feat(settings): add appearance toggle to hide the Explore tab

The Explore tab appears for every Plex-backed profile because the Plex
Discover catalog source connects implicitly, with no way to opt out
short of a Jellyfin-only profile. Add a Show Explore Tab switch to
Appearance > Navigation that hides the tab in the bottom navigation and
side rail. UI-only: catalog sources stay connected so watchlist
surfaces keep working while the tab is hidden.

close #1844

lib/i18n/az.i18n.json

@@ -323,6 +323,8 @@
     "showNavBarLabels": "Naviqasiya paneli yazılarını göstər",
     "showNavBarLabelsDescription": "Naviqasiya paneli ikonlarının altında mətni göstər",
     "startupSection": "Başlanğıc bölməsi",
+    "showExploreTab": "",
+    "showExploreTabDescription": "",
     "liveTvDefaultFavorites": "Canlı TV-də sevimli kanalları defolt et",
     "liveTvDefaultFavoritesDescription": "Canlı TV açıldıqda yalnız sevimli kanalları göstər",
     "display": "Ekran",

lib/i18n/bg.i18n.json

@@ -323,6 +323,8 @@
     "showNavBarLabels": "Показвай етикети в навигационната лента",
     "showNavBarLabelsDescription": "Показвай текстови етикети под иконите в навигационната лента",
     "startupSection": "Начален раздел",
+    "showExploreTab": "",
+    "showExploreTabDescription": "",
     "liveTvDefaultFavorites": "По подразбиране към любими канали",
     "liveTvDefaultFavoritesDescription": "Показвай само любими канали при отваряне на телевизия на живо",
     "display": "Дисплей",

lib/i18n/da.i18n.json

@@ -323,6 +323,8 @@
     "showNavBarLabels": "Vis tekst på navigationslinjen",
     "showNavBarLabelsDescription": "Vis tekst under ikonerne på navigationslinjen",
     "startupSection": "Startsektion",
+    "showExploreTab": "",
+    "showExploreTabDescription": "",
     "liveTvDefaultFavorites": "Vis favoritkanaler som standard",
     "liveTvDefaultFavoritesDescription": "Vis kun favoritkanaler ved åbning af Live TV",
     "display": "Skærm",

lib/i18n/de.i18n.json

@@ -323,6 +323,8 @@
     "showNavBarLabels": "Navigationsleisten-Beschriftungen anzeigen",
     "showNavBarLabelsDescription": "Textbeschriftungen unter den Symbolen der Navigationsleiste anzeigen",
     "startupSection": "Startbereich",
+    "showExploreTab": "",
+    "showExploreTabDescription": "",
     "liveTvDefaultFavorites": "Standardmäßig Favoritenkanäle",
     "liveTvDefaultFavoritesDescription": "Beim Öffnen von Live TV nur Favoritenkanäle anzeigen",
     "display": "Anzeige",

lib/i18n/en.i18n.json

@@ -323,6 +323,8 @@
     "showNavBarLabels": "Show Navigation Bar Labels",
     "showNavBarLabelsDescription": "Display text labels under navigation bar icons",
     "startupSection": "Startup Section",
+    "showExploreTab": "Show Explore Tab",
+    "showExploreTabDescription": "Display the Explore tab with content from Plex Discover and connected trackers",
     "liveTvDefaultFavorites": "Default to Favorite Channels",
     "liveTvDefaultFavoritesDescription": "Show only favorite channels when opening Live TV",
     "display": "Display",

lib/i18n/es.i18n.json

@@ -323,6 +323,8 @@
     "showNavBarLabels": "Mostrar etiquetas de la barra de navegación",
     "showNavBarLabelsDescription": "Mostrar etiquetas de texto bajo los iconos de la barra de navegación",
     "startupSection": "Sección de inicio",
+    "showExploreTab": "",
+    "showExploreTabDescription": "",
     "liveTvDefaultFavorites": "Canales favoritos por defecto",
     "liveTvDefaultFavoritesDescription": "Mostrar solo canales favoritos al abrir TV en vivo",
     "display": "Pantalla",

