diff --git a/packages/app/e2e/browser/settings-host-selection.spec.ts b/packages/app/e2e/browser/settings-host-selection.spec.ts
index aa92e5611f..a3e998e940 100644
--- a/packages/app/e2e/browser/settings-host-selection.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/app/e2e/browser/settings-host-selection.spec.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,10 @@ import {
   addDirectHostFromSettings,
   clickSettingsBackToWorkspace,
   openSettingsHostSection,
+  openSettingsSection,
+  selectSettingsHost,
 } from "../support/helpers/settings";
+import { getServerId } from "../support/helpers/server-id";
 import { seedWorkspace } from "../support/helpers/seed-client";
 import { switchWorkspaceViaSidebar } from "../support/helpers/workspace-ui";
 
@@ -44,6 +47,14 @@ test.describe("Settings host selection", () => {
       await openSettings(page);
 
       await openSettingsHostSection(page, remoteDaemon.serverId, "connections");
+
+      await selectSettingsHost(page, getServerId());
+      await openSettingsSection(page, "appearance");
+      await openSettingsHostSection(page, getServerId(), "connections");
+
+      await clickSettingsBackToWorkspace(page);
+      await openSettings(page);
+      await openSettingsHostSection(page, remoteDaemon.serverId, "connections");
     } finally {
       await remoteWorkspace.cleanup().catch(() => undefined);
       await remoteDaemon.close().catch(() => undefined);
diff --git a/packages/app/e2e/browser/settings-navigation.spec.ts b/packages/app/e2e/browser/settings-navigation.spec.ts
index 165bb168cd..214a7881c1 100644
--- a/packages/app/e2e/browser/settings-navigation.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/app/e2e/browser/settings-navigation.spec.ts
@@ -147,6 +147,28 @@ test.describe("Settings sidebar navigation", () => {
     await expect(page).not.toHaveURL(/\/settings(\/|$)/);
   });
 
+  test("host choice survives app sections and host screen replacements", async ({ page }) => {
+    const primaryServerId = getServerId();
+    const secondaryServerId = "srv_e2e_settings_secondary";
+    const endpoint = `127.0.0.1:${getE2EDaemonPort()}`;
+    await seedSavedSettingsHosts(page, [
+      { serverId: primaryServerId, label: "First horse", endpoint },
+      { serverId: secondaryServerId, label: "Stable horse", endpoint },
+    ]);
+    await gotoAppShell(page);
+    await openSettings(page);
+    await selectSettingsHost(page, secondaryServerId);
+    await openSettingsHostSection(page, secondaryServerId, "connections");
+    await openSettingsSection(page, "appearance");
+    await expectSettingsHostPickerLabel(page, "Stable horse");
+    await openSettingsSection(page, "general");
+    await expectSettingsHostPickerLabel(page, "Stable horse");
+    await openSettingsHostSection(page, secondaryServerId, "connections");
+    await selectSettingsHost(page, primaryServerId);
+    await openSettingsSection(page, "about");
+    await expectSettingsHostPickerLabel(page, "First horse");
+  });
+
   test("/h/[serverId]/settings redirects to the host connections section", async ({ page }) => {
     await gotoAppShell(page);
     await verifyLegacyHostSettingsRedirect(page);
@@ -329,6 +351,15 @@ test.describe("Settings — compact master-detail", () => {
     await expectSettingsHostPickerLabel(page, secondaryHostLabel);
 
     await openSettingsHostSection(page, secondaryServerId, "connections");
+    await goBackInSettings(page);
+    await expectSettingsHostPickerLabel(page, secondaryHostLabel);
+
+    await openSettingsSection(page, "appearance");
+    await goBackInSettings(page);
+    await expectSettingsHostPickerLabel(page, secondaryHostLabel);
+    await openSettingsHostSection(page, secondaryServerId, "connections");
+    await goBackInSettings(page);
+    await expectSettingsHostPickerLabel(page, secondaryHostLabel);
   });
 
   test("removing the last active host returns to welcome after settings closes", async ({
diff --git a/packages/app/src/app/_layout.tsx b/packages/app/src/app/_layout.tsx
index 99022863f5..f6db461c09 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/app/_layout.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/app/_layout.tsx
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ import {
   type StartupBlocker,
 } from "@/navigation/host-runtime-bootstrap";
 import { registerWorkspaceRouteNavigationRef } from "@/navigation/workspace-route-navigation";
+import { useSettingsRouteEntry } from "@/navigation/settings-selection";
 import { ThemedStack } from "@/navigation/themed-stack";
 import { shouldUseDesktopDaemon } from "@/desktop/daemon/desktop-daemon";
 import { AgentNavigationListener } from "@/desktop/agent-navigation";
@@ -759,6 +760,7 @@ function OpenProjectListener() {
 }
 
