diff --git a/apps/desktop/app/onboarding/page.tsx b/apps/desktop/app/onboarding/page.tsx
index 52476453..a7782a88 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/app/onboarding/page.tsx
+++ b/apps/desktop/app/onboarding/page.tsx
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import {
 	updateDesktopOnboardingStatus,
 } from "@/lib/onboarding"
 import {
+	chooseSmfsMountPath,
 	getDefaultSmfsContainerTag,
 	getSmfsState,
 	mountSmfs,
@@ -340,6 +341,9 @@ function FilesystemStep({
 }) {
 	const [tag, setTag] = useState("sm_fs_desktop")
 	const [status, setStatus] = useState<SmfsStatus | null>(null)
+	const [selectedMountPath, setSelectedMountPath] = useState<string | null>(
+		null,
+	)
 	const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true)
 	const [busy, setBusy] = useState(false)
 	const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null)
@@ -353,7 +357,16 @@ function FilesystemStep({
 				getSmfsState(),
 			])
 			setTag(defaultTag)
-			setStatus(statuses[0] ?? null)
+			const nextStatus = statuses[0] ?? null
+			setStatus(nextStatus)
+			if (
+				nextStatus?.mountPath &&
+				(nextStatus.mountPathConfigured ||
+					nextStatus.state === "mounted" ||
+					nextStatus.state === "external")
+			) {
+				setSelectedMountPath(nextStatus.mountPath)
+			}
 		} catch (err) {
 			setError(formatUnknownError(err, "Could not load filesystem status"))
 		} finally {
@@ -369,7 +382,12 @@ function FilesystemStep({
 		setError(null)
 		setBusy(true)
 		try {
-			setStatus(await mountSmfs(tag))
+			if (!selectedMountPath) {
+				throw new Error("Choose a folder before mounting SMFS")
+			}
+			const nextStatus = await mountSmfs(tag, selectedMountPath)
+			setStatus(nextStatus)
+			setSelectedMountPath(nextStatus.mountPath)
 		} catch (err) {
 			setError(formatUnknownError(err, "Could not mount memory folder"))
 		} finally {
@@ -377,7 +395,25 @@ function FilesystemStep({
 		}
 	}
 
+	async function chooseFolder() {
+		setError(null)
+		setBusy(true)
+		try {
+			const path = await chooseSmfsMountPath()
+			if (path) {
+				setSelectedMountPath(path)
+			}
+		} catch (err) {
+			setError(formatUnknownError(err, "Could not choose mount folder"))
+		} finally {
+			setBusy(false)
+		}
+	}
+
 	const mounted = status?.state === "mounted" || status?.state === "external"
+	const mountPath =
+		selectedMountPath ?? (status?.mountPathConfigured ? status.mountPath : null)
+	const canMount = Boolean(mountPath) && !loading && !busy
 
 	return (
 		<section className="mx-auto w-full max-w-4xl space-y-6">
@@ -410,8 +446,11 @@ function FilesystemStep({
 
 					<div className="mt-auto flex items-center justify-between gap-4 pt-8">
 						<FilesystemStatus mounted={mounted} loading={loading} />
-						<p className="truncate font-mono font-medium text-[#737373] text-[13px]">
-							{status?.tag ?? tag}
+						<p
+							className="truncate font-mono font-medium text-[#737373] text-[13px]"
+							title={mountPath ?? undefined}
+						>
+							{mountPath ? compactPath(mountPath) : "No folder selected"}
 						</p>
 					</div>
 					{error ? <p className="mt-4 text-red-300 text-sm">{error}</p> : null}
@@ -438,16 +477,25 @@ function FilesystemStep({
 							Mount folder
 						</p>
 						<p className="mt-2 line-clamp-2 font-medium text-[#9A9AA2] text-[14px] leading-[1.45]">
-							Create the local memory folder for this Mac
+							Choose or create the local folder SMFS should mount into
 						</p>
 					</div>
 
