diff --git a/lib/controllers/migrate.js b/lib/controllers/migrate.js
index f4fb2c9..6b02b48 100644
--- a/lib/controllers/migrate.js
+++ b/lib/controllers/migrate.js
@@ -55,10 +55,13 @@ export function migratePostController(mountPath, pluginOptions) {
         const importFollowing = request.body.importTypes?.includes("following");
         const importFollowers = request.body.importTypes?.includes("followers");
 
-        // Read uploaded file — express-fileupload or raw body
-        const fileContent = extractFileContent(request);
+        // Read file content (submitted as text via client-side FileReader)
+        const fileContent = request.body.csvContent?.trim();
         if (!fileContent) {
-          result = { type: "error", text: "No file uploaded" };
+          result = {
+            type: "error",
+            text: response.locals.__("activitypub.migrate.errorNoFile"),
+          };
         } else {
           let followingResult = { imported: 0, failed: 0 };
           let followersResult = { imported: 0, failed: 0 };
@@ -104,20 +107,3 @@ export function migratePostController(mountPath, pluginOptions) {
   };
 }
 
-/**
- * Extract file content from the request.
- * Supports express-fileupload (request.files) and raw text body.
- */
-function extractFileContent(request) {
-  // express-fileupload attaches to request.files
-  if (request.files?.csvFile) {
-    return request.files.csvFile.data.toString("utf-8");
-  }
-
-  // Fallback: file content submitted as text in a textarea
-  if (request.body.csvContent) {
-    return request.body.csvContent;
-  }
-
-  return null;
-}
diff --git a/locales/en.json b/locales/en.json
index fdd3396..ef3cb70 100644
--- a/locales/en.json
+++ b/locales/en.json
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
       "importFollowersHint": "Your current followers — they will be recorded as pending until they re-follow you after the Move in step 3",
       "step3Title": "Step 3 — Move your account",
       "step3Desc": "Once you have saved your alias and imported your data, go to your Mastodon instance → Preferences → Account → <strong>Move to a different account</strong>. Enter your new fediverse handle and confirm. Mastodon will notify all your followers, and those whose servers support it will automatically re-follow you here. This step is irreversible — your old account will become a redirect.",
+      "errorNoFile": "Please select a CSV file before importing.",
       "success": "Imported %d following, %d followers (%d failed).",
       "aliasSuccess": "Alias saved — your actor document now includes this account as alsoKnownAs."
     }
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 819698e..090e464 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@rmdes/indiekit-endpoint-activitypub",
-  "version": "0.1.6",
+  "version": "0.1.7",
   "description": "ActivityPub federation endpoint for Indiekit via Fedify. Adds full fediverse support: actor, inbox, outbox, followers, following, syndication, and Mastodon migration.",
   "keywords": [
     "indiekit",
diff --git a/views/activitypub-migrate.njk b/views/activitypub-migrate.njk
index ce8f59a..c103e1d 100644
--- a/views/activitypub-migrate.njk
+++ b/views/activitypub-migrate.njk
@@ -4,10 +4,8 @@
 {% from "input/macro.njk" import input with context %}
 {% from "button/macro.njk" import button with context %}
 {% from "checkboxes/macro.njk" import checkboxes with context %}
-{% from "file-input/macro.njk" import fileInput with context %}
 {% from "notification-banner/macro.njk" import notificationBanner with context %}
 {% from "prose/macro.njk" import prose with context %}
-{% from "badge/macro.njk" import badge with context %}
 
 {% block content %}
   {{ heading({ text: title, level: 1, parent: { text: __("activitypub.title"), href: mountPath } }) }}
@@ -49,8 +47,9 @@
   {{ heading({ text: __("activitypub.migrate.step2Title"), level: 2 }) }}
   {{ prose({ text: __("activitypub.migrate.step2Desc") }) }}
 
-  <form method="post" enctype="multipart/form-data" novalidate>
+  <form method="post" novalidate x-data="csvImport()">
     <input type="hidden" name="action" value="import">
+    <input type="hidden" name="csvContent" :value="csvContent">
 
     {{ checkboxes({
       name: "importTypes",
@@ -72,12 +71,20 @@
       values: ["following"]
     }) }}
 
-    {{ fileInput({
-      name: "csvFile",
-      label: __("activitypub.migrate.fileLabel"),
-      hint: __("activitypub.migrate.fileHint"),
-      accept: ".csv,.txt"
-    }) }}
+    <div class="field">
+      <label class="label" for="csvFile">{{ __("activitypub.migrate.fileLabel") }}</label>
+      <p class="hint">{{ __("activitypub.migrate.fileHint") }}</p>
+      <input class="input" type="file" id="csvFile" accept=".csv,.txt"
+             @change="readFile($event)">
+      <template x-if="fileName">
+        <p class="hint" style="margin-top: 0.5em">
+          <strong x-text="fileName"></strong> — <span x-text="lineCount + ' lines'"></span>
+        </p>
+      </template>
+      <template x-if="fileError">
+        <p class="hint" style="margin-top: 0.5em; color: var(--color-error, #d4351c)" x-text="fileError"></p>
+      </template>
+    </div>
 
     {{ button({ text: __("activitypub.migrate.importButton") }) }}
   </form>
@@ -87,4 +94,44 @@
   {# Step 3 — Instructions #}
   {{ heading({ text: __("activitypub.migrate.step3Title"), level: 2 }) }}
   {{ prose({ text: __("activitypub.migrate.step3Desc") }) }}
+
+  <script>
+  function csvImport() {
+    return {
+      csvContent: '',
+      fileName: '',
+      lineCount: 0,
+      fileError: '',
+
+      readFile(event) {
+        var self = this;
+        self.csvContent = '';
+        self.fileName = '';
+        self.lineCount = 0;
+        self.fileError = '';
+
+        var file = event.target.files[0];
+        if (!file) return;
+
+        if (file.size > 5 * 1024 * 1024) {
+          self.fileError = 'File too large (max 5 MB)';
+          event.target.value = '';
+          return;
+        }
+
+        var reader = new FileReader();
+        reader.onload = function(e) {
+          var text = e.target.result;
+          self.csvContent = text;
+          self.fileName = file.name;
+          self.lineCount = text.split('\n').filter(function(l) { return l.trim(); }).length;
+        };
+        reader.onerror = function() {
+          self.fileError = 'Could not read file';
+        };
+        reader.readAsText(file);
+      }
+    };
+  }
+  </script>
 {% endblock %}