diff --git a/frontend/controller/actions/identity.js b/frontend/controller/actions/identity.js
index ee3e513579..fb4741002e 100644
--- a/frontend/controller/actions/identity.js
+++ b/frontend/controller/actions/identity.js
@@ -673,5 +673,6 @@ export default (sbp('sbp/selectors/register', {
     return sbp('okTurtles.eventQueue/queueEvent', 'ACTIONS-LOGIN', ['gi.actions/identity/_private/logout', ...params])
   },
   ...encryptedAction('gi.actions/identity/saveFileDeleteToken', L('Failed to save delete tokens for the attachments.')),
-  ...encryptedAction('gi.actions/identity/removeFileDeleteToken', L('Failed to remove delete tokens for the attachments.'))
+  ...encryptedAction('gi.actions/identity/removeFileDeleteToken', L('Failed to remove delete tokens for the attachments.')),
+  ...encryptedAction('gi.actions/identity/setGroupAttributes', L('Failed to set group attributes.'))
 }): string[])
diff --git a/frontend/controller/router.js b/frontend/controller/router.js
index fd87d23877..3985507213 100644
--- a/frontend/controller/router.js
+++ b/frontend/controller/router.js
@@ -33,7 +33,14 @@ Vue.use(Router)
  */
 const homeGuard = {
   guard: (to, from) => !!store.state.currentGroupId,
-  redirect: (to, from) => ({ path: store.getters.ourProfileActive ? '/dashboard' : '/pending-approval' })
+  redirect: (to, from) => ({
+    path:
+      // If we haven't accepted the invite OR we haven't clicked 'Awesome' on
+      // the welcome screen, redirect to the '/pending-approval' page
+      store.getters.seenWelcomeScreen
+        ? '/dashboard'
+        : '/pending-approval'
+  })
 }
 
 const loginGuard = {
diff --git a/frontend/model/contracts/identity.js b/frontend/model/contracts/identity.js
index 95358ebf93..414d8c226f 100644
--- a/frontend/model/contracts/identity.js
+++ b/frontend/model/contracts/identity.js
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 import { L } from '@common/common.js'
 import sbp from '@sbp/sbp'
-import { arrayOf, boolean, object, objectMaybeOf, objectOf, optional, string, stringMax, unionOf } from '~/frontend/model/contracts/misc/flowTyper.js'
+import { arrayOf, boolean, object, objectMaybeOf, objectOf, optional, string, stringMax, unionOf, validatorFrom } from '~/frontend/model/contracts/misc/flowTyper.js'
 import { LEFT_GROUP } from '~/frontend/utils/events.js'
 import { Secret } from '~/shared/domains/chelonia/Secret.js'
 import { findForeignKeysByContractID, findKeyIdByName } from '~/shared/domains/chelonia/utils.js'
@@ -283,8 +283,13 @@ sbp('chelonia/defineContract', {
           throw new Error(`Cannot leave group ${groupContractID} because the reference hash does not match the latest`)
         }
 
-        state.groups[groupContractID].hasLeft = true
-        delete state.groups[groupContractID].inviteSecret
+        // We only keep `hash` and `hasLeft` in the list of groups, as this
+        // is the only information we need for groups we're not part of.
+        // This has the advantage that we don't need to explicitly delete
+        // every new attribute that we may add in the future, but has the
+        // downside that, if we were to add a new attribute that's needed after
+        // having left, then it'd need to be added here.
+        state.groups[groupContractID] = { hash: reference, hasLeft: true }
       },
       sideEffect ({ data, contractID }) {
         sbp('gi.contracts/identity/referenceTally', contractID, data.groupContractID, 'release')
@@ -359,6 +364,26 @@ sbp('chelonia/defineContract', {
           delete state.fileDeleteTokens[manifestCid]
         }
       }
+    },
+    'gi.contracts/identity/setGroupAttributes': {
+      validate: objectOf({
+        groupContractID: string,
+        attributes: objectMaybeOf({
+          seenWelcomeScreen: validatorFrom((v) => v === true)
+        })
+      }),
+      process ({ data }, { state }) {
+        const { groupContractID, attributes } = data
+        if (!has(state.groups, groupContractID) || state.groups[groupContractID].hasLeft) {
+          throw new Error('Can\'t set attributes of groups you\'re not a member of')
+        }
+        if (attributes.seenWelcomeScreen) {
+          if (state.groups[groupContractID].seenWelcomeScreen) {
+            throw new Error('seenWelcomeScreen already set')
+          }
+          state.groups[groupContractID].seenWelcomeScreen = attributes.seenWelcomeScreen
+        }
+      }
     }
   },
   methods: {
diff --git a/frontend/views/components/GroupWelcome.vue b/frontend/views/components/GroupWelcome.vue
index ebae171d0a..21e6f52770 100644
--- a/frontend/views/components/GroupWelcome.vue
+++ b/frontend/views/components/GroupWelcome.vue
@@ -26,7 +26,8 @@
 </template>
 
