diff --git a/web/default/src/features/docs/index.tsx b/web/default/src/features/docs/index.tsx
index 5daf25aa3..b68d61849 100644
--- a/web/default/src/features/docs/index.tsx
+++ b/web/default/src/features/docs/index.tsx
@@ -312,59 +312,121 @@ export function Docs() {
             </h1>
           )}
 
-          {/* Three-column layout with left sidebar always visible */}
-          <div className='flex gap-8'>
-            {/* Left sidebar - always visible */}
-            <aside className='hidden w-64 shrink-0 lg:block'>
-              <div className='sticky top-[4.5rem] max-h-[calc(100vh-5rem)] overflow-y-auto'>
-                {/* Search */}
-                <div className='relative mb-4'>
-                  <Search className='absolute top-1/2 left-3 size-3.5 -translate-y-1/2 text-muted-foreground' />
-                  <Input
-                    placeholder={t('Search documents...')}
-                    value={searchQuery}
-                    onChange={(e) => setSearchQuery(e.target.value)}
-                    className='h-8 pl-8 text-sm'
-                  />
-                </div>
-
-                {/* Categories */}
-                {loading ? (
-                  <div className='space-y-3'>
-                    {[1, 2, 3].map((i) => (
-                      <div
-                        key={i}
-                        className='h-6 animate-pulse rounded bg-muted'
-                      />
-                    ))}
+          {/* Empty state - centered relative to entire page (outside three-column layout) */}
+          {!selectedDoc && !docLoading && (
+            <div className='relative min-h-[50vh]'>
+              {/* Left sidebar - visible for document selection */}
+              <aside className='hidden w-64 shrink-0 lg:block absolute left-0 top-0'>
+                <div className='sticky top-[4.5rem] max-h-[calc(100vh-5rem)] overflow-y-auto'>
+                  {/* Search */}
+                  <div className='relative mb-4'>
+                    <Search className='absolute top-1/2 left-3 size-3.5 -translate-y-1/2 text-muted-foreground' />
+                    <Input
+                      placeholder={t('Search documents...')}
+                      value={searchQuery}
+                      onChange={(e) => setSearchQuery(e.target.value)}
+                      className='h-8 pl-8 text-sm'
+                    />
                   </div>
-                ) : categories.length === 0 ? (
-                  <p className='text-sm text-muted-foreground'>
-                    {t('No documents')}
-                  </p>
-                ) : (
-                  <div className='space-y-1'>
-                    {categories
-                      .sort((a, b) => a.sort_order - b.sort_order)
-                      .map((cat) => (
-                        <CategorySection
-                          key={cat.id}
-                          category={cat}
-                          documents={documents}
-                          selectedSlug={selectedSlug}
-                          onSelect={handleSelectDoc}
-                          searchQuery={searchQuery}
+
+                  {/* Categories */}
+                  {loading ? (
+                    <div className='space-y-3'>
+                      {[1, 2, 3].map((i) => (
+                        <div
+                          key={i}
+                          className='h-6 animate-pulse rounded bg-muted'
                         />
                       ))}
-                  </div>
-                )}
-              </div>
-            </aside>
+                    </div>
+                  ) : categories.length === 0 ? (
+                    <p className='text-sm text-muted-foreground'>
+                      {t('No documents')}
+                    </p>
+                  ) : (
+                    <div className='space-y-1'>
+                      {categories
+                        .sort((a, b) => a.sort_order - b.sort_order)
+                        .map((cat) => (
+                          <CategorySection
+                            key={cat.id}
+                            category={cat}
+                            documents={documents}
+                            selectedSlug={selectedSlug}
+                            onSelect={handleSelectDoc}
+                            searchQuery={searchQuery}
+                          />
+                        ))}
+                    </div>
+                  )}
+                </div>
+              </aside>
 
