diff --git a/src/app/commandRegistry.ts b/src/app/commandRegistry.ts
index 56d19042..26fa3b20 100644
--- a/src/app/commandRegistry.ts
+++ b/src/app/commandRegistry.ts
@@ -791,7 +791,7 @@ export const commandRegistry: AppCommand[] = [
     keywords: ['help', 'about'],
     enabled: true,
     visibility: 'global',
-    defaultShortcut: { keys: ['Ctrl', 'Shift', 'B'], scope: 'global' },
+    defaultShortcut: { keys: [], scope: 'global' },
     placements: ['command-palette', 'menu'],
     action: { type: 'view-action', name: 'about' },
   },
diff --git a/src/app/statusBarPhrases.test.ts b/src/app/statusBarPhrases.test.ts
index be8027d1..a55458b1 100644
--- a/src/app/statusBarPhrases.test.ts
+++ b/src/app/statusBarPhrases.test.ts
@@ -45,14 +45,14 @@ describe('statusBarPhrases', () => {
   })
 
   it('formats text difference section phrases', () => {
-    expect(formatDifferenceCountPhrase(null, 'text-compare')).toBe('≠ -')
+    expect(formatDifferenceCountPhrase(null, 'text-compare')).toBe('Differences: —')
     expect(formatDifferenceCountPhrase(1, 'text-compare')).toBe('≠ 1 difference section')
     expect(formatDifferenceCountPhrase(3, 'text-merge')).toBe('≠ 3 difference sections')
     expect(formatDifferenceCountPhrase(2, 'folder-compare')).toBe('Differences: 2')
     expect(formatDifferenceCountPhrase(0, 'hex-compare')).toBe('≠ Same')
     expect(formatDifferenceCountPhrase(3, 'hex-compare')).toBe('≠ Binary differences')
     expect(isHexSessionStatusSource('hex-compare')).toBe(true)
-    expect(formatDifferenceCountPhrase(null, 'picture-compare')).toBe('≠ -')
+    expect(formatDifferenceCountPhrase(null, 'picture-compare')).toBe('Differences: —')
     expect(formatDifferenceCountPhrase(0, 'picture-compare')).toBe('≠ Same')
     expect(formatDifferenceCountPhrase(1, 'picture-compare')).toBe('≠ 1 pixel')
     expect(formatDifferenceCountPhrase(4, 'picture-compare')).toBe('≠ 4 pixels')
diff --git a/src/app/statusBarPhrases.ts b/src/app/statusBarPhrases.ts
index 8ad6b9e4..02a79197 100644
--- a/src/app/statusBarPhrases.ts
+++ b/src/app/statusBarPhrases.ts
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ export function formatDifferenceCountPhrase(
 
   if (isPictureSessionStatusSource(source)) {
     if (differenceCount === null) {
-      return '≠ -'
+      return 'Differences: —'
     }
 
     if (differenceCount === 0) {
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ export function formatDifferenceCountPhrase(
   }
 
   if (differenceCount === null) {
-    return '≠ -'
+    return 'Differences: —'
   }
 
   if (differenceCount === 1) {
diff --git a/src/components/workbench/PathMetaFooter.test.ts b/src/components/workbench/PathMetaFooter.test.ts
index c8ca77fe..cc698a94 100644
--- a/src/components/workbench/PathMetaFooter.test.ts
+++ b/src/components/workbench/PathMetaFooter.test.ts
@@ -71,4 +71,17 @@ describe('PathMetaFooter chip menus', () => {
     )
     wrapper.unmount()
   })
+
+  it('hints when no path metadata is available', () => {
+    const wrapper = mountFooter({
+      stamp: null,
+      formatLabel: undefined,
+      encoding: undefined,
+      lineEnding: undefined,
+    })
+
+    expect(wrapper.attributes('title')).toContain('Choose a path')
+    expect(wrapper.text()).toContain('—')
+    wrapper.unmount()
+  })
 })
diff --git a/src/components/workbench/PathMetaFooter.vue b/src/components/workbench/PathMetaFooter.vue
index b62549c7..b5a05233 100644
--- a/src/components/workbench/PathMetaFooter.vue
+++ b/src/components/workbench/PathMetaFooter.vue
