diff --git a/src/client/components/browser.tsx b/src/client/components/browser.tsx
index aa7a6f3..8a46c2c 100644
--- a/src/client/components/browser.tsx
+++ b/src/client/components/browser.tsx
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { CATS, CAT_COLOR, partsOf } from '../categories'
 import { dnaOf } from '../dna'
 import type { DnaItem } from '../dna'
 import type { ContentFetcher, ConversationNodeLike, HeaderFetcher } from '../services'
+import type { ContextSettings, DefaultToolSort } from '../settings'
 import type { ViewKit } from '../viewkit'
 import { blockSummaryOf, callSummaryOf, parseCallArgs } from '../callSummary'
 import type { DetailState } from '../timelineSource'
@@ -581,6 +582,7 @@ const DNA_MIN_BAND = 0.35
 export function makeContextBrowser(
   kit: ViewKit,
   StackedBar: (props: StackedBarProps) => ReactElement,
+  settings: ContextSettings,
 ): (props: ContextBrowserProps) => ReactElement {
   const { t, fmt, fmtTime, catLabel } = kit
   const DetailNote = makeDetailNote(kit)
@@ -602,7 +604,9 @@ export function makeContextBrowser(
     // it, while step picks (setOpenCat(null) below) keep it so the same lens
     // compares epochs.
     const [rowQuery, setRowQuery] = useState('')
-    const [toolSort, setToolSort] = useState<'size' | 'count' | 'name'>('size')
+    // Mount-time default from the plugin settings card; in-toolbar toggling
+    // stays mount-local and never writes back.
+    const [toolSort, setToolSort] = useState<DefaultToolSort>(() => settings.defaultToolSort())
     // DNA mode: the composition bar redraws as ONE band per context item in prompt order (dna.ts), hovered/clicked per item.
     const [dna, setDna] = useState(false)
     const [dnaKey, setDnaKey] = useState<string | null>(null)
diff --git a/src/client/components/contextModal.tsx b/src/client/components/contextModal.tsx
index 981f195..3a9b332 100644
--- a/src/client/components/contextModal.tsx
+++ b/src/client/components/contextModal.tsx
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import { measureDock } from '../dockMeasure'
 import { headlineOf } from '../headline'
 import { modalStoreOf, takePendingConsume } from '../modalStore'
 import type { ClientCtx, SessionStandardProps, SessionsFace } from '../services'
+import type { ContextSettings } from '../settings'
 import { contextBreakdownOf, contextPressureOf, conversationNodesOf, headersOf, imageLoaderOf, projectionOf } from '../services'
 import { makeContentFetcher, makeHeaderFetcher, useHistoryFace } from '../historyPage'
 import { useTimelineSource } from '../timelineSource'
@@ -24,12 +25,16 @@ export interface ContextModalProps extends SessionStandardProps {
   useContextModal?: (sel: (open: boolean) => boolean) => boolean
 }
 
-export function makeContextModal(ctx: ClientCtx, kit: ViewKit): (props: ContextModalProps) => ReactElement | null {
+export function makeContextModal(
+  ctx: ClientCtx,
+  kit: ViewKit,
+  settings: ContextSettings,
+): (props: ContextModalProps) => ReactElement | null {
   const { t } = kit
   const StackedBar = makeStackedBar(kit)
   const Legend = makeLegend(kit)
   const CurrentComposition = makeCurrentComposition(kit, StackedBar, Legend)
-  const ContextBrowser = makeContextBrowser(kit, StackedBar)
+  const ContextBrowser = makeContextBrowser(kit, StackedBar, settings)
   const ErrorBoundary = makeErrorBoundary(t)
 
   function ContextModalBody(props: ContextModalProps): ReactElement | null {
diff --git a/src/client/components/contextView.tsx b/src/client/components/contextView.tsx
index 4eb48de..35bf7b9 100644
--- a/src/client/components/contextView.tsx
+++ b/src/client/components/contextView.tsx
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ export function makeContextView(
   const PluginInfo = makePluginInfo(kit)
   const UpgradeGate = makeUpgradeGate(kit)
   const DetailNote = makeDetailNote(kit)
-  const ContextBrowser = makeContextBrowser(kit, StackedBar)
+  const ContextBrowser = makeContextBrowser(kit, StackedBar, settings)
   const AgentGraph = makeAgentGraph(ctx, kit)
   const ErrorBoundary = makeErrorBoundary(t)
 
