diff --git a/b0esche_cloud/lib/pages/file_explorer.dart b/b0esche_cloud/lib/pages/file_explorer.dart
index 5e417c5..b0181c8 100644
--- a/b0esche_cloud/lib/pages/file_explorer.dart
+++ b/b0esche_cloud/lib/pages/file_explorer.dart
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ import '../blocs/file_browser/file_browser_state.dart';
 import '../blocs/permission/permission_bloc.dart';
 import '../blocs/permission/permission_event.dart';
 import '../blocs/permission/permission_state.dart';
+import '../blocs/session/session_bloc.dart';
+import '../blocs/session/session_state.dart';
 import '../blocs/upload/upload_bloc.dart';
 import '../blocs/upload/upload_event.dart';
 import '../blocs/upload/upload_state.dart';
@@ -282,15 +284,59 @@ class _FileExplorerState extends State<FileExplorer> {
   }
 
   void _downloadFile(FileItem file) async {
+    // Show download starting snackbar
+    ScaffoldFeatureController<SnackBar, SnackBarClosedReason>? snackController;
+    if (context.mounted) {
+      snackController = ScaffoldMessenger.of(context).showSnackBar(
+        SnackBar(
+          content: Row(
+            children: [
+              SizedBox(
+                width: 20,
+                height: 20,
+                child: CircularProgressIndicator(
+                  strokeWidth: 2,
+                  color: AppTheme.accentColor,
+                  backgroundColor: AppTheme.accentColor.withValues(alpha: 0.3),
+                ),
+              ),
+              const SizedBox(width: 12),
+              Expanded(
+                child: Text(
+                  'Preparing download: ${file.name}',
+                  overflow: TextOverflow.ellipsis,
+                  style: const TextStyle(color: AppTheme.primaryText),
+                ),
+              ),
+            ],
+          ),
+          duration: const Duration(seconds: 3),
+          backgroundColor: AppTheme.primaryBackground,
+        ),
+      );
+    }
+
     try {
       final fileService = getIt<FileService>();
+      
+      // Get token from SessionBloc for authentication
+      final sessionState = context.read<SessionBloc>().state;
+      String? token;
+      if (sessionState is SessionActive) {
+        token = sessionState.token;
+      }
+      
+      if (token == null) {
+        throw Exception('Not authenticated');
+      }
+
       final downloadUrl = await fileService.getDownloadUrl(
         widget.orgId,
         file.path,
       );
 
-      // For web, use the download URL with the ApiClient base URL (from DI)
-      final fullUrl = '${fileService.baseUrl}$downloadUrl';
+      // Build full URL with token for authentication (anchor elements can't send headers)
+      final fullUrl = '${fileService.baseUrl}$downloadUrl&token=${Uri.encodeComponent(token)}';
 
       // Trigger download via anchor element
       final anchor = web.HTMLAnchorElement()
@@ -298,16 +344,50 @@ class _FileExplorerState extends State<FileExplorer> {
         ..download = file.name;
       anchor.click();
 
+      // Dismiss preparing snackbar and show success
+      snackController?.close();
       if (context.mounted) {
-        ScaffoldMessenger.of(
-          context,
-        ).showSnackBar(SnackBar(content: Text('Downloading ${file.name}')));
+        ScaffoldMessenger.of(context).showSnackBar(
+          SnackBar(
+            content: Row(
+              children: [
+                const Icon(Icons.download_done, color: AppTheme.accentColor, size: 20),
+                const SizedBox(width: 12),
+                Expanded(
+                  child: Text(
+                    'Downloaded ${file.name}',
+                    overflow: TextOverflow.ellipsis,
+                    style: const TextStyle(color: AppTheme.primaryText),
+                  ),
+                ),
+              ],
+            ),
+            duration: const Duration(seconds: 2),
+            backgroundColor: AppTheme.primaryBackground,
+          ),
+        );
       }
     } catch (e) {
+      snackController?.close();
       if (context.mounted) {
-        ScaffoldMessenger.of(
-          context,
-        ).showSnackBar(SnackBar(content: Text('Download failed: $e')));
+        ScaffoldMessenger.of(context).showSnackBar(
+          SnackBar(
+            content: Row(
+              children: [
+                const Icon(Icons.error_outline, color: Colors.red, size: 20),
+                const SizedBox(width: 12),
+                Expanded(
+                  child: Text(
+                    'Download failed: $e',
+                    overflow: TextOverflow.ellipsis,
+                    style: const TextStyle(color: AppTheme.primaryText),
+                  ),
+                ),
+              ],
+            ),
+            backgroundColor: AppTheme.primaryBackground,
+          ),
+        );
       }
     }
   }