diff --git a/frontend/src/App.tsx b/frontend/src/App.tsx
index 8c4b8dc..b264643 100644
--- a/frontend/src/App.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/App.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { useState, useCallback, useEffect, useRef } from "react";
-import { Search, Settings, Globe, ImageIcon, Loader2, ExternalLink, ChevronLeft, ChevronRight, SlidersHorizontal, RefreshCw, Images, BookmarkIcon } from "lucide-react";
+import { Search, Globe, ImageIcon, Loader2, ExternalLink, ChevronLeft, ChevronRight, SlidersHorizontal, RefreshCw } from "lucide-react";
 import { SearchBar } from "@/components/SearchBar";
 import { WebResults } from "@/components/WebResults";
 import { ImageResults } from "@/components/ImageResults";
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { SettingsModal } from "@/components/SettingsModal";
 import { ErrorToast } from "@/components/ErrorToast";
 import { BackgroundGallery } from "@/components/BackgroundGallery";
 import { Bookmarks } from "@/components/Bookmarks";
+import { AppHeader } from "@/components/AppHeader";
 import { search as apiSearch, isImageResult, getBackground, refreshBackground, getBookmarkedUrls, addBookmark, removeBookmarkByUrl, type SearchResponse, type WebResult, type ImageResult, type BackgroundInfo } from "@/lib/api";
 import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
 
@@ -227,12 +228,12 @@ function App() {
 
   // Gallery page
   if (showGallery) {
-    return <BackgroundGallery onBack={handleGoHome} />;
+    return <BackgroundGallery onBack={handleGoHome} onShowSettings={() => setShowSettings(true)} onShowBookmarks={handleShowBookmarks} />;
   }
 
   // Bookmarks page
   if (showBookmarks) {
-    return <Bookmarks />;
+    return <Bookmarks onGoHome={handleGoHome} onShowSettings={() => setShowSettings(true)} onShowGallery={handleShowGallery} />;
   }
 
   const bgUrl = bgInfo?.enabled && bgInfo?.url ? bgInfo.url : null;
@@ -240,7 +241,7 @@ function App() {
   // Home page (no search yet)
   if (!hasSearched) {
     return (
-      <div className="relative flex min-h-screen flex-col items-center justify-center px-4">
+      <div className="relative flex min-h-screen flex-col">
         {/* Background image */}
         {bgUrl && (
           <div
@@ -251,101 +252,61 @@ function App() {
           </div>
         )}
 
-        {/* Top-right: settings + nav menu */}
-        <div className="absolute top-4 right-4 flex items-center gap-1">
-          <button
-            onClick={handleShowBookmarks}
-            aria-label="Bookmarks"
-            title="Bookmarks"
-            className={cn(
-              "rounded-full p-2 transition-colors focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring focus-visible:outline-none",
-              bgUrl ? "text-white/70 hover:text-white hover:bg-white/10" : "text-muted-foreground hover:bg-accent"
-            )}
-          >
-            <BookmarkIcon className="h-5 w-5" aria-hidden="true" />
-          </button>
-          <button
-            onClick={handleShowGallery}
-            aria-label="Background gallery"
-            title="Backgrounds"
-            className={cn(
-              "rounded-full p-2 transition-colors focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring focus-visible:outline-none",
-              bgUrl ? "text-white/70 hover:text-white hover:bg-white/10" : "text-muted-foreground hover:bg-accent"
-            )}
-          >
-            <Images className="h-5 w-5" aria-hidden="true" />
-          </button>
-          <a
-            href="/docs"
-            target="_blank"
-            rel="noopener noreferrer"
-            aria-label="API Docs"
-            title="API Docs"
-            className={cn(
-              "rounded-full p-2 transition-colors focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring focus-visible:outline-none",
-              bgUrl ? "text-white/70 hover:text-white hover:bg-white/10" : "text-muted-foreground hover:bg-accent"
-            )}
-          >
-            <ExternalLink className="h-5 w-5" aria-hidden="true" />
-          </a>
-          <div className={cn("mx-1 h-5 w-px", bgUrl ? "bg-white/20" : "bg-border")} aria-hidden="true" />
-          <button
-            onClick={() => setShowSettings(true)}
-            aria-label="Open settings"
-            title="Settings"
-            className={cn(
-              "rounded-full p-2 transition-colors focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring focus-visible:outline-none",
-              bgUrl ? "text-white/80 hover:text-white hover:bg-white/10" : "text-muted-foreground hover:bg-accent"
-            )}
-          >
-            <Settings className="h-5 w-5" aria-hidden="true" />
-          </button>
-        </div>
+        {/* Shared header */}
+        <AppHeader
+          onGoHome={handleGoHome}
+          onShowSettings={() => setShowSettings(true)}
+          onShowBookmarks={handleShowBookmarks}
+          onShowGallery={handleShowGallery}
+          transparent={!!bgUrl}
+        />
 
