diff --git a/web/src/lib/components/shared-components/side-bar/admin-side-bar.svelte b/web/src/lib/components/shared-components/side-bar/admin-side-bar.svelte
index 0d79ae9611..658c029fd8 100644
--- a/web/src/lib/components/shared-components/side-bar/admin-side-bar.svelte
+++ b/web/src/lib/components/shared-components/side-bar/admin-side-bar.svelte
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 <script lang="ts">
-  import { page } from '$app/stores';
-  import SideBarButton from '$lib/components/shared-components/side-bar/side-bar-button.svelte';
+  import SideBarLink from '$lib/components/shared-components/side-bar/side-bar-link.svelte';
   import SideBarSection from '$lib/components/shared-components/side-bar/side-bar-section.svelte';
   import StatusBox from '$lib/components/shared-components/status-box.svelte';
   import { AppRoute } from '$lib/constants';
@@ -8,32 +7,15 @@
 </script>
 
 <SideBarSection>
-  <a data-sveltekit-preload-data="hover" href={AppRoute.ADMIN_USER_MANAGEMENT} draggable="false">
-    <SideBarButton
-      title="Users"
-      icon={mdiAccountMultipleOutline}
-      isSelected={$page.route.id === AppRoute.ADMIN_USER_MANAGEMENT}
-    />
-  </a>
-  <a data-sveltekit-preload-data="hover" href={AppRoute.ADMIN_JOBS} draggable="false">
-    <SideBarButton title="Jobs" icon={mdiSync} isSelected={$page.route.id === AppRoute.ADMIN_JOBS} />
-  </a>
-  <a data-sveltekit-preload-data="hover" href={AppRoute.ADMIN_SETTINGS} draggable="false">
-    <SideBarButton title="Settings" icon={mdiCog} isSelected={$page.route.id === AppRoute.ADMIN_SETTINGS} />
-  </a>
-  <a data-sveltekit-preload-data="hover" href={AppRoute.ADMIN_LIBRARY_MANAGEMENT} draggable="false">
-    <SideBarButton
-      title="External Libraries"
-      icon={mdiBookshelf}
-      isSelected={$page.route.id === AppRoute.ADMIN_LIBRARY_MANAGEMENT}
-    />
-  </a>
-  <a data-sveltekit-preload-data="hover" href={AppRoute.ADMIN_STATS} draggable="false">
-    <SideBarButton title="Server Stats" icon={mdiServer} isSelected={$page.route.id === AppRoute.ADMIN_STATS} />
-  </a>
-  <a data-sveltekit-preload-data="off" href={AppRoute.ADMIN_REPAIR} draggable="false">
-    <SideBarButton title="Repair" icon={mdiTools} isSelected={$page.route.id === AppRoute.ADMIN_REPAIR} />
-  </a>
+  <nav aria-label="Primary">
+    <SideBarLink title="Users" routeId={AppRoute.ADMIN_USER_MANAGEMENT} icon={mdiAccountMultipleOutline} />
+    <SideBarLink title="Jobs" routeId={AppRoute.ADMIN_JOBS} icon={mdiSync} />
+    <SideBarLink title="Settings" routeId={AppRoute.ADMIN_SETTINGS} icon={mdiCog} />
+    <SideBarLink title="External Libraries" routeId={AppRoute.ADMIN_LIBRARY_MANAGEMENT} icon={mdiBookshelf} />
+    <SideBarLink title="Server Stats" routeId={AppRoute.ADMIN_STATS} icon={mdiServer} />
+    <SideBarLink title="Repair" routeId={AppRoute.ADMIN_REPAIR} icon={mdiTools} preloadData={false} />
+  </nav>
+
   <div class="mb-6 mt-auto">
     <StatusBox />
   </div>
diff --git a/web/src/lib/components/shared-components/side-bar/side-bar-button.svelte b/web/src/lib/components/shared-components/side-bar/side-bar-link.svelte
similarity index 78%
rename from web/src/lib/components/shared-components/side-bar/side-bar-button.svelte
rename to web/src/lib/components/shared-components/side-bar/side-bar-link.svelte
index fbefb2eb5c..c3816863aa 100644
--- a/web/src/lib/components/shared-components/side-bar/side-bar-button.svelte
+++ b/web/src/lib/components/shared-components/side-bar/side-bar-link.svelte
@@ -1,26 +1,27 @@
 <script lang="ts">
-  import { createEventDispatcher } from 'svelte';
   import { fade } from 'svelte/transition';
   import Icon from '$lib/components/elements/icon.svelte';
   import { mdiInformationOutline } from '@mdi/js';
+  import { resolveRoute } from '$app/paths';
+  import { page } from '$app/stores';
 
   export let title: string;
+  export let routeId: string;
   export let icon: string;
-  export let isSelected: boolean;
   export let flippedLogo = false;
+  export let isSelected = false;
+  export let preloadData = true;
 
   let showMoreInformation = false;
-
-  const dispatch = createEventDispatcher<{
-    selected: void;
-  }>();
-  const onButtonClicked = () => dispatch('selected');
+  $: routePath = resolveRoute(routeId, {});
+  $: isSelected = $page.route.id === routeId;
 </script>
 