lib/i18n/fr.i18n.json

@@ -323,6 +323,8 @@
     "showNavBarLabels": "Afficher les libellés de la barre de navigation",
     "showNavBarLabelsDescription": "Afficher les libellés sous les icônes de la barre de navigation",
     "startupSection": "Section de démarrage",
+    "showExploreTab": "",
+    "showExploreTabDescription": "",
     "liveTvDefaultFavorites": "Chaînes favorites par défaut",
     "liveTvDefaultFavoritesDescription": "Afficher uniquement les chaînes favorites à l'ouverture de la TV en direct",
     "display": "Affichage",

lib/i18n/hu.i18n.json

@@ -323,6 +323,8 @@
     "showNavBarLabels": "Navigációs sáv címkéinek megjelenítése",
     "showNavBarLabelsDescription": "Szöveges címkék megjelenítése a navigációs sáv ikonjai alatt",
     "startupSection": "Indítási oldal",
+    "showExploreTab": "",
+    "showExploreTabDescription": "",
     "liveTvDefaultFavorites": "Kedvenc csatornák alapértelmezés szerint",
     "liveTvDefaultFavoritesDescription": "Csak a kedvenc csatornák megjelenítése az Élő TV megnyitásakor",
     "display": "Kijelző",

lib/i18n/it.i18n.json

@@ -323,6 +323,8 @@
     "showNavBarLabels": "Mostra le etichette della barra di navigazione",
     "showNavBarLabelsDescription": "Mostra le etichette di testo sotto le icone della barra di navigazione",
     "startupSection": "Sezione di avvio",
+    "showExploreTab": "",
+    "showExploreTabDescription": "",
     "liveTvDefaultFavorites": "Apri sui canali preferiti",
     "liveTvDefaultFavoritesDescription": "Mostra solo i canali preferiti quando apri la TV in diretta",
     "display": "Schermo",

lib/i18n/ja.i18n.json

@@ -323,6 +323,8 @@
     "showNavBarLabels": "ナビゲーションバーのラベルを表示",
     "showNavBarLabelsDescription": "ナビゲーションバーのアイコンの下にテキストラベルを表示",
     "startupSection": "起動時のセクション",
+    "showExploreTab": "",
+    "showExploreTabDescription": "",
     "liveTvDefaultFavorites": "お気に入りチャンネルをデフォルトに",
     "liveTvDefaultFavoritesDescription": "ライブTVを開いたときにお気に入りチャンネルのみ表示",
     "display": "ディスプレイ",

lib/i18n/kk.i18n.json

@@ -323,6 +323,8 @@
     "showNavBarLabels": "Навигация панелінің мәтіндерін көрсету",
     "showNavBarLabelsDescription": "Навигация белгішелерінің астында мәтінді көрсету",
     "startupSection": "Бастапқы бөлім",
+    "showExploreTab": "",
+    "showExploreTabDescription": "",
     "liveTvDefaultFavorites": "Тікелей TV-де таңдаулы арналарды әдепкі ету",
     "liveTvDefaultFavoritesDescription": "Тікелей TV ашылғанда тек таңдаулы арналарды көрсету",
     "display": "Дисплей",

lib/i18n/ko.i18n.json

@@ -323,6 +323,8 @@
     "showNavBarLabels": "내비게이션 바 라벨 표시",
     "showNavBarLabelsDescription": "내비게이션 바 아이콘 아래에 텍스트 라벨을 표시합니다",
     "startupSection": "시작 섹션",
+    "showExploreTab": "",
+    "showExploreTabDescription": "",
     "liveTvDefaultFavorites": "즐겨찾기 채널 기본 설정",
     "liveTvDefaultFavoritesDescription": "라이브 TV를 열 때 즐겨찾기 채널만 표시",
     "display": "디스플레이",

lib/i18n/nb.i18n.json

@@ -323,6 +323,8 @@
     "showNavBarLabels": "Vis etiketter i navigasjonsfeltet",
     "showNavBarLabelsDescription": "Vis tekstetiketter under ikonene i navigasjonsfeltet",
     "startupSection": "Startseksjon",
+    "showExploreTab": "",
+    "showExploreTabDescription": "",
     "liveTvDefaultFavorites": "Vis favorittkanaler som standard",
     "liveTvDefaultFavoritesDescription": "Vis bare favorittkanaler når du åpner Direkte-TV",
     "display": "Skjerm",

