diff --git a/webui/backend/data/tasks.db b/webui/backend/data/tasks.db
index 3b152f2..5579446 100644
Binary files a/webui/backend/data/tasks.db and b/webui/backend/data/tasks.db differ
diff --git a/webui/backend/tests/golden/__pycache__/test_ui_smoke_golden.cpython-313.pyc b/webui/backend/tests/golden/__pycache__/test_ui_smoke_golden.cpython-313.pyc
index 05919cb..72006b8 100644
Binary files a/webui/backend/tests/golden/__pycache__/test_ui_smoke_golden.cpython-313.pyc and b/webui/backend/tests/golden/__pycache__/test_ui_smoke_golden.cpython-313.pyc differ
diff --git a/webui/backend/tests/golden/test_ui_smoke_golden.py b/webui/backend/tests/golden/test_ui_smoke_golden.py
index a9a0f85..872a9db 100644
--- a/webui/backend/tests/golden/test_ui_smoke_golden.py
+++ b/webui/backend/tests/golden/test_ui_smoke_golden.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import subprocess
 import sys
+import textwrap
 import unittest
 from pathlib import Path
 
@@ -19,6 +21,216 @@ class UiSmokeGoldenTest(unittest.TestCase):
                 return route
         self.fail("Expected /ui mount to be registered")
 
+    def _extract_js_function(self, source: str, name: str) -> str:
+        marker = f"function {name}("
+        start = source.find(marker)
+        if start < 0:
+            self.fail(f"Expected function {name} in app.js")
+        brace_start = source.find("{", start)
+        if brace_start < 0:
+            self.fail(f"Expected opening brace for function {name}")
+        depth = 0
+        for index in range(brace_start, len(source)):
+            char = source[index]
+            if char == "{":
+                depth += 1
+            elif char == "}":
+                depth -= 1
+                if depth == 0:
+                    return source[start : index + 1]
+        self.fail(f"Expected closing brace for function {name}")
+
+    def _run_app_js_behavior_check(self, app_js: str) -> None:
+        functions = "\n\n".join(
+            [
+                self._extract_js_function(app_js, "paneState"),
+                self._extract_js_function(app_js, "currentParentPath"),
+                self._extract_js_function(app_js, "baseName"),
+                self._extract_js_function(app_js, "prepareParentReturnRestore"),
+                self._extract_js_function(app_js, "navigateToParent"),
+                self._extract_js_function(app_js, "restoreParentReturnFocus"),
+                self._extract_js_function(app_js, "handleKeyboardShortcuts"),
+            ]
+        )
+        script = textwrap.dedent(
+            f"""
+            const assert = (condition, message) => {{
+              if (!condition) {{
+                throw new Error(message);
+              }}
+            }};
+
+            let state = {{
+              activePane: "left",
+              panes: {{
+                left: {{
+                  currentPath: "storage1/parent/submap",
+                  showHidden: false,
+                  selectedItem: null,
+                  selectedItems: [],
+                  visibleItems: [],
+                  currentRowIndex: -1,
+                  selectionAnchorIndex: null,
+                  pendingSelectionPath: null,
+                  returnFocusName: null,
+                }},
+                right: {{
+                  currentPath: "/Volumes",
+                  showHidden: false,
+                  selectedItem: null,
+                  selectedItems: [],
+                  visibleItems: [],
+                  currentRowIndex: -1,
+                  selectionAnchorIndex: null,
+                  pendingSelectionPath: null,
+                  returnFocusName: null,
+                }},
+              }},
+            }};
+
+            const navigationCalls = [];
+            const renderCalls = [];
+
+            function navigateTo(pane, path) {{
+              navigationCalls.push({{ pane, path }});
+            }}
+
+            function renderPaneItems(pane) {{
+              renderCalls.push({{ pane, currentRowIndex: paneState(pane).currentRowIndex }});
+              const model = paneState(pane);
+              if (!Array.isArray(model.visibleItems) || model.visibleItems.length === 0) {{
+                model.currentRowIndex = -1;
+                return;
+              }}
+              if (model.currentRowIndex < 0 || model.currentRowIndex >= model.visibleItems.length) {{
+                model.currentRowIndex = 0;
+              }}
