backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/document/Document.java

@@ -177,6 +177,13 @@ public class Document {
     @Builder.Default
     private Set<TrainingLabel> trainingLabels = new HashSet<>();
 
+    // Not persisted — computed per detail fetch so read-only users can tell at first
+    // paint whether there is a transcription to read (DocumentService.getDocumentById).
+    @Transient
+    @Schema(requiredMode = Schema.RequiredMode.REQUIRED)
+    @Builder.Default
+    private boolean hasTranscription = false;
+
     // The `?v={thumbnailGeneratedAt}` cache-buster is load-bearing: the thumbnail
     // endpoint sends `Cache-Control: private, max-age=31536000, immutable`
     // (DocumentController.getDocumentThumbnail). `immutable` is only safe because

backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/document/DocumentController.java

@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ public class DocumentController {
     // --- METADATA ---
     @GetMapping("/{id}")
     public Document getDocument(@PathVariable UUID id) {
-        return documentService.getDocumentById(id);
+        return documentService.getDocumentDetail(id);
     }
 
     @PostMapping(consumes = MediaType.MULTIPART_FORM_DATA_VALUE)

backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/document/DocumentService.java

@@ -946,6 +946,19 @@ public class DocumentService {
         return doc;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Loads a document for the detail view, additionally flagging whether it has any
+     * transcription to read. Kept separate from {@link #getDocumentById} so the cheap
+     * existence query only runs for the single-document detail endpoint, not for the
+     * many internal callers that never read the flag.
+     */
+    @Transactional(readOnly = true)
+    public Document getDocumentDetail(UUID id) {
+        Document doc = getDocumentById(id);
+        doc.setHasTranscription(transcriptionBlockQueryService.hasBlocks(id));
+        return doc;
+    }
+
     public List<Document> getDocumentsByIds(List<UUID> ids) {
         return documentRepository.findAllById(ids);
     }

backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/document/transcription/TranscriptionBlockQueryService.java

@@ -17,6 +17,10 @@ public class TranscriptionBlockQueryService {
 
     private final TranscriptionBlockRepository blockRepository;
 
+    public boolean hasBlocks(UUID documentId) {
+        return blockRepository.existsByDocumentId(documentId);
+    }
+
     public Map<UUID, Integer> getCompletionStats(List<UUID> documentIds) {
         if (documentIds.isEmpty()) return Map.of();
         Map<UUID, Integer> result = new HashMap<>();

backend/src/main/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/document/transcription/TranscriptionBlockRepository.java

@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ public interface TranscriptionBlockRepository extends JpaRepository<Transcriptio
 
     int countByDocumentId(UUID documentId);
 
+    boolean existsByDocumentId(UUID documentId);
+
     @Query("""
             SELECT b FROM TranscriptionBlock b
             JOIN DocumentAnnotation a ON a.id = b.annotationId

backend/src/test/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/document/DocumentServiceTest.java

@@ -118,6 +118,37 @@ class DocumentServiceTest {
         assertThat(documentService.getDocumentById(id)).isEqualTo(doc);
     }
 
+    @Test
+    void getDocumentById_doesNotQueryTranscription() {
+        UUID id = UUID.randomUUID();
+        Document doc = Document.builder().id(id).title("Test").build();
+        when(documentRepository.findById(id)).thenReturn(Optional.of(doc));
+
+        documentService.getDocumentById(id);
+
+        verifyNoInteractions(transcriptionBlockQueryService);
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void getDocumentDetail_setsHasTranscriptionTrue_whenBlocksExist() {
+        UUID id = UUID.randomUUID();
+        Document doc = Document.builder().id(id).title("Test").build();
+        when(documentRepository.findById(id)).thenReturn(Optional.of(doc));
+        when(transcriptionBlockQueryService.hasBlocks(id)).thenReturn(true);
+
+        assertThat(documentService.getDocumentDetail(id).isHasTranscription()).isTrue();
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void getDocumentDetail_setsHasTranscriptionFalse_whenNoBlocksExist() {
+        UUID id = UUID.randomUUID();
+        Document doc = Document.builder().id(id).title("Test").build();
+        when(documentRepository.findById(id)).thenReturn(Optional.of(doc));
+        when(transcriptionBlockQueryService.hasBlocks(id)).thenReturn(false);
+
+        assertThat(documentService.getDocumentDetail(id).isHasTranscription()).isFalse();
+    }
+
     // ─── updateDocument ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
     @Test

backend/src/test/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/document/annotation/AnnotationControllerTest.java

@@ -83,6 +83,15 @@ class AnnotationControllerTest {
                 .andExpect(status().isForbidden());
     }
 
+    @Test
+    @WithMockUser(authorities = "READ_ALL")
+    void createAnnotation_returns403_whenUserHasOnlyReadAllPermission() throws Exception {
+        mockMvc.perform(post("/api/documents/" + UUID.randomUUID() + "/annotations").with(csrf())
+                        .contentType(MediaType.APPLICATION_JSON)
+                        .content(ANNOTATION_JSON))
+                .andExpect(status().isForbidden());
+    }
+
     @Test
     @WithMockUser(authorities = "WRITE_ALL")
     void createAnnotation_returns201_whenHasWriteAllPermission() throws Exception {
@@ -190,6 +199,15 @@ class AnnotationControllerTest {
                 .andExpect(status().isForbidden());
     }
 
