diff --git a/app/api/chats/[id]/settings/route.ts b/app/api/chats/[id]/settings/route.ts
index a22926b..0dd3999 100644
--- a/app/api/chats/[id]/settings/route.ts
+++ b/app/api/chats/[id]/settings/route.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import type { ChatSettings } from "@/src/core";
  * by construction (agents are stateless per turn).
  *
  * The body parsing itself is shared with the draft route
- * (src/server/settings-body.ts, draft-settings wave 2026-09-18).
+ * (src/server/settings-body.ts, default-settings wave 2026-09-18).
  */
 export async function PUT(req: Request, { params }: { params: Promise<{ id: string }> }) {
 	const { id } = await params;
diff --git a/app/api/settings/draft/route.ts b/app/api/settings/defaults/route.ts
similarity index 52%
rename from app/api/settings/draft/route.ts
rename to app/api/settings/defaults/route.ts
index 83e90ff..6ffd0ce 100644
--- a/app/api/settings/draft/route.ts
+++ b/app/api/settings/defaults/route.ts
@@ -1,29 +1,29 @@
 /**
- * GET/PUT /api/settings/draft — server persistence for the DRAFT (pre-
- * session) settings: the model + thinking-level + knowledge-context
- * selections made on the new-session surfaces (the home graph view's topic
- * dock and /chat/new). Both surfaces share ONE record (owner, 2026-09-18):
- * whatever the learner last left the controls on is what the next visit
- * shows. The file lives at data/draft-settings.json
- * (config.DRAFT_SETTINGS_FILE).
+ * GET/PUT /api/settings/defaults — server persistence for the DEFAULT
+ * settings: THE default model + thinking level + knowledge-context
+ * budget. The new-session surfaces' controls (the home graph view's
+ * topic dock and /chat/new) ARE the settings page for the default model
+ * (owner, 2026-09-18): there is no baked-in default — BYOK first boot
+ * renders "no model" until the user picks one, and the last choice IS
+ * the default from then on. Both surfaces share ONE record; the file
+ * lives at data/default-settings.json (config.DEFAULT_SETTINGS_FILE).
  *
- *   GET → 200 {settings} once saved, 200 null on first boot (the surfaces
- *         keep config-pinned defaults until the learner chooses something).
+ *   GET → 200 {settings} once saved, 200 null on first boot ("no model").
  *   PUT → 200 {settings} — the VALIDATED copy persisted verbatim. The exact
  *         per-chat contract (parseSettingsBody + the catalog gate): unknown
  *         provider/model or an unsupported thinking level is a 400 carrying
  *         the supported list, never a silent clamp.
  *
  * Per-session settings (PUT /api/chats/:id/settings) are a separate record
- * untouched by this — the draft choice still rides along on session
- * creation exactly as before.
+ * untouched by this — the default still rides along on session creation
+ * exactly as before.
  */
-import { readDraftSettings, writeDraftSettings, parseSettingsBody, validateChatSettings } from "@/src/server";
+import { readDefaultSettings, writeDefaultSettings, parseSettingsBody, validateChatSettings } from "@/src/server";
 
 export const dynamic = "force-dynamic";
 
 export async function GET() {
-	return Response.json(readDraftSettings());
+	return Response.json(readDefaultSettings());
 }
 
 export async function PUT(request: Request) {
@@ -34,6 +34,6 @@ export async function PUT(request: Request) {
 	if (!verdict.ok) {
 		return Response.json({ error: verdict.error, supported: verdict.supported }, { status: 400 });
 	}
-	writeDraftSettings(parsed.settings);
+	writeDefaultSettings(parsed.settings);
 	return Response.json({ settings: parsed.settings });
 }
diff --git a/app/chat/new/page.tsx b/app/chat/new/page.tsx
index cd0f0b4..63ffe9c 100644
--- a/app/chat/new/page.tsx
+++ b/app/chat/new/page.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { NewSession } from "@/components/new-session";
+import { readDefaultSettings } from "@/src/server";
 
 export const dynamic = "force-dynamic";
 