+            }}
+
+            function isContextMenuOpen() {{ return false; }}
+            function uploadElements() {{ return {{ menuPopup: {{ classList: {{ contains() {{ return true; }} }} }} }}; }}
+            function isFeedbackModalOpen() {{ return false; }}
+            function closeFeedbackModal() {{}}
+            function isDownloadModalOpen() {{ return false; }}
+            function closeDownloadModal() {{}}
+            function isInfoOpen() {{ return false; }}
+            function closeInfo() {{}}
+            function isSearchOpen() {{ return false; }}
+            function closeSearch() {{}}
+            function submitSearch() {{}}
+            function isRenamePopupOpen() {{ return false; }}
+            function closeRenamePopup() {{}}
+            function submitRenamePopup() {{}}
+            function isSettingsOpen() {{ return false; }}
+            function closeSettings() {{}}
+            function isBatchMovePopupOpen() {{ return false; }}
+            function closeBatchMovePopup() {{}}
+            function submitBatchMovePopup() {{}}
+            function isDeleteConfirmModalOpen() {{ return false; }}
+            function closeDeleteConfirmModal() {{}}
+            function submitDeleteConfirmModal() {{}}
+            function isUploadConflictModalOpen() {{ return false; }}
+            function resolveUploadConflict() {{}}
+            function isMovePopupOpen() {{ return false; }}
+            function closeMovePopup() {{}}
+            function submitMovePopup() {{}}
+            function isEditorOpen() {{ return false; }}
+            function attemptCloseEditor() {{}}
+            function isImageOpen() {{ return false; }}
+            function closeImageViewer() {{}}
+            function isVideoOpen() {{ return false; }}
+            function closeVideoViewer() {{}}
+            function isPdfOpen() {{ return false; }}
+            function closePdfViewer() {{}}
+            function isViewerOpen() {{ return false; }}
+            function closeViewer() {{}}
+            function isWildcardPopupOpen() {{ return false; }}
+            function shouldHandleShortcut() {{ return true; }}
+            function openInfo() {{}}
+            function openSearch() {{}}
+            function actionShortcutHandled() {{ return false; }}
+            function openWildcardPopup() {{}}
+            function jumpCurrentRow() {{}}
+            function moveCurrentRow() {{}}
+            function extendSelectionByRow() {{}}
+            function otherPane(pane) {{ return pane === "left" ? "right" : "left"; }}
+            function setActivePane(pane) {{ state.activePane = pane; }}
+            function openCurrentDirectory() {{}}
+            function toggleCurrentSelection() {{}}
+            function clearSelectionForActivePane() {{}}
+
+            {functions}
+
+            let prevented = false;
+            handleKeyboardShortcuts({{
+              key: "Backspace",
+              code: "Backspace",
+              shiftKey: false,
+              altKey: false,
+              metaKey: false,
+              ctrlKey: false,
+              target: null,
+              preventDefault() {{ prevented = true; }},
+            }});
+            assert(prevented, "Backspace should prevent default");
+            assert(navigationCalls.length === 1, "Backspace should trigger parent navigation");
+            assert(navigationCalls[0].path === "storage1/parent", "Backspace should navigate to parent path");
+            assert(paneState("left").returnFocusName === "submap", "Backspace should prepare return focus by child name");
+            assert(paneState("left").pendingSelectionPath === null, "Backspace parent return must not set pending selection path");
+            assert(paneState("left").selectedItems.length === 0, "Backspace parent return must not select items");
+
+            state.panes.left.currentPath = "storage1/parent/submap";
+            state.panes.left.returnFocusName = null;
+            state.panes.left.pendingSelectionPath = null;
+            navigationCalls.length = 0;
+            navigateToParent("left");
+            assert(navigationCalls.length === 1, "Mouse parent-up should trigger parent navigation");
+            assert(navigationCalls[0].path === "storage1/parent", "Mouse parent-up should navigate to parent path");
+            assert(paneState("left").returnFocusName === "submap", "Mouse parent-up should use same restore flow");
