diff --git a/python/kicad_interface.py b/python/kicad_interface.py
index 46b4e5d..3e9a5d1 100644
--- a/python/kicad_interface.py
+++ b/python/kicad_interface.py
@@ -4181,6 +4181,15 @@ class KiCADInterface:
             # Build hierarchical pad→net map (walks all sub-sheets)
             pad_net_map, net_names = self._build_hierarchical_pad_net_map(schematic_path)
 
+            # Add missing footprints from the schematic to the board *before*
+            # we add nets and assign pads — F8 in KiCad does this implicitly
+            # ("Update PCB from Schematic"), but our previous implementation
+            # only mutated nets, leaving newly-added schematic symbols with no
+            # PCB footprint at all.
+            added_footprints, skipped_footprints = self._add_missing_footprints_from_schematic(
+                board, schematic_path
+            )
+
             # Add all nets to board
             netinfo = board.GetNetInfo()
             nets_by_name = netinfo.NetsByName()
@@ -4195,7 +4204,7 @@ class KiCADInterface:
             netinfo = board.GetNetInfo()
             nets_by_name = netinfo.NetsByName()
 
-            # Assign nets to pads
+            # Assign nets to pads (now also covers any footprints we just added)
             assigned_pads = 0
             unmatched = []
             for fp in board.GetFootprints():
@@ -4219,15 +4228,21 @@ class KiCADInterface:
                 self._update_command_handlers()
 
             logger.info(
-                f"sync_schematic_to_board: {len(added_nets)} nets added, {assigned_pads} pads assigned"
+                f"sync_schematic_to_board: {len(added_nets)} nets added, "
+                f"{len(added_footprints)} footprints added, {assigned_pads} pads assigned"
             )
             return {
                 "success": True,
-                "message": f"PCB nets synced from schematic: {len(added_nets)} nets added, {assigned_pads} pads assigned",
+                "message": (
+                    f"PCB updated from schematic: {len(added_footprints)} footprints added, "
+                    f"{len(added_nets)} nets added, {assigned_pads} pads assigned"
+                ),
                 "nets_added": added_nets,
                 "nets_total": len(net_names),
                 "pads_assigned": assigned_pads,
                 "unmatched_pads_sample": unmatched[:10],
+                "footprints_added": added_footprints,
+                "footprints_skipped": skipped_footprints,
             }
 
         except Exception as e:
@@ -4237,6 +4252,155 @@ class KiCADInterface:
             logger.error(traceback.format_exc())
             return {"success": False, "message": str(e)}
 
+    def _extract_components_from_schematic(self, schematic_path: str) -> List[Dict[str, str]]:
+        """Run kicad-cli netlist export and return the flat list of components.
+
+        Each entry: {"reference": str, "value": str, "footprint": str}
+        Empty list on any failure (kicad-cli missing, parse error, etc.) — the
+        caller treats that as "no missing footprints to add".
+        """
+        import subprocess
+        import tempfile
+        import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET
+
+        kicad_cli = self._find_kicad_cli_static()
+        if not kicad_cli:
+            logger.warning("kicad-cli not found — sync will not add new footprints")
+            return []
+
+        with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(suffix=".xml", delete=False) as tmp:
+            tmp_path = tmp.name
+        try:
+            cmd = [
+                kicad_cli,
+                "sch",
+                "export",
+                "netlist",
+                "--format",
+                "kicadxml",
+                "--output",
+                tmp_path,
+                schematic_path,
+            ]
+            result = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=60)
+            if result.returncode != 0:
+                logger.warning(
+                    f"kicad-cli netlist export failed (exit {result.returncode}): "
+                    f"{result.stderr.strip()}"
+                )
+                return []
+
+            tree = ET.parse(tmp_path)
+            root = tree.getroot()
+            components = []
+            for comp in root.findall("./components/comp"):
+                components.append(
+                    {
+                        "reference": comp.get("ref", ""),
+                        "value": comp.findtext("value", ""),
+                        "footprint": comp.findtext("footprint", ""),
+                    }
+                )
+            return components
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.warning(f"Failed to extract components from schematic: {e}")
+            return []
+        finally:
+            try:
+                os.unlink(tmp_path)
+            except OSError:
+                pass
+
+    def _add_missing_footprints_from_schematic(
+        self, board: Any, schematic_path: str
+    ) -> Tuple[List[Dict[str, str]], List[Dict[str, str]]]:
+        """Add footprints to ``board`` for any schematic component not yet present.
+
+        New footprints are placed at the board origin so the user can move them
+        into position. Power/flag references (``#PWR``, ``#FLG``) are skipped —
+        they have no PCB representation.