 function AppWithSidebar({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
+  useSettingsRouteEntry();
   const pathname = usePathname();
   const hosts = useHosts();
   const storeReady = useStoreReady();
diff --git a/packages/app/src/navigation/settings-selection/index.ts b/packages/app/src/navigation/settings-selection/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..dd4d57edd9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/app/src/navigation/settings-selection/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+import { useLayoutEffect } from "react";
+import { usePathname, useRootNavigationState } from "expo-router";
+import { useStore } from "zustand";
+import {
+  useIsLastWorkspaceSelectionHydrated,
+  useLastWorkspaceSelection,
+} from "@/stores/navigation-active-workspace-store";
+import { createSettingsSelection } from "./model";
+
+const selection = createSettingsSelection();
+
+// Mount once above the sibling Settings routes so replacements and Back share
+// one visit, and leaving Settings gives the next workspace entry a fresh default.
+export function useSettingsRouteEntry(): void {
+  const pathname = usePathname();
+  const navigationState = useRootNavigationState();
+  const routeKey = navigationState?.routes[navigationState.index]?.key;
+  const workspace = useLastWorkspaceSelection();
+  const isWorkspaceHydrated = useIsLastWorkspaceSelectionHydrated();
+  const workspaceServerId = workspace?.serverId ?? null;
+  useLayoutEffect(() => {
+    if (isWorkspaceHydrated && routeKey) {
+      selection.enterRoute({ key: routeKey, pathname }, workspaceServerId);
+    }
+  }, [pathname, routeKey, workspaceServerId, isWorkspaceHydrated]);
+}
+
+export function useSettingsHostSelection(): string | null {
+  return useStore(selection.store, (state) => state.selectedServerId);
+}
+
+export const selectSettingsHost = selection.selectHost;
diff --git a/packages/app/src/navigation/settings-selection/model.test.ts b/packages/app/src/navigation/settings-selection/model.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1ffbff8485
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/app/src/navigation/settings-selection/model.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { createSettingsSelection } from "./model";
+
+describe("Settings host selection", () => {
+  it("keeps picker choices across sections, replacement and Back", () => {
+    const settings = createSettingsSelection();
+    settings.enterRoute({ key: "/settings", pathname: "/settings" }, "workspace-host");
+    expect(settings.store.getState().selectedServerId).toBe("workspace-host");
+    settings.selectHost("chosen-host");
+    settings.enterRoute(
+      {
+        key: "/settings/hosts/chosen-host/connections",
+        pathname: "/settings/hosts/chosen-host/connections",
+      },
+      "workspace-host",
+    );
+    settings.enterRoute({ key: "/settings", pathname: "/settings" }, "workspace-host");
+    settings.enterRoute(
+      { key: "/settings/appearance", pathname: "/settings/appearance" },
+      "workspace-host",
+    );
+    settings.enterRoute(
+      { key: "/settings/general", pathname: "/settings/general" },
+      "workspace-host",
+    );
+    expect(settings.store.getState().selectedServerId).toBe("chosen-host");
+  });
+
+  it("applies explicit host links once, including project and plugin screens", () => {
+    const settings = createSettingsSelection();
+    settings.enterRoute(
+      {
+        key: "/settings/hosts/linked-host/projects/project",
+        pathname: "/settings/hosts/linked-host/projects/project",
+      },
+      "workspace-host",
+    );
+    expect(settings.store.getState().selectedServerId).toBe("linked-host");
+    settings.selectHost("chosen-host");
+    settings.enterRoute(
+      {
+        key: "/settings/hosts/linked-host/projects/project",
+        pathname: "/settings/hosts/linked-host/projects/project",
+      },
+      "workspace-host",
+    );
+    expect(settings.store.getState().selectedServerId).toBe("chosen-host");
+    settings.enterRoute(
+      {
+        key: "/settings/hosts/plugin-host/plugins/plugin/screen",
+        pathname: "/settings/hosts/plugin-host/plugins/plugin/screen",
+      },
+      "workspace-host",
+    );
+    expect(settings.store.getState().selectedServerId).toBe("plugin-host");
+  });
+
+  it("seeds each new visit from the workspace, including a retained settings route", () => {
+    const settings = createSettingsSelection();
+    settings.enterRoute(
+      { key: "/settings/general", pathname: "/settings/general" },
+      "first-workspace-host",
+    );
+    settings.selectHost("chosen-host");
+    settings.enterRoute(
+      {
+        key: "/h/second-workspace-host/workspace/workspace",
+        pathname: "/h/second-workspace-host/workspace/workspace",
+      },
+      "second-workspace-host",
+    );
+    settings.enterRoute(
+      { key: "/settings/general", pathname: "/settings/general" },
+      "second-workspace-host",
+    );
+    expect(settings.store.getState().selectedServerId).toBe("second-workspace-host");
+  });
+
+  it("does not replay a retained host route after a newer picker choice", () => {
+    const settings = createSettingsSelection();
+    const oldRoute = { key: "old-host-screen", pathname: "/settings/hosts/first/host" };
+    settings.enterRoute(oldRoute, "workspace-host");
+    settings.selectHost("second");
+    settings.enterRoute(
+      { key: "new-host-screen", pathname: "/settings/hosts/second/host" },
+      "workspace-host",
+    );
+    settings.enterRoute(oldRoute, "workspace-host");
+    settings.enterRoute({ key: "app-screen", pathname: "/settings/appearance" }, "workspace-host");
+    expect(settings.store.getState().selectedServerId).toBe("second");
+    settings.enterRoute({ ...oldRoute, key: "explicit-new-entry" }, "workspace-host");
+    expect(settings.store.getState().selectedServerId).toBe("first");
+  });
+
+  it("does not reseed a visit when remembered workspace state changes", () => {
+    const settings = createSettingsSelection();
+    settings.enterRoute({ key: "/settings", pathname: "/settings" }, null);
+    settings.selectHost("chosen-host");
+    settings.enterRoute({ key: "/settings", pathname: "/settings" }, "workspace-host");
+    expect(settings.store.getState().selectedServerId).toBe("chosen-host");
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/app/src/navigation/settings-selection/model.ts b/packages/app/src/navigation/settings-selection/model.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..bedfb70626
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/app/src/navigation/settings-selection/model.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+import { createStore } from "zustand/vanilla";
+
+interface SettingsRouteEntry {
+  key: string;
+  pathname: string;
+}
+
+interface SettingsSelectionState {
+  selectedServerId: string | null;
+}
+
+export function createSettingsSelection() {
+  const store = createStore<SettingsSelectionState>(() => ({ selectedServerId: null }));
+  const enteredRoutes = new Map<string, string>();
+  let inSettings = false;
+
+  function enterRoute(
+    { key, pathname }: SettingsRouteEntry,
+    workspaceServerId: string | null,
+  ): void {
+    const isSettings = pathname === "/settings" || pathname.startsWith("/settings/");
+    if (!isSettings) {
+      inSettings = false;
+      enteredRoutes.clear();
+      return;
+    }
+    // A retained route returning through Back must not replay its old host intent.
+    if (enteredRoutes.get(key) === pathname) return;
+    const isNewVisit = !inSettings;
+    inSettings = true;
+    enteredRoutes.set(key, pathname);
+
+    const hostMatch = /^\/settings\/hosts\/([^/]+)(?:\/|$)/.exec(pathname);
+    if (hostMatch) {
+      store.setState({ selectedServerId: decodeURIComponent(hostMatch[1]) });
+    } else if (isNewVisit) {
+      store.setState({ selectedServerId: workspaceServerId });
+    }
+  }
+
+  function selectHost(serverId: string): void {
+    store.setState({ selectedServerId: serverId });
+  }
+
+  return { store, enterRoute, selectHost };
+}
diff --git a/packages/app/src/screens/settings-screen.tsx b/packages/app/src/screens/settings-screen.tsx
index b90f5ccd24..8cfa720245 100644
--- a/packages/app/src/screens/settings-screen.tsx
+++ b/packages/app/src/screens/settings-screen.tsx
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ import {
   type HostSectionSlug,
   type SettingsSectionSlug,
 } from "@/utils/host-routes";
-import { useLastWorkspaceSelection } from "@/stores/navigation-active-workspace-store";
+import { selectSettingsHost, useSettingsHostSelection } from "@/navigation/settings-selection";
 import { returnFromSettings, type SettingsView } from "@/navigation/settings-navigation";
 import { isWeb } from "@/constants/platform";
 
