diff --git a/docs/plans/2026-08-21-template-picker.md.tasks.json b/docs/plans/2026-08-21-template-picker.md.tasks.json
index 29f45041..715cc599 100644
--- a/docs/plans/2026-08-21-template-picker.md.tasks.json
+++ b/docs/plans/2026-08-21-template-picker.md.tasks.json
@@ -1,14 +1,61 @@
 {
   "planPath": "docs/plans/2026-08-21-template-picker.md",
   "tasks": [
-    {"id": 1, "subject": "Task 1: TemplatePathFormatter (pure helper)", "status": "pending"},
-    {"id": 2, "subject": "Task 2: TemplateFolderTree.RevealKeys (additive)", "status": "pending"},
-    {"id": 3, "subject": "Task 3: TemplatePickerDialog component", "status": "pending", "blockedBy": [1, 2]},
-    {"id": 4, "subject": "Task 4: Create page — picker field + ?templateId= preselect", "status": "pending", "blockedBy": [3]},
-    {"id": 5, "subject": "Task 5: Templates page — New Instance… menu item (Deployer-gated)", "status": "pending"},
-    {"id": 6, "subject": "Task 6: Pin the Topology Disable confirm label", "status": "pending"},
-    {"id": 7, "subject": "Task 7: Docs", "status": "pending", "blockedBy": [4, 5, 6]},
-    {"id": 8, "subject": "Task 8: Solution build + CentralUI test sweep + live rig check", "status": "pending", "blockedBy": [7]}
+    {
+      "id": 1,
+      "subject": "Task 1: TemplatePathFormatter (pure helper)",
+      "status": "completed"
+    },
+    {
+      "id": 2,
+      "subject": "Task 2: TemplateFolderTree.RevealKeys (additive)",
+      "status": "completed"
+    },
+    {
+      "id": 3,
+      "subject": "Task 3: TemplatePickerDialog component",
+      "status": "completed",
+      "blockedBy": [
+        1,
+        2
+      ]
+    },
+    {
+      "id": 4,
+      "subject": "Task 4: Create page \u2014 picker field + ?templateId= preselect",
+      "status": "pending",
+      "blockedBy": [
+        3
+      ]
+    },
+    {
+      "id": 5,
+      "subject": "Task 5: Templates page \u2014 New Instance\u2026 menu item (Deployer-gated)",
+      "status": "pending"
+    },
+    {
+      "id": 6,
+      "subject": "Task 6: Pin the Topology Disable confirm label",
+      "status": "pending"
+    },
+    {
+      "id": 7,
+      "subject": "Task 7: Docs",
+      "status": "pending",
+      "blockedBy": [
+        4,
+        5,
+        6
+      ]
+    },
+    {
+      "id": 8,
+      "subject": "Task 8: Solution build + CentralUI test sweep + live rig check",
+      "status": "pending",
+      "blockedBy": [
+        7
+      ]
+    }
   ],
-  "lastUpdated": "2026-08-21T12:00:00Z"
-}
+  "lastUpdated": "2026-08-21T00:00:00Z"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.CentralUI/Components/Pages/Deployment/InstanceCreate.razor b/src/ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.CentralUI/Components/Pages/Deployment/InstanceCreate.razor
index 34c43e75..93f56781 100644
--- a/src/ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.CentralUI/Components/Pages/Deployment/InstanceCreate.razor
+++ b/src/ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.CentralUI/Components/Pages/Deployment/InstanceCreate.razor
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 @using ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.TemplateEngine.Services
 @using ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.DeploymentManager
 @using ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.CentralUI.Components.Dialogs
+@using ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.CentralUI.Components.Shared
 @using ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.CentralUI.Services
 @attribute [Authorize(Policy = AuthorizationPolicies.RequireDeployment)]
 @inject ITemplateEngineRepository TemplateEngineRepository
@@ -18,6 +19,7 @@
 @inject IFlatteningPipeline FlatteningPipeline
 @inject AuthenticationStateProvider AuthStateProvider
 @inject NavigationManager NavigationManager
+@inject IDialogService Dialog
 
 <div class="container-fluid mt-3">
     <div class="d-flex align-items-center mb-3">
