diff --git a/webui/static/downloads.js b/webui/static/downloads.js
index 67df1945..d164f615 100644
--- a/webui/static/downloads.js
+++ b/webui/static/downloads.js
@@ -4401,12 +4401,15 @@ async function startPlaylistSync(playlistId, syncModeOverride = null) {
     let syncMode = syncModeOverride;
     if (!syncMode) {
         const modeSelect = document.getElementById(`sync-mode-${playlistId}`);
-        syncMode = (modeSelect && modeSelect.value) || 'replace';
+        // Empty value = "use the Settings default" — send nothing so the
+        // backend falls back to playlist_sync.mode (#792). Don't hardcode
+        // 'replace' here or it shadows the global setting.
+        syncMode = (modeSelect && modeSelect.value) || '';
     }
-    if (syncMode !== 'replace' && syncMode !== 'append') {
-        syncMode = 'replace';
+    if (syncMode && !['replace', 'reconcile', 'append'].includes(syncMode)) {
+        syncMode = '';
     }
-    console.log(`🚀 [${new Date().toTimeString().split(' ')[0]}] Starting sync for playlist: ${playlistId} (mode: ${syncMode})`);
+    console.log(`🚀 [${new Date().toTimeString().split(' ')[0]}] Starting sync for playlist: ${playlistId} (mode: ${syncMode || 'default(setting)'})`);
     const playlist = spotifyPlaylists.find(p => p.id === playlistId);
     if (!playlist) {
         console.error(`❌ Could not find playlist data for ID: ${playlistId}`);
diff --git a/webui/static/shared-helpers.js b/webui/static/shared-helpers.js
index e641daf9..a55b7027 100644
--- a/webui/static/shared-helpers.js
+++ b/webui/static/shared-helpers.js
@@ -1265,8 +1265,10 @@ function playlistModalDownloadSyncFooterHtml(playlistId, options = {}) {
     }
 
     return `${downloadBtns}
-        <select id="sync-mode-${playlistId}" class="playlist-modal-sync-mode" title="Replace overwrites the server playlist; Append only adds new tracks (preserves user-added)">
-            <option value="replace" selected>Replace</option>
+        <select id="sync-mode-${playlistId}" class="playlist-modal-sync-mode" title="Default uses your Settings > Playlist sync mode. Replace overwrites the server playlist; Reconcile edits it in place (keeps custom image/description); Append only adds new tracks.">
+            <option value="" selected>Sync mode: default</option>
+            <option value="replace">Replace</option>
+            <option value="reconcile">Reconcile (keep image/desc)</option>
             <option value="append">Append only</option>
         </select>
         <button id="sync-btn-${playlistId}" class="playlist-modal-btn playlist-modal-btn-primary" onclick="startPlaylistSync('${playlistId}')" ${isSyncing ? 'disabled' : ''}>${isSyncing ? '⏳ Syncing...' : 'Sync Playlist'}</button>`;