/// Blurt's page in the Settings app.
+enum SystemSettings {
+  static func open() {
     guard let url = URL(string: UIApplication.openSettingsURLString) else { return }
     UIApplication.shared.open(url)
   }
diff --git a/App/BlurtiOS/BlurtiOS/Sources/SetupView.swift b/App/BlurtiOS/BlurtiOS/Sources/SetupView.swift
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..541a2db7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/App/BlurtiOS/BlurtiOS/Sources/SetupView.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+import AVFoundation
+import BlurtDesign
+import BlurtEngine
+import BlurtiOSCore
+import SwiftUI
+
+/// The first-run screen, in place of the tabs until Blurt is set up, as in the
+/// blurt-ios prototype: the wordmark, a headline, and the three steps in a
+/// card. The key comes first and can't be skipped, since nothing works without
+/// it; once it is in, the user can start right away and finish the microphone
+/// and the keyboard later from Settings, where the steps move.
+struct SetupView: View {
+  var coordinator: DictationCoordinator
+  @Environment(\.scenePhase) private var scenePhase
+  @AppStorage(SetupProgress.finishedKey) private var finished = false
+  @State private var microphoneGranted = AVAudioApplication.shared.recordPermission == .granted
+  @State private var keyboardSeen = SharedStore.keyboardEverSeen
+
+  private var hasKey: Bool { coordinator.apiKey.hasAPIKey }
+
+  var body: some View {
+    ScrollView {
+      VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: DesignTokens.Metrics.appSectionGap) {
+        Wordmark()
+          .frame(height: DesignTokens.Metrics.appHeaderHeight)
+        Text(
+          hasKey ? "Two more steps and you can dictate anywhere." : "Paste an AssemblyAI API key to start dictating."
+        )
+        .font(BlurtType.heading(DesignTokens.Typography.sizeTitle))
+        .foregroundStyle(BlurtBrand.text)
+        .fixedSize(horizontal: false, vertical: true)
+        VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: DesignTokens.Metrics.appStackGap) {
+          Eyebrow("Set up Blurt")
+          SetupSteps(
+            hasKey: hasKey, microphoneGranted: microphoneGranted, keyboardSeen: keyboardSeen, refresh: refresh
+          ) {
+            KeyStep(apiKey: coordinator.apiKey)
+          }
+        }
+        .padding(DesignTokens.Metrics.appCardPad)
+        .frame(maxWidth: .infinity, alignment: .leading)
+        .card()
+        if hasKey {
+          Button("Start dictating") { finished = true }
+            .buttonStyle(BrandButtonStyle())
+          Text("You can finish these later in Settings.")
+            .brandFootnote()
+        }
+      }
+      .padding(.horizontal, DesignTokens.Metrics.appPagePad)
+      .padding(.bottom, DesignTokens.Metrics.appSectionGap)
+    }
+    .scrollDismissesKeyboard(.interactively)
+    .page()
+    .tint(BlurtBrand.accent)
+    .onChange(of: scenePhase) { _, phase in
+      if phase == .active { refresh() }
+    }
+  }
+
+  private func refresh() {
+    microphoneGranted = AVAudioApplication.shared.recordPermission == .granted
+    keyboardSeen = SharedStore.keyboardEverSeen
+    coordinator.apiKey.refreshStatus()
+  }
+}
+
+/// Paste a key, checked with AssemblyAI before it is saved (`APIKeySubmission`
+/// owns that rule), as on the prototype's first screen: the field, Continue,
+/// Get a free key, and what happens to the key and the audio.
+private struct KeyStep: View {
+  var apiKey: APIKeyModel
+  @Environment(\.openURL) private var openURL
+  @State private var draft = ""
+  @State private var isChecking = false
+  @State private var errorMessage: String?
+
+  var body: some View {
+    VStack(alignment: .leading, spacing: DesignTokens.Metrics.appStackGap) {
+      SecureField("Paste your API key", text: $draft)
+        .textInputAutocapitalization(.never)
+        .autocorrectionDisabled()
+        .submitLabel(.go)
+        .onSubmit { Task { await submit() } }
+        .brandInput()
+      if let errorMessage {
+        Text(errorMessage)
+          .font(BlurtType.body(DesignTokens.Typography.sizeCaption))
+          .foregroundStyle(BlurtBrand.errorOrange)
+          .fixedSize(horizontal: false, vertical: true)
+      }
+      // Stacked, not side by side: at half the card's width the mono labels
+      // wrap ("GET A / FREE KEY").
+      VStack(spacing: DesignTokens.Metrics.appChipGap) {
+        Button(isChecking ? "Checking…" : "Continue") { Task { await submit() } }
+          .buttonStyle(BrandButtonStyle())
+          .disabled(isChecking || draft.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines).isEmpty)
+        Button("Get a free key") { openURL(APIKeyStore.dashboardURL) }
+          .buttonStyle(BrandButtonStyle(role: .secondary))
+      }
+      Text(
+        "Blurt sends what you dictate to AssemblyAI to transcribe it, using this key. "
+          + "New accounts come with free credits. The key is stored in this iPhone's Keychain."