@@ -39,15 +41,22 @@
                 </div>
                 <div class="mb-2">
                     <label class="form-label small">Template</label>
-                    <select class="form-select form-select-sm" data-test="create-template"
-                            value="@_createTemplateId"
-                            @onchange="async e => { _createTemplateId = int.TryParse(e.Value?.ToString(), out var v) ? v : 0; await OnTemplateOrSiteChangedAsync(); }">
-                        <option value="0">Select template...</option>
-                        @foreach (var t in _templates)
-                        {
-                            <option value="@t.Id">@t.Name</option>
-                        }
-                    </select>
+                    <div class="input-group input-group-sm">
+                        <input type="text" class="form-control" data-test="create-template" readonly
+                               placeholder="Choose a template…" value="@TemplatePathLabel"
+                               style="cursor: pointer; background-color: var(--bs-body-bg);"
+                               @onclick="OpenTemplatePickerAsync" />
+                        <button class="btn btn-outline-secondary" type="button" data-test="create-template-choose"
+                                disabled="@(_templates.Count == 0)" @onclick="OpenTemplatePickerAsync">Choose…</button>
+                    </div>
+                    @if (_templates.Count == 0)
+                    {
+                        <div class="form-text">No templates exist yet — <a href="/design/templates">create one on the Templates page</a>.</div>
+                    }
+                    else if (_templateHint is not null)
+                    {
+                        <div class="form-text text-warning-emphasis">@_templateHint</div>
+                    }
                 </div>
                 <div class="mb-2">
                     <label class="form-label small">Site</label>
@@ -228,11 +237,21 @@
 </div>
 
 @code {
+    /// <summary>Query preselect: the template the operator picked elsewhere (e.g. the Templates tree's "New Instance&#8230;").</summary>
+    [SupplyParameterFromQuery] public int? TemplateId { get; set; }
     [SupplyParameterFromQuery] public int? SiteId { get; set; }
     [SupplyParameterFromQuery] public int? AreaId { get; set; }
 
     private List<Site> _sites = new();
     private List<Template> _templates = new();
+    private List<TemplateFolder> _folders = new();
+    private Dictionary<int, TemplateFolder> _foldersById = new();
+    private string? _templateHint;
+
+    /// <summary>Folder-qualified label shown in the read-only template field; blank when nothing is chosen.</summary>
+    private string TemplatePathLabel => _templates.FirstOrDefault(t => t.Id == _createTemplateId) is { } t
+        ? TemplatePathFormatter.Format(t, _foldersById)
+        : string.Empty;
     private List<Area> _allAreas = new();
     private bool _loading = true;
 
@@ -247,6 +266,13 @@
         try
         {
             _templates = (await TemplateEngineRepository.GetAllTemplatesAsync()).ToList();
+            _folders = (await TemplateEngineRepository.GetAllFoldersAsync()).ToList();
+            _foldersById = _folders.ToDictionary(f => f.Id);
+            if (TemplateId is int tid)
+            {
+                if (_templates.Any(t => t.Id == tid)) _createTemplateId = tid;
+                else _templateHint = $"Template {tid} no longer exists — choose another.";
+            }
             // Site scoping (CentralUI-002): a scoped Deployment user may only
             // create instances on sites they are permitted on.
             _sites = await SiteScope.FilterSitesAsync(await SiteRepository.GetAllSitesAsync());
@@ -268,8 +294,8 @@
             }
 
 
-            // The query string can preselect a site; a template never is, so this
-            // no-ops today — kept so a future preselect gets the card for free.