+
+        Returns ``(added, skipped)``: each entry is
+        ``{"reference": str, "footprint": str, "reason": str?}``.
+        """
+        from pathlib import Path
+
+        from commands.library import LibraryManager
+
+        added: List[Dict[str, str]] = []
+        skipped: List[Dict[str, str]] = []
+
+        components = self._extract_components_from_schematic(schematic_path)
+        if not components:
+            return added, skipped
+
+        existing_refs = {fp.GetReference() for fp in board.GetFootprints()}
+        project_dir = Path(schematic_path).parent
+        library_manager = LibraryManager(project_path=project_dir)
+
+        for comp in components:
+            ref = comp["reference"]
+            fp_str = comp["footprint"]
+            if not ref or ref.startswith("#"):
+                # Power flags / global indicators — no PCB footprint expected.
+                continue
+            if ref in existing_refs:
+                continue
+            if not fp_str or ":" not in fp_str:
+                skipped.append(
+                    {
+                        "reference": ref,
+                        "footprint": fp_str,
+                        "reason": "no Library:Name footprint set on schematic symbol",
+                    }
+                )
+                continue
+
+            lib_name, fp_name = fp_str.split(":", 1)
+            library_path = library_manager.libraries.get(lib_name)
+            if not library_path:
+                skipped.append(
+                    {
+                        "reference": ref,
+                        "footprint": fp_str,
+                        "reason": f"library '{lib_name}' not in fp-lib-table",
+                    }
+                )
+                continue
+
+            try:
+                module = pcbnew.FootprintLoad(library_path, fp_name)
+            except Exception as e:
+                skipped.append(
+                    {"reference": ref, "footprint": fp_str, "reason": f"FootprintLoad failed: {e}"}
+                )
+                continue
+
+            if not module:
+                skipped.append(
+                    {
+                        "reference": ref,
+                        "footprint": fp_str,
+                        "reason": f"footprint '{fp_name}' not in '{lib_name}'",
+                    }
+                )
+                continue
+
+            module.SetReference(ref)
+            if comp["value"]:
+                module.SetValue(comp["value"])
+            module.SetFPID(pcbnew.LIB_ID(lib_name, fp_name))
+            # Place at board origin; user / autoplacer can position from there.
+            module.SetPosition(pcbnew.VECTOR2I(0, 0))
+
+            board.Add(module)
+            existing_refs.add(ref)
+            added.append({"reference": ref, "footprint": fp_str})
+
+        if added:
+            logger.info(f"_add_missing_footprints_from_schematic: added {len(added)} footprints")
+        return added, skipped
+
     # ===================================================================
     # Schematic analysis tools (read-only)
     # ===================================================================
diff --git a/tests/test_sync_schematic_to_board_footprints.py b/tests/test_sync_schematic_to_board_footprints.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1dc1c04
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_sync_schematic_to_board_footprints.py
@@ -0,0 +1,322 @@
+"""
+Regression tests for sync_schematic_to_board's footprint-add path.
+
+Before the fix, _handle_sync_schematic_to_board only mutated nets and pad
+assignments — it iterated board.GetFootprints() and never added new ones.
+A schematic symbol whose Reference was not yet on the PCB was therefore
+silently dropped on the floor: no footprint added, no rats nest reaching
+the missing component.
+
+These tests cover _add_missing_footprints_from_schematic and its kicad-cli
+helper _extract_components_from_schematic.
+"""
+
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Any, List
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
+
+import pytest
+
+sys.path.insert(0, str(Path(__file__).parent.parent / "python"))
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Helpers
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def _make_existing_fp(reference: str) -> MagicMock:
+    fp = MagicMock(name=f"existing_fp_{reference}")
+    fp.GetReference.return_value = reference
+    return fp
+
+
+def _interface() -> Any:
+    from kicad_interface import KiCADInterface
+
+    return KiCADInterface()
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# _add_missing_footprints_from_schematic
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+@pytest.mark.unit
+class TestAddMissingFootprintsFromSchematic:
+    """The fix path: walk netlist, add footprints for refs not yet on the board."""