         {/* Center content */}
-        <div className="mb-8 text-center">
-          <h1 className="text-4xl font-bold tracking-tight sm:text-5xl">
-            <span className={cn(
-              "bg-clip-text text-transparent",
-              bgUrl
-                ? "bg-gradient-to-r from-white to-white/90"
-                : "bg-gradient-to-r from-blue-600 to-purple-600"
-            )}>
-              Hey Search
-            </span>
-          </h1>
-          <p className={cn("mt-2", bgUrl ? "text-white/70" : "text-muted-foreground")}>
-            Private metasearch engine
-          </p>
-        </div>
+        <div className="flex flex-1 flex-col items-center justify-center px-4 pb-20">
+          <div className="mb-8 text-center">
+            <h1 className="text-4xl font-bold tracking-tight sm:text-5xl">
+              <span className={cn(
+                "bg-clip-text text-transparent",
+                bgUrl
+                  ? "bg-gradient-to-r from-white to-white/90"
+                  : "bg-gradient-to-r from-blue-600 to-purple-600"
+              )}>
+                Hey Search
+              </span>
+            </h1>
+            <p className={cn("mt-2", bgUrl ? "text-white/70" : "text-muted-foreground")}>
+              Private metasearch engine
+            </p>
+          </div>
 
-        <SearchBar onSearch={(q) => doSearch(q, category)} className="w-full" />
+          <SearchBar onSearch={(q) => doSearch(q, category)} className="w-full" />
 
-        {/* Category switch */}
-        <div className="mt-4 flex items-center gap-2" role="group" aria-label="Search category">
-          {([
-            { key: "web" as const, label: "Web", icon: Globe },
-            { key: "images" as const, label: "Images", icon: ImageIcon },
-          ]).map(({ key, label, icon: Icon }) => (
-            <button
-              key={key}
-              onClick={() => setCategory(key)}
-              aria-pressed={category === key}
-              className={cn(
-                "flex items-center gap-1.5 rounded-full px-4 py-1.5 text-sm font-medium transition-colors focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring focus-visible:outline-none",
-                category === key
-                  ? bgUrl
-                    ? "bg-white/20 text-white border border-white/30"
-                    : "bg-primary text-primary-foreground"
-                  : bgUrl
-                    ? "text-white/60 hover:text-white hover:bg-white/10 border border-transparent"
-                    : "text-muted-foreground hover:bg-accent border border-transparent"
-              )}
-            >
-              <Icon className="h-4 w-4" aria-hidden="true" />
-              {label}
-            </button>
-          ))}
+          {/* Category switch */}
+          <div className="mt-4 flex items-center gap-2" role="group" aria-label="Search category">
+            {([
+              { key: "web" as const, label: "Web", icon: Globe },
+              { key: "images" as const, label: "Images", icon: ImageIcon },
+            ]).map(({ key, label, icon: Icon }) => (
+              <button
+                key={key}
+                onClick={() => setCategory(key)}
+                aria-pressed={category === key}
+                className={cn(
+                  "flex items-center gap-1.5 rounded-full px-4 py-1.5 text-sm font-medium transition-colors focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring focus-visible:outline-none",
+                  category === key
+                    ? bgUrl
+                      ? "bg-white/20 text-white border border-white/30"
+                      : "bg-primary text-primary-foreground"
+                    : bgUrl
+                      ? "text-white/60 hover:text-white hover:bg-white/10 border border-transparent"
+                      : "text-muted-foreground hover:bg-accent border border-transparent"
+                )}
+              >
+                <Icon className="h-4 w-4" aria-hidden="true" />
+                {label}
+              </button>
+            ))}
+          </div>
         </div>
 
         {/* Bottom-right: new image button */}
@@ -402,30 +363,19 @@ function App() {
         {statusMessage}
       </div>
 