+            // Query-string preselects (siteId + templateId) make this a real preview
+            // when both are present; it no-ops when either is missing.
             await OnTemplateOrSiteChangedAsync();
         }
         catch (Exception ex)
@@ -353,4 +379,22 @@
     // resolved through JwtTokenService rather than a duplicated magic string.
     private Task<string> GetCurrentUserAsync()
         => AuthStateProvider.GetCurrentUsernameAsync();
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Opens the folder-tree template picker. A pick clears any dangling-id hint and
+    /// re-runs the bindings preview; Cancel (or re-picking the same template) is a no-op.
+    /// </summary>
+    private async Task OpenTemplatePickerAsync()
+    {
+        if (_templates.Count == 0) return;
+        var picked = await Dialog.ShowAsync<TemplatePickerDialog.TemplatePickResult>(
+            "Choose template",
+            ctx => @<TemplatePickerDialog Context="ctx" Folders="_folders" Templates="_templates"
+                                          InitialTemplateId="@(_createTemplateId > 0 ? _createTemplateId : null)" />,
+            size: "modal-lg");
+        if (picked is null || picked.TemplateId == _createTemplateId) return;
+        _createTemplateId = picked.TemplateId;
+        _templateHint = null;
+        await OnTemplateOrSiteChangedAsync();
+    }
 }
diff --git a/tests/ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.CentralUI.Tests/Deployment/InstanceCreateTemplateFieldTests.cs b/tests/ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.CentralUI.Tests/Deployment/InstanceCreateTemplateFieldTests.cs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1c0fc3f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.CentralUI.Tests/Deployment/InstanceCreateTemplateFieldTests.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,215 @@
+using System.Security.Claims;
+using Bunit;
+using Bunit.TestDoubles;
+using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Components;
+using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Components.Rendering;
+using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Components.Authorization;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging.Abstractions;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Options;
+using NSubstitute;
+using ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.CentralUI.Components.Shared;
+using ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.Commons.Entities.Instances;
+using ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.Commons.Entities.Sites;
+using ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.Commons.Entities.Templates;
+using ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.Commons.Interfaces.Repositories;
+using ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.Commons.Interfaces.Services;
+using ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.Commons.Interfaces.Transport;
+using ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.Commons.Types;
+using ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.Commons.Types.Flattening;
+using ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.Communication;
+using ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.DeploymentManager;
+using ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.Security;
+using ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.TemplateEngine.Services;
+using InstanceCreatePage = ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.CentralUI.Components.Pages.Deployment.InstanceCreate;
+
+namespace ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.CentralUI.Tests.Deployment;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// bUnit tests for the Create Instance template field: a read-only path box plus a
+/// Choose… button that opens <c>TemplatePickerDialog</c>, and the <c>?templateId=</c>
+/// query preselect (including the dangling-id hint and the no-templates empty state).
+/// </summary>
+public class InstanceCreateTemplateFieldTests : BunitContext
+{
+    private readonly ITemplateEngineRepository _repo = Substitute.For<ITemplateEngineRepository>();
+    private readonly ISiteRepository _siteRepo = Substitute.For<ISiteRepository>();
+    private readonly IDeploymentManagerRepository _deployRepo = Substitute.For<IDeploymentManagerRepository>();
+    private readonly IFlatteningPipeline _pipeline = Substitute.For<IFlatteningPipeline>();
+    private readonly IAuditService _audit = Substitute.For<IAuditService>();
+    private readonly DialogService _dialog = new();
+
+    public InstanceCreateTemplateFieldTests()
+    {
+        Services.AddSingleton(_repo);
+        Services.AddSingleton(_siteRepo);
+        Services.AddSingleton(_deployRepo);
+        Services.AddSingleton(_pipeline);
+        Services.AddSingleton(_audit);
+        // The Connection Bindings card renders NodeBrowserDialog once a site is chosen.
+        Services.AddSingleton(Substitute.For<ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.CentralUI.Services.IBrowseService>());
+
+        // DeploymentService / InstanceService have non-mockable concrete deps;
+        // instantiate them directly (same block TopologyPageTests uses).
