diff --git a/apps/comments/src/files-sidebar.ts b/apps/comments/src/files-sidebar.ts
index 1eb4ae7519f..47ff8dfc1cb 100644
--- a/apps/comments/src/files-sidebar.ts
+++ b/apps/comments/src/files-sidebar.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ import { t } from '@nextcloud/l10n'
 import wrap from '@vue/web-component-wrapper'
 import { createPinia, PiniaVuePlugin } from 'pinia'
 import Vue from 'vue'
-import FilesSidebarTab from './views/FilesSidebarTab.vue'
 import { registerCommentsPlugins } from './comments-activity-tab.ts'
 
 __webpack_nonce__ = getCSPNonce()
@@ -30,28 +29,20 @@ if (loadState('comments', 'activityEnabled', false) && OCA?.Activity?.registerSi
 		iconSvgInline: MessageReplyText,
 		order: 50,
 		tagName,
-		enabled() {
-			if (!window.customElements.get(tagName)) {
-				setupSidebarTab()
-			}
-			return true
+		async onInit() {
+			const { default: FilesSidebarTab } = await import('./views/FilesSidebarTab.vue')
+
+			Vue.use(PiniaVuePlugin)
+			Vue.mixin({ pinia: createPinia() })
+			const webComponent = wrap(Vue, FilesSidebarTab)
+			// In Vue 2, wrap doesn't support disabling shadow. Disable with a hack
+			Object.defineProperty(webComponent.prototype, 'attachShadow', {
+				value() { return this },
+			})
+			Object.defineProperty(webComponent.prototype, 'shadowRoot', {
+				get() { return this },
+			})
+			window.customElements.define(tagName, webComponent)
 		},
 	})
 }
-
-/**
- * Setup the sidebar tab as a web component
- */
-function setupSidebarTab() {
-	Vue.use(PiniaVuePlugin)
-	Vue.mixin({ pinia: createPinia() })
-	const webComponent = wrap(Vue, FilesSidebarTab)
-	// In Vue 2, wrap doesn't support disabling shadow. Disable with a hack
-	Object.defineProperty(webComponent.prototype, 'attachShadow', {
-		value() { return this },
-	})
-	Object.defineProperty(webComponent.prototype, 'shadowRoot', {
-		get() { return this },
-	})
-	window.customElements.define(tagName, webComponent)
-}
diff --git a/apps/comments/src/views/FilesSidebarTab.vue b/apps/comments/src/views/FilesSidebarTab.vue
index 6c9e06ca254..ce9be4bf28b 100644
--- a/apps/comments/src/views/FilesSidebarTab.vue
+++ b/apps/comments/src/views/FilesSidebarTab.vue
@@ -11,24 +11,16 @@ import Comments from './Comments.vue'
 
 const props = defineProps<{
 	node?: INode
+
+	// eslint-disable-next-line vue/no-unused-properties -- Required on the web component interface
+	active?: boolean
 	// eslint-disable-next-line vue/no-unused-properties -- Required on the web component interface
 	folder?: IFolder
 	// eslint-disable-next-line vue/no-unused-properties -- Required on the web component interface
 	view?: IView
 }>()
 
-defineExpose({ setActive })
-
 const resourceId = computed(() => props.node?.fileid)
-
-/**
- * Set this tab as active
- *
- * @param active - The active state
- */
-function setActive(active: boolean) {
-	return active
-}
 </script>
 
 <template>
diff --git a/apps/files/src/components/FilesSidebar/FilesSidebarTab.vue b/apps/files/src/components/FilesSidebar/FilesSidebarTab.vue
index 2a7ba3b6a8b..dd80dc62a47 100644
--- a/apps/files/src/components/FilesSidebar/FilesSidebarTab.vue
+++ b/apps/files/src/components/FilesSidebar/FilesSidebarTab.vue
@@ -4,12 +4,13 @@
 -->
 
 <script setup lang="ts">
-import type { ISidebarTab, SidebarComponent } from '@nextcloud/files'
+import type { ISidebarTab } from '@nextcloud/files'
 
 import { NcIconSvgWrapper, NcLoadingIcon } from '@nextcloud/vue'
-import { ref, toRef, watch, watchEffect } from 'vue'
+import { ref, toRef, watch } from 'vue'
 import NcAppSidebarTab from '@nextcloud/vue/components/NcAppSidebarTab'
 import NcEmptyContent from '@nextcloud/vue/components/NcEmptyContent'
+import logger from '../../logger.ts'
 import { useActiveStore } from '../../store/active.ts'
 import { useSidebarStore } from '../../store/sidebar.ts'
 