+            assert(paneState("left").pendingSelectionPath === null, "Mouse parent-up must not set pending selection path");
+
+            state.panes.left.visibleItems = [
+              {{ path: "storage1/parent", name: "..", kind: "directory", isParent: true }},
+              {{ path: "storage1/parent/submap", name: "submap", kind: "directory" }},
+              {{ path: "storage1/parent/other", name: "other", kind: "directory" }},
+            ];
+            state.panes.left.currentRowIndex = 0;
+            state.panes.left.selectedItems = [];
+            state.panes.left.selectedItem = null;
+            state.panes.left.selectionAnchorIndex = null;
+            state.panes.left.returnFocusName = "submap";
+            renderCalls.length = 0;
+            restoreParentReturnFocus("left", state.panes.left.visibleItems);
+            assert(state.panes.left.currentRowIndex === 1, "Restore should focus the child entry in parent");
+            assert(state.panes.left.selectedItems.length === 0, "Restore must not add selection");
+            assert(state.panes.left.selectedItem === null, "Restore must not set selectedItem");
+            assert(state.panes.left.selectionAnchorIndex === null, "Restore must not set selection anchor");
+            assert(state.panes.left.returnFocusName === null, "Restore state should be cleared after success");
+            assert(renderCalls.length >= 1, "Restore should re-render focused row");
+
+            state.panes.left.currentRowIndex = 0;
+            state.panes.left.selectedItems = [];
+            state.panes.left.selectedItem = null;
+            state.panes.left.selectionAnchorIndex = null;
+            state.panes.left.returnFocusName = "missing";
+            renderCalls.length = 0;
+            restoreParentReturnFocus("left", state.panes.left.visibleItems);
+            assert(state.panes.left.currentRowIndex === 0, "Fallback should keep existing row when match is missing");
+            assert(state.panes.left.selectedItems.length === 0, "Fallback must not create selection");
+            assert(state.panes.left.selectedItem === null, "Fallback must not set selectedItem");
+            assert(state.panes.left.selectionAnchorIndex === null, "Fallback must not set selection anchor");
+            assert(state.panes.left.returnFocusName === null, "Restore state should be cleared after failed match");
+            """
+        )
+        result = subprocess.run(
+            ["node", "-e", script],
+            cwd="/workspace/webmanager-mvp",
+            capture_output=True,
+            text=True,
+            check=False,
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(result.returncode, 0, msg=result.stderr or result.stdout)
+
     def test_ui_mount_and_index_contains_expected_panels(self) -> None:
         mount = self._ui_mount()
         self.assertIsInstance(mount.app, StaticFiles)
@@ -228,6 +440,7 @@ class UiSmokeGoldenTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIn("width: min(1180px, calc(100vw - 20px));", base_css)
         app_js = (static_root / "app.js").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
         self.assertIn('currentPath: "/Volumes"', app_js)
+        self.assertIn('returnFocusName: null,', app_js)
         self.assertIn('selectedTheme: "default"', app_js)
         self.assertIn('selectedColorMode: "dark"', app_js)
         self.assertIn('const VALID_THEME_FAMILIES = [', app_js)
@@ -404,6 +617,13 @@ class UiSmokeGoldenTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIn('function toggleUploadMenu()', app_js)
         self.assertNotIn('if (event.altKey) {', app_js)
         self.assertIn('document.getElementById("settings-btn").onclick = () => openSettings("general");', app_js)
+        self.assertIn('if (event.key === "Backspace") {', app_js)
+        self.assertIn('navigateToParent(state.activePane);', app_js)
+        self.assertIn('function navigateToParent(pane) {', app_js)
+        self.assertIn('prepareParentReturnRestore(pane, childPath);', app_js)
+        self.assertIn('function prepareParentReturnRestore(pane, childPath) {', app_js)
+        self.assertIn('model.returnFocusName = baseName(childPath);', app_js)
+        self.assertNotIn('model.pendingSelectionPath = childPath;', app_js)
         self.assertIn('function collectDeleteRecursivePaths(selectedItems)', app_js)
         self.assertIn('const confirmed = await openConfirmModal({', app_js)
