diff --git a/LOTUS_FEATURES.md b/LOTUS_FEATURES.md
index bbc6440e4..fb79a4615 100644
--- a/LOTUS_FEATURES.md
+++ b/LOTUS_FEATURES.md
@@ -1171,6 +1171,14 @@ Persists via the `homeRoomSort` setting.
 
 A toggle in **Settings → Privacy** switches between sending `m.read` (public receipts) and `m.read.private` (private receipts visible only to the sender and the server).
 
+### Tracking-Parameter Stripping (Gitea #103)
+
+Links you paste, send, edit, or merely _see_ lose ad/analytics identifiers — `utm_*`, `fbclid`, `gclid`, YouTube `si=`, Amazon `ref=`/`tag=`, X `s=`/`t=`, TikTok `_r`/`_t`, and ~40 more, plus host-scoped rules so e.g. `si` is only removed on YouTube/Spotify. Runs entirely on the device (`src/app/utils/urlTracking.ts`, unit-tested). Wired at paste (re-inserted through Slate so multi-line pastes still split into paragraphs), at send/schedule/edit on both `body` and `formatted_body`, and at render (linkify + explicit `<a href>` in formatted HTML), so links from other clients are cleaned locally too. `matrix.to` and non-http(s) schemes are never touched; Amazon's `th`/`psc` variant selectors are kept. Toggle in **Settings → Privacy → Strip Tracking Parameters from Links** (default on).
+
+### Settings Sync Across Devices (Gitea #104)
+
+The syncable subset of Lotus settings (theme, composer toolbar order, notification/quiet-hour preferences, call keys, privacy toggles, …) is mirrored to the `io.lotus.settings` account-data event on the user's own homeserver and applied on every other device. Device-bound keys stay local (`DEVICE_LOCAL_KEYS` in `src/app/utils/settingsSync.ts`: page zoom, media auto-load, animation pause, glassmorphism, noise-suppression tier/model, bitrates, volumes, notification permission, developer tools, PTT mode, camera-on-join, drawer state). Conflicts are last-write-wins on an `updatedAt` stamp forced monotonic per device; a per-account `lastSyncedAt` marker in localStorage stops a device from echoing a snapshot it just applied. **Settings → General → Sync** has the toggle (itself device-local), **Push now** (make this device win everywhere) and **Clear synced copy**. Hook: `src/app/hooks/useSettingsSync.ts`, mounted from `ClientNonUIFeatures`.
+
 ### Media Gallery
 
 `MediaGallery.tsx` — a right-side drawer for browsing room media.
diff --git a/LOTUS_TODO.md b/LOTUS_TODO.md
index 4aec8681d..4f9f1db4b 100644
--- a/LOTUS_TODO.md
+++ b/LOTUS_TODO.md
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ After Phases A–C the client spec is ~complete. What's left, flagged by **what
 
 **✅ Buildable NOW (client-only, no server/infra change):**
 
-- [ ] **Custom room tags / sections** — user-defined room categories in the sidebar via standard `u.*` room tags (beyond the built-in Favourite / Low-Priority). Mirrors the favourite/low-priority category pattern (`RoomNavItem` context-menu + `Home.tsx` categories). _Medium._ The only substantive client-only feature left.
+- [ ] **Custom room tags / sections** (Gitea **#108**, milestone _Features 2026-Q4_) — user-defined room categories in the sidebar via standard `u.*` room tags (beyond the built-in Favourite / Low-Priority). Mirrors the favourite/low-priority category pattern (`RoomNavItem` context-menu + `Home.tsx` categories). _Medium._ The only substantive client-only feature left.
 