@@ -134,6 +134,7 @@ onBeforeUnmount(() => {
     data-path-meta-eol="capture-1to1-residual"
     data-path-meta-gap="capture-1to1-residual"
     :data-testid="testId"
+    :title="isMuted ? t('status.pathMetaEmptyHint') : undefined"
   >
     <template v-if="meta">
       <span
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/de-DE.ts b/src/i18n/locales/de-DE.ts
index d796313f..6addba10 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/de-DE.ts
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/de-DE.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ export const deDE: LanguagePack = {
     'command.planned': 'Geplant',
     'command.previousDifference': 'Vorheriger Unterschied',
     'command.ready': 'Verfügbar',
-    'command.searchPlaceholder': 'Suchbefehle',
+    'command.searchPlaceholder': 'Menüs und Befehle suchen',
     'command.toggleTheme': 'Thema umschalten',
     'command.toggleMinor': 'Nebensächliche umschalten',
     'command.expandAll': 'Alle erweitern',
@@ -180,8 +180,8 @@ export const deDE: LanguagePack = {
     'ui.hexCompare': 'Hex-Vergleich',
     'ui.hexDetails': 'Hex-Details',
     'ui.help': 'Helfen',
-    'ui.helpContents': 'Inhalt',
-    'ui.contextHelp': 'Kontexthilfe',
+    'ui.helpContents': 'Dokumentation',
+    'ui.contextHelp': 'Hilfe zu dieser Ansicht',
     'ui.contextHelpTopic': 'Hilfe: {topic}',
     'ui.about': 'Über Open Diff',
     'ui.checkForUpdates': 'Nach Updates suchen',
@@ -192,8 +192,10 @@ export const deDE: LanguagePack = {
     'ui.aboutTitle': 'Über Open Diff',
     'ui.aboutVersion': 'Version {version}',
     'ui.aboutLicense': 'Lizenziert unter Apache-2.0',
-    'ui.aboutHomepage': 'Projekt-Homepage',
+    'ui.aboutHomepage': 'Dokumentation & Homepage',
     'ui.aboutClose': 'Schließen',
+    'ui.aboutHint':
+      'Open Diff vergleicht Dateien und Ordner. Guides unter Hilfe → Dokumentation, Fragen unter Support.',
     'ui.updatesCheckOpened': 'Die Releases-Seite wurde zum Update-Check geöffnet.',
     'ui.updatesCheckDisabled': 'Update-Prüfungen sind per Richtlinie deaktiviert.',
     'status.alignWithApplied': '{source} mit {target} ausgerichtet',
@@ -492,7 +494,7 @@ export const deDE: LanguagePack = {
     'status.unimportantDifference': 'Unwichtiger Unterschied',
     'status.importantUnimportantCounts': '{important} wichtig, {unimportant} unwichtig',
     'ui.conflict': 'Konflikt',
-    'status.differenceSectionUnknown': '≠ -',
+    'status.differenceSectionUnknown': 'Unterschiede: —',
     'status.differenceSections': '≠ {count} Differenzabschnitte',
     'status.differenceSection': '≠ {count} Differenzabschnitt',
     'status.insertMode': 'Einfügen',
@@ -502,6 +504,7 @@ export const deDE: LanguagePack = {
     'status.pathFileMetadataWithDetail': '{metadata} · {detail}',
     'status.filesSelectedBytesWithDate': '{count} Datei(en) ausgewählt, {bytes} Bytes, {modified}',
     'status.panePlaceholder': '—',
+    'status.pathMetaEmptyHint': 'Pfad wählen, um Größe und Datum zu sehen',
     'status.readyIdle': 'Bereit',
     'status.filesAndFoldersSelectedBytes':
       '{files} Datei(en), {folders} Ordner ausgewählt, {bytes} Bytes',
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/en-US.ts b/src/i18n/locales/en-US.ts
index 8524ab50..53f65cf5 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/en-US.ts
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/en-US.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ export const enUS: LanguagePack = {
