diff --git a/apps/files/src/components/FilesListTableHeader.vue b/apps/files/src/components/FilesListTableHeader.vue
index 6553e698e29b3..3fdd62417b40e 100644
--- a/apps/files/src/components/FilesListTableHeader.vue
+++ b/apps/files/src/components/FilesListTableHeader.vue
@@ -3,23 +3,39 @@
   - SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
 -->
 <template>
-	<tr class="files-list__row-head">
+	<tr
+		class="files-list__row-head"
+		:class="{ 'files-list__row-head--selected': !isNoneSelected }">
 		<th
 			class="files-list__column files-list__row-checkbox"
 			@keyup.esc.exact="resetSelection">
 			<NcCheckboxRadioSwitch
 				v-bind="selectAllBind"
-				:id="FILES_LIST_HEADER_SELECT_ALL_CHECKBOX_ID"
 				data-cy-files-list-selection-checkbox
 				@update:model-value="onToggleAll" />
+
+			<!-- Batch selection UI lives in the select-all cell so column headers
+			     stay valid and Tab order stays in document flow
+			     (select-all → actions → rows). -->
+			<template v-if="!isNoneSelected">
+				<span class="files-list__selected">
+					{{ n('files', '{count} selected', '{count} selected', selectedNodes.length, { count: selectedNodes.length }) }}
+				</span>
+				<FilesListTableHeaderActions
+					:current-view="currentView"
+					:selected-nodes="selectedNodes" />
+			</template>
 		</th>
 
-		<!-- Columns display -->
+		<!-- Columns display (always present so headers match body cells;
+		     visually hidden while a selection is active) -->
 
 		<!-- Link to file -->
 		<th
 			class="files-list__column files-list__row-name files-list__column--sortable"
-			:aria-sort="ariaSortForMode('basename')">
+			:class="{ 'hidden-visually': !isNoneSelected }"
+			:aria-sort="ariaSortForMode('basename')"
+			:inert="!isNoneSelected">
 			<!-- Icon or preview -->
 			<span class="files-list__row-icon" />
 
@@ -28,7 +44,10 @@
 		</th>
 
 		<!-- Actions -->
-		<th class="files-list__row-actions">
+		<th
+			class="files-list__row-actions"
+			:class="{ 'hidden-visually': !isNoneSelected }"
+			:inert="!isNoneSelected">
 			<span class="hidden-visually">
 				{{ t('files', 'Actions') }}
 			</span>
@@ -38,8 +57,12 @@
 		<th
 			v-if="isMimeAvailable"
 			class="files-list__column files-list__row-mime"
-			:class="{ 'files-list__column--sortable': isMimeAvailable }"
-			:aria-sort="ariaSortForMode('mime')">
+			:class="{
+				'files-list__column--sortable': isMimeAvailable,
+				'hidden-visually': !isNoneSelected,
+			}"
+			:aria-sort="ariaSortForMode('mime')"
+			:inert="!isNoneSelected">
 			<FilesListTableHeaderButton :name="t('files', 'File type')" mode="mime" />
 		</th>
 
@@ -47,8 +70,12 @@
 		<th
 			v-if="isSizeAvailable"
 			class="files-list__column files-list__row-size"
-			:class="{ 'files-list__column--sortable': isSizeAvailable }"
-			:aria-sort="ariaSortForMode('size')">
+			:class="{
+				'files-list__column--sortable': isSizeAvailable,
+				'hidden-visually': !isNoneSelected,
+			}"
+			:aria-sort="ariaSortForMode('size')"
+			:inert="!isNoneSelected">
 			<FilesListTableHeaderButton :name="t('files', 'Size')" mode="size" />
 		</th>
 
@@ -56,8 +83,12 @@
 		<th
 			v-if="isMtimeAvailable"
 			class="files-list__column files-list__row-mtime"
-			:class="{ 'files-list__column--sortable': isMtimeAvailable }"
-			:aria-sort="ariaSortForMode('mtime')">
+			:class="{
+				'files-list__column--sortable': isMtimeAvailable,
+				'hidden-visually': !isNoneSelected,
+			}"
+			:aria-sort="ariaSortForMode('mtime')"
+			:inert="!isNoneSelected">
 			<FilesListTableHeaderButton :name="t('files', 'Modified')" mode="mtime" />
 		</th>
 
@@ -66,7 +97,8 @@
 			v-for="column in columns"
 			:key="column.id"
 			:class="classForColumn(column)"
-			:aria-sort="ariaSortForMode(column.id)">
+			:aria-sort="ariaSortForMode(column.id)"
+			:inert="!isNoneSelected">
 			<FilesListTableHeaderButton v-if="!!column.sort" :name="column.title" :mode="column.id" />
 			<span v-else>
 				{{ column.title }}
@@ -76,15 +108,15 @@
 </template>
 