 **🔧 Needs INFRASTRUCTURE (NOT a Synapse-flag flip — you'd have to stand it up):**
 
@@ -258,6 +258,8 @@ After Phases A–C the client spec is ~complete. What's left, flagged by **what
 
 ## 📋 Open Feature Backlog
 
+**Features 2026-Q4 milestone (Gitea):** #103 tracking-param stripping ✅ · #104 settings sync ✅ · #105 desktop keychain + idle lock (research) · #106 search operators (research) · #107 paste-as-code (research) · #108 custom room sections.
+
 ### [ ] Basic in-app audio editor / video→audio extractor (LARGE PROJECT)
 
 A minimal audio editor for soundboard clips and voice content. Scope: (1) **trim/clip** an audio file to a chosen start/end (waveform scrubber, in/out handles); (2) **upload a video file → strip and discard the video track, keep only the audio** (extract audio, then the source video is dropped — never uploaded/stored); (3) minimal edits only (trim, maybe gain/normalize, fade in/out) — not a full DAW. Likely Web Audio API (`AudioContext.decodeAudioData` → trim `AudioBuffer` → re-encode) + `MediaRecorder`/an encoder for output; video demux via a `<video>`+`MediaElementSource` capture or ffmpeg.wasm (weigh bundle cost). Feeds the soundboard uploader (`utils/soundboardClips.ts`, `SoundboardPackEditor`) and attachments. Design under TDS + native-cinny law. Big build — plan a dedicated session; evaluate ffmpeg.wasm size/CSP (wasm) before committing.
diff --git a/src/app/features/settings/general/General.tsx b/src/app/features/settings/general/General.tsx
index ab77c937d..47d16cd8a 100644
--- a/src/app/features/settings/general/General.tsx
+++ b/src/app/features/settings/general/General.tsx
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ import {
   ML_DENOISE_REQUIREMENTS,
 } from '../../../utils/lotusDenoiseUtils';
 import { useSetting } from '../../../state/hooks/settings';
+import { useSettingsSyncActions } from '../../../hooks/useSettingsSync';
 import {
   CallAudioBitrate,
   ChatBackground,
@@ -1495,6 +1496,90 @@ function Privacy() {
   );
 }
 