diff --git a/src/client/components/settingsCard.tsx b/src/client/components/settingsCard.tsx
index 54b2a30..69f69c3 100644
--- a/src/client/components/settingsCard.tsx
+++ b/src/client/components/settingsCard.tsx
@@ -128,6 +128,17 @@ export function makeSettingsCard(kit: ViewKit): (props: SettingsCardProps) => Re
                 ]}
                 onPick={(id) => { props.set?.('defaultTrendMode', id) }}
               />
+              <PrefRow
+                label={t('settings.toolSort')}
+                value={state.toolSort}
+                disabled={disabled}
+                options={[
+                  { id: 'size', label: t('tool.sort.size') },
+                  { id: 'count', label: t('tool.sort.count') },
+                  { id: 'name', label: t('tool.sort.name') },
+                ]}
+                onPick={(id) => { props.set?.('defaultToolSort', id) }}
+              />
               <PrefRow
                 label={t('settings.fileSort')}
                 value={state.fileSort}
diff --git a/src/client/i18n.ts b/src/client/i18n.ts
index 4a0dc45..caa27df 100644
--- a/src/client/i18n.ts
+++ b/src/client/i18n.ts
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ export const DICT_ZH: Record<string, string> = {
   'placement.tab': '标签页', 'placement.sidebar': '侧边栏', 'placement.all': '全部',
   'settings.gran': '趋势图 · 默认粒度',
   'settings.mode': '趋势图 · 默认展示方式',
+  'settings.toolSort': '工具定义 · 默认排序',
   'settings.fileSort': '文件活动 · 默认排序',
   'settings.expand': '展开', 'settings.collapse': '收起',
   'settings.readOnly': '当前环境的设置为只读',
@@ -205,7 +206,7 @@ export const DICT_ZH: Record<string, string> = {
   'tool.jsonHide': '收起',
   'tool.search': '按名称、描述或参数过滤…',
   'tool.sort.size': '按大小', 'tool.sort.count': '按次数', 'tool.sort.name': '按名称',
-  'tool.sortTip': '工具排序：按 token 大小（默认）、当前步骤中的调用次数或名称',
+  'tool.sortTip': '工具排序：按当前步骤中的调用次数（默认）、token 大小或名称',
   'tool.hitsTip': '当前展示步骤的上下文中，该工具被调用并返回结果的次数',
   'tool.noMatch': '没有匹配当前过滤条件的工具',
   'rich.raw': '原文',
@@ -289,6 +290,7 @@ export const DICT_EN: Record<string, string> = {
   'placement.tab': 'Tab', 'placement.sidebar': 'Sidebar', 'placement.all': 'All',
   'settings.gran': 'Trend Chart · Default granularity',
   'settings.mode': 'Trend Chart · Default display',
+  'settings.toolSort': 'Tool Schemas · Default sort',
   'settings.fileSort': 'File Activity · Default sort',
   'settings.expand': 'Expand', 'settings.collapse': 'Collapse',
   'settings.readOnly': 'Settings are read-only in this environment',
@@ -437,7 +439,7 @@ export const DICT_EN: Record<string, string> = {
   'tool.jsonHide': 'Collapse',
   'tool.search': 'Filter by name, description, or parameters…',
   'tool.sort.size': 'By size', 'tool.sort.count': 'By calls', 'tool.sort.name': 'By name',
-  'tool.sortTip': 'Sort tools by token size (default), call count in the shown step, or name',
+  'tool.sortTip': 'Sort tools by call count in the shown step (default), token size, or name',
   'tool.hitsTip': 'Times this tool was called and answered within the shown step’s context',
   'tool.noMatch': 'No tools match the current filter',
   'rich.raw': 'Raw',
diff --git a/src/client/index.ts b/src/client/index.ts
index 1f0d72a..3446cfa 100644
--- a/src/client/index.ts
+++ b/src/client/index.ts
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ function apply(ctx: ClientCtx): void {
   // the trigger source). The modal itself renders from the input overlay
   // slot, opened per session through the hooks-compartment store.
   registerContextCommand(ctx, kit)
-  const ContextModal = makeContextModal(ctx, kit)
+  const ContextModal = makeContextModal(ctx, kit, settings)
   ctx.slots.inject('conversation.input.overlay', () => {
     return ctx.slots.register(
       { name: 'conversation.input.overlay', id: 'context-modal', order: 10, locale: NS,
diff --git a/src/client/settings.ts b/src/client/settings.ts
index 050978a..c5cc114 100644
--- a/src/client/settings.ts
+++ b/src/client/settings.ts
@@ -12,11 +12,11 @@
  * members keeps the dependency graph honest.
  */
 
-import type { DefaultFileSort, DefaultGranularity, DefaultPlacement, DefaultTrendMode, SettingsField } from '../shared/types'
+import type { DefaultFileSort, DefaultGranularity, DefaultPlacement, DefaultToolSort, DefaultTrendMode, SettingsField } from '../shared/types'
 
 // The preference vocabulary is declared once in shared/types.ts; re-exported
 // here so client-side consumers keep their canonical import path.
-export type { DefaultFileSort, DefaultGranularity, DefaultPlacement, DefaultTrendMode, SettingsField } from '../shared/types'
+export type { DefaultFileSort, DefaultGranularity, DefaultPlacement, DefaultToolSort, DefaultTrendMode, SettingsField } from '../shared/types'
 
 /** The bound settings scope (ctx.settingsScope.bind result), as consumed. */
 export interface SettingsScopeLike {
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ export interface SettingsState {
   placement: DefaultPlacement
   granularity: DefaultGranularity
   mode: DefaultTrendMode
+  toolSort: DefaultToolSort
   fileSort: DefaultFileSort
   writable: boolean
 }
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@ export interface ContextSettings {
   defaultPlacement(): DefaultPlacement
   defaultGranularity(): DefaultGranularity
   defaultTrendMode(): DefaultTrendMode
+  defaultToolSort(): DefaultToolSort
   defaultFileSort(): DefaultFileSort
   attach(scope: SettingsScopeLike): () => void
   /** Persist one preference choice (local echo, then the fenced scope write). */
@@ -57,6 +59,7 @@ type Prefs = {
   placement?: DefaultPlacement
   granularity?: DefaultGranularity
   mode?: DefaultTrendMode
+  toolSort?: DefaultToolSort
   fileSort?: DefaultFileSort
 }
 