+
+    def _patch_extract(self, components: List[dict]) -> Any:
+        return patch.object(
+            _interface().__class__,
+            "_extract_components_from_schematic",
+            return_value=components,
+        )
+
+    def test_adds_footprint_for_missing_reference(self, tmp_path: Any) -> None:
+        sch = tmp_path / "test.kicad_sch"
+        sch.write_text("(kicad_sch)\n")
+
+        board = MagicMock(name="board")
+        board.GetFootprints.return_value = []  # nothing on the board yet
+
+        loaded_module = MagicMock(name="loaded_R0603")
+        with (
+            patch.object(
+                _interface().__class__,
+                "_extract_components_from_schematic",
+                return_value=[
+                    {
+                        "reference": "R99",
+                        "value": "10k",
+                        "footprint": "Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric",
+                    }
+                ],
+            ),
+            patch("kicad_interface.pcbnew") as mock_pcbnew,
+            patch("commands.library.LibraryManager") as mock_lm_cls,
+        ):
+            mock_pcbnew.FootprintLoad.return_value = loaded_module
+            lm = MagicMock()
+            lm.libraries = {"Resistor_SMD": "/fake/Resistor_SMD.pretty"}
+            mock_lm_cls.return_value = lm
+
+            iface = _interface()
+            added, skipped = iface._add_missing_footprints_from_schematic(board, str(sch))
+
+        assert len(added) == 1
+        assert added[0]["reference"] == "R99"
+        assert added[0]["footprint"] == "Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric"
+        assert skipped == []
+        # Footprint was added to the board.
+        board.Add.assert_called_once_with(loaded_module)
+        loaded_module.SetReference.assert_called_with("R99")
+        loaded_module.SetValue.assert_called_with("10k")
+
+    def test_skips_reference_already_on_board(self, tmp_path: Any) -> None:
+        sch = tmp_path / "test.kicad_sch"
+        sch.write_text("(kicad_sch)\n")
+
+        board = MagicMock(name="board")
+        board.GetFootprints.return_value = [_make_existing_fp("R1")]
+
+        with (
+            patch.object(
+                _interface().__class__,
+                "_extract_components_from_schematic",
+                return_value=[
+                    {
+                        "reference": "R1",
+                        "value": "10k",
+                        "footprint": "Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric",
+                    }
+                ],
+            ),
+            patch("kicad_interface.pcbnew"),
+            patch("commands.library.LibraryManager") as mock_lm_cls,
+        ):
+            lm = MagicMock()
+            lm.libraries = {"Resistor_SMD": "/fake/Resistor_SMD.pretty"}
+            mock_lm_cls.return_value = lm
+
+            iface = _interface()
+            added, skipped = iface._add_missing_footprints_from_schematic(board, str(sch))
+
+        assert added == []
+        assert skipped == []
+        board.Add.assert_not_called()
+
+    def test_skips_power_symbols(self, tmp_path: Any) -> None:
+        """References starting with # (e.g. #PWR, #FLG) have no PCB footprint."""
+        sch = tmp_path / "test.kicad_sch"
+        sch.write_text("(kicad_sch)\n")
+
+        board = MagicMock(name="board")
+        board.GetFootprints.return_value = []
+
+        with (
+            patch.object(
+                _interface().__class__,
+                "_extract_components_from_schematic",
+                return_value=[
+                    {"reference": "#PWR0001", "value": "GND", "footprint": ""},
+                    {"reference": "#FLG0001", "value": "PWR_FLAG", "footprint": ""},
+                ],
+            ),
+            patch("kicad_interface.pcbnew"),
+            patch("commands.library.LibraryManager") as mock_lm_cls,
+        ):
+            mock_lm_cls.return_value = MagicMock(libraries={})
+
+            iface = _interface()
+            added, skipped = iface._add_missing_footprints_from_schematic(board, str(sch))
+
+        assert added == []
+        # Power refs are excluded entirely — they don't show up in the skipped
+        # diagnostic list either, since "no PCB footprint" is the right answer.
+        assert skipped == []
+        board.Add.assert_not_called()
+
+    def test_records_skip_reason_for_missing_footprint_property(self, tmp_path: Any) -> None:
+        """A schematic symbol with no Footprint property is reported as skipped."""
+        sch = tmp_path / "test.kicad_sch"
+        sch.write_text("(kicad_sch)\n")
+
+        board = MagicMock(name="board")
+        board.GetFootprints.return_value = []
+
+        with (
+            patch.object(
+                _interface().__class__,
+                "_extract_components_from_schematic",
+                return_value=[{"reference": "R1", "value": "10k", "footprint": ""}],
+            ),
+            patch("kicad_interface.pcbnew"),
+            patch("commands.library.LibraryManager") as mock_lm_cls,
+        ):
+            mock_lm_cls.return_value = MagicMock(libraries={})
+
+            iface = _interface()
+            added, skipped = iface._add_missing_footprints_from_schematic(board, str(sch))
+
+        assert added == []
+        assert len(skipped) == 1
+        assert skipped[0]["reference"] == "R1"
+        assert "no Library:Name" in skipped[0]["reason"]
+
+    def test_records_skip_reason_for_unknown_library(self, tmp_path: Any) -> None:
+        """If the footprint's library nickname isn't in fp-lib-table, skip with reason."""
