diff --git a/DynamicIsland.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj b/DynamicIsland.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
index e6db8a4..340acd0 100644
--- a/DynamicIsland.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
+++ b/DynamicIsland.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
@@ -464,7 +464,7 @@
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSCalendarsUsageDescription = "Need for Calendar Mode";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSCameraUsageDescription = "We need your camera for Mirror mode";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSDesktopFolderUsageDescription = "Atoll needs access to save screenshots to your desktop.";
-				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSDocumentsFolderUsageDescription = "Atoll needs access to save and read AI assistant files.";
+				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSDocumentsFolderUsageDescription = "Atoll needs access to save and read shelf dragged files.";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSDownloadsFolderUsageDescription = "Atoll needs access to read files in the downloads folder.";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSHumanReadableCopyright = "";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSLocationUsageDescription = "Atoll uses your location to display accurate lock screen weather.";
@@ -536,7 +536,7 @@
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSCalendarsUsageDescription = "Need for Calendar Mode";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSCameraUsageDescription = "We need your camera for Mirror mode";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSDesktopFolderUsageDescription = "Atoll needs access to save screenshots to your desktop.";
-				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSDocumentsFolderUsageDescription = "Atoll needs access to save and read AI assistant files.";
+				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSDocumentsFolderUsageDescription = "Atoll needs access to save and read shelf dragged files.";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSDownloadsFolderUsageDescription = "Atoll needs access to read files in the downloads folder.";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSHumanReadableCopyright = "";
 				INFOPLIST_KEY_NSLocationUsageDescription = "Atoll uses your location to display accurate lock screen weather.";
diff --git a/DynamicIsland/components/Settings/SettingsView.swift b/DynamicIsland/components/Settings/SettingsView.swift
index 2da6573..736752a 100644
--- a/DynamicIsland/components/Settings/SettingsView.swift
+++ b/DynamicIsland/components/Settings/SettingsView.swift
@@ -3183,6 +3183,15 @@ struct Shelf: View {
     @Default(.autoRemoveShelfItems) var autoRemoveShelfItems
     @StateObject private var quickShareService = QuickShareService.shared
     @ObservedObject private var fullDiskAccessPermission = FullDiskAccessPermissionStore.shared
+    @ObservedObject private var shelfFolderAccessPermission = ShelfFolderAccessPermissionStore.shared
+
+    private var hasDocumentsAndDownloadsAccess: Bool {
+        shelfFolderAccessPermission.hasDocumentsAndDownloadsAccess
+    }
+
+    private var canEnableShelf: Bool {
+        fullDiskAccessPermission.isAuthorized || hasDocumentsAndDownloadsAccess
+    }
 
     private var selectedProvider: QuickShareProvider? {
         quickShareService.availableProviders.first(where: { $0.id == quickShareProvider })
@@ -3198,18 +3207,33 @@ struct Shelf: View {
 
     var body: some View {
         Form {
-            if !fullDiskAccessPermission.isAuthorized {
+            if !canEnableShelf || !fullDiskAccessPermission.isAuthorized {
                 Section {
-                    SettingsPermissionCallout(
-                        title: "Full Disk Access required",
-                        message: "Grant Full Disk Access so the Shelf can index and move files outside the app sandbox.",
-                        icon: "externaldrive.fill",
-                        iconColor: .purple,
-                        requestButtonTitle: "Request Full Disk Access",
-                        openSettingsButtonTitle: "Open Privacy & Security",
-                        requestAction: { fullDiskAccessPermission.requestAccessPrompt() },
-                        openSettingsAction: { fullDiskAccessPermission.openSystemSettings() }
-                    )
+                    if !canEnableShelf {
+                        SettingsPermissionCallout(
+                            title: "Additional folder access required",
+                            message: "Enable Full Disk Access, or grant access to both Documents and Downloads folders to use Shelf.",
+                            icon: "folder.badge.questionmark",
+                            iconColor: .orange,
+                            requestButtonTitle: "Request Folder Access",
+                            openSettingsButtonTitle: "Open Privacy & Security",
+                            requestAction: { shelfFolderAccessPermission.requestAccessPrompt() },
+                            openSettingsAction: { shelfFolderAccessPermission.openSystemSettings() }
+                        )
+                    }
+
+                    if !fullDiskAccessPermission.isAuthorized {
+                        SettingsPermissionCallout(
+                            title: "Full Disk Access for global mode",
+                            message: "Without Full Disk Access, Shelf can only read files from Documents and Downloads. Grant Full Disk Access to make Shelf work globally.",
+                            icon: "externaldrive.fill",
+                            iconColor: .purple,
+                            requestButtonTitle: "Request Full Disk Access",
+                            openSettingsButtonTitle: "Open Privacy & Security",
+                            requestAction: { fullDiskAccessPermission.requestAccessPrompt() },
+                            openSettingsAction: { fullDiskAccessPermission.openSystemSettings() }
+                        )
+                    }
                 } header: {
                     Text("Permissions")
                 }
@@ -3217,7 +3241,7 @@ struct Shelf: View {
 