     'command.planned': 'Planned',
     'command.previousDifference': 'Previous Difference',
     'command.ready': 'Ready',
-    'command.searchPlaceholder': 'Search commands',
+    'command.searchPlaceholder': 'Search menus and commands',
     'command.toggleTheme': 'Toggle Theme',
     'command.toggleMinor': 'Toggle Minor',
     'command.expandAll': 'Expand All',
@@ -203,8 +203,8 @@ export const enUS: LanguagePack = {
     'ui.hexCompareInspector': 'Hex compare inspector',
     'ui.hexDetails': 'Hex Details',
     'ui.help': 'Help',
-    'ui.helpContents': 'Contents',
-    'ui.contextHelp': 'Context Help',
+    'ui.helpContents': 'Documentation',
+    'ui.contextHelp': 'Help for This View',
     'ui.contextHelpTopic': 'Help: {topic}',
     'ui.about': 'About Open Diff',
     'ui.checkForUpdates': 'Check for Updates',
@@ -215,8 +215,10 @@ export const enUS: LanguagePack = {
     'ui.aboutTitle': 'About Open Diff',
     'ui.aboutVersion': 'Version {version}',
     'ui.aboutLicense': 'Licensed under Apache-2.0',
-    'ui.aboutHomepage': 'Project homepage',
+    'ui.aboutHomepage': 'Documentation & homepage',
     'ui.aboutClose': 'Close',
+    'ui.aboutHint':
+      'Open Diff compares files and folders. Use Help → Documentation for guides, or Support for questions.',
     'ui.updatesCheckOpened': 'Opened the releases page to check for updates.',
     'ui.updatesCheckDisabled': 'Update checks are disabled by policy.',
     'status.alignWithApplied': 'Aligned {source} with {target}',
@@ -587,7 +589,7 @@ export const enUS: LanguagePack = {
     'status.unimportantDifference': 'Unimportant Difference',
     'status.importantUnimportantCounts': '{important} important, {unimportant} unimportant',
     'ui.conflict': 'Conflict',
-    'status.differenceSectionUnknown': '≠ -',
+    'status.differenceSectionUnknown': 'Differences: —',
     'status.differenceSections': '≠ {count} difference sections',
     'status.differenceSection': '≠ {count} difference section',
     'status.insertMode': 'Insert',
@@ -597,6 +599,7 @@ export const enUS: LanguagePack = {
     'status.pathFileMetadataWithDetail': '{metadata} · {detail}',
     'status.filesSelectedBytesWithDate': '{count} file(s) selected, {bytes} bytes, {modified}',
     'status.panePlaceholder': '—',
+    'status.pathMetaEmptyHint': 'Choose a path to see size and date',
     'status.readyIdle': 'Ready',
     'status.filesAndFoldersSelectedBytes':
       '{files} file(s), {folders} folder(s) selected, {bytes} bytes',
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/es-ES.ts b/src/i18n/locales/es-ES.ts
index dd55b975..838f6c0d 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/es-ES.ts
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/es-ES.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ export const esES: LanguagePack = {
     'command.planned': 'Planificado',
     'command.previousDifference': 'Diferencia anterior',
     'command.ready': 'Disponible',
-    'command.searchPlaceholder': 'Comandos de búsqueda',
+    'command.searchPlaceholder': 'Buscar menús y comandos',
     'command.toggleTheme': 'Alternar tema',
     'command.toggleMinor': 'Alternar menores',
     'command.expandAll': 'Expandir todo',
@@ -176,8 +176,8 @@ export const esES: LanguagePack = {
     'ui.hexCompare': 'Comparación hexadecimal',
     'ui.hexDetails': 'Detalles hexagonales',
     'ui.help': 'Ayuda',
-    'ui.helpContents': 'Contenido',
-    'ui.contextHelp': 'Ayuda contextual',
+    'ui.helpContents': 'Documentación',