@@ -8,7 +9,12 @@ export const dynamic = "force-dynamic";
  * chat; on send it creates the chat (title = that message) and redirects to
  * the real page, whose initialPrompt path delivers the message as turn 1.
  * Static segment beats the dynamic [id] route — "new" is never a chat id.
+ *
+ * The default settings record is server-rendered in (readDefaultSettings →
+ * initialSettings): the controls show truth on the first frame, no
+ * default-model flash (the default IS the user's last choice — "no model"
+ * only before the first-ever pick).
  */
 export default function NewSessionPage() {
-	return <NewSession />;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+	return <NewSession initialSettings={readDefaultSettings()} />;
+}
diff --git a/app/page.tsx b/app/page.tsx
index 2acb7bd..e61fc67 100644
--- a/app/page.tsx
+++ b/app/page.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 import { Home } from "@/components/home";
+import { readDefaultSettings } from "@/src/server";
+
+// Dynamic: the default settings record is server-rendered into the page —
+// the model + thinking + context controls show truth on the FIRST frame
+// (no default-model flash), and every navigation re-reads the record
+// (dynamic routes aren't cached client-side).
+export const dynamic = "force-dynamic";
 
 export default function HomePage() {
-	return <Home />;
+	return <Home initialSettings={readDefaultSettings()} />;
 }
diff --git a/components/default-settings.ts b/components/default-settings.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5ae592a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/components/default-settings.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+"use client";
+
+/**
+ * THE default settings (owner, 2026-09-18): the new-session surfaces'
+ * model + thinking + knowledge-context controls are the settings page for
+ * the default model. There is NO baked-in default — BYOK first boot shows
+ * "no model" until the user picks one, and their last choice IS the
+ * default from then on. Both surfaces (the home graph view's topic dock
+ * and /chat/new) share ONE server-side record (GET/PUT
+ * /api/settings/defaults → data/default-settings.json).
+ *
+ * No loading state, no flash: the PAGES server-render the record
+ * (readDefaultSettings → initialSettings), so the controls show truth on
+ * the first frame — dynamic routes aren't cached client-side (staleTimes
+ * .dynamic = 0), so every navigation gets fresh server truth. This hook
+ * only holds the state between saves: initialSettings seeds it, and every
+ * change applies locally (optimistic — the controls only send valid
+ * values: the picker offers catalog models, the slider sends its stops)
+ * and persists fire-and-forget; a failed write logs, and the next
+ * navigation re-reads the persisted truth.
+ */
+
+import { useCallback, useState } from "react";
+import type { ChatSettings } from "@/src/core";
+
+export function useDefaultSettings(initialSettings: ChatSettings | null): {
+	settings: ChatSettings | undefined;
+	save: (settings: ChatSettings) => void;
+} {
+	const [settings, setSettings] = useState<ChatSettings | undefined>(initialSettings ?? undefined);
+
+	const save = useCallback((next: ChatSettings) => {
+		setSettings(next);
+		void fetch("/api/settings/defaults", {
+			method: "PUT",
+			headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
+			body: JSON.stringify(next),
+		}).catch((err: unknown) => {
+			console.error("default settings write failed:", err);
+		});
+	}, []);
+
+	return { settings, save };
+}
diff --git a/components/draft-settings.ts b/components/draft-settings.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 1ce7203..0000000
--- a/components/draft-settings.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,62 +0,0 @@
-"use client";
-
-/**
- * The DRAFT (pre-session) settings hook — the shared persistence behind
- * the two new-session surfaces (the home graph view's topic dock and
- * /chat/new). The model + thinking + knowledge-context choices live in
- * ONE server-side record (GET/PUT /api/settings/draft →
- * data/draft-settings.json), so whatever the learner last left the
- * controls on is what every later visit shows (owner, draft-settings wave
- * 2026-09-18): navigating away and back keeps the feel. Per-session
- * settings are a different record (the chat's own) — untouched here.
- *
- * Contract: settings === undefined until the first GET resolves — the
- * controls render config-pinned defaults in that window, same as today.
- * The GET is touch-guarded: if the learner changes something before the
- * load lands, the loaded copy is dropped, never clobbering the choice.
- * Saves are optimistic (the controls only ever send valid values — the
- * picker offers catalog models, the slider sends its stops) and
- * fire-and-forget; a failed write logs, and the next mount falls back to
- * the persisted truth.
- */
-
-import { useCallback, useEffect, useRef, useState } from "react";
-import type { ChatSettings } from "@/src/core";
-
-export function useDraftSettings(): {
-	settings: ChatSettings | undefined;
-	save: (settings: ChatSettings) => void;
-} {
-	const [settings, setSettings] = useState<ChatSettings | undefined>(undefined);
-	const touchedRef = useRef(false);
-
-	useEffect(() => {
-		let cancelled = false;
-		fetch("/api/settings/draft")
-			.then((res) => (res.ok ? (res.json() as Promise<ChatSettings | null>) : null))
-			.then((loaded) => {
-				// Never clobber a choice made while the load was in flight.
-				if (!cancelled && loaded !== null && !touchedRef.current) setSettings(loaded);
-			})
-			.catch(() => {
-				/* transient — defaults stand, the next change rewrites the record */
-			});
-		return () => {
-			cancelled = true;
-		};
-	}, []);
-
-	const save = useCallback((next: ChatSettings) => {
-		touchedRef.current = true;
-		setSettings(next);
-		void fetch("/api/settings/draft", {
-			method: "PUT",
-			headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
-			body: JSON.stringify(next),
-		}).catch((err: unknown) => {
-			console.error("draft settings write failed:", err);
-		});
-	}, []);
-
-	return { settings, save };
-}
diff --git a/components/home.tsx b/components/home.tsx
index 7746e03..ccafd8a 100644
--- a/components/home.tsx
+++ b/components/home.tsx
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import { useRouter } from "next/navigation";
 import { CornerDownLeftIcon } from "lucide-react";
 import { GraphView } from "@/components/graph-view";
 import { GraphContextControl, effectiveContextTokens } from "@/components/graph-context-control";
-import { useDraftSettings } from "@/components/draft-settings";
+import { useDefaultSettings } from "@/components/default-settings";
 import { DictationBar, useDictation } from "@/components/dictation";
 import { SidebarToggle } from "@/components/sidebar";
 import { StatsBar } from "@/components/stats-bar";
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import type { ChatSettings, TurnUsage } from "@/src/core";
  * under the header and the new-session dock, both of which float over it
  * with no gradient scrims. Sessions live in the toggleable sidebar.
  */
-export function Home() {
+export function Home({ initialSettings }: { initialSettings: ChatSettings | null }) {
 	const router = useRouter();
 	const [topic, setTopic] = useState("");
 	// Voice dictation (STT wave, 2026-09-17): finals append at the end of the
@@ -26,13 +26,13 @@ export function Home() {
 		append: (t) => setTopic((v) => (v ? v.replace(/\s+$/, "") + " " + t : t)),
 	});
 	const [busy, setBusy] = useState(false);
-	// The model+thinking+context selection made pre-chat — the SHARED draft
-	// record (draft-settings wave, 2026-09-18): both new-session surfaces
-	// (this topic dock and /chat/new) read and write ONE persisted choice,
-	// so what the learner last left the controls on is what shows on return.
+	// THE default settings (owner, 2026-09-18): this topic dock IS the
+	// settings page for the default model — no baked-in default exists; the
+	// user's last choice (server-rendered in via initialSettings, shared
+	// with /chat/new through data/default-settings.json) IS the default.
 	// Still carried to the chat POST then PUT-on-create (the model picker
 	// defers its save when chatId is empty; see components/model-picker).
-	const { settings, save: saveDraft } = useDraftSettings();
+	const { settings, save: saveDraft } = useDefaultSettings(initialSettings);
 