+// [Gitea #104] Sync toggle + the two manual actions. The toggle is itself
+// device-local (never synced) so switching it off here sticks.
+function SettingsSyncSection() {
+  const [settingsSync, setSettingsSync] = useSetting(settingsAtom, 'settingsSync');
+  const { pushNow, clearRemote } = useSettingsSyncActions();
+  const [busy, setBusy] = useState<'push' | 'clear' | null>(null);
+  const [note, setNote] = useState<string | null>(null);
+
+  const run = async (action: 'push' | 'clear') => {
+    setBusy(action);
+    setNote(null);
+    try {
+      if (action === 'push') {
+        await pushNow();
+        setNote('Pushed — other devices will pick these settings up on their next sync.');
+      } else {
+        await clearRemote();
+        setNote('Cleared — devices keep their current settings until one pushes again.');
+      }
+    } catch {
+      setNote('Failed — check your connection and try again.');
+    } finally {
+      setBusy(null);
+    }
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <Box direction="Column" gap="100">
+      <Text size="L400">Sync</Text>
+      <SequenceCard className={SequenceCardStyle} variant="SurfaceVariant" direction="Column">
+        <SettingTile
+          title="Sync Settings Across Devices"
+          description="Keep your preferences (theme, composer toolbar, notifications, quiet hours, call keys…) the same on every device, stored as account data on your own homeserver. Device-specific settings such as zoom, media auto-load, noise suppression and volumes stay local."
+          after={<Switch variant="Primary" value={settingsSync} onChange={setSettingsSync} />}
+        />
+      </SequenceCard>
+      {settingsSync && (
+        <SequenceCard className={SequenceCardStyle} variant="SurfaceVariant" direction="Column">
+          <SettingTile
+            title="Use This Device's Settings Everywhere"
+            description="Push this device's current preferences so every other device adopts them, even ones that changed something more recently."
+            after={
+              <Box gap="200">
+                <Button
+                  size="300"
+                  variant="Secondary"
+                  fill="Soft"
+                  outlined
+                  radii="300"
+                  disabled={busy !== null}
+                  before={busy === 'push' ? <Spinner size="100" variant="Secondary" /> : undefined}
+                  onClick={() => run('push')}
+                >
+                  <Text size="B300">Push now</Text>
+                </Button>
+                <Button
+                  size="300"
+                  variant="Critical"
+                  fill="None"
+                  radii="300"
+                  disabled={busy !== null}
+                  before={busy === 'clear' ? <Spinner size="100" variant="Critical" /> : undefined}
+                  onClick={() => run('clear')}
+                >
+                  <Text size="B300">Clear synced copy</Text>
+                </Button>
+              </Box>
+            }
+          />
+          {note && (
+            <Text
+              size="T200"
+              priority="300"
+              style={{ padding: `0 ${config.space.S300} ${config.space.S300}` }}
+            >
+              {note}
+            </Text>
+          )}
+        </SequenceCard>
+      )}
+    </Box>
+  );
+}
+
 // [Gitea #23] Denylist navigation-critical/modifier codes and reject a code that
 // collides with the other call key (`otherKey`), so a rebind can never trap
 // keyboard focus in-call or silently double-bind PTT and deafen to the same key.
@@ -2596,6 +2681,7 @@ export function General({ requestClose }: GeneralProps) {
               <Editor />
               <Messages />
               <Privacy />
+              <SettingsSyncSection />
               <Calls />
               <AppUpdates />
             </Box>
diff --git a/src/app/hooks/useSettingsSync.ts b/src/app/hooks/useSettingsSync.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8cec492fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/hooks/useSettingsSync.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,167 @@
+import { useCallback, useEffect } from 'react';
+import { useStore } from 'jotai';
+import { ClientEvent, MatrixEvent } from 'matrix-js-sdk';
+import { useMatrixClient } from './useMatrixClient';
+import { getAccountData, setAccountData } from '../utils/accountData';
+import { useSetting } from '../state/hooks/settings';
+import { Settings, getSettings, settingsAtom } from '../state/settings';
+import {
+  SETTINGS_SYNC_EVENT,
+  buildSyncedContent,
+  isSyncedSettingsContent,
+  mergeRemoteSettings,
+  pickSyncable,
+  shouldApplyRemote,
+  syncableEqual,
+} from '../utils/settingsSync';
+
+// Keyed per account: a different user signing in on this device must not
+// inherit the previous user's "last synced" stamp.
+const metaKey = (userId: string): string => `settings-sync-meta:${userId}`;
+const PUSH_DEBOUNCE_MS = 1500;
+
+type SyncMeta = { lastSyncedAt: number };
+
+const readMeta = (userId: string): SyncMeta | null => {
+  try {
+    const raw = localStorage.getItem(metaKey(userId));
+    if (!raw) return null;
+    const parsed = JSON.parse(raw) as Partial<SyncMeta>;
+    return typeof parsed.lastSyncedAt === 'number' ? { lastSyncedAt: parsed.lastSyncedAt } : null;
+  } catch {
+    return null;
+  }
+};
+
+const writeMeta = (userId: string, meta: SyncMeta): void => {
+  try {
+    localStorage.setItem(metaKey(userId), JSON.stringify(meta));
+  } catch {
+    /* quota / blocked storage — sync still works for this session */
+  }
+};
+
+/**
+ * [Gitea #104] Keeps the syncable subset of Settings mirrored to the
+ * `io.lotus.settings` account-data event and applies snapshots other devices
+ * push. Mount once (ClientNonUIFeatures) while a client is running.