-<!-- svelte-ignore a11y-no-static-element-interactions -->
-<div
-  on:click={onButtonClicked}
-  on:keydown={onButtonClicked}
+<a
+  href={routePath}
+  data-sveltekit-preload-data={preloadData ? 'hover' : 'off'}
+  draggable="false"
+  aria-current={isSelected ? 'page' : undefined}
   class="flex w-full place-items-center justify-between gap-4 rounded-r-full py-3 transition-[padding] delay-100 duration-100 hover:cursor-pointer hover:bg-immich-gray hover:text-immich-primary dark:text-immich-dark-fg dark:hover:bg-immich-dark-gray dark:hover:text-immich-dark-primary
     {isSelected
     ? 'bg-immich-primary/10 text-immich-primary hover:bg-immich-primary/25 dark:bg-immich-dark-primary/10 dark:text-immich-dark-primary'
@@ -29,14 +30,15 @@
   "
 >
   <div class="flex w-full place-items-center gap-4 overflow-hidden truncate">
-    <Icon path={icon} size="1.5em" class="shrink-0" flipped={flippedLogo} />
-    <p class="text-sm font-medium">{title}</p>
+    <Icon path={icon} size="1.5em" class="shrink-0" flipped={flippedLogo} ariaHidden />
+    <span class="text-sm font-medium">{title}</span>
   </div>
 
   <div
     class="h-0 overflow-hidden transition-[height] delay-1000 duration-100 sm:group-hover:h-auto group-hover:sm:overflow-visible md:h-auto md:overflow-visible"
   >
     {#if $$slots.moreInformation}
+      <!-- svelte-ignore a11y-no-static-element-interactions -->
       <div
         class="relative flex cursor-default select-none justify-center"
         on:mouseenter={() => (showMoreInformation = true)}
@@ -60,4 +62,4 @@
       </div>
     {/if}
   </div>
-</div>
+</a>
diff --git a/web/src/lib/components/shared-components/side-bar/side-bar.svelte b/web/src/lib/components/shared-components/side-bar/side-bar.svelte
index cb59511ffa..cfb0a6bde3 100644
--- a/web/src/lib/components/shared-components/side-bar/side-bar.svelte
+++ b/web/src/lib/components/shared-components/side-bar/side-bar.svelte
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 <script lang="ts">
-  import { page } from '$app/stores';
   import { locale, sidebarSettings } from '$lib/stores/preferences.store';
   import { featureFlags } from '$lib/stores/server-config.store';
   import { getAlbumCount, getAssetStatistics } from '@immich/sdk';
@@ -17,11 +16,10 @@
     mdiMap,
     mdiTrashCanOutline,
   } from '@mdi/js';
-  import { AppRoute } from '../../../constants';
   import LoadingSpinner from '../loading-spinner.svelte';
   import StatusBox from '../status-box.svelte';
-  import SideBarButton from './side-bar-button.svelte';
   import SideBarSection from './side-bar-section.svelte';
+  import SideBarLink from './side-bar-link.svelte';
 
   const getStats = (dto: Parameters<typeof getAssetStatistics>[0]) => getAssetStatistics(dto);
 
@@ -33,18 +31,18 @@
     }
   };
 
-  const isFavoritesSelected = $page.route.id === '/(user)/favorites';
-  const isPhotosSelected = $page.route.id === '/(user)/photos';
-  const isSharingSelected = $page.route.id === '/(user)/sharing';
-  const isTrashSelected = $page.route.id === '/(user)/trash';
+  let isFavoritesSelected: boolean;
+  let isPhotosSelected: boolean;
+  let isSharingSelected: boolean;
 </script>
 
