diff --git a/.changeset/dull-readers-sit.md b/.changeset/dull-readers-sit.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..bc4f2da89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/dull-readers-sit.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'renterd': minor
+---
+
+File upload and directory creation are now disabled until enough contracts are formed.
diff --git a/.changeset/odd-pillows-try.md b/.changeset/odd-pillows-try.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..dc077238c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/odd-pillows-try.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'renterd': minor
+---
+
+New users are now more clearly instructed to configure autopilot and to wait for enough contracts before files can be uploaded.
diff --git a/apps/renterd/components/Files/EmptyState.tsx b/apps/renterd/components/Files/EmptyState.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..18175ca67
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/renterd/components/Files/EmptyState.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+import { CloudUpload32, LinkButton, Text } from '@siafoundation/design-system'
+import { routes } from '../../config/routes'
+import { useFiles } from '../../contexts/files'
+import { useAutopilotNotConfigured } from './checks/useAutopilotNotConfigured'
+import { useNotEnoughContracts } from './checks/useNotEnoughContracts'
+import { StateError } from './StateError'
+import { StateNoneMatching } from './StateNoneMatching'
+import { StateNoneYet } from './StateNoneYet'
+
+export function EmptyState() {
+  const { dataState, activeDirectoryPath } = useFiles()
+
+  const autopilotNotConfigured = useAutopilotNotConfigured()
+  const notEnoughContracts = useNotEnoughContracts()
+
+  if (dataState === 'noneMatchingFilters') {
+    return <StateNoneMatching />
+  }
+
+  if (dataState === 'error') {
+    return <StateError />
+  }
+
+  // only show on root directory and when there are no files
+  if (
+    activeDirectoryPath === '/' &&
+    dataState === 'noneYet' &&
+    autopilotNotConfigured.active
+  ) {
+    return (
+      <div className="flex flex-col gap-10 justify-center items-center h-[400px] cursor-pointer">
+        <Text>
+          <CloudUpload32 className="scale-[200%]" />
+        </Text>
+        <div className="flex flex-col gap-6 justify-center items-center">
+          <Text color="subtle" className="text-center max-w-[500px]">
+            Before you can upload files you must configure autopilot. Autopilot
+            finds contracts with hosts based on the settings you choose.
+            Autopilot also repairs your data as hosts come and go.
+          </Text>
+          <LinkButton variant="accent" href={routes.autopilot.index}>
+            Configure autopilot →
+          </LinkButton>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    )
+  }
+
+  // only show on root directory and when there are no files
+  if (
+    activeDirectoryPath === '/' &&
+    dataState === 'noneYet' &&
+    notEnoughContracts.active
+  ) {
+    return (
+      <div className="flex flex-col gap-12 justify-center items-center h-[400px] cursor-pointer">
+        <Text>
+          <CloudUpload32 className="scale-[200%]" />
+        </Text>
+        <div className="flex flex-col gap-4 justify-center items-center">
+          <Text color="subtle" className="text-center max-w-[500px]">
+            There are not enough contracts to upload data yet. Redundancy is
+            configured to use {notEnoughContracts.required} shards which means
+            at least that many contracts are required.
+          </Text>
+          <Text size="30" className="text-center max-w-[500px]">
+            {notEnoughContracts.count}/{notEnoughContracts.required}
+          </Text>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    )
+  }
+
+  if (dataState === 'noneYet') {
+    return <StateNoneYet />
+  }
+
+  return null
+}
diff --git a/apps/renterd/components/Files/FilesActionsMenu.tsx b/apps/renterd/components/Files/FilesActionsMenu.tsx
index aeab2e015..8694f8482 100644
--- a/apps/renterd/components/Files/FilesActionsMenu.tsx
+++ b/apps/renterd/components/Files/FilesActionsMenu.tsx
@@ -8,13 +8,17 @@ import { useFiles } from '../../contexts/files'
 import { useDropzone } from 'react-dropzone'
 import { FilesViewDropdownMenu } from './FilesViewDropdownMenu'
 import { useDialog } from '../../contexts/dialog'
+import { useCanUpload } from './useCanUpload'
 
 export function FilesActionsMenu() {
   const { openDialog } = useDialog()
   const { uploadFiles } = useFiles()
 
+  const canUpload = useCanUpload()
+
   const { getRootProps, getInputProps } = useDropzone({
     noDrag: true,
+    noClick: !canUpload,
     onDrop: uploadFiles,
   })
 