+ *
+ * Flow:
+ * - start: if the remote snapshot is newer than what this device last synced,
+ *   apply it; otherwise push local if it differs from remote.
+ * - local change (any settingsAtom write): debounce, then push if the syncable
+ *   subset differs from the last pushed/applied snapshot — so applying a
+ *   remote snapshot never echoes it straight back.
+ * - remote AccountData event: apply if newer than our last sync stamp (our own
+ *   push comes back with an equal stamp and is ignored).
+ * Stamps are wall-clock ms but forced monotonic per device, so a device with a
+ * slow clock can still win once it makes a later change.
+ */
+export function useSettingsSync(): void {
+  const mx = useMatrixClient();
+  const store = useStore();
+  const [enabled] = useSetting(settingsAtom, 'settingsSync');
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!enabled) return undefined;
+    const userId = mx.getUserId();
+    if (!userId) return undefined;
+
+    let lastSyncedAt: number | null = readMeta(userId)?.lastSyncedAt ?? null;
+    let lastSnapshot: Partial<Settings> | null = null;
+    let timer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | undefined;
+    let disposed = false;
+
+    const stamp = (): number => Math.max(Date.now(), (lastSyncedAt ?? 0) + 1);
+
+    const applyRemote = (content: unknown): boolean => {
+      if (!isSyncedSettingsContent(content)) return false;
+      if (!shouldApplyRemote(content, lastSyncedAt)) return false;
+      const merged = mergeRemoteSettings(store.get(settingsAtom), content);
+      lastSyncedAt = content.updatedAt;
+      writeMeta(userId, { lastSyncedAt });
+      store.set(settingsAtom, merged);
+      // Re-read through getSettings() so enum coercion applies to whatever the
+      // other device sent, and remember that coerced view as "already synced".
+      const coerced = getSettings();
+      store.set(settingsAtom, coerced);
+      lastSnapshot = pickSyncable(coerced);
+      return true;
+    };
+
+    const push = (): void => {
+      if (disposed) return;
+      const current = store.get(settingsAtom);
+      const syncable = pickSyncable(current);
+      if (lastSnapshot && syncableEqual(syncable, lastSnapshot)) return;
+      const content = buildSyncedContent(current, stamp());
+      const previousSnapshot = lastSnapshot;
+      const previousStamp = lastSyncedAt;
+      lastSnapshot = content.settings;
+      lastSyncedAt = content.updatedAt;
+      writeMeta(userId, { lastSyncedAt });
+      setAccountData(mx, SETTINGS_SYNC_EVENT, content).catch(() => {
+        // Roll back so the next local change (or reload) retries the push.
+        if (disposed) return;
+        lastSnapshot = previousSnapshot;
+        lastSyncedAt = previousStamp;
+        if (previousStamp !== null) writeMeta(userId, { lastSyncedAt: previousStamp });
+      });
+    };
+
+    const schedulePush = (): void => {
+      if (timer) clearTimeout(timer);
+      timer = setTimeout(push, PUSH_DEBOUNCE_MS);
+    };
+
+    // Initial reconcile.
+    const existing = getAccountData<unknown>(mx, SETTINGS_SYNC_EVENT);
+    if (!applyRemote(existing)) {
+      // Remote is absent, invalid, or not newer than what we last synced: treat
+      // it as the baseline and push only if this device differs from it.
+      lastSnapshot = isSyncedSettingsContent(existing) ? existing.settings : null;
+      push();
+    }
+
+    const unsubscribe = store.sub(settingsAtom, schedulePush);
+    const handleAccountData = (evt: MatrixEvent): void => {
+      if (evt.getType() !== SETTINGS_SYNC_EVENT) return;
+      applyRemote(evt.getContent());
+    };
+    mx.on(ClientEvent.AccountData, handleAccountData);
+
+    return () => {
+      disposed = true;
+      if (timer) clearTimeout(timer);
+      unsubscribe();
+      mx.off(ClientEvent.AccountData, handleAccountData);
+    };
+  }, [mx, store, enabled]);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Manual actions for Settings → General → Sync. `pushNow` stamps a fresh
+ * snapshot of THIS device so it wins on every other device; `clearRemote`
+ * blanks the account-data event (other devices ignore the invalid content and
+ * keep their local settings until someone pushes again).
+ */
+export function useSettingsSyncActions(): {
+  pushNow: () => Promise<void>;
+  clearRemote: () => Promise<void>;
+} {
+  const mx = useMatrixClient();
+  const store = useStore();
+
+  const pushNow = useCallback(async () => {
+    const content = buildSyncedContent(store.get(settingsAtom), Date.now());
+    await setAccountData(mx, SETTINGS_SYNC_EVENT, content);
+    const userId = mx.getUserId();
+    if (userId) writeMeta(userId, { lastSyncedAt: content.updatedAt });
+  }, [mx, store]);
+
+  const clearRemote = useCallback(async () => {
+    await setAccountData(mx, SETTINGS_SYNC_EVENT, {});
+  }, [mx]);
+
+  return { pushNow, clearRemote };
+}
diff --git a/src/app/pages/client/ClientNonUIFeatures.tsx b/src/app/pages/client/ClientNonUIFeatures.tsx
index 90b69d64c..e28a885aa 100644
--- a/src/app/pages/client/ClientNonUIFeatures.tsx
+++ b/src/app/pages/client/ClientNonUIFeatures.tsx
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import { NOTIFICATION_SOUND_MAP } from '../../utils/notificationSounds';
 import { useSetting } from '../../state/hooks/settings';
 import { settingsAtom } from '../../state/settings';
 import { setStripTrackingOnRender } from '../../plugins/react-custom-html-parser';
+import { useSettingsSync } from '../../hooks/useSettingsSync';
 import { allInvitesAtom } from '../../state/room-list/inviteList';
 import { useMatrixClient } from '../../hooks/useMatrixClient';
 import { useHydrateMsgDrafts } from '../../hooks/useHydrateMsgDrafts';
@@ -89,13 +90,23 @@ function SystemEmojiFeature() {
   return null;
 }
 