-      {/* Header */}
-      <header className="sticky top-0 z-40 border-b bg-background/95 backdrop-blur">
-        <div className="flex items-center gap-3 px-4 py-3">
-          <button
-            onClick={handleGoHome}
-            aria-label="Go to homepage"
-            className="shrink-0 text-xl font-bold focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring focus-visible:outline-none rounded"
-          >
-            <span className="bg-gradient-to-r from-blue-600 to-purple-600 bg-clip-text text-transparent">
-              HS
-            </span>
-          </button>
-          <SearchBar initialQuery={query} onSearch={(q) => doSearch(q)} className="flex-1" />
-          <button
-            onClick={() => setShowSettings(true)}
-            className="shrink-0 rounded-full p-2 text-muted-foreground hover:bg-accent focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring focus-visible:outline-none"
-            aria-label="Open settings"
-          >
-            <Settings className="h-5 w-5" aria-hidden="true" />
-          </button>
-        </div>
+      {/* Shared header with search bar in center slot */}
+      <AppHeader
+        onGoHome={handleGoHome}
+        onShowSettings={() => setShowSettings(true)}
+        onShowBookmarks={handleShowBookmarks}
+        onShowGallery={handleShowGallery}
+      >
+        <SearchBar initialQuery={query} onSearch={(q) => doSearch(q)} />
+      </AppHeader>
 
-        {/* Category tabs */}
-        <nav aria-label="Search categories" className="flex items-center gap-1 px-4 pb-2">
+      {/* Category / filter bar */}
+      <div className="sticky top-[57px] z-30 border-b bg-background/95 backdrop-blur">
+        <nav aria-label="Search categories" className="flex items-center gap-1 px-4 py-2">
           {([
             { key: "web" as const, label: "Web", icon: Globe },
             { key: "images" as const, label: "Images", icon: ImageIcon },
@@ -469,7 +419,7 @@ function App() {
             </>
           )}
         </nav>
-      </header>
+      </div>
 
       {/* Content */}
       <main id="main-content" className="mx-auto w-full max-w-6xl flex-1 px-4 py-6">
@@ -554,28 +504,8 @@ function App() {
       </main>
 
       {/* Footer */}
-      <footer className="border-t px-4 py-3">
-        <div className="mx-auto flex max-w-6xl items-center justify-between text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-          <span>Hey Search</span>
-          <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
-            <button
-              onClick={handleShowBookmarks}
-              className="flex items-center gap-1 hover:text-foreground focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring focus-visible:outline-none rounded transition-colors"
-            >
-              <BookmarkIcon className="h-3 w-3" aria-hidden="true" />
-              Bookmarks
-            </button>
-            <a
-              href="/docs"
-              target="_blank"
-              rel="noopener noreferrer"
-              className="flex items-center gap-1 hover:text-foreground focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring focus-visible:outline-none rounded transition-colors"
-            >
-              <ExternalLink className="h-3 w-3" aria-hidden="true" />
-              API Docs
-            </a>
-          </div>
-        </div>
+      <footer className="border-t px-4 py-3 text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+        <div className="mx-auto max-w-6xl text-center">Hey Search</div>
       </footer>
 