@@ -67,17 +70,19 @@ function prefsOf(value: unknown): Prefs {
     ...(v.defaultPlacement === 'all' || v.defaultPlacement === 'tab' || v.defaultPlacement === 'sidebar' ? { placement: v.defaultPlacement } : {}),
     ...(v.defaultGranularity === 'step' || v.defaultGranularity === 'turn' ? { granularity: v.defaultGranularity } : {}),
     ...(v.defaultTrendMode === 'total' || v.defaultTrendMode === 'delta' ? { mode: v.defaultTrendMode } : {}),
+    ...(v.defaultToolSort === 'size' || v.defaultToolSort === 'count' || v.defaultToolSort === 'name' ? { toolSort: v.defaultToolSort } : {}),
     ...(v.defaultFileSort === 'count' || v.defaultFileSort === 'latest' || v.defaultFileSort === 'path' ? { fileSort: v.defaultFileSort } : {}),
   }
 }
 
 export function createContextSettings(): ContextSettings {
-  let state: SettingsState = { status: 'loading', placement: 'all', granularity: 'step', mode: 'total', fileSort: 'count', writable: false }
+  let state: SettingsState = { status: 'loading', placement: 'all', granularity: 'step', mode: 'total', toolSort: 'count', fileSort: 'count', writable: false }
   let scope: SettingsScopeLike | undefined
   const listeners = new Set<() => void>()
   const publish = (next: SettingsState): void => {
     if (next.status === state.status && next.placement === state.placement && next.granularity === state.granularity
-      && next.mode === state.mode && next.fileSort === state.fileSort && next.writable === state.writable) return
+      && next.mode === state.mode && next.toolSort === state.toolSort && next.fileSort === state.fileSort
+      && next.writable === state.writable) return
     state = next
     for (const listener of listeners) listener()
   }
@@ -98,6 +103,7 @@ export function createContextSettings(): ContextSettings {
       placement: prefs.placement ?? (rawPlacement === undefined ? state.placement : 'all'),
       granularity: prefs.granularity ?? state.granularity,
       mode: prefs.mode ?? state.mode,
+      toolSort: prefs.toolSort ?? state.toolSort,
       fileSort: prefs.fileSort ?? state.fileSort,
       writable: snap.writable,
     })
@@ -114,6 +120,7 @@ export function createContextSettings(): ContextSettings {
     defaultPlacement: () => state.placement,
     defaultGranularity: () => state.granularity,
     defaultTrendMode: () => state.mode,
+    defaultToolSort: () => state.toolSort,
     defaultFileSort: () => state.fileSort,
     attach(bound) {
       scope = bound
diff --git a/src/host/settings.ts b/src/host/settings.ts
index 60ca2a7..138e6ce 100644
--- a/src/host/settings.ts
+++ b/src/host/settings.ts
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ export const SETTINGS_NAMESPACE = 'dsh-context'
 
 // The preference vocabulary is declared once in shared/types.ts; re-exported
 // here so host-side consumers keep their canonical import path.
-export type { DefaultFileSort, DefaultGranularity, DefaultPlacement, DefaultTrendMode, PluginSettings } from '../shared/types'
+export type { DefaultFileSort, DefaultGranularity, DefaultPlacement, DefaultToolSort, DefaultTrendMode, PluginSettings } from '../shared/types'
 
 /** Section schema: also the wire envelope the browser scope validates against. */
 export const SettingsSchema: z<PluginSettings> = z.object({
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ export const SettingsSchema: z<PluginSettings> = z.object({
   defaultPlacement: z.union(['all', 'tab', 'sidebar']).default('all').loose(),
   defaultGranularity: z.union(['step', 'turn']).default('step'),
   defaultTrendMode: z.union(['total', 'delta']).default('total').loose(),
+  defaultToolSort: z.union(['size', 'count', 'name']).default('count').loose(),
   defaultFileSort: z.union(['count', 'latest', 'path']).default('count').loose(),
 })
 
diff --git a/src/shared/types.ts b/src/shared/types.ts
index 69da298..6f37b9e 100644
--- a/src/shared/types.ts
+++ b/src/shared/types.ts
@@ -103,6 +103,9 @@ export type DefaultTrendMode = 'total' | 'delta'
 /** File Activity row order: most operations first, most-recently-touched first, or path ascending. */
 export type DefaultFileSort = 'count' | 'latest' | 'path'
 
+/** Tool-definition row order: largest schema first, most call hits first, or name ascending. */
+export type DefaultToolSort = 'size' | 'count' | 'name'
+
 /** Where the Context view is offered: the conversation tab, the right Sidebar, or both. */
 export type DefaultPlacement = 'all' | 'tab' | 'sidebar'
 
@@ -110,6 +113,7 @@ export interface PluginSettings {
   defaultPlacement: DefaultPlacement
   defaultGranularity: DefaultGranularity
   defaultTrendMode: DefaultTrendMode
+  defaultToolSort: DefaultToolSort
   defaultFileSort: DefaultFileSort
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/client/components/browser.spec.ts b/tests/client/components/browser.spec.ts
index e8b4a0b..7d9c7b0 100644
--- a/tests/client/components/browser.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/client/components/browser.spec.ts
@@ -11,10 +11,12 @@ import { makeStackedBar } from '../../../src/client/components/stackedBar'
 import { DICT_EN } from '../../../src/client/i18n'
 import { UNKNOWN_TOOL_SOURCE, type ContextHeaders, type ContextTimeline, type HeaderEpochContent, type RequestRecord, type SurfaceNode } from '../../../src/shared/types'
 import { headersOf, type ConversationNodeLike, type ImageLoader } from '../../../src/client/services'
+import { createContextSettings } from '../../../src/client/settings'
 import { click, flush, hover, makeKit, mount, query, queryAll, text, unhover, type Mounted } from '../helpers/kit'
 
 const kit = makeKit()
-const Browser = makeContextBrowser(kit, makeStackedBar(kit))
+const settings = createContextSettings()
+const Browser = makeContextBrowser(kit, makeStackedBar(kit), settings)
 