-            {/* Center content */}
-            <main className='min-w-0 flex-1'>
-              {!selectedDoc || docLoading ? (
-                docLoading ? (
+              {/* Centered empty state */}
+              <div className='absolute left-1/2 top-1/2 -translate-x-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 flex flex-col items-center text-center'>
+                <div className='flex size-16 items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-muted'>
+                  <Book className='size-7 text-muted-foreground' />
+                </div>
+                <p className='mt-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground'>
+                  {t('Select a document to start reading')}
+                </p>
+              </div>
+            </div>
+          )}
+
+          {/* Three-column layout - only when document is selected */}
+          {selectedDoc && (
+            <div className='flex gap-8'>
+              {/* Left sidebar */}
+              <aside className='hidden w-64 shrink-0 lg:block'>
+                <div className='sticky top-[4.5rem] max-h-[calc(100vh-5rem)] overflow-y-auto'>
+                  {/* Search */}
+                  <div className='relative mb-4'>
+                    <Search className='absolute top-1/2 left-3 size-3.5 -translate-y-1/2 text-muted-foreground' />
+                    <Input
+                      placeholder={t('Search documents...')}
+                      value={searchQuery}
+                      onChange={(e) => setSearchQuery(e.target.value)}
+                      className='h-8 pl-8 text-sm'
+                    />
+                  </div>
+
+                  {/* Categories */}
+                  {loading ? (
+                    <div className='space-y-3'>
+                      {[1, 2, 3].map((i) => (
+                        <div
+                          key={i}
+                          className='h-6 animate-pulse rounded bg-muted'
+                        />
+                      ))}
+                    </div>
+                  ) : categories.length === 0 ? (
+                    <p className='text-sm text-muted-foreground'>
+                      {t('No documents')}
+                    </p>
+                  ) : (
+                    <div className='space-y-1'>
+                      {categories
+                        .sort((a, b) => a.sort_order - b.sort_order)
+                        .map((cat) => (
+                          <CategorySection
+                            key={cat.id}
+                            category={cat}
+                            documents={documents}
+                            selectedSlug={selectedSlug}
+                            onSelect={handleSelectDoc}
+                            searchQuery={searchQuery}
+                          />
+                        ))}
+                    </div>
+                  )}
+                </div>
+              </aside>
+
+              {/* Center content */}
+              <main className='min-w-0 flex-1'>
+                {docLoading ? (
                   <div className='animate-pulse space-y-4'>
                     <div className='h-8 w-2/3 rounded bg-muted' />
                     <div className='h-4 w-full rounded bg-muted' />
@@ -372,60 +434,45 @@ export function Docs() {
                     <div className='h-4 w-4/6 rounded bg-muted' />
                   </div>
                 ) : (
-                  /* Empty state - centered relative to entire page container */
-                  /* Offset by half of sidebar width to align with page title */
-                  <div className='relative min-h-[50vh] lg:-ml-[calc((256px+32px)/2)] lg:w-[calc(100%+(256px+32px)/2)] xl:-ml-[calc((256px+32px-192px)/2)] xl:w-[calc(100%+(256px+32px-192px)/2)]'>
-                    <div className='absolute left-1/2 top-1/2 -translate-x-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 flex flex-col items-center text-center'>
-                      <div className='flex size-16 items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-muted'>
-                        <Book className='size-7 text-muted-foreground' />
+                  <>
+                    <div id='doc-content' className='doc-content'>
+                      <Markdown>
+                        {selectedDoc?.content ?? ''}
+                      </Markdown>
+                    </div>
+
+                    {/* Prev/Next navigation */}
+                    {(prevDoc || nextDoc) && (
+                      <div className='mt-12 flex items-center justify-between border-t border-border pt-6'>
+                        {prevDoc ? (
+                          <Button
+                            variant='outline'
+                            size='sm'
+                            onClick={() => handleSelectDoc(prevDoc.slug)}
+                          >
+                            {t('Previous')}: {prevDoc.title}
+                          </Button>
+                        ) : (
+                          <div />
+                        )}
+                        {nextDoc ? (
+                          <Button
+                            variant='outline'
+                            size='sm'
+                            onClick={() => handleSelectDoc(nextDoc.slug)}
+                          >
+                            {t('Next')}: {nextDoc.title}
+                          </Button>
+                        ) : (
+                          <div />
+                        )}
                       </div>
-                      <p className='mt-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground'>
-                        {t('Select a document to start reading')}
-                      </p>
-                    </div>
-                  </div>
-                )
-              ) : (
-                <>
-                  <div id='doc-content' className='doc-content'>
-                    <Markdown>
-                      {selectedDoc?.content ?? ''}
-                    </Markdown>
-                  </div>
+                    )}
+                  </>
+                )}
+              </main>
 
-                  {/* Prev/Next navigation */}
-                  {(prevDoc || nextDoc) && (
-                    <div className='mt-12 flex items-center justify-between border-t border-border pt-6'>
-                      {prevDoc ? (
-                        <Button
-                          variant='outline'
-                          size='sm'
-                          onClick={() => handleSelectDoc(prevDoc.slug)}
-                        >
-                          {t('Previous')}: {prevDoc.title}
-                        </Button>
-                      ) : (
-                        <div />
-                      )}
-                      {nextDoc ? (
-                        <Button
-                          variant='outline'
-                          size='sm'
-                          onClick={() => handleSelectDoc(nextDoc.slug)}
-                        >
-                          {t('Next')}: {nextDoc.title}
-                        </Button>
-                      ) : (
-                        <div />
-                      )}
-                    </div>
-                  )}
-                </>
-              )}
-            </main>
-
-            {/* Right TOC - only visible when document is selected */}
-            {selectedDoc && (
+              {/* Right TOC */}
               <aside className='hidden w-48 shrink-0 xl:block'>
                 {tocItems.length > 0 && (
                   <div className='sticky top-[4.5rem] max-h-[calc(100vh-5rem)] overflow-y-auto'>
@@ -450,8 +497,8 @@ export function Docs() {
                   </div>
                 )}
               </aside>
-            )}
-          </div>
+            </div>
+          )}
         </div>
 
       <style>{`