@@ -23,11 +27,12 @@ export function FilesActionsMenu() {
       <Button onClick={() => openDialog('filesSearch')} tip="Search files">
         <Search16 />
       </Button>
-      <Button {...getRootProps()} tip="Upload files">
+      <Button {...getRootProps()} tip="Upload files" disabled={!canUpload}>
         <input {...getInputProps()} />
         <CloudUpload16 />
       </Button>
       <Button
+        disabled={!canUpload}
         onClick={() => openDialog('filesCreateDirectory')}
         tip="Create directory"
       >
diff --git a/apps/renterd/components/Files/FilesExplorer.tsx b/apps/renterd/components/Files/FilesExplorer.tsx
index 1cff5a056..6dcf59fd1 100644
--- a/apps/renterd/components/Files/FilesExplorer.tsx
+++ b/apps/renterd/components/Files/FilesExplorer.tsx
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 import { Table, Dropzone } from '@siafoundation/design-system'
 import { useFiles } from '../../contexts/files'
-import { StateError } from './StateError'
-import { StateNoneMatching } from './StateNoneMatching'
-import { StateNoneYet } from './StateNoneYet'
+import { EmptyState } from './EmptyState'
+import { useCanUpload } from './useCanUpload'
 
 export function FilesExplorer() {
   const {
@@ -16,20 +15,17 @@ export function FilesExplorer() {
     sortableColumns,
     toggleSort,
   } = useFiles()
+  const canUpload = useCanUpload()
   return (
     <div className="relative">
-      <Dropzone onDrop={uploadFiles} noClick={pageCount > 0}>
+      <Dropzone
+        onDrop={uploadFiles}
+        noClick={!canUpload || pageCount > 0}
+        noDrag={!canUpload}
+      >
         <Table
           isLoading={dataState === 'loading'}
-          emptyState={
-            dataState === 'noneMatchingFilters' ? (
-              <StateNoneMatching />
-            ) : dataState === 'noneYet' ? (
-              <StateNoneYet />
-            ) : dataState === 'error' ? (
-              <StateError />
-            ) : null
-          }
+          emptyState={<EmptyState />}
           pageSize={10}
           data={datasetPage}
           columns={columns}
diff --git a/apps/renterd/components/Files/FilesStatsMenu/FilesStatsMenuWarnings.tsx b/apps/renterd/components/Files/FilesStatsMenu/FilesStatsMenuWarnings.tsx
index 7a7dc7f72..5621eeed3 100644
--- a/apps/renterd/components/Files/FilesStatsMenu/FilesStatsMenuWarnings.tsx
+++ b/apps/renterd/components/Files/FilesStatsMenu/FilesStatsMenuWarnings.tsx
@@ -1,106 +1,122 @@
 import { Link, Text, Tooltip, Warning16 } from '@siafoundation/design-system'
-import { useAutopilotConfig } from '@siafoundation/react-renterd'
-import { useIsApcsEqDcs } from '../../../hooks/useIsApcsEqDcs'
+import { useFiles } from '../../../contexts/files'
 import { routes } from '../../../config/routes'
-import { useContractSetSettings } from '../../../hooks/useContractSetSettings'
-import { useApp } from '../../../contexts/app'
+import { useContractSetMismatch } from '../checks/useContractSetMismatch'
+import { useDefaultContractSetNotSet } from '../checks/useDefaultContractSetNotSet'
+import { useAutopilotNotConfigured } from '../checks/useAutopilotNotConfigured'
+import { useNotEnoughContracts } from '../checks/useNotEnoughContracts'
 
 export function FilesStatsMenuWarnings() {
-  const { autopilot } = useApp()
-  const apc = useAutopilotConfig({
-    config: {
-      swr: {
-        errorRetryCount: 0,
-      },
-    },
-  })
-  const css = useContractSetSettings()
-  const isApcsEqDcs = useIsApcsEqDcs()
+  const { dataState, activeDirectoryPath } = useFiles()
+  const contractSetMismatch = useContractSetMismatch()
+  const defaultContractSetNotSet = useDefaultContractSetNotSet()
+  const autopilotNotConfigured = useAutopilotNotConfigured()
+  const notEnoughContracts = useNotEnoughContracts()
 
-  let warning = 'none'
-
-  if (
-    autopilot.status === 'on' &&
-    !isApcsEqDcs.isValidating &&
-    !isApcsEqDcs.data
-  ) {
-    warning = 'contractSetMismatch'
+  // onboard/warn about default contract set
+  if (defaultContractSetNotSet.active) {
+    return (
+      <div className="flex gap-1">
+        <Text size="12" font="mono" weight="medium" color="amber">
+          <Warning16 />
+        </Text>
+        <Text size="12" font="mono" weight="medium" color="amber">
+          Configure a default contract set to get started.{' '}
+          <Link
+            underline="hover"
+            size="12"
+            font="mono"
+            weight="medium"
+            color="amber"
+            href={routes.config.index}
+          >
+            Configuration →
+          </Link>
+        </Text>
+      </div>
+    )
   }
 