+    'ui.contextHelp': 'Ayuda de esta vista',
     'ui.contextHelpTopic': 'Ayuda: {topic}',
     'ui.about': 'Acerca de Open Diff',
     'ui.checkForUpdates': 'Buscar actualizaciones',
@@ -188,8 +188,10 @@ export const esES: LanguagePack = {
     'ui.aboutTitle': 'Acerca de Open Diff',
     'ui.aboutVersion': 'Versión {version}',
     'ui.aboutLicense': 'Licencia Apache-2.0',
-    'ui.aboutHomepage': 'Página del proyecto',
+    'ui.aboutHomepage': 'Documentación e inicio',
     'ui.aboutClose': 'Cerrar',
+    'ui.aboutHint':
+      'Open Diff compara archivos y carpetas. Guías en Ayuda → Documentación; preguntas en Soporte.',
     'ui.updatesCheckOpened': 'Se abrió la página de versiones para buscar actualizaciones.',
     'ui.updatesCheckDisabled':
       'Las comprobaciones de actualización están deshabilitadas por directiva.',
@@ -486,7 +488,7 @@ export const esES: LanguagePack = {
     'status.unimportantDifference': 'Diferencia no importante',
     'status.importantUnimportantCounts': '{important} importantes, {unimportant} no importantes',
     'ui.conflict': 'Conflicto',
-    'status.differenceSectionUnknown': '≠ -',
+    'status.differenceSectionUnknown': 'Diferencias: —',
     'status.differenceSections': '≠ {count} secciones de diferencias',
     'status.differenceSection': '≠ {count} sección de diferencias',
     'status.insertMode': 'Insertar',
@@ -497,6 +499,7 @@ export const esES: LanguagePack = {
     'status.filesSelectedBytesWithDate':
       '{count} archivo(s) seleccionado(s), {bytes} bytes, {modified}',
     'status.panePlaceholder': '—',
+    'status.pathMetaEmptyHint': 'Elija una ruta para ver tamaño y fecha',
     'status.readyIdle': 'Listo',
     'status.filesAndFoldersSelectedBytes':
       '{files} archivo(s), {folders} carpeta(s) seleccionada(s), {bytes} bytes',
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/fr-FR.ts b/src/i18n/locales/fr-FR.ts
index 924e2570..8aad46b0 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/fr-FR.ts
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/fr-FR.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ export const frFR: LanguagePack = {
     'command.planned': 'Prévu',
     'command.previousDifference': 'Différence précédente',
     'command.ready': 'Disponible',
-    'command.searchPlaceholder': 'Commandes de recherche',
+    'command.searchPlaceholder': 'Rechercher menus et commandes',
     'command.toggleTheme': 'Basculer le thème',
     'command.toggleMinor': 'Basculer mineur',
     'command.expandAll': 'Tout développer',
@@ -177,8 +177,8 @@ export const frFR: LanguagePack = {
     'ui.hexCompare': 'Comparaison hexadécimale',
     'ui.hexDetails': "Détails de l'hexagone",
     'ui.help': 'Aide',
-    'ui.helpContents': 'Sommaire',
-    'ui.contextHelp': 'Aide contextuelle',
+    'ui.helpContents': 'Documentation',
+    'ui.contextHelp': 'Aide pour cette vue',
     'ui.contextHelpTopic': 'Aide : {topic}',
     'ui.about': 'À propos d’Open Diff',
     'ui.checkForUpdates': 'Rechercher des mises à jour',
@@ -189,8 +189,10 @@ export const frFR: LanguagePack = {
     'ui.aboutTitle': 'À propos d’Open Diff',
     'ui.aboutVersion': 'Version {version}',
     'ui.aboutLicense': 'Sous licence Apache-2.0',
-    'ui.aboutHomepage': 'Page d’accueil du projet',
+    'ui.aboutHomepage': 'Documentation et page d’accueil',
     'ui.aboutClose': 'Fermer',
+    'ui.aboutHint':
+      'Open Diff compare fichiers et dossiers. Guides : Aide → Documentation ; questions : Support.',