 	const start = async () => {
 		const t = topic.trim();
@@ -143,6 +143,7 @@ export function Home() {
 						dictationSlot={<DictationBar dictation={dictation} />}
 						turns={[] as TurnUsage[]}
 						chatId=""
+						noDefaultModel
 						settings={settings}
 						onSettingsSaved={saveDraft}
 						leftSlot={
diff --git a/components/model-picker.tsx b/components/model-picker.tsx
index b49441b..4fc08cd 100644
--- a/components/model-picker.tsx
+++ b/components/model-picker.tsx
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ export function ModelControl({
 	settings,
 	onSaved,
 	fallbackModelId,
+	noDefaultModel,
 }: {
 	chatId: string;
 	/** The record's current settings (undefined = config pin). */
@@ -95,6 +96,11 @@ export function ModelControl({
 	/** The last turn's actual model (from the turns log) — the label until
 	 *  the catalog (with config's defaults) finishes loading. */
 	fallbackModelId?: string;
+	/** Default-surfaces only (owner, 2026-09-18): NO baked-in default —
+	 *  unset settings render "no model"/"—" (BYOK first boot), never the
+	 *  config pin. Chat surfaces keep the catalog-default fallback (the
+	 *  engine runs the pin, so the control shows what will run). */
+	noDefaultModel?: boolean;
 }) {
 	const catalog = useModelCatalog();
 	const [open, setOpen] = useState<"model" | "thinking" | null>(null);
@@ -109,9 +115,12 @@ export function ModelControl({
 	const listRef = useRef<HTMLUListElement>(null);
 
 	const defaults = catalog?.defaults;
-	const effectiveId = settings?.model?.id ?? defaults?.model.id ?? fallbackModelId;
-	const effectiveLevel =
-		settings?.thinkingLevel ?? defaults?.thinkingLevel;
+	const effectiveId = noDefaultModel
+		? settings?.model?.id
+		: (settings?.model?.id ?? defaults?.model.id ?? fallbackModelId);
+	const effectiveLevel = noDefaultModel
+		? settings?.thinkingLevel
+		: (settings?.thinkingLevel ?? defaults?.thinkingLevel);
 	const entry = catalog?.models.find((m) => m.id === effectiveId);
 	const levels = entry?.supportedLevels ?? [];
 
@@ -250,6 +259,9 @@ export function ModelControl({
 				type="button"
 				data-testid="stats-thinking"
 				onClick={() => {
+					// No model yet (noDefaultModel first boot) → nothing to set a
+					// level FOR: the click is a no-op, never an empty menu.
+					if (entry === undefined) return;
 					setOpen((o) => (o === "thinking" ? null : "thinking"));
 					setError(null);
 				}}
diff --git a/components/new-session.tsx b/components/new-session.tsx
index 7945e14..3c2f210 100644
--- a/components/new-session.tsx
+++ b/components/new-session.tsx
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import { Conversation, ConversationContent, ConversationEmptyState } from "@/com
 import { Composer } from "@/components/composer";
 import { DictationBar, useDictation } from "@/components/dictation";
 import { GraphContextControl, effectiveContextTokens } from "@/components/graph-context-control";
-import { useDraftSettings } from "@/components/draft-settings";
+import { useDefaultSettings } from "@/components/default-settings";
 import { PhaseChip } from "@/components/phase-divider";
 import { SidebarToggle } from "@/components/sidebar";
 import { StatsBar } from "@/components/stats-bar";
@@ -124,6 +124,7 @@ export function DraftShell({
 									dictationSlot={<DictationBar dictation={dictation} />}
 									turns={[]}
 									chatId=""
+									noDefaultModel
 									settings={settings}
 									onSettingsSaved={onSettingsSaved}
 									// The session-data slot (owner, 2026-09-15): pre-chat the left
@@ -147,17 +148,17 @@ export function DraftShell({
 	);
 }
 
-export function NewSession() {
+export function NewSession({ initialSettings }: { initialSettings: ChatSettings | null }) {
 	const router = useRouter();
 	const [text, setText] = useState("");
 	const [busy, setBusy] = useState(false);
-	// The pre-chat model+thinking+context selection — the SHARED draft
-	// record (draft-settings wave, 2026-09-18): /chat/new and the home
-	// topic dock read and write ONE persisted choice, so what the learner
-	// last left the controls on is what shows on return. ModelControl with
-	// an empty chatId never PUTs — it hands the choice up; it still rides
-	// the session POST then PUT-on-create.
-	const { settings, save: saveDraft } = useDraftSettings();
+	// THE default settings (owner, 2026-09-18): this surface and the home
+	// topic dock ARE the settings page for the default model — no baked-in
+	// default exists; the user's last choice (server-rendered in via
+	// initialSettings, shared with home through data/default-settings.json)
+	// IS the default. ModelControl with an empty chatId never PUTs — it
+	// hands the choice up; it still rides the session POST then PUT-on-create.
+	const { settings, save: saveDraft } = useDefaultSettings(initialSettings);
 