-  if (autopilot.status === 'on' && apc.error) {
-    warning = 'setupAutopilot'
-  }
-
-  if (css.data && !css.data?.default) {
-    warning = 'setupDefaultContractSet'
-  }
-
-  return (
-    <>
-      {warning === 'setupDefaultContractSet' && (
-        <div className="flex gap-1">
-          <Text size="12" font="mono" weight="medium" color="amber">
-            <Warning16 />
-          </Text>
-          <Text size="12" font="mono" weight="medium" color="amber">
-            Configure a default contract set to get started.{' '}
-            <Link
-              underline="hover"
-              size="12"
-              font="mono"
-              weight="medium"
-              color="amber"
-              href={routes.config.index}
-            >
-              Configuration →
-            </Link>
-          </Text>
-        </div>
-      )}
-      {warning === 'setupAutopilot' && (
+  // warn about contract set mismatch
+  if (contractSetMismatch.active) {
+    return (
+      <Tooltip
+        align="start"
+        content={
+          <>
+            The autopilot contract set does not match the default contract set.
+            This means that by default workers will not upload data to contracts
+            that autopilot manages. Unless these contract are being manually
+            maintained, this will result in data loss. Continue with caution or
+            update the autopilot contract set to match the default contract set.
+          </>
+        }
+      >
         <div className="flex gap-1">
           <Text size="12" font="mono" weight="medium" color="amber">
             <Warning16 />
           </Text>
           <Text size="12" font="mono" weight="medium" color="amber">
-            Configure autopilot to get started.{' '}
-            <Link
-              underline="hover"
-              size="12"
-              font="mono"
-              weight="medium"
-              color="amber"
-              href={routes.autopilot.index}
-            >
-              Autopilot →
-            </Link>
+            Uploaded data will not be managed by autopilot.
           </Text>
         </div>
-      )}
-      {warning === 'contractSetMismatch' && (
-        <Tooltip
-          align="start"
-          content={
-            <>
-              The autopilot contract set does not match the default contract
-              set. This means that by default workers will not upload data to
-              contracts that autopilot manages. Unless these contract are being
-              manually maintained, this will result in data loss. Continue with
-              caution or update the autopilot contract set to match the default
-              contract set.
-            </>
-          }
-        >
-          <div className="flex gap-1">
-            <Text size="12" font="mono" weight="medium" color="amber">
-              <Warning16 />
-            </Text>
-            <Text size="12" font="mono" weight="medium" color="amber">
-              Uploaded data will not be managed by autopilot.
-            </Text>
-          </div>
-        </Tooltip>
-      )}
-    </>
-  )
+      </Tooltip>
+    )
+  }
+
+  // only show if not on the root directory because the explorer empty state shows the same info
+  const autopilotNotConfiguredRootDirectory =
+    autopilotNotConfigured.active &&
+    activeDirectoryPath === '/' &&
+    dataState !== 'noneYet'
+  const autopilotNotConfiguredNotRootDirectory =
+    autopilotNotConfigured.active && activeDirectoryPath !== '/'
+  if (
+    autopilotNotConfiguredRootDirectory ||
+    autopilotNotConfiguredNotRootDirectory
+  ) {
+    return (
+      <div className="flex gap-1">
+        <Text size="12" font="mono" weight="medium" color="amber">
+          <Warning16 />
+        </Text>
+        <Text size="12" font="mono" weight="medium" color="amber">
+          Configure autopilot to get started.{' '}
+          <Link
+            underline="hover"
+            size="12"
+            font="mono"
+            weight="medium"
+            color="amber"
+            href={routes.autopilot.index}
+          >
+            Autopilot →
+          </Link>
+        </Text>
+      </div>
+    )
+  }
+
+  // only show if not on the root directory because the explorer empty state shows the same info
+  const notEnoughContractsRootDirectory =
+    notEnoughContracts.active &&
+    activeDirectoryPath === '/' &&
+    dataState !== 'noneYet'
+  const notEnoughContractsNotRootDirectory =
+    notEnoughContracts.active && activeDirectoryPath !== '/'
+  if (notEnoughContractsRootDirectory || notEnoughContractsNotRootDirectory) {
+    return (
+      <div className="flex gap-1">
+        <Text size="12" font="mono" weight="medium" color="amber">
+          <Warning16 />
+        </Text>
+        <Text size="12" font="mono" weight="medium" color="amber">
+          Not enought contracts to upload files. {notEnoughContracts.count}/
+          {notEnoughContracts.required}
+        </Text>
+      </div>
+    )
+  }
+
+  return null
 }
