diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/file/PreviewLightbox.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/file/PreviewLightbox.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fc0a526
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/file/PreviewLightbox.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,252 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+	import { get } from 'svelte/store';
+	import { untrack } from 'svelte';
+	import { authStore } from '$lib/stores/auth';
+	import type { File } from '$lib/api/types';
+
+	interface Props {
+		/** Files to page through (e.g. a duplicate cluster). */
+		files: File[];
+		/** Id to open first. */
+		startId: string;
+		onClose: () => void;
+	}
+
+	let { files, startId, onClose }: Props = $props();
+
+	// Resolve the starting index once. The lightbox is remounted on each open, so
+	// the props are effectively init-only — untrack acknowledges that read.
+	let index = $state(untrack(() => Math.max(0, files.findIndex((f) => f.id === startId))));
+	let src = $state<string | null>(null);
+	let failed = $state(false);
+
+	let current = $derived(files[index]);
+	let hasPrev = $derived(index > 0);
+	let hasNext = $derived(index < files.length - 1);
+
+	// Load the full preview — the same image the single-file viewer shows, so the
+	// user can actually tell duplicates apart instead of squinting at thumbnails.
+	// Auth-gated, rendered from a blob; re-runs when the index changes.
+	$effect(() => {
+		const f = files[index];
+		if (!f) return;
+		const token = get(authStore).accessToken;
+		let objectUrl: string | null = null;
+		let cancelled = false;
+		src = null;
+		failed = false;
+
+		fetch(`/api/v1/files/${f.id}/preview`, {
+			headers: token ? { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` } : {}
+		})
+			.then((res) => (res.ok ? res.blob() : null))
+			.then((blob) => {
+				if (cancelled || !blob) {
+					if (!cancelled) failed = true;
+					return;
+				}
+				objectUrl = URL.createObjectURL(blob);
+				src = objectUrl;
+			})
+			.catch(() => {
+				if (!cancelled) failed = true;
+			});
+
+		return () => {
+			cancelled = true;
+			if (objectUrl) URL.revokeObjectURL(objectUrl);
+		};
+	});
+
+	function prev() {
+		if (hasPrev) index -= 1;
+	}
+	function next() {
+		if (hasNext) index += 1;
+	}
+
+	function onKeydown(e: KeyboardEvent) {
+		if (e.key === 'Escape') onClose();
+		else if (e.key === 'ArrowLeft') prev();
+		else if (e.key === 'ArrowRight') next();
+	}
+</script>
+
+<svelte:window onkeydown={onKeydown} />
+
+<!-- Close only when the backdrop itself is clicked (not the image or controls);
+     Escape and the × button close from anywhere. -->
+<!-- svelte-ignore a11y_click_events_have_key_events -->
+<div
+	class="backdrop"
+	role="dialog"
+	aria-modal="true"
+	aria-label="Enlarged preview"
+	tabindex="-1"
+	onclick={(e) => {
+		if (e.target === e.currentTarget) onClose();
+	}}
+>
+	<button class="close" onclick={onClose} aria-label="Close">
+		<svg width="22" height="22" viewBox="0 0 22 22" fill="none" aria-hidden="true">
+			<path
+				d="M6 6l10 10M16 6L6 16"
+				stroke="currentColor"
+				stroke-width="2"
+				stroke-linecap="round"
+			/>
+		</svg>
+	</button>
+
+	<div class="stage">
+		{#if src}
+			<img class="img" {src} alt={current?.original_name ?? ''} />
+		{:else if failed}
+			<div class="ph failed">Failed to load preview</div>
+		{:else}
+			<div class="ph loading">Loading…</div>
+		{/if}
+
+		{#if hasPrev}
+			<button class="nav prev" onclick={prev} aria-label="Previous">
+				<svg width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" aria-hidden="true">
+					<path
+						d="M12 4L6 10L12 16"
+						stroke="currentColor"
+						stroke-width="2"
+						stroke-linecap="round"
+						stroke-linejoin="round"
+					/>
+				</svg>
+			</button>
+		{/if}
+		{#if hasNext}
+			<button class="nav next" onclick={next} aria-label="Next">
+				<svg width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" aria-hidden="true">
+					<path
+						d="M8 4L14 10L8 16"
+						stroke="currentColor"
+						stroke-width="2"
+						stroke-linecap="round"
+						stroke-linejoin="round"
+					/>
+				</svg>
+			</button>
+		{/if}
+	</div>
+
+	<div class="caption">
+		<span class="name" title={current?.original_name ?? ''}>{current?.original_name ?? '—'}</span>
+		<span class="pos">{index + 1} / {files.length}</span>
+	</div>
+</div>
+
+<style>
+	.backdrop {
+		position: fixed;
+		inset: 0;
+		z-index: 100;
+		display: flex;
+		flex-direction: column;
+		align-items: center;
+		justify-content: center;
+		gap: 10px;
+		padding: 16px;
+		background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.88);
+	}
+
+	.close {
+		position: absolute;
+		top: 12px;
+		right: 12px;
+		width: 38px;
+		height: 38px;
+		display: flex;
+		align-items: center;
+		justify-content: center;
+		border-radius: 50%;
+		border: none;
+		background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
+		color: #fff;
+		cursor: pointer;
+	}
+	.close:hover {
+		background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8);
+	}
+
+	.stage {
+		position: relative;
+		display: flex;
+		align-items: center;
+		justify-content: center;
+		max-width: 100%;
+		min-height: 0;
+		flex: 1;
+	}
+
+	.img {
+		max-width: 100%;
+		max-height: 100%;
+		object-fit: contain;
+		display: block;
+		border-radius: 6px;
+	}
+
+	.ph {
+		display: flex;
+		align-items: center;
+		justify-content: center;
+		min-width: 220px;
+		min-height: 220px;
+		color: var(--color-text-muted);
+		font-size: 0.9rem;
+	}
+	.ph.failed {
+		color: var(--color-danger);
+	}
+
+	.nav {
+		position: absolute;
+		top: 50%;
+		transform: translateY(-50%);
+		width: 44px;
+		height: 44px;
+		border-radius: 50%;
+		border: none;
+		background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.55);
+		color: #fff;
+		display: flex;
+		align-items: center;
+		justify-content: center;
+		cursor: pointer;
+		transition: background-color 0.15s;
+	}
+	.nav:hover {
+		background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85);
+	}
+	.nav.prev {
+		left: 8px;
+	}
+	.nav.next {
+		right: 8px;
+	}
+
+	.caption {
+		display: flex;
+		align-items: center;
+		gap: 10px;
+		max-width: 100%;
+		color: var(--color-text-primary);
+		font-size: 0.85rem;
+		flex-shrink: 0;
+	}
+	.caption .name {
+		overflow: hidden;
+		text-overflow: ellipsis;
+		white-space: nowrap;
+	}
+	.caption .pos {
+		color: var(--color-text-muted);
+		flex-shrink: 0;
+	}
+</style>
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/files/duplicates/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/files/duplicates/+page.svelte
index 6e0ec0f..93ab502 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/files/duplicates/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/files/duplicates/+page.svelte
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 	import { getDuplicates, dismissDuplicate, type DuplicateCluster } from '$lib/api/duplicates';
 	import Thumb from '$lib/components/file/Thumb.svelte';
 	import DuplicateMergeDialog from '$lib/components/file/DuplicateMergeDialog.svelte';
+	import PreviewLightbox from '$lib/components/file/PreviewLightbox.svelte';
 	import type { File } from '$lib/api/types';
 
