diff --git a/crates/pdfs-gui/src/app/main.rs b/crates/pdfs-gui/src/app/main.rs
index d295406..8259a17 100644
--- a/crates/pdfs-gui/src/app/main.rs
+++ b/crates/pdfs-gui/src/app/main.rs
@@ -1342,6 +1342,11 @@ fn install_shortcuts(ui: &Rc<Ui>, window: &adw::ApplicationWindow) {
             gtk4::gdk::Key::Up if alt && on_browser => {
                 ui.browser.actions.activate_action("up", None)
             }
+            // A focused text field takes Backspace first, so this only fires
+            // with the focus on the files, as in a file manager.
+            gtk4::gdk::Key::BackSpace if on_browser => {
+                ui.browser.actions.activate_action("back", None)
+            }
             gtk4::gdk::Key::u | gtk4::gdk::Key::U if ctrl && on_browser => prompt_upload(&ui),
             gtk4::gdk::Key::Menu if on_browser => popup_keyboard_context_menu(&ui),
             gtk4::gdk::Key::Return | gtk4::gdk::Key::KP_Enter if alt && on_browser => {
diff --git a/crates/pdfs-gui/src/app/pages/browser.rs b/crates/pdfs-gui/src/app/pages/browser.rs
index 97d3a75..d1fd118 100644
--- a/crates/pdfs-gui/src/app/pages/browser.rs
+++ b/crates/pdfs-gui/src/app/pages/browser.rs
@@ -815,6 +815,8 @@ pub(crate) fn browser_views(ui: &Rc<Ui>) {
 pub(crate) fn wire_browser(ui: &Rc<Ui>, grid: &gtk4::GridView, column_view: &gtk4::ColumnView) {
     attach_background_menu(ui, grid);
     attach_background_menu(ui, column_view);
+    attach_background_deselect(ui, grid);
+    attach_background_deselect(ui, column_view);
     // Resize only realised grid cells. Rebuilding the whole model for every
     // slider step would repeatedly tear down selection state while the pointer
     // is still moving.
@@ -1102,6 +1104,48 @@ pub(crate) fn attach_background_menu(ui: &Rc<Ui>, view: &impl IsA<gtk4::Widget>)
     view.add_controller(gesture);
 }
 
+/// Clicking the empty space of a view drops the selection, as in a file
+/// manager. GTK's list views leave it alone, so a stray highlight otherwise
+/// sticks around until another item is clicked.
+pub(crate) fn attach_background_deselect(ui: &Rc<Ui>, view: &impl IsA<gtk4::Widget>) {
+    let gesture = gtk4::GestureClick::new();
+    gesture.set_button(gtk4::gdk::BUTTON_PRIMARY);
+    // Capture sees the press before an item's own gesture claims it; this only
+    // looks, so the item still gets its click.
+    gesture.set_propagation_phase(gtk4::PropagationPhase::Capture);
+    let ui = ui.clone();
+    let target = view.clone().upcast::<gtk4::Widget>();
+    gesture.connect_pressed(move |gesture, _, x, y| {
+        let modifiers = gesture.current_event_state();
+        if modifiers
+            .intersects(gtk4::gdk::ModifierType::CONTROL_MASK | gtk4::gdk::ModifierType::SHIFT_MASK)
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+        if !on_item(&target, x, y) {
+            clear_selection(&ui);
+            sync_bulk_bar(&ui);
+        }
+    });
+    view.add_controller(gesture);
+}
+
+/// Whether `(x, y)` in `view` lands on an item: a grid tile ("child"), a list
+/// row ("row"), or a column header ("header"), which has clicks of its own.
+fn on_item(view: &gtk4::Widget, x: f64, y: f64) -> bool {
+    let mut widget = view.pick(x, y, gtk4::PickFlags::DEFAULT);
+    while let Some(w) = widget {
+        if &w == view {
+            return false;
+        }
+        if matches!(w.css_name().as_str(), "child" | "row" | "header") {
+            return true;
+        }
+        widget = w.parent();
+    }
+    false
+}
+
 /// The Menu key or Shift+F10: the menu for the selection, or for the folder
 /// when nothing is selected, opened at the focused item.
 pub(crate) fn popup_keyboard_context_menu(ui: &Rc<Ui>) {
diff --git a/docs/CHANGELOG.md b/docs/CHANGELOG.md
index e98d77c..d599bd7 100644
--- a/docs/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/docs/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -121,6 +121,8 @@ Schema: **31** (unchanged).
   so the folder did not open. The pane now shows on request, from the header's Details toggle,
   Alt+Enter or the item menu's Details, and then follows the selection. Closing it keeps the
   selection.
+- **My Files behaves more like a file manager.** A click on empty space between the files clears
+  the selection; Ctrl or Shift held keeps it. Backspace goes back while the focus is on the files.
 - **An upload parked behind a temp-file rename no longer stays parked forever.** A create for a
   name that looks like a writer's temporary file waits for the rename to the final name. If that
   rename never came — the writer crashed, the file was deleted, or the name was never temporary —