diff --git a/apps/renterd/components/Files/checks/useAutopilotNotConfigured.tsx b/apps/renterd/components/Files/checks/useAutopilotNotConfigured.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..316c60ed6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/renterd/components/Files/checks/useAutopilotNotConfigured.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+import { useAutopilotConfig } from '@siafoundation/react-renterd'
+import { useApp } from '../../../contexts/app'
+
+export function useAutopilotNotConfigured() {
+  const { autopilot } = useApp()
+  const apc = useAutopilotConfig({
+    config: {
+      swr: {
+        errorRetryCount: 0,
+      },
+    },
+  })
+
+  return {
+    active: autopilot.status === 'on' && !!apc.error,
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apps/renterd/components/Files/checks/useContractSetMismatch.tsx b/apps/renterd/components/Files/checks/useContractSetMismatch.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3fa0fe3a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/renterd/components/Files/checks/useContractSetMismatch.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+import { useIsApcsEqDcs } from '../../../hooks/useIsApcsEqDcs'
+import { useApp } from '../../../contexts/app'
+
+export function useContractSetMismatch() {
+  const { autopilot } = useApp()
+  const isApcsEqDcs = useIsApcsEqDcs()
+
+  // warn about contract set mismatch
+  const active =
+    autopilot.status === 'on' && !isApcsEqDcs.isValidating && !isApcsEqDcs.data
+
+  return {
+    active,
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apps/renterd/components/Files/checks/useDefaultContractSetNotSet.tsx b/apps/renterd/components/Files/checks/useDefaultContractSetNotSet.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..628e3a860
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/renterd/components/Files/checks/useDefaultContractSetNotSet.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+import { useContractSetSettings } from '../../../hooks/useContractSetSettings'
+
+export function useDefaultContractSetNotSet() {
+  const css = useContractSetSettings()
+
+  return {
+    active: css.data && !css.data?.default,
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apps/renterd/components/Files/checks/useNotEnoughContracts.tsx b/apps/renterd/components/Files/checks/useNotEnoughContracts.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5e1dd44bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/renterd/components/Files/checks/useNotEnoughContracts.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+import { useContracts } from '../../../contexts/contracts'
+import { useRedundancySettings } from '../../../hooks/useRedundancySettings'
+
+export function useNotEnoughContracts() {
+  const redundancy = useRedundancySettings({
+    config: {
+      swr: {
+        // Do not automatically refetch
+        revalidateOnFocus: false,
+      },
+    },
+  })
+  const { datasetCount } = useContracts()
+
+  const active = redundancy.data && datasetCount < redundancy.data.totalShards
+
+  return {
+    active,
+    count: datasetCount,
+    required: redundancy.data?.totalShards || 0,
+  }
+}
diff --git a/apps/renterd/components/Files/useCanUpload.tsx b/apps/renterd/components/Files/useCanUpload.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ed876d692
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/renterd/components/Files/useCanUpload.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+import { useAutopilotNotConfigured } from './checks/useAutopilotNotConfigured'
+import { useNotEnoughContracts } from './checks/useNotEnoughContracts'
+
+export function useCanUpload() {
+  const autopilotNotConfigured = useAutopilotNotConfigured()
+  const notEnoughContracts = useNotEnoughContracts()
+  return !autopilotNotConfigured.active && !notEnoughContracts.active
+}
diff --git a/apps/renterd/contexts/hosts/index.tsx b/apps/renterd/contexts/hosts/index.tsx
index 82d8f1d19..cd372805e 100644
--- a/apps/renterd/contexts/hosts/index.tsx
+++ b/apps/renterd/contexts/hosts/index.tsx
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ function useHostsMain() {
     autopilot.status === 'on' ? autopilotResponse.error : regularResponse.error
   const dataState = useDatasetEmptyState(dataset, isValidating, error, filters)
 
-  const isAutopilotConfigured = autopilot.status.data?.configured
+  const isAutopilotConfigured = autopilot.state.data?.configured
   const tableContext = useMemo(
     () => ({
       isAutopilotConfigured,
diff --git a/libs/react-renterd/src/worker.ts b/libs/react-renterd/src/worker.ts
index 291ab5aeb..497e00732 100644
--- a/libs/react-renterd/src/worker.ts
+++ b/libs/react-renterd/src/worker.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ type WorkerState = StateResponse & {
 
 const workerStateKey = '/worker/state'
 
-export function useBusState(args?: HookArgsSwr<void, WorkerState>) {
+export function useWorkerState(args?: HookArgsSwr<void, WorkerState>) {
   return useGetSwr({
     ...args,
     route: workerStateKey,