diff --git a/copyparty/web/browser.js b/copyparty/web/browser.js
index 1c6eeb74..d5811b94 100644
--- a/copyparty/web/browser.js
+++ b/copyparty/web/browser.js
@@ -1326,6 +1326,7 @@ function apply_perms(perms) {
 	document.body.setAttribute('perms', perms.join(' '));
 
 	var have_write = has(perms, "write"),
+		have_read = has(perms, "read"),
 		tds = QSA('#u2conf td');
 
 	for (var a = 0; a < tds.length; a++) {
@@ -1336,6 +1337,11 @@ function apply_perms(perms) {
 
 	if (window['up2k'])
 		up2k.set_fsearch();
+
+	ebi('widget').style.display = have_read ? '' : 'none';
+	ebi('files').style.display = have_read ? '' : 'none';
+	if (!have_read)
+		goto('up2k');
 }
 
 
diff --git a/copyparty/web/up2k.js b/copyparty/web/up2k.js
index 54d0e6a0..31b54fcc 100644
--- a/copyparty/web/up2k.js
+++ b/copyparty/web/up2k.js
@@ -420,6 +420,8 @@ function up2k_init(have_crypto) {
         ebi('u2notbtn').innerHTML = '';
     }
 
+    var suggest_up2k = 'this is the basic uploader; <a href="#" id="u2yea">up2k</a> is better';
+
     var shame = 'your browser <a href="https://www.chromium.org/blink/webcrypto">disables sha512</a> unless you <a href="' + (window.location + '').replace(':', 's:') + '">use https</a>',
         is_https = (window.location + '').indexOf('https:') === 0;
 
@@ -441,34 +443,43 @@ function up2k_init(have_crypto) {
     }
 
     // show uploader if the user only has write-access
-    if (!ebi('files'))
+    var perms = (document.body.getAttribute('perms') + '').split(' ');
+    if (!has(perms, 'read'))
         goto('up2k');
 
-    // shows or clears an error message in the basic uploader ui
-    function setmsg(msg) {
+    // shows or clears a message in the basic uploader ui
+    function setmsg(msg, type) {
         if (msg !== undefined) {
-            ebi('u2err').setAttribute('class', 'err');
+            ebi('u2err').setAttribute('class', type);
             ebi('u2err').innerHTML = msg;
         }
         else {
             ebi('u2err').setAttribute('class', '');
             ebi('u2err').innerHTML = '';
         }
+        if (msg == suggest_up2k) {
+            ebi('u2yea').onclick = function (e) {
+                ev(e);
+                goto('up2k');
+            };
+        }
     }
 
     // switches to the basic uploader with msg as error message
     function un2k(msg) {
-        setmsg(msg);
+        setmsg(msg, 'err');
         return false;
     }
 
     // handle user intent to use the basic uploader instead
     ebi('u2nope').onclick = function (e) {
         ev(e);
-        setmsg();
+        setmsg(suggest_up2k, 'msg');
         goto('bup');
     };
 
+    setmsg(suggest_up2k, 'msg');
+
     if (!String.prototype.format) {
         String.prototype.format = function () {
             var args = arguments;
diff --git a/copyparty/web/upload.css b/copyparty/web/upload.css
index 99c72770..ed279348 100644
--- a/copyparty/web/upload.css
+++ b/copyparty/web/upload.css
@@ -19,6 +19,10 @@
 	color: #f87;
 	padding: .5em;
 }
+#u2err.msg {
+	color: #999;
+	padding: .5em;
+}
 #u2btn {
 	color: #eee;
 	background: #555;
diff --git a/copyparty/web/upload.html b/copyparty/web/upload.html
index 22354b46..e940eaad 100644
--- a/copyparty/web/upload.html
+++ b/copyparty/web/upload.html
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
 
             <table id="u2conf">
                 <tr>
-                    <td>parallel uploads</td>
+                    <td>parallel uploads:</td>
                     <td rowspan="2">
                         <input type="checkbox" id="multitask" />
                         <label for="multitask" alt="continue hashing other files while uploading">🏃</label>
@@ -99,5 +99,5 @@
             </table>
 
             <p id="u2foot"></p>
-            <p id="u2footfoot">( if you don't need lastmod timestamps, resumable uploads or progress bars just use the <a href="#" id="u2nope">basic uploader</a>)</p>
+            <p id="u2footfoot">( you can use the <a href="#" id="u2nope">basic uploader</a> if you don't need lastmod timestamps, resumable uploads, or progress bars )</p>
     </div>
diff --git a/docs/minimal-up2k.html b/docs/minimal-up2k.html
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..72ef1b12
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/minimal-up2k.html
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+<!--
+    save this as .epilogue.html inside a
+    write-only folder to declutter the UI
+-->
+
+<style>
+
+    /* make the up2k ui REALLY minimal by hiding a bunch of stuff: */
+
+    #ops, #tree, #path,  /* main tabs and navigators (tree/breadcrumbs) */
+
+    #u2cleanup, #u2conf tr:first-child>td[rowspan]:not(#u2btn_cw),  /* most of the config options */
+
+    #u2cards  /* and the upload progress tabs */
+
+    {display:none!important}  /* do it! */
+
+
+
+    /* add some margins because now it's weird */
+    .opview {margin-top: 2.5em}
+    #op_up2k {margin-top: 5em}
+
+    /* and embiggen the upload button */
+    #u2conf #u2btn, #u2btn {padding:1.5em 0}
+
+</style>
+
+<a href="#" onclick="this.parentNode.innerHTML='';">show advanced options</a>