diff --git a/apps/files_versions/src/views/FilesVersionsSidebarTab.spec.ts b/apps/files_versions/src/views/FilesVersionsSidebarTab.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..e3a92b9542f83
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/files_versions/src/views/FilesVersionsSidebarTab.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+/**
+ * SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2026 Nextcloud GmbH and Nextcloud contributors
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
+ */
+
+import { flushPromises, mount } from '@vue/test-utils'
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { defineComponent, h } from 'vue'
+
+const viewer = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+	canCompare: vi.fn(() => true),
+	canView: vi.fn(() => true),
+	getViewer: vi.fn(),
+}))
+vi.mock('@nextcloud/viewer', () => viewer)
+// On a phone there is no room for two versions side by side
+vi.mock('@nextcloud/vue/composables/useIsMobile', async () => {
+	const { ref } = await import('vue')
+	return { useIsMobile: () => ref(false) }
+})
+
+vi.mock('../utils/versions.ts', () => ({
+	fetchVersions: vi.fn(async () => [{ mtime: 1, fileVersion: '1', label: '', basename: 'notes.md' }]),
+	deleteVersion: vi.fn(),
+	restoreVersion: vi.fn(),
+	setVersionLabel: vi.fn(),
+	versionToNode: vi.fn(),
+}))
+
+// The list renders its rows in a slot only once it has measured itself:
+// render them all here, the entries are what is tested
+vi.mock('../components/VirtualScrolling.vue', () => ({
+	default: defineComponent({
+		props: ['sections', 'headerHeight'],
+		setup(props, { slots }) {
+			return () => h('div', slots.default?.({ visibleSections: props.sections }))
+		},
+	}),
+}))
+
+vi.mock('../components/VersionEntry.vue', () => ({
+	default: defineComponent({
+		name: 'VersionEntry',
+		props: ['canView', 'canCompare', 'loadPreview', 'version', 'node', 'isCurrent', 'isFirstVersion'],
+		setup: () => () => h('li'),
+	}),
+}))
+
+import FilesVersionsSidebarTab from './FilesVersionsSidebarTab.vue'
+
+/**
+ * Show the versions tab of a markdown file.
+ */
+async function mountTab() {
+	const node = { id: 1, fileid: 1, mime: 'text/markdown', mtime: new Date(2), basename: 'notes.md' }
+	const wrapper = mount(FilesVersionsSidebarTab, { props: { active: true, node } as never })
+	await flushPromises()
+	return { wrapper, node }
+}
+
+beforeEach(() => vi.clearAllMocks())
+
+describe('comparing two versions', () => {
+	// It used to be offered for pictures only, until the viewer could say
+	// which of its handlers compare: Text does, and is not a picture
+	it('is offered where the viewer says it is worth it', async () => {
+		viewer.canCompare.mockReturnValue(true)
+		const { wrapper, node } = await mountTab()
+
+		expect(viewer.canCompare).toHaveBeenCalledWith(node)
+		expect(wrapper.findComponent({ name: 'VersionEntry' }).props('canCompare')).toBe(true)
+	})
+
+	it('is not offered where the viewer says it is not', async () => {
+		viewer.canCompare.mockReturnValue(false)
+		const { wrapper } = await mountTab()
+
+		expect(wrapper.findComponent({ name: 'VersionEntry' }).props('canCompare')).toBe(false)
+	})
+})
diff --git a/apps/files_versions/src/views/FilesVersionsSidebarTab.vue b/apps/files_versions/src/views/FilesVersionsSidebarTab.vue
index 839fb82d31936..6b3da37331dcb 100644
--- a/apps/files_versions/src/views/FilesVersionsSidebarTab.vue
+++ b/apps/files_versions/src/views/FilesVersionsSidebarTab.vue
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ import type { Version } from '../utils/versions.ts'
 import { showError, showSuccess } from '@nextcloud/dialogs'
 import { emit } from '@nextcloud/event-bus'
 import { t } from '@nextcloud/l10n'
-import { getViewer, canView as viewerCanView } from '@nextcloud/viewer'
+import { getViewer, canCompare as viewerCanCompare, canView as viewerCanView } from '@nextcloud/viewer'
 import { useIsMobile } from '@nextcloud/vue/composables/useIsMobile'
 import { watchDebounced } from '@vueuse/core'
 import { computed, ref, watch } from 'vue'
@@ -117,14 +117,12 @@ const initialVersionMtime = computed(() => {
 
 const canView = computed(() => props.node !== null && viewerCanView(props.node))
 
-// Comparison puts two files side by side, which needs the width for it and
-// only means something for a picture: two clips or two recordings playing
-// next to each other say nothing about what changed between them. The old
-// viewer asked each handler through a `canCompare` flag, which the package
-// does not carry yet; until it does, the mime is what decides.
+// Comparison puts two files side by side, which needs the width for it, and
+// is only offered where the handler showing the file says it means
+// something: two pictures or two documents, not two clips playing at once.
 const canCompare = computed(() => !isMobile.value
-	&& canView.value
-	&& (props.node?.mime ?? '').startsWith('image/'))
+	&& props.node !== null
+	&& viewerCanCompare(props.node))
 
 // When either the current node to show or its mtime changes we need to refetch the versions
 // When the id changed we immediately show changes
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 9dcaea28a251f..4eaeddaf336ef 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
         "@nextcloud/paths": "^3.1.0",
         "@nextcloud/router": "^3.2.0",
         "@nextcloud/sharing": "^1.0.0-beta.4",
-        "@nextcloud/viewer": "^2.0.0-beta.14",
+        "@nextcloud/viewer": "^2.0.0-beta.15",
         "@nextcloud/vue": "^9.12.0",
         "@simplewebauthn/browser": "^14.0.0",
         "@vueuse/core": "^15.0.0",
@@ -2202,9 +2202,9 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@nextcloud/viewer": {
-      "version": "2.0.0-beta.14",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@nextcloud/viewer/-/viewer-2.0.0-beta.14.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-1we9o780BP/HQBZhcz+czM76yq8Df1smWLj5JhKPQXs+jcAuAeaK5u490qwdZKHr4n4Voqsz0H6sdVU+3vG+VQ==",
+      "version": "2.0.0-beta.15",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@nextcloud/viewer/-/viewer-2.0.0-beta.15.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-kRLwIWB50B/2IbyGqYlNJIDxpnFt1yyI7zV3Qps+Q2mp9F0I/Nnw/OBkm0NNbDP3PL5o4tcVVq/4Psfuw2izag==",
       "license": "AGPL-3.0-or-later",
       "dependencies": {
         "@mdi/svg": "^7.4.47",
@@ -2226,6 +2226,7 @@
         "@nextcloud/dialogs": "^7.5.0",
         "@nextcloud/event-bus": "^3.3.3",
         "@nextcloud/files": "^4.0.0",
+        "@nextcloud/initial-state": "^3.0.0",
         "@nextcloud/l10n": "^3.4.1",
         "@nextcloud/paths": "^3.1.0",
         "@nextcloud/router": "^3.1.0",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 8dff1d4790f07..bd57e2bd12a36 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
     "@nextcloud/paths": "^3.1.0",
     "@nextcloud/router": "^3.2.0",
     "@nextcloud/sharing": "^1.0.0-beta.4",
-    "@nextcloud/viewer": "^2.0.0-beta.14",
+    "@nextcloud/viewer": "^2.0.0-beta.15",
     "@nextcloud/vue": "^9.12.0",
     "@simplewebauthn/browser": "^14.0.0",
     "@vueuse/core": "^15.0.0",