lib/i18n/nl.i18n.json

@@ -323,6 +323,8 @@
     "showNavBarLabels": "Labels op navigatiebalk tonen",
     "showNavBarLabelsDescription": "Tekstlabels onder de pictogrammen op de navigatiebalk weergeven",
     "startupSection": "Opstartsectie",
+    "showExploreTab": "",
+    "showExploreTabDescription": "",
     "liveTvDefaultFavorites": "Standaard favoriete zenders",
     "liveTvDefaultFavoritesDescription": "Toon alleen favoriete zenders bij het openen van Live TV",
     "display": "Weergave",

lib/i18n/pl.i18n.json

@@ -323,6 +323,8 @@
     "showNavBarLabels": "Pokaż etykiety paska nawigacji",
     "showNavBarLabelsDescription": "Wyświetl tekstowe etykiety pod ikonami paska nawigacji",
     "startupSection": "Sekcja startowa",
+    "showExploreTab": "",
+    "showExploreTabDescription": "",
     "liveTvDefaultFavorites": "Domyślnie ulubione kanały",
     "liveTvDefaultFavoritesDescription": "Pokaż tylko ulubione kanały po otwarciu telewizji na żywo",
     "display": "Ekran",

lib/i18n/pt.i18n.json

@@ -323,6 +323,8 @@
     "showNavBarLabels": "Mostrar Rótulos da Barra de Navegação",
     "showNavBarLabelsDescription": "Exibir rótulos de texto sob os ícones da barra de navegação",
     "startupSection": "Seção inicial",
+    "showExploreTab": "",
+    "showExploreTabDescription": "",
     "liveTvDefaultFavorites": "Canais favoritos por padrão",
     "liveTvDefaultFavoritesDescription": "Mostrar apenas os canais favoritos ao abrir a TV ao vivo",
     "display": "Tela",

lib/i18n/ru.i18n.json

@@ -323,6 +323,8 @@
     "showNavBarLabels": "Показывать подписи панели навигации",
     "showNavBarLabelsDescription": "Отображать текстовые подписи под иконками панели навигации",
     "startupSection": "Начальный раздел",
+    "showExploreTab": "",
+    "showExploreTabDescription": "",
     "liveTvDefaultFavorites": "Избранные каналы по умолчанию",
     "liveTvDefaultFavoritesDescription": "Показывать только избранные каналы при открытии ТВ",
     "display": "Экран",

lib/i18n/strings.g.dart

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 /// To regenerate, run: `dart run slang`
 ///
 /// Locales: 22
-/// Strings: 38354 (1743 per locale)
+/// Strings: 38356 (1743 per locale)
 
 // coverage:ignore-file
 // ignore_for_file: type=lint, unused_import

lib/i18n/strings_en.g.dart

@@ -1047,6 +1047,12 @@ class Translations$settings$en {
 	/// en: 'Startup Section'
 	String get startupSection => 'Startup Section';
 
+	/// en: 'Show Explore Tab'
+	String get showExploreTab => 'Show Explore Tab';
+
+	/// en: 'Display the Explore tab with content from Plex Discover and connected trackers'
+	String get showExploreTabDescription => 'Display the Explore tab with content from Plex Discover and connected trackers';
+
 	/// en: 'Default to Favorite Channels'
 	String get liveTvDefaultFavorites => 'Default to Favorite Channels';
 