-function PageZoomFeature() {
-  const [pageZoom] = useSetting(settingsAtom, 'pageZoom');
-  // [Gitea #103] Mirror the privacy toggle into the html parser's module flag.
+// [Gitea #103] Mirror the privacy toggle into the html parser's module flag.
+function TrackingParamsFeature() {
   const [stripTracking] = useSetting(settingsAtom, 'stripTrackingParams');
   useEffect(() => {
     setStripTrackingOnRender(stripTracking);
   }, [stripTracking]);
+  return null;
+}
+
+// [Gitea #104] Mirror user preferences to account data and apply remote snapshots.
+function SettingsSyncFeature() {
+  useSettingsSync();
+  return null;
+}
+
+function PageZoomFeature() {
+  const [pageZoom] = useSetting(settingsAtom, 'pageZoom');
 
   if (pageZoom === 100) {
     document.documentElement.style.removeProperty('font-size');
@@ -893,6 +904,8 @@ export function ClientNonUIFeatures({ children }: ClientNonUIFeaturesProps) {
       <SearchCacheInvalidationFeature />
       <SystemEmojiFeature />
       <PageZoomFeature />
+      <TrackingParamsFeature />
+      <SettingsSyncFeature />
       <FaviconUpdater />
       <PresenceUpdater />
       <MuteTimerRestore />
diff --git a/src/app/state/settings.ts b/src/app/state/settings.ts
index 4430e6c13..719af13ac 100644
--- a/src/app/state/settings.ts
+++ b/src/app/state/settings.ts
@@ -267,6 +267,10 @@ export interface Settings {
   // send, and from links rendered in the timeline. Local only.
   stripTrackingParams: boolean;
 