     'ui.updatesCheckOpened': 'Page des versions ouverte pour vérifier les mises à jour.',
     'ui.updatesCheckDisabled': 'Les vérifications de mise à jour sont désactivées par stratégie.',
     'status.alignWithApplied': '{source} aligné avec {target}',
@@ -487,7 +489,7 @@ export const frFR: LanguagePack = {
     'status.unimportantDifference': 'Différence peu importante',
     'status.importantUnimportantCounts': '{important} importantes, {unimportant} peu importantes',
     'ui.conflict': 'Conflit',
-    'status.differenceSectionUnknown': '≠ -',
+    'status.differenceSectionUnknown': 'Différences : —',
     'status.differenceSections': '≠ {count} sections de différences',
     'status.differenceSection': '≠ {count} section de différences',
     'status.insertMode': 'Insertion',
@@ -498,6 +500,7 @@ export const frFR: LanguagePack = {
     'status.filesSelectedBytesWithDate':
       '{count} fichier(s) sélectionné(s), {bytes} octets, {modified}',
     'status.panePlaceholder': '—',
+    'status.pathMetaEmptyHint': 'Choisissez un chemin pour voir taille et date',
     'status.readyIdle': 'Prêt',
     'status.filesAndFoldersSelectedBytes':
       '{files} fichier(s), {folders} dossier(s) sélectionné(s), {bytes} octets',
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/ja-JP.ts b/src/i18n/locales/ja-JP.ts
index 0e28c32e..f3d2b7c0 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/ja-JP.ts
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/ja-JP.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ export const jaJP: LanguagePack = {
     'command.planned': 'Planned',
     'command.previousDifference': 'Previous Difference',
     'command.ready': 'Ready',
-    'command.searchPlaceholder': 'Search commands',
+    'command.searchPlaceholder': 'メニューとコマンドを検索',
     'command.toggleTheme': 'Toggle Theme',
     'command.toggleMinor': 'マイナーを切替',
     'command.expandAll': 'すべて展開',
@@ -201,8 +201,8 @@ export const jaJP: LanguagePack = {
     'ui.hexCompareInspector': 'Hex compare inspector',
     'ui.hexDetails': 'Hex Details',
     'ui.help': 'Help',
-    'ui.helpContents': '目次',
-    'ui.contextHelp': 'コンテキスト ヘルプ',
+    'ui.helpContents': 'ドキュメント',
+    'ui.contextHelp': 'このビューのヘルプ',
     'ui.contextHelpTopic': 'ヘルプ: {topic}',
     'ui.about': 'Open Diff について',
     'ui.checkForUpdates': '更新を確認',
@@ -213,8 +213,10 @@ export const jaJP: LanguagePack = {
     'ui.aboutTitle': 'Open Diff について',
     'ui.aboutVersion': 'バージョン {version}',
     'ui.aboutLicense': 'Apache-2.0 ライセンス',
-    'ui.aboutHomepage': 'プロジェクトのホームページ',
+    'ui.aboutHomepage': 'ドキュメントとホームページ',
     'ui.aboutClose': '閉じる',
+    'ui.aboutHint':
+      'Open Diff はファイルとフォルダーを比較します。ガイドはヘルプ → ドキュメント、質問はサポートへ。',
     'ui.updatesCheckOpened': '更新確認のためリリースページを開きました。',
     'ui.updatesCheckDisabled': 'ポリシーにより更新確認が無効です。',
     'status.alignWithApplied': '{source} を {target} に整列しました',
@@ -584,7 +586,7 @@ export const jaJP: LanguagePack = {
     'status.unimportantDifference': '重要でない差異',
     'status.importantUnimportantCounts': '重要 {important}、重要でない {unimportant}',
     'ui.conflict': '競合',
-    'status.differenceSectionUnknown': '≠ -',
+    'status.differenceSectionUnknown': '差分: —',
     'status.differenceSections': '≠ {count} 差分セクション',
     'status.differenceSection': '≠ {count} 差分セクション',
     'status.insertMode': '挿入',
@@ -594,6 +596,7 @@ export const jaJP: LanguagePack = {
     'status.pathFileMetadataWithDetail': '{metadata} · {detail}',
     'status.filesSelectedBytesWithDate': '{count} 個のファイルを選択、{bytes} バイト、{modified}',
