diff --git a/web_server.py b/web_server.py
index 9ea6db4d..30a67259 100644
--- a/web_server.py
+++ b/web_server.py
@@ -1109,25 +1109,33 @@ def _register_automation_handlers():
             _update_automation_progress(automation_id,
                 log_line=f'Empty directories: removed {dirs_removed}', log_type='success' if dirs_removed else 'info')
 
-        # --- 4. Clear staging folder ---
-        _update_automation_progress(automation_id, phase='Clearing staging folder...', progress=60)
+        # --- 4. Sweep empty staging directories ---
+        _update_automation_progress(automation_id, phase='Sweeping staging folder...', progress=60)
         staging_path = _get_staging_path()
         s_removed = 0
         if os.path.isdir(staging_path):
-            for f in os.listdir(staging_path):
-                fp = os.path.join(staging_path, f)
+            for dirpath, _dirnames, _filenames in os.walk(staging_path, topdown=False):
+                if os.path.normpath(dirpath) == os.path.normpath(staging_path):
+                    continue
                 try:
-                    if os.path.isfile(fp):
-                        os.remove(fp)
-                        s_removed += 1
-                    elif os.path.isdir(fp):
-                        _shutil.rmtree(fp)
+                    entries = os.listdir(dirpath)
+                except OSError:
+                    continue
+                visible = [e for e in entries if not e.startswith('.')]
+                if not visible:
+                    for hidden in entries:
+                        try:
+                            os.remove(os.path.join(dirpath, hidden))
+                        except Exception:
+                            pass
+                    try:
+                        os.rmdir(dirpath)
                         s_removed += 1
-                except Exception:
-                    pass
-        steps.append(f'Staging: removed {s_removed} items')
+                    except OSError:
+                        pass
+        steps.append(f'Staging: removed {s_removed} empty directories')
         _update_automation_progress(automation_id,
-            log_line=f'Staging: removed {s_removed} items', log_type='success' if s_removed else 'info')
+            log_line=f'Staging: removed {s_removed} empty directories', log_type='success' if s_removed else 'info')
 
         # --- 5. Clean search history ---
         _update_automation_progress(automation_id, phase='Cleaning search history...', progress=80)
diff --git a/webui/static/script.js b/webui/static/script.js
index da87703e..c6e0f2aa 100644
--- a/webui/static/script.js
+++ b/webui/static/script.js
@@ -17583,7 +17583,7 @@ const TOOL_HELP_CONTENT = {
                 <li><strong>Clear Quarantine</strong> — permanently deletes all quarantined files</li>
                 <li><strong>Clear Download Queue</strong> — removes completed, errored, and cancelled downloads from Soulseek</li>
                 <li><strong>Sweep Empty Directories</strong> — removes empty folders left behind in the downloads directory</li>
-                <li><strong>Clear Staging Folder</strong> — deletes all files and folders from the import staging area</li>
+                <li><strong>Sweep Staging Folder</strong> — removes empty directories from the import staging area</li>
                 <li><strong>Clean Search History</strong> — trims old Soulseek search queries</li>
             </ol>
 
@@ -47483,7 +47483,7 @@ const _RESULT_DISPLAY_MAP = {
     ],
     'full_cleanup': [
         { key: 'quarantine_removed', label: 'Quarantine Removed' },
-        { key: 'staging_removed', label: 'Staging Removed' },
+        { key: 'staging_removed', label: 'Staging Dirs Removed' },
         { key: 'total_removed', label: 'Total Items Removed' },
     ],
 };