diff --git a/server/projects.js b/server/projects.js
index 793d07ed..8d0e0473 100755
--- a/server/projects.js
+++ b/server/projects.js
@@ -186,6 +186,17 @@ async function getProjects() {
         // Extract actual project directory from JSONL sessions
         const actualProjectDir = await extractProjectDirectory(entry.name);
         
+        // Check if CLAUDE.md exists in the project directory
+        let hasClaudeFile = false;
+        try {
+          const claudeMdPath = path.join(actualProjectDir, 'CLAUDE.md');
+          await fs.access(claudeMdPath);
+          hasClaudeFile = true;
+        } catch (error) {
+          // File doesn't exist or can't be accessed
+          hasClaudeFile = false;
+        }
+        
         // Get display name from config or generate one
         const customName = config[entry.name]?.displayName;
         const autoDisplayName = await generateDisplayName(entry.name, actualProjectDir);
@@ -197,6 +208,7 @@ async function getProjects() {
           displayName: customName || autoDisplayName,
           fullPath: fullPath,
           isCustomName: !!customName,
+          hasClaudeFile: hasClaudeFile,
           sessions: []
         };
         
@@ -234,15 +246,27 @@ async function getProjects() {
         }
       }
       
-              const project = {
-          name: projectName,
-          path: actualProjectDir,
-          displayName: projectConfig.displayName || await generateDisplayName(projectName, actualProjectDir),
-          fullPath: actualProjectDir,
-          isCustomName: !!projectConfig.displayName,
-          isManuallyAdded: true,
-          sessions: []
-        };
+      // Check if CLAUDE.md exists in the project directory
+      let hasClaudeFile = false;
+      try {
+        const claudeMdPath = path.join(actualProjectDir, 'CLAUDE.md');
+        await fs.access(claudeMdPath);
+        hasClaudeFile = true;
+      } catch (error) {
+        // File doesn't exist or can't be accessed
+        hasClaudeFile = false;
+      }
+      
+      const project = {
+        name: projectName,
+        path: actualProjectDir,
+        displayName: projectConfig.displayName || await generateDisplayName(projectName, actualProjectDir),
+        fullPath: actualProjectDir,
+        isCustomName: !!projectConfig.displayName,
+        hasClaudeFile: hasClaudeFile,
+        isManuallyAdded: true,
+        sessions: []
+      };
       