+  // [Gitea #104] Mirror user preferences to `io.lotus.settings` account data
+  // so other devices pick them up. Device-local itself (utils/settingsSync).
+  settingsSync: boolean;
+
   pauseAnimations: boolean;
 
   composerToolbarButtons: ComposerToolbarSettings;
@@ -378,6 +382,8 @@ const defaultSettings: Settings = {
 
   stripTrackingParams: true,
 
+  settingsSync: true,
+
   pauseAnimations: false,
 
   composerToolbarButtons: DEFAULT_COMPOSER_TOOLBAR,
diff --git a/src/app/utils/settingsSync.test.ts b/src/app/utils/settingsSync.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..70c2b68c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/utils/settingsSync.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+import { describe, it } from 'node:test';
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict';
+import {
+  DEVICE_LOCAL_KEYS,
+  SETTINGS_SYNC_VERSION,
+  buildSyncedContent,
+  isSyncedSettingsContent,
+  mergeRemoteSettings,
+  pickSyncable,
+  shouldApplyRemote,
+  syncableEqual,
+} from './settingsSync';
+import { Settings } from '../state/settings';
+
+// A representative slice of Settings; the helpers are generic over keys so a
+// partial object cast is enough to exercise every branch.
+const base = {
+  settingsSync: true,
+  pageZoom: 110,
+  isMarkdown: true,
+  quietHoursEnabled: false,
+  quietHoursStart: '22:00',
+  composerToolbarButtons: { showGif: true, order: ['showEmoji', 'showGif'] },
+  pttKey: 'KeyV',
+  callDenoiseModel: 'rnnoise',
+} as unknown as Settings;
+
+describe('pickSyncable', () => {
+  it('drops device-local keys and deep-copies objects', () => {
+    const picked = pickSyncable(base);
+    assert.equal('pageZoom' in picked, false);
+    assert.equal('settingsSync' in picked, false);
+    assert.equal('callDenoiseModel' in picked, false);
+    assert.equal(picked.isMarkdown, true);
+    assert.equal(picked.pttKey, 'KeyV');
+    assert.notEqual(picked.composerToolbarButtons, base.composerToolbarButtons);
+    assert.deepEqual(picked.composerToolbarButtons, base.composerToolbarButtons);
+  });
+
+  it('never syncs the sync toggle itself', () => {
+    assert.equal(DEVICE_LOCAL_KEYS.has('settingsSync'), true);
+  });
+});
+
+describe('syncableEqual', () => {
+  it('is structural and key-order independent', () => {
+    const a = pickSyncable(base);
+    const b = Object.fromEntries(Object.entries(a).reverse()) as Partial<Settings>;
+    assert.equal(syncableEqual(a, b), true);
+    assert.equal(syncableEqual(a, { ...a, isMarkdown: false }), false);
+    assert.equal(syncableEqual(a, { ...a, extra: 1 } as Partial<Settings>), false);
+  });
+});
+
+describe('isSyncedSettingsContent', () => {
+  it('accepts a well-formed event and rejects junk', () => {
+    assert.equal(isSyncedSettingsContent(buildSyncedContent(base, 5)), true);
+    assert.equal(isSyncedSettingsContent({}), false);
+    assert.equal(isSyncedSettingsContent(null), false);
+    assert.equal(isSyncedSettingsContent({ version: 1, updatedAt: 'x', settings: {} }), false);
+    assert.equal(isSyncedSettingsContent({ version: 1, updatedAt: 1, settings: [] }), false);
+  });
+});
+
+describe('mergeRemoteSettings', () => {
+  it('applies syncable keys, ignores device-local and unknown keys and wrong shapes', () => {
+    const remote = {
+      version: SETTINGS_SYNC_VERSION,
+      updatedAt: 10,
+      settings: {
+        isMarkdown: false,
+        pageZoom: 200, // device-local: ignored
+        quietHoursStart: 42, // wrong type: ignored
+        composerToolbarButtons: 'nope', // wrong type: ignored
+        futureKey: true, // unknown: ignored
+      } as unknown as Partial<Settings>,
+    };
