diff --git a/projects/keepkey-vault/src/mainview/App.tsx b/projects/keepkey-vault/src/mainview/App.tsx
index 7353923e..1b6228bb 100644
--- a/projects/keepkey-vault/src/mainview/App.tsx
+++ b/projects/keepkey-vault/src/mainview/App.tsx
@@ -966,6 +966,15 @@ function App() {
 								onEnableEmulator={async () => {
 									const settings = await rpcRequest<AppSettings>('setEmulatorEnabled', { enabled: true }, 10000)
 									setEmulatorEnabled(settings.emulatorEnabled)
+									// Enabling the flag alone is a dead end on first run: with no flash
+									// images DeviceGrid has nothing to show and the Start card vanishes.
+									// Bootstrap and boot a default emulator wallet so "Start emulator"
+									// actually starts one (mirrors the DeviceSettingsDrawer install path).
+									const wallets = await rpcRequest<Array<{ name: string }>>('emulatorListWallets').catch(() => [])
+									if (wallets.length === 0) {
+										try { await rpcRequest('emulatorPair', undefined, 10000) } catch { /* may already be paired */ }
+										await rpcRequest('emulatorInit', { flashName: 'default' }, 30000)
+									}
 								}}
 								emulatorEnabled={emulatorEnabled}
 							/>
diff --git a/projects/keepkey-vault/src/mainview/components/DeviceGrid.tsx b/projects/keepkey-vault/src/mainview/components/DeviceGrid.tsx
index d23815d4..a8a9f331 100644
--- a/projects/keepkey-vault/src/mainview/components/DeviceGrid.tsx
+++ b/projects/keepkey-vault/src/mainview/components/DeviceGrid.tsx
@@ -164,6 +164,38 @@ export function DeviceGrid({ onViewPortfolio, onReady, onEnableEmulator, emulato
 	const emuRunning = emuStatus?.state === "running"
 	const hasContent = devices.length > 0 || emuWallets.length > 0
 
+	// Emulator entry point. Rendered identically in the empty-state hero AND the
+	// populated workspace so a Start-emulator affordance is ALWAYS reachable —
+	// registered devices (hasContent) must not hide it. Parity with macOS, where
+	// the emulator flow is always offered regardless of what's already in the DB.
+	const emulatorStartCard = (!emulatorEnabled && onEnableEmulator) ? (
+		<Box
+			w="100%"
+			maxW="440px"
+			borderRadius="18px"
+			border="1px solid rgba(168,85,247,0.28)"
+			bg="rgba(168,85,247,0.06)"
+			p="5"
+		>
+			<Flex align="center" gap="3">
+				<EmulatorIcon active={false} />
+				<Box flex="1" minW="0">
+					<Text fontSize="13px" fontWeight="600" color="var(--text-0)" mb="1">
+						Testing with an emulator?
+					</Text>
+					<Text fontSize="12px" color="var(--text-2)" lineHeight="1.5">
+						Open the local emulator wallet picker without connecting a USB device.
+					</Text>
+				</Box>
+			</Flex>
+			<Box mt="3">
+				<CardCta tone="teal" onClick={handleEnableEmu} loading={loading === "emu:__enable"}>
+					Start emulator
+				</CardCta>
+			</Box>
+		</Box>
+	) : null
+
 	useEffect(() => {
 		// Always notify parent once revealed — even when empty — so SplashScreen
 		// can slide the logo to the top and reveal the connect-prompt hero.
@@ -206,6 +238,14 @@ export function DeviceGrid({ onViewPortfolio, onReady, onEnableEmulator, emulato
 				</Text>
 			</Flex>
 
+			{/* Emulator entry point in the populated workspace — always offered,
+			    never hidden by registered devices (parity with the empty state). */}
+			{hasContent && emulatorStartCard && (
+				<Flex justify="center" mb="4">
+					{emulatorStartCard}
+				</Flex>
+			)}
+
 			{/* Error banner */}
 			{error && (
 				<Box mb="3" px="3" py="2" bg="rgba(224,140,123,0.12)" border="1px solid" borderColor="rgba(224,140,123,0.32)" borderRadius="lg">
@@ -249,33 +289,7 @@ export function DeviceGrid({ onViewPortfolio, onReady, onEnableEmulator, emulato
 							</Box>
 						</Flex>
 					</Box>
-					{!emulatorEnabled && onEnableEmulator && (
-						<Box
-							w="100%"
-							maxW="440px"
-							borderRadius="18px"
-							border="1px solid rgba(168,85,247,0.28)"
-							bg="rgba(168,85,247,0.06)"
-							p="5"
-						>
-							<Flex align="center" gap="3">
-								<EmulatorIcon active={false} />
-								<Box flex="1" minW="0">
-									<Text fontSize="13px" fontWeight="600" color="var(--text-0)" mb="1">
-										Testing with an emulator?
-									</Text>
-									<Text fontSize="12px" color="var(--text-2)" lineHeight="1.5">
-										Open the local emulator wallet picker without connecting a USB device.
-									</Text>
-								</Box>
-							</Flex>
-							<Box mt="3">
-								<CardCta tone="teal" onClick={handleEnableEmu} loading={loading === "emu:__enable"}>
-									Start emulator
-								</CardCta>
-							</Box>
-						</Box>
-					)}
+					{emulatorStartCard}
 				</Flex>
 			)}