@@ -1098,21 +1098,7 @@ export default function SettingsScreen({ view, openAddHostIntent = null }: Setti
   const hosts = useHosts();
   const localServerId = useLocalDaemonServerId();
   const sortedHosts = useSortedHosts(hosts, localServerId);
-  const lastWorkspaceSelection = useLastWorkspaceSelection();
-  const routedSettingsHostServerId =
-    view.kind === "host" || view.kind === "project" || view.kind === "plugin"
-      ? view.serverId
-      : null;
-  const [selectedSettingsHostServerId, setSelectedSettingsHostServerId] = useState<string | null>(
-    routedSettingsHostServerId ?? lastWorkspaceSelection?.serverId ?? null,
-  );
-  useFocusEffect(
-    useCallback(() => {
-      setSelectedSettingsHostServerId(
-        routedSettingsHostServerId ?? lastWorkspaceSelection?.serverId ?? null,
-      );
-    }, [lastWorkspaceSelection?.serverId, routedSettingsHostServerId]),
-  );
+  const selectedSettingsHostServerId = useSettingsHostSelection();
 
   // The host the four sections scope to: the host on the active view, otherwise
   // the picker choice, otherwise the connected local daemon, otherwise the first host.
@@ -1232,7 +1218,7 @@ export default function SettingsScreen({ view, openAddHostIntent = null }: Setti
   // host detail route, keep that detail section and swap only the host segment.
   const handleSelectHost = useCallback(
     (serverId: string) => {
-      setSelectedSettingsHostServerId(serverId);
+      selectSettingsHost(serverId);
       if (view.kind === "project") {
         const target = buildSettingsHostSectionRoute(serverId, "projects");
         if (isCompactLayout) {