+    @Test
+    @WithMockUser(authorities = "READ_ALL")
+    void patchAnnotation_returns403_whenUserHasOnlyReadAllPermission() throws Exception {
+        mockMvc.perform(patch("/api/documents/" + UUID.randomUUID() + "/annotations/" + UUID.randomUUID()).with(csrf())
+                        .contentType(MediaType.APPLICATION_JSON)
+                        .content(PATCH_JSON))
+                .andExpect(status().isForbidden());
+    }
+
     @Test
     @WithMockUser(authorities = "WRITE_ALL")
     void patchAnnotation_returns200_withWriteAllPermission() throws Exception {

backend/src/test/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/document/comment/CommentControllerTest.java

@@ -94,6 +94,15 @@ class CommentControllerTest {
                 .andExpect(status().isForbidden());
     }
 
+    @Test
+    @WithMockUser(authorities = "READ_ALL")
+    void postBlockComment_returns403_whenUserHasOnlyReadAllPermission() throws Exception {
+        UUID blockId = UUID.randomUUID();
+        mockMvc.perform(post("/api/documents/" + DOC_ID + "/transcription-blocks/" + blockId + "/comments").with(csrf())
+                        .contentType(MediaType.APPLICATION_JSON).content(COMMENT_JSON))
+                .andExpect(status().isForbidden());
+    }
+
     @Test
     @WithMockUser(authorities = "ANNOTATE_ALL")
     void postBlockComment_returns201_whenHasAnnotatePermission() throws Exception {
@@ -142,6 +151,16 @@ class CommentControllerTest {
                 .andExpect(status().isUnauthorized());
     }
 
+    @Test
+    @WithMockUser(authorities = "READ_ALL")
+    void replyToBlockComment_returns403_whenUserHasOnlyReadAllPermission() throws Exception {
+        UUID blockId = UUID.randomUUID();
+        mockMvc.perform(post("/api/documents/" + DOC_ID + "/transcription-blocks/" + blockId
+                                + "/comments/" + COMMENT_ID + "/replies").with(csrf())
+                        .contentType(MediaType.APPLICATION_JSON).content(COMMENT_JSON))
+                .andExpect(status().isForbidden());
+    }
+
     @Test
     @WithMockUser(authorities = "ANNOTATE_ALL")
     void replyToBlockComment_returns201_whenHasPermission() throws Exception {
@@ -181,6 +200,14 @@ class CommentControllerTest {
                 .andExpect(status().isUnauthorized());
     }
 
+    @Test
+    @WithMockUser(authorities = "READ_ALL")
+    void editComment_returns403_whenUserHasOnlyReadAllPermission() throws Exception {
+        mockMvc.perform(patch("/api/documents/" + DOC_ID + "/comments/" + COMMENT_ID).with(csrf())
+                        .contentType(MediaType.APPLICATION_JSON).content(COMMENT_JSON))
+                .andExpect(status().isForbidden());
+    }
+
     @Test
     @WithMockUser(authorities = "ANNOTATE_ALL")
     void editComment_returns200_whenHasPermission() throws Exception {

backend/src/test/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/document/transcription/TranscriptionBlockControllerTest.java

@@ -159,6 +159,15 @@ class TranscriptionBlockControllerTest {
                 .andExpect(status().isForbidden());
     }
 
+    @Test
+    @WithMockUser(authorities = "READ_ALL")
+    void createBlock_returns403_whenUserHasOnlyReadAllPermission() throws Exception {
+        mockMvc.perform(post(URL_BASE).with(csrf())
+                        .contentType(MediaType.APPLICATION_JSON)
+                        .content(CREATE_JSON))
+                .andExpect(status().isForbidden());
+    }
+
     @Test
     @WithMockUser(authorities = "WRITE_ALL")
     void createBlock_returns201_withSavedBlock_whenAuthorised() throws Exception {
@@ -233,6 +242,15 @@ class TranscriptionBlockControllerTest {
                 .andExpect(status().isForbidden());
     }
 
+    @Test
+    @WithMockUser(authorities = "READ_ALL")
+    void updateBlock_returns403_whenUserHasOnlyReadAllPermission() throws Exception {
+        mockMvc.perform(put(URL_BLOCK).with(csrf())
+                        .contentType(MediaType.APPLICATION_JSON)
+                        .content(UPDATE_JSON))
+                .andExpect(status().isForbidden());
+    }
+
     @Test
     @WithMockUser(authorities = "WRITE_ALL")
     void updateBlock_returns200_withUpdatedBlock_whenAuthorised() throws Exception {
@@ -363,6 +381,15 @@ class TranscriptionBlockControllerTest {
                 .andExpect(status().isForbidden());
     }
 
+    @Test
+    @WithMockUser(authorities = "READ_ALL")
+    void reorderBlocks_returns403_whenUserHasOnlyReadAllPermission() throws Exception {
+        mockMvc.perform(put(URL_REORDER).with(csrf())
+                        .contentType(MediaType.APPLICATION_JSON)
+                        .content(REORDER_JSON))
+                .andExpect(status().isForbidden());
+    }
+
     @Test
     @WithMockUser(authorities = "WRITE_ALL")
     void reorderBlocks_returns200_withReorderedBlocks_whenAuthorised() throws Exception {
@@ -440,6 +467,14 @@ class TranscriptionBlockControllerTest {
                 .andExpect(jsonPath("$.reviewed").value(true));
     }
 