 <SideBarSection>
-  <a data-sveltekit-preload-data="hover" data-sveltekit-noscroll href={AppRoute.PHOTOS} draggable="false">
-    <SideBarButton
+  <nav aria-label="Primary">
+    <SideBarLink
       title="Photos"
+      routeId="/(user)/photos"
+      bind:isSelected={isPhotosSelected}
       icon={isPhotosSelected ? mdiImageMultiple : mdiImageMultipleOutline}
-      isSelected={isPhotosSelected}
     >
       <svelte:fragment slot="moreInformation">
         {#await getStats({ isArchived: false })}
@@ -56,29 +54,24 @@
           </div>
         {/await}
       </svelte:fragment>
-    </SideBarButton>
-  </a>
-  {#if $featureFlags.search}
-    <a data-sveltekit-preload-data="hover" data-sveltekit-noscroll href={AppRoute.EXPLORE} draggable="false">
-      <SideBarButton title="Explore" icon={mdiMagnify} isSelected={$page.route.id === '/(user)/explore'} />
-    </a>
-  {/if}
-  {#if $featureFlags.map}
-    <a data-sveltekit-preload-data="hover" href={AppRoute.MAP} draggable="false">
-      <SideBarButton title="Map" icon={mdiMap} isSelected={$page.route.id === '/(user)/map'} />
-    </a>
-  {/if}
-  {#if $sidebarSettings.people}
-    <a data-sveltekit-preload-data="hover" href={AppRoute.PEOPLE} draggable="false">
-      <SideBarButton title="People" icon={mdiAccount} isSelected={$page.route.id === '/(user)/people'} />
-    </a>
-  {/if}
-  {#if $sidebarSettings.sharing}
-    <a data-sveltekit-preload-data="hover" href={AppRoute.SHARING} draggable="false">
-      <SideBarButton
+    </SideBarLink>
+    {#if $featureFlags.search}
+      <SideBarLink title="Explore" routeId="/(user)/explore" icon={mdiMagnify} />
+    {/if}
+
+    {#if $featureFlags.map}
+      <SideBarLink title="Map" routeId="/(user)/map" icon={mdiMap} />
+    {/if}
+
+    {#if $sidebarSettings.people}
+      <SideBarLink title="People" routeId="/(user)/people" icon={mdiAccount} />
+    {/if}
+    {#if $sidebarSettings.sharing}
+      <SideBarLink
         title="Sharing"
+        routeId="/(user)/sharing"
         icon={isSharingSelected ? mdiAccountMultiple : mdiAccountMultipleOutline}
-        isSelected={isSharingSelected}
+        bind:isSelected={isSharingSelected}
       >
         <svelte:fragment slot="moreInformation">
           {#await handleAlbumCount()}
@@ -89,19 +82,18 @@
             </div>
           {/await}
         </svelte:fragment>
-      </SideBarButton>
-    </a>
-  {/if}
+      </SideBarLink>
+    {/if}
 
-  <div class="text-xs transition-all duration-200 dark:text-immich-dark-fg">
-    <p class="hidden p-6 group-hover:sm:block md:block">LIBRARY</p>
-    <hr class="mx-4 mb-[31px] mt-8 block group-hover:sm:hidden md:hidden" />
-  </div>
-  <a data-sveltekit-preload-data="hover" href={AppRoute.FAVORITES} draggable="false">
-    <SideBarButton
+    <div class="text-xs transition-all duration-200 dark:text-immich-dark-fg">
+      <p class="hidden p-6 group-hover:sm:block md:block">LIBRARY</p>
+      <hr class="mx-4 mb-[31px] mt-8 block group-hover:sm:hidden md:hidden" />
+    </div>
+    <SideBarLink
       title="Favorites"
+      routeId="/(user)/favorites"
       icon={isFavoritesSelected ? mdiHeartMultiple : mdiHeartMultipleOutline}
-      isSelected={isFavoritesSelected}
+      bind:isSelected={isFavoritesSelected}
     >
       <svelte:fragment slot="moreInformation">
         {#await getStats({ isFavorite: true })}
@@ -113,15 +105,8 @@
           </div>
         {/await}
       </svelte:fragment>
-    </SideBarButton>
-  </a>
-  <a data-sveltekit-preload-data="hover" href={AppRoute.ALBUMS} draggable="false">
-    <SideBarButton
-      title="Albums"
-      icon={mdiImageAlbum}
-      flippedLogo={true}
-      isSelected={$page.route.id === '/(user)/albums'}
-    >
+    </SideBarLink>
+    <SideBarLink title="Albums" routeId="/(user)/albums" icon={mdiImageAlbum} flippedLogo>
       <svelte:fragment slot="moreInformation">
         {#await handleAlbumCount()}
           <LoadingSpinner />
@@ -131,10 +116,9 @@
           </div>
         {/await}
       </svelte:fragment>
-    </SideBarButton>
-  </a>
-  <a data-sveltekit-preload-data="hover" href={AppRoute.ARCHIVE} draggable="false">
-    <SideBarButton title="Archive" icon={mdiArchiveArrowDownOutline} isSelected={$page.route.id === '/(user)/archive'}>
+    </SideBarLink>
+
+    <SideBarLink title="Archive" routeId="/(user)/archive" icon={mdiArchiveArrowDownOutline}>
       <svelte:fragment slot="moreInformation">
         {#await getStats({ isArchived: true })}
           <LoadingSpinner />
@@ -145,12 +129,10 @@
           </div>
         {/await}
       </svelte:fragment>
-    </SideBarButton>
-  </a>
+    </SideBarLink>
 
-  {#if $featureFlags.trash}
-    <a data-sveltekit-preload-data="hover" href={AppRoute.TRASH} draggable="false">
-      <SideBarButton title="Trash" icon={mdiTrashCanOutline} isSelected={isTrashSelected}>
+    {#if $featureFlags.trash}
+      <SideBarLink title="Trash" routeId="/(user)/trash" icon={mdiTrashCanOutline}>
         <svelte:fragment slot="moreInformation">
           {#await getStats({ isTrashed: true })}
             <LoadingSpinner />
@@ -161,9 +143,9 @@
             </div>
           {/await}
         </svelte:fragment>
-      </SideBarButton>
-    </a>
-  {/if}
+      </SideBarLink>
+    {/if}
+  </nav>
 
   <!-- Status Box -->
   <div class="mb-6 mt-auto">