diff --git a/desktop/src/features/onboarding/ui/MachineOnboardingFlow.tsx b/desktop/src/features/onboarding/ui/MachineOnboardingFlow.tsx
index 4579f331477..ed52b87abb0 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/onboarding/ui/MachineOnboardingFlow.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/onboarding/ui/MachineOnboardingFlow.tsx
@@ -440,10 +440,11 @@ export function MachineOnboardingFlow({
           {keyImportDialog === "backup" ? (
             <div className="w-full" data-testid="backup-recovery-dialog">
               <h1 className="text-title font-normal text-foreground">
-                Restore from a backup file
+                Import from a file
               </h1>
               <p className="mt-2 w-full text-base leading-6 text-foreground/80">
-                Choose the encrypted backup file you saved from Buzz.
+                Choose a file containing a private key or a password-protected
+                Buzz backup.
               </p>
               <NostrKeyImportForm
                 key={keyImportFormKey}
@@ -502,8 +503,7 @@ export function MachineOnboardingFlow({
                     "Enter your backup password to restore your identity."
                   ) : (
                     <p>
-                      Paste your private key to sign in to Buzz. You can also
-                      use a{" "}
+                      Paste your private key to sign in to Buzz. You can also{" "}
                       <button
                         className="rounded-sm font-medium underline decoration-foreground/40 underline-offset-4 transition-colors hover:decoration-foreground focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-ring focus-visible:ring-offset-2 disabled:opacity-60"
                         data-testid="nostr-import-file-button"
@@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ export function MachineOnboardingFlow({
                         }}
                         type="button"
                       >
-                        backup file
+                        import from a file
                       </button>
                       , or{" "}
                       <button
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/onboarding/ui/NostrKeyImportForm.render.test.mjs b/desktop/src/features/onboarding/ui/NostrKeyImportForm.render.test.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..850ecc61d2b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/desktop/src/features/onboarding/ui/NostrKeyImportForm.render.test.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,224 @@
+/**
+ * Behavioral regression tests for the file-import raw-nsec Continue button.
+ *
+ * See PR #5308 and the review comments from @ravarora2 and @tellaho: in
+ * mode === "backup", a valid raw nsec sets isValid to true but neither
+ * mode === "key" nor isPasswordStage is true, so the old gate
+ * `mode === "key" || isPasswordStage` rendered the CTA as null — a dead
+ * end. Adding `|| isValid` unblocks it.
+ *
+ * These tests use @testing-library/react with jsdom to exercise the
+ * behavioral regression: simulate selecting a file containing a valid raw
+ * nsec, verify the identity preview and submit CTA appear, submit it, and
+ * verify the onImport callback fires.
+ */
+import assert from "node:assert/strict";
+import { after, before, beforeEach, afterEach, test } from "node:test";
+
+import { JSDOM } from "jsdom";
+
+let act;
+let cleanup;
+let createElement;
+let fireEvent;
+let render;
+let waitFor;
+let NostrKeyImportForm;
+
+const dom = new JSDOM("<!doctype html><html><body></body></html>", {
+  pretendToBeVisual: true,
+  url: "http://localhost",
+});
+
+before(async () => {
+  Object.assign(globalThis, {
+    document: dom.window.document,
+    HTMLElement: dom.window.HTMLElement,
+    HTMLInputElement: dom.window.HTMLInputElement,
+    FileList: dom.window.FileList,
+    window: dom.window,
+    IS_REACT_ACT_ENVIRONMENT: true,
+  });
+
+  // Do NOT override Node's native File — jsdom's File lacks `.text()`,
+  // which the component's handleFiles calls. Node's File has it.
+
+  ({
+    act,
+    cleanup,
+    fireEvent,
+    render,
+    waitFor,
+  } = await import("@testing-library/react"));
+  ({ createElement } = await import("react"));
+  ({ NostrKeyImportForm } = await import("./NostrKeyImportForm.tsx"));
+});
+
+after(() => dom.window.close());
+afterEach(async () => {
+  cleanup();
+});
+
+/**
+ * Generate a valid nsec1 key for testing. Uses nostr-tools the same way
+ * the existing keyImportInput.test.mjs does.
+ */
+async function makeValidNsec() {
+  const { nsecEncode } = await import("nostr-tools/nip19");
+  const { generateSecretKey } = await import("nostr-tools/pure");
+  return nsecEncode(generateSecretKey());
+}
+
+/**
+ * Create a FileList-like object containing a single text file with the
+ * given content. jsdom does not implement DataTransfer and its File
+ * lacks `.text()`, so we use Node's native File (which has `.text()`)
+ * and build a FileList shape directly.