     'status.panePlaceholder': '—',
+    'status.pathMetaEmptyHint': 'パスを選ぶとサイズと日付が表示されます',
     'status.readyIdle': '準備完了',
     'status.filesAndFoldersSelectedBytes':
       '{files} 個のファイル、{folders} 個のフォルダーを選択、{bytes} バイト',
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/ko-KR.ts b/src/i18n/locales/ko-KR.ts
index c82bdb6d..16f6f67a 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/ko-KR.ts
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/ko-KR.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ export const koKR: LanguagePack = {
     'command.planned': '예정',
     'command.previousDifference': '이전 차이',
     'command.ready': '사용 가능',
-    'command.searchPlaceholder': '검색 명령',
+    'command.searchPlaceholder': '메뉴와 명령 검색',
     'command.toggleTheme': '테마 전환',
     'command.toggleMinor': '부차 차이 전환',
     'command.expandAll': '모두 펼치기',
@@ -172,8 +172,8 @@ export const koKR: LanguagePack = {
     'ui.hexCompare': '16진수 비교',
     'ui.hexDetails': '16진수 세부정보',
     'ui.help': '돕다',
-    'ui.helpContents': '목차',
-    'ui.contextHelp': '상황별 도움말',
+    'ui.helpContents': '문서',
+    'ui.contextHelp': '이 보기 도움말',
     'ui.contextHelpTopic': '도움말: {topic}',
     'ui.about': 'Open Diff 정보',
     'ui.checkForUpdates': '업데이트 확인',
@@ -184,8 +184,10 @@ export const koKR: LanguagePack = {
     'ui.aboutTitle': 'Open Diff 정보',
     'ui.aboutVersion': '버전 {version}',
     'ui.aboutLicense': 'Apache-2.0 라이선스',
-    'ui.aboutHomepage': '프로젝트 홈페이지',
+    'ui.aboutHomepage': '문서 및 홈페이지',
     'ui.aboutClose': '닫기',
+    'ui.aboutHint':
+      'Open Diff는 파일과 폴더를 비교합니다. 안내는 도움말 → 문서, 질문은 지원을 보세요.',
     'ui.updatesCheckOpened': '업데이트 확인을 위해 릴리스 페이지를 열었습니다.',
     'ui.updatesCheckDisabled': '정책에 의해 업데이트 확인이 비활성화되었습니다.',
     'status.alignWithApplied': '{source}을(를) {target}과(와) 맞춤',
@@ -474,7 +476,7 @@ export const koKR: LanguagePack = {
     'status.unimportantDifference': '중요하지 않은 차이',
     'status.importantUnimportantCounts': '중요 {important}, 중요하지 않음 {unimportant}',
     'ui.conflict': '충돌',
-    'status.differenceSectionUnknown': '≠ -',
+    'status.differenceSectionUnknown': '차이: —',
     'status.differenceSections': '≠ {count}개 차이 구역',
     'status.differenceSection': '≠ {count}개 차이 구역',
     'status.insertMode': '삽입',
@@ -484,6 +486,7 @@ export const koKR: LanguagePack = {
     'status.pathFileMetadataWithDetail': '{metadata} · {detail}',
     'status.filesSelectedBytesWithDate': '파일 {count}개 선택, {bytes}바이트, {modified}',
     'status.panePlaceholder': '—',
+    'status.pathMetaEmptyHint': '경로를 선택하면 크기와 날짜를 볼 수 있습니다',
     'status.readyIdle': '준비됨',
     'status.filesAndFoldersSelectedBytes': '파일 {files}개, 폴더 {folders}개 선택, {bytes}바이트',
     'status.foldersSelected': '폴더 {count}개 선택',
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/zh-CN.ts b/src/i18n/locales/zh-CN.ts
index c01dcd40..f0e20c5c 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/zh-CN.ts
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/zh-CN.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ export const zhCN: LanguagePack = {
     'command.planned': '计划中',
     'command.previousDifference': '上一个差异',
     'command.ready': '可用',
-    'command.searchPlaceholder': '搜索命令',
+    'command.searchPlaceholder': '搜索菜单和命令',
     'command.toggleTheme': '切换主题',
     'command.toggleMinor': '切换次要差异',
     'command.expandAll': '全部展开',
@@ -164,8 +164,8 @@ export const zhCN: LanguagePack = {
     'ui.hexCompare': '十六进制比较',
     'ui.hexDetails': '十六进制详情',
     'ui.help': '帮助',