 // Category row order is CATS: system, tools, user, inject, assistant, tool.
 const ROW = { system: 0, tools: 1, user: 2, inject: 3, assistant: 4, tool: 5 } as const
@@ -642,6 +644,7 @@ describe('ContextBrowser tool schemas', () => {
   const lazyProps = () => props({ data, headers, fetchHeader: () => Promise.resolve(content) })
 
   test('rows rank by token price; the schema narrowing matrix renders', async () => {
+    settings.set('defaultToolSort', 'size')
     const m = await mount(h(Browser, lazyProps()))
     await click(catRow(m, 'tools'))
     await flush()
@@ -692,9 +695,11 @@ describe('ContextBrowser tool schemas', () => {
     await click(elemRows(m)[0])
     assert.equal(queryAll(m.container, '.lc-br-content').length, 0)
     await m.unmount()
+    settings.set('defaultToolSort', 'count')
   })
 
   test('a text filter and the size/name sort narrow and re-rank the rows', async () => {
+    settings.set('defaultToolSort', 'size')
     const m = await mount(h(Browser, lazyProps()))
     await click(catRow(m, 'tools'))
     await flush()
@@ -735,11 +740,13 @@ describe('ContextBrowser tool schemas', () => {
     await click(sortBtns[0])
     assert.deepEqual(names(), ['mega', 'beta', 'gamma', 'delta', 'epsilon', 'zeta', 'theta', 'rho', 'omega'])
     await m.unmount()
+    settings.set('defaultToolSort', 'count')
   })
 
   test('count sort ranks by call hits on the shown surface; collapsed rows carry the tally', async () => {
     // Sizes anti-correlate with hits so the count ranking is visibly its own
     // order; delta ties gamma's tally and wins the name tie-break.
+    settings.set('defaultToolSort', 'size')
     const hitHeaders: ContextHeaders = { headers: [{ seq: 1, time: 1, systemTokens: 3, tools: [
       { name: 'alpha', tokens: 100 },
       { name: 'beta', tokens: 10 },
@@ -782,6 +789,49 @@ describe('ContextBrowser tool schemas', () => {
     assert.deepEqual(names(), ['beta', 'alpha', 'delta', 'gamma'])
     assert.deepEqual(hits(), ['×1', '×0', '×0', '×0'])
     await m.unmount()
+    settings.set('defaultToolSort', 'count')
+  })
+
+  test('the mount-time default tool sort comes from the plugin settings', async () => {
+    const pair: ContextHeaders = { headers: [{ seq: 1, time: 1, systemTokens: 3, tools: [
+      { name: 'zzz', tokens: 1 },
+      { name: 'aaa', tokens: 100 },
+    ] }] }
+    const data = tl({
+      current: { system: 10, tools: 101, user: 0, inject: 0, assistant: 0, tool: 10, total: 121 },
+      nodes: [node({ seq: 2, cat: 'tool', tool: 'zzz', tokens: 10 })],
+    })
+    const names = (m: Mounted) => elemRows(m).map(r => text(query(r, '.lc-br-preview')))
+    const sortBtns = (container: ParentNode) => queryAll(container, '.lc-br-toolctl .lc-gran-btn')
+    const mountWith = async (sort: string) => {
+      settings.set('defaultToolSort', sort)
+      const m = await mount(h(Browser, props({ data, headers: pair, fetchHeader: () => Promise.resolve({ tools: [] }) })))
+      await click(catRow(m, 'tools'))
+      return m
+    }
+
+    // The schema default: most call hits first (zzz ×1 over aaa ×0).
+    let m = await mountWith('count')
+    assert.ok(sortBtns(m.container)[1].className.includes('lc-gran-on'))
+    assert.deepEqual(names(m), ['zzz', 'aaa'])
+    await m.unmount()
+
+    m = await mountWith('size')
+    assert.ok(sortBtns(m.container)[0].className.includes('lc-gran-on'))
+    assert.deepEqual(names(m), ['aaa', 'zzz'])
+    await m.unmount()
+
+    m = await mountWith('name')
+    assert.ok(sortBtns(m.container)[2].className.includes('lc-gran-on'))
+    assert.deepEqual(names(m), ['aaa', 'zzz'])
+    await m.unmount()
+
+    // In-toolbar toggling never writes the preference back.
+    m = await mountWith('count')
+    await click(sortBtns(m.container)[0])
+    assert.equal(settings.store.getSnapshot().toolSort, 'count')
+    await m.unmount()
+    settings.set('defaultToolSort', 'count')
   })
 
   test('before the epoch content loads, the filter scans names and plugins only', async () => {
@@ -902,6 +952,7 @@ describe('ContextBrowser tool schemas', () => {
   })
 
   test('tool rows tag the registering plugin when attribution exists', async () => {
+    settings.set('defaultToolSort', 'size')
     const attributed: ContextHeaders = {
       headers: [{ seq: 1, time: 1, systemTokens: 3, tools: [
         { name: 'write', tokens: 5, plugin: '@deepseek-ai/dsh-tool-fs' },
@@ -934,6 +985,7 @@ describe('ContextBrowser tool schemas', () => {
     assert.ok(chip.parentElement!.classList.contains('lc-br-elem-row'), 'plugin chip is a single frame, a direct row child')
     assert.equal(queryAll(chip, '.lc-br-tag').length, 0, 'no nested tag wrapper')
     await m.unmount()
+    settings.set('defaultToolSort', 'count')
   })
 