             Section {
                 Defaults.Toggle("Enable shelf", key: .dynamicShelf)
-                    .disabled(!fullDiskAccessPermission.isAuthorized)
+                    .disabled(!canEnableShelf)
                     .settingsHighlight(id: highlightID("Enable shelf"))
 
                 Defaults.Toggle("Open shelf tab by default if items added", key: .openShelfByDefault)
@@ -3304,6 +3328,7 @@ struct Shelf: View {
         .navigationTitle("Shelf")
         .onAppear {
             fullDiskAccessPermission.refreshStatus()
+            shelfFolderAccessPermission.refreshStatus()
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/DynamicIsland/helpers/FullDiskAccessPermissionStore.swift b/DynamicIsland/helpers/FullDiskAccessPermissionStore.swift
index a891f1e..adab59d 100644
--- a/DynamicIsland/helpers/FullDiskAccessPermissionStore.swift
+++ b/DynamicIsland/helpers/FullDiskAccessPermissionStore.swift
@@ -53,6 +53,53 @@ enum FullDiskAccessAuthorization {
     }
 }
 
+enum ShelfFolderAccessAuthorization {
+    private static var documentsDirectoryURL: URL? {
+        FileManager.default.urls(for: .documentDirectory, in: .userDomainMask).first
+    }
+
+    private static var downloadsDirectoryURL: URL? {
+        FileManager.default.urls(for: .downloadsDirectory, in: .userDomainMask).first
+    }
+
+    static func hasDocumentsAccess() -> Bool {
+        canReadDirectory(at: documentsDirectoryURL)
+    }
+
+    static func hasDownloadsAccess() -> Bool {
+        canReadDirectory(at: downloadsDirectoryURL)
+    }
+
+    static func hasDocumentsAndDownloadsAccess() -> Bool {
+        hasDocumentsAccess() && hasDownloadsAccess()
+    }
+
+    static func requestAccessProbe() {
+        if let documentsDirectoryURL {
+            _ = try? FileManager.default.contentsOfDirectory(at: documentsDirectoryURL, includingPropertiesForKeys: nil)
+        }
+
+        if let downloadsDirectoryURL {
+            _ = try? FileManager.default.contentsOfDirectory(at: downloadsDirectoryURL, includingPropertiesForKeys: nil)
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static func canReadDirectory(at url: URL?) -> Bool {
+        guard let url else { return false }
+
+        do {
+            _ = try FileManager.default.contentsOfDirectory(
+                at: url,
+                includingPropertiesForKeys: nil,
+                options: [.skipsHiddenFiles]
+            )
+            return true
+        } catch {
+            return false
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 @MainActor
 final class FullDiskAccessPermissionStore: ObservableObject {
     static let shared = FullDiskAccessPermissionStore()
@@ -128,3 +175,83 @@ final class FullDiskAccessPermissionStore: ObservableObject {
         isAuthorized = newValue
     }
 }
+
+@MainActor
+final class ShelfFolderAccessPermissionStore: ObservableObject {
+    static let shared = ShelfFolderAccessPermissionStore()
+
+    @Published private(set) var hasDocumentsAccess: Bool = ShelfFolderAccessAuthorization.hasDocumentsAccess()
+    @Published private(set) var hasDownloadsAccess: Bool = ShelfFolderAccessAuthorization.hasDownloadsAccess()
+
+    var hasDocumentsAndDownloadsAccess: Bool {
+        hasDocumentsAccess && hasDownloadsAccess
+    }
+
+    private var pollingTask: Task<Void, Never>?
+
+    private init() {}
+
+    deinit {
+        pollingTask?.cancel()
+    }
+
+    func refreshStatus() {
+        updateStatus(
+            documents: ShelfFolderAccessAuthorization.hasDocumentsAccess(),
+            downloads: ShelfFolderAccessAuthorization.hasDownloadsAccess()
+        )
+    }
+
+    func requestAccessPrompt() {
+        ShelfFolderAccessAuthorization.requestAccessProbe()
+        beginPollingForStatusChanges()
+    }
+
+    func openSystemSettings() {
+#if os(macOS)
+        let urls = [
+            "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security?Privacy_FilesAndFolders",
+            "x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.preference.security"
+        ]
+
+        for candidate in urls {
+            guard let url = URL(string: candidate) else { continue }
+            if NSWorkspace.shared.open(url) {
+                return
+            }
+        }
+#endif
+    }
+
+    private func beginPollingForStatusChanges() {
+        pollingTask?.cancel()
+        pollingTask = Task { [weak self] in
+            guard let self else { return }
+
+            for _ in 0..<40 {
+                try? await Task.sleep(nanoseconds: 500_000_000)
+
+                let docs = ShelfFolderAccessAuthorization.hasDocumentsAccess()
+                let downloads = ShelfFolderAccessAuthorization.hasDownloadsAccess()
+
+                await MainActor.run {
+                    self.updateStatus(documents: docs, downloads: downloads)
+                }
+
+                if docs && downloads {
+                    break
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private func updateStatus(documents: Bool, downloads: Bool) {
+        if hasDocumentsAccess != documents {
+            hasDocumentsAccess = documents
+        }
+
+        if hasDownloadsAccess != downloads {
+            hasDownloadsAccess = downloads
+        }
+    }
+}