diff --git a/__tests__/dark-mode-switcher-empty.test.tsx b/__tests__/dark-mode-switcher-empty.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..05dd5ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/__tests__/dark-mode-switcher-empty.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,125 @@
+import { render, screen } from "@testing-library/react";
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import DarkModeSwitcher, { DarkModeSwitcherEmptyState } from "@/app/components/DarkModeSwitcher";
+
+describe("DarkModeSwitcher - empty list display views #313", () => {
+  describe("empty state when isDarkMode is null/undefined", () => {
+    it("renders empty placeholder when isDarkMode is null", () => {
+      render(<DarkModeSwitcher isDarkMode={null} onToggle={vi.fn()} />);
+      expect(screen.getByTestId("dark-mode-switcher-empty-state")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
+    it("renders empty placeholder when isDarkMode is undefined", () => {
+      render(<DarkModeSwitcher isDarkMode={undefined} onToggle={vi.fn()} />);
+      expect(screen.getByTestId("dark-mode-switcher-empty-state")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
+    it("does NOT render switch when empty", () => {
+      render(<DarkModeSwitcher isDarkMode={null} onToggle={vi.fn()} />);
+      expect(screen.queryByRole("switch")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
+    it("does not render empty state when isDarkMode is false (valid light mode)", () => {
+      render(<DarkModeSwitcher isDarkMode={false} onToggle={vi.fn()} />);
+      expect(screen.queryByTestId("dark-mode-switcher-empty-state")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+      expect(screen.getByRole("switch")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
+    it("does not render empty state when isDarkMode is true", () => {
+      render(<DarkModeSwitcher isDarkMode={true} onToggle={vi.fn()} />);
+      expect(screen.queryByTestId("dark-mode-switcher-empty-state")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
+    it("does not render empty when loading (loading takes precedence)", () => {
+      render(<DarkModeSwitcher isDarkMode={null} loading onToggle={vi.fn()} />);
+      expect(screen.queryByTestId("dark-mode-switcher-empty-state")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+      expect(screen.getByRole("status")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("empty state UI elements - descriptive placeholder", () => {
+    it("has region role with aria-label No theme preferences", () => {
+      render(<DarkModeSwitcher isDarkMode={null} onToggle={vi.fn()} />);
+      expect(screen.getByRole("region", { name: "No theme preferences" })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
+    it("shows title No theme preferences available", () => {
+      render(<DarkModeSwitcher isDarkMode={null} onToggle={vi.fn()} />);
+      expect(screen.getByText("No theme preferences available")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
+    it("shows descriptive copy about theme data is empty", () => {
+      render(<DarkModeSwitcher isDarkMode={null} onToggle={vi.fn()} />);
+      expect(screen.getByText(/Theme data is empty/)).toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
+    it("shows illustrative copy about default light theme", () => {
+      render(<DarkModeSwitcher isDarkMode={null} onToggle={vi.fn()} />);
+      expect(screen.getByText(/default light theme/)).toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
+    it("shows Waiting for theme data badge", () => {
+      render(<DarkModeSwitcher isDarkMode={null} onToggle={vi.fn()} />);
+      expect(screen.getByText("Waiting for theme data")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
+    it("has decorative icon hidden from AT (aria-hidden)", () => {
+      const { container } = render(<DarkModeSwitcher isDarkMode={null} onToggle={vi.fn()} />);
+      const hidden = container.querySelector("[aria-hidden=\"true\"]");
+      expect(hidden).toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
+    it("uses design tokens: border-border-strong bg-surface-card rounded-xl", () => {
+      render(<DarkModeSwitcher isDarkMode={null} onToggle={vi.fn()} />);
+      const el = screen.getByTestId("dark-mode-switcher-empty-state");
+      expect(el.className).toContain("border-border-strong");