@@ -6384,6 +6390,8 @@ extension on Translations {
 			'settings.showNavBarLabels' => 'Show Navigation Bar Labels',
 			'settings.showNavBarLabelsDescription' => 'Display text labels under navigation bar icons',
 			'settings.startupSection' => 'Startup Section',
+			'settings.showExploreTab' => 'Show Explore Tab',
+			'settings.showExploreTabDescription' => 'Display the Explore tab with content from Plex Discover and connected trackers',
 			'settings.liveTvDefaultFavorites' => 'Default to Favorite Channels',
 			'settings.liveTvDefaultFavoritesDescription' => 'Show only favorite channels when opening Live TV',
 			'settings.display' => 'Display',
@@ -6583,10 +6591,10 @@ extension on Translations {
 			'rateSheet.saved' => 'Saved',
 			'rateSheet.notAvailable' => 'No match found',
 			'rateSheet.noConnectedServices' => 'Connect a service in Settings to rate there.',
-			'accessibility.mediaCardMovie' => ({required Object title}) => '${title}, movie',
-			'accessibility.mediaCardShow' => ({required Object title}) => '${title}, TV show',
 			_ => null,
 		} ?? switch (path) {
+			'accessibility.mediaCardMovie' => ({required Object title}) => '${title}, movie',
+			'accessibility.mediaCardShow' => ({required Object title}) => '${title}, TV show',
 			'accessibility.mediaCardEpisode' => ({required Object title, required Object episodeInfo}) => '${title}, ${episodeInfo}',
 			'accessibility.mediaCardSeason' => ({required Object title, required Object seasonInfo}) => '${title}, ${seasonInfo}',
 			'accessibility.mediaCardWatched' => 'watched',
@@ -7097,10 +7105,10 @@ extension on Translations {
 			'explore.stats.viewersAllTime' => ({required Object n}) => '${n} viewers',
 			'explore.stats.planning' => ({required Object n}) => '${n} planning to watch',
 			'explore.stats.favorited' => ({required Object n}) => '${n} favorites',
-			'explore.stats.dropRate' => ({required Object percent}) => '${percent} dropped it',
-			'explore.stats.comments' => ({required num n}) => (_root.$meta.cardinalResolver ?? PluralResolvers.cardinal('en'))(n, one: '${n} comment', other: '${n} comments', ), 
 			_ => null,
 		} ?? switch (path) {
+			'explore.stats.dropRate' => ({required Object percent}) => '${percent} dropped it',
+			'explore.stats.comments' => ({required num n}) => (_root.$meta.cardinalResolver ?? PluralResolvers.cardinal('en'))(n, one: '${n} comment', other: '${n} comments', ), 
 			'explore.stats.votes' => ({required Object n}) => '${n} votes',
 			'explore.stats.watching' => ({required Object n}) => '${n} watching it',
 			'explore.stats.completed' => ({required Object n}) => '${n} completed',
@@ -7611,10 +7619,10 @@ extension on Translations {
 			'externalPlayer.title' => 'External Player',
 			'externalPlayer.useExternalPlayer' => 'Use External Player',
 			'externalPlayer.useExternalPlayerDescription' => 'Open videos in another app',
-			'externalPlayer.selectPlayer' => 'Select Player',
-			'externalPlayer.customPlayers' => 'Custom Players',
 			_ => null,
 		} ?? switch (path) {
+			'externalPlayer.selectPlayer' => 'Select Player',
+			'externalPlayer.customPlayers' => 'Custom Players',
 			'externalPlayer.systemDefault' => 'System Default',
 			'externalPlayer.addCustomPlayer' => 'Add Custom Player',
 			'externalPlayer.playerName' => 'Player Name',

lib/i18n/sv.i18n.json

@@ -323,6 +323,8 @@
     "showNavBarLabels": "Visa navigeringsfältets etiketter",
     "showNavBarLabelsDescription": "Visa textetiketter under navigeringsfältets ikoner",
     "startupSection": "Startsida",
+    "showExploreTab": "",
+    "showExploreTabDescription": "",
     "liveTvDefaultFavorites": "Öppna med favoriter",
     "liveTvDefaultFavoritesDescription": "Visa endast favoritkanaler när Live-TV öppnas",
     "display": "Skärm",

lib/i18n/tr.i18n.json

@@ -323,6 +323,8 @@
     "showNavBarLabels": "Gezinme Çubuğu Etiketlerini Göster",
     "showNavBarLabelsDescription": "Gezinme çubuğu simgelerinin altında metin etiketlerini göster",
     "startupSection": "Başlangıç Bölümü",
+    "showExploreTab": "",
+    "showExploreTabDescription": "",
     "liveTvDefaultFavorites": "Canlı TV'de Favorileri Varsayılan Yap",
     "liveTvDefaultFavoritesDescription": "Canlı TV açıldığında yalnızca favori kanalları göster",
     "display": "Ekran",

