diff --git a/src/livekit/backgroundEffects.test.ts b/src/livekit/backgroundEffects.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c70981df8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/livekit/backgroundEffects.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2026 Element Creations Ltd.
+
+SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only OR LicenseRef-Element-Commercial
+Please see LICENSE in the repository root for full details.
+*/
+
+import { describe, expect, test } from "vitest";
+
+import {
+  parseEffect,
+  serializeEffect,
+  shippedBackgrounds,
+  imagePathFor,
+} from "./backgroundEffects";
+
+describe("the chosen background effect", () => {
+  test("round-trips through its stored form", () => {
+    for (const effect of [
+      { kind: "none" } as const,
+      { kind: "blur" } as const,
+      { kind: "image", id: shippedBackgrounds[0].id } as const,
+    ])
+      expect(parseEffect(serializeEffect(effect))).toEqual(effect);
+  });
+
+  test("falls back to no effect when the stored form names nothing we ship", () => {
+    // A background removed between releases, or a value from a future one.
+    expect(parseEffect("image:a-background-we-no-longer-ship")).toEqual({
+      kind: "none",
+    });
+    expect(parseEffect("")).toEqual({ kind: "none" });
+  });
+
+  test("gives every shipped background an image to draw", () => {
+    for (const background of shippedBackgrounds)
+      expect(imagePathFor(background.id)).toBeTruthy();
+  });
+});
+
+describe("the blur control in settings", () => {
+  // The control is a checkbox over a setting that holds more than two states,
+  // so what it shows and what it writes are both derived. This is that
+  // derivation, which is what keeps it from disagreeing with the camera menu.
+  const shows = (stored: string): boolean =>
+    parseEffect(stored).kind === "blur";
+  const writes = (on: boolean): string =>
+    serializeEffect(on ? { kind: "blur" } : { kind: "none" });
+
+  test("reads as off while an image background is in force", () => {
+    expect(shows(serializeEffect({ kind: "image", id: "indoor" }))).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  test("reads as on while blur is in force", () => {
+    expect(shows("blur")).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  test("replaces an image background when it is turned on", () => {
+    expect(writes(true)).toBe("blur");
+  });
+
+  test("leaves no effect behind when it is turned off", () => {
+    expect(writes(false)).toBe("none");
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/settings/SettingsModal.tsx b/src/settings/SettingsModal.tsx
index 933ac66f5..7c0472e01 100644
--- a/src/settings/SettingsModal.tsx
+++ b/src/settings/SettingsModal.tsx
@@ -22,13 +22,17 @@ import { useHostBridge } from "../HostBridge";
 import {
   useSetting,
   soundEffectVolume as soundEffectVolumeSetting,
-  backgroundBlur as backgroundBlurSetting,
+  backgroundEffect as backgroundEffectSetting,
   developerMode,
 } from "./settings";
 import { PreferencesSettingsTab } from "./PreferencesSettingsTab";
 import { Slider } from "../Slider";
 import { DeviceSelection } from "./DeviceSelection";
 import { useTrackProcessor } from "../livekit/TrackProcessorContext";
+import {
+  parseEffect,
+  serializeEffect,
+} from "../livekit/backgroundEffects";
 import {
   DeveloperSettingsTab,
   type DeveloperSettingsSnapshot,
@@ -83,7 +87,13 @@ export const SettingsModal: FC<Props> = ({
   const BlurCheckbox: React.FC = (): ReactNode => {
     const { supported } = useTrackProcessor();
 
-    const [blurActive, setBlurActive] = useSetting(backgroundBlurSetting);
+    // The same setting the camera menu's Background effects grid writes, so
+    // the two controls cannot disagree. An image background reads here as blur
+    // off, and turning blur on replaces it.
+    const [effect, setEffect] = useSetting(backgroundEffectSetting);
+    const blurActive = parseEffect(effect).kind === "blur";
+    const setBlurActive = (on: boolean): void =>
+      setEffect(serializeEffect(on ? { kind: "blur" } : { kind: "none" }));
 
     return (
       <>
@@ -97,7 +107,7 @@ export const SettingsModal: FC<Props> = ({
               supported ? "" : t("settings.blur_not_supported_by_browser")
             }
             type="checkbox"
-            checked={!!blurActive}
+            checked={blurActive}
             onChange={(b): void => setBlurActive(b.target.checked)}
             disabled={!supported}
           />
diff --git a/src/settings/settings.ts b/src/settings/settings.ts
index 0194891a0..6b7fefdab 100644
--- a/src/settings/settings.ts
+++ b/src/settings/settings.ts
@@ -123,7 +123,10 @@ export const backgroundBlur = new Setting<boolean>("background-blur", false);
  */
 export const backgroundEffect = new Setting<string>(
   "background-effect",
-  "none",
+  // Defaults to whatever blur the user had already chosen, so someone who
+  // turned blur on before this existed still has it afterwards. Their own
+  // choice replaces this the moment they make one.
+  backgroundBlur.getValue() ? "blur" : "none",
 );
 
 export const showHandRaisedTimer = new Setting<boolean>(