+      expect(el.className).toContain("bg-surface-card");
+      expect(el.className).toContain("rounded-xl");
+    });
+
+    it("uses text-text-primary and text-text-muted for contrast", () => {
+      render(<DarkModeSwitcher isDarkMode={null} onToggle={vi.fn()} />);
+      expect(screen.getByText("No theme preferences available").className).toContain("text-text-primary");
+      expect(screen.getByText(/Theme data is empty/).className).toContain("text-text-muted");
+    });
+
+    it("has centered layout (items-center justify-center text-center)", () => {
+      render(<DarkModeSwitcher isDarkMode={null} onToggle={vi.fn()} />);
+      const el = screen.getByTestId("dark-mode-switcher-empty-state");
+      expect(el.className).toContain("items-center");
+      expect(el.className).toContain("justify-center");
+      expect(el.className).toContain("text-center");
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("DarkModeSwitcherEmptyState component directly", () => {
+    it("renders standalone empty state", () => {
+      render(<DarkModeSwitcherEmptyState />);
+      expect(screen.getByTestId("dark-mode-switcher-empty-state")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
+    it("accepts custom className", () => {
+      render(<DarkModeSwitcherEmptyState className="mt-4" />);
+      expect(screen.getByTestId("dark-mode-switcher-empty-state").className).toContain("mt-4");
+    });
+
+    it("has correct test id and roles", () => {
+      render(<DarkModeSwitcherEmptyState />);
+      const el = screen.getByTestId("dark-mode-switcher-empty-state");
+      expect(el).toHaveAttribute("role", "region");
+      expect(el).toHaveAttribute("aria-label", "No theme preferences");
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("not empty - normal rendering", () => {
+    it("renders switch for light mode with correct aria", () => {
+      render(<DarkModeSwitcher isDarkMode={false} onToggle={vi.fn()} />);
+      expect(screen.getByRole("switch")).toHaveAttribute("aria-checked", "false");
+    });
+
+    it("renders switch for dark mode with correct aria", () => {
+      render(<DarkModeSwitcher isDarkMode={true} onToggle={vi.fn()} />);
+      expect(screen.getByRole("switch")).toHaveAttribute("aria-checked", "true");
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/app/components/DarkModeSwitcher.tsx b/app/components/DarkModeSwitcher.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..65dfc26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/components/DarkModeSwitcher.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,169 @@
+"use client";
+
+import ButtonSpinner from "./ButtonSpinner";
+
+export interface DarkModeSwitcherProps {
+  /** Current theme state: true = dark, false = light, null/undefined = empty/no data */
+  isDarkMode?: boolean | null;
+  /** Toggle handler */
+  onToggle?: () => void;
+  /** Whether the switch is disabled */
+  disabled?: boolean;
+  /** Loading state - shows spinner */
+  loading?: boolean;
+  /** Optional id for the control */
+  id?: string;
+  /** Additional className */
+  className?: string;
+  /** Accessible label override */
+  ariaLabel?: string;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Empty state view for DarkModeSwitcher.
+ * Displayed when theme data is unavailable (isDarkMode is null/undefined).
+ * Uses design tokens and is fully accessible.
+ */
+export function DarkModeSwitcherEmptyState({
+  className = "",
+}: {
+  className?: string;
+}) {
+  return (
+    <div
+      data-testid="dark-mode-switcher-empty-state"
+      role="region"
+      aria-label="No theme preferences"
+      className={`flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-2 rounded-xl border border-border-strong bg-surface-card p-6 text-center ${className}`}
+    >
+      <div
+        aria-hidden="true"
+        className="flex h-10 w-10 items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-surface-field border border-border-subtle text-text-muted text-lg"
+      >
+        &#9790;
+      </div>
+      <p className="text-sm font-semibold text-text-primary">
+        No theme preferences available
+      </p>
+      <p className="max-w-xs text-xs text-text-muted">
+        Theme data is empty. Once theme preferences are configured, the
+        dark/light toggle will appear here. You can still browse in the default
+        light theme.