+        sch = tmp_path / "test.kicad_sch"
+        sch.write_text("(kicad_sch)\n")
+
+        board = MagicMock(name="board")
+        board.GetFootprints.return_value = []
+
+        with (
+            patch.object(
+                _interface().__class__,
+                "_extract_components_from_schematic",
+                return_value=[
+                    {
+                        "reference": "U1",
+                        "value": "MyChip",
+                        "footprint": "MyVendor:MyChip_QFN24",
+                    }
+                ],
+            ),
+            patch("kicad_interface.pcbnew"),
+            patch("commands.library.LibraryManager") as mock_lm_cls,
+        ):
+            mock_lm_cls.return_value = MagicMock(libraries={})  # MyVendor not present
+
+            iface = _interface()
+            added, skipped = iface._add_missing_footprints_from_schematic(board, str(sch))
+
+        assert added == []
+        assert len(skipped) == 1
+        assert skipped[0]["reference"] == "U1"
+        assert "MyVendor" in skipped[0]["reason"]
+
+    def test_no_op_when_kicad_cli_returns_empty(self, tmp_path: Any) -> None:
+        """If the netlist extractor returns nothing, the helper is a no-op."""
+        sch = tmp_path / "test.kicad_sch"
+        sch.write_text("(kicad_sch)\n")
+
+        board = MagicMock(name="board")
+        board.GetFootprints.return_value = []
+
+        with patch.object(
+            _interface().__class__,
+            "_extract_components_from_schematic",
+            return_value=[],
+        ):
+            iface = _interface()
+            added, skipped = iface._add_missing_footprints_from_schematic(board, str(sch))
+
+        assert added == []
+        assert skipped == []
+        board.Add.assert_not_called()
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# _extract_components_from_schematic
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+@pytest.mark.unit
+class TestExtractComponentsFromSchematic:
+    """The kicad-cli helper that produces (reference, value, footprint) records."""
+
+    def test_parses_kicad_xml_netlist(self, tmp_path: Any) -> None:
+        netlist_xml = """<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+<export version="E">
+  <design />
+  <components>
+    <comp ref="R1">
+      <value>10k</value>
+      <footprint>Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric</footprint>
+    </comp>
+    <comp ref="C1">
+      <value>0.1uF</value>
+      <footprint>Capacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608Metric</footprint>
+    </comp>
+    <comp ref="U1">
+      <value>MyChip</value>
+      <footprint />
+    </comp>
+  </components>
+  <nets />
+</export>
+"""
+        sch = tmp_path / "test.kicad_sch"
+        sch.write_text("(kicad_sch)\n")
+
+        def fake_run(cmd: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
+            output_idx = cmd.index("--output") + 1
+            Path(cmd[output_idx]).write_text(netlist_xml)
+            return MagicMock(returncode=0, stderr="", stdout="")
+
+        with (
+            patch.object(
+                _interface().__class__, "_find_kicad_cli_static", return_value="/fake/kicad-cli"
+            ),
+            patch("subprocess.run", side_effect=fake_run),
+        ):
+            iface = _interface()
+            comps = iface._extract_components_from_schematic(str(sch))
+
+        assert len(comps) == 3
+        refs = [c["reference"] for c in comps]
+        assert refs == ["R1", "C1", "U1"]
+        # Empty <footprint /> resolves to ""
+        u1 = next(c for c in comps if c["reference"] == "U1")
+        assert u1["footprint"] == ""
+
+    def test_returns_empty_when_kicad_cli_missing(self, tmp_path: Any) -> None:
+        sch = tmp_path / "test.kicad_sch"
+        sch.write_text("(kicad_sch)\n")
+
+        with patch.object(_interface().__class__, "_find_kicad_cli_static", return_value=None):
+            iface = _interface()
+            comps = iface._extract_components_from_schematic(str(sch))
+
+        assert comps == []
+
+    def test_returns_empty_when_kicad_cli_fails(self, tmp_path: Any) -> None:
+        sch = tmp_path / "test.kicad_sch"
+        sch.write_text("(kicad_sch)\n")
+
+        with (
+            patch.object(
+                _interface().__class__, "_find_kicad_cli_static", return_value="/fake/kicad-cli"
+            ),
+            patch(
+                "subprocess.run",
+                return_value=MagicMock(returncode=1, stderr="boom", stdout=""),
+            ),
+        ):
+            iface = _interface()
+            comps = iface._extract_components_from_schematic(str(sch))
+
+        assert comps == []