@@ -29,19 +30,31 @@ const sidebar = useSidebarStore()
 const activeStore = useActiveStore()
 
 const loading = ref(true)
-watch(toRef(props, 'tab'), async () => {
-	loading.value = true
-	await window.customElements.whenDefined(props.tab.tagName)
-	loading.value = false
-}, { immediate: true })
-
-const tabElement = ref<SidebarComponent>()
-watchEffect(async () => {
-	if (tabElement.value) {
-		// Mark as active
-		await tabElement.value.setActive?.(props.active)
+watch(toRef(props, 'active'), async (active) => {
+	if (!active) {
+		return
 	}
-})
+
+	logger.debug('sidebar: activating files sidebar tab ' + props.tab.id, { tab: props.tab })
+	loading.value = true
+	try {
+		if (!initializedTabs.has(props.tab.tagName)) {
+			initializedTabs.add(props.tab.tagName)
+			logger.debug('sidebar: initializing ' + props.tab.id)
+			await props.tab.onInit?.()
+		}
+		logger.debug('sidebar: waiting for sidebar tab component becoming defined ' + props.tab.id)
+		await window.customElements.whenDefined(props.tab.tagName)
+		logger.debug('sidebar: tab component defined and loaded ' + props.tab.id)
+		loading.value = false
+	} catch (error) {
+		logger.error('Failed to get sidebar tab web component', { error })
+	}
+}, { immediate: true })
+</script>
+
+<script lang="ts">
+const initializedTabs = new Set<string>()
 </script>
 
 <template>
@@ -61,7 +74,7 @@ watchEffect(async () => {
 		<component
 			:is="tab.tagName"
 			v-else
-			ref="tabElement"
+			:active.prop="active"
 			:node.prop="sidebar.currentNode"
 			:folder.prop="activeStore.activeFolder"
 			:view.prop="activeStore.activeView" />
diff --git a/apps/files/src/store/sidebar.ts b/apps/files/src/store/sidebar.ts
index 9185b2e5f3d..1110390bb88 100644
--- a/apps/files/src/store/sidebar.ts
+++ b/apps/files/src/store/sidebar.ts
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ export const useSidebarStore = defineStore('sidebar', () => {
 	function getTabs(context?: ISidebarContext) {
 		let tabs = getSidebarTabs()
 		if (context) {
-			tabs = tabs.filter((tab) => tab.enabled(context))
+			tabs = tabs.filter((tab) => tab.enabled === undefined || tab.enabled(context))
 		}
 		return tabs.sort((a, b) => a.order - b.order)
 	}
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ export const useSidebarStore = defineStore('sidebar', () => {
 	function getActions(context?: ISidebarContext) {
 		let actions = getSidebarActions()
 		if (context) {
-			actions = actions.filter((tab) => tab.enabled(context))
+			actions = actions.filter((action) => action.enabled === undefined || action.enabled(context))
 		}
 		return actions.sort((a, b) => a.order - b.order)
 	}
diff --git a/apps/files_sharing/src/files_sharing_tab.js b/apps/files_sharing/src/files-sidebar.ts
similarity index 60%
rename from apps/files_sharing/src/files_sharing_tab.js
rename to apps/files_sharing/src/files-sidebar.ts
index 98191054e82..e0a58644c99 100644
--- a/apps/files_sharing/src/files_sharing_tab.js
+++ b/apps/files_sharing/src/files-sidebar.ts
@@ -5,11 +5,10 @@
 
 import ShareVariant from '@mdi/svg/svg/share-variant.svg?raw'
 import { getCSPNonce } from '@nextcloud/auth'
-import { registerSidebarTab } from '@nextcloud/files'
+import { getSidebar } from '@nextcloud/files'
 import { n, t } from '@nextcloud/l10n'
 import wrap from '@vue/web-component-wrapper'
 import Vue from 'vue'
-import FilesSidebarTab from './views/FilesSidebarTab.vue'
 import ExternalShareActions from './services/ExternalShareActions.js'
 import ShareSearch from './services/ShareSearch.js'
 import TabSections from './services/TabSections.js'
@@ -27,32 +26,25 @@ Vue.prototype.n = n
 
 const tagName = 'files_sharing-sidebar-tab'
 