 					<Button
 						type="button"
 						variant="insideOut"
-						onClick={mounted ? onContinue : mount}
-						disabled={loading || busy}
+						onClick={chooseFolder}
+						disabled={loading || busy || mounted}
 						className="mt-auto h-10 w-full rounded-full font-medium text-[#FAFAFA] text-[15px]"
+					>
+						{mountPath ? "Change folder" : "Choose folder"}
+					</Button>
+					<Button
+						type="button"
+						variant="insideOut"
+						onClick={mounted ? onContinue : mount}
+						disabled={!mounted && !canMount}
+						className="mt-3 h-10 w-full rounded-full font-medium text-[#FAFAFA] text-[15px]"
 					>
 						{busy || loading ? (
 							<Loader2 className="size-4 animate-spin" />
@@ -842,6 +890,16 @@ function NovaBackground() {
 	)
 }
 
+function compactPath(path: string) {
+	if (path.startsWith("/Users/")) {
+		const parts = path.split("/")
+		if (parts.length > 3) {
+			return `~/${parts.slice(3).join("/")}`
+		}
+	}
+	return path
+}
+
 function formatUnknownError(error: unknown, fallback: string) {
 	return error instanceof Error
 		? error.message
diff --git a/apps/desktop/lib/smfs.ts b/apps/desktop/lib/smfs.ts
index 86f4ab24..6d1b6e86 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/lib/smfs.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/lib/smfs.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ export type SmfsStatus = {
 		| "missing-binary"
 		| "error"
 	mountPath: string
+	mountPathConfigured: boolean
 	ownedByApp: boolean
 	profileAvailable: boolean
 	lastSync?: string | null
@@ -38,8 +39,12 @@ export function getSmfsState() {
 	return invoke<SmfsStatus[]>("smfs_state")
 }
 
-export function mountSmfs(tag?: string) {
-	return invoke<SmfsStatus>("smfs_mount", { tag })
+export function chooseSmfsMountPath() {
+	return invoke<string | null>("smfs_choose_mount_path")
+}
+
+export function mountSmfs(tag?: string, mountPath?: string) {
+	return invoke<SmfsStatus>("smfs_mount", { tag, mountPath })
 }
 