+    @Test
+    @WithMockUser(authorities = "READ_ALL")
+    void reviewBlock_returns403_whenUserHasOnlyReadAllPermission() throws Exception {
+        mockMvc.perform(put("/api/documents/{documentId}/transcription-blocks/{blockId}/review",
+                        DOC_ID, BLOCK_ID).with(csrf()))
+                .andExpect(status().isForbidden());
+    }
+
     // ─── PUT .../review-all ───────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
     private static final String URL_REVIEW_ALL = URL_BASE + "/review-all";

backend/src/test/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/document/transcription/TranscriptionBlockQueryServiceTest.java

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+package org.raddatz.familienarchiv.document.transcription;
+
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.extension.ExtendWith;
+import org.mockito.InjectMocks;
+import org.mockito.Mock;
+import org.mockito.junit.jupiter.MockitoExtension;
+
+import java.util.UUID;
+
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThat;
+import static org.mockito.Mockito.when;
+
+@ExtendWith(MockitoExtension.class)
+class TranscriptionBlockQueryServiceTest {
+
+    @Mock TranscriptionBlockRepository blockRepository;
+    @InjectMocks TranscriptionBlockQueryService queryService;
+
+    @Test
+    void hasBlocks_returns_true_when_a_block_exists() {
+        UUID documentId = UUID.randomUUID();
+        when(blockRepository.existsByDocumentId(documentId)).thenReturn(true);
+
+        assertThat(queryService.hasBlocks(documentId)).isTrue();
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void hasBlocks_returns_false_when_no_block_exists() {
+        UUID documentId = UUID.randomUUID();
+        when(blockRepository.existsByDocumentId(documentId)).thenReturn(false);
+
+        assertThat(queryService.hasBlocks(documentId)).isFalse();
+    }
+}

backend/src/test/java/org/raddatz/familienarchiv/document/transcription/TranscriptionBlockRepositoryIntegrationTest.java

@@ -102,4 +102,22 @@ class TranscriptionBlockRepositoryIntegrationTest {
         assertThat(byDoc).containsEntry(DOC_A, 100);
         assertThat(byDoc).containsEntry(DOC_B, 0);
     }
+
+    @Test
+    @Sql(statements = {
+        "INSERT INTO documents (id, title, original_filename, status) VALUES ('aaaaaaaa-aaaa-aaaa-aaaa-aaaaaaaaaaaa', 'Doc A', 'a.pdf', 'PLACEHOLDER')",
+        "INSERT INTO document_annotations (id, document_id, page_number, x, y, width, height, color) VALUES ('cccccccc-cccc-cccc-cccc-cccccccccccc', 'aaaaaaaa-aaaa-aaaa-aaaa-aaaaaaaaaaaa', 1, 0, 0, 1, 1, '#fff')",
+        "INSERT INTO transcription_blocks (annotation_id, document_id, sort_order, reviewed) VALUES ('cccccccc-cccc-cccc-cccc-cccccccccccc', 'aaaaaaaa-aaaa-aaaa-aaaa-aaaaaaaaaaaa', 0, false)"
+    })
+    void existsByDocumentId_returns_true_when_document_has_a_block() {
+        assertThat(repository.existsByDocumentId(DOC_A)).isTrue();
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    @Sql(statements = {
+        "INSERT INTO documents (id, title, original_filename, status) VALUES ('aaaaaaaa-aaaa-aaaa-aaaa-aaaaaaaaaaaa', 'Doc A', 'a.pdf', 'PLACEHOLDER')"
+    })
+    void existsByDocumentId_returns_false_when_document_has_no_blocks() {
+        assertThat(repository.existsByDocumentId(DOC_A)).isFalse();
+    }
 }