-    'ui.helpContents': '目录',
-    'ui.contextHelp': '上下文帮助',
+    'ui.helpContents': '文档',
+    'ui.contextHelp': '当前视图帮助',
     'ui.contextHelpTopic': '帮助：{topic}',
     'ui.about': '关于 Open Diff',
     'ui.checkForUpdates': '检查更新',
@@ -176,8 +176,9 @@ export const zhCN: LanguagePack = {
     'ui.aboutTitle': '关于 Open Diff',
     'ui.aboutVersion': '版本 {version}',
     'ui.aboutLicense': '遵循 Apache-2.0 许可',
-    'ui.aboutHomepage': '项目主页',
+    'ui.aboutHomepage': '文档与主页',
     'ui.aboutClose': '关闭',
+    'ui.aboutHint': 'Open Diff 用于比较文件和文件夹。指南见“帮助 → 文档”，问题见“支持”。',
     'ui.updatesCheckOpened': '已打开发布页面以检查更新。',
     'ui.updatesCheckDisabled': '策略已禁用更新检查。',
     'status.alignWithApplied': '已将 {source} 与 {target} 对齐',
@@ -462,7 +463,7 @@ export const zhCN: LanguagePack = {
     'status.unimportantDifference': '不重要差异',
     'status.importantUnimportantCounts': '{important} 处重要，{unimportant} 处不重要',
     'ui.conflict': '冲突',
-    'status.differenceSectionUnknown': '≠ -',
+    'status.differenceSectionUnknown': '差异：—',
     'status.differenceSections': '≠ {count} 个差异段',
     'status.differenceSection': '≠ {count} 个差异段',
     'status.insertMode': '插入',
@@ -472,6 +473,7 @@ export const zhCN: LanguagePack = {
     'status.pathFileMetadataWithDetail': '{metadata} · {detail}',
     'status.filesSelectedBytesWithDate': '已选 {count} 个文件，{bytes} 字节，{modified}',
     'status.panePlaceholder': '—',
+    'status.pathMetaEmptyHint': '选择路径后可查看大小和日期',
     'status.readyIdle': '就绪',
     'status.filesAndFoldersSelectedBytes': '已选 {files} 个文件、{folders} 个文件夹，{bytes} 字节',
     'status.foldersSelected': '已选 {count} 个文件夹',
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/zh-TW.ts b/src/i18n/locales/zh-TW.ts
index 8fd06161..ac5bbed7 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/zh-TW.ts
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/zh-TW.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ export const zhTW: LanguagePack = {
     'command.planned': '規劃中',
     'command.previousDifference': '上一個差異',
     'command.ready': '可用',
-    'command.searchPlaceholder': '搜尋命令',
+    'command.searchPlaceholder': '搜尋選單與命令',
     'command.toggleTheme': '切換主題',
     'command.toggleMinor': '切換次要差異',
     'command.expandAll': '全部展開',
@@ -165,8 +165,8 @@ export const zhTW: LanguagePack = {
     'ui.hexCompare': '十六進位比較',
     'ui.hexDetails': '十六進位詳細資訊',
     'ui.help': '說明',
-    'ui.helpContents': '目錄',
-    'ui.contextHelp': '內容說明',
+    'ui.helpContents': '說明文件',
+    'ui.contextHelp': '目前檢視說明',
     'ui.contextHelpTopic': '說明：{topic}',
     'ui.about': '關於 Open Diff',
     'ui.checkForUpdates': '檢查更新',
@@ -177,8 +177,9 @@ export const zhTW: LanguagePack = {
     'ui.aboutTitle': '關於 Open Diff',
     'ui.aboutVersion': '版本 {version}',
     'ui.aboutLicense': '採用 Apache-2.0 授權',
-    'ui.aboutHomepage': '專案首頁',
+    'ui.aboutHomepage': '文件與首頁',
     'ui.aboutClose': '關閉',
+    'ui.aboutHint': 'Open Diff 用於比較檔案與資料夾。指南見「說明 → 文件」，問題見「支援」。',
     'ui.updatesCheckOpened': '已開啟發行頁面以檢查更新。',
     'ui.updatesCheckDisabled': '原則已停用更新檢查。',
     'status.alignWithApplied': '已將 {source} 與 {target} 對齊',
@@ -463,7 +464,7 @@ export const zhTW: LanguagePack = {
     'status.unimportantDifference': '不重要差異',
     'status.importantUnimportantCounts': '{important} 處重要，{unimportant} 處不重要',
     'ui.conflict': '衝突',
-    'status.differenceSectionUnknown': '≠ -',
+    'status.differenceSectionUnknown': '差異：—',
     'status.differenceSections': '≠ {count} 個差異段',
     'status.differenceSection': '≠ {count} 個差異段',