+    const merged = mergeRemoteSettings(base, remote);
+    assert.equal(merged.isMarkdown, false);
+    assert.equal(merged.pageZoom, 110);
+    assert.equal(merged.quietHoursStart, '22:00');
+    assert.deepEqual(merged.composerToolbarButtons, base.composerToolbarButtons);
+    assert.equal('futureKey' in merged, false);
+    // Never mutates the input.
+    assert.equal(base.isMarkdown, true);
+  });
+});
+
+describe('shouldApplyRemote', () => {
+  it('applies when never synced or strictly newer; ignores echoes', () => {
+    const remote = buildSyncedContent(base, 100);
+    assert.equal(shouldApplyRemote(remote, null), true);
+    assert.equal(shouldApplyRemote(remote, 99), true);
+    assert.equal(shouldApplyRemote(remote, 100), false);
+    assert.equal(shouldApplyRemote(remote, 101), false);
+  });
+});
+
+describe('buildSyncedContent', () => {
+  it('stamps version and updatedAt around the syncable subset', () => {
+    const c = buildSyncedContent(base, 7);
+    assert.equal(c.version, SETTINGS_SYNC_VERSION);
+    assert.equal(c.updatedAt, 7);
+    assert.deepEqual(c.settings, pickSyncable(base));
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/app/utils/settingsSync.ts b/src/app/utils/settingsSync.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e653633e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/utils/settingsSync.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+import { Settings } from '../state/settings';
+
+/**
+ * [Gitea #104] Settings sync — pure helpers.
+ *
+ * Lotus settings live in `localStorage` per device. A syncable subset is
+ * mirrored to the account-data event `io.lotus.settings` on the user's own
+ * homeserver so a second device picks it up. Everything device-bound stays
+ * local (see DEVICE_LOCAL_KEYS). Conflicts are last-write-wins on the
+ * `updatedAt` stamp inside the event; a device that applied a remote snapshot
+ * remembers it so the resulting local change is not echoed straight back.
+ */
+
+export const SETTINGS_SYNC_EVENT = 'io.lotus.settings';
+export const SETTINGS_SYNC_VERSION = 1;
+
+export type SyncedSettingsContent = {
+  version: number;
+  updatedAt: number;
+  settings: Partial<Settings>;
+};
+
+// Keys that describe THIS device (display, hardware, bandwidth, CPU budget,
+// transient UI state, per-device permissions) rather than the user's
+// preferences. Never written to, or read from, the synced event. The sync
+// toggle itself is local too, so turning it off on one device is not undone by
+// another.
+export const DEVICE_LOCAL_KEYS: ReadonlySet<keyof Settings> = new Set<keyof Settings>([
+  'settingsSync',
+  'pageZoom',
+  'mediaAutoLoad',
+  'pauseAnimations',
+  'glassmorphismSidebar',
+  'isPeopleDrawer',
+  'memberSortFilterIndex',
+  'presenceStatus',
+  'showNotifications',
+  'developerTools',
+  'pttMode',
+  'callNoiseSuppression',
+  'callDenoiseModel',
+  'callDenoiseNativeNS',
+  'callDenoiseGate',
+  'callDenoiseGateThreshold',
+  'callAudioBitrate',
+  'screenshareBitrate',
+  'screenshareFramerate',
+  'ringtoneVolume',
+  'soundboardVolume',
+  'cameraOnJoin',
+]);
+
+/** The subset of `settings` that is synced (deep-copied so callers can't alias). */
+export const pickSyncable = (settings: Settings): Partial<Settings> => {
+  const out: Partial<Settings> = {};
+  (Object.keys(settings) as (keyof Settings)[]).forEach((key) => {
+    if (DEVICE_LOCAL_KEYS.has(key)) return;
+    const value = settings[key];
+    if (value === undefined) return;
+    (out as Record<string, unknown>)[key] =
+      typeof value === 'object' && value !== null ? JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(value)) : value;
+  });
+  return out;