 	const send = useCallback(() => {
 		if (!text.trim() || busy) return;
diff --git a/components/stats-bar.tsx b/components/stats-bar.tsx
index 8fc5f55..7df4f7e 100644
--- a/components/stats-bar.tsx
+++ b/components/stats-bar.tsx
@@ -34,11 +34,19 @@ export function StatsBar({
 	onSettingsSaved,
 	leftSlot,
 	dictationSlot,
+	noDefaultModel,
 }: {
 	turns: TurnUsage[];
 	chatId: string;
 	settings?: ChatSettings;
 	onSettingsSaved: (settings: ChatSettings) => void;
+	/** Default-surfaces only (owner, 2026-09-18): there is NO baked-in
+	 *  default model — BYOK first boot shows "no model" until the user
+	 *  picks one, and that pick IS the default from then on. Chat surfaces
+	 *  keep the catalog-default fallback (the engine runs the config pin
+	 *  when a session record has no override — the control shows what will
+	 *  actually run). */
+	noDefaultModel?: boolean;
 	/** Pre-chat only: replaces the (empty) session-data summary — home and
 	 *  the /chat/new draft mount the knowledge-context slider here. */
 	leftSlot?: ReactNode;
@@ -175,6 +183,7 @@ export function StatsBar({
 				settings={settings}
 				onSaved={onSettingsSaved}
 				fallbackModelId={lastModel}
+				noDefaultModel={noDefaultModel}
 			/>
 		</div>
 	);
diff --git a/config.ts b/config.ts
index e341bb1..d866f8a 100644
--- a/config.ts
+++ b/config.ts
@@ -134,9 +134,11 @@ export const EMBEDDINGS_FILE = path.join(PATHS.graph, "embeddings.json");
 export const RENDER_SETTINGS_FILE = path.join(PATHS.graph, "render-settings.json");
 
