diff --git a/public/admin.html b/public/admin.html
index 1398459..f99c084 100644
--- a/public/admin.html
+++ b/public/admin.html
@@ -169,12 +169,13 @@
             <p id="scan-status" class="hint"></p>
           </div>
 
-          <!-- Import from Homeschool folder: visible for lesson, assignment, quiz types -->
+          <!-- Import from .docx file: visible for lesson, assignment, quiz types -->
           <div id="ie-import-section" class="scan-card" hidden>
-            <strong>📂 Import from Homeschool folder</strong>
+            <strong>📂 Import from .docx</strong>
+            <input type="file" id="import-local-input" accept=".docx" hidden>
             <div class="scan-controls">
-              <select id="import-file-select" style="flex:1"><option value="">— choose a file —</option></select>
-              <button type="button" id="import-load-btn" class="secondary">↓ Load files</button>
+              <button type="button" id="import-browse-btn" class="secondary">📂 Choose file…</button>
+              <span id="import-local-name" class="hint" style="flex:1;overflow:hidden;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"></span>
               <button type="button" id="import-go-btn" class="secondary" disabled>📥 Import</button>
             </div>
             <p id="import-status" class="hint"></p>
diff --git a/public/admin.js b/public/admin.js
index 69fc2ea..5c581dc 100644
--- a/public/admin.js
+++ b/public/admin.js
@@ -504,7 +504,8 @@ $('#rte-youtube-btn').addEventListener('click', () => {
 let scanImageBase64 = null;
 
 function resetImportSection() {
-  $('#import-file-select').innerHTML = '<option value="">— choose a file —</option>';
+  $('#import-local-input').value = '';
+  $('#import-local-name').textContent = '';
   $('#import-go-btn').disabled = true;
   $('#import-status').textContent = '';
 }
@@ -590,41 +591,28 @@ $('#scan-go-btn').addEventListener('click', async () => {
   }
 });
 
-// ---------- import from Homeschool folder ----------
+// ---------- import from local .docx file ----------
 
-$('#import-load-btn').addEventListener('click', async () => {
-  $('#import-status').textContent = 'Loading files…';
-  $('#import-file-select').innerHTML = '<option value="">— loading… —</option>';
-  try {
-    const { files } = await api('/api/admin/homeschool-files');
-    if (!files.length) {
-      $('#import-file-select').innerHTML = '<option value="">No .docx files found</option>';
-      $('#import-status').textContent = '';
-      return;
-    }
-    $('#import-file-select').innerHTML =
-      '<option value="">— choose a file —</option>' +
-      files.map((f) => `<option value="${esc(f.path)}">${esc(f.path)}</option>`).join('');
-    $('#import-go-btn').disabled = false;
-    $('#import-status').textContent = `${files.length} file(s) found.`;
-  } catch (err) {
-    $('#import-status').textContent = `❌ ${err.message}`;
-  }
-});
+$('#import-browse-btn').addEventListener('click', () => $('#import-local-input').click());
 
-$('#import-file-select').addEventListener('change', () => {
-  $('#import-go-btn').disabled = !$('#import-file-select').value;
+$('#import-local-input').addEventListener('change', () => {
+  const file = $('#import-local-input').files[0];
+  $('#import-local-name').textContent = file ? file.name : '';
+  $('#import-go-btn').disabled = !file;
+  $('#import-status').textContent = '';
 });
 
 $('#import-go-btn').addEventListener('click', async () => {
-  const path = $('#import-file-select').value;
-  if (!path) return;
+  const file = $('#import-local-input').files[0];
+  if (!file) return;
   const type = $('#ie-type').value;
-  const mode = type === 'quiz' ? 'quiz' : type === 'lesson' ? 'lesson' : 'lesson';
+  const mode = type === 'quiz' ? 'quiz' : 'lesson';
   $('#import-go-btn').disabled = true;
   $('#import-status').textContent = '🔍 Extracting content… this may take a minute.';
   try {
-    const result = await api('/api/admin/import-docx', { method: 'POST', body: { path, mode } });
+    const arrayBuffer = await file.arrayBuffer();
+    const base64 = btoa(String.fromCharCode(...new Uint8Array(arrayBuffer)));
+    const result = await api('/api/admin/import-docx', { method: 'POST', body: { base64, mode } });
     if (!$('#ie-title').value && result.title) $('#ie-title').value = result.title;
     if (mode === 'quiz' && result.questions) {
       $('#ie-questions').innerHTML = '';
diff --git a/server.js b/server.js
index 930deb0..d455a57 100644
--- a/server.js
+++ b/server.js
@@ -1538,18 +1538,22 @@ Respond with ONLY a JSON object in exactly this shape, nothing else, no markdown
 };
 
 app.post('/api/admin/import-docx', requirePin, async (req, res) => {
-  const { path: relPath, mode } = req.body;
-  if (!relPath || !TEXT_SCAN_PROMPTS[mode]) {
-    return res.status(400).json({ error: 'path and mode (lesson or quiz) required' });
-  }
-  const fullPath = join(HOMESCHOOL_DIR, relPath);
-  if (!fullPath.startsWith(HOMESCHOOL_DIR)) {
-    return res.status(403).json({ error: 'Access denied' });
+  const { path: relPath, base64: b64, mode } = req.body;
+  if (!TEXT_SCAN_PROMPTS[mode] || (!relPath && !b64)) {
+    return res.status(400).json({ error: 'mode and either path or base64 required' });
   }
 
   let buffer;
-  try { buffer = await readFile(fullPath); }
-  catch (err) { return res.status(404).json({ error: `Could not read file: ${err.message}` }); }
+  if (b64) {
+    buffer = Buffer.from(b64, 'base64');
+  } else {
+    const fullPath = join(HOMESCHOOL_DIR, relPath);
+    if (!fullPath.startsWith(HOMESCHOOL_DIR)) {
+      return res.status(403).json({ error: 'Access denied' });
+    }
+    try { buffer = await readFile(fullPath); }
+    catch (err) { return res.status(404).json({ error: `Could not read file: ${err.message}` }); }
+  }
 
   let docText;
   try {