diff --git a/app/Livewire/Dashboard/DashboardConverter.php b/app/Livewire/Dashboard/DashboardConverter.php
index 1c8e6fa..d72bf49 100644
--- a/app/Livewire/Dashboard/DashboardConverter.php
+++ b/app/Livewire/Dashboard/DashboardConverter.php
@@ -152,6 +152,25 @@ public function selectTargetFormat(string $targetFormat): void
         $this->step = 'settings';
     }
 
+    public function continueFromSettings(): void
+    {
+        if ($this->currentFile === null || $this->selectedTargetFormat === null) {
+            $this->goToSettingsStep();
+
+            return;
+        }
+
+        if (! $this->validateSettings()) {
+            $this->step = 'settings';
+
+            return;
+        }
+
+        // Phase 8 stops at a convert placeholder. CreateConversionJobAction and
+        // the real conversion flow arrive in Phase 9.
+        $this->step = 'convert';
+    }
+
     public function validateSettings(): bool
     {
         $this->resetErrorBag();
diff --git a/resources/views/livewire/dashboard/dashboard-converter.blade.php b/resources/views/livewire/dashboard/dashboard-converter.blade.php
index c793c18..9bca031 100644
--- a/resources/views/livewire/dashboard/dashboard-converter.blade.php
+++ b/resources/views/livewire/dashboard/dashboard-converter.blade.php
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 <div wire:init="ensureValidStep">
     <x-card variant="elevated">
-        <x-stepper :steps="['File', 'Format', 'Settings', 'Convert']" :active="$step === 'upload' ? 'File' : 'Format'" class="mb-6" />
+        <x-stepper :steps="['File', 'Format', 'Settings', 'Convert']" :active="match ($step) {
+            'format' => 'Format',
+            'settings' => 'Settings',
+            'convert' => 'Convert',
+            default => 'File',
+        }" class="mb-6" />
         @if ($step === 'upload' && $this->currentFile)
             @php($file = $this->currentFile)
             <div class="flex flex-col gap-4">
@@ -161,6 +166,26 @@ class="flex items-start gap-3 rounded-[var(--ca-radius-md)] border border-[var(-
                 </div>
 
                 @include('livewire.dashboard.dashboard-converter.partials.dynamic-options-form')
+
+                <div class="flex justify-end">
+                    <x-button variant="primary" size="sm" wire:click="continueFromSettings">Continue</x-button>
+                </div>
+            </div>
+        @endif
+
+        @if ($step === 'convert' && $this->currentFile)
+            @php($file = $this->currentFile)
+            <div class="flex flex-col gap-4">
+                <div>
+                    <x-button variant="ghost" size="sm" wire:click="goToSettingsStep">← Back</x-button>
+                </div>
+
+                <div class="rounded-[var(--ca-radius-md)] border border-dashed border-[var(--ca-border)] bg-[var(--ca-surface-muted)]/40 px-6 py-8 text-center">
+                    <p class="text-base font-semibold text-[var(--ca-text)]">
+                        Ready to convert {{ strtoupper($file->extension) }} to {{ strtoupper($selectedTargetFormat) }}
+                    </p>
+                    <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-[var(--ca-muted)]">Conversion will be available in Phase 9.</p>
+                </div>
             </div>
         @endif
     </x-card>
diff --git a/tests/Feature/Livewire/DashboardConverterSettingsValidationTest.php b/tests/Feature/Livewire/DashboardConverterSettingsValidationTest.php
index 026e242..f720c23 100644
--- a/tests/Feature/Livewire/DashboardConverterSettingsValidationTest.php
+++ b/tests/Feature/Livewire/DashboardConverterSettingsValidationTest.php
@@ -43,6 +43,47 @@
         ->assertHasErrors(['options.bogus']);
 });
 
+it('moves to the convert step when settings are valid', function () {
+    $user = User::factory()->create();
+    $file = FileRecord::factory()->for($user)->create(['extension' => 'png']);
+
+    Livewire::actingAs($user)
+        ->test(DashboardConverter::class)
+        ->set('currentFileId', $file->id)
+        ->call('selectTargetFormat', 'jpg')
+        ->call('continueFromSettings')
+        ->assertSet('step', 'convert')
+        ->assertHasNoErrors();
+});
+
+it('stays on the settings step when settings are invalid', function () {
+    $user = User::factory()->create();
+    $file = FileRecord::factory()->for($user)->create(['extension' => 'png']);
+
+    Livewire::actingAs($user)
+        ->test(DashboardConverter::class)
+        ->set('currentFileId', $file->id)
+        ->call('selectTargetFormat', 'jpg')
+        ->set('options.quality', 'bad')
+        ->call('continueFromSettings')
+        ->assertSet('step', 'settings')
+        ->assertHasErrors(['options.quality']);
+});
+
+it('does not create any extra records when continuing to the convert step', function () {
+    $user = User::factory()->create();
+    $file = FileRecord::factory()->for($user)->create(['extension' => 'png']);
+
+    Livewire::actingAs($user)
+        ->test(DashboardConverter::class)
+        ->set('currentFileId', $file->id)
+        ->call('selectTargetFormat', 'jpg')
+        ->call('continueFromSettings')
+        ->assertSet('step', 'convert');
+
+    expect(FileRecord::query()->where('user_id', $user->id)->count())->toBe(1);
+});
+
 it('does not create any extra records during settings validation', function () {
     $user = User::factory()->create();
     $file = FileRecord::factory()->for($user)->create(['extension' => 'png']);