diff --git a/src/app/(app)/_layout.tsx b/src/app/(app)/_layout.tsx
index c3004f3..3c84056 100644
--- a/src/app/(app)/_layout.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(app)/_layout.tsx
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { Tabs } from 'expo-router/js-tabs';
 import { useColorScheme } from 'nativewind';
 import * as React from 'react';
 
-import { colors } from '@/components/ui';
+import { SafeAreaView, colors } from '@/components/ui';
 import {
   Users as FollowingIcon,
   Home as HomeIcon,
@@ -38,64 +38,74 @@ export default function TabLayout(): React.ReactElement {
     return () => clearTimeout(timer);
   }, []);
 
+  // Single owner of the tab area's system-chrome insets: this wrapper consumes
+  // all four edges, the tab bar gets an explicit zero bottom inset below, and
+  // the tab screens are plain views. Any change here (e.g. a floating tab bar
+  // over scrolling content) only edits this file — and a regression shows up
+  // as obvious layout breakage, not a silent shift inside library defaults.
+  const shellBg = isDark ? 'bg-neutral-900' : 'bg-white';
+
   return (
-    <Tabs
-      screenOptions={{
-        // No per-screen header — each tab manages its own top safe area, and
-        // the bottom tab bar is enough navigation.
-        headerShown: false,
-        tabBarActiveTintColor: colors.primary[500],
-        tabBarInactiveTintColor: isDark ? colors.neutral[400] : colors.neutral[500],
-        tabBarStyle: {
-          backgroundColor: isDark ? colors.neutral[900] : colors.white,
-          borderTopColor: isDark ? colors.neutral[800] : colors.neutral[200],
-        },
-      }}
-    >
-      <Tabs.Screen
-        name="index"
-        options={{
-          title: t('tabs.home'),
-          tabBarIcon: ({ color }) => <HomeIcon color={color} />,
-          tabBarButtonTestID: 'home-tab',
-        }}
-      />
-      <Tabs.Screen
-        name="search"
-        options={{
-          title: t('tabs.search'),
-          tabBarIcon: ({ color }) => <SearchIcon color={color} />,
-          tabBarButtonTestID: 'search-tab',
-          // Hide from the tab bar if the user disabled it in Settings.
-          href: tabs.search ? undefined : null,
-        }}
-      />
-      <Tabs.Screen
-        name="following"
-        options={{
-          title: t('tabs.following'),
-          tabBarIcon: ({ color }) => <FollowingIcon color={color} />,
-          tabBarButtonTestID: 'following-tab',
-          href: tabs.following ? undefined : null,
-        }}
-      />
-      <Tabs.Screen
-        name="library"
-        options={{
-          title: t('tabs.library'),
-          tabBarIcon: ({ color }) => <LibraryIcon color={color} />,
-          tabBarButtonTestID: 'library-tab',
-          href: tabs.library ? undefined : null,
-        }}
-      />
-      <Tabs.Screen
-        name="settings"
-        options={{
-          title: t('tabs.settings'),
-          tabBarIcon: ({ color }) => <SettingsIcon color={color} />,
-          tabBarButtonTestID: 'settings-tab',
+    <SafeAreaView className={`flex-1 ${shellBg}`}>
+      <Tabs
+        safeAreaInsets={{ bottom: 0 }}
+        screenOptions={{
+          // No per-screen header — each tab manages its own top safe area, and
+          // the bottom tab bar is enough navigation.
+          headerShown: false,
+          tabBarActiveTintColor: colors.primary[500],
+          tabBarInactiveTintColor: isDark ? colors.neutral[400] : colors.neutral[500],
+          tabBarStyle: {
+            backgroundColor: isDark ? colors.neutral[900] : colors.white,
+            borderTopColor: isDark ? colors.neutral[800] : colors.neutral[200],
+          },
         }}
-      />
-    </Tabs>
+      >
+        <Tabs.Screen
+          name="index"
+          options={{
+            title: t('tabs.home'),
+            tabBarIcon: ({ color }) => <HomeIcon color={color} />,
+            tabBarButtonTestID: 'home-tab',
+          }}
+        />
+        <Tabs.Screen
+          name="search"
+          options={{
+            title: t('tabs.search'),
+            tabBarIcon: ({ color }) => <SearchIcon color={color} />,
+            tabBarButtonTestID: 'search-tab',
+            // Hide from the tab bar if the user disabled it in Settings.
+            href: tabs.search ? undefined : null,
+          }}
+        />
+        <Tabs.Screen
+          name="following"
+          options={{
+            title: t('tabs.following'),
+            tabBarIcon: ({ color }) => <FollowingIcon color={color} />,
+            tabBarButtonTestID: 'following-tab',
+            href: tabs.following ? undefined : null,
+          }}
+        />
+        <Tabs.Screen
+          name="library"
+          options={{
+            title: t('tabs.library'),
+            tabBarIcon: ({ color }) => <LibraryIcon color={color} />,
+            tabBarButtonTestID: 'library-tab',
+            href: tabs.library ? undefined : null,
+          }}
+        />
+        <Tabs.Screen
+          name="settings"
+          options={{
+            title: t('tabs.settings'),
+            tabBarIcon: ({ color }) => <SettingsIcon color={color} />,
+            tabBarButtonTestID: 'settings-tab',
+          }}
+        />
+      </Tabs>
+    </SafeAreaView>
   );
 }
diff --git a/src/app/(app)/following.tsx b/src/app/(app)/following.tsx
index d04d868..3610cd4 100644
--- a/src/app/(app)/following.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(app)/following.tsx
@@ -3,14 +3,18 @@ import { Link } from 'expo-router';
 import type * as React from 'react';
 import { Text, TouchableOpacity, View } from 'react-native';
 
