diff --git a/apps/systemtags/src/components/SystemTagPicker.vue b/apps/systemtags/src/components/SystemTagPicker.vue
index ee5b3a6e45f..998600b61d8 100644
--- a/apps/systemtags/src/components/SystemTagPicker.vue
+++ b/apps/systemtags/src/components/SystemTagPicker.vue
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@
 </template>
 
 <script lang="ts">
-import type { Node } from '@nextcloud/files'
+import type { INode } from '@nextcloud/files'
 import type { PropType } from 'vue'
 import type { Tag, TagWithId } from '../types.ts'
 
@@ -216,11 +216,13 @@ export default defineComponent({
 
 	props: {
 		nodes: {
-			type: Array as PropType<Node[]>,
+			type: Array as PropType<INode[]>,
 			required: true,
 		},
 	},
 
+	emits: ['close'],
+
 	setup() {
 		return {
 			emit,
@@ -381,7 +383,7 @@ export default defineComponent({
 		})
 
 		// Efficient way of counting tags and their occurrences
-		this.tagList = this.nodes.reduce((acc: TagListCount, node: Node) => {
+		this.tagList = this.nodes.reduce((acc: TagListCount, node: INode) => {
 			const tags = getNodeSystemTags(node) || []
 			tags.forEach((tag) => {
 				acc[tag] = (acc[tag] || 0) + 1
@@ -531,7 +533,7 @@ export default defineComponent({
 				return
 			}
 
-			const nodes = [] as Node[]
+			const nodes = [] as INode[]
 
 			// Update nodes
 			this.toAdd.forEach((tag) => {
diff --git a/apps/systemtags/src/event-bus.d.ts b/apps/systemtags/src/event-bus.d.ts
index a8180a14b87..655f99d7974 100644
--- a/apps/systemtags/src/event-bus.d.ts
+++ b/apps/systemtags/src/event-bus.d.ts
@@ -3,12 +3,12 @@
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
  */
 
-import type { Node } from '@nextcloud/files'
+import type { INode } from '@nextcloud/files'
 import type { TagWithId } from './types.ts'
 
 declare module '@nextcloud/event-bus' {
 	interface NextcloudEvents {
-		'systemtags:node:updated': Node
+		'systemtags:node:updated': INode
 		'systemtags:tag:deleted': TagWithId
 		'systemtags:tag:updated': TagWithId
 		'systemtags:tag:created': TagWithId
diff --git a/apps/systemtags/src/files_actions/bulkSystemTagsAction.ts b/apps/systemtags/src/files_actions/bulkSystemTagsAction.ts
index 63d30ab472c..7d7bf5fe2ce 100644
--- a/apps/systemtags/src/files_actions/bulkSystemTagsAction.ts
+++ b/apps/systemtags/src/files_actions/bulkSystemTagsAction.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
  */
 
-import type { Node } from '@nextcloud/files'
+import type { INode } from '@nextcloud/files'
 