     'status.insertMode': '插入',
@@ -473,6 +474,7 @@ export const zhTW: LanguagePack = {
     'status.pathFileMetadataWithDetail': '{metadata} · {detail}',
     'status.filesSelectedBytesWithDate': '已選 {count} 個檔案，{bytes} 位元組，{modified}',
     'status.panePlaceholder': '—',
+    'status.pathMetaEmptyHint': '選擇路徑後可查看大小與日期',
     'status.readyIdle': '就緒',
     'status.filesAndFoldersSelectedBytes':
       '已選 {files} 個檔案、{folders} 個資料夾，{bytes} 位元組',
diff --git a/src/layouts/AppLayout.test.ts b/src/layouts/AppLayout.test.ts
index 63462111..878252ef 100644
--- a/src/layouts/AppLayout.test.ts
+++ b/src/layouts/AppLayout.test.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { readFileSync } from 'node:fs'
 import { dirname, resolve } from 'node:path'
 import { fileURLToPath } from 'node:url'
-import { mount, type VueWrapper } from '@vue/test-utils'
+import { flushPromises, mount, type VueWrapper } from '@vue/test-utils'
 import { createPinia, setActivePinia } from 'pinia'
 import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
 import AppLayout from './AppLayout.vue'
@@ -200,6 +200,41 @@ describe('AppLayout command palette', () => {
     expect(wrapper.find('[data-testid="about-dialog"]').text()).toContain('1.3.1')
   })
 
+  it('labels Help menus plainly and explains About for first-time users', async () => {
+    const wrapper = mountAppLayout()
+
+    await wrapper.find('[data-testid="menu-help"]').trigger('click')
+    expect(wrapper.find('[data-testid="menu-command-help.contents"]').text()).toContain(
+      'Documentation',
+    )
+    expect(wrapper.find('[data-testid="menu-command-help.contextHelp"]').text()).toContain(
+      'Help for This View',
+    )
+
+    await wrapper.find('[data-testid="menu-command-help.about"]').trigger('click')
+    await flushPromises()
+
+    expect(wrapper.find('[data-testid="about-hint"]').text()).toContain(
+      'compares files and folders',
+    )
+    expect(wrapper.find('[data-testid="about-open-homepage"]').text()).toContain('Documentation')
+  })
+
+  it('shows a plain idle differences phrase instead of ≠ -', async () => {
+    const wrapper = mountAppLayout()
+    const statusBar = useStatusBarStore()
+
+    statusBar.reportStatus({
+      source: 'text-compare',
+      comparisonStatus: 'Ready',
+      differenceCount: null,
+    })
+    await wrapper.vm.$nextTick()
+
+    expect(wrapper.find('[data-testid="status-bar"]').text()).toContain('Differences: —')
+    expect(wrapper.find('[data-testid="status-bar"]').text()).not.toContain('≠ -')
+  })
+
   it('shows Session Actions Edit Search View Tools Help on Folder Compare', () => {
     routePath = '/compare/folder'
     const wrapper = mountAppLayout()
diff --git a/src/layouts/AppLayout.vue b/src/layouts/AppLayout.vue
index a11816e9..c293c9c2 100644
--- a/src/layouts/AppLayout.vue
+++ b/src/layouts/AppLayout.vue
@@ -2177,6 +2177,12 @@ const sourceSessionTypes = new Set<SessionType>([
         </header>
         <p>{{ t('ui.aboutVersion', { version: APP_VERSION }) }}</p>
         <p>{{ t('ui.aboutLicense') }}</p>
+        <p
+          class="about-hint"
+          data-testid="about-hint"
+        >
+          {{ t('ui.aboutHint') }}
+        </p>
         <p>
           <button
             type="button"
@@ -3211,6 +3217,12 @@ html[data-show-sidebar='1'] .sidebar {
   justify-content: flex-end;
 }
 
+.about-hint {
+  color: var(--app-text-muted);
+  font-size: 12px;
+  line-height: 1.4;
+}
+
 .about-dialog p {
   margin: 0;
   font-size: 11px;