   test('a single-tool category opens its schema row with the category; multi stays collapsed', async () => {
diff --git a/tests/client/components/contextModal.spec.ts b/tests/client/components/contextModal.spec.ts
index 6a73e07..a30be94 100644
--- a/tests/client/components/contextModal.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/client/components/contextModal.spec.ts
@@ -9,12 +9,14 @@ import { afterEach, describe, test, vi } from 'vitest'
 import { makeContextModal } from '../../../src/client/components/contextModal'
 import { modalStoreOf, setPendingConsume, takePendingConsume } from '../../../src/client/modalStore'
 import { watchHistoryFaces } from '../../../src/client/historyPage'
+import { createContextSettings } from '../../../src/client/settings'
 import type { ContextTimeline } from '../../../src/shared/types'
 import { DICT_EN } from '../../../src/client/i18n'
 import { TestClientCtx, TestSessions, asClientCtx } from '../helpers/harness'
 import { click, flush, hover, keydown, makeKit, mount, query, queryAll, text, unhover } from '../helpers/kit'
 
 const kit = makeKit()
+const settings = createContextSettings()
 
 
 function timeline(over: Record<string, unknown> = {}): ContextTimeline {
@@ -46,7 +48,7 @@ afterEach(() => {
 describe('ContextModal', () => {
   test('renders null without a useContextModal hook or while closed', async () => {
     const ctx = new TestClientCtx({ services: { sessions: new TestSessions() } })
-    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit)
+    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit, settings)
 
     const m1 = await mount(h(ContextModal, { sessionId: 'sm-none', useProjection: () => timeline() }))
     assert.equal(m1.container.childElementCount, 0)
@@ -63,7 +65,7 @@ describe('ContextModal', () => {
 
   test('open with no projection hook (or an empty one) shows the loading view', async () => {
     const ctx = new TestClientCtx({ services: { sessions: new TestSessions() } })
-    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit)
+    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit, settings)
 
     const m1 = await mount(h(ContextModal, { sessionId: 'sm-load1', useContextModal: OPEN }))
     assert.ok(text(m1.container).includes(DICT_EN.loading))
@@ -81,7 +83,7 @@ describe('ContextModal', () => {
 
   test('a corrupt timeline projection is sanitized and still renders the composition', async () => {
     const ctx = new TestClientCtx({ services: { sessions: new TestSessions() } })
-    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit)
+    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit, settings)
     const m = await mount(h(ContextModal, {
       sessionId: 'sm-garbage',
       useContextModal: OPEN,
@@ -97,7 +99,7 @@ describe('ContextModal', () => {
   test('full render: subtitle variants and hover link through the composed browser', async () => {
     const sessions = new TestSessions()
     const ctx = new TestClientCtx({ services: { sessions } })
-    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit)
+    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit, settings)
     const projections: Record<string, unknown> = {
       contextTimeline: timeline({
         model: 'deepseek-v4-flash',
@@ -129,7 +131,7 @@ describe('ContextModal', () => {
 
   test('subtitle degrades to the model alone, then to nothing', async () => {
     const ctx = new TestClientCtx({ services: { sessions: new TestSessions() } })
-    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit)
+    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit, settings)
 
     const m1 = await mount(h(ContextModal, {
       sessionId: 'sm-sub1',
@@ -153,7 +155,7 @@ describe('ContextModal', () => {
   test('backdrop click without a sessionId is a no-op', async () => {
     const sessions = new TestSessions()
     const ctx = new TestClientCtx({ services: { sessions } })
-    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit)
+    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit, settings)
     const m = await mount(h(ContextModal, { useContextModal: OPEN, useProjection: () => undefined }))
     await click(query(m.container, '.lc-modal-backdrop'))
     assert.ok(m.container.querySelector('.lc-modal-backdrop') !== null)
@@ -164,7 +166,7 @@ describe('ContextModal', () => {
   test('clicking the card itself does not close (stopPropagation)', async () => {
     const sessions = new TestSessions()
     const ctx = new TestClientCtx({ services: { sessions } })
-    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit)
+    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit, settings)
     const m = await mount(h(ContextModal, { sessionId: 'sm-card', useContextModal: OPEN, useProjection: () => undefined }))
     await click(query(m.container, '.lc-modal-card'))
     assert.ok(m.container.querySelector('.lc-modal-backdrop') !== null)
@@ -175,7 +177,7 @@ describe('ContextModal', () => {
   test('close flips the store and bails a pending consume through the session scope', async () => {
     const sessions = new TestSessions()
     const ctx = new TestClientCtx({ services: { sessions } })
-    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit)
+    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit, settings)
     const sid = 'sm-close'
     modalStoreOf(sid).set(true)
     setPendingConsume(sid, { kind: 'bare-token', token: '/context' })
@@ -200,7 +202,7 @@ describe('ContextModal', () => {
   test('close without a pending consume sets the store but bails nothing', async () => {
     const sessions = new TestSessions()
     const ctx = new TestClientCtx({ services: { sessions } })
-    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit)
+    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit, settings)
     const sid = 'sm-noguard'
     modalStoreOf(sid).set(true)
     const m = await mount(h(ContextModal, {
@@ -216,7 +218,7 @@ describe('ContextModal', () => {
 