 <script lang="ts">
-import type { Node } from '@nextcloud/files'
+import type { Node, View } from '@nextcloud/files'
 import type { PropType } from 'vue'
 import type { FileSource } from '../types.ts'
 
-import { t } from '@nextcloud/l10n'
+import { n, t } from '@nextcloud/l10n'
 import { useHotKey } from '@nextcloud/vue/composables/useHotKey'
 import { defineComponent } from 'vue'
 import NcCheckboxRadioSwitch from '@nextcloud/vue/components/NcCheckboxRadioSwitch'
-import { FILE_LIST_HEAD_FIRST_BATCH_ACTION_ID } from './FilesListTableHeaderActions.vue'
+import FilesListTableHeaderActions from './FilesListTableHeaderActions.vue'
 import FilesListTableHeaderButton from './FilesListTableHeaderButton.vue'
 import { useFileListWidth } from '../composables/useFileListWidth.ts'
 import { useRouteParameters } from '../composables/useRouteParameters.ts'
@@ -94,12 +126,11 @@ import { useFilesStore } from '../store/files.ts'
 import { useSelectionStore } from '../store/selection.ts'
 import { logger } from '../utils/logger.ts'
 
-export const FILES_LIST_HEADER_SELECT_ALL_CHECKBOX_ID = 'files-list-header-select-all-checkbox'
-
 export default defineComponent({
 	name: 'FilesListTableHeader',
 
 	components: {
+		FilesListTableHeaderActions,
 		FilesListTableHeaderButton,
 		NcCheckboxRadioSwitch,
 	},
@@ -109,6 +140,11 @@ export default defineComponent({
 	],
 
 	props: {
+		currentView: {
+			type: Object as PropType<View>,
+			required: true,
+		},
+
 		isMimeAvailable: {
 			type: Boolean,
 			default: false,
@@ -145,8 +181,6 @@ export default defineComponent({
 
 			directory,
 			isNarrow,
-
-			FILES_LIST_HEADER_SELECT_ALL_CHECKBOX_ID,
 		}
 	},
 
@@ -206,11 +240,6 @@ export default defineComponent({
 		})
 	},
 
-	mounted() {
-		const selectAllCheckbox = document.getElementById(FILES_LIST_HEADER_SELECT_ALL_CHECKBOX_ID)
-		selectAllCheckbox?.addEventListener('keydown', this.onSelectAllCheckboxFocusOut)
-	},
-
 	methods: {
 		ariaSortForMode(mode: string): 'ascending' | 'descending' | undefined {
 			if (this.sortingMode === mode) {
@@ -224,6 +253,7 @@ export default defineComponent({
 				'files-list__column--sortable': !!column.sort,
 				'files-list__row-column-custom': true,
 				[`files-list__row-${this.activeStore.activeView?.id}-${column.id}`]: true,
+				'hidden-visually': !this.isNoneSelected,
 			}
 		},
 
@@ -246,18 +276,7 @@ export default defineComponent({
 			this.selectionStore.reset()
 		},
 
-		onSelectAllCheckboxFocusOut(event: KeyboardEvent) {
-			// If the user tabbed further and we have a batch action to tab to
-			const firstBatchActionButton = document.getElementById(FILE_LIST_HEAD_FIRST_BATCH_ACTION_ID)
-			if (event.code === 'Tab' && !event.shiftKey && !event.metaKey && firstBatchActionButton) {
-				event.preventDefault()
-				event.stopPropagation()
-
-				firstBatchActionButton.focus()
-				logger.debug('Focusing first batch action button')
-			}
-		},
-
+		n,
 		t,
 	},
 })
@@ -274,4 +293,11 @@ export default defineComponent({
 	}
 }
 