+      )
+      .brandFootnote()
+    }
+  }
+
+  private func submit() async {
+    guard !isChecking else { return }
+    isChecking = true
+    defer { isChecking = false }
+    switch await apiKey.submit(draft).failureReport {
+    case .none:
+      errorMessage = nil
+      draft = ""
+    case .some(.inline(let message)): errorMessage = message
+    case .some(.alert(let title, let message)): errorMessage = "\(title) \(message)"
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/App/BlurtiOS/BlurtiOSCore/SetupProgress.swift b/App/BlurtiOS/BlurtiOSCore/SetupProgress.swift
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6ccc8be6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/App/BlurtiOS/BlurtiOSCore/SetupProgress.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+/// Whether the app opens on its first-run setup screen or on its tabs, as in
+/// the blurt-ios prototype: setup first, then the app, with the steps moving
+/// into Settings once they are done.
+package nonisolated enum SetupProgress {
+  /// Set when the user leaves the setup screen with a key in place, so the
+  /// steps they skipped (the microphone, the keyboard) don't hold the app back.
+  package static let finishedKey = "SetupFinished"
+
+  /// The setup screen shows without a key, which nothing works without, and
+  /// until the user has either finished every step or chosen to start anyway.
+  package static func needsSetup(hasKey: Bool, isSetUp: Bool, finished: Bool) -> Bool {
+    !hasKey || (!finished && !isSetUp)
+  }
+}
diff --git a/App/BlurtiOS/BlurtiOSTests/SetupProgressTests.swift b/App/BlurtiOS/BlurtiOSTests/SetupProgressTests.swift
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..110ee641
--- /dev/null
+++ b/App/BlurtiOS/BlurtiOSTests/SetupProgressTests.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+import Testing
+
+@testable import BlurtiOSCore
+
+@Suite("First-run setup")
+struct SetupProgressTests {
+  @Test("no key always means the setup screen; a key plus finishing or every step done means the tabs")
+  func routing() {
+    #expect(SetupProgress.needsSetup(hasKey: false, isSetUp: false, finished: true))
+    #expect(SetupProgress.needsSetup(hasKey: false, isSetUp: true, finished: true))
+    #expect(SetupProgress.needsSetup(hasKey: true, isSetUp: false, finished: false))
+    #expect(!SetupProgress.needsSetup(hasKey: true, isSetUp: false, finished: true))
+    #expect(!SetupProgress.needsSetup(hasKey: true, isSetUp: true, finished: false))
+  }
+}
diff --git a/App/BlurtiOS/DESIGN.md b/App/BlurtiOS/DESIGN.md
index b45c49b6..7da9f358 100644
--- a/App/BlurtiOS/DESIGN.md
+++ b/App/BlurtiOS/DESIGN.md
@@ -725,13 +725,22 @@ accent over its replacement, × to remove, between hairlines; two inputs and
 `ADD SHORTCUT` (re-adding a phrase replaces it). Brand buttons fade while
 disabled (`opacity/disabled`).
 
-**Home** (`HomeView`, `HomeHero`, `SetupCard`, `StyleChips`, `RecentSection`,
-`HomeStatus` for the words; `StatsCard`): the setup card only while something is missing,
-then the lifetime stats — `DICTATIONS`, `WORDS`, `TIME SAVED` (against 36 wpm,
-the phone average) as serif numbers with mono units, one row until time saved
-reaches an hour and then two, at the largest of four sizes that fits (reset
-in Settings › Data);
-its three steps numbered `01 02 03` in mono; the hero — `STATUS`, the
+**First run** (`RootView`, `SetupView`, `SetupSteps`, `SetupProgress`): in
+place of the tabs until Blurt is set up — the wordmark, a serif headline, and
+`SET UP BLURT` in a card, its three steps numbered `01 02 03` in mono (a check
+once done): the API key inline (a secure field, `CONTINUE`, `GET A FREE KEY`,
+and where the key and the audio go), the microphone, the keyboard. Without a
+key it can't be left; with one, `START DICTATING` goes to the tabs and the rest
+can wait. Afterwards the steps live in Settings › Setup, folded to "Blurt is
+set up ✓ · Show steps" while everything is done and open while anything isn't.
+Whoever was already set up skips it.
+
+**Home** (`HomeView`, `HomeHero`, `StyleChips`, `RecentSection`,
+`HomeStatus` for the words; `StatsCard`): the lifetime stats — `DICTATIONS`,
+`WORDS`, `TIME SAVED` (against 36 wpm, the phone average, or the easter egg's
+result) as serif numbers with mono units, one row until time saved reaches an
+hour and then two, at the largest of four sizes that fits (reset in Settings ›
+Data); the hero — `STATUS`, the
 headline (Not listening · Ready to dictate · Connecting… · Listening… ·
 Transcribing… · Pasted · Copied · the error), the line under it, the voice
 element at home size, `START LISTENING` (refused without a key, with a line