 /**
- * DRAFT (pre-session) settings — the model + thinking + knowledge-context
- * selections shared by the two new-session surfaces (the home graph view
- * and /chat/new). One small JSON blob, read-modify-write, written only
- * through the validated app/api/settings/draft route.
+ * DEFAULT settings — THE default model + thinking level + knowledge-context
+ * budget (owner, 2026-09-18): the new-session surfaces' controls are the
+ * settings page for the default model. There is NO baked-in default —
+ * BYOK first boot shows "no model" until the user picks one, and their
+ * last choice IS the default from then on. One small JSON blob,
+ * read-modify-write, written only through app/api/settings/defaults.
  */
-export const DRAFT_SETTINGS_FILE = path.join(DATA_ROOT, "draft-settings.json");
+export const DEFAULT_SETTINGS_FILE = path.join(DATA_ROOT, "default-settings.json");
diff --git a/src/server/index.ts b/src/server/index.ts
index 6ee915d..02a2a34 100644
--- a/src/server/index.ts
+++ b/src/server/index.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ export * from "./commit-positions.ts";
 export * from "./jobs.ts";
 export * from "./stores.ts";
 export { readRenderSettings, writeRenderSettings } from "../store/render-settings.ts";
-export { readDraftSettings, writeDraftSettings } from "../store/draft-settings.ts";
+export { readDefaultSettings, writeDefaultSettings } from "../store/default-settings.ts";
 export * from "./settings-body.ts";
 export * from "./turn-liveness.ts";
 export * from "./observability.ts";
diff --git a/src/server/settings-body.ts b/src/server/settings-body.ts
index ad207de..0e548db 100644
--- a/src/server/settings-body.ts
+++ b/src/server/settings-body.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
  * The shared settings-PUT body parser — the one seam both settings routes
  * use (per-chat: app/api/chats/[id]/settings; pre-session draft:
  * app/api/settings/draft). Extracted verbatim from the per-chat route
- * (draft-settings wave, 2026-09-18): identical parse, identical errors.
+ * (default-settings wave, 2026-09-18): identical parse, identical errors.
  *
  * Replace-whole semantics: the client sends the complete desired object;
  * absent fields are absent overrides ({} clears everything). No merges, so
diff --git a/src/store/default-settings.ts b/src/store/default-settings.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9288b53
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/store/default-settings.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+/**
+ * Server-side persistence for the DEFAULT settings — THE default model +
+ * thinking level + knowledge-context budget (owner, 2026-09-18): the
+ * new-session surfaces' controls (the home graph view's topic dock and
+ * /chat/new) ARE the settings page for the default model. There is NO
+ * baked-in default — BYOK first boot renders "no model" until the user
+ * picks one, and the last choice IS the default from then on. The pages
+ * server-render from this record (initialSettings), so the controls show
+ * truth on the first frame — no default-model flash ever. Per-session
+ * settings live in the chat record (PUT /api/chats/:id/settings) and are
+ * untouched by this; new sessions inherit the default on creation.
+ *
+ * This module only moves bytes: the file is written exclusively through the
+ * validated route (app/api/settings/defaults — parseSettingsBody +
+ * validateChatSettings gate every write), so no sanitizer runs here. On
+ * read, anything unreadable/corrupt is null = first boot = "no model".
+ */
+
+import fs from "node:fs";
+import path from "node:path";
+import { DEFAULT_SETTINGS_FILE } from "../../config.ts";
+import type { ChatSettings } from "../core";
+
+/** The persisted default settings, or null when never saved / unreadable. */
+export function readDefaultSettings(): ChatSettings | null {
+	let raw: string;
+	try {
+		raw = fs.readFileSync(DEFAULT_SETTINGS_FILE, "utf-8");
+	} catch {
+		return null; // never saved / unreadable → the surfaces render "no model"
+	}
+	try {
+		const parsed: unknown = JSON.parse(raw);
+		if (parsed === null || typeof parsed !== "object" || Array.isArray(parsed)) return null;
+		return parsed as ChatSettings;
+	} catch {