       {/* Error toasts */}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/AppHeader.tsx b/frontend/src/components/AppHeader.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d456e22
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/AppHeader.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+import { useState, useEffect, useRef } from "react";
+import { Menu, X, Settings, BookmarkIcon, Images, ExternalLink } from "lucide-react";
+import { cn } from "@/lib/utils";
+
+interface AppHeaderProps {
+  onGoHome: () => void;
+  onShowSettings: () => void;
+  onShowBookmarks: () => void;
+  onShowGallery: () => void;
+  /** Makes header transparent + white text (for home page with background image) */
+  transparent?: boolean;
+  /** Optional center content (e.g. search bar) */
+  children?: React.ReactNode;
+}
+
+export function AppHeader({
+  onGoHome,
+  onShowSettings,
+  onShowBookmarks,
+  onShowGallery,
+  transparent = false,
+  children,
+}: AppHeaderProps) {
+  const [menuOpen, setMenuOpen] = useState(false);
+  const menuRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
+
+  // Close menu on outside click
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!menuOpen) return;
+    const handler = (e: MouseEvent) => {
+      if (menuRef.current && !menuRef.current.contains(e.target as Node)) {
+        setMenuOpen(false);
+      }
+    };
+    document.addEventListener("mousedown", handler);
+    return () => document.removeEventListener("mousedown", handler);
+  }, [menuOpen]);
+
+  // Close on Escape
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!menuOpen) return;
+    const handler = (e: KeyboardEvent) => { if (e.key === "Escape") setMenuOpen(false); };
+    document.addEventListener("keydown", handler);
+    return () => document.removeEventListener("keydown", handler);
+  }, [menuOpen]);
+
+  const base = transparent
+    ? "border-transparent bg-transparent"
+    : "border-b bg-background/95 backdrop-blur";
+
+  const iconCls = transparent
+    ? "text-white/80 hover:text-white hover:bg-white/10"
+    : "text-muted-foreground hover:bg-accent";
+
+  const logoCls = transparent
+    ? "text-white font-bold"
+    : "bg-gradient-to-r from-blue-600 to-purple-600 bg-clip-text text-transparent font-bold";
+
+  const dropdownCls = "absolute right-0 top-full mt-2 w-48 rounded-xl border bg-popover shadow-lg z-50 overflow-hidden";
+
+  const menuItem = (
+    icon: React.ReactNode,
+    label: string,
+    action: () => void,
+    isLink?: boolean,
+    href?: string,
+  ) => {
+    const cls = "flex w-full items-center gap-3 px-4 py-3 text-sm text-foreground hover:bg-accent transition-colors focus-visible:ring-inset focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring focus-visible:outline-none";
+    if (isLink && href) {
+      return (
+        <a href={href} target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" className={cls} onClick={() => setMenuOpen(false)}>
+          {icon}
+          {label}
+        </a>
+      );
+    }
+    return (
+      <button className={cls} onClick={() => { action(); setMenuOpen(false); }}>
+        {icon}
+        {label}
+      </button>
+    );
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <header className={cn("sticky top-0 z-40 border", base)}>
+      <div className="flex items-center gap-3 px-4 py-3">
+        {/* Logo */}
+        <button
+          onClick={onGoHome}
+          aria-label="Go to homepage"
+          className={cn("shrink-0 text-xl focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring focus-visible:outline-none rounded", logoCls)}
+        >
+          HS
+        </button>
+
+        {/* Center slot */}
+        {children && <div className="flex-1 min-w-0">{children}</div>}
+
+        {/* Spacer when no center content */}
+        {!children && <div className="flex-1" />}
+
+        {/* Menu button */}
+        <div className="relative shrink-0" ref={menuRef}>
+          <button
+            onClick={() => setMenuOpen((v) => !v)}
+            aria-label={menuOpen ? "Close menu" : "Open menu"}
+            aria-expanded={menuOpen}
+            aria-haspopup="menu"
+            className={cn(
+              "rounded-full p-2 transition-colors focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring focus-visible:outline-none",
+              iconCls
+            )}
+          >
+            {menuOpen
+              ? <X className="h-5 w-5" aria-hidden="true" />
+              : <Menu className="h-5 w-5" aria-hidden="true" />
+            }
+          </button>
+
+          {menuOpen && (
+            <div className={dropdownCls} role="menu" aria-label="Site navigation">
+              {menuItem(<Settings className="h-4 w-4" />, "Settings", onShowSettings)}
+              {menuItem(<BookmarkIcon className="h-4 w-4" />, "Bookmarks", onShowBookmarks)}
+              {menuItem(<Images className="h-4 w-4" />, "Backgrounds", onShowGallery)}
+              <div className="mx-3 border-t" />
+              {menuItem(<ExternalLink className="h-4 w-4" />, "API Docs", () => {}, true, "/docs")}
+            </div>
+          )}
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    </header>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/BackgroundGallery.tsx b/frontend/src/components/BackgroundGallery.tsx
index ef16b82..a119df1 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/BackgroundGallery.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/BackgroundGallery.tsx
@@ -1,12 +1,15 @@
 import { useState, useEffect, useCallback } from "react";
-import { ArrowLeft, Loader2, ExternalLink } from "lucide-react";
+import { Loader2, ExternalLink } from "lucide-react";
 import { listBackgrounds, type BackgroundListItem } from "@/lib/api";
+import { AppHeader } from "@/components/AppHeader";
 
 interface BackgroundGalleryProps {
   onBack: () => void;
+  onShowSettings: () => void;
+  onShowBookmarks: () => void;
 }
 