lib/i18n/uz.i18n.json

@@ -323,6 +323,8 @@
     "showNavBarLabels": "Navigatsiya paneli matnlarini koʻrsatish",
     "showNavBarLabelsDescription": "Navigatsiya belgilarining ostida matnni koʻrsatish",
     "startupSection": "Boshlangʻich boʻlim",
+    "showExploreTab": "",
+    "showExploreTabDescription": "",
     "liveTvDefaultFavorites": "Jonli TV-da tanlangan kanallarni standart qilish",
     "liveTvDefaultFavoritesDescription": "Jonli TV ochilganda faqat tanlangan kanallarni koʻrsatish",
     "display": "Displey",

lib/i18n/zh-Hant.i18n.json

@@ -323,6 +323,8 @@
     "showNavBarLabels": "顯示導覽列標籤",
     "showNavBarLabelsDescription": "在導覽列圖示下方顯示文字標籤",
     "startupSection": "啟動頁面",
+    "showExploreTab": "",
+    "showExploreTabDescription": "",
     "liveTvDefaultFavorites": "預設顯示最愛頻道",
     "liveTvDefaultFavoritesDescription": "開啟直播電視時僅顯示最愛頻道",
     "display": "顯示器",

lib/i18n/zh.i18n.json

@@ -323,6 +323,8 @@
     "showNavBarLabels": "显示导航栏标签",
     "showNavBarLabelsDescription": "在导航栏图标下方显示文字标签",
     "startupSection": "启动页面",
+    "showExploreTab": "",
+    "showExploreTabDescription": "",
     "liveTvDefaultFavorites": "默认显示收藏频道",
     "liveTvDefaultFavoritesDescription": "打开直播电视时仅显示收藏频道",
     "display": "显示",

lib/screens/main_screen.dart

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import 'dart:io' show Platform, exit;
 export '../navigation/main_screen_scope.dart'
     show MainScreenFocusScope, MainScreenScopeAspect, SideNavigationBleedBuilder;
 
+import 'package:flutter/foundation.dart' show ValueListenable;
 import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
 import 'package:flutter/services.dart'
     show HardwareKeyboard, KeyDownEvent, KeyRepeatEvent, KeyUpEvent, LogicalKeyboardKey;
@@ -246,6 +247,7 @@ class _MainScreenState extends State<MainScreen>
   OfflineModeProvider? _offlineModeProvider;
   MultiServerProvider? _multiServerProvider;
   CatalogSourcesProvider? _catalogSourcesProvider;
+  ValueListenable<bool>? _showExploreTabListenable;
   RouteObserver<PageRoute<dynamic>>? _profileRouteObserver;
   bool _lastHasLiveTv = false;
   bool _lastHasExplore = false;
@@ -347,10 +349,14 @@ class _MainScreenState extends State<MainScreen>
       _lastHasLiveTv = false;
     }
     try {
-      _lastHasExplore = context.read<CatalogSourcesProvider>().hasAnySource;
+      _lastHasExplore = context.read<CatalogSourcesProvider>().hasAnySource && _showExploreTabSetting;
     } catch (_) {
       _lastHasExplore = false;
     }
+    // Re-evaluate Explore tab visibility when the appearance toggle flips
+    // mid-session; the catalog-sources listener covers source changes.
+    _showExploreTabListenable = SettingsService.instanceOrNull?.listenable(SettingsService.showExploreTab);
+    _showExploreTabListenable?.addListener(_handleCatalogSourcesChanged);
     _currentTab = _defaultTabForMode(_isOffline);
     _lastOnlineTabId = _isOffline ? null : NavigationTabId.discover;
     _autoSwitchedToDownloads = _isOffline && _currentTab == NavigationTabId.downloads;
@@ -887,6 +893,7 @@ class _MainScreenState extends State<MainScreen>
     _offlineModeProvider?.removeListener(_handleOfflineStatusChanged);
     _multiServerProvider?.removeListener(_handleLiveTvChanged);
     _catalogSourcesProvider?.removeListener(_handleCatalogSourcesChanged);
+    _showExploreTabListenable?.removeListener(_handleCatalogSourcesChanged);
     if (_bindingSettleListener != null) {
       _activeProfileForListener?.removeListener(_bindingSettleListener!);
     }
@@ -1078,8 +1085,10 @@ class _MainScreenState extends State<MainScreen>
     }
   }
 