+		return null; // corrupt → "no model", never crash the surfaces
+	}
+}
+
+/** Persist the validated settings verbatim. */
+export function writeDefaultSettings(settings: ChatSettings): void {
+	fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(DEFAULT_SETTINGS_FILE), { recursive: true });
+	fs.writeFileSync(DEFAULT_SETTINGS_FILE, JSON.stringify(settings, null, "\t"), "utf-8");
+}
diff --git a/src/store/draft-settings.ts b/src/store/draft-settings.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 8d5277a..0000000
--- a/src/store/draft-settings.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,45 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * Server-side persistence for the DRAFT (pre-session) settings — the
- * model + thinking-level + knowledge-context choices made on the
- * new-session surfaces (the home graph view's topic dock and /chat/new).
- * One small JSON blob: data/draft-settings.json, read-modify-write.
- *
- * Both surfaces share ONE record (owner, draft-settings wave 2026-09-18):
- * whatever the learner last left the controls on is what the next visit
- * shows — navigating away and back must not reset the feel. Per-session
- * settings live in the chat record (PUT /api/chats/:id/settings) and are
- * untouched by this.
- *
- * This module only moves bytes: the file is written exclusively through the
- * validated route (app/api/settings/draft — parseSettingsBody +
- * validateChatSettings gate every write), so no sanitizer runs here. On
- * read, anything unreadable/corrupt is null = first boot = config defaults.
- */
-
-import fs from "node:fs";
-import path from "node:path";
-import { DRAFT_SETTINGS_FILE } from "../../config.ts";
-import type { ChatSettings } from "../core";
-
-/** The persisted draft settings, or null when never saved / unreadable. */
-export function readDraftSettings(): ChatSettings | null {
-	let raw: string;
-	try {
-		raw = fs.readFileSync(DRAFT_SETTINGS_FILE, "utf-8");
-	} catch {
-		return null; // never saved / unreadable → the surfaces use config defaults
-	}
-	try {
-		const parsed: unknown = JSON.parse(raw);
-		if (parsed === null || typeof parsed !== "object" || Array.isArray(parsed)) return null;
-		return parsed as ChatSettings;
-	} catch {
-		return null; // corrupt → defaults, never crash the surfaces
-	}
-}
-
-/** Persist the validated settings verbatim. */
-export function writeDraftSettings(settings: ChatSettings): void {
-	fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(DRAFT_SETTINGS_FILE), { recursive: true });
-	fs.writeFileSync(DRAFT_SETTINGS_FILE, JSON.stringify(settings, null, "\t"), "utf-8");
-}
diff --git a/tests/draft-settings.test.ts b/tests/default-settings.test.ts
similarity index 75%
rename from tests/draft-settings.test.ts
rename to tests/default-settings.test.ts
index ca0e734..d5e7bfa 100644
--- a/tests/draft-settings.test.ts
+++ b/tests/default-settings.test.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 /**
- * Tests for the draft-settings wave (2026-09-18): the shared settings-body
- * parser (the one seam behind BOTH settings routes — per-chat and draft —
- * so their parse behavior is identical) and the draft-settings store
- * (data/draft-settings.json read/write, first-boot null semantics).
+ * Tests for the default-settings wave (2026-09-18): the shared settings-body
+ * parser (the one seam behind BOTH settings routes — per-chat and defaults —
+ * so their parse behavior is identical) and the default-settings store
+ * (data/default-settings.json read/write, first-boot null semantics).
  *
  * The store tests write the real repo data file (npm test's shared data/,
  * disposable scratch by doctrine) and clean up after themselves.
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ import fs from "node:fs";
 import { afterEach, describe, it } from "node:test";
 import { GRAPH_CONTEXT_TOKENS_MAX, type ChatSettings } from "../src/core";
 import { parseSettingsBody } from "../src/server/settings-body.ts";
-import { DRAFT_SETTINGS_FILE } from "../config.ts";
-import { readDraftSettings, writeDraftSettings } from "../src/store/draft-settings.ts";
+import { DEFAULT_SETTINGS_FILE } from "../config.ts";
+import { readDefaultSettings, writeDefaultSettings } from "../src/store/default-settings.ts";
 