   test('a pending consume without the sessions service closes quietly', async () => {
     const ctx = new TestClientCtx()
-    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit)
+    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit, settings)
     const sid = 'sm-nosvc'
     modalStoreOf(sid).set(true)
     setPendingConsume(sid, { kind: 'bare-token', token: '/context' })
@@ -240,7 +242,7 @@ describe('ContextModal', () => {
       },
     }
     const ctx = new TestClientCtx({ services: { sessions } })
-    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit)
+    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit, settings)
     const sid = 'sm-noscope'
     modalStoreOf(sid).set(true)
     setPendingConsume(sid, { kind: 'span', span: { start: 0, end: 8, draftRev: 3 } })
@@ -258,7 +260,7 @@ describe('ContextModal', () => {
   test('the mask docks beside the frame ancestor, follows template rewrites, and disconnects on close', async () => {
     const sessions = new TestSessions()
     const ctx = new TestClientCtx({ services: { sessions } })
-    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit)
+    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit, settings)
     const sid = 'sm-dock'
     // The shell frame: the plugin matches its INLINE grid template, the one
     // host anchor carried by every supported baseline (dockMeasure.ts).
@@ -299,7 +301,7 @@ describe('ContextModal', () => {
 
   test('without a frame ancestor the mask stays full-viewport', async () => {
     const ctx = new TestClientCtx({ services: { sessions: new TestSessions() } })
-    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit)
+    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit, settings)
     const m = await mount(h(ContextModal, {
       sessionId: 'sm-noframe',
       useContextModal: OPEN,
@@ -312,7 +314,7 @@ describe('ContextModal', () => {
   test('Escape closes; other keys do not; the listener is removed on close', async () => {
     const sessions = new TestSessions()
     const ctx = new TestClientCtx({ services: { sessions } })
-    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit)
+    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit, settings)
     const sid = 'sm-esc'
     modalStoreOf(sid).set(true)
     const m = await mount(h(ContextModal, {
@@ -338,7 +340,7 @@ describe('ContextModal', () => {
 
   test('closing restores focus to the previously focused element', async () => {
     const ctx = new TestClientCtx({ services: { sessions: new TestSessions() } })
-    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit)
+    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit, settings)
     const sid = 'sm-focus'
     const btn = document.createElement('button')
     document.body.appendChild(btn)
@@ -365,7 +367,7 @@ describe('ContextModal', () => {
 
   test('closing skips the focus restore when the previous element left the document', async () => {
     const ctx = new TestClientCtx({ services: { sessions: new TestSessions() } })
-    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit)
+    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit, settings)
     const sid = 'sm-focus-gone'
     const btn = document.createElement('button')
     document.body.appendChild(btn)
@@ -388,7 +390,7 @@ describe('ContextModal', () => {
 
   test('no focus bookkeeping when nothing was focused (activeElement not an element)', async () => {
     const ctx = new TestClientCtx({ services: { sessions: new TestSessions() } })
-    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit)
+    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit, settings)
     const sid = 'sm-focus-null'
     modalStoreOf(sid).set(true)
     // Environment control (not a plugin fake): jsdom always reports body;
@@ -438,7 +440,7 @@ describe('ContextModal — the split generation', () => {
         },
       },
     })
-    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit)
+    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit, settings)
     const head = timeline({
       counts: { turns: 1, steps: 1, injects: 0, compactions: 0, prunes: 0 },
       last: { seq: 1, total: 21, prompt: 20 },
@@ -467,7 +469,7 @@ describe('ContextModal — the split generation', () => {
     const ctx = new TestClientCtx({ services: { sessions: new TestSessions() } })
     // Armed before either service exists: the inject stays pending, the race.
     watchHistoryFaces(asClientCtx(ctx))
-    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit)
+    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit, settings)
     const projections: Record<string, unknown> = {
       contextTimeline: timeline(),
       contextHeaders: { headers: [{ seq: 1, time: 0, systemTokens: 5, tools: [] }] },
diff --git a/tests/client/components/settingsCard.spec.ts b/tests/client/components/settingsCard.spec.ts
index fb16629..a498534 100644
--- a/tests/client/components/settingsCard.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/client/components/settingsCard.spec.ts
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ function hookFor(state: SettingsState) {
 }
 
 function stateOf(partial: Partial<SettingsState> = {}): SettingsState {
-  return { status: 'ready', placement: 'all', granularity: 'step', mode: 'total', fileSort: 'count', writable: true, ...partial }
+  return { status: 'ready', placement: 'all', granularity: 'step', mode: 'total', toolSort: 'count', fileSort: 'count', writable: true, ...partial }
 }
 
 /** Menu items portaled into document.body while a select is open. */
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ describe('SettingsCard', () => {
     assert.equal(head.getAttribute('aria-label'), `${DICT_EN['settings.collapse']}: ${DICT_EN['settings.title']}`)
     assert.ok(card.className.includes('lc-settings-open'))
     const selects = queryAll(m.container, '.lc-settings-select')
-    assert.equal(selects.length, 4)
+    assert.equal(selects.length, 5)
     assert.ok(selects.every(s => (s as HTMLButtonElement).disabled))
     // Loading is not ready: no read-only note.
     assert.equal(m.container.querySelector('.lc-settings-note'), null)
@@ -107,8 +107,10 @@ describe('SettingsCard', () => {
     // The granularity row follows.
     assert.ok(text(selects[1]).includes(DICT_EN['gran.step']))
     assert.ok(text(selects[2]).includes(DICT_EN['gran.total']))
+    assert.ok(text(m.container).includes(DICT_EN['settings.toolSort']))
+    assert.ok(text(selects[3]).includes(DICT_EN['tool.sort.count']))
     assert.ok(text(m.container).includes(DICT_EN['settings.fileSort']))
-    assert.ok(text(selects[3]).includes(DICT_EN['files.sort.count']))
+    assert.ok(text(selects[4]).includes(DICT_EN['files.sort.count']))
 
     await click(selects[1])
     assert.equal(selects[1].getAttribute('aria-expanded'), 'true')
@@ -133,8 +135,25 @@ describe('SettingsCard', () => {
     ])
     assert.equal(document.body.querySelector('[role="menu"]'), null)
 
