diff --git a/src/newtab/newtab.css b/src/newtab/newtab.css
index 42f597a..6174fb7 100644
--- a/src/newtab/newtab.css
+++ b/src/newtab/newtab.css
@@ -585,3 +585,39 @@ body::before {
   .nt-station { font-size: 22px; }
   .nt-station-list { max-height: 220px; }
 }
+
+/* ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+   First-run UX hint (v0.4.0)
+   Subtle accent-green pulse around the Quick Stations row + a bouncing
+   ↓ arrow on the now-playing area. Both disappear the moment a station
+   is picked. Existing users never see them.
+   ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
+
+@keyframes nt-pulse-glow {
+  0%, 100% { box-shadow: 0 0 0 0 rgba(109, 191, 122, 0); }
+  50%      { box-shadow: 0 0 0 6px rgba(109, 191, 122, 0.18); }
+}
+
+@keyframes nt-bounce {
+  0%, 100% { transform: translateY(0); }
+  50%      { transform: translateY(4px); }
+}
+
+body.is-first-run .nt-quick {
+  animation: nt-pulse-glow 2.4s ease-in-out infinite;
+  border-radius: var(--radius);
+  padding: 14px;
+  margin: 0 -14px;
+}
+
+body.is-first-run .nt-track {
+  color: var(--accent);
+  font-weight: 500;
+}
+
+body.is-first-run .nt-track::after {
+  content: " ↓";
+  display: inline-block;
+  animation: nt-bounce 1.8s ease-in-out infinite;
+  margin-left: 6px;
+}
diff --git a/src/newtab/newtab.js b/src/newtab/newtab.js
index 95a8a73..af983d7 100644
--- a/src/newtab/newtab.js
+++ b/src/newtab/newtab.js
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ async function init() {
 
   const currentId = stored[STORAGE_KEYS.currentId];
   currentStation = stations.find(s => s.id === currentId) || null;
+  reflectFirstRunHint();
   renderNow();
   renderQuick();
   renderList();
@@ -184,6 +185,7 @@ async function init() {
       const newId = changes[STORAGE_KEYS.currentId].newValue;
       currentStation = stations.find(s => s.id === newId) || null;
       els.play.disabled = !currentStation;
+      reflectFirstRunHint();
       renderNow();
       renderQuick();
       renderList();
@@ -317,6 +319,7 @@ function renderList() {
 async function onPickStation(station) {
   currentStation = station;
   els.play.disabled = false;
+  reflectFirstRunHint();
   await chrome.storage.local.set({ [STORAGE_KEYS.currentId]: station.id });
   renderNow();
   renderQuick();
@@ -364,6 +367,13 @@ async function onVolume() {
 
 /* ---------- Helpers ---------- */
 
+// v0.4.0 first-run UX hint — body class drives the pulse + arrow CSS in
+// newtab.css. Active when no station has been picked yet; cleared the
+// moment one is selected (here or via cross-surface storage sync).
+function reflectFirstRunHint() {
+  document.body.classList.toggle('is-first-run', !currentStation);
+}
+
 function reflectPlayButton() {
   els.play.setAttribute('aria-pressed', playing ? 'true' : 'false');
   els.play.textContent = playing ? '❚❚ Pause' : '▶ Play';
diff --git a/src/popup/popup.css b/src/popup/popup.css
index 2b4cb3e..93fc4a8 100644
--- a/src/popup/popup.css
+++ b/src/popup/popup.css
@@ -310,3 +310,38 @@ html, body {
 .station-list::-webkit-scrollbar-track {
   background: transparent;
 }
+
+/* ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+   First-run UX hint (v0.4.0)
+   When body.is-first-run is set (no station picked), the station list
+   subtly pulses with an accent-green glow and the now-playing area gets
+   a bouncing ↓ arrow pointing the user at the list. Both removed the
+   moment a station is picked, so existing users never see them again.
+   ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── */
+
+@keyframes tuner-pulse-glow {
+  0%, 100% { box-shadow: 0 0 0 0 rgba(109, 191, 122, 0); }
+  50%      { box-shadow: 0 0 0 4px rgba(109, 191, 122, 0.25); }
+}
+
+@keyframes tuner-bounce {
+  0%, 100% { transform: translateY(0); }
+  50%      { transform: translateY(3px); }
+}
+
+body.is-first-run .stations {
+  animation: tuner-pulse-glow 2.4s ease-in-out infinite;
+  border-radius: 6px;
+}
+
+body.is-first-run .np-track {
+  color: var(--accent);
+  font-weight: 500;
+}
+
+body.is-first-run .np-track::after {
+  content: " ↓";
+  display: inline-block;
+  animation: tuner-bounce 1.8s ease-in-out infinite;
+  margin-left: 4px;
+}
diff --git a/src/popup/popup.js b/src/popup/popup.js
index 4360760..5afe67b 100644
--- a/src/popup/popup.js
+++ b/src/popup/popup.js
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ async function init() {
   // 3. Restore current station selection.
   const currentId = stored[STORAGE_KEYS.currentId];
   currentStation = stations.find(s => s.id === currentId) || null;
+  reflectFirstRunHint();
   renderNowPlaying();
 
   // 4. Render station list.
@@ -121,6 +122,7 @@ async function init() {
       const newId = changes[STORAGE_KEYS.currentId].newValue;
       currentStation = stations.find(s => s.id === newId) || null;
       els.btnPlay.disabled = !currentStation;
+      reflectFirstRunHint();
       renderNowPlaying();
       renderStations();
     }
@@ -202,6 +204,7 @@ function renderNowPlaying() {
 async function onPickStation(station) {
   currentStation = station;
   els.btnPlay.disabled = false;
+  reflectFirstRunHint();
   await chrome.storage.local.set({ [STORAGE_KEYS.currentId]: station.id });
   renderNowPlaying();
   renderStations();
@@ -256,6 +259,14 @@ function reflectPlayButton() {
   els.btnPlay.textContent = playing ? '❚❚ Pause' : '▶ Play';
 }
 
+// v0.4.0 first-run UX hint — body class drives the pulse + arrow CSS in
+// popup.css. Active when no station has been picked yet; cleared the
+// moment a station is selected (here or in another surface via storage
+// sync).
+function reflectFirstRunHint() {
+  document.body.classList.toggle('is-first-run', !currentStation);
+}
+
 function setState(state) {
   els.statePill.dataset.state = state;
   els.statePill.textContent = state;