-import { FocusAwareStatusBar, SafeAreaView } from '@/components/ui';
+import { FocusAwareStatusBar } from '@/components/ui';
 import { useFollowingStore } from '@/lib/stores/following-store';
 
 export default function FollowingScreen(): React.ReactElement {
   const { following, unfollow } = useFollowingStore();
 
   return (
-    <SafeAreaView className="flex-1 bg-white dark:bg-neutral-900">
+    <View
+      // The tab bar below already sits above the system navigation bar; also
+      // applying the bottom safe-area edge here double-pads the content.
+      className="flex-1 bg-white dark:bg-neutral-900"
+    >
       <FocusAwareStatusBar />
       {following.length === 0 ? (
         <View className="flex-1 items-center justify-center py-20">
@@ -48,6 +52,6 @@ export default function FollowingScreen(): React.ReactElement {
           keyExtractor={(item) => item.slug}
         />
       )}
-    </SafeAreaView>
+    </View>
   );
 }
diff --git a/src/app/(app)/index.tsx b/src/app/(app)/index.tsx
index 891259b..a2f9889 100644
--- a/src/app/(app)/index.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(app)/index.tsx
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import * as React from 'react';
 import { ActivityIndicator, TouchableOpacity, View } from 'react-native';
 
 import { useVideos } from '@/api/video-queries';
-import { SafeAreaView, Text } from '@/components/ui';
+import { Text } from '@/components/ui';
 import { VideoTile } from '@/components/video-tile';
 import { flattenUniquePages } from '@/lib/flatten-pages';
 import { useColumns } from '@/lib/hooks/use-columns';
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ export default function Home(): React.ReactElement {
 
   if (isError && videos.length === 0) {
     return (
-      <SafeAreaView className="flex-1 items-center justify-center bg-white dark:bg-neutral-900">
+      <View className="flex-1 items-center justify-center bg-white dark:bg-neutral-900">
         <Text className="text-lg text-neutral-900 dark:text-neutral-100">Error loading videos</Text>
         <TouchableOpacity
           onPress={() => refetch()}
@@ -54,12 +54,12 @@ export default function Home(): React.ReactElement {
         >
           <Text className="font-semibold text-white">Retry</Text>
         </TouchableOpacity>
-      </SafeAreaView>
+      </View>
     );
   }
 
   return (
-    <SafeAreaView className="flex-1 bg-white dark:bg-neutral-900">
+    <View className="flex-1 bg-white dark:bg-neutral-900">
       <FlashList
         key={numColumns}
         data={videos}
@@ -86,6 +86,6 @@ export default function Home(): React.ReactElement {
         refreshing={isRefetching}
         onRefresh={refetch}
       />
-    </SafeAreaView>
+    </View>
   );
 }
diff --git a/src/app/(app)/library.tsx b/src/app/(app)/library.tsx
index 50f2720..b985dc9 100644
--- a/src/app/(app)/library.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(app)/library.tsx
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import * as React from 'react';
 import { Alert, ScrollView, Text, TouchableOpacity, View, useWindowDimensions } from 'react-native';
 import { Swipeable } from 'react-native-gesture-handler';
 