+        Services.AddSingleton(new CommunicationService(
+            Options.Create(new CommunicationOptions()),
+            NullLogger<CommunicationService>.Instance));
+        Services.AddSingleton(new OperationLockManager());
+        Services.AddSingleton(Options.Create(new DeploymentManagerOptions
+        {
+            OperationLockTimeout = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(5)
+        }));
+        Services.AddSingleton(Options.Create(new CommunicationOptions()));
+        Services.AddSingleton<ILogger<DeploymentService>>(NullLogger<DeploymentService>.Instance);
+        Services.AddScoped<ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.TemplateEngine.Flattening.DiffService>();
+        Services.AddScoped<ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.TemplateEngine.Flattening.RevisionHashService>();
+        Services.AddSingleton<IDeploymentStatusNotifier>(
+            new DeploymentStatusNotifier(NullLogger<DeploymentStatusNotifier>.Instance));
+        Services.AddSingleton(Substitute.For<IStaleInstanceProbe>());
+        Services.AddScoped<DeploymentService>();
+        Services.AddScoped<AreaService>();
+        Services.AddScoped<InstanceService>();
+        Services.AddScoped<ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.CentralUI.Auth.SiteScopeService>();
+
+        // A real DialogService behind a real DialogHost so Choose… actually opens.
+        Services.AddSingleton<IDialogService>(_dialog);
+
+        var claims = new[]
+        {
+            new Claim(JwtTokenService.UsernameClaimType, "tester"),
+            new Claim(JwtTokenService.RoleClaimType, "Deployer")
+        };
+        Services.AddSingleton<AuthenticationStateProvider>(
+            new TestAuthStateProvider(new ClaimsPrincipal(new ClaimsIdentity(claims, "TestAuth"))));
+        Services.AddAuthorizationCore();
+
+        JSInterop.Mode = JSRuntimeMode.Loose;
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>Folders A → B with template 7 "Deep"; folder Other with template 8 "Elsewhere".</summary>
+    private void SeedCatalogue(bool empty = false, bool withSite = false)
+    {
+        var folders = empty
+            ? new List<TemplateFolder>()
+            : new List<TemplateFolder>
+            {
+                new("A") { Id = 1 },
+                new("B") { Id = 2, ParentFolderId = 1 },
+                new("Other") { Id = 3 },
+            };
+        var templates = empty
+            ? new List<Template>()
+            : new List<Template>
+            {
+                new("Deep") { Id = 7, FolderId = 2 },
+                new("Elsewhere") { Id = 8, FolderId = 3 },
+            };
+
+        _repo.GetAllTemplatesAsync(Arg.Any<CancellationToken>())
+            .Returns(Task.FromResult<IReadOnlyList<Template>>(templates));
+        _repo.GetAllFoldersAsync(Arg.Any<CancellationToken>())
+            .Returns(Task.FromResult<IReadOnlyList<TemplateFolder>>(folders));
+
+        var sites = withSite
+            ? new List<Site> { new("Site A", "site-a") { Id = 1 } }
+            : new List<Site>();
+        _siteRepo.GetAllSitesAsync(Arg.Any<CancellationToken>())
+            .Returns(Task.FromResult<IReadOnlyList<Site>>(sites));
+        _siteRepo.GetDataConnectionsBySiteIdAsync(Arg.Any<int>(), Arg.Any<CancellationToken>())
+            .Returns(Task.FromResult<IReadOnlyList<DataConnection>>(new List<DataConnection>()));
+        _repo.GetAreasBySiteIdAsync(Arg.Any<int>(), Arg.Any<CancellationToken>())
+            .Returns(Task.FromResult<IReadOnlyList<Area>>(new List<Area>()));
+
+        _pipeline.PreviewAsync(Arg.Any<int>(), Arg.Any<int>(), Arg.Any<CancellationToken>())
+            .Returns(Task.FromResult(Result<FlattenedConfiguration>.Success(new FlattenedConfiguration())));
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Renders the page and a DialogHost side by side (as MainLayout does) after seeding
+    /// the query string. <c>[SupplyParameterFromQuery]</c> properties are cascading-only,
+    /// so they cannot be Add()-ed as ordinary parameters — the URL is the only way in.