-    // The file-sort row writes the last field.
+    // The tool-sort row leads the file-sort one.
     await click(selects[3])
+    const toolItems = menuItems()
+    assert.deepEqual(toolItems.map(i => text(i)), [
+      DICT_EN['tool.sort.size'],
+      DICT_EN['tool.sort.count'],
+      DICT_EN['tool.sort.name'],
+    ])
+    await click(toolItems[2]) // 'By name'
+    assert.deepEqual(calls, [
+      ['defaultPlacement', 'sidebar'],
+      ['defaultGranularity', 'turn'],
+      ['defaultTrendMode', 'delta'],
+      ['defaultToolSort', 'name'],
+    ])
+    assert.equal(document.body.querySelector('[role="menu"]'), null)
+
+    // The file-sort row writes the last field.
+    await click(selects[4])
     const sortItems = menuItems()
     assert.deepEqual(sortItems.map(i => text(i)), [
       DICT_EN['files.sort.count'],
@@ -146,6 +165,7 @@ describe('SettingsCard', () => {
       ['defaultPlacement', 'sidebar'],
       ['defaultGranularity', 'turn'],
       ['defaultTrendMode', 'delta'],
+      ['defaultToolSort', 'name'],
       ['defaultFileSort', 'path'],
     ])
     assert.equal(document.body.querySelector('[role="menu"]'), null)
@@ -211,7 +231,7 @@ describe('SettingsCard', () => {
       const card = query(m.container, '.lc-settings-card')
       assert.ok(card.className.includes('lc-settings-open'))
       assert.equal(query(m.container, '.lc-settings-head').getAttribute('aria-expanded'), 'true')
-      assert.equal(queryAll(m.container, '.lc-settings-select').length, 4)
+      assert.equal(queryAll(m.container, '.lc-settings-select').length, 5)
       assert.equal(scrolled.length, 1, 'the card scrolls itself into view')
       assert.deepEqual(scrolled[0].arg, { block: 'nearest' })
       assert.equal(scrolled[0].el, card)
diff --git a/tests/client/index.spec.ts b/tests/client/index.spec.ts
index 5f908aa..05f7ef8 100644
--- a/tests/client/index.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/client/index.spec.ts
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ describe('client entry: settings card slot', () => {
     assert.ok(query(m.container, '.lc-settings-card'))
     await click(query(m.container, '.lc-settings-head'))
     const selects = queryAll(m.container, '.lc-settings-select')
-    assert.equal(selects.length, 4)
+    assert.equal(selects.length, 5)
     for (const s of selects) assert.ok((s as HTMLButtonElement).disabled)
     await m.unmount()
     ctx.dispose()
diff --git a/tests/client/settings.spec.ts b/tests/client/settings.spec.ts
index c408c56..7218244 100644
--- a/tests/client/settings.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/client/settings.spec.ts
@@ -50,12 +50,14 @@ describe('createContextSettings defaults', () => {
       placement: 'all',
       granularity: 'step',
       mode: 'total',
+      toolSort: 'count',
       fileSort: 'count',
       writable: false,
     })
     assert.equal(s.defaultPlacement(), 'all')
     assert.equal(s.defaultGranularity(), 'step')
     assert.equal(s.defaultTrendMode(), 'total')
+    assert.equal(s.defaultToolSort(), 'count')
     assert.equal(s.defaultFileSort(), 'count')
   })
 })
@@ -169,6 +171,7 @@ describe('attach', () => {
         defaultPlacement: 'sidebar',
         defaultGranularity: 'turn',
         defaultTrendMode: 'delta',
+        defaultToolSort: 'name',
         defaultFileSort: 'path',
       },
       writable: true,
@@ -179,6 +182,7 @@ describe('attach', () => {
       placement: 'sidebar',
       granularity: 'turn',
       mode: 'delta',
+      toolSort: 'name',
       fileSort: 'path',
       writable: true,
     })
@@ -207,6 +211,7 @@ describe('attach', () => {
         placement: 'all',
         granularity: 'step',
         mode: 'total',
+        toolSort: 'count',
         fileSort: 'count',
         writable: false,
       })
@@ -217,12 +222,13 @@ describe('attach', () => {
     const s = createContextSettings()
     s.attach(new TestSettingsScope({
       status: 'ready',
-      value: { defaultPlacement: 'window', defaultGranularity: 'bogus', defaultTrendMode: 7, defaultFileSort: 'alpha' },
+      value: { defaultPlacement: 'window', defaultGranularity: 'bogus', defaultTrendMode: 7, defaultToolSort: 'alpha', defaultFileSort: 'alpha' },
       writable: false,
     }))
     assert.equal(s.defaultPlacement(), 'all')
     assert.equal(s.defaultGranularity(), 'step')
     assert.equal(s.defaultTrendMode(), 'total')
+    assert.equal(s.defaultToolSort(), 'count')
     assert.equal(s.defaultFileSort(), 'count')
   })
 