frontend/e2e/transcription-read-only.spec.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+import { test, expect } from '@playwright/test';
+import path from 'path';
+import { fileURLToPath } from 'url';
+import fs from 'fs';
+import { login } from './helpers/auth';
+
+const __dirname = path.dirname(fileURLToPath(import.meta.url));
+const PDF_FIXTURE = path.resolve(__dirname, 'fixtures/minimal.pdf');
+
+/**
+ * E2E for issue #697 — read-only users can read an existing transcription.
+ *
+ * Setup runs as admin (default storage state): a PDF document with one
+ * transcription block, so hasTranscription is true. The assertions run in a
+ * fresh context logged in as the seeded READ_ALL-only "reader": they can open
+ * the read view but see no edit tab and no per-block edit controls, and the
+ * panel cannot be switched to edit.
+ */
+
+let docId: string;
+let docHref: string;
+
+test.describe.configure({ mode: 'serial' });
+
+test.describe('Read-only user reads an existing transcription', () => {
+	test.beforeAll(async ({ request }) => {
+		const baseURL = process.env.E2E_BASE_URL ?? 'http://localhost:3000';
+		const uniqueSuffix = Date.now();
+
+		const docRes = await request.post('/api/documents', {
+			multipart: {
+				title: `E2E Read-only Transcription ${uniqueSuffix}`,
+				documentDate: '1945-05-08'
+			}
+		});
+		if (!docRes.ok()) throw new Error(`Create document failed: ${docRes.status()}`);
+		docId = (await docRes.json()).id;
+		docHref = `${baseURL}/documents/${docId}`;
+
+		await request.put(`/api/documents/${docId}`, {
+			multipart: {
+				title: `E2E Read-only Transcription ${uniqueSuffix}`,
+				documentDate: '1945-05-08',
+				file: {
+					name: 'minimal.pdf',
+					mimeType: 'application/pdf',
+					buffer: fs.readFileSync(PDF_FIXTURE)
+				}
+			}
+		});
+
+		const annRes = await request.post(`/api/documents/${docId}/annotations`, {
+			data: { pageNumber: 1, x: 0.1, y: 0.1, width: 0.5, height: 0.1, color: '#00C7B1' }
+		});
+		if (!annRes.ok()) throw new Error(`Create annotation failed: ${annRes.status()}`);
+
+		const blockRes = await request.post(`/api/documents/${docId}/transcription-blocks`, {
+			data: {
+				pageNumber: 1,
+				x: 0.1,
+				y: 0.1,
+				width: 0.5,
+				height: 0.1,
+				text: 'Liebe Mutter, viele Grüße vom Mai 1945',
+				label: null
+			}
+		});
+		if (!blockRes.ok()) throw new Error(`Create block failed: ${blockRes.status()}`);
+	});
+
+	test.afterAll(async ({ request }) => {
+		if (docId) await request.delete(`/api/documents/${docId}`);
+	});
+
+	test('reader opens the read view with no edit tab or edit controls', async ({ browser }) => {
+		const context = await browser.newContext({ storageState: { cookies: [], origins: [] } });
+		const page = await context.newPage();
+		try {
+			await login(page, 'reader', 'reader123');
+			await page.goto(docHref);
+
+			// Reader entry control is the read label, not "Transkribieren".
+			const readButton = page.getByRole('button', { name: /Transkription lesen/i });
+			await expect(readButton).toBeVisible({ timeout: 5000 });
+			await readButton.click();
+
+			// Read view shows the transcription text.
+			await expect(page.getByText(/Mai 1945/)).toBeVisible({ timeout: 5000 });
+
+			// Header is a plain "Transkription" label, not a Lesen/Bearbeiten toggle.
+			await expect(page.getByRole('heading', { name: /^Transkription$/i })).toBeVisible();
+			await expect(page.getByTestId('mode-edit')).toHaveCount(0);
+			await expect(page.getByTestId('mode-read')).toHaveCount(0);
+		} finally {
+			await context.close();
+		}
+	});
+});

frontend/messages/de.json

@@ -603,6 +603,8 @@
 	"doc_details_no_tags": "Keine Schlagwörter zugeordnet",
 	"doc_details_more_receivers": "+{count} weitere",
 	"transcription_mode_label": "Transkribieren",
+	"transcription_read_label": "Transkription lesen",
+	"transcription_panel_title": "Transkription",
 	"transcription_mode_stop": "Fertig",
 	"transcription_block_placeholder": "Text eingeben — mit @Name eine Person aus dem Archiv verknüpfen",
 	"transcription_block_save_saving": "Speichere...",

frontend/messages/en.json

@@ -603,6 +603,8 @@
 	"doc_details_no_tags": "No tags assigned",
 	"doc_details_more_receivers": "+{count} more",
 	"transcription_mode_label": "Transcribe",
+	"transcription_read_label": "Read transcription",
+	"transcription_panel_title": "Transcription",
 	"transcription_mode_stop": "Done",
 	"transcription_block_placeholder": "Type text — use @name to link a person from the archive",
 	"transcription_block_save_saving": "Saving...",

frontend/messages/es.json

@@ -603,6 +603,8 @@
 	"doc_details_no_tags": "No hay etiquetas asignadas",
 	"doc_details_more_receivers": "+{count} más",
 	"transcription_mode_label": "Transcribir",
+	"transcription_read_label": "Leer transcripción",
+	"transcription_panel_title": "Transcripción",
 	"transcription_mode_stop": "Listo",
 	"transcription_block_placeholder": "Escriba el texto — use @nombre para vincular a una persona del archivo",
 	"transcription_block_save_saving": "Guardando...",

frontend/src/lib/document/DocumentMobileMenu.svelte

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { clickOutside } from '$lib/shared/actions/clickOutside';
 type Props = {
 	canWrite: boolean;
 	isPdf: boolean;
+	hasTranscription: boolean;
 	transcribeMode: boolean;
 	filePath?: string | null;
 	originalFilename?: string | null;
@@ -14,12 +15,18 @@ type Props = {
 let {
 	canWrite,
 	isPdf,
+	hasTranscription,
 	transcribeMode = $bindable(),
 	filePath = null,
 	originalFilename = null,
 	fileUrl
 }: Props = $props();
 