       projects.push(project);
     }
diff --git a/src/components/MainContent.jsx b/src/components/MainContent.jsx
index 52dc2366..c3afd6df 100755
--- a/src/components/MainContent.jsx
+++ b/src/components/MainContent.jsx
@@ -127,6 +127,53 @@ function MainContent({
                 💡 <strong>Tip:</strong> {isMobile ? 'Tap the menu button above to access projects' : 'Create a new project by clicking the folder icon in the sidebar'}
               </p>
             </div>
+            
+            {/* Icon Guide */}
+            <div className="mt-6 bg-yellow-50 dark:bg-yellow-900/20 rounded-lg p-4 border border-yellow-200 dark:border-yellow-800">
+              <h3 className="text-sm font-semibold text-yellow-800 dark:text-yellow-200 mb-3">Icon Guide</h3>
+              <div className="space-y-2 text-sm text-yellow-700 dark:text-yellow-300">
+                <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
+                  <div className="w-6 h-6 bg-yellow-100 dark:bg-yellow-900/30 rounded flex items-center justify-center">
+                    <svg className="w-3 h-3 text-yellow-600 dark:text-yellow-400" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+                      <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" strokeWidth={2} d="M12 4v16m8-8H4" />
+                    </svg>
+                  </div>
+                  <span><strong>Folder+</strong> - Create a new project</span>
+                </div>
+                <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
+                  <div className="w-6 h-6 bg-yellow-100 dark:bg-yellow-900/30 rounded flex items-center justify-center">
+                    <svg className="w-3 h-3 text-yellow-600 dark:text-yellow-400" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+                      <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" strokeWidth={3} d="M4 4v5h.582m15.356 2A8.001 8.001 0 004.582 9m0 0H9m11 11v-5h-.581m0 0a8.003 8.003 0 01-15.357-2m15.357 2H15" />
+                    </svg>
+                  </div>
+                  <span><strong>Refresh</strong> - Reload projects and sessions</span>
+                </div>
+                <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
+                  <div className="w-6 h-6 bg-yellow-100 dark:bg-yellow-900/30 rounded flex items-center justify-center">
+                    <svg className="w-3 h-3 text-yellow-600 dark:text-yellow-400" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+                      <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" strokeWidth={2} d="M11.049 2.927c.3-.921 1.603-.921 1.902 0l1.519 4.674a1 1 0 00.95.69h4.915c.969 0 1.371 1.24.588 1.81l-3.976 2.888a1 1 0 00-.363 1.118l1.518 4.674c.3.922-.755 1.688-1.538 1.118l-3.976-2.888a1 1 0 00-1.176 0l-3.976 2.888c-.783.57-1.838-.197-1.538-1.118l1.518-4.674a1 1 0 00-.363-1.118l-3.976-2.888c-.784-.57-.38-1.81.588-1.81h4.914a1 1 0 00.951-.69l1.519-4.674z" />
+                    </svg>
+                  </div>
+                  <span><strong>Star</strong> - Mark project as favorite</span>
+                </div>
+                <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
+                  <div className="w-6 h-6 bg-yellow-100 dark:bg-yellow-900/30 rounded flex items-center justify-center">
+                    <svg className="w-3 h-3 text-yellow-600 dark:text-yellow-400" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+                      <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" strokeWidth={2} d="M15.232 5.232l3.536 3.536m-2.036-5.036a2.5 2.5 0 113.536 3.536L6.5 21.036H3v-3.572L16.732 3.732z" />
+                    </svg>
+                  </div>
+                  <span><strong>Edit</strong> - Rename project</span>
+                </div>
+                <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
+                  <div className="w-6 h-6 bg-blue-100 dark:bg-blue-900/30 rounded flex items-center justify-center">
+                    <svg className="w-3 h-3 text-blue-600 dark:text-blue-400" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+                      <path strokeLinecap="round" strokeLinejoin="round" strokeWidth={2} d="M13 16h-1v-4h-1m1-4h.01M21 12a9 9 0 11-18 0 9 9 0 0118 0z" />
+                    </svg>
+                  </div>
+                  <span><strong>Info</strong> - Project missing CLAUDE.md file (run /init to create)</span>
+                </div>
+              </div>
+            </div>
           </div>
         </div>
       </div>
diff --git a/src/components/Sidebar.jsx b/src/components/Sidebar.jsx
index 9a1e1116..3e528880 100755
--- a/src/components/Sidebar.jsx
+++ b/src/components/Sidebar.jsx
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { Button } from './ui/button';
 import { Badge } from './ui/badge';
 import { Input } from './ui/input';
 
-import { FolderOpen, Folder, Plus, MessageSquare, Clock, ChevronDown, ChevronRight, Edit3, Check, X, Trash2, Settings, FolderPlus, RefreshCw, Sparkles, Edit2, Star, Search } from 'lucide-react';
+import { FolderOpen, Folder, Plus, MessageSquare, Clock, ChevronDown, ChevronRight, Edit3, Check, X, Trash2, Settings, FolderPlus, RefreshCw, Sparkles, Edit2, Star, Search, Info } from 'lucide-react';
 import { cn } from '../lib/utils';
 import ClaudeLogo from './ClaudeLogo';
 import { api } from '../utils/api';
@@ -680,6 +680,11 @@ function Sidebar({
                       >
                         <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
                           <div className="flex items-center gap-3 min-w-0 flex-1">
+                            {!project.hasClaudeFile && (
+                              <div className="w-8 h-8 rounded-lg bg-blue-500/10 dark:bg-blue-900/30 flex items-center justify-center border border-blue-200 dark:border-blue-800" title="CLAUDE.md not found. Run /init to create it">
+                                <Info className="w-4 h-4 text-blue-600 dark:text-blue-400" />
+                              </div>
+                            )}
                             <div className={cn(
                               "w-8 h-8 rounded-lg flex items-center justify-center transition-colors",
                               isExpanded ? "bg-primary/10" : "bg-muted"
@@ -833,6 +838,12 @@ function Sidebar({
                       })}
                     >
                       <div className="flex items-center gap-3 min-w-0 flex-1">
+                        {!project.hasClaudeFile && (
+                          <Info 
+                            className="w-4 h-4 text-blue-600 dark:text-blue-400 flex-shrink-0" 
+                            title="CLAUDE.md not found. Run /init to create it"
+                          />
+                        )}
                         {isExpanded ? (
                           <FolderOpen className="w-4 h-4 text-primary flex-shrink-0" />
                         ) : (