diff --git a/web_server.py b/web_server.py
index f965741f..50a9d97f 100644
--- a/web_server.py
+++ b/web_server.py
@@ -363,6 +363,9 @@ def _initial_appearance_context():
     preset = config_manager.get('ui_appearance.accent_preset', '#1db954')
     custom = config_manager.get('ui_appearance.accent_color', '#1db954')
     accent = _valid_hex_color(custom if preset == 'custom' else preset)
+    particles_enabled = config_manager.get('ui_appearance.particles_enabled', False) is True
+    worker_orbs_enabled = config_manager.get('ui_appearance.worker_orbs_enabled', True) is not False
+    reduce_effects = config_manager.get('ui_appearance.reduce_effects', False) is True
     r, g, b = _hex_to_rgb(accent)
     hue, saturation, lightness = _rgb_to_hsl(r, g, b)
     light = _hsl_to_rgb(hue, saturation, min(lightness + 0.16, 0.95))
@@ -372,6 +375,9 @@ def _initial_appearance_context():
         'initial_accent_rgb': f'{r}, {g}, {b}',
         'initial_accent_light_rgb': f'{light[0]}, {light[1]}, {light[2]}',
         'initial_accent_neon_rgb': f'{neon[0]}, {neon[1]}, {neon[2]}',
+        'initial_particles_enabled': particles_enabled,
+        'initial_worker_orbs_enabled': worker_orbs_enabled,
+        'initial_reduce_effects': reduce_effects,
     }
 
 
diff --git a/webui/index.html b/webui/index.html
index 20166043..792ac608 100644
--- a/webui/index.html
+++ b/webui/index.html
@@ -20,10 +20,15 @@
             --accent-neon-rgb: {{ initial_accent_neon_rgb }};
         }
     </style>
+    <script>
+        window._particlesEnabled = {{ initial_particles_enabled|tojson }};
+        window._workerOrbsEnabled = {{ initial_worker_orbs_enabled|tojson }};
+        window._reduceEffectsActive = {{ initial_reduce_effects|tojson }};
+    </script>
     {{ vite_assets('head')|safe }}
 </head>
 
-<body>
+<body{% if initial_reduce_effects %} class="reduce-effects"{% endif %}>
     <!-- Setup Wizard Overlay -->
     <div id="setup-wizard-overlay" class="setup-wizard-overlay" style="display: none;">
         <div class="setup-wizard-container">
@@ -354,7 +359,7 @@
         <!-- Main Content Area -->
         <div class="main-content">
             <!-- Global particle canvas for page background animations -->
-            <canvas id="page-particles-canvas"></canvas>
+            <canvas id="page-particles-canvas"{% if not initial_particles_enabled or initial_reduce_effects %} style="display: none;"{% endif %}></canvas>
             <div id="webui-react-root" class="page" data-react-app="router"></div>
 
             <!-- Dashboard Page -->
diff --git a/webui/static/init.js b/webui/static/init.js
index ca73baba..0b49db46 100644
--- a/webui/static/init.js
+++ b/webui/static/init.js
@@ -254,16 +254,28 @@ function applyReduceEffects(enabled) {
         }
     }
 
-    if (localStorage.getItem('soulsync-reduce-effects') === '1') {
+    const reduceEffectsSaved = localStorage.getItem('soulsync-reduce-effects');
+    if (reduceEffectsSaved === '1') {
         document.body.classList.add('reduce-effects');
         window._reduceEffectsActive = true;
+    } else if (reduceEffectsSaved === '0') {
+        document.body.classList.remove('reduce-effects');
+        window._reduceEffectsActive = false;
+    } else if (window._reduceEffectsActive) {
+        document.body.classList.add('reduce-effects');
     }
     const saved = localStorage.getItem('soulsync-accent');
     if (saved) applyAccentColor(saved);
     // Bootstrap particles setting from localStorage — OFF by default (continuous
     // full-page canvas = real GPU cost); only on when the user explicitly enabled it.
     const particlesSaved = localStorage.getItem('soulsync-particles');
-    window._particlesEnabled = (particlesSaved === 'true');
+    if (particlesSaved === 'true') {
+        window._particlesEnabled = true;
+    } else if (particlesSaved === 'false') {
+        window._particlesEnabled = false;
+    } else if (typeof window._particlesEnabled !== 'boolean') {
+        window._particlesEnabled = false;
+    }
     if (!window._particlesEnabled) {
         const canvas = document.getElementById('page-particles-canvas');
         if (canvas) canvas.style.display = 'none';
@@ -272,6 +284,10 @@ function applyReduceEffects(enabled) {
     const workerOrbsSaved = localStorage.getItem('soulsync-worker-orbs');
     if (workerOrbsSaved === 'false') {
         window._workerOrbsEnabled = false;
+    } else if (workerOrbsSaved === 'true') {
+        window._workerOrbsEnabled = true;
+    } else if (typeof window._workerOrbsEnabled !== 'boolean') {
+        window._workerOrbsEnabled = true;
     }
 })();
 