+.files-list__selected {
+	padding-inline-end: 12px;
+	white-space: nowrap;
+	font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums;
+	flex-shrink: 0;
+	color: var(--color-main-text);
+}
 </style>
diff --git a/apps/files/src/components/FilesListTableHeaderActions.vue b/apps/files/src/components/FilesListTableHeaderActions.vue
index 0f5a9e34ec42b..d3a01f32c7c86 100644
--- a/apps/files/src/components/FilesListTableHeaderActions.vue
+++ b/apps/files/src/components/FilesListTableHeaderActions.vue
@@ -16,8 +16,7 @@
 			@close="openedSubmenu = null">
 			<!-- Default actions list-->
 			<NcActionButton
-				v-for="(action, idx) in enabledMenuActions"
-				:id="idx === 0 ? FILE_LIST_HEAD_FIRST_BATCH_ACTION_ID : undefined"
+				v-for="(action) in enabledMenuActions"
 				:key="action.id"
 				:ref="`action-batch-${action.id}`"
 				:class="{
@@ -85,7 +84,6 @@ import NcActionSeparator from '@nextcloud/vue/components/NcActionSeparator'
 import NcIconSvgWrapper from '@nextcloud/vue/components/NcIconSvgWrapper'
 import NcLoadingIcon from '@nextcloud/vue/components/NcLoadingIcon'
 import ArrowLeftIcon from 'vue-material-design-icons/ArrowLeft.vue'
-import { FILES_LIST_HEADER_SELECT_ALL_CHECKBOX_ID } from './FilesListTableHeader.vue'
 import { useFileActions } from '../composables/useFileActions.ts'
 import { useFileListWidth } from '../composables/useFileListWidth.ts'
 import actionsMixins from '../mixins/actionsMixin.ts'
@@ -95,8 +93,6 @@ import { useFilesStore } from '../store/files.ts'
 import { useSelectionStore } from '../store/selection.ts'
 import { logger } from '../utils/logger.ts'
 
-export const FILE_LIST_HEAD_FIRST_BATCH_ACTION_ID = 'files-list-head-first-batch-action'
-
 export default defineComponent({
 	name: 'FilesListTableHeaderActions',
 
@@ -153,8 +149,6 @@ export default defineComponent({
 
 			boundariesElement,
 			inlineActions,
-
-			FILE_LIST_HEAD_FIRST_BATCH_ACTION_ID,
 		}
 	},
 
@@ -275,17 +269,6 @@ export default defineComponent({
 		},
 	},
 
-	mounted() {
-		const firstActionId = this.enabledMenuActions.at(0)?.id
-		const firstButton = this.$refs.actionsMenu?.$refs?.[`action-batch-${firstActionId}`]
-		if (firstButton) {
-			firstButton.$el.focus()
-			logger.debug('Focusing first batch action button')
-
-			firstButton.$el.addEventListener('focusout', this.onFirstButtonFocusOut)
-		}
-	},
-
 	methods: {
 		/**
 		 * Get a cached note from the store
@@ -360,20 +343,6 @@ export default defineComponent({
 			}
 		},
 
-		// When focusing out the first button outside the header actions
-		// we can return back to the select all checkbox
-		onFirstButtonFocusOut(event: FocusEvent) {
-			// If the focus is still within this component, do nothing
-			if (this.$el.contains(event.relatedTarget)) {
-				return
-			}
-
-			event.preventDefault()
-			event.stopPropagation()
-			document.getElementById(FILES_LIST_HEADER_SELECT_ALL_CHECKBOX_ID)?.focus()
-			logger.debug('Focusing select all checkbox again')
-		},
-
 		t: translate,
 	},
 })
diff --git a/apps/files/src/components/FilesListVirtual.vue b/apps/files/src/components/FilesListVirtual.vue
index 19759f38694a2..813e014b04254 100644
--- a/apps/files/src/components/FilesListVirtual.vue
+++ b/apps/files/src/components/FilesListVirtual.vue
@@ -20,15 +20,6 @@
 		<!-- eslint-disable-next-line vue/singleline-html-element-content-newline -- no space allowed as otherwise `:empty` css selector does not trigger! -->
 		<template #filters><FileListFilterToSearch /><FileListFilterChips /></template>
 
-		<template v-if="!isNoneSelected" #header-overlay>
-			<span class="files-list__selected">
-				{{ n('files', '{count} selected', '{count} selected', selectedNodes.length, { count: selectedNodes.length }) }}
-			</span>
-			<FilesListTableHeaderActions
-				:current-view="currentView"
-				:selected-nodes="selectedNodes" />
-		</template>
-
 		<template #before>
 			<!-- Headers -->
 			<FilesListHeader
@@ -44,6 +35,7 @@
 			<!-- Table header and sort buttons -->
 			<FilesListTableHeader
 				ref="thead"
+				:current-view="currentView"
 				:is-mime-available="isMimeAvailable"
 				:is-mtime-available="isMtimeAvailable"
 				:is-size-available="isSizeAvailable"
@@ -75,7 +67,7 @@ import type { UserConfig } from '../types.ts'
 