+const canOpenTranscription = $derived((canWrite || hasTranscription) && isPdf);
+const transcriptionLabel = $derived(
+	canWrite ? m.transcription_mode_label() : m.transcription_read_label()
+);
+
 let mobileMenuOpen = $state(false);
 
 function startTranscribe() {
@@ -50,10 +57,10 @@ function startTranscribe() {
 			role="menu"
 			class="absolute top-full right-0 z-50 mt-1 min-w-[200px] rounded-md border border-line bg-surface p-2 shadow-lg"
 		>
-			{#if canWrite && isPdf && !transcribeMode}
+			{#if canOpenTranscription && !transcribeMode}
 				<button
 					onclick={startTranscribe}
-					aria-label={m.transcription_mode_label()}
+					aria-label={transcriptionLabel}
 					aria-pressed={false}
 					class="flex w-full items-center gap-2 rounded px-3 py-2 text-left text-[16px] text-ink transition hover:bg-muted focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-primary"
 				>
@@ -70,7 +77,7 @@ function startTranscribe() {
 							d="M19.5 14.25v-2.625a3.375 3.375 0 00-3.375-3.375h-1.5A1.125 1.125 0 0113.5 7.125v-1.5a3.375 3.375 0 00-3.375-3.375H8.25m0 12.75h7.5m-7.5 3H12M10.5 2.25H5.625c-.621 0-1.125.504-1.125 1.125v17.25c0 .621.504 1.125 1.125 1.125h12.75c.621 0 1.125-.504 1.125-1.125V11.25a9 9 0 00-9-9z"
 						/>
 					</svg>
-					{m.transcription_mode_label()}
+					{transcriptionLabel}
 				</button>
 			{/if}
 

frontend/src/lib/document/DocumentMobileMenu.svelte.test.ts

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ afterEach(cleanup);
 const baseProps = {
 	canWrite: false,
 	isPdf: false,
+	hasTranscription: false,
 	transcribeMode: false,
 	filePath: null as string | null,
 	originalFilename: 'brief.pdf' as string | null,
@@ -49,6 +50,43 @@ describe('DocumentMobileMenu', () => {
 		await expect.element(page.getByRole('button', { name: /transkribieren/i })).toBeVisible();
 	});
 
+	it('shows no transcription action for a read-only user when no transcription exists', async () => {
+		render(DocumentMobileMenu, {
+			props: {
+				...baseProps,
+				canWrite: false,
+				isPdf: true,
+				hasTranscription: false,
+				filePath: 'docs/x.pdf'
+			}
+		});
+
+		await page.getByRole('button', { name: /weitere aktionen/i }).click();
+
+		await expect
+			.element(page.getByRole('button', { name: /transkribieren/i }))
+			.not.toBeInTheDocument();
+		await expect
+			.element(page.getByRole('button', { name: /transkription lesen/i }))
+			.not.toBeInTheDocument();
+	});
+
+	it('shows the read-transcription action for a read-only user when a transcription exists', async () => {
+		render(DocumentMobileMenu, {
+			props: {
+				...baseProps,
+				canWrite: false,
+				isPdf: true,
+				hasTranscription: true,
+				filePath: 'docs/x.pdf'
+			}
+		});
+
+		await page.getByRole('button', { name: /weitere aktionen/i }).click();
+
+		await expect.element(page.getByRole('button', { name: /transkription lesen/i })).toBeVisible();
+	});
+
 	it('hides the transcribe action when already in transcribeMode', async () => {
 		render(DocumentMobileMenu, {
 			props: {

frontend/src/lib/document/DocumentTopBar.svelte

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ type Doc = {
 	location?: string | null;
 	status?: string | null;
 	tags?: Tag[] | null;
+	hasTranscription?: boolean;
 };
 
 type GeschichteSummary = {
@@ -132,6 +133,7 @@ const overflowPersons = $derived(receivers.slice(2));
 				documentId={doc.id}
 				canWrite={canWrite}
 				isPdf={!!isPdf}
+				hasTranscription={!!doc.hasTranscription}
 				bind:transcribeMode={transcribeMode}
 				filePath={doc.filePath}
 				originalFilename={doc.originalFilename}
@@ -143,6 +145,7 @@ const overflowPersons = $derived(receivers.slice(2));
 					<DocumentMobileMenu
 						canWrite={canWrite}
 						isPdf={!!isPdf}
+						hasTranscription={!!doc.hasTranscription}
 						bind:transcribeMode={transcribeMode}
 						filePath={doc.filePath}
 						originalFilename={doc.originalFilename}

frontend/src/lib/document/DocumentTopBarActions.svelte

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ type Props = {
 	documentId: string;
 	canWrite: boolean;
 	isPdf: boolean;
+	hasTranscription: boolean;
 	transcribeMode: boolean;
 	filePath?: string | null;
 	originalFilename?: string | null;
@@ -15,17 +16,23 @@ let {
 	documentId,
 	canWrite,
 	isPdf,
+	hasTranscription,
 	transcribeMode = $bindable(),
 	filePath = null,
 	originalFilename = null,
 	fileUrl
 }: Props = $props();
+
+const canOpenTranscription = $derived((canWrite || hasTranscription) && isPdf);
+const transcriptionLabel = $derived(
+	canWrite ? m.transcription_mode_label() : m.transcription_read_label()
+);
 </script>
 