 	const LIMIT = 20;
@@ -22,6 +23,10 @@
 	let mergeKeep = $state<File | null>(null);
 	let mergeDiscard = $state<File | null>(null);
 
+	// Enlarged-preview lightbox: thumbnails are too small to tell near-duplicates
+	// apart, so a zoom opens the full preview and pages across the cluster.
+	let lightbox = $state<{ files: File[]; startId: string } | null>(null);
+
 	$effect(() => {
 		if (!initialLoaded && !loading) void load();
 	});
@@ -61,6 +66,10 @@
 		keepers = { ...keepers, [clusterKey(c)]: id };
 	}
 
+	function openLightbox(c: DuplicateCluster, startId: string) {
+		lightbox = { files: c.files, startId };
+	}
+
 	function openMerge(c: DuplicateCluster, other: File) {
 		const keep = c.files.find((f) => f.id === keeperId(c));
 		if (!keep) return;
@@ -160,7 +169,34 @@
 							onclick={() => setKeeper(c, f.id)}
 							title="Click to keep this one"
 						>
-							<Thumb id={f.id} size={96} alt={f.original_name ?? ''} />
+							<div class="thumbwrap">
+								<Thumb id={f.id} size={96} alt={f.original_name ?? ''} />
+								<button
+									class="zoom"
+									onclick={(e) => {
+										e.stopPropagation();
+										openLightbox(c, f.id);
+									}}
+									aria-label="Enlarge preview"
+									title="Enlarge preview"
+								>
+									<svg width="15" height="15" viewBox="0 0 15 15" fill="none" aria-hidden="true">
+										<circle cx="6.5" cy="6.5" r="4.5" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="1.5" />
+										<path
+											d="M10 10l3.5 3.5"
+											stroke="currentColor"
+											stroke-width="1.5"
+											stroke-linecap="round"
+										/>
+										<path
+											d="M6.5 4.5v4M4.5 6.5h4"
+											stroke="currentColor"
+											stroke-width="1.3"
+											stroke-linecap="round"
+										/>
+									</svg>
+								</button>
+							</div>
 							{#if f.id === keep}<span class="kbadge">Keep</span>{/if}
 							<span class="fname" title={f.original_name ?? ''}>{f.original_name ?? '—'}</span>
 							<span class="fmeta">{f.mime_type} · {f.tags?.length ?? 0} tags</span>
@@ -191,6 +227,14 @@
 	</main>
 </div>
 
+{#if lightbox}
+	<PreviewLightbox
+		files={lightbox.files}
+		startId={lightbox.startId}
+		onClose={() => (lightbox = null)}
+	/>
+{/if}
+
 {#if mergeKeep && mergeDiscard}
 	<DuplicateMergeDialog
 		keep={mergeKeep}
@@ -300,6 +344,40 @@
 		border-color: var(--color-accent);
 		background-color: color-mix(in srgb, var(--color-accent) 10%, transparent);
 	}
+	.thumbwrap {
+		position: relative;
+		line-height: 0;
+	}
+	.zoom {
+		position: absolute;
+		top: 4px;
+		right: 4px;
+		width: 24px;
+		height: 24px;
+		display: flex;
+		align-items: center;
+		justify-content: center;
+		border-radius: 6px;
+		border: none;
+		background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.55);
+		color: #fff;
+		cursor: pointer;
+		opacity: 0;
+		transition: opacity 0.12s;
+	}
+	/* Always show the zoom on touch (no hover); reveal on hover for pointers. */
+	.thumbwrap:hover .zoom,
+	.zoom:focus-visible {
+		opacity: 1;
+	}
+	@media (hover: none) {
+		.zoom {
+			opacity: 1;
+		}
+	}
+	.zoom:hover {
+		background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85);
+	}
 	.kbadge {
 		font-size: 0.68rem;
 		font-weight: 600;