 <script>
-import { mapGetters } from 'vuex'
+import sbp from '@sbp/sbp'
+import { mapGetters, mapState } from 'vuex'
 import Avatar from '@components/Avatar.vue'
 import ConfettiAnimation from '@components/confetti-animation/ConfettiAnimation.vue'
 
@@ -41,7 +42,8 @@ export default ({
     $v: { type: Object }
   },
   computed: {
-    ...mapGetters(['groupSettings'])
+    ...mapState(['currentGroupId']),
+    ...mapGetters(['groupSettings', 'ourIdentityContractId'])
   },
   data () {
     return {
@@ -52,6 +54,14 @@ export default ({
     toDashboard () {
       if (this.isButtonClicked) return
       this.isButtonClicked = true
+      const groupContractID = this.currentGroupId
+      sbp('gi.actions/identity/setGroupAttributes', {
+        contractID: this.ourIdentityContractId,
+        data: {
+          groupContractID,
+          attributes: { seenWelcomeScreen: true }
+        }
+      }).catch(e => console.warn('[GroupWelcome.vue] Error setting seenWelcomeScreen attribute', groupContractID, e))
       this.$router.push({ path: '/dashboard' })
     }
   }
diff --git a/frontend/views/containers/chatroom/SendArea.vue b/frontend/views/containers/chatroom/SendArea.vue
index e274f8e1dd..957fe0e566 100644
--- a/frontend/views/containers/chatroom/SendArea.vue
+++ b/frontend/views/containers/chatroom/SendArea.vue
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@
       @keydown.ctrl='isNextLine'
       @keydown='handleKeydown'
       @keyup='handleKeyup'
+      @paste='handlePaste'
       v-bind='$attrs'
     )
 
@@ -553,6 +554,18 @@ export default ({
         this.updateMentionKeyword()
       }
     },
+    handlePaste (e) {
+      // fix for the edge-case related to 'paste' action when nothing has been typed
+      // (reference: https://github.com/okTurtles/group-income/issues/2369)
+      const currVal = this.$refs.textarea.value
+
+      if (!currVal) {
+        e.preventDefault()
+        const pastedText = e.clipboardData.getData('text')
+        this.$refs.textarea.value = pastedText
+        this.updateTextArea()
+      }
+    },
     addSelectedMention (index) {
       const curValue = this.$refs.textarea.value
       const curPosition = this.$refs.textarea.selectionStart
diff --git a/frontend/views/pages/Home.vue b/frontend/views/pages/Home.vue
index 123b0bf786..23145d17e7 100644
--- a/frontend/views/pages/Home.vue
+++ b/frontend/views/pages/Home.vue
@@ -91,7 +91,8 @@ export default ({
   },
   computed: {
     ...mapGetters([
-      'ourProfileActive'
+      'currentIdentityState',
+      'seenWelcomeScreen'
     ]),
     ...mapState([
       'currentGroupId'
@@ -103,11 +104,11 @@ export default ({
   data () {
     return {
       ephemeral: {
-        ourProfileActive: false,
+        seenWelcomeScreen: false,
         listener: ({ contractID }) => {
           if (contractID !== this.currentGroupId) return
           // For first time joins, force redirect to /pending-approval
-          this.ephemeral.ourProfileActive = false
+          this.ephemeral.seenWelcomeScreen = false
         },
         showPwaPromo: false
       }
@@ -118,7 +119,7 @@ export default ({
     this.checkPwaInstallability()
   },
   mounted () {
-    this.ephemeral.ourProfileActive = this.ourProfileActive
+    this.ephemeral.seenWelcomeScreen = this.seenWelcomeScreen
     if (this.isLoggedIn && this.currentGroupId) {
       this.navigateToGroupPage()
     } else if (this.$route.query.next) {
@@ -140,7 +141,7 @@ export default ({
       // In this particular condition, the app needs to immediately redirect user to '$route.query.next'
       // so that the user stays in the same page after the browser refresh.
       // (Related GH issue: https://github.com/okTurtles/group-income/issues/1830)
-      const path = this.$route.query.next ?? (this.ephemeral.ourProfileActive ? '/dashboard' : '/pending-approval')
+      const path = this.$route.query.next ?? (this.ephemeral.seenWelcomeScreen ? '/dashboard' : '/pending-approval')
       this.$router.push({ path }).catch(e => ignoreWhenNavigationCancelled(e, path))
     },
     checkPwaInstallability () {
@@ -155,7 +156,9 @@ export default ({
   },
   watch: {
     currentGroupId (to) {
-      this.ephemeral.ourProfileActive = this.ourProfileActive
+      // Redirect to `/pending-approval` if our profile isn't active or the
+      // welcome screen hasn't been approved
+      this.ephemeral.seenWelcomeScreen = this.seenWelcomeScreen
       if (to && this.isLoggedIn) {
         this.navigateToGroupPage()
       }
diff --git a/test/cypress/support/commands.js b/test/cypress/support/commands.js
index f385bb4a51..d75b508c07 100644
--- a/test/cypress/support/commands.js
+++ b/test/cypress/support/commands.js
@@ -13,6 +13,17 @@ import { CONTRACTS_MODIFIED_READY, EVENT_HANDLED_READY, EVENT_PUBLISHED, EVENT_P
 const API_URL = Cypress.config('baseUrl')
 