 export function unmountSmfs(tag?: string) {
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src-tauri/Cargo.lock b/apps/desktop/src-tauri/Cargo.lock
index 916460b2..b48564cb 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src-tauri/Cargo.lock
+++ b/apps/desktop/src-tauri/Cargo.lock
@@ -47,6 +47,28 @@ version = "1.0.102"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "7f202df86484c868dbad7eaa557ef785d5c66295e41b460ef922eca0723b842c"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "ashpd"
+version = "0.11.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "d2f3f79755c74fd155000314eb349864caa787c6592eace6c6882dad873d9c39"
+dependencies = [
+ "async-fs",
+ "async-net",
+ "enumflags2",
+ "futures-channel",
+ "futures-util",
+ "rand",
+ "raw-window-handle",
+ "serde",
+ "serde_repr",
+ "url",
+ "wayland-backend",
+ "wayland-client",
+ "wayland-protocols",
+ "zbus",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "async-broadcast"
 version = "0.7.2"
@@ -85,6 +107,17 @@ dependencies = [
  "slab",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "async-fs"
+version = "2.2.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "8034a681df4aed8b8edbd7fbe472401ecf009251c8b40556b304567052e294c5"
+dependencies = [
+ "async-lock",
+ "blocking",
+ "futures-lite",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "async-io"
 version = "2.6.0"
@@ -114,6 +147,17 @@ dependencies = [
  "pin-project-lite",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "async-net"
+version = "2.0.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "b948000fad4873c1c9339d60f2623323a0cfd3816e5181033c6a5cb68b2accf7"
+dependencies = [
+ "async-io",
+ "blocking",
+ "futures-lite",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "async-process"
 version = "2.5.0"
@@ -777,6 +821,15 @@ dependencies = [
  "syn 2.0.118",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "dlib"
+version = "0.5.3"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "ab8ecd87370524b461f8557c119c405552c396ed91fc0a8eec68679eab26f94a"
+dependencies = [
+ "libloading",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "dlopen2"
 version = "0.8.2"
@@ -824,6 +877,12 @@ dependencies = [
  "tendril",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "downcast-rs"
+version = "1.2.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "75b325c5dbd37f80359721ad39aca5a29fb04c89279657cffdda8736d0c0b9d2"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "dpi"
 version = "0.1.2"
@@ -2572,6 +2631,12 @@ dependencies = [
  "windows-sys 0.61.2",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "pollster"
+version = "0.4.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "2f3a9f18d041e6d0e102a0a46750538147e5e8992d3b4873aaafee2520b00ce3"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "potential_utf"
 version = "0.1.5"
@@ -2924,6 +2989,30 @@ dependencies = [
  "web-sys",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "rfd"
+version = "0.15.4"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "ef2bee61e6cffa4635c72d7d81a84294e28f0930db0ddcb0f66d10244674ebed"
+dependencies = [
+ "ashpd",
+ "block2",
+ "dispatch2",
+ "js-sys",
+ "log",
+ "objc2",
+ "objc2-app-kit",
+ "objc2-core-foundation",
+ "objc2-foundation",
+ "pollster",
+ "raw-window-handle",
+ "urlencoding",
+ "wasm-bindgen",
+ "wasm-bindgen-futures",
+ "web-sys",
+ "windows-sys 0.59.0",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "ring"
 version = "0.17.14"
@@ -3083,6 +3172,12 @@ dependencies = [
  "syn 2.0.118",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "scoped-tls"
+version = "1.0.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "e1cf6437eb19a8f4a6cc0f7dca544973b0b78843adbfeb3683d1a94a0024a294"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "scopeguard"
 version = "1.2.0"
@@ -3445,6 +3540,7 @@ version = "0.1.0"
 dependencies = [
  "keyring",
  "reqwest 0.12.28",
+ "rfd",
  "serde",
  "serde_json",
  "tauri",
@@ -4361,6 +4457,12 @@ dependencies = [
  "serde_derive",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "urlencoding"
+version = "2.1.3"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "daf8dba3b7eb870caf1ddeed7bc9d2a049f3cfdfae7cb521b087cc33ae4c49da"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "urlpattern"
 version = "0.3.0"
@@ -4531,6 +4633,66 @@ dependencies = [
  "web-sys",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "wayland-backend"
+version = "0.3.15"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "2857dd20b54e916ec7253b3d6b4d5c4d7d4ca2c33c2e11c6c76a99bd8744755d"
+dependencies = [
+ "cc",
+ "downcast-rs",
+ "rustix",
+ "scoped-tls",
+ "smallvec",
+ "wayland-sys",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "wayland-client"
+version = "0.31.14"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "645c7c96bb74690c3189b5c9cb4ca1627062bb23693a4fad9d8c3de958260144"
+dependencies = [
+ "bitflags 2.13.0",
+ "rustix",
+ "wayland-backend",
+ "wayland-scanner",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "wayland-protocols"
+version = "0.32.13"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "23d0c813de3daa2ed6520af85a3bd49b0e722a3078506899aa9686fea58dc4b6"
+dependencies = [
+ "bitflags 2.13.0",
+ "wayland-backend",
+ "wayland-client",
+ "wayland-scanner",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "wayland-scanner"
+version = "0.31.10"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "9c324a910fd86ebdc364a3e61ec1f11737d3b1d6c273c0239ee8ff4bc0d24b4a"
+dependencies = [
+ "proc-macro2",
+ "quick-xml",
+ "quote",
+]
+
+[[package]]
+name = "wayland-sys"
+version = "0.31.11"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "d8eab23fefc9e41f8e841df4a9c707e8a8c4ed26e944ef69297184de2785e3be"
+dependencies = [
+ "dlib",
+ "log",
+ "pkg-config",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "web-sys"
 version = "0.3.102"
@@ -5413,6 +5575,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "endi",
  "enumflags2",
  "serde",
+ "url",
  "winnow 1.0.3",
  "zvariant_derive",
  "zvariant_utils",
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src-tauri/Cargo.toml b/apps/desktop/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
index 1500db5a..4b9fb11c 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
+++ b/apps/desktop/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
@@ -26,3 +26,4 @@ tauri-plugin-deep-link = "2"
 tauri-plugin-single-instance = { version = "2", features = ["deep-link"] }
 url = "2"
 uuid = { version = "1", features = ["v4"] }
+rfd = "0.15"
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src-tauri/src/lib.rs b/apps/desktop/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
index 9ab3a66e..75bc45c0 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
+++ b/apps/desktop/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
@@ -136,8 +136,17 @@ fn smfs_state(app: tauri::AppHandle) -> Result<Vec<smfs::SmfsStatus>, String> {
 }
 