-registerSidebarTab({
+getSidebar().registerTab({
 	id: 'sharing',
 	displayName: t('files_sharing', 'Sharing'),
 	iconSvgInline: ShareVariant,
 	order: 10,
 	tagName,
-	enabled() {
-		if (!window.customElements.get(tagName)) {
-			setupSidebarTab()
-		}
-		return true
+
+	async onInit() {
+		const { default: FilesSidebarTab } = await import('./views/FilesSidebarTab.vue')
+
+		const webComponent = wrap(Vue, FilesSidebarTab)
+		// In Vue 2, wrap doesn't support diseabling shadow. Disable with a hack
+		Object.defineProperty(webComponent.prototype, 'attachShadow', {
+			value() { return this },
+		})
+		Object.defineProperty(webComponent.prototype, 'shadowRoot', {
+			get() { return this },
+		})
+
+		window.customElements.define(tagName, webComponent)
 	},
 })
-
-/**
- * Setup the sidebar tab as a web component
- */
-function setupSidebarTab() {
-	const webComponent = wrap(Vue, FilesSidebarTab)
-	// In Vue 2, wrap doesn't support diseabling shadow. Disable with a hack
-	Object.defineProperty(webComponent.prototype, 'attachShadow', {
-		value() { return this },
-	})
-	Object.defineProperty(webComponent.prototype, 'shadowRoot', {
-		get() { return this },
-	})
-
-	window.customElements.define(tagName, webComponent)
-}
diff --git a/apps/files_sharing/src/views/FilesSidebarTab.vue b/apps/files_sharing/src/views/FilesSidebarTab.vue
index b4ef10ec37e..ae3a5b035f7 100644
--- a/apps/files_sharing/src/views/FilesSidebarTab.vue
+++ b/apps/files_sharing/src/views/FilesSidebarTab.vue
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@ import FileInfo from '../services/FileInfo.ts'
 
 const props = defineProps<{
 	node?: INode
+
+	// eslint-disable-next-line vue/no-unused-properties -- Required on the web component interface
+	active?: boolean
 	// eslint-disable-next-line vue/no-unused-properties -- Required on the web component interface
 	folder?: IFolder
 	// eslint-disable-next-line vue/no-unused-properties -- Required on the web component interface
diff --git a/apps/files_versions/src/sidebar_tab.ts b/apps/files_versions/src/sidebar_tab.ts
index 461ae7aae2f..fbf026646d7 100644
--- a/apps/files_versions/src/sidebar_tab.ts
+++ b/apps/files_versions/src/sidebar_tab.ts
@@ -10,10 +10,10 @@ import { isPublicShare } from '@nextcloud/sharing/public'
 import { defineAsyncComponent, defineCustomElement } from 'vue'
 
 const tagName = 'files-versions_sidebar-tab'
-const FilesVersionsSidebarTab = defineAsyncComponent(() => import('./views/FilesVersionsSidebarTab.vue'))
 
 registerSidebarTab({
 	id: 'files_versions',
+	tagName,
 	order: 90,
 	displayName: t('files_versions', 'Versions'),
 	iconSvgInline: BackupRestore,
@@ -24,23 +24,13 @@ registerSidebarTab({
 		if (node.type !== FileType.File) {
 			return false
 		}
-		// setup tab
-		setupTab()
 		return true
 	},
-	tagName,
+
+	async onInit() {
+		const FilesVersionsSidebarTab = defineAsyncComponent(() => import('./views/FilesVersionsSidebarTab.vue'))
+		window.customElements.define(tagName, defineCustomElement(FilesVersionsSidebarTab, {
+			shadowRoot: false,
+		}))
+	},
 })
-
-/**
- * Setup the custom element for the Files Versions sidebar tab.
- */
-function setupTab() {
-	if (window.customElements.get(tagName)) {
-		// already defined
-		return
-	}
-
-	window.customElements.define(tagName, defineCustomElement(FilesVersionsSidebarTab, {
-		shadowRoot: false,
-	}))
-}
diff --git a/apps/files_versions/src/views/FilesVersionsSidebarTab.vue b/apps/files_versions/src/views/FilesVersionsSidebarTab.vue
index 289cbd36a93..dd84af2c7b2 100644
--- a/apps/files_versions/src/views/FilesVersionsSidebarTab.vue
+++ b/apps/files_versions/src/views/FilesVersionsSidebarTab.vue
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 							:key="row.items[0].version.mtime"
 							:can-view="canView"
 							:can-compare="canCompare"
-							:load-preview="isActive"
+							:load-preview="active"
 							:version="row.items[0].version"
 							:node="node"
 							:is-current="row.items[0].version.mtime === currentVersionMtime"
@@ -57,15 +57,16 @@ import logger from '../utils/logger.ts'
 import { deleteVersion, fetchVersions, restoreVersion, setVersionLabel } from '../utils/versions.ts'
 