+    /// </summary>
+    private IRenderedComponent<TestHostWrapper> RenderPage(int? templateId = null, int? siteId = null)
+    {
+        var query = new List<string>();
+        if (templateId is int t) query.Add($"templateId={t}");
+        if (siteId is int s) query.Add($"siteId={s}");
+        var nav = (BunitNavigationManager)Services.GetRequiredService<NavigationManager>();
+        nav.NavigateTo("/deployment/instances/create" + (query.Count > 0 ? "?" + string.Join("&", query) : ""));
+        return Render<TestHostWrapper>();
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>Wrapper that renders InstanceCreate next to a DialogHost, as MainLayout does.</summary>
+    public sealed class TestHostWrapper : ComponentBase
+    {
+        protected override void BuildRenderTree(RenderTreeBuilder builder)
+        {
+            builder.OpenComponent<InstanceCreatePage>(0);
+            builder.CloseComponent();
+            builder.OpenComponent<DialogHost>(1);
+            builder.CloseComponent();
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static void ExpandFolder(IRenderedComponent<TestHostWrapper> cut, string label) =>
+        cut.FindAll("li[role='treeitem']")
+           .First(li => li.QuerySelector(".tv-label")!.TextContent.Trim() == label)
+           .QuerySelector(".tv-toggle")!.Click();
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void TemplateField_IsReadOnlyWithChooseButton_AndPlaceholder()
+    {
+        SeedCatalogue();
+        var cut = RenderPage();
+        var field = cut.Find("input[data-test='create-template']");
+        Assert.True(field.HasAttribute("readonly"));
+        Assert.Equal("Choose a template…", field.GetAttribute("placeholder"));
+        Assert.NotNull(cut.Find("button[data-test='create-template-choose']"));
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void TemplateIdQuery_PrefillsFieldWithFolderPath()
+    {
+        SeedCatalogue();
+        var cut = RenderPage(templateId: 7);
+        Assert.Equal("A / B / Deep", cut.Find("input[data-test='create-template']").GetAttribute("value"));
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void UnknownTemplateIdQuery_LeavesFieldEmpty_AndShowsHint()
+    {
+        SeedCatalogue();
+        var cut = RenderPage(templateId: 999);
+        Assert.Equal("", cut.Find("input[data-test='create-template']").GetAttribute("value") ?? "");
+        Assert.Contains("Template 999 no longer exists", cut.Markup);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void NoTemplates_DisablesChoose_AndLinksToTemplatesPage()
+    {
+        SeedCatalogue(empty: true);
+        var cut = RenderPage();
+        Assert.True(cut.Find("button[data-test='create-template-choose']").HasAttribute("disabled"));
+        Assert.Contains("/design/templates", cut.Markup);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task ChoosingInPicker_SetsTemplate_AndRePreviewsBindingsWhenSiteSet()
+    {
+        SeedCatalogue(withSite: true);
+        var cut = RenderPage(siteId: 1);
+
+        cut.Find("button[data-test='create-template-choose']").Click();
+        cut.WaitForAssertion(() => Assert.NotNull(cut.Find("button[data-test='picker-select']")));
+
+        ExpandFolder(cut, "A");
+        ExpandFolder(cut, "B");
+        cut.FindAll(".tv-label").First(l => l.TextContent.Trim() == "Deep").Click();
+        cut.Find("button[data-test='picker-select']").Click();
+
+        cut.WaitForAssertion(() => Assert.Equal(
+            "A / B / Deep", cut.Find("input[data-test='create-template']").GetAttribute("value")));
+        await _pipeline.Received(1).PreviewAsync(7, 1, Arg.Any<CancellationToken>());
+    }
+}