-export function BackgroundGallery({ onBack }: BackgroundGalleryProps) {
+export function BackgroundGallery({ onBack, onShowSettings, onShowBookmarks }: BackgroundGalleryProps) {
   const [images, setImages] = useState<BackgroundListItem[]>([]);
   const [page, setPage] = useState(1);
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(false);
@@ -43,22 +46,19 @@ export function BackgroundGallery({ onBack }: BackgroundGalleryProps) {
 
   return (
     <div className="min-h-screen bg-background">
-      {/* Header */}
-      <header className="sticky top-0 z-10 border-b bg-background/95 backdrop-blur">
-        <div className="mx-auto flex max-w-6xl items-center gap-3 px-4 py-3">
-          <button
-            onClick={onBack}
-            aria-label="Go back"
-            className="rounded-full p-2 hover:bg-accent focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring focus-visible:outline-none"
-          >
-            <ArrowLeft className="h-5 w-5" />
-          </button>
-          <h1 className="text-lg font-semibold">Background Gallery</h1>
-          <span className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
-            {images.length} image{images.length !== 1 ? "s" : ""}
+      <AppHeader
+        onGoHome={onBack}
+        onShowSettings={onShowSettings}
+        onShowBookmarks={onShowBookmarks}
+        onShowGallery={() => {}}
+      >
+        <h1 className="text-base font-semibold">
+          Background Gallery
+          <span className="ml-2 text-sm font-normal text-muted-foreground">
+            ({images.length})
           </span>
-        </div>
-      </header>
+        </h1>
+      </AppHeader>
 
       {/* Image grid */}
       <main className="mx-auto max-w-6xl px-4 py-6">
@@ -141,3 +141,4 @@ export function BackgroundGallery({ onBack }: BackgroundGalleryProps) {
     </div>
   );
 }
+
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/Bookmarks.tsx b/frontend/src/components/Bookmarks.tsx
index 9982f54..676154a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/Bookmarks.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/Bookmarks.tsx
@@ -1,11 +1,18 @@
 import { useState, useEffect, useCallback } from "react";
-import { ArrowLeft, Trash2, ExternalLink, Loader2 } from "lucide-react";
+import { Trash2, ExternalLink, Loader2 } from "lucide-react";
 import type { Bookmark } from "@/lib/api";
 import { getBookmarks, removeBookmark } from "@/lib/api";
+import { AppHeader } from "@/components/AppHeader";
 
 type FilterType = "" | "web" | "image";
 
-export function Bookmarks() {
+interface BookmarksProps {
+  onGoHome: () => void;
+  onShowSettings: () => void;
+  onShowGallery: () => void;
+}
+
+export function Bookmarks({ onGoHome, onShowSettings, onShowGallery }: BookmarksProps) {
   const [bookmarks, setBookmarks] = useState<Bookmark[]>([]);
   const [total, setTotal] = useState(0);
   const [page, setPage] = useState(1);
@@ -42,11 +49,6 @@ export function Bookmarks() {
     load(next, filter);
   };
 
-  const goHome = () => {
-    window.history.pushState({}, "", "/");
-    window.dispatchEvent(new PopStateEvent("popstate"));
-  };
-
   const tabs: { label: string; value: FilterType }[] = [
     { label: "All", value: "" },
     { label: "Web", value: "web" },
@@ -56,20 +58,20 @@ export function Bookmarks() {
   const hasMore = bookmarks.length < total;
 
   return (
-    <div className="mx-auto min-h-screen max-w-6xl px-4 py-6">
-      {/* Header */}
-      <div className="mb-6 flex items-center gap-4">
-        <button
-          onClick={goHome}
-          aria-label="Go back home"
-          className="rounded-full p-2 hover:bg-accent focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring focus-visible:outline-none transition-colors"
-        >
-          <ArrowLeft className="h-5 w-5" />
-        </button>
-        <h1 className="text-2xl font-bold">Bookmarks</h1>
-        <span className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">({total})</span>
-      </div>
+    <div className="min-h-screen bg-background">
+      <AppHeader
+        onGoHome={onGoHome}
+        onShowSettings={onShowSettings}
+        onShowBookmarks={() => {}}
+        onShowGallery={onShowGallery}
+      >
+        <h1 className="text-base font-semibold">
+          Bookmarks
+          <span className="ml-2 text-sm font-normal text-muted-foreground">({total})</span>
+        </h1>
+      </AppHeader>
 
+      <div className="mx-auto max-w-6xl px-4 py-6">
       {/* Filter tabs */}
       <div className="mb-6 flex gap-2" role="tablist" aria-label="Bookmark type filter">
         {tabs.map((tab) => (
@@ -209,6 +211,7 @@ export function Bookmarks() {
           <Loader2 className="h-8 w-8 animate-spin text-muted-foreground" />
         </div>
       )}
+      </div>
     </div>
   );
 }