+ */
+function makeFileList(content, name = "identity.key") {
+  const file = new File([content], name, { type: "text/plain" });
+  const list = Object.create(FileList.prototype);
+  Object.defineProperties(list, {
+    0: { value: file, enumerable: true },
+    length: { value: 1, enumerable: true },
+    item: { value: (index) => (index === 0 ? file : null), enumerable: true },
+  });
+  return list;
+}
+
+test("backup mode with no input does not render the submit button", () => {
+  const { container } = render(
+    createElement(NostrKeyImportForm, {
+      mode: "backup",
+      onBack: () => {},
+      onImport: async () => {},
+      showBack: false,
+    }),
+  );
+  assert.ok(
+    !container.querySelector('[data-testid="nostr-import-submit"]'),
+    "submit button must not render in backup mode with no valid key",
+  );
+});
+
+test("key mode renders the submit button (mode === key short-circuits the guard)", () => {
+  const { container } = render(
+    createElement(NostrKeyImportForm, {
+      mode: "key",
+      onBack: () => {},
+      onImport: async () => {},
+      showBack: false,
+    }),
+  );
+  assert.ok(
+    container.querySelector('[data-testid="nostr-import-submit"]'),
+    "submit button must render in key mode even without input",
+  );
+});
+
+test("selecting a file with a valid raw nsec in backup mode shows the identity preview and submit button (regression for #5308)", async () => {
+  const validNsec = await makeValidNsec();
+
+  const { container } = render(
+    createElement(NostrKeyImportForm, {
+      mode: "backup",
+      onBack: () => {},
+      onImport: async () => {},
+      showBack: false,
+    }),
+  );
+
+  // In backup mode with no input, the submit button must not be present.
+  assert.ok(
+    !container.querySelector('[data-testid="nostr-import-submit"]'),
+    "submit button must not render before a valid key is loaded",
+  );
+
+  // Simulate selecting a file containing a valid raw nsec.
+  const fileInput = container.querySelector(
+    '[data-testid="nostr-import-file-input"]',
+  );
+  assert.ok(fileInput, "file input must be present in backup mode");
+
+  await act(async () => {
+    Object.defineProperty(fileInput, "files", {
+      value: makeFileList(validNsec),
+      writable: false,
+      configurable: true,
+    });
+    fileInput.dispatchEvent(new dom.window.Event("change", { bubbles: true }));
+    // handleFiles is async — it calls file.text() which returns a Promise.
+    // Flush the microtask queue so the state update is committed before act ends.
+    await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 0));
+  });
+
+  // After loading a valid nsec, the identity preview must appear.
+  await waitFor(() => {
+    assert.ok(
+      container.querySelector('[data-testid="nostr-import-npub-preview"]'),
+      "identity preview must appear after loading a valid raw nsec",
+    );
+  });
+
+  // The submit button must now be visible and enabled.
+  const submitButton = container.querySelector(
+    '[data-testid="nostr-import-submit"]',
+  );
+  assert.ok(submitButton, "submit button must render after loading a valid raw nsec");
+  assert.ok(
+    !submitButton.disabled,
+    "submit button must be enabled when a valid raw nsec is loaded",
+  );
+});
+
+test("submitting a valid raw nsec in backup mode fires onImport with the key (regression for #5308)", async () => {
+  const validNsec = await makeValidNsec();
+  let importedNsec = null;
+
+  const { container } = render(
+    createElement(NostrKeyImportForm, {
+      mode: "backup",
+      onBack: () => {},
+      onImport: async (nsec) => {
+        importedNsec = nsec;
+      },
+      showBack: false,
+    }),
+  );
+
+  // Load a file with a valid raw nsec.
+  const fileInput = container.querySelector(
+    '[data-testid="nostr-import-file-input"]',
+  );
+  await act(async () => {
+    Object.defineProperty(fileInput, "files", {
+      value: makeFileList(validNsec),
+      writable: false,
+      configurable: true,
+    });
+    fileInput.dispatchEvent(new dom.window.Event("change", { bubbles: true }));
+    await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 0));
+  });
+
+  // Wait for the submit button to appear, then click it.
+  await waitFor(() => {
+    assert.ok(
+      container.querySelector('[data-testid="nostr-import-submit"]'),
+      "submit button must render after loading a valid raw nsec",
+    );
+  });
+
+  const submitButton = container.querySelector(
+    '[data-testid="nostr-import-submit"]',
+  );
+  await act(async () => {
+    submitButton.dispatchEvent(new dom.window.MouseEvent("click", { bubbles: true }));
+  });
+
+  // Verify the onImport callback received the raw nsec.