+  bool get _showExploreTabSetting => SettingsService.instanceOrNull?.read(SettingsService.showExploreTab) ?? true;
+
   void _handleCatalogSourcesChanged() {
-    final hasExplore = _catalogSourcesProvider?.hasAnySource ?? false;
+    final hasExplore = (_catalogSourcesProvider?.hasAnySource ?? false) && _showExploreTabSetting;
     if (hasExplore == _lastHasExplore) return;
     _lastHasExplore = hasExplore;
 

lib/screens/settings/appearance_settings_screen.dart

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import 'package:provider/provider.dart';
 
 import '../../i18n/app_locale_utils.dart';
 import '../../i18n/strings.g.dart';
+import '../../providers/catalog_sources_provider.dart';
 import '../../providers/multi_server_provider.dart';
 import '../../providers/theme_provider.dart';
 import '../../profiles/active_profile_provider.dart';
@@ -29,9 +30,12 @@ class AppearanceSettingsScreen extends StatelessWidget {
 
   @override
   Widget build(BuildContext context) {
-    // Watched at build level so the tile can be excluded with a plain `if` —
+    // Watched at build level so the tiles can be excluded with a plain `if` —
     // a child that renders SizedBox.shrink() would corrupt the group corners.
     final hasMultipleProfiles = context.watch<ActiveProfileProvider>().hasMultipleProfiles;
+    // Nullable watch: hosts without the profile session scope (tests) simply
+    // never show the Explore toggle, mirroring the tab's own visibility.
+    final hasExplore = context.watch<CatalogSourcesProvider?>()?.hasAnySource ?? false;
     return SettingsPage(
       title: Text(t.settings.appearance),
       children: [
@@ -112,6 +116,13 @@ class AppearanceSettingsScreen extends StatelessWidget {
           title: t.settings.navigation,
           children: [
             _startupSectionSelector(),
+            if (hasExplore)
+              SettingSwitchTile(
+                pref: SettingsService.showExploreTab,
+                icon: Symbols.explore_rounded,
+                title: t.settings.showExploreTab,
+                subtitle: t.settings.showExploreTabDescription,
+              ),
             if (Platform.isAndroid || PlatformDetector.isDesktopOS())
               SettingSwitchTile(
                 pref: SettingsService.forceTvMode,

lib/services/settings_service.dart

@@ -444,6 +444,11 @@ class SettingsService extends BaseSharedPreferencesService {
     values: NavigationTabId.values,
     defaultValue: NavigationTabId.discover,
   );
+
+  /// Whether the Explore tab (Plex Discover / tracker catalog rows) is shown
+  /// at all. UI-only: catalog sources stay connected so watchlist surfaces
+  /// keep working while the tab is hidden.
+  static const showExploreTab = BoolPref('show_explore_tab', defaultValue: true);
   static const alwaysKeepSidebarOpen = BoolPref('always_keep_sidebar_open');
   static const showUnwatchedCount = BoolPref('show_unwatched_count', defaultValue: true);
   static const showEpisodeNumberOnCards = BoolPref('show_episode_number_on_cards', defaultValue: true);
@@ -920,6 +925,7 @@ class SettingsService extends BaseSharedPreferencesService {
     autoPlayNextEpisode,
     useExoPlayer,
     startupSection,
+    showExploreTab,
     alwaysKeepSidebarOpen,
     showUnwatchedCount,
     showEpisodeNumberOnCards,

lib/widgets/side_navigation_rail.dart

@@ -652,7 +652,7 @@ class SideNavigationRailState extends State<SideNavigationRail> with MountedSetS
     final hasLiveTv = context.watch<MultiServerProvider>().hasLiveTv;
     // Nullable watch: rail tests (and any host without the profile session
     // scope) simply never show the Explore item.
-    final hasExplore = context.watch<CatalogSourcesProvider?>()?.hasAnySource ?? false;
+    final hasExploreSource = context.watch<CatalogSourcesProvider?>()?.hasAnySource ?? false;
     // Nullable watch: rail tests (and any host without the profile session
     // scope) simply never show the Now Playing item. TV-only — it is the
     // way back into the now-playing screen there; desktop already has the
@@ -660,14 +660,16 @@ class SideNavigationRailState extends State<SideNavigationRail> with MountedSetS
     final musicService = context.watch<MusicPlaybackService?>();
     final nowPlayingTrack = widget.isOfflineMode || !PlatformDetector.isTV() ? null : musicService?.currentTrack;
 