 #[tauri::command]
-fn smfs_mount(app: tauri::AppHandle, tag: Option<String>) -> Result<smfs::SmfsStatus, String> {
-    smfs::mount(&app, tag)
+fn smfs_choose_mount_path() -> Result<Option<String>, String> {
+    smfs::choose_mount_path()
+}
+
+#[tauri::command]
+fn smfs_mount(
+    app: tauri::AppHandle,
+    tag: Option<String>,
+    mount_path: Option<String>,
+) -> Result<smfs::SmfsStatus, String> {
+    smfs::mount(&app, tag, mount_path)
 }
 
 #[tauri::command]
@@ -232,6 +241,7 @@ pub fn run() {
             spotlight_get_shortcut,
             spotlight_set_shortcut,
             smfs_state,
+            smfs_choose_mount_path,
             smfs_mount,
             smfs_unmount,
             smfs_sync,
diff --git a/apps/desktop/src-tauri/src/smfs.rs b/apps/desktop/src-tauri/src/smfs.rs
index 73dd6a07..18d3f7f1 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/src-tauri/src/smfs.rs
+++ b/apps/desktop/src-tauri/src/smfs.rs
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ pub struct SmfsStatus {
     tag: String,
     state: SmfsState,
     mount_path: String,
+    mount_path_configured: bool,
     owned_by_app: bool,
     profile_available: bool,
     last_sync: Option<String>,
@@ -96,11 +97,32 @@ pub fn state(app: &AppHandle) -> Result<Vec<SmfsStatus>, String> {
     Ok(vec![status_for_tag(app, DEFAULT_CONTAINER_TAG)?])
 }
 
-pub fn mount(app: &AppHandle, tag: Option<String>) -> Result<SmfsStatus, String> {
+pub fn choose_mount_path() -> Result<Option<String>, String> {
+    Ok(rfd::FileDialog::new()
+        .set_title("Choose SMFS mount folder")
+        .pick_folder()
+        .map(|path| path_to_string(&path)))
+}
+
+pub fn mount(
+    app: &AppHandle,
+    tag: Option<String>,
+    mount_path: Option<String>,
+) -> Result<SmfsStatus, String> {
     let tag = normalize_tag(tag)?;
     let token = auth::get_token()?.ok_or_else(|| "No stored token".to_string())?;
-    let mount_path = expected_mount_path(app, &tag)?;
+    let (configured_path, _) = configured_mount_path(app, &tag)?;
+    let mount_path = match mount_path {
+        Some(path) => normalize_mount_path(path)?,
+        None => configured_path,
+    };
     fs::create_dir_all(&mount_path).map_err(|error| error.to_string())?;
+    if !mount_path.is_dir() {
+        return Err(format!(
+            "{} is not a directory",
+            path_to_string(&mount_path)
+        ));
+    }
 
     let status = status_for_tag(app, &tag)?;
     match status.state {
@@ -242,7 +264,7 @@ pub fn profile(app: &AppHandle, tag: Option<String>) -> Result<SmfsProfile, Stri
 fn status_for_tag(app: &AppHandle, tag: &str) -> Result<SmfsStatus, String> {
     validate_tag(tag)?;
 