+  assert.equal(
+    importedNsec,
+    validNsec,
+    "onImport must be called with the raw nsec from the selected file",
+  );
+});
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/onboarding/ui/NostrKeyImportForm.tsx b/desktop/src/features/onboarding/ui/NostrKeyImportForm.tsx
index ac69cf3d1fa..eabe1f2a730 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/onboarding/ui/NostrKeyImportForm.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/onboarding/ui/NostrKeyImportForm.tsx
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ type NostrKeyImportFormProps = {
   showBack?: boolean;
   /** Keep password-stage navigation out of the form when the host owns Back. */
   showPasswordStageBack?: boolean;
-  /** Restrict this instance to selecting a backup file instead of typing a key. */
+  /** Restrict this instance to selecting a key/backup file instead of typing a key. */
   mode?: "key" | "backup";
   /** Dialogs keep their actions inside the surface instead of the onboarding dock. */
   footerMode?: "onboarding" | "inline";
@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ export function NostrKeyImportForm({
       ) : null}
 
       {/* Hidden file input shared by both variants: the default drop zone and
-          the spotlight "Choose a backup file" button both open it. Accepts the
+          the spotlight "Choose file" button both open it. Accepts the
           .ncryptsec backups our own save flow emits alongside raw .key files. */}
       {mode === "backup" || variant !== "spotlight" ? (
         <input
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ export function NostrKeyImportForm({
               type="button"
             >
               <FileKey2 aria-hidden="true" className="mr-2 size-4" />
-              Choose a backup file
+              Choose file
             </Button>
             <BackupFileUnlockPreview />
           </div>
@@ -458,7 +458,7 @@ export function NostrKeyImportForm({
             >
               <span className="flex items-center gap-2 rounded-full bg-foreground px-4 py-2 text-sm font-semibold text-background shadow-sm ring-1 ring-background/15">
                 <KeyRound aria-hidden="true" className="size-4" />
-                <span>Drop your backup file here</span>
+                <span>Drop file here</span>
               </span>
             </fieldset>
           ) : null}
@@ -655,7 +655,7 @@ export function NostrKeyImportForm({
             : undefined
         }
       >
-        {mode === "key" || isPasswordStage ? (
+        {mode === "key" || isPasswordStage || isValid ? (
           <Button
             className={
               // Only the spotlight (onboarding) treatment gets the docked pill CTA.
diff --git a/desktop/tests/e2e/onboarding.spec.ts b/desktop/tests/e2e/onboarding.spec.ts
index ecca4f123e7..36841da47db 100644
--- a/desktop/tests/e2e/onboarding.spec.ts
+++ b/desktop/tests/e2e/onboarding.spec.ts
@@ -733,7 +733,7 @@ test("fresh existing-identity path leads with private-key recovery", async ({
   ).toBeVisible();
   await expect(page.getByTestId("onboarding-content-card")).toBeVisible();
   await expect(page.getByTestId("nostr-import-file-button")).toHaveText(
-    "backup file",
+    "import from a file",
   );
   await expect(page.getByTestId("nostr-import-phone-link")).toHaveText(
     "recover from your phone",
@@ -744,7 +744,7 @@ test("fresh existing-identity path leads with private-key recovery", async ({
   const backupDialog = page.getByTestId("backup-recovery-dialog");
   await expect(backupDialog).toBeVisible();
   await expect(
-    backupDialog.getByRole("heading", { name: "Restore from a backup file" }),
+    backupDialog.getByRole("heading", { name: "Import from a file" }),
   ).toBeVisible();
   await expect(
     backupDialog.getByTestId("nostr-import-backup-picker"),
@@ -778,7 +778,7 @@ test("fresh existing-identity path leads with private-key recovery", async ({
     });
   const backupDrop = backupDialog.getByTestId("nostr-import-backup-drop");
   await expect(backupDrop).toHaveAttribute("data-dragging", "true");
-  await expect(backupDrop).toContainText("Drop your backup file here");
+  await expect(backupDrop).toContainText("Drop file here");
   const [backupDropBox, backupFileSectionBox] = await Promise.all([
     backupDrop.boundingBox(),
     unlockPreview.boundingBox(),
@@ -1183,7 +1183,7 @@ test("first-launch import accepts an .ncryptsec backup file", async ({
   // Back first returns to backup-file selection instead of leaving the sheet.
   await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Back", exact: true }).click();
   await expect(
-    backupDialog.getByRole("heading", { name: "Restore from a backup file" }),
+    backupDialog.getByRole("heading", { name: "Import from a file" }),
   ).toBeVisible();
   await expect(
     backupDialog.getByTestId("nostr-import-backup-picker"),