 const props = defineProps<{
-	node?: INode
-	folder?: IFolder
-	view?: IView
+	active: boolean
+	node: INode
+
+	// eslint-disable-next-line vue/no-unused-properties -- required by SidebarTab but we do not need it
+	folder: IFolder
+	// eslint-disable-next-line vue/no-unused-properties -- required by SidebarTab but we do not need it
+	view: IView
 }>()
 
-defineExpose({ setActive })
-
 const isMobile = useIsMobile()
-const isActive = ref<boolean>(false)
 const versions = ref<Version[]>([])
 const loading = ref(false)
 const showVersionLabelForm = ref(false)
@@ -138,15 +139,6 @@ const canCompare = computed(() => {
 		&& window.OCA.Viewer?.mimetypesCompare?.includes(props.node?.mime)
 })
 
-/**
- * This method is called by the files app if the sidebar tab state changes.
- *
- * @param active - The new active state
- */
-function setActive(active: boolean) {
-	isActive.value = active
-}
-
 /**
  * Handle restored event from Version.vue
  *
diff --git a/build/frontend-legacy/package-lock.json b/build/frontend-legacy/package-lock.json
index c80a2e4cf96..d054823f29a 100644
--- a/build/frontend-legacy/package-lock.json
+++ b/build/frontend-legacy/package-lock.json
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
         "@nextcloud/capabilities": "^1.2.1",
         "@nextcloud/dialogs": "^7.1.0",
         "@nextcloud/event-bus": "^3.3.3",
-        "@nextcloud/files": "^4.0.0-beta.9",
+        "@nextcloud/files": "^4.0.0-rc.0",
         "@nextcloud/initial-state": "^3.0.0",
         "@nextcloud/l10n": "^3.4.1",
         "@nextcloud/logger": "^3.0.3",
@@ -3244,9 +3244,9 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@nextcloud/files": {
-      "version": "4.0.0-beta.9",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@nextcloud/files/-/files-4.0.0-beta.9.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-Mbcl+eO2PEsOkBmQIxHtol6O8uzesJYQYb5kIZiqyfJ0yProSqJaMIBkBmAjHUwv+EOjswwRSXhlc8A4DfuVSg==",
+      "version": "4.0.0-rc.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@nextcloud/files/-/files-4.0.0-rc.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-zg/TQH4oQQYlntzkcWokjKIkTX39maiYXceDYrE3OnzCYZv0IKmOH3+pQer58/Z9QfsU8huTnzHblhzVNsJvAA==",
       "license": "AGPL-3.0-or-later",
       "dependencies": {
         "@nextcloud/auth": "^2.5.3",
diff --git a/build/frontend-legacy/package.json b/build/frontend-legacy/package.json
index 912c359d489..3583560c75c 100644
--- a/build/frontend-legacy/package.json
+++ b/build/frontend-legacy/package.json
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
     "@nextcloud/capabilities": "^1.2.1",
     "@nextcloud/dialogs": "^7.1.0",
     "@nextcloud/event-bus": "^3.3.3",
-    "@nextcloud/files": "^4.0.0-beta.9",
+    "@nextcloud/files": "^4.0.0-rc.0",
     "@nextcloud/initial-state": "^3.0.0",
     "@nextcloud/l10n": "^3.4.1",
     "@nextcloud/logger": "^3.0.3",
diff --git a/build/frontend-legacy/webpack.modules.cjs b/build/frontend-legacy/webpack.modules.cjs
index a68a7a0e2da..b5fd95c8174 100644
--- a/build/frontend-legacy/webpack.modules.cjs
+++ b/build/frontend-legacy/webpack.modules.cjs
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ module.exports = {
 	files_sharing: {
 		additionalScripts: path.join(__dirname, 'apps/files_sharing/src', 'additionalScripts.js'),
 		collaboration: path.join(__dirname, 'apps/files_sharing/src', 'collaborationresourceshandler.js'),
-		files_sharing_tab: path.join(__dirname, 'apps/files_sharing/src', 'files_sharing_tab.js'),
+		files_sharing_tab: path.join(__dirname, 'apps/files_sharing/src', 'files-sidebar.ts'),
 		init: path.join(__dirname, 'apps/files_sharing/src', 'init.ts'),
 		'init-public': path.join(__dirname, 'apps/files_sharing/src', 'init-public.ts'),
 		main: path.join(__dirname, 'apps/files_sharing/src', 'main.ts'),
diff --git a/cypress/e2e/files/files-sidebar.cy.ts b/cypress/e2e/files/files-sidebar.cy.ts
index c779f21998b..69be3473a80 100644
--- a/cypress/e2e/files/files-sidebar.cy.ts
+++ b/cypress/e2e/files/files-sidebar.cy.ts
@@ -55,6 +55,9 @@ describe('Files: Sidebar', { testIsolation: true }, () => {
 			.findByRole('heading', { name: 'file' })
 			.should('be.visible')
 