 // util funcs
+const setGroupSeenWelcomeScreen = (sbp) => {
+  const state = sbp('state/vuex/state')
+  return sbp('gi.actions/identity/setGroupAttributes', {
+    contractID: state.loggedIn.identityContractID,
+    data: {
+      groupContractID: state.currentGroupId,
+      attributes: { seenWelcomeScreen: true }
+    }
+  })
+}
+
 const randomFromArray = arr => arr[Math.floor(Math.random() * arr.length)] // importing giLodash.js fails for some reason.
 const getParamsFromInvitationLink = invitationLink => {
   const params = new URLSearchParams(new URL(invitationLink).hash.slice(1))
@@ -231,7 +242,7 @@ Cypress.Commands.add('giLogin', (username, {
         if (firstLoginAfterJoinGroup) {
           const router = sbp('controller/router')
           if (router.history.current.path === '/dashboard') return
-          return router.push({ path: '/dashboard' }) // .catch(() => {})
+          return setGroupSeenWelcomeScreen(sbp).then(() => router.push({ path: '/dashboard' })) // .catch(() => {})
         }
       })
     })
@@ -331,7 +342,7 @@ Cypress.Commands.add('giCreateGroup', (name, {
 
           const timeoutId = setTimeout(() => {
             reject(new Error('[cypress] Timed out waiting for JOINED_GROUP event and active profile status'))
-          }, 5000)
+          }, 15000)
 
           const cID = await sbp('gi.app/group/createAndSwitch', {
             data: {
@@ -347,7 +358,7 @@ Cypress.Commands.add('giCreateGroup', (name, {
       }).then(() => {
         const router = sbp('controller/router')
         if (router.history.current.path === '/dashboard') return
-        return router.push({ path: '/dashboard' })
+        return setGroupSeenWelcomeScreen(sbp).then(() => router.push({ path: '/dashboard' }))
       })
     })
     cy.url().should('eq', `${API_URL}/app/dashboard`)
@@ -801,6 +812,8 @@ Cypress.Commands.add('giWaitUntilMessagesLoaded', (isGroupChannel = true) => {
 })
 
 Cypress.Commands.add('giSendMessage', (sender, message) => {
+  // The following is to ensure the chatroom has finished loading (no spinner)
+  cy.giWaitUntilMessagesLoaded(false)
   cy.getByDT('messageInputWrapper').within(() => {
     cy.get('textarea').type(`{selectall}{del}${message}{enter}`, { force: true })
     cy.get('textarea').should('be.empty')