 import TagMultipleSvg from '@mdi/svg/svg/tag-multiple-outline.svg?raw'
 import { FileAction, Permission } from '@nextcloud/files'
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import { defineAsyncComponent } from 'vue'
  * @param nodes Nodes to modify tags for
  * @param nodes.nodes
  */
-async function execBatch({ nodes }: { nodes: Node[] }): Promise<(null | boolean)[]> {
+async function execBatch({ nodes }: { nodes: INode[] }): Promise<(null | boolean)[]> {
 	const response = await new Promise<null | boolean>((resolve) => {
 		spawnDialog(defineAsyncComponent(() => import('../components/SystemTagPicker.vue')), {
 			nodes,
diff --git a/apps/systemtags/src/files_actions/filesSidebarAction.ts b/apps/systemtags/src/files_actions/filesSidebarAction.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e761a5fa6e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/systemtags/src/files_actions/filesSidebarAction.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+/*!
+ * SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2025 Nextcloud GmbH and Nextcloud contributors
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
+ */
+
+import tagSvg from '@mdi/svg/svg/tag-outline.svg?raw'
+import { registerSidebarAction } from '@nextcloud/files'
+import { t } from '@nextcloud/l10n'
+import { spawnDialog } from '@nextcloud/vue/functions/dialog'
+import { defineAsyncComponent } from 'vue'
+
+/**
+ * Register the "Add tags" action in the file sidebar
+ */
+export function registerFileSidebarAction() {
+	registerSidebarAction({
+		id: 'systemtags',
+		order: 20,
+		displayName() {
+			return t('systemtags', 'Add tags')
+		},
+		enabled() {
+			return true
+		},
+		iconSvgInline() {
+			return tagSvg
+		},
+		onClick({ node }) {
+			return spawnDialog(
+				defineAsyncComponent(() => import('../components/SystemTagPicker.vue')),
+				{
+					nodes: [node],
+				},
+			)
+		},
+	})
+}
diff --git a/apps/systemtags/src/init.ts b/apps/systemtags/src/init.ts
index df6bee1d6be..947d3bbfbc3 100644
--- a/apps/systemtags/src/init.ts
+++ b/apps/systemtags/src/init.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
-/**
+/*!
  * SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2016 Nextcloud GmbH and Nextcloud contributors
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
  */
+
 import { registerFileAction } from '@nextcloud/files'
 import { registerDavProperty } from '@nextcloud/files/dav'
 import { action as bulkSystemTagsAction } from './files_actions/bulkSystemTagsAction.ts'
+import { registerFileSidebarAction } from './files_actions/filesSidebarAction.ts'
 import { action as inlineSystemTagsAction } from './files_actions/inlineSystemTagsAction.ts'
 import { action as openInFilesAction } from './files_actions/openInFilesAction.ts'
 import { registerSystemTagsView } from './files_views/systemtagsView.ts'
@@ -16,6 +18,7 @@ registerFileAction(inlineSystemTagsAction)
 registerFileAction(openInFilesAction)
 
 registerSystemTagsView()
+registerFileSidebarAction()
 
 document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', () => {
 	registerHotkeys()
diff --git a/apps/systemtags/src/utils.ts b/apps/systemtags/src/utils.ts
index 627eaff139e..35f7586c6a4 100644
--- a/apps/systemtags/src/utils.ts
+++ b/apps/systemtags/src/utils.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
  */
 
-import type { Node } from '@nextcloud/files'
+import type { INode } from '@nextcloud/files'
 import type { DAVResultResponseProps } from 'webdav'
 import type { BaseTag, ServerTag, Tag, TagWithId } from './types.js'
 
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ export function formatTag(initialTag: Tag | ServerTag): ServerTag {
  *
  * @param node
  */
-export function getNodeSystemTags(node: Node): string[] {
+export function getNodeSystemTags(node: INode): string[] {
 	const attribute = node.attributes?.['system-tags']?.['system-tag']
 	if (attribute === undefined) {
 		return []
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ export function getNodeSystemTags(node: Node): string[] {
  * @param node
  * @param tags
  */
-export function setNodeSystemTags(node: Node, tags: string[]): void {
+export function setNodeSystemTags(node: INode, tags: string[]): void {
 	Vue.set(node.attributes, 'system-tags', {
 		'system-tag': tags,
 	})
diff --git a/cypress/e2e/systemtags/files-inline-action.cy.ts b/cypress/e2e/systemtags/files-inline-action.cy.ts
index 3d24694d514..a3225671a23 100644
--- a/cypress/e2e/systemtags/files-inline-action.cy.ts
+++ b/cypress/e2e/systemtags/files-inline-action.cy.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,13 @@
-/**
+/*
  * SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2024 Nextcloud GmbH and Nextcloud contributors
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
  */
+
 import type { User } from '@nextcloud/e2e-test-server/cypress'
 
