diff --git a/.github/README.md b/.github/README.md
index 195d4f9a36..33cb2d41d6 100644
--- a/.github/README.md
+++ b/.github/README.md
@@ -38,6 +38,14 @@ Some important documentation links to get you started:
 - [Getting to know Umbraco](https://docs.umbraco.com/umbraco-cms/fundamentals/get-to-know-umbraco)
 - [Tutorials for creating a basic website and customizing the editing experience](https://docs.umbraco.com/umbraco-cms/tutorials/overview)
 
+## Backoffice Preview
+
+Want to see the latest backoffice UI in action? Check out our live preview:
+
+**[backofficepreview.umbraco.com](https://backofficepreview.umbraco.com/)**
+
+This preview is automatically deployed from the main branch and showcases the latest backoffice features and improvements.  It runs from mock data and persistent edits are not supported.
+
 ## Get help
 
 If you need a bit of feedback while building your Umbraco projects, we are [chatty on Discord](https://discord.umbraco.com). Our Discord server serves as a social space for all Umbracians. If you have any questions or need some help with a problem, head over to our [dedicated forum](https://forum.umbraco.com/) where the Umbraco Community will be happy to help. 
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Core/Services/ContentTypeEditing/MediaTypeEditingService.cs b/src/Umbraco.Core/Services/ContentTypeEditing/MediaTypeEditingService.cs
index 8a626215b4..4955eeec9c 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Core/Services/ContentTypeEditing/MediaTypeEditingService.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Core/Services/ContentTypeEditing/MediaTypeEditingService.cs
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ internal sealed class MediaTypeEditingService : ContentTypeEditingServiceBase<IM
                 continue;
             }
 
-            allowedFileExtensionsByMediaType[mediaType] = fileUploadConfiguration.FileExtensions;
+            allowedFileExtensionsByMediaType[mediaType] = fileUploadConfiguration.FileExtensions ?? []; // Although we never expect null here, legacy data type configuration did allow it.
         }
 
         return allowedFileExtensionsByMediaType;
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/README.md b/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/README.md
index 1404fba49c..0bc565c8ed 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/README.md
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/README.md
@@ -2,6 +2,14 @@
 
 This package contains the types for the Umbraco Backoffice.
 
+## Preview
+
+A live preview of the latest backoffice build from the main branch is available at:
+
+**[backofficepreview.umbraco.com](https://backofficepreview.umbraco.com/)**
+
+This preview is automatically deployed via GitHub Actions whenever changes are pushed to main or version branches.
+
 ## Installation
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/packages/core/icon-registry/icon-picker-modal/icon-picker-modal.element.ts b/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/packages/core/icon-registry/icon-picker-modal/icon-picker-modal.element.ts
index 0311318845..7227be73a0 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/packages/core/icon-registry/icon-picker-modal/icon-picker-modal.element.ts
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/packages/core/icon-registry/icon-picker-modal/icon-picker-modal.element.ts
@@ -30,6 +30,9 @@ export class UmbIconPickerModalElement extends UmbModalBaseElement<UmbIconPicker
 	@state()
 	private _colorList = umbracoColors.filter((color) => !color.legacy);
 
+	@state()
+	private _isSearching = false;
+
 	constructor() {
 		super();
 		this.consumeContext(UMB_ICON_REGISTRY_CONTEXT, (context) => {
@@ -44,8 +47,10 @@ export class UmbIconPickerModalElement extends UmbModalBaseElement<UmbIconPicker
 		if (!this.#icons) return;
 		const value = this._searchInput?.value;
 		if (value) {
+			this._isSearching = value.length > 0;
 			this._iconsFiltered = this.#icons.filter((icon) => icon.name.toLowerCase().includes(value.toLowerCase()));
 		} else {
+			this._isSearching = false;
 			this._iconsFiltered = this.#icons;
 		}
 	}
@@ -54,8 +59,12 @@ export class UmbIconPickerModalElement extends UmbModalBaseElement<UmbIconPicker
 		const isActivate = e.type === 'click' || (e.type === 'keyup' && (e as KeyboardEvent).key === 'Enter');
 		if (!isActivate) return;
 
-		const nextIcon = this.value.icon === iconName ? '' : iconName;
-		this.modalContext?.updateValue({ icon: nextIcon });
+		if (this.data?.showEmptyOption) {
+			const nextIcon = this.value.icon === iconName ? '' : iconName;
+			this.modalContext?.updateValue({ icon: nextIcon });
+		} else {
+			this.modalContext?.updateValue({ icon: iconName });
+		}
 	}
 