 import { showError } from '@nextcloud/dialogs'
 import { FileType, Folder, getSidebar, Permission, View } from '@nextcloud/files'
-import { n, t } from '@nextcloud/l10n'
+import { t } from '@nextcloud/l10n'
 import { useHotKey } from '@nextcloud/vue/composables/useHotKey'
 import { computed, defineComponent } from 'vue'
 import FileEntry from './FileEntry.vue'
@@ -85,14 +77,12 @@ import FileListFilterToSearch from './FileListFilter/FileListFilterToSearch.vue'
 import FilesListHeader from './FilesListHeader.vue'
 import FilesListTableFooter from './FilesListTableFooter.vue'
 import FilesListTableHeader from './FilesListTableHeader.vue'
-import FilesListTableHeaderActions from './FilesListTableHeaderActions.vue'
 import VirtualList from './VirtualList.vue'
 import { useEnabledFileActions } from '../composables/useFileActions.ts'
 import { useFileListHeaders } from '../composables/useFileListHeaders.ts'
 import { useFileListWidth } from '../composables/useFileListWidth.ts'
 import { useRouteParameters } from '../composables/useRouteParameters.ts'
 import { useActiveStore } from '../store/active.ts'
-import { useSelectionStore } from '../store/selection.ts'
 import { useUserConfigStore } from '../store/userconfig.ts'
 import { logger } from '../utils/logger.ts'
 
@@ -106,7 +96,6 @@ export default defineComponent({
 		FilesListTableFooter,
 		FilesListTableHeader,
 		VirtualList,
-		FilesListTableHeaderActions,
 	},
 
 	props: {
@@ -134,7 +123,6 @@ export default defineComponent({
 	setup(props) {
 		const sidebar = getSidebar()
 		const activeStore = useActiveStore()
-		const selectionStore = useSelectionStore()
 		const userConfigStore = useUserConfigStore()
 
 		const { isNarrow, isWide } = useFileListWidth()
@@ -178,10 +166,8 @@ export default defineComponent({
 
 			sidebar,
 			activeStore,
-			selectionStore,
 			userConfigStore,
 
-			n,
 			t,
 		}
 	},
@@ -223,14 +209,6 @@ export default defineComponent({
 			].filter(Boolean).join('\n')
 		},
 
-		selectedNodes() {
-			return this.selectionStore.selected
-		},
-
-		isNoneSelected() {
-			return this.selectedNodes.length === 0
-		},
-
 		isEmpty() {
 			return this.nodes.length === 0
 		},
@@ -542,20 +520,9 @@ export default defineComponent({
 			flex-direction: column;
 		}
 
-		.files-list__selected {
-			padding-inline-end: 12px;
-			white-space: nowrap;
-			font-variant-numeric: tabular-nums;
-		}
-
 		.files-list__table {
 			display: block;
 
-			&.files-list__table--with-thead-overlay {
-				// Hide the table header below the overlay
-				margin-block-start: calc(-1 * var(--row-height));
-			}
-
 			// Visually hide the table when there are no files
 			&--hidden {
 				visibility: hidden;
@@ -585,25 +552,6 @@ export default defineComponent({
 			}
 		}
 
-		.files-list__thead-overlay {
-			// Pinned on top when scrolling
-			position: sticky;
-			top: var(--fixed-block-start-position);
-			// Save space for a row checkbox
-			margin-inline-start: var(--row-height);
-			// More than .files-list__thead
-			z-index: 20;
-
-			display: flex;
-			align-items: center;
-
-			// Reuse row styles
-			background-color: var(--color-main-background);
-			border-block-end: 1px solid var(--color-border);
-			height: var(--row-height);
-			flex: 0 0 var(--row-height);
-		}
-
 		.files-list__thead,
 		.files-list__tfoot {
 			display: flex;
@@ -696,6 +644,20 @@ export default defineComponent({
 			}
 		}
 
+		// When files are selected, batch actions live in the select-all cell
+		// and other headers are visually hidden (kept in DOM for column association).
+		.files-list__row-head--selected {
+			.files-list__row-checkbox {
+				flex: 1 1 auto;
+				width: auto;
+				min-width: var(--row-height);
+				max-width: 100%;
+				justify-content: flex-start;
+				gap: 12px;
+				overflow: hidden;
+			}
+		}
+
 		.files-list__row {
 			&:hover, &:focus, &:active, &--active, &--dragover {
 				// WCAG AA compliant
diff --git a/apps/files/src/components/VirtualList.vue b/apps/files/src/components/VirtualList.vue
index 2af11785b027d..9121f55e105e1 100644
--- a/apps/files/src/components/VirtualList.vue
+++ b/apps/files/src/components/VirtualList.vue
@@ -17,10 +17,6 @@
 			<slot name="filters" />
 		</div>
 
-		<div v-if="!!$scopedSlots['header-overlay']" class="files-list__thead-overlay">
-			<slot name="header-overlay" />
-		</div>
-
 		<div
 			v-if="dataSources.length === 0"
 			class="files-list__empty">
@@ -32,7 +28,6 @@
 			:inert="dataSources.length === 0"
 			class="files-list__table"
 			:class="{
-				'files-list__table--with-thead-overlay': !!$scopedSlots['header-overlay'],
 				'files-list__table--hidden': dataSources.length === 0,
 			}">
 			<!-- Accessibility table caption for screen readers -->