 import { randomBytes } from 'crypto'
-import { closeSidebar, getRowForFile, triggerActionForFile } from '../files/FilesUtils.ts'
+import { getRowForFile } from '../files/FilesUtils.ts'
+import { addTagToFile } from './utils.ts'
 
 describe('Systemtags: Files integration', { testIsolation: true }, () => {
 	let user: User
@@ -21,31 +23,7 @@ describe('Systemtags: Files integration', { testIsolation: true }, () => {
 
 	it('See first assigned tag in the file list', () => {
 		const tag = randomBytes(8).toString('base64')
-
-		cy.intercept('PROPFIND', `**/remote.php/dav/files/${user.userId}/file.txt`).as('getNode')
-		getRowForFile('file.txt').should('be.visible')
-		triggerActionForFile('file.txt', 'details')
-		cy.wait('@getNode')
-
-		cy.get('[data-cy-sidebar]')
-			.should('be.visible')
-			.findByRole('button', { name: 'Actions' })
-			.should('be.visible')
-			.click()
-
-		cy.findByRole('menuitem', { name: 'Tags' })
-			.should('be.visible')
-			.click()
-
-		cy.intercept('PUT', '**/remote.php/dav/systemtags-relations/files/**').as('assignTag')
-
-		getCollaborativeTagsInput()
-			.type(`{selectAll}${tag}{enter}`)
-		cy.wait('@assignTag')
-		cy.wait('@getNode')
-
-		// Close the sidebar and reload to check the file list
-		closeSidebar()
+		addTagToFile('file.txt', tag)
 		cy.reload()
 
 		getRowForFile('file.txt')
@@ -58,38 +36,8 @@ describe('Systemtags: Files integration', { testIsolation: true }, () => {
 	it('See two assigned tags are also shown in the file list', () => {
 		const tag1 = randomBytes(5).toString('base64')
 		const tag2 = randomBytes(5).toString('base64')
-
-		cy.intercept('PROPFIND', `**/remote.php/dav/files/${user.userId}/file.txt`).as('getNode')
-		getRowForFile('file.txt').should('be.visible')
-		triggerActionForFile('file.txt', 'details')
-		cy.wait('@getNode')
-
-		cy.get('[data-cy-sidebar]')
-			.should('be.visible')
-			.findByRole('button', { name: 'Actions' })
-			.should('be.visible')
-			.click()
-
-		cy.findByRole('menuitem', { name: 'Tags' })
-			.should('be.visible')
-			.click()
-
-		cy.intercept('PUT', '**/remote.php/dav/systemtags-relations/files/**').as('assignTag')
-
-		// Assign first tag
-		getCollaborativeTagsInput()
-			.type(`{selectAll}${tag1}{enter}`)
-		cy.wait('@assignTag')
-		cy.wait('@getNode')
-
-		// Assign second tag
-		getCollaborativeTagsInput()
-			.type(`{selectAll}${tag2}{enter}`)
-		cy.wait('@assignTag')
-		cy.wait('@getNode')
-
-		// Close the sidebar and reload to check the file list
-		closeSidebar()
+		addTagToFile('file.txt', tag1)
+		addTagToFile('file.txt', tag2)
 		cy.reload()
 