@@ -241,22 +247,25 @@ describe('attach', () => {
     const s = createContextSettings()
     s.attach(new TestSettingsScope({
       status: 'ready',
-      value: { defaultPlacement: 'all', defaultGranularity: 'step', defaultTrendMode: 'total', defaultFileSort: 'count' },
+      value: { defaultPlacement: 'all', defaultGranularity: 'step', defaultTrendMode: 'total', defaultToolSort: 'count', defaultFileSort: 'count' },
       writable: false,
     }))
     assert.equal(s.defaultPlacement(), 'all')
     assert.equal(s.defaultGranularity(), 'step')
     assert.equal(s.defaultTrendMode(), 'total')
+    assert.equal(s.defaultToolSort(), 'count')
     assert.equal(s.defaultFileSort(), 'count')
   })
 
   test('missing fields keep the current state', () => {
     const s = createContextSettings()
     s.set('defaultPlacement', 'tab')
+    s.set('defaultToolSort', 'size')
     s.attach(new TestSettingsScope({ status: 'ready', value: { defaultFileSort: 'latest' }, writable: false }))
     assert.equal(s.defaultPlacement(), 'tab', 'the in-session choice survives a section without the field')
     assert.equal(s.defaultGranularity(), 'step')
     assert.equal(s.defaultTrendMode(), 'total')
+    assert.equal(s.defaultToolSort(), 'size', 'the in-session tool sort survives a section without the field')
     assert.equal(s.defaultFileSort(), 'latest')
   })
 
@@ -278,8 +287,11 @@ describe('attach', () => {
     scope.emit({ status: 'ready', value: { defaultPlacement: 'sidebar' }, writable: true })
     assert.equal(calls, 4)
     assert.equal(s.defaultPlacement(), 'sidebar')
-    scope.emit({ status: 'ready', value: { defaultFileSort: 'path' }, writable: false })
+    scope.emit({ status: 'ready', value: { defaultToolSort: 'name' }, writable: true })
     assert.equal(calls, 5)
+    assert.equal(s.defaultToolSort(), 'name')
+    scope.emit({ status: 'ready', value: { defaultFileSort: 'path' }, writable: false })
+    assert.equal(calls, 6)
     assert.equal(s.store.getSnapshot().writable, false)
   })
 
diff --git a/tests/host/settings.spec.ts b/tests/host/settings.spec.ts
index 1c4f120..d8baaf7 100644
--- a/tests/host/settings.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/host/settings.spec.ts
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ describe('installSettings', () => {
       defaultPlacement: 'all',
       defaultGranularity: 'step',
       defaultTrendMode: 'total',
+      defaultToolSort: 'count',
       defaultFileSort: 'count',
     }, 'schema defaults resolve')
   })
@@ -80,6 +81,7 @@ describe('installSettings', () => {
       defaultPlacement: 'all',
       defaultGranularity: 'turn',
       defaultTrendMode: 'total',
+      defaultToolSort: 'count',
       defaultFileSort: 'count',
     }, 'the update resolves over the schema defaults')
     assert.deepEqual(provider.doc['dsh-context'], { defaultGranularity: 'turn' }, 'the provider persisted the section')
@@ -89,6 +91,7 @@ describe('installSettings', () => {
       defaultPlacement: 'sidebar',
       defaultGranularity: 'turn',
       defaultTrendMode: 'delta',
+      defaultToolSort: 'count',
       defaultFileSort: 'path',
     }, 'every preference field resolves independently')
 
@@ -98,25 +101,27 @@ describe('installSettings', () => {
     )
     // The loose fields degrade instead of rejecting: a stale file sort or
     // placement resolves to the default.
-    await ctx.settings.update(ns, { defaultFileSort: 'net', defaultPlacement: 'window' })
+    await ctx.settings.update(ns, { defaultFileSort: 'net', defaultPlacement: 'window', defaultToolSort: 'net' })
     assert.deepEqual(ctx.settings.get(ns), {
       defaultPlacement: 'all',
       defaultGranularity: 'turn',
       defaultTrendMode: 'delta',
+      defaultToolSort: 'count',
       defaultFileSort: 'count',
     }, 'a stale value degrades to the schema default')
     assert.deepEqual(
       provider.doc['dsh-context'],
-      { defaultPlacement: 'window', defaultGranularity: 'turn', defaultTrendMode: 'delta', defaultFileSort: 'net' },
+      { defaultPlacement: 'window', defaultGranularity: 'turn', defaultTrendMode: 'delta', defaultToolSort: 'net', defaultFileSort: 'net' },
       'the stale value stays raw in storage and degrades at read',
     )
   })
 
   test('a stale persisted preference degrades to the default (loose)', async () => {
-    const { ctx } = await boot({ 'dsh-context': { defaultPlacement: 'window', defaultTrendMode: 'net', defaultFileSort: 'alpha' } })
+    const { ctx } = await boot({ 'dsh-context': { defaultPlacement: 'window', defaultTrendMode: 'net', defaultToolSort: 'alpha', defaultFileSort: 'alpha' } })
     const value = ctx.settings.get(ns) as PluginSettings
     assert.equal(value.defaultPlacement, 'all', 'the stale placement falls back instead of breaking the section')
     assert.equal(value.defaultTrendMode, 'total', 'the stale value falls back instead of breaking the section')
+    assert.equal(value.defaultToolSort, 'count', 'the stale tool sort falls back instead of breaking the section')
     assert.equal(value.defaultFileSort, 'count', 'the stale file sort falls back instead of breaking the section')
     assert.equal(value.defaultGranularity, 'step')
   })