         self.assertIn('recursivePaths.has(item.path)', app_js)
@@ -430,6 +650,15 @@ class UiSmokeGoldenTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIn('paneState("left").currentPath = settingsState.preferredStartupPathLeft || "/Volumes";', app_js)
         self.assertIn('paneState("right").currentPath = settingsState.preferredStartupPathRight || "/Volumes";', app_js)
         self.assertIn('applyTheme(settingsState.selectedTheme, settingsState.selectedColorMode);', app_js)
+        self.assertIn('renderPaneItems(pane);', app_js)
+        self.assertIn('restoreParentReturnFocus(pane, visibleItems);', app_js)
+        self.assertIn('function restoreParentReturnFocus(pane, visibleItems) {', app_js)
+        self.assertIn('const returningFromChildName = model.returnFocusName;', app_js)
+        self.assertIn('model.returnFocusName = null;', app_js)
+        self.assertIn('const returnIndex = visibleItems.findIndex((item) => !item.isParent && item.name === returningFromChildName);', app_js)
+        self.assertIn('if (returnIndex < 0) {', app_js)
+        self.assertNotIn('setSingleSelectionAtIndex(pane, selectedEntryFromItem(returnItem), returnIndex);', app_js)
+        self.assertIn('renderPaneItems(pane);', app_js)
         self.assertIn('settings.interfaceTab.onclick = () => {', app_js)
         self.assertIn('setSettingsTab("interface");', app_js)
         self.assertIn('settings.downloadsTab.onclick = () => {', app_js)
@@ -440,6 +669,7 @@ class UiSmokeGoldenTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIn('function ensureFolderUploadPicker()', app_js)
         self.assertIn('function openFolderPicker()', app_js)
         self.assertIn('function uploadModalElements()', app_js)
+
         self.assertIn('function setUploadModalVisible(', app_js)
         self.assertIn('function updateUploadModalDisplay(', app_js)
         self.assertIn('function buildFolderUploadPlan(files, targetPath)', app_js)
@@ -576,6 +806,11 @@ class UiSmokeGoldenTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(base_css_url, "/ui/base.css")
         self.assertEqual(theme_default_url, "/ui/theme-default.css")
 
+    def test_parent_return_restore_focuses_without_selecting(self) -> None:
+        mount = self._ui_mount()
+        app_js = (Path(mount.app.directory) / "app.js").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+        self._run_app_js_behavior_check(app_js)
+
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()
diff --git a/webui/html/app.js b/webui/html/app.js
index e35f116..0055348 100644
--- a/webui/html/app.js
+++ b/webui/html/app.js
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ let state = {
       currentRowIndex: -1,
       selectionAnchorIndex: null,
       pendingSelectionPath: null,
+      returnFocusName: null,
     },
     right: {
       currentPath: "/Volumes",
@@ -19,6 +20,7 @@ let state = {
       currentRowIndex: -1,
       selectionAnchorIndex: null,
       pendingSelectionPath: null,
+      returnFocusName: null,
     },
   },
   activePane: "left",
@@ -2210,10 +2212,15 @@ function navigateToParent(pane) {
   if (!parentPath) {
     return;
   }
-  model.pendingSelectionPath = childPath;
+  prepareParentReturnRestore(pane, childPath);
   navigateTo(pane, parentPath);
 }
 
+function prepareParentReturnRestore(pane, childPath) {
+  const model = paneState(pane);
+  model.returnFocusName = baseName(childPath);
+}
+
 function baseName(path) {
   const index = path.lastIndexOf("/");
   return index >= 0 ? path.slice(index + 1) : path;
@@ -2618,6 +2625,7 @@ async function loadBrowsePane(pane) {
     }
 
     renderPaneItems(pane);
+    restoreParentReturnFocus(pane, visibleItems);
     scrollCurrentRowIntoView(pane);
     setStatus(`Loaded ${pane}: ${data.path}`);
   } catch (err) {
@@ -2625,6 +2633,22 @@ async function loadBrowsePane(pane) {
   }
 }
 
+function restoreParentReturnFocus(pane, visibleItems) {
+  const model = paneState(pane);
+  const returningFromChildName = model.returnFocusName;
+  model.returnFocusName = null;
+  if (!returningFromChildName) {
+    return;
+  }
+  const returnIndex = visibleItems.findIndex((item) => !item.isParent && item.name === returningFromChildName);
+  if (returnIndex < 0) {
+    return;
+  }
+  const returnItem = visibleItems[returnIndex];
+  model.currentRowIndex = returnIndex;
+  renderPaneItems(pane);
+}
+
 function navigateTo(pane, path) {
   closeContextMenu();
   const model = paneState(pane);