 		getRowForFile('file.txt')
@@ -104,44 +52,9 @@ describe('Systemtags: Files integration', { testIsolation: true }, () => {
 		const tag1 = randomBytes(4).toString('base64')
 		const tag2 = randomBytes(4).toString('base64')
 		const tag3 = randomBytes(4).toString('base64')
-
-		cy.intercept('PROPFIND', `**/remote.php/dav/files/${user.userId}/file.txt`).as('getNode')
-		getRowForFile('file.txt').should('be.visible')
-		triggerActionForFile('file.txt', 'details')
-		cy.wait('@getNode')
-
-		cy.get('[data-cy-sidebar]')
-			.should('be.visible')
-			.findByRole('button', { name: 'Actions' })
-			.should('be.visible')
-			.click()
-
-		cy.findByRole('menuitem', { name: 'Tags' })
-			.should('be.visible')
-			.click()
-
-		cy.intercept('PUT', '**/remote.php/dav/systemtags-relations/files/**').as('assignTag')
-
-		// Assign first tag
-		getCollaborativeTagsInput()
-			.type(`{selectAll}${tag1}{enter}`)
-		cy.wait('@assignTag')
-		cy.wait('@getNode')
-
-		// Assign second tag
-		getCollaborativeTagsInput()
-			.type(`{selectAll}${tag2}{enter}`)
-		cy.wait('@assignTag')
-		cy.wait('@getNode')
-
-		// Assign third tag
-		getCollaborativeTagsInput()
-			.type(`{selectAll}${tag3}{enter}`)
-		cy.wait('@assignTag')
-		cy.wait('@getNode')
-
-		// Close the sidebar and reload to check the file list
-		closeSidebar()
+		addTagToFile('file.txt', tag1)
+		addTagToFile('file.txt', tag2)
+		addTagToFile('file.txt', tag3)
 		cy.reload()
 
 		getRowForFile('file.txt')
@@ -163,10 +76,3 @@ describe('Systemtags: Files integration', { testIsolation: true }, () => {
 			})
 	})
 })
-
-function getCollaborativeTagsInput(): Cypress.Chainable<JQuery<HTMLElement>> {
-	return cy.get('[data-cy-sidebar]')
-		.findByRole('combobox', { name: /collaborative tags/i })
-		.should('be.visible')
-		.should('not.have.attr', 'disabled', { timeout: 5000 })
-}
diff --git a/cypress/e2e/systemtags/files-sidebar.cy.ts b/cypress/e2e/systemtags/files-sidebar.cy.ts
index 9cb5f2df8dd..fd9fd797e17 100644
--- a/cypress/e2e/systemtags/files-sidebar.cy.ts
+++ b/cypress/e2e/systemtags/files-sidebar.cy.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import type { User } from '@nextcloud/e2e-test-server/cypress'
 
 import { randomBytes } from 'crypto'
 import { getRowForFile, triggerActionForFile } from '../files/FilesUtils.ts'
+import { createNewTagInDialog } from './utils.ts'
 
 describe('Systemtags: Files sidebar integration', { testIsolation: true }, () => {
 	let user: User
@@ -32,14 +33,9 @@ describe('Systemtags: Files sidebar integration', { testIsolation: true }, () =>
 			.should('be.visible')
 			.click()
 
-		cy.findByRole('menuitem', { name: 'Tags' })
+		cy.findByRole('menuitem', { name: 'Add tags' })
 			.click()
 
-		cy.intercept('PUT', '**/remote.php/dav/systemtags-relations/files/**').as('assignTag')
-		cy.get('[data-cy-sidebar]')
-			.findByRole('combobox', { name: /collaborative tags/i })
-			.should('be.visible')
-			.type(`${tag}{enter}`)
-		cy.wait('@assignTag')
+		createNewTagInDialog(tag)
 	})
 })
diff --git a/cypress/e2e/systemtags/files-view.cy.ts b/cypress/e2e/systemtags/files-view.cy.ts
index 0bfc59be60f..46b724fcde5 100644
--- a/cypress/e2e/systemtags/files-view.cy.ts
+++ b/cypress/e2e/systemtags/files-view.cy.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@
 import type { User } from '@nextcloud/e2e-test-server/cypress'
 
 import { randomBytes } from 'crypto'
-import { closeSidebar, getRowForFile, getRowForFileId, triggerActionForFile } from '../files/FilesUtils.ts'
+import { getRowForFile } from '../files/FilesUtils.ts'
+import { addTagToFile } from './utils.ts'
 
 describe('Systemtags: Files view', { testIsolation: true }, () => {
 	let user: User
@@ -22,51 +23,20 @@ describe('Systemtags: Files view', { testIsolation: true }, () => {
 
 	it('See first assigned tag in the file list', () => {
 		const tag = randomBytes(8).toString('base64')
-		let tagId
-
-		// Tag the file
-		tagNode(tag, 'folder')
-			.then((id) => { tagId = id })
+		addTagToFile('folder', tag)
 