+};
+
+/** Structural equality of two syncable subsets (key order independent). */
+export const syncableEqual = (a: Partial<Settings>, b: Partial<Settings>): boolean => {
+  const ka = Object.keys(a).sort();
+  const kb = Object.keys(b).sort();
+  if (ka.length !== kb.length) return false;
+  for (let i = 0; i < ka.length; i += 1) {
+    if (ka[i] !== kb[i]) return false;
+    const va = (a as Record<string, unknown>)[ka[i]];
+    const vb = (b as Record<string, unknown>)[kb[i]];
+    if (JSON.stringify(va) !== JSON.stringify(vb)) return false;
+  }
+  return true;
+};
+
+/** Type guard for what comes back from account data (any client, any version). */
+export const isSyncedSettingsContent = (content: unknown): content is SyncedSettingsContent => {
+  if (typeof content !== 'object' || content === null) return false;
+  const c = content as Record<string, unknown>;
+  return (
+    typeof c.version === 'number' &&
+    typeof c.updatedAt === 'number' &&
+    Number.isFinite(c.updatedAt) &&
+    typeof c.settings === 'object' &&
+    c.settings !== null &&
+    !Array.isArray(c.settings)
+  );
+};
+
+/**
+ * Overlay a remote snapshot onto the local settings. Only syncable keys the
+ * local schema knows about are taken (so a newer client's extra keys, or a
+ * device-local key smuggled in by a buggy writer, are ignored). Values are
+ * copied verbatim; the caller runs the result through the normal
+ * `getSettings()` coercion by persisting it, which is what validates enums.
+ */
+export const mergeRemoteSettings = (local: Settings, remote: SyncedSettingsContent): Settings => {
+  const merged: Settings = { ...local };
+  (Object.keys(remote.settings) as (keyof Settings)[]).forEach((key) => {
+    if (DEVICE_LOCAL_KEYS.has(key)) return;
+    if (!(key in local)) return;
+    const value = remote.settings[key];
+    if (value === undefined) return;
+    // Shape guard: a value of a different JS type than this build stores for
+    // the key (e.g. a renamed enum that became an object) is skipped; enum
+    // *values* are validated by getSettings() coercion on the next load.
+    const current = local[key];
+    if (current !== undefined && current !== null && typeof value !== typeof current) return;
+    if (Array.isArray(current) !== Array.isArray(value)) return;
+    (merged as unknown as Record<string, unknown>)[key] = value;
+  });
+  return merged;
+};
+
+export const buildSyncedContent = (
+  settings: Settings,
+  updatedAt: number = Date.now(),
+): SyncedSettingsContent => ({
+  version: SETTINGS_SYNC_VERSION,
+  updatedAt,
+  settings: pickSyncable(settings),
+});
+
+/**
+ * Should a remote snapshot be applied over what this device last synced?
+ * `lastSyncedAt` is the stamp of the snapshot this device last pushed or
+ * applied; anything older or equal is our own echo (or a stale write that lost
+ * the race) and is ignored.
+ */
+export const shouldApplyRemote = (
+  remote: SyncedSettingsContent,
+  lastSyncedAt: number | null,
+): boolean => lastSyncedAt === null || remote.updatedAt > lastSyncedAt;
diff --git a/src/types/matrix/accountData.ts b/src/types/matrix/accountData.ts
index 484b131a6..472d0bd40 100644
--- a/src/types/matrix/accountData.ts
+++ b/src/types/matrix/accountData.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,9 @@ export enum AccountDataEvent {
   // global default behavior for threads.
   LotusThreadNotifications = 'io.lotus.thread_notifications',
 
+  // [Gitea #104] Synced subset of the Lotus Settings object (utils/settingsSync).
+  LotusSettings = 'io.lotus.settings',
+
   SecretStorageDefaultKey = 'm.secret_storage.default_key',
 
   CrossSigningMaster = 'm.cross_signing.master',