-{#if canWrite && isPdf && !transcribeMode}
+{#if canOpenTranscription && !transcribeMode}
 	<button
 		onclick={() => (transcribeMode = true)}
-		aria-label={m.transcription_mode_label()}
+		aria-label={transcriptionLabel}
 		aria-pressed={false}
 		class="hidden items-center gap-1.5 rounded border border-primary px-3 py-1.5 font-sans text-[16px] font-medium text-ink transition hover:bg-primary hover:text-primary-fg focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-primary md:flex"
 	>
@@ -42,7 +49,7 @@ let {
 				d="M19.5 14.25v-2.625a3.375 3.375 0 00-3.375-3.375h-1.5A1.125 1.125 0 0113.5 7.125v-1.5a3.375 3.375 0 00-3.375-3.375H8.25m0 12.75h7.5m-7.5 3H12M10.5 2.25H5.625c-.621 0-1.125.504-1.125 1.125v17.25c0 .621.504 1.125 1.125 1.125h12.75c.621 0 1.125-.504 1.125-1.125V11.25a9 9 0 00-9-9z"
 			/>
 		</svg>
-		{m.transcription_mode_label()}
+		{transcriptionLabel}
 	</button>
 {/if}
 

frontend/src/lib/document/DocumentTopBarActions.svelte.test.ts

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ const baseProps = {
 	documentId: 'd1',
 	canWrite: false,
 	isPdf: false,
+	hasTranscription: false,
 	transcribeMode: false,
 	filePath: null as string | null,
 	originalFilename: 'brief.pdf' as string | null,
@@ -34,6 +35,56 @@ describe('DocumentTopBarActions', () => {
 		await expect.element(page.getByRole('button', { name: /transkribieren/i })).toBeVisible();
 	});
 
+	it('shows no transcription control for a read-only user when no transcription exists', async () => {
+		render(DocumentTopBarActions, {
+			props: {
+				...baseProps,
+				canWrite: false,
+				isPdf: true,
+				hasTranscription: false,
+				filePath: 'docs/x.pdf'
+			}
+		});
+
+		await expect
+			.element(page.getByRole('button', { name: /transkribieren/i }))
+			.not.toBeInTheDocument();
+		await expect
+			.element(page.getByRole('button', { name: /transkription lesen/i }))
+			.not.toBeInTheDocument();
+	});
+
+	it('shows the read-transcription button for a read-only user when a transcription exists', async () => {
+		render(DocumentTopBarActions, {
+			props: {
+				...baseProps,
+				canWrite: false,
+				isPdf: true,
+				hasTranscription: true,
+				filePath: 'docs/x.pdf'
+			}
+		});
+
+		await expect.element(page.getByRole('button', { name: /transkription lesen/i })).toBeVisible();
+		await expect
+			.element(page.getByRole('button', { name: /^transkribieren$/i }))
+			.not.toBeInTheDocument();
+	});
+
+	it('shows the transcribe (edit) label for a writer regardless of hasTranscription', async () => {
+		render(DocumentTopBarActions, {
+			props: {
+				...baseProps,
+				canWrite: true,
+				isPdf: true,
+				hasTranscription: false,
+				filePath: 'docs/x.pdf'
+			}
+		});
+
+		await expect.element(page.getByRole('button', { name: /transkribieren/i })).toBeVisible();
+	});
+
 	it('omits the transcribe button when not a PDF', async () => {
 		render(DocumentTopBarActions, {
 			props: { ...baseProps, canWrite: true, isPdf: false, filePath: 'docs/x.jpg' }

frontend/src/lib/document/DocumentViewer.svelte

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ type Props = {
 	isLoading: boolean;
 	error: string;
 	transcribeMode?: boolean;
+	canAnnotate?: boolean;
 	blockNumbers?: Record<string, number>;
 	annotationReloadKey?: number;
 	activeAnnotationId: string | null;
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@ let {
 	isLoading,
 	error,
 	transcribeMode = false,
+	canAnnotate = false,
 	blockNumbers = {},
 	annotationReloadKey = 0,
 	activeAnnotationId = $bindable(),
@@ -93,6 +95,7 @@ let {
 			url={fileUrl}
 			documentId={doc.id}
 			transcribeMode={transcribeMode}
+			canAnnotate={canAnnotate}
 			blockNumbers={blockNumbers}
 			annotationReloadKey={annotationReloadKey}
 			bind:activeAnnotationId={activeAnnotationId}

frontend/src/lib/document/transcription/TranscriptionPanelHeader.svelte

@@ -8,11 +8,20 @@ type Props = {
 	hasBlocks: boolean;
 	blockCount: number;
 	lastEditedAt: string | null;
+	canEdit?: boolean;
 	onModeChange: (mode: 'read' | 'edit') => void;
 	onClose: () => void;
 };
 