-    // Listen to fullscreen + groupLibrariesByServer setting so the rail
+    // Listen to fullscreen + the groupLibrariesByServer / showExploreTab
-    // rebuilds when the user toggles "Group libraries by server" in Appearance.
+    // settings so the rail rebuilds when they are toggled in Appearance.
     return ListenableBuilder(
       listenable: Listenable.merge([
         FullscreenStateManager(),
         SettingsService.instance.listenable(SettingsService.groupLibrariesByServer),
+        SettingsService.instance.listenable(SettingsService.showExploreTab),
       ]),
       builder: (context, _) {
+        final hasExplore = hasExploreSource && SettingsService.instance.read(SettingsService.showExploreTab);
         // Server grouping: only when multi-server AND the user-facing toggle is on.
         final groupByServerSetting = SettingsService.instance.read(SettingsService.groupLibrariesByServer);
         final showServerHeaders = serverIds.length > 1 && groupByServerSetting;

test/widgets/side_navigation_rail_test.dart

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import 'package:plezy/media/media_backend.dart';
 import 'package:plezy/media/media_kind.dart';
 import 'package:plezy/media/media_library.dart';
 import 'package:plezy/navigation/navigation_tabs.dart';
+import 'package:plezy/providers/catalog_sources_provider.dart';
 import 'package:plezy/providers/hidden_libraries_provider.dart';
 import 'package:plezy/providers/libraries_provider.dart';
 import 'package:plezy/providers/multi_server_provider.dart';
@@ -25,6 +26,12 @@ import '../test_helpers/multi_server_fixtures.dart';
 import '../test_helpers/prefs.dart';
 import '../test_helpers/theme.dart';
 
+/// Minimal source-bearing stand-in: the rail only reads [hasAnySource].
+class _FakeCatalogSourcesProvider extends CatalogSourcesProvider {
+  @override
+  bool get hasAnySource => true;
+}
+
 MediaLibrary _library({
   required String id,
   required String title,
@@ -68,6 +75,7 @@ Future<void> _pumpBasicRail(
   bool isSidebarFocused = false,
   bool alwaysExpanded = false,
   double? height,
+  CatalogSourcesProvider? catalogSources,
 }) async {
   await SettingsService.getInstance();
 
@@ -102,6 +110,7 @@ Future<void> _pumpBasicRail(
           ChangeNotifierProvider<LibrariesProvider>.value(value: librariesProvider),
           ChangeNotifierProvider<HiddenLibrariesProvider>.value(value: hiddenLibrariesProvider),
           ChangeNotifierProvider<MultiServerProvider>.value(value: multiServerProvider),
+          if (catalogSources != null) ChangeNotifierProvider<CatalogSourcesProvider>.value(value: catalogSources),
         ],
         child: MaterialApp(
           theme: ThemeData(extensions: const [testMonoTokens]),
@@ -295,6 +304,22 @@ void main() {
     expect(targetRect.bottom, lessThanOrEqualTo(railRect.bottom));
   });
 
+  testWidgets('Explore item follows the showExploreTab appearance setting', (tester) async {
+    final catalogSources = _FakeCatalogSourcesProvider();
+    addTearDown(catalogSources.dispose);
+
+    await _pumpBasicRail(tester, alwaysExpanded: true, catalogSources: catalogSources);
+    expect(find.widgetWithText(NavigationRailItem, 'Explore'), findsOneWidget);
+
+    await SettingsService.instance.write(SettingsService.showExploreTab, false);
+    await tester.pumpAndSettle();
+    expect(find.widgetWithText(NavigationRailItem, 'Explore'), findsNothing);
+
+    await SettingsService.instance.write(SettingsService.showExploreTab, true);
+    await tester.pumpAndSettle();
+    expect(find.widgetWithText(NavigationRailItem, 'Explore'), findsOneWidget);
+  });
+
   testWidgets('reports interaction expansion for shell content push', (tester) async {
     await SettingsService.getInstance();