-import { FocusAwareStatusBar, SafeAreaView } from '@/components/ui';
+import { FocusAwareStatusBar } from '@/components/ui';
 import { Trash } from '@/components/ui/icons';
 import { VideoTile } from '@/components/video-tile';
 import type { DownloadMetadata } from '@/lib/download';
@@ -372,7 +372,11 @@ export default function Library(): React.ReactElement {
   };
 
   return (
-    <SafeAreaView className="bg-white dark:bg-neutral-900 flex-1">
+    <View
+      // The tab bar below already sits above the system navigation bar; also
+      // applying the bottom safe-area edge here double-pads the content.
+      className="bg-white dark:bg-neutral-900 flex-1"
+    >
       <FocusAwareStatusBar />
       <View className="border-neutral-200 dark:border-neutral-800 flex-row border-b">
         {TABS.map((tab, index) => (
@@ -404,6 +408,6 @@ export default function Library(): React.ReactElement {
           </View>
         ))}
       </ScrollView>
-    </SafeAreaView>
+    </View>
   );
 }
diff --git a/src/app/(app)/search.tsx b/src/app/(app)/search.tsx
index 00a1472..572835b 100644
--- a/src/app/(app)/search.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(app)/search.tsx
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import * as React from 'react';
 import { ActivityIndicator, ScrollView, TextInput, TouchableOpacity, View } from 'react-native';
 
 import { useSearch } from '@/api/search';
-import { FocusAwareStatusBar, SafeAreaView, Text } from '@/components/ui';
+import { FocusAwareStatusBar, Text } from '@/components/ui';
 import { VideoTile } from '@/components/video-tile';
 import { useTranslate } from '@/lib';
 import { flattenUniquePages } from '@/lib/flatten-pages';
@@ -95,7 +95,11 @@ export default function SearchScreen() {
   const showResults = submittedQuery.length > 0;
 
   return (
-    <SafeAreaView className="bg-white dark:bg-neutral-900 flex-1">
+    <View
+      // The tab bar below already sits above the system navigation bar; also
+      // applying the bottom safe-area edge here double-pads the content.
+      className="bg-white dark:bg-neutral-900 flex-1"
+    >
       <FocusAwareStatusBar />
       <View className="border-neutral-200 dark:border-neutral-800 px-4 py-3">
         <TextInput
@@ -195,6 +199,6 @@ export default function SearchScreen() {
           </View>
         </ScrollView>
       )}
-    </SafeAreaView>
+    </View>
   );
 }
diff --git a/src/app/(app)/settings.tsx b/src/app/(app)/settings.tsx
index a7d7af7..f066943 100644
--- a/src/app/(app)/settings.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(app)/settings.tsx
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import { AppIconItem } from '@/components/settings/app-icon-item';
 import { ItemsContainer } from '@/components/settings/items-container';
 import { LanguageItem } from '@/components/settings/language-item';
 import { ThemeItem } from '@/components/settings/theme-item';
-import { FocusAwareStatusBar, SafeAreaView, ScrollView, Text, View, colors } from '@/components/ui';
+import { FocusAwareStatusBar, ScrollView, Text, View, colors } from '@/components/ui';
 import { Trash } from '@/components/ui/icons';
 import { UpdateDialog } from '@/components/update-dialog';
 import { LOCK_TIMEOUT_OPTIONS, useSecuritySettings } from '@/lib/hooks/use-security-settings';
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ export default function Settings() {
   return (
     <>
       <FocusAwareStatusBar />
-      <SafeAreaView className="flex-1 bg-white dark:bg-neutral-900">
+      <View className="flex-1 bg-white dark:bg-neutral-900">
         <ScrollView className="flex-1">
           <View className="flex-1 px-4 py-4">
             {/* Preferences */}
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ export default function Settings() {
             <View className="h-8" />
           </View>
         </ScrollView>
-      </SafeAreaView>
+      </View>
 
       <UpdateDialog
         release={pendingRelease}