-let { mode, hasBlocks, blockCount, lastEditedAt, onModeChange, onClose }: Props = $props();
+let {
+	mode,
+	hasBlocks,
+	blockCount,
+	lastEditedAt,
+	canEdit = true,
+	onModeChange,
+	onClose
+}: Props = $props();
 
 const formattedDate = $derived(
 	lastEditedAt
@@ -34,37 +43,41 @@ function handleReadClick() {
 <div
 	class="flex h-[44px] items-center justify-between border-b border-line bg-surface px-3 font-sans"
 >
-	<!-- Segmented toggle + help chip -->
-	<div class="flex items-center gap-1.5">
-		<div class="flex h-9 items-center rounded-full border border-line bg-muted p-0.5 md:h-7">
-			<button
-				type="button"
-				data-testid="mode-read"
-				aria-disabled={!hasBlocks}
-				onclick={handleReadClick}
-				class="h-full rounded-full px-3 text-xs font-semibold transition-colors {mode === 'read'
-				? 'bg-primary text-primary-fg'
-				: 'text-ink-2 hover:text-ink'}"
-				style:opacity={!hasBlocks ? '0.35' : undefined}
-			>
-				{m.mode_read()}
-			</button>
-			<button
-				type="button"
-				data-testid="mode-edit"
-				onclick={() => onModeChange('edit')}
-				class="h-full rounded-full px-3 text-xs font-semibold transition-colors {mode === 'edit'
-				? 'bg-primary text-primary-fg'
-				: 'text-ink-2 hover:text-ink'}"
-			>
-				<span class="md:hidden">{m.mode_edit_short()}</span>
-				<span class="hidden md:inline">{m.mode_edit()}</span>
-			</button>
+	<!-- Segmented toggle + help chip for editors; plain title for read-only users -->
+	{#if canEdit}
+		<div class="flex items-center gap-1.5">
+			<div class="flex h-9 items-center rounded-full border border-line bg-muted p-0.5 md:h-7">
+				<button
+					type="button"
+					data-testid="mode-read"
+					aria-disabled={!hasBlocks}
+					onclick={handleReadClick}
+					class="h-full rounded-full px-3 text-xs font-semibold transition-colors {mode === 'read'
+					? 'bg-primary text-primary-fg'
+					: 'text-ink-2 hover:text-ink'}"
+					style:opacity={!hasBlocks ? '0.35' : undefined}
+				>
+					{m.mode_read()}
+				</button>
+				<button
+					type="button"
+					data-testid="mode-edit"
+					onclick={() => onModeChange('edit')}
+					class="h-full rounded-full px-3 text-xs font-semibold transition-colors {mode === 'edit'
+					? 'bg-primary text-primary-fg'
+					: 'text-ink-2 hover:text-ink'}"
+				>
+					<span class="md:hidden">{m.mode_edit_short()}</span>
+					<span class="hidden md:inline">{m.mode_edit()}</span>
+				</button>
+			</div>
+			<HelpPopover label={m.transcription_mode_help_label()}>
+				<p class="text-xs leading-relaxed">{m.transcription_mode_help_body()}</p>
+			</HelpPopover>
 		</div>
-		<HelpPopover label={m.transcription_mode_help_label()}>
-			<p class="text-xs leading-relaxed">{m.transcription_mode_help_body()}</p>
-		</HelpPopover>
-	</div>
+	{:else}
+		<h2 class="text-[16px] font-semibold text-ink">{m.transcription_panel_title()}</h2>
+	{/if}
 
 	<!-- Status line (hidden on mobile to save space) -->
 	<p class="hidden text-xs text-ink-2 md:block">

frontend/src/lib/document/transcription/TranscriptionPanelHeader.svelte.test.ts

@@ -22,6 +22,27 @@ describe('TranscriptionPanelHeader', () => {
 		await expect.element(page.getByRole('button', { name: /bearbeiten/i })).toBeVisible();
 	});
 
+	it('renders both tabs when canEdit is true', async () => {
+		render(TranscriptionPanelHeader, { ...baseProps, canEdit: true });
+
+		await expect.element(page.getByTestId('mode-read')).toBeInTheDocument();
+		await expect.element(page.getByTestId('mode-edit')).toBeInTheDocument();
+	});
+
+	it('hides the edit tab and shows a plain title when canEdit is false', async () => {
+		render(TranscriptionPanelHeader, { ...baseProps, canEdit: false });
+
+		await expect.element(page.getByTestId('mode-edit')).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+		await expect.element(page.getByTestId('mode-read')).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+		await expect.element(page.getByRole('heading', { name: /^transkription$/i })).toBeVisible();
+	});
+
+	it('keeps the section status line visible for readers (canEdit false)', async () => {
+		render(TranscriptionPanelHeader, { ...baseProps, canEdit: false, blockCount: 3 });
+
+		await expect.element(page.getByText('3 Abschnitte')).toBeVisible();
+	});
+
 	it('marks the Lesen button as aria-disabled when hasBlocks is false', async () => {
 		render(TranscriptionPanelHeader, {
 			...baseProps,

frontend/src/lib/document/viewer/PdfViewer.svelte

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ let {
 	url,
 	documentId = '',
 	transcribeMode = false,
+	canAnnotate = false,
 	blockNumbers = {},
 	annotationReloadKey = 0,
 	activeAnnotationId = $bindable<string | null>(null),
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ let {
 	url: string;
 	documentId?: string;
 	transcribeMode?: boolean;
+	canAnnotate?: boolean;
 	blockNumbers?: Record<string, number>;
 	annotationReloadKey?: number;
 	activeAnnotationId?: string | null;
@@ -262,7 +264,7 @@ function handleAnnotationClick(id: string) {
 								annotations={visibleAnnotations.filter(
 									(a) => a.pageNumber === renderer.currentPage
 								)}
-								canDraw={transcribeMode}
+								canDraw={transcribeMode && canAnnotate}
 								color={TRANSCRIPTION_COLOR}
 								blockNumbers={blockNumbers}
 								activeAnnotationId={activeAnnotationId}

frontend/src/lib/document/viewer/PdfViewer.svelte.test.ts

@@ -86,6 +86,38 @@ describe('PdfViewer — loaded state', () => {
 		}
 	});
 