+      </p>
+      <span
+        aria-hidden="true"
+        className="mt-1 text-xs px-2 py-1 rounded-full border border-border-subtle bg-surface-field text-text-muted"
+      >
+        Waiting for theme data
+      </span>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+export default function DarkModeSwitcher({
+  isDarkMode,
+  onToggle,
+  disabled = false,
+  loading = false,
+  id,
+  className = "",
+  ariaLabel,
+}: DarkModeSwitcherProps) {
+  const checked = Boolean(isDarkMode);
+  const isEmpty = isDarkMode === null || isDarkMode === undefined;
+  const isDisabled = disabled || loading;
+
+  // Empty state - descriptive placeholder when no data
+  if (isEmpty && !loading) {
+    return <DarkModeSwitcherEmptyState className={className} />;
+  }
+
+  // Loading state
+  if (loading) {
+    return (
+      <span
+        data-testid="dark-mode-switcher"
+        data-state="loading"
+        role="status"
+        aria-live="polite"
+        aria-label="Loading theme"
+        className={`inline-flex items-center gap-2 rounded-full border border-border-subtle bg-surface-field px-3 py-1.5 text-sm text-text-muted ${className}`}
+      >
+        <ButtonSpinner className="h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+        <span>Loading theme...</span>
+      </span>
+    );
+  }
+
+  const label = ariaLabel ?? (checked ? "Switch to light mode" : "Switch to dark mode");
+
+  const handleKeyDown = (e: React.KeyboardEvent<HTMLButtonElement>) => {
+    if (isDisabled) return;
+    if (e.key === " " || e.key === "Enter") {
+      e.preventDefault();
+      onToggle?.();
+    }
+  };
+
+  const handleClick = () => {
+    if (isDisabled) return;
+    onToggle?.();
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <button
+      id={id}
+      data-testid="dark-mode-switcher"
+      data-state={checked ? "dark" : "light"}
+      role="switch"
+      aria-checked={checked}
+      aria-label={label}
+      aria-disabled={isDisabled}
+      disabled={isDisabled}
+      tabIndex={isDisabled ? -1 : 0}
+      onClick={handleClick}
+      onKeyDown={handleKeyDown}
+      className={[
+        // base layout
+        "relative inline-flex h-7 w-12 items-center rounded-full p-1",
+        // transition & cursor
+        "transition-colors duration-200 ease-in-out",
+        "cursor-pointer disabled:cursor-not-allowed disabled:opacity-50",
+        // colors - accessible contrast using design tokens
+        checked
+          ? "bg-accent hover:bg-accent-hover"
+          : "bg-surface-field border border-border-subtle hover:bg-surface-field/80",
+        // focus-visible premium ring
+        "focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-accent focus-visible:ring-offset-2 focus-visible:ring-offset-surface-page",
+        // hover / focus tokens
+        "hover:shadow-sm focus-visible:shadow-md",
+        className,
+      ].join(" ")}
+    >
+      <span className="sr-only">{label}</span>
+      <span
+        aria-hidden="true"
+        data-testid="dark-mode-switcher-thumb"
+        className={[
+          "inline-block h-5 w-5 transform rounded-full bg-white shadow-sm",
+          "transition-transform duration-200 ease-in-out",
+          checked ? "translate-x-5" : "translate-x-0",
+          "ring-0",
+        ].join(" ")}
+      />
+      {/* Decorative icons - hidden from AT */}
+      <span
+        aria-hidden="true"
+        className={`pointer-events-none absolute left-1.5 text-[10px] leading-none transition-opacity duration-200 ${checked ? "opacity-60 text-white" : "opacity-0"}`}
+      >
+        &#9790;
+      </span>
+      <span
+        aria-hidden="true"
+        className={`pointer-events-none absolute right-1.5 text-[10px] leading-none transition-opacity duration-200 ${checked ? "opacity-0" : "opacity-60 text-text-muted"}`}
+      >
+        &#9788;
+      </span>
+    </button>
+  );
+}