 describe("parseSettingsBody (shared by both settings routes)", () => {
 	it("an empty object parses to {} — the clear-overrides write", () => {
@@ -67,10 +67,10 @@ describe("parseSettingsBody (shared by both settings routes)", () => {
 	});
 });
 
-describe("the draft-settings store", () => {
+describe("the default-settings store", () => {
 	afterEach(() => {
 		try {
-			fs.rmSync(DRAFT_SETTINGS_FILE);
+			fs.rmSync(DEFAULT_SETTINGS_FILE);
 		} catch {
 			/* nothing to clean */
 		}
@@ -78,11 +78,11 @@ describe("the draft-settings store", () => {
 
 	it("reads null on first boot (no file) — the surfaces use config defaults", () => {
 		try {
-			fs.rmSync(DRAFT_SETTINGS_FILE);
+			fs.rmSync(DEFAULT_SETTINGS_FILE);
 		} catch {
 			/* absent already */
 		}
-		assert.equal(readDraftSettings(), null);
+		assert.equal(readDefaultSettings(), null);
 	});
 
 	it("write then read roundtrips verbatim — validated shape, no sanitizer games", () => {
@@ -91,18 +91,18 @@ describe("the draft-settings store", () => {
 			thinkingLevel: "high",
 			graphContextTokens: 1024,
 		};
-		writeDraftSettings(settings);
-		assert.deepEqual(readDraftSettings(), settings);
+		writeDefaultSettings(settings);
+		assert.deepEqual(readDefaultSettings(), settings);
 	});
 
 	it("an empty {} record roundtrips (all overrides cleared)", () => {
-		writeDraftSettings({});
-		assert.deepEqual(readDraftSettings(), {});
+		writeDefaultSettings({});
+		assert.deepEqual(readDefaultSettings(), {});
 	});
 
 	it("a corrupt file reads as null — defaults, never a crash", () => {
-		fs.rmSync(DRAFT_SETTINGS_FILE, { force: true }); // a directory from a broken earlier run also blocks
-		fs.writeFileSync(DRAFT_SETTINGS_FILE, "{ not json", "utf-8");
-		assert.equal(readDraftSettings(), null);
+		fs.rmSync(DEFAULT_SETTINGS_FILE, { force: true }); // a directory from a broken earlier run also blocks
+		fs.writeFileSync(DEFAULT_SETTINGS_FILE, "{ not json", "utf-8");
+		assert.equal(readDefaultSettings(), null);
 	});
 });