+	it('makes the annotation surface drawable (crosshair) when transcribeMode and canAnnotate', async () => {
+		render(PdfViewer, {
+			url: '/api/documents/test/file',
+			documentId: 'test',
+			transcribeMode: true,
+			canAnnotate: true,
+			libLoader: makeFakeLibLoader()
+		});
+
+		await vi.waitFor(() => {
+			const surface = document.querySelector('[role="presentation"]');
+			expect(surface).not.toBeNull();
+			expect(surface?.getAttribute('style') ?? '').toContain('crosshair');
+		});
+	});
+
+	it('does not make the annotation surface drawable when canAnnotate is false (read-only user)', async () => {
+		render(PdfViewer, {
+			url: '/api/documents/test/file',
+			documentId: 'test',
+			transcribeMode: true,
+			canAnnotate: false,
+			libLoader: makeFakeLibLoader()
+		});
+
+		await vi.waitFor(() => {
+			expect(document.querySelector('.bg-pdf-bg')).not.toBeNull();
+		});
+		const surface = document.querySelector('[role="presentation"]');
+		expect(surface?.getAttribute('style') ?? '').not.toContain('crosshair');
+	});
+
 	it('renders the canvas region when documentFileHash is provided', async () => {
 		render(PdfViewer, {
 			url: '/api/documents/test/file',

frontend/src/lib/generated/api.ts

@@ -1758,6 +1758,7 @@ export interface components {
             sender?: components["schemas"]["Person"];
             tags?: components["schemas"]["Tag"][];
             trainingLabels?: ("KURRENT_RECOGNITION" | "KURRENT_SEGMENTATION")[];
+            hasTranscription: boolean;
             thumbnailUrl?: string;
         };
         PersonMention: {

frontend/src/routes/documents/[id]/+page.svelte

@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ const ocrJob = createOcrJob({
 	onJobFinished: async () => {
 		await transcription.load();
 		transcription.bumpAnnotationReloadKey();
-		panelMode = transcription.hasBlocks ? 'read' : 'edit';
+		panelMode = canWrite && !transcription.hasBlocks ? 'edit' : 'read';
 	}
 });
 
@@ -148,10 +148,10 @@ $effect(() => {
 			if (skipInitialPanelMode) {
 				skipInitialPanelMode = false;
 			} else {
-				panelMode = transcription.hasBlocks ? 'read' : 'edit';
+				panelMode = canWrite && !transcription.hasBlocks ? 'edit' : 'read';
 			}
 		});
-		ocrJob.checkStatus();
+		if (canWrite) ocrJob.checkStatus();
 	}
 });
 
@@ -252,6 +252,7 @@ onMount(() => {
 				isLoading={fileLoader.isLoading}
 				error={fileLoader.fileError}
 				transcribeMode={transcribeMode && !ocrJob.running}
+				canAnnotate={canWrite}
 				blockNumbers={transcription.blockNumbers}
 				annotationReloadKey={transcription.annotationReloadKey}
 				annotationsDimmed={transcribeMode && panelMode === 'read'}
@@ -293,7 +294,10 @@ onMount(() => {
 					hasBlocks={transcription.hasBlocks}
 					blockCount={transcription.blocks.length}
 					lastEditedAt={transcription.lastEditedAt}
-					onModeChange={(newMode) => (panelMode = newMode)}
+					canEdit={canWrite}
+					onModeChange={(newMode) => {
+						if (canWrite) panelMode = newMode;
+					}}
 					onClose={() => (transcribeMode = false)}
 				/>
 				<div class="flex-1 overflow-y-auto">

frontend/src/routes/documents/[id]/page.svelte.test.ts

@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ describe('documents/[id] page', () => {
 		try {
 			mockPage.url = new URL('http://localhost/documents/d-ocr-fail?task=transcribe');
 			render(DocumentDetailPage, {
-				props: { data: baseData({ document: { ...baseDoc, id: 'd-ocr-fail' } }) }
+				props: { data: baseData({ canWrite: true, document: { ...baseDoc, id: 'd-ocr-fail' } }) }
 			});
 			await vi.waitFor(() => {
 				expect(document.querySelector('[data-testid="panel-close"]')).not.toBeNull();
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ describe('documents/[id] page', () => {
 		try {
 			mockPage.url = new URL('http://localhost/documents/d-ocr-run?task=transcribe');
 			render(DocumentDetailPage, {
-				props: { data: baseData({ document: { ...baseDoc, id: 'd-ocr-run' } }) }
+				props: { data: baseData({ canWrite: true, document: { ...baseDoc, id: 'd-ocr-run' } }) }
 			});
 			await expect.element(browserPage.getByText('OCR läuft')).toBeVisible();
 		} finally {