 	#onColorChange(e: UUIColorSwatchesEvent) {
@@ -93,16 +102,21 @@ export class UmbIconPickerModalElement extends UmbModalBaseElement<UmbIconPicker
 					</uui-color-swatches>
 					<hr />
 					<uui-scroll-container id="icons">
-						<uui-button
-							class=${!this.value.icon ? 'selected' : ''}
-							label=${this.localize.term('defaultdialogs_noIcon')}
-							title=${this.localize.term('defaultdialogs_noIcon')}
-							@click=${this.#clearIcon}
-							@keyup=${(e: KeyboardEvent) => {
-								if (e.key === 'Enter' || e.key === ' ') this.#clearIcon();
-							}}>
-							<uui-icon style="opacity:.35" name=${ifDefined(this.data?.placeholder)}></uui-icon> </uui-button
-						>${this.renderIcons()}</uui-scroll-container
+						${this.data?.showEmptyOption && !this._isSearching
+							? html`
+									<uui-button
+										class=${!this.value.icon ? 'selected' : ''}
+										label=${this.localize.term('defaultdialogs_noIcon')}
+										title=${this.localize.term('defaultdialogs_noIcon')}
+										@click=${this.#clearIcon}
+										@keyup=${(e: KeyboardEvent) => {
+											if (e.key === 'Enter' || e.key === ' ') this.#clearIcon();
+										}}>
+										<uui-icon style="opacity:.35" name=${ifDefined(this.data?.placeholder)}></uui-icon>
+									</uui-button>
+								`
+							: nothing}
+						${this.renderIcons()}</uui-scroll-container
 					>
 				</div>
 				<uui-button
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/packages/core/icon-registry/icon-picker-modal/icon-picker-modal.token.ts b/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/packages/core/icon-registry/icon-picker-modal/icon-picker-modal.token.ts
index d531214325..bf1aafec47 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/packages/core/icon-registry/icon-picker-modal/icon-picker-modal.token.ts
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/packages/core/icon-registry/icon-picker-modal/icon-picker-modal.token.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { UmbModalToken } from '@umbraco-cms/backoffice/modal';
 
 export interface UmbIconPickerModalData {
 	placeholder?: string;
+	showEmptyOption?: boolean;
 }
 
 export interface UmbIconPickerModalValue {
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/packages/property-editors/icon-picker/property-editor-ui-icon-picker.element.ts b/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/packages/property-editors/icon-picker/property-editor-ui-icon-picker.element.ts
index fffedbbaec..8c9814bf51 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/packages/property-editors/icon-picker/property-editor-ui-icon-picker.element.ts
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web.UI.Client/src/packages/property-editors/icon-picker/property-editor-ui-icon-picker.element.ts
@@ -9,28 +9,45 @@ import { UmbLitElement } from '@umbraco-cms/backoffice/lit-element';
 import { extractUmbColorVariable } from '@umbraco-cms/backoffice/resources';
 import { UmbChangeEvent } from '@umbraco-cms/backoffice/event';
 
+import { UmbFormControlMixin } from '@umbraco-cms/backoffice/validation';
+
 /**
  * @element umb-property-editor-ui-icon-picker
  */
 @customElement('umb-property-editor-ui-icon-picker')
-export class UmbPropertyEditorUIIconPickerElement extends UmbLitElement implements UmbPropertyEditorUiElement {
-	//
+export class UmbPropertyEditorUIIconPickerElement
+	extends UmbFormControlMixin<string, typeof UmbLitElement, undefined>(UmbLitElement, undefined)
+	implements UmbPropertyEditorUiElement
+{
+	@property({ type: Boolean })
+	mandatory = false;
+
+	protected override firstUpdated(): void {
+		this.addValidator(
+			'valueMissing',
+			() => 'Icon is required',
+			() => this.mandatory && !this._icon,
+		);
+	}
+
 	@property()
-	public set value(v: string) {
-		this._value = v ?? '';
-		const parts = this._value.split(' ');
+	public override set value(v: string) {
+		const val = v ?? '';
+		super.value = val;
+
+		const parts = val.split(' ');
 		if (parts.length === 2) {
 			this._icon = parts[0];
 			this._color = parts[1].replace('color-', '');
 		} else {
-			this._icon = this._value;
+			this._icon = val;
 			this._color = '';
 		}
 	}
-	public get value() {
-		return this._value;
+
+	public override get value() {
+		return (super.value as string) ?? '';
 	}
-	private _value = '';
 
 	@state()
 	private _icon = '';
@@ -53,7 +70,7 @@ export class UmbPropertyEditorUIIconPickerElement extends UmbLitElement implemen
 				icon: this._icon,
 				color: this._color,
 			},
-			data: { placeholder: this._placeholderIcon },
+			data: { placeholder: this._placeholderIcon, showEmptyOption: !this.mandatory },
 		}).catch(() => undefined);
 
 		if (!data) return;