+		// eslint-disable-next-line cypress/no-unnecessary-waiting
+		cy.wait(600) // wait for a bit to avoid flakiness
+
 		triggerActionForFile('folder', 'details')
 		cy.get('[data-cy-sidebar]')
 			.should('be.visible')
@@ -89,7 +92,11 @@ describe('Files: Sidebar', { testIsolation: true }, () => {
 		// open the sidebar
 		triggerActionForFile('file', 'details')
 		// validate it is open
-		cy.get('[data-cy-sidebar]').should('be.visible')
+		cy.get('[data-cy-sidebar]')
+			.should('be.visible')
+		// eslint-disable-next-line cypress/no-unnecessary-waiting
+		cy.wait(600) // wait for a bit to avoid flakiness
+
 		// delete the file
 		triggerActionForFile('file', 'delete')
 		cy.wait('@deleteFile', { timeout: 10000 })
@@ -116,6 +123,9 @@ describe('Files: Sidebar', { testIsolation: true }, () => {
 			cy.get('[data-cy-sidebar]').should('be.visible')
 			cy.url().should('contain', `apps/files/files/${otherFileId}`)
 
+			// eslint-disable-next-line cypress/no-unnecessary-waiting
+			cy.wait(600) // wait for a bit to avoid flakiness
+
 			triggerActionForFile('other', 'delete')
 			cy.wait('@deleteFile')
 
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 6b67c86b8b6..82634349bb3 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
         "@nextcloud/capabilities": "^1.2.1",
         "@nextcloud/dialogs": "^7.2.0",
         "@nextcloud/event-bus": "^3.3.3",
-        "@nextcloud/files": "^4.0.0-beta.9",
+        "@nextcloud/files": "^4.0.0-rc.0",
         "@nextcloud/initial-state": "^3.0.0",
         "@nextcloud/l10n": "^3.4.1",
         "@nextcloud/logger": "^3.0.3",
@@ -2443,9 +2443,9 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@nextcloud/files": {
-      "version": "4.0.0-beta.9",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@nextcloud/files/-/files-4.0.0-beta.9.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-Mbcl+eO2PEsOkBmQIxHtol6O8uzesJYQYb5kIZiqyfJ0yProSqJaMIBkBmAjHUwv+EOjswwRSXhlc8A4DfuVSg==",
+      "version": "4.0.0-rc.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@nextcloud/files/-/files-4.0.0-rc.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-zg/TQH4oQQYlntzkcWokjKIkTX39maiYXceDYrE3OnzCYZv0IKmOH3+pQer58/Z9QfsU8huTnzHblhzVNsJvAA==",
       "license": "AGPL-3.0-or-later",
       "dependencies": {
         "@nextcloud/auth": "^2.5.3",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 4882ef3c91a..6a9d40a093f 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@
     "@nextcloud/capabilities": "^1.2.1",
     "@nextcloud/dialogs": "^7.2.0",
     "@nextcloud/event-bus": "^3.3.3",
-    "@nextcloud/files": "^4.0.0-beta.9",
+    "@nextcloud/files": "^4.0.0-rc.0",
     "@nextcloud/initial-state": "^3.0.0",
     "@nextcloud/l10n": "^3.4.1",
     "@nextcloud/logger": "^3.0.3",