 		// open the tags view
 		cy.visit('/apps/files/tags').then(() => {
 			// see the tag
-			getRowForFileId(tagId).should('be.visible')
 			getRowForFile('folder').should('not.exist')
 			getRowForFile('file.txt').should('not.exist')
+			cy.findByRole('cell', { name: tag })
+				.should('be.visible')
+				.click()
 
 			// see that the tag has its content
-			getRowForFileId(tagId).find('[data-cy-files-list-row-name-link]').click()
 			getRowForFile('folder').should('be.visible')
 			getRowForFile('file.txt').should('not.exist')
 		})
 	})
 })
-
-function getCollaborativeTagsInput(): Cypress.Chainable<JQuery<HTMLElement>> {
-	return cy.get('[data-cy-sidebar]')
-		.findByRole('combobox', { name: /collaborative tags/i })
-		.should('be.visible')
-		.should('not.have.attr', 'disabled', { timeout: 5000 })
-}
-
-function tagNode(tag: string, node: string): Cypress.Chainable<number> {
-	getRowForFile(node).should('be.visible')
-
-	triggerActionForFile(node, 'details')
-	cy.get('[data-cy-sidebar]')
-		.should('be.visible')
-		.findByRole('button', { name: 'Actions' })
-		.should('be.visible')
-		.click()
-	cy.findByRole('menuitem', { name: 'Tags' })
-		.should('be.visible')
-		.click()
-	cy.intercept('PUT', '**/remote.php/dav/systemtags-relations/files/**').as('assignTag')
-	getCollaborativeTagsInput()
-		.type(`{selectAll}${tag}{enter}`)
-	cy.wait('@assignTag')
-	closeSidebar()
-	return cy.get('@assignTag')
-		.then(({ request }) => request.body.id)
-}
diff --git a/cypress/e2e/systemtags/utils.ts b/cypress/e2e/systemtags/utils.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..295a5307c63
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cypress/e2e/systemtags/utils.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+/*
+ * SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2025 Nextcloud GmbH and Nextcloud contributors
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
+ */
+
+import { getRowForFile, triggerActionForFile } from '../files/FilesUtils.ts'
+
+export function addTagToFile(fileName: string, newTag: string): void {
+	getRowForFile(fileName).should('be.visible')
+	triggerActionForFile(fileName, 'systemtags:bulk')
+
+	createNewTagInDialog(newTag)
+}
+
+export function createNewTagInDialog(newTag: string): void {
+	cy.intercept('POST', '/remote.php/dav/systemtags').as('createTag')
+	cy.intercept('PROPFIND', '/remote.php/dav/systemtags/*/files').as('getTagData')
+	cy.intercept('PROPPATCH', '/remote.php/dav/systemtags/*/files').as('assignTagData')
+
+	cy.get('[data-cy-systemtags-picker-input]').type(newTag)
+
+	cy.get('[data-cy-systemtags-picker-tag]').should('have.length', 0)
+	cy.get('[data-cy-systemtags-picker-button-create]').should('be.visible')
+	cy.get('[data-cy-systemtags-picker-button-create]').click()
+
+	cy.wait('@createTag')
+	// Verify the new tag is selected by default
+	cy.get('[data-cy-systemtags-picker-tag]').contains(newTag)
+		.parents('[data-cy-systemtags-picker-tag]')
+		.findByRole('checkbox', { hidden: true }).should('be.checked')
+
+	// Apply changes
+	cy.get('[data-cy-systemtags-picker-button-submit]').click()
+
+	cy.wait('@assignTagData')
+	cy.get('[data-cy-systemtags-picker]').should('not.exist')
+}