-    let expected_mount_path = expected_mount_path(app, tag)?;
+    let (expected_mount_path, mount_path_configured) = configured_mount_path(app, tag)?;
     let binary_path = smfs_bin(app);
     let binary_path_string = path_to_string(&binary_path);
     let output = match run_smfs(app, ["status", tag, "--json"]) {
@@ -252,6 +274,7 @@ fn status_for_tag(app: &AppHandle, tag: &str) -> Result<SmfsStatus, String> {
                 tag: tag.to_string(),
                 state: SmfsState::MissingBinary,
                 mount_path: path_to_string(&expected_mount_path),
+                mount_path_configured,
                 owned_by_app: false,
                 profile_available: false,
                 last_sync: None,
@@ -264,6 +287,7 @@ fn status_for_tag(app: &AppHandle, tag: &str) -> Result<SmfsStatus, String> {
                 tag: tag.to_string(),
                 state: SmfsState::Error,
                 mount_path: path_to_string(&expected_mount_path),
+                mount_path_configured,
                 owned_by_app: false,
                 profile_available: false,
                 last_sync: None,
@@ -291,6 +315,7 @@ fn status_for_tag(app: &AppHandle, tag: &str) -> Result<SmfsStatus, String> {
         .unwrap_or_else(|| expected_mount_path.clone());
         let owned_by_app = is_app_owned_mount(app, tag, &active_mount_path);
         let profile_available = active_mount_path.join("profile.md").exists();
+        let mount_path_configured = owned_by_app || mount_path_configured;
         let state = if is_degraded(&parsed) {
             SmfsState::Degraded
         } else if owned_by_app {
@@ -303,6 +328,7 @@ fn status_for_tag(app: &AppHandle, tag: &str) -> Result<SmfsStatus, String> {
             tag: tag.to_string(),
             state,
             mount_path: path_to_string(&active_mount_path),
+            mount_path_configured,
             owned_by_app,
             profile_available,
             last_sync: first_string(&parsed, &[&["lastSync"], &["last_sync"]]),
@@ -320,6 +346,7 @@ fn status_for_tag(app: &AppHandle, tag: &str) -> Result<SmfsStatus, String> {
             tag: tag.to_string(),
             state: SmfsState::Unmounted,
             mount_path: path_to_string(&expected_mount_path),
+            mount_path_configured,
             owned_by_app: false,
             profile_available: false,
             last_sync: None,
@@ -332,6 +359,7 @@ fn status_for_tag(app: &AppHandle, tag: &str) -> Result<SmfsStatus, String> {
         tag: tag.to_string(),
         state: SmfsState::Error,
         mount_path: path_to_string(&expected_mount_path),
+        mount_path_configured,
         owned_by_app: false,
         profile_available: false,
         last_sync: None,
@@ -367,7 +395,49 @@ fn validate_tag(tag: &str) -> Result<(), String> {
     }
 }
 
+fn normalize_mount_path(path: String) -> Result<PathBuf, String> {
+    let trimmed = path.trim();
+    if trimmed.is_empty() {
+        return Err("Choose a folder before mounting SMFS".to_string());
+    }
+
+    let path = shellexpand_path(trimmed);
+    if path.exists() && !path.is_dir() {
+        return Err(format!("{} is not a directory", path_to_string(&path)));
+    }
+
+    Ok(path)
+}
+
+fn shellexpand_path(path: &str) -> PathBuf {
+    if path == "~" {
+        if let Some(home) = env::var_os("HOME") {
+            return PathBuf::from(home);
+        }
+    }
+
+    if let Some(rest) = path.strip_prefix("~/") {
+        if let Some(home) = env::var_os("HOME") {
+            return PathBuf::from(home).join(rest);
+        }
+    }
+
+    PathBuf::from(path)
+}
+
+fn configured_mount_path(app: &AppHandle, tag: &str) -> Result<(PathBuf, bool), String> {
+    if let Some(marker) = read_ownership_marker(app, tag) {
+        return Ok((PathBuf::from(marker.mount_path), true));
+    }
+
+    Ok((default_mount_path(app, tag)?, false))
+}
+
 fn expected_mount_path(app: &AppHandle, tag: &str) -> Result<PathBuf, String> {
+    configured_mount_path(app, tag).map(|(path, _)| path)
+}
+
+fn default_mount_path(app: &AppHandle, tag: &str) -> Result<PathBuf